>>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
WELCOME TO THE SUSTAINABILITY
AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
MY NAME IS MIKE O'BRIEN.
CHAIR THE COMMITTEE.
JOINED BY COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
IT'S THURSDAY DECEMBER 12,
2019.
ONE: OH 4 PM.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE LAST
COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE YEAR,
BY PROXY.
THAT WILL BE THE LAST COMMITTEE
MEETING FOR ME.
I WILL BE A FULL COUNCIL ON
MONDAY.
BUT WE'VE GOT QUITE A FEW
THINGS ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
SO, I'M GOING TO WALK TO THE
AGENDA.
AND THEN, WE WILL MOVE TO
APPROVE THAT.
BUT I AM GOING TO TABLE WHEN
ITEM.
THE AGENDA SHOWS AN APPOINTMENT
TO THE LEVY TO MOVE SEATTLE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
BUT THAT INDIVIDUAL WAS NOT
ABLE TO ATTEND TODAY.
SO, IN A MOMENT I WILL ASK TO
AMEND THE AGENDA TO APPROVE
THAT.
WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO THE
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD.
WE HAVE A REPORT FROM THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION ON THE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
OPERATIONS.
THEN WE ARE GOING TO --
DIVISION ZERO AND PEDESTRIAN
MASTER PLAN.
WE WILL CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
TO, TO LOOK AT LEGISLATION IN
THE FUTURE AROUND THE COMMUNITY
BENEFIT ORDINANCE.
THEN WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION
WITH SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS
ABOUT THE GREEN NEW DEAL.
REFLECTING A LITTLE BIT ON THE
WORK THAT HAS BEEN ON THIS
YEAR.
AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING
TO HAPPEN NEXT.
AND THEN FINALLY, AGENDA NUMBER
7 IS A FAREWELL COUNCILMEMBER
OR BRIAN.
I BELIEVE IT'S A VIDEO.
I HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET.
SO, MY STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING
ON THIS AND I AM EXCITED TO SEE
THAT.
AND I WANT FOLKS TO KNOW THAT
AT 4 PM, DOWN IN BIRTH IT --
THE ROOM RIGHT BELOW US, THERE
IS A CELEBRATION FOR THE THREE
CURRENT COUNCILMEMBERS WHO WILL
BE LEAVING AT THE END OF THE
YEAR, AND COUNCILMEMBER
PACHECO, WHO LEFT A MONTH AGO.
AND ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC IS
WELCOME TO ATTEND THAT.
THIS COMMITTEE MEETING WILL
HOPEFULLY BE DONE BY 4:00, BUT
IT MAY RUN A LITTLE LONGER.
WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.
WE WILL START BY MOVING TO
AMEND THE AGENDA TO TABLE
APPOINTMENT 01527 UNTIL THE
NEXT MEETING OF THIS COMMITTEE.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
I GUESS ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AND NOW I MOVED TO APPROVE THE
AGENDA AS AMENDED.
>> 2nd.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AND THE AGENDA NOW HAS SIX
ITEMS INSTEAD OF SEVEN.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC
COMMENT.
FOLKS WILL HAVE UP TO 2 MINUTES
TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND WE WILL WORK THROUGH THIS
LIST AND THEN WE WILL JUMP INTO
AGENDA ITEMS.
-- BY KELLY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE KELLY.
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ABOUT 20
FOLKS SIGNED UP.
SO, WE WILL GO THROUGH ABOUT 10
TO 2 MINUTES AND THEN,
DEPENDING HOW OUR TIMING IS IN
OUR -- MAKE SURE WE DON'T DO
TOO LONG.
BUT, LOWER LOBE BLUESTEIN IS
FIRST AND ANNA PEREZ AND THEN
LENA JOHNSON.
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS.
AND, FIRST I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MIKE O'BRIEN FOR
YOUR SERICE, AND YOU WILL BE
MISSED.
NEXT, I WANT TO SAY I AM HERE
TO SUPPORT WORKER FOR ALL.
I ORGANIZED WITH A GROUP OF
SEATTLEITES CULTURE THE CITY'S.
AND I TWEET AT SHARE THE
CITY'S.
-- FOR ALL IS THE FIRST STEP TO
ACKNOWLEDGING THE LINK BETWEEN
ACCESS TO FREE TRANSIT AND WHO
PARTICIPATES IN OUR TRANSIT
SYSTEMS.
WHEN PEOPLE MAKE THE CHOICE TO
SWITCH FROM A CAR TO TRANSIT,
THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS.
OUR CITY SHOULD BE DOING ALL WE
CAN TO ELIMINATE ANY REAL AND
PERCEIVED BARRIERS PEOPLE HAVE
TO CHOOSING TRANSIT MORE OFTEN.
AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE SAME
COMMUNITIES ARE MOST IMPACTED
BY THE CHANGE OF MOST IMPACTED
BY NOT BEING PROVIDED TO
TRANSIT PASS BY THEIR EMPLOYER.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO MOVE
TOWARD EMPLOYEES GETTING A
SUBSIDIZED TRANSIT PASS.
I AM MORE LIKELY, AND HAVE BEEN
MORE LIKELY TO TAKE TRANSIT
WHEN I HAVE HAD A SUBSIDIZED
PAST.
AND MORE LIKELY TO DRIVE MY CAR
WHEN I DIDN'T.
MY BEST FRIEND, HEATHER,
TRANSIT PASS ELIMINATED AT WORK
EARLIER THIS YEAR AS PART OF
SOME CORPORATE BELT-TIGHTENING.
THIS MADE THEM DECIDE TO
PURCHASE A CAR.
IT ALSO MEANS THAT THEY ARE NOT
TAKING TRANSIT ON THE WEEKEND
WITH THE CHILD.
AND DECIDED TO DRIVE EVERYWHERE
BECAUSE THEY DO THE COST
CALCULATION.
$6 ROUND-TRIP.
THE TIME IT TAKES ON A BUS AND
THEY HAVE MADE THE DECISION
BECAUSE OF, PARTIALLY BECAUSE
OF THE TRANSIT PASS BEING
ELIMINATED, TO TAKE THEIR CAR.
AND IT IS NOT JUST NOT HAVING A
PASS THAT MAKES PEOPLE CHOOSE
TO NOT DRIVE, OR TO DRIVE.
BUT, IT IS A BIG, BIG FACTOR.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT LOWER
PAID WORKERS HAVE AN EMPLOYER
PAST, NOT JUST HIGHER PAID
WORKERS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT HALF
OF SEATTLE'S RISING EMISSIONS
COME FROM PASSENGER
TRANSPORTATION.
THIS IS A REALLY GOOD WAY TO
ADDRESS THE CLIMATE MOBILE
EMERGENCY.
IT'S A HUMAN RIGHT.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRANSIT
FREE-FOR-ALL ONE DAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, LAURA.
>>
>> HELLO.
IS ONE OKAY, TOO.?
MY NAME IS ALANNA PETTIS. I'M
WITH THE ORGANIZING DIRECTOR.
AND, I JUST WANT TO SHARE OUR
EXPERIENCE WITH TRANSIT.
AT SAGE.
WE ARE A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION, A 15 EMPLOYEES.
AND ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE A
FULLY PAID FOR, UNLIMITED ORCA
PASS IS PART OF OUR EMPLOYMENT.
AND WE ARE A SMALL, NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION.
IN THE CITY.
IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I HAVE
COLLEAGUES WHO DON'T OWN CARS.
AND THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY CAN
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK
WITH US AND GET TO MEETINGS AND
DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN THE
CITY IS WITH TRANSIT.
AND ALSO, BECAUSE THIS REFLECTS
OUR VALUES.
THIS IS REALLY WHAT WE ARE
ABOUT.
AND IT IS IMPORTANT, NOT JUST
FOR US, BUT FOR OTHERS.
SO, WE VERY MUCH KNOW THAT WE
CAN DO IT.
AND, NO CERTAINLY, THAT LARGE
EMPLOYERS CAN DO IT AS WELL.
SO, WHAT WE ARE ASKING OF THE
CITY IN SUPPORT OF ORCA FOR ALL
IS TO REQUIRE ALL, AT LEAST
LARGE EMPLOYERS, TO SUBSIDIZE
TRANSIT FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.
THAT MEANS FULL-TIME, PART-
TIME, SEASONAL, TEMPORARY, AND
CONTRACTORS.
THAT ARE UNDER, THAT ARE
REQUIRED FOR WHATEVER THEY NEED
TO HAPPEN, SUCH AS JANITORIAL,
CONSTRUCTION, OTHERWISE.
AND, WE EXPECT THIS TO BE PART
OF THE PATH TO CREATING FREE
TRANSIT FOR ALL.
IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO IF
WE ARE EVEN GOING TO CONSIDER
CONGESTION PRICING.
IT NEEDS TO BE COUPLED WITH
FREE TRANSIT FOR ALL.
AND, THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
RIGHT NOW, THE PUBLIC IS
SUBSIDIZING ALL OF OUR TRANSIT
THAT PRIVATE EMPLOYERS RELY ON
DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
AND, IT IS DONE THROUGH
REGRESSIVE TAXING.
AND, IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT LARGE
EMPLOYERS, THAT EMPLOYERS
OVERALL PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE
TOWARDS US.
WE NEED TO AND CRIMINALIZING
POVERTY, AND CRIMINALIZING
PEOPLE WHO JUST NEED TO GET
AROUND THE CITY.
AND, THE WAY TO DO THAT IS FREE
TRANSIT FOR ALL.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP.
AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN, ON BEHALF OF SAGE, WE
WILL DEEPLY MISS YOU.
>> EMILY?
EMILY, YOU ARE GOING TO BE
FOLLOWED BY LEE BRUCE, AND THEN
ST MINTS MAYBE?
AND THEN TV HALVERSON.
>> HI THERE.
EMILY JOHNSON 5360 SEATTLE.
MIKE DEFINITELY WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.
I THINK WE COULD ALL SPEND THE
ENTIRE AFTERNOON SAYING THAT IT
WOULD STILL FEEL AS IF THERE IS
A LOT LEFT TO BE SAID.
WE'RE REALLY GOING TO MISS YOU.
THE, I SUPPORT ORCA FOR ALL AND
WE AS AN ORGANIZATION SUPPORT
ORCA FOR ALL BECAUSE, TRANSIT
IS A CRITICAL EQUITY ISSUE AND
ALSO, A CRITICAL CLIMATE ISSUE.
WE CAN'T POSSIBLY MEET EVEN OUR
EXISTING CLIMATE GOALS, LET
ALONE THE AMBITIOUS GREEN NEW
DEAL STYLE GOAL THAT WE HAVE
ALL AGREED WE NEED TO MEET.
WITHOUT VASTLY INCREASING THE
USE OF TRANSIT IN SEATTLE.
AND BUSINESS NEEDS TO HELP US
DO THAT.
IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT
THEY JUST GENERALLY HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY, AS WE ALL DO,
TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, THE
BUSINESSES IN PARTICULAR,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY BRING IN
HIGH WAGE WORKERS, COMPLETELY
CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE OF
HOUSING, AND OF CONGESTION IN
THE CITY AND THEY NEED HELP
MITIGATE THOSE IMPACTS THAT
THEY HAVE.
AND, IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT WE DO
NEED, I BELIEVE CONGESTION
PRICING. BUT IN ORDER TO MAKE
THAT EQUITABLE, WE HAVE TO HAVE
FREE TRANSIT.
IT HAS TO BE AVAILABLE TO ALL.
SO, IT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT BUSINESSES SUPPORT FREE
TRANSIT FOR HIGHER WAGE WORKERS
, BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY REALLY
HELPS PEOPLE FEEL INVESTED IN
THE TRANSIT SYSTEM, AND THOSE
FOLKS ARE MORE LIKELY TO
DEMAND, YOU KNOW, BETTER
SERVICE OR YOU KNOW, THE SAME
WAY THAT WE HAVE MEDICARE FOR
EVERYBODY.
WE NEED TO HAVE FREE TRANSIT
FOR EVERYBODY.
BUT OF COURSE, IF WE DON'T ALSO
HAVE FREE TRANSIT FOR LOW
INCOME AND MIDDLE INCOME
WORKERS, WHAT HAPPENS IS WE
JUST ARE INCREASING THE
DYSTOPIAN INEQUALITY THAT WE
ALREADY HAVE.
IT'S REALLY ESSENTIAL THAT IS
FOR AFFORDABLE, IT'S FOR FULL-
TIME EMPLOYEES, PART-TIME
EMPLOYEES, FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
AT A MINIMUM, BIG BUSINESSES
AND IDEALLY FOR EVERYBODY.
AND SUBSIDIZE IT 100%.
THANK YOU.
>> LEE.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR DURKIN.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND
ESPECIALLY RETIRING CHAIR,
MICHAEL BRIAN.
CITY COUNCIL AND SDOT FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND YOUR RESPONSE
WITHIN THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS TO
SEATTLE'S TRAFFIC SAFETY
CRISIS.
I AM DISAPPOINTED IN SDOT'S
PLAN TO IMPLEMENT TO DEMAND $2
MILLION TO CAPITAL INVESTMENTS
FOR SAFETY CORRIDOR PROJECT IN
THE YEARS 2020 THROUGH 2040 -
2024.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, LOCAL
CITIZEN GROUPS HAD TO FIGHT
HARD TO GET GRANTS FOR ONE
PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL AT 92nd AND
SOME OTHER MINOR IMPROVEMENTS
FOR SLIGHTLY OLDER, OVER $1
MILLION.
THAT'S ABOUT ONE HALF OF SDOT
'S 4 YOUR PLEDGE.
THIS YEAR, SDOT SPENT $19.6
MILLION TO REPAVE THE ROAD.
2 - $2 MILLION FEDERAL FOR FOUR
YEARS FAILS AGAINST THAT.
BUT, I HEARTILY WELCOME SDOT'S
PLEDGE TO LAUNCH A PLANNING
STUDY FOR AURORA, BELATEDLY IN
2021.
TO DEVELOP A LONG-TERM PLAN FOR
--.
I EARNESTLY HOPE IT COMES TO
FRUITION.
17 YEARS AGO, ON AUGUST 8th
2002, MAYOR NICHOLS ANNOUNCED A
SIMILAR MAJOR STUDY FOR AURORA.
THE STUDY WAS COMPLETED LONG
AGO.
BUT, LIKE MANY OTHER STUDIES
BEFORE AND SINCE, IT
LANGUISHED.
THROUGH MAYORS NICHOLS, MAYOR
McCANN, MAYOR MURRAY, MAYOR
MERGES, AND NOW MAYOR DURKIN.
NO MAJOR IMPROVEMENT WAS EVER
IMPLEMENTED.
AND THIS YEAR, AURORA HAS
SUFFERED 7 DEATHS, SIX OF THEM
PEDESTRIANS AND 6 FATAL
CRASHES.
I HOPE THAT HIS NEW COMMITMENT
FINALLY BEARS EQUITABLE FRUIT,
AND THAT IT IS IMPLEMENTED
WITHIN THE 10 OR 20 YEARS I
HAVE LEFT IN MY LIFETIME.
>> IF YOU COULD WRAP UP, LEE.
>> THE PEDESTRIAN UNSAFE 1950s
HIGHWAY IS AT LONG LAST
TRANSFORMED INTO A 21st CENTURY
CITY STREET -- PEOPLE AND ITS
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, LEE.
SORRY, IS IT ST?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT ORCA FOR ALL.
AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING
ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO
ALL EMPLOYEES.
I HAVE, AND I JUST WANTED TO
DESCRIBE A LITTLE BIT OF MY
PRIVATE, MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
IN THIS MATTER.
RIDING BUSES IN SEATTLE FOR
MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND I HAVE SEEN THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN RIDERSHIP, REGULAR
RIDERSHIP, BEFORE ANY OF THOSE
DISCOUNTS STARTED.
I HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS TO
BUSES AROUND THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON WHEN THEY STARTED
PROVIDING THEIR FREE ORCA CARDS
TO STUDENTS.
I HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENED TO
THAT NOW RIDERSHIP IS VERY,
VERY BUSY.
THERE IS NO NEED FOR PEOPLE TO
USE THEIR PRIVATE CARS.
AND HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL
IMPROVE THE STREETS AROUND.
I HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS AT
MICROSOFT WHEN EVERYBODY GOT
FREE ORCA CARDS, OR AT THAT
TIME, IT WAS BEFORE ORCA.
FREE TRANSPORTATION, FREE BUS
PASS.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, A LOT MORE
PEOPLE STARTED USING THE BUSES.
MICROSOFT WAS ABLE TO BUILD
SMALLER PARKING LOTS, AND SOME
OF THE TRAFFIC WAS ALLEVIATED.
SEEMS TO ME THAT EVERYWHERE
PASSES ARE BEING OFFERED, IT IS
MUCH EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO RIDE
IN, TO USE PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION.
LESS CARS ON THE ROADS, LESS
PARKING, LESS HUGE PARKING LOTS
EVERYWHERE.
THE BENEFITS ARE ENORMOUS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO
ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO IT, SO WE
CAN PROVIDE IT TO LOWER WAGE
WORKERS AS WELL AS TO PEOPLE
LIKE WORKERS LIKE PEOPLE WHO
WORKED AT MICROSOFT.
AND STUDENTS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> I HOPE THAT WILL HAPPEN.
THANKS.
>> WORK ON IT.
FOR SURE.
Mc HALVERSON IS NEXT.
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY KIMBERLY
KINCHEN THE STOMACH CLAY, AND
BALMY CARLETON.
>> YES.
MY NAME IS Mc HALVERSON.
I'M JUST --.
I AM TALKING ABOUT MISSION ZERO
WHEN VISION ZERO WAS INITIATED,
WITH DIRECTOR COOLEY, WHO
REFERENCED THE WASHINGTON STATE
HIGHWAY SAFETY COMMISSION'S
REPORT, IT SAID THAT WHILE
ACCIDENTS BETWEEN FREIGHT
TRUCKS AND PEDESTRIANS AND
BICYCLISTS WAS ONLY 5%, IT
ACCOUNTED FOR 45% OF
FATALITIES.
AND THE RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT
YOU KEEP FREIGHT TRUCKS AND
BICYCLES AND PEDESTRIANS APART.
I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE
DOING WITH THAT VISION ZERO.
HOWEVER, THERE IS A PROPOSAL
FROM SPU DOWN IN THE INDUSTRIAL
AREA, WHERE THEY CALL IT THE
SOUTH PARK PUNK STATION.
IT IS ACTUALLY IN RIVERPARK.
BUT SOUTH PARK THAT'S THE NAME
I GUESS.
WHEREBY, THEY ARE GOING TO PUT
IN THIS HUGE RECREATION PLOT.
THE ZONING DOWN THERE
PROHIBITED.
VISION ZERO WOULD PROHIBIT IT,
BECAUSE MANY, MANY FREIGHT
TRUCKS --.
VERY HIGH-END EQUIPMENT, --
LIFT TRUCKS, TRAINS.
IT IS NOT AN AREA FOR
RECREATION.
AS I SAID, THE ZONING PROHIBITS
IT.
BUT, I HAVE HERE, A COPY OF THE
PLAT FOR SOUTH RIVERSIDE DRIVE,
AND I BELIEVE IT WITH YOU, SO
THAT YOU CAN SEE WHO OWNS WHAT
IN THAT AREA.
I HAVE A COPY OF THEIR PROPOSED
DEVELOPMENT, WHICH SHOWS THAT
THEY THINK THERE IS STILL, HAVE
A LEGAL DESCRIPTION BEFORE THE
RIVER --.
BEFORE THE RIVER WAS
STRAIGHTENED.
THESE TWO LOTS AND THE ROAD AND
WERE ON THE RIVER.
BUT WHEN THEY COMPLETED THE
STRAIGHTENING OF THE RIVER IN
1915, THEY WERE NO LONGER ON
THE RIVER.
SO, THEY ARE CLAIMING THAT THEY
OWN SOMETHING THEY DO NOT.
I HAVE THAT -- WAS ON THE
RIVER.
WHEN THE RIVER WAS
STRAIGHTENED.
SDOT MAY KNOW CLAIM THAT THAT
WAS THE ROAD AT ANY TIME.
NOW, 104 YEARS LATER, THEY COME
BACK AND SAY, THAT IS A ROAD
IN.
WERE GONNA PUT SOMETHING IN
THE.
SO, I WILL LEAVE A COPY OF THE
PLAN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH
SDOT.
FIRST , AFTER I EMAILED THEM,
THEY SAID HE WAS TURNING IT
OVER TO THE SDOT LEGAL TEAM.
AND THAT THEY WOULD BE IN
TOUCH.
BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING
FURTHER FROM THEM.
IF THEY ARE, THEIR LEGAL TEAM
KNOWS ANY LAW, THEY KNOW I AM
RIGHT.
AND I HAVE THE LEGALS --.
>> YOUR TIME IS UP, MC.
IF YOU WANT TO HAND THAT -
>> THAT GOES WITH THEM.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU.
KIMBERLY.
>> I KNOW I AM SUPPOSED TO BE
RESPECTFUL, BUT I'M A LITTLE
BIT UPSET SO I'M JUST GOING TO
SAY THAT IS REALLY INTERESTING
TO THINK ABOUT DISTRICT 4
CANDIDATE SHOWED UP TO
CANDIDATE FORUMS ABOUT
TRANSPORTATION AND
SUSTAINABILITY, WHICH ONES
DIDN'T.
WAS HERE TODAY.
MY NAME IS KIMBERLY KITCHEN AND
I'M A RESIDENT OF CAPITOL HILL
WHO CANNOT DRIVE SO I DEPEND ON
TRANSIT AND BIKING AND WALKING
WHEREVER I TRAVEL.
I ONLY INITIALLY PLANNED TO
COME TO THIS MEETING BECAUSE IT
IS MR. O'BRIEN'S LAST COMMITTEE
MEETING, AND I WANTED TO THANK
YOU FOR ALL OF HIS WORK TO MAKE
OUR CITY BETTER FOR EVERYONE.
I THINK THAT YOU REALLY DO THAT
EVERY DAY.
IT IS REALLY VISIBLE.
SO, I THANK YOU.
YOU ARE A LIGHT.
YOU REALLY ARE A LIGHT, AND A
TIME THAT, IT FEELS LIKE IT'S
GETTING A LITTLE BIT DARK.
BUT, IT TURNS OUT MY FRIEND ACE
COULD NOT MAKE IT ANY DID HAVE
COMMENTS ABOUT ORCA FOR ALL, SO
I'M GOING TO BE HERE IN HIS
PLACE.
HIS REAL NAME IS ANDREW GRANT
HOUSTON.
SO, HERE IS WHAT ACE WOULD LIKE
YOU TO CONSIDER ABOUT ORCA FOR
ALL.
ACCORDING TO THE UNITED
NATIONS, WE NEED TO REDUCE OUR
CARBON EMISSIONS BY 7.6%
ANNUALLY TO MEET OUR CLIMATE
GOALS.
IN SEATTLE, THAT MEANS REDUCING
OUR OMISSION TO TRANSPORTATION,
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S HER
BIGGEST SOURCE OF OMISSIONS.
SO, GETTING MORE PEOPLE TO USE
TRANSIT IS THE FASTEST SOLUTION
TO HITTING OUR GOALS FOR NEXT
YEAR.
THE OTHER THING THAT HE WOULD
LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER, AND THIS
IS PROBABLY ALSO A LITTLE --
FURTHER FOR YOU FOLKS IN THE
ROOM TO THINK ABOUT, IS TO
THINK ABOUT CREATING A SYSTEM
WHERE FREELANCERS GET PRETAX
ORCA PASSES.
ACE WORKS ON HIS OWN AND THAT
WOULD REDUCE HIS CURRENT COSTS.
HE SAYS AT HIS LAST JOB, HE
PAID ONLY $34 FOR THE $99 PASS
THAT HE GETS NOW. IF THERE ARE
ANY OTHER LIKE FORMER
FREELANCERS IN THE ROOM LIKE
MYSELF, THAT COULD ACTUALLY
MAKE A PRETTY BIG DIFFERENCE,
AND I GUESS MY TIME IS UP, SO
AGAIN, THANK YOU MR. O'BRIEN.
>> THANKS, KIMBERLY.
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
SCOTT?
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS SCOTT McCLAY.
I WORK WITH 350 SEATTLE.
I AM HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO
PASS ORCA FOR ALL.
THE BIG BUSINESS COMPONENT
FIRST.
ORCA FOR ALL US PEOPLE HAVE
SAID, I WANT TO REITERATE, IS
AN EQUITY ISSUE AND ALSO A
CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUE.
AND I WANT TO MENTION THE
VISION.
WERE UP AGAINST A VERY HARD
ROCK FOR CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND, MY VISION IS THAT WE HAVE
TO GET RID OF CARS.
AT SOME POINT IN THE NOT-TOO-
DISTANT FUTURE, WE WILL NOT
HAVE CARS AS A NORMAL THING.
AND TRANSIT WILL BE THE WAY TO
GET AROUND.
AND THAT WILL BE A BEAUTIFUL
VISION, BECAUSE, WE WILL BE
MUCH MORE, WALKING, BIKING,
BUSING.
THERE WILL BE A MUCH MORE
COMMUNITY-BASED FEELING.
AND I CAN'T GO INTO IT, BUT IT
WILL BE A BEAUTIFUL VISION OF A
MUCH MORE RELAXED, REDUCED PACE
- I SAY WE CAN HAVE CARS
BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE SIXTH
MASS EXTINCTION WE CAN KEEP
MINING THE EARTH FOR CREATING
ELECTRIC CARS FOR EVERYBODY.
>> I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS
MOMENT TO REALLY THANK
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN,
ESPECIALLY FOR HIS WORK ON THE
GREEN NEW DEAL.
FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD
SECONDHAND, IT HAS BEEN
AMAZING, AND WE ARE MUCH
FARTHER ALONG IN PUSHING THE
GREEN NEW DEAL THAN I EVER
EXPECTED.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PUSHING
NEXT YEAR WITH THE COUNCIL.
AND WE WILL MISS YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
BOBBY?
>> BOBBY, YOU ARE GOING TO BE
FOLLOWED BY KAREN TAYLOR.
AND THEN, HARRY MEYER.
AND AFTER KAREN, I AM GOING TO
LOWER THE TIME TO NUM ONE
MINUTE AND JUST ASK FOLKS TO
TRY TO SHORTEN THEIR COMMENTS,
JUST SO WE CAN HOPEFULLY GET
THROUGH ALL THE AGENDA ITEMS
BEFORE FOLKS AFTER RUN OUT OF
HERE.
GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS BOBBY.
SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ORCA FOR
ALL TODAY.
I AM ACTUALLY VISITING FROM
OLYMPIA, WHERE OUR TRANSIT
AGENCY, INTERSTATE TRANSIT,
RECENTLY DECIDED TO ELIMINATE
FARES, SYSTEMWIDE, STARTING
JANUARY 1. I WAS PART OF SOME
OF THE ADVOCACY WORK
SURROUNDING THAT EFFORT THROUGH
THE ORGANIZATION, OLYMPIA
ASSEMBLY.
AND A COMPONENT OF THAT WORK WAS
BUS RIDER OUTREACH.
JUST WRITING ALL THE BUSES AND
TALKING TO HUNDREDS OF BUS
RIDERS ABOUT WHAT FAIR FREE
WOULD MEAN TO THEM.
AND IN MY ESTIMATION, ABOUT 97%
OF WRITERS SUPPORTED FAIR FREE.
OR AT LEAST VERY INTRIGUED BY
THE IDEA.
AND MOST RIDERS EXPRESSED
PRETTY SIMILAR REASONS FOR
SUPPORTING IT.
WHETHER IT WAS FROM HEIGHTENED
MOBILITY, RIGHT, INCREASED
ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING,
SERVICES, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES,
FOR LOW INCOME AND MARGINALIZED
RESIDENTS, TO MITIGATING THE
CLIMATE CRISIS, ANOTHER SOCIAL
CONSEQUENCES OF DRIVING.
AND ALSO, OTHER ISSUES POPPED
UP, LIKE PEOPLE WERE NOTING
THAT FAIR COLLECTION IS
ACTUALLY AN IMPORTANT WORK
PLACE SAFETY ISSUE.
YOU KNOW, IN THE UNITED STATES,
MAJORITY OF DRIVER - RIDER
ALTERCATIONS RESULT FROM FAIR
COLLECTION.
SO, ELIMINATING FARES, OR AT
LEAST PROVIDING FREE OR
SUBSIDIZED PASS IS A WORKPLACE
SAFETY MEASURE FOR TRANSIT
OPERATORS.
SO, ORCA FOR ALL IS NOT QUITE
FAIR FREE, BUT IT IS AN
IMPORTANT STEP IN THAT
DIRECTION.
AND I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT
THE BENEFITS THAT WE EXPECT TO
SEE IN OLYMPIA COULD ALSO BE
GENERATED BY ORCA FOR ALL HERE
IN SEATTLE.
SO, -
>> YEAH, THANK YOU, BOBBY.
KAREN?
>> HI.
MY NAME IS KAREN.
FIRST I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR
ALL YOU DO.
THE MAIN THING IS JUST, IT
SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE LISTENING.
YOU LOOK AT US, YOU MAKE FACIAL
EXPRESSIONS THAT RESPOND TO
WHAT WE ARE SAYING.
AND THEN, YOU DO STUFF BASED ON
THAT INFORMATION, WHICH SEEMS
LIKE THE LOWEST POSSIBLE BAR,
BUT YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED WHEN
I AM HERE IT COUNCIL.
ESPECIALLY IN HEARINGS.
BUT IN THESE MEETINGS, TOO.
, IT MUST BE HARD TO LISTEN FOR
A LONG TIME.
SO, THANK YOU.
AS ALWAYS, I AM A PROUD MEMBER
OF TRANSIT RIDERS UNION, BUT I
SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
I GO WITH MY DAD BACK AND FORTH
A LOT TO HANG OUT WITH MY
FAMILY ON THE EAST SIDE.
AND HE HAS A MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES THAT MAKE IT REALLY
OBSESSIVE ABOUT TRAFFIC.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE ROAD RAGE OR
WHATEVER.
SO, WHEN WE GO TOGETHER, I
DON'T DRIVE, SO WHEN WE GO
TOGETHER, IT IS LIKE A BAD WAY
TO START - WHY AM I AT ZERO?
>> YOU GET ONE MORE MINUTE.
SORRY.
>> IT'S A BAD WAY TO START OUR
INTERACTIONS TOGETHER.
AND I ALWAYS JUST PICTURE LIKE
GOING, I JUST PICTURE GOING ON
A TRAIN OR SOMETHING.
EITHER WITH HIM OR ALONE.
I CAN SEE THE POSITIVE VISION
OF IT.
AND, THE OTHER THING IS, THE
REASON BUSINESSES SHOULD PAY
FOR ORCA FOR ALL, IS THE WAY IT
WORKS, AS THEY TAKE OUR BODIES
AND A TIME TO MAKE MONEY.
AND ANOTHER WHERE THEY TAKE OUR
BODIES AND OUR TIME IS FROM OUR
COMMUNITY.
AND, IF FOLKS COULD BE ON THE
BUS, LIKE THE GET SORT OF A
LITTLE BIT BACK.
THEIR HUMANITY ON THEIR TIME,
THEY COULD TALK TO A FRIEND,
THEY COULD READ A BOOK, THEY
COULD DO WRITING OR SOMETHING
ELSE THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT.
SO, IT WOULD REDUCE, THEY ARE
TAKING THAT WITHOUT PAYING US,
OR PAYING OTHER FOLKS.
AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO
ANYTHING UNLESS WE FORCE THEM
TO DO IT.
SO, PLEASE FORCE THEM TO DO IT
AND MAKE TRANSIT FREE FOR
EVERYBODY.
I AM DISABLED AND IT IS SILLY
THAT I STILL HAVE TO PAY.
THANK YOU.
BY.
>> GOODBYE.
>> SO, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO
NUM ONE MINUTE ON THE CLOCK AND
ASK FOLKS TO DO THE BEST TO
STAY WITHIN THAT, JUST SO WE
CAN GET TO THE AGENDA.
WE STILL HAVE 9 MORE FOLKS
SIGNED UP TO COMMENT.
SO, HARRY, YOUR FIRST.
THEN YOU ARE NEXT.
THEN MARY KILEY CRANFIELD AND
THEN DOUGLAS SEXTON.
>> JUST TALKED TWICE AS FAST
AND.
SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I AM HARRY MAR.
I'M A DATA ANALYST AND LIVE IN
DISTRICT 6. I RIDE THE 44 BUS
TO WORK EVERYDAY.
AND HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION FOR ORCA
FOR ALL.
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT LOW-WAGE
WORKERS STRUGGLE TO GET AROUND
STILL.
A FEW YEARS AGO, AND IS A
RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATE, IN AND
OUT.
SO, I HAD A COUPLE OF JOBS
TAKING CODING CLASSES AND ONE
WAS AT A FREMONT SANDWICH SHOP.
AND WE WERE ALL PRETTY BROKE,
RECENT GRADUATES.
WE HAD THIS CASH TIP JAR AT THE
END, AND WE DIVIDE UP TIPS AT
THE END OF EVERYBODY'S SHIFTS.
AND WE WERE LIKE MAN, I HOPE WE
GET ENOUGH TO MAKE US FAIR
TODAY.
AND, IT WAS KIND OF A JOKE
THEN, BUT THEN ALSO KIND OF
WASN'T, BECAUSE YOU HIKE ACROSS
THE CITY IT'S A SLOW DAY.
AND RAINY.
WHICH IT OFTEN WAS ON SLOW
DAYS.
SO, NOW I AM WORKING IN TECH
AND GOT A BUS PASS WITH WORK.
AT A TIME, AND IT DOESN'T MAKE
SENSE.
SO, I THINK PEOPLE WHO NEED THE
PASS IS THE MOST OF THE LEAST
LIKELY TO GET THEM.
SO, PLEASE WORK ON THEM.
THANKS.
>> THANKS, HARRY.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS MARY KILEY CRANFORD.
AND I LIVE IN D6 AND AM A
MEMBER OF THE TRANS-TRANSIT
RIDERS UNION AND I'M HERE TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT IS ORCA FOR
ALL.
WORKING COMMUNITY BENEFITS FOR
A LARGE EMPLOYER DOWNTOWN.
SO, I GET TO SPEAK TO A LOT OF
EMPLOYEES, AND WHEN THEY
REALIZE THEY GET A FREE ORCA
PASS, THE FACE LIGHTS UP.
REALIZING THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS
THEY HAVE, AND HONESTLY, THE
STRESS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO
FIGURE OUT WHEN YOU MOVE TO A
NEW CITY, HOW TO GET AN ORCA
CARTER HOW TO DO ALL THESE
THINGS.
IT ELIMINATES SO MANY BARRIERS,
EVEN JUST PERCEIVED BARRIERS,
TO WERE TAKING PUBLIC TRANSIT,
WHICH IS A LOT EASIER WAY TO
GET TO WORK.
I TAKE THE E LINE EVERY DAY AND
CONSIDER MYSELF AN E LINE
EVANGELIST FOR THAT COMMUTE.
IT IS AN EXTREMELY POSITIVE
IMPACT FOR ANYONE WHO GETS A
ORCA CARD.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT
EQUITABLE IN OUR CITY, AND I
THINK WE NEED TO PUSH TO MAKE
THAT EQUITABLE FOR ALL THAT
LIVE IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> DOUGLAS?
DOUGLAS, YOU ARE GOING TO BE
FOLLOWED BY PACIFIC NORTHWEST
TRANSIT DADDY.
AND THEN, TIFFANY McCOY, AND
CARL NELSON.
>> I AM DOUGLAS SEXTON.
I LIVE IN D 4. I WORK IN A
SMALL TEXT ON IT.
WE ONLY HAVE 4 EMPLOYEES IN
SEATTLE.
BUT WE DO HAVE TRANSIT
BENEFITS.
AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I CAN
PERSONALLY ATTEST THAT HAVING
TRANSIT BENEFITS IS HUGE.
I ALMOST NEVER HAVE TO USE A
CAR.
IT IS GREAT.
I USE TRANSIT MORE.
BUT I KNOW MY SITUATION IS NOT
THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE'S
SITUATION, BECAUSE, JUST
GENERALLY, ACROSS THE U.S.,
WAGES HAVE BEEN STAGNANT AND
WITH INCREASING HOUSING PRICES,
AND INCREASING COLLEGE
TUITIONS, IT CAN LOOK LIKE
THINGS ARE STAGNANT OR IN
DECLINE FOR PEOPLE.
IT IS REALLY HARD TO ASK FOR
PEOPLE TO PAY MORE AND SAY
CONGESTION PRICING OR BUYING
ELECTRIC CARS.
SO, I THINK, THERE IS
DIFFICULTIES IN DOING THE
SOLUTIONS.
AND, I SEE PUBLIC TRANSIT, NOT
ONLY AS A MORE EQUITABLE THING,
BECAUSE THERE IS LOWER COST OF
ENTRY FOR PEOPLE, BUT ALSO, THE
RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS, DOUGLAS.
ALL RIGHT, WHO'S THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST TRANSIT DADDY?
>> HOW YOU DOING?
I'M PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRANSIT
DADDY.
RUN A BLOG ON INSTAGRAM.
AS A PERSON WHO HAD TO MAKE A
HEART -- BETWEEN A LIFT GARDEN
EATING, I CAN HAVE THREE
REASONS WHY WE NEED ORCA FOR
LEFT.
THE FIRST REASON IS WE ARE
STANDING ON INDIGENOUS LAND.
THE -- THIS LAND FOR THOUSANDS
OF YEARS WITHOUT RESTRICTION.
FAST FORWARD 1850 ON THE
SIGNING OF THE TREATY OF
ELLIOTT BAY, WE HAVE NOW
LIMITED THAT MOBILITY BY HOUR
-- INEFFICIENT TRANSIT
ASSISTANT SYSTEM.
WE HAVE A BUNCH OF PROGRAMS
DESIGNED TO HELP DIFFERENT
PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT
CIRCUMSTANCES GET DIFFERENT
ORCA CARDS.
THOSE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS GET
DIFFERENTLY AT DIFFERENT TIMES
FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
IT IS WILDLY INEFFICIENT.
ORCA FOR ALL IS PRETTY SIMPLE.
THE THIRD REASON IS I DO MY
BLOOD MOSTLY TO FOCUS ON
WASHINGTON STATE.
AMAZING RURAL TRANSIT NETWORK.
THE RURAL AGENCIES LIKE
JEFFERSON TRANSFERRED -- TO
GETTING PEOPLE TO AND FROM
SEATTLE IS OFFICIALLY AS
HUMANLY POSSIBLE.
THAT ARE COMING TO SEATTLEFOR
WRITING SHARE BUT ALSO COMING
TO WORK, INCLUDING ONE -- ALL
THE WAY FROM PORTS TO SEATTLE
TO WORK AT A BANK.
AND THERE IS NO POSSIBLE REASON
WHY A PERSON SHOULD GET ALL THE
WAY TO OUR DOORSTEP AND HAVE TO
BE TURNED AWAY SIMPLY BECAUSE
THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO
TRANSPORTATION.
THERE IS FUNDAMENTALLY NO
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RIGHT THAT
YOU HAVE THAT YOU CAN USE AN
ARRAY THE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE.
SO, CONSIDERATE, AND YOU ALL
ROCK.
>> THANK YOU.
TIFFANY.
>> HI.
TIFFANY McCOY, LEADER -- REAL
CHANGE OR TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT
FOR THE ORCA FOR ALL
RESOLUTION.
I REALLY WISH WE WERE ABLE TO
GET THE WHOLE THING PASSED ON
TO YOU, COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN,
BUT HOPEFULLY THE NEXT PERSON
IS JUST AS AWESOME AND IF NOT,
WE WILL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
SO, I'M SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY
TO THE RESOLUTION BASED
RESOLUTION SUPPORT, BUT
SPECIFICALLY, LIKE FOR OUR
VENDORS, ORCA LIFT IS STILL
COSPER HAVE A. THAT $40 - $50,
IT'S STILL A DECISION BETWEEN
FOOD, BUYING -- TO GO MAKE
MONEY, OR THAN WHETHER OR NOT
THEY ARE ABLE TO LIKE GO OUT OF
TOWN FOR A WEEKEND IF THEY HAVE
SOME EXTRA CASH.
SO, GETTING TO A ZERO FAIR IS
JUST WHAT IS NEEDED TO LIKE,
NOT AS IT IS OF SAID,
CRIMINALIZE HOMELESSNESS AND
JUST TO ALLOW OUR VENDORS ARE
OUT THERE DOING THEIR JOB EVERY
DAY, IT IS NOT LIKE
PROHIBITIVE, OH, DO I GET TO GO
TO MY BUS TODAY?
úDO I HAVE ENOUGH FOR BUSTER?
SO, $50 OR WHATEVER IT IS IS
STILL PROHIBITIVE.
AND SECOND OF ALL, FAIR
ENFORCEMENT, WE JUST NEED TO
GET RID OF FAIR ENFORCEMENT.
AND, END OF STORY.
WE KNOW THAT THEY SPECIFICALLY
FOCUS ON BLACK AND BROWN BODIES
. THAT JUST CAME OUT IN THE
SEATTLE TIMES REPORT.
MY TIME IS UP, BUT WE NEED FREE
TRANSIT PERGOLAS JOIN KANSAS
CITY AND MISSOURI AND LET'S
JUST MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
IT'S COMMON SENSE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS, TIFFANY.
>> CARL NELSON IS NEXT.
CARL, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
SARAH SHIPLEY AND LORRAINE
EFRON A AND MATTHEW MIKE.
>> HELLO THERE.
MY NAME IS CARL NELSON.
I AM AN 11 YEAR DISTRICT 4
RESIDENCE IN SEATTLE AND I'VE
NEVER OWNED A CAR.
I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN ONE IN
SEATTLE.
PART OF THE REASON THAT IS IS
BECAUSE WE HAVE A ROBUST PUBLIC
TRANSIT SYSTEM.
I AM FORTUNATE, BEING SELF-
EMPLOYED, MY EMPLOYER COVERED
MY PAST.
COMING DOWN TO SPEAK TODAY COST
ME, WHAT IS LIKE $5, SOMETHING
LIKE THAT?
I CAN SWING IT.
BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T.
I AM HERE TO SUPPORT ORCA FOR
ALL BECAUSE IT OPENS UP HER
CITY TO PEOPLE WHO REALLY,
REALLY NEEDED.
IT'S THERE, EASY, AND I'M SURE
PROBABLY PAYS PENNIES ON THE
DOLLAR IN THE LONG RUN.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
WE WILL MISS YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SARAH?
>> HI.
MY NAME IS SARAH SHIVELY. I
LIVE IN SOUTH SEATTLE AND I
WORK DOWNTOWN.
AND I TAKE TRANSIT EVERYDAY.
EITHER TAKE THE LIGHT RAIL AT
THE NUMBER 7 AND I AM REALLY
LUCKY BECAUSE I HAVE AN ORCA
PASSED FROM MY WORK THAT I CAN
USE.
BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE
ABILITY TO GET TO AND FROM WORK
SHOULD BE BASED ON WHAT.
ORCA FOR ALL IS ALSO SOMETHING
THAT WE NEED TO DO TO CONFRONT
OUR CURRENT CLIMATE EMERGENCY.
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ALREADY
SUPPORTED A GREENER DEAL, SAID
THAT THEY SUPPORTED AND THAT WE
ALL KNOW THAT PASSENGER TRANSIT
IS A LARGEST SORT OF CLIMATE
EMISSIONS.
SO, ORCA FOR ALL IS A STEP WE
HAVE TO TAKE TO STICK TO THE
GREEN NEW DEAL COMMITMENT THAT
WE MADE.
>> THANK YOU, SARAH.
>> LORRAINE?
>> HI.
I AM LORRAINE PRANCE, AND I
ALSO WORK DOWNTOWN.
AND I HAVE ALWAYS WORKED FOR AN
AGENCY DOWNTOWN, AND I HAVE
ALWAYS HAD, A PAID ORCA PAST.
BUT THE CONTRACTORS WHO CLEAN
MY BUILDING AND MY OFFICE DO
NOT.
AND I KNOW HOW FRAGILE THEIR
LIVES ARE.
BECAUSE, I TALKED TO THEM ALL
THE TIME.
AND ORCA PASSES ARE NOT CHEAP.
ORCA BUS FARES ARE NOT CHEAP.
IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
SO, IT JUST SEEMS COMMON SENSE
THAT IT IS UPSIDE DOWN THAT
SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF, WHO CAN
AFFORD TO PAY MY OWN TRANSIT
FARES GETS A SUBSIDY, WHEREAS
ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO COULD
REALLY, VIRTUALLY CHANGE THEIR
LIVES TO HAVE FREE TRANSIT, ARE
NOT ALLOWED THAT.
IT IS WRONG.
AND IT PROBABLY SHOULD SEE THE
LAST 15 SECONDS TO THE TRANSIT
BODY.
>> MATTHEW?
MATTHEW.
YOU ARE UP.
>> DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO BREAK
STRIDE.
SO,
>> SO, I HAVE GOT SOMETHING
FROM A MEMBER OF THE TRANSIT
RIDERS UNION.
MATTHEW LANGAN THE ORGANIZER
THE CHAT TRANSIT RIDERS UNION.
AND THIS IS A STATEMENT FROM
OUR MEMBER, JOHN MANELLA.
MY NAME IS JOHN MANELLA.
I LIVE RIGHT BY FAIRVIEW AND
HARRISON.
THAT STRETCH OF FAIRVIEW
BETWEEN DENNY AND MERCER IS
ALWAYS A LIVING NIGHTMARE.
I WATCHED THE TRAFFIC PLACE IN
-- THE IDLING EXHAUST USE ON A
DAILY BASIS.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO
BETTER NOW.
TRAFFIC IS ESSENTIALLY
GRIDLOCKED ALONG THAT STRETCH,
AND MANY, MANY OTHER PLACES IN
THE CITY FOR HUGE PARTS OF THE
DAY.
BECAUSE OF THAT GRIDLOCK, THAT
MEANS WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF CARS
IDLING AND SPEWING MORE MORE
CARBON INTO THE AIR.
TRAFFIC AND CARBON POLLUTION
ARE TWO OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS
OUR CITY FACES.
THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS ME
URGENTLY BECAUSE I LIVE IN ONE
OF THE WORST SPOTS FOR TRAFFIC
IN THE AREA.
AND WITH THE ADDITIONAL TECH
CAMPUSES, AND THE MERCER MEGA
BLOCK LIFE SCIENCE CAMPUS WAS
700 ADDITIONAL PARKING SPOTS.
WITH THIS PROJECT COMING ONLINE
IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, WE CAN
REASONABLY EXPECT THE TRAFFIC
AND AIR POLLUTION ARE GOING TO
BALLOON.
THAT IS WHY WE SO DESPERATELY
NEED ORCA FOR ALL.
AND INTELLIGENT, REASONABLE,
EQUITABLE PLAN TO ADDRESS
TRAFFIC AND CARBON POLLUTION IN
SEATTLE.
THIS PLAN WOULD GIVE ALL
SEATTLE WORKERS ACCESS TO THE
SAME GREAT TRANSIT THAT TECHS
WORKERS, LAWYERS AND PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANTS GET.
BECAUSE THAT CLEAR MANDATE FROM
VOTERS, WE HAVE THE ALL CLEAR
TO USE BIG BUSINESS AND
BILLIONAIRE OWNERS AS SOURCES
FOR FUNDING.
SUPPORT ORCA FOR ALL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MATT.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT
THAT'S THE LAST PERSON SIGNED
A. SO, IF OTHER FOLKS DIDN'T
SIGN UP, PLEASE JUST GET IN THE
QUEUE.
YOU WILL EACH HAVE A MINUTE.
GO AHEAD.
>> HI.
I'M AIDEN.
I LIVE IN LONGFORD, AND I,
WHILE ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT ORCA
FOR ALL, I AM HERE TO SPEAK
ABOUT EMERGENCY RELATED TO
HOMELESSNESS.
AND OTHER HOMELESSNESS
EMERGENCY, BUT THE EMERGENCY
THAT IS THE CHANGES THAT WE
JUST PROPOSE TO THE REGIONAL
AUTHORITY.
I WAS JUST TALKING TO MY FRIEND
MATTHEW ABOUT THIS.
THE SCALE OF THE ALTERATIONS TO
THE GOVERNMENT AND STRUCTURE
PROPOSED SEEM LIKE A THREAT TO
BEING ABLE TO GET EVIDENCE-
BASED POLICY AND POLICY THAT
ACTUALLY FUNDS AND FUNCTIONS IN
A PROGRESSIVE AND EQUITABLE
WAY.
THAT IS NOT POLITICALLY
MOTIVATED BY POLITICIANS IN
OTHER AREAS THAT, TO BE HONEST,
VOTERS PROBABLY DON'T
SYMPATHIZE AS MUCH WITH
HOMELESS PEOPLE AS THEY OUGHT
TO.
THIS NEEDS TO WORK.
YOU KNOW HOW CRISIS THIS IS.
TOLD THE MAYOR AND THE COUNTY
COUNSEL ACCOUNTABLE IF NEEDED
TO MAKE THIS FUNCTIONAL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALICE LOCKHART.
350 SEATTLE.
WE JUST CAME FROM ANOTHER
MEETING, SO, THIS IS COMPLETELY
IMPROVISATIONAL TODAY.
I WANT TO VOICE OUR EMPHATIC
SUPPORT FOR ORCA FOR ALL.
BUT ALSO, TODAY WOULD LIKE TO
TAKE A MOMENT TO WELCOME
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN , AND TO
HONOR MICHAEL BRIAN, WHO HAS
BEEN SUCH A CHAMPION FOR
FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE, AND
FIGHTING FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE
CITY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE
HERE.
I WANT TO SAY TO MIKE, YOU JUST
HAVE OUR DEEP THANKS AND
APPRECIATION, AND WE SO LOOK
FORWARD TO FINDING OUT WHAT YOU
ARE GOING TO DO NEXT.
>> ME TOO.
>> AND, TO COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, I WANT TO SAY,
WELCOME, AND THAT YOU CANNOT
HAVE A BETTER ROLE MODEL AS A
PREDECESSOR.
YOU ARE SO LUCKY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS, ALICE.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS JESSICA SCALES UH-
OH.
AND I AM HERE IN HIGH
SUPPORTIVE ORCA FOR ALL.
AND, I SECOND WHAT SHE SAID.
SO, YES, THANK YOU MICHAEL
BRIAN.
WELCOME.
ALEX PEDERSEN . AND, YEAH, WHAT
PEOPLE ARE MENTIONING EARLIER
ABOUT THE SUBSIDY FOR PEOPLE
WHO, I THINK THE STATISTIC WAS,
MAKE OVER $100,000 OR MORE,
LIKE 85% GET SUBSIDIZED
TRANSIT.
AND THOSE WHO MAKE $50,000 OR
LESS, MAYBE LESS THAN 50%, GET
SUBSIDIZED TRANSIT.
SO, IS SEEMS LIKE WE'RE MAKING
THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE LESS PAY
MORE.
WHICH I DON'T, I'M NOT IN FAVOR
OF.
AND, YEAH, AS SOMEONE WHO USED
TO WALK AND BIKE EVERYWHERE,
AND NOW I HAVE INJURIES, SO, I
HAVE TO TAKE THE BUS
EVERYWHERE, IT ADDS UP QUICKLY.
AND, HAVING SUBSIDIZED TRANSIT
WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
AND ENCOURAGE I THINK LOTS OF
PEOPLE TO USE IT.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS, JESSICA.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS HENRY GO DOWN.
I AM WITH ROOTED AND RIGHT
DISABILITY ADVOCATE.
I WANTED TO SHARE A PERSPECTIVE
ON TRANSIT FOR THE DISABLED
COMMUNITY.
FOR MANY OF US, TRANSIT IS OUR
ONLY OPTION.
MANY OF US ARE NOT ABLE TO
DRIVE.
SOMETIMES DRIVING IS THE ONLY
ACCESSIBILITY OPTION, BUT FOR
AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF
PEOPLE RELYING ON AN
INCREASINGLY SCARCE RESOURCE,
LIKE PUBLIC TRANSIT, -- MAKING
LIVES DIFFICULT WITH 976 STILL
BEING LITIGATED AND FIGURING
OUT THAT MESS.
COUNCILS SUPPORT FOR
LEGISLATION LIKE ORCA FOR ALL
WOULD GO A LONG WAY.
I THINK THAT THE DISABLED
COMMUNITY HERE IN SEATTLE HAS
BEEN, FOR MANY YEARS, NOT
PRESENT AT THE TABLE FOR A LOT
OF THESE CONVERSATIONS.
SO, I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER OUR
PRESENCE, NOT JUST IN THE CITY,
BUT IN THE WORK THAT YOU ARE
DOING DAY TODAY.
SO, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS, APPRECIATE IT.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS TEDDY.
FIRST I WANT TO THANK THE
COUNCIL.
I WANT TO SHARE A PERSONAL
STORY ABOUT THE INEQUITY OF WHO
GETS AN EMPLOYER SUBSIDIZED
WORKER CAR.
HOUR FOR GOOGLE AND I HAVE A
FULL-TIME SOFTWARE ENGINEER.
I RECEIVED A FULLY SUBSIDIZED
WORKER CAR.
THIS ALLOWS ME TO SELL MY CAR
AND ENJOY THE INDEPENDENCE AND
COST SAVINGS THAT COME WITH
GOING CAR FREE.
WHEN YOU THINK OF, YOU KNOW, A
COMPANY LIKE GOOGLE OR AMAZON,
THIS IS WHAT YOU THINK OF.
THE SOFTWARE ENGINEERS WHO
PROBABLY COULD DRIVE, BUT YOU
KNOW, WHO WANTS TO GIVE UP A
FREE RIDE TO WORK?
THIS IS NOT TRUE FOR ALL GOOGLE
WORKERS.
MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK
AT GOOGLE ARE TEMPS, VENDORS,
CONTRACTORS.
WORKERS RECEIVE DIFFERENT
BENEFITS THAN FULL-TIME
EMPLOYEES LIKE MYSELF.
THESE ARE WORKERS HIRED THROUGH
EXTERNAL COMPANIES WHO HAVE NO
OBLIGATION TO WRITE ANY TRANSIT
BENEFITS.
BECAUSE HE OFTEN COMPETE WITH
OTHER TRANSIT PLAYS FOR GOOGLE
CONTRACTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO
KEEP COSTS AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.
I'M SURPRISED THE MY FRIENDS
AND COLLEAGUES WHO WORK IN THE
SAME BUILDING AS ME DON'T GET
THE SAME BLUE CARD OF FREEDOM
AND INDEPENDENCE, ESPECIALLY
CONSIDERING THEY OFTEN MAKE
HALF AS MUCH AS I DO.
FROM THIS WOULD BE A LIFE-
CHANGING EXPERIENCE.
SO, I WENT TO SOME GOOGLE
LEADERSHIP AND SAID HEY, WERE
SUPPOSED TO BE A LEADER ON
SUSTAINABILITY.
WHY CAN WE DO THIS?
I WAS ESSENTIALLY IGNORED
SAYING THE REQUIREMENT WOULD BE
TOO DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE FOR
ALL OF OUR CONTRACTORS.
I AM HERE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE REPRESENTED, THE PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE.
THESE CONTRACTING COMPANIES
HAVE NO INTEREST IN SEATTLE,
NOT ITS CONGESTION, IT'S
POLLUTION, IT'S EQUITY.
AND GOOGLE MADE OVER $140
BILLION IN REVENUE LAST YEAR.
THIS WHAT A NAME SHOP IS A
ROUNDING ERROR ON THE BALANCE
SHEETS, BUT WOULD BE A HUGE
STEP FOR ALL THE WORKERS.
THANK YOU.
>>
>> NOT SEEING ANYONE ELSE
COMING TO THE MICROPHONES.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE
PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE, FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
AND, LOOK FORWARD TO A
DISCUSSION AROUND ORCA FOR ALL.
IN A FEW MINUTES.
WHY DON'T WE JUMP INTO WHAT IS
LABELED AS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
2. THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM AFTER
WE MOVED IT.
AND KELLY, DO YOU MIND READING
THAT INTO THE RECORD?
>> NOT UH-OH.
APPOINTMENT 01528.
APPOINTMENT OF ADRIAN LOPEZ
ROMERO IS A MEMBER OF THE
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD FOR A
TERM TO AUGUST 31, 2023.
>> INVITE EVERYONE FORWARD.
HELLO.
IF WE GET SEATED, WE CAN START
WITH A QUICK ROUND OF
INTRODUCTIONS.
GO AHEAD AND PULL THE MIC UP TO
YOU.
NAMES.
>> THIS IS ALYSSA PATRICK AND I
AM WITH THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT
STAFFING.
THE -- SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX
ADVISORY BOARD.
>> MY NAME IS ADRIAN LOPEZ AND
I'M -- RELOCATION CENTER.
>> RATE.
WELCOME.
>> I'M DOING A LITTLE BIT OF AN
OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY
ADVISORY BOARD DOES.
>> I WOULD JUST GIVE A LITTLE
INTRODUCTION.
SO, THE SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD WAS
ESTABLISHED FOR THE SAME
ORDINANCE THAT CREATED THE
BEVERAGE TAX.
THE ROLE OF THE BOARD IS TO
DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ON THE
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO
SUPPORT, WITH BEVERAGE TAX
REVENUE THAT ALIGN WITH THE
ORDINANCE PRIORITIES OF FOOD
ACCESS, CHILD HEALTH AND
DEVELOPMENT IN EDUCATION.
ACCORDING TO THE ORDINANCE, THE
BOARD SHALL CONSIST OF 11
MEMBERS WERE RESIDENTS OF THE
CITY OF SEATTLE OR WORK WITH
AND THE BOUNDARY OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
TODAY, WE ARE HERE FOR THE
CONFIRMATION HEARING OF ADRIAN
LOPEZ IVAN RABB FOR ONE OF THE
BOARD POSITIONS RESERVED FOR
EARLY-MORNING REPRESENTATIVE.'S
INTEREST, IS MY HONOR TO
INTRODUCE -- BACK ON IN PUBLIC
SERVICE, DATA MANAGEMENT.
HAVE SERVED SEATTLE CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES IN A NUMBER OF
WAYS.
HE IS CURRENTLY THE PROGRAM
DIRECTOR AT THE DENISE LOUIS
EDUCATION CENTER.
WHERE HE OVERSEES STRATEGIC
DEVELOPMENT AND DAILY
OPERATIONS OF THE HOMEBASE AND
CENTER PLACE PROGRAMS.
PRIOR TO THIS ROLE, MR. LOPEZ
ROMERO WORKED IN SEVERAL
DIFFERENT CAPACITIES FOR THE
CENTER, FROM SERVING AS A HOME
VISITOR HIMSELF, TO DESIGNING
COACHING MODELS FOR STAFF, TO
IMPROVING DATA TRACKING SYSTEMS.
-- IN HIS NATIVE VENEZUELA, HE
DEVELOPED EDUCATION, REGION
TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS TO RESPOND
TO COMMUNITY NEEDS.
HE HOLDS A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN
MY BADDEST EDUCATION WITH
EMPHASIS IN COMPUTER SCIENCE
FROM UNIVERSITY -- FRANCISCO --
VENEZUELA.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT TO
YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> ADRIAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORK AND FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS
TO SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE.
MAYBE YOU COULD JUST TAKE A FEW
MINUTES AND EXPAND ON WHAT WE
JUST HEARD AND TELL US A LITTLE
BIT WHY YOU WANT TO DO THIS JOB
AND WHAT YOU'RE HOPING TO
ACCOMPLISH.
>> OF COURSE.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I WANTED
TO DO THIS.
I HAVE BEEN SERVING THIS
COMMUNITY FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS.
WORKING ON HOME-BASED PROGRAMS
AND WORKING ALSO IN THE CENTER-
BASED PROGRAMS.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS I
WANTED -- A GREATER OPPORTUNITY
PART OF WHAT -- CAN ALSO TELL
YOU WHAT WE COULD DO WITH THE
REVENUES AND ALL THE RESOURCES
THAT YOU HAVE IN THE CITY.
IT JUST REALLY, TO TAKE THAT
OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO ADVOCATE
FOR ALL THE PROGRAMS --
HAPPENING, GETTING TO KNOW FOR
THE LAST 5 YEARS.
YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT JUST THE
FAMILIES THAT WE SERVE.
IT IS NOT JUST THE GAP --
ASSISTING THE KIDS FROM 0 -
FIVE YEARS OLD.
ALSO -- WE WORK WITH.
THERE IS NEEDS, NOT ONLY IN
THOSE FAMILIES, ALSO NEEDS ON
THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE THOSE
FAMILIES.
AND ALSO, THERE IS NEEDS ON --
THAT ARE FOR SOME OF THE KIDS,
FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW, KING
COUNTY HAS A PROGRAM CALLED --
FOR KIDS TO HAVE VISIBILITY,
BUT THOSE KIDS ARE MORE THAN 3
YEARS OLD.
BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE THAN
THREE YEARS OLD, WE CANNOT
SERVE IN THE HOMEBASE PROGRAM.
BUT ALSO, WE CAN'T HAVE THEM IN
A PROGRAM FOR THE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM, BECAUSE THE CUT OFF OF
THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SOMETIMES WEEK AGO FROM 1 MONTH
THE 8 MONTHS TO 12 MONTHS THAT
WE CAN'T SERVE THEM BECAUSE
THEY DON'T QUALIFY FOR THE
INTERVENTION AGENCIES.
BUT ALSO, THEY DON'T QUALIFY --
ALREADY.
RIGHT NOW, WE JUST SERVE WITH
BRIDGE, KING COUNTY JUST 50
KIDS.
AND THAT IS NOTHING.
AND THEN YOU KNOW, I AM --
WORKING FOR DIFFERENT TYPE OF
AGENCIES WITH THE PEOPLE THAT
WORK FOR THESE AGENCIES AND
ALSO WITH THE STATE, THE CITY,
WITH THE COUNTY.
AND THERE ARE NEEDS.
NEEDS ON THE WORKFORCE.
THERE ARE NEEDS ON THE FAMILY.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO GO
AND WORK WITH THEM.
I WILL SUPPORT --
TRANSPORTATION FOR ORCA FOR
ALL, BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE
BIGGEST BARRIERS THAT FAMILIES
HAVE.
WE TRIED TO, YOU KNOW, WE SERVE
HOMELESS FAMILIES.
WE SERVE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.
BUT, WE TRY TO GIVE OR PROVIDE
TRANSPORTATION FOR THOSE
HOMELESS FAMILIES.
BUT, FOR THOSE FAMILIESTO GET
TO THE DENTIST, FOR THOSE
FAMILIES TO GO TO AN
APPOINTMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO
GO, JUST TO GO -- ACTIVITY THAT
IS FUN FOR THAT KID THAT NEEDS
TO ALREADY GO TO THE SCHOOL.
SOMETIMES THEY CAN'T.
BECAUSE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR
THEM TO GO OUT OF IT.
SOMETIMES I THINK IT'S JUST YOU
KNOW, JUST GETTING OUT OF YOUR
HOUSE.
AND IT'S A DIFFICULT TASK FOR
THEM.
SO, THAT IS PART OF THE REASON
WHY I AM HERE.
I THINK, SHAPING THE POLICIES
THAT YOU HAVE IN THE CITY AND
SERVING TO THE COMMUNITY, AND
SERVING -- MY INTEREST BUT --
THE COMMUNIT THAT I WORK WITH
EVERYDAY.
THAT IS WHAT DRIVES ME.
AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS
WHY WANT TO BE HERE.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
THANK YOU, ADRIAN FOR THAT,
THAT VERY THOUGHTFUL
EXPLANATION.
THIS IS, THIS COMMITTEE HAS
QUITE A TIME COMMITMENT.
ESPECIALLY, I KNOW THE PAST
YEAR, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
WORK AS IT'S GETTING OFF THE
GROUND AND WE ARE SETTING
POLICIESAND THERE HAS BEEN
SOME BACK-AND-FORTH IN
DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS OF
THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY, THAT
WORK IS LINED UP.
I IMAGINE IN THE NEXT ITERATION
OR TWO, THEY WILL PROBABLY
CONTINUE TO BE -- WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK IT OUT.
AT THE MOMENT, THERE IS EXCESS
REVENUE COMING IN.
MORE THAN ANTICIPATED, BECAUSE
THE CONSUMPTION OF SUGARY
BEVERAGES, SWEETENED BEVERAGES
IS HIGHER THAN WE HAVE
FORECAST.
I EXPECT THAT THAT WILL GO THE
OTHER DIRECTION RELATIVELY
SOON, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HAS
HAPPENED IN EVERY OF THE CITY.
AND THAT WILL BE A DIFFERENT
CHALLENGE OF HOW TO MANAGE
THAT.
BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
PERSPECTIVE ON IT.
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A MIX OF
INVESTMENT FOLKS ARE MAKING AND
BALANCING THOSE NEEDS BETWEEN
THE YOUTH, THE YOUNG KIDS AND
THE HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS.
SO, THANK YOU.
COUNSELOR PEDERSEN, QUESTIONS?
>> WE'RE LOOKING TO OFFEND YOU.
YOUR RESUME IS INCREDIBLY
IMPRESSIVE.
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED.
DENISE LOUIS IS A HIGH-QUALITY
OPERATOR.
THE MAGNUSON PLACE, THAT IS
ACTUALLY IN DISTRICT 4 WHO I
REPRESENT.
SO, WE HAVE ALMOST 1000 LOW-
INCOME RESIDENTS THERE NOW.
SO, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
WORK.
YOUR REGULAR WORK.
SO, THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP
FOR THIS.
I ALSO LOVE YOUR BACKGROUND
WITH DATA, DATA MANAGEMENT AND
I.T.
THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY USEFUL.
AND WHAT YOU JUST EXPLAINED
HERE ABOUT, YOU KNOW WHERE THE
GAPS ARE, SO YOU KNOW HOW THIS
MONEY CAN BE INVESTED IN
EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES THAT
HELP KIDS.
SO, THANK YOU.
>> THANKS A BUNCH.
IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, I WILL
GO AHEAD AND MOVE APPOINTMENT
01528.
>> SECOND.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY
BY SAYING AYE.
>> RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE TODAY.
AT THE END OF TODAY'S AGENDA, I
WILL MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES
SO WE CAN SEND THIS TO THE FULL
COUNCIL NEXT MONDAY.
YOU DON'T NEED TO BE HERE FOR
THAT.
BUT WE WILL TAKE ACTION, TOO.
HOPEFULLY TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> CONGRATULATIONS.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 3.
PRESENTERS FORWARD.
>> SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT OPERATIONS
REPORT.
>> WELCOME, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
AS YOU GET SETTLED.
WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND DO
OBJECTIONS?
>> HI.
MY NAME IS RACHEL VERBOORT AND
I WORK FOR SEATTLE DOT.
>> MY NAME IS DICKIE.
WORKERS
>> THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
LIAISON.
>> MY NAME IS ERIN TIDE, I'M
THE COCHAIR THE TRANSPORT
ADVISORY BOARD.
>> --.
I WILL BE THE ONE KICKING US
OFF TODAY FOR THIS DISCUSSION
OF THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO SDOT'S
MISSION IS TO PROVIDE
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT
PROVIDES SAFE AND AFFORDABLE
ACCESS TO COMMUNITIES.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO 6 VALUES.
EQUITY, SAFETY, MOBILITY,
SUSTAINABILITY, LIVABILITY AND
EXCELLENCE.
TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE
YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM
WE WILL BE SPEAKING TO OUR
INVESTMENTS IN KING COUNTY
METRO SERVICE TO DATE AND THE
EFFORTS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO
TRANSIT FOR LOW INCOME
POPULATIONS AND YOU'VE.
AS WELL AS OUR TRANSMIT --
PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES
INSTALLING BUS LANES, NEW
TRANSIT STOPS, -- TRANSIT
RIDERS.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR TRANSIT
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS HERE
TODAY TO DO THE REPORT OUT FOR
THE YEAR.
TO SET THE CONTEXT, THE CITY
BEGAN INVESTING IN KING COUNTY
METRO SERVICE IN 2015, AFTER
SEATTLE VOTERS APPROVED A
MEASURE TO FUND SERVICE THROUGH
A .1% SALES TAX AND A $60
VEHICLE LICENSE FEE.
THIS MEASURE ALLOWS THE CITY TO
INVEST IN METRO SERVICE,
PROGRAMS THAT IMPROVE ACCESS TO
TRANSIT, AND CREATED THE
TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD.
I WILL HAVE THE SOFTER RACHEL
TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE
PROGRAM AND OUTCOMES ACHIEVED
TO DATE.
>> THANK YOU.
SO, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT
TO GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE
PROGRAM.
SO, THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
DISTRICT, AS -- SAID IS A VOTER
APPROVED PROGRAM.
AND, THE BULK OF THE STB FUNDS
ARE USED TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL
TRIPS ON KING COUNTY METRO
ROUTES THAT OPERATE WITHIN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
TO DATE, ROUTES WITH 65% OR
MORE OF THE STOPS WITHIN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE ARE ELIGIBLE
FOR FUNDS, FOR FUNDING THROUGH
THE SP DD.
STB D ALSO INCLUDES SEVERAL
PROGRAMS THAT AIM TO PROVIDE
HIGH QUALITY AND LOW COST
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS.
THAT ALLOW CAR CAR OWNERSHIP TO
BE AN OPTION, NOT A NECESSITY
WITHIN SEATTLE.
THESE EFFORTS INCLUDES THINGS
SUCH AS MARKETING AND HELPING
TO ENROLL LOW-INCOME
INDIVIDUALS IN ORCA LIVE.
IT ALSO INCLUDES OTHER PROGRAMS
SUCH AS THE ORC OPPORTUNITY
PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES ORDER
CARDS TO BOTH STUDENTS AT
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND, SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY
RESIDENCE.
IN 2018, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED
THE SCOPE CHANGE TO PROVIDE FOR
THE FLEXIBILITY AND THE ROUTES
THAT STB D FUNDS AS WELL AS
ALLOW US TO EXPAND OUR FUNDING
ON ORC OPPORTUNITY AND TRANSIT
CAPITAL PROJECTS.
TODAY, STBD FUNDS CAN BE USED
AND ARGUES TO HELP FUND CAPITAL
FACILITIES THAT IMPROVE TRANSIT
SPEED AND RELIABILITY AND
PASSENGER IMPROVEMENTS.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT
THE YEAR 4 ANNUAL REPORT.
AND I WANTED TO 1st MAKE SURE
THAT BOTH OF YOU HAVE ONE.
WOULD YOU LIKE WHEN IF YOU
DON'T ALREADY HAVE ONE?
THERE YOU GO.
SO, TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF
CONTEXT OF WHERE WE ARE IN THE
TRANSIT SPHERE, SINCE 2010, THE
NUMBER OF COMMUTERS TRAVELING
DOWNTOWN IN THE MORNING, USING
MODES LIKE TRANSIT, WALKING AND
BIKING, HAS GROWN BY NEARLY
10%.
SPECIFICALLY, MOST OF THIS
GROWTH HAS OCCURRED ON TRANSIT.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE DIAGRAM
ABOVE, 48% OF FOLKS COMING
DOWNTOWN IN THE MORNING TOOK
TRANSIT TO GET TO WORK IN 2017.
7 YEARS PRIOR TO THAT, IT WAS
JUST AT 42%.
WE HAVE MADE LONG STRIDES TO
INCREASE OUR TRANSIT MODE
CHAIR.
AND YOU CAN SEE RELATED DROP IN
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMMUTING
DOWNTOWN IN SINGLE OCCUPANCY
VEHICLES.
SO, AS I MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT
EARLIER, STBD FUNDS SEVERAL
PROGRAMS TO THE COMBINED SALES
TAX AND VEHICLE LICENSE FEE
REVENUES.
THE LARGEST PORTION GOES
TOWARDS ADDITIONAL SERVICE ON
KING COUNTY METRO ROUTES.
WE SHOW HERE, HOW MUCH WE HAVE
SPENT IN 2015-2018, SORRY, 2019
AND OUR 20/20 PROPOSED BUDGET.
IN THIS GRAPHIC, THIS
SUMMARIZES THE PROGRAM AS A
WHOLE.
SHOWN IN BLUE, YOU COULD SEE
THAT 79%, OR $.79 ON EVERY
DOLLAR GOES DIRECTLY TO ADDING
BUS TRIPS ON ROUTES ACROSS THE
CITY.
5 SENSE ON EVERY DOLL MAC - $1
GOES TOWARD THIS CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS AT UP THE PUSH OF
DOLLARS ON SERVICE FOR THE.
7% GOES TOWARD KIND OF OUR
INCOME AND ACCESS TO TRANSIT
THROUGH FEAR-BASED PROGRAMS.
SO, SPECIFICALLY, ORC
OPPORTUNITY AND A LOW INCOME
ACCESS TO TRANSIT FUND.
2 CENTS ON EVERY DOLLAR FOR
PLANNING AND ANALYSIS, AND
SEVEN CENTS GOES TO RESERVE
FUNDING TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN
MAKE SERVICE THROUGH THE NEXT
SERVICE CHANGE.
SINCE SERVICE IS NOT ADDED
EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.
>> NEXT AND GOING TO GO INTO
MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE SPECIFIC
TRANSIT INVESTMENTS WE'RE
MAKING.
TO GET A SENSE OF SCALE, AS OF
2019, 8% OF KING COUNTY METRO'S
NETWORK IS FUNDED BY THE
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICT.
>> THAT'S THE ENTIRE NETWORK,
NOT JUST SEATTLE?
>> ENTIRE COUNTYWIDE NETWORK.
CORRECT.
SINCE STBD BEGAN MAKING
INVESTMENTS IN 2015, WE HAVE
USED OUR FUNDING TO BOTH MEET
THE ADDITIONAL DEMAND FOR
TRANSIT IN THE CITY, BUT ALSO
TO THINK PROACTIVELY ABOUT HOW
WE CAN HELP CREATE A NETWORK
FOR THE FUTURE, AND THE
ADDITIONAL DEMAND THAT WE ARE
SEEING COME IN.
WE FOLLOW A FEW GUIDELINES TO
HELP GUIDE WHERE WE INVEST IN
WHICH ROUTES SPECIFICALLY WE
INVEST IN.
SOME OF THE KEY INVESTMENT
GOALS THAT WE FOLLOW ARE LISTED
ABOVE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE WANT TO
BUILD OUT OUR FREQUENT TRANSIT
NETWORK.
AND THIS IS A NETWORK OF LOCAL,
FREQUENT, AND VERY FREQUENT
ROUTES.
OFTEN REFERRED TO AS KIND OF
ROUTES THAT COME EVERY 10
MINUTES, EVERY 15, OR EVERY 30
MINUTES.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRANSIT
SERVICE WHERE THERE IS
INCREASED DENSITY.
THIS HELPS TO MARRY THE
TRANSPORTATION AND LAND-USE
GROWTH THAT WE SEE IN THE CITY.
SO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE NOT ONLY ACCOMMODATE THE NEW
RESIDENTS, BUT PROACTIVELY PUT
SERVICE ON THE ROAD, SO THAT AS
PEOPLE COME IN, THEY HAVE AN
ABILITY TO GET ON THE ROUTE
THAT THEY WANT TO TAKE.
>> WE ALSO, USING STBD FUNDS
WANT TO IMPROVE ACCESS FOR
HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED
POPULATIONS.
WE KNOW THAT PUBLIC TRANSIT IS
AN IMPORTANT TOOL FOR REDUCING
DRIVE ALONE RATES.
BUT IT IS ALSO CRITICAL IN
PROVIDING ACCESS FOR THOSE WHO
RELY ON TRANSIT.
WE PRIORITIZE THOSE INVESTMENTS
THAT ARE AN OUTCOME OF THE
RACIAL EQUITY ANALYSIS THAT WE
COMPLETED 2 YEARS AGO.
AND REALLY, TRY TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE PROVIDE SERVICE IN A
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION, WHERE WE
KNOW PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO
TAKE IT, BUT ALSO TIMES OF THE
DAY.
SO, THIS INCLUDES THINGS LIKE
OUR NIGHT OWL NETWORK.
WE MADE SURE THAT WE HAVE A
NETWORK OF 24 HOUR ROUTES TO
SERVE WRITERS THAT NEED SERVICE
AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY.
>> LASTLY, WE WANT TO IMPROVE
CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE CITY.
AND THIS KIND OF TIES INTO WHAT
I SAID PREVIOUSLY.
BUT A KEY COMPONENT WE KNOW IS
THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET
EAST - WEST ACROSS THE CITY.
SO, WE ARE PRIORITIZED
INVESTMENTS, SPECIFICALLY
FREQUENCY INVESTMENTS ON THOSE
EAST - WEST ROUTES TO MAKE SURE
THAT PEOPLE CAN TRAVEL
EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY, NOT
JUST TO AND FROM DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE.
>> NEXT.
IN YOUR 4, TO CLARIFY, YOUR 4
TO THE STB PROGRAM IS PRETTY
MUCH JUNE OF 2018 THROUGH JUNE
2019.
BUT, DURING THIS TIME PERIOD,
WE HAVE ADDED 95,000 NEW
TRANSIT SERVICE HOURS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T
REALLY THINK ABOUT THINGS IN
TERMS OF SERVICE HOURS LIKE I
DO, THAT'S EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT
1500 NEW WEEKLY TRIPS ACROSS
THE CITY.
SPECIFICALLY, IN THIS TIME
PERIOD, WE ARE LOOKING AT 3
SERVICE CHANGES.
SO, SEPTEMBER 2018, MARCH 2019
IN SEPTEMBER 2019.
IN SEPTEMBER 2018, WE ADDED 300
NEW WEEKLY TRIPS ON 15
DIFFERENT ROUTES.
IN MARCH 2019, WE ADDED 316 NEW
WEEKLY TRIPS ON 4 ROUTES.
AND THEN MOST RECENTLY, A
COUPLE MONTHS AGO, WE ADDED 937
NEW WEEKLY TRIPS ON 23 ROUTES
ACROSS THE CITY.
>> THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
>> THANKS.
SO, KNOWING GOING TO DIVE A
LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO THE
PERFORMANCE THAT WE HAVE MADE
IN ACHIEVING OUR FREQUENT
TRANSIT NETWORK.
SO, SDOT'S VERY FREQUENT
ROUTES OR 10 MINUTE SERVICE
SERVICE HIGHEST DENSITY,
HIGHEST RIDERSHIP AREAS OF THE
CITY.
AND THEY PROVIDE CONNECTIONS
BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH, EAST AND
WEST, TO SERVE HOMES, JOBS, AND
ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE CITY.
THE LEVY TO MOVE SEATTLE
ESTABLISHED A GOAL TO PROVIDE
70 TO 72% OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH A
10 MINUTE WALK TO 10 MINUTE
SERVICE BY THE YEAR 2025.
WHEN STD STARTED IN 20
>>> WE WERE AT 25%.
TODAY, WE ARE AT 70% TO SEATTLE
HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE ACCESS TO
A 10 MINUTE A BETTER ROUTE
WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK IN THE
HOUSE.
>> THIS IS, LET'S PAUSE HERE
FOR A SECOND.
OVER THE COURSE OF 4 YEARS OF
INVESTMENT, PREVIOUSLY, 1 IN 4
PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAD THAT KIND
OF ACCESS.
NOW, IT IS 70% OF PEOPLE?
THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
>> YES.
WE WILL ALSO, I WILL JUST TO DO
A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
WE HAVE COMPLETELY SURPASSED
OUR INITIAL LEVY TO MOVE
SEATTLE 2020 GOAL, WHICH WAS AT
53%.
SO, WE HAVE SURPASSED OUR
INTERIM GOAL AND HAVE OUR
SIGHTS SET ON THAT 2025 GO.
>> WAS THE INCREASE OF FUNCTION
OF PROVIDING MORE FREQUENT
SERVICE TO EXISTING LINES?
OR IS IT OPENING UP NEW LINES?
OR A COMBINATION?
>> IT WAS, WE ONLY HAD TRIPS ON
EXISTING KING COUNTY METRO
ROUTES.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT HELP
EXPAND THE NETWORK, THOUGH, IS
THE EXPANSION OF LINK.
SO, WHEN LINK EXPANDED, THE
COVERED ADDITIONAL HOUSEHOLDS
WITH ACCESS TO THAT 10 MINUTE
SERVICE.
>> SO, BEGINNING TO -- A LITTLE
BIT BUT WE ARE A COUPLE YEARS
AWAY FROM EXPANDING LINK.
A LOT OF THAT WILL BE IN
DISTRICT 4. IN ANTICIPATION OF
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, THOSE
AREAS I THINK ARE FAIRLY WELL
SERVED BY TRANSIT TODAY.
BUT THAT WILL ADD MORE AND
PROBABLY FREE UP SOME TRANSIT
SERVICE TO GO ELSEWHERE, TOO.
>> RIGHT.
AS THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN
MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES
HAPPEN, SUCH AS LINK EXPANSION,
KING COUNTY METRO DOES A
SERVICE RESTRUCTURE AROUND THE
AREA.
AND THEY LEAD THOSE
RESTRUCTURES AS A COUNTYWIDE
TRANSIT AGENCY.
AND THE MAKE SURE THAT THEY
REORIENT THE BUS ROUTES TO
SERVE THOSE NETWORKS, TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE PUBLIC CAN REALLY
BENEFIT FROM THAT NEW
INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND IT CAN PROVIDE NEW
CONNECTIONS TO NEW AREAS, OR
IMPROVE TRAVEL TIMES WERE
POSSIBLE.
>> GREAT.
>> NEXT UP, WE JUST PREVIOUSLY
TALKED ABOUT A 10 MINUTE
SERVICE.
AND I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT A 15 MINUTE NETWORK.
WE AGAIN WANT TO REALLY HEAR
THE THROUGH THE STBD PROGRAM,
WE WANT TO IMPROVE OUR
FREQUENCY COMMITMENTS TO WHERE
GROWTH IS OCCURRING ACROSS THE
CITY.
THIS GRAPHIC SHOWS HOW WE
CONNECT OUR TRANSIT INVESTMENT
TO URBAN VILLAGES.
SO, THIS GRAPHIC SHOWS EVERY
URBAN CENTER, URBAN VILLAGE,
AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRAL
CENTER IN SEATTLE.
ALONG WITH THE NUMBER OF ROUTES
WITH FREQUENT SERVICE, OR 15
MINUTE SERVICE.
TO EXPLAIN THE GRAPHIC A LITTLE
FURTHER, THE WHITE HASHES, AND
THE NUMBERS SHOWN IN THAT OTHER
ROUTES THAT WE ADDED JUST THIS
YEAR.
SO, MOST RECENTLY, THIS PAST
FALL IN SEPTEMBER, WE ADDED THE
FOLLOWING, WE ADDED TRIPS ON
ROUTES 1, 11, 14, 124 AND 372,
TO BRING THEM UP TO FREQUENT
SERVICE LEVELS.
USING ROUTE 372 AS AN EXAMPLE,
IT THEN ADDS TRIPS TO THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT AND LAKE
CITY IN THIS GRAPHIC.
>> PERFECT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON
THE SERVICE COMPONENT?
>> THE ONE THING I WILL JUST
MENTION FOR FOLKS TO REMEMBER,
AS YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK
ABOUT A 10 MINUTE NETWORK, THAT
MEANS THAT IF YOU ARE NOT
CHECKING YOUR SCHEDULE ARE
LOOKING AT A NAP AND YOU JUST
WALK OUT THERE, ON AVERAGE, YOU
WILL WAIT 5 MINUTES FOR A BUS.
AND A 15 MINUTE NETWORK MEANS
ON AVERAGE YOU WILL WAIT 7.5
MINUTES.
SO, PRETTY AMAZING TO THINK HOW
MANY PLACES IN THE CITY, EVEN
IF YOU ARE NOT TRACKING IT,
YOUR WITH TRAFFIC OR WHATEVER
YOU COULD JUST WALK OUT AND GET
THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE.
IT'S PRETTY SHORT WAITS.
THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
>> GREAT.
SO, NEXT I WANT TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT
THE PERFORMANCE IN YOUR 4. FOR
A TRANSPORTATION EQUITY AND
ACCESS PROGRAMS.
TO IMPROVE TRAVEL OPTIONS FOR
STUDENTS, THE CITY OF SEATTLE
LAUNCHED THE WORK OPPORTUNITY
PROGRAM IN 2018.
AND THEN IN AUGUST 2018, WE
EXPANDED THAT PROGRAM TO
PROVIDE UNLIMITED TWELVE-MONTH
CARDS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
AT SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
INCOME ELIGIBLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
STUDENTS AT SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, AND SEATTLE PROMISED
SCHOLARS.
OF THE 1500, OR SORRY, OF THE
15,000 SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, JUST
ABOUT 12,000 RECEIVED AN ORCA
CARD.
MOST OF WHICH RECEIVED THEM,
THE CARDS THAT ARE FUNDED BY
THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT.
WORTH NOTING, WE WORKED VERY
CLOSELY WITH THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THEY ALSO
PROVIDE SOME OTHER ORCA CARDS
TO STUDENTS.
SO, BUT, IN TOTAL, THROUGH THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
SDOT, WE ARE PROVIDING ACCESS
TO ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
>> PRETTY AWESOME.
>> NEXT, I WANT TO GIVE SOME
QUICK UP DATES ON OTHER
TRANSPORTATION EQUITY RELATED
INITIATIVES.
THIS PAST JUNE, WE LAUNCHED THE
12 MONTH PILOT FOR ORCA
OPPORTUNITY, TO PROVIDE 1500
UNLIMITED ORCA CARDS TO INCOME
ELIGIBLE SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY RESIDENTS.
AND, KIND OF A QUICK OUTCOME TO
DATE, ABOUT 16, WE ACTUALLY
DISTRIBUTED OVER 1600, AND 77%
OF THOSE RESIDENTS WITH THEIR
CARDS USED THOSE CARDS IN THE
MONTH OF OCTOBER.
FOR THE TRANSPORTATION EQUITY
WORKGROUP, THAT IS A WORKGROUP
THAT MEETS FOR 1 YEAR IN WHICH
THE STBD - SDOT STAFF ENGAGED
IN THE COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS.
AND FACILITATED CONVERSATION
AND ACTIVITIES, AND THE MAIN
OUTCOME WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS
BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE
INDIVIDUALS.
BUT, THEY WILL HELP US PROVIDE
A SET OF COMMUNITY GUIDED
RECOMMENDATIONS.
TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN SDOT
DEVELOPS THE TRANSPORTATION
EQUITY AGENDA.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE THE YOUTH
TRANSPORTATION AMBASSADORS
PROGRAM.
THIS EFFORT ENGAGES WITH YOUTH
BASED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT
ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS.
WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON
CULTURALLY RELEVANT AND
LANGUAGE APPROPRIATE
PROGRAMMING.
SO, NOT ONLY DOES IT BUILD
CAPACITY WITHIN THE
ORGANIZATIONS, AND THESE
ORGANIZATIONS ARE YOUTH BASED,
BUT IT ALSO HELPS THEM EDUCATE
AND INFORM THEIR COMMUNITY ON
AVAILABLE TRANSIT OPTIONS.
THIS YEAR, WE WORKED WITH WE
OUT AND READ EAGLE SOARING.
BOTH ARE CREATING SHORT FILMS
ON THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC TRANSIT
AMONG THE COMMUNITY.
>> LASTLY, AS A QUICK UP DATE,
WE LAUNCHED A SENIOR REGIONAL
REDUCED AIR PERMIT PILOT THIS
YEAR.
AND IT AIMS TO ENROLL AND
EDUCATE SEATTLE SENIORS ON THE
REGIONAL REDUCED GOVERNMENT
CARD.
TO DATE, WE HAVE ENROLLED 117
SENIORS IN THIS PROGRAM AND
PROVIDE THEM A VOUCHER FOR
TRANSIT USE.
WE ALSO EDUCATE THEM ON HOW TO
USE TRANSIT.
AND SOME OF THE ANECDOTES WE
HAVE RECEIVED OUR SENIORS THAT
HAVE NEVER TAKEN THE BUS, OR
NEVER TAKEN A STREETCAR AND
THEY ARE VERY EXCITED
UNDERSTAND HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS
AND HOW THEY CAN USE IT FOR THE
DAILY LIFE.
>> THAT'S GOT TO BE PRETTY
POWERFUL WORK.
UNLEASHING AND UNLOCKING THE
POTENTIAL FOR PEOPLE.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, WE WANT TO TALK
QUICKLY ABOUT OUR TRANSIT SPOT
IMPROVEMENTS.
SO, SDOT WORKS VERY CLOSELY
WITH KING COUNTY METRO, SOUND
TRANSIT AND THE OTHER TRANSIT
PROVIDERS TO ENHANCE TRANSIT
OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THESE IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE SEEN
AS RELIABILITY FOCUS, HELP THE
OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT THE
PASSENGER EXPERIENCE.
SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THAT I
WILL DISCUSS ARE JOINTLY FUNDED
TO THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT, OR THE LEVY
TO MOVE SEATTLE.
>> I BRING UP ONE ISSUE?
YOU HEARD THE BUSES ON BROOKLYN
SITUATION, WERE BROOKLYN AVENUE
IS GOING TO BE BUILT TOO NARROW
TO ACCOMMODATE BUSES?
AND, SOUND TRANSIT REALLY WANTS
TO STAY ON THE SCHEDULE, SO
THEY ARE WORRIED THAT IF THERE
ARE ANY CHANGES, WE TRY TO
WHITED IT TO ACCOMMODATE BUSES,
IT WILL SCREW UP SOUND TRANSIT
SCHEDULE.
SO, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE
COORDINATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT IS ON THE AGENDA
TO TALK WITH SDOT ABOUT, EXCUSE
ME, TALK WITH SOUND TRANSIT
ABOUT TO ASSURE THAT SDOT IS
ABLE TO GET THINGS DONE IN
BROOKLYN.
>> THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT
IS REALLY COVERED IN THIS SCOPE
OF OUR PROGRAM, BUT SOMETHING
WE WOULD ENTERTAIN A
CONVERSATION WITH SOUND TRANSIT
TO UNDERSTAND THAT ISSUE FOR
THE.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>> PERFECT.
SO, WE THINK ABOUT SPOT
IMPROVEMENTS AND KIND OF 6
DIFFERENT AREAS.
THEY INCLUDE IMPROVING SAFETY,
DEDICATING RIGHT-OF-WAY, AND
THIS TYPICALLY INVOLVES TRANSIT
LANES.
SO, AN EXAMPLE OF THE SPOT
IMPROVEMENT THAT OCCURRED WAS
THE NEW 5TH-6TH TRANSIT PATHWAY
JUST OUTSIDE CITY HALL HERE.
WE ALSO USED SPOT IMPROVEMENTS
TO UPGRADE BUS STOPS AND
PROVIDE NEW WRITER AMENITIES.
WE WILL CHANGE TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
EXAMPLES OF THAT INCLUDE TWO
JOBS, OR ADDITIONAL TURN
POCKETS AND TURN SIGNALS TO
MAKE SURE THAT BUSES HAVE
SMOOTHER OPERATIONS AND
RELIABLE TRAVEL TIMES.
HERE ARE 3 EXAMPLES OF RECENT
SPOT IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE
COMPLETED OVER THE LAST YEAR.
FIRST ON THE LEFT, YOU SEE THE
OLIVE WAY BUS LANE.
THIS WAS A EXISTING PEAK ONLY
BUS LANE THAT EXPANDED TO A
FULL TIME ALL DAY ONE.
AND WE REALLY ASSESSED, WHAT
WERE THE PASSENGER VOLUMES
RELATIVE TO VEHICLE VOLUMES?
AND SAW THE NEED TO EXPAND THE
TIME AND EXTENT OF THIS BUS
LANE TO MAKE SURE THAT TRANSIT
COULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE.
>> WE INSTALLED A NEW STOP AT
BLANK FOR DAN 6th.
THIS IS PART OF OUR CONTINUED
EFFORT TO HELP PROVIDE STOPS
WHERE WE SEE NEW RIDERSHIP
úDEMAND DEVELOPING.
THEN, THIRD AVENUE, JUST THIS
PAST FALL, WE EXPANDED THE
TIMES.
NOW IT IS 6 AM - 7 PM EVERY DAY
OF THE WEEK.
AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THIS
AS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
MAINTAIN TRAVEL TIMES AND
TRAVEL SPEEDS FOR BUSES.
AND SOMETIMES OF THE DAY,
ACTUALLY IMPROVE THE SPEED.
SO, THAT WAS A MORE RELIABLE
AND FASTER TRIP FOR OUR
WRITERS.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
THAT'S IN LIGHT OF THE OTHER
CHANGES IN THE SEATTLE SQUEEZE,
TOLLING, AND OTHER THINGS GOING
ON, THAT STILL GONNA MAINTAIN,
THAT'S PRETTY GREAT.
>> GREAT.
NEXT, I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO
ERIN AND ALEX TO REPORT OUT
FROM THE TRANSIT ADVISORY
BOARD.
>> GREAT.
I WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT OUR BOARD.
SO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, WE WERE
SET UP TO THE STBD TO FUNCTION
AS A PUBLIC OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
OF REVENUES COLLECTED UNDER
STBD . THE PROPOSITION AND WE
ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE AN ANNUAL
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON
THE STATUS OF THE PROGRAM AND
ACHIEVEMENT OF THE PROGRAM.
SO, OUR BOARD HAS REVIEWED THIS
YEAR FOR PERFORMANCE REPORT.
THAT RACHEL HANDED TO YOU.
WE ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THE
PROGRESS THAT SDOT HAS TAKEN IN
THIS LAST YEAR IN REACHING THE
GOALS THAT WERE APPROVED UNDER
STBD , PROPOSITION 1. WE
BELIEVE THAT SDOT HAS PROVIDED
- STBD HAS PROVIDED CRITICAL
TRANSIT OPPORTUNITIES AS RACHEL
DISCUSSED.
WE THINK THEY HAVE BEEN USED
TO IMPROVE TRANSIT SPEED AND
RELIABILITY AND REALLY
EXPANDING ACCESS TO TRANSIT,
WHICH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN
OUR CITY.
WE ALSO LAST YEAR COMMUNICATED
ENTHUSIASM FOR THE MATERIAL
SCOPE CHANGE, AND WE ARE
PLEASED WITH THE SCOPE CHANGES,
SO THAT THE FUNDS CAN BE USED
FOR METRO ROUTES THAT HAVE 65%
OF STOPS IN THE CITY, COMPARED
TO JUST 80.
WE REALLY, WE HAVE SEEN THAT
SDOT HAS INCREASED THE TRANSIT
HOURS IN THE NORTHERN AND
SOUTHERN EDGES.
AND THESE AREAS HAVE HIGHER
PROPORTIONS OF HISTORICALLY
MARGINALIZED FOLKS.
AND, THEY WERE AREAS IN WHICH
SDOT, IT WAS HARDER FOR SDOT TO
REACH PRIOR TO THE MATERIAL
SCOPE CHANGE.
SO, WE ARE EXCITED THAT THESE
RESIDENTS WILL BETTER SEE THE
BENEFITS OF STBD.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD OF RAINIER
BEACH, THE 106 WHICH SERVES
FOLKS IN RAINIER BEACH, BUT
ALSO UP IN SKYWAY.
WE ALSO WERE PLEASED THAT
MATERIAL SCOPE CHANGE THAT THE
CITY HAS BEGUN WITH CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS OF THE TRANSIT
SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
WE BELIEVE THIS PROGRAM, IT
APPEARS TO BE DIFFICULT TO SET
UP.
THERE IS NOT A TIGHT DEADLINE
FOR CONSTRUCTION, AND A DEARTH
OF SHOVEL READY PROJECTS AND
AVAILABLE CONSTRUCTION
RESOURCES.
THERE IS A LOT GOING ON IN THE
CITY.
WE ALSO NOTICE THAT MOST OF THE
IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN FOCUSED
ON DOWNTOWN, RELATED TO THE
SEATTLE SQUEEZE.
SO, WE ENCOURAGES PROGRAM TO
MOVE ITS FOCUS TO OUTLYING
NEIGHBORHOODS, SUCH AS ALONG
THE ROUTE 7 IN SOUTHEAST
SEATTLE.
THAT WE -- THE CURRENT
UNCERTAIN FUNDING SITUATION MAY
PUT PLANS ON HOLD.
>> WE ARE ALSO PLEASED THAT
STBD HAS TAKEN STEPS TO REACH
OUT TO DISADVANTAGED
POPULATIONS THROUGH WORK
OPPORTUNITY, AS RACHEL
DISCUSSED.
ORCA CARDS FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN INCOME
ELIGIBLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
STUDENTS, WERE PARTICULARLY
PLEASED WITH THE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY PARTNER PILOT
PROGRAM.
SO, WE HOPE THAT ALL OF THESE
PROGRAMS CAN CONTINUE.
WE BELIEVE THESE INVESTMENTS
FOSTER GROWTH AND INDEPENDENCE
FOR PARTICIPANTS AND ENCOURAGE
TRANSIT USE ACROSS THE CITY.
>> I WILL PASS IT ALONG TO
ARONOW.
>> OKAY.
I AM HERE TO DISCUSS SORT OF
NEXT STEPS.
EVERY YEAR WE COME AND GIVE
THIS PRESENTATION, AND EVERY
YEAR, WE ARE NOT QUITE
SATISFIED WITH WHERE WE COULD
BE.
THIS IS A PARTICULARLY
MOMENTOUS YEAR, THOUGH, FOR A
COUPLE OF REASONS.
1, OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE ALL AWARE
OF THE CURRENT 976 FIGHT THAT
IS HAPPENING IN THE COURTS AND
I AM SORT OF HERE TO BE THE
DOOM AND GLOOM ADVOCATE.
I WOULD SAY THAT IN, I AM
HOPEFUL.
THAT WE WILL PREVAIL.
BUT IN THE EVENT OF A SITUATION
WHERE WE DO NEED TO MAKE CUTS
TO THE PROGRAM, WE ARE HERE TO
ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO
USE THE SAME RECENT SOCIAL
JUSTICE INITIATIVE APPROACH
THAT WE USED TO ADD SERVICE AND
CAPITAL, IN ORDER TO REDUCE
SERVICE AND CAPITAL TO TRY TO
MINIMIZE ANY IMPACTS TO
HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED
POPULATIONS.
IT ALSO, THE 2nd BIG TOPIC HERE
IS THAT THE PROGRAM IS ALMOST
AT ITS SUNSET.
IT NEEDS TO BE RENEWED NEXT
YEAR, OR THE 8% OF METRO
SERVICE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY
FUNDING GOES AWAY, OR SOMEONE
ELSE HAS TO PAY FOR.
AND OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT RESIDENTS OF THE
CITY HAVE GOTTEN USED TO, AND
IT IS SOMETHING THAT RESIDENTS
OF THE CITY HAVE THEIR LIVES
AROUND.
IT IS HOW THEY HAVE CHOSEN
WHERE TO LIVE.
IT IS HOW THEY HAVE CHOSEN WHAT
JOBS THEY CAN HAVE.
AND, IT WOULD BE INCREDIBLY
IMPACTFUL, AND INCREDIBLY
TERRIBLE IF THAT SERVICE WERE
TO DISAPPEAR.
SO, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A
RECENT SOCIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVE APPROACH.
ALSO AS WE LOOK TO A FUTURE
PROGRAM, AND HOW THAT PROGRAM
IS FUNDED, TO CONTINUE TO USE
THOSE PROGRESSIVE FUNDING
STRATEGIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE
AND CONTINUE TO PURSUE OTHER
OPTIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE
PROGRAM IS FUNDED
PROGRESSIVELY, AND IS HELPING,
RATHER THAN CHARGING THOSE
HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED
POPULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, AARON.
AND ALICE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
ONGOING WORK AND YOUR ENTIRE
BOARDS WORK.
WARMER SIDE OF THIS, IT IS AN
AMAZING SET OF INVESTMENTS.
AMAZING RESOURCE OF THE PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE HAVE SUPPORTED IN
THE PAST.
AND, REALLY CHALLENGING WITH 976
. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN SEATTLE
FROM THAT BUT CLEARLY STILL
SUPPORT INVESTMENTS IN TRANSIT,
AND ARE TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT ALSO -- A
PROBLEM YOU MENTION THE LEGAL
CHALLENGES THAT THOSE ARE GOING
TO NEED TO PLAY OUT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE
IS CURRENTLY AN INJUNCTION IN
PLACE, PREVENTING THAT LAW FROM
TAKING EFFECT SO WE CONTINUE TO
COLLECT REVENUE.
THE NEXT SERVICE CHANGE ROUND
IS IN MARCH OF NEXT YEAR.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS, THE
DECISION ABOUT WHAT TO INVEST
OR NOT INVEST, HAD TO HAPPEN
SOMETIME THIS WEEK.
WHERE IS THE CITY AND THE
COUNTY FOR WHAT'S GOING TO PLAY
OUT NEXT SPRING?
>> ARE YOU ASKING SPECIFICALLY
ABOUT THIS MARCH?
OR NEXT MARCH?
>> ASKING ABOUT MARCH 2020.
>> OKAY.
WE, THE SERVICE IS GOING TO
MOVE FORWARD AS IS CURRENTLY
INVESTED FOR MARCH 2020.
SO, THERE WILL BE NO REDUCTIONS
MADE.
THE CITY AND THE COUNTY ARE
ACTIVELY WORKING TOGETHER TO
DISCUSS OPTIONS FOR EVALUATING
FOR A TRANSIT MEASURE IN 2020,
RECOGNIZING THAT WE ARE COMING
INTO THE SUNSET OF SDOT -
STBD.
CAN BE A LOT ABOUT WORKING
TOGETHER NEXT YEAR TO NAVIGATE
ALL THE DIFFERENT PIECES OF
THIS.
>> YOU.
WELL, IT IS OBVIOUSLY
COMPLICATED WITH THE 976 AND
THE LEGAL CHALLENGE AROUND
THEM.
BECAUSE, THAT IS A SHORT
TIMEFRAME TO PLAN IN A PERFECT
WORLD.
AND THE UNCERTAINTY THAT THAT
PROVIDES, IT IS GREAT TO HEAR
THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO
CONTINUE TO MAKE THE
INVESTMENT.
SO, THAT MEANS WE WILL HAVE THE
SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE RECEIVED
TODAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF NEXT
YEAR.
OBVIOUSLY, IF THERE WAS A BAD
OUTCOME IN THE LEGAL CASE, WE
WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO
DO.
BUT IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO
LOSE THE SERVICE.
WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT KIND
OF CLOSING THAT GAP LOOKS LIKE
AND HOW WE FUNDED IF THAT'S A
CASE.
BUT HOPEFULLY WE PREVAIL AND WE
CAN MOVE ON TO LOOKING AT NEW
WAYS TO EXPAND THE SERVICE EVEN
FURTHER.
>> I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO
SUPPORT THE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT IN 2014.
AND SINCE I WILL BE STICKING
AROUND HERE, I WILL FIGHT TO
RENEW IT.
AND I AM GLAD TO KNOW, WE ARE
KEEPING THE FUNDING STUDY OVER
THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.
I AM HOPE FULL WE WILL PREVAIL
AGAINST I976.
HAD A QUESTION, IN TERMS OF
RENEWAL, THE REVENUE SOURCES,
WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE, WOULD YOU
STILL SUPPORT HAVING IT RENEWED
WITH THE SALES TAX IN PART OF
THE SOURCES OF FUNDS FOR THE
RENEWAL?
OR, I DIDN'T -?
>> I THINK THAT IT IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING IS THAT IS
RENEWED.
ABSOLUTELY, 100%.
>> OKAY.
GREAT.
>> THE GREAT OF THE STATE
LEGISLATURE NEXT TO GIVE US
MORE FLEXIBILITY TO HAVE SOME
OF THE SOURCES THAT MAY BE WERE
MORE PROGRESSIVE, AND SOME OF
THE OPTIONS ARE.
AND, IF THEY DON'T TAKE THAT
ACTION, PERSONALLY, I WON'T BE
HERE, I WILL BE A VOTER OUT
THERE, BUT I WON'T BE HERE
MAKING THE ACTION.
BUT MY HOPE IS THAT WE FIND A
WAY TO, IT WOULD BE REALLY
REGRESSIVE TO LOSE THE SERVICE.
AND I THINK THAT IT IS CRITICAL
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT.
>> I APPRECIATE IT.
I AGREE.
>> LOOK FORWARD TO EMAILING YOU
AND CALLING YOU.
>> BE LIKE OBI-WAN KENOBI.
SORT OF APPEARING OVER YOUR
SHOULDER, TELLING YOU WHAT TO
DO.
>> GREAT.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WILL WANT TO
ADD?
>> I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT
AND THANK YOU AND THIS
COMMITTEE FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
AND SUPPORT ON THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICT.
I THINK IT IS REALLY, IT HAS
BEEN REALLY GREAT TO HAVE YOUR
HELP IN SUPPORTING OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH KING COUNTY
METRO, OR ORCA OPPORTUNITY, AND
REALLY OPERATE, APPRECIATE ALL
YOU HAVE DONE TO MAKE THIS
SUCCESSFUL.
SO, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME.
I FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE HAD THE
CHANCE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL AND
LOOKING AT THE VOTERS OF
SEATTLE MADE THIS HUGE
INVESTMENT, THAT HAPPENED TO BE
WHILE I WAS SERVING.
IT'S, IT IS A STORY THAT OFTEN
GETS TOLD IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
BUT, THE CITY, THE CITY'S WORK
WITH THE COUNTY OFTENTIMES,
PEOPLE ARE CRITICAL THAT TOO
MANY GOVERNMENTS AND THEY DON'T
GET ALONG WELL AND FROM WHAT I
HAVE SEEN IS REALLY AN AMAZING
PARTNERSHIP.
WORKED AT BOTH PLACES.
YOU'VE WORKED BOTH SIDES.
SO THAT'S KIND OF SYMBOLIC OF
THE PARTNERSHIP, AND WE HAVE
PEOPLE IN THE CITY, FORMALLY AT
THE CITY WERE WORKING AT THE
COUNTY AND UNDERSTAND BOTH
AGENCIES REALLY WELL.
AND IT HAS ALLOWED US TO DO
SOME AMAZING PARTNERSHIPS.
I KNOW THAT OTHER JURISDICTIONS
OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE, SOMETIMES
ENVIOUS OF THE LEVEL OF SERVICE
WE ARE ABLE TO FUND.
I'M OVER BUT MAYBE THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY IN THE RENEWAL OF
THE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICT FOR OTHER DISTRICTS,
JURISDICTIONS OF THE COUNTY TO
JOIN IN AND SEE THIS 10 MINUTE,
15 MINUTE NETWORK ON JUST THE
CITY OF SEATTLE EXPAND.
CRITICAL SERVICE.
SO, THANKS FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER - WHERE ARE
WE?
>> 3 ON 4.
>> RIGHT.
4, ACTUAL THREE.
REREAD REVISION 0 TO THE
RECORD.
SPEEDING REVISION 0 AND
PEDESTRIAN ACCESS UPDATE.
>> PRESENTERS FOR IT?
>> WELCOME EVERYONE.
ONCE YOU ARE SETTLED, WHY DON'T
WE GO AHEAD AND START WITH
INTRODUCTIONS?
>> DAVID BURGESSER WITH --
DEVELOPMENT.
>> I AM BRADLEY TOPOL, I MANAGE
THE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
PROGRAM.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, JIM CURTIN
THE LOGIC DEVELOPMENT, SDOT.
>> SAM ZIMBABWE, SDOT .
>> GO AHEAD.
>> I CAN JUMP IN HYPHENS
>> Reporter: SORRY, JUMPING
RIGHT IN.
I AM JUST KICKING IT OFF AND
LETTING THESE GENTLEMEN RUN
THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
I WANTED US TO START BY
THANKING BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING
AT THE ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT WE
MADE EARLIER THIS WEEK ON SOME
INITIAL ACTIONS THAT WE WERE
TAKING IN RESPONSE TO VISION
ZERO WHICH WE ARE GOING TO TALK
TO A LITTLE BIT MORE HERE AND
TALK ABOUT IT, SOME OF THE
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS TO
THE PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN.
I THINK THE MOST CRITICAL THING.
-- A TROUBLING.
THEY ARE UNACCEPTABLE DULCIMER
TAKING SWIFT ACTION TO ADDRESS
THEM.
THE THINGS THAT WE ARE TALKING
THROUGH, SOME OF THESE ARE LONG-
TERM INVESTMENTS, SOME OF THESE
ARE SHORT-TERM.
VERY RAPID CHANGES THAT WILL WE
WILL BE MAKING.
I WANT TO THANK AGAIN BOTH OF
YOU.
BE SURE IT WITH US ON TUESDAY.
>> MORNING, THAT.
JIM, BRAD AND DAVID ARE GOING
TO WALK THROUGH THE
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU, SAM.
AND THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING TO
THE EVENT ON TUESDAY AT THE
SOUTH THE SENIOR CENTER.
WHERE WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN ON OUR
STREETS THIS YEAR IN 2019.
AFTER A RELATIVELY GOOD YEAR,
AND 2018, WE HAD SERIOUS
CRASHES, SHARPLY INCREASE IN
2019.
IN FACT, WE ARE ON PACE TO HAVE
THE WORST YEAR IN MORE THAN A
DECADE, AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF
FATAL CRASHES ARE CONCERNED.
WE, AS SAM MENTIONED, HAVE BEEN,
FRANKLY DEVASTATED AT TIMES
OVER SOME OF THE CRASHES THAT
HAVE OCCURRED ON OUR STREETS.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING SINCE.
I NOTICED THIS TREND I WANT TO
SAY IN JUNE OR JULY.
SOME OF THESE ITEMS TO STEM THE
TIDE AND MITIGATE SOME OF THESE
BAD CRASHES THAT HE.
BIG FACTOR, AND THE THING WE
ARE SEEING MOST OFTEN IS THAT
FATAL COLLISIONS.
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING
PEDESTRIANS ON THE STREETS.
IN FACT, FATAL PEDESTRIAN
COLLISIONS HAVE TRIPLED OVER
THE LAST YEAR.
AND, IT HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT
TREND OVER THE LAST 8 YEARS.
PEDESTRIANS HAVE BEEN WELL
OVERREPRESENTED IN OUR DATA.
THERE ARE, PEDESTRIAN
COLLISIONS MAKE UP ABOUT 4% OF
OUR TOTAL CRASHES.
JUST 4%.
BUT WELL OVER 50% OF OUR
FATALITIES.
SO, VISION 20 BEING A DATA-
DRIVEN PROGRAM, WE HAVE A
PRIORITIES PRETTY WELL SET FOR
THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE HERE.
AND THE ONE I THINK ITEM THAT I
WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT HERE IS
THAT OLDER PEDESTRIANS ARE MORE
OFTEN VICTIMS IN THESE CRASHES.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY
THAT OLDER PEOPLE ARE HIT IN
CRASHES MORE OFTEN.
THEY ARE LESS ABLE TO BOUNCE
BACK IN THESE COLLISIONS.
AND AS OUR SOCIETY AGES, THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY
NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT AS WE
MOVE FORWARD AND REDESIGN THE
STREETS.
THE PLOY NEW AND INNOVATIVE
ENFORCEMENT STRATEGIES, AND
BRING EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION
TO OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS
HERE IN SEATTLE.
AND THEN FINALLY, AS I KNOW, AS
WAS MENTIONED EARLIER DURING
PUBLIC COMMENT, AURORA, IS A
PARTICULAR CONCERN FOR US, AND
HAS BEEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
BUT THIS YEAR, WE HAVE HAD 5
PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES OUT THERE
AND A NUMBER OF OTHERS.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
AND BRAD IS GOING TO RUN
THROUGH SOME OF THE STEPS THAT
WE ARE TAKING TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
>> YES, AS SAM SAID, WE ARE
TAKING SWIFT ACTION ON A
VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ISSUES.
FOCUSING ON OUR ENGINEERING,
EDUCATION, AND ENFORCEMENT WAYS
OF MITIGATING SOME OF THESE
CRASHES AND PREVENTING THEM IN
THE FUTURE.
SO, IN ORDER TO TAKE ACTION, WE
ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO
LOWER SPEED LIMITS CITYWIDE.
ON ALMOST EVERY SINGLE STREET.
WE ARE GOING TO EXPEDITE OUR
DEPLOYMENT OF A LEADING
PEDESTRIAN INTERVALS, OR SIGNAL
TREATMENT THAT ARE ALSO CALLED
LPI'S.
WE ARE GOING TO CREATE A MAJOR
CRASH REVIEW TASK FORCE, THAT
WILL INVOLVE MANY DIFFEREN
ENTITIES BETWEEN VARIOUS
AGENCIES TO LOOK AT SERIOUS AND
FATAL CRASHES.
WE WILL LOOK FROM OUR
COMMUNICATIONS PERSPECTIVE TO
START A VISION ZERO STREET
TEAMS TO HAVE EVERYBODY ON THE
STREET TALKING WITH THE PUBLIC
ABOUT SOME OF OUR SAFETY
PROGRAMS, AND TRAVELING SAFELY
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND THEN FROM OUR ENFORCEMENT
PERSPECTIVE, WE ARE LOOKING AT
USING SPD FOR SOME OF HER
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY EMPHASIS
PATROLS ARE LOOKING TO INCREASE
SOME OF OUR AUTOMATED
ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS.
>> SO, GETTING INTO THOSE
SPECIFIC TYPES OF TREATMENTS,
LOWERING SEE SPEED LIMITS
CITYWIDE, WHAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT WITH LOWERING SPEEDS
AS YOU GET THAT DECREASE IN
SEVERITY, OR YOU GET THE
DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF OUR
FATALITIES OR JUST THE NUMBER
OF COLLISIONS PERIOD, ACROSS
THE CITY.
LOOKING AT OUR LPI'S OR LEADING
PEDESTRIAN INTERVALS, THOSE ARE
SHOWN TO STRONGLY REDUCE
TURNING CRASHES AT SIGNALIZED
INTERSECTIONS.
OUR MAJOR CRASH REVIEW TASK
FORCE IS LOOKING TO UTILIZE ALL
THOSE OF THE DIFFERENT
AGENCIES, AND EVERY PERSON IN
EACH AGENCY'S EXPERTISE IN
CRASH REVIEW AND WHAT LEADS TO
SOME OF OUR BETTER SOLUTIONS,
WE WILL BE USING ALL THE
DIFFERENT ENTITIES TO HELP US
DEVELOP FOR THE RIGHT
RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO MAKE
STREETS SAFER ACROSS THE CITY.
R STREET TEAMS, WE WANT TO USE
TO REACH OUT TO A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, BUT
SPECIFICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED
COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT SEATTLE.
IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO SPREAD
OUR SAFETY MESSAGING.
AND THAT OUR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
EMPHASIS PATROLS, THE PURPOSE
OF THOSE ARE TO IMPROVE
AWARENESS AND INCREASE
COMPLIANCE.
AGAIN, KIND OF RELATED TO OUR
VEHICLES STOPPING AND YIELDING
TO PEDESTRIANS.
AND BY INCREASING OUR RED LIGHT
CAMERAS AND OUR SAFETY SCHOOL
ZONE SPEED CAMERAS.
AGAIN, WE ALSO WANT TO REDUCE
THE FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF
OUR COLLISIONS ON SEATTLE
STREETS.
>> DIVING INTO SOME OF THE
SPECIFIC ACTIONS, WE ARE
TAKING, OF ONE OF OUR
INITIATIVES THAT IS COMING OUT
RECENTLY IS CALLED A BIKE AND
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ANALYSIS.
THIS IS OUR SECOND PHASE.
THIS IS KIND OF A LARGE-SCALE,
VERY HAVE A DATA-DRIVEN
PROCESS.
WHERE WE LOOK AT CRASHES
THROUGHOUT THE CITY FOR
BICYCLES AND PEDESTRIANS OF ALL
SEVERITY LEVELS.
OVER A LARGE TIME SPAN, ABOUT 7
YEARS AND WE LOOK TO IDENTIFY
WHAT OF THOSE GENERIC RISK
FACTORS AROUND THE CITY THAT
MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THOSE TYPES
OF CRASHES, PEDESTRIAN AND
BICYCLE CRASHES.
AND THEN ONCE WE HAVE DONE
THAT, IT ZOOMS OUT AND IT KIND
OF LOOKS FOR OTHER HOTSPOTS IN
THE CITY.
MAYBE WE ARE NOT SEEING THE
SAME SEVERITY ARE THE SAME
FREQUENCY OF CRASHES, BUT WE
ARE SEEING IS VERY SIMILAR RISK
PATTERNS EMERGE.
SO, WE USE OUR BICYCLE AND
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ANALYSIS TO
KIND OF GUIDE US TO BE MORE
PROACTIVE FOR THE SOLUTIONS,
VERSUS JUST BEING SILLY
REACTIVE WHEN A CRASH OCCURS.
WE ARE EXPECTING THAT, SHORTLY
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS IN
JANUARY.
>> HOW IS PHASE 2 DIFFERENT
THAN PHASE 1?
>> PHASE 1 WAS ABOUT 3 YEARS
AGO.
IT WAS 2016.
SO, THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE
HAD EVER DONE THAT.
SEATTLE IS ONE OF THE ONLY
CITIES IN THE COUNTRY THAT
TAKES THE SEVERITY, THIS VERY
HEAVY DATING ANALYSIS APPROACH
TO REDUCING COLLISIONS AROUND
THE CITY.
PHASE 2 WAS A DEEPER DIVE.
IT WAS MEANT TO KIND OF, 1,
PROVIDE SOME CALIBRATION, TO BE
LIKE WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE
CRASHES SINCE PHASE 1. IS OUR
EQUATIONS RIGHT?
ARE ALGORITHMS CORRECT?
IS THIS PLAYING OUT WELL?
IT HELPED FURTHER CALIBRATE OUR
SYSTEM FOR LOCATING THOSE RISK
FACTORS AND WHICH WAS ACTUALLY
CONTRIBUTE, AND ONE OF THE
HOTSPOTS?
AND ADDITIONALLY TOOK GOOD
DEEPER DIVES INTO SOME OF OUR
PROTECTED BIKE LANES AND BIKE
SPECIFIC CRASHES ON OUR
COMFORTABLE BICYCLE NETWORK
ACROSS THE CITY.
>> I JUST REMAIN VERY IMPRESSED
WITH THIS BODY OF WORK.
SEATTLE IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE
SAFEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY
AND IN THE WORLD.
AND AS YOU MENTIONED, IT IS
UNACCEPTABLY HIGH RATES OF
INJURY AND FATALITIES GOING ON
IN OUR CITIES STILL.
AND THAT LEAVES US WITH THIS
REAL CHALLENGE OF, WE WERE
ALREADY ONE OF THE BEST.
AND IT IS STILL UNACCEPTABLE
GOD.
WE CAN'T JUST LOOK TO OTHER
CITIES TO COPY THEM.
THEY ARE LOOKING TO US.
AND ALSO, THERE ARE, THERE ARE
TOO MANY.
THERE ARE STILL RELATIVELY FEW.
SO, IF IT SIMPLY, TRYING TO
PREDICT WHAT THAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN, WE ARE EXPECTING - IT'S
EASY TO GET STUCK IN SAY LIGHTS
OFF, SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED AT
THIS INTERSECTION SO NOW WE
WILL FIX IT.
SO THAT THIS BODY OF WORK, TO
REALLY TRY TO USE THE DATA TO
MODEL AND PREDICT WHAT IS
HAPPENING, AS SOME OF YOUR, OF
YOUR COLLEAGUES AND DESCRIBED
ME, THESE MOMENTS WHEN THEY
LOOK AT THE DATA AND THE LOOK
AT THE MAP AND THEY GO OUT TO A
SPOT WHERE THE DATA HAS
PREDICTED SOMETHING.
THEY DESCRIBE BUT, WITHIN
MINUTES, WE START SEEING THESE
INTERACTIONS THAT ARE VERY
DANGEROUS ALREADY HAPPENING.
IT'S LIKE WOW, IT'S GREAT THAT
FOLKS AREN'T SITTING THERE
GOING IS NOT MUCH ELSE WE CAN
DO INSTEAD OF CREATING THESE
NEW MODELS.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU ARE
FOCUSING ON THAT AND FIGURE OUT
HOW THAT HAPPENS.
I AM IMPRESSED.
IT'S GREAT TO KNOW THAT THIS
NEXT ITERATION IS COMING.
I AM GLAD THAT THE MAYOR
ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK, SO
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS AND THIS BODY
OF WORK WILL PLAY OUT AND
HOPEFULLY THAT WILL RESULT IN
REVESING THE TREND SWIFTLY
WHAT WE ARE SEEING.
SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO, MOVING ON.
AS THE MAYOR RELEASED THIS WEEK
AND SPOKE ABOUT ON TUESDAY,
WE'RE TAKING STRONG ACTION TO
REDUCE SPEED LIMITS CITYWIDE.
SO, WE ARE LOOKING AT UPDATING
AND, OUR POLICY ON HOW AND
WHERE WE DO SPEED LIMIT
REDUCTIONS, BUT OUR TARGET IS
TO REDUCE SPEED LIMITS ON MOST
CITY STREETS TO 25 MILES AN
HOUR.
AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT REDUCING
SPEED LIMITS, EVEN WITH JUST
SIGNAGE, REDUCES THE FREQUENCY
AND SEVERITY OF CRASHES ON THE
STREETS.
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE WORKING
HANDS AND HALF HAND IN HAND
WITH WASHDOT -- WHERE WE
CONTINUE TO SEE A HIGH
FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF
CRASHES.
AND, LIKE IT IS MENTIONED, WE
HAVE SEEN CRASH REDUCTIONS OF
UP TO ABOUT 20-40% FOR ALL
COLLISIONS ON STREETS WHERE WE
HAVE PREVIOUSLY LOWERED SPEED
LIMITS TO 25 MILE PER HOUR.
>> SO, THIS IS GREAT THAT WE
ALREADY HAVE SOME DATA FROM OUR
EARLIER STEPS.
20-40% REDUCTION IS SOMETHING
TO BE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT.
I LOOK AT THE GRID, OR THE
NETWORK OF GREENSTREET ON.
I IMAGINE THAT'S A LOT OF SPEED
LIMIT SIGNS.
BUT IS PROBABLY NOT A WAY TO
JUST PUSH A BUTTON BACK IN THE
HOME OFFICE AND FLIP THAT
NUMBER TO 25.
WHAT IS THE TIMING ON THAT?
DO WE HAVE THE CREWS TO DO IT?
>> YEAH, WE HAVE WORKED WITH
OUR CRUISE, WE HAVE WORKED WITH
OUR INTERNAL DESIGN STAFF AND
OUR ENGINEERS AT SDOT TO
EVALUATE ALL OF OUR RESOURCES,
AND WHAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO
US.
WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN
CHANGE ALL OF THE SPEED LIMIT
SIGNS ACROSS THE CITY AND THE
ROADS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ABOVE
25 WITHIN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS 18
MONTHS.
WE HAVE ESTIMATED IT TO BE
ABOUT 2500 SIGNS.
AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO
UTILIZE ADDITIONAL, AND THROW
AS MANY STAFF MEMBERS AS WE CAN
AT THIS EFFORT.
ESPECIALLY OVER THE NEXT FEW
COMING MONTHS TO KIND OF GET
THIS PROGRAM JUMPSTARTED REALLY
QUICKLY.
AND HOPEFULLY START
IMPLEMENTING IT EARLY IN 2020.
>> I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING SAM
OUT THERE WITH A TOOLBELT ON
AND RANCH.
>> STEPLADDER, CHANGING THAT
SIGN.
>> I WILL SAY IT IS MOST
CHANGING OUT SIGNS.
IT IS ALSO INCREASING THE
FREQUENCY OF SPEED SIGNS.
THAT'S ONE THING AS WE HAVE
DONE THIS ON A QUARTER BY
QUARTER BASIS, WE HAVE
INCREASED THE FREQUENCY OF SIGN
FROM BEING ABOUT 1 TO EVERY
MILE TO ONE ABOUT EVERY .25-.5
MILE.
CHANGING OUT SIGNS BUT ALSO
INSTALLING NEW ONES.
THAT WILL HELP HOPEFULLY, I
THINK WHAT IS LED TO SOME OF
THE CRASH REDUCTIONS ARE ALSO
REMINDED PEOPLE MORE
CONSISTENTLY ABOUT WHAT THE SAY
SPEED ACTUALLY IS.
>> RIGHT.
>> IT'S REALLY EXCITING FOR A
LOT OF PEOPLE, I KNOW WHEN I
WAS CAMPAIGNING AND KNOCKING ON
PEOPLES DOORS, THERE REALLY
FOCUSED ON THE SIGNAGE.
THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO
THEM.
THEY WANTED TO SEE MORE
FREQUENCY OF THE SIGNS.
THERE WERE SOME SIGNS THAT YOU
KNOW, THE NEW IT'S AT 30 MILES
AN HOUR, BUT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO
BE 25 AND THEY WERE EXCITED THE
SIGNS ARE COMING.
SO, THANK YOU.
>> SO, LOOKING AT KIND OF OUR
INTERSECTION TREATMENTS AND
TOOLS AND KIND OF OUR SIGNAL
SAFETY TOOLBOX, WE ARE LOOKING
TO KIND OF VASTLY CONTINUE PAYS
FOR LEADING PEDESTRIAN
INTERVALS.
LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVAL IS
A TREATMENT WHERE YOU GIVE
PEDESTRIANS A HEAD START AT A
CROSSWALK BEFORE YOU GIVE
VEHICLES THE GREEN LIGHT TO
TURN.
TYPICALLY USES 3-7 SECONDS OF
WALK TIME PRIOR TO THE VEHICLES
GETTING THE GREEN EYE.
SO, PEDESTRIANS CAN GET OUT AND
BE VISIBLE AND ESTABLISH
THEMSELVES IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.
HAS BEEN SHOWN BOTH IN OUR
LOCAL DATA AND ON A NATIONAL
SCALE TO REDUCE PEDESTRIAN
TURNING COLLISIONS BY UP TO
ABOUT 60%.
WE STARTED DOING THESE AT A
MUCH HIGHER FREQUENCY, KIND OF
STARTING IN 2018, AND
CONTINUING IT TO 2019.
WE HAVE 125 TODAY.
WE ARE BASICALLY LOOKING TO
DOUBLE THAT NUMBER IN 2020.
>> WHICH WOULD COVER 25% OF THE
CITY.
>> IS THAT SOMETHING THAT
ULTIMATELY YOU WOULD DO
EVERYWHERE?
ARE THERE CERTAIN CONDITIONS
WHERE IT MAKES SENSE AND OTHER
CONDITIONS WHERE IT DOESN'T
MAKE SENSE?
>> WE ARE GENERALLY LOOKING TO
EVALUATE ALMOST EVERY SIGNAL IN
THE CITY TO DO THIS TREATMENT.
THERE ARE SOME SITUATIONS WHERE
IT WOULD NOT MAKE SENSE.
CERTAIN INTERSECTIONS WHERE
THERE IS ALREADY A LOT OF LEFT
AND RIGHT TURN ARROWS, WHERE
PEDESTRIAN FACES MAY ALREADY BE
COMPLETELY ISOLATED FROM
TURNING TRAFFIC.
WE WOULD NOT DO IT THERE.
THE LOCATIONS WHERE WE ALREADY
HAVE ONLY WALKS, PEDESTRIANS
ARE ALREADY ISOLATED FROM
TURNING CONFLUX.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART WE ARE
LOOKING TO DO THEM AS MANY
PLACES AS WE CAN.
>> AND DOES GENERALLY, THE
EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE AT
INTERSECTIONS SUPPORTED?
OR DOES THIS REQUIRE SIGNAL
UPGRADES OR NEW ELECTRICAL
COMPONENTS FOR COMPUTERS?
>> IT VARIES.
ANY OF OUR NEWER SIGNALS, IT IS
REALLY JUST EVERY PROGRAMMING
THE SIGNAL.
SOMETIMES IN THE FIELD, EVEN
SOMETIMES SOME OF OUR SIGNALS
OF COMMUNICATION DIRECTLY INTO
SDOT , AND THEY CAN DO IT ALL
AT THE WORKSTATION.
OTHER, OLDER SIGNALS, WE DO
HAVE TO UPGRADE SOME OF THE
ELECTRONICS AND SOME OF THE
BOXES THAT HOLD THE KIND OF
BRAINS OF THE SIGNALS.
AND THOSE TAKE A LITTLE MORE
CAPITAL IN A LITTLE MORE TIME
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SEND CREWS
OUT THERE TO REPLACE US.
IT VARIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
BUT WE ARE -- BOTH LOCATIONS.
WE ARE LOOKING TO UPGRADE
SIGNALS AS WELL AS TRYING TO
FIND, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
LOCATIONS WE CAN DO QUICKLY
THAT ARE CHEAPER TO DO IT SAME
TIME.
>> ALSO, KIND OF BOUNCING INTO
OTHER TYPES OF SIGNAL
TREATMENTS.
WE'RE LOOKING TO KIND OF
INCREASE OUR ENFORCEMENT FOR
RED LIGHT CAMERAS.
WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST THAT
THEY REDUCE A LOT OF OUR ANGLE
COLLISION, OUR T-BONE CRASH
COLLISIONS, AS WELL AS THEY
HAVE A POSITIVE REDUCTION FOR
PEDESTRIAN COLLISIONS.
WE ARE LOOKING TO DOUBLE THE
NUMBER OF RED LIGHT CAMERAS
ACROSS THE CITY.
AT HIGH-PRIORITY INTERSECTIONS,
WHERE WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF
SIMILAR CRASH PATTERNS WITH A
LARGE - HIGH-FREQUENCY ANGLE
COLLISIONS AND PEDESTRIAN
COLLISIONS.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE ABOUT 30, SO
WE LOOK TO EXPAND TO ABOUT 60
RED LIGHT CAMERAS.
IN ADDITION, WE ARE LOOKING TO
INSTALL 5 MORE SCHOOLS ON SPEED
CAMERAS IN SCHOOL ZONES ACROSS
THE CITY.
>> SO, WE ARE CONTINUING TO
WORK WITH SPD TO WORK WITH TWO
DIFFERENT TYPES OF OUR EMPHASIS
PATROLS.
WHAT IS SPECIFICALLY PEDESTRIAN
FOCUS.
WE HAVE OUR PLAINCLOTHES POLICE
OFFICERS THAT WILL BE GOING OUT
THERE AND CONDUCTING, WALKING
ACROSS THE STREET AND VEHICLES
THAT FAILED TO COMPLY OR
STOPPED OR YIELD.
THEY WILL BE FLAGGED DOWN AN
OFFICER FURTHER DOWN THE BLOCK.
HOPEFULLY, TO HAVE A FRIENDLY
INTERACTION, AND BE PROVIDED
WITH A WARNING.
IN ORDER TO KIND OF TALK MORE
ABOUT SAFETY IN THE CITY AND
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO YIELD TO
PEDESTRIANS.
IN ADDITION, A HIGH COLLISION
CORRIDOR NETWORKS, SOAK ALL OF
OUR MAJOR ARTERIALS AND HAVE A
HIGHER DENSITY OF COLLISIONS,
AS OPPOSED TO OTHERS, WE WILL
BE LOOKING TO TARGET SPECIFIC
BEHAVIORS THAT WE KNOW ARE SOME
OF OUR LARGEST CONTRIBUTING
FACTORS TO COLLISIONS AND
FATALITIES ACROSS THE CITY.
SUCH AS IMPAIRMENT,
DISTRACTIONS, SPEEDING AND
FAILURE TO STOP FOR
PEDESTRIANS.
>>AND TO BE CLEAR, THE
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY PATROLS IS
FOCUSED ON PEDESTRIAN SAFETY,
NOT ON THE PEDESTRIANS
THEMSELVES.
>> YES, YES.
WE ARE TRYING TO -
>> EXACTLY.
WE ARE TRYING TO REDUCE DRIVER
BEHAVIOR THAT PUTS PEDESTRIANS
AT RISK.
WE KNOW THE PEDESTRIANS ACCOUNT
FOR, AGAIN, THIS YEAR, IT IS
OVER 50% OF OUR FATALITIES
ACROSS THE CITY.
WE KNOW THEY ARE THE MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATION.
>> THAT WILL BE PARTICULARLY AT
UNCONTROLLED CROSSINGS, WERE
PEDESTRIANS OF THE RIGHT-OF-
WAY, WHETHER THE CROSSWALK IS
MARKED OR NOT.
SO, THERE IS NO EDUCATION OF
PEDESTRIANS THAT IS NEEDED.
IT IS REALLY, MAKING SURE THAT
PEDESTRIANS ARE SAFE CROSSING
THE STREETS OF THOSE LOCATIONS.
>> RIGHT.
>> MOVING ON.
OUR MAJOR CRASH REVIEW TASK
FORCE WILL BE USING, LIKE I
SAID, MANY OTHER AGENCIES.
COORDINATING WITH WASHDOT, COOK
COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.
WE WILL BE WORKING WITH - KING
COUNTY.
>> OH, MY GOSH.
I AM SO SORRY.
I AM FROM CHICAGO.
SORRY.
PREVIOUSLY.
MANY OTHER AGENCIES, INCLUDING
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
AS WELL AS OUR ADVISORY BOARD
REPRESENTATIVES, AND SPD, SHE
REALLY IS ALL OF THE DIFFERENT
EXPERTISE, TO KIND OF DIAL AND
REALLY DO A DEEP DIVE INTO
SPECIFIC FATALITIES, SPECIFIC
SERIOUS INJURIES ACROSS THE
CITY, TO REALLY SEE IF WE CAN
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE MORE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO, HOW THEY GOT THE FUNDS, ARE
THERE OTHER WAYS TO TRIGGER
ORDINANCES?
WHAT ARE THE BEST STRATEGIES
FOR CONTINUING TO PREVENT THESE
CRASHES AS THEY HAPPEN?
>> SOME OF THE SPECIFIC STREET
SET UP AND WORKING, THAT WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON ARE
CONTINUING TO WORK ON ARE SOME
OF OUR STATE ROUTES.
SPECIFICALLY, AURORA, WHERE WE
HAVE SEEN AGAIN, SOME OF HER
MOST HIGHEST NUMBER OF
FATALITIES THIS YEAR.
SO, THIS YEAR, WITH WASHDOT'S
RESURFACING PROJECT, WE WERE
ABLE TO INSTALL ADDITIONAL
CURVE RAMPS AND -- FOR
IMPROVEMENTS.
23rd.
-- AND RESTRICT ALL OF THE
EXISTING CROSSWALKS AND LANE
LINES.
MOVING FORWARD IN THE NEAR
TERM, WE ARE LOOKING TO INVEST
$2 MILLION TO LOOK AT
ADDITIONAL CROSSING
IMPROVEMENTS, POTENTIAL, MAYBE
ADDING IN SIGNALS, OR MAKING
PEDESTRIAN CROSSING SAFER. WE
ARE DOING THAT ANALYSIS RIGHT
NOW TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE
BEST USE OF THOSE RESOURCES,
AND WHERE ARE THE BEST PLACES
TO TARGET THEM?
AND THEN IN THE LONG-TERM, WE
ARE DEVELOPING A LONG-TERM
PLANNING STUDY TO LOOK AT
AURORA AVENUE AS A WHOLE.
AND KIND OF COME AT IT FROM
THIS HOLISTIC APPROACH, AND
KIND OF LIKE, WHAT IS THE
ULTIMATE FUTURE VISION OF A
SAFER AVENUE.
SO, LOOKING AT LAND-USE, AND
CHANNELIZATION CHANGES AND KIND
OF LIKE, WHAT IS OUR BEST
OPTIONS OUT THERE?
THIS WILL BE MAJOR CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS, SO IT IS GOING TO
BE PART OF A LONG-TERM.
BUT, WE ARE LOOKING AT THINGS
WE HAVE DONE TODAY, THINGS WE
ARE DOING TOMORROW, THINGS WE
WILL CONTINUE TO DO IN THE
FUTURE.
>> WELL THAT PLANNING WORK DONE
IN CONDUCTION WITH WASHDOT?
>> YES.
EVERYTHING WILL HAVE TO WORK
DIRECTLY WITH WASHDOT ON THAT.
BUT, WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN
WORKING WITH THEM ON THE
EXISTING SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS WE
DID THIS YEAR.
WE WILL JUST KIND OF CONTINUE
TO MAINTAIN THAT PARTNERSHIP IN
THE FUTURE.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM
CONVERSATIONS I HAVE HAD THE
PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT THAT
RELATIONSHIP IS REALLY
IMPROVING TO BE A REALLY ROBUST
ONE.
AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, IT IS
TRAGIC, THE COLLISION THAT
HAPPENED JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT IS UP, IF
SOMETHING GOOD COMES OUT OF
THAT, EVEN DEEPER COORDINATION
WITH THE AGENCIES THAT ALLOWS
US TO MAKE BETTER IMPROVEMENTS.
THAT WOULD BE AT LEAST ONE
UPSIDE THERE.
SO, I HOPE THAT PLAYS OUT.
I WILL JUST NOTE THAT IN
PUBLIC,, WE HEARD, YOU PROBABLY
HEARD, TOO.
ATTITUDE FOR THAT PLANNING
STUDY.
I THINK THAT WILL BE A REALLY
GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET A
COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THAT.
I ALSO APPRECIATE IT THERE'S A
COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS IN
CAPITAL, PUBLIC COMMENT
MENTIONED THAT $2 MILLION
DOESN'T GO VERY FAR, ESPECIALLY
ON THE CORRIDOR, THAT CROSSING
92nd THAT'S GREAT.
IMPROVEMENT BUT THAT WOULD EAT
UP MOST OF THIS.
SO, COUNSELOR PEDERSEN, I SHARE
DIFFERENT SIDES OF HIGHWAY 99
IN OUR DISTRICTS.
SO, FIGURING OUT AS YOU DO THAT
PLANNING STUDY, WHERE WE WILL
FIND SOME INVESTMENT DOLLARS TO
MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
WE WILL WANT TO KEEP LOOKING AT
THAT, TOO.
>> GO.
ALSO LOOKING AT OTHER WASHDOT
ROUTES, LAKE CITY WAY,
SPECIFICALLY WHERE AND WE ARE
INVESTING $8.5 MILLION IN
CAPITAL INVESTMENTS OVER THE
NEXT TWO YEARS TO IMPROVE
PEDESTRIAN ACCESS, INCREASE THE
NUMBER OF SIDEWALKS, AND
CONTINUE TO ADD MORE SIGNALS,
AND SAFE CROSSINGS FOR
PEDESTRIANS ALONG LAKE CITY
WAY.
SO, WITHOUT -.
>> AND IN ADDITION, ONE OF THE
KEY COMPONENTS OF VISION ZERO
BEING A KIND OF MULTIPRONGED,
MULTIFACETED APPROACH, IS
MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE
AWARE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING ON
THE STREETS.
AN HOUR GOAL TO MAKE OUR
STREETS EVEN SAFER THAN THEY
ARE TODAY.
AND ONE THING THAT STAFF
LEARNED OVER THE YEARS IS THAT
IN CITIES THAT HAVE A MORE
ROBUST EDUCATION PROGRAM, THEY
HAVE BETTER RECOGNITION OF THE
VISION ZERO GOAL.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, NEW YORK CITY
HAD DICTATED IT TO THEM.
THEY FOUND THAT 80% OF THE
POPULATION OF NEW YORK CITY WAS
AWARE OF VISION ZERO AND WHAT
THEY WERE TRYING TO DO THERE.
WE NEED A CUSTOMER SERVICE
SURVEY HERE AND WE FOUND THAT
ONLY 30% OF SEATTLEITES ARE
AWARE OF WHAT VISION ZERO IS.
SO, WE WANT TO DO A LOT MORE IN
PERSON OUTREACH TO TALK TO
FOLKS ABOUT OUR GOAL TO IMPROVE
SAFETY FOR EVERYONE ON THE
STREETS.
WE WANT TO REACH OUT TO THE
FOLKS WHO ARE IMPACTED MOST
OFTEN.
SO, THAT IS DEFINITELY OLDER
ADULTS, AS WE TALKED ABOUT
EARLIER.
BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW,
HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED
COMMUNITIES.
I THINK THERE IS A SPECIALLY
SOME GOOD OPPORTUNITIES WITH
FOLKS WHO ARE NEW TO THE UNITED
STATES.
I THINK WE CAN YOU KNOW, REACH
OUT TO THOSE FOLKS WHO MIGHT
NOT SPEAK ENGLISH, AND TALK TO
THEM ABOUT HOW OUR
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM WORKS.
AND DO IT IN A FRIENDLY WAY.
AND REALLY, I THINK, THAT WILL
HAVE REALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS
ON THE MAJOR STREETS THAT ARE
MOST CRASH PRONE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, LIKE RAINIER AVENUE
SOUTH.
LIKE AURORA AVENUE NORTH.
AND OTHERS.
SO, OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE SQUEEZE
WE HAVE REALLY GREAT
COMMUNICATIONS AND WE ARE
LEARNING FROM THAT AND WILL BE
LAUNCHING THESE STREET TEAMS
NEXT YEAR.
LIKE I SAID, TO GET OUT AND
TALK TO FOLKS.
WE HAVE DABBLED IN THE IN
PERSON OUTREACH OVER THE YEARS,
BUT THIS WILL BE A MAJOR NEW
PUSH TO REACH THESE
INDIVIDUALS.
AND THEN A THANK YOU TO THE
MAYOR, AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR
THE ADDITION OF NEARLY $20
MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR
VISION ZERO PROJECTS.
THESE NEW FUNDS WILL GO TO NEW
SAFETY CORRIDOR PROJECTS, WHERE
WE AGAIN, TAKE ON HER MOST
CRASH PRONE STREETS, AND
RETHINK THE STREET DESIGNS, SO
WE CAN ACHIEVE LOWER SPEEDS,
AND REDUCE THE CRASH PATTERNS
THAT WE ARE SEEING OUT THERE.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEDESTRIAN
CROSSING IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
THAT WILL BE MOVING FORWARD IN
THE CENTER CITY, IN PARTICULAR,
WHERE WE HAVE THE MOST
CONFLICTS BETWEEN ALL THE
DIFFERENT MODES.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAY
PROGRAM, WHICH PRIORITIZES
STREETS FOR PEOPLE WALKING AND
BIKING.
THEY WILL GET A BOOST FROM THIS
AS WELL AS THE BICYCLE MASTER
PLAN, WHICH GOT A SIGNIFICANT
INFUSION OF MORE THAN $10
MILLION.
SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE KNOW THAT STREET DESIGN IS
THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO
REDUCE COLLISIONS.
AND, THIS IS GOING TO GO A LONG
WAY TO ADDRESSING OUR PROBLEM
SPOTS IN SEATTLE.
>> GREAT.
SO, IN ADDITION TO THE CITYWIDE
SAFETY MEASURES WE HAVE BEEN
IMPLEMENTING, WE JUST COMPLETED
THE ANNUAL UPDATE OF A FIVE-
YEAR PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
SO, THIS DOCUMENT ESSENTIALLY
SPELLS THAT ARE NEAR-TERM
ACTIONS FOR HOW WE ARE GOING TO
IMPLEMENT PEDESTRIAN
IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING
SIDEWALKS, WALKWAYS, CROSSING
IMPROVEMENTS, AND IT DEFINES OR
NEAR NEAR-TERM PRIORITIZATION
STRATEGIES, HOW WE PRIORITIZE
PROJECTS ACROSS THE CITY.
ARE PROGRESS REPORTS THAT WE'VE
BEEN DOING OVER THE PAST FEW
YEARS.
AND OUR PROJECT WAS.
SO, OUR FIVE-YEAR A NEEDED
PROJECT LIST CONTAINS HUNDRED
21 SIDEWALK LOCKS.
IT'S BROKEN UP INTO TRADITIONAL
SIDEWALKS AND COST-EFFECTIVE
WALKWAYS, WHICH I WILL GET INTO
A MINUTE.
AND 164 CROSSINGS THAT WILL
EVALUATE OR UPGRADE.
WE START OUT WITH THE LARGEST
LIST OF CROSSINGS AND
INTERSECTIONS THAT WE KNOW ARE
HIGH PRIORITIES, AND THEN LOOK
AT WHERE CROSSINGS MAKE THE
MOST SENSE, AND WOULD BE MOST
EFFECTIVE TO UPGRADE FOR
PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS.
AND FOR THIS YEAR, WE ARE ON
TRACK TO CONSTRUCT BETWEEN 50-
56 BLOCKS OF NEW SIDEWALKS BY
THE END OF THE YEAR.
IMPROVE 16 PEDESTRIAN
CROSSINGS, AND CONSTRUCT 29-32
SAFE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS.
SO, IMPROVING ROUTES TO PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
IN THESE PROJECTS, -- BASED ON
A PROCESS BUILDOUT THROUGH THE
PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN PROCESS.
SO, WE LOOK AT, WE HAVE A
PRIORITY INVESTMENT NETWORK
THAT LOOKS AT IMPROVING ACCESS
TO TRANSIT AND SCHOOLS.
AS KIND OF OUR TOP PRIORITY
DESTINATIONS.
THEN ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAVE
SCORING FOR SAFETY FACTORS,
HEALTH AND EQUITY.
WHETHER PROJECTS ARE WITHIN OR
ADJACENT TO AN URBAN VILLAGE.
AND AGE FRIENDLY FACTORS AS
WELL THAT LOOKS AT THE
PERCENTAGE OF OLDER ADULTS THAT
LIVE IN AREAS NEAR PROJECTS.
INFREQUENT DESTINATIONS THAT
OLDER FOLKS ARE ACCESSING.
SO, OUR DELIVERY STRATEGY FOR
ALONG THE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS
INCLUDES BOTH TRADITIONAL
SIDEWALKS AND COST-EFFECTIVE
WALKWAYS.
AND COST-EFFECTIVE WALKWAYS ARE
ESSENTIALLY WAYS THAT ALLOW US
TO STRETCH OUR BUDGET FURTHER,
AND DELIVER DEDICATED
PEDESTRIAN SPACES ON MORE
STREETS MORE QUICKLY.
PENNIES HAVE TAKEN A NUMBER OF
FORMS, WHETHER IT IS -- GRADE
ASPHALT WALKWAYS, DOING
PEDESTRIAN SPACES.
AND, THESE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE
ALLOWED US TO DELIVER NEW
WALKWAYS FOR ABOUT HALF THE
COST OF WHAT A TRADITIONAL --
GUTTER SIDEWALK WOULD COST.
WORK PLAN ACCOUNTS FOR 50%
TRADITIONAL WALKWAYS, AND
ABOUT, SORRY, 57% TRADITIONAL
WALKWAYS AND 43% COST-
EFFECTIVE.
THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART
OF OUR IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY.
ANOTHER BIG PART OF OUR
STRATEGY IS JUST CONTINUING THE
PROGRAMMATIC AND POLICY
INITIATIVES, TO IMPROVE
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND ACCESS
ACROSS THE CITY.
WE PARTNER VERY CLOSELY WITH
THE VISION ZERO PROGRAM.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON POLICY
CHANGES FOR SIGNALS, NEW
CROSSWALKS, PEDESTRIAN
INTERVALS, AS WELL AS
PARTNERING ON THE SAFETY AND
EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS AND
REDUCING SPEED LIMITS ACROSS
THE CITY.
SO, THIS GRAPH HERE JUST KIND
OF SHOWS THE BREAKDOWN OF
TRADITIONAL AND COST-EFFECTIVE
WALKWAYS, AND WE ARE POISED TO
MEET OUR DELIVERABLE TARGET OF
DELIVERING 250 BOXES SIDEWALKS
THROUGHOUT THE 9 YOUR LEVY.
>> I'M CURIOUS.
THE, LOOKING AT A FEW YEARS
THERE, 22-24, IT IS QUITE
VARIABLE.
I AM CURIOUS WHAT IS HAPPENING
IN 22 VERSUS 23.
I GET THE FUNDING MAY BE A
PIECE OF IT, BUT IT FLUCTUATES
QUITE A BIT.
>> YES.
IT ESSENTIALLY FOLLOWS THE
PROGRAM'S BUDGET AND WHAT THAT
BUDGET IS FRONTLOADED.
OR TAPERS OFF TOWARD THE END OF
LEVY.
THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF
INFLUX IN 2024 DELIVER FINAL
PROJECTS THAT ARE POSTED FOR
FUTURE YEARS.
>> GREAT.
>> SO, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO
QUESTIONS.
>> COUNCILMAN PEDERSEN, DO YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THIS
AUSTERE GROUP?
>> NO, WE LEARNED A LOT AT THE
MAYOR'S PRESS CONFERENCE AS
WELL.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY
AS WELL.
>> THIS IS A REALLY, YOU KNOW,
IT HAS BEEN A ROUGH YEAR,
RIGHT?
AND JUST KIND OF GOT FINGERS
CROSSED THAT WE CAN GET TO THE
END OF THE YEAR WITHOUT ANOTHER
MAJOR COLLISION THAT CAUSES
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
OBVIOUSLY, THE CALENDAR - LIVES
DON'T RESET ON THE FIRST OF THE
YEAR, SO THIS IS AN ONGOING
EFFORT.
BUT, IT WILL BE NICE TO GET
THIS ASPECT OF THIS YEAR BEHIND
US, AND HOPEFULLY, HAVE A MUCH
BETTER, MUCH SAFER 2020.
IT'S PARTICULARLY HARD BECAUSE
I KNEW THERE IS A TEAM OF FOLKS
THAT HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUSLY
WORKING ON THIS, AND DESPITE
THAT, WE HAD A SPIKE THIS YEAR
THAT IS REALLY HARD TO GET HER
HEAD AROUND.
I AM REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE
MAYOR'S KIND OF RENEWED ENERGY
AROUND US.
AND THAT GIVES ME SOME HOPE
THAT, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I
THINK WE ARE DOING A LOT OF THE
RIGHT THINGS.
BUT HOPEFULLY, THAT ENERGY AND
FOCUS ON MORE ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES THAT CAME THROUGH IN
THIS BUDGET, WILL HELP US TURN
THE CORNER AND JUST BEEN THAT
CURVE DOWN.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUALLY
HIGHLIGHTING THE CHALLENGES,
SPECIFICALLY FOR PEDESTRIAN
USERS AND HOW THEY ARE THE MOST
VULNERABLE WITHIN THE
PEDESTRIAN POPULATION.
THE MOST VULNERABLE USERS OFTEN
OLDER USERS, HOW WE NEED TO
FOCUS ON THAT FOR SAFETY.
THAT IS SOMETHING I AM GRATEFUL
YOU ARE DOING THAT.
AND, I AM REALLY SORRY FOR
EVERYONE IN THE CITY FOR WHAT
HAS HAPPENED THIS YEAR AND I
IMAGINE IT IS HEARTBREAKING FOR
A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WORK ON
THIS.
BECAUSE IT IS NOT FOR LACK OF
TRYING, AND YET, WE OBVIOUSLY
NEED TO DO BETTER WORK, TOO.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> I THINK ONE THING THAT I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY REALLY
QUICKLY IS THAT A LOT OF THE
SPEED LIMIT WORK THAT WE ARE
DOING, AND WE ANNOUNCED JUST ON
TUESDAY, WAS THE DIRECT RESULT
OF THE WORK THAT WE DID WITH
PARTNERED WITH YOU AND OTHERS
ON IN 2016.
WHEN WE AMENDED THE WAY THAT
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE TO
ALLOW US 25 MILE-PER-HOUR
DEFAULT.
SO, THANK YOU.
>> GREAT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT.
THIS IS THE LAST TIME I WILL
HAVE -- FOLKS HERE.
SAM, YOU AND I HAVE HAD A
CHANCE TO WORK TOGETHER FOR
JUST UNDER A YEAR.
AND, I AM REALLY GRATEFUL THAT
YOU WERE RECRUITED TO THE
SEATTLE.
AND, IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE
WORKING WITH YOU.
I THINK YOUR VISION, YOUR SET
OF VALUES AROUND
TRANSPORTATION, NOT JUST ABOUT
THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS, BUT
AROUND HOW EQUITY IMPACTS
TRANSPORTATION.
AND I THINK YOUR STYLE AND
APPROACH ARE BOTH JUST GREAT.
AND I AM REALLY GRATEFUL THAT
THE CITY HAS YOU AND YOUR
LEADERSHIP MEANS A LOT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU.
JIM, YOU ARE LIKE, TO SOMEONE
WHO STANDS OUT FOR ME.
AND THERE IS A LOT OF AMAZING
--.
>> WHAT'S THAT?
>> -- A PRETTY TALL.
>> THAT IS TRUE.
>> THERE ARE SOME AMAZING FOLKS
AT SDOT.
AND I'M BLESSED IN THE 10 YEARS
I HAVE.
THE 4 YEARS I HAVE BEEN
CHAIRING THIS COMMITTEE, TO
GET A CHANCE TO MEET SOME OF
THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
AND THERE IS MORE THAN I CAN
NAME HERE.
BUT, JUST, I THINK ABOUT, I
MENTIONED THIS ELSEWHERE, THAT
WE HAVE HEARD SOME AMAZING
CIVIL SERVANTS ON THE NATIONAL
SPOTLIGHT IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS, LAST FEW WEEKS.
WAS ON THE CONGRESSIONAL
TESTIMONY OF PEOPLE THAT I
FRANKLY HAVE TAKEN FOR GRANTED,
THAT THESE PEOPLE EXISTED. IN
THE GOVERNMENT, DOING AMAZING
WORK.
UNFORTUNATELY AT THE MOMENT,
THEY ARE BEING HIGHLIGHTED
BECAUSE OF SOME BAD THINGS THAT
ARE HAPPENING IN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
BUT I THINK WE HAVE SIMILARL
AMAZING PEOPLE THAT ARE WITHIN
DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY.
I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF
WORKING WITH A LOT OF THEM
ACROSS THE CITY.
SDOT HAS SOME OUTSTANDING
PEOPLE.
SOME PEOPLE TEND TO TRACK IT
DOWN AND , GIVE ME A LOT OF
FEEDBACK ON TWITTER.
I AM SURE THAT IS ALWAYS FUN
AND INTERESTING TO HEAR.
BUT, I JUST THINK, I CAN'T
IMAGINE A BETTER DEPARTMENT
WITH MORE PEOPLE THERE.
AND JIM, YOU REALLY ARE ONE OF
THE PEOPLE THAT PERSONIFIES
CARING FOR OUR SYSTEM.
VERY OPEN APPROACH TO LISTENING
TO PEOPLE.
AND JUST SHOWING UP TIME AND
TIME AGAIN TO CONTINUALLY LEARN
AND HOW WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB.
SO, IT'S A GREAT CITY, AND YOU
ARE A PIECE OF THAT.
THANKS, JIM FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
>> I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> IT HAS BEEN JUST UNDER A
YEAR SINCE WE FIRST MET.
I HAVE HAD A GREAT YEAR THERE.
I'M SORRY I'M NOT GOING TO GET
TO WORK WITH YOU LONGER.
IF YOU WILL GIVE ME ONE MINUTE
OF COMMITTEE TIME, WE ALSO HAVE
SOMETHING NEW.
-- WILL SUBMIT TO YOU.
>> CAN I OPEN IT NOW?
>> SUITE.
THIS IS A DULL RIDGE MAP.
>> IT IS NOT D 5. YOU KNOW,
IT'S A TRADITION FOR A, FOR
COUNCILMEMBERS TO GET A STREET
SIGN WHEN THEY DEPART THE
COUNCIL.
WE DIDN'T QUITE FEEL THAT WAS
APPROPRIATE IN THIS CASE.
IT'S VERY WELL WRAPPED.
>> SUSPENSE.
THE 2nd WRAPPING.
>> WE FELT THIS WAS A LITTLE
MORE APPROPRIATE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> -- TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERS
IS A MOST CREATIVE FOLKS IN THE
WORLD.
BUT THIS IS CLEVER.
AND THIS WILL STICK WITH ME FOR
THE REST OF MY LIFE.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
KELLY, WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO
AND IS A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN THE
AUDIENCE AT A BEEN WAITING
PATIENTLY.
SHUT UP TWO HOURS AGO TO
TESTIFY AND WE ARE GETTING TO
THE RESOLUTION.
SO, WHY DON'T YOU READ THAT
INTO THE RECORD AND WE WILL
INVITE PRESENTED IS, TO TAKE
FORWARD.
>> RESOLUTION 31291.
RESOLUTION STATING THE CITY
COUNCIL'S INTENT TO CONSIDER
LEGISLATION IN 2020 THAT WOULD
EXPAND CHAPTER 14.30 OF THE
SEATTLE MENISCAL CODE TO
REQUIRE EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE
EMPLOYEES WITH TRANSIT SUBSIDIES
, AND TO CONSULT WITH CITY OF
SEATTLE DEPARTMENTS AND
RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH LEGISLATION
AND RELATED POLICIES.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE COMING.
>> WE WILL DO INTRODUCTIONS A
SECOND.
I WILL JUST MAKE A FEW
OVERARCHING COMMENTS.
I REALLY APPRECIATED ALL THE
PUBLIC TESTIMONY THIS MORNING.
FRANKLY, IT IS AMAZING THAT 20
FOLKS TURNED OUT, OR 24 FOLKS I
THINK WHEN IT WAS ALL SAID AND
DONE.
ALL TO TALK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL
BENEFITS OF WHAT AN ORGAN FOR
ALL SYSTEM WILL DECLINE.
ON HOW THOSE THAT HAVE ACCESS
TO TRANSIT REALLY HAS ACCESS TO
SO MANY MORE PEOPLE IN THE
CITY.
AND, UNFORTUNATELY, THE CASES
WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS
TO TRANSIT AND HOW HARD THAT IS
BEEN.
SO, COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN,
YOU ARE GOING TO BE AROUND, I
WON'T.
WE'RE TALKING TODAY ABOUT A
RESOLUTION THAT REALLY IS JUST
LAYING OUT SOME INTENT FOR
WHERE THE COUNCIL IS GOING TO
GO.
PRIVILEGE I WILL TAKE ON MY
LAST COMMITTEE MEETING TO TRY
TO SHAPE WHAT IS COMING
FORWARD.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, I AM NOT THE ONE
HERE TO SHAPE IT.
THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, YOU
HEARD, CONTINUING FORCE THROUGH
ALL THIS AS SEEKS CHANGE ON THE
COUNCIL.
YOU ARE THE ONES THAT WILL
CONTINUE TO KEEP IN
PROFESSIONAL EYE ON IT.
NOW, BUT WE START WITH
INTRODUCTIONS?
>> I. AND KARINA -- WITH
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> TY REED, FIELD ORGANIZER.
>> DAVID HELTON, I WORK WITH
YOU SEE HERE REPRESENTING 99
NORTHWEST.
>> ANDREW COVIDIEN ASSOCIATES.
REPRESENTING EXPEDIA GROUP.
>> JESSICA DESCALSO AND I JUST
DO WORK WITH THE TRANSIT RIDERS
UNION.
>> KATIE WILSON, ALSO WITH THE
TRANSIT RIDERS UNION.
>> EXCELLENT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO WALK US
THROUGH THE RESOLUTION?
>> YES.
KELLY PROVIDED A NICE SUMMARY
OF WHAT THE RESOLUTION IS
SEEKING TO ACCOMPLISH.
AS BACKGROUND, THE COUNCIL
PASSED THE COMMUTER BENEFITS
ORDINANCE THAT IS CODIFIED AS
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE 14.30
BACK IN OCTOBER 2018.
AND THERE HAS BEEN A YEAR OF
PREPARATION FOR THE LAW, AND IS
GOING TO GO INTO EFFECT JANUARY
1 OF NEXT YEAR, 2020.
THIS LINE REQUIRES EMPLOYERS
WITH 20 OR MORE EMPLOYEES
WORLDWIDE TO ALLOW THEIR STAFF
TO MAKE PRETAX PAYROLL
DEDUCTIONS FOR COMMUTING
EXPENSES, NOT PARKING, AND
EXAMPLES WOULD BE TRANSIT --
EXPENSES.
THE CITY'S OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS WILL IMPLEMENT THIS
LAW.
THEY WILL FOCUS ON OUTREACH FOR
THE FIRST YEAR, HELPING
EMPLOYERS TO GET IT IN THE
PLACE, AND FOR EMPLOYEES TO BE
AWARE OF THIS NEW RIGHT, AND IT
WILL BEGIN ENFORCEMENT OF IT ON
JANUARY 1 OF 2021.
SO, THERE WILL BE A FULL YEAR
FOR EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES TO
BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO THIS LAW.
IT WILL BE PUT INTO PLACE
BEGINNING JANUARY.
THERE WILL BE A PERIOD OF TIME
WHERE EMPLOYERS CAN SEEK
ASSISTANCE WITH IMPLEMENTING
IT.
AND MAKING SURE THAT IT IS
DONE, ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE.
>> RESOLUTIONS IT'S AN
INTENTION FOR COUNSEL TO
STRENGTHEN THE COMMUTER
BENEFITS ORDINANCE THROUGH AN
AMENDMENT THAT WOULD REQUIRE
EMPLOYERS TO ALSO PROVIDE
EMPLOYEES WITH TRANSIT
SUBSIDIES.
IN DEVELOPING THIS EXPANDED
LEGISLATION, THE RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDS THAT COUNSEL
CONSIDERS THE CAPACITY OF
EMPLOYERS OF DIFFERENT SIZES.
BY SIZES, THAT MEANS DIFFERENT
NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES.
TO PROVIDE THE TRANSIT
SUBSIDIES, TO ALSO INCORPORATE
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
PRINCIPLES, SPECIFICALLY APPLY
A RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT TO
DETERMINE HOW EXPANDING THE
REQUIREMENTS WOULD IMPACT
FRANCHISE BUSINESS OWNERS AND
THEIR EMPLOYEES.
AND ALSO TO CONSULT WITH THE
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS AND
OF THE STATE CULTURES AND
DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEGISLATION.
AND, RELATED POLICIES.
THE RESOLUTION SPECIFICALLY
NAES TO RELATED POLICIES, AND
ONE OF THOSE WOULD BE HOW THE
CITY CAN WORK WITH CITY
CONTRACTORS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEIR EMPLOYEES HAVE TRANSIT
SUBSIDIES, AND ALSO WORKING
WITH NONPROFITS TO DEVELOP WAYS
FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES TO HAVE
TRANSIT BENEFITS.
AND ONE THING I DON'T THE GUY
MENTIONED IS THAT THE COMMUTER
BENEFITS ORDINANCE DOES NOT
APPLY TO NONPROFITS.
IT APPLIES TO PRIVATE EMPLOYERS
WITH 20 OR MORE EMPLOYEES
WORLDWIDE.
>> THANK YOU, KARINA, FOR THAT
OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORY.
WHERE EXCITED FOR EMPLOYERS TO
HOPEFULLY BE DOING THAT
COMMUTER, OR THE PRETEXT
DEDUCTION RIGHT AWAY.
ONE OF THE REASONS IS THEY CAN
SAVE SOME MONEY FOR THEMSELVES
BY DOING IT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF ASSISTANCE AT
THE NOW.
AND THANKS FOR OUTLINING THIS
RESOLUTION.
THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS
LEFT UNANSWERED IN THE
RESOLUTION.
THIS CLEAR DIRECTION AND 10.
FIGURING OUT THE LEVEL, WITH
SIZE EMPLOYEES, THERE IS A LOT
OF WORK THAT WILL NEED TO BE
DONE AND CONNOR HEARING AND
GATHERING INFORMATION GET
FEEDBACK THE PROCESS.
SO, IS NOT JUST NECESSARILY
PRESCRIPTIVE, BUT IT IS JUST
SAYING, WE KNOW WE NEED MORE
THAN WE HAVE TODAY.
AND LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO
THAT.
WITH THAT, KATIE, I WAS GOING
TO MAYBE TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
YOU GOT A GREAT GROUP OF FOLKS
ASSEMBLED HERE.
DO YOU WANT TO GIVE SOME
REMARKS AND LET OTHERS SHOW THE
MICROPHONE?
>> SURE.
I WILL JUST KEEP IT REAL BRIEF
AND THAT I THINK EVERYONE
PROBABLY HAS SOMETHING THEY
WANT TO SAY.
SO YEAH, THE TRANSIT RIDERS
UNION, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
THIS ISSUE FOR ACTUALLY A VERY
LONG TIME NOW.
ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN.
AND WE, IN SEPTEMBER, WE
LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN THAT WE
HAVE CALLED ORCA FOR ALL.
AND THE IDEA, AS THE NAME
SUGGESTS, WE WANT EVERYONE TO
HAVE AN ORCA PAST.
PREFERABLY AN UNLIMITED ORCA
PAST.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE KIND
OF, JUST KIND OF FREEDOM OF
ACCESS THAT EVERYONE, THAT THAT
GIVES TO PEOPLE IS REALLY A
GAME CHANGER FOR HOW PEOPLE
MOVE AROUND THE CITY.
PEOPLE'S QUALITY OF LIFE.
SPECIAL FOLKS WHO HAVE TROUBLE
AFFORDING TRANSPORTATION COSTS.
AND, SO, WE JUST THINK THAT
THIS IS KIND OF A NATURAL NEXT
STEP.
WHEN WE WERE WORKING ON THE
COMMUTER BENEFITS ORDINANCE
THAT, AS KARINA SAID, PAST LAST
YEAR, THIS IS ALREADY KIND OF
IN OUR MINDS AS A NEXT STEP, TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING
TRANSIT PASSES TO AS MANY
PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE IN
RECOGNIZING THAT ESPECIALLY
LOWER WAGE WORKERS IN A CITY
BEING ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT
ARE OFTEN NOT GETTING A TRANSIT
SUBSIDY.
AND JUST ADD ONE THING TO THAT.
WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN WORK
OVER THE YEARS, TOO, FOR
EXAMPLE, GET THE ORCA LIFT
REDUCED THEIR PROGRAM IN PLACE,
AND A LOT OF OTHER AFFORDABLE
ARE FREE TRANSIT PROGRAMS.
AND I THINK THAT THE KIND OF
LOWER WAGE WORKER DEMOGRAPHIC
IS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, OFTEN IT
IS PEOPLE, MANY OF THEM DO
QUALIFY FOR ORCA LIFT, BUT
THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF FOLKS
WHO ARE JUST OVER THE
ELIGIBILITY THRESHOLD FOR ORCA
LIFT AND ARE HAVING TO PAY FULL
FARE, BUT WITH OUR HOUSING
COSTS AND OTHER COSTS OF
LIVING, ARE REALLY STRUGGLING.
SO, I THINK, REQUIRING
EMPLOYERS TO SUBSIDIZE TRANSIT
FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES IS ONE
REALLY GOOD WAY TO KIND OF GET
IT THAT DEMOGRAPHIC.
>> WHOEVER WANTS TO -
>> I DON'T MIND SPEAKING NEXT.
JESSICA, YOU DON'T SEEM SUPER
READY.
NO WORRIES.
I, MYSELF, AM NOT QUITE READY.
I THINK THE REASON I AM GOING
TO THE SOMEWHAT I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE AS WE GO FORWARD
ESPECIALLY, NOT KNOWING HOW
THIS WILL LOOK LIKE IN ITS
FINAL STAGES, IS THE ABILITY OF
BUSINESSES TO DO THIS.
AS WE SAW, EVEN PUGET SOUND
SAGE A SMALL NONPROFIT IS ABLE
TO DO THIS FOR THE WORKERS.
SO, AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE TO
HAVE INCLUDED IN THE
LEGISLATION, SOMETHING THAT
WILL MITIGATE ANY KIND OF
PROBLEMS FOR SMALLER BUSINESSES
OR NONPROFITS, I THINK THAT IT
IS DEFINITELY DOABLE, AND NOT
JUST WHETHER IT IS DOABLE, IT
IS HOLDING PEOPLE WHO ARE
BRINGING WORKERS OUTSIDE OF THE
HOUSE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT KIND
OF STRESS THAT THEY ARE PUTTING
ON THE SYSTEM.
WE ALL PAY INTO TRANSIT THROUGH
REALLY REGRESSIVE TAXES MOST OF
THE TIME.
AND PEOPLE GET TO BENEFIT FROM
THAT JUST BY GIVING OUT PASSES
THE HIGH PAID WORKERS, SAYING
HERE IS HIS PASS -- ABOUT THE
SYSTEM THAT YOU'RE USING AND
YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
I THINK AS WE GO FORWARD, I
KNOW THAT THERE IS THIS IDEA,
ESPECIALLY IN THE LOGICIAN,
THAT WE SHOULD WAIT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE BRING BIG BUSINESS
TO THE TABLE.
I FEEL LIKE BIG BUSINESS IS
TOTALLY WILLING TO COME TO THE
TABLE, BUT I HAVE NEVER HEARD
OF THESE HEARINGS, OR THESE
PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE CLOSED TO
PEOPLE WHO WORK IN LARGE
BUSINESSES.
AND, I AM NOT REALLY HEARING
ANYTHING BACK FROM THEM ABOUT
ANY LEGISLATION COMING TO THESE
MEETINGS.
SO, JUST A STOP THE NEED OF THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE
REPRESENTED BY THE COUNCIL, THE
ACTUAL CITIZENS OF SEATTLE, I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE NEEDS
PUT FORWARD FIRST.
AND IF WE DO HAVE TO
ACCOMMODATE BUSINESSES IN ANY
WAY, MAYBE ACTUALLY WAIT FOR
BUSINESSES TO COME TO THE TABLE
1st, RATHER THAN US TO FURTHER
THEM.
FEE LIKE WE TEND TO, WHEN WE
CONSIDER WHETHER WE ARE GOING
TO TAX OR APPLY FEES TO
BUSINESSES.
>> I LIKE THAT.
>> I WORK AT DSC WHICH IS A
NONPROFIT, SO IT MAY OR MAY NOT
ACTUALLY BE INVOLVED IN THIS.
I WAS JUST AT OUR JOINT LABOR-
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE THIS
MORNING.
AND SPECIFICALLY ASKED
MANAGEMENT OF THEY HAD ANY
WORDS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO
GET PASSED ALONG.
THEY SAID THAT THEY ARE ALL FOR
IT.
THEY LOVE IT.
THEY SPECIFICALLY DON'T WANT AN
UNFUNDED MANDATE.
THEY WOULD LIKE SOME SORT OF
ASSISTANCE, SPECIFICALLY FOR
NONPROFITS.
SPEAKING JUST AS A HUMAN
SERVICES PROVIDER, WHICH
BASICALLY, EVERYBODY AT SEI YOU
IS.
WE ARE NOT WELL-PAID.
A HUGE NUMBER OF MY COWORKERS
LIVE IN TACOMA, FEDERAL WAY,
AUBURN, EVERETT.
I KNOW SOMEBODY THAT LIVES IN
A, MOUNT VERNON.
ABSURD COMMUTES, JUST TO BE
ABLE TO COME HERE AND DO WHAT
WE DO.
I KNOW FOR SOME PEOPLE, THE
DETAILS DON'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
BUT, WE ARE VERY LUCKY IN THAT
WE DO HAVE A SOMEWHAT
SUBSIDIZED WORKER CARD.
IT IS $29 PER MONTH.
WHICH, IS BETTER THAN IT USED
TO BE, WHICH USED TO BE $4 PER
MONTH.
SEI YOU.
FOR SOME REASON, IF YOU ARE
LIVING OUT THAT FAR, IT IS
ACTUALLY CHEAPER TO NOT
ACTUALLY USE THE SUBSIDY.
AND THERE IS WEIRD DETAILS THAT
DON'T MAKE SENSE TO ME BECAUSE
I AM ON BEACON HILL.
SO, JUST YOU KNOW, TAKE THE 36
OF THE LIGHT RAIL.
SO, IT WORKS FOR ME.
BUT FOR A HUGE NUMBER OF MY
COWORKERS, THEY HAVE ACCESS TO
THE SUBSIDY, THIS $29 PER
MONTH, AND THEY JUST DON'T
BOTHER USING IT BECAUSE IT
WOULD ACTUALLY COST THEM MORE
MONEY.
>> DAVID, JUST TO CLARIFY, IS
IT THE CASE THAT IF THE SUBSIDY
WERE HIGHER, OR THERE WERE A
FULL SUBSIDY, THAT THAT WOULD
BE GOOD FOR THOSE -?
>> YES.
THIS WHERE LITTLE WINDOW THAT
THE AMOUNT IS.
THAT MAKES IT MORE.
IF IT WAS A FULLY SUBSIDIZED
ONE, THEN IT WOULD COUNT.
THEN, IT WOULD YOU KNOW, THE
MORE USEFUL.
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD, LIKE
HEARING EVERYBODY'S DIFFERENT
STORIES IN THE WEATHER PASSES
GET HANDED OUT AND THE BENEFIT
OF, OR TRANSPORTATION BENEFITS
GET HANDED OUT, WHEN WE CREATE
A SYSTEM WHERE IT IS EXTREMELY
DIFFERENT ACROSS THE BOARD,
WERE SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO SIGN
UP ONLINE, AND THERE SOMETIMES
A CASHBACK PROGRAM, A REALLY.
SOME SUBSIDY BEFORE OR AFTER
TAXES GETS CONFUSING AND PEOPLE
DON'T WANT TO BOTHER WITH
CONFUSING THINGS.
I THINK ONCE WE MAKE IT EASIER,
AND JUST ACROSS THE BOARD, YOUR
EMPLOYER'S BUYING DIRECTLY FROM
THE TRANSIT AGENCY A PASS FOR
YOU, IT IS KIND OF TAKING CARE
OF AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT THE CONFUSION, BECAUSE,
LIKE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRANSIT
DADDY SAID, IF YOU HAVE ACCESS
TO SOMETHING, BUT IT'S TOO
COMPLICATED TO USE, IT'S ALMOST
AS IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT IN
GENERAL.
SO, KIND OF SIMPLIFYING THESE
OVERLY COMPLEX SYSTEMS, JUST A
WE CAN GET AT THE HEART OF
GETTING PEOPLE USING PUBLIC
TRANSIT.
>> I THINK THE ISSUE YOU RAISE,
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND
BRINGING THOSE STORIES, ONE,
THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME
COMPLEX SITUATIONS OTHER.
SO, FOR US TO MAKE SURE WE DO
THE WORK TO UNDERSTAND THIS
DYNAMICS AND WORK WITH VARIOUS
PROVIDERS TO GET AS MUCH
INFORMATION AS WE CAN AS WE
DESIGN A PROGRAM.
2, THE SPECIFIC CHALLENGES
AROUND HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS
THAT CONTRACT WITH THE CITY AND
COUNTY, OTHER GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES, I THINK IT WOULD BE
TRAGIC IF WE EXEMPTED YOU FROM
A PROGRAM BECAUSE YOUR WORKERS
ARE SOME OF THE WORKERS THAT
MOST NEED ACCESS TO TRANSIT.
AND AS YOU MENTIONED, IF WE DO
THAT, AND EXPECT SOMEHOW, THOSE
AGENCIES TO COME UP WITH THE
FUNDING TO DO IT, IT JUST TAKES
MONEY AWAY FROM THE OTHER
PROGRAMS YOU ARE TRYING TO DO.
SO, WE DO NEED TO FINANCE, NOT
ALL NONPROFITS ON THE SAME.
AND SO, SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT
THE FOLKS A CONTRACT WITH THE
CITY TO PROVIDE HUMAN SERVICES,
THAT'S AN AREA YOU REALLY WANT
TO FOCUS ON AND UNDERSTAND HOW
THAT WORKS.
>> I WOULD JUST MENTION TO YOUR
POINT, ONE OF THE THINGS WE
HAVE REALLY FOCUSED ON FOR THE
MEDIA GROUP IS LOWERING THE BAR
FOR EMPLOYEES TO UNDERSTAND HOW
TO USE THE TRANSIT SYSTEM.
THERE IS NOT AN EQUAL
UNDERSTANDING ACROSS EVERYONE.
SO, PROVIDING AN ORCHID PASS,
BUT SPECIFICALLY, SPENDING A
LOT OF TIME WITH EMPLOYEES,
HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND HERE,
NOT ONLY JUST HOW TO WRITE A
BUS, BUT HERE IS A WHOLE BEVY
OF TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS.
SOMETHING THAT WE FOUND A HUGE
UPTICK IN RIDERSHIP ARE
VANPOOLS, WHICH REPRESENT A
REALLY GOOD WAY FOR SPECIFIC
TYPE OF TRANSIT USER.
THE VANPOOL SYSTEM IS NOT
ENTIRELY INTUITIVE.
SO, SPENDING TIME TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOU NOT ONLY HAVE THE
TRANSIT ACCESS, BUT THAT YOU
UNDERSTAND HOW TO REALLY USE
IT, I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT
FROM AN EMPLOYER PERSPECTIVE,
TO MAKE SURE THEIR EMPLOYEES
GET THE FULL BENEFIT OF WHAT
THEY ARE ACTUALLY GIVING TWO -
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> RICHARD, CAN YOU SHARE
LITTLE BIT ABOUT EXPEDIA'S
PROGRAM AND WHAT TRANSIT
BENEFITS YOU ALL OFFER
EMPLOYEES, AND JUST LIKE KIND
OF WHAT THE IMPACT OF YOUR
WORKFORCE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
EXPEDIA GROUP PROVIDES A REGARD
ALL THEIR EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE ROUGHLY 25-30% TRAFFIC
MODE SPLIT FOR TRANSIT AND THEN
ADDITIONAL 5-10% FOR VANPOOL.
WE RECENTLY MOVED TO ELLIOTT
BAY.
SO THAT THE SPECIFIC NUMBERS
ARE CHANGING.
BUT, WE WERE LOCATED IN
BELLEVUE.
AND OUR DIRECT ADJACENCY TO THE
BELLEVUE TRANSIT CENTER WAS A
HUGE BENEFIT TO EMPLOYEES.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN FRONT
OF EMPLOYEES MAKING SURE THEY
UNDERSTAND THE BENEFIT. A LOT
OF PEOPLE ARE VERY FAMILIAR
WITH WHAT PARKING MEANS.
BUT YOU GIVE THEM AN ORCHID
PASS, AND THEY ARE SUDDENLY
WITH LESS FAMILIAR WITH HOW TO
USE THE BENEFIT FROM EXPEDIA'S
PERSPECTIVE, LET'S ABILITY AND
KIND OF THE LIFECYCLE OF
TRANSIT REALLY FITS TO HOW OUR
EMPLOYEES EXPECT TO HAVE
BENEFITS.
SO, MAKING SURE THAT WE SPEND
THE TIME WITH EMPLOYEES TO GET
THEM SET UP.
WHETHER IT IS THE BEST ROUTE A
BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF SOUNDER
TRAINS, THINGS LIKE THAT,
REALLY HELPS THEM.
AND WE HAVE BUILT THE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFITS FOR
EMPLOYEES AROUND THE
FLEXIBILITY THAT TRANSIT
OFFERS, IN A WAY THAT WE WOULD
FIND DIFFICULTY WITHOUT
TRANSPORTATION TO BENEFIT
EMPLOYEES LIKE THAT.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> I SAY SOMETHING ABOUT?
I WAS GOING TO SAY, TOO, I
GUESS TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT HE
IS SAYING IS THAT FOR THE
LONGEST TIME, TRANSPORTATION
HAS BEEN BUILT AROUND THE CAR.
SO, I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE
TAKE A LOOK TRANSPORTATION, I
UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND, A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL
DRIVE CARS.
SO, I THINK THIS IS A WHOLE
SYSTEM CHANGE.
AND IT IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT
OF OUTREACH LIKE YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT.
GETTING PEOPLE TO WANT TO TAKE
PUBLIC TRANSIT.
MAKING IT LIKE APPEALING TO
PEOPLE.
AND, MAKING IT SOMETHING THAT
IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT
IMPROVES THEIR LIVES THAT MAKES
THINGS EASIER FOR PEOPLE.
AND THAT I ALSO WANTED TO SAY
THAT I BELIEVE IT WAS AT A
BUDGET MEETING AND YOU SAID
THAT THURSTON COUNTY IS DOING
FREE TRANSIT?
WAS THAT THE CASE?
>> YEAH.
WE HAD A PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY,
SOMEONE CAME UP FROM OLYMPIA.
STARTING JANUARY 1, THE WHOLE
SYSTEM WILL BE FREE.
SMALL TRANSIT SYSTEM IN BENTON
COUNTY, FISHER.
BUT THE ANALYSIS IS THE COST TO
DO FAIR ENFORCEMENT WAS MORE
THAN THEY WOULD RECOVER FROM
THE FARES.
AND THEY WOULD BE AT A POINT
WHERE THEY WOULD UPGRADE OUR
SYSTEM.
>> I DON'T THINK THE MATH IS
QUITE THE SAME BUT OBVIOUSLY,
WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON
COLLECTING FARES, NOT JUST FAIR
ENFORCEMENT BUT TO STICK TO
COLLECTED IN THE PROCESSIG.
YOU KNOW, THE PRINTING OF THE
ORCA CARDS AND OTHER SYSTEMS TO
PUT MONEY ON IT.
SO, THERE IS A LOT OF EXPENSE
THERE TO COLLECT THE MONEY.
AND YOU KNOW, FIGURING OUT WHAT
A TRANSITION LOOKS LIKE.
AND WE HAVE A STATEMENT OF
INTENT.
DID YOU GET THAT?
>> WE DID.
>> WE HAVE IT.
THAT WILL BE COMING TO.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO HEAR
FROM THE DEPARTMENT LEASE AND
STEPS WE CAN TAKE TO MOVE IN
THAT DIRECTION HOPEFULLY.
>> SO, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT
THAT.
SO, IN THAT STUDY, IS IT, ARE
THEY GOING TO BE DOING THE
CALCULATION OF, OKAY, WHAT IS
THE COMPARISON OF HOW MUCH IT
TAKES FOR FAIR ENFORCEMENT,
COMPARED TO PEOPLE ACTUALLY
PAYING FARES?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL GET
THAT CALCULATION.
THERE IS PROBABLY PEOPLE HAVE
DONE THOSE CALCULATIONS OTHER.
SO,
>> I SEEN A FOUR.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE SEEN THAT
FOR SEATTLE.
BUT I KNOW WE HAVE SEEN THEM.
>> I THINK BECAUSE IT IS A
COUNTYWIDE SYSTEM AND WE ARE
ASKING TO DO SOMETHING
CITYWIDE, THERE IS COMPLEX
QUESTIONS.
-- WITH THEM I HAVE A SYSTEM IN
SEATTLE THAT'S FREE IN SIENA,
BUT NOT EVERYWHERE.
HOW DOES THAT WORK WE HOP ON A
BUS AND COME TO SEATTLE?
JUST SOME QUESTIONS LIKE THAT
THINKING THROUGH WHAT THAT
SYSTEM WOULD LOOK LIKE IF
SEATTLE WERE TO GO BEFORE
EVERYONE ELSE.
>> YEAH.
THAT MAKE SENSE.
>> ANYTHING ELSE YOU ALL WANT
TO MENTION WHILE I HAVE YOU
HERE AT THE TABLE?
>> YEAH, I DID HAVE A COMMENT
FOR THE CONTRACTOR/FRANCHISEE.
BECAUSE I THINK WE WILL
PROBABLY END UP BEING A BIGGER
ISSUE THAT WE RUN INTO.
WHETHER CONTRACTORS OR
FRANCHISEES ARE INCLUDED IN.
I JUST LIKE TO KNOW IF WE
FOLLOW ALONG WITH THIS LOGIC
THAT CONTRACTOR SHOULD BE
INCLUDED, WE KINDA FALL INTO
THE TRAP THAT WAS LAID OUT IN
FRONT OF US, BECAUSE THE WHOLE
REASON FOR THE INFLUX OF SO
MUCH CONTRACT WORK, ESPECIALLY
IN THE CITY LIKE SEATTLE IS TO
AVOID HAVING TO GIVE PEOPLE THE
FULL BENEFITS.
SO, TRYING NOT TO LOOK AT
PEOPLE IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE
THEY ARE ON A CONTRACT, AND
SEYMOUR IS CONTRACT WORK AS
BEING A DELIBERATE INVENTION OF
A CATEGORY TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE ARE BEING DENIED CERTAIN
ACCESS.
INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT LIKE THIS
PROBLEM MARY WE SHOULD BE
CONCEDING THE BUSINESS FOR,
LOOKING AT IT AS A CATEGORY
THAT HAS BEEN CREATED TO BE.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT.
WE DO HEAR A LOT OF FOLKS THAT
TRY TO AVOID COSTS BY SWITCHING
THE CLASSIFICATION OF WORKERS,
OR YOU KNOW, USING OTHER
AGENCIES TO BRING THEM IN.
AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
THOSE OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE
OFTEN THE MOST IN NEED OF
HAVING THE SERVICES AND WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE INCLUDED
IN THE SYSTEM.
SO, THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
THOUGHTS?
WE CAN MOVE TO THE ACTUAL
DISCUSSION OF THE LEGISLATION.
>> WE HAVE A COUPLE OF
AMENDMENTS TO DISCUSS TO THE
RESOLUTION.
>> AMENDMENT 1 IN THE MEMO 2.
WHAT IS BEEN FORWARDED BY ME,
WHAT IS BEEN FORWARDED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
WE WILL JUST TAKE THEM IN THAT
ORDER AND WALK THROUGH THEM
HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THEM
AND SEE WHERE WE WANT TO GO.
>> OKAY.
>> ACTUALLY, KELLY, DO YOU MIND
PRESENTING ON AMENDMENT NUMBER
1?
>> SURE.
SO, THIS IS AMENDING
SPECIFICALLY THE SCOPE OF THE
RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT ANALYSIS.
IN SECTION B, IS IS A
LEGISLATION SHOULD INCORPORATE
SOCIAL JUSTICE PRINCIPLES AND
REFLECT THE APPLICATION OF THE
RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT TO
DETERMINE HOW -- EMPLOYER
REQUIREMENTS WOULD IMPACT
EMPLOYERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES.
AND THE INTENTION HERE IS TO
REALLY BROADEN THE SCOPE OF THE
RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT TO LOOK
AT ALL FACETS OF THE POLICY,
AND ENSURE THAT YOU'RE USING AN
RSG ANALYSIS.
FOR BOTH THE EMPLOYERS AND THE
EMPLOYEES.
>> THE LANGUAGE IN THE
UNDERLYING LEGISLATION FOCUSED
ON FRANCHISE BUSINESS OWNERS,
AND WE WANT THIS TO BE MUCH
MORE BROAD.
>> I SUPPORT THAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT
AMENDMENT.
>> I WILL SECOND THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO, ALL IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING
AMENDMENT 1 TO THE RESOLUTION
SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> NONE OPPOSED.
SO, THAT AMENDMENT IS THERE.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, YOU
WANT TO WALK US THROUGH
AMENDMENT 2?
>> SURE.
SO, TAKING A STEP BACK.
THE ORCA FOR ALL VISION IS VERY
COMPELLING, AND I LOOK OVER TO
WORKING WITH YOU ALL GOING
FORWARD.
AND SO, THE INTENT OF THIS
AMENDMENT IS REALLY JUST A
FLESH OUT SOME OF THE DETAILS.
AND I KNOW THIS IS A RESOLUTON
TO DO AN ORDINANCE WHICH WILL
REALLY FLESH OUT THE DETAILS.
BUT I THINK THIS PROVIDES A
LITTLE MORE GUIDANCE TO THE
FULL CITY COUNCIL.
SO, WHAT IT IS DOING IS, IT IS
NOT CHANGING ANY OF THE WHEREAS
IS, AND IT IS CHANGING SECTION
1 AND A LITTLE BIT OF SECTION
2. SECTION 1 CURRENTLY SAYS
THAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE INTO
ACCOUNT THE DIFFERING ABILITIES
OF EMPLOYERS TO ABSORB THE
COSTS, SO THE AMENDMENT STARTS
OUT, I COULD JUST, MAYBE I
SHOULD JUST READ THE WHOLE
AMENDMENT.
SO, IT WOULD NOW READ, SECTION
1 READ, THE CITY COUNCIL
INTENDS TO CONSIDER LEGISLATION
IN 2020 THAT WOULD EXPAND THE
COMMUNITY BENEFITS ORDINANCE
CHAPTER 14.30 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE TO REQUIRE
EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE EMPLOYEES
WITH TRANSIT SUBSIDIES, WHILE
TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE
DIFFERING CHANGES, OR AT
SOMETHING.
TE DIFFERING INCOMES OF
EMPLOYEES, AND THEIR ABILITY TO
AFFORD TRANSIT COSTS.
AND THEN, IT CONTINUES WITH
WHAT'S ALREADY THERE.
THE DIFFERING ABILITIES OF
EMPLOYERS TO ABSORB THESE
COSTS.
AND THEN I ADD, AND ADMINISTER
THE TRANSIT SUBSIDIES.
AND, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF
EMPLOYEES, AND IT ADDS, SO, IT
STARTS WITH NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
AS BEING THE KEY FACTOR THAT
WILL BE LOOKED AT.
BUT THEN ADDS SOME OTHER
FACTORS TO CONSIDER.
SO, AND OTHER FACTORS THAT
COULD INCLUDE THE PERSONAL
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO
ADMINISTER THE TRANSIT SUBSIDIES
, THE DISPLACEMENT RISKS FACING
EMPLOYERS, ORGANIZATION OR
BUSINESS.
AND OTHER FACTORS INDICATING OR
IMPACTING, EXCUSE ME, OTHER
FACTORS IMPACTING THE FINANCIAL
WELL-BEING OF THE EMPLOYERS
ORGANIZATION OR BUSINESS.
SO, STRIKE THAT INDICATING OR,
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME
FROM.
SO, THE INTENT HERE IS REALLY
TO LOOK AT MORE SPECIFICS ABOUT
THE ABILITY OF EMPLOYEES TO
AFFORD, BUT I AM CONCERNED
ABOUT HERE IS THAT WE WOULD BE
REQUIRING A SUBSIDY TO PEOPLE
WHO ARE YOU KNOW, MAKING OVER
$200,000 A YEAR AND THEY ARE
GETTING A BENEFIT THAT THEY
DON'T ALREADY HAVE.
WHEREAS I WOULD RATHER, VERY
CURIOUS AS TO HOW WE CAN
PROVIDE THAT BENEFIT TO LOWER-
INCOME WORKERS THAT REALLY NEED
IT.
SO, LOOKING AT THE INCOMES OF
THE EMPLOYEES AND THEIR ABILITY
TO AFFORD THE TRANSIT COSTS.
WAS THAT THE ITEM THAT YOU ARE
MOST CONCERNED ABOUT?
IT WASN'T - OKAY.
WE CAN DIVE INTO THE REST.
>> SO, I APPRECIATE THE
CLARIFICATION.
WE HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO
DISCUSS THIS, SO THIS IS GREAT.
TO SEE THIS PLAY OUT IN REAL
TIME, WHICH IS NOT A BAD THING.
I WOULD LOVE - I WOULD LIKE TO
SUGGEST THAT WE PERHAPS HOLD
THIS ONE FOR NOW.
AND, I WOULD LOVE TO GET A
CHANCE FOR SOME COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO LOOK THROUGH THAT.
I SUPPORT THE INTENT.
WHEN I READ THIS, I CAN READ IT
IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
SO, I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE A
LITTLE TIME BETWEEN TODAY AND
MONDAY TO WORK WITH YOU ON
LANGUAGE TO BRING TO THE FULL
COUNCIL.
AND MAYBE GET SOME FEEDBACKS
FROM SOME OF THE FOLKS AT THE
TABLE HERE TO FIND WHETHER THAT
WOULD WORK.
>> GREAT.
>> AND THEN I THINK THE OTHER
ONES ALL, LET'S DO THE, LET'S
TALK TO THE REST OF IT, TOO..
JUST FOR FOLKS, THERE'S TWO OF
US AND IF WE DISAGREE ON
AMENDMENT IT DOESN'T PASS.
WE CAN BRING IT UP FOR A VOTE
INTO THAT.
BUT MY PREFERENCE WOULD JUST BE
TO GO THAT WAY.
BUT LET'S TALK TO THE OTHER
ONES.
I THINK DOES MAKE SENSE TO
BRING IN RIGHT NOW.
>> YES.
SUBSECTION B, WE COULD IGNORE
THAT BECAUSE THE AMENDMENT,
NUMBER 1 THAT WE JUST PAST WHEN
SUPERSEDE THE CHANGES TO
SUBSECTION B. AND THEN WE GET
TO CAMP, SUBSECTION 2. SAYING
RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDE
EMPLOYERS.
BEING CLEAR THAT THAT INCLUDES
THEM.
THANK YOU EXPEDIA FOR BEING
HERE TODAY.
AND DSC, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
NOT ALL NONPROFITS IS NOT THE
SAME HERE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET ALL THE
EMPLOYERS TO THE TABLE.
úSECTION 3 IS REALLY TALKING
ABOUT, REMEMBER WE GET IT
ASKING OUR HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS
FOR EMPLOYEES TO GET THESE
TRANSIT BENEFITS TO EMPLOYEES
CITY CONTRACTORS.
SO, AMENDED THE LANGUAGE TO
MAKE IT CLEAR IT IS NOT THE
CITY GOVERNMENT DIRECTLY
DIVIDING THAT BENEFIT.
BUT IT IS DOING IT THROUGH THE
CONTRACTOR, SO THE COUNSEL
SHOULD CONSULT WITH THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT ANOTHER
COC, CITY OF SEATTLE
DEPARTMENTS TO -- TO BE SURE
TRANSIT BENEFITS CAN BE
PROVIDED TO EMPLOYEES OF THE
CITY OF SEATTLE CONTRACTORS.
I DO WANT TO ALSO, I DO ALSO
WANT TO MENTION, SECTION 4 JUST
DAYS WEIGHT IS.
BUT IT SAYS, THE COUNSEL SHOULD
CONSULT WITH NONPROFITS TO
DEVELOP SOLUTIONS FOR PROVIDING
TRANSIT BENEFITS TO EMPLOYEES.
THAT BRINGS UP SOMETHING ON THE
FISCAL NOTE.
THAT I'M HOPING YOU KNOW, JUST
WANT TO OFFER A SUGGESTION THAT
WE B-FLAT UP A LITTLE BIT ON
THE FISCAL NOTE, WHERE WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE SUMMARY OF
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS.
SO, THE FISCAL NOTE TALKS
ABOUT, DOES THIS LEGISLATION
HAVE OTHER FINANCIAL IMPACTS TO
THE CITY OF SEATTLE?
THAT ARE NOT REFLECTED IN THE
ABOVE, DIRECT OR INDIRECT SHORT-
TERM OR LONG-TERM COSTS.
JUST SORT OF INTRODUCING THE
CONCEPT THAT IF ONE OF THE WAYS
THAT CONTRACTORS COULD PROVIDE
THESE BENEFITS TO THEIR
EMPLOYEES IS IF THE CITY
GOVERNMENT PROVIDES THOSE FUNDS
TO DO THAT.
SO, THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY
IMPACT TO THE GENERAL FUND.
SO, I JUST SORT OF WANT TO BE
TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT
POTENTIALITY. SO, ON THE FISCAL
NOTE, KARINA, IF YOU WANT TO
SPEAK TO THAT, JUST SORT OF
LAYING OUT THAT IF NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING THE
SERVICES, YOU KNOW, THINK THEY
NEED FUNDS FROM THE CITY, THIS
COULD IMPACT A REQUEST TO THE
GENERAL FUND.
TO PROVIDE THOSE.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN MORE ABOUT THE
INTENT OF SECTION 4? BECAUSE,
IT IS NOT CLEAR, MAYBE WHETHER
THE INTENT IS TO CONSULT WITH
NONPROFITS FOR NONPROFIT
EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE TRANSIT
BENEFITS TO THEIR EMPLOYEES?
OR FOR THE CITY TO PROVIDE
TRANSIT BENEFITS TO THE
EMPLOYEES OF NONPROFITS.
SO, WHO IS ENVISIONED AS THE
PROVIDER OF THE TRANSIT
BENEFITS FOR THAT SECTION?
>> THAT IS AN INTENTIONALLY
OPEN-ENDED QUESTION.
>> THERE YOU HAVE IT.
>> I THINK THAT WE WOULD
NONPROFITS IS A BIG SECTOR.
CERTAINLY FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS
THAT ESSENTIALLY RELY ON THE
CITY OR OTHER GOVERNMENT AGES
SIX LUCIDLY FOR THE FUNDING.
THEY DON'T HAVE A WAY TO RAISE
THE RATES OF THEM COME TO US
AND SAY WE NEED MORE MONEY.
SO, THAT WOULD LIKELY BE, AS
COUNSELOR PEDERSEN SAID, THAT
WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD
HAVE A BUDGET IMPACT IF WE DID
THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER
NONPROFITS THAT FUNCTION VERY
DIFFERENTLY.
SO, THOSE MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT
RESULTS.
I DON'T, COUNSELOR PEDERSEN, I
HAVE BEEN HERE 10 YEARS.
I'VE NEVER -- ON A PHYSICAL
NOTE, -- I THINK THAT'S YOUR
WORK.
>> GENERALLY FISCAL NOTES ARE
NOT AMENDED BECAUSE THEY OFTEN
REFLECT LEGISLATION THAT IS
DIFFERENT FROM THE FINAL
PRODUCT.
SO, GENERALLY, THEY ARE NOT
AMENDED TO REFLECT CHANGES IN
LEGISLATION BECAUSE THERE OFTEN
CAN BE SO MANY CHANGES IN THE
LEGISLATION.
>> BUT I DON'T THINK THIS WOULD
BE A CHANGE IN THE LEGISLATION.
JUST SORT OF EXPANDING THAT MAY
ULTIMATELY LEAD TO A GENERAL
FUND EXPENDITURE TO SUPPORT THE
NONPROFITS THAT ARE TRYING TO
PROVIDE THIS TRANSIT SUBSIDY.
SO, JUST A SUGGESTION THAT WE
AMPLIFY THAT POINTER EXPAND
THAT.
JUST THE WEATHER COUNCILMEMBERS
WHEN, A LOT OF THEM WILL JUST
LOOK AT THE FISCAL NOTE FOR A
LOT OF THE ANSWERS TO STUFF AND
HAVING THAT THERE WOULD BE
HELPFUL, I THINK.
AND THAT BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT
IN TERMS OF THE FISCAL NOTE.
I AM EXCITED TO SORT OF WORK ON
THE FORMAT OF THE FISCAL NOTE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE
TO DO IS EXPANDED TO TAKE INTO
ACCOUNT SOME ENVIRONMENTAL
FACTORS.
IN THIS CASE, THERE IS A LOT OF
GREAT STUFF TO TALK ABOUT.
KATHY TUTTLE, WHO RAN FOR CITY
COUNCIL DISTRICT 4 PROPOSED ON
A CARBON NOTE.
TO LOOK AT THE CARBON IMPACT.
OF HER LEGISLATION, LIKE WE
LOOK AT THE FISCAL IMPACTS.
THAT COULD EVEN BE EXPANDED TO
SORT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN
GENERAL.
SO, THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN
ACTUALLY, WE COULD EVEN TALK,
NOTHING TO DO IT FOR THE SUM.
BUT I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE
THE CONCEPT TO TALK ABOUT THE
CUP BENEFITS WE ARE GETTING
FROM A CLIMATE CHANGE
PERSPECTIVE.
YOU KNOW, REDUCING OUR CARBON
FOOTPRINT HERE, REDUCING
EMISSIONS.
ARE GETTING MORE PEOPLE TO USE
TRANSIT.
IT'S JUST SORT OF A THOUGHT.
WHEN WE MAKE POLICY, WE WANT TO
KNOW THE FISCAL IMPACT, BUT I
WOULD ALSO BE CURIOUS WHAT THE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT WAS.
SO STAY TUNED FOR THAT LATER.
WILL GET BACK TO THE ORDINANCE,
OR THE RESOLUTION.
>> JUST A CLOSE -- FISCAL.
THE LANGUAGE I DON'T HAVE ANY
PROBLEMS WITH.
I ON'T KNOW PROCEDURALLY,
THOUGH, WHAT TO DO.
SO, IF I COULD JUST REQUEST
THAT YOU WALK IT -- HOW WE
COULD DO THIS AND WHATEVER
HAPPENS. I NEED TO TAKE ACTION
THERE.
BUT IF WE DO, BRING THEM BACK
ON MONDAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND LET'S GO BACK TO THE
ACTUAL RESOLUTION LANGUAGE.
>> SECTION 2, WE WERE ADDING
JUST INCLUDING EMPLOYERS.
>> I SUGGEST A FRIENDLY
AMENDMENT TO SAY EMPLOYERS AND
EMPLOYEES JUSTIN AND I BOTH?
I KNOW IT'S THE INTENT TO THEIR
ANYWAYS, BUT IF YOU ACCEPT THAT
AS A FAMILY AMENDMENT.
>> YES.
AND THEN, ON SECTION 3, WE
STRIKE THE WORD FOR.
JUST A TYPO THERE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
>> AND I SUPPORT THAT.
SO, IF YOU WANT TO MOVE THE
SECTION 2 IN SECTION 3
AMENDMENTS WITH THOSE MINOR
CHANGES.
>> YES.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE SECTION 2,
SECTION 3 CHANGES.
KARINA, ARE YOU CHECKING WHAT
WERE DOING?
>> I'M TRACKING AND, I'M TAKING
NOTES.
AND REVIEWED THE TAPE.
>> I WILL 2nd THAT.
THEN ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT
AMENDMENT SIGNIFY BY SAYING
AYE.
GREAT.
AND THEN, YOU AND I CAN WORK,
GO INTO THE FULL COUNSEL.
I THINK, I WANT TO DO THAT.
>> YES.
TRANSPARENCY RECOGNIZED PUBLIC
MEETING
>>> WE WILL HAVE SOME
CONVERSATIONS WITH THAT.
DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF THIS
LANGUAGE?
>> I HAVE BEEN LOOKING OVER.
>> HERE.
>> HAND THIS TO YOU. I WOULD
LOVE FOR SOME FEEDBACK IN THE
NEXT, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF
TIME HERE.
BUT THE NEXT DAY OR SO, AND
JUST SEE IF WE CAN FIND
LANGUAGE.
IT MAY BE THAT MY READ IS JUST
IN MY BRAIN AND YOU ALL CAN
FIGURE OUT A WAY, LANGUAGE WHAT
YOU ADDRESSES EARLIER IN A WAY
THAT MAKES SENSE.
MAYBE IS JUST AS IT IS.
>> I FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING
THAT, YOU'RE SEMI-WELCOME TO.
>> ONE THING THAT CAME TO MIND
WAS, CALL COUNSELOR PEDERSEN
IS READING THIS WAS JUST ON THE
QUESTION OF DIFFERING INCOMES
OF EMPLOYEES AND THEIR ABILITY
TO AFFORD TRANSIT COST.
TWO POINTS.
1 IS JUST, IN OUR EXPERIENCE IN
A SURVEY THAT WE DID EARLIER
THIS YEAR, HIRING INCOME
WORKERS ARE VERY LIKELY TO
GETTING SUBSIDIES ALREADY FROM
THEIR EMPLOYERS.
AND, GIVEN THAT THIS
LEGISLATION HAS A STRONG KIND
OF CLIMATE CHANGE COMPONENT AND
THE CONGESTION COMPONENT, I
DON'T REALLY SEE ANY DOWNSIDE
TO REQUIRING THAT YOU KNOW,
EMPLOYERS ARE ALSO PROVIDING
TRANSIT SUBSIDIES TO THE HIGH
INCOME EMPLOYEES.
THAT'S NOT A COST TO THE CITY,
RIGHT?
IT IS SOMETHING PROBABLY THOSE
EMPLOYERS SHOULD BE DOING
ANYWAY, TO NEGATE THE EFFECTS
ON TRANSIT, CONGESTION AND THE
ENVIRONMENT.
SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T MIND
HAVING THAT IN THERE.
BUT I ALSO JUST THINK THAT
IT'S, I DON'T SEE A REASON TO
NECESSARILY TREAT PEOPLE
DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE OF
DIFFERENT INCOMES.'S
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
WE ACTUALLY SPOKE FOR HIM.
SO, WE HAVE TALKED A COUPLE OF
TIMES TO THAT.
SO, THANKS FOR GETTING THAT ON
THE RECORD.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT THAT
A LOT OF PEOPLE MISS, IS THAT
YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED TO FOCUS
ON THE CLIMATE BENEFIT, TOO.
AND WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT
HIGHER INCOME PEOPLE ARE
PROBABLY ALREADY GETTING THIS.
OKAY MAYBE AN ADMINISTRATIVE
BURDEN ALSO TO ACTUALLY DO THIS
ANALYSIS OF WHAT IS EVERY
EMPLOYEE GETTING?
I JUST WANTED TO SORT OF THROW
THAT OUT THERE IN TERMS OF YOU
KNOW, THE GOAL IS TO HELP LOWER
INCOME WORKERS.
BUT WITH THE CLIMATE BENEFITS
OF IF THEY ARE ALREADY GETTING
THE BENEFIT OF THE HIRING
COMMANDER, IT MAY NOT BE WORTH
IT TO DO THIS AMENDMENT.
>> AND FOR ME, THAT ALSO STOOD
OUT TO ME.
MOSTLY BECAUSE YEAH, THE GOAL
IS NOT EXACTLY TO HELP LOW-
INCOME WORKERS.
IT IS TO CREATE EQUITY IN A
SYSTEM THAT ALREADY EXISTS.
THAT IS KIND OF A BIT OF A
DIFFERENCE.
IN THE INSTANCE THAT WHEN YOU
LOOK AT FOCUSING ON LOW-INCOME
PEOPLE, IT BECOMES A WELFARE
PROJECT.
AND THAT, ESPECIALLY IN A CITY
LIKE SEATTLE IS UNLIKELY TO
PASS OR TO BE APPROVED BY ALL
PEOPLE.
I THINK THAT ORCA FOR ALL MEANS
ORCA FOR EVERYBODY.
AS KATIE SAID.
WE WILL RICH PEOPLE TO BE
RIDING THE BUS, TOO.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK PUTTING
THAT IN COMMANDER MAKES IT
SEEMS AS IF THIS PROGRAM IS
DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO HELP
LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND THAT IT
BECOMES A LOW-INCOME PROGRAM.
AND LIKE ALL PROGRAMS IN THE
UNITED STATES AND ESPECIALLY
WEALTHY CITIES, THEY BECOME
VICTIM TO SHAME AND STIGMA WHEN
YOU ASSOCIATE THEM WITH FOUR
PEOPLE.
SO, ORCA FOR ALL, FOR IT TO BE
SUCCESSFUL AND FOR IT TO
REALIZE THE ACTUAL GOALS THAT
WE HAVE SET OUT ABOUT LOWERING
OUR ADMISSIONS NEEDS TO INCLUDE
EVERYBODY.
UNFORTUNATELY EVERY WORKING
PERSON.
AND THAT WE HAD KIND OF
ILLUMINATES, ELIMINATES PEOPLE
IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN EMPLOYER
THIS DOESN'T APPLY TO YOU.
BUT IT NEEDS TO APPLY TO ALL
WORKERS.
OTHERWISE IT WEAKENS WHAT WE
ARE TRYING TO GO OUT RIGHT NOW.
>> RIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR, THOSE ARE GREAT
COMMENTS.
SO, THANK YOU.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT, TOO.
I RECALL HEARING A WOMAN FROM
FINLAND, I BELIEVE SPEAKING AT
YOU DEB ABOUT THE SCHOOL FOR
ALL.
SIMILAR POINT IN THEIR COUNTRY
WHAT THEY DID AS YOU KNOW, THIS
PROPORTIONALLY BENEFITS LOWER
INCOME FAMILIES.
BUT, THIS WAS DESIGNED
SPECIFICALLY TO MAKE SURE
EVERYONE HAD ACCESS TO
PRESCHOOL, INCLUDING HIRING
INCOME FOLKS TO CUT ALONG THE
LINE OF WHAT HE SAID.
LESSON CONVERSATIONS WOULD
BRING BACK.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK ON
THAT.
I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE MOVE
THE RESOLUTION AS IS WITH THE
AMENDMENTS THAT WE ADOPTED
TODAY.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
SO, THE RESOLUTION WILL GO TO
THE FULL COUNSEL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE,
JESSICA.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY TO BE A
COUNCILMEMBER.
>> IT'S SO EASY.
>> ALEX, DID YOU KNOW THERE'S
ANOTHER ROUTE?
>> SHOW UP.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE HAVING
YOU ALL HERE, AND THE DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES THAT YOU ALL HAVE
ON THIS.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO BEING
PART OF THE CONVERSATION IN A
VERY DIFFERENT ROLE NEXT YEAR.
BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT I AM EXCITED TO
WORK ON AND COUNSELOR PEDERSEN,
I AM EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU
WILL COME UP WITH.
GREAT.
THANK YOU YOU ALL.
WE WILL MOVE ONTO THE NEXT
AGENDA ITEM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE GREEN
NEW DEAL IN 2020.
>> GREAT.
>> -- COME ON UP.
>> AND ONCE YOU ARE SEATED,
WHAT WILL DO WE DO A ROUND OF
INTRODUCTIONS.
YOU CAN GO FIRST, JUST.
>> I. HIM JUST WALLACH WITH 350
SEATTLE.
>>, WANDA MATTHEWS WITH 350
SOUNDS DAYS.
I AM -- ON THE SIERRA CLUB.
>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> I WANT TO GIVE THE PUBLIC A
BIT OF AN OVERVIEW ON THE GREEN
NEW DEAL.
WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
AND HAVE A CHANCE FOR THE FOLKS
AT THE TABLE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
COMES NEXT.
SO, I WILL START BY JUST
REMINDING FOLKS WHERE WE ARE.
WE PASSED A GREEN NEW DEAL
LEGISLATION EARLIER THIS YEAR
IN AUGUST.
THIS WAS THE CITY'S VERSION TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO TAKE ON THE
MANTLE OF SOME AMAZING
LEADERSHIP AT THE NATIONAL
LEVEL.
IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO HAVE
THIS GREEN NEW DEAL CONCEPT OUT
THERE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE CURRENT
SITUATION IN WASHINGTON DC IS
NOT LIKELY THAT THAT'S GOING TO
PASS SOMETIME THIS YEAR.
BUT, HOPEFULLY, RELATIVELY
SOON.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGES
WE FACE AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE,
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO WAIT FOR
FEDERAL LEADERSHIP ON THIS
THING.
SO, AS A RESULT OF VERY
IMPRESSIVE ACTION ON THE PART
OF FOLKS WERE HERE AT CITY
HALL.
BACK IN JUNE.
WE GOT THIS RESOLUTION PASSED
AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING THAT
WE DO THE.
THE THAT RESOLUTION IS A NUMBER
OF THINGS INCLUDING A BOLD LEAP
LIMITED IN CLIMATE POLLUTION IN
THE CITY BY THE YEAR 2030.
CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN
INVENTS AN EQUITABLE TRANSITION
FROM FOSSIL FUELS TO RENEWABLE
ENERGY.
PRIORITIZING INVESTMENTS IN
COMMUNITIES HISTORICALLY MOST
HARMED BY ECONOMIC, RACIAL, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES.
TOGETHER, THE CITY AND THE
COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS WORKED AT A
VISION.
GRAMMAR FOR FUTURE LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD AFFIRM THE FEDERAL
GREEN NEW DEAL RESOLUTION
SPONSORED BY U.S.
REPRESENTATIVE ALEXANDER
LOCASCIO CORTEZ.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE DID.
WE ALSO PASSED LEGISLATION THAT
SET UP GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT
MORE.
THAT WORK IS LIKELY TO START
EARLY NEXT YEAR TO ACTUALLY PUT
THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD,
DURING THE BUDGET WE PUT
FUNDING INTO THE -- ENVIRONMENT
TO BOTH HIRE A POSITION TO
OVERSEE THE WORK OF THAT BOARD.
THE CITY STAFF PERSON.
AND ALSO, FUND SUBSIDIES FOR
FOLKS THAT ARE, STIPENDS I
SHOULD SAY, FOR FOLKS THAT ARE
ON THAT BOARD.
BUT, NEED TO RECEIVE
COMPENSATION FOR THE TIME
THEY'RE PUTTING INTO THAT, TOO.
SO, THE PIECES ARE IN PLACE.
I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT
APPLICATIONS FOR THAT BOARD
WILL BE BEGINNING IN EARLY
2020.
I BELIEVE YOU CAN GO TO THE
WEBSITE.
SHOULD SAY THAT SLOWLY.
THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY
AND ENVIRONMENT.
THERE SHOULD BE SOME
INFORMATION ON THAT WEBSITE.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THAT
EXACT TIMING DOWN.
BUT WE CAN TRACK WHAT PEOPLE GO
TO THAT WEBSITE.
LAST THING I WANT TO MENTION
IS, A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT
INTRODUCED EARLIER THIS YEAR
CALLED HEALTHY HOMES, HEALTHY
BUILDINGS.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD, AS --
WOULD REQUIRE THE TRANSITION
FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION TO BE ALL
ELECTRIC HOLDINGS, AS OPPOSED
TO USING NATURAL GAS FOR
HEATING AIR, HEATING WATER, THE
NATURAL GAS USES IN A BUILDING.
THAT LEGISLATION IS NOT GOING
TO PASS TODAY.
BUT, SO, AS THE PERSON
INTRODUCED, I WANT TO LET THE
PUBLIC KNOW THERE IS ONGOING
PUBLICATIONS WITH A LOT OF
COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I HAVE BEEN PART OF SOME
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS WITH
FOLKS FOCUS ON MIDRISE AND HIGH-
RISE BUILDINGS AND WHERE GAS IS
BEING USED TODAY, WHERE IT IS
NOT ALREADY, IT HAS ALREADY
ESSENTIALLY BEEN PHASED OUT
BECAUSE OF THE ENERGY CODES AND
REGULATIONS ARE JUST THE MARKET
HAS SHIFTED TO WHAT THE MARKET
IS DOING.
I BEEN.
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, HAVING
SIMILAR CONVERSATIONS.
THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS
INTRODUCED HAD AN EXEMPTION FOR
RESTAURANTS.
BUT IN A WORLD WHERE WE NEED TO
BE CLIMATE POLLUTION FREE BY
2030, WE WILL NEED TO FIGURE
OUT HOW RESTAURANTS, HOW
RESTAURANTS ADAPT TO THAT
REALITY.
SO, WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS
WITH THEM.
I HAVE ALSO HAD KIND OF ONE-ON-
ONE CONVERSATIONS WITH A NUMBER
OF INDUSTRIAL USERS IN SEATTLE.
SPECIFICALLY CEMENT PLANTS,
STEEL PLANTS, GLASS RECYCLING
FACILITY.
MAJOR MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS, ALL
THAT HAVE SOMEWHAT UNIQUE NEEDS
AND USE A LOT OF NATURAL GAS
RIGHT NOW TO REALLY UNDERSTAND
THAT.
SO, THERE IS ONGOING WORK TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO REFINE THAT
LEGISLATION.
AGAIN, I WILL NOT BE HERE TO BE
A COUNCILMEMBER REFINING THAT.
THIS LEGISLATION WILL REMAIN
INTRODUCED TO THE COUNCIL AND
WILL SHIFT TO WHATEVER
COMMITTEE TAKES ON
SUSTAINABILITY WORK IN THE NEW
YEAR.
SO, THAT WILL BE OBVIOUSLY
DIFFERENT COUNCILMEMBER BECAUSE
IT WILL BE ME.
I THINK WE ARE STILL A LITTLE
WAYS AWAY FROM KNOWING WITH THE
COMMITTEES STRUCTURES ARE.
BUT WHEREVER SUSTAINABILITY
LANDS, THAT WILL BE THE LIKELY
PLACE WITH THIS LEGISLATION
WILL CONTINUE TO BE INTRODUCED.
THEY WILL WORK WITH WHOEVER THE
COMMUNITY CHAIRS TO SEE THAT
THROUGHOUT THE COMMITTEE CHAIR
WANTS TO DO THAT.
OKAY?
>> WANT TO GIVE A SUMMARY TO
THE PUBLIC ON SOME OF THE
BUDGET RELATED ACTIONS THAT
HAPPEN FOR THE GREEN NEW DEAL.
SO, THERE IS 6 ITEMS THAT
HAPPENED THERE.
THIS IS A QUICK OVERVIEW.
WE REQUESTED THAT THE OFFICE OF
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT IN THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION
INSPECTIONS PREPARE PROPOSAL TO
LIMIT SITING OF NEW FOSSIL FUEL
PRODUCTION AND STORAGE
FACILITIES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT KING
COUNTY COUNCIL HAS DONE.
AND, WE HAVE SOME WORK GOING
ON, PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN.
BUT THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL PIECE
ASKING THEM TO LOOK AT THINGS
LIKE THE SHORELINE MASTER
PROGRAM.
AND OTHER UPDATES, THEY MAY
WANT TO CONSIDER FOR MAKING
SURE THAT THOSE SITING AT THE
FACILITY WILL NOT OCCUR IN THE
CITY.
THE SECOND ACTION WAS REQUEST
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, SEATTLE
CITY DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, THE OFFICE OF
ENVIRONMENT REPORT AND
TRANSITION TO COMPLETE
ELECTRIFICATION OF ALL
TRANSPORTATION AND BUILDINGS IN
SEATTLE.
SO, THIS IS A, A MAJOR
TRANSITION.
THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS
THAT CAME UP FROM THE
LEGISLATION.
THE LEGISLATION WAS REALLY JUST
ABOUT NEW CONSTRUCTION.
BUT, THE IDEA THAT WE ARE GOING
TO, FROM THE GREEN NEW DEAL, BE
DECLARED POLLUTION FREE BY
2030, REQUIRE A PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT SHIFT.
REALLY UNDERSTANDING, IS OUR
ELECTRIC GRID READY TO
ACCOMMODATE THAT?
WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT NEED
TO H█APPEN OVER THE NEXT DECADE
TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT
FUTURE?
SO, EXCITED ABOUT THE
DEPARTMENTS DOING NETWORK.
IS BUILDING ON SOME WORK THAT
IS ALREADY HAPPENING.
OBVIOUSLY BEEN TALKING ABOUT
TRANSPORTATION ELECTRIFICATION
FOR A WHILE.
AND CITY LIGHT HAS BEEN LOOKING
AT MORE WAYS TO ELECTRIFY
BUILDINGS.
THIS WILL HELP GIVE US SOME
DATA AND UNDERSTANDING ABOUT
WHAT, HOW WE CAN DO THAT.
BE THAT CITY WE WANT TO BE.
THIRD ONE, REQUEST CITY LIGHTS
REPORT ON THE SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT STRATEGIC PLANNING.
RECORD SEATTLE'S GREEN NEW DEAL
RESOLUTION.
THAT WILL COME BACK, BOTH OF
THESE WILL COME BACK JULY 31,
2020.
AFFORD THIS REQUEST OF
SUSTAINABILITY ESTABLISH HIGH
ROAD CONTRACTING STANDARDS FOR
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS.
I WOULD ENVISION THAT, IF WE
ARE GOING TO TRANSITION PEOPLE
THAT USE GAS FURNACES TO USING
KIND OF HIGH EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC HEAT PUMPS FOR
HEATING, THAT WILL REQUIRE
REMOVING, REMOVING SOMETHING IN
THEIR HOUSE AND PUTTING
SOMETHING NEW IN.
THAT AS AN EXPENSE, WE WANT TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT, CAN EVERYONE
AFFORD TO DO THAT?
AND, RECOGNIZE THAT FOR A LOT
OF PEOPLE, THAT MAY BE A
SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE.
WE WANT TO HAVE INVESTMENTS IN
PLACE.
TO MAKE THAT.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE
WORKERS DOING NETWORK A HIGH
ROAD FOLKS.
THIS IS ASKING -- SET UP A
PROGRAM SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID
DURING SOME OF THE
WEATHERIZATION WORK EARLIER IN
YOU KNOW, A FEW YEARS AGO.
SO, TWO OTHER THINGS I WILL
JUST MENTION.
WE ADDED A FULL-TIME STRATEGIC
ADVISOR TO SUPPORT THE GREEN
NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD.
SO, MENTION THAT.
ALREADY.
AND THE STIPENDS.
THAT WE ALSO ADDED $100,000 TO
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TO CONDUCT AN ANALYSIS OF
REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT.
IT IS DEPENDENT ON THE FOSSIL
FUEL INDUSTRY.
AND THAT REPORT SHOULD BE
PRESENTED TO THE SUSTAINABILITY
AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
GUESSING IT WILL BE ENTITLED
THAT IN THE FUTURE.
BUT WHATEVER THE SUCCESS OF THE
COMMITTEE IS AND SEND IT TO THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND GREEN
NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD BY
JUNE 30, 2020.
SO, A LOT OF PIECES THAT ARE
MOVING FORWARD IN 2020.
BUT, I WANT TO STOP AND TURN IT
OVER TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
THAT ARE REALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR
THIS WORK HAPPENING.
WE WILL CARRY A LOT OF THAT WAY
TO ENSURE THAT THINGS CONTINUE
TO MOVE IN 2020.
SO, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU
AND LET YOU ALL TELL US WHAT
YOUR VISIONS ARE AND HOW IT'S
GOING TO WORK.
>> RIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT SEGUE.
AND JUST A MOMENT AGO AND
HANDED OVER MY COLLEAGUES TO
TALK ABOUT PRIORITIES FROM
COMMUNITIES.
BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE A SECOND
TO INTRODUCED SOME COMMUNITY
CONTEXT AROUND THE LEGISLATION
THAT MIKE JUST TALKED ABOUT.
THRIFTY -- GOT GREEN BACK IN
JUNE OF THIS YEAR.
LAUNCHED THE SEATTLE FOR A
GREEN NEW DEAL CAMPAIGN.
WE BOUGHT ABOUT 100 NEW FOLKS
TO CITY HALL.
WE DELIVERED A LETTER TO THE
MAYOR.
WE SANG AND I WAS TOLD YOU CAN
HEAR IT OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.
AND, WE, IN THAT MOMENT,
RECOGNIZE THAT SEATTLE HAS HAD
THIS LONG-STANDING REPUTATION
AS A CLIMATE LEADER.
AND YET, OUR ADMISSIONS WERE
GOING UP AND BEYOND TALKING
ABOUT CLIMATE POLLUTION, LIKE
PEOPLE WERE GETTING PUSHED OUT
OF OUR CITY.
FOLKS WERE NOT ABLE TO BE
HOUSED HERE.
FOLKS ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND GOOD
GREEN JOBS YOU.
WE HAD A LOT OF JUSTICE ISSUES
RELATED TO OUR CLIMATE
POLLUTION.
WE NEEDED TRANSFORMATIVE ACTION
AT THE SCALE OF THE CRISIS I
WAS GOING TO ADDRESS ALL OF THE
SOLUTIONS TOGETHER.
SO WHEN WE SET OUT IN JUNE, WE
INVITED OUR COMMUNITIES TO JOIN
US IN CALLING FOR
TRANSFORMATIVE ACTION ON THE
SCALE OF THE CRISIS.
SPECIFICALLY A LIGHT
ELIMINATING ILLUSION BY 2030
AND ADDRESSING HISTORIC
INJUSTICES INCLUDING GOOD,
GREEN JOBS.
INSTEAD THOUSAND SEATTLE PEOPLE
HAVE SIGNED A PETITION SAYING
THEY, TOO.
SUPPORT SEATTLE'S FUTURE.
>> I SHOULD LIFT UP THE
HUNDREDS OF GRASSROOTS
VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP MAKE THAT
HAPPEN.
FOLKS WERE OUT OF FARMERS
MARKETS, AND NEIGHBORHOOD
MEETINGS, AND FESTIVALS.
I HEARD ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE
HAVING FOLKS OVER FOR DINNER
AND SLIDING A PETITION AROUND.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION AROUND
THIS AND FOR GOOD REASON.
IT IS A VISION THAT EXCITES
MANY OF US, BECAUSE IT'S A
CHANCE FOR HEALTHY, THRIVING
FUTURE FOR ALL.
IN ADDITION TO THOSE 10,000
SEATTLEITES, WE HAVE SEEN 250
LOCAL BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, INSTITUTIONS
RANGING FROM THE WAY LUKE
MUSEUM TO MANY COMMUNITIES OF
FAITH SIGNING UNDER THE VISION
FOR SEATTLE SCREEN YOUR DEAL.
AND, THAT WORK IS ALLOWED 350
SEATTLE AND GOT GREEN AND MANY
OF HER PARTNERS WHO ARE
REPRESENTATIVE THE TABLE.
TO COME TO CITY COUNCIL, AND TO
WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS TO LIFT UP
COMMUNITY PRIORITIES FOR
TRANSFORMATIVE CLIMATE ACTION
SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
TO ENSURE THAT SEATTLE IS ONE
OF THE WEALTHIEST NATIONS AND
ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST, SORRY
ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST CITIES
AND WEALTHIEST NATIONS ON THE
PLANET.
AND ONE OF THE MOST RESPONSIBLE
FOR CLIMATE CHANGES DOING OUR
PART TO CURTAIL CATASTROPHIC
CLIMATE CHANGE AND TO MAKE THIS
CITY THE JUST AND THRIVING
PLACE THAT WE KNOW IT CAN BE.
SO, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
YOLANDA TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF
THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE
BEEN HEARING FROM OUR
COMMUNITIES.
AND, HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT
THE COMMITMENT IS ON PAPER IN
2019 TRANSLATED THE POWERFUL
ACTION IN 2020.
>> SO YES.
JUST INTRODUCE MYSELF AGAIN.
I'M YOLANDA MATTHEWS.
I WORK AT PUGET SOUND SAGE AS A
COMMUNITY JUSTICE ORGANIZER.
SORRY, CLIMATE JUSTICE
ORGANIZER.
SO, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A
NATIONAL PROJECT WITH THE
CITIES OF ATLANTA AND ALSO
WASHINGTON DC.
TO KIND OF JUST GAIN AN IDEA OF
WHERE FOLKS, WHERE AND HOW
FOLKS UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS
TO ACTUALLY SEE SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT CITIES ARE OFFERING
AS OPTIONS FOR NEW RENEWABLE
ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY
IMPLEMENTATION.
IF THEY ACTUALLY ALIGN WITH
THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS AS THEIR
IDEA OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES ARE
JUST THEIR CURRENT SITUATION.
THAT DOES NOT ACTUALLY ALIGN.
SO, WE HAD THE CHANCE TO DO, TO
APPROACH THE COMMUNITY IN MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS.
WE APPROACHED THEM WITH
LISTENING SESSIONS.
WE DID COMMUNITY SURVEYS, AND
WE ALSO INTERVIEWED COMMUNITY
LEADERS, TO JUST GAUGE WHETHER
UNDERSTANDING IS, AND WHAT THEY
GENERALLY THINK OF THESE
PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY IS
WANTING TO IMPLEMENT.
SO, THESE LEADERS WERE,
CONSISTED OF CBO LEADERS,
GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING LEADERS,
UNION LEADERS, AND EVEN
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS.
AND ALL TOLD, WE APPROACHED
APPROXIMATELY 420-450 FOLKS
JUST BETWEEN THE LISTENING
SECTIONS AND THE SURVEYS AND
INTERVIEWS WITH COMMUNITY.
SO, HERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT WE ACTUALLY HEARD WHEN
ASKING THE QUESTION, WHAT ARE
GREEN NEW DEAL PRIORITIES THAT
YOU SEE IN YOUR COMMUNITY?
SO, EXPANDING FREE AND
ELECTRIFYING PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION, AND WHAT THAT
DOES NOT LOOK LIKE IS INVESTING
IN SINGLE OCCUPANCY, ELECTRIC
VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE.
PAIRING HOUSING WITH TRANSIT,
WITH JOBS DEVELOPMENT.
SO, IN OTHER WORDS, BETTER LAND-
USE PLANNING.
MORE EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND
MONEY, GOING TO UTILITY BILL
ASSISTANCE.
WE, WHEN WE WERE APPROACHING
COMMUNITY, MANY OF OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THEY NEED
THE ASSISTANCE.
THEY WANT THE ASSISTANCE.
BUT, THEY ARE NOT UTILIZING IT
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW, THAT YOU
DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT OR THEY
DON'T KNOW THE QUALIFY FOR.
AND, ONE OF THE BARRIERS TO
THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF ACTUALLY
RECEIVING THOSE BENEFITS, OR
THE SUBSIDIES OR WHATEVER THEY
ARE, IS A LANGUAGE BARRIER.
SO, MAKING SURE THAT WE
ACTUALLY GET, WE ARE ACTUALLY,
LITERALLY SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE
OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN
COMMUNITY.
SO, PROVIDING, PROVIDING THE
ACTUAL LITERATURE THAT IS IN
THEIR LANGUAGE.
THEN ALSO, EVEN PROVIDING US
ANOTHER SUGGESTION, PROVIDING
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO
COME INTO COMMUNITY AND
ACTUALLY SPEAK TO THEM FACE-TO-
FACE.
AGAIN, IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.
ON THERE ON TIME.
SO, NOT HAVING THINGS THAT ARE,
OR COMMUNITY ROUNDTABLE
SESSIONS THAT ARE AT OFF TIMES
WHEN FOLKS ARE NORMALLY GOING
TO BE AT WORK.
SO, A LOT OF THE STORIES THAT
WE HEARD IN OUR LISTENING
SESSIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE
PEOPLE WERE PUTTING ABOUT ONE
THIRD OF THE ENGLAND INCOME TO
UTILITY BILLS.
AND AGAIN, JUST NOT KNOWING
ABOUT THE PROGRAMS.
AND, WHEN WE APPROACHED FOLKS,
WE ALL NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WE
NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, THAT
RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
DOES ACTUALLY JEOPARDIZE SOME
OF OUR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
POPULATIONS.
WHEN THINKING ABOUT LIKE PEOPLE
CITIZENS APPLICATIONS UNDER
THIS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
MORE EDUCATION, MORE OUTREACH
AND MONEY GOING TO
WEATHERIZATION AND ENERGY
EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THEN, WHEN WE ARE ASKING
THE QUESTIONS, WHAT DO YOU AND
YOUR ORGANIZATION WANT CITY
COUNCIL TO FOCUS ON NEXT YEAR,?
FOCUS ON PASSING RESPONSIBLE,
REAL SOLUTIONS, VERSUS FALSE
SOLUTIONS.
AND INITIATIVES THAT CREATE
DEDICATED FUNDING TO MAKING
SURE THAT ALL THAT I HAVE JUST
MENTIONED IS EQUITABLY, HAPPENS
EQUITABLY FOR MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITY OF COLOR IN SEATTLE.
SO, WHAT WE NEED, FOR OUR
LEADERS, FOR YOU ALL, YOU IN
PARTICULAR.
IS IMPROVEMENT.
- OF, AND THE BEFORE YOU LEAVE
-
>> IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.
IMPROVING PUBLIC TRANSIT,
BUILDING MORE AFFORDABLE,
ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOUSING.
FUNDING SOLAR, WIND, AND OTHER
FORMS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
PRODUCTION.
PROVIDING FINANCIAL AND
TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENT
ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES.
INCREASING GREEN SPACE AND
PUBLIC PARKS.
HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS, AFFORDABLE
FOOD FOR ALL.
SO, CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THOSE
PROGRAMS LIKE FRESH BUCKS.
FINANCIAL AND TRAINING SUPPORT
FOR WORKERS WHO ARE GOING TO BE
ENTERING AND TRANSITIONING TO
THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR, TO
ENSURE THAT THE TRANSITION TO
RENEWABLE ENERGY LEAVES NO ONE
BEHIND.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, YOLANDA.
DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF THIS
REPORT THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE?
>> SO, WE ARE ACTUALLY IN THE
MIDST OF ANALYZING ALL THE
DATA, AND CONTRACTING SOMEONE
TO ACTUALLY GET THIS WRITTEN AS
AN ACTUAL DOCUMENT, AS AN
ACTUAL REPORT.
SO, THAT SHOULD BE READY BY, I
WOULD SAY, END OF JANUARY.
OF NEXT YEAR.
2020.
SO, YES, I CAN PROVIDE IT TO
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANKS.
>> THANK YOU YOLANDA.
AGAIN, I AM THE BUSH BELAY.
I AM WITH THE SIERRA CLUB.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK
YOU SO MUCH COUNSELOR O'BRIEN
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS
ISSUE.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR
WHICHEVER OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS
NEXT YEAR WILL BE TAKING THE
MANTLE OF THIS WORK.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
THEM ON IT.
I AM GOING TO ECHO PROBABLY A
LOT OF WHAT YOLANDA SAID.
BUT THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A
WIDE CONSENSUS AROUND THE
DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE AND
THEIR COMMUNITIES ON WHAT WE
WANT TO SEE NEXT YEAR AND THE
YEARS BEYOND IN SEATTLE.
AS YOU KNOW, THERE IS TWO MAIN
SOURCES OF CLIMATE POLLUTION IN
OUR CITY, WHICH ARE BUILDINGS
AND TRANSPORTATION.
THOSE TWO ARE INEXTRICABLY
LINKED.
I WILL TALK FIRST ABOUT
HOUSING.
WE WANT TO END APARTMENT BANDS.
DIFFERENT PEOPLE WANT DIFFERENT
KINDS OF HOMES.
WE NEED TO BUILD THESE HOMES
ALL OVER THE CITY, AS WELL.
NOT JUST ON TRANSIT CORRIDORS.
NOT JUST --.
WHERE PEOPLE WANT CHOICE.
PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT TO TRY
SOMEWHERE TO LIVE AND THEY NEED
TO BE ABLE TO LIVE NEAR PARKS
IF THEY WANTED SCHOOLS IF THEY
WANT IN LIBRARIES IF THEY WANT.
NOT JUST ON BUSY ROADS.
THEY ARE INHALING A LOT OF
OMISSIONS.
IT IS NOT EQUITABLE.
THESE HOMES NEED TO BE SAFE.
THEY NEED TO BE HEALTHY.
THEY NEED TO BE FREE OF FOSSIL
FUELS TO THE BEST OF OUR
ABILITY.
WE NEED TO USE CLEAN
ELECTRICITY TO KEEP US WARM AND
FED.
WE RECOGNIZE THE REAL CONCERNS
OF COURSE IN THE LABOR.
GROUPS THAT WE HAVE BEEN
TALKING TO, AS WE WORK THROUGH
THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO STOP
DIGGING THIS WHOLE OF FOSSIL
FUELS.
AND, WE KNOW THAT WE ALL WANT
TO GET TO THE SAME PLACE.
HOW WE GET THERE, WE WILL TALK
ABOUT IT.
BUT THE GOAL IS TO MAKE OUR
BUILDINGS AS RAPIDLY AND AS
WIDELY AS POSSIBLE, FREE OF
FOSSIL FUELS IN SEATTLE.
>> THE OTHER PART,
TRANSPORTATION.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED THAT
YOU'RE SHOWING REAL COMMISSION
TO REDUCE CARBON-BASED
POLLUTION WITH SUPPORTIVE
CONGESTION PRICING.
BUT, FOR US TO SUPPORT IT, IT
MUST, IT MUST HAVE A STRONG
EQUITY LENS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON THIS
OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
ANOTHER PROMISE TO DO SOME VERY
EXTENSIVE OUTREACH.
WE MUST HAVE A STRONG -- IT
MUST HAVE A STRONG COMMUNITY
OUTREACH.
ESPECIALLY IN MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES.
ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES WHERE
THERE ARE LANGUAGE BARRIERS.
PEOPLE WHO ARE GENERALLY
EXCLUDED FROM THESE PROCESSES.
AND IT MUST INCLUDE ROBUST
TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE IT
FAIR.
AND TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL.
AND, WHEN WE SAY ROBUST
TRANSIT, WE MEAN TRANSIT THE
WORKS FOR EVERYONE.
EVERYONE.
IT NEEDS TO BE FINANCIALLY
ACCESSIBLE.
SO, THAT MEANS, IT COULD MEAN
FREE FARES.
IT COULD MEAN SUBSIDIZED ORDER
CARDS FOR EVERYONE.
AGAIN, THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS
TO GET THE.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO
AFFORD TO TAKE THE BUS.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE PHYSICALLY
ABLE TO TAKE TRANSIT.
THAT MEANS THAT THE ESCALATORS
HAVE TO WORK.
THAT MEANS THE ELEVATORS
AFTERWARD.
MEANS THAT BUS STOP NEEDS TO BE
SHELTERED.
MEANS BUS STOPS NEED TO HAVE
SEATING.
HEAR FROM PEOPLE, SAME PEOPLE
WHO CAN'T STAND ON THE BUS,
BECAUSE OF AGE OR DISABILITIES.
THEY CAN'T STAND AT THE BUS
STOP.
AND, IT NEEDS TO BE
PSYCHOLOGICALLY ACCESSIBLE.
ANY NEEDS TO BE FREE OF FEAR
AND INTIMIDATION.
IT IS BROUGHT ON BY THE
PRESENCE OF FAIR ENFORCEMENT.
I'M GONNA BE REAL.
I HEAR MORE MORE PEOPLE SAYING,
I WON'T TAKE THE LIGHT RAIL
ANYMORE.
WE ARE RUNNING PEOPLE AWAY FROM
TRANSIT BECAUSE WE ARE MAKING
THEM AFRAID AND UNCOMFORTABLE.
FEAR OF FAIR ENFORCEMENT.
FEAR OF HOMELAND SECURITY, OR
ANY OTHER PRESENCES WHERE
PEOPLE FEEL UNSAFE IN TRANSIT
IS WORKING AGAINST OUR CLIMATE
GOALS.
WE GOING TO 2020 AND BEYOND, I
WANT TO KEEP THESE VOICES IN
MIND AND THESE GOALS AS WE MOVE
TOWARDS A TRULY EQUITABLE,
REALLY CLIMATE JUSTICE WORK
THAT WE ARE ALL HERE TOGETHER
TO DO.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THAT REALLY RESONATED.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD A
FEW POINTS AGAIN.
-- WHAT YOU HAVE SHARED.
THERE IS NOT ONLY WIDE
CONSENSUS, BUT I THINK A LOT OF
COMMUNITY ENERGY TO SEE --
STRATEGIES MOVE FORWARD.
SO, JUST TO NAME A FEW, WE KNOW
THAT WE NEED TO SEE A MASSIVE
INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, COUPLED WITH ANTI-
DISPLACEMENT STRATEGIES.
THERE ARE OVER 11,000 HOUSES
FOLKS IN SEATTLE.
THIS IS A MORAL ISSUE.
AND IT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE
MOST IMPACTFUL BANG FOR OUR
BUCK WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE
STRATEGY, AND IT IS AN
INCREDIBLE JOB CREATOR.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE HEART
OF THE GREEN NEW DEAL IS.
IT'S THE INTERSECTION OF
JUSTICE, POLLUTION REDUCTION,
AND GOOD, GREEN JOBS.
WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO
PRIORITIZE WALKING, BIKING,
BUSING, OVER SINGLE PASSENGER
VEHICLES, WHICH ARE, OVER HALF
OF OUR CITIES CLIMATE POLLUTION
AND BEYOND REDUCING
COMMISSIONS, THIS ALSO CLAIMS
THAT AREA.
THIS MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER.
MEANS MORE TRAFFIC AND LESS,
LESS ACCESS AND MORE ACCESS TO
-- COMMUNITY SPACES, FOOD.
PEOPLE GETTING AROUND THE
CITIES IN WAYS THAT WORK FOR
THEM.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO BE
WORKING FOR FREE AND 100% CLEAN
TRANSIT FROM NEIGHBORHOODS HERE
IN SEATTLE.
AND THEN, WE ALSO NEED TO SEE
SOME COMMON SENSE ACTION.
PUT IT THAT WAY.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BIG, BIG
TRANSFORMATION, AND OUR CITY
WILL BE, HOW IT WILL BE TO GET
AROUND, WALK AROUND, WORK HERE,
LOOPER, PLAYER.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE
CAN DO RIGHT NOW, WITHOUT HUGE
AMOUNTS OF MONEY, TO BEGIN
TAKING MEANINGFUL ACTION ON
CLIMATE.
ONE OF THOSE IS MAKING SURE
THAT AS WE ARE FIGURING OUT
WHAT A BIG, BOLD INVESTMENTS
ARE, WE CONTINUE TO STOP
DIGGING THE HOLE DEEPER.
WE START BUILDING NEW FOSSIL
FUELS AND OUR CITY.
SO, THAT LOOKS LIKE CONTINUING
THE WORK THAT WE STARTED THIS
YEAR.
WITH HEALTHY HOMES, HEALTHY
BUILDINGS POLICY.
AND, FIGURING OUT WHAT WE CAN
DO IN 2020 TO LAY THE
GROUNDWORK FOR A FULL AND
EQUITABLE WAS
>> 150,000 THAT ARE ALREADY
FUELED BY FOSSIL IT
>> THAT WILL TAKE FUNDING.
MY COLLEAGUES MENTIONED THAT WE
ARE GOING TO NEED FUNDING.
SO, I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE
THAT MANY PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
SOURCES.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
TRANSITION TO A CLEAN ENERGY
ECONOMY TO HELP THE CLIMATE
FUTURE IS NOT ON THE BACKS OF
THE FATHER SMOKES IMPACTED BY
THE CRISIS.
THAT IS A PLACE WHERE WE KNOW,
IN COMMUNITY, THAT WE WILL BE
FAR MORE POWERFUL IF WE HAVE
COUNSEL ADVOCATES WORKING WITH
US TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE GOING
TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND
MOST EQUITABLE WAYS TO RAISE
THE MONEY THAT WE NEED TO
CREATE A MORE HEALTHY JUST
FUTURE FOR ALL.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU, YOUR COLLEAGUES.
WE THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN, FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
AND I SAY AS WE MOVE INTO 2020,
IT IS EXCITING TO SEE WHAT IS
POSSIBLE WHEN WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBERS REALLY MISS
LISTENING TO THE NEEDS OF
COMMUNITY AND DOING WHAT THEY
CAN WITHIN POWERFUL
INSTITUTIONS TO TRANSFORM THE
WAY THAT WE MAKE POLICY.
THAT OUR COMMUNITY PRIORITIES
AND SOLUTIONS AND TOGETHER
MAKES A CITY THAT WORKS FOR ALL
OF US.
>> THANK YOU ALL.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL
BEING HERE IN THE WORK YOU HAVE
DONE.
YOU KNOW, MY 10 YEARS ON THE
COUNCIL, I GOT TO WORK ON A
RANGE OF ISSUES.
A LOT OF WHICH I'M REALLY PROUD
OF.
AND AS I GET TO THE END OF THAT
10 YEARS, I FIND I AM MORE
ENERGIZED THAN EVER.
IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF THE
GREEN NEW DEAL WORK THAT YOU
ARE BROUGHT TO US THIS SUMMER
AND BUILT ON.
AND, IT IS A LITTLE ODD PLACE
TO BE WHERE I AM JUST ABOUT TO
RAMP DOWN BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M
READY TO GO 100 MILES AN HOUR
AGAIN.
SO, I AM EXCITED TO FIND HOW I
ENGAGE IN THIS WORK.
BUT I IMAGINE THAT I WILL BE
REACHING OUT TO YOU ALL TO FIND
WAYS, AS A NON-COUNCILMEMBER,
TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK.
IT IS REALLY POWERFUL.
YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT A VISION
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
RESONATES WITH ME VERY DEEPLY.
AND I THINK SEATTLE IS READY TO
BE ONE OF THE LEADERS ON THIS
AND WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DO
SOME GREAT WORK NEXT YEAR.
I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT I'M
GOING TO CALL YOUR EMAIL YOU.
I MAY NOT BE AT ACTUALLY DO
THAT BECAUSE OF THE RULES ON,
AS A FORMER COUNCILMEMBER WHAT
AM I ALLOWED TO DO?
LOBBYING AND STUFF.
SO, JUST IN CASE WAYNE BARNETT
IS WATCHING THIS, GO TO BE
CHECKING IN WITH THE EFFORT'S,
ETHICS AND ELECTION TEAM AND
WHAT TO DO.
IF YOU DON'T HEAR FROM YOU IS
NOT BECAUSE I'M MAD AT YOU OR
ANYTHING.
BUT IF I AM ALLOWED TO, I
BELIEVE I CAN COME AND TESTIFY.
SO, YOU MIGHT HEAR ME THAT WE.
SO ANYWAYS THANK YOU ALL SO
MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
AND, THERE'S A PART OF ME THAT
IS DISAPPOINTED THAT, THAT THE
LEGISLATION THE HEALTHY HOMES
AND HEALTHY BUILDINGS IS NOT
GOING TO BE PASSED THIS YEAR.
BUT THERE IS A PART OF ME THAT
IS ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITED
BECAUSE SOME OF THE
CONVERSATIONS WE ARE HAVING
HAVE BEEN REALLY POWERFUL.
AND AS I HAVE LEARNED, I THINK
AS YOU KNOW, COUNCILMEMBER,
FROM YOUR TIME ON THE FLOOR
THAT TAKING THE TIME TO REALLY
ENGAGE IN SOME DEEP
CONVERSATIONS, WE CAN MAKE IT
BETTER FOR EVERYONE.
AND I AM PARTWAY THROUGH
FIGURING SOME OF THAT STUFF
OUT.
AS YOU MENTIONED, BRITNEY,
WHOEVER STEPS INTO THIS ROLE
NEXT YEAR, HOPEFULLY THEY WILL
CARRY ON THAT WORK.
I'M HAPPY TO PLAY A ROLE
HOWEVER I CANNA MOVING IT
FORWARD TO CAST SO, THANK YOU
ALL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN ?
>> WERE TALKING TO YOU, NOT ME.
IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR
FEEDBACK OR QUESTIONS, FEEL
FREE.
>> THANK YOU FOR ARRANGING THIS
AGENDA.
IT IS AMAZING HOW YOU BROUGHT
TO THE TABLE AND IT IS
POWERFUL.
WE WILL BE WATCHING IT.
YOU KNOW, OVER AND OVER AND
MEETING WITH YOU IN PERSON.
SO, THANKS FOR BEING HERE
TODAY.
>> THANKS FOR THE TIME.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> YEAH.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MATT
REMLEY FROM -- TALKS WAS BEEN
PART OF THIS WORK.
HE'S IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
THE MAC, YOU BEEN AT THE TABLE
BEFORE.
SO THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.
ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY
FORMER STAFFER, -- IN THE
OFFICE TODAY.
THINK SHE IS WORKING FROM HOME,
TECHNICALLY.
I HOPE HER BOSS IS OKAY WITH
THAT.
BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU HERE
TODAY, TOO.
THERE IS ONE LAST AGENDA ITEM.
NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW THIS PLAYS
OUT.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, YOU
HAVE THE BENEFIT OF SITTING
THROUGH A 3 OUR COMMITTEE
MEETING WITH ME AND I'M GLAD I
GOT ONE OF THOSE IN FOR YOU.
SO, I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENS
NEXT.
KELLY?
>> MIKE, YOU HAVE BEEN AN
AMAZING COUNCILMEMBER FOR 10
YEARS, AND YOU HAVE BEEN ONE OF
THE, KIND OF ELECTED LEADERS
THAT MANY FOLKS IN IN COMMUNITY
HAVE COME TO, AND YOU HAVE
LIFTED UP IDEAS AND CREATED
POLICIES THAT HAVE TRANSFORMED
THE CITY FOR THE BETTER.
AND MANY, MANY PEOPLE ARE VERY
THANKFUL FOR YOUR YEARS OF
DEDICATED SERVICE.
AND, OUR WONDERFUL STAFFER,
LESLIE DANIELS MADE A WONDERFUL
VIDEO, JUST TO COMMEMORATE YOUR
TIME I COUNSEL.
SO, WE ARE GOING TO PLAY THAT
FOR YOU.
>> I HAVE NOT SEEN THIS YET.
I'M REALLY EXCITED.
LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT MOST
EXCITED.
>> I HAVE GROWN SO MUCH AS A
PERSON IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.
AND HAVE CONNECTED WITH SO MANY
AMAZING COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT
ARE NOW, I FEEL PART OF MY
LIFE.
>> I AM REALLY PROUD OF WHAT WE
HAVE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER.
WHEN I FIRST DECIDED TO RUN FOR
OFFICE 11 YEARS AGO, I HAD BEEN
A VOLUNTEER WITH THE SIERRA
CLUB FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
AND HAD WORKED A LOT ON
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
ESPECIALLY AROUND CLIMATE
CHANGE, TRANSPORTATION.
THE REALITIES THAT WE ARE
STARTING TO SEE BECAUSE OF THE
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE,
INNER-CITY, AND AROUND THE
COUNTRY, AROUND THE PLANET,
WHETHER IT IS YOU KNOW,
DROUGHTS OR FLOODS, OR STORMS,
OR FOREST FIRES.
OR, OUR ABILITY TO GROW FOOD OR
GET FISH FROM THE SEA.
ALL THOSE THINGS.
AND OUR ABILITY TO ADAPT TO
THOSE CHANGES IS GOING TO BE IN
LARGE PART DRIVEN BY HOW
WEALTHY YOU ARE.
>> SEATTLE CITY COUNCILMAN
MICHAEL BRIAN HAS TAKEN A STAND
ON THIS BOTH WITH HIS MOUTH AND
WITH HIS KAYAK.
>> SEATTLE HAS A LONG HISTORY
OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS, JUST
SO COUNTER TO EVERYTHING THAT
SEATTLE STANDS FOR.
WE TRY TO THINK OF OURSELVES AS
LEADERS ON FIGHTING CLIMATE
CHANGE.
NO ONE SHOULD BE DRILLING IN
THE ARCTIC.
OUR ABILITY TO ADAPT TO THOSE
CHANGES IS GOING TO BE A LARGE
PART DRIVEN BY HOW WEALTHY YOU
ARE.
HOW MUCH POWER YOU HAVE.
>> WHO IS THIS GUY, MICHAEL
BRIAN?
IS ANYONE REFLECTED ON THAT?
I DON'T THINK I REALLY KNEW WHO
I WAS GOING TO BE HERE?.
-- CLIMATE CHANGE CASSETTE
SOMETHING I'VE BEEN FIGHTING
FOR.
BUT THE OTHER ISSUES I'VE BEEN
WORKING ON, I DID NOT PREDICT
THE THINGS THAT WOULD WORK ON.
THE REASON I HAVE EVOLVED IN
THE WAY I HAVE IS NOT BECAUSE
OF SOME INNATE SENSE IN ME.
IT'S BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS I HAVE INTERACTED WITH.
THIS IS NOT JUST RANDOM ABOUT
WHERE PEOPLE LIVE AND WHO IS
IMPACTED.
THIS IS LIKE DECADES OF
STRUCTURAL RACISM THAT IS PART
OF OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTRY
THAT HAS LED PEOPLE TO THIS
POINT.
IF WE REALLY WANT TO UNDO THE
DAMAGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE, WE
ALSO NEED TO UNDO THE
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.
>> CITY COUNCILMEMBERS DO HAVE
A LOT OF POWER.
AND THERE IS A SMALL HANDFUL OF
úPEOPLE THAT KNOW THE POWER THA
WE HOLD.
AND REALLY TRY TO INFLUENCE IT.
AND MOST OF THOSE FOLKS ARE
VERY WELL-FINANCED.
THE FROM MAJOR CORPORATIONS AND
THEY HAVE PAID LOBBYISTS AND
PAID STAFF AND ARE WORKING
CONSTANTLY TO SHAPE THE
NARRATIVE YOU SEE.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT, IT'S
DISPROPORTIONATE WHO HAS THAT
POWER.
AND THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER
PEOPLE THAT ARE DIRECTLY
IMPACTED BY THIS IS DECISIONS
WE MAKE WHO AREN'T EVEN AWARE
THAT WE ARE MAKING THE
DECISIONS.
LET ALONE KNOW HOW TO COMMAND
AND TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT IT,
OR EVEN HAVE THE POWER TO THINK
THEY ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE
OUTCOME.
WHEN I HAD A CHANCE TO WORK
WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE
GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY A
POLICY DECISION AND TRULY BUILD
A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, AND
HELP THEM HELP ME MAKE A POLICY
THAT WILL ACTUALLY MAKE A
POSITIVE OUTCOME IN THE LIVE,
IT'S ALSO AMAZING TO SEE PEOPLE
WHO THOUGHT THAT THE SYSTEM WAS
DESIGNED FOR OTHER PEOPLE, AND
ALL OF THE SUDDEN FEEL LIKE NO,
THEY HAVE SOME AXIS AND THEY
HAVE SOME POWER.
AND ALL THE THINGS THAT NOW
THEY MAY WANT TO CHANGE IN OUR
SOCIETY, THAT EXCITEMENT, THAT
SPARK YOU SEE IN THE RYE.
I GOT A LIST OF THINGS THAT I
WANT TO CHANGE NOW THAT I KNOW,
AT LEAST A PIECE OF HOW THE
SYSTEM WORKS.
>> DEMOCRACY SHOULD NOT JUST BE
ABOUT A HANDFUL OF ELITE,
POWERFUL, WEALTHY PEOPLE TO
CHANGE POLICY.
SHOULD BE THAT EVERYONE HAS
EQUAL ACCESS TO.
AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE
PARTNERSHIPS I HAVE BUILT.
AND, I HAVE ALSO BENEFITED
PERSONALLY SO MUCH FROM THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS.
AND I COME OUT OF THIS JOB A
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT HUMAN
BEING THAN WHEN I STARTED 10
YEARS AGO.
BUT I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT I
GOT SO MUCH MORE OUT OF THAT
INVESTMENT AND I AM JUST SEWING
GRATEFUL FOR THE RICHNESS AND
THE JOY THAT MY LIFE HAS
ABSORBED BECAUSE OF THEIR
INVESTMENT.
AND I HOPE THAT I CAN SOMEDAY
PAY THAT BACK.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU WELL.
BEEN AMAZING.
I LOOK FORWARD TO LOOK, TO WORK
WITH ALL OF YOU IN NEW WAYS IN
THE NEW YEAR.
AND I HAVE GOT TWO MORE DAYS OF
WORK TO DO, TOO.
SO LET'S SEE HOW I GET THROUGH
THAT.
THERE IS A BIT OF A CELEBRATION
GOING ON DOWNSTAIRS.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL COME ON DOWN.
YOU ARE EXCITED THERE.
INVITED THERE.
HELLO, WE HAVE MORE TO DO.
>> -- ON MONDAY.
>> SO, COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN,
I WOULD MOVE TO SUSPEND THE
RULES TO ALLOW ALL THE AGENDA
ITEMS BE PASSED TO MOVE ON TO
FULL COUNCIL MONDAY.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
SO, THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED.
KELLY, PLEASE MAKE SURE THESE
GET ON THE AGENDA ON MONDAY
OTHERWISE WILL GET A CHANCE TO
VOTE ON THE.
>> ESPECIALLY THE APPOINTMENTS.
I REALLY WANT TO DO THAT.
YOU ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE.
LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK IN
10 YEARS AND WATCHING YOUR
VIDEO.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED.