>> LET ME KNOW IF SEATTLE
CHANNEL IS READY TO GO.
>> YOU ARE GOOD TO GO.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THE DECEMBER 16, 2020 REGULAR
MEETING OF THE TRANSPORTATION
UTILITIES COMMISSIONER WILL
COME TO ORDER.
I'M ALEX PEDERSEN.
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALES.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR PEDERSEN.
>> HERE.
>> YOU HAVE FOUR PRESENT, YOU
HAVE A QUORUM.
>> THANK YOU.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S PROPOSED AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE 14 ITEMS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA, INCLUDING TWO
PROPOSED ORDINANCES FOR WHICH
WE ALREADY HAD A PUBLIC HEARING
DURING OUR DECEMBER 2nd
COMMITTEE.
SO THOSE ARE ITEMS 10 AND 11 ON
THE AGENDA.
TO SET THE TABLE FOR TODAY'S
MEETING, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW
THAT I GENERALLY SUPPORT ALL
THE ITEMS ON TODAY'S COMMITTEE
AGENDA.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LAST ITEM,
ITEM 14 IS IN THE EARLY STAGES
AND TODAY IS JUST A BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION ON THAT ITEM.
THERE WILL BE MORE TIME FOR
INPUT AND CONSIDERATION AS IT
MOVES THROUGH THE PROCESS.
ANY ITEMS VOTED ON TODAY WILL
ADVANCE TO THE FIRST FULL CITY
COUNCIL MEETING IN JANUARY.
WE WILL HAVE OUR NEXT MEETING
OF THIS COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY,
JANUARY 20.
WE WILL HAVE OUR MEETING IN THE
AFTERNOON ON JANUARY 20 TO
AVOID CONFLICT WITH THE
INAUGURATION IN WASHINGTON,
D.C. OF BOTH PRESIDENT BIDEN
AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS.
SO AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN
THE REMOTE GENERAL PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD.
I DON'T SEE ANYBODY SIGNED UP
RIGHT NOW BUT WE WILL GIVE THEM
A COUPLE OF MINUTES HERE.
I WILL READ WHAT WE NORMALLY
READ ABOUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT
SITUATION THAT IS VIRTUAL.
I ASK EVERYONE BE PATIENT AS WE
LEARN TO OPERATE THIS SYSTEM IN
REALTIME AND NAVIGATE THROUGH
THE GROWING PAGES.
WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING FOR
WAYS TO FINE-TUNE THIS PROCESS
AND ADDING NEW FEATURES THAT
ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL MEANS OF
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN OUR
COUNCIL MEETINGS.
IT REMAINS THE STRONG INTENT OF
THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT REGULARLY INCLUDED ON
THE AGENDAS.
HOWEVER, THE CITY COUNCIL
RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY
THESE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS AT
ANY POINT IF WE DEEM THIS
SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED OR
UNSUITABLE FOR ALLOWING OUR
MEETINGS TO BE CONDUCTED
EFFICIENTLY AND IN A MANNER IN
WHICH WE ARE AGE TO CONDUCT OUR
NECESSARY BUSINESS.
I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER.
GIVEN UP TO 20 MINUTES IF
NEEDED.
EACH SPEAKER WILL GET TWO
MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I WILL CALL ON THE SPEAKERS TWO
AT A TIME IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL
WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED BUT
WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE
SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINK IS ALSO
LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME,
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE AND AN
AUTOMATIC PROMPT OF YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTED WILL BE THE
SPEAKER'S CUE IT IS THEIR TURN
TO SPEAK AND THE SPEAKER MUST
EXPRESS STAR 6 TO BEGIN
SPEAKING.
BEGIN SPEAKING BY STATING YOUR
NAME AND THE ITEM YOU ARE
ADDRESSING.
AS A REMINDER, PUBLIC COMMENT
SHOULD RELATE TO AN ITEM ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME.
ONCE YOU HEAR THE CHIME, WE ASK
YOU WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTED.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT END THEIR
COMMENT, THE SPEAKER'S
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED TO
ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
WE ASK YOU PLEASE DISCONNECT
FROM THE LINE AND IF YOU PLAN
TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING THIS
MEETING PLEASE DO SO ON THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL.
THE REGULAR PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD FOR THIS COMMITTEE
MEETING IS NOW OPEN AND LOOKING
FOR SPEAKERS, WANTED TO READ
ALL THE REMARKS AND GIVE PEOPLE
A CHANCE TO SIGN UP.
IF I COULD HAVE OUR INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY COLLEAGUES CONFIRM,
ARE YOU ALSO NOT SEEING ANYBODY
SIGNED UP AT THIS TIME FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT, THERE ARE NO
PUBLIC COMMENTERS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, WE
ARE GOING TO END THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
FINISHED AND WE WILL MOVE ONTO
THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE ITEM ON
THE AGENDA.
WILL THE CLERK READ THE FIRST
SET OF FOUR APPOINTMENTS INTO
THE RECORD.
>> APPOINTMENT 01711 IS THE
APPOINTMENT OF YASIR ALFARAG AS
MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE BICYCLE
ADVISORY BOARD FOR A TERM TO
AUGUST 31, 2021.
AND MY APOLOGY FOR NOT GETTING
PRONUNCIATIONS RIGHT.
APPOINTMENT 01712 IS THE
APPOINTMENT OF MAIMOONA RAHIM
AS MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE
BICYCLE ADVISORY BOARD FOR A
TERM OF AUGUST 31st , 2022.
APPOINTMENT 01713 IS THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF ANDREW
DANNENBERG AS A MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE BICYCLE ADVISORY BOARD
FOR TERM OF AUGUST 31, 2022.
AND IS SARAH UDELHOFEN AS A
MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE BICYCLE
ADVISORY BOARD FOR A TERM TO
AUGUST 31st , 2022, ALL OF
WHICH ARE FOR BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, WE DO HAVE TODAY
WITH US SOME OF THE APPLICANTS
WHO WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS.
AND I'D LIKE TO FIRST
INTRODUCE, THOUGH, THE PERSON
WHO WILL BE WORKING ON THIS
FROM SDOT.
ONE MOMENT.
>> SIMON BLINSKY.
>> LET'S HEAR FROM SDOT FIRST
AND THEN --
>> MY NAME IS SIMON BLINSKY,
I'M A TRANSPORTATION PLANNER IS
SDOT AND THE SATISFACTORILY
LIAISON.
I AM HERE RECOMMENDING TWO
APPOINTMENTS.
I FIRST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT
SEATTLE BICYCLE ADVISORY BOARD
ADVISES THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL
AND CITY DEPARTMENTS ON
PROJECTS, POLICIES AND PROGRAMS
THAT IMPROVE OR AFFECT
BICYCLING CONDITIONS IN
SEATTLE.
THE BOARD'S VISION IS TO MAKE
BICYCLING A VIABLE
TRANSPORTATION CHOICE IN
SEATTLE AND BUILD A MORE
INCLUSIVE BICYCLING COMMUNITY
BY REPRESENTING THE NEEDS OF
DIVERSE POPULATION OF
BICYCLISTS IN THE CITY.
SO WE MENTIONED THERE'S TWO
REAPPOINTMENTS, ANDREW DANBURG
AND SARAH UDELHOFEN BOTH HAVE
BEEN ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE
BOARD AND WE DO HAVE THE TWO
NEW APPOINTMENTS HERE TODAY AND
I'LL LET THEM BOTH INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES, STARTING WITH YASIR
ALFARAG.
>> HI, GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS YASIR ALFARAG.
I AM A CURRENT STUDENT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
STUDYING POLITICAL SCIENCE AND
URBAN PLANNING.
I AM ALSO CURRENTLY INTERNING
FOR THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSWOMAN
JAYAPAL.
I GOT INTERESTED IN THE BOARD
POSITION BECAUSE I'M AN ACTIVE
CYCLIST MYSELF AND I REALLY
WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE FAMILIES
AND MORE PEOPLE FROM ALL
BACKGROUNDS USING BIKING AS A
VALID METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION
ALL THROUGHOUT SEATTLE AND
EVERY SINGLE PART OF IT.
AND I AM REALLY PASSIONATE
ABOUT THE CITY AND THE
IMPROVEMENT OF IT AND I REALLY
WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CARBON
EMISSION REDUCED IN OUR CITY
AND I BELIEVE THAT BIKING IS A
VALUABLE METHOD THAT WE MUST
UTILIZE FOR THE FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU.
WE CAN INTRODUCE THE OTHER
APPLICANT AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBERS CAN ASK
QUESTIONS IF THEY WANT.
SIMON, CAN YOU INTRODUCE THE
NEXT --
>> NEXT UP IS -- YEAH, NEXT UP
IS MAIMOONA RAHIM.
>> HI.
GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS MAIMOONA RAHIM.
I AM CURRENTLY -- I WORK AT
CASCADE BICYCLE CLUB AND I AM
INTERESTED IN JOINING THE BOARD
BECAUSE I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT
BICYCLING IN SEATTLE AND WOULD
LOVE TO BE INVOLVED IN MAKING
SEATTLE A SAFER PLACE AND A
MORE EQUITABLE PLACE REGARDING
BIKING AND INFRASTRUCTURE,
BEING ON THE BOARD WOULD GIVE
ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE
FOR THE NEEDS OF MY COMMUNITY
AND ENSURE THAT BLACK AND BROWN
CYCLISTS, IN PARTICULAR BLACK
AND BROWN FEMALE, MORE
TRANSCYCLISTS ARE RECOMMENDED
AND CONSIDERED WHEN DECISIONS
ARE MADE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND FOR
BEING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOUR
STORY AND, TO MY COLLEAGUES ON
THE COMMITTEE, IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AT THIS
POINT, WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE
ROUNDS OF APPOINTMENTS.
WE WILL HAVE MORE APPOINTMENTS
ON JANUARY 20th AS WELL.
BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS FOR THESE
APPLICANTS OR THIS -- ABOUT
THIS BOARD,
PLEASE.
I WOULD HAVE TO SEE YOUR VIDEO.
I'M NOT ABLE TO SEE IF YOUR
HAND IS RAISED.
LET'S SEE HERE.
OKAY, NOW I CAN.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, I APPRECIATE AGAIN, THE
APPLICANTS FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS
TO SERVE AND TO VOLUNTEER YOUR
TIME FOR THIS AND AS WE TRY TO
ALLOCATE THE TRANSPORTATION
DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE IN THE
CITY TO MULTIPLE MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION, BUT HERE'S ONE
THAT WE KNOW IS FREE FROM
OMISSION SO WE WANT TO EXPAND
THAT AS WELL.
SO -- AND VERY EXCITED TO READ
ABOUT PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN'S
APPOINTMENTS TO THE VARIOUS
CLIMATE CHANGE BOARDS AND
DEPARTMENTS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
I FEEL LIKE WE ARE GOING TO
REALLY FINALLY MAKE SOME
PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE.
SO AGAIN, THANKS FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND,
COLLEAGUES, WHAT I'D LIKE TO
DO, UNLESS MY COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES WOULD SEPARATE OUT
ANY OF THE FOUR APPOINTMENTS, I
WOULD LIKE TO VOTE ON ALL FOUR
OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME FOR
THE BICYCLE ADVISORY BOARD.
IF THIS IS A TIME IF YOU WANT
TO SEPARATE OUT ANY OF THEM,
PLEASE LET ME KNOW, OF THESE
FOUR.
OTHERWISE, I WILL GO AHEAD AND
MOVE ALL FOUR.
COUNCILMEMBERS, HEARING NO WISH
TO SEPARATE IT OUT, I WILL MOVE
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENTS 01711
THROUGH 01714, ITEMS ONE
THROUGH FOUR ON OUR AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> AYE.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND PASSAGES OF THESE
APPOINTMENTS.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS, COUNSELORS?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE FOUR
APPOINTMENTS BE APPROVED FOR
FORWARD TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
>> EXCUSE ME.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALES.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> AND I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE
SEEN COUNCILMEMBER MORALES YET.
SO FOUR YES.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION IS
THAT THE APPOINTMENTS BE SENT
FOR APPROVAL TO THE NEXT CITY
COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH IS ON
JANUARY 4th.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
NEXT SET OF APPOINTMENTS INTO
THE RECORD.
>> APPOINTMENT 01715 IS THE
APPOINTMENT OF ARTHUR KUNIYUKI
AS A MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD FOR A
TERM TO AUGUST 2nd, 2022.
01716 IS THE REAPPOINTMENT OF
KEIKO BUDECH AS A MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD
FOR A TERM TO AUGUST 2nd, 2022,
AND 1717 IS THE REAPPOINTMENT
OF BARBARA WRIGHT AS A MEMBER
OF THE SEATTLE TRANSIT ADVISORY
BOARD FOR A TERM TO AUGUST 2nd,
2022, ALL FOR BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU.
I'D LIKE TO TURN THIS OVER TO
SEATTLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
TO NICO.
GOOD MORNING, NICO.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE HAVE ONE APPOINTMENT AND TWO
REAPPOINTMENTS RECOMMENDED FOR
YOU HERE TODAY TO THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD.
AS A QUICK BACKGROUND, THE
BOARD WAS CREATED BY THE CITY
COUNCIL IN 2015, SO ONE OF OUR
NEWER MODAL BOARDS.
THE BOARD HAS TWO MAIN CHARGES,
FIRST ADVISING THE CITY AND OUR
PARTNERS WITH TRANSIT AND
TRANSIT CHUTES WITHIN SEATTLE
AND PROVIDING OVERSIGHT OF
FUNDS COLLECTED AND SPENT UNDER
THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT PROPOSITION
ONE WHICH WAS INITIALLY PASSED
BY VOTERS BACK IN 2014 AND WAS
VERY RECENTLY RENEWED BY VOTERS
LAST MONTH.
THE BOARD IS MADE UP OF 12
MEMBERS, SIX MAYORAL APPOINTEES
-- ALL THREE OF THE
APPOINTMENTS IN FRONT OF YOU
TODAY ARE MAYORAL APPOINTEES.
ART, WHO IS WITH US TODAY, WHO
I WILL LET INTRODUCE HIMSELF IS
FILLING ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS
AFTER A CURRENT MEMBER REACHED
THE END OF HER TERM AND CHOSE
NOT TO SEEK REAPPOINTMENT.
WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO PASS IT
OVER TO ART TO INTRODUCE
HIMSELF.
>> THANKS.
I.T.
CAN CONFIRM BUT IT LOOKS TO ME
LIKE ART HAS FALLEN OFF.
>> NO.
I STILL SEE ART.
HI, ART.
GOOD MORNING.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, YES, WE CAN.
>> PLEASE INTRODUCE --
>> I DON'T THINK I CONTROL MY
VIDEO SO I WILL LET OTHER
PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF THAT.
BUT THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME
STATE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ONE SECOND HERE.
I HAVE A NOTICE HERE.
HELLO.
>> GOOD MORNING, WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING, HI.
>> PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT YOURSELF, WHY YOU WOULD
LIKE TO SERVE AND --
>> SURE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS ART, I'M A THIRD
GENERATION SEATTLEITE.
MY PARTNER AND I LIVE IN WEST
SEATTLE AND I WORK IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE FOR THE PIKE PLACE
MARKET PDA.
I THINK AROUND 2015 OR SO I WAS
ONE OF 25 PEOPLE APPOINTED TO A
COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP FOR
METRO TRANSIT THAT HELPED
CREATE THE METRO CONNECTS
REPORT SO THAT SPARKED MY
INTEREST IN TRANSPORTATION AND
AS A TRANSIT RIDER SINCE I WAS
A TEENAGER IN SEATTLE IT WAS
ALWAYS AN INTEREST.
WHEN I SAW THIS OPENING, I
APPLIED SO I HAVE GONE THROUGH
THE INTERVIEW PROCESS AND I AM
HERE TODAY, I GUESS.
WE WILL GET TO THE FINAL STEPS.
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
AND COUNCILMEMBERS, WE HAVE ALL
READ THE APPLICANT PACKAGES AND
SUCH SO WE MIGHT NOT HAVE
QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE
ALREADY LOOKED AT THIS, BUT IF
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ART,
PLEASE GO AHEAD, LET ME KNOW
AND OTHERWISE WE CAN KEEP GOING
TROUGH THE ITEMS.
ART, I WANT TO THANK YOU, AS
WITH THE OTHER APPLICANTS FOR
YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND
WE REALLY RELY ON THESE
ADVISORY BOARDS.
IN FACT, I WILL BE AT THE
TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
TONIGHT, SO IF YOU'RE ABLE TO
ATTEND, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
SO COLLEAGUES, LAST CALL FOR
ANY QUESTIONS FOR ART.
AGAIN, THANK YOU, ART, FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
THANK YOU, NICO, FOR BEING HERE
TODAY AND HELPING SHEPHERD
THESE APPLICATIONS FOR US.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, YOU KNOW,
AGAIN, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY
IF WE WANT TO, THERE ARE THREE
APPOINTMENTS, WE WILL VOTE ON
THEM ALL AT ONCE BUT WE CAN
ALSO SEPARATE ONE OR MORE OF
THEM OUT.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THAT'S
THE WISH OF ANYBODY.
SEEING THAT'S NOT THE CASE, WE
WILL VOTE ON ALL THREE AT THE
SAME TIME, SO I WOULD LIKE TO
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF
APPOINTMENTS 01715 THROUGH
01717, ITEMS FIVE THROUGH SEVEN
ON OUR AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THESE
APPOINTMENTS.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS,
COUNCILMEMBERS?
ALL RIGHT.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, PLEASE.
>> JUST A THANK YOU TO EVERYONE
FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
REVIEW EVERYONE'S PACKETS AND
VERY EXCITED TO HAVE EVERYONE
SERVING ON THE BOARD.
>> THANK YOU.
OKAY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLL
ON THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
THAT THESE APPOINTMENTS BEING
APPROVED.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> FOUR "YESES."
>> MOTION CARRIED IN THE
RECOMMENDATION IS THESE
APPOINTMENTS BE SENT TO
APPROVAL FOR THE JANUARY 4th
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THANK YOU, ART, THANK YOU,
NICO.
NEXT ITEM.
WILL THE CLERK READ THE NEXT
SET OF APPOINTMENTS INTO THE
RECORD.
>> ITEMS 8 AND 9, APPOINTMENT
01718 IS THE APPOINTMENT OF
AKSHALI GANDHI AS A MEMBER OF
THE SEATTLE PEDESTRIANS
ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE TERM OF
MARCH 31st , 2021, AND 01719 IS
THE APPOINTMENT OF EMILY DAVIS
AS A MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE
PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD FOR A
TERM TO MARCH 31st , 2022.
FOR BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> SO I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER
TO SDOT AGAIN TO INTRODUCE --
>> YES, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
I'M NOT SDOT LIAISON FOR THE
PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD,
WHICH IS A BOARD OF 12
VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE MAYORAL AND
COUNCIL APPOINTED, WHO OVERSEE
THE PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN AND
ALSO VOICE SDOT AND THE COUNCIL
AND THE MAYOR ON PEDESTRIAN
PROJECTS, PROGRAMS, POLICIES
AND OTHER THINGS OF INTEREST TO
PEDESTRIANS IN THE SEATTLE
AREA.
SO I AM HERE TODAY WITH TWO
MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS WHO HAVE
REGULARLY ATTENDED OUR PAST
SEVERAL MEETINGS AND ARE VERY
EXCITED TO BE UP FOR
APPOINTMENT TODAY AND THAT IS
AKSHALI GANDHI AND EMILY DAVIS
AND I WILL LET THEM INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HI, GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE
TODAY.
MY NAME IS AKSHALI GANDHI, AND
I AM A RESIDENT OF WEST
SEATTLE.
I HAVE BEEN, I GUESS,
INFORMALLY ON THE BOARD SINCE,
I THINK SPRING, AND I BECAME
INTERESTED IN THIS BECAUSE MY
-- I WORK IN TRANSPORTATION,
BUT AT THE MORE REGIONAL LEVEL
FOR KING COUNTY, AND NOTICED
THAT AS A SEATTLE RESIDENT I
DON'T GET TO DO A LOT OF -- I
DON'T GET TO TOUCH A LOT OF
PROGRAMS THAT ARE ACTUALLY
HAPPENING IN MY OWN COMMUNITY
WHERE I LIVE AND IN THE CITY
AND SO THAT'S WHAT GOT ME
INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE.
I STARTED ATTENDING A COUPLE OF
THE BOARD MEETINGS AND AS
SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD -- HAS LOST
FAMILY DUE TO A PEDESTRIAN
CRASH, HIT-AND-RUN AND ALSO AS
SOMEONE WHO, BEFORE LAST --
BEFORE THIS YEAR DIDN'T HAVE A
CAR AND DID RELY ON MY OWN TWO
FEET TO GET EVERYWHERE, I WAS
EXCITED AND INTERESTED IN
JOINING THE PEDESTRIAN BOARD TO
MAKE SEATTLE A SAFER PLACE TO
WALK AND TO BE ABLE TO BE
INVOLVED IN SOMETHING IN MY OWN
COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.
EMILY, PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM EMILY.
I WORK FOR KING COUNTY ROADS AS
AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST.
SO I AM HEARTY IN THE TRANSIT
WORLD LIKE I THINK SO MANY
PEOPLE ARE THESE BOARDS, IT'S
YOUR JOB AND YOUR PASSION.
SO WALKING IS PROBABLY MY MAIN
FORM OF TRANSPORTATION AND MY
MAIN FORM OF EXERCISE AS WELL
AND I FEEL SO LUCKY TO LIVE IN
A PLACE WHERE THAT'S A
POSSIBILITY AND HAVING MOVED
FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, IT
WAS SUCH A RELIEF TO BE IN A
CITY LIKE THAT.
SEATTLE IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO
WALK AND BE ABLE TO USE THAT AS
YOUR MAIN FORM OF
TRANSPORTATION, BUT IT COULD BE
BETTER AND IT COULD BE MORE
ACCESSIBLE.
SO I AM HAPPY TO BE INVOLVED IN
A BOARD THAT IS WORKING TOWARDS
THOSE GOALS AND ALSO TOWARDS
CARBON NEUTRAL GOALS BECAUSE
WHAT BETTER WAY TO GET TO
CARBON NEUTRAL THAN TO MAKE A
BETTER BIKING AND TRANSIT AREA.
SO THAT'S ABOUT IT.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
COUNCILMEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS
FOR OUR TWO APPLICANTS FOR THE
PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD?
AGAIN, WE HAVE READ YOUR
PACKETS AND SO -- OH,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, PLEASE.
>> SURE.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
A QUESTION FOR EACH OF THE
APPLICANTS.
AKSHALI GANDHI, I SEE THAT YOU
WORKED ON PITTSBURGH'S FIRST
COMPLETE STREETS PLANNING
POLICY FOR THE CITY OF
PITTSBURGH.
DO YOU HAVE ANY LESSONS LEARNED
FROM THERE, ANYTHING THAT WE
SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT AS WE
LOOK TO CREATE COMPLETE STREETS
HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE?
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, I MOVED HERE FROM
PITTSBURGH LAST YEAR AND I
THINK ONE BIG LESSON WAS WE
TRIED TO PACK EVERYTHING AND
THE KITCHEN SINK INTO THAT
POLICY AND TRIED TO APPEASE
EVERYONE.
EVERYONE WHO WAS INVOLVED.
AND WHILE IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE
SO MANY STAKEHOLDERS, I THINK
PERHAPS WANTED TO TRY PACKING
THE POLICY WITH EVERYTHING THAT
YOU COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE,
SOMETIMES IT WITTELS DOWN TO
NOTHING AND NOT AS ENFORCEABLE.
ONE LESSON LEARNED WAS TO PACK
THE PUNCH WITH A FEW KEY
ELEMENTS RATHER THAN TRY TO DO
EVERYTHING.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.
AND EMILY, I SEE THAT YOU ARE A
VOLUNTEER TRAIL BUILDER IN YOUR
VOLUNTEERING TIME.
WHEN WE HIKE AND WALK, IT'S
ALSO ANOTHER FORM OF WALKING
AROUND, AND HOW DO YOU TAKE ANY
OF YOUR EXPERIENCE TRAIL
BUILDING AND APPLY THAT TO HOW
WE BUILD OUR STREETS AND MAKE
THEM A MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY
ENVIRONMENT?
>> SURE, YEAH.
THAT'S A FUN ONE.
I GUESS IT'S LIKE HOW DO YOU
MAKE A PLACE ENJOYABLE IF
YOU'RE TRAIL BUILDING AND
LOOKING AT A FOREST AND
THINKING HOW DO WE TRAIL IN
HERE THAT IS THE LEAST
IMPACTFUL BUT ALSO THE MOST
ENJOYABLE SO THAT'S SOMETHING
TO THINK ABOUT.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE PEDESTRIAN
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT FLOWS
NICELY WITH THE OTHER ELEMENTS
IN A TRAIL THAT'S LIKE NATURE
IN A CITY THAT'S LOADED WITH
CARS AND BIKES AND HOW DO ALL
OF THOSE THINGS FLOW TOGETHER.
THE BEST I GOT.
>> FAIR ENOUGH.
THANK YOU BOTH.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL QUESTIONS FOR
OUR APPLICANTS?
ALL RIGHT.
SO CONSISTENT WITH THE LAST TWO
BOARDS THAT WE VOTED ON, I WILL
PREFER TO VOTE ON BOTH TOGETHER
IN ONE MOTION, BUT IF
COUNCILMEMBERS WANT TO SEPARATE
THEM OUT AND DO THEM
SEPARATELY, LET ME KNOW.
OKAY.
SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND PROCEED
VOTING ON BOTH AT THE SAME
TIME.
I NOW MOVE THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF
APPOINTMENTS 01718 AND 01719,
ITEMS 8 AND 9 ON OUR AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THESE
APPOINTMENTS.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
ALL RIGHT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THESE BE
APPROVED.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALES.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> FOUR YES.
>> GREAT.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THESE
APPOINTMENTS BE SENT FOR FINAL
APPROVAL TO THE JANUARY 4 CITY
COUNCIL MEETING.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR
APPLICANTS FOR MOVING FORWARD.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S -- THOSE ARE THE END OF
OUR APPOINTMENTS.
NOW WE ARE GOING TO GET INTO
THE LEGISLATION.
THE FIRST TWO ITEMS WE ALREADY
HAD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON AND
DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING,
SOIF PEOPLE ARE VIEWING THIS
FROM THEIR HOMES AND WONDERING
WHY WE MOVED SO QUICKLY, WE
ACTUALLY DID HAVE EXTENSIVE
DISCUSSION AT THE PREVIOUS
COUNCIL MEETING OR ACCOUNT
COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF ITEM 10 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> ITEM 10 IS COUNCIL BILL
119955, AN ORDINANCE RELATING
TO SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES,
RELATING TO CERTAIN PROPERTIES
IN THE CITY OF RENTON AT THE
INTERSECTION OF INTERSTATE 405
AND SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES'
CEDAR RIVER PIPELINES' RIGHT-OF-
WAY, FOR BRIEFING, DISCUSSION
AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU.
AND AS IS COMMON FOR THESE
LEGISLATIVE ITEMS, WE WILL TURN
IT OVER FIRST TO OUR CITY
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF TO SEE IF
THEY HAVE ANY INTRODUCTORY
COMMENTS OR ANALYSIS FOR US.
SO GOOD MORNING BRIAN
GOODNIGHT.
>> BRIAN GOODNIGHT, COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
THIS ITEM DID COME TO THE
COMMITTEE'S LAST MEETING ON
DECEMBER 2nd.
SPU PROVIDED A PRESENTATION AND
A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD.
AS A BRIEF REMINDER, THIS
LEGISLATION RELATES TO A
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION PROJECT FOR
INTERSTATE 405 THAT OCCURRED IN
THE LATE 1980s.
THE PROJECT STRAIGHTENED 405
EAST OF DOWNTOWN RENTON AND
AFFECTED THE LOCATION OF THREE
LARGE DIAMETER SPU PIPELINES
THAT ARE USED FOR WATER
TRANSMISSION.
THE PIPELINES WERE LOCATED INTO
A NEW ALIGNMENT BY WSDOT AND
THAT WORK WAS COMPLETED IN
1983.
IN ORDER TO ALLOW SPU HAVE THE
NECESSARY PROPERTY RIGHTS TO
MAINTAIN THE PIPELINES AT THE
NEW LOCATIONS AND FOR WSDOT TO
MEET ITS STATE AND FEDERAL
HIGHWAY REQUIREMENTS, THE
ORDINANCE WOULD AUTHORIZE SPU
TO QUITCLAIM PROPERTY TO WSDOT
COVERING THE ORIGINAL PATH OF
THE PIPELINES, IN EXCHANGE FOR
ACCEPTING PROPERTIES AND
EASEMENTS FROM WSDOT THAT COVER
THE NEW ALIGNMENT.
MAPS DEPICTING THE PROPERTY
EXCHANGE ARE INCLUDED IN SPU'S
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION WHICH
WAS COMMENTED AT THE CITY'S
LAST NEATH AND INCLUDED AS A
LINK TO THE UPDATED AGENDA AS
WELL.
AND STAFF ARE ON THE CALL IN
CASE THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
SO WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES, THANKS FOR JOINING
US.
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS THAT
YOU WANT TO MAKE OUR YOU JUST
WANT TO TAKE QUESTIONS IF THERE
ARE ANY FROM MY COLLEAGUES?
>> I WILL JUST TAKE QUESTIONS.
THIS WAS A GREAT SUMMARY BY
BRIAN.
>> OKAY.
AND AGAIN, AS A REMINDER, WE
DID HAVE THE PRESENTATION LAST
TIME.
IT IS ON THE AGENDA TODAY AS
WELL IF YOU WANTED TO PRUDENCE
THAT AGAIN.
COUNCILMEMBERS DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM THAT
WE HEARD A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
IT WAS A ROBUST PRESENTATION
LAST TIME AND THANK YOU AGAIN,
EUGENE.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> CAN YOU JUST REFRESH MY
MEMORY ON THIS ONE.
ARE THESE EASEMENTS AND
TRANSFERS ONLY BETWEEN THE
STATE AND THE CITY OR DOES
RENTON HAVE A STAKE IN THIS AS
WELL?
>> IT IS ONLY BETWEEN THE STATE
AND THE CITY.
RENTON IS NOT A PARTY TO THIS
TRANSACTION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, ANY FINAL
QUESTIONS BEFORE I MAKE A
MOTION TO PASS THIS?
COUNCILMEMBERS, I NOW MOVE THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF
COUNCIL BILL 111955, ITEM 10 ON
OUR AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THIS BILL.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THIS BILL
PASS.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> SORRY.
YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> YOU HAVE FOUR YES VOTES.
>> GREAT.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT
THE BILL PASSED WILL BE SENT TO
THE JANUARY 4 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING.
THANK YOU TO BRIAN AND EUGENE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ -- I
GUESS YOU'RE PROBABLY STAYING
ON FOR THE NEXT ONE, OR AT
LEAST BRIAN IS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF ITEM 11 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 119958, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE CEDAR
RIVER WATERSHED, AUTHORIZING OF
TWO YEARS OF ECOLOGICAL
THINNING, IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE CEDAR RIVER WATERSHED
HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN.
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU.
AGAIN, THIS IS AN ITEM WE HAD A
PUBLIC HEARING FOR LOST TIME,
HAD A BRIEFING, PRESENTATION.
WE WILL TURN THIS OVER AGAIN TO
CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
BRIAN GOODNIGHT TO LEAD US OFF.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER.
SO AS YOU STATED THERE WAS A
PUBLIC HEARING ON DECEMBER 2nd
FOR THIS ITEM.
THE LEGISLATION WOULD AUTHORIZE
SPU TO PERFORM ECOLOGICAL
THINNING ON APPROXIMATELY 225
ACRES OF SECOND GROWTH FOREST
IN THE CEDAR RIVER WATERSHED
OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
THE THINNING PERFORMED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE WATERSHED'S
HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN AND
THE INTENT OF THE THINNING IS
TO IMPROVE FOREST HABITAT AND
BIO DIVERSITY.
GRANTED BY ORDINANCE 124853
THAT WAS PASSED IN SEPTEMBER OF
2015.
SO THAT ACTION AUTHORIZED CITY
AND PROJECTS AND SURPLUS LOG
SALES BETWEEN 2016 AND 2020 AND
APPROVAL OF THIS BILL UNDER
CONSIDERATION TODAY WOULD
EXTEND THAT AUTHORITY THROUGH
2022.
>> THANK YOU, BRIAN.
AND I DID WANT TO NOTE FOR THE
PUBLIC THAT ON THE AGENDA TODAY
WE DID ADD THE SUPPORT LETTERS
FROM MUCKLESHOOT TRIBE AND
SIERRA CLUB SO THANK YOU FOR
EVERYBODY WHO HELPED TO MAKE
THAT HAPPEN AND WE APPRECIATE
THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS.
AMY AT SPU, ANY COMMENTS THAT
YOU WANT TO MAKE?
OR ELSE YOU CAN TAKE QUESTIONS.
AND I SEE RALPH IS THERE TOO.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
JUST TO INTRODUCE MYSELF, I AM
AMY LA BARGE, WATERSHED
DIVISION MANAGER FOR SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES AND I THINK
THAT MR. GOODNIGHT COVERED THE
BACKGROUND OF THE ORDINANCE.
I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS, IF THERE ARE ANY.
>> WE HAD A THOROUGH DISCUSSION
OF THIS ITEM, LOTS OF GOOD
QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
AND GOOD COMMENTARY AS WELL AND
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF
COMFORT WITH THIS.
SO ANY FINAL QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS, COUNCILMEMBERS,
BEFORE WE MAKE A MOTION?
OKAY. COUNCILMEMBERS, I WOULD
LIKE TO MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 119-9558 WHICH IS ITEM 11
ON OUR AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THIS BILL.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THIS BILL
PASS.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> YES FOUR VOTES.
>> BILL PASS WILL BE SENT TO
THE JANUARY 4 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING.
ITEM 12.
WILL THE ITEM PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF ITEM 12 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> ITEM 12 IS COUNCIL BILL
119963, AN ORDINANCE RELATING
TO SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES;
UPDATING WATER REGULATIONS TO
CONFORM TO CURRENT STANDARDS,
MAKING TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS
AND AMENDING NUMEROUS SECTIONS
OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE
FOR BRIEFING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
WE HEARD THIS ITEM 2 WEEKS AGO
AT OUR DECEMBER 2nd COMMITTEE
MEETING AND THERE WERE LOTS OF
QUESTIONS.
THERE ARE LOTS OF STUFF GOING
ON THERE AS WE UPDATE THESE
REGULATIONS, SO I WANTED TO
GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME
IN CASE THE PUBLIC OR ANYBODY
ELSE HAD QUESTIONS AS WE DUG
INTO THIS AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES IN ANSWERING ANY
QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD.
BRIAN, DID YOU WANT TO
INTRODUCE THIS ITEM AS WELL?
>> SURE.
THANK YOU.
I WILL TAKE AND ATTEMPT IT,
SUMMARIZING THE LEGISLATION AND
SPU IS ON THE LINE.
THE INTENT OF THE LEGISLATION
IS TO UPDATE PORTIONS OF THE
WATER CODE, WHICH IS INCLUDED
IN TITLE 21 OF SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE, TO CREATE
CONSISTENT TERMINOLOGY AND TO
CLARIFY REQUIREMENTS IN SPU
PRACTICES.
THERE WAS A NICE TABLE IN SPU'S
PRESENTATION FROM LAST TIME
WHICH IS INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA
THAT SUMMARIZES ALL OF THE
ACTIONS, BUT A FEW OF THE
HIGHLIGHTS ARE THAT IT WOULD
ADD A NEW SECTION, DISALLOWING
WATER SERVICE FROM PERMIT
EXEMPT WELLS.
IT WOULD CLARIFY WATER MAIN
REQUIREMENTS FOR CORNER LOT
PARCELS.
CLARIFY REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER
SERVICE RETIREMENT.
IT WOULD UPDATE THE PENALTY FOR
VIOLATING THE WATER -- FOR
VIOLATING THE WATER CODE TO
MAKE IT CONSISTENT WITH THE
STANDARD FOR GROSS MISDEMEANORS
AND ALIGN THE CODE WITH SP
PRACTICES REGARDING SEPARATION
SERVICE CONNECTIONS -- AND
SHOUTS.
MICHELLE AND CARRIE ARE ON THE
LINE AND CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> PLEASE, GO AHEAD, MICHELLE
AND CARRIE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY INTRODUCTORY
REMARKS, OTHERWISE, WE MIGHT
HAVE QUESTIONS.
>> YEAH.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
APPRECIATED ALL THE BACK AND
FORTH.
THE QUESTION AND WE ARE HERE TO
ANSWER ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS
YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> I WANTED TO COMPLIMENT YOU
AGAIN ON YOUR -- THE CHART THAT
YOU HAVE IN THE POWERPOINT.
I WAS SHOWING IT AROUND TO
OTHER FOLKS SAYING THIS IS
REALLY HELPFUL HOW THIS IS
PRESENTED AND THE DETAIL THAT'S
PROVIDED TO HELP
DECISIONMAKERS.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR PUTTING
THAT TOGETHER FOR NOT ONLY US
BUT ALSO FOR THE PUBLIC.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE ON MUTE.
>> ANY QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES,
FOR COLLEAGUES OF SPU ABOUT
THIS ORDINANCE?
>> NO.
MICHELLE DID A GREAT JOB
BRIEFING ME AHEAD OF THE LAST
COMMITTEE MEETING.
WE HAD A VERY ROBUST MEETING
LAST TIME AND THAT CHART IS
EXTREMELY HELPFUL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MICHELLE AND
KERI.
>> OH, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 119963.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> I WILL SECOND THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THIS BILL.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS, COLLEAGUES?
>> WELL DONE.
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON THIS.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THIS BILL.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BILL
PASS.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> YOU HAVE FOUR YES VOTES.
>> SORRY, FOLKS.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION OF THE
BILL PASSED TO BE SENT TO THE
JANUARY 4 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THANKS TO EVERYBODY FOR BEING
HERE TODAY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF ITEM 13 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> ITEM 13 IS COUNCIL BILL
119976.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
EAST MARGINAL WAY GRADE
SEPARATION PROJECT, AUTHORIZING
THE DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO
ACQUIRE, ACCEPT AND RECORD ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
THREE QUITCLAIM DEEDS AND AN
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF
EASEMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE EAST
MARGINAL WAY OVERPASS FROM THE
PORT OF SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU.
I KNOW WE HAVE SDOT HERE AND
TEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A
PRESENTATION FOR US.
I DID WANT TO THANK CALVIN
CIAO, CENTRAL STAFF FOR ALSO
BEING AVAILABLE IN CASE HE
WANTS TO MAKE ANY INTRODUCTORY
REMARKS.
CALVIN, DID YOU WANT TO
INTRODUCE THIS SEGMENT AT ALL?
IF NOT, THAT'S FINE.
>> NO, COUNCILMEMBER.
THE PRESENTATION IS GOOD TO GO.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
SO WE WILL TURN THIS OVER TO
BILL LA BOARD OF THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
GOOD MORNING, BILL.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
>>> I'M BILL LA BOARD FROM THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND LET'S GO
INTO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND SDOT'S VISION IS THAT
SEATTLE IS A THRIVING,
EQUITABLE COMMUNITY POWERED BY
DEPENDABLE TRANSPORTATION.
OUR MISSION IS TO DELIVER A
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT
PROVIDES SAFE AND AFFORDABLE
ACCESS TO PLACES AND
OPPORTUNITIES AND OUR SIX CORE
VALUES ARE EQUITY, SAFETY,
MOBILITY, SUSTAINABILITY,
LIVABILITY AND EXCELLENCE.
NEXT -- LET'S MOVE ONTO THE
NEXT SCREEN.
SO THE BACKGROUND ON THIS
ORDINANCE IS THAT IN 2014
COUNCIL PASSED AN ORDINANCE
AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO ENTER
INTO AN MOA WITH THE PORT
REGARDING A GRADE SEPARATION
PROJECT THAT THE PORT HAD --
WAS PRIORITY FOR THE PORT AND
THAT IT HAD RECEIVED STATE
FUNDING FOR AND THE AGREEMENT
WAS THAT THE PORT WOULD
CONSTRUCT THE GRADE SEPARATION
PROJECT WITH A $1.4 MILLION
CONTRIBUTION FROM THE CITY AND
ONCE THE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED
AND INCLUDING SEVERAL RELATED
PIECES, THAT THE PORT WOULD
TRANSFER THE PROPERTIES TO THE
CITY AND THAT PROPERTY
TRANSACTION WOULD INCLUDE SOME
EASEMENTS FOR THE UTILITIES AS
WELL AS AN EASEMENT FOR
MAINTENANCE AND ACCESS ACROSS
THE BNSF TRACKS THAT ARE UNDER
THE OVERPASS.
SO THIS -- THIS ORDINANCE
COMPLETES THOSE PROPERTY
TRANSFERS, AUTHORIZES THE -- OR
CERTIFIES THE DEED TRANSFERS TO
THE CITY AND AS WELL AS THE
EASEMENTS THAT WILL BENEFIT
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT FOR THEIR
WIRES -- TRANSMISSION WIRES
ACROSS THE AREA, AS WELL AS
STORM WATER EASEMENT FOR THE --
FOR SPU AND, AGAIN, THOSE
MAINTENANCE EASEMENTS.
THE PORT COMPLETED THEIR
SURPLUSSING OF THE PROPERTIES
LAST JULY AND THE FINAL STEP IN
THIS PROCESS IS FOR THE CITY TO
PASS THIS ORDINANCE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THIS SHOWS THE ACTUAL OVERPASS
UNDER CONSTRUCTION, THE
OVERPASS WAS COMPLETED IN 2014
AND IN JULY 2014 AND YOU CAN
SEE IT IN THE IMAGE TO THE
RIGHT THERE, THE AREA IMAGE.
AND IF YOU WANT ANOTHER IMAGE
WORTH LOOKING AT THAT'S
ATTACHED TO THE SUMMARY AND
FISCAL NOTE IS ATTACHMENT 2,
WHICH IS THE SITE PLAN FOR THE
PROJECT AND THAT GIVES YOU A
GOOD IDEA OF WHERE EXACTLY IT'S
LOCATED IN RELATION TO THESE
PHOTOS HERE.
AND NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF IMAGES OF
THE FACILITY, AND WHICH IS JUST
SOUTH OF SPOKANE STREET AND
CONNECTS DUE DUE DUWAMISH,
SPOKANE AND EAST MARGINAL.
AND THIS EXPLAINS THE PROPERTY
CONVEYANCES THAT ARE INCLUDED
IN THIS ORDINANCE, THE THREE
QUITCLAIM DEEDS, THE EASEMENT
AGREEMENTS, INCLUDING THE ONES
FOR THE UTILITIES.
AND YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
BUT OTHERWISE WE ASK FOR YOUR
APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE, OF
THIS COUNCIL BILL.
>> THANK YOU, BILL.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS FOR
SDOT? APPRECIATE THE CLEAR
PRESENTATION HERE AND THE
EXPLANATION SETTING THE CONTEXT
FOR US ON WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN
APPROVED AND WHAT THE PORT HAS
DONE TOO ON THEIR SIDE.
SO I AM COMFORTABLE MOVING
AHEAD WITH THIS.
AGAIN, COLLEAGUES, IF ANY FINAL
QUESTIONS BEFORE I MAKE A
MOTION?
YES, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> I WANT TO SAY IN ADDITION TO
OUR VOTE TODAY, I BELIEVE THE
COUNCIL HAS SIGNED A COUPLE OF
LETTERS IN THE PAST IN SUPPORT
OF THIS PROJECT, SO I FEEL LIKE
TODAY'S ACTION IS CONSISTENT
WITH PRIOR ACTIONS AS IT
RELATES TO THIS PROJECT.
SO THANKS TO SDOT FOR BRINGING
IT FORWARD.
>> ON OUR AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF A BILL.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THIS BILL
PASS.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> YOU HAVE FOUR YES VOTES.
>> THANK YOU.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION OF THE
BILL PASSED WILL BE SENT TO THE
JANUARY 4 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THANK YOU, BILL.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ OUR
FINAL ITEM, ITEM 14 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> ITEM 14 IS A CLERK'S FILE.
IT'S CLERK'S FILE 314459
REGARDING A PETITION OF GRANT
STREET COMMONS LLC FOR THE
VACATION OF THE ALLEY IN BLOCK
14, KINNEAR'S ADDITION TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, BEING THE
BLOCK BOUNDED BY SOUTH GRAND
STREET, 22nd AVENUE SOUTH,
SOUTH HOLGATE STREET AND 23rd
AVENUE SOUTH FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU.
YEAH, THANKS FOR THE REMINDER
THAT THIS IS A CLERK FILE THAT
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF A
LONGER PROCESS, THAT THIS
PROJECT SHOULD GO THROUGH AND
WE HAVE GOT OUR DREAM TEAM HERE
ON ZOOM AND WE WILL START OFF
WITH OUR CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF LISH.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
SO THIS IS A PETITION FROM MT.
BAKER HOUSING WHO HAS ENTERED A
PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER PARTIES
TO DEVELOP A THREE BLOCK AREA.
MT. BAKER HOUSING IS SEEKING TO
VACATE AN ALLEY IN THE BLOCK
THAT'S BASICALLY SURROUNDED BY
RANIER AVENUE SOUTH AND
23rd AVENUE SOUTH.
SOUTH OF SOUTH GRAND STREET.
IT'S ABOUT THREE BLOCKS SOUTH
OF THE FUTURE LIGHT RAIL
STATION AT I-90 AND TWO BLOCKS
NORTH OF WHERE 23rd AVENUE
SOUTH AND RANIER AVENUE SOUTH
CROSS.
THIS IS AN EARLY INITIALLY
BRIEFING ON THE PROJECT.
THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR INITIAL
BRIEFING WAS ADDED TO THE
STREET POLICIES WHEN THEY WERE
UPDATED A COUPLE YEARS AGO,.
IT'S INTENDED TO PROVIDE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILMEMBER
AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO
PROVIDE EARLY INPUT INTO THE
PROJECT AS IT GOES THROUGH CITY
REVIEW.
SO THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO
WEIGH IN EARLY, BEFORE THE
PROJECT GETS FINALIZED AND
COMES BACK TO YOU, HOPEFULLY,
IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS OR SO.
JUST A QUICK REMINDER, ALLEYS
ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE ACCESS,
THIS ALLEY IS UNDEVELOPED, AND
TE VACATION IS INTENT THE TO
FACILITATE AN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROJECT.
THEY ARE REQUIRED ADDITIONAL
PUBLIC BENEFITS IN ADDITION TO
PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
BUT THE POLICIES ARE CLEAR THAT
YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE SITE
WHEN YOU'RE CONSIDERING WHETHER
OR NOT THE PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT
THEY ARE PROPOSING ARE
APPROPRIATE.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL HAND IT
OVER TO THE PROJECT TEAM,
UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT GENERALLY THE PROCESS OR
THE STREET MITIGATION POLICIES.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR LISH
BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER TO OUR
OTHER PRESENTERS?
AND THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND START
SHARING THEIR POWERPOINT
SCREEN.
AND WE WILL ASK QUESTIONS
DURING AS WELL IF THEY COME UP.
>> CAN YOU CLARIFY FOR
PRESENTATION ONE OR
PRESENTATION TWO?
I NOTICE THERE ARE TWO LINKS ON
THE AGENDA.
>> THIS IS PRESENTATION ONE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE PROCEED.
>> CONOR.
>> MY NAME IS CONNOR HANSON
WITH THE MT. BAKER HOUSING
ASSOCIATION.
IT IS A NONPROFIT THAT OPERATES
AFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE
RANIER VALLEY AND WE HAVE BEEN
DOING SO FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.
I AM EXCITED TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT THIS COMMONS PROJECT
TODAY.
I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SOME OF YOU
IN THE PAST ABOUT IT
PREVIOUSLY.
THE COUNCIL PASSED THE
REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY ZONE
TO HELP DEAL WITH THE FUNDING
OF THE CONTAMINATION WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY.
SO THAT REMEDIATION IS UNDERWAY
AND HAPPENING.
BUT TODAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
THE PROJECT ITSELF.
THIS IS -- THIS WILL BE AN
OFFICE OF HOUSING, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROJECT SO ALL THE
UNITS WILL BE RESERVED FOR
FAMILIES, INDIVIDUALS EARNING
60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
WHAT THE ALLEY VACATION DOES IS
ALLOW MOUNTAIN BAKER
CONSTRUCTION TO CONSTRUCT A ONE
BUILDING PROJECT INSTEAD OF A
TWO BUILDING PROJECT.
SO IT INCREASED THE EFFICIENCY
IN TERMS OF THE LEVERAGE OF THE
DEBT PROCEEDS TO ALLOW THE CITY
ASK -- OR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
THAT WE NEED FROM THE CITY TO
COME DOWN BY AROUND 4 1/2
MILLION DOLLARS.
AND THIS PROJECT IS -- AND IT
ALSO GIVES US ANOTHER 45
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS BY
VACATING THE ALLEY.
BUT THIS PROJECT IS PART OF A
BIGGER PROJECT, I BELIEVE IT'S
ONE OF THE BIGGEST D.O.D.
PROJECTS IN THE REGION.
WE ARE PARTNERING WITH LAKE
UNION PARTNERS TO DEVELOP THIS
UNDERUTILIZED, UNUSED REALLY
THREE ACRES JUST SOUTH OF THE
EAST LINK LIGHT RAIL STATION
AND HOPEFULLY THE TIMING OF
THIS PROJECT WILL OPEN UP RIGHT
WHEN THE EAST LINK LIGHT RAIL
STATION OPENS UP.
OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE A MIXED
USE, MIXED INCOME TOD COMMUNITY
AT THE NORTH END OF THE RANIER
VALLEY WHERE THERE REALLY ISN'T
KIND OF A FOCAL POINT OR AN
ANCHOR FOR THAT COMMUNITY YET.
WE'D LIKE TO, OBVIOUSLY, DO A
BROWNFIELD CLEANUP AND THEN
PROVIDE AND CONNECT OPEN SPACE
AND IMPROVE THE PEDESTRIANS'
EXPERIENCE ALONG RANIER AND
23rd TO GET TO THE LIGHT RAIL
STATION.
THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING
PROJECT FOR THE REGION, FOR THE
RANIER VALLEY AND WITH THE
ALLOCATION IT WOULD DEFINITELY
HELP THE TAXPAYERS IN TERMS OF
LESS MONEY, BUT ALSO PROVIDE 45
MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
OH, SORRY.
>> THANK YOU, CONOR.
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC IF THEY
ARE FOLLOWING ALONG WITH OUR
AGENDA, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS
PRESENTATION NUMBER TWO ON THE
AGENDA, WHICH IS FINE.
WE CAN GO THROUGH THEM AS MT.
BAKER WISHES, SO PLEASE
CONTINUE, CONOR.
>> YEAH.
AND I FORGOT TO SAY NEXT SLIDE.
SO A LOT OF WHAT I SAID IS HERE
BUT HERE'S A GENERAL IDEA OF
WHERE THE PROJECT IS IN
RELATION TO I-90 AND FUTURE
LIGHT RAIL STATION.
AND THEN THERE'S JUST SOME
NUMBERS THAT -- YOU KNOW, THE
ALLEY LOCATION HAS A DRAMATIC
EFFECT ON THE AMOUNT OF UNITS
BUT THE ASK OF THE CITY.
YOU'RE READING THAT CORRECTLY.
WE GET 45 MORE UNITS FOR 4.7
LESS MILLION DOLLARS FROM
OFFICE HOUSING, SO I WANTED TO
MAKE THAT CLEAR.
NEXT SLIDE.
>> HI, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS MELISSA WEXLER, ONE
OF THE ARCHITECTS ON THE
PROJECTS.
I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH THE
PROJECT FAIRLY QUICKLY SO I AM
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AT
THE END.
THIS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS
WHERE WE ARE.
AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN YOU
CAN SEE I-90 AND THE LOCATION
OF THE FUTURE JUDKINS LIGHT
RAIL PARK STATION SO WE ARE
VERY CLOSE TO MASS TRANSIT,
WHICH IS GREAT.
THESE ARE THREE BROWNFIELD
SITES THAT ARE BEING RA
MEDIATED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
ECOLOGY AND THERE WILL BE A
SIGNIFICANT INFLUX OF HOUSING
AND OTHER MIXED USE
OPPORTUNITIES ON THESE THREE
BLOCKS.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A LOT OF
ACCESS TO OUTDOOR GREEN SPACE.
YOU CAN SEE THE PARK AND THE
PARK NORTHEAST TO THE SITE.
ECLCTIC NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT
NOW.
A LOT OF THE FORMER INDUSTRIAL
TYPE BUILDINGS ALONG RANIER ARE
BEING CHANGED NOW.
A LOT OF PROJECTS WERE IN
DESIGN OR CONSTRUCTION TO MAKE
THIS MORE OF A TRUE MIXED USE
CORRIDOR.
BUT THERE ARE ALSO POCKETS OF
RESIDENTIAL TO THE NORTH OF OUR
SITE AND THEN ALSO TO THE EAST
OF 23rd AVENUE.
SO WHILE THERE'S A LOT GOING ON
AT THE NORTH END OF THE RANIER
VALLEY THERE'S ACTUALLY NOT
THAT MUCH TO WALK TO.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE
HEARD FROM THE RESIDENTS THAT
WE MET WITH.
YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD LIKE TO
HAVE PLACES WHERE THEY COULD
WALK AND GET A CUP OF COFFEE,
DROP OFF THEIR DRY-CLEANING,
REALLY JUST THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD
SERVICES.
THERE ISN'T MUCH OF A CENTER
LIKE THAT RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE
HOPING TO PROVIDE THAT WITH
THIS PROJECT.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO THIS IS A DIAGRAM WE PUT
TOGETHER AT THE BEGINNING OF
WORKING ON GRAND STREET COMMONS
TRYING TO SYNTHESIZE ALL THE
GREAT OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE FOR
BROWNFIELD REMEDIATION, TRANSIT
ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT AND OUR
CONNECTIONS TO EDUCATION AND
CULTURAL AMENITIES IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT WHAT WE REALLY WANTED TO
DRIVE THE POINT HOME WAS THAT
NOT ONLY IS THE SOUTH BLOCK
100% AFFORDABLE, BUT OF THE 771
APARTMENTS PROPOSED FOR THESE
THREE BLOCKS, 360 OF THEM WILL
BE AFFORDABLE.
THE EAST AND THE WEST BLOCKS
ARE ALSO PARTICIPATING IN THE
MHA PROGRAM AND MSTE.
MHA WILL BE INSTALLED ON SITE
SO THEY ARE NOT PAYING IN LIEU
OF SO THIS WILL BE A TRUE MIXED
USE, MIXED INTENT COMMUNITY.
NEXT SLIDE.
THIS SLIDE SUMMARIZES THE
DIFFERENCES IN EFFICIENCIES
THAT WE GET BY ELIMINATING THE
ALLEY AND COMBINING THE TWO
PROJECTS INTO ONE, SO RATHER
THAN HAVING TWO SEPARATE LOBBY
SPACES, ADDITIONAL CIRCULATION
AND ACTUALLY HAVING TO PUSH THE
PARKING BELOW GRADE, WHICH IS
VERY EXPENSIVE, WE ARE ABLE TO
COMBINE AND COME UP WITH A MUCH
MORE EFFICIENT BUILDING PROGRAM
THAT GENERATES 45 ADDITIONAL
UNITS OF HOUSING AT A LOWER
COST TO THE OFFICE OF HOUSING.
NEXT SLIDE.
WE HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH
OUR PUBLIC TRUST REVIEW WITH
THE SEATTLE DESIGN COMMISSION.
IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
PRIMARILY BECAUSE THIS ALLEY IS
NOT CONNECTING TO THE REST OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU CAN SEE THIS DIAGRAM, OUR
ALLEY IS SHOWN DASHED IN IN
RED.
IT'S NOT PART OF A CONTIGUOUS
ALLEY NETWORK SO IF IT'S
REMOVED, IT WILL NOT IMPACT OR
PROHIBIT -- THROUGHOUT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS AN AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH OF
OUR SITE.
YOU CAN SEE OUR SITE IS DASHED
IN BLACK.
WE SHOULD MENTION THAT THERE IS
ONE OTHER PROPERTY OWNER ON THE
BLOCK.
IT'S DEER AUTO REPAIR.
CURRENTLY THEY ARE USING THE
SOUTH END OF THE ALLEY AS PART
OF THEIR OVERFLOW PARKING AREA
FOR THEIR PRIVATE BUSINESS.
THE SITE ITSELF IS CLEARED AND
READY FOR REMEDIATION.
THERE'S NO ACCESS AT THE NORTH
END EITHER.
IT'S ACTUALLY FENCED OFF WITH A
CHAIN-LINK FENCE AT THE MOMENT.
THE OTHER IMPORTANT THING TO
NOTE IS THAT OUR SITE IS
NESTLED RIGHT NEAR WHERE 23rd
AVENUE COMES SOUTH AND THEN
IT'S ABOUT TO MEET A POINT WITH
RANIER AND IT'S CONNECTED VIA
GRAND STREET TO THE NORTH AND
SOUTH HOLGATE STREET TO THE
SOUTH.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT
TO IMPROVE IS YOU CAN SEE THERE
ARE TWO POINTS OF CONNECTION TO
RANIER AVENUE RIGHT NOW,
THERE'S GRAND STREET AND THEN
THERE'S ALSO THE 22nd AVENUE
SPUR AND THERE'S A PEDESTRIAN
ISLAND WITH THREE MATURE STREET
TREES IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO.
TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND SECURITY
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE ARE
PROPOSING TO CONDENSE THOSE
DOWN NTO ONE POINT OF VEHICLE
CONNECTION.
NEXT SLIDE.
>> MELISSA.
>> YES.
>> COULD WE GO BACK TO THAT
PREVIOUS SLIDE?
>> SURE.
>> THANK YOU.
AND JUST FOR MY COLLEAGUES,
WHAT WAS REALLY -- I KNOW WE
WEIGH SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS
WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
VACATING RIGHTS AWAY, IN THIS
CASE VACATING AN ALLEY AND ONE
OF THE CONSIDERATIONS IS WHAT
DOES THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THINK
ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF GETTING
EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
THAT'S A BIG ISSUE IN THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.
THIS SLIDE WAS REALLY POWERFUL
IN TERMS OF SHOWING THAT THE
ALLEY IS REALLY NOT USABLE BY
EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
SO WE ARE NOT GIVING UP THAT
EMERGENCY VEHICLE ACCESS.
SO THAT'S HELPFUL, EVEN
PREVIOUS SLIDES ON THE PUBLIC
BENEFITS AND THE NUMBER OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IS
ALSO VERY POWERFUL BUT JUST
FROM AN OTHER DEPARTMENTS OF
CITY GOVERNMENT, THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, THIS IS REALLY
POWERFUL FOR ME TO SEE THAT WE
ARE NOT REALLY -- WE ARE NOT
GIVING UP EMERGENCY ACCESS.
THANK YOU.
>> NO.
NO.
YES, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, DID
YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> YES.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU.
I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS A
QUESTION FOR CONOR OR MELISSA,
FROM THE LAST SLIDE OF THIS
SATELLITE PICTURE, IT LOOKS AS
IF THE ALLEYWAY MAY HAVE BEEN
-- I KNOW IT WAS UNAPPROVED BUT
WAS IT UNUSABLE?
IT LOOKS AS IF ON THE NORTH END
OF THAT SLIDE THE HEDGES
BLOCKED ACCESS TO THAT SPACE
ANY HOW.
WAS THIS PREVIOUSLY VACATED OR
WAS IT JUST --
>> NO.
IT'S A PLOTTED ALLEY THAT WAS
NEVER INSTALLED SO THERE'S
ACTUALLY A CONTINUOUS CURB
ALONG THAT NORTH EDGE ON GRAND
STREET.
>> GREAT.
SO TO THE CHAIR'S POINT, THIS
WAS NEVER FULLY UTILIZED BY THE
PUBLIC AND THE PUBLIC IS
GETTING BENEFITS BY THIS FORMAL
VACATION.
IS THAT A CORRECT
UNDERSTANDING?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YEP.
>> NEXT SLIDE.
>> MELISSA.
>> YES.
>> REAL QUICK, BACK ON THAT
SLIDE, YOU REMINDED ME OF THE
QUESTION ABOUT -- YOU SAID THE
23rd AVENUE SPUR ON THE RIGHT
SIDE OF THE PHOTO.
IS THAT -- ARE YOU -- DID YOU
SAY YOU ARE REMOVING THOSE
TREES?
IS THAT PART OF --
>> NO NO.
WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THE TREES
BUT REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF
VEHICULAR SPACE AND INCREASE
THE AMOUNT OF PEDESTRIAN SPACE
SO YOU WILL SEE THAT IN OUR
PROPOSAL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO THESE TWO DIAGRAMS ON THE
LEFT, YOU SEE A DIAGRAM.
WE DO NOT VACATE THE ALLEY.
WE INSTALL THE ALLEY RUNNING
NORTH, SOUTH THROUGH OUR BLOCK
AND WE MAINTAIN THE STREET
ALIGNMENT THE WAY THEY ARE
CURRENTLY.
ALL OF THAT PINK, SALMON KIND
OF COLOR SHOWS VEHICULAR SPACE.
AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF AREA
LEFT OVER FOR PEDESTRIAN SPACE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT KIND OF YELLOW
úOVAL THAT WE HAVE DIAGRAMED IN
THERE.
WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO DO AND
THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
SINCE WE HAVE CONTROL OVER ALL
THREE OF THESE BLOCKS, WE CAN
ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT THE RIGHT-OF-
WAY DEVELOPMENT ON BOTH THE
NORTH AND THE SOUTH SIDE OF
GRAND STREET AND THAT GIVES US
THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY MAKE
SOME PREED SIGNIFICANT
MODIFICATIONS THAT SHOULD
ENHANCE THE PEDESTRIAN REALM.
SO THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE WITH THE
ALLEY VACATION, WHAT WE ARE
PROPOSING TO DO IS REALIGN
GRAND STREET AND BASICALLY
ELIMINATE THE SPUR STREET
CONNECTION SO THERE'S ONLY ONE
POINT OF CONNECTION TO RANIER.
WHAT THIS DOES IS IT GIVES US
TWO NICE PEDESTRIAN PLOT OF
SPACES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE
VEHICULAR ROADWAY.
AND IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO SOFTEN
THE CURVE OF GRAND STREET SO
WHEN DRIVERS COME THROUGH HERE,
THEY UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT A
PLACE TO SPEED THROUGH AND CUT
THROUGH REAL QUICKLY, BUT THAT
IS A PLACE THAT IS DEDICATED TO
RETAIL COMMERCIAL USE AND
PEDESTRIAN USE.
NEXT SLIDE.
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE
ABLE TO ACTUALLY HOST AN IN-
PERSON OPEN HOUSE AND GET TO
MEET WITH NEIGHBORS FACE TO
FACE, WHICH WAS GREAT.
AND AT THAT TIME A LOT OF WHAT
WE HEARD WAS CONCERNED ABOUT
SAFETY AND SECURITY AND THEN
ALSO, WHAT I MENTIONED BEFORE,
JUST THE ABILITY TO WALK
THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
ACCESS JUST BASIC NEIGHBORHOOD
SERVICES THAT THEY FEEL THEY
WERE LACKING.
SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVE REACHED
OUT TO SEVERAL OF THE LOCAL
GROUPS AND HAVEN'T HAD A GREAT
AMOUNT OF SUCCESS HAVING
SMALLER GROUP MEETINGS BUT WE
HAVE HAD A LOT OF FEEDBACK VIA
ONLINE SURVEY.
SO WHAT WE HAVE ASKED THE
NEIGHBORS ON THE SURVEY IS, YOU
KNOW, WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO
YOU WITH THESE PROJECTS?
AND OVERWHELMINGLY HAVING MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS THEIR
PRIORITY.
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF NEW
TOWNHOUSE DEVELOPMENTS AND
OTHER THINGS COMING INTO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD BUT NOT A LOT OF
IT IS AFFORDABLE SO THAT'S
THEIR MAIN PRIORITY.
THEY ASKED FOR AN ENGAGING
PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE, SO
BUILDING ON THAT, WE ASKED
THEM, IF YOU HAVE A PLAZA, WHAT
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THERE?
MORE GREEN SPACE WAS THE NUMBER
ONE THING, MORE GREEN SPACE AND
TREES AND THEN PEDESTRIAN
LIGHTING AND I THINK THAT GOES
BACK TO THAT IDEA OF SAFETY AND
SECURITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE ARE ALSO SOME OTHER
ACTIVATING USES THAT WE ARE
EXPLORING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD
FEEDBACK AS WELL.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO THIS IS OUR PRELIMINARY SITE
PLAN, WHAT WE ARE WORKING WITH
NOW.
YOU CAN SEE HOW GRAND STREET
HAS BEEN REALIGNED WITH THIS
PROPOSAL SO IT'S A SIGNIFICANT
INVESTMENT THAT THE PROJECT IS
LOOKING TO MAKE IN THE RIGHT-OF-
WAY TO ENHANCE IT, NOT JUST FOR
THESE THREE BUILDINGS, BUT ALSO
FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT LARGE.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE
PROPOSING TO DO WOULD BE TO
ENHANCE THE PAVING PATTERNS IN
THE PLAZA SO IT REALLY PROVIDES
A SENSE OF PLACE.
INFLUENCE IN THIS AREA WITH
ACTIVATING USES.
YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A NUMBER
TWO AND SORT OF A BLUISH CIRCLE
ON THE UPPER LEFT-HAND SIDE OF
THE PAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF A
PLAZA.
YES, RIGHT THERE.
SO WE ARE CONSIDERING PUTTING
IN A WATER FOUNTAIN, A WATER
FEATURE THAT WOUD BE ABLE TO
BE SHUT OFF AT TIMES, SAY IF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD WANTED TO USE
THIS PLAZA SPACE FOR A
GATHERING LIKE A FARMERS MARKET
OR SOME OTHER COMMUNITY EVENT.
IT COULD BE SHUT OFF SO IT
COULD BE JUST OCCUPIED SPACE.
BUT SOMETHING THAT WOULD
PROVIDE NOISE AND INTEREST
MAYBE FOR FAMILIES TO COME DOWN
AND USE THE PLAZA.
IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE
THINKING ABOUT.
WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO PUT
A LOT OF FEEDING IN THE PLAZA.
THAT'S SOMETHING THE
NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ASKED FOR AND
INCREASE THE CANOPY COVER WITH
ADDITIONAL STREET TREES.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO THE BUILDING ITSELF WILL BE
202 APARTMENTS AND I THINK ONE
OF THE THINGS WE ARE MOST
EXCITED ABOUT IS IT'S GOT SPACE
FOR FAMILY STYLE UNITS SO WE
HAVE OVER 43 BEDROOM APARTMENTS
HERE WHICH IS REALLY UNIQUE,
NOT JUST IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD
BUT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CITY
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT AS AN
ARCHITECT I'M EXCITED WE ARE
ABLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND CO NOR TALKED ABOUT THE
BENEFITS OF THE COST FOR OFFICE
OF HOUSING BUT INS A RENDERING
OF THE NORTH FACADE WITH OUR
MAIN BUILDING ENTRY ALONG GRAND
STREET.
NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS KIND OF A BEFORE AND
AFTER SKETCH OF THAT PEDESTRIAN
ISLAND WITH THE EXISTING STREET
TREES ON THE LEFT AND YOU CAN
SEE HOW THERE ARE STREETS
AROUND IT.
WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO DO IS
CLOSE THAT OFF, MAKE THIS MUCH
MORE OF A PEDESTRIAN SPACE WITH
PLAZAS ON OTHER SIDE.
NEXT SLIDE.
TO WRAP IT UP, WE ARE GETTING
INTO OUR PUBLIC BENEFIT
PROPOSAL SO IN ADDITION TO THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OUR MAIN
EFFORT WILL BE INSTALLING THE
PLAZAS AND REALIGNING THE
STREETS, FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT
CAPITAL COST.
BUT IN ADDITION TO PROVIDE A
SENSE OF PLACE AND SPEAK TO THE
SAFETY AND SECURITY, WE ARE
PROPOSING TO HAVE SUPPLEMENTAL
LIGHTING.
YOU CAN SEE SOME ILLUSTRATIONS
OR SOME PHOTOGRAPHS OF WHAT THE
LIGHTS WILL LOOK LIKE.
THIS NEIGHBORHOOD USED TO BE
REFERRED TO AS THE GULCH.
THERE'S A LARGE ITALIAN
COMMUNITY THAT LIVED HERE,
MOSTLY BEFORE I-90 CAME THROUGH
AND DISRUPTED THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT GARLIC
BULBS AS INSPIRATION FOR HOW WE
CAN EXECUTE THAT LIGHTING IN A
SCULPTURAL WAY.
AND THEN WE ARE ALSO STILL
LOOKING THROUGH DIFFERENT
ACTIVATING USES.
AS I MENTIONED, A FOUNTAIN
WOULD BE ONE OF THE IDEAS,
DEFINITELY SOME SEATING.
BUT BEEN FEEDBACK FROM THE
COMMUNITY ABOUT INSTALLING
GAMING TABLES OR SOME OTHER
PLAY SPACES FOR CHILDREN TOO.
LAST SLIDE.
AND THIS IS A RENDERING THAT
SHOWS WHAT THIS PLAZA COULD
LOOK AND FEEL LIKE WITH OUR
BUILDING IN THE BACKGROUND.
SO WE ARE STANDING ON RANIER
AVENUE, LOOKING TO THE EAST.
YOU CAN SEE MT. BAKER'S
BUILDING WITH THE KIND OF
CURVED FORM AT THE TOP AND THE
BRICK BASE WITH THE LIGHTING
PROPOSED, THE SUGGESTION OF A
FOUNTAIN IN THE BACKGROUND AND
A LOT OF PEOPLE GREENERY COMING
IN TO MAKE THIS A NICE
NEIGHBORHOOD DESTINATION.
THAT'S ALL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS FOR
THE NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS?
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE, I KNOW
HE'S TRYING TO BE BELOW THE
RADAR SCREEN BUT WE ALSO HAVE
MICHAEL JENKINS HERE IN CASE WE
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM.
I MIGHT HAVE A QUESTION FOR
HIM.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MT. BAKER
HOUSING ON THIS AMAZING
PROJECT?
I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR
MICHAEL.
GOOD MORNING, MICHAEL.
THANKS FOR JOINING US FROM THE
DESIGN COMMISSION.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> FOR THIS PROJECT, WHAT IS
THE TYPE OF -- WE ARE HERE FOR
THE ALLEY VACATION BUT WHILE
YOU'RE HERE, WHAT IS THE TYPE
OF DESIGN COMMISSION, WHAT
LEVEL OF DESIGN COMMISSION
REVIEW IS THIS PROJECT
UNDERGOING?
BECAUSE THERE'S LOTS OF
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT DIFFERENT
LEVELS AND EXEMPTIONS AND
APPRECIATE THAT.
>> SURE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
GREAT.
I DID HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION
IF THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL ON THE
FIRST SLIDE, ACTUALLY, SHOWS
OUR INVOLVEMENT AND THE STATUS.
AND IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT,
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE,
SHAWNA.
GREAT.
WHEN THE DESIGN COMMISSION --
THE DESIGN COMMISSIONS INVOLVED
IN ALLEY VACATIONS THROUGHOUT
THE PROCESS AND THIS GRAPH
SHOWS YOU WHERE THE DESIGN
COMMISSION INVOLVEMENT BEGINS
AND THAT'S REALLY AT THE VERY
BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT,
BEFORE ANY DESIGN REVIEW OR
ENTITLEMENT, LAND USE
ENTITLEMENTS TAKES PLACE, AS
WELL AS BEFORE THE PETITION IS
FILED.
WE DID CONDUCT A PREPETITION
REVIEW BEFORE DESIGN REVIEW
COMMENCED AND BEFORE THE
PETITION WAS FILED TO SDOT AND
YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE NOW
RELATIVE TO THAT PROCESS.
DOES THE GRAPHIC HELP EXPLAIN
THAT?
>> YES.
>> GREAT.
IF I COULD GO TO THE NEXT
SLIDE, SHAWNA.
SO AT THE PREPETITION REVIEW IN
NOVEMBER OF 2019, I THINK THE
COMMISSION FLAGGED SOME MY-
LEVEL CONCERNS ABOUT HOW SOUTH
GRAND WOULD FUNCTION, IF IT'S
CLOSED OFF IN FAVOR OF THE
22nd AVENUE SPUR THAT MELISSA
SHOWED YOU.
AND I THINK JUST GENERAL
CONCERNS ABOUT THE LOCATION OF
THE PUBLIC SPACE ON RANIER AND
HOW IT WOULD APPEAR ACTUALLY
PUBLIC AS OPPOSED TO AN
EXTENSION OF THE COMMERCIAL OR
RETAIL SPACE.
AND I THINK ALSO THE COMMISSION
WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXTENT
TO WHICH THE SPACES THAT WERE
BEING CREATED REFLECT LOCAL
COMMUNITY PREFERENCE POLICIES.
AGAIN, WE DID THAT REVIEW, WE
PROVIDED THE REVIEW TO THE
APPLICANTS BEFORE THE FORMAL
PETITION PROCESS STARTED.
COULD I HAVE THE NEXT SLIDE,
SHAWNA.
SO MELISSA SPOKE TO THIS A BIT.
THE COMMISSION DID VOTE
UNANIMOUSLY TO SUPPORT PUBLIC
TRUST, WHICH IS THE FIRST
PHASE.
AND THAT BEING THAT IF YOU TAKE
THAT ALLEY OUT OF SERVICE, HOW
ARE THE REMAINING FUNCTIONS OF
THE ALLEY ADDRESSED?
AND AGAIN, I THINK THE BIGGEST
CONCERN THAT THE COMMISSION HAD
WASN'T NECESSARILY THE REMOVAL
OF THE ALLEY BECAUSE I THINK
IT'S CLEAR THAT IT REALLY
DOESN'T PROVIDE MUCH FUNCTION
AT ALL AND IT CERTAINLY ISN'T
APPROVED.
AND I THINK THE COMMISSION
RECOGNIZED THAT THE ADDITIONAL
UNITS THAT WOULD BE CREATED ARE
MUCH MORE EFFICIENT AND MAKE
MUCH MORE SENSE WITH THE LOSS
OF THE ALLEY.
THEY WERE CONCERNED, THOUGH,
THAT THE SIZE AND THE SCALE OF
THE BUILDING THAT RESULTS FROM
THE ALLEY VACATION, THAT THERE
COULD BE ADDITIONAL DESIGN
SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE THE OVERALL
BULK AND SCALE OF THAT
BUILDING.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK THE
COMMISSION ALSO FLAGGED, AGAIN,
THE IDENTITY AND FUNCTION OF
THAT OPEN SPACE AS BEING PUBLIC
AS OPPOSED TO AN EXTENSION OF
THE USES OF THE -- THAT ARE IN
THE COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL
SPACES.
AND ALSO KIND OF -- YOU KNOW,
SORT OF THE LARGER PROBLEM OF
SAFE CROSSING TO THE SITE FROM
THE ABUTTING ARTERIAL.
BOTH RANIER AND 23rd ARE --
CARRY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF
TRAFFIC AND THE COMMISSION WAS
CONCERNED IF THE PUBLIC WOULD
BE UTILIZING THE SPACE, HOW
WOULD THEY PASS THROUGH THOSE
ARTERIALS.
CAN I HAVE THE NEXT SLIDE,
SHAWNA.
AT THAT MEETING IN NOVEMBER THE
COMMISSION DID FLAG SOME ISSUES
WITH THE PUBLIC BENEFITS
PACKAGE THAT WAS PREVIEWED.
I THINK YOU HAVE HEARD --
AGAIN, THE CONCERN ABOUT THE
OPEN SPACE, AND PARTICULAR ITS
PROXIMITY TO RANIER AVENUE
SOUTH AND, AGAIN, THAT LOCATION
IN RELATIONSHIP TO COMMERCIAL
SPACE.
AND ALSO I THINK THERE'S A LOT
OF CONCERN ABOUT THE NATURE OF
THE GRAND STREET ALIGNMENT AND
HOW THAT FUNCTIONS AS PART OF
THE LARGER PUBLIC SPACE AND ITS
RELATIONSHIP TO THE OPEN SPACE.
WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO IS WE --
WHEN ISSUES LIKE THIS ARE
FLAGGED AND RAISED, WE WILL
HOLD WHAT'S CALLED A
SUBCOMMITTEE AND WE DO THAT
BEFORE THEY COME BACK TO THE
NEXT FULL COMMISSION MEETING.
SO THERE'S A FOCUSED REVIEW
ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT WERE
RAISED BY THE COMMISSION AND
THEY CAN MEET INFORMALLY WITH
THE TEAM AND REALLY ROLL UP
THEIR SLEEVES AND FIGURE OUT
WAYS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES THAT
WERE RAISED IN A WAY THAT WORKS
BOTH WITH THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM,
BUT ALSO I THINK WORKS WITH THE
COMMISSION AND HAVING A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING HOW THE COMMUNITY
ACTUALLY BENEFITS FROM THAT
PUBLIC BENEFIT PROPOSAL AND HOW
IT REFLECTS COMMUNITY DESIRE
AND EXPECTATION.
AND I WILL SAY AT THIS POINT,
YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSION HAS A
LOT OF CONFIDENCE THAT THIS
TEAM WILL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS
THOSE ISSUES AND PRESENT THOSE
SOLUTIONS IN A WAY, YOU SAID
IT, COUNCILMEMBER, WHEN YOU
TALKED, THIS IS AN A TEAM AND
IT'S A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH
THEM.
I AM CONFIDENT THEY WILL BE
ABLE TO ADDRESS WHAT ARE
IMPORTANT ISSUES BUT ONE THAT I
THINK ELEVATES THE IDENTITY AND
FUNCTION OF THOSE OPEN SPACES
IN A WAY THAT TRULY PROVIDES
PUBLIC SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR JENKINS.
THIS IS VERY HELPFUL.
I THINK IT SHOWS THAT THE
BENEFIT IN A LOT OF CASES OF
THE DESIGN COMMISSION PROCESS
THAT WE HAVE TO POINT OUT
THINGS WHERE WE CAN CREATE A
WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR ALL OUR
DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AND SEE
THINGS FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES
THAT MAYBE THE REAL ESTATE
DEVELOPER BY THEMSELVES MIGHT
NOT SEE OTHERWISE WITHOUT THE
INPUT.
SO THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS FOR
DIRECTOR JENKINS OR FOR
DEVELOPERS?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO SAY THE FOCUS ON
MAKING SURE THAT THE PUBLIC
BENEFITS ARE TRULY PUBLIC
BENEFITS AND NOT BUILDING
AMENITIES IS VERY ELEVATED FOR
ME, GIVEN THE PRESENTATION THAT
WE JUST RECEIVED ABOUT THE
COMMUNITY INPUT AND THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE -- THAT THE
BROADER COMMUNITY PLACED ON
THESE VERY ELEMENTS THAT YOU
ARE NOW CRITIQUING, SO THANK
YOU.
>> SO COLLEAGUES, AGAIN, WE
WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR -- WE WILL
HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS ITEM AS IT
PROCEEDS.
BUT REALLY WANT TO THANK THE
COLLEAGUES WHO CAME BEFORE US
WHO HELPED SET UP THIS PROCESS
WHEREBY WE DO GET TO LEARN
ABOUT THESE PROJECTS EARLIER
WHEN THERE'S A STREET VACATION
OR ALLEY VACATION.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND AS I
RECALL FROM YEARS AGO, THESE
ALLEY VACATIONS WOULD HAPPEN
VERY QUICKLY AND WE HAVE NOW
EXTRA CHANCE TO WEIGH IN AND
UNDERSTAND AND ABSORB THE
PROJECT AND ASK QUESTIONS.
SO APPRECIATE THE FORMER
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND OTHERS
WHO HELP SET UP THAT PROCESS.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> JUST AGAIN, WANTED TO THANK
EVERYONE FOR THEIR
PRESENTATIONS AND DIRECTOR
JENKINS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
INPUT HERE.
CITY GRIND DOWN AND JOHN BUT
REALLY GREAT TO SEE YOUR FACE
TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE
THE PANDEMIC STARTED.
>> THANKS, EVERYBODY.
SO AGAIN, WE WILL HEAR MORE
ABOUT THIS ITEM LATER AND THANK
YOU TO SDOT ALSO FOR BEING
HERE.
HI, BEVERLY.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU.
SO WE WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS
ITEM LATER.
THANKS FOR EVERYBODY BEING
HERE.
COLLEAGUES, THIS CONCLUDES OUR
DECEMBER 16, 2020 MEETING OF
THE TRANSPORTATION AND
UTILITIES COMMITTEE.
THE COMMITTEE WILL MEET AGAIN
ON JANUARY 20th IN THE
AFTERNOON.
WHILE WE ARE ENJOYING THE
INAUGURATION IN THE MORNING OF
JANUARY 20th.
SO EVERYBODY, THANK YOU FOR
ATTENDING AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.