>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR PEDERSEN.
>> HERE.
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA FOR TODAY'S MEETING WILL
BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WE HAVE JUST ONE ITEM ON THE
AGENDA.
I DO HAVE A QUICK CHAIRS REPORT
TO SET SOME CONTEXT AND THEN
WE'LL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT AND
WE'LL GET TO THE PRESENTATION
FROM THE EXECUTIVE CALVIN CHOW
FROM CENTRAL STAFF IS ON THE
LINE.
WE CAN DIRECT QUESTIONS TO
CENTRAL STAFF AND ALSO TO
CALVIN.
GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY
FOR THE FIRST MEETING OF THIS
SELECT COMMITTEE ON SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
FUNDING.
ALLOW ME TO USE OPENING REMARKS
AS CHAIR TO HIGHLIGHT THE
PURPOSE OF THE COMMITTEE,
SCHEDULE INITIAL SUPPORT FOR
STAKEHOLDERS AND INITIAL
THOUGHTS ON FUNDING.
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GENERAL
PUBLIC COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ
ESTABLISHED THIS COMMITTEE OF
NINE COUNCIL MEMBERS SO WE CAN
PUT IN FRONT OF VOTERS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO RENEW THE
FUNDING THAT'S EXPIRING FOR OUR
SUCCESSFUL SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICT.
AS WE KNOW, A BENEFIT DISTRICT
IS A KEY TOOL WASHINGTON STATE
LAW PROVIDES TO CITIES TO RAISE
MONEY FOR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.
SEATTLE HAS CONSISTENTLY
FOCUSED OUR BENEFIT DISTRICT ON
SUPPLEMENTING BUS SERVICE,
PROVIDING FREE TRANSIT PASSES
TO THOSE IN NEED, PROVIDING
OTHER TRANSIT SOLUTIONS.
THANKFULLY, THAT'S THE PROPOSAL
BEFORE US TODAY.
TODAY WE'LL HAVE AN OVERVIEW OF
THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT AND THE
PROPOSAL TO RENEW THE FUNDING.
IN ADDITION TO HEARING FROM OUR
CITY'S TRANSPORTATION
OFFICIALS, ALL OF OUR MEETINGS
WILL INCLUDE THE OWN CENTRAL
STAFF EXPERT ON TRANSPORTATION
CALVIN CHOW.
AT THE END, COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN
OF COURSE ASK QUESTIONS.
YOU CAN SEND QUESTIONS DIRECTLY
TO OUR CENTRAL STAFF FOR LATER,
CALVIN CHOW.
REGARDING THE SCHEDULE WE WILL
MEET AGAIN JULY 17 AT 10:00 TO
DISCUSS AND VOTE ON AMENDMENTS.
PLEASE SEND IDEAS FOR
AMENDMENTS TO CENTRAL STAFF
ANALYST CALVIN CHOW EARLY NEXT
WEEK.
THE GOAL IS FOR US AS FULL CITY
COUNCIL TO VOTE ON FINAL
MEASURE BY MONDAY JULY 27.
THAT'S BECAUSE THE DEADLINE IS
AUGUST 4 TO PUT THIS FUNDING
SOURCE ON TO THE NOVEMBER
BALLOT FOR VOTERS TO CONSIDER.
THE PRESS RELEASE SENT TO THE
MEDIA TUESDAY WHEN THE MAYOR
TRANSMITTED DRAFT LEGISLATION
TO US INCLUDED SUPPORT FROM A
BROAD COALITION OF
STAKEHOLDERS, MLK LABOR
COUNCIL, URBAN LEAGUE, ATU
LOCAL 587, TRANSPORTATION
CHOICES COALITION, DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE ASSOCIATION, ROOTED IN
RIGHTS, OUR TRANSPORTATION
EQUITY WORKGROUP.
I EXPECT WE'LL HEAR PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY THAT EXPRESSES
COMMON GROUND IN WANTING TO
PROVIDE MORE TRANSIT SERVICE
AND MORE FUNDING FOR TRANSIT.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE OPTIONS, WE
HAVE SEVERAL OPTIONS WITHOUT
NEEDING TO DRASTICALLY AMEND
THE LEGISLATION BEFORE US BUT
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT LATER
TODAY.
IF WE SUCCESSFULLY OVERTURN
INITIATIVE 976 IN THE COURTS, I-
976 WE CAN IMMEDIATELY RESTORE
THE $20 VEHICLE LICENSE FEES
AND I WILL PERSONALLY SUPPORT
DOUBLING THIS REVENUE SOURCE
IMMEDIATELY TO $40, WHICH WE
ARE ALLOWED TO DO WITH OUR OWN
AUTHORITY.
AT MOST I AM INTERESTED IN
PURSUING ADDITIONAL FUNDING
WITH KING TO EXPAND TRANSIT AND
MAKING PROGRESS ON THE
COLLABORATION WE HAD DURING OR
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC STRUCK.
MOVING FORWARD TO PRESERVE THIS
SEATTLE FUNDING FOR TRANSIT
TODAY DOES NOT PREVENT US FROM
DOING MORE ACROSS OUR REGION
WITH TRANSIT PARTNERS AT KING
COUNTY.
THE ORDINANCE AS INTRODUCED
EXPLICITLY CAUSED FOR THE
COOPERATION TO EXPAND TRANSIT
THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTY.
TO WRAP UP THESE REMARKS LET ME
SAY I PERSONALLY BELIEVE WE
MUST PROVIDE SEATTLE WITH THE
OPTION TO RENEW SUCCESSFUL
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
BEFORE IT EXPIRES.
BENEFIT DISTRICT'S ESSENTIAL,
AFFORDABLE, GREEN.
OUR ECONOMY, WORKERS,
úENVIRONMENT ARE COUNTING ON US
TO PRESERVE BASIC TRANSIT
SERVICES.
CONTINUING THIS SMALL TAX IS
NECESSARY AS OUR ECONOMY
REOPENS.
WE PRESERVE TRANSIT SUBSIDIES
SENIORS, STUDENTS, AND TO BE
SURE BUSES GET PEOPLE
EVERYWHERE THEY NEED TO GO
WHICH INCLUDES BOOSTING TRANSIT
ACCESS TO AND FROM WEST
SEATTLE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS, CONSTITUENTS,
TRANSPORTATION ON THIS VITAL
TRANSIT MEASURE.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME
OPENING REMARKS AND LET'S GO TO
PUBLIC COMMENT.
AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
I ASK THAT EVERYONE PLEASE BE
PATIENT AS WE LEARN TO OPERATE
THIS NEW SYSTEM IN REAL TIME
AND NAVIGATE THROUGH INEVITABLE
GROWING PAINS.
WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING FOR
WAYS TO FINE TUNE THE PROCESS
AND ADDING FEATURES TO ALLOW
FOR ADDITIONAL MEANS OF PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION IN COUNCIL
MEETINGS.
IT REMAINS STRONG INTENT OF
CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT REGULARLY INCLUDED ON
MEETING AGENDAS.
CITY COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT
TO MODIFY THESE AT ANY POINT IF
WE DEEM THE SYSTEM IS BEING
ABUSED.
I WILL MODERATE IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT 14 PEOPLE
SIGNED UP.
WE WILL MAKE THE COMMENT PERIOD
30 MINUTES.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN TWO
MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I WILL CALL ON TWO SPEAKERS AT
A TIME AND IN THE ORDER
REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL'S
WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO
REGISTER TO SPEAK BUT WOULD
LIKE TO, YOU CAN SIGN UP BEFORE
THE END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD BY GOING TO THE WEBSITE
SEATTLE.GOVERNOR/COUNCIL.
THE LINK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IS
ALSO ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL A NAME, STAFF WILL
UNMUTE THE APPROPRIATE
MICROPHONE AND AUTOMATIC PROMPT
OF YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED WILL
BE THE SPEAKER'S CUE THAT IT IS
THEIR TURN TO SPEAK.
PLEASE BEGIN BY STATING YOUR
NAME AND ITEM YOU ARE
ADDRESSING.
PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD RELATE TO
AN ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT END THE
COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME THE MICROPHONE
WILL BE MUTED TO ALLOW US TO
CALL THE NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED,
DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE AND IF
YOU CONTINUE TO PLAN TO FOLLOW
THE MEETING, DO SO THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL OR LISTENING OPTION ON
THE AGENDA.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
OPEN AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST TWO SPEAKERS ON THE LIST.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM FIRST
FROM ANNA FROM ROOTED AND
RIGHTS AND THEN RYAN PACKER.
GO AHEAD, ANNA.
>> GREAT.
HI.
I AM PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF ROOTED
IN RIGHTS, PART OF DISABILITY
RIGHTS WASHINGTON.
WE SUPPORT ADDITIONAL FUNDING
FOR TRANSIT BUT WANT TO
ENCOURAGE COUNCIL TO TRY TO
HAVE WAYS TO HAVE SPDD SUPPORT
THE REGION AS WE KNOW WE NEED
TO BE FUNDING PUBLIC TRANSIT ON
A REGIONAL IF NOT STATEWIDE
BASIS.
IT IS PLUMMETED IN THE PANDEMIC
AND THERE ARE AREAS IN OUR
CITY, AREAS IN OUR COUNTY WHERE
POOR BROWN, BLACK, IMMIGRANT
FOLKS LIVE THAT ARE STILL
HEAVILY RELIANT.
WE NEED TO BE SURE THOSE OF US
WHO ARE TRANSIT DEPENDENT CAN
GET WHERE WE NEED TO GO.
WE NEED TO BE SURE TRANSIT IS
SERVING THE AREAS OF HIGHER
NEED EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT
WITHIN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THE GROWTH HAS PRICED MANY OUT
OF THE BORDERS OF OUR CITY.
AS WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
OF EQUITY WE MUST DO EVERYTHING
POSSIBLE TO PRIORITIZE SERVICE
TO THE AREAS OF GREATEST NEEDS.
I KNOW THERE ARE CONSTRAINTS
BUT WE CHALLENGE YOU TO FIND
WAYS TO EXPAND PASSES FOR HIGH
CHOOL STUDENTS AND ALL
STUDENTS WITHIN THE COUNTY.
IMAGINE IN FOUR YEARS WHEN YOU
DECIDE TO GO TO VOTERS TO
SUPPORT A COUNTY WIDE MEASURE
HOW TREMENDOUS IT WOULD BE TO
HAVE SUPPORT OF OUR YOUTH WHO
HAVE HAD ACCESS IN OUR REGION
TO FREE TRANSIT PASSES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ANNA.
NEXT IS RYAN PACKER FOLLOWED BY
ANNIE WISE.
GO AHEAD, RYAN.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS RYAN PACKER.
TRANSIT BENEFIT DISTRICT
PROPOSAL RELEASED BY THE MAYOR
IS WAY SHORT OF WHAT WE NEED TO
DO TO ACHIEVE CONTINUED
SUCCESS.
SEATTLE'S TRANSIT RIDER SHIP
HAS BUCKED NATIONAL TREND OF
DECLINING RIDER SHIP NOT AS A
FLUKE BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE
INVESTED IN IT.
78 ROUTES LAST YEAR RECEIVED
SOME TRANSIT BENEFIT DISTRICT
FUNDING.
THIS WOULD CUT THE FUNDING BY
80%, WHICH IS SETTING IT UP FOR
FAILURE.
AS A CONTEXT, THE PROPOSED
50,000 SERVICE HOURS PER YEAR
WOULD NOT EVEN BE ENOUGH TO
CONTINUE THE INCREASED SERVICE
ON JUST TWO OF THE ROUTES.
C LINE AND D LINE.
TO SAY NOTHING OF THE OTHER 76.
THE COUNCIL SHOULD CONSIDER
FINDING GENERAL FUND OFFSETS
FOR PROGRAMS LIKE ORCA
OPPORTUNITY SO THE DISTRICT
FUNDS TRANSIT AND THEY SHOULD
CONSIDER ADDITIONAL REVENUE
OPTIONS TO GET US TO THE
350,000 SERVICE HOURS PER YEAR
WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS BY
THE TIME THAT PRECOVID TRANSIT
RIDER SHIP REBOUNDS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, RYAN.
NEXT IS ANNIE WISE FOLLOWED BY
JOE KINSLER.
GO AHEAD ANNIE.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ANNIE WISE AND I AM
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR AT MLK
LABOR, AN ORGANIZATION THAT
REPRESENTS OVER 100,000 UNION
WORKERS.
WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF
SUPPORTING TRANSIT MEASURES
SIMILAR.
I WANT TO VOICE MY SUPPORT AS A
LOCAL AVID PUBLIC TRANSIT
RIDER.
CLIMATE CRISIS NECESSITIES WE
TAKE ACTION WHICH INCLUDES A
SHIFT TO USING LOW CARBON
METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION AND
RESISTING URGE TO DRIVE SOLO
WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
THIS CAN HAPPEN BY ENSURING
PUBLIC TRANSIT IS RELIABLE AND
FREQUENT.
I HAVE WORKED IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE FOR TEN YEARS AND I AM
PROUD TO STAND WITH
TRANSPORTATION CHOICES
COALITION AND OTHER TRANSIT
ADVOCATES TO ENSURE FOLKS LIKE
MYSELF CAN CONTINUE TO WORK AND
THRIVE IN THE CITY.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT IS JOE KINSLER FOLLOWED BY
RACHEL.
GO AHEAD JOE.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE BACK IN
FRONT OF YOU TODAY.
I WANT TO STRESS THIS MORNING
THAT WE DO NEED TO, I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE CHAIRMAN SAYING
HE WOULD BRING BACK THE CAR
TABS, WHEN YOU THINK OF THE
GREAT LEADERSHIP OF THE WILL
AND SEATTLE CITY ATTORNEY.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A
NETWORK OF BUS LINES.
I AGREE WITH STRAUSS THAT WE
NEED TO GET THE BUS LINKS DONE.
WE SHOULD CALL THEM HEIDI LANES
AFTER THE HERO WHO BROUGHT THE
U PASS ABOUT WHICH GAVE BIRTH
TO THE NEW YORKER BUT WE SHOULD
ALSO NOT JUST HAVE THE HEIDI
LANE BUT ALSO ANOTHER LANE IN
SEATTLE AND OTHER LANES FOR ALL
THE HEROES OF PUBLIC TRANSIT
AND BUS LANE NETWORK.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT USE
OF CAR TAB MONEY TO PAY FOR
BUILDING THE BUS LANES BECAUSE
IT HELPS MOVE TRAFFIC AS WELL.
I JUST REALLY HAVE HOPEFUL THAT
THIS DOES PASS.
THE CAR TABS AND THE BIG WINS
FOR METRO.
IT'S ONE OF THE BEST IN THE
WORLD.
IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THE DEPUTY
MAYOR ON THE CALL.
I WISH HER WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
GO AHEAD RACHEL LUDWICK.
>> HI.
I LIVE IN BEACON HILL.
I WANT TO COUNT ON THE BENEFIT
DISTRICT CURRENTLY GOING
OVERWHELMINGLY TO SERVICE
HOURS.
WE STARTED PAYING FOR HER
THINGS WITH THIS TAX MONEY
BECAUSE METRA COULDN'T KEEP UP.
NOW METRA WILL BE CUTTING
THINGS AND I WANT US TO FOCUS
ON SERVICE HOURS.
THIS IS PLANNING TO SPEND ONLY
LIKE 30% ON SERVICE HOURS AND
INSTEAD SPEND ON OTHER THINGS.
WILL NECESSARILY BE MORE
EQUITABLE THAN PAYING FOR MORE
SERVICE HOURS.
PEOPLE HAVE CRAPPY TRANSIT NOW
AND IT WILL GET WORSE.
WILL WE BUILD MORE FOR THEM OR
WILL IT BE FOR WEALTHY
COMMUTERS DOWNTOWN?
I THINK TRANSIT SHOULD BE FREE
FOR EVERYONE BUT I DON'T THINK
THERE IS A POINT OF FREE BUS
PASS IF THERE IS NOT FREQUENT
TRANSIT.
SEATTLE CAN HELP.
THAT'S INSIDE THE CITY AND
OUTSIDE.
PEOPLE WHO ARE DISABLED AND
HAVE A CAR, PLEASE FOCUS ON
SERVICE HOURS FIRST AND NOT
OTHER THINGS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, RACHEL.
>> NEXT UP IS MATTHEW LANG
FOLLOWED BY ALEX HUDSON.
GO AHEAD MATTHEW.
>> HI THERE.
MY NAME IS MATTHEW LANG.
I AM LEAD ORGANIZER OF THE
TRANSIT RIDERS UNION.
WE ARE DISAPPOINTED BY THE VERY
SMALL AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR
TRANSIT SERVICE.
THE AMOUNT THAT'S BEING LEVEED
HERE IS NOT ENOUGH.
80,000 HOURS IS NOT GOING TO
FILL THE NEED.
WHILE THE RELIANCE ON FREQUENCY
IS IMPORTANT IN A NORMAL TIME,
WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT
OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO MIGHT
BE WORKING NIGHT SHIFTS WHO
DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSIT
RIGHT NOW.
I HEARD A STORY ABOUT A PERSON
WHO HAD TO WALK AN HOUR IN
AURORA BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE
NIGHT SERVICE.
I AM MAKING SURE THAT THE
MEASURE FOCUSES ON THAT AS
IMPORTANT.
WE ARE CONCERNED THAT AS MORE
PEOPLE GO BACK TO COMMUTING TO
WORK AND RIDING TRANSIT
GENERALLY, WHILE THERE IS
CONTINUING NEED TO PRACTICE
SOCIAL DISTANCING AND LIMIT THE
NUMBER OF RIDERS PER COACH,
SEATTLE WILL NEED MORE TRANSIT,
NOT LESS.
THEREFORE IT'S CONCERNING TO US
THAT TRANSIT SERVICE CUTS ARE
PLANNED FOR THIS FALL, MORE
EXPECTED THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR.
WE DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THAT
RAISING THE BAR TO .2% SALES
TAX WOULD BE A RAISE IN TAX.
AT THE SAME TIME WE BELIEVE
THAT ORCA YOUTH PROGRAMS AND
ACCESS PROGRAMS NEED TO BE
FUNDED AND FULLY.
SO WE SHOULD HAVE THE COUNCIL
LOOK INTO WHETHER FUNDS
PROPOSED FOR MAINTAINENCE CAN
COME FROM OTHER SOURCES,
ESPECIALLY FOR POT HOLES AND
MAKE SURE WE CAN TAKE CARE OF
OUR TRANSIT RIDERS, NOT JUST
ROAD MAINTENANCE.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT IS ALEX HUDSON FOLLOWED BY
DANIEL HELPNER.
ALEX.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
TRANSPORTATION CHOICES
COALITION.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS CREATED
OBVIOUSLY INCREDIBLE CHALLENGES
FOR PEOPLE AND ESTIMATED
GOVERNMENT BUDGETS.
AS PEOPLE WHO CAN STAY HOME DO
SO TO STOP THE SPREAD, RIDER
SHIP HAS DECLINED.
HOWEVER WE WISH TO NOTE THAT
THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC KING
COUNTY METRO HAS CONTINUED TO
SERVE PEOPLE'S MOBILITY NEEDS
AND THE AGENCY EXCEEDS 125,000
TRIPS A DAY, AN UPWARD TREND
THAT CONTINUES TO RISE.
DESPITE ALL OF THESE
CHALLENGES, THE NEED AND
BENEFIT FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT HAS
REMAINED A CONSTANT, AND WE SEE
TRANSIT SERVICE AS A MUST HAVE
FOR A FUNCTIONAL EQUITABLE
ECONOMY TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE
CRISIS AND TO ADVANCE SOCIAL
JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE SEE THIS AS A BRIDGE TO OUR
ULTIMATE GOAL.
THIS MEASURE HOWEVER IS
NECESSARY TO BOLSTER TRANSIT
SERVICE THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT
TIME.
WITH THE PASSAGE OF 976 LEAVING
GOVERNMENTS WITH FEWER TOOLS TO
GENERATE TRANSIT FUNDING IT IS
UNFORTUNATE REALITY THAT SALES
TAX WHICH IS THE ONLY REMAINING
VIABLE TOOL.
WE BELIEVE THIS ATTEMPTS TO
BALANCE AGGRESSIVE NATURE OF
THE SALES TAX AND FUNDING
NEEDED TO KEEP TRANSIT MOVING.
HOWEVER WE MUST NOTE THAT THE
PACKAGE MAY NOT GENERATE ENOUGH
TO MEET THE NEEDS OF TRANSIT
RIDERS IN SEATTLE.
GCC IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUE
WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS TO
FIND REVENUE SOURCES.
WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO
RECOMMIT.
WE APPRECIATE THE INCLUSION TO
THIS POINT AND WE ASK THAT
THERE BE POLICY LANGUAGE
SUPPORTING A SHIFT AND THAT
PLANNING BEGINS PROMPTLY.
WE ASK THAT COUNCIL CENTER
EQUITY THROUGH THIS PROCESS AS
THEY SHOULD BE ALL PROCESSES
AND TO ENSURE THAT THE FUNDS
ARE BENEFITING THOSE WHO HAVE
HISTORICALLY.
>> THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE IT.
THANKS FOR YOUR CONSTANT
ENGAGEMENT ON THIS.
WE WILL BE TALKING WITH YOU IN
THE ORGANIZATION A LOT.
NEXT WE HAVE DANIEL HELPNER.
GO AHEAD DANIEL.
>> HI THERE.
GOOD MORNING.
I AM DANIEL FROM DISTRICT 6.
OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS SEATTLE
HAS BUCKED THE TREND ON TRANSIT
RIDER SHIP AND INVESTMENT.
IT'S A DIRECT RESULT OF THE
INVESTMENT THAT THEY HAVE
BUCKED THE TREND ON RIDER SHIP.
DROPPING VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED
WAS THE BIGGEST PIECE OF
PROGRESS TOWARDS CLIMATE GOALS
OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS.
IT WOULD BE A TRAGEDY TO LOSE
THAT BY DROPPING INVESTMENT
INTO TRANSIT OPERATIONS.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE INVESTING
IN TRANSIT AT THE SAME LEVEL TO
MAKE SURE IT CONTINUES TO BE
AVAILABLE AS OUR ECONOMY
REOPENS.
WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE HAVING TO
BUY CARS AS THEY GO BACK TO
WORK.
PLEASE FIND NEW PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE SOURCES OR AT LAST
RESORT, POSSIBLY INCREASED
SALES TAX FOR THE BENEFIT
DISTRICT.
ALSO PLEASE REMOVE CAPITOL
EXPENDITURES FROM THE SPENDING
PLAN AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE
MENTIONED.
IN THE CURRENT PROPOSAL WE ARE
DOUBLING AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR
ROAD MAINTENANCE TO BACK
REDUCED BUDGET.
WE DON'T HAVE EXTRA MONEY TO
SPEND ON FILLING POT HOLES WHEN
TRANSIT FUNDING IS INADEQUATE.
EVERY DOLLAR SHOULD BE ON
TRANSIT OPERATIONS AND ORCA
LIFTAND YOUTH ORCA PROGRAM.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT IS DON BLANK FOLLOWED BY
HENDRICK DUNK.
>> I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF
OF THE 1700 BUSINESS NONPROFIT
AND RESIDENT MEMBERS.
WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF
TRANSPORTATION FOR THE VITALITY
OF OUR CITY AND LOCAL ECONOMY.
AS ALEX MENTIONED EARLIER COVID-
19 HAS STRESSED OUR TRANSIT
SYSTEM AND SERVICES AND
UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF
MAINTAINING A RESILIENT
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT
KEEPS PEOPLE MOVING NOT ONLY
FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS BUT IS
BUILT FOR THE LONGTERM.
I AM SPEAKING TO EXPRESS OUR
SUPPORT FOR EXPANDED TRANSIT
ACCESS AND IMPORTANT PROJECTS
THAT STRENGTHEN BY ENHANCING
MOBILITY AND CREATING WELL PAID
JOBS TO SUPPORT OUR CITY'S
ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
WE NEED ALL OPTIONS ON THE
TABLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP
SEATTLE WORKING IN THE YEARS
AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, DON.
NEXT IS HENDRICK FOLLOWED BY
BRITTNEY.
GO AHEAD.
>> HI.
I AM SPEAKING FROM CAPITOL
HILL.
I WANTED TO SAY THE INITIAL
SEATTLE TRANSIT BENEFIT
DISTRICT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS AND
IT'S BECAUSE OF ITS INVESTMENT
IN BUS SERVICE THAT SEATTLE
BUCKED NATIONAL TRENDS OF
DROPPING BUS RIDER SHIP.
GIVEN THAT, I AM CONCERNED WITH
THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS IN THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL.
THE PRIMARY PURPOSE SHOULD BE
TO FUND TRANSIT SERVICE AND IN
PARTICULAR FIXING OF POT HOLES
WHICH SHOULD BE S DOT SERVICE,
NOT SOMETHING WE ARE FUNDING.
ROAD FUNDING IS ALREADY
RESTRICTED.
FUNDS WE USE FOR ROAD FUNDING
ARE ALREADY RESTRICTED TO ROAD
FUNDING.
WE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOCATING
TRANSIT FUNDING TO THOSE SAME
NEEDS.
I WOULD ARGUE OTHER SPENDING IS
-- I WOULD URGE CAPITAL TO
REALLOCATE CAPITOL FUNDS TO
TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE AND
TOWARDS TRANSIT SERVICE WHICH
WILL BE AN OVER 50% INCREASE IN
THAT BUDGET IN THE NEW
PROPOSAL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT IS BRITTNEY BOLET FOLLOWED
BY DARNEL H.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL
MEMBERS, CHAIR PEDERSEN.
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
CITY COUNCIL AND THE VOTERS OF
SEATTLE FOR THE CONTINUED
COMMITMENT TO FUNDING TRANSIT.
WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO
GET THIS BENEFIT DISTRICT
RENEWED.
A COUPLE OF IMPROVEMENTS WE
WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST.
FIRST WE WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO
CONCENTRATE AS MUCH FUNDING AS
POSSIBLE ON THE SERVICE HOURS
AND TRY TO FUND CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS ELSEWHERE.
LENDS SPECIFICALLY TO MOST
TRANSIT DEPENDENT TO PEOPLE WHO
WORK ODD HOURS, PEOPLE WHO
CANNOT DRIVE, PEOPLE ON THE
SOUTH END AND AREAS ALREADY
UNDER SERVED AND WHO ARE
ALREADY OVER BURDENED BY
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO RAISE THE
MAXIMUM REVENUE BY A .2% SALES
TAX INCREASE.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OPTIONS
THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE ON THE
TABLE AND WE CONSIDER THAT THE
BENEFIT OF HIGHER TAX RATE WILL
OUT WEIGH THE UNFORTUNATE
REGRETS OF THE SOURCE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
IT LOOKS LIKE DARNEL IS NOT
PRESENT YET SO WE WILL GO TO
THE NEXT SPEAKER, ROBERT.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT 6
AND ALSO ON THE BOARD OF THE
LOCAL CLUB.
THE PANDEMIC IS A REMINDER THAT
WE NEED TO PROACTIVELY ADDRESS
PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY BECOME A
CRIPPLING DEVASTATING CRISIS.
WE CANNOT ALLOW CORONAVIRUS TO
MAKE CLIMATE CRISIS WORSE
ESPECIALLY IN THE PERIOD OF
ECONOMIC DISTRESS.
THIS IS ESSENTIAL TO RECOVERY,
ESSENTIAL TO KEEPING PEOPLE
HEALTHY.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO AS
BIG AS YOU CAN WITH YOUR
REVENUE.
AGAIN, IT IS NOT IDEAL THAT THE
OPTION ON THE TABLE IS A
REGRESSIVE SALES TAX INCREASE
BUT THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH
STATE LEGISLATURE.
WE ENCOURAGE .2% SALES TAX
INCREMENT.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND
.1% IS NOT BIG IN THE TERMS OF
REVENUE TO PEOPLE BUT COULD BE
SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF THE
SERVICE IT BUYS.
WE NEED TO RESTORE AND PRESERVE
AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
GOING TO THE .2% HELPS US DO
THAT.
WE NEED TO MOVE MONEY OUT OF
CAPITAL ROAD MAINTENANCE AND
BUS SERVICE.
THERE ARE OTHER SOURCES OF
REVENUE TO DO THINGS LIKE
FILLING POT HOLES.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO AS
BIG AS YOU CAN AND MAKE SURE
THE MONEY IS GOING INTO
PRESERVING BUS HOURS, SERVICES,
ROUTES, FREQUENCY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, ROBERT.
THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT WE
HAVE THAT HAVE REGISTERED.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE VIEWING,
PLEASE E-MAIL US AT
COUNCIL@SEATTLE.GOV. IT WILL
REACH ONLINE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE GOING TO GET
TO THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
IT'S JUST THE ONE ITEM.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
ONE INTO THE RECORD.
>> SALE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION PRESENTATION AND
PROPOSAL FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK.
APPRECIATE THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC,
THERE ARE THREE ITEMS YOU CAN
CLICK INTO.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE
EXECUTIVE PULL UP AND START TO
SHOW THEIR POWERPOINT
PRESENTATION.
THERE ARE ONLY 14 SLIDES SO WE
WILL GO THROUGH THAT AND ASK
QUESTIONS AT THE END.
THERE IS ALSO THE MEMO WRITTEN
BY OUR CENTRAL STAFFER CALVIN
CHOW AND THEN THE DRAFT COUNCIL
BILL ITSELF.
REGARDING FOLKS FROM THE
EXECUTIVE, THANK YOU FOR TAKING
THE TIME.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO CALLED
IN AND TO THOSE WHO ARE
WATCHING.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I TURN IT OVER TO THE DEPUTY
MAYOR SO YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOUR
TEAM FROM THE EXECUTIVE.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE
TODAY.
I WILL JUST KICK THIS
PRESENTATION OFF.
ONCE AGAIN IT IS THE DEPUTY
MAYOR FOR THOSE LISTENING ON
THE PHONE.
WITH ME WE HAVE THE TEEN OF
CARE MILAN SON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR
FOR POLICY FOREMANS AT S DOT
AND LAUREN ZANA WHO IS HEAD OF
THE TRANSIT AND MOBILITY
DIVISION AND ALSO JOINING US IS
ELLIOT HEM BRICK, THE MAYOR'S
POLICY ADVISER.
I WILL KICK OFFER BY SAYING
CLOSE TO THIS TIME SIX YEARS
AGO WHEN I STILL WORKED AT
TRANSPORTATION CHOICES
COALITION, A PREVIOUS COUNCIL
WAS PUTTING THE FINAL TOUCHES
ON WHAT WAS THEN AN EMERGENCY
TRANSIT MEASURE TO PUT ON THE
BALLOT TO STAVE OFF POTENTIAL
TRANSIT CUTS THROUGH THE LOSS
OF THE KING COUNTY REGION WIDE
MEASURE.
OBVIOUSLY MUCH HAS CHANGED
SINCE THEN.
THAT INVESTMENT THAT THE
SEATTLE VOTERS APPROVED SO
OVERWHELMINGLY SIX YEARS AGO
HAS BEEN TRANSFORMATIVE FOR
SEATTLE.
WE HAVE SEEN RECORD RIDER SHIP
AS MANY OF THE FOLKS WHO GAVE
PUBLIC COMMENT PROVIDED.
WE HAVE SEEN JUST COMPLETE
TRANSFORMATION OF TRANSIT
ACCESS IN THE CITY WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOODS GETTING MORE
FREQUENT AND RELIABLE TRANSIT.
WE HAVE ALSO SEEN INVESTMENTS
IN THE OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM
WHICH ALSO SUPPORTS THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO BE
ABLE TO TAKE THE BUS TO SCHOOL
AND TO OTHER PLACES, AS WELL AS
THE PROGRAM THAT NOW CURRENTLY
SERVES LOW INCOME RESIDENTS AT
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY
PROJECTS.
THIS HAS BEEN A VERY
TRANSFORMATIVE MEASURE.
HONESTLY, IT WAS MY GREAT
PLEASURE LAST YEAR AS WE BEGAN
THE PLANNING FOR THE MEASURE,
WE WERE LOOKING AT A ROUTINE
RENEWAL.
976 WAS PASSED BY OTHER VOTERS.
SEATTLE VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY
REJECTED THE INITIATIVE.
IN SOME WAYS THAT BEGAN THE
SERIES OF EVENTS THAT'S BROUGHT
US HERE TODAY.
WHAT IT DID IS IT TOOK AWAY THE
$60 CAR TAB THAT PROVIDED HALF
OR CLOSE TO HALF OF WHAT
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
FUNDED.
LAYERED ON TOP OF THAT WAS OF
COURSE, FOLLOWING THAT WAS THE
BEGINNING OF THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC AND WHAT WE SAW WAS A
PRECIPITOUS DROP OFF IN RIDER
SHIP AS WE HAD STAY-HOME
ORDERS.
TRANSIT ESSENTIALLY BECAME AN
ESSENTIAL SERVICE IN MANY WAYS
WITH TRANSIT DRIVERS SERVING AS
FIRST RESPONDERS TO GET
ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHERE THEY
NEEDED TO GO.
I THINK LAYERED ON TOP OF THAT,
BECAUSE 220 IS THE GIFT THAT
KEEPS ON GIVING, IS WE HAD LOST
THE UPPER BRIDGE OF THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE CREATING A
UNIQUE CONNECTIVITY CHALLENGE
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY CREATING
SORT OF OVERFLOW INTO
NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE GEORGETOWN
THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN IMPACTED
BY DISPROPORTIONATE AIR
POLLUTION IMPACTS.
SO WHAT WE HAVE TRIED TO PUT
TOGETHER AS A TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT PACKAGE FOR
COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION REALLY
FOCUSES ON A FEW IMPORTANT
VALUES.
THE FIRST VALUE IS THAT A
TRANSIT VERY MUCH IS A CORE
INVESTMENT FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE CITY'S
RESILIENCY.
IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR CONTINUED
PROSPERITY AND TO CREATE THOSE
CONNECTIONS FOR PARTICULARLY IN
COMMUNITIES WHERE TRANSIT IS
LITERALLY A LIFE LINE.
SO WHAT WE FOCUSED ON IS MAKING
SURE THAT THIS PACKAGE DOES
CENTER IN ON COMMUNITY WHERE
TRANSIT IS TO JOBS AS WE
PARTICULARLY HAVE CHALLENGES
WITH FOLKS BEING ABLE TO GET TO
WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.
WE HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT DROP
OFFS IN RIDER SHIP REGION WIDE,
METRO STILL CONTINUES TO CARRY
WILL 130,000 RIDERS A DAY.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
MAKING INVESTMENTS
STRATEGICALLY.
SECOND IS FLEXIBILITY.
BEING FLEXIBLE AND RESPONSIVE
TO WHAT ARE EMERGING MOBILITY
NEEDS THAT HAVE COME UPON US AS
A RESULT OF COVID-19.
THE TRUTH IS I THINK THIS IS A
LITTLE BIT -- WE CONTINUE TO
SORT OF WALK IN WITH SOME LEVEL
OF UNCERTAINTY.
HOW DO WE CREATE A PACKAGE THAT
HAS ENOUGH FLEXIBILITY IN THERE
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE
TO RESPOND TO EMERGING MOBILITY
NEEDS AS THEY COME UPON US.
THE THIRD VALUE IS HOW DO WE
ALSO MAKE SURE THIS IS A
PRUDENT USE OF TAX DOLLARS.
IN THE EARLIER ITERATION OF THE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICT, WE HAD CHALLENGES
WITH THE DELIVERY OF SERVICE
AND THAT IS WHY TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT CONTINUED TO
EVOLVE TO SUPPORT CAPITAL
PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITY.
AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY,
METRA IS A CLOSE PARTNER OF
OURS, WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT
THE SERVICE THAT THE CITY IS
PURCHASING IS NOT IN GLUE OF
SERVICE THAT THE COUNTY AND
METRA SHOULD BE PROVIDING THE
CITY AS PART OF THE BASELINE
SERVICE DELIVERY.
HOW DO WE CONTINUE THAT
PARTNERSHIP AND MAKE SURE WE
ARE COMPLEMENTARY TO WHAT METRA
IS DOING SYSTEM WIDE?
FINALLY AS SEVERAL COMMENTERS
SAID, WE SEE THIS MEASURE VERY
MUCH AS A BRIDGE TO A REGIONAL
MEASURE.
IF YOU RECALL THE ORIGINAL
GENESIS OF THE PROGRAM WAS VERY
MUCH AS A STOP GAP MEASURE,
RIGHT, UNTIL THE COUNTY COULD
DEVELOP A REGIONAL PACKAGE.
UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE NOT THERE
YET BUT THE MAYOR REMAINS
COMMITTED.
HE BELIEVES TRANSIT IS
REGIONAL.
SEVERAL COMMENTERS POINTED TO
THE FACT THAT DISPLACEMENT HAS
RESULTED IN MORE FOLKS LIVING
IN SOUTH COUNTY AND HOW WE
CREATE A ROBUST TRANSIT NETWORK
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY WHERE
PEOPLE CAN GET WHERE THEY NEED
TO GO.
YOU HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC
COMMENT AND FROM THE PRESS
STATEMENTS THAT THERE IS A
BROAD COALITION IN SUPPORT OF
THIS FROM BUSINESS TO LABOR TO
COMMUNITY GROUPS.
I THINK THAT GIVEN WHERE WE ARE
AND GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITIES
BOTH WITH FUTURE OPTIONS TO
INVEST IN IN TRANSIT,
PARTICULARLY IF WE ARE
SUCCESSFUL IN OUR CHALLENGE OF
976 THAT WILL CREATE THE
AVAILABILITY OF ADDITIONAL
OPTIONS, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE
THAT BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC
UNCERTAINTY THAT WE ARE WALKING
INTO AS A CITY AND RECOGNIZING
THAT THE SALES TAX CONTINUES TO
BE ONE OF THE MOST REGRESSIVE
OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO US TO BE
ABLE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS, HOW
DO WE BALANCE THOSE THINGS BUT
ALSO CREATE POTENTIAL THAT WHEN
WE SORT OF ARE ON THE UP SWING
AND CONTINUE TO RECOVER AS A
CITY AND AS A REGION THAT WE
HAVE THE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO US
TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE
NECESSARY INVESTMENTS IN
TRANSIT.
AT THAT POINT, I AM GOING TO
HAND IT OVER TO KAREN WHO WILL
GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF THE
BACKGROUND OF HOW WE GOT HERE
AND THEN WALK THROUGH THE
SPECIFICS OF THE PACKAGE.
>> THAT IS.
THIS IS KAREN MELANSON.
IF YOU JUST ADVANCE THE SLIDES,
I WILL TALK ABOUT THE
BACKGROUND ON THE PRIOR
MEASURE, THE MEASURE THAT'S
EXPIRING THIS YEAR, THE
SUCCESSES, AND THEN WE WILL
MOVE TO THE PROPOSAL.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE MAYOR
TRANSMITTED LEGISLATION TORR
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICT OR STBD THAT WOULD
MAINTAIN THE .1% SALES TAX.
IT IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE
BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MILLION
ANNUALLY OVER SIX YEARS.
THIS WILL GO TO ESSENTIAL
TRANSIT SERVICE, TRANSIT
RELATED CAPITAL PROJECTS,
TRANSIT ACCESS PROGRAMS LIKE
WORK OPPORTUNITY.
IF APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL, IT
WILL GO BEFORE SEATTLE VOTERS
AND WITH SUPPORT ACCESS
FREQUENT RELIABLE TRANSIT
SERVICE.
THIS MEASURE ENSURES CRITICAL
ELEMENTS IN BUS ROUTES,
SEATTLE'S TRANSIT NETWORK ARE
MAINTAINED, THAT EQUITABLE
ACCESS CONTINUES TO BE
PRIORITIZED AND ALLOWS THE CITY
TO SCALE UP SERVICE AS
SEATTLE'S TRANSIT RIDER SHIP
RECOVERS FROM THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC.
WE WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE CURRENT
PROGRAMS' SUCCESSES.
SEATTLE WAS THE FASTEST GROWING
BIG CITY IN THE COUNTRY OVER
THE PREVIOUS DECADE WITH THE
POPULATION GROWING BY ALMOST
24% SINCE 2010.
EACH NEW PERSON IN SEATTLE
INCREASES DEMAND FOR CONVENIENT
TRAVEL OPTIONS ACROSS THE CITY
AND THE REGION.
IT IS CRITICAL THAT EVERY MODE
OF TRANSPORTATION IS RELIABLE,
ACCESSIBLE, AND AFFORDABLE.
OUR STBD PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT
ROLE IN MAKING THAT POSSIBLE.
PROVIDED CITY WITH ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES TO HAVE ONE OF THE
HIGHEST RATES OF INCREASED
RIDER SHIP IN THE COUNTRY.
THE MAJORITY OF URBAN VILLAGES
IN THE CITY HAVE ACCESS TO AT
LEAST ONE ROUTE PROVIDING 15
MINUTE OR BETTER SERVICE.
ON WEEKDAYS, IT HAS ADDED
CAPACITY TO THE NETWORK FOR
OVER 80,000 RIDERS.
DURING HEIGHT OF THE SEATTLE
SQUEEZE WE HAD CAPACITY FOR
8,000 RIDES DURING THE MORNING
OR AFTERNOON COMMUTES TO AND
FROM DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
IN ADDITION, STBD HAS BEEN ABLE
TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY BASED
PROGRAMS AND TRAININGS TO
INCREASE ACCESS TO TRANSIT FOR
SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, LOW INCOME
PEOPLE.
WE ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
IN 2017, S DOT COMPLETED A
RACIAL EQUITY INAUGURAL AUGUSTA
SIS OF STBD.
THIS LOOKED AT THE SERVICE
INVESTMENTS MADE UNDER THE
PROGRAM AS WELL AS STRUCTURE
AND POLICIES OF THE PROGRAM.
KEY POPULATIONS EVALUATED WERE
PEOPLE OF COLOR, LOW INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS, PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES, HOUSEHOLDS WITH
NO CAR OWNERSHIP.
AS A RESULT OF THE ANALYSIS,
COUNCIL PASSED A SCOPE CHANGE
TO ALLOW INVESTMENT IN KEY
ROUTES IN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN
EDGES OF THE CITY AS WELL AS
ADDED INVESTMENTS TO ORCA
OPPORTUNITY.
WE WILL SPEAK TO FUTURE EQUITY
WORK AND HOW WE WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK TO ENSURE OUR
INVESTMENT DECISIONS ARE
EQUITABLE IN THE NEW PROPOSAL
LATER IN THE PRESENTATION. I
WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO TALK
ABOUT THE ORCA OPPORTUNITY
PROGRAM.
IT PROVIDES FREE UNLIMITED 12
MONTH ORCA CARDS FOR HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS AT SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
INCOME ELIGIBLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
STUDENTS IN SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND SEATTLE PROMISE
SCHOLARS.
AS YOU WILL SEE AGAIN AS WE GET
INTO THE DETAILS OF OUR CURRENT
PROPOSAL, WE ARE PROPOSING TO
CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM, ORCA
OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM, AS IT IS
CURRENTLY CONSTITUTED IN THE
NEW PROPOSAL.
WITH THAT, I AM GOING TO TURN
IT OVER TO CANDIDA LORENZANA
WHO WILL TALK IN MORE SPECIFICS
ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TODAY.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I THINK WE KNOW A LOT HAS
CHANGED IN THE PAST MONTHS AND
THAT INCLUDES STATEWIDE PASSAGE
OF I-976 AND SUBSEQUENT COURT
PROCEEDINGS THAT HAVE LIMITED
OUR ABILITY TO PUT VEHICLE
LICENSE FEE IN FRONT OF VOTERS.
IT'S NECESSITIED REDUCTIONS IN
OUR CURRENT PROGRAM BY 50%.
WE ARE FACING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
WITH COVID-19 THAT IS SEEING
REDUCTIONS IN SALES TAX
REVENUES THAT SUPPORT THE
PROGRAM AND ALSO CREATED
UNCERTAINTY ABOUT HOW AND WHEN
TRANSIT RIDER SHIP WILL RETURN.
IN WEST SEATTLE, FOR
COMMUNITIES IN AND AROUND WEST
SEATTLE, THEY'RE FACING
MOBILITY CRISIS WITH THE RECENT
BRIDGE CLOSURE IN MARCH.
ALL THESE FACTORS COMBINED HAVE
INFLUENCED THE PROPOSAL BEFORE
YOU TODAY.
GENERALLY WE HAVE SEEN TRANSIT
RIDER SHIP DECREASE.
WE CONTINUE TO SEE IT USED FOR
ESSENTIAL TRIPS.
THERE ARE OVER 130,000
ESSENTIAL TRIPS EVERY DAY
OCCURRING IN THE SYSTEM AND
THAT INCLUDES 10 METRA ROUTES
THAT ARE SEATTLE BASED AND
SERVE SEATTLE AREAS WITH HIGHER
PERCENTAGE OF COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
AS KAREN MENTIONED, TRANSIT HAS
BEEN ESSENTIAL TO THE GROWTH OF
OUR CITY BUT IT IS ALSO
ESSENTIAL TO RECOVERY.
WE CAN'T RECOVER IF PEOPLE
CAN'T GET AROUND.
SINCE 2010 WE HAVE SEEN THE
PERCENT OF COMMUTERS USING
TRANSIT TO GET DOWNTOWN
INCREASE WHILE SEEING A 9% DROP
IN THE DRIVE ALONE RATE.
TRANSIT IS ESSENTIAL FOR
RECOVERY AND IS ESSENTIAL TO
CREATING A SUSTAINABLE CITY
THAT CAN MEET OUR CLIMATE
GOALS.
THIS STBT PROPOSAL ALIGNS WITH
NEEDS, CHALLENGES, VALUES WE
FACE TODAY BY PRIORITIZING FIVE
KEY AREAS THAT INCLUDE FREQUENT
TRANSIT FOR ALL IN SEATTLE,
ENSURING OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM IS
CONNECTED AND ROBUST AND
CENTERED ON EQUITY, ENSURING
AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO MOBILITY,
ADDRESSING MOBILITY NEEDS WE
ARE SEEING DUE TO COVID OR WITH
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE
CLOSURE, AND ALSO MAINTAINING
SALES TAX RATE THAT IS IN PLACE
TODAY.
AT EACH PHASE OF REOPENING, WE
HAVE SEEN TRANSIT RIDER SHIP
INCREASE AND IT WILL CONTINUE
TO BE AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE AS
OUR ECONOMY RECOVERS.
THIS SLIDE PROVIDES DETAILS ON
ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL AND
AVERAGE ANNUAL INVESTMENT
EXPECTED OVER THE SIX YEAR LIFE
OF THE PROPOSAL.
TO PROVIDE SAFE FREQUENT
TRANSIT AND ENSURE WE HAVE A
CONNECTED SYSTEM, A LOT OF OUR
INVESTMENT IS FOCUSED THIS TWO
AREAS.
SERVICE AND CAPITAL.
SERVICE REMAINS MAJORITY OF
INVESTMENT WITH FOCUS ON
PROTECTING THE 15 MINUTE
TRANSIT NETWORK.
ON THE CAPITAL SIDE THESE WOULD
FUND TRANSIT SPOT IMPROVEMENTS,
THINGS YOU MAY ALREADY SEE ON
THE STREET IN PROCESS FOR 2020.
SOME EXAMPLES INCLUDE RED BUS
LANES, BUS ZONE UPGRADES WE
HAVE IMPLEMENTED AT LAKE CITY
WAY AND 125th AS WELL AS THE
LANOR LANE AND BUS STOP
IMPROVEMENTS WE HAVE DONE THAT
IMPROVE RIDER EXPERIENCE ON THE
C LINE AND ROUTE 40, SOME OF
OUR MOST POPULAR ROUTES IN THE
CITY.
IN ADDITION TO THE IMPROVEMENTS
THIS FUNDS A PORTION OF
PROGRAMS THAT ARE FUNDED BY THE
CURRENT $20 VLF WHICH IF YOU
RECALL IS AT RISK WITH CURRENT
I976 PROCEEDINGS.
THIS WOULD FOCUS ON ENSURING
THAT TRANSIT CORRIDORS MAINTAIN
A SMOOTH RIDE FOR RIDERS AS
WELL AS ENSURING THAT SIGNALS
OPERATE TO SUPPORT TRANSIT.
TO ENSURE AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO
MOBILITY WE ARE MAINTAINING TWO
KEY PROGRAMS FROM THE CURRENT
STBD MEASURE.
THAT INCLUDES ORCA OPPORTUNITY
FOR YOUTH WHICH PROVIDES FREE
12 MONTH PASSES FOR SEATTLE
PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS,
LOW INCOME, MIDDLE SCHOOL
SYSTEM, SEATTLE PROMISE
SCHOLARS AS WELL AS MAINTAINING
FUNDING FOR LOW INCOME ACCESS
TO TRANSIT PROGRAM WHICH
ALLOWED US TO CREATE
CONNECTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY
AND WITH SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, THOSE WITH LOW
INCOMES.
LASTLY, THIS PROPOSAL ALSO
ADDRESSES ACUTE MOBILITY NEEDS.
LOOKING TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN
BUS SERVICE, EITHER OUR TAXI
SERVICE TO SUPPORT SOME OF THE
NEEDS IN WEST SEATTLE.
THIS SITE ILLUSTRATES HOW THE
SPENDING IS PROPOSED TO CHANGE
OVER TIME.
I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
THE 2021 REVENUES APPEAR LOWER
SINCE SALES TAX COLLECTION DOES
NOT BEGIN UNTIL APRIL 1, 2021.
OVER THE SIX YEAR LIFE OF THE
MEASURE, A MAJORITY OF THE
INVESTMENT REMAINS IN TRANSIT,
JUST OVER 40%.
A QUARTER EACH IS SPENT ON
CAPITAL AND MOBILITY AND
REMAINDER ON EMERGING NEEDS
WHICH TRANSITIONS OVER THE LIFE
OF THE MEASURE TO FUND CITY-
WIDE TRANSIT SERVICE.
TRANSPORTATION REMAINS THE
SECOND HIGHEST COST FOR MANY OF
THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THROUGH THIS PROPOSAL, WE
HAVE PUT FORWARD MANY WAYS WE
WILL BE ADDRESSING EQUITY IN
THIS PACKAGE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST AS KAREN
MENTIONED, WE DID RSJI ANALYSIS
IN 2017.
WE WOULD BE REVISITING THAT TO
EVALUATE FUTURE NVESTMENTS.
ON THE CAPITAL SIDE WE WOULD BE
LOOKING TO OPTIMIZE INVESTMENTS
ENSURING THEY'RE EQUITABLY AND
THAT FOLKS HAVE A RELIABLE
RIDE.
AS HELPED THIS FULLY FUNDS WORK
OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS PROGRAM.
THROUGH EMERGING NEEDS BUCKET
THIS WILL ENSURE THAT FOLKS
IMPACTED BY THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE CLOSURE HAVE MOBILITY
OPTIONS AS WELL AS MITIGATE
IMPACTS WE ARE SEEING IN
COMMUNITIES DUE TO THE BRIDGE
CLOSURE.
WE ALSO RAN FOR FUTURE EQUITY
WORK.
WE WOULD BE UPDATING OUR 2017
ANALYSIS.
THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO TAKE
INTO ACCOUNT RIDER SHIP TRENDS
WE HAVE SEEN IN COVID-19 AND
ALSO ALLOW US TO ALIGN
INVESTMENTS WITH COMMUNITY
NEEDS, LAND USE, DEMAND AS IT
CHANGES ACROSS THE CITY.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH TRANSIT
ADVISORY BOARD AND
TRANSPORTATION EQUITY TO INFORM
THESE DECISIONS.
THERE ARE A FEW LINKS HERE FOR
MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROGRAM
ITSELF.
THE PROPOSAL AS WELL AS A LINK
TO OUR FOUR YEAR REPORT AND
SUBSEQUENT YEAR REPORTS WE
PROVIDED BEFORE EVERY YEAR OF
THE MEASURE THAT YOU CAN GO
BACK AND LOOK AT.
YOU WILL FIND RSJI ANALYSIS
REPORT IN THE YEAR TWO REPORT
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THAT
AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE THAT.
ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE
EXECUTIVE OR CALVIN CHOW?
DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING
BEFORE I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO MAKE COMMENTS OR ASK
QUESTIONS?
>> THIS IS CALVIN CHOW FROM
CENTRAL STAFF.
ONE COMMENT I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT.
IN THE PRESENTATION THE
EXECUTIVE EXPLAINED THE
PROPOSED SPENDING PLAN.
I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THE
LEGISLATION ITSELF, THE
PROPOSAL THAT GOES BEFORE
VOTERS ESTABLISHES SPENDING
LIMITS WITHIN SPECIFIC SPENDING
CATEGORIES, DOESN'T EXPLICITLY
APPROVE A PARTICULAR SPENDING
PLAN BUT INCLUDES MAXIMUM
LIMITS.
SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS
ABOUT THE ENABLING LEGISLATION
THAT WE ARE ASKING VOTERS TO
APPROVE AND THEN THE ACTUAL
SPENDING WOULD HAVE TO COME
FORWARD AS A SPENDING PROPOSAL
IN THE BUDGET AND DELIBERATED
AND APPROVED BY COUNCIL IN THE
FUTURE.
>> WOULD THAT BE ON AN ANNUAL
BASIS?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO
MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
LET'S SEE IF I CAN SEE YOU ALL.
ONE MOMENT.
YOU CAN WAVE AT ME AND I WILL
CALL ON YOU OR YOU CAN DO THE
CHAT.
I AM HAPPY TO HEAR FROM FOLKS.
I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
CALVIN, I AM SORRY, I LOST
TRACK OF WHAT YOU SAID THERE.
WHAT ELEMENTS OF WHAT WE JUST
HEARD WOULD BE PART OF AN
ANNUAL SPENDING PLAN WE WOULD
VOTE ON THAT IS NOT PART OF THE
ORDINANCE PUTTING IT ON THE
BALLOT?
>> THE ORDINANCE IDENTIFIES
FOUR CATEGORIES OF ELIGIBLE
SPENDING.
TRANSIT SERVICE IS IDENTIFIED
AS A SPECIFIC USE OF FUNDS AND
IT IS NOT CAPPED IN TERMS OF
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE COULD
SPEND.
EMERGING NEEDS FOR WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE, COVID RESPONSE, OTHER
EMERGING NEEDS IS IDENTIFIED
AND IT ESTABLISHES A CAP UP TO
6 MILLION ANNUALLY THAT COULD
BE SPENT.
MOBILITY ACCESS IS IDENTIFIED
FOR UP TO 10 MILLION ANNUALLY
AND TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE IS
IDENTIFIED FOR UP TO 9 MILLION
ANNUALLY.
THOSE ARE LIMITS THAT WOULD BE
IN THE BALLOT.
SO WITHIN THAT THE COUNCIL AND
MAYOR -- MAYOR CAN PROPOSE AND
COUNCIL CAN APPROVE
EXPENDITURES YEAR TO YEAR
WITHIN THE LIMITS.
>> THANK YOU.
I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
SLIDE 12 SHOWS WEST SEATTLE
EMERGENCY NEED INVESTMENTS
GOING THROUGH 2024.
I JUST EXPRESSED MY VERY
SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THE
RECOGNITION OF THE NEEDS IN
WEST SEATTLE.
WE ARE GOING FROM 21 LANES --
WE HAVE GONE FROM 21 LANES TO
12 LANES TO GET OFF OF THE
PENINSULA.
AND THERE ARE NO AMOUNT OF
DETOUR ROUTES THAT CAN MAKE
POSSIBLE MOVING THE SAME NUMBER
OF CARS.
SO THE CITY, S DOT HAS SOME
VERY AGGRESSIVE MODE SHIFT
GOALS FROM 17% NOW TO 30%.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
ACHIEVE THE GOALS WITHOUT
SPECIFIC INVESTMENTS IN BUS
SERVICE IN WEST SEATTLE.
MY SPECIFIC QUESTION ABOUT THAT
THOUGH, IT SHOWS THAT THE
INVESTMENTS TAPER OFF IN 2014.
I AM JUST WONDERING COULD THIS
CHANGE DEPENDING ON THE PATH
THAT S DOT CHOOSES FOR REPAIR
OR REPLACE UNDER THE REPAIR
SCENARIO?
I CAN SEE THE NEED TAPERING OFF
IN 2014 BUT IN THE REPLACE
SCENARIO, IT COULD GO BEYOND
THAT.
I KNOW WE ARE HOPING UNDER THE
REPAIR SCENARIO THAT THE BRIDGE
WILL BE REOPENED BY 2022.
WE ARE GIVING OURSELVES
ADDITIONAL TIME FOR THE REPLACE
SCENARIO.
I AM JUST CONCERNED THAT THERE
ARE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
ASSOCIATED WITH A REALLY LARGE
PROJECT LIKE THE REPLACEMENT OF
A LARGE BRIDGE.
THAT'S ONE QUESTION.
THEN THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE
IS ABOUT THE ISSUE AROUND THE
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
I KNOW THAT LAST YEAR WE HAD
TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT FOR
OUR FREQUENT TRANSIT ROUTES, WE
HAD PRETTY MUCH REACHED THE
CAPACITY FOR ADDED SERVICE
BECAUSE OF SITUATIONS,
CHALLENGES REGARDING
CONSTRAINTS OF KING COUNTY
METRA'S BASE.
THIS PROPOSAL IS SMALLER THAN
THE PREVIOUS ONE AND I AM
WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT METRA
HAS THE CAPACITY TO ADD THE
TRANSIT SERVICE WITH A
POTENTIALLY REDUCED FUNDING FOR
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
ONE OTHER QUESTION.
ON EMERGING NEEDS FOR WEST
SEATTLE, IS WATER TAXI SERVICE
ELIGIBLE?
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER, WHY DON'T I
TAKE A FIRST SHOT AND CANDIDA
AND KAREN FEEL FREE TO CHIME
IN.
I THINK ON THE WEST SEATTLE
QUESTIONS, YES, IT IS A WATER
TAXI SERVICE THAT IS ELIGIBLE
UNDER THE PROPOSAL.
SECOND, I THINK YOU RAISE A
GOOD POINT, THAT DEPENDING ON
THE PATHWAY THAT S DOT ENDS
UPTAKING, THE CITY ENDS
UPTAKING TO THE REPAIR REPLACE
OR JUST STRAIGHT REPLACE THAT
WE WILL NEED TO ADAPT
ACCORDINGLY.
WE SORT OF PUT IN THE GENERAL
BUCKET OF TRANSIT SERVICE.
I THINK AGAIN I GO BACK TO THIS
IS WHY WE CREATED SOME
FLEXIBILITY IN THE PROPOSAL TO
BE ABLE TO ADAPT TO THE
EMERGING NEEDS.
CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG KAREN
OR CANDIDA BUT I DON'T THINK
THERE IS ANYTHING IN THE
PROPOSAL THAT WOULD PRECLUDE
OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO
INVEST IN TRANSIT SERVICE TO
SUPPORT FUTURE NEEDS IF THEY
BECOME EMERGENT.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE HAVE ALLOWED OURSELVES SOME
FLEXIBILITY TO ADDRESS
DIFFERENT EMERGING NEEDS
INCLUDING WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE
IMPACTS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ON YOUR SECOND QUESTION
RELATED TO WHAT CAPACITY DOES
METRO HAVE TO DELIVER A
SERVICE?
WE HAVE HAD PAST CHALLENGES
WITH THAT.
OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A MUCH MORE
MODEST INVESTMENT AND WE FEEL
CONFIDENT THAT METRO WITHIN
WHAT THEIR FUTURE SERVICE PLANS
ARE, THEY'RE ABLE TO DELIVER
THIS.
AGAIN THE TRANSIT CAPITAL
PROGRAM HAS ALWAYS MEANT AND
HAS BEEN INTENDED TO BE A
COMPLEMENT TO THAT TO BE SURE
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE
FREQUENT RELIABLE SERVICE TO
THE OTHER INVESTMENTS AND ALSO
INVESTMENTS IN RIDER
EXPERIENCE, INVESTMENTS IN BUS
LANES, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
I THINK THERE IS SOME QUESTION
ABOUT POT HOLES.
THE TRUTH IS THAT WE HAVE A
MAINTENANCE PROGRAM THAT
CONTINUES TO NEED INVESTMENT IN
IT.
THE BUSES ON OUR STREETS CAUSE
SIGNIFICANT WEAR AND TEAR.
WHILE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
REBUILDING MANY TRANSIT
CORRIDORS FULL SCALE, DELRIDGE
IS A GREAT EXAMPLE, THERE WILL
CONTINUE TO BE A NEED TO INVEST
IN CAPITOL TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
ABLE TO CONTINUE TO RUN THE
TYPE OF TRANSIT SERVICE THAT WE
ARE RUNNING IN THOSE CORRIDORS.
WHILE THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
FOR STREETS MAY SEEM SORT OF
ADJACENT IN SOME WAYS TO THE
TRANSIT PROGRAM, IT IS VERY
MUCH NECESSARY AND WAS BEING
FUNDED OUT OF THAT $20 VLF THAT
WE NOW HAVE LOST.
I THINK THAT IT'S FAIR TO SAY
IF OUR ABILITY TO USE CAR TABS
IS RESTORED THROUGH THE COURT
CHALLENGE, THAT WILL CREATE
ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY AROUND
THE DOLLARS AND BEING BOTH SORT
OF THE BLF THAT EXISTS THAT WE
ARE COLLECTING IN RESERVE BUT
ALSO SORT OF FUTURE
OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND THE BLF
TO SUPPORT THESE NEEDS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD.
I WILL ASK OTHER MEMBERS IF
THEY HAVE QUESTIONS.
>> VICE CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR PEDERSEN.
I WILL BE BRIEF WITH MY REMARKS
JUST TO NOTE MY FULL SUPPORT OF
THIS MEASURE.
IN OUR IDEAL WORLD WE WANT TO
SEE THE ABILITY TO GO TO A BUS
STOP, NOT BE ABLE TO CHECK THE
SCHEDULE, GET ON THE BUS AND
GET WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING
WITHOUT BEING STUCK IN TRAFFIC.
WE KNOW TRANSIT ONLY LANES AND
FREQUENT BUS SERVICE IS THE WAY
WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT.
BUS SERVICE IS ALSO A CLIMATE
CHANGE SOLUTION BECAUSE WE KNOW
DURING NONCOVID TIMES AN
IMMENSE AMOUNT OF CARBON
EMISSIONS COME FROM SINGLE
OCCUPANCY VEHICLES.
THE ONLY REAL WAY FOR PEOPLE TO
BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THEIR CAR
IS IF THEY'RE ABLE TO RELY ON
TRANSIT SERVICE.
THE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICT HAS PROVIDED IMMENSE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO BE
ABLE TO BRING TRANSIT SERVICE
TO THE AREAS WE WANT SINCE WE
HAVE TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH KING COUNTY METRO.
WE DO KNOW THAT RIDER SHIP HAS
DECREASED AT THE MOMENT IN PART
DUE TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH
CONCERNS.
WE KNOW THAT AS WE EMERGE OUT
OF THIS CRISIS PEOPLE WILL GO
BACK TO RELYING ON TRANSIT,
MYSELF INCLUDED.
I AVOID USING TRANSIT AT THIS
TIME BECAUSE IT IS FOR
ESSENTIAL TRIPS ONLY.
AND I DON'T NEED TO NECESSARILY
BRING ADDITIONAL CONTACT TO
PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO RELY ON
TRANSIT OR THE OPERATORS OF OUR
TRANSIT.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
THANK OUR OPERATORS FOR BEING
ABLE TO GET US AROUND THE CITY
AND THE REGION SAFELY.
IT'S A BIG PUBLIC HEALTH
CONCERN AT THIS MOMENT, AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE OUR
OPERATORS.
AS FOLKS STATED IN PUBLIC
COMMENT, JOE IN PARTICULAR,
TRANSIT IS THE WAY THAT WE MOVE
GOODS AND PEOPLE AROUND OUR
CITY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT PEOPLE BEING
-- TRANSIT IS SIMPLY THE
FREIGHT OF PEOPLE.
WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE PEOPLE
AROUND OUR COMMUNITY
EFFECTIVELY WITHOUT GETTING
STUCK IN TRAFFIC, WE ARE ABLE
TO INCREASE DEPENDENCE AND
THEIR ABILITY TO DEPEND ON
TRANSIT.
SO WITH THAT, I DON'T REALLY
HAVE QUESTIONS OTHER THAN I
THINK IT MAY BE WORTH
CONSIDERING AND I CAN FOLLOW UP
WITH FOLKS OFFLINE AS TO WHAT
THE DURATION OF THIS PACKAGE
SHOULD BE AND IF WE NEED TO
MAKE CHANGES WITHIN THE
PERCENTAGES.
LOOKING AT YOUR MEMO BETWEEN
MOBILITY ACCESS TRANSIT
INFRASTRUCTURE AND EMERGING
NEEDS, I JUST WANT TO
COMPLEMENT ELLIOT, THE DEPUTY
MAYOR, EVERYONE AT S DOT, GREAT
WORK SO FAR.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.
OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU.
THANKS FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ASK SOME QUESTIONS.
I WONDER IF WE CAN GO BACK TO
SLIDE 8, IF WE CAN HEAR A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT NOT JUST
THE TEN ROOTS THOUGH I WOULD
LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
RIDER SHIP THERE BUT WHAT OTHER
ROUTES WOULD BE PRIORITIZED AND
HOW THE DECISIONS WILL BE MADE.
I THINK WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING
IS THERE ARE SPECIFIC ROUTES
THAT WILL JUST BE CUT.
I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND A
LITTLE BIT MORE WHAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT HERE.
>> THIS MAP IS INTENDED TO BE
AN EXAMPLE OF THE TYPES OF
RIDER SHIP TRENDS THAT WE ARE
SEEING AT THE MOMENT.
THAT WILL DEFINITELY INFLUENCE
RSJ ANALYSIS WE ARE PLANNING ON
DOING FOLLOWING THIS.
THAT WOULD BE MORE PART OF
DIRECTING AS WELL AS ENGAGEMENT
WITH TRANSIT ADVISEMENT GROUP.
THOSE WOULD BE ELEMENTS REALLY
DIRECTING OUR INVESTMENTS AT
THIS POINT.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES HERE I
THINK AS COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE
AWARE IS KING COUNTY METRO IS
FACING THEIR OWN FINANCIAL
CHALLENGES AT THE MOMENT AND WE
DON'T HAVE A CLEAR PICTURE OF
WHAT THEIR BASELINE NETWORK
WOULD LOOK LIKE.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE WOULD WANT
TO WORK ON WITH THEM SHOULD
THIS PROPOSAL MOVE FORWARD AND
FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES SENSE
FROM AN EQUITY PERSPECTIVE AND
THE NETWORK OUT THERE.
>> A FOLLOW UP, IF YOU CAN GIVE
A LITTLE BIT ON INFORMATION SO
THIS BECOMES CLEAR FOR US AND
THE COMMUNITY?
>> I THINK WE WOULD BE LOOKING
TO BEGIN ANALYSIS EITHER LATER
THIS YEAR ONCE WE HAVE A BETTER
SENSE OF WHAT METRO'S BASELINE
COULD LOOK LIKE.
I AM ALSO HAPPY TO SHARE SOME
INFORMATION THAT IS BEHIND THIS
MAP TO GIVE YOU A BETTER SENSE
OF THE TRENDS WE ARE SEEING ON
THE SPECIFIC ROUTES AS WELL.
>> PERHAPS COUNCIL MEMBER, I
CAN SHARE A LITTLE BIT CONTEXT
IN THAT.
WE HAVE A PROVISION IN OUR
CURRENT OPERATING AGREEMENT
WITH METRO THAT ANY SERVICE
THAT THE CITY PURCHASES IS
ADDITIVE.
IT'S ON TOP OF WHAT THEY SHOULD
BE PROVIDING AS A BASELINE.
I THINK THE CHALLENGE HAS BEEN
BECAUSE OF COVID AND THEIR OWN
FINANCIAL UNCERTAINTY, THE
BASELINE IS NOT CLEAR ANYMORE.
SO WHAT CANDIDA IS REFERENCING
IS THEY WILL NEED TO GO TO
THEIR OWN SERVICE MAPPING
PROCESS AS IT WERE WHERE THEY
DO HAVE RSJI BAKED IN AS ONE OF
THEIR SERVICE GUIDELINE
REQUIREMENTS.
SO ONCE WE HAVE AWARENESS OF
WHAT THEY WILL PROVIDE, THEN WE
ARE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS AS A
CITY AROUND HOW DO WE LAYER ON
TOP OF THAT IN TERMS OF WHERE
WE KNOW THEY'LL REALLY NEED
INVESTMENTS AND KIND OF HOW DO
WE INCLUDE AN EQUITY LENS TO
MAKE SURE FOLKS WHO ARE TRANSIT
DEPENDENT CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT
FREQUENT RELIABLE SERVICE
THROUGH THAT PARTNERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION,
BUT I ALSO HAVE LOTS OF ISSUES
WITH THE WAY THINGS HAVE BEEN
BROUGHT FORWARD AND ALSO JUST
THAT THERE IS A LOT FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE ABOUT WHAT IS
ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU ALL
WERE MORE CLEAR.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT THE
PRESENTATION YOU HAVE MAKES IT
CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC WHAT IS
ACTUALLY HAPPENING HERE.
YOU ARE ALL USING A LOT OF
HAPPY PHRASES LIKE STRATEGIC
AND CENTERING EQUITY AND
OPTIMIZING INVESTMENTS TO BE
EQUITABLE.
THERE IS NOTHING EQUITABLE
ABOUT THE POLITICS.
LET'S LOOK AT THE NUMBERS HERE.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS COMING
FROM YOUR PRESENTATION.
WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY IS
SOMETHING MY STAFF HAS GLEANED
FROM CENTRAL STAFF MEMO WHICH I
APPRECIATE.
BUT THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU
HAVE IS ACTUALLY A PROPOSAL FOR
MAJOR CUTS TO METRO FROM THE
CITY'S SIDE.
YES, IT'S AN OVERALL AND THE
CITY HAS A BIG STAKE IN IT.
THIS WHOLE IDEA THAT IT IS
ADDITIVE BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW
MUCH.
WELL LET'S LOOK AT HOW MUCH OF
A CUT THE CITY IS PROPOSING,
THE MAYOR IS PROPOSING.
UNFORTUNATELY NOT ONE SLIDE IN
THIS PRESENTATION COMPARES THE
OLD BUDGET TO THE NEW ONE.
INSTEAD OF PRESENTATION TALKS
ABOUT ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT
HAVE BEEN FUNDED IN THE PAST.
YES, THAT'S GREAT BUT THAT'S
NOT REALLY TELLING US WHAT IS
ABOUT TO HAPPEN.
VERY BRIEFLY, THE PRESENTATION
TALKS ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
THAT WILL BE RAISED IN THE
COMING YEAR.
LET'S MAKE IT CLEAR, THIS
PROPOSAL IS ABOUT CUTTING THE
METRO BUS TRIP HOURS, CITY'S
CONTRIBUTION TO THE METRO BUS
TRIP HOURS FROM 300,000 TO
80,000.
THAT IS A MASSIVE CUT THAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT NOT ONLY FOR
THE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE AND
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES WHO
RELY ON METRO AND ESPECIALLY
CENTRAL WORKERS WHO ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED
IN THE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY
AND ALSO THE WORKERS A THE
METRO THEMSELVES REPRESENTING
BY LOCAL 587.
JUST A QUOTE FROM THE CENTRAL
STAFF MEMO.
IN 2019 PRIOR TO ECONOMIC DOWN
TURN, STBD MEASURE GENERATED
$62 MILLION AND PROVIDED
300,000 TRANSIT SERVICE HOURS,
PASSES FOR STUDENTS, AND BUS
PASSES FOR SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY RESIDENTS.
WHAT'S UNDER CONSIDERATION, IT
IS 80,000 ANNUAL SERVICE HOURS
WHEN COMBINING TRANSIT SERVICE
AND EMERGING NEEDS CATEGORY.
STBD PURCHASED APPROXIMATELY
300,000 SERVICE HOURS IN 2019
AND WILL REDUCE SERVICE LEVELS
TO 150,000 ANNUALIZED HOURS
BEGINNING IN SEPTEMBER 2020
METRO SERVICE CHANGE.
REALLY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A
MASSIVE CUT AND THE FIRST
DISSERVICE BEING DONE TO THE
PUBLIC IS IT IS NOT EVEN BEING
REPRESENTED HONESTLY LET ALONE
THE FACT THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD A
CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW CAN WE
PREVENT THE CUTS FROM HAPPENING
IN THE FIRST PLACE?
STRAIGHT AWAY THE CONVERSATION
HAS GONE TO HOW CAN WE MAKE THE
CUTS MORE EQUITABLE?
LET'S BE CLEAR.
THERE IS NOTHING EQUITABLE
ABOUT CUTS.
WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IS
THE POLITICS WHERE YOU WILL PUT
ONE COMMUNITY AGAINST ANOTHER
AND SAY WE WILL SAVE THESE
ROUTES BUT THESE OTHER ROUTES
WILL BE CUT.
THAT'S NOT EQUITABLE AT ALL.
THAT'S THE DEFINITION OF
INJUSTICE. FURTHERMORE, WE NEED
TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT
HOW THE SHORTFALLS CAN BE BACK
FILLED.
I DON'T ACCEPT THAT SALES TAX
WHICH IS MOST REGRESSIVE TAX
SHOULD BE USED.
BECAUSE OF OUR MOVEMENT WE WON
A HISTORIC VICTORY OF THE
AMAZON TAX.
WE KNOW THIS CAN BE DONE.
WHY SHOULD WE ACCEPT SALES TAX
WITH OTHER OPTIONS AND ALSO THE
POSSIBILITY OF A DEVELOPER.
ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, STBD
CAN BE FUNDED THROUGH ANY OF
THE FOLLOWING MECHANISMS.
SALES TAX, PROPERTY TAX,
DEVELOPER IMPACT FEES, REGIONAL
PROPERTY TAX, VEHICLE LICENSE
FEE WHICH IS CAR TAX.
THERE ARE OPTIONS LEGALLY THAT
ARE PROGRESSIVE.
IT'S A QUESTION OF WHETHER THE
COUNCIL AND MAYOR'S OFFICE WILL
PUT ANY EMPHASIS ON THE
PROGRESSIVE OPTIONS POSSIBLE.
ONE QUESTION FOR CENTRAL STAFF,
NOT THAT I WOULD EXPECT THEM TO
ANSWER NOW, IS
ADMINISTRATIVELY, COULD THE
DEVELOPER IN FACT PLEASE BE
DONE IN TIME?
THEN A LAST POINT I WILL MAKE,
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS
FREQUENTLY MADE ARGUMENTS TO
SUGGEST LESS TRANSIT WILL BE
REQUIRED BECAUSE UNDER COVID
PEOPLE ARE NOT TAKING PUBLIC
TRANS SIT.
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
I AGREE WITH THOSE WHO HAVE
SAID WE SHOULD MINIMIZE THE
SPREAD OF COVID.
IF YOU DON'T NEED TO USE PUBLIC
TRANSIT WE SHOULDN'T.
SO THAT THOSE WHO NEED TO ARE
SAFER.
I AGREE.
BUT TO MAKE THAT IN RELATION TO
STBD DOESN'T MAKE SENSE BECAUSE
THIS IS A SIX YEAR PROPOSAL.
WE ARE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENS UNDER COVID.
THESE ARE DECISIONS THAT WILL
HAVE AN IMPACT LATER WHEN THE
PANDEMIC IS RESOLVED AS WELL.
THAT NEEDS TO BE KEPT IN MIND
AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
CALVIN, COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT
BROUGHT UP YOUR CENTRAL STAFF
MEMO WHICH IS HELPFUL.
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC IT IS
ONLINE WITH TODAY'S AGENDA.
IT DOES TALK ABOUT OTHER
REVENUE OPTIONS.
ARE YOU ABLE TO ADDRESS COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT'S QUESTION NOW OR
IS THIS SOMETHING YOU WANT TO
GET BACK TO US ON OR BOTH?
>> REALLY BRIEFLY, THOSE ARE
THE REVENUE OPTIONS STATE LAW
ALLOWS FOR TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICTS TO PURSUE.
AS NOTED, VEHICLE LICENSE FEE
IS NOT LEGAL UNDER INITIATIVE
976.
UNLESS WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN
OVERTURNING THAT INITIATIVE, WE
WON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE
REVENUE SOURCES.
THE DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE, IT
MAY BE MORE, MAY NEED TO DO
MORE RESEARCH TO GET BACK TO
THE COUNCIL MEMBER.
I THINK IT WOULD TAKE TIME TO
DEVELOPMENT.
OF COURSE FOLLOW THE ECONOMIC
CYCLE A LITTLE BIT SO THEY'RE
LESS STABLE THAN SOME OF THE
OTHER FUNDING SOURCES.
IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO FUND
THINGS LIKE REGULAR TRANSIT
SERVICE HOURS BASED ON THAT.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS
ELIGIBLE REVENUE FOR THE
BENEFIT DISTRICT.
AS WELL I WOULD POINT OUT THAT
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS OTHER
POTENTIAL REVENUE SOURCES THEY
CAN BRING TO BEAR IF THEY
CHOOSE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, I
SHARE YOUR INTEREST IN REAL
ESTATE DEVELOPER IMPACT FEES AS
WELL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CALVIN
GETTING BACK TO US WITH MORE
INFORMATION ON THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> I HAVE A LITTLE BIT
INFORMATION ABOUT THE
TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPER IMPACT
FEES BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING I
WAS WORKING ON WITH COUNCIL
MEMBER O'BRIEN LAST YEAR.
WELL I GUESS IT WAS MORE THAN
LAST YEAR.
BUT ANYWAYS, WHERE IT WAS LEFT
IS FIRST OF ALL PEOPLE SHOULD
UNDERSTAND IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
DEVELOPER IMPACT FEES, THE
LIMITATION IS THAT IT CAN ONLY
BE USED FOR CAPITAL EXPENSES.
BUT WE DO KNOW THAT CAPITAL
EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH
ADDITIONAL NEED FOR TRANSIT IS
INELIGIBLE EXPENSE.
THE CENTRAL STAFF FREE MAN HAD
BEEN WORKING TO DO A COUNCIL
DRIVEN DEVELOPER TRANSPORTATION
IMPACT FEE PROPOSAL BECAUSE OF
THE KEEN INTEREST FROM SOME
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PUTTING THIS
FORWARD.
AND WE HAD MADE AN AMENDMENT TO
THE PLAN TO CREATE A PROJECT
LIST.
THAT PROJECT LIST WAS APPEALED
TO THE HEARING EXAMINER.
THE HEARING EXAMINER REMANDED
THE THRESHOLD DECISION OF
NONSIGNIFICANCE BACK TO CENTRAL
STAFF TO COMPLETE A PART OF THE
CHECK LIST THAT IS GENERALLY
APPLICABLE TO PROJECT SPECIFIC
REVIEW.
SO I UNDERSTOOD THAT CENTRAL
STAFF WAS GOING TO BE DOING
THAT AROUND NOVEMBER OF LAST
YEAR.
BUT THEN SINCE THE HEARING
EXAMINER ALSO RETAINED
JURISDICTION, IT WOULD ALLOW TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REBUTTAL
INFORMATION AND COMMENTARY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
AFTER THAT POINT.
BUT THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT IS
THESE CHANGES TO THE COMP PLAN
WERE BASICALLY SETTING US UP
FOR ANOTHER SET OF NECESSARY
CHANGES TO THE COMP PLAN FOR
THIS MARCH.
THE COUNCIL DID NOT TAKE UP THE
2020 COMP PLAN UPDATE THIS
MARCH.
SO I THINK AS CALVIN MENTIONED,
THERE IS SOME QUESTION ABOUT
HOW QUICKLY WE COULD MOVE
FORWARD AT TRANSPORTATION
DEVELOPMENT IMPACT PROGRAM
WHICH MAKING THESE NECESSARY
CHANGES TO THE COMP PLAN.
BUT I TOO AM VERY INTERESTED IN
HAVING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
THAT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS IF I MAY,
THE CITY ACTUALLY HAS TWO
VENUES, TWO AVENUES OF
AUTHORITY FOR DEVELOPER FEES.
ONE IS THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT
ACT AUTHORITY THAT THE COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD WAS TALKING
ABOUT.
THERE IS SEPARATE STATE
LEGISLATION, TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT LEGISLATION ALLOWS THAT
MAY HAVE DIFFERENCE IN
TECHNICALITIES.
WE HAVE SEEN OTHER
JURISDICTIONS USE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT ACT
BEFORE.
>> LET'S LOOK INTO THAT.
>> WHILE DEVELOPING I THINK WE
LOOKED AT OTHER OPTIONS
AVAILABLE AND RECOGNIZING
THINGS LIKE DEVELOPER IMPACT
FEES, LIDS, AND ALL THAT STUFF
WOULDN'T FIT ON THE TIME LINE
THAT MATCHED WITH WHEN THIS WAS
EXPIRING AT THE END OF THE
YEAR.
WE SAW THAT AS A ONE YEAR, TWO
YEAR PROCESS.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO FINDING
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF REVENUE
FOR TRAN SIT IN SEATTLE.
THIS IS AGAINST A DEADLINE OF
THIS WHEN DEVELOPING THIS
PROPOSAL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBERS JUAREZ AND
LEWIS, I CAN'T SEE YOU SO YOU
CAN JUST CHIME IN IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, WERE YOU
AHEAD OF ME?
>> YOU CAN GO.
THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE.
>> CALVIN, I AM LOOKING AT YOUR
MEMO.
THANK YOU YESTERDAY FOR WALKING
ME THROUGH ISSUES AND ALSO TO
THE S DOT STAFF THAT WORKED
WITH MY STAFF AND I YESTERDAY
AND WENT THROUGH THE
POWERPOINT.
ON PAGE 2 OF YOUR MEMO, I THINK
IT IS FIVE PAGES, I MAY BE OVER
SIMPLIFYING THIS QUESTION, THIS
GOES TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT WAS TALKING ABOUT,
POLITICS OF IN THE SALES TAX.
THE STBD MEASURE, IF IT IS NOT
RENEWED AND THERE IS NO
ADDITIONAL TRANSIT FUNDING AND
WE DON'T SEE ANYTHING AT LEAST
RIGHT NOW COMING FROM THE STATE
OR THE FEDS AND WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE
CHALLENGE OF 976 WHICH IS IN
THE WASHINGTON STATE SUPREME
COURT, WHAT'S THE WORST CASE
SCENARIO?
WHEN YOU SAY THERE IS MONEY IN
RESERVES TO LAST THROUGH
MARCH 2021, WHAT'S WORST CASE
SCENARIO WE ARE TALKING HERE?
>> IT MEANS THAT WE WOULDN'T
HAVE REV IN YOU TO PURCHASE
TRANSIT SERVICE OR PAY FOR BUS
PASSES OR ANY OF THE
PROGRAMMATIC INVESTMENTS PAST
THE END OF THIS YEAR AND
TRANSIT SERVICE PAST MARCH OF
2021.
>> SO THE FIVE, SPENDING LEVELS
OF THE CATEGORIES, THOSE FIVE,
ALL OF THAT GOES AWAY, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT.
>> WE HAVE MONEY NOW UNTIL
MARCH TO ATTEND TO THESE NEEDS
AND THEN AFTER THAT, IT WILL
ALL GO AWAY.
>> THE MARCH MONEY, SOME OF IT
IS MORE ABOUT OUR CONTRACTUAL
OBLIGATIONS WITH METRO.
WE CAN ONLY MAKE SERVICE
CHANGES ON THEIR SCHEDULE IN
THE FALL AND SPRING.
S DOT HAS PRESERVED SOME MONEY
TO BE SURE WE CAN MEET OUR
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS TO GET
TO THE SERVICE CHANGE IN MARCH.
>> I KNOW WE TALKED A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THIS.
I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT REMEMBERING
EVERYBODY'S NAME, S DOT FOLKS.
WE TALKED AT LENGTH CERTAINLY
WITH MY PARTICIPATION ON SOUND
TRANSIT AND WITH THE PUGET
SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL
TRANSPORTATION BOARD, IMPACTS
TO WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT AS
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD RAISED
TO THE BRIDGE AND HOW MUCH WAS
ALLOCATED TO REDESIGN AND
REBUILD.
BRIDGE AND NOW WE KNOW WE NEED
ADDITIONAL SERVICES IS IT FAIR
TO SAY THAT WEST SEATTLE WILL
TAKE A MAJOR HIT IN
TRANSPORTATION IN JUST GETTING
DOWNTOWN?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER, ARE YOU
REFERRING TO IF WE WOULDN'T
PASS THE MEASURE?
>> YES.
IN ADDITION TO WHAT CALVIN IS
SAYING, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO
PURCHASE SERVICE PAST MARCH.
NOT ONLY WEST SEATTLE BUT THE
ENTIRE CITY WOULD SEE IMPACTS
OF REDUCED SERVICE FROM THE
CITY'S INVESTMENT AND FROM
METRO'S OWN BUDGET CHALLENGE.
THE IMPACTS WOULD BE FELT
ACUTELY IN THE WEST SEATTLE
PENINSULA BECAUSE OF THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE CLOSURE TOO.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING
AT.
THAT SEEMS TO BE MOST EMERGENT
ISSUE NOW IN REGARDS TO THE
THREE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEES
WHERE THEY ALL DOVE TAIL AND
EVERYONE IS KIND OF SITTING
BACK.
I THINK WE DISCUSSED THIS
YESTERDAY AS WELL.
WE SHOULD THANK THE CONGRESS
WOMAN FOR HER WONDERFUL SPEECH
ON THE FLOOR ADVOCATING FOR
FEDERAL MONEY FOR WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE.
AGAIN GETTING BACK TO THE TAX
AND RENEWAL OF IT, MY CONCERN
IS BECAUSE A LOT OF US ARE
GETTING LIGHT RAIL AND WE HAVE
A TEN MINUTE TO DIFFERENT BUS
AREAS, I HAVE A CONCERN,
OBVIOUSLY COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD'S AS WELL, THE IMPACT
TO THOSE THAT NEED TO GET
DOWNTOWN AND RELY ON THIS.
AND ALSO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL, WE
PROVIDE ORCA CARDS.
THAT'S MY CONCERN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR Y█OUR LEADERSHIP.
I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
THIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WITH
THE DEPARTMENT AND MAYOR'S
OFFICE TO GET SOMETHING IN
PLACE.
THERE ARE FEW TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS OR PROGRAMS I TALKED
MORE ABOUT LAST YEAR WITH
NEIGHBORS AND WITH THE
COMMUNITY WHEN I WAS A
CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCIL THAN
THE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICT.
I JUST THINK IT'S HAD AN
AMAZING TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPACT
ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN
SEATTLE AND INDEED IN THE
REGION.
SO I AM GLAD THAT JUST GIVEN
WE HAVE WORKED OUT A PLAN TO
MOVE FORWARD AND GET SOMETHING
RENEWED.
I AM GLAD FOR THE DISCRETION TO
NOT EXPAND MORE OF OUR COUNCIL
MATTIC SALES TAX AUTHORITY JUST
GIVEN THE ECONOMIC NATURE OF
WHAT FOLKS ARE GOING THROUGH
AND THE REGRESSIVE NATURE OF A
SALES TAX.
I AM GLAD WE ARE SIMPLY
PURSUING RENEWAL AND NOT
EXPANSION OF THE COUNCIL MATTIC
SALES TAX AUTHORITY.
I WOULD SIGNAL HERE THAT I DO
EAGERLY AWAIT THE ABILITY FOR
US TO CHANGE UP THE FORMULA
AGAIN IN A SUPPLEMENTAL WAY
ONCE WE DO GET MORE GUIDANCE ON
THE FATE OF OUR ABILITY TO
MEANINGFULLY INCLUDE CAR TABS
AGAIN AS PART OF HOW WE CAN
GUARANTEE AND PROVIDE THIS
ESSENTIAL SERVICE, LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUING TO FOLLOW YOUR
LEADERSHIP HERE ON THIS
COMMITTEE AND LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING THIS PROPOSAL.
I WANT TO ALSO THANK THE
DEPARTMENT FOR GIVING A
DETAILED BRIEFING THAT ALLOWED
ME TO RESOLVE MOST OF MY
UNDERLYING QUESTIONS PRIOR TO
THE MEETING TODAY.
I APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY
TO MEET FOR THAT BRIEFING
YESTERDAY AND REALLY THOROUGHLY
UNDERSTAND THE PROPOSAL AND AM
EXCITED TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR
THIS.
>> THANK YOUCOUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCIL MEMBERS?
I DO WANT TO JUST REMIND FOLKS
THAT YOU CAN GET YOUR QUESTIONS
TO CALVIN CHOW.
HE CAN SERVE AS SINGLE POINT OF
CONTACT FOR US AND HE WILL GET
THE QUESTIONS TO THE
APPROPRIATE PEOPLE IN THE
EXECUTIVE TO HELP ANSWER THE
QUESTIONS AS WELL AS IF YOU
HAVE AMENDMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE
TO WORK UP, SEND THOSE IDEAS TO
CALVIN.
IDEALLY MONDAY WOULD BE GREAT.
WE KNOW THAT'S REALLY PRESSED.
BUT EARLY NEXT WEEK TO CALVIN,
GET ANY AMENDMENT IDEAS TO HIM.
WE ARE MEETING AGAIN NEXT
FRIDAY AT THE SAME TIME, 10:00
A.M.
FRIDAY JULY 17th.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK ALL THE
FOLKS WHO CALLED IN TODAY,
THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING
TODAY.
I WANT TO ECHO VICE CHAIR
STRAUSS' COMMENTS THANKING THE
BUS DRIVERS WHO ARE GETTING
ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHERE THEY
NEED TO GO RIGHT NOW DURING
COVID AND THE ADVOCATES WHO
CALLED.
ANY FINAL REMARKS FROM MY
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES BEFORE WE
ADJOURN?
OKAY.
WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR
AGENDA.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS FRIDAY JULY
17 AT 10:00 A.M.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, WE ARE
ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.