>>> MEETING OF THE
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE TIME IS 9:31 AM.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLE?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
COUNCILMEMBER WHEREAS?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR PEDERSEN ?
>> HERE.
>> THREE PRESENT.
>> SORRY.
I WAS TRYING TO GET INTO THE
MEETING.
I AM PRESIDENT.
I AM PRESENT.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
THANKS, EVERYBODY, FOR BEING
HERE.
THE NEXT ITEM IS THE APPROVAL
OF THE AGENDA.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WE WILL BE CONSIDERING
LEGISLATION FROM EACH OF OUR
FOUR LARGE DEPARTMENTS TODAY.
SDOT AND THE CITY AUDITOR ARE
HERE TO PRESENT ON THE STATUS OF
BRIDGE REPAIR, MAINTENANCE, AND
SEISMIC UPDATES.
WE WILL CONSIDER HOW TO SPEND
THE NEW $20 VEHICLE LICENSE FEE
REVENUES, ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOT
TAKING A VOTE ON THAT TODAY.
WE WILL CONTINUE OUR
CONVERSATION ABOUT SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES STRATEGIC
BUSINESS PLAN AND PATH FOR
UTILITY RATES.
WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING
ABOUT AN EASEMENT FROM CITY
LIGHT KING COUNTY, WHICH WILL
HELP US WITH A TRAIL WE ARE
BUILDING IN SOUTH SEATTLE.
THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT IS HERE TO UPDATE US
ON THEIR EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT
THE INTERNET FOR ALL ACTION
PLAN.
FINALLY, WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE
AUTHORIZING A PARTIAL OWNERSHIP
TRANSFER OF A CABLE PACKAGE
PLAN.
I DO WANT TO CLEAR UP SOME
QUESTIONS REGARDING ITEM 2 ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
THAT IS THE ITEM FOR HOW TO
INVEST NEW DETAILS, YOU DOLLARS
FOR VEHICLE LICENSING FEES.
WE INCREASED THAT AS SOON AS WE
COULD LAST YEAR.
WE KNOW TRANSPORTATION NEEDS
ARE LARGE IN OUR GROWING CITY.
THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY FROM
OUR SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION WAS CRAFTED
AFTER MEETING WITH MANY
STAKEHOLDERS.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR
THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THAT
PROCESS.
THAT BILL AUTHORIZES SPENDING
THOSE NEW DOLLARS JUST FOR THIS
YEAR, 2021.
THAT IS WHAT THE ORIGINAL
UNDERLYING BILL DOES.
THE AMENDMENT BEFORE US SIMPLY
ASKS SDOT TO REPORT BACK TO THE
COUNCIL.
THAT AMENDMENT IS VERY BRIEF.
IT SAYS THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR IS
DIRECTED TO PROVIDE COUNCIL A
LIST OF TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
THAT COULD BE FUNDED BY $100
MILLION IN 2022.
AT MINIMUM, THE LIST SHALL
INCLUDE THE TITLE, SHORT
DESCRIPTION, AND COST FOR EACH
PROJECT.
THE PROJECT LIST SHALL IDENTIFY
A MINIMUM OF $75 MILLION OF
BRIDGE MAINTENANCE, BRIDGE
REPAIR, AND BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
PROJECT.
THE PROJECT LIST SHALL BE
DELIVERED TO CITY COUNCIL BY
SEPTEMBER 30, 2021.
THAT IS WHAT THE AMENDMENT
DOES.
IT IS NOT TO AUTHORIZE AN
ISSUE.
IT IS ASKING US TO COME BACK
WITH A PLAN OF HOW WE CAN GET
MORE MONEY OUT THE DOOR FASTER
TO BENEFIT COMMUNITIES FASTER
úAND CREATE JOBS FASTER.
WE ASK FOR 44 TO COME BACK WITH
A PLAN FOR INVESTMENT
INFRASTRUCTURE, IS THAT OF
TRICKLING IT OUT WITH $700
MILLION EACH YEAR.
THERE IS AN EMPHASIS ON BRIDGES
FOR A VARIETY OF REASON.
THE REAL DECISION WILL BE MADE
DURING OUR FALL BUDGET PROCESS.
WE CAN SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE
OF TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES AND
NEEDS.
WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE BENEFITS
AND QUESTIONS ON THAT AMENDMENT
, TOO.
I WANTED TO CLARIFY THE LIMITED
SCOPE OF THE ONE-YEAR
LEGISLATION AND WHAT THE ONE
PAGE AMENDMENT WOULD ACTUALLY
DO.
WE ARE NOT VOTING ON THAT
LEGISLATION TODAY.
WE WANT TO HEAR IT TWICE, SO IT
WILL BE BACK ON OUR COMMITTEE
ON MAY 5. WE HAVE 21 SPEAKERS
SIGNED UP TODAY.
TYPICALLY, OUR PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS 20 MINUTES.
I WILL SET IT UP FOR 30
MINUTES.
EVERYBODY WILL HAVE A MINUTE
AND A HALF OR 90 SECONDS TO
SPEAK.
I ASKED THAT EVERYONE, AT THIS
TIME, WE WILL OPEN THE REMOTE
GENERAL COMMENT PERIOD.
I ASKED THAT EVERYBODY PLEASE
BE PATIENT AS WE OPERATE THIS
ONLINE SYSTEM.
WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING FOR
WAYS TO FINE-TUNE THIS PROCESS
OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
IT REMAINS THE INTENT OF CITY
COUNCIL TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT
REGULARLY INCLUDED ON MEETING
AGENDAS.
CITY COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT
TO MODIFY THESE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIODS AT ANY POINT IF WE DEEM
THE SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED OR
UNSUITABLE FOR ALLOWING OUR
MEETINGS TO BE CONDUCTED
EFFICIENTLY AND IN A MANNER IN
WHICH WE CAN CONDUCT NECESSARY
BUSINESS.
I WILL MODERATE IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER.
PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE UP TO
30 MINUTES.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN 90
SECONDS TO SPEAK.
I WILL CALL ON TWO SPEAKERS AT
A TIME.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK, BUT WOULD LIKE TO, YOU
CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF
THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD BY
GOING TO SEATTLE.GOV/COUNCIL.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINK IS
LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL THE NAME OF A
SPEAKER, THE STAFF WILL UNMUTE
THE APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE.
YOU WILL SEE THE Q AND IT WILL
BE YOUR CUE TO SPEAK.
THE PRESS OF á6 MUST BE DONE IN
ORDER TO SPEAK.
PLEASE BEGIN BY STATING YOUR
NAME AND THE ITEM YOU ARE
ADDRESSING.
IT SHOULD BE RELATED TO AN ITEM
ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
10 SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED CHIME. ONCE YOU GET
BACK, WE ASK YOU TO WRAP UP
YOUR COMMENTS.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT END THEIR
COMMENTS AT THE END OF THEIR
ALLOTTED TIME, THE MICROPHONE
WILL BE MUTED.
ONCE YOU'RE DONE, WE ASKED YOU
TO DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE.
YOU CAN CONTINUE TO FOLLOW
THROUGH THE SEATTLE AGENDA ON
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL.
IF YOU'RE CALLING ABOUT THE
CITY LIGHT EASEMENT, WAIT UNTIL
LATER.
WE HAVE A PUBLIC ITEM ON THE
AGENDA THAT IS SEPARATE.
THE REGULAR PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
PRESS á6 BEFORE SPEAKING.
WE WILL START WITH KELSEY
FOLLOWED BY NICOLINA.
>> I AM THE DIRECTOR OF
TRANSPORTATION CHOICES
COALITION.
I AM HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE
STAKEHOLDER LEAD VEHICLE
LICENSING FEE PLAN AND
EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS OVER
THE NEW PROPOSAL REGARDING THE
FUNDS AND CHANGE INVESTMENT. WE
PARTICIPATED WITH A DIVERSE
GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS IN
DEVELOPING THIS SPEND PLAN.
WE AND OTHERS FELT THIS WAS A
STRONG INEQUITABLE PROCESS AND
RESULTED IN AN HOLISTIC PLAN
THAT WAS BASED IN COMPROMISE,
TOOK A SYSTEMS APPROACH, AND
HAD A STRONG FOCUS ON EQUITY.
THIS PLAN PRIORITIZES NEEDED
REPAIRS FOR SIDEWALKS, CURB
RAMPS, AND OTHER
INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT PRIORITIZES NEIGHBORHOODS
WITH LOWER CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES
AND MAKES INVESTMENT THAT WOULD
MAKE IT SAFER MORE SUSTAINABLE
TO GET AROUND OUR CITY.
WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS LATE
PROPOSAL DISREGARDS THIS
IMPORTANT PROCESS WORK.
WHEN A DIVERSE SET OF
STAKEHOLDERS FEELS ADEQUATELY
ENGAGED AND PROUD OF THE
COLLABORATIVE PRODUCT, WE NEED
TO MAKE AN EXTRA EFFORT TO
UPHOLD AND CHAMPION THAT.
WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS
WOULD UNDERMINE IT.
WE APPRECIATE THAT THE BONDING
WOULD POTENTIALLY HELP PROTECT
THE FUNDS.
WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE HIGH
COST.
WE ARE CONCERNED THAT TAXPAYERS
WILL SPEND MORE THAN THE
BENEFITS THEY WOULD RECEIVEFROM
NON-BRIDGE INVESTMENTS.
WE WOULD STILL OWE HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
OUTSTANDING BRIDGE FUNDING.
WE UNDERSTAN THE NEED TO
MAINTAIN BRIDGES.
PERHAPS THE SCOPE, BUT WE
REALLY NEED TO DO IS TAKE A
LOOK AT HOW TO ADEQUATELY
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN
COORDINATION WITH STATE AND
FEDERAL STRATEGIES, BUT TODAY
WE ASK YOU TO HONOR THE WORK OF
SDOT AND THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP
AND USE DOLLARS TO IMPLEMENT
THE ORIGINAL SPEND PLAN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, KELSEY.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE NICOLINA
FOLLOWED BY JONATHAN.
NICOLINA, PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM NICOLINA AND I REPRESENT
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS CENTER IN
REGARDS TO INTERNET FOR ALL.
WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF
INITIATIVES THAT BRIDGE THE
DIGITAL DIVIDE IN SEATTLE.
DIGITAL LITERACY IS STILL A
PROBLEM FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOW
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY, HAVE 80
DISABILITY, ARE OLDER ADULTS,
AND ARE WITHIN BIPOC
COMMUNITIES.
THIS HAS BEEN EXACERBATED BY
THE PANDEMIC.
IT IS CRITICAL WE CONTINUE TO
INVEST IN THESE KINDS OF
PROGRAMS LIKE INTERNET FOR ALL
THAT PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED
RESOURCES TO UNDERSERVED
NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS TO 500
FAMILIES TO PARTICIPATE IN
SCHOOL AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS.
THIS HAS BEEN A BARRIER FOR
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS AND ITS
DOZEN ORGANIZATIONS.
WE WERE CONNECTED WITH THE
COMCAST SYSTEM PROGRAM.
WE WILL NOW BE ABLE TO OFFER
FREE INTERNET TO OUR COMMUNITY.
ADDITIONALLY, THE ALSO
CONNECTED US WITH UW GRADUATE
PROGRAMS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO
SERVE AS A FREE HOTSPOT FOR THE
SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS EXPANDED SERVICE IS
CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AS
WELL AS THE FAMILIES AND PEOPLE
WE SERVE.
WE SUPPORT THE INVESTMENT AND
PROGRAMS THAT IMPROVE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND ACCESS TO
TECHNOLOGY.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
SPEAK TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
ONE MOMENT.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE JONATHAN
FOLLOWED BY BEN.
GO AHEAD, JONATHAN.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I AM JONATHAN HOPKINS, SPEAKING
AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
SEATTLE SUBWAY.
AT SEATTLE SUBWAY, WE BELIEVE
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN OUR CITY
DESERVES A WALKABLE CONNECTION.
AS THE CITY CONTINUES TO
CONSIDER CHANGES TO THE
SPENDING PLAN, WE HAVE A
SPECIFIC REQUEST.
THEY SHOULD KEEP EXISTING
RECOGNITION FOR $3 MILLION TO
GO TOWARDS A TRANSIT MASTERPLAN
WITH A CRITICAL RAIL COMPONENT.
THE CURRENT PLAN IS OBSOLETE.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT OUR CITY
HAVE A VISION FOR WHAT OUR
LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM LOOKS LIKE IN
THE FUTURE BEYOND ST3.
THAT STILL LEAVES THE MAJORITY
OF OUR CITY DISCONNECTED FROM
THE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM.
THAT MEANS THE MAJORITY OF OUR
URBAN VILLAGES.
THERE WILL BE DECISIONS MADE
OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS THAT
COULD PREVENT KEY NEIGHBORHOODS
FROM BEING ADDED IN THE FUTURE.
OUR FOR MILLION-DOLLAR DOWNTOWN
TRANSIT PLAN THAT IS BEING
DEVELOPED RIGHT NOW WILL NOT
ALLOW ADDITIONAL LINES TO BE
ADDED IN THE FUTURE.
WHEN FINALIZED IN 2023, THESE
DECISIONS WILL BE FINAL AND
CANNOT BE UNDONE.
WE WOULD BE BUILDING A TUNNEL
BENEATH OUR CITY.
WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS COMING
NEXT WEEK AND CHAMPION FOR THE
CITY THAT WE WANT TO HAVE.
IF WE DON'T DO THAT NOW, WE
WILL REGRET OUR MISTAKES LATER.
PLEASE ENSURE THAT THE CHANGES
TO THE SPENDING PLAN DO NOT
LEAVE US FLYING BLIND.
ENABLE SEATTLE TO HAVE A
TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT
VISION.
IF WE DON'T STAND UP FOR A
THOUGHTFUL, UPDATED VISION FOR
OUR CITY'S NEEDS, WHO WILL?
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JONATHAN.
NEXT UP IS BEN FOLLOWED BY SAM.
GO AHEAD, BEN.
>> MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK TODAY.
I AM THE OPERATING DIRECTOR AT
SEATTLE SUBWAY.
I AM ASKING THE COUNCIL TO
PLEASE BUDGET IMMEDIATE FUNDING
FOR THE $3 MILLION FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN
UPDATE TO IDENTIFY FUTURE LIGHT
RAIL CITYWIDE.
I AM ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF
FUTURE CROSSTOWN LIGHT RAIL
SERVICE FOR EVERY SINGLE
COUNCIL DISTRICT IN OUR CITY.
SOME SOUND TRANSIT TO AN
EXCELLENT START.
IF WE DON'T CREATE A VISION FOR
LIGHT RAIL THAT WE NEED IN THE
FUTURE AS OUR CITY AND REGION
GROWS, WE COULD NOT POSSIBLY
CONNECT TO THE NEW TUNNEL BEING
BUILT DOWNTOWN AS PART OF SOUND
TRANSIT THREE.
FAST AND CONVENIENT AND SAFE
TRAVEL IS A BIG ISSUE FOR MOST
PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.
CROSSTOWN TRAVEL AFFECTS MY
FAMILY DAILY.
MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY LIVES IN
NORTHWEST SEATTLE.
MY FUTURE IN-LAWS ARE IN THE
AREA.
I LIVE IN BETWEEN MY FACILITY.
WE TRAVELED EAST AND WEST FOR
MOST OF OUR TRIPS.
LIKE ALL OF THE DIFFICULT CROSS
TRIAL TRAVEL CORRIDORS, THE
MADISON AND DENNY CORRIDORS ARE
ALREADY APPROACHING PRE-
PANDEMIC GRIDLOCK.
MANY OF US WERE NOT ABLE TO
STOP TRAVELING DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
AS EVERYONE RESUMES THEIR DAILY
LIVES, CROSSTOWN TRAVEL WILL
CONTINUE TO BE EXCRUCIATING.
THE CITY NEEDS BETTER OPTIONS
IN EVERY CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT.
úIF WE DON'T BUILD A NEW
DOWNTOWN TUNNEL CORRECTLY, WE
WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO FEASIBLY
EXPAND LIGHT RAIL SERVICE TO
THE MADISON CORRIDOR OR TO THE
KING COUNTY METRO 8 CORRIDOR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BEN.
NOW WE HAVE SAM AND ALSO RENCE.
GO AHEAD, SAM.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS SAM FERRARA AND I'M
ONE THE COCHAIRS OF THE MOVE
SEATTLE LEVY OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE.
EARLIER IN THIS MEETING, A
MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL PASSED
LEGISLATION ADDING $20 TO THE
VEHICLE LICENSING FEE.
PART OF THE LEGISLATION
INSTRUCTED SDOT TO ENCOURAGE
CERTAIN STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP
A PLAN FOR HOW THESE REVENUES
WOULD BE SPENT.
I WAS ONE OF THESE STAKEHOLDERS.
I PARTICIPATED IN MULTIPLE
MEETINGS AND GOT INPUT FOR MY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
I BELIEVE THE PLAN TRANSMITTED
TO THE CITY COUNCIL WAS AN
ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF
STAKEHOLDER INPUT.
IT PUT ASIDE MONEY FOR
SIDEWALKS, STREETS, AND 24% FOR
GRID REPAIRS.
THE RECENT AMENDMENT DOES NOT
ALIGN WITH THE STAKEHOLDER
INPUT I HEARD.
THIS AMENDMENT SAYS THAT 75% OF
FUNDS USED FOR BRIDGES AND
BONDING.
THIS WAS NOT DISCUSSED WITH
STAKEHOLDERS.
WE HAVE MORE TRANSPORTATION
NEEDS THAN WE CAN FUND.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE CITY COUNCIL
TRY TO FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDING
FROM OTHER SOURCES.
I DO BELIEVE THESE ARE CRITICAL
PROJECTS TO COMPLETE.
I AM HERE TODAY TO CALL ON THE
CITY COUNCIL TO NOT DEVIATE
FROM STAKEHOLDER
RECOMMENDATION, AS THIS COULD
LEAD TO DISTRUST WITHIN OUR
COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SAM.
NEXT UP, WE'VE GOT THE AND THEN
PATRICK.
GO AHEAD, RENCE.
RENCE, YOU WANT TO PRICE á6.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES.
>> PERFECT.
THANK YOU.
HELLO.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU,
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE AND THANK YOU
FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I AM RENCE AND I'M A RESIDENT
OF NORTH SEATTLE.
I HAVE BEEN ORGANIZING AROUND
LAND-USE AND TRANSPORTATION
ISSUES FOR MANY YEARS.
I WANTED TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY
AROUND NORTH SEATTLE IN REGARD
TO THE DLS DISCUSSION.
WE ALL KNOW THAT STATIONS AT
NORTHGATE AND 1/30 AND 1/45
WILL NOT BE ENOUGH.
THAT LINE BELIEVE A LOT OF
PEOPLE OUT, ESPECIALLY IN NORTH
SEATTLE.
IF WE WANT TO MAKE IT SO THAT
HE WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO
DRIVE, WE NEED MORE TRANSIT IN
NORTH SEATTLE.
I HAVE WRITTEN THE E LINE.
IN THESE PEOPLE BEHIND
REGULARLY.
IT IS A GREAT SERVICE, BUT THE
DEMAND ON THE AURORA CORRIDOR
NEEDS A TRAIN ALREADY.
AS WE TRY TO REVISION OUR
COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO SERVE IT
WITH HIGH-CAPACITY RAIL
INFRASTRUCTURE.
PLEASE FUND $3 MILLION FOR SDOT
TO COMPLETE A CITYWIDE LIGHT
RAIL PLAN BY THE END OF 2022
>>> CITY HAS A PLAN FOR THE
FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, RENCE.
NEXT UP, PATRICK FOLLOWED BY
INGRID.
GO AHEAD, PATRICK.
>> I AM COCHAIR OF THE ADVISORY
BOARD AND A MEMBER OF THE LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
TODAY, I'M SPEAKING AS AN
INDIVIDUAL.
WE WERE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE ON
HOW TO SPEND THE LICENSING FEE
ONEY ALONG WITH OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS.
AT THE END OF THE PROCESS, I
FELT LIKE THE PLAN PRODUCED
WHICH SPENT 75% OF MONEY ON
WALKING, BIKING, AND TRANSIT
REFLECTED THE FEEDBACK AND
ALIGNED WITH THE VALUES OF THE
CITY AS EMBODIED BY THIS PLAN.
WHAT WE ARE HEARING NOW IS THAT
THE WORK WILL BE IGNORED AND
THE NEW PLAN WILL SPEND 70% OF
THE MONEY ON BRIDGE MAINTENANCE
AND A WHOPPING $40 MILLION ON
INTEREST PAYMENTS.
I AM ASKING TODAY THAT THE
COUNCIL NOT IGNORE THE WORK OF
STAKEHOLDERS AND ACCEPT THE
PLAN AS PROPOSED BY SDOT, WHICH
PROVIDES FUNDS FOR WALKING,
BIKING, AND THE LIKE.
THESE SMALL PROJECTS WILL
SUPPORT THE SAFETY AND HEALTH
OF SEATTLE RESIDENTS, REFLECT
OUR CLIMATE COMMITMENT, PROVIDE
JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND
ALIGNED WITH THE FUNDING
COMMITMENTS OUR CITY HAS MADE.
>> THANK YOU, PATRICK.
WE HAVE INGRID AND THEN BILLY.
GO AHEAD, INGRID.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS INGRID
ELLIOTT AND I REPRESENT 350
SEATTLE, A CLIMATE JUSTICE
ORGANIZATION.
I AM HERE TO COMMENT ON THE
SPENDING PLAN.
AT OUR GROUP, WE FIND IT
TROUBLING THAT ON THE EVE OF
EARTH DAY, COUNCIL IS PROPOSING
CUTTING $80 MILLION IN
MULTIMODAL FUNDING.
THESE ARE THE TRANSPORTATION
DOLLARS WE NEED TO PRODUCE
CLIMATE DESTROYING
TRANSPORTATION EMISSIONS.
IT ACCOUNTS FOR 45% OF OUR
CLIMATE POLLUTION IN WASHINGTON
STATE.
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR LOW OR NO
CARBON MOBILITY LIKE BIKING AND
WALKING IS CRUCIAL TO A HEALTHY
CLIMATE FUTURE.
IT MAKES OUR CITY A BETTER
PLACE TO LIVE NOW.
THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE FOR
RESIDENTS WHO DON'T DRIVE.
WE SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL SDOT
PROPOSAL THAT INVESTS 75% IN
WALKING, BIKING, AND TRANSIT
PROJECTS AND 25% IN BRIDGE
REPAIR.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
PROPOSAL TO INVERT THESE
INVESTMENTS IS THE OPPOSITE OF
WHAT WE NEED.
ON A PERSONALNOTE, MY HUSBAND
IS A BIKE COMMUTER.
HE HAD A NEAR MISS WITH CARS
ABOUT ONCE A WEEK.
HE IS ALSO A DOCTOR AND SEES AT
LEAST ONE PATIENT PER WEEK WHO
HAS HAD AN ACCIDENT DIRECTLY
ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE LACK OF
SEPARATED BIKE LANES.
HE REGULARLY TALKS WITH PEOPLE
WHO WANT TO BIKE INSTEAD OF
DRIVE, BUT THEY DON'T BECAUSE
THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE ON OUR
ROADS.
BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE SAVES LIVES
AND REDUCES RARE AND TEAR ON
THE ROADS AND THE CLAIMANT BY
REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CARS OUT
THERE.
FINALLY, THESE ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS,
ESPECIALLY BIKE LANES, PROVIDE
MORE JOBS PER PROJECT DOLLARS
THAN THE LARGER PROJECTS SUCH
AS ROADS AND BRIDGES.
>> THANK YOU, INGRID.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE BILLY FOLLOWED
BY KATY.
GO AHEAD, BILLY.
>> MORNING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE.
I NAME IS BILLY HETHERINGTON.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF COUNCILMAN
PEDERSEN'S AMENDMENT WHICH IS
COSPONSORED BY OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS.
THIS COUNCIL WENT A LONG WAY TO
COLLEGE THE NEED FOR INCREASED
MAINTENANCE FUNDING TO THE OF A
STRUCTURE WITH THE PASSAGE OF
THE BLFD IN NOVEMBER.
-- THE VLF NOVEMBER.
ALLOWING THIS FUNDING TO BE
BONDED TO MAXIMIZE ITS
POTENTIAL WILL GO A LONG WAY IN
FUNDING THE BACKLOG OF BRIDGE
RESERVATION AND MAINTENANCE AND
PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF
UP FUND FUNDING IN OTHER AREAS
THAT WAS PERFORMED OVER THE
LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
WHILE EACH OF THESE WAS TALKED
ABOUT DURING THE STAKEHOLDER
PROCESS WAS IMPORTANT TO THE
MOBILITY OF SEATTLE RESIDENTS
AROUND THE CITY, SPENDING SUCH
A SMALL AMOUNT OF REVENUE
ACROSS SEVERAL AREAS IS NOTHING
TO FIX THE GLARING NEEDS THE
CITY HAS.
THE CITY CANNOT HAVE ANOTHER
MAJOR PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE
SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF A LACK OF
MAINTENANCE FUNDING.
IN FUNDING THESE FUNDS TO TACKLE
A GLARING NEED THAT WAS SPELLED-
OUT OVER LAST YEAR'S AUDIT WILL
BRING HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS
OF LIVING WAGE JOBS AS WE CLIMB
OUT OF A PANDEMIC, BUT WILL
ALSO GO A LONG WAY TO SHORE UP
THE NEED THAT WAS DEFINED
DURING THE RECENT STAKEHOLDER
PROCESS.
I THINK YOU FOR THE TIMING
CONSIDERATION OF THIS AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, BILLY.
NEXT UP, WE'VE GOT KATY WILSON
FOLLOWED BY DEB BARKER.
GO AHEAD.
CHECK HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE
TRANSIT RIDERS UNION.
WE SHARE MANY OF THE CONCERNS
THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED SO FAR
BY SPEAKERS ABOUT THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT TO THE VEHICLE
LICENSE FEES SPENDING PLAN.
WE ARE CONCERNED BY THE
PROPOSED SWITCH FROM 75% OF
FUNDS TO GO TO SAFE STREETS,
SIDEWALKS, ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION, AND MULTIMODAL
PLANNING, TO ONLY 25%.
WE ARE CONCERNED BY THE
PROPOSAL TO BOND THIS REVENUE.
BONDING CAN MAKE SENSE, BUT
GIVEN THAT $75 MILLION IS A
SMALL PART OF THE NEEDS
IDENTIFIED FOUR BRIDGES, IT IS
UNCLEAR WHAT THIS WILL ENABLE
THAT IS WORTH SACRIFICING $40
MILLION OF THIS SOURCE OVER 20
YEARS THE INTEREST PAYMENTS.
WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE SDOT
PROCESS WOULD BE BASICALLY
TOSSED OUT IN THIS NEW
PROPOSAL.
WE ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THE
SDOT PROPOSAL OR, IF YOU THINK
THERE IS A REAL REASON FOR
BONDING, IT NEEDS TO BE VERY
CLEAR WHAT THAT WILL ENABLE
THAT CANNOT BE DONE WITH JUST
USING THE MONEY AS A COMES IN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE DEB FOLLOWED
BY PEDRO.
GO AHEAD, DEB.
DEB BARKER IS UP NEXT.
PRESS á6.
DEB BARKER?
WE CANNOT HEAR YOU.
PRESS á6.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO PEDRO
ESPINOZA.
AND WE WILL COME BACK TO DEB
BARKER LATER.
GO AHEAD, PEDRO.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS AND
THE COUNCIL CHAIR FOR ALLOWING
ME TO SPEAK ON THE MEASURE THAT
WE ARE LOOKING AT, THE
AMENDMENT TO COUNCIL BILL
120042.
I AM IN FAVOR OF IT.
MY NAME IS PEDRO ESPINOZA.
I AM WITH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
OF VIRGINIA.
THIS IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
INVEST IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AS
A WAY OUT OF A POSSIBLE
DOWNTURN THAT WE FACE DUE TO
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
WE HAVE RIDGES AND ROADS AND
OTHER KEY INFRASTRUCTURE
ELEMENTS THAT WE NEED TO
REPAIR.
BY INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE,
WE CAN CREATE JOBS THAT WILL
STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY.
ALSO, WE CANNOT FORGET THAT IF
WE LOSE ANOTHER BRIDGE LIKE THE
BRIDGE THAT WAS LOST IN 2013,
THE COLLAPSE, IT REALLY
IMPACTED OUR COMMERCE AND HOW
WE MOVE OUR GOODS AND SERVICES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE
SEATTLE BRIDGE THAT NEEDS TO BE
REPAIRED.
THAT IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE
ARE FACING.
THERE I A LOT OF COMMENTS
SAYING THAT WE NEED TO ADD BIKE
LANES AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION.
IF WE DON'T REPAIR THE
INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE NOW, WE
COULD SEE FAILURE THAT COULD
IMPACT OUR REGION EVEN WORSE
THAN IT DID BEFORE.
I STRONGLY URGE THAT WE LOOK
AND RECOMMEND AND PASS THIS
AMENDMENT IN FAVOR, AS IT ALSO
CREATES JOBS FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES.
AGAIN, WE SPEAK ABOUT TRYING TO
GET OUT OF THIS POSSIBLE
DOWNTURN DUE TO COVID-19 LAST
YEAR CREATING JOBS, IT ONLY
STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY AND
MAKES US BETTER.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, PEDRO.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE CURTIS AND
ELENI.
GO AHEAD, CURTIS.
>> HELLO.
THE ME GET MY NOTES.
HELLO, COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND
PARTICIPANTS.
I AM CURTIS, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
IN THE COMPUTER SCIENCE SCHOOL
AT UW.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO THE
SEATTLE INTERNET FOR ALL
INITIATIVE.
WE HAVE KNOWN EQUITY ISSUES IN
SEATTLE AND THIS SITUATION
SHOULD BE IMPROVED.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
ORGANIZERS OF THE INTERNET FOR
ALL INITIATIVE TO DEPLOY ACCESS
AMONG MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS
IN SEATTLE.
WHILE THE PROGRESS HAS BEEN
GREAT IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
HAS BEEN FANTASTIC IN ITS
SUPPORT.
WE URGE YOU CAN CONSIDER
POLICIES NOT FOR COMMERCIAL
PURPOSES.
WE ALSO ENCOURAGE THE EXPANSION
OF FIBER AND HIGH-CAPACITY
NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE IN LOWER
END NEIGHBORHOODS, WHERE IT IS
CRITICAL TO INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE
OURS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CURTIS.
WE HAVE ELENI FOLLOWED BY
EUGENE.
GO AHEAD.
>> I AM AN ENROLLED TRIBAL
MEMBER OF AN ACTIVE COMMUNITY
MEMBER OF THE TRANSPORTATION
EQUITY WORKGROUP.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE ASKED SDOT
TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY.
THEY DID SO WITH GREAT CARE AND
WITH OUR TIME AND EFFORT.
I ATTENDED ALL OF THE VLF
MEETINGS AND VOTED ON MULTIPLE
ASPECTS OF THE TRANSPORTATION
PLAN.
WE SPENT MANY HOURS MEETING
TOGETHER AND HAD BEEN IN
DISCUSSIONS.
I WAS SURPRISED TO READ THAT
THE CITY STATED THAT 75% OF THE
VLF FUNDS WOULD BE GOING TO
BRIDGES.
THIS SHOWS THAT OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT BEING
TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
25% OF THE VLF IS NOT ENOUGH TO
ADDRESS THE OTHER CREDIBLE
TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.
WHEN WE MET, WE CAME UP WITH AN
EQUITABLE SPENDING PLAN.
28 PERCENT RESPONDS TO SAFE
STREETS, 28% TO SAVE SIDEWALKS,
AND 24% FOUR BRIDGES.
IN CONTRAST, YOUR PRESS RELEASE
IS PROPOSING 75% TO BRIDGES.
HOW IS THAT BEING EQUITABLE?
WAS THAT TIME A WASTE OF OUR
TIME AND EFFORT?
EQUITY NEEDS TO BE CENTERED
AROUND ALL FINANCIAL SYSTEMS
BECAUSE OF HISTORICAL RACISM,
LACK OF ACCESS IN VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES, AND HOW WE HAVE
BEEN DISC DILUTED -- EXCLUDED
FROM THE DECISION-MAKING
PROCESS IN THE PASSED.
BIPOC PEOPLE HAVE FAMILIES WHO
WORK AND LIVE WITHIN CITY.
ANY LIVE OUTSIDE OF KING COUNTY
BECAUSE OF GENTRIFICATION.
WE NEED HIGH-PAYING JOBS WITH
BENEFITS.
WE HAVE THE SKILLS TO DO
TRANSPORTATION AND HAVE THEM
WORK.
YOU'RE UNDERCUTTING OUR TIME
AND EFFORT.
YOUR ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
WE HOPE WE ARE NOT THE ONES TO
CONTINUE TO SUFFER THE
CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR DECISIONS
BECAUSE OF THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE EUGENE
FOLLOWED BY BORDEN.
GO AHEAD, EUGENE.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
THIS IS EUGENE WASSERMAN FROM
THE NORTH SEATTLE INDUSTRIAL
ASSOCIATION.
WE WOULD LIKE TO JOIN OUR
HARDENERS IN LABOR, SUPPORTING
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AND THE
OTHER THREE COUNCILMEMBERS, THE
AMENDMENT. BRIDGES ARE IN SAD
SHAPE IN THIS CITY.
OUR BUSINESSES, MANY OF WHICH
OUR UNION DEPEND ON,
TRANSPORTATION, THEY DEPEND ON
THIS TO MOVE FREIGHT AND EMPLOY
PEOPLE.
HAVING BRIDGES THAT WORK IS
IMPORTANT TO US AND TO OUR
BUSINESSES REMAINING IN THE
CITY.
THIS CITY NEEDS A BLUE-COLLAR
LABOR BASE.
WE SPENT ANY YEARS WORKING ON
BRIDGES, PARTICULARLY IN THE
CITY.
THE FREMONT BRIDGE AND OTHER
BRIDGES.
FROM THAT WORK, WE KNOW THAT
THOSE KIND OF BRIDGES ARE
MULTIMODAL BRIDGES.
THEY PROVIDE PEDESTRIANS,
BICYCLISTS, AND TRANSIT
AVAILABILITY TO PEOPLE OF ALL
WALKS AND KINDS IN THE CITY.
A BRIDGE GOING DOWN AFFECTS
EVERYONE IN THE CITY.
IT HAS A GREAT DEAL OF IMPACT.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO THE CITY TO
MAINTAIN THESE BRIDGES AND TO
START REPAIRING THEM BEFORE
THEY FALL DOWN.
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE SHOULD
BE A WAKE UP TO THE IMPACT THAT
IT COULD HAVE.
WE HOPE YOU MOVE FORWARD ON
THIS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING
THIS WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, EUGENE.
EXCEPT WE HAVE GORDON FOLLOWED
BY DOUGLAS.
GO AHEAD, GORDON.
>> MY NAME IS GORDON WITH
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAYS.
THE SDOT PROPOSAL INCLUDED $2
MILLION FOR VISION ZERO.
I WILL SPEAK AS TO WHY THAT IS
IMPORTANT.
AS THE SEATTLE TIMES REPORTED
IN JANUARY, THE LATEST NUMBERS
SHOW THAT SEATTLE IS NOT MAKING
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARDS
REACHING VISION ZERO.
THEY WANT TO LIMIT TRAFFIC
FATALITIES AND SERIOUS INJURIES
BY 2030.
IT FOCUSES ON INVESTMENTS TO
MAKE IT SAFER TO WALK AND BIKE,
BUS STOPS, BUSINESS DISTRICTS,
SCHOOLS, HOME, JOBS, AND OTHER
COMMUNITY DESTINATIONS.
THIS FOCUSES ON THE HIGHEST
CRASH LOCATIONS AND USES
EVIDENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS.
IT HE PRIORITIZES POLICE
ENFORCEMENT IN FAVOR OF
PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO KEEP
EVERYONE SAFE EQUITABLY.
IN VISION ZERO, IT IS ABOUT
NUMBERS AND PEOPLE.
EACH FATALITY SENDS RIPPLES OF
IMPACT THROUGH FRIENDS, FAMILY,
COWORKERS, AND COMMUNITIES.
A WEEK AGO, I DID A MEMORIAL
RIDE FOR SOMEONE IN SOUTH PARK
I AM IN THE PROCESS OF
ORGANIZING A MEMORIAL COMING UP
ON THE 15th, WHICH I HOPE YOU
ALL ATTEND.
THE GOOD THING IS THAT THE
VISION ZERO PROGRAM HAS RESULTED
IN MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN
SOME OF THESE TRAGEDIES IN THE
PASSED.
DESIREE MacLEOD, THERE IS NOW A
SAFE PLACE TO BIKE WHERE SHE
DIED.
MARIA DIED IN LAKE CITY, WHERE
THERE IS NOW A LAKE CITY
CROSSWALK.
JANE SINCLAIR, WHO DIED
CROSSING THE STREET IN THE HIGH
POINT NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE IS A
LIGHT AND CROSSWALK FOR THE
HIGH POINT COMMUNITY IN WEST
SEATTLE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO USE SDOT
PLAN THAT WILL MAINTAIN FUNDING
FOR VISION ZERO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, GORDON.
NEXT UP, WE'VE GOT DOUGLAS
FOLLOWED BY THE CALL.
GO AHEAD, DOUGLAS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE URBANISTS.
I AM SPEAKING TO OPPOSE THE
AMENDMENT OVERWRITING THE PLAN
TO FUND SAFE STREETS FOR BRIDGE
MAINTENANCE SINCE THAT.
IT REPRESENTS AN A MILLION-
DOLLAR CUT TO THESE PROJECTS.
SDOT STRUCK A CAREFUL BALANCE
IN THE SPENDING PROPOSAL AND
INCORPORATED STATED PRIORITIES
OF SAFETY, REDUCING CLIMATE
EMISSIONS, MOBILITY JUSTICE,
AND EQUITY.
THIS AMENDMENT DOES THE
OPPOSITE.
INSTEAD OF VALUING INPUT FROM
EQUITY STAKEHOLDERS, IT OFFERS
A PRECONCEIVED VISION THAT WE
STOPPED USING MONTHS AGO.
THE PROPOSAL FROM SDOT WOULD
INVEST 75% OF THE VLF IN
WALKING, ROLLING, BIKING, AND
SAFETY.
OVERWRITING THAT PLAN DOES NOT
HONOR THE PROCESS.
EVEN WORSE, THE BONDING SCHEME
WOULD LOCK IN THESE SPENDING
PRIORITIES FOR 20 YEARS TO PAY
BACK THE BONDS.
WHAT YOU GET IN RETURN FOR THIS
COMMITMENT, WHICH COMES UP TO
$40 MILLION IN SERVICE COSTS?
PEDERSEN OFFERS A LAUNDRY LIST
OF BRIDGES, BUT THIS CANNOT
MAKE IT AND.
THE MAGNOLIA BRIDGE IS A $400
MILLION PROJECT.
IF COUNCILMEMBERS WANT TO
ADDRESS THE BACKLOG, IT WILL
TAKE A LOT MORE THAN $75
MILLION.
I ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME
FORWARD WITH A REAL FUNDING
PROPOSAL, NOT A BONDING SCHEME
SWIPING SAFE STREETS FUNDING.
LET'S BE REAL.
>> THANK YOU, DOUG.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE NICOLE GRANT.
WE WILL TRY DEB BARKER AGAIN
AFTER THAT.
GO AHEAD, THE CALL.
-- NICOLE.
JUST A REMINDER TO PRESS á6.
NEXT UP, WE'VE GOT NICOLE GRANT.
OKAY, WE WILL COME BACK TO
NICOLE. LET'S GO DOWN THE LIST.
CHECK HELLO?
>> GO AHEAD, NICOLE.
>> SORRY, TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES.
I REPRESENT UNIONS IN KING
COUNTY.
I WANTED TO WEIGH IN IN FAVOR
OF THE BONDING TO FUND OUR
BRIDGES HERE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
I KNOW IT IS EXPENSIVE.
IT IS AMONG THE PRICES WE PAY
FOR HAVING A BEAUTIFUL CITY
FULL OF HILLS AND WATERWAYS.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN
IGNORE.
WE ARE LUCKY ALSO TO HAVE THE
BEST TARGETED LOCAL HIRING
POLICIES IN THE COUNTRY.
WE MAKE SURE THAT THE EMPLOYMENT
TO REPAIR THIS INFRASTRUCTURE
REPLACES INFRASTRUCTURE AND
GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY,
HIRING PEOPLE WHO CAN USE A
STRONG CAREER ADVANTAGE
INCLUDING FORMERLY INCARCERATED
WORKERS. IT MAKES SURE THAT
EVERYBODY HAS HEALTH INSURANCE
FOR THEIR FAMILY.
IT GIVES APPRENTICESHIPS TO
LEARN SKILLS THAT WILL LAST A
LIFETIME.
I SUPPORT IT.
I THINK IT IS A GOOD DECISION,
A GOOD USE OF THE MONEY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, NICOLE.
WE WILL TRY DEB BARKER AGAIN IF
SHE IS AVAILABLE.
DEB, IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, PRESS
á6.
WE HAVE TWO MORE SPEAKERS, THEN
WE WILL JUMP INTO OUR AGENDA.
JOE AND THEN ONE MORE.
GO AHEAD, JOE.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
I NAME IS JOE RILEY.
I AM A RESIDENT OF THE
WEDGEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
SPEAKING AS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
OF SEATTLE SUBWAY, I WOULD LIKE
TO SPEAK STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF
ALLOCATING THE SUGGESTED $3
MILLION FOR THE PLANNING AHEAD
PART OF THE PIE.
THAT CAN UPDATE THE TRANSIT
MASTER PLAN WITH A REAL CORE
IDENTIFICATION COMPONENT.
SPEAKING ABOUT HOW THESE
RELATIVELY SMALL DOLLARS CAN
SOLVE A MAJOR HEADACHE AHEAD OF
TIME FOR SEATTLE.
IT ALSO FAILS TO BRING LIGHT
RAIL TO HALF OF THE URBAN
VILLAGES, WHERE THE MAJORITY OF
JOBS AND HOUSING WILL CONTINUE
TO GROW.
WE WILL REGRET A FUTURE WHERE
REOPEN A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR
LIGHT RAIL DOWNTOWN AND IN
SEATTLE RESIDENTS ASKED THE CITY
TO EXPAND THE LIGHT RAIL TO
MORE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE CITY
CANNOT EXPAND BECAUSE THE
NEWTOWN TOWN STATION PLATFORMS
ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH, THE COST IS
PROHIBITIVE, AND IT WOULD BE A
MAJOR CONSTRUCTION DISRUPTION.
WITH AN UPDATED TRANSIT MASTER
PLAN, WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE MOST RAIL AND
INFRASTRUCTURE FRIENDLY
ADMINISTRATION WE HAVE HAD IN
YEARS.
IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO MISS
UPSETTING THE CITY FOR SUCCESS
WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
ANOTHER MAJOR FEDERAL
INVESTMENT LIKE WE DID IN THE
1970s.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
CONSIDERATION.
LET'S PLAN AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, JOE.
OUR LAST SPEAKER IS ANNA.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
JUST A REMINDER TO PRESS á6 TO
SPEAK, ANNA.
>> THERE WE GO.
ALL RIGHT.
I AM WITH DISABILITY RIGHTS
WASHINGTON, A DISABILITY
MOBILITY INITIATIVE.
WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS BACKLOG OF
STREETS WITHOUT CURB RAMPS,
CRACKED OR INACCESSIBLE
SIDEWALKS, OR NO SIDEWALKS AT
ALL, ESPECIALLY IN MORE
AFFORDABLE PARTS OF SEATTLE.
THIS LEAVES OLD PEOPLE WHO CAN
NO LONGER DRIVE, YOUTH,
DISABLED PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE WHO
CANNOT AFFORD CARS WITHOUT THE
CRITICAL CONNECTIONS WE NEED TO
GET AROUND.
JUST LAST WEEK, WE WERE IN
DELRIDGE FILMING SOMEONE WHO
CANNOT GET TO THE NEAREST BUS
STOP WITHOUT ROLLING DOWN A
STREET IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF A
MISSING CURB RAMP AND
INACCESSIBLE SIDEWALKS.
SHE USED TO LIVE DOWNTOWN, BUT
NEEDED TO MOVE SOMEWHERE
AFFORDABLE.
THE MORE AFFORDABLE AREAS IN
THE CITY ALSO OFTEN LACK
ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THESE ARE THE FUNDAMENTALS OF
TRANSPORTATION.
WITHOUT THEM, PEOPLE WITHOUT
THE PRIVILEGE OF DRIVING LOSE
THE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT.
IT IS INEXCUSABLE IN A CITY
WITH AS MUCH WEALTH AS SEATTLE
AT YEAR THAT OUR BASIC MOBILITY
NEEDS ARE UNDERFUNDED YEAR
AFTER YEAR.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.
THAT WAS OUR LAST SPEAKER.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO
THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.
>>> ITEMS OF BUSINESS, ITEM 1.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE OF THE FIRST AGENDA INTO
THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, PRESENTATION:
BRIDGE AUDIT REPAIR AND
MAINTENANCE UPDATE AND SEISMIC
SAFETY NEEDS UPDATE FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, AS YOU MAY RECALL
AFTER THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE
CRACKED AND WAS SHUT DOWN FOR
SAFETY REASONS, I ORDERED A
BRIDGE AUDIT.
THE AUDIT OF THE CONDITION OF
THE BRIDGES THAT THE CITY OWNS
AND IT CAME BACK TO US LAST
YEAR.
THIS IS AN UPDATE ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT AUDIT
REPORT.
AND THEN ALSO, THERE WERE
REPORTS ABOUT AND CHANGES TO
THE SEISMIC UPGRADE NEEDS OF
OUR BRIDGES TO KEEP THEM SAFE
IN THE EVENT OF AN EARTHQUAKE.
COSTS HAVE GONE UP FOR THE
SEISMIC NEEDS.
WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT BRIDGE
AUDIT MAINTENANCE ISSUES AS
WELL AS SEISMIC ISSUES.
WE HAVE WITH US BOTH THE CITY
AUDITOR'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION.
I THINK WE ARE GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND START WITH OUR CITY
AUDITOR, DAVID JONES AND HIS
TEAM, SEAN DEBLIEK AND OTHERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THE
BRIDGE AUDIT.
I HOPE YOU WILL HIGHLIGHT TODAY
THE AWARD THAT YOU WON FOR
DOING THAT AUDIT.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DAVID
JONES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, AND I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR INVITING US HERE
TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE
IMPLEMENTATION STATUS OF THE 10
RECOMMENDATIONS WE MADE IN OUR
SEPTEMBER 2020 REPORT ON BRIDGE
MAINTENANCE EFFORTS.
FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO
WANT TO READ THE REPORT, YOU
CAN FIND IT ON THE WEBSITE OF
OUR OFFICE, WHICH IS
SEATTLE.GOV/CITY AUDITOR.
BEFORE I TURNED OVER TO DEPUTY
CITY AUDITOR SEAN DEBLIEK, WILL
LEAD THE PRESENTATION TODAY, I
WANT TO NOTE AS COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN NOTED THAT THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION WE BELONG
TO AWARDED OUR OFFICE'S HIGHEST
AWARD FOR 2020 PERFORMANCE
AUDIT.
WE GOT THE AWARD FOR THE BRIDGE
MAINTENANCE REPORT.
THE JUDGES REALLY LIKED THE
EVIDENCE WE PRESENTED IN THE
REPORT THAT SUPPORTED THE MAIN
MESSAGE.
SEAN WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE
NEED FOR SEATTLE TO DEVELOP A
STRATEGIC PLAN FOR BRIDGE
MAINTENANCE.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MEMBERS
OF OUR OFFENSE WHO PRODUCED
THIS REPORT, AS THEY HAD TO
OPERATE UNDER SEVERE TIME
RESTRAINTS IN THE MIDST OF A
PANDEMIC.
I WANT TO THANK CHAIR PEDERSEN .
SEAN, TAKE IT AWAY.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU, DAVID.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS, FOR
HAVING US HERE TODAY.
I AM SEAN DEBLIEK, THE DEPUTY
CITY AUDITOR WITH THE OFFICE OF
CITY AUDITOR.
I WILL WALK THROUGH THE STATUS
OF SDOT'S RECOMMENDATION OF THE
10 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE
PUBLISHED IN OUR SEPTEMBER
REPORT, WHICH IS SHOWN ON THE
SCREEN HERE.
BECAUSE SDOT IS JOINING US
TODAY, THEY CAN PROVIDE FURTHER
DETAILS ON EACH RECOMMENDATION
AND PROVIDE DETAILS ON THE
TIMELINE, PRIORITIZATION, AND
EFFORTS THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY
ENGAGED IN TO MAKE THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS A REALITY.
THE THREE KEY MESSAGES I WANT
TO CONVEY TO YOU ALL TODAY ARE
AS FOLLOWS.
FIRST OFF, SDOT IS IN THE
PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING OUR 10
RECOMMENDATIONS.
THOUGH THEY ARE NOT COMPLETE,
WHERE THEY ARE MAKES SENSE.
FROM WHAT WE HAVE SEEN, THEIR
EFFORTS SHOW THAT THEY ARE
TAKING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS
VERY SERIOUSLY.
SECOND, THEY COMMITTED TO
COMPLETING ALL 10 OF THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS BY 2023.
THEY SEEM TO BE ON TRACK TO GET
THERE.
FINALLY, GIVEN THE LIMITED
AMOUNT OF TIME THAT PASSED, WE
CANNOT SAY WITH CERTAINTY THAT
THE TIMELINE WILL BE MET.
SDOT NEEDS TO COMPLETE THE
PLANNING WORK THAT IS CURRENTLY
ENGAGED IN TO DETERMINE WHAT
RESOURCES THEY WILL NEED TO GET
THESE ITEMS DONE WITHIN THE
TIMELINE THEY HAVE COMMITTED.
THIS FIRST SLIDE SHOWS THE KEY
TAKEAWAYS FROM OUR 2020 REPORT.
THIS IS WHAT WE PUT OUT BACK IN
SEPTEMBER AFTER LOOKING AT THE
BRIDGE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM AND
CONDITION DATA.
LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY,
OUR BRIDGES IN THE CITY ARE NOT
IN GOOD SHAPE.
THE SECOND BIG POINT IS THAT
SDOT IS MEETING THE EXPENDITURE
TARGETS THAT HAVE BEEN SET, BUT
THE AMOUNT BUDGETED FOR BRIDGE
MAINTENANCE IN OUR CITY IS FAR
BELOW WHAT IS NEEDED.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR REPORT, YOU
WILL SEE THAT HISTORICALLY
ABOUT $6.6 MILLION PER YEAR HAS
BEEN BUDGETED FOR THIS
IMPORTANT WORK.
AT THE SAME TIME, SDOT
ESTIMATES IT WILL NEED $34
MILLION PER YEAR FOR
MAINTENANCE NEEDS.
ACCURATE ESTIMATES OF THE NEED
AND SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES NEED
TO BE ADDRESSED FOR SDOT TO
ESTABLISH MORE STRATEGIC BRIDGE
PRESERVATION PROGRAMS.
OUR 10 RECOMMENDATIONS LAY A
PATH FORWARD TO GET THERE TO
MOVE FROM A REACTIVE APPROACH
TO A MORE PROACTIVE, STRATEGIC
APPROACH FOR THE ENTIRE BRIDGE
PORTFOLIO.
LASTLY, SDOT AGREED TO LIMIT
ALL OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND
REPORTED THAT ALL OF THE ITEMS
WOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE END
OF EITHER 2022 OR 2023.
THE NEXT FIVE SLIDES ARE VERY
TEXT HEAVY.
THESE SHOW EACH OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE MADE
BACK IN SEPTEMBER.
IT ALSO SHOWS THE RESPONSE OF
THE TIME FROM SDOT ON WHAT THEY
PLANNED TO DO.
AS WE GO THROUGH EACH ONE OF
THESE CAN WE WILL TALK ABOUT
WHAT I THOUGHT HAS DONE, THE
CURRENT STATUS ABOUT SIX MONTHS
AFTER THAT REPORT.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS TWO
RECOMMENDATIONS, NUMBER ONE AND
NUMBER SEVEN.
AS OF SEPTEMBER, SDOT PLANNED
TO COMPLETE THESE BY THE END OF
2022.
THE COLUMN IN THE MIDDLE IS OUR
RECOMMENDATION.
THE COLUMN ON THE RIGHT IS WHAT
SDOT PLANNED TO DO IN 2020.
AS OF APRIL 2021,
RECOMMENDATION ONE IS THE
HIGHESTPRIORITY IN THE
WORKPLAN.
TO THIS END, SDOT CREATED A
POSITION THAT HAS A STAFF
MEMBER IN PLACE WHO IS DOING
THE NECESSARY PLANNING TO
IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS
AND ALL THE OTHER ONES IN THIS
AUDIT.
THIS IS ALL GOOD NEWS.
WHEN ITEM THAT NEEDS TO BE
COMPLETED, AND AS I TOLD US
THEY WERE IN THE MIDST OF DOING
THIS, IS THEY UNDERSTAND THE
RESOURCES IT WOULD TAKE TO MAKE
THIS IN THE REMAINING
RECOMMENDATIONS A REALITY.
WHEN SDOT GIVES THEIR
PRESENTATION, I THINK THEY CAN
TALK MORE ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE
SPECIFICALLY.
RECOMMENDATION SEVEN, THIS ONE
IS A DESKTOP EXERCISE THAT MAY
BE DELAYED BEYOND 2022 BASED ON
THE PRIORITIZATION PROCESS THAT
THEY WENT THROUGH, LOOKING AT
THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
TO US, THIS MAKES SENSE.
THE OUTCOMES FROM THE LIFECYCLE
COST ANALYSIS AND OTHER
RECOMMENDATIONS WILL DRIVE THE
LIMITATION OF THIS
RECOMMENDATION.
IT MAY BE PUSHED TO 2023.
THAT SEEMS TO BE OKAY.
THESE NEXT FLU -- FEW SLIDES
FOCUS ON WERE CLINICIANS
IMPLEMENTED BY THE END OF 2023.
ACCORDING TO SDOT INTENDS TO
COMPLETE ALL THESE WERE
CONDITIONS DURING THIS TIME
PERIOD.
AS I MENTIONED IN MY
INTRODUCTION, THE EVIDENCE THAT
WE HAVE SEEN TODAY DOES NOT
SUGGEST THAT THEY WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO MEET THAT TIMELINE.
THIS IS MY AUDITOR WAY OF
SAYING THAT MUCH TIME HAS
PASSED, BUT GIVEN WHAT WE HAVE
SEEN SO FAR, THEY CAN MEET
THESE GOALS AND SEEM LIKE THEY
ARE ON TRACK TO DO SO.
RECOMMENDATION NUMBER TWO, THIS
HAS TO DO WITH REIMBURSABLE
WORK, WORK THAT SDOT DOES THAT
GENERATES REVENUE TO PAY FOR
SOME OF THE STAFF IN THIS
DIVISION.
THEY ALSO KEEP OUR RIDGES IN
WORKING ORDER.
THIS PARTICULAR RECOMMENDATION
IS DEPENDENT ON THE RESULTS OF
A STAFFING ANALYSIS THAT I WILL
GET TO ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
WHAT I WANT TO POINT OUT HERE
IS THAT, ACCORDING TO'S
DOCUMENT IMPLEMENTING THIS IS A
HIGH PRIORITY AND WORK IS
UNDERWAY TO DO A STAFFING
ANALYSIS.
SDOT CAN PROVIDE MORE DETAILS
IN THEIR PRESENTATION.
RECOMMENDATION NUMBER THREE
DEALS WITH A HISTORIC ORDINANCE
FROM THE 1960s THERE REQUIRES
AS NOT TO FREQUENTLY INSPECT
PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND BRIDGES.
60 YEARS AGO, IT MADE SENSE.
IT MAY NOT MAKE SENSE ANYMORE.
THIS HAS BEEN PUT LOWER ON THE
PRIORITY LIST.
THEY TOLD US THEY MAY BE ABLE
TO COMPLETE THIS RECOMMENDATION
FASTER THAN PLANNED.
PERHAPS WE CAN SEE THAT THIS
YEAR.
RECOMMENDATION NUMBER FOUR,
THIS ONE IS DEPENDENT ON THE
PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATION.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE
SEEN PROGRESS ON UNTIL THE
PRIOR RECOMMENDATION IS
COMPLETE.
SDOT IS ABLE TO COMPLETE
RECOMMENDATION NUMBER THREE
THIS YEAR OR SOONER, THAN THIS
ONE WOULD SOON FOLLOW.
THAT IS GOOD NEWS.
RECOMMENDATION FIVE FOCUSES ON
THE STAFFING ANALYSIS.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT SDOT IS
IN THE EARLY PLANNING STAGES
FOR HOW TO DO THE STAFFING
ANALYSIS.
IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT THEY WILL
BE ABLE TO MEET THEIR
COMMITMENT TO GET THIS
RECOMMENDATION DONE BY THE END
OF 2023.
THEY WILL HAVE MORE DETAIL ON
WHERE THEY ARE AT DURING THEIR
PRESENTATION.
RECOMMENDATION SIX, THIS IS A
VERY IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATION
THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR
SDOT TO INCLUDE THE RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE VALUES FOR THE
CITY INTO THE STAFFING ANALYSIS.
AS SHOWN HERE IN THE PLAN, SDOT
IS COMMITTED TO USING THE
RACIAL EQUITY TOOL KIT TO
INFLUENCE THE ANALYSIS.
WE WOULD SEE THAT EMBEDDED WHEN
THE PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATION IS
IMPLEMENTED.
RECOMMENDATION NUMBER EIGHT IS
SHIFTING GEARS FROM HUMAN
CAPITAL TO FOCUS ON THE
ESTIMATED USEFUL LIFE OF OUR
BRIDGES.
OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO UPDATE
THE INFORMATION AND BASE IT ON
A COMPONENT BY COMPONENT
CONDITION DATA.
ACCORDING TO SDOT, PART OF THE
WORK THAT THIS NEW STAFF PERSON
IS DOING THIS YEAR IS PROJECT
PLANNING FOR WHAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE TO GET TO THIS.
THIS WOULD BE A PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT BODY OF WORK.
AS MENTIONED EARLIER, SDOT SEEM
TO BE WHERE THEY SHOULD BE AT
THIS POINT IN TIME.
IT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR SDOT
TO SHARE THEIR RESOURCES TO GET
THERE ONCE THEY ARE KNOWN.
RECOMMENDATION NINE, AND THIS
IS THE LAST SLIDE OF MY HEAVILY
TAXED SLIDES.
THIS BUILDS OFF OF
RECOMMENDATION EIGHT.
THIS CAN INFORM THE STAFFING
ANALYSIS.
AND OTHERS, IT SEEMS THAT SDOT
IS AT THIS STAGE WE WOULD EXPECT
FOR COMPLETING THESE BY 2023.
AND THEN FINALLY,
RECOMMENDATION NUMBER 10 IS THE
CAPSTONE OF ALL THE 10
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE MADE.
FOR THIS PARTICULAR ONE, SDOT
IS OPTIMISTIC HE CAN GET THIS
RECOMMENDATION DONE BY THE END
OF 2023.
GETTING IT DONE IN THAT TIME
PERIOD IS AMBITIOUS.
WE ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC
ABOUT THEM GETTING THIS
PARTICULAR ONE COMPLETE.
IN ORDER TO HAVE A REALLY
COMPREHENSIVE, PROACTIVE,
STRATEGIC ASSET MANAGEMENT
PLAN, SDOT HAS TO DO QUALITY
WORK ON THE OTHER NINE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO SPENDING THE TIME NECESSARY
TO DO QUALITY WORK ON GETTING
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS DONE AND
DONE WELL, THE ROBUST STAFFING
PLAN, THE ADDITIONAL
ASSESSMENTS, AND ADDRESSING LOW-
HANGING FRUIT MAKES SENSE.
GIVEN THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF
TIME THAT HAS PASSED SINCE THE
REPORT WAS ISSUED, THEY DON'T
APPEAR TO BE ANY MAJOR
CHALLENGES THAT WILL PUSH THIS
TIMELINE UNNECESSARILY OUTWARD.
WE ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC
THAT THIS CAN BE DONE BY THE
END OF 2023.
IN CLOSING, I WANT TO THANK
SDOT FOR THEIR CONTINUED WORK
ON THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND
FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION TO US
TO FOLLOW-UP INDEPENDENTLY ON
THESE ITEMS.
JUST TO GET BACK TO OUR THREE
TAKEAWAYS, SDOT IS IN THE
PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS.
ALTHOUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS
ARE NOT COMPLETE, WHERE THEY
ARE AT IN THE PROCESS MAKES
SENSE.
FROM WHAT WE HAVE SEEN, THEIR
EFFORTS SHOW THAT THEY ARE
TAKING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS
VERY SERIOUSLY.
SDOT COMMITTED TO COMPLETING
ALL 10 OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS
BY 2023.
THEY SEEM TO BE ON TRACK TO GET
THEIR IF WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT
OF CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM ABOUT THAT
ONE PARTICULAR RECOMMENDATION,
THAT IS WHY.
GIVEN THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF
TIME, WE CANNOT SAY WITH
CERTAINTY THAT THE TIMELINE
WILL BE MET.
SDOT NEEDS TO COMPLETE THE
PLANNING WORK THAT IT IS
CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN.
WE WILL HAVE A LOT MORE DETAILS
IN THE SDOT PRESENTATION
FOLLOWING OURS.
>> THANK YOU, SEAN.
I WANTED TO MENTION THAT WE
WERE JOINED EARLIER BY
COMMITTEE MEMBER LISA HERBOLD
AS WELL AS COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
BECAUSE SHE IS A COSPONSOR OF
THE AMENDMENT.
I WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW
THAT WE ARE JOINED BY
ADDITIONAL COUNCILMEMBERS.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO THE CITY AUDITOR'S
OFFICE FOR THIS UPDATE.
HE WILL KEEP HAVING YOU COME
BACK.
NOW, WE WILL SWITCH OVER TO THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION.
AND WE WILL CALL ON QUESTIONS
RIGHT NOW FOR THE AUDITOR.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK IT IS LESS OF AN
IMPORTANT QUESTION IN MORE OF AN
OBSERVATION AROUND THE 2023
DELIVERABLES AND WHY THAT IS SO
IMPORTANT.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS, EIGHT,
NINE, AND 10 NEED TO INCLUDE
COST ESTIMATES.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IS A BIG BODY
OF WORK.
WE NEED TO KNOW WHEN THE
FUNDING IS NEEDED, WHAT
EXTERNAL SOURCES COULD BE
ATTAINED WITH THE TOTAL COST
ESTIMATES, AND THE REASON WHY
THE TIMELINE IS SO IMPORTANT IS
WE NEED THIS INFORMATION FOR
INFORMING THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE NEXT VERSION OF THE MOVE
LEVY.
THE 2015 MOVE LEVY WAS DEVELOPED
WITHOUT INCLUDING AS MANY FUNDS
FOR MAINTENANCE AS THE 2006
BRIDGE AND GAP LEVY.
AGAIN, IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO
THIS PLANNING WORK SO WE DON'T
REPLICATE WHAT I THINK WAS A
MISTAKE IN 2015.
THIS LEVY RUNS THROUGH 2024, SO
PLANNING FOR THE NEXT LEVY WILL
BEGIN IN 2023, IF NOT SOONER.
GIVEN THAT THE LEVY IS THE
SINGLE LARGEST LONG-TERM SOURCE
OF CITY TRANSPORTATION FUNDS,
IF WE WANT TO FULFILL THE
OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE CITY
AUDIT, WE NEED A CLEAR ESTIMATE
OF HOW MUCH FUNDING WILL BE
NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THE BRIDGES.
WE DO HAVE SOME OF THAT
INFORMATION AS IT RELATES
SPECIFICALLY TO THE BRIDGE LEVY
RETROFIT PROJECT.
FOR THE 16 BRIDGES IN THAT
PROGRAM, THE RETROFIT PROGRAM,
WE KNOW THAT THE COSTS HAVE
INCREASED FROM $67 MILLION-$730
MILLION.
WE NEED TO DO THAT SAME SORT OF
ANALYSIS ACROSS A LARGER SWATH
OF BRIDGEWORK.
ACTUALLY, I DO HAVE ONE
QUESTION FOR THE AUDITOR AS IT
RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE
RATINGS OF GOOD, FAIR, AND
POOR.
THE AUDITOR FOUND, OF 77
BRIDGES, 22 WERE CONSIDERED
GOOD, 50 WERE CONSIDERED FAIR,
AND FIVE WERE CONSIDERED POOR.
IS THAT RATING SYSTEM A RATING
SYSTEM THAT THE CITY AUDITOR
DEVELOPED?
OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT SDOT
DEVELOPED?
I AM INTERESTED ABOUT WHAT A
FAIR RATING IS.
THE 4th AVENUE SOUTHBRIDGE OVER
RAILROAD TRACKS IN SOTO IS
RATED FAIR, BUT THE RIGHT
NORTHBOUND LANE HAS BEEN CLOSED
SINCE, I BELIEVE, 2017.
I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW
THAT WOULD QUALIFY FOR A FAIR
RATING UNDER THOSE
CIRCUMSTANCES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
THE RATING SYSTEM IS ACTUALLY
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IT IS TAKING INVENTORY DATA AND
LOOKING AT THE CONDITIONS
THERE.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THREE SIMPLE
CATEGORIES, POOR, FAIR, AND
GOOD.
WE FOUND IN THE DATA IS THERE
IS MORE COMPLEXITY IN IT.
HE GIVES YOU A ROUGH PICTURE,
BUT IT DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE
MOST ACCURATE ONE.
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE, I
BELIEVE, WAS IN FAIR CONDITION.
THE I-35W BRIDGE THAT COLLAPSED
IN MINNESOTA BACK IN 2007, THAT
WAS ALSO IN FAIR CONDITION, AS
WELL.
THERE ARE SOME CAVEATS WITH THE
DATA.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, I DID NOT
KNOW IF YOU HAD A QUESTION OR
NOT AT THIS TIME.
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A GENERAL
COMMENT, SINCE WE HAVE THE
AUDITOR'S OFFICE HERE, AND JUST
TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS
MY REALLY PROFOUND APPRECIATION
FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS THE
OFFICE MAKES IN THE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH.
WE TEND TO FORGET AS A CITY AND
A CITY GOVERNMENT THAT THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH IS NOT JUST
THE CITY COUNCIL.
IT INCLUDES THIS AWARD-WINNING,
HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL, VERY THE
CAPABLE AND ACCOMPLISHED GROUP
OF PROFESSIONALS WHO HELP US
ACCOMPLISH THE TASK OF
OVERSIGHT OF THE EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENTS.
I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT, SINCE I HAVE
BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK WITH
THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR
WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW
ENHANCES THE OVERSIGHT FUNCTION
OF THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
THAT IS ALL I WANTED TO SAY,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
I WILL SAVE MY QUESTIONS FOR
THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
SO WE WILL MOVE NOW TO SDOT.
THEY CAN TALK ABOUT THE BRIDGE
PROGRAM.
THANK YOU.
WE HAVE MATT DONAHUE.
AND DIRECTOR ZIMBABWE IS
STANDING BY, AS WELL.
>> I WILL GIVE A COUPLE OF
WORDS OF INTRODUCTION.
MATT IS GOING TO LEAD US
THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION.
MATT IS OUR ROADWAY STRUCTURES
DIVISION'S DIRECTOR.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING
THIS CONVERSATION AND CHECKING
IN ON OUR STATUS OF RESPONSE TO
THE BRIDGE AUDIT, AS WELL AS BE
ABLE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THE BRIDGE PROGRAM AND
SOME OF THE COMPLEXITY THAT
GOES INTO THAT.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY DEDICATED
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BUILT THEIR
CAREERS AT SDOT TAKING CARE OF
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR
RICHES.
IT IS JUST THAT AND I HEAR
BEFORE YOU, BUT WE STAND ON THE
SHOULDERS OF ALL THOSE
COMMITTED PROFESSIONALS WHO
TAKE CARE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
EACH AND EVERY DAY.
THIS IS A COMPLICATED TOPIC.
WE HAVE A COMMITMENT AT SDOT TO
MAKE INVESTMENTS TO FIX IT
RIGHT, TO INVEST IN OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE IN AN ONGOING,
SUSTAINABLE WAY.
THIS DOES FEED INTO NOT ONLY
THE RESPONSE TO THE AUDIT FROM
LAST YEAR, WHICH WE WERE VERY
APPRECIATIVE OF THE AWARD-
WINNING AUDIT, BUT ALSO THE
NEXT ITEM AND HOW WE BUILD A
SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM THAT IS
FOCUSED ON MAINTENANCE OF OUR
ASSETS OVER TIME IN A LONG-
TERM, SUSTAINABLE WAY.
MATT IS GOING TO TALK.
WE HAVE HURT A LOT ALREADY THIS
MORNING.
I KNOW WE ARE PROBABLY RUNNING
A LITTLE BEHIND SCHEDULE.
IT WAS IMPORTANT TO TALK IN A
LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL AND
FLUSH OUT SOME OF WHAT IT MEANS
TO RUN A BRIDGE PROGRAM AND HOW
WE APPROACH THAT AT SDOT.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MATT AND
LOOK FORWARD TO QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, SAM.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN AND COMMITTEE.
GOOD MORNING.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS MATT
DONAHUE AND I AM THE ROADWAY
STRUCTURES DIVISION DIRECTOR.
OUR AGENDA IS TO GO OVER JUST
BRIEFLY HOW THIS DIVISION IS
ORGANIZED.
GOING THROUGH THOSE
INTRODUCTORY SLIDES VERY
QUICKLY, WE CAN GET TO THE
THREE MAIN TOPICS THAT WE HAVE
BEEN INVITED TO DISCUSS TODAY.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
MYSELF, I AM A PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEER LICENSED IN THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON AND SEVERAL OTHER
STATES IN THE REGION.
I HAVE ABOUT 30 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE AS AN ENGINEER.
I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO SPLIT
MY CAREER BETWEEN GEOTECH AND
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION,
LARGELY FOCUSED ON ASSET
MANAGEMENT AND SEISMIC
RESILIENCY.
I AM THE FEDERALLY DESIGNATED
BRIDGE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR SDOT
AND A CERTIFIED BRIDGE
INSPECTOR.
I HAVE TAUGHT INSPECTION
COURSES FOR THE NATIONAL
HIGHWAY INSTITUTE. I AM A
COMMERCIAL DIVER.
GLANCING AT THIS SLIDE, YOU
MIGHT THINK THIS GUY IS REALLY
GOOD AT TALKING ABOUT HIMSELF.
I GIVE THIS SPECIFIC
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND JUST TO
DEMONSTRATE THE TYPE OF TALENT
THAT SEATTLE D.O.T.
ATTRACTS.
IT IS A DEPARTMENT THAT IS KNOWN
NATIONWIDE.
AS SAM SAID, I AM ONE OF
SEVERAL HUNDRED DEDICATED,
TALENTED TRANSPORTATION
PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK FOR THE
D.O.T.
AND THE CITY EVERY DAY OF THE
WEEK.
NEXT SLIDE?
SO ROADWAY STRUCTURES, SPEAKING
OF TRANSPORTATION
PROFESSIONALS, ROADWAY
STRUCTURES IS COMPRISED, THERE
ARE 63 PERMANENT POSITIONS,
SPLIT INTO THREE MAIN GROUPS.
SO MOVABLE BRIDGE OPERATIONS
GROUP STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE,
AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING.
THESE THREE GROUPS, THERE IS A
FOURTH GROUP REALLY, THE
LEADERSHIP TEAM.
THAT IS MYSELF AND THE TWO
MANAGERS WHOM I WORK WITH THE
MOST, A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
AND BRIDGE INSPECTOR WHO HAS
BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR ABOUT 15
YEARS -- HE IS THE MANAGER FOR
MOBILE BRIDGE OPS AND
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING.
THEN PAUL JACKSON IS A CAREER
MAINTENANCE PROFESSIONAL WHO
úHAS BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR OVE
23 YEARS AND LEAVES THE
STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE TEAM.
WITH THIS DIVISION AND THAT
LEADERSHIP, WE HANDLE SEVERAL
DIFFERENT TYPES OF BODIES OF
WORK THAT ULTIMATELY ROLL OUT
OUR MANDATE, WHICH IS TO KEEP
THE TRAVELING PUBLIC SAFE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS IT
RELATES TO ROADWAY STRUCTURES.
THAT INCLUDES OPERATIONAL
MAINTENANCE OF ALL OF OUR ASSET
TYPES, WHICH INCLUDES BRIDGES
AND SEVERAL OTHER ASSET TYPES.
CAPITAL PROGRAMS PROVIDE
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE,
RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES THE
LEADING OUR WORK WITH EQUITY,
AND DOING A FAIR AMOUNT OF
REIMBURSABLE WORK THROUGHOUT
THE CITY AND THE REGION.
THIS GROUP IS COMPRISED OF LONG
TENURED STAFF OVER SEVEN LABOR
UNITS THAT HAVE DEDICATED THEIR
CAREERS FOR THE MOST PART TWO
MAINTAINING STRUCTURES FOR THE
CITY.
SO GETTING INTO SOME DETAILS,
THE MOVABLE BRIDGE OPERATIONS
GROUP, BRIDGE OPERATORS MAINTAIN
THE SAFETY OF THE ROADWAY AND
THE WATERWAY.
TO SPEAK TO THAT, THE OPERATOR
PICTURED ON THIS SLIDE IS A
LICENSED COMMERCIAL VESSEL
CAPTAIN.
THEY OPERATE OUR FOUR CITY-OWNED
BRIDGES AND A FIFTH AT SOUTH
PARK THAT WE OPERATE FOR THE
COUNTY.
THEY ARE IN AN INTERESTING
NEXUS IN OUR OPERATION IN THAT
THEY WORK PRETTY CLOSING WITH
ENGINEERING AND UNIT
MAINTENANCE FOR THESE COMPLEX
STRUCTURES THAT ARE A MOVABLE
FACILITY THAT HAS COMPLICATED
MECHANICAL AND ELECTRONIC
COMPONENTS SO WE CAN OPERATE
SAFELY.
NEXT SLIDE?
OUR STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE
GROUP, THERE ARE FIVE SPECIFIC
JOB TYPES GENERALLY SPEAKING,
ELECTRICIANS, MECHANICS,
CARPENTERS WE CALL THEM BRIDGE
CARPENTRY MAINTENANCE LEADS,
WHICH IS A HEAVY, CIVIL TYPE
CARPENTER -- AND THEY ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR PREVENTATIVE
MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS MAJOR
REHABILITATION AND SOME CAPITAL
REPLACEMENT WITHIN ALLOWABLE
LIMITS FOR THE OVERALL COSTS OF
THOSE PROJECTS.
NEXT SLIDE?
OUR STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING GROUP
OR BRIDGE INSPECTORS OUR
ENGINEERS AND ENGINEERING
SPECIALISTS WHO FOCUS ON
INSPECTION OF ALL OF OUR
STRUCTURES, NOT JUST THE BRIDGE,
WE DO SPECIALIZED WORK FOR
BRIDGE INSPECTION, AS WELL,
WHICH INVOLVES CRITICAL AND
MOVABLE STRUCTURE INSPECTIONS,
WHICH ARE STIPULATED BY THE
NATIONAL INSPECTION STANDARDS
THAT WERE MENTIONED EARLIER.
WE BRING IN CONTRACTORS WHO
SUPERVISE UNDERWATER WORK.
WE LOOK AT ALL OF OUR ASSET
TYPES, STAIRWAYS, RAILWAYS,
RETAINING WALLS, AND
MISCELLANEOUS STRUCTURES IN OUR
INVENTORY.
THAT GROUP DOES REPAIR DESIGN
AND WORKS WITH OTHER PROGRAMS
TO BUILD NEW ASSETS THAT WE
BRING INTO OUR INVENTORY.
WE ALSO WORK WITH OTHER
STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, SOUND
TRANSIT FOR INSTANCE, TO
PROTECT OUR EXISTING ASSETS AS
IT RELATES TO THEIR OPERATIONS.
NEXT SLIDE?
THE ASSETS THAT WE MAINTAIN OUR
VALUED AT $8.3 BILLION.
FOR THE MOST PART, THEY COVER
BRIDGES, RETAINING WALLS,
STAIRWAYS, AND AREA WAYS.
ON AVERAGE, AT THE AUDITOR WAS
SPEAKING OF EARLIER, OUR ANNUAL
MAINTENANCE BUDGET IS ABOUT
$6.6 MILLION.
THE MOVABLE BRIDGE OPERATIONS
GROUP NONREIMBURSABLE FOR OUR
OWN BRIDGES, IS AROUND $4
MILLION.
NEXT SLIDE?
WE ALSO HAVE QUITE A FEW
CAPITAL PROGRAMS AS THE OWNING
DIVISION.
SOME OF THEM ARE LEVY OR
RELATED TO SPECIFIC PROJECTS,
SUCH AS THE RETROFIT, WHICH
WILL GET TO THE SPECIFICS ON IN
A MINUTE.
AND THEN OTHER SPECIFIC
PROJECTS LIKE THE NORTH LAKE
RETAINING WALL PROJECT ON THE
NORTH SIDE, OUR NON-LEVY ASSET
TYPES RELATED TO SPECIFIC
ASSETS SUCH AS AREA WAYS AND
RETAINING WALLS, AND ALSO
BRIDGES SPECIFIC PROGRAMS LIKE
PAINTING.
IN 2021, THE CAPITAL PROGRAM
VALUED IS ABOUT $86 MILLION.
NEXT SLIDE?
SO THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO,
EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND IMT, OUR
INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM, WE
MAINTAIN A 24/7/365 READINESS
POSTURE YEAR-ROUND TO RESPOND
TO EMERGENCIES RELATED TO OUR
STRUCTURES AND OTHER ASSETS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THE WAY I LIKE TO REFER TO
ROADWAY STRUCTURES, WHEN I WORK
WITH TRANSPORTATION
PROFESSIONALS AROUND THE
COUNTRY, I FIND THAT THEY ARE
ENVIOUS OF HOW WE ARE
ORGANIZED.
MOST DOTS HAVE REMOVABLE BRIDGE
OPS, ENGINEERING, AND
MAINTENANCE HOUSED SEPARATELY.
WE GET QUITE A BIT OF
EFFICIENCY AND SYNERGY BEING IN
THE SAME DIVISION.
SOME PEOPLE SAY YOU CAN DO THAT
BECAUSE YOU ARE SMALL.
I LIKE TO SAY WE ARE SMALL BUT
MIGHTY.
WE HAVE HIGHLY SKILLED
PROFESSIONALS WHO CAN DO A LOT
QUICKLY AND A BODY OF WORK THAT
IS OFTEN COMPLICATED AND ONLY
HAS CERTAIN RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
WE ALSO TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY OUR
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE EQUITY
INITIATIVES SPECIFIC TO OUR
DIVISION.
THOSE INCLUDE THINGS LIKE
DIRECT, ONE-ON-ONE RECRUITMENT
FOR ENGINEERING, PROCUREMENT,
AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICESFOR
WE DO ANTI-RECIDIVISM EQUITY
WORK THAT INVOLVES DIRECT
MENTORSHIP AND ADVOCACY FOR
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
THAT PROVIDE WORK-RELEASE
SERVICES AND SECOND CHANCE
EMPLOYMENT.
WE DO MENTORSHIP AND ARTS AND
SCIENCES AND UNIVERSITY CLASSES
FOR THE STATE PENITENTIARY
SYSTEM WE DO LEGISLATIVE
ADVOCACY FOR STATE BILLS THAT
EXPAND EDUCATIONAL WORK IN
THESE SERVICES.
WE ALSO PERIODICALLY DO EQUITY-
BASED PAY REVIEWS INSIDE OUR
DIVISION.
WE ARE DEVELOPING A GIS-BASED
WORK TOOL FOR NEIGHBORHOODS
ACROSS SEATTLE FOR AN ASSET
TYPES.
WHEN APPROPRIATE, WE USE RACIAL
EQUITY TOOL KIT TO ANALYZE HOW
OUR PROGRAM STANDS OUT.
FROM A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE
STANDPOINT, WE HIT 300 REQUESTS
PER YEAR FOR REVIEW OR
PROVISION OF INFORMATION.
IT INVOLVES PERMANENT REVIEW
FOR STREET USE IN SDCI,
DESIGNED USE FOR SDOT PROGRAMS
THAT ARE EITHER DELIVERING OUR
ASSETS OR AFFECTING OUR ASSETS,
AND IN THE SAME THINGS THAT WE
ALL RESPOND TO IN TERMS OF
PUBLIC DISCLOSURE REQUESTS AND
CUSTOMER SERVICE REQUESTS.
WE GIVE INPUT ON VARIOUS
PROBLEMS AS REQUESTED BY RISK
MANAGEMENT AND THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
NEXT SLIDE?
SO ONTO THE SPECIFIC TOPICS FOR
TODAY, THE BRIDGE SEISMIC
RETROFIT PROGRAM.
THIS IS A PARTICULAR INTEREST
OF MINE GIVEN MY BACKGROUND.
THIS IS CURRENTLY A LEVY
PROGRAM.
IT IS LARGELY GUIDED BY OUR OWN
HOMEGROWN POLICY DOCUMENT ON
HOW TO CONDUCT ANALYSIS AND
RETROFIT OF EXISTING STRUCTURES
IT STARTED WITH 16 BRIDGES IN
2016.
BY THE TIME WE GOT THROUGH THE
CONCEPT DEFINITION REPORT PHASE,
WHICH WAS COMPLETED FOR ALL 16
BRIDGES LAST YEAR, THIS
INDICATED HIGHER COSTS THAN
ANTICIPATED.
LARGELY THE WAY TO DESCRIBE
THAT CHANGE IN COSTS VERSUS
WHAT WAS ANTICIPATED IN 2015 OR
2016 IS THAT WE HAD TO DO THE
WORK, THE CDR WORK, TO DEFINE
WHAT THOSE COSTS ARE.
I DID NOT COME TO THE D.O.T.
UNTIL 2017 AND WAS NOT IN
CHARGE OF ROADWAY STRUCTURES
UNTIL 2018.
THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, THE
COSTS WERE BASED ON THE NUMBER
OF BRIDGES AND SIZE OF EACH
BRIDGE AS COMPARED TO THE SIZE
TO DO PREVIOUS BRIDGES IN THE
PROGRAM.
THIS CURRENT PROGRAM IS PHASE 3
. THERE WERE TWO PREVIOUS
PHASES THAT WERE DONE BEFORE
THE CURRENT LEVY.
I THINK THE COSTS THAT WERE
ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE PROJECTS
WERE FOR A DIFFERENT TYPE OF
APPROACH FOR SEISMIC RETROFIT,
HAVING WORKED IN SEISMIC
ANALYSIS OR DESIGN FOR THE LAST
20 YEARS.
PARTICULARLY IN THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST, THE PACE AT WHICH
THE STANDARD OF PRACTICE HAS
CHANGED HAS BEEN VERY RAPID.
FOR INSTANCE, THE CURRENT
VERSION OF OUR SEISMIC RETROFIT
POLICY MANUAL CAME ONLINE IN
2015 AS THE LEVY WAS LAUNCHING.
I THINK THE SITUATION DEVELOPS
WHERE WE NEEDED TO DO THE
DETAILED ANALYSIS WORK IN THE
CDR PHASE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
THE TRUE COSTS ARE.
THOSE LARGE COSTS WERE
PREDOMINANTLY DUE TO THE?
VIABLE SOILS AND THE HIGH COST
THAT IS ALL IS ALWAYS
ASSOCIATED WITH FOUNDATION OR
SURFACE RETROFIT.
OUR CURRENT DELIVERABLE IS
RETROFIT OF 11 BRIDGES INSTEAD
OF THE ORIGINAL 16.
NEXT SLIDE?
SO BRIDGE INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE, WE ARE THE ROADWAY
STRUCTURES DIVISION.
WE HAVE MANY ASSET TYPES THAT
WE TAKE CARE OF.
IT IS DRIVEN BY OUR MAINTENANCE
AND INSPECTION PROGRAM.
AS YOU KNOW FROM READING THE
AWARD-WINNING REPORT DELIVERED
BY THE OFFICE OF CITY AUDITOR,
THE AVERAGE AGE OF OUR BRIDGES
IS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 60
YEARS OLD, WITH MANY OLDER THAN
THAT.
IT DRIVES THE DIVISION IN THAT
REALLY IT REQUIRES COORDINATION
BETWEEN ALL OF OUR GROUPS.
WE CONDUCT OUR WORK IN THIS AREA
AS STIPULATED BY THE NATIONAL
BRIDGE INSPECTION STANDARDS
UNDER 23 CFR 650. THE
DRAWBRIDGE OPERATIONS
REGULATION IS ADMINISTERED
UNDER THE COAST GUARD.
WE DO OUR INSPECTION, THERE ARE
VARIOUS TYPES OF INSPECTIONS,
SOME ROUTINE AND SOME DETAILED.
IT DEPENDS ON THE CONFIGURATION
OF A PARTICULAR BRIDGE.
IN RESPONSE TO THE AUDIT, WE
HAVE TRIED TO FRAME THIS IN A
WAY THAT IS STRATEGIC AND
COMBINES WORK FOR A PARTICULAR
TYPE OF AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS
WHERE IT MAKES SENSE.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, YOU CAN SAY
THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO MAKE A
STRATEGIC TRIP FROM AN ASSET
MAINTENANCE PROJECT LIST TO A
PROACTIVE ASSET PRESERVATION
WORKPLAN.
BUT I HAVE LAID OUT HERE, WE
CALL BUSINESS PRACTICES UPGRADE
PRIORITIES CAN WHICH YOU SEE
NUMBERED ON THE LEFT.
JUST TO GIVE A GENERAL
DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THOSE ARE,
AND THEN WE WILL SHOW WHICH
OFFICE OF CITY AUDITOR
RECOMMENDATION THEY CORRESPOND
TO.
THAT IS EITHER INDIVIDUALLY OR
WHEN WE THOUGHT IT MADE SENSE
TO COMBINE THEM.
TO SPEAK TO THE PRIORITIES IT
IS A COMBINATION OF PRECEDENTS
-- CERTAIN THINGS NEEDED TO
HAPPEN FIRST BEFORE ANOTHER
BODY OF WORK COULD HAVE BEEN --
AND BODIES OF WORK IN THE AUDIT
RECOMMENDATIONS OR PRIORITIES
THAT WERE SMALLER ORCHID
STANDOFFS ON THEIR OWN AND BE
DONE QUICKLY.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE?
SO FREENEY THINGS AS A BUSINESS
PRACTICE UPGRADE, WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON THIS SINCE 2018
THROUGH 2019 AND INTO 2020.
IN 2019 AND 2020, WE
INCORPORATED THE FEEDBACK WE
RECEIVED FROM THE OFFICE OF
CITY AUDITOR, AS WELL AS FROM
WSDOT AND THE FHWA, WHO GAVE US
AN INFORMAL AUDIT IN 2019.
WE ARE TRYING TO DO AS MUCH WORK
IN 2021 WITH WRITING THE SCRIPT
IN TERMS OF SCOPE, SCHEDULE,
AND FEE IN TERMS OF HOW WE WILL
ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT ALL OF
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS,
CONTINUING THAT THROUGH 2022
WITH BEING PREPARED FOR OUR
FORMAL WSDOT AND FHWA AUDIT AND
ADOPTING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS
AND BUSINESS PRACTICE UPGRADES
THROUGH 2022 AND 2023 UNTIL WE
GET THE FULL COMPLETION.
NEXT SLIDE?
HOPEFULLY TODAY, I HAVE
SUMMARIZED HOW THOUGHTFUL AND
CAREFUL WE ARE IN THE WORK THAT
WE DO.
THE TASK WE ARE ACTUALLY FACED
WITH, IT RANGES INVENTORY
ACROSS ALL ASSETS.
WHAT WE CONSIDER IN TERMS OF
HOW WE DO THAT WORK, WE
RECOMMEND A STRUCTURE FOR
REPLACEMENT OR, AS WE HAVE SEEN
RECENTLY, PARTIAL OR FULL
CLOSURE.
WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT
INVESTMENT IN THE REGION
BRIDGES MUST BE PLANNED
PROACTIVELY.
WHEN I LOOK AT THESE BUSINESS
PRACTICES UPGRADES AND HOW I
HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT
DIRECTION TO MOVE THE DIVISION
AND SINCE I CAME ON BOARD IN
2018, THIS IS NOT ROCKET
SCIENCE.
WE ARE NOT PUTTING PEOPLE ON
THE MOON.
WE KNOW HOW TO DO THIS WORK.
WE KNOW HOW THINGS NEED TO
CHANGE GIVEN WHERE WE ARE AT
AND THE DETERIORATION CURVE FOR
ALL OF OUR ASSETS.
I THINK MOST OF THE COUNTRY IS
IN THE SAME POSITION.
THERE IS A LOT OF NATIONAL
DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE
THIS.
WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF
WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
WE NEED TO DEFINE SPECIFICALLY
HOW WE ARE GOING TO DO IT AND
MAKE IT HAPPEN.
TO THAT END, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE
EARLY IN THE PROCESS, WE ARE ON
TRACK TO MEET OUR COMMITMENTS
TO RESPOND TO BOTH THE WSDOT
AND FHWA AUDIT BY 2023.
>> THANK YOU, MATT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR CITY
AND THE OVERVIEW OF THE GROUP.
ALSO, I WANTED TO SPEAK TO
SOMETHING -- I APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD RAISING
THIS EARLIER -- WANTING TO HEAR
MORE ABOUT THE SEISMIC UPGRADE
NEEDS. THE AUDIT WAS FOCUSED ON
BRIDGE AND MAINTENANCE BACKLOGS
AND PHYSICAL CONDITION. THE
SEISMIC UPGRADE IS MORE OF A
BIGGER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT NEED.
THERE WAS A CHANGE IN HOW YOU
WERE DECIDING HOW TO ALLOCATE
THOSE DOLLARS.
COSTS HAVE GONE UP.
YOU DECIDED TO FOCUS IN ON
SPECIFIC BRIDGES THAT HAD THE
GREATEST NEED.
COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE SEISMIC UPGRADE NEEDS AND
THE CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED?
AND ALSO EXPLAIN WHY THE COSTS
HAVE GONE UP SO MUCH.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS ABOUT
WHY THE COST ESTIMATES WERE
NUMBER AND SHOT UP TO A MUCH
LARGER NUMBER LATER.
>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
FACTORS.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE
PACE AT WHICH THE STANDARD OF
PRACTICE FOR WHAT PEOPLE
CONSIDER TO BE RESPONSIBLE
POLICY FOR RETROFITTING
STRUCTURES HAS CHANGED PRETTY
DRASTICALLY OVER THE LAST 20
YEARS AND MAYBE EVEN MORE SO
OVER THE LAST 10.
IT HAS TO DO WITH THE
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS THAT WE
DESIGN RETROFITS TO.
WE SAY WE WANT A BRIDGE TO
REMAIN OPERATIONAL, WHICH MEANS
USABLE WITH MINOR REPAIRS,
AFTER A 100 YEAR LEVEL EVENT
EARTHQUAKE.
WE WANT THE BRIDGE TO MAYBE NOT
BE USABLE, BUT NOT COLLAPSE AT
1000 YEAR LEVEL EARTHQUAKE, SO
THAT WOULD BE TYPICALLY THOUGHT
OF AS A 9.0 EVENT ON THE
CASCADIA SUBDUCTION ZONE.
USING THOSE SPECIFIC
PERFORMANCES, THAT IS PRETTY
DEMANDING.
YOU ARE ASKING A STRUCTURE TO
DO A LOT, PARTICULARLY IF IT IS
AN OLDER, AGING STRUCTURE.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR
SEISMIC RETROFIT PROGRAM, WE
WILL HAVE TO GET INTO THESE
STICKY WICKET CONVERSATIONS
WHERE WE DETERMINE
SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH COST FOR
SEISMIC RETROFIT AND BALANCE
THAT COST AGAINST IF WE SHOULD
JUST PUSH FOR A REPLACEMENT.
THE SEISMIC STANDARDS ARE ALSO
100 YEAR FOR OPERATIONS AND
B,1000 FOR COLLAPSE PREVENTION.
I THINK THE DEPARTMENT, THE
REGION, THE PROFESSIONAL STATE
OF PRACTICE FOR SEISMIC RETROFIT
WAS AT A POINT OF TRANSITION
RIGHT AROUND THE TIME THE LEVY
WAS LAUNCHING.
THEY COULD NOT HAVE PREDICTED,
THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY BASIS
WITH WHICH TO PREDICT HOW THOSE
COSTS ARE GOING TO INCREASE.
WE HAD TO GET INTO THE PROGRAM
AND DO THAT FIRST CONCEPT
DEFINITION REPORT DESIGN PHASE
OR ANALYSIS PHASE TO DETERMINE
THE TRUE COSTS.
THAT FACE IS VERY DETAILED.
MOST PROGRAMS ARE SPLIT INTO
THREE PHASES, THE CDR DESIGNING
THE RETROFIT STRATEGIES THAT
YOU ADOPT AND THEN CONSTRUCTING
THEM. THAT CDR PHASE CAN YOU DO
AN ANALYSIS OF THE STRUCTURE AS
IS AND THEN DEVELOP ATROPHIC
STRATEGIES TO KEEP THOSE THINGS
FROM BREAKING.
IT IS FAIRLY MATHEMATICALLY, A
NONLINEAR MODEL INTENSIVE.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ONGOING
REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE NEEDS
AND THE SEISMIC UPGRADE NEEDS.
ALSO, THE SEISMIC UPGRADE
STANDARDS HAVE INCREASED, WHICH
THEN INCREASES COST. I ALSO
UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MAY HAVE
GOTTEN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
THE BRIDGES, AS WELL, JUST LIKE
FOR ANY PROJECT.
IF YOU GET TO 30% DESIGN, THEN
50% DESIGN, ETC., YOU ARE
GETTING MORE INFORMATION AND
FIND OUT COSTS WERE HIGHER FOR
THOSE SEISMIC UPGRADES.
IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> THAT IS A FAIR ANALOGY BUT
IT IS ALSO AN AFFECTATION OF
THE GEOGRAPHICAL ENVIRONMENT
THAT WE HAVE HERE, BECAUSE OF
HOW THE CITY WAS BUILT OR HOW
THE REGION DEVELOPS.
WE HAVE A HIGH INCIDENT
POTENTIAL FOR LIQUEFYING SOIL.
WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH
LIQUEFACTION AND RETROFIT OF
FOUNDATIONS, YOUR COSTS GET
HIGH VERY, VERY QUICKLY, AS
OPPOSED TO RETROFITTING
MODIFICATIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO
DO A DO EIGHT BRIDGE ABOVE
GROUND.
IT IS A LOT EASIER TO DO THAT
ABOVE GROUND WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS
FOR MATT DONAHUE OR SAM ZIMBABWE
? I THINK THE AUDITOR IS STILL
HERE, AS WELL.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR
BEING HERE FOR THIS REPORT.
WE WILL HEAR BACK FROM THE
AUDITOR AS THEY CONTINUE TO
TRACK THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
10 AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS.
SOME OF THOSE TO HAVE TO DO
WITH THE NEED FOR MORE FUNDING.
CONGRATULATIONS ON WINNING THAT
AWARD FOR YOUR AUDIT.
THANK YOU MATT AND DIRECTOR
ZIMBABWE.
>>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 2
IN OUR AGENDA.
IF WE CAN HAVE THE CLERK READ
THE TITLE OF ITEM 2 INTO THE
RECORD PLEASE.
>> AGENDA ITEM 2,AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING ORDINANCE 126237,
WHICH ADOPTED THE 2021 BUDGET,
INCLUDING THE 2021-2026 CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM; CHANGING
APPROPRIATIONS WITHIN THE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
FUND; REVISING PROJECT
ALLOCATIONS FOR CERTAIN
PROJECTS IN THE 2021-2026 CIP;
AND LIFTING A PROVISO.
FOR RAISING DISCUSSION A
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> COLLEAGUES, OUR CITY COUNCIL
APPROVED A $20 VEHICLE LICENSE
FEE AS PART OF OUR FALL BUDGET
PROCESS.
A MAJORITY OF COUNCILMEMBERS
ASKED SDOT TO ESTABLISH A
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS FOR
SPENDING THOSE FUNDS.
IS ABOUT $7.2 MILLION PER YEAR.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY AT
SDOT FOR DOING THAT WORK AND
EVERYBODY WHO PARTICIPATED IN
THAT PROCESS.
EVEN WITH A PROPOSAL TO ISSUE
$100 MILLION IN BONDS, THE
SUGGESTIONS FROM THE SAKE OF
THE PROCESS CAN INFORM THE
INVESTMENT OF TENS OF MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS AND POTENTIALLY GET
THAT MONEY OUT THE DOOR
QUICKER.
THERE ARE THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
WITH THAT PROPOSAL.
LET'S HEAR FROM YOU, WE HAVE
OUR ESSENTIAL STAFF
TRANSPORTATION EXPERT, CALVIN
CHOW HERE , BEFORE WE HEAR
FROM SDOT ON THEIR ORIGINAL
PROPOSAL ON SPENDING THIS.
OPENING REMARKS?
I APPRECIATE IT THE MEMO YOU
PROVIDED TO US.
>> I THINK THE SI PRESENTATION
GETS TO THE HEART OF IT.
I WILL HOLD ON COMMENTS FOR
NOW.
>> SDOT, TAKE IT AWAY AGAIN.
CONNECT YOU CAN HEAR FROM YOU
AGAIN BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO
MY CAPABLE COLLEAGUES, KYLE
BUTLER AND ANNYA PINTAK.
I THINK THIS IS A GOOD SEQUENCE
OF TRANSITION FROM THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR RIDGES TO
THE WORK THAT WE DID IN
ENGAGING WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND
COMING UP WITH A SPEND PLAN FOR
THIS $20 VEHICLE LICENSE FEE.
THIS PRESENTATION WAS DEVELOPED
BEFORE THE PROPOSAL, SO IT DOES
NOT SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS.
WHEN WE WERE ASKED TO DO THE
STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT BY THE COUNCIL, WE
WERE EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW $20
VEHICLE LICENSE FEE.
WE FELT LIKE IT WOULD ENABLE US
úTO INVEST MORE RESOURCES IN
MAINTENANCE ACROSS THE BROAD
PORTFOLIO OF ASSETS THAT WE
TAKE CARE OF.
MAINTENANCE IS ONE OF THE MOST
DIFFICULT TYPES OF FUNDING TO
SECURE FOR TRANSPORTATION.
THE ONGOING, SUSTAINABLE
INVESTMENT YEAR-OVER-YEAR,
CONSISTENT AMOUNTS THAT WE CAN
BUDGET AGAINST AND STAFF
AGAINST, YOU HEARD ABOUT FROM
THE CITY AUDITOR ONE OF THOSE
TOP RECOMMENDATIONS MEAN TO
INCREASE OUR STAFFING RELATED TO
BRIDGE ASSET PLANNING,
INVESTMENT, ASSET MANAGEMENT.
IT IS THIS TYPE OF ONGOING
RESOURCE THAT ENABLES US TO
DEVELOP A SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM
ACROSS OUR PORTFOLIO OF NEEDS,
BRIDGES BEEN A CRITICAL PART OF
OUR ASSET INVENTORY.
WE DESIGNED THIS PROPOSAL TO
DELIVER THIS RESULT QUICKLY.
THIS IS MONEY THAT IS NEW TO US,
$7.5 MILLION ON AN ONGOING
BASIS.
THE DESIGN PROPOSAL THAT WE GO
THROUGH IS INTENDED TO GET THAT
MONEY INTO PROJECTS THAT PEOPLE
CAN SEE RESULTS ACROSS THE CITY
QUICKLY.
THIS ISN'T DEVELOPING A LARGE
CAPITAL PROJECT.
IT CAN OFTEN TAKE YEARS TO
DEVELOP AND SEE RESULTS ON THE
GROUND.
THIS IS TRYING TO GET REGULAR
MAINTENANCE OUT THE DOOR
EXTREMELY QUICKLY IN A WAY THAT
PEOPLE CAN SEE IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
KYLE BUTLER, WAS WITH AN
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
DIVISION, IS HERE WITH ME.
HE IS FOCUSED ON AND HAS BEEN
REALLY MEETING THE PROCESS
HERE, FOCUSED ON REVENUE
DEVELOPMENT AND SOME OF OUR
OVERALL REVENUE NEEDS.
ANNYA PINTAK MANAGES OUR
EQUITY PROGRAM AND HAS BEEN
CRUCIAL FOR THE ENGAGEMENT
EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE DONE.
WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT
SLIDE.
OUR WORK HERE IN DEVELOPING
THIS IS GROUNDED IN OUR MISSION,
VISION, AND CORE VALUES THAT
SEATTLE IS A THRIVING EQUITABLE
COMMUNITY POWERED BY
TRANSPORTATION.
THAT IS NO MATTER HOW YOU GET
AROUND THE CITY AND OUR MISSION
TO DELIVER AFFORDABLE AND SAFE
ACCESS TO PLACES AND
OPPORTUNITIES.
WE HEARD ABOUT THAT IN THE
PUBLIC COMMENT, AS WELL.
SIX CORE VALUES DRIVE OUR WORK:
EQUITY AND REALLY DRESSING SOME
OF THE EQUITY ISSUES, SAFETY,
MOBILITY, SUSTAINABILITY,
LIVABILITY, AND EXCELLENCE.
IN NOVEMBER, JUST ABOUT AS SOON
AS THE BUDGET WAS ADOPTED, WE
HAD AN INITIAL MEETING WITH
STAKEHOLDERS, I WOULD SAY THE
START OF THE PROCESS OF THE
BEGINNING WAS REALLY, HOW CAN
WE TAKE THE NEW REVENUE SOURCE,
THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF OUR
ASSETS AND BEST DEPLOY LOOKING
ACROSS OUR NEEDS AT ALL OF THE
THINGS WE TAKE CARE OF.
WE MET WITH STAKEHOLDERS ON
SOME OF THOSE ASSET STARTING IN
FEBRUARY, REALLY TRYING TO
GRANDMA IN THE OVERALL BUDGET
PICTURE FOR SDOT AND BUDGET
NEEDS IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS.
WE TOOK FEEDBACK ON THE BROAD
PRIORITY SETTING, WE CAME BACK
IN MARCH WITH THE SECOND
BRIEFING FOR STAKEHOLDERS, FOR
SHARING A PROPOSED SPENDING
PLAN AND TRYING TO HEAR HOW AND
IF WE WERE ABLE TO INCORPORATE
WHAT WE HEARD IN THE FIRST
FEEDBACK SECTION BACK IN THAT
SESSION I PARTICIPATED IN ALL
FOUR OF THE STAKEHOLDER
BRIEFINGS PERSONALLY.
WE SUBMITTED OUR SPEND PLAN, WE
ARE READY TO GET TO WORK, AS
SOON AS WE CAN GET THE SPENDING
PLAN ADOPTED, WE START TO
COLLECT REVENUE IN JULY.
WE CAN FORECAST THAT REVENUE
AND WE CAN START TO WORK AND
INVEST AS SOON AS THE SPENDING
PLAN AND BUDGET ARE SET.
BEYOND, WE CAN FORECAST AGAINST
THE EXISTING $20 VLF AND THE
CORE FOUNDATION OF WHAT WE DO
AS A DEPARTMENT AND IT PROVIDES
RELIABLE, DEPENDABLE RESOURCE
THAT WE PROGRAM IN AN ONGOING
WAY FOR THESE SORTS OF
INVESTMENTS.
SO REALLY, REALLY FOCUSED ON
THE INITIAL PART OF THE SPEND
PLAN, BUT SETS THE STAGE FOR A
LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE
INVESTMENT THAT WE SEE AS BEING
REALLY CRITICAL IN TAKING CARE
OF ALL OF OUR ASSETS.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO ANYA TO TALK MORE ON THE
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS.
>> GREAT, THANKS SO MUCH, SAM,
GOOD MORNING, AS SAM MENTIONED,
MY NAME IS ANYA PINTACK, I AM
AN EQUITY PROGRAM MANAGER FOR
SDOT.
I WILL TALK ABOUT THE
STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH PROCESS .
AS PART OF THE PROCESS WE HEARD
FROM THE FOLLOWING STAKEHOLDERS
THAT YOU SEE ON THE
PRESENTATION HERE.
WE HAD A DIVERSE RANGE OF
STAKEHOLDERS TO REPRESENT
TRANSPORTATION AND LABOR
REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE ABLE TO
SHARE WITH US THE
TRANSPORTATION NEEDS AND
VALUES.
PARTNERS AND REPRESENTATIVES
HERE CONSIDER ALL MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION, AS WELL AS
SHARING WITH DIFFERENT AGES AND
ABILITIES ON HOW FOLKS RELY ON
THEM.
AS PART OF THIS PROCESS AND I
WILL MENTION WE DID THIS
VIRTUALLY GIVEN COVID, AS PART
OF THE PROCESS WE SEPARATED
STAKEHOLDERS INTO TWO GROUPS.
THE FIRST STAKEHOLDER REALLY
WERE VERY FAMILIAR WITH SDOT
AND OUR LINE OF DISMISSES AND
ARE TYPICALLY ENGAGED IN THE
PUBLIC FORUM IN SOME CAPACITY.
OUR OTHER GROUP, THIS IS A
FOCUS REPRESENTATIVE AND WE
INVITED COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE STAKEHOLDER
GROUP.
I WANT TO MENTION, IN THAT
GROUP, A LOT OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS WERE NOT FAMILIAR
WITH SDOT , IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
THE FIRST TIME ENGAGING IN THIS
CAPACITY AS WELL AS A PUBLIC
FORUM IN THIS MATTER AND A
PROCESS LIKE THIS.
AND SO, WE MET WITH THOSE
STAKEHOLDER GROUPS TWICE AS SAM
MENTIONED, ONCE IN FEBRUARY AND
IN MARCH, WE HAD A TOTAL OF
FOUR MEETINGS.
WITHIN THE LIST OF
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
ORGANIZATION HERE ATTENDED AT
LEAST ONE OF THE MEETINGS.
LET ME GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO, I WANTED TO GIVE MORE
CONTEXT IN TERMS OF THE
STAKEHOLDER SESSION, AS MY ROLE
WITHIN THIS PROGRAM AS A
PROGRAM MANAGER, I WORK VERY
CLOSELY AND IN THE LEAD STAFF
WITH THE EQUITY WORKGROUP
MEMBERS WHICH IS OUR GROUP OF
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN
CODEVELOPING WITH OUR
DEPARTMENT FOR ALMOST THE PAST
THREE YEARS ON HER TRANS
STATION EQUITY FRAMEWORK, YOU
HEARD FROM ONE OF THE MEMBERS
DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
REALLY, ONE OF THE KEY EQUITY
VALUES THAT WE HAVE HEARD VERY
CLEARLY FROM OUR EQUITY
WORKGROUP IS THAT A FUNDAMENTAL
PIECE OF ACHIEVING TRANS
STATION EQUITY IS COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT.
REALLY THIS PROCESS ALLOWED US
TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ENGAGE WITH THOSE TYPICALLY
UNDERREPRESENTED IN PUBLIC
FORUM.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD
A HOLISTIC RELATIONSHIP AND NOT
JUST A TRANSACTIONAL WAY OF
COMMUNICATING.
SO WE ARE ALIGNED WITH EVERYONE
AND AS WELL AS THE GREATER
COMMITMENT TO ENGAGEMENT AND
OUTREACH PRACTICES,
PARTICULARLY WITH COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE TRADITIONALLY EXCLUDED
FROM THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
PROCESS AND DECISION-MAKING
PROCESS AS WELL.
THIS PICTURE HERE I SHOULD
CLARIFY IS A COUPLE OF OUR
TRANS STATION WORKERS AND THIS
WAS PRE-COVID WHEN WE MET IN
PERSON A FEW YEARS AGO.
I WANTED TO JUST MENTION THAT
WITHIN THE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS,
ESPECIALLY WITH COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS SERVING THOSE
COMMUNITIES, WE HELD THIS
MEETING SEPARATELY TO ALLOW
SPACE FOR CONVERSATION WITHIN
SMALLER GROUPS.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
FACILITATE IN A SPACE WHERE
FOLKS FELT COMFORTABLE.
I WILL SAY IT WAS A GOOD
LEARNING OPPORTUNITY ALLOWING
US TO ENGAGE AND ALIGN
BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY WITH
THOSE THAT MIGHT NOT BE
FAMILIAR.
WHAT WE HEARD IS THAT FOLKS
FELT HEARD THROUGH THIS
PROCESS.
I WANT TO JUST SAY THAT THIS IS
THE FIRST STEP FOR US TO THINK
AND INVITE AND ENGAGE FOLKS TO
BE PART OF THIS CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
WE HEARD SEVERAL PRIORITIES TO
THE SPEND PLAN AND THIS DEPICTS
SOME KEY TOPICS THAT WE HEARD.
THE LARGER TEXT INDICATES
PRIORITIES WE HAVE HEARD
SEVERAL TIMES, SUCH AS SAFETY,
CLIMATE CHANGE, EQUITY,
MAINTENANCE AND STREETLIGHTS.
AS YOU CAN SEE THERE WERE OTHER
TOPICS THAT CAME BUT WE REALLY
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE KEY
PRIORITIES THAT CAME OUT OF THE
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO KYLE BUTLER.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBERS,
I AM KYLE BUTLER, I FINANCIAL
ADVISOR AT SDOT AND I WILL
TALK ABOUT HOW THIS CAME
TOGETHER WITH THE ELEMENTS THAT
WE ARE RECOMMENDING TODAY.
IN FEBRUARY, WE END WITH ASKING
THE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS TO VOTE
ON HOW TO LOOK AT THE SEVEN
EVALUATION CATEGORIES YOU SEE
ON THE SLIDE THAT ARE GROUNDED
IN THE VALUES AS A DEPARTMENT.
THEN, WE GET THEIR VOTE TO
CONVEY WHICH PRIORITIES THEY
WOULD LIKE TO SEE US USE AS WE
SCORE THIS POTENTIAL PROGRAM.
WE TOOK THREE GROUPS, HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE AND A
SUBSET OF SDOT STAFF MEMBERS ,
MODAL AND LABOR, AND EQUITY
STAKEHOLDERS, THE SDOT STAFF
AND LABEL STAKEHOLDERS MADE UP
25% OF THE FINAL SCORE AND WE
WAITED THE EQUITY STAKEHOLDERS
WITH 50% OF THE SCORE.
WE COMBINE THOSE RESULTS TO
DELIVER THE OUTCOME ROW ACROSS
THE BOTTOM, THE DARKER SHADES
REPRESENT HIGHER PRIORITY FROM
THOSE VOTES.
THE BOTTOM ROW SHOWS THE TOP
THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THE
CONVERSATION IN THE VOTES WERE
IN LINE WITH WHAT WE HEARD IN
THE CONVERSATION.
THEY WERE EQUITY, SAFETY,
MAINTENANCE AND CLIMATE CHANGE,
THOSE WERE THE BIGGEST DRIVERS
OF OUR SCORING AND HOW WE
REVIEWED THAT FOR PROGRAMS.
THEN WE TOOK THAT AND WENT BACK
AND DEVELOPED A SPEND PLAN
PROPOSAL AND CAME BACK TO THOSE
GROUPS IN MARCH TO SHARE THIS
PLAN WITH THEM.
WE TURNED TO THAT FEEDBACK INTO
A VALUES-BASED ACTION PLAN AND
LIKE I MENTIONED, WE HEARD A
LOT OF INTEREST IN MAKING SURE
THE PLAN IS EQUITABLE AND
PRIORITIZES SAFETY, MAINTENANCE
AND MEETS CLIMATE CHANGE GOALS,
WE HEARD A LOT OF INTEREST
MAKING SURE THAT IT SUPPORTS
JOBS AND WE FEEL THIS WORK DOES
DO THAT.
WE CONSIDERED THE BUDGET
IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE
RESULTING RECESSION AND OUR
NEED TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE
INFRASTRUCTURE, CITYWIDE
TRANSPORTATION GOALS, LEVY
COMMITMENTS AND MORE.
WE ALSO DISTRIBUTED A BRIEF
ONLINE SURVEY ON THE PROPOSED
PLAN AND GOT FEEDBACK FROM OVER
400 PEOPLE ONLINE, ALL OF THAT
WENT INTO DEVELOPING A SPEND
PLAN THAT WILL GO INTO EACH
ELEMENT STARTING WITH THAT NEXT
SLIDE.
SAFE STREETS WAS ONE OF OUR
BIGGEST CATEGORIES IN OUR
FUNDING AND SPENDING PLAN.
THAT WAS A BIG SEAM HERE IN
OUTREACH AND THE SAFE STREETS
FOCUS AREA ACCOUNTS FOR 28% OF
THE PROPOSED FUNDING,
RESPONDING TO INVESTMENTS IN
THE STREETS AND COMMUNITIES
EXPERIENCING MOST OF SEATTLE'S
SIRIUS CRASHES IN VISION
CORRIDORS, THIS WOULD GO
TOWARDS THE VISION ZERO PROGRAM
WHICH IS GROUNDED IN EQUITY AND
DATA ANALYSIS, WE USE DATA TO
DETERMINE THE FOCUS AREAS,
THOSE ARE STREETS AND
INTERSECTIONS WITH THE MOST
FATAL AND SERIOUS INJURY
CRASHES AND THOSE LOCATIONS
OFTEN OVERLAP WITH COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR AND VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS.
EARLY PROGRAMS IN CLUED MARTIN
LUTHER JUNIOR KING WAY AND
AIRPORT WAY SOUTH AND AURORA
AVENUE.
WE LOOK AT THE SOURCE OF
FUNDING AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE
FOR SOME KEY ELEMENTS OF STAY
HEALTHY STREETS.
READY FOR THE NEXT SLIDE.
OKAY, SAFE SIDEWALKS, SO, WE
ALSO HEARD A STRONG INTEREST IN
BETTER SERVING PEDESTRIANS AND
WATCHING TRANSIT ACCESS WITH
WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS AND
HELPING ME CLIMATE CHANGE
GOALS.
THIS CATEGORY ALSO MAKES UP 28%
OF PROPOSED FUNDING AND COULD
ENABLE US TO DO A LOT OF
MAINTENANCE WORK, RICK RACE,
REPLACING BEACONS AND REPAIRING
SIDEWALKS ESPECIALLY WHERE
TREES HAVE DONE DAMAGE AND
INSTALLING MORE ADA CURB RAMPS.
USING THE SIDEWALK ASSESSMENT
DATA, WE WILL LOOK AT WHICH
REPAIRS WOULD PROVIDE THE
HIGHEST VALUE FOR IMPROVEMENTS
IN SAFETY AND MOBILITY AT THE
LOWEST COST, WE CAN ALSO BE
REALLY TARGETED IN MAKING SURE
WE ARE ADDRESSING COMMUNITIES
THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY
UNDERSERVED.
>> KYLE, ON THE SIDEWALKS,
WOULD THAT BE NEW SIDEWALKS OR
WOULD IT JUST BE REPAIRING
EXISTING ONES?
>> THE MAJORITY OF THIS IS
REPAIRING EXISTING SIDEWALKS.
THE NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THIS
SAFE SIDEWALK FOCUS AREA WOULD
BE RELATED TO NEW CURB RAMPS.
THIS IS MAINTAINING WHAT WE
ALREADY HAVE, THINGS LIKE
SIDEWALK UPLIFT FROM TRIP
HAZARDS THAT COME FROM STREET
TREES, THAT KIND OF THING.
WE HEARD A LOT OF INTEREST IN
THE COMMUNITY GROUPS ABOUT
THAT, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR ELDERS
CITIZENS WHO HAVE TROUBLE IN
THE RISK OF TRIPPING OVER
SIDEWALKS, THAT KIND OF THING.
WE SOUGHT IS A BIG BENEFIT TO
THIS MAINTENANCE EFFORT.
>> WITH $2 MILLION, HOW MANY
CURB RAMPS COULD YOU DO
APPROXIMATELY, THAT IS
SOMETHING YOU CAN GET BACK TO
US ON.
>> YEAH, I CAN GET THAT DATA TO
YOU, THE FULL $2 MILLION IS NOT
CURB RAMPS, THAT IS ONLY A
PERCENTAGE, WE CAN FOLLOW UP
WITH THAT.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> STRONG BRIDGES AND
STRUCTURES IS OUR NEXT BIGGEST
AREA IN THE PROPOSED PLAN, IT
REPRESENTS 24% OF THE SPENDING
PLAN AND IT WAS A BIG HIGH
PRIORITY THAT WE HEARD ABOUT IN
THE OUTREACH.
WITH THIS FUNDING WE WOULD MAKE
PROACTIVE INVESTMENTS TO REDUCE
THE MAINTENANCE BACKLOG AND
EXTEND SERVICE LIKE BRIDGES AND
MAINTAINS SERVE, SURFACE AND
WOULD PROMOTE REHABILITATION OF
BRIDGES, STAIRS AND UNDERGROUND
AREA WAYS.
SO, SPENDING IN THE FIRST FEW
YEARS WOULD BE FOCUSED ON A FEW
EARLY PRIORITIES, A LOT OF
THESE ARE FOCUSED ON MOVABLE
BRIDGE COMPONENTS WITH SYSTEMS
LIKE MATT SHOWED, THERE ARE
MANY DIFFERENT, ELECTRICAL,
HYDRAULIC, THE ALL GO INTO THEM
AND THIS COULD HELP MAINTAIN
THOSE FOR SPOKANE S SWING
BRIDGE, UNIVERSITY BRIDGE,
FREMONT BRIDGE, AND EVALUATING
THE BALLARD BRIDGE AS WELL.
THERE WOULD ALSO BE THE SPOKANE
VIADUCT AND THE DECK
REHABILITATION AND THEN
IMPROVEMENTS ON THE JOSE RIZAL
BRIDGE ALLOWING FOR BETTER
INSPECTION ACCESS.
THAT IS A KEY PART OF US
MAINTAINING THE STRUCTURE,
BEING ABLE TO ACCESS IT
PROPERLY FOR MAINTENANCE.
>> KYLE, I THOUGHT THE MOVABLE
BRIDGES WOULD COST 8 MILLION UP
TO $10 MILLION FOR THOSE
COMPONENTS TO BE REPLACED OR
INSTALLED?
>> SURE, THIS WOULD START THE
PROCESS, IT DOES NOT FULLY FUND
ALL OF THAT, BUT OVER THE TIME
WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DEVELOP THE
PLAN AND FIX THE MOST CRITICAL
NEEDS FIRST AND THE FUNDING,
SINCE IT IS ONGOING WOULD ALLOW
MATT AND HIS TEAM TO DEVELOP A
PLAN TO DO THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, WE INVEST 10% OF THE
PLAN INTO ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
MAINTENANCE OR INTO BICYCLE
INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT IS A KEY PART OF THE
INVESTMENT TO ADDRESS CLIMATE
CHANGE AND CLIMATE CHANGE WAS
AN INTEREST AREA WE HEARD IN
THE OUTREACH.
WITH THIS FUNDING, WE CAN
REPAINT BICYCLE LANES, CLEAR
THEM OF DEBRIS SO A DEDICATED
SWEEPING PROGRAM ENHANCING THE
EXISTING SWEEPING PROGRAM.
INSTALL AND MAINTAIN PROTECTIVE
BARRIERS BETWEEN PEOPLE DRIVING
AND BIKING, AND IMPROVE AND
MAINTAIN BICYCLE SIGNALS.
MORE PEOPLE ARE TRYING BIKING
DURING THE PANDEMIC AND WE FEEL
GIVEN THE HIGHER RATES OF
BICYCLE OWNERSHIP, KEEPING OUR
FACILITIES WELL-MAINTAINED IS
GOING TO HELP PROMOTE CLIMATE
FRIENDLY COMMUTING CHOICES.
ALSO, WITH THE WORK OF THE
SEATTLE LEVY, THE BIKE NETWORK
IS GROWING FAST AND MAINTENANCE
NEEDS WILL GROW FOR THAT.
>> KYLE, DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH IT
WOULD COST TO REFURBISH ALL OF
THE EXISTING BIKE LANES TO GET
THEM BACK UP, TO REPAINT THEM,
TO STABILIZE ANYTHING THAT IS
BROKE, FIX ANYTHING BROKEN,
TOTAL COST?
>> I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO
YOU ON A TOTAL COST, THIS
REQUEST WAS SIZED WITH THAT
KIND OF LEVEL OF SERVICE IN
MIND OF PAINTING OUR EXISTING
LIENS AND KEEPING EXISTING
BARRIERS SUCH AS CANDLESTICK
BARRIERS, THAT KIND OF THING,
REPLACED AND MAINTAINED, THAT
WAS THE INTENT BEHIND THIS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PLANNING AHEAD, WE WOULD
LIKE TO ALSO PROPOSE
INVESTMENTS IN PLANNING FOR
FUTURE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
AND MAKING SURE THAT ENGAGING
COMMUNITIES IS A BIG PART OF
THAT PLANNING TO ADDRESS OUR
GOALS FOR EQUITY, SAFETY AND
SUSTAINABILITY, INCLUDING
CLIMATE CHANGE AS WELL.
THIS REPRESENTS 7% OF THE
SPENDING PLAN, I SHOULD MENTION
IN FUTURE YEARS WE ARE
PROPOSING 3% SET-ASIDE FOR
RESERVES TO MANGE THEIR FUTURE
NEEDS AND FOR 2021, THIS IS 7%
OF THE FUNDING GOING TOWARDS
PLANNING.
WE WOULD LIKE TO USE THIS
FUNDING TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE
WORK TOWARDS THE NEXT CITYWIDE
MULTIMODAL PLANNING THAT WE CAN
CREATE A FULLY INTEGRATED
TRANSPORTATION PLAN TO ALSO
INVEST IN REALLY ROBUST
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT,
ESPECIALLY WITH DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES AND HISTORICALLY
UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES,
BRINGING THEM IN AS A VOICE AT
THE TABLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ANYA TO
COMMENT ON THIS AS WELL.
>> YES, THANKS SO MUCH FOR
THAT, KYLE.
I WILL ADD ON TO WHAT KYLE
MENTIONED AND SAY THIS IS VERY
ALIGNED WITH THE
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HEARD
FROM THE TRANSPORTATION EQUITY
WORKGROUP.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT NEEDS TO
START FROM THE PLANNING
PROCESS, MANY TIMES WHEN
PLANNING STARTS DECISIONS HAVE
BEEN MADE.
AGAIN, THIS IS BACK TO THIS
IDEA OF STARTING THE LONG-TERM
LEARNING PROCESS AND INVITING
AND ENGAGING FOLKS THAT WERE
NOT TRADITIONALLY INVOLVED TO
BE PART OF THAT.
IT IS VERY ALIGNED WITH THE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> THANKS, ANYA.
>> THANK YOU, WE HEARD A LOT OF
PEOPLE TALKING TODAY AND WE HAD
A LOT OF EMAILS ABOUT A $3
MILLION PLAN, BUT I THINK THAT
WAS MAINLY ON ADDITIONAL
TRANSIT STATIONS WITHIN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, SO THAT IS $3
MILLION, THIS IS ONLY $500,000
PER YEAR, BUT I THINK WHAT YOU
WERE TALKING ABOUT IS SORT OF
SYNTHESIZING THE VARIOUS MOBILE
PLANS THAT WE HAVE AND DOING
DEEPER OUTREACH TO COMMUNITIES
THAT TRADITIONALLY HAVE NOT
BEEN CONSULTED, I AM CURIOUS
HOW MUCH BOTH OF THOSE THINGS
WOULD COST, THERE IS THE $3
MILLION PLUS THERE IS WHAT YOU
ARE TALKING ABOUT AND
SYNTHESIZING MODAL PLANS TO
OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE NOT
BEEN ENGAGED, DO WE KNOW HOW
MUCH THE TOTAL IS SO THAT WE
COULD BE READY FOR 2023.
>> I CAN JUMP IN THEIR LITTLE
BIT, WE ARE STILL SCOPING OUT
WHAT THAT FUTURE PLANNING
EFFORT WILL LOOK LIKE.
ALSO WHAT THE COST IS.
OUR TRANSIT MASTER PLAN IS THE
MOST OUT OF DATE AND THIS WAS
DONE BEFORE ST3 AND THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO THINK DEEPLY
ABOUT OUR FUTURE TRANSIT AND AS
WE BUILD OUT ST3 AND THE
PROJECTS IN THE LEVY THAT IS
MOVING TOWARDS CONSTRUCTION AND
MULTIMODAL CORE DOORS, I DON'T
THINK, I THINK THIS SCALED
WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF ALL OF
OUR ASSET NEEDS REPRESENTED IN
THIS PACKAGE, GETS US THERE.
WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF
SCOPING OUT EXACTLY WHAT THAT
ENGAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS IS TO
INTEGRATE A MULTIMODAL PLAN.
>> COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY
MORALES?
>> THANK YOU, I WILL HAVE
QUESTIONS FURTHER DOWN, BUT I
DO WANT TO JUST THANK THE
DEPARTMENTS, THANK YOU, ON YOU
FOR DOING THIS WORK AND FOR
RAISING THE ISSUE OF THE NEED
TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU DO
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AS A
PLANNER, THAT IS WHAT WE DO, IF
YOU ARE HEARING FROM COMMUNITY,
WHAT THEY FEEL THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
SO, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU, I THINK IF WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT EQUITY, SAFETY, MOBILITY
IS SOME OF THOSE VALUES THE
DEPARTMENT OPERATES UNDER, THIS
IS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW
YOU ARE IMPLEMENTING THOSE
VALUES AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
THIS.
>> THANK YOU.
PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> THIS IS HOW THE PIECES FIT
TOGETHER, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE
SAFE STREETS, SAFE SIDEWALKS,
EACH A 28%, STRONG BRIDGES AND
STRUCTURES COME IN AT 24%,
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION 10%,
PLANNING AHEAD 7% AND THEN A
PLACE FOR RESERVES AND MAKING
SURE WE CAN DELIVER IF WE HAD A
FUTURE REVENUE LOSS FOR
SOMETHING LIKE A PANDEMIC.
ULTIMATELY, WE FILL THE PROGRAM
FOCUSES ON EQUITY, INCLUDING
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT FACE HIGHER
RISK AND LOWER DEVALUED
OPPORTUNITIES.
MAINTENANCE TO HELP DECREASE
BACKLOG, CLIMATE CHANGE
BENEFITS TO INCLUDE THE
TRAVELING EXPERIENCE FOR
WALKERS, BIKERS, AND TRANSIT
AND PLANNING FOR A HEALTHIER
EQUITABLE FUTURE WHERE THINGS
ARE NEEDED MOST GEOGRAPHICALLY.
OUR SPENDING PLAN THAT YOU ARE
SEEING IN THE ORDINANCE TODAY
IS FOR 2021 AND IT IS
CONSTRUCTED IN A WAY THAT COULD
BE THERE FOR FULL 12 MONTHS
WORTH OF REVENUE.
READY FOR THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO, THESE PROGRAMS PROPOSED
HERE, WE FOUND THAT THEY HAD
OVERLAPPING BENEFITS TO THOSE
KEY AREAS WITH COMMUNITY,
EQUITY, SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND
CLIMATE CHANGE.
EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS IS
DESIGNED TO HAVE BENEFITS IN
MULTIPLE CATEGORIES.
ABOUT 75% OF THIS PROPOSED
SPENDING PLAN WOULD BE
DEDICATED TO INVESTMENTS IN
NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE DARKER
COLOR OR DARKER YELLOW HERE.
THIS WOULD BE ABLE TO BE
DIRECTED TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS
WITH A HIGHER RISK OF
DISPLACEMENT AND LOWER RISK OF
DISPLACEMENT OR OPPORTUNITIES
RATHER.
THERE IS THINGS THAT COULD FALL
OUTSIDE OF THOSE, RECOGNIZING
THINGS LIKE BRIDGES WITH FIXED
LOCATIONS THAT ARE PART OF THE
PRIORITIES IN THE SPAN AND
SPEND PLAN.
SO, FOLLOWING THE OVERLAPPING
THEME, ASSET MAINTENANCE HAS
CROSS MODAL BENEFITS THAT WE
THOUGHT WERE A GREAT WAY TO
SPEND THE MONEY WITH PAVING
STREETS THAT CAN BE USED TO
BIKE TRANSIT AND FREIGHT AS AN
EXAMPLE, IN THIS CASE WE ARE
NOT PAVING THE STREETS, WE ARE
KEEPING THOSE FACILITIES SAFE
THROUGH MAINTENANCE IS A BIG
PRIORITY HERE AND A LOT OF THIS
IS DIRECTED TOWARDS MAINTENANCE
AND THOSE MAINTENANCE DOLLARS,
FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT NOW,
THAT DOES SAVE COSTS IN THE
FUTURE, ABOUT SIX DOLLARS UP TO
$10 IN REHABILITATION COSTS.
THIS SUPPORTS JOBS DOING
MAINTENANCE WORK. THIS SLIDE
BREAKS DOWN BY CATEGORY HOW
MUCH OF THE WORK IS
MAINTENANCE, STRONG BRIDGES AND
STRUCTURES, THAT WOULD BE
DEDICATED TO MAINTENANCE AND
THE LIGHTER SHADE REPRESENTS
ADA RAMP WORK.
THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION IS
ALL ABOUT MAINTAINING THOSE AND
THIS WORK IS ABOUT 25%
MAINTENANCE AS IT IS OFTEN
NEEDED TO IMPROVE A FACILITY
THAT HAS DEGRADED AND HAS NOT
BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED BUT IF
IT WAS WOULD IMPROVE THE SAFETY
OF THE FACILITY.
IN THE REST OF THIS PLAN IN
SAFE STREETS, IS FOR NEW
IMPROVEMENTS.
THINGS LIKE IMPROVED CROSSINGS
AND SIGNALS.
AND THEN THE SIDEWALK
IMPROVEMENTS AND THEN PLANNING
AHEAD AND GIVING OURSELVES THE
TIMES TWO PRIORITY AND MAINTAIN
THOSE RESOURCES.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE
RESOURCES WE GOT AND I WILL
GIVE YOU A FEW MOMENTS TO READ
THESE STAKEHOLDER COMMENTS.
THANKS, BILL WE'VE HEARD FROM A
COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE TODAY NEXT
UPSTART WITH COUNSEL DISCUSSION
OF THE SPEND PLAN PROPOSAL AND
YOUR TIMELINE FOR FINALIZING
THAT SPEND PLAN IN MAY.
REVENUE COLLECTION OF THE $20
VEHICLE LICENSE FEE WOULD BEGIN
IN JULY AND THIS SUMMER, AS
SOON AS IT IS APPROVED, WE WILL
CONTINUE TO ENGAGE AND HAVE
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO FUND.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, ANY
QUESTIONS FOR THE SPACE PLAN
THAT IS PRESENTED BY SDOT ? I
AM HAPPY TO LAUNCH INTO A
DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENTS,
WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER LISA
HERBOLD AND COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS HERE IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS
TO SIGN ON AS A COSPONSOR, THIS
IS A GOOD TIME TO DO IT DURING
THIS DISCUSSION AS WELL.
YES, COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY
MORALES ?
>> I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT MARKING
THE SLIDE NUMBER BUT YOU DO
HAVE A SLIGHT WHERE YOU SAY
THAT 75% OF THE VLF REVENUE
WOULD BE INTENDED FOR
PARTICULAR PARTS OF THE TOWN
BASED ON EQUITY THERE, THANK
YOU, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT HOW YOU GOT TO THIS
DECISION, HOW YOU MAKE
DECISIONS, BOTH, I UNDERSTAND
IN TERMS OF WHY THESE AREAS,
NORTH SEATTLE, SOUTH SEATTLE
ARE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN DE-
INVESTED IN FOR GENERATIONS,
HOW DO YOU GET TO THE 75%
ALLOCATION FOR THOSE PARTS OF
TOWN?
>> WRITES, WHEN WE HAD
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO
EVALUATE OUR PROGRAMS WITH OUR
STAKEHOLDERS, EQUITY WAS THE
NUMBER ONE PRIORITY THAT CAME
OUT OF THAT CONVERSAION.
SO, WITH THAT, THE CRITERIA
THAT WE USE TO EVALUATE ALL OF
THOSE, OF THOSE SEVEN CRITERIA
WHEN I SHOW YOU THE BLUE QUILT
OF RATINGS, EQUITY HAD A RUBRIC
TO SCORE AND PROGRAMS THAT HAD
A HIGH-SCORING EQUITY COULD
DELIVER 75% OR MORE OF THEIR
PROGRAM INTO THESE AREAS THAT
HAVE BEEN THIS INVESTED IN IN
THE PAST, DE-INVESTED IN IN THE
PAST, WE WORKED WITH THE WORK
PROGRAMS AND FOUND THAT THEIR
PROPOSALS COULD DELIVER MORE
THAN 75% OF THEIR WORK INTO
THESE AREAS, THEY WERE FLEXIBLE
ENOUGH TO DO THAT.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> TO ADD ONTO THAT SLIGHTLY, A
FINER POINT, THIS IS STILL A
PHILLY SMALL AMOUNT OF
INVESTMENT OVERALL AND THE
NEEDS THAT WE HAVE FROM THE
ASSET PERSPECTIVE ACROSS THE
PORTFOLIO, IN LOOKING AT THINGS
LIKE SIDEWALK INVESTMENTS AND
CROSSINGS AND REMARKING AND
THINGS LIKE THAT, THOSE ARE
THINGS THAT CAN BE DIRECTED
TOWARDS AREAS THAT NEED THAT
AND ARE ADDRESSING SOME OF THE
EQUITY CHALLENGES WE HAVE DOING
THEIR ALSO ASSETS THAT NEED
INVESTMENT ANYWAY.
>> AND I FOLLOW UP WITH ONE
MORE QUESTION?
SO, WHEN I LOOK AT THE MAP, I
DON'T THINK YOU HAD IT ON HERE,
BUT I KNOW THERE IS A MAP OF
MISSING SIDEWALKS IN THE CITY
AND MOST ARE IN THE AREAS HERE
THAT ARE DARK YELLOW.
IT ALSO DOES NOT SURPRISE ME,
BUT WHEN YOU HAD THAT LIST OF
STAKEHOLDERS THAT YOU ENGAGED
WITH, I DID NOT SEE ANY
ORGANIZATIONS, MAYBE I DID NOT
READ AT ALL, THE REPRESENTED OR
MIGHT INCLUDE FOLKS WHO LIVE
WITH DISABILITIES.
WE KNOW THAT VERY OFTEN THOSE
FOLKS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING
POVERTY, SO, AGAIN, THOSE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I ENGAGE
WITH A LOT OF FOLKS WHO LIVE
WITH SHORT DISABILITIES OR SOME
SORT OF DISABILITIES OR LOW
INCOME AND THERE ARE MISSING
SIDEWALKS, ALL OF THAT IS TO
SAY, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT HOW AND WHETHER THOSE
FOLKS WERE INCLUDED IN THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU HAD
HEATING UP TO THIS SPEND PLAN?
>> YES, WE CAN GET BACK TO YOU
WITH A LIST OF SPECIFIC FOLKS
THAT WERE INVITED, I KNOW THAT
NOT EVERYONE COULD ATTEND THAT
WAS INVITED, ANYA, DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING?
>> I CAN ADD A LITTLE BIT, SOME
OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE
REPRESENTED, REPRESENT MULTIPLE
PERSPECTIVES IN TERMS OF
ABILITIES.
SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN
THE EQUITY GROUP, I KNOW, ONE
ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH SENIORS
AND ALSO PUTS DISABILITY WORK
IN THERE AS WELL, THERE IS AN
INTERSECTION NULLITY IN TERMS
OF REPRESENTATION, I WILL SAY
THAT, THAT WE COULD DEFINITELY
GET BACK TO YOU WITH A LIST OF
REPRESENTATIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD
?
>> IF YOU GO BACK TO THAT MAP,
JUST THE PLANNING MEASURE OF
LOW RISK OR HIGH RISK TO
DISPLACEMENT AND LOW ACCESS TO
OPPORTUNITY IS A DEFINITION OF
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND IT
HAS BEEN CREATED WITH THINGS
LIKE CITYWIDE PLANNING. MY
REFLECTION OF THAT MAP FOR
AREAS THAT ARE BOTH HIGH RISK
AND LOW ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY
AND I AM WONDERING IF THIS MAP
INSTEAD REPRESENTS NOT ONLY
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT BOTH HAVE
HIGH RISK OF DISPLACEMENT AND
LOW ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY, BUT
ALSO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE
JUST ONE OF THOSE TWO
CATEGORIES.
>> YES, SO THE LIST IS, IT MAY
BE THAT IS THE CASE, I WILL
HAVE TO CHECK THAT, IT IS
LOOKING AT NEIGHBORHOODS BY
QUINTILES AND I THINK THIS IS
THE BOTTOM THREE QUINTILES AND
SAM HAS MORE FAMILIARITY WITH
THE MAPS THEMSELVES, WE COULD
ALSO GET BACK TO ON THAT.
>> THE REASON WHY I ASK, I
THINK THAT USING BOTH
CATEGORIES TOGETHER, FOCUSING
ON NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BOTH
HIGH RISK OF DISPLACEMENT AND
LOW ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY,
USING BOTH OF THOSE CARDIO,
CATEGORIES TOGETHER, MAKES IT
MORE MEANINGFUL FOR AREAS OF
TARGETED INVESTMENT OR TARGETED
LAND-USE POLICIES, SPECIFICALLY
TO ADDRESS THOSE CONDITIONS.
IF YOU ARE INCLUDING
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT JUST HAVE
ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES, THEN
IT BECOMES LESS MEANINGFUL AS A
TOOL TO REALLY HAVE FOCUS ON
INVESTMENT AND FOCUSED PLANNING
TOOLS.
THAT IS WHY I WOULD BE
INTERESTED TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT HOW THIS MAP WAS
CREATED AND HOW THOSE AREAS
WERE IDENTIFIED.
>> ABSOLUTELY, WE HAVE ALSO
TAKEN IN THE LAST YEAR THE
ADDED LAYER OF WHERE THE
PANDEMIC HAS BEEN MOST
IMPACTFUL IN TERMS OF THE COVID
PANDEMIC WHICH HAS A MORE
FOCUSED GEOGRAPHY OF SOME
COMMUNITIES WHERE WE HAVE SEEN
THE OVERLAPPING IMPACTS OF THE
PANDEMIC AND HISTORIC
UNDERINVESTMENT AND THE
ECONOMIC DISTRESS BROUGHT ABOUT
AN VULNERABILITY TO THIS.
I THINK THIS IS THAT INITIAL
CUT OF INEQUITY FOCUS, BUT OUR
WORK AND THE WORK THAT WE
TALKED ABOUT GOES DEEPER IN
THAT IN TERMS OF HOW WE REALLY
THINK ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS WE
MAKE AN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT
SUPPORTS COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
LISA HERBOLD , I DO HAVE ONE
UPDATE, ANNA WHO COMMENTED
EARLIER REPRESENTED DISABILITY
RIGHTS OF WASHINGTON AND SHE
DID ATTEND OUR OUTREACH
SESSION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LET'S SEE, SO, I AM HAPPY TO
TALK ABOUT THE AMENDMENT,
AGAIN, WE WILL BE DISCUSSING
THIS ON MAY 5th AS WELL IN OUR
COMMITTEE, I AM HAPPY TO JUST
PUT THAT OUT THERE AND WE CAN
TALK ABOUT IT WITH
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD OR
ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO JUMP
ON AS A COSPONSOR .
>> I CAN GO AHEAD AND GO FIRST,
WHAT THE AMENDMENT DOES IS
BASICALLY ACCEPT THIS COUNSEL
STILL AS IT IS IN TERMS OF WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN AND IS AN ANNUAL
SPENDING BILL ANYWAY, SO
BASICALLY, SAY, YES, FOR 2021,
WE WILL DO WITH THE STAKEHOLDER
GROUP IS RECOMMENDING AND THAT
IS ONE OF THE PIE CHARTS THEY
HAD SHOWN IN THEIR POWERPOINT
AND THAT BREAKS UP THE $7
MILLION OR 3.5, IT BREAKS IT UP
INTO SIX DIFFERENT BUCKETS.
TO HAVE SDOT COME BACK TO US
IN SEPTEMBER BEFORE THE FALL
BUDGET PROCESS AND HAVE NOT
SPENT THERE IS AN EMPHASIS ON
MULTILEVEL BRIDGES BECAUSE OF
HOW EXPENSIVE THEY ARE AND THE
FACT THAT BRIDGES HAVE NOT BEEN
GETTING THAT ATTENTION.
THERE WOULD STILL BE $25
MILLION AVAILABLE FOR THESE
PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT WE
HAVE JUST GONE OVER HERE.
SO, WHEN I LOOK AT EACH OF
THESE BUCKETS, OR SLICES OF
THAT PIE, AND YOU SEE $1
MILLION, $2 MILLION, A FEW
HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, ONE
OF THE BENEFITS OF DOING THE
BONDS IS YOU GET $25 MILLION OR
MORE RIGHT AWAY AND THEN YOU
CAN ADDRESS THINGS QUICKLY.
IN TERMS OF JOB CREATION, THAT
WOULD ALSO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS
MORE WORK THAN SDOT STAFF COULD
DO , SO THERE COULD BE
OUTSOURCING SOME WORK AND
CREATING JOBS AND WE HEARD A
LOT FROM THE CONSTRUCTION LABOR
UNIONS AND THEY SEEMED EXCITED
TODAY ON THE LABOR AMENDMENT IF
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS OR
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD
WANT TO SPEAK , THEY CAN, I CAN
ALSO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AND THEY CAN COME BACK TO US
WITH A PROPOSAL THAT THEY BE,
THAT THEN WE WOULD CONSIDER AT
THAT TIME.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> IT LOOKS LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
LISA HERBOLD HAS HER HAND UP .
I AM HAPPY TO GO AFTER.
>> I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM MY
UNDERSTANDING.
THIS IN NO WAY IMPACTS THE
RECOMMENDED PLAN FOR 2021,
CORRECT?
>> CORRECT.
>> THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT, IT
IS ONLY ASKING FOR A PLAN
WITHIN THE PARAMETERS ON WHAT
WE ARE IDENTIFYING.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO
UNDERSCORE IS ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY WE ARE INTERESTED
IN A BONDING PROPOSAL IS IN
RECOGNITION THAT AGAIN, WE ARE
NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY
OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY A FUND
SOURCE TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS
ASSOCIATED WITH BRIDGEWORK
UNTIL PLANNING FOR A NEW LEVY
WHICH WOULD BEGIN IN 2023 AND
WOULD GO ON THE BALLOT IN 2024
FOR FUNDING THAT WOULD NOT BE
AVAILABLE UNTIL 2025.
SOME OF THE THINGS I HAVE BEEN
HEARING IN OPPOSITION AND BOND
FINANCING AND WE HAVE HEARD AND
OVERCOME AS A COUNSEL WHEN THE
COUNSEL WANTED TO USE OUR
BONDING AUTHORITY FOR A SMALL
HOUSING BOND TO AUGMENT IN A
SINGLE YEAR THE FUNDING THAT WE
WERE PUTTING TOWARDS VERY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT IS TRUE THE BOND FINANCING
HAS A COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT,
BUT, AGAIN, I DO NOT SEE ACTING
ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
CITY AUDITOR AS SOMETHING THAT
IS DISCRETIONARY, IT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE MUST DO AND
WE HAVE TO FIND THE RESOURCES
TO DO SO.
I RECOGNIZE THAT IN THE GRAND
SCHEME OF THE COST ASSOCIATED
WITH MAINTAINING AND DOING SOME
RETROFITTING OF BRIDGES, $100
MILLION IS SMALL POTATOES, BUT,
I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR OUR CITY AND THE CITIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO
ANTICIPATE LARGER
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS FROM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND
THESE DOLLARS WILL COMPLEMENT
THOSE DOLLARS THAT I KNOW WE
ARE ALL OPEN FOR, THANKS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS ?
>> THANK YOU, HAPPY TO MAKE MY
FIRST GUEST APPEARANCE HERE IN
THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE,
THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.
I BELIEVE MY OFFICIAL POSITION
AS CO-AUTHOR GIVEN HOW WE HAVE
TO STRUCTURE THE NAMING AND I
AM HAPPY TO CO-AUTHOR THIS
PROPOSAL, AND WE ARE MAKING
PROGRESS ON THE LONG DEFERRED
AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE
UNITED STATES IS CRITICAL, THE
CITY OF SEATTLE NEEDS TO BE
WELL-POSITIONED TO CAPITALIZE
ON THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IN
INFRASTRUCTURE MAKE SURE WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
RESOURCES TO ATTRACT FROM
OLYMPIA AND FROM WASHINGTON,
D.C. AND $100 MILLION IN AND OF
ITSELF IS NOT GOING TO BE THE
LINCHPIN THAT HOLDS TOGETHER
MAJOR FINANCING FOR BIG CAPITAL
PROJECTS, IT CAN BE OF BIG
CHUNK AND THE KEY TO UNLOCKING
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT.
I THINK THIS IS A GOOD STRATEGY
ESPECIALLY GIVEN INTEREST RATES
INTEREST RATES, THEY ARE SO
LOW, AND THE MAJOR FEDERAL
INVESTMENT ON THE HORIZON WILL
ALLOW AND HOPEFULLY SDOT CAN
SPEAK TO THIS AND THIS BONDING
CAPACITY THEY CAN USE IN THEIR
PLANNING WITH OTHER
JURISDICTIONS TO NAIL DOWN THE
FINANCING PLANS FOR SOME OF THE
NEW PROJECTS COMING DOWN THE
LINE.
I THINK IT ALLOWS US TO REALLY
úQUICKLY AND INTENTIONALLY MAKE
REALLY BIG AND SIGNIFICANT
PROCESS ON A LOT OF THE VISION
ZERO AND OTHER MULTIMODAL
PROJECTS INSTEAD OF A TRICKLE
OF MAINTENANCE OVER A PERIOD OF
YEARS TO SIGNIFICANTLY
OVERHAUL, AND HANDS, AND EXPAND.
SOME OF THESE SYSTEMS ARE HERE
NOW RATHER THAN OVER A TERM OF
SEVERAL DECADES.
THIS ALLOWS US TO BUILD OUT
ADDITIONAL ADDED SIDEWALKS
RATHER THAN JUST REPAIRING
EXISTING ONES OR HAVE A PROCESS
WHERE WE DO A FEW ADDITIONAL
RAMP CUTS, CURB CUTS IN THE
SIDEWALKS IN A GIVEN YEAR AND
ALLOW US TO DO THOSE QUICKLY
AND MIXING IT IN WITH VARIOUS
SOURCES OF SUPPORT.
I FEEL THIS IS A WAY TO HARNESS
AND BUILD THAT BETTER MANTRA
THAT WE ARE SEEING IN OLYMPIA
AND WASHINGTON, D.C. AND TO
POSITION OURSELVES WELL TO
APPRECIATE THIS NEW ENVIRONMENT
FOR THE CITY THAT REFLECTS OUR
NEW MULTIMODAL FUTURE RATHER
THAN MERELY REPAIRING AND
FIXING UP A MID CENTURY
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
WITH THAT, NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS, THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO DROP BY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
I WANT TO ADDRESS A COMMENT
THAT WAS MADE EARLIER ABOUT
INTEREST COSTS.
INTEREST RATES ARE AT AN ALL-
TIME LOW NOW.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF GETTING
INTEREST COSTS SUCH AS ONE
ASPECT AND GETTING THAT $100
MILLION IMMEDIATELY.
THERE IS A BENEFIT TO GETTING
THIS.
IT IS MORE VALUABLE TO GET IT
UPFRONT AND IT IS SOMETHING TO
CONSIDER WHEN WE LOOK AT COST
AND BENEFITS AND MAYBE GETTING
$100 MILLION ALL AT ONCE
INSTEAD OF 100 OVER 20 YEARS, I
JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT
THERE.
DIRECTOR, DO YOU HAVE YOUR HAND
UP?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS ALLUDED
TO SOME FEEDBACK WE MIGHT HAVE
ON THIS AND I THOUGHT I MIGHT
OFFER, IF IT IS OKAY, A FEW
COMMENTS AND RESPONSES.
>> PLEASE.
>> SINCE YOU TOOK OFFICE, WE
HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
THE NEED FOR INVESTMENT AND
MAINTENANCE IN OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE, WHAT I
THINK IS CHALLENGING AGAINST
THIS ONGOING REVENUE SOURCE IS
IT WOULD TAKE THE INVESTMENTS
WE COULD BE MAKING OVER TIME,
AND AGAIN, INVESTMENTS AND
MAINTENANCE IS ONE OF THE
HARDEST THINGS TO SECURE
FUNDING FOR AND WE COULD MAKE
THIS INTO A ONE TIME AND TURN
THIS INTO A SET OF PROJECTS.
MAYBE WE COULD COME UP WITH
SOME BY SEPTEMBER BUT I DON'T
HAVE THE LIST READY TO GO RIGHT
NOW.
ON THE BRIDGE SIDE IT WOULD
TAKE 20 YEARS OF A REVENUE
STREAM AND MAKE IT INTO A ONE-
TIME SOURCE AND WE WOULD STILL
STRUGGLE WITH THE MAINTENANCE
ACTIVITIES THAT WE NEED.
WE THOUGHT ABOUT A WHOLE RANGE
OF WAYS TO INVEST AS WE WERE
FORMULATING THE PROCESS.
WE REALLY THOUGHT THIS WAS A
GREAT NEW SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR
INVESTMENT IN OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE
MAINTENANCE PERSPECTIVE.
SO, I DO HAVE SOME REAL
RESERVATIONS ON TRYING TO TAKE
THAT AND TRYING TO MOVE IT OUT
THE DOOR QUICKLY.
I ALSO, I WANT TO SAY, WE
RECOGNIZE WHAT IS GOING ON AT
THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, WE
NEVER STRUGGLE TO COME UP WITH
MATCHING FUNDS FOR THOSE
RESOURCES.
WE CONTINUE TO PURSUE FEDERAL
GRANT RESOURCES AND STATE
RESOURCES AROUND MAJOR CAPITAL
PROCESSES.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THE AS
OPPORTUNITIES COME UP WE WILL
BE ABLE TO.
WE HAVE PUT SOMETHING IN FOR
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE AND
WILL HAVE ONE ON THE NEW
PROGRAM, WE CONTINUE TO SECURE
AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL
AND MATCHING FUNDS HAS NEVER
BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR US IN
SECURING THE.
SECURING THOSE.
>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR SAM
ZIMBABWE, YOUR BUDGET IS
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
SO FINDING THIS, THIS IS NEW
MONEY, I JUST THINK IT IS
POSSIBLE FOR THERE TO BE
PRIORITIZATION WITHIN YOUR
LARGE BUDGET AND $7 MILLION,
THERE IS A WAY TO FIND THAT FOR
REPAIR MAINTENANCE IF YOU WANT
TO PRIORITIZE THAT.
I'M NOT SURE IT IS FAIR TO SAY
THIS NEW BUCKET OF MONEY WOULD
HAVE TO GO TOWARDS THAT.
ALSO, WE ARE HOPING TO GET, WE
ARE NOT SURE WITH THE STATE
GOVERNMENT WILL PULL OFF, THIS
YEAR, REGARDING ESTATE
TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE, WE HOPE
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO
MORE ON INFRASTRUCTURE, THERE'S
A LOT OF TALK ABOUT IT IN
WASHINGTON, D.C., I AM HOPING
THE SDOT WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE
ADVANTAE OF THAT AND ABSORB
THE LARGE SUMS THAT COULD COME
OUR WAY.
I'M HOPING THAT YOU ARE GETTING
READY FOR THAT ONE WAY OR THE
OTHER.
COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY MORALES ,
TO HAVE A FOLLOW-UP?
>> YES, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS
FOR DIRECTOR SAM ZIMBABWE OR
CENTRAL STAFF, OR ANYONE AT
THIS POINT, I AM INTERESTED ON
IF THERE IS A FEDERAL
INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE OR
ALLOCATION, IF WE HAVE ANY
SENSE OF WHAT THE PARAMETERS OF
THAT WOULD BE.
WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS 10 BRIDGES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, OR WHAT
THAT WOULD BE USED FOR.
ALL OF THAT IS STILL UP IN THE
AIR, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW
WE COULD USE THAT MONEY TO
SUPPORT WHATEVER AND SUPPORT
THE BACKLOG.
THE OTHER QUESTION, IF I
UNDERSTAND THE IDEA, IT SEEMS
THE PROPOSAL WOULD USE $25
MILLION EARLY AND IT WOULD
REPLACE $80 MILLION WOULD COME
IN OVERTIME FOR SIDEWALK
REPAIRS I'M NOT SURE IF THAT IS
SAM OR CALVIN THAT WOULD BE
ABLE TO ANSWER THAT, BUT THAT
IS ONE OF THE TRADE-OFFS THAT
THEY ARE ASKING US TO MAKE AND
I AM NOT SURE IF THAT MAKES
SENSE.
>> I CAN ADDRESS THAT, CALVIN,
I SEE YOUR HAND IS RAISED.
THIS BOND PROPOSAL WOULD BE $20
MILLION AND I AM NOT SURE WHERE
THE 80 MILLION IS COMING FROM,
I DID HEAR SOMEONE MENTION THAT
FIGURE.
CALVIN, DID YOU WANT TO TRY AND
ADDRESS THAT?
>> I WANTED TO START WITH THE
FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION, A
LOT OF THE FEDERAL AND STATE
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ARE STILL
BEING DEFINED.
IN ADDITION TO THE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND FEDERAL
FUNDING THERE IS POTENTIALLY A
REAUTHORIZATION THAT COULD BE A
POTENTIAL SOURCE FOR FUNDING.
THERE COULD BE SOME EARMARKS
GOING INTO THE PROGRAMS THAT
THE VAST MAJORITY WILL BE
FORMULA AND COMPETITIVE
PROGRAMS THAT WILL GO THREE
EXISTING ADMINISTRATIVE GRANT
PROGRAMS AND WILL BE RELIANT ON
FUTURE BUDGETS TO MAKE THIS
AVAILABLE.
WILL SORT OF SET UP WITH THOSE
GRANT SECTORS LOOK LIKE IN THE
FUTURE AND THAT IS THE TYPE OF
THING SDOT HAS HISTORY
PREPARING FOR.
I THINK WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
FINANCING, THOSE ARE CHOICES
THAT WE CAN MAKE AS WE GO
INCREMENTALLY WHEN
OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT
THEMSELVES NEED TO FIGURE OUT
HOW THAT FITS IN.
A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION TODAY
IS THE COUSEL CONSIDERING HOW
IMPORTANT IS IT TO TRY AND
REALLY PUSH FOR LARGE ACCOUNT
SPENDING NOW.
I THINK, A LOT OF THESE FEDERAL
GRANT PROGRAMS TEND TO FOCUS ON
THE DELIVERY OF CAPITAL AND NOT
SO MUCH THE REGULAR OPERATING
AND MAINTENANCE THAT SAM WAS
ALLUDING TO.
GRANTS TYPICALLY WANT TO SHOW A
LARGE PROJECT AS SORT OF A
SUCCESS.
THIS HAS BEEN THE HISTORY OF
MOST GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE
SPENDING, IT IS EASIER TO FIND
MONEY FOR A NEW THING.
IT IS ALSO USEFUL TO DISCUSS
WHAT MAINTENANCE MEANS.
I THINK A LOT OF THE PROPOSED
SPENDING THAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT IS ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION
JOBS AND SPENDING TO REPAIR
WHAT IS THERE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ARE A BIT
TRAPPED IN OUR LANGUAGE AND I
THINK WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO
HAVE A CONVERSATION ON WHAT THE
FINANCE PITCH LOOKS LIKE.
WE HAVE THE SEATTLE LEVY COMING
UP AT A FUTURE TIME, THAT'S
TYPICALLY THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE
CONSIDERED WHEN THE BRIDGING
THE GAP WAS FIRST PROPOSED,
THAT IS WHERE WE GOT THE
COMMERCIAL PARKING FUNDING,
THERE IS A BIGGER TIMEFRAE TO
THINK ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE.
I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED SOME
BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
THE FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES ARE TO HELP
INFORM THAT.
I DON'T THINK WE ARE
NECESSARILY MISSING ANY
OPPORTUNITIES, EVEN IF CONGRESS
MADE THE OPPORTUNITY TOMORROW,
IT WOULD TAKE SOME TIME TO ROLL
OUT HOW WE WOULD ACCESS THAT,
IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT THAT IS, IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR THAT LEVY.
THERE IS ALSO THE FLIPSIDE OF
SDOT ASSET MANAGEMENT AND
INFRASTRUCTURE AND WHAT THEY
KNOW ON WHAT THEY NEED.
HE CAN POINT TO DEFICIENCIES,
TO ME, THAT IS NOT THE SAME
THING AS DEVELOPING.
A PROJECT NEEDS DEVELOP MEANING
AND BASELINE COSTS BASED ON
ASSUMPTIONS AND THEN LATER ON
NOT BECAUSE OF THE COST OF
CHANGE, BUT MAYBE SOMETHING
WENT WRONG IN THE PROJECT AND
THAT WE KNOW MORE ON WHAT THAT
PROJECT IS.
WHAT LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING AND
WHAT LEVEL COST WE WILL NEED AS
WELL.
ALL THAT TO SAY, I THINK WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THIS COMING TO
LIGHT IN THE CONTEXT OF A
RELATIVELY SMALL FOR THIS $20
VLF.
I THINK THERE IS OPPORTUNITY TO
TALK ABOUT THIS, CLEARLY THE
COUNCILMEMBERS CAN DECIDE WHICH
WAY TO GO ON THIS, THOSE ARE
THE THOUGHTS, NOT SURE IF I
ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FROM MY UNDERSTANDING ON THE
BRIDGE TALK FROM WASHINGTON,
D.C., IT IS REALLY THOSE MAJOR
INTERSTATE RIDGES THAT THEY'RE
TALKING ABOUT, NOT REALLY EVERY
CITY HAS AS MANY WATERWAYS AND
RAVINES AS WE DO.
THAT IS A CONCERN THAT WE WILL
NOT TRICKLE DOWN TO BRIDGES WE
CARE ABOUT LIKE THE SECOND
AVENUE SOUTH EXTENSION OR
UNIVERSITY BRIDGE OR BALLOT
BRIDGE.
IT IS SOMETHING FOR US TO THINK
ABOUT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS,
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
ABOUT THIS QUESTION OR
AMENDMENT?
>> I HAVE GENERAL QUESTIONS, IF
I CAN.
>> THANK YOU CHAIRS, CHAIR ALEX
PEDERSON, I WANT TO START MY
LINE OF INQUIRY FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF IDENTIFYING
WHAT I THINK IS COMMON GROUND.
WHAT I THINK IS COMMON GROUND
IS THAT WE ALL AGREE THAT WE
NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE NEED TO
ACT QUICKLY BUT JUDICIOUSLY TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ADDRESS
INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE
NEEDS BEFORE THEY FAIL AS A
WEST SEATTLE RESIDENTS AND
CITYWIDE REPRESENTATIVE, I KNOW
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A MAJOR PIECE
OF INFRASTRUCTURE FAILS FOR
TRANSIT USERS, THE CITY, PEOPLE
WHO DRIVE CARS, IT IS JUST BAD,
I JUST WANT TO START BY
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE ARE ALL
ON THE SAME PAGE AND WE NEED TO
HAVE A PLAN TO ADDRESS FEELING
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS BEFORE
COMPLETE FAILURE OCCURS.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY
AND THINK THE WAY THIS
CONVERSATION IS BEING FRAMED I
HOPE IS IN THE CONTEXT OF WE
HAVE THIS PROBLEM, WE HAVE THIS
ISSUE, WE NEED TO SOLVE IT,
THIS IS HOW WE CAN DO THIS.
WHAT I AM STRUGGLING WITH IS
WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS THE
PROPER MECHANISM BY WHICH TO
ADDRESS THE SCALE OF THE
PROBLEM FACING THE CITY AS IT
RELATES TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
I AM NOT PREJUDGING THE
PROPOSAL ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, I
AM EXPRESSING WHAT MY EARLY
THINKING IS WHICH IS SORT OF
WANTING TO BE HONEST SOME OF
THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
MADE AND THESE OFF-LINE
CONVERSATIONS SAYING WE HAVE TO
DO THIS IN A WAY THAT IS
MULTIMODAL AND DOES NOT HIT
TRANSIT AND NON-VEHICLE
MOBILITY WITH SINGLE OCCUPANCY
VEHICLE MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION.
FOR ME, IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO
HEAR FROM SDOT AND THEIR
PERSPECTIVE , I UNDERSTAND THE
AMENDMENT DOES NOT IMPACT THE
SPENDING PLAN AS CRAFTED BY
STAKEHOLDERS,, WHEN WE HAVE
DONE THIS IN THE PAST THAT
INCLUDED STAKEHOLDERS OR MAYBE
DID NOT, WAS IT ALWAYS A YEAR-
BY-YEAR PLAN IN TERMS OF THE
SPENDING OR WAS SORT OF THE
VISION, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A
SPENDING PLAN OR PRINCIPLES
THAT ARE GOING TO DICTATE HOW
WE WILL SPEND THE MONEY FOR THE
LIFE OF THE BLS.
>> THE LAST TIME THERE WAS THIS
KIND OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT,
WELL PREDATING ME, BUT AT THE
INCEPTION OF THE SPD AND
VEHICLE LICENSE FEE, THAT HAS
CONTINUED TO GUIDE THE GENERAL
APPROACH TO THE BASE $20
VEHICLE LICENSE FEE OVER THE
LAST DECADE.
I DO THINK WE ENTERED THE
CONVERSATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS
THINKING WE WERE NOT JUST
TALKING ABOUT HALF A YEAR SET
OF INVESTMENTS, BUT THAT LONGER-
TERM GUIDING PRINCIPL.
I WOULD SAY THAT BASELINE $20
VEHICLE LICENSING FEE SUPPORTS
A NUMBER OF MULTI MODAL
MAINTENANCE.
THERE ARE SMALL-SCALE CAPITAL
INVESTMENTS.
HAVING THE GROUNDING IN
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND
SUPPORTING A LONG-TERM APPROACH
REALLY HELP WITH THE
SUSTAINABLE ONGOING EXPENDITURE
THAT DOES GET ADDRESSED THROUGH
THE EVERY YEAR BUDGET PROCESS
AND SORT OF HAS A FRAMEWORK.
>> CALVIN, YOU HAD YOUR HANDS
UP.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD IN THE
EMAIL TRANSMITTAL THAT I SENT
TO COUNCILMEMBERS DIRECTLY, IT
REALLY FOCUSED ON THE NEXT FOUR
YEARS BEFORE THE LEVY AND LEFT
OPEN THE FACT THAT WHEN THE
LEVY IS UP FOR REAUTHORIZATION,
IT MAY REQUIRE ALL OF THESE
REVENUE SOURCES.
THERE IS MAYBE A DIFFERENCE A
LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF THE
LEGISLATION HERE WHICH IS
REALLY A BUDGET APPROPRIATION
TRANSFER, IT IS A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WAS
TRANSMITTED WHICH IS REALLY
FOCUSING ON THE IMMEDIATE
FUTURE AND THE DISTINCTION
BETWEEN THE ANTICIPATION OF
POTENTIALLY USING THE RESOURCES
FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
>> OKAY, SO THEN, THIS
AMENDMENT, IT RAISES THE POLICY
QUESTION OF A SHIFT OF
ESTABLISHING GUIDING PRINCIPLES
THROUGH A STAKEHOLDER PROCESS
THAT INFLUENCE IN A SUSTAINABLE
WAY AND GUIDES THE MANNER IN
WHICH THE MANOR IS DONE ON A
YEAR-TO-YEAR BASIS AND UNDER
THAT UMBRELLA PERSPECTIVE, THIS
WOULD MODIFY THAT BY
EFFECTIVELY DOING A YEAR-TO-
YEAR SPENDING PLAN NOW?
>> I THINK WITH ANY SPENDING
PLAN, IT IS WHAT THE EXECUTIVES
PLANS TO TRANSMIT IN FUTURE
YEARS.
WE DO THE BUDGETING YEARLY ON A
BIANNUAL PIECE.
I THINK THE AMENDMENT IN FRONT
OF US SUGGEST THE COUNSEL IS
INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT
CAPITAL SPENDING AND WE HAVE
SEEN HOW THE DEPARTMENT
RESPONDS AND THE COUNSEL MIGHT
NEED TO CONSIDER IT.
AND THEY ARE INTERESTED IN
DOING CAPITAL SPENDING.
>> OKAY, DOES THE AMENDMENT
BEFORE US ACCOUNT FOR AND I
THINK COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY
MORALES WAS ALLUDING TO THIS,
DOES THIS ACCOUNT FOR OR ALLOW
FOR ANY SORT OF FLEXIBILITY IN
TERMS OF THE SIGNALING TO SDOT
TO ACCOUNT FOR ADDITIONAL
REVENUE SOURCES THAT MAY BE
BETTER, MORE SUSTAINABLE, OR
CONSISTENT WITH THE FISCAL
POLICY OPTIONS TO FUND THE
SCALE OF THE NEED HERE?
>> IT JUST SPEAKS TO A PROJECT
LIST, EVERYTHING ELSE SIGNALS
INTENT BUT IS NOT NECESSARILY
FINDING OR ASKING FOR ANYTHING
DIFFERENT.
THE SPECIFIC CHANGE TO THE
LEGISLATION IS TO ASK SDOT TO
PROVIDE $100 MILLION PROJECT
LIST FOR CONSIDERATION BY
SEPTEMBER 30th.
>> RIGHT, BUT THE INTENT WOULD
BE, I THINK, THE WAY I AM
READING THE INTENT AND HEARING
IT FROM THE CO-AUTHOR AND
COSPONSORS IS THE REASON TO
GENERATE THIS LIST IS IT IS
LAYING A FOUNDATION TO PROPOSE
FUNDING AND THIS HAS NOT YET
BEEN APPROVED BUT WOULD BE
CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE
PROCESS.
>> THAT IS CORRECT, THE RECITAL
STATES THAT HIS COUNSEL'S
INTENT.
>> I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING IS,
I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS
DEVOID OF LANGUAGE THAT WOULD
ALLOW THE CITY COUSEL TO
PURSUE A DIFFERENT OPTION IF A
DIFFERENT OPTION BECAME
AVAILABLE.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF THE HUNDRED
MILLION DOLLARS LIST OF CAPITAL
PROJECTS BECAME AVAILABLE TO
CITY COUSEL AND, BY THE TIME
WE GET TO THE FALL BUDGET
PROCESS WHICH FEELS LIKE AN
ETERNITY BUT REALLY IS AROUND
THE CORNER DOES THE AMENDMENT
ALLOW FOR THE CITY COUSEL TO
EFFECTIVELY SHIFT FROM THIS
BONDING PROPOSAL TO SOMETHING
ELSE THAT WOULD STILL MEET
CAPITAL NEEDS OF MAINTAINING
OUR TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE BUT PERHAPS NOT
RELY ON VLF IS THE REVENUE
STREAM.
>> THIS DOES NOTHING TO DIRECT
THE 2022 BUDGET, IT DOES NOT
DIRECT SPECIFIC BONDS, JUST
SIGNALS INTEREST, SO IT WOULD
NOT CONSTRAIN COUNSEL ACTIONS
IN THE 2022 BUDGET.
>> OKAY, WE WOULD STILL HAVE AN
OPTION TO PURSUE OTHER REVENUE
STREAMS TO EFFECTUATE THIS
BONDING INTENT THAT IS OUTSIDE
THE SCOPE OF THE VLF.
>> YES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
I THINK THAT IS IT FOR ME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
COUNCILMEMBER DEBORA JUAREZ ?
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER ALEX PEDERSON, I
DO SIT ON THE BOARD AND HAVE
SOME EXPERIENCE IN ISSUING TAX-
EXEMPT BONDS AND BIG CAPITAL
PROJECTS, I AM GLAD THAT YOU
HAD AN OPENING STATEMENT TO
KIND OF SHARE AND WE HEARD
THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION.
TODAY, THIS AMENDMENT AS CALVIN
INTELLIGENTLY PUT IT OUT,
SIGNALS AND INTEREST BASED ON
THE AUDITOR'S REPORT.
THE AMENDMENT IS DIRECTING SDOT
TO GO BACK AND BRING BACK TO
THE SEATTLE CITY COUSEL IN
SEPTEMBER, AND WE WOULD BE
MAKING A POLICY DECISION ABOUT
THE POLICIES THAT WERE LISTED,
75% FOR BRIDGES, 25% FOR
SIDEWALKS, IF WE WERE THIS IN
SEPTEMBER WE WOULD HAVE A FULL
REPORT AND I'M GUESSING IN THAT
REPORT, WE NORMALLY LOOK AT
CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE OR
ESSENTIAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES
OR PROJECTS, THERE WOULD BE A
FLOW FUNDS CHART AND IT WOULD
TELL US WHAT THE UPFRONT
CAPITAL SPENDING WOULD BE AND
EVERYTHING ELSE, I THINK, TODAY
THERE WAS SOME
MISCOMMUNICATION, I HEARD IN
SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND
SOME OF THE INFORMATION AND
PHONE CALLS I GOT THAT COUNSEL
IS VOTING TO PASS AN AMENDMENT
TO PASS A BOND.
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK BETWEEN
NOW AND SEPTEMBER.
I THINK MORE AS A POLICY
PERSPECTIVE IN MY OPINION, I
SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT BECAUSE I
BELIEVE PARTICULARLY IN WHAT
HAPPENED FOR TWO BIG REASONS,
NUMBER ONE, WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE
FAILED, THAT HAS NOT BEEN GOOD
FOR ANYONE, WHETHER YOU ARE
BIKING, WALKING, ON A BUS OR
COMMERCE.
IT HAS AFFECTED COMMERCE
DRAMATICALLY.
WE SPEND A TON OF TIME IN SOUND
TRANSIT ON TRANSPORTATION, I'M
ON THAT SUBCOMMITTEE, AS WELL
AS COUNCILMEMBER GONZALES,
STRUGGLING WITH THE
MAINTENANCE, THE
INFRASTRUCTURE, THE BRIDGE, AND
GETTING MONEY FOR THE BRIDGE.
WHEN WE GOT THE AUDITORS REPORT
BACK AND WE SEE 4-5 BRIDGES
RANKED POOR, IT IS OUR JOB AS
ELECTIVES TO SAY THE
INFRASTRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT.
THIS IS NOTHING AGAINST THOSE
THAT RIGHT BIKES THAT WANT TO
WALK AND BUS, IT IS ABOUT THE
INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE BRIDGES
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE
AND MAKE SURE OUR CITY RUNS.
I AGREE WITH WHAT CALVIN SAID,
WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE SOME
OPPORTUNITY FOR FEDERAL MONEY
TO HAVE MATCHING FUNDS BUT,
THEY MAINLY LOOK AT, AND WHEN
LOOKING AT GRANTS AND
PARTICULAR PROJECT MONEY, THEY
ARE MORE INTERESTED THEY WILL
BUILD A BRAND-NEW SHINY THING
THEN FIX SOMETHING OLD BUT
THERE IS STILL THE OPPORTUNITY
THERE THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY AND
I AGREE WITH WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS SAID, THIS DOES GIVE US
AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE
INFORMATION WITH THE NEW
ADMINISTRATION ON DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND WHAT I HAVE
LEARNED FROM SOUND TRANSIT WITH
BUILD BACK BETTER, THERE WILL
BE FEDERAL MONEY THERE AND WE
ARE HOPING AND COUNTING ON THAT
SINCE WASHINGTON STATE IS THE
NUMBER ONE STATE THICKETS THE
MOST MONEY AND THANK YOU TO OUR
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND IN
PARTICULAR, TO SENATORS, I FEEL
LIKE THE WIND IS BEHIND OUR
BACK AND IT HAS MOMENTUM TO
THINK BIG AND MOVE FORWARD.
FOR THAT REASON, I WOULD
SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT, I KNOW
WE ARE NOT VOTING ON THIS, I
UNDERSTAND, OR AM GUESSING,
BUT, ARE WE?
>> CORRECT, WE ARE NOT VOTING
ON IT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF ROOM FOR
DISCUSSION AND THE ONE THING
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS I
HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE
MATERIAL AND INCLUDING SDOT THE
2017 REPORT AND INFORMATION ON
THE BRIDGES, IT WAS IMPORTANT
WHAT LABOR SHARED WITH US, WE
WILL HAVE TO BUILD BACK BETTER
FROM THE PANDEMIC AND WE ARE
GOING TO NEED THESE JOBS.
I CANNOT THINK OF A BETTER
PLACE TO LAND TO PROVIDE THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES THEN TO BUILD OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE WHEN WE ARE
TRYING TO GET MORE MONEY FOR
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO, WITH THAT, THAT IS ALL I
HAVE TO SHARE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER .
>> COUNCILMEMBER
>>> I JUST WANT TO SAY, I
APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION WE
HAD YESTERDAY.
I WANT TO SAY AT THE START THAT
I DON'T THINK THE NEED TO
INVEST IN THE MAINTENANCE OF
BRIDGES AND THE NEED TO INVEST
IN BETTER SIDEWALKS ARE
MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
WE ARE A CITY SURROUNDED BY
WATER.
WE NEED OUR BRIDGES TO BE ABLE
TO GET AROUND SAFELY.
AND WE HAVE -- YOU KNOW, I HAVE
THOUSANDS OF CONSTITUENTS WHO
DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE BUT TO
USE OUR SIDEWALKS TO GET AROUND
AND DO THE THINGS THEY NEED TO
DO.
SO MY QUESTION, AND THE
QUESTIONS I WILL BE TRYING TO
GET ANSWERED OVER THE NEXT
COUPLE WEEKS, ARE REALLY ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, NOT JUST -- I'M ALSO
NOT OPPOSED TO BONDING.
I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT
WHETHER SIGNALING AN INTENT FOR
THE REMAINDER OF THIS FUND,
THAT 75% OF IT GOES TO BRIDGES,
IS THE RIGHT AMOUNT.
I HAVE TWO CONSTITUENTSES WHO
DIED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS HIT
ON THEIR BICYCLES.
I'VE BEEN WALKING UP AND DOWN
RAINIER AVENUE WITH FOLKS FROM
LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND TO SEE
HOW HARD IT IS FOR THEM TO
NAVIGATE UP AND DOWN RAINIER
AVENUE.
WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF HOUSING
UNITS THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE
ON RAINIER AVENUE.
AS SOMEBODY MENTIONED EARLIER,
THE SIDEWALKS ARE BUCKLING FROM
TREE ROOTS.
IT'S LOUD, IT'S NOISY.
IT'S DANGEROUS TO WALK DOWN
THAT STREET GIVEN THE CONDITION
OF THE SIDEWALKS.
THAT'S JUST ONE STREET IN MY
DISTRICT.
SO I SUPPORT THE NEED,
ESPECIALLY FOR SEISMIC
RETROFITS OF OUR BRIDGES, AND
WANT TO BE SURE PEOPLE CAN GET
AROUND OUR CITY SAFELY.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO BE SURE
PEOPLE CAN GET AROUND OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS SAFELY,
PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE IN
WHEELCHAIRS OR USING A WALKER.
I'VE GOT LOTS OF SENIORS DOWN
HERE WHO CAN BARELY GET
THEMSELVES ACROSS THE STREET
BECAUSE THE SIGNAL TIMING IS SO
SHORT AND THEY'RE YOU GUYS A
WALKER.
SO I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS
STILL, AND WILL BE EAGER TO BE
IN COMMUNICTION WITH ALL OF
YOU BEFORE WE HAVE TO VOTE ON
THIS.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE ROBUST
DISCUSSION TODAY.
I THINK THERE IS A DESIRE TO
ADDRESS THINGS FASTER AND TO
GET READY.
SO EVEN THOUGH WE'LL VOTE ON
THIS NEXT TIME, THAT'S ONE OF
THE BENEFIT THAT IS GETS THEM
THINKING ABOUT HOW TO GO BIGGER
FASTER IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE
WANT TO DO.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
APPRECIATE THAT DISCUSSION ON
ITEM TWO.
WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH --
LET'S SEE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, DID YOU FORGET
ME?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, HI.
>> IT TURNS OUT WE HAVE TO DO
IT ON THE RECORD THAT I WOULD
ALSO JOIN IN COSPONSORING.
I GOT A TEXT SAYING THAT I HAD
TO SAY IT.
>> OKAY, TERRIFIC.
THANK YOU FOR COSPONSORING THE
AMENDMENT.
JUST CHECKING WITH MY CLERK
HERE REAL QUICK.
WE'LL HEAR THE PRESENTATION ON
THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND RATE
PATH AND GO THROUGH THAT
QUICKLY.
WE HAVE THE CUSTOMER REVIEW
PANEL WITH US HERE TODAY AND
THE MEMO ON THIS.
ITEM THREE?
>> ITEM THREE, RESOLUTION
32000, A RESOLUTION RELATING TO
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
ADOPTING A 2021-26 FUTURE
BUSINESS PLAN FOR SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES.
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, TODAY IS THE SECOND
COMMITTEE MEETING FOR
CONSIDERATION OF THE PLAN
PROPOSED ON APRIL 2nd.
TODAY WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM
THE CUSTOMER REVIEW PANEL.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR
WORK.
THEY ARE DEDICATED TO MAKING
SURE SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
IS DOING A GOOD JOB AND
SUSTAINING PEOPLE.
AND THEY PRODUCED A VERY
THOUGHTFUL 10-PLUS PAGE LETTER
THAT LOOKS AT THIS STRATEGIC
PLAN AND GIVES THEIR VIEWS ON
THIS PLAN.
WE'LL HEAR FROM THEIR CHAIR
TODAY AND POINT TO THE MEMO
FROM OUR CENTRAL STAFF.
BRIAN, TRADITIONALLY WE START
OFF WITH THE CENTRAL STAFF.
DO YOU WANT TO FRAME UP THINGS
FOR THE SECOND MEETING ON SPU'S
BUSINESS PLAN AND RATE PATH?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE
TO GO AHEAD WITH THE
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU.
WELCOME, NOEL MILLER.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
IT'S NICE TO BE WITH YOU.
I KNOW YOU'RE WANTING TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH THIS AS WELL.
>> YEAH, PLEASE MOVE AHEAD WITH
IT.
MEMBERS CAN FEEL FREE TO REACH
OUT.
THANK YOU, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD TO BE WITH YOU ALL.
INFRASTRUCTURE IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, AND IT'S BEEN A
GREAT DISCUSSION ON THE
TRANSPORTATION SIDE.
NOW WE'LL GO TO THE UTILITIES.
I'VE BEEN ON THE PANEL SINCE
2013, AND HAVE BEEN A SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES CUSTOMER SINCE
1979.
NEXT SLIDE, A QUICK SUMMARY OF
OUR PRESENTATION, A RECAP OF
THE ROLLING HISTORY OF THE
PANEL, SUMMARY OF THE KEY
POINTS IN THE PANEL LETTER.
THIS PROVIDES COMMENTS AND
OBSERVATIONS FOR THE PLAN, AND
WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS.
THE PANEL WAS CREATED IN 2013,
MADE A PERMANENT STANDING BODY
IN 2017.
THERE ARE 11 SEATS AND
CURRENTLY EIGHT ARE FILLED.
THE PANEL'S MAIN PURPOSE IS TO
INDEPENDENTLY ADVISE THE MAYOR
AND COUNCIL.
WE HELD 21 OPEN MEETINGS OVER
THE PAST THREE YEARS, WHICH
WOULD LAST TYPICALLY THREE
HOURS TO GET THE UNDERSTANDING
ABOUT SPU.
HAVING DIVERSE EXPERIECES HAS
BEEN HELPFUL IN THE
RECOMMENDATIONS STATED IN OUR
LETTER.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT
THIS SIX-YEAR PLA HAS BEEN
UPDATED FROM THE ORIGINAL.
THIS INCLUDES NEW MISSION AND
VALUE STATEMENTS CREATED BY THE
SPU LEADERSHIP.
OVERALL THE PANEL IS VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF THE VARIOUS
DOCUMENTS OF THE PLAN,
INCLUDING ALL 18 INITIATIVES.
WE ARE PLEASED THAT THE
RESULTING INVESTMENTS AND
INITIATIVES SUPPORT THE SOCIAL,
RACIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES
OF THE CITY.
THE FINDINGS ARE INTEGRATED
INTO THE PLAN AS INVESTMENTS.
WE BELIEVE THESE ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT TO HELP SPU CONTINUE
TO BECOME A MORE EFFECTIVE BODY
AND ENHANCE THE ENVIRONMENT.
WE'LL TRACK HOW THESE ARE
REPORTED THROUGH THE METRICS
DOCUMENTED IN THE PLAN IN OUR
UPCOMING QUARTERLY MEETINGS.
MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS, THE UTILITY
HAS TAKEN GREAT PAINS IN THE
LAST THREE YEARS TO RESPOND TO
OUR QUESTIONS ABOUT ASSET
MANAGEMENT.
SPU HAS THREE VERY OLD SYSTEMS
WITH WATER, DRAINAGE AND WASTE
WATER SYSTEMS AND PIPES
APPROXIMATELY 80 YEARS OLD.
WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL ABOUT THE
PROCESS TO RENEW THIS
INFRASTRUCTURE AS COST
EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
PRACTICES AND CAPITAL PROJECT
DELIVERY AND IN THE SYSTEMS
OPERATIONS WILL NEED TO BECOME
MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE TO
HELP SLOW THE ANNUAL GROWTH AND
RATES.
ALTHOUGH WE DID NOT
SPECIFICALLY STATE THIS IN OUR
LETTER, WE STRONGLY SUPPORT
COLLABORATIONS WITH STATE AND
LOCAL PARTNERS TO DEVELOP COST-
EFFECTIVE APPROACHES AND
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION GOALS.
MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS UNDER THE RISK
AND RESILIENCY REPORT, THE
PANEL SUPPORTS THE INITIATIVES
TO SUPPORT HOW SPU THINKING
ABOUT THE FUTURE AND
APPROACHES AT ITS WORK TODAY.
WE HOPE TO SEE THE COMPLETION
OF ESSENTIAL FACILITIES SUCH AS
THE NORTH AND SOUTH OPERATION
CENTERS ALONG WITH THE CEDAR
FALLS PHASE 2 FACILITY.
THESE HAVE BEEN IN THE WORKS
SINCE THE LAST STRATEGIC PLAN
AND HAVE BEEN DELAYED IN THEIR
COMPLETION.
EFFORTS TO SUPPORT SPU'S WORK
FORCE ARE ESSENTIAL, AND WE
LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING ABOUT
THE ONGOING LEADERSHIP FORUMS.
OUR OTHER OBSERVATIONS, WE ARE
SUPPORTIVE OF SPU DEVELOPING A
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
FOR INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS
TO RENOVATE AND REPLACE THEIR
PRIVATE SEWERS.
WE ARE ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF
CONTINUING THE RV AND WASTE
WATER PROGRAM AND TRASH PICKUP
AND TRAILERS.
WE SEE THESE MEASURES TO
PROVIDE NEEDED PROTECTION OF
THE LOCAL NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE
FURTHER COORDINATION AND COST
SHARING BETWEEN SPU AND S-DOT
WITH REVIEWS ON PROJECTS SUCH
AS STREAM CULVERT REPLACEMENTS
AND IMPROVED STREET SWEEPING
FOR BICYCLE LANES.
THERE ARE MANY CONTINUING AND
GROWING PRESSURES ON SPU RATES
INCLUDING RESPONSE TO CLIMATE
CHANGE, RESPONSE TO SEISMIC
ACTIVITY AND ALL THESE EFFORTS
REDUCE THE WASTE FOR CUSTOMERS.
WE WANT TO MAP OUT HOW WE CAN
ADDRESS THIS LONG-TERM
CHALLENGE.
IN CLOSING, ON BEHALF OF THE
PANEL, I WANT TO EXPRESS OUR
APPRECIATION FOR WHAT SPU DOES
AND THEIR EFFORTS WITH EVERYONE
DEDICATED TO THE PROCESS.
WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP
WE HAVE HAD WITH THE TEAM.
ONE LAST THING, A DESIRE FOR
THE ENHANCED ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN
THE PANEL AND MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL OFFICES.
WE THINK ONGOING COMMUNICATION
OF CONCERNS, PRIORITIES AND
QUESTIONS WILL HELP US DO OUR
JOB BETTER AS A PANEL.
AT THIS TIME PLEASE LET ME KNOW
IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT
PRESENTATION.
FOR THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
REVIEW PANEL WHO MAY BE
WATCHING, I WANT TO THANK THEM
FOR THEIR SERVICE AND
CONTINUING TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT
IN ADDITION TO WHAT THIS
COMMITTEE IS ABLE TO DO AND
WHAT THE CENTRAL STAFF IS ABLE
TO DO.
IT'S A LARGE ENTERPRISE TO HAVE
THAT ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT.
APPRECIATE YOUR FOCUS ON
AFFORDABILITY AS BEING A
UNIFYING THEME SINCE UTILITY
BILLS ARE ESSENTIALLY
PROGRESSIVE BUT NECESSARY.
FOCUSING ON AFFORDABILITY HELPS
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RATE
PAYERS.
SO ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE REVIEW
PANEL?
THEN WE CAN ALSO ASK BRIAN ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS MEMO.
WE'LL BE VOTING ON THIS THE
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING MAY 5th.
WE WANTED TO GIVE IT THREE
HEARINGS BECAUSE IT IMPACTS THE
RATES.
THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO ALL THE
GOOD WORK -- COUNCIL MEMBER?
>> I WANT TO THANK THE CUSTOMER
PANEL FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DO
AND THE NUMBER OF HOURS OF
MEETINGS, REALLY COMMENDABLE
AND AWE-INSPIRING.
AS A PERSON WHO REALLY RELIES
ON YOUR INPUT AS EXPERTS IN
THIS AREA AND STAKE HOLDERS.
I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH A POSITION
ON THE ADVICE IN PRIOR YEARS.
IC IN TWO PRIOR LETTERS TO THE
COUNCIL RELATED TO THE RATE
PATH, THE CUSTOMER REVIEW PANEL
HAS SPOKEN SPECIFICALLY TO ITS
SUPPORT FOR UTILITY IMPACT
FEES.
AND I DID NOT SEE THAT
REFERENCED IN THIS LETTER.
I APPRECIATE THAT SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES HAS DONE LOT
OF GOOD WORK IN UPDATING THE
WATER TAP CONNECTION FEES,
PARTIALLY IN RESPONSE TO THE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
BUT THERE WAS A LARGER BODY OF
WORK ASSOCIATED WITH WASTE
WATER AND DRAINAGE IMPACT FEES
THAT THEY HAVE DONE A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ANALYSIS
ON AND DEVELOPED OPTIONS FOR US
TO CONSIDER.
JUST WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT
THIS IS WORK THAT THE CUSTOMER
REVIEW PANEL STILL SUPPORTS OR
IF THERE'S BEEN NEW THINKING ON
THAT APPROACH AS ONE THAT COULD
HELP DRIVE SOME OF THE
AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS THAT WE
HAVE ABOUT PROJECTS THAT DRIVE
RATES.
>> WELL, WE PRESSED FORWARD
FROM THIS WITH THE LAST PLAN.
THE INITIAL ANALYSIS WAS DONE
AND STAKE HOLDERS WEIGHED IN IN
REGARDS TO THE CONCERN OVER
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND HOW
THIS WOULD IMPACT THAT BY
PUTTING THESE RATES ON.
I THINK WHAT I HEARD WAS THAT
THERE WAS A DESIRE TO PUT THESE
RATES ON MORE EXPENSIVE REAL
ESTATE, BUT THE LAWYERS WEIGHED
IN AND SAID THAT WASN'T --
THERE WASN'T A LEGAL PATH FOR
THAT.
THAT'S ALL I KNEE ABOUT IT.
I THINK THERE'S BEEN MORE
DISCUSSION, PARTICULARLY IN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE IN REGARDS TO
THIS.
>> AS I HAVE RECOGNIZED IN MUCH
OF YOUR ANALYSIS, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IS RATHER UNIQUE IN THE
IMPACT FEES THAT WE HAVE TO THE
UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT SPU
DID AN ANALYSIS AROUND AN
IMPACT FEE STRUCTURE THAT WAS
DESIGNED IN A WAY TO, YOU KNOW,
BASICALLY AVOID DRIVING UP THE
COST TO BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
AND JUST WANTING TO UNDERSTAND
A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
CUSTOMER REVIEW PANELS AROUND
THAT, SHARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT
IMPACT FEES DRIVING UP THE COST
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND PERHAPS WE CAN CONNECT
LATER WITH SOME OF THE
MATERIALS THAT SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES HAS DEVELOPED IN THIS
AREA, AND SPECIFICALLY THE
STRATEGIES THAT THEY HAVE
SUGGESTED TO AVOID IMPACTING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
>> IT WAS CERTAINLY WHEN WE
STARTED OUR QUARTERLY REVIEW
PART OF THE PLAN BUT THERE WERE
SO MANY OTHER ISSUES THAT'S WHY
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.
>> THANK YOU, AND I SUPPORT
LOOKING AT THAT SO WE DON'T
HAVE A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE
INCREASING RATES ON RATE PAYERS
AND NOT CAPTURING COSTS IN
ANOTHER WAY.
I THINK THEY ARE COMING IN
LOWER THAN AVERAGE OF WHAT WAS
PROMISED IN 2018.
THAT MAY NOT BE SUSTAINABLE FOR
THE NEXT STRATEGIC PLAN.
THE SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT CHARGES
TO ME ARE STILL ON THE TABLE
AND NEED TO BE LOOKED AT AS A
POTENTIAL SOURCE, AS WELL AS
BEING CAREFUL ABOUT DURING THE
BUDGET PROCESS WHEN WE USE
UTILITY TAXES, TAKING FUNDS
FROM THE UTILITIES AND PUT THEM
TO GOOD USE FROM THE GENERAL
FUND.
IT IS TO BE COGNIZANT OF.
NOEL, I THINK YOU HAVE CONCERNS
ABOUT THE UTILITY TAX AS WELL
THAT'S BEING CHARGED?
>> YEAH, IT'S AN ONGOING
CONCERN.
WE MADE A RECOMMENDATION THE
LAST TIME TO MAYBE LOOK AT
INDEXING THE TOTAL TAXES THAT
ARE COLLECTED MORE TOWARDS A
RATE OF INFLATION BEING LOWER
THAN THE RATE PATH.
SO THAT WOULD PROVIDE A LITTLE
HELP THERE.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE SECOND
TIME WE ARE HEARING ABOUT THE
RATE PATH?
AGAIN, WE'LL VOTE ON MAY 5th.
OKAY.
THANK YOU, BRIAN AND SPU FOR
BEING ON THE LINE TODAY.
ON THIS.
IF THERE ARE AMENDMENTS, WE'LL
GET THOSE TO BRIAN IN THE NEXT
TWO DAYS.
NEXT ITEM IS ITEM FOUR ON THE
AGENDA.
>> ITEM FOUR, AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO THE CITY LIGHT
DEPARTMENT DECLARING CERTAIN
REAL PROPERTY RIGHTS TO BE
SURPLUSSED TO THE NEEDS OF CITY
LIGHTS AND AUTHORIZING GENERAL
MANAGER AND CEO TO EXECUTE AN
EASEMENT AGREEMENT WITH KING
COUNTY, ALLOWING A PORTION OF
THE USE TO RESOLVE THE
ENCROACHMENT OF AN EXISTING
STRUCTURE.
FOR PUBLIC HEARING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU.
WE'LL HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING
AND ACTUALLY DO THE
PRESENTATION -- WE CAN'T VOTE
ON IT TODAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO
MOVE THE PRESENTATION ON MAY 5,
WHERE WE'LL VOTE ON IT ANYWAY.
WE WANT TO OF THE PUBLIC
MEETING TODAY SO PEOPLE
INTERESTED IN THIS HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE READ THE
ITEMS POSTED ON THE AGENDA
PREVIOUSLY AND SPEAK TO THEM AT
A PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS IS JUST ABOUT THE
GEORGETOWN AND SOUTH PARK
TRAIL.
IT'S A STEP TOWARD THAT.
WE VOTED ON ANOTHER PIECE OF
THAT EARLIER.
THIS IS A NECESSARY PIECE THAT
HAS TO OCCUR ON THE GEORGETOWN
SOUTH PARK TRAIL.
AT ALL THE TIME GO AHEAD AND
OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ERIC IS HERE FROM CENTRAL
STAFF.
DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS
ITEM BEFORE I SEE IF THERE ARE
ANY SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THE
PUBLIC HEARING?
>> I THINK YOU SAID THE THINGS
I WOULD HAVE OFFERED.
IF SOMEONE FROM CITY LIGHT
FEELS THERE'S SOMETHING
IMPORTANT TO SAY BEFORE THE
PUBLIC HEARING, MAYBE THEY HAVE
A MOMENT TO DO THAT.
OTHERWISE I'LL STAND DOWN.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
I GUESS I HAVE A QUESTION FOR
THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
FOLKS.
ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS FOR THE
PUBLIC HEARING?
>> NO, THERE'S NOT.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU, ERIC.
SO DEPUTY CLERK, DO I NEED TO
OPEN AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING?
>> YES, CHAIR.
THANK YOU.
>> I WILL DO THAT.
THE PUBLIC HEARING ON BILL
120045 IS NOW OPEN.
WE'LL BEIN WITH FIRST SPEAKER
ON THE LIST.
I'M BEING TOLD WE DO NOT HAVE
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THIS
PUBLIC HEARING TODAY.
IS THAT STILL THE CASE?
>> THERE ARE NO PUBLIC HEARING
REGISTRANTS.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
AT THIS TIME WE DON'T HAVE
ANYONE PRESENT TO SPEAK.
SO WE HAVE CONFIRMED NOBODY IS
ON THE LINE, AND WE'LL GO AHEAD
AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD ON BILL 120045.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW
CLOSED.
WE ARE PRESSED ON TIME SO WE'LL
MOVE THAT ALL TO MAY 5th.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE TODAY FOR US.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GEORGETOWN
SOUTH PARK TRAIL AND DIFFERENT
PIECES LEADING UP TO THAT,
PLEASE REACH OUT TO THEM.
WE HAVE ITEM FIVE NEXT, WHICH
IS AN INTERNET FOR ALL STATUS
REPORT.
BECAUSE IT'S NOW 12:40, AND WE
WANT TO GET TO THE LAST ITEM ON
THE AGENDA, WHICH IS MORE TIME
SENSITIVE, WE ARE GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND IF THE COMMITTEE HAS
NO OBJECTIONS, WE'LL AMEND THE
AGENDA TO HOLD THIS TO ANOTHER
COMMITTEE MEETING.
ON THE INTERNET FOR ALL ACTION
PLAN UPDATE, WHICH IS ONLINE
AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE
PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK OUR
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT AND STAFF AND THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO SIGNED ONTO
THAT RESOLUTION WHICH LED TO
THE ACTION PLAN, WHICH NOW
WE'RE GETTING AN UPDATE ON.
THAT'S AVAILABLE ONLINE.
PLEASE LOOK AT THE AGENDA TO
SEE THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN
MADE.
I'M FOCUSED ON GETTING THAT
DIGITAL DASHBOARD SO WE CAN
START TO MEASURE THE PROGRESS
TOWARD THE GOAL OF GETTING
ACCESS TO EVERYBODY IN SEATTLE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'RE GOING TO
HOLD THIS ITEM.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS YOU WANTED TO MAKE ON
THE INTERNET FOR ALL, FEEL
FREE.
WE'LL BRING THE IT FOLKS BACK
AT A TIME WE HAVE MORE TIME.
SPECIAL THANKS FOR YOUR WORK ON
THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'LL READ THE
LAST ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM SIX, COUNCIL
BILL 120043, ORDINANCE RELATING
TO CABLE TELEVISION,
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OR
MAYOR'S DESIGNEE TO APPROVE THE
TRANSFER OF CONTROL SUBJECT TO
CONDITIONS.
>> SO THIS SEEKS APPROVAL OF A
TRANSFER OF CONTROLLING
INTEREST IN THE CABLE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
WAVE DIVISION 1 DUE TO A
CORPORATE MERGER THAT OCCURRED.
SO THIS IS REQUIRED THAT IT
COME TO THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE
THIS CHANGE.
SO WE HAVE ERIC TO KICK IT OFF,
AND HAVE TECHNOLOGY FOLKS WITH
US.
>> THANK YOU.
ERIC AND STAFF, JUST BRIEFLY,
AS YOU MENTIONED, CHAIR
PETERSON, THE FEDERAL RULES
REQUIRETHAT THIS PROCESS
HAPPEN AND BE APPROVED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL.
A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO GETTING
TO THIS POINT.
YOU MENTIONED A SERIES OF STEPS
THAT HAVE HAPPENED.
I THINK WELL TOUCH ON THOSE IN
THIS PRESENTATION.
>> WE ARE LOOKING AT PEOPLE AND
COMMUNICATIONS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT
FAMILIAR WITH OUR WORK BUT WE
ENFORCE THE CITY'S CABLE CODE,
CODE 2160.
THE BILL BEFORE YOU TODAY
RELATES TO A CABLE FRANCHISE
WHICH OPERATES IN THE CENTRAL
BUSINESS DISTRICT.
THE KEY FACTS AROUND THIS THE
LEGISLATION ARE THAT THERE'S A
PROPOSED TRANSFER OF EQUITY
INTEREST RELATING TO A
CORPORATE PARENT.
THAT TRIGGERS A REVIEW TO BE
SURE THERE'S NO IMPACT LOCALLY.
THE SECOND KEY FACT, WE HAVE
CONFIRMED WAVE WILL REMAIN THE
FRANCHISEE.
AND IN TODAY'S LEGISLATION,
SEATTLE IT DOES COMPLETE A
SIGNIFICANT REVIEW OF THE
TRANSFER TO MAKE SURE THE
CITY'S INTERESTS ARE PROTECTED
AND CUSTOMERS' INTERESTS ARE
PROTECTED.
WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION
SUBJECT TO A CORPORATE DECREE.
THESE KIND OF TRANSFERS ARE
HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY FEDERAL
AND CITY LAW.
UNDER FEDERAL LAW, WHEN A
TRANSFER IS APPLIED TO THROUGH
THE FCC, WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY AS A LOCAL
FRANCHISE HOLDER TO BE SURE THE
OWNERSHIP OF THE FRANCHISE THAT
WE HAVE WITH THE PRIVATE
COMPANY IS NOT BEING IMPACTED
IN A NEGATIVE WAY.
WE'VE GOT A 30-DAY EXTENSION TO
REVIEW THE AGREED-TO CLOCK TO
MEET THE APPROVAL.
UNDER THE CITY CODE AS WELL AS
FEDERAL CODE, WE HAVE IN OUR
ORDINANCE, AGAIN TO PROTECT
ALWAYS THE OVERSIGHT ON PRIVATE
OPERATORS AND IMPACT IT HAS ON
THE SERVICES PROVIDED IN OUR
COMMUNITY, A REVIEW OF THESE
KIND OF TRANSFERS.
SO WE LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL,
LEGAL AND TECHNICAL
QUALIFICATIONS OF SOMEBODY
WHO'S GOING TO BE HAVING AN
IMPACT ON THE OWNERSHIP OF A
FRANCHISE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING
TODAY.
IT'S CONFIRMED THIS CHANGE IS
REALLY A CHANGE IN A HIGH LEVEL
EQUITY INTEREST IN A PARENT
COMPANY OF WAVE BUT WAVE
REMAINS THE GRANTEE AND
RESPONSIBLE PARTY UNDER THE
FRANCHISE.
THE LEGAL REVIEW RECOMMENDED
THAT THE INVESTOR AT THE HIGH
LEVEL HAS THE FINANCIAL
CAPABILITY NECESSARY TO TAKE ON
THIS TRANSFER.
IT DID HIGHLIGHT THERE'S THIS
EQUITY OVERSHIFT THAT COULD
INCREASE DEBT.
SO THE RECOMMENDATION IS A
CORPORATE GUARANTEE.
THERE'S NO DISINVESTMENT ON THE
LOCAL SERVICES AS A RESULT OF
THIS.
THIS WILL BE BEHIND WAVE TO
CONTINUE THEIR OPERATIONS AND
HAVE THE TECHNICAL ABILITY TO
OPERATE THE SYSTEM.
THE OUTCOME OF OUR REVIEW IS
THAT COUNCIL WOULD APPROVE THIS
TRANSFER OF CONTROL, KNOWING
THAT THE CURRENT LEVEL OF
SERVICE AND SYSTEM OPERATIONS
FOR OUR RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO
WE'LL GUARANTEE THAT BY HAVING
THE ENTITY OF THE HOLDINGS AND
KNOW THEY HAVE THE MONEY TO
ENSURE THE PERFORMANCE OF WAVE
UNDER THE FRANCHISE.
AND WE HAVE A CONSENT AGREEMENT
THAT THEY WILL KEEP THEIR
SYSTEM UP TO DATE AND REIMBURSE
THE CITY FOR EXPENSES WE HAD
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REVIEW,
AND THE TRANSFER WILL NOT
RESULT IN AN INCREASE FOR
CUSTOMERS.
IF THE AGREEMENT IS NOT SIGNED,
THE CITY'S CONSENT TO THIS
AGREEMENT WOULD BE NULL AND
VOID.
I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU
HAVE.
>> THANK YOU, ALICE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
OVERSIGHT OF THIS PROCESS AND
MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE
FINANCIAL AND LEGAL BACKUP TO
COME UP WITH THESE BEST
PRACTICES AND CORPORATE
AGREEMENT AND CONSENT DECREE TO
PROTECT CITY RESIDENTS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT
SAVVY WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE
FOR THIS LEGISLATION.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS?
OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE
TO MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF BILL
120043, ITEM SIX, THE LAST ITEM
ON THE AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
WOULD THE CLERK -- WELL, ARE
THERE ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE RECOMMENDATION TO
APPROVE BILL 120043.
>> GONZALEZ.
>> AYE.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
MORALES?
CHAIR PETERSON?
>> YES.
>> THREE IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND
RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE SENT TO
THE APRIL 26th CITY COUNCIL
MEETING FOR FINAL
CONSIDERATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES?
>> I JUST WANT TO BE SURE MY
VOICE WAS COUNTED.
SOMETIMES MY AUDIO DOESN'T SEEM
TO WORK.
I VOTED YES.
>> OKAY, GOOD.
CLERK, COULD YOU RESTATE THAT?
>> FOUR IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE
SENT TO THE APRIL 26th CITY
COUNCIL MEETING FOR FINAL
CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE IN
THIS EXTRA LONG MEETING TODAY.
THIS CONCLUDES THE APRIL 21st,
2021 MEETING OF THE
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE.
THE COMMITTEE WILL MEET AGAIN
ON MAY 5. THANK YOU FOR
ATTENDING.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.