>>> I'M DAN STRAUSS, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT PRO-TEM OF THE
COUNSEL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO-TEM
STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD -- MY NAME WASN'T
CALLED ON THE ROLL.
>> APOLOGIES, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT?
>> PRESENT.
THANK YOU.
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
>> WONDERFUL, IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
IS EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S CITY
COUNCIL MEETING.
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IS EXCUSED
FROM TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL
MEETING.
ITEMS A AND B, MOVING ON TO ITEM
C, PRESENTATIONS.
THERE ARE NO PRESENTATIONS
TODAY.
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME WE WILL
OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD FOR THIS HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD, THE REMOTE
SPEAKERS WILL BE HEARD FIRST
THEN FOLLOWED BY IN-PERSON
SPEAKERS ATTENDING IN THE
COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
MADAME CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS
ARE SIGNED UP TODAY?
APPROXIMATELY 25.
WITH THAT, WE ARE GOING TO DO
ONE MINUTE PER SPEAKER TO BE
ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH THIS.
TODAY EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE ONE
MINUTE TO SPEAK.
MADAME CLERK, I NOW HAND THIS
OVER TO YOU TO PRESENT THE
PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS.
>> HELLO, SEATTLE, WE ARE THE
EMERALD CITY, THE CITY OF
FLOWERS, AND THE CITY OF GOOD
WILL BUILT ON INDIGENOUS LAND
THE TRADITIONAL TERRITORY OF THE
COSALISH PEOPLES.
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
WELCOMES REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT
AND IS EAGER TO HEAR FROM
RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A
SPEAKER AND PROVIDE A VERBAL
PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU MAY REGISTER
TWO HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING
VIA THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
WEBSITE.
HERE'S SOME INFORMATION ABOUT
THE PUB LEK COMMENT PROCEEDINGS.
SPEAKERS ARE COULD UPON IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED
ON THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
EACH SPEAKER MUST CALL IN FROM
THE PHONE NUMBER PROVIDED WHEN
THEY REGISTERED ONLINE AND USED
THE MEETING ID AND PASS CODE
THAT WAS EMAILED UPON
CONFIRMATION.
IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN EMAIL
CONFIRMATION, PLEASE CHECK YOUR
SPAM OR JUNK MAIL FOLDERS.
A REMINDER, THE SPEAKER MEETING
ID IS DIFFERENT FROM THE GENERAL
LISTEN LINE MEETING ID PROVIDED
ON THE AGENDA.
ONCE A SPEAKER'S NAME IS CALLED,
THE SPEAKER'S MICROPHONE WILL BE
UNMUTED AND AN AUTOMATIC PROMPT
WILL SAY, THE HOST WOULD LIKE
YOU TO UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE.
THAT IS YOUR CUE THAT IT'S YOUR
TURN TO SPEAK.
AT THAT TIME YOU MUST PRESS STAR
SIX.
YOU WILL THEN HEAR A PROMPT OF
YOU ARE UNMUTED.
BE SURE YOUR PHONE IS UNMUTED ON
YOUR END SO THAT YOU WILL BE
HEARD.
AS A SPEAKER, YOU SHOULD BEGIN
BY STATING YOUR NAME AND THE
ITEM THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
A CHIME WILL SOUND WHEN TEN
SECONDS ARE LEFT IN YOUR
ALLOTTED TIME AS A GENTLE
REMINDER TO WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENTS.
AT THE END OF THE ALLOTTED TIME,
YOUR MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED,
AND THE NEXT SPEAKER REGISTERED
WILL BE CALLED.
ONCE SPEAKERS HAVE COMPLETED
PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENT, FOLLOW
THE HEATING VIA SEATTLE CHANNEL
BROADCAST OR THE LISTENING LINE
OPTION LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
THE COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT
TO ELIMINATE PUBLIC COMMENT IF
THE SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED OR IF
THE PROCESS IMPEDES THE
COUNCIL'S ABILITY TO CONDUCT ITS
BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF RESIDENTS
OF THE CITY.
ANY OFFENSIVE LANGUAGES THAT
DISRUPTIVE TO THESE PROCEEDINGS
ORS THAT NOT FOCUSED ON AN
APPROPRIATE TOPIC AS SPECIFIED
IN COUNCIL RULES MAY LEAD TO THE
SPEAKER BEING MUTED BY THE
PRESIDING OFFICER.
OUR HOPE IS TO PROVIDE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR PRODUCTIVE
DISCUSSIONS THAT WILL ASSIST OUR
ORDERLY CONSIDERATION OF ISSUES
BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN, AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRESS STAR
SIX AFTER YOU HEAR THE PROMPT OF
YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.
THANK YOU, SEATTLE.
>> I'M SORRY, HAVE YOU CALLED A
NAME?
>> HOWARD GAIL.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, HOWARD GAIL
WITH -- COMMENTING ON OUR LACK
OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
SIX DAYS AGO A KING COUNTY
INQUEST JURY SPOKE
UNAMBIGUOUSLY.
THE SEATTLE POLICE DID PRECISELY
WHAT THEY WERE TRAINED TO DO
UNDER SPD POLICY WHEN THEY SHOT
CHARLEENA LYLES, THE PREGNANT
MOTHER OF FOUR, SEVEN TIMES IN
FRONT OF HER CHILDREN.
THE JURY DID NOT FIND THE
KILLING CORRECT OR JUSTIFIED,
THE JURY FOUND THAT THE SPK HD
OFFICERS ACTED ACCORDING TO
POLICY.
AFTER CHARLEENA'S MURDER,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD PROMISED
US THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN
AGAIN.
BUT IT DID.
SEATTLE'S POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE CPC AND
THE COUNCIL, HAVE ADVISED AND
APPROVED SPD POLICIES OVER THE
PAST TEN YEARS.
IF WE FOLLOW THE JURY'S
FINDINGS, THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
CHARLEENA'S KILLING LIES WITH
THIS COUNCIL, YET EVERY ONE OF
YOU HAVE REMAINED STRANGELY
SILENT OVER THIS LAST WEEK.
NOT A PUBLIC COMMENT TO BE
FOUND.
>> THANK YOU, HOWARD.
UP NEXT IS CODI.
APOLOGIES IF I DID NOT SAY YOUR
NAME CORRECT.
WLCOME.
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
OH, ALL RIGHT, MY NAME IS CODY
FROM DISTRICT FOUR.
I'M COMMENTING ON FAVOR OF
RANK-CHOICED VOTING ALTERNATIVE.
RANK-CHOICED VOTING HAS BEEN
TESTED.
RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS A TESTED
METHOD OF MAXIMIZING VOTER --
HAVE BECOME CYNICAL OF THE
DEMOCRACY DOMINATED BY PAST
VOTING.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
SEATTLE TO BECOME A LEADER IN
VOTING REFORM AND ENCOURAGES A
MOVEMENT ON LOCAL OPTIONS IN THE
WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE.
PLEASE PUT RANK-CHOICED VOTING
ON THE SEATTLE BALLOT THIS FALL,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS HARRY MARR.
HARRY, WELCOME, PLEASE TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> HEY, MY NAME IS HARRY MARR,
SPEAKING OUT IN FAVOR OF
RANK-CHOICED VOTING ALSO.
I'M A DATA ANALYST.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
I WORK IN THE U DISTRICT.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE TRANSIT
RIDERS UNION AND JUST WANTED TO
PASS ON THAT OUR MEMBERSHIP
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED IN SUPPORT OF
RANK-CHOICED VOTING AT OUR
OCTOBER 2020 MEETING.
WE LIKE THAT IT GIVES VOTERS
MORE POWER TO ELECT WHO THEY
WANT IN THE ORDER THAT THEY
WANT.
WE JOINED A DIVERSE COALITION
WORKING ACROSS WASHINGTON TO
ADVANCE RANK-CHOICED VOTING
BECAUSE WE FIND IT GIVES VOTERS
POWER AND RESULTS AND MORE JUST
OUTCOMES.
WE SUPPORT ADDING RANK-CHOICED
VOTING TO THE BALLOT THIS
NOVEMBER, SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, HARRY.
UP NEXT IS BETTY LAO.
BETTY, WELCOME, TAKE IT AWAY.
>> HI, I'M BETTY LAO, RESOLUTION
32055 HAS ARRIVED IN THE NICK OF
TIME, HOLDING SOUND TRANSIT
ACCOUNTABLE FOR RENT OUTCOMES
AND THEIR OWN RACIAL EQUITY
GOALS.
IT ALLOWS MORE TIME FOR SOUND
TRANSIT TO ANSWER COMMUNITY
QUESTIONS, ADDRESS COMMUNITY
CONCERNS IN DETAIL, AND
COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY ON
FINDING SOLUTIONS TO FOURTH
AVENUE IMPACTS.
AND WHO KNOWS, PERHAPS SOUND
TRANSIT WILL IDENTIFY A TOTALLY
NEW ALTERNATIVE THAT LEADS
FOURTH AND FIFTH AVENUES IN
TACT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, BETTY.
UP NEXT IS TIMOTHY KITCHEN.
WELCOME, TIMOTHY.
>> HEY THERE, MY NAME -- HEY,
I'M ON, RIGHT?
>> YEP, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
YEP.
>> HI, MY NAME IS TIMOTHY
KITCHEN, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE DISTRICT FOUR.
I SUPPORT ADDING THE COUNCIL'S
RANK-CHOICED VOTING ALTERNATIVE
TO THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER OF
2022.
I'D LIKE YOU TO VOTE YES TO
POSTPONE THE VOTE UNTIL NEXT
WEEK SO THE COUNCIL HAS TIME TO
REVIEW VOTING METHODS IN
SEATTLE.
MY SUPPORT COMES FROM PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE.
I RAN AS A CANDIDATE THREE
SEPARATE TIMES FOR A SEATTLE
ORGANIZATION THAT HAS MORE THAN
40,000 MEMBERS.
THIS ORGANIZATION IS THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
SEATTLE.
IT'S BEEN HOLDING RANK-CHOICED
VOTING FOR AT LEAST 15 YEARS IN
STUDENT BODY.
THE UW STUDENT BODY ELECTIONS
USE THIS FOR TWO REASONS -- IT
ENCOURAGED CANDIDATES TO
GENUINELY LISTEN TO ALL VOTERS,
BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE VOTER COULD
VOTE FOR YOU WITHOUT TAKING POUR
POWER FROM THEIR FIRST CHOICE.
THIS DISINCENTIVIZED NEGATIVE
CAMPAIGNING.
THIS ALLOWS YOU TO RANK YOUR
CANDIDATE SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE
CAN BE YOUR FIRST CHOICE.
RANK-CHOICED VOTING EMPOWERS YOU
TO VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE.
>> THANK YOU, TIMOTHY.
UP NEXT BRETT FOLLOWED BY MEGAN
AND THEN ELIZABETH.
BRETT, TAKE IT AWAY.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS BRETT
MULLEN FROM NORTH SEATTLE, AND I
SUPPORT ADDING RANK-CHOICED
VOTING OPTION TO THE NOVEMBER
BALLOT.
I WOULD LIST ALL THE BENEFITS OF
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING, BUT SINCE
TIME IS LIMITED AND I TRUST YOU
ARE ALREADY PRETTY FAMILIAR, I
WILL PUT IT AS SIMPLY AS I CAN
-- RANK-CHOICED VOTING IS THE
TRUEST EXPRESSION OF THE VOTER'S
PREFERENCE.
YOU CAN LOOK TO OVER 50 CITIES,
TWO STATES, AND SEVERAL OTHER
COUNTRIES TO SEE RANK-CHOICED
VOTING IS EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT,
AND POPULAR AMONG PEOPLE FROM
ALL POLITICAL PERSUASIONS AND
BACKGROUNDS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL
CONSIDERATION, AND IN THE
RANK-CHOICED VOTING SPIRIT OF
BRINGING MORE VOICES INTO THE
CONVERSATION, I YIELD BACK THE
REST OF MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU, BRETT, UP NEXT IS
MEGAN, FOLLOWED BY ELIZABETH,
AND THEN KAMAO.
MEGAN, WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS MEG, AND I'M
REPRESENTING THE 2500 MEMBER OF
THE SEATTLE METROPOLITAN CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE.
HERE TODAY TO COMMENT ON
RESOLUTION 3255 ON THE
RECOMMENDED PREFERRED
ALTERNATIVES FOR THE WEST
SEATTLE AND BALLARD LINK
EXTENSIONS.
WITH EURGE YOU TO PASS THE
RESOLUTION TODAY AS UNANIMOUSLY
APPROVED BY THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.
AND WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO
ADVOCATE WITH SOUND TRANSIT ON
BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK
CHAIR PEDERSEN AND THE REST OF
COUNCIL FOR LISTENING TO THE
COMMUNITY'S PREFERENCES.
THIS RESOLUTION IS IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT CLEARLY COMMUNICATES
THE CITY'S POSITION TO SOUND
TRANSIT.
THE BEST OUTCOME FOR THE
COMMUNITY IS AN AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND SOUND
TRANSIT ON A PREFERRED
ALTERNATIVE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
COMMENT TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, MEGAN.
UP NEXT IS ELIZABETH FOLLOWED BY
KAMAO, AND THEN FRANCISCO.
ELIZABETH, WELCOME.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ELIZABETH.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO,
AND I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
THE RANKED-CHOICE VOTING
ALTERNATIVE.
COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT HOW RANKED-CHOICE
VOTING WOULD TRANSFORM THE
CAMPAIGN EXPERIENCE FOR YOU AND
OTHER CANDIDATES.
I RECENTLY GOT TO ATTEND A PANEL
OF CANDIDATE WHO IS RAN FOR CITY
COUNCIL IN NEW YORK LAST
NOVEMBER UNDER THEIR NEW
RANK-CHOICED VOTING SYSTEM,
WHICH, BY THE WAY, CREATED THE
MOST DIVERSE CITY COUNCIL IN NEW
YORK HISTORY.
THE CANDIDATES WHO WERE THERE,
WHETHER THEY WON OR LOST, WERE
THRILLED ABOUT HOW RANK-CHOICED
VOTING REDUCED NEGATIVE
CAMPAIGNING AND HELPED THEM TO
CONNECT BETTER WITH VOTERS.
THEY LOVED THAT THEY COULD KNOCK
ON THE DOOR OF SOMEONE WITH A
CAMPAIGN SIGN FOR ANOTHER
CANDIDATE, AND INSTEAD OF
WRITING THAT VOTER OFF THEY
COULD HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT
SHARED VALUES AND ASK A VOTER TO
RANK THEM SECOND OR THIRD.
WE DESPERATELY NEED ELECTIONS
ABOUT VALUES-BASED POLICIES, NOT
TOXIC ATTACKS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ELIZABETH.
UP NEXT IS KAMAO, FOLLOWED BY
FRANCISCO, AND THEN MAX
RAPOPORT.
DOWN THE LIST QUITE A WAYS IS
LISA SMITH, WHO'S NOT PRESENT.
LISA, IF YOU WANT TO JOIN, NOW
IS THE TIME.
KAMAO, WELCOME, PLEASE TAKE IT
AWAY.
I SEE YOU THERE.
PRESS STAR SIX, NOT POUND SIX.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> WE CAN, WELCOME.
>> GREAT.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
WASHINGTON COMMUNITY ALLIANCE A
NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS OF
COLOR ACROSS THE STATE,
INCLUDING DOZENS OF
ORGANIZATIONS IN SEATTLE FOCUSED
ON MULTIRACIAL DEMOCRACY, WHICH
IS WHY I'M VERY EXCITED TO ALSO
BE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ADDING
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING ALTERNATIVE
TO THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, WHICH
HAS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY OF OUR
ORGANIZATIONS.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE RANKED-CHOICE
VOTING DOESN'T JUST MAKE
INTUITIVE SENSE, AS MOST OF US
WANT TO COMMUNICATE OUR
PREFERENCES AND HAVE MORE VOICE
AND TO NAME OUR FIRST CHOICE
FROM OUR BACKUP CHOICES, IT'S
ALSO MORE WIDELY USED BY
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, OVER 87%
OF PEOPLE IN NEW YORK CITY LAST
ELECTION THAT USED RANK-CHOICED
VOTING USED THE SYSTEM.
WHEN YOU COMPARE THAT TO
APPROVAL VOTING, THE ONE THAT'S
MUCH LOWER, AND IT ALSO PRESENTS
A SERIOUS LEGAL LIABILITY AND
DANGER TO THE CITY AS WE WOULD
BE THE ONLY CITY UNDER THAT
SYSTEM TO IMPLEMENT WITH STATE
VOTING --
>> THANK YOU.
UP NEXT IS FRANCISCO FOLLOWED BY
MAX RAPOPORT AND THEN ELISE.
FRANCISCO, WELCOME.
I SEE YOU THERE, FRANCISCO.
PRESS STAR SIX, NOT POUND SIX.
FRANCISCO, I SEE YOU PRESENT,
CAN YOU PRESS STAR SIX, NOT
POUND SIX.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON AND WE'LL
COME BACK TO FRANCISCO.
MAX RAPOPORT FOLLOWED BY ELISE
AND THEN MARGO.
MAX, WELCOME, PLEASE TAKE IT
AWAY.
AND YOU CAN PRESS STAR SIX, MAX.
THERE YOU ARE.
>> HI, MY NAME IS MAX RAPOPORT,
AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT
THREE.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
RANK-CHOICED VOTING ON THE
NOVEMBER BALLOT.
RANK-CHOICED VOTING IS USED IN
OVER A CITIES, COUNTIES, AND
STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHERE
IT'S SHOWN TO RESULT IN GREATER
DIVERSITY OF CANDIDATES AND
POLITICAL VIEWPOINTS.
APPROVAL VOTING IS LARGELY
UNTESTED, DISENFRANCHISES VOTER
WHO IS CHOOSE TO APPROVE FEWER
CANDIDATES THAN OTHERS.
WITH SUCH A HUGE CHANGE TO OUR
ELECTORAL SYSTEM, WHY WOULD WE
CHOOSE TO PROTECT VOTERS WITH
FEWER VIABLE CHOICES?
PLEASE ADD RANKED-CHOICE VOTING.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP ELISE, FOLLOWED BY
MARGO, AND THEN JORDAN.
ELISE, WELCOME, TAKE IT AWAY.
>> HI, MY NAME'S ELISE.
I'M A REGISTERED VOTER IN
BALLARD IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT,
AND I'M ALSO HERE TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF ADDING RANKED-CHOICE
VOTING TO THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
I AM REALLY PROUD OF THE FACT
THAT SEATTLE LEADS THE WAY AMONG
THE COUNTRY IN CREATING A
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRATIC
SYSTEM, AND I THINK OUR NEXT
BEST OPPORTUNITY IN THIS VEIN AS
A ROLE MODEL IS TO TRY
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING, BECAUSE IT
WILL CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
EVERY SEATTLEITE TO HAVE THEIR
VOICE HEARD AND FOR NEW IDEAS TO
FLOURISH.
IN THE SPIRIT OF ENCOURAGING
DEMOCRACY, THE VOTERS DO DESERVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON
THIS ISSUE IN NOVEMBER.
SO ON INITIATIVE NUMBER 134, I
SUPPORT ADDING THE COUNCIL'S
ALTERNATIVE TO THE BALLOT, AND
I'D LIKE YOU TO VOTE YES TODAY
TO POSTPONE THE VOTE UNTIL NEXT
WEEK TO BET TER COUNCIL'S
UNDERSTANDING OF VOTING METHODS
AVAILABLE TO SEATTLE VOTERS.
>> THANK YOU, ELISE.
UP NEXT IS MARGO FOLLOWED BY
JORDAN AND THEN MONIQUE.
MARGO, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
FELLOW MEMBERS OF GENERAL CITY
COUNCIL, MY NAME IS MARGO, AND I
LIVE IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT,
AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR
ON ADDING A RANKED-CHOICE VOTING
ALTERNATIVE TO THE NOVEMBER
BALLOT.
AND I KNOW THAT THE TECH
EXECUTIVES, THEY WANT TO PAINT A
PICTURE TO THEIR EFFORT TO GET
APPROVAL VOTING ON THE BALLOT AS
DEMOCRATIC, BUT JUST BECAUSE
THEY WENT THROUGH THE CHECKLIST
TO GET THE SUPPORT DOESN'T MEAN
THE EFFORT HAS GENUINE COMMUNITY
SUPPORT.
NO ONE HAS DEBATED APPROVAL
VOTING IN SEATTLE SINCE BEFORE
2022 -- OR BEFORE 2022 IT'S
NEVER BEEN PROPOSED, I HAS NO
CIVIC OR COMMUNITY GROUP
ENDORSING IT.
GO TO THEIR CAMPAIGN WEBSITE,
YOU'LL FIND NO ENDORSEMENTS FROM
MAJOR COMMUNITY GROUPS ARE
LISTED BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE
ANY.
THEY TRIED TO BUY THEIR WAY TO
THE BALLOT WITH OUT-OF-STATE
EXECUTIVES -- BELIEVING THEY
úWERE SUPPORTING RANKED-CHOICE
VOTING.
SO IT'S ONLY FAIR THIS COUNCIL
GIVE US A REAL OPTION WITH
GENUINE SUPPORT LIKE
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING.
>> THANK YOU, MARGO.
UP NEXT IS JORDAN, FOLLOWED MY
MONIQUE, THEN ERIC.
JORDAN, WELCOME.
>> MY NAME IS JORDAN, ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR OF ALKI BEACH ACADEMY
SPEAKING ON RESOLUTION 32055.
IT WOULD ERASE HALF OF OUR
COMMUNITY'S INFANT CARE WITH NO
PLAN TO ASSIST WITH
REESTABLISHMENT OF THESE
SERVICES.
IT WOULD COB SUM THE ONLY
ENTRANCE TO THE STEEL MILL AND
PROPOSES NO PLAN TO MITIGATE
THAT IMPACT.
IT WOULD ALSO POSITION THE
STATION IN A WAY THAT PRESENTS
SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUES,
ACCESSIBILITY CONCERNS, AND
FAILS THE DELL RIDGE COMMUNITY,
REQUIRING THAT WE LOSE IN THE
LONG TERM ANYTHING PRESERVED IN
THE SHORT TERM.
NESE CONSEQUENCES ARE NOT
ADDRESSED.
PASSING THE RESOLUTION PUSHES
SOUND TRANSIT TO MAKE SOUND
DECISIONS.
PLEASE PASS THIS RESOLUTION AND
STATE NO PREFERENCE IN DELRIDGE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JORDAN.
UP NEXT IS MONIQUE FOLLOWED BY
ERIC AND THEN JUDE.
MONIQUE, WELCOME.
I SEE YOU THERE, MONIQUE.
IS YOUR PHONE MUTED?
YOU'RE OFF MUTE --
>> YES.
>> THERE YOU ARE, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
YES, MY NAME IS MONIQUE, AND I
LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO.
AND I SUPPORT ADDING
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING BECAUSE I
BELIEVE THAT IT'S THE BEST WAY
TO MAKE ELECTIONS TRULY
REPRESENTATIVE AND ACTUALLY MAKE
OUR VOTES MATTER.
WHEN I'M VOTING, I WANT TO BE
ABLE TO SAY WHICH CANDIDATES I
GENUINELY WANT TO VOTE FOR
WITHOUT THROWING AWAY MY VOTE.
I THINK THAT RANK-CHOICED VOTING
IS THE ONLY METHOD THAT MAKES
THIS POSSIBLE.
ALSO, ARECD IS A CRITICAL REFORM
FOR MY DISTRICT BECAUSE IT WILL
HELP ENSURE PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE
STILL REPRESENTED AS
GENTRIFICATION PUSHES PEOPLE OF
COLOR OUT OF THIS DISTRICT AS
WELL AS THE NEIGHBORING CENTRAL
DISTRICT, THE POC VOTING BLOCKS
ARE REMOVED, AND SO TO MAKE SURE
THAT THOSE WHO ARE STILL HERE
ARE REPRESENTED, WE NEED
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, MONIQUE.
UP NEXT IS ERIC FOLLOWED BIJOU
THEN KIRK.
WE WOULD BE THEN AT LISA SMITH.
LISA, YOU ARE NOT PRESENT AT
THIS TIME.
PLEASE DO CALL INTO THE PHONE
NUMBER PROVIDED TO YOU ON YOUR
EMAIL RESPONSE, NOT THE LISTEN
LINE.
NOW IS YOUR TIME TO CALL.
IN UP NEXT IS ERIC.
WELCOME, ERIC.
I SEE YOU THERE, ERIC.
JUST PRESS STAR SIX, NOT POUND
SIX.
>> HI.
>> HI, COUNCIL, MY NAME IS ERIC,
DISTRICT FOUR.
I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO
ADD RANKED-CHOICE VOTING AS AN
ALTERNATIVE TO APPROVAL VOTING
ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING IS
EFFECTIVE, IT'S JUST, AND VOTERS
SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT
DECISION IN NOVEMBER.
I'D SPECIFICALLY LIKE TO CALL ON
MY REPRESENTATIVE ALEX PEDERSEN
TO SUPPORT ADDING RANKED-CHOICE
VOTING TO THE BALL LOT.
THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME
TODAY, COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU, ERIC.
UP NEXT IS JUDE FOLLOWED BY
KIRK.
LISA SMITH, YOU ARE NOT PRESENT,
FOLLOWED BY DAN.
JUDE, WELCOME.
>> HI.
THIS IS JUDE.
I AM CALLING AS A REPRESENTATIVE
FROM THE URBAN LEAGUE OF
METROPOLITAN SEATTLE.
I'M THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
ORGANIZER THERE, WHICH BASICALLY
MEANS THAT I AM THE PERSON IN
OUR ORGANIZATION ON THE GROUND
WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES
ENCOURAGING VOTER EDUCATION AND
ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO REALLY USE
THEIR VOICE AND HAVE THEIR
VOICES COUNTED WHEN IT COMES TO
ELECTION SEASON.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING AND
PROVIDING THAT ALTERNATIVE ON
THE BALLOT TO APPROVAL VOTING
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT OUR
COMMUNITIES ARE UNAWARE THAT
APPROVAL VOTING IS DIFFERENT
FROM RANKED-CHOICE VOTING, AND
WE NEED AN OPPORTUNITY TO
PROVIDE A CONCRETE OPPORTUNITY
FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO
LEARN ABOUT ALTERNATIVE VOTING
STRATEGIES AND BATTLE SOME OF
THE APATHY AND DISENGAGEMENT
THAT WE SEE IN LOCAL POLITICS
WHEN BLACK COMMUNITY MEMBERS DO
NOT SEE THEIR PEERS REPRESENTED
ON -- IN ELECTED COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND
PLEASE CONTINUE WITH
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING AT THE CITY
LEVEL.
>> THANK YOU, JUDE.
UP NEXT IS KIRK FOLLOWED BY LISA
SMITH, WHO IS NOT PRESENT, DAN,
THEN JACLYN, LASTLY, WE HAVE
úDAVID HANES, AND WE WILL THEN
COME BACK TO FRANCISCO BEFORE
MOVING ON TO THOSE IN OUR
CHAMBERS.
KIRK, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
KIRK, DISTRICT SIX, URGING THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO TRANSFER
OWNERSHIP OF CITY HALL PARK TO
KING COUNTY.
IT'S SO EXTRAORDINARY THAT THE
JUDGES OF KING COUNTY THAT TAKE
NO POSITION ON ANY POLITICAL
ISSUE, MUCH LESS AN
ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUE, WOULD COME
FORWARD AND DO THIS, TAKE THIS
POSITION.
AND I THINK PART OF IT MIGHT BE
BECAUSE NOWHERE IN KING COUNTY
HAS A PARK BEEN COMPLETELY
CLOSED TO PUBLIC ACCESS THE WAY
CITY HALL PARK HAS BEEN AND THE
WAY BALLARD COMMONS HAS BEEN.
BALLARD COMMONS HAS BEEN CLOSED
FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS, FIRST
BECAUSE IT WAS TAKEN OVER BY A
COLONY OF SQUATTERS AND RUN AS A
CRIMINAL OPERATION.
A FAIR AMOUNT OF ARSON WAS GOING
ON AS WELL.
THEN IT WAS CLOSED FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION.
NOW IT'S CLOSED ENDLESSLY.
OUR PARK IS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO US
AT THIS TIME.
AND THINK KING COUNTY CAN DO A
BETTER JOB OF THIS.
THEY'VE NEVER SUNK SO LOW AS FAR
AS PARK ACCESS GOES, SO SUPPORT
KING COUNTY ADMINISTRATION,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
UP NEXT IS LISA SMITH, STILL NOT
PRESENT.
NOW IS THE TIME TO CALL IN.
DAN FOLLOWED BY JACLYN, DAVID
HANES, YOU ARE NOT PRESENT AT
THIS TIME.
PLEASE DO CALL IN TO THE LINE
PROVIDED TO YOU IN THE EMAIL,
NOT THE LISTEN LINE.
DAN, WELCOME.
>> HI, I'M DAN EISENBERG, I'M A
RESIDENT OF BALLARD AND A
PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON.
I'M, OF COURSE, SPEAKING FOR
MYSELF, NOT THE UNIVERSITY.
AND I'M SPEAKING TO SAY THAT I
HOPE THE COUNCIL WILL GIVE
VOTERS A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING AS AN
OPTION IN FUTURE ELECTIONS.
I THINK RANKED-CHOICE VOTING
WILL BETTER ALLOW VOTERS TO
EXPRESS THEIR WILL AND TO HELP
COMBAT POLARIZATION, WHICH EVEN
HAPPENS HERE IN SEATTLE.
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING ALLOWS
VOTERS TO SIMPLY VOTE FOR THE
CANDIDATES THEY MOST PREFER IN
ORDER WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY
ABOUT THE MOST ELECTABLE
CANDIDATES OR AGAINST CANDIDATES
THEY DON'T PREFER.
IT BETTER ALLOWS THE WILL OF
VOTERS TO BE EXPRESSED, AND
THERE'S LESS TO BE GAINED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU, DAN.
NEXT IS JACLYN WOO, AND THEN
WE'LL GO BACK TO FRANCISCO
ARAGON, BECAUSE LISA SMITH AND
DAVID HANES ARE NOT PRESENT.
JACLYN, WELCOME.
>> MY NAME IS JACLYN WOO, I'M
32055.ING COMMENT ON RESOLUTION
THE CHINATOWN/INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT IS MY HOME, AND I'M
CONCERNED FOR THE SOUND TRANSSIS
EXPANSION INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I THINK THE COUNCIL FOR
RECOMMENDING SOUND TRANSIT
CONDUCT AN ADDITIONAL SIX TO
NINE MONTHS OF COMMUNITY
OUTREACH, HOWEVER, I AM
DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS
RECOMMENDED OUTREACH WILL ONLY
FOCUS ON THE FOURTH AND FIFTH
AVENUE SHALLOW OPTIONS.
THE TWO OPTIONS WILL DISPLACE UP
TO 20 SMALL BUSINESSES AND A
WHOLE APARTMENT COMPLEX.
I ASK THE COUNCIL TO AMEND THE
RESOLUTION TO RECOMMEND THAT
SOUND TRANSIT GO BACK TO THE
DRAWING BOARD AND FIND OTHER
STATION ALTERNATIVES TO THE
EXISTING OPTIONS THAT PRIORITIZE
HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND
KEEPING SMALL BUSINESSES AND
RESIDENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I ALSO ASK THAT THE
COUNCILMEMBERS ATTEND THE NEXT
SOUND TRANSIT COMMIT MEETING TO
OPPOSE THE FOURTH AND FIFTH
AVENUE SHALLOW OPTIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
FRANCISCO ARAGON, WE'LL COME
BACK TO YOU.
FRANCISCO, IF YOU'RE -- I SEE
YOU IN THE MEETING.
IF YOU PRESS STAR SIX, YOU WILL
UNMUTE AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
PUBLIC COMMENT.
NOW IS YOUR TIME, FRANCISCO.
SEEING FRANCISCO NOT COMING OFF
MUTE, WE WILL COME BACK TO HIM
AT THE VERY END FOR ONE LAST
ATTEMPT.
FRANCISCO, THIS IS YOUR TIME
COMING SOON.
UP NEXT, WE HAVE ROBERT, ALEX
ZIMMERMAN, JOHN BURBANK, MICHAEL
TAYLOR JUDD, AND JOE REILLY.
ROBERT, WELCOME.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ROBERT, AND
I'M HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO
SUPPORT RANKED-CHOICE VOTING IN
SEATTLE ELECTIONS.
FOR MANY YEARS, I'VE BEEN REALLY
FRUSTRATED WITH THE POLITICAL
SYSTEM'S FAILURES AND THE
DIVISIVENESS WE SEE.
I DID NOT GET SERIOUSLY INVOLVED
IN FINDING A SOLUTION UNTIL
AFTER THE 2016 ELECTION.
IN RESEARCHING WHAT COULD BE
DONE, I REALIZED THAT THE VOTING
SYSTEMS USED AROUND THE COUNTRY,
INCLUDING OUR TOP TWO SYSTEM,
ARE THE ROOT CAUSE OF MY
FRUSTRATIONS, BECAUSE THEY
INCENTIVIZE ELECTED OFFICIALS
AND CANDIDATES TO BEHAVE AS THEY
DO.
I CONCLUDED THAT RANKED CHOICE
VOTING IS THE ONLY VOTING SYSTEM
THAT PROVIDES THE RIGHT
INCENTIVES AND ADDRESSES MY
CONCERNS.
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING IS WIDELY
USED, IMPROVES ELECTIONS AND
CREATES GOVERNMENTS THAT TRULY
REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES THEY
SERVE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LET SEATTLE
VOTERS DECIDE IF THEY AGREE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
UP NEXT IS ALEX ZIMMERMAN,
FOLLOWED BY JOHN BURBANK AND
MICHAEL TAYLOR JUDD.
ALEX, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
RP DARN FASCIST NAZI MOB -- HOW
YOU CAN
RECOMMEND TO SOUND TRANSIT BOARD
WHEN I CALL THEM A NAZI
PSYCHOPATH, OUR PRESIDENT, OUR
MEN CAPPED ME AFTER I SPEAK ONLY
FOR FIVE SECOND.
BUT THIS NORMAL FOR SEATTLE,
YEAH, DIFFERENT OPINION FIVE
SECONDS MORE THAN ENOUGH.
YOU NOTHING DIFFERENT.
YOU SAME HUMAN GARBAGE OR SAME
NAZI PSYCHOPATH.
YOU GET ONE MINUTE.
WHERE DO YOU SEE A BUSINESS
OPINION AND I TALK ABOUT THIS
FOR MANY YEAR, HUNDRED TIMES.
HOW YOU CAN SEE DIFFERENT
OPINION FOR ONE MINUTE?
HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?
YOU SAME FREAKING SAME, YOU SAME
NAZI GESTAPO, MAFIA PSYCHOPATHS.
>> THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
UP NEXT IS JOHN BURBANK.
WELCOME, JOHN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS, MY
NAME IS JOHN BURBANK.
I COMMEND YOUR INTEREST IN
PLACING A RANKED-CHOICE VOTING
ALTERNATIVE ON THE NOVEMBER
BALLOT.
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING ENABLES
VOTERS TO RANK THEIR CHOICES SO
YOU CAN OPTIMIZE PERSONAL CHOICE
WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING YOUR VOTE.
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING ADMITS THAT
VOTERS MAY HOLD SEVERAL IN HIGH
REGARD AND CAN DIFFERENTIATE
BETWEEN MULTIPLE OF THEM WITH
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING, WHILE YOU
MAY NOT GET YOUR FIRST CHOICE,
YOU STILL MAY GET YOUR SECOND
CHOICE.
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING AVOIDS THE
YES FOR ONE, NO FOR ALL THE
OTHERS OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM AND
IT AVOIDS THE UNDIFFERENTIATED
YES, YES, YES POSSIBILITIES FOR
APPROVAL VOTING, WHICH CAN VERY
LIKELY VIOLATE THE
CONSTITUTIONAL RULE OF ONE
PERSON, ONE VOTE, AS ONE VOTER
COULD VOTE FOR FIVE CANDIDATES
AND ANOTHER FOR ONE CANDIDATE,
AND ALL VOTES WOULD BE WEIGHTED
EQUALLY.
A LOT OF OTHER CITIES HAVE
PASSED RANKED-CHOICE VOTING.
THE STATE OF MAINE, THE STATE OF
ALASKA, IT'S OUR TURN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JOHN.
UP NEXT IS MICHAEL TAYLOR JUDD.
WELCOME, SIR.
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS,
MICHAEL TAYLOR JUDD.
I'LL QUICKLY SAY AS A FORMER
CANDIDATE FOR SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL, I ALSO SUPPORT RCV, BUT
I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU AS
CHAIR OF THE WEST SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORK ON THE PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF
YOU, IN PARTICULAR EMPHASIZING
IMPACTS IN THE DELRIDGE, AROUND
THE DELRIDGE ALTERNATIVES AND TO
TRADITIONAL CARE RESOURCES AND
CHILD CARE FACILITY THAT'S
THERE.
WE'RE URGING YOU -- WE'RE
HEARING -- WE'VE HEARD A LOT
FROM MEMBERS OF THE AVALON
NEIGHBORHOOD AND NORTH DELRIDGE
ABOUT LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVES
THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY TAKEN OFF
THE TABLE BY SOUND TRANSIT.
WE KNOW THAT COSTS HAVE CHANGED
RADICALLY OVER THE LAST YEAR,
YEAR AND A HALF, AND WE'D LIKE
TO LOOK AT BOTH THE LONG TUNNEL
ALTERNATIVE AND THE SO-CALLED
PURPLE LINE OR PUGET SOUND RIDGE
TUNNELS, BOTH OF WHICH INCREASE
ACCESS FOR EVERYONE AND AVOID A
LOT OF THE IMPACTS.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
AND LAST WE HAVE JOE.
WE WILL THEN COME BACK TO
FRANCISCO FOR ONE LAST TIME.
LISA SMITH OR DAVID HANES, NOW
IS YOUR TIME TO CALL IN, BECAUSE
WE WILL BE CLOSING PUBLIC
COMMENT AFTER JOE.
WELCOME, JOE, TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JOE RILEY, POLICY
DIRECTOR AT SEATTLE SUBWAY.
WE REQUEST SUPPORT FOR A 22nd
BALLARD STATION, SOUTH LAKE
UNION ACCESS SOLUTIONS THAT
MITIGATE FOUR HIGHWAY-SIZED
ROADS, REMOVAL OF CID FIFTH
AVENUE, AND STUDY, AND A
SHALLOWER VERSION OF THE FOURTH
AVENUE SHALLOW ALIGNMENT THAT
CROSSING OVER THE EXISTING
TUNNEL, MAKING THE ENTIRE
DOWNTOWN ALIGNMENT SHALLOWER.
SOUND TRANSIT MUST PREPARE NOW
FOR FUTURE EXPANSION.
SOUND TRANSIT RISKS SHUTTING
DOWN THE NEW DOWNTOWN TUNNEL
SERVICE FOR OVER A YEAR WITH
UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF SERVICE
DISRUPTION AND COST.
WE APPRECIATED THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE'S
STRONG STATED SUPPORT ON THIS.
SOUND TRANSIT MUST CONTINUALLY
RECEIVE SPECIFIC FEEDBACK FROM
SEATTLE TO IMPROVE SYSTEMWIDE
RIDERSHIP, ACCESS, AND RESPECT
FOR EVERY PERSON'S TIME.
A STATION IN SEATTLE IS NEVER A
SEATTLE ONLY STATION, IT'S A
REGIONAL STATION FOR EVERY PUGET
SOUND RIDER WHO STANDS TO GAIN
NEWFOUND ACCESS TO MORE PLACES.
WE REMAIN A RESOURCE FOR YOU ALL
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU, JOE.
FABULOUS.
CLERKS AND I.T., IS FRANCISCO
STILL WITH US?
FRANCISCO, I SEE YOU HAVE
RETURNED, NOW IS YOUR
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESS STAR SIX.
THERE YOU ARE, MY FRIEND.
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
MY NAME IS FRANK, AND I'M WITH
THE OCA ASIAN PACIFIC ADVOCATES
GREATER SEATTLE CHAPTER.
I HOPE THAT THE CHINA
TOWN/INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT IS
GIVEN CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WHEN
YOU ARE PREPARED TO SPEAK TO
YOUR PREFERENCE FOR THE ROUTE
THAT SOUND TRANSIT THREE WILL
TAKE TO OR NEAR THE CID.
OUR PREFERRED ROUTE OR ANY ROUTE
THAT WILL NOT DECIMATE OR CAUSE
HARM TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
NO ON FIFTH, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
CONFIRMING LISA SMITH AND DAVID
HANES ARE NOT PRESENT, IS THAT
CORRECT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU.
WITH THAT, WE'VE REACHED THE END
OF OUR ALLOTTED TIME FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
I THINK WE WENT OVER A LITTLE
BIT, APOLOGIES FOR THAT.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
CLOSED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS
TODAY.
MOVING ON TO ITEM E, APPROVAL OF
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADROPT THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> SORRY, MR. CHAIR, COULD YOU
SAY THAT AGAIN.
>> THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR, ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS?
>> SORRY, I'M HAVING TROUBLE
HEARING.
YES, I MOVE TO AMEND THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED.
THIS IS -- IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECOND AT THIS TIME?
>> OH, THANK YOU, I'M SORRY.
SO MR. CHAIR, I MOVE TO AMEND,
OR MR. PRESIDENT PRO-TEM, I MOVE
TO AMEND THE CALENDAR TO
INTRODUCE FILE 314498 ENTITLED
CITY COUNCIL MOTION AND
DECLARATION OF CITY COUNCIL
INTENT TO REJECT INITIATIVE
NUMBER 134 RELATING TO VOTING IN
CITY PRIMARY ELECTIONS AND
PLACING INITIATIVE NUMBER 134 ON
THE NOVEMBER 8, 2022 BALLOT IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING MEASURE,
CONCIL BILL 120369 A PROPOSED
ALTERNATIVE MEASURE ON THE SAME
MATTER.
>> THANK YOU, IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO AMEND THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
BY ADDING A CLERK FILE AS
DESCRIBED BY COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
AND REFERRING IT TO CITY
COUNCIL.
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME I AM
ASKING IN A VERY POLITE FASHION
THAT PLEASE HOLD FURTHER
COMMENTS RELATED TO INITIATIVE
134 MILLION THE FULL -- THE
SPECIAL FULL COUNCIL MEETING
THIS THURSDAY, JULY 14th.
CAN
NOT BE MORE CLEAR.
PLEASE HOLD YOUR COMMENTS,
FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, UNTIL THIS
THURSDAY.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, YES,
PLEASE DO NOT COMMENT ON THE
INITIATIVE.
>> POINT OF ORDER.
I DIDN'T HEAR A SECOND, BUT YOU
ANNOUNCED ONE, WAS THERE A
SECOND?
I'M SORRY.
>> SORRY, I THINK I SAID SECOND
VERY FAINTLY.
>> YOU DID, OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU.
I'LL JUST READ THAT PART OF THE
SCRIPT ONE MORE TIME JUST FOR
FUN.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO AMEND THE INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL CALENDAR BY ADDING
CLERK FILE AS DESCRIBED BY
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND
REFERRING IT TO THE CITY
COUNCIL.
PLEASE HOLD FURTHER COMMENTS
RELATED TO INITIATIVE 134 UNTIL
THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING THIS
THURSDAY, JULY 14th.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM
STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> ADDED TO THE INTRODUCTIONRY
FERL CALENDAR AND REFERRED TO
CITY COUNCIL.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS
ON THE AMENDED INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR, HOLD YOUR
COMMENTS OF SUBSTANCE FOR
THURSDAY.
SEEING NONE, IF THERE ARE NO --
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED AS
AMENDED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
IS ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
MOVING ON TO ITEM G, ADOPTION OF
THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
WE WILL NOW CONSIDER THE
PROPOSED CONCEPT CALENDAR, THE
CONSENT CALENDAR THIS WEEK
INCLUDES THE MINUTES OF JUNE
28th AND JULY 5th, THE PAYROLL,
COUNCIL BILL 120368 AND THE
APPOINTMENT 02256 THAT COMES
WITH A RECOMMENDATION FROM A
PUBLIC ASSETS AND HOMELESSNESS
COMMITTEE FROM LAST WEEK, ARE
THERE ANY ITEMS COUNCILMEMBERS
WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE FROM
TODAY'S CONSENT CALENDAR?
HEARING NONE, I MOVE TO ADOPT
THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
CALENDAR.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE AKOPGS OF THE
CONSENT CALENDAR?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM
STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE CONSENT
CALENDAR ITEMS ARE ADOPTED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE, OR I CAN ACTUALLY
JUST SIGN IT RIGHT HERE IF YOU
WANT.
NO, PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE ON
MY BEHALF, THANK YOU.
MOVING ON TO ITEM EIGHT,
COMMITTEE REPORTS FOR THE CITY
COUNCIL.
ITEM ONE, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM ONE, THE ABBREVIATED
TITLE FOR ITEM ONE.
>> THE REPORT OF THE CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM ONE, CLERK
FILE 334495, REPORT OF THE CITY
CLERK ON THE CERTIFICATE OF
SUFFICIENCY FOR INITIATIVE
NUMBER 134.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK FILE 314495
IS A NOTICE THAT INITIATIVE
NUMBER 134 HAS ENOUGH
SIGNATURES.
THE CLERK -- CITY CLERK FILED A
REPORT AND CERTIFICATE OF
SUFFICIENCY WITH THE COUNCIL VIA
THIS CLERK FILE ON JUNE 28th.
THIS STARTED THE 45-DAY CLOCK
FOR COUNCIL ACTION ON THE
INITIATIVE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE
MY LEAGUES WITH ADDITIONAL TIME,
I'M RECOMMENDING HOLDING THE
CLERK FILE FOR ANOTHER -- UNTIL
THURSDAY.
THIS CLERK FILE WILL APPEAR ON
EVERY AGENDA UNTIL THE CITY
COUNCIL DETERMINES WHAT ACTION
WILL BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE TO
INITIATIVE NUMBER 134.
AS A REMINDER, THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY'S ELECTION CODE PROHIBITS
ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CITY
EMPLOYEES FROM USING THEIR
OFFICE FOR THE PROMOTION OR
OPPOSITION OF ANY MEASURE.
WE SHOULD REFRAIN FROM
DISCUSSING THE MERITS OF THE
INITIATIVE UNTIL WE ARE VOTING
ON THE LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT OR
OPPOSE THE BALLOT PROPOSITION.
THAT WILL OCCUR AT A FUTURE
MEETING AND WITHIN 45 DAYS OF
THIS CLERK FILE 314495 BEING
FILED WITH THE COUNCIL, I
RECOMMEND THAT COUNCIL REFRAIN
FROM DISCUSSING THIS TODAY.
I MOVE TO POSTPONE CLERK FILE
314495 TO JULY 14th, IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM
STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES, CLERK
FILE IS POSTPONED TO JULY 14th.
THIS ITEM WILL APPEAR ON EVERY
AGENDA UNTIL THE CITY COUNCIL
DETERMINES WHAT ACTION WILL BE
TAKEN IN RESPONSE TO INITIATIVE
NUMBER 134.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
TWO INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM TOO, COUNCIL BILL
120363, AN ORDNANCE -- RELATING
TO PROSECUTING
VIOLATIONS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AND OTHER PROTECTION ORDERS TO
MAKE THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE
CONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW;
AMENDING SECTION 12A.09.020 OF
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> I
MOVE TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
120363, IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, AS
SPONSOR OF THE BILL, PLEASE TAKE
IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AS NOTED IN THE CENTRAL STAFF
UPDATE YESTERDAY THIS
LEGISLATION IS TIME SENSITIVE.
IF THE CHANGE IS NOT MADE, THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CANNOT
PROSECUTE MISDEMEANOR VIOLATIONS
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND OTHER
ORDERS.
WHILE THESE MISDEMEANORS COULD,
IN THEORY, BE REFERRED TO THE
KING COUNTY PROSECUTOR BECAUSE
OF THEIR NEW ORLEANS BACKLOG OF
CASES AND THE EMPHASIS OF THE
KING COUNTY PROSECUTOR ON FILING
FELONY CASES, THE CITY'S
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE PERSONNEL FEEL THAT
THESE MISDEMEANOR CHARGES WOULD
NOT BE FILED IF NOT FOR THE
ACTION BEFORE US TODAY.
SO THERE ARE THREE KEY ASPECTS
OF THE BILL.
JUST AS BACKGROUND, IN 2019,
ORDINANCE 125881 WAS ENACTED TO
ADOPT CERTAIN STATE CRIMINAL
STATUTES, AND IT REPEALED
IDENTICAL MUNICIPAL CODE
CRIMINAL SECTIONS EFFECTIVE JULY
1st THIS YEAR.
ONE OF THOSE STATUTES THAT HAD
BEEN ADOPTED BY REFERENCE WAS
REPEALED, AND ITS PROVISIONS
WERE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER
STATE STATUTE.
SO THE SUBSTANCE OF THE STATE
STATUTE REMAINED PRIMARILY THE
SAME, AND THE RCW CODE NUMBER
WAS CHANGED.
THIS ORDINANCE WOULD REFLECT
THOSE NUMBERING CHANGES.
THE ORDINANCE WOULD ADOPT BY
REFERENCE PART OF STATE LAW THAT
REFLECTS ENFORCEMENT AND
PENALTIES FOR SPECIFIC TYPES OF
EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDER
VIOLATIONS, WHICH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, IF ADOPTED,
COULD PROSECUTE.
AND THEN LASTLY, IT WOULD ADOPT
BY REFERENCE A SECTION OF THE
RCW WHICH DETAILS HOW THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PROSECUTES
SPECIFIC VIOLATIONS OF
ANTI-HARASSMENT PROTECTION
ORDERS ALREADY WITHIN ITS
AUTHORITY TO PROSECUTE UNDER
MUNICIPAL CODE.
SO IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE
VIOLATIONS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AND OTHER COURT ORDERS COULD BE
PROSECUTED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY
MUNICIPAL COURT, OUR CODE NEEDS
TO BE AMENDED TO REFLECT THIS
RCW CHANGE AS WELL.
THANK YOU, AND I WILL TRY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF THERE
ARE ANY, OTHERWISE I HOPE YOU
CAN SUPPORT ME IN VOTING FOR
THIS BILL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS?
ANY COMMENTS?
SEEING NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, DO YOU
HAVE ANY CLOSING REMARKS THAT
YOU SAVED?
SEEING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM
STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF.
ITEM NUMBER THREE, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER
THREE INTO THE RECORD.
>> THE REPORT OF THE
TRANSPORTATION AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMITTEE,
COUNCIL BILL 120358 -- I HAVE A
WRONG NUMBER HERE, SORRY.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO GRANT
FUNDS FROM
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER
NONCITY
SOURCES.
>> THANK YOU.
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO
ADDRESS THE BILL.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PRO TEM.
COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL BILL 120358
WILL AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION TO ACCEPT
SPECIFIED GRANTS TOTALLING $3.7
MILLION AND TO EXECUTE RELATED
AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE
CITY.
WHILE IT TECHNICALLY AMENDS THE
ADOPTED BUDGET, IT REMAINS
CONSISTENT WITH IT.
IT SIMPLY ADDS THESE GRANTS TO
EXISTING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION'S CAPITAL
PROJECTS.
THIS WAS ADOPTED OR RECOMMENDED
UNANIMOUSLY BY OUR COMMITTEE,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS?
SEEING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD --
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
SORRY, I SEE YOU NOW.
>> NO, I ACTUALLY THOUGHT THERE
WAS GOING TO BE A LONG LINE UP
OF PEOPLE SPEAKING, SO I WAS
GOING TO WAIT.
DID WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE
CHAIR FOR HIS WORK ON THIS
LEGISLATION.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOR HER
AMENDMENTS AS WELL.
I'M EXCITED THAT WE ARE AS A
CITY CONTINUING TO STAND IN
SOLIDARITY WITH ADVOCATES LIKE
SEATTLE SUBWAY AND SO MANY MORE
WHO ARE CALLING FOR A CONNECTED
AND COORDINATED -- OH, WRONG
ITEM.
THAT'S WHY NO ONE WAS SPEAKING,
OKAY.
>> WE GOT GREAT GRANT FUNDS FROM
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER NONCITY
SOURCES, BUT NOT AS EXCITING.
>> I SEE IT NOW.
I NEEDED TO SCROLL UP IN MY
SCRIPT.
APOLOGIES EVERYONE.
>> NO PROBLEM.
ANY CLOSING REMARKS?
>> ANY TIME I GET COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA TO GIVE AN EL
CONSTITUENT SPEECH IN FAVOR OF
SOMETHING, IT'S BETTER FOR ME
THAT WAY.
SO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, GREAT
TEAM HERE WE GOT.
CLERK, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND
READING THE -- NOW I GOT --
COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE PASSAGE OF ITEM NUMBER
THREE, PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PRESIDENT PRO
TEM STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT, WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER FOUR INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM FOUR, RESOLUTION
32055.
A RESOLUTION -- RELATING TO
SOUND TRANSIT,
PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO
THE SOUND TRANSIT BOARD AS TO
THE SELECTION OF THE PREFERRED
ALTERNATIVE FOR THE WEST
SEATTLE AND BALLARD LINK
EXTENSIONS PROJECT TO BE
STUDIED IN THE FINAL
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.
THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE CITY
ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS
AMENTDED.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, AS THE
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
THE RESOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PRO TEM.
COLLEAGUE, RESOLUTION 32055 IS A
JOINT RESOLUTION WITH OUR MAYOR
ON SEATTLE'S RECOMMENDATIONS
REGARDING SOUND TRANSIT WEST
SEATTLE BALLARD LINK EXTENSION
ROUTES AND STATIONS.
AS WE ALL KNOW, THIS
VOTER-APPROVED EXPANSION OF
LIGHT RAIL IS A MASSIVE
INVESTMENT IN THE BENEFITS OF
REGIONAL TRANSIT AND WILL
SUBSTANTIALLY IMPACT COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE.
ON FEBRUARY 15, OUR
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE HAD A
PRESENTATION ON SOUND TRANSIT'S
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT, AND ON APRIL 19 WE
HAD PRESENTATIONS FROM BOTH
SOUND TRANSIT AND THE EXECUTIVE
N THE VARIOUS OPTIONS.
AT OUR COMMITTEE ON JUNE 7 WE
RECEIVED A THOROUGH
PRESENTATION, HAD A ROBUST
DISCUSSION OF THAT RESOLUTION,
32055.
TO PROVIDE MORE TIME FOR
CONSIDERATION, WE SCHEDULED OUR
SECOND MEETING AT OUR JULY 5
COMMITTEE RATHER THAN JUNE 21st.
ON JULY 5 WE AMENDED THE
RESOLUTION AND OUR COMMITTEE
PASSED IT UNANIMOUSLY.
AS WE CONFRONT THE CLIMATE
CRISIS, WE WANT MORE PEOPLE TO
RIDE TRANSIT.
I RECOGNIZE THERE'S A STRONG
DESIRE TO MAKE SURE THE DESIGN
AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS MEGA
PROJECT BUILDS IN FLEXIBILITY
FOR FUTURE EXPANSION OPTIONS
BEYOND SOUND TRANSIT THREE AND
TO MAKE SURE THE EXPERIENCE FOR
TRANSIT RIDERS IS STREAMLINED
AND EFFICIENT.
TO ADDRESS THOSE TWO ISSUES,
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE
RESOLUTION CURRENTLY STATES THAT
THE PRINCIPLE OF FINANCIAL
STEWARDSHIP INCLUDES, QUOTE,
PRIORITIZING FUTURE EXPANSION
OPPORTUNITIES IN PLANNING AND
DESIGN.
ALSO DUE IN PART TO THE CONCERNS
RAISED BY SEVERAL COMMUNITY
LEADERS ABOUT THE FIFTH AVENUE
OPTION, TODAY'S RESOLUTIN
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT MORE TIME AND
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ARE NEEDED
BEFORE MAKING GENERATIONAL
DECISIONS THAT IMPACT THE CHINA
TOWN/INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
AND THE RESOLUTION SHOWS WE
FAVOR SHALLOW OPTIONS INSTEAD OF
THE DEEP OPTIONS THAT ADD TRAVEL
TIME.
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES
FOR THEIR ENGAGEMENT ON THIS
RESOLUTION AND THE EXPERTISE AND
CARE THEY BROUGHT TO THE TABLE
FOR THEIR DISTRICTS AND FOR OUR
CITY.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE EXECUTIVE,
ESPECIALLY SARAH, MARSHAL
FOSTER, AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
FOR THEIR COLLABORATION ON THIS
RESOLUTION.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR CITY
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF, CALVIN
CHOW, AND MY LEGISLATIVE
ASSISTANT, HANNAH THORSON.
ULTIMATELY, ALL OF THESE
DECISIONS WILL BE MADE BY THE
SOUND TRANSIT BOARD THAT
REPRESENTS KING, PIERCE, AND
SNOHOMISH COUNTIES.
BUT THE CITY OF SEATTLE WILL
CONTINUE AS THE MOST POPULOUS
AND MOST SUPPORTIVE LYNCH PIN
FOR THE ENTIRE TRANSIT SYSTEM.
TIME IS MONEY, AND SEATTLE WILL
BE ASKED TO EXPEDITE
CONSTRUCTION APPROVALS TO MAKE
SURE THE ENTIRE SYSTEM EXPANSION
AND ITS MASSIVE BENEFITS FOR THE
REGION HAPPEN AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE THOUGHTFUL
PREFERENCES ON ROUTES AND
STATIONS EXPRESSED BY THE
SEATTLE RESOLUTION WILL BE
HELPFUL TO SOUND TRANSIT IN
ACHIEVING OUR MUTUAL GOAL OF
QUICKLY EXPANDING LIGHT RAIL
WITHIN OUR CITY AND ACROSS OUR
REGION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
NOW, COLLEAGUES THIS IS THE ONE
WHERE I'M EXPECTING EVERYONE'S
GOING TO WANT TO JUMP UP.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FROM WEST
SEATTLE, A CITY ANNEXED IN 1907
BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY
THANKS TO CHAIR PEDERSEN FOR HIS
COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO
DEVELOPING THIS RESOLUTION AND
INCORPORATING HIS COLLEAGUE'S
FEEDBACK, COLLEAGUES WHO ARE
WORKING TO REPRESENT OUR
CONSTITUENTS.
I WON'T REPEAT ALL OF MY
COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE.
I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE
RESOLUTION INCLUDES A CLEAR
STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR THE
MEDIUM TUNNEL OPTION, FOR THE
WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION IN LINE
WITH STRONG COMMUNITY SUPPORT
FOR A TUNNEL IN THE JUNCTION.
A TUNNEL WOULD HAVE
SIGNIFICANTLY LESS IMPACT ON
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
FOR DELRIDGE, THERE'S NO CLEAR
COMMUNITY CENSUS.
THE DRAFT EIS IS CLEAR THAT ALL
ALIGNMENTS HAVE IMPACTS ON
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
YOU KNOW, THE DEL FIVE AND SIX
OPTIONS WERE DEVELOPED TO
MINIMIZE IMPACTS ON THE
YOUNGSTOWN COMMUNITY ADJACENT.
BUT THEY WERE ADDED LATE IN THE
SCOPING PROCESS AT THE BOARD
LEVEL, SO POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF
THESE OPTIONS WEREN'T DISCUSSED
DURING THE SCOPING PROCESS.
AND SO PERHAPS THAT MIGHT BE WHY
THE DRAFT DEIS FAILED TO NOTE
THE EXISTENCE OF THE ALKI BEACH
ACADEMY DAY CARE CENTER AS A
POTENTIALLY IMPACTED SOCIAL
RESOURCE AND DID NOT FULLY
ANALYZE THE PROJECT'S IMPACT ON
CHILD CARE CENTERS.
ANOTHER IMPACT WOULD BE
TRANSITIONAL RESOURCES
OFFERING 24/7 SERVICES TO PEOPLE
WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS
THROUGH BOTH LIVING FACILITIES
AND A SERVICE CENTER.
THEY DEPEND ON 24-HOUR A DAY,
SEVEN DAY A WEEK SERVICES.
THE HOLISTIC SYSTEM IN THE DRAFT
EIS DOES NOT ADDRESS THE
INTEGRATED NATURE OF THE
PROGRAM.
FOR THESE REASONS, THE COMMITTEE
AMENDED INCLUDING A STATEMENT
THAT THE CITY IS NOT ABLE TO
STATE A PREFERENCE FOR THE DEL
RIDGE STATION GIVEN THE
INADEQUATE ANALYSIS OF IMPACTED
SOCIAL RESOURCES.
AND THE STATE, THE FUTURE
SUPPORT OF THE CITY FOR A
DELRIDGE OPTION IS DEPENDENT ON
RELOCATION OF IMPACTED CHILD
CARE AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
SERVICE PROVIDERS.
SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE SAYING
THERE'S NO PREFERENCE NOW, BUT
WE'RE SETTING THE BAR FOR WHAT
WE WOULD NEED TO SEE IN ORDER TO
BE ABLE TO SUPPORT A PREFERENCE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
EXECUTIVE'S ADDITION TO AN
EARLIER DRAFT VERSION OF THE
BILL REQUESTING SPECIFICALLY A
TRANSIT ACCESS STUDY FOR THE
COMMUNITIES IDENTIFIED IN THE
RACIAL EQUITY TOOL KIT,
INCLUDING SOUTH DELRIDGE AND
WHITE CENTER, AND ALSO ADDING
MENTION OF THE IMPORTANT
PROTECTIONS FOR LONGFELLOW
CREEK.
THESE ARE GREAT ADDITIONS, AND
I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT THE
EXECUTIVE ADDED THEM EARLY.
AND I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO LEND
THEIR SUPPORT TO COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S FINE LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
OTHER COLLEAGUES?
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT PRO
TEM.
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO VOTING
ON THIS RESOLUTION TODAY AND
APPRECIATE THE PROCESS AND THE
ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
DELIBERATIONS ON THE RESOLUTION
EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT A MEMBER OF
THE RELEVANT COMMITTEE.
THE IMPLICATIONS OF SOUND
TRANSIT THREE ARE AMAZING AND AT
THE SAME TIME OFFER A LOT OF
CHALLENGES TO DISTRICT SEVEN IN
PARTICULAR AND THIS RESOLUTION
ADDRESSES THOSE CHALLENGES THAT
HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED BY IMPORTANT
STAKEHOLDERS REPRESENTING
CULTURAL, ECONOMIC, AND SPORTING
INTERESTS IN THE AREA.
WE HAVE CRAFTED RECOMMENDATIONS
IN THIS RESOLUTION THAT ADDRESS
PRESERVING THE VIABILITY OF OUR
STRONG AND ROBUST MARITIME
ECONOMY IN THE SALMON BAY AREA
AND THROUGHOUT INTERBAY,
PRESERVING THE CULTURAL
INSTITUTIONS AND IMPORTANT
PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE
UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD,
PARTICULARLY AROUND THE SEATTLE
CENTER CAMPUS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH
SOUND TRANSIT ON ALIGNING THEIR
FINAL PLANNING PRIORITIES WITH
THE VALUES THAT ARE EXPRESSED
AND THE PRIORITIES THAT ARE
EXPRESSED IN THIS RESOLUTION AND
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF THAT
FEEDBACK MANIFESTED IN THE FOUR
CORNERS OF THIS.
AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN APPRECIATED
BY A LOT OF THE CONSTITUENCIES
IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO VOTING YES
ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND NOW IS THE CHANCE TO THANK
THE SPONSOR AND MY GOOD FRIEND
FROM DISTRICT ONE OUT HERE FOR
ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DID.
SO LET ME REPEAT SOME OF THE
THINGS I WAS STARTING TO SAY.
I WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
THANKS FOR YOUR WORK IN
SPEARHEADING THIS SOLUTION TO
REFLECT THE MANY NEEDS AND
PRIORITIES OF THE CITY AND OUR
COMMUNITIES.
IT WAS OUR PLEASURE, AS WELL,
WITHIN OUR OFFICE AND THANKS TO
ERIN HOUSE FOR THE WORK THEY DID
WITH CENTRAL STAFF AND SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ALONG WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS
LIKE SEATTLE SUBWAY TO BE ABLE
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESOLUTION
AS INTRODUCED INCLUDED FUTURE
EXPANSION OPPORTUNITIES,
REFERENCES TO MAKING SURE THAT
THE REFINED SOUTH LAKE UNION
STATION LOCATION BEST SERVED THE
SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, AND FOR
THE BALLARD LOCATION, REQUESTED
THAT SOUND TRANSIT CONSIDER
RIDERSHIP IMPACTS AND THE
LOCATION OF HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT,
AND INDUSTRIAL AREAS.
AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE
AMENDMENTS THAT WERE MADE IN THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
WHILE I'M NOT A MEMBER OF THAT
COMMITTEE, I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, AND WITH
THE SUPPORT OF THE CHAIR,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, FOR THE
WOK THAT THEY DID TO CONTINUE
TO IMPROVE THE LEGISLATION IN
FRONT OF US TODAY.
AND AS COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
NOTED, RECOGNIZING THAT THE
DRAFT EIS PUT TOGETHER BY SOUND
TRANSIT DIDN'T HAVE THE FULL
ANALYSIS NECESSARY TO LOOK AT
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS, AND IMPACT TO THE
SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE
CREATE OUR NEXT INTEGRATED MASS
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT WE'RE
THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE
PRESERVE AND HELP PROMOTE THE
PRESERVATION OF EXISTING
BUSINESSES, INCLUDING CHILD CARE
AND HEALTH SERVICES, BY EITHER
MAINTAINING THEIR LOCATION OR
ENSURING THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO
RELOCATE TO AN AREA NEARBY
WITHOUT LOSING THE ABILITY TO
SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE EXACT
TYPES OF SERVICES THAT WE WANT
AROUND NEW SOUND TRANSIT
STATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'RE CREATING
IS TRULY TRANSIT-ORIENTED.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S
AMENITIES LIKE CHILD CARE AND
HEALTH SERVICES AROUND HOUSING
AND OTHER HIGHER OPPORTUNITY
OPTIONS IN ALL NEIGHBORHOODS
SOUND TRANSIT SERVES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT AVOIDING OR
MITIGATING THE IMPACTS OF
RELOCATION OR NEEDS IN THE AREA
AS WE THINK ABOUT HOUSING AS
WELL AS THESE OTHER SOCIAL
SERVICES THAT WE NEED.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT
CONVERSATIONS, AND I REALLY
THINK THAT THE CITY IS SENDING A
STRONG MESSAGE HERE TODAY ABOUT
THE IMPORTANCE OF, YES, CREATING
MASS TRANSIT, CREATING OUR SOUND
TRANSIT CONNECTED TO ALL
COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT SEATTLE,
AND AS WE DO SO LOOKING AT THE
IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE NEED IN
ORDER TO BE A THRIVING, HEALTHY
COMMUNITY.
AND THAT INCLUDES HEALTH
SERVICES, CHILD CARE, HOUSING,
AND SO MANY OTHER NECESSITIES
LOCATED NEXT TO OUR NEW SOUND
TRANSIT STATION.
SO THANKS FOR ALL THE WORK YOU
DID TO REALLY PROMOTE WHAT
TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT
SHOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US AND
TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT REALLY
UNIQUE NEEDS ACROSS OUR CITY,
INCLUDING FOR OUR YOUNGEST
KIDDOES AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
>> WELL SAID, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, PLEASE,
WELCOME.
>> WELL, FIST I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP AND TRANSPARENCY
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AS WELL AS CALVIN CHOW FROM
CENTRAL STAFF AND SARAH AT SDOT.
SO I APPROACHED THIS FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF A CITYWIDE CITY
COUNCIL THAT MUST CONSIDER THE
NEEDS OF ALL OF SEATTLE, AND THE
REALITY IS THAT NO ALIGNMENT OR
STATION LOCATION COMES WITHOUT
CHALLENGING IMPACTS.
BUT IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE
POSITION OURSELVES AS A CITY
WELL WHEN IT COMES TO FUTURE
WORK WITH SOUND TRANSIT STAFF
AND AS THE SOUND TRANSIT BOARD
GOES INTO ITS OWN DELIBERATIONS.
SO OF COURSE I'M GOING TO VOTE
IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION
TODAY, WEIGHING ALL THE PROS AND
CONS AS A CITYWIDE ELECTED,
TRULY BELIEVING THAT THIS PUT
OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD IN THIS
PROCESS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON.
COLLEAGUES, I'LL SHARE MY
COMMENTS NOW.
THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE
ACCEPTED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE
COMMITTEE IS TO NOTE THAT 14th
ALIGNMENT IS UNACCEPTABLE
WITHOUT A STATION ENTRANCE WEST
OF 159.
WE SHOULD RE-OPEN ANALYSIS WEST
OF 15th TO 22nd TO IDENTIFY COST
SAVINGS NOW THAT THE HIGH BRIDGE
IS NOT AN OPTION DUE TO THE
COAST GUARD'S RULING.
15th AVENUE IS OUR PREFERRED
ALIGNMENT, AND THERE ARE
COST-SAVING OPPORTUNITIES
AVAILABLE TO US AS COMPARED TO
WHAT SOUND TRANSIT STAFF HAVE
PUT FORWARD.
IF WE SHIFT TO LOOKING AT USING
RIGHT OF WAY RATHER THAN PRIVATE
PROPERTY OR SHIFTING THE STATION
A BLOCK NORTH OR SOUTH TO USE
PRIVATE PROPERTY THERE.
WE NEED TO CONNECT OUR LIGHT
RAIL SPINE TO TACOMA AND EVERETT
AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
AND I'M COMMITTED TO SEEING THAT
THROUGH.
AS THE TRICOUNTY BOARD HEADS
TOWARDS MAKING A DECISION, IT IS
CRITICAL DECISIONS ARE NOT
RUSHED WITHOUT FULL ANALYSIS OF
THE OPTIONS WE HAVE AS THIS IS
HUNDRED YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE.
I'M HERE TO ASSIST WITH ANY
COST-SAVING OPTION IN BALLARD.
I CAN SHOW YOU WHERE THEY ARE.
I LIVE, BREATHE THAT COMMUNITY.
IT'S MY COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S CRITICAL, AGAIN, FOR AN
ENTRANCE TO BE WEST OF 15th
BECAUSE THE HOUSING COMMERCIAL
CORE IS WEST OF 15th.
THE RIDERSHIP IS HIGHEST COMING
FROM WEST 15th.
AND THE REASON WE NEED THAT
STATION ENTRANCE IS BECAUSE 15th
AVENUE NORTHWEST IS THE THIRD
USED -- MOST USED NORTH/SOUTH
CORRIDOR IN THE CITY ONLY BEHIND
SR-99 AND I-5, ASKING
PEDESTRIANS TO CROSS 15th AVENUE
AT GRADE WILL IMPACT RIDERSHIP,
AND DOES NOT ALIGN WITH OUR
CITY'S VISION ZERO COMMITMENT.
WE ALSO HEARD DURING COMMITTEE
BOTH MONTLAKE AND BROADWAY
RECEIVED STATION ENTRANCES AND
PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE TO
ALSO AVOID SIMILAR ISSUES.
LASTLY, I'LL NOTE THAT THE 14th
AVENUE STATION OPTION BUTS THE
INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT.
WHEN YOU EXIT THE STATION, YOU
ARE IN THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT,
AND THE LAND TO THE NORTHEAST IS
NOT ZONED FOR MAXIMUM DENSITY
WITH NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTIAL IN
CLOSE PROXIMITY.
THE DENSEST ZONING AND HOUSING
CORE IN BALLARD IS BETWEEN 24th
AND 15th AVENUE NORTHWEST.
NORTH ALL THE WAY TO 65th.
THIS IS WHY 15th AVENUE
NORTHWEST IS THE PREFERRED
ALIGNMENT, AND WE NEED GRADE
SEPARATED CONNECTION IF 14th
AVENUE IS GOING TO BE
CONSIDERED.
AGAIN, AS ALWAYS, I AM COMMITTED
TO SEEING THIS PROJECT THROUGH
TO TACOMA AND TO EVERETT, AND WE
HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE
TO DO OUR PART HERE IN THE CITY
AND SOUND TRANSIT.
ABSOLUTELY, WE'RE NOT LOOKING
FOR BELLS AND WHISTLES, WE'RE
JUST LOOKING FOR THE THINGS THAT
SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES.
CHAIR, ANY CLOSING COMMENTS?
>> NO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
IF NOT, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
THE RESOLUTION?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM
STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED.
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
ITEM I, ITEM REMOVED FROM THE
CONSENT CALENDAR, NO ITEMS WERE
REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR.
ITEM J, ADOPTION OF OTHER
RESOLUTIONS.
THERE ARE NO OTHER RESOLUTIONS
FOR INTRODUCTION AND ADOPTION
TODAY.
ITEM K, OTHER BUSINESS, IS THERE
ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE THE COUNCIL?
>> MR. CHAIR?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
I BELIEVE I'M ALREADY EXCUSED ON
AUGUST 2nd FOR LOCAL PROGRESS,
BUT I DO WANT TO ASK TO BE
EXCUSED THE WEEK PRIOR ON JULY
26th, MR. CHAIR, FROM FULL
COUNCIL.
>> GREAT.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA IS
EXCUSED FROM THE JULY 26th CITY
COUNCIL MEETING.
HEARING NO OBJECTION,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA IS
EXCUSED FROM THE JULY 26th CITY
COUNCIL MEETING.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS?
SEEING NONE, I MOVE -- GOING
BACK UP.
THIS DOES CONCLUDE THE ITEMS OF
BUSINESS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS TUESDAY,
JULY 19th AT 2:00 P.M.
WE DO HAVE A SPECIAL CITY
COUNCIL MEETING ON JULY 14th AT
2:00 P.M.
I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL
AFTERNOON.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU.