>>> AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. THE
JULY 9, 2024, MEETING OF THE
SENATE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL
COME TO ORDER. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL .
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
[ ROLL BEING CALLED ] EIGHT
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. THERE IS NOT A
PRESENTATION TODAY, SO AT THIS
TIME WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC
COMMENT HYBRID PERIOD.
>> WE HAVE TWO REMOTE AND 10 IN
PERSON SO FAR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL
GO AHEAD AND GIVE FOLKS A MINUTE
EACH, AND WE WILL STT WITH THE
SPEAKERS IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
FIRST. AND I WILL NOTE THAT
COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
WILL BE JOINING US.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY ARE REGISTERED. SPEAKERS
WILL HEAR A CHIME IN 10 SECONDS
ARE LEFT OF THEIR TIME. SPEAKERS
MIKE MAX WILL BE MUTED IF THEY
DO NOT AND THEIR COMMENTS IN THE
ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO
CALL IN NEXT SPEAKER. PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN AND
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
>> THE FIRST IN PERSON SPEAKERS
KATHLEEN ROSE, FOLLOWED BY KATIE
RUBA AND ALEX TSIMERMAN.
>> IS KATHLEEN ROSE. I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 6. AND I WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW WHAT COST SAVINGS YOU HAVE
COME UP WITH FROM THE BUDGET.
YOU ARE GOOD AT SPENDING MONEY,
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW, IF
YOU'VE GONE TO THE BUDGET, WHAT
PROGRAMS MAY BE CAN BE ENDED
THAT ARE NOT COST-EFFECTIVE. IN
A FUTURE MEETING, OR IN YOUR
NEWSLETTERS, I WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW WHERE MONEY IS SAVED, AND
NOT SPENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> HELLO. PRESIDENT NELSON THE
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M A
BOARD MEMBER AT TRANSPORTATION
CHOICES COALITION. OUR NONPROFIT
SUPPORT SAFE, EQUITABLE,
TRANSPORTATION FOR ALL ORGAN
TONY AND'S. ENQUEUE TO THE
COUNCIL'S LEADERSHIP,
ESPECIALLY CHAIR SOCCER, FOR
YOUR WORK OVER THE PAST FEW
MONTHS. WE ARE GLAD YOU USHERED
IN A LEVY WITH EVEN MORE INVEST
IN ITS AND SIDEWALKS, AND VISION
ZERO PROJECT INITIALLY PROPOSED.
THESE ARE INVESTMENTS AND SAFETY
THAT THE PEOPLE SEATTLE NEED AND
DESERVE. THIS WILL BE THE
LARGEST LEVY REPRESENTING A
GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT INTO THE
NUTS AND BOLTS OF OUR
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND COUNCIL HAVE
HAD CONSULTATIONS WITH A DIVERSE
SET OF HOLDERS, AND THIS LEVY
SHOWS THOSE COMMUNITIES WERE
HEARD. YOU WILL BENEFIT FROM THE
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS SAFER,
BETTER MAINTAINED, AND DESIGNED
WITH EQUITY IN MIND. WE URGE THE
COUNCIL TO VOTE FOR THIS LEVY
PACKAGE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU TO GET THIS
LEVY APPROVED BY THE VOTERS.
>> FOLLOWING ALEX TSIMERMAN WILL
BE ARIANNA RILEY.
>> HI. LAST TIME, I BRING
DECISION ABOUT NAZI SALUTE.
IT'S NOT IMPORTANT FOR TODAY.
YOU LOOK VERY PRIMITIVE BEFORE,
IGNORANT AND VERY STUPID. IS
THIS NINTH CIRCLE DECISION?
GUYS. BEFORE YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND, I TALKED TO 750,000
. OPEN ONE DAY PER WEEK AND GIVE
PEOPLE A CHANCE TO SPEAK. THERE
WILL BE DIFFERENT OPINIONS. YOU
CONTROL THIS . LOOK. THEY ARE
ALL QUIET. NO ONE SUPPORTS THIS
IDEA. WE NEED FREEDOM MOST
BEACH.
>> LARS ERICKSON, ARIANNA RILEY.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LARS
ERICKSON, THE SENIOR VICE
PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND
COMMUNICATIONS OF THE BATTLE
METRO CHAMBER. I'M HERE ON
BEHALF OF OUR NEARLY 2500
MEMBERS. THE CHAMBER CAME TO THE
TABLE DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE TRANSPORTATION LEVEL BECAUSE
OF DRIVING, EQUITABLE, AND
INCLUSIVE REGIONAL ECONOMY,
WHICH IS OUR MISSION. IT WAS
PREDICATED ON SATELLITES BEING
ABLE TO SAFELY AND RELIABLY
TRAVEL WITHIN THE CITY AND
SURROUNDING AREA. THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER SOCCER FOR
CHAIRING THE COMMITTEE THAT
CONSIDERED MAYOR HARRELL'S
PROPOSAL OVER THE LAST TWO
MONTHS, AND TO THE ENTIRE
COUNCIL FOR YOUR EFFORTS TO
STRENGTHEN THE LEVEES
ACCOUNTABILITY. I ASK THAT YOU
VOTE YESTERDAY TO APPROVE THE
LEVY ORDINANCE, WHICH STRIKES
THE RIGHT BALANCE IN
TRANSPORTATION NEEDS AND KEEPING
IN MIND THE VOTERS CONCERNED
ABOUT AFFORDABILITY. THE CHAMBER
AND ITS MEMBERS LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU ,
THE MAYOR, AND THE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE TO IMPLEMENT THE LEVY
. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ARIANNA
RILEY. I'M A DELIVERY DRIVER
AND RESIDENT IN DISTRICT ONE.
MANY CUSTOMERS TODAY ARE PAYING
LESS IN DELIVERY COST THAN THEY
USED TO. BEFORE, THE CUSTOMER
SHOULDER THE ENTIRE COST OF
PAYING OUR WAGES. AT THE APT
COMPANIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
PAYING OUR WAGES. MOST CUSTOMERS
WERE EXPECTED TO TIP TWO DOLLARS
A MILE. MOST REGULAR CUSTOMERS
UNDERSTOOD THIS. THERE WERE SOME
COMPLAINTS ABOUT COLD FOOD AND
DRIVERS NOT BRINGING FOOD TO
APARTMENT DOORS BEFORE, BECAUSE
THE PEOPLE THAT DID NOT TIP
ENOUGH, DIVERS DECLINED THE
ORDER WHILE DOOR DASH BOOSTED
THE PAY BY $.25 PER DECLINE. FOR
AN ORDER FROM GEORGETOWN TO
SKYWAY, WHICH IS COMMON FOR MY
LUNCH TIME, 79 MILES IN
DISTANCE, PREVIOUSLY, CUSTOMERS
WOULD'VE HAD TO TIP $14-$16 IN
ORDER TO GET HOT FOOD. THEY DID
NOT TIP AFTER AN HOUR OR MORE
WITH $.25 A DECLINE ADDED UP TO
TWO MILES AN HOUR. NOW, IF THE
CUSTOMER ORDERS FROM GEORGETOWN
TO SKYWAY, THE FEES ARE AROUND
$10 AND THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO
TIP IN ORDER TO GET HOT FOOD.
THANK YOU.
>> EXCUSE ME. HOW SHEN ,
FOLLOWED BY JASON, AND ALEX
KEMP.
>> EXACTLY 6 MONTHS AFTER PAY UP
WENT EFFECTIVE. RECENTLY, I TOOK
A TWO WEEK BREAK. EVERYTHING
WILL TURN BACK AT THAT COMES
BACK. IT IS STILL THE SAME. IN
FACT, I STILL MAKE ABOUT THE
SAME LEVEL OF INCOME, ABOUT $500
A WEEK. THIS IS NOT A LIVING
WAGE. THE REASON WHY I CAN KEEP
DOING THIS, IS BECAUSE I WORK A
FULL-TIME JOB AT THE SAME TIME.
IN FACT, I KNOW PEOPLE WHO MADE
OVER 60 K BEFORE THIS LAW ,
DOING DELIVERY FULL-TIME TO
SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES. NOW
THEIR INCOME HAS BEEN HALVED.
THERE INCOME HAS BEEN DESTROYED.
THIS LAW HAS REDUCED A FULL-TIME
OPPORTUNITY INTO AN
UN-SURVIVABLE PART-TIME. FACT.
THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT STUDY TO
SUPPORT THIS NEW PRICING
STRUCTURE WOULD WORK. I'M NOT
SURE YOU WANT TO DO AN
EXPERIMENT TO REDUCE YOUR WAGES
INTO HALF .
>> LAST WEDNESDAY, I HAD AN
ACCIDENT WHILE WORKING. I
SEPARATED MY RIGHT SHOULDER.
MIGHT INJURY ISN'T SEVERE
ENOUGH, BUT ANY PHYSICIAN WILL
TELL YOU TO WAIT TWO WEEKS
BEFORE RETURNING TO NORMAL
ACTIVITIES. WE NO LONGER HAVE
THE LUXURY OF WAITING TWO WEEKS,
BECAUSE WE MAKE OUR LESS MONEY
THAN WE DID SIX MONTHS AGO. I
HAD TO FORCE MYSELF TO TAKE
THREE DAYS OFF AND WENT BACK TO
WORK IMMATURELY, BECAUSE IF I
DON'T TAKE THE RISK, IT WILL BE
IMPOSSIBLE TO CATCH UP ON MY
BILLS. ACROSS THE BORDER,
RESTAURANTS WILL TELL YOU THEY
NEED AND THEIR PROFITS HAVE
TAKEN A GIANT CUT. THE VAST
MAJORITY OF CAREERS ARE TAKING
THE SAME HIT.
>> ALEX KIM , AND THEN AFTER
ALEX KIM, WILL BE ALBERTO
ALVAREZ, AND THEN STEPHEN
RUBENSTEIN.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ALEX KIM, I'M
A GIG WORKER AND DISTRICT 2
RESIDENT HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE
PAY UP ORDINANCE. A MYSTERIOUS
ORGANIZATION CALLED -- HAS BEEN
RUNNING VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA
ADS, THE LATEST CALLING OUT
COUNCILMEMBERS HOLLINGSWORTH AND
MOORE FOR REFUSING TO ROLL BACK
THE REVISED REVISION. I FOUND
OUT THAT THE PERSON BEHIND THESE
ADS IS NAMED KEIRA PFEIFFER. I
LOOKED HER UP ON LINKEDIN, AND
BIG SURPRISE, SHE'S A PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT MANAGER AT DOOR DASH.
SOME OF THESE ADS SAY THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE, QUOTE,
FAILING DELIVERY DRIVERS THAT
ARE HURTING UNDER THE DELIVERY
PAY ORDINANCE. AS A DELIVERY
DRIVER MYSELF, I LIKE TO THINK
COUNCILMEMBERS HOLLINGSWORTH AND
MOORE, AS I AM INDEED DRIVING.
NOT HURTING. THE AMOUNT OF
ORDERS CONTINUES TO INCREASE,
AND I WOULD HONESTLY SAY IT IS
BUSIER FOR ME NOW THAN IT WAS .
I AM MAKING MORE MONEY AND I'M
ALSO SPENDING MORE AT LOCAL
BUSINESSES, INCLUDING
RESTAURANTS. IN SO MANY WAYS,
PAY UP AS A VICTORY FOR THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ALBERTO.
I'M A DRIVER HERE AND SEATTLE.
THANK YOU, HOLLINGSWORTH AND
MOORE AND MORALES . ALSO FOR
SUPPORTING PAY UP, BECAUSE IT IS
WORKING. IT IS GIVING US A
LIVING WAGE. IN SIX MONTHS,
IT'S BEEN AN IMPROVEMENT. IT IS
WORKING . IT GIVES US DIGNITY.
-- DRIVE SAFELY . WE DON'T HAVE
TO BE RUSHING. WE CAN GO BY THE
WAY IT SHOULD BE, SAFELY. AND IT
MEANS A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. SO
THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THE LINE
ON LIVING WAGES AND PROTECTIONS.
THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU.
>> STEPHEN IS OUR LAST IN PERSON
SPEAKER.
>> I'M PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE
WHO'S GOING TO DUMP SOME COLD
WATER ON THE LEVY. A PROBLEM
THAT I STILL SEE IS CLOSING DOWN
ON THE ARTERIALS. OF COURSE, THE
NEXT THING WILL BE A TAX ON
CONGESTION IN THE CITY . HIGHWAY
99 IN AURORA , I THINK TRIED TO
REDUCE THE LANES THERE AND IT'S
A TRAVESTY. IT IS GOING TO PUSH
A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON THE STREETS
NEARBY. AND I SEE THIS AS A
REALLY BIG PROBLEM. NOW, WE WILL
ALSO CREDIBILITY, BECAUSE
REMEMBER THE BRIDGES? THAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE HANDLED IN THE
LAST LEVY. AND SOMETIMES, THINGS
DON'T HAPPEN. AND THERE ARE
SOME PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT HAPPY
ABOUT THAT. AND NOW THE OTHER
THING I LIKE TO TALK VERY
QUICKLY ON IS STOREFRONTS . WITH
THE CHANGE COMING FROM THE
LAND-USE COMMITTEE, WE DON'T
OBJECT TO CONVERSION FROM OFFICE
TO RESIDENTIAL, BUT THE
STOREFRONTS AND --
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE TO REMOTE
SPEAKERS. REMOTE SPEAKERS,
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 WHEN YOU
HEAR THE PROMPT. FIRST REMOTE
SPEAKER IS A KEIRA KEITH SO.
>> GOOD DAY, CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM A WORKER AT THE
VALLEY SENIOR CENTER, AND A
MEMBER OF TRANSPORTATION EQUITY
WORKGROUP. I'M HERE TO TALK TO
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'S
AMENDMENT. IT DEMONSTRATES THEIR
COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, AND RAISING THE
ORDINANCE. THE WORK IS CRITICAL
AND WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT
ALLOCATING FUNDS TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ALLOWS INTENTIONAL
INITIATIVE FOR NEEDS ADDRESSED
BY THE COMMUNITY. THEY CONTINUE
SERVING INCAPACITY WITH ALL
DEPARTMENTS OF S.. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU , OUR ONLY REMOTE
SPEAKER.
>> THE LAST TWO IN PERSON
SPEAKERS WILL BE JESSE CERVANTES
AND MARI ANNA .
>> I THINK IT TAKES US A MINUTE
JUST WALK UP HERE. HI. GOOD
AFTERNOON. WE WANTED TO TALK IN
REGARDS TO THE LAND-USE
COMMITTEE . SO ONE OF THE BIG
THINGS THAT WE WANT TO JUST HAVE
SOME SUPPORT, HAVING SOME STRONG
LABOR STANDARDS, ONE OF THE BIG
THINGS THAT WE DO IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS WE
SIT ON THE PRIORITY ADVISORY
COMMITTEE WHERE WE HELP PROVIDE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL
RESIDENTS. MOST IMPORTANTLY,
BECAUSE OF THE GREAT WORK THE
CITY OF SEATTLE HAS DONE, WE
PROVIDED A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY
FOR PROGRAMS TO HAVE
APPRENTICESHIPS AND
APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING, AND WE
WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE GOOD
STRONG RESPONSIBLE CONTRACTORS
THAT COME IN AND DO THE WORK,
HIGHER OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES,
GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES FOR
ACCESS TO STRONG WAGES, GOOD
CAREERS AND GOOD BENEFITS. IT
ALSO HELPS REDUCE RECIDIVISM,
AND IT HELPS TO GET CAREER
ACCESS TO THOSE COMING OUT OF
HIGH SCHOOL . IT PROVIDES
OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW AND
DEVELOP, AND I DON'T KNOW IF
YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING IN
SUPPORT.
>> NO, JUST A POINT OF POLITICAL
HEALTH. WE WANT TO GET GOOD
CONTRACTORS THAT ARE GOING ABLE
TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.
>> AND ARE MINORITY BUSINESSES
PLAY AN INTEGRAL PIECE OF THIS
AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> THOSE ARE THE LAST REGISTERED
SPEAKERS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE
REACHED THE END OF OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. IT IS NOW
OFFICIALLY CLOSED, AND WE WILL
MOVE ON. SO I MOVED TO ADOPT THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR. IS THERE A SECOND? ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS? WELL, I HAVE
ONE. I MOVED TO AMEND THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR TO ADD APPOINTMENTS
2908 THROUGH 2914 FOR REFERRAL
TO THE GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTABILITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE. THE APPOINTMENTS ARE
ENTITLED THE REAPPOINTMENTS OF
DANIEL ALVARADO AND TOM LAMBROS
AS MEMBER OF THE LABOR STANDARDS
ADVISORY COMMISSION FOR A TERM
TO APRIL 30, 2026. APPOINTMENTS
AND REAPPOINTMENTS OF -- AND
AMANDA POWDER AS MEMBERS OF THE
LABOR STANDARDS ADVISORY
COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO APRIL
30th, 2025. SEATTLE ETHICS
COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO
DECEMBER 31st, 2026, AND
APPOINTMENT OF JONATHAN SHERMER
AS MEMBER TO THE SEATTLE ETHICS
AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION FOR A
TERM TO DECEMBER 31st, 2025. I
KNOW COLLEAGUES, THAT THIS WAS
-- THIS IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE
ERROR ON MY OFFICE AS PART, ON
MY PART, AND SO I ASK FOR YOUR
INDULGENCE IN AMENDING THE
REFERRAL CALENDAR TO INCLUDE
THESE ITEMS, WHICH WILL BE
BEFORE COMMITTEE ON THURSDAY.
ALL RIGHT. HEARING NO
OBJECTIONS, I AM NOT SEEING ANY
COMMENTS, BUT WE'D LOVE TO TAKE
A ROLL CALL. THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE AMENDMENT
TO ADOPT APPOINTMENTS -- TO ADD
APPOINTMENTS 2908 THROUGH 29134
, WITH A REFERRAL TO THE
GOVERNANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND
ECONOMIC LIBERATION COMMITTEE ?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES, AND THE
APPOINTMENTS ARE ADDED TO THE
IRC. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS? OKAY. IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED AS AMENDED. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR IS ADOPTED AND
AMENDED. ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. SEEING NONE, THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED. WE WILL NOW CONSIDER
THE PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR
AND THE ITEMS ON IT INCLUDE THE
MINUTES OF JULY SECOND, 2024 .
COUNCIL BILL 120-0809, WHICH IS
THE PAYMENT OF THE BILLS, AND
THREE APPOINTMENTS FROM THE
LAND-USE COMMITTEE. ARE THERE
ANY ITEMS THAT COUNCILMEMBERS
WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE FROM THE
CAN CALENDAR ? ALL RIGHT. SEEING
NONE, I MOVED TO ADOPT THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. IS A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL OF
THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT
CALENDAR?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
ARE ADOPTED. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE FIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
MINUTES IN LEGISLATION ON THE
CALENDAR ON MY BEHALF? ALL
RIGHT, FOLKS. WE ARE MOVING
RIGHT ALONG HERE TO OUR ITEMS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>> REPORT OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE OF THE TRANSPORTATION
LEVY ITEM ONE, RELATING TO
TRANSPORTATION PROVIDING FOR
SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED
ELECTORS OF THE CITY AND
ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER
5, 2024, AUTHORIZING THE THE
LEVY REGULAR PROPERTY TAXES FOR
UP TO EIGHT YEARS IN EXCESS OF
LIMITATIONS ON LEVEES IN RCW FOR
THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING CITY
FACILITIES AND SERVICES
INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENT, AND FINANCING,
CREATING A NEW OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE, APPLYING SEO CITIZENS
AND DISABLED PERSONS EXCEPTIONS
. THE COMMITTEE REPRESENTS WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA,
HOLLINGSWORTH, MOORE, AND WU IN
FAVOR , AND WITH COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS AND OBSESSION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
RUN-THROUGH. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
TO SHOW THE COMMITTEE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU MADAM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. IN QUEUE MADAM CLERK.
I MIGHT ENLIST YOU TO READ MY
TALKING POINTS WITH US THE
READING THERE. THAT WAS
EXCELLENT. SO COLLEAGUES, HERE
WE ARE. TODAY, TODAY'S THE DAY.
AFTER WEEKS , REALLY MONTHS OF
DEDICATED FOCUS REVIEW AND
ENGAGEMENT BY ALL, TODAY, WE ARE
HERE TO TAKE A VOTE ON ONE OF
THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL PIECES OF
LEGISLATION THAT WILL COME
BEFORE ANY OF US DURING OUR TIME
ON COUNCIL. IT MIGHT BE. WE ARE
HERE TO TAKE A FINAL VOTE ON ONE
$.55 BILLION LEVY PROPOSAL THAT
WILL SHAKE THE FUTURE OF OUR
CITY. NOT JUST FOR THE EIGHT
YEARS IT WILL BE IN EFFECT, BUT
FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. MY
KIDS, YOUR KIDS, GRANDKIDS.
IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR
COMMUNITY. NOT JUST IN A SAFER
MORE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM, WHICH, YES IT DOES. MAKE
NO MISTAKE. BUT IN THOUSANDS OF
LIVING WAGE JOBS FOR PEOPLE IN
OUR CITY. SINCE DAY ONE, I SAID
WE NEED A LEVY THAT DELIVERS ON
THE EVERYDAY BASICS IN AN
EXTRAORDINARY WAY. YOU TODAY,
COLLEAGUES, THIS PACKAGE
ACCOMPLISHES EXACTLY THAT BY
MAKING CRITICAL INVESTMENTS IN
THE SERVICES THAT KEEP OUR CITY
MOVING FORWARD. FROM FILLING
POTHOLES TO ENSURING THAT OUR
BRIDGES DON'T FAIL OR FALL INTO
DISREPAIR OR FAIL. THIS LEVY
INVESTS $423 MILLION IN STREET
MAINTENANCE AND MODERNIZATION,
$221 MILLION IN BRIDGE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAFETY . $151
MILLION IN IMPROVING TRANSIT
CORRIDOR'S AND CONNECTIONS, AND
$100 MILLION TO INSTALL AND
MAINTAIN TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND
IMPROVE MOBILITY THROUGHOUT THE
CITY. THIS IS A LEVY THAT WILL
ALSO WORK TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CHALLENGES, PLAYING OUT
ON OUR STREETS AND ACROSS OUR
CITY. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DYING
BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC COLLISIONS IS
UNACCEPTABLE. JUST OVER A MONTH
AGO, SIX PEOPLE DIED IN TRAFFIC
INCIDENTS IN SEATTLE , AND IN
JUST ONE WEEK'S PERIOD. PER OUR
COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
WHO RECITES THE NAMES. THIS LEVY
MAKES SOME OF THE BIGGEST
INVESTMENTS IN SAFETY, AND
SEATTLE'S HISTORY. WHO
SPECIFICALLY INCLUDES AN
ADDITIONAL $192 MILLION FOR
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. $160.5
MILLION FOR VISION ZERO. AND
SCHOOL AND NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY
INITIATIVES. OH, AND BY THE WAY,
113.5 MILLION FOR BICYCLE
SAFETY. THAT IS NOT ALL. IT
INVESTS 45 MILLION FOR
IMPROVEMENTS TOWARD FREIGHT,
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS THAT WILL
KEEP OUR ECONOMY HUMMING AND
GROWING, AND SAFEGUARD OUR
SUPPLY CHAINS, ARE CRITICAL
INGRESS AND EGRESS ROUTES, AND I
KNOW COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS LOVE THOSE
FREIGHT INVESTMENTS. IT INVESTS
$66.5 MILLION TO ACTIVATE PUBLIC
SPACES, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND
BUSINESSES IN BUSINESS DISTRICT
THAT KEEP OUR CITY VIBRANT AND
WELCOMING FOR ALL. AND IT MAKE
SURE SEATTLE'S SERIOUS ABOUT
ACHIEVING ITS CLIMATE GOALS BY
SPECIFICALLY INVESTING 69
MILLION TO BETTER ADDRESS
CLIMATE CHANGE , PROTECT THE
ENVIRONMENT, BROADER
SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES, AND
IMPORTANTLY, INCREASE OUR TREE
CANOPY. IT DOES ALL OF THIS,
COLLEAGUES , WHILE BEING MINDFUL
OF THE COST. ONE OF MY HIGHEST
PRIORITIES THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE
PROCESS HAS BEEN TO ENSURE THAT
WE HAVE STRICT OVERSIGHT AND
ACCOUNTABILITY OF EVERY SINGLE
DOLLAR BEING SPENT AND INVESTED
UNDER THIS PROPOSAL. BECAUSE OF
THAT, THIS LEVY WILL HAVE
UNPARALLELED LEVELS OF
ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT AND
CONTROLS. MECHANISMS BAKED IN IN
PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHETHER
IT IS ONE DOLLAR ON A PARTICULAR
PROGRAM, OR $1.55 BILLION IN
TERMS OF THE BROADER TOTAL
PACKAGE, EVERY LAST DOLLAR AND
SENT IS BEING WISELY INVESTED ,
AND AGAIN, THAT INCLUDES
DETAILED SPENDING REQUIREMENTS ,
A STRONGER LEVY OVERSIGHT BOARD,
AND BETTER AUDITING CAPABILITY.
EXPLICITLY BAKED IN. THIS LEVY
WILL ALSO WORK TO MITIGATE THE
NONTRIVIAL TAX IMPACTS AND
AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS ON OUR
CITY'S MOST VULNERABLE. IT WILL
CREATE A NEW PROGRAM FOR
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
, ABOUT PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS
AND EXCEPTIONS FOR QUALIFIED
SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, AND DISABLED
VETERANS. MAKE NO MISTAKE. THIS
IS A BIG INVESTMENT. BUT I FEEL
CONFIDENT -- AND I THINK WE CAN
ALL AGREE -- AND OUR COMMUNITY
AGREES THAT SEATTLE IS WORTH IT.
WE HAVE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR
FROM THE COMMUNITY , THROUGHOUT
THIS PROCESS, AND TO ENDS, THAT
COMMUNITY IS WILLING TO MAKE
THIS TYPE OF INVESTMENT AS LONG
AS IT DELIVERS ON THE BASICS ,
AS LONG AS IT HELPS SAVE
PEOPLE'S LIVES. KEEPS PEOPLE
SAFE. AND AS LONG AS WE SPEND
OUR MONEY RESPONSIBLY, TO THAT
END, I AM PROUD TO BE WITH YOU
ALL TODAY AND CAST MY VOTE IN
FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSAL THAT DOES
EXACTLY THAT. COLLEAGUES, I
APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP
THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE JOURNEY. I
LEARNED A LOT PERSONALLY ABOUT
THE LEGISLATIVE SAUSAGE MAKING
PROCESS. AND LEARNED ABOUT
MYSELF AND LEARNED HOW WE CAN
ALL BEST WORK TOGETHER .
APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP AND
COLLABORATION, AND ALSO SPECIAL
SHOUT OUT AND KUDOS TO SOME
MEMBERS OF MY TEAM. MY CHIEF OF
STAFF, LAYLA, STEPPED UP IN BIG
WAYS. AND, OF COURSE, CALVIN
CHOW, OUR ANALYST WE'VE ALL
WORKED WITH, AND EVERY LAST ONE
OF YOU ALL. AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY. RITA HOLTZMAN I SEE
IS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY. RITA,
I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
SHOWING UP ALMOST EVERY SINGLE
DAY TO EVERY LAST ONE OF OUR
MEETINGS, ENGAGING DIRECTLY WITH
ME IN MY OFFICE BEHIND THE
SCENES, OFF-LINE, PUSHING US AND
CHALLENGING US ALL TO BE BETTER
ON -- IN TERMS OF KEEPING OUR
ROADS SAFER FOR ALL. SO THIS IS
WHAT HE COMMUNITY LED EFFORT
LOOKS LIKE, AND I APPRECIATE THE
COLLABORATION BY ALL, AND I ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT TODAY. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES?
>> CHAIR, IS THIS FOR YOU LIKE
ME TO -- OKAY. THANK YOU.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I LIKE TO
MOVE AMENDMENT AID TO COUNCIL
BILL 01888 .
>> SECOND.
>> HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO AMEND AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT A. COUNCIL MEMBER
SPOUSE IS RECOGNIZED TO ADDRESS
IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME
BRING THIS BACK TO YOU AGAIN.
AND GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO
DISCUSS SOME OF THE DETAILS AND
NUANCE OF THIS OVER A HOLIDAY
WEEKEND. AS YOU KNOW, COMPLETING
THE MISSING LINK IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT TO ME. THE FIRST TIME
IN 30 YEARS, WE HEARD BOTH THE
INDUSTRIAL GROUPS AND THE
BICYCLE SUPPORTERS ON THE SAME
PAGE ABOUT THE TRAIL. AND I KNOW
THAT THAT MIGHT NOT SOUND LIKE A
REALLY BIG DEAL, BUT IT IS AND
HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. I
WILL ALSO BRING UP THAT WE AGAIN
MUST MAKE THIS A SAFE PIECE OF
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE SENIOR
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG THE PATH.
SINCE THE LAST MEETING OF OUR
COUNCIL LAST WEEK , SGOT HAS
ADDED TO THE WEBSITE THE WORK
THAT THEY HAVE COMPLETED WITH
THE RESIDENCE, AND SO IT SHOWS
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEIR
FRONT DOOR AND A FIVE FOOT
SIDEWALK, WHICH IS NOW 19 FEET
BETWEEN THE FRONT DOOR AND THE
TRAIL. SO THERE'S AN EIGHT FOOT
SIDEWALK AND AN 11 FOOT
DRIVEWAY, SO THE RESIDENTS
DON'T NEED ACROSS THE TRAIL TO
ENTER OR LEAVE THE CAR. AND
THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO DO,
BECAUSE I DO WANT TO SEE THIS AS
THE SAFEST PIECE OF
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SENIORS,
BICYCLES, AND EVERYONE ELSE. I
WILL MENTION THAT I DID LOOK
INTO USING BICYCLE FUNDING FOR
THIS PROJECT. THERE WERE THREE
PROJECT READINESS LINE ITEMS
WITHIN THE BICYCLE FUNDS. THERE
IS ONE WITHIN THE PAVING . THE
THREE WITHIN BICYCLES ADDED UP
TO $19 MILLION. THE PROJECT
READINESS IN THE PAVING SECTION
WAS 26. SO TO HAVE USED ALL THE
BICYCLE WOULD'VE ZEROED IT OUT
, AND STILL NOT MET THE FUNDING
NEEDS WHILE USING THIS LINE ITEM
AS A FUNDING SOURCE . WE RETAIN
THE FLEXIBILITY, BECAUSE ARE
STILL DOLLARS LEFT IN THAT
ACCOUNT. I'VE ALSO COMMITTED TO
EACH OF YOU LAST WEEK AT THE
LAST MEETING AND WITH THE CHAIR
SINCE THEN THAT WHEN READ COMES
BACK, I WILL BE SURE TO LOOK AT
THIS FUND. AND IF THE PAVING
MATCHES AND THE PROJECT
READINESS LINE ITEM IS LOW OR
HAS BEEN USED , I COMMIT THAT I
WILL DO THAT. AS DIRECTOR SPOTS
SAID LAST WEEK, HE WANTED TO
RETAIN THIS FUNDING IN THIS LINE
ITEM BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THEM TO
USE DOLLARS WITHOUT CHECKING IN
WITH THE COUNCIL. TWO THINGS
THAT ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT --
THE ABILITY TO MATCH GRANTS TO
DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE VALUE OF
SEATTLEITES TAX DOLLARS, AND
ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN THE LEVY.
SO THE DOLLARS ARE SPENT WITH
COUNCIL'S INPUT. MY INPUT IS
AND I WILL MONITOR THIS FUND AND
I WILL JUST SAY REALLY BRIEFLY
AGAIN, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
30 YEAR ARGUMENT TO REST WITH A
THREE GENERATION DECADE ARGUMENT
TO REST. THERE IS GREAT
CONSENSUS AND THERE'S BEEN A
LOT OF WORK TOWARDS THIS. I
REALLY HOPE TO EARN YOUR SUPPORT
TODAY. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS FOR MY
COLLEAGUES? OKAY.
>> CHAIR. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AS
STATED AT THE LAST MEETING THAT
WE HAD, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE
PROJECT IN CONCEPT. MY CONCERN
WAS WHERE THE FUNDING WAS FROM.
THOSE PIECES STILL HOLD FOR ME,
AND I WOULD LOOK TO WORK -- IF
THIS FAILS, I WOULD LOOK TO WORK
WITH COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IN
TERMS OF HOW TO ADDRESS IT GOING
FORWARD, AND WE WILL ALSO CHECK
IN WITH MR. CHOW AND OTHERS AND
ALSO ON THE BUDGET SIDE TO
ENSURE THAT IS POSSIBLE. BUT FOR
THE SAME REASONS I DID IN THE
COMMITTEE, THE SELECT COMMITTEE,
I WILL BE VOTING THE SAME.
>> THANK YOU. OKAY,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR NELSON, AND
THINK YOU COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
I WILL SAY THAT I SUPPORT THE
COMPLETION OF THE MISSING LINK.
HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK THAT WE
NEED TO HAVE AN EARMARK FOR
DOING SO. THERE IS STILL A LOT
OF WORK TO BE DONE ON THE DESIGN
AND IMPLEMENTATION PLANS ARE THE
CURRENT PROPOSALS TO FIX THE
MISSING LINK, INCLUDING, AS WE
HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS LAST
WEEK RELATED TO SAFETY FOR
RESIDENTS OF MOBILITY CHALLENGES
THAT LIVE ACROSS FROM THE LATEST
PROPOSED ROUTE. I AM GLAD TO
HEAR THAT SOME OF THIS HAS BEEN
ADDRESSED. SINCE LAST WEEK,
THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY ALREADY
WITHIN THE LEVY TO PAY FOR IT.
FOR INSTANCE, THE LEVY HAS 11
CATEGORIES . AS WE KNOW, ONE IS
ENTIRELY DEVOTED TO BIKE
INFRASTRUCTURE . AS WE KNOW,
ATTACHMENT A WAS NOT MEANT TO BE
AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF PROJECT
THAT WILL BE FUNDED IN THE LEVY.
LIKE I SAID, WE WILL WORK WITH
THE LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO
CREATE AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
ONCE THE LEVY IS PASSED. THE
MISSING LINK SHOULD BE ADDRESSED
IN THAT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND
LEVY FUNDING CAN BE IDENTIFIED
AND PROPOSED AT THAT TIME. AND
THOSE PROPOSALS WILL COME BEFORE
COUNCIL IS A PART OF THE BUDGET.
DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS EVERY
YEAR, AND WE WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE DECISIONS AS
WE GO, AS SOME OF THESE
SOLUTIONS ARE ADDRESSED . AND
THESE PROPOSALS ARE MADE. SO FOR
THIS MEANS AND, LIKE LAST WEEK,
I'M NOT GOING TO BE VOTING ON
THIS AMENDMENT TODAY. I
APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. AND LIKE
I SAID, I DO SUPPORT THE MISSING
LINK, I THINK THERE'S ALREADY
OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE LEVY TO
FUND THIS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
LET'S SEE WHO WAS NEXT. AS A
MEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR.
SO I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
AFTER THE LAST VOTE, AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FURTHER
WITH COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. I
HAD A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS
RELATING BOTH TO FEASIBILITY OF
THE CONCERNS THAT WE HEARD FROM
THE ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCE .
BUT THOSE APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN
ADDRESSED. I ADDITIONALLY HAD
SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUNDING
AND ALSO THE LITIGATION. AND
THOSE HAVE ALL BEEN ADDRESSED TO
MY SATISFACTION. IT'S NOT
PERFECT, AND I WOULD PREFER FOR
A DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCE. BUT
I THINK IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
FINALLY RESOLVE SOMETHING THAT
IS BEEN A THORN IN THE SIDE OF
OUR CITY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF
TIME. AND SO I WILL BE CHANGING
MY VOTE TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SEEING NO OTHER
HANDS UP, I WILL JUST NOTE THAT
I AM GOING TO BE VOTING AGAINST
THIS AMENDMENT TODAY FOR THE
SAME REASON THAT I DID LAST
WEEK, AND THAT IS JUST ITS
FUNDING SOURCE. I DON'T WANT TO
SPEND ALMOST ALL -- WELL, $26
MILLION OF A FUNDING SOURCE THAT
IS USED TO LEVERAGE MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS FOR OTHER PROJECTS ALL
OVER THE CITY. AND IT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE FUNDING
SOURCE DOESN'T NEED TO BE SET
IN STONE RIGHT NOW. EVERY YEAR
DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS,
COUNCIL HAS TO APPROVE LEVY
SPENDING, AND I HAVE TALKED TO
-- AND I APPRECIATE THE SPONSORS
LOOKING INTO DIFFERENT FUNDING
SOURCES. AND I HAVE VOICED THAT
I THINK THAT THERE ARE MORE
DIRECTLY -- THERE ARE OTHER
FUNDING SOURCES WITHIN THE LEVY
SUCH AS THE BIKE PROGRAM OR THE
BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE
ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT LINE ITEMS
IN THERE THAT WOULD BE MORE
APPROPRIATE AS SOURCES THAN THIS
PARTICULAR FUND. AGAIN, WE CAN
CHANGE THE FUNDING SOURCE GOING
FORWARD, I AM JUST GOING TO BE
VOTING AGAINST THIS, NOT BECAUSE
I DON'T APPRECIATE THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROJECT, BUT
BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT
PROJECTS THAT COULD COME UP IN
THE VERY NEAR TERM THAT COULD
BENEFIT FROM THESE MATCHES THAT
WE WILL BE JEOPARDIZING BY
MOVING THIS MONEY FOR THIS
PURPOSE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
UNDERSTANDING. ALL RIGHT. SEEING
NO OTHER COMMENTS, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
AMENDMENT ONE. AMENDMENT A.
EXCUSE ME. OR UNLESS YOU WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE -- SORRY. WOULD YOU
LIKE THE LAST WORD?
>> I THINK I'VE ALREADY SET A
LOT ON THIS. I JUST APPRECIATE
EVERYONE'S OPENNESS AND
CONSIDERATION REGARDING THIS ,
PUTTING THIS THIRTY-YEAR PROGRAM
TO REST, AND WAS WILL NEED TO DO
MORE BEFORE THE RESIDENCE. AND I
HAVE SOME IDEAS OF HOW WE DO
THAT. SO MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
AMENDMENT A?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] . SIX
IN FAVOR, THREE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES, AND
AMENDMENT A IS ADOPTED. ARE
THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON
THE BILL AS AMENDED?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IS THIS
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE WHOLE
PACKAGE?
>> I DO BELIEVE IT IS.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO HOP THE
MIC FOR SECOND AND SAFE THANK
YOU . ALSO, CONGRATULATIONS TO
CHAIR SAKA . I AM INCREDIBLY
IMPRESSED WITH THE WORK THAT
YOU'VE DONE . IN YOUR FIRST SIX
MONTHS IN OFFICE, YOU LET AN
INCREDIBLY INCLUSIVE PROCESS
THAT IS GOING TO RESULT IN
GENERATIONAL CHANGE. WHAT I HAVE
DONE IN THE LAST WEEK IS
REFLECTED ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE
DONE IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, THE
LAST 15 YEARS. IT HAS JUST BEEN
INCREDIBLE, AND IT FELT LIKE OUR
TEENAGE YEARS. WHEN THE BODY IS
GROWING SO QUICKLY, YOU DON'T
KNOW HOW LONG YOUR LIMBS ARE, WE
HAVEN'T COMPLETELY FILLED IN.
AND HERE WE ARE TRANSITIONING TO
OUR 20s, WHERE WE ARE, YOU KNOW,
A LARGER CITY. THE 18th LARGEST
CITY IN THE NATION. AND WE HAVE
A LOT OF THINGS, AND WE DON'T
HAVE SIDEWALKS IN OUR CITY. WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE AS WE ARE
GROWING THAT WE ARE STILL ABLE
TO GET THE FREIGHT AND THE GOODS
TO EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD SO THAT WE
CAN HAVE 15 MINUTES, SO THAT WE
CAN HAVE OUR BUSES RUNNING ON
TIME AND RELIABLY. I'M NOT
GOING TO GO INTO MUCH MORE OTHER
THAN TO SAY YOU AND I OVER THE
LAST WEEKEND, CHATTING, I JUST
REALLY APPRECIATE HOW YOU COME
TO THIS PROCESS AND GIVEN ME
CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK, AND I'VE
JUST BEEN SO IMPRESSED WITH YOUR
WORK, AND WITH ALL OF THE
STAKEHOLDERS OUT THERE FOR
GETTING THIS SET UP FOR SGOT'S
TEAM . LOOK AT YOU GUYS, MEGAN
SHEPPARD. WITH THAT, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF YOU WORK.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU. LET'S SEE. WELL,
I WILL ALSO BEGIN BY THANKING
THE CHAIR, SAKA , FOR CHAIRING
US THROUGH THIS PROCESS. THIS IS
REALLY IMPORTANT WORK, AND IT'S
A REFLECTION OF THE COUNCIL
SHARED SAFETY PRIORITIES FOR ALL
MODES OF TRANSIT IN THE VIDEO. I
WILL ADMIT I AM DISAPPOINTED
THAT A LARGER LIVING PACKAGE
DIDN'T PASS, BUT I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
REFLECT ON SOME OF THE
HIGHLIGHTS, AND SOME OF THE REAL
WINS IN THIS PACKAGE. SO WE
REINSTATED THE NEIGHBORHOOD
INITIATIVE SAFETY PARTNERSHIP
PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM PUTS POWER
BACK IN THE PEOPLE'S HANDS FOR
HOW THEY WANT TO SEE THEIR TAX
MONEY BEING SPENT, AND I'M
PROUD OF THE AMENDMENT THAT I
PASSED TO ALMOST FULLY FUND THE
PROGRAM. WE HAVE NEW SIDEWALKS
AND SIDEWALK ALTERNATIVES, AND I
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE FOR YOUR AMENDMENT TO
PRIORITIZE DISTRICT TWO NEW
SIDEWALKS. 17% OF NEW SIDEWALKS
IN THIS THAT HE WILL BE FOCUSED
IN DISTRICT 2. WE ADDED LANGUAGE
TO ENSURE CONFERENCE OF BICYCLE
CONNECTIONS THROUGHOUT DISTRICT
2, AND ADDED LANGUAGE TO ENSURE
COORDINATION THE REGIONAL
TRANSIT PARTNERS. WE ADDED
LANGUAGE TO SUPPORT
COMMUNITY-BASED PLANNING AND
IMPROVEMENTS AROUND THE FUTURE
GRAND LIGHT RAIL STATION IN THE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
LIGHT RAIL NATIONS, AND WE ADDED
RAINIER AVENUE IS A PRIORITY
PROJECT FOR VISION EURO. I
REALLY WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ADVOCATE
WHO HAVE BEEN CALLING AND
EMAILING AND SHOWING UP HERE IN
CHAMBERS OVER THE LAST TWO
MONTHS. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE
PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT ABOUT
WHAT IS AND TO YOU , AND I THINK
THIS PACKAGE REALLY REFLECTS
THOSE PRIORITIES, SO I WANT TO
THANK EVERYBODY WHO HAS
ATTENDED, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING THIS BILL AND SENDING
THE LEVY TO THE VOTERS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
LIKE OTHERS, I WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU FOR CHAIR SAKA FOR YOUR WORK
ON THIS. BUT ALSO TO THE VERY
CIRCLES OF SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE
FOR YOUR MEDIA TEAM, FOR THE
ESSENTIAL STAFF TEAM, BUT THEN
ALSO, THOSE OF YOU WHO SPOKE IN
PUBLIC COMMENT, MANY
ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
CAME TO MY OFFICE AND MET WITH
THEM, TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES
AND THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY
WERE FACING. AND SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT INPUT,
BECAUSE ALL OF THAT INPUT IS
NEEDED TO MAKE WHAT WE HAVE
TODAY, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT
WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND AHEAD OF
NOVEMBER. SO THANK YOU TO
EVERYONE INVOLVED. ALSO, THANK
YOU FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, FOR THE
FOCUS ON TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIAN
SAFETY. PROVISION ZERO, BUT NOT
JUST VISION ZERO. THIS WILL SHOW
UP IN OTHER PROGRAMS. WITH THE
COMMUNITIES. THAT'S IMPORTANT,
AND WILL BE FOREVER KNOWN AS THE
SIDEWALKS LEVY. IN QUEUE,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. THAT IS
IMPORTANT, BECAUSE THAT IS
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, AND THAT IS
IMPORTANT , PARTICULARLY FOR
THOSE IN THE DISABLED COMMUNITY.
IMPROVING ROADS FOR OUR CITY, WE
SHOULD NOT FORGET THAT THE KING
OF POTHOLES IS DELIVERING ON
THIS FRONT, AND THIS IS
IMPORTANT IN MANY WAYS. YOU
KNOW, PEOPLE CAN SAY, WE
SHOULDN'T BE FOCUSING ON ROADS,
BUT WE NEED TO. THIS IS WHERE
OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RIDES
OUT. MANY OF US KNOW THE
PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM,
AND THIS GOES A LONG WAY. I DO
LIKE THE FOCUS ON FREIGHT AND
LOGISTICAL NEEDS. THIS SHOWS OUR
COMMITMENT AS A CITY TO OUR
PORT, TO BEING A PORT CITY. AND
THIS IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IN
THE LONG RUN, THIS IS WHAT
ENSURES THAT WE HAVE THE
ECONOMIC DIVERSITY, AND THAT WE
CAN PRESS FORWARD AND ADAPT AS
WE MOVE FORWARD TO THE DECADES.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FOCUS
ON THE FREIGHT AND LOGISTICAL
REQUIREMENTS. AND TWO LAST
POINTS, FIRST, BRIDGES. AGAIN,
WE ARE A CITY ABRIDGES . AND
THESE ENSURE THAT OUR CITY IS
LINKED TOGETHER. IF WE DIDN'T
HAVE THESE BRIDGES, WE WOULD
FALL APART INTO OUR VARIOUS
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE
MINDFUL, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF
OUR PREPAREDNESS CONSIDERATIONS.
WHEN BIG EARTH WEEK COMES, WE
WANT TO HAVE THAT WORKED ON ON
OUR BRIDGES, WHAT'S HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW ON THE QUEEN ANNE. AND
LASTLY, IT'S ALL ABOUT GOOD
GOVERNANCE, SO I APPRECIATE THE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
STRENGTHENING IN PIECES. AND
I'M SURE SGOT IS GOING TO LEARN
TO LOVE IT, AND I CAN SEE THE
DIRECTOR SMILING RIGHT NOW.
HE'S GIVING ME THE THUMBS UP,
SO WE ARE ALL GOOD ON THE
GOVERNANCE FOR THIS LEVY. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> I WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUE
STATEMENTS AND ALSO THINK
COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA FOR YOUR
COLLABORATION AND YOUR
LEADERSHIP. I'M REALLY EXCITED
AS TO WHERE IT HAS LANDED. AND
I'M ALSO EXCITED THAT THERE ARE
-- THERE IS A BUCKET FOR AVERAGE
ENGAGEMENT, ESPECIALLY WITH A
LOT OF CONCERNS EXPRESSED FROM
THOSE ON FIXED INCOME, PEOPLE
WHO MADE LESS THAN 80% AMI, THAT
AVERAGE ENGAGEMENT WILL BE DONE
TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEIR TAX
INVESTMENTS TO THE ASSESSORS
OFFICE TO HELP MITIGATE ANY
CONCERNS REGARDING COST TO
INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE CONCERNED
ABOUT THAT. BUT OTHER THAN THAT,
I WANT TO THANK YOU, AND I'M
EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS
BEFORE VOTERS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANTED TO ECHO MY
COLLEAGUE'S GRATITUDE TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR HIS
COLLABORATION. THIS TRULY IS A
COMPROMISE PACKAGE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA WORKED WITH
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE INTERESTS OF OUR
PARTICULAR DISTRICTS WERE
REPRESENTED IN THE PACKAGE. IT
WAS NOT AN EASY TASK . FOR
MYSELF, I KNOW IN MY DISTRICT,
THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS AND
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND ALSO EVEN
SIDEWALKS. THERE ARE AREAS OF
THE D4 THE NEED SIDEWALKS AS
WELL, AND COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
WORKED DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE
THAT ALL OUR INTERESTS WERE
REPRESENTED. IT IS A COMPROMISE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EVERYTHING
EVERYBODY WANTED, I KNEW IT WAS
IMPORTANT TO HIM. HE
COMMUNICATED THAT TO US. AND
LIKE I SAID, HE WORKED VERY
DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE ALL OF
OUR INTERESTS WERE REPRESENTED.
IN THE PROCESS ITSELF, IT'S A
BIG LEVY. I KNOW WE ARE ASKING A
LOT OF VOTERS, SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO CAME TO
COUNCIL TO GIVE THEIR INPUT AS
WELL, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT FOR US
UP HERE. THIS IS FOR ALL OF OUR
CONSTITUENCY ACROSS THE CITY,
AND I APPRECIATE THE ENGAGEMENT
AND HEARING FROM FOLKS,
PARTICULARLY IN MY DISTRICT.
FROM ALL ACROSS THE CITY. AND
SO, YOU KNOW, I LOOK FORWARD TO
THIS PASSING IN THE FALL, AND
AGAIN, JUST REALLY THINK ALL OF
MY COLLEAGUES UP HERE FOR THE
SIDEBAR CONVERSATIONS ON SOME OF
THESE THINGS THAT GOT INCLUDED
IN THE PACKAGE , AND IT REALLY
IS A REFLECTION OF HOW WE CAN
ALL COME TOGETHER . AND LIKE I
ALWAYS SAY, AGREE TO DISAGREE ON
SOME THINGS, BUT REALLY PUT
TOGETHER A PACKAGE THAT WE CAN
ALL -- WE WILL ALL VOTE ON AND
STAND BEHIND, THAT WE ALL HAD A
HAND IN FROM AFFECTING, AND THAT
WE ALL WORKED REALLY HARD
TOGETHER TO MAKE HAPPEN. AND I
AM VERY PROUD OF THAT. SO THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT. THANK
YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON. AND DEFINITELY WANT TO
THANK CHAIR SAKA FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP IN THIS. I DON'T SEE
ANYBODY FROM CENTRAL STAFF HERE,
BUT THANK YOU CENTRAL STAFF. YOU
ARE PROBABLY WATCHING THE FIVE
PEOPLE ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL
RIGHT NOW. SO THANK YOU FOR
THAT, AND MY MOTHER. AND I ALSO
WOULD LIKE TO THANK SGOT, WITH
YOUR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND
SOME WORK AND COLLABORATION
DURING THIS PROCESS. I THINK THE
NEXT EIGHT YEARS ARE INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY, AND WHAT
WE ARE GOING TO BE SETTING TO
THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER, AND WHAT
WE ARE ASKING THEM TO DO, AND WE
ARE DELIVERING A FIRST-CLASS
CITY THAT SHOULD HAVE
FIRST-CLASS SERVICES, SHOULD
HAVE FIRST-CLASS ROADS,
FIRST-CLASS SIDEWALKS,
FIRST-CLASS TRANSIT. ALL THESE
DIFFERENT THINGS IN OUR CITY
THAT PEOPLE COME AND VISIT AND
ARE SO PROUD OF, WE SHOULD HAVE
FIRST-CLASS OF THAT. AND I KNOW
THAT WE WILL DELIVER. WE TALK
ABOUT THE BASICS, THE
FUNDAMENTALS IN OUR DISTRICT.
YOU KNOW, MAINTENANCE, VISION
ZERO, SIDEWALK REPAIRS, THAT ARE
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. SAFE
ROUTES TO SCHOOLS. ALSO
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. I SEE THE
IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
MADE, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I
TALK TO, A LOT OF THEM JUST WANT
BASIC THINGS THAT ARE REPAIRED
FROM POTHOLES TO THE SIDEWALK
BEING REPAIRED TO THE ROADS, THE
MAINTENANCE, LIGHT SIGNALS. JUST
BASIC STUFF. JUST FOR THEM TO
MOVE A LOT BETTER IN OUR CITY.
JUST THE CLEANLINESS. I'VE HAD
PEOPLE CONTACT OUR OFFICE THAT
THEY WERE SO EXCITED THAT THEIR
STREETS GOT SLEPT. AND HOW JUST
THOSE LITTLE THINGS MAKE, YOU
KNOW, OUR CITY BETTER IN THE
CLEANLINESS OF IT AND
EVERYTHING. SO JUST WANT TO
THANK EVERYONE. I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO VOTING ON THIS LEVY,
AND THE OTHER THING THAT I KNOW
THAT SGOT REALLY CARES ABOUT IS
THAT, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORHOODS,
WE TALK ABOUT IT, AND
PARTICULARLY FOR IN DESIGN, WE
SAY THE WORD CORE DOORS. BUT
TALKING TO AS START, THEY KNOW
THAT THOSE ARE NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT'S NOT JUST A LINE THE
GROCERY COMMUNITY. WE CAN TALK
ABOUT THEM IN DESIGN ELEMENTS AS
CORRIDORS, BUT THEY ARE MORE
THAN THAT. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE
GOING TO BE SOME, YOU KNOW, NEW
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS GOING
AROUND, AND I KNOW THAT AS START
REALLY HAS THE INTEREST OF OUR
COMMUNITIES AND WANTS TO TAKE
WHAT WE'VE LEARNED ON THE G
LINE AND IMPLEMENT THAT IN THE J
LINE. AND ALSO ENSURE THAT WE
ARE NOT JUST CHECKING BOXES AND
THAT WE ARE REALLY -- WE ARE
REALLY LISTENING TO THE
COMMUNITIES AND MAKING SURE THAT
NEIGHBORHOODS CAN STAY IN PLACE,
AND CONTINUE TO THRIVE. SO THANK
YOU.
>> I WILL LET YOU HAVE THE LAST
WORD AND SIMPLY SAY FOR MY PART,
I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO THE
CONTENT OF -- AND VOTED ON THE
CONTENT OF THIS LEVY WHEN WE
VOTED ON AMENDMENT ONE, SO
TODAY, I WILL JUST BE SIMPLY
VOTING TO SEND THIS TO THE
VOTERS, AND PERHAPS MAYBE THE
POTHOLE KING MIGHT BE PUT OUT OF
A JOB. BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TO GET
SOME MORE MONEY, BECAUSE THIS
WILL BE ALLOCATING SOME MONEY
FOR MAINTENANCE, AND KEEPING OUR
STREETS IN BETTER CONDITION
GOING FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THANK YOU ALL FOR
YOUR VERY KIND WORDS. AND OF
APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE
DIRECTED TOWARDS ME. AGAIN, I
WILL PASS THROUGH ALL OF THAT,
AND SHARE THAT, PRAISE AND SENSE
OF GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION
DIRECTLY WITH MY STAFF. OUR
CENTRAL STAFF EXPERTS, INCLUDING
YOLANDA. THERE'S A LOT OF
PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES THAT,
YOU KNOW, HAVE WORKED WITH EVERY
LAST ONE OF US IN OUR RESPECTIVE
OFFICES, WORKED WITH DIRECTLY OR
IN SOME CASES, INDIRECTLY. WE
MAY NOT EVEN KNOW THEY HAD A
HAND IN THIS. WERE OVER HERE
LOOKING LIKE A COLLAR ALL OUT.
IT'S WEIRD TO LOOK AT IT. BUT
IN ANY EVENT, A LOT OF PEOPLE
INVOLVED. SO I WANT TO SAY, YOU
KNOW, KUDOS AND PRAISE TO OUR
STAFF, ALL OF OUR STAFF. YOU
KNOW, WE ALL DID THE WORK, NO
DOUBT. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT
COLLEAGUES , A $1.55 BILLION
LEVY PACKAGE PROPOSAL WOULD BE
THE BALANCED COMPROMISE THING
THAT WE LANDED ON. BUT HERE WE
ARE. YOU KNOW, YOU THINK THIS IS
THE CONSENSUS, COLLABORATIVE
COMPROMISE. FINAL PACKAGE. AND
I'M PROUD TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON
IT IN FAVOR OF IT TODAY. AND
AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
TREMENDOUS PARTNERSHIP, EVERY
LAST ONE OF YOU ALL. WE WERE
ABLE TO HOLD AND STAY TRUE TO
OUR DEEPLY HELD VALUES AND
PRINCIPLES. IN SOME CASES,
GIVING CERTAIN UNDERLYING
CONCERNS ADDRESSED IN OTHER
AREAS. BUT STILL, HOLD TIGHT TO
OUR UNDERLYING VALUES AND
PRINCIPLES AND NOT -- NOT
GETTING EVERYTHING THAT WE
WANTED . BUT I THINK WE CAN ALL
BE SATISFIED WITH WHERE WE
LANDED. AND AT THE END OF THE
DAY, THE VOTERS ARE GOING TO
DECIDE. WE ARE PUTTING FORTH A
PIECE OF LEGISLATION THE VOTERS
ARE GOING TO HAVE THE FINAL SAY
ON. I AM CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL BE
EXCITED ABOUT, AND -- BUT VOTERS
ARE GOING TO HAVE THE FINAL SAY.
AND WE -- I MENTIONED I HEARD A
COUPLE OF NODS TO POTHOLE KING,
OR PRINCE, OR BARON, OR ROYALTY,
WHATEVER IT IS. THAT IS ALL OF
US. WE ARE ALL POTHOLE ROYALTY.
AND I THINK THIS MAKES THAT
CLEAR. AND WE SHOULD ALL BE
PROUD OF , YOU KNOW, THIS WORK
TODAY. AND IT'S THE FIRST TIME
-- THE FINAL THING I WILL SAY
IS, WHAT MADE THIS SO
CHALLENGING, I THINK FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE IS THE SIZE , THE
SCOPE, THE SCALE, THE
COMPLEXITY, THE TECHNICAL
COMPLEXITY -- INCLUDING THE
TECHNICAL COMPLEXITY OF
SOMETHING LIKE THIS. IT IS VERY
RARE THAT A BRAND-NEW YEAR ONE
COUNCILMEMBER, NEWLY ELECTED --
HERE WE GO. OVERSEE THIS THING.
BUT THE BIGGEST LAYER OF
COMPLEXITY, I THINK FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, WAS, THIS IS THE
FIRST TIME EVER -- ALL THAT WAS
GOING TO BE THE CASE REGARDLESS,
BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME EVER
THAT WE HAD TO DO ALL OF THAT,
IN A DISTRICT BASED SYSTEM,
WHICH I WILL EMPHASIZE THAT,
THAT DID. WE SAW SOME OF THAT
PLAY OUT. YOU KNOW, PUBLICLY
HERE. BUT THAT DID ADD A WHOLE
NEW LAYER. HERE WE ARE IN A GOOD
POSITION TO PUT AN EXCITING
PACKAGE BEFORE VOTERS. YOU KNOW,
PLEASING 100% OF THE PEOPLE ALL
THE TIME WAS NEVER A GOAL OR
OUTCOME. OR INTENDED OUTCOME.
THAT'S A FOOLS ERRAND. BUT WE
PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING EXCITING
ENOUGH THAT , WE TEE IT UP FOR
VOTERS. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP. YOUR COLLABORATION
. I DO THINK WE, AS I MENTIONED
YESTERDAY A COUNCIL BRIEFING, I
DO THINK WE CREATED A GOOD
PLAYBOOK TO REPLICATE ON A GOING
FORWARD BASIS, WHETHER IT'S FOR
BUDGET, OR ANY NUMBER OF OTHER
COMPLEX TECHNICAL PIECES OF
LEGISLATION THAT WE CONSIDER.
BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL. I WILL
SHUT UP, MADAME COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF COUNCIL BILL 127088
AS AMENDED.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AS AMENDED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF. AND WILL YOU PLEASE
READ THE TITLE OF ITEM 2 INTO
THE RECORD.
>> RESOLUTION 32137, RELATED TO
TRANSPORTATION AN ORDINANCE
REQUESTING THE 2024
TRANSPORTATION FOR CITYWIDE
MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT AND
PROVIDING FOR THE DIRECTION
REGARDING REPORTING AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMS
TO BE FUNDED BY THE LEVY. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE ITEM.
AMENDED IS --
>> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO PROVIDE
THE COMMITTEE REPORT ON THIS.
>> PARDON ME, JUST GATHERING
MYSELF. OKAY. SO WE PASSED THE
UNDERLYING LEVY LEGISLATION JUST
NOW. AND THAT IS THE BASIS THAT
IS GOING TO GO DIRECTLY BEFORE
VOTERS. IN NOVEMBER. WHAT WE ARE
CONSIDERING NOW IS THE COMPANION
RESOLUTION. SO COLLEAGUES, THIS
-- OUR SELECT COMMITTEE
PRESENTED THIS COMPANION
RESOLUTION FOR FULL COUNCIL
ADOPTION. WE ADOPTED IT
UNANIMOUSLY LAST WEEK. THE
COMPANION RESOLUTION IS AN
ESSENTIAL PART OF THE BROADER
LEVY PACKAGE, AND AGAIN, I WANT
TO THANK EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE
OF YOU ALL FOR YOUR STRONG
INPUT, ENGAGEMENT, AND
THOUGHTFUL AMENDMENTS TO MAKE IT
EVEN BETTER. SOME OF WHICH WE
SEE PUBLICLY, AND SOME OF WHICH
WE JUST SHOEHORN IT INTO THE
MAIN PACKAGE, AND WAS LESS
VISIBLE TO MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC. AUTHOR, THAT KIND OF
THING. WE HAVE THIS FINAL AS
AMENDED COMPANION RESOLUTION.
AGAIN, IT INCLUDES SOME OF THOSE
STRONG ACCOUNTABILITY OVERSIGHT
AND CONTROL MECHANISMS TO ENSURE
THAT THE LEVY, IF APPROVED BY
VOTERS, OUR CITY IS ABLE TO
SUCCESSFULLY DELIVER ON THOSE
PROMISES, AND WE ARE HELD TO THE
HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARDS OF
TRANSPARENCY , EXCELLENCE, AND
ACCOUNTABILITY . AND
IMPORTANTLY, REPORTING TO THE
PUBLIC. AND OUR TAXPAYERS. I DO
WANT TO THINK AS D.O.T. FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP THROUGHOUT THIS
PROCESS AS WELL. I SEE A FEW
MEMBERS LINGERING HERE. I ALSO
WANT TO THINK THE MAYOR AND THE
EXECUTIVE SIDE FOR THOUGHTFUL
COLLABORATION. I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT AS WE DID LAST WEEK IN
SELECT COMMITTEE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS? OKAY. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL OF THE
ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF.
MOVING ON TO A DIFFERENT TOPIC,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE -- THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM THREE TO
THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM THREE, COUNCIL
BILL 120761 RELATED TO
CONVERSIONS OF TESTING
NONRESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES TO
RESIDENTIAL USE, ADDING A NEW
SECTION 23.4 0.080 TO THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO PROVIDE THE
COMMITTEE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, I WILL WALK YOU
QUICKLY TO THE LEGISLATION AND
THROUGH SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS.
WE HAD FIVE AMENDMENTS IN
COMMITTEE. AS I SAID BEFORE,
BRINGING MORE HOUSING DOWNTOWN
IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS THAT WE
CAN REINVIGORATE OUR DOWNTOWN
CORE. THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S PART
OF THE MAYOR'S DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN. IT WOULD AMEND
THE LAND USE CODE TO ALLOW THE
CONVERSION TO A RESIDENTIAL USE
IN COMMERCIAL DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
MIXED HIGH-RISE OR MIDRISE ZONE
UNDER SPECIFIC CONDITIONS. THE
INTENT IS TO STREAMLINE THE
CONVERSION PROCESS. WE KNOW THAT
NOT ALL OFFICE BUILDINGS ARE
NECESSARILY ADAPTABLE TO
RESIDENTIAL USE DUE TO THEIR
LAYOUT . AND ANY CONVERSION
WOULD NEED TO ADD PLUMBING AND
OTHER AMENITIES PER BEDROOM ,
PER UNIT, WHICH OF COURSE CAN BE
COSTLY. SO WITHOUT INCENTIVES,
THESE CONVERSIONS WOULDN'T BE
POSSIBLE. BECAUSE THEY ARE
UNIQUELY EXPENSIVE TYPES OF
PRODUCTS TO BUILD. SO THE BILL
BEFORE YOU INCLUDES RECITALS
THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE DEVELOPERS
TO CONSIDER BUILDING CONVERTED
PROJECTS THAT MEET UNIVERSAL
DESIGN STANDARDS , AND THE
REASON FOR THIS IS REALLY TO
ENCOURAGE PER CONSIDER APPLYING
THE A.D.A. CONSIDERATIONS. WE
KNOW WHEN WE'VE HEARD
ESPECIALLY THROUGHOUT THE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY DISCUSSION
THAT PEOPLE HAVE MOBILITY NEEDS
AND ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS, AND
THAT INCLUDES HOUSING. I WANTED
AND COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR
BRINGING AMENDMENTS TO ALLOW
SOME OF THESE PROJECTS AND ALLOW
THE DEPARTMENT TO REPORT TO
COUNCIL ON THE NUMBER OF
PROJECTS THAT ARE CONVERTED. WE
KNOW THAT MHA IS ONE WAY THAT
THE CITY IS ABLE TO FUND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THESE
AMENDMENTS WOULD REMOVE MHA
EXEMPTION FROM HIGH-RISE AND
MIDRISE ZONES. AND ALLOW COUNCIL
TO REVIEW THE USE OF MHA ON
THESE PROJECTS AND DECIDE
WHETHER EXEMPTIONS SHOULD BE
EXPANDED OR LIFTED IN THE
FUTURE. THE LEGISLATION ALLOWS
APPLICANTS FOR CONVERSION
PROJECTS TO APPLY FOR BUILDING
PERMIT BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE
OF THIS LEGISLATION. AND THE
REASON FOR THAT IS TO SAVE
REVIEW TIME AND HELP PERMIT THE
PROJECTS FASTER. AND IT PROVIDES
EXEMPTIONS FROM SOME DESIGN
REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS, AND AN EXISTING
STRUCTURE THAT IS ALREADY
PERMITTED IS ASKED CONVERTED TO
HOUSING FROM ANOTHER USE. IT
RESTORES THE APPLICABILITY OF
REGULATIONS FOR THE SHORELINE
MASTER PROGRAM. THIS WAS A
TECHNICAL AMENDMENT THAT WAS
INADVERTENTLY LEFT OUT, AND THE
AMENDMENT IS NEEDED IN ORDER FOR
THE PROPOSAL TO CONTINUE TO
COMPLY. AND LASTLY, THE SUMMARY
AND FISCAL NOTE HAVE BEEN
UPDATED RECENTLY TO REFLECT THE
AMENDED LANGUAGE, AND WILL BE
POSTED TO THE RECORD JUST FOR
EVERYONE'S INFORMATION. WHAT IS
THERE RIGHT NOW DOES NOT REFLECT
THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE MADE IN
COMMITTEE LAST WEEK. I DO WANT
TO THANK OUR COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF. THE DIRECTOR FROM -- THEY
HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH
THE MAYORS OFFICE TO GET THIS
WORK DONE, AND THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDED UNANIMOUSLY THAT THE
BILL PASSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
REPORT. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
FOR MY COLLEAGUES? COUNCILMEMBER
WOO.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR
MORALES, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
THIS. I HAVE RENOVATED AND DONE
A SIMILAR CONVERSION FROM A 1909
HOTEL INTO WORKFORCE HOUSING,
AND I KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS.
IT'S ABOUT THREE TIMES MORE
THAN BUILDING NEW. AND I'M
EXCITED TO SEE THIS GO THROUGH.
AND THE MAYOR'S FOCUS ON THIS,
AS I BELIEVE IT WILL HELP
REACTIVATE DOWNTOWN . THIS WILL
HELP WITH THAT AND THIS WILL
ALSO HELP DEVELOPERS BE ABLE TO
CONVERT THEIR BUILDINGS. RIGHT
NOW, THEY ARE SITTING EMPTY, AND
WE COULD FILL THESE BUILDINGS
WITH PEOPLE. SO I AM EXCITED
ABOUT THIS, AND I HOPE THAT YOU
ARE AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK CHAIR
MORALES FOR THE AMENDMENTS THAT
SHE PROPOSED. I THINK
PARTICULARLY THE UNIVERSAL
DESIGN AMENDMENT WAS REALLY
ENHANCED. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT OF MY AMENDMENTS. THANK
YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, UNLESS
THAT IS -- OKAY. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] NINE IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> EXCELLENT. THE BILL PASSES
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF. WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE
END OF OUR AGENDA. THERE WERE NO
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR, AND THERE IS NOT A
RESOLUTION FOR INTRODUCTION AND
ADOPTION TODAY. IS THERE ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COUNCIL?
>> YES. I ASKED TO BE EXCUSED ON
COUNCIL MEETING JULY 27th. I
WILL BE ATTENDING THE COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY
RETREAT.
>> RIGHT. I MIGHT BE GETTING
BACK TO FOLKS. IS THERE ANY
OBJECTION?
>> OR THE 23rd. I BEG YOUR
PARDON. THE 23rd. I HOPE THAT
CLEARS UP THE CONFUSION.
>> OKAY, JULY 23rd. IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION, THE COUNCILMEMBER
WILL BE EXCUSED ON JULY 23rd.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU. I'M ALSO ASKING
TO BE EXCUSED FOR JULY 22nd AND
23rd.
>> ALL RIGHT. I DON'T SEE ANY
OBJECTION TO COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES BEING EXCUSED FROM THOSE
DATES EITHER. SO MOVING ON --
COUNCIL STRAUSS.
>> IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION,
EDIT ONE POINT REQUESTED TO BE
EXCUSED TODAY, RSON. SO I
BELIEVE THAT I HAVE TO BE
UNEXCUSED. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT
THAT EXCUSE WAS RESCINDED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE HERE?
SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS
MEETING ON JULY 9th IS ADJOURNED
AT 3:07. THANKS, EVERYONE.