♪
>> HEY, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
YOU ARE FINE. GOOD AFTERNOON,
WE WILL CALL TO ORDER, IT IS
JULY 24, 2024, MEETING OF
PARKS, PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND
TECHNOLOGY , MY FAVORITE
COMMITTEE, WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS TO: 02. I'M JOY
HOLLINGSWORTH, THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. CLERK, WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL ROLE? [ ROLL BEING
CALLED ]
>> THREE COUNCILMEMBERS ARE
PRESENT.
>> AND I AM HERE. WE HAVE FOUR
AGENDA ITEMS TODAY. FIRST WILL
BE A DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON
RESOLUTION 32140 WHICH WILL
ALLOW PARKS AND RECREATION TO
APPLY FOR GRANTS ON BEHALF OF
THE CITY OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON AND CONSERVATION
OFFICE. FOLLOWING WE WILL HAVE
A DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON
COUNSEL BILL 120810 WHICH WILL
AUTHORIZE SPU TO AUTHORIZE --
CONSENT DECREE 2037 AND LAST
BUT NOT LEAST, ITEMS THREE AND
FOUR, WE WILL HAVE ONE OF OUR
FIRST TWO BRIEFINGS OF THE
DRAINAGE AND WASTEWATER
ADJUSTMENTS FROM SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES WHICH ARE COUNSEL
BILLS 120819 AND 120820
RESPECTIVELY. IF THERE ARE NO
OBJECTIONS TO THE AGENDA, IT
WILL BE ADOPTED. CAN'T SPEAK
TODAY. SEEING NO OBJECTIONS,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WITH
THAT, WE WILL MOVE INTO PUBLIC
COMMENT. PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD
BE RELATED TO AN ITEM ON THE
AGENDA TODAY AND WRITTEN WITHIN
THE PURVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE.
CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE
HAVE SIGNED UP?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE ONE IN
PERSON SPEAKER SIGNED UP AND
THERE ARE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> AWESOME, MR. ZIMMERMAN YOU
GET TWO MINUTES TODAY. COULD
YOU PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL
BE MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER.: SPEAKERS BASED ON THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE
REGISTERED FROM THE WEBSITE OR
THE SIGN-UP SHEET IN COUNCIL
CHAMBERS. WE WILL START WITH
THE IN PERSON SPEAKER. IF YOU
HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO SPEAK,
YOU CAN DO SO BEFORE THE END OF
THE PUBLIC COMMENT AREA. THE
ONLINE LINK IS LISTED ON
TODAY'S AGENDA. WHEN SPEAKING
BEGIN BY STATING HER NAME AND
THE ITEM YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
10 SECONDS ON LEFT OF THE
ELIDED TIME. IF SPEAKERS DO NOT
END THEIR COMMENTS AT THE END
OF THE ALLOTTED TIME, THE
SPEAKERS MIKE WILL BE MUTED.
PUBLIC COMMENT HAS NOW STARTED
AND WE BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
PERSON ON THE LIST, ALEX
ZIMMERMAN.
>> BEFORE WE START I WANT TO
REFLECT WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. MR.
ZIMMERMAN, YOUR START -- TIME
STARTS NOW.
>> THANK YOU. EXACTLY WHAT I
SPEAK FOR 4500 TIMES. [
INAUDIBLE ] ONE MINUTE BS, TWO
MINUTES NOT ENOUGH, THREE
MINUTES IS GOOD. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. MY NAME ALEXANDER, I WANT
TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS GUY HERE.
WHAT'S HIS NAME? BUSINESS? I
FORGOT. SOMETHING WITH ANOTHER
PROBLEM AND ANOTHER PROBLEM AND
TWO QUESTIONS I HAVE. QUESTION
NUMBER ONE. [ INAUDIBLE ] I
DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE
-- ABSOLUTELY BS AND SECOND,
WHAT IS CRITICAL, YOU HAVE HOW
MANY, 300 -- DEPARTMENT BY 30%.
YOU NOT UNDERSTAND SIMPLE POINT
LIKE BUSINESS DO JOKE EVERY
YEAR SAME. CHANGE, YES, A BIG
CHANGE. SECONDLY, -- WHY YOU
KEEP THESE PEOPLE HERE? YOU
UNDERSTAND WHEN I AM THEIR
BOSS, THIS WILL BE MY
DEPARTMENT. THREE PEOPLE THEY
SAID BECAUSE EVERY YEAR COMES
SAME AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY, YOU HAVE
A TON OF MONEY AND I'VE TALKED
ABOUT THIS MANY YEARS. FROM
9:00 TO 9:00. STAND UP,
AMERICA. MAYBE WE WILL MAKE
CHANGE.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS
EXPIRED. LET'S MOVE TO AGENDA
ITEM NUMBER ONE. BEFORE WE
MOVED TO THE AGENDA I WANT TO
SEND A SPECIAL HAPPY BIRTHDAY
TO OUR CLERK, FROM SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA. SHE WENT TO USC AND
WE CAN ALL BOO HER FOR THAT BUT
SHE DID MAKE IT UP TO
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOR
GRAD SCHOOL SO WE ARE REALLY
HAPPY ABOUT THAT AND I'M NOT
GOING TO SAY HER AGE, BUT SHE
IS A GEN Z AND SHE HOLDS OUR
OFFICE DOWN AND I APPRECIATE
ALL THE WORK AND I'M GOING TO
EMBARRASS YOU SO THANK YOU AND
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND FOR WORKING
ON YOUR BIRTHDAY.
>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
>> CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE INTO THE
RECORD?
>> YES, THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> ITEM NUMBER ONE IS
RESOLUTION 32140. A RESOLUTION
RELATING TO SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION AUTHORIZING THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF PARKS AND
RECREATION TO ACT AS THE
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE AND
AGENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND TO LEGALLY BIND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE WITH RESPECT TO
CERTAIN PROJECTS FOR WHICH THE
CITY SEEKS GRANT FUNDING
ASSISTANCE MANAGED THROUGH THE
WASHINGTON STATE RECREATION AND
CONSERVATION OFFICE. THIS IS
FOR BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE. PRESENTING OUR
MOSHE HECHT AND CHRISTOPHER
WILLIAMS FROM SEATTLE PARKS AND
REC.
>> AWESOME, WE HAVE MOSHE HECHT
AND CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS, THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE, INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES FOR THE RECORD AND
WE WILL JUMP INTO THE
PRESENTATION.
>> CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS, CHIEF
OF STAFF.
>> MOSHE HECHT, I'M THE GRANT
MANAGER.
>> ALL RIGHT I WILL KICK US OFF
HERE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALEX.
>> SHE'S EMBARRASSED BUT IT'S
OKAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR GETTING US ON
THE AGENDA TODAY. WE APPRECIATE
THE TIME WITH YOU TODAY TO PUT
FORTH LEGISLATION. WE ARE
REQUIRED TO RECEIVE AUTHORITY
IN THE FORM OF LEGISLATION FROM
THE CITY COUNCIL AS PART OF THE
APPLICATION PROCESS THROUGH THE
WASHINGTON STATE RECREATION
CONSERVATION OFFICE, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS OUR CEO. THIS
LEGISLATION TODAY WILL REQUIRE
A VOTE. THIS GRANTS US LEGAL
AUTHORITY AND IT GIVES US THE
AUTHORITY TO APPLY FOR THE
GRANT. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE
THAT WE WILL GET THE GRANT, WE
ARE JUST SEEKING THE AUTHORITY
TO APPLY FOR THE GRANT. THIS
FUNDING IS CRITICAL TO OUR
ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. WE
DEPEND ON OUTSIDE SOURCES OR
RATHER OUTSIDE FUNDING SOURCES
TO HELP US MEET OUR ASSET
LIFECYCLE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM
COST. AND TO KEEP OUR
REPLACEMENTS CLOSE TO INDUSTRY
STANDARDS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
WITHOUT IT, REPAIRING AND
REPLACING OUR ASSETS WOULD BE
MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. THERE ARE
THREE MAIN REASONS WE SEEK
GRANT FUNDING. GRANT FUNDING
HELPS US TO CLOSE THE GAP
BETWEEN WHAT WE EXPECT THE
PROJECT COST TO BE AND THE
ACTUAL COST OF CONSTRUCTION DUE
TO EXCESSIVE INFLATION AND
CONSTRUCTION COSTS. THE SECOND
REASON WE SEEK GRANTS IS GRANT
HELPS US PURSUE ELEMENTS AND
PROJECTS THE COMMUNITY WOULD
LIKE THAT WERE NOT ORIGINALLY
BUDGETED. THINGS LIKE SECURITY
LIGHTING, CIRCULATION PATHS AND
PICNIC SHELTERS. WHILE MOST OF
THE PROJECTS WE ARE PRESENTING
TO YOU TODAY WILL HAPPEN AT A
SCOPE DOWN LEVEL WITHOUT THE
GRANT FUNDING, THIS GRANT
FUNDING ALSO HELPS US BUILD
PROJECTS THAT ARE UNFUNDED OR
SEVERELY UNDERFUNDED. THESE ARE
PROJECTS THAT ARE OFTEN -- THAT
OFTEN COME FROM COMMUNITIES AND
NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THE LAKE
CITY FLOODPLAIN PROJECT. OR DR.
JOSE ROSE ALL PARK WHICH
GREATLY DEPEND ON FUNDING FROM
THIS GRANT SOURCE. THE TEAM HAS
WORKED REALLY HARD TO IDENTIFY
PROJECTS THAT NOT ONLY HAVE A
NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING BUT
ARE COMPETITIVE IN ONE OR MORE
OF RCO'S GRANT PROGRAMS. I
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT
THE FUNDING REQUIRES US TO
MAINTAIN THESE PARKS IN
PERPETUITY FOR THE PURPOSE FOR
WHICH THE GRANT FUNDING IS
AWARDED. SO AT THIS TIME I
WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY
COUNTERPART, MOSHE HECHT AND I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS
ABOUT MOSHE HECHT. PROBABLY ONE
OF THE BEST PUBLIC WORK AND
RECREATION GRANT WRITERS IN THE
UNITED STATES. HE'S BEEN VERY
SUCCESSFUL ACQUIRING GRANTS FOR
THE DEPARTMENT IN NUMEROUS
CATEGORIES AND JUST REALLY
FORTUNATE TO HAVE MOSHE IN OUR
DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU, CHRISTOPHER. I'M
HUMBLED, HONESTLY, I APPRECIATE
IT. MY NAME IS MOSHE HECHT,
I'M THE GRANT MANAGER OF
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION.
FIRST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT RCO.
RCO IS A LONGTIME PARTNER OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. THEY WERE
STARTED IN 1864 AND THEY'VE
INVESTED OVER $2.6 BILLION IN
PARKS ACROSS THE STATE .
TYPICALLY THEY AWARD 270
COMPETITIVE GRANTS. ABOUT 78
MILLION CYCLE. EACH OF THE
PROJECTS THEY INVEST IN MUST BE
MAINTAINED IN PERPETUITY FOR
THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH FUNDING
ASSIGNED AND AS PART OF THE
APPLICATION PROCESS WE ARE
REQUIRED TO GET THE ADOPTED
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING US THTHE
APPLY FOR FUNDING, WE APPLY
YEAR-ROUND. IT IS BECAUSE RCO
REQUIRES THIS THAT WE ARE HERE
BEFORE YOU TODAY. AT THIS
RESOLUTION MUST BE RETURNED TO
RCO BY SEPTEMBER 6, 2024. I
SHOULD PROBABLY ADVANCE THE
SLIDES HERE LITTLE BIT. HERE WE
GO. IN THE LAST CYCLE, WE
SUBMITTED 13 APPLICATIONS AND
RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $7,620,000
IN FUNDING. I'M VERY PROUD TO
SAY IN THE WASHINGTON WILDLIFE
AND RECREATION PROGRAM
CATEGORY, RAINIER BEACH SKATE
PARK APPLICATION WAS SELECTED
AS THE BEST PROJECT TO INVEST
IN OUT OF 59 PROJECTS FOR
FUNDING. SOUNDVIEW PLAYFIELD
WAS SIMILARLY SELECTED AS THE
BEST PROJECT IN THE YOUTH
ATHLETICS FACILITY FOR GRAHAM
AND STAN -- WAS ALSO SELECTED
AS THE BEST PROJECT. THIS CYCLE
OF FUNDING IS FOCUSED ON WHAT I
WOULD CALL OUR TYPICAL PARK
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. WE ARE
PREPARING 10 APPLICATIONS,
THREE IN THE LAND WATER
CONSERVATION FUND PROGRAM,
THREE IN THE WASHINGTON
WILDLIFE AND RECREATION
PROGRAM, THREE IN THE YOUTH
AMATEUR SPORTS PROGRAM AND ONE
IN THE COMMUNITY OUTDOOR
ATHLETIC FACILITIES PROGRAM.
WHEN DETERMINING WHICH PROJECTS
TO APPLY FOR FUNDING FOR, WE
LOOKED VERY CAREFULLY AT THE
CRITERIA OF EACH PROGRAM AND
THE TIMING IS CRITICAL. I.E.,
THE PROJECT START DATE NEAR --
NEEDS TO LINE UP WITH WHEN THE
FUNDING IS GOING TO BE
AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE.
RCO'S PRIMARY CRITERIA INCLUDE
NEED, LOCAL PRIORITIES, I.E.
HOW IS THE NEED KNOWN AND WIRE
THE EXISTING AMENITIES NOT
ACTUALLY SATISFYING THAT LOCAL
NEED, THE PROJECT SCOPE,
PROJECT DESIGN, PROJECT
ENGAGEMENT, SUSTAINABILITY
WHICH INCLUDES ECOLOGICAL,
SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC FACTORS,
COST EFFICIENCIES WHICH
PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON VOLUNTEER
GROUPS DONATING THEIR TIME OR
OTHER NONGOVERNMENTAL
INVESTMENTS IN THE PARK PROGRAM
AND THEN THERE IS A VARIETY OF
NEED AND STATEWIDE PRIORITIES
THAT ARE SCORED AUTOMATICALLY
USING GIS DATA BY THE STATE.
SO, OUR FIRST PROJECT IS SMITH
COVE LOCATED AT THE BASE OF
MAGNOLIA CLOSE TO THE CRUISE
SHIP TERMINAL. IT IS A GRASS
FIELD THAT GETS VERY MUDDY AND
DOES NOT SERVE THE MAGNOLIA
INTERBAY AND QUEEN AND
COMMUNITIES VERY WELL BECAUSE
OF THE POOR DRAINAGE. THIS
PROJECT REGRETTABLY GOT STALLED
OUT BECAUSE OF THE IMPACTS OF
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND WE
ARE VERY EXCITED TO RESTART THE
PROJECT. WE WILL IMPROVE
DRAINAGE MAKING IT PLAYABLE
YEAR ROUND AND WE WILL IMPROVE
80 ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS
AND GREATLY IMPROVE ACCESS TO
THE FIELD AND RESTROOMS FROM
ADJACENT PARKING. THE ACTUAL
BUDGET AND COST FOR PHASE ONE
IS 7.15 MILLION WHICH WILL
INCLUDE PARK IMPROVEMENTS
OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE GRANT
FUNDING. THE GRANT FUNDING WILL
ALLOW US TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF
THE PROJECT ENLARGING THE FIELD
TO THE WEST SIDE CREATING A
PRACTICE AREA AND POSSIBLY A
DIAMOND FIELD AND TO ENHANCE
THE PICNIC AREA AND IMPROVE
ACCESSIBILITY. WE ARE
LEVERAGING 1.2 MILLION OF THE
7.5 MILLION AVAILABLE AS A
LOCAL MATCH FOR 634 GRANT
REQUESTS. WHILE HEADLEY
PLAYFIELD IS LOCATED IN --
SEATTLE, IT'S AN 11 ACRE WORK
AND FUNCTIONS AS A RECREATIONAL
HUB FOR RECREATIONAL AND
COMPETITIVE ATHLETICS. THEY
HOST PRACTICES AND GAMES FOR
ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS PREMIER
FOOTBALL CLUB, WEST SEATTLE
SAKA CLUB AND SEATTLE YOUTH
ASSOCIATION. 77, 8V8 AND 11 B
11. THIS IS VERY UNIQUE IN OUR
FIELD STRIKE FOR THAT AGE
GROUP. THE CENTERPIECE OF THE
PARK IS A LIGHTED SYNTHETIC
TURF FIELD WHICH IS WAY PAST
ITS USEFUL LIFE. IT'S
PLAYABILITY HAS GREATLY
DETERIORATED. THE GOAL OF THIS
REQUEST IS TO ENSURE THAT THE
FACILITY CAN CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT HIGH LEVELS OF
RECREATIONAL AND COMPETITIVE
YOUTH ATHLETICS, INCREASE
ACCESSIBILITY THROUGHOUT THE
PARK AND RENOVATE THE PUBLIC
RESTROOMS. THIS FUNDING WILL
HELP SPR DO MORE THAN JUST THE
BARE MINIMUM RENOVATIONS. WE
WILL BE ABLE TO DO A BETTER JOB
ON ACCESSIBLE PATHWAYS, INSTALL
SAKA NEXT TO KEEP KIDS FROM
KICKING BALLS INTO THE STREET
AND CHASING THEM AND TO REALLY
MAKE THIS A WONDERFUL PARK
AGAIN. WE ARE LEVERAGING 1.4
MILLION FOR A $1.4 MILLION
REQUEST. DR. JOSE ROSE ALL PARK
IS LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF
BEACON HILL. IT'S RIGHT AT THE
CORNER OF I-90 AND I-95. THE
RENOVATIONS WILL ALIGN WITH 270
AFFORDABLE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING
BUILDINGS THAT ARE CURRENTLY
UNDER CONSTRUCTION ACROSS THE
STREET. THAT IS GOING TO
INCREASE THE NEED FOR SPACE FOR
CHILDREN, FAMILIES, OLDER
ADULTS TO GATHER AND ENGAGE IN
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THIS
IS THE FIRST PROJECT UNDER
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION'S
ELEVATE INITIATIVE. ELEVATE IS
AN INITIATIVE TO ELEVATE, DAYS
VERSE OF PHI AND WIDEN THE
PLATFORM OF OPPORTUNITY FOR
EVERYONE. IT AIMS TO STRENGTHEN
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN DESIGN
AND COMMUNITY IT SERVICED BY
REWARDING VISION AND PURPOSE
AND BY PROVIDING SUPPORT
THROUGHOUT THE CREATION OF A
NEW VITAL PARKS DESIGN. THROUGH
ELEVATE, A COMMUNITY MEMBER WAS
SELECTED BY THE COMMUNITY TO
STEWARD THE DESIGN PROCESS
ALONGSIDE OUR STAFF. THE
RENOVATION WILL MEET THE
GROWING NEEDS OF THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY AND SET A PRECEDENT
FOR FUTURE PRACTICE UNDER
ELEVATE FOSTERING COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT AT ITS CORE. THIS
PROJECT WILL TRANSFORM THE PARK
INTO A SAFE, ACCESSIBLE
DESTINATION WITH MAGNIFICENT
VIEWS, A PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO
PLAY AND A SPACE FOR SOCIAL
INTERACTION AND EVENTS. WE ARE
LEVERAGING 1.375 MILLION
DEDICATED TO THE RESTROOM
RENOVATION AS A MATCH FOR
FUNDING REQUESTS IN THE WW RP
AND -- PROGRAMS. IF SUCCESSFUL
THIS FUNDING WILL ALLOW US TO
RENOVATE THIS PARK AND MUCH
BETTER MEET COMMUNITY NEED.
HUTCHINSON PARK IS LOCATED ON
THE SOUTH END OF THE RAINIER
BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD. IT IS A
MUCH NEEDED COMPLETE PARK
RENOVATION. THIS PROJECT
INCLUDES A PLAY AREA FOR AGES
TWO AND UP, BASKETBALL COURT
RECONSTRUCTION, PLAYFIELD
REPAIR, ENHANCED NATURAL AREAS,
NEW ENTRANCES AND OTHER RELATED
IMPROVEMENTS TO MEET
ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS AND
IMPROVE SAFETY. THE RENOVATION
OF THE FIELDS WILL REPAIR THE
SOIL CONDITIONS, DRAINAGE AND
CONVERT ONE OF THE SOFTBALL
FIELDS INTO A YOU 10 SAKA
FIELD. THE OTHER SOFTBALL FIELD
WILL BE REPAIRED AND UPGRADED
TO MEET ACCESSIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS AND IMPROVE SOIL
AND DRAINAGE CONDITIONS SO IT
IS PLAYABLE THROUGHOUT THE
YEAR. THE TWO GOALS OF THE
PROJECT ARE TO REBUILD THE PARK
SO THAT IT IS WELCOMING AND
SUPPORTS THE OUTDOOR RECREATION
NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND TO
REDUCE CRIME IN AND AROUND THE
PARK BY ACTIVATING IT WITH FUN,
PROSOCIAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS
ORGANIZED SPORTS AND RECREATION
AND MORE. FUNDING WILL ALLOW US
TO DO SO MUCH MORE IN THIS
PARK, THINGS LIKE COMPLETING
THE ACCESSIBLE LOOP PATHWALL MO
EFFICIENT DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND
OF PLUMBING AND IRRIGATION
SYSTEMS. HERE WE ARE ABLE TO
LEVERAGE $230,000 AS A MATCH
FOR ALL OF THE GRANT REQUESTS.
WE ARE ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE
SOME OF THE GRANT PROGRAMS CAN
BE USED AS A MATCH FOR OTHER
GRANT PROGRAMS. LAKE CITY
FLOODPLAIN PARK IS LOCATED A
COUPLE BLOCKS WEST OF THE LAKE
CITY HUB URBAN VILLAGE. WE ARE
PARTNERING WITH SEATTLE PARK
UTILITIES AND THE NONPROFIT MID
SOUND FISHERIES ENHANCEMENT
GROUP TO CREATE AN ACCESSIBLE
NATURAL AREA FOR PASSIVE
RECREATION AND THE LAKE CITY
COMMUNITY AND TO ADDRESS THE
NEED FOR PUBLIC GREEN SPACE.
THIS SUPPORTS THE RECREATION
AND CONSERVATION OFFICES GOAL
TO IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
OUTDOOR RECREATION AND PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY AND COMMUNITIES THAT
HAVE LESS ACCESS TO PARKS AND
OPEN SPACE. THE CORE ELEMENT OF
THIS PARK IS A PATHWAY THROUGH
THE FLOODPLAIN AND CREEK
CONSISTING OF A COMBINATION OF
ON GRID GRAVEL AND CONCRETE
PATHWAYS COME ABOARD WALKS AND
BRIDGES. AS VISITORS MEANDER
THROUGH THE PARK THERE WILL BE
VARIOUS VIEWPOINTS AND SEATING
AREAS FOR PICNICKING AND
SOCIALIZING. NOT INCLUDED IN
THIS REQUEST IS A FLOODPLAIN
RECONNECTION PROJECT BY SPU AND
-- BENEFICIARIES GROUP TO
BENEFIT WATER QUALITY, CREATE
HEALTHY INSTREAM AND RIPARIAN
HABITAT AND MANAGE -- THIS
PROJECT IS DEPENDENT ON GRANT
FUNDING. SPR ONLY HAS $600,000
DEDICATED TO THE PROJECT WHICH
WE ARE LEVERAGING IS A MATCH
FOR A $500,000 REQUEST IN THE
WW RP PROGRAM AND A REQUEST IN
THE W CF PROGRAM. HERE YOU CAN
SEE A SUMMARY OF THE DOLLAR
VALUE WE ARE APPLYING FOR IN
EACH PROJECT OR FOR EACH
PROJECT. AND HERE IS A SUMMARY
BY GRANT PROGRAM. AND HERE IS
JUST A BRIEF TIMELINE OF WHAT
TO EXPECT. THESE ARE DUE
SEPTEMBER 6th AND THE RCO
BOARDS WILL APPROVE THE RANKED
LISTS IN OCTOBER AND THOSE THEN
GO TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE
WHICH THEN APPROVES THE GRANT
FUNDING IN EACH OF THE PROGRAMS
AND THEN OUR CONTRACTS ARE
EXPECTED TO BE ISSUED QUARTER
FOUR OF 2025. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, MOSHE, THAT WAS
GREAT AND WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF
COLLEAGUES HAVE QUESTIONS SO
I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO
THEM TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS.
FIRST, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
THEN WE WILL GO TO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATION, THANK YOU FOR
INCLUDING QUEEN AND BECAUSE
IT'S DEFINITELY A QUEEN AND
ASSET AS WELL. I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THEY ARE ALL GREAT
OPTIONS. GREAT PARKS, GREAT
PROJECTS. I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT, VERY IMPORTANT AND
IT GOES TO THE SYNTHETIC FIELDS
AND ANOTHER THING THAT ALLOWS
US, AND I REALLY LIKE THE BIO
RETENTION BASIN, REALLY NICE
AND AS YOU KNOW, CLAMORING IN
UPPER NORTHERN D7 FOR AN OFF
LEASH AREA IS OVER THE TOP SO
THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THAT. I
THINK IT IS A FANTASTIC PROGRAM
AND I'M SURE THAT MY D6
COLLEAGUES, SINCE WE SHARE
MAGNOLIA WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF
THAT, NOT SPEAKING FOR HIM OF
COURSE, THE OTHER ONES THAT I
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IN TERMS OF
WAS THE ONE DOWN SOUTH AS THE
HUTCHISON PARK. I THINK IT IS A
FANTASTIC REFLECTION OF GETTING
THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED AND
SPEAKING UP AND BASICALLY
ADVOCATING FOR THEMSELVES AND I
THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
SHOULD BE REALLY HIGHLIGHTED AS
WE GO THROUGH AS YOU KNOW,
DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS ARE
BETTER ORGANIZED TO SPEAK UP
AND FOR THIS ONE WHICH IS, I
THINK NOTED FURTHEST SOUTH YOU
GO PRACTICALLY THAT'S AN AREA
THAT HASN'T NECESSARILY BEEN
ABLE TO SPEAK FOR ITSELF SO TO
DO SO AND LEAD BY EXAMPLE COULD
BE SOMETHING THAT ENABLES OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS TO SPEAK FOR
THEMSELVES TOO SO THAT IS A
FANTASTIC EXAMPLE TO HAVE AN
SOMETHING TO PROMOTE. THE LAST
ONE WAS THE FLOOD PLANE PART.
WE DO NEED TO GREEN OUR CITY.
WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT CANOPY
AND SO WE NEED THIS KIND OF
PROJECT AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT
YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THE MATCH
PROCESS AND AS I NOTED, TAKE
OUR WATERFRONT PARK, WHAT MAKES
SEATTLE UNIQUE? IT'S THE TWO
MOUNTAIN RANGES, IT'S THE SEA.
BUT THE OTHER THING IS, OUR
NATIVE COMMUNITY WHICH, FOR
SOMEBODY WHO GREW UP ON THE
EAST COAST, VERY DIFFERENT
EXPERIENCE ON THE WEST COAST
AND EAST COAST ON THAT. WE
SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTING THAT.
IT'S UNIQUE, IT'S PART OF OUR
HISTORY AND ITS ATTRACTIVE FOR
THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO SEATTLE
LIKE HEY, THIS IS INTERESTING,
THIS IS DIFFERENT. AND GOING
BACK TO THE FLOODPLAIN PARK IS
HAVING THAT CANOPY AND REALLY
PROMOTING THE EVERGREENS, I
THINK WE GOT IN THE HABIT OF
MOVING AWAY FROM THE EVERGREEN
TREES AND GOING TOWARD
DECIDUOUS TREES. WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE IN EVERGREEN
CITY AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING
THAT'S UNIQUE THAT REALLY
DRAWS PEOPLE TO SEATTLE AND SO,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE
THINKING PARKS. EVERY
DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO HAVE THESE
INTERSECTIONS IN HOW THEY COME
TOGETHER AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER
AND THIS IS AN AREA IN THIS ONE
IN SUPPORTING THIS IDEA OF
EVERGREEN CITY AND REALLY
SHOULD PUSH OFF FOR THAT. AND,
LAST THING IS IF YOU ARE
SUCCESSFUL ON THIS, YOU WILL
WIN YOUR BET SO THAT'S YOUR
CHALLENGE. I HAVE CHALLENGED
PARKS TO MATCH OEM BECAUSE OEM
IS THE GRAND KING AND QUEENS OF
CITY GOVERNMENT BECAUSE FOR
THEIR SMALL BUDGET, OEM
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RINGS IN
SO MUCH FROM FEMA BUT SO MUCH
IN GRANTS. SO, MY CHALLENGE TO
PARKS IS TO MATCH OEM AND IF
YOU DO, --
>> I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. THANK
YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, REALLY BRIEFLY
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU
DO TYING THIS INTO THE LAST
PRESENTATION THAT WE WERE HERE
FOR THE SECOND LARGEST LONGEST
COMMITTEE MEETING IN THIS
YEAR'S HISTORY ABOUT SYNTHETIC
HEELS AND ALL THE REST, NOTING
THAT YOU ARE SPEAKING YOUR
ACTIONS ARE FOLLOWING YOUR
WORDS HERE GOING AFTER OUR RCO
GRANTS AND WHEN I ASKED YOU
DIRECTLY WHAT'S THE BARRIER,
YOU ARE COMING THROUGH
SEARCHING FOR THAT FUNDING SO
JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU
AND IF -- I'M GOING TO HOLD
YOU TO THE 2026 START DATE HERE
ON THE RECORD. BUT REALLY,
ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO GET
THAT FINISHED, I'M NOT GOING
TO SPEND TIME GOING THROUGH
EACH OF THESE PARKS BECAUSE
WE'VE GOT A LONG AGENDA, I
JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAD A
QUESTION ABOUT THE DR. JOSE
PARK PROJECT.
>> CAN YOU USE THE MICROPHONE?
>> SORRY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I SHOULD SAY FIRST I APOLOGIZE
FOR BEING LATE BUT I DID CATCH
THE WHOLE REASON TATIAN, SO
APOLOGIES. SO, THE PROJECT AT
DR. JOSE RIZAL PARK, YOU
MENTIONED THAT THE LOCAL MATCH
IS COMING FROM RESTROOM REPAIR.
IS THAT RESTROOM REPAIR AT DR.
JOSE RIZAL PARK?
>> THE FUNDING WE HAVE IS TO
RENOVATE THE EXISTING RESTROOM
THERE AND WE ARE LEVERAGING
THAT TO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING
TO TRY TO REALLY INSTALL A GOOD
PLAYGROUND THAT MEETS
CHILDREN'S NEEDS, UPGRADE THE
STAGE AREA AND THE PICNIC AREA
AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE HAVE
ENOUGH FUNDING TO REALLY
IMPROVE THAT VIEWPOINT SO THAT
FOLKS CAN REALLY ENJOY THE VIEW
FROM UP THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF
YOU'VE BEEN UP THERE, IT'S
FANTASTIC.
>> I JUST HAD TO ASK BECAUSE
THAT WAS A BIG ITEM IN THE
SPENDING PLAN UPDATE A COUPLE
YEARS AGO SO I WANTED TO BE
CLEAR WHERE THAT MONEY WAS
COMING FROM, THANK YOU. AND
ALSO SHOUT OUT TO SENATOR
CANTWELL FOR SECURING THE
PERMANENT REAUTHORIZATION OF
THE -- 2019.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING
HERE AND FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I NOTICED HERE IN 2020 -- 2020
TO 2023 GRANTS AND THE 24 ONES
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY DID
NOT -- HAS NOT INCLUDED
ANYTHING IN MAGNUSON PARK FOR
INSTANCE OR GREEN LAKE AND WE
HAVE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT FIELDS AND I KNOW
MAGNUSON PARK IS IN NEED OF
SOME FIELD REPAIR AND
ADDITIONAL FIELDS AND IT'S BEEN
IN THE WORKS FOR SOME TIME IN
TERMS OF THE PARKS PLAN SO I'M
WONDERING IF IT'S NOT INCLUDED
HERE IF THEN MAYBE NEXT YEAR IS
A SUBSEQUENT FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES WOULD INCLUDE
THOSE PARKS ON THE NORTH END OF
TOWN.
>> SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE FUNDING
FOR THE ADDITIONAL FIELD AT
MAGNUSON PARK. SO, THAT IS IN
OUR QUEUE. WE CAN ALWAYS EXPAND
THE SCOPE OF THAT WITH
ADDITIONAL FUNDING BUT I WANTED
TO GIVE YOU THE REASSURANCE
THAT WE HAVE SOME BASELINE
LEVEL OF FUNDING THAT COULD
SUPPLY A MATCH TO THAT, SO
THAT'S SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO
BE LOOKING AT.
>> TERRIFIC, THAT SOUNDS GREAT,
THANK YOU, CHRISTOPHER. AND I
WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE SOFTBALL
FIELDS AGAIN, GETTING BACK TO
THE GENDER EQUITY AND THE GIRLS
PLAYING SOFTBALL, MAKING SURE
THAT IS AT THE FOREFRONT. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU BOTH.
>> YEAH, THAT'S ON MY RADAR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WRITE THEM GRANTS. SOFTBALL
FIELDS, LET'S GO. COLLEAGUES,
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AT
ALL? SEE NONE, THANK YOU FOR
THE PRESENTATION AND ALL YOUR
HARD WORK. WE KNOW THAT MOSHE
HECHT BEING THE BEST GRANT
WRITER IN THE UNITED STATES IS
PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. ARE WE ABLE
TO PAY HIM A PERCENTAGE OF WHAT
HE BRINGS IN OR IS THAT JUST
NONPROFITS? ANYWAYS. SO, THANK
YOU, APPRECIATE YOU. WE WILL
NOW MOVE TO VOTE ON THE
RESOLUTION AND I MOVE THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THE
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 321 140.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. SECOND, I CANNOT
READ TODAY, TO RECOMMEND
ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION
OTHER ANY FINAL COMMENTS? SEE
NONE, CLERK, THE HAPPY BIRTHDAY
CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON? CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH? FIVE IN FAVOR,
NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, BIRTHDAY CLERK.
THE MOTION CARRIES ON THE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE
RESOLUTION BE ADOPTED WILL BE
SENT TO JULY 30th COUNCIL
MEETING. IF THERE ARE NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS WE WILL MOVE
ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.
THANK YOU, CHRIS AND MOSHE.
APPRECIATE YOU. AWESOME. I'M
GOING TO EMBARRASS THE PERSON
WHO WORKS IN MY OFFICE WITH
CALLING HER THE BIRTHDAY CLERK
BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T KNOW --
WANT ANYONE TO KNOW IT'S HER
BIRTHDAY BUT HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
CLERK, PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER TWO INTO THE RECORD.
>> AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL MANAGER
AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF
SEATTLE PUBLIC TOADIES TO
SUBMIT FOR APPROVAL TO THE U.S.
DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN
DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON A FIRST
MATERIAL MODIFICATION OF THE
2013 CONSENT DECREE ENTERED
INTO BY THE UNITED STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY, THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY AND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND CIVIL
ACTION NUMBER 2: 13 CV 00678
AND TO FULFILL THE OBLIGATIONS
SET FORTH THEREIN. THIS IS FOR
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION OF THE
POSSIBLE VOTE. PRESENTING TODAY
ARE LESLIE WEBSTER AND MELISSA
FROM SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES.
>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING
HERE. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
PRESENTATION. GO AHEAD AND
INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE
RECORD AND YOU CAN JUMP IN.
>> MY NAME IS LESLIE WEBSTER,
THE PLANNING MANAGER FOR
WASTEWATER AT SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES.
>> I MELISSA, MANAGER OF
COMPLIANCE AT SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES.
>> THANK YOU. I'M NOT SURE HOW
TO GET THIS TO SHOW UP.
>> WE WILL GET IT.
>> CHAIR, MAY I FOR THE
PRESENTERS AT THE TABLE, THE
MICROPHONE HAS TO BE POINTED
DIRECTLY AT YOU. IT SEEMS TO BE
-- APPARENTLY I'M THE
MICROPHONE PERSON TODAY.
>> YOU ARE GOOD, NO WORRIES.
>> WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN
GET, NO WORRIES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
ANDREW LEE HAD PLANNED TO BE
HERE FOR THIS PRESENTATION BUT
IS UNEXPECTEDLY OUT OF THE
COUNTRY BECAUSE OF THE DEATH OF
A FAMILY MEMBER, SO YOU HAVE
MELISSA AND I HERE WITH YOU
TODAY. WE ARE HERE TO GIVE YOU
THE BACKGROUND ON THE CSO
CONSENT MODIFICATION THAT HAS
BEEN TRANSMITTED FOR APPROVAL.
SO, IN 2013, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE ENTERED INTO A CONSENT
DECREE WITH THE UNITED STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
AND THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT
OF ECOLOGY TO CONTROL COMBINED
SEWER OVERFLOWS IN THE CITY. WE
ALSO CALL THOSE CSO'S SO YOU
WILL HEAR THAT ACRONYM A BUNCH.
IN 2019 WE NOTIFIED EPA ECOLOGY
THAT WE WANTED TO CHANGE THE
TERMS OF THAT CONSENT DECREE
AND SINCE THAT TIME WE'VE BEEN
WORKING CLOSELY WITH REGULATORS
AND HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT
ON THE TERMS OF A MODIFICATION
WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE
LEGISLATION. IN A NUTSHELL, THE
MODIFICATION ALLOWS THE CITY TO
HAVE MORE TIME TO MEET OUR CSO
CONTROL REQUIREMENTS. THE END
DATE OF THE 2013 CONSENT DECREE
IS 2030. THE MODIFICATION
EXTENDS THAT DATE SEVEN YEARS
TO 2037. THE MODIFICATION ALSO
INCLUDES A TIME EXTENSION FOR
THE SHIFT CANAL WATERFALL
PROJECT. THE ADDED TIME IN THIS
MODIFICATION ALLOWS FOR A MORE
SUSTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE RATE
PATH FOR CUSTOMERS. WE ARE HERE
TODAY TO ASK THE COMMITTEE TO
AUTHORIZE SPU'S GENERAL
MANAGER TO SUBMIT THIS
MODIFICATION TO THE 2013
CONSENT DECREE IN THE U.S.
DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN
WASHINGTON -- WESTERN DISTRICT
OF WASHINGTON. THAT WAS A
MOUTHFUL, EXCUSE ME. IN THE
PRESENTATION, MY COLLEAGUE,
MELISSA IS GOING TO PROVIDE AN
OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE CONSENT
DECREE REGULATES, THE PROGRESS
THE CITY HAS MADE SINCE THE
CONSENT DECREE WAS ENTERED IN
2013, AND WHY THE CITY WANTED
TO CHANGE THE TERMS OF THE
CONSENT DECREE AS WELL AS A
LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON WHAT IS
CHANGING. BEFORE MELISSA GETS
STARTED -- IS IT POSSIBLE THAT
THE PRESENTATION IS BLANK?
>> WE APOLOGIZE WE ARE JUST
HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF --
>> NO PROBLEM. THE SLIDES THAT
WE HAD NEXT ARE SLIDES THAT YOU
HAVE SEEN BEFORE.
>> CHAIR, CLERK, I'VE GOT THE
PRESENTATION IF YOU WOULD LIKE
ME TO RUN IT.
>> THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. WE
HAVE COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
GOING TO HELP US OUT HERE.
>> NEW I.T.
>> HE ALWAYS SAVES THE DAY AND
I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> IF YOU COULD GO UP TO THE
THIRD SLIDE, THAT WOULD BE
PERFECT.
>> THERE WE ARE, SEATTLE SEWER
SYSTEM.
>> I THINK YOU'VE SEEN THESE
SLIDES BEFORE BUT JUST A
REMINDER WE HAVE THREE TYPES OF
SYSTEMS THAT SERVE OUR CITY,
SEPARATE, COMBINED AND
PARTIALLY SEPARATE AND ON THE
MAP ON THE RIGHT YOU ARE SEEING
THAT OUR SYSTEMS HAVE SORT OF A
PATCHWORK NATURE IN THE CITY.
THE AREAS IN PURPLE ARE FULLY
SEPARATED AREAS OF THE CITY AND
IN THESE AREAS, WASTEWATER OR
SEWAGE AND STORM WATER ALSO
THINK OF IT AS RAIN, TRAVEL IN
A SEPARATE SET OF PIPES AND THE
WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER STAY
SEPARATE ALL THE WAY TO EITHER
A TREATMENT PLANT OR RECEIVING
WATER BODY. THE AREAS IN YELLOW
ON THE MAP ARE FULLY COMBINED
IN THE AREAS IN GREEN ARE
PARTIALLY SEPARATED AND I HAVE
DIAGRAMS ON THE NEXT SLIDE THAT
SHOW THOSE SYSTEM TYPES BUT
WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW FOR THAT
MAP IS THAT THOSE AREAS, THE
GREEN AND YELLOW AREAS ARE THE
AREAS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO
COMBINED OVERFLOWS. THEY COVER
ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF OUR CITY
AND THEY ARE THE AREAS WHERE
OUR PIPES ARE THE OLDEST. MOST
OF THE SEWER PIPES IN THOSE
AREAS WERE BUILT BEFORE 1950
AND SOME OF THEM ARE AS OLD AS
1890S. THIS IS AN OLD A
PATCHWORK SYSTEM AND IT'S AN
ISSUE THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING
WITH FOR A LONG TIME. SO IF YOU
COULD GO TO THE NEXT ONE, THANK
YOU. IN COMBINED AREAS, ALL THE
WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER
TRAVEL IN THE SAME SET OF PIPES
AND IN THE PARTIALLY SEPARATED
AREAS, WASTEWATER FOR HOMES AND
BUSINESSES AND STORMWATER FROM
RUFUS TRAVEL IN ONE SET OF
PIPES AND THE STORM WATER FROM
THE STREET TRAVELS IN A
SEPARATE SET OF PIPES. IN BOTH
OF THESE SYSTEMS WHEN IT RAINS
HARD, THEY CAN BE OVERLOADED
AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THEY
RELEASE A MIXTURE OF STORM
WATER AND SEWAGE AT SPECIFIC
POINTS CALLED OUTFALLS. SPU
DOES A TON OF WORK TO REDUCE
CSO'S TO HELP KEEP OUR WATERS
SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY AND
ALSO TO PROTECT THE PLANTS AND
ANIMALS THAT LIVE IN THOSE
WATERS. SO WITH THAT I'M GOING
TO TURN IT OVER TO MELISSA.
>> THANK YOU. WE CAN GO AHEAD
AND MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
I'M GOING TO START WITH THE
BACKGROUND ON OUR CURRENT
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW CONSENT
DECREE BEFORE I JUMP INTO WHAT
WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED AND WHAT WE
ARE SEEING IN WAY OF CHANGES
VIA THE MODIFICATION. SO,
BEFORE 2008, THE CITY HAD NOT
BUILT A SUBSTANTIAL CSO CONTROL
PROJECT SINCE THE 1990s. AND AT
THAT TIME, EPA WAS MONITORING
CSO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE
NATION AND NEGOTIATING CONSENT
AGREEMENTS WITH THEM. TO
ESTABLISH ENFORCEABLE DEADLINES
FOR CSO CONTROL. SO EARLY IN
2013, AS WE WERE NEGOTIATING
OUR CURRENT CONSENT DECREE, WE
COMMITTED TO DIRECT LIMITATION
OF SEVERAL HIGH-PRIORITY
PROJECTS. THOSE ARE KNOWN AS
EARLY ACTION PROJECTS AND THEY
WERE FOCUSED ON BASICALLY ALONG
LAKE WASHINGTON IN STORAGE
FACILITIES. WE ENTERED INTO OUR
CURRENT COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW
CONSENT AGREE ON JULY 3rd,
2013, A LITTLE OVER 11 YEARS
AGO AND IT SETS THE PERFORMANCE
EXPECTATION FOR DIFFERENT TYPES
OF SEWER OVERFLOWS ACROSS OUR
SYSTEM IN ORDER TO REDUCE OUR
CSO'S TO ONE OVERFLOW PER
OUTFLOW PER YEAR. AND WE HAVE
82 OUTFALLS. THEY ARE THE RED
DOTS ON THE MAP THERE. IN
ADDITION TO THE EARLY ACTION
PROJECTS ALONG LAKE WASHINGTON,
WE ALSO HAD TO DEVELOP
LONG-TERM CONTROL PLANS. THAT
WAS A 20 YEAR PLAN TO CONTROL
ALL REMAINING UNCONTROLLED CSO
OUTFALLS AND WE ALSO DEVELOPED
A JOINT OPERATIONS PLAN WITH
KING COUNTY TO IMPROVE
COORDINATION WITH THE COUNTY.
KING COUNTY NEGOTIATED A
CONSENT DECREE AT THE SAME TIME
BECAUSE THEY ALSO HAVE OUTFALLS
IN THE CITY. WE THEN DEVELOPED
AN INTEGRATED PLAN IN 2015 THAT
MET THE OBJECTIVE OF OUR
LONG-TERM CONTROL PLAN AND THAT
INCLUDED HIGHER VALUE
STORMWATER AND IMPROVEMENT
PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS SO THAT
WAY WE COULD DEFER SOME OF OUR
LOWER VALUE CSO REDUCTION
PROJECTS TO 2030. THE DEADLINE
OF 2030. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND SINCE NEGOTIATING THAT
CONSENT DECREE WE'VE
INVESTIGATED ALMOST $1 MILLION
IN REDUCING CFOs. ONCE OUR
WATER QUALITY PROJECT IS
COMPLETE WE WILL HAVE
ELIMINATED ALMOST -- ABOUT 175
CSO'S PER YEAR TOWARDS OUR
TARGET OF 183. THAT WE
IDENTIFIED IN OUR ORIGINAL 2013
CONSENT DECREE. THE RESULT IS
THEREFORE AN OVERALL REDUCTION
IN CSO VOLUMES OF MORE THAN
50%. SO THAT MEANS YOUR
POLLUTANTS ARE ENTERING
STREAMS, LAKES AND PUGET SOUND
AND THAT LEADS TO WATER QUALITY
IMPROVEMENTS FOR PEOPLE IN OUR
REGION. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> TOO MANY SLIDES.
>> THERE WE ARE. SO HOW WILL WE
ACCOMPLISH THIS WORK? WE HAVE
BEEN INVESTING IN
INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROGRAMS
THAT REDUCE CFOs INCLUDING THE
FOUR LARGE STORAGE TANKS BUILT
ALONG LAKE WASHINGTON THAT KEEP
ABOUT 5 MILLION GALLONS IN
COMBINED SEWAGE PER STORM FROM
OVERFLOWING TO LAKE WASHINGTON.
WE'VE CONSTRUCTED OVER 50
SEWER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT
PROJECTS ACROSS OUR SYSTEM THAT
INCLUDES SYSTEM RETROFITS AND
PUMP STATION IMPROVEMENTS AND
WE'VE ALSO BUILT GREEN
STORMWATER PROJECTS. THEY
MANAGE AND TREAT 13 ACRES OF
IMPERVIOUS AREAS LARGELY
ROADWAYS AND IN COMBINED SEWER
AREAS, THESE HELP REDUCE THE
AMOUNT OF STORMWATER THAT
ENTERS THE SYSTEM THAT WOULD
OTHERWISE CAUSE AN OVERFLOW AS
WELL AS REMOVE POLLUTANTS AND
ADD NATIVE VEGETATION AND PLANS
TO THE URBAN LANDSCAPE. SOME OF
THE HIGHER VALUE STORMWATER
IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND
PROGRAMS IN OUR CONSENT DECREE
INCLUDE STREET SWEEPING FOR
WATER QUALITY PROGRAM AND RAIN
WISE PROGRAM. EACH YEAR OUR
STREET SWEEPING PROGRAM REMOVES
100 DRY TONS OF POLLUTANTS AND
DEBRIS FROM OUR BUSY ARTERIALS
WHICH HELP TO CAPTURE TOXINS
BEFORE THEY ENTER OUR LOCAL
WATERWAYS. AND OUR RAIN WISE
PROGRAM OFFERS RAIN GARDENS AND
CISTERNS TO ARRIVE AT PROPERTY
OWNERS IN COMBINED SEWER AREAS
OF SEATTLE. SINCE 2010, ALMOST
1300 INSTALLATIONS HAVE BEEN
REBATED IN THE COMBINED BASINS
MANAGED BY SPU REMOVING AN
ESTIMATED 19.4 MILLION GALLONS
OF STORMWATER PER YEAR FROM THE
COMBINED SEWER SYSTEM. SO, THE
MAP ON THE RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE
STORMWATER -- THE
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS THAT
WE'VE MADE ACROSS THE CITY.
THE ORANGE AREAS ARE CSO BASINS
AND THE VARIOUS -- SHOW YOU
WHERE THE PROJECTS HAVE TAKEN
PLACE. AS YOU ARE PROBABLY
AWARE, OUR LARGEST INVESTMENT
IN CSO REDUCTION IS OUR SHIP
CANAL WATER QUALITY PROJECT
AND, IN THE NEXT SLIDE I WILL
GO A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO THAT
ONE. SO, AS YOU'VE HEARD IN
EARLIER PRESENTATIONS ON THE
SHIP CANAL WATER QUALITY
PROJECT, IT'S OUR LARGEST
CAPITAL PROJECT EVER AT 2.7
MILES LONG AND ALMOST 19 FEET
IN DIAMETER. WHEN IT RAINS, THE
UNDERGROUND STORAGE TUNNEL WILL
BE ABLE TO CAPTURE AND
TEMPORARILY STORE MORE THAN 29
MILLION GALLONS OF UNTREATED
SEWAGE AND STORMWATER UNTIL
KING COUNTY'S WEST POINT
TREATMENT PLANT IS READY TO
RECEIVE IT. THIS WILL HELP
IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY
REGIONALLY KEEPING MORE THAN 75
MILLION GALLONS OF COMBINED
SEWER OVERFLOW ON AVERAGE EACH
YEAR FROM ENTERING THE LAKE
WASHINGTON SHIP CANAL, SALMON
BAY AND LAKE UNION. SO, WITH
ALL OF THAT SAID, WHY
MODIFICATION? WHEN WE ARE
ALREADY COMMITTED TO PROTECTING
PUBLIC HEALTH AND REDUCING
POLLUTION IN OUR LOCAL WATERS?
WE HAVE, AS YOU HAVE HEARD,
BEEN INVESTING IN REDUCING
CSO'S FOR MORE THAN A DECADE
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE
CONTEXT HAS SHIFTED. CLIMATE
CHANGE HAS CHANGED THE
INTENSITY AND FREQUENCY OF
STORMS IN OUR REGION WHICH HAS
COMPLICATED PLANNING EFFORTS
AND PROJECT COMPLIANCE. AT THE
SAME TIME, THE COST OF BUILDING
PROJECTS TO ADDRESS CSO'S HAS
INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. SO THE
CITY PURSUED THIS MODIFICATION
TO INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO
MANAGE AND ADJUST PROJECTS AND
PROGRAMS WHEN CONDITIONS LIKE
COSTS AND PROGRAMS CHANGE. AS
WELL AS ALIGN WITH THE KING
COUNTY LED PROJECTS AND THEIR
BASINS THAT THEY MANAGE IN
ORDER TO REDUCE COSTS AND
CREATE A MORE AFFORDABLE PATH.
ADDITIONALLY, WE WANTED TO
PRIORITIZE HIGH ENVIRONMENTAL
BENEFIT PROJECTS AND
HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS
OF THE CITY. SO AS A RESULT OF
THIS MODIFICATION, IN
PARTICULAR, KING COUNTY IS
ACCELERATING THEIR WORK IN A
LOW INCOME COMMUNITY THAT
CONTAIN SOME OF THE COUNTY'S
LARGEST OVERFLOW VOLUMES AND
THE CITY IS WORKING WITH THE
COUNTY TO INCORPORATE SOME OF
OUR OWN SMALL VOLUMES LEFT TO
CONTROL INTO THE COUNTY'S
LARGER PROJECT. THROUGH OUR CSO
WORK TO DATE AND OTHER
LONG-TERM PLANNING PROJECTS,
WE'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT
CLIMATE CHANGE COME A SYSTEM
NEEDS AND COMMUNITY CENTER AND
EQUITABLE INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS
ALLOWS US TO INCORPORATE WHAT
WE'VE LEARNED INTO OUR
PLANNING AND INVESTMENTS FOR
THE NEXT PHASE OF THE PROGRAM,
SPECIFICALLY AS PART OF THIS
MODIFICATION WE ARE WORKING ON
A COMMUNITY CENTERED UPDATE TO
OUR LONG-TERM CONTROL PLAN THAT
I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY. THE
DRAFT OF THIS LONG-TERM CONTROL
PLAN UPDATE IS DUE IN 2026 AND
IT WILL INCLUDE DETAILS OF HOW
WE WILL CONTROL OVERFLOWS IN 14
ADDITIONAL BASINS BY 2037. A
FEW OF THESE BASINS WILL
REQUIRE SOME LARGER
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS LIKE
TANKS BUT MOST OF THE BASINS
HAVE SMALLER PROBLEMS AND WE
ARE TRYING TO PRIORITIZE
PROGRAMMATIC WORK LIKE SIDE
SEWER REPAIRS OR GREEN
STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT
WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND
PROVIDE A GREATER COMMUNITY
VALUE. AND THEN, AS PREVIOUSLY
MENTIONED WE ARE COLLABORATING
WITH KING COUNTY ON A PROJECT
ADDRESSING OVERFLOWS AS WELL AS
POTENTIALLY STORMWATER. AND
SOME OF THE OTHER KING COUNTY
COORDINATED PROJECT AREAS
INCLUDE THE UNIVERSITY AREA
WHICH CONTAINS THREE OF OUR
OUTFALLS IN THE LAKE AREA WHICH
IN -- CONTAINS EIGHT OF OUR
OUTFALLS. RATEPAYERS GET THE
MOST BENEFIT WHEN WE ARE ABLE
TO WORK TOGETHER AND ALIGN
THESE PROJECTS AND MEET EACH
OTHER'S OBJECTIVES IN A
COLLABORATIVE WAY AND IT'S
ALSO LESS DISRUPT IT TO THE
COMMUNITY WHEN WE CAN WORK
TOGETHER SO WE ARE EXCITED TO
BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT
WORK. AS YOU KNOW, WE WILL ALSO
COMPLETE THE WATER QUALITY
PROJECT WHICH IS ALSO IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH KING COUNTY
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO
IMPLEMENT THE STORMWATER
PROGRAMS LIKE THE STREET
SWEEPING FOR WATER QUALITY AND
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS
LIKE OUR NATURAL DRAINAGE
SYSTEM PARTNERING PROGRAM AND
RAIN WISE. LAST SLIDE. THIS
MODIFICATION THEREFORE ENSURES
THAT THE CITY'S CONTINUED
SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE
INVESTMENTS WILL INCREASE
COMMUNITY BENEFITS, SUPPORT
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION,
ALIGN WITH AN AFFORDABLE AND
SUSTAINABLE PATH , ENCOURAGE
INTERAGENCY COORDINATION AND
PRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS IN
HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED PARTS
OF OUR CITY AND WE ASK THAT YOU
SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION. THANK
YOU AND I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
PRESENTATION. I HAD A CHANCE
TODAY TO VISIT SOME SEVENTH
GRADERS AT A SUMMER CAMP AND
THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THEY
KNEW ABOUT WASTEWATER AND WHERE
IT GOES AND HOW IT GETS THERE
AND, IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE
BECAUSE I DON'T REMEMBER IN
SEVENTH GRADE TALKING ABOUT
THAT SO I THINK WE ARE ON THE
RIGHT PATH WITH OUR GENERATION
ABOUT UNDERSTANDING
ENVIRONMENT, SO I WOULD LIKE TO
PAUSE THERE AND I SEE THAT WE
HAVE A QUESTION FROM
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
PRESENTATION. I'M WELL AWARE
OF CONSENT DECREES, USUALLY
IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY, SO GLAD WE
ARE NOT ALONE. I APPRECIATE THE
WORK THAT WE ARE DOING AND I'M
GOING TO BE VISITING THE SHIP
CANAL TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY
WHICH WOULD BE GREAT AND I'VE
BEEN TO THE WEST TREATMENT
PLANT WITH CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH,
ANOTHER GREAT TOUR, FOR D7,
OBVIOUSLY DOWNTOWN, NOT A LOT
OF GREEN A LOT OF PAVEMENT, A
LOT OF HARD SIDEWALKS AND SO
FORTH SO I SEE THAT BUT LOOKING
AT THE REST OF DISTRICT SEVEN,
I SEE WEST OF QUEEN ANNE IS
LIKE AN AREA WITH A PARTIALLY
SEPARATED SYSTEM AND WASN'T
SPOKEN TO THE BIG PROJECT WITH
THE SHIP NOW OBVIOUSLY BUT,
QUEEN AND IS REALLY AN OLD PART
OF THE CITY AND THE
INFRASTRUCTURE IN QUEEN ANNE IS
OLD. WHICH HAS SOME MAJOR
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ITEMS,
JUST TO TURN THIS INTO A PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING FOR
TWO SECONDS. BUT ALSO IT IS
FAILING. AND I'VE SEEN THIS
AGAIN AND AGAIN ON THE HILL.
SO, IF THE STREET HAS A MAJOR
WATER BREAK PROBLEM AND THEY
ARE IN THERE, IS THERE
POSSIBILITIES LIKE I THINK IT
WAS WEST STREET BETWEEN NINTH
AND 10th, THEY JUST DID THE
ENTIRE STREET WITH THE WHOLE
KIND OF COMPLETE STREET ROAD
PROJECTS, ARE THEY GOING IN AND
TRYING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF
PARTIALLY SEPARATED, TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES TO LIMIT AND KIND
OF SHRINK THAT GREEN AREA IN
D7?
>> I KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING
TO COORDINATE AND COLLABORATE
WITH S. AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
WHEN THEY ARE GOING AND DOING
THEIR BIG ROADWAY PROJECTS TO
BE ABLE TO ADDRESS ANY
INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES SO THAT
WAY THERE IS LESS IMPACT IN THE
COMMUNITY AND WE CAN GO AT ONCE
AND IT'S NOT AS DISRUPTIVE. SO
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE AT
SBU THAT WORKS -- THAT'S HER
JOB IS JUST COORDINATING ON
PROJECTS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
GETTING IN THERE ONE TIME TO BE
ABLE TO ADDRESS AS MANY OF
THOSE ISSUES AT ONCE.
>> YEAH, THAT PROGRAM IS BOTH
FOR DRAINAGE AND WASTEWATER AND
FOR WATER SO WE DO THE SAME
THING WITH OUR WATER PIPES AND
I THINK WE ARE GOING IN TO FIX
OUR WATER PIPES AND THERE'S A
DRAINAGE AND WASTEWATER ISSUE
THERE, WE DO THOSE THINGS IN
COMBINATION BECAUSE IT DOES
HAVE SUCH A -- IT SAVES THE
TROUBLE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND
IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO
GET IN THERE AND FIX STUFF. WE
DIDN'T FOCUS ON THAT TYPE OF
WORK IN THIS PRESENTATION
BECAUSE IT'S OUTSIDE OF OUR
COMBINED OVERFLOW REDUCTION
PROGRAM BUT SPU HAS A NUMBER OF
PROGRAMS THAT DEAL WITH OLDER
INFRASTRUCTURE FROM PIPE REHAB
TO CAPACITY PROBLEMS AND WE
WOULD BE HAPPY TO COME BACK AT
ANY POINT AND SHARE MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THOSE WITH
YOU.
>> OKAY, YES, IF YOU HAVE IT I
WOULD TAKE IT BECAUSE IT'S VERY
INTERESTING AND THE IDEA IS TO
SHRINK THAT PARTIALLY SEPARATED
AREA THROUGHOUT THE CITY BUT
I'M JUST LOOKING IN RESPECT TO
THE DISTRICTS.
>> YEAH AND THE PARTIALLY
SEPARATED AREA IS WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO WITH THOSE IS AS
DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS OVER TIME,
IT TRIGGERS THE INDIVIDUAL
PARCELS TO CONNECT TO THE STORM
DRAIN SYSTEM SO THEY SEPARATE
OVER TIME AS THE CITY IS
DEVELOPING. AND THAT'S ONE OF
THE WAYS THAT WE ARE PULLING
MORE STORMWATER OFF OF OUR
COMBINED SYSTEM IN THOSE OTHER
AREAS.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU.
>> I ALSO WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR BEING
THE TRAFFIC CONTROLLER FOR THE
SLIDES. THANK YOU, YOU STEPPED
IN. DELTA NEEDS YOU RIGHT NOW
TO HELP WITH LOGISTICS.
>> THAT'S WHY WE FLY ALASKA.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR AND THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE. I JUST WANT
TO SAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE A BRIEFING EARLIER IN THE
WEEK, THANK YOU FOR THAT AND
I'LL GET MY QUESTIONS
ANSWERED. I DO WANT TO EXPRESS
GRATITUDE TO SPU FOR THEIR
BEING PROACTIVE IN TERMS OF
SEEKING THESE MODIFICATIONS TO
DEAL WITH THE IMPACTS OF
CLIMATE CHANGE THAT HAS REALLY
CHANGED THIS ENVIRONMENT SINCE
2013 WHEN THIS CONSENT DECREE
WAS ISSUED SO REALLY DO
APPRECIATE BEING PROACTIVE OF
AND RESPONDING TO THESE IMPACTS
SO, THANK YOU.
>> QUICK QUESTION, I DON'T
KNOW IF THIS PERTAINS TO THE
DRAIN WATER, BUT I RECENTLY %AD
A VISIT TO THE ARBORETUM AND
SAW HOW MUCH WATER RUNOFF COMES
OFF ON A REGULAR DAY EVEN NOT
EVEN RAINING AND THEN THEY
SHOWED ME A VIDEO OF THEM -- OF
IT FLOODING. WOULD THIS HAVE
ANY IMPACT TO THE IMPROVEMENTS
WE ARE MAKING FOR THEM? I KNOW
THEY ARE DOING A STUDY OR NOT A
STUDY, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE
SOME INVESTMENTS THERE TO
RETURN SOME OF THAT WATER BACK
TO LAKE WASHINGTON. WOULD THIS
HAVE ANY IMPACT RELIEF ON THAT?
>> THIS MODIFICATION WOULD NOT
IMPACT THAT. THANK YOU THOUGH.
>> THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. IT WAS
WILD FOR ME TO SEE ALL OF THE
RUNOFF FROM CAPITOL HILL AND IT
WAS JUST, I HAD NO CLUE.
SOMEONE'S BACKYARD LOOKS LIKE
A RIVER. IT'S PRETTY
INTERESTING IF ANYONE WANTS TO
GO WITH ME. OKAY, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS, COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> IN THE BEGINNING OF YOUR
PRESENTATION YOU SAID THAT YOU
NEED OUR AUTHORIZATION TO
PRESENT THIS REQUEST TO THE
COURTS? AND THEN, WHAT'S THE
CHANCE THAT WE GET IT?
>> VERY HIGH. WE JUST FINISHED
UP ABOUT TWO YEARS OF
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE U.S. EPA,
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF
ECOLOGY AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE TO THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS
ALREADY ROUTED THE MODIFICATION
FOR PREAPPROVAL ON THEIR END,
SO THEN THE PROCESS STEPS ARE,
WE GET APPROVAL FROM CITY
COUNCIL, KING COUNTY JUST GOT
-- THEY WENT THROUGH THE SAME
PROCESS, THEY WERE ALL
NEGOTIATING IN THE SAME ROOM
FOR OTHERS AS WELL. THEIR
COUNSEL JUST APPROVED THEIRS
YESTERDAY AND SO, THEN WE WOULD
SEND IT BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE, THEY WOULD LODGE IT
IN COURT AND THE JUDGE WOULD
THEORETICALLY APPROVE IT. THIS
WAS THE PROCESS WE WENT THROUGH
WHEN WE FIRST ENTERED INTO OUR
CURRENT CONSENT DECREE AND
THERE WERE NO ISSUES SO I
CAN'T IMAGINE A JUDGE WOULD
DECIDE OTHERWISE WHAT WILL
HAPPEN THOUGH IS ONCE THEY
LODGE IT IN COURT, THAT
TRIGGERS THE 30 DAY PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD ON THE FEDERAL
SIDE SO THERE COULD POTENTIALLY
BE COMMENTS FROM EITHER TRIBES
OR OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. BUT I
KNOW THAT EPA AND ECOLOGY HAVE
DONE TRIBAL OUTREACH TO TRY TO
ENGAGE WITH THEM AND HAVE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE
MODIFICATION.
>> AND HOPEFULLY OIR HAS AS
WELL.
>> WE HAVE AS WELL SO WE LET
EPA AND ECOLOGY TAKE THE LEAD
AND WE FOLLOW IT UP AS WELL SO
WE HAVE ALSO REACHED OUT TO
TRIBAL, THE TRIBES, AS WELL AS
ENVIRONMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS.
THANKS.
>> AWESOME, IS THERE ANY OTHER
QUESTION? OKAY, WE WILL NOW
MOVE TO VOTE ON BILL AND I
MOVED THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF COUNSEL
BILL 120 810. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECONDED.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE
OF THE BILL IF THERE IS NO
FINAL COMMENTS, CLERK, WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE
COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND THE
PASSING OF THE BILL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON? CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH? FIVE IN FAVOR,
NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BILL
PASSES WILL BE SENT TO JULY
30th, 2024 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. THANK YOU BOTH AGAIN.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
NOW IF THERE IS NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS WE ARE GOING TO MOVE
ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE
AND FOUR. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM THREE AND FOUR INTO
THE RECORD.
>> ITEM NUMBER THREE IS COUNSEL
BILL 120819, AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO DRAINAGE SERVICES
OF SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
ADJUSTING DRAINAGE RATES AND
AMENDING SECTIONS 21.33 010,
21.33 030, 21.33 .040, 21.30
3.050 AND 21.30 3.090 OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE TO
REFLECT ADJUSTED RATES. THIS IS
FOR DISCUSSION ALONG WITH
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR WITH
HIS COUNSEL VOTE 120820 AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
WASTEWATER SERVICES OF SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES ADJUSTING
WASTEWATER RATES AND AMENDING
SECTION 21.28 9040 OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE TO
REFLECT ADJUSTED RATES. THIS IS
FOR BRIEFING DISCUSSION AS WELL
AND PRESENTING TODAY ARE KARL
STICKEL FROM SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES.
>> THERE'S GOING TO BE ONE
PRESENTATION TODAY ON BOTH
SUBJECTS. DRAINAGE AND
WASTEWATER BUT THEY WILL
EVENTUALLY BE VOTED ON AS
SEPARATE BUT IT'S ONE
PRESENTATION SO JUST WANTED TO
CLARIFY THAT. AND WE ARE GOING
TO HAVE HELP. NO WORRIES, YOU
ARE ALL GOOD. WE WILL TRY TO
SAVE HIM FROM TRAFFIC CONTROL
TODAY.
>> THIS IS ALSO BLANK.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO PULL IT UP
BUT WE WILL WAIT FOR THAT. AND
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
PRESENTATION ON WASTEWATER AND
DRAINAGE. WE KNOW IT'S
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IN
SEATTLE. I WENT TO SCHOOL IN
TUCSON AND THEIR DRAINAGE
SYSTEM IS REALLY BAD AND THERE
WOULD BE THESE REALLY CURVES IN
THE ROAD THAT YOU WOULD DRIVE
THROUGH AND YOU WOULD SEE CARS
UNDERWATER BECAUSE OF THEIR
DRAINAGE SYSTEM WITH THE
MONSOONS. LOOKING FORWARD TO
IT. INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND
JUMP RIGHT IN.
>> SURE, I AM AND 16, THE
FINANCE DIRECTOR, --
>> AND I'M PAULA LASH OVER AND
AS ANNOUNCED WE ARE GOING TO
COVER THE TWO BILLS REGARDING
DRAINAGE AND WASTEWATER RATES.
THESE ALIGN WITH THE OBJECTIVE
OF SPU'S 2025 STRATEGIC
BUSINESS PLAN. THEY INCLUDE
FULFILLING THE REGULATORY
REQUIREMENTS AND SATISFYING THE
FINANCIAL POLICY TARGETS
ESTABLISHED BY THE COUNCIL. SO
NOW I WILL TURN IT OVER TO KARL
FOR THE DETAILS.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU. FIRST AND
FOREMOST, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALEX
AND THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR
GIVING A LITTLE BIT OF A PRIMER
ON DRAINAGE AND WASTEWATER
SYSTEMS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE ARE
GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT
TODAY. SO, I'M GOING TO WALK
YOU THROUGH DRAINAGE AND
WASTEWATER RATES PROPOSAL.
THESE ARE THREE-YEAR RATES
STARTING IN 2025 AND GOING
THROUGH 2027. I WILL START WITH
A BRIEF BACKGROUND ON DRAINAGE
AND WASTEWATER AND THEN I WILL
SHOW YOU THE RATE PATH PROPOSED
AND SHOW YOU THE IMPACT OF THE
RATES ON BILLS AND LET YOU KNOW
WHAT ASSUMPTIONS WE BUILT INTO
THESE RATES AND THEN TALK ABOUT
NEXT STEPS. SO, NEXT SLIDE,
THANK YOU. SO FOR WASTEWATER
RATES, IT'S A RELATIVELY
SIMPLE PROCESS BASED ON WATER
CONSUMPTION USE. THE MORE WATER
YOU USE, THE MORE WASTEWATER IS
ASSUMED, SO PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD. AND FOR WHAT
IT'S WORTH, CCF IS CUBIC FEET
OF WATER. ONE CCF IS ABOUT 748
GALLONS. SO, DRAINAGE IS A BIT
MORE COMPLEX. IT'S BASED ON
TWO FACTORS, PARCEL SIZE AND
RUNOFF CONTRIBUTION, SO
OBVIOUSLY IT'S A LITTLE
DIFFERENT FOR RESIDENTIAL, THAT
TYPICALLY HAS A NATURAL
GROUNDCOVER LIKE TREES AND
GRASS THAN IT IS FOR A
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY THAT IS
ALMOST ENTIRELY CONCRETE. THE
MORE IMPERVIOUS THE GROUND IS
LIKE CONCRETE, THE MORE RUNOFF
THERE IS THAT USES THE DRAINAGE
SYSTEM AND THEREFORE MORE
CHARGES. WHILE PERSONAL SIZE IS
PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD, THE
RUNOFF CONTRIBUTION USES AN
ALGORITHM TO DETERMINE THE
APPROXIMATE CHARGE. WE RECENTLY
UPDATED THE DATA USING NEW
TECHNOLOGY THAT BETTER SHOWS A
TREE CANOPY AND IMPERVIOUS
SURFACES, IT'S BEEN ABOUT A
DECADE SINCE WE LAST UPDATED
THAT DATA. THERE'S BEEN A LOT
OF DEVELOPMENTS SINCE THAT
TIME. THE PROPOSED RATES
INCLUDE THIS NEW DATA. SO HERE
IS THE PROPOSED RATE PATH FOR
ALL OF OUR LINES OF BUSINESS
INCLUDING DRAINAGE AND
WASTEWATER. IT'S THE SAME AS
WHAT WE PROPOSED EARLIER AS
PART OF A STRATEGIC BUSINESS
PLAN. THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGES
SO, AS NOTED, IF YOU LOOK AT
THE DRAINAGE AND WASTEWATER
RATES IN THE MIDDLE THERE, YOU
WILL SEE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE
TO KEEP THE RATE PATH
RELATIVELY SMOOTH FOR THREE
YEARS OF THE RATE STUDY FROM 25
TO 27 IN THE LIGHT BLUE SECTION
BUT THE RATE FORECAST FOR THE
OUT YEARS IS MORE OF AN
ESTIMATION OF WHERE WE THINK IT
WILL LAND AND WE ARE NOT ASKING
FOR YOUR APPROVAL ON THAT
FORECAST WITH THIS PROPOSAL.
THE RATE PATH HERE IS IN BLUE,
PRETTY CONSISTENT BECAUSE WE
WERE ABLE TO USE CASH TO NOT
ONLY SMOOTH THE RATES HIM A
SORT OF AVOIDING THOSE RATE
SPIKES BUT ALSO KEEPING THEM
LOWER BY TYING DOWN THE RATE .
WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME
ASSUMPTION FOR CASH IN THE OUT
YEARS, THE 28th AND 30 IN THE
GREEN BUT WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT
FOR THE NEXT RATE STUDY WE WILL
BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT SAME
RATE SMOOTHING. THE WASTEWATER
RATE ALSO INCLUDES THE KING
COUNTY TREATMENT RATE
INCREASES. SO HERE'S A BIT OF
GOOD NEWS, YOU CAN SEE ON THE
TOP TABLE WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY
ADOPTED FOR WASTEWATER AND
DRAINAGE AS PART OF THE RATE
PATH FOR 25 AND 26 AND THE
LOWER TABLE SHOWS OUR REVISED
POST RATES FOR DRAINAGE AND
WASTEWATER AND OVERALL THEY ARE
LOWER AND YOU MAY ASK WHY WHICH
IS THE NEXT SLIDE AND I THINK I
MENTIONED THIS BUT I BRIEFLY
MENTIONED, THE REASON IT'S
LOWER IS THE ADOPTION RATES, WE
USED EXISTING CASH ON HAND TO
BUY DOWN THE RATES AND MAKE IT
A LOT LESS VOLATILE SO IT'S A
SMOOTH AND PREDICTABLE RATE
PATH. WE DON'T LIKE HOLDING ON
TO RATEPAYER CASH LONGER THAN
NECESSARY SO WHILE WE ARE
PROPOSING THREE-YEAR RATES
TODAY FOR YOUR REVIEW AND
APPROVAL WE WILL ENDEAVOR TO
KEEP THESE RATES AS LOW AS
POSSIBLE FOR THE NEXT RATE
PROPOSAL IN THREE YEARS USING
WHATEVER CASH WE HAVE ON HAND
WHEN WE COME TO THAT. WHEN WE
COME BACK TO YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, DID
YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> I DID, I GUESS I WILL JUST
TAKE IT. THANK YOU FOR THIS
SLIDE, I BELIEVE IT SLIDE 16
WITH THE COMPARISONS, JUST
TEASING THIS OUT A LITTLE BIT
MORE SO IN THE STRATEGIC
BUSINESS PLAN THAT WAS
AUTHORIZED PREVIOUSLY THAT IS
WHAT ALLOWED YOU TO BRING US
RATES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AS
HIGH AS 7.8 PERCENT FOR 2025.
>> IF YOU GO ONE MORE SLIDE
AHEAD, THAT ONE.
>> CORRECT, WHAT COUNSEL HAD
APPROVED OR ENDORSED WAS THAT
TOP -- THOSE TOP RATES AND
THOSE WERE MUCH HIGHER AT THE
TIME. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COME
IN MUCH LOWER NOW BASED ON WHAT
WE CAN DO A LOT OF SAVINGS THAT
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH
AND CASH THAT WE'VE HAD ON
HAND TO PAY DOWN THE RATES.
THAT'S OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE
RATES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE FOR
OUR RATEPAYERS.
>> I WILL JUST NOTE HERE THAT
IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR US TO
HAVE A BRIEF REFRESHER ON THE
LAST STRATEGIC PLAN THAT LED US
TO THIS RATE PATH BECAUSE THERE
WERE SOME CHOICES MADE DURING
THE PANDEMIC WHERE WE KEPT
RATES LOW, PUSHED THOSE COSTS
HIGHER, THOSE HIGHER RATES TO
THE OUT YEARS WHICH WOULD HAVE
BEEN THIS YEAR AND THEN SPU
CAME IN AND SAVED THE DAY AND
BROUGHT US LOWER RATES THAN
WHAT WE HAD ASSUMED AT THAT
TIME. AND SO, I THINK AT LEAST
IN THE PAST COUPLE
PRESENTATIONS, I WASN'T
TRACKING DOWN TO THIS LEVEL
UNTIL WE GOTTEN TO HASHING OUT
OUR BRIEFING AND ITS UNIQUE, I
DON'T SEE THIS OFTEN WHERE THE
UTILITY IS AUTHORIZED TO GO TO
A HIGHER RATE PATH. IT COMES IN
BELOW WHAT WE AUTHORIZED, SO I
JUST WANTED TO TAKE THAT MOMENT
TO PAUSE AND REALIZE THAT BOTH
OF YOU ARE VERY GOOD AT WHAT
YOU ARE DOING I JUST REALIZED
IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR US TO
STEP BACK AND REALIZE HOW DID
WE GET HERE TODAY FROM THAT
STRATEGIC BUSINESS POINT?
>> GREAT SUGGESTION.
ABSOLUTELY.
>> THANK YOU. YOU CAN GO RIGHT
THERE. YOU MAY REMEMBER THIS
SLIDE FROM WHEN WE DISCUSSED
THE STRATEGIC IS THIS PLAN BUT
WE THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH
EMPHASIZING, WE HAVE SEVERAL
DRIVERS IMPACTING RATES, NAMELY
INFLATION, HIGHER INTEREST
RATES WHICH AFFECTS BONDS,
REGULATORY PRESSURES AND AGING
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT AFFECTS OUR
CAPITAL PROGRAM AND THE KING
COUNTY TREATMENT CONTRACT
RATES. ALL THESE FACTORS IMPACT
RIGHT NOW RATES THROUGHOUT THE
YEARS. ONE OF THE BIGGEST
FACTORS WE ARE CONSIDERING IS
INFLATION WHEN IT REACHED
NEARLY 8% A COUPLE YEARS AGO,
FUEL COSTS WENT UP FOR US,
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND
SUPPLY CHAIN COSTS ALSO
SKYROCKETED AND LABOR AND
HEALTHCARE COSTS ALSO INCREASED
SINCE THAT TIME BUT INSTEAD OF
REQUESTING THE RATE INCREASE TO
COVER THOSE INFLATION COSTS AT
THE TIME, WE ABSORBED IT WITHIN
OUR EXISTING BUDGET. OVER THE
PAST FEW YEARS INFLATION HAS
REMAINED RELATIVELY HIGH AND WE
ARE JUST HAVING TO CATCH UP NOW
SO WE HAVE BUILT THOSE COSTS
INTO OUR FORECAST GOING
FORWARD. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH
THE BUDGET OFFICE ON INFLATION
ASSUMPTIONS WHICH INCLUDE THE
RECENT LABOR AGREEMENT. IN
TERMS OF CAPITAL EXPENSES,
SORRY. IN TERMS OF CAPITAL
EXPENSES WE HAVE SEVERAL STATE
AND FEDERAL MANDATED PROJECTS
AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY HAVING TO
MAINTAIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND
ALSO INTEREST RATES ARE
SUPERHIGH AS YOU ARE PROBABLY
AWARE . BACK IN 2021 WE WERE
FORTUNATE TO REFINANCE MANY OF
OUR OUTSTANDING CAPITAL BONDS
TO LOWER INTEREST RATES SAVING
US TENS AND THE RATEPAYERS TENS
OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. TODAY
RATES ARE SIMPLY TOO HIGH TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE KINDS
OF OPPORTUNITIES SO WE ARE
SEEING MUCH HIGHER INTEREST
RATES ON OUR BOND FINANCE THESE
DAYS AND YOU WILL SEE THOSE
ASSUMPTIONS IN OUR BOND
INTEREST RATES AND UPCOMING
SLIDE . THEN THERE'S THE KING
COUNTY CONTRACT FOR OUR SEWER
TREATMENT, AS YOU KNOW, KING
COUNTY TREATS OUR WASTEWATER
AND WE COLLECT WASTE ON THEIR
BEHALF. EVERY YEAR, KING COUNTY
INCREASES THEIR RATE
PROJECTIONS AND THEY ARE
CURRENTLY PROJECTED TO INCREASE
TO 8 1/4 OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL
YEARS. ALL THIS TO SAY JUST
LIKE THE REST OF THE CITY, THE
UTILITIES HAVE TO BEAR THE
BRUNT OF A LOT OF ECONOMIC
ISSUES AND WE ARE HAPPY TO
PROPOSE RATES THAT INCLUDE THIS
NEW REALITY. SO, THE WASTEWATER
RATE IS COMPRISED OF ACTUALLY
TWO RATES. THERE'S A SYSTEM
RATE AND TREATMENT RATE. THE
SYSTEM RATE SHOWS THE COST OF
MAINTAINING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
AND THE TREATMENT RATE OF
COURSE IS THE COUNTY'S COST.
SO THEY TREAT OUR WASTEWATER.
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TABLE
SHOWS THE AVERAGE BILLS FOR A
SAMPLE OF CUSTOMERS WITH THE
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE PAYING
ABOUT $79 NOW FOR WASTEWATER
COST HAVING INCREASED FOUR
DOLLARS NEXT YEAR TO $83. THAT
IS THE 5% INCREASE. FOR
DRAINAGE, IT'S A BIT MORE
COMPLEX. IT'S BASED ON TWO
FACTORS, PARCEL SIZE AND RUNOFF
CONTRIBUTION. OBVIOUSLY IT'S
DIFFERENT FOR RESIDENTIAL THAN
FOR COMMERCIAL. THE MORE
IMPERVIOUS THE GROUND IS LIKE
CONCRETE, THE MORE RUNOFF INTO
THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND
THEREFORE MORE CHARGES. AND
THERE'S A WHOLE ALGORITHM FOR
DETERMINING THE RUNOFF
CONTRIBUTION AND BELOW IS A
SAMPLE OF CUSTOMER IMPACTS
TRADE FOR INSTANCE, THE MULTI
FAMILY BILL IS CURRENTLY $11 ON
AVERAGE AND WILL INCREASE TO
$12 STARTING IN 2025. I SHOULD
MENTION THAT THE DRAINAGE BILL
COMES THROUGH THE PROPERTY TAX
BILL FOR THE COUNTY. IT'S NOT
PART OF OUR UTILITIES BILLING,
SO JUST BE AWARE OF THAT. THERE
WAS INTEREST IN SHOWING THE
ANNUAL BILL AS IT RELATES TO
THE ACTUAL PARCEL SIZE FOR
SMALL RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.
THESE ARE RATES PAID BY
HOMEOWNERS WITH PARCELS UNDER
10,000 SQUARE FEET. FOR
INSTANCE, TOWNHOMES WHICH ARE
REFERRED TO AS MIDDLE HOUSING
MAKE UP ALMOST ALL OF TIER S1,
THE FIRST ONE THERE, WITHIN
EACH OF THOSE TEARS, THE AMOUNT
OF HARD SURFACE IS ABOUT THE
SAME. SO THESE ARE AVERAGE
ANNUAL BILLS WHICH WOULD BE
BROKEN UP TWICE PER YEAR AND
WOULD COME IN THE COUNTY'S
PROPERTY TAX BILL. IN TERMS OF
ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE'VE USED IN
THESE PROPOSED RATES, WE ARE
ASSUMING INTEREST RATES FOR
BONDS AT 5%. WE JUST SOLD WATER
BONDS ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND IT
WAS AT 4.2% BUT THE WATER BOND,
THE WATER FUND HAS A AAA
RATING, THE DRAINAGE AND WASTE
WATER FUND IS A LITTLE LESS
THAN THAT SO WE ARE AT 75%
RIGHT NOW. OUR CIP
ACCOMPLISHMENT RATE IS 80%. OH
AND HIM INFLATION, 4%. THERE
ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE PLAN
FOR SEPARATELY IN OWEN M LIKE
HEALTHCARE AND LABOR COSTS. WE
ASSUMED THE RECENT LABOR
CONTRACT WITH THESE RATES WHICH
WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN 5%. WE
ALSO INCLUDED KING COUNTY
TREATMENT RATES AS PROVIDED BY
THE COUNTY. NO CHANGES TO TAX
RATES AND WE ARE NOT ASSUMING
RIGHT NOW ANY DEBT REFINANCING
OR ALTERNATIVE FUNDING LIKE
FEDERAL LOANS BUT WE WILL
DEFINITELY BE SEEKING OUT THOSE
KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES EVERY
YEAR JUST TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
POTENTIALLY BETTER RATES IN
ORDER TO LOWER OUR COSTS TO
RATE REPAIRS. AND THEN,
FINALLY, WE'VE BEEN ASKED
ABOUT MIDDLE HOUSING WHICH CAN
INCLUDE TOWNHOMES. WE CONSIDER
THOSE UNDER THE SMALL BILL.
SMALLER THAN 10,000 SQUARE
FEET. IN THE PRIOR SLIDE I
NOTED HOW TOWNHOMES MAKE UP
ALMOST ALL OF TIER ONE. IN
TERMS OF NEXT STEPS, I BELIEVE
WE HAVE ANOTHER COMMITTEE
MEETING SET FOR MID AUGUST AND
THEN ASSUMING YOU RECOMMEND THE
RATES WE LOOK FORWARD TO A FULL
COUNCIL VOTE IN SEPTEMBER
BEFORE THE BUDGET. WILL BE THE
MAIN TAKE AWAY HERE IS THAT
THESE ARE THE SAME RATES YOU'VE
SEEN AS PART OF THE STRATEGIC
BUSINESS PLAN AND ONE SILVER
LINING IS PROPOSED RATES ARE
LOWER THAN WHAT WAS IN THE
CURRENT PLAN. SO. AND I'M
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I WILL
PAUSE HERE TO SEE IF ANYONE HAS
ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I ASK
MINE. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU. I JUST ALSO WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT YOU SHARED IS
THAT YOU HAVE PASSED THROUGH
RATES THAT YOU CAN'T CONTROL.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR
THE VIEWING PUBLIC, EVERYONE
WATCHING ON THE CHANNEL RIGHT
NOW THAT SOMETHING KARL SAID
VERY QUICKLY ALSO THAT THE
DRAINAGE RATES GO THROUGH YOUR
PROPERTY TAX.
>> DRAINAGE RATES ARE PART OF
THE PROPERTY TAX BILL.
>> SO WE DON'T SEE THOSE EVERY
OTHER MONTH BILL?
>> RIGHT. TWICE A YEAR RATHER
THAN YOUR IMPACT. PEOPLE STILL
WITH MORTGAGES IS HELD WITHIN
ESCROW AS COMPARED TO SOME OF
THESE OTHER RATES THAT YOU FEEL
ARE IN EVERY OTHER MONTH BILL.
I'VE GOT MY CITY LIGHT VERSION
RIGHT NOW. BUT YOU KNOW
SOMETHING THAT YOU START
FEELING IN YOUR POCKETBOOK,
UNDERSTANDING THAT KING COUNTY
IS VERY INFLEXIBLE IN THEIR
RATES, I REALLY WANT TO
COMPLEMENT YOU ON DOING A GOOD
JOB TO KEEP THEM AS LOW AS
POSSIBLE FOR SEATTLEITES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE IN
MEETINGS, THERE'S A LOT OF --
I KNOW WE ARE KEEPING RATES AS
LOW AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR
COMMUNITY AND THERE'S A LOT OF
PEOPLE THAT DON'T QUALIFY FOR
A CERTAIN DISCOUNT. THEY JUST
FALL RIGHT ABOVE THAT LINE AND
IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE SAYING,
THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT
DON'T QUALIFY FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BUT THEY ARE RIGHT
ABOVE THE LINE AND THINKING OF
WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN GIVE
RELIEF TO SOME OF THOSE FOLKS
WHO DON'T QUALIFY FOR DISCOUNT
PROGRAMS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF
MIDDLE CLASS WORKING FAMILIES
AND JUST, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE
TRYING TO GET BY WITH RELIEF
AND I KNOW THERE'S CERTAIN
THINGS THAT WE CAN AND CAN'T
DO BUT I'M OPEN TO WHATEVER
CREATIVE IDEAS THAT SPU HAS AND
FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE
TO KEEP THE COSTS FOR PEOPLE AS
AFFORDABLE AS POSSIBLE. SO. AND
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY
OTHER -- COMMENT? COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR AND THANK
YOU FOR YOUR BRIEFING AND WE,
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH AND I ARE
ON REGIONAL WATER QUALITY SO WE
SEE THE KING COUNTY SIDE AND
THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME
PRESSURES -- RATE PRESSURES
THAT ARE DRIVING SOME OF THOSE
MEMBERS AND, TWO THINGS, ONE
IS, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN AWARE OF
INFLATION. I'M OLD ENOUGH TO
REMEMBER THE EARLIER HIGH BOUTS
OF INFLATION FROM THE PREVIOUS
ERA BUT, IT HAS MAJOR IMPACTS
AND I HAVE A GREAT
UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION
OF WHAT THE FEDERAL RESERVE
CHAIRMAN IS TRYING TO DO
RELATED TO INFLATION BECAUSE IT
LACKS SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS
FROM A BUDGETARY AND EVERYTHING
ELSE PER SPEC LIVE AND SO,
HOPEFULLY THE ASSUMPTIONS HOLD
AND RIGHT NOW THEY ARE TRENDING
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SO
LET'S KEEP THAT UP. THE OTHER
THING I WANTED TO SAY AND IT
TIES TO A THIRD POINT IS, WE
CAN'T , WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
THESE RATES AND SO FORTH, WE
CAN'T LOOK AT THEM IN
ISOLATION BECAUSE THIS IS JUST
ONE. THEN WE HAVE OTHERS FOR
ENERGY OR WE HAVE ALL THESE
DIFFERENT PIECES THAT COME
TOGETHER. AND SO WE NEED TO BE
MINDFUL OF THE COMBINED EFFECT
AND IMPACT AND THIS WILL SHOW
UP IN DIFFERENT WAYS. IT COULD
SHOW UP IN TERMS OF LEVEES LIKE
VOTERS, I MEAN, THESE THINGS
ALL ADD UP AND WE NEED TO BE
MINDFUL OF THAT AND, BE REALLY
LOOKING TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT
IS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BY SMART
BUDGETING WITH CHAIR STRAUSS
FROM THE BUDGET SIDE OF THINGS
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO
THAT AND OTHERWISE WE CAN
CREATE PROBLEMS AND WE ALSO
HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF PROGRAMS
THAT WE DO THAT CAN BE
INFLATIONARY. ONE THING I'VE
NOTICED OVER THE YEARS IS THAT
CITY COUNCIL DOES INITIALLY
THINK ABOUT THE INFLATIONARY
IMPACTS OF WHATEVER DECISION
THEY ARE MAKING. IF IT'S A HOT
TOPIC IN A HOT SECTOR, LIKE
SIDEWALKS, AND WE THROW A LOT
OF MONEY ON IT. WE NEED TO BE
SMART ABOUT HOW WE DO THAT
BECAUSE IT CAN CREATE
INFLATIONARY IMPACTS AND I
THINK THAT IS SOMETHING OVERALL
FROM OUR WORK HERE IN THE
COUNCIL, WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL
BECAUSE IT COMES DOWN TO THESE
ASSUMPTIONS ON THIS SLIDE
EIGHT, THE INTEREST RATES, THE
OWEN M -- O&M AND THE LIKE SO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT
AND BEING A GOOD STEWARD OF THE
MONEY AND BRINGING IT BACK TO
LEVEL THINGS OUT WHICH REALLY
HELP THE RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. THERE'S NO MORE
FURTHER -- GOSH, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, I'M SORRY. I WAS
LOOKING AT YOU. I'M SORRY.
THANK YOU. I KNOW. I APOLOGIZE.
I KNOW, I'M SORRY. THANK YOU
BOTH, REALLY APPRECIATE IT. MY
LAST COMMENT IS, THAT'S ALSO
GREAT TO KNOW AND COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS ALSO SAID IT, A LOT OF
WHAT WE DO IS PAIRED TO KING
COUNTY AND WHAT THEIR RATES ARE
SETTING FOR THE WASTEWATER AND
ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS AND
I KNOW WE SIT ON THE REGIONAL
WATER COMMITTEE SO THAT'S,
PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT
THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS THAT
COME INTO THAT, SO THANK YOU,
THANK YOU ALL. SO, WITH THAT,
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, IF
THERE'S NO FURTHER ITEMS OF
BUSINESS, THIS MEETING WILL
COME TO A CLOSE. DO ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE ANYMORE ITEMS
OF BUSINESS? SEE NONE, I WON'T
TELL YOU ALL TO SING HAPPY
BIRTHDAY TO ALEX THAT I WILL
SING HER THE STEVIE WONDER
HAPPY BIRTHDAY VERSION IN MY
OFFICE COMING AFTER THE
MEETING. THIS CONCLUDES JULY
24th, 2024, MEETING OF THE
PARKS PUBLIC UTILITY TECHNOLOGY
COMMITTEE. OUR NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING IS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST
14, 2:00 P.M. NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, THE MEETING WILL
ADJOURN, HEARING NONE, IT IS
3:21 P.M. THANK YOU.