>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THE MAY
21st, 2024 SELECT COMMITTEE ON
THE 2024 TRANSPORTATION LEVY
PUBLIC HEARING WILL COME TO
ORDER. IT IS 4:20 4 PM. I AM
ROB SOCCER, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
>> VICE-CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH
>> PRESENT
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE
>> PRESENT
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE
>> HERE
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
>> HERE
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON
>> PRESENT
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA
>> HERE
>> CHAIR SAKA
>> HERE. THANK YOU CLERK. I
NOTE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS AND COUNCIL MEMBER WOO
ARE EXCUSED FROM THIS MEETING.
IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
NO OBJECTIONS, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. BEFORE WE BEGIN THE
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA , I
WOULD LIKE TO TEA UP AND
EXPLAIN IN THIS IS GOING TO
SOUND VERY FAMILIAR FOR OUR
COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE BEEN HERE
EARLIER BUT I JUST WANT TO
FRAME THE CONTEXT FOR WHY WE
ARE IN THE ROOM RIGHT NOW WHERE
WE ARE, SO TONIGHT IS THE VERY
FIRST OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS ON
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
TRANSPORTATION LEVY RENEWAL
LEGISLATION. AS YOU KNOW, THERE
WILL BE ONE MORE HEARING THAT
WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 4th AT
4:30 PM AGAIN, RIGHT HERE IN
COUNCIL CHAMBERS. WE ARE
PERFORMING OUR BUSINESS,
CONDUCTING THE IMPORTANT WORK
OF THE PEOPLE AND TAXPAYERS OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE RIGHT HERE
IN PLAIN SIGHT. YOU MAY SIGN UP
IN PERSON OR PROVIDE REMOTE
TESTIMONY. YOU MAY ALSO PROVIDE
TESTIMONY AT ANY OF THE NEXT
THREE COMMITTEE MEETINGS ,
SELECT COMMITTEE MEETINGS ON
THE LEVY, WHICH WILL BE ON JUNE
4th, JUNE 18th, JULY 2nd ALL AT
9:30 A.M. AND COLLEAGUES, THOSE
WHO SERVE ALONGSIDE ME ON THE
REGULAR TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE, I NOTE THAT THE
START TIME IS A DEPARTURE FOR E
UNTIWE ARE
SUSPENDING UNTIL THE CONCLUSION
OF OUR DELIBERATIVE PROCESS AS
WE CONSIDER THE TRANSPORTATION
LEVY PROPOSAL. ALL OF THE
REGULAR SCHEDULED TRANSFER TO
THE MEETINGS -- TRANSPORTATION
MEETINGS. SIGN UP FOR ANY OF
THESE MEETINGS BY LOGGING INTO
WWW.SEATTLE.GOV/COUNSEL/COMMITT
EES /PUBLIC COMMENT OR EMAIL
COUNSEL@SEATTLE.GOV AND SO HERE
WE ARE. WE HAVE THIS IMPORTANT
OPPORTUNITY, THIS LEVY, IF
PASSED BY VOTERS. THE VOTERS
HAVE ENTRUSTED CITY LEADERS
FROM ALL -- THE LEVY THAT IS
EXPIRING THIS YEAR TO ENSURE
NEEDS ARE MET AND I BELIEVE
THIS PAST LEVY DELIVERED ON
THOSE COMMITMENTS TO VOTERS AND
THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED VARIOUS
BRIEFINGS ON FROM VARIOUS
MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE, S. --
S D.O.T., CENTRAL STAFF IN OUR
ON COMMITTEE EXPERTS WHO HAVE
REPORTED OUT IN THIS BODY IN MY
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE THE
PROGRESS ON THE
RECOMMENDATIONS, SO I REALLY
WANT TO THANK THE LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR THEIR
WORK OVER THE PAST NINE YEARS
OF THE SOON TO BE EXPIRING LEVY
AND TAKE THE MAYOR AND TEAM FOR
PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION
JUST ON ALL THINGS
TRANSPORTATION AND FOR THEIR
EFFORTS BRINGING THE LEVY
RENEWAL PACKAGE IN ALL ITS
COMPLEXITIES AND PRESENTED IN A
MANNER THAT THE PUBLIC CAN
UNDERSTAND FOR THE MOST PART SO
HERE WE ARE. AS CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO
LEAD AND HELP OVERSEE THIS
IMPORTANT WORK IN MAKING SURE
THAT WHATEVER THIS IS THE $1.45
BILLION INVESTMENT PROPOSAL AND
WHATEVER SIZE WHEREVER WE
ULTIMATELY LAND. GO UP COULD GO
DOWN BUT WHEREVER WE LAND I'M
COMMITTED TO WORKING ALONGSIDE
YOU ALL AND MAKE SURE TAXPAYERS
RECEIVE THE BEST BANG FOR THEIR
BUCK AND WE HAVE THE STRONG ROI
RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND
GETTING SEEING GOOD RESULTS
ACROSS OUR GREAT CITY SO THAT
SAID, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD.
AGENDA ITEM ONE COUNTABLE
120788, AND ORDINANCE RELATING
TO TRANSPORTATION PROVIDING FOR
THE SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED
ELECTORS OF THE CITY AT AN
ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER
5th, 2024, A PROPOSITION
AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO LEVY
REGULAR PROPERTY TAXES UP TO
EIGHT YEARS IN EXCESS OF THE
LIMITATION ON LEVEES IN CHAPTER
84.55 RCW FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PROVIDING CITY FACILITIES AND
SERVICES , INCLUDING
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS
BOTH CAPITAL AND OPERATING WITH
POSSIBLE DEBT FINANCING,
CREATING AN OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE, APPLYING RCW 84.3
6.381 SENIOR CITIZEN AND
DISABLED PERSONS EXEMPTION IN
RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING
CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK. WILL OUR
PRESENTERS PLEASE JOIN US AT
THE TABLE AND SHARE YOUR
PRESENTATION. ONCE READY,
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND
BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU ,
CHAIR SAKA AND COUNCILMEMBER. I
AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
JOINED WITH SDOT COUNCIL
LIAISON BILL AND SDOT SENIOR
DEPUTY DIRECTOR THERE
FRANCISCO, WHO IS THE SPONSOR
OF THE LEVY. WE ARE HAPPY TO
HAVE A CHANCE TO PRESENT A
BRIEFER VERSION. WE'RE JUST
GOING TO DO 10 MINUTES
SUMMARIZING THE MAYOR'S LEVY
PROPOSAL AND FOR MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO VIEW
THE MORE DETAILED ONE HOUR
PRESENTATION WE GAVE, YOU CAN
LOOK UP THE MAY 7th MEETING
THAT TUESDAY MORNING . WE WENT
INTO MUCH MORE DETAIL ON THIS
CONTENT.
>> OKAY, I AM READY WHEN YOU
ARE. FOR THE LAST 18 YEARS
SEATTLE VOTERS HAVE SUPPORTED
TRANSPORTATION LEVEES THAT MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR STREETS,
SIDEWALKS, BRIDGES AND TRAFFIC
SIGNALS. THE LEVY TO MOVE
SEATTLE, WHICH EXPIRES AT THE
END OF 2024, REPRESENTS ABOUT
30% OF SDOT'S BUDGET FOR CORE
SERVICES AND NEW PROJECTS. SO,
THE MAYOR HAS PROPOSED A $1.45
BILLION LEVY RENEWAL PACKAGE
THAT I BELIEVE IS A PRACTICAL
AND SENSIBLE SET OF INVESTMENTS
TO MAINTAIN AND MODERNIZE OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE. I AM PLEASED TO
SAY WE HAVE A VARIETY OF PLANS
AND STRATEGIES THAT INFORMED
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL. THIS
COUNCIL ENACTED THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN IN APRIL,
WHICH IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE
HAD AN ALL-MODAL PLAN. WE USED
TO HAVE A BIKE PLAN AND A
PEDESTRIAN PLAN IN A SEPARATE
TRANSIT PLAN AND A SEPARATE
FREIGHT PLAN AND NOW, THE CITY
HAS A HOLISTIC ALL-MODAL PLAN
AND THAT INFORMS THE
INVESTMENTS IN THE PROPOSED
LEVY. WE ALSO HAVE A MUCH MORE
REFINED AND SOPHISTICATED ASSET
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT IS
BASED IN PART ON THE
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE BRIDGE
AUDIT THAT TOOK PLACE IN 2020.
WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED ALL THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHEN IT
COMES TO THE BRIDGES, WE ARE
NOW ABLE TO MAKE PROACTIVE
INVESTMENTS TO ATTAIN THE
DESIRED LIFECYCLE OF EACH
BRIDGE ASSET, WHICH REALLY
GIVES US A LOT MORE INTEL IN
DEVELOPING THIS INVESTMENT
PROGRAM THEN WE HAVE HAD IN
PREVIOUS LEVEES. ALSO, WE ARE
INFORMED BY THE SDOT
TRANSPORTATION EQUITY FRAMEWORK
THAT GIVES US A LOT OF TOOLS TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE INVESTING IN
PREVIOUSLY UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES AND BIG THEME OF
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL IS
SAFETY, SAFETY AND ALL OF ITS
FORMS , FOLKS BEING SAFE FROM A
TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WHEN THEY ARE
CROSSING THE STREET BUT ALSO
FOLKS FEELING SAFE ALL THERE
WAITING FOR THE BUS OR WHILE
THEY ARE ON PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION AND ALL THE
DIFFERENT INVESTMENTS IN THE
PROPOSED PACKAGE DRIVE THESE
SIX GOALS AND VALUES THAT WERE
EMBODIED IN THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN THIS
COUNCIL ADOPTED RECENTLY ON
THOSE VALUES ARE SAFETY,
EQUITY, SUSTAINABILITY,
MOBILITY AND ECONOMIC VITALITY,
LIVABILITY AND MAINTENANCE AND
MODERNIZATION AND THAT
MAINTENANCE AND MODERNIZATION
IS A REAL FAME. WE BELIEVE THAT
THE BEST TIME TO UPDATE OUR
INFRASTRUCTURES WHEN WE ARE
MAKING ALL THE REQUIRED
MAINTENANCE TO MAKE SURE IT
ATTAINS A SERVICE LIFE SO
MAINTAIN AND MODERNIZE AS AN
OVERARCHING THEME ACROSS THE
PROPOSAL AND WITH THAT I WILL
PASS IT TO FRANCISCO TO GET
INTO SOME OF THE DETAIL.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. AS GREG
MENTIONED, THIS IS AN EIGHT
YEAR, 145 BILLION LOBBY
PROPOSAL BUILDS ON THE
SHOULDERS OF YEARS OF COMMUNITY
INPUT THROUGH THE SALE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN AS WELL AS
INPUT WE GOT DURING THE PROCESS
OF DEVELOPING THIS PROPOSAL. IT
IS CRAFTED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO
LOTS OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES
WE HEARD THROUGHOUT THIS
PROCESS. WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE
WHO WANT TO SEE A BIGGER
PROPOSAL. WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE
WHO WANTED TO SEE A SMALL
PROPOSAL AND WE HEARD FROM
PEOPLE WHO WANTED DIFFERENT
VARIATIONS OF INVESTMENT IN
THIS IS REALLY REFLECTING A LOT
OF THAT INPUT AND WE WORKED TO
STITCH TOGETHER A LOT OF THOSE
INPUTS. WE ALSO KEPT
AFFORDABILITY AT THE FOREFRONT
. THIS LEVY, AS PROPOSED, WOULD
REPRESENT A $16 PER MONTH
INCREASE THE AVERAGE MEDIAN
VALUE HOME OWNER PAYS TODAY. IT
ALLOWS US ALSO TO LEVERAGE FOR
SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL GRANT
FUNDS, SO HAVING THIS MONEY
HELPS US BRING IN STATE AND
FEDERAL RESOURCES TO BEAR ON
THE CITY'S FUTURE. I WANT TO
QUICKLY WALK THROUGH THE
OVERALL CONTOURS OF THE
PROPOSAL VERY BRIEFLY. I WILL
START WITH SAFETY HUNDRED AND
$62 MILLION. THIS IS REALLY A
CORE PORTION OF HOW THIS
PROPOSAL IS ORGANIZED. WE HAVE
A MORE THAN DOUBLING OF OUR
INVESTMENT IN THE VISION ZERO
PROGRAM REFLECTED HERE AS WELL
AS INVESTING IN ADVANCING KEY
PROJECTS SUCH AS AURORA AVENUE
AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THE
REALLY IMPORTANT TRANSFORMATIVE
PROJECT. IT CONTINUES OUR
INVESTMENT IN SAFE ROUTES TO
SCHOOL AS WELL AS OFFERING TWO
NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAMS TO
DELIVER COMMUNITY-REQUESTED
PROJECTS, WENT THROUGH THE
DISTRICT FUND AND THE OTHER
THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREET
FUND PROJECT. I WANT TO JUMP
OVER TO THE BICYCLE SAFETY AND
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY COMPONENTS
ARE BECAUSE THESE ARE CORE
COMPONENTS OF THIS PROPOSAL AT
114 AND $135 MILLION EACH. THE
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY INVESTMENT
INCLUDES OUR INVESTMENT IN NEW
SIDEWALKS. THIS IS A REALLY
BANNER COMPONENT OF THIS
PROPOSAL. WE ARE PROPOSING TO
DELIVER 250 BLOCKS OF SIDEWALKS
AND FOUR YEARS AS WELL AS AN
ADDITIONAL 30 FOCUSED ON EXIT
AREAS TO TRANSIT IN URBAN
VILLAGES. WE ARE ALSO BUILDING
CAPACITY THROUGH THIS TO
ADDRESS LONG-TERM NEEDS THROUGH
A TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TECHS
FORCED -- TASK FORCE AND
LOOKING AT A LONG-TERM NEED TO
ADDRESS PROJECTS SMALL AND
LARGE AND SET UP THE FOOD CITY
FOR FUTURE SUCCESS. UNDER BIKE
SAFETY, WE WANT TO IMPROVE THE
EXISTING BIKE NETWORK,
HARDENING BARRIERS ON BIKE
LANES AS WELL AS CLOSING KEY
GAPS IN OUR NETWORK. WE PROPOSE
TO HARDENING BARRIERS AND 30%
OF THE NETWORK AS WELL AS BUILD
OR EXPAND FIVE ADDITIONAL
NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAYS THAT
PROVIDE ACCESS TO SCHOOLS AND
RESIDENTIAL STREETS. BACK TO
THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN
ORANGE, $423 MILLION FOR STREET
PAVING. THIS IS AN ELEMENT THAT
BENEFITS ALL MODAL USERS. WE
BELIEVE THIS IS THE FUNDAMENTAL
WAY WE KEEP PEOPLE SAFE WHETHER
THEY ARE BIKING, WALKING,
THEY'RE MOVING A VEHICLE OR
MOVING GOODS . THE NEED IS
GREAT HERE, AS GREG MENTIONED,
AND WE HAVE SELECTED CAREFULLY
15 CORRIDORS THAT ROSE TO THE
TOP FOR FULL REPAVING BASED ON
HEAVIEST VEHICLE VOLUMES,
FREIGHT AND BUS SERVICE AND
OTHER FACTORS AND WE WILL BE
MODERNIZING THESE AS WE GO
ALONG. THE PROGRAM HAS $70
MILLION FOR PAVING SPOT
IMPROVEMENTS TO ADDRESS SMALLER
BUT MEANINGFUL COMPONENTS OF
OUR NETWORK THAT NEED TO HAVE
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE STRUCTURAL
PAVING. WE PROPOSE 221 MILLION
TO CREATE THE CITY'S FIRST
BRIDGE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM. THIS CREATION WAS
INFORMED BY THE 2020 CITY AUDIT
ON BRIDGE MAINTENANCE. THIS
WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE
A DATA-DRIVEN , FORWARD-LOOKING
INVESTMENT STRATEGY TO EXTEND
THE LIFE OF OUR BRIDGE ASSETS
THAT WE HAVE TODAY. THE BEST
WAY WE CAN HELP OUR PEOPLE
CONTINUE TO MOVE OVER OUR
BRIDGES IS TO KEEP THE ONES WE
HAVE IN REALLY GOOD CONDITION.
THERE ARE SPECIFIC PROJECTS
CALLED FOR IN THIS CATEGORY, AS
WELL, UPGRADING THE
MECHANICAL-ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
IN THE BALLARD, FREMONT AND
UNIVERSITY BRIDGES AS WELL AS
PREPARING FOR FUTURE
INVESTMENTS AND READYING UP TO
FIVE STRUCTURES FOR STATE AND
FEDERAL GRANT FUNDS BY
PREPARING THEM UP TO 30%
DESIGN. ON TRANSIT CORRIDORS,
WE ARE PROPOSING $145 MILLION
TO CONTINUE INVESTMENT IN
TRANSIT SPOT IMPROVEMENTS BUT
ALSO 115 MILLION IN CAPITAL
PROJECTS TO REALLY FOCUS IN ON
THOSE BUT ROUTES -- BUS ROUTES
THAT NEED RELIABILITY
IMPROVEMENTS AND NEW PATHWAYS
CONNECTING TO TRANSPORTATION
STATIONS. I WANT TO PAUSE FOR A
SECOND AND SAY WE ARE ACTUALLY
IN THE MIDDLE OF AN EXCITING
EXPANSION OF OUR TRANSIT
NETWORK HERE. WE ARE EXCITED TO
WELCOME NEW STATIONS IN THE
COMING YEARS AND TO SEE MAJOR
EXPANSIONS OF THE SYSTEM AND
THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
THINGS HAPPENING IN SHAPING OUR
CITY GOING FORWARD DURING THE
LIFE OF THIS LEVY SO WE REALLY
LOOKED CAREFULLY AT HOW WE
COULD INCREASE ACCESS TO OUR
SOUND TRANSIT STATIONS. WE ALSO
HEARD FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THERE EXCITED AND SUPPORT THESE
INVESTMENTS AS WE HELP BRING
PEOPLE TO THE FUNDAMENTAL
BACKBONE. WE'VE BEEN WORKING
WITH KING COUNTY METRO. THEY
HAVE IDENTIFIED [ INAUDIBLE ]
IS ONE OF THE RAPID RIDES THEY
WANT TO DELIVER DURING THIS
LEVY SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING
WITH KING COUNTY METRO ON THAT
PROJECT AND HAVE INCLUDED $3
MILLION TOWARD WRITER TRANSIT
SAFETY AND SECURITY, ANOTHER
KEY COMPONENT WE HEARD FROM
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IS THAT THEY
WOULD LIKE US TO WORK ON WAYS
THEY CAN BE COMFORTABLE TO AND
FROM THE TRANSIT SYSTEM. WE
HAVE $100 MILLION IDENTIFIED
FOR SIGNALS AND OPERATIONS.
THAT IS PART OF THE CORE WORK
WE DO. THIS WILL HELP PUT IN
NEW TRAFFIC SIGNALS, IMPROVE
SIGNAL TIMING AS WELL AS PUT IN
ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS.
THIS IS A CORE PART OF HOW WE
DO BUSINESS AND WE ARE EXCITED
TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE OUR
TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS
CENTER 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN
DAYS A WEEK WITH HIS
INVESTMENT. PEOPLE, STREETS,
AND PUBLIC SPACES PROPOSES TO
INVEST 56 MILLION TO ACTIVATE
PUBLIC SPACES AND IMPROVE
LIGHTING. THIS WAS A NEW AND
COMMUNITY DRIVEN ELEMENT
IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN UNSUPPORTED
BY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. IT
WILL START TO ADDRESS SOME OF
THE SHORTAGE OF PEDESTRIAN
LIGHTING AS WELL AS COMMIT TO
SIX PROJECTS AND MAINTAIN
FLEXIBILITY TO CONTINUE TO WORK
WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AS
WE MOVE FORWARD. AMONG THE
PROJECTS IDENTIFIED SO FAR
INCLUDE INVESTMENTS IN DOWNTOWN
, IN THE CAPITOL HILL CENTRAL
DISTRICT EAST UNION STREET ,
OCCIDENTAL PROMENADE IN SOME
ALLEY ACTIVATION . THERE ARE
TWO AREAS OF THE TOP OF THE
CIRCLE HERE THAT REALLY BENEFIT
FROM INVESTMENT THROUGHOUT,
CERTAINLY CLIMATE BENEFITS FROM
ALL OF OUR INVESTMENTS AND MODE
SHIFT IN GETTING PEOPLE TO
WHERE THEY'RE GOING AND LOW
EMISSION MODES AND
HIGH-EFFICIENCY MODES AS WELL
AS FREIGHT AND GOODS MOVEMENT
BENEFITING FROM ALL THE WORK ON
BRIDGES AND PAVING, SO MANY OF
THE 15 CORRIDORS IDENTIFY HERE
OVERLAP WITH OUR FREIGHT
CORRIDOR NETWORK, SO WHILE THEY
ARE BENEFITING FROM SO MANY OF
THE OTHER COMPONENTS INCLUDING
THE SIGNALS AND WE HAVE A FEW
THINGS THAT DIDN'T FIT IN THE
OTHER CATEGORIES THAT HAVE
THEIR OWN SUBSECTIONS HERE
UNDER CLIMATE RESILIENCY, WE
HAVE ADVANCING LOW POLLUTION
NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL AS $29
MILLION FOR URBAN FORESTRY AND
$22 MILLION FOR
ELECTRIFICATION. UNDER FREIGHT
AND GOODS MOVEMENT WE HAVE $17
MILLION INVESTMENT IN
SUPPORTING THE FREIGHT SPOT
PROGRAM AS WELL AS $8 MILLION
INVESTMENT IN THE HEAVY HAUL
NETWORK IN COLLABORATION WITH
THE PORT. JUST QUICKLY OVER , Y
KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT VISION
ZERO. A SURGE ON SIDEWALKS,
WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT HERE.
WE ARE PROPOSING TO DOUBLE THE
SPEED OF DELIVERY IN THE FIRST
FOUR YEARS FOLLOWED BY THE
TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE ,
FOLLOWING UP ON THE
TRANSPORTATION TAX FORCE --
TASK FORCE'S RECOMMENDATION,
REALLY EMPHASIZING RAIL
CONNECTIONS AND WORKING WITH
OUR EXISTING BIKE NETWORK.
OPERATING OUR SYSTEM 24/7,
ADDING LIGHTING, EV CHARGING
AND SPOT IMPROVEMENTS. BEFORE
WE CLOSE, I WANT TO TURN IT
OVER BUT SAY A FEW WORDS. ONE
IS ABOUT FLEXIBILITY AND
SPECIFICITY. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY
A BALANCING ACT. THE ATTACHMENT
A SUBMITTED TO THE COUNCIL FOR
DELIBERATION IS SIGNIFICANTLY
MORE SPECIFIC AND WE HAVE TODAY
IN THE SEATTLE LEVY. IT
IDENTIFIES A NUMBER OF PROGRAM
COMMITMENTS AS WELL AS FUNDING
COMMITMENTS , PROGRAM BUDGETS,
SUB PROGRAM BUDGETS AND
CANDIDATE PROJECTS. WE HEARD
THE DESIRE FOR THE VOTER TO
KNOW WHAT THEY ARE ENDORSING
WHEN THEY GO INTO THE BALLOT
BOX AND AT THE SAME TIME , WE
ALSO KNOW FROM LOOKING AT THE
PAST AND FROM HEARING FROM
OTHERS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO
LOCK -- THE MAYOR'S OFFICE,
COUNSEL, COMMUNITY AND DO
SOMETHING THAT MAKES THEM
UNABLE TO RESPOND TO NEW
CHALLENGES THAT MIGHT ARRIVE
OVER THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS SO WE
HAVE WORKED TO FIND A BALANCE
BETWEEN SPECIFICITY AND
FLEXIBILITY THROUGHOUT AND WE
LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION WITH YOU AS WE
MOVE FORWARD AND WITH THAT , I
WILL PASS IT BACK TO GREG TO
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR
ABILITY TO DELIVER.
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE JUST ABOUT
TO WRAP UP AND I WANTED TO
MENTION THAT WHAT THE MAYOR
PROPOSED IS ABOUT 17% MORE
PURCHASING POWER THAN IF WE
TOOK THE EXISTING LEVY AND
INCREASED IT BY THE RATE OF
CONSUMER INFLATION SINCE 2015,
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT BIGGER
AND PEOPLE HAVE ASKED US, YOU
KNOW, CAN YOU DELIVER ON ALL OF
THAT AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE
CAN. THROUGH MOST OF THE LEVY,
SDOT WAS HAVING ABOUT ONE
CONSTRUCTION START PER MONTH
FOR CONTRACTED CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS AND I REALLY HAVE THE
STAFF FOCUS IN 2023 ON
COMPLETING ALL THE REMAINING
DESIGNS FROM PROJECTS THAT HAVE
NOT YET STARTED. IN THE FIRST
FOUR MONTHS OF 2024, WE'VE HAD
TWO CONSTRUCTION STARTS PER
MONTH AND HAVE JUST ISSUED OUR
SECOND NOTICE TO PROCEED TO A
CONTRACTOR TODAY FOR MESA WE
WILL HAVE HAD 10 CONSTRUCTION
STARTS IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS
OF THE YEAR AND WE ARE GOING TO
GET ALL THE REST OF THE LEVY
PROJECTS INTO CONSTRUCTION IN
2024 . IN THE PROCESS, WE HAVE
BUILT A ROBUST DELIVERY TEAM
THAT IS READY TO DELIVER ON THE
COMPONENTS OF THIS PROPOSED
LEVY AND WE ARE GOING TO BE
SPENDING THE REST OF THE YEAR
PREPARING SO THAT IF THE VOTERS
DO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS LEVY,
THAT WE ARE READY TO START
JANUARY 1st USING THE SAME
AWESOME SET OF TALENT THAT IS
DELIVERING HAVE FULL STRENGTH
RIGHT NOW. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE
IS A LOT MORE DETAIL IF THE
PUBLIC IS INTERESTED ON THE
LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THAT
IS PROPOSED IN THE FORMS OF
QUARTERLY REPORTS AND ANNUAL
REPORTS TO SHOW WHAT WE ARE
DELIVERING. THERE IS REALLY A
WEALTH OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE
ONLINE IN THE CURRENT LEVY AND
HOW IT HAS BEEN DELIVERED AND
WE PLAN TO CONTINUE ALL THAT IF
THERE IS A NEW LEVY, AND WITH
THAT, I THINK WE ARE READY TO
WRAP UP AND RECEIVE INPUT FROM
THE PUBLIC.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
DIRECTOR SPOTS, AND MANY THANKS
AS WELL, FRANCISCA AND BILL,
FOR JOINING US HERE, AS WELL.
AS PRESIDING OFFICER I AM NOW
OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON
COUNSEL BILL 1207 88 . PUBLIC
COMMENT SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS
ON TODAY'S AGENDA AND WITHIN
THE PURVIEW OF THIS SELECT
COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS OF SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> CHAIR, WE CURRENTLY HAVE SIX
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS AND THERE
ARE EIGHT REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> ALL RIGHT. EACH SPEAKER WILL
HAVE APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES.
WE WILL START WITH THE IN
PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST. CLERK,
CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC
COMMON INSTRUCTIONS.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN IN-PERSON AND
REMOTE SPEAKERS UNTIL THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD HAS
ENDED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
CHIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT
AND THERE'S -- IN THEIR TIME.
SPEAKERS MICROPHONES WILL BE
MUTED IF THEY DO NOT IN THE
COMMENT WITHIN THE ALLOTTED
TIME. WE WILL BEGIN WITH
LAKISHA JONES FOLLOWED BY LILY
HAYWARD.
>> TODAY. DIRECT PRESENT
TRANSPORTATION WORKGROUP AND
I'M HERE TO ADVANCE EQUITABLE
TRANSPORTATION STRATEGIES THAT
REFLECT THE DIVERSE NEEDS AND
VALUES OF OUR SEATTLE RESIDENTS
. WE PROVIDE A STOP -- SDOT
WITHIN SITES. WE WORK WITH THE
SDOT TO INTEGRATE THE
TRANSPORTATION EQUITY FRAMEWORK
INTO THE 41 MILLION
NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATED SAFETY
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. WE SUPPORT
THIS INVESTMENT. THREE KEY
RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE
LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY,
DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS, AND
FACE-TO-FACE ENGAGEMENT. WE
WOULD LIKE TO UPLIFT THE
FOLLOWING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
FUTURE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
DIVERSE REPRESENTATION,
COMPENSATION. WE OFFER OUR
EXPERTISE TO SUPPORT THE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. WE SUPPORT
DISTURBING LEVY INVESTMENTS
EQUITABLY, EQUITABLE
INVESTMENTS LEADING TO BETTER
COST SAVINGS, HEALTH OUTCOMES
IN A THRIVING COMMUNITY.
TOGETHER WE CAN CREATE A
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT IS
SAFE, ACCESSIBLE AND EQUITABLE
FOR SEATTLE RESIDENTS. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO
EQUITY IN CONSIDERING OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUED
COLLABORATION.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS LILY
HAYWARD .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
LILY HAYWARD AND I AM HERE
TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE NEARLY
2500 MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE
METROPOLITAN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE. THE CHAMBER CAME TO
THE TABLE WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE IN SDOT DURING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEVY RENEWAL
BECAUSE A THRIVING AND
INCLUSIVE REGIONAL ECONOMY IS
PREDICATED ON THE SAFE AND
EFFICIENT MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE
AND GOODS. TO CHAMBER MEMBERS,
THAT MEANS INVESTING EQUITABLY
ACROSS THE CITY AND ROADS,
BRIDGES, AND SAFETY, DOING THE
SAME IN IMPROVING TRANSIT AND
FREIGHT ROUTES AND PRIORITIZING
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE. WE URGE YOU
TO MAINTAIN THE PROPOSED
RENEWAL RATE WHICH STRIKES THE
RIGHT BALANCE OF MEETING
PRESSING NEEDS, PASSING A
DELIVERABLE LEVY AND KEEPING IN
MIND VOTER CONCERN ABOUT
AFFORDABILITY. WE ALSO ASK THAT
YOU ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL FUNDING
FOR FREIGHT AND MAINTAIN
FUNDING FOR THIRD AVENUE AND
ADD THE LEVY OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEES RECOMMENDATIONS TO
ENHANCE THEIR OVERSIGHT ROLE.
WE ASK THAT YOU INCREASE THE
GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION TO
TRANSPORTATION TO $60 MILLION A
YEAR ADJUSTED ANNUALLY FOR
INFLATION AND FINALLY WE ASK
THAT YOU REQUEST SDOT PREPARE
AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN SO THAT
DELIVERY CAN BEGIN ON DAY ONE
OF THE NEW LEVY. THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CLARA
CANTOR.
>> HI, EVERYONE. I'M A
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD RELAYS AND
I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY OF YOU IN
A PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY AS A
TRANSPORTATION ADVOCATE. I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW THINGS
AS A PERSON WHO LIVES IN
DISTRICT 2 WHO GETS AROUND BY
BIKE AND TRANSIT WITH MY KIDS .
I DID NOT STUDY TRANSPORTATION
ARE PLANNING. I GOT INTO THIS
WORK BECAUSE I WAS BIKING TO
GET AROUND THE CITY AND IT WAS
REALLY HARD AND I THOUGHT TO
MYSELF, YOU KNOW, LIKE I WONDER
IF THERE WERE WAYS I COULD HELP
TO MAKE THIS EASIER, AND NOW I
SPEND MY LIFE TALKING ABOUT
TRANSPORTATION. I AM HERE TO
TELL YOU THAT EVERY TIME I WALK
DOWN THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY
HOUSE WITH MY KIDS AND THERE IS
NO SIDEWALK THERE , EVERY TIME
A BIKE TO WORK FOR THERE IS NO
SAFE CONNECTED ROUTE FOR ME TO
GET ANYWHERE IN ANY DIRECTION
FROM WHERE I LIVE, EVERY TIME I
TAKE THE BUS AND IT IS RUNNING
15 MINUTES LATE LIKE IT WAS
WHEN I CAME TO CITY HALL TODAY
, ALL OF THOSE EXPERIENCES THAT
HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE
RESULT OF POLICY DECISIONS MADE
RIGHT HERE IN CITY HALL BY YOU
ALL, BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ,
AND YOU WILL HAVE THE POWER
RIGHT NOW TO CHANGE THAT. YOU
HAVE THE POWER TO CHOOSE TO
BUILD SIDEWALKS AND BUS LANES
AND BIKE LANES AND SAFETY
PROJECTS THAT SEATTLE NEEDS, OR
NOT TO. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK
IT'S VERY EASY TO GET LOST IN
THE POLICIES AND THE NUMBERS
AND THE METRICS OF THINGS AND
FORGET ABOUT THE WAYS THAT THIS
IMPACTS INDIVIDUAL LIVES IN
SEATTLE, AND THE WAY PEOPLE GET
AROUND EVERYDAY , AND I AM HERE
TO SAY I AM A VOTER . I MAKE
WELL BELOW WHAT THE AVERAGE
SEATTLEITE MAKES. I WOULD PAY
MY SHARE FOR 1.7 OR $1.9
BILLION LEVY TO MAKE IT SAFER
FOR ALL OF US TO GET AROUND.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER .
>> MY NAME IS KIRK. I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
TRANSPORTATION CHOICES
COALITION. WITH A NONPROFIT
ADVOCATE THAT BRINGS PEOPLE
TOGETHER TO ADVOCATE FOR SAFE,
SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE
TRANSPORTATION ACROSS
WASHINGTON. THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY PROPOSAL
INCLUDES YEARS OF WORK FROM
STAFF, THE COMMUNITY, ELECTIVES
IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE
FOR THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS
GETTING US HERE TODAY. THIS
LEVY WILL BE A HISTORIC AND
NEEDED INVESTMENT INTO SAFETY,
POPULAR PROGRAMS IN THE NUTS
AND BOLTS OF OUR TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM. WE APPRECIATE THAT THE
MAYOR WAS RECEPTIVE TO FEEDBACK
FROM THE COMMUNITY AND
STRENGTHENED THIS PROPOSAL.
SEATTLE MUST INVEST IN
TRANSPORTATION TO BECOME A
SAFER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE CITY.
THIS LEVY PROPOSAL WILL DO
THAT. THIS PROPOSAL INVEST IN
THE BASICS OF A 21ST-CENTURY
CITY. WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE A
TOTAL INVESTMENT OF $145
MILLION FOR SAFE AND RELIABLE
TRANSIT CONNECTIONS AND 144
MILLION AND BICYCLE SAFETY AND
AN ADDITIONAL HUNDRED AND 50 OR
135 MILLION AND PEDESTRIAN
SAFETY. WE STRONGLY SUPPORT
USING EQUITY AS A LENS FOR
THESE INVESTMENTS. KEEP IN MIND
OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS
ONE THAT CONNECTS OUR ENTIRE
CITY TOGETHER AND BENEFITS US
ALL. OUR LIVES TRANSCEND OUR
COUNSEL DISTRICTS. WE LIVE,
WORK, AND PLAY ACROSS SEATTLE
AND WE KNOW THAT EVERY TRANSIT
TRIP STARTS AT OUR FRONT DOOR
SO WE APPLAUD THE COMMITMENT TO
ACCELERATE SIDEWALK SPENDING
AND BUILD OVER 250 BLOCKS OF
SIDEWALK IN THE FIRST FOUR
YEARS, ADDITIONALLY INVEST IN
SAFETY INCLUDING SAFE ROUTES TO
PROPOSAL WITH ADDITIONAL
STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS THAT HELP
SAFETY, EQUITY AND CLIMATE
GOALS AND THERE IS ALSO
OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN
ACCOUNTABILITY AND EQUITY IN
THIS BY WORKING WITH THE LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. I THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU.
>> ARE NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS TYLER VASQUEZ AND FOLLOWED
BY THAT, CARLO.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
TYLER VASQUEZ AND I AM A
TRANSPORTATION ADVOCATE WITH
CASSIDY BICYCLE CLUB BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, I AM A SEATTLEITE.
THERE ARE SEVERAL GAPS IN THE
BIKE NETWORK. PRIOR TO CASCADE,
I WAS A GENERAL LABORER ON A
CONSTRUCTION SITE MOVING
MATERIAL. I HAD TO BIKE FROM
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT TO WHITE
CENTER DAILY . MY CAR BROKE
DOWN AND THERE WERE SEVERAL
GAPS THAT I NEEDED TO LEAVE
EARLIER BECAUSE THERE WAS NO
BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO MAKE
SURE I GOT THERE ON TIME AND
WASN'T FIRED. THERE ARE MANY
PEOPLE ACROSS SEATTLE IN THE
SAME BOOK THAT I AM IN THESE
ARE THE VOICES THAT I WANT TO
MAKE SURE ARE LIFTED UP WHILE I
SPEAK FOR THE BIKE NETWORK.
BIKING IS AN AFFORDABLE WAY TO
GET AROUND AND IT IS EASY FOR
PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
COULD GET BACK ON THE BICYCLE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THROUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,
THROUGH THE TIME THAT THEY ARE
MY AGE AND YOUR AGE, THEY ARE
ABLE TO GET AROUND SAFELY. THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL IS
SUBSTANTIAL BUT ALSO DOES THE
FUNDAMENTALS TO THE BIKE
PROGRAM. IT FILLS THE GAPS AND
ALSO PROVIDES MAINTENANCE TO
THE BIKE NETWORK SO INDIVIDUALS
IN THE WINTERTIME IN SEATTLE
CAN GET FROM -- USE THE BIKE
LANE AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S
NOT OBSTRUCTED, THAT IT IS
MAINTAINED AND ALSO IT IS SAFE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME TODAY AND ALSO WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME IS A
SEATTLEITE WORKING ON THE
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION LEVY.
THANK YOU.
>> ARE FINAL IN PERSON SPEAKER
WILL BE CARLO.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS CARLA.
I'M A D5 RESIDENT OF SEATTLE.
I GET PRIMARILY AROUND NOW BY
WALKING, TAKING PUBLIC TRANSIT
, LIGHT RAIL. I ALSO DRIVE ONE
NEEDED BUT I LOVE SITTING IN
TRAFFIC AND I PREFER TO TAKE
TRANSIT AND WALK BUT
UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T ACCESS A
GOOD PORTION OF THE CITY
WITHOUT DRIVING. MY WIFE
SIMILARLY WALKS AND TAKES
PUBLIC TRANSIT WHEN SHE CAN,
BUT SHE SUFFERS FROM A
DISABILITY AND SHE DOESN'T
DRIVE. SHE IS PART OF THE 10 TO
12% OR SO OF PEOPLE IN THE
STATE WHO ARE DISABLED AND WHO
CANNOT GET AROUND BY CAR. THAT
IS SOMEWHERE AROUND 90,000
PEOPLE OR SO IN SEATTLE ALONE
WHO MAY NEED A CAR OR MAY NOT
BE ABLE TO DRIVE.
STATISTICALLY, ACCORDING TO
CENSUS DATA. THESE ARE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FAMILY,
FRIENDS, VETERANS, ET CETERA.
PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON PUBLIC
TRANSIT TO GET AROUND , THAT
JUST CAN'T DRIVE. FOR EXAMPLE,
IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR ACCORDING
TO KING COUNTY METRO'S COUNTING
OF WHAT THE CALMEST STOPS OR
PICKUPS ALONG LIKE THE E-LINE,
THEY HAVE A STATISTIC FOR
WHEELCHAIR OVERLOAD WHICH MEANS
SOMEONE IN A WHEELCHAIR GOT
LEFT BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT
ENOUGH ROOM. IN MARCH THAT WAS
50 PEOPLE ON THE E LINE. FOR
ALL THE BUS LENS THAT WAS 170
PEOPLE WHO GOT LEFT BECAUSE THE
BUS WAS TOO FULL FOR THEM TO
FIT THEIR WHEELCHAIR ON. I WANT
TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE AGAIN TO
COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE FOR
CHAMPIONING MORE SIDEWALKS BUT
THE 250 PROMISED IN THIS LEVY
IS NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO WHAT
WE NEED TO FILL OUT THE 11,000
OR SO. I WILL VOTE FOR A $1.7
MILLION LEVY. I WILL VOTE FOR A
BIGGER ONE. SO WILL THE VOTERS
IN THE DISABLED NEED PUBLIC
TRANSIT TO GET AROUND. THANKS
FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. OUR FIRST REMOTE
SPEAKER IS CHRIS WOODWARD.
>> CHRIS, YOU MADE TO PRESS
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. IT
LOOKS LIKE CHRIS IS NOT MUTED.
SHOWING MOVE ON TO JAKE. JAKE
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SABRINA. GO
AHEAD, JAKE.
>> HELLO. I AM A PROJECT MANNER
DUWAMISH TRAVEL SERVICES. WE
OPERATE THE DUWAMISH LONGHOUSE
AND CULTURAL CENTER IN WEST
SEATTLE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. WE
THANK THE CITY FOR RECENT
SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING
INSTALLATION OF A NEW CROSSWALK
SIDEWALK AND PROTECTED BIKE
LANE. LOOKING FORWARD, WE ASKED
THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE
WITH PPS AND FOCUS ON
LONGER-TERM PLANNING TO CREATE
A CULTURAL DESTINATION FOR ALL
TO VISIT AND LEARN ABOUT .
SPECIFICALLY WE ASKED THE CITY
TO INVEST IN THE FOLLOWING TATI
IMPROVEMENTS. ONE, EXTEND THE
PROTECTED BIKE LANE TO THE
DUWAMISH LONG TOWN SO CYCLISTS
DON'T NEED TO CROSS THE STREET
TWICE. TWO, INSTALL PERMANENT
BIKE RACKS ADJACENT TO THE
LONGHOUSE FOR CYCLISTS TO USE.
THREE, ADD SIGNAGE TO MAKE THE
BIKE HOUSE EASIER TO FIND. FOUR
[ INAUDIBLE ] ON AND BELOW THE
SEATTLE BRIDGE SO DRIVERS CAN
EASILY FIND THE LOG HOUSE --
LONGHOUSE AND FIVE, [ INAUDIBLE
] IN A NEW PROTECTED BIKE LANE
SO WE REQUEST REGULAR AT LEAST
MONTHLY SWEEPING AND
MAINTENANCE TO REMOVE DEBRIS
THAT CAN PUNCTURE TIRES.
LASTLY, DUWAMISH TRIBAL
SERVICES WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE
CITY TO WORK WITH KING COUNTY
METRO TO COORDINATE A BUS ROUTE
TO BE ASSIGNED ALONG WEST
MARGINAL WAY. WARMISH LONGHOUSE
CENTER WAS OPENED IN 2009.
WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR A BUS
ACCESS FOR OVER 15 YEARS NOW.
PLEASE INCLUDE A BUS STOP
INSTALLATION IN YOUR PLAN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. IT LOOKS LIKE
CHRIS IS PRESENT, SO PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE.
>> ONE MORE TIME, PLEASE. STAR
SIX AND THEN YOU SHOULD BE
GOOD. GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY, SORRY ABOUT THAT
TECHNICAL ISSUE. GOOD
AFTERNOON. I REPRESENT THE
ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER SQUARE IN
DISTRICT ONE. THE ALLIANCES AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NONPROFIT
WORKING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE PIONEER HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THANKS FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE
PROPOSAL. I'M PROVIDING COMET
REGARDING THE TRANSIT LEVY IS
IT RELATES TO ALLOCATION OF
FUNDING OF $3 MILLION TO
ADDRESS STREET WELD REPAIR
WITHIN PIONEER SQUARE. THE CITY
HAS RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE
OF A SYSTEMIC APPROACH TO
ADDRESS THE STRUCTURAL
VULNERABILITIES FOR DECADES AND
HAS NOT DEDICATED SUFFICIENT
RESOURCES TO THIS PROGRAM TO
ENSURE AN ADEQUATE RESPONSE.
THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IS CRITICAL
FOR SAFETY AND MUST BE
ADDRESSED. CURRENTLY, THE LEVY,
INCLUDING PROJECTS FOR THE NEXT
NINE YEARS, DOES NOT PROVIDE
ADEQUATE PLANNING OR
IMPLEMENTATION FOR A LONG-TERM
REMEDIATION OF THE HISTORIC
STREET WALLS UNDER THE CITY'S
JURISDICTION . COMPLEX
INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES SUCH AS
THIS REQUIRE A NUANCED APPROACH
TO FUNDING, MONITORING,
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR. AS
SUCH, THE ALLIANCE REQUESTS THE
AREA WAY REMEDIATION IS
INCREASED TO 10 MILLION IN THE
2024 PACKAGE THAT WILL GO
BEFORE VOTERS. TIME IS OF THE
ESSENCE. LET US CHOOSE TO
PRIORITIZE AND INVEST IN THE
LONG-TERM HEALTH OF THESE
HISTORICAL SPACES INCLUDING THE
HEART OF OUR HISTORICAL
DISTRICT REMAINS INTACT FOR
DECADES TO COME. ADDITIONALLY
WE SUPPORT THE INCLUSION OF THE
[ INAUDIBLE ] PROJECT FOR
PIONEER SQUARE AND SOUTH
DOWNTOWN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION TO THESE MATTERS.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER,
SABRINA. FOLLOWED BY THAT WILL
BE JILLIAN. SABRINA, YOU MAY
NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE.
>> SABRINA, CAN YOU PRESS SIX?
OKAY, NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO
JULIE THEN TRY AGAIN., JULIE.
>> HELLO, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM THE COORDINATOR OF THE
SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
[ INAUDIBLE ] I WOULD LIKE TO
EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF
SUPPORTING THE CHINATOWN
DISTRICT. I APPRECIATE ALWAYS
ARE INCLUDED IN THE
TRANSPORTATION PROPOSAL. I
WOULD LIKE TO URGE THE COUNCIL
TO KEEP THE CID ALLEY
REVITALIZATION IN THE PROPOSAL,
RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE THESE
MULTIFACETED PUBLIC SPACES. THE
CID HAS VERY LITTLE PUBLIC
SPACE AND HISTORICALLY, ALLEYS
HAVE BEEN HISTORIC GATHERING
SPACES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. CAN
TAKE -- TODAY THEY CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES. FOR
OVER 15 YEARS COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CID HAVE
WORKED ON ALLEY PLANS [
INAUDIBLE ] THE PLANS AIM TO
ENHANCE THESE PUBLIC SPACES
WHILE PRESERVING THEIR UNIQUE
HISTORY AND COMMUNITY DESIRES
AND IMPLEMENTATION NEEDS TO BE
RESOURCED. IT IS VITAL THAT THE
2024 TRANSPORTATION LEVY
SUPPORT CID ALLEY
REVITALIZATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OKAY, OUR NEXT
REMOTE SPEAKER IS RUTH
WILLIAMS.
GO AHEAD, RUTH.
>> HELLO.
>> RUTH, WE HAD YOU. PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX ONE MORE TIME
THEN BEGIN SPEAKING.
>> OKAY, FOR NOW WE WILL MOVE
ON TO DAVID AARON AND AFTER
DAVID AARON, WE'LL TRY RUTH
AGAIN. GO AHEAD, DAVID.
>> HI, MY NAME IS DAVID AARON
AND I AM A RESIDENT AND
TAXPAYER IN DISTRICT FIVE AND I
AM NOTING THAT MY PROPERTY TAX
HAS GONE UP ABOUT 30% OVER THE
PAST THREE YEARS AND I'M
LOOKING AT THE NEW LEVY AND
THINKING, IS THAT MONEY BEING
SPENT ON BIKES REALLY NECESSARY
AND CAN THAT BE USED IN A
DIFFERENT WAY ? I DRIVE THROUGH
SEATTLE AND I DON'T SEE A LOT
OF PEOPLE ON BIKES . I AM A
BICYCLIST MYSELF, BUT I KNOW I
CAN'T BIKE EAST TO WEST
BECAUSE OF THE HILLS , AND ANY
LEGITIMATE WAY, AND THAT THE
MONEY WOULD BE BETTER OFF ON
BUSES. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
DAMIEN . FOLLOWING DAMIEN WILL
BE READ HAMPTON.
>> HI. MY NAME IS DAMIEN. I AM
A RESIDENT OF D6. YEAH. GROUND
TRANSPORTATION MAKES UP ABOUT
60% OF SEATTLE'S CARBON
EMISSIONS . AIR AND NOISE
POLLUTION IS CONCENTRATED ALONG
HIGHWAYS, TRADE ROUTES AND
OTHER ARTERIAL ROUTES AND
THROUGH LOW INCOME
NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR IN SEATTLE CONTINUES
TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING
ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ALONG THESE
QUARTERS. WE NEED A LEVY THAT
DEDICATES AT LEAST 50% OF
FUNDING TO INCREASING WALKING,
ROLLING, BIKING, TAKING TRANSIT
INSTEAD OF MAINTAINING THE
STATUS QUO. I URGE COUNSEL AND
MAIL -- MAYOR TO PUSH FOR A
$1.7 BILLION PACKAGE. THIS
PHOTO WILL DEFINITELY SUPPORT
THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS REED HAMPTON THEN WE WILL GO
BACK AND TRY SABRINA AND RUTH.
GO AHEAD.
>> HI, FOLKS. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX
IN NORTHWEST SEATTLE. I AM
CALLING IN TODAY TO LET THE
COUNCIL KNOW I AM A STRONG
SUPPORTER OF 1.7 TO $1.9
BILLION LEVY . WE NEED TO BE
INVESTING IN A SEATTLE THAT
MEETS THE CLIMATE GOALS THAT
WE'VE SET , THE VISION ZERO
GOALS WE SET AND WE NEED TO
LIVE UP TO THAT AMBITION AND WE
DO THAT THROUGH OUR BUDGET,
RIGHT? I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE
NOT GOING TO BIKE EAST OR WEST
OVER THE HILLS. I BIKED TODAY
TO AND FROM WORK EVEN IN THIS
RAIN, AND I THINK OUR CITY
NEEDS TO BE INVESTING IN THE
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS GOING TO
BE AFFORDABLE FOR US TO
MAINTAIN LONG TERM. AS
MENTIONED EARLIER THIS MORNING,
BIKE AND BUS LANES ARE LESS
EXPENSIVE ON A PER PASSENGER
MILE COMPARED TO PRIVATE
VEHICLES. THERE MORE CLIMATE
FRIENDLY, CLAIM IT ADAPTIVE AND
SUSTAINABLE AND I AM REALLY
HOPING THAT THIS COUNSEL WILL
BE AMBITIOUS AND LIVE UP TO THE
GOALS OF THE CITY. THIS PHOTO
WILL ALSO VOTE FOR A 1.7 OR
$1.9 BILLION LEVY AND WILL VERY
MUCH CONSIDER NOT VOTING FOR A
LEVY THAT DOESN'T PRIORITIZE
THOSE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
AND HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE
DAY, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL TRY
SABRINA AND FOLLOWING SABRINA
WILL BE RUTH. GO AHEAD,
SABRINA, AND YOU MAY NEED TO
PRESS STAR SIX.
>> ALL RIGHT, IT DOES NOT LOOK
LIKE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
GET SABRINA. RUTH WILLIAMS, IF
YOU ARE THERE, PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX. THERE YOU GO.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> NO. THANK YOU. HELLO. I AM
RUTH WILLIAMS , SPEAKING AS AN
INDIVIDUAL AND I THANK YOU FOR
THIS REPEATED OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK TODAY. I LIVE IN THE
SOUTHEAST QUADRANT OF
NORTHGATE, THE AREA SOUTH OF
GAIT WEIGHT -- WAY AND EAST OF
50s, D5, AND THIS QUADRANT
CONTAINS THE DEVER POND NATURAL
AREA. I WOULD LIKE TO DRAW YOUR
ATTENTION TO THE 2006
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT
PLAN. IN SITU COST THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS IN UNTOLD STAKEHOLDER
AND PROFESSIONAL HOURS APPROVED
BY THE CITY COUNCIL. DESPITE
ITS AGE, IT IS STILL A VALID
WORKING DOCUMENT. HIGH-PRIORITY
TASKS WERE LISTED THERE ARE
STILL LANGUISHING. THERE IS NO
SAFE ACCESS AT ITS VISIBLE
POINTED EIGHTH AVENUE NORTHEAST
AND NORTHEAST 105th STREET.
HIGH-PRIORITY TASK D3 CALLS FOR
A SIDEWALK ALONG ONE SIDE OF
EIGHTH AVENUE AND NORTHEAST.
HIGH-PRIORITY TASK E8 CALLS FOR
BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS FROM
EIGHTH AVENUE WHERE IT MEETS
NORTHGATE WAY FROM THE SOUTH.
WE HAVE BEEN WAITING NEARLY TWO
DECADES NOW. EIGHTH AVENUE IS
LISTED IN THE CATEGORY OF GREEN
STREETS AND MANY OTHER WORKING
DOCUMENTS, NOW THEY CALL IT A
GREEN WAY AND THEY'VE ADDED
LIMITED AMENITIES FOR BICYCLES.
THIS IS NOT REALLY HELPING
PEDESTRIANS, INCLUDING THE
HANDICAP, AND THE POORLY
MAINTAINED STREET LACKS ANY
SEMBLANCE OF APPEAL. BEYOND
EIGHTH AVENUE, OUR SIDEWALK
STREET NEIGHBORHOODS ARE
ALREADY BEING IMPACTED BY
IMPROPER PLANNING. VEHICLES
BELONGING TO RESIDENTS OF NEW,
MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS WITH
EXTENSIVE OR INSUFFICIENT
PARKING ARE FILLING
RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND FORCING
PEDESTRIANS OUT INTO NARROW
STREETS. WE NEED SIDEWALKS BUT
WE NEED THEM TO BE SUSTAINABLE
AND ACCESSIBLE. CREATIVITY IS
NEEDED TO CREATE AND SLOW THE
RUNOFF AND ALSO TO PROTECT OUR
MATURE TREES. I SUPPORT STRONG
TRANSPORTATION LEVY AND WOULD
LIKE TO SEE THE FUNDS SPENT
WISELY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU. THAT IS OUR LAST
REMOTE SPEAKER AND I BELIEVE WE
HAVE ONE MORE IN PERSON
SPEAKER.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO IT.
>> YES, ALLISON.
>> HI, I AM ALLISON WARP. I
LIVE ON FIRST HILL, DISTRICT 3.
SEATTLE SEEMS TO HAVE GIVEN UP
ON TOILETS FOR THE PUBLIC AND I
WAS AT A NORDSTROM'S RACK SALE
IN A RUNDOWN FOR THE AVENUE TO
CATCH A BUS AND I COULD HARDLY
BREATHE BECAUSE OF THE STENCH,
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST
PERHAPS RUNNING A TEST WITH
PORT-A-POTTIES NEAR EXITS. IN
TUKWILA, ONE OF THOSE RESTROOMS
SAVE MY LIFE -- WELL, IT SAVED
ME FROM EMBARRASSMENT BECAUSE
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE EMERGENCIES
IN YOU REALLY NEED SOME REST
ROOMS. IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM
AND I THINK IF THIRD AVENUE HAD
SOME PORT-A-POTTIES SAY, ON
PIKE BY McDONALD'S, BETWEEN
SECOND AND THIRD WHERE
BUILDINGS ARE ALREADY BOARDED
UP, MAYBE THIRD AVENUE
WOULDN'T SMELL SO BAD AND I
KNOW WE WANT TO HAVE A MORE
ACTIVE DOWNTOWN SO I HOPE YOU
WILL TAKE MY SUGGESTION
SERIOUSLY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I BELIEVE THAT IS
ALL OF OUR COMMENTERS.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
EVERYONE. IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT
WAS OUR LAST REGISTERED SPEAKER
PRESENT TO SPEAK AT THIS PUBLIC
HEARING . THEREFORE, THE PUBLIC
HEARING ON COUNSEL BILL 120788
IS NOW CLOSED. MEANING WE HAVE
REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S
MEETING AGENDA. IS THERE ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE BEFORE WE
ADJOURN? HEARING NONE, NO
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE, WE ARE ADJOURNED
AT 5:20 6 PM.