>>> LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A
QUORUM. GOOD MORNING, MAY 21st,
2024, THE MEETING WILL COME TO
ORDER. I AM ROB SAKA, THE CHAIR
OF THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE. WILL THE COMMITTEE
CLERK CALLED THE BOWL?
>> VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH ?
CHAIR SAKA ?
>> PRESENT .
>> I NOTE THAT COUNCILMEMBERS
WOO AND STRAUSS ARE EXCUSED
FROM THE MEETING TODAY. HEARING
NO OBJECTIONS, THE HEARING IS
ADOPTED. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO
PUBLIC COMMENT HERE TOO. THEY
SHOULD BE LIMITED TO ITEMS ON
THE AGENDA AND WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE.
>> WE HAVE TWO IN PERSON
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP AND THERE
ARE ZERO REMOTE SPEAKERS. THE
SPEED AT EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE
APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES. WE
WERE START WITH IN-PERSON
SPEAKERS. CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS UP TO 20
MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL BE
CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED. THEY WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN IN-PERSON AND
REMOTE SPEAKERS UNTIL THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD HAS
ENDED. YOU WILL HEAR A CHIME
WITHIN 10 SECONDS OF THE END OF
YOUR ALLOTTED TIME. YOUR MIC
WILL BE MUTED IF YOU DO NOT END
YOUR SPEECH DURING YOUR
ALLOTTED TIME. WE WILL NOW CALL
UPON OUR FIRST PUBLIC SPEAKER.
ALEX ZIMMERMAN?
>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ] IS THIS MICROPHONE
WORKING? TO BE CERTAIN?
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, VERY
IMPORTANT, CRITICAL POINT IN
EVERY CITY. I LIVE IN THIS FOR
40 YEARS, IDIOT CITY. I BRING
YOU THE RED CAMERA. $100
MILLION. $100 MILLION TO GIVE
TO ARIZONA CORPORATION, WHY ARE
YOU SO STUPID? EXPLAINED TO ME,
WHERE IS THIS $100 MILLION? DO
YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS ? YOU
CAN BUY A $40 MILLION OPTION. I
TALK ABOUT THIS, AS IF IT IS
NOT EFFECTIVE. BE EFFECTIVE FOR
PEOPLE TO COME. STOP BELIEVING
IN WHO YOU ARE. I HAVE NEVER
SEEN ONE HONEST MAN HERE. OPEN
THE ROOM IN CITY HALL. PRETTY
MINUTES, SO PEOPLE CAN COME AND
SPEAK ABOUT EVERYTHING. PEOPLE
ARE TIRED OF YOUR NAZI GESTAPO
PRINCIPLES . LOOK AT HOW MANY
TRESPASSERS THERE WERE. THIS IS
EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE EXPLAINED
TO YOU GUYS. SIX MONTHS,
NOTHING CHANGED. AND THERE WAS
A 50 YEAR COUNCIL. 750,000
IDIOTS. WAKE UP . THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS STEVE.
>> GOOD MORNING. I CAME IN ON
THE BUS THIS MORNING.
TRANSPORTATION , IN THE WIDER
SENSE , IS WHAT I AM SPEAKING
ABOUT. I NOTICED IT WAS DOWN TO
TWO MINUTES. I HAVE NEVER HAD
THREE MINUTES. THE LAST
MEETING, YOU OFFERED THREE
MINUTES, WHICH WAS A VERY
UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. BUT, THE
TRANSPORTATION PROJECT FOR
AURORA AVENUE -- [ APPLAUSE ]
IT IS A BOONDOGGLE IN MY
OPINION. IT NEVER WANTS TO DIE.
THERE ARE POWERFUL FRIENDS WHO
DO NOT LIKE TO COME OUT AND BE
IDENTIFIED. AURORA WAS REPAVED
RECENTLY. OF COURSE, ALL WE
NEED IS ANOTHER REPAVING ,
EVERY SETTING, I LIVE NEAR
AURORA AND WHEN AURORA GETS
PROBLEMS , FREMONT BECOMES A
PARKING LOT. I WOULD LIKE TO
MAINTAIN THE CAPACITY, WHICH IS
ON AURORA, PRESENTLY. IT IS A
STATE HIGHWAY. THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE
TO TURN IT INTO A BOULEVARD
WITH JUST A COUPLE OF LANES,
ONE GOING EACH WAY, FOR GENERAL
TRAFFIC. BUT, WITH THE CAPACITY
THAT IT TAKES, THAT IS ASKING
FOR A GREAT DEAL OF TROUBLE FOR
THE REST OF THE NORTH END. I
THINK THAT THE PROJECT IS
ALWAYS GRADED LOW. I THINK IT
SHOULD BE DROPPED FROM THE
LIST, BECAUSE, IF YOU WANT TO
PASS SOMETHING, YOU DO NOT PUT
A TURKEY ON THAT. THIS ONE IS A
REAL TURKEY. IN THE NORTH END ,
I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO THINK THIS IS A DUMB
IDEA, YOU KNOW? [ INDISCERNIBLE
- BACKGROUND NOISE ] NOT VERY
BRIGHT . ON TODAY'S MAIN EVENT
TODAY, I HOPE YOU WILL BE
LOOKING AT THE INSURANCE AND
THE OTHER OBLIGATIONS. [
INDISCERNIBLE - LOW VOLUME ]
>> ALL RIGHT. SO, THANK YOU.
THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
SPEAKERS. WE WILL NOW PROCEED
TO OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
>> CHAIR , WE HAVE ONE REMOTE
SPEAKER WHO JUST SIGNED UP.
>> THANK YOU. OKAY, FOR REMOTE
SPEAKERS, WE HAVE CAMILLE. I
WILL UNMUTE YOU.
>> NEVERMIND. THE REMOTE PUBLIC
SPEAKER IS NOT PRESENT.
>> OKAY? OKAY. THANK YOU TO THE
PUBLIC COMMENTERS. PER COUNCIL
RULES, PUBLIC COMMENTS SHOULD
BE NO MORE THAN TWO MINUTES.
AND SO, THAT IS THE RULE THAT
WE OPERATE UNDER. BUT THANK YOU
FOR PROVIDING YOUR COMMENTS. WE
WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR FIRST ITEM
OF BUSINESS. WILL BE CLERK READ
ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEM 1, COUNCIL BILLED
120768, AN ORDINANCE GRANTING
PERMISSION TO THE BOARD OF
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON TO CONTINUE TO
OPERATE AND MAINTAIN AN
EXISTING PEDESTRIAN SKYBRIDGE
OVER 12th AVENUE NORTHEAST,
BETWEEN NORTHEAST 43rd STREET
AND NORTHEAST 45th STREET ,
REPEALING SECTION SEVEN OF
ORDINANCE 119532 , AND
PROVIDING FOR ACCEPTANCE OF THE
PERMIT AND CONDITIONS. THIS IS
FOR BRIEFING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> OUR PRESENTERS HAVE JOINED
US. WHEN YOU ARE READY, PLEASE
SHARE YOUR PEDESTRIAN.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF FIRST.
>> AMY GRAY, SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION.
>> WELCOME.
>> WHAT YOU HAVE HERE TODAY ARE
TWO FAIRLY ROUTINE APPROVALS
AND RENEWALS OF THESE SKYBRIDGE
IS AT THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT,
OWNED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THESE
TWO COUNCIL BILLS. THE
PRESENTATION WILL COVER BOTH OF
THE SKYBRIDGES.
>> ONE IS LOCATED OVER 12th
AVENUE NORTHEAST, BETWEEN
NORTHEAST 43rd STREET AND
NORTHEAST 45th STREET, IT WAS
ORIGINALLY PERMITTED IN 1968.
THESE SKYBRIDGES ARE OPEN TO
PUBLIC USE BETWEEN THE TWO
GARAGES. THE SECD BRIDGE IS
OVER 12th AVENUE NORTHEAST ,
NORTH OF NORTHEAST 43rd STREET
, AND IT IS A CONNECTION
BETWEEN THE PARKING GARAGES AND
THE UW TOWER. IT WAS PERMITTED
IN 1959 FOR BY THE USE OF
VISITORS TO THE UW TOWER OFFICE
BUILDING. THE ORIGINAL PERMIT
HOLDER WAS THE GENERAL
INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA,
WHICH BECAME SAFECO. THE UW
ACQUIRED THE PERMITS. STAFF IS
RECOMMENDING THAT WE RENEW
THESE PERMITS. IF THESE WERE TO
PASS, THEY WOULD UPDATE THE
FEES, MAINTENANCE OBLIGATIONS,
INSURANCE INDEMNIFICATIONS, AND
OTHER CONDITIONS OF THE
PERMITTED AT THE LAST COUNCIL
MEETING, THERE WAS A QUESTION
ABOUT INDEMNIFICATION. SECTION
9 OF BOTH OF THESE DESCRIBES
AND DETAILS WHAT IS REQUIRED
FOR THE UW TO RELEASE,
INDEMNIFY, AND DEFEND THE CITY
IN THE EVENT THAT ANY INJURY
CLAIM IS MADE AS A RESULT OF
EITHER OF THESE SKYBRIDGES. ON
THE LEFT, THAT ONE, ON THE LEFT
IS THE IMAGE OF THE PEDESTRIAN
SKYBRIDGE.
>> THIS SPOT SHOWS THE GENERAL
LOCATION OF THE SKYBRIDGES IN
THE U DISTRICT. AND WE ARE
RECOMMENDING COUNCIL APPROVE
THESE TWO BILLS FOR THE UW TO
CONTINUE MAINTAINING AND
OPERATING THE SKYBRIDGES. IF
PASSED, THE PARTIES WOULD
EXPIRE IN 2039. NEXT SLIDE?
THIS SHOWS THE EXTERIOR IMAGE
OF THE SKYBRIDGE AND THE ALLEY,
FOR VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN
TRAFFIC. I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY
HAVE.
>> INC. YOU. COLLEAGUES --
THANK YOU . COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR
CONCERNS? COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR COMMENT . IT IS IMPORTANT
TO NOTE THAT THE NEXT SECTION,
SPECIFICALLY -- I TOOK MY
GLASSES OFF, SORRY. INSURANCE.
THE DIFFERENCE WITH PIECES OF
INSURANCE BUT IS THERE ANYTHING
IN THAT AREA THAT NEEDS TO BE
SPOKEN TO RELATING TO THE
SECTION 9, HOLDING HARMLESS
INDEMNIFICATION AND DUTY TO
DEFEND?
>> THAT LANGUAGE IS PROVIDED BY
THE RISK MANAGER AND THE
ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES. THERE HAVE BEEN A
CHANGE -- CHANGES IN THE NAMES.
THEY MAKE SURE THAT IT IS
ADEQUATE TO PROTECT THE CITY
AND THE AMOUNT DETERMINED TO
PROTECT THE CITY. YEAH.
>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE SAME
SUBJECT.
>> INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS
ARE REALLY IMPORTANT. THEY
PROVIDE FOR RISK ALLOCATION,
BETWEEN THE PARTIES, SO , THANK
YOU FOR EXPANDING UPON THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS,
FEEDBACK, COLLEAGUES ? ALL
RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, HEARING NONE
, I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILLED 120768. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND .
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED . ARE THERE ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE
, WILL BE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE RECOMMENDATION THAT
THE BILL PASSED?
>> VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH ?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> THREE VOTES IN FAVOR.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES, THE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BILL
PASSED WILL BE SENT TO THE MAY
28th CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WE
WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR SECOND
ITEM OF BUSINESS. CLERK , WILL
YOU PLEASE READ IT INTO THE
RECORD, FOR THE PURPOSES OF
READING IT INTO THE RECORD. I
THINK WE HAVE PRESENTLY COVERED
IT.
>> ITEM 2, COUNCIL BILL 120769,
AN ORDINANCE GRANTING THE BOARD
OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON PERMISSION TO
CONTINUE MAINTAINING AND
OPERATING AN EXISTING VEHICULAR
AND PEDESTRIAN SKYBRIDGE OVER
AND ACROSS THE ALLEY BETWEEN
11th AVENUE NORTHEAST AND 12th
AVENUE NORTHEAST, NORTH OF
NORTHEAST 43 -- 43rd STREET,
REPEALING SECTION 7 OF
ORDINANCE 119161, AND PROVIDING
FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE
PERMIT AND CONDITIONS. FOR
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION, AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> I WILL GIVE THE PRESENTERS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND UPON
ANYTHING.
>> I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING ELSE
TO ADD.
>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT, NOW,
COLLEAGUES? DOES ANYONE HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS,
FEEDBACK? COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
?
>> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO TAKE
THE OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS KIND
OF UNIQUE AND SENSE OF THE
BROADER RELATIONSHIP. I WILL
PUT A PLUG IN, GENERALLY WITH
SKYBRIDGES, THOSE WITH MEDICAL
PURPOSES ARE GENERALLY THE ONES
I LOOK TO FAVOR, IN TERMS OF
VOTING IN FAVOR OF IT I
RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF
THIS AND THE CONTINUATION. I
ALSO WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT,
BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE
REPRESENTATION FROM THE
AUDIENCE. THE NEW COUNCIL ,
CITING A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON,
WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH THE UNIVERSITY ON
A WHOLE HOST OF ISSUES THAT ARE
OUT THERE. AND TO BRING YOU IN,
AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION. I
THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. I
THINK THAT IS SOMETHING UNDER
THE OLD COUNCIL THAT MAY NOT
HAVE BEEN WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE
BEEN, LET'S JUST SAY. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO HAVING A PRODUCTIVE
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
UNIVERSITY. I SAY THIS AS A
GRADUATE OF THE EVANS SCHOOL,
BUT ALSO A D7 REPRESENTATIVE,
DISTRICT 7, MOST PEOPLE
PROBABLY DO NOT REALIZE THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON HAS A
LOT OF LANDHOLDINGS IN THE CITY
, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT, ON A
WHOLE HOST OF SUBJECTS. AND SO,
WE NEED TO HAVE A CONSTRUCTIVE
AND POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT, AS
WE LOOK OVER THE COURSE OF THE
TERM. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
ROBERT KETTLE. I ALSO AM
EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND
OUR OTHER HIGHER EDUCATION
PARTNERS. IT IS IMPORTANT WORK,
INCLUDING THE QUOTE-UNQUOTE
FAIRLY ROUTINE MATTERS. IT
MATTERS, AS LISH WHITSON
POINTED OUT, THIS IS ALL
IMPORTANT STUFF. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. VICE
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH, ANYTHING
TO ADD ?
>> I HAVE NOTHING. I AM A
GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON, SCHOOL OF
EDUCATION, I LOVE THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
>> SINCE WE ARE SHOWING, IN
THIS CASE, OUR HUSKIES COLORS,
I AM A PROUD GRAD, UNDERGRAD,
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON, LAW SOCIETY DOUBLE
MAJOR, POLITICAL SCIENCE. [
LAUGHTER ] WHY NOT? ALL RIGHT,
COOL. WELL, SHOULD HAVE, WOULD
HAVE, COULD HAVE. IT LOOKS LIKE
YOU DID. ALL RIGHT, NOW,
GETTING THIS MOVING. I MOVE
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
PASSAGE OF COUNCIL BILL 120769.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> ALL RIGHT. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
PASSAGE OF THE BILL. ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS?
>> GO HUSKIES.
>> GO DOGS. WILL BE CLERK NOW
CALL THE ROLL ?
>> VICE CHAIR DATA 41?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> THREE AYES.
>> IT WILL GO TO THE MAY 28th
MEETING . GO, DOGS. I REPRESENT
THE COUGARS ALSO, BUT THEY
TYPICALLY DO NOT HAVE BUSINESS
THAT COMES BEFORE THIS
COMMITTEE. OKAY, THAT IS GOOD
TO KNOW, WE HAVE REACHED THE
END OF THE MEETING AGENDA FOR
TODAY. IS THERE ANY FURTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE BEFORE WE ADJOURN?
HEARING NONE , I WANT TO REMIND
EVERYONE THAT JUNE 4th AND JUNE
18th , AND THE JULY 2nd
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
MEETINGS HAVE BEEN CANCELED IN
ORDER TO ALLOW COLLEAGUES TO
FOCUS ON THE REVIEW THAT WE
HAVE GOING ON RIGHT NOW. THAT
IS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND
URGENT ITEM. WE WILL
TEMPORARILY SUSPEND
CONSIDERATION OF OUR OTHER
GENERALLY ROUTINE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. WE WILL FOCUS ON WHAT
MATTERS MOST RIGHT NOW. GETTING
THIS RIGHT. HEARING NO FURTHER
-- WE WILL NOT PICK UP AGAIN, A
REGULAR TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE MEETINGS UNTIL AFTER
THE PROCESS HAS CONCLUDED. THAT
WILL FREE UP TIME, SPACE, AND
ENERGY FOR EVERYONE, STAFF
MEMBERS INCLUDED. WE APPRECIATE
YOU ALL. HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
IT IS 9:54 A.M.