>>> YES, OF COURSE, WE NEED TO
WAIT FOR THE EXCITING SEATTLE
CHANNEL TRANSITION TO
OFFICIALLY PROCEED. WELCOME.
GOOD MORNING. THE SEPTEMBER 17,
2024 MEETING OF THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER. IT IS 9:30 A.M.
I AM ROB SAKA, CHAIR OF THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. WILL
THE COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL CALL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> PRESENT.
>> VICE-CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
CHAIR SAKA.
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FOUR
MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> RIGHT. AND I NOTE THAT
VICE-CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH WILL
LIKELY BE AROUND 10 MINUTES
LATE RUNNING BEHIND FROM
ANOTHER MEETING COME ABOUT WELL
BE HERE SHORTLY. GOOD MORNING
COLLEAGUES, MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, MEMBERS OF THE VIEWING
PUBLIC TUNING INTO THE EXCITING
SEATTLE CHANNEL. THANK YOU ALL
FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING YOUR
TIME WITH US THIS MORNING. WE
HAVE A VERY PACKED AGENDA
TODAY. AMONG OTHER THINGS, WE
ARE GOING TO BE CONSIDERING
APPOINTEES TO THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT AND BICYCLE ADVISORY
BOARDS, A RESOLUTION TO ENABLE
THE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TASK
FORCE, INCLUDING TWO TECHNICAL
AMENDMENTS THAT I AM OFFERING ,
AND THEN AS A SPORTS FAN AND
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS, WE
GET TO HONOR THE GREATEST OF
ALL TIME IN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
, SUE BIRD, WITH SOME
LEGISLATION TO ENABLE A STREET
NAME CHANGE IN HER HONOR. WE
ALSO HAVE A PRESENTATION BY
CENTRAL STAFF ON THE SEATTLE
STREETCAR LINES OF BUSINESS.
FINALLY , WE ARE GOING TO
CONSIDER AND LIKELY VOTE ON THE
T6 ALLEY VACATION PROPOSAL . SO
COLLEAGUES, THIS AGENDA I THINK
REALLY SPEAKS TO WHAT THIS
COMMITTEE HAS BEEN ALL ABOUT ,
AND WHAT I THINK VOTERS EXPECT
OF US AS WELL, AND THAT IS ,
NOW MORE THAN EVER, A BACK TO
BASICS APPROACH THAT CENTERS
COMMON SENSE, IS VERY MINDFUL
OF NUTS AND BOLTS, THE
NITTY-GRITTY OPERATIONAL
DETAILS THAT TRULY MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S
EVERYDAY LIVES, AND REALLY A
STRIDENT COMMITMENT TO
IMPROVING OUR TRANSPORTATION
AND OUR
IMPROVING CITY
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND
OUR TRANSPORTATION CHOICES BY
FOOT, BIKE, PUBLIC TRANSIT,
CAR, FREIGHT, CARGO , ALL OF
THE ABOVE. BOATS . AIRPLANES .
MARITIME . ALL OF THE ABOVE .
AND DOING SO WITH CONSCIOUSNESS
AND BEING MINDFUL OF DATA , AND
THE DEMANDS OF THE CONSTITUENTS
OF OUR CITY THAT ARE COUNTING
ON US TO BETTER ENABLE , WELL ,
BETTER ENABLE THEIR CONNECTION
AND, YOU KNOW, INGRESS /EGRESS
ROUTES, AND WAYS ACROSS THIS
GREAT CITY , MAKE SURE THEY CAN
TRAVEL ACROSS THE CITY IN A
SAFE, RELIABLE MANNER. THANK
YOU , COLLEAGUES, FOR THIS
JOURNEY. THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A
MICROCOSM OF EVERYTHING THAT WE
COULD CONCEIVABLY CONSIDER IN
THIS COMMITTEE . WE STARTED OUT
IN EARNEST CONSIDERING THE
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION PLAN .
MOVING FORWARD, PIVOTING TO
THE, OF COURSE, THE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY PROPOSAL
LEGISLATION THAT IS NOW BEFORE
VOTERS, AND THEN IN BETWEEN,
SCATTERED IN BETWEEN , TONS AND
TONS AND TONS OF OPERATION --
OPERATIONAL NITTY-GRITTY
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES THAT
COMPRISE THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF
THIS COMMITTEE TO ALLEY STREET
VACATIONS TO HONORARY STREET
NAMES, IN THIS CASE A PERMANENT
STREET NAME ORDINANCE FOR TODAY
TO HONOR SUE BIRD. THE LIST
GOES ON AND ON AND ON. WE WILL
LIKELY HAVE ONE MORE, LIKELY
TWO, BUT POTENTIALLY ONE MORE
MEETING BEFORE THE END OF THE
CALENDAR YEAR, BUT THIS IS OUR
LAST MAJOR, THIS IS OUR LAST
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
MEETING BEFORE WE ENTER OUR
BUDGET DELIBERATIONS IN
EARNEST. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE
A MOMENT TO PAUSE, REFLECT ON,
YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HAVE DONE SO
FAR THIS YEAR, BEING MINDFUL OF
COURSE, THAT WE HAVE ONE MORE
POST BUDGET. SO THAT SAID, WE
WILL NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD, AND WE WILL
OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD
RELATE TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA OR WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF
THIS COMMITTEE. CLAIRE, HOW
MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE ONE IN
PERSON SPEAKER SIGNED UP AND
THERE ARE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> ALL RIGHT EACH SPEAKER, THE
SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
WE WILL START WITH IN PERSON,
AND IF ANYONE HAPPENS TO JOIN
REMOTELY, WE WILL PIVOT TO
THEM. CLAIRE, CAN YOU PLEASE
READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT
INSTRUCTIONS .
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT. MAC IS UP TO 20
MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL BE
CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN SETS OF IN
PERSON AT REMOTE SPEAKERS UNTIL
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD HAS
ENDED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
TIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT
OF THEIR TIME. SPEAKERS
MICROPHONES WILL BE MUTED IF
THEY DO NOT END THEIR COMMENTS
WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME TO
ALLOW US TO CALL IN THE NEXT
SPEAKER. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. IT WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON
THE LIST. THAT IS , THE FIRST
AND ONLY SPEAKER, THAT IS
HEATHER PHIL.
>> GOOD MORNING. HEATHER PEALE
, FRIENDS OF THE MARKET.
RECENTLY IN THE TIMES , THERE
WAS RAISED THE SPECTER OF THE
FIRST AVENUE STREETCAR AGAIN.
FRIENDS OF THE MARKET DEFENSE
AND IS INTERESTED AND CONCERNED
ABOUT NOT ONLY PIKE PLACE
MARKET, BUT ALSO THE
SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, AND I
JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, BECAUSE
THE COUNCILMEMBERS, MANY OF
THEM ARE NEW THIS YEAR , THAT
IF THE FIRST AVENUE STREETCAR
WHERE TO GO IN, IT WOULD MEAN A
DETRIMENTAL, VERY DETRIMENTAL
IMPACT TO THE MARKET BECAUSE
THE LOAD AND NO-LOAD ZONES
WOULD BE COMPLETELY MOVED
AROUND THE CORNER , ONLY
LOADING BETWEEN 1:00 A.M. AND
5:00 A.M. ON FIRST AVENUE , AND
BECAUSE ALL OF THE LEFT TURNS
INTO PIKE PLACE MARKET
NORTHBOUND, EXPECT FOR A SMALL
TURN POCKETED STREET WOULD BE
ELIMINATED. THE LOADING AND
LOAD UNLOAD ZONE WOULD BE MOVED
AROUND THE CORNER 50 FEET FROM
THE CORNER OF FIRST AND UNION,
WHICH WOULD INTERFERE WITH THE
OPERATIONS, BUT ALSO TARGETS
TRUCKS GOING IN AND OUT OF THE
ALLEY. THIS INFORMATION ABOUT
LOAD /UNLOAD AND THE STREETCAR
PLANS ARE NOT POSTED ANYWHERE
FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE. I WAS
ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT THESE FROM
THE PIKE PLACE MARKET PDA ,
WHICH HAD THE LOADING DIAGRAMS,
AND BY DOING A PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE REQUEST TO SDOT FOR
THE PLANS. I WILL SEND AS A
FOLLOW-UP TO ALL OF THE
COUNCILMEMBERS THE INFORMATION
PERTINENT TO PIKE PLACE MARKET
. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT WAS OUR ONLY SPEAKER.
>> ALL RIGHT. GIVEN THAT THERE
ARE NO ADDITIONAL REGISTERED
SPEAKERS, WE WILL NOW PROCEED
TO OUR ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
LET'S SEE . SO, CLERK , WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER ONE ITEM NUMBER 1 TO 7
INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEMS 1 TO 7,
APPOINTMENTS 02981 THROUGH
02987 , APPOINTMENT AND
REAPPOINTMENTS OF DEXTER
JENKINS AS MEMBER , SEATTLE
TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD, FOR A
TERM TO AUGUST 2, 2025, DEBORAH
BARNARD, SHIRLEY CHU, KATIE
FREEMAN , ARTHUR KUNIYUKI ,
SANDRO R. PANI , ASHWIN BHUMBLA
AS MEMBERS, SEATTLE TRANSIT
ADVISORY BOARD FOR TERMS OF
AUGUST 2, 2026.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WILL
THE PRESENTERS PLEASE JOIN US
AT THE TABLE AND SHARE YOUR
PRESENTATION? AND ONCE READY,
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND
BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> HI. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR
SAKA, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
I NAME IS CAROLYN BIRKENFELD. I
WORK AT SDOT AS A SENIOR
TRANSPORTATION PLANNER
SUPPORTING THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE, AND I'M ALSO THE
STAFF LIAISON TO THE TRANSIT
ADVISORY BOARD. FOR A LITTLE
BIT OF BACKGROUND, THE TRANSIT
ADVISORY BOARD IS MADE UP OF 12
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO MEET
MONTHLY TO ADVISE THE CITY ON
PUBLIC TRANSIT RELATED MATTERS
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. THE
BOARD ALSO FUNCTIONS AS A
PUBLIC ADVISORY AUTHORITY FOR
THE SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE,
PREVIOUSLY THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
BENEFIT DISTRICTS. THE BOARD IS
INVOLVED WITH ALL THINGS
TRANSIT, FROM THE REVIEW OF
CAPITAL PROJECTS TO TRANSIT
SERVICE NETWORK CHANGES,
TRANSIT ACCESS PROGRAMS, AND
PLANS SUCH AS THE CLIMATE
CHANGE RESPONSE FRAMEWORK, STP
, AND NEIGHBORHOODS. MEMBERS OF
THE BOARD REPRESENT A WIDE
RANGE OF PERSPECTIVES OF
TRANSIT RIDERS FROM ALL
DISTRICT AND ADVISE THE CITY
BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCES AND
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS FOCUS ON
WHAT IT MEANS TO RELY ON
TRANSIT TO GET AROUND THE CITY.
TODAY WE ARE BRINGING FORWARD
FOUR NEW CANDIDATES FOR
APPOINTMENT AND THREE
REAPPOINTMENTS. OUR NEW
CANDIDATES, DEXTER JENKINS,
DEBORAH BARNARD , AND KATIE
FREEMAN ARE HERE IN PERSON ,
AND SHIRLEY CHU SHOULD BE
JOINING US REMOTELY. OUR THREE
REAPPOINTMENTS, ASHWIN BHUMBLA,
ARTHUR KUNIYUKI , AND SANDRO R.
PANI ARE NOT HERE TODAY. NOW I
WILL ASK EACH OF THE NEW
MEMBERS TO INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES, AND WE WILL START
WITH THE FOLKS AT THE TABLE
HERE.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS DEBORAH
BARNARD. I WORK AT THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY AND HAVE FOR 18
YEARS . I HAVE BEEN TAKING THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT SYSTEM SINCE
THE 1990s, AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO SERVING MY CITY IN A NEW
CAPACITY.
>> HI, MY NAME IS KATIE
FREEMAN. I AM A GERIATRIC
SOCIAL WORKER WITH THE AMERICAN
PARKINSON'S DISEASE
ASSOCIATION, AND I RELY ON
SEATTLE PUBLIC TRANSIT AS MY
MAIN MODE OF TRANSPORTATION ,
AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE
HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
DEXTER JENKINS . I AM A MEMBER
OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION, A FEDERAL
EMPLOYEE. I AM NEW TO SEATTLE
AND I DO ALSO RELY ON PUBLIC
TRANSIT ON A DAILY BASIS, SO I
THINK I'M HERE AT --
INAPPROPRIATE TIME AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING.
>> THANK YOU. AND I SEE SHIRLEY
CHU ONLINE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
INTRODUCE YOURSELF?
>> YES. HELLO. I AM SHIRLEY
CHU. I AM A SEATTLE NATIVE.
KIMA SOFTWARE ENGINEER AND I
HAVE RELIED ON PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION NEARLY ALL OF MY
LIFE. I USED IT TO GO FROM
SOUTH SEATTLE TO SHORELINE FOR
SCHOOL, AND NOW I AM VERY
EXCITED TO JOIN THIS BOARD AND
BE A LIAISON TO THE CHINESE
COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, NO, THANK YOU
ALL. I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS.
I GUESS, DO ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES, WE WILL START WIOMG
AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> I JUST WANTED TO THANK,
FIRST, THANK YOU FOR COMING
THIS MORNING IN PERSON OR
ONLINE. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT
, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT,
VOLUNTEERING. AS SOMEONE WHO
HAS VOLUNTEERED IN THE PAST
BEFORE THIS CURRENT POSITION I
AM IN, I RECOGNIZE THE TIME AND
EFFORT AND SOMETIMES MONEY THAT
GOES INTO IT, SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE IT. I ALSO
APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE
SOMEBODY NEW WHO IS PROBABLY,
YOU DID NOT SAY YOU ARE FROM,
YOU KNOW , BUT BRINGS THE
EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN OTHER
CITIES AS WELL WITH TRANSIT. I
THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT,
YOU KNOW , GETTING THE
INSIGHTS, YOU KNOW, AND THE
EXPERIENCES FROM OTHER CITIES,
THEN COMPARING AND CONTRASTING
AND LOOKING TO IMPROVE HOURS IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. IN ADDITION TO
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE THE
WHOLE TIME AND LIVE IN LOWER
QUEEN ANNE, WHICH IS FANTASTIC.
I'M SORRY, THAT IS THE
DISTRICT 7 REP IN ME COMING
OUT. I APOLOGIZE.
>> ALL GOOD. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND FOR MY
D7 COLLIE. -- COLLEAGUE. IS IT
PIKE OR IS IT PINE? THE ANSWERS
WILL ALWAYS ESCAPE US. I JUST
WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR IS FOR
YOUR VOLUNTEER SERVICE TO OUR
CITY. I KNOW YOU ALSO WORK FOR
OUR CITY. WE WORK FOR OUR
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR
NATION AND OUR CITY. THIS IS
ALL VOLUNTEER WORK. YOU ARE NOT
COMPENSATED AND WE BENEFIT FROM
YOUR EXPERTISE. A COUPLE
QUESTIONS, ONE FOR EACH OF YOU
THAT ARE HERE. DEBORAH LEMIEUX
SERVED US IN THE LIBRARY IS,
YOU SEE PEOPLE IN ALL WALKS OF
LIFE, ALL SHAPES, SIZES, AND
ABILITIES, AND YOU HAVE USED
TRANSIT SINCE THE 1990s. CAN
YOU SHARE, TWO QUESTIONS HERE ,
WHAT HAS CHANGED IN TRANSIT
SINCE THE 90s? ONE THING FOR
THE POSITIVE AND ONE THING THAT
NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED. IN THE
SECOND QUESTION IS , YOU SEE
EVERYONE WHO COMES TO OUR
LIBRARIES FOR WHATEVER REASON,
WHETHER IT IS TO USE THE
COMPUTERS, ACCESS DIGITAL
LIBRARIES, CHECK OUT BOOKS,
HAVE SOME TIME OUT OF THE
WEATHER . WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR
EVERY DAY SEATTLEITES THAT ARE
NEEDED FOR TRANSIT? WHAT HAS
CHANGED IS THE 90s, GOOD, BAD?
AND HOW DO YOU SEE EVERY DAY
SEATTLEITES DEALING WITH PUBLIC
TRANSIT? AND YOU CAN MOVE THE
MICROPHONE .
>> THE THING I HAVE WITNESSED A
LOT OF CHANGE WITH IS THE
MONORAIL. THE MONORAIL IN
SEATTLE HAS HAD A WILD RIDE IN
TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION, AND
I'M REALLY EXCITED IT IS PART
OF THE ORCA CARD NOW AND IS
ACTUALLY USEFUL. AND AS FAR AS
HOW I SEE FOLKS INTERACTING
WITH TRANSIT, A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE REALLY EXCITED THAT THE
LIGHT RAIL IS FINALLY EXPANDING
OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE , ESPECIALLY
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING . SO ONE
OF THE THINGS I SEE IS FRIENDS
WHO ARE ABLE TO HAVE BETTER
ACCESS TO TRANSIT WITHOUT A CAR
AND THE LIGHT RAIL MAKES IT
POSSIBLE FOR THEM .
>> NICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
KATIE, YOUR WORK IS A GERIATRIC
SOCIAL WORKER, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SERVICE. HOW DO YOU SEE
YOUR CLIENTS ABILITY OR
BARRIERS TO USING TRANSIT?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
>> YOU CAN MOVE THE MICROPHONES
AROUND.
>> THANK YOU. THAT IS A GREAT
QUESTION. WHAT I HAVE WITNESSED
IS AS WE AGE, AND ESPECIALLY AS
WE AGE AND GET SICK, OUR ACCESS
TO TRANSIT OR ACCESS TO
TRANSPORTATION DIMINISHES,
RIGHT ? SO OFTENTIMES WE LOSE
THE ABILITY TO DRIVE. FOR MANY
PEOPLE, THAT MEANS THAT WE LOSE
ACCESS TO, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST
ETHICAL SERVICES , BUT ACCESS
TO OUR COMMUNITIES, AND THAT
HAS PRETTY DETRIMENTAL HEALTH
OUTCOMES. YOU KNOW , SEATTLE
HAS MADE A COMMITMENT TO BEING
AN AGE FRIENDLY CITY , AND I
THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO
CONSIDER TRANSPORTATION ,
ESPECIALLY PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION, AS AN AVENUE
FOR ACHIEVING THAT COMMITMENT.
>> THANK YOU. EXCELLENT. I JUST
WANT, I'VE GOT EVERYONE'S
RESUMES APPEAR. DEXTER, LOOKING
AT YOUR RESUME, YOU MENTIONED
YOU ARE NEW TO SEATTLE. IT
LOOKS LIKE YOU COME FROM
GEORGIA ACCORDING TO YOUR
RESUME, OR THAT WAS AT LEAST
YOUR LAST STOP. HERE IN SEATTLE
WE CAN GET OUR BLINDERS UP AND
ONLY SEE WHAT IS RIGHT IN FRONT
OF US, BUT YOU GET TO SHARE A
FRESH PERSPECTIVE FROM OUTSIDE
EVEN OUR REGION. WHAT HAVE YOU
NOTICED OR WHAT IS YOUR, YOU
KNOW, WHAT IS GOING WELL? WHAT
NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED? AS FAR AS
TRANSIT COMPARED TO OTHER
PLACES THAT YOU HAVE BEEN IN
OUR NATION .
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I DID
APPRECIATE WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED
IN I MENTIONED EARLIER IS THE
OVER LACKING -- OVERLAPPING OF
SERVICES, THE RELIANCE ON
RAILWAYS AND BUSES AND MULTIPLE
RAILWAYS THAT KIND OF GIVES YOU
A SECURITY OF HAVING THAT
TRANSPORTATION BACK AND FORTH
WHENEVER YOU ARE GOING WHEREVER
YOU NEED. MANY OTHER CITIES ARE
STILL KIND OF DEVELOPING THOSE.
THE ARE PUTTING THE
INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO
ALLOW FOR TRANSPORTATION TO
DIFFERENT CAPACITIES, AND IT
SEEMS LIKE IT WAS AFORETHOUGHT
HERE , LIKE IT WAS PUT IN PLACE
WELL AHEAD AND IT IS JUST KIND
OF BEING MANIPULATED AND
IMPROVED UPON AT THIS POINT.
>> FANTASTIC. WE ARE GLAD TO
HAVE YOU HERE AND I WONDER IF
MAYBE THE TWO OF YOU SHARE SOME
CLIENTS. COULD BE. YOU NEVER
KNOW, BUT YOU WILL NEVER KNOW
BECAUSE OF HIPAA. SHIRLEY, OVER
TO YOU . ONE QUESTION FOR YOU
MY SENIOR RESUME, WHILE YOU
MENTIONED YOU WORK IN TECH,
THAT YOU HAVE WORKED FOR REDFIN
AND THAT YOU HAVE WORKED FOR
NORDSTROM, CAN YOU SHARE HOW
YOU HAVE SENIOR COLLEAGUES
INTERACT WITH TRANSIT HERE IN
THE CITY? YOU KNOW, DOESN'T
HELP OR, YOU KNOW, OR SPEAK MAY
BE TO YOUR WORK AT REDFIN . DO
YOU SEE TRANSIT ACCESS BEING
SOMETHING THAT IS POSITIVE FOR
PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE LOOKING
FOR WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO BUY
A HOUSE?
>> YEAH, I CAN SPEAK FOR THE
BUYING A HOUSE PART. I SAW A
GROUP IN SOUTH SEATTLE, AND WE,
YOU KNOW, MY MOM HAD TO TAKE A
BUS TO DOWNTOWN EVERY DAY AND
IT TOOK OVER AN HOUR, BUT THAT
WAS HER ONLY WAY. AND AS FOR
TECH WORKERS, I THINK IT IS
HALF-AND-HALF, BECAUSE NOW THAT
WE ONLY HAVE A PARTIAL RETURN
TO OFFICE, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
CAN BE EXEMPT THEY DON'T RELY
ON IT AS MUCH. I NOTICE BUSES
ARE A LOT EMPTIER THAN THEY
USED TO BE, BUT THERE IS I
THINK, NOT A SMALL FRACTION,
MAYBE LIKE HALF-AND-HALF OF
TECH WORKERS THAT ARE REALLY
INTO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION . I
KNOW THAT A LOT OF RECENT
TRANSPLANTS WHO MOVED TO
SEATTLE OFTEN STAY IN GROWING
POPULAR AREAS AND THEY JUST
DON'T HAVE A CAR . SO I THINK
ON BOTH ENDS , PEOPLE BUYING
HOUSES, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE
MORE UNDERSERVED AREAS, OR TECH
WORKERS, GENERALLY IT IS
ENTHUSIAISE TO LIKE
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
>> FANTASTIC. THANK YOU ALL
AGAIN FOR YOUR VOLUNTEER
SERVICE AND THE SERVICE YOU DO
IT WORK FOR OUR CITY AND THE
RESIDENCE OF SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. THANK YOU ALL . I WANT
TO ECHO THE SENTIMENT EXPRESSED
BY MY COLLEAGUES HERE IN TERMS
OF EXPRESSING MY OWN GRATITUDE
AND APPRECIATION FOR YOU ALL
AND YOUR WORK. THIS IS 100%
VOLUNTEER POWERED BOARD ,
ADVISORY BOARD , THAT YOU ARE
UNDERTAKING HERE SHORTLY , AND
IT REQUIRES A LOT OF TIME ,
OBVIOUSLY, AND SACRIFICE , BUT
I, I AM GRATEFUL THAT YOU HAVE
CHOSEN TO DEVOTE YOUR TIME AND
TALENTS TO MAKE, TO HELP MAKE
OUR CITY BETTER THROUGH TRANSIT
IN THIS CASE. SO , I, I ALSO
SERVED, LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE , ON A NUMBER OF
VOLUNTEER BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS, AND I LEARNED
SOMETHING FROM EVERY LAST ONE
OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES . I
WOULD LIKE TO THINK PERSONALLY
THAT I HAVE BENEFITED IN SOME
SMALL DIRECT OR INDIRECT WAY
FOR MY OWN CONTRIBUTIONS TO
WHATEVER WAS THE TASK AT HAND,
BUT , SO , I WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT YOUR SERVICE -- AND BY THE
WAY, SAME THING, WE ARE ALSO
GOING TO CONSIDER AFTER YOU
FOLKS FROM THE SEATTLE BICYCLE
ADVISORY BOARD, SO SAME
COMMENTS KIND OF POURED OVER
THERE. BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO
KNOW THAT YOUR WORK AND YOUR
SERVICE TO OUR CITY, IT
MATTERS. IT IS IMPORTANT. GUESS
NOW AN ELECTED POLICYMAKER IN
OUR CITY, I OFTEN READ ,
REVIEW, AND ASK QUESTIONS OF
THE WORK , OF VOLUNTEER BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS , INCLUDING
MOST RECENTLY , I GUESS THE
MOST RECENT EXAMPLE IS THROUGH
THE LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ,
POURING THROUGH THEIR REPORT,
CALLING UP THE CHAIRS, ASKING
QUESTIONS. YOUR WORK IS
IMPORTANT PICKET MATTERS. I AM
GRATEFUL THAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU,
LEADERS LIKE YOU ARE WILLING TO
STEP UP AND HELP OUR CITY IN SO
MANY WAYS. AND TRANSIT IS VERY
IMPORTANT. I TAKE IT REGULARLY.
I TOOK IT THIS MORNING. I WILL
TAKE IT LATER TODAY. YOU SEE ME
ON TRANSIT SOMETIME, SAY HELLO.
AND , AND I HAVE ALSO BEEN
TRANSIT DEPENDENT IN DIFFERENT
STAGES OF MY LIFE. AND WHEN MY
FAMILY HAS HAD A CAR, IT HAS
NOT ALWAYS BEEN A RELIABLE ONE.
SO I REGULARLY TOOK, I REMEMBER
I USED TO, I ALSO, BY THE WAY,
TOOK TRANSIT LOCALLY SINCE THE
90s. I'M PROUD OF THAT . YEAH.
YEAH. YEAH. I AM AN 80s BABY. I
REMEMBER 5 TO 10 YEARS AGO THAT
USED TO BE A COOL THING TO SAY
AND NOW I AM THE OLD GUY AROUND
HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE IS
LOOKING AT ME LIKE, COME ON. IN
ANY EVENT, TRANSIT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. I STILL REMEMBER
TAKING FONDLY THE 150 LINE BACK
WHEN I LIVED IN KEN'S , AND I
TOOK IT REGULARLY, AND NOW THEY
ARE TALKING ABOUT MAKING THEM
POTENTIALLY ONE OF OUR RAPID
ROUTE LINES. MY POINT IS THIS
IS REALLY IMPORTANT WORK THAT
YOU ALL TO -- DO . I LOVE OUR
TRANSIT. I WOULD ENCOURAGE
EVERYONE TO TAKE IT, AS
EVIDENCED NOT JUST BY MY WORDS,
BUT BY MY ACTIONS. IT DOESN'T
MEAN IT IS PERFECT. THERE ARE
OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE IT EVEN
BETTER WHICH IS WHAT WE ALL
STRIVE TO DO , WHICH IS TO
TRUST IN YOUR WORK. THANK YOU.
AGAIN, JUST ECHOING THE
SENTIMENT OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE
IN TERMS OF, LIKE, EXPRESSING
OUR APPRECIATION. AS CHAIR OF
THIS COMMITTEE , I WILL ECHO
THAT. ON BEHALF OF THIS
COMMITTEE, WE REALLY DO
APPRECIATE YOUR VOLUNTEER
SERVICE AND SACRIFICE TO OUR
CITY TO MAKE IT BETTER. ALL
RIGHT. I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS
02981 THROUGH 02987. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENTS. ARE THERE ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE,
SEEING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM THESE
APPOINTMENTS?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> YES.
>> VICE-CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
CHAIR SAKA .
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR THERE ARE FOUR VOTES
IN FAVOR AND NONE OPPOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT, THE MOTION
CARRIES, AND THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE COUNCIL
CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT WILL BE
SET TO THE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS. WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM OF
BUSINESS. WHILE THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEMS NUMBERS 8 TO
16 INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEMS 8 TO 16,
APPOINTMENTS 02988 THROUGH
02996 , APPOINTMENTS AND
REAPPOINTMENTS OF MADIN
AKPO-ESAMBE, KSENIA I. ERSHOVA
, TAYLOR HOM AS MEMBER, SEATTLE
BICYCLE ADVISORY BOARDS FOR
TERMS OF AUGUST 31, 2025.
MAXWELL BAKER, MOLLY McNEELY,
KATHRYN L. RICCHIUTO, RAFAEL
RONQUILLO DONNA McBAIN EVANS ,
JOSEPH ROBERTS AS MEMBERS,
SEATTLE ADVISORY -- SEATTLE
BICYCLE ADVISORY BOARD FOR
AUGUST 31, 2026.
>> THANK YOU. WILL THE
PRESENTERS PLEASE COME TO THE
BOARD AND SHOW US YOUR
PRESENTATION. WHEN YOU DO,
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND
BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR SAKA,
MEMBERS OF THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS QUINN
KELLY. I'M A SENIOR
TRANSPORTATION PLANNER AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
AND I'M ALSO THE STAFF LIAISON
TO THE BIKE ADVISORY BOARD,
JOIN BY MY COLLEAGUE.
>> I AM HALLIE O'BRIEN ALSO
WITH SDOT. AND I'M A SENIOR
TRANSPORTATION PLANNER AND
LIAISON WITH THE SEATTLE
BICYCLE ADVISORY BOARD .
>> IT WAS ESTABLISHED BY CITY
COUNCIL IN 1977 IN RECOGNITION
OF THE GROWING ROLE OF BICYCLES
IN SEATTLE'S TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM. THE BOARD'S MISSION IS
TO ADVISE THE CITY COUNCIL, THE
MAYOR, AND ALL DEPARTMENTS AND
OFFICES ON THE CITY ON MATTERS
RELATED TO BICYCLING, AND THE
IMPACTS THE ACTIONS MAY HAVE ON
BICYCLING AND WILL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO
ALL ASPECTS OF THE CITY'S
PLANNING PROCESSES INSOFAR AS
THEY MAY BE RELATED TO
BICYCLING. LAST YEAR, THE
SEATTLE BIKE ADVISORY BOARD HAS
BEEN A VOICE FOR PEOPLE WHO
BIKE ACROSS THE CITY, PROVIDING
CRITICAL FEEDBACK ON THE
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION PLAN,
THE VISION ZERO ACTION PLAN,
THE PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION
LEVY, THE BETTER BIKE BARRIERS
PROJECTS, AND MAJOR
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
INCLUDING AURORA AVENUE,
ELLIOTT BAY CONNECTION, ALASKAN
WAY, AND NORTH 130th STREET.
THIS MORNING WE HAVE SEVEN NEW
APPOINTEES AND TWO NEW
APPOINTMENTS TO CONSIDER.
>> AWESOME. IN QUEUE SO MUCH.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WILL
TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES.
DO ANY OF MY FELLOW COMMITTEE
MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS?
>> INTRODUCTIONS?
>> YEAH, GO AHEAD.
>> SO YEAH, WE CAN START WITH
MAXWELL BAKER, WHO I BELIEVE IS
ATTENDING ONLINE.
>> HI THERE. MAX BAKER . I AM A
CITY PLANNER IN THE CITY OF
TUKWILA, A CURRENT RESIDENT OF
MY SEATTLE , AND I HAVE BEEN
BIKING AROUND THE CITY FOR
ALMOST 15 YEARS. I HAVE LIVED
IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
NEIGHBORHOODS, LOWER QUEEN
ANNE, BALLARD, COMMUTED TO THE
MU DISTRICT WHEN I WAS IN GRAD
SCHOOL THERE, AND CURRENTLY I
RIDE MY BIKE TO WEST SEATTLE TO
TUKWILA MOST DAYS OF THE WEEK.
IT PROVIDES A GOOD PERSPECTIVE
FOR ME ON SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY FOR
BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND I AM
VERY EXCITED TO SERVE ON THE
BOARD.
>> MIXED UP WE HAVE TJ HOM, WHO
WAS HOPING TO ATTEND VIRTUALLY,
BUT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO JOIN . I CAN INTRODUCE
HIM. TJ IS A VIDEO PRODUCER AND
COFOUNDER OF PARTICLE STUDIOS
IN SEATTLE'S DeSOTO
NEIGHBORHOOD. HE GREW UP IN
TACOMA, WASHINGTON WHERE HE
COMMUTED TO SCHOOL ON HIS
MOM'S 21 SPEED MOUNTAIN BIKE.
SINCE COMMUTING TO SEATTLE IN
HIS 20s, HE'S LIVED IN A
HALF-DOZEN NEIGHBORHOODS AND
CYCLED THROUGH MOST OTHERS. IS
A SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, AND
CONVENIENT ALTERNATIVE TO
SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLE TRAVEL
FOR ALL. TJ PLANS TO ADVOCATE
FOR NEW AND EXPERIENCED SEATTLE
CYCLISTS BY CHAMPIONING MORE
EXPENSIVE, SAFER , BICYCLE AND
PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE TO
HELP THE CITY ACHIEVE TRUE
VISION ZERO IMMEDIATE CLIMATE
OBJECTIVES. NEXT UP WE HAVE
KATIE.
>> HELLO, I AM KATIE ROCCHIUTO.
I WORK FOR THE U DISTRICT
IMPROVEMENT AREA, MANAGING,
PLANNING POLICY , AND PLACE
MAKING FOR THE ORGANIZATION. I
HAVE BEEN A SEATTLE RESIDENT
FOR A DECADE. I FREQUENTLY
COMMUTE BY BIKE FOR MY HOME IN
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT TO THE U
DISTRICT, AND I AM A MEMBER OF
CASCADE BICYCLE CLUB, SO I DO A
LOT OF BIKING ON THE ROADS IN
AND AROUND SEATTLE.
>> ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP WE HAVE
MADIN AKPO-ESAMBE, WHO I
BELIEVE WAS PLANNING TO ATTEND
IN PERSON, BUT I'M NOT SEEING
THEM HERE, SO I CAN INTRODUCE
THEM IF NEEDED. SO MADIN
AKPO-ESAMBE LIVES IN THE
REGNIER BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD. HE
WORKS IN VENTURE AIR CAPITAL
AND HE APPRECIATES BIKING AS A
WAY TO GET AROUND THE CITY GET
EXERCISE, AND ACCESS PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION. MOST DAYS, HIS
PRIMARY WAY TO GET AROUND HIS
BIKING TO THE REGNIER BEACH
STATION AND HOPPING ON THE
LIGHT RAIL , SO THEY REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT MULTIMODAL
CONNECTION, AND THEY ARE
EXCITED TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR
TIME AND EXPERIENCE TO THE
BICYCLE ADVISORY BOARD. NEXT UP
WE HAVE MOLLY McNEELY.
>> HI THERE. MY NAME IS MOLLY
McNEELY AND I WORK FOR SEI 775
BENEFITS GROUP. I DO HEALTH
BENEFIT ADMINISTRATION AND
HEALTH IMPROVEMENT FOR THE
CAREGIVING WORKFORCE IN
WASHINGTON. I HAVE BEEN IN
SEATTLE FOR 6 YEARS AND COMMUTE
EXCLUSIVELY THE BIKE AND
CONNECTION TO TRANSIT HUBS . I
AM A VOLUNTEER FOR THE MAJOR
TAYLOR PROJECTS, WORKING WITH
YOUTH AT CASCADE IDOLS:
GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL , AND
YEAH, VERY EXCITED FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE BOARD.
>> ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE
RAFAEL RONQUILLO.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
RAFAEL RONQUILLO. I WORK FOR
THE U.S. EPA HERE IN SEATTLE,
AND I LIVE IN THE BEACON HILL
NEIGHBORHOOD . I AM A
RECREATIONAL CYCLIST AS WELL AS
A COMMUTER. I MOVED BACK TO
SEATTLE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO
AFTER BEING AWAY FOR 8 OR NINE
YEARS AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I
AM THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED BY THE
IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLE
INFRASTRUCTURE SINCE MY ABSENCE
AND I AM EAGER TO HELP
PARTICIPATE ON THIS BOARD AND
SHIFT THE CONVERSATION GOING
FORWARD.
>> ALL RIGHT. FINALLY WE HAVE I
BELIEVE WAS UNABLE TO JOIN THIS
MORNING, BUT SHE IS IN BELIEVER
THE CAR CENTRIC URBAN DESIGN IS
THE SOLE CAUSE OF AN
UNWELCOMING AND DANGEROUS
ENVIRONMENT IN CITIES. SHE
BELIEVES IT CAN EFFECTIVELY BE
ALLEVIATED BY PROVIDING
ALTERNATIVE MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION SUCH AS BIKING
AND DESIGNING CITIES AROUND
THEM. SHE BELIEVES THAT LIVELY,
DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOODS WILL
FORM AS A DIRECT CONSEQUENCE OF
SUCH REDESIGN, AND BICYCLES CAN
SAVE THE CITY . AS A DOCTOR SHE
APPRECIATES THAT SWIFTLY
GETTING MORE BIKING AND WALKING
IN THE CITY WILL HELP TO
ALLEVIATE CAR RELATED AIR AND
NOISE POLLUTION, AND
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE PEOPLE'S
HEALTH. I BELIEVE THAT IS IT
FOR OUR NEW APPOINTEES.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU ALL SO
MUCH. REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
FIRST OFF, I NOTE THAT
VICE-CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH HAS
JOINED US. NOW THIS IS A POINT
WHERE I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MY
COLLEAGUES TO SEE IF THERE ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS . I GUESS
I WILL START WITH OUR ESTEEMED
VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH IF YOU
HAVE ANY COLLEAGUES OR
QUESTIONS .
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, LIKE I
ALWAYS SAY, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR
BEING LATE , BUT I HAVE A
MASSIVE PACKET HERE AND I READ
EVERYONE'S RESUMES. I JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE. WE KNOW THAT, I SAY IT
ALL THE TIME, IT IS A VOLUNTEER
SERVICE AND WE ARE REALLY
GRATEFUL FOR YOU BRINGING YOUR
EXPERTISE AND LENS TO THE GROUP
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU AND HELPING, YOU KNOW
, INCREASE OUR TRANSPORTATION
EFFORTS HERE IN THE CITY , SO
THANK YOU.
>> TAKE YOU , VICE-CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH. COLLEAGUES,
ANYONE ELSE? GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU , CHAIR SAKA.
AGAIN, ECHOING WHAT I SAID
EARLIER AND WHAT VICE-CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH SAID, THANK YOU.
I ALSO LIKE THE BREATH OF, YOU
KNOW, THE VARYING AGES, TEAR
POINT MADE FIVE MINUTES AGO,
THERE ARE SOME THAT MAY BE IN
MY ERA, SO IT IS GOOD TO HAVE A
MIX OF PEOPLE. I THINK THAT IS
GOOD TO GET THE VARYING
VIEWPOINTS. AND AS NOTED ,
INTERNATIONAL, TOO, SO FROM
RUSSIA, WHICH I THINK -- TO
HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE , I THINK
IT IS GREAT TO HAVE IT. HERE
ON, ON THE , ON MY COMMISSION.
IN AN SEPARATELY, I WANTED TO
ASK, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT
OF ISSUES OUT THERE , IN TERMS
OF BUILDING OUT, LIKE, THE BIKE
NETWORK INTO DIFFERENT PIECES.
THE ISSUE OF TODAY IS THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS , AND I
RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A LITTLE
BIT OF A TOUCHY SUBJECT , BUT I
THINK IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT
OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT SCHOOLS
WHERE YOU GO INTO THE CLASSROOM
AND LEARN. SCHOOLS HAVE PARKS ,
AND THEY ARE PART OF THE
COMMUNITIES, WHETHER IT IS
MAGNOLIA WITH CATHERINE BLAINE,
MAGNOLIA THAT WE KIND OF SHARE,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, BUT ALSO
SOME THAT ARE NOT ON THE LIST ,
LIKE COE. THAT IS WHERE MY
DAUGHTER LEARNED HOW TO RIDE A
BIKE. SO I'M CONCERNED, END IS
NOT ON THE LIST, BUT THERE ARE
OTHER SCHOOLS THAT ARE AND THEY
MAY BE PLACES WHERE KIDS LEARN
HOW TO RIDE A BIKE , AND I KNOW
THIS IS A TOUCHY SUBJECT, BUT I
THINK I AM RAISING IT NOW,
BECAUSE I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE
, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE
DISCUSSION. THERE IS A LOT OF
FOCUS ON THE ACADEMIC PIECES,
AND RIGHTLY SO MY BUT WE SHOULD
ALSO BE LOOKING AT THESE
SCHOOLS AND HOW THEY ARE A PART
OF THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY
AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. ONE WAY
THAT PLAYS OUT IS LEARNING HOW
TO RIDE A BIKE , SO I AM NOT
SURE IF THAT IS ON YOUR AGENDA.
YOU PROBABLY WANTED TO AVOID IT
MAY BE. I DON'T KNOW. BUT I
THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE
SHOULD BE TALKING AS A
COMMUNITY, SOME GOING TO TAKE
THIS OPPORTUNITY HERE ON THE
DAIS TO RAISE IT AND SAY HEY,
LET'S PROTECT THE AREAS WHERE
KIDS LEARN HOW TO RIDE A BIKE
SAFELY, LIKE AT THE BIG AREA
ATCO ELEMENTARY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU MY COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE. COUNCIL NUMBER STRAUSS,
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WILL RUN
DOWN WHO IS HERE AND I WILL ASK
EACH OF YOU A QUESTION. RAFAEL,
I WILL START WITH YOU. YOU
LIVED HERE PREVIOUSLY. HE LEFT
FOR SOME TIME YOU ARE BACK. YOU
MENTIONED WE ARE IN A BETTER
PLACE THAN WE WERE BEFORE. WHAT
DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? WHERE, HOW
ARE WE BETTER, AND IN THE
SECOND PART OF THE QUESTION IS
WHERE DO WE NEED TO GO FROM
HERE?
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
SO, SO I WENT TO COLLEGE IN
TACOMA AND THEN LIVED IN
SEATTLE FOR A YEAR IN 2015 ,
AND WOULD BIKE FROM WHERE HE
LIVED IN EASTLAKE DOWN TO SOTO,
AND IT WAS , AT TIMES IT WAS A
LITTLE HARROWING , ESPECIALLY
IN THOSE DARK WINTER MORNINGS
COME YOU KNOW, 6:45, 7:00 A.M.
BIKING DOWN FIRST OR SECOND TO
GET DOWN TO SOTO. I THINK THE
PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE HAS
IMPROVED IMMENSELY. I'VE ALSO
LIVED IN SEVERAL OTHER CITIES
IN THE PAST 10 YEARS , WITH
THEIR OWN BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE
CHALLENGES , AND I THINK THAT
SEATTLE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB,
AND I THINK THAT THERE IS ROOM
FOR IMPROVEMENT . TO GET TO THE
SECOND POINT OF YOUR QUESTION,
I THINK THAT CONTINUING
ESTABLISHING THOSE PERMANENT,
PHYSICAL BARRIERS AMONG BIKE
LANES IS A KEY , A KEY, KEY
ELEMENT OF THE CITY'S SUCCESS,
AND I THINK TO COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE'S POINT, I THINK THAT
CONTINUING TO DEVELOP THAT
INFRASTRUCTURE WILL ALLOW
CHILDREN AND PEOPLE OF ALL AGES
AND ABILITIES , TO
LEARN HOW TO RIDE BIKES TO
SAFELY IN THE CITY AND HAVE
THAT BE A PRIORITY, AS OPPOSED
TO USING CAR INFRASTRUCTURE TO
LEARN HOW TO RIDE A BIKE. I
THINK THE MORE DEVELOPMENT WE
PURSUE , THE BETTER IT WILL BE
FOR ALL BIKES OF ALL ABILITIES.
>> FANTASTIC. I DID LEARN TO
RIDE A BICYCLE IN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL WITH ONE OF THE
SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS. THERE WE
ARE. THEN I ALSO USE MY HAND
TURN SIGNALS THAT I LEARNED
JUST THE OTHER DAY. I MEAN ,
YOU KNOW, IT IS HELPFUL. KATIE,
OVER TO YOU. COLLEAGUES, YOU
MAY NOT KNOW THIS, KATIE CAME
TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY ABOUT I-5
IN THE U DISTRICT. I DID SOME
BACK OF THE ENVELOPE MAP -- MAP
ON THE DAIS RIGHT HERE WHICH
THEN LED ME TO MY AMENDMENT
REGARDING THE 47th PEDESTRIAN
BRIDGE IN THE U DISTRICT TO
CHANGE IT TO A SCOPING
ANALYSIS. THAT IS THE BENEFIT
OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS YOU CAN
COME TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND
HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE POLICIES
THAT WE PASS HERE . THANK YOU
FOR THAT WORK ALREADY. I'M
EXCITED TO HAVE YOU IN AN
OFFICIAL ADVISING ROLE NOW.
WHAT IS OUR NEXT BIG
OPPORTUNITY?
>> IN THE WHOLE CITY? OH MAN.
WELL , THAT IS A GREAT
QUESTION. I MEAN, I THINK THAT,
I THINK THAT FROM A BICYCLE
PERSPECTIVE, I AM REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT THE LEVY AND WHAT
YOU PROPOSE WITH THIS ENTIRE
COMMITTEE HAS PROPOSED , I
THINK GETTING THAT PAST IS
REALLY A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR
THE CITY TO START INVESTING,
NOT ONLY IN SCOPING PROJECTS
LIKE THE LID I-5 PROJECT, BUT
ALSO IN AREAS WHERE HUGE SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED ,
ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH SEATTLE.
YOU KNOW, HE WAS A PROPOSED IN
THAT LEVY FUNDING FOR A BIKE, A
PROTECTED BIKE LANE IN WEST
SEATTLE IN MEMORY OF STEVE
HOLTZMAN, WHO WAS A LEADER FOR
WEST LAKE LIKE THE CLUB WHO WAS
KILLED, AND I REMEMBER THAT
CLUB , SO JUST, I THINK, IT
SEEMS SMALL, BUT REALLY
FIGURING OUT WHERE THOSE HIGH
COLLISION AREAS ARE AND WHERE
BETTER CONNECTIONS IN THE BIKE
NETWORK NEED TO BE DONE TO
MAKE, MAKE IT SAFER FOR A VAST
MAJORITY OF PEOPLE. I KNOW THAT
THE ROLE IS PROVIDING OVERSIGHT
TO SDOT AND MAKING SURE THE
SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY ARE
BUILT INTO ALL OF THE WORK THAT
THEY ARE DOING , SO I'M REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT LID I-5, BUT I'M
EXCITED ABOUT SOME OF THOSE
CONNECTIONS AND OTHER AREAS OF
THE CITY AND MAKING IT SAFER
FOR EVERYONE.
>> VERY WELL SAID. PEOPLE
WONDER WHY A PROTECTED BIKE
LANE ISN'T USED WHEN IT JUST
ENDS IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. IF
THERE IS NOT A CONNECTION ON
THE WAY THROUGH TO YOUR
DESTINATION, OR IF THAT
PROTECTED BIKE LANE DUMPS YOU
INTO A DANGEROUS PLACE, PEOPLE
JUST DON'T. THAT IS WHY IT IS
UNDERUTILIZED. JUST, I LOST MY
-- MOLLY. THANK YOU ALL OF YOUR
WORK HERE IN OUR CITY. WE ARE
EXCITED TO HAVE YOU VOLUNTEER
FOR SERVICE. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITIES ARE
THAT WE NEED TO TAKE HER THE
NEXT STEPS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE
IN THE VIEW OF THE PEOPLE THAT
YOU SERVE COME YOUR CLIENTS,
BUT ALSO YOUR COWORKERS?
>> THANK YOU. TO COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE'S POINT, I DO VOLUNTEER
FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT
TEACHES MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
IN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HOW TO
WRITE A BIKE, WITHIN EMPHASIS
ON SAFE NAVIGATION IN AN URBAN
ENVIRONMENT AND SORT OF THAT
AUTONOMY AND COMMUNITY THAT
COMES WITH RIDING A BIKE,
GETTING TO SCHOOL, AND GETTING
TO OTHER OBLIGATIONS IN THE
CITY. I THINK WORKING WITH
YOUTH HAS BEEN A REAL
EYE-OPENER. I BIKE THROUGH THE
CITY WITH A SPECIFIC LENS , AND
SEEING THE CITY FROM A
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS LESS
PROTECTED BIKE LANES , FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF SOMEONE WHO IS
YOUNGER AND MORE VULNERABLE,
HAS BEEN VERY EYE-OPENING . SO,
ONE OF THE REASONS I APPLIED
HERE IS JUST TO UNDERSTAND MORE
ABOUT HOW PROJECTS ARE
PRIORITIZED AND SCOPED AND
IMPLEMENTED , BUT JUST TO HAVE
A GREATER UNDERSTANDING AND
INVOLVEMENT AND INPUT WITH
WHERE WE ARE INVESTING IN MORE
PROTECTED BIKE LANES, AND I
WOULD LOVE TO SEE, OR I THINK I
WOULD JUST LIKE TO CONNECT THE
DOTS AND BE INVOLVED WITH HOW
THAT EVOLVED IN OUR SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND JUST IN GENERAL
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BIKING
AROUND, AND WHO ARE A BIT MORE
VULNERABLE, SO YEAH.
>> THANK YOU ALL, MAXWELL, I
DIDN'T FORGET ABOUT YOU,
ONLINE HERE , MAX. IF YOU COULD
JUST BRIEFLY SHARE HOW YOUR
HISTORY OF NOT ONLY WORKING AS
A PLANNER NOW, BUT YOUR
EDUCATION AS A MASTER OF URBAN
PLANNING, HOW DOES THAT, WHAT
PERSPECTIVE CAN YOU SHARE WITH
THE BOARD?
>> YEAH, SO, AS A CITY PLANNER
IN TUKWILA, I'VE HAD A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH THE
CNE OF SEATTLE AS WELL AS THEIR
SURROUNDING JURISDICTIONS WHEN
WE ARE DISCUSSING
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS,
ESPECIALLY BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PROJECTS
COMING ONLINE THAT ARE REALLY
EXCITING AND WE'RE HAVING
CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE
ENTITIES. THERE IS THE
GEORGETOWN TO DOWNTOWN PROJECT
, POTENTIALLY EXTENDING THAT
FURTHER SOUTH AND HOW THAT
MIGHT IMPACT TUKWILA . THERE IS
THE KING COUNTY, WE CALL IT THE
KING COUNTING MISSING LANE ,
THE GREEN RIVER TRAIL EXTENSION
THAT WOULD CONNECT SOUTH PARK
TO THE CITY OF TUKWILA, SO
WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH KING
COUNTY ON THAT PROJECT. WHAT IS
EXCITING ABOUT ALL THOSE
PROJECTS IS THOSE ARE ALL
ROUTES THAT I MYSELF HAVE
WRITTEN OVER THE YEARS , AND
HAVE WORKED TO IDENTIFY SOME OF
THE, YOU KNOW, REALLY WEAK
POINTS IN THEM AND WHAT WE CAN
DO TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES
THERE. AND HAVING RIDDEN FROM
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY, SO
I WAS A RESIDENT OF BALLARD
WHILE I WAS GOING TO SCHOOL IN
THE U DISTRICT, BUT I WAS
WORKING AND INTERNING IN THE
CITY OF TUKWILA , AND I WAS
USING MY BIKE TO GET AROUND
BECAUSE THAT WAS TYPICALLY ONE
OF THE FASTER WAYS TO DO IT,
LINKING UP WITH TRANSIT, GOING
TO THE LIGHT RAIL STATION
COMING OUT TO TUKWILA, TAKING
IT FROM BALLARD TO THE U
DISTRICT. IT JUST TENDED TO BE
ONE OF THE FASTER ROUTES , AND
IT KIND OF ALSO OPENED MY EYES
TO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT
FOLKS HAVE COMING FROM
DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS,
ESPECIALLY GOING SOUTH AND
HOPING TO WORK TO IMPROVE THOSE
CHALLENGES . I THINK ONE OF ,
ONE OF THE GREATEST PIECES OF
INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE IS IN
WEST SEATTLE AND GETS US DOWN
TO OUR COMMUNITIES DOWN SOUTH,
ESPECIALLY TUKWILA , BUT THERE
ARE ALSO CHALLENGES IN GETTING
THE TRAIL TO SOME PARTS OF THE
CITY. IT HAS BEEN GREAT TO SEE
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SEATTLE TO
BEEF UP THOSE CONNECTIONS.
IT'S GREAT, EXCITING,
PROTECTED BIKE TRAIL THAT WILL
TAKE US DOWNTOWN. VERY EXCITED
TO SEE THAT OPEN . WE ARE ALSO
EXCITED TO SEE THOSE
CONNECTIONS GET IMPROVED INTO
THE FUTURE, SO REALLY HAPPY TO
KIND OF UTILIZE MY POSITION AT
TUKWILA THE KIND OF DISCUSS
SOME OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
OUR CITY TO PARTNER WITH THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AS WELL WHEN WE
ARE HAVING THESE PLANNING
CONVERSATIONS.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR
YOUR VOLUNTEER SERVICE. EXCITED
TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS , AND THANK YOU ALL
AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR
CITY, AND BEING WILLING TO STEP
UP AND SERVE IN THIS IMPACTFUL
AND PROFOUND WAY. IT IS NOT
UNNOTICED AND CERTAINLY NOT
UNAPPRECIATED. A COUPLE OF
QUICK THOUGHTS. A COMMENT WAS
MADE ABOUT THE LEVY, AND WE
WORKED HARD TO , ON THIS
COMMITTEE AND THE BROADER
SELECT COMMITTEE, TO CRAFT A
NUMBER OF SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS
AND PROJECTS AND THINGS TO HELP
US MAKE BETTER PROGRESS IN OUR
VISION ZERO GOALS , AND ALSO,
YOU KNOW, PRIORITIZING UNSEXY
THINGS LIKE RIDGES AND POTHOLE
REPAIR AMONG OTHER THINGS.
REALLY EXCITING, EXCITING WORK
THAT WE DID THERE , BUT AT THE
END OF THE DAY, THE VOTERS ARE
GOING TO DECIDE, IN ABOUT TWO
MONTHS TO BE EXACT, SO THAT IS
NOW ON THE BALLOT. AND THEN
ALSO , SO , I AM , I THINK MY
MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES
FROM THIS GROUP COME YOU KNOW,
LATER THIS WEEK OR NEXT WEEK .
I AM EXCITED TO DO THAT. I'VE
BEEN MEETING WITH ALL OF THE
ADVISORY BOARDS. AND, AND ALSO
WITH RESPECT TO TRANSIT, IF
THAT IS NOT ALREADY ON THE
CALENDAR, IT WILL BE, BUT I
APPRECIATE ALL OF THIS WORK.
ALSO MENTIONED AND NOTED WAS
CASCADE . SHADOW TO CASCADE
BICYCLE CLUB. I DID , I
PARTICIPATED IN A BIKE RIDE IN
WEST SEATTLE ON A SATURDAY TO
HONOR THE MEMORY OF STEVE
HOLTZMAN WHO WAS KILLED IN
DECEMBER. IT WAS A GREAT RIDE.
I PARTICIPATED IN THE EASY
RIDE, THE BEGINNER RIDE . I DID
SO BESIDE A LOT OF COOL PEOPLE,
INCLUDING THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF CASCADE, LEE
LAMBERT , BUT I WAS HUMBLED AS
PART OF THAT. I'M GETTING
OLDER . I TWEAKED MY LOWER BACK
, SO I HAD THIS EPIPHANY THAT,
YOU KNOW, MAYBE I MIGHT NEED TO
PIVOT FOR MY OLD, MY RACER TYPE
BICYCLE TO AN e-BIKE, BUT HEY
COME ON WE ALL LEARN. YOU HAVE
TO LIVE AND LEARN . I AM MOSTLY
AN OCCASIONAL COMMUTER TO AND
FROM WORK, PARTICIPATING IN AN
OCCASIONAL RECREATIONAL RIDE OF
COURSE , BUT I THINK I MIGHT BE
UPGRADING , OR DOWNGRADING
DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ASK, TO AN
e-BIKE. NO SHAME IN THAT.
LET'S DO IT. LET'S DO IT.
LET'S GET IT ON THE CALENDAR.
IN ANY EVENT, THANK YOU ALL
AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK. I LOOK
FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOU ALL
SOON AND SUPPORTING AND
UPLIFTING AND AMPLIFYING YOUR
TERRIFIC WORK IN ANY WAY I CAN.
SO THAT SAID, I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS
02988 THROUGH 02996.
>> SECOND.
>> ALL RIGHT. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENTS. ARE THERE ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE,
SEEING THAT, WILL THE CLERK IS
CALLED THE ROLLCALL ON THE
RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM THESE
APPOINTMENTS?
>> COUNCIL FOR KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> AND SOME OF HER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WOO. COUNCIL
MEMBER WOO? VICE-CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR SAKA.
>> YES .
>> CHAIR THERE ARE FOUR VOTES
IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION
CARRIES INTO THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE COUNCIL
CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENTS WILL
BE SENT TO THESE OF TIMBER 24,
2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU
AGAIN. WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO
OUR NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 17
INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 17, A RESOLUTION
32145 , RESOLUTION RELATING TO
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE,
RESPONDING TO RESOLUTION 32137,
REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TASK
FORCE TO DEVELOP POLICY AND
FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
LONG-TERM TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS WITH
SPECIFIC FOCUS ON BUILDING OUT
SEATTLE'S SIDEWALK NETWORK,
IMPROVING EXISTING SIDEWALKS,
IMPROVING PAVEMENT CONDITION,
AND REPLACING OR REHABILITATING
AGING BRIDGES.
>> AUDIT, THANK YOU. SO ,
COLLEAGUES , THIS SHOULD BE NO
SECRET OR SURPRISE. I THINK
THIS IS THE THIRD OR FOURTH
TIME THAT WE HAVE FORMALLY
TALKED ABOUT THIS, AT EITHER
THIS COMMITTEE OR A BROADER
SELECT COMMITTEE. WE HAD A
PRESENTATION LAST TIME AROUND.
WELCOME. PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELF AND SHARE ANY
THOUGHTS.
>> CALVIN CHOW WITH COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF. THIS RESOLUTION
BEFORE YOU WAS DISCUSSED ON
SEPTEMBER 3. AS PART OF THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL WITH THE LEVY
TO ESTABLISH A TRANSPORTATION
FUNDING TASK FORCE, AND THE
COUNCIL ENDORSED THE IDEA IN
THE COMPANION RESOLUTION TO THE
LEVY. SO THE RESOLUTION BEFORE
HE WOULD ESTABLISH THAT TASK
FORCE IF THE VOTERS APPROVE THE
LEVY IN NOVEMBER. IT FOLLOWS
THE RECOMMENDATIONS OR EXCUSE
ME, THE , THE , THE SCOPE AND
THE FORMATION OF IT ON WHAT WAS
CALLED FOR IN THE COMPANION
RESOLUTION BY COUNCIL . I CAN
GO THROUGH IT IN MORE DETAIL IF
YOU'D LIKE, OR I CAN MOVE
RIGHT INTO YOUR PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, CAL . FIRST OFF I
MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 32145
. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> ALL RIGHT. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED. I THINK AT THIS
POINT, LET'S PROCEED WITH THE
DISCUSSION OF THE AMENDMENTS
THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED. SO,
CAL, DMI JUST GIVING A QUICK
OVERVIEW OF THOSE?
>> SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER, YOUR
FIRST AMENDMENT WOULD ESTABLISH
A NEW WAREHOUSE CLAUSE IN THE
RECITALS TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE
THE COUNCILS PREVIOUS
ENDORSEMENT OF THE IDEA IN
RESOLUTION 32137 AS SHOWN ON
THE SCREEN.
>> YEAH. SO I OFFER TWO FAIRLY
MINOR , LESS SUBSTANTIVE ,
TECHNICAL, WHAT I WILL
CHARACTERIZE AS TECHNICAL
AMENDMENTS. IN THIS FIRST ONE
JUST SPECIFICALLY CALLS OUT AND
MAKES ITS -- EXPLICIT THE
ORIGINAL LEGISLATION , CALLED
OUT THE COUNCIL BILL . THERE
WAS ALSO A COMPANION
RESOLUTION, SO THIS JUST CALLS
IT OUT. SO . THAT IS THAT WHEN.
-- ONE. ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ,
COLLEAGUES, ON THIS AMENDMENT?
I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE ADOPT
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO
RESOLUTION 32145. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT
NUMBER ONE. ARE THERE ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE
AND SEEING ON, WILL THE CLERK
IS CALLED THE ROLLCALL .
>> IS A MEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> AND SOME OF HER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WOO .
>> YES.
>> VICE-CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR SAKA.
>> AYE .
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FIVE VOTES
IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT. NEXT , I AM
PROPOSING A MEMO NUMBER TWO. GO
AHEAD.
>> SORRY , AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO
IS ALSO SHOWN ON THE SCREEN. IT
WOULD ADD A SENTENCE THAT WOULD
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE COUNCIL
ANTICIPATES THE FUTURE
RESOLUTION TO FORMALLY CONFIRM
THE ACTUAL APPOINTMENTS. THIS
JUST LESION IN FRONT OF YOU
WILL ESTABLISH THE FRAMEWORK
FOR THAT, BUT THE , THIS WOULD
ESTABLISH THE COUNCIL'S INTENT
TO CONFIRM THE SLATE OF
APPOINTEES .
>> THANK YOU. SO I ESSENTIALLY
COWROTE THIS, CO-AUTHORED THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION ALONGSIDE
OUR PARTNERS AT THE EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENT SDOT AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE , SO THIS
AGAIN, MINOR, TECHNICAL
AMENDMENT , JUST MAKES THOSE,
LIKE , MAKES THE LEGISLATION
MORE IN LINE WITH OUR
CONVERSATION , THIS MAKES THIS
MORE, THIS WHOLE PROCESS FOR
SELECTION MORE IN LINE WITH
THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT WE
ANTICIPATE ANYWAY . WE WANT TO
ADOPT THIS WITH A FORMAL
RESOLUTION. ARE THERE ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT? HEARING
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS , AND
SEEING NONE, OTHER THAN THE
COMMITTEE ADOPT AMENDMENT
NUMBER TWO TO RESOLUTION 32145.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND .
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT
NUMBER TWO. ARE THERE ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS? HEARING AND
SEEING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
ADOPTION OF THIS AMENDMENT?
>> MEMBER KETTLE .
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WOO.
>> YES.
>> VICE-CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FIVE VOTES
IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NOW
LET US CONTINUE DOWN THE PATH
OF CONSIDERING THE FINAL
AMENDED RESOLUTION. SO I MOVE
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 32145 AS
AMENDED . IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> ALL RIGHT. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED ADOPT THE
RESOLUTION AS AMENDED. ARE
THERE ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
QUESTIONS? HEARING AND SEEING
NONE, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLLCALL IN ADOPTION
OF RESOLUTION 32145 AS AMENDED?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WOO.
>> YES.
>> VICE-CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR SAKA ?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR THERE ARE FIVE VOTES
IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.
>> THE COUNCIL RECOMMENDS WILL
BE SENT TO THE SEPTEMBER 24 ,
2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON
TO OUR 18th ITEM OF BUSINESS.
WITH THE CLICK PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER 18 INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 18, CB 120857 ,
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO CITY
STREETS, CHANGING THE NAME OF A
DESIGNATED PORTION OF SECOND
AVENUE NORTH, GENERALLY LOCATED
BETWEEN LENNY WILKINS WAY AND
ANYWAY TO SUE BIRD COURT NORTH
, SUPERSEDING THE RELEVANT
PORTIONS OF ORDINANCE 4044,
ORDINANCE 89910, ORDINANCE
102981 , AND ANY OTHER
ORDINANCE TO THE EXTENT
INCONSISTENT, AND RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN ACTS.
>> THANK YOU. AND IT LOOKS LIKE
OUR PRESENTERS HAVE JOINED US
AT THE TABLE. THANK YOU PLEASE
ONCE READY, PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELF AND BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU, I AM BILL LABORDE
FROM THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION. AND I AM HERE
TO PRESENT , PROPOSE AN
ORDINANCE THAT WOULD RENAME A
PORTION OF SECOND AVENUE NORTH
TO SUE BIRD COURT NORTH. AND I
JUST HAVE A QUICK PRESENTATION
THAT I WILL JUMP INTO HERE.
JUST TO SHOW THE AS, YOU KNOW,
AS YOU WERE REFERRING TO
EARLIER, SUE BIRD IS ONE OF THE
GREATEST OF ALL TIME, ONE OF
THE GREAT ATHLETES WHO, WHO
ENJOYED HER ENTIRE PROFESSIONAL
CAREER IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
AS THE STAR OF THE SEATTLE
STORM , AND THIS , THIS
ORDINANCE WOULD CHANGE THE NAME
OF THAT SEGMENT OF SECOND
AVENUE TO HONOR HER, AND IT IS
ADJACENT TO CLIMATE PLEDGE
ARENA AND PERPENDICULAR TO
LENNY WILKENS WAY . SO TWO OF
OUR GREAT BASKETBALL STARS
LIBERATED AT THE INTERSECTION
WITH CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA. JUST
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SUE BIRD FOR
FOLKS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH
HER, ALL OF HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
. SHE IS DEFINITELY CONSIDERED
ONE OF THE GREATEST, MOST
WINNINGEST BASKETBALL PLAYERS
OF ALL TIME. SHE LED THE UCONN
HUSKIES TO THE NCAA TITLE WHILE
IN COLLEGE, AND THEN OVER THE
COURSE OF HER CAREER , LEAD
TEAM USA TO A RECORD FIVE
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS ,
SUCCESSIVELY FROM 2004 TO 2020.
SHE AGAIN PLAYED HER ENTIRE 20
YEAR PROFESSIONAL CAREER FOR
THE SEATTLE STORM , LEADING THE
TEAM TO FOUR WNBA TITLES. 2004
THROUGH 2020. AND SHE RETIRED
AFTER THE 2020 SEASON , AND THE
SEATTLE STORM RETIRED HER
JERSEY, NUMBER 10, IN 2022 .
AND SHE IS ALSO AN OUTSPOKEN
VOICE FOR CHANGE , USING HER
POSITION TO INFLUENCE AND
ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
INITIATIVES, INCLUDING LGBTQ
RIGHTS , LGBTQ+ RIGHTS HERE IN
SEATTLE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THIS JUST IS A MAP OF THE
PROJECT AREA. AS MENTIONED, IT
IS NT TO CLIMATE PLEDGE
ARENA , TWO THAT PORTION OF 2nd
AVENUE NORTH, IT WOULD BE ,
THAT CIRCLE THERE WOULD BE
RENAMED AFTER THIS GOES INTO
EFFECT TO SUE BIRD COURT NORTH.
THERE , YOU HAVE HAD A COUPLE
OF HONORARY STREET NAMES COME
THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE TOO THIS
WOULD BE A LEGAL STREET NAME
CHANGE. THOSE ARE USUALLY A
LITTLE BIT, THOSE ARE LITTLE
BIT MORE COMPLICATED THAN
HONORARY STREET NAMES. THIS
STREET IN PARTICULAR ONLY HAS
ONE, ONE ADDRESS ON IT, AND
THAT IS THE AXIS APARTMENT
BUILDINGS . SO WE DID, WE
PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT 50 OR 60
UNITS IN THAT BUILDING, SO WE
DID OUTREACH IN THE BUILDING TO
MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO
OBJECTIONS TO RENAMING THE
STREET, AND THAT PEOPLE WOULD
HAVE PLENTY OF NOTICE TO
FORMALLY CHANGE THEIR ADDRESS .
WE DO A LEGAL STREET NAME
CHANGE LIKE THIS , WE ALSO WORK
WITH THE POST OFFICE WITH
MAPPING DATABASES , AND YOU
SHOULD START TO SEE AFTER THIS
GOES INTO EFFECT , YOU SHOULD
START TO SEE BY THE END OF THE
YEAR THAT YOUR MAPPING APP, IT
SHOULD SAY "SUE BIRD COURT
NORTH ," AND IT SHOULD BE
REGISTERED IN THE USPS DATABASE
THAT PEOPLE CONTINUE TO GET
THEIR MAIL. AND JUST, JUST TO
WRAP UP ABOUT THE, THE PROPOSED
ORDINANCE . I THINK I HAVE
TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING IN HERE
. THE SEATTLE STORM
ORGANIZATION AND SEATTLE CENTER
FULLY SUPPORT THE STREET NAME
CHANGE . THE SEATTLE STORM
ORGANIZATION DID ADVOCATE FOR
THIS , AND THE EXECUTIVE WAS
VERY HAPPY TO, TO HONOR SUE
BIRD IN THIS WAY. THAT'S IT .
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, I
APPRECIATE THIS PRESENTATION
AND OVERVIEW AND TEEING UP
EXACTLY WHY IT WE ARE HERE IN
THIS PIECE OF PROPOSED
LEGISLATION. A FRIENDLY
AMENDMENT TO SOMETHING YOU SAID
AT THE OUTSET . IN MY VIEW, AT
LEAST, SUE BIRD IS NOT ONE OF
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME , SHE
IS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME IN
HER FIELD, IN THIS CASE
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL. YESTERDAY,
A WAR A JERSEY, AND OLYMPIC
JERSEY FROM HER 2020 OLYMPICS,
HAPPENED IN 21, BUT YOU KNOW,
OLYMPIC JERSEY WHEN SHE PLAYED
ON TEAM USA. SO WE ARE DOING A
PROCLAMATION LATER TODAY TO
HONOR OLYMPIC ATHLETES IN
CHAMBERS LATER THIS AFTERNOON.
I SHOULD HAVE, I SHOULD HAVE
BROUGHT MY AND WARREN MY
SEPARATE SUE BIRD SEATTLE STORM
JERSEY . UNDO THE SUPERMAN
OUTFIT CHANGE TO ENABLE THAT .
BUT WE APPRECIATE THE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF SUE BIRD TO
OUR CITY AND THIS IS ONE WAY WE
CAN HONOR FOLKS LIKE SUE BIRD.
SO , COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?
>> STARTING WITH --
>> OF COURSE, STARTING WITH
VICE CHAIR , FOR SO MANY
REASONS, BUT YEAH.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
NO WORRIES. I JUST HAVE A QUICK
COMMENT. I'M REALLY GRATEFUL
FOR YOU ALL BRINGING THIS. I
THINK BILL WAS BEING SAFE BY
SAYING ONE OF THE GREATEST,
BECAUSE HE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN
SOME FLACK FROM LAUREN JACKSON
OR SOME OTHER FOLKS. ANYWAYS,
SUE BIRD IS PHENOMENAL , AND I
COULDN'T BE MORE HAPPY GROWING
UP WATCHING SUE BIRD PLAY AND
BEING INSPIRED BY HER , AND YOU
KNOW, MINE OWN EFFORTS OF
PLAYING COLLEGE BASKETBALL. SHE
IS A GREAT AMBASSADOR FOR OUR
CITY AND WHAT WE REPRESENT ,
AND I COULDN'T BE MORE HAPPY
ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN'S
BASKETBALL, THE RECOGNITION
THAT IT IS GETTING IN OUR CITY.
THE GAME IS GOING TO CONTINUE
TO GROW. ESPECIALLY WOMEN'S
SPORTS, I KNOW WE HAVE SOME
GIRL DADS APPEAR AND HOW
SUPPORTIVE THEY ALL ARE OF
WOMEN'S SPORTS. ANYWAYS, VERY
GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL BRINGING
THIS AND VERY SUPPORTIVE. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR, FOR WELL. ALWAY
>> THANK YOU, MADAM VICE CHAIR.
I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS
THERE. YOU KNOW , THIS, THIS
COMMITTEE'S WORK CAN DEVOLVE
INTO A BARBERSHOP CONVERSATION
ABOUT WHO , WHO, WHO IS TRULY
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME AND I
GET THAT , AND HAT TIP SHOUT
OUT TO LAUREN JACKSON. NOT
SAYING SHE IS NOT ALSO GREAT .
WHAT'S THAT?
>> DON'T DIG ANY DEEPER.
>> YEAH. YEAH. LET ME SHUT UP.
BUT -- GO, GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD.
>> AND I THINK EVERYONE
WATCHED, WE ALL KNOW , EVERYONE
WATCHES WOMEN'S SPORTS. WHAT
WE MIGHT NOT KNOW, VICE-CHAIR,
WERE YOU HER COACHES COACH?
SORRY. WE CAN MOVE ON.
>> NO WORRIES. THE GENERAL
MANAGER, I COACHED HER, AND
THEN A LEAD AGAINST NOEL QUINN,
THEIR COACH, WHO WAS REALLY
GREAT AT UCLA. SHE IS
PHENOMENAL. I HAVE LITTLE
CONNECTIONS.
>> THANK YOU FOR CONNECTING THE
RECORD. I WOULD SAY WELL WE ARE
DESIGNATING JUST A FEW BLOCKS
OF STREET AS SUE BIRD COURT, I
WILL PUT IT ON THE RECORD TODAY
, THE ENTIRE CITY OF SEATTLE IS
SUE BIRD'S COURT . THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> YES. THANK YOU ,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS .
EXCELLENT POINT. YOU KNOW, WE
SAY THAT, NOT JUST THROUGH OUR
WORDS, BUT SHORTLY THROUGH OUR
ACTIONS. AND I ALSO RECOGNIZE
THAT, SO I AM PREPARED TO VOTE
TODAY MY COLLEAGUES, ON THIS,
BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT GIVEN,
IT IS NOT ONE OF OUR CUSTOMARY
, HONORARY STREET NAMES, BUT IT
IS A LEGAL, FORMAL LEGAL NAME
CHANGE. I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE
WORK AND OUTREACH THAT SDOT HAS
PERFORMED IN TERMS OF
MINIMIZING IMPACT AND, YOU KNOW
, WORKING WITH THE IMPACTED
STAKEHOLDERS, ALL THAT WORK
THAT BASICALLY WAS DESCRIBED
EARLIER, BUT ARE YOU ALL
COMFORTABLE VOTING TODAY ? DOES
ANYONE , WILL LET ME REFRAME IT
, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY CONCERNS
ABOUT VOTING TODAY ? HEARING
AND SEEING NONE , HEARING AND
SEEING NONE , I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF
COUNCIL BILL 120857 . IS THERE
A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> DANG. YOU GUYS ARE QUICK ON
THAT. IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THE
COUNCIL BILL 120857. ARE THERE
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?
>> CHAIR?
>> GO AHEAD, COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE .
>> SINCE I DID NOT GET A CHANCE
TO SPEAK EARLIER.
>> ME A CALL PAUL. HERE YOU
ARE.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE.
OBVIOUSLY , LET'S GO WITH THE
GREATEST AMERICAN WITH SUE
BIRD, AND THEN GIVEN THAT
LAUREN JACKSON IS AUSTRALIAN,
SHE HOOPS , WE CAN SOLVE THIS
CHALLENGE THAT YOU FIND
YOURSELF IN, SO THERE, WE ARE
GOOD. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
THIS, AND YOU KNOW , AS THE D7
REPRESENTATIVE AS WELL, YOU
KNOW , THE PHOTO THAT YOU HAD
WITH THE SEATTLE CHILDREN'S
THEATER IN SACRED HEART, SACRED
HEART FOOD BANK BY THE WAY , A
GREAT RESOURCE FOR OUR
COMMUNITY RIGHT THERE. THIS ,
THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, FANTASTIC
OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT
THE SEATTLE STORM MEANS TO US
AS A CITY, AND THE FACT THAT
THEY HAVE THE FOUR
CHAMPIONSHIPS, SOMETHING THAT
THE OTHER, THE MEN HAVE NOT
BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH . AND
SO, REALLY, IT IS WORTH
RECOGNIZING BOTH THE STORM, AND
IN THIS CASE , SUE BIRD. AND I
JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT NEXT
TIME WHEN THE UNVEILING IS
DONE, DON'T DO IT DURING
RECESS. THAT IS MY ONLY
REQUEST. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT
WAS ON PURPOSE BY THE MAYOR AND
OTHERS, BUT -- OKAY. WELL, IN
THAT CASE IT'S ALL RIGHT. BUT
--
>> SUE BIRD, THOUGH --
>> THIS D7 REPRESENTATIVE AND
AS MENTIONED GIRL DAD
DEFINITELY SUPPORTS THIS AND
WILL BE CELEBRATING IT TONIGHT
WHEN THEY TAKE ONE OF THE
BIGGEST ACES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE. ADOPTED YOUR FEEDBACK
AND YOU DIDN'T LISTEN TO YOUR
OWN. RE-RAISING THE LAUREN
JACKSON -- ALL RIGHT. ALL
RIGHT. ALL GOOD. ALL GOOD. IT
IS MOVED AND SECONDED, SO, ANY
OTHER FINAL COMMENTS? HEARING
NONE , SEEING NONE, WITH THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL CALL
AND THE COMMITTEES IN THE PAST
COUNCIL BILL 120857?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL NUMBER STRAUSS.
>> S.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WOO .
>> YES.
>> VICE-CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR THE MOTHER OF FIVE IS
IN FAVOR ANSWER OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES IN THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT
COUNCIL PAST COUNCIL BILL
120857 WILL BE SENT TO THE
SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. EXCELLENT. GO, BIRD .
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR 19th
ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 19 INTO
THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 19, SEATTLE
STREETCAR PRESENTATION.
>> ALL RIGHT. IT LOOKS LIKE OUR
PRESENTER HAS JOINED US AT THE
TABLE. WHEN READY, PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND BEGIN
YOUR PRESENTATION. WE MAKE A
MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS. CALVIN
CHOW WITH COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF. COUNCILMEMBERS, AT THE
CHAIR'S REQUEST, I HAVE PUT
TOGETHER A BRIEFING AND
BACKGROUND ON THE SEATTLE
STREETCAR. IT IS THE SEATTLE
OWNED AND OPERATED BY KING
COUNTY METRO TWO STREETCAR
LINES, AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO
GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION. IF
I COULD START, IF I CAN MAKE
SURE I GET THIS PRESENTATION
SET UP CORRECTLY. SO, THE
STREETCAR CURRENTLY EXISTS OF
TWO SEPARATE LINES. THE FIRST
LINE WAS THE SOUTHLAKE
STREETCAR WHICH OPENED IN 2007.
IT WAS BUILT AT A CAPITAL COST
OF ABOUT $56 MILLION.
APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THAT WAS
PAID BY LOCAL IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICTS AND THERE WAS ALSO A
FAIR AMOUNT OF FEDERAL GRANTS
AVAILABLE FOR THAT
CONSTRUCTION. IT IS A 1.3 MILE
SEGMENT THAT GOES FROM WESTLAKE
AND ALL OF TO THE FRED HUTCH.
IT HAS FOUR VEHICLES ATTACHED
TO IT AS WELL AS A VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE FACILITY. AT THE
TIME THIS WAS PROPOSED , IT WAS
FUNDAMENTALLY TALKED ABOUT A
SORT OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TOOL . IT WAS MEANT TO BRING
DEVELOPMENT INTO THE SOUTH LAKE
COMMUNITY AREA, TO EXPAND THE
WALK SHED. IN THE EXAMPLE THAT
WAS OFTEN GIVEN AT THE TIME WAS
A COMPARISON WITH THE PEARL
STREET DISTRICT IN PORTLAND IS
THE EXAMPLE TO WHAT THAT WAS
MEANT TO DO. YOU CAN CERTAINLY
SEE THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS
HAPPENED AROUND SOUTHLAKE UNION
SINCE THAT TIME. THE NEXT
STREETCAR THAT THE SEATTLE ,
PART OF OUR SEATTLE NETWORK IS
THE FIRST HILL STREETCAR. THIS
WAS A FUNDED HOLY FROM SEATTLE
TRANSIT AS PART OF SEATTLE
TRANSIT , AS AN EXTENSION
ESSENTIALLY MAKING UP FOR THE
FACT THAT THE FIRST HILL LIGHT
RAIL STATION WAS REMOVED FROM
THE ORIGINAL PROJECT. $133
MILLION CAPITAL COST FULLY
FUNDED BY SEATTLE TRANSIT. IT
IS A 2.5 MILE SEGMENT THAT
CONNECTS FROM OCCIDENTAL IN
PINER'S SQUARED TO THE CAPITOL
HILL STATION. IT CONNECTS THE
REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT CENTER IN
FIRST HILL WITH THE REGIONAL
TRANSIT SYSTEM LIGHT RAIL AT
THE CAPITOL HILL STATION IN THE
PINEHURST SQUARE STATION AS
WELL. THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
FACILITY AT EIGHTH AND
DEARBORN. THERE IS A THIRD
PROPOSED STREETCAR LINE, THE
CENTER CITY STREETCAR, ALSO
KNOWN NOW AS THE CONTROL
CONNECTOR. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY
A PROPOSAL TO CONNECT THE TWO
STREETCAR LINES, HAVE ONE
CONNECTED SYSTEM WITH SOME
OVERLAPPING SERVICE. THIS
PROJECT HAD ALMOST REACHED
CONSTRUCTION IN 2018 WHEN IT
WAS PAUSED DUE TO COST
OVERRUNS, AND ROSE REASSESSED
IN 2023 FREEFALL COST ESTIMATE
OF THE PROJECT. IT'S $410
MILLION CURRENTLY . A BIG
PORTION OF THAT IS FOR UTILITY
RELOCATIONS, AS WELL AS
STRUCTURAL AND AERIAL WAY
IMPROVEMENTS TO HANDLE THE
STREETCARS. SEVEN ADDITIONAL
VEHICLES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO
THE OPERATING MAINTENANCE
FACILITIES. THE PROJECT IS
CURRENTLY NOT FUNDED. IT IS ON
PAUSE, AND THAT IS , IT IS
POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE FOR
FEDERAL GRANTS, BUT CURRENTLY
THERE IS NO FINANCIAL PLAN FOR
HOW IT WOULD BE FUNDED OR
OPERATED. COUNCILMEMBERS,
COUNCILMEMBER, CHAIR SAKA, YOU
ASKED ME TO PROVIDE SOME
BACKGROUND ON RIDERSHIP AND
SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE METRICS
. THIS IS USING DATA FROM
SDOT'S 2022 STREETCAR REPORT,
WHICH IS THE LAST REPORT
PUBLISHED., LESS -- LEFT-HAND
SIDE HERE YOU CAN SEE THE
RIDERSHIP OF THE STREETCAR IN
GREEN . IN TOTAL, BOTH PLANS
COMBINED. THE REDLINE IS THE
FIRST HILL STREETCAR IN THE
BLUE LINE IS THE SOUTH LAKE
STREETCAR. YOU CAN SEE SORT OF
THE PICO STREETCAR RIDERSHIP
AND IN THE PANDEMIC IMPACTS
THAT HAVE , THAT WE ARE STILL
RECOVERING FROM . A COUPLE
THINGS TO NOTE ON THIS . YOU
CAN SEE THE BLUE LINE, THAT
SOUTH LAKE STREETCAR, RIDERSHIP
WAS LEVEL AND DECLINING
SLIGHTLY BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
THAT IS LARGELY SEEN AS BEING
ATTRIBUTABLE TO ADDITIONAL
TRANSIT OPTIONS THAT WERE ADDED
, PARTICULARLY EXTENDING THE
RAPID RIDE INTO SOUTH LAKE
UNION . AN ADDITIONAL SERVICE
ON ROUTE 40, WHICH GOES UP TO
FREMONT AND ULTIMATELY TO
BROWARD AND NORTHGATE AS WELL.
THE RECOVERY HAS BEEN SLOW ,
ALL OF TRANSIT ACROSS THE
REGION AND FRANKLY THE NATION
HAVE SEEN SLOW RECOVERY. BUT
YOU CAN SEE THE SOUTH LAKE
UNION STREETCAR RECOVERY HAS
BEEN SLOWER THAN THE RECOVERY
ON THE FIRST HILL LINE AS WELL.
ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, I JUST
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE
OPERATING COST OF THE
STREETCAR. THEY 2024 BUDGET, WE
HAVE A TOTAL OF ABOUT 14.3, TO
$14.4 MILLION OF OPERATING X
BANDS .4 .6 MILLION FOR SOUTH
LAKE UNION STREETCAR . WE DO
HAVE SOME CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
OPERATIONS AT SOUTH LAKE UNION
STREETCAR. KING COUNTY METRO
PROVIDES ABOUT $1.7 MILLION PER
YEAR BY AGREEMENT THROUGH 2029
. SEATTLE TRANSIT HAD
PREVIOUSLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE
FIRST HILL STREETCAR OPERATIONS
$5 MILLION PER YEAR BUT THOSE
PAYMENTS EXPIRED LAST YEAR IT
WAS THE END OF THAT AGREEMENT
SO NOW THOSE COST CZAR BORNE BY
THE CITY. THIS IS COMMON FOR,
YOU KNOW, MANY TYPES OF TRANSIT
SERVICE, BUT GOVERNMENT GOODS
IN GENERAL THAT THE PUBLIC
TENDS TO PAY FOR THESE PUBLIC
GOODS COME UP SO THAT IS PART
OF WHERE WE ARE AT. WHEN I HAVE
HIGHLIGHTED HERE IS SORT OF
THE, THE CITY SUBSIDY , IF YOU
WILL, THE OTHER SOURCES OF
REVENUE THAT WE HAVE HAD TO
PROVIDE TO MAINTAIN STREETCAR
OPERATIONS . A TOTAL OF $10.2
MILLION WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE
STREETCAR OPERATING FUND IN
2024 . BEFORE 2023, THESE FUNDS
WERE THE COMMERCIAL PARKING TAX
, AND IN 2023 AND 2024, WE HAVE
YOU SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE
FUNDING, WHICH IS THE 0.15%
SALES TAX FOR TRANSPORTATION,
FOR TRANSIT FUNDING THAT IS
AUTHORIZED FOR ANOTHER COUPLE
OF YEARS. AND IN ADDITION, YOU
ASKED ME TO PROVIDE SOME
BROADER PERFORMANCE METRICS.
AGAIN THESE ARE FROM THE 2022
STREETCAR REPORT. THIS SHOWS ON
THE LEFT-HAND SIDE SOME OF THE
HISTORIC RIDERSHIP
PRODUCTIVITIES , SOME OTHER
PERFORMANCE METRICS THAT SDOT
TRACKS, AND ON THE RIGHT-HAND
SIDE YOU WILL SEE SOME
ESTIMATED NUMBERS THAT SHOW THE
HOPE , AS WE COME OUT OF THE
PANDEMIC AND DO RECOVERY, AGAIN
, THE THING TO NOTE IS THAT --
HAS NOT RECOVERED AT THE SAME
RATE AS THE FIRST HILL
STREETCAR , AND YOU CAN SEE
THAT IN SOME OF THE OTHER
PRODUCTIVITY MEASURES,
PARTICULARLY PER REVENUE HOUR,
SORT OF THAT MIDDLE ROW, WHERE
HISTORICALLY THE SOUTH LAKE
UNION STREETCAR AND THE FIRST
HILL STREETCAR WERE SOMEWHAT
SIMILAR IN TERMS OF THEIR
PRODUCTIVITY , BUT THE
PRODUCTIVITY RATES HAVE
DIVERTED WITH THE PANDEMIC. AND
LASTLY, YOU ASKED ME TO PREPARE
SOME OF THESE NUMBERS WITH
OTHER TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS,
SO I PUT TOGETHER SOME
COMPARABLE NUMBERS FROM THE
NATIONAL TRANSIT DATABASE . THE
TOP PART OF THIS CHART SHOWS
2019 DATA , AND PRE-PANDEMIC
SORT OF COMPARISON, AND 2022 IS
SHOWN ON THE BOTTOM TO SHOW THE
LATEST CURRENT SITUATION.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE 1.5 ARS THATS
LINE ITEM MUSCLE FOR A
STREETCAR YOU CAN SEE IN 2019
843.6 -- AND PRODUCTIVITY AT
29.9 SHOWN IN 2022. THESE HAVE
DIFFERENT IMPACTS DEPENDING ON
IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT SOUTH
LAKE UNION OR FIRST HILL. YOU
CAN THINK OF PRODUCTIVITY AS
ESSENTIALLY HOW MANY PEOPLE
RIDE A VEHICLE IN THE OUR. HOW
FULL THE VEHICLES ARE.
HONESTLY, THEY COMPARE PRETTY
SIMILARLY WITH BUS . IN THIS
CASE BUS IS THE ENTIRETY OF
KING COUNTY METRO'S BUS
SYSTEM. THAT IS THE COUNTY
SYSTEM, SO IT INCLUDES SUBURBAN
ROUTES, EVEN SOME RURAL ROUTES
IN THERE. IT IS A LARGE, LARGE
SYSTEM THAT CARRIES OVER
100,000 PEOPLE. THE TROLLEY BUS
LINE IS THE ELECTRIC TROLLEY
NETWORK , SO YOU CAN THINK OF
THAT IS A MUCH MORE URBAN
SYSTEM , AND MAYBE MORE
COMPARABLE TO KIND OF WHAT WE
THINK OF AS TRANSIT SERVICE IN
SEATTLE. WE HAVE SOUND TRANSIT
LIGHT RAIL SHOWN AND ALSO WE
HAVE THE LIGHT RAIL WHICH THE
CITY OWNS , BUT IS OPERATED BY
COLLABORATION. COUNCILMEMBERS,
WITH THAT , I AM HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY
HAVE ON THIS PRESENTATION OR
THE PRESENTATION MATERIALS THAT
I HAVE PUT IN FRONT OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. I HAD
ONE MORE, ONE MORE SLIDE.
>> THERE WAS A SUSPENSION OF
SERVICE IN AUGUST 9 OF THE
STREETCAR DUE TO A BREAKDOWN OF
ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE
TRACTION POWER TO SUBS NATIONS.
THERE WERE REPORTS OF A
SHORTAGE OF SPARE PARTS . THE
CAUSES OF WHICH AND WHATEVER
LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS OF WITH
ARE STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION
BY SDOT AND METRO , WHO IS THE
OPERATOR OF THE SYSTEM. WE WILL
LEARN MORE IF THERE ARE ANY
FOLLOW-UP NEEDS BECAUSE OF
THAT. SERVICE RESUMED OPERATION
ON SEPTEMBER 4.
>> THANK YOU, CAL , AND THANK
YOU FOR THIS INFORMATIONAL
BRIEFING . AND YOU KNOW , I
WANTED TO SET THIS UP AS A
BRIEFING, COLLEAGUES , JUST SO
WE CAN GET A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF, YOU KNOW, AN
IMPORTANT TOPIC, WHICH IS OUR,
WHICH IS ONE COMPONENT OF OUR
BROADER TRANSIT INVESTMENTS IN
THE CITY. AND, AND SORT OF THE
HISTORY AROUND SOME OF THIS,
PURPOSE GOALS , AND TODAY THERE
IS NO, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF
THE, THE SOUTH LAKE UNION
OUTAGE FROM LAST MONTH, AND
TODAY THERE IS NO RIGHT
DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE
, WHETHER ON CURRENT SERVICE OR
ANY OF THE CURRENT PROPOSALS
INCLUDING THE FIRST AVENUE
STREETCAR. WE WERE IN PUBLIC
COMMENT EARLIER SHARING SOME
POTENTIAL CONCERNS ABOUT THAT
AND THE IMPACT. AS CAL NOTED,
THERE IS NO CURRENT FUNDING
PATH FOR THAT , BUT JUST WANTED
TO T THIS , T THIS UP AS A
REALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATIONAL
TOPIC , COLLEAGUES JUST FOR
YOUR AWARENESS AND THE
AWARENESS OF THE BROADER PUBLIC
AS WELL. SO THANK YOU, CAL, FOR
SHARING THIS. COLLEAGUES, DOES
ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ,
COMMENTS? GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND CALVIN
, I HAVE TO THANK YOU FOR THIS
PRESENTATION. IN ALL MY YEARS
AROUND THIS BUILDING, I HAVE
NOT SEEN THE INFORMATION ABOUT
THE STREETCARS PUT TOGETHER
WITH SUCH DEPTH, BREADTH OF
ANALYSIS , AND IN A SUCCINCT
MANNER . I THINK THE LAST PART
IS REALLY THE CRUX HERE. SO
THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT I HAVE
LIVED A FAIR AMOUNT OF THIS. I
WOULD A SPRING, I'M ACTUALLY
NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE
STREETCAR, BUT IF WE CAN COME
BACK TO SLIDE THREE. I WANT TO
FLAG AND HISTORICAL ELEMENT FOR
COLLEAGUES. WHEN SEATTLE WAS
FOUNDED IN PIONEER SQUARE, WE
USED SAWDUST AND OTHER REFUSE
TO BUILD OUR STREETS , AND
AFTER THE GREAT FIRE WE HAD
THEN ELEVATED OUR STREETS A
FULL STORY, WHICH IS WHY WE
HAVE UNDERGROUND SEATTLE. THE
GREAT, FUNDS WERE. IT ALSO
CREATES AREA WAYS, AREA WAYS
BEING THE FORMER SIDEWALK
BETWEEN THE BUILDING AND OUR
SIDE OF THE ROADWAY THAT IS
FULL OF SAWDUST, STILL , OR
BRICKS , OR REFUSE. AND SO, I
CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS AT
THE, BEFORE OR AFTER THE PAUSE
OF THE, OF THE FIRST AVENUE
STREETCAR IN 2018, WE ALSO HAD
TO PUT OUT SIGNS THAT DO NOT
ALLOW HEAVY TRUCKS TO BE IN THE
RIGHT-HAND LANES OF PIONEER
SQUARE , BECAUSE OF THE RISKS
TO THE AREA WAYS COLLAPSING. SO
, IN , IN GOOD PROJECT
MANAGEMENT WE DO MORE THAN ONE
THING AT ONCE, SO THE FIRST
AVENUE STREETCAR ALSO INCLUDES
THE STRUCTURAL AREA WAYS TO BE
STRENGTHENED SO THAT ANY
VEHICLE CAN USE ANY LANE OF THE
ROAD WITHOUT FEAR OF FALLING
INTO SAWDUST. SECONDLY , THE
UTILITY RELOCATION ALONG FIRST
AVENUE NEEDS TO OCCUR WITH OR
WITHOUT THE STREETCAR . I JUST
RAISE THAT FOR THE COMMITTEE'S
ATTENTION, BECAUSE WITH OR
WITHOUT , NO DECISIONS, NO
COMMENTARIES ABOUT STREETCARS
TODAY , BUT THOSE TWO THINGS
NEED TO HAPPEN WITH OR WITHOUT
THE STREET CAR . THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? NO ? WELL,
I HAVE JUST A FEW . SO, CAL ,
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THE ORIGINAL VISION FOR
THE SOUTH LAKE UNION STREETCAR
? AND YOUR ASSESSMENT ON
WHETHER IT MIGHT HAVE COME TO
FRUITION TO ANY EXTENT?
>> WELL, COUNCILMEMBERS, I
THINK, SO, I WAS IN THE CITY
WHEN THE SOUTH LAKE UNION
STREETCAR WAS PROPOSED. I WAS
WORKING FOR THE CITY AT THE
TIME. I RECALL THE PROPOSAL WAS
VERY MUCH AN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL. IT WAS ON
THE HEELS OF THE SEATTLE
COMMONS DISCUSSION. IT WAS
CERTAINLY OF INTEREST TO THE
PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE AREA TO
DEMONSTRATE THAT PUBLIC
INVESTMENT WAS GOING TO GO INTO
THE CASCADE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE
REGION OF SORT OF WHAT IS NOW
CONSIDERED , CALLED SOUTH LAKE
UNION . I THINK THAT WE HAVE
ALL SEEN THE DEVELOPMENT THAT
IS HAPPENED FAIR. SO IN TERMS
OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGY, IT SEEMS TO HAVE
BEEN, THE DEVELOPMENT SEEMS TO
HAVE FOLLOWED . I, IT HAS BEEN
, YOU KNOW, IT HAS COME UNDER
CRITICISM LATELY OF NOT BEING A
TRANSIT SYSTEM IS MUCH , SO A
LOT OF SDOT'S WORK HAS BEEN
HOW TO INCREASE THE RELIABILITY
AND SPEED OF THE TRANSIT
OPERATION . AS YOU CAN IMAGINE,
THAT IS HARDER TO DO
RETROACTIVELY THAN IF YOU
DESIGN IT THAT WAY. SO THAT IS
A BIT OF A THEME OF THE
STREETCARS, FRANKLY. THE SOUTH
OF UNION STREETCAR WAS
HONESTLY, HONESTLY IT WAS DONE
IN A WAY THAT WAS, THAT COULD
BE IMPLEMENTED FAIRLY QUICKLY.
I, I KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T
NECESSARILY HOW IT GOT BILLED,
BUT AT THE TIME THERE WERE
CONVERSATIONS THAT NECESSARILY,
WE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE
TO DO AS MUCH UTILITY
RELOCATION, BECAUSE OF THE
UTILITY RELOCATION HAD TO
HAPPEN, WE WERE OKAY WITH IT
INTERRUPTING STREETCAR SERVICE
AT THE TIME. THAT IS NO LONGER
HOW WE WANT TO OPERATE TRANSIT
SERVICE AND THAT IS NOT WHAT WE
DID WITH THE FIRST HILL
STREETCAR. WE MOVED TO MOORE
TRANSIT PRIORITY. WE MOVED TO
GET THE UTILITIES OUT OF THE
WAY WITH THE FIRST HILL
STREETCAR BECAUSE WE WANTED
THAT TO BE MORE OF A TRANSIT
SERVICE. I THINK WE HAVE HAD
THAT EVOLUTION WITH CENTER CITY
STREETCAR PROPOSAL. THAT IS
CERTAINLY IN THE DISCUSSION AND
PROBABLY WHY THE PRICE TAG IS
SO EXPENSIVE, BECAUSE THAT IS
DRIVING A LOT OF THE
CONVERSATION OF THE BEING MORE
OF A TRANSIT SYSTEM CONNECTION,
AND MAYBE GETTING AWAY FROM THE
PURELY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
RATIONALE THAT THE PROGRAM
STARTED WITH .
>> THANK YOU. CAN YOU TALK
ABOUT, LIKE, WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR
THE DIFFERENCE IN RIDERSHIP
NUMBERS BETWEEN THE SOUTH LAKE
UNION STREETCAR LINE IN THE
FIRST HILL STREETCAR?
>> WELL , THEY ARE, THE
DIFFERENCE IN THE NUMBERS IS
PRIMARILY BECAUSE THEY HAVE
VERY DIFFERENT TRANSIT MARKETS.
THE FIRST HILL , I THINK THE
TWO THINGS TO THINK ABOUT ,
FIRST HILL IS A REGIONAL
EMPLOYMENT CENTER , ONE OF THE
TOP ONES IN THE STATE WITH A
NUMBER OF HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL
FACILITIES UP THERE . THE
RATIONALE FOR HAVING THE FIRST
HILL STREETCAR WAS TO TAKE THE
PLACE OF WHAT WAS A REGIONAL
TRANSIT CONNECTION WITH LIGHT
RAIL . SO THE FIRST HILL
STREETCAR DEFINITELY MAKES THAT
CONNECTION BOTH TO CAPITOL HILL
AND DOWN TO DOWNTOWN , THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT , AND
PIONEER SQUARE. THOSE, THOSE
CONNECTIONS ARE , ARE NOT, DO
NOT HAVE AS MUCH ALTERNATIVES
IN TERMS OF TRANSIT SERVICE
COMPARED TO SOUTH LAKE UNION,
WHICH NOW HAS AS I MENTIONED
ADDITIONAL SERVICE ON THE 40
AND THE RAPID RIDES THE. SO I
THINK THERE IS ANY NATURE OF
THE TRANSIT MARKET. SOUTH LL
UNION APPEARS TO BE A MARKET
THAT MAY RE BY
RETURNED TO WORK POLICY AND
THROUGH THE NATURE OF THAT
EMPLOYMENT DUE TO HEALTHCARE
WORKERS ON FIRST HILL. THAT MAY
ACCOUNT FOR SOME OF IT AS WELL.
BUT THAT MAY HELP EXPLAIN THE
DIFFERENCE IN, IN RECOVERY
RATES AND SORT OF THE TRENDS ,
RIDERSHIP OBVIOUSLY IS VERY
DIFFERENT. BUT IN TERMS OF THE
TRENDS.
>> THANK YOU. SO , THERE IS
CLEARLY, YOU KNOW, AND A NUMBER
OF FACTORS ARE REASONS WHY ,
YOU KNOW, TO ACCOUNT FOR THE
VARYING NUMBERS , RIDERSHIP
LEVELS. BUT YOU KNOW, IN TERMS
OF PERFORMANCE. RIDERSHIP
LEVELS, TRENDS, THE, THE, FIRST
HILL LINE IS DEFINITELY , IT IS
BOUNCING BACK QUICKER , IT
LOOKS LIKE, THEN THE SOUTH LAKE
UNION LINE . JUST CURIOUS TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND, FINAL
QUESTION, LIKE, WHAT OTHER
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS SERVE
THE SOUTH LAKE UNION AREA?
>> WELL, WE HAVE , IN ADDITION
TO THE METRO SERVICE, I GUESS
THE THING THAT IS MOST ON THE
HORIZON IS THE POTENTIAL
EXPANSION OF LIGHT RAIL TO
SOUTH LAKE UNION AS PART OF THE
BROWARD EXTENSION. SO THAT IS
STILL SEVERAL YEARS OUT. WE
HAVE TO GET THROUGH , SOUND
TRANSIT HAS TO GET THROUGH THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS AND
CHOOSE THE PROJECT. THEY WANT
TO HAVE A STATION AT WEST LAKE
AND DENNY, WHICH WOULD BE A
REGIONAL CONNECTION AND SOUTH
LAKE UNION, WHICH WOULD BE
ANOTHER TRANSIT OPTION .
DEPENDING ON WHICH OPTION IS
SELECTED , THAT COULD IMPACT
STREETCAR OPERATIONS AND MAY
SUSPEND STREETCAR OPERATIONS
DURING A PERIOD OF CONSTRUCTION
AS WELL, SO THERE MAY BE
IMPACTS THAT HAVE TO BE
COORDINATED WITH SOUTH LAKE
UNION OPERATIONS, BUT PRIMARILY
IT IS CURRENTLY THE METRO
SERVICE THAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE
NOW.
>> THANK YOU, CAL . THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
COLLEAGUES , AGAIN, I WILL
EMPHASIZE THERE ARE NO POLICY
DECISIONS TO BE MADE TODAY ,
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST
INFORMATIONAL ONLY , BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION, SO WE CAN LEARN
ABOUT IMPORTANT INVESTMENT IN
OUR TRANSIT, WHICH IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO KEEP PEOPLE
CONNECTED , AND SO, AGAIN,
REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE, THANK
YOU FOR THIS, CAL. DO ANY OF MY
COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE ANY
FINAL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER, IF ANY JUST
MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT. WE DO
EXPECT THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL
BE SENDING OUT THE 2023 ANNUAL
REPORT HOPEFULLY SOON, SO WE
WILL HOPEFULLY SEE THESE
NUMBERS AND WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE
THIS PAST YEAR. THE TRENDS ARE
WE ARE SEEING TRANSIT RECOVER
GENERALLY, SO IT WILL BE GOOD
TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
HOW THINGS WERE LAST YEAR.
>> ALSO. FINALLY, I WILL NOTE ,
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE
TO THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
SDOT , I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH
THEM , AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
ON THE STREETCAR, THE VARIOUS
STREETCARS, ESPECIALLY SINCE
WHAT WE LEARNED, WHAT HAPPENED
WITH THE OUTAGE, THE
UNANTICIPATED OUTAGE OF THE
SOUTH LAKE UNION LINE LAST
MONTH, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR
INFORMATION SHARING AND YOUR
COLLABORATION SHARING AND LOOK
FORWARD TO PARTNERING THEM ON
THIS IN ANY OTHER NUMBER OF
ISSUES GOING FORWARD. WE WILL
NOW, THANK YOU, CAL. WE WILL
NOW MOVE ON TO OUR FINAL ITEM
OF BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM 20 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 20. CLERK FILE
314497, PETITION OF BRE-BMR LLC
FOR THE VACATION OF THE ALLEY
AND LOTS 7 TO 12, INCLUSIVE,
BLOCK 67, DT DENNY'S PARK
ADDITION TO NORTH SEATTLE ,
BEING THE BLOCK BOUNDED BY JOHN
STREET, THOMAS STREET , TAYLOR
AVENUE NORTH, AND 6th AVENUE
NORTH.
>> THANK YOU. ONCE READY,
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND
BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> A MORNING, LISH WHITSON,
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF. AS YOU
REMEMBER , FROM YOUR LAST
MEETING, BIOMED REALTY HAS
PETITIONED THE CITY COUNCIL FOR
THE VACATION OF THE ALLEY BY
THE BLOCK BOUNDED BY TAYLOR
AVENUE NORTH ON THE WEST,
THOMAS STREET ON ATTACHED TO TH
AGENDA ARE THE PROPOSED
CONDITIONS BASED ON SDOT'S
RECOMMENDATION. THESE ARE
GENERALLY CONSISTENT WITH
RECOMMENDATIONS APPLIED TO
STREET VACATIONS. THE
RECOMMENDATION WOULD ONLY BE
APPROVED FOR THE PROJECT
PRESENTED TO YOU AT YOUR LAST
MEETING. A COUPLE BENEFITS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT ARE
AND INCLUDED PAYMENT OF $2.4
MILLION TO SDOT FOR STREETSCAPE
IMPROVEMENTS BETWEEN THE T6
BLOCK AND SIDEWALK AND
PERMITS, INCLUDING INCREASED
PRE-CLEANING, ENHANCED
LANDSCAPING ALONG SIXTH AVENUE
AND TAYLOR. OTHER CONDITIONS ,
PROTECT PUBLIC TRUST FUNCTIONS,
INCLUDING MAINTAINING UTILITY
FUNCTIONS, PROTECTING FREE
SPEECH ON THE SITE AND
PROTECTING THE RIGHT-OF-WAY
AROUND THE SITE. UNDER THE
PROPOSED CONDITIONS, AFTER
DEVELOPMENT OF PHASE ONE OF THE
PROJECT, THE WEST TOWER AND
PROVIDING THE PUBLIC BENEFITS
ASSOCIATED WITH THAT PHASE OF
THE PROJECT, THE PETITIONERS
WOULD BE ABLE TO RETURN TO
COUNCIL TO COMPLETE THE
VACATION. IT WOULD INCLUDE
VACATING RIGHT-OF-WAY,
OFFICIALLY, AND APPROVING A
PROPERTY USE AGREEMENT THAT
ENSURES THAT THE PHASE ONE
IMPROVEMENTS CONTINUE IN GOOD
ORDER AND ARE INSTALLED AND
MAINTAINED. IF THE COMMITTEE
SUPPORTS THE VACATION, YOU
SHOULD VOTE TO ADD THE
CONDITIONS TO THE CLERK FILE
AND VOTE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL
AS CONDITIONED. DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS?
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS? I AM HEARING AND
SEEING NONE. THANK YOU, LISH,
FOR YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY AND
FOR BEING WITH US THROUGH EVERY
STEP OF THIS JOURNEY. THIS IS
THE LAST STEP, THE LAST
MILESTONE I ANTICIPATE AS PART
OF THIS LONG PROCESS. AN
IMPORTANT ONE, BUT THE LAST
ONE. I, PERSONALLY, COLLEAGUES,
OR COMFORTABLE VOTING ON THIS
TODAY . IF ANYONE IS NOT
COMFORTABLE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW
AND I AM HEARING AND SEEING
NONE. I WANT TO TEE UP AND
PROVIDE AN OVERT -- OVERVIEW ON
HOW THIS IS INTENDED TO PLAY
OUT. THE VOTE WILL PROCEED IN
TWO PARTS. FIRST, WE WILL VOTE
TO ADD SDOT'S RECOMMENDED
CONDITIONS, AND IF THERE ARE NO
OBJECTIONS, WE WILL VOTE ON
GRANTING THE CLERK FILE AS THE
COMPLETE CONDITION. AS A
REMINDER TO MY COLLEAGUES, THIS
MATTER WAS BEFORE US ON OUR
SEPTEMBER 3rd COMMITTEE MEETING
. AND, A FINAL OPPORTUNITY FOR
ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES TO ASK ANY
QUESTIONS. I AM HEARING AND
SEEING NONE. I MOVE THAT
COMMITTEE AMEND CLERK FILE
314497 TO ADD SDOT'S
RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS AS SHOWN
UNDER THE PROPOSED CONDITIONS
FOR T6 ALLIE VACATION. IS THERE
A SECOND?
>> SECOND. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO ADD THE
CONDITIONS TO CF 314497 . WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE
ON AMENDING THE CLERK FILE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> TRAN20 SIX.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> THERE ARE FOUR VOTES IN
FAVOR, AND ZERO PROPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, I MOVE THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND CLERK FILE
314497 . IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO GRANT AS
CONDITIONED, CLERK FILE 314497.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE GRANTING OF THE
CLERK FILE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR NINE.
>> AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES AND
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT
COUNCIL GRANT AS CONDITIONED,
CF 314497. IT WILL BE SENT TO
BE SEPTEMBER 24th, 2024 CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. THAT IS OUR
FINAL ITEM OF BUSINESS. GREAT
JOB, EVERYONE. WE HAVE REACHED
THE END OF TODAY'S MEETING
AGENDA. OUR NEXT MEETING IS
SCHEDULED , POST BUDGET,
DECEMBER 3rd AT 9:30 A.M. IS
THERE ANY FINAL BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
BEFORE WE ADJOURN FOR THE GOOD
OF THE ORDER? I AM HEARING AND
SEEING NONE. WE ARE ADJOURNED.
IT IS 11:05 A.M.