>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AWESOME.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING.
DECEMBER 17, 2024 MEETING OF
THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS 9:32
A.M. I AM ROB SAKA, CHAIR OF
THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
WILL THE COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE THREE
MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> I KNOW THAT VICE-CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH WILL BE ARRIVING
IN ABOUT 15 OR 20 MINUTES. SHE
IS THEREFORE EXCUSED UNTIL SHE
ARRIVES. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING AND SEEING NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS HEREBY
ADOPTED . ALL RIGHT. FIRST WANT
TO MAKE A COUPLE REMARKS .
WHERE WE ARE AT, WHERE WE HAVE
COME, WHERE WE ARE GOING. FIRST
OFF, THERE ARE A FEW NOTABLE
LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS IN
TRANSPORTATION POLICY HERE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. FIRST AND
FOREMOST, LET ME TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A HEARTFELT
WELCOME TO THE NEWEST MEMBER OF
OUR COMMITTEE, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. WELCOME TO OUR
COMMITTEE. WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO
HAVE YOU ON THIS COMMITTEE ON
OUR BROADER BODY AND IN THIS
INSTITUTION. I LOOK FORWARD TO
PARTNERING TOGETHER ON
TRANSPORTATION POLICY AND ANY
NUMBER OF THINGS. AGAIN, WE ARE
REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU. THANK
YOU. ALSO , IN TERMS OF
LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS , WE
LEARNED VERY RECENTLY THAT SDOT
DIRECTOR GREG SPOTTS HAS
DECIDED TO RETIRE. I WANT TO
THANK DIRECTOR SPOTS FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP OF THE DEPARTMENT
OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS -- 2
1/2 YEARS. HOWEVER LONG IT HAS
BEEN. I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR
HIS PARTNERSHIP IN
COLLABORATION WITH ME AND MY
OFFICE AND MY COLLEAGUES OVER
THE LAST YEAR IN PARTICULAR.
NEXT, TODAY'S AGENDA IS A
COUPLE OF EXCITING TOPICS . WE
ARE GOING TO HAVE A REFRESHER
UPDATE BRIEFING ON GOOD
OLD-FASHIONED PERMITTING . THE
GENERALLY STANDARD ROUTINE
TOPICS THAT WE ENCOUNTER IN
THIS COMMITTEE . NEXT WE WILL
ALSO BE HAVING A BRIEFING ON
FOUR OPPOSED PERMITTING
PROJECTS. PEDESTRIAN AND
UTILITY TUNNEL, RENEWAL OF THE
GAS PIPELINE, AND THE PIKE
PLACE MARKET SKY BRIDGE.
FINALLY WE WILL CONCLUDE
TODAY'S AGENDA WITH A BRIEFING
FROM SDOT ON OUR CITYWIDE
WINTER STORM PREPAREDNESS
EFFORTS. HOW WE PREPARE FOR AND
RESPOND TO WINTER WEATHER
EMERGENCIES IN OUR
RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND ROADS . AT
THIS TIME , THIS IS THE LAST
COMMITTEE MEETING THAT WE WILL
HAVE IN 2024. SO IT IS A GOOD,
NATURAL OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A
QUICK MOMENT TO PAUSE, REFLECT
, AND EVEN CELEBRATE A FEW OF
THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THIS
BODY OVER THE PAST YEAR.
TOGETHER , WE STARTED TO CHART
A NEW PATH FOCUSED ON
DELIVERING THE BASICS OF LOCAL
GOVERNMENT . THIS BODY AND OUR
BROADER SELECT COMMITTEE PASSED
LEGISLATION SENDING THE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY PACKAGE TO
VOTERS, WHO ULTIMATELY APPROVED
OF THIS LEVY WITH A RESOUNDING
66% OF THE VOTE. I WANT TO
THANK SEATTLE VOTERS FOR YOUR
GENEROSITY IN HELPING SET THE
DEPARTMENT UP FOR SUCCESS AND
MAKING SURE OUR CITY IS
WELL-POSITIONED TO CONTINUE TO
DELIVER THE BASICS . THAT
EIGHT-YEAR LEVY IS THE LARGEST
-- IT IS A $1.55 BILLION LEVY .
IT IS THE LARGEST AND MOST
ACCOUNTABLE LEVY OF ITS KIND IN
SEATTLE HISTORY. THE ORDINANCE
WE PASSED TOGETHER ARTICULATED
SEVERAL CRUCIAL FUNDING
PRIORITIES . AND THAT IS
IMPORTANT. NUMBERS ARE
IMPORTANT. SO LET'S KIND OF
SUM UP A LITTLE BIT . THAT LEVY
PACKAGE INCLUDED A
TRANSFORMATIVE INVESTMENT IN
VISION ZERO TO HELP ELIMINATE
TRAFFIC DEATH AND SERIOUS
INJURIES ON OUR ROADS . AND
THAT TOTAL INVESTMENT --
TOTALED $160 MILLION PLUS . WE
ALSO FUNDED -- VOTERS ALSO
ULTIMATELY FUNDED $111 MILLION
TO INVEST IN A GENERATIONAL
INVESTMENT IN NEW SIDEWALKS ,
WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF AT LEAST
350 BLOCKS OF NEW SIDEWALKS
ACROSS OUR CITY. ALSO , OVER
$400 MILLION WE HAVE INVESTED
IN THE LEVY FOR BASIC STREET
MAINTENANCE AND MODERNIZATION
WORK. OVER $220 MILLION WE HAVE
INVESTED FOR BRIDGES AND
STRUCTURES . $151 MILLION HAS
BEEN INVESTED IN TRANSIT
CORRIDORS AND CONNECTIONS,
HELPING CONNECT PEOPLE TO
TRANSIT , MAKING SURE TRANSIT
IS SAFE AND RELIABLE . MORE
BROADLY, I MENTIONED THE
SIDEWALK SPECIFIC INVESTMENT.
MORE BROADLY , WE INVESTED PEDE.
$69 MILLION TO BETTER ADDRESS
CLIMATE CHANGE. PROTECT THE
ENVIRONMENT. AND INCREASE OUR
TREE CANOPY. I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE WILL LOVE
THIS. WE INVESTED $45 MILLION
FOR FREIGHT AND CARGO MOBILITY
TO HELP KEEP OUR ECONOMY
VIBRANT AND HUMMING ALONG. YOU
WILL ESPECIALLY LOVE THIS. 7
1/2 MILLION DOLLARS FOR GOOD
OLD-FASHIONED GOOD GOVERNANCE.
OVERSIGHT. AND PROPERTY TAX
RELIEF EDUCATION. THIS IS A
NONEXHAUSTIVE LIST OF THE
INVESTMENTS IN THE LEVY . BUT
TOGETHER IT INCLUDED MANY OTHER
INVESTMENTS TO CREATE A
WORLD-CLASS TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM THAT IS SAFE AND
RELIABLE FOR ALL . ALSO IN THIS
COMMITTEE TOGETHER WE PERFORM
THE EVERYDAY NUTS AND BOLTS OF
GOVERNMENT. THE WORK THAT
SEATTLE EXPECTS US TO PERFORM,
INCLUDING WE ADOPTED THE
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION PLAN
SETTING THE VISION AND
FRAMEWORK FOR OUR
TRANSPORTATION POLICY OVER THE
NEXT 10 OR 20 YEARS AND BEYOND.
WE HAVE DONE ANY NUMBER OF
ALLEY AND STREET VACATIONS,
STREET NAMING . HANDLE MULTIPLE
OF THOSE, INCLUDING --
ESPECIALLY AND INCLUDING THE
RENAMING OF A STREET TO HONOR
STORM LEGEND AND GOAT SUE BIRD
. ALSO OUR IMPLEMENTATION
LEGISLATION INCLUDED A NEW LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TASK
FORCE . WE HAVE HANDLED AND
REVIEWED APPOINTMENTS TO OUR
VARIOUS CITIZEN ADVISORY
BOARDS, INCLUDING THE TRANSIT
PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE AND FREIGHT
ADVISORY BOARDS . IN ALL , IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MAYOR ,
THIS BODY , AND THIS
INSTITUTION IS WELL-POSITIONED
OUR CITY TO DELIVER THE BASICS
-- THE EVERYDAY BASICS IN SUCH
AN EXTRAORDINARY WAY. I AM ALSO
PROUD OF THE GREAT WORK THAT
SDOT WAS ABLE TO DELIVER THIS
YEAR AS WELL . THIS INCLUDES
VITAL INVESTMENTS TO MAINTAIN
OUR BRIDGES , EXTEND THE
SERVICE LIFE OF OUR ROADS,
BUILD VISION ZERO SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS, AND FILL THOSE
PESKY POTHOLES . BECAUSE THAT
IS IMPORTANT. BY THE DATA, SDOT
WAS ABLE TO PERFORM 1500 -- AT
LEAST 1500 CROSSWALKS THAT WERE
REMARKED AND REPAINTED . ADDED
ALMOST 18 LANE MILES OF REPAVED
STREETS IN SEATTLE. PERFORMED
350 PLUS SPOT REPAIRS ON THE
CITY'S BRIDGES . ADDED 30
BLOCKS OF NEW SIDEWALKS . 6200
SIDEWALK REPAIRS THROUGH
QUARTER THREE . 1131 CURB RAMPS
WERE ADDED. OVER 17,000
POTHOLES WERE FILLED IN 2024
WITH AN 89% COMPLETION RATE
WITHIN THE THREE BUSINESS DATE
TARGET. AS PART OF THIS NEW
COMMITMENT , THERE IS A NEW
SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT THAT
THE CITY HAS ENSHRINED INTO LAW
AND MADE A COMMITMENT TO VOTERS
IN THE LEVY THAT WE ARE GOING
TO PREPARE AT LEAST 18% OF
REPORTED POTHOLES WITHIN THREE
BUSINESS DAYS. THE DATA POINT
BEFORE THAT SHOWED HOW WE ARE
DOING SO FAR. TERRIFIC WORK.
AND BECAUSE OF THE
TRANSFORMATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE
INVESTMENTS INCLUDED IN OUR
FINAL ADOPTED BUDGET , THIS
COUNCIL HAS SET THE DEPARTMENT
UP TO HAVE EVEN GREATER IMPACT
IN 2025 AND BEYOND. THAT'S A
PARTNERSHIP. I APPRECIATE THE
COLLABORATION. IN TERMS OF THE
2025 ROAD MAP AND AGENDA ,
THINGS THAT ARE WITHIN OUR
PURVIEW AND WILL BE TAKEN UP
AND ADDRESSED -- WELL, WE WILL
HAVE ANY NUMBER OF BRIEFINGS
AND DISCUSSIONS ON A VARIETY OF
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
TRANSPORTATION TOPICS,
INCLUDING REGIONAL TRANSIT
SECURITY . IMPLEMENTATION OF
SPEED ENFORCEMENT . AUTOMATED
SPEED ENFORCEMENT. CAMERA
LEGISLATION TO COMPLY WITH
RECENT CHANGES IN STATE LAW. WE
HAVE TAKEN UP IN CONSIDERING
THE COMPOSITION OF A NEW LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TASK
FORCE AS I MENTIONED EARLIER.
GOING TO BE LOOKING AT HOW THE
ADMINISTRATION OF A NEW
NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY FUND AND
COUNCIL DISTRICT FUND -- HOW
THOSE WILL BE ADMINISTERED .
THE TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT,
WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT
PORTION OR ELEMENT OF THE PLAN
REVIEW PROCESS -- I'M SURE
THERE WILL BE SOME WORK STREAMS
ASSOCIATED WITH THAT THAT MIGHT
BE BEST SUITED FOR THIS
COMMITTEE. WE WILL ALSO ADDRESS
THE BUDGET PER VISIO -- SUPER
PROVISO. WHATEVER BUDGET CHAIR
STRAUSS CALLED IT. I REFER TO
THAT. IT IS A GOOD FRAMING. IN
ALL, I LOOK FORWARD TO
COLLABORATING MORE CLOSELY WITH
SDOT, THE MAYOR, EACH AND EVERY
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS
AND OTHER TOPICS. AS I ALLUDED
TO EARLIER, WE WILL ALSO BE
TAKING UP A NEW CONFIRMATION
PROCESS FOR A TO BE SELECTED BY
THE MAYOR SUCCESSOR TO DIRECTOR
SPOT . WE WILL GO THROUGH A
CONFIRMATION PROCESS NEXT YEAR
AS WELL . PLUS ALL OF THE
SLIGHTLY MORE ROUTINE BUT
EQUALLY IMPORTANT CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT WORK STREAMS OF THIS
COMMITTEE. TOGETHER IN ALL, IN
SUM, I CAN SAY THIS. WHEN IT
COMES TO TRANSPORTATION POLICY
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE IN 2025
AND BEYOND, I WILL SAY
EMPHATICALLY THE FUTURE IS
BRIGHT. ALL RIGHT. THAT SAID,
LET US MOVE ON TO THE HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC
COMMENT SHOULD RELATE SOLELY TO
ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA AND
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE MORE BROADLY. CLERK,
HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE ONE IN
PERSON SPEAKERS SIGNED UP .
THERE ARE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. EACH
SPEAKER WILL HAVE APPROXIMATELY
TWO MINUTES. WE WILL START WITH
THE IN PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST.
CLERK , CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE
PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS?
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. OF THE PUBLIC
COMMENT . MAC IS UP TO 20
MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL BE
CALLED IN THE ORDER THEY ARE
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN SETS OF IN
PERSON AND 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 COMMENT
IN THE ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW
US TO CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN , AND WE WILL BEGIN
WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE
LIST. THAT ONE SPEAKER IS ABBY
CHANDLER.
>> HELLO . MANY THANKS FOR
ALLOWING ME TO COME TALK TODAY.
I BROUGHT SOME VISUALS WHICH I
THINK ARE ON YOUR TABLES TO
HELP OUT WITH THE CONVERSATION.
WHAT I AM WANTING TO TALK ABOUT
IS FIXING THE STREET I LIVE ON,
WHICH IS THE 4000 BLOCK OF 12th
AVENUE SOUTH IN THE BEACON HILL
NEIGHBORHOOD. WE HAVE HAD AN
ACTIVE LANDSLIDE FOR THE LAST
TWO YEARS. IT CONTINUES TO
ERODE AND BE A PROBLEM. AND
THERE HAS NOT REALLY BEEN ANY
ACTION TO PROPERLY FIX THE
ISSUE. YOU CAN SEE IF YOU LOOK
ON PAGE ONE OF THE SLIDE DECK
IF YOU NEED A MAP OF
ORIENTATION WHERE THIS IS . IT
IS ABOUT THREE BLOCKS WEST OF
JEFFERSON PARK ABOVE I5. THE
LAND BETWEEN 12th AVENUE SOUTH
AND I5 IS UNDEVELOPED LAND. YOU
CAN SEE ON THE NEXT PAGE WE'VE
GOT PICTURES . THE FIRST ONE IS
JUST FROM GOOGLE IMAGES OF WHAT
THE STREET USED TO LOOK LIKE.
IT WAS A STREET. THERE WAS A
GUARDRAIL. THERE WAS LAND
THERE. IN JANUARY OF 2022, YOU
CAN SEE THE LAND STARTED TO
ERODE AWAY. PLEASE NOTE THAT
THE POST FOR THE GUARDRAIL IS
DANGLING MIDAIR . MYSELF AND MY
NEIGHBORS CONTACTED SDOT. THEY
DID COME OUT. IN THE SPRING OF
2022 , THEY ERECTED CONCRETE
BARRIERS. YOU WILL NOTE ON THE
NEXT SLIDE THEY ALSO PUT DOWN A
BUNCH OF PLASTIC TO HELP STOP
THE EROSION. WE ARE GRATEFUL
FOR THAT WORK THAT THEY HAVE
DONE, BUT THAT DOES NOT REALLY
FIX THE ISSUE. THE CONCRETE
BARRIERS NOW JUST CREATE
MASSIVE PUDDLES BEHIND THEM
WHEN IT RAINS. THE PLASTIC HAS
MOSTLY ERODED AWAY. THE
SANDBAGS HAVE ALSO ERODED AWAY.
THE CONCRETE BARRIER IS VERY
EASY TO CLIMB OVER. IT IS NOT
SAFE FOR KIDS TO BE AROUND.
THERE IS A GIANT HOLE PAST THE
CONCRETE BARRIERS. ON THIS
SLIDE, THIS IS 2023, WHICH IS
THIS ONE. YOU CAN SEE IF YOU
ARE LOOKING FROM THE ON-RAMP --
>> THANK YOU, ABBY. CHAIR, THAT
WAS THE ONLY PUBLIC COMMENT .
>> ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU
TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTOR FOR
YOUR TESTIMONY AND FOR SHARING
A COPY OF THIS SLIDE DECK. VERY
WELL ORGANIZED. THIS IS EXACTLY
THE TYPE OF FEEDBACK THAT WE
LOVE HEARING. WE HAVE OUR
EXPERTS FROM SDOT HERE AS WELL,
SO WE WILL BE SURE TO PASS
ALONG A COPY OF THIS. THIS
STRIKES ME AS SOMETHING WHERE
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
CLOSE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SDOT
AND SPU ON THIS ISSUE. SOUNDS
LIKE THERE ARE SOME DRAINAGE
ISSUES INVOLVED AS WELL. IN ANY
EVENT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR
FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE
INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE. SDOT
PERMITTING REFRESHER BRIEFING.
>> ALL RIGHT. LOOKS LIKE OUR
PRESENTERS HAVE JOINED US AT
THE TABLE. THANK YOU. WELCOME.
WHEN YOU ARE READY, PLEASE
SHARE YOUR PRESENTATION AND
START BY INTRODUCING YOURSELVES
.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA. BILL,
SDOT.
>> AMY GRAY. SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION STREET USE.
>> CENTRAL STAFF.
>> GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME .
>> JUST WAITING FOR THE
PRESENTATION. I WANTED TO THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME
HERE TODAY TO PRESENT THE
COUNCIL TERM PERMIT PROGRAM
THAT SDOT ADMINISTERS.
THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION
YOU WILL SEE IMAGES OF THE
DIFFERENT TYPES OF COUNCIL TERM
PERMITS THE CITY HAS APPROVED
IN THE PAST. SO I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE
NATURE OF RIGHT-OF-WAY AND WHAT
PERMITS ARE. RIGHT-OF-WAY IS
PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN
DEDICATED OR ACQUIRED FOR
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITY USE,
STREETS, ALLEYS, AND CERTAIN
PUBLIC PLACES ARE EXAMPLES OF
RIGHTS-OF-WAY. SDOT MANAGES IT
ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC.
RIGHT-OF-WAY EXTENDS BELOW
GRADE AND ABOVE GRADE AND IS
ACCESSIBLE FOR THE PUBLIC AT
ALL TIMES. A PERMIT IS REQUIRED
IF SOMEONE WANTS TO USE THIS
PUBLIC ASSET FOR A PROFIT --
PRIVATE NON-TRANSPORTATION USE.
PERMITS ARE TEMPORARY AND GRANT
APPROVAL FOR THE PRIVATE USE ON
OCCUPATION OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.
PERMITS ARE EVALUATED AGAINST
CRITERIA IN THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT AND ARE
TEMPORARY. THE DURATION DEPENDS
ON THE TYPE OF PERMIT. PERMITS
ARE ALWAYS REVOCABLE AND NO
PERSON HAS A RIGHT TO USE THE
WITHOUT A PERMIT. THIS
IMAGE SHOWS THE DIMENSIONS OF
RIGHT-OF-WAY. INCLUDE
SIDEWALKS, PARKING AND
PLANTING, THE TRAVEL NAME,
WHICH WE UNDERSTAND. IT EXTENDS
BEYOND THE STREET. NEXT SLIDE.
SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURED TERM
PERMITS ARE DESCRIBED IN THE
SEATTLE MISCIBLE CODE. CRITERIA
ON WHICH THEY ARE EVALUATED.
SKY BRIDGES ARE COVERED UNDER
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE AND
OTHER STRUCTURES ARE COVERED
UNDER SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE
1565. EXAMPLES OF SIGNIFICANT
STRUCTURES ARE TUNNELS,
PIPELINES, PRIVATE UTILITY
CONNECTIONS AND PLAZAS . SDOT
REVIEWS THE APPLICATION AND
GIVES THE CODE CRITERIA AND
MAKES A RECOMMENDATION TO THE
CITY COUNCIL. CITY COUNCIL
APPROVES ALL TERM PERMITS. IN
SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, PUBLIC
BENEFIT MITIGATION IS REQUIRED
TO OFFSET THE IMPACT OF THE
STRUCTURE ON THE PUBLIC'S USE.
NEXT SLIDE. AS I NOTED, SKY
BRIDGES ARE A SPECIFIC TYPE OF
TERM PERMIT AND HAVE A HIGHER
THRESHOLD OF REVIEW DUE TO THE
NATURE OF THEIR IMPACT ON A
STREET'S GATE . SKY BRIDGES
MUST HAVE A COMPELLING NEED
THAT CANNOT BE ACCOMMODATED ON
PRIVATE PROPERTY. THERE ARE
THREE TYPES OF SKY BRIDGES. THE
FIRST THE PUBLIC, WHICH ARE
OPEN TO EVERYONE. THESE
EXAMPLES CAN BE SEEN AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON OR THE
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY OR THE PIKE
PLACE MARKET, WHICH IS ON THE
AGENDA LATER THIS MORNING.
THESE SKYBRIDGES HAVE NO
RESTRICTIONS ON WHEN THEY CAN
BE USED AND WHO CAN USE THEM.
THE NEXT TYPE IS A SEMI-PUBLIC
USE. THESE ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE
BUT ACCESS MAY BE LIMITED
THROUGH PRIVATE PROPERTY OR A
PRIVATE STRUCTURE. EXAMPLES OF
THESE INCLUDE HOSPITALS , OR
THE ONE AT PACIFIC PLACE. THERE
ARE A FEW PRIVATE PRIVATE USE
SKYBRIDGES WHERE ACCESS IS
COMPLETELY RESTRICTED FOR
PRIVATE USERS ONLY. THE CITY
HAS A LONG-STANDING POLICY OF
DISCOURAGING PRIVATE USE
SKYBRIDGES. HOWEVER, IT HAS
OFTEN ALLOWED SKYBRIDGES FOR
PUBLIC OR SEMI PUBLIC USES,
SUCH AS HOSPITALS, DUE TO THE
NATURE OF THEIR OPERATIONS AND
AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT THAT
REQUIRES PHYSICAL CONNECTION
BETWEEN THEIR BUILDINGS. SDOT
LEAVES AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL
REVIEW OF ALL SKY REVIEW
COMMITTEE, WHICH IS MADE UP OF
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS FROM A
VARIETY OF DISCIPLINES. THIS IS
CODE REQUIRED. THE SKYBRIDGE
COMMITTEE MAKES A
RECOMMENDATION TO THE SDOT
DIRECTOR BASED ON WHETHER OR
NOT THE PROPOSED SKYBRIDGE
MEETS THE CRITERIA SPECIFIED IN
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE,
INCLUDING PUBLIC BENEFITS TO
OFFSET THE IMPACT. SKYBRIDGES
ARE ALSO REVIEWED BY THE
SEATTLE DESIGN COMMISSION AND
THEY LOOK AT THE NEED FOR THE
SKYBRIDGE AS WELL AS THE
PROPOSED PUBLIC BENEFIT. THEY
ALSO PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION
TO THE SDOT DIRECTOR. NEXT
SLIDE. TERM PERMITS REQUIRED
TWO STEPS AT CITY COUNCIL .
FIRST STEP OUR RESOLUTIONS,
WHICH PROVIDE CONCEPTUAL
APPROVAL. THIS HAPPENS AFTER
ANY SEATTLE DESIGN COMMISSION
REVIEW THAT IS REQUIRED HAS
HAPPENED AND WHEN THE PROPOSAL
IS AT 60% DESIGN. IT IDENTIFIES
CONDITIONS TO BE MET PRIOR TO
THE FINAL APPROVAL. YOU HAVE
TWO RESOLUTIONS ON THE AGENDA .
THE NEXT UP ARE ORDINANCES.
THOSE OCCUR WHEN THE PROJECT IS
AT 100% DESIGN AND AFTER ALL
THE CONDITIONS IN THE
RESOLUTIONS ARE MET . THERE ARE
THREE TYPES OF ORDINANCES FOR
NEW STRUCTURES, WHICH GRANTS
APPROVAL AND SETS THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS . DEPENDING ON THE
TYPE OF STRUCTURE, THE TIMELINE
FOR NEW TERM PERMITS TAKES
ANYWHERE FROM 12 TO 24 MONTHS.
A PRIVATE UTILITY TUNNEL IN AN
ALLEY WOULD TAKE MUCH LESS TIME
THAN A RENEWED SKYBRIDGE THAT
IS PART OF A LARGER DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT THAT REQUIRES EXTENDED
REVIEW AND COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT. THE NEXT TYPE OF
ORDINANCE IS TERM PERMIT
RENEWAL, WHICH YOU ALSO HAVE
LATER IN THE AGENDA. AT
SPECIFIED POINTS DETAILED IN
THE ORDINANCE, THE PERMIT IS
REVIEWED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH
ORIGINAL APPROVAL. IF ALL
CONDITIONS ARE BEING MET, IT
GRANTS PERMISSION FOR THE NEXT
TERM. THIS IS TYPICALLY 15
YEARS. THE THIRD TYPE OF
ORDINANCE IS WHEN A TERM PERMIT
HAS EXPIRED. AT THE END OF THE
TERM, WHICH IS TYPICALLY 30
YEARS, IF THE PERMIT HOLDER
WANTS TO CONTINUE TO USE THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR THIS USE, THEY
NEED TO APPLY FOR A NEW PERMIT.
THE PROPOSAL IS REVIEWED BASED
ON THE CURRENT CODE CRITERIA
AND IF CONTINUED OF THE
STRUCTURE. FOR SKYBRIDGES,
PUBLIC BENEFITS ARE REQUIRED AT
PERMIT EXPIRATION. NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS SPECIFIC TO SKYBRIDGE
REVIEW AS I ALLUDED TO EARLIER.
SKYBRIDGES DUE TO THEIR IMPACT
ON THE PUBLIC AND THEIR
COMPLEXITY HAVE AN EXPANDED
PROCESS. SKYBRIDGES ARE
REVIEWED BY THE SKYBRIDGE
REVIEW COMMITTEE AND
COMMISSION. THE SKYBRIDGE
REVIEW COMMITTEE FOCUSES THEIR
REVIEW ON CODE COMPLIANCE,
TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY, POLICY
OBJECTIVES, AND THE PUBLIC
BENEFIT PROPOSAL. THE DESIGN
COMMISSION REVIEWS URBAN DESIGN
COMMISSION AND THE MERITS OF
THE PUBLIC BENEFIT PROPOSAL.
THE IMAGE TO THE RIGHT IS PIKE
PLACE MARKET SKYBRIDGE YOU WILL
BE SEEING ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS THE END OF
MY PRESENTATION. THIS LAST
SLIDE SHOWS THE CHINA GAIT,
WHICH IS A TERM PERMIT. YOU CAN
SEE BASED ON ITS SIZE WHY IT
MERITED THE SPECIFIC STRUCTURE
PERMIT. IT JUST SHOWS YOU ONE
OF THE MANY TYPES OF PERMITS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT WE
HAVE. AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH , AMY.
REALLY APPRECIATE THIS
PRESENTATION . THIS HELPFUL
REFRESHER. HELPFUL FOR ALL OF
US AS WE ONBOARD A NEW MEMBER .
YOU KNOW, EVEN MYSELF. IT'S
BEEN A FEW MONTHS SINCE WE DID
THIS. THERE'S A FEW OF US WHO
ARE BRAND-NEW TO THIS
COMMITTEE. SO I FOUND THIS VERY
INSIGHTFUL. SO THANK YOU. I
WILL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
SEE IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
STARTING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE . GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU , CHAIR SAKA.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRIEFING.
YOUR LAST SLIDE IS INTERESTING
BECAUSE JUST THIS WEEK I HAD A
WALK -- MARKET TO MOW HIGH
WALK. AS PART OF THAT, THEY ARE
LOOKING TO TAKE THE OLD SIGN
THAT WAS PART OF THE DUCT AS
YOU WENT INTO THE TUNNEL AND
REPURPOSE IT ON THE STREET AS
PART OF THE MARKET WALK. SO
FROM CHINATOWN, THAT IS ANOTHER
INTERESTING , WAY SMALLER
VERSION BUT A AN INTERESTING
PIECE TO THAT AND SOMETHING THE
COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE REALLY
HAPPY ABOUT. ANOTHER PICTURE
FOR THE FUTURE -- I'M ALSO
INTERESTED BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE
THE NEW OVERLOOK WALK, WHICH I
GUESS WOULD QUALIFY AS A
SKYBRIDGE, I WOULD THINK,
CHAIR. THERE AT PIKE PLACE
MARKET AND THE AQUARIUM. SO IN
TERMS OF THE BRIEFING -- THANK
YOU FOR THE REVIEW . I DO HAVE
TO SAY THERE IS ALWAYS THE
EXCEPTION TO PROVE THE RULE .
AND THAT, FOR ME, RELATES TO
SKYBRIDGES AND PRIVATE USE.
THAT IS WITH HEALTHCARE RELATED
ONES. IF YOU GO TO FIRST HILL
BETWEEN THE HOSPITALS -- THERE
IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE WORKING ITS
WAY UP THROUGH THE SYSTEM AS IT
RELATES TO AFFORDING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO
HEALTHCARE SERVICES. FOR ME,
THAT IS THE EXCEPTION TO THE
RULE BECAUSE YES, WE SHOULD BE
LOOKING TO RESTRICT AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE THE PRIVATE USE OF THE
SKYBRIDGE BECAUSE I KNOW THERE
HAVE BEEN OTHERS THAT HAVE
ASKED AND THEY SAID NO. LIKE I
SAID, AN EXCEPTION TO THAT
WOULD BE FACILITATING
HEALTHCARE. THAT IS IT, CHAIR.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. GREAT COMMENTS THERE.
APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK. SO, A
QUICK COMMENT AND QUESTION
AROUND PUBLIC BENEFITS. PUBLIC
BENEFIT. YOU HAD NOTED IN YOUR
ANALYSIS THAT IT IS PART OF THE
ANALYSIS AT PLAY HERE. THERE IS
STATUTORILY DEFINED LEGAL
FRAMEWORK THAT REQUIRES AN
EXCHANGE FOR THE CITY TO GRANT
THIS. THERE HAS TO BE SOME SORT
OF PUBLIC BENEFIT. SO AS PART
OF THAT ANALYSIS WE HAVE TO
WEIGH AND ASSESS AND DETERMINE
THE ADEQUACY AND SUFFICIENCY OF
THE PURPORTED PUBLIC BENEFIT.
THERE ARE MANY AS YOU ALLUDED
TO. THERE ARE VARIOUS LEVELS OF
BODIES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
DETERMINING THAT. AND THIS BODY
, COLLEAGUES, BEARS FINAL NOT
ONLY RESPONSIBILITY BUT
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR MAKING THAT
DETERMINATION. WE ARE THE ONLY
ONE DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THAT DETERMINATION. SO, YES. WE
ARE AS A COMMITTEE AND AS A
BROADER BODY ON THE COUNCIL
RESPONSIBLE FOR I WOULDN'T SAY
APPROVING ALL -- WE ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THOUGHTFULLY
REVIEWING ALL PROPOSED PERMITS
. SOMETIMES THAT INVOLVES
APPROVAL. SOMETIMES THAT
INVOLVES SENDING BACK WITH
ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK. SOMETIMES
THAT INVOLVES REJECTING. BUT WE
SHOULD NEVER BE IN THE BUSINESS
OF RUBBERSTAMPING SOMEONE
ELSE'S WORK BECAUSE WE ARE THE
ONLY ONES THAT ARE DIRECTLY
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PUBLIC
BENEFITS. SO ALTHOUGH
RESPONSIBILITY IS SHARED . SO
AS BETWEEN -- AMY , IF YOU HAVE
ANY COMMENTS ON THIS, WOULD
APPRECIATE HEARING THAT. CAN
YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THE PUBLIC BENEFIT
ANALYSIS AND SPECIFIC CRITERIA
USED THEIR?
>> SURE. THE PUBLIC BENEFIT
ANALYSIS USUALLY LOOKS AT THE
IMPACT OF THE STRUCTURE TO THE
PUBLIC REALM . A PUBLIC BENEFIT
WOULD BE COMMENSURATE TO THAT
INTACT. SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, A
SKYBRIDGE THAT HAS BEEN IN
EXISTENCE -- THE PIKE PLACE
MARKET SKYBRIDGE HAS BEEN THERE
SINCE THE 1980s. IT HAS BEEN
THERE. IT DOESN'T HAVE A HUGE
IMPACT. IT SERVES A PUBLIC
PURPOSE. IT'S PUBLIC BENEFIT
WOULD NOT BE AS HIGH AS, SAY,
SOMETHING THAT IS A BRAND-NEW
STRUCTURE INTRODUCED TO
RIGHT-OF-WAY. SO WE ARE LOOKING
TO LOOK AT OFFSETTING THE
IMPACTS. IF THERE IS AN
EXISTING ONE. A LOWER
EXPECTATION BECAUSE THEY ARE
WORKING ON A BUILT ENVIRONMENT
IN THE HOSPITAL IS ANOTHER
EXAMPLE OF THAT. FOR A
BRAND-NEW SKYBRIDGE, THEY HAVE
A HIGHER THRESHOLD BECAUSE IT
IS SOMETHING INTRODUCED TO THE
URBAN REALM THAT HAS NOT BEEN
THERE BEFORE. AND PUBLIC
BENEFITS ALSO NEED TO EXCEED
ANY CODE REQUIREMENTS SO IF
THERE IS -- I'M NOT AN EXPERT
ON CODE, BUT IF THERE IS A CODE
REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN
MITIGATION, THESE PUBLIC
BENEFITS TIE INTO THE
SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE HAVE TO
EXCEED THAT. EXAMPLE WE HAVE
SEEN ON NEW STRUCTURES ARE WIDE
AND SIDEWALKS. ADDING TO THE
URBAN FORESTRY ENVIRONMENT.
STREET FURNITURE LIKE BENCHES
AND NEW LIGHTING FOR
PEDESTRIANS TO MAKE A MORE
WELCOMING PEDESTRIAN
ENVIRONMENT. THEY MAKE THE
PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENT
WELCOMING BECAUSE SKYBRIDGES
TAKE PEDESTRIANS OFF THE
STREET. WE WANT PEOPLE THAT ARE
STILL USING THE STREET TO HAVE
ENHANCED IN THE BEST POSSIBLE
PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE THEY CAN
POSSIBLY HAVE. OTHER EXAMPLES
INCLUDE PUBLIC ART. NEEDS TO BE
CONSIDERED FOR ALL PUBLIC
BENEFIT. IT NEEDS TO BE PUBLIC
IN NATURE. IT NEEDS TO SERVE
EVERYBODY, NOT JUST THE USERS
OF ADJACENT BUILDING. IT NEEDS
TO BE OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE
BECAUSE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY IS
OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE TO
EVERYBODY. SO ANY PUBLIC
BENEFIT THAT IS REQUIRED FOR
PERMIT NEEDS TO BE EQUALLY
ACCESSIBLE. AND THEY NEED TO
SERVE THE BROADEST LEVEL OF
COMMUNITIES.
>> I JUST WANTED TO CALL OUT
THE WORK OF THE PUBLIC BENEFIT
ANALYSIS . ANY PROJECT THAT
REQUIRES PUBLIC BENEFIT
MITIGATION GOES TO THE SEATTLE
DESIGN COMMISSION AND THAT BODY
OF ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS AND
ENGINEERS LOOKS VERY CLOSELY AT
THE PUBLIC BENEFIT PROPOSAL TO
MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES PROVIDE
A BENEFIT TO THE PUBLIC. THEY
LOOK AT LONGEVITY . THERE IS
DISCUSSION OF A MURAL ON A
STREET LOCATION THIS YEAR. AND
THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW THE PAINT
WOULD HOLD UP OVER TIME . AND
THE LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT
COUNCIL CANNOT GET INTO. SO
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT
GOES ALONG WITH THE PROPOSAL
BEFORE IT COMES TO YOU.
>> THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE
TO MENTION ABOUT PUBLIC AND IF
IT IS IT IS REQUIRED FOR THE
LIFE OF THE PERMIT. AS LONG AS
THE STRUCTURE IS IN THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY, THAT PUBLIC
BENEFIT HAS TO BE MAINTAINED BY
THE PERMIT HOLDER AT NO COST TO
THE CITY. IF THERE'S ANY
MAINTENANCE REPAIRS THAT ARE
REQUIRED OF IT, THAT COST IS ON
THE PERMIT HOLDER. AND IT IS
FOR THE LIFE OF THE PERMIT. AND
WE WOULD PREFER TANGIBLE
BENEFITS. RATHER THAN SOMETHING
INTANGIBLE LIKE A FINANCIAL
CONTRIBUTION . BUT THOSE ARE
THE ONLY LAST TWO COMMENTS I
WANT TO MAKE ABOUT PUBLIC
BENEFITS. IMPORTANT TO NOTE IT
IS NOT A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE
MAINTAINED.
>> THAT IS VERY HELPFUL. THANK
YOU, AMY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COMMENTS THERE. PUBLIC BENEFIT
ANALYSIS IS VERY IMPORTANT PART
AND COMPONENT OF THE WORK AS IT
PERTAINS TO PERMITS AND
VACATION REQUESTS AS WELL.
BOZOS. AND SO YEAH.
RESPONSIBILITY IS SHARED AS WE
TALKED ABOUT. THERE'S A FEW
FOLKS DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE .
THE ELECTED OFFICIALS , US, AND
THE MAYOR. SO OKAY. GREAT. THIS
IS A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION.
ONE FINAL QUESTION, ACTUALLY.
THIS IS FOR LISH. WHEN IS A
GOOD NATURAL OPPORTUNITY OR
MAYBE THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY FOR
COUNCIL TO WEIGH IN AND PROVIDE
DIRECTIONAL FEEDBACK ON THESE
TYPES OF PROPOSALS WHEN THEY
COME IN?
>> YEAH. SO, YOU SEE THE
PROPOSALS WHEN THEY ARE FAIRLY
WELL BAKED IN TERMS OF TERM
PERMITS. THEY ARE AT 60%
DESIGN, WHICH MEANS A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DESIGN
WORK HAS HAPPENED. YOU GET A
RESOLUTION . THE FIRST TWO
ITEMS -- THE NEXT TWO ITEMS ON
YOUR AGENDA TODAY. THAT IS YOUR
OPPORTUNITY . IS THIS AN
APPROPRIATE USE OF PUBLIC SPACE
? ARE THE PUBLIC BENEFITS
APPROPRIATE , ET CETERA .
>> AND WE WOULD BRING FOR A
SKYBRIDGE -- PUBLIC BENEFIT. WE
WOULD BRING THAT PROCESS --
EVALUATION AND DESIGN
COMMISSION WOULD BE AT
RESOLUTION STAGE. SO YOU WILL
HAVE SEEN A VETTED PUBLIC
BENEFIT ANALYSIS .
>> THANK YOU. THAT IS VERY
HELPFUL. I AM HEARING THE
OPPORTUNITY, COLLEAGUES. I AM
CALLING SOME LEARNINGS FROM
WHAT I JUST HEARD. THE
OPPORTUNITY, COLLEAGUES, TO
MEANINGFULLY CONTRIBUTE TO USSIK
-- DIRECTIONAL FEEDBACK, IF WE
HAVE ANY -- IS EARLY AT THE
FRONT END OF THIS AT THE
RESOLUTION STAGE. IT IS
PROBABLY A BIT TOO LATE. NEVER
SAY NEVER . BUT PROBABLY A BIT
TOO LATE. PROBABLY TOO BAKED AT
THAT POINT TO PROVIDE
MEANINGFUL DIRECTIONAL FEEDBACK
AT THE TAIL END OF THIS PROCESS
AT THE ORDINANCE STAGE. SO
TODAY, IT IS A GOOD TIME TO DO
THAT. DON'T WORRY. WE ARE NOT
VOTING ON ANYTHING TODAY. SO
WHEN THIS COMES UP AT THE NEXT
THING AT THE NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING, IF YOU HAVE ANY TODAY
OR LATER AT OUR NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING WHEN WE IDEALLY VOTE
THIS OUT, THEN THAT WOULD BE A
GOOD OPPORTUNITY IF YOU HAVE
ANY. SO I DO NOTE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, YOU HAVE A
QUESTION.
>> COMPLETE IS A QUICK ONE.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'M
WONDERING IF I CAN JUST GET A
QUICK ORIENTATION TO TIMELINES
FOR APPROVAL OF EACH OF THESE.
I KNOW WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT
LENGTHY PERMIT TIMES ACROSS
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
WONDERING IF YOU CAN QUICKLY
WALK THROUGH APPROXIMATELY THE
TIMELINES FOR APPROVAL OF EACH
OF THESE AND WHAT KIND OF
BARRIERS YOU MAY FACE AS A
DEPARTMENT THAT MAY DELAY THE
ISSUING OF THESE PERMITS.
>> SO THE TIMELINE FOR TIME
PERMITS TAKES LONGER THAN FOR A
SIDEWALK CAFE. PUTTING IT OUT
FRONT. IT IS A LENGTHY PROCESS.
IT CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM 12 TO
24 MONTHS. IT REALLY DEPENDS ON
THE TYPE OF STRUCTURE . A
UTILITY CONNECTION IN AN ALLEY
WHERE BOTH ARE OWNED BY THE
SAME PARTY . AND IT IS JUST A
TECHNICAL REVIEW OF
FEASIBILITY. DOES THE
INFRASTRUCTURE FIT IN THE
STREET? TYPICALLY REQUIRES LESS
TIME BECAUSE THERE IS LESS
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT . AND
BARRIERS WE WOULD RUN INTO
THEIR IS JUST THAT GETTING
PLANS TO THE POINT WHERE THEY
ARE AT 60% DESIGN SO THAT YOU
KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO THE
STRUCTURES TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE
TO BE THERE. SKYBRIDGES AND
LARGER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS OR
THINGS THAT HAVE A GREATER
IMPACT . A CURRENT ONE THAT
EARLY TALKS WITH FOLKS WHO WANT
TO DO A BOARDWALK. THAT IS A
VERY PUBLIC THING. THERE'S
GOING TO BE A LOT OF COMMUNITY
INTEREST IN IT. IT MIGHT BE
CLOSE TO A LIGHT RAIL STATION,
SO THAT WOULD TAKE A LOT LONGER
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT MORE
STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED. AND
THERE IS A GREATER LEVEL OF
VIEW. THERE IS THE FACT THAT IF
IT IS NEAR A LIGHT RAIL
STATION, TRANSIT IS GOING TO BE
INVOLVED. THERE IS PLANNING. SO
THOSE TYPICALLY TAKE A LOT
LONGER. WE HAVE BEEN REALLY
SUCCESSFUL MEETING WITH THE
SEATTLE DESIGN COMMISSION. THEY
ARE VERY RESPONSIVE TO OUR
PROJECTS AND MAKING SURE THEY
GET ON THE CALENDAR AND GET
REVIEWED. SO THEY ARE NOT AN
OBSTACLE. LIKE LISH MENTIONED,
THEY ARE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS
ON THINGS LIKE URBAN DESIGN AND
WHAT MAKES THEM PRETTY AND
INVITING. I'M NOT AN URBAN
DESIGNER, SO I TRUST THEIR
JUDGMENT. IT IS JUST A
SCHEDULING THING. IT IS JUST
ONE MORE STEP. SO THAT IS WHAT
ADDS TIME INTO IT. AND THEN
WHEN YOU GO INTO BUDGET , I
CAN'T BRING ANY LEGISLATION TO
YOU. I DO A LOT OF BACK WORK .
DOING A LOT OF REVIEW WHEN
YOU'RE IN BUDGET AND WORKING
ON MORE IMPORTANT THINGS . I
ALWAYS TRY TO PRIORITIZE. AND I
DO PRIORITIZE NEW PROJECTS OVER
EXISTING ONES BECAUSE EVEN
ORDINANCE EXPIRES, THE PERMIT
HOLDER CAN CONTINUE TO USE IT
SO LONG AS THEY MAINTAIN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE ORIGINAL
ORDINANCE. SO I ALWAYS
PRIORITIZE PROJECTS. USUALLY
WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT
SCHEDULE. THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT
MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE WORK WITH
I'M VERY UP FRONT WITH. THIS
IS GOING TO BE A COMPLEX
REVIEW. WHEN YOU HAVE 10 PEOPLE
FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS IN A
ROOM, IT REQUIRES A LOT MORE
COORDINATION.
>> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES MY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> EXCELLENT QUESTION. THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. HERE
ARE NO
COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, WE
WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR SECOND
ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM TWO INTO
THE RECORD?
>> RESOLUTION 32158. A
RESOLUTION GRANTING CONCEPTUAL
APPROVAL TO INSTALL, MAINTAIN,
AND OPERATE A BELOW-GRADE
PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL UNDER AND
ACROSS BOREN AVENUE NORTH ,
NORTH OF DENNY WAY , AS
PROPOSED BY ONNI BOREN AVE
SEATTLE LLC AS PART OF THE
CONSTRUCTION OF 121 BOREN
AVENUE NORTH IN THE SOUTH LAKE
UNION NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
PRESENTERS, WHEN YOU ARE READY
, PLEASE BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THIS NEW
PROJECT BEFORE YOU. LIKE I
SAID, THE DO PROJECTS OUR
PRIORITIES AND THE DEVELOPER ON
THIS ONE IS ANXIOUS TO GET YOUR
FEEDBACK ON IT. SO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS AGENDA.
THESE TWO -- THERE ARE TWO
SEPARATE PIECES OF LEGISLATION
FOR THE DIFFERENT STRUCTURES.
PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL AND UTILITY
TUNNEL. I'M GOING TO DO ONE
PRESENTATION SINCE IT IS THE
SAME PROJECT. TO BE EFFICIENT
WITH YOUR TIME. SO ONNI BOREN
LLC IS PROPOSING A UTILITY
TUNNEL UNDER BOREN AVENUE NORTH
NORTH OF DENNY WAY. THE
PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL WOULD CONNECT
THE BUILDINGS LOCATED AT 1120
DENNY WAY AT 121 BOREN AVENUE
NORTH. IT WOULD CONNECT THE
RESIDENTIAL HOTEL OFFICE AND
RETAIL FOR LOGISTICAL USES BACK
OF THE HOUSE OPERATIONS AND
TAKING VEHICULAR TRIPS OFF THE
STREET FOR A MORE ACTIVE
PEDESTRIAN STREET ENVIRONMENT.
UTILITY TUNNEL WOULD ALLOW A
THERMAL HEAT EXCHANGE SYSTEM
FOR WASTE HEAT TO BE CAPTURED
AND SHARED BETWEEN THE
BUILDINGS, REDUCING ENERGY
DEMAND . CITY COUNCIL PASSED
ORDINANCE 126135 IN 2020 THAT
APPROVED A BELOW GRADE -- I'M
SORRY. THAT APPROVED A BELOW
GRADE THERMAL EXCHANGE FOR
BUILDINGS LOCATED UNDER JOHN
STREET AND BETWEEN THE DENNY
WAY PROJECT. THIS PROPOSAL
BEFORE YOU TODAY WOULD COMPLETE
THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN ALL
THREE BUILDINGS. SDOT IS
RECOMMENDING CONCEPTUAL
APPROVAL . AS NOTED IN THE
PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, TERM
PERMITS REQUIRED TWO STEPS. WE
ARE HERE AT THE FIRST STEP AT
CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL. AND IF YOU
ADOPT AND CONCEPTUALLY APPROVE
THESE PROJECTS , WE WOULD BRING
TO YOU AN ORDINANCE AT 100%
DESIGN AND WOULD SET THE TERMS
OF THE PERMIT , THE ANNUAL
FEES, MAINTENANCE AND
INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS, AND
PROTECTS THE CITY WITH
INSURANCE AND INDEMNITY
REQUIREMENTS. NEXT SLIDE.
BETWEEN BUILDINGS FOR THE
THERMAL HEAT EXCHANGE. AS
NOTED, THE COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY
PASSED AN ORDINANCE THAT
CONNECTED THE 1120 JOHN STREET
AT 1120 DENNY WAY. IT IS
ANTICIPATED THAT ONCE THE THREE
CONNECTIONS ARE COMPLETED
CARBON EMISSIONS WOULD BE
REDUCED BY 160 METRIC TONS
HAVING A SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE
IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. NEXT
SLIDE. SO THIS VIEW SHOWS THE
THREE BUILDINGS IN RELATION TO
EACH OTHER AND THE EXISTING AND
PROPOSED TUNNELS. THE BUILDING
ON THE LOWER LEFT IS
CONSTRUCTED AND IS CURRENTLY
OPERATIONAL. THE 1120 JOHN
STREET BUILDING JUST NORTH OF
THAT BUILDING STARTED
CONSTRUCTION IN 2022 AND IS
CURRENTLY PAUSED . THE
DEVELOPER IS ANTICIPATING
CONSTRUCTION RESUMING IN THE
FIRST QUARTER OF 2025 AND IT
WILL BE RESIDENTIAL IN OFFICE
USES. THE 121 BOREN AVENUE
NORTH ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE
IMAGE WILL BE RESIDENTIAL.
CONSTRUCTION IS PENDING AND
ANTICIPATED TO START IN THE
FIRST QUARTER OF 2025 AS WELL.
IN TOTAL, WHEN ALL THREE
BUILDINGS ARE COMPLETED AND
OCCUPIED, THERE WILL BE 2500
RESIDENTIAL UNITS AND 750,000
SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE
COMMERCIAL SPACE. THIS IMAGE
JUST SHOWS THE LOCATION IN
RELATION TO THE SOUTH LAKE
UNION NEIGHBORHOOD AND IS EAST
OF DENNY PARK AND WEST OF 95.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AS STATED
EARLIER, SDOT IS RECOMMENDING
COUNCIL CONCEPTUALLY APPROVE
PROPOSED TUNNELS. IF
RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED, WE
WILL PREPARE TWO-TERM PERMIT
ORDINANCES FOR COUNCIL TO
CONSIDER LADY IN THANK
YO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> AWESOME. GREAT PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
CADDELL, YOUR DISTRICT.
DISTRICT SEVEN. THANK YOU FOR
INCLUDING THAT. THAT DATA POINT
IN THIS PRESENTATION. DO ANY OF
MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS? NO? ALL RIGHT.
WELL, HEARING NONE, THANK YOU
FOR THAT. AGAIN, INTENTIONALLY
WE ARE NOT VOTING. THIS IS NOT
A NEW PERMIT ANYWAY. I DON'T
THINK WE DO THAT AS A STANDARD
PRACTICE ANYWAY. BUT WE ARE NOT
VOTING ON ANYTHING TODAY. WE
WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR THIRD
ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM THREE
INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM THREE.
RESOLUTION 32159. A RESOLUTION
GRANTING CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL TO
INSTALL, MAINTAIN, AND OPERATE
A BELOW GRADE PRIVATE THERMAL
ENERGY EXCHANGE SYSTEM UNDER
AND ACROSS BOREN AVENUE NORTH
NORTH OF DENNY WAY AS PROPOSED
BY TRANCES ONNI BOREN AVE
SEATTLE LLC IN THE SOUTH LAKE
UNION NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> AWESOME. PRESENTERS, WHEN
YOU ARE READY, GO AHEAD.
>> AND YOU JUST HEARD ABOUT
THIS SECOND RESOLUTION AS WELL.
>> I INCLUDED THE PEDESTRIAN
TUNNEL AND THE UTILITY TUNNEL
IN THE PRESENTATION SINCE THEY
ARE PART OF THE LARGER PROJECT
EVEN THOUGH THERE WILL BE TWO
SEPARATE PIECES OF LEGISLATION
FOR YOU TO CONSIDER.
>> GREAT. DO ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THAT? ALL RIGHT. MOVING
ON. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR
FOURTH ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM FOUR
INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM FOUR. COUNCIL
BILL 120846 . AN ORDINANCE
GRANTING TRITON WEST LLC
PERMISSION TO MAINTAIN AND
OPERATE A PIPELINE SYSTEM IN,
UNDER, ALONG, AND ACROSS 13th
AVENUE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA STREET FOR A 20-YEAR
TERM. REPEALING SECTION 8 OF
ORDINANCE 123990 , SPECIFYING
THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THIS
PERMIT IS GRANTED , AND
PROVIDING FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF
THE PERMIT AND CONDITIONS.
>> ALL RIGHT. PRESENTERS, GO
AHEAD. THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> JOSH LAKOMIAK. I'M THE
MANAGER FOR SHELL PIPELINE.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> WELCOME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT A
PROJECT IN YOUR DISTRICT,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. THE
PIPELINE RUNS UNDER AND ALONG
13th AVENUE SOUTHWEST AND
SOUTHWEST STREET ON HARBOR
ISLAND. THE SYSTEM TRANSMITS
PRODUCTS BETWEEN THE ORDERED
STORAGE PLANTS. ULTIMATELY
THESE ARE TRANSPORTED OFF
HARBOR ISLAND THROUGHOUT THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST. AND THIS
PIPELINE SYSTEM WAS ORIGINALLY
PERMITTED IN 1947 AND HAS
SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN RENEWED BY
COUNCIL TO THE PRESENT DAY.
SDOT IS RECOMMENDING COUNCIL
RENEW THE PERMIT. NEXT SLIDE.
IF THE PERMIT IS RENEWED, THIS
TERM WOULD BE FOR 20 YEARS .
FOR PIPELINES AND PROJECTS THAT
HAVE THIS NATURE OF
INFRASTRUCTURE, WE GENERALLY
RECOMMEND A LONGER-TERM. THE
ORDINANCE WILL SET THE TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF THE PERMIT .
ADDITIONAL INSURANCE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL INDEMNITY
REQUIREMENTS TO PROTECT THE
CITY DUE TO THE SPECIAL NATURE
OF THIS TYPENEXT
SLIDE. SHOWS THE GENERAL
LOCATION OF THE PIPELINE
SYSTEM. THE FACILITY AT THE TOP
OF THE IMAGE AND RUNS TO THE
STORAGE FACILITIES HIGHLIGHTED
IN THE GREEN AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE IMAGE. NEXT SLIDE. THIS
IMAGE SHOWS THE GENERAL
LOCATION OF THE PIPELINE SYSTEM
AT HARBOR ISLAND. NEXT SLIDE.
SDOT IS RECOMMENDING COUNCIL
APPROVE THIS RENEWAL. TRITON
WEST LLC HAS MET AND CONTINUES
TO MEET ALL THE OBLIGATIONS OF
THE EXISTING PERMIT. IF THE
ORDINANCE IS APPROVED, THE
PERMIT WOULD BE IN EFFECT UNTIL
2045. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. ANY OF
MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS ? HEARING NONE,
SEEING NONE, I HAVE A QUESTION.
I NOTE THAT THIS -- GOOD TO
KNOW THAT THIS PERMIT OR THIS
PIPELINE AND ASSOCIATED PERMIT
HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 1947.
MIGHTY LONG TIME. DOING THE
FINE WORK OF LOGISTICS AND
ENABLEMENT TO KEEP OUR ECONOMY
HUMMING. YOU MENTIONED THAT
THIS IS A PIPELINE SYSTEM THAT
TRANSMITS PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
BETWEEN THE OIL STORAGE PLANT
AND DOCK SITE ON HARBOR ISLAND.
SO WHAT IS THE IN THE USE OF
THESE PETROLEUM PRODUCTS? IS IT
INTENDED FOR EXPORT PURPOSES ?
ARE WE SHIPPING THESE PETROLEUM
PRODUCTS TO OTHER LOCATIONS
ACROSS THE U.S. OR GLOBALLY?
WHERE ARE THEY ULTIMATELY
CONSUMED AND USED?
>> OUR FACILITY BRINGS IN
PRODUCT FROM LOCAL REFINERIES.
THIS WOULD BE LOCALLY USED FOR
COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL.
>> GOT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU.
SOUNDS GREAT. AND JUST WANT TO
CONFIRM NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, ALL. LET
US NOW MOVE ON TO OUR FOURTH
ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM FOUR
INTO THE RECORD? EXCUSE ME.
ITEM FOUR?
>> FIVE.
>> FIVE. FIVE. GO AHEAD.
>> AGENDA ITEM FIVE. COUNCIL
BILL 120924. AN ORDINANCE
GRANTING PIKE PLACE MARKET
PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY PERMISSION TO
CONTINUE MAINTAINING AND
OPERATING A PEDESTRIAN
SKYBRIDGE OVER AND ACROSS
WESTERN AVENUE APPROXIMATELY
300 FEET NORTH OF PIKE STREET ,
REPEALING SECTION 7 OF
ORDINANCE 114388 , AND
PROVIDING FOR ACCEPTANCE OF THE
PERMIT AND CONDITIONS.
>> AWESOME. AND I NOTE THAT WE
HAVE SOME NEW PRESENTERS WHO
HAVE JOINED US AT THE TABLE.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.
EVERYONE, WHEN YOU'RE READY TO
GO, GO AHEAD AND START
PRESENTING.
>> I AM THE EXECUTIVE PROJECT
MANAGER AT PIKE PLACE MARKET.
>> I AM GRADY MORRISON.
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT PIKE
PLACE.
>> WELL, I AM HAPPY TO BRING
THIS REQUEST TO RE-PERMIT THE
SKYBRIDGE ON BEHALF OF THE PIKE
PLACE MARKET PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY TODAY IN
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S
DISTRICT. NEXT SLIDE. PIKE
PLACE MARKET CURRENTLY OPERATES
AND MAINTAINS AN EXISTING
SKYBRIDGE OVER WESTERN AVENUE.
THE SKYBRIDGE CONNECTS THE PIKE
PLACE MARKET WITH THE
WATERFRONT BY PROVIDING AN
ACCESSIBLE ROUTE THROUGH THE
PARKING GARAGE ON WESTERN
AVENUE. IT IS HEAVILY USED BY
THE PUBLIC . RESIDENTS,
TOURISTS, VISITORS ,
BUSINESSPEOPLE, SHOP OWNERS.
COUNCIL ORIGINALLY APPROVED THE
SKYBRIDGE IN 1989. IT IS AT THE
END OF ITS 30-YEAR TERM AS
ORIGINALLY GRANTED. SDOT IS
RECOMMENDING APPROVAL TO
RE-PERMIT THE SKYBRIDGE. NEXT
SLIDE. IF COUNCIL APPROVES THE
PERMIT, IT WOULD BE FOR 15
YEARS WITH ONE RENEWABLE
15-YEAR TERM. THE TERM PERMIT
ORDINANCE WOULD DETAIL ALL THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE PERMIT
INCLUDING FEES, MAINTENANCE
REQUIREMENTS, INSPECTION
REPORTS, INSURANCE, AND
INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS.
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE
REQUIRES PUBLIC BENEFITS WHEN
SKYBRIDGE HAS REACHED THE END
OF THE 30-YEAR TERM. THE
SKYBRIDGE REVIEW COMMITTEE AND
SEATTLE DESIGN COMMISSION
REVIEW THE PUBLIC BENEFIT
PROPOSAL FROM THE MARKET AND
FOUND THAT THEY PROVIDED SICK
PATIENT -- SUFFICIENT
MITIGATION. THOSE PUBLIC
BENEFITS ARE AN ELEVATOR
UPGRADE THAT REPLACES THE
SYSTEM ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN
THE 1980s THAT IS FASTER AND
CAN ACCOMMODATE MORE
PASSENGERS. REPLACING THE FIRE
ESCAPE STAIRS TO MAKE THEM
WHITER AND A.D.A. COMPLIANT.
AND THE INSTALLATION OF FOUR
BIKE RACKS AT ALASKAN WAY. THIS
IMAGE SHOWS THE SKYBRIDGE IN
RELATION TO THE MARKET AND
PARKING GARAGE ON WESTERN
AVENUE. INSIDE THE GARAGE THERE
IS WAYFINDING THAT SHOWS USERS
HOW TO USE THE SKYBRIDGE TO GO
TO AND FROM THE MARKET. YOU CAN
GO THROUGH THERE. THERE IS
PAINTING ON THE GROUND. THERE
IS PAINTING ON THE SIDES OF THE
WALLS TO THE MARKET OR TO THE
WATERFRONT. THE SKYBRIDGE ALSO
ACCOMMODATES LARGE PIPES THAT
CIRCULATE WATER TO THE MARKET
FROM A CENTRAL COOLING PLANT IN
THE GARAGE. NEXT SLIDE. THIS
AERIAL IMAGE SHOWS THE
SKYBRIDGE LOCATION IN A LARGER
CONTEXT OF THE SURROUNDING
NEIGHBORHOOD. SDOT IS
RECOMMENDING COUNCIL APPROVE
THE REPAIRMAN AGAINST THE
PEDESTRIAN SKYBRIDGE. IT
PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT
CONNECTION BETWEEN THE MARKET
AND THE WATERFRONT. PURSUANT TO
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE 1564
POINT 08 SIX , AND THE CRITERIA
LISTED THERE, WE BELIEVE THERE
IS NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OF THE
SKYBRIDGE RE-PERMITTING, AND IT
SERVES THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST.
IF THE ORDINANCE IS APPROVED,
THE FIRST TERM WILL BE IN PLACE
UNTIL 2040. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE .
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. DO ANY
OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE , THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA. I
WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THE PDA
HERE TODAY. REALLY APPRECIATE
IT. I JUST WANTED TO NOTE
OBVIOUSLY WE ARE IN DISCUSSIONS
WITH PDA AND SDOT RELATED TO
PIKE PLACE . AS CHAIR KNOWS
EARLIER THIS YEAR WE HAD A
CHANGE IN THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN RELATED TO
PIKE PLACE . GOING TO BRING THE
THREE ENTITIES TOGETHER ALONG
WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT
STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE INVOLVED.
THAT IS GOING TO START SOON ,
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE A NEW PDA
CHIEF ON BOARD. WE HAVE AN SDOT
CHIEFS THAT IS LEAVING. THAT IS
GOING TO COMPLICATE THINGS A
LITTLE BIT, BUT WE WILL STILL
PRESS AHEAD IN THE BEGINNING OF
THE NEW YEAR. STARTING THE
PROCESS. TO HAVE IT BASICALLY
WORKED BY THE TIME SUMMER
COMES. I JUST WANTED TO SAY
THAT AS UPDATE GENERALLY
RELATED TO PIKE PLACE. BUT ALSO
SAY THAT PART OF LOOKING AT
PIKE PLACE MEANS LOOKING AT
HOLISTICALLY THE ENTIRE AREA
AND TO INCLUDE WESTERN AND
ALASKAN WAY . AND THIS
SKYBRIDGE CANNOT BE SEPARATED
FROM THAT DISCUSSION. THE
SKYBRIDGE IS VERY IMPORTANT IN
TERMS OF OVERALL MOVEMENT OF
PEOPLE. SO RENEWING IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO THE OVERALL
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE IN
TERMS OF PEDESTRIANS GOING FROM
A TO B OR X TO Z. FROM NORTH
SOUTH, EAST, WEST, AND ALL OF
THE ABOVE. SO DEFINITELY
RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS
SKYBRIDGE . BASICALLY
EVERYTHING AS IT RELATES TO THE
CONNECTIVITY OF PIKE PLACE TO
ITS SURROUNDING AREA. THANK
YOU, CHIEF. I MEAN, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ? HEARING
AND SEEING NONE, THANK YOU,
ALL. GREAT PRESENTATIONS. WE
WILL TAKE THESE UP AGAIN NEXT
MONTH.
>> THANK YOU H.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW MOVE
ON TO OUR SIXTH ITEM OF
BUSINESS . WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM SIX INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM SIX. SDOT
PRESENTATION ON WINTER WEATHER
PREPAREDNESS.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. WILL OUR
PRESENTERS PLEASE JOIN US AT
THE TABLE? SHARE YOUR
PRESENTATION. WHEN READY,
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND
BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
RODNEY MAXIE . I AM SDOT DEPUTY
DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AND
RIGHT-OF-WAY. I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR GIVING US THIS
OPPORTUNITY AND CHAIR SAKA FOR
INVITING US TO GIVE A
PRESENTATION ON OUR WINTER
WEATHER AND EMERGENCY PLANS. I
ALSO WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL
AND CHAIR SAKA FOR YOUR
INTRODUCTION, YOUR STATEMENTS
PRAISING THE MANY HARD-WORKING
PEOPLE AT SDOT FOR FINISHING
STRONG ON THE PREVIOUS LEVY .
THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT . THE
COUNCIL AND THE CHAIR SAKA GAVE
US TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SERVE THE PUBLIC AGAIN .
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WILL
INTRODUCE MY DIVISION DIRECTOR
OF RIGHT-OF-WAY MAINTENANCE IN
URBAN FORESTRY. AND HE WILL
GIVE YOU OUR PRESENTATION ON
WINTER WEATHER AND RESPONSE.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. MY
NAME IS DARREN MORGAN. I AM THE
DIRECTOR OF RIGHT-OF-WAY
MAINTENANCE IN THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
GOT A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION
TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS MORNING
, PARTICULARLY AROUND WINTER
WEATHER AND RESPONSE OPERATIONS
WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SNOW AND
ICE. BEFORE WE DIVE TOO FAR
INTO THE DETAILS, I THINK IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GROUND
OURSELVES IN ESSENTIAL
FUNCTIONS WHEN WE ARE FACED
WITH CHALLENGING FORECASTS .
AMONG THESE INCLUDE MAINTAINING
KEY ARTERIAL AND WATERWAY
OPERATIONS. A LOT OF MOVABLE
BRIDGES THAT CAN ALSO BE ASKED
TO -- ENACTED. WE HAVE TO FOCUS
ON MITIGATING HAZARDS IN THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY . PARTICULARLY IN
WINTER WEATHER. THOSE SHOW UP
IN ALL DIFFERENT SHAPES AND
SIZES. DISSEMINATE CRITICAL
TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION .
AND JUST AS WE HAVE BEEN
HEARING FOR THE LAST HOUR,
ISSUING PERMITS AUTHORIZING THE
USE OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. ALL OF
THESE KEY THINGS NEED TO
CONTINUE HAPPENING REGARDLESS
OF THE WEATHER AND IMPACTS TO
THE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK.
DIVING INTO SOME OF THE DETAILS
ON HOW WE DO THAT , WE LAYOUT
SPECIFIED SERVICE FOLLOWING
WINTER WEATHER EVENTS,
PARTICULARLY AROUND SNOW AND
ICE. WE WILL GET INTO MORE
DETAIL ON THAT IN A LITTLE BIT.
WE FOCUS ON DISTRIBUTING TIMELY
INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. NOT
JUST DURING THE EVENT BUT
CERTAINLY BEFORE WINTER WEATHER
POSES A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO
THE REGION. WE PRIORITIZE KEY
ARTERIAL STREETS TO PROVIDE
ACCESS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS,
TRANSIT , FREIGHT, AS WELL AS
GENERAL TRAVEL. REALLY
IMPORTANT POINT . OUR SNOW AND
ICE NETWORK IS FOUNDED UPON AN
ARTERIAL NETWORK IN CLOSE
COLLABORATION WITH FIRST
RESPONDERS AND SEATTLE FIRE AND
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, KING
COUNTY METRO, AND OUR PARTNERS.
WE WORK HARD TO STAY IN CLOSE
CONTACT AND COORDINATE WITH THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THEY SERVE SIGNIFICANT FUNCTION
BEYOND EDUCATION, PARTICULARLY
DURING WINTER WEATHER IN TERMS
OF SHELTER AND COMMUNITY
RESOURCE. REMOVING SNOW FROM
CURB RAMPS AND BRIDGE
OVERPASSES TO SUPPORT EQUITABLE
ACCESS AND MOBILITY. [
INAUDIBLE ] DRIVING. CLEARING
BIKE FACILITIES DURING
LONG-DURATION EVENTS . LAST BUT
NOT LEAST, WANT TO POINT OUT
THAT WE EMPHASIZE OUR PUBLIC
MESSAGING AROUND THE FACT THAT
SIDEWALKS AND DRIVEWAYS ARE THE
PROPERTY OWNER'S
RESPONSIBILITY. BEFORE WE DIVE
TOO MUCH FURTHER INTO SNOW AND
ICE RESPONSE OPERATIONS
SPECIFICALLY, I WANTED TAKE A
MINUTE AND SHARE SOME
INFORMATION AROUND OTHER WINTER
WEATHER EVENTS AND FORECASTS
THAT REQUIRE SDOT TO LEAN IN
AND PLAN AHEAD. IN FACT, TODAY
IS DECEMBER 17th. RIGHT NOW WE
ARE IN THE KICKOFF OF WHAT WE
CALL AN ATMOSPHERIC RIVER. THAT
CAN BRING SIGNIFICANT RAIN AS
WELL AS WIND AS THE SYSTEMS
MOVE THROUGH OUR AREA. AND
THESE ARE IMPACTS THAT WE PLAN
FOR AND COORDINATE WITH OUR
OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE COORDINATED
AND READY TO RESPOND TO THE
IMPACTS. THERE ARE ALSO MANY
NIGHTS AND DAYS WHERE WE ARE
ACTUALLY TAKING SNOW AND ICE
RESPONSE ACTIONS WITHOUT A
REGIONWIDE SIGNIFICANT EVENT .
FREQUENTLY WE ARE DEPLOYING
DEICING ACTIVITIES OVERNIGHT
BECAUSE SOMETIMES WINTER
WEATHER SHOWS UP JUST FOR A FEW
HOURS. FREEZING TEMPERATURES
MAY NOT LAST LONG, BUT SHORT
DUFREEZING TEMPERATURES
CAN HAVE SOME IMPACTS. THESE
DESCRIPTIONS HERE FROM THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WOULD
INDICATE A REAL SIGNIFICANT
EVENT THAT WOULD TYPICALLY
REQUIRE US TO MOVE INTO A 24/7
RESPONSE OPERATION. BUT THAT
DOES NOT MEAN WE ARE NOT
DEPLOYING TACTICS THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR. IN TERMS OF OUR SNOW
AND ICE ROUTES, WE PUBLISH THE
SNOWPLOW ROUTES ON OUR PUBLIC
FACING WEBPAGE . THEY INCLUDE
BOTH GOLD AND EMERALD SNOW
ROUTES. I WANT TO MAKE REALLY
CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT A
PRIORITIZATION, PER SE. RATHER,
IT IS A SIMPLIFIED WAY OF
EXPLAINING LEVELS OF SERVICE.
ON OUR GOLD ROUTES , OUR GOAL
IS TO ACHIEVE PAYMENT OF ALL
LANES WITHIN 12 HOURS . ON OUR
EMERALD ROUTES, IT IS BARE
PAVEMENT, ONE LANE IN EACH
DIRECTION. AGAIN, WE ONLY PLOW
ARTERIAL STREETS . WE PLOW SNOW
TO THE CURB . TRANSIT STOPS. WE
ALSO INSPECT AND EDUCATE
SIDEWALK [ INAUDIBLE ] RESPONSE
MODE. ALL TOLD, LANE MILES .
SNOW AND ICE ROUTES . JUST OVER
1200 LANE MILES . I WANTED TO
TAKE A MINUTE AND TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT OUR MOBILITY BRANCH,
WHICH IS AN OPERATION THAT GETS
STOOD UP ON OUR DAY SHIFT.
DISTINCT LEADERSHIP AND CREWS
TO TACKLE THE CRITICAL
PEDESTRIAN ROUTES THAT HAVE NO
ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER OR
MAYBE OWNED BY THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. TYPICALLY RENT
EQUIPMENT TO SUPPORT THIS
OPERATION WHEN WINTER WEATHER
ARRIVES. IT IS VERY
LABOR-INTENSIVE. OPTIMUM INPUT.
IMPACT. EXCUSE ME. THIS
MOBILITY BRANCH IS ALSO PART OF
OUR SIDEWALK ENFORCEMENT ARM .
STREET USE INSPECTORS FROM OUR
DEPARTMENT WILL BE MOVING
THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO
COMMUNICATE WITH BUSINESS
OWNERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS IN
REAL TIME ABOUT THE NEED TO
KEEP PEDESTRIAN SURFACES CLEAR
AND SAFE . IN TERMS OF OUR
RESOURCES, WE HAVE A VARIETY OF
SMALL AND LARGE PLOWS AND
SPREADERS, FRONT END LOADERS,
SWEEPERS, AND MATERIALS. ONE
THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS
THAT ALL OF OUR SNOW AND ICE
EQUIPMENT SERVE MULTIPLE
PURPOSES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR .
I WILL TAKE FOR EXAMPLE A
FLUSHER TRUCK. A LARGE 3000
GALLON TANKER TRUCK. THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR, THAT PIECE OF
EQUIPMENT MAY BE WATERING TREES
, FLASHING SIDEWALKS, ALLEYS,
STREETS , DOING DUST CONTROL ON
DIRT STREETS , OR COOLING
BRIDGES. THAT IS ALL IN
ADDITION TO APPLYING ANTI-ICING
OR DEICING LIQUIDS DURING
WINTER WEATHER. WE STRIVE TO
MAKE MAXIMUM USE OF ALL OF OUR
EQUIPMENT AND MUCH OF THE
EQUIPMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION
MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR REPURPOSED
AT THE RIGHT TIME IN ORDER TO
BE READY FOR WINTER WEATHER. IN
TERMS OF OUR STAFFING , THIS
YEAR ALONE WE HAVE TRAINED OVER
[ INAUDIBLE ] SOMETIMES FOR THE
FIRST TIME. OFTEN THESE DRIVERS
HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS MANY
TIMES. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR
THE PARTNERSHIP FOR SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES. SEATTLE PARKS
AND RECREATION. AS WELL AS
SEATTLE CITYWIDE. KEY PARTNERS
IN OUR PLANNING AND EXECUTION .
IN TERMS OF SDOT CREWS AND
PEOPLE , WHEN WE STAND UP ,
POWERFUL INCIDENT RESPONSE .
OUR RESPONSE OPERATIONS IS
LOCATED AT [ INAUDIBLE ] IN THE
CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT. WE HAVE FOUR
MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS
FACILITIES. ONE AT HOLLY LAKE
OF NORTH. ONE AT CHARLES STREET
. ONE AT 4200 AIRPORT WAY. AND
IN WEST SEATTLE. WHEN WE STAND
UP FOR FOR INCIDENT RESPONSE,
WE ARE GOING TO PUT IT TO TWO
12-HOUR SHIFTS, WHICH ALLOWS US
TO OPERATE 24 HOURS A DAY. IN
TERMS OF MATERIALS , WE HAVE
SALT , GRANULAR ROAD SALT, AND
LIQUID MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE BRINE
PRE-POSITIONED THROUGHOUT THE
CITY. THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE
TO CARE OF THROUGHOUT THE
SUMMER AND FALL . WE AGAIN HAVE
THESE MATERIALS LOCATED WITH
MANY OF OUR STAFF AT CHARLES
STREET. WE ALSO HAVE SOME IN
RIGHT-OF-WAY AT EIGHTH AVENUE
SOUTH . AGAIN, HOLLY LAKE. TWO
OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE
SOUTHWEST PART OF THE CITY .
SECOND AVENUE SOUTHWEST AND
HIGHLAND PARKWAY SOUTHWEST.
9208th AVENUE SOUTHWEST
LOCATION. WE BEGIN TO THINK
ABOUT RESTOCKING AS SOON AS [
INAUDIBLE ] WE HAVE BOTH
GRANULAR AND LIQUID MAGNESIUM
CHLORIDE BRINE TO ALLOW MAXIMUM
FLEXIBILITY GIVEN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES WE ARE FIGHTING.
THE WEATHER IN SEATTLE CAN MAKE
IT VERY CHALLENGING TO DEPLOY
DEICING AND ANTI-ICING MATERIAL
PRECISELY. WE NEED SPECIFIC
TEMPERATURES , HUMIDITY , AND
AIR TEMPERATURES, AND PAVEMENT
PICTURES TO DEPLOY OUR LIQUID
MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE BRINE SAFELY
AND EFFECTIVELY. OVER APPLYING
IT CAN BE JUST AS HAZARDOUS AS
NOT APPLYING IT AT ALL. AND IT
IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IF WE
CAN GET AHEAD OF THE STORM AND
APPLY THE MATERIALS TO THE ROAD
SURFACE BEFORE FREEZING
TEMPERATURES AND BEFORE
FREEZING RAIN AND BEFORE SNOW
FLIES, IT CAN SAVE US A LOT OF
TIME AND MONEY BY PREVENTING
THE SNOW AND ICE FROM BONDING
TO THE ROAD SURFACE. THAT IS
WHY TIMING IS SO CRITICAL AND
WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME PORING
OVER THE FORECAST AND TALKING
WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE . MAKE SURE WE DEPLOY
OUR RESOURCES AT THE RIGHT
TIME. SO AGAIN, I THINK YOU
HAVE ALREADY BEEN ABLE TO TELL
THAT THIS IS YEAR-ROUND WORK
FOR SDOT. WE ARE INVENTORY
MATERIALS LONG BEFORE THE
WINTER SEASON. WE COORDINATE
WITH OUR TRANSIT PARTNERS TO
MAKE SURE OUR SNOW AND ICE
ROUTES CONFORM TO THE ROUTES
THEY INTEND TO USE DURING
WINTER WEATHER. WE DO A LOT OF
TRAINING. SOME WITH
CONSULTANTS. WITH EACH OTHER.
WE ALSO SET ASIDE TIME TO FORM
WHAT WE CALL DRY RUNS WITH OUR
SDOT STAFF AS WELL AS THOSE IN
PARKS AND UTILITY. WE REORIENT
ON EQUIPMENT. MAKE SURE WE ARE
FAMILIAR WITH ANY UPGRADES TO
OUR EQUIPMENT. WE TALK WITH OUR
VENDOR. CONTRACT VENDOR. SNOW
AND ICE SERVICES. MAKE SURE WE
HAVE ALL OF OUR CONTACT
INFORMATION ACCURATE. SERVICES
WHEN NEEDED. WE HOLD AN ANNUAL
INTERAGENCY WINTER WEATHER
CONFERENCE [ INAUDIBLE ]
INSTITUTIONS AND AGENCIES FROM
AROUND THE REGION TO
COLLABORATE ON THINGS THAT ARE
GOING WELL AND THINGS THAT NEED
TO BE IMPROVED AND COORDINATE
OUR MESSAGING TO THE PUBLIC.
WHEN WE GO INTO 24/7 OPERATION,
WE WILL OFTEN ACTIVATE OUR
INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM. THAT
IS WHAT I AM T IS HERE. WE ARE
CONSISTENTLY LOOKING 3 TO 5
DAYS AHEAD OF THE FORECAST AND
WEATHER. WE LOOK AT DIFFERENT
SCENARIOS. WITHIN ONE OR TWO
DAYS PRIOR TO A FORECAST EVENT,
WE BELIEVE IT COULD HAVE
SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO THE
ENTIRE REGION REQUIRING
COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION
THROUGHOUT THE REGION. INCIDENT
MANAGEMENT TEAM TO MAKE SURE
ALL OF OUR STAFF ARE READY
ACROSS ALL PARTS OF THE
ORGANIZATION. [ INAUDIBLE ]
EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES. WHEN
WE ARE ACTIVATED, OBVIOUSLY WE
WILL HAVE DAILY COORDINATION
CALLS WITH THE OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. WE WILL
BE PARTICIPATING IN STAFF
MEETINGS WITH OEM AS WELL AS
WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION . THAT
IS WHEN WE WILL BEGIN HAVING
SCHEDULED CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
TYPICALLY THAT IS DONE AT 2:00
TO 3:00 IN THE MORNING. THEY
HAVE STAFF AND WE HAVE STAFF
DEDICATED TO INSPECTING ROUTES
AROUND SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE
SCHOOLS -- WELL, TO MAKE SURE
SCHOOLS ARE MAKING THE BEST
POSSIBLE DECISION GIVEN THE
CONDITIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION AND
COORDINATION, WE HAVE A FEW
VERY EFFECTIVE WAYS IN WHICH
THE COMMUNITY CAN GET IN TOUCH
WITH US. AND WE CAN SHARE
INFORMATION WITH THEM.
TYPICALLY THE COMMUNICATION
CHANNEL WE RECOMMEND THE PUBLIC
USES TO GET A HOLD OF US. WE
HAVE ALSO INSTITUTED A NEW FIND
IT, FIX IT ELEMENT FOR SNOW AND
ICE CATEGORY, WHICH WENT LIVE
LAST YEAR. INTERNALLY WE USE
CHARLES STREET MAINTENANCE
OPERATIONS CENTER TO COORDINATE
ACROSS DEPARTMENTS . OUR TOC
WILL BE ACTIVATED 24/7 IN THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL TOWER. THEY
DO A FANTASTIC JOB COLLECTING
ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION FROM
TRAFFIC CAMERAS TO SUPPORT
OPERATIONS RESPONSES .
COORDINATES WITH 911 DISPATCH.
HELPS PUSH INFORMATION OUT TO
SOCIAL MEDIA . MIGHT ASSIST US
WITH -- CALLING AUDIBLES FOR
THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE IN
REAL TIME . REALLY SUPPORTS OUR
EFFORT TO PROVIDE INFORMATION
TO THE PUBLIC DURING AN EVENT
USING OUR TRAVEL INFORMATION
MAP AS NEEDED. THE LAST FEW
SLIDES HERE TALK A LOT ABOUT
PUBLIC INFORMATION EFFORTS .
OUR JOB IS TO COMMUNICATE WITH
THE PUBLIC AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE
TO PREPARE FOR A MAJOR
SNOWSTORM TO MAKE SURE THEY
KNOW HOW TO ACCESS INFORMATION
AND RESOURCES AND BE AWARE OF
THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES,
PARTICULARLY KEEPING THEIR
SIDEWALKS AND DRIVEWAYS CLEAR
OF SNOW AND ICE. SO WE SHARE A
CONTINUOUS STRIP OF INFORMATION
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ON OUR
WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS
. WE START IN THE FALL. EARLY
WINTER [ INAUDIBLE ] SUCH AS
GETTING YOUR SNOW SHOVELS , AND
FEATURE THE WORK WE ARE DOING
TO PREPARE FOR WINTER STORMS.
WE ALSO CONNECT WITH
MULTICULTURAL MEDIA OUTLETS TO
SHARE A BUNCH OF WEATHER
INFORMATION AND HAVE TRANSLATED
MUCH OF THIS INFORMATION TO 14
DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. WE ALSO
PROMOTE A VIDEO WE COCREATED
WITH ROOTED IN RIGHTS TO
HIGHLIGHT WHY IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR PEOPLE TO CLEAR THEIR
SIDEWALKS. IT IS NOT JUST THE
LAW. IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO
DO.
COMMUNICAT
TALK ABOUT CLEARING LEAVES FROM
GUTTERS AND MAINTAINING TREES.
MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
WHICH STREETS AND WHY CERTAIN
STREETS ARE PLOWED TO AVOID
DRIVING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
GENERALLY WE DO FIND THAT
PEOPLE ARE PREPARED IN ADVANCE
OF CHALLENGING WEATHER. A LOT
OF BENEFIT . WE'VE GOT A
SERIES OF SOCIAL MEDIA TILES
HERE THAT HIGHLIGHT HOW WE
SHARE THIS INFORMATION.
TOUCHING BACK ON SIDEWALKS
AGAIN . WE ALL HAVE
RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP OUR
SIDEWALKS CLEAR . WE CANNOT BE
EVERYWHERE AT ONCE. WE TALKED
EARLIER ABOUT HOW
LABOR-INTENSIVE THIS WORK IS.
RENT EQUIPMENT. A LOT OF THIS
WORK WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE BY
HAND. WE RELY ON PEOPLE TO TALK
TO NEIGHBORS AND WORK TOGETHER
TO CREATE A PLAN TO SUPPORT
THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. RESIDENTS
AND BUSINESS OWNERS ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING THIS
WORK. WE CANNOT EMPHASIZE THIS
ENOUGH. ALL RIGHT. SO THAT IS A
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF ALL THE WORK
WE DO HERE . WE WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE SURE WE TAKE SOME TIME TO
ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.
>> ABSOLUTELY. FIRST OFF, THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS WONDERFUL
PRESENTATION. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE DEPARTMENT
COMING IN HERE AND KIND OF
SHARING OUT AND BEING
TRANSPARENT ABOUT THIS REALLY
IMPORTANT BODY OF WORK . THAT
REALLY DOES MAKE A TREMENDOUS
IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S EVERYDAY
LIVES AND IN A POSITIVE WAY.
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE LAND IT
RIGHT. AND AS YOU ALLUDED TO,
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT
GOES INTO THIS YEAR-ROUND. WE
DON'T JUST SHOW UP. THERE IS
SO MUCH THAT GOES ON BEHIND THE
SCENES IN TERMS OF PLANNING AND
PREPARING. THERE IS A STRONG
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMPONENT
HERE AS MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE ,
THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN
FROM QUEEN ANNE -- HE LOVES
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
>> WE ALL DO.
>> THAT UNDERLIES THIS WORK AS
WELL. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
ALL FOR AGAIN SHARING OUT THIS
IMPORTANT WORK . IT IS VERY
IMPACTFUL. AND I APPRECIATE IT.
I UNDERSTAND THIS USED TO BE A
REGULAR ANNUAL OR PERIODIC KIND
OF UPDATE ITEM FOR THIS
COMMITTEE. SO I WASN'T AWARE
THAT BEFORE I THOUGHT OF THIS.
I JUST THINK THE WINTER
WEATHER. THIS WILL BE A GREAT
PRESENTATION. BUT I WOULD LIKE
US TO DO THIS AS WELL.
MAINTAINED THAT TRADITION ON A
GOING FORWARD BASIS. JUST
BECAUSE IT IS GOOD INFORMATION
FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND.
ALL RIGHT. COMMENTS . QUESTIONS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES? I GUESS IT
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING. I
WOULD LIKE TO ECHO THE CHAIR'S
COMMENTS REGARDING THOSE
MEMBERS OF YOUR TEAM'S THAT
ARE DOING THE WORK ,
PARTICULARLY IN INCLEMENT
WEATHER. SO IMPORTANT . I WOULD
JUST LIKE TO ADD ON MY THANK
YOU FOR THAT AND FOR YEARS AS
WELL. FOR YOUR WORK THAT YOU DO
IN TERMS OF THE MANAGEMENT OF
THAT. IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I
LISTEN TO THIS BRIEF THROUGH
THE EYES OF SOMEONE WHO GREW UP
BORN AND RAISED IN WESTERN NEW
YORK BETWEEN BUFFALO AND
ROCHESTER IN NEW YORK. A LITTLE
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE RELATED
TO WINTER WEATHER. ONE OF THE
THINGS I HAVE LEARNED FROM
BEING IN SEATTLE IS THAT IT IS
REALLY HIT AND MISS . IT IS
HARD TO PLAN FOR IT AS OPPOSED
TO WESTERN NEW YORK WHERE THEY
KNOW IT IS COMING. IT IS JUST A
QUESTION OF, ARE YOU IN THE
LAKE EFFECT BAND OR NOT? I
RECOGNIZE THAT IS A CHALLENGE
WE HAVE IN SEATTLE. WE CAN GO
WINTERS WITH NOTHING. NEXT
THING YOU KNOW, EVERY OTHER
WINTER. I GUESS IT IS EL NINO
RELATED AND THE LIKE. THIS YEAR
I READ REPORTS THAT WE MAY BE
GETTING SOME SNOW. IT WILL BE
INTERESTING TO SEE . ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT I WANTED TO KIND OF
HIGHLIGHT BASED ON MY
OBSERVATIONS IS THAT IN
PREPARATION FOR WINTER WEATHER,
THERE IS ALSO THE NEED TO TAKE
CARE OF THE FALL WEATHER. I
BRING THIS UP BECAUSE OF LEAVES
, FOR EXAMPLE. I THINK OF BIKE
LANES . ACTUALLY, E MOBILITY
LANES. I HAVE BEEN SEEING THIS
A LOT IN TERMS OF THEY ARE
REALLY NOT AS WELL-MAINTAINED
AS THEY COULD BE. SO THAT WILL
REDUCE BIKE USE BUT ALSO THE
SCOOTERS. WE HAVE THE PACKERS
IN TOWN. A LOT OF PEOPLE USE
THOSE SCOOTERS. IT SEEMS LIKE
THEY ARE USING BIKE LANES MORE
AND SIDEWALKS LESS. BUT THAT
WILL NOT CONTINUE IF LEAVES ARE
KIND OF IN THE WAY DIFFERENT
AREAS. IT ALSO COMPLICATES SNOW
REMOVAL TOO. I'VE GOTTEN A LOT
OF REQUESTS REGARDING SNOW
REMOVAL. THE ARTERIALS IN QUEEN
ANNE. QUEEN ANNE BOULEVARD
PARK. THAT ROAD. REMOVING THE
LEAVES . I GET A LOT OF
INQUIRIES ABOUT THAT. I DO
BELIEVE IT IS ONGOING. BUT I
JUST BRING IT UP BECAUSE IT
DOES IMPACT IF WE WERE TO GET A
SUDDEN SNOW WITHOUT THAT TAKEN
CARE OF. SO I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT , PARTICULARLY
RELATED TO BIKE LANES. WOULD
YOU LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT
ONE?
>> YES. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I HAVE
BEEN DOING THIS FOR 10 YEARS AS
AN EXECUTIVE OF SDOT. DARREN
HAS BEEN DOING WITH ME IN
VARIOUS ROLES AS SENIOR MANAGER
AND VISION DIRECTOR. ONE THING
WE ARE REALLY GRATEFUL TO THE
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL IS THE
FUNDING THAT WE GOT FOR BIKE
LANE MAINTENANCE BECAUSE
ORIGINALLY WE PUT THE BIKE
LANES BUT WE HAD NO MAINTENANCE
BUDGET. SO THIS IS THE FIRST
TIME EVER IN SDOT'S BUDGET
THAT WE ACTUALLY GOT FUNDING .
SO DARREN IS LEADING AN EFFORT
WHERE NOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
A STANDARD WHERE WE WILL BE
SWEEPING THOSE BIKE LANES WITH
NEW SWEEPING EQUIPMENT , SMALL
SWEEPERS THAT WE HAVE BEEN
PILOTING FOR THE LAST YEAR. AT
LEAST THREE TIMES A MONTH EVERY
BIKE LANE WILL GET -- THE OTHER
INTERESTING THING , COUNTS
MEMBER KETTLE, IS WE HAVE BEEN
RAPIDLY PUTTING BIKE LANES OUT
. ONE OF THE THINGS WE NOTICED
AFTERWARDS IS SOME AREAS HAVE
MORE DECIDUOUS TREES AND LEAVES
SWELLING. SO WE ARE ALSO
PILOTING SOME NEW EQUIPMENT
WHERE WE CAN JUST TAKE GIGANTIC
VACUUMS AND JUST VACUUM THE
LEAVES OUT . ALL THAT STARTED
IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. WE
RECOGNIZE THAT DEFINITELY IS A
PROBLEM. AND WE DO WORK WITH
SPU LIKE COUNCILMEMBER SAKA DID
TO GET OUT THERE AND CLEAR
THOSE DRAINS AND COMMUNITY --
AS BEST AS WE CAN.
>> THAT FUNDING THAT RODNEY IS
REFERENCING IS FUNDING THAT WAS
IN THE LEVY THAT YOU SENT TO
VOTERS AND VOTERS APPROVED IN
NOVEMBER.
>> THANK YOU. I REALLY
APPRECIATE INCORPORATING
LESSONS LEARNED AND ALL OF
THAT. BREAKING NEWS FOR THE --
IN TERMS OF UPDATES RELATED TO
WHAT IS GOING ON . BY THE WAY,
JUST AN ASIDE. WHATEVER REASON
I HAVE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF
CARS GOING INTO BIKE LANES TOO,
WHICH IS A PROBLEM. THIS
MORNING QUEEN AVENUE NORTH.
SOMEBODY JUMPED INTO A BIKE
LANE. I WAS LIKE, WHAT ? THEN
THAT PERSON TOOK A LEFT ONTO
JOHN STREET TOWARD SEATTLE
CENTER. I WAS AMAZED. JUST AS
AN ASIDE, THAT IS SOMETHING I
AM SEEING. USUALLY I AM SEEING
SOME PEOPLE PARK . MAYBE A
DELIVERY OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT. THIS MORNING WAS WHOLE
OTHER LEVEL. I JUST WANTED TO
RAISE THAT AS AN ASIDE. A
LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM THIS
BRIEFING. MY UNDERSTANDING IS I
THINK SDOT HAS LEARNED ON THAT
THE EARLY BIKE LANES WERE A
LITTLE TOO WIDE. KIND OF MAKES
IT EASIER FOR CARS TO GET IN
THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT
WAS ON PURPOSE OR NOT. SEEMS
LIKE THE NEWER BIKE LANES --
MAYBE IT IS BASED ON WHERE I AM
SEEING THEM. I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT AS AN ASIDE. NOT PART
OF THIS BRIEFING. CARS GOING
INTO BIKE LANES IS A PROBLEM.
SEEMS TO BE A GROWING PROBLEM.
>> WE ARE DOING MORE HARDENING
OF THE BARRIERS AND PROTECTED
BIKE LANES, WHICH I THINK WILL
HELP THAT ISSUE. THAT IS ALSO
SOMETHING THAT WAS FUNDED IN
THE LEVY.
>> ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS
LEVY IS BETTER THAN THE PAST
LEVY. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
REFERENCE TO STAIRCASES. AGAIN,
WHEN WE DO PLANS, WHEN WE COME
OUT WITH PROGRAMS AND DO THEM
GENERICALLY AND THEN WE FIND WE
GET SMACK DAB INTO REALITY, ONE
REALITY FOR SEATTLE,
PARTICULARLY D7, IS THIS THING
CALLED SLOPES. IT'S GOING TO
BE IMPACTING EVERYTHING.
IMPACTS THE PREVIOUS
DISCUSSION. PIKE PLACE MARKET.
I THINK THERE WILL BE IMPACT
RELATED TO THE PLAN. BUT IT
ALSO IMPACTS THE ABILITY FOR
PEOPLE TO MOVE AROUND. IT IS
KIND OF UNIQUE. AS I ALWAYS
CALL STAIRCASES, THEY ARE UP
AND DOWN SIDEWALKS. THAT IS
ANOTHER AREA OF INTEREST FOR ME
AS A COUNCILMEMBER. SO THANK
YOU FOR ADDING THAT. WHATEVER
WE CAN DO TO ENSURE THAT UNIQUE
-- I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS MORE
UNIQUE TO D7 THAN TO OTHER
PARTS OF THE CITY, BUT IT IS
DEFINITELY A FEATURE FOR
DISTRICT 7. QUEEN ANNE.
MAGNOLIA. EVEN IF YOU COME INTO
THE CITY, IT IS MORE OF A SLOPE
THERE. MORE OF A SIDEWALK
ISSUE. ON THE SIDEWALKS, I
APPRECIATE YOUR POINT. THE HARD
PART SOMETIMES IS WHEN YOU HAVE
NEIGHBORS WHO ARE ELDERLY OR
DON'T HAVE THE MEANS.
AFFORDABILITY PIECE . BY THE
WAY, THAT IS AN AFFORDABILITY
PIECE IN MY HOMETOWN TOO IN
TERMS OF MY MOTHER . TAKE OUT
ALL OF THE SNOW. THIS IS
SOMETHING ALL ACROSS AMERICA.
THE AFFORDABILITY -- THE
ABILITY TO DO SIDEWALKS. ONE OF
THE THINGS I WAS THINKING ABOUT
-- I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
WORK . I APPRECIATE THE LITTLE
OEM SHOW SHOUT OUT. TURN EVERY
COMMITTEE MEETING INTO A PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING. I
WOULD LIKE TO GET A TOUR OF THE
TALK AS WELL.
>> NO PROBLEM. WE CAN ARRANGE
THAT.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS IS
ORGANIZATION. ONE WAY OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ORGANIZED IS
THE BLOCK WATCH PROGRAM. BLOCK
WATCH TEND TO BE MORE ACTIVE.
MORE ENGAGED IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING IN A
WAY TO KIND OF BUILD UP A
RESERVE FOR US TO GO OUT AND AT
LEAST INQUIRE AND MAY BE ASSIST
IN THIS AREA IN TERMS OF WINTER
WEATHER.
>> I HAVE TWO. YOU SPURRED TWO
COMMENTS ON TWO SUBJECTS THERE.
FIRST, IN TERMS OF TOPOGRAPHY
AND STEEPNESS AND SLOPES
THROUGHOUT THE CITY. PLAYS A
KEY ROLE IN THE SAFETY AND
TACTICS OF HOW WE OPERATE.
THERE ARE MANY STREETS THAT ARE
SO NARROW AND SO STEEP THAT WE
COULD NOT SAFELY PLOW THEM.
THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE
DO SO MUCH PUBLIC OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT FOR WHAT STREETS WE
DO PLOW AND WHICH ONES WE
DON'T. NOT ONLY PEDESTRIANS
BUT ALSO OUR STREETS. THE
NUMBER OF STEEP SLOPES AROUND
THE CITY. VERY, VERY
CHALLENGING. VERY DIFFERENT
FROM SOME MIDWESTERN CITIES
THAT MAY BE DEAL WITH SNOW
YEAR-ROUND. DON'T DEAL NEARLY
WITH AS MUCH COMPLEXITY SLOPES
AND WEATHER SYSTEM. ON THE
SECOND POINT, SOMETHING I
DIDN'T DIVE INTO TOO MUCH
DETAIL IN MY PRESENTATION WAS
THE FACT THAT LAST YEAR WE DID
KICKOFF AN OUTREACH CAMPAIGN
PARTNERING WITH SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. AND WE DISTRIBUTED
A NUMBER OF SHOVELS AND ICE
MELT AS PART OF THE NIGHT OUT
IN AUGUST . AND WE HAVE
CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN THE
COORDINATION AND PARTNERSHIP.
IT WAS A HEAVY LIFT BOTH FOR
SDOT AND FOR THE CAPTAINS.
CONTINUING TO LOOK AT HOW BEST
TO OPTIMIZE COMMUNICATION
COORDINATION. MYSELF AND MY
NEIGHBORHOOD TOOK ADVANTAGE OF
THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY. WE USED
SEVERAL FOLKS FROM SDOT TO
COMMUNICATE WITH THAT PROGRAM.
SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THAT.
>> YOU ARE RIGHT. I REMEMBER
THAT. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T
REALIZE I'M STILL BLOCK WATCH
CAPTAIN FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SNAP, BY THE WAY. ACTIVELY
PREPARE. YES. I THINK THAT IS
GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT
REMINDER. I WASN'T THINKING
ABOUT THAT. PARTLY BECAUSE I
ONLY HAVE MY OWN SHOVEL. YOU
WOULDN'T EXPECT ANYTHING LESS
FOR SOMETHING FROM WESTERN NEW
YORK. ONE LAST QUESTION IS
EARLIER THIS YEAR -- EARLY
FALL, I BELIEVE , I WENT TO THE
FIRE GARAGE. WHERE ALL OF THE
LADDER TRUCKS AND FIRE ENGINES
ARE MAINTAINED. GREAT TOUR.
THEN I GOT A BONUS TOUR OF THE
MAIN GARAGE. IN TERMS OF
EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE, THE
TRUCKS AND THE LIKES , BECAUSE
IT SEEMS TO BE VARYING TYPES OF
TRUCKS . OR MAYBE IN SMALLER
VEHICLES. I LOVE HAVING SMALL
IN TERMS OF TAKING CARE OF
LEAVES THE SMALL BROCHURES .
WHEN I GREW UP, WE HAD SIDEWALK
PLOWS TOO. SIMILAR. WHAT IS THE
CHALLENGES RELATED TO THE
MAINTENANCE OF THAT EQUIPMENT?
THOSE VARYING TYPES OF TRUCKS
AND THE LIKE.
>> I WILL TAKE PART OF THAT
QUESTION. WE WORK HAND IN HAND
WITH FAS AND THE MECHANICS. AS
A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN WE DO GO
INTO A 12 OR 24-HOUR STORM
RESPONSE , WE PAY FOR THE
MECHANICS TO WORK OVERTIME TO
MAINTAIN VEHICLES. OUR DUMP
TRUCKS THAT WE USE FOR
SNOWPLOWS ARE USED FOR PAVING ,
ASPHALT, CONCRETE, AND
POTHOLES. WE ARE PROUD OF THAT
EFFICIENCY, WHEREAS MANY CITIES
IN NEW YORK AND OTHER PLACES
HAVE HUNDREDS OF PIECES OF
EQUIPMENT THAT THEY ONLY USE
FOR SNOW. AND THEIR BUDGETS ARE
SOMETIMES NORTH OF 80 TO 200
MILLION A YEAR, WHEREAS OUR
BUDGET IS 7 TO 10 MILLION A
YEAR. I THINK WHAT WE TRY TO
DO, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT
BECAUSE WE USE THE VEHICLES
YEAR-ROUND -- THEY TAKE MORE
WEAR AND TEAR. BUT WE HAVE THEM
ON A REPLACEMENT SYSTEM THAT IS
FAIRLY GOOD AS I USED TO MANAGE
THE FLEET. WE TRY TO REPLACE
THEM EVERY 7 TO 10 YEARS. AND
WE MONITOR THE HYDRAULIC
SYSTEMS. THE BIGGER DEAL WITH
THE PLOWS IS THE HYDRAULIC
SYSTEMS WITH THE PLOWS AND THE
SPREADER ATTACHMENTS ADD MORE
COMPLEXITY THAN WHEN WE ARE
USING THE DUMP TRUCKS AND OTHER
EQUIPMENTS. WE ALSO INCREASED
DURING THIS 10-YEAR PERIOD THAT
I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS THE SNOW
AND ICE EQUIPMENT BY AT LEAST
50 OR 60%.
>> YEAH. I THINK THE ONLY POINT
THAT I WOULD HIGHLIGHT IS JUST
THE CORROSIVE NATURE OF THE
MATERIALS. THE SALT IS SO
CORROSIVE . YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN
DON'T GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO
DO A SHAKEDOWN EVENT. IT IS ALL
IN WHEN SNOW AND ICE THREATENED
OUR REGION. AND SO THAT IS WHY
IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE
START WORKING WITH OUR FAS
PARTNERS IN AUGUST, SEPTEMBER,
OCTOBER TO MAKE SURE THOSE
PLOWS GET PUT ONTO THE TRUCKS
THEMSELVES THAT RUN THROUGH THE
SHOP AND GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO
OPERATE ON THE STREET BEFORE
SNOW AND ICE EVEN THREATEN. AND
THAT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO
UNDERSTAND WHICH PARTS HAVE
BEEN IMPACTED BY THE STORAGE
PERIOD, WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE
MOST CHALLENGING PART IN
KEEPING THIS EQUIPMENT UP AND
RUNNING. HUGE SHOUT OUT TO OUR
PARTNERS AT FAS THAT DO THIS
DIFFICULT WORK OF HELPING TO
RESTART . COACH OUR STAFF AND
COACH EACH OTHER ON ALL THE
CHANGES AND TECHNICAL PIECES
THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. IT IS A
BIG BODY OF WORK.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. PLEASE.
WHEN I WAS AT THE FIRE GARAGE
AND THE MAIN GARAGE AS WELL,
THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN A
COUNCILMEMBER BEFORE. AND I GOT
TO SEE SOME FOLKS LIKE THE
WELDERS . BUT IF YOU CAN,
PLEASE PASS A DIRECT NOTE TO
THE MAINTAINERS THAT WE ALSO
APPRECIATE THEIR WORK AND THEIR
SPECIFIC EFFORTS THAT THEY DO
THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT THAT IS
NOT REALLY SEEM BECAUSE THEY
ARE BACK IN THE GARAGE AS
OPPOSED TO BEING OUT. SO PLEASE
PASS A SPECIFIC THANK YOU FOR
THEIR EFFORTS AS WELL.
>> WE WILL. FEEL FREE TO MAKE
AN APPOINTMENT DURING A STORM.
YOU CAN COME DOWN WITH US.
OFTEN WE BRING THE MAYOR OR
DEPUTY MAYORS DOWN THERE AND
INTRALTHE
MECHANICS. WE LOVE TO DO THAT.
>> SURE. PROBABLY BE SHOVELING
SNOW FOR MY BLOCK WATCH GROUP.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNTS
MEMBER KETTLE. EXCELLENT
COMMENTS THERE. APPRECIATE ALL
OF THAT. YES, I OFFERED AND
WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT DURING
ONE OF THE NEXT -- PERSONALLY
-- AND GO VISIT THE TEAMS
DURING ONE OF THE NEXT THINGS.
POTENTIALLY AS EARLY AS NEXT
MONTH. WHO KNOWS? ANYWAY, THANK
YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR COMMENTS,
COUNTS MEMBER KETTLE . WITH
RESPECT TO THE BIKE LANES,
THERE IS A AN ONGOING EFFORT TO
HARDEN SOME OF THESE BIKE LANES
TO PREVENT CARS FROM GOING
THERE. IF YOU WANT TO SEE A
REAL LIFE TANGIBLE CONCRETE
EXAMPLE -- PUN INTENDED -- IT
IS CLOSE TO CITY HALL. CHECK
OUT FOURTH AVENUE. THAT WORK
WAS PERFORMED THIS YEAR SINCE
WE WERE IN OFFICE. AND THAT IS
LITERALLY IN OUR BACKYARD.
APPRECIATE THE FOCUS OF THIS
PRESENTATION ON WINTER
PREPAREDNESS WITH A FOCUS ON
SNOW AND ICE. AS YOU POINTED
OUT, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
OTHER FACTORS THAT IMPACT THIS
WORK, INCLUDING WIND, WHICH IS
CONCENTRATED IN THE WINTER
MONTHS AND LATE FALL AS WELL.
EARLY SPRING. WHATEVER IT IS.
WE EXPERIENCED A RECENT EVENT
THIS PAST WEEKEND. JUST WANT TO
CELEBRATE THE WORK FROM SDOT'S
PERSPECTIVE THAT WENT ON TO
CLOSE . GUYS KNOW I EMAIL A
LOT ABOUT DETAILS IN MY OWN
DISTRICT ON VARIOUS THINGS THAT
I ELEVATE FROM MY CONSTITUENTS
DIRECTLY. OR I JUST HAPPENED TO
SEE IT. THE RAILROAD TRACKS
THING. I WAS SUPPOSED TO EMAIL
THE DEPARTMENT ABOUT A DOWNED
TREE ON SATURDAY THAT WAS --
THERE IS, LIKE, ONE CRITICAL
INGRESS AND EGRESS ROUTE FOR
MANY CYCLISTS TO THE MAIN PART
OF THE CITY OUTSIDE OF THE WEST
SEATTLE PENINSULA. ESPECIALLY
THAT AREA. AND HUNDREDS OF
PRIMARILY CYCLISTS . OFTEN
PEDESTRIANS USE THAT AREA EVERY
DAY. ESPECIALLY DURING
COMMUTING BUSINESS DAYS. TO GET
IN AND OUT OF THE CITY. THE
MAIN PART OF THE CITY OUTSIDE
OF THE PENINSULA. SO THERE WAS
A BIG TREE THAT BLOCKED AND
OBSTRUCTED SAFE PASSAGE . YOU
GUYS HAD IT CLEARED BY
YESTERDAY MORNING IN TIME FOR
THE COMMUTE TIME. JUST WANT TO
-- A LITTLE WORK LIKE THAT.
LIKE I SAID, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
USE THAT. ESPECIALLY DURING
COMMUTING HOURS. AND SO THAT
KIND OF WORK IS VERY IMPACTFUL
AND REALLY DOES MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
APPRECIATE IT. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, GO AHEAD. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> DEFINITELY COUNT ME IN ON
THE TOUR AND WOULD LOVE TO
ATTEND AND SEE THE WORK IN
ACTION. I ALSO WANTED TO VOICE
THAT I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE HOW
CHALLENGING THIS WORK CAN BE IN
A PREVIOUS ROLE. I WAS PART OF
THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT DAILY COORDINATION
CALLS PROVIDING UPDATES ON THE
HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM
RESPONSE. JUST WANT TO VOICE MY
APPRECIATION TO THE SDOT TEAM,
ESPECIALLY THOSE OUTDOING THE
WORK WHEN I THINK MANY WOULD BE
PREFERRING TO BE AT HOME. HAVE
TO VOICE THE APPRECIATION.
ALSO, YOU ALL HAVE JUST BEEN
INCREDIBLY COMMUNICATIVE
PARTNERS TO THE HOMELESSNESS
RESPONSE SYSTEM DURING THOSE
TIMES. I WANTED TO GO TO SLIDE
FOUR. FROM THE LOOKS OF IT AS I
UNDERSTAND IT, THESE LOOK LIKE
ACTIVATION THRESHOLDS. I WANTED
TO ASK FOR SDOT SPECIFICALLY .
DO YOU ALL HAVE MORE OF A LIGHT
SWITCH ON AND OFF SYSTEM OR ARE
THERE MORE GRADUATED TEARS WHEN
THERE ARE CONDITIONS THAT ARE
FAR EXCEEDING THESE?
>> YES. WE HAVE GRADUATED
TEARS. SDOT RUNS OUR OPERATION
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 24 HOURS A
DAY. WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
DON'T SEE IS PROBABLY 60 TO 90
DAYS DURING THE WINTER
DARREN'S FOLKS AND OUR FOLKS
ARE OUT TREATING THE ICY
BRIDGES, STEEP SLOPES, SHADED
AREAS WHERE TREES ARE. THAT
HAPPENS EVERY NIGHT SHIFT
DURING THE WINTER. KIND OF
QUIETLY. HOWEVER, LIKE DARREN
SAID, WE GET ADDITIONAL
COLD-WEATHER SNAPS WHERE IT
WILL COME IN. THE BIGGEST
DANGER IN SEATTLE HAVING BEEN
BORN AND RAISED HERE SINCE THE
'60s IS ICE . NOT SNOW. DENVER
IS FLAT. EVEN THOUGH IT IS
SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS.
SEATTLE IS ONE OF THE STEEPEST
HILLS IN AMERICA WHERE IT
ACTUALLY SNOWS OR HAS ICE. WE
HAVE MANY, MANY HILLS HERE THAT
PEOPLE WOULD CALL MOUNTAINS IN
70% OF THE STATES OF THIS GREAT
NATION. SO THIS IS PART OF OUR
BIGGEST PROBLEM. PEOPLE THINK,
WELL, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO
DRIVE IN THE SNOW. WHY DOESN'T
THE CITY DO A BETTER JOB, THE
REALITY IS A LOT OF
PROFESSIONAL SNOWPLOW DRIVERS
IN MANY OTHER PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY COULD NOT DRIVE
SNOWPLOWS IN SEATTLE ON 18 TO
20% GRADES. YOU WOULD HAVE A
RUNAWAY PLOW. SO WHAT WE TRY TO
DO IS WE DO THOSE THINGS
GRADUALLY. THE OTHER CHALLENGE
THAT WE HAVE IS WHEN DEICER OUT
FROM RAIN TO ICE. IT IS NOT THE
DRY SNOW YOU CAN IN MONTANA OR
WYOMING. SO WE DEVELOP NEW
TACTICS. SPECIFICALLY DARREN
AND I. WE DO PRETREAT WITH
GRANULAR BECAUSE WE FOUND OUT
WE COULD TREAT THE GRANULAR
RIGHT AROUND FREEZING. IF YOU
TREAT WITH LICK DID BEFORE IT
FREEZES OR DURING RAIN, IT CAN
CAUSE MORE SLIPPERY SURFACES .
SO THOSE ARE REALLY THE
IMPORTANT THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO
REMEMBER . WE HAVE HAD OVER THE
TIME PEOPLE ASK US, WHY DON'T
YOU CLEAR ALL THE RESIDENTIAL
STREETS? WELL, IF YOU CLEAR THE
RESIDENTIAL STREETS, YOU WOULD
HAVE TO TOW CARS. WE ARE FROM
THE NORTHWEST. PEOPLE IN WEST
MAY NOT REACT TOO POSITIVELY TO
THEIR CARS GETTING TOWED. AND
THEN THE OTHER THING IS YOU
WOULD HAVE TO KEEP CLEARING AND
TREATING THE 5000 MILES OF THE
ENTIRE NETWORK , WHICH REALLY
WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO
SAFELY. AND AS YOU KNOW, THE
FUN THING ABOUT SEATTLE -- I'M
SURE YOU HAVE ALL LEARNED --
PEOPLE LOVE TO CROSS COUNTRY
SKI AND SNOWBOARD AND SLAVE.
YOU SEE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN
THE RESIDENTIAL STREETS. THAT
IS MORE OF A TRADITION AROUND
HERE. BUT WE PROCEED TO CLOSE
STREETS AS SOON AS WE HAVE ICE.
WE PROCEED TO DO -- WE PROCEED
TO DO -- TO STAND UP AND ONLY
DO A DAYSHIFT WHERE WE TREAT OR
ONLY DO A NIGHT SHIFT WHERE WE
TREAT . BEFORE WE GET TO THE
POINT WHERE WE MAKE THE
DECISION BASED ON THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE WHETHER WE GO
INTO THE 12-HOUR SHIFTS AND 24
HOUR RESPONSES. WE
UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO DO THE
SAME THING ON THE BACKEND.
SOMETIMES THE SNOWSTORM TAKES
ONE OR TWO WEEKS TO GRADUALLY
FADE AS OPPOSED TO JUST WARMING
UP TO 60 DEGREES IN ONE DAY.
HOPEFULLY THAT ANSWERS YOUR
QUESTION.
>> I HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN
CAUGHT IN THE NWS CONSTANTLY
CHECKING. ANY DAY NOW IT WILL
END AND IT ENDS UP GOING ON FOR
FOUR MORE DAYS. THANK YOU FOR
THAT RESPONSE. KIND OF MOVING
TO SOME MAY KNOW THAT I AM
PROUDLY CAR FREE. I BRING THE
PERSPECTIVE OF AN ACTIVE
PEDESTRIAN AND SOMEONE WHO USES
OUR BUSES. I WANTED TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SIDEWALKS
AND A CONNECTING POINT TO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I SPENT
FOUR YEARS IN VERY INTENSE SNOW
CONDITIONS. HAVING THAT
EXPERIENCE BEING IN A CITY THAT
HAS VERY DIFFERENT
INFRASTRUCTURE TO ADDRESS SNOW
BECAUSE THEY CAN EXPECT IT
EVERY YEAR. I REFLECT ON THE
FACT THAT UNDERSTANDING THE
LARGER BUDGET SET ASIDE FOR
THAT AND DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGY
AND ALSO JUST DIFFERENT
TYPOGRAPHY. NOT HAVING TO DEAL
WITH HILLS. AND THERE WAS A
DIFFERENT CULTURE AROUND SNOW
RESPONSE. NAMELY, WE KNEW ABOUT
AROUND THE END OF OCTOBER
EVERYONE STARTS SALTING THEIR
SIDEWALKS. THERE IS JUST A
DIFFERENT CULTURE AROUND THAT.
AND I THINK ABOUT MY
EXPERIENCES THERE COMPARED TO
HERE WHERE NEVER THERE DID I
SLIP ON BLACK ICE, BUT EVERY
YEAR LIKE CLOCKWORK I SLIP ON
BLACK ICE IN THIS TOWN EVEN IF
I'M NOT ON A HILL. I GIVE THIS
PRELUDE TO SAY, HAVE WE TALKED
ABOUT HOW WE CAN TALK TO OUR
NEIGHBORS AROUND PROACTIVE
SALTING OF THE SIDEWALK IN
FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE? AND IS
THAT MESSAGING YOU WOULD
PROVIDE? IF SO, WHY OR WHY NOT?
>> WE DON'T GET SO SPECIFIC AS
TO DEMAND A SPECIFIC TREATMENT
OPTION. OUR MESSAGING IS
FOCUSED ON GETTING READY AND
MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW HOW
TO DO THAT. A REAL SIGNIFICANT
CULTURE DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF
THE LEVEL OF READINESS AND
EXPECTATION. IT IS ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT CONTINUES TO
CHALLENGE US IN THE NORTHWEST.
WE MAY HAVE YEARS WHERE IT DOES
NOT SNOW AT ALL OR BARELY
REACHES FREEZING AND THEN
SOMEWHERE WE HAVE TWO SOLID
WEEKS OF FREEZING AND FOLKS ARE
SCRAMBLING TO GET THE RESOURCES
AND LEARN HOW TO DO THAT. THE
BEST THAT WE CAN DO IS EDUCATE,
INFORM, AND CONTINUALLY
REINFORCE WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO
BE DOING NOW JUST AS YOU ARE
DOING RIGHT NOW. WE USE AS MANY
MEDIA CHALLENGES AND OUTLETS AS
WE CAN. OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS
BEFORE I HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE
AND WORKING IN THIS ARENA, I
HAVE NOTICED MORE AND MORE
PEOPLE COMING TO THE CITY THAT
HAVE THOSE EXPERIENCES AND
SHARE THEM. THAT IS WHY I THINK
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO
CONTINUE CONVERSATION AND FIND
DIFFERENT WAYS TO TALK ABOUT
THE STORIES. WE DON'T WANT TO
GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE
ARE PUSHING ALL OF THAT ONTO
THE SIDEWALK EVERY DAY
UNNECESSARILY. WE DO WANT TO
MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE PREPARED
AND THAT ALSO OUR RETAILERS ARE
PREPARED TO PROVIDE THOSE
THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES WHEN
THEY ARE IN NEED. I DON'T HAVE
THE SILVER BULLET ANSWER TO
YOUR QUESTION. BUT I AGREE IT
CAN BE A CHALLENGE FOR FOLKS TO
LOOK AHEAD.
>> RIGHT. I THINK ONE OF THE
THINGS YOU TALK ABOUT CULTURE
IS THE CULTURE HERE WAS THAT IT
WAS GOING TO SNOW AND THEN IT
WAS GOING TO MELT IN THREE OR
FOUR DAYS. SO MOST HOMEOWNERS
WHETHER YOU WERE YOUNG OR ABLE
OR WHATEVER FOR THE LAST 60
YEARS IN THE CITY DID NOT SALT
OR SHOVEL THEIR SIDEWALKS FOR
THE MOST. AND IRONICALLY I USED
TWO SNOW MORE IN THE '70s THAN
THE '80s. IT IS SOMETHING WE
ARE WORKING ON. ONE THING THAT
DARREN DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB
OF -- HE NOT ONLY WORKED WITH
THE BLOCK WATCH , BUT WE WORKED
WITH DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS TO TRY TO DO THIS
OUTREACH. WE PUT IN SYSTEMS.
THE CHALLENGE WAS THE
LABOR-INTENSIVE THIS WOULD
CAUSE US TO NEED THOUSANDS OF
CITY WORKERS IN ORDER TO
PROVIDE THAT SERVICE . BUT WE
ARE OPEN TO KEEP IMPROVING A
CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT. I THINK
WE CONSTANTLY IMPROVE THE LAST
10 YEARS AND WE ARE OPEN TO ANY
SUGGESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE SO
THAT WE CAN GET BETTER.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE MORE. SORRY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. I AM DEEPLY
INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE WE
CAN PREVENT FALLS, PARTICULARLY
ON BLACK ICE JUST BECAUSE OF
HOW DIFFERENT -- DANGEROUS IT
HAS BEEN. WE HAVE EVEN SEEN
DEATHS FROM FALLS ON BLACK ICE.
MORE THAT WE CAN BE DOING TO
PREVENT AND WORK ON
PREPARATIONS AND BUILD A
CULTURE AROUND PREPARING. ALL
ON BOARD FOUR. MY NEXT QUESTION
IS A BIT ABOUT BUSES AND ROAD
CLEARING. JUST WONDERING WHAT
INFORMS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
A GOLD ROUTE AT VERSUS AN
EMERALD ROUTE. WORKING FOLKS
AND THEIR ABILITY TO GET TO
WORK IN THE MIDST OF SEVERE
WEATHER. NOT EVERYONE HAS THE
LUXURY AT TIMES OF WORKING FROM
HOME. BUT THINKING ABOUT HOW
OUR PRIORITIZATION OF WHAT
STREETS GET CLEARED AND WHAT
BUS ROUTES ARE OPERATING AND
HOW THAT MAPS ONTO THE NEEDS OF
OUR FRONT-LINE WORKERS IN OUR
COMMUNITY WHO ARE NEEDING TO GO
OUT AND STILL DO JOBS DURING
THIS TIME.
>> YEAH. LIKE I MENTIONED
EARLIER, WE DO COORDINATE VERY
CLOSELY WITH KING COUNTY METRO.
THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF ROUTES.
THEY BELIEVE MOVE THE MOST
EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY
DURING WINTER WEATHER
OPERATIONS. AGAIN, GOLDEN
EMERALD DOES NOT NECESSARILY A
PRIORITIZATION. USUALLY MORE
CLOSELY RELATED TO THE DESIGN
AND ACTUAL ROADWAY. TAKE AURORA
AVENUE, FOR EXAMPLE. MULTIPLE
LANES VERSUS, SAY, CHERRY
STREET SEGMENTS. VERY HIGH
DEMAND STREET . A LOT OF
SLOPES. BUT TWO LANES IN EACH
DIRECTION. SERVES A TREMENDOUS
NUMBER OF PEOPLE. THAT IS A
PARTNERSHIP . WE RELY ON KING
COUNTY METRO'S ANALYSIS AND
COORDINATION AND PARTNERSHIP
FOR PRE-EXISTING ROUTES. WE
LOOK TO UPDATE THOSE BASED ON
SERVICE CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE
YEAR TO MAKE SURE WE ARE READY
TO ADJUST TO THE FALL SERVICE
CHANGES. ONE THING I WOULD WANT
TO POINT OUT ABOUT KING COUNTY
METRO IS MANY OF THEIR BUSES
THAT SERVE ROUTES WITHIN THE
CITY ARE TRANSPORTING PEOPLE
FROM AROUND THE COUNTY . AND
THE ROAD CONDITIONS OUTSIDE THE
CITY OF SEATTLE ARE
UNFORTUNATELY SOMETHING WE
CAN'T CONTROL. IN MANY CASES,
SOME REDUCED SERVICES ARE A
RESULT OF IMPASSABLE ROADWAYS
JUST OUTSIDE THE BORDERS OF OUR
CITY. WE ALSO WORK VERY CLOSELY
WITH THE WASHINGTON STATE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
THEY HAVE BEEN AN EXCELLENT
PARTNER. YOU KNOW, HAVE GOOD
EGRESS TO OUR STREET NETWORK.
SO AGAIN, I'M NOT SURE THAT
COMPLETELY GETS TO YOUR
QUESTION. BUT AGAIN, OUR PLAN
REALLY IS FORMULATED AROUND
SUPPORTING METRO AND SUPPORTING
THOSE FOLKS THAT RELY ON
TRANSIT BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY
HAS THE OPTION OR THE LUXURY TO
STAY AT HOME DURING WINTER
WEATHER. IT IS ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT IF YOU ASK ME, WHAT
AM I WORRIED ABOUT THE MOST, IT
IS REALLY ABOUT EVERYBODY
TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY MAKING
THE BEST DECISION TO STAY HOME
IF THEY ABSOLUTELY CAN BUT ALSO
DOING OUR BEST TO SUPPORT KING
COUNTY METRO SO THEY CAN SERVE
THE MOST PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO
CHOICE BUT TO GET ON A BUS OR
ON A TRAIN AND GET TO WORK
DURING WINTER WEATHER, SOME OF
WHICH ARE ON STAFF.
>> I THINK YOU WILL SEE THAT ME
EVERY TIME THEY CHANGE THEIR
ROUTES, WE MEET WITH THEM IN
THE SUMMER AND MAKE SURE THAT
EVERY ROUTE IS COVERED ON OUR
SNOW ROUTE. THE THING THAT
DARREN BROUGHT UP THAT I THINK
MAYBE THE COUNCIL MIGHT BE
INTERESTED IN IS THAT MANY OF
THE BUS DRIVERS DO NOT LIVE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. THEY
DON'T HAVE EVEN THE SNOW
FIGHTING CAPABILITY IN SOME OF
THE SUBURBS. WHAT HAPPENS -- IT
ALSO HAPPENS WITH THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT AND SOME OTHER
EMPLOYERS HERE. THEY CANNOT GET
INTO THE CITY USING TRANSIT OR
DRIVING. SO THEY DON'T HAVE
THEIR COMPLETE WORKFORCE. WHAT
WE DO TO TRY TO STAY AHEAD OF
THAT IS WHEN WE SEE THE
SNOWSTORM COMING, WE PUT FOLKS
IN HOTELS. THE MAJORITY OF OUR
STAFF LIVES OUTSIDE THE CITY AS
WELL. THAT IS HOW WE COPE WITH
THAT . TRY TO GET THEM IN
HOTELS 24 TO 48 HOURS IN
ADVANCE BECAUSE THE NUMBER ONE
THING YOU NEED PEOPLE TO HAVE
HIS PEOPLE FIGHT THE STORM. YOU
SECURE YOUR WORKFORCE FIRST.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT
RESPONSE. MY FINAL QUESTION
HERE IS, HOW ARE WE MEASURING
SUCCESS IN OUR RESPONSE ? ARE
WE LOOKING AT KEY METRICS LIKE
HOW MANY BUSES ARE STAYING ON
SCHEDULE? I JUST WOULD LOVE TO
KNOW AS WE MOVE INTO A WORLD OF
CLIMATE CHANGE MAYBE WE HAVE
MORE SNOW IN THE FUTURE. HOW
ARE WE ENSURING A SUCCESSFUL
RESPONSE?
>> METRO DECIDES ON ROUTES FOR
THEIR OWN REASONING . I WILL
DEFER TO THEM ON THAT. THE
REALITY HERE IS NOW LIKE DARREN
SAID MOST OF THE BUSES ARE THE
80,000 POUND SLINKY BUSES. AND
THEY DO NOT MANEUVER WELL ON
THE STEEP HILLS IN SEATTLE. SO
A LOT OF TIMES METRO INTENDS TO
RUN CERTAIN ROUTES AND ENDS UP
CANCELING THOSE ROUTES BECAUSE
THE BUSES CANNOT ADEQUATELY
NAVIGATE THE ROUTE . IN OLD
DAYS, THE FLEET WAS A LITTLE
MORE DIVERSE AND THEY COULD
SWITCH TO SMALLER BUSES THAT
PABI
THEY REALLY CANNOT DO THAT. SO
WE JUST HAVE TO GO WITH
WHATEVER THEIR DECISION IS.
>> THAT CONCLUDES MY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, JOE.
>> EXCELLENT QUESTIONS. I
APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT. I
SAY THAT BECAUSE YOUR LAST
QUESTION WAS ONE THAT I HAD.
HOW DO YOU GUYS MEASURE YOUR
SUCCESS INTERNALLY WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT? BE PREPARED TO ASK
THAT QUESTION. I THOUGHT I WAS
GOING TO BE THE ONE TO ASK IT.
EXCELLENT QUESTION. I THINK
ULTIMATELY I APPRECIATE THE
RESPONSE FROM OUR PARTNERS .
ULTIMATELY I THINK WHO
DETERMINES WHETHER OUR CITY
EFFECTIVELY RESPONDED TO A
PARTICULAR SEVERE WEATHER
CRISIS . HOW WELL WE DID THAT.
I THINK THE PUBLIC IS BEST
POSITIONED TO MAKE THAT
ASSESSMENT. BUT WE SHOULD STILL
ENDEAVOR TO MEASURE OUR OWN AND
DO SELF ASSESSMENTS AS WELL.
GREAT LINE OF QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, I KNOW
YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION OR
COMMENT.
>> CHAIR, THANK YOU. QUICKLY,
PARTLY TO YOUR ANSWER, PART OF
IT IS THERE ARE ONLY A FEW
ROUTES OFF OF THE HILLS THAT
ARE ACTUALLY PRACTICAL. SO THAT
IS PART OF WHAT DRIVES THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ROUTES
FROM A PRACTICAL -- WE HAVE
SEVEN DISTRICT AND TWO AT
LARGE. WE ARE ALL CONNECTED TO
THE WEST SEATTLE NEWS, SO IF
YOU WANT TO ECHO -- NEWSLETTERS
AND THE LIKE.
>> THANK YOU. DEFINITELY IN
CONTACT WITH YOU ABOUT THAT.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. THE
DEPARTMENT HAS ITS OWN
COMMUNICATION CHANNELS WHERE IT
ENGAGES DIRECTLY WITH MEDIA
PARTNERS. WHAT I THINK I HEAR
YOU SAYING IS THE DEPARTMENT
SHOULD ALSO FEEL FREE TO USE
OUR OFFICES . AN ADDITIONAL
TOOL TO HELP AMPLIFY THAT WORK
BECAUSE WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE IN OUR NEWSLETTERS AS
WELL. IT IS A DIFFERENT WAY TO
REACH OTHER PEOPLE BEYOND THE
STANDARD CHANNELS YOU USE.
OKAY. THIS WAS EXCELLENT.
REALLY LOVE THIS PRESENTATION.
WE ALWAYS HEAR , OH, WELL,
SEATTLE -- WHEN TWO INCHES IN
SNOW -- THE CITY SHUTS DOWN.
UPSTATE NEW YORK. 10 FEET.
BLIZZARD. THEY GO ABOUT THEIR
DAILY BUSINESS. YOU SEE ALL OF
THESE FUNNY MEANS AND ALL OF
THESE THINGS. OKAY. WELL, BY
THE WAY, I WAS BORN IN
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA . WAS
RAISED THERE UNTIL MIDDLE
SCHOOL AGE BEFORE WE MOVED OUT
WEST . I HAVE SEEN IT TOO. BUT
AS WE DISTILLED FROM THIS
CONVERSATION TODAY, IT IS NOT
AT ALL AN APPLES TO APPLES
COMPARISON BETWEEN MINNEAPOLIS
AND SEATTLE . UPSTATE NEW YORK
AND SEATTLE. EVEN DENVER AND
SEATTLE. THE MIDDLE OF THE
ROCKIES . THERE ARE THREE. I
ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE THERE ARE
THREE DIFFERENTIATORS FOR Y WE
ARE POSITIONED TO RESPOND THE
WAY WE ARE TODAY. WHY IT IS
UNIQUELY DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF
THE OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. ONE, THE TOPOGRAPHY .
NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENCE. THEY
DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE NEAR THE
HILLS AND GRADES OF HILLS IN
THOSE OTHER PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY THAT WE DO HERE.
UNIQUE. IMPOSES A VERY UNIQUE
CHALLENGE. THE SECOND THING WE
LEARNED IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE
HERE IN SEATTLE IS NOT THE SAME
AS IT IS FOR MANY VALID
REASONS. WE DON'T NECESSARILY
NEED A 200+ MILLION DOLLAR
BUDGET SPECIFICALLY FOR SNOW
AND ICE RESPONSE HERE. SO THEY
HAVE A VERY ADVANCED,
SOPHISTICATED RESPONSE
CAPABILITY BECAUSE THEY NEED
TO. AND HERE WE ENDEAVOR TO
MEET THE NEED. AND ALSO THERE
THEY HAVE PUBLIC WORKS
DEPARTMENT EQUIVALENT SDOT
EQUIVALENT IN THOSE OTHER
JURISDICTIONS -- THEY HAVE --
THEY PERFORM THE WORK
THEMSELVES. THEY ALSO CONTRACT
OUT WITH THIRD-PARTY
CONTRACTORS FOR PLOWING, FOR
EXAMPLE. BUT THERE THEY ALSO
HAVE THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTORS
PRIME DOOR SUBCONTRACT THAT
WORK LOCAL NEIGHBORS. BLOCK
WATCH CAPTAINS. PEOPLE IN
NEIGHBORHOODS WHO ARE ABLE TO
QUICKLY FIX OR ATTACH A PLOWING
RIG TO THEIR PICKUP TRUCK AND
JUST GO PLOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD
NON-ARTERIAL STREETS . AND
WHETHER THERE IS A FORMAL
SUBCONTRACT IN PLACE OR NOT,
PEOPLE OFTEN DO THAT ANYWAY
JUST BECAUSE TO BE GOOD
NEIGHBORS AND HELP OUT THEIR
COMMUNITIES. SO THE
INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT AT ALL
THE SAME. THE THIRD THING WE
TALKED ABOUT IS THE BEHAVIOR
AND CULTURE THAT WE HAVE,
INCLUDING DRIVER BEHAVIOR
AROUND READINESS . AROUND SOME
OF THESE VERY UNIQUE
CIRCUMSTANCES AND COMFORT LEVEL
AND ABILITY TO SUCCESSFULLY
NAVIGATE THESE CHALLENGES. IT
IS NOT AT ALL THE SAME. SO IT
IS A FUNNY MEME. VERY FUNNY.
SEATTLE SHUTS DOWN FOR TWO
INCHES OF SNOW. NOT TRUE. BUT
WE ALSO NEED TO PUT EVERYTHING
IN CONTEXT . IT IS NOT AT ALL
AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON.
MY QUESTION RELATES TO SALT USE
. ON THAT SLIDE I APPRECIATE
SEEING SOME OF THE DIVERSITY OF
TREATMENT OPTIONS TO ADDRESS
SNOW AND ICE. SALT IS ONE
IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF MANY OF A
BLENDED APPROACH . A HOLISTIC
APPROACH FOR TREATMENT. BUT I
WOULD JUST BE CURIOUS TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND HOW YOU DETERMINE --
WHAT IS -- HOW TO PROVIDE THE
BEST TREATMENT IN THE RIGHT
LOCATION. HOW DO YOU MAKE THOSE
DETERMINATIONS, SPECIFICALLY AS
IT RELATES TO SALT?
>> SO, FORECAST . ONGOING
CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR FRIENDS
, WHO I KNOW ON A FIRST NAME
BASIS AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE , IS REALLY WHAT IT
COMES DOWN TO. WE HAVE ON OUR
TRUCKS. WE HAVE HANDHOLD
DEVICES. IT IS ABOUT
MONITORING. LOOKING AT WHAT
RESOURCES WE HAVE. WHAT WAS THE
FORECAST 12 HOURS AGO? WHAT IS
IT NOW? TYPICALLY WE EXPECT TO
BE IN AN OPERATION WHERE WE
KNOW SNOW AND ICE IS COMING. WE
ARE POSITIONING OUR TRUCKS AND
PLOWS THROUGHOUT THE CITY SO
THAT WE MAY THAT DECISION AND
USE OUR OPERATIONAL TIMING .
LET'S SAY WE HAVE A 12-HOUR
DAY SHIFT, 12 HOUR NIGHT SHIFT
. 7:00 A.M. 7:00 P.M. TYPICALLY
DOING A SHIFT CHANGE. SO WE ARE
LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE
CONSTRAINTS AND CONSIDERING THE
WEATHER OVER AND OVER AGAIN
BEFORE WE DEPLOY LIQUID OR
GRANULAR. AS RODNEY MENTIONED
EARLIER -- MARGINAL CONDITIONS
WHERE WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
WARM TEMPERATURES HEADING INTO
FREEZING CONDITIONS, WHICH ARE
REALLY CHALLENGING. I
APPRECIATE ALL THE CONTEXT YOU
SHARED ABOUT THOSE OTHER CITIES
AND HOW THE CULTURAL -- CULTURE
AND TYPOGRAPHY AND WHETHER
SYSTEMS ARE SO UNIQUE AND
DIFFERENT. HERE WE CAN BE IN 40
DEGREES DURING THE DAY
EXPERIENCING RAIN AND IN A VERY
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WE COULD
HAVE PLUMMETING TEMPERATURES AS
COLD AIR MASSES MOVE FROM THE
NORTH. TIMING IS EVERYTHING.
COMMUNICATION IS EVERYTHING AND
MAKING SURE WE HAVE MATERIALS
STOCKED BEFORE THE EVENT AND
THAT WE ARE DEPLOYING OUR CREW
IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE CAN REACT
TO CHANGING CONDITIONS USING
THE BEST INFORMATION WE HAVE.
ARE WE GOING TO GET IT RIGHT
100% OF THE TIME? PROBABLY NOT.
WE DO OUR BEST THROUGH
COMMUNICATION WITH THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE AND OUR CREWS
OUT IN THE FIELD. THE DECISIONS
WE ARE FACING -- AT WHAT TIME
SHOULD WE START DEPLOYING TO
HAVE THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT? THAT
WILL CHANGE FOR EVERY SINGLE
EVENT. THERE IS REALLY NO
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL FOR THAT. BUT
AGAIN, THE PURPOSE BEHIND US
USING THOSE MATERIALS IS
ANTI-ICING FRAMEWORK RATHER
THAN A DEICING FRAMEWORK. THE
ANTI-ICING EMPHASIS IS ABOUT
GETTING THAT MATERIAL ON THE
PAVEMENT SURFACE BEFORE THE
FREEZING TEMPERATURE AND BEFORE
THE FREEZING PRECIPITATION AND
FREEZING RAIN OR SNOW HITS THE
PAVEMENT. THAT PREVENTS THAT
BONDING, WHICH FACILITATES A
MORE RAPID CLEANUP RATHER THAN
HAVING THAT MATERIAL FROZEN
SOLID AND HAVING TO DEICE,
WHICH REQUIRES 3 TO 10 TIMES AS
MUCH MATERIAL TO MELT IT RATHER
THAN PLOW IT. THOSE ARE ALL OF
THE DETAILED THINGS GOING
THROUGH OUR MINDS AS WE WORK
WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.
>> I'M SO SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
WE LOST QUORUM.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE NOT --
DOESN'T MATTER THAT WE ARE NOT
VOTING ON ANYTHING?
>> I DON'T KNOW. WE CAN
CONTINUE IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
>> WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE.
DULY NOTED. WE HAVE LOST QUORUM
. ANYWAY, WE ARE WRAPPING UP
ANYWAY. JUST WANT -- THANK YOU
FOR THAT. I DEFER SUBSTANTIALLY
TO THE DEPAJUDGMEE APPROPRIATE
TREATMENT AT THE RIGHT LOCATION
AT THE RIGHT TIME . I JUST SAY
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE I STRONGLY
SUPPORT THE USE OF SALT AS ONE
OF MANY TOOLS . SO DON'T BE
GUN SHY ABOUT USING SALT AMONG
OTHER TOOLS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE
BECAUSE IT IS A PROVEN AND
EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OPTION OF
MANY. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU . THE INTERESTING
THING IS WE HAVE MICROCLIMATES
HERE . ESPECIALLY OUR
DIVERGENCE. BUT ANOTHER THING
LIKE DARREN MENTIONED, WHAT YOU
DO HAVE HAPPENED HERE IS
SOMETIMES ALL OF A SUDDEN IT IS
RAINING AND IT STARTS IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE COMMUTE. IT
STARTS TO SNOW. 6 TO 12 INCHES.
AN HOUR AND A HALF WHERE PEOPLE
START ABANDONING THEIR
VEHICLES. THOSE SITUATIONS. WE
ARE READY TO FIGHT BACK. BUT
THE HARDER SITUATION WHERE WE
NEED A LITTLE MORE PATIENCE IS
WE HAVE TO GET ALL OF THE
ABANDONED CARS OUT OF THE RAY
-- WAY BEFORE WE CAN TREAT THEM
OFFICIALLY. SOMETIMES WHEN THAT
HAPPENS THAT SLOWS US DOWN A
LITTLE BIT. I JUST WANT TO GIVE
YOU THAT PERSPECTIVE. AND THEN
REALLY LIKE YOU BOTH ASK --
COUNCILMEMBER , THE WAY WE
MEASURE OUR SUCCESS IS WE
CONSTANTLY SEND OUR CREW
CHIEFS, OUR MANAGERS, OUR
STREET USE INSPECTORS,
EXECUTIVES -- WE GO OUT AND
MAKE SURE THAT IF WE TELL THE
DEPARTMENT THAT THE ROAD IS DRY
AND PASSABLE OR HAS BEEN PLOWED
OR ADEQUATELY TREATED , WE MAKE
SURE THAT THAT IS SO BEFORE WE
GO SEND OUT THAT MESSAGE TO THE
COLLINS TEAM. AND SO THAT IS
THE BIGGEST . THE ACTUAL EVERY
SINGLE ARTERIAL. WE TRY TO
DRIVE DURING AND THROUGHOUT THE
SNOWSTORM.
>> AWESOME. REALLY APPRECIATE
THE COMMENTS HERE . THIS
PRESENTATION. ONE FINAL
QUESTION. I LOVE -- WELL, THE
RESOURCES CONTAINED IN HERE .
SLIDE 16 WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT
COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT.
THIS GETS TO THE CULTURAL
THING. IT IS NOT NECESSARILY
THE CITY DOES PLAY A STRONG
ROLE IN RESPONSIBILITY AND
HELPING TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE ON
OUR RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND KEEP --
MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO
SUCCESSFULLY AND SAFELY
NAVIGATE OUR TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM AND INFRASTRUCTURE,
INCLUDING DURING AND COMMIT
WEATHER EVENTS LIKE SNOW STORMS
AND ICE STORMS. AND THAT
DOESN'T ABSOLVE THE INDIVIDUAL
RESPONSIBILITY TO
DO PART. RESPONSIBILITY
HERE IS SHARED . WE ALL PLAY A
ROLE. THESE ARE SOME OF THE
COOL THINGS WE CAN ALL DO TO
HELP OUT. HELP OUT OURSELVES.
HELP OUT OUR IMMEDIATE
NEIGHBORS. AND HELP OUT OUR
BROADER COMMUNITY HERE. THANK
YOU FOR SHARING THIS RESOURCE .
ALSO , LIKE THE FIND IT FIX IT
UP. RESOURCES SHARED ON ONE OF
THEIR EARLIER SLIDES . SLIDE
13, I THINK. THE SDOT CUSTOMER
CARE NUMBER . GREAT RESOURCES
FOR PEOPLE TO GO AND REPORT
INFORMATION . CAN I ASK, IS
THERE A SINGULAR RESOURCE OR
WEBSITE THAT THE DEPARTMENT
MAINTAINS THAT IS REGULARLY
UPDATED WHERE PEOPLE -- INSTEAD
OF REPORTING OUT INFORMATION
THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS OR JUST
BROADER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
CAN GO TO LOOK AND JUST SEE --
UPDATED. NOT NECESSARILY
REAL-TIME. NEAR REAL-TIME
UPDATE OF WHERE THINGS
CURRENTLY STAND. YOU MAINTAIN A
WEBSITE OR RESOURCE LIKE THAT?
>> AVENUE. IT IS
SEATTLE.GOV/WINTER WEATHER IS
WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE
INTERACTIVE TRAVELERS MAP. SO
THAT WILL SHOW DURING AN EVENT
WHERE OUR PLOWS HAVE BEEN AND
WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN THE LAST
12, SIX, AND THREE HOURS. THERE
IS ALSO A LINK TO ALL OF THE
TRAFFIC CAMERAS AROUND THE CITY
SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE FOR
YOURSELF THE CONDITION BEFORE
YOU MAKE THAT DECISION.
>> AWESOME. ANOTHER GOOD
RESOURCE WE SHOULD ALL CONSIDER
SHARING IN ONE OF OUR FUTURE
NEWSLETTERS. AND YOU ASKED MY
QUESTION ABOUT HOW WE CAN
MEASURE SUCCESS. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL FOR RINCK. THAT IS ALL
MY COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. MR.
MAXEY, MR. MORGAN, REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION
HERE. OBVIOUSLY ENGENDERED A
LOT OF DISCUSSION . AND BECAUSE
IT IS REALLY A REFLECTION OF
THE BODY OF WORK. THANK YOU
AGAIN. APPRECIATE YOUR
PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU TO THE
MANY WORKERS BEHIND THE SCENES
THAT DON'T SHOW UP AS PART OF
THEIR DAY JOBS OR EVERYDAY WORK
FOR THE CITY RIGHT HERE IN
COUNCIL CHAMBERS. BUT WHO ARE
ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK. SO
THIS IS VERY IMPACTFUL AND
IMPORTANT WORK. AND IT REALLY
DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN
PEOPLE'S EVERYDAY LIVES AND
SHAPES HOW WE INTERACT WITH
EACH OTHER, OUR COMMUNITIES,
AND HELPS KEEP US MOVING AND
CONNECTED SAFELY . ANYWAY, SO
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT WORK.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN. ALL
RIGHT. WELL, I THINK THAT IS
THE LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA, SO
ANY OTHER FINAL QUESTIONS FROM
MY COLLEAGUES?
>> THANK YOU AGAIN. GREAT FIRST
COMMITTEE MEETING FOR ME ,
PERSONALLY. REALLY EXCITED TO
GET TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE
AND OFFER MY PERSPECTIVE. AND I
WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK QUICKLY
TO SOMETHING DURING COUNCIL
BRIEFING YESTERDAY. JUST THE
NOTING THAT IN THE PAST SINCE
DECEMBER 8 UNTIL DECEMBER 14th
I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
UNFORTUNATE PEDESTRIAN
COLLISIONS THAT WE HAVE SEEN.
ONE BEING CITY WAY AND ANOTHER
IN SOUTHPARK AND ANOTHER IN
BALLARD. WANTED TO KNOW SHORTLY
AFTER OUR COUNCIL BRIEFING
YESTERDAY WHETHER THERE WAS
ANOTHER INCIDENT ALSO OFF LAKE
CITY WAY. AND I WANTED TO NAME
THIS IN THE COMMITTEE SPACE
ABOUT OUR TREMENDOUS NEED TO BE
ADVANCING . I KNOW NOTABLY IN
TWO OF THESE AREAS THERE ARE
ZERO PROJECTS UNDERWAY BOTH FOR
1/30 AND THEN LOOKING AT FIRST
AVENUE. JUST THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT THIS IS
HAPPENING. I DON'T KNOW THE
STATUS OF THE VICTIMS OF THOSE
WHO HAVE BEEN HIT . AND I'M
TRULY HOPING FOR FURTHER SAFETY
AND HEALTHY RECOVERY. I THINK
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NAME THE
HUMAN ELEMENT AND IMPORTANT
WORK AHEAD OF US FOR SAFE
STREETS.
>> THANK YOU. YES. OUR WORK. WE
MADE SOME INCREDIBLE
INVESTMENTS, INCLUDING THROUGH
THE LEVY . RECENTLY THE VOTER
APPROVED LEVY TO ADDRESS VISION
ZERO . I THINK THE DEPARTMENT
ITSELF HAS DONE A LOT OF GOOD
WORK TO HELP TO BETTER POSITION
OUR CITY TO MAKE BETTER
PROGRESS. IF WE HAVE THIS GOAL
AND COMMITMENT, IT SHOULDN'T
JUST BE A PIE IN THE SKY THING.
WE NEED TO ALWAYS BE PREPARED
TO MAKE FURTHER PROGRESS AND
IMPROVEMENTS. THESE ARE
REMINDERS -- THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. IT IS A
SOBERING REMINDER THAT OUR WORK
TOGETHER CONTINUES. WE WILL
CONTINUE TO DO THIS. IN ANY
EVENT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
EVERYONE. WE HAVE REACHED THE J
9:30 A.M. IS THERE ANY FURTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE BEFORE WE ADJOURN?
HEARING AND SEEING NONE,
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, WE
ARE ADJOURNED. IT IS 11:38 A.M.
♪