FOR JUST A MOMENT. IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION, WILL BE AT EASE.
WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH WITH US NOW. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT EXCUSE.
>> [ ROLL CALL ] THAT
>> I CAN'T HEAR. IS IT JUST ME?
>> HANG ON. WE ARE HAVING SOME
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION, I WILL PUT US
AT EASE FOR JUST A MOMENT. WE
WILL COME BACK TO THIS IN JUST A
MINUTE.
>> WE HAD IT A MINUTE AGO.
>>
WE ARE GOING TO BE IN RECESS .
WE WILL CALL UPON YOU WHEN WE
ARE BACK AND READY TO GO.
>> I CAN HEAR YOU. I DON'T KNOW
ABOUT THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> YES, I CAN HEAR.
>> MASTERS OF OUR OWN DESTINY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT , COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. WE'RE GOING TO STAY IN
RECESS FOR A COUPLE MORE
MINUTES. JUST TO BE PREDICTABLE
AND CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE HAVE
SAID.
>> ARE WE ON, SEATTLE CHANNEL?
>> SEATTLE CHANNEL?
>> I AM GOING TO CALL THE ROLL.
>> SEATTLE CHANNEL, ARE WE ON?
ARE REBROADCASTING? OKAY.
GETTING CONFIRMATION WE ARE. I
THOUGHT WE STOPPED FOR THE
RECESS. WITH THAT, THE OCTOBER
15, 2025 SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE
MEETING WILL COME TO BACK TO
ORDER. IT IS NOW 1:36 P.M.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON IS
EXCUSE. THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR
YOUR PATIENCE AS WE FIXED
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> [ ROLL CALL ] CHAIR STRAUSS
--
>> I AM HERE. THANK YOU.
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. WELCOME BACK ,
COLLEAGUES. THE FOURTH ITEM ON
THE AGENDA TODAY IS PRESENTATION
ON THE ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY
CENTRAL STAFF IN THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
CLERK, PLEASE READ THE SHORT
TITLE INTO THE RECORD.
>> SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE JOINED BY
CALVIN CHILD, CENTRAL STAFF, AND
DIRECTOR BEN NOBLE. IF YOU HAVE
OPENING REMARKS BEFORE YOU WANT
TO GET YOUR PRESENTATION, FEEL
FREE.
>> NOT NECESSARY.
>> COLLEAGUES, I WILL TAKE
QUESTIONS AS WE GO THROUGH THE
PRESENTATION. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE
ANYTHING AS CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE OVERSEEING THE
DEPARTMENT, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME, I HAVE SOME
POINTED QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
THAT I WILL MAKE AFTER THE
PRESENTATION. BUT I WILL SAY
THAT I APPRECIATE THE CENTRAL
STAFF ANALYSIS MEMO THAT WAS
SENT. GREAT WORK THERE. MR. SHAO
AND DIRECTOR NOBLE. VERY HELPFUL
AND INSIGHTFUL. LOOK FORWARD TO
DIVING DEEPER INTO THE DETAILS
DURING THE PRESENTATION TODAY.
NO FURTHER COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU. OVER TO YOU.
>> THEY CAN, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COUNSEL -- I AM HERE TO PRESENT
MY ANALYSIS OF THE SDOT BUDGET
PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF YOU. US HAS
AN OPENING STATEMENT, JUST NOTE
THAT IT IS LARGELY CONSISTENT
WITH THE 2024 -- 2026 ENDORSED
BUDGET WITH A FEW ADDITIONS THAT
ARE MORE DRIVEN BY PRIORITIES I
WILL GO INTO MORE DETAIL. THE
FIRST SLIDE IS IS SHOWING A
SUMMARY OF THE SPENDING AND
OPERATING BUDGETS. YOU WILL SEE
THERE IS A 3% CHANGE FROM THE
ENDORSED LARGELY DRIVEN BY THE
INCREASED SPENDING OF PROGRAM
FOR THE DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION TEAM
FOR DISSIPATION IN THE GRAFFITI
INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM, AS WELL
AS SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR
ENHANCED PERMIT ENFORCEMENT.
THERE IS ALSO ADDITIONAL SUBSIDY
FOR THE SEATTLE STREETCAR, AS
WELL AS ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF
MONEY TO HELP SUPPORT DEPLOYMENT
OF NONSCHOOL ZONE SPEEDING
CAMERAS. AND 1.8 MILLION OF
OPERATING FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE
CUT IN 2026. ON THE CAPITAL
CYCLE THE BUDGET IS LARGE AND
CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE EXPECTED
FOR 2026 ENDORSED AS WELL, IN
KEEPING WITH THE B PROPOSED
SPENDING. THE MAJOR CHANGES ARE
TIED TO TRAN78 WORLD CUP. 1.8
MILLION FOR RIGHT-OF-WAY
IMPROVEMENTS, 2 MILLION FOR
REMOVABLE VEHICLE BARRIERS AT
PIKE PLACE MARKET, AND A NUMBER
OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
ALLOCATED TO THE SOUND TRANSIT 3
WORK RELATED TO THE EXPANSION OF
LIGHT RAIL TO WITH SEATTLE INTO
BALLARD. -- WEST SEATTLE INTO
BALLARD. I INCLUDE THIS SLIDE
MOSTLY JUST TO SHOW THE VARIETY
OF FUNDS THAT SDOT USES TO FUND
DIFFERENT EXPENDITURES OUT OF
THE DEPARTMENT. THE IMPORTANT
THING TO NOTE IS THAT WE DO SEE
AN INCREASE IN GENERAL FUND
OVERALL DESPITE THE FACT THERE
HAVE BEEN REDUCTIONS THEY TOOK
AS PART OF THE OVERALL BALANCING
STRATEGY THE MAYOR PROPOSED. THE
PRIORITIES FOR GRAFFITI FOR FIFA
AND OTHERS HAVE INCREASED THE
GENERAL FUNDS SUPPORT TO SDOT .
I GUESS THAT IS THE MAIN THING I
WANTED TO SAY THERE. I CAN BE
PRETTY QUICK FOR THE REST OF
THIS PRESENTATION IN TERMS OF MY
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS. I DO NOT
HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS FOR YOU.
THESE ARE MOSTLY CONTEXTUAL
ISSUES TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A
SENSE OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE
SDOT BUDGET. A LOT OF THESE
ISSUES WILL REALLY RESULT IN
DECISIONS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE
MADE NEXT YEAR. THERE ARE SOME
DISHES AND POINTS. THEY AREN'T
NECESSARILY TIED TO THE BUDGET
THIS YEAR, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE
THINGS YOU CONSIDER IN TERMS OF
AFFECTING THOSE THINGS, BUT AS I
GO THROUGH THESE ISSUES, YOU
WILL SEE THEY ARE LARGELY
CONTEXTUAL AND PAINT A PICTURE
OF WHAT THE SDOT BUDGET LOOKS
LIKE RIGHT NOW. THE FIRST ISSUE
I WANTED TO RAISE IS THE
OVERARCHING BUDGET
SUSTAINABILITY AS IT RELATES TO
TRANSPORTATION. WE SPENT A LOT
OF TIME THIS MORNING TALKING
ABOUT THE GENERAL FUND AND PET.
A LOT OF THOSE ISSUES ARE
REFLECTED IN THE TRANSPORTATION
REVENUES AS WELL. THE SDOT 2026
BUDGET IS BALANCED, BUT THEY
FACED THE SAME TYPES OF
INFLATIONARY COST PRESSURES AND
ARE SEEING THE SAME TYPE OF SLOW
RECOVERY IN TRANSPORTATION
REVENUES. THE FUND BALANCE FOR
THE TRANSPORTATION FUND IS
PROJECTED TO BE A $49 MILLION
DEFICIT IN 2027. I WANTED TO
REMIND FOLKS THAT THERE WAS A
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TASK
FORCE CALLED FOR IN THE 2024
TRANSPORTATION B. THAT
RECRUITMENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT
THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR. THE
FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THAT
TASK FORCE ARE ANTICIPATED THE
END OF 2027. THE INTENT FOR
THAT, I THINK, IS TO TRY TO HELP
CHART A PATH FOR THE BROADER
RANGE OF TRANSPORTATION REVENUES
, AS I SHOWED ON THE PREVIOUS
LINE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT REVENUE TOOLS
AVAILABLE FOR TRANSPORTATION ,
AND WE HAVE DEDICATED A LOT OF
THEM TO SPECIFIC PURPOSES. SO
THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
THINK THROUGH HOW THOSE WORK IN
TANDEM FOR THE BROADER
TRANSPORTATION PICTURE. THE
SECOND ITEM I WANTED TO RAISE
YOUR ATTENTION IS THE SEATTLE
STREETCAR OPERATIONS, AND THE
COST TO SUPPORT . MOST TRANSIT
IN THE UNITED STATES, RIDERSHIP
DOES NOT NECESSARILY PAY FOR
OPERATIONS, AND THEY ARE
SUPPORTED BY GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
IN THIS CASE, THE STREETCAR HAS
HAD OTHER AGENCIES SUPPORTING
THE OPERATIONS OVER THE PAST,
AND THAT -- AND SO, THE
OPERATING SUBSIDY IS NOW
INCREASING FOR THE BURDEN PAID
BY THE CITY. FOR 2026, THE
STREETCAR OPERATIONS ARE GOING
TO REQUIRE 13.6 MILLION OF
SUBSIDY FOR THE CONTINUED
OPERATIONS. THIS IS LARGELY
DRIVEN BY THE EXPIRING OF THE
SOUND TRANSIT CONTRIBUTIONS.
THEY PAID FOR THE CONSTRUCTION
OF THE FIRST HILL STREETCAR AND
COMMITTED TO A TEN-YEAR PAYMENT
OF $5 MILLION PER YEAR TO
SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS. THAT
AGREEMENT ENDED IN 2024. SO WE
ARE PAYING A HIGHER COST TO
CONTINUE OPERATIONS ON THE FIRST
HILL STREETCAR. YOU WILL SEE, IN
GENERAL, THERE IS ALSO
INCREASING COST OF SUBSIDY FOR
BOTH FIRST HILL AND SOUTH LAKE
UNION. THE THIRD ITEM I WANTED
TO RAISE ATTENTION IS THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE. THIS IS
A VOTER APPROVED 0.15% SALES TAX
THAT CURRENTLY SUPPORTS TRANSIT
SERVICE AND ACCESS TO LOW INCOME
TRANSIT. IT GENERATES A LITTLE
BIT MORE THAN $56 MILLION NEXT
YEAR. THIS SALES TAX IS SET TO
EXPIRE IN APRIL 2027. SO IT
WOULD REQUIRE AUTHORIZING
LEGISLATION NEXT YEAR IN ORDER
TO MAKE IT FOR THE NOVEMBER
BALLOT IF YOU WANTED TO CONTINUE
THAT TAX . THE CITY DOES HAVE
THE AUTHORITY TO ASK FOR UP TO
EIGHT 0.3% SALES TAX AND CAN
ALSO ASK FOR UP TO A $50 VEHICLE
LICENSE FEE. THOSE CAN BE USED
FOR TRANSPORTATION PURPOSES IN
GENERAL, NOT JUST TRANSIT. THAT
IS A CHOICE THAT WILL HAVE TO BE
MADE NEXT YEAR AS WELL. THE
FOURTH ITEM IS RELATED TO
AUTOMATED CAMERA ENFORCEMENT.
LAST YEAR THE COUNCIL APPROVED
EXPANSION OF THE SCHOOL ZONE
CAMERA PROGRAM , WHICH BASICALLY
DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL
ZONE CAMERAS TO 37 NEW CAMERAS
AT 18 ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS. THAT
WORK IS STILL ONGOING. THERE IS
MONEY IN THE 2026 BUDGET TO
CONTINUE THAT. FULL DEPLOYMENT
IS ANTICIPATED NEXT YEAR. THERE
IS ALSO A PROPOSAL TO EXPAND
GENERAL SPEED ZONE CAMERAS. THIS
IS UNDER THE NEW AUTHORITY THAT
THE STATE PROVIDED. THE PROPOSAL
IS FOR 20 NEW CAMERAS AT UP TO
10 LOCATIONS WITH THE DEPLOYMENT
ALSO HAPPENING IN 2026. THE
PROPOSAL INCLUDES ONE FTE THAT
WOULD MANAGE ALL THE SDOT CAMERA
PROGRAMS. THE FIFTH ITEM IS
RELATED TO TRANSIT AMBASSADORS
AND TRANSIT SECURITY. THIS IS
SOME ITEMS THE COUNCIL PUT INTO
THE 2025 ADOPTED BUDGET. THE
COUNCIL ADDED A PROVISO ON $1
MILLION FOR TRANSIT AMBASSADORS
AND KING COUNTY BEHAVIORAL TEAM.
THE AMBASSADORS WERE DEPLOYED IN
2025 FOR UNIVERSITY DISTRICT AND
RAINIER AVENUE, BUT NO FUNDING
WAS USED FOR THE BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH TEAM. THE 26 PROPOSED
BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE
DEDICATED FUNDING FOR THESE
PURPOSES. IN ADDITION, YOU ADDED
A PROVISO ON $1 MILLION FOR
TRANSIT SECURITY. THAT TRANSIT
SECURITY WAS DEPLOYED ON A THIRD
AVENUE AND JACKSON TRANSIT
CORRIDORS IN 2025. THE 2026
PROPOSED BUDGET DOES INCLUDE
WOMEN DOLLARS, AS WAS DIRECTED
IN THE 2024 TRANSPORTATION B. --
LEVY. THE NEXT ITEM IS A
DISTRICT PROJECT FUND. ABOUT A
MONTH AGO, THE COUNCIL APPROVED
LEGISLATION THAT ENDORSED THE
OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR THIS
FUND. THIS IS A $7 MILLION IN
2025 AND $7 MILLION IN 2026 TO
SUPPORT DISTRICT PRIORITIES OR
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY, AND TO
RESPOND TO THE PRIORITIES
DIRECTIVE FROM THE DISTRICT
COUNCIL MEMBERS. WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE IS NO
ONGOING FUNDING YET IDENTIFIED
FOR THIS PROGRAM. CURRENTLY, IT
STILL SHOWS UNSECURED FUNDING IN
2027 AND BEYOND. THE LAST ITEM I
WANTED TO RAISE FOR YOUR
ATTENTION IS CITYWIDE ENGAGEMENT
ON THE SOUND TRANSIT 3 PROJECT.
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS
DESIGNATED THE OFFICE OF
WATERFRONT AND CIVIL PROJECTS
AND SOUND TRANSIT AS SORT OF THE
MAIN CITY BODY TO DO THAT WORK.
THAT OFFICE REPORTS DIRECTLY TO
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND IS
HOUSED WITHIN SDOT. IT WORKS ,
IT IS TAKING ON THIS WORK AS THE
WORK ON THE WATERFRONT IS
WRAPPING UP AS THAT PROJECT IS
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED. I WILL
NOTE THAT SOUND TRANSIT IS GOING
THROUGH THEIR ENTERPRISE
INITIATIVE AND REALLY IS TRYING
TO GRAPPLE WITH THE FINANCIAL
CONSTRAINTS THEY ARE UNDER. THEY
WILL BE LOOKING AT CAPITAL COST
SAVINGS FOR THESE PROJECTS THAT
COULD INCLUDE THINGS LIKE SCOPE
REDUCTION IN TERMS OF HOW FAR
THEY EXPAND AND WHAT STATIONS
THEY PROVIDE. THEY ARE GOING TO
LOOK AT OPERATIONAL COST
SAVINGS, AND THEY WILL LOOK AT
FINANCIAL CAPACITY. THE
RESOURCES THE CITY HAS SET ASIDE
IS REALLY TWOFOLD . IT IS TO
HELP WORK ON THE PROJECT AS
SOUND TRANSIT MOVES FORWARD, BUT
IT IS ALSO TO KEEP TRACK OF THE
WORK THAT SOUND TRANSIT IS GOING
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR PROJECT
CHANGES WILL BE AND HOW THAT
AFFECTS THE CITY. WITH THAT,
THAT IS MY , THOSE ARE THE
ISSUES I HAVE RAISED IN MY
PRESENTATION. HAPPY TO TALK TO
ANY OF THEM IN DETAIL.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A NUMBER OF
QUESTIONS. I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FIRST
SHOULD HE LIKE TO GO WITH HIS
AFTER MENTIONED POINTED
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, ESSINGER, AND
THANK YOU MISSED HER CHOW AGAIN
FOR THE PRESENTATION HERE. IT IS
VERY CLEAR WE ARE IN VERY
CHALLENGING BUDGET ENVIRONMENT
EVEN WITH SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION . INCLUSIVE OF
ALL THEIR VARIOUS COLOR OF MONEY
ISSUES, 8 PLUS FUNDING SOURCES ,
BUDGET CHALLENGES ARE PERSISTENT
AND REMAIN. I HAVE A FEW
QUESTIONS. I WANT TO DIG IN A
BIT INTO THE PRESENTATION. IT
HIGHLIGHTS A NUMBER OF
OPPORTUNITIES, POTENTIALLY,
PRIORITIES FOR ME AND MY OFFICE.
AS WE THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
THIS BUDGET. AUTOMATED TRAFFIC
SAFETY CAMERAS. AS YOU NOTED,
LAST YEAR COUNCIL SPECIFICALLY
AUTHORIZED AND APPROPRIATED
FUNDS TO ALLOW THE CITY TO
DEPLOY NONSCHOOL SPEED ZONE
CAMERAS . IN ADDITION TO THE
CAMERAS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN
THE EXECUTIVE'S ORIGINAL
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR SCHOOL
ZONES. SPECIFICALLY, FOUR SCHOOL
ZONES, ANOTHER $1.8 MILLION FOR
NONSCHOOL ZONE SPEED CAMERAS. AS
OF TODAY, DEPLOYMENT HAS RUN
INTO CHALLENGES . SIGNIFICANTLY
SLOWED DEPLOYMENT . HAD A
PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION OFF-LINE
DIRECTLY WITH THE SDOT DIRECTOR
ABOUT THIS. THERE IS A LOT OF
DEPENDENCY AT ISSUE. THIRD-PARTY
DEPENDENCIES WITH CONTRACTORS,
ET CETERA. BUT IT IS, IT REMAINS
A GOAL THAT WE WORK QUICKLY TO
EXPEDITE DEPLOYMENT OF THESE
CAMERAS, BOTH SCHOOL ZONE AND
NONSCHOOL ZONE CAMERAS ,
ENFORCEMENT CAMERAS, AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT , WHEN
I MET WITH THE DIRECTOR, WE
ALIGNED ON THE INITIAL TIMELINE,
HIGH LEVEL, FOR A PHASED
EMPLOYMENT OF THE NONSCHOOL ZONE
SPEED CAMERAS. MORE DETAILS NEED
TO BE WORKED OUT BY THE
DEPARTMENT, BUT HIGH-LEVEL, THE
FIRST HALF OF NEXT YEAR. ALL
THAT NOTWITHSTANDING, JUST
CURIOUS, CAN YOU HELP BETTER
UNDERSTAND IF THERE ARE ACTIONS,
SPECIFIC ACTIONS, THROUGH THE
BUDGET THAT CAN BE UTILIZED TO
BETTER ENCOURAGE A MORE
EXPEDITIOUS ROLLOUT OF NONSCHOOL
SPEED ZONE CAMERAS? AND GIVEN
THE ONGOING STRUGGLES AND
CHALLENGES , A LOT OF IT TIED
DIRECTLY TO, UNFORTUNATELY, SOME
THIRD-PARTY DEPENDENCIES, BUT
WHAT ELSE COULD BE DONE
POTENTIALLY?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS
ONE. IF I COULD ENGAGE DIRECTOR
EMERY AND SOME OF HER STAFF. I
WANTED TO GET AN OVERALL
PERSPECTIVE ON THIS. I KNOW
THERE IS AN AREA OF INTEREST BUT
MY SENSE IS THAT THIS IS NOT A
FUNDING ISSUE. IN TERMS OF THE
BUDGET ITSELF, I DON'T ACTUALLY
SEE APPROPRIATE TOOLS TO MOVE
THEM FORWARD. MY UNDERSTANDING
OF THE NARRATIVE IS, IN PART,
THE CONTRACTS WERE LED THROUGH
FPD. THEY HAVE LESS EXPERIENCE
IN IMPLEMENTING CAPITAL PROJECTS
AND ASSISTING THIRD PARTIES TO
IMPLEMENT CAPITAL PROJECTS. AS
THINGS DIDN'T DEVELOP AS
QUICKLY , FDOT HAVE LED SOME OF
THEIR EXPERIENCE TO THE OVERALL
CITY EFFORT. THAT HAS LED TO THE
TIMELINE, THE REVISED TIMELINE,
YOU ARE DESCRIBING, AND A
REVISED APPROACH WHERE THE CITY
ITSELF IS TAKING MORE DIRECT
STEPS WITH THE THIRD-PARTY
CONTRACTOR. IT APPEARS -- THEY
ARE THE ONE ENTITY DOING THIS .
THEY ARE CONTRACTED TO DO IT. IT
DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A FUNDING
ISSUE, BUT MORE ABOUT A
COORDINATION ISSUE. THE CAPACITY
OF THE THIRD PARTY TO DELIVER.
THIS IS ALWAYS A JUDGMENT, BUT
BASED ON MY INTERACTIONS, I
DON'T HAVE ANY SENSE THAT SDOT
IS LESS THAN COMMITTED TO
GETTING THE WORK DONE AS QUICKLY
AS POSSIBLE. I DON'T SEE A NEED
TO MOTIVATE THEM, WHICH MIGHT BE
A TOOL YOU WOULD TRY TO USE.
HONESTLY, AS FRUSTRATING AS IT
IS, I DON'T SEE THAT THE BUDGET
PROCESS IS THE WAY TO ADVANCE
THE TIMELINE. THAT IS A PAINFUL
CONCLUSION.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I HAVE
HAD THE PLEASURE OF SPEAKING
DIRECTLY WITH SPD CHIEF BARNES
ABOUT THIS AS WELL. PROBABLY A
FEW DAYS APART FOR MY
CONVERSATION WITH THE SDOT
DIRECTOR. THEY ARE CERTAINLY
COMMITTED. SPD, FOR CLARITY,
PLAYS A VERY LIMITED ROLE
RELATED TO THE ACTUAL ROLLOUT
AND DEPLOYMENT OF THESE. THEY
HAVE -- ONCE THE INFRASTRUCTURE
IS ALREADY IN PLACE AND PERMIT
THE GRANTS, THEY REVIEW THE
FOOTAGE AND ISSUE TICKETS. THEIR
ROLE IS NOT NOTHING, BUT NOT AS
GREAT AS SDOT.
>> FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I WAS
CURIOUS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS
WELL. THE CONTRACT WAS LED BY
SPD, BECAUSE THERE IS AN ONGOING
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CONTRACTOR
TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE DIRECTED
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND ALL
THAT STUFF. THAT IS THE SPD
WORK. THE IMPLEMENTATION -- THEY
HAVE THE CONTRACTOR
IMPLEMENTATION SITE IS NOT AN
AREA WHERE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH
SPD IS AS OBVIOUS AND THEY
DON'T HAVE AS MUCH EXPERTISE.
THE EXECUTIVE HAS COME TO THAT
SAME CONCLUSION AND IS WORKING
NOW CREATING 18 BETWEEN SDOT AND
SPD TO GET IT DONE. NOT AN
EXCUSE.
>> FOR A LITTLE HISTORY, THE
EXPANSION OF CAMERA PROGRAMS THE
LAST DECADE OR SO HAS BEEN MUCH,
MUCH SMALLER THAN WHAT IS
CONTEMPLATED . WE ARE TALK ABOUT
DOUBLING SCHOOL ZONE CAMERAS,
ADDING 20 CAMERAS FOR THIS NEW
SPEED ZONE PROGRAM. IN THE PAST,
IT HAD BEEN THINGS LIKE FOUR
TRANSIT -- IT HAD BEEN A MUCH
SMALLER SCALE IMPLEMENTATION.
THE LAST ONES HAVE BEEN A LITTLE
MORE FOCUSED. WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE RESPONSE HAD BEEN THE
OTHER LAST ONE I REMEMBER IN
TERMS OF HAVING CAMERA
ENFORCEMENT TO HELP SUPPORT
GETTING PEOPLE, PRESERVING THE
BRIDGE FOR HIGH-CAPACITY
TRANSIT. THE SCALE OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION APPEARS TO HAVE
CAUSED SOME OF THE CHOKED.
>> TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT. THAT
IS WHY I I AM INTERESTED IN
HELPING TO PROVIDE A SOLVE FOR
THIS. BECAUSE TO YOUR POINT,
THERE IS A SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER
SCOPE AND SCALE OF THE PROPOSED
DEPLOYMENT, UNPRECEDENTED IN
SEATTLE HISTORY. THAT SAID, THE
EXECUTIVE IS STILL STRUGGLING TO
DEPLOY ITS OWN SET OF DOUBLING
THE SCHOOL ZONE CAMERAS, LET
ALONE THE COUNCIL ADDITIONS. AND
SO, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF
REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS ON TIMING
AND SAY WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO
AND DO WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SAY.
IN ANY EVENT, THANK YOU FOR THAT
. I WANT TO PIVOT TO TALKING
ABOUT TRANSIT SAFETY AND
SECURITY . LAST YEAR, AS YOU
NOTED, COUNCIL SUPPORTED NEW
INVESTMENTS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE
IN AND AROUND OUR TRANSIT
SERVICES . THIS INCLUDES
REQUESTING THAT SDOT PROVIDE A
REPORT ON IMPROVING TRANSIT
SECURITY FROM A CITY
PERSPECTIVE, $1 MILLION IN
TRANSIT SECURITY PACIFICALLY FOR
SECURITY. TALKS ABOUT HOW THAT
MONEY IS SPENT. $1 MILLION FROM
THE SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE
FUNDING FOR THE AMBASSADOR
PROGRAM. TALKED ABOUT WHERE THAT
MONEY WAS SPENT. ALSO, LEFT ROOM
FOR THE KING COUNTY BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH TEAM TO DEPLOY ALONGSIDE
. ITSELF LIKE THAT MONEY WAS NOT
SPENT. CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY
INSIGHT WHERE THE $2 MILLION IN
INVESTMENTS WAS SPENT ?
SPECIFICALLY, THE BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH TEAM. ANY INITIAL
INDICATION ON WHY THAT MIGHT
HAVE BEEN UNSPENT OR WHERE THE
MONEY IS NOW?
>> THE PROVISO FOR 1 MILLION IT
WAS ALLOWABLE FOR EITHER TRANSIT
AMBASSADORS OR THE BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH TEAM OR BOTH. IT APPEARS
IT WAS SPENT FRONTALLY ON
TRANSIT AMBASSADORS. SO THE
MONEY WAS SPENT. IT FOCUSED --
THE REPORT I HAVE IS THAT IT WAS
FOCUSED ON DEPLOYING THOSE
SERVICES IN THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT AND SOUTHEAST.
>> GOT IT. THROUGH THE BUDGET
LAST YEAR, COUNCIL INDICATED A
STRONG PREFERENCE FOR BETTER
BOLSTERING OUR TRANSIT SAFETY
AND SECURITY, INCLUDING THROUGH
THE PRESENCE OF A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT FOLKS, SOCIAL WORKERS,
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAMS,
NAVIGATORS THROUGH SECURITY. SO
IN YOUR OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF
TRANSIT SECURITY, DID YOU FIND
THAT SDOT WAS PERFORMING THESE
VARIOUS FUNCTIONS ?
>> THESE ARE PASS-THROUGH
FUNCTIONS. THE DELIVERY OF THE
SERVICES COMES FROM KING COUNTY
METRO AS PART OF THEIR DELIVERY
OF SERVICE AND DEPLOYMENT OF
TRANSIT AMBASSADORS, AS WELL AS
TRANSIT SECURITY STAFF. WE HAVE
AN AGREEMENT WITH KING COUNTY TO
PURCHASE ADDITIONAL TRANSIT
SERVICE HOURS. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO SUPPORT THAT WITH THE FUNDING
THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED HERE TO
HELP GET EMPHASIS AREAS AND
AREAS OF CITY CONCERN. BUT THEY
ARE NOT CITY DEPLOYED SERVICES.
THEY ARE SUPPORTING THE BROADER
TRANSIT AGENCY.
>> GREAT POINT THAT THE CITY IS
NOT THE ONE STAFFING OR
OPERATING THESE. WE OPERATE TWO
TRANSIT AGENCIES IN SEATTLE.
WELL, KIND OF. THERE IS NUANCE.
BUT WE CONTRACT WITH THE
PROVIDERS DIRECTLY, IN THIS
CASE, KING COUNTY METRO OR SOUND
TRANSIT, WHO IN MANY CASES,
SUBCONTRACT SOME OF THAT WORK AS
WELL. BUT WE DO HAVE A FINANCIAL
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY INTO
THAT SITUATION. SO EXPLORING
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES -- I THINK
WE DID GOOD STUFF LAST YEAR,
COLLEAGUES. AS YOU KNOW, RIGHT
AFTER WE DID THAT, AND OF THAT
TO ME IN DOLLARS TOTAL OF
INVESTMENTS TO BOOST TRANSIT
SECURITY, KING COUNTY METRO BUS
DRIVER WAS TRAGICALLY MURDERED
WHILE DOING HIS JOB. I THINK
THAT SPAWNED A WAKE-UP CALL FOR
A LOT I THINK A LOT OF US WERE
TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUE FOR A
LONG TIME. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT
HELPED THE BROADER EFFORT GET
MORE TRACTION AND BUILD MORE
MOMENTUM. CULMINATING IN A TASK
FORCE THAT CREATED A REPORT WITH
DOZENS AND DOZENS OF
RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO
SPECIFICALLY BOOST TRANSIT
SECURITY IN OUR REGION. AS A
REGION, AS A CITY, WE WILL NEED
TO DO OUR PART TO HELP IMPLEMENT
THOSE GREAT THINGS. ALL THIS TO
SAY I AM JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW
OUR CITY CAN BEST BE POSITIONED
TO DO EXACTLY THAT. MOVING ON TO
SCOOTERS. SCOOTERS, E-BIKES AND
GLIDERS HAVE BECOME UBIQUITOUS
IN SEATTLE. IT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING THERE IS ONGOING
WORK TO CREATE SCOOTER CORRALS
IN HOTSPOTS AROUND THE CITY.
DESIGNATED PARKING LOCATIONS
WITH PAINTING AND SIGNAGE AS
NEEDED. PEOPLE CAN PARK SCOOTERS
IT HELPS DRIVE ACCESSIBILITY .
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE
IS AN EFFORT TO GET AS MUCH OF
THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE AS
POSSIBLE, PERMANENT
INFRASTRUCTURE, BLESS YOU, AHEAD
OF WORLD CUP NEXT YEAR. BUT
THERE'S ALSO SOME CONCERN IN
THE COMMUNITY THAT MY OFFICE IS
HEARING THAT THE WORK IS NOT
MOVING QUICKLY ENOUGH. I NOTE
THAT IN YOUR CENTRAL STAFF
ANALYSIS MEMO , CAL, I NOTE THAT
THERE IS A $500,000 CUT IN THE
EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSED BUDGET TO
SDOT 'S MARKINGS AND SIGN
DIVISION. AGAIN, IN THE PROPOSED
BUDGET. WHAT YOU ASSESS IS THE
LIKELY IMPACT OF OUR CITY'S
ABILITY TO DEPLOY CORRALS LIKE
THIS GIVEN THAT CUT?
>> I WILL HAVE TO GO AND ASK FOR
SOME FOLLOW-UP ABOUT THE
CONNECTION. I AM NOT CLEAR THAT
THAT CUT IN THE SIGN MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM IS TIED SPECIFICALLY TO
THE DEPLOYMENT OF CORRALS. WE DO
CHARGE PERMIT FEES FOR THE
ABILITY TO DEPLOY SCOOTERS IN
SEATTLE. THOSE PERMIT FEES TO
HELP PAY FOR THINGS LIKE THE
DEPLOYMENT OF CORRALS. I KNOW IT
HAS BEEN A SLOW DEPLOYMENT. YOU
HAVE SEEN THE PAINTED ON ,
SPRAY-PAINTED VERSIONS OF HERE
IS WHERE THE CORRAL SHALL BE.
SLOWLY THEY ARE GETTING TO
DEPLOYING THOSE. INCIDENTALLY, I
WILL NOTE I'VE SEEN PEOPLE USE
THEM EVEN IN THAT SORT OF
PRELIMINARY CONDITION. BUT I
WILL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU
ABOUT THE STATUS OF HOW
DEPLOYMENT IS GOING.
>> SURE THING. STAY TUNED. THANK
YOU. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS RIGHT NOW.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU,
MR. CHOW FOR THE PRESENTATION,
AND DIRECTOR NOBLE AS WELL. JUST
LOOKING THROUGH THIS, I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE RUNDOWN AND
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS. I
RECOGNIZE THE REVENUE , THE
FIRST POINT, PARTICULARLY WITH
THE INFLATIONARY WORLD WE ARE IN
RIGHT NOW, WHICH COULD GET WORSE
DUE TO FEDERAL ACTIONS. AND
THEN, OBVIOUSLY, THE STREETCAR ,
THE FIFA WORLD CUP 2026. THIS IS
PRETTY MUCH ON HOLD FOR ANOTHER
YEAR IN TERMS OF A MAJOR
DECISION. AND THEN, I WANTED TO
MOVE TO NUMBER THREE. THIS CAME
UP IN THE PUGET SOUND REGIONAL
COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION POLICY
BOARD. THEY ARE LOOKING AT
DIFFERENT PIECES. THEY ARE UNDER
DIFFERENT PRESSURES TOO. IT WAS
KIND OF SAID MATTER OF FACT, WE
WOULD JUST INCREASE THE SALES
TAX. I MADE THE POINT THAT WE
JUST PASSED THE PUBLIC SAFETY
SALES TAX. THIS IDEA THAT WE ARE
GOING TO CONTINUE JUST TO ADD TO
THE SALES TAX IS NOT REALLY
VIABLE. IT DEFINITELY SHOULD NOT
BE SAID IN A VERY MATTER-OF-FACT
WAY. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT, BECAUSE YOU
KNOW, WITH ALL THE -- AS
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA HAS TALKED
IN THE PAST, ALL THESE DIFFERENT
PIECES COMING UP, WHETHER IT IS
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES, CITY
LIGHT, CONSENT DECREES WITH SPU
AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT
PRESSURES COMING UP. AT SOME
POINT, WE CANNOT KEEP ADDING .
THIS KINDA GOES BACK TO MY POINT
THIS MORNING. ALWAYS LOOKING FOR
NEW REVENUE, BUT THERE WAS NO
SPENDING WORKING GROUP TO LOOK
AT THAT PIECE. I THINK WE ARE
GOING TO WANTED UP AGAINST THE
CEILING. WHEN I SEE THE SLIDE,
THIS POLICY CONSIDERATION, IT'S
THERE, BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN
BE ASSUMING ANYTHING RELATED TO
THIS. IN FACT, WE SHOULD
PROBABLY BE THE OTHER WAY.
BECAUSE OF ALL THESE CUTS AND
PRESSURES COMING UP DUE TO
REQUIRED CHANGES, YOU KNOW,
REQUIRED WORK THAT CITY LIGHT
NEEDS TO DO WITH PUBLIC
UTILITIES AND THEIR CONSENT
DECREE. WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT
AND SO FORTH. THESE PIECES ARE
GOING TO BE DRIVING THIS . YOU
KNOW, I SEE THIS TO BE
PROBLEMATIC. APPRECIATE THE
UPDATE. I DID GET AN UPDATE THAT
I THINK WE ALL GOT IT FROM
DIRECTOR EMERY. APPRECIATE THE
UPDATE ON AUTOMATED CAMERA
ENFORCEMENT. I ECHO
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA'S POINTS
HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO
NUMBER FIVE, THE TRANSIT
AMBASSADORS AND TRANSIT
SECURITY. YOUR BULLET, 2026
PROPOSED BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE
DEDICATED FUNDING FOR THESE
PURPOSES. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT?
>> SPECIFICALLY, THAT IS ABOUT
THE SAME PROVISO FOR TRANSIT
AMBASSADORS AND KING COUNTY
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM. WHILE
THERE MAY BE FUNDING THAT COULD
BE DIRECTED TO THAT PURPOSE,
THERE IS NO SPECIFIC FUNDING SET
UP SIDE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET
THAT I AM AWARE OF.
>> SO IF WE WERE TO DO THIS, WE
WOULD HAVE TO GO FIND THE
DOLLARS?
>> OR ONE COULD DO THE SAME,
SIMILAR THING, OF PROVISO MONEY
THAT IS THERE. IT WOULD HAVE THE
EFFECT OF POTENTIALLY REDUCING
THE AMOUNT OF TRANSIT SERVICE WE
ARE PURCHASING FOR THE YEAR TO
BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A BETTER, A
MORE ENHANCED TRANSIT
EXPERIENCE. IT WAS STILL GO TO A
TRANSIT PURCHASE. IT WOULD GO TO
A DIFFERENT -- TO SUPPORT A
DIFFERENT SERVICE RELATED TO
TRANSIT.
>> I STOP ON THIS ONE BECAUSE,
YOU KNOW, I HAVE REGULAR
MEETINGS WITH MY KING COUNTY
COUNCIL COUNTERPART, PUBLIC
SAFETY . WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
TRANSIT SECURITY. KING COUNTY
METRO SECURITY. THEY HAVE THEIR
CHALLENGES FOR SCHOOL TOO. THIS
IS SOMETHING WHERE WE SHOULD BE
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP. WE DO
HAVE, AS IT WAS PLACED INTO THE
LEVY , WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO
FURTHER OUR SAFETY IN OUR CITY
AS IT RELATES TO PUBLIC TRANSIT.
AS COUNCILMEMBER SAKA NOTED WITH
THE TRAGIC DEATH, THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT SEEMS KIND OF
CASUAL , GOING BACK TO USING
THAT TERM, NO DEDICATED FUNDING
FOR THESE PURPOSES WHEN IT IS
SUCH AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY
FEATURE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
A CONCERN WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IN
OUR CITY.
>> WHAT CAL WAS DESCRIBING, HE
KNOWS MORE THAN I DO, BUT
THROUGH THE VOTER APPROVED
TRANSIT MEASURE, THE CITY HAS A
POT OF MONEY THAT WE CAN USE TO
BUY TRANSIT SERVICES. METRO, IN
PARTICULAR, IS SELLING THOSE
SERVICES. IN FACT, THEY ARE THE
SOLE PROVIDER AND BY RESTRICTION
THE ONLY WAS WE CAN BUY IT FROM.
WE CAN CONTROL THROUGH
NEGOTIATION TO SOME DEGREE THE
MIX OF SERVICES WE GET. IT CAN
BE MORE BUSES OR ON SOME MARGIN
MORE AMBASSADORS ON FEWER BUSES.
THERE IS INHERENTLY THAT
PARTNERSHIP AND MAKING THE
DETERMINATION ABOUT THE
APPROPRIATE LEVELS AND TYPES OF
SERVICES IS PART OF THIS. AS
DESCRIBED, THERE IS DEDICATED
FUNDING FOR TRANSIT, BUT NOT
EARMARKED SPECIFICALLY AROUND
SECURITY. THERE WAS LAST YEAR .
THAT COULD BE GOING FOR. WITH OR
WITHOUT IT, THE EXECUTIVE MAY
WELL INVEST IN TRANSIT SECURITY
THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS WITH METRO.
NOT SAYING IT WON'T HAPPEN, BUT
YOU COULD EMPHASIZE AND MAKE --
IT IS A TOP PRIORITY, IF YOU
WILL.
>> ALSO, I THINK HE GETS BACK TO
THE EARLIER POINT ABOUT THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE COMING
UP FOR RENEWAL. IT IS THAT
MONEY. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE BECAUSE
THE CITY WANTS MORE TRANSIT THAN
WHAT KING COUNTY HAS BEEN
HISTORICALLY ABLE TO PROVIDE. WE
HAVE PURCHASED ADDITIONAL
TRANSIT SERVICE HOURS THAT HELP
SUPPORT OUR GROWTH AND SUPPORT
OUR ECONOMIC ENGINE AND ALL
THOSE THINGS. BUT WE ARE BUYING
THOSE SERVICES FROM KING COUNTY.
I GUESS IT IS THE FLIPSIDE OF ,
IF WE WANT THAT, WE HAVE TO
DECIDE WHAT RESOURCES WE ARE
GOING TO USE. CURRENTLY, THAT IS
THE SALES TAX.
>> IT'S INTERESTING. YOU KNOW,
BOTTOM LINE, WE NEED A SAFER
SYSTEM. THE SAFER THE SYSTEM,
THE MORE USE IT GETS. THE MORE
FARES THAT ARE PAID. I KNOW
THERE ARE PROPOSALS ABOUT DOING
AWAY WITH FARES, WHICH I FIND
INTERESTING GIVEN THE FISCAL
CONSTRAINTS. BUT HERE WE ARE, AT
THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED FOR
ALL THE OTHER REASONS TO
INCREASE THE PUBLIC TRANSIT
RIDERSHIP. A SAFER EXPERIENCE IS
A MAJOR FACTOR OF WHETHER IT
DOES INCREASE THE WAY IT NEEDS
TO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA MENTIONED
THIS. I KNOW THE REGIONAL
TRANSIT BOARDS ARE TAKING THIS
VERY SERIOUSLY. I UNDERSTAND,
THOUGH I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT IT
IN GREAT DETAIL MYSELF, THAT
KING COUNTY METRO HAS PROPOSED
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR TRANSIT
SECURITY SAFETY PROPOSALS. I
KNOW THAT SOUND TRANSIT IS
TAKING THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.
THERE WAS ONGOING WORK AMONG ALL
THE JURISDICTIONS TO MAKE
PROGRESS. BUT THEY ARE THE ONES
DELIVERING THE SERVICE. THEY ARE
THE ONES THAT HAVE THE CONTRACTS
WITH THE SECURITY OFFICERS WHO
ARE PROVIDING THAT SERVICE. WE
ARE THE ONES WHO WANT THE
SERVICE.
>> SO WE NEED TO DEMAND BETTER
MORE OF THE COUNTY. I WILL TALK
TO MY COUNT REPORT --
COUNTERPART AND MAKE APPOINTMENT
TO HIM. I THINK WE ALL SHOULD.
APPRECIATE POLICY CONSIDERATION
NUMBER SIX. I AM GOING TO BE
WORKING THROUGH ALL THE -- IN
TERMS OF CREATING SAFER STREETS
IN DISTRICT 7 FOR THIS. LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH SDOT ON
THIS TO MAKE IT SMOOTH AND MOST
PRODUCTIVE AND MOST EFFICIENT
FOR THAT. RELATED TO NUMBER
SEVEN AND SOUND TRANSIT 3, I
WILL REITERATE IF ON ONE HAND
THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
WE GO TO A REGIONAL CENTER
BALLARD ON THE LAND USE I, ON
THE TRANSPORTATION SIDE, WE HAVE
TO ENSURE THAT ST THREE MAKES IT
TO THE REGIONAL CENTER. LASTLY,
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA BRINGING UP THE E MOBILITY
PIECE. THERE HAS BEEN INCREASED
USE, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT THERE
HAS ALSO BEEN AN INCREASED
NUMBER OF EMAILS, CALLS, TALKS
IN TERMS OF THE SAFETY PIECE OF
THAT. WE JUST NEED TO ENSURE
THAT THAT IS DONE TO THE BEST OF
OUR ABILITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE
TABLE AT THIS TIME?
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON, FOLLOWED
BY RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
CHAIRMAN. MY QUESTIONS RELATE TO
THE STREETCAR. LOOKING AT THE
RIDERSHIP NUMBERS YOU HAVE. I AM
LOOKING AT THE EXPENDITURES.
BOTTOM LINE, DO WE EVEN NEED THE
SOUTH LAKE UNION STREETCAR? WHAT
SERVICES ARE STREETCARS PROVIDED
THAT METRO TRANSIT CURRENTLY IS
NOT PROVIDING? I ALWAYS WONDERED
WHY WE BUILT THIS THING AT GRADE
[ INAUDIBLE ] METRO TRANSIT
TRAFFIC AS WELL AS VEHICULAR
TRAFFIC.
>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.
>> CONTINUE TO DO THE STREETCAR.
>> YES. I SHOULD JUST GO BACK IN
HISTORY A LITTLE BIT AND BRING
US TO WHY THE SOUTH LAKE UNION
STREETCAR WAS FIRST PROPOSED. IT
WAS NOT PROPOSED AS A
TRANSPORTATION PROJECT. IT WAS
PROPOSES AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT. IT WAS PROPOSED TO
DEMONSTRATE THAT THE CITY WAS
SERIOUS ABOUT PUTTING INVESTMENT
IN SOUTH LAKE UNION TO MAKE SURE
THERE WAS SOME SUPPORT FOR
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THAT
AREA. IN THAT SENSE, I THINK IT
HAS BEEN WILDLY SUCCESSFUL. OVER
THE YEARS, IT HAS SUFFERED FROM
NOT HAVING SOME OF THE TRANSIT
BENEFITS. IT HAS HAD TO HAVE
UPGRADES TO TRY TO PROVIDE THAT
MORE. AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE
DONE THINGS LIKE EXTEND THE
RAPID RIDE FROM WEST SEATTLE
INTO SOUTH LAKE UNION BECAUSE
THAT IS WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO GO.
BUT THAT ALSO IT STARTED TO
CREATE SOME OF THE SERVICE. YOU
WILL SEE THAT THE RIDERSHIP FOR
SOUTH LAKE UNION HAS NOT REALLY
DASHING STILL HASN'T RECOVERED
TO THE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, FOR
INSTANCE. I THINK IT IS OPEN
QUESTION ABOUT HOW IT SERVES. I
THINK THAT WAS LARGELY DRIVING
THE PREVIOUS PROPOSAL FOR THE
CONNECTOR TO COMBINE THE FIRST
HILL AND SOUTH LAKE UNION
STREETCARS INTO ONE SYSTEM THAT
MAYBE HAD MORE SERVICE AND CAN
PROVIDE MORE CONNECTIONS. I DO
THINK THAT THE NEXT MAJOR
DECISION POINT REALLY COMES WITH
THERE IS A STATION IN THE
WESTLAKE AREA NEAR THE WHOLE
FOODS THAT HAS POTENTIAL IMPACTS
FOR TAKING THE SOUTH LAKE UNION
STREETCAR OFF-LINE FOR SOME
TIME. IT ALSO, FRANKLY, CONNECT
SOUTH LAKE UNION TO DOWNTOWN AND
OTHER CONNECTIONS THAT MAYBE
SOME OF THAT SERVICE WAS
SUPPORTING. I WILL SAY THAT
DECOMMISSIONING A STREETCAR IS
NOT WITHOUT ITS OWN COSTS. THERE
ARE CERTAINLY ASSETS OF THERE,
BUT IT REQUIRES SOME DELIBERATE
CONSIDERATION AND A PLAN FOR HOW
YOU WOULD EVEN APPROACH THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
APPRECIATE IT. NOTHING FURTHER
FOR ME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE, CAL, AND THANK
YOU FOR YOUR ANSWER ON THAT. I
WAS HERE 20 YEARS AGO WHEN SOUTH
LAKE UNION STREETCAR WAS FIRST
PROPOSED. I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT.
I THINK THE INTENT WAS ALSO TO
BUILD A CONNECTOR, AND THAT
NEVER HAPPENS. THANK YOU FOR
LAYING OUT THE OPTIONS. I REALLY
WANT TO GO BACK TO THE TRANSIT
AMBASSADORS AND TRANSIT
SECURITY. THIS IS REALLY HUGE. I
AM GOING TO LAND A PLUS 1 TO MY
COLLEAGUES HERE. IT IS SOMETHING
I AM CONSTANTLY TALKING TO
CONSTITUENTS ABOUT IN TERMS OF
SAFETY. WHETHER OR NOT THEY RIDE
LIGHT RAIL OR METRO BUSES, FOR
THAT MATTER. A LOT HAS TO DO
WITH SAFETY. I REALLY WANT TO
THANK MY COLLEAGUE,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, FOR
SPONSORING . I WENT TO
COSPONSORSHIP TO THAT REPORT.
AND THANK YOU SOUND TRANSIT FOR
FOLLOW-UP WITH OUR PARTNERS AT
METRO AND A SOUND TRANSIT FOR
COLLECTING THE DATA ON INCIDENTS
ON BOTH METRO AND LIGHT RAIL.
WHEN I AM LOOKING AT 20 2320 OH
THE BEGINNING PART OF THIS YEAR
IS ON THE METRO SIDE , IT
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A LOT HAS
CHANGED IN TERMS OF NUMBERS OF
INCIDENTS, PARTICULARLY AS IT
REGARDS TRANSIT WORKER ASSAULT.
BUT JUST ACROSS THE BOARD , THE
DIFFERENCES ARE NEGLIGIBLE. ON
THE SOUND TRANSIT SIDE , WE SEEM
TO BE DOING A BIT BETTER MAYBE.
WE WILL SEE AT THE END OF THE
YEAR. BUT REALLY, IT SEEMS
NEGLIGIBLE , AND THAT IS OF
CONCERN. WE PUT INVESTMENTS
TOWARDS THIS, AND WE ARE HOPING
FOR A BIG DIFFERENCE, AND IT IS
STILL AN ISSUE FOR US. NOW WE
DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN THE 26
BUDGET THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED
FOR TRANSIT SECURITY , BOTH ON
METRO AND LIGHT RAIL. WE NEED TO
WORK -- THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE , YES, WE NEED TO WORK
WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS AT THE
COUNTY . AND ALSO, SOUND TRANSIT
BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD A
ROBUST TRANSIT SYSTEM IN THE
CITY, WHICH WE DESPERATELY NEED.
WE ALL SUPPORT, I FOR ONE, AND I
SAID THIS ONLY ABOUT 200 TIMES
AT THIS POINT AND HAVE A DRIVERS
LICENSE UNTIL I WAS 30, I FULLY
SUPPORT , AND IF IT IS NOT SAFE,
PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO WRITE
IT. THAT IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR
THE CITY. DEFINITELY WANT TO
FIGURE OUT WAYS THAT WE CAN WORK
WITH OUR PARTNERS. I HEAR YOU,
CAL, WE DON'T OVERSEE THE
SYSTEMS. BUT WE DO PAY INTO THE
SYSTEM. WE DO NEED TO GET OUR
RETURN ON INVESTMENT ON THAT.
ALSO, QUITE FRANKLY, WE ARE JUST
COUNTER WE ARE ALL PARTNERS
TOGETHER. WERE ALL SERVING THE
SAME POPULATIONS. I WANT US TO
ALL WORK TOGETHER AND FIGURE
THIS OUT. THIS IS AN ABOUT
PLACING BLAME. I'M NOT
INTERESTED IN THAT. WE HAVE
FRIENDS AT THE COUNTY AND
FRIENDS AT SOUND TRANSIT. LET'S
WORK TOGETHER TO FIGURE THIS
OUT. I BELIEVE WE CAN DO IT IF
WE WANT TO, AND I THINK THE
FUNDING PIECE, YOU KNOW, I THINK
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT PLAY
HERE AS WELL IF WE ARE PUTTING
FUNDING AND NOT MAKING THE HUGE
DIFFERENCE WE WANT TO BE MAKING.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS,
PERHAPS, AT PLAY. SO LET'S
FIGURE THAT OUT. ANYWAY.
>> A COUPLE OF OBSERVATIONS. I
DO THINK THE REGIONAL TRANSIT
GROUP THAT COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
WAS MENTIONING , THE REGION IS
DEFINITELY TAKING THIS
SERIOUSLY. I THINK THAT IS
CLEAR. I THINK THAT IS A VERY
RECENT REPORT ONLY CAME OUT
ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. I HAVEN'T
EVEN DIGESTED IT MYSELF. BUT IN
TERMS OF ATTENTION AND THE
INTENT TO MOVE FORWARD, I THINK
THAT IS CLEARLY THERE. I DID
WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE SCALE OF
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH
KING COUNTY METRO. IT IS A VERY
LARGE SYSTEM. YOU KNOW, OUR
INVESTMENTS ARE TARGETED AND
MEANT TO HELP SUPPORT OUR
PRIORITIES. IT IS A DROP IN THE
BUCKET FOR KING COUNTY, OR EVEN
SOUND TRANSIT AND THEIR SCALE,
GEOGRAPHIC SCALE. GIVEN OUR
CHALLENGES, WE WILL NOT BE IN A
POSITION TO FIX THOSE PROBLEMS.
BUT YOU KNOW, THE IDEA OF BEING
ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHERE WE COULD
BRING RESOURCES THAT AFFECT
WHERE WE SEE PARTICULAR NEEDS, I
THINK THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE
TODAY. JUST THOSE TWO THINGS I
WANTED TO PUT IN CONTEXT.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT, CAL. MAYBE
YOU HAVE A MORE RECENT REPORT,
BUT I AM LOOKING AT THE SLI
WHERE WE GOT THE RESPONSE IN
JUNE. ANYWAY.
>> I AM REFERRING TO REGIONAL
TASK FORCE THAT HAD A NUMBER OF
RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT HOW THEY
WENT FORWARD. THERE ARE THINGS ,
I KNOW THIS ANECDOTALLY THAT,
FOR INSTANCE, SOUND TRANSIT HAS
VIOLATED A PROGRAM WHERE, IF
SOMEONE SEES AN ISSUE, INSTEAD
OF HAVING TO TELL ANYBODY, THEY
COULD TEXT A MESSAGE OF WHAT IS
HAPPENING, AND A RESPONSE CAN BE
SENT TO HELP ADDRESS THE
SITUATION. IT IS A LOT EASIER
FOR SOUND TRANSIT WE HAVE A
FIXED RAIL SYSTEM AND KNOW WHAT
TRAIN THAT IS ON. A LOT HARDER
FOR A DISTRIBUTED SYSTEM LIKE
KING COUNTY WHERE YOU ARE ACROSS
THE WHOLE COUNTY. THE KING
COUNTY IS LOOKING AT THAT AS
WELL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE
PARALLELS AND WHAT CAN BE DONE
BETTER. I THINK IT IS STILL A
LOT OF TRIAL AND ERROR. YOU
KNOW, CERTAINLY A LOT OF PEOPLE
WORKING ON IT. I GUESS THE OTHER
PIECE TOO, WE RELY ON TRAN32
MANAGER SERVICE CONTRACT. BUT
THAT IS VERY MUCH ABOUT THE
BUYING OF SERVICE. WE ARE
STEPPING INTO SECURITY. WERE
STEPPING INTO PUBLIC SAFETY. WE
ARE STEPPING INTO SEATTLE PUBLIC
, SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
HOW THEY CORRELATE WITH THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND OTHER
PIECES. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE
SURE THAT IS REFLECT IT IN THIS
CONVERSATION AS WELL. IF WE ARE
GETTING INTO THE PUBLIC SAFETY
SIDE, THAT IS GOING TO AFFECT
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU, CAL. I WILL SAY
SOME OF THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY
THINGS THAT, IF IT IS A
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUE,
OBVIOUSLY, IT IS MORE WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA WAS TALKING
ABOUT. THAT IS WHY WE PUT THE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM IN THERE,
BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE SENDING FOLKS IN THAT CAN
HELP PEOPLE FOR EVERYBODY
INVOLVED. I WANT TO SAY THAT.
BUT I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE
SAYING. I LOOK FORWARD TO
READING THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM
THE TASK FORCE I JUST CONTINUING
TO WORK ON THIS TOGETHER. AND
IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE THE CITY
CAN BE SUPPORTIVE TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND PARTNER WITH
THE AGENCIES THAT OVERSEE THESE
SYSTEMS. AGAIN, I'M NOT TRYING
TO PLACE BLAME. I JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS THAT
ARE REALLY GOING TO MAKE AN
IMPACT. SO PEOPLE CAN RIDE THE
SYSTEMS THAT WE ARE PUTTING SO
MUCH HEART AND EFFORT AND
INVESTMENTS INTO. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ANYTHING YOU WOULD
LIKE TO CONCLUDE WITH?
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANT TO
FOCUS FIRST ON THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE, IF WE COULD.
UNDERSTANDING IT IS SET TO
EXPIRE END OF 2027. WE HAVE
UNTIL AUGUST 2026 TO AUTHORIZE
LEGISLATION TO PUT THIS BEFORE
VOTERS. I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE
HISTORIC, THE HISTORY BEHIND
THIS ALSO HAS TO DO WITH
DYNAMICS IN THE COUNTY. COULD
YOU KIND OF OUTLINE FOR US
OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH
THE COUNTY AND WHAT WORKING
TOGETHER WITH THE COUNTY IN
DOING THE MEASURE TOGETHER MIGHT
LOOK LIKE?
>> AT RISK OF GETTING A LITTLE
ESOTERIC IN TERMS OF THE
AUTHORITY, THIS ALL COMES FROM
THE AUTHORITY UNDER TRANSIT
BENEFIT DISTRICT. WE HAVE
OVERLAPPING AUTHORITY WITH THE
COUNTY AS IT RELATES TO VEHICLE
LICENSE FEES, BUT WE HAVE
SEPARATE AUTHORITY WHEN IT COMES
TO SALES TAX. THERE MAY BE
BENEFIT AND GOING TOGETHER WITH
THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF CLARITY
TO THE VOTERS AND MAKING A MORE
COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE. BUT IT
DEPENDS A LITTLE BIT, I THINK,
ON THE SPECIFIC TOOL IF WE
DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
SOMETHING. IF WE MOVE FORWARD
WITH VEHICLE LICENSE FEE, THAT
HAVE AN IMPACT ON HOW MANY FEE
THE COUNTY CAN COLLECT. THERE IS
A COORDINATION THAT IS ALMOST
REQUIRED. SALES TAX, THEY ARE
INDEPENDENT, BUT OBVIOUSLY, THE
SAME PERSON PAYS BOTH. THAT IS
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS WELL. I
AM HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU
AFTERWARDS OR SEPARATELY IF YOU
WANT TO DIG IN MORE.
>> CERTAINLY. THANK YOU FOR
THAT. JUST TO BE CLEAR, SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE, TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT , IT CAN ONLY
BE FUNDED THROUGH SALES TAX OR
THE VEHICLE LICENSE FEE. THERE
IS NO OTHER FUNDING AVENUE.
>> THERE ARE OTHER FUNDING
SOURCES, BUT THEY LARGELY
INCLUDE THINGS LIKE GOING TO
TOLLS.
>> UNDERSTOOD. COLLEAGUES,
ELEVATES ACT BECAUSE I THINK YOU
ALL KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT SALES
TAXES IN PARTICULAR. I WANT TO
UNDERSTAND ALL THE OPTIONS AND
UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORY TOO.
HISTORICALLY, SEATTLE HAS WANTED
A HIGHER LEVEL OF TRANSIT
SERVICE . AS A BUS COMMUTER
EVERY DAY MYSELF, I CERTAINLY
APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I KNOW I
HEAR FROM TRANSPORTATION
ADVOCATES A DESIRE TO SEE IF
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK
BETTER WITH THE COUNTY, AND ALSO
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE
CREATED A TWO-TIER SYSTEM MANY
WORKERS ARE NOT ABLE TO COMMUTE
INTO THE CITY OF SEATTLE BUT ARE
LIVING OUTSIDE OF THE CITY
SPENDING THEIR DAYS HERE. THERE
IS A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF SERVICE.
AND SO, I THINK WE CAN WORK
ALONGSIDE THE COUNTY TO TRY TO
REMEDY THAT. I ALSO WANT TO
PIVOT TO DO A QUICK
CLARIFICATION. GOING TO THE
CAMERAS . IN HERE WE HAVE
1.4,000,001 FTE POSITION THAT
WOULD BE FUNDED FOR CAMERA
INFRACTION REVENUE. HOW MUCH
FUNDING OUR CAMERA INFRACTION
EXPECTED TO BRING IN?
>> FOR 2026, 17 MILLION.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT
CLARIFICATION. COLLEAGUES, THOSE
ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS. IF NOT, I CAN
JUMP INTO MINE. SEEING NONE AT
THE MOMENT. I WILL STICK ON
TRANSIT AMBASSADORS. DO WE KNOW
IF THIS PROGRAM WAS EVER
IMPLEMENTED?
>> THE TRANSIT AMBASSADORS?
>> YES.
>> I UNDERSTAND THEY WERE
DEPLOYED IN THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT AND SOUTHEAST ON
RAINIER AVENUE.
>> FOR TWO STATIC LOCATIONS,
NEVER RIDING ON THE BUS,
CORRECT?
>> COULD YOU REPEAT THAT?. TWO
STATIC LOCATIONS WHERE THE
AMBASSADORS WERE NOT MOVING
ALONG WITH TRANSIT.
>> THROUGH THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR.
THE TRANSIT CORRIDOR OF THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT AND TRANSIT
CORRIDOR OF REINDEER IS WHERE
THE EMPHASIS AREA IS. I WOULD
HAVE TO FOLLOW-UP TO KNOW MORE
EXACTLY WHAT THE DEPLOYMENT
LOOKS LIKE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT IT WAS CORRIDOR WIDE.
>> IN THE TRANSIT AMBASSADORS
ARE PAID FOR BY OUR TRANSIT
MEASURE. AND IMPLEMENTED BY
METRO, CORRECT?
>> I BELIEVE -- IT IS PROVIDED
TO METRO SERVICE AND WE HELP
SUPPORT THAT COST.
>> I WILL SAY THE SAME THING I
SAID ON THE RECORD LAST BUDGET.
SDOT HAS STILL NOT YET BRIEFED
ME ON THIS REQUEST THAT I MADE .
I PUT THIS IN AS A PROVISO
BEFORE ANY OF THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS ON THE DAIS,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IS REMOTE
RIGHT NOW, ANY OF THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON
THE DAIS . I THINK WHAT YOU'RE
CATCHING FOR ME IS A BIT OF
FRUSTRATION . NEXT QUESTION
ALONG THE SAME LINE IS, WITHIN
THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT, AND THE MEASURE, HAVE
WE EVER USED THE FULL FUNDING WE
RECEIVED TWO FUND BUSES?
INCREASED BUS FREQUENCY OR
ROUTES?
>> WHEN THE FIRST PROPOSE WE
ALSO SET ASIDE MONEY TO MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS TO HELP SUPPORT
TRANSIT. THINGS LIKE GETTING
SINGLE PRIORITY THROUGH A
PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT
INTERSECTION. WE ALSO HAD A
SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT FOR ACCESS
TO TRANSIT TO HELP SUPPORT LOW
INCOME -- WE PROVIDED PASSES FOR
STUDENTS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME
UNTIL THE STATE RELIEVED US OF
THAT RESPONSIBILITY. WE NEVER
FULLY 100% PURCHASED TRANSIT ,
BUT THE MONEY HAS BEEN USED TO
SUPPORT TRANSIT IN ITS ENTIRETY.
IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THIS
HAS BEEN A RESOURCE THE
EXECUTIVE HAS USED TO HELP
SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS OF THE
STREETCAR. BECAUSE IT IS
ALLOWABLE UNDER WHAT WE HAVE
ASKED THE VOTERS TO SPEND IT ON.
THAT IS PARTIALLY HOW WE HAVE
DEALT WITH THE ONGOING SUBSIDY
FOR THE STREETCAR IN THE LAST
TWO OR THREE YEARS.
>> I MAY HAVE THIS WRONG, BUT
DURING COVID , AND EVEN POST
COVID, THE SCALE OF METRO
OPERATIONS WERE REDUCED
SUFFICIENTLY THAT IT FREED UP
SOME OF THE MONEY FOR THE KIND
THE PROVISIONS YOU WERE
DESCRIBING.
>> YES. COVID DEFINITELY HAD A
BIG IMPACT ON ALL TRANSIT
SERVICE. FOR THE REASONS ABOUT
WHAT IT TOOK FOR THE COUNTY TO
SORT OF GET BACK UP AND
OPERATING, THERE WAS CAPACITY
THE STREET ABOUT HOW MUCH
TRANSIT THEY COULD GET BACK ON
THE STREETS. SO THERE WERE SOME
BALANCES OF OUR RESOURCES WHERE
WE COULD NOT FIND THE TRANSIT
SERVICE TO BUY FOR METRO. THAT
DID LEAD TO SOME OF THAT , THOSE
OVERAGES.
>> SAID ANOTHER WAY, METRO IS
RESTRICTIVE AND WHAT WE CAN
PURCHASE FROM THEM. IS THAT A
FAIR AND ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING?
>> METRO HAS CAPACITY
CONSTRAINTS ABOUT HOW MUCH
SERVICE THEY CAN SELL US. YES.
>> I THINK THE FRUSTRATION YOU
ARE FINDING FOR ME HERE TODAY IS
THAT IN 2019 THERE WAS BETTER
BUS SERVICE IN BALLARD THAN
THERE IS TODAY DESPITE INCREASED
DENSITY IN POPULATION. I SAY
THAT BECAUSE THERE IS NO DIRECT
BUS SERVICE FROM BALLARD TO
EITHER DOWNTOWN OR LIGHT RAIL.
AS COUNCILMEMBER KENDALL AND
SOLOMON WERE DISCUSSING ABOUT
BALLARD ALREADY HAVING THE
ZONING FOR A REGIONAL CENTER
BEING DESIGNATED AS SUCH. I HAVE
SEEN BUS REDUCTIONS ON ROUTES
THAT ARE SAID TO BE SUPPORTED BY
THE SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE.
I'VE SEEN REDUCTIONS IN THE
NUMBER OF TRIPS. I'VE SEEN
REDUCTIONS OF ROUTES. I AM
HEARING , SETTING ASIDE THE
CAPITAL COST IN THE FREE PASSES
FOR YOUTH, WHICH ARE BOTH GREAT
IDEAS, WE HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE
TO USE THE FULL FUNDING OF THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE. THE
LAST FRUSTRATION I WILL LET ON
THE TABLE IS THAT WHEN ASKING
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE USE AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE FUNDS, I
GET FINGER-POINTING BACK AND
FORTH AS TO HIM IT IS THEIR JOB.
IF WE'RE COLLECTING TAX MONEY,
THE SEATTLEITES NEED TO BE
FEELING THE BENEFITS. AND SO, I
WILL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT
THIS LATER. LOOKING AT THE
PRESENTATION YOU JUST PROVIDED,
YOU FLAG THERE IS A $49 MILLION
ROLLING DEFICIT. CAN YOU EXPLAIN
A LITTLE BIT MORE. THIS IS JUST
YEAR-OVER-YEAR, MUCH LIKE THE
STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT WE
HAVE WITH THE GENERAL FUND?
>> IT IS SIMILAR IN THAT WE ARE
-- WE HAVE A BALANCE 26 PROPOSAL
FOR THE TRANSPORTATION FUND, BUT
GIVEN THE PROJECTED COST GOING
FORWARD, RIGHT NOW, THE
TRANSPORTATION FUND DOES SHOW
$49 MILLION DEFICIT IN 2027.
THERE ARE SOME CHANGES IN
EXPECTATIONS ON REVENUE THAT I
AM NOT STILL FULLY COMFORTABLE
WITH. SO I HAVE ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHAT IS DRIVING SOME OF
THE CHANGES ON THE REVENUE SIDE.
BUT I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
INFORMATION TO FULLY UNDERSTAND
WHAT IS GOING ON. THAT MAY MAKE
A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT THAT LOOKS
LIKE IN THE FUTURE . BUT THE
TREND IS DEFINITELY -- IT IS NOT
LOST ON ME THAT WE ARE SHOWING
DEFICITS IN OUT YEARS. THAT
HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN HISTORICALLY
TRUE . UNDERSTANDING THAT, SINCE
THE PANDEMIC, A LOT OF THESE
FINANCES HAVE LOOKED A LITTLE
SHAKY IN RECENT YEARS, BUT
HISTORICALLY, THAT HAS NOT BEEN
TROOPER
>> THANK YOU. IS THAT 49 MILLION
STEMMING FROM THE LEVY OR FROM
THE GENERAL FUND?
>> COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE
LEVY AND GENERAL FUND. IT IS THE
TRANSPORTATION FUND ITSELF. THE
TRANSPORTATION FUND IS THE MAIN
OPERATING FUND OF SDOT. IT HAS A
LOT OF DIFFERENT REVENUE
SOURCES. THAT IS PARTIALLY WHAT
MAKES IT SO DIFFICULT TO UNWIND.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT GO IN
ARE THINGS LIKE COMMERCIAL
PARKING TAX, WHICH IS WHAT
PARKING OPERATORS PAY. SOME OF
THE THINGS OUR STREET USE COST
CENTER, WHICH PAYS FOR PERMITS
AND OTHER THINGS GOING ON. IT IS
A REAL MIX OF REVENUES AND
RESOURCES . THAT IS PART OF I
DON'T HAVE A FULLY GREAT
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT EVERYTHING
IS. WHAT I CAN POINT TO IS THE
FINANCIAL PLAN THAT SHOWS THE
DEFICIT.
>> THANK YOU. IN 2019, SDOT HAD
43.2 MILLION OF GENERAL FUND
TODAY THEY'RE OPERATING ON 56.2
MILLION OF GENERAL FUND. IT IS
MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THROUGH
THE LEVY THERE IS A MINIMUM
REQUIRED AMOUNT OF GENERAL FUND
IN THE DEPARTMENT. AND YOU
REMIND ME HOW MUCH THAT IS?
>> I DON'T HAVE MY FINGERTIPS.
IT IS ROUGHLY THAT AMOUNT. THAT
WAS A REQUIREMENT ON THE LEVY IN
ORDER TO BE ABLE TO COLLECT THE
PROPERTY TAX FOR TRANSPORTATION.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT MINIMUM
GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATION.
>> THANK YOU. YOU CAN SEND SOME
OF MY -- SENSE SOME OF MY
FRUSTRATION. I WILL COME BACK
AND MEET WITH YOU DIRECTLY ABOUT
ONGOING CHALLENGES I'M HAVING
WITH THE DEPARTMENT, NOTING THAT
EVEN AS RECENTLY AS YESTERDAY I
MADE A REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT
TO -- OVER TWO MONTHS AGO AND
HAVE NOT RECEIVED FEEDBACK OR
COMMUNICATION REGARDING A
PROJECT I THOUGHT WE WERE
PARTNERING ON TO FIND PAINT ON
THE GROUND, WHICH I APPRECIATE,
BUT WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FOR ME
IS A REPEATED THEME STEMMING
MULTIPLE YEARS ABOUT
COMMUNICATION . IF I AM TRYING
TO PARTNER WITH THE DEPARTMENT
AND THEY ARE PUTTING PAINT ON
THE GROUND WITHOUT HAVING
CONVERSATION WITH ME, IT LEAVES
SOMETHING TO BE DESIRED.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
FOR THIS DEPARTMENT? I AM SEEING
NONE. WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO
MOVE RIGHT ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
IF THE CLERK CAN READ THE SHORT
TITLE. ACTUALLY, DIRECTOR NOBLE
, CALVIN, ANYTHING TO WRAP UP
ON?
>> VERY HEALTHY DISCUSSION.
>> FAIR ENOUGH. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
THE FINAL ITEM INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEM 5 , SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION.
>> FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. WITH
THAT, WE HAVE THE ONE, THE ONLY,
TRACY BURKE THANK YOU FOR
STICKING WITH US FOR ANOTHER
BUDGET SESSION. WE ARE LUCKY TO
HAVE YOU. WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO
HAVE YOU ON THE TABLE AS WELL. [
LAUGHTER ] WELCOME . WANT TO
GIVE YOUR INTRODUCTION,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, YOU
CAN SAY SOMETHING IF YOU WOULD
LIKE, OR WE CAN HOLD UNTIL AFTER
THE PRESENTATION. OVER TO YOU,
TRACI AND KARINA.
>> COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> AND COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> FANTASTIC.
>> I WILL LAUNCH IN. THIS
PRESENTATION REGARDING SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION IS GOING TO
LOOK AND SOUND DIFFERENT THAN
WHAT CAL JUST PRESENTED FOR THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION. THIS
PRESENTATION HAS NOT IDENTIFIED
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS. HOWEVER,
THERE ARE MANY CHANGES IN THE
SPR BUDGET. CENTRAL STAFF HAS
RECEIVED MANY QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCIL OFFICES. WE ARE SEEKING
TO ENSURE THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS
HAVE A SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT THE 2026 PROPOSAL IS. WE
ARE HERE TO PRESENT AN OVERVIEW
OF THAT. PLEASE DO KEEP IN MIND
THAT THERE WILL BE A SEATTLE
PARK DISTRICT BOARD MEETING NEXT
WEEK ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21 AT
2:00. SEATTLE PARKS WILL BE BACK
HERE AT THE TABLE TO PROVIDE A
DEEP DIVE PRESENTATION ON THE
FINANCIAL PLAN FOR THE SEATTLE
PARK DISTRICT PART OF THE SPR
BUDGET. THAT WILL BE AN
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO ASK
THE VERY DETAILED QUESTIONS THEY
WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER ON THE
FLY. TO BEGIN, FOR THE FIRST
SLIDES THAT HAVE A LOT OF THE
NUMBERS, I'M GOING TO GO OVER
THESE VERY QUICKLY, BECAUSE
THERE ARE SLIDES LATER ON THAT
DESCRIBE THE NOTABLE OPERATING
AND CAPITAL BUDGET CHANGES. RICH
LARGE, SEATTLE PARKS BUDGET IS
EXPERIENCING A 29.2 DECREASE IN
THE 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET . ON
THE OPERATING SIDE, THAT IS
ACTUALLY A 2.3 MILLION INCREASE,
AND ON THE CAPITAL SIDE, $151
MILLION DECREASE. THE VAST
MAJORITY OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE
DECREASING ON THE CAPITAL SIDE
ARE DUE TO SHIFTING THE ISSUANCE
OF BONDS FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS
RELATED TO FIVE COMMUNITY
CENTERS AND MONEY THAT HAD BEEN
ALLOCATED FOR UNREINFORCED
MASONRY REHABILITATION EFFORTS.
AND THOSE ARE BEING MOVED TO
2027 TO REFLECT UPDATED PROJECT
SCHEDULES. WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED
BY PARKS THOSE PROJECTS SIMPLY
ARE NOT READY FOR CONSTRUCTION
AND NOT READY FOR BOND ISSUANCE.
AND THE URMC, THE EASY WAY OF
SAYING THE UNREINFORCED MASONRY
BONDS, ARE NOT READY TO BE
ISSUED RIGHT NOW ALSO. MOVING
ONTO THE NEXT SLIDE. OVERVIEW OF
THE PARKS BUDGET. YOU WILL SEE
THAT FOR THE GENERAL FUND
CONTRIBUTION, IT IS SIGNIFICANT.
A LITTLE OVER ONE THIRD OF THE
BUDGET. 128.3 MILLION. HOWEVER,
GOING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU
WILL SEE THE BULK OF THE SPR
BUDGET IS ACTUALLY FUNDED BY
DIFFERENT FUND SOURCES . THERE
IS A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF THAT.
YOU WILL SEE THAT THE LARGEST
CONTRIBUTOR IS THE SEATTLE PARK
DISTRICT FUNDS. IT IS ALMOST
EQUALLY MATCHED TO THE GENERAL
FUND. JUST A LITTLE BIT HIGHER
THIS YEAR. THEN COMES THE
GENERAL FUND, THE PARK FUND,
WHICH IS THE REPOSITORY FOR THE
FEES AND CHARGES THAT PARKS
COLLECTS. AND I BELIEVE THAT IS
ALSO -- THE STATE AND LOCAL
GRANTS? PARKS AND REC FUND HAS
THE GRANT AS WELL. THERE IS ALSO
REET ONE AND TWO AND THEN, A
BALANCE OF THE $7 MILLION FOR
THE OTHER FUNDS AS WELL. FOR THE
OPERATING BUDGET, AGAIN, THIS IS
A 2.3 MILLION INCREASE. A LOT OF
THESE CHANGES ARE ACHIEVED
THROUGH USE OF FUND BALANCES AND
SHIFTING FUNDS WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENTS BUDGET AND
DEPARTMENT TRANSFERS. GOING OVER
EACH ONE OF THEM, THE FIRST ONE
IS A ONE TIME ADJUSTMENT OF PARK
DISTRICT FUNDING TO ADDRESS THE
GENERAL FUND DEFICIT. THIS IS
BASICALLY A FUND SWAPS WERE PARK
DISTRICT FUNDS ARE BEING USED TO
REPLACE GENERAL FUND IN THE LINE
OF BUSINESS FOR GROUND
MAINTENANCE. THIS IS ACHIEVED
TWO WAYS. 3.5 MILLION IS FROM A
FUND BALANCE. UNDER SPEND
RELATED TO SAVINGS FROM THE
HIRING FREEZE AND MONEY THAT
WASN'T NEEDED FOR THE ANNUAL
WAGE ADJUSTMENT OR INCREASE DUE
TO HIGHER FORECASTED INFLATION
THAT WAS ACTUALLY REALIZED. SO
THAT IS 3.5 MILLION. THE NEXT IS
MONEY THAT IS SAVED FROM ISSUING
THESE BONDS IN 2027 RATHER THAN
IN 2026. WHEN THESE BONDS ARE
ISSUED IN 2027, IT MEANS THE
PARKS WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR PAYING ANY OF THE DEBT
PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS FOR THOSE
BONDS IN 2026. SO THE MONEY THAT
WAS SET ASIDE, 6.7 MILLION TO
PAY THE DEBT PAYMENT
OBLIGATIONS, IS NOW BEING
REPURPOSED INTO DIFFERENT WAYS
IN THE PROPOSAL. ONE OF THOSE
WAYS IS TO PUT $4 MILLION
TOWARDS THIS REPLACEMENT OF THE
GENERAL FUND AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF THE DEFICIT. THE NEXT CHANGE
IS IN REGARDS TO GRAFFITI
ABATEMENT. THAT IS 1.28 MILLION
GENERAL FUND. AND 2 FTE FOR
THAT. HE RECEIVED AN F -- AN
OVERVIEW OF THE ONE SEATTLE
GRAFFITI PLAN THIS MORNING. THE
WAY IT IS LANDING IN SPR IS THAT
THERE IS A TRANSFER OF FUNDING
FROM SPU, ABOUT $700,000. THAT
TRANSFER IS FOR ONE POSITION,
AND THE FUNDING FOR ANOTHER
POSITION TO ADMINISTER THE
GRAFFITI ENFORCEMENT, WHICH WILL
NOW MOVE FROM SPU TO SPR.
SEPARATE BUDGET LEGISLATION WILL
GIVE SPR THE AUTHORITY TO
ADMINISTER THE GRAFFITI CODE
ENFORCEMENT. IN ADDITION TO THE
FUNDING FOR THOSE POSITIONS IS
ANOTHER $175,000 THAT IS GOING
TO GIVE SPR THE FUNDING IT NEEDS
TO ADDRESS GRAFFITI ON SDOT
PARKING PAY STATIONS. LAST, THE
INCREASED PART OF IT, 500,000
DESIGNATED FOR ENHANCED GRAFFITI
PREVENTION AND ABATEMENT
EFFORTS. THAT HAS GOT A WIDE
RANGE OF PURPOSES. IT IS FOR A
CROSS AGENCY PARTNERSHIPS. IT IS
FOR YOUTH EDUCATION AND VENDORS
THAT WOULD RELATE TO THAT KIND
OF PROGRAMMING. NOT INCLUDED IN
THIS 1 NOT INCLUDED IN THIS 1.28
IS THE $700,000 THAT WAS ALREADY
IN THE ENDORSED BUDGET FOR
CONTRACT WITH AN ORGANIZATION.
RIGHT NOW, IT IS UPLIFT
NORTHWEST, FOR ABATEMENT ON
PRIVATE PROPERTY. THE NEXT
NOTABLE ITEM IN THE OPERATING
BUDGET RELATES TO YOUTH
PROGRAMMING AND THE
DEPARTMENT'S USE OF 2.4 MILLION
FROM THE FEPP LEVEE. COUNCIL,
YOU APPROVED $2.4 MILLION OF THE
LEVY FOR A PARKS OPERATIONS. YOU
ADDED MONEY SPECIFICALLY TO
RESTORE THE FUNDING FOR THE
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.
THAT IS WHAT YOU WILL SEE
REFLECTED HERE. THE WAY THAT
PARKS IS USING IT IS FOR OUT OF
SCHOOL PROGRAMS, THE
ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER
PROGRAMS, AND THEN A CERTAIN
PORTION OF MONEY FOR RED BARN
RANCH AND THE OUT OF SCHOOLS,
THOSE FUNDING SOURCES ARE NOW
GOING AWAY. SO THE PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX OR JUMPSTART TAX
USED FOR RED BARN RANCH IS NO
LONGER SUPPORTING THAT. IT IS
BEING PAID FOR BY FEPP LEVEE.
SAME THING WITH THE GENERAL
FUND. PUBLIC RESTROOM
MAINTENANCE. IN RESPONSE TO THE
CITY AUDITOR'S REVIEW OF
BATHROOMS AT CITY OF SEATTLE
PARKS, SPR IS PROPOSING WHAT
THEY ARE CALLING THE RESTORATION
OF PARKS MAINTENANCE POSITIONS
THAT WERE REMOVED IN THE 2025
BUDGET. ACKNOWLEDGING THE
PRIORITY FOCUS ON BATHROOMS,
THEIR ADDING FUNDS BACK FOR THEM
. THAT WILL BE SEVERAL POSITIONS
TO PERFORM THE MAINTENANCE, AND
ALSO A COORDINATING POSITION TO
IMPLEMENT THE AUDITOR'S
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF HOW THE
BATHROOMS ARE CLEANED. AND HOW
TO PRIORITIZE THAT. NEXT IS THE
PARK RANGERS EXPANSION, WHICH IS
ADDING GENERAL FUND FOR THREE
FTE TO SUPPORT THE PARK RANGERS
, INCREASING THE ACTUAL RANGERS
FROM 28 TO 31. ALSO ADDING A
SUPERVISOR POSITION. THIS WORK
IS GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON THE
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION TEAM FOR
DOWNTOWN PARKS, BUT IT WILL
ADDITIONALLY ADD CAPACITY
CITYWIDE. THERE ALSO IS SOME
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR OVERTIME
TO ENHANCE PARKS MAINTENANCE AS
WELL. FOR ORGANIZATIONAL
CAPACITY, PARKS RECOGNIZED THE
NEED TO ADD A FEW MORE BACK OF
HOUSE STAFF FOR HUMAN RESOURCES
AND ACCOUNTING. THIS IS TO HELP
THE DEPARTMENT MEET THEIR CYCLE
TWO COMMITMENTS, AND THEY WERE
FINDING THAT THEY NEEDED MORE
INTERNAL STAFF TO MEET THOSE
EFFORTS. LAST ARE PAID
COMPRESSION CORRECTIONS. WHEN
THE COALITION OF CITY UNIONS PAY
ADJUSTMENTS WERE ENACTED, IT
RESULTED IN PAY COMPRESSION
SITUATION FOR THREE JOB
CLASSIFICATIONS THAT WERE
NON-REPRESENTED. THIS WILL BRING
THEM UP TO A PAY LEVEL THAT IS
COMMENSURATE WITH THEIR WORK IN
RELATION TO THE OTHER POSITIONS
THAT GOT A PAY BUMP. THAT
IMPACTS 11 POSITIONS. NEXT, FOR
THE CAPITAL BUDGET, AGAIN, $151
MILLION DECREASE. THIS IS
LARGELY RELATED TO THE SHIFTING
OF THE BONDS . THERE ARE,
HOWEVER, AN INFUSION OF FUNDS
FOR NEW PROJECTS. ON A ONE-TIME
BASIS, THERE IS $2 MILLION OF
REET MONEY FOR PUBLIC RESTROOMS.
THIS IS FOR THE COST OF
WEATHERIZATION OF NINE SITES.
THESE ARE ALREADY INCLUDED. THE
COSTS HAVE RISEN OVER THE YEARS,
THERE IS ALSO ADDITIONAL MONEY
FOR INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLES AS
WELL. NEXT IS 1.8 MILLION OF
PARK AND RECREATION FUND FOR
GASWORKS SAVE PROJECT. THIS
WOULD PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION
OF SECURITY LIGHTING, AND ALSO
REMOVAL OF WHAT IS CALLED
PERMANENT FIXTURES THAT COULD BE
, THIS IS MY WORK, A NUISANCE OR
DANGEROUS . CATWALKS, LADDERS,
ET CETERA. THE MONEY WILL PAY
FOR REMOVAL OF THOSE TO ENHANCE
THE SAFETY OF THE PARKS. LAST IS
ONE-TIME INVESTMENT . THIS IS
FUNDED BY 1 MILLION FROM THE
KING COUNTY LEVEE FUND. THESE
ARE CONTRACTUALLY REQUIRED
IMPROVEMENTS . COSTS HAVE
INCREASED OVER TIME DUE TO
ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
INCREASING THE SCOPE. THE NEXT
ROUND OF CAPITAL BUDGET , THE
CAPITAL BUDGET PROPOSAL, RELATES
TO THE BIG COMMUNITY CENTER
PROJECTS. ONE OF THEM, CHAIR
STRAUSS, YOU MENTIONED EARLIER
GREEN LAKE. GREEN LAKE IS GOING
TO BE RECEIVING A 2. 7 MILLION
FOR FURTHER PLANNING AND DESIGN
FOR THIS PROJECT TO TAKE PLACE
IN ONE PHASE RATHER THAN TWO.
AND THEN, BECAUSE A ONE PHASE
SCOPE WOULD COST MORE MONEY, IT
WOULD ALSO INCREASE THE BOND
ISSUANCE BY $17 MILLION FROM 56
MILLION TO 73 MILLION IN ORDER
TO PAY FOR THE DEBT SERVICE
PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS FOR THAT
INCREASE IN THE BOND. THAT MONEY
WILL COME BY REMOVING THE FUNDS
THAT HAD BEEN SET ASIDE FOR THE
UNREINFORCED MASONRY
REHABILITATION EFFORTS. AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER, THE BONDS FOR
FIVE COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT ARE
NOT READY FOR CONSTRUCTION NEXT
YEAR , THAT IS BEING MOVED TO
2027. THOSE COMMUNITY CENTERS
ARE GREEN LAKE, LAKE CITY, ACE
AND MERCER, LOYAL HEIGHTS, AND
CLEAN AND. -- QUEEN ANN . THE
FUND OBLIGATIONS ARE $6.7
MILLION. THAT WAS IN THE
FINANCIAL PLAN FOR 2026. THEY
WILL BE MUCH HIGHER IN 2027.
PARKS HAS ADJUSTED THE AMOUNT
THAT IS ESTIMATED TO BE OWED TO
REFLECT INFLATION. AND SO, THE
AMOUNT OWED IN 2027 FOR THOSE
PROJECTS IS INCREASED TO $11
MILLION IN THE FINANCIAL PLAN.
NEXT, LABOR INCREASES . THIS IS
THE OLD ONE. OKAY. I'M SORRY.
THERE IS A REVISED POWERPOINT
PRESENTATION THAT WAS SENT TO
YOU BY EMAIL. I HOPE THIS WON'T
CAUSE TOO MUCH CONFUSION. THIS
POWERPOINT, THIS SLIDE, WHAT IT
IS SAYING -- LET ME TELL YOU
WHAT IS CORRECT. I WILL TELL YOU
WHY THIS SAYS WHAT IT SAYS. THE
2026 PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES 23
MORE FTEs THAN THE 2026 ENDORSED
BUDGET. THE REASON WHY THIS
SLIDE SAYS 15.7 IS THAT MY ERROR
-- AND THANKS TO COUNSEL --
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA'S OFFICE
FOR POINTING THIS OUT -- THE
15.7 INCREASES IN RELATION TO
THE 2025 ADOPTED BUDGET. WHAT
YOU SEE HERE IS THAT THESE
POSITIONS , THE ONES THAT ARE
INCLUDED ON THIS SLIDE RELATE TO
THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING
PROGRAM. THEY ARE BEING RESTORED
AT 7.35 FTEs. THEY ARE STILL IN
THE BUDGET IN 2025. THEY JUST
WERE PROPOSED FOR REMOVAL IN
2026. NOW WITH THE FEPP LEVY
FUNDS, THEY CAN STAY. IT IS
DIFFERENT THAN THE 2026 ENDORSED
BUDGET. IN ADDITION TO THOSE FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING, THERE
ARE FIVE FOR SUPPORTIVE CAPITAL
DELIVERY PROJECTS. THE FUNDING
FOR THOSE POSITIONS IS ALL
INCLUDED IN THE CIP FOR THOSE
CAPITAL PROJECTS. XP ARE
RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO HAVE MORE
ADMINISTRATION TO KEEP THOSE
PROJECTS GOING AND KEEP THEM ON
THE TIMELINE. THERE IS ALSO
STAFF ADDED FOR PUBLIC RESTROOM
CLEANING. THERE IS -- WE WENT
THROUGH THESE IN THE OPERATING
SECTION. STAFF ARE PARK RANGERS,
CODE ENFORCEMENT, THE INTERNAL
HR AND ACCOUNTING FUNCTIONS.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF TECHNICAL
ITEMS. ADDING ONE FTE WHEN PARKS
LOOKED OVER THE NUMBER OF
RECLASSIFICATIONS AND CHANGES
OVER 35 POSITIONS IN THE
DEPARTMENT. THERE ENDED UP BEING
ONE ADDITIONAL FTE FOR THOSE,
FOR THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT
HAD INCREASED TO FULL TIME.
THERE IS ANOTHER POSITION THAT
WAS ADDED BY LEGISLATION
REGARDING SOUND TRANSIT BEING
FUNDED BY THE TRANSPORTATION
FUND. AND LAST, TWO P█OSITIONS
BEING AGGREGATED FOR PARK
SAFETY. THEY'RE NO LONGER
NEEDED DUE TO THE PARK RANGERS
EXPANSION. THAT IS THE DEEP DIVE
OVERVIEW OF SPR'S BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU. DIRECTOR NOBLE OR
TRACI, ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD AT
THIS TIME?. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE
DID IDENTIFY SPECIFIC ISSUES,
BUT THE DEPARTMENT IS LARGE
ENOUGH AND IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO
YOU. YOU MAY HAVE ISSUES OF YOUR
OWN. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU
HAVE THE BACKGROUND.
>> I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. AS
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE
OVERSEEING THIS DEPARTMENT. AND
THEN, TO COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ,
THE PAST CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE
OVERSEEING THIS DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WILL
BE SUPERQUICK. THANK YOU,
CENTRAL STAFF, FOR YOUR MEMO AND
OVERVIEW OF THAT. I DON'T HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW. I HAVE
BEEN GATHERING THEM ALL. NONE
THAT I WANT TO SAY FOR THE
RECORD. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT
TO MAKE SURE I POINT OUT, AND
OBVIOUSLY, PARKS ARE SOME OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT GREEN SPACES FOR
PEOPLE . LOOKING TO IMPROVE ON
THAT. ONE THING I AM GOING TO
LOOK REAL CLOSE THAT IS THE
LABOR PEACE. OFTENTIMES, WE HAVE
PEOPLE REACH OUT. ONE OF THE
AREAS OF CONCERN IS BOOTS ON THE
GROUND AND HAVING ENOUGH
MAINTENANCE WORKERS AND PEOPLE
ON THE GROUND , YOU KNOW, WHERE
PEOPLE COME INTO CONTACT A LOT
WITH. AND SO, I WILL BE LOOKING
AT ALL THAT. I REALLY APPRECIATE
IT. I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS NOW. I
MIGHT AT THE END. MR. CHAIR, I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU
KIND OF BLEW BY PAGE 6 A LITTLE
TOO FAST FOR ME TO GRAB MY
NOTES. CAN WE GO BACK TO PAGE 6
REAL QUICK ON THE LONG-TERM
GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS ? I
KNOW YOU RATTLED OFF FIVE
COMMUNITY CENTERS. HEARD LAKE
CITY AND THE OTHER ONES AS WELL.
I WOULD ACTUALLY APPRECIATE A
LIST OFF-LINE WHAT YOU SHARED
ABOUT THE FIVE COMMUNITY CENTERS
AND SHIFTING THE BOND DATE ON
THE ISSUANCE OF THOSE BONDS.
DOES THAT, IN FACT, CHANGE THE
CONSTRUCTION DATE? DOES IT DELAY
CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR ON THESE
CAPITAL STRUCTURES?
>> YES, IT WILL CHANGE THE
CONSTRUCTION DATE. THOSE FIVE
COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE LISTED ON
PAGE 5. I'M HAPPY TO SEND A
LIST OF THEM.
>> I THINK YOU JUST WENT TOO
FAST FOR ME.
>> VERY FAST BUT IT WOULD'VE
BEEN HELPFUL TO HAVE THEM ON THE
SAME SLIDE AS THE ONE ON THE
ADJUSTMENTS.
>> WHERE ARE THEY?
>> I SEE THEM NOW. SO THOSE ARE
THE FIVE. I WILL DEFER TO THE
CHAIR , CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH TWO
CHAIRS HIS COMMITTEE. DO YOU
THINK , OFF-LINE, AND MAYBE WITH
MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL, CERTAINLY
THE CHAIR, YOU CAN BREAK DOWN --
ALL OF THESE ARE IN DIFFERENT
STAGES AND ISSUING THE BONDS,
WHETHER IT IS A NEW COMMUNITY
CENTER, REPAIR, WHATEVER FOR THE
CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT COMES OUT
OF THE CAPITAL SIDE OF THE
BUDGET. CAN YOU GIVE ME A
TIMELINE ON THOSE? I DON'T KNOW
WHERE THEY ARE IN THE AREA OF
CONSTRUCTION OR ISSUING THE
BONDS AND WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION
DATE IS AND WHEN THAT WILL
SHIFT. THAT IS MY CONCERN. THESE
ARE ALL SPREAD ACROSS THE CITY.
>> I AM LOOKING TO TRACI TO
CORRECT ME IF I MISS ANYTHING.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT NO
BONDS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THESE
PARTICULAR PROJECTS . THEY ARE
AT VARYING STAGES OF PLANNING
AND DESIGN, BUT PARKS INTENDS
FOR THEM TO BE CONSTRUCTION
READY IN 2027. THE HOPE WAS THAT
THEY WOULD BE READY FOR
CONSTRUCTION NEXT YEAR. THAT HAS
TURNED OUT NOT TO BE THE CASE.
AND SO, MOVING THESE BONDS, THE
BOND ISSUANCE TO 2027, ALIGNS
THE ISSUANCE OF THE BOND WITH
THE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE. NOW
IT IS INTENDED THAT BONDS WILL
BE ISSUED IN 2027, CONSTRUCTION
WILL START IN 2027, AND THAT IS
WHEN THE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS
WILL BEGIN AS WELL.
>> NOT TO GET TO LOST --
>> IF YOU CAN ANSWER FOR ME, AND
IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER
THAT IS FINE, THE LAST TIME WE
TALKED, 2026 FOR LAKE CITY. I
DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THAT
THEY WEREN'T READY. SO WHAT
CHANGED ?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT PROJECT
SPECIFICALLY -- IT WENT THROUGH
ANOTHER SERIES, AS YOU KNOW, OF
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WHEN THEY
HAD THAT WORK DONE IN ADDITION
TO TRYING TO ADD IN AND
INCORPORATE INTO THAT WHOLE
PROJECT THE HOUSING ELEMENT, THE
TIMELINE HAS BEEN ONE IN WHICH
THEY WEREN'T EXPECTING THEY
WOULD BE IN CONSTRUCTION IN
2026. THE DIFFICULTY OR
COMPLEXITY OF THIS PROJECT HAS
RESULTED IN THAT TIMELINE .
BEING OPTIMISTIC TO BEGIN WITH
BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT EVEN
WHEN WE DEVELOP THE SECOND
SPENDING PLAN FOR THE PARK
DISTRICT, WE ARE PROBABLY BEING
OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHEN WE WOULD
ACTUALLY BE READY FOR PROJECTS
TO CONSTRUCT. BUT YOU HAVE TO
PUT SOMETHING IN SOMEWHERE. SO
WE DID BUT LO AND BEHOLD, THEY
WEREN'T READY TO BE CONSTRUCTED
IN THE TIMELINE WE THOUGHT. WHAT
IS REFLECTED HERE IS TRULY THE
TIME IT DOES TAKE WITH EACH ONE
OF THESE PROJECT. VERY UNIQUE IN
TERMS OF WHAT THEY HAVE GOING ON
WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE
COMPLEXITY OF THE PROJECT. WHAT
YOU HAVE NOW IS, HOPEFULLY, A
MORE TRUING UP OF WHEN THE BOND
ISSUANCE WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
THAT WOULD BE IN 2026 FOR
CONSTRUCTION STARTING IN 2027.
>> LET ME MAKE HIM NOTE -- A
NOTE HERE. LAKE CITY, UNLIKE THE
OTHER ONES, HAS HOUSING. WE HAVE
BEEN DOING THIS FOR 10 YEARS.
WHEN OFFICE OF HOUSING
PRESENTED, THEY HAD
CONSTRUCTION, I THINK, QUARTER
THREE OR QUARTER FOUR OF 2026. I
HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. I
GUESS MY CONCERN IS, BECAUSE WE
WORK SO HARD TO GET HOUSING ON
TOP OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER, THE
PRE-K CENTER FOR CHILDCARE AND
EDUCATION . I GUESS THAT IS A
COMPLAINT I HAD THAT I WANT TO
NOTE. MAYBE I SHOULD GO BACK TO
HOUSING. MAYBE WE CAN TALK MORE
OFF-LINE. BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY
IN DISTRICT 5 STILL BELIEVES
THIS WAS ON PAR FOR 2026. THIS
IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE BEEN
HEARING THAT IT IS BUMPED TO
2027. BECAUSE WE MADE HOUSING
SUCH A PRIORITY FOR THE CITY,
AND CERTAINLY THIS NEIGHBORHOOD,
I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION IT
WOULD HAPPEN NEXT YEAR. I GUESS
I AM DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THE
BIDS WOULD GO OUT IN 2026, AND
MAYBE THEY ARE, BY SOME CHANCE,
WILL START BY THE END OF 2026. I
COULD BE TOTALLY WRONG.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT WOULD
MEAN A LOT TO US AND THOSE
LISTENING ON THE BONDS AND WHEN
WE CAN ACTUALLY MOVE DIRT. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. I CAN TELL YOU A DAY
GONE BY WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY
CENTER IS A DAY TOO LONG FOR ME.
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON, FOLLOWED
BY COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> MY QUESTION DOES RELATE TO
CAPITAL BUDGET. PRIMARILY
THINKING ABOUT THE DEMO AND
REPLACEMENT OF THE BATHHOUSE, AS
WELL AS IMPROVEMENTS TO SHELTER
REDESIGN. AS WELL AS REPRODUCING
THE PARKING LOT TO MORE A PLAY
AREA. I DON'T SEE THOSE LISTED
IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET SLIDE. I
AM WONDERING, ARE THOSE IN THE
WORKS? DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE FOR
WHEN THOSE THINGS WILL BE?
>> FOR THOSE, I NEED TO FOLLOW
UP WITH YOU. THAT EVERY CAPITAL
PROJECT HAS ITS OWN CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PAGE. AND SO, THERE
IS A BIG FUND OF MAJOR
MAINTENANCE BACKLOG AND ASSET
FUND. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
PROJECTS IN THERE. WE CAN LOOK
IN THERE. I KNOW THERE EXIST
RIGHT NOW AND ITEM IN THE SPR
BUDGET TRACKER IN THE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS THAT ADDRESSES THE
MOUNT BAKER REHABILITATION. I
CAN'T REMEMBER THE ANSWER RIGHT
NOW. I CAN GET BACK TO YOU ON
THAT ONE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> IN ADDITION TO JOSÉ.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR BEING
HERE. JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT
QUESTION. DOUBLE CHECKING WITH
MY STAFF. I DON'T HAVE A
FOLLOW-UP. I HAD A MEETING WITH
PARKS. WE WENT THROUGH
EVERYTHING IN DISTRICT 7 TO
INCLUDE THE QUEEN ANNE COMMUNITY
CENTER THAT IT WAS ON TRACK. NOW
I SEE SLIDE FIVE ABOUT THE
COMMUNITY CENTER. CAN YOU SPEAK
TO THAT? I ASKED PARTLY TOO
BECAUSE WE HAVE THE WEST QUEEN
ANNE PLAYING FIELD . SHOVEL IN
THE DIRT IN 27. THERE HAS ALSO
BEEN TALK OF USING THE DISTRICT
7 FUND RELATED FOR FIRST WAS
BETWEEN CROCKETT AND HOWELL.
BASICALLY THE AREA BETWEEN
McCLURE AND THE COMMUNITY
CENTER. AND WITH THE QUEEN ANNE
POOL ON THE OTHER SIDE. AND YOU
SPEAK TO THE QUEEN ANNE
COMMUNITY CENTER PIECE?
>> I CAN'T SPEAK AT LENGTH. WE
WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
WHAT I DO REMEMBER HEARING FROM
PARKS IS THAT COUNCIL ADDED
MONEY FOR THE QUEEN ANNE
COMMUNITY CENTER RENOVATION. AND
SO, I THINK IT WAS ALWAYS A HOPE
AND A DREAM THAT CONSTRUCTION
WOULD START IN 2026. BUT THEY
LEARNED RECENTLY THAT THAT
WASN'T GOING TO BE A REALITY.
SO IT WAS MOVED TO 2027.
>> HOPE AND DREAM IS NOT REALLY
A GOOD ANSWER. I WILL DOUBLE
CHECK, BUT I WAS TOLD ON THE
SCHEDULE STASH AND THERE IS A
WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER PARKS IN
DISTRICT 7 WE ARE RUNNING
THROUGH. QUEEN ANNE COMMUNITY
CENTER , THE WEST PLAYING FIELD
HAS BEEN EVEN WORSE. A QUARTER
CENTURY PUSHED TO THE RIGHT
SCHEDULE WISE. SHOVELS NEED TO
GO INTO THE DIRT IN 27, AND THE
COMMUNITY CENTER NEEDS BE WORKED
AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE
MEETINGS BEFORE THIS WHOLE
BUDGET. THINGS ARE ON TRACK. YOU
KNOW, SMITH COVE. A WHOLE BUNCH
OF DIFFERENT THINGS THROUGHOUT
THE DISTRICT. ALL OF THE SUDDEN,
LIKE COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, I'M
LOOKING AT THE SLIDE, WHAT DOES
THIS MEAN? I WOULD LIKE TO GET
MORE DETAILS ON THIS.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE WILL FOLLOW
UP. I DON'T NEED TO BE GLIB IN
MY RESPONSE. BUT WE WILL FOLLOW
UP.
>> NOT FOR YOU, BUT SOMETIMES WE
HEAR FROM DEPARTMENTS ONE THING,
YOU KNOW, AND I WON'T QUOTE THE
TOP GUN AS I AM TEMPTED TO RIGHT
NOW ABOUT WRITING CHECKS, BUT WE
CAN'T BE TOLD ONE THING IN THE
NEXT THING YOU KNOW IN PART OF
THE BUDGET BRIEFING BEING TOLD
SOMETHING ELSE.
>> THERE MAY BE A LACK OF
SPECIFICITY AND UNDERSTANDING
WHEN YOU SET ON SCHEDULE WHAT
THAT MEANT. WAS AT THAT --
>> THAT IS WHAT I'M SAYING OUT
LOUD THE QUEEN ANNE PLAINFIELD
NEEDS TO BE SHOVELS. I WAS TOLD
THE SEQUENCING. SHOVELS IN THE
DIRT IN 27 FOR THE PLAINFIELD.
RIGHT ADJACENT TO THE COMMUNITY
CENTER.
>> RIGHT. I BELIEVE KARINA IS
CORRECT. THEY ARE INTENDED TO
BEGIN CONSTRUCTION .
>> INTENDING? SHOVELS NEED TO BE
IN THE DIRT PER
>> IN 2027. THAT WAS MY
UNDERSTANDING. WE WILL GET THAT
VERIFIED FOR USE EVERYBODY
UNDERSTANDS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AT
THIS TIME? I ALREADY WENT ON MY
10 MINUTE SPEECH ABOUT GREENLAKE
COMMUNITY CENTER EARLIER TODAY.
NOTING THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS
A PROJECT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO
BE IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE
METROPOLITAN PARKS DISTRICT
FUNDING. THEY CHOSE TO HAVE
SMALL RENOVATIONS INSTEAD SO
THAT RAINIER BEACH COMMUNITY
CENTER COULD BE BUILT INSTEAD.
THE RENOVATION FAILED. WERE
GIVEN FUNNY DURING THE SECOND
ROUND, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO DO IT
ALL IN ONE PHASE. SO THIS LAST
CHUNK OF MONEY HERE ENABLES LESS
CONSTRUCTION IMPACT, QUICKER
REOPENING OF THE COMMUNITY
CENTER, AND THIS BUILDING IS
NEARLY 100 YEARS OLD AND YES, I
HAVE THE PHOTOS TO PROVE IT.
WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE
OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT? OR ABOUT THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT ISSUE ? I KNOW YOU
MENTIONED WE HAVE METROPOLITAN
PARKS DISTRICT MEETING NEXT
TUESDAY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE
A LITTLE BRIEF ABOUT THAT FOR US
SO WE HAVE A NOTICE?
>> IT WILL BE THE STANDARD KIND
OF BRIEFING THAT HAPPENS IN THE
EARLY DAYS OF BUDGET. THEY WILL
PRESENT AN OVERVIEW OF THE
SEATTLE PARK DISTRICT FINANCIAL
PLAN . THE CHANGES THAT ARE IN
IT, AND A REMINDER OF HOW THE
SEATTLE PARK DISTRICT OPERATES
IN ITS FUNCTION AND ROLE IN
THEIR BUDGET. AND THEN, THERE
WILL BE A NUMBER OF RESOLUTIONS
THEY WILL PREVIEW, WHICH THE
BOARD WILL VOTE ON THE MORNING
BEFORE THE FINAL VOTE ON THE
BUDGET. AND SO, THOSE
RESOLUTIONS WILL INCLUDE
ADOPTION OF THE PARK DISTRICT
FINANCIAL PLAN, ADOPTION OF THE
NEW TAX RATE FOR 2026, WHICH
PREVIEWS $.44 PER $1000 ASSESSED
PROPERTY VALUE. AND ALSO, THE
2026 PARK DISTRICT BOARD MEETING
DATES.
>> WONDERFUL. JUST TO REMIND US,
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
METROPOLITAN PARKS DISTRICT WILL
BE AT THE CONCLUSION OF OUR
BUDGET PROCESS, CORRECT?
>> THE ONE THAT IS NEXT WEEK
WILL BE A 2:00 VIA. THERE IS NOT
A CITY COUNCIL MEETING. THE ONE
WHERE THE VOTE IS TAKEN ON
RESOLUTIONS WILL BE AFTER THE
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE VOTE ON
THE BUDGET AND BEFORE THE FULL
CITY COUNCIL VOTE ON THE BUDGET.
I BELIEVE IT IS 9:30 IN THE
MORNING AND FULL COUNCIL VOTE
WILL BE LATER THAT DAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT HELPFUL
CLARIFICATION. AS I HAVE BEEN
INVESTIGATING THE DIFFERENT
FUNDING STREAMS AND DIFFERENT
CAPS THE THE STATE PUTS ON US,
COLLEAGUES, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT
KNOW WE HAVE A LEVY CAP. THEY'RE
NOT COMPLETELY UNABATED FORM OF
FUNDING. WE CAN ONLY SEND SO
MUCH FUNDING REQUESTS TO THE
VOTERS. AND YOU REMIND ME THE
STRUCTURE OF THE METROPOLITAN
PARKS DISTRICT AND HOW THAT IS
NOT STRUCTURED UNDER OUR LEVY
CAP?
>> I AM GOING TO BEGIN, AND
TRAN54 IS GOING TO TAKE OVER. WE
WERE JUST DISCUSSING THIS BEFORE
THIS PRESENTATION.
>> THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS A CAP
, THE MAXIMUM RATE FOR PROPERTY
TAX WE CAN ASSESS. THE MAXIMUM
RATE IS MADE UP BY THE SUM OF
THE COUNCIL APPROVED PROPERTY
TAX LEVY, AND THEN THE VOTER
APPROVED LEVIES. THE
METROPOLITAN PARKS DISTRICT IS
TECHNICALLY NOT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. IT HAPPENS TO HAVE
EXACTLY THE SAME BORDERS AND YOU
ALL SERVING AS ITS BOARD, BUT IT
IS TECHNICALLY A SEPARATE
DISTRICT, SEPARATE BRANCH OF
GOVERNMENT. IT HAS ITS OWN
RESTRICTIONS BUT THESE ARE
RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY STATE
LAW. WE NEED TO GET BACK TO YOU
ON WHERE THOSE SIT RELATIVE TO
CURRENT COLLECTIONS AND WHAT
OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE. MY
UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THIS IS THAT
IT TURNS OUT TO HAVE BEEN WRONG.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET YOU
THE CORRECT INFORMATION. THERE
HAVE BEEN CHANGES SINCE I LAST
ENGAGED. THAT IS WHAT IS GOING
ON. SEPARATE CONVERSATION. THE
CITY OF SEATTLE'S PROPERTY TAX
CAP IS ONE WE ARE BEGINNING TO
APPROACH . DRIVEN BY TWO
FACTORS. ONE IS INCREASING SIZE
OF THE LEVIES UPON RENEWAL, AND
THE OTHER IS THE SLOWING OF AV.
THE TOTAL TAX REVENUE THE CITY
CAN COLLECT IS DETERMINED BY THE
MAXIMUM RATE, WHICH IS SET IN
STATE LAW, MULTIPLIED BY THE
CITY'S TOTAL ASSESSED VALUE.
FOR MANY YEARS, PRE-PANDEMIC,
EVEN INTO THE PANDEMIC, THE
CITY'S ASSESSED VALUE WAS
ESCALATING QUICKLY. WE MAY ALL
REMEMBER THE DAYS OF 10% ANNUAL
PROPERTY TAX INCREASES SEEN IN
YOUR APPRAISED VALUES AND THE
LIKE. BUT HAS CALMED
CONSIDERABLY. THE ASSESSED VALUE
HAS PLAN. WE HAVE BEEN
INCREASINGLY LEVIES AND ARE
GETTING CLOSER TO THAT CAP IF
THE CONVERSATION STARTS NEXT
YEAR, THAT CONSTRAINT WILL
BECOME CANDIDLY, PAINFULLY,
OBVIOUS.
>> THANK YOU. MY LINE OF
QUESTIONS IS NOT TO SUGGEST WE
RAISE THE METROPOLITAN PARK
DISTRICT FUNDING LEVELS. I
BELIEVE, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT VOTERS APPROVED A CEILING
IN WHICH THE CITY COUNCIL OR
METROPOLITAN PARKS DISTRICT
COULD RAISE TO. I BELIEVE WERE
ACTUALLY NEAR THE CAP OF THAT
VOTER APPROVED ALLOWANCE AS
WELL.
>> WE DON'T THINK WE ARE, BUT
WE ACTUALLY ESTABLISHED THAT
SIX-YEAR SPENDING PLAN TO MAKE
SURE WE DIDN'T GO TO EXCEED
WITH THAT MAXIMUM WAS. WE'RE
GETTING UPDATED INFORMATION TO
SEE WHERE WE ARE, BECAUSE IT IS
BASED IN PART. WE THINK WE DID A
CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE, BUT
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE DID
THAT WITH THE IDEA WE HAVE A
MAXIMUM WE CANNOT GO ABOVE. WE
DON'T WANT TO COME ANYWHERE
NEAR. WE ARE GETTING AN UPDATE
FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE ON WE ARE
IN TERMS OF THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE NEVER
ALTERED THE SIX-YEAR FUNDING
PLANS MIDSTREAM. THIS IS ALSO
NOT A CALL TO ALTER THAT. CAN
YOU REMIND US WHERE WE ARE IN
THE SIX YEAR CYCLE? ARE WE ON
YOUR TWO OR THREE?
>> WE ARE ON CYCLE TWO AND THAT
RUNS FROM 2023 THROUGH 2028. WE
ARE NEARING THE MID-POINT. THERE
ARE THREE MORE YEARS LEFT.
PLANNING WILL BEGIN NEXT YEAR
FOR CYCLE THREE. IN EARNEST, IT
HAPPENS IN 2027, BUT THE PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT IDENTIFYING WHAT IS
NEEDED, OPPORTUNITIES, ALL THAT
BEGINS NEXT YEAR.
>> SAID ANOTHER WAY, IF WE ARE
INTERESTED IN HAVING A PROJECT
IN ROUND THREE OF THE
METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT, THAT
PLANNING IS BEGINNING NEXT YEAR.
SO WE SHOULD PROBABLY GET TO
WORK NOW.
>> CORRECT.
>> FANTASTIC.
>> IS QUITE A ROBUST PROCESS.
THAT IS WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN
CHANGES TO THE SPENDING PLAN.
THERE IS ROBUST COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT THAT BOTH THE
EXECUTIVE GOES INTO AND WE ALSO
EMBARK ON WHEN WE GET THE
SPENDING PLAN. THAT IS WHY WE
HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH THE
PROCESS OF CHANGING THE SPENDING
PLAN FUNDAMENTALLY FROM WHAT IS
APPROVED, BECAUSE IT IS QUITE A
PROCESS EVERYONE HAS GONE
THROUGH TO GET COMMUNITY INPUT
ON THAT.
>> ALSO AN ELEMENT OF
ACCOUNTABILITY. SLI FOR ALSO --
THE CITY HAD DONE A SERIES OF
PARKS LEVY IS SHIFTED TO THE
METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT
APPROACH, WHATEVER THAT WAS, 10
YEARS AGO.
>> 14.
>> IT IS THE NATURE OF THE
METROPOLITAN PARKS DISTRICT, A
ONE TIME VOTE TO CREATE THE
AUTHORITY AND THE TAXING
AUTHORITY. THAT IS DIFFERENT
THAN A LEVY THAT REQUIRES
RENEWAL. THE NOTION WITH THE
NEED FOR RENEWAL IS IN ITSELF A
FORM OF ACCOUNTABILITY. OF THE
CITY AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
HAS NOT DELIVERED TO THE
VOTERS' SATISFACTION ON A LEVY,
THE VOTERS CAN CHOOSE NOT TO
RENEW. WHEN WE SHIFTED, THAT
BLUNT INSTRUMENT OF
ACCOUNTABILITY WOULD NO LONGER
BE AVAILABLE. THE SENSE WAS THAT
A WAY TO ADDRESS THAT WAS TO DO
A SIX-YEAR PLAN AND COMMIT TO IT
AND THEN TOWARDS THE END OF THAT
PLAN, TO EVALUATE AND TALKED TO
VOTERS AND TO YOU ABOUT, DID WE
DO WHAT WE SAID WE WOULD? SO
THERE COULD STILL BE SOME SENSE
THAT WE ARE MAKING PLANS AND
COMMITTED TO THEM AND WILL BE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO HOW WE
DELIVER AND HOW THEY CHANGE. TO
BE CLEAR, THEY HAVE CHANGED.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC AND DYNAMICS AROUND
TIMING. SOME THINGS DO CHANGE.
THAT IS ANOTHER REASON WHY WE
HAVEN'T RUSHED TO THE IDEA OF
CHANGING THE SPENDING AUTHORITY
OVER THAT SIX YEARS. IT WAS
REALLY SEEN AS A WAY TO
IMPLEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, EVEN
THOUGH THE TAXING AUTHORITY IS
NOT SUBJECT TO RENEWAL.
>> NO REVENUE UTOPIA.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. COLLEAGUES,
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH,
LAST WORD FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. LAST WORD. THANK YOU.
>> THERE WE ARE. ANYTHING ELSE
FROM YOU TODAY? FANTASTIC. THAT
DOES CONCLUDE THE FIFTH ITEM ON
THE AGENDA TODAY. WE ARE
CONCLUDING THE WEDNESDAY,
OCTOBER 15, 2025 SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE. THE NEXT MEETING IS
TOMORROW, OCTOBER 16 AT 9:30
A.M. WILL HEAR FROM CENTRAL
STAFF ANALYST ON THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
AND EARLY MORNING, OFFICE OF
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, SETTLED DEPARTMENT
OF CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS.
WHILE WE HAD VERBAL PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY, WE WILL ONLY BE
ACCEPTING WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT
THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THIS
SECTION OF THE BUDGET. AS A
REMINDER, WE DISCUSSED INITIAL
COUNCILMEMBER PROPOSALS ARE DUE
TO CENTRAL STAFF BY NEXT
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21. IN
TOMORROW'S COMMITTEE MEETING AT
10:16 A.M. WE WILL HAVE THE
GREAT NATIONAL SHAKE OUT, THE
ANNUAL EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS
DRILL. SO BE PREPARED. WE WILL
BE ON THE DAIS LIKE WE WERE LAST
YEAR FOR THE DRILL. SO BE
PREPARED. WITH THAT, ANY FURTHER
BUSINESS? COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> JUST A POINT A PERSONAL
PRIVILEGE TO SAY, GO MARINERS.
>> LET'S GO.
>> MARINERS.
>> SEIZED THE MOMENT. I WILL
REPORT THAT WE DID RUN INTO SOME
BLUE JAYS FANS OUTSIDE CITY HALL
THAT ASKED FOR DIRECTIONS. WE
WERE VERY POLITE. LET'S GO
MARINERS. THANK YOU