♪ ♪
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
THIS IS THE MARCH 11,
2025 MEETING OF THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL.
IT IS 4:02, AND I'M SARA
NELSON, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL STRAUSS.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> PRESENT.
>>
COUNCIL KETTLE.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> HERE.
>> AND COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M NOT AWARE OF
ANY PRESENTATIONS FOR TODAY, SO
WE'LL MOVE INTO THE HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD, LIMITED TO ITEMS ON
TODAY'S
AGENDA, AND THE COUNCIL WORK
PROGRAM.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> WE HAVE FIVE IN-
PERSON SPEAKERS AND ONE REMOTE
SPEAKER.
>> LET'S GIVE EVERYBODY TWO
MINUTES AND START WITH THE FIVE
IN- PERSON SPEAKERS.
>> ALL RIGHTY.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN
ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE
REGISTERED, AND SPEAKERS WILL
HEAR
A CHIME WHEN TEN SECONDS ARE
LEFT ON
THEIR TIME.
SPEAKERS MICS WILL BE MUTED IF
THEY DO NOT END THEIR COMMENTS.
THE FIRST TWO ARE NANCY CRAIG
FOLLOWED BY LAND LOHSER.
>> I'M NANCY CRAIG, I LIVE AT
THE BALLARD LANDMARK SENIOR
COMMUNITY.
WE OPPOSE THE CURRENT ROUTE.
WE TRACK TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE AND FULL
COUNCIL MEETINGS TO IDENTIFY
PROJECTS RELATED TO THAT.
LAST JULY, WE WERE PLEASED
THAT THE COUNCIL DEFEATED AN
AMENDMENT TO DEFEND THE
UPCOMING TRANSPORTATION LEAVY TO
MOVE $20
MILLION FROM STREET REPAIRS
TO ANOTHER CATEGORY FROM
WHICH IT COULD BE
USED TO FUND THE MARKET ROUTE.
WE WERE BLIND SIDED WHEN,
ONE WEEK LATER, THE AMENDMENT
WAS PRESENTED AGAIN.
TWO COUNCILMEMBERS CHANGED THEIR
VOTE AND PASSED
IT. IN DECEMBER, A PROVISO
WAS PASSED BY THE COUNCIL
REQUIRING THEM TO PROVIDE
DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT
INDIVIDUAL
PROJECTS, BOTH COUNCIL'S
REVIEW
AND APPROVAL BEFORE SPENDING THE
MONEY.
THIS NEW LEVEL OF OVERSIGHT
ALSO PROVIDES
THIS VISIBILITY TO THE GENERAL
PUBLIC.
COUNCIL BILL 102946 LIFTS THIS
PROVISO.
WE STRONGLY OBJECT AND REQUEST A
NO VOTE ON COUNCIL BILL 120946.
WE DO NOT WANT TO BE BLINDSIDED
AGAIN.
THIS WAS GOOD GOVERNANCE
IN
DECEMBER. IT IS GOOD GOVERNANCE
NOW.
>> NEXT UP IS LAND LOHSER,
FOLLOWED BY BENNETT HASSLETON.
>> MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
TO YOU TODAY.
MY NAME IS LANING LOHSER, LAN
FOR SHORT.
I'M THE RESIDENT AT
THE BALLARD CARE LANDMARK INN.
YOU WERE WISE TO TAKE EXTRA
STEPS IN DECEMBER TO HAVE EXTRA
OVERSIGHT AND
INPUT INTO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE BIG
LEVY FOR TRANSPORTATION.
IT IS, INDEED, AS ONE OF
YOUR MEMBERS SAID, INCREDIBLY
DETAILED AND A LONG-TERM PLAN.
YOU WERE RIGHT IN DECEMBER WHEN
YOU DECIDED YOU SHOULD KEEP
A FIRM GRIP ON HOW OUR DOLLARS
ARE
SPENT.
YOU CAN DO THAT BEST, I
THINK, BY REJECTING CB 120946.
YOUR INVOLVEMENT AND
OVERSIGHT WILL PRODUCE BETTER
OUTCOMES
AND NEED NOT DELAY PROGRESS.
PAIR
I WORKED A LONG TIME IN
GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL
ENGINEERING AND HEAVY
CONSTRUCTION.
WHAT YOU FOLKS NEED TO
DO SHOULDN'T DELAY ANYTHING AT
ALL.
YOU WERE RIGHT IN
DECEMBER AND THERE'S NO REASON
TO CHANGE NOW.
PLEASE VOTE NO ON CB 120946.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BENNETT
HASSLETON, FOLLOWED BY
ALEX SILVERMAN.
GO AHEAD, BENNETT.
>> HI, SMALL WORLD.
SO YOU REMEMBER YOU WERE
TALKING ABOUT WHERE THE
PROTESTORS GOT
ARRESTED.
I WAS THE GUY THAT GOT
SHOVED. I WAS IN THE PROTEST AND
THE
OTHER GUY SHOVED ME IN FRONT OF
THE POLICE AND THEY ARRESTED
HIM.
AREN'T YOU ONE OF -- SO I HAD
A FALLING OUT WITH SOME PEOPLE
IN THIS GROUP A WHILE AGO
BECAUSE THEY WERE YELLING WILDLY
HOMOPHOBIC THINGS AND COPS
AND TELLING COPS TO KILL
THEMSELVES.
I SAID WE'RE ON THE SAME TEAM
BUT YOU SHOULD NOT BE DOING
THAT.
THEY GOT MAD AT ME AND THEY
ARE STILL MAD ABOUT IT.
SO WE WERE THERE ON THE SAME
SIDE, BUT I HAVE
NO TIES TO THAT
GROUP. NO TIES!
A COMPLETE LACK OF TIES.
AN ABSENCE LEVEL OF TIES TO
THAT GROUP.
WE WERE JUST THERE AT THE SAME
EVENT.
WELL, THE CITY ATTORNEY ISSUED
A STATEMENT SAYING THERE
WILL BE NEW CHARGES FILED FOR
THE
PERSON THAT ATTACKED ME.
TO BE CLEAR WHAT THAT MEANS, YOU
REMEMBER A YEAR AGO I WAS
HERE, WE FIGURED WE WOULD GET
ARRESTED. I GOT CHARGED FOR
THAT.
THE PERSON WHO SHOVED ME TO
THE GROUND THAT I ALMOST HIT MY
HEAD ON THE PAVEMENT, NOT
CHARGED.
WHY IS THAT?
WELL, OF COURSE, THIS IS
THE SAME CITY ATTORNEY THAT I
FILED THE COMPLAINT AGAINST
FOR PUTTING OUT A FALSE
COMPLAINT, AND THEY INITIALLY
DID CHARGE
THE PERSON, BUT YOU THINK
AT SOME POINT THEY LOOKED
TAT DOCUMENT AND SAID, OH,
YOU SHOVED THAT GUY?
OH, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.
I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, THIS IS A PRETTY BAD
LOOK FOR AN ELECTED
CITY ATTORNEY.
YOU CHARGE A PROTESTOR FOR A
NON- VIOLENT SIT- IN, AND THEN
THE
PROTESTOR FILES A COMPLAINT
AGAINST YOU FOR SOMETHING
UNRELATED, AND LATER
SOMEBODY ATTACKS THAT SAME
PROTESTOR
AND YOU DON'T CHARGE THAT
PERSON.
NOW, I DID NOT WANT THE
GUY'S LIFE RUINED WHO ATTACKED
ME,
BUT THE CITY ATTORNEY SHOULD
HAVE TAKEN THE POSITION THAT
WHAT HE
DID WAS WORSE THAN WHAT I DID,
AND TAKING
THE OPPOSITE POSITION
WAS RIDICULOUS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEX
ZIMMERMAN, FOLLOWED
BY SAM MONTROS.
WE'LL TRY IT AGAIN.
THANK YOU.
LANGUAGE ]
MY NAME IS ALEXANDER, I
AM SUPPORTER FOR TEN YEARS AND
MAGA
MEMBER.
I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT
AGENDA NUMBER -- THE
TRANSPORTATION
DEPARTMENT.
SO, FOR SIX MONTHS, EVERY
DAY, I COME TO COUNCIL OFFICE
AND
ASK FOR ONE MINUTE FOR SIX
MONTHS EVERY DAY.
AND THEY REFUSE.
WHY?
I TALKING ABOUT TICKET FOR --
BUT AS WE PAY RIGHT NOW TOO
MUCH.
GOVERNMENT CROOKS ARE -- WITH
ARTIFICIAL GOVERNMENT DECISION.
THIS
EXACTLY WHY I NEED ONLY ONE
MINUTE.
THIS COUNCIL, BOB SAKA, HE
DON'T
GIVE ME SPEAKER.
SAME HAPPENED WITH HUMAN RIGHT
COMMISSION, YOU KNOW WHAT THIS
MEAN.
I COMPLAINT TO KATIE MOORE ABOUT
THIS HUMAN RIGHT
COMMISSION REFUSES FOR THREE,
FOUR MONTHS
AND REFUSE --
GUYS, SITUATION VERY SIMPLE.
FOR TEN YEAR, I ASK YOU OPEN
BETTER ROOM IN CITY HALL ONE
DAY PER WEEK SO EVERYBODY CAN
COME AND TALK FOR THREE
MINUTES WITHOUT YOU CONTROLLING.
I HAVE --
YOU ARE IDIOT.
NO ONE COUNCIL, NO ONE MAYOR.
WHERE IS THE PROBLEM?
WHY YOU CANNOT TALK ONE DAY PER
WEEK SO PEOPLE CAN
COME AND SPEAK FOR THREE
MINUTES.
STAND UP TO IDIOT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
SAM MONTROSS.
>> HI THERE.
MY NAME IS SAM THE MONTROSS.
I WASRY CENTLY MADE AWARE OF
THE PLAN TO BUILD PICKLEBALL
COURTS WHERE THERE ARE WETLANDS.
I WANT TO KNOW WHY THERE ARE
NOT MORE STUDIES BEING PUT FORTH
HOW THIS WILL IMPACT THE LIFE
THAT
IS THERE RIGHT NOW.
WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON ANY, YOU
KNOW, MATERIAL PUT OUT THERE
ABOUT WHY THIS IS BEING
CREATED IS JUST DUE TO GENERAL
INTEREST.
I HAVE
NOT SEEN ANY REPORTS THAT THE
GOVERNMENT HAS PUT FORTH
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS
THIS GOING TO DO, WHAT IMPACT IS
THIS GOING TO HAVE?
SO I'M ADDRESSING
PARTICULARLY THE MEMBERS HERE
THAT ARE
INVOLVED IN PARKS, AND I
WOULD LIKE
TO SEE MORE OF THAT.
THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT'S OUR LAST IN- PERSON
SPEAKER.
WE'LL NOW MOVE INTO OUR
ONE REMOTE SPEAKER,
WHICH WILL BE DAVID HANES.
>> YES, AS A REMINDER, PLEASE
PRESS
STAR 6. GO AHEAD, DAVID.
>> HI.
DAVID HANES.
WHAT MAKES IT UP SAFE TO LIVE,
WORK, AND PLAY, THAT IGNORES
THE CONTENT OF THE CRIMINAL
CHARACTER, THE ONE SEATTLE --
WITH RACIST DEI PRIORITIES --
[ INAUDIBLE ]
LISTED NON- VIOLENT, LOW LEVEL,
WHILE PAYING
POLITICALLY CONNECTED
NON-PROFITS TO
RUN INTERFERENCE FOR REPEAT
OFFENDERS USING HOMELESS MONEY
SQUANDERED ON CRIMINALS THAT
DESERVE PUNISHMENT --
NOT REWARD THEM FIRST LIKE
COUNCIL HAS
RACIALLY DISCRIMINATED CITIZENS
HATED BY
SERVICE PROVIDERS, WITH
NO LEGITIMATE CLI QUALIFIED WRAP
AROUND SERVICE PROVIDERS TO DO
EXPERT'S WORK -- [ INAUDIBLE ]
THE ONE SEATTLE THAT REMINDS YOU
WHAT COMES FROM THE BOTTOM
OF THE BARREL AND DUMPS THEIR
RACIST, PERVERTED TRAUMA
ON EVERYBODY ELSE.
THE ONE SEATTLE THAT SABOTAGES
THE INTEGRITY OF POLICE REFORM
AND CHOOSES A CHIEF -- THE
ONE SEATTLE WITH THE SAME MAYOR
WHO
HAS BEEN PUSHING HIS DRUG
WORLD -- THE VERY MAYOR
THAT THIS COUNCIL DEAFS TO ON
PUBLIC
SAFETY, THE SAME CORRUPT MAYOR
WITH A WAR ON THE HOMELESS
INSTEAD OF A WAR ON LOW-
LEVEL DRUG PUSHERS UNTIL IT'S
TOO
LATE -- BY TRESPASSING ALL THESE
DRUG ADDICT, THIEVING,
AND PREDATORY APEX DRUG PUSHERS
WHO SHOULD BE DROVE BACK TO
THEIR SAFE HAVENS AND SHUT DOWN.
WE NEED A BETTER NETWORK OF
EFFORT INSTEAD OF
PEOPLE USING EXCUSES TO
ALLEVIATE --
>> THANK YOU.
THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
SPEAKERS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE'VE REACHED THE END OF
OUR LIST OF PUBLIC
SPEAKERS, SO THE COMMENT PERIOD
IS NOW CLOSED.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
THE INTRODUCTION
AND REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE PRO-
PRO- REFERRAL CALENDAR IS
ADOPTED.
AND IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NONE, IT IS ADOPTED.
NOW WE WILL CONSIDER
THE PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR.
ITEMS INCLUDE THE MINUTES
OF MARCH 4, 2025.
COUNCIL BILL 120947, PAYMENT OF
THE BILLS.
AND THAT'S IT.
ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO
REMOVE
FROM TODAY'S CONCEPT SENT
CALENDAR? HEARING NONE, I MOVE
TO ADOPT
THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
MINUTES ON MY BEHALF.
MOVING INTO COMMITTEE REPORTS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD.
>> RESOLUTION
32165, A RESOLUTION ADOPTING
THE STATEMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT TO THE 2025 ADOPTED
BUDGET, AND
2025 THROUGH
2030 ADOPTED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANKS.
SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE
HERE LAST YEAR, YOU'LL REMEMBER
A SIMILAR RESOLUTION WHICH IS
AN ANNUAL TRADITION.
IT'S THE RESOLUTION --
THIS RESOLUTION REPLACES THE
VERSIONS OF THE CLERK FILE THAT
SHOWS WHAT WAS IN OUR 2025
ADOPTED BUDGET IN CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM.
SO EACH YEAR, WHEN WE PASS THE
BUDGET, WE DO SO WITH A NUMBER
OF STATEMENTS OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT OR SLIDES FOR
THE PUBLIC'S INFORMATION AND
THE FOLLOWING SPRING WE LEARNED
THAT SOME OF THOSE SLIDES NEED
REVISION, EITHER FROM THE
INPUT OF THE EXECUTIVE OR FROM
INPUT FROM COUNCIL STAFF AND
MEMBERS.
AND SOMETIMES THAT'S ABOUT
CHANGING THE REPORTING BACK TO
COUNCIL, OR TO CLARIFY
WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE EXECUTIVE
TO
DO.
SO YOU'LL -- YOU WILL HAVE
SEEN IN YOUR IN BOX LAST
WEDNESDAY AN
EMAIL FROM THE CENTRAL
STAFF DESCRIBING THE CONTEXT AND
DETAILS OF THIS RESOLUTION,
AND ULTIMATELY IT REMOVES ONE
SLIDE, BECAUSE THE EXECUTIVE IS
GOING TO BE SENDING US
LEGISLATION, MAKING IT REDONE
UNREDUNDANT,
THEN MODIFICATION TO SEVEN
OTHER SLIDES ADJUSTING THE DUE
MATES
-- DATES.
I UNDERSTAND THAT CENTRAL STAFF
DRAFTED THE RESOLUTION
AFTER SPEAKING WITH EACH OF YOU
DIRECTLY, WHO ARE THE
SPONSORS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL
SLIDE.
ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE
CHANGED.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT
THE CONTENT OR THE REASON
FOR THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION?
OKAY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PRESIDENT
NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED
AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION.
AND PLEASE READ ITEM TWO INTO
THE RECORD.
>> THE REPORTREPORT THE COUNCIL
BILL 120946, RELATING TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, AMENDING
ORDINANCE 127156
WHICH ADOPTED THE 2025
BUDGET, INCLUDING THE 2025
THROUGH
2030 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
BILL PASS.
>> THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK TO
IT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, I HAVE SHARED
OUR COLLECTIVE STORIES, AND
STORY IN
PARTICULAR, SO MANY TIMES
I'LL BE BRIEF TODAY.
THIS WORK COULD NOT HAVE
BEEN DONE WITHOUT COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA
AND HIS PARTNERSHIP AS WELL AS
THE ADDITIONAL
ACCOUNTABILITYACCOUNTABILITY
INCLUDED IN THE
LEVY, WHICH HAVE FOLDED IN VERY
NICELY TO THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
THIS PROVISO IS THE PRODUCT OF
ESDOT SUBMITTING A CURRENT FALL
BUDGET, MEANING THE BUDGET
DID NOT INCLUDE APPROPRIATIONS
IN THE CASE THAT THE LEVY
PASSED.
LUCKY FOR SEATTLE, THE LEVY
PASSED.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE USE
THIS TOOL OF MEGA PROVISO TO
ENSURE THAT THE ACCOUNTABILITY
WORK WASN'T AVOIDED, AND AS
THIS ACCOUNTABILITY WORK IS
COMPLETE,
WE MUST MOVE SWIFTLY TO
RELEASE THIS PROVISO TO ENSURE
THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF DELAY
ARE AVOIDED.
WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO DO TO
PROVIDE THE ENVIRONMENT
THAT RESIDENTS ARE
REQUESTING, AND THAT KEEPS OUR
ECONOMY WORKING.
I WAS ASKED LAST WEEK IF
THERE IS A SPECIFIC SINGLE LARGE
OR SMALL PROJECT THAT I'M
EXCITED FOR IN THIS 2025 PLAN.
MY ANSWER, THE 2025 PLAN
AND THIS PROVISO HAVE SO
MANY PROJECTS ACROSS OUR
CITY, BIG, MEDIUM AND SMALL.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE PASSING
TODAY.
CHANGES ALL ACROSS OUR CITY.
WHEN WE WENT THROUGH APPENDIX
A, SOME OF THE SECTIONS THAT
LIST
PROJECTS WENT ON FOR PAGES.
FOR EXAMPLE, SIDEWALK REPAIR
AND CURB RAMP CONSTRUCTION,
THOSE START ON 18 AND END ON
PAGE 21.
THE NEXT SECTION, A CROSSING
IMPROVEMENTS, THOSE
PROJECTS START ON PAGE 22 AND
ENDS
ON PAGE 24.
THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
EACH OF THOSE SPECIFIC PLACES IS
GOING TO CHANGE THE
BUILT ENVIRONMENT FOR SOME OR
MANY
PEOPLE. WHEN YOU AGGREGATE ALL
OF
THOSE PROJECTS TOGETHER, IT
BECOMES
A REALLY BIG PEOPLE FOR THE
PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE.
SO THANK YOU TO ESDOT.
NOW TIME FOR COUNCIL ACTION.
THIS LEGISLATION RELEASES
THE FULL FUNDING FOR
THOSE PROJECTS IN 2025 TO ENSURE
ESDOT HAS
EVERYTHING IT NEEDS TO GET
THIS
WORK DONE. SO COLLEAGUES, LET'S
GET
THIS LEVY DELIVERED.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, DO YOU
HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR ANY
CLOSING STATEMENTS OR ANYTHING?
>> SURE, THANK YOU,
MADAME COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WILL BE VOTING FOR THIS
LEGISLATION TODAY AND I WANT TO
THANK MY
COLLEAGUES, ESDOT, THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR GETTING US
TO
THIS POINT WHERE WE'RE IN A
POSITION
TO LIFT THE LEVY PROVISO.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT,
AND YOUR THOUGHTFUL PARTNERSHIP.
AND THIS WHOLE
COLLECTIVE, STRATEGIC EFFORT.
COLLEAGUES, YOU'LL RECALL
THIS PROVISO WAS PLACED
ON THE DEPARTMENT DURING BUDGET
LATE
LAST YEAR, BECAUSE THE
ORIGINAL BUDGET DID NOT INCLUDE
A
LEVY SPENDING PLAN.
WE DIDN'T HAVE, AS A
LEGISLATIVE BODY, WE DIDN'T
HAVE
ADEQUATE TIME TO THOUGHTFULLY
CONSIDER
WHAT A CITY BUDGET WITH A
PAST LEVY WOULD LOOK LIKE AND SO
THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT -- WAS AND
IS AN IMPORTANT ACCOUNTABILITY
MECHANISM. THAT IS AN IMPORTANT
ELEMENT
AND DIMENSION TO THIS STORY.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT DIMENSION
TO THIS STORY IS THAT WE LIVE IN
A
DISTRICT SYSTEM.
AS ELECTED OFFICIALS
IN OUR DISTRICTS, WE ARE NOW
MORE
CLOSELY CONNECTED TO THE
COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.
REGULAR ENGAGEMENT WITH COUNCIL
BY ALL OF THE
DEPARTMENTS, IN THIS CASE ESDOT
IS CRUCIAL NOW
MORE THAN EVER.
AND SO AS WE LOOK AT THE
PROVISO TODAY, THE EXPECTATION
INHERENT
IN THIS LEVY
IS THAT, YOU KNOW, MY HOPE WOULD
BE THAT
ESDOT CONTINUE TO PROACTIVELY
ENGAGE NOT NEARLY INFORM THIS
COUNCIL AND COMMUNITIES THAT WE
ALL
SERVE. I THINK THEY'VE DONE A
GREAT JOB
OF THAT SO FAR, WHICH IS IN
PART WHY I'M PREPARED AND
EXCITED TO
BE ABLE TO LIFT THIS LEVY
TODAY, OR LIFT THIS PROVISO
TODAY.
BUT LET'S CONTINUE THAT
PATH, MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE AS
I'VE SAID IN THE PAST, THIS IS
A FAIRLY LARGE LEVY.
THE LARGEST IN OUR CITY'S
HISTORY.
IT'S ALSO THE MOST ACCOUNTABLE
LEVY IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY.
WE SAW THAT ACCOUNTABILITY IN
ACTION LAST WEEK.
AND THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE AND OUR
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND
HERE WE ARE TODAY.
COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO THANK YOU
ALL, ESPECIALLY COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
I WANT TO THANK THE
DEPARTMENT FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP,
AND
I'M EXCITED TO PUT THEM IN
POSITION TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
ACTUALLY
ABLE TO DELIVER UPON THESE
EXCITING
PROJECTS.
THAT IS ALL FOR ME.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
I WAS NOT MEANING TO
FORECLOSE FURTHER DISCUSSION
FROM MY
OTHER
COLLEAGUES. IF ANYBODY HAS ANY
QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS.
>> I HAD ONE QUESTION, AND
I WANTED TO RESPOND TO SOME OF
THE PUBLIC COMMENT WE'VE HEARD
ABOUT THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS
ADDRESSED.
IS THAT -- COULD YOU -- IS
THAT THE ONE THAT REQUIRED
FUNDING --
WAS THAT AN AMENDMENT
TOGETHER WITH SOME OF THE --
WITH FUNDING
FROM ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE
THAT WAS USED OTHERWISE FOR --
TO HELP JUMP- START OTHER
PROJECTS?
CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THAT AMENDMENT?
>> YEAH.
I WOULD DEFER SUBSTANTIALLY
TO THE AMENDMENT AUTHOR ON
THAT, BUT THAT WAS A VOTE THAT
WE
TOOK DURING THE LEVY LEGISLATION
PROCESS, AND IT WAS
ULTIMATELY FORMED THE BASIS OF
ATTACHMENT
A, WHICH IS A COMMITMENT THAT
WE AS A CITY MADE.
I WELCOME ANY
ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS FROM THE AMENDMENT
AUTHOR.
>> YES.
I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ASKING
ABOUT
IS THE AMENDMENT THAT PASSED IN
JULY OF 2024.
>> RIGHT.
>> WHICH COUNCIL PRESIDENT
I BELIEVE YOU VOTED AGAINST.
>> RIGHT.
>> WHICH WAS MOVING FUNDING
FROM THE AAC RESERVE FUND, WHICH
WAS
UNACCOUNTED FOR DOLLARS.
SO THESE WERE DOLLARS
THAT DID NOT HAVE A SPEND PLAN
ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.
SO THESE UNACCOUNTED FOR
DOLLARS WERE THEN ACCOUNTED FOR
BY
PLACING THEM IN THE MISSING
LINK FUND FOR MARKET AND LEERY.
THE PROCESS CONTINUES OF
PLANNING, AND I CAN TELL
YOU THAT THERE'S BEEN
DEEP ENGAGEMENT WITH THE
BALLARD LANDMARK FROM THE FIRST
PROPOSAL TO WHERE ESDOT IS NOW,
AND AS
ESDOT CONTINUES THEIR
DESIGNS AND REFINING THEIR
DESIGNS, THE
BALLARD LANDMARK WILL
CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED.
JUST BETWEEN
THE FIRST AND SECOND PLAN, A NEW
DRIVEWAY
WAS PROPOSED THAT WOULD
SEPARATE THEIR FRONT DOOR FROM
THE TRAIL.
SO WE HAVE HAD PUBLIC COMMENT
HERE, DISCUSSING
RESIDENT'S CURRENT SITUATION,
STEPPING
OUT OF THE FRONT DOOR AND
BEING BUZZED BY SCOOTERS
GOING TOO FAST ON THE SIDEWALK.
THAT WOULD BE WHOLLY AVOIDED
BY HAVING A DRIVEWAY THAT
ALLOWS FOR PRIVATE ACCESS TO THE
LANDMARK FACILITY THAT
SEPARATES BOTH THE ROAD
AND THE TRAIL FROM THEIR FRONT
DOOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT
INFORMATION.
I WANTED TO SIMPLY EXPLAIN
TO FOLKS THAT ARE
PROBABLY WATCHING -- THAT ARE
HERE IN
CHAMBERS, AND EXPLAIN WHY I WILL
BE SUPPORTING THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU
WERE
REFERRING TO WAS THE ONE
THAT I WAS THINKING IT WAS.
AND SO I DID VOTE AGAINST
THAT AMENDMENT BECAUSE I --
NOT BECAUSE OF THE MERITS OF
THE PROJECT ITSELF, BUT BECAUSE
OF THE USE OF FUNDING FROM
ANOTHER
SOURCE THAT WAS, YES, IT WAS
UNALLOCATED AND COULD BE
USED FOR OTHER THINGS THROUGHOUT
THE
YEAR.
I DID VOTE AGAINST THAT, BUT
I AM EXPLAINING THAT I'M
GOING TO BE VOTING TODAY,
BECAUSE THISTHIS
A -- THESE ARE CRUCIAL --
THIS IS A LONG LIST OF
CRUCIAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
THAT
WILL NOT ONLY IMPROVE OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT
MAKE CIRCULATION THROUGHOUT OUR
CITY, NO MATTER THE MODE, SAFER
AND
THAT IS THE -- THAT'S THE FIRST
REASON.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO
SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BRING THING
FORWARD, BECAUSE IT'S TIME
TO GET THESE PROJECTS GOING, AND
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERY VOTE THAT WE TAKE HAS TO
BE WEIGHED AGAINST THE
POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF THE WHOLE
PACKAGE.
SO ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
OKAY.
LET'S SEE, JUST MAKING SURE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>>
AYE
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF.
THERE WERE NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM
THE CONSENT CALENDAR AND
THERE'S NOT A RESOLUTION FOR
INTRODUCTION AND PTION
TODAY. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST TO
BE EXCUSED FROM THE COUNCIL
MEETING ON APRIL 22nd.
>> ALL RIGHT.
NOT SEEING ANY
OBJECTIONS. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
IS EXCUSED ON
APRIL 22nd.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> YES.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO BE
EXCUSED FROM THE APRIL 1st
SEATTLE COUNCIL MEETING, AND
IT'S NOT A
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
WOULD LIKE TO BE EXCUSED FROM
THE APRIL 1st COUNCIL MEETING.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
REQUESTING TO BE EXCUSED APRIL
1st,
AND THAT IS ALSO NOT A JOKE.
>> NO JOKE, I WANT TO
GO SOMEPLACE TOO.
NO OBJECTION FOR THE --
EXCUSING COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
FROM
THE APRIL 1st COUNCIL MEETING?
GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.
ALL RIGHT.
AS THERE IS NO -- WE'VE REACHED
TODAY'S AGENDA.
OUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS
MARCH 18 AT 2:00 P.M.
LOOKS LIKE THERE'S NO FURTHER
BUSINESS.
THE TIME IS 2:31 P.M.
ALL RIGHT.
WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU,
EVERYBODY.