ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
WILL COME TO WATER. IT IS 2:03
P.M. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> FIVE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY,
TODAY'S AGENDA, A POSSIBLE VOTE
ON COUNCIL BILL 120933, ALLOWING
RESIDENTIAL RUSES AS CONDITIONAL
USES IN THE STADIUM TRANSITION
AREA OVERLAY DISTRICT . IN THE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
PRODUCED FOR THE 2023 INDUSTRIAL
LAND STRATEGY . TO BE VERY
CLEAR, I WANT TO MAKE THIS POINT
BEFORE GOING FURTHER. OUR
COMMITTEE VOTE IS A
RECOMMENDATION TO FULL COUNCIL.
THAT IS WHAT IT IS. IT IS
NONBINDING ON THE COUNCIL AND
THEREFORE IS NOT AN ACTION UNDER
SEPA AND I SAY THAT IN CASE YOU
ARE NERVOUS ABOUT THINGS THE
PORT WAS SAYING ABOUT LEGAL
CHALLENGE IF WE TAKE ACTION.
PERSONALLY, I VIEW THAT AS A
LAST DITCH EFFORT TO INTIMIDATE
THIS COMMITTEE FROM TAKING A
VOTE TODAY IN THEIR TACTICS IN
MEDDLING IN A SEPARATE
JURISDICTION IS UNFORTUNATE
GIVEN THE MANUFACTURING JOBS AND
IMPROVED PUBLIC SAFETY AT STAKE.
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, THE
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THIS
LEGISLATION IS COUNCIL BILL
120933 WAS INTRODUCED ON JANUARY
14th AND DISCUSSED ON JANUARY
24th. AND THEN A FULL MONTH
LATER, NEXT WE HEARD FROM 52 IN
PERSON SPEAKERS AND 11 REMOTE
SPEAKERS AT THE STANDING ROOM
ONLY PUBLIC HEARING THIS PAST
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24th, AS WELL
AS A PANEL OF OPPONENTS
REPRESENTING THE PORT, THE
NORTHWEST SEAPORT ALLIANCE,
WASHINGTON AREA DISTRICT
COUNCIL, SEATTLE FREIGHT
ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND WASHINGTON
PUBLIC PORT ASSOCIATION. THAT IS
WHAT BRINGS US TO TODAY'S
ACTIONS HERE. SO IF THERE IS NO
-- OH, I ALSO MUST MENTIONED
BEFORE WE GO INTO THE QUESTIONS
AND COMMENTS ABOUT THE
LEGISLATION, WE WILL ALSO HAVE A
PRESENTATION FROM COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF MEMBER LISH
WHITSON WHO WILL GO OVER
LEGISLATION ONE MORE TIME
BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A WHILE
SINCE WE'VE HEARD THE
SPECIFICS. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. OKAY. WE
WILL NOW GO INTO THE HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC
COMMENT MUST BE DIRECTED TO
MATTERS IN THE PURVIEW OF THE
COMMITTEE OR LISTED ON THE
AGENDA. WE ARE JOINED TODAY BY
PORT COMMISSIONER AND STATE
REPRESENTATIVE JULIA REED
VIRTUALLY, AND IT IS OUR
PRACTICE TO HAVE OUR ELECTED
SPEAKER FIRST BEFORE THE LIST OF
PUBLIC COMMENTERS. COMMISSIONER,
HOW MANY OTHER SPEAKERS ARE
SIGNED UP?
>> WE HAVE 38 IN PERSON PUBLIC
COMMENTERS AND 10 REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENTERS, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> WE WILL GIVE EVERYBODY ONE
MINUTE TO SPEAK. WE WILL GO BACK
AND FORTH BETWEEN IN PERSON AND
REMOTE SPEAKERS. YOU CAN BRIEFLY
GIVE AN INTRODUCTION AND WE CAN
BEGIN?
>> THANK YOU. I WILL CALL ON
SPEAKERS IN ORDER THEY SIGNED UP
TO SPEAK. SPEAKERS WILL HAVE ONE
MINUTE. WHEN YOU HEAR THE CHIME,
YOU WILL HAVE 10 SECONDS LEFT.
YOUR MICROPHONE MAY CUT OFF SO
WE CAN MOVE ONTO THE NEXT
SPEAKER. PRESS START 6 TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF. WE WILL START WITH
COMMISSIONER FELDMAN. GIVE ME A
SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE ON ?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME
THE OPPOSITION -- OPPORTUNITY TO
OPPOSE COUNCIL BILL 120933. I
SERVE ON THE PORT INDUSTRIAL
LANDS COMMITTEE AND THE
NORTHWEST SEAPORT ALLIANCE. 70
COALITION MEMBERS HAVE BEEN
REITERATING THEIR OPPOSITION AS
WE WERE THINKING WE HAD A DEAL
IN 2023 WHEN THE COUNCIL PASSED
THE INDUSTRIAL LANDS . WHILE
PROPONENTS OF HOUSING CLAIM THE
PAST EIS SUPPORTS THIS
ILL-INFORMED INITIATIVE, THEY
FAILED TO ANNOUNCE IT WAS AN
ANALYSIS THAT DID NOT EVALUATE
THIS SPECIFIC PROPOSAL.
FURTHERMORE, THE CURRENT POZO
REMOVES THE BUFFER AROUND TRUCK
ROUTES, ONE OF THE KEY
MITIGATIONS CITED IN THE EIS .
SUCH A MISCHARACTERIZATION IS NO
WAY -- WE SHARE ECONOMIC GOALS
TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER. WHILE
THE PORT WELCOMES THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE
PROSPERITY, WE ARE EXPLORING OUR
LEGAL OPTIONS IF YOU CONTINUE TO
PURSUE THIS EFFORT THAT WILL
UNDERMINE THE PORT'S MISSION.
THE BEST WAY TO MAKE THIS CITY
MORE AFFORDABLE IS TO PROTECT
THE INDUSTRIAL LANDS --
>> THANK YOU.
>> -- WHO PAY HIRE WAGE JOBS
WITHOUT REQUIRING HIRE
EDUCATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE TABLE THIS BILL.
>> THANK YOU. WHEN YOU HEAR THE
CHIME, THAT MEANS YOU HAVE 10
SECONDS TO FINISH IT.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> HEY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO
THIS. THAT IS DISRUPTIVE
BEHAVIOR. I DON'T LIKE TO COME
DOWN LIKE THAT, BUT PLEASE. I
ASKED REPEATEDLY ON MONDAY NOT
TO CLAP IN BETWEEN SPEAKERS. I
WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY, SO
PLEASE, BOTH SIDES, DO NOT
DISRUPT DURING PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IN BETWEEN SPEAKERS.
THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. WHO IS THE
NEXT SIGNED UP?
>> NEXT WE WILL JUMP TO THE
REMOTE COMMENTOR. JULIA REED,
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HEARING
ME. SHOULD I JUST START WHEN I
AM READY?
>> GO AHEAD WHENEVER YOU ARE
READY.
>> THANK YOU. FOR THE REPRESENT
-- RECORD, I AM STATE
REPRESENTATIVE JULIA REED. BOTH
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HAVE
WRITTEN TO THE COUNCIL TO
RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE THIS BILL
WHICH SUPERSEDES YEARS OF
COMPROMISE AROUND THE MARITIME
INDUSTRIAL LANDS, WORK I ,
MYSELF, PARTICIPATED IN. THERE
IS INCREASED HOUSING IN OUR
CITY. THAT HAS BEEN A HIGH
PRIORITY FOR OUR DELEGATION, BUT
THERE ARE MANY PLACES IN THE
CITY NEW HOUSING CAN AND SHOULD
BE ADDED AND THERE WILL BE MANY
MORE WHEN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
WORK IS COMPLETE. HOWEVER, THERE
ARE FEW AND SHRINKING PLACES
MARITIME ACTIVITY CAN TAKE PLACE
WHICH IS UNIFYING THE SUPPLY
CHAIN AND EMERGENCY RESILIENCY
IN OUR STATE. BUILDING
RESIDENCES -- [ BELL RINGING ]
MAINTAINING GOOD PAYING JOBS IN
OUR MARITIME INDUSTRIAL ECONOMY
GENERATES ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FOR
A LIFETIME AND FOR GENERATIONS
IN THE ENTIRE REGION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL GO BACK TO
IN PERSON COMMENTERS. I WILL
CALL THREE AT A TIME, AND
APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE IF I MISS
PRONOUNCE HER NAME. WE'VE GOT
JORDAN, BRANDON, AND RYAN. COME
ON DOWN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. SEEMS LIKE
ONLY YESTERDAY WE WERE TOGETHER.
I AM JORDAN WITH THE PACIFIC
SHIPPING ASSOCIATION. WE
REPRESENT MARINE TERMINAL
OPERATORS AND SHIPPING LINES
THAT SERVE THE WEST COAST. I'M
ON THE BOARD OF THE MARITIME
FEDERATION AND THE CHAIR OF THE
NEW ORGANIZATION. UNFORTUNATELY
I AM HERE TO OPPOSE THIS BILL.
THE WHOLE IDEA OF THE AGREEMENT
IN 2023 WAS WE WANTED TO SEND A
SIGNAL TO DEVELOPERS IT WOULD
NOT BE EASY TO COME EYE A CHEAP
PIECE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY AND
UP ZONE IT AND SELL IT AND MAKE
A PROFIT TO DEGRADE THE
INDUSTRIAL AREAS. THAT IS MY
MAIN CONCERN. LOTS OF PLACES TO
BUILD HOUSING IN SEATTLE. IF YOU
LOOK ACROSS THE STREET, THERE IS
A BIG EMPTY LOT. SEEMS LIKE THAT
WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO BUILD
HOUSING. [ BELL RINGING ] WE
HAVE PLACES TO DO THAT. THESE
KINDS OF INDUSTRIAL LANDS, ONCE
THEY ARE GONE, THEY ARE GONE.
THEY DON'T COME BACK. YOU
CANNOT RELOCATE A RAILYARD IN
SOMEONE'S YARD.
>> THANK YOU, JORDAN. NEXT,
BRANDON AND RYAN.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS
BRANDON BRENT, MANAGER AT S AS A
MARINE. WE ARE A MARINE TERMINAL
OPERATOR THAT ACTIVITIES 250
LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
WE ARE PROUD TO BE HERE IN
SEATTLE AND HAVE A LONG-TERM
COMMITMENT TO THE PORT OF
SEATTLE WHERE HE HAVE BEEN
OPERATING FOR DECADES. TODAY WE
AND OUR PARTNERS MANAGE
OPERATIONS AT TERMINAL 5, 18,
AND 91. WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR
CONCERNS OVER COUNCIL BILL
120933. THE WORKING WATERFRONT
IS THE ECONOMIC BACKGROUND OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. OUR
WATERFRONT IS FOUNDATIONAL TO
OUR STATE STATUS AS A GLOBAL
LEADER IN TRADE. WE MUST NOT
SACRIFICE FREIGHT MOBILITY AND
THE PRECIOUS INDUSTRIAL LAND
NEAR OUR DEEPWATER SEAPORT. [
BELL RINGING ] UNIQUE AND
IRREPLACEABLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, RYAN
McFARLANE AND FOLLOWING RYAN,
BETH SWANSON, KURT, AND KYRA.
>> I AM RYAN WITH THE NORTHWEST
SEAPORT ALLIANCE. YOU HAVE BEEN
HEARING HOW CRITICAL THE PORT IS
TO THIS STATE THAT ACTUALLY, IT
HAS NATIONWIDE SIGNIFICANCE.
HALF OF THE IMPORTS ARE DESTINED
BEYOND THE U.S. ALL 50 STATES
AND WE ARE NUMBER TWO IN THE
COUNTRY AND EXPORTS.
COUNCILMEMBERS, YOU RECENTLY
RECEIVED A LETTER EXPRESSING
OPPOSITION TO THIS PROPOSAL. IN
HIS LETTER, HE SAYS HIS
INDUSTRIAL LANDS ARE VITAL TO
THE ECONOMIC SECURITY. THE WEST
COAST HAS VIEWPORTS TO HANDLE
THE SHIPS THAT MOVED OUR
NATION'S CARGO AND WHILE
PROFITABLE FOR SOME WILL
INEVITABLY COMPOUND THE SHORTAGE
OF SPACE AVAILABLE TO HANDLE
CARGO VOLUMES WHICH ARE FORECAST
TO DOUBLE. PLEASE DO NOT
UNDERESTIMATE THE MAGNITUDE OF
THIS PROPOSAL -- [ BELL RINGING
] AND THE POTENTIAL HARM YOU
COULD CAUSE. VOTE NO.
>> THANK YOU, RYAN. NEXT, BEST,
KURT, AND KEIRA .
>> HI. I AM BETH SWANSON FROM
WALLA WALLA AND I REPRESENT
TRI-CITIES INTERMODAL, A PRIVATE
COMPANY EXPORTING GOODS, USING
THE PORT OF SEATTLE. WE HAVE
BEEN OPEN ABOUT A YEAR AND IN
CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW, 80% OF
THE STATE 'S EXPORTS COME FROM
EASTERN WASHINGTON. WE OPENED
THIS COMPANY IN TRI-CITIES
BECAUSE OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE.
IT IS A GLOBAL PORT AND OUR
FARMERS AND EGG PARTNERS ,
AGRICULTURAL PARTNERS IN EASTERN
WASHINGTON, WE NEED A GLOBAL
PORT TO GET OUR PRODUCT TO
MARKET, TO CHINA, JAPAN, KOREA.
THAT IS WHAT PORT OF SEATTLE
DOES FOR EASTERN WASHINGTON. IT
HELPS WITH JOBS. IT BRINGS
BUSINESSES TO THE AREA. IT'S A
REALLY EXCITING TIME IN EASTERN
WASHINGTON FOR US. [ BELL
RINGING ] YOU MAY NOT KNOW BUT
POTATOES, ONIONS, FROZEN FRENCH
FRIES, THEY ALL GO OVER TO FEED
THE GLOBAL MARKET THROUGH THE
PORTS OF SEATTLE AND TACOMA .
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BETH.
NEXT, KURT, KEIRA, AND ALLIE .
COME ON DOWN .
>> HELLO, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME
IS KURT AND I'M THE OWNER AND
PRESIDENT OF SPIRIT TRANSPORT
SYSTEMS, A LOCAL TRUCKING
COMPANY FOUNDED IN 2005 IN
GEORGETOWN. WE OPERATE IN AND
OUT OF THE PORTS OF SEATTLE AND
TACOMA , THE RAILROADS, AND
THERE ARE FAMILY JOBS THAT WOULD
BE IMPACTED NEGATIVELY BY THIS
LEGISLATION. I AM ALSO HERE AS
THE SITTING BOARD CHAIRMAN OF
THE WASHINGTON TRUCKING
ASSOCIATION AND MORAL COUNCIL. I
AM REPRESENTING ACTUALLY
BUSINESSES, TRUCKING COMPANIES
THROUGHOUT WASHINGTON STATE. AS
YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD, THIS HAS
AN IMPACT ACROSS OUR STATE, OUR
COUNTRY, AND INTERNATIONALLY.
THE AMOUNT OF BLUE-COLLAR JOBS
AND FAMILIES THAT WILL BE
IMPACTED BY IMPACTING THE [ BELL
RINGING ] CORRIDOR HERE WOULD BE
EXPONENTIALLY IMPACTED
NEGATIVELY BY THIS LEGISLATION,
SO WE ASK YOU TO VOTE NO.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE KEIRA
OR KYRA , FOLLOWED BY ALLIE .
>> THANK YOU. KEIRA LEE, REAL
ESTATE DIRECTOR AT THE PORT OF
SEATTLE. I URGE CITY LEADERS TO
CONSIDER THE TOTAL COST OF
CONVERTING INDUSTRIAL LANDS TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I HAVE
EXPERIENCE AS THE DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR IN PITTSBURGH. THE
PUBLIC SECTOR AND TAXPAYERS WILL
BEAR THE COST OF UPGRADES AS
REQUIRED BY CITY CODE. THIS
ALONE COULD TAKE A DECADE. SO
DOES WATER AND SEWER UPDATES,
PARKING SIDEWALKS AND SPACE MUST
BE BUILT. HEALTH AND SAFETY
REQUIREMENTS FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ARE VASTLY DIFFERENT
FROM INDUSTRIAL REQUIREMENTS.
HAS THE COUNCIL CONSIDERED THESE
COSTS? NO COST TO THE PUBLIC IS
LIKELY FALSE AND UNFEASIBLE IN
THIS LOCATION. HOWEVER, THE PORT
STANDS READY TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE ANALYSIS TO SUPPORT THE
FUTURE . [ BELL RINGING ]
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE'VE GOT
ALLIE AND CHARLIE. ALLIE? ALI?
SORRY. APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE IF I
MISS PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME.
>> HI, FOLKS. ALI AND I'VE BEEN
HERE SINCE 2005, OR 20 YEARS. I
AM A DRIVER. WE ISSUE FOR SAFETY
AND ALSO FOR TRAFFIC. MOST OF
THE TIME, WE LINE UP FROM THE
PORT ALL THE WAY TO THE FREEWAY
ON THE BRIDGE WITH THOUSANDS,
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TRUCKS. WE
NEED AT LEAST A YARD TO STAND BY
. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ARE NEXT SPEAKER,
LEASE, CHARLIE, AND THEN NICK.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS LATE AND
I'VE WORKED AT THE GREAT PORT
OF SEATTLE. I THINK YOU KNOW
WHAT IS AT STAKE HERE SO I WILL
BE BRIEF. YOUR SEAPORT WAS THE
FIRST ENGINE THE MAJOR INTO A
GREAT CITY METROPOLIS. YOU GAVE
RISE TO BOEING WHICH GAVE RISE
TO MICROSOFT AND YOU COULD HAVE
MUCH MORE SUCCESS. ONLY 12% OF
INDUSTRIAL LAND BASE SUPPORTS
MARITIME TAKES UP SPACE IN YOUR
CITY BUT IT PAYS 30% OF YOUR TAX
REVENUE. DO NOT CUT OFF , DO NOT
SHUT OFF THE ORIGINAL ECONOMIC
ENGINE THAT MADE THE EMERALD
CITY A GREAT METROPOLIS. THAT
WOULD BE A HUGE MISTAKE.
>> ALL RIGHT, NEXT WE'VE GOT
CHARLIE BENDA, NICK, AND CARLA
SMITH. CHARLIE?
>> MY NAME IS CHARLIE AND I'M A
SEATTLE LONGSHOREMAN. LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, WE LIVE IN DARK TIMES
OF CITIZEN A AND GRIEF. AND ,
NO, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE
DEAL BUT ONE COUNCILMEMBER WOULD
LIKE TO SCREW OVER THE ENTIRE
REGION. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE
THOUSANDS OF US THAT WORK AT THE
PORT TENS OF THOUSANDS AND
RELATED JOBS. IT IS BIGGER THAN
SEATTLE AND THE STATE.
IMMUNITIES AROUND THE REGION
RELY ON OUR PORTS. EVERYTHING WE
NEED FOR SURVIVAL , FOOD,
CLOTHING, SHELTER, MEDICAL
NECESSITIES DEPEND ON A ROBUST
SUPPLY-CHAIN INFRASTRUCTURE AND
WE JUST SAW HOW FRAGILE OURS IS
DURING THE PANDEMIC. WE NEED TO
PROTECT OUR PORT AND SUPPLY
CHAINS SO THE COMMUNITIES ARE
CONNECTED, RESILIENT, AND ABLE
TO GET THE HELP AND SUPPLIES
THEY NEED WHEN DISASTER STRIKES.
KILL THIS TODAY. [ BELL RINGING
]
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE'VE GOT
NICK , CARLA SMITH, AND CREED ?
CHRISTIAN? CHRISTINA. MY
APOLOGIES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
NICK AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT
1. I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE MY
ENTIRE LIFE OTHER THAN THE FOUR
YEARS I WAS IN THE NAVY. THANK
YOU, SHIPMATE. WE SEE THAT YOU
ARE A MAN OF INTEGRITY AND WE
SEE IT'S NOT EASY. WE SEE HOW
YOU ARE BEING TREATED UP HERE.
IT'S NOT EASY BEING SURROUNDED
BY THIS CORRUPTION THAT WE ARE
SEEING. SPEAKING OF THE
CORRUPTION, SARA, WE HAVE BEEN
ADDED THREE TIMES. THE STADIUM,
THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, NOW
WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE A
BILLIONAIRE CARES ABOUT LOW
INCOME HOUSING? YOU MENTIONED
BREWERIES OR HOPS OR WHATEVER 10
TIMES IN THE LAST THREE
MEETINGS. THE ONLY ONE DOWN
THERE IS YOU AND YOUR BEER
COMPANY. I MEAN, SEATTLE IS THE
SIXTH LARGEST ECONOMY [ BELL
RINGING ] AND THAT IS THE
GATEWAY RIGHT THERE. WE CAN'T
GET THE TRUCKS THROUGH THE DOOR.
I KNOW YOU WANT TO SELL IPA TO
HIPSTERS, BUT --
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> STOP!
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL. I AM A
SEATTLE RESIDENT AND VOTER. I
ASKED THE COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON
THIS INFRINGEMENT ON OUR
INDUSTRIAL LANDS. THIS IS
SETTING A HORRIBLE PRECEDENT.
HERE WE ARE FIGHTING GIVEBACKS
SO BILLIONAIRE CAN MAKE MORE
MONEY. COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON
SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF HERSELF FOR
BEING A BILLIONAIRE LACKEY AND
THE LACK OF LEADERSHIP SHE IS
SHOWING OUR ASSETS ARE TO BE
PROTECTED. THEY SHOULD BE
PROVIDING ECONOMIC ENGINES FOR
PROVIDING FAMILY WAGE JOBS FOR
GENERATIONS. WE SUPPORT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE SUPPORT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OF COURSE,
IN SEATTLE, WHERE OUR BROTHERS
AND SISTERS DO LOTS OF WORK IN
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE THE
THINGS FAMILIES NEED. THIS IS
NOT THAT. HEAVY HAUL TRUCKS AND
HOUSING [ BELL RINGING ] NOT
GOOD NEIGHBORS. THE PORT WILL
DIE A DEATH OF 1000 CUTS.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE'VE GOT
CHRISTIAN OR CHRISTINA ? PAUL ,
LINDSAY , AND MY APOLOGIES.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I'M HERE IN OPPOSITION
TO THIS RESOLUTION. AS A WORKER
ON THE WATERFRONT AND PROUD
UNION MEMBER, I HOPE THE COUNCIL
WILL PRESERVE THE INDUSTRIAL
LANDS WE HAVE . THANK YOU.
>> CAN YOU SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE
RECORD?
>> CHRISTIAN CURL UP.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT WE'VE GOT
PAUL, LINDSAY, AND -- LAST NAME
SNULLS? THANK YOU. PAUL ? PAUL ?
PAUL PEMBERTON? COME ON DOWN.
>> PAUL PEMBERTON HERE . I'VE
BEEN WORKING ON THE DOCKS ON AND
OFF ALMOST 40 YEARS. I WANT TO
SAY THAT WE COULD USE A LITTLE
FUN EXPERIMENT ON THIS PROCESS.
WE HAVE A BIG AREA OF LAND THAT
IS NOT SEEMINGLY BEING USED AT
ITS HIGHEST LEVEL AND WE WANT TO
TURN IT INTO HOUSING
WILLY-NILLY. WELL, THERE ARE
SEVERAL OTHER TYPES OF
PROPERTIES THAT HAVE THAT KIND
OF CONTEXT. WE HAVE 12 GOLF
COURSES THE CITY IS DETERMINED
ARE UNDERUTILIZED. OH, I KNOW,
IT'S INSANE. BUT THIS PROPERTY
IS PRODUCING JOBS. THIS PROPERTY
IS THE EDGE OF OUR INDUSTRIAL
DISTRICT . TO VIOLATE OUR
AGREEMENTS WE HAVE MADE IS [
BELL RINGING ] A TILT TOWARDS A
CORRUPT USE OF PUBLIC MONIES. WE
DO NOT NEED THIS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE'VE GOT
LINDSAY DOOR BACK? ALICE AND
SARA?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. LINDSAY
DEVORAH. I RISE IN STRONG
OPPOSITION TO COUNCIL BILL
120933 AND URGE YOU TO VOTE NO
TO SUPPORT THE JOB SUPPORTED
DIRECTLY BY MARINE CARGO
OPERATIONS. VOTE NO TO HONOR THE
INDUSTRIAL LAND-USE AGREEMENT
THAT WAS AGREED UPON TWO SHORT
YEARS AGO. VOTE NO TO ENSURE THE
DEEPWATER PORT REMAINS A VITAL
PART OF THE SEATTLE ECONOMY FOR
YEARS TO COME. I HOPE TO BE ABLE
TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN
SOMEWHAT OF A MORE CLEANER
ENVIRONMENT AND LOCATION, BUT
THIS IS NOT IT. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. OH, MAN, THIS NAME
.
>> I BELIEVE HE HAS SPOKEN
ALREADY. GO TO THE -- YEAH.
ONLINE.
>> THAT'S OKAY.
>> IT WILL BE SWEET AND SHORT.
READY?
>> GO AHEAD.
>> I ASK YOU GUYS TO USE YOUR
COMMON SENSE. THAT'S IT. THESE
GUYS MEAN WHAT THEY WANT. SOME
DON'T WANT IT BUT JUST USE YOUR
COMMON SENSE. THAT IS ALL I ASK.
USE COMMON SENSE. WHAT IS RIGHT
IS RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG IS
WRONG. USE YOUR COMMON SENSE.
WHAT IS BEST FOR THE PEOPLE
MATTERS. THAT'S ALL. OTHER THAN
THAT, COMMON SENSE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE'VE GOT
SARA, AAR ON , MIA ?
>> HI, SARA, LONGSHOREMAN. I AM
STILL AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MITIGATION
COSTS . GIVEN THE ZONE , HOW FAR
DOWN WILL THEY HAVE TO DRILL FOR
SUPPORTS? AFTER DECADES OF
DIESEL LEACHING INTO THE LAND,
THE SOIL REMEDIATION EFFORTS
WILL BE HEFTY. ALL UNITS WILL BE
REQUIRED TO HAVE PERMANENT AIR
COOLING AND BALANCED VENTILATION
SYSTEMS. RESIDENTS WILL BE
REQUIRED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
CONDITIONS INTO WHICH THEY ARE
MOVING. I'M NOT A DEVELOPER BUT
GIVEN THE COSTS SUPPORTABLE
HOUSING DOESN'T SEEM TO PENCIL
OUT. LET'S SAY YOU DO SUCCEED
IN PUSHING THIS THROUGH. SOUNDS
LIKE IT MIGHT BE QUIET AND CLEAN
UNTIL YOU OPEN A WINDOW OR GO
OUTSIDE FOR FRESH AIR. RESIDENTS
WILL DEAL WITH 9000 TRIPS PER
WEEK AND WILL BE BOXED INTO THE
EAST AND WEST BY BUSY RAIL
YARDS. AMTRAK PLANS TO ADD FIVE
OR SEVEN TRACKS SOUTH OF COLGATE
STREET. [ BELL RINGING ] WITH
ALL OF THOSE CONDITIONS,
DOESN'T THAT POINT TO THE
INCOMPATIBILITY OF RESIDENTIAL
AND INDUSTRIAL AREAS?
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, AARON,
ANGIE, AND MIA. COME ON DOWN,
AARON.
>> HELLO. AARON McKAY. I'VE
BEEN A LONGSHOREMAN FOR 20
YEARS. I WORKED DOWN THERE AND
MY DAD WORKS DOWN THERE. THIS IS
A CRUCIAL ROUTE FOR THE PORT. IF
IT GETS CHOKED OFF AND THE PORT
DIES, WE CANNOT COMPETE WITH
PORTS IN OTHER CITIES. THEY WILL
MOVE THE CARGO TO THEM AND WE
WILL LOSE THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS OF JOBS. IF WE LOSE
THEM, THEY ARE GONE. YOU KNOW,
IT'S GREAT THEY WANT THIS WORK
BUT THEY'VE ONLY BEEN WORKING
FOR TWO YEARS AND THEY WILL BE
GONE. OUR JOB IS A WHOLE ENTIRE
CAREER, AND I THINK THAT'S ALL
I'VE GOT TO SAY. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. I HOPE YOU VOTE THIS DOWN.
>> THANK YOU, AARON. NEXT, ANGIE
WATKINS AND MIA JACOBSON.
>> HI, ANGIE WATKINS, LONG SHORT
CASUAL LOCAL 19. I AM SEEKING
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL. THE
REASON WE ARE SO IMPASSIONED
ABOUT THIS, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE
IS A BIG GAMBLE ON BEHALF OF THE
CITY COUNCIL. THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY -- EVEN A
POSSIBILITY INFRINGING ON THAT
SPACE AND SLOWING DOWN FREIGHT
TRAFFIC COULD ADVERSELY IMPACT
TRADE AND THE VIABILITY OF THE
PORT AND THEIR TRAIT
PARTNERSHIPS, THAT IS TOO MUCH
OF A GAMBLE. WHEN THERE ARE
PLACES ALREADY ZONED FOR
HOUSING, PLACES WHERE OUR
BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE
TRADES CAN DO THEIR WORK AND GET
TO WORK, I ASK YOU ALL TO
POSSIBLY THINK CREATIVELY ABOUT
OTHER SPACES THAT DON'T HAVE
SUCH ADVERSE RAMIFICATIONS ON
OUR JOBS, THE LOCAL ECONOMY,
STATE ECONOMY. WE'VE HEARD FROM
FARMERS IN EASTERN WASHINGTON
SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THIS. [ BELL
RINGING ] I DON'T THINK IT IS
UNREASONABLE TO ASK YOU TO BE
100% CERTAIN THAT YOU KNOW THIS
WILL NOT SLOW DOWN TRAFFIC WHEN
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE --
>> THANK YOU, ANGIE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. NEXT, MIA JACOBSON
AND WE WILL TRANSITION TO THE
REMOTE COMMENTERS. MIA JACOBSON?
>> HI. MIA JACOBSON. I'VE
WORKED IN THE INDUSTRY FOR ABOUT
15 YEARS AND LOOKING AT THIS
ROOM, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IT
BREAKS MY HEART TO HAVE A
PROPOSITION SET BEFORE THAT
PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO PUT US IN
OPPOSITION FOR A CAPITAL
INVESTOR. IT SEEMS VERY SUSPECT
THAT YEARS OF COLLABORATIVE WORK
, EXTENSIVE WORK HAS BEEN PUSHED
TO THE SIDE FOR THE SAKE OF WHAT
SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY TERRIBLE
PLAN, HONESTLY. I HAVE BEEN
SPEAKING TO MY BROTHERS AND
SISTERS TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE
OPPOSING ARGUMENT AND WE WANT
JOBS. WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME
BOAT HERE. IN THE CONTEXT OF
THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND
THE TYPE OF ATTACK WE ARE
EXPERIENCING, IT'S ASTONISHING
TO ME THIS COUNCIL WOULD
CONSIDER AN ACTION THAT COULD
HAMSTRING LOCAL 19 [ BELL
RINGING ] ON THE WEST COAST AS
WE ENTER INTO THIS CONVERSATION
WHEN WE ARE ALL UNDER THREAT.
WHEN THIS GENTLEMAN SAID COMMON
SENSE, YOU WILL NOT HAVE COMMON
SENSE WITHOUT OUR INPUT.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL
RIGHT, WE WILL TRANSITION TO THE
REMOTE COMMENTERS. JUST AS A
REMINDER, I WILL CALL ON
SPEAKERS IN THE ORDER THEY
SIGNED UP. WHEN YOU HEAR THE
CHIME, YOU WILL HAVE 10 SECONDS
LEFT. YOUR MICROPHONE MAKE BE
CUT OFF SO WE CAN MOVE ONTO THE
NEXT SPEAKER. IF YOU'RE OFFERED
REMOTE COMMENT, PRESSURE START
SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. THE
FIRST PERSON WE WILL HAVE HIS
ALBERTO ALVAREZ. PRESS STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> HELLO. SEATTLE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS PUBLISH THEIR
YEAR END REVIEW FOR 2024. IN
THEIR DATA, THEY HIGHLIGHT
FINANCIAL REMEDIES FOR SEATTLE
WORKERS LAST YEAR. ONE WAS WAGE
THEFT RANGING IN THE $1 MILLION
AREA. BY COMPARISON, PAID SICK
AND SAVED TIME TO GIG WORKERS
HAD A $774,000 LAST YEAR.
SEATTLE 'S PAY UP TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF GIG WORKERS WITH
THE TIME NEEDED TO STAY HEALTHY
, RECOVER FROM ILLNESS, AND THE
PEACE OF MIND THEIR FINANCIAL
WELL-BEING WILL NOT BE SEVERELY
IMPACTED FOR SIMPLY TAKING CARE
OF THEMSELVES OR LOVED ONES.
THERE IS MORE TO PUBLISH , POST
LIKELY BY SUMMER. FOR NOW, THIS
IS ONE OF THE FIRST DATA POINTS
AVAILABLE WHICH SHOWCASED THE
SUCCESS. THANK YOU, AND HAVE A
GOOD DAY.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, ERIC FITCH?
OH, SHOOT. ERIC, PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> THANK YOU . PUBLIC PORTS
ASSOCIATION HERE TO VOTE DOWN
COUNCIL BILL 120933. ON MONDAY,
THERE WERE QUESTIONS OVER
TRAFFIC REALLY IMPACTS THE
SPRING. LOOK AT THE MONEY SPENT
BY THE PORT ON THE OVERPASS OR
THE MULTIPLE PORTS IN CENTRAL
WASHINGTON EXPLORING MAJOR
INVESTMENTS IN RAIL TRANSFER
FACILITIES TO THE URBAN CORE.
NEXT REGARDING COMPROMISE IN
2023, NO ONE GOT ANYTHING THEY
WANTED. THE PORT ACCEPTED
HOUSING IN ANY OTHER INDUSTRIAL
ZONE, JUST NOT THE ONE HAND
LOCATED ACROSS FROM THE CARGO
TERMINAL. IT IS EXTREMELY
DUBIOUS TO SUGGEST PUTTING LOW
INCOME HOUSING WOULD BENEFIT
PUBLIC SAFETY. LASTLY,
BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT IS AT A
PREMIUM THESE DAYS. YOU ARE
HOLDING A LETTER FROM 31 STATE
LAWMAKERS FROM BOTH PARTIES
ASKING YOU TO OPPOSE THIS BILL.
PLEASE VOTE NO. THANK YOU. [
BELL RINGING ]
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WILL BE
DEANNA KELLER. PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DEANNA
KELLER, PORT OF TACOMA
COMMISSIONER . THE SEAPORT
ALLIANCE IS A FORMAL VENTURE
BETWEEN THE PORTS OF SEATTLE AND
TACOMA. THE ALLIANCE WAS FORMED
TO STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE REGION
RATHER THAN COMPETE AGAINST EACH
OTHER. THE SUCCESS OF OUR
ORGANIZATION RELIES ON PARTNERS
IN A VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS
FROM ACROSS THE STATE. WE ARE IN
A COMPLEX BUSINESS. THE SUPPLY
CHAIN IS DYNAMIC. OUR PORTS ARE
ASSETS. WASHINGTON JOBS DEPEND
UPON TRADE, MUCH OF WHICH MOVES
THROUGH THE SEAPORT. ACCESS TO
AND FROM PORTS MAKES A
DIFFERENCE IN WHETHER THE
PRODUCTS ARE COMPETITIVE.
MANUFACTURERS ARE GETTING THEIR
GOODS TO MARKETS. WE NEED YOUR
SUPPORT [ BELL RINGING ] NOT
POLICIES THAT TURN THEM AWAY.
PLEASE VOTE AGAINST COUNCIL BILL
120933. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE WILL HAVE
TIM. SORRY, TIM McGREEVY . TIM,
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
TIM, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX.
>> TIM McGREEVY, CEO OF THE
TRADE ASSOCIATION. WE REPRESENT
THE FARMERS, PROCESSORS, AND
EXPORTERS OF DRY PEAS, LENTILS,
AND DRIED BEANS. I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPRESS OUR STRONG OPPOSITION TO
COUNCIL BILL 120933. THE
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS IS IN
EASTERN WASHINGTON AND NORTHERN
IDAHO. OUR INDUSTRY EXPORTS 50%
OF OUR PRODUCTION AND WE RELY ON
THE TIMELY SHIPMENT OF OUR CROPS
TO OUR OVERSEAS CUSTOMERS. THE
SEATTLE PORT IS VITAL TO THE
INDUSTRY. ADEQUATE SPACE IS
NEEDED TO MEET THE GROWING NEEDS
AND CHALLENGES OF A RAPIDLY
EXPANDING GLOBAL SHIPPING
MARKET. RURAL FARMERS AND
SHIPPERS IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON, PACIFIC NORTHWEST,
AND UNITED STATES RELY ON THE
PORT OF SEATTLE. [ BELL RINGING
] YOU NEED TO KNOW YOUR
DECISIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES FROM
THE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
WHOSE LIVELIHOODS DEPEND ON ITS
FUNCTIONING AS A TOP-TIER GLOBAL
MARKET. WE OPPOSE ANY PLANS TO
EXPAND AND PLEASE OPPOSE --
>> ALL RIGHT, NEXT WE HAVE JAMIE
. JAMIE, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> JAMIE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE TRADE ASSOCIATION
REPRESENTING CRAB FISHERMAN. I
AM SPEAKING TODAY IN OPPOSITION
OF THIS BILL. MANY OF THE 55
VESSELS COME TO SEATTLE FOR
SERVICES. MOST OF THE SNOW CRAB
WE HARVEST COMES THROUGH THE
SEATTLE PORT. FISHERIES ARE THE
TOP PRODUCER AND WILD SEAFOOD,
MORE THAN ALL OTHER STATES
COMBINED AND CONTRIBUTES OVER
$15 BILLION TO THE U.S. ECONOMY.
MUCH OF THAT IS COMING THROUGH
SEATTLE'S PORT TO REACH OTHER
DESTINATIONS AND BEYOND. TAXES
BENEFIT WASHINGTON STATE. MAY
MAINTAIN FUNCTION . OUR REGION
IS KNOWN FOR THE INCREDIBLE
SEAFOOD. WE ASK THAT YOU STAND
STRONG AND VOTE NO ON THIS BILL.
KEEP SEATTLE AS A MARITIME
INDUSTRIAL CENTER OF THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, CHAD. PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF, CHAD .
>> CHAD, WE WILL COME BACK TO
YOU. SORRY, CHAD. GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS CHAD. I AM A
NATIVE AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE COALITION PART OF THE
COALITION FLEET. I WISH TO
EXPRESS MY STRONG OPPOSITION TO
COUNCIL BILL 120933. I SERVE ON
THE STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE AND I
AM PROUD OF THAT AFTER MANY
YEARS OF WORK WE HAD A DEAL THAT
SHOULD NOT BE CREATING NEW
CHALLENGES FOR THE INDUSTRIAL
WORKFORCE. AGRICULTURAL
STAKEHOLDERS ARE FACING
CHALLENGES TO OUR LIVELIHOOD.
THIS WILL FORCE THOUSANDS OF
WORKING FAMILIES IN WASHINGTON.
FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO THE
GATEWAY WE SHOULD NOT BE
CREATING NEW WORD BLOCKS. WE
SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I
URGE THE COUNCIL TO NOT MOVE
THIS ACTION FORWARD. [ BELL
RINGING ]
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, CHAD.
NEXT , WE WILL HAVE DAVID
HAYNES. DAVID, PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> DAVID HAYNES. THANK YOU. WE
NEED TO FOCUS ON MITIGATING
IMPACTS THE PORT SUBJECTS THE
REST OF THE COMMUNITY TO BECAUSE
GOING FROM THE PORT TO THE
HIGHWAY SHOULD NOT BE AN EXPRESS
PRIORITY FOR ROAD RAGE SPEEDING
THROUGH. THEY NEED TO BE MORE
RESPECTFUL AND CONSIDERATE. WE
NEED MORE LAWS AROUND OPERATIONS
AND THEY SHOULD PUT A FEDERAL
INJUNCTION ON THE PORT AUTHORITY
TO KEEP GETTING SHAKEN DOWN. IT
IS LIKE ONE AFTER ANOTHER AT THE
TAX PAYERS EXPENSE. THE COUNCIL
WOULD RATHER SERVITUDE THEM THE
FINE PRINT OF A CONTRACT. THE
PORT WON'T HAVE ANY WAY TO
BREAK THE LEASE OR SUE TO GET
THEIR MONEY BACK. PORT EMPLOYEES
REMIND US [ BELL RINGING ] THEY
WILL SAY ANYTHING TO GET PAID.
>> THANK YOU, DAVID. NEXT, WE
WILL HAVE -- NEXT, WE HAVE JIM.
JIM, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> HI, JIM, BOAT OPERATOR HERE
IN HARBOUR ISLAND AND I RELY ON
THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT FOR
SUPPORT OF OUR BUSINESS
INCLUDING OUR VENDORS, OUR
REPAIR VENDORS, AND THE ABILITY
TO HAVE FREE MOBILITY THIS
CORRIDOR. INDUSTRIAL TO
RESIDENTIAL, IT WILL NEVER GO
BACK. YOU MAKE CONSIDER IT
QUAINT TO LIVE IN AN INDUSTRIAL
DISTRICT BUT IT CAN BE LOUD AND
NOISY 24 HOURS A DAY AND IT
CERTAINLY NOT SAFE FOR
PEDESTRIANS TO WALK IN THE AREA.
VOTE NO FOR CONVERTING THIS TO
HOUSING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JIM. NEXT, THE
LAST REMOTE COMMENTOR THIS
AFTERNOON, PETER. PETER, PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. PETER
JACKSON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
WATERWAY OPERATORS, THE ADVOCATE
RESOURCE FOR THE TUGBOAT AND
BARGE INDUSTRY. OUR INDUSTRY
SUPPORTS THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN
SEATTLE AND WASHINGTON STATE AND
SERVES AS A VITAL PART OF THE
WASHINGTON SUPPLY-CHAIN. AS YOU
HAVE HEARD FROM NUMEROUS
SPEAKERS, ONCE THE INDUSTRIAL
LANDS ARE IN PLACE, HOMES ARE
GONE FOREVER. IT'S A SIMPLE
MESSAGE WITH THE SAME ENDING.
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT
PROTECTING WHAT WE HAVE. IT'S
ABOUT BUILDING A FUTURE THE
MARITIME INDUSTRY THRIVES, OUR
WORKERS SUCCEED, AND WE LEAD IN
GLOBAL TRADE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME .
>> THANK YOU, PETER. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, THAT CONCLUDES REMOTE
COMMENTOR'S. MAY I CONTINUE THE
REMAINING IN PERSON? NEXT,
AARON, WAYLON, AND ANDREA . I
APOLOGIZE IF I MISPRONOUNCE YOUR
LAST NAME OR FIRST NAME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. AARON, PORT
OF COMMISSIONERS. IT IS WITH
HEAVY HEART THE PORT DELIVERS
THIS LETTER TO THE COUNCIL. THE
FIGHT WILL NOT BE OVER AT THIS
LEGISLATION. THE FIGHT WILL HAVE
JUST BEGUN. I WOULD MUCH RATHER
DELIVER YOU THE PLAN WE ARE
WORKING ON WITH THE CITY, WITH
MARITIME BLUE, WITH THE CHAMBER,
THE HYDROGEN HUB, THE CLEAN
TRUCKS COLLABORATIVE TO ATTRACT
GREEN PARTNERS, TO DELIVER
ELECTRIC TRUCKS, TO BRING CLEAN
FUELS AND REVOLUTIONIZE OUR
ECONOMY. LET'S DO THIS
TOGETHER. THE CURRENT MO YOU ON
THE FUTURE OF SOTO SIGNED BY THE
CITY, STATE, COUNTY LAYS OUT A
CLEAR PATH FOR NEGOTIATION BUT
THIS LEGISLATION IMPERILS ALL OF
THOSE CONVERSATIONS. THIS
LEGISLATION HAS SPLIT THE
COUNCIL, DIVIDED THE COMMUNITY,
AND DAMAGED THE IMAGE OF WHAT
ONE SEATTLE LOOKS LIKE. [ BELL
RINGING ] LIFT UP THE MARITIME
INDUSTRY AND JOBS FOR JANITORS,
MARITIME, ELECTRICIANS. INDEED,
THIS IS THE MISSION OF THE PORT
OF SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WAYLON,
FOLLOWED BY ANDREA AND ANGELA .
>> THAT AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
WAYLON ROBERTS. I AM A MERCHANT
SEAMAN AND POLITICAL DIRECTOR OF
THE UNION PACIFIC. SEP HAS BEEN
ON THE SEATTLE WATERFRONT SINCE
1885. OUR INDUSTRY HAS BEEN THE
MOST CONSISTENT CONTRIBUTOR TO
THE CITY'S TAX BASE FOR OVER
100 YEARS. OUR PORT IS CLOSER TO
THE WORLD THAN TACOMA. PIER 46
RIGHT OVER THERE HAS THE DEEPEST
DRAFT OF ANY TERMINAL ON THE
WEST COAST. WE CAN ALWAYS HAVE
THIS INDUSTRY IF WE PROTECT IT.
YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD CONCERNS
ABOUT GETTING FREIGHT TO OUR
DOCKS. I ASK THAT YOU KILL THIS
LEGISLATION, THAT MY MEMBERS
HAVE A FUTURE HERE [ BELL
RINGING ] AND WE CONTINUE TO
HAVE VIABLE ACCESS TO OUR DOCKS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, WAYLON. UP NEXT,
ANDREA, ANGELA, AND ADAM .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. ANDREA, BEING
THIS IS MY THIRD TIME
TESTIFYING, I'M PRETTY SURE YOU
KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY. I
WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION
THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE
COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATED BY YOUR
COMMITMENT IN FOSTERING BOTH
CREATIVITY AND OPPORTUNITY. I
APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS IN
CAREFULLY WEIGHING ALL ASPECTS
OF THIS PROPOSAL FOR THE BENEFIT
OF SEATTLE'S FUTURE. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOU TO
SUPPORT THE MAKERS DISTRICT OF
THE BROADER VISION OF BEING A
PROGRESSIVE AND INCLUSIVE CITY
THAT ENCOURAGES CREATIVITY ,
ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. THE
DISTRICT OFFERS POTENTIAL FOR
LONG-TERM GROWTH THAT BENEFITS
THE CITY'S RESIDENTS AND
ECONOMIC GROWTH. PLEASE VOTE TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH 120933 SO
SEATTLE CAN [ BELL RINGING ]
CONTINUE TO GROW AS A PORT
THINKING CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, ANGELA,
ADAM, AND ALAN. THE A S.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNTIES. I
AM HERE ON BEHALF OF ALLIANCE
FOR PIONEER SQUARE AND WE ARE
HERE TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR
THE DISTRICT. THE SURROUNDING
AREAS HAVE LONG BEEN HOME TO
INNOVATION, INDUSTRY, AND
CRAFTSMANSHIP. THIS INITIATIVE
REPRESENTS A FORWARD THINKING
APPROACH TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AND ONE THAT BUILDS UPON OUR
CITY'S LEGACY WHILE CREATING
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR
MANUFACTURERS, ARTISANS, AND
LOCAL BUSINESSES. THIS PROPOSAL
IS WELL STUDIED AND CAREFULLY
BALANCED TO SUPPORT EXISTING
INDUSTRIAL USES. BY ACTIVATING
THIS UNUSED SPACE WE CAN
GENERATE JOBS, SUPPORT
ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND EXPAND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. A VIBRANT
DISTRICT COMPLEMENTS STADIUM
ACTIVITY AND ENSURES YEAR-ROUND
ENGAGEMENT THAT BENEFITS THE
CITY [ BELL RINGING ] AND
IMPROVES PUBLIC SAFETY. THE
ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER SQUARE
URGES YOU TO PASS THIS BILL.
SEATTLE IS CREATIVE AND
INDUSTRIAL SPIRIT THRIVES. THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
>> NEXT, ADAM, ALAN, AND
MICHAEL. ADAM?
>> I WILL MAKE THIS BRIEF
BECAUSE SOME OF MY BROTHER
CARPENTERS HERE ARE FROM
SNOHOMISH COUNTY OR SOMETHING. I
AM A SEATTLE RESIDENT, LIFELONG.
I'VE WORKED DOWN THERE 20 YEARS
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO
SAY IS WE HAVE GOT TO PROTECT
THIS SPORT. THIS IS A DEEP WATER
PORT. THIS IS A RARE THING ON A
GLOBAL SCALE. OKAY? IT MUST BE
PROTECTED. NOW WHAT WE NEED TO
DO, WE NEED DIVERSITY. WE DON'T
NEED DEVELOPERS. WE HAVE A
DEVELOPER IN THE WHITE HOUSE. WE
NEED DIVERSITY OF JOBS. WE NEED
WHITE, BLUE, AND COLLARED WORK
TOGETHER. THE CITY CANNOT
SURVIVE ON TECH ALONE. SO , WHAT
WE NEED TO DO IS PROTECT THE
PORT. [ BELL RINGING ] PROTECT
THE ASSETS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE'VE GOT
ALAN SMITH, MICHAEL CLYDE, AND
JOSHUA CURTIS. COME ON DOWN,
ALAN, MICHAEL, AND JOSHUA.
>> ALAN SMITH. I HAVE BEEN A
LONGSHOREMAN ALMOST 20 YEARS
NOW. I AM DISHEARTENED YOU HAVE
PUT US HERE, PITTING LABOR
AGAINST LABOR HERE. IT IS VERY
DISHEARTENING. UNFORTUNATELY
HOUSES , MAKERS DISTRICT, ALL OF
THESE THINGS CAN BE BUILT IN
OTHER LOCATIONS. PORTS CANNOT BE
MOVED OR REBUILT. THAT IS NOT
POSSIBLE, SO THE FINANCIAL
IMPACTS OF PUTTING IN SOME LOW
INCOME HOUSING ARE, YOU KNOW,
YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE WAY MORE
GIVING UP THE PORT. IT AFFECTS
THE ENTIRE STATE. IT AFFECTS THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY, VERSUS A FEW
SMALL BUSINESSES AND A FEW
RANDOM HOUSES THAT SUPPOSEDLY
ARE GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE. I
URGE YOU TO PLEASE KILL THIS
LEGISLATION. [ BELL RINGING ] WE
ARE UP HERE AGAIN AND AGAIN. WE
ARE TIRED OF FIGHTING THIS.
PLEASE KILL THIS.
>> THANK YOU, MICHAEL. SORRY, WE
HAVE MICHAEL, JOSHUA, AND ALLIE.
COME ON DOWN.
>> HELLO, MICHAEL FROM THE PORT
OF SEATTLE. SINCE I STARTED
THERE SEVEN YEARS AGO, I HAVE
LOOKED INTO THE IMPACT ON
SHIPPING IN THIS AREA. SEATTLE
WAS BUILT ON SHIPPING AND THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE ECONOMY AROUND
THAT. AS COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
POINTED OUT LAST TIME, HE CALLED
IT THE BACKBONE OF SEATTLE'S
ECONOMY AND THE REASON YOU WERE
ABLE TO BALANCE YOUR BUDGETS.
I'M PROUD TO WORK IN A DIVERSE
GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT COVER ALL
AGES, RACES, EVERYTHING. IT'S A
WONDERFUL PLACE TO WORK AND WE
HAVE GREAT JOBS FOR LOTS OF
PEOPLE. WE GO OUT INTO THE
COMMUNITY AND SPREAD THAT
AROUND. WE SUPPORT HOUSING. WE
WANT BETTER HOUSING. MORE
CONSTRUCTION, BUT THE BACKBONE
OF THE ECONOMY WILL NOT HELP US
[ BELL RINGING ] IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. I STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS.
I HOPE YOU MAKE A GOOD DECISION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, JOSHUA,
ALLIE, AND JOHN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. JOSHUA CURTIS,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
BALLPARK. I WANT TO THANK YOU
ALL FOR THE LEGISLATION IN FRONT
OF YOU. MORE THAN THAT, I WANT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW HARD YOUR
JOBS HAVE BEEN. WE HAVE ALL BEEN
AT THIS FOR A WHILE. PASSIONS
ARE CLEARLY RUNNING HIGH. I WILL
ADMIT, I HAVE BEEN PRETTY
FRUSTRATED. WHAT I HAVE
WITNESSED, I HAVE BEEN CAUGHT
OFF GUARD AND FRANKLY, MY HEAD
HAS BEEN SPINNING. I SPEND MORE
TIME THAN I'M WILLING TO ADMIT
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MANY
RED HERRINGS I COULD ADDRESS IN
ONE MINUTE. INSTEAD, I WOULD
LIKE TO STEP BACK FOR A MOMENT.
THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS. OPCD HAS
ALREADY STUDIED ALL OF THIS.
THEY'VE LAID OUT IN VERY CLEAR
LANGUAGE WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD
BE. IT INCLUDES AN ALTERNATIVE
995 UNITS OF HOUSING [ BELL
RINGING ] AFFORDABLE FOR 75
YEARS. TRY TO MAKE HEADS OR
TAILS OF THE CLAIMS AND LEGAL
STRATEGY --
>> THANK YOU, JOSHUA. THANK YOU.
>> TRUST THE DEPARTMENT WHOSE
JOB IT WAS TO ANALYZE THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, WE'VE GOT ALLIE, JOHN,
AND MARIANA.
>> HI, ALLIE. THE WORKING CLASS
IS UNDER ATTACK AND IT'S
BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER FOR
EVERYDAY AMERICANS TO LIVE IN
THIS AREA ESPECIALLY. WHY WOULD
WE RISK ANY KIND OF HARM TO ONE
OF THE TOP ECONOMIC ENGINES? THE
EXPERTS ON THE GROUND, THE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND BREATHE
MARITIME ARE TELLING YOU THIS
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THIS
LOCATION IS A BAD IDEA. BELIEVE
US. WASHINGTON IS ONE OF THE
MOST TRADE -DEPENDENT STATE IN
THE COUNTRY. WE ARE FAMOUS FOR
OUR QUALITY EXPORTS OF SOME OF
THE BEST COMMODITIES IN THE
WORLD. WINE, CHRISTMAS TREES ,
SALMON, CHERRIES, APPLES, BEER,
AND FRENCH FRIES. THE
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US PUTS
OUR PORTS VIABILITY AT STAKE AND
THREATENED SO MANY OTHER SECTORS
AND FAMILY WAGE JOBS. PLEASE
VOTE NO ON 120933 TO PROTECT
GOOD MARITIME AND AGRICULTURAL
JOBS IN OUR TOWN AND ACROSS
WASHINGTON STATE, THE GREATEST
PLACE IN THE WORLD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT,
WE'VE GOT JOHN, MARIANNA, AND
JESSE? MY APOLOGIES.
>> JOHN, DISTRICT 7 VOTER,
LONGSHORE WORKERS SINCE 2011. WE
HAVE CRANE OPERATORS IN SEATTLE
FASTER THAN THE ROBOTS YET . OUR
TROUBLE WITH THE PORT IS GETTING
CONTAINERS IN AND OUT OF THE
PORTS ON THE ROADS AND THIS
WOULD ONLY MAKE THAT WORSE. IT
PUTS PEOPLE AT RISK. REPLACING
HOUSING NEAR THE TRAFFIC
CORRIDOR IS A MISTAKE. WE DON'T
ALLOW PEDESTRIANS IN THE
TERMINALS AND WE WEAR VESTS. WE
ARE TRYING TO KEEP OUR HEADS ON
A SWIVEL AND OUR EQUIPMENT HAS
BETTER VISIBILITY AND LOWER
SPEEDS THAN THE ROAD 'S TRUCKS
AND TRAINS OUT THERE. THEY
ACCOUNT FOR A HIRE PROPORTION OF
FATAL COLLISIONS THAN OTHER
TRAFFIC. YOU DON'T ALLOW
CIVILIANS ON CONSTRUCTION SITES.
THIS WOULD BE LIKE THAT. ADDING
ALL OF THAT TRAFFIC TO THE
CORRIDOR. [ BELL RINGING ] THIS
WAIVER IS CONTRARY TO THE VISION
ZERO GOAL OF NO PEDESTRIAN
DEATHS IN THE CITY.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT WE
HAVE MARI ANNA, JESSE , AND
MONTY. COME ON DOWN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MARIANNA,
CLINICAL COORDINATOR WITH THE
REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS
WHICH SUPPORTS 18,000 ALONE IN
WASHINGTON STATE AND A PRIME
MEMBER OF LOCAL 196. I STAND
BEFORE YOU TODAY TO VOICE MY
STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE HOUSING
PROJECT. A CRUCIAL INVESTMENT IN
THE COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. WITH 15
YEARS SPENT IN PROGRAMS, I'VE
SEEN HOW ESSENTIAL SKILLED
TRADES PEOPLE ARE BUILDING THE
VERY FOUNDATION OF THE CITY.
THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE
WELL-PAYING UNION JOBS THAT NOT
ONLY SUPPORT WORKERS BUT INVEST
IN THE NEXT GENERATION THROUGH
APPRENTICESHIPS AND HIGH-QUALITY
TRAINING. THE DISTRICT DIRECTLY
ADDRESSES THE SEATTLE HOUSING
CRISIS. TRADESPEOPLE, TEACHERS,
FIRST RESPONDERS, SERVICEMEMBERS
, MANY OF WHOM CAN NO LONGER
AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY THEY
HAVE BUILT. BY INTEGRATING
HOUSING AND INDUSTRY, THIS
PROJECT [ BELL RINGING ] WILL
ALLOW FAMILIES TO STAY ROOTED IN
SEATTLE. IT'S ABOUT CREATING
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY --
>> THANK YOU, MARIANA. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE'VE GOT
JESSE , MONTY, AND STEPHEN.
JESSE, COME ON DOWN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL. MY NAME
IS JESSE.
>> GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> I AM THE LEAD REPRESENTATIVE
FOR THE WESTERN STATES COUNCIL
OF CARPENTERS REPRESENTING LOCAL
206 IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. WE
HAVE OVER 6000 MEMBERS ALONE IN
THIS CITY. THIS ISN'T AN
OPPORTUNITY ABOUT LIVABLE WAGES
BUT LOOK AT THE ECONOMY.
UNEMPLOYMENT IS UP. WASHINGTON
STATE IS AT A $24 BILLION
DEFICIT. WE KEEP TURNING DOWN
LIVABLE WAGES AND GOOD JOBS. WE
ARE CONTINUING DOWN THE SPIRAL
WE ARE HEADING TO. THIS IS ABOUT
CREATING A FUTURE FOR
GENERATIONS. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE
TO LIVE DOWN SOUTH IN PIERCE
COUNTY. WE WANT TO LIVE WHERE WE
WORK AND CREATE GENERATIONAL
WEALTH AND COMMUNITY WEALTH.
THIS IS ABOUT GOOD PAYING JOBS
AND HAVING THE ABILITY TO LIVE
WHERE YOU WORK. ALSO, YOU KNOW,
WE HAVE 25 MEMBERS HERE IN
SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT. WE URGE
YOU TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. [
BELL RINGING ] IT IS THE RIGHT
THING TO DO IN SEATTLE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, MONTY,
STEPHEN, AND MING MING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS,
AND CHAIR NELSON FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD. WE GO BACK AND
FORTH WITH THE PROS AND CONS.
I'M SORRY , WE DIDN'T SIGN UP
IN TIME, SO I'M SORRY OUR
MESSAGING I LOST EARLIER BUT I
WANT TO REITERATE THE THING WE
ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HERE, THE
FACTS. THERE IS NO WAY BEING A
PROFESSIONAL IN THE CRAFT THAT I
DO I WOULD EVER DO ANYTHING I
THOUGHT WOULD HARM THE PORT. WE
HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS FOR OVER
A YEAR. WE HAVE LOOKED AT ALL OF
THE EIS AND I HAVE YET TO SEE
ANYTHING THAT WOULD PUT THESE
PEOPLE OUT HARM. I UNDERSTAND
THE IDEA OF PRESERVING THE PORT.
I WORKED AT THE PORT OF SEATTLE
MYSELF . I GET IT. THE IDEA
MESSAGING IS AND ALWAYS [ BELL
RINGING ] OR MAYBE IT GETS OUT
THERE AND MUDDIES THE WATER SO
I'M HERE TO SAY I SUPPORT ALL
OF THE WORKERS IN THE ROOM AND
I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON
THIS.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL
RIGHT, NEXT, WE'VE GOT STEPHEN,
MING MING, AND ESTELLA.
>> HI, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS
STEPHEN WITH THE LOCAL 206
JOURNEYMEN CARPENTERS. I'VE
BEEN WITH THEM FOR ABOUT EIGHT
YEARS AND WE ARE FOR THE
PROPOSAL. I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE
HERE OPPOSING IT, BUT HONESTLY,
IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE MUCH OF
A DIFFERENCE FOR THE FREIGHT
TIMES. I'VE LOOKED EVERYWHERE
IN SEATTLE. I WAS BORN AND
RAISED AND IF IT DOESN'T AFFECT
THE TRAFFIC -- THE TRAFFIC IS
HORRIBLE. I'VE LIVED IN NEW
YORK AND L.A., OKAY? TRUST ME
WHEN I TELL YOU THE TRAFFIC IS
BAD HERE. WE ARE NOT BUILT FOR
IT. IF WE ARE DOING SOMETHING
AND DEVELOPING AN AREA IN THE
INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT, SOUNDS LIKE
A GREAT IDEA TO ME. OKAY? AND TO
BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I KNOW
MY RENT GOES UP EVERY YEAR
COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS, RIGHT? [
BELL RINGING ] I HOPE WE GO FROM
WE HAD A DEAL TO WE HAVE A DEAL.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, MING MING,
ESTELLA, AND MARK . COME ON
DOWN, EVERYONE.
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS. MING
MING, DIRECTOR OF INITIATIVE. WE
CREATE GREEN JOBS FOR REFUGEES
ON UP CYCLING MATERIALS LOCALLY.
IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC
WHEN WE COULDN'T FIND MASKS, WE
WERE ABLE TO UP CYCLE BEDSHEETS
TO TURN THEM INTO 80,000 MASKS
TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
RECENTLY WE ARE TAKING THE FINAL
BILLBOARD MATERIAL TO MAKE INTO
RECYCLED BAGS FOR THOUSANDS OF
FAMILIES TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO
RECYCLE. MY MESSAGE HERE IS THAT
WE CREATE GREEN JOBS. THIS BILL
IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT
CREATES LOCAL MANUFACTURING JOBS
THAT ARE EQUITABLE AND ALLOWS
THE PEOPLE [ BELL RINGING ] AND
OUR RESIDENTS . SO I AM HERE
ASKING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
FOR BOTH THE ENVIRONMENT AND
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> HI. MY NAME IS ESTELLA
MARTINEZ. MY BUSINESS IS ASK A
TRUE BAKERY IN THE DOWNTOWN
NEIGHBORHOOD OF SEATTLE. WE ARE
THE ONLY BAKERY IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON AND ONE OF THREE ON
THE WEST COAST THAT MAKES
ALLERGEN FREE BAKED GOODS AND
FOODS AND A DEDICATED SPACE ,
SERVING THOSE WITH SEVERE FOOD
DISABILITIES. I'M HERE AS A
MEMBER OF SEATTLE MEAN TO ASK
THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT COUNCIL
BILL 120933 FOR STADIUM MAKERS
DISTRICT. MAKER BUSINESSES
EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL
OWNERSHIP AND EMPLOYMENT
CONTRIBUTING TO THE VIBRANCY AND
UNIQUENESS OF OUR CITY AND
HELPING BUILD A LONG-TERM
RESILIENCY BY KEEPING DOLLARS
CIRCULATING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
I HAVE STRUGGLED FOR THE LAST
TWO YEARS LOOKING FOR A LARGER
SPACE TO EXPAND MY BUSINESS TO
INCLUDE [ BELL RINGING ] AND
HIRE MORE PEOPLE SO WE CAN SERVE
MORE OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITH
FOOD DISABILITIES.
>> THANK YOU, ESTELLA.
>> I HOPE YOU CAN SUPPORT THIS.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE
LAST THREE, MARK, BRAUN, AND
PETER. COME ON DOWN, Y'ALL.
>> HI, MARK RILEY. 18 YEARS .
AFTER YEARS OF NEGOTIATING THIS
DEAL, WE HAVE GIVEN THE NEW
COUNCILMEMBERS A MONTH TO DECIDE
ON THIS THING. MEMBERS OF THIS
COUNCIL HAVE STATED THEY DON'T
UNDERSTAND THE REASONS SPECIFIC
COMPROMISES WERE MAKE OR WHAT
LED TO THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE
NOT THERE. HOW CAN THE NEW
COUNSELORS UNDERSTAND ALL THAT
WENT INTO THIS DEAL IN A MONTH?
THAT IS EXACTLY WHY VOTING NO ON
THIS SHOULD BE A SIMPLE
DECISION. AS BEST AS I CAN TELL,
FINANCIAL GOALS ARE BEING USED
INTO OVERLOOKING THE SIGNIFICANT
BENEFITS THIS PORT BRINGS TO THE
CITY. FOR OVER A CENTURY THE
PORT CONTINUES TO PROVIDE INCOME
FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
WORKERS ACROSS THE STATE AND
IMPORTANT FUNDS IN THE CITY.
EVERY CHUNK POINT BIG OR SMALL
IS ANOTHER REASON FOR SHIPPERS
TO GO ELSEWHERE. VOTE THIS DOWN.
[ BELL RINGING ] KEEP LEARNING
ABOUT HOW SPECIAL OUR PORT IS
AND HOW BY INTRODUCING
LEGISLATION THAT IMPROVES THE
CORRIDOR FOR SHIPPING. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, MARK. THE LAST
TWO, RON AND PETER.
>> RON MANWELL, LOCAL 19. I'VE
WORKED ON THE SEATTLE WATERFRONT
FOR 37 YEARS AND IN THAT TIME
I'VE SEEN THE AFTERMATH OF
COUNTLESS INJURIES AND DEATHS
FROM ACCIDENTS INVOLVING HEAVY
EQUIPMENT AND PEOPLE. SEMI
TRUCKS AND PEOPLE. ON THE DOCKS
AND FREEWAYS, I'M ADAMANTLY
OPPOSED TO BUILDING HOUSES IN
THE INDUSTRIAL ZONE AND
ELIMINATE THE SETBACK OF HOUSING
FROM THE CORRIDOR. IT'S A DUMB
AND ILL THOUGHT SCHEME TO ENRICH
ONE MAN. I URGE A NO VOTE. WE
HAD A DEAL. HONOR THAT DEAL. I
DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY MORE
PEOPLE HURT OR KILLED BY TRUCKS
OR EQUIPMENT ON ROADS NOT
DESIGNED FOR THAT WHEN WE HAD A
DEAL THAT KEPT HOUSING OUT OF
THE ONE MOST IMPORTANT AREA FOR
THE PORT. THERE WAS A QUESTION
ASKED MONDAY AND WHY WE WERE SO
ADAMANTLY OPPOSED IN THIS AREA
AND WE WEREN'T IN OTHER AREAS.
THIS PARTICULAR SPOT IS
PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT [ BELL
RINGING ] TO THE PORT . WE ARE
OPPOSED TO IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AND THE LAST --
THE LAST COMMENT FOR THIS
AFTERNOON, PETER. GO AHEAD,
PETER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS PETER
. I AM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. I'VE
BEEN AROUND SEATTLE FOR OVER 60
YEARS. WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL. I AM
A MEMBER OF AN AFRICAN COMMUNITY
IN SEATTLE, ONE OF THE FASTEST
GROWING COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE A
VERY LARGE NUMBER OF MEMBERS WHO
MAKE A LIVING MOVIONTAINERS
IN AND OUT OF TERMINALS. IN
FACT, ESTIMATED TO BE OVER 400.
WE SAY, NO, LET'S NOT INTERFERE
WITH ANYTHING THAT WILL
INTERFERE WITH THOSE JOBS. [
BELL RINGING ] IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT THAT WE SAY NO . THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AND THAT CONCLUDES
PUBLIC COMMENT, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> OKAY.
>> WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF
OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT FOR
THE SECOND DAY THIS WEEK. I
APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT.
THERE IS NOBODY ELSE SIGNED UP
ON THE LIST TO MY KNOWLEDGE, SO
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
CLOSED. LET'S SEE. WE DO HAVE
-- WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION
FROM COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF. I
WILL FIRST BASICALLY SAY A
COUPLE OPENING COMMENTS AND THEN
WE WILL GO INTO THE
PRESENTATION, AND THEN WE CAN
HAVE QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS.
BUT -- YES? PARDON? OH, PLEASE
READ THE ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, COUNCIL BILL
120933, AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
LAND USE AND ZONING, AMENDING
SECTIONS 23.74.002 AND 23.74.008
OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE TO
ALLOW RESIDENTIAL USES IN THE
STADIUM TRANSITION AREA OVERLAY
DISTRICT. FOR BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> I WILL FIRST MOVE THIS AND WE
WILL GO INTO OUR DISCUSSION AND
PRESENTATION. ALL RIGHT. I MOVE
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
PASSAGE OF CB 120933. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF CB 120933. I DID
THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT ANY
AMENDMENTS, SO THIS GETS THE
PROCEDURAL STEP OUT OF THE WAY
WHICH I AM AT RISK OF FORGETTING
TO DO AT THE END. THERE WE GO.
COLLEAGUES, I'VE EXPLAINED MY
REASONS FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD
IN THE PAST BUT JUST TO RECAP,
THIS BILL WOULD INCENTIVIZE THE
CONSTRUCTION OF WORKFORCE
HOUSING IN SMALL SPACES FOR
LOCAL INDEPENDENT INDUSTRIAL
SMALL BUSINESSES IN A DOWNTOWN
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAGUED WITH
SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS. THAT IS
WHY IT IS SO STRONGLY SUPPORTED
BY THE PIONEER SQUARE RESIDENTS
AND BUSINESSES AS WELL AS THE
PUBLIC STADIUM AUTHORITIES. IT
WOULD GUARANTEE GOOD UNION JOBS
THROUGH PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS
AND THAT IS WHY OVER 173,000
WORKERS REPRESENTED BY THE
SEATTLE BUILDING TRADES UNIONS,
AS WELL AS THE WESTERN STATES
CARPENTERS , 3000 AND LOCAL 66
UNITE HERE. THAT IS WHY IT IS
BACKED BY THE MLK LABOR COUNCIL.
FOR ME, BEFORE GOING ON -- THAT
IS WHY I PUT THIS LEGISLATION
FORWARD. I DO WANT TO RESPOND
BEFORE GETTING INTO THE MEAT OF
THE PRESENTATION BECAUSE THERE
ARE GOOD REASONS TO BE PRO OR
CON THIS LEGISLATION, AND WE
MIGHT GET INTO SOME OF THEM
AGAIN DURING THE DISCUSSION, BUT
I WANT TO ADDRESS THE
IMPLICATION THAT A DEAL WAS
BREACHED . THAT WE HAD A DEAL .
IT DOES GET TO THE INTEGRITY NOT
JUST OF THE PEOPLE HERE THAT
WILL BE VOTING FOR IT, BUT THE
BROAD COALITION OF THE FOLKS
THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THIS
LEGISLATION. AND SO, YOU ARE
RIGHT. SOMEBODY SAID WE WEREN'T
HERE. THIS WAS BEING DELIBERATED
IN 2023, AND THAT IS TRUE. I
WILL NOT READ THIS WHOLE
TIMELINE, BUT BASICALLY THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT WAS
SUBMITTED TO REMOVE THE STAOD IN
MAY OF 2019. THERE WAS AN
ADVISORY COUNCIL THAT WAS
CONVENED IN 2023 AFTER THAT. IN
NOVEMBER. AND TWO YEARS LATER --
WELL, ONE AND HALF, IN MAY, THE
ADVISORY COUNCIL CONCLUDED ITS
WORK AND RECOMMENDED 11 BROAD
STRATEGY STATEMENTS. THEY
REFLECTED THE ADVISORY COUNCIL
CONSENSUS THAT ANY LIMITED
ADJUSTMENTS TO HOUSING
ALLOWANCES IN TRANSITIONAL ZONES
WOULD BE DETERMINED AFTER
ADDITIONAL STUDY OF POTENTIAL
IMPACTS INCLUDING AN
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.
SO, THAT WORK BEGAN IN THE
SUMMER OF 2021. THE EIS DID
STUDY POSSIBLE ZONING CHANGES.
THAT WORK BEGAN THEN. IN
SEPTEMBER OF 2022 -- SEPTEMBER
29th, THE FINAL EIS WAS
PUBLISHED AND 990 HOUSING UNITS
WERE STUDIED WHERE THE STAOD --
THAT GETS TO ONE OF THE ISSUES
IN THE PORT'S. THE PREFERRED
ALTERNATIVE IS INCLUDED IN THE
FINAL EIS AND RECOMMENDS HOUSING
IN THE STADIUM DISTRICT
PROVIDING AN EXCEPTION TO THE
URBAN INDUSTRIAL RULE THAT NO
HOUSING SHOULD BE BUILT WITHIN
200 FEET OF A MAJOR TRUCK
STREET. AND SO, OCTOBER 2022,
THE WINDOW TO APPEAL CLOSES.
THAT IS NOT A LOT OF TIME, I
RECOGNIZE. IN ANY CASE, THAT WAS
ALL IN 2022. BETWEEN OCTOBER
2022 AND MARCH 2023, THERE WAS A
LOT OF -- THIS STAKEHOLDER GROUP
I BELIEVE REPRESENTED THE RANGE
OF INTERESTS INCLUDING MARITIME
AND INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES,
ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOOD STADIUMS,
AND A CITY COUNCILMEMBER. THAT
STAKEHOLDER GROUP WAS NOT
BROUGHT BACK TOGETHER AGAIN BUT
THERE WERE A LOT OF
CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, OPCD, AND
INDIVIDUAL STAKEHOLDERS. SO THE
-- IT WAS AFTER THAT -- THOSE --
IT WAS AFTER THOSE DISCUSSIONS
LEGISLATION WAS SENT DOWN TO
COUNCIL FOR DELIBERATION IN
APRIL OF 2023. THAT IS WHEN
LEGISLATION WAS TRANSMITTED. SO
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS THE
THOUGHT THAT WE MADE A DEAL
TOWARDS THE END OF THIS PROCESS
AND NOW WE ARE STARTING IT UP
AGAIN. I'M JUST SAYING THERE IS
THOUGHT ON THE COALITION SIDE
THAT THE EIS WAS PUBLISHED AND
HOUSING WAS IN THE PREFERRED
ALTERNATIVE. SO FROM THEIR
PERSPECTIVE, THEY THOUGHT IT IS
GOING TO BE IN THE LEGISLATION
AND IT WASN'T. I JUST WANT TO
REPRESENT THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO
THE IDEA OF WHAT WAS GOING TO
COME FORWARD BEFORE COUNCIL AND
ULTIMATELY BE VOTED FOR. I JUST
WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE
BECAUSE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT PEOPLE REALIZE THERE WERE A
LOT OF CONVERSATIONS GOING ON
SOMEWHERE . SOME WERE ALTOGETHER
AND SOME WERE ONE-ON-ONE WHICH
IS WHY I FEEL BOTH SIDES FELT
THEY HAD A DEAL. OKAY. WITH THAT
, LET'S REMEMBER I WOULD ASK
YOU TO GO THROUGH THE
PRESENTATIONS THE LEGISLATION
DOES AND WE CAN PROCEED WITH
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. JUST A
SECOND. CHECKING MY SCREEN TO
SEE IF COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON --
JUST WANTED TO SEE IF THERE WERE
ANY HANDS UP. PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELF AGAIN, ALTHOUGH WE ALL
--
>> LISH WHITSON, COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF. I WILL VERY BRIEFLY GO
BACK THROUGH THE PRESENTATION
YOU SAW IN JANUARY. IT BASICALLY
FOCUSES ON THIS LEGISLATION AND
WHAT IT SAYS , A BIT OF HISTORY
THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD, THE
TRANSITIONAL AREA OVERLAY
DISTRICT WAS CREATED IN 2000 TO
PROVIDE A TRANSITION AS THE NAME
OF THE DISTRICT SAYS BETWEEN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE AND THE
STADIUMS AND INDUSTRIAL AREA TO
THE SOUTH. IN 2023, AS YOU HAVE
HEARD, NEW INDUSTRIAL ZONES WERE
MAPPED ACROSS THE CITY INCLUDING
THE URBAN INDUSTRIAL ZONE IN
THIS AREA. AS A RESULT OF THOSE
AMENDMENTS FOR THE OVERLAY
DISTRICT, LODGING BECAME
PERMITTED USE . THE FLOOR AREA
RATIO FOR THE DISTRICT WAS
INCREASED TO 4.5 . STREET-LEVEL
SALES AND SERVICE, MEDICAL
SERVICE, EATING AND DRINKING,
LODGING WERE ACCEPTED THEIR
FLOOR AREA RATIO LIMITS. UNLIKE
OTHER INDUSTRIAL ZONES ACROSS
THE CITY, HOUSING WAS PROHIBITED
IN THE STADIUM TRANSITION
OVERLAY AREA. THE LIGHT BLUE ON
THIS MAP IS THE INDUSTRIAL
ZONING. PURPLE IS DOWNTOWN
ZONING. AND THE DARK BLACK
OUTLINE SHOWS THE STADIUM
TRANSITIONAL OVERLAY DISTRICT.
THIS AREA IS REALLY AT THE
CROSSROADS BETWEEN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE AND THE INDUSTRIAL AREA.
MOST OF IT IS ZONED URBAN
INDUSTRIAL. THE URBAN INDUSTRIAL
ZONE WAS INTENDED TO PROVIDE A
TRANSITION BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL
AND INDUSTRIAL AREAS, OR
COMMERCIAL MIXED-USE AREAS. AND
SUPPORT A RANGE OF INDUSTRIAL
USES THAT CAN BE COMPATIBLE WITH
THEIR NEIGHBORING USES. IT ALSO
ALLOWS HOUSING AS A CONDITIONAL
USE WITH A LONG LIST OF
CONDITIONS. FIRST, HOUSING HAS
TO BE PART OF A MIXED-USE
DEVELOPMENT. JUST AN APARTMENT
WITH NO RESIDENTIAL USES IS
PERMITTED. HALF OF THE HOUSING
NEEDS TO BE AFFORDABLE FOR 75
YEARS AT INCOME LEVELS OF 60% TO
90% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME,
DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE
UNITS. SOUND INSULATING WINDOWS
AND AIR CONDITIONING ARE
REQUIRED FOR THE URBAN
INDUSTRIAL AREA, AND RESIDENTS
MUST KNOW THEY ARE IN AN
INDUSTRIAL AREA. THAT IS ONE OF
THE CONDITIONS FOR OPENING
HOUSING IN THIS AREA. PERMITTED
DENSITY IS 50 DWELLING UNITS PER
ACRE AND GENERALLY THE URBAN
INDUSTRIAL ZONE HABITS HOUSING
WITHIN 200 FEET OF A SHORELINE
AND 200 FEET OF A MAJOR TRUCK
STREET. THIS BILL WOULD REMOVE
THE PROHIBITION ON HOUSING THAT
CURRENTLY EXISTS IN THE STATE ,
REMOVES THE LIMIT WITHIN 200
FEET OF MAJOR SPACE IN THE URBAN
INDUSTRIAL ZONE, AND HAS BEEN
MENTIONED THIS WAS STUDIED IN
THE INDUSTRIAL MARITIME FINAL
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
POSTED IN 2022. THAT IT.
>> OKAY. ANY COMMENTS ON THE
ACTUAL BILL AND WHAT IT WOULD
DO? OKAY. I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR
FOR COMMENTS TO MY COLLEAGUES.
QUESTIONS?
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. I
UNDERSTAND WE HAVE NO QUESTIONS,
SO REMARKS WERE COMMENTS AHEAD
OF THE VOTE? LIKE I SAID LAST
TIME, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE
THAT HAS COME OUT FOR ALL OF THE
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR AND AGAINST.
I APPRECIATE IT. I WANT TO THANK
THE TWO PANELS TO INCLUDE THE
ONE WE HAD EARLIER THIS WEEK. IT
IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE
PRESENTATIONS. I WILL NOTE THAT
IN ADDITION TO PUBLIC COMMENTS,
I'VE GOT A LOT OF COMMENTS
DIRECTLY TO ME. EMAILS ACROSS
THE BOARD AND COMMENTS FROM
DIFFERENT GROUPS, SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. IT INFORMS AND
GIVES INSIGHT TO THE ISSUES WE
ARE FACING IN THIS LEGISLATION.
I ALSO APPRECIATE VERY MUCH ON A
HIRE LEVEL THE OP-ED'S. LET'S
JUST SAY BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD.
THIS ONE WAS TABLED, A POORLY
VETTED PLAN FOR MORE HOUSING
NEAR SEATTLE STADIUMS. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS KIND OF
EDITORIAL BUT ALSO OP-ED'S, LIKE
THIS ONE FROM FORMER
COMMISSIONER NOW DIRECTOR OF
MARITIME FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE FOR THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON, STEPHANIE BOWMAN.
HOW DO WE MAKE WASHINGTON MORE
RESILIENT? THAT GOES TO THE
ISSUES RELATING TO THE POOR.
THESE ARE IMPORTANT PIECES THAT
NEED TO GET OUT INTO THE PUBLIC
DOMAIN BECAUSE I WILL BE HONEST
WITH YOU, AS MUCH AS I LOVE THE
AWARD-WINNING SEATTLE CHANNEL,
NOT EVERYONE SEES IT, SO HAVING
THESE TYPES OF OP-ED AND
EDITORIALS ARE IMPORTANT. IT'S
NOT JUST THE SEATTLE TIMES. YOU
KNOW, SEATTLE SHOULD REJECT THE
HOUSING PUSH. THIS IS FROM
COMMISSIONER HAWKINS FROM THE
PORT OF SEATTLE. SURPRISINGLY
NOT ONLY FROM THE URBAN BUT FROM
PUBLIC COLA, A GREAT OP-ED
ENTITLED THE CITY'S MARITIME
INDUSTRIAL ERA IS NO PLACE FOR
HOUSING. GREAT INSIGHT INTO THE
ISSUES THAT ARE THERE AND VERY
IMPORTANT. ON TOP OF THAT, AND
THIS GOES TO THE DYNAMICS.
LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM NONE
OTHER THAN THE 37th LEGISLATIVE
DEMOCRATS. I WANT TO THANK THEM
FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
POSITION THAT I AND OTHERS ARE
TAKING IN OPPOSITION TO THIS
BILL. THAT KIND OF INPUT IS KEY
AS WE ARE TRYING TO DO OUR
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. THAT INFORMS
ME , BUT ALSO MY FORMER CAREER,
MY PAST, MY PERSPECTIVES THAT I
HAVE GAINED REALLY INFORMS MY
POSITION ON THIS BILL. I JUST
WANT TO SAY THAT OUR NATION
NEEDS THE PORT OF SEATTLE AND
THE NORTHWEST SEAPORT ALLIANCE.
ANOTHER THING I'VE SAID
RECENTLY, MORE THAN ONCE,
IMAGINE THE L.A. FIRES WERE TO
THE SOUTH. NOT IN NORTHERN L.A.
BUT TO THE SOUTH PORTS. WHAT
HAPPENED IF THOSE PORTS WERE OUT
FOR 3, 6, 9, 12 MONTHS? WHAT
WOULD BE THE IMPACT? OUR NATION
WOULD NEED SEATTLE TO STEP UP.
OUR NATION WOULD NEED THE PORT
TO BE ABLE TO STAND UP. THAT IS
VERY IMPORTANT. ON THE FEDERAL
LEVEL, I WANT TO THANK THE
FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION FOR
THEIR LETTER THAT WAS GIVEN IN
SUPPORT OF OUR POSITION IN
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL. AGAIN,
GREAT INSIGHT GIVEN TO THIS. ALL
OF THESE WILL BE PRESENTED FOR
THE RECORD FOR WHAT WE ARE DOING
HERE IN THIS COUNCIL MEETING.
NEXT, OUR STATE NEEDS THE PORT
OF SEATTLE AND NORTHWEST SEAPORT
ALLIANCE . AS MENTIONED MANY
TIMES ANYTHING EVERYBODY KNOWS
THAT WE ARE A VERY TRADE
-DEPENDENT STATE AND AS YOU MAY
OR MAY NOT KNOW INTERNATIONAL
TRADE IS MARITIME TRADE AND
SEATTLE IS THE PORTAL TO THAT
WORLD. I ASK THAT WE, IN
SEATTLE, THINK OF THE EXPORTERS.
AS I SAID LAST TIME, THE NEAR
EAST. BELLEVUE, REDMOND, INTO
THE SOUTH, REDMOND. OR THE
MIDDLE EAST OR THE TRI-CITIES. I
TALKED TO AN EXPORTER FROM MOSES
LAKE AND THE IMPORTANCE THE PORT
PLAYED FOR HIS BUSINESS, OR THE
FAR EAST. AS YOU CAN GUESS,
SPOKANE OR LIBERTY LAKE, WHERE
MY BROTHER-IN-LAW LIVES. THEY
NEED THE PORT OF SEATTLE. THEY
NEED THE PORT OF SEATTLE. THE
STATE NEEDS THE PORT OF SEATTLE.
THE LETTER HAS DOZENS OF
SIGNATURES IN SUPPORT OF AND IN
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL. IT IS
SHOCKING . THEY NEVER DO THIS
BUT THEY FOUND IT SO IMPORTANT,
THEY PUT THEIR SIGNATURES ON
THIS BILL. I WANT TO THANK
REPRESENTATIVE REED FOR CALLING
IN AND FOR BASICALLY LEADING THE
MARITIME CAUCUS IN OLYMPIA AND
LOOKING TO PROTECT OUR MARITIME
FUTURE HERE IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON. BUT ALSO AT THE
STATE LEVEL, I WANT TO THANK
THIS LETTER THAT CAME OUT FROM
ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.
AGAIN, IN OPPOSITION TO THIS
BILL. THE LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS
ON THIS IS INCREDIBLE. I AM
TALKING ABOUT WASHINGTON. I'VE
GOT THREE COLUMNS. I WON'T GO
THROUGH THE WHOLE THING.
WASHINGTON , THE WASHINGTON
ASSOCIATION OF MEAT GROWERS, THE
WASHINGTON FARMERS, FRIENDS OF
THE FOREST, GRAIN COMMISSION,
WASHINGTON MARITIME FEDERATION,
POTATO AND ONION ASSOCIATION,
WASHINGTON PUBLIC PORTS
ASSOCIATION, STATE DAIRY
FEDERATION, WASHINGTON STATE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. THE
WASHINGTON STATE HEY GROWERS
ASSOCIATION, WASHINGTON STATE
POTATO COMMISSION, WASHINGTON
STATE WATER RESOURCES
ASSOCIATION, WASHINGTON TRUCKING
ASSOCIATION. BY THE WAY, I
APPRECIATE NOT ONLY HAVING THE
TEAMSTERS COMING OUT IN TERMS OF
OPPOSITION TO THIS. SO THERE'S
A LOT OF DIFFERENT GROUPS , YOU
KNOW, WHETHER IT'S LABOR OR
BUSINESSES AND VARIED TYPES OF
BUSINESSES, THOSE THAT PRODUCE
PRODUCTS, THOSE THAT PRODUCE
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. IT IS
BREATHTAKING, THE NUMBER THAT WE
HAVE HERE. WHAT WE HAVE NOW IN
TERMS OF OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL
AND TO BUILD ON THE 2023
MARITIME LEGISLATION IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO RESET THE CITY
NOT JUST FOR THE PORT OF
SEATTLE, BUT BETWEEN SEATTLE AND
THE REST OF THE STATE. I WAS
JUST IN OLYMPIA LAST THURSDAY.
SO OFTEN IN OLYMPIA, PEOPLE GO
AGAINST SOMETHING BECAUSE IT IS
SEATTLE. WE TALK ABOUT 800 POUND
GORILLAS BUT THE WAY WE HAVE THE
STATE, IF WE LOOK OUT FOR THE
STATE, FOR THE PORT, WE CAN
RESET RELATIONS. BY BEING
RESPONSIBLE AND LOOKING OUT FOR
THOSE PRODUCERS, THOSE LABOR
UNIONS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
MOUNTAINS, FOR EXAMPLE. THAT IS
SO IMPORTANT. I WILL ALSO NOTE
THAT OUR CITY NEEDS THE PORT OF
SEATTLE AND THE NORTHWEST
SEAPORT ALLIANCE. AS MENTIONED
MANY TIMES, APPROXIMATELY 30% OF
THE REVENUE IN GOOD TIMES AND
BAD. A LOT OF TALK ABOUT TAX.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF TAXES. MY
VIEW IS WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT
THOSE BASE TYPE TAXES, THE REAL
ESTATE TAXES . THE REVENUE WE
GAINED FROM THE PORT. WE SHOULD
BE LOOKING TO STRENGTHEN THIS
REVENUE SOURCE AS WE LOOK AT
SPENDING AND THE LIKE TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE STRONG IN TERMS OF
OUR FISCAL POSITION AND THIS IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. OUR CITY NEEDS
SEATTLE BECAUSE THE PORT -- AND
I'M THINKING OF MY TIME IN THE
PORT -- WE WERE THE CONNECTION
FROM SEATTLE TO THE WORLD. IT IS
A GATEWAY FROM SEATTLE TO THE
WORLD BUT ALSO THE WORLD TO
SEATTLE. IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO
OUR BUSINESSES. I'VE TALKED TO
HOTELS ACROSS THE CITY. THE
RESTAURANTS. THE IMPACT OF ALL
OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME SEATTLE.
I THINK OF THE RETAIL IMPACTS OF
THAT, HAVING ALL OF THE PEOPLE
THERE. THE ARTS, THE CULTURE,
AND SPORTS. THIS IS WHAT WE DO.
WE SUPPORT OUR PORT BECAUSE IF
WE HELP THE PORT, THE PORT HELPS
US BRING ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN.
ALL THAT HAPPENS DOWNTOWN AND
ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY. I ALSO
NOTE OUR CITY NEEDS THE PORT OF
SEATTLE AS THE NORTHWEST SEAPORT
ALLIANCE, BUT IMPORTANTLY, THE
PORT OF SEATTLE NEEDS THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. THAT IS SO KEEP ,
AND I GET THIS IN TERMS OF
LETTERS I'VE RECEIVED FROM THE
PORT OF SEATTLE. NOT JUST THAT.
I HAVE BEEN EVERYWHERE. I'VE
TALKED TO UNIONS, THE PORT
ITSELF, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT
PARTS. I HAVE BEEN TO THE MARINE
EXCHANGE IN SUPPORT OF OUR
OPPOSITION. I HAVE BEEN DIGGING
INTO THIS FOR A LONG TIME, LONG
PRIOR TO BECOMING A
COUNCILMEMBER. THAT INSIGHT IS
KEY. TO THAT POINT, AS WE
BROUGHT UP IN THE LAST MEETING
EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE PORT IS A
DISCRETIONARY PORT. A CUTTHROAT
SHIPPING INDUSTRY CREATES AN
ATMOSPHERE OF CERTAINTY,
STABILITY, AND RELIABILITY.
HEADWINDS FACING THE PORT ARE
STRONG AND COMPETITION MEANS
VERY LITTLE LEEWAY IS AVAILABLE.
I BELIEVE THIS IS A POINT THAT
IS NOT REALLY UNDERSTOOD BY
THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL. YOU
KNOW, THE CHALLENGES THE PORT
FACES TO BE VIABLE ARE
DIFFICULT. THE HEADWINDS ARE
STRONG. WE, AS A CITY, SHOULD
NOT BE ADDING TO THOSE
HEADWINDS. THAT IS IMPORTANT. I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY TOO NOW THAT I
SUPPORT THE MAKERS . I SUPPORT
HAVING A MAKERS' DISTRICT. I
SUPPORT HAVING WORKFORCE HOUSING
AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE
ISSUE IS JUST THE LOCATION.
THAT'S IT. THAT INFORMS MY
DECISION ON THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN. THAT INFORMS MY DECISION
ON OTHER PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE
CITY THAT ARE COMING UP. THAT
WHAT WILL BE GOING TO THE SOUTH
UNDER THIS BILL -- I THINK IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US, AS A
CITY, TO BE LOOKING TO SET UP
THE PORT FOR SUCCESS, NOT
FAILURE. I AM LOOKING TRYING TO
DO THIS ACROSS THE BOARD . IN
THE PUBLIC SAFETY REALM, I AM
LOOKING TO SET UP ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS FOR SUCCESS, NOT
FAILURES. THIS IS WHAT WE NEED
TO DO AS A COUNCIL, AS A CITY.
WE NEED TO BE LOOKING TO SUPPORT
THE PORT OF SEATTLE. AS WE TALK
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENTS, HOW ABOUT INDUSTRIAL
IMPACT STATEMENTS? MARITIME
IMPACT STATEMENTS. WHAT IS THE
IMPACT ON OUR FREIGHT LOGISTICAL
LINES? LOGISTICS IS KEY AND
IT'S VITAL TO THE PORT. THIS IS
ALSO KEY TO OUR TRANSPORTATION
PLAN, THE LEVY, THE FREIGHT
PROGRAM. YOU KNOW? THESE PIECES
ARE IMPORTANT BUT IT'S NOT JUST
SEATTLE BUT JURISDICTIONS ACROSS
THE COUNTY, THE PUGET SOUND
REGION, OTHER PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY AS WELL. SO, OUR CITY
NEEDS TO FIND HOUSING SPACE, BUT
NOT IN OUR INDUSTRIAL ZONE WITH
THE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE BEEN
SPOKEN TO QUITE WELL, BUT ALSO
NOT IN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
PROBLEMATIC AREA SPECIFICALLY IN
THE LIQUEFACTION ZONES THAT WE
HAVE. I MENTIONED THE CANAL. I
AM FROM WESTERN NEW YORK. AS A
12-YEAR-OLD BOY, I USED TO READ
THE NEWS AND I DON'T THINK WE
HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CANAL
BUT LET'S TAKE NOISE AS A
BASELINE. THAT IN AND OF ITSELF
IS ENOUGH, BUT WE ALSO HAVE
OTHER CHALLENGES AND THIS IS
SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN DEALING
WITH AS A CITY AND SEWER AND
WASTEWATER. WE FINISHED OUR SHIP
CANAL PROJECT THAT DEALS WITH
THE COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS.
MASSIVE PROGRAM. WE HAD THE SAME
ISSUE TO THE SOUTH IN THIS
REGION. I RECEIVED A BRIEFING
FROM THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT
DIVISION AND THEY ARE TALKING
ABOUT ALL OF THE WORK THAT NEEDS
TO BE DONE BECAUSE OF THE
CONSENT DECREE. WE DON'T HAVE A
CONSENT DECREE FOR THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS
BECAUSE OF THE POLLUTANTS THAT
GO INTO THE WATERWAYS. THIS
CONSENT DECREE IS UNDER THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND ITS
KEY WE UNDERSTAND THAT AND TO
REMEDIATE IT IS A $3.4 BILLION
PROJECT AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT
PIECES OF THIS UP THE EAST
WATERWAY TO INCLUDE IN THIS
AREA. TO FIX THIS, WE HAVE TO
CREATE A SMALL VERSION OF THE
WEST POINT TREATMENT CENTER.
KING COUNTY WASTEWATER, THEY
WOULD NEED -- WHEN I SAY NEED,
THEY WILL GET 48 ACRES TO DO
THIS. SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE IN
GEORGETOWN. WE HAVE MAPS THAT
SHOW EXACTLY WHERE THESE PLACES
ARE. YOU KNOW, I DON'T
NECESSARILY THINK IT WILL BE
RIGHT HERE FOR HOUSING, BUT 48
ACRES FOR THIS. THIS IMPACTS
$3.4 BILLION. HUGE. THAT IS
GOING TO HAVE HUGE IMPACTS,
NEVER MIND WHAT HAPPENS WITH
THIS BILL, BY THE WAY. THAT IS
SOMETHING WE NEED TO WORK ON IN
TERMS OF MITIGATION AND THE
LIKE. THESE ARE THE THINGS WE
NEED TO THINK ABOUT. VERY
COMPLEX AREAS AS WE GO THROUGH
THIS BILL WE ARE LOOKING AT
RIGHT NOW. I JUST WANT TO
CONCLUDE , YOU KNOW, THAT OUR
CITY DOES NEED HOUSING. BUT NOT
IN INDUSTRIAL EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS CHALLENGED AREAS. I
SPOKE TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL
CONCERNS BUT WE ALSO HAVE
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
EARTHQUAKES, TSUNAMIS. I KNOW
SOME WILL DISMISS THIS BECAUSE
WE TALKED ABOUT IMPROVING
BUILDING CODES AND THE LIKE. AND
BY THE WAY, THE ENGINEERING
CHALLENGES OF DOING THIS
WASTEWATER TREATMENT ARE HUGE
BECAUSE OF THE LANDFILL. ALL OF
THE PIECES WE TALK ABOUT WITH
HOUSING , DIFFICULT ENGINEERING
IN TERMS OF BUILDING THE
COMBINED STORMWATER OUTFLOW
PROJECT. IT'S INCREDIBLE. BUT ,
OKAY, WE HAVE SOME HOUSING .
THAT'S GREAT. I'VE GOT TWO
TERRIERS. HOW ABOUT IF YOU ARE
WALKING YOUR DOG IN THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD? YOU KNOW, WHAT
HAPPENS THEN? WHAT IF YOU'RE
TRYING TO PLAY CATCH WITH YOUR
KID? OR YOU'RE TRYING TO BRING
IN YOUR GROCERIES. BASICALLY
CODE, YOU KNOW, ENFORCED
BUILDINGS WILL NOT HELP YOU WHEN
YOU ARE OUT THERE WALKING THE
DOGS. IN TERMS OF LIQUEFACTION,
IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN TERMS
OF ZOOMING INTO OUR AREA AND I
WILL LEAVE THIS FOR THE RECORD ,
THIS LIQUEFACTION ZONE IS HUGE
AND THIS PROJECT IS RIGHT HERE,
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS
MASSIVE LIQUEFACTION ZONE. THIS
IS KEY AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AND
PART OF THIS IS TOO TAKING THE
BIG PICTURE. YOU KNOW, WHEN
KATRINA HIT NEW ORLEANS. I WAS
LIKE, OH, MY GOD. I SAW PICTURES
OF THE LEVY SYSTEM AND I WOULD
SEE THESE HOUSES WITH A MASSIVE
WALL OF WATER TO THE SIDE LIKE,
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING WHEN
THEY BUILT THAT HOUSING? IT WAS
AFFORDABLE , CHEAP LAND AND THEY
DID IT. THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
A SURVIVOR.
>> I COULD GO INTO THE OFFICIAL
ROLE OF 10 MINUTE LIMIT AFTER AN
ITEM IS MOVED, BUT --
>> I AM IN MY LAST SECTION RIGHT
HERE. SO -- SO, WE DON'T WANT
TO LOOK BACK AND SAY WHAT WERE
THEY THINKING IN 2025? SO, OUR
CITY NEEDS TO EMBRACE OUR STATUS
AS A MAJOR PORT CITY WITH A
BEAUTIFUL , NATURAL, DEEP WATER
PORT. AND HOW THAT ADDS TO
MAKING SEATTLE BEAUTIFUL. WE
NEED TO RESET OUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE PORT AND HELP US RESET
A RELATIONSHIP WITH
JURISDICTIONS IN KING COUNTY,
PUGET SOUND, AND THE REST OF THE
STATE. WE CAN SHOW LEADERSHIP.
SPEAKING OF LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE
SEEN LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.
OPCD COULD HAVE LOOKED INTO THE
INDUSTRIAL MARITIME LAND, BUT
THEY CONSIDERED IT NOT TO BE
PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THEY SAID, NO, THIS IS PHASE
ONE. THAT DEFLATION WAS THE
BEGINNING PART OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, SO THEY DID
NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES IN THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THAT IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE , BECAUSE I
KNOW IT HAS BEEN COMMENTED ON
PREVIOUSLY. WHEN PUSH COMES TO
SHOVE, IT WAS NOT INCLUDED HERE.
IN THE END, WE NEED TO SHOW
LEADERSHIP. OFTEN TIMES WE TALK
ABOUT WEST COAST BLUE CITIES AND
THIS, THAT, OR WHATEVER. MY GOAL
IS TO SHOW SEATTLE IS
RESPONSIBLE AND LOOKING AT ITS
NEEDS AND SHOWING GREAT
LEADERSHIP. GREAT LEADERSHIP FOR
THE CITY, THE PORT, THE REGION,
AND OUR STATE. I THINK THAT IS
VERY IMPORTANT. THIS IN
COMBINATION LEADS ME TO ASK MY
COLLEAGUES TO REJECT THIS BILL
AND VOTE NO. THANK YOU , COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING
TOGETHER ALL SIDES TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION THROUGHOUT THE
CONSIDERATION OF THIS BILL. I
ALSO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE
PORT AND LABOR PARTNERS WHO CAME
OUT TO PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY AND
EARLIER IN THE WEEK. AS YOU SAID
EARLIER, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
SINCE THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS
NOT RAISED CONCERNS WITH THE
COMMITTEE TAKING A VOTE TODAY, I
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST WE MOVE
FORWARD WITH THE VOTE FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> NOTED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> JUST -- SORRY. JUST ONE
QUESTION. ARE WE VOTING -- ARE
THESE ARE FINAL COMMENTS BEFORE
THE VOTE?
>> YES.
>> OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
TOLD ME NOT.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> JUST WANTED TO LIGHT UP THE
ROOM. HE HAS A LOT OF NOTES UP
HERE AND I CANNOT READ HIS
HANDWRITING AND I DIDN'T KNOW
WHEN HE WAS ENDING. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. FOR
BRINGING THIS TO COMMITTEE , AND
I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR
BEING HERE. I'VE HAD THE
PLEASURE OF MEETING WITH A LOT
OF YOU AND CONNECTING WITH YOU
AND MEETINGS, BRIEFINGS. I KNOW
SOME OF YOU TOOK OFF WORK TO
COME DOWN HERE SO I JUST WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT
MEANS YOU'RE GIVING UP MONEY TO
COME DOWN HERE AND ADVOCATING
FOR SOMETHING. I JUST WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SET ON THIS COMMITTEE TO HEAR
THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC AND I WANT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY TIME ON
COUNCIL BEFORE THIS SUBJECT,
THIS PARCEL OF LAND HAD A LONG
HISTORY. I THINK WE HAVE SEEN IT
HAD A LONG HISTORY BEING ON THIS
COUNCIL BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN
MEETINGS, BRIEFINGS, ONE-ON-ONE
DISCUSSIONS WITHOUT ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES WHO ARE NEW. WE HAVE
BEEN GETTING UP TO SPEED ABOUT
THIS. I ALSO VOTED ON THIS BILL
TO BRING IT TO THIS COMMITTEE
BECAUSE I SAW VALUE IN HAVING A
VERY THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION AND
CIVIL DISCOURSE REGARDING THE
MAKERS' DISTRICT, IT'S
POTENTIAL IMPACT, THE PORT, ALL
OF THESE THINGS IN ONE. MY
INTENTIONS WERE TO LISTEN, TO
HEAR, TO TALK TO ALL SIDES TO
GET A HOLISTIC APPROACH FROM
TALKING TO THE TRADE UNIONS TO
DRIVING A BIG CRANE WHICH WAS
INCREDIBLY FUN TO WATCHING AND
UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE WOULD
CONSIDER TO VOTE ON TODAY. HERE
IS MY BREAKDOWN. FROM THE
STADIUM DISTRICT, I WANTED TO
KNOW MORE ABOUT THE ECONOMIC
IMPACT DATA AND INFORMATION. I
WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR
POTENTIAL SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP
YOU HAVE WITH THE PORT. I WANTED
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL SIZE OF THIS MAGNITUDE
IN THE CITY THAT COULD BE
POTENTIAL OTHER OPTIONS INSTEAD
OF THIS PARCEL OF LAND. I WANTED
TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE
TIMELINE OF THE PROJECT AND WHY
NOT JUST THE ENTERTAINMENT AND
MIXED ZONE. I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ALLUDED TO
IT. NOT JUST AN ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STUDY BUT A MARITIME
STUDY AND THEY PORT STUDY
BECAUSE I WANTED TO KNOW WHO
WOULD BEAR THE COST OF THE
POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FOR THOSE LIVING CLOSE TO THE
PORT. ARE WE PUTTING UP WALL
BARRIERS? LOW NOISE EQUIPMENT?
TIME RESTRICTIONS REGARDING WHEN
YOU CAN USE HEAVY EQUIPMENT? ARE
WE PUSHING FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES
OR GREEN BUFFER ZONES? WHO IS
BEARING THE COST? I ALSO WANT TO
KNOW THE IMPACT OF HOUSING AND
THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS WITH
SPECIFIC DATA NOT JUST FROM BOTH
SIDES BUT ALSO ACTUAL PRACTICE.
THE APPLICATION OF THESE
SCENARIOS. I ALSO WANTED TO KNOW
ABOUT FREIGHTS AND HOW THEY USE
FIRST AVENUE TO MOVE FREELY
THROUGH SOTO. I KNOW WE HAVE
LONG BLOCKS, WIDE LANES, AND
TRUCKS ARE ABLE TO MOVE FAIRLY
QUICKLY THROUGH SOTO AS WELL. BY
THE WAY, I GOT ANSWERS TO ALL OF
THESE BUT NOT IN THESE COUNCIL
MEETINGS, BUT BECAUSE I THOUGHT
THOSE ANSWERS FROM DIFFERENT
GROUPS . ASKING THOSE SPECIFIC
QUESTIONS. I THINK THE TIMELINE
HAS MOVED FAIRLY QUICKLY AND I
WAS HOPING THE COMMITTEE WOULD
HAVE MORE FACTS. I TRIED TO DO
MY HOMEWORK. I'M NOT TALKING
ABOUT THE LENGTH OF TIME. I AM
TALKING ABOUT THE TIME TOGETHER
AND HOW IT WAS USED. AND SO, OUR
INDUSTRIAL LANDS, OUR HOUSING,
OUR MAKERS' DISTRICTS WE
BELIEVE ARE INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT. BOTH SIDES HAVE
EXPRESSED THAT , YOU KNOW, A
DEAL WAS MADE OR A POTENTIAL
DEAL WAS MADE. WE STILL DON'T
KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE BUT
THE ONE THING THAT MOVED ME --
THE ONE THING THAT MOVED ME,
FROM MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
OF OUR FAMILY THAT HAS A FARM IN
SHELTON, WE ARE ALWAYS THINKING
ABOUT THE WEATHER, SNOW,
HUMIDITY, PRECIPITATION, AND
TRAFFIC. I- 5, I-90 , MOVING THE
PRODUCT THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND
THE ONE THING THAT HIT ME WAS
WHEN I WAS TALKING TO FARMERS
FROM EASTERN WASHINGTON AND THEY
MENTIONED, JOY, GETTING THROUGH
THE PASSES AND HARD FOR US.
IT'S NAVIGATING A MARINERS GAME
OR SEAHAWKS GAME AND THE
POTENTIAL IMPACT OF MOVING
THROUGH SOTO AND GETTING TO THE
PORT AND THAT IS WHAT HIT FOR ME
UNDERSTANDING THE POTENTIAL
IMPACT OF ADDING MORE LAYERS TO
THAT. THAT TRAFFIC, THAT
CONGESTION. IF WE MISS A
DELIVERY AT A RETAIL STORE, WE
HAD TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY BACK TO
OUR FARM AND DO IT THE NEXT DAY
AND THAT COST AND THAT POTENTIAL
TIME AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
DID YOU MISS YOUR BOAT AND NOW
YOU HAVE TO DO MORE COLD STORES
ON THE DOCK WITH TURNAROUND
TIME? ALL OF THOSE THINGS
STARTED CLICKING FOR ME BECAUSE
I WAS ABLE TO GET THAT
INFORMATION FOR MY OWN
PERSPECTIVE. SO, SOME OF THE
FACTS THAT I LEARNED DURING THIS
PROCESS WAS THE REASON WHY THERE
WAS SO MUCH PASSION WITH OUR
PORT WAS BECAUSE 80% OF THE
TRANSPORTATION THAT COMES
THROUGH THE PORT IS TRUCKING.
20% IS THROUGH RAIL. IN THE
1930s, THAT WAS REVERSED. 80%
WAS RAIL AND 20% WAS TRUCKING.
70% GOES THROUGH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. 30% STAYS IN L.A. IT'S
THE REVERSE. 70% STAYS IN 30%
GOES OUT BECAUSE OF THE
POPULATION. UNDERSTANDING HOW
IMPORTANT THAT IS, BEFORE I GO
ON TO MY NEXT POINT AND I
PROMISE, I WILL NOT BE AS LONG
AS COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. THAT IS
JUST A JOKE. I WANT TO JUST SAY
THAT AT THE TIME I WASN'T
COMFORTABLE. IT WASN'T A YES OR
NO. I WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE,
BUT TODAY, I WILL BE VOTING NO.
JUST UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT
THE PORT IS , AND IT IS NO KNOCK
ON OUR BUILDING TRADES AND
EVERYTHING THEY PROVIDE TO THE
CITY, BUT I KNOW IN THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WE ARE ABOUT
TO UP ZONE THE ENTIRE CITY AND
WE WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
THIS. I KNOW THAT ME AND MY
COLLEAGUES WILL LOOK INTO THOSE
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CONTINUING
TO BUILD HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
ACROSS THE CITY. I WANT TO SAY
THIS. I DO WANT TO SAY I DIDN'T
APPRECIATE THE DISRESPECT GEARED
TOWARDS COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON
TODAY. COMMENTS BEHIND THE
SCENES AND STUFF IN THAT NATURE
JUST BECAUSE QUESTIONING HER
ETHICS, HER MORALS, HER VALUES
AS A PERSON. I SEE HER EVERY DAY
AND I KNOW WHAT TYPE OF PERSON
SHE HAS. I KNOW THAT AS ELECTED
OFFICIALS, WE CAN TAKE HEAT AND
STUFF BUT PERSONALLY, I DIDN'T
APPRECIATE THOSE TYPES OF
COMMENTS TOWARDS YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WANTED TO ECHO THE COMMENTS
THAT COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
MADE REGARDING THE COMMENTS
DIRECTED AT YOU , SPECIFICALLY.
I DON'T APPRECIATE MY
COLLEAGUES BEING DISPARAGED IN
ANY WAY, SO I WANTED TO GO ON
RECORD SAYING THAT. WHILE THERE
MAY BE POLICY DISAGREEMENTS, I
DON'T -- I RESENT THE PERSONAL
ATTACK ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S
MOTIVATION. I JUST WANTED TO SAY
THAT. I ALSO WANTED TO STATE
THIS ISSUE -- I'VE ONLY BEEN ON
THIS BODY FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF
TIME. I GET TO ENCOUNTER
SOMETHING SO DIVISIVE, SO
CONTENTIOUS AMONG SO MANY, IT
HAS PITTED SO MANY PEOPLE
AGAINST EACH OTHER. UNION
AGAINST UNION. PORT AGAINST
PORT. COUNCILMEMBER AGAINST
COUNCILMEMBER. WE ARE LOOKING AT
THIS AS AN ITEM, EITHER WE
SUPPORT HOUSING OR WE SUPPORT
THE PORT. I BELIEVE WE CAN DO
BOTH. WE NEED A BILL. WE RELY ON
THE PORT. OUR PORT IS COMPETING
WITH TACOMA , WITH LONG BEACH.
WE HAVE TO REMAIN VIABLE. IT HAS
TO REMAIN ACCESSIBLE. YET, I AM
STILL TRYING TO WRAP MY BRAIN
AROUND HOW DOING HOUSING IN A
SMALL SLIVER IS GOING TO HAVE AN
ADVERSE IMPACT ON OPERATIONS AT
THE PORT, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY,
I THINK THE LIGHT RAIL EXPANSION
IN SOTO WILL PROBABLY HAVE A
MORE ADVERSE IMPACT ON MOBILITY
TO AND FROM THE PORT. YOU KNOW,
THAT IS ONE THING TO CONSIDER. I
WON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME
TALKING ABOUT THIS. I DO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE WE NEED OUR
PARTNERSHIPS. IT REALLY HURTS ME
TO SEE OUR UNION BROTHERS AND
SISTERS FIGHTING THIS WHEN WE
ALL SHOULD COME TOGETHER. I WANT
US TO COME TOGETHER AND FIND
SOLUTIONS THAT WORK FOR BOTH.
WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT AMENITIES,
GREEN SPACES , I THINK WE CAN
ADDRESS THAT. YOU KNOW, IF THE
HOUSING GOES FORWARD, IF THE
APPRAISAL -- APPROVAL GOES
FORWARD. WE CAN DESIGN FOR GREEN
SPACE. WE CAN DESIGN FOR
AMENITIES. WE CAN ATTRACT, YOU
KNOW, AMENITIES TO BE IN THOSE
SPACES SO THOSE LIVING IN THE
AREA CAN ACTUALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THOSE. SO, AGAIN, I URGE US
TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN COME TO A
VOTE, AS OPPOSED TO AN EITHER
OR. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
>> YES, THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I WANTED TO TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SECOND WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
SAID. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THIS
IS A CHARGED TOPIC. THERE ARE A
LOT OF FACTORS THAT GO INTO IT.
EVEN SOME THIRD PARTIES THAT ARE
NOT IN THIS ROOM AND I THINK WE
SHOULD KEEP IT TO THE POLICY
PIECES THAT ARE OUT THERE. THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH, FOR THAT
REMINDER. AND SECONDED BY
SOLOMON. BY THE WAY, IT IS PART
OF MY OUTREACH TO INCLUDE, YOU
KNOW, THOSE THAT ARE IN THE
AUDIENCE , INCLUDING MR.
ANDERSON HERE, THAT THAT IS THE
PIECE THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT WE
HAVE THIS KIND OF DIALOGUE AND
APPROACH TO LOOK AT THE ISSUES
AND LAYING IT OUT, AS
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH SAID
AND IN VERY LONG FASHION , IN MY
CASE. THANK YOU.
>> I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR
COMMENTS AND I DO THINK THAT THE
UPTAKE OF CIVILITY AND
COLLABORATION AS PART OF THE
BRAND OF THIS NEW COUNCIL, SO I
ALWAYS STRIVE TO MAINTAIN THAT,
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WILL
KEEP THIS BRIEF. SO WHAT I WOULD
SAY IS THAT YOU -- IF I THOUGHT
THIS WAS GOING TO DAMAGE
IRREPARABLY THE PORT OR PUT IT
INTO A POSITION WITHIN 100 YEARS
WHERE IT WOULD NOT BE A STRONG,
VIABLE ENTITY, I WOULD NOT BE
DOING THIS. IF I THOUGHT IT
WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGE THE
INDUSTRIAL BASE SOUTH OF CITY
HALL, I WOULDN'T BE DOING THIS.
YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BELIEVE THAT,
BUT I MAKE THAT POINT BECAUSE
NOBODY UP HERE WILL SAY THEY
DON'T WANT HOUSING, THEY DON'T
WANT TO SUPPORT SMALL
BUSINESSES, THEY DON'T LOVE THE
PORT AND THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR THE ECONOMY OF THE WHOLE
COUNTRY, FRANKLY. BECAUSE
EVERYTHING COMES THROUGH THE
WEST COAST TO GET TO POINTS
FURTHER WEST. LET ME SAY THIS
ONE THING. HOW DO WE HAVE SUCH
DIVERSE OPINIONS? BECAUSE WE
LOOK AT DIFFERENT INFORMATION.
WE ABSORB DIFFERENT -- WE HAVE
DIFFERENT PRIORITIES. WE
PRIORITIZE INFORMATION IF WE
RECEIVE IT FROM ONE SIDE OR THE
OTHER. YEAH, IT GAVE ME PAUSE TO
SEE THE LETTER WITH ALL OF THE
REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS
SIGNED ONTO IT. AND, YOU KNOW,
THAT WAS -- DID IT HAVE A
BALANCED VIEW OF ALL OF THE
ISSUES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA? I
WILL NOT GO THROUGH ALL OF THE
CONCERNS THE PORT MAKES WITH
ENCOUNTER TO THE REBUTTAL. I'M
GOING WITH THE FACT THAT I HAVE
IN WRITING. PEOPLE WILL QUESTION
THE VIABILITY OR THE QUALITY OF
THE EIS FINDINGS AND TRAFFIC
ANALYSIS. YOU KNOW, THERE WON'T
BE ADVERSE IMPACTS ON PORT
ORGANIZATIONS BASED ON THE
NUMBER OF VEHICLES ASSOCIATED
WITH A NUMBER OF CARS AND
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU COMPARE THAT
TO OTHER USES. HOTELS, POTENTIAL
CRUISE LINES, ET CETERA. I WENT
TO TERMINAL 5 AND NOBODY WOULD
WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO HURT
THAT. HOW DOES CARGO GET THERE?
I WAS TOLD -- WELL, WE HEARD AT
THE TABLE MANY TRUCKS HEAD SOUTH
COMING OFF I-90 AND BYPASS FIRST
AVENUE. AND ON, AND ON, AND ON.
WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO SIMPLY
THERE ARE STRONG EMOTIONS ON
BOTH SIDES AND I'M TRYING TO
MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THE
FACTS BEFORE ME, AND THAT IS
WHAT EVERYONE ELSE DOES AND THAT
IS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING TO
DO AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL , TRY TO
BALANCE BOTH SIDES AND MAKE A
DECISION. AND BELIEVE ME, A LOT
OF TIMES I WOULD LOVE NOT TO
HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION. WHAT I
WILL LAST SAY GOING FORWARD,
EVERYONE KNOWS FOR ME THIS IS
ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WORKFORCE
HOUSING, AND PUBLIC SAFETY. I
ECHO YOUR POINTS, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY
HAVE TO BE THERE. BUT THAT IS
THE PLAN. THAT IS THE OPTION
BEFORE US. I WILL SAY I CAN
ACKNOWLEDGE THERE HAVE BEEN
CONVERSATIONS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE A LOT
MORE HOUSING ELSEWHERE, YOU
KNOW, STRADDLING THE BORDERS OF
THE OTHER PLACES . AND IF THERE
COULD BE A PROCESS THAT BROUGHT
TOGETHER ALL SIDES AND IT
DIDN'T END UP IN THE SPLINTERED
NEST OF BEFORE, I WOULD BE ALL
FOR THAT, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE
HAVE BEFORE US RIGHT NOW, SO
THAT IS WHY I WILL OBVIOUSLY BE
VOTING FOR IT. I WANT TO SAY THE
PORT LETTER DATED BRING UP
QUESTIONS THAT -- OF A LEGAL
NATURE AND WE WILL BE DOING
LEGAL ANALYSIS TO ANSWER OR
RESPOND OR UNDERSTAND BETTER THE
MERITS OF THOSE POINTS AND
CHALLENGES AND WE WILL ALSO --
AND SO, THIS VOTE IS LIKELY
SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 18th,
HOWEVER, IF THE LEGAL ANALYSIS
TAKES A BIT LONGER, WE WILL GO
FORWARD. HOWEVER, TODAY IS NOT
THE END. IT IS THE BEGINNING OF
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE A MORE
FRUITFUL CONVERSATION GOING
FORWARD, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE
EVERYONE STICKING THROUGH IT AND
HANGING OUT FOR THE VOTE TODAY
AND AT LEAST GETTING WHAT HAS
BEEN
>>> AND THANK YOU, FOR BOTH
SIDES COMING OUT AND PUTTING SO
MUCH WORK IN REPRESENTING WHAT
YOU CARE SO MUCH ABOUT. SO THANK
YOU. ALL RIGHT, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
RECOMMENDATION ON COUNCIL BELT
120933?
>> COUNCILMEMBER AVERA?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> AYE.
>> THREE IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSED.
>>> THE MOTION CARRIES TO PASS
120933 AND IT WILL BE FORWARDED
TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR A FINAL
CONSIDERATION AND PLACED ON THE
AGENDA ONCE IT IS READY. THIS
CONCLUDES THE AGENDA OF THE FOR
VERY 27th MEETING OF THE
GOVERNANCE CAN'T THE --
ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE AND THE
NEXT ONE IS SCHEDULED THURSDAY,
MARCH 13.
AT 2:00 P.M. IF THERE IS NO
FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS MEETING
WILL ADJOURN. HEARING NONE, IT
IS 3:57 AND THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED.