>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES
AND EVERYONE. FOR DECEMBER 10th
MEETING FOR PARKS PUBLIC
UTILITIES TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS TO: 05
P.M. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLE?
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> THERE ARE FOUR COUNCILMEMBERS
PRESENT.
>> AWESOME. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS IS EXCUSED. WELCOME,
EVERYONE. TO OUR VERY LAST --
COMMITTEE. I KNOW PEOPLE ARE SAD
THIS IS THE LAST MEETING OF THE
YEAR BUT OUR PUBLIC UTILITIES
ARE NOT SAD BECAUSE THEY CRAMMED
ALL OF THEIR LAST-MINUTE
LEGISLATION. I'M PLAYING. COME
ON, I HAD TO TAKE THAT ONE.
IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO BE THE
CHAIR . WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A
LOT. I DIDN'T MAKE A SLIDE TO
PREPARE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT
WE HAVE DONE THIS YEAR BUT WE
HAVE PASSED A TON OF LEGISLATION
, A LOT OF LOGISTICAL THINGS AND
A LOT OF TECHNICAL STUFF THAT
HAS COME OUT OF THIS COMMITTEE.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE
WITH YOU WILL WHILE WE ARE
ENGAGING THIS PROCESS. I WANT TO
ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC
PARTICULARLY TO STAY ENGAGED
WITH ALL THE COUNCIL MEETINGS
AND EVERYTHING , JUST TO
CONTINUE TO STAY ENGAGED.
BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT HAPPENS. WE WILL NOW
CONSIDER THE AGENDA. I'M MOVING
TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. IS THERE
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> AWESOME. THE AGENDA HAS BEEN
ADOPTED WE ARE NOW GOING TO OPEN
THE PUBLIC . I SWITCH THE WORDS.
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
YEARS -- HOW MANY SPEAKERS HAVE
SIGNED UP?
>> WE HAVE TWO IN PERSON
SPEAKERS AND ONE REMOTE SPEAKER
PICK
>> AWESOME. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTION FOR
THE PUBLIC,?
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL
WEBSITE AND THE SIGN UP SHEET
AVAILABLE HERE IN CHAMBERS ,
STARTING WITH IN PERSON SPEAKERS
FOR
>> IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO YOU CAN
SIGN UP FOR THE END OF PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD OR ON THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE . THE LINK IS
LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA. OR BY
SIGNING UP ON THE SIGN-UP SHEET.
WHEN SPEAKING, PLEASE STATE YOUR
NAME AND THE ITEM YOU ARE
ADDRESSING. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
CHIME WHEN THERE IS 10 SECONDS
LEFT OF THE ALLOTTED TIME. IF
SPEAKERS DON'T AND THEIR
COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME THE SPEAKER
MICROPHONE WILL BE NEEDED --
MUTED AND WE WILL CALL THE NEXT
PERSON.
>> ALSO. CAN WE CALL THE FIRST
SPEAKER? YOU ARE WELCOME TO THE
PODIUM ONCE WE CALL YOUR NAME.
>> THE FIRST SPEAKER IS COLLEEN
McLAREN , FOLLOWED BY PAT.
>> AWESOME. WELCOME. JUST ONE
SECOND. WE WILL GET THE TIMER UP
BEFORE WE START SO WE KNOW HOW
MUCH TIME YOU HAVE. AND WELCOME.
YOU CAN START WHENEVER YOU ARE
READY.
>> GREAT. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR YOUR SERVICE. MY NAME IS
COLLEEN McALEER, PRESENTING
LONGHURST COMMUNITY CLUB. ON THE
DOCKET IS CB 121138. IT IS TO
ENSURE THE SAFE PASSAGE OF
JUVENILE FISH AND TO PURCHASE
17.8 ACRE SITE IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD. THE ENTIRE
ECOSYSTEM FROM JUVENILE FISH
PASSAGE THROUGH TO UNION BAY IN
THE ANNUAL NESTING OF THE BALD
EAGLE AND THE RARE HABITAT
PURPLE MARTIN MUST ALL BE
RETAINED IN THIS BILL. SAFE
PASSAGE SUPPORTS THE TRIBE
FISHING RIGHTS ENHANCED BY THESE
IMPROVEMENTS AND ALSO WE CAN
WORK TO RETAIN THE CITY'S
LANDMARK BUILDINGS AS WELL. THE
REQUEST FOR AN EXTRA NIGHT $.2
MILLION MAKES IT A $64 MILLION
PRICE TAG TO PAY TO BELLY VIEW
BILLIONAIRE OWNER . AS PART OF
THE ACQUISITION DEAL HE ASKED
FOR, COURTESY CONDEMNATION BY
THE ENTIRE SITE, OF THE ENTIRE
SITE, MUST BE USED TO ENABLE HIM
TO REDUCE HIS TAXES. BUT AT THE
COST OF MAYBE DESTROYING THE
URBAN FOREST AND THE POTENTIAL
FUTURE USE OF THE SITE BY
SEATTLE'S RESIDENTS. FOR THAT
EXTRA NIGHT $.2 MILLION IS
APPROVED THE BILL NEEDS MORE
CLARITY ABOUT THE SIZE AND THE
SCALE OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE
VERY MUCH NEEDED AND LCC
STRONGLY SUPPORTS THESE. FROM
STORMWATER CONTROL AND THE SAFE
FISH PASSAGE. THE ORDINANCE ALSO
FAILS TO STATE THAT THE SITE IS
ACTUALLY A CITY LANDMARKED FROM
NOVEMBER OF 2013. IT WAS DONE BY
RICHARD HAIG AND FOUNDERS OF THE
INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED
ARCHITECTURAL FIRM . SO WE
REQUESTED THE CONDEMNATION BE
DENIED AS PART OF THE
TRANSACTION AND SEATTLE
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION BOARD
ALSO HAS A PROCESS THAT SPU CAN
USE IN THE FUTURE TO RETAIN AS
MUCH OF THE SITE , PARTICULARLY
THE TIER 1 TREES WHILE THEY ARE
WORKING ON THE MUCH-NEEDED
PROJECTS THAT WE SUPPORT. THANK
YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS PAT CHENEY.
>> WELCOME, MS. PAT. ANYONE YOU
WANT.
>> OKAY. READY? I AM PAT CHENEY.
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
LONGHURST COMMUNITY COUNCIL AND
THE CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
COMMITTEE. AS PAULINE STATED,
OUR COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITY PROJECT.
IT BENEFITS THE FISH SPECIES AND
ADDS VERY NEEDED FLOOD STORAGE .
IT IS A BENEFICIAL PROJECT WITH
ADDITIONAL OPEN SPACE AND BIRD
HABITAT RETENTION. IN RECENT
YEARS, AS ONE OF SEATTLE'S
NEIGHBORHOODS, WE HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN SEVERAL PROJECTS
WITH CITY OF SEATTLE
DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, S.
AND SEATTLE SEALY AND OTHERS.
THESE PROJECTS HAVE ALL BEEN A
REAL WIN-WIN FOR THE CITIZENS
AND FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE . WE
HAVE SUCH GREAT EXAMPLES OF
PUBLIC, PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. AND
WHEN IT WORKS IT WORKS SO WELL.
WE HOPE TO DEVELOP THIS TIME OF
RELATIONSHIP FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES ON THIS PROJECT. THERE
ARE THINGS THAT WE DON'T KNOW
YET. IT'S KIND OF A LACK OF
TRANSPARENCY. WE HAVE SO MANY
QUESTIONS . SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS ARE, THERE IS NO
MENTION OF THE LANDMARK, LIKE
COLLEEN MENTIONED. AND WHY IS
THE TO LARA'S NAME NOT USED IN
THE BILL ? THE OWNERS NAME IS
NOT IN THE BILL. WHY THE
COURTESY CONDEMNATION TO REDUCE
THE OWNER'S TAXES? JUST
QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE. WILL THE
ENTIRE TO LARA SITE BE PRESERVED
AS PART OF THE OPEN SPACE ? OR
WILL SOME OF IT BE SOLD OFF?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN? JUST TONS OF
QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE. WE WOULD
LIKE TO STATE THAT THE ADOPTION
TODAY WOULD BRING PREMATURE FOR
THE 15 MILLION BEFORE SOME OF
THESE QUESTIONS COME TO LIGHT
AND WE GET AN ANSWER. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. I WAS
WRITING DOWN YOUR QUESTION SO WE
CAN ASK SPU, WHILE THERE APPEAR,
SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS THAT YOU
HAVE BROUGHT UP IN PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD AND YOU CAN PUT
IT IN THAT BOX RIGHT THERE. MY
MIND WENT BLANK. NO WORRIES AT
ALL. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING
AND THANK YOU AS WELL. YOU HAVE
A REALLY GREAT REPRESENTATIVE
WITH COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA HERE
AS WELL. MY FAVORITE FROM
DISTRICT 4, SHOULD I NOTE THAT?
IS THERE SOMEONE ONLINE?
AWESOME.
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENT. ONCE YOUR NAME
IS CALLED PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE. EUGENIA WU . PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX.
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS EUGENIA WU. I WITH
HISTORIC SEATTLE. I SENT YOU A
LETTER YESTERDAY, SO HOPEFULLY
YOU GOT IT. I JUST WANT TO LET
YOU KNOW , ACQUISITION OF THE
PROPERTY BY SPU. THIS IS RELATED
TO CB 1138 AT THE PROPERTY IN
LONGHURST. WE SUPPORT THE WORK
NEEDED TO COMPLY WITH THE
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH
AND WILDLIFE TO RESTORE NATURAL
FEATURES TO THE SITE. THIS IS
BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
OVERALL. THE ONE THING I HAVE A
QUESTION ON HIS WHITE
LEGISLATION DOESN'T MENTION THE
18 ACRE PARCEL , IT DOESN'T
MENTION IT AS A DESIGNATED
LANDMARK. I THINK THAT'S A
REALLY IMPORTANT FACT TO INCLUDE
IN THERE. BECAUSE IT REALLY
INFORMS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE
FUTURE OF THE SITE. BECAUSE IT
HAS HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND
LANDSCAPE THAT ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT. SEATTLE WOULD LIKE TO
BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THAT WILL BE
UNDERTAKING TO LOOK AT THE
FUTURE OF THE SITE. WE HAVE A
LOT OF HISTORY WITH THIS
PROPERTY AND WANT TO MAKE SURE
HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS
CONSIDERED ALONG WITH ALL OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT NEED
TO BE RESOLVED. I DON'T KNOW IF
THE FACT THIS IS A LANDMARK SITE
WAS FACTORED IN THE APPRAISALS
TO LOOK AT THE MARKET VALUE FOR
THE ACQUISITION. I HOPE THAT WAS
DONE. AS PART OF DUE DILIGENCE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, EUGENIA.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC
COMMENTERS? IF THERE'S NO
ADDITIONAL PEOPLE WHO SIGN UP
ONLINE OR IN PERSON WE ARE NOW
GOING TO PROCEED OUR ITEMS OF
BUSINESS. I WANT TO THANK THE
PUBLIC COMMENTERS . WE RECEIVED
YOUR LETTERS, WE GOT THEM AND
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ASKING
THIS QUESTION SO WE CAN HAVE
SOME ANSWERS AS WELL TODAY ABOUT
THE UPCOMING LEGISLATION. SO
THANK YOU. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ AGENDA ITEMS ONE AND 12
INTO THE RECORD? LET THE RECORD
REFLECT COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IS
HERE. THANK YOU.
>> AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH 12,
POINT 3405 THROUGH 3416. THE
REAPPOINTMENTS OF KATIE AND FOR
GEORGE, SEAN JACKSON , JERRY
JOHNSON, EDWARD LEE, PAMELA, JIM
ROWE, MICHELLE RUSK, RYAN SMITH,
DONNIE STEPHENSON, LESLIE AS
MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL WATERSIDE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR A TERM
OF DECEMBER 31st, 2027 FOR
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE. PRESENTING IS
DIRECTOR MARSHALL FOSTER,
SEATTLE CENTER.
>> HI, TIFFANI. THANK YOU, MR.
FOSTER FOR BEING HERE. GO AHEAD,
JUMP RIGHT INTO YOUR
PRESENTATION AND INTRODUCE
YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD AS WELL.
>> AFTERNOON, CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. LOVELY TO BE BACK WITH
YOU. FROM SEATTLE CENTER, MY
NAME IS MARSHALL FOSTER. I'M
THE DIRECTOR.
>> HELLO, TIFFANI MELAKE. I'M
THE WATER PARK OPERATIONS
MANAGER WITH SEATTLE CENTER.
>> WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, AGAIN,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE ARE HERE
TODAY TO BRING FORWARD
REAPPOINTMENTS OF 12 OF OUR
COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL
WATERFRONT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
TIFFANI IS GOING TO TELL YOU
MORE ABOUT THAT COMMITTEE AND
THE COUNCIL ACTIONS THAT CREATED
IT. BUT IT PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN
ENSURING THE CONTINUED HIGH
PERFORMANCE, QUALITY, SAFE
INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT WE WORK
VERY HARD TO CREATE WITH THE NEW
WATERFRONT ARC. TIFFANY, I WILL
TURN IT TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MARSHALL. SO JUST
DOING A REALLY QUICK OVERVIEW.
OUR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY FOR
WATERFRONT PARK OPERATIONS. IT
GOES BACK PRETTY FAR NOW. WE
STARTED THIS IN 2009. WITH THE
FOUNDATION BLOCKS FOR THE
OPERATIONS SIDE, REALLY
HAPPENING IN 2017 WITH THE
CREATION OF FRIEND OF WATERFRONT
PARK. THAT WAS THROUGH
LEGISLATION AND RESOLUTION. THEN
WE HAD A PACKAGE IN 2019 THAT
ACTUALLY DID THREE MAJOR THINGS.
IT ESTABLISHED OUR LOCAL
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT , WHICH IS
PROPERTY OWNERS PUTTING $160
MILLION WORTH TOWARDS THE PARK
IMPROVEMENTS . IT SETS OUR
FOUNDATIONAL BUILDING BLOCKS FOR
OPERATIONS PLAN, AS WELL AS
CREATED THE CENTRAL WATERFRONT
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. IT
CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED, SORRY,
OBLIGATED US TO REALLY OPERATE
THIS PARK AT A HIGHER STANDARD
AND PROVIDE GOOD CARE TO THE
PARK. WE CAME BACK IN 2021 AND
WE DESIGNATED THE PARK AS A PARK
BOULEVARD. IN 2023 SEATTLE
CENTER TOOK OVER WATERFRONT PARK
OPERATIONS. SORRY. SO OUR
FOUNDATION FOR OUR OPERATIONS
REALLY INCLUDES A RICH PRIVATE
PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP WITH
WATERFRONT PARK. THEY PROVIDE
OUR PUBLIC PROGRAMMING AND
EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR . WE,
AS A CITY, PROVIDE A SPECIALIZED
AND DEDICATED TEAM FOR
MAINTENANCE AND FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY ON THE WATERFRONT. WE
HAVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, WHICH
WE ARE LOOKING AT CONSIDERING
THESE 12 POSITIONS FOR
REAPPOINTMENT THAT THEY ACTUALLY
DO ONGOING EVALUATION OF THE
PARK AND HOW IT'S PERFORMING.
THEY DO REPORTING OUT TO MAYOR
AND COUNCIL ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
SO OUR OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE HAS
20 MEMBERS TOTAL. SIX AT LARGE.
TENANT PROPERTY OWNERS OR
TENANTS. WE HAVE FIVE NONPROFITS
AND THE PORT OF SEATTLE THAT ARE
ALL REPRESENTED. THIS GROUP HAS
DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK
SINCE IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN
2019. THE BIGGEST ONE WAS THEY
SPENT TWO YEARS DEVELOPING
PERFORMANCE PARK STANDARD THAT
WE ACTUALLY USED AN ONGOING
BASIS TO EVALUATE IF WE ARE
PERFORMING AT A HIGH STANDARD IN
PUBLIC SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND
PROGRAMMING ACTIVATION FOR
FRIENDS. THIS GROUP, SORRY ,
THIS GROUP CONTINUES TO ADVISE
THE RIGHT REPORTS TO THE MAYOR
AND COUNCIL ON AN ANNUAL BASIS
WITH ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM
THE PREVIOUS YEAR WHERE WE MAY
HAVE FELL SHORT IN OUR ACTUAL
DELIVERY OF PUBLIC SAFETY OR
MAINTENANCE . THEY WILL CONTINUE
TO ENGAGE WITH THE NEW
WATERFRONT COMMUNITY AND FRIENDS
OF WATERFRONT PARK TO CONTINUE
THIS WORK FORWARD. IT MIGHT SEEM
LIKE WE WERE HERE NOT THAT LONG
AGO, WHICH WE WERE IN FEBRUARY.
I REAPPOINTED SEVERAL OF THESE
POSITIONS BACK THEN . WE ARE
COMING FORTH REAPPOINT POSITIONS
AS WE RESET OUR CYCLE IN 2020
WITH COVID AND NEEDED ME
REAPPOINTMENTS IN 2024. IN 2026
THROUGH 2020 WILL BE OUR NEXT
CYCLE. WE HAVE TWO VACANCIES
THAT ARE OPEN AND WE ARE LOOKING
AT DOING REAPPOINTMENT OF THE
OTHER 12. WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU
MIGHT HAVE ABOUT PARK OPERATIONS
AND BEFORE WE GO THROUGH EACH OF
THE MEMBERS WE HAVE ON THE
COMMITTEE, THEY ARE NOT HERE
TODAY. WE WANTED TO JUST COME
AND EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE FOR ALL
THE HARD WORK THEY HAVE DONE
WITH US THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THIS IS A VERY ACTIVE COMMITTEE
WHO IS REALLY ENGAGED AND HAVE A
LOT OF DEPTH AND EXPERIENCE WITH
MANAGING PUBLIC SPACE WITH US
NOW. WE DO WANT TO EXPRESS OUR
GRATITUDE TOWARDS THEM.
>> AWESOME. I THINK WE JUST KEEP
GOING. YEAH? SORRY, MY
APOLOGIES, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON?
>> THE BIG EVENT THIS YEAR ,
I'M NOT GOING TO PARSE WHEN THE
FISCAL YEAR STARTS AND STOPS,
BUT IT WAS THE OPENING OF THE
WATERFRONT. SO I IMAGINE IT TOOK
UP A LOT OF THE OVERSIGHT
COMMISSION TIME . COMMITTEE?
>> COMMITTEE.
>> SO WHAT'S NEXT BIG THING?
>> THANK YOU FOR REMEMBERING THE
MOMENT. THERE WAS A HUGE MOMENT
FOR THE WHOLE WATERFRONT
COMMUNITY. I WILL GIVE A HUGE
SHOUT TO FRIENDS AT WATERFRONT
PARK. IT IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF
FUNDRAISING TO MAKE THE
PUBLIC'S OMISSION AT THAT LEVEL
POSSIBLE. TIFFANI AND HER TEAM
DID AN CREDIBLE JOB WITH
SUPPORTING MAINTENANCE AND
PUBLIC SAFETY. BUT IN TERMS OF
THE PUBLIC EXPERIENCE WE ALL
ENJOYED, WE ARE LUCKY TO NOT
HAVE TO SPEND SIGNIFICANT TAX
MONEY ON THE EVENT TO HAVE THE
FLOOR LAMP OR THROUGH --
PHILANTHROPY DO THAT. IN TERMS
OF WHAT'S NEXT, WHERE I WOULD
START, AND I WOULD OPEN IT UP
FOR TIFFANI TAD, FUNDAMENTALLY,
WE ARE IN A STABILIZED AND --
PATH TO MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE
BUILT. FOR THE PERFORMANCE
STANDARD THAT TIFFANI MENTIONED
MEASURING OUR SUCCESS WITH THE
PUBLIC, PEOPLE ARE HAPPY WITH
THE EXPERIENCE DOWN THERE. THE
MAINTENANCE LEVEL, THE PUBLIC
SAFETY LEVEL. IT IS A 24 HOUR
DAY, SEVEN DAY A WEEK OPERATION.
THE ABILITY TO SUSTAIN A STRONG
STAFF, AND ALSO TO SUSTAIN THE
FUNDING SUPPORT AND ALL OF THE
RELATIONSHIPS THAT GO INTO DOING
THAT WELL. WITH THE HISTORIC
WATERFRONT ASSOCIATION, THE
ALLIANCE FOR PARTNER SQUARE, THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT, WHO IS AN
ESSENTIAL PARTNER IN ALL THIS
WORK, AS WELL AS S.. THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS ARE WHAT MAKES IT
POSSIBLE. THINGS THAT COME TO
MIND FOR ME ON THE QUESTION ARE
SUSTAINING THE SUCCESS, KEEPING
IT WELL-FUNDED AND KEEPING THE
RELATIONSHIP STRONG TO BE ABLE
TO KEEP DOING THE WORK DAY
TODAY.
>> I WOULD 100% AGREE WITH THAT.
2026 IS GOING TO BE OUR FIRST
FULL YEAR OPEN, WHICH WE ARE
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT. SO IT
DOESN'T REALLY SET THAT
BENCHMARK OF HOW WE SHOULD BE
OPERATING AND WHERE WE CAN LEVEL
UP AND CONTINUE PROVIDING THIS
AMAZING SERVICE DOWN AT THE CORE
OF OUR DOWNTOWN.
>> ALSO. FOR THE QUESTIONS,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE.
JUST IN TIME FOR A VERY LARGE
WORLD PARTY HERE IN OUR TOWN.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. DID A GREAT JOB.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> SO I THINK WE HAVE THE LIST
OF THE PROPOSED REAPPOINTMENTS
HERE . THESE ARE FOLKS WHO HAVE
SERVED WELL ON THE COMMISSION,
OR THE COMMITTEE, EXCUSE ME. AND
WE ARE EXCITED TO SUPPORT THEIR
CONSIDERATION BY THE COUNCIL TO
MOVE FORWARD FOR REAPPOINTMENT.
>> AND I CAN RUN THROUGH ALL OF
THEIR NAMES . ONE THROUGH 12 FOR
CONSIDERATION IN YOUR PACKET. WE
HAVE POSITION NUMBER ONE, DONNIE
STEPHENSON, AT LARGE. IS ISSUE
NUMBER TWO, KITTY GARROW, AT
LARGE. POSITION NUMBER THREE,
JERRY JOHNSON AT LARGE. POSITION
NUMBER FOUR, PAMELA QUADROS, AT
LARGE. POSITION NUMBER FIVE,
ERIC HOWARD, AT LARGE. POSITION
NUMBER SIX, MICHELLE RUSK, AT
LARGE. POSITION NUMBER SEVEN,
LESLIE VELOZ, RESIDENTIAL
TENANT. POSITION OF EIGHT, JIM
ROWE, COMMERCIAL TENANT.
POSITION NUMBER 10, EMILY HOOPER
GEORGE, CONDOMINIUM OWNER.
POSITION NUMBER 11, EDWARD
LEIGH, RESIDENTIAL APARTMENT
PROPERTY OWNER. POSITION NUMBER
12, RYAN SMITH, OFFICE PROPERTY
OWNER. AND POSITION NUMBER 13,
SEAN JACKSON . GOT TO LOVE THIS
ONE. THE PROPERTY OWNER ON OR
WITHIN ONE BLOCK OF PIKE STREET.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THIS IS
GREAT. I WILL PAUSE HERE TO SEE
IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES . I WILL
LOOK ONLINE, OR TO MY LEFT AND
RIGHT, IF YOU'LL HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS FOR TIFFANI OR
DIRECTOR FOSTER. AWESOME. I WANT
TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR THE
CONTINUED DEDICATION TO THIS
WORK . WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE
VOLUNTEER POSITIONS AND IT TAKES
A LOT FOR PEOPLE . LIKE YOU I
MENTIONED, AND I THINK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT WAS GETTING TO THIS,
THE WATERFRONT IS WHAT WE
CONSIDER TO BE STANDARD FOR
MAINTENANCE , PUBLIC SAFETY AND
PROGRAMMING. JUST A REALLY GREAT
FRONT PORCH OF SEATTLE FOR
FOLKS. JUST REALLY, REALLY
APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU
WILL DO ON OUR WATERFRONT. I'M
VERY PROUD OF WHAT OUR
WATERFRONT LOOKS LIKE. WE HAD
SOME PEOPLE IN TOWN. SHE WENT ON
THERE JUST A WEEK AGO, COUPLE
WEEKS AGO, EXCUSE ME. THE FIRST
THING SHE SAID, AND SHE HAD BEEN
DOWN THERE IN YEARS, THE FIRST
THING SHE SAID TO ME WAS, WOW.
WHICH I HAD NO CLUE IT WAS LIKE
THIS. SHE USUALLY DID GOES DOWN
TO IVERS TO GET HER CLAM CHOWDER
AND HADN'T BEEN DOWN THERE IN
YEARS. WHEN PEOPLE SEE IT FOR
THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE SO
IMPRESSED. THANK YOU ALL. OKAY.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> THIS IS A TECHNICAL QUESTION.
FOR THE L.I.D. MEMBERS,
RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL, IS
THAT AN ONGOING ASSESSMENT OR
WAS IT A LUMP SUM IN THE
BEGINNING?
>> THAT'S ANOTHER GREAT
QUESTION. THEY HAVE THE CHOICE.
SO THE CITY OFFERED THEM EITHER
A ONE-TIME PAYMENT OR THEY CAN
PAY OVER 20 YEARS WITH, AS IS
REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, INTEREST
ALSO OCCURRED. SO THE VAST
MAJORITY TOOK THE 20 YEARS WITH
INTEREST. SOME, YOU WOULD BE
SURPRISED, SOME DID THE ONE-TIME
PAYMENT.
>> WHICH DID MOST? WHAT TO SAY?
>> MOST DID THE 20 YEAR PAYMENT
PLAN. BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY
SPREADING THE COST OUT. I THINK
THIS WILL PROBABLY WENT WITHOUT
SAYING BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE,
IN TERMS OF THOSE POSITIONS AND
WHY THEY ARE SO SPECIFIC ABOUT
L.I.D. RESIDENT, THIS IS ALL
PART OF AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS
STRUCK WHEN WE DID THE L.I.D. TO
ALLEGE THAT 160 MILLION TO
ALLOW DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN
ENSURING THE CITY LIVED UP TO
ITS COMMITMENT FOR THE
OPERATIONS TO THE PARK. SO THAT
IS WHY THIS IS EXTREMELY
SPECIFIC ABOUT WHO IS
REPRESENTED IN THAT.
>> JOY, TEAR POINT , WE WILL DO
IT. BUT I WOULD SAY DIRECTOR
FOSTER HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS
IN OVER A DECADE AND HIS VISION
AND ABILITY TO SEE WHAT COULD
HAPPEN LOOKING FORWARD INTO THE
FUTURE OF WHAT THE WATERFRONT
COULD BE FOR SEATTLE HAS BEEN
EXTRAORDINARY. WE ARE JUST
REALLY HAPPY TO BE AT THIS
MOMENT.
>> AWESOME.
>> I'M GLAD YOU SAID THAT.
KUDOS TO MR. FOSTER BECAUSE
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK THE
PEOPLE THAT KICKED IN ONE-TIME
ONGOING . YOU HAD THE VISION.
IT'S ALSO REFLECTED IN THE
SEATTLE CENTER. SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. IF I MAY,
REAL QUICK, I JUST WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON, YOU'RE FINISHING YOUR
TIME WITH THE COUNCIL. YOU HAVE
SUPPORTED THIS EFFORT IN
COUNTLESS WAYS SINCE, HONESTLY,
MY FIRST ARRIVAL AT THE CITY 20
YEARS AGO. A LOT OF DIFFERENT
ROLES. YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS MADE
A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE ROLE OF
THIS COMMITTEE AND HELPING US
STEWARDS NOT ONLY THIS BUT SOME
BIG THINGS AT SEATTLE CENTER
WITH MEMORIAL STADIUM AND OTHER
THINGS THAT YOU HELPED US DO. WE
APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP PICK
>> THANK YOU. YOU SEE TWO HANDS
RAISED. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
YOU SAID YOU HAVE A COMMENT IF
WE RESTRING IT. WILL RECOGNIZE
YOU AND THE COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS .
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE. THE WATERFRONT
IS SO SPECIAL. OF COURSE, I
ALWAYS HAVE TO SAY, GIVE KUDOS
TO MAGGIE WALKER AND FORMER
MAYOR CHARLIE ROYER BECAUSE THEY
ARE SO INSTRUMENTAL IN THE
WATERFRONT. OF COURSE, I'M SO
LUCKY , DIRECTOR FOSTER, TO HAVE
WORKED WITH YOU IT WOULD
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU IN
THIS CAPACITY. AND MY OTHER
CAPACITY, WE'VE PARTNERED
TOGETHER FOR A LONG TIME. I'M
SO APPRECIATIVE OF ALL OF YOUR
WORK ON THE WATERFRONT AT THE
SEATTLE CENTER. YOU CONTINUE TO
WORK ON THE WATERFRONT
ACTIVITIES BECAUSE IT REALLY HAS
BEEN A JOINT EFFORT . AND I WILL
SAY THE FRIENDS OF THE
WATERFRONT, OF COURSE , YOU WILL
HAVE HEARD ME SAY MY SPOUSE, DAN
COLEY, HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE
WATERFRONT ISSUES FOR MANY, MANY
YEARS . TO COIN A BORROWED
PHRASE, IT TAKES A VILLAGE AND
IT'S REALLY TOOK THAT TO
ENVISION THE WATERFRONT. AT
TIMES THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT
ENSURE THE VISION OR COULD
REALLY SEE IT. BUT NOW THAT
IT'S THERE, IT HAS BEEN SO
EMBRACED AS WELL, AS IT SHOULD
HAVE BEEN . I JUST AM SO EXCITED
ABOUT THE WATERFRONT . I ALREADY
HEAR FOLKS WHO LIVE HERE AND
VISIT HERE WHO MAKE CALLS AND
SAY, I WAS VISITING SEATTLE . MY
GOD, THE WATERFRONT, THAT PARK
LOOKS AMAZING. THE CONNECTION
FROM THE MARKET TO THE
WATERFRONT. THE NEO-AQUARIUM
ASPECTS AND ALL OF THAT. PEOPLE
JUST LOVE IT AND IT WAS DONE IN
A WAY WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS
ALWAYS THERE. YOU KNOW, I
REMEMBER THE VIADUCT AND IT'S
COMING DOWN AND DOING THE RACE.
70 THINGS LEAD UP TO TODAY , YOU
KNOW? IT'S JUST REALLY AMAZING.
BUT TODAY , I ALWAYS LIKE TO
GIVE RECOGNITION FROM THE HAS
TRANSPIRED BEFORE TODAY. TODAY
WE ARE MAKING THESE VERY
IMPORTANT REAPPOINTMENTS. AGAIN,
I ALWAYS LIKE TO POINT OUT ,
FOLKS, THESE ARE VOLUNTEER
POSITIONS. FOLKS CARE SO DEEPLY
ABOUT THIS WORK THAT THEY HAVE
SIGNED UP TO HELP US TO THE
OVERSIGHT AND ALL OF THE THINGS
THAT NEED TO GET DONE HERE KYLE
WAS LIKE TO UNDERSCORE THAT.
BECAUSE WE GET PAID TO DO ALL OF
THIS WORK. THESE FOLKS DID NOT.
HAVE OTHER JOBS AND GET PAID TO
DO OTHER THINGS. BUT THEY CARE
SO MUCH ABOUT THE WATERFRONT
THEY GIVE EXTRA UNPAID TIME TO
REALLY DO THIS WORK. AND THAT IS
REALLY IMPRESSIVE. THAT MAKES
SEATTLE SO SPECIAL AND ALL OTHER
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. PEOPLE
VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND WE HAD
A RECOGNITION LAST WEEK. FOR
EVERYONE THAT SERVES. I AM SO
GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE FOLKS
THAT YOU ARE PRESENTING TODAY.
THEY ARE REAPPOINTMENTS, WHICH
SAYS A LOT ALSO. THESE ARE NOT
NEW FOLKS. I LOVE WHEN NEW FOLKS
COME IN TOO. BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO
HAVE ALL OF IT. AND ALSO, THE
FACT THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO DO
THIS AGAIN SPEAKS VOLUMES TO THE
WORK. I COULD KEEP TALKING ABOUT
THESE FOLKS AND HOW GRATEFUL I
AM AND THE WATERFRONT. I'VE GOT
TO CEDE MY TIME. BUT THANK YOU
AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE
FOLKS WHO HAVE DECIDED TO
CONTINUE THEIR EFFORT ON THIS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR, FOR
LETTING ME GO AND PICK
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. TIFFANI WAS
MAKING SURE THAT MARSHALL
RECEIVED HIS RECOGNITION FOR ALL
THE WORK THAT YOU'VE
ACCOMPLISHED . I BELIEVE IT WAS
SLIDE TWO. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO THANK TIFFANI FOR ALL
OF YOUR WORK OVER THE COURSE OF
ALL OF THESE YEARS. NONE OF THIS
WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT
THE WHOLE TEAM WORKING ON IT AND
TIFFANI HAS A BIG HAND IN IT. I
JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU , COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> LET'S BE HONEST, TIFFANI IS
THE SECRET WEAPON HERE. SHE
MAKES THIS HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE
DAY WITH A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL
GROUP THAT SHE HAS ASSEMBLED
DOWN THERE.
>> AMEN.
>> SHE WILL KEEP TAKING THE
MAGIC HAPPEN AND WE ARE VERY
FORTUNATE TO HAVE HER.
>> THANK YOU. AWESOME. WE
APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK.
I'M TELLING YOU, IT'S THE WOW
FACTOR. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENT 340533416. IS THERE
A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> YES. THERE'S A SECOND AND A
THIRD. SECOND AND THIRD TO
CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENTS. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE
ON THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE?
>> --
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> FIVE IN FAVOR, AND A POST.
>> IT CARRIES WITH THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PAYMENT
SENT TO TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16th.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THANK YOU
ALL SO MUCH. REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM INTO
THE RECORD? NUMBER 13.
>> AGENDA ITEM 13, COUNCIL BILL
121138. AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL
MANAGER/CEO OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES OR DOES IT NEED TO
ACQUIRE BY NEGOTIATION OR
EMINENT DOMAIN A PARCEL OF LAND
IN SEATTLE FOR UTILITY PURPOSES
IDENTIFIED AS KING COUNTY PARCEL
NUMBER 152504-9010 LOCATED AT
4000 NORTH EAST 41st STREET .
PRESENTING WILL BE MEMBERS OF
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES AND
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> ALSO. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING
HERE. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE BUT PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE
RECORD AND WE CAN JUMP INTO THE
PRESENTATION.
>> I'M ANDREW LEIGH, FOR
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITY'S.
>> KEVIN.
>> BRIAN GOOD NIGHT, COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> AWESOME. ACQUISITION
ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU , CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. IF I COULD, VERY
BRIEFLY, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.
DATING BACK TO YOUR TIME IN
COUNCILMEMBER CONLON'S OFFICE
AND YOUR STRONG COMMITMENT TO
THE ENVIRONMENT TOWARDS OUR
WASTE INITIATIVE. I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AND APPRECIATE
YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LIKEWISE
PICK
>> THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION
BEFORE YOU WOULD AUTHORIZED
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES TO
PURCHASE A 17 ACRE PARCEL IN THE
LAUREL HURST NEIGHBORHOOD OF
SEATTLE WITH THE LONG-TERM GOAL
OF IMPLEMENTING A CAPITAL
PROJECT ENGAGEMENT WITH
COMMUNITY -- YES THERE CREEKS ,
NATURAL STREAM CHANNEL TO UNION
BAY. I DO WANT TO PAUSE AND
EMPHASIZE THAT WE HAVE A STRONG
COMMITMENT TO ENGAGING THE
COMMUNITY WHEREVER WE ARE DOING
THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS. AND
THAT IS UNCHANGED FOR THIS
PROJECT AS WELL. I WANT TO BE
CLEAR THAT THE PURCHASE OF THIS
PROPERTY WAS NOT IN OUR
STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN OR OUR
CAPITAL PLANS. HOWEVER, THE
PROPOSED PURCHASE OF THIS
PROPERTY REPRESENTS A ONCE IN A
GENERATION OPPORTUNITY TO
CONTINUE THE CITY'S DECADE-LONG
COMMITMENT TO RESTORING URBAN
WATERSHEDS AND DELETING OUR
CREEKS. AS SOME OF YOU ARE
AWARE, SPU IS IN THE PROCESS OF
RESTORATION OR DAYLIGHTING WORK
IN THORTON CREEK, PIPER'S
CREEK, MAYS CREEK, LONGFELLOW
CREEK, AND RAVENNA CREEK. THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION ENABLES US
TO CONTINUE THAT AMAZING LEGACY
WORK IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD OF
NORTHEAST SEATTLE. COUNCIL FOR
HOLLINGSWORTH, I NOTED THE
NUMBER OF QUESTIONS WERE ASKED
AND I HAVE WRITTEN DOWN. AT THE
END OF THIS PRESENTATION WE WILL
BE SURE TO TRY TO ADDRESS THEM.
WITH KEVIN. WITH THAT, I WILL
PASS THE PRESENTATION OFF TO
KEVIN, WHO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
BACKGROUND ON THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCIL
NUMBERS. MAYBE JUST A START TO
THINK OUR MEMBERS FROM THE
PUBLIC FOR JOINING US TODAY AND
PROVIDING YOUR COMMENTS. WE
REALLY APPRECIATE AND WE DO HOPE
TO ADDRESS AS MANY QUESTIONS AS
WE CAN. AGAIN, JUST RESTATING .
PURPOSES OF LEGISLATION BEFORE
YOU TODAY, AUTHORIZES THE
UTILITY TO ACQUIRE LAUREL HURST
NEIGHBORHOOD IN NORTHEAST
SEATTLE . THE DETAILS OF IT ARE
INAPPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL LINE
$.2 MILLION TO AUGMENT THE
EXISTING $55 MILLION THAT WAS
ALREADY APPROVED IN THE 2026
ADOPTED BUDGET. WE HAVE PLANS
FOR THE YEAR 2026 TO 2031. THIS
IS A DETAILED STORY. SO HANG ON
TO YOUR SEATS AND I WILL WORK
THROUGH THESE ISSUES. SO WHY ARE
WE BUYING THE PROPERTY? FIRST OF
ALL, THE ACQUISITION WILL ALLOW
SPU TO COMPLY WITH THE FISH AND
WILDLIFE REQUIREMENTS. THE
DETAILS ARE AS FOLLOWS, IT FLOWS
WITHIN A STORM DRAIN THAT
BISECTS THE TO LAURA'S PROPERTY.
IT IS CONSIDERED A FISH PAIR AND
NEEDS TO BE REMOVED AT SPU'S
EXPENSE WHEN IT FAILS. IN THE
END, THE PIPE WILL NEED TO BE
REPLACED WITH AN OPEN CREEK
CHANNEL . JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS
AGO WE RECEIVED A DEVELOPMENT
PROPOSAL WHICH CAME IN TO BUILD
OVER THE PIPE. AS YOU MIGHT
IMAGINE, WILLIE HAD A 20 FOOT
EASEMENT. THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH
RATES TO DO ENOUGH TO RESTORE
THE CREEK. MORE SPECIFICALLY,
WHY NOW? SHOULD A DEVELOPMENT
PROPOSAL HAPPENED AND MOVE
FORWARD AT DOLORES SPU AND --
WOULD BE IN THE UNENVIABLE
POSITION OF HAVING TO REMOVE
HOMES AND DISPLACED FAMILIES TO
RESTORE THE NATURAL CREEK
CHANNEL. SO ESSENTIALLY,
PREEMPTIVELY BUYING IT SO AS TO
NOT HAVE TO MITIGATE THOSE
CONDITIONS DOWN THE ROAD. I WANT
TO REMIND YOU, WE HAVE RATE
FUNDS TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY AS
WELL. SO JUST DRAWING US INTO
LOCATION . THE PROPERTY, AGAIN,
IS THE TO LARISA SITE. AS IT IS
HISTORICALLY KNOWN. IT'S IN
COUNCIL DISTRICT 4. IT'S IN THE
NORTHEAST PART OF THE CITY NEAR
UNION BAY , UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON. ZOOMING IN A LITTLE
BIT FARTHER, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS . ABOUT 18
ACRES. IT'S HEMMED IN BY 30th
AVENUE NORTHEAST, NORTH EAST
45th STREET TO THE NORTH . JUST
BY WAY OF HISTORY , THE SITE WAS
DEVELOPED IN THE LATE 1960s . IT
THEN CHANGED HANDS AND THE TO
LARSON'S WHO BOUGHT IT. UNTIL
THE CURRENT OWNER TODAY
PARTICIPATE IN THE SITE,
INCLUDING BUILDINGS AND
LANDSCAPE DESIGNATED AS LANDMARK
IN 2013. SEE YOU CAN SEE IN THE
PICTURE HERE , YES CREEK RUNNING
DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE PROPERTY ,
WHICH IS WITHIN SPU'S PIPE.
ZOOMING OUT FOR LITTLE MORE OF
THE BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT. THAT
PIPE IS 72 INCH STORM DRAIN THAT
CONVEYS ESLER CREEK. AS WE
MENTIONED. THE DRAIN ITSELF IS
PART OF A LARGER -- LARGER
DRAINAGE SYSTEM, WHICH HOUSES
ABOUT 890 ACRES TO THE NORTH.
ALL OF THAT IS TO SAY, RAINFALLS
IN THE SHADED BLUE AREA ON THE
MAP. IT GOES THROUGH SPU'S PIPE
BEFORE DISCHARGING TO THE SWAMP
OR UNION BAY TO THE SOUTH.
THAT'S A LOT OF WATER COMING
DOWN THE HILL AT ONE TIME. AS
STATED, SPU RECEIVED A PREVIOUS
PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT , A
PREVIOUS DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL IN
2023, WHICH WE REVIEWED . THE
SITE PROPOSED 40 NEW RESIDENCES
AND UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE TO
SERVE A DEVELOPING. THE SITE
AMENITIES WERE DESIGNED IN SUCH
A WAY FOR THE APPLICANT TO
ACCOMMODATE EXISTING PUBLIC
UTILITIES AND OTHER EXISTING
CONDITIONS, INCLUDING LANDMARK
STATUS. HOWEVER, AT THAT TIME
THE PIPE CULVERT, SHOWN IN BLUE
HERE, THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND
WILDLIFE GARMENTS FOR FISH
PASSAGE HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY
CONSIDERED. SO WE SPOKE WITH
FISH AND WILDLIFE IN EARLY 24.
THEIR MESSAGE WAS, WE WOULD NOT
BE ABLE TO OBTAIN STATE PERMITS
TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF THIS
63-YEAR-OLD PIPE WITHOUT
REMOVING IT, GIVEN THAT IT IS A
FISH BARRIER. IN OTHER WORDS,
WHEN THE PIPE FAILS IT WOULD
NEED TO BE MADE FISH PASSABLE
WITHIN A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD, WHICH
REALLY PUTS US ON THE HOT SEAT.
SO THE RESTORED CREEK CHANNEL
WOULD REQUIRE AN APPROXIMATELY
20 FOOT WIDE CORRIDOR. IT WOULD
INCLUDE THE CREEK CHANNEL , 100
YEAR FLOODPLAIN AND HABITAT
BUFFER . ALL OF THIS TO SAY, THE
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WAS
ESSENTIALLY CONSIDERED
INFEASIBLE BY THE TEAM. AND I
ALSO MENTIONED, THE 20 FOOT
EASEMENT THAT WE HAD WAS NOT
SUFFICIENT TO PROTECT THE PIPE
OR TO PUT THE CREEK BACK. SO
AGAIN, EARLY FEBRUARY, 2024, SB
APPROACHED THE PROPERTY OWNER TO
DISCUSS PURCHASING THE SITE AND
THE CONDEMNATION. ONCE AGAIN,
JUST TO PUT A FINE POINT IN IT,
PURCHASING THE PROPERTY NOW WILL
HELP MINIMIZE HAVING TO DISPLACE
HOMEOWNERS AND REMOVE
DEVELOPMENT , SHOULD IT HAPPEN,
TO RESTORE THE CREEK WITH THE
PIPE FAILS. SO JUST A BIT ABOUT
THE TRANSACTIONAL DETAILS. WHEN
WE NEGOTIATED THE PURCHASE PRICE
FOR THE PROPERTY IN LIEU OF
CONDEMNATION , WE ACTUALLY TOLD
THE PROPERTY OWNER WE WANTED TO
BUY THE PROPERTY OR HAVE IT.
THEY WERE, FRANKLY, NOT HAPPY.
SO THIS WAS A PURCHASE
CONDEMNATION. THEY REACHED AN
AGREEMENT BASED ON THE PREVIOUS
VALUE. KIND OF LATE IN THE
SUMMER AND LATE JULY . THE
ACQUISITION WILL BE
APPROXIMATELY 64 MILLION, 55 IS
ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE ADOPTED
BUDGET. AND LEGISLATION HENCE AN
ADDITIONAL 9.2 TO SPU'S BUDGET
MOVING FORWARD. ONE OF THE KEY
COMPONENTS TO THE PURCHASE AND
SALE AGREEMENT, THERE'S A TIME
DRIVER AND SENSITIVE NATURE HERE
FOR COUNCIL'S APPROVAL. PART OF
THE DEALMAKING , AS PART OF THE
ACQUISITION HERE, IS THE
PERSISTENT SALE AGREEMENT
STIGLITZ THAT SPU WOULD CLOSE ON
THE SECOND AND WE WOULD HAVE A
DROPDEAD DATE OF AUGUST 1st TO
CLOSE. AND SPU IS PREPARED TO
CLOSE ON JANUARY 2nd , WITH
COUNCIL APPROVAL. HOWEVER,
SHOULD THE CITY NOT MOVE FORWARD
AT THAT TIME, SPU WOULD INCUR
ADDITIONAL COST. OKAY. WE ARE
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. IT'S
EARLY, EARLY, EARLY DAYS. WE
HAVE AS MANY QUESTIONS AS THE
COMMUNITY DOES ABOUT WHAT WILL
HAPPEN HERE. AND WE JUST WANT TO
RECOMMIT TO WHAT ANDREW HAS
ALREADY SAID, WE WILL DOUBLE OR
TRIPLE DOWN ON COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT TO BE SURE ALL VOICES
ARE HEARD AND BROUGHT INTO THIS
CONVERSATION. THIS IS THE FIRST
STEP IN A LONG PROCESS. SINCE
THIS WAS NOT PART OF OUR CAPITAL
SPEND PLAN WE HAVE NOT DONE ANY
WORK ON THIS AND IT WILL TAKE US
A NUMBER OF YEARS TO GET THERE.
BUT WE ARE EXCITED TO GET
STARTED AND TO WORK WITH THE
COMMUNITY. SO FOR PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT, WE ARE GOING TO
DEVELOP A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT,
LANDSCAPING AND SECURITY PLAN
FOR THIS SITE. IT'S VITALLY
IMPORTANT. JUST FOR
TRANSPARENCY, WE DON'T HAVE ANY
PLANS AT THIS TIME TO ALLOW MORE
OPEN IT UP FOR THE PUBLIC. AT
LEAST NOT IN THE NEAR TERM. I'M
GOING TO PARK HERE FOR A MINUTE.
IT WILL TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO
WALK THROUGH THE SLIDE. THERE'S
A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT NOTES. SO
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS BEYOND
JUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT,
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, IF WE ARE
ALLOWED TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY?
WE WILL NEED TO ESTABLISH A SITE
NEEDS. THAT IS HOW MUCH OF THE
SITE SPU WILL NEED TO RESTORE
THE CREEK. THE SECOND, PART OF
IT, HOW WILL WE PUT TOGETHER A
LONG-TERM PLAN FOR PER
DISTRACTION DO THE WORK? LET'S
START WITH SITE NEEDS. SPU MAY
NOT NEED THE ENTIRE SITE TO
RESTORE THE CREEK CHANNEL ,
FLOODPLAIN ADJACENT HABITAT
CORRIDOR. BUT THE PROJECT WILL
BE DEVELOPED IN STAGES . BUT OUR
SPECIFIC SITE NEEDS MAY NOT BE
KNOWN FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
ONCE WE DO DETERMINE HOW MUCH
PROPERTY WE WILL NEED FOR CREEK
RESTORATION THE REST OF THE
PROPERTY WILL BE EVALUATED FOR
USE AND DISPOSITION FOLLOWING
STANDARD CITY POLICIES. TO THAT
ICE , THAT WOULD INCLUDE PUBLIC
NOTICE, CONDUCTING COMMUNITY
OUTREACH FOR NEARBY RESIDENTS,
TALKING WITH PROPERTY OWNERS AND
COMMUNITY GROUPS . OUR FOLKS AT
LANDMARK'S AND HISTORIC
PRESERVATION . AND, OF COURSE,
DOING PUBLIC HEARINGS AS WELL.
SO THE WHOLE GAMBIT. OKAY.
SHIFTING GEARS TO LONG-TERM NOW.
ANDREW MENTIONED, IT TAKES US
FIVE TO 10 YEARS TO PLAN
SOMETHING OF THIS SCALE. OUR
CURRENT CREEK WORK, AS YOU MAY
KNOW, IS ACTUALLY FOCUSED
IMPORTANT . WE ARE INVESTING
HEAVILY IN THOSE TWO LOCATIONS.
THE SITE WAS KIND OF ON OUR
RADAR FOR DO NOW. BUT WE ARE
FOLDING IT INTO OUR UPCOMING
BUSINESS PLAN CYCLE FOR THE NEXT
FIVE YEARS. I WILL JUST SAY, WE
EXPECT TO HAVE MORE ANSWERS
WITHIN A FEW YEARS WHEN WE LOOK
FOR FUNDING AND SEEK PARTNERS ON
THE PROJECT. AND ALSO, WE INVITE
THE COMMUNITY, OUR PARTNERS AT
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, OUR
NONPROFIT PARTNERS, LANDMARKS
AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION ,
ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS SUCH AS
PARKS , AND UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON TO WORK WITH US ON
THIS EXCITING PROJECT. TO BRING
IT HOME, THIS IS THE LAST SLIDE.
SO WHEN COMPLETED, WHAT YOU ARE
LOOKING AT HERE IS ACTUALLY THE
RECONSTRUCTION FROM ABOUT 10
YEARS AGO. THE CREEK WORK WILL
BASICALLY ENHANCE EXISTING OPEN
SPACE ON THE DOLORES SITE TODAY.
IT WILL OPEN AND ELONGATE
FINANCIAL CREEK CHANNEL , ADD
ADDITIONAL FLOOD STORAGE, AND OF
COURSE, ADD BENEFITS FOR FISH
SPECIES. IT WILL ALSO MITIGATE
FLOODING. WE ARE GETTING A LOT
OF RAIN WATER FROM ROADWAYS AND
PROPERTIES UP IN THE NORTH PART
OF THE WATERSHED. WE MAY HAVE TO
CONSTRUCT OTHER FACILITIES TO
SLOW THE WATER DOWN AS IT IS ON
SITE OR BEFORE IT GETS TO THE
SITE. BUT ONCE COMPLETE THE
CREEK SOLUTION IS DONE. FROM
DOLORES DOWN TO THE LAKE. ALL
FISH SPECIES. THAT INCLUDES
JUVENILE SALMON, WHO USE MOST
STREAM SUCH AS THIS AS FREAKING
SOURCES -- FEEDING SOURCES FROM
PREDATORY FISH. WE DID A
DAYLIGHTING PROJECT AT THE
RAYNER BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD AT
BARE SEAVER PARK. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, YOU RECENTLY VISITED
DURING THE SUMMER. THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US FOR THAT TOUR. AFTER
THE CULVERT WAS CONVERTED INTO
AN OPEN CHANNEL SEVERAL HUNDRED
FISH WERE DOCUMENTED AT THE
MOUTH OF LAKE WASHINGTON THE
FOLLOWING YEAR AFTER
CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED. WE
HOPE TO SEE THOSE SAME BENEFITS
REALIZED IN THIS LOCATION. WITH
THAT, WE WILL TURN IT OVER FOR
QUESTIONS .
>> THANK YOU. IF I MAY, I CAN
RUNS -- RUN TO THE QUESTIONS
I'VE HEARD.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE WILL GO TO
BRIAN GOOD NIGHT AFTER THE
QUESTIONS.
>> YOU WANT TO GO TO BRIAN?
>> AND THEN WE CAN JUMP TO THE
QUESTIONS. BRIAN?
>> SUPER BRIEF. SOMETHING I LIKE
TO POINT OUT EACH TIME THAT
WASN'T EXPLICITLY MENTIONED ,
BECAUSE IT IS AMENDING THE
BUDGET THAT WAS JUST ADOPTED BY
THE COUNCIL IN NOVEMBER FOR 26
THE BILL WILL REQUIRE THREE
QUARTERS MAJORITY FOR FULL
COUNCIL CONSIDERATION. I JUST
WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE
RECORD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I BELIEVE ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS I WAS ASKED IS WHY
COURTESY CONDEMNATION? KEVIN, IF
YOU COULD EXPAND ON THAT.
>> IT'S AN INTERESTING WAY OF
POSING THE QUESTION. AND A FAIR
ONE. THE PROPERTY OWNER DID NOT
WANT TO SELL THE PROPERTY AND
WAS HEAVILY INVESTED IN SEVERAL
ATTEMPTS TO DEVELOP THE SITE.
FRANKLY, WE SHOWED UP LATE TO
THE DISCUSSION WITH A WHOLE HEAP
OF BAD NEWS FOR THEM BASED ON
WHAT WE WERE GIVEN BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE.
SO WE ARE PURCHASING THE SITE IN
LIEU OF CONDEMNATION.
CONDEMNATION IS THE OTHER
ALTERNATIVE OR LITIGATION. IN
THIS CASE, JUST BY WAY OF LAW,
THERE ARE BENEFITS THAT A SELLER
WOULD RECEIVE BY DOING IT THIS
WAY. IT WASN'T A JOYFUL GIFT
FOR THEM TO WALK AWAY FROM THIS
PROPERTY TO SAY KINDLY. THEY DID
NOT WANT TO SELL TO UTILITY.
>> NEXT QUESTION. I BELIEVE YOU
ALREADY ADDRESSED THIS, BUT IF
YOU COULD JUST ADDRESS THIS
AGAIN. WILL THE ENTIRE PARCEL BE
USED FOR THE CREEK DAYLIGHTING?
>> UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. AND
THAT'S THE EXCITING PART IN
TERMS OF WORKING WITH ALL THE
STAKEHOLDERS TO FIGURE OUT HOW
TO DEFEAT AND ALL THE WATER
COMING DOWN THE HILL WILL FIT
INTO THAT GORGEOUS LANDSCAPE. WE
HAVE NOT DONE ANY WORK ON THIS .
AND I SAY THAT SOMEWHAT
BASHFULLY. BUT WE ARE EXCITED TO
PARTNER WITH OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HE
REALIZED. BUT IT WILL BE A
CORRIDOR OF 200 FEET, WHICH IS A
FOOTPRINT THAT NEEDS TO BE
CONSIDERED.
>> THREE MORE QUESTIONS. THE
FIRST ONE WAS, WHY WASN'T THE
LANDMARK DESIGNATION INCLUDED IN
THE LEGISLATION?
>> PROBABLY ME AND A DUNCE MOVE.
AND ALSO, LABELING OF THE TITLE
SLIDE WAS MY FAULT. JUST AN
OVERSIGHT . AND BEING FAIRLY
VANILLA HAIR. THE TALKING POINT
ABOUT DOLORES HAS ALWAYS BEEN ,
AND LANDMARK, HAS BEEN IN MY
COMMENTS AS WELL. I APOLOGIZE.
IT'S NOT TO DETRACT FROM , I
THINK THE QUESTION AT HAND IS
WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS NOT MEANT
TO BE DISCLOSED FULLY TO THE
PUBLIC. IT'S QUITE THE
OPPOSITE. WE ARE EXCITED TO WORK
WITH THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYONE
ELSE WHO HAS INTEREST IN HELPING
US CONTINUE ON THIS.
>> THAT BEING SAID, I WILL ADD
THAT THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION
DOESN'T MAKE ANY CHANGE TO THE
LANDMARK STATUS, OR DOESN'T
IMPLY ANY CHANGE OR ANYTHING
LIKE THAT. THAT LANDMARK STATUS
WILL CONTINUE ON WITH THE
PROPERTY. ANOTHER QUESTION WAS,
WAS THE LANDMARK STATUS INCLUDED
IN THE PRICING?
>> THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT,
THE APPRAISER USED THE PROPOSED
DEVELOPMENT AS ITS NORTHSTAR.
WHAT ARE THE APPRAISERS DOING?
WHAT ARE THEY APPRAISING AS PART
OF THE PRICING? THAT, OF COURSE,
WAS OBVIOUSLY CONSIDERED FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT. IT WAS, BASE
BUILDINGS AND ANYTHING ELSE, IT
WOULD BE THERE AS A RESULT OF
THE DEVELOPMENT.
>> I WILL ADD TO THAT. BECAUSE
THE EXISTING BASE DEVELOPMENT
TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION THE
LANDMARK STATUS , THERE WERE
RESTRICTIONS ON THE NUMBER OF
UNITS THAT CAN POTENTIALLY BUILD
OUT. IS THAT WAS THE BASIS FOR
THE PRICING WE BELIEVE IT
ACTUALLY LED TO MORE FAVORABLE
PRICING FOR US. IF THIS WERE TO
PROCEED DOWN THE CONDEMNATION
PATHWAY ONE OF THE IMPLICATIONS
MIGHT HAVE BEEN THAT WE WOULD
POTENTIALLY HAVE TO PAY
SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER . THE LAST
QUESTION I THINK I WROTE DOWN
WAS, WHY WASN'T THE PROPERTY
OWNER INCLUDED IN THE
LEGISLATION?
>> I WILL TAKE THE BLAME FOR
THAT AS WELL. NOT TO DISCLOSE
OUR CALLINGS HERE, OTHER THAN TO
DRAW ATTENTION TO WHAT I THINK
IS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE ONE OF
OUR IMPORTANT CREEKS HERE.
>> HOPEFULLY I COVERED MOST OF
THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED.
>> ALSO. I'M GOING TO DIFFER TO
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, BECAUSE
IT'S IN YOUR DISTRICT. I KNOW
YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD ON
THIS. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU,
DIRECTOR LEE FOR BEING HERE. OR
GENERAL MANAGER LEE. I WAS CALL
YOU THE WRONG THING. I'M SORRY.
FOR YOUR TEAM FOR BEING HERE AND
OUR CENTRAL STAFF, BRIAN GOOD
NIGHT FOR BEING HERE. I ALSO
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR A BRIEFING
MADE ON THIS PROPOSAL PRIOR TO
TODAY . I ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR
ENGAGEMENT WITH COUNCIL AS YOU
ARE BRINGING THESE FORWARD. SO
NOT JUST LOOKING AT THIS FOR THE
FIRST TIME TODAY . I HAD SIMILAR
QUESTIONS AS TO COMMUNITY,
BECAUSE OF COURSE, AS WE ALL DO
WHEN WE ARE ENGAGING WITH
DEPARTMENTS ON SOMETHING THAT
IMPACTS OUR DISTRICTS, WE DO OUR
DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE KEEPING OUR CONSTITUENTS
INTERESTS AT HEART AND ASKING
THOSE TOUGH QUESTIONS . I DO
UNDERSTAND THAT AND APPRECIATE
THAT LEGISLATION ACTUALLY
CONTAINS , IN THE BODY OF THE
LEGISLATION, THE REQUIREMENT TO
DO THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH . SO
THAT IS THERE. I APPRECIATE THAT
IS CONTAINED IN THE LEGISLATION.
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME
AND TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AS WELL,
THOSE IN CHAMBERS AND THOSE WHO
ARE NOT CHAMBERS, BUT WHO OUR
NEIGHBORS. AND THERE ARE MANY.
OF COURSE, INCLUDING OUR TRAVEL
PARTNERS. I WILL SAY THAT THIS
DAYLIGHTING PIECE, AND I KNOW
THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED
ABOUT IT TOO EXTENSIVELY, BUT
THERE ARE STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS
AS PART OF THIS. I KNOW YOU
MENTIONED IT. BUT I THINK IT
BEARS MENTIONING IT AGAIN
BECAUSE I SIT ON THE SALMON
RECOVERY COMMITTEE AND IT'S A
REGIONAL EFFORT TO DO SALMON
RECOVERY ACROSS OUR REGION . AND
IT'S REALLY REQUIRING THIS ,
THE STATE IS REQUIRING CITIES TO
DO CERTAIN THINGS , LIKE FISH
PASSAGE. THERE ARE OTHER
COMPONENTS. THAT'S JUST ONE OF
MANY COMPONENTS THAT THE STATE
IS REQUIRING ON THE
ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT AND TO
PROMOTE SALMON RECOVERY IN OUR
REGION, WHICH IS OF UTMOST
IMPORTANCE TO OUR REGION . MORE
IMPORTANTLY, TO OUR TRAVEL
PARTNERS IN OUR REGION. THIS IS
SOMETHING I VERY MUCH CARE ABOUT
AND I DID GO VISIT EARLIER THIS
YEAR. REALLY, THE AMAZING THINGS
THAT HAPPEN WHEN YOU DAILY A
CREEK AND YOU TO THIS FISH
PASSAGE. BECAUSE OTHER WILDLIFE
RETURNS ALSO TO THIS SITE. IT'S
REALLY BEAUTIFUL TO SEE. AND THE
OTHER GREAT ASPECT THAT I
NOTICED WHILE BEING DOWN AT
STEWART PARK, THE COMMUNITY,
INVOLVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT IS
REALLY CRITICAL . THEY REALLY
BECOME A HUGE PARTNER IN THIS
EFFORT . AND IN THE CARETAKING
OF THE SPACE, WHICH IS REALLY
BEAUTIFUL TO SEE, WHICH IS
HAPPENED AT SEWARD PARK . THEY
INVITE OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS
TO REALLY, IT'S REALLY AMAZING
. ANYWAY, ALL OF THAT TO SAY THE
WORK OF DAYLIGHTING , DOING THE
FACE -- FISH PASSAGE AND
DAYLIGHTING, IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT WORK. WE HAVE TO DO IT
AND ALSO WE WANT TO DO IT. SO
IT'S BOTH. THE STATE IS TELLING
US WE HAVE TO DO IT. IT'S ALSO,
WE WANT TO DO IT. LIKE I SAID,
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT NOT JUST
TO ME, BUT TO THE CONSTITUENTS I
REPRESENT. I'M VERY
APPRECIATIVE THAT SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES HAS BEEN A REALLY
GREAT PARTNER AS WE ARE DOING
THIS WORK. LIKE I SAID, AND I
WILL SAY IT AGAIN, I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR INTENTIONAL
FOCUS ON ENSURING, LOOK, WE
DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT EXACTLY
HOW THIS WILL ALL TAKE PLACE .
IT STARTS WITH THE ACQUIRING OF
THIS PROPERTY , WHICH HOPEFULLY
NO LONGER WILL BE KNOWN AS THE
TELLER'S PROPERTY, BUT AS YES
LARRY CREEK . OR WE HAVE A YES
LARRY CREEK. BUT SOMETHING AKIN
TO THAT. BECAUSE WE ARE TAKING
BACK STEWARDSHIP OF THAT
PROPERTY. SO I KNOW IT WILL BE
NAMED SOMETHING ELSE. AS PART OF
THIS, I'M SURE. THIS IS
EXCITING WORK. AND ALSO,
THERE'S MORE TO COME. BUT THE
INTENTIONALITY AROUND WORKING
WITH COMMUNITY, BOTH NEIGHBORS
THAT LIVE NEARBY AND OUR TRAVEL
PARTNERS, AND MANY OTHERS, IS
REALLY CRITICAL TO THIS EFFORT.
AND THE FACT THAT SPU RECOGNIZES
THAT AND IS INTENTIONAL. AND
IT'S WRITTEN IN THE LEGISLATION
SO THAT ANYONE THAT COMES AFTER
ANY OF US , BECAUSE THIS IS
GOING TO BE A LONG-TERM PROJECT,
IS BEHOLDEN TO WHAT'S IN THE
LEGISLATION IS CRITICAL. I
REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
THAT. THANK YOU FOR THE
PARTNERSHIP ON THE AND THANK YOU
FOR ALL THE WORK , AHEAD OF
TIME, THAT WILL GO INTO NEXT
STEPS ON THIS PROJECT. THANK
YOU, CHAIR.
>> ALSO. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANT TO
THANK THE ENTIRE PUBLIC
UTILITIES TEAM , GENERAL
MANAGER, DIRECTOR LEE . I DON'T
KNOW IF BOB HENNESSY SHARED WITH
YOU. I PROBABLY SPENT ABOUT 15
MINUTES GOING OVER WITH HIM HOW
MUCH I APPRECIATE SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES , THE DEPARTMENT AND
YOUR CAN-DO ATTITUDE GETTING OUT
THERE TO SOLVE ISSUES. WHETHER
IT'S WALTER'S TEAM RESPONDING
IN PERSON OR THE EMERGENCY CREWS
THAT YOU HAVE OUT THERE WORKING
24/7. I'VE JUST BEEN INCREDIBLY
IMPRESSED OVER THE LAST WEEK AND
LAST YEAR'S. JUST RAISING MY
HAND TODAY AS THE BUDGET CHAIR
AS A REMINDER . NOT JUST TO
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
DEPARTMENT, BUT ALL DEPARTMENTS
CITYWIDE . YOU NEED TO GET THIS
BUDGET TYPE OF LEGISLATION IN
EARLIER SO THAT WE ARE ALL ABLE
TO COORDINATE AS A CITY. THAT'S
MY IMMENSE GRATITUDE . WE WOULD
LOVE TO DO THE BUDGET ALL AT
ONCE. THANK YOU. KEEP UP THE
GOOD WORK.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL FOR
STRAUSS. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> HELLO. I HAVE A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS. LET'S SEE. FIRST OF
ALL, IT WAS MENTIONED IN THE
PRESENTATION THAT THE PROPERTY
WAS SOLD IN 1953. RIGHT? AROUND
NOON.
>> 2000 TO THE CURRENT OWNER.
>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO IT'S
GONE PREDOMINANTLY. I THOUGHT
THAT PATEL WAS MENTIONED ANYWAY.
BUT THE SPIRIT OF MY QUESTION
WAS, THERE'S A LONG INTERVAL OF
TIME BETWEEN OF THE SALE OF THE
BIG, HUGE PIECE OF PROPERTY AND,
ULTIMATELY, TRYING TO GET THE
MOST OUT OF EVERY SQUARE FOOT,
WHICH IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DO
WHEN THEY BUY PROPERTY. THERE
ARE STRUCTURES ON HERE. BUT IT
COULD HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF
OTHER THINGS. SO I'M JUST
WONDERING, WAS THE SITE NOT
IDEAL FOR BUILDING FOR SO LONG
BECAUSE IT WAS -- WONDERING IF
IT IS KNOWN THAT THERE WOULD BE
PROBLEMS GOING FORWARD AND
THAT'S PARTLY WHY DEVELOPMENT
TOOK A LONG TIME AND,
ULTIMATELY, ONLY CONSISTED OF A
FEW BUILDINGS -- THAT NEVER CAME
TO FRUITION.
>> I WOULD ACTUALLY DEFER TO OUR
CURRENT SITE OWNER .
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
DEVELOPING IN A MARSHY AREA. I
KNOW THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN A
COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS TO TRY TO
MAXIMIZE THE VALUE AND BENEFIT
OF THE PROPERTY BUT HAD NOT BEEN
SUCCESSFUL . NEW INFORMATION
THAT CHANGE THEIR DIRECTION . I
TEND TO LEAN ON THEM TO ADDRESS
THOSE QUESTIONS . FOR US, I DO
KNOW THE CREEK WAS REALLY
CENTRAL IN PART TO THIS PARCEL.
IT USED TO GO RIGHT TO THE
CENTER. SO WOULD HAVE MADE
EXISTING SOILS CHALLENGING AT
BEST TO CONSTRUCT WITHOUT HAVING
TO ADDITIONAL WORK. WE WILL FIND
OUT MORE ABOUT THAT AS WE GO
THROUGH MORE OF OUR EXPIRATION
PICK
>> FOR MY PART I WOULD SAY THAT
IS REALLY EXCITING TO THINK
ABOUT WHAT IT CAN BECOME. IF
I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IT MAY DRAIN
GREEN A LITTLE BIT. I COULD BE
WRONG ON THAT. THAT'S SORT OF
UPHILL AND TO THE WEST. THE
POINT IS, THE CREEK IS CARRYING
A LOT OF WATER AND IT IS A HUGE
PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE. I
UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO KEEP IT
IN GOOD SHAPE OR REMOVE IT
ALTOGETHER. INFRASTRUCTURE I
MEAN. I'M NOT DONE. YOU HAVE
ANYTHING TO ADD?
>> AT THE COUNCIL MEMBER OF
THEIR HAD A COMMENT. IF THAT'S
OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> NOT KNOWING WHAT THE PLANS OF
THE PROPERTY OWNER , I WANT TO
SAY THAT IN MY CONVERSATIONS
WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES IT
WAS DISCLOSED THAT ACTUALLY NOT
HAVING HOUSING ON THEIR AT THE
MOMENT WAS ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE
UTILITY BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE
TO. SO IN THAT SENSE, IT IS
PROBABLY AN EASIER PROJECT
BECAUSE THE CITY WOULD HAVE HAD
TO REUSE THE PIPES ANYWAY. AND
IF THERE HAD BEEN THINGS ON THE
LAND THAT MAKES IT EVERMORE
COMPLICATED AND EXPENSIVE. SO,
IN THIS SENSE, I WANTED TO ALSO
ADD THAT BIT OF INFORMATION.
EVEN THOUGH THIS IS COSTLY, IT
WOULD HAVE COST EVEN MORE HAD
THERE BEEN THINGS ON THIS SITE.
TO THAT DEGREE, THIS HAS BEEN
SORT OF FORTUITOUS AT THIS
JUNCTURE. I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHAT
CAME BEFORE.
>> HERE'S WHAT I'M GETTING AT.
THERE IS A UNIQUE PIECE OF PLAN
THAT DRAINS WATER WHERE A HILLY
TOWN ENDED, AS HE SAID, A MARSH.
WHILE I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING
ABOUT THE DISAPPOINTMENT ON THE
PART OF THE CURRENT OWNERS ,
WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN HERE AND THE
TERMS THAT ARE GOING FORWARD,
THE KIND OF IS WHAT HAPPENED .
WHEN YOU BUY PROPERTY THAT IS ON
A MARSH. IN A WAY, IT'S REALLY
UNKNOWN AS OUR ENVIRONMENT
REGULATIONS AND OUR KNOWLEDGE
AND IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING
MARCIA LENSE . WELL, I SEE BOTH
SIDES. HERE IS ALSO WHAT I HAVE
TO ASK. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO
WITH THE REST OF THE PIPE? I'M
LOOKING AT ALL THESE MAPS HERE
AND HE GOES UNDER 45th. THIS
WILL BE AN EXPENSE FOR SPU AT
SOME POINT. SO IS THAT PLANNED
FOR?
>> IS CORRECT. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, I THINK YOU HIT THE NAIL
ON THE HEAD . RISK TO NOT DO
ANYTHING TO THEN HAVE MORE TO DO
LATER. THAT'S WHY I STARTED
WITH THIS PRESENTATION. THE FULL
STORY IS, THE CREEK DOES NOT
STOP AT THE SOUTHERN PROPERTY
LINE OF THE TO LARA'S SITE . IT
CONTINUES UNDERNEATH NORTHEAST
41st STREET DOWN ONTO A SMALL
WEDGE OF OUR COLLEAGUES HERE AND
PARKS DEPARTMENT BEHIND ME. AND
THEN ALSO TOUCHES GENTLY ONTO
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON'S
PROPERTY BEFORE IT LANDS IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
TIDELAND , ESSENTIALLY. OR
SHORELINE. SO WE HAVE NOT JUST
WORK TO DO ON THE SITE, BUT
TECHNICAL CHALLENGES TO GET THIS
CREEK UNDER OUR ROADWAY IN A WAY
THAT WILL SUPPORT FISH AND
WILDLIFE , WHILE ALSO WORKING
KINDLY. PARKS HAS BEEN KIND TO
YOUR PARTNER AND THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON TO REALLY MAKE
THIS A GYM. BUT MORE TO COME FOR
BOTH THE PROPERTY AND DOWNSTREAM
AREA.
>> SAID WITH ALACRITY. RIGHT?
GOING TO THE FISCAL NOTE, I
NOTICED THERE'S A $AMOUNT FOR
26 . ON THE THIRD OR FOURTH PAGE
. WHERE WAS THAT? I'M SORRY,
I'M NOT FINDING IT. THERE IS A
BIG NUMBER . CAN 2026 IT WAS
76,000 , MAYBE MILLION. AND THEN
THE FOLLOWING YEAR WAS QUITE A
BIT LESS. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M
TALKING ABOUT?
>> I THINK YOU ARE REFERRING TO
THE REVISED CIP PAGE THAT WAS
INCLUDED AS A REFERENCE POINT.
THE CAPITAL PROGRAMS , THE
BUDGETING FOR THEM OVER A
SIX-YEAR PERIOD IS DEPENDENT ON
THE PROJECTS THAT WILL BE
PURSUED. SO WHAT THIS WAS TRYING
TO SHOW IS THAT IN THE ADOPTED
BUDGET, THAT YOU ADOPTED FOR 26,
IT HAS $67.5 MILLION IN THIS
CAPITAL PROGRAM FOR SPU RIGHT
NOW. WITH THE PAGES SHOWING AND
STRIKE AS OF YET $9.2 MILLION TO
IT THAN THE AMOUNT WOULD BE THE
76.7 DOLLARS. THAT'S ALL PEOPLE
ARE TALKING ABOUT.
>> ALSO, FOR PEOPLE'S
AWARENESS, IT IS A ONE-TIME
PAYMENT THAT IS SPREAD OUT OVER
A LONG PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE
THERE'S A BIG EXPENSE IN 2026.
MAINTENANCE OR ET CETERA. IT
CONTINUES TO BE A PROJECT. I CAN
TAKE OFF-LINE WILL WOULD BE THE
POTENTIAL IMPACT TO THE
RATEPAYERS.
>> TO BE DETERMINED. WE DON'T
KNOW YET AND WE WILL OBVIOUSLY
BE ENGAGING ON THAT OVER THE
NEXT SEVERAL YEARS TO PLAN THAT
OUT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> YOU CAN SEE THE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES. NOW WE ARE TRYING
TO BRING BACK THE CREEK WHEN IT
WAS PAVED OVER, IF YOU WILL
COMMAND THE CHALLENGES INVOLVED.
THE ONE THING ABOUT THIS
PARTICULAR, WHEN SPU HAS DONE
DAYLIGHTING OF THE CREEKS IT
GIVES OPPORTUNITY ALONG THE
CREEKS THAT HAVE BEEN DELETED.
JUST THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME
GREEN SPACE . BECAUSE ALL OF
THAT, THE WHOLE POINT OF THE
DAYLIGHTING IS TO BRING BACK THE
CREEK , THE SALMON AND SOME OF
THAT WILDLIFE. SO YOU ARE
SEEING, AND SOME OF THESE
NEIGHBORHOODS, A RETURN. SO I'M
EXCITED ABOUT THAT PART FOR THIS
AREA . IN SOME WAYS IT'S NOT
LOST ON ME THAT WE HUMANS DID
SOMETHING THAT WE ARE NOW
UNDOING ON AN ENVIRONMENTAL. WE
ARE NOW DOING THIS AND THIS IS
SUPPORT WORK. I REALLY THINK SPU
FOR THAT. AND YES, TO BE
DETERMINED ON COST AND ALL THE
OTHER THINGS . BUT AT THIS
MOMENT IN TIME, I THINK THIS IS
AN IMPORTANT EFFORT. SO THANK
YOU.
>> WE CAN LOOK AT THORNTON
CREEK. WE HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE.
AND THAT HAS TURNED INTO SUCH AN
IMPORTANT , IT'S NOT AN
AMENITY, IT'S LANDSCAPE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. TO COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, YOUR POINT, WE HAVE
IMPLEMENT THESE PROJECTS. WE
HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE
ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY AND
THE COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT HIS
PROJECTS. BUT THEY'VE ALSO BEEN
A POINT OF ACCESS FOR COMMUNITY.
BOTH WATERFRONT ACCESS, FOR
EXAMPLE THE TAYLOR QUICK --
CREEK. AND PARKLAND. WE HAVE
DONE IT IN COURT NATION WITH THE
PARK, ESPECIALLY IN THE THORN
CREEK AREA, KNICKERBOCKER CREEK,
WE REALLY WORKED HAND IN HAND
WITH COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THEY
SEE THE BENEFITS OF THIS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> GENERAL MANAGER LEE, THE
COMMUNITY, IS AT THE SOMALI
COMMUNITY INMATES CREEK THAT IS
DOING BOB HENNESSY OR NOTTING?
THEIR STEWARDSHIP OF THE CREEK
IS SO AMAZING . AND THEY DO
THESE THERE. I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH
ABOUT THE WORK THAT THE SOMALI
COMMUNITY IS DOING THERE. IT'S
IMPORTANT TO CALL US OUT . IT'S
PART OF THESE RESTORATIONS.
IT'S ALSO THE COMMUNITY
EFFORTS. AND WE NEED TO
RECOGNIZE THAT. WE NEED TO
RECOGNIZE THE COMMUNITY'S
CONTRIBUTION. I JUST WANT TO SAY
FROM THE DAIS, I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THE SOMALI COMMUNITY
DOING ALL THAT STEWARDSHIP. EVEN
THE COMMUNITY COMES. THEY DO
CLEANUP WORK . THAT'S
IMPORTANT. THAT IS A BENEFIT
BACK TO ALL OF US IN THE CITY.
OF COURSE, SO MANY PEOPLE GO TO
ALL THESE PLACES FROM ACROSS THE
CITY . THIS IS ALL REALLY
IMPORTANT WORK AND I JUST WANTED
TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THE COMMUNITY
'S CONTRIBUTIONS.
>> ABSOLUTELY. ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ? THANK
YOU, SPU. I AM COMFORTABLE
VOTING ON THIS ORDINANCE TODAY
BECAUSE WE WANT TO ENSURE SPU
OWNS THE LAND IN ORDER FOR THEM
TO START PLANNING TO ENGAGE WITH
COMMUNITY. THERE ARE TWO THINGS
I KNOW IN LIFE. THERE IS DUE
DILIGENCE AND THERE IS RIVERA'S
DUE DILIGENCE. THAT IS A LEVEL
THAT I KNOW. CAN I SAY THAT WITH
ALL LOVE. YOU KNOW THAT. GOOD.
ALSO BROUGHT A CLAUSE CALLING
FOR MORE ROBUST PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT THAT STRENGTHENED THE
BILL. AND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL
BE WATCHING THIS, MAKING SURE
THAT ENGAGEMENT HAPPENS TO MAKE
SURE THAT COMMUNITY IS ENGAGED
AND CAN PUT THEIR FINGER PRINT
ON STAFF. AND WE CAN -- THIS CAN
WORK PROPERLY AND ADDRESS THE
CONCERNS THAT WE HEARD TODAY .
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
WITH THAT, THERE IS RIVERA'S DUE
DILIGENCE. ABSOLUTELY. THE
CLAUSE. I'M GOING TO MOVE THAT
THE COMMUNITY RECOMMEND PASSAGE
OF COUNCIL BILL 121138. IS THERE
A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND SECOND TO RECOMMEND THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL. ARE THERE
ANY FINAL COMMENTS, COLLEAGUES?
CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLE.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> FIVE IN FAVOR, NOT OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES. THE BILL
WILL BE SENT TO TUESDAY,
DECEMBER 16th, 25 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. WILL THE
CLICK PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER 14
INTO THE AGENDA?
>> ITEM NUMBER 14, COUNCIL BILL
121137. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
THE AMENDED LANDSCAPE
CONSERVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
PROGRAM , LCLIP, FUNDING PLAN
FOR THE SOUTH LAKE UNION AND
DOWNTOWN IS ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE
127252. PRESENTING TODAY ARE
MEMBERS OF SEATTLE PRICE AND
RECREATION AND CENTRAL STAFF ARE
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> AWESOME . SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ
AND ANDY, WE ARE GOOD TO SEE
YOU. AND THEN KARINA BULL , SO
HAPPY TO SEE YOU. LAST MEETING
OF THE YEAR. WE HAVE DONE A LOT
OF WORK TOGETHER. AND INTRODUCE
YOURSELF AND WE CAN JUMP RIGHT
INTO THE PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL CHAIR.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. OR IS IT
AFTERNOON? MY NAME IS APD'S. I
AM -- PARKS AND RECREATION. WE
ARE BEFORE YOU CAN SO WE CAN
CONSIDER MODIFYING THE LANDSCAPE
CONSERVATION AND LOCAL
INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM , WHICH
WE CALL LCLIP, TO INCLUDE
WESTLAKE PARK IMPROVEMENTS,
WESTLAKE PARK IS THE GATEWAY TO
SEATTLE'S DOWNTOWN AND A VITAL
LINK TO THE CITY'S MOST ICONIC
DESTINATIONS. AS AN IMPORTANT
TRANSIT HUB IT SERVES DOWNTOWN
WORKERS, RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS
WITH CONNECTIONS TO SEATTLE
CENTER OF THE OTHER MONORAIL.
THE CONVENTION CENTER MARKET AND
THE NEW SEATTLE WATERFRONT. THE
PARK IS AN IMPORTANT
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSET FOR DOWNTOWN
RESIDENTS. THE CENTER OF
DOWNTOWN RETAIL CORE AND OFTEN
INTRODUCTION TO OUR CITY. DEPUTY
SUPERINTENDENT ANDY IS HERE TO
HELP ME SUPPORT THE PRESENTATION
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU WHY WE
ARE COMING HERE WITH YOU TODAY
ABOUT WESTLAKE. I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO ANDY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE
PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION IS TO
MODIFY THE LCLIP FUNDING PLAN TO
INCLUDE WESTLAKE PARK
IMPROVEMENTS. SETTLE PARKS
FOUNDATION HAS BEEN A GREAT
PARTNER TO THE CITY AND
OFFICIALLY DELIVERED A
COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION FOR ESSENTIAL
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PARK UNDER
AN EXPEDITED TIMELINE. AFTER
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE ARTIST,
ROBERT MACKEY, WE HAVE ADDED
SCOPE TO INCLUDE REMOVAL AT THE
SEVEN HILL SCULPTURE IN
TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE OF
THE FOUNTAIN, THE ARCH AND THE
SEVEN HILL SCULPTURE FOR
REINSTALLATION IN A FUTURE PART
PROJECT . WE ARE BEING
OPPORTUNISTIC BY REMOVING THE
SEVEN HILLS SCULPTURE WHILE WE
HAVE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY
OCCURRING ON SITE AND FUNDING
AVAILABLE TO DO SO. THIS WILL BE
TRANSFORMATIVE IN OPENING UP
SIGHTLINES AT THE SOUTH END OF
THE PARK. THE REMOVAL AT SEVEN
HILL SCULPTURE FULLY SUPPORTS
THE PROJECT ROLES AS IT DIRECTLY
RESPONDS TO CRIME PREVENTION
THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN BY
BETTERING SIGHTLINES AND OPENING
THE AREA TO ACTIVATION . WE
BETTER ENABLE THE GROUND FLOOR
COMMERCIAL SPACES TO SPILL OUT
INTO THE PARK AND WELCOME THE
PUBLIC. RIGHT NOW THE ACTIVATION
IS CORNERED ON ALL SIDES BY THE
SCULPTURAL COMPONENTS. THIS IS
THE THIRD PIECE OF LEGISLATION
ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT AND
WILL SET THE STAGE FOR FUTURE
REVISION IN OF THE WESTLAKE AREA
AS A TRANSPORTATION HUB . IN
THIS LIGHT YOU CAN SEE THE SEVEN
HILLS SCULPTURE , THE FOUNTAIN
AND THE STAGE, THE BASELINE
SCOPE , INCLUDED REMOVAL OF THE
FOUNTAIN, THE STAGE IN MAKING
ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENTS . IT DID NOT
INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION OF THE --
STAGE TO A STORAGE AREA. SO THE
NEW ADDED SCOPE INCLUDES
TRANSPORTATION OF THE FOUNTAIN ,
THE STAGE, AND THE SEVEN HILL
SCULPTURE TO A STORAGE LOCATION.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE SCOPE
INCLUDES EXPANDING THE PUBLIC
OPEN SPACE AND INTRODUCING
VEGETATION. THAT WAS ONE OF THE
NUMBER ONE COMMENTS IN THE
ROBUST PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
TO SOLVE THE SITE AND INTRODUCE
MORE VEGETATION . IN THE SITE
PLAN HERE YOU CAN SEE THE
LOCATIONS OF THE FOUNTAIN, THE
ARCH AND THE SEVEN HILLS ARTWORK
. ALSO, VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS
WORK IS EXPANDING THE SIZE OF
THE STAGE . RIGHT NOW THE STAGE
IS VERY SMALL AND HAS BEEN
PROBLEMATIC IN EXERCISING OUR
FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. THE
STAGE WILL NOT ONLY GET LARGER ,
BUT IT WILL ALSO BE A.D.A.
ACCESSIBLE. AS DESCRIBED EARLY
IN THE PRESENTATION , THE LCLIP
FUNDING PROVIDED FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IS FOCUSED ON SOUTH LAKE
UNION AND DOWNTOWN. AND IT'S
DIVIDED BETWEEN SOUTH LAKE UNION
AND DOWNTOWN AS A PERCENTAGE OF
THE REVENUE FOR EACH ONE OF
THOSE AREAS . THE FUNDING HAS
EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS AND WE ARE
ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR DOWNTOWN
FUNDING PLAN COMMITMENTS AND HAD
WESTLAKE TO THE LIST.
>> SO THE GOALS FOR THIS
LEGISLATION ARE TO REVISE THE
PROJECT LIST FOR THE L.I.D.
FUNDING. FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO
ADVANCE THE SAFETY OF WESTLAKE
PARK REMOVING THE SEVEN HILLS
SCULPTURE. THE PROJECT IS
CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND
THEY ARE DILIGENTLY AND
VIGOROUSLY PURSUING COMPLETION
IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2026.
IN THIS ILLUSTRATION IS THE
PAVING PATTERN , WESTLAKE PARK,
THE CONTRACTOR IS GOING TO BE
COMBING THE PARK FROM THE SOUTH
END TO THE NORTH AND TO REMOVE
TRIP HAZARDS. THAT WAS PART OF A
PREVIOUS AMENDED LEGISLATION .
THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO BE
INTRODUCING MITIGATION IN
PREPARATION FOR FUTURE EVENTS.
>> THANK YOU. ALSO. SLIDE EIGHT
TO ME , DO YOU REMEMBER THOSE
BOOKS WHEN YOU WERE A KID AND
YOU WOULD HOLD IT CLOSE TO YOUR
FACE AND THEN PULL IT OUT TO
SEE? THAT'S WHAT I DID TO THE
SCREEN AND NOTHING POPPED OUT.
SORRY. I JUST HAD TO SAY THAT.
KARINA, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU
WANT TO ADD?
>> I WILL ADD, JUST EMPHASIZE,
THE ADD CLIP -- REVENUE IS
HIGHER THAN FORECASTED. SO THIS
ISN'T TAKING AWAY MONEY FROM
ANY EXISTING PROJECT. IT'S JUST
ADDING IT TO THE REVISED SCOPE
OF WESTLAKE IMPROVEMENTS. ALSO,
THE REMOVAL OF THE SEVEN HILLS
ART INSTALLATION ENDED UP
INCURRING ADDITIONAL EXPENSES
FOR THE CITY THAT MAY OR MAY NOT
BE ABLE TO BE COVERED BY THE
LCLIP FUNDING DEPENDING ON WHERE
IS LOCATED . LCLIP CAN BE SPENT
IN SOUTH LAKE UNION AND THE
DOWNTOWN AREA. THE ADDITIONAL
EXPENSES WOULD INCLUDE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT FOR RELOCATION AND
ART INSTALLATION. THE ACTUAL
RELOCATION, INSTALLMENT AND ANY
ARTIST FEES ASSOCIATED WITH
THAT. SPR IS COMMITTED TO
LOCATING IT IN A DIFFERENT PARK
THAT IS PROMINENTLY LOCATED IN
SEATTLE , AT LEAST ONE ACRE IN
SIZE AND THAT WOULD HAPPEN
WITHIN FIVE YEARS. SO SOMETHING
TO KEEP IN MIND.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. I WAS
ACTUALLY WITH SOME PEOPLE,
MEETING WITH SOME PEOPLE WHO
WERE TALKING TO ME ABOUT THIS
PROJECT AND I KNEW ABOUT THIS
COMING TO COMMITTEE BUT HAD
EMPHASIZE THAT. HAD WONDERFUL
THINGS TO SAY ABOUT PARKS AS
WELL. I WILL PAUSE HERE AND SEE
IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS
AMENDMENT. I KNOW WE HEARD ABOUT
LCLIP OVER THE SUMMER . I WILL
PAUSE . I KNOW THIS IS AN
COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLES DISTRICT.
WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
ANYONE? YOU ALL ARE EASY. OKAY.
ALSO. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> HAVE GOT TO KEEP UP THE
RIVERA, WHAT DID YOU CALL?
>> DUE DILIGENCE.
>> AND HE IS NODDING BECAUSE HE
KNOWS WHAT YOU MEAN. YOU KNOW
WHAT? I WILL TAKE IT. BECAUSE
THAT'S GOOD. WE HAVE TO DO OUR
DUE DILIGENCE. RIGHT? I WILL SAY
THAT, IN THAT VEIN, I DID MEET
WITH PARKS TO ANSWER TO REVIEW
THIS PROJECT AND ANSWER SOME OF
MY QUESTIONS . WHEREVER THE
MONEY IS COMING FROM , $1
MILLION IS $1 MILLION. THAT'S A
LOT OF MONEY. I ALWAYS WANT TO
MAKE SURE I'M ASKING ALL THE
QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF
CONSTITUENTS . YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
TO DO THIS WORK AT WESTLAKE.
IT'S APPROPRIATE TO DO. IT'S
PART OF OUR MAINTENANCE AND
OPERATIONS . AT PARKS THERE ARE
SOME THINGS THAT WE ARE TRYING
TO ALSO, AND COUNCILMEMBER
KENDALL, YOU CAN SPEAK TO THESE.
AND I SEE YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP.
BUT THERE'S SOME THINGS WE DO
ON A SUB 10 PRIME PREVENTION
THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
THAT WE HAVE TRIED OVER THE
YEARS THERE AND WE CONTINUE TO
ADDRESS THAT. AS WE ARE TRYING
TO KEEP THE AREA , YOU KNOW,
USABLE AND SAFE AND FOR
CONSTITUENTS THAT GO THERE. AND
FOR VISITORS ALIKE. YOU HAD
INDICATED , ANDY SCHIFFER, THAT
THERE WAS CONSIDERATIONS . DO WE
REPURPOSE THE STRUCTURE ? AND
HOW MUCH WOULD THAT COST VERSUS
STORING IT? AND REALLY, THE COST
WAS NOT A LOT MORE , IF WE WERE
NOT TO STORE IT . THERE WERE, OF
COURSE, CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT THE
ARTIST AND WORKING WITH THE
ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY INTERESTS.
ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE
CONSIDERED WHEN WE ARE DOING
THIS WORK. AND IT'S NOT TAKEN
LIGHTLY THAT THE COST INVOLVED,
RIGHT, IT IS IMPORTANT . TAMMY,
WE'LL THIS ARTWORK AND IT'S
IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN THESE
THINGS. AND IF THE COST IS NOT
GOING TO BE SO EXORBITANT TO
STORE IT AND RELOCATE IT , AND
ALL OF THOSE THINGS, THEN IT
MAKES SENSE. RIGHT? AS PART OF
THE DUE DILIGENCE I ASKED THOSE
QUESTIONS AND I FEEL COMFORTABLE
MOVING, PROCEEDING IN THE WAY
THAT PARKS IS RECOMMENDING . AND
JUST SAY , I SUPER APPRECIATE MY
RELATIONSHIP WITH HER FOLKS AT
PARKS . SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ,
ANDY SCHIFFER AND I HAVE HAD THE
PLEASURE OF WORKING TOGETHER.
IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE TO WORK
WITH YOU THROUGH ALL THESE YEARS
. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE, EVEN
WITHIN THAT, I ALWAYS ASK ALL
THE QUESTIONS, AS ANDY KNOWS.
I'M VERY SATISFIED WITH THE
ANSWERS. SO THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. COUNCILMEMBER KENDALL?
>> YES, CHAIR. THANK YOU. THAT
THE SEVEN VERSION OF THE DUE
DILIGENCE. I HAVE BEEN IN
BRIEFED ON THE WESTLAKE PARK.
THE BROADER WESTLAKE PROJECT IN
MIND. AND ALSO THE CONSIDERATION
WITH THE ARTISAN. I HAVE BEEN IN
BRIEFED. THE KEY HERE IS TWO
THINGS. THE WESTLAKE PARK
PROJECT, ENSURING THAT IT IS
DONE AND DONE WELL, AND DONE
RIGHT . PARTICULARLY TIMELY ON
TOP OF THAT. GIVEN THE FIFA
WORLD CUP. SEPARATELY, YES. WE
HAVE THESE ART PIECES. WE NEED
TO DO RIGHT BY THEM AS WELL. I
UNDERSTAND THE VARIOUS MOVING
PARTS TO THIS PROJECT WITH THE
LCLIP. AND OF COURSE, THE LCLIP
ITSELF , WHAT'S GOING ON WITH
THAT IS SO HUGE. NOT JUST FOR
WESTLAKE PARK , BUT AS NOTED
BETWEEN SOUTH LAKE UNION AND
DOWNTOWN. I JUST WANTED TO SAY ,
GIVEN MY ROLL AND THE ISSUES
WITH LCLIP AND SO FORTH , THE
ATTRIBUTES OF LCLIP, THAT YES .
WE ARE SET ON THIS . NOT ONLY
PARKS, BUT ALSO MY CONVERSATIONS
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBER KETTLE. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS? AWESOME. THOSE
MIGHT BE OLD HANDS .
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? OLD HANDS.
AWESOME. FIRST OF ALL, SORRY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. THANK
YOU , ALSO, FOR GIVING US THE
BACKGROUND ON THIS. SUPER
SUPPORTIVE. THE COUNCILMEMBERS
FROM DISTRICT 7, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS
AS WELL . AND LCLIP. JUST
WANTING TO MAKE SURE WESTLAKE
PARK IS, AGAIN, AS WE TALKED
ABOUT THE WATERFRONT AS OUR
FRONT PORCH, MAKING SURE
WESTLAKE LOOKS GOOD AS WELL.
BECAUSE IT IS THAT THAT GOES UP
INTO MY DISTRICT. DISTRICT 3 AS
WELL. BUT JUST THE CONNECTIVITY
ACROSS THE CITY. THANK YOU ALL
SO MUCH. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION
, OPPORTUNISTIC WAS THE WORD .
NO WORRIES. I HAD A TEAMMATE WHO
WOULD SAY , I'M GOING TO
DOWNTOWN. THE -- CONCIERGE? YOU
NEVER KNOW. SOMETIMES THE WORDS
ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE. SO THANK
YOU FOR THAT. ANYWAYS, AND I
WILL NOT MENTION YOUR NAME, I
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 121137. IS THERE SECOND?
>> SECOND PICK
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECOND
TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THE
BILL. ARE THERE ANY FINAL
COMMENTS ON THIS LCLIP AMENDMENT
? WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
ROLL?
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> FIVE IN FAVOR, AND A POST PIC
>> THE MOTION CARRIES.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BILL PASS
WILL BE SENT TO TUESDAY,
DECEMBER 16th, 2025. AND I SEE
SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ. DID YOU
WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?
>> THANK YOU.
>> I DID. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> I'M SORRY.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ALL YOU
PICK
>> WE EXPRESSED APPRECIATION FOR
EACH OTHER AT ONE OF OUR LAST
MEETINGS. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY,
YOU HANDLED THIS LEGISLATION
WITH GRACE. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR GETTING DONE WHAT NEEDED TO
GET DONE. THAT WAS A DISPLAY .
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE OR WANTING
TO SERVE I DON'T HAVE A FANCY
WORD FOR IT BUT I DO APPRECIATE
YOU MAKING THIS WORK BECAUSE
THERE'S A LOT RIDING ON
WESTLAKE RIGHT NOW. IT IS SUCH
AN EXCITING PROJECT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR THAT . THAT
EXEMPLIFIES YOUR SERVICE AND
STEWARDSHIP WITH OUR PARKS AND
OPEN SPACES.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. AWESOME. AND COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA HAS ONE LESS THING?
>> JUST TO GET A NOTE OF
RECOGNITION TO OUR CENTRAL
STAFF, KARINA OLD, WHO DID A
GREAT JOB SHEPHERDING US THROUGH
AND REACHING OUT TO MAKE SURE WE
DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS. AND IF WE
DID, MAKING SURE WE HAD ANSWERS
TO THOSE. SO THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. WE ALWAYS
LOVE OUR CENTRAL STAFF. THANK
YOU, PARKS. THIS HAS BEEN A
GREAT YEAR. WE HAVE A LOT OF
LEGISLATION COME DOWN THROUGH
COMMITTEE WITH YOU, PARKS .
EXCUSE ME, PARKS, PUBLIC
UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY COMING
DOWN THIS YEAR OF ALL OF THE
LEGISLATION AND IMPROVEMENTS .
ALL OF THE REPORTS THAT YOU WILL
GIVE US. WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD
BASELINE AND WE ARE REMOVING
WHERE WE ARE GOING IN THE CITY.
JUST GRATEFUL FOR YOUR TIME,
DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE
CITY , AND ALSO TO THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT THAT WE ALL LOVE WITH
THE GREEN SPACES. SO THANK YOU
ALL SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
>> AWESOME. WITH THAT BEING
SAID, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THIS IS
YOUR LAST PUBLIC UTILITIES PARKS
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE . I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR DUE
DILIGENCE . THERE IS A NELSON
DUE DILIGENCE STANDARD AS WELL.
BUT YOUR COMMITMENT TO
INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR CITY, AND
MAKING SURE THAT WE DO HAVE OPEN
SPACES, AND THAT OUR PUBLIC
UTILITIES ARE WORKING WELL . THE
NUTS AND BOLTS AND GUTS. WE CALL
IT THE BOLD BASICS. BUT THE
NONSENSE STUFF THAT WE HAVE TO
IN GOVERNMENT THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE JUST DON'T SEE THE
BACKEND . I KNOW THAT YOUR
OFFICE HAS BEEN COMMITTED ALL
YEAR ON THAT AND IT'S JUST BEEN
AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH YOU
DURING THAT PROCESS AND KNOWING
HOW MUCH TIME AND DEDICATION YOU
PUT INTO THAT ALL YEAR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FOR
THOSE COMMENTS. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP. I REMEMBER ONE
OF OUR FIRST CONVERSATIONS WAS,
YOU REALLY WANTED
INFRASTRUCTURE, THE ONE THAT YOU
CHAIRED WERE ON. IT'S IMPORTANT
TO YOU TOO. IT'S WHAT MAKES THE
CITY.
>> ALSO. THE TANGIBLE THINGS
PEOPLE CAN SEE IN FRONT OF THEM.
AND THEN THEY CAN SEE IT MOVING
FORWARD. SO THANK YOU. AND
COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU , COUNCIL
FOR STRAUSS. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMAN PATEL. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. AND THANK
YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON
FOR JOINING US ON THIS COMMITTEE
AND ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND
DUE DILIGENCE THAT WE DID IN
COMMITTEE WORK BEFORE WE SENT IT
TO FULL COUNCIL. COULD NOT HAVE
DONE IT WITHOUT YOU. JUST
BECAUSE YOU ALL BROUGHT SO MUCH
KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION, AND
QUESTIONS. YOUR AMENDMENTS THAT
YOU BROUGHT TO CERTAIN THINGS.
>> SHE SAYS WITH A SMILE.
>> YEAH. I LOVE THE AMENDMENTS.
IT STRENGTHENED ALL THE
LEGISLATION THAT CAME OUT OF
THIS COMMITTEE. SO THANK YOU ALL
FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND WORK.
JUST REALLY, REALLY GRATEFUL.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE. AND THE
COMMITTEE. WITH THAT, WE HAVE NO
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. IF
THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS,
WHICH IS SEEN ON, THIS MEETING
WILL ADJOURN. AND THAT'S GOING
TO CONCLUDE OUR FINAL DECEMBER
10th MEETING OF THE PARKS ,
PUBLIC UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY
COMMITTEE. MY MOTHER IS
WATCHING. HI, RHONDA
HOLLINGSWORTH. I LOVE YOU, AS
ALWAYS. WE ARE JUST SAYING HI. I
KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING. EVERYONE
IS WAITING AT YOU. EVEN OUR
PHENOMENAL SECURITY. HEARING NO
OTHER BUSINESS.