>>> ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING.
THE JANUARY 21st 2025 MEETING
OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS 9:32
A.M. I AM ROB SOCCER, CHAIR OF
THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
WILL THE COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE. COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
COUNCILMAN BERTRAN TO? CHAIR,
THERE ARE FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. IF THERE IS NO
AGENDA QUESTION, THE AGENDA
WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING AND
SEEING NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA
IS HEREBY ADOPTED. ALL RIGHT.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. TODAY
IS OUR FIRST COMMITTEE MEETING,
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
MEETING OF THE NEW YEAR. BUT
IT'S ALSO THE FIRST
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE SINCE
THE TRAGIC MURDER OF TEEN
COUNTY METRO DRIVER SEAN YAM
WHO WAS KILLED IN DECEMBER IN
SEATTLE. IN THE U DISTRICT.
NOW, AS OUR OFFICE CONTINUES TO
FORM THE COMMITTEE AGENDA FOR
2025, TRANSIT SECURITY AND WORK
PLAN FOR 2025, I WILL TELL YOU
DEFINITIVELY THAT TRANSIT
SECURITY WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT
POLICY AREA IN WHICH WE TAKE ON
IT. I AM ALSO FORTUNATE TO
SERVE AS NOT ONLY CHAIR OF THIS
COMMITTEE BUT VICE CHAIR OF OUR
CITY'S PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE. WE ALSO HAVE CHAIR
OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
THAT SITS ON THIS COMMITTEE AS
WELL, AND COUNCILMEMBER BOB
KETTLE. AND SPEAKING OF WHICH,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND I IN
OUR RESPECTIVE ROLES AS CHAIR,
VICE CHAIR, CHAIR AND MEMBER
HAD A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING
LAST WEEK WITH A FEW LOCAL 587
WHERE WE SPECIFICALLY DISCUSSED
TRANSIT SECURITY. EVERY DRIVER
AND PASSENGER SHOULD FEEL SAFE
WHILE TAKING OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM
IN SEATTLE AND BEYOND. AND WE
REMAIN FIRMLY COMMITTED TO
MAKING SURE WE DELIVER ON
EXACTLY THAT PROMISE IN DOING
BETTER TO ACHIEVE EXACTLY THAT
RESULT. MOVING ON, WITH RESPECT
TO LEVEES SPENDING PLANS,
COLLEAGUES, REALLY, BUT MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC AS WELL, SDOT IS
REQUESTING MEETINGS WITH
COUNCIL OFFICES AND STAFF
REGARDING THE PROPOSED LEVEES
SPENDING PLAN WHICH IS DUE TO
THE COUNCIL BY JANUARY 31st,
2025 AS PART OF THIS NEW LEVY
APPROVED BY VOTERS RECENTLY IN
NOVEMBER OF 2024. SDOT WILL BE
PRESENTING THEIR PROPOSED
ANNUAL SPENDING PLANS. THIS IS
ESPECIALLY CRUCIAL THIS YEAR,
THE YEAR ROLLOUT AND DELIVERY
OF THE LEVY. IN TERMS OF
TODAY'S AGENDA, WE HAVE VERY
IMPORTANT GOVERNANCE ITEMS TO
KEEP OUR CITY MOVING INCLUDING
NEW PERMIT, PROPOSED NEW
PERMITS, AND PROPOSED PERMIT
RENEWALS. ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT
INFORMATION ON SCHOOL TRAFFIC
SAFETY . THAT SAID, WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO OUR OPEN PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. ITEMS SHOULD
RELATE TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
AND WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS I SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> WE HAVE ONE IN PERSON
SPEAKER AND ONE REMOTE.
>> ALL RIGHT. EACH PERSON WILL
HAVE APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES.
WE WILL START WITH THE IN
PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST. CLERK,
CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC
COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS?
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MONITORED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN SETS OF IN
PERSON AND REMOTE SPEAKERS
UNTIL -- EXCUSE ME -- UNTIL THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD HAS
ENDED. THEY WILL HEAR A TIME
WHEN THEIR TIME HAS ENDED.
MIKE'S WILL BE MUTED IF THEY
DO NOT END THERE, AND WITHIN
THE ALLOTTED TIME FOR US TO
CALL THE NEXT SPEAKER. THE
PUBLIC SPEAKER, THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. WE
WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST. THAT
SPEAKER IS [ INAUDIBLE ].
>> YEAH, YEAH. [ INAUDIBLE
QUESTION ] MY NAME IS ALEX
TSIMERMAN., TRUMP SUPPORTER FOR
10 YEARS AND EVERY ELECTION.
IT'S VERY GOOD TO FEEL WIN.
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT AS I FIGHT
IT FOR ALL MY LIFE BOTH BY
ENFORCING PEOPLE [ INAUDIBLE ]
SO, RIGHT NOW VERY SIMPLE
POINT. AND I HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE
YOU, COUNCIL SAKA, YOU KNOW
WHAT THIS MEANS. FOR THE LAST
FOUR MONTHS I GO EVERY DAY. I
REPEAT AGAIN, I GO TO YOUR
OFFICE AND ASK STUFF, TALK TO
ME FOR ONE MINUTE, BIG HALF FOR
DOZEN THOUSAND PEOPLE. WHAT
DOES IT EXPLAIN? [
INDISCERNIBLE ] KEEPS PEOPLE
MUCH HAPPY BECAUSE YOU STEALING
THEY MONEY . YOU DO [
INDISCERNIBLE ]. YOU PERSONALLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. YOU MUST
INHABIT. FOR MONTHS EVERY DAY,
WHY THE -- I DON'T, YEAH.
FREEDOM XP EACH RIGHT NOW
EXISTS. I CAN USE THIS TO SAY
WHATEVER I WANT. BUT I DON'T
WANT TO USE DIRTY WORDS ABOUT
YOUR STUFF, FOUR MONTHS, EVERY
DAY. ADMIN, GO TO YOUR OFFICE,
ASK FOR ONE MINUTE, SPEAK WITH
ME. NOBODY WANTED DOING THIS
FOR FOUR MONTHS. WHO ARE YOU?
YOU ARE NEO-NAZI PIG. IT'S
EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED. AND
I AM TALKING ABOUT THOUSAND,
THOUSAND LOW INCOME WHO HAVE
PROBLEM WITH MONEY PAID FOR
TICKET, NOT LEGALLY. YOU HAVE
RULES, [ INAUDIBLE ] INCLUDE
YOU, SPEND UP , AMERICA. GIVE A
CRAP. IT CLEANSES DIRTY
GOVERNMENT TOTALLY. A AND
KILLER --
>> OKAY, OUR LAST SPEAKER AND
REMOTE SPEAKER IS DAVID HAYNES.
DAVID, WHEN I ALLOW YOU TO TALK
REMEMBER TO PRESS*SIX.
>> HI, THANK YOU. HI, TRANSIT
AUTHORITY, TRANSIT POLICE
TRANSIT AUTHORITY ON THE BUS
DRIVERS NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED
TO WORK TOGETHER TO COMBAT ALL
THE CRIME THAT IS OVERWHELMING
THE TRANSIT SYSTEM. AND A
SEPARATE ISSUE THE COUNCIL IS
DISCUSSING TODAY, WE NEED TO
REIMAGINE THE NEIGHBORHOODS AS
BEING RESIDENT PEDESTRIAN
CENTRIC WHERE YOU HAVE, LIKE ,
AUTOMATIC LIGHTS THAT TRIGGER
THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK TO
MAKE IT SAFER SO THAT WE CAN GO
ON THE ROADS. WE HAVE WAY TOO
MANY ROADS BECAUSE WE ARE
LIVING IN A 20TH-CENTURY
NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECT, WE ARE
TRYING TO PATCHWORK FIX IT . WE
NEED TO REALIZE THERE IS
LITERALLY TOO MUCH
ACCOMMODATION TO THE LAZINESS
OF THE MODERN WE'LL. DRIVERS [
INAUDIBLE ] BLOCK. I HOPE WE
ARE ABLE TO EXPEDITE
UNDERSTANDING THAT AND HAVE A
GREAT AMERICAN HOUSING BUILDUP
IN THE NEAR FUTURE, AND GOOD
LUCK. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, I
YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU, DATED. THAT IS
ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS.
>> ALL RIGHT, THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO OUR
ITEMS OF BUSINESS TODAY. SO,
CLERK , WILL YOU PLEASE READ
ITEM 1. -- INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, RESOLUTION
32158 A RESOLUTION GRANTING
CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL TO INSTALL,
MAINTAIN, AND OPERATE IT BELOW
GRADE PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL UNDER
AND ACROSS BOREN AVENUE NORTH,
NORTH OF DENNY WAY, AS PROPOSED
BY ONNI BOREN AVENUE SEATTLE
LLC AS PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION
OF 121 BOREN AVENUE NORTH IN
THIS SOUTH LAKE UNION
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> THANK YOU. IT LOOKS LIKE OUR
PRESENTERS HAVE STARTED TO JOIN
US AT THE TABLE. PLEASE, ONCE
YOU ARE READY, INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATIONS.
>> YOLANDA, COUNCIL STAFF.
>> TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL.
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING
YOU FOUR PIECES OF LEGISLATION
BEFORE YOU TODAY. THESE
RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES
PRESENT A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO
SEE THE PROGRAM AT DIFFERENT
POINTS IN THE PERMIT PROCESS
FROM NEW PROJECTS TO RENEWALS
TO RE-PERMITTING EXPIRED TERM
PERMITS. THESE ITEMS WERE
PRESENTED IN DEPTH AT DECEMBER
17th TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
SO TODAY I WILL BE PROVIDING A
BRIEF OVERVIEW. SO, SHOULD I GO
TO THE -- ARE THEY GOING TO BE
READ IN?
>> YOU HAVE THE PRESENTATIONS
ON YOUR COMPUTER.
>> SORRY. DO YOU WANT THE
PRESENTATIONS UP? OR WHAT --
>> FOR A FRAME OF REFERENCE,
YEAH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE
HELPFUL.
>> AND --
>> I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE
A LIGHT OVERVIEW AND REFRESHER.
>> I BELIEVE AMY WAS GOING TO
PRESENT ONE AND TWO TOGETHER.
WE ARE JUST GOING TO PULL THAT
UP.
>> I ALMOST GOT IT.
>> WHILE WE ARE DOING THAT,
MAYBE WE SHOULD READ ITEM
NUMBER TWO INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 2, RESOLUTION
32159. A RESOLUTION GRANTING
CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL TO INSTALL,
MAINTAIN, AND OPERATE A
BELOW-GRADE PRIVATE THERMAL
ENERGY EXCHANGE SYSTEM UNDER
AND ACROSS BOREN AVENUE NORTH,
NORTH OF DENNY WAY; AS PROPOSED
BY ONNI BOREN AVE SEATTLE LLC,
AS PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF
121 BOREN AVENUE NORTH, IN THE
SOUTH LAKE UNION NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> THANK YOU. SO, THESE
RESOLUTIONS ARE FOR CONCEPTUAL
APPROVAL OF THE PEDESTRIAN
TUNNEL AND EXCHANGE IN BOREN
AVENUE NORTH NORTH OF DENNY
WAY. THIS WILL CONNECT THE
RESIDENTIAL HOTEL FOR OTHER
LOGISTICAL USES BETWEEN THE NEW
BUILDING AT 121 BOREN TO THE
ONLY SOUTH LAKE UNION
RESIDENTIAL BUILDING. THE
THERMAL HEAT EXCHANGE WILL BE
THE FINAL CONNECTION BETWEEN
THE THREE BUILDINGS TO SHARE
ENERGY BETWEEN ALL OF THEM
REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND
CARBON EMISSIONS. CITY COUNCIL
PREVIOUSLY APPROVED THE FIRST
CONNECTION BETWEEN JOHN STREET
AND ONLY SOUTH LAKE UNION WITH
ORDINANCE 236135 IN 2020. THE
RESOLUTIONS FOR THE PEDESTRIAN
TUNNEL AND THERMAL HEAT
EXCHANGE ARE THE FIRST STEP IN
THE PROCESS PROVIDING
CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL FOR THE
PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD TO 100%
DESIGN. THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS
THESE RESOLUTIONS, SDOT WILL BE
PRESENTING TWO ORDINANCES LATER
IN 2025 AND THE ORDINANCE HAS
ALL THE CONDITIONS OF THE
PERMIT. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. DO ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? -- PERTAINING TO
THESE ITEMS? THESE PROPOSED
ITEMS IN THE SOUTH LAKE UNION
AREA? I HEAR COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, GO AHEAD.
>> REAL QUICK, HAVING WORKED
AROUND THESE PROJECTS SINCE
2018, IT'S EXCITING TO SEE
THEM MOVING FORWARD. WE ARE
CENTRALIZING BOTH THE HEATING
AND COOLING AS WELL AS
PROVIDING ACCESS BETWEEN
BUILDINGS. I THINK IT IS SMART.
AND AMY, YOUR PRESENTATIONS ARE
ALWAYS MATTER-OF-FACT. I
APPRECIATE THAT. I'VE GOT NO
ISSUES HERE. I'M HAPPY TO VOTE
IN FAVOR OF THESE.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
COLLEAGUES, ANYONE ELSE? OH,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. OBVIOUSLY,
THIS IS DISTRICT 7. WE HAVE
SEEN OTHER EXAMPLES OF THIS IN
TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, MOVING
FORWARD, WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR
BUILDINGS THAT MUCH SMARTER AND
ENERGY EFFICIENT, AND LIKE
ANYTHING THAT SUPPORTS THAT
PROCESS IS IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW,
PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. HEARING
AND SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES, I MOVE THAT
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
OPTION OF RESOLUTION 32158. IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION
OF RESOLUTION 32158. ARE THERE
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? HEARING
AND SEEING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT
RESOLUTION 32158?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR SAKA?
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FIVE VOTES
IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT, THE MOTION
CARRIES, AND THE RECOMMENDATION
THE COUNCIL ADOPT RESOLUTION
32158 WILL BE SENT TO THE
JANUARY 28th, 2025 SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON. WE TALKED ABOUT BOTH
ITEM NUMBERS ONE AND TWO HAND
IN HAND, BUT DO ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS WITH
RESPECT TO ITEM NUMBER TWO ON
THE AGENDA? KNOW? ALL RIGHT. I
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION ADOPTION OF
RESOLUTION 32159 , IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF
RESOLUTION 32159. ARE THERE ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS? HEARING AND
SEEING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ON THE
RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT
RESOLUTION 32159?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH? CHAIR SAKA?
THERE ARE FIVE VOTES FOR YES,
AND NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE RESOLUTION 32159 WILL BE
SENT TO THE JANUARY 28th, 2025
CITY COUNCIL MEETING. ALL
RIGHT. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO
OUR THIRD ITEM OF BUSINESS,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
3 INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 3, COUNCIL BILL
120846. AN ORDINANCE GRANTING
TRITON WEST LLC PERMISSION TO
MAINTAIN AND OPERATE A PIPELINE
SYSTEM IN, UNDER, ALONG, AND
ACROSS 13th AVENUE SOUTHWEST
AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA STREET,
FOR A TWENTY-YEAR TERM;
REPEALING SECTION 8 OF
ORDINANCE 123990; SPECIFYING
THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THIS
PERMIT IS GRANTED; AND
PROVIDING FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF
THE PERMIT AND CONDITIONS.
>> THANK YOU. AND SAME
PRESENTERS FROM BEFORE, WE HAVE
A NEW PRESENTER. PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND BEGIN
YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> HI, SO THIS COUNCIL BILL
WOULD RENEW THE PERMISSION FOR
THE TRITON WEST PIPELINE SYSTEM
ON HARBOR ISLAND. THIS PIPELINE
WAS ORIGINALLY PERMITTED IN
1947 AND ALLOWS FOR THE
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS TO MOVE
BETWEEN THE SITE AND OIL
STORAGE PLANTS. AS MENTIONED IN
THE INTRODUCTION, IF THE
COUNCIL PASSES THE ORDINANCE
THE PERMIT WILL BE IN EFFECT
FOR 20 YEARS. I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANY OF
MY FELLOW COMMITTEE MEMBERS
HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
HEARING AND SEEING NONE, I WILL
SAY THIS IS A CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT COMMERCE ENABLEMENT
PERMIT THAT HELPS KEEP OUR
COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES
GOING AND COMING ALONG. SO,
THIS IS IN MY DISTRICT, AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING ITS
PASSAGE TODAY. BEFORE WE GET
THERE, I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED PASSAGE
OF COUNCIL BILL 120846. IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 120846. ARE THERE ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE?
>> CHAIR, THANK YOU. I JUST
WANTED TO NOTE, YOU KNOW, THE
VITAL IMPORTANCE OF OUR PORT TO
OUR ECONOMY BOTH TODAY AND INTO
THE FUTURE TO ENSURE THESE
PIECES ARE IN PLACE IS VERY
IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING IT FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU. HEARING AND
SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON RECOMMENDATION TO PASS
COUNCIL BILL 120846?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH?
CHAIR SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> FIVE VOTES IN FAVOR, ZERO
OPPOSED.
>> THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
CARRIES, PASSING COUNCIL BILL
12846 WILL BE SENT TO THE
JANUARY 28th 2025 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO
OUR FOURTH ITEM OF BUSINESS,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER FOUR INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR,
COUNCIL BILL 120924, AN
ORDINANCE GRANTING PIKE PLACE
MARKET DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
PERMISSION TO MAINTAINING AND
OPERATING A PEDESTRIAN SKY
BRIDGE OVER AND ACROSS WESTERN
AVENUE, APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET
NORTH OF PIKE STREET, REPEALING
SECTION 7 OF ORDINANCE 114388
AND PROVIDING FOR ACCEPTANCE OF
PERMIT CONDITIONS.
>> SKY BRIDGE PERMIT, THIS IS
ANOTHER RENEWAL FROM LAST MONTH
AS NOTED. WILL THE PRESENTERS
PLEASE GIVE A VERY LIGHT
BRIEFING UPDATE ON THIS
PROPOSAL?
>> THANK YOU. THIS COUNCIL BILL
WOULD RE-PERMIT AN EXPIRED SKY
BRIDGE PERMIT AT THE MARKET
THAT WAS ORIGINALLY GRANTED IN
1989. A NEW PERMIT WOULD BE FOR
15 YEARS WITH ONE RENEWABLE 15
YEAR TERM. WHEN A SKY BRIDGE
PERMIT REACHES THE END OF A 30
YEAR TERM, SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE PROVIDES A PUBLIC CODE FOR
THE CONTINUED USE. PIPE LEASE
MARKET PUBLIC BENEFIT IS AN
ELEVATOR UPGRADE SYSTEM TO
REPLACE ONE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY
INSTALLED IN THE 1980s THAT IS
FASTER AND CAN ACCOMMODATE MORE
PASSENGERS, REPLACING THE FIRE
ESCAPE STAIRS TO MAKE THEM
WIDER AND ADA COMPLIANT, AND
THE INSTALLATION OF RACKS. AT
THE END OF THE FIRST 15 YEAR
TERM THERE IS [ INAUDIBLE ] TO
MAKE SURE THE SKY BRIDGE IS
CONTINUING TO BE USED IN THE
WAY IT WAS ORIGINALLY GRANTED
AND UPDATE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
FOR A SECOND 15 YEAR TERM. I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. DO ANY OF MY
FELLOW COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
HEARING AND -- MEMBER KETTLE,
GO AHEAD.
>> I WILL DEFER TO MY
COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, HE WAS LIFTING UP HIS
MICROPHONE IN A MANNER I THINK
HE WANTED TO GO FIRST.
>> GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> I WAS GOING BACK AND FORTH.
I LOVE THE SKY BRIDGE. I USED
IT MY ENTIRE LIFE. IT WAS BUILT
AFTER I WAS BORN. I WAS GETTING
INTO NERD ALERT HERE, IS IT A
STRICT ONE OR DISTRICT 7? I
THINK IT'S DISTRICT 7.
>> DISTRICT 7, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. I WAS MAKING SURE
I WASN'T LOSING MY MARBLES.
THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. ALL RIGHT,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. YOU KNOW,
THESE CONNECTIONS ARE VERY
IMPORTANT. NOT JUST THE SKY
BRIDGE BUT OBVIOUSLY THE
OVERLOOK WALK WHICH IS THE
BIGGEST BRIDGE, SKY BRIDGE
THERE IS. IT'S A HUGE ADDITION
TO THE PIKE PLACE COMMUNITY.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
NEED TO LOOK TO IS CONNECTING
WESTERN AND NOW ALASKAN WAY TO
THE PIKE PLACE MARKET, SEE WHAT
OPPORTUNITIES EXIST. AND I JUST
WANTED TO ADD AS WELL THAT I
DID MEET WITH OUR NEW PIKE
PLACE MARKET EXEC PDA EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, RACHEL, AND SDOT
DIRECTOR , AND WE SET UP, YOU
KNOW, A MEETING TO HAPPEN. WE
HAD OUR INITIAL MEETING. WE
BASICALLY WENT TO PIKE PLACE.
SO, SDOT AND PIKE LEASE MARKET
ARE WORKING ON IT, THE ISSUES
RELATED TO PIKE PLACE. WE WILL
CONVENE A STAKEHOLDER MEETING,
A CONFERENCE, IF YOU WILL, IN
EARLY APRIL. I DON'T WANT TO
GIVE THE EXACT DATE BECAUSE IT
IS SHIFTING TO THE LEFT.
BASICALLY, THE FIRST WEEK OF
APRIL WE BRING IN THE
STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY WHAT
WE CAN DO, YOU KNOW, TO FURTHER
PIKE PLACE, THE STREET, IN
TERMS OF FOR THE CITY BUT ALSO
THE MARKET AND THE CITY OVER
ALL. I'M REALLY ENCOURAGED
FROM THAT FIRST MEETING WITH
DIRECTOR SPONSORED AND DIRECTOR
LIKE BURKE. AGAIN, WE WILL HAVE
THIS MEETING IN EARLY APRIL,
AND I HAVE ALREADY PUT
INVITATIONS OUT TO SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAYS. WE WILL
ALSO HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
THERE FOR THOSE WHO REMEMBER
THIS DISCUSSION AND OTHER KEY
STAKEHOLDERS. AND I THINK AT
THE END OF THIS WE ARE GOING TO
COME OUT WITH A GREAT WAY AHEAD
FOR PIKE PLACE. I BRING THIS UP
NOW BECAUSE I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT. IT ALSO TIES INTO
THIS PIECE BECAUSE I THINK
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, YOU
KNOW, TO THINK OF WESTERN, TO
THINK OF ALASKAN WAY NOW IN A
WAY WE DIDN'T BEFORE BECAUSE
OF THE OVERLOOK WALK. THIS SKY
BRIDGE WILL BE PART OF THAT
STORY, TOO. THANK YOU.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS HERE,
AND ALSO COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
YOU ARE RIGHT TO ASK THE
QUESTION WHICH COUNCIL DISTRICT
IS IT IN, AND GOVERNING
PARTNERS AT SDOT KNOW AT THE
BEGINNING OF EACH OF THESE
BRIEFINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE
EACH OF US -- I WOULD LIKE TO
INCLUDE WHERE THE GEOGRAPHIC
COUNCIL DISTRICT THESE PROPOSED
PERMITS ARE GOING FOR THE
ONGOING BASIS. YES, THIS IS
DEFINITELY DISTRICT 7.
>> CHAIR, JUST TO SAY, I KNOW
THE BORDERS CHANGED DOWN AND
AROUND CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT AND PIONEER SQUARE. I
HAD MYSELF SECOND-GUESSING TO
GO ALL THE WAY UP THE
WATERFRONT OR NOT. I KNOW
THINGS CHANGE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
>> CHAIR, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO
REMEMBER THE FERRY TERMINALS IN
DISTRICT 7. IF YOU ARE PAYING
FOR YOUR TICKET , YOU ARE IN
DISTRICT 1.
>> THERE IT IS, THERE IT IS.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, DO ANY OF MY
FELLOW COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? HEARING AND SEEING
NONE, I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDED PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 120924, IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 120924. ARE THERE ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS? HEARING AND
SEEING NONE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ON THE
RECOMMENDATION TO PASS THE BILL
120924?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? VICE
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH, CHAIR,
THERE ARE FIVE VOTES IN FAVOR
AND ZERO OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES, THE
COUNCIL PASSED 012-9120, WE
STAND -- WE SEND TO THE NEXT
COUNCIL MEETING. WE MOVE ON TO
OUR FIFTH ITEM OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE ITEM
NUMBER FIVE INTO THE RECORD,
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
PRESENTATION.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. AND
WILL OUR NEW PRESENTERS PLEASE
JOIN US AT THE TABLE AND SHARE
YOUR PRESENTATION? ONCE READY,
PLEASE ALSO DO INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. I
AM SARAH COLLING. I AM THE
SCHOOL PROGRAM MANAGER AT SDOT.
>> I AM ASHLEY READ. I MANAGED
THE PREP TEAM.
>> BILL LABORDE FROM SDOT,
PLAYING ADA SUPPORT .
>> ALL RIGHT, VITAL ROLE.
>> OKAY. SO WE WILL BE
PRESENTING AN OVERVIEW OF OUR
PROGRAM, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL,
AND WHAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARD
IS MAKING IT SAFER AND EASIER
FOR MORE KIDS TO WALK AND BIKE
TO SCHOOL. AND WE ARE ALIGNED
WITH SDOT'S VISION AND MISSION
VALUES HERE. AND WE ARE
PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON THESE
CORE VALUES OF EQUITY, SAFETY,
MOBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY.
SO, TODAY, THE PURPOSE IS TO
DIVE DEEPER. I KNOW MANY OF YOU
HAVE HEARD TO SAFE ROUTES TO
SCHOOL ON A HIGHER-LEVEL. WE
CAN DIVE INTO THE HOW WE MAKE
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL. SO, WE
WILL COVER WHY SAFE ROUTES TO
SCHOOL, WHAT DO WE DO? GOING TO
SOME INFRASTRUCTURE HIGHLIGHTS
AND PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS, AND
THEN ALSO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS
COMING FOR SAFE ROUTE TO
SCHOOL, AND DOES IT WORK ?
THERE'S A SPOILER, YES, IT
DOES WORK. OKAY, SO THE WIFE
ARE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL. WE
DEVELOPED THIS GRAPHIC IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH SAFE ROUTE TO
SCHOOLS TO SHOW HOW WE ARE
WORKING HOLISTICALLY TO SUPPORT
THE BIG PICTURE ENVIRONMENT
AROUND STUDENTS TO MAKE IT SAFE
AND EASY FOR THEM. SO, YOU CAN
SEE EXAMPLES, SPEED HUMPS TO
SLOW PEOPLE DOWN, MARKED
CROSSWALKS AND SIGNS. WE HAVE
CROSSING GUARDS AND BIKE RACKS.
EVEN IN THE BACK THERE IS A
TRAFFIC GARDEN AND PE CLASS
WHERE STUDENTS ARE LEARNING HOW
TO RIDE BIKES. SO, WE ARE IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS ON ALL OF THESE THINGS
TO CREATE SAFE AND WELCOMING
SCHOOLS. A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE
RECEIVED THE VISIONS FOR YOUTH
AWARD. VISION ZERO AS YOU
LIKELY KNOW IS THE GOAL TO
ELIMINATE TRAFFIC DEATHS AND
SERIOUS INJURIES BY 2030. AND
SO, WE RECEIVED THIS AWARD
BECAUSE OF BOTH OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE WORK AND OUR
PROGRAMMING WORK COMING
TOGETHER. AND SO, THIS IS THE
HOW. WE USE THE SAFE SYSTEMS
APPROACH. THIS IS A NATIONALLY
RECOGNIZED APPROACH. MOST ALL
PROGRAMS AT SDOT ARE FOCUSED ON
THE SAFER ROADS IN THE SAFER
SPEEDS FACETS , AND SOMETHING
THAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT SAFE
ROUTES TO SCHOOL, WE ARE ALSO
FOCUSED ON THE SAFE ROUTES FOR
PEOPLE. HOW DO WE FIT INTO THE
LEVY? THAT WAS OUR BOOKLET. FOR
THE MOVE SEATTLE LEVY WE
DELIVERED TO EVERY SCHOOL IN
THE CITY, THAT'S OVER 100
SCHOOL BUILDINGS. AND WITH THIS
NEW LEVY, WE ARE CONTRIBUTING
TO AT LEAST 70 PROJECTS TO
IMPROVE SAFETY AND FUND SAFETY
EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. AND SO, WE GET AN
AVERAGE OF 1.75 MILLION PER
YEAR IN NEW LEVY FUNDING WHICH
IS A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THE
PREVIOUS LEVY. AND WE ALSO
RECEIVE A RANGE BETWEEN 1
MILLION AND 6 MILLION FROM THE
SCHOOL ZONE SAFETY CAMERAS.
OKAY. SO, THIS SHOWS THE RANGE
OF OUR WORK FOR SAFE ROUTES TO
SCHOOL. WE HAVE A LOT OF
FLEXIBILITY WHERE WE ARE DOING
ANY SORT OF INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECT THAT SUPPORTS KIDS
WALKING AND BIKING WHICH COULD
BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
JUST TO GET A TASTE OF IT LAST
YEAR, WE ENDED UP HAVING OUR
PROJECTS FALL INTO THREE
BUCKETS. SO FIRST, YOU CAN SEE
THE SCHOOLS LISTED THAT HAD
CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS. AND
SECOND, YOU CAN SEE THE SCHOOLS
LISTED THAT HAD TRAFFIC
CALMING. THEN THIRD, YOU CAN
SEE THE SCHOOLS THAT HAD PLACE
MAKING. SO, DIVING INTO ONE OF
THESE TRAFFIC PROJECTS, THIS
WAS IN GREENWOOD. AND IT IS --
IT WAS A PROJECT ON THIRD
AVENUE NORTHWEST WHERE I'M
SURE COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, YOU
KNOW FOR A VERY LONG TIME THERE
WAS NO TRAFFIC COMING ALONG THE
STREET FOR A VERY LONG STRETCH.
AND SO, THIS PROJECT BROUGHT IN
BOTH MARCH CROSSWALKS AND
CROSSWALK DAYLIGHTING SO
PARKING IS PULLED BACK. IT'S
EASIER TO SEE PEOPLE IF THEY
ARE WAITING TO CROSS AS WELL AS
SPEED CUSHIONS. AND WE HAVE
COLLECTED DATA ON SPEED
CUSHIONS OVER PAST PROJECTS,
AND WE HAVE SEEN A 21%
REDUCTION IN SPEEDS AFTER WE
PUT SPEED CUSHIONS IN ON
MATERIALS. AND GREENWOOD
ELEMENTARY IN PARTICULAR HAS
VERY HIGH WALKING AND BIKING
RATES AT ABOUT 60%. SO IT FEELS
REALLY GOOD TO BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT KIDS AS THEY ARE
GETTING TO SCHOOL ESPECIALLY
ACROSS THIS BUSY STREET.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS IN WEST
SEATTLE, THIS IS GENESEE HILL
ELEMENTARY. YOU CAN SEE A
BEFORE AND AFTER HERE FOR OUR
SCHOOL STREETS PROGRAM. SO
BEFORE, A BU WOULD DRIVE ON THE
STREET AND NOT EVEN NOTICE
THERE IS A SCHOOL RIGHT THERE.
AND AFTER, WE MAKE IT VERY
CLEAR THAT THERE IS SOMETHING
SPECIAL GOING ON ON THIS
STREET. SO SCHOOL STREETS, THE
WALK NEXT TO THE SCHOOL IS
CLOSED TO THROUGH TRAFFIC. ANY
IDEAS TO PRIORITIZE THE SPACE
FOR KIDS WHO ARE WALKING BACK
AND FORTH TO SCHOOL. AND FOR
THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WE GOT
TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE
SCHOOL. THE ART TEACHER HAD
KIDS DURING CLASS TIME
DESIGNING THE ART THAT WENT
INTO THE STREET. AND THIS IS A
CANDID PHOTO OF THESE TWO KIDS
WATCHING AS WAS BEING
INSTALLED. SO IT'S PRETTY COOL
TO SEE KIDS EXCITED ABOUT
SEEING THEIR OWN WORK IN THE
STREET AND FEEL THIS OWNERSHIP
OVER THE SPACE. SO, HOW DO WE
CHOOSE PROJECTS? WE HAVE A
FORMALIZED SCHOOL RANKING. WE
WILL BE RERUNNING THIS ANALYSIS
NOW THAT WE HAVE THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN. BUT WITHIN
THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION PLAN
WE WILL BE ABLE TO RANK SCHOOLS
IN PRIORITY ORDER BY EQUITY,
SAFETY, AND THE INFRA STRUCTURE
NEEDS NEAR THE SCHOOL. AND THEN
WITHIN THAT, WE SELECT PROJECTS
BASED ON MANY FACTORS. ONE IS
WE WORK WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS TO KNOW WHERE STUDENTS
ACTUALLY LIVE SO WE ARE SERVING
A LOT OF KIDS. WE ALSO USE
COLLISION DATA. WE COLLECT
ANNUAL SPEED DATA SO WE KNOW
WHAT THE SAFETY NEEDS ARE. WE
DO DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH
SCHOOLS, SOMETIMES EVEN
DIRECTLY IN THE CLASSROOM, THEN
SOMETIMES THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY. WE CAN HAVE A WALK
IN SCHOOL BUS WITH GROUPS OF
FAMILIES WALKING TOGETHER. IF
THERE'S A CROSSING THAT FEELS
UNCOMFORTABLE, WE WANT TO
PRIORITIZE THAT. OKAY. SO, THAT
WAS A LOT ABOUT THE
INFRASTRUCTURE. NOW I WILL
SHIFT OVER TO THE PROGRAMMING.
THIS IS THE PEOPLE PIECE OF
SAFE CROSSING TO SCHOOL.
>> OKAY. SO, I MENTIONED THIS
PARTNERSHIP WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. WE HAVE -- WE FUND THE
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
COORDINATOR WHO IS DIRECTLY OUT
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND
BROOKE IS ACTUALLY HERE IN THE
AUDIENCE. HAVING THAT
CONNECTION WITHIN SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS INVALUABLE.
IT HAS BEEN A WINDFALL SINCE
THAT POSITION HAS BEEN ACTIVE
THE PAST COUPLE YEARS. YOU CAN
SEE BROOKE IS HERE LEADING A
WALK IN BIKE PARTY. SO, WE DO A
PROGRAM MEETING LIKE THAT
DIRECTLY WITH BROOKE. WE ALSO
DO A LOT TO SUPPORT WALKING
SCHOOL BUSES AND BIKE BUSES. WE
DO IN CLASSROOM ENGAGEMENT, AND
WE TRY TO GIVE PEOPLE THE
CHANCE TO RUN WITH THEIR OWN
IDEAS. SO, WE HAVE PACKAGES
WHERE WE GET OUT SUPPLIES
REFLECTORS, LIGHTS OR HELMETS,
SO IF PEOPLE WANT TO DO THEIR
OWN BIKE BUS, WE CAN SUPPORT
THEM. WE ALSO HAVE MANY GRANTS
UP TO $1000. YOU CAN SEE IN
THIS PICTURE, CHAIR SAKA IS IN
THE PICTURE. HE WAS SUPPORTING
STUDENTS AT DENNY INTERNATIONAL
MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND STUDENTS
ACTUALLY WORKED TOGETHER TO
APPLY FOR A MINI GRANT ON THEIR
OWN, AND THEY LED A WALK TO
SCHOOL DAY. THEY DESIGNED AND
PRINTED THESE T-SHIRTS, AND
THEY USE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR
ALL OF THAT. WE ALSO FUND BIG
PROGRAMS. THIS IS PRETTY UNIQUE
TO SEATTLE. I THINK IT IS THE
BIGGEST IN THE COUNTRY WHERE
IT'S CALLED THE LET'S GO BIKE
AND EDUCATION PROGRAM. AND WE
ARE FUNDING SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS TO TEACH KIDS HOW TO
RIDE A BIKE IN ALL THE FOURTH,
FIFTH, SIXTH, SEVENTH AND
EIGHTH GRADE PE CLASSES. THIS
ALSO INCLUDES A PARTNERSHIP
WITH OUTDOORS FOR ALL. THEY
BRING IN ADAPTIVE BIKES SO WE
CAN INCLUDE ALL KIDS. AND SO,
HERE'S A COUPLE HIGHLIGHTS FOR
WHAT IS COMING FOR SAFE ROUTES
TO SCHOOL. THIS PROJECT ON THE
LEFT IS THE HENDERSON SCHOOL
SAFETY PROJECT. THIS IS IN
RAINIER BEACH. IT'S A TWO-WAY
PROTECTED BIKE LANE THAT WILL
CONNECT THREE OR ACTUALLY FOUR
SCHOOLS IN RAINIER BEACH. IT
WILL ACTUALLY CONNECT EACH
LIGHT RAIL STATION TO THE PARK
IN WASHINGTON. AND THEN ON THE
RIGHT IS THE PATH, AND
CURRENTLY, WHAT IS HERE IS A
NARROW SUBSTANDARD SPACE FOR
WALKING. AND SO, THIS WILL BE A
NICE, WIDE SIDEWALK THAT WILL
HAVE SPACE FOR BOTH PEOPLE
WALKING AND PEOPLE BIKING. IT
WILL CONNECT JAMES BALDWIN
ELEMENTARY UP TO NORTH AKERS
PARK. THEN IT WILL ALSO CONNECT
TO THE NEW LIGHT RAIL STATION
THAT IS COMING IN ON 1/30. SO,
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL, WE DO
SEE AN INCREASE IN WALKING AND
BIKING. FOR THE PAST TWO
DECADES WE HAVE DOUBLED OUR
WALKING AND BIKING RATES TO
SCHOOL. SEATTLE HAS A CLIMATE
GOAL TO HAVE 90% OF PEOPLE
TAKING PERSONAL TRIPS IN A
FOSSIL FUEL FREE WAY. SO WE DO
HAVE A WAYS TO GO, BUT WE ARE
EXCITED TO SEE THE PROGRESS.
AND THIS IS A VIDEO THAT JUST
SHOWS ALL OF THE SAFE SYSTEMS ,
THE SAFE SYSTEMS APPROACH
COMING TOGETHER. SO, THIS IS A
BIKE BUS OF STUDENTS, FAMILY
AND STAFF WRITING TO SCHOOL
TOGETHER IN RAINIER BEACH. YOU
CAN SEE THEY ARE WRITING HERE
ON THE STREET THAT HAS TRAFFIC
COMBING. I WAS, AFTER I TOOK
THIS VIDEO, I WAS WALKING WITH
THE ELEMENTARY PE TEACHER. AND
SHE SAID, I TAUGHT THAT KID HOW
TO RIDE A BIKE. SO, IT WAS COOL
TO SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE COMING
TOGETHER THROUGH THE LET'S GO
PROGRAM. SHE WAS ABLE TO TEACH
A STUDENT HOW TO RIDE THEIR
BIKE. THEY WERE ABLE TO RIDE IN
AN ORGANIZED GROUP TOGETHER ON
A HEALTHY STREET THAT SUPPORTS
THEM WRITING SAFELY. AND YOU
CAN SEE BACK HERE THAT EVEN
THEIR PRINCIPAL IS WRITING
ALONG WITH THEM. AND AT DUNLAP,
WE SAW A NICE INCREASE IN
WALKING AND BIKING AFTER THE
EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING SUPPORT.
AND THAT IS IT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THIS
PRESENTATION. I LOVE THE LAST
VIDEO OF THE KIDS, OF THE GROUP
ROLLING ON INTO SCHOOL , AND
REALLY LIKE THE IMAGE OF THE
UNICYCLE LIST, ONE WHEEL, THERE
IS ALWAYS SOMEONE IN EVERY
GROUP THAT TRIES TO OUTSHINE,
ONE FOR EVERYBODY, SO SHOUT OUT
TO THE UNICYCLE LIST. YOU'VE
GOT TWO WHEELS? I ONLY NEED
ONE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> THAT WAS COOL. THANK YOU,
REALLY TERRIFIC WORK HERE.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS? GO
AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> MAY I JUMP IN? I WANT TO
START AND END THIS PRESENTATION
WITH APPRECIATION FOR YOUR
WORK. YOU HIGHLIGHTED SOME
INTERSECTIONS I CROSSED AS A
STUDENT THAT WERE NOT AS SAFE
AS THEY COULD BE. I WILL ALSO
SHARE SOME CHALLENGES WITH THIS
WORK, NAMELY ON 65th AND ON
THIRD, I HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR
SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS FOR QUITE
SOME TIME. ON 65th THEY WERE A
LITTLE MORE THAN I EXPECTED BUT
EITHER WAY, IT GOT PUT IN
WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO ME. AND
SO, THE OUTCOME WAS THAT
NEIGHBORS, HAPPY AND ANGRY,
WERE THE ONES GIVING ME THE
ALERT THAT SDOT HAD DONE WORK
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. RIGHT?
THEN IN THAT CASE WITHOUT
HAVING MORE INFORMATION ALL I
CAN SAY TO MY RESIDENCE IS, I
DON'T KNOW WHAT SDOT WAS
THINKING. AND THAT ISN'T GOOD.
YOU KNOW? THIRD IN PARTICULAR,
I HAD ASKED FOR THOSE SAFE
CROSSINGS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS
AT THAT POINT. AND WHILE I
WASN'T EXPECTING THE SPEED
HUMPS, I KNOW SOME NEIGHBORS
REALLY DON'T LIKE THEM. I JUST
CHANGED MY TRAVEL HABITS. I NOW
USE 8th AVENUE, I THINK THAT'S
IN PART WHAT THEY ARE DESIGNED
FOR. THAT'S AN OUTCOME. AGAIN,
IT IS SOMETHING I ASKED FOR FOR
A LONG TIME. THE WAY I FOUND
OUT ABOUT IT WAS SOME NEIGHBORS
WERE HAPPY AND SOME NEIGHBORS
WERE UPSET. THERE WERE A COUPLE
INTERSECTIONS THAT HAD MISSED
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL
SAFE CROSSINGS THAT HAD BEEN
REQUESTED BY THE COMMUNITY FOR
A LONG TIME. SO, AGAIN,
APPRECIATION FOR YOUR WORK
BECAUSE YOU ARE MAKING IT SAFER
FOR KIDS TO GET TO SCHOOL,
RIGHT? AND THAT IS PARAMOUNT.
THE ISSUE THAT I HAVE IS THE
COMMUNICATION . I KNOW WE ARE
NOW ENTERING OUR 11th YEAR OF
DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE
FIRST FOUR YEARS WERE CITYWIDE
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT SAT IN
DISTRICT SEATS. THEN THE LAST
EIGHT YEARS OR SO HAS BEEN MORE
OF THAT TRANSITION, MORE AND
MORE INTO THE COMMUNITY, I TELL
YOU THESE ELECTED
COUNCILMEMBERS WERE DEEPER AND
DEEPER INTO THE COMMUNITY. SO
MANY PEOPLE HAVE MY PERSONAL
CELL PHONE NUMBER, RIGHT? SO,
THIS IS ALSO IN PART ABOUT
THIRD AVENUE WAS WHY I PASSED A
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT
AS PART OF THE BUDGET
REQUESTING WHAT WAS THE FORMAL
COMMUNICATION STANDARD FOR
PROJECTS IN THE DISTRICT
BECAUSE I WAS NOT GETTING THE
ACTION THAT I HAD WANTED TO SEE
ON THIRD AVENUE, THEN ALL THE
SUDDEN IT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW? I
AM RELIEVED FOR THE CROSSINGS,
AND AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK
THAT WE MISSED A COUPLE
OPPORTUNITIES. SO, I WILL GO
BACK TO AGAIN, MY QUESTION IS,
WHAT SHOULD WE AS DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBERS EXPECT FOR
COMMUNICATION ABOUT PROJECTS?
HOW CAN WE SUPPORT YOU IN
MAKING SURE KIDS GET TO SCHOOL
SAFELY, AND I'M GOING TO AGAIN
END WITH, I'M SO APPRECIATIVE
OF YOUR WORK BECAUSE IT IS
CRITICAL, THE QUESTION ABOUT
COMMUNICATION COMES DOWN TO,
HOW DO WE DO THIS BETTER? HOW
DO WE INSTILL CONFIDENCE
AMONGST OUR RESIDENTS WHETHER
THEY ARE HAPPY OR SAD ABOUT THE
CHANGE? THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS.
>> YEAH. I THINK THAT IS FAIR.
YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SURPRISED
BY SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY IF IT
WAS SOMETHING YOU WERE PART OF
FROM THE START. YOU WANT TO
KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS AND WHY.
SO, YEAH. I THINK WE CAN
DEFINITELY TAKE THAT FEEDBACK
BACK. IF THERE IS A PROJECT
LIKE THAT IN THE FUTURE, WE
WILL MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE AS
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU. I MEAN BECAUSE
BOTH 65th AND OCCURRED IN THE
SAME DISTRICT. CANDIDLY, IT
WENT FURTHER THAN I EXPECTED.
SO THAT WAS HARD FOR ME TO TALK
ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SDOT'S
PERSPECTIVE WAS. I WAS
EXPECTING JUST CROSSINGS. THERE
WAS COMBING AND CROSSINGS. I
KNOW ADAMS WAS LISTED UNDER
BOTH. AND IF YOU WANT TO GO
BACK TO THE SLIDE WITH THE
CROSSINGS , IT WAS ON THIRD. IT
WAS LIKE 10, I BELIEVE. I THINK
SO. NOT SURE WHAT THAT PAGE
NUMBER --
>> RIGHT, YEAH, IT'S LISTED
UNDER THAT FOR THAT REASON.
>> SO, FOR US, I THINK IT'S
MANAGING OUR EXPECTATIONS. I
WAS EXPECTING CROSSINGS. WE GOT
HUMPS AS WELL. AND THEN HOW DO
I -- HOW DO YOU SET ME UP WITH
ALL THE INFORMATION POSSIBLE SO
THAT WHEN ALL OF THE NEIGHBORS,
HAPPY AND SAD, FRUSTRATED OR
GLAD TO HAVE MY PHONE NUMBER,
HOW AM I SET UP TO SUPPORT YOUR
WORK? THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> YEAH, I CAN ADD ABOUT ON
65th AND THIRD SPECIFICALLY WHY
WE DID TRAFFIC CALMING AS WELL
AS ADDING CROSSINGS, SO WE USE
DIFFERENT STANDARDS AND
GUIDELINES TO DETERMINE WHAT AN
APPROPRIATE SCOPE IS WHEN WE
ARE MAKING A CROSSING
IMPROVEMENT. THAT IS BASED ON
VEHICLE SPEEDS AND VOLUMES. SO
IF WE ARE SEEING VOLUMES THAT
ARE TOO HIGH OR SPEEDS TO HIGH
TO PUT IN JUST A MARCH
CROSSWALK WITHOUT ANY
ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS, WE
NEED TO TAKE THE ADDITIONAL
STEP AND SLOW DOWN PEOPLE WHO
ARE DRIVING THROUGH THE
CORRIDOR'S SO WHEN KIDS ARE
CROSSING THE STREET THERE IS
BETTER STOP COMPLIANCE FOR THEM
SO IT'S A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR
THEM.
>> THAT'S NOT TO SAY WE
SHOULDN'T COMMUNICATE ABOUT
IT, BUT THAT'S JUST HOW IT
BECAME MORE THAN A CROSSING.
>> THANK YOU, THAT IS HELPFUL
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT
GOING TO GET TOO FAR INTO THIS.
FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO
COMMUNICATE THAT WITH THE
RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT SIX,
THERE WAS CONFUSION AS TO WHY
THERE WAS A SPEED HUMP UPHILL
AFTER THE CROSSWALK. RIGHT? WE
DON'T NEED TO GET INTO THE MY
NEW SHOW HERE, BUT I HEAR YOUR
HIGH-LEVEL PERSPECTIVE ON THAT,
AND I AGREE WITH THAT. IT IS
SOMETHING WE WANT TO DO . WHEN
THAT IS FACED WITH AN UPHILL
SPEED HUMP AFTER THE CROSSWALK,
I THINK THERE IS INTUITIVE
MISUNDERSTANDINGS OR --
>> I COULD ADD A COUPLE MORE
THINGS. IN TERMS OF 65th, WE
HAD TALKED ABOUT INSTALLING 20
MILE-PER-HOUR FLASHING BEACONS.
THE REASON WHY WE SHIFTED TO
SPEED HUMPS OR SPEED CUSHIONS
ON 65th IS BECAUSE WE FOUND
THAT THE TRAFFIC CALMING
BENEFIT WITH FASHION BEACONS IS
DURING THE MORNING ARRIVALS TO
SCHOOL TIMES AND THE AFTERNOON
DISMISSAL TIMES WHEN THE
BEACONS ARE FLASHING. THE REST
OF THE TIME DURING THE DAY AND
OTHER TIMES OF YEAR THE BEACONS
ARE NOT FLASHING. SO THE
COMMUNITY DOES NOT HAVE THE
TRAFFIC CALMING BENEFIT 365
DAYS, 24 HOURS A DAY, AND ADAMS
IS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUT
THERE'S ALSO A PARK AND
COMMUNITY CENTER THERE. SO WE
KNOW THAT YOUNG CHILDREN WITH
THEIR PARENTS ARE WALKING TO
THE PARK, YOU KNOW, WHEN OLDER
SIBLINGS AND OLDER KIDS ARE AT
SCHOOL. SO WE WANTED TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE WERE PROVIDING
THAT 24/7 TRAFFIC CALMING
BENEFIT. THAT WAS SOMETHING WE
LOOKED BACK WITH THE SCHOOL AND
DISCUSSED WITH THEM, YOU KNOW,
WHAT ARE DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR
WHAT WE COULD DO ON 65th? THERE
ARE PROS AND CONS OF DIFFERENT
OPTIONS. SO WE SETTLED ON THE
CHANGE SCOPE. AND THE REASON
WHY THE SPEED CUSHIONS ARE KIND
OF ON THE UPHILL SIDE OF THE
WESTERNMOST -- BOTH THE EAST
AND WEST, THE 26th AND 28
CROSSINGS IS BECAUSE WE PUT THE
SPEED CUSHIONS ALL THE WAY
ACROSS THE WHOLE STREET. SO
WHEN YOU ARE GOING WESTBOUND
YOU GO OVER SPEED CUSHIONS
BEFORE YOU GET TO THE
CROSSWALK. AND WHEN YOU ARE
GOING EASTBOUND YOU GO OVER A
SPEED CUSHION BEFORE YOU GET TO
THE CROSSWALK. AND SO, BECAUSE
WE PUT IT ACROSS THE ENTIRE
STREET BOTH EAST AND WEST
DIRECTIONS, YOU ARE GOING TO
AGAIN GO AFTER A SPEED CUSHION
AFTER YOU PASSED THE LAST
CROSSWALK WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING
AWAY FROM -- IF THAT MAKES
SENSE. I NEED A DIAGRAM TO
BETTER ILLUSTRATE THAT. IT'S
ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE WE DON'T
PUT IT IN THE DIRECTION OF
TRAVEL. WE PUT IT ACROSS THE
WHOLE STREET BECAUSE WE
WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE DRIVERS
DRIVE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION
TO GET AROUND THE SPEED
CUSHION, SO WE ARE CONSIDERING
DRIVER BEHAVIOR IN THE
PLACEMENT OF THE SPEED CUSHION.
SO, THEY GO -- ACROSS BOTH
DIRECTIONS OF TRAVEL. -- IF
THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> SO ONE OF THE ISSUES I HAD
WAS WE GOT FLASHING BEACONS,
AND WE GOT SPEED CUSHIONS. SO
AGAIN, IT'S THE COMMUNICATION
THAT IS THE ISSUE. BECAUSE IF
YOU HAD -- IF I HAD KNOWN THAT
WHEN ALL THE NEIGHBORS WHO, YOU
KNOW, SOMEWHERE HAPPY, SOME
WERE FRUSTRATED. IF THAT HAD
BEEN SHARED WITH ME I WOULD BE
ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WHACKING
THAT, THERE IS -- IT LOOKS --
IT DOESN'T LOOK INTUITIVE,
RIGHT?
>> WE UNDERSTAND THAT. YOU
KNOW, WE APPRECIATE YOU AS AN
ALLY WITH SAFE ROUTES TO
SCHOOL. SO WE WANT TO SUPPORT
THAT RELATIONSHIP AND
COMMUNICATION, SO WE DEFINITELY
WILL IMPROVE ON THAT NEXT TIME.
>> I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY
TIME I HAVE RUN ACROSS THAT
INTERSECTION. I MEAN, IT WAS
NOT A SAFE PLACE TO CROSS. SO,
I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO COMMUNICATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. I APPRECIATE YOUR
FEEDBACK THERE AND YOUR
COMMENTS. I THINK WE ARE VERY
INSIGHTFUL, FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, AND I THINK THE
GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD
UNDERSTAND , YOU KNOW, TAKING A
STEP BACK, I'M NOT TALKING
ABOUT THE SPECIFIC FEEDBACK,
YOU KNOW, THIRD AVENUE AND YOUR
DISTRICT, BUT YOUR COMMENTS YOU
MENTIONED AT THE OUTSET IN
TERMS OF THE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE
AND SHIFT OF DYNAMICS WE HAVE
ON THIS COUNCIL, AND BECAUSE OF
THE SYSTEM WE HAVE IN PLACE
TODAY, YOU APTLY NOTED THE
DISTRICT-BASED SYSTEM HAS BEEN
IN PLACE NOW ON APRIL FOR 11
YEARS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
YEAH. SO, FOR A WHILE, THAT
SAID, THE OG'S WHO WERE ONCE
CITYWIDE INHERITED THAT AND
THEN MOVED TO A DISTRICT, THEY
WERE ELECTED ON A
DISTRICT-BASED SYSTEM BUT THERE
WERE STILL LEGACY HOLDOVERS OF
THE SYSTEM, AND SO, THEY ALSO
RETAIN THE POWER OF INCUMBENCY
WHEN THEY RAN FOR REELECTION.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WITH TWO
THIRDS NEW COUNCILMEMBERS WHERE
WE ARE ALL STARTING OUT FRESH,
THE NEWLY ELECTED 2023,
STARTING OUT FRESH, WERE
ELECTED PURELY UNDER THE
DISTRICT-BASED SYSTEM, YOU
KNOW? LAYER THAT WITH MEMBERS
LIKE COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WHO
CARES DEEPLY, DEEPLY CONNECTED
TO HIS OWN COMMUNITY, IT'S --
IT'S A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN
DYNAMICS. AND I THINK IT
HIGHLIGHTS THE CONTINUING,
ONGOING NEED AND RESPONSIBILITY
THAT WE HAVE AS INDIVIDUAL
COUNCILMEMBERS AND OUR
COLLEAGUES AND PARTNERS AT
SDOT, AND EVERY OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENT AND AGENCY AS WELL
TO HAVE CLOSER, TIGHTER
COMMUNICATIONS AND
COLLABORATIONS WITH RESPECT TO,
YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON IN
OUR DISTRICT. AND WE ALL HAVE
DIFFERENT VIEWS AND
PHILOSOPHIES ON WHAT THAT
IDEALLY SHOULD LOOK LIKE, AND T
INFORMATION WE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND, BUT WE DO NEED TO
UNDERSTAND IT , AND THE RIGHT
ANSWER IS WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS THINKS IS APPROPRIATE
FOR HIS DISTRICT IN TERMS OF
HOW HE WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE
AND HEAR INFORMATION, AND I
THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF
A RECKONING THAT MANY EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENTS ARE HAVING THIS
PAST YEAR WITH HOW TO BEST
COMMUNICATE AND ENGAGE WITH
THIS FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN
DYNAMICS ON THIS COUNCIL, AND
THEY HAVE WORKED HARD TO DO IT,
AND I APPRECIATE SDOT. YOUR IN
PARTICULAR, YOUR WORK TOWARDS
-- TOWARDS HELPING TO ENSURE WE
HAVE BETTER COMMUNICATION
BETWEEN -- BETWEEN OUR OFFICES
AND BRANCHES. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS WORK , I
JUST WANT TO DOUBLE DOWN ON
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS'S
COMMENTS, KNOWING THE WORK IS
SUPERHARD, A COUPLE THINGS, I
WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR
IMPROVING THE FLASHING
CROSSWALK ON 17th AND UNION. WE
HAD A GREAT INTERACTION WITH
THE ¿ FAMILY, SYDNEY AND IAN
YOUNG, I SAID, HEY, IF YOU WANT
TO GET ANYTHING DONE IN THE
CITY SEND US A PICTURE OF TWO
YOUNG KIDS SMILING AND SAYING
THANK YOU. THAT WILL GET
ATTENTION. SO, THANK YOU. THE
REPAYMENT ON JOHN STREET NEXT
TO MILLER PARK WAS HUGE, NEXT
TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, REPAVING
THAT AND HAVING THE CROSSWALKS
BRIGHT, AND I SEE SO MANY KIDS
GOING BACK AND FORTH FROM THE
SCHOOL, GOING TO THE BUS STOP,
AND ALSO I SEE THE NEW WORK
THAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE
EXTENSION OF THE -- I DON'T
KNOW WHAT YOU CALL THEM, THE
BULBS? IS THAT WHAT THEY ARE
CALLED? HERB BULBS, THAT'S
WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE , TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE A DRIVER STOPPED
FOR THE KIDS CROSSING BACK AND
FORTH, JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE USE
THE PARK ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.
SO, THANK YOU. THE OTHER THING,
WE HAVE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF
OUTREACH FROM, AND I THINK IT
IS ON THE DOCKET FOR 2025, IS
THE CROSSWALK RIGHT NEXT TO THE
SCHOOL IN HARVARD. I KNOW THAT
IS DOWN THE PIPE -- PIPELINE. I
KNOW SOME PEOPLE PAINTED THEIR
OWN CROSSWALK FOR SAFETY, AND
THAT WAS REMOVED, AND I KNOW
IT'S COMING BACK, BUT I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT . WE
HAD SOME ACCIDENTS THERE, BUT
IT'S ALSO A SCHOOL ON THE
CORNER, THE HARVARD SCHOOL HAS
OVER 150 KIDS THAT GO TO THAT
SCHOOL BETWEEN THEIR TWO
LOCATIONS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN
ADVOCATING FOR THAT. ONE
QUESTION I HAD, AND I KNOW THIS
IS DIFFICULT WHEN YOU ARE
LOOKING AT SCHOOLS ON MAIN
THOROUGHFARES, BUT OUR 25th
AVENUE IS LIKE SUPER DANGEROUS,
I KNOW A LOT OF KIDS HAVE
TALKED ABOUT CROSSING AND JUST
THROWING AROUND IDEAS, I WANT
TO PUT IT ON YOUR RADAR, I KNOW
YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT AND
IT'S HARD WHEN IT'S A MAIN
THOROUGHFARE, BUT A LOT OF
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING ABOUT
23rd AND FIGURING OUT MAKING IT
MORE SAFE SO CARS AREN'T --
YOU KNOW, COMING DOWN THE HILL
NORTH OFF OF 23rd WRAPPING
AROUND FROM THE LIBRARY AND
GOING DOWNHILL, SOMETIMES, IT
CAN GET A LITTLE SPEEDY.
ANYWAYS, I WANTED TO THROW T%AT
OUT. ALSO LAST BUT NOT LEAST I
AM CURIOUS AND WE CAN TAKE THIS
OFF-LINE -- THE PAINT USED -- I
HAVE ASKED THIS BEFORE WHY THE
PAINT PEELS SO FAST, REPAINT A
SIDEWALK OR CROSSWALK OR WHAT
HAVE YOU, AND THEN IT FADES
REALLY FAIRLY QUICKLY ON SOME
STUFF. SOME INTERSECTIONS IT
DOESN'T, AND I DON'T KNOW
WHAT THAT IS, THAT I KNOW THAT
SOMETIMES WHEN WE DO PAINT
CROSSWALKS AND THEY LOOK
PHENOMENAL IN A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY
HAVEN'T BEEN REPAINTED IN
YEARS. SO, ANYWAYS, I WANTED TO
THROW THAT OUT AND THANK YOU
ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
IT'S NOT REALLY NECESSARILY A
QUESTION, BUT MORE SO FEEDBACK
AND COMMENT. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VICE
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH. VICE-CHAIR
KETTLE?
>> THANKS, CHAIR. THERE HAS
BEEN A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS.
QUEEN AND DOES NOT HAVE A LOT
OF SCHOOLS. LIKE A HIGH SCHOOL,
FOR EXAMPLE. MIDDLE SCHOOL KIND
OF NOT MUCH EITHER IN TERMS OF
OPTIONS, CATHERINE BLAINE, I DO
LOVE THE K-8 MODEL FOR THOSE IN
THE AUDIENCE WHO FOLLOW THAT.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE WORK
THAT HAS BEEN DONE THAT I HAVE
SEEN, CO-ELEMENTARY, GREAT WORK
IN TERMS OF STOP SIGNS, ALL THE
ABOVE TYPE OF THINGS. IT TIES
INTO OTHER WORK RELATED TO THE
QUEEN AND BOULEVARD PARK AND
STREETS. SO THAT WAS ANOTHER
POSITIVE FOR THE ELEMENTARY ,
AND DEFINITELY LOOK TO ENSURE
THAT THE DISTRICT 7 SCHOOLS ARE
COVERED. THERE HAS BEEN SOME
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE QUEEN
ELEMENTARY AND JOHN HAYES AS
WELL. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. THE
QUESTION I HAD WAS -- I'VE GOT
A COUPLE, ACTUALLY. ONE
QUESTION IS, THE FOCUS FOR THE
SEATTLE SCHOOL DISTRICT SYSTEM,
BUT -- AND THIS MAY BE MORE OF
A DISTRICT 7 THING AGAIN, TO
YOUR POINT, THE DISTRICTS ARE
DIFFERENT. BUT THERE ARE A LOT
OF KIDS IN DISTRICT 7 THAT GO
TO EITHER PRIVATE SCHOOL OR [
INAUDIBLE ] SCHOOL. AND WHERE
DO THEY FALL INTO THIS? THE
FOCUS HAS BEEN SO LINK --
SOLELY ON THE SEATTLE SCHOOL
SYSTEMS. I'M CURIOUS IF THOSE
WERE MADE SAFER, OR IF THERE'S
ANYTHING RELATED TO THOSE.
>> RIGHT, I MENTIONED WE HAD A
PROJECT AT EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL
WITHIN THE LAST [ INAUDIBLE ]
ONE THING I DIDN'T MENTION IS
THERE IS 100 PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE
COMPLETED 215 PROJECTS TOTAL
OVER THE LEVY. SO IT INCLUDED
NOT JUST PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT
PRIVATE SCHOOLS. BECAUSE, YES,
ALL CHILDREN ARE VULNERABLE
USERS OF OUR STREET . WE DO
HAVE AN EQUITY PRIORITIZATION.
SO THAT IS THE SCALE OF
PROJECTS AT OUR SCHOOLS. WE
ALSO HAVE MANY PRIVATE SCHOOLS
THAT ARE SERVING STUDENTS WHO
HAVE HIGH EQUITY NEEDS, SO
DEFINITELY, THERE IS A LOT OF
NUANCED CONSIDERATIONS WHEN WE
ARE SELECTING PROJECTS.
>> YES, AND AS YOU WERE SAYING
I WAS THINKING, TOO, A LOT OF
SCHOOLS ARE VERY CLOSE TO A
PARK. SO, ANY IMPROVEMENT FOR
THAT PRIVATE OR PAROCHIAL
SCHOOL, WE ALSO HELP STUDENTS
WHO ARE GOING TO NEARBY PARKS
AS WELL. SO THAT'S ANOTHER
PIECE OF THIS POINT. I NOTED
YOUR PUBLIC EDUCATION BIT,
PIECE TO INCLUDE THE BIKING,
SPEAKING OF THAT, THAT'S WHERE
KIDS LEARN TO RIDE THEIR BIKES,
BY THE WAY. I SPEAK FROM
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. THE
PRODUCTION EDUCATION, ONE OF
THE THINGS IN TERMS OF
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, HOPEFULLY,
THE KIDS ARE LEARNING IT, YOU
KNOW, AS THEY LEARN OTHER
THINGS, SAFETY ITEMS, IS HOW TO
WHERE RIGHT CLOTHES IN DARK
SEATTLE PARTICULARLY THIS TIME
OF YEAR. SO OFTEN IN THE DARK,
THE BIG DARK WITH THE BIG RAINS
COMING IN, YOU ARE GOING DOWN
THE ROAD, AND PEOPLE WEARING
DARK CLOTHES, YOU KNOW, BLACK
ON BLACK, WHATEVER, THEY ARE
BASICALLY NOT GOING TO BE SEEN.
SO HOPEFULLY, THE PUBLIC
EDUCATION ALSO GOES , YOU KNOW,
TO IDENTIFYING THE UNIQUE
SEATTLE PIECES AS IT RELATES TO
THE BIG DARK AND -- IS THAT
SOMETHING THAT IS INCLUDED IN
THAT?
>> WE HAVE THOSE WALKING AND
BIKING PACKAGES THAT I
MENTIONED WHERE WE GIVE OUT
MANY FREE WRITE REFLECTORS AND
THINGS LIKE LIGHTS THAT KIDS
CAN CLIP ON BACKPACKS AND ALSO
BIKE LIGHTS. WE ARE DEFINITELY
FOCUSED ON VISIBILITY. AND
THEN, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS TRY
TO ROUND THAT OUT WITH CREATING
SAFER STREETS SO THE DEFAULT IS
SAFER SPEEDS SO KIDS ARE NOT
GETTING HURT .
>> THANK YOU. IT'S MENTIONED
NOT A LOT OF SCHOOLS AND
DISTRICTS ARE, BUT I KEEP AN
EYE OUT FOR [ INAUDIBLE ] AND
ALSO BECAUSE WE SHARE MAGNOLIA,
I ALSO AM INTERESTED IN
CATHERINE BLAINE, WANTON,
MAGNOLIA SCHOOLS AS WELL. YOU
KNOW, ONE THING I HAD A
QUESTION AND -- AND I SPOKE
WITH THE QUEEN ANNE GREENWAYS
ALONG WITH SEATTLE GREENWAYS
ALONG THE STREET FIRST W.
BETWEEN CROCKETT AND HOWELL,
BECAUSE YOU HAVE McCLURE, YOU
HAVE THE QUEEN AND COMMUNITY
CENTER. ACROSS THE STREET IS
THE POOL FOR SOUTH AND TO THE
RIGHT IF YOU ARE MOVING NORTH
TO SOUTH, IT'S THE BIG HOWELL
PARK IN TERMS OF HOW THAT
STREET, YOU KNOW, BECOMING MORE
OF AN ACCESS STREET, CREATING
MORE OF A CAMPUS FEEL IN THE
AREA, THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY
THE COMMUNITY. I HAVE BEEN
CHECKING IN WITH THEM BUT I
DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FORMAL. IS
THAT SOMETHING THAT HAS COME TO
YOUR ATTENTION IN SDOT?
>> I DON'T THINK SO. I WONDER
IF THAT COULD BE A CANDIDATE
FOR A SCHOOL STREET?
>> WELL, IT'S McCLURE, SO I
THINK SO. I WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH
YOU. IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS
COMING FROM COMMUNITY. I WOULD
LIKE TO CHECK IN WITH THE
COMMUNITY COUNCIL ABOUT IT,
TOO. BECAUSE THERE IS
DEFINITELY IMPACTS. AND OH, BY
THE WAY, THIS IS ALSO IN THE
URBAN CENTER OF QUEEN ANNE
WHICH IS PART OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. SO THERE'S
A LOT OF PIECES TO THIS, BUT IT
WAS SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP
TO ME THROUGH COMMUNITY, SO I
JUST WANTED TO ASK.
>> I WILL ADD JUST ONE OTHER
THING IN TERMS OF HOW THE
DEPARTMENTS OF SCHOOLS WORK
MORE BROADLY. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
MANY OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ALSO
LOOK AT WHERE SCHOOLS ARE
WHETHER THEY ARE PUBLIC OR
PRIVATE. WE HAVE A CROSSINGS
PROGRAM, WE HAVE A NEW SIDEWALK
PROGRAM, WE HAVE A GREENWAYS
PROGRAM THAT CONNECTS SCHOOLS
TO PARKS. SO OUTSIDE THE SAFE
ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM THERE
ARE ALSO MANY OTHER PROGRAMS
THAT ARE ALSO MAKING
IMPROVEMENTS FOR KIDS.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. CHAIR?
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WILL
KEEP MINE FOCUSED ON COMMENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW-UP ON
SITE SPECIFIC THINGS BUT WANTED
TO VOICE MY APPRECIATION FOR
TODAY'S PRESENTATION. WE CAN
ALL AGREE HOW CRITICAL THE WORK
IS TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDDOS ARE
SAFE ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL AND
ALSO TAKE A MOMENT TO STATE, I
KNOW ONE OF MY PRIORITIES BEEN
PART OF THIS COMMUNITY IS
FINDING WAYS TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE REALLY MAKING INVESTMENTS
SO FOLKS ARE MAKING NATURAL
CHOICES TO WALK, BIKE, TAKE A
BUS BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT IS
THE MOST EFFICIENT AND SAFEST
WAY TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO
GO. I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT
TO STATE THE PRIORITY AND THANK
YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I
WILL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH SOME
QUESTIONS, BUT THANK YOU FOR
THE WORK YOU DO.
>> THANK YOU.
>> RIGHT, THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU. BECAUSE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE CORRECTED
HIS ATTEMPT AT ANNEXING
MAGNOLIA FROM MY DISTRICT, I
WILL SAY I WAS LOOKING AT THE
2014 DISTRICT COUNCIL MAPS THAT
LED TO THE 2015 FIRST ROUND OF
COUNCILMEMBER ELECTIONS IN THE
DISTRICT SECTION -- DISTRICT
MANOR TAKING OFFICE IN 2016,
JUST TO CORRECT MY OWN MISTAKES
THERE. AND CAN YOU REMIND ME
ALSO, SEATTLE -- ONE OF THE
REASONS WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS WORKING WITH
SDOT, IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE
MOVE SEATTLE LEVY , WE
DESIGNATED AT LEAST ONE
IMPROVEMENT FOR EVERY PUBLIC
SCHOOL, OR AM I MISREMEMBERING
THAT?
>> I'M SORRY, COULD YOU STATE
YOUR QUESTION ONE MORE TIME?
>> TO PUT IT MORE DIRECTLY, IN
THE MOVE SEATTLE LEVY, WE HAD
MADE A PROMISE TO DELIVER ONCE
A FRONT TO SCHOOL IMPLEMENT FOR
EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL.
>> CORRECT.
>> THAT WAS IN PART, YOU
FOCUSED ON THE MOST DANGEROUS
PLACES, THE PLACES THAT NEED
THE MOST ASSISTANCE FIRST WHICH
IS PART OF WHY ADAMS AND
GREENWOOD LINK TOWARD THE END
OF THE LEVY CYCLE. IS THAT
RIGHT?
>> AND WE USED -- AND WE USED
EQUITY, THE BROADER FRAMEWORK
LOOKING AT THE TIME IT WAS THE
PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN ADDING
ON RECENT SAFETY DATA AND
EQUITY TO SORT OF DETERMINE,
YOU KNOW, WHICH SCHOOLS WOULD
WE TRY TO DO FIRST? SO TO MOVE
SEATTLE WE DID A CERTAIN LIST
OF SCHOOLS THAT WAS INCLUDED IN
THAT LEVY, AND IT WAS BASED ON
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH PRICE
ELIGIBILITY. WE WANTED TO MAKE
SURE THE SCHOOLS WITH THE
HIGHEST NEED WENT FIRST IN THE
LEVY, THEN WE WOULD DO A
PROJECT FOR EVERY SCHOOL, YOU
KNOW, SOME SCHOOLS MIGHT NEED
TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT LONGER IN
THE LEVY TIME TO GET THERE
PROJECT.
>> AND WE ARE ALWAYS EXCITED
FOR IT. AND LAST PLUG I WILL
MAKE JUST BECAUSE YOU
HIGHLIGHTED THE SOUND TRANSIT
STATION AT 1/30. AS OF THIS
WEEK, IT WILL HAVE AN OFFICIAL
NAME, I'M TRYING TO SPREAD
THIS JOY WHEREVER I CAN GO. IT
IS NOW KNOWN AS THE PINEHURST
STATION. SO I'M HAVING TO
CORRECT MY OWN SHORTHAND FOR IT
AS WELL BUT THOUGHT I WOULD
SHARE THAT. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. I GUESS I WILL CLOSE
OUT HERE BY STATING MY
APPRECIATION FOR THIS WORK.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH REALLY
INTO THE PERSON IN THE AUDIENCE
WHO DOES THIS WORK AND IS THE
LIAISON AT SPS, REALLY
IMPORTANT WORK. I JUST WANT TO
EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS,
AND IT'S A PRIORITY OF ME, AND
I THINK THIS COUNCIL, YOU KNOW,
THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT,
UPLIFT, CLARIFY, EXERCISE
LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT, AND
ULTIMATELY SUPPORT THIS WORK ,
BECAUSE JUST WHEN WE THINK WE
HAVE THE RIGHT TREATMENT AT THE
RIGHT LOCATION, BEST PART THIS
IS AND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE
BEST PRACTICES SHIFT, THE
SITUATION ON THE GROUND, SHIFT
THE DYNAMICS, TRAFFIC PATTERNS,
THEN WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING
ELSE. SO IT'S A CONSTANT CYCLE
, AND THERE IS CLEARLY MORE
WORK TO DO, BUT I WANT YOU ALL
TO KNOW IT IS GREATLY
APPRECIATED. I HAVE ONE
QUESTION THAT IS FROM A
PROGRAMMATIC PERSPECTIVE . I
HAVE A D1 SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF
HOW IT KIND OF PLAYS OUT. SO,
HOW DO YOU ALL WORK AND LIAISE
WITH OUR CITIES NEW SIDEWALK
PROGRAM? BECAUSE SAFE ROUTES TO
SCHOOL'S IS A HUGE, VERY
IMPORTANT PROGRAM AS WE
LEARNED, AND IT IS WORKING, AS
WE LEARNED, RIGHT? WORKING?
SPOILER ALERT, IT WORKS. OR IT
IS WORKING. BUT, BUT, YOU KNOW,
IT TOUCHES SO MANY OTHER KIND
OF VITAL PROGRAMS ACROSS THE
CITY. AND IN THIS CASE, WITHIN
OUR OWN DEPARTMENT HERE AT
SDOT, NEW SIDEWALK PROGRAMS.
SO, MY, FOR EXAMPLE, WE LEARNED
IN THE LEVY THAT MY COUNCIL
DISTRICT ONE HAS THE SECOND
HIGHEST NUMBER OF MISSING
SIDEWALKS IN THE CITY, CERTAIN
AREAS ARE MORE IMPACTED THAN
OTHERS. FOR EXAMPLE, HIGHLAND
PARK . AND SO, WE TALK ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, SAFE ROUTES TO
SCHOOL'S, MAKING SURE MORE
KIDS CAN SAFELY WALK, ROLL,
LIKE , TAKE THE BUS TO SCHOOL,
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO ENSURE
THEY HAVE SAFE -- IT'S NOT
JUST THE AREA IMMEDIATELY IN
FRONT OF THE SCHOOL, IT'S THE
INGRESS /EGRESS ROUTES. SO, IN
MY OWN DISTRICT, FOR EXAMPLE, I
MENTIONED A FEW NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THE
MISSING SIDEWALKS, ARBOR
HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY AND HIGHLAND
PARK ELEMENTARY, THEY ARE
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WITHIN
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE A FAIR
AMOUNT OF MISSING SIDEWALKS.
I'M CURIOUS TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND HOW THIS PROGRAM
COMMUNICATES AND ENGAGES WITH ,
YOU KNOW, OUR PARTNERS WITHIN
THE NEW SIDEWALK PROGRAM, THAT
TEAM, AND HOW YOU COORDINATE
WORK. THANK YOU.
>> YEAH, I CAN ANSWER THAT IN A
FEW WAYS. ONE IS TO TALK ABOUT
THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL KIT .
THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF
IMPROVEMENTS THE SAFE ROUTES TO
SCHOOL PROGRAM USES DEPENDING
ON THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL. AND
ONE OF THOSE IS SIDEWALKS AND
WALKWAYS. THE SAFE ROUTES TO
SCHOOL PROGRAM ITSELF DOES
DELIVER SIDEWALKS AND WALKWAYS
IF THAT'S THE MAIN NEED OF THE
SCHOOL THAT WE ARE WORKING
WITH. AND THEN, IN TERMS OF
WORKING WITH THE NEW SIDEWALKS
PROGRAM, YES, WE ARE ABSOLUTELY
FOCUSING ON SCHOOLS. THE
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION PLAN
PRIORITIZES SIDEWALKS BASED ON
SEVERAL DIFFERENT FACTORS, BUT
SOME OF THE DESTINATIONS THAT
ARE PRIORITIES ARE SCHOOLS,
PARKS AND TRANSIT. BUT WE
DON'T JUST WANT TO STOP WITH
SCHOOLS. WE CARE ABOUT WHERE
KIDS ARE GOING WHETHER THEY GO
TO SCHOOL, PARK, POOL,
COMMUNITY CENTER, ANY OTHER
DESTINATION. SO, JUST THE SAME,
WE DON'T ONLY CARE ABOUT
GROWN-UPS WHEN THEY ARE COMING
TO AND FROM WORK WE DON'T ONLY
CARE ABOUT KIDS COMING TO AND
FROM SCHOOL. SO WE ARE WORKING
WITH THE NEW SIDEWALK PROGRAM
ON OUTREACH TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
ENGAGING WITH KIDS IN OUTREACH
AND INCLUDING , YOU KNOW,
CONNECTING WITH PARENTS AS
WELL, THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT
THOSE CONNECTIONS TO BROADER
NEIGHBORHOOD DESTINATIONS WE
ACTUALLY -- BECAUSE WE HAVE
THIS GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE DID
A MAPPING EXERCISE TO FIND OUT
WHERE PUBLIC K-12 STUDENTS
LIVE. THAT'S THE DATA WE HAD
ACCESS TO. IN RELATION TO OUR
SIDEWALK DEFICIENCY NETWORKS,
AND AGAIN, A SMALL LIST OF
COMMON CHILDHOOD DESTINATIONS.
WE CAN SEE WHERE, WHICH ARE THE
BLOCKS THAT ARE POPPING UP AS
PRIORITIES FOR KIDS TO MOVE
AROUND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS? AND
THEN FROM THERE, YOU KNOW, WE
CAN WORK THROUGH AN OUTREACH
PROCESS TO IDENTIFY THE
PRIORITY BLOCKS. SO, NEXT
WEEKEND, WE ARE GOING TO BE
DOING OUTREACH WITH THE
PINEHURST NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE
LOOKING AROUND HE'S A WOLF
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND
IDENTIFYING NEEDED SIDEWALKS IN
THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THAT
COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WELL,
GOT ANY MORE COLLEAGUES -- ANY
FURTHER , FINAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? HEARING AND SEEING
NONE, THANK YOU AGAIN. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THIS IMPORTANT WORK
THAT YOU ALL DO. WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO OUR SIXTH ITEM OF
DISNEY'S. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER SIX
INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX,
SCHOOL TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU. WILL PRESENTERS
JOIN US AT THE TABLE? ONCE
READY, PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. I AM
A DISTRICT ONE RESIDENT,
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENT
AND THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE
SEATTLE TRAFFIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE. WE HAVE OTHER
COMMITTEE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> MARYELLEN RUSSELL.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
TAKING THE TIME. I WANT TO
SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE WORK
OF THE COMMITTEE. WE ARE
EXCITED TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AND SHOW
YOU AREAS WE COULD USE
CONTINUED SUPPORT. I THOUGHT I
WOULD START, NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE, WITH A BRIEF OVERVIEW
OF WHAT THE COMMITTEE IS,
ESTABLISHED IN 1975 -- O.
ESTABLISHED IN 1975 BY CITY
COUNCIL, BRINGS TOGETHER
VARIOUS AGENCIES THAT WORK ON
SCHOOL TRAFFIC AND SAFETY WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IT'S A
LITTLE UNIQUE RELATIVE TO
ASSISTANCE BOARDS WHERE WE HAVE
BOTH STAFF AND COMMUNITY
VOLUNTEERS AS PART OF THE
COMMUNITY. THAT INCLUDES
REPRESENTATIVES FROM SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SEATTLE PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION, SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND KING COUNTY
METROS AS WELL AS VOLUNTEER
MEMBERS THAT ALSO REPRESENT
BICYCLING ADVOCACY, PARENTS,
GRANDPARENTS AND NEIGHBORS. SO
THERE'S A LOT OF DETAIL THAT
GOES INTO ENSURING OUR CHILDREN
HAVE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL'S
AND IT FREQUENTLY CUTS ACROSS
THOSE AGENCIES. THAT'S WHY THE
COMMUNICATE COMMUNITY WAS BUILT
WITH THE STRUCTURE, TO GET A
RESPONSE INFORMED BY MULTI
AGENCY COORDINATION. THOSE ARE
THE THINGS WE DO, MAINTAIN A
WORKING RELATIONSHIP TO THE
ORGANIZATIONS, PROVIDE A FORUM
FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO RAISE
SCHOOL TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUES
WHERE IMMEDIATE HAS NOT FIT
INTO ONE SPECIFIC DOCKET.
REDEFINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
WALKING BOUNDARIES FOR SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS USING SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
AND PUBLIC SCHOOL INFORMATION,
WE IDENTIFY CROSSING GUARD
ASSIGNMENTS AND WORK TO BUILD
CROSSING GUARD IMPROVEMENT. WE
REVISE CIRCULATION PLANS FOR
NEWER, RENOVATED SCHOOLS, AND
WE ENGAGE AND RESPOND TO
TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUES AS THEY
ARISE. I JUST WANT TO SHARE
SOME EXAMPLES OF THE CROSS
AGENCY COORDINATION. WE ARE
UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO FOSTER
COLLABORATION AND HOLISTIC
PROBLEM-SOLVING. SOME EXAMPLES,
WE ORGANIZED THE FIRST OF ITS
KIND SCHOOL WALKING TOUR TO
ADDRESS SAFETY ISSUES NEAR I-5
ON AND OFF RAMPS NEARED JOHN
STANFORD AND CONCORDE
ELEMENTARY. ATTENDED BY LOCAL
AND STATE AGENCIES AND
HIGHLIGHTED THE SIGNIFICANT
TRAFFIC SAFETY CONCERNS AND
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS FOR BOTH
SCHOOLS THAT FLOUNDERED
SOMEWHAT DUE TO THE NEED FOR
BETTER COORDINATION BETWEEN
STATE AND LOCAL JURISDICTIONS
INTERSECTING UP THE RAMPS. WE
HAVE BEEN UPDATING THE SCHOOL
WALK ZONES, SO A SYSTEMATIC
REVIEW TO REVIEW SCHOOL WALKING
BOUNDARIES FOR SEATTLE SCHOOLS
, K-8 IN THE DISTRICT, WORKING
WITH SDOT WE DEVELOPED A
SCORING RUBRIC TO HELP US
IDENTIFY TOO RISKY TO CROSS
INTERSECTIONS THAT COULD BE
EXCLUDED OR NEED A CROSSING
GUARD, AND THOSE INTERSECTIONS
WHERE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS --
MAYBE INTERSECTIONS MORE CROSS
A BOWL FOR STUDENTS ON THE WAY
TO SCHOOL. THE SAFETY WORK BY
SDOT AND OTHERS HAS ALLOWED FOR
OPENING UP MORE ROUTES FOR
STUDENTS TO WALK TO SCHOOL.
AFTER SOME ADVOCACY FROM THE
COMMITTEE, SDOT FOUNDED THE
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM
COORDINATOR COMMISSION IN
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I
MENTIONED THE PREVIOUS
PRESENTATION. THEY HAVE BEEN IN
THE ROLE SINCE 2023 AND WORKS
CLOSELY WITH THE SDOT SCHOOL
PROGRAM TO PROVIDE WRAPAROUND
SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES TO WALK
AND BIKE ESPECIALLY AT EQUITY
SCHOOLS. IT HAS REALLY AND A
BOOM FOR THE COMMUNITY AS WELL
TO IDENTIFY EARLIER
OPPORTUNITIES AND HELP WITH
COMMUNITY OUTREACH . I WANTED
TO HIGHLIGHT AN ITEM FOR KING
COUNTY AND SDOT COORDINATION.
THIS IS AN INTERESTING EXAMPLE
WHERE SDOT WAS DOING ITS VISIT
AT MERCER MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE
STUDENTS RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT
BUS CAPACITY AROUND BELL TIMES,
USING A RELATIONSHIP WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY, METRO KING WAS ABLE
TO ADD TWO NEW TRIPS TO ROUTE
107 THAT ALIGNED WITH THE
SCHOOLS BUS SCHEDULE AND ALSO
ADJUSTED 36 SCHEDULES TO ADJUST
SCHEDULES AROUND BUS TIMES
SERVED BY LARGER BUSES. THIS
ALSO BENEFITED STUDENTS
ATTEMPTING -- ATTENDING
CLEVELAND HIGH SCHOOL. SUMMER
SCHOOL BEACONS, IN PREVIOUS
YEARS, THE SCHOOL ZONE DEACONS
HAD NOT OPERATED FOR SUMMER
SITES. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO IMPROVE THE MUNICATION
BETWEEN SDS AND SDOT TO INSTALL
THOSE SIGNS EARLIER. IT GAVE
SDOT THE TIME THEY NEEDED TO [
INAUDIBLE ] FLASHING BEACONS
OPERATE FOR SUMMER SCHOOL
LOCATIONS. THEN ALSO, THE
SCHOOL STREETS PROGRAM
CONTINUES TO EXPAND, HELPED
ADVOCATE FOR ADDITIONAL PRIVATE
AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS WELL AS
SPS SCHOOLS AND TO BRING IN
TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES IN THE
VICINITY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I
WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT TWO
AREAS WHERE WE THINK THE
COMMUNITY BOTH HAD SOME SUCCESS
AND IS STILL PUSHING FOR
ANOTHER ITEM TO GO OVER THE
FINISH LINE. A LOT OF TIMES WE
SEE ISSUES THAT COME UP AS A
ONE-OFF ARE REALLY ISOLATED,
BUT THE WAY THE COMMUNITY
OPERATES WE ARE ABLE TO SEE A
PATTERN OF WHAT IS GOING ON
ACROSS THE CITY. SO, ONE
SUCCESS OF THIS WAS ALL THE
STOPS. LAST YEAR, WE HAD A
REQUEST FROM A PARENT AT JAMES
BALDWIN ELEMENTARY FOR AN
ALWAYS STOP INTERSECTION. IT
DIDN'T MEET THE GUIDELINES OF
ALWAYS STOP. THEY ARE WILLING
TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN, AND IT
ENDED UP NOT ONLY ADDING THE
ALWAYS STOP CHANGING THE
GUIDELINES FOR ALWAYS STOP
INTERSECTIONS OF FUTURE SCHOOLS
COULD BE ACCOMMODATED WITH
TRAFFIC SAFETY TREATMENT. WE
PULL IN SDOT FOR ENGAGING AND
UPDATING THE POLICY TO MEET
REAL WORLD CONDITIONS. SO
THAT'S A SUCCESS FROM THE
COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE. WHERE WE
ARE NOT YET THERE IS REALLY
TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL PARKING
REQUIREMENTS AND THE OUTDATED
SCHOOL ZONE CODE. SO, WE HAVE
BEEN WORKING WITH THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOL PROJECT TEAM AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION
OF INSPECTION SINCE 2022 TO
UPDATE OUTDATED CITY CODES THAT
COST TAXPAYERS MILLIONS
ANNUALLY. BASICALLY, THE
SEATTLE CITY CODE ON PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS
AND PARKING PERMITS ARE
SOMEWHAT OUTDATED REMNANTS THAT
REFLECTIVE THINKING THAT IS
REALLY NOT APPLICABLE TO URBAN
SCHOOLS TODAY. A RECENT EXAMPLE
OF THIS IS DELAYS WITH THE
RECENT [ INAUDIBLE ]
ELEMENTARY. WE PROCESS DELAYS
THAT ARE OVER $2.5 MILLION.
WHAT'S GOING ON, TO PROVIDE
THE CODE AS WRITTEN, THEY HAVE
TO PROVIDE PLAYGROUNDS,
PARKING, OR CAN UPDATE HVAC
SYSTEMS TO DELIVER HEIGHT
LIMITS. AS SEATTLE APPLIED FOR
SPECIAL DEPARTURES, AND [
INAUDIBLE ] ARE GRANTED BUT THE
PROJECT ADDS TIME AND COST TO
THE PROJECTS, IT ALLOWS SMALL
GROUPS TO DELAY THE OUTCOME BY
CHALLENGING THEM IN COURT. WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
STAFF TO TRY AND DRAFT CODE
REVISIONS. THE GOOD NEWS IS WE
UNDERSTAND THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO
BE IN THE SPRING AND MAYBE GO
IN FRONT OF COUNCIL FOR
APPROVAL. HOWEVER, WE HAVE BEEN
HEARING THAT UPDATE FOR A
LITTLE WHILE, SO WE REALLY LOOK
FORWARD TO THINGS MOVING
FORWARD AND FINALLY GETTING
THEM FAST. BEYOND THIS EXAMPLE,
WE WRITE LETTERS OF ADVOCACY,
OPPORTUNITIES OF BENEFITS
OUTSIDE SCHOOLS SUCH AS SUPPORT
FOR TRANSPORTATION LEVY
PACKAGE, AVENUE UPDATES, AND
LESS COMMERCIAL GRADE
CROSSINGS, AND EXPAND THE USE
OF SCHOOL ZONE CAMERAS. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. LOOKING AT OUR
WORK THIS YEAR, WE HAVE A FEW
PRIORITIES. FIRST WE WOULD LIKE
TO UPDATE THE K-8 ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS AND GET THEM PUBLISHED
SO PARENTS HAVE THEM AVAILABLE
TO USE WHEN PLANNING THE ROUTES
TO SCHOOL. WE ARE LOOKING TO
ADD YOUTH OR STUDENT
REPRESENTATION TO OUR
COMMUNITY, DISCUSSIONS AND
WORK, WE WELCOME YOUTH
PERSPECTIVE, LIKELY A HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENT OR [ INAUDIBLE ]
LEARN PROGRAM. WE CONTINUE TO
SEE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES TO
INTEGRATE WITH STATE AGENCIES
TO RESOLVE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS
ACROSS THE CITY AND STATE
AUTHORITY. AD HOC CONNECTIONS
THIS YEAR, WE ARE VERY EXCITED
TO SUPPORT DRAFT CITY CODE
UPDATES WHEN THEY RELEASE,
PROCESSING A LONG TIME, WE LOOK
FORWARD TO IT BEING CLOSED
DOWN. OF COURSE, WE CONTINUE
MAKING SATELLITES FOR THE
COMMUNITY AS A RESOURCE OR
VENUE. SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS
COME TO US ALMOST AS A LAST
RESORT STRUGGLING TO FIND THE
RIGHT AGENCY OR PERSON TO
CONTACT. [ INAUDIBLE ]
OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE VISIBILITY
TO THIS TYPE OF WORK EARLIER
ON. WE DID SOME REAL
IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT WITH
HAVING A SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
COORDINATOR IN SPS. WITH THESE
OBJECTIVES IN MIND, WE ALSO
WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME
AREAS WHERE WE FEEL THE CITY
COULD HELP SUPPORT US. FIRST OF
ALL, WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE
WORK TO REVIEW TRAFFIC TICKETS
FROM [ INAUDIBLE ] PRIORITIZE.
IT IMPROVES SAFETY FOR THE
RESTART OF THE PROGRAM. WE
WOULD LIKE TO BRING BACK
TEMPORARY ENFORCEMENT PATROLS
TO HIGH RISK AREAS TO ADJUST
PARENT AND DRIVER BEHAVIOR. WE
PREVIOUSLY HAD BEEN ABLE TO
LEVERAGE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
CONTROLS OR TRAFFIC
ENFORCEMENT, BUT WITH THE
CHALLENGES WITH POLICE
STAFFING, THIS HAS NOT BEEN
ABLE TO US THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS. WITH DEPARTMENT
RE-STAFFS, WE LOOK FOR THE
ABILITY TO USE THIS AS ANOTHER
SHORT-TERM FIX WHILE SDOT
MANAGES SAFETY IN THE AREA. WE
LOOK FORWARD TO THE SCHOOL
CONSTRUCTION ZONE CHANGES OVER
THE FINISH LINE. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO SEEING IMPROVEMENTS
IN SDOT AND WASHINGTON DOT
COLLABORATION TO CREATE
RESPONSES TO TRAFFIC NEAR
FREEWAYS AND HIGHWAYS. THIS IS
SOMEWHAT A LINE SHIFT, THINK
ABOUT AGENCY BOUNDARIES AND
WHAT IS THE RIGHT OVERALL
SOLUTIONOUR STUDENTS. WE
URGE CONTINUED FUNDING OF THE
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM
WITH COUNCIL SUPPORT SO FAR,
AND WE SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY
EXPANSION OF THE TRAFFIC ZONE
SAFETY CAMERAS. WE REGULARLY
REVIEW THE TRAFFIC DATA AND SEE
THE CAMERAS CONTINUE TO BE
EFFECTIVE CHARGING NEAR SCHOOLS
SAVING A FEW CRITICAL HOURS
AROUND PICKUP AND DROP-OFF. SO
-- WE ALSO LOOK FORWARD [
INAUDIBLE ] PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
REDUCING OUR VACANCY FROM THE
CURRENT 55% DOWN TO ZERO,
ESTABLISHING A PROCESS TO KEEP
WALK ZONE MAPS UPDATED AS
SCHOOL BOUNDARY ZONES CHANGE,
REMOVING BARRIERS FOR KIDS,
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OTHER
NON-STAFFED ADVOCATE BIKE RACKS
NEAR SCHOOLS, I WANT TO SEE THE
OPPORTUNITY THERE. WE WOULD
LIKE TO SEE SAFE ROUTES TO
SCHOOL'S INSTITUTIONALIZED AS
THE POLICY OF WELLNESS AND EACH
SCHOOLS CITING PERMIT PLANS. WE
WOULD LIKE TO BUILD OUT SYSTEMS
TO HAVE BETTER [ INAUDIBLE ]
AND TRAFFIC SAFETY [ INAUDIBLE
]. OF COURSE, SUCCESS WILL ALSO
REQUIRE FROM OTHER PARTNERS,
LOOK FORWARD TO THE STATE
LEGISLATURE FUNDING SCHOOL
CROSSING GUARDS WHICH IS
REQUIRED BY CURRENT STATE LAW
THAT HAS NOW BEEN ALLOCATED. WE
URGE CONTINUED FUNDING FOR
PUBLIC TRANSIT, SAFE ROUTES TO
SCHOOL'S, INFRASTRUCTURE,
VISION ZERO, REBUILDING ON THE
CITY AND STATE COLLABORATION.
FOR KING COUNTY METRO WE WORK
WITH THEM ON ADJUSTING ONGOING
ADJUSTMENTS TO ROUTES TO
ACCOMMODATE STUDENT RIDERSHIP.
AND OF COURSE, SUCCESS IN THIS
WILL REQUIRE CHANGE TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC MINDSET AND
SHIFTS IN HOW WE VIEW TRAFFIC,
[ INAUDIBLE ] IN THE STREETS
HELPS CHANGE DRIVER
EXPECTATIONS, THE
TRANSPORTATION ISN'T JUST FOR
CARS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
EMPHASIZING WALKING, BIKING AND
ROLLING AS PART OF THE OVERALL
TRANSPORTATION EXPERIENCE, AND
ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PROVIDING INPUT AND
ENGINEERING FOR DESIGN AND
OTHER PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF
SAFETY. THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR
YOU TODAY. WE WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND ONGOING
SUPPORT. AND I AM GLAD TO TAKE
QUESTIONS ALONG WITH FELLOW
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR THIS HELPFUL,
INSIGHTFUL VISITATION. REALLY
DIFFICULT TO DISCERN ! -- YOU
KNOW, WHAT YOUR HIGHEST
PRIORITIES ARE -- NO, IT'S
NOT. BUT THANK YOU , THANK YOU
FOR SHARING, VERY HELPFUL
INFORMATION. I WILL TAKE
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES STARTING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
WELCOME, IF YOU ASK ANYTHING
ELSE FROM COLLEAGUES,
ADDITIONAL POINTS? OKAY. JUST
THOUGHT I WOULD THROW THAT IN
THERE. TO QUESTIONS, NUMBER
ONE, IT KIND OF PLAYS OFF MY
EARLIER QUESTION. IN THE
DIAGRAM YOU HAVE THE FIRST
PARTICIPANTS INCLUDING
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I WAS
CURIOUS AND THE COMMUNITY
MEMBER SECTION, IS THERE
ANYTHING IN TERMS OF OUTREACH
TO MY QUESTION ABOUT PRIVATE
AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS, IS THERE
ANY REPRESENTATION FROM THAT
COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY
OVERALL?
>> YEAH, WELL, SO, YOU KNOW, WE
ARE ALL VOLUNTEER MEMBERS HERE,
AND ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY CAN
APPLY FOR AN OPEN POSITION, AND
ANYONE IS ALSO WELCOME TO COME
TO ANY AND ALL MEETINGS. WE
ALWAYS RESERVE TIME TO HAVE
ANYONE WHO CHOOSES TO COME
SPEAK ABOUT ANY ISSUE THAT THEY
WOULD BRING UP. SO, YOU KNOW,
WE ARE ALL PRIVATE CITIZENS. IN
THAT RESPECT, YOU KNOW, WE
REPRESENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND
COMMUNITIES. WE DON'T HAVE ANY
FORMAL MECHANISM FOR PRIVATE
SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP, BUT WE DO
HAVE PEOPLE WHO BRING US ISSUES
AROUND PRIVATE SCHOOL, TRAFFIC
CONCERNS, SPECIFICALLY, WE HAD
ONE -- I AM BLANKING ON THE
NAME BETWEEN 80th AND 85th
GREENWOOD --
>> BISHOP BLANCHETTE.
>> THANK YOU. WE WORKED AROUND
SOME CONCERNS ON CROSSING WORK
WITH THEM TO CONNECT THEM WITH
SDOT, PEOPLE WHO COULD ADDRESS
CONCERNS AROUND VISIBILITY AT
CROSSWALKS SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
AND THAT IS NOT THE ONLY TIME
IN MY EIGHT YEARS ON THE
COMMITTEE TO PRIVATE SCHOOL HAS
BROUGHT US A CONCERN AND WE
HAVE TRIED TO CONNECT THEM JUST
LIKE WE WOULD ANY OTHER
COMMUNITY MEMBER WITH RESOURCES
LIKE THE HOT SPOTS AT SPD WHEN
IT WAS RUNNING AND WITH FOLKS
AT SDOT WHO ARE BEST POSITIONED
TO GET EYES ON THE QUESTION AND
FIGURE OUT WHAT THE APPROPRIATE
RESPONSE WOULD BE.
>> ANOTHER EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE
SCHOOL TRAFFIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE'S THAT OPERATE BOTH
AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE
SECTORS, SO WE READ THE DATA
AND WE ARE WORKING ON
SUGGESTING THOSE PLACEMENTS.
THOSE SERVE ALL TYPES OF
SCHOOLS.
>> THANK YOU. WELL, THE
COMMUNITY IS ESTABLISHED BY
COUNCIL, YOU DO REPRESENT THE
CITY, SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR
POINT. I WOULD THINK THE
COMMUNITY COULD ALSO GO OUT TO
THEM AS WELL IN TERMS OF
OUTREACH TO ENSURE COVERAGE TO
ENSURE, YOU KNOW, THOSE PIECES,
YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE LOW
HANGING FRUIT IN TERMS OF
SAFETY, AND AGAIN, OFTEN TIMES
THESE SCHOOLS ARE NEAR PARKS SO
YOU GET THE ADDED AND IF IT.
SO, THANK YOU . MY OTHER
QUESTION IS RELATED TO KING
COUNTY METRO, YOU KNOW, THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE THAT I
CHAIR, WE HAVE THE VISION, AND
OUR STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK LAND,
IN OUR VISION WE SPECIFICALLY
TALK ABOUT KIDS WRITING SAFELY
ON BUSES. AND AS YOU KNOW, I
THINK YOU WERE HERE AT THE VERY
BEGINNING, AND WE DO HAVE SOME
SERIOUS CHALLENGES IN TRANSIT
SECURITY, AND I HAVE TALKED TO
SO MANY PARENTS IN TERMS OF THE
CHALLENGES, LIKE WHEN I WAS ON
THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AS A
CANDIDATE IT ALSO NOW AS A
COUNCILMEMBER, CHAIR OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, THOSE
ISSUES, AND HAVING THAT VOICE
WOULD BE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT,
AND WHAT I SAY THERE IS, YOU
KNOW, THIS MOVES FOR A FAIR
REENACTMENT, THE NOT ACCEPTING
SENTINEL TO BE SMOKED ON THE
BUS, YOU KNOW? -- WHEN WE HAVE
CHILDREN ON THE BUS AND OTHERS,
THAT'S NOT JUST CHILDREN. AND
THEN SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES
WE ARE SEEING IN TERMS OF
TRANSIT SAFETY. AND LENDING
YOUR VOICE TO THAT IS VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT. AND -- AND I
WOULD SAY IT GOES BEYOND,
ADJUSTMENT OF ROUTES, AND
ACCOMMODATING DUE TO RIDERSHIP.
WE NEED TO HAVE YOUR VOICE ON
THIS PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGE
THAT WE ARE FACING, AND TO
CHANNEL THAT TO US EITHER HERE
AT THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
OR THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE WITH
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA OR MYSELF
ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE. I
THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE CHALLENGE.
I COMPLETELY AGREE. WE WILL
ACTUALLY BE MEETING WITH KING
COUNTY METRO AND RIDERSHIP
DURING OUR NEXT MEETING. THOSE
ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE
HAVE AS WELL. I KNOW MY
NEIGHBORS ARE RIDING THE BUS
REGULARLY, AND I AM AWARE OF
SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS AS WELL,
SO I APPRECIATE THE CHALLENGE,
AND I'M GLAD TO SUPPORT IT.
>> I SHOULD ADD, TO -- WERE YOU
GOING TO ADD SOMETHING?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD COST
COMMITTEE COLLABORATION IS
SOMETHING THE COMMITTEE IS
STARTING TO ACTIVELY PURSUE ,
BOTH WORKING WITH PARKS AND REC
AND THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ,
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY
GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
CONTINUE AND INCREASE OUR
VISIBILITY AND ARE REACHED.
>> THANK YOU. BY THE WAY,
WORKING IN KING COUNTY METRO
YOU WILL FIND THEY ARE SPECIFIC
ABOUT THE BUSES OR BUS SHELTERS
THEMSELVES. IF YOU GET A COUPLE
FEET BEYOND, IF THERE'S
ANYTHING A COUPLE FEET BEYOND,
DEFINITELY COME TO US. AND I
KNOW THAT, 15th AND DRAVIS
THERE ARE PICKUPS. THE BUS IT
SELF MAY BE OKAY, BUT JUST THE
IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOOD -- AND
ITS -- IT IS -- IT'S NOT ALL
THE TIME, YOU KNOW? SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES ARE VERY -- JUST IN
THE MORNING, JUSTIN THESE
CERTAIN TIME PERIODS. FOR
THOSE, IF IT COMES SOMETHING
OUTSIDE OF KING COUNTY METRO
BUT IT'S ALSO RELATED TO THE
BUS STOP EXPERIENCE, PLEASE LET
US KNOW, AND WHATEVER MEMO WILL
COME BACK TO US. WE ARE GOING
TO HAVE MEETINGS ON TRANSIT
SECURITY, THEN IF YOU DO HAVE
SOME TREES REACH OUT BECAUSE WE
CAN HAVE YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE
COMMUNITY MEETING, TOO. THANK
YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND THANK
YOU FOR TODAY'S PRESENTATION,
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COMMITTED WORK ON THIS BODY
JUST TO ADVANCE A CRITICAL
ISSUE. I DEEPLY APPRECIATE
SEEING SUCH A STRONG
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN DIFFERENT
ENTITIES TO HAVE A HANDS ON
APPROACH AND FIND ALIGNMENT
BETWEEN ALL OF THESE BODIES TO
REALLY ADVANCE WHAT IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT MEASURE TO THE
IMPROVING SAFETY ON THIS, AND I
ALSO APPRECIATE THE CONCISE
DIRECTION YOU ARE PROVIDING TO
US AND SOME OF THE OTHER KEY
PARTNERS FROM THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AND METRO. I THINK
THAT CONCISE DIRECTION IS
HELPFUL FOR US AS WE ENGAGE IN
BETTER WORK THIS YEAR, AND MY
QUESTION FOR TODAY IS RELATED
TO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE
POINTS YOU RAISED ABOUT THE
WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE ,
I'M CURIOUS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I
DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE IS A
LOBBYIST HERE, BUT CURIOUS IF
THERE ARE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS
YOU ARE TRACKING, IF THERE IS
APPETITE FOR THEM TO BE
ADDRESSING THESE FOUR AREAS OR
IF ANY OF YOU ARE WORKING WITH
LEGISLATURES ON THAT?
>> SO, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING ABOUT
COLLABORATION WITH WASH.IT'S
ONE OF THOSE ITEMS WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT. AND THAT IS ONE
WHERE THERE IS, YOU KNOW, KIND
OF A NEW DIRECTION AT WASH.,
THEY RECENTLY ESTABLISHED A
PEDESTRIAN GROUP THERE THAT IS
UP AND RUNNING. AND WE HAD
RAISED THESE ISSUES AROUND OFF
RAMPS AND ON RAMPS AT HIGH
SPEEDS THERE A NUMBER OF TIMES.
IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE
IT'S LIKE BOTH SEATTLE AND
WASHED OUT WOULD SAY, WELL --
WASHED OUT SAYS IT'S NOT A
PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S ON CITY
STREETS. AND THEY SAY THE
SPEEDING ON THE RAMP IS NOT OUR
PROBLEM. SO, WE FELT LIKE
GETTING THAT WALK WITH PEOPLE
HIGH ENOUGH AT BOTH SDOT AND
WASHED ODD, THAT THEY COULD
REALLY BEGIN A CONVERSATION
WITH A BIG START . AND WE WOULD
LIKE TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT.
WE KNOW IT WILL TAKE A LONG
TIME TO BUILD CLOSER
COLLABORATION BUT WASHED.HAS
ALSO HAD SOME RECENT CHANGES OF
POLICY THAT ALLOWED FOR EXAMPLE
GREENWAYS CROSSING ON AURORA
AND 92nd THAT IS IMPLEMENTED,
AND WE JUST IN OUR LAST WALK
BOUNDING COMMITTEE MEETING, WE
RAN IT THROUGH THE SCORING
RUBRIC AND WE REALIZE THIS IS
SCORING SAFE ENOUGH FOR KIDS TO
CROSS AURORA. THAT IS A BIG
CHANGE. SO WE ARE EXCITED TO
SEE THAT CHANGE AND WE INC. IT
WILL TAKE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW,
MORE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS TO
MOVE IT FORWARD, BUT IT IS
HAPPENING IN TERMS OF FUNDING,
THAT IS A BIG QUESTION.
THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS
ABOUT SCHOOL FUNDING HAPPENING
THIS YEAR. AND THE CROSSING
GUARDS ONE IS A VERY SMALL
PIECE AS FAR AS SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS IS CONCERNED, THEY HAVE
$100 MILLION DEFICIT, CROSSING
GUARDS IS $400,000 A YEAR,
IT'S NOT THE TOP PRIORITY BUT
IT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO
RAISE BECAUSE IT IS VERY CLEAR
IN THE PLAIN LANGUAGE OF OUR
CURRENT STATE STATUTE THAT IT
SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY THE
STATE, AND THEY HAVE NEVER
FUNDED IT, NOT A DOLLAR. SO, WE
LIKE TO BRING THAT UP AND JUST
SAY WE WOULD LIKE THE STATE TO
HONOR ITS OWN LOSS, AND WE HOPE
THAT MAYBE THEY WILL START TO
CONSIDER THAT NOW.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, THANK
YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOLUNTEER
WORK. THANK YOU FOR SITTING IN
A SPACE OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT
PARENT AND STUDENT NEEDS ARE
AND HOLDING BOTH THE CITY, THE
STATE AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
ACCOUNTABLE TO GET THOSE
DELIVERABLES INTO PEOPLE'S
LIVES, I LAUGHED OUT LOUD WHEN
YOU BROUGHT UP THE DEPARTURES
CONVERSATION BECAUSE MY TEAM
AND I WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT
THIS, I THINK THE CONVERSATION
BEGAN WHEN I WAS THE LAND-USE
CHAIR BECAUSE --
>> WE THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING
IT THEN AND HELPING IT BRING IT
TO THE STAGE IT IS NOW.
>> -- YES, AND A LEVEL OF
FRUSTRATION THAT GOVERNMENT
WORKS TO SLOW IN THESE WAYS. SO
THE REASON I LAUGHED OUT LOUD
WAS BECAUSE EVERY YEAR I HAVE
ASKED FOR AN UPDATE AND EVERY
YEAR THEY SAY THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT SAYS IT WILL COME THIS
SPRING, THIS IS NOT THE
LAND-USE COMMITTEES OF FAULT,
SAVE THOSE QUESTIONS FOR
ANOTHER TIME. BUT IF WE COULD
JUST BRIEFLY SHARE INFO AFTER
THE MEETING BECAUSE I NEED YOU
TO CONNECT WITH MY TEAM, I WANT
MY TEAM TO CONNECT WITH YOU
BECAUSE MY PATIENCE IS WEARING
THIN.
>> YOUR LACK OF PATIENCE IS
SHARED.
>> AMEN. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR
WORK.
>> AWESOME. WELL, THANK YOU. I
GUESS I HAVE A QUESTION , AND
KIND OF HIGHLIGHTED A FEW
DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS ACROSS THE
VARIOUS COMMENTS AND LINES OF
QUESTIONING, HERE. BUT JUST
TAKING A STEP BACK, ZOOMING OUT
TO 30,000 FOOT LEVEL, THIS IS A
VERY UNIQUE COMMITTEE, THE
SCHOOL TRAFFIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE, IT'S A UNIQUE
COMPOSITION , AN AMALGAM OF
STAKEHOLDERS, IF YOU WILL . IT
INCLUDES REPS FROM VARIOUS
DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES ACROSS
GOVERNMENTS, CROSSCUTTING IN
TERMS OF THE ISSUES,
CROSSCUTTING IN TERMS OF
GOVERNMENTS INVOLVED,
STAKEHOLDER AND MOORE. AND AS I
UNDERSTAND, IT IS 12 MEMBERS,
IS THAT CORRECT? 12 MEMBERS?
AND MAYBE THIS QUESTION HERE IS
BEST FOR OUR OWN SDOT REP, SO,
BILL, WHAT IS THE CITY'S ROLE
IN APPOINTING AND -- AND -- CAN
YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE
POSITION OF THIS FROM VARIOUS
-- IN OUR ROLE IN HELPING TO
SET THAT?
>> YES. I WILL ASK THE MEMBERS
HERE TO CLARIFY THE NUMBER OF
SEATS FOR OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS. BUT THE COMMUNITY
MEMBER SEATS ARE APPOINTED
THROUGH THE -- THE APPOINTMENTS
GO THROUGH COUNCIL FOR --
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> I THINK WE HAD THE LAST
ROUND OF APPOINTMENTS --
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> ALL 12?
>> THE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS,
SPEAKING TO COMMUNITY
VOLUNTEERS?
>> YEAH, THAT'S WHY I WAS
CURIOUS ABOUT -- SO, THE SIX
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS ARE
APPOINTED BY COUNCIL OR THE
EXECUTIVE WHATEVER, CONFIRMED
THROUGH COUNCIL, THEN WHAT
ABOUT THE OTHER SIX MEMBERS,
AND, YEAH?
>> YEAH, THOSE ARE APPOINTED BY
THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS, SPS,
METRO, WE HAVE A LIAISON TO THE
COMMITTEE.
>> SO, FOR AN EXAMPLE, THE TWO
COMMITTEE MEMBERS FROM SDOT ARE
THE COORDINATOR YOU HEARD
PRESENTING EARLIER, AND THEY
ALSO HAVE A LIAISON TO THE
COMMITTEE IN SDOT. THEY ARE
ALSO HERE AS WELL, FOR EXAMPLE,
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE
HAVE AN OFFICER WHO IS IN THE
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT SQUAD,
DEALING WITH SAFETY ISSUES. SO
-- AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IT IS
OUR TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR,
AND THEN THE SAFE ROUTES TO
SCHOOL COORDINATOR, AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS WELL, AND I
AM MISSING --
>> THERE IS ALSO A
REPRESENTATIVE FROM METRO.
>> GOT EIGHT. IN TERMS OF THE
CITY'S ROLE IN SETTING THE
COMPOSITION WE HAVE SIX, SIX
SEATS THAT WE GET TO MAKE
DIRECT APPOINTMENTS TWO, THEN
DISTRIBUTED AMONGST WHETHER IT
IS KING COUNTY METRO, PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, ETC., THOSE OTHER --
THOSE OTHER GOVERNMENTS --
YEAH. OKAY, COOL. THANK YOU.
AND REMEMBER DECEMBER WE
CONFIRMED ONE -- WAS IT YOU?
YEAH, I KNEW YOU LOOKED
FAMILIAR. SAY -- SAY SOMETHING
FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE BEEN
WAY TOO QUIET. WHAT HAS BEEN --
IT HAS BEEN THE NUMBER ONE
THING THAT HAS EXCITED YOU
ABOUT THIS WORK IN THE FEW
MONTHS SINCE WE CONFIRMED YOUR
APPOINTMENT?
>> I AM --
>> SORRY TO PUT YOU ON THE
SPOT.
>> KNOW, I'M THRILLED TO BE
PART OF THIS COMMITTEE BECAUSE
IT ACTUALLY DOES A LOT OF WORK
THAT MAKES KIND OF A GREAT
DIFFERENCE LIKE IN KIDS AND
PARENTS EXPERIENCE IN BEING
ABLE TO GET TO SCHOOL. YOU SAW
A LOT OF THESE CHANGES THAT ARE
HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, I -- I GOT
INVOLVED BECAUSE I -- I AM THE
FATHER OF A NOW SECOND-GRADER .
WHEN MY SON WAS GOING TO SOUTH
SHORE, WE -- I STARTED TO LEAD
A BIKE BUS WITH STUDENTS AND
PARENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
AND JUST BEING ABLE TO, YOU
KNOW, SEE KIDS HAVE THAT
EMPOWERING EXPERIENCE OF AND
OWNERSHIP OF GETTING TO SCHOOL
ON THEIR OWN, AND DO IT WITH
THEIR FRIENDS, AND THEIR
FAMILY, IT IS -- YOU KNOW --
THERE IS SO MUCH I THINK WE CAN
DO TO MAKE OUR STREETS AROUND
SCHOOL AND THE WAY KIDS GET
THERE A BETTER AND WELCOMING
PLACE AND SET THAT EXPECTATION
FOR HOW PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO
BEHAVE, WHETHER THEY ARE
DRIVING OR ROLLING OR WALKING
TO GET TO SCHOOL. I JUST THINK,
REALLY IMPORTANT WORK. SO -- I
AM -- I AM JUST -- YEAH. I HAVE
LOOKED FORWARD TO CONTINUING
THE WORK AND TRYING TO
TRANSFORM OUR STREETS AROUND
SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE
CAN EXPERIENCE THAT.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, RYAN. IS YOUR OTHER
COCHAIR HERE?
>> NO, IT'S THE OUTGOING
CHAIR.
>> MUCH OF THE WORK WAS DONE
UNDER HER LEADERSHIP. WE ARE
THANKFUL FOR THAT. I JUST TOOK
OVER THIS MONTH AS CHAIR.
>> CAN I JUST ADD ONE THING
ABOUT THE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS
THAT OUR MEMBERS COMING FROM
DIFFERENT AGENCIES ARE REALLY
INVALUABLE IN HELPING US, YOU
KNOW, GET ACCURATE INFORMATION
AND MAKE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN
AGENCIES, BUT WHEN WE ARE DOING
THINGS THAT MOVE MORE INTO
ADVOCACY, YOU KNOW, WRITING
LETTERS TO THE CITY OR STATE
GOVERNMENT, THEY DON'T
PARTICIPATE IN THAT. THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT ONLY THE
VOLUNTEERS WOULD SIGN BECAUSE
EVERYONE IS WELL AWARE OF THAT,
YOU KNOW, THEY NEED TO BE
STAYING WITHIN THE APPROPRIATE
ROLES OF SPS EMPLOYEE, ETC. SO
WHEN YOU SEE THINGS IN THIS
THAT ARE MORE ADVOCACY RELATED,
THAT IS COMING FROM THE
VOLUNTEER MEMBERS.
>> GOT IT.
>> THE MEMBERS REPRESENTING
HERE TODAY.
>> ALL GOOD. I APPRECIATE YOU
ALL, EVERY MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, AND I
APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION AND
SERVICE TO CLEARLY NOT JUST THE
CITY BECAUSE WE ONLY GET SIX
SEATS, BUT IT IS A REGIONAL
TASK FORCE , IT'S A REGIONAL
CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD THAT
TOUCHES SO MANY PEOPLE'S
LIVES, LITERALLY, SO THANK YOU
ALL FOR YOUR TERRIFIC WORK.
COLLEAGUES, ANY FINAL COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS? HEARING AND
SEEING NONE, THANK YOU. HEARING
AND SEEING NONE, O? GO AHEAD .
COUNCILMEMBER?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANT TO
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR YOU
PUTTING TOGETHER TODAY'S
AGENDA AND BRINGING THESE
PRESENTATIONS FORWARD. I THINK
THEY ARE TREMENDOUS LEARNING
FOR THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE
HERE TO IDENTIFY STRATEGIES TO
CREATE MORE SAFETY FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE JUST GOING TO SCHOOL,
AND I SINCERELY HOPE WE CAN
TAKE SOME OF THESE LEARNINGS TO
EXPAND OUR WORK FOR OUR FULL
CITY AND SERVICE OF PEDESTRIAN
SAFETY, THAT WOULD BE, I THINK,
A PRIORITY OF MINE FOR THIS
YEAR. THERE ARE STILL FAR TOO
MANY PERSON VEHICLE COLLISIONS
HAPPENING ON THE VARSITY SO
ANYTHING WE CAN DO FOR THE WORK
YOU ARE DOING AND PREVIOUS
PRESENTERS TO EXPAND ACROSS THE
CITY I THINK WILL BE A GREAT
THING WE COULD ALL WORK ON THIS
YEAR SO THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU. WELL,
HEARING AND SEEING NO FURTHER
FINAL COMMENTS , THANK YOU,
EVERYONE, AGAIN. WE HAVE
REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S
MEETING AGENDA. OUR NEXT
MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR
FEBRUARY FOURTH AT 9:30 A.M. IS
THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
BEFORE WE ADJOURN?
>> MISTER CHAIR, THIS IS
DIRECTLY FROM YOUR CHIEF OF
STAFF, WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO
WISH YOU A HAPPY BIRTHDAY. WE
DON'T WANT TO EMBARRASS YOU
THAT WE APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU
ARE DOING, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY
FRIENDS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. 42 IS THE NEW 32?
ANYWAYS -- ALL RIGHT, COOL.
WELL, THANK YOU. HEARING NO
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE WE ARE ADJOURNED,
IT IS 11:13 A.M.