>>> ALL RIGHT.
GOOD MORNING.
THE MAY 20th, 2025,
MEETING OF THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE
WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 9:30 A.M.
I AM ROB SAKA CHAIR OF
THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK CALL THE
ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>>
HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUS.
>> PRESENT.
>> VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH
HERE.
>> THERE ARE FOUR MEMBERS
PRESENT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THERE ARE NO BJECTIONS
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
SEEING AND HEARING NO
OBJECTIONS THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED.
THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
FOR ATTENDING US TODAY OR
THE MEETING OF THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE WITH US
THIS MORNING.
IN PERSON AND JOINING ONLINE AS
WELL. I NOTE FIRST OFF THAT VICE
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH IS EXCUSED
FROM TODAY'S MEETING JUST FOR
THE RECORD.
FIRST AND FOREMOST START BY
ACKNOWLEDGING ANOTHER TRAGEDY ON
OUR ROADS.
PEDESTRIAN DEATH IN MY
DISTRICT A FEW DAYS AGO IN SOUTH
PARK
AND START BY EXPRESSING MY
SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO THE
FRIENDS
AND FAMILY OF THE GENTLEMAN
STRUCK AND KILLED BY A CAR THIS
PAST THURSDAY, MAY 15th, AT 14th
AVENUE SOUTH AND
HENDERSON STREET.
THIS IS THE SECOND SUCH
PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC FATALITY THAT
THIS SPECIFIC COMMUNITY HAS
HAD TO ENDURE AT
THIS LOCATION IN JUST THE LAST
FIVE MONTHS.
BACK IN DECEMBER, THERE
WAS ANOTHER TRAGIC DEATH AT
THIS VERY SAME
INTERSECTION. AND WE EXPRESS OUR
CONDOLENCES TO NATALIA'S
FRIENDS,
FAMILY, AND HUSBAND ECEDRO.
THAT'S THE VICTIM AND THE
FAMILY OF THE DECEMBER KILLING.
TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THIS
MOST RECENT FATALITY A KILLED
WAS
HIT IN THE CROSSWALK WHILE
GETTING OFF A BUS.
SOUTH PARK RESIDENTS HAVE
RORMTED FREQUENT NEAR-
MISS COLLISIONS IN THE AREA.
ON A RECENT NEIGHBORHOOD WALKING
TOUR MY OFFICE WITNESSED
FIRSTHAND THE HIGH RATES OF
SPEED DOWN THIS ARTERIAL
AND ADVOCATED FOR MITIGATION
EFFORTS A -- EFFORTS AS WELL.
I'VE CALLED FOR IMMEDIATE
ACTION FROM SDOT AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE
TO LEAD MITIGATION EFFORTS.
YESTERDAY I CONVENED A
MEETING WITH DEPUTY MAYOR FAIRLY
AND SDOT'S EMORY AND SAFETY
OFFICER
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
DEPARTMENT'S ANTICIPATED
NEW ACTIONS TO ADDRESS
TRAFFIC SAFETY IN THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUILDING ON THE WORK SDOT
HAS ALREADY UNDERTAKEN TO DATE.
IT IS CLEAR THERE IS MUCH MORE
TO DO.
AFTER THAT CONVERSATION WITH
RELEVANT CITY LEADERS
AND EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS, IT IS
CLEAR TO ME THAT I KNOW
WE SHARE A COMMITMENT TO WANTING
TO DELIVER AS A CITY, PROMPT
IMMEDIATE ACTION TO MAKE THIS
SPECIFIC KNOWN PROBLEM AREA FOR
TRAFFIC COLLISIONS IN SOUTH PARK
SAFER FOR ALL
ROAD USERS, ESPECIALLY THE MOST
VULNERABLE.
AND I'M HAPPY TO
REPORT THAT SDOT HAS COMMITTED
TO
EXPEDITING SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE
AREA THAT WERE ALREADY IN THE
WORKS FOR THIS LATEST TRAGEDY
WHILE EXPLORING WHAT ADDITIONAL
SAFETY
MEASURES COULD BE
QUICKLY EMPLOYED IN THE AREA AND
PARALLELED.
WITH CLEAR TIME TABLES FOR THESE
EXISTING AND NEW
ACTIONS, FINALIZING THOSE TIME
TABLES
BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.
I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW
QUICKLY SDOT CAN MOVE TO
ADDRESS TRAFFIC SAFETY
MITIGATION AS
THEY DID RECENTLY ON FOURTH AND
PINE.
COUNCILMAN KETTLE'S DISTRICT TO
MAKE MUCH NEEDED AND URGENT
SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO PROTECT
CYCLISTS ON OUR ROADS HERE
IN DOWNTOWN, WHICH I SPOKE
ABOUT AND SPECIFICALLY PRAISED
THIS EXCELLENT WORK AT OUR
LAST COMMITTEE MEETING.
WE AS A CITY ARE CAPABLE
OF DELIVERING EFFECTIVE,
RESPONSIVE
RESULTS WHEN THERE'S
SUFFICIENT WILL AND I KNOW THAT
WILL
IS SHARED LOOKING FORWARD
TO SUPPORTING SDOT AS THEY
BRING ABOUT THOSE SOLUTIONS SO
IN THIS AREA.
AND I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR
THAT MY OFFICE WILL
CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR
RESIDENTS
AND VISITORS TO THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD AND WORK TO ENSURE
THAT PROPER
LIFE- SAVING TRAFFIC MITIGATION
MEASURES AREN'T STALLED AND
SDOT
ACTIVELY WORKS TO IMPROVE
THE SAFETY OF THIS
COMMUNITY, SUPPORT --
AND I WILL SUPPORT THEM IN ANY
WAY I CAN.
MOVING ON TO THE FOCUS
OF TODAY'S MEETING IS THE
LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL FOCUS
ON INITIAL SLATE OF APPOINTMENTS
AT
LEAST TO THE LEVY OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE.
COLLEAGUES RECALL THAT THE VOTER
APPROVED TRANSPORTATION
LEVY THAT VOTERS
OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED THIS
PAST FALL IS THE
MOST ACCOUNTABLE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY IN OUR
CITY'S HISTORY.
SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF
AND ALLOWS OUR CITY TO DELIVER
BIG, BOLD TRANSPORTATION
INITIATIVES OVER THE EIGHT YEAR
LIFE CYCLE.
THE LEVY OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE WILL HELP PROVIDE WIL
THE LEVY AN ENSURE THE COMMUNITY
HAS A VOICE IN OUR CITY.
IT WILL ENSURE THAT
THE COMMITTEE IS ABLE TO
EFFECTIVELY
CARRY OUT ITS SOLEMN, VITAL,
OVERSIGHT FUNCTION OF THE LEVY.
SO BY LAW
THE LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
WILL HAVE 19 MEMBERS,
WHICH INCLUDES SEVEN APPOINTEES
FROM EACH OF THE SEVEN COUNCIL
DISTRICTS, FOUR APPOINTEES FROM
EACH OF OUR MOW DAL ADVISORY
BOARDS, RATE BICYCLE,
TRANSIT AND PEDESTRIANS.
THE CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE, CITY BUDGET DIRECTOR
AND A GET ENGAGED YOUTH MEMBER.
THIS COMMITTEE IS CHARGED WITH
CONFIRMING, REVIEWING
AND ULTIMATELY CONFIRMING AT
ITS DISCRETION NOMINEES
SUBMITTED FROM THE COUNCIL AND
MAYOR'S
OFFICE.
TODAY WE WILL HEAR
THE NOMINEES FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE
AND NOMINEES FROM DISTRICTS ONE,
THREE, AND FIVE.
THEN IN OUR SECOND
COMMITTEE MEETING ABOUT THIS
TOPIC,
SECOND AND FINAL MEETING ABOUT
THIS TOPIC ON JUNE 3rd, WE'LL
HEAR THE REMAINING SLATE OF
NOMINEES
WHICH INCLUDES APPOINTEES
IN COUNCILMEMBER OFFICES
FROM
DISTRICTS TWO, FOUR, SIX, AND
SEVEN.
TOGETHER THIS WILL ENSURE
THAT SUBJECT TO COUNCIL REVIEW
AND
CONFIRMATION THE FULL
COMMITTEE THE FOIB CAN BE SEATED
AND
BEGIN THEIR VITAL OVERSIGHT WORK
NO LATER THAN THE BEGINNING OF
JULY WHEN THE COMMITTEE
IS EXPECTED TO MEET FIRST.
THIS LEVY IS A INVESTMENT IN OUR
TRANSPORTATION STRUCTURE AS
I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO AND
HERE
TO DRIVE ACCOUNTABILITY, MAKING
SURE THE TAXPAYERS GET THE MOST
BANG FOR THEIR BUCK SO TO SPEAK.
STRONG RETURNS ON THEIR
INVESTMENT. THANK YOU, AGAIN,
COLLEAGUES
FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT AS WE HELP
BRING TO LIFE THIS IMPORTANT
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR OUR
COMMITTEE.
THAT SAID, WE WILL NOW
OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD RELATE
TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
HOW MANY SPEAKERS
ARE SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY ZERO IN PERSON
AND ONE REMOTE SPEAKER.
>> EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES.
WE'LL START ALL WE HAVE IS
REMOTE, SO CLERK, PLEASE READ
THE PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS.
PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE MODERATED
IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER.
20 MINUTES SPEAKERS
CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY
REGISTERED, WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN IN PERSON AND
REMOTE
SPEAKERS, SPEAKERS WILL HEAR
A CHIME WHEN TEN SECOND ARE
LEFT OF THEIR TIME AND
SPEAKERS' MICS
WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DO NOT
END WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME TO
CALL
ON THE NEXT SPEAKER.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS OPEN
AND WE
WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
THAT IS DAVID HAINES.
YOU'RE ALLOWED TO HIT.
REMEMBER TO HIT STAR 6.
>> HI.
THANK YOU.
DAVID HAINES.
I TOOK THE LINK LIGHT RAIL TO
CITY HALL AND EXITED OUT OF THE
PIONEER SQUARE AREA
ACROSS FROM THE COURTHOUSE AND
THERE
WAS LIKE OVER 15 COMPETELY
STRUNG OUT WHACKED OUT OF THEIR
--
DRUG ADDICTS AND
UNSAFE TO TURN YOUR
BACK. WHEN
YOU WALK UP TO THIRD AND CROSS
THE STREET ON THE CORNER
OF THE COURTHOUSE THERE'S
TWO COP CARS SITTING ON THE
SIDEWALK ONE OF THE COP CARS
IS RUNNING AND THEY'RE NOT
DOING ANYTHING BUT SHOWING FORCE
AND MAKING IT SEEM LIKE
THEY'RE KEEPING THE COURTHOUSE
SAFE.
BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE
THIS, LIKE, TERRITORIAL WITH THE
COPS AND METRO WHEN THEY ARGUE
ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE
FOR WHEN IT COMES TO AN AREA
LIKE
THE BUS STOP OR OUTSIDE THE BUS
STOP. I JUST DON'T GET IT WHERE
THE COPS ALL THESE COPS ARE
INSIDE THE COURTHOUSE ACTING
LIKE THEY'RE KEEPING IT SAFE
BUT THEY
DON'T MAKE ANY PROACTIVE
EFFORT TO HELP MAKE IT SAFE
ACROSS THE
STREET÷÷STREET THE CORNER.
IT'S LIKE WHATEVER TAKES PLACE
IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, CONTINUES
TO TAKE PLACE AND WHATEVER
MAYOR AND WHATEVER POLICY COMING
OUT
OF COUNCIL IS NOT MAKING A
DIFFERENCE BECAUSE IT'S STILL
UNSAFE TO GO ANYWHERE NEAR
TRANSIT ORIENTED TRANSPORTATION
BECAUSE NOBODY TRULY MAKES AN
EFFORT TO SHUT DOWN THE
EVIL PIECES OF CRAP THAT MAKE IT
A
LIVING HELL. AND I HATE TO SAY
THIS, BUT
IT'S HIGHLY OFFENSIVE WHEN I
HEAR
A COUNCILMEMBER TRY TO TWIST UP
THE INTERPRETATIONS OF
PUBLIC SAFETY AND LET'S SAY YOU
GOT
A BUNCH OF GANG BANGERS
SHOOTING OFF GUNS LIKE A HUNDRED
SHOTS, RIGHT, AND THE
COUNCILMEMBER GETS UP AND TRIES
TO DROWN
OUT HIS DISTRICT AND
START TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC
SIDEWALKS
LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO
BE SAFE WITH YOUR PUBLIC
SIDEWALK BUT NOT
DO MUCH ABOUT THE DRUG
PUSHERS CONDUCTING UNCIVIL WARS
ON
COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE TO SYMPATHIZE WITH THE
DEVIL.
IT'S UNSAFE TO GO DOWNTOWN!
>> THANK YOU, DAVID.
THAT CONCLUDES THE
SPEAKERS SIGNED
UP.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST
ITEM OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK
READ ITEMS ONE THROUGH NINE INTO
THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH NINE
APPOINTMENTS 03149 TO 03157,
APPOINTMENTS OF LEONARD HAIR
RONSON JER MOMENT, JACK
BRAND, ALEX HUDSON, CHASE
KITCHEN, STEVEN PUMPHREY, KAID
NI
RAY-TIPTON, NAFISO
SAMATAR, TYLER VASQUEZ, JACK
EDSON
WHISNER, AS
MEMBERS TRANSPORTATION LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR TERMS
TO DECEMBER 31, 2028.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU.
WILL OUR PRESENTERS PLEASE AND
NOMINEES HERE, PLEASE JOIN US
AT THE TABLE.
PLEASE THEIR YOUR PRESENTATIONS
WHEN READY AND EVERYONE
INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
>> THANK YOU.
SO HELLO.
I'M LEHMAN WITH THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION
AND OUR ASSET MANAGER AND
WORK CLOSELY ON REPORTING
AND MONITORING OUR LEVY.
I'LL HAND IT TO MY COLLEAGUE
TO INTRODUCE HERSELF AND A BRIEF
BACK GROUND ON WHAT THE LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IS AND
COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS.
>> I'M ELEEN TRANG.
I'M WITH THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
THE COMMITTEE'S COORDINATOR.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR
HAVING US HERE TODAY,
COUNCIL MEMBERSES.
JUST A REMINDER THE
2024 TRANSPORTATION LEVY WAS
APLOECHDS LAST YEAR.
$8. 51 BILLION WILL
PROVIDE FUNDING TO MODERNIZE
THE TRANSPORTATION
STRUCTURE INCLUDING BUILDING
SIDEWALK,
PAVING STREETS, BRIDGES AND
TRABS
TRANSIT COMMITTEES.
THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WAS
ESTABLISHED TO MONITOR REVENUES,
EXPENDITURE AND PROGRAM
AND PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION.
THE FIRST MEETING WILL BE ON
JUNE 17th
HERE IN CITY HALL. MOST
IMPORTANTLY THIS
OVERSIGHT OVERSIGHT IS TASKED
WITH
ADVISING CITY COUNCIL AND
MAYOR ON THE PERFORMANCE OF LEVY
PROGRAMS.
THE LLC PROVIDES GREAT VALUE
TO THIS IN MANY WAYS, INCLUDING
SERVING AS A KEY PARTNER
IN ENHANCING TRANSPARENCY
AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO
SEATTLE TAXPAYERS AND THE
BROADER
COMMUNITY. THIS IS STRUCTURED
SIMILARLY
TO OUR PREVIOUS LEVY OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEEs AS
COUNCILMEMBER NOTED IT'S
COMPOSED OF 19
MEMBERS, AN INCREASE FROM
OUR LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
WHICH HAS 16 MEMBERS.
THE CHANGE INCLUDES THE ONE
GET ENGAGED MEMBER AND HOW WE
HAVE
COUNCIL DISTRICT REPUTATION.
WE HAD FIVE APPOINTED WITHOUT
SEATTLE WE HAVE
ONE COUNCILMEMBER PER
DISTRICT APPOINTED.
AND THEN AS COUNCILMEMBER
NOTED WE HAVE FOUR --
REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL
OF THE MOBILE BOARDS AS WELL AS
FIVE
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE.
SO I WILL NOW -- I
THINK THAT IS ALL AND I'LL PS
THIS
TO ELEEN TRANG TO INTRODUCE THE
COMMITTEE
MEMBERS FOR CONFIRMATION
TODAY.
>> SO THE FIRST
ACTUALLY COMMITTEE MEMBER IS
LEONARD HARRISON JEROME, UNABLE
TO
BE HERE
TODAY. I DID HAVE A STATEMENT
FROM
HIM IF I MAY.
SO FROM JEROME, LEONARD I
WANT TO SERVE ON THE BOARD
BECAUSE WE MUST PROVE THAT
DEMOCRACY
CAN DELIVER FOR ITS
CONSTITUENTS.
OUR CITY MUST
DRASTICALLY CHANGE TO I A COM
DATE THE MILLIONS
OF PEOPLE THAT WILL COME HERE
OVER THIS CENTURY DUE
TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND BEING A
PROGRESSIVE FASHION WHERE PEOPLE
OF
ALL BACKGROUNDS CAN SEEK REFUGE.
WE THESE THE CITY TO INVEST
IN
SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE AND
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SAVES
PEOPLE THE NEED TO OTHER THAN A
CAR TO
GIVE MORE SPACE TO THE
THINGS THAT MAKE OUR CITY WORTH
LIVING IN SUCH AS
HOUSING, INDUSTRY AND
GREEN SPACE. I WANT TO ENSURE
THESE PROJECTS
HELP AND APPLY MY SKILLS
TO ENSURE THAT SDOT
AND THE CITY COUNCIL ARE
DELIVERING THE
VOTER APPROVED PROJECTS.
THAT'S FROM LEONARD.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA
IS JACK
BRAND.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JACK BRAND, AND I'M
A RESIDENT OF RAINIER BEACH.
I'M HONORED TO HAVE
BEEN CONSIDERED TO SERVE ON
THE LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
I MOVED TO RAINIER BEACH
ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO AND BECAME
INVOLVED AS A VOLUNTEER FOR THE
RAINIER BEACH ACTION COALITION.
ON A RECENT RECREATING
HENDERSON STREET PROJECT.
I PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON
TRANSPORTATION AND WE HAD
CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH SDOT,
METRO, AND SOUND TRANSIT.
I NOW FACILITATE THE RAINIER
BEACH ACTION
COALITION TRANSPORTATION AND
LAND
USE ROUNDTABLE WHICH BRINGS
TOGETHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
BUSINESS OWNERS TO STAY ABREAST
OF
AND PROVIDE INPUT ON
TRANSPORTATION EFFORTS SUCH AS
THE ONES THE
LEVY WILL ENCOMPASS IN THIS
ROLE I WAS MOTIVATED AND
INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE
LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, I'M THE
PARENT OF TWO DISABLED
ADULT CHILDREN WHO LIVE WITH ME
AND DEPEND HEAVILY ON
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AS THEY
CANNOT
DRIVE.
OUR FAMILY ACTUALLY
RELOCATED FROM THE EAST SIDE TO
SEATTLE WITH ACCEPTABLE
TRANSPORTATION
IN MIND.
WHILE I DON'T HAVE A
DEEP PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE, I
PLAN TO LEARN MUCH FROM MY
COLLEAGUES AND REPRESENT THE
TRANSPORTATION
NEEDS OF MY COMMUNITY AND
THE SEATTLE VOTERS AND
TAXPAYERS.
THANK YOU.
>> AND WHY DON'T WE DO THE
ROUND ROBIN FOR FOLKS HERE
AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF, SHARE
ANY THOUGHTS THAT YOU
MIGHT HAVE.
>> ALEX HUDSON.
>> THANK YOU.
HELLO.
MY NAME IS ALEX HUDSON I AM
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
COMMUTE
SEATTLE.
I AM A FIRST RESIDENT RAISING MY
FAMILY.
BEEN THERE FOR
16 YEARS. AND I HAVE SPENT THE
LAST
SEVEN YEARS OF MY PROFESSIONAL
CAREER DEDICATED TO HELPING
BUILD THE
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT
WORKS FOR PEOPLE AND MEETS
IMPORTANT PUBLIC POLICY GOALS.
I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO
MAYOR HARRELL FOR NOMINATING ME
TO SERVE ON THIS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT COMMITTEE.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT
WE GET THE TRANSPORTATION
LEVY
CORRECT. WE NEED TO HAVE
STRUCTURE THAT
ALLOWS PEOPLE AND GOODS TO MOVE
AROUND OUR CITY FREELY,
TO ACCESS OPPORTUNITY AND
EACH
OTHER. WE NEED TO MAKE SOME
IMPORTANT STATED PUBLIC POLICY
GOALS
ADOPTED OVER A VERY LONG TIME
INCLUDING REACHING THE GOAL
OF HAVING NINE OUT OF TEN
TRIPS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE BE
MADE IN
A MULTIMODAL WAY SO THAT WE CAN
MOVE FORWARD IN EQUITABLE
ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY AND A
SUSTAINABLE
ENVIRONMENT FOR NOW AND FUTURE
GENERATIONS.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE
ASK TAXPAYERS AND THEY
ARE GENEROUS WITH THEIR FUNDING
THAT WE ARE STEWARDS
OF THAT. WE NEED TO DELIVER ON
THE PROJECTS PEOPLE ARE
EXPECTING IN
A FAST, EFFICIENT AND AFFORDABLE
WAY AND SHARE SAKA YOU
SPOKE THIS MORNING ABOUT ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT REASONS OF
ALL THAT OUR TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM REFLECT OUR CORE
VALUES STARTING WITH SAFETY.
NO TOLERATION FOR HARM,
VIOLENCE OR LOSS OF LIFE IN
OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM OR
ELSEWHERE.
SO I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HELP MOVE THESE
IMPORTANT POLICY
PRIORITIES FORWARD AND TO BRING
WHAT I
KNOW ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM TO THE --
SERVE THE PUBLIC OF THE PEOPLE
NOW AND IN THE
FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS CHASE KITCHEN.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
CONSIDERATION OF MY NOMINATION.
I'M EXCITED
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN
THE LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO SPEND MY
CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE
TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE, EQUITABLE
AND
JUST COMMUNITIES THAT
INCLUDES MAYBE TOO LONG OF A
TIME AS A
LEGISLATIVE STAFFER IN
CONGRESS, POLICY ADVISORS HERE
FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
RECENTLY BEEN HELPING LOCAL,
STATE AND
PROVINCIAL LEADERS PASS USE FOR
THEIR REGIONAL MOBILITY NEEDS.
I'M A VOLUNTEER BOARD
MEMBER WITH COMMUTE SEATTLE
WHERE I
SERVE AS TREASURER, AND I'M
ALSO A VOLUNTEER MEMBER OF THE
BOARD
FOR THE NEWLY
FORMED MANUFACTURING OF OUR
TIME ADVOCATING FOR THE WELL-
BEING
OF SEATTLE'S INDUSTRI
CASCADE BICYCLE CLUBS
PROJECT WHERE WE BRING FOLKS
THEIR GROCERIES BY BIKE EVERY
WEEK.
IF CONFIRMED I LOOK FORWARD
TO APPLYING THE PRINCIPLES THAT
I'VE SEEN BRING SUCCESS IF
THESE ROLES.
THAT'S BEING A CONSISTENT,
FIRM,
COMMITMENT TO
TRANSPARENCY, ENCOURAGING
GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
PROGRAMS AND
DECISIONS, AND RETAINING
A RELENTLESS FOCUS ON ENSURING
INVESTMENTS IN PROGRAMS BENEFIT
THE END USERS OF THE PROGRAMS
AND NOT JUST THE PROGRAMS
THEMSELVES.
IF CONFIRMED, I WOULD
BE HONORED TO PLAY A ROLE IN
CONTRIBUTING
TO A LEVY OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE AND ENSURE TAXPAYERS'
FUNDS
ARE USED WISELY, FAIRLY AND FOR
THE
MAXIMUM BENEFIT OF OUR WELL
BEING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS STEVEN
PUMPHREY.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK MANY OF YOU SITTING
HERE TODAY RECOGNIZE ME.
I'VE BEEN BEFORE THE
COUNCIL ADVOCATING FOR SAFE
STREETS
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS
NOW, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE USE
OF TECHNOLOGY TO -- OUR
ENFORCEMENT AND ALSO REDESIGN OF
THE ENVIRONMENT THAT STREETS AND
PARKS CREATE.
I HAVE 35 YEARS EXPERIENCE
IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES
INDUSTRY IN HIGH LEADERSHIP
POSITIONS
AND I UNDERSTAND FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS, I UNDERSTAND
THE BUDGETING PROCESS, I
UNDERSTAND BUDGET VARIANCES,
UNDERSTAND
HOW COSTS ARE ALLOCATED TO
BUDGETS
AND I THINK I CAN BRING THAT
UNDERSTANDING TO THE COMMITTEE.
DO I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING
THAT GOES INTO SDOT'S WORK?
NO, I DON'T.
BUT I KNOW HOW TO ASK
QUESTIONS TO FIND OUT IN A WAY
AND LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING
MORE ABOUT
WHAT SDOT REALLY DOES IN
THE CITY.
I'M A PROPONENT FOR SDOT.
I'M A SUPPORTER FOR SDOT BUT
I'M
ALSO A HEALTHY SKEPTIC, AND I --
AS I TOLD SOMEONE ON THE
COUNCIL WHEN I WAS ASKED ABOUT
THIS
POSITION, RUBBER STAMP SDOT
DECISIONS THEN I'M PROBABLY
THE WRONG PERSON TO HAVE.
BUT I AM WILLING TO LISTEN
AND LEARN AND CONTRIBUTE.
I'M A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE.
I HAVE A KEEN INTEREST IN
PUBLIC SAFETY, A CLEAN AND
SAFE WELCOMING SEATTLE
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING ON
THE BOARD.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT KAID NI RAY-TIPTON.
>> MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, GOOD
MORNING.
MY NAME IS KAID NI RAY-
TIPTON AND I USE HE HIM
PRONOUNS.
I AM HONORED TO BE HERE
TODAY SELECTED AS AN APPOINTEE
TO
THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY
OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE. I WAS RAISED IN KENT
AND I
GREW UP WITH LIMITED
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ACCESS.
AFTER MOVING TO SEATTLE FOR
COLLEGE, I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE
BUS.
MY LICENSELESS SELF COULD
GET AROUND WITHOUT HAVING TO
WALK MILES OR RELY ON FRIENDS
WITH
CARS.
FROM EXPLORING OUR
BEAUTIFUL CITY TO HAVING ACCESS
TO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, I
KNOW
WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE TRANSIT
BE YOUR PRIMARY MODE OF TRAVEL.
I'M EAGER TO SERVE ON
THIS COMMITTEE BECAUSE
LOOKING BACK THROUGH PREVIOUS
LOC WORK I
CAN PINPOINT SPECIFIC PROJECTs
THAT HELPED MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN
MY
LIFE.
LIKE THE MEMBERS OF THE TWO
PREVIOUS COMMITTEES I WANT TO
SUPPORT THE LEVY TO
ENSURE RESIDENTS OF OUR AREA
BENEFIT FROM IMPROVED MOBILITY
IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME TODAY, AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO
WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU
ALL.
>> THANK
YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE NAFISO SAMATAR.
>> MY NAME IS NAFISO SAMATAR.
YEAH, MY NAME IS NAFISO SAMATAR.
I'M A SOMALISOMALI
ALLIANCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AND PRESIDENT.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH
THE COMMUNITY FOR THE LAST 25
YEARS.
THROUGH MY WORK I HAVE
INVOLVED IN TRANSPORTATION
RELATED
SEATTLE ELECTRIC
TRACKS
INCENTIVE PROJECT, THROUGH
MY WORK I HAVE BEEN ALSO LED
COMMUNITY AWARENESS
AND ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE THAT
ARE
GREATER TOWARD TRANSPORTATION
AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
I AM A PASSIONATE
ABOUT IMPORTANT SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION AND MAKING SURE
PUBLIC
FUNDS USED WISELY
AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT THE MOST.
I AM INTERESTED IN
TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE
IT'S DIRECTLY AFFECT COMMUNITY
ACCESS, JOBS, SCHOOLS AND
THE DAILY NEEDS, ESPECIALLY FOR
THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE
WORKING
WITH AND SUPPORTING EVERY DAY.
THEREFORE, IT IS AN HONOR FOR
ME TO BE HERE AND SERVE IN THE
LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
THANKS FOR MR. MAYOR APPOINTED
ME AND UNDERSTANDING THE
COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT AND
IMPORTANT BEING HERE. THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS
TYLER
VASQUEZ. I HAVE A LETTER IF I
CAN --
>>
YEP.
GO AHEAD.
>> DEAR SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM HONORED AND
EXCITED TO BE NOMINATED TO THE
LEVY
OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE. I WANT TO EXTEND MY
SINCERE
THANKS TO JOY HOLLINGSWORTH FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN
THIS CAPACITY TO REPRESENT
DISTRICT
THREE. GROWING UP IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS DIVIDED BY A
FREEWAY WHERE
I COULDN'T WALK TO SCHOOL
BECAUSE OF A FOUR LANE
ARTERIAL, BACK THEN USING A CAR
WAS THE
ONLY VIABLE OPTION TO GET AROUND
AND I OFTEN WONDERED WHY THINGS
WERE
BUILT THAT WAY.
NOW BEING NOMINATED AS A
MEMBER OF THE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE I
HOPEFULLY HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THE
ANSWER TO
THOSE CHILDHOOD QUESTIONS AND
GRATEFUL
FOR THE CHANCE TO CONTRIBUTE
MY LIMITED EXPERIENCE AND
KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE SEATTLE
STREETS
SAFER, MORE ACCESSIBLE AND
EQUITABLE TO
ALL AND LOOK FORWARD TO
LEARNING FROM MY FELLOW
COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AND WORK TOGETHER TO
ENSURE
THE LEVY DELIVERS MEANINGFUL
IMPROVEMENTS FOR EVERY
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD INCLUDING
THE
ONES LIKE MINE.
SINCERELY TYLER VASQUEZ.
>> AWESOME.
THANK YOU.
>> THEN FINALLY WE HAVE
JACK WHISNER.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR
SAKA, MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE.
MY NAME IS JACK WHISNER.
I WAS BORN IN OLD BALLARD
HOSPITAL, LIVE IN BALLARD,
GREW UP IN SHOIRLINE AND LIVING
IN SEATTLE SINCE 1980 WHEN
I WENT TO GRAD SCHOOL.
I BECAME AN ECONOMIST, SO
I STILL THINK LIKE AN ECONOMIST.
I'VE HAD POSITIONS LIKE THIS
ONE
SEVERAL TIMES ONCE FOR
THE SHORELINE SCHOOLS, ONCE FOR
SDOT, AND ONCE FOR
METRO
TRANSIT. I'VE BEEN A POLITICAL
ACTIVIST SINCE ABOUT 1970.
AND I SERVED ON THE BOARDS OF
NONPROFITS THAT
WERE TRANSPORTATION
RELATED, TRANSPORTATION CHOICE
COALITION
AND FEET FIRST.
WITH REGARD TO THE LEVY, I
THINK I PRIMARILY AM INTERESTED
IN PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT AND
SIDEWALKS.
AND I'M VERY KEEN ON THE --
TO SEE THAT BOTH FUNDS AND RIGHT
OF
WAY ARE SCARCE.
CHAIR SAKA TALKED ABOUT
PINE STREET AND 14th AVENUE
SOUTH.
THOSE HAVE FREQUENT TRANSIT
SERVICE, SO WE NEED THE
ANSWERS TO BE BOTH
SAFE AND TO NOT CHOKE TRANSIT
TOO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. WHISNER.
>> THAT'S IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
FIRST OFF I WANT TO
THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT WORK.
AND APPRECIATE YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE YOUR CITY
IN THIS WAY.
IT IS TREMENDOUSLY IMPACTFUL.
SO I WANT TO TURN IT OVER AND
JUST A MOMENT TO MY
COLLEAGUES TO THE EXTENT THEY
HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
FIRST OFF WANT TO MAKE TWO
QUICK NOTES.
SO THE NOW
EXPIRED TRANSPORTATION LEVY FROM
2015
I BELIEVE, EXPIRED MOVE SEATTLE
LEVY, THAT ONE NOTORIOUSLY
OR INFAMOUSLY GOT OFF TO A
SLOW START.
AND SUCH TO THE -- TO AN
EXTENT THAT THERE WAS A WIDELY
PUBLICIZED RE- SET, LEVY RE- SET
A FEW YEARS AFTER
IMPLEMENTATION.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
UNDERLYING CHALLENGES THAT
CONTRIBUTED
TO THAT SLOW
START AND ENSUING RE-SET, SOME
OF WHICH WE WORKED
HARD AS THE ARCHITECTS OR
CO- CO-ARCHITECTS OF THE NEW
LEVY
INCLUDING THE
OVERSIGHT COMMISSION THAT IT
WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
FOR EXAMPLE, THAT'S WHY
WE CALLED ON THE DEPARTMENT
TO ISSUE AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
AND
SHOULD BEFORE VOTERS EVEN
HAVE THE COMMUNITY TO WEIGH IN,
END
OF SEPTEMBER I THINK
IS WHEN SDOT ISSUED ITS
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN THAT SHOULD
VOTERS
APPROVE THE LEVY, THESE ARE THE
CONCRETE
SPECIFIC STEPS THAT SDOT WILL
TAKE AND PERFORM IN ORDER
TO MAKE SURE IT'S
READY TO
IMMEDIATELY HIT THE GROUND
RUNNING.
THAT INCLUDED THINGS
LIKE QUICKLY STAFFING UP.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE
UNDERLYING CHALLENGES THE FIRST
TIME
AROUND FOR -- DURING -- NOT THE
FIRST TIME AROUND, SOME FORM
OF TRANSPORTATION LEVY
HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MULTIPLE
DECADES.
THE NOW EXPIRED LEVY TO MOVE
SEATTLE, THE LACK OF
STAFFING AND PLANS AND HIRING TO
DELIVER
UPON THESE COMMITMENTS, SO
AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS
THIS
YEAR, LED BY BUDGET CHAIR
STRAUS, WE ENSURED THAT
THE DEPARTMENT HAD A PLAN, I
THINK 70 SOMETHING EMPLOYEES IS
WHAT IT DETERMINED IT WILL NEED
TO STAFF UP IN ORDER TO BE ABLE
TO
EFFECTIVELY START DELIVERING
UPON THIS AND
AGAIN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
THAT IS JUST ONE OF THE
MANY THINGS THAT WE -- FEATURES
WE BAKED INTO THE LEVY THAT
VOTERS APPROVED WITH THEIR
GENEROSITY TO MAKE SURE WE AVOID
A, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, SLOW START.
WE DON'T WANT A RESET WITH
THIS LEVY.
THE EXECUTIVE PREVIOUSLY NOTED
DURING THE PRESENTATION A
NUMBER OF UNIQUE, COOL, AND
EXCITING, RIVETING FEATURES
ABOUT THIS
LEVY COMPARED TO THE NOW EXPIRED
LEVY, THE NEW STRUCTURE
COMPOSITION.
I'LL NOTE ONE OF THEM
MYSELF, THIS IS FIRST TIME EVER
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
CONTEXT, BUT
FIRST TIME EVER, THE LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE NOW HAS
EXPRESS AUDIT
POWER.
WHAT DOES THAT
MEAN? NOW, YOU CAN COMPEL AND
SEEK AUDITS AND PAPERWORK
AND ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION
WITHOUT
HAVING TO RELY OLELY ON THE
GOOD GRACES OF THE DEPARTMENT.
YOU HAVE EXPRESS AUDIT POUR PO.
HASN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE TO MY
KNOWLEDGE.
THIS IS A HUGELY IMPACTFUL
POWER AND TOOL THAT YOU ALL HAVE
AT YOUR BECK AND DISPOSAL AND ME
BY
VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT I SIT AS
TRANSPORTATION CHAIR.
WE HAVE OUR OWN CENTRAL
STAFF EXPERT CALVIN CHOW AT THE
TABLE.
BEFORE I TURN IT OVER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES,
CAL, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING
TO ADD?
WE NOTED THE EXECUTIVE NOTED
A FEW CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS
COMMITTEE, DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE ON -- AS SOMEONE
WHO WORKED CLOSELY WITH ALL OF
US TO
CRAFT AND DESIGN THE FEATURES IN
THIS LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
>> NO,
COUNCILMEMBER, I DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING NEW TO ADD.
I'M HERE AT YOUR
REQUEST TO
SUPPORT THE DISCUSSION OF THE
COMMITTEE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
COOL.
COLLEAGUES, WHAT DO YOU GOT?
WHAT COMMENTS DO ANY OF YOU
ALL HAVE?
VICE CHAIR IS NOT HERE.
I WOULD.
GO AHEAD COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, AT
THE TABLE, PARTICULARLY
THOSE
VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME. I
APPRECIATE IT.
IT TAKES A AN AMOUNT OF SERVICE
AND NOW I'M REFLECTING ON YOUR
SERVICE NEARLY 60 YEARS
AGO, MR. PUMPHREY.
IN THE ARMY.
THAT SERVICE IS REALLY
IMPORTANT AND BRINGING YOUR
VARIOUS
BACKGROUNDS IS VERY IMPORTANT,
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
THAT EXPERIENCE TO USE.
HOPEFULLY AS WELL,
EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER CITIES.
ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF
WORKING THROUGH OUR
TRANSPORTATION
CHALLENGES IS, YOU KNOW,
COMPARE AND CONTRAST VARIOUS
CITIES
I'VE LIVED IN AND I THINK
IT'S HELPFUL IN TERMS OF
PERSPECTIVE
AND CONTEXT AND IDEAS ABOUT
HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE DIDN'T REALLY GO INTO
THAT, BUT IF YOU HAVE THAT KIND
OF
EXPERIENCE, I'D ASK THAT YOU
BRING IT TO THE TABLE.
ALSO, REALLY IMPORTANT AND
ALLUDED WITH THE OVERSIGHT PIECE
CHAIR SAKA SAID IT'S
GOOD
GOVERNANCE. WE NEED TO HAVE AN
OVERSIGHT
PANEL, A BOARD THAT'S
REALLY PUSHING THE GOOD
GOVERNANCE PIECE TO ENSURE
THINGS ARE
MOVING ON A STEADY,
PROPER, GOOD TIMELINE, THAT
THINGS
AREN'T SLIDING.
I KNOW THINGS HAPPEN BUT
THAT'S WHEN YOU GET CREATIVE
AND
MAKE THINGS HAPPEN AND THEN
YOUR OVERSIGHT IS GOING TO BE
REALLY IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT
THE --
NOT JUST THAT THE MONEY IS
BEING SPENT WISELY BUT ON TIME
AND EFFICIENTLY AND GETTING THE
MOST
OUT OF IT AS WELL.
TWO QUESTIONS.
OBVIOUSLY, I CHAIR PUBLIC
SAFETY, MAYBE NOT OBVIOUS TO
YOU, BUT MY COLLEAGUES HERE,
AND HISTORICALLY I'VE LOOKED IN
THIS
AREA TWO DIFFERENT
AREAS, TRAFFIC SAFETY WHERE
I'M PRIMARILY WORKING WITH SPD
AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, MORE OF
AN SDOT FUNCTION IN MY MIND OF
BIFURCATING OUT.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE HAD A
COUPLE DEATHS IN THE SOUTH END
RECENTLY
AN ELDERLY WOMAN AND ANOTHER
ONE AS WELL.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE OUR WORK
AND ALL THAT RELATED PROJECTS
THAT WE HAVE AND IF YOU CAN
SPEAK
TO ANY EXPERIENCE OR THOUGHTS
RELATED TO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND
TRAFFIC SAFETY, I'D OPEN UP
TO THE -- SINCE WE HAVE MANY
HERE, OPEN UP TO THE TABLE IF
YOU
HAVE ANY COMMENTS RELATED TO
THAT. MISS HUDSON, I KNOW YOU
DO.
I KNOW YOU AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> YEAH.
THE CITY OVER A DECADE AGO
ADOPTED VISION ZERO GOALS
ALONG WITH A LOT OF OTHER
CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHICH
SAYS
THAT WE WILL ACCEPT AND
TOLERATE ZERO SERIOUS INJURIES
OR FATALITY IN OUR ROADWAY AND
UNFORTUNATELY SEATTLE, LIKE MANY
OTHER CITIES ACROSS OUR
COUNTRY, IS NOT ON TRACK TO
ACHIEVE THAT
GOAL. AND THE LOSS OF HUMAN
LIFE AND THE SUFFERING THAT
CAUSES
TO LOSE A BELOVED COMMUNITY
MEMBER AND FAMILY MEMBER, IS
INTOLERABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE
AND WE KNOW THAT IT IS POSSIBLE
TO
DESIGN STREETS THAT ARE SAFE FOR
PEOPLE.
IN MY DISTRICT, A WOMAN
WAS KILLED WALKING HOME FROM
THE GROCERY STORE ABOUT A YEAR
AGO.
AND SO I THINK ABOUT
THAT ALL THE TIME.
I WALK ON THAT ROAD ALL THE
TIME.
MY DAUGHTER WHO IS 16 YEARS OLD
RIDES HER SCOOTER TO THE
LIGHT RAIL TO GO TO SCHOOL EVERY
DAY ON THAT ROAD, AND SOME OF
US UNFORTUNATELY CAN TELL TALES
OF
NEAR MISSES OR PEOPLE WE HAVE
LOVED WHO WE HAVE LOST.
THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO GET IT
RIGHT. WHAT WE INVEST IN, WHAT
WE DON'T
INVEST IN HAVE OUTCOMES
AND THIS IS OUR GREATEST TOOL TO
BUILD OUR CITY AND ELEVATE
SEATTLE AS
A PLACE THAT REALLY VALUES
HUMAN
LIFE.
>> THANK YOU.
CAN I FOLLOW UP ON THAT
QUICKLY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT, SINCE YOU'VE
MENTIONED -- BY
THE WAY, I WAS HOPING YOU WERE
FIRST HILL D 7, BUT FIRST HILL D
3.
>> I'M DEFINITELY IN D
3.
>> YES.
THE -- SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE
BIKE LANES BUILDING OUT
THAT NETWORK AND THERE ARE
CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY THAT
NEED MORE
OF THAT WORK NOW.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW
THINGS
CHANGE? LIKE, I REMEMBER WHEN I
WAS IN THE QUEEN ANNE COMMUNITY
COUNCIL GETTING THE BRIEFING IN
TERMS
OF OF WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN
WITH
QUEEN ANNE NORTH WHICH
JUST FINISHED IN FRONT OF THE
HOTEL BETWEEN MERCER AND ROY,
BIG
CHANGE FOR BICYCLISTS
THROUGH THAT AREA, BUT WHEN AN
EXPECTATION REGARDING THE
SCOOTERS,
THE EMOBILITY TYPES, THE
NEW SHUTTLES AND SEW OVER
THE NEXT -- OVER THE COURSE OF
THIS
LEVY THERE ARE GOING TO
BE THINGS THAT HAPPEN THAT
WE'RE NOT ANTICIPATING RIGHT
NOW.
HOW DO YOU SEE OR
YOUR COLLEAGUES AT THE TABLE
SEE, YOU KNOW, THE FLEX TO
ENSURE THAT
WE FLEX AS A CITY AND TO ENSURE
THAT THAT OVERSIGHT IS DONE
SO THAT WE INCORPORATE THESE NEW
PIECES AND FIND A WAY FOR
EMOBILITY TO BE SAFER
OR LEVERAGING THE INVESTMENT
THAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE BIKE
LANES, FOR EXAMPLE?
CAN YOU SPEAK TO ADJUSTING TO
NEW TECHNOLOGY AND NEW WAYS
OF
DOING IT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
MICRO MOBILITY IN THE
CITY, SEATTLE MOVES MILLIONS OF
PEOPLE
EVERY YEAR AND THEY ARE
A CRITICAL PART OF CLOSING THE
FIRST LAST MILE GAP THAT
GETS PEOPLE TO THE IMPORTANT
PLACES THAT THEY WANT TO GO
AND ACCOMMODATING THAT IS A
REALLY IMPORTANT WAY THAT WE CAN
GET PEOPLE MOVING AND MOVING
SAFELY.
YOUR OPENING QUESTION, HOW
DO THINGS CHANGE?
I THINK THINGS CHANGE IN TWO
WAYS, WHEN WE SET PUBLIC
POLICY OBJECTIVE AND RELENTLESS
IN
THE PURSUIT OF THE INVESTMENTS
THAT
ACHIEVE THEM, WORKING THROUGH
COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO MAKE
THAT HAPPEN, AND UNFORTUNATELY,
THEY ALSO CHANGE IN DIRE NEED OF
TRAGEDY.
I THINK ABOUT THE LOSS OF
AN SDOT EMPLOYEE, WHICH
ACCELERATED THE BUILD OUT OF
THE SECOND AVENUE PROTECTED BIKE
LANE,
NOW A VITAL
PART OF THE CONNECTIVITY
ACROSS OUR CITY. SO I REALLY
HOPE
THAT IT DOESN'T -- THAT WE CAN
SOLVE
THE PROBLEM SO THAT WE DON'T
HAVE
TO BE ACCELERATED BY LOSS OF
LIFE OR INJURY IN ORDER TO HAVE
THESE INVESTMENTS COME TO BEAR,
AND
I REALLY APPLAUD THE DEPARTMENT
OF
TRANSPORTATION FOR CREATING
A POLICY FRAMEWORK,
ESPECIALLY AROUND THE HIGH
INJURY
NETWORK, WHICH IS SOMETHING I
THINK THAT
WE SHOULD ALL STRIVE TO
ELIMINATE IN
OUR CITY. I WANT IT LIVE IN A
CITY
THAT DOESN'T HAVE SUCH A THING,
HIGH
INJURY NETWORK.
AND AS WELL AS THE OTHER KIND
OF FRAMEWORKS OF INVESTMENTS, SO
I
BELIEVE STRONGLY IN THE
GOOD WORK THE DEPARTMENT HAS
DONE TO GET US TO THAT PLACE
BUT MAKE SURE I'M SHARING THE
MIC WITH
OTHERS.
>> MR. CHAIR, MAY I RESPOND
TO COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S
QUESTION?
>>
PLEASE DO.
>> I'VE FOLLOWED SIDEWALK
ISSUES VERY CLOSELY IN MY
CAREER.
I HAD A DAY JOB WITH KINGKING
METRO TRANSIT, SO I HELPED
IMPLEMENT THE NEW ROUTE
PROFILE THERE IN
1999. I WORKED ON THE AURORA
CORRIDOR PROJECT IN SHORELINE.
AS A CITIZEN I ADVOCATES
FOR SIDEWALKS ON AURORA BUT SDOT
CHOSE NOT TO SPEND MONEY ON
AURORA AT THE TIME AND SO
NOW IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT
THIS LEVY ACTUALLY FUND
THOSE SIDEWALKS.
I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY IF
SEATTLE COULD IMPLEMENT THE
SHORELINE PROFILE ON AURORA.
WITH REGARD TO CHANGES IN
TECHNOLOGY, I THINK THE
EBIKE AND ESCOOTER SITUATION
BRINGS
MUCH MORE SPEED TO OUR BIKE
LANES AND WE'LL HAVE TO BE
COGNIZANT OF THAT SAFETY IMPACT.
AND I GUESS I WOULD POINT OUT
THAT THE RECENT SDOT DATA
ON VISION ZERO SHOWED THAT
ALMOST ALL THE DEATHS WERE
PEDESTRIAN,
NOT CYCLISTS.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO
FOCUS OUR EFFORTS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SPEAK
ABOUT TRAFFIC PEDESTRIAN SAFETY?
>> I MIGHT HAVE A COMMENT.
>> OKAY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
I'VE BEEN WORKING RECENTLY WITH
BILL
AND OTHER MEMBERS OF SDOT TO
MANAGE A STREET REDESIGN.
I BELIEVE THAT
CERTAINLY MOBILITY AND SAFETY
ARE THE
KEY ISSUES REGARDING ANY KIND OF
TRANSPORTATION IN SEATTLE, BUT
I GET CONCERNED THAT IN
GETTING AHEAD OF OURSELVES, WE
MAY ÷÷FORGET ABOUT THE IMPACT
THAT
A PROJECT MAY HAVE ON AREAS
AND I'LL GIVE YOU A GOOD
EXAMPLE.
THE SAFE STREETS PROJECT AT HYDE
POINT.
IT'S A WONDERFUL PROJECT.
IT'S CREATED A NEW DYNAMIC
THERE.
BUT I DON'T THINK ENOUGH
THOUGHT WAS GIVEN TO THE IMPACT
ON THE
OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN
JOINING IT IN TERMS OF PUSHING
MAYBE THE
KIND OF TRAFFIC YOU DON'T WANT
TO HAVE TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD
CREATING LESS PARKING SPOTS IN
PLACES AROUND WHICH I BELIEVE
WERE INADVERTENT
OR UNANTICIPATED AND I THINK
THAT NEEDS TO BE A KEY THINKING
THAT GOES FORWARD WITH PROJECTS
IN
THE CITY.
I BELIEVE THAT THE DANGER IS
NOT JUST TO PEDESTRIANS AN
BICYCLES FROM VEHICLES.
IT'S ALSO FROM PEOPLE WITH BAD
INTENTION WITH WEAPONS AND
WITH CARS MUCH LIKE THE BELL
TOWN
AND HELLCAT AND FIGURE OUT HOW
TO
REDESIGN THE ENVIRONMENT
IN OUR STREETS AND PARKS TO
INHIBIT
THAT.
>> ONE LAST GENERAL QUESTION OR
COMMENT SLASH QUESTION IS,
OFTENTIMES IN PUBLIC
POLICY THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT
ARE
TIED TOGETHER AND ONE OF THEM
IS TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING.
PARTICULARLY WITH
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
WE'RE TRYING TO UPZONE BUT
THAT ONLY WORKS IF WE IMPROVE
OUR
TRANSPORTATION.
THE CHICKENED AND EGG CONUNDRUM
TRP SOMETIMES WE'RE FAVORING
ONE SIDE OR THE BE SUCCESSFUL
BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THIS LEVY.
CAN ANYBODY SPEAK TOTO
ISSUE IN TERMS OF HOW TO IMPROVE
OUR
TRANSPORTATION CAPABILITY
AND HOW IT CAN BENEFIT WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN TERMS OF
DENSEFICATION OF OUR CITY?
MR. WHISNER.
>> I'LL GIVE
IT A STAB.
>> I KNOW TWO OF YOU FAIRLY
WELL.
ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO
JUMP IN AFTER.
AS AN ECONOMIST I'M SURE YOU
HAVE A THOUGHT OR TWO ABOUT
THIS.
>> LAST YEAR INCENTIVE
PROGRAM PILOT PROJECT FOR TRUCK
DRIVERS, WE HAD ISSUE ADDRESSING
CHANGING DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVE
HOW
TO DRIVE DAILY, DO LIKE TAKING A
BICYCLE, TAKING THE BUS OR
TRAIN OR TEACHING NEWCOMERS,
REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT DIFFERENT
WAYS.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE MANY, MANY
CARS, OUR HOME INSURANCE
AND EVERYTHING IS GETTING
EXPENSIVE AND I WAS HOPING IF WE
INCREASE THE COMMUNITY AWARENESS
TO
TEACH DIFFERENT WAYS TO
DRIVE, DIFFERENT WAYS TO
TRANSPORT,
I KNOW THAT THE CULTURE AND
THE LANGUAGE BARRIER IT'S HARD.
EVEN HIGH SCHOOLERS, DURING --
HIGH SCHOOLERS WERE NOT
TAKEN SERIOUSLY ABOUT AIR
POLLUTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL
INJUSTICE.
I WAS HOPING IF WE CAN ADD
TO THE SCHOOL SCHOOLS,
ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL AND
HIGH
SCHOOL AND ENCOURAGE AND
WORK WITH OUR TEACHERS AND
PROFESSORS TO COME UP WITH PLAN,
A WAY
SO PEOPLE WILL ADOPT IT, WAY TO
LIVE BETTER.
BECAUSE THE REPORT THAT WE
PUT TOGETHER TO THE STATE RIGHT
NOW
BECAUSE WE WORK WITH
ECOLOGY DEPARTMENT, WE FUNDED
BEGINNING OF
THIS YEAR, PUT TOGETHER A REPORT
THAT SPEAKING THROUGH OUR
LEADERS HOW THEY UNDERSTAND
THE AIR POLLUTION AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ALSO
DIFFERENT WAY
TO LIVE AND ONE COMES AS
TRANSPORTATION, THE -- AND
WE ALSO TALK -- TELLING
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHICH AND
HOW IT AFFECTS OUR LIVES.
I WAS HOPING IF THE COMMITTEE
THINK ABOUT IT,
JUSTICE, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
AND
AIR POLLUTION, THE WAY WE CAN
SURVIVE BETTER.
>>
EXCELLENCE.
>> BUILDING COMMUNITIES THAT
HAVE SUSTAINABLE
TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY
OPTIONS FOR
PEOPLE IS MY LIFE'S MISSION AND
PURPOSE SO I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK
TO
THIS QUESTION AND THANK YOU
FOR ASKING IT, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
WE NEED TO BUILD FAST,
FREQUENT, RELIABLE
TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEMS THAT PEOPLE CAN ACCESS
AND
AFFORD.
THE CITY HAS GOALS OF
AROUND I BELIEVE 80% OF PEOPLE
LIVING WITHIN A TEN MINUTE
WALKING DISTANCE OF TRANSIT THAT
IS
TEN MINUTES OR BETTER.
SO A HIGH FREQUENCY NETWORK.
RIGHT NOW, OVER 300,000
TRIPS ARE
TAKEN ON KING COUNTY METRO ALONE
IN OUR REGION AND WE KNOW
THAT THERE IS REALLY
I SURVEY, CTR AFFECTED
EMPLOYEES, A SURVEY OF AROUND
70,000 PEOPLE, WORKERS IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND IT IS
OVERWHELMINGLY CLEAR THEY
WANT TO LIVE IN COMMUNITIES THEY
CAN WALK TO THE THINGS --
THE IMPORTANT PLACES IN THEIR
LIVES AND ACCESS MOBILITY THAT
WILL TAKE THEM EVEN FURTHER
AFIELD.
SO WE HAVE CREATED, THANKS TO
A LONG LINAGE OF LEADERS IN
ROLES LIKE THE ONES YOU'RE IN
RIGHT
NOW, HAVE CREATED PUBLIC
POLICY GOALS THAT DEEPLY
LINK TRANSPORTATION SERVICE AND
HOUSING DENSITY AND IT IS AGAIN
UNLIMITED POTENTIAL IN ORDER TO
MAXIMIZE THOSE CO- BENEFITS
RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW THROUGH THE
LEVY
IMPLEMENTATION,
ONE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
NEXT YEAR YOU HAVE TO CREATE
AND PASS AND INPUT TO VOTERS A
RENEWAL OF THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE ABOUT TRANSIT
SERVICE INVESTMENTS AND OTHER
PRIORITIES AND SO THIS IS REALLY
AN --
AND THEN LINE TWO IS GOING TO
OPEN.
WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A
MOMENT OF OPPORTUNITY IN ORDER
TO BUILD
THE CITY WHERE PEOPLE HAVE
AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO THE PLACES
AND THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WANT TO
GO TO AND SEE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, I JUST
ADD, YOU KNOW, YOUR EARLIER
COMMENT
EARLIER ABOUT EXAMPLES
FROM OTHER CITIES AROUND THE
WORLD.
THESE TWO ISSUES LAND USE AND
TRANSPORTATION GO TOGETHER
TO SITE TIGHTLY AND WE DO
A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF THEM IN
SEATTLE
BUT CONTINUING TO MAKE
CONSISTENT, YOU KNOW, DEDICATED
INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENT ON BOTH
CREATES
A POSITIVE FEEDBACK LOOP FOR
BOTH.
WE DON'T HAVE
TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, DRAMATIC
CHANGES OVERNIGHT
TO SEE SUCCESS IN BOTH OF THEM.
LOOK AT SOME OF THE
LEADING LIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD
LIKE
COPENHAGEN, AMSTERDAM, THE
AVERAGE
POPULATION DENSITY IS SIMILAR TO
BALLARD, LITTLE BIT
LESS THAN CAPITOL HILL.
MORE COMMUNITIES LIKE THAT
THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE
CITY, RIGHT, JUST ALLOWS US TO
SEE THE
RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT, ON
THE TRANSPORTATION STUFF AND
GETS MORE FOLKS TAKING THOSE
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION METHODS
AND THEY HAVE A GREAT, POSITIVE
FEEDBACK LOOP ON EACH OTHER.
AND WE CAN DO IT WITH THE
KIND OF INCREMENTAL CONSISTENT
IMPROVEMENT PROCESS.
>> OKAY.
WELL, THANK YOU.
AND ONE LAST NOTE ON THAT, YOU
MENTIONED TEN MINUTES.
BIG SUPPORTER OF THE 15 MINUTE
CITY AND SUPPORTING THAT.
MY REQUEST TO EVERYONE,
SUPPORT THE FREIGHT PROGRAM AND
DON'T LET IT BECOME FORGOTTEN
ABOUT BECAUSE THE FREIGHT
PROGRAM
IS HUGE IN ORDER TO BE
SUCCESSFUL WITH THE 15 MINUTE
CITY CONCEPT.
THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND THANK
YOU
FOR HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE
OF THE INTERSECTION
BETWEEN TRANSPORTATION POLICY
AND
LAND USE POLICY AND ONE EXAMPLE
OF THAT IS MY OFFICE WORKING
WITH OUR CENTRAL STAFF
EXPERTS RIGHT NOW ARE DIGGING
DEEPLY INTO THE
TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT OR THE
TRANSPORTATION APPENDIX, AS
IT'S CALLED, IN THIS PROPOSED
PLAN.
IN ANY EVENT,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR
SAKA. GOOD MORNING TO ALL OF
YOU.
THANK YOU FOR SIGNING UP TO BE A
PART OF THIS IMPORTANT
LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU
FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S CLEAR TO ME
THAT EACH OF YOU BRING
IMPORTANT EXPERTISE THAT IS
GOING TO HELP
US DELIVER ON THE PROMISES
OF THIS LEVY, SO I REALLY WANT
TO
THANK YOU AT THE TOP I WANT
PART OF COUNCIL
DURING LEVY DEVELOPMENT BUT I
WAS A PART OF
TALKING TO OUR NEIGHBORS
ABOUT THIS LEVY AND IT WAS CLEAR
TO
ME FROM SO MANY OF
THOSE CONVERSATIONS IS
SEATTLEITE WANT
A SYSTEM THAT IS EASY TO USE
AND GETS THEM FROM POINT A TO
POINT B AND IDEALLY USING
TRANSIT, ABLE TO BIKE THERE OR
BY
WALKING.
AND SO THIS LEVY OFFERS A LOT
OF IMPORTANT PROJECTS THAT
WILL IMPROVE ACCESS AND EQUITY
IN
THAT.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL
FOR BEING A PART OF THIS.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF I
DIDN'T HIGHLIGHT NOT JUST THE
WORK
OF THIS COMMITTEE AND THE LEVY
BUT THE INTERSECTION OF THE
WORK HAPPENING OVER AT THE CITY
LIGHT
SUSTAINABILITY AND ARTS
AND CULTURE COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE PLANS AND EFFORTS WE'RE
WORKING ON FROM
THE TRANSPORTATION
ELECTRIFICATION
STRATEGIC INVESTMENT PLAN IT'S
A MOUTHFUL BUT SUPER IMPORTANT
WHEN WE'RE THINKING HOW WE CAN
COMPLEMENT THE LEVY WITH
ELECTTRYFYCATION EFFORTS.
ONE OF THE
BEST WAYS TO ADDRESS OUR
EMISSIONS IN THIS
CITY BUILDING OUT A SYSTEM
THAT ALLOWS FOLKS TO GET OUT OF
THEIR
CARS ON TO TRANSIT OR BIKES
OR BY FOOT.
SO WITH ALL OF THAT SAID, I
WANT TO ASK A FUN
QUESTIONQUESTION
OUR PANELISTS TODAY,
PROSPECTIVE LEVY OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE
MEMBERS.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE
PROJECT FROM THE LAST LEVY OR
WHAT IS AN
UPCOMING PROJECT IN THE NEW
LEVY YOU'RE EXCITED TO WORK ON
OR SUPPORT?
>> I'LL BE HAPPY TO START.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
SO I LIVE IN FIRST HILL
AND WE -- IT TOOK A WHILE, BUT
BOY, WE SURE GOT THERE WITH THE
RAPID
RIDE G LINE.
THIS THIS HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE
PROJECT THAT HAS
UNLEASHED RIDERSHIP AND CREATED
THE FASTEST OR MOST FREQUENT
FIXED BUS SERVICE IN THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON AND SERVES
THIS INCREDIBLE NEIGHBORHOOD,
HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND OUR
REGION'S HEALTH CARE NETWORK.
WE WEREN'T SELECTED OR
MOSHDS FORWARD WITH THE SOUND
RAIL LIGHT STATION SO THIS G
LINE IS
LIKE
AN INCREDIBLE WAY, IT'S MOVING
TONS OF PEOPLE.
RIDERSHIP IS GOING GANG
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS
FUNDED SPECIFICALLY BY THE LEVY
BUT I
WOULD SAY MY FAVORITE PART OF
MY BIKE RIDE EVERY MORNING TO
WORK
IS DOWN IN -- WHEN PUTTING
THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE
WATERFRONT AND
OCCIDENTAL
SQUARE. I THINK ONE OF MY
FAVORITE SPOTS
IN TOWN.
IF I COULD WAVE A MAGIC
WAND I WOULD MAKE SURE EVERY
BUSINESS
COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD HAS
A SPACE LIKE OCCIDENTAL SQUARE.
SEEING THE FINISHING TOUCHES
ON THOSE CONNECTIONS IN
THE LAST
COUPLE MONTHS HAS BEEN
DELIGHTFUL.
>> I ALSO DON'T
KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHERE THE LEVY
TIE IN ARE BUT THE RAPID R HAZY
--
RAIL IS COMING TO RAINIER
BEACH IS GOING TO BE A SHIFT
FROM THE
SEVEN LINE DOWN THERE NOW AND
THERE'S ISSUES AT THE END OF
THE LINE THAT DON'T WORK WELL,
SO
WE'RE
LOOKING FORWARD TO RAPID R,
YEAH.
>> I CAN GIVE YOU A COUPLE
EXAMPLES.
I THINK THE IMPROVEMENTS MADE ON
DELL RIDGE, AROUND THE
COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE ARTS
CENTER,
AND HEADING SOUTH WERE NOT ONLY
WELL DONE, BUT VERY MUCH NEEDED.
I THINK AS COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA WOULD TELL YOU, THERE'S
STILL
A COUPLE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE
DONE THAT ARE CONTROVERSIAL, BUT
IT'S A PRETTY NICE LOOKING,
SAFE, PROJECT.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE
OF SOMETHING I THINK SHOULD HAVE
BEEN DONE AND PROBABLY IT
WASN'T
BECAUSE OF THE DEBATE OVER WHERE
THE LIGHT RAIL IS GOING TO
GO, BUT THE WORK THAT WAS TO BE
DONE THAT WASN'T IS VERY
DISAPPOINTING TO PEOPLE
THAT LIVE IN THE WEST SEATTLE
AREA.
I THINK SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS
ON 35th AVENUE HAVE BEEN
WELL DONE.
THEY'RE MODEST BUT MADE
A DIFFERENCE IN TRAFFIC.
THINGS LIKE THAT REALLY DO MAKE
A
DIFFERENCE.
>> I LIVED IN
THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA FOR
ABOUT EIGHT
YEARS AND WHEN WE MOVED TO
BETTER
LAKE, LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND
A HALF AGO, WE WERE FRUSTRATED
BY THE LACK OF
SIDEWALKS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I
HAVE
A YOUNG CHILD, SO LAST
SUMMER, I KNOW THAT THE PREVIOUS
LEVY
FUNDED SIDEWALKS ON
GREENWOOD ABOVE 125th AND UP TO
130th
SO WE CAN WALK TO THE LIBRARY
AND
THE PARK SAFELY WITH A CHILD.
THAT'S GREAT.
>> MY FAVORITE PROJECT FROM THE
UPCOMING LEVY WILL BE
ADDING SIDEWALKS AND ACCESS
MANAGEMENT AND DRIVEWAY
CONSOLIDATION AN
AURORA, ESPECIALLY BETWEEN
NORTH 115th STREET AND 145th
STREET.
OF COURSE WE'RE NOT SURE
IT'S HAPPENING YET, BUT THAT
WOULD
BE MY INTENT.
AS I SAID, I HAD HOPED IT
WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH MOVE
SEATTLE.
WITH REGARD TO TRANSIT CHANGES,
LIKE THE G LINE T I WOULD HOPE
THAT SDOT AND METRO LOOK AT
IT FROM A NETWORK PERSPECTIVE
AND IT CAN BE CLEAR THAT THE G
LINE IS ATTRACTING A LOT OF
RIDERS, BUT WE NEED TO COMPARE
THE CURRENT NETWORK FROM
2025 AGAINST THE NETWORK OF 2018
AND LOOK AT ALL THE ROUTES
INVOLVED AND SEE WHAT THE CHANGE
IN
RIDES PLATFORM IS OR HAS BEEN.
SO IT'S VERY COMPLEX.
IT'S NETWORK BASED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I THINK WE HEARD FROM EVERYONE
EXCEPT NAFISO. I WANT TO GIVE
EVERYBODY AN
OPPORTUNITY.
HAPPY TO LEAVE IT THERE.
THANK YOU, ALL, AGAIN.
REALLY EXCITED TO SEE
THESE PROJECTS COME TO FRUITION
AND THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT
YOUR SPECIFIC PROJECTS.
I THINK IT HELPS
ILLUMINATE EXACTLY WHAT IT IS
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN
TALKING ABOUT
THESE INVESTMENTS AND HOW MUCH
THEY --
OF A DIFFERENCE THEY CAN
MAKE IN THE EVERYDAY LIVES OF
PEOPLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
AND EXCITED TO CONFIRM
THESE APPOINTMENTS.
>> AWESOME.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
I KNEW EXACTLY WHERE MR.
WHISNER WAS GOING WITH HIS
COMMENTS ABOUT SIDEWALKS BASED
OFF OF
HIS OPENING STATEMENT.
AND IT REALLY DELIGHTED
MY HEART WHEN I HEARD THAT
BECAUSE I
LOVE SIDEWALKS.
SIDEWALK REPAIR AND
THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW
SIDEWALKS AND THAT IS AN
ENCITING FEATURE
OF THIS LEVY THAT PROVIDES A
GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW
SIDEWALKS, BIGGEST INVESTMENT IN
NEW SIDEWALKS IN -- AT LEAST
50 YEARS IN THE CITY,
AND GUARANTEES THE TOP THREE
MOST IMPACTED COUNCIL DISTRICTS,
SO DISTRICT FIVE WHERE YOU
LIVE, MR. RAY TIPTON, FOLLOWED
BY I THINK 30 SOMETHING PERCENT
IF I'M RECALLING CORRECTLY THE
SPECIFIC DATA, AND
STATS, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL
DISTRICT ONE, 22%, AND THE NEXT
CLOSEST
COUNCIL DISTRICT WITH
THE MISSING -- THE LARGEST
MISSING
SIDEWALK NETWORK ACROSS THE
CITY IS DISTRICT TWO.
THEY GET -- THEY ARE GUARANTEED
AT LEAST 19%, IF I RECALL
CORRECTLY.
AND BETWSIDEWALK
ALTERNATIVES, COST EFFECTIVE
ALTERNATIVE, SIDEWALKS ARE
EXPENSIVE TALKING ABOUT THE
FULL CURB AND GUTTER WITH
THE DRAINAGE SIDEWALKS,
BUT THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF
SIDEWALK COST
EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVES, TEN
PLUS, IF I RECALL
CORRECTLY, THAT OUR CITY IS
GOING TO
BE CREATIVE IN HELPING TO
DELIVER, AT LEAST 350 BLOCKS
MUCH
NEW SIDEWALKS ALL OVER THE CITY
AND
BY THE WAY, THERE'S SOME
GOOD MONEY THANKS TO THE
ADVOCACY OF
MY COLLEAGUES FOR
SIDEWALK REPAIRS AS WELL.
SO I THINK THESE ARE
EXCITING PEDESTRIAN ENHANCEMENT
FEATURES, EXCITING FEATURES FOR
PEOPLE WHO
SUPPORT AND
PROMOTE ACCESSIBILITY THROUGHOUT
OUR
CITY, AND I'M EXCITED TO HELP
OUR÷÷OUR BRING THESE TO LIFE.
AND THAT WAS JUST ME
ANSWERING BECAUSE I AM A DE
FACTO
MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE AS WELL,
SO
I TOOK LIBERTY WITH ANSWERING
MY COLLEAGUE'S QUESTION BECAUSE
THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE
THINGS. IN ANY EVENT, MR. RAY
TIPTON, YOU'RE FROM KENT
ORIGINALLY,
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> CORRECT.
>> WHERE DID YOU GO TO
HIGH SCHOOL?
>> KENT
RIDGE.
>> KENT RIDGE.
>> WON'T HOLD IT AGAINST YOU.
-- WITH MINE.
ALL
GOOD.
>>
GOT YOU.
>> WE CAN -- ROYAL POWER, BUD.
INTO ANY EVENT I'M SO EXCITED.
LET'S CHAT OFF- LINE ABOUT
OUR SHARED FONDNESS FOR THE CITY
OF
KENT.
BUT I, TOO, FIRST OFF, LET ME
JUST DOUBLE CHECK, DO WE HAVE
ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES?
>>
YEAH.
>> I HAVE ONE
COMMENT.
>> WAIT.
>> ROB.
>> YEP.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT
WE ALL WOULD LIKE TO SEE
OUR STREETS IMPROVED,
PARTICULARLY
IN TERMS OF SAFETY AND
MOBILITY, BUT LET'S NOT GET
DOWN ON
OURSELVES.
I JUST RETURNED FROM A WEEK IN
ATLANTA.
OUR STREETS ARE PAVED WITH
GOLD COMPARED TO WHAT ATLANTA
DRIVERS
PUT UP WITH. LET'S KEEP A
POSITIVE VIEW OF
WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE'VE
DONE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PUMPHREY.
WELL
SAID.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU.
TO CARRY ON FROM THAT OUR
ROADS ARE
ALSO THE FOUNDATION UNDERNEATH
THE ASPHALT
ARE BRICKS, COBBLE STONE,
SAWDUST,
TRASH, ROTTEN WOOD,
ROTTING WOOD.
I MEAN WHEN FOLKS WONDER WHY WE
HAVE SUCH ISSUES WITH
POTHOLES AS COMPARED TO OTHER
CITIES
THAT WERE FORMED IN 1952, IN
1952 ROAD CONSTRUCTION WAS
VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE FIND
HERE
IN THE SEATTLE, THE LARGEST CITY
IN KING COUNTY.
THAT WAS A DIGRESS.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
VOLUNTEER
SERVICE. I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE
TOO
MUCH MORE TIME.
I DO WANT TO SHARE MY
STATEMENTS WHICH TO YOUR POINT
WE
DON'T WANT RUBBER STAMPS.
THE LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
HAS PERFORMED AN INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE
LAST LEVY, NOT ONLY AS THE CHAIR
WHICH
CREATED FUTURE COST
OVERRUNS, THERE WAS THE ISSUE OF
THE
RESET IN ABOUT 2018, 2019.
IT WAS THE
LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THAT
REALLY RAISED
THE ALARM BELLS AND LET FOLKS
KNOW THINGS WERE NOT ON TRACK.
I CHARGE YOU WITH THAT SAME
RESPONSIBILITY, IF THINGS
AREN'T GOING WELL, WE NEED TO
KNOW.
THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO KEEP
THE LEVY ON TRACK AND
SO IF THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT
ARE NOT BEING
DEVELOPED, IF WE ARE MISSING
OUR BENCHMARKS, IF THE
FINANCES AREN'T LOOKING
CORRECT, IF
THE
PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS AREN'T
SERVING YOU, WE NEED TO KNOW.
I GUESS I WENT OFF MY NOTES
AGAIN.
JUST TO SAY WE NEED TO LAUNCH
QUICKLY. WE GOT TO GET GOING
RIGHT NOW.
AND IF THIS IS NOT THE CASE
THAT WE'RE MOVING QUICKLY, IF
IT'S NOT THE CASE THAT WE'RE
SERVING THE COMMUNITIES THAT
NEED
IT MOST, WE NEED TO KNOW.
PLEASE DO TELL US.
MUCH LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, FUN QUESTION FOR YOU
TODAY
AND THEN I MIGHT ASK FOR ANY
CLOSING
STATEMENTS IF FOLKS
ARE INTERESTED JUST AFTER
YOUR COMMENTS HERE.
HOW DID YOU GET HERE TODAY?
THERE'S NO
WRONG ANSWER. TODAY I'LL ANSWER
FIRST.
TODAY I DROVE TO THE BUS
AND TOOK THE BUS.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN
GET TO THE BUS.
THROUGHOUT MY LIFE I HAVE RELIED
SOLELY TAKING THE BUS, WALKING,
DRIVING, DIFFERENT TIMES OF
LIFE
REQUIRED AND GAVE US DIFFERENT
OPTIONS AN OPPORTUNITIES.
IF YOU WANT TO GO AROUND AND
SHARE HOW YOU GOT HERE TODAY
AND ANY LAST THINGS YOU WOULD
LIKE US TO THINK
ABOUT.
>> YEAH.
I TOOK A METRO FLEX CAR TO
THE LIGHT RAIL AND CAME HERE.
AND IN CONTRAST TO THE
EARLIER COMMENT FROM THE -- FROM
ONLINE,
I FELT LIKE IT WAS SAFE AND
EFFICIENT.
>> YOUNG PEOPLE WHEN THEY DROP
FROM THE TRAIN TO HOME, I
LIVE NEAR HOLLY, MY SON GOES TO
THE HIGH SCHOOL, DROP AND TAKE
THE METRO FLEX AND IT WAS
REAL HELPFUL AND SUPPORT FOR
THE
YOUNG PEOPLE BECAUSE THE SAFETY
MATTERS.
>> I AM EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE
AMONGST THE 5% OF CENTER CITY
WORKERS AND LESS THAN 1%
OF AMERICANS WHO GETS TO WALK TO
MY JOB EVERY DAY AND SO I WAS
ABLE TO WALK HERE AS WELL.
>> AND YOU, OBVIOUSLY, KNOW
THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION SINCE
WE RAN INTO EACH OTHER THIS
MORNING, BUT I TOOK MY BIKE
HERE.
I TOOK MY DAUGHTER DOWN TO
NEWLY FINISHED SIXTH AVENUE
GREENWAY, DOPDS HER OFF AT DAY
CARE
AND TOOK THE TRAIL ON THE
FOURTH AVENUE BIKE LANE TO CITY
HALL.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO INVOKE
THE FIFTH AMENDMENT.
>> ALL GOOD.
>> ALL MODES ARE
WELCOME.
>> I DROVE.
>> I TOOK THE 5 HERE.
AND STRESSED A LITTLE BIT WHEN
I FELT LIKE WE WERE BEHIND
ON
SCHEDULE BUT GOT HERE IN TIME.
YEAH.
>> THIS MORNING I USED THE D
LINE.
MOST OF MY TRIPS ARE ON
BICYCLE.
>> THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU.
AND FOR MR. PUMPHREY, I --
PERFECTLY UNDERSTANDABLE
TO INVOKE THE FIFTH AND I KNOW
WHERE YOU LIVE AND HAD
WE COORDINATED BETTER I WOULD
HAVE DROVE DOWN TO THE WATER
TAXI
IN WEST SEATTLE AND WE COULD
HAVE TOOK THAT TOGETHER.
THIS MORNING, I TOOK THE BUS
AS I USUALLY DO AND IN THE
SPIRIT OF BEING MULTIMODAL THIS
EVENING I WILL BE DRIVING TO MY
SON'S LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
GAME
AND COACHING THAT.
I THINK -- NO, I COACH TOMORROW.
TONIGHT
GET TO BE --
>>
ALTERNATIVE.
>> THE WATER TAXI WOULD
HAVE BEEN MY
ALTERNATIVE.
>> ALL GOOD.
ALL RIGHT.
COOL.
WELL, ANY FINAL
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES
OR -- I SEE A FEW
LINGERING HANDS ARE THOSE
STALE?
>> NOPE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
COOL.
WELL, I, TOO, WANT TO EXPRESS
MY SINCERE GRATITUDE
AND APPRECIATION TO EACH AND
EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR, AGAIN,
AGREEING TO SERVE YOUR CITY IN
THIS WAY.
THIS IS A TREMENDOUSLY
IMPACTFUL
COMMITTEE. WE'RE COUNTING ON
YOU TO HELP
BE OUR EYES AND EARS ON THE
GROUND
WITH RESPECT TO OVERSIGHT OF THE
LEVY.
WE ARE NOT 100% ABDICATING OUR
OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY TO
YOU AS ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.
THIS IS ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE.
AND SO -- BUT I REALLY DO -- AS
SOMEONE WHO SERVED ON NUMEROUS
LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS IN THE
PAST, NONPROFIT BOARDS, I KNOW
THAT
FIRSTHAND THAT SERVICE IN THIS
MANNER REQUIRES SACRIFICE.
AND SACRIFICE -- THERE'S
PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND
EXPERIENCES ON
THIS.
GOT A WORKING PARENT HERE, WHICH
I'M PROUD OF.
BUT JUST KNOW THAT YOUR SERVICE
AND YOUR SACRIFICE ARE
GREATLY APPRECIATED AND YOUR
CONTRIBUTIONS ARE
TREMENDOUSLY IMPACTFUL AND I
WANT EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO KNOW
THAT AND LIKE FORWARD TO
WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU ALL ON
THIS
COMMITTEE.
AS CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE I GET A SEAT AS
WELL SO YOU'LL ABSOLUTELY SEE
EITHER MYSELF OR ONE OF MY STAFF
OR
BOTH AT THESE MEETINGS.
THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE IN SUCH A
MANNER.
LET'S SEE.
I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION
OF
APPOINTMENTS 03149 THROUGH
03157. THERE IS A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENTS. ARE THERE ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS?
>> GOOD
LUCK.
>> HEARING AND SEEING NONE, WILL
THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL ON
THE RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM
THE APPOINTMENTS?
>> COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> YEA.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUS.
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
CHAIR
SAKA.
>> YEA.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE
FOUR VOTES IN FAVOR AND ZERO
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
THAT COUNCIL CONFIRM THE
APPOINTMENTS WILL BE SENT TO THE
MAY 27 th,
2025, CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
CONGRATULATIONS APPOINTEES.
THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE REACHED THE END
OF TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS ON JUNE 3rd
AT 9:30 A.M.
IS THERE ANY FINAL BUSINESS
TO COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
BEFORE WE ADJOURN?
HEARING AND SEEING NONE, WE ARE
HEREBY ADJOURNED.
IT IS 10:43 A.M.