GOOD MORNING.
THE JULY 1st, 2025 MEETING
OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS 9:31
A.M.
I'M ROB SAKA, CHAIR OF
THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
WILL THE COMMITTEE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>>
PRESENT.
>> VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR
SAKA.
>>
HERE.
>> CHAIR, THERE IS FIVE MEMBERS
PRESENT.
>> IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING AND SEEING NO OBJECTION
ONLINE, THE AGENDA IS HEREBY
ADOPTED.
ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES. AND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
TODAY AT
TODAY'S TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE MEETING.
AS ALWAYS, WE HAVE A FULL AND
IMPORTANT, OF COURSE,
EXCITING AS ALWAYS, AGENDA,
BEFORE US
TODAY. OUR FIRST TOPIC TODAY
WILL BE
THE ST3 TRANSIT WAY INGREDIENT,
WHICH AGREEMENT, WHICH WE
BRIEFED
AND DISCUSSED AT THE LAST
MEETING.
THIS COUNCIL BILL AND
COMPANION RESOLUTION ARE AN
IMPORTANT
STEP TO BUILDING OUT LIGHT
RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE TO WEST
SEATTLE AND BEYOND.
THANK YOU, AGAIN, TO SOUND
TRANSIT AND OUR ST3 CITY TEAM.
OUR SECOND TOPIC WILL BE A
PIECE OF EXECUTIVE DRIVEN
LEGISLATION, WE HEARD IN A
PREVIOUS
COMMITTEE, REGARDING A LEASEHOLD
DEED OF TRUST BETWEEN SDOT
AND THE CULTURAL SPACE AGENCY AT
KING STREET STATION.
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING
ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION FROM OUR
CENTRAL STAFF AND SDOT PARTNERS
AGAIN.
THAT SAID, WE'LL NOW OPEN
THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD.
PUBLIC COMMENTS SHOULD RELATE
TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA AND
BE
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE.
CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS
ARE SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> WE HAVE ONE IN PERSON AND
ONE REMOTE, BUT NOT PRESENT YET.
>> THANK YOU.
EACH SPEAKER WILL
HAVE APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES.
YOU WILL START WITH THE
IN- PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST.
CLERK, CAN YOU READ THE
PUBLIC
COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MATTER, UP TO 20
MINUTES, SPEAKERS CALLED IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED, SPEAKERS WILL
ALTERNATE
BETWEEN SETS OF IN PUSH AND
REMOTE SPEAKERS UNTIL THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD HAS ENDED.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME
WHEN TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT OF
THEIR
TIME.
SPEAKERS' MICS WILL BE MUTED IF
THEY DON'T END THEIR COMMENTS
WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME TO
ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN AND WILL BEGIN WITH
THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST,
AND THAT IS DAN FRENCH.
>> TESTING.
ARE WE WORKING?
TESTING.
TEST.
>> YOU'RE LIVE.
YOU MAY
BEGIN.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM OBJECTING TO ANYTHING
MOVING FORWARD WITH SDOT.
THEY HAVE PROVED BEYOND
ANY MEASURE OF SANITY THAT THEY
ARE
INCOMPETENT AND GROSSLY
NEGLIGENT.
ON MULTIPLE AREAS.
THE MOST GLARING ONE IS THE
ONE I CONTINUE TO BRING HERE,
THE
130th STREET UNSAFE PROJECT.
CURRENTLY THEY'RE REDESIGNING,
REDOING THE EXIT RAMP FROM I-
5 ON TO 130th.
PEOPLE WILL BE REQUIRED
TO CHANGE LANES FOUR TIMES IN A
THREE- BLOCK AREA.
FOUR TIMES THEY WILL HAVE TO
CHANGE LANES.
I HAVE RAISED THIS, I HAVE BEEN
IGNORED.
THEY ARE SHUTTING DOWN
5th AVENUE AND
ALTERNATE ROUTE. JUST RECENTLY
I- 5 WAS SHUT DOWN
TO YET ANOTHER ACCIDENT.
THE ALTERNATE ROUTES ARE
NOT GOING TO WORK BECAUSE SDOT
IS SHUTTING THEM DOWN.
WHO DOES THIS?
WHO THINKS THIS IS A GOOD IDEA?
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
I WOULD LIKE TO MEET AND
TALK WITH THEM AND UNDERSTAND
WHY.
CONTINUING ON THAT SAME
VEIN, THE SHUTTING DOWN WILL
REROUTE
TRAFFIC, WHICH IS CURRENTLY
BEING REROUTED, IN FRONT OF
BOTH SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND
OTHER
RESIDENCES THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
BEGGING TO GET SDOT'S
ATTENTION.
THEY WON'T LOOK.
THEY WON'T LISTEN.
THEY NEED TO LISTEN.
THEY NEED TO LOOK.
THEY NEED TO BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE.
PLEASE, THEY'RE NOT.
THEY'RE SHOWING EVERYTHING IS
PEACHES AND ROSES AND THEY'RE
NOT.
THERE IS SERIOUS PROBLEMS.
BACKLOGS, FAILURES, SDOT IS
NOT BEING HELD TO ANY LEVEL OF
ACCOUNTABILITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
>> WE'LL NOW GO TO THE REMOTE
SPEAKER, WE HAVE ONE REMOTE
SPEAKER, DAVID HAINES.
DAVID HAINES, WHEN
YOU'RE ALLOWED TO SPEAK,
REMEMBER
TO HIT THAT STAR 6, THANK YOU.
>>
HI, THANK YOU. DAVID HAINES.
GIVE ME A SECOND.
$1. 7 BILLION PER MILE TO
COMPETE WITH OVERPRICED RAPID
RIDE
THAT GOES TO THE SAME AREA WHERE
KING COUNTY METRO AND SOUND
TRANSIT
COMPETE TO GET YOU TO THE
SAME AREA OF ALASKA JUNCTION.
NOWHERE NEAR ALCOVE BEACH.
YET COUNCIL WANTS TO
INCREASE THE MONEY FOR
BUSINESSES FROM
$50,000 TO $200,000 ON THE ST3
ROUTE, AS THE GREATEST SUCCESS
OF THOSE BUSINESSES WILL HAVE IS
BY MOVING SOUND TRANSIT .
HOW MUCH MONEY IS
ACTUALLY GOING TO GO TO THE
WORKERS WHO DO ALL
THE
WORK? ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE
TO
POCKET SOME OF IT FOR
THEIR INCONVENIENCE OR IS THIS
ANOTHER
SLUSH FUND FOR BUSINESSES
THAT WILL KEEP THEM
DESPERATE, PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK,
LIKE
TRADITIONAL CAPITAL OPPRESSORS
OF WORKERS, REMINDING US THERE
ISN'T ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
NEO LIBERAL AND CONSERVATIVE
DEBT
SERVICE POLICE STATE ECONOMY OF
NONWORKING SHAREHOLDER
MIDDLEMAN DONORS.
THE OWNERS OF OUR POLITICIANS.
IT IS OBVIOUS PROGRESSIVE
DEMOCRATS HAVE IMPAIRED
JUDGMENT.
COUNCIL SHOULD REJECT ST3 AND
INQUIRE ALL THESE GOVERNMENT
ST3 COLLEGE PRIVILEGE
WHO VIRTUE SIGNAL PROMOTIONS OF
MORE OBNOXIOUS LOUD, LOW
QUALITY TRAINS COMPETING WITH
RAPID
RIDES TO GO TO THE EXACT
SAME PLACE IN ALASKA
JUNCTION, PROVING HOW PATHETIC
THE
PLANNING IS BY DEMOCRATS
WHO WANT TO BASICALLY DO
EVERYTHING BACKWARDS AND
INTRODUCE
BIGGER ROADS AND BIGGER BRIDGES
AMIDST ESTABLISHED COMMUNITIES
THAT MEET÷÷MEET 21st CENTURY,
FIRST WORLD
QUALITY REDEVELOPMENT
WITHOUT THE ROAD RAGE OR THE
MISINTERPRETATION OF PROPER
POLICY.
>> THANK YOU, DAVID.
CHAIR, THAT IS THE END OF THE
SIGNED UP FOR TESTIMONY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST
ITEM OF BUSINESS.
FIRST AND SECOND ITEM.
ACTUALLY, CAN YOU READ,
CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ
ITEMS NUMBER ONE AND TWO INTO
THE
RECORD?
>>
OKAY. AGENDA ITEM ONE,
RESOLUTION
32172, A
RESOLUTION APPROVING THE
ALIGNMENT, STATION LOCATIONS
AND MAINTENANCE BASE
LOCATION FOR SOUND TRANSIT'S
LINK
LIGHT RAIL LINES IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, INCLUDING THE
WEST SEATTLE LINK EXTENSION AND
SUPERSEDING THE ALIGNMENT,
STATION LOCATIONS,
AND MAINTENANCE BASE
LOCATION APPROVED FOR RESOLUTION
31784.
AGENDA ITEM TWO, COUNCIL BILL
121003.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
THE CENTRAL PUGET SOUND REGIONAL
TRANSIT AUTHORITY SOUND
TRANSIT, AUTHORIZING THE
DIRECTOR OF
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION TO EXECUTE
AN AMENDMENT TO THE
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE
AND SOUND TRANSIT FOR GRANT OF
NONEXCLUSIVE USE OF A LIGHT RAIL
TRANSIT WAY AS RELATED TO THE
LINK LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT
PROJECT TO REFLECT THE
APPROVED ALIGNMENT AND LIGHT
RAIL TRANSIT
FACILITIES FOR THE LINK
LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT PROJECT,
INCLUDING ADDITION OF THE WEST
SEATTLE LINK EXTENSION, AND
RATIFYING
AND CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR
ACTS.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
LOOKS LIKE OUR PRESENTERS
HAVE JOINED US AT THE TABLE.
PLEASE DO INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATIONS.
>> CALVIN CHOW, COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> SARA MAXANA, OFFICE OF THE
WATERFRONT, CIVIC PROJECTS
AND SOUND
TRANSIT.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, THE TWO
PIECES OF LEGISLATION BEFORE
YOU WERE HEARD AT THE
LAST TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
MEETING.
THEY ARE TWO RELATED PIECES OF
LEGISLATION.
THE RESOLUTION WOULD
ADOPT, PROVIDE COUNCIL'S
APPROVAL
OF THE WEST SEATTLE ALIGNMENT
AND THAT IS A NECESSARY STEP TO
ALLOW SOUND TRANSIT TO
START APPLYING FOR PERMITS TO
KEEP
THE PROJECT -- TO ALLOW THEM
TO CONTINUE TO PREPARE FOR
THE FUTURE OF THAT
PROJECT. AND THEN THE COUNCIL
BILL IS
THERE TO AUTHORIZE SDOT TO AMEND
THE TRANSIT WAY AGREEMENT, AN
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH SOUND
TRANSIT THAT ALLOWS THEM TO
USE OUR RIGHT OF WAY TO PROVIDE
TRANSIT SERVICE. SO IT IS AN
IVE AGREEMENT THAT ESTABLISHES
THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
OF THE TWO PARTIES.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD
ADD, SARA?
>> NO, WE'RE JUST EXCITED
FOR THE NEXT STEP AND PREPARED
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU
MIGHT
HAVE ABOUT THE LEGISLATION.
>> OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S TAKE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS,
FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
IF ANY.
ANY QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS?
NO?
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING AND SEEING NO
QUESTIONS, LET'S SEE -- LET'S
TAKE UP
THE RESOLUTION FIRST, WHICH IS
ITEM ONE ON THE AGENDA.
SO, I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION
32172. IS THERE A SECOND?
>>
SECOND.
>> ALL
RIGHT. IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF
RESOLUTION
32172.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?
MY COLLEAGUES?
LOOKING ONLINE,
YES, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
FOLLOWED
BY COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK NOT
ONLY THE CENTRAL STAFF TEAM, MR.
CHOW, BUT ALSO THE ST3 TEAM WITH
THE ST3 AND THE
WATERFRONT OFFICE AND I
APPRECIATE
THEIR SUPPORT AND BACKGROUND
AND INSIGHT ON THESE ISSUES
RELATED
TO THIS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
YEAH, JUST ECHOING THE SAME
COMMENTS FROM
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AS WELL AS
SHARING
MY COMMENTS FROM THE LAST
MEETING THAT THIS IS A
STRAIGHTFORWARD ROUTINE BILL
THAT IS
DIRECTLY ALIGNED WITH THE RECORD
OF
DECISION THAT WAS APPROVED
BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR
SOUND
TRANSIT. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
I WILL PILE ON FROM MY TWO --
WITH MY OWN TWO CENTS, FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE.
SO, FIRST OFF, WANT TO,
AGAIN, REITERATE MY SUPPORT FOR
THIS
PROJECT. STRONG SUPPORT.
CONNECTING OUR CULTURALLY RICH
NEIGHBORHOODS BENEFITS OUR
CITY AND OUR RESPECTIVE COUNCIL
DISTRICTS.
TODAY'S LEGISLATION IS
ABOUT EXPANDING AND INVESTING IN
OUR
CITY'S TRANSIT
INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT FOR ME IT IS
ALSO
ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND
OVERSIGHT.
MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE
EXPANSION AND REHABILITATION
PROJECTS LIKE
THIS CAN BE DISRUPTIVE.
SO WE NEED TO ALWAYS BE
ACTIVELY ENSURING THAT WE ARE
COMMUNICATING, DIRECTLY WITH
IMPACTED RESIDENTS, SMALL
BUSINESSES, ET CETERA, THE LIKE.
AND MITIGATING TO THE FULL
EXTENT POSSIBLE ANY
DISRUPTIONS RELATED TO LARGE
SCALE
PROJECTS SUCH AS THESE.
SO MY SUPPORT FOR THIS
PROJECT IS TOTALLY PREDICATED ON
THE
EXPECTATION OF ENGAGEMENT, AND
OUTREACH AND THE HELP TO
THE FULL EXTENT POSSIBLE UNDER
THE
LAW, INCLUDING THE EXPANDED
LAW WHICH RAISES THE RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE, THE STATE
STATUTORY CAP FOR RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE THAT I LOBBIED FOR,
IN
OLYMPIA THIS YEAR, TO HELP WITH
THE
MITIGATION.
AND THAT MITIGATION ON BEHALF OF
SOUND TRANSIT, SOUND TRANSIT
RESPONSIBILITY,
CHIEF RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THAT.
AND I EXPECT PARTNERS LIKE
SOUND TRANSIT TO WORK WITH
IMPACTED
PARTIES, UTILIZING NEW
TOOLS LIKE THE AFOREMENTIONED
BILL,
HB 1733 THAT INCREASES THE
STATUTORY CAP FOR RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE.
AND SO ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS
AN IMPORTANT PROJECT
FOR COMMUNITIES IN OUR REGION,
MY OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO
BE ACTIVE IN MAKING SURE THAT
ENGAGEMENT, MITIGATION
AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS PRESENT
AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
ALL RIGHT.
ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
ANY FINAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENT
S?
HEARING AND SEEING NONE,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL
ON RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT
RESOLUTION 32172?
>> COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>>
AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>>
YES.
>> CHAIR SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE
FIVE VOTES IN FAVOR AND ZERO
OPPOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT, THE MOTION
CARRIES AND THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE COUNCIL
ADOPT
RESOLUTION 172 WILL BE
SENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
FOR JULY 8th.
WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO THE
SECOND ITEM OF BUSINESS,
WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN READ INTO
THE
RECORD.
PRESENTERS, JUST GIVE US A QUICK
OVERVIEW OF THE ORDINANCE,
PLEASE.
>> THE ORDINANCE IS A
AUTHORIZING ORDINANCE
ALLOWING SDOT TO SIGN AN
AMENDMENT TO
THE TRANSIT WAY AGREEMENT
WHICH ACKNOWLEDGES THE WEST
SEATTLE ALIGNMENT IN THE BODY
OFOF
DOCUMENT.
I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE
ANY OTHER CHANGES IN THE
DOCUMENT
AT ALL.
SO IT IS JUST TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE WEST SEATTLE ALIGNMENT IN
THE
TRANSIT WAY AGREEMENT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, ANY
INITIAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
HEARING AND SEEING NONE, I
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 121003.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF
COUNCIL BILL 121003.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER FURTHER
COMMENTS?
HEARING AND SEEING --
OH, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, GO
AHEAD, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, GO AHEAD.
OH, THE JOYS OF REMOTE.
ALL RIGHT.
IF THERE ARE NONO COMMENTS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES, WILL
THE COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON RECOMMENDATION TO
PASS COUNCIL BILL 121003?
>> COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>>
AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
MOVE ON.
VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR
SAKA.
>> AYE.
CAN YOU CALL THE ROLL AGAIN?
I HEARD HIM
COME OFF.
>> OF
COURSE.
>> I SAW HIM COME OFF.
I DIDN'T HEAR HIM.
>> YES, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> STILL CAN'T HEAR YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER,
UNFORTUNATELY --
>>
YES.
>> THERE IT IS.
>> OKAY.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> OKAY.
CHAIR THERE ARE FIVE VOTES
IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.
>> ALL
RIGHT. THE MOTION CARRIES AND
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
THAT COUNCIL PASS COUNCIL BILL
121003 WILL BE SENT TO THE JULY
8th,
2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR THIRD
ITEM OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM THREE INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM THREE, COUNCIL
BILL 120989, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITYING THE
DIRECTOR
OF TRANSPORTATION TO EXECUTE
AND RECORD A LEASEHOLD DEED OF
TRUST
REFLECTING CULTURAL SPACE
AGENCY'S LEASEHOLD ESTATE
RIGHTS CREATED THROUGH THE
AGREEMENT AND EXECUTED WITH THE
CITY
OF SEATTLE AS AUTHORIZED
UNDER ORDINANCE 126916
AND RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING
CERTAIN PRIOR
ACTS.
>> THANK YOU.
WILL OUR NEW PRESENTER
PLEASE JOIN US AT THE TABLE?
LOOKS LIKE YOU ALREADY HAVE.
ONCE READY, PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION.
INCLUDING A REFRESHER OF
THIS TOPIC FROM OVER A MONTH AGO
NOW.
>> YEAH, BILL LAPORTE,
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION.
>> CALVIN CHOW, CENTRAL STAFF.
>> SO, JUST A QUICK
REFRESHER, I'M NOT GOING TO GO
THROUGH --
I DON'T THINK I NEED TO GO
THROUGH
THE SLIDES, BUT THIS IS
JUST SOME BACKGROUND THAT IS
AVAILABLE AS REFERENCE ON
KING STREET STATION, NOTING THAT
THE
CITY PURCHASED THE STATION FROM
B&S IN 2008 AND MANAGED THE
HISTORIC RESTORATION AND SEISMIC
REHABILITATION OF THE BUILDING
WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN 2013.
THE SDOT PARTNERED WITH ARTS
AND CULTURE SINCE 2015.
THEY MOVED ON RENOVATED TO
THE THIRD FLOOR IN 2019 AND
SINCE THEN COLLABORATING WITH
ARTS AND
CULTURE AND THE CULTURAL SPACE
AGENCY, WHICH IS
PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY,
THAT
WAS CREATED BY THE CITY, THEY
ALSO
FUNDED RENOVATION, IN THIS CASE
ON THE SECOND FLOOR AND MOVED IN
FIVE ORGANIZATIONS,
ARTS ORGANIZATIONS MOSTLY,
CENTERED
ON EDUCATION FOR
YOUTH ARTS EDUCATION FOR YOUTH
IN LATE
2023.
AND YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE LEASE
AGREEMENTS FOR ALL THREE
USES, AMTRAK ON FIRST FLOOR,
ARTS
AND CULTURE ON THE THIRD
AND CULTURAL SPACE AGENCY ON THE
SECOND.
AND THIS LEGISLATION IN FRONT
OF YOU WOULD AUTHORIZE THE SDOT
DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE AND RECORD
ESSENTIALLY THE EXISTING LEASE,
30-YEAR LEASE WITH
CULTURAL SPACE AGENCIES, DEED OF
TRUST,
AND WHICH IS A PREREQUISITE
FOR THE CULTURAL SPACE AGENCY
TO COLLECT A STATE DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE EARMARK THAT
COVERS SUBSTANTIAL COSTS OF
THE OVER $4 MILLION THAT THEY
PUT INTO ING THE SECOND FLOOR.
AND THERE IS NO -- WE
HAVE WORKED WITH LAW TO
DETERMINE THERE IS NO FINANCIAL
RISK
TO THE CITY.
WHAT IT DOES PROVIDE IS THAT IF
CSA WAS TO DEFAULT ON THEIR
LEASE, THE STATE WOULD TAKE
OVER THE LEASEHOLD INTEREST
AS SECURITY FOR THE EARMARK.
AND WE WOULD ACTUALLY
PROBABLY SEE A WINDFALL IF THAT
HAPPENED IN THE SENSE THAT IF
ARTS --
OR IF DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
DID TAKE OVER THE LEASEHOLD AND
COULDN'T CONTINUE TO USE IT
IN ITS CURRENT FORM AS AN
ARTS ENTITY OR ARTS EDUCATION
ENTITY, THEN THE RENT WOULD BUMP
UP $12
A SQUARE FOOT AND WE
WOULD ACTUALLY START COLLECTING
MORE MONEY IF IT WAS USED FOR
OFFICE
SPACE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND I THINK -- I THINK THAT'S
IT.
YEAH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, ANYONE HAVE
ANY INITIAL
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS ON THIS BILL
BEFORE US?
HEARING AND SEEING NONE -- OH,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, GO AHEAD.
>> I'LL JUST CHIME IN
BRIEFLY SINCE WE GOT THE TIME,
THANK
YOU, CHAIR.
I'LL JUST BE BRIEF AND SAY THIS
SEEMS
PARTICULARLY STRAIGHTFORWARD TO
ME AS
WAS STATED IN THE PRESENCE.
THIS COMES WITH NO FINANCIAL
RISK TO THE CITY AND THE
STATE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE REMAINDER OF THE LEASE TERM
AND THIS WOULD ALLOW IMPORTANT
ORGANIZATIONS, YOUTH SERVING
NONPROFITS AT KING
STREET STATION LIKE TOTEM STAR,
RED EAGLE SORE ARING, JACKSON
STREET JAZZ
TO GO FORWARD SO I'LL BE VOTING
YES TODAY, THANK YOU.
>> THANK
YOU. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA.
YES, FAIRLY
STRAIGHTFORWARD AND I JUST
WANTED TO NOTE
THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO LOOK
FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO, YOU KNOW,
LOOK AFTER OUR GEMS IN THE
CITY, THOSE KIND OF
HISTORICALHISTORICAL THAT ADD
THAT KIND OF EXTRA PIECE TO OUR
CITY
WHETHER ON THE WATERFRONT OR,
YOU
KNOW, IN DIFFERENT PARTS, TOWN
HALL,
OR KING STREET STATION.
AND IT IS ALSO A GOOD WAY
TO BUILD COMMUNITY, WHICH IS
SOMETHING, YOU KNOW THAT WE
NEED TO DO AGAIN AND AGAIN
POST PANDEMIC TO REBUILD, YOU
KNOW, THE DIFFERENT PIECES
OF COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE IN OUR
CITY.
AND THIS CULTURAL SPACE WOULD BE
GREAT FOR THAT, SO DEFINITELY
SUPPORT.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER -- OH, GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU.
MIC CHECK, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU LIMA
CHARLIE, LOUD AND
CLEAR.
>> WONDERFUL.
JUST HAVE TO SAY, IT HAS BEEN
AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO
WATCH THE KING STREET
STATION CHANGE OVER THE LAST
DECADE
FROM BEING -- HAVING, YOU KNOW,
LOW
HUNG FALSE EILINGS TO
WHAT WE HAVE NOW, POSITIVE
ACTIVATION
IN THE ROOMS OF KING STREET
STATION, JUST BEEN QUITE
A JOURNEY AND REALLY THIS IS
A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY.
I'M EXCITED TO PASS THIS
BILL TODAY AS A LAST STEP ON
THE JOURNEY FOR NOW.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK
YOU. AND I'LL PILE ON THAT I
THINK THIS IS IN A CATEGORY,
MIGHT
BE OF LESS STRAIGHTFORWARD,
AND MORE FIRMLY IN THE -- IN THE
ROUTINE BUCKET.
I'LL SAY AS A LAWYER, THIS
BILL DEALS WITH SOME VERY
TECHNICAL
AND FAIRLY COMPLEX
LEGAL CONSTRUCTS PERTAINING TO
REAL
PROPERTY.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE THINK
MAYBE
NOT THE MOST
STRAIGHTFORWARD, BUT IT IS A BIT
MORE ROUTINE AND
VERY IMPORTANT AND IMPACTFUL AS
WELL.
SO, FOR THOSE REASONS, I'M HERE
TO SUPPORT IT TODAY, PROUD TO
BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT TODAY.
THAT SAID, LET'S SEE, I
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 120989.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HADN'T PREVIOUSLY MOVED IT,
RIGHT?
NO, OKAY, OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF
COUNCIL BILL 120989.
ARE THERE ANY FINAL COMMENTS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES?
HEARING AND SEEING NONE,
WILL THE COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF TO PASS
COUNCIL BILL 120989?
>> COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR
SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FIVE VOTES
IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THE MOTION CARRIES.
AND THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE COUNCIL
PASS
COUNCIL BILL 120989 WILL BE SENT
TO
THE JULY 8th, 2025 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING.
ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA.
OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE ON
JULY 15th, AT 9:30 A.M.
IS THERE ANY FINAL BUSINESS
TO COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
BEFORE WE ADJOURN?
HEARING AND SEEING NONE,
WOW, LESS THAN HALF AN HOUR
FOR TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
MEETING, GREAT.
COLLEAGUES, DON'T PLAN
ON THIS ON A GOING FORWARD
BASIS.
BUT HEARING AND SEEING NO
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, WE ARE
ADJOURNED. IT IS 9:58 A.M.