CHAIR JUAREZ. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH. THERE ARE
FOUR PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE IS
EXCUSED UNTIL HE GETS HERE. I
KNOW HE IS ON HIS WAY. WE ARE
NOW GOING TO CONSIDER THE
AGENDA. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. AWESOME. HEARING NO
OBJECTION. THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. WITH THAT, WE WILL OPEN
THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT..
PUBLIC COMMENTS SHOULD BE
RELATED TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA. I KNOW WE HAVE FOLKS
SIGNED UP ONLINE. LOOKS LIKE WE
HAVE SEVEN FOLKS SIGNED UP
ONLINE AND MORE PEOPLE SIGNING
UP IN CHANGERS -- CHAMBERS.
EVERYONE IS GOING TO GET TWO
MINUTES. CLERK, PLEASE READ THE
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE
MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED
ON IN THE ORDER REGISTERED ON
THE WEBPAGE AND THE SIGN-UP
SHEET AVAILABLE IN CHAMBERS. IF
YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO SPEAK
BUT WOULD LIKE TO, SIGN UP
BEFORE THE END OF THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD OR ON THE COUNCIL
WEBSITE. WHEN SPEAKING, BEGIN BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
YOU ARE ADDRESSING. SPEAKERS
WILL HEAR A TIME WHEN 10 SECONDS
ARE LEFT. IF THE SPEAKERS DO NOT
END COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME PROVIDED, THE
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED TO
ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT
PERSON.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WILL
START WITH IN PERSON SPEAKERS
FIRST. WE'RE GETTING THAT LIST.
IF YOU'RE ONLINE, WE WILL COME
TO YOU RIGHT AFTER THE IN PERSON
SPEAKERS. AWESOME. WE WILL START
WITH THOSE SPEAKERS. FIRST WE
HAVE JEREMY, FOLLOWED BY LOGAN,
THEN DAVID , KEITH, JENNIFER AND
SUSAN. JEREMY, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU CHAIR
AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, I AM HERE
TO PROVIDE COMMENT ON CB 121190.
THE REVISION --
>> WE ARE GOING TO RESTART YOUR
TIME. I'M SORRY. WE DID HAVE
THE CLOCK UP. MY APOLOGIES. YOU
CAN START -- LET'S RESTART. GO.
>> THANK YOU. PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEER , LICENSE IN THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON. PRACTICING IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE FOR ALMOST 30
YEARS NOW. I AM HERE TO COMMENT
ON CB 121190 , REVISIONS TO THE
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE
STORMWATER CODE. RIGHT NOW WE
ARE AT A PRETTY MEANINGFUL
MOMENT . IN OUR REGION , THERE
ARE SERIOUS CONSIDERATIONS FOR
ZONING AND LAND-USE REGULATIONS
TO PROVIDE GREATER AFFORDABILITY
AND ACCESSIBILITY TO HOUSING.
THAT EFFORT IS INCOMPLETE
WITHOUT ALSO LOOKING AT
INFRASTRUCTURE REGULATIONS AND
REFORM OF INFRASTRUCTURE
REGULATIONS AND RECOGNIZING THE
ROLE THEY PLAY IN HOUSING ON
AFFORDABILITY IN THIS REGION. IN
MY OPINION, THE CODE AS
PRESENTLY WRITTEN , AND THE
CHANGES AS PROPOSED, OUR MISSED
OPPORTUNITY AT REFORM THAT THEY
PIT , LARGELY PIT THE
ENVIRONMENT AND HOUSING IN
OPPOSITION TO EACH OTHER. THOSE
ARE NOT ADVERSARIES, BUT THE
OPPORTUNITIES EXIST TO ACTUALLY
PROVIDE ENHANCED ENVIRONMENTAL
BENEFIT WITHOUT ADDED COST TO
HOUSING . THE CODE AS PROPOSED
WILL INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF BIO
RETENTION REQUIRED ON STRUCTURES
FOURFOLD. IT WOULD REQUIRE
SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONAL
INVESTIGATION AND IMPLEMENTATION
OF INFILTRATION IN OUR DENSE
GLACIAL SOILS IN THIS AREA. ALL
AT THE COST OF HOUSING WHILE
LEGACY POLLUTION PROBLEMS ARE
IGNORED IN THE PUBLIC
RIGHT-OF-WAY . SO IT IS A MISSED
OPPORTUNITY. I THINK WE CAN DO A
LOT BETTER. I PROVIDED WRITTEN
COMMENTS AS WELL TO THE COUNCIL
TODAY. AT YOUR SERVICE IF HE
WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS FURTHER AT
ANY TIME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JEREMY. NEXT WE
HAVE LOGAN, FOLLOWED BY DAVID,
KEITH, JENNIFER, SUSAN.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS LOGAN WITH
THE MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
OF KING AND SNOHOMISH COUNTIES
COMMENTING ON COUNCIL BILL
121190. WE WANT TO THANK FOR
THEIR SUSTAINED ENGAGEMENT OVER
THE PAST YEAR AND THE COMMITTEE
FOR WORKING THROUGH THIS
LEGISLATION. WE STRONGLY SUPPORT
THE FLOW CONTROL THRESHOLD
INCREASE. THAT IS SOUND POLICY
THAT REFLECTS THE REALITIES OF
URBAN INFILL CONSTRUCTION. WE DO
ALSO RECOMMEND RAISING THE
STANDARD DRAINAGE REVIEW
THRESHOLD TO AT LEAST 1200
SQUARE FEET TO ALIGN WITH
SEATTLE'S ADU ALLOWANCE.
SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN IN
CONVERSATION WITH OVER AT SPU AS
WELL. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ASK
IS THIS. WE URGE THE COMMITTEE
TO DIRECT THE CITY TO OPEN
LONG-TERM DIALOGUE WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY TO DEVELOP
A STORMWATER GUIDANCE ACTUALLY
FITS SEATTLE'S DENSE, BUILDOUT
URBAN CONTEXT, NOT FRAMEWORK
DESIGNED FOR GREENFIELD SUBURBAN
DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE SUBMITTED
WRITTEN COMMENT WITH HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY , AND THE WASHINGTON
SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEERS . IF THERE IS ANYTHING
ELSE YOU NEED TO REVIEW AND
DISCUSS ON THAT, WE ARE HAPPY
TO. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, LOGAN. NEXT WE
HAVE DAVID. WELCOME. FOLLOWED BY
KEITH, JENNIFER, SUSAN.
>> GOOD MORNING. I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 5. I AM HERE TO COMMENT
ON THE PROPOSED STORMWATER CODE.
THE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY HAS
PREPARED A LIST OF
RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT FOR SOME
REASON SDCI AND SPU HAS PROPOSED
TO SET THIS BELOW MINIMUM
STANDARDS. THE STATE RECOMMENDS
WE USE TREES, AS THEY ARE A
NATURAL WAY TO MANAGE STORMWATER
RUNOFF. SDCI AND SPU -- WHAT IS
NOT FREE IS ALL THE FINES AND
LEGAL SETTLEMENTS THAT SEATTLE
HAS MADE BECAUSE OF STORMWATER
RUNOFF. A SIMPLE ONLINE SEARCH
REVEALS MUCH OF THIS . IN 2023,
THE CITY WAS FINED $117,000 BY
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY
IN AN ARTICLE IN THE MEDIUM IN
2024, THE CITY WAS FINED ANOTHER
$71,000 . LEGAL SETTLEMENTS, THE
CITY PAID MADISON VALLEY 2 1/2
MILLION DOLLARS BECAUSE OF
STORMWATER ISSUES AND SETTLED
WITH THE SCHOOL HOMAGE TRIBE FOR
ANOTHER TWO AND HALF MILLION.
THE DEPARTMENTS WILL TELL YOU WE
ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
THREE WEEKS AGO KING COUNTY
ANNOUNCED THEY ARE GOING TO
RAISE OUR STORMWATER RATES BY
11% NEXT YEAR, AND THAT IS
PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE
DOUBLE-DIGIT INCREASES FOR THE
NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. IF OUR
STORMWATER NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED
SO MUCH, WHY ARE WE MAKING
STORMWATER REQUIREMENTS LOWER?
YESTERDAY WHEN I LOOKED AT THE
KING COUNTY WEBSITE THAT SHOWS
SEWER OVERFLOW, SHOWS TWO
INSTANCES OF OVERFLOW. THIS IS
IN THE MIDDLE OF MAY. WHAT ARE
WE GOING TO DO IN THE WINTER?
YOU CAN PROBABLY GUESS HOW MANY
INSTANCES WE WILL HAVE THEN. WE
SHOULD BE MAKING OUR STORMWATER
CODE STRONGER TO PREVENT
STORMWATER OVERFLOW, AND THESE
EXCESS EXPENSES LIKE LAWSUITS
AND FINES AND INCREASED UTILITY
BILLS FOR SEATTLE RESIDENTS --
FAULTY CODE. IMPROVE OUR
STORMWATER.
>> THANK YOU, DAVID. NEXT WE
HAVE KEYS, FOLLOWED BY JENNIFER,
THEN SUSAN. THEN WE WILL JUMP TO
ONLINE IF YOU ARE READY.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. I'M
HERE TO SPEAK ON THE STORMWATER
CODE 121190 . I JUST WANT TO SAY
THAT THE EQUIVALENCY WITH THE
STATE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE
IS ASSUMED . WE KNOW THAT THE
CITY HAS RUN THE CHANGES TO THE
STORMWATER CODE THROUGH THE
STATE RUBRIC, SO TO SPEAK, FOR
EQUIVALENCY WITH THE
REQUIREMENTS , THE REGULATIONS.
AND SO, THAT IS ASSUMED. I AM
HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
STORMWATER CODE BEING,
BASICALLY, THE LAST DEFENSE
AGAINST THE RECENTLY APPROVED
ONE SEATTLE PLAN AND WHAT SOME
PEOPLE THINK IS AN AND ADEQUATE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.
THE STORMWATER CODE IS ONE OF
THE LAST CHANCES , LAST LINE OF
DEFENSE, TO PROTECT THE
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES OF THE
CITY. ONE OF THOSE IN PARTICULAR
WOULD BE TREES . I THINK THAT
STORMWATER CODE IS KIND OF CUT
IT SHORT ON THE TREES AS A BEST
MANAGEMENT PRACTICE. THEY SHOULD
BE RANKED HIGHER UP ON THE LIST
AND GIVEN MORE CONSIDERATION AND
MORE WEIGHT. I DON'T THINK THE
CHANGES TO THE STORMWATER CODE
ARE REALLY SPEAKING TO THAT
ADEQUATELY . AND THEN, REALLY
JUST A QUESTION. OBVIOUSLY, THE
ANSWER WILL COME LATER, WHAT WAS
THE DRIVER FOR THE CHANGE FROM
2000 SQUARE FEET TO 5000 SQUARE
FEET? BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE 2000
SQUARE FEET HAS BEEN IN PLACE
SINCE 1979 , AND THERE WAS SOME
MOTIVATION, SOME DRIVER TO
CHANGE THAT. I JUST DON'T
UNDERSTAND IT. SO I GUESS
THAT'S IT. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, KEITH. NEXT WE
HAVE JENNIFER, FOLLOWED BY
SUSAN. WELCOME, JENNIFER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. FIRST, I
WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE
MAGNITUDE OF WORK THAT HAS GONE
INTO THIS UPDATE FROM SPU AND
COUNCIL. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
AS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PUGET SOUND
AND TREASON PEOPLE COALITION, I
AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE
UNPRECEDENTED INCREASES IN
IMPERVIOUS SURFACES BETWEEN THE
THRESHOLDS AND THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN. I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE MET
BY UNPRECEDENTED INCREASES IN
POLLUTED RUNOFF REDUCTIONS. SPU
DOES GREAT WORK, AS I'M SURE WE
WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT. I'M
GRATEFUL FOR THAT. HOWEVER, I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT THE REDUCTION IN
FLOW CONTROL REGULATIONS. I
WOULD LOVE TO SEE CALCULATION
SUPPORTING THE STATEMENT THAT
THESE CODE CHANGES WILL IMPROVE
WATER QUALITY FOR AQUATIC LIFE.
IF NOT, I WOULD PROPOSE AMENDING
TO INSTITUTE AND SHARE
PERFORMANCE METRICS CITYWIDE
REGARDING RUNOFF THAT CAN FORM
POLICY CHANGES AT INTERVALS
WITHIN THE FIBER CODE. OUR
ENVIRONMENT, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE
THE ENVIRONMENT BE OUT OF THE
CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT , LIKE
THE CITY OF SNOQUALMIE. FOR
EXAMPLE, THEY HAVE TREES AND
STORMWATER AND ITS OWN
DEPARTMENT. AS THE WORLD WATCHED
, SECOND DECEASED DAUGHTER ON
HER ROSTRUM FOR WEEKS.
RESEARCHER DEBORAH GILES SAID WE
HAVE TO TRY SOMETHING MASSIVELY
DIFFERENT, EVEN IF ONLY ON A
TRIAL BASIS. PUGET SOUND KEEPER
FOUND INCREASED MORTALITY IN
SALMON JUST LAST YEAR. THE 2025
SURVEY. THE LINK BETWEEN
IMPERVIOUS SURFACES AND HARM TO
AQUATIC LIFE IS WELL DOCUMENTED.
SEATTLE BEING THE LARGEST CITY
IN THE STATE AND LARGEST CITY ON
PUGET SOUND, WE ARE LIKELY THE
LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO POLLUTED
RUNOFF. THE COUNTY RECOGNIZES
THAT THE LARGEST SOURCE OF
POLLUTION IN PUGET SOUND IS
POLLUTED RUNOFF. SO I THINK IF
YOU WANT TO SEE ANY CHANCE AT
RECOVERY OF ENDANGERED FAMINES
AND ORCHIS, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO
HAVE PERFORMANCE METRICS ON
POLLUTED RUNOFF IF POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, JENNIFER. NEXT WE
HAVE SUSAN. WELCOME.
>> ECHOING ALL THE EFFORT ON THE
STORMWATER MANUAL UPDATES. IT'S
A BIG ONE. THE FLOOD DROUGHT
CYCLE IS EMBLEMATIC OF A
DEGRADED ECOSYSTEM. IN DECEMBER
IN FEBRUARY WE HAD CATASTROPHIC
FLOODING AND ARE NOW FACED WITH
ANOTHER SEVERE DROUGHT ADVISORY.
DURING THE FLOOD EVENTS, FOUR
DIFFERENT FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
OF MINE SEWER MAINS BURST COFFEE
BETWEEN $34,000 TO REPAIR. THEY
WERE NOT ALONE. IT IS NOW WIDELY
KNOWN THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS
FAILING AND RATEPAYERS ARE
SHOULDERING THE COST. THE
CONTINUED AND SIGNIFICANT LOSS
OF OUR MATURE TREE CANOPY IS A
MAJOR FACTOR. ALL OF THOSE LOST
TREES ONCE MITIGATED STORMWATER
FLOW. THAT LOSS IS ONLY
EXACERBATED BY A HEAVY INCREASE
IN IMPERVIOUS SURFACE. AS THE
LARGEST CITY SITUATED ON PUGET
SOUND, HEAVY DUTY AND OBLIGATION
TO ENSURE LONG-TERM HEALTH FOR
THOSE WATERS AND THE MARINE LIFE
THAT INHABIT THEM. COMBINED
SEWER OVERFLOWS HAVE NOW BECOME
COMMON. I HAVE DOCUMENTED MORE
THAN 15 SEPARATE EVENT SINCE
DECEMBER LOW, WHICH RUNS COUNTER
TO THE KING COUNTY OWN STATED,
COMMITMENT OF NO MORE THAN ONE
EVENT PER YEAR TO COMPLY WITH
STATE AND FEDERAL LAW. SO WALK
AND STRUCTURE CONTINUES ON THE
$700 MILLION SEWER UPGRADE,
PLEASE IMPLEMENT THE DEPARTMENT
OF ECOLOGY'S STORMWATER
GUIDELINES WITHOUT DELAY. IN
GENERAL, I STRONGLY URGE SPU TO
ALIGN REGULAR WITH STORM WATER
MANAGEMENT MANUAL FOR WESTERN
WASHINGTON. PLEASE EMPHASIZE
PERFORMANCE METRICS IF IT IS NOT
POSSIBLE TO PRODUCE SPECIFICS
ABOUT HOW CODE CHANGES WILL HELP
OR HARM AQUATIC LIFE OR ENHANCE
PUBLIC BENEFIT. ALLOWED TREES TO
BE ACCURATELY WEIGHTED AS
STORMWATER MANAGERS AS OTHER
CITIES HAVE DONE TO EXERCISE
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. ALL
THE DATA NEEDED TO IMPLANT THIS
IS CONTAINED IN THE REPORTS.
PLEASE DON'T RUSH THESE
CRITICAL UPDATES. I STRONGLY
URGE YOU TO REQUEST AN EXTENSION
WITHOUT PENALTY FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY TO
FORMULATE EFFECTIVE,
SCIENCE-BASED STORMWATER CODES
THAT ENSURE HEALTHY, RESILIENT
-- THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL GO
ONLINE . WE FIRST HAVE RUTH ,
FOLLOWED BY JUNE , AND THEN RUTH
WILLIAMS. PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. WE SEE ONE
LINE.
>> HELLO.
>> I AM A RESIDENT OF QUEEN
ANNE. I RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT
THESE CODE CHANGES. I DON'T KNOW
THE CODE CHANGES EXTENSIVELY,
BUT THE ONE CHANGE I WAS MADE
AWARE OF CONCERNS ME VERY MUCH,
WHICH IS CHANGING THE THRESHOLD
FOR ON-SITE STORMWATER RETENTION
FROM 2500 SQUARE FEET TO A
PROPOSED 5000 SQUARE FEET.
AGAIN, WHY ARE WE DOING THIS
WHEN WE ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY
INCREASING DENSITY AND
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE AREA
COVERAGE? I HAVE TO ASK MYSELF,
WHO SAVES WITH THIS CHANGE IN
WHO PAYS? MY GUESS IS THE
DEVELOPER SAVE, AND MY QUESTION
IS, WILL THE SAVINGS BE PASSED
ON TO THE CONSUMER? I BELIEVE I
KNOW WHO PAYS, AND THAT WILL BE
US AND ALL THE CREATURES IN
PUGET SOUND. I HAVE ONE OF THESE
RETENTION , WHATEVER YOU CALL
IT, IN MY BACKYARD. GRAVEL PIT
FOR STORMWATER FOR MY ROOF GOES
INTO. THAT WAS THERE WHEN WE
BOUGHT THE HOUSE IN 1991. I
REALLY WONDER WHY WE ARE
CHANGING THIS DECADES-OLD POLICY
. IT JUST VERY MUCH CONCERNS ME
. SOMEBODY ELSE HAS ASKED THE
SAME QUESTION. I HOPE YOU ASKED
THE SAME QUESTION AS WELL. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, RUTH. NEXT WE HAVE
JUNE, FOLLOWED BY RUTH WILLIAMS.
WELCOME, JUNE. STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> HELLO. I AND BOARD MEMBER OF
THE TREASON PEOPLE COALITION. I
WANT TO THANK CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH, THE COMMITTEE AND
THE STAFF AT SPU FOR WORKING TO
MAKE THE STORMWATER CODE UPDATE
MEET THE MOMENT WE ARE IN. THERE
IS MORE TO DO. WHEN COUNCIL
APPROVED THE COMP PLAN , YOU
APPROVED AN UNPRECEDENTED
INCREASE IN IMPERVIOUS SURFACES
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE . YOU ALSO
PROVIDED SOME PROTECTION FOR
EXISTING TREES, BUT NOT NEARLY
ENOUGH. AS A RESULT, WE NEED
STRONGER STORMWATER REGULATIONS.
EXISTING MATURE TREES ARE THE
MOST AFFECTED -- EFFECTIVE
STORMWATER MANAGERS THAT EXIST,
AND THEY ARE FREE. WITH MANY
FEWER TREES AND MANY MORE PAVED
SURFACES, POLLUTED RUNOFF WILL
INCREASE, FURTHER ENDANGERING
SAM A -- SALMON AND ORCAS. MORE
FREQUENT CLIMATE CHANGE WILL BE
MUCH MORE LIKELY TO OVERWHELM
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
INFRASTRUCTURE. PLEASE CONSIDER
AN EXTENSION WITHOUT PENALTY
FROM ECOLOGY TO IMPROVE THE CODE
UPDATE, CLEAN WATER IS WORTH IT.
IN ADDITION, PLEASE ADD BINDING
LANGUAGE TO AMENDMENTS THAT WILL
GO INTO EFFECT BEFORE 20 THROUGH
THE ONE , 20 FEET AWAY, THE
STATEMENT THAT TREE SHOULD BE
COMPATIBLE WITH CONSTRUCTION
WHEN OTHER PARTS OF THE CODE
ADDRESS WHERE TO PLANT TREES IN
RELATION TO CONSTRUCTION. AT
TEMPERATURE CHANGES FROM THE
STATE MODEL CODE, ALLOWED TREES
AND STORMWATER MANAGERS ON ALL
PROPERTY TYPES, REMOVE THIS SEPA
CHECKLIST BECAUSE MUCH OF
SEATTLE HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY
DEVELOPED IN ITS ORIGINAL --
ORIGINAL HABITANTS AND
SIGNIFICANT ALTERED ELIMINATE
THE POTENTIAL FOR THREAT OR
ENDANGERED ANIMAL SPECIES TO BE
PRESENT IN SEATTLE AS WELL."
THIS IS SIMPLY FALSE. REJECT
REMOVAL OF REQUIREMENTS POLLUTED
RUNOFF CLOSE TO SMALL LAKES AND
UNDERSERVED AREAS. WITH
INCREASED LOT COVERAGE, THERE
WILL BE NO ROOM FOR ON-SITE
MITIGATION PLANTAR EVENTS,
INCREASING FLOODING AND COMBINED
SEWER OVERFLOWS. SALMON AND
ORCAS WHICH ARE AN ESSENTIAL
PART OF HER ECOSYSTEM DESERVE
CLEAN WATER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JUNE. NEXT WE HAVE
RUTH WILLIAMS, FOLLOWED BY
HOWARD, IRENE, RICHARD AND
DAVID.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. MY
NAME IS RUTH WILLIAMS. I'M
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THORNTON
CREEK RELIES CONCERNING COUNCIL
BILL 121190. WE ALSO APPRECIATE
EVERYONE'S TIME AND EFFORT IN
RESPONDING TO OUR CONCERNS. WE
HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. AMENDMENT
ONE, FIRST COMIC, EXCLUSIONS
FROM THE DEFINITION OF STREAM.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL NOT TO EXCLUDE
THE CONDITION OF AN ARTIFICIALLY
CREATED WATER COURSE THAT WAS
CREATED AS MITIGATION FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. THERE ARE
A FEW. THIS WAS ALREADY IN THE
CODE SOMEWHERE. LET'S MAKE SURE
IT STAYS. NEXT COMMENT,
PARAPHRASING, RAIN GARDENS
CANNOT BE USED FOR PROJECTS WITH
AREAS OF 5000 SQUARE FEET OR
MORE HARD SURFACE INFILTRATING
ON THE PROJECT SITE. WE
CONSULTED RAIN GARDEN EXPERT,
CO-OWNER OF, SELLING MULTIPLE
RAIN GARDENS -- REQUIREMENTS. AS
FOR AMENDMENT TWO, THANK YOU FOR
WATERWAYS. AND THAT, 13, THE
ROLE OF TREES AND STORMWATER
RETENTION. AS WRITTEN, THIS
OPENS THE DOOR TO DELAY OF
ANOTHER FIVE YEARS OR MORE WHEN
THERE IS QUITE A LOT OF
SCHOLARSHIP ON THE SUBJECT
ALREADY. I HAVE EMAILED YOU SOME
RESOURCES ON THAT. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, RUTH. NEXT WE HAVE
HOWARD, FOLLOWED BY IRENE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH, I ASKED FOR
CLARIFICATION BEFORE MY TIME
STARTS.
>> WE WILL PAUSE , RESTART YOUR
TIME. GO AHEAD.
>> I DON'T WANT TO VIOLATE
RULES. YOU REQUEST A COMMENT
ONLY ON AGENDA ITEMS, BUT ON THE
PUBLISHED AGENDA, IT DOES THEY
ALSO WITHIN PURVIEW OF THE
COMMITTEE.
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU CAN
START. GOOD MORNING. MEMBER OF
36 LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
DEMOCRATS. I AM ASKING THIS
COMMITTEE TO AMEND THE GENERAL
RULES AND PROCEDURES OF THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL TO INCLUDE
A RULE TO INHIBIT OR SANCTION
ANY COUNCILMEMBER WHO, IN THEIR
OFFICIAL CAPACITY AT A COUNCIL
MEETING, MIGHT TARGET A MEMBER
OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR
CONDEMNATION OR EMBARRASSMENT,
EXCEPT IN CASES WHERE LAWS OR
THE GENERAL RULES AND PROCEDURES
OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL ARE
VIOLATED. LAST TUESDAY
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS DID THIS ,
CALLING ME OUT, AND FURTHER DID
SO WITH A QUESTIONABLY FALSE --
ON QUESTIONABLY FALSE CLAIMS.
I'VE DOCUMENTED THIS IN AN
EMAIL. HERE I WILL SIMPLY POINT
OUT THE COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS'S
CLAIM THAT I HAVE "A PATTERN OF
BEHAVIOR TARGETING A CERTAIN --
>> PAUSE TIME. THAT IS DIRECTLY
IN THE PURVIEW OF THIS COMMITTEE
AND ARE TARGETING A
COUNCILMEMBER. THANK YOU.
>> I'M SORRY. IS MY TIME PAUSE?
ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR CHANGE.
>> WE ARE GOING TO KEEP RUNNING
YOUR TIME. I MADE THE REQUEST.
GO AHEAD. KNOW YOUR TIME IS
STARTING.
>> THAT IS WHAT I AM DOING.
OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS'S
CLAIMS THE RECORD CLEARLY SHOWS
IN THE LAST 14 MONTHS I'VE
CALLED OUT COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
10 TIMES, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
VITAS, COUNCIL MEMBER SOLOMON
FOUR TIMES, FORMER COUNCIL
MEMBER NELSON ONE TIME . IN THE
TUESDAY ATTACK ON ME,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FALSELY
CLAIMED I IMPUGNED THE MOTIVES
OF COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> THAT IS YOUR SECOND MORNING .
PURVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE, NOT
TARGETING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> I AM NOT. THIS IS ABOUT THE
REASON.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO GO BACK AND
FORTH WITH YOU. GO AHEAD. YOUR
TIME IS CONTINUED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS'S
COMMENTS WERE AN ABUSE OF POWER
AND TRUST GRANTED TO HIM BY THE
VOTERS.
>> WE ARE DONE. THANK YOU. NEXT
PERSON UP --
>> THIS IS GROSSLY
INAPPROPRIATE.
>> NEXT WE HAVE IRENE, FOLLOWED
BY RICHARD AND DAVID.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I CANNOT POSSIBLY
ARTICULATE AS CLEARLY AS
JENNIFER HAS THE CONCERNS ABOUT
THE STORMWATER CODE AMENDMENTS.
BUT I WOULD SAY THE AMENDMENT
CONCERNING CONSULTING TREE
EXPERTS SHOULD HAPPEN BEFORE YOU
APPROVE ANY CODE AMENDMENTS. IF
THAT REQUIRES GETTING YET
ANOTHER EXTENSION FROM ECOLOGY,
SO BE IT. THE INCREASING SMALL
LOT AREAS IN THE CITY TO BE
REDEVELOPED, YOU KNOW, IT'S
INTERESTING HOW -- I DID A
CALCULATION SOME TIME AGO -- I
COUNT THE LOTS IN THE CITY
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL ZONES
UNDER 5000 SQUARE FEET. THEY ARE
GOING TO BE REDEVELOPED TOO.
MANY OF THEM INCLUDE LARGE
TREES. I HAPPEN TO LIVE ON ONE
OF THOSE, 3200 SQUARE FOOT LOT
WITH A 100-YEAR-OLD CEDAR. I DO
THINK WE NEED TO PROTECT THE
TREES, AND WE NEED TO HAVE A
STORMWATER CODE THAT IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE DESIRE TO
INCREASE OUR TREE CANOPY, OR AT
LEAST PRESERVE IT. AND SMALL
SHOULD BE PROTECTED TOO. I
DON'T KNOW WHY ALLOWING,
INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR
STORMWATER RUNOFF INTO GREEN
LAKE IS SUCH A GREAT IDEA. SO
PLEASE CONSIDER THE
MULTIMILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE HAVE
ALREADY SPENT, AND WILL SPEND,
TO DEAL WITH IN THE CITY AND
IMPROVE OUR STORMWATER CODE TO
PUT FLOW CONTROL AND EVERYWHERE
WE POSSIBLY CAN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, IRENE. NEXT
PERSON, RICHARD, FOLLOWED BY
DAVID.
>> HELLO. I AM RICHARD ELLISON,
A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY AND
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. I LIVE IN
DISTRICT FOR. I ALSO HAVE TWO
800 GALLON RAIN SMART WATER
SYSTEMS INSTALLED FREE BY THE
CITY OF SEATTLE ON MY PROPERTY
AS THE CITY TRIES TO REDUCE IT
STORMWATER RUNOFF. THE CRITICAL
IMPACT OF TREES AND CANOPY TO
IMPROVING WATER QUALITY IN URBAN
STORMWATER RUNOFF CANNOT BE
UNDERSTATED. ARAB WORLD FORESTS
PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN FLOOD
CONTROL. URBAN AREAS ARE A MAIN
SOURCE OF TOXIC POLLUTION TO THE
PUGET SOUND. LOCAL WHALE AND
POPULATIONS ARE IN DANGER OF
EXTINCTION, AND THE CITY
GLORIFIES CULTURAL TIES TO
SALMON, ORCAS AND NATO TRIES,
POPULATIONS ARE CRASHING. DYING
OF POLLUTION IMPACTS. THE CITY
AND DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY , LIKE
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DOES,
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES. NEEDS TO
WAKE UP TO LITERATURE. RESEARCH
ARTICLES ON STORMWATER ENTRIES.
-- AND TREES.
>> ARE YOU STILL THERE?
>> URBAN TREE -- I'M SORRY.
URBAN TREE CANOPIES AND THEIR
ROLE IN STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
FROM UNIVERSITY CALIFORNIA 2025
URBAN TREE CANOPIES ARE
ESSENTIAL TOOLS IN STORMWATER,
BASICALLY DENSE URBAN AREAS LIKE
THOSE DOMINATED BY SURFACES LIKE
PAVEMENTS AND ROOFTOPS. THE
BENEFITS OF URBAN TREE CANOPIES
FOR REDUCING RUNOFF AND
IMPROVING WATER QUALITY IMPROVED
THAT INCLUDE POLLUTION
FILTRATION, TREES AND THE SOIL
AROUND THEM ACT AS NATURAL
FILTERS CAPTURING AND BREAKING
POLLUTANTS , SUCH AS HEAVY
METALS, NUTRIENTS AND SEDIMENTS
THAT WOULD OTHERWISE ENTER STORM
DRAINS AND WATERWAYS. RAINFALL
INTERCEPTION. TREE CANOPIES
INTERCEPT RAIN BEFORE IT HITS
THE GROUND, REDUCING THE VOLUME
AND SPEED OF RUNOFF. THIS DELAYS
AND ALLOWS MORE WATER TO
EVAPORATE AND BE A SORT BY
SQUEALS. INFILTRATION
ENHANCEMENT. REDUCES EROSION.
STORMWATER RELIEF, SYSTEM
RELIEF, BY MATCHING WATER AT ITS
SOURCE, URBAN TREES REDUCE
STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE ,
LOWERING THE RISK OF SYSTEM
OVERFLOW AND WATER TREATMENT
COSTS. I WILL SEND A LETTER IN
REGARDING MORE INFORMATION. BUT
PLEASE , IT MUST BE DONE ,
CHANGE MUST BE DONE TO THE
STORMWATER .
>> THANK YOU, RICHARD. NEXT WE
HAVE DAVID. YOU HAVE TO RESET
THE TIMER TO TWO MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYWAY I
CAN CONVINCE COUNCIL THAT
TEARING UP THE SIDESTREETS THAT
CREATE AND THEN REDEVELOPED WITH
GREENERY AND THE ATTACHED UNITS
WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE
BENEFICIAL TO A COMMUNITY
WORRIED ABOUT, LIKE, GLOBAL
WARMING AND ALL THE ASPHALT AND
CONCRETE THAT SEEMS TO RADIATE
MOST OF THE HEAT? IS THERE ANY
WAY YOU ALL CAN REALIZE THAT
DOUBLING THE SHIFTS WHEN YOU'RE
WORKING ON INFRASTRUCTURE, LIKE
YOU GOT A PUBLIC-PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIP FOR STORMWATER, AND
IT IS LIKE A $700 MILLION
PROJECT, ARE THESE GUYS WORKING
10 HOURS, OR DO THEY HAVE TWO
SHIPS GETTING THE JOB DONE AND
BEING PAID PROPER? TO ALL THE
PEOPLE , THAT PASSIVELY
AGGRESSIVELY COME INTO COUNCIL
AND WANT TO WEAPONIZED THEIR
PRIVILEGE AND TRY TO QUELL EACH
DEVELOPMENT, WHETHER IT IS
CLAIMING THAT YOU GOT TO KEEP
YOUR TREE ON YOUR LOT AS THEY
DRIVE THROUGH THE ROAD, OR WE
WANT TO, LIKE, INCREASE THE COST
OF DEVELOPMENT BY WEAPONIZING
THE STORMWATER, LIKE, YOU ALL
ARE EMOTIONALLY, LIKE, BEING
RIDICULOUS WHEN YOU'RE ACTING
LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO SAVE THE
ORCAS AND SALMON BY PURPOSELY
DENYING SOMEBODY A BETTER BUILT
HOME. IT'S LIKE, I HEAR ALL
THESE PEOPLE THAT CALLED IN AND
COMING HERE, AND IT'S LIKE, OH,
I HAVE MY HOME, AND I DON'T WANT
YOU TO BUILD BACK BETTER. I WANT
TO DRIVE THROUGH YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD , KEEP TABS ON WHAT
YOU ARE UP TO, BUT HE NEVER WANT
TO TAKE THE SIDE ROADS AWAY. I
JUST WANT TO WEAPONIZED THE
TREES. I WANT TO WEAPONIZED THE
CHARACTER, CRAFTSMAN SEARS
ROEBUCK HOUSING. YOU ALL ARE
CHEATING FUTURE GENERATIONS WITH
ALL OF THIS SMALLTIME LANDLORD
CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT
DOESN'T HAVE THE BEST INTEREST
OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. WITHOUT
ALL THE SIDE ROADS. WE COULD
REDEVELOP 21st CENTURY, FIRST
WORLD QUALITY. BUT THERE'S NOT
EVEN ANY --
>> THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL
PUBLIC COMMENTERS? I WANT TO
FIRST TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK
EVERYONE THAT CAME IN CHAMBERS
TODAY TO GIVE US YOUR COMMENTS.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORKING BEHIND
THE SCENES AND WORKING WITH
EVERYONE ON CODES AND EVERYTHING
IN THE AGENDA TODAY. JUST REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME . AND ALSO,
THE PEOPLE THAT CALLED IN AS
WELL. THIS IS A FRIENDLY
REMINDER. EVERYTHING IS FRIENDLY
AROUND HERE. AGENDA ITEMS ,
PUBLIC COMMENT HAVE TO STAY
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF AGENDA
ITEMS. SPECIFICALLY TARGETING
CERTAIN COUNCIL MEMBERS OUTSIDE
OF THOSE AGENDA ITEMS, THAT IS
WHY I WARRANT -- HAD WARNED
NUMEROUS TIMES. TRYING TO MAKE
SURE WE STAYED WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THIS COMMITTEE. JUST
WANT TO SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD.
THANK YOU. NOW WE ARE GOING TO
TRANSITION INTO OUR ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA. CLERK, PLEASE READ
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE INTO THE
RECORD.
>> APPOINTMENT 349583496,
APPOINTMENT OF STAN DIDDAMS AND
GABRIEL NAVARRO TO SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES CUSTOMER REVIEW
PANEL FOR A TERM TO JULY 31,
2028 FOR BREATHING, DISCUSSION
OF POSSIBLE VOTES.
>> ALSO, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
HAS JOINED US TODAY. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. YOUR PART
OF THE COMMITTEE. SO THANK YOU.
>> HEY BOB.
>> PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF ,
AND THEN YOU CAN START YOUR
PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, GENERAL
DIRECTOR -- GENERAL MANAGER
LEAVE. -- LEAVE.
>> CEO FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES.
>> POLICY ADVISOR FOR SPU.
>> STAN DIDDAMS, AND I AM HERE
TO BE APPOINTED TO THE CRP.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. THE FIRST ITEM WE
HAVE THIS MORNING IS THE
APPOINTMENT OF TWO NEW MEMBERS
TO THE SPU CUSTOMER REVIEW
PANEL. WE HAVE GABRIEL NAVARRO
AND STAN DIDDAMS. GABRIEL AND
STAN REPRESENT THE CUSTOMER
PANELS STRONG TRADITION OF
COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION AND
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE. THEY ALSO
REFLECT OUR ONGOING WORK TO
ENGAGE MORE WITH NEIGHBORHOODS,
AND TO INCLUDE VOICES OF YOUTH
THAT HAVE OFTEN BEEN
HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED
AND ARE MOST IMPACTED BY CITY
UTILITIES. AT THIS., I WILL
HEADED OFF TO JUSTIN CHAN FOR
FURTHER INTRODUCTIONS.
>>,, COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE
CUSTOMER REVIEW PANEL WAS FORMED
IN 2013, AND BECAME PERMANENT IN
2018 . IT ADVISES THE MAYOR AND
CITY COUNCIL ON OUR RATES AND
BUSINESS PLAN. TO PROVIDE A
LITTLE BIT OF CONTACTS ABOUT
EACH OF THE NOMINEES HERE,
GABRIEL NAVARRO RESIDES IN
CAPITOL HILL , DISTRICT 3, AND
IS RECOMMENDED TO FILL WILL NEED
THE NEWLY CREATED YOUNG ADULT
SEATS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THAT. DEDICATED POSITION TO LIFT
UP THE PERSPECTIVES OF YOUNGER
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE ALSO PLAN
TO INTRODUCE THE NEXT YOUNG
ADULT NOMINEE AT YOUR UPCOMING
COMMITTEE MEETING NEXT MONTH.
GABRIEL IS A UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON MASTERS STUDENT
INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLANNING AND
MANAGEMENT WHO WILL ACTUALLY BE
GRADUATING PRETTY SOON. AND A
FIRST GENERATION
MEXICAN-AMERICAN LEADER . HE IS
A LIFELONG WASHINGTONIAN WITH
DEEP ROOTS IN THIS REGION. HIS
RESEARCH FOCUSES ON
DECENTRALIZED, CLEAN ENERGY,
UTILITY INVESTMENTS AS TOOLS FOR
COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND
ECONOMIC EQUITY. AND HE
CURRENTLY SERVES AS A LOCAL
PATHWAYS FELLOW THROUGH SEATTLE
DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS NETWORK.
HE IS ALSO PURSUING A
CERTIFICATE IN ECOLOGICAL
RESTORATION , BRING
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TOGETHER IN HIS
WORK. STAN -- STAN DIDDAMS
RESIDES IN GREEN LAKE, DISTRICT
6 AND IS A RETIRED BANKER.
DECADES OF FINANCIAL EXPENSE AT
BANK OF AMERICA WHERE HE MANAGED
CORPORATE ACCOUNT, INCLUDING
UTILITIES. A LIFETIME RESIDENT
OF SEATTLE . STAN BRINGS DEEP
FINANCIAL INSIGHT . HE SERVES AS
TREASURER FOR REFUGEE SUPPORT
ORGANIZATION IS IS ON THE
SEATTLE FOUNDATION BOARD. STAN
HAS DEEP EXPERIENCE BALANCING
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY WITH
EQUITABLE SERVICE DELIVERY. WE
ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THE
CUSTOMER REVIEW PANEL. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO THE COMMITTEE'S
CONSIDERATION. I WOULD LIKE TO
NOW INVITE OUR NOMINEES TO
BRIEFLY INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM STAN DIDDAMS. I AM
GRATEFUL TO MAYOR WILSON FOR
APPOINTING ME TO SERVE ON THE
CUSTOMER REVIEW PANEL FOR SPU
SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE
COUNCIL. AS JUSTIN SAID, I AM A
RECENTLY RETIRED AFTER A CAREER
OF MORE THAN THREE DECADES IN
BAKING MOSTLY WITH BANK OF
AMERICA HERE IN SEATTLE. IN THAT
WORK I SERVED NEW MARKET
COMPANIES, LED REGIONAL BANKING
TEAMS, WORKED ON COMPLEX
FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS AND SPENT A
LOT OF TIME HELPING
ORGANIZATIONS THINK CAREFULLY
ABOUT CAPITAL STRATEGY, RISK AND
LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP OF THEIR
ASSETS. I'VE ALSO TRIED TO MAKE
SERVICE A CONSISTENT PART OF MY
LIFE . I SERVED AS DIRECTOR AND
PRESIDENT FOR MANY YEARS WITH
YOUR SEATTLE COLLEGE EDUCATION
FUND AND THE FOUNDATION FOR
SEATTLE COLLEGES, INCLUDING WORK
TO ESTABLISH THE PACIFIC TOWER
HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER .
BECAUSE I BELIEVE DEEPLY IN
EDUCATIONAL ACCESS FOR EVERYONE.
I HAVE ALSO SERVED AS A
VOLUNTEER BOARD MEMBER WITH
ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON
REFUGEES , HOMELESSNESS,
CHURCHES AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, BOTH LOCALLY AND
INTERNATIONALLY. MY WIFE AND I
AND OUR FOUR KIDS LIVED IN
SHORELINE FOR 23 YEARS, AND FOR
THE PAST 5 1/2 YEARS, WE HAVE
LIVED IN SEATTLE. SINCE RETIRING
IN 2022, I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR
MEANINGFUL WAYS TO SERVE THE
CITY MORE DIRECTLY. THIS
OPPORTUNITY IS ESPECIALLY
IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES TOUCHES THE
LIVES OF EVERY RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE THROUGH ESSENTIAL
SERVICES. I UNDERSTAND THE
CUSTOMER REVIEW PANEL'S ROLE AS
HELPING TO BRING COMMUNITY
PERSPECTIVE TO THE SPU STRATEGIC
BUSINESS PLAN, IT'S RATE PATH
AND KEY POLICY DECISIONS WITH
ATTENTION TO EQUITY,
AFFORDABILITY , SUSTAINABILITY
AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. I
HOPE TO BRING THE PANEL A
COMBINATION OF FINANCIAL
EXPERIENCE, ORGANIZATIONAL
JUDGMENT, COMMUNITY COMMITMENT ,
A PASSION FOR JUSTICE AND
WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN CAREFULLY
. MY DESIRE IS SIMPLE, TO HELP
MAKE SEATTLE A BETTER CITY, AND
TO SERVE THE PUBLIC WELL THROUGH
THIS ROLE. I WILL CONSIDER IT A
PRIVILEGE TO CONTRIBUTE WHATEVER
EXPERIENCE I HAVE TO THE
PRACTICAL AND IMPORTANT WORK OF
HELPING SEATTLE STEWARD IT'S
ESSENTIAL PUBLIC UTILITIES. I
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
OF MY APPOINTMENT.
>> THANK YOU, STAND. REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. GABRIEL, AND
THEN WE HAVE SOME COMMENTS AT
THE END.
>> ABSOLUTELY. GOOD MORNING,
COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR THE
PRIVILEGE, PLEASURE AND
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. I ALSO
WANT TO GIVE THANKS TO SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES FOR YOUR
SERVICE TO RESIDENTS, AND OF
COURSE, OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS
HERE AND PROVIDED COMMON. MY
BACKGROUND SPANS AS FEW
DIFFERENT AREAS. WHAT I HOPE TO
BRING TO THE PANEL AND OF
SERVICE IS TO INCLUDE MORE OF
OUR COMMUNITIES IN OUR CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS. I DEEPLY
BELIEVE THAT DEVELOPMENT AND OUR
ENVIRONMENT DON'T HAVE TO BE IN
CONFLICT WITH EACH OTHER. THAT
WE CAN DEVELOP SUSTAINABLY AND
CREATE SYNERGIES BETWEEN
OURSELVES, OUR NEIGHBORS, AND
THE LAND WE LIVE ON. AND SO,
THAT VALUE AND THOSE GOALS ARE
WHAT I WANT TO BRING TO THE
PANEL THROUGH INVOLVING
DIFFERENT COMMUNITY GROUPS, SUCH
AS PEOPLE OF COLOR, YOUNGER
PEOPLE AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN
HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED FROM THESE
CONVERSATIONS AND TYPES OF WORK.
I HOPE TO ELEVATE THESE VOICES
AND WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH
YOU ALL AS OUR CITY COUNCIL AND
PROVIDE HARMONIOUS BENEFITS TO
OUR ENTIRE CITY. I THINK IT IS
POSSIBLE, AND I AM NOT WILLING
TO GIVE UP. I AM WILLING TO DO
THE WORK TOGETHER AND BE HERE OF
SERVICE. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, GABRIEL.
THANK YOU, STAND. COLLEAGUES, I
WANT TO SEE IF ANYONE HAS
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THE
APPOINTMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING
LOOKING AT THE BACKGROUNDS AND
SO FORTH . A BANKER . I HAVE
BEEN IN THE SHOES OF SITTING ON
BOARDS OR COMMUNITY KIND OF
GROUPS. ANYTIME YOU HAVE
SOMEBODY WITH A BANKING, OKAY,
THIS IS YOUR TREASURER. SO YOU
ARE IN HIGH DEMAND. IF YOU
WEREN'T HERE, YOU WOULD BE IN
HIGH DEMAND IN MANY LOCATIONS.
BUT HAVING THAT BACKGROUND OF
WORKING WITH INDUSTRIES. IT
MENTIONS THAT YOUR CLIENTS OVER
THE YEARS, YOU KNOW, BEING IN
THE -- IN BUSINESS, AND INDUSTRY
IN THIS WORLD AS WELL, IS
HELPFUL GIVING YOU AN INSIGHT. I
THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING,
BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE TIME. AND
CONVERSELY, MR. NAVARRO, ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT CAUGHT MY
ATTENTION IN YOUR PACKAGE, AND I
SAID THIS LAST NIGHT IN
COMMUNITY, TOO OFTEN IN THE
POLITICAL WORLD WE HAVE THE
SHORT TERM FIXES. SHORT-TERM
KIND OF APPROACHES. THE FIRE THE
DAY KIND OF APPROACH. YOU
MENTIONED THE LONG-TERM PLANNING
PEACE. THAT IS WHAT THESE
COMMUNITIES NEED IN TERMS OF WHO
YOU ARE LOOKING TO REPRESENT .
BECAUSE IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO
GET TO WHERE THESE COMMUNITIES
ARE IN TERMS OF NOT BEING -- YOU
KNOW, LIKE SOUTH PARK. WITH THE
WATER IN THESE DIFFERENT ISSUES.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME
TO OVERCOME THAT TOO. AND SO,
THE PIECE THAT CAUGHT MY
ATTENTION IS LONG-TERM PLANNING.
BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A STRATEGIC
LONG-TERM APPROACH TO OUR
ISSUES, BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE ARE
JUST REACTING TO THE CRISIS OF
THE DAY. SO THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT CAUGHT IN YOUR BACKGROUND.
I APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU TWO
STEPPING UP AND VOLUNTEERING TO
SUPPORT OUR CITY. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND CHAIR. I JUST WANTED TO
THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE. I ALWAYS SAY THAT THESE
ARE VOLUNTEER POSITIONS AND VERY
IMPORTANT ONES. I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION AND
WANTING TO STEP INTO THESE
ROLES. I WANT TO SAY, AND I'M
GOING TO SAY THAT YOU ARE
CORRECT THAT IS NOT THAT I NEED
TO VALIDATE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING
-- BUT I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS
FOR MANY DECADES, AND I FEEL
LIKE WE ARE NOT WHERE WE NEED TO
BE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR -- ALL
PLACES OF GOVERNMENT ARE
REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL THE PEOPLE
THAT LIVE IN THE CITY AND ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, FOR THAT MATTER. I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS
ABOUT INCLUSIVITY, BOTH FOR
PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND ALSO YOUNG
PEOPLE . AND SO, I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE FOCUS ON THAT.
YOU BOTH TALKED ABOUT IT. I
APPRECIATE THE FOCUS ON THAT. I
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. THANK YOU,
CHAIRPERSON AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE VICE
CHAIR.
>> PARDON ME?
>> I BELIEVE I'M YOUR VICE
CHAIR.
>> VICE CHAIR JUAREZ.
>> WE LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE
HUMOR NOW AND THEN. FIRST OF
ALL, THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR . I
WANT TO THANK STAN DIDDAMS FOR
STEPPING UP . A PARTICULAR THANK
YOU ALONG THE SAME LINES WITH
MR. NAVARRO. I WAS REALLY
INTRIGUED WITH YOUR PACKET THAT
WE RECEIVED ON BOTH OF YOUR
BACKGROUNDS. IN PARTICULAR, FOR
YOU MR. NAVARRO, IT IS NOT TOO
OFTEN WE SEE YOUNG MEN LIKE YOU,
FIRST-GENERATION LATINO GRADUATE
PURSUING A MASTERS IN
INFRASTRUCTURE, PLANNING AND
MANAGEMENT, AND YOUR WILLINGNESS
TO SERVE ON THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES CUSTOMER REVIEW PANEL.
I KNOW IT IS NOT THE SEXIEST
PANEL TO BE ON. WHEN YOUNG
PEOPLE LIKE YOU STEP UP, IT
REALLY MEANS A LOT, BECAUSE IT
LOOKS LIKE YOUR TERM OR POSITION
IS GOOD UNTIL JULY 2028. I JUST
THOUGHT IT WAS VERY INTRIGUING.
I WAS VERY PLEASED TO READ THAT
-- WHAT THEY STATED ABOUT YOU
THAT YOU OFFER INSIGHT ON SYSTEM
RESILIENCE , FLOODING AND
LONG-TERM PLANNING, ALONG WITH A
STRONG COMMITMENT TO PROACTIVE
CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT AND BUILDING
TRUST WITH HISTORICALLY
UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES . I
DON'T KNOW IF YOU WROTE THAT OR
IF MR. LEE WROTE THAT, BUT I
THINK THIS REALLY NAILS WHO YOU
ARE AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS
GREAT CITY AND COMMUNITY. ALONG
WITH COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND MADAME
CHAIR, THANK YOU SO MUCH, BOTH
OF YOU, FOR STEPPING UP AND
AGREEING TO BE, AND ACCEPTING
DISAPPOINTMENT AFTER WE VOTE ON
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
CUSTOMER REVIEW PANEL. AGAIN,
THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT
WATER AND CULVERTS AND STORM,
AND IT IS IMPORTANT, SO THANK
YOU AGAIN.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, VICE
CHAIR JUAREZ. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. JUST WANTED
TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK YOU --
EVERYONE FOR THEIR VOLUNTEER
SERVICE TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
ALL THE RESIDENTS WHOM WE SERVE.
WE KNOW THE WORK AND EXPERTISE
YOU BRING TO US IS ON A
VOLUNTEER BASIS. JUST WANTED TO
TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THAT
AND RECOGNIZE YOU AND YOUR
SERVICE TO OUR CITY. THANK YOU.
>> WELL SAID, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. WILL SEND TO THE REST
OF MY COLLEAGUES. I DON'T NEED
TO ADD MORE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE
SAID IT SO ELOQUENTLY. THANK
YOU, STAN -- STAN DIDDAMS , AND
GABRIEL NAVARRO. ARE YOU THE
ANGEL GABRIEL THAT WILL GIVE
DIVINE MESSAGES FROM GOD TO THE
PEOPLE? YOU CAN DO THAT FROM THE
HEAVENS ABOVE TO SPU, WHICH IS
GREAT. MY FAVORITE ANGEL IN THE
BIBLE.
>> MINE TOO. MY FAVORITE ANGEL
TOO.
>> THE AGENT -- ANGEL GABRIEL
WITH THE TRUMPET. I MOVE THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS
3495 AND 3496. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> I AM GOING TO SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO CONFIRM
APPOINTMENTS. ANY COMMENTS WITH
THE APPOINTEES? AWESOME. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE WILL
KNOCK ON CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENTS?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE. VICE
CHAIR JUAREZ. RIVERA.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH. FIVE IN FAVOR.
>> MOTION CARRIES. COMMITTEE'S
RECOMMENDATION WILL BE SENT TO
THE MAY 19 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THANK YOU, STAN AND GABRIEL.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU JUSTIN AND DIRECTOR
LEE AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, ITEM NUMBER THREE.
CLERK, PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER
THREE INTO THE RECORD.
>> REAPPOINTMENT OF ANDREW LEE
AS GENERAL MANAGER AND CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES FOR BREATHING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, GENERAL
MANAGER LEE. LOOKING FORWARD TO
THIS PROCESS. COLLEAGUES, WE HAD
PRESENTED SOME QUESTIONS TO
DIRECTOR -- I'M SORRY. I DON'T
WANT TO SCARE YOU. TO DIRECTOR
LEE WHO ANSWERED THOSE REALLY
WELL. I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO YOU
FOR OPENING COMMENTS, AND THEY
WILL START THE PROCESS. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, I AM HUMBLED AND
HONORED TO BE SITTING HERE WITH
YOU TODAY IN CONSIDERATION OF
RECONFIRMATION OF SPU GENERAL
MANAGER AND CEO. I WANT TO THANK
ALL OF YOU IN THE PRIOR MAYORAL
ADMINISTRATION FOR PLACING TRUST
IN ME THE PAST FOUR YEARS TO
LEAD OUR DRINKING WATER,
DRAINAGE AND WITH WATER AND
SOLID WASTE UTILITIES. I ALSO
WANT TO THANK MARY WILSON AND
HER TEAM FOR THE CONFIDENCE TO
PUT ME FORWARD IN THIS
RECONFIRMATION PROCESS. I AM
INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE WORK WE
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THE PAST
FOUR YEARS AS THE LARGEST
COMBINED WATER AND WASTE UTILITY
IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. WE
HAVE RELIABLY SERVED SAY
FREAKING WANTED TO OVER 1.6
MILLION PEOPLE IN THE GREATER
KING COUNTY AREA. AND EVEN WITH
SUCCESSIVE YEARS OF LOW SNOWPACK
IN EXTREMELY DRY SUMMERS, WE
HAVE MANAGED OUR DRINKING WATER
RESOURCES RESPONSIBLY AND
DELIVERED ENOUGH WATER FOR BOTH
PEOPLE AND FISH IN OUR REGION.
IN A TIME WHEN MANY UTILITIES
ARE WHIRRING ABOUT FOREVER
CHEMICALS LIKE PFAS, OUR WATER
SUPPLIES REMAIN FREE FROM THOSE
HARMFUL CHEMICALS. IN OUR
DRAINAGE AND WASTEWATER UTILITY,
WE FINISHED CONSTRUCTION OF AN
18 FOOT DIAMETER TUNNEL BETWEEN
WALLINGFORD AND BALLARD TO
REDUCE SEWAGE OVERFLOWS INTO
LAKE UNION AND THE SHIP CANAL.
THE ENTIRE PROJECT, WHICH WILL
INCLUDE A SMALLER MICRO TUNNEL
AND PUMP STATION IN BALLARD, IS
ON TRACK TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY
COMPLETE BY THE END OF 2027. WE
ALSO FINISH OUR SECOND SEASON OF
CONSTRUCTION FOR SEDIMENT
CLEANUP ALONG THE UPPER REGION
OF THE LOWER RIVER THIS PAST
YEAR. THAT EFFORT IS ADDRESSING
YEARS OF HISTORICAL SEDIMENT
CONTAMINATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE ISSUES ALONG THE
DUWAMISH. ARE SOLID WASTE
UTILITY, WE CONTINUE TO LEAD THE
COUNTRY IN OUR EFFORTS TO
ACHIEVE ZERO WASTE. JUST LAST
WEEK, WE HAD THE GRAND OPENING
FOR A SALVAGE LUMBER WAREHOUSE
DOWN IN SOUTH DOWNTOWNS FUNDED
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FORMING
OF THE EPA GRANT. THAT PROJECT
WILL SEEK TO CREATE A CIRCULAR
ECONOMY WHERE WE ARE REUSING
WOOD FOR OLDER -- FROM OLDER
BUILDINGS INSTEAD OF SETTING IT
DOWN TO A LANDFILL DOWN IN
OREGON. WHAT I AM MOST PROUD OF,
HOWEVER, IS THAT WE'VE DONE ALL
THIS WHILE BEING INCREDIBLY
MINDFUL OF AFFORDABILITY AND
COST. WHEN YOU REMOVE THE IMPACT
OF THE KING COUNTY WASTEWATER
TREATMENT RATES, THE SIX-YEAR
AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE INCREASES
THAT SPU IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ARE
THE 3 1/2% PER YEAR RANGE. THAT
IS VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH THE
COST OF LIVING INCREASES FOR THE
REGION. THESE ACHIEVEMENTS ARE
THE RESULT OF AN AMAZING TEAM AN
AMAZING ORGANIZATION. WE ARE SO
FORTUNATE TO HAVE ONE OF THE
MOST DEDICATED STAFF IN THE
REGION FROM THE FRONT-LINE
WORKERS TO FIX OUR WATER AND
SEWER PIPES TO OUR METER
READERS, CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
, ACCOUNTANTS AND ENGINEERS AND
SCIENTISTS. THEIR DEDICATION AND
INCREDIBLE WORK ETHIC AND
ASTOUNDING TECHNICAL AND
STRATEGIC MOURNS ARE THE REASON
WE ARE IN SUCH A STRONG POSITION
TODAY AS A UTILITY. WE HAVE MANY
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
AHEAD OF US, LIKE THE CONTINUING
CHANGE IN CLIMATE, SIGNIFICANT
INCREASES IN REGIONAL WASTEWATER
TREATMENT RATES, AND THE ONGOING
THREAT OF CYBER SECURITY
INCIDENTS. I AM CONFIDENT,
HOWEVER, OUR TEAM WILL RISE TO
MEET THOSE CHALLENGES, AND I AM
EXCITED TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP TO
THIS UTILITY AS WE STRIVE TO
CONTINUE PROVIDING THE BEST
UTILITY SERVICES TO CUSTOMERS.
WITH THAT, I WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU AGAIN. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS YOU MAY
HAVE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT OPENING
STATEMENT. COLLEAGUES, I WILL
PAUSE HERE TO SEE IF YOU ALL
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
VICE CHAIR JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR. I
JUST WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR LEE
FOR COMING BACK AND STAYING. I
WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR
REAPPOINTING ANDREW LEE. I'M
GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT NERDY
HERE BECAUSE ON THE STORM WATER
ISSUES AND SOME OF THE STUFF WE
HEARD IN PUBLIC COMMENT, IT HAS
BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO
WORK WITH DIRECTOR LEE ON THE
STORM WATER AND ALL THE ISSUES,
PARTICULARLY IN THE DUWAMISH
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. WE WORK WITH
YOU AND YOUR STAFF, TRIBAL
LEADERSHIP , WANTING THE
LITIGATION IN THE CULVERT CASE
AND WHAT HAPPENED WITH UNITED
STATES SUPREME COURT WHEN THEY
UPHELD THE DISTRICT COURT
ORDERED THAT THE CULVERTS WERE
AFFECTING SALMON AND ONE OFTEN
PASSAGE. YOUR OFFICE HAS ALWAYS
BEEN SO GREAT ABOUT RESPONDING,
AND ALSO ANOTHER SHOUT OUT -- I
KNOW YOU HAD REFERENCES HERE ,
YOU KNOW, TWO STELLAR 12 I
WORKED CLOSELY WITH SINCE 2016,
AND THEN PHENOMENAL. WE ALL WERE
TO TRIAGE TOGETHER ON ALL THESE
ISSUES, PARTICULARLY WATER
ISSUES. OF COURSE, MARCO, WHO I
ADORE AND WORK WELL WITH. I
DON'T OF THE PUBLIC SEES THIS.
THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE
QUESTIONS. I THINK IT WAS LIKE
17 OR 20 PAGES OF YOUR QUESTIONS
AND YOUR RESPONSES. I WANT GIVE
YOU A HARD TIME FOR GOING TO
STANFORD. I JUST WANT TO SAY
THAT IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU. I
HAVE ALWAYS RESPECTED THE WORK
YOU GUYS HAVE DONE. MORE
IMPORTANTLY, MR. LEE, DIRECTOR
LEE, I HAVE ALWAYS APPRECIATED
HOW ASTUTE YOU ARE AND HOW
INTELLIGENT AND HOW THOUGHTFUL
YOU WERE -- WHEN YOU WERE JUST
TALKING ABOUT THE RUNOFFS AND
STORM WATER AND WHAT THIS MEANS
TO COMMUNITIES AND CHEMICALS IN
OUR WATER, THE ENVIRONMENT , AND
ALSO MY DISCUSSIONS WITH TRIBAL
LEADERSHIP, NOT JUST ON THE
DUWAMISH, BUT STATEWIDE. I AM
ALWAYS PROUD TO SAY WHEN I WOULD
BE IN THE CIRCLES THAT I WAS ON
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU. A
VERY, VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOU
BACK. I WILL BE VOTING YES FOR
YOU, OF COURSE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. FIRST, I
HAVE TO SAY GIVEN VICE CHAIR'S
COMMENTS AND THE FACT THAT MY
WIFE WENT TO THE SAME SCHOOL, I
JUST HAVE TO SAY, FEAR THE TREE.
HAVE TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR
STANFORD . IT'S A LITTLE BIT
EASIER NOW THAT THEY ARE NOT IN
THE SAME CONFERENCE , BY THE
WAY. I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS
OPPORTUNITY. APPRECIATE YOUR
OPENING STATEMENT . I HAVE THREE
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES ONE IS
OBVIOUSLY PUBLIC SAFETY. ALL THE
ISSUES THAT IMPACT THE CITY. BUT
MY THIRD ONE IS THE MARITIME, US
AS A MARITIME CITY. IT IS SO
IMPORTANT IN SO MANY DIFFERENT
WAYS. ONE OF MY GOALS IS TO
ENSURE THAT OUR PORT IS VIABLE
100 YEARS FROM NOW. BUT IT IS
ALSO OUR MARITIME SPACE. I AM IN
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PORT OF
SEATTLE AND OTHER ENTITIES ON
THIS, THE LABOR UNIONS, ACROSS
THE BOARD. IT IS INCREDIBLE HOW
BIG THE ECOSYSTEM IS. I BRING
THIS UP BECAUSE YOUR ROLE IS SO
IMPORTANT TO THIS. I APPRECIATE
THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE. I
APPRECIATE THE TOUR OF THE
GEORGETOWN WET WEATHER TREATMENT
FACILITY AND TALKING ABOUT THE
WET TREATMENT FACILITY WE NEED
TO PROCEED UNDER BECAUSE WE ARE
UNDER CONSENT DECREE. THE ISSUES
RELATED TO OTHER CSO . THE WORK
IN BALLARD. THAT ONE ALSO, GOING
TO THE WASTE TREATMENT FACILITY,
THE PIECES, THE EFFORTS THAT GO
INTO THAT ARE INCREDIBLE. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT
SPU HAS BEEN DOING UNDER YOUR
LEADERSHIP WITH THE TEAM THAT
YOU HAVE TO INCLUDE MR. HENNESSY
BEHIND YOU. IT IS SO IMPORTANT.
BECAUSE THIS ISN'T GOING TO
CHANGE. WE ARE GOING TO REMAIN A
PORT CITY. WE ARE GOING TO
REMAIN A MARITIME CITY. NATURAL
DEEP WATER PORTS DON'T HAPPEN
LIKE THIS. SO IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES. IT GOES BACK
TO WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT
EARLIER. HAVING THAT STRATEGIC
LONG-TERM VIEW IS SO IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT.
SECOND, AND ALONG THOSE LINES,
AND YOU KIND OF SPOKE TO IT IN
DIFFERENT WAYS, IS CLIMATE
CHANGE. WE HAVE TO BE READY. WE
HAVE TO BE READY. I WAS TAKING
MY DAUGHTER TO A DENTAL
APPOINTMENT FIRST THING IN THE
MORNING, AND -- GOOD DENTAL
APPOINTMENT BY THE WAY -- AND 50
YEARS FROM NOW WHEN SHE IS MY
AGE, YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE WE
GOING TO BE? THE DECISIONS WE
MAKE TODAY -- JUST LIKE THE
DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE A
CENTURY AGO -- HAVE SERVED US
WELL. IN THIS AREA. LIKE WITH
THE WATER, DRINKING WATER AND SO
FORTH. IT'S CRUCIAL. THIS IS
THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP THAT WE
NEED TODAY TO ENSURE THAT OUR
TOMORROW IS SET. IF YOU THINK OF
IT THAT WAY, IT IS A BIT OF A
HEAVY BURDEN, DIRECTOR LEE, BUT
I FEEL THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY
TO DO IT BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE
OF WORKING WITH YOU OVER THREE
YEARS. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR THAT. I WILL BE BLUNT TOO. I
WANT TO THANK YOU, BUT I ALSO
WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR TO
MAKING THIS CALL. CLEARLY, I
HAVEN'T AGREED WITH OTHER
DECISIONS SHE HAS MADE, BUT WHEN
SHE IS MADE A GREAT CHOICE, I
SHOULD ALSO , AT THE SAME TIME,
THANK HER FOR THIS DECISION.
BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR
THE REASONS I SPOKE TO. THAT'S
IT, CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR, AGAIN,
YOUR SERVICE, PUBLIC SERVICE,
AND YOUR SOON TO BE, NO DOUBT,
CONTINUED PUBLIC SERVICE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. ONE OF THE
BENEFITS AFTER GOING AFTER TWO
OF -- TO FOLLOW MY TWO
COLLEAGUES, THEY HAVE SAID WHEN
MANY OF THE THINGS I WOULD HAVE
SAID. I WILL READ A RATE THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE ROLE AND
IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK. BUT I
WILL SAY A COUPLE THINGS ABOUT
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH YOU
AND YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE . I
VERY MUCH HAVE APPRECIATED
GETTING TO WORK WITH YOUR STAFF,
AND IN PARTICULAR, MARTHA
NEWMAN, WHO IS RETIRING. WE ARE
SO SAD TO SEE HER GO, AND SO
HAPPY FOR HER THAT SHE IS GOING
TO BE ENJOYING A RETIREMENT. THE
SALMON RECOVERY WORK THAT THE
CITY IS ENGAGED IN WITH THE
REGION AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS
AND AS PART OF THAT, GETTING TO
BE WITH YOU WHERE YOU DAY
LIGHTED THE CREEK IN SUPPORT OF
SALMON RECOVERY AND SEEING
SALMON RETURN TO THAT AREA .
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT WORK.
AND NOT JUST THAT, BUT THE WORK
YOU DO THERE WITH COMMUNITY AND
STEWARDING THE PARK AND THAT
NEWLY DAY LIGHTED CREEK IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. I AM SO -- I
HAVE SO APPRECIATED THAT. I ALSO
VERY MUCH HAVE APPRECIATED THE
FACT THAT WHEN THERE HAS BEEN
LEGISLATION COMING TO A
COMMITTEE THAT I HAVE CONCERNS
WITH YOU PERSONALLY SAT DOWN
WITH ME TO TALK ABOUT HOW THIS
WILL IMPACT RESIDENTS , LIKE
WHEN WE WERE DOING COST-SHARING.
I WAS WORRIED ABOUT RETIREES AND
IMPACTS . YOU SAT WITH ME, AND
WE FIGURED OUT A WAY TO MAKE AN
AMENDMENT WORK IN SUPPORT OF MY
CONSTITUENTS AND OUR
CONSTITUENTS ACROSS THE CITY
THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THAT
RATE INCREASE. AND EVEN , YOU
KNOW, MORE RECENTLY WHEN
PURCHASING AND MEETING WITH
CONSTITUENTS TO TALK ABOUT
DAYLIGHTING OF THE CREEK THAT WE
ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO, THE
CITY HAS TO ENGAGE IN. AND YOU
ARE GOING TO BE DOING THAT WORK.
AND IN GENERAL, EVEN IF I ASK
YOU TO PLEAD -- PLEASE MEET A
CONSTITUENT, YOU HAVE DONE SO
PERSONALLY. I SAY THIS BECAUSE
CONSTITUENTS DON'T ALWAYS KNOW,
AS THE HEAD OF A VERY LARGE
UTILITY . NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE
EXPERTISE IN ALL THESE AREAS,
AND HE ALSO VERY MUCH CARE ABOUT
CONSTITUENTS INDIVIDUALLY AND
ENSURING THAT YOU HAVE TOUCH
POINTS WITH CONSTITUENTS AND
BEING A GREAT PARTNER WITH US IN
ORDER TO HAVE THOSE TOUCH POINTS
WITH CONSTITUENTS IS SOMETHING
THAT I HIGHLY VALUE IN ADDITION
TO ALL THE WORK THAT MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY TALKED
ABOUT TODAY. I JUST WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR THAT PARTICULAR
LIKE THE CITY IS VERY LUCKY TO
HAVE YOU AS OUR GENERAL MANAGER
AND CEO. I THINK THAT MIGHT BE
YOUR OFFICIAL TITLE, ALTHOUGH I
ALWAYS MESS IT UP BECAUSE I
ALWAYS CALL YOU DIRECTOR. BUT
THE POINT IS YOU ARE AHEAD OF
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES. I HAVE
SO APPRECIATED WORKING WITH YOU.
WE ARE IN GOOD HANDS WITH YOU AT
THE CITY. I WILL BE SUPPORTING
YOU TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WILL BE
BRIEF, BECAUSE I HAVE TO ASCEND
TO ATTEND MY SOUND TRANSIT
COMMITTEE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY
ON THE RECORD HOW MUCH I
APPRECIATE GENERAL MANAGER LEE
AND ALL OF THE SPU EMPLOYEES IN
OUR CITY. EVERY TIME I GIVE A
COMPLIMENT TO GENERAL MANAGER
LEE, HE RESPONDS IT IS BECAUSE
OF HIS TEAM, AND THAT'S TRUE
LEADERSHIP , NUMBER ONE. NUMBER
TWO, I THINK WE HAVE TO RENAME
THE BRAND FOR SPU TO GETTING THE
JOB DONE FOR YOU , BECAUSE OUT
OF ALL THE DEPARTMENTS IN OUR
CITY, I CAN'T HAVE A FAVORITE,
NECESSARILY, BUT WHAT I CAN SAY
IS THAT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND
THE RESPONSIVENESS THAT THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
DEPARTMENT IS ABOVE AND BEYOND
EVERYONE ELSE. JUST SAYING ON
THE RECORD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
STAFF DOING A GREAT JOB, AND
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WORKS
AT SPU FOR GETTING THE JOB DONE
FOR SEATTLEITES. THANK YOU,
CHAIRPERSON AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL MEMBER STRASBURG IS THAT
AN OLD HAND?
>> YES.
>> OKAY. BEFORE WE TAKE THE
VOTE, GENERAL MANAGER LEE, JUST
WANTED TO REITERATE EXACTLY WHAT
MY COLLEAGUES SAID. IT HAS BEEN
A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU FOR
THE PAST 2 1/2 YEARS. REALLY
APPRECIATE ALL OF THE ANSWERS
YOU DID. I KNOW WE SUBMITTED A
LOT OF QUESTIONS. WE APPRECIATE
THAT. BUT TO WORK WITH YOU TO
UNDERSTAND ABOUT OUR DRINKING
WATER WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH
YOUR ANSWERS. SOME OF THE STUFF
THAT WAS HIGHLIGHTED, TALK ABOUT
TRICKY WATER, THE REGIONAL
APPROACH WITH KING COUNTY AND
WASTEWATER. UNDERSTANDING,
DIDN'T REALIZE LEARNING HOW
THAT IMPACTS SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES AND RATEPAYERS. ALSO,
THE AFFORDABILITY PIECE. VERY
GRATEFUL FOR THAT. I KNOW WE ARE
GETTING TO TIME. I WANT TO MAKE
SURE COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS CAN
GET TO THE SOUND TRANSIT
MEETING. REALLY APPRECIATE ALL
OF THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
HAVE ANY FINAL COMMENTS AS WELL.
>> INCREDIBLY APPRECIATE THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS' STATEMENTS AND
YOUR SUPPORT. REALLY APPRECIATE
THE PARTNERSHIP WORKING TOGETHER
WITH THIS COUNCIL THE
>> AND BESIDES, WE WILL GIVE YOU
A PASS FOR GOING TO STANFORD.
THAT'S OKAY. EVERY TIME WE
PLAYED BASKETBALL AND PLAYED
STANFORD, THE TREE WAS ALWAYS
DRUNK ON THE SIDE WAVING AND
ALWAYS HAD WHITE ON. THAT WAS
THE THING I REMEMBER ABOUT
STANFORD. A DRUNK TREE IN THE
CORNER. THAT IS WHAT WE FEARED.
BUT THANK YOU. ALSO TOO, BESIDE
YOU BEING INTELLIGENT AND ALL
THESE THINGS, I THINK WE CAN ALL
AGREE ON THIS, YOU ARE JUST A
KIND HUMAN BEING. YOU DO NOT
FIND THAT OFTEN FOR PEOPLE. JUST
KIND PEOPLE. AND THE BASIS OF
YOU BEING A HUMAN AND
UNDERSTANDING CONNECTION AND
BEING NICE TO PEOPLE AND HOW YOU
CAN BE THE SMARTEST PERSON IN
THE WORLD, DOESN'T REALLY
MATTER , BUT IF YOU ARE NOT A
KIND HUMAN BEING, YOU DON'T GET
A LOT OF STUFF DONE. I THINK
THAT IS WHY WE HAVE SEEN THE
PROGRESS AT SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP
FOR YOU JUST BEING A KIND HUMAN
BEING. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE
SURE I SAID THAT. OKAY. I AM
GOING TO MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENT 3494. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO CONFIRM THE
APPOINTMENT. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> [ ROLL CALL ] FIVE IN FAVOR.
>> MOTION CARRIES .
RECOMMENDATION WILL BE SENT TO
THE MAY 19 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THANK YOU, GENERAL MANAGER LEE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO CONFIRMING
YOU AT THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING
AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> MADAME CHAIR, MAY I JUST --
JUST BRIEFLY BEFORE DIRECTOR LEE
LEAVES AND WE BRING THIS TO FULL
COUNCIL. I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON
WHAT YOU SAID IN YOUR LEADERSHIP
ABOUT SOMETIMES IT'S JUST NICE
TO WORK WITH RESPECTFUL, KIND
PEOPLE, AND THAT WE DON'T OFTEN
SEE THAT A LOT. I HAVE BEEN HERE
ALMOST 10 YEARS IN CITY HALL.
WHEN YOU GET A DIRECTOR THAT
ACTUALLY IS KIND, INTELLIGENT,
STRAIGHTFORWARD, HONEST AND
TRANSPARENT, IT'S A REAL GEM,
AND IT'S A REAL PAIN FOR OUR
CITY. I WANT TO AGAIN THANK MR.
LEE FOR THAT, AND ALSO COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THAT VEIN
AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. I READ
ITEM NUMBER FOUR INTO THE
RECORD. COUNCIL BILL 121202,
ORDINANCE RELATED TO SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES AUTHORIZING THE
GENERAL MANAGER AND CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES TO EXECUTE AN
AMENDMENT TO THE INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT BETWEEN SPU AND KING
COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE
DISTRICT FOR SOUTH PARK FOR
BREATHING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE. YOU MAY NOW
PRESENT YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> ANGELI, GENERAL MANAGER AND
CEO FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES.
>> CHRIS MILTON, UTILITY
RESILIENCE ADVISOR AT SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES.
>> COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> TWO YEARS AGO THE COUNCIL
APPROVED AND INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT WITH KING COUNTY FLOOD
CONTROL DISTRICT ALLOCATING TO
SPU JUST OVER $2 MILLION TO
REIMBURSE COSTS RELATED TO
FLOODING RESPONSE IN THE SOUTH
PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. TODAY WE HAVE
AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, WHICH
WOULD PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL $2.6
MILLION TO PAY FOR THAT WERE.
THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
WORK, OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE DOING TO
PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY FROM
FLOODING. CHRIS MILTON IS A
CLAIMANT ADAPTATION ADVISOR AT
SPU AND WILL PROVIDE MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS
LEGISLATION.
>> THANKS, ANDREW. GOOD MORNING,
COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR
THE CHANCE TO PRESENT TO YOU
TODAY. AS ANDREW MENTIONED, I AM
HERE TO REQUEST AUTHORIZATION TO
AMEND AND INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY AND KING COUNTY
FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT THAT
PROVIDES FUNDING FOR FLOOD
PREVENTION IN THE SOUTH PARK
NEIGHBORHOOD ALONG THE LOWER
DUWAMISH RIVER. THIS INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT IS PART OF THE
FOLLOW-UP WORK RELATED TO THE
DUWAMISH RIVER OVERTOPPING THAT
OCCURRED IN 2022. AS YOU MAY
RECALL, ON DECEMBER 27 OF 2022,
THE RIVER OVERTOPPED THE BANKS
DUE TO VERY HIGH TIDES, STORM
SURGE AND OTHER WEATHER FACTORS.
INFLATED 49 HOMES AND BUSINESSES
IN THE SOUTH PARK NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN THE IMMEDIATE DAYS FOLLOWING
THE FLOOD, THE CITY RESPONDED,
PROVIDING MOBILE WATER
FACILITIES, INCLUDING TOILETS,
SINKS, SHOWERS AND LAUNDRY FOR
THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDED
EMERGENCY HOUSING AND RECOVERY
SUPPORT FOR 20 FAMILIES. THIS
RECOVERY INVOLVED NEARLY A YEAR
OF CLEANUP AND HOME REPAIR FOR
THOSE 20 FAMILIES IN THE SOUTH
PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. IN ORDER TO
PREPARE FOR, AND HOPEFULLY,
PREVENT FUTURE EVENTS, SPU HAS
WORKED WITH THE KING COUNTY
FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND
SECURED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THESE
FUNDS THAT SUPPORT PREPAREDNESS
THROUGH THE TEMPORARY , THROUGH
TEMPORARY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT
PROTECTS THE COMMUNITY WHILE THE
CITY AND SPU AND OTHERS WORK ON
LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS FOR THE
LOWER DUWAMISH. THE ORIGINAL ILA
APPROVED IN 2024 PROVIDED $2
MILLION TO PAY FOR SPU'S SOUTH
PARK INTERIM FLOOD PREPAREDNESS
PROGRAM THAT COVERED 2022 AND
2024 EXPENSES FOR THIS AMENDMENT
I AM BRINGING BEFORE YOU TODAY
PROVIDES AN ADDITIONAL $2.6
MILLION , WHICH WILL COVER
EXPENSES FOR 2025 AND 2026. WHAT
THIS PAYS FOR IS CONSTRUCTION
AND MAINTENANCE OF THE INTERIM
SANDBAG WALL THAT PROTECTS THE
NEIGHBORHOOD , THE PUMP AND
BYPASS EQUIPMENT THAT ALLOWS
CREWS TO PUMP WATER OUT OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD IF IT DOES FLOOD,
AS WELL AS SPU LABOR FOR THE
FLOOD RESPONSE TEAM, THE CREW
THAT MAINTAINS THE WALL AND IS
DEPLOYED -- AND IS PREPARED TO
DEPLOY THE PUMP SYSTEM IF A
FLOOD SHOULD OCCUR. WITH THAT ,
I HAVE COMPLETED MY PRESENTATION
AND HAPPY TO RESPOND TO ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. ANYTHING
ABOUT THIS?
>> NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. THANK
YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, BRIAN.
COLLEAGUES, I WILL PAUSE HERE TO
SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS
REGARDING THE KING COUNTY FLOOD
CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT FOR SOUTH
PARK. I SEE EVERYONE SAYING NO.
I WILL PAUSE HERE REAL QUICK.
THANK YOU. SO CURRENTLY, I KNOW
I SERVE ON THE KING COUNTY FLOOD
DISTRICT CONTROL ADVISORY
COMMITTEE. I'M LEARNING A LOT
ABOUT WATER WITH ALL THESE
COMMITTEES , WHICH IS GREAT. I
DON'T SEE ANY QUESTIONS. PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD. I FEEL
COMFORTABLE VOTING ON THIS
TODAY. I HAD A BRIEFING. I JUST
WANT TO CHECK WITH OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS IF THEY FEEL
COMFORTABLE VOTING ON THIS.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> CHAIR, THANK YOU. I WAS JUST
REVIEWING THIS AS WELL. THIS IS
WHERE, BY THE WAY, HAVING OUR
TOUR, WATER SITE TOUR, WAS
REALLY HELPFUL. WHEN YOU SEE
SOUTH PARK FROM THE WATERSIDE,
YOU SEE THE VULNERABILITIES. AND
THEN, ALSO SEEING THOSE
DIFFERENT AREAS WHERE -- THIS IS
NOT THE FIRST THING WE HAVE DONE
IN TERMS RELATED TO SOUTH PARK
AND DUWAMISH MORE GENERALLY.
SEEING THOSE PIECES AND THEN
GOING TO THE CLIMATE CHANGE THAT
WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER , IT IS
REALLY VULNERABLE. HAS THERE
BEEN ANY PUSHBACK AT ALL? IS --
THIS SEEMS TO BE VERY
STRAIGHTFORWARD, BUT ANY
QUESTIONS FROM COMMUNITY ? I AM
NOT SEEING ANYTHING . I JUST
WANTED TO -- IN TERMS OF
OUTREACH AND THE LIKE, EITHER
FROM THE COMMUNITIES AND
NEIGHBORHOODS AFFECTED, OR MORE
PROFESSIONAL OR THOSE GROUPS
THAT FOLLOW THESE THINGS. HAVE
THERE BEEN ANY QUESTIONS OR
THOUGHTS RELATED TO THIS PROJECT
OR IN GENERAL?
>> HONESTLY, THIS HAS BEEN
INCOMPLETE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
COMMUNITY. SO THE COMMUNITY IS
VERY, VERY ENGAGED WITH US, BOTH
ON THE SHORT-TERM ACTION -- THIS
IS PRIMARILY A SHORT-TERM ACTION
TO COVER US UNTIL WE HAVE A MORE
PERMANENT SOLUTION IN PLACE, BUT
ALSO ON THE LONGER-TERM
SOLUTION, WHICH WE ARE EXCITED
DIRECTLY PRESENT, POTENTIALLY,
IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO. MORE
PERMANENT SOLUTIONS WE ARE
LOOKING TO PUT IN PLAY. THAT
BEING SAID, THIS IS REALLY ABOUT
PROVIDING PEACE OF MIND RIGHT
NOW FOR COMMUNITY. AND SO, THE
INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY THAT THIS
PROVIDES FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO
SLEEP EASY WHEN THERE IS A KING
TIDE, WHICH HAPPENS ABOUT FOUR
TIMES PER YEAR, YOU CAN'T
QUANTIFY THE BENEFIT OF THAT FOR
COMMUNITY. WE EXPECTED THESE
TYPES OF EVENTS TO OCCUR AT SOME
POINT IN TIME, BUT NOT IN 2022.
AND SO, THIS IS PROVIDING THAT
PEACE OF MIND UNTIL WE ARE ABLE
TO GET SOMETHING PERMANENT IN
PLACE. YES, COMMUNITY IS
INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.
WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT THERE
HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, THINGS WE
HAVE HAD TO WORK OUT WITH SOME
INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS LOCATED ON
THE WATERFRONT. BECAUSE IF YOU
BUILD A LARGE WALL OF SANDBAGS,
THAT IS GOING TO POTENTIALLY
IMPEDE TRAFFIC INTO AND OUT OF
THE WATERFRONT SITES. BUT WE
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK VERY MUCH
HAND IN HAND WITH INDUSTRIAL
BUSINESS OWNERS TO MAKE SURE
THEY HAVE ACCESS OUTSIDE OF
THOSE KING TIDE EVENTS WILL NEED
TO FULLY DEPLOY EVERYTHING.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. FIRST
THING THAT COMES TO MIND IS AN
OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A
POUND. THE MORE OUTREACH DONE ON
THE FRONT END IS SO MUCH BETTER
RELATED TO DEALING WITH THE
CHALLENGES ON THE BACKEND, LIKE
WORKING CONSTITUENT AFFAIRS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALSO
HIGHLIGHTING THE INDUSTRIAL
USERS PIECE TOO. THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT WAS ALSO SEEN ON
THE TOUR AND SO FORTH. THANK YOU
FOR THAT. ALL SET, CHAIR.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU FOR THOSE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT -- THOSE
QUESTIONS. I LOOKED LEFT AND
RIGHT AND UP ON THE SCREEN, AND
IF YOU LIKE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE
PRETTY CONFIDENT IN VOTING
TODAY. I AM GOING TO MOVE THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF
COUNCIL BILL 121202. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. RECOMMENDED
PASSAGE OF THE BILL. ANY FINAL
COMMENTS? SEEING NONE. WILL
CLERK CALL THE ROLL.
>> [ ROLL CALL ] FOUR IN FAVOR.
>> MOTION CARRIES. THE BILL WILL
BE SENT TO THE MAY 19 CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. AWESOME. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ -- I KNOW
WE'RE JUST GOING THROUGH.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE TO THE
RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 121190,
ORDINANCE RELATED TO THE 2026
STORMWATER CODE UPDATE UPDATING
STORMWATER CONTROL REQUIREMENTS
FOR BREATHING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. THE HEAVYWEIGHT
FIGHT, AGENDA NUMBER FIVE. YOU
DIDN'T LIKE THE FIGHT WORD?
I'M SORRY.
>> I LIKED IT.
>> THE HEAVY CONVERSATION.
>> I LIKE IT. DO IT.
>> OKAY. AWESOME, THANK YOU. WE
ARE GOING TO JUMP RIGHT IN. WE
READ ITEM NUMBER FIVE INTO THE
RECORD. WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION
UP. WE WILL JUMP RIGHT INTO THE
DISCUSSION. THANK YOU.
>> LET'S DO INTRODUCTIONS.
>> I'M SORRY.
>> ANGELI, GENERAL MANAGER AND
CEO FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES.
>> KEVIN BROWN, POLICY MANAGER.
>> CENTRAL STAFF.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE WANT ME TO GO AHEAD AND
JUMP IN?
>> GO RIGHT AHEAD. SORRY.
>> AT THE LAST MEETING, SPU
PROVIDED A BRIEFING ON THE
CONTENTS OF THIS BILL, 121190,
WHICH WOULD UPDATE THE
STORMWATER CODE. FOR TODAY'S
MEETING, I WILL JUST BRIEFLY
PROVIDE SOME HIGH LEVEL
BACKGROUND AND DESCRIBE TWO OF
THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
CONTAINED IN THE PROPOSED
UPDATES, AND THEN DESCRIBE THE
TWO AMENDMENTS ATTACHED TO THE
AGENDA FOR TODAY. AFTER THAT, I
WILL TURN IT OVER TO SPU, AGAIN,
TO RECAP THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
PROCESS THEY HAVE UNDERTAKEN FOR
THE STORMWATER CODE UPDATE AND
TO SUMMARIZE SOME OF THE MAJOR
THEMES THEY HAVE HEARD DURING
THAT PROCESS. BUT OF COURSE,
WE'RE OBVIOUSLY HERE TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS. JUMPING IN, AS A
HEARD OF THE LAST MEETING, THE
CITY STORMWATER CODE IS INTENDED
TO PROTECT PEOPLE, PROPERTY AND
THE ENVIRONMENT FROM DAMAGE
CAUSED BY STORMWATER RUNOFF. THE
CITY'S CODE AND THE COMPANION
TECHNICAL DOCUMENT, WHICH IS
KNOWN AS THE STORMWATER
MANDIBLE, MUST COMPLY WITH STATE
AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS. IN
2024, THE WASHINGTON STATE
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY ISSUED A
NEW STORMWATER PERMIT TO THE
CITY AND MANY OF THE PROPOSED
UPDATES CONTAINED IN THE
LEGISLATION ARE IN RESPONSE TO
THAT PERMIT. THE COUNCIL LAST
AMENDED THE STORMWATER CODE IN
2021, WHICH WAS THROUGH
ORDINANCE 126336 FOLLOWING THE
LAST UPDATE TO THE CITY
STORMWATER PERMIT. THE TERMS OF
THE SIGNIFICANT UPDATES, AND IT
-- IN ADDITION TO RESPONDING TO
STATE REQUIREMENTS, IT ALSO
CONTAINS UPDATES TO ALLY WITH
THE CITY'S UPDATED LAND USE
CODED CITY POLICIES AROUND
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS
CHANGES TO IMPROVE CLARITY AND
PREDICTABILITY. THERE IS A
CENTRAL STAFF MEMO ATTACHED TO
THE AGENDA. GOES INTO MORE
DETAIL REGARDING CHANGES IN THE
LEGISLATION. MY WOULD JUST
DESCRIBE TWO OF THOSE BRIEFLY .
THE FIRST CHANGE WOULD REVISE
THE DEFINITION FOR CLOSELY
RELATED PROJECTS WOULD MOVE THAT
DEFINITION FROM THE TECHNICAL
STORMWATER MANUAL INTO THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE, AND IT
WOULD CREATE A NEW DEFINITION
FOR COMMON PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT
OR SALE THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO
THE CITY UP HIS PERMIT. THESE
CHANGES ARE IN RESPONSE TO
DIRECTION FROM ECOLOGY, AND THE
INTENT IS TO ENSURE THE IMPACTS
OF PROJECTS THAT HAVE SHARED
ELEMENTS OR ARE BEING
COORDINATED TOGETHER, BUT THOSE
IMPACTS ARE ACTUALLY CONSIDERED
TOGETHER RATHER THAN BEING
EVALUATED AS SEPARATE AND
DISTINCT PROJECTS. THE NEXT
CHANGE I WILL DESCRIBE RELEASED
TO FULL CONTROL REQUIREMENTS FOR
SMALL SITES. THAT WAS THE TOPIC
OF MUCH OF THIS MORNING'S
PUBLIC COMMENT YOU HEARD. THE
CHANGE WOULD SOFTEN DETENTION
REQUIREMENTS FOR PROJECT LOCATED
WITHIN A SMALL LAKE BASIN OR
CAPACITY CONSTRAINED SYSTEMS,
WHICH ARE BASICALLY AREAS OF THE
CITY THAT ONLY HAVE DITCHES AND
CULVERTS. THE EXISTING CODE
REQUIRES PROJECTS THAT EQUAL OR
EXCEED 2000 SQUARE FEET OF NEW
HEART SERVICE TO -- PEAK
STORMWATER RATES. THE PROPOSED
UPDATE WOULD RAISE THE SPECIAL
TO ONLY APPLY TO PROJECTS THAT
EQUAL OR EXCEED 5000 SQUARE FEET
. THE HIGHER THRESHOLD WOULD
ALIGN WITH CHANGES MADE IN THE
2021 STORMWATER CODE UPDATE THE
SET FLOW CONTROL THRESHOLD FOR
OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY AT 5000
SQUARE FEET, AND IT WOULD REMAIN
MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THE
ECOLOGY THRESHOLD OF 10,000
SQUARE FEET. RELATED CHANGE
ADDRESSES HOW PROJECTS ACROSS
ALL -- EXCUSE ME, PROJECTS
ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY PERFORM
ON-SITE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT.
PROJECTS THAT EXCEED OR EQUAL
1500 SQUARE FEET OF NEW PLUS OR
PLACED HARD SURFACE ARE REQUIRED
TO PROVIDE ON-SITE STORMWATER
PRACTICES. THE 2026 UPDATES
PROPOSED TO INCREASE THE
APPLICABLE SIZES OF ONE OF THE
COMMONLY USED METHODS OF ON-SITE
MANAGEMENT THAT PROVIDES BOTH
FLOW CONTROL AND STORMWATER
TREATMENT. THESE ARE KNOWN AS
NON-INFILTRATING PRIOR RETENTION
FACILITIES. I WILL DEFINITELY
REFER YOU TO KEVIN FOR ANY
TECHNICAL DETAILS, BUT MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THESE ARE
BASICALLY ON-SITE PLANTER BOXES.
OVERALL, SPU BELIEVES TAKEN
TOGETHER THE UPDATED SIZER
REQUIREMENT AND USE OF OTHER
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
PROVIDES COMPARABLE
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS TO THE
EXISTING REQUIREMENTS ON SMALL
PROJECTS. LASTLY, I WILL
DESCRIBE THE TWO AMENDMENTS
AVAILABLE TODAY FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION. BOTH OF WHICH ARE
SPONSORED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH. AMENDMENT NUMBER
ONE WAS REQUESTED BY SPU STAFF
AND IS INTENDED TO CORRECT
TECHNICAL DRAFTING ERRORS
IDENTIFIED AFTER INTRODUCTION OF
THE BILL. THESE INCLUDE THE
ADDITION OF UNDERLINES TO
PROPOSE NEW CODING WHICH,
REMOVING PUNCTUATION AND ADDING
A,. AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO WOULD
ADD THREE NEW RECITALS TO THE
BILL TO HIGHLIGHT THE CITY'S
ADVOCACY AND IT'S A TENT FOR
FUTURE UPDATES. THE FIRST NEW
RECITAL RECAPS THE CITY'S EFFORT
AND LEGISLATIVE SESSION FOR A
BILL THAT WOULD HAVE PROHIBITED
THE SALE OF TIRES CONTAINING A
CHEMICAL . ALTHOUGH THE BILL DID
NOT PASS IN 2026, THE CITY
INTENDS TO CONTINUE ADVOCATING
FOR THE PROHIBITION AND OTHER
SIMILARLY HARMFUL CHEMICALS
STATEWIDE IN FUTURE LEGISLATIVE
SESSIONS. THE SECOND STATES THE
CITY WILL CONTINUE TO
COLLABORATE WITH LEADING
RESEARCHERS AND ACADEMICS PRIOR
TO THE NECK STORMWATER CODE
UPDATE TOOK FOR THE PROPER ROLE
INFECTION OF TREES AND
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
REQUIREMENTS. DEFERRED NEW
RECITAL STATES THE CITY WILL
CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THE BEST
AVAILABLE SCIENCE, INCORPORATE
EFFECTIVE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
TECHNIQUES FROM OTHER
JURISDICTIONS AND CONSIDER
CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN EFFORTS TO
IMPROVE ENVIRONMENT THE
PROTECTIONS IN FUTURE UPDATES.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. HAPPY
TO TURN IT OVER TO KEVIN.
>> AWESOME. I WANT TO SEE IF
THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CENTRAL
STAFF BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER TO
SPU AND KEVIN AND DIRECTOR LEE.
OKAY. AWESOME. KEVIN.
>> THANKS AGAIN FOR HAVING ME
HERE THIS MORNING. A PLEASURE TO
RETURN. AT YOUR REQUEST, WERE
BACK TO TALK ABOUT A SUMMARY
INFORMATION BASED ON STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, AND ALSO GO
OVER THE RESPONSE TO COMMENTS .
JUST TO GIVE YOU A FLAVOR OF THE
EFFORT , LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT AND
THE TIME THAT WE SPENT TRYING TO
DESCRIBE ALL THE CHANGES THAT WE
MADE TO THE CODE. CAN I FIRST
START WITH SOME LEVITY? I WANT
TO THANK THE FOLKS WHO ATTENDED
HERE TODAY AND SPENT TIME TAKING
TIME OUT OF THEIR SCHEDULE TO
JOIN US. I THINK BASED ON WHAT I
HAVE NOTED DOWN FROM THE
COMMENTS , MOSTLY NO ONE IS
HAPPY, WHICH MEANS WE'RE
PROBABLY DOING OUR JOB REALLY
WELL. WE FOUND, I THINK, THE
RIGHT TOOLS TO GET TO THE
OUTCOMES WE ARE TRYING TO
SUPPORT ACROSS THE CITY, WHICH
IS MANAGING DRAINAGE FOR CLEAN
WATER, AND ALSO SUPPORTING OTHER
POLICIES FOR THE CITY. I DO WANT
TO REMIND US BY STATING THE
STORMWATER CODE IS ONLY ONE TOOL
IN THE TOOLBOX. THE SEATTLE
STORM WATER REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
BETTER PART OF 50 YEARS HAVE
ALWAYS BEEN MORE STRINGENT FOR
THE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY. THAT
WILL CONTINUE TO BE A TRUE FACT
AFTER THIS CODE UPDATE IS
ADOPTED. ALSO, WANTING TO
HIGHLIGHT HERE IS THAT WE ARE
ALSO INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE .
WE ARE NEARING THE END OF
PLANNING FOR A FIFTY-YEAR
DRAINAGE AND WASTEWATER
INVESTMENT PLAN . WE HAVE WORKED
WITH THE COMMUNITY TO HELP
DEVELOP A VISION , WHICH WILL BE
THE STEERING BODY FOR DRIVING
THE KINDS OF INVESTMENTS WE'RE
DOING. AS A RESULT OF THIS WORK,
WE WILL SEE MORE RESILIENT
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL
ADAPTIVELY MANAGE RUNOFF AND
ALSO WORK TO MITIGATE THE
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE OVER
TIME. ONE THING THAT IS REALLY
FUN TO CELEBRATE IS THAT WE ARE
RAPIDLY APPROACHING 1 BILLION
GALLONS OF RUNOFF THROUGH GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE. THE FUN PART OF
THE STORY IS THAT SEATTLE IS A
LEADER BEGAN THIS ENDEAVOR IN
USUALLY NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS
TO ADDRESS STORMWATER BEGINNING,
I THINK, THE LATE '90s. OVER
TIME, THE FIRST BIG PROJECTS
WERE DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED BY
THE CITY. AND ALSO THE COUNTY.
BUT TODAY, THE STORMWATER CODE
ANNUALLY YEAR AFTER YEAR IS
MANAGING MORE AND MORE RUNOFF
FROM OUR URBAN LANDSCAPE THEN
THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ALONE. THAT
TREND WILL CONTINUE FOR YEARS TO
COME. ANOTHER FUN FACT I WANTED
TO SHARE MORE GENERALLY IS THAT
WE DO OTHER PROGRAMMATIC
INITIATIVES AND ACTIVITIES.
SEATTLE IS THE LEADER IN WESTERN
WASHINGTON IN REMOVING TOXICS
FROM BUSY STREETS THROUGH STREET
SWEEPING. I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT
AN ANCILLARY BENEFIT OF STREET
SWEEPING IS IT MAKES THE STREETS
BEAUTIFUL, BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT
IS DRIVING THE PROGRAM. WE ARE
THERE TO REMOVE TOXICS FROM THE
ROADWAYS. AS A RESULT OF THIS
WORK, WE SWEEP OVER 26,000 MILES
OF ROADWAYS EVERY YEAR, OVER
1000 TONS OF DEBRIS, INCLUDING
120 TONS OF SEDIMENT REMOVED ON
AN ANNUAL BASIS. OTHER THINGS TO
HIGHLIGHT AS PART OF OUR TOOLS
IN ADDITION TO THE STORMWATER
CODE IS WHERE WE ARE ADDING
RESILIENCE AND COMMUNITY
BENEFITS THROUGH VOLUNTARY
RETROFIT PROGRAMS. I THINK
AUDIENCE MEMBERS DURING PUBLIC
COMMENT TOUCHED ON THE BENEFITS
OF WHAT I THINK THE DESCRIBED AS
THE RAIN WISE PROGRAM, ADDING
RAIN GARDENS AND CISTERNS IN
YARDS. WE HAVE OTHER PROGRAMS A
PARTNER WITH DEVELOPMENT TO
RETROFIT THE RIGHTS OF WAY AND
PRIVATE PROPERTY TO CAPTURE
THROUGH NATURAL SYSTEMS. AND SO
ON. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO
THOSE, WHICH WILL ADD BENEFIT
AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE MOVING
FORWARD. THE LAST TWO THINGS I
WILL TOUCH ON AS FAR AS OTHER
TOOLS. ONE IS A LONG --
IMPORTANT OF THE STORY, GENERAL
MANAGER WE TALKED ON FINISHING
OUR SHIP CANAL WATER QUALITY
PROJECT HERE SUBSTANTIALLY NEXT
YEAR. SINCE THE 1970s, THROUGH
SEPARATION AND CONTROL PROJECTS,
CITIZENS OF KING COUNTY AND CITY
OF SEATTLE HAVE INVESTED HEAVILY
IN COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW
TECHNOLOGIES AND CONTROL. AS A
RESULT OF THAT, SEATTLE HAS
ELIMINATED ROUGHLY 230 BILLION
GALLONS ANNUALLY OF COMBINED
SEWER OVERFLOWS EVERY YEAR. WE
HAVE MORE WORK TO DO, BUT WE ARE
NARROWING -- NEARING THE FINISH
LINE. OKAY. BACK TO, I THINK THE
CUSHIONS I HEARD AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THE LAST BRIEFING
, KEVIN TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AND THE
EFFORTS OF YOUR TEAM PUT FORWARD
IN MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WERE
HURT. AND SO, FOR CONTEXT, IF
YOU HAVEN'T DONE YOUR HOMEWORK
IT, THERE ISN'T A QUIZ, BUT THE
STORMWATER CODE AND MANUAL
REPRESENTS MATERIAL. A HUGE LIFT
TO WORK ON THIS EVERY FIVE
YEARS. BUT THE CODE PROVIDES THE
AUTHORITY FOR THE CITY , IN THE
MANUAL PROVIDES TECHNICAL
DETAILS FOR THE USERS OF THE
CODE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT EVERYDAY USERS ARE
ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS AND
CONSULTANTS THAT WORK ON PRIVATE
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS,
RIGHT-OF-WAY PROJECTS, AND THAT
INCLUDES CITY AND AGENCY
PROJECTS, OUR OWN STAFF USES
FREQUENTLY AS A TOOL. SO WHAT
DOES ENGAGEMENT LOOK LIKE? WE
JUST WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH A
SENSE THAT EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE
TO COMMENT AND WEIGH IN ON THESE
PUBLIC REGULATIONS. AGAIN, THE
CITY PERMITS ARE ISSUED EVERY
FIVE YEARS BY DEPARTMENT OF
ECOLOGY . WITHIN THOSE FIVE
YEARS, WE START A THREE-YEAR
PROCESS OF COLLECTING INPUT,
REVISING THE CODE AND MANUAL AND
DOING ENGAGEMENT. BUT IT FIRST
STARTS, AS YOU NOTE ON THE
SLIDE, AND 20 THROUGH 23 WHEN
ECOLOGY ISSUES THE PERMIT TO THE
PUBLIC. THIS IS TO GET PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THE NEW RULES THEY
ARE PROMULGATING TO SEATTLE,
KING COUNTY, AND SO ON. THAT IS
THE PUBLIC'S FIRST PASS AT
DESCRIBING WHAT THEY ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT AND GIVING
ECOLOGY IDEAS ON HOW TO MAKE THE
DOCUMENT BETTER, WHICH WILL THEN
BE PASSED ON TO THE LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS. FOLLOWING THAT,
ECOLOGY ISSUES THE PERMIT TO
SEATTLE IN 2024 FOR WHICH WE
THEN GET BUSY, START WRITING
DOWN IDEAS COLLECTIVELY ON WHAT
WE THINK WE NEED TO CHANGE, AND
ENGAGE THE PUBLIC FOR THEIR
IDEAS AND COMMENTS. I WILL TALK
ABOUT THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF
WAYS WE HAVE DONE THAT ON THE
NEXT SLIDE. ANY QUESTIONS SO
FAR? I WILL KEEP MOVING.
>> WE WILL SAVE THEM TO THE END.
>> THANK YOU. DOES IN TERMS OF
NUMBER OF TOUCH POINTS. I
MENTIONED EARLY 2023 ECOLOGY
ISSUES THE PERMIT. THEY DO THEIR
OWN ROADSHOW. THERE IS A PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD, AND FOLKS AND
WEIGH IN WITH ANY IDEAS OR
OPPORTUNITIES THEY THINK COULD
ENHANCE THE REGULATIONS IN
WESTERN WASHINGTON. THAT IS
FOLLOWED BY OUR OWN INITIATIVE
AND EFFORT TO DO PUBLIC MEETINGS
. SO THERE HAS BEEN A SERIES OF
THOSE, INCLUDING THESE COMMITTEE
MEETINGS AND YOUR CONSIDERATION
NOW. WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE IS
OVER 800 COMMENTS FROM
STAKEHOLDERS FROM THROUGHOUT
WESTERN WASHINGTON .
PARTICIPANTS IN DIFFERENT FORMS
INCLUDE RESIDENCE ,
ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERS AND NGOs,
DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY,
ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS
AND CONSULTANTS, PARTNER
AGENCIES LIKE THE PORT OF
SEATTLE, AND OF COURSE, SISTER
DEPARTMENT TO HELP US MAKE THESE
CODES MORE EFFECTIVE FOR ALL THE
CITY. THE TOOLS WE USE ARE
SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE DONE
WITH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT'S
NOTICES TOO. LISTSERV, BULLETINS
AND NEWSLETTERS. WORKSHOPS,
MEETINGS AND LISTENING SESSIONS.
AND AGAIN, THE FOCUS OF A LOT OF
THAT IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT
THE CODE AND MANUAL ARE CLEAR,
THAT THE USERS UNDERSTAND HOW TO
GET FROM POINT A TO B OR IF THEY
HAVE CLARIFYING QUESTIONS OR HOW
TO MAKE IT BETTER AS A
THROUGHPUT DOCUMENT. WE ALSO
ACCEPT BY WAY OF EMAIL OTHER
COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS AND
HAVE HAD LISTENING SESSIONS WITH
THE PUBLIC TO ACCEPT OUR
COMMENTS, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN
A HUGE NUMBER OF COMMENTS. STAFF
HAS SPENT TIME RESPONDING TO
THOSE. THERE IS ALSO 100 PAGES
OF RESPONSES. WE'VE REALLY
WORKED HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT
ALL COMMENTS ARE BEING
CONSIDERED FOR THOSE THAT HAVE
MADE THE CODES BETTER, WE HAVE
INCORPORATED THEM IN WAYS THAT
FIT WITHIN THE CONTEXT. OKAY.
MAYBE JUST A FINAL POINT IS THAT
WE HAVE SUMMARIZED AND POSTED
RESPONSES ON OUR WEBSITE AND
ALSO ADDRESSED QUESTIONS FROM
THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION, YOUR
OFFICES, AS WELL AS THE
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY, WHICH IS
OUR PARTNER IN THIS EFFORT. AS
BRIAN MENTIONED, THERE ARE A
COUPLE OF KEY THEMES. I DID
PREPARE SLIDES AT YOUR
DISCRETION IF YOU WANT TO WORK
THROUGH THEM TALKING ABOUT
CLOSELY RELATED PROJECTS AND
PLAN DEVELOPMENT. DEPRESSION
AROUND FLOW CONTROL THRESHOLDS
AND CHANGING THOSE, ENTRIES AND
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. THE LAST
SLIDE HERE IS ABOUT OUR SCHEDULE
. WE ARE AT THE FINISH LINE,
ESSENTIALLY, AFTER A COUPLE OF
YEARS OF DOING WORK AT THE CITY,
AND THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY. AS A
PART OF OUR PERMIT REQUIREMENTS,
WE NEED TO BE, HAVE THIS ADOPTED
BY -- AND AFFECTED BY JULY 1 TO
MEET OUR REGULATORY PERMIT. WITH
THAT, I WILL TAKE QUESTIONS, OR
IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO MORE
DETAIL ABOUT A COUPLE OF THE
TECHNICAL ISSUES, I HAVE
PREPARED SLIDES.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU , KEVIN,
FOR THAT. I WILL PAUSE HERE. I
DO SEE SOME HANDS. WE WILL START
WITH VICE CHAIR JUAREZ, FOLLOWED
BY COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR. I
WANT TO GO BACK TO THE SUMMARY
FISCAL NOTE YOU PREPARED. THANK
YOU. I KNOW IT IS LIKE 13 PAGES
AND WE HAVE A POWERPOINT. IT
DOES SPAN SIX CITY DEPARTMENTS
BESIDES SPU. IT IS SDOT, SEATTLE
PARKS AND REC, AND FAS. I
OBVIOUSLY HAVE SEATTLE PARKS AND
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT IN MY
COMMITTEE. I FOCUS IN ON THE
STORMWATER CODE AND THE EFFECTS.
I JUST HAD A FEW QUESTIONS
REGARDING -- I KNOW YOU GUYS
HAVE THIS IN FRONT OF YOU AS
WELL. REGARDING PAGE 7 UNDER
SEATTLE PARKS AND REC, AND I
HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION, BUT THIS
IS THE ONE I AM MOST CONCERNED
ABOUT. UNDER SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION ABOUT FUTURE CAPITAL
PROJECTS, YOU TALK ABOUT AS A
RESULT OF THE 2026 STORMWATER
CODE UPDATE, SEATTLE PARKS AND
REC MACY COST INCREASES IN A
WIDE VARIETY OF PROJECT TYPES.
NEW LIST MANY, BUT THE ONE THAT
CAUGHT MY EYE THAT I WAS A
LITTLE CONCERNED AS I WAS
LOOKING AT THIS WAS THE
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW FACILITIES.
I AM WONDERING IF THE
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW FACILITIES
INCLUDES, OR WHETHER THESE
PROJECTS ARE IN JEOPARDY. ARE
THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, SUCH AS
SOME HOUSING PROJECTS COMING
ONLINE, AND WHAT EFFECTS, IF
ANY, OR ANY OF THESE COSTS
OFFSET CAN BE BACKFILLED IF YOU
WILL? BY THE PARK DISTRICT
MONEY? THAT IS ON PAGE 7.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ. I THINK MAYBE KEVIN AND
ANDREW CAN JUMP IN AND ALSO PART
OF THAT HAVE DETAILED
INFORMATION ON PARTS, BUT I CAN
SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS. WHEN
CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE PLANNED,
THEY WORK IN ALL THE DIFFERENT
COSTS, INCLUDING STORMWATER CODE
. PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE NOW
SHOULD BE VESTED UNDER THE 2021
STORMWATER CODE UPDATE, WHICH
MEANS THOSE PROJECTS -- THERE
ARE DEADLINES AND THINGS WHEN
THEY HAVE TO START CONSTRUCTION.
BUT THOSE WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE
REVAMPED IN ORDER TO MEET NEW
REQUIREMENTS. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
IS, PROJECTS GOING FORWARD WE
NEED TO INCORPORATE , COMPLY
WITH THE 2026 STORMWATER CODE
UPDATE. I DON'T HAVE SPECIFICS,
BUT PARKS IS ALWAYS LIKE OTHER
CITY DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER
CONSTRUCTORS OF PROJECTS, THEY
HAVE TO COMPLY WITH WHATEVER
CODE IS IN TIME WHEN THE
PROJECT. DID I GET THAT CLOSE?
>> MY FOCUS IS THIS BASICALLY.
WE HAVE NEW COMMUNITY CENTERS
COMING UP IN GREEN LAKE AND UP
HERE IN LAKE CITY AND I'M
GUESSING OTHER PARKS AND CAPITAL
PROJECTS COMING OUT. IF THEY ARE
VESTED -- BASICALLY, THERE IS
SAFE UNTIL AFTER 2026. BECAUSE
THEY HAPPENED BEFORE 2026.
>> IF THEY'RE ALREADY IN THE
PERMITTING , I WOULD EXPECT THAT
TO BE TRUE. IT IS ALSO
NOTEWORTHY THE STAFF DIDN'T
IDENTIFY THESE SPECIFIC PROJECTS
IS BEING IMPACTED BY THIS
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF YOU.
>> JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION ON
PAGE 9 AGAIN. SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
FUTURE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
. I KNOW YOU LISTED THIS, BRIAN,
BUT IF WE CAN TOUCH A LITTLE BIT
ON IT. THE LAST SENTENCE,
ONGOING COSTS ARE UNKNOWN AND
DEPEND ON THE LEVEL OF FREQUENCY
AND MAINTENANCE AND WASTEWATER
TREATMENT NECESSARY. WE WILL GET
-- WILL BE GET AN UPDATE IF,
INDEED, THE ONGOING COAST THAT
COSTS WILL BE NO?
>> WE GALAPAGOS TURTLE HE ASKED
FOR IT. BOTH FAS AND CITY LIGHT,
AND I BELIEVE SPU ITSELF AND
PARKS EVEN MAYBE, ARE IMPACTED
BY THIS REQUIREMENT THAT THEY
COLLECT AND TREAT STORMWATER
FROM BUILDINGS THAT ARE WASHED
THAT HAVE IDENTIFIED PCBs, I
BELIEVE.
>> BETTER STATED THAN I COULD
HAVE.
>> WE CERTAINLY COULD ASKED THE
DEPARTMENTS TO PROVIDE UPDATES
ON EITHER SOME FREQUENCY OR
DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS WE
COULD ASK THEM HOW MUCH THEY ARE
BUDGETING FOR THESE ACTIVITIES.
NONE OF THE DEPARTMENT IN THE
LEGISLATION SUBMITTED THEIR
ESTIMATES OF HOW FREQUENTLY THAT
OCCURS OR HOW MANY BUILDINGS IT
IS APPLICABLE TO.
>> I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU
BECAUSE YOU TOOK A PAGE OUT OF
MY BOOK ON PAGE 10 AND 11. YOU
DID A LOVELY CHRONOLOGY. THANK
YOU FOR THAT.
>> THAT IS ALL ON SPU STAFF.
>> IT MEANS SOMEBODY HAS BEEN
LISTENING TO ME AFTER 10 YEARS.
THANK YOU. I JUST NEED THE DATES
AND THE FACTS AND WHAT YOU ALL
DID AND HAVE IT WRITTEN DOWN TO
THE PUBLIC AND SEE IT, WE CAN
SEE IT, GO BACK TO 2024. RIGHT
UP UNTIL JANUARY 2026. THANK YOU
FOR THAT, SPU. THANK YOU, MADAME
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ. WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE NEXT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
FOR THE BRIEFING. I WAS NOT AT
THE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE MEETING
FOR THIS. WITH VICE CHAIR GOING
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SLIDE NUMBERS FOR THE
BRIEFINGS . THAT IS USUALLY WHAT
THE VICE CHAIR SAYS BUT I
THOUGHT I WOULD NOTE THAT.
STARTING ON SLIDE FOUR ,
ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS . THE
FIRST BULLET. YOU KNOW,
UNFORTUNATELY, BY THE WAY, USED
TO BE ON THE REGIONAL WATER
QUALITY COMMITTEE. I WAS -- I
USED TO GET MONTHLY UPDATES IN
THESE MEETINGS FROM THE STAFF .
HALF THE TEAM IS BEHIND YOU. SO
I'M A LITTLE BIT MORE REMOVED
NOW THAT I AM NO LONGER DOING
THAT. THINGS ARE MORE PUBLIC
SAFETY FOR ME. FOR EXAMPLE, I
KNOW THAT WE HAVE A GOAL OF
REACHING 1258 OFFICERS BY THE
END OF THE YEAR. I KNOW WE HAD
GOALS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I
AM NOT AS UP-TO-DATE ON SPU IN
TERMS OF YOUR ASSETS AND
CAPACITY TO -- LIKE REMOVING
TOXICS FROM BUSY STREETS THROUGH
STREET SWEEPING. I BRING THIS UP
BECAUSE BEFORE HE BECAME A
COUNCILMEMBER, I WAS A
STAY-AT-HOME DAD. LIKE
CLOCKWORK, EVERY THURSDAY
MORNING, THE STREET SWEEP WOULD
COME BY. THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT
AND THOSE THINGS HAPPENED. NOW
IT IS KIND OF HIT AND MISS. AND
SO, MY QUESTION IS, BECAUSE THIS
IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO
IMPORTANT, YOUR FIRST BULLET.
WHAT IS THE CAPACITY TO REALLY
ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL AND HOW
DOES IT IMPACT THE NEIGHBORHOOD
THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND YOUR
ABILITY TO DO THIS? YOU CAN USE
MY ANECDOTE . IT IS MORE THAN
AND ACTING STOKED, I SEE IT IN
TERMS OF THE CAPACITY TO
ACTUALLY TO THE STREET SWEEPING.
>> I WILL TAKE A GOOD CUT AT
THIS. MAY HAVE SEEN A CHANGE IN
SERVICE DURING COVID WHERE A LOT
OF PUBLIC AGENCIES, MUNICIPAL
UTILITIES ARE HAVING CHALLENGES
WITH WORKFORCE. STREET SWEEPING
FREQUENCY MAY HAVE CHANGED
BECAUSE OF OUR PARTNER. WE PARTY
THAT PARTNER WITH SDOT TO
IMPLEMENT THAT. THAT MIGHT
DESCRIBE WHAT YOU OBSERVED.
TODAY THE MARKET IS GOING TO
INCREASE DEMAND FOR THE KINDS OF
SWEEPERS THAT LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS WANT TO BUY.
BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST
TOOLS TO REMOVE POLLUTANTS FROM
URBAN LANDSCAPES. IRONICALLY, WE
WILL BE COMPETING WITH LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS. I WOULD PROJECT
IN THE NEXT DECADE FOR THOSE
SAME VEHICLES TO BE ABLE TO DO
MORE OF THIS. OUR PARTNERSHIP
WITH SDOT HAS BEEN LONG GOING.
WE ARE GOING TO BE BUILDING OUT
MORE FACILITIES , PLACES TO
STORE MATERIAL FROM THE STREET
SWEEPING AND DECANTS THEM AND
PROPERLY DISPOSE OF THEM. TO
KEEP GROWING A PROGRAM. I THINK
WE HAVE PROPOSED INVESTMENT TO
ADD TO THAT WORKPLAN THROUGH THE
SIX-YEAR STRATEGIC BUSINESS
PLANNING PROCESS. IT IS ALREADY
ON OUR NOTEPADS TO DO MORE OF.
BUT COLLECTIVELY, I THINK I TOOK
A SWING AT THIS LAST TIME AND
FORGOT TO CHECK WITH STAFF, BUT
I THINK WE DO MORE SWEEPING THE
PROBABLY MOST OF WESTERN
WASHINGTON COMBINED.
>> OKAY. THAT IS MY BENCHMARK,
THE EARLY THURSDAY MORNING . I
HOPE WE DO THAT. I UNDERSTAND
THE COMPETITION. THIS IS ACROSS
THE BOARD . I WAS JUST THINKING,
AS YOU WERE SAYING THAT, OH BOY,
NEXT THING YOU KNOW WAYNE WELL
WILL COME OUT WITH A STREET
SWEEPER BECAUSE OF THESE PIECES.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TOO,
THOUGH. IN TERMS OF THE WATER
PIECE. BUT AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES
ON AN ARTERIAL, I SEE THE
EFFECTS OF THE STREET. TIRES
PRIMARILY, ON OUR HOUSE. WE TALK
ABOUT THIS IN TERMS OF THE
POLLUTION ALONG TRANSIT ORIENTED
PASSAGEWAYS, ARTERIALS AND SO
FORTH. IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT
TOPIC. I RECOGNIZE THE
CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF HAVING
THE ASSETS TO CARRY IT OUT. BUT
IT IS IMPORTANT, NOT JUST FOR
RUNOFF AND FOR THE WATER, BUT
ALSO FOR THE AIR AND WHAT IS
HAPPENING ADJACENT TO OUR
STREETS. I DO THINK IT IS
PROBABLY MORE THE TIRES. I LIVE
IN A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A FLUID
-- AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOOD. TESLAS
AND EVs AND SO FORTH. I LOOK AT
THIS AND SEE THIS BUT I AM STILL
CONCERNED BASED ON THESE OTHER
FACTORS. IN THE MITIGATING
ACTION IS THE STREET SWEEP. I'M
NOT SEEING IT TO THE WAY I
THOUGHT BEFORE. I JUST ENCOURAGE
TO WHEREVER WE CAN DO TO BUILD
THAT CAPACITY. IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. AGAIN, KNOWING THERE
ARE COMPETITION. EVERYBODY --
YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY DEPARTMENT
FACING THAT CHALLENGE. THE OTHER
QUESTION I HAD IS , IT KIND OF
GOES TO THE CYCLE. EVERY FIVE
YEARS THIS PROCESS. ONE THING I
AM NOTING, FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE
MAKING MAJOR CHANGES WITH THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND SO FORTH.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE DO THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND THEN THE
SYSTEMS CAN CATCH UP LIKE THIS.?
EVERY FIVE YEARS . I AM A LITTLE
BIT CONCERNED BECAUSE
ESSENTIALLY WE ARE DOING A
MIDCYCLE, MAJOR MIDCYCLE CHANGE
TO THE COMP PLAN COMING UP. I
WONDER IF THAT IS GOING TO MAKE
IT HARDER TO DO THESE. FOR
EXAMPLE, THE STORMWATER UPDATES
, BECAUSE OF ESSENTIALLY A
MOVING GOALPOST PIECE. I HAVE
GOTTEN INPUT FROM PEOPLE . AS IT
RELATES TO THIS BRIEFING,
SOMEBODY REACHED OUT TO ME AND
SAYS, THESE REGULATIONS HELP
SLOW POLLUTED RUNOFF AND REDUCE
FLOODING AND SEWER OVERFLOWS
INVERTIBLE AND UNDERSERVED
NEIGHBORHOODS. NOW THAT SEATTLE
ALLOWS OVER 95% OF ALL LOTS IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTIAL
ZONE TO BE COVERED WITH HARD
SCAPE, THERE IS NO ROOM LEFT FOR
EFFECTIVE ON-SITE STORMWATER
MITIGATION LIKE PLANTER BEDS.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT PIECES TO
THAT, BUT ONE OF THEM IS THAT WE
ARE CHANGING. WE JUST HAD A
MAJOR COMP PLAN CHANGE WE JUST
PAST. WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE
EFFECTS OF THAT? WILL THAT MAKE
YOUR JOB HARDER? WE DON'T
NECESSARILY KNOW. A LITTLE BIT
OF A CONCERN I HAVE IS THAT NOW
ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER
-- WHICH IS NOT NORMAL, ANOTHER
CYCLE, ESSENTIALLY, AND THAT IS
GOING TO CHANGE THINGS AGAIN. IT
IS GOING TO MAKE IT HARDER. I
SAY THIS IN A BIGGER PICTURE
PIECE. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT
POINT IN TERMS OF TRYING TO
CATCH UP OR STAY TO ALL THESE
CHANGES WE ARE GOING THROUGH?
>> WHAT I WILL SAY IS THE CODE
BEFORE YOU HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY
DESIGNED WITH THE COMP PLAN
UPDATE IN MIND. AND SO, WE
RECOGNIZE THE -- THERE ARE
CHANGING DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS IN
THE CITY AND HAVE TRIED TO
ADJUST THE STORMWATER CODE TO
CONSIDER NOT IMPEDING THE GROWTH
THAT IS DESIRED IN THAT, BUT
OBVIOUSLY MAKING SURE THEY'RE
STILL MITIGATING FOR STORMWATER
IMPACTS THEY ARE CREATING. THIS
CODE IS REQUIRED TO BE UPDATED
FOR CONSISTENCY WITH THE ECOLOGY
STORMWATER MANUAL EVERY FIVE
YEARS, BUT IT DOESN'T PREVENT
US FROM MAKING MIDCYCLE CHANGES.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS
BROUGHT UP BY THE MASTER
BUILDERS WAS HIS IDEA OF THE
DRAINAGE REVIEW THRESHOLD.
CURRENTLY 750 SQUARE FEET. THERE
IS A DESIRE TO INCREASE THAT TO
ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL PASSED TIME
IN THE CITY. THAT IS SOMETHING
WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT. THERE
IS A DESIRE TO DO
OVER-THE-COUNTER PERMITTING, FOR
EXAMPLE, FOR A SINGLE ADU. WE
CAN DO A MIDCYCLE EVALUATION OF
THAT POTENTIALLY PROPOSE A
CHANGE TO THAT IN THE MIDCYCLE.
WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER
FIVE YEARS TO DO THAT. THAT IS
GENERALLY HOW WE WOULD APPROACH
THIS. THAT BEING SAID, YOUR
GENERAL POINT IS, YOU KNOW,
EFFECTIVE STORMWATER TREATMENT
RELIES ON SPACE A LOT OF TIMES.
WITH INCREASED DENSIFICATION, IT
DOES GET MORE CHALLENGING FOR US
TO DO EFFECTIVE STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATE IMPACTS.
PARCEL BY PARCEL ADDRESSING OF
STORMWATER CODE REQUIREMENTS IS
NOT OUR ONLY TOOLKIT, THOUGH. IN
SOME CASES, WE MIGHT WANT TO DO
A REGIONAL APPROACH TO
STORMWATER TREATMENT . THIS CODE
ALLOWS FOR THAT. IN THAT
SITUATION, FOR EXAMPLE, IN
AURORA, WE MIGHT NECESSARILY NOT
WANT TO REQUIRE STORMWATER
TREATMENT ON EVERY SINGLE
PARCEL, BUT WE COULD PUT IN A
SITUATION WHERE DEVELOPERS HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO
A REGIONAL SOLUTION THAT WE
PURCHASED LAND, FOR EXAMPLE, TO
CREATE THEIR REGIONAL SOLUTION
AND EACH OF THE DEVELOPMENTS PAY
FOR THAT. THOSE ARE THE KIND OF
THINGS WE HAVE FLEXIBILITY TO DO
WITH THIS CODE TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION
THE TIGHTENING OF THE LAND THAT
IS OCCURRING THROUGH THE
DENSIFICATION IN THE CITY. DO
YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO
THAT?
>> MAYBE MORE BACKGROUND. THE
RULES FROM THE STATE ARE
INTENDED TO BE ADAPTIVE. IN
FACT, THE STATE PERMIT HAS BEEN
CHALLENGED BY PARTNERS IN
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY MULTIPLE
ROUNDS OF THE LAST 25 YEARS.
EACH TIME, THE STATE POLLUTION
CONTROL HEARINGS BOARD HAS SAID,
WE APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT AND
CONCERNS, HOWEVER, ECOLOGY IS
GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADAPTIVELY
MANAGE RUNOFF FROM THE CHANGING
HYDROLOGY AND RUNOFF FROM
WESTERN WASHINGTON OVERTIME.
THAT IS WHAT THEIR EXPECTATION
IS. AS WE TALK AS A TEAM, IT IS
WITH STAFF, AND WITH YOUR
COMMENTS TODAY FROM COLLEAGUES
IN THE ROOM, IT GIVES US
OPPORTUNITIES TO INCORPORATE NEW
IDEAS INTO THE NEXT UPDATE,
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES THAT WILL
HELP US FIGURE OUT NEW WAYS OF
INCORPORATING TREES THAT DON'T
YET HAVE A FRAMEWORK TO FIT INTO
THE PERMIT CYCLE. IN ALL KINDS
OF OTHER THINGS. BUT IT IS MEANT
TO BE AN ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT
STRATEGY AS LAND-USE CHANGES, AS
WELL AS OUR SYSTEM OUTCOMES AND
PERFORMANCE CHANGE AS WELL, AS
WELL AS CLIMATE CHANGE AND
DRIVING OUR PERFORMANCE.
HOPEFULLY, I HAVE ADDRESSED THAT
>> I'M ACTUALLY HAPPY I ASKED
THE QUESTION THE WAY IT DID,
BECAUSE I LIKE THE ANSWER BUT
WESTERLY, I LIKE YOUR ANSWER
TALKING TO THE DIFFERENT PIECES.
IT KIND OF GOES TO THE CONCERNS
-- IN YOUR ANSWER TOO -- ALSO
GOES TO THE EVOLVING PIECE. IT
IS IMPORTANT. IN EFFECT, MR.
LEE, YOU MUST CREATED -- YOUR
FOR EXAMPLE, YOUR TALK ABOUT MHA
FOR STORMWATER. VERY
INTERESTING. BY THE WAY, THAT
WOULD DO MORE FOR BUILDING AND
SO FORTH AND A LOT OF THE
CHANGES WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. WE
NEED TO MAKE MOVEMENT ON THAT
PICTURE, I WANT TO CLOSE ON ONE
LAST THING. ON SLIDE NINE, TREES
AS STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. I JUST
WANT TO FOOT STOMP THAT. LOVE
THE TREES. THIS IS WHAT I SAY
ALL THE TIME. WHAT MAKES SEATTLE
UNIQUE , DIFFERENT FROM ALL THE
OTHER CITIES IN THE COUNTRY
WHERE WE HAVE , EVERYTHING IS
KIND OF BLAND AND REPETITIVE ,
SEATTLE IS UNIQUE FOR MANY WAYS
, OUR GEOGRAPHY AND SO FORTH,
LOCAL BUSINESSES. I ALWAYS SAY
TWO THINGS. ONE IS OUR NATIVE
COMMUNITY, AND WE SEEN THIS ON
THE WATERFRONT. WE WILL SEE IT
WITH THE ELLIOTT BAY CONNECTIONS
AND TRYING TO DO IT WITH
BELLTOWN AND BRINGING THOSE
ASPECTS IN. VERY UNIQUE COMPARED
TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
AND EVERGREEN TREES. I JUST WANT
TO FOOT STOMP TREES AS
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND SAY
THAT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN OUR
HERITAGE, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT
MAKES SEATTLE. I UNDERSTAND
THERE'S SOME DIVERSIFICATION,
BUT WE REALLY NEED THOSE
EVERGREEN TREES. THANK YOU,
CHAIR, FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. JESSE ALL
KNOW, THERE IS AN AGENDA ITEM,
NUMBER SIX, BUT WE ARE GOING TO
PUSH THAT TO THE JUNE MEETING,
BECAUSE I THINK THIS WARRANTS A
LARGE CONVERSATION MAKING SURE
PEOPLE ARE COMFORTABLE AND
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON. I
KNOW WE HAVE -- WE ALWAYS HAVE A
LOADED AGENDA BECAUSE WE MEET
ONCE A MONTH. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE
THE -- I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED
TO SAY IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
BUT IF NO ONE HAS ANY ISSUES,
ITEM NUMBER SIX IS GOING TO BE
MOVED TO THE NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING. JUNE 11. THAT IS ABOUT
A.I. A.I. IT WAS A SLI. THANK
YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK. SHE
BROUGHT IT. IT IS A RESPONSE TO
SOME A.I. INFORMATION. THAT WILL
BE MOVED TO JUNE 11, JUNE 12.
JUNE 11. AWESOME. WE ARE GOING
TO SAY THIS IS THE LAST AGENDA
ITEM TODAY. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WILL BE
BRIEF, BECAUSE I KNOW WE ARE
RUNNING OUT OF TIME. I WILL
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT POST THE LAST
COMMITTEE MEETING WE HAD IN
RESPONSE TO SOME FOLKS THAT CAME
FROM PUBLIC COMMENT, I DID -- I
HAD REQUESTED FROM THE DAIS THAT
I WOULD LOVE A BRIEFING ON HOW
THE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO THAT
PUBLIC COMMENT. I DID GET THAT
BRIEFING FROM THE DEPARTMENT,
AND I ALSO SEE THAT BEHIND --
AFTER SLIDE 10, ALTHOUGH THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF SLIDES THAT TALK
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSE
TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT ,
COMMENTERS INCLUDING -- I WAS
HAPPY TO SEE INFORMATION ABOUT
TREES AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF TREES IN THE
STORMWATER AND MANAGING
STORMWATER. YOU KNOW, WE HAD A
LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT .
GENERAL MANAGER LEE AND HIS
STAFF. YOU KNOW, IN THE CONTEXT
OF THE COMP PLAN , I WAS VERY
APPRECIATIVE THAT SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES DID SUPPORT, AND IT
DID PASS, AN AMENDMENT RELATED
TO TREES. IT IS AN IMPORTANT
ONE. IT SIGNALS OUR MIND AND
SOME OTHER OF MY COLLEAGUES '
STRONG SUPPORT FOR TREES ACROSS
THE CITY. I APPRECIATED ALL YOU
PRESENTED IN TERMS OF THE
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE IMPORTANCE
OF TREES AND WHAT SPU DOES,
INCLUDING YOUR TREE PROGRAM.
APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT. I ONLY
HAD ONE QUESTION ABOUT SOMETHING
A PUBLIC COMMENT ARE RAISED IN
TERMS OF PERFORMANCE METRICS ON
THIS WORK. IF YOU COULD TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. IT IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE.
WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THAT
REALLY, I AM NOT SURE HOW THAT
IS INCORPORATED INTO THE PLANS.
>> I HEARD THE QUESTION, BUT I
THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE
ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION WITH THE
AUDIENCE TO TALK ABOUT EXACTLY
WHAT THEY MEAN BY PERFORMANCE.
>> I AM TAKING IT TO MEAN, AS WE
ARE DOING -- I COULD BE WRONG.
I'M GOING TO SAY MY QUESTION
RELATED TO PERFORMANCE METRICS.
I ALWAYS THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
TO KNOW HOW WELL WE ARE DOING.
WHAT IS THE DEPARTMENT DOING?
YOU MAY ALREADY BE DOING THIS.
IT HASN'T COME UP IN THE
CONTEXT OF THIS CONVERSATION.
HOW DO YOU TRACK HOW WE ARE
DOING, HOW WELL WE ARE DOING ON
STORMWATER IMPACTS, YOU KNOW,
MITIGATING FOR FOR IN THE CITY
AND DO YOU HAVE PERFORMANCE
METRICS YOU USE AND EVALUATE
THAT? HOW YOU EVALUATE HOW WELL
WE ARE DOING IN ORDER TO
DETERMINE WHAT MORE WE NEED TO
DO.
>> I WOULD SAY THE TWO PRIMARY
METRICS WE LOOK AT OUR, ONE,
RELATED TO STORMWATER ALONE, AND
THE OTHER SEWER OVERFLOWS. THE
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW PIECE IS
A LITTLE SIMPLER. THE
PERFORMANCE METRIC IS NO MORE
THAN ONE OVERFLOW PER SITE PER
YEAR. WE HAVE GOT , I WANT TO
SAY, 83, IT MIGHT BE 82,
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS AT THIS
POINT IN OUR CITY. AND ROUGHLY,
ABOUT TWO THIRDS ARE COMPLETELY
CONTROLLED. THERE DOWN TO THE
ONE OVER SLOW -- OVERFLOW. THE
REMAINDER ARE REMITTED. THE SHIP
CANAL WATER PROJECT WILL CONTROL
THAT I WANT TO SAY, OUR SIX MOST
EGREGIOUS OVERFLOWING SITE. THAT
WILL BE BY THE END OF 2027.
THOSE SITES, JUST TO GIVE A
NUMBER, THEY ARE OVERFLOWING OF
250 TIMES PER YEAR. WE ARE GOING
TO REDUCE THAT DOWN TO ONE. THAT
IS A HUGE, HUGE PERFORMANCE
GAIN. THE REMAINDER OF SITES
OVERFLOW, I WANT TO SAY, MAX 10
TIMES PER YEARS -- YEAR OR LESS.
WE WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT
REDUCTION BY THAT ONE PROJECT.
WITH RESPECT TO THE STORMWATER
SIDE OF THINGS, THE WAY WE
GENERALLY MEASURE IS NUMBER OF
ACREAGE IN THE CITY THAT IS
GOING THROUGH SOME SORT OF
STORMWATER TREATMENT. IT IS
EITHER TREATMENT THAT IT MIGHT
BE INSTALLED FOR THE STORMWATER
CODE, BUT ALSO TREATMENT WE
PROACTIVELY INSTALLED. FOR
EXAMPLE, FOR ROADWAYS OR OTHER
STRUCTURES. AND SO, I DON'T
HAVE IT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE CITY IS
MANAGED THROUGH THAT. WE DO HAVE
SOME METRICS, LIKE HOW MANY
BILLIONS OF GALLONS , OR
MILLIONS OF GALLONS WE ARE
MANAGING THROUGH GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE. JUST LAST YEAR,
WE HAD A PITCH DENCH BENCHMARK
OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE. WE ARE
MAKING SIGNIFICANT HEADWAY ON
THIS. I COULD GIVE FOLLOW UP
WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN
IDEA. WE DEFINITELY TRACK
PERFORMANCE OVERALL.
>> THANK YOU, GENERAL MANAGER. I
WOULD LOVE TO GET A BRIEFING AND
GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS.
I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING WE ALL
VERY MUCH CARE ABOUT, AND THE
PUBLIC AS WELL. I THINK THAT IS
IMPORTANT. I KNOW, FOR INSTANCE,
NORTH LAKE UNION, WE WERE UNDER
A CONSENT DECREE , AND THERE WAS
SOME WORK THERE THAT WAS BEING
DONE BECAUSE OF SEWER OVERFLOW
INTO THE LAKE, I BELIEVE. AND
SO, YOU JUST DESCRIBE SOMETHING
THAT GIVES ME SOME PAUSE . I
UNDERSTAND YOU'RE MANAGING FOR
THAT. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE
ABOUT THAT AND WHETHER WE CAN
EXPECT TO BE UNDER A CONSENT
DECREE FOR ANY OF THESE OTHER
SITES OR WHETHER WE ALREADY ARE
AND HOW WE ARE MANAGING FOR
THAT.
>> WE ALREADY ARE UNDER CONSENT
DECREE. THAT IS WHY WE ARE
FINISHING SOME OF THESE
PROJECTS.
>> FOR ALL THE SITES . THANK YOU
FOR CLARIFYING.
>> I WILL JUST ADD, KEVIN MADE A
POINT EARLIER THAT THE
STORMWATER CODE IS JUST ONE TOOL
WE HAVE TO MANAGE WATER QUALITY
IN PUGET SOUND AND LAKES IN LAKE
WASHINGTON, ET CETERA. WE HAVE
GOT, AGAIN, I'M GOING TO SAY,
ROUGHLY $1 MILLION COMBINED
SEWER FLOW OH -- PROGRAM PART
AND PARCEL OF WATER QUALITY. WE
HAVE A GREEN WATERS QUALITY
INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL. WE HAVE
PROGRAMS LIKE STREET SWEEPING,
ET CETERA. ALL OF IT IS WORKING
TOGETHER IN ADDITION TO THE
CODE. SO IT IS NOT OUR ONLY
TOOL.
>> THANK YOU. AND SOME OF THE
OTHER THINGS. I WILL SAY, THERE
IS A BUSINESS IN THE DISTRICT
THAT PUT SOME BIO SWELLS IN. YOU
AND I WORKED -- WERE TOGETHER AT
AN EVENT. I APPRECIATE THAT.
MORE OF THAT, PLEASE. IF WE CAN
PARTNER WITH BUSINESSES AND
DEVELOPERS TO DO MORE OF THAT,
THAT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT AS
WELL. THANK YOU, CHAIR. WE WILL
FOLLOW UP ON THE OTHER.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. I DO WANT TO THANK --
FIRST OFF, THIS CODE IS VERY
COMPLEX. LET ME JUST LEAD WITH
THAT. I DEFINITELY WANT TO THANK
THE PEOPLE THAT CAME TO PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY, AS WELL , AND THE
FOLKS THAT ALSO HAVE SENT IN
THEIR ONLINE COMMENTS AND FOLKS
THAT HAVE SAID, HEY, CAN YOU
LOOK AT THIS? YOU KNOW, JUST HAD
DIFFERENT REQUESTS. WE ARE
TRYING TO BALANCE ALL OF THAT ,
AND ALSO WITH UNDERSTANDING
COMING UP AGAINST A CERTAIN
DEADLINE AND IMPLEMENTATION
PROCESS, AND TRYING TO MANAGE
EVERYTHING. I HAVE LEARNED A LOT
. REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I KNOW
I HAVE TWO AMENDMENTS. ONE, AS
TALKED ABOUT, A TECHNICAL CHANGE
AT THE REQUEST OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES. THE SECOND ONE IS
ADDING SOME RECITALS TO THE BILL
REGARDING EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF
TREES IN CONSIDERATION OF BEST
AVAILABLE SCIENCE IN FUTURE
STORMWATER CODE UPDATES, AS
WELL. AND SIX BBQ, I DON'T EVEN
KNOW --
>> IT IS THE BYPRODUCT OF TIRE .
>> THANK YOU. WE NEED TO PUT
THAT IN THERE. THANK YOU. I KNOW
WE HAVE ADDED THOSE, AND SOME
PEOPLE HAD REQUESTED , IS IT
STRONG ENOUGH OR NOT? I NOTE
THERE IS A MIDDLE GROUND HERE. I
DO FEEL COMFORTABLE MOVING
FORWARD AND CONTINUING
CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS TO SEE
IF THERE IS ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION , RECITALS, THAT WE
CAN ADD AS WELL. AND SO, I KNOW
THAT I HAVE RECEIVED SOME
FEEDBACK TODAY AS WELL ,
OBVIOUSLY, WITH PUBLIC COMMENT
AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE EMAILED
QUESTIONS. WE WILL WORK WITH SPU
ON THAT JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE
IS AN UNDERSTANDING. PEOPLE KNOW
WHAT IS GOING ON AND SEE IF WE
CAN FIND SOME SOLUTIONS AROUND
THAT. I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE BEEN
AMENABLE TO THAT AS WELL. I WILL
JUST CHECK WITH MY COLLEAGUES IF
THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE VOTING
THIS, AND THEN US CONTINUING TO
WORK ON THIS BEFORE IT GOES TO
FULL COUNSEL. -- COUNCIL. I'M
LOOKING LEFT, RIGHT. YES.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> YES, CHAIR. I APPRECIATE WHAT
I'M HEARING YOU SAY IS THERE
HAVE BEEN COMMENTS THAT WE HAVE
HEARD FROM TODAY, NOT JUST IN
CHAMBERS, BUT IN WRITING,
PASSING THIS OUT OF COMMITTEE IF
WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES AS WE
BRING IT TO FULL COUNCIL IS WHAT
I AM UNDERSTANDING YOU TO SAY.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. THAT IS MY
INTENT . YES, I KNOW WE LIKE TO
DO THE WORK IN THE COMMITTEE,
BUT I ALSO KNOW THERE IS A
CERTAIN DEADLINE TO IMPLEMENT
THESE AS WELL. AND SO, I WANT TO
BE RESPECTFUL OF THAT. BUT I
ALSO WANT TO FEEL VERY
COMFORTABLE WHERE I AM AT IN
SUPPORTING THIS AND MAKING SURE
THE PUBLIC KNOWS MY POSITION AS
WELL. AND YOU KNOW, THAT IS
WHERE I AM AT.
>> AGREED. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I
WAS NEGLIGENT IN NOT
ACKNOWLEDGING AND THINKING
GENERAL MANAGER LEE AND SPU FOR
GIVING ME THAT BRIEFING AND
REALLY ADDRESSING THE PUBLIC
COMMENTS WE HEARD LAST TIME ,
AND IN GENERAL, SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP AND
SOME OF THE CHANGES THEY MADE IN
RESPONSE TO THAT. THANK YOU FOR
DOING THAT.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE THESE -- I
HAVE TO MOVE THE BILL FIRST, AND
THEN I HAVE TO MOVE THE
AMENDMENTS AS WELL. I'M GOING
TO MOVE THAT COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 121190 . IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. VERY LOUD. MOVED
AND SECONDED AS THE BILL
PRESENTED -- YES. IT HAS BEEN
MOVED TO AMEND -- MOVED AND
SECONDED TO AMEND PASSAGE OF THE
BILL. I AM NOW GOING TO MOVE TO
AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT ONE. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND
THE BILL AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT ONE. CENTRAL STAFF,
PLEASE PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW. YOU
ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT
QUICKLY TELL US AGAIN WHAT IT
IS.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THIS BILL IS JUST
-- THIS AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE IS
JUST TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS
IDENTIFIED BY SPU. JUST UNDER
WHINING SOME NEW CODE THAT
WASN'T UNDERLINED IN THE BILL.
FIXING SOME PUNCTUATION,
REMOVING A SUPERSCRIPT AND
ADDING A SERIAL COMMA.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE? WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER
ONE?
>> [ ROLL CALL ] FOUR IN FAVOR.
>> MOTION CARRIES . AMENDMENT
NUMBER ONE ADOPTED. WE WILL NOW
AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO. AND WILL
MOVE TO AMEND THE BILL AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT NUMBER
TWO. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. MOVED AND SECONDED
TO AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO. WOULD
YOU GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW?
>> ABSOLUTELY. THIS AMENDMENT IS
THE ONE THAT ADDS THREE NEW
RECITALS TO THE BILL. RECITAL,
RENUMBERING THE REST OF THE
RECITALS AND ADDING TWO AT THE
END. THE FIRST HIGHLIGHTS THE
CITY'S ADVOCACY TO PERMIT THIS
-- THE SECOND STATES THAT
CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH
RESEARCHERS ON THE ROLE OF TREES
AS STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND THE
THIRD DETAILS CONSIDERATION OF
THE BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE,
SUCCESSFUL TECHNIQUES FROM OTHER
JURISDICTIONS, AND CLIMATE
RESILIENCE IN FUTURE STORMWATER
CODE UPDATES.
>> AWESOME. TAKE YOU FOR THAT. I
KNOW WE HAD A LOT OF -- A LOT OF
PEOPLE SENDING COMMENTS
REGARDING US TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT A GOOD SOLUTION HERE. WOULD
ALSO PAUSE HERE TO SEE IF ANY
COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> JUST A COMMENT . THE NOTE OF
GRATITUDE TO YOU, CHAIR, FOR
INCLUDING THESE RECITALS IN THIS
BILL. REALLY, TO ME, IT FEELS
LIKE A DOUBLING DOWN OF WHAT WE
HAVE BEEN DOING, WHICH IS
ADVOCACY AT THE STATE LEVEL. AND
THEN, ACKNOWLEDGING HIM RECITAL
NUMBER 13 IN PARTICULAR,
APPRECIATE INCLUDING THE NOTE
ABOUT THE TREES AND THE
CONTINUATION OF THE WORK ON BOTH
EXPLORING THE ROLE, AND ALSO HOW
WE CAN DO MORE ON TREES IN ORDER
TO SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR STORM
WATER MANAGEMENT FUNCTION . IT
IS NOT THE ONLY BENEFIT TO THE
TREES . I KNOW THAT WE DO MANY
THINGS . THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, AS YOU KNOW, TO MY
CONSTITUENCY, AND TO ME.
APPRECIATE YOU ADDING IT IN
THERE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS
REGARDING AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO?
CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> [ ROLL CALL ] FOUR IN FAVOR.
>> DID YOU COUNT VICE CHAIR
JUAREZ ?
>> YES.
>> MOTION CARRIES. AMENDMENT
NUMBER TWO IS ADOPTED. BEFORE WE
VOTE ON THE BILL, JUST A
CLARIFICATION. THERE ARE SOME
OTHER -- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> ON THE FINAL BILL?
>> YEAH.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO
SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS. TO YOUR
APPOINTMENT, IT IS COMPLEX, BUT
ALSO VERY INTERESTING. TO BE
FRANK, THIS IS LOCAL GOVERNMENT
101. SOME CITIES GET IT RIGHT,
SOME DON'T. WE NEED TO DO
BETTER. I THINK WE ARE DOING
BETTER. IT IS INTERESTING,
BECAUSE THE WORK THAT IS DONE IN
HERE IS SO IMPORTANT . WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT SOUTH PARK
EARLIER. IT IS NOT JUST SOUTH
PARK. I WAS TALKING ABOUT MY OWN
NEIGHBORHOOD. THE WORK WE DO
HERE IN THIS COMMITTEE AND THIS
TOPIC AREA WITHIN THE MISSION OF
SPU IS FUNDAMENTAL. SO THANK YOU
FOR THE WORK ON THIS BILL, TO
INCLUDE CENTRAL STAFF. OUR
BACKSTOP FOR US, MUCH LIKE MR.
HENNESSY IS A BACKSTOP FOR A LOT
OF ISSUES. CENTRAL STAFF'S WORK
IS SUPER IMPORTANT TOO. I JUST
WANTED TO NOTE THAT. THIS IS
LOCAL GOVERNMENT 101. THIS IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. THIS REALLY
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN
PEOPLES' LIVES OVERTURNED.
PEOPLE WON'T NECESSARILY KNOW.
THAT IS THE OTHER THING ABOUT
IT. REALLY IMPORTANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE IT RIGHT NOW. THANK
YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
KENDALL. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> A SPECIAL NOTE TO THANK YOU
AGAIN TO THE DEPARTMENT. GENERAL
MANAGER LEE AND HIS STAFF, BUT
ALSO TO CHAIR FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP OF THIS WORK, AND FOR
LISTENING TO COMMUNITY AND
MAKING SURE YOUR ATTEMPT TO PUT
THOSE RECITALS AND TO MAKE SURE
WE ARE LISTENING TO COMMUNITY IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME. I REALLY
THANK YOU FOR THAT LEADERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. THANK YOU TO THE
DEPARTMENT AS WELL FOR YOUR
ENGAGEMENT. I WILL SAY, JUST SO
YOU ALL KNOW, THIS BILL GETS
REFERRED TO THE MAY 19 CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. BUT I WANT TO
MAKE SURE I FEEL COMFORTABLE
WITH IT. I KNOW THERE WERE
COMMENTS TODAY. WE HAVE GOT SOME
EMAILS. WANT TO SEE IF THERE IS
SOMETHING MORE THAT CAN BE DONE
BEFORE THE 19th AND FEEL
COMFORTABLE WITH THAT. THERE IS
A MEETING CANCELED ON TUESDAY,
THE 26, -- WERE NOT HAVING A
COUNCIL MEETING ON THE 26th?
THANK YOU. SO THE NEXT COUNCIL
MEETING IS JUNE 2. JUST SO
EVERYONE KNOWS. I HAD ASKED THE
DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF THERE IS
SOME LEEWAY OF EXTENDING THAT TO
THE SECOND TO FIGURE OUT SOME
OTHER ADDITIONAL WORK WE CAN DO
JUST SO WE KNOW. IT COULD BE THE
19th, OR IT COULD BE THE SECOND,
JUNE 2 , AS WELL. I THINK WE CAN
GET THERE FOR FULL COUNCIL WITH
SOME OTHER ADDITIONAL STUFF.
WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THE
PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT CAME
TODAY AND THE FOLKS THAT SENT
EMAILS AS WELL TO GET TO A PLACE
OF , YOU KNOW, FEELING DECENT.
AS YOU SAID, KEVIN, WHEN
EVERYONE IS MAD AT YOU, YOU MUST
BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. I
DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT
WHERE I AM AT IN MY LIFE. I JUST
WANT TO LET YOU KNOW. WHEN
EVERYONE IS MAD AT YOU, MAYBE
YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG.
ANYWAYS. IT IS A NICE WAY TO
LOOK AT IT. OKAY. WE ARE GOING
TO VOTE ON THIS. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE BILL
AS AMENDED?
>> [ ROLL CALL ] FOUR IN FAVOR .
>> THE BILL PASSES OUT OF
COMMITTEE. IT WILL BE SENT TO
EITHER THE MAY 19 OR JUNE 2 CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. THANK YOU ALL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
REAPPOINTMENT. CONGRATULATIONS.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT
GETTING SENT TO FULL COUNCIL. WE
WILL NOT HOLD BACK. KEVIN, THANK
YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS AS
WELL. WE KNOW IT IS A LOT.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND
ENERGY TO THIS AND EXPERTISE.
THANK YOU AS WELL FOR YOUR
ANALYZING ANYTHING -- EVERYTHING
AS WELL. I WILL GIVE BOB A
SHADOW JUST BECAUSE HE'S BOB.
THANK YOU BOB HENNESSY.
>> BOB.
>> I DO WANT TO STATE HE DID GO
TO SEATTLE PREP. HE DOES HAVE
SOMETHING I LIKE ABOUT HIM.
OKAY. WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES,
THANK YOU FOR STAYING OVER TIME
WITH US. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL
YOUR WORK ON THIS PROCESS. THIS
BRINGS US TO THE END OF THE MAY
14 GOVERNANCE AND UTILITIES
MEETING. THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
THE COMMITTEE COLLEAGUES FOR ALL
YOUR WORK TODAY. BEFORE WE
ADJOURN, GOSH I WANTED TO SHARE
A QUICK UPDATE. EARLIER THIS
MONTH, I KNOW I CIRCULATED A
LETTER TO FULL COUNCIL REGARDING
THE KING COUNTY PROPOSED SEWER
WATER RATE INCREASES TO 12.75 IN
2027. I WANT TO THANK SPU, YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP IN
HELPING US CRAFT THAT LETTER.
THE ENTIRE COUNCIL SIGNED IT,
INCLUDING THE MAYOR AT THE MAY
REGIONAL WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE
MEETING. WE DISCUSSED THE LETTER
AND PROPOSED RATE PACKAGE. THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBER LIN FOR BEING
THERE TO DISCUSS THAT.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.
BE BETTER FOR KING COUNTY AND
SEATTLE RESIDENTS ALIKE TO HELP
KEEP SEATTLE AFFORDABILITY. YOU
KNOW, NOT BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER
. AND SO, REALLY APPRECIATE
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES IN
ENGAGING WITH KING COUNTY ON
SUCH A THOUGHTFUL PROCESS. AND
ALSO, THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE
IN PLANNING AND LOCKING IN
SYSTEMS THAT WILL MAKE SURE WE
ARE KEEPING OUR WATER RATES AT A
REASONABLE LEVEL, BECAUSE AS
PEOPLE KNOW, THOSE RATES IMPACT
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITY
RATEPAYERS . THAT EVERYONE
BLAMES SPU, NOT UNDERSTANDING
THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. I JUST WANTED
TO STATE THAT. THANK YOU ALL FOR
YOUR PARTNERSHIP ON THAT AS
WELL. THIS CONCLUDES THE MAY 14
MEETING OF THE