.
>>> ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. THE
JULY 6th, 2026 MEETING OF THE
SELECT MEETING ON THE SEATTLE
BENEFIT DISTRICT WILL COME TO
ORDER. IT IS 11:03 A.M. I AM ROB
ROB SAKA, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL? [ ROLL BEING CALLED
.
>>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, LET
THE RECORD REFLECT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IS EXCUSED
AND IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
AND SEEING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED AND NOTING
THAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT HAS
JOINED US IN PERSON, HERE,
PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR. THANK
YOU. SO, THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC AND COUNCIL, FIFA MATCH
TEAM USA GOING HEAD-TO-HEAD
RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. I AM WEARING MY OWN
SWAG AND I KNOW COLLEAGUES I SAW
A FEW OF YOU AND RESPECTED
TEAMMATES WEARING SWAG. COULD OF
CHOSE TO BE ANYWHERE IN THE
WORLD AND CHOSE TO BE WITH US IN
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, APPRECIATE
THAT. THANK YOU. BUT, AN
EXCITING DAY TODAY BECAUSE TODAY
MARKS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN
OUR WORK TOGETHER ON THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE. THIS IS THE
POINT IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
WHERE IDEAS ARE TESTED,
ASSUMPTIONS ARE CHALLENGED AND
GOOD PROPOSALS HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME EVEN
BETTER. I WANT TO BEGIN BY
THANKING EACH COUNCILMEMBER AND
YOUR RESPECTIVE STAFF FOR THE
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK THAT
WENT INTO PREPARING THE MINUTES
BEFORE US TODAY. WE HAVE 23
AMENDMENTS, 23 PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS. THAT LEVEL OF
ENGAGEMENT IS TRULY REMARKABLE.
FOR HISTORICAL CONTEXT THE
ORIGINAL 2014 SEATTLE MEASURE
PROPOSAL RECEIVED FIVE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS. BY COMPARISON. THE
2020 RENEWAL RECEIVED 8. THE
NUMBER BEFORE US TODAY, 23,
REFLECTS NOT DISAGREEMENT FOR
ITS OWN SAKE BUT THE SERIOUSNESS
WITH WHICH EACH MEMBER THEREOF
COMMITTEE IS APPROACHING OUR
SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. THAT
SHOULD GIVE THE PUBLIC
CONFIDENCE IN THIS PROCESS AND
STRENGTHEN THE OVERALL INTEGRITY
OF THE FINAL ADOPTED PROPOSAL
THAT WILL GO BEFORE VOTERS. NOW,
MY GOAL AS CHAIR IS PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD. IT IS TO ENSURE
WE HAVE A THOUGHTFUL,
TRANSPARENT AND WELL ORGANIZED
PROCESS THAT GIVES EVERY
AMENDMENT A FAIR HEARING AND
EVERY COUNCILMEMBER A
OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE
DISCUSSION. NOW, AS I SHARED
BEFORE, TRANSIT FOR ME
PERSONALLY HAS BEEN PART OF MY
LIFE FOR AS LONG AS I CAN
REMEMBER. GROWING UP, MY FAMILY
OFTEN DEPENDED ON IT. TODAY, I
CONTINUE TO RIDE TRANSIT
REGULARLY. COMMUTING OR
TRAVELING TO MAJOR EVENTS AROUND
OUR GREAT CITY. THAT EXPERIENCE
REMINDS ME TRANSPORTATION AND
TRANSIT MORE SPECIFICALLY IS
NEVER JUST ABOUT MOVING PEOPLE
FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER. IT IS
ABOUT EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY. IT
IS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY. IT IS
ABOUT SAFETY. IT IS ABOUT
ACCESSIBILITY. IT IS ABOUT
RELIABILITY AND PREDICTABILITY
AND IT IS ABOUT ALL OF THOSE
THINGS AND MORE. BUILDING A
SAFE, RELIABLE AND EFFECTIVE
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT
PEOPLE TRUST ENOUGH THAT THEY
CHOOSE TO USE IT EVERY DAY. THAT
BROADER PERSPECTIVE SHOULD GUIDE
OUR WORK TODAY, COLLEAGUES. THE
AMENDMENT PROCESS EXISTS FOR A
REASON. IT ALLOWS US TO TEST
PUBLIC IDEAS IN PUBLIC, REFINE
PROPOSALS, AND IDENTIFY
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. IT IS
THE MORE IMPORTANT
RESPONSIBILITY ENTRUSTED TO US
IN THE CO-BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT
AND ALWAYS CARED OUT WITH
OPENNESS, RESPECT AND
WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN. ALSO WANT
TO BRIEFLY ADDRESS ONE ASPECT OF
TODAY'S AMENDMENTS. AS CHAIR, I
BELIEVE THAT THIS LEGISLATION
SHOULD ESTABLISH THE POLICY
FRAMEWORK. HIGH-LEVEL PRIORITIES
AND RESOURCES THAT WILL GUIDE
FUTURE TRANSIT INVESTMENTS. IT
SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO
PERSCRIPTIVELY DEFINE ROUTES OR
NEIGHBORHOODS, SERVICE THROUGH
THE PROCESS. I TOOK CHAIR FOR
TWO MAIN REASONS, FIRST, I
BELIEVE THAT TYPE OF ROUTE BY
ROUTE DETAIL AND SPECIFICS IS
BEST MANAGED AND ADDRESSED
DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE
SHOULD VOTERS APPROVE THIS
MEASURE. THE IMPLEMENTATION
PHASE IS WHERE OPERATIONAL
PLANNERS AND EXPERTS WILL BE
BEST POSITIONED TO EFFECTIVELY
EVALUATE THE ABILITY. SUBJECT TO
COUNCIL REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT.
SECOND. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE
EXPECTATIONS FOR OUR OPERATIONAL
PARTNERS AT KING COUNTY METRO.
METRO ALONE RETAINS EXCLUSIVE
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO
PLAN, EXPAND, AND RESTORE
SERVICE IN SPECIFIC AREAS TO
PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS AND BEYOND.
BASED ON REGIONAL DEMAND AND
SYSTEM WIDE CONSTRAINTS. SIMPLY
PUT WE MUST LET METRO DO ITS JOB
AND SHOULD NOT LET THEM OFF THE
HOOK FINANCIALLY FOR EXPANDING
SERVICE IN SEATTLE AND BALANCING
THE NEEDS OF THE ENTIRE REGIONAL
SYSTEM. THESE POINTS ARE
BULLSTERRED BY THE FACT THAT
NEITHER OF THE TWO PRIOR
PROPOSALS REFLECTED THAT LEVEL
OF OPERATIONAL DETAIL. AGAIN,
2014, 2020. COLLEAGUES, AGAIN,
OUR ROLE IS TO ESTABLISH POLICY
DIRECTION AND RESPECTING THE
EXPERTISE OF THOSE CHARGED WITH
IMPLEMENTATION, AGAIN, SUBJECT
TO OUR OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY.
FINALLY I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY
SET EXPECTATION. TODAY'S
DISCUSSION IS NOT ABOUT WINNING
OR LOSING AMENDMENTS IT IS
COLLECTIVELY BUILDING. THE
STRONGEST POSSIBLE MEASURE FOR
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. I
ENCOURAGE EACH OF US TO APPROACH
TODAY'S CONVERSATION WITH
CURIOSITY, HUMILITY, RACE, AND
ARE A SHARED WILLINGNESS TO
IMPROVE NOT ONLY OUR OWN IDEAS
BUT EACH OTHERS AS WELL. WHEN
THE COMMITTEE'S WORK IS
COMPLETE, I HOPE SEATTLE'S
RESIDENTS WILL SAY SOMETHING
BACK AND SAY SOMETHING SIMPLE.
THEIR ELECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES
TOOK THIS SERIOUSLY, WORK
COLLABORATIVELY IN PUBLIC AND
LEFT THE PROPOSAL STRONGER THAN
WHETHER THEY FOUND IT. THANK
YOU. LET'S GET TO WORK. WE WILL
NOW OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENTS
SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA AND WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE. CLERK
HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP?
>> CHAIR, WE HAVE 14 IN-PERSON
AND 12 REMOTE FOR 26 SPEAKERS.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. JUST
UNDER THE 30 SPEAKER THRESHOLD.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE
APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES AND WE
WILL START WITH IN-PERSON
SPEAKERS FIRST. CLERK CAN YOU
READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT
INSTRUCTIONS?
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN IN-PERSON AND
REMOTE SPEAKERS. SPEAKERS WILL
HEAR A CHIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE
LEFT OF THEIR TIME. SPEAKER MICS
WILL BE MUTE IF THEY DO NOT END
IN THE ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US
TO COMMENT ON THE NEXT SPEAKER?
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST. AFTER .
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR SASA. MY
NAME IS GREG, PRESIDENT OF
ATU587. REPRESENTING 5,000
TRANSIT WORKERS MOSTLY FROM KING
COUNTY WHO MOVE THIS CITY AND
REGION. WE RESPECT THE CITY
COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY TO SHAPE
THIS LEGISLATION AND APPRECIATE
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL AND
SEATTLE RESIDENTS LONG AND FIRM
COMMITMENT TO INVESTMENT IN
PUBLIC TRANSIT. ON THE 22
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS OUR UNION
WANTS TO RESPECT THE COUNCIL'S
AUTHORITY AND ONLY SPEAK TO ONE
AMENDMENT THAT WE STRONGLY
SUPPORT AMENDMENT 1 AND ONE THAT
WE OPPOSE, AMENDMENT 13.
YESTERDAY'S SHOOTING INCIDENTS
ON A BUS IN IS JUST ANOTHER IN A
LONG LINE OF EXAMPLES ON WHY WE
NEED TO KEEP OUR FOCUS ON
TRANSIT SAFETY. WE BELIEVE IT IS
ADDRESSED IN AMENDMENT NUMBER 1.
ON AMENDMENT 13, THE PUBLIC IS
CLEAR THAT THEY WANT MORE
TRANSIT NOT LESS. OUR UNION ASKS
FOR THE COUNCIL TO PASS THIS
AMENDMENT WITH A FULL TAXING
AUTHORITY. OUR UNION HAS A LONG
HISTORY OF ENDURING OF
SUPPORTING AND WORKING WITH
SEATTLE COUNCILMEMBERS INCLUDING
THE CURRENT COUNCIL. ALL ASK FOR
IS COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC TRANSIT
AND LABOR IN GENERAL. THE
DECISION YOU MAKE ON THIS
LEGISLATION WILL DEMONSTRATE IF
YOU BACK UP YOUR WORDS WITH
ACTIONS. INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC
TRANSIT BENEFITS ALL, MORE SO
THAN MOST INVESTMENTS. PLEASE
MAKE THIS BOLD AND NEEDED
INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT WITHOUT
PLACING RESTRICTIONS THAT WILL
LESSEN OR INHIBIT THE ABILITY
FOR INCREASED TRANSIT SERVICE,
WHICH IS WHAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS,
WANTS AND DEMANDS, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. LET THE RECORD
REFLECT THAT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS HAS JOINED US IN PERSON.
WELCOME.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>>> THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THE
COMMITTEE HAS DONE ON THESE
THOUGHTFUL AMENDMENTS. I WANT TO
FOCUS TWO. REDUCING THE FUNDS
RATE FROM .3 TO .2 ASK
SHORTENING THE TERM OF THE
MEASURE. WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO
KEEP THE MEASURE AT .3% SALES
TAX A FULL 10-YEAR TERM. LOWER
MEANS LESS SERVICE AND LESS
PREDICTABILITY AND HARDER
VOTERS. OVER THE PAST MONTH
SEATTLE HAS SHOWN UP ON THE
WORLD STAGE. THE GROWING
INVESTMENTS IN TRANSIT HAS MADE
THAT POSSIBLE. DURING THE WORLD
CUP WE MOVED A MILLION RIDERS
DURING THE FIRST TWO MATCHES AND
BROKE RECORDS TWICE IN ONE WEEK
THAT IS WHAT THE SYSTEM CAN DO
WHEN IT HAS THE FUNDING IT
NEEDS. A FULL .310 YEAR
COMMITMENT IN INVESTMENT KEEP
THAT GOING CONTRAST WE CAN LOOK
TO PORTLAND, A CITY WITHOUT
SALES TAX AND FUNDING SOURCE
THAT JUST THIS WEEKEND HAD TO
ANNOUNCE SEVERE CUTS IN THE BUS
SERVICE AND CUTTING THE
OPERATORS BUSINESS OWNER WANT TO
INVEST IN A CITY WITH A GREAT
PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM. VOTERS
SHOWN THEY WANT A CITY THAT IS
BOLD IN THE VISION OF WHAT IT
WANTS TO BE THAT IS NOT
SATISFIED WITH WHAT IT HAS
TODAY. TRANSIT SERVICE IS KEY TO
WHAT MAKES OUR CITY WORK.
ECONOMIC DRIVER, EASES
CONGESTION FOR EVERYONE IN THE
ROAD AND LOWERS THE COST OF
LIVING IN OUR CITY. EVEN FOR
RESIDENTS THAT NEVER SET FOOT ON
A BUS OR TRAIN. IT MEANS FEWER
CARS AND LESS CONGESTION. WE
LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER
CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ALL AND
THE COMMITTEE AS YOUR AMENDMENTS
MOVE FORWARD. WE HOPE TO SEE THE
MEASURE CONTINUE WITH A .3%
SALES TAX RATE AND A 10 YEAR
TERM. LET'S GO TEAM USA. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND ALSO LET'S GO WEST
SEATTLE ROADIES FC AND JUNCTION
FC. THANK YOU.
>>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
MARK BRUNSON. I MOVE THROUGH
SEATTLE THROUGH EACH OF THE
TRANSIT MEASURE. .
>> CAN YOU PAUSE THAT FOR A
SECOND. CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE
MIC. ALMOST GOT TO EAT IT.
>> THE FIRST TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT WAS A HOPEFUL
TIME FOR MOBILITY IN SEATTLE. IT
EXPANDS THE SERVICE TO THE POINT
WHERE 70% OF HOUSEHOLDS COULD
WALK TO A FREQUENT BUS LINE. AS
A RESULT SEATTLE WAS THE ONLY
MAJOR CITY IN THE COUNTRY
INCREASING THE TRANSIT RIDERSHIP
DURING THE SERVICE EXPANSIONS.
TODAY I LIVE NEAR THE G-LINE.
THIS ROUTE MADE ME MORE
CONNECTED TO FIRST HILL AND THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY. EVERYONE SHOULD
BE ABLE TO WALK TO A FREQUENT
BUS LIKE THE G. MOST OF MY
DESTINATIONS ARE NOT ALONG THE
G. A CITY-WIDE FREQUENT TRANSIT
NETWORK IS IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE
BECAUSE WE DO NOT ALWAYS GET TO
CLUES WHERE OUR DESTINATIONS
ARE. SOMETIMES OUR FRIENDS MOVE
ACROSS THE CITY. ONLY LOCAL
PHARMACY CLOSES, OR WE WANT TO
SUPPORT A LOCAL BUSINESS IN
ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD. I STRONGLY
URGE YOU TO PASS THE PLAN TO
FUND THE AMOUNT OF BUS SERVICE
IN THE PROPOSAL. I SUPPORT
AMENDMENTS 10 AND 29 TO EXPAND
UPON THAT SERVICE LEVEL. REJECT
AMENDMENT 13 THAT CUTS THE
SERVICE. WHEN PEOPLE APPLY TO
JOBS AND SIGN LEASES THEY NEED
TO KNOW THEIR MOBILITY IS NOT
SUBJECT TO THE LIMBS OF FUTURE
COUNCILMEMBERS. IT SHOULD BE
GUIDED BY A CONSISTENT VISION.
IT WAS DEVELOPED IN THE TRANSIT
ELEMENT OF THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN. IT WAS
UNANIMOUSLY PASSED BY THIS BODY
AND CURRENTLY PLANE PEOPLE ARE
SERVING ON T. REJECT AMENDMENT 4
AND LEAVE THE DETAILS TO THE
EXPERTISE OF OUR PLANNERS WHO
ARE CHARGED WITH IMPLEMENTING
THE PLAN THAT THE COUNCIL HAS
ALREADY APPROVED. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME AND LET'S HAVE A
GREAT TIME AT OUR FINAL WALK UP
GAME.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>>> GOOD MORNING CHAIR, MEMBERS
OF BOARD. I WANT TO SECOND THE
REMARKS OF PRESIDENT WOODFILL.
PLEASE ADOPT THE MEASURE. BUT I
WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT, COLOR
OUTSIDE OF THE LINES A LITTLE
BIT AND SUGGEST TWO AMENDMENTS
NOT ON THE LIST TODAY. I WRITTEN
SEVERAL NOTES ON THESE TOPICS.
CHAIR SAKA REMARKED THE BUS
ROUTES ARE THE PURVIEW OF METRO
TRANSIT. ONE MODE THAT IS THE
PURVIEW OF SEATTLE THAT IS THE
SEATTLE STREETCAR. AND THERE ARE
TWO LINES, SOUTH LAKE UNION LINE
BEGINNING IN 2005 AND THE FIRST
OF THE LINE FUNDED BY ST2. I
THINK IT IS TIME THAT WE STOP
FUNDING THE SERVICE FOR THE
SOUTH LAKE UNION LINE. CLAIRE
SAKA BROUGHT IT UP DURING THE
2024 BUDGET PROCESS. IT NOT
COST-EFFECTIVE. IT IS DUPLICATED
BY SEVERAL VERY GOOD BUS ROUTES.
THE 40, THE 62, THE 70 AND THE
C-LINE. RIDERSHIP IS VERY LOW.
THE STREETCARS ARE A BOUTIQUE
SERVICE, THEY COST A LOT MORE. I
SHARED THAT WITH YOU IN EMAIL.
$400 AN HOUR FOR EVERY
STREETCAR. $250 FOR EVERY BUS
HOUR. SO, FOR EVERY STREETCAR
HOUR YOU FUND YOU CAN BUY 1.6
BUS HOURS. HOURS YOU SPEND IN
SOUTH LAKE UNION DO NOT HELP THE
OBJECTIVES. BECAUSE THE
STREETCAR IN SOUTH LAKE UNION
DUPLICATES GOOD BUS SERVICE AND
THE BUS HOURS YOU SPEND OUTSIDE
OF DOWNTOWN ARE WHERE WAITS ARE
LONGER AND RIDERS NEED IT MORE.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT I HAVE
SUGGESTED IS THAT YOU GO, ASK
THE VOTERS ABOUT THE AUTHORITY
FOR THE $50 VEHICLE LICENSE FEE.
AND TARGET THAT FUND -- THOSE
FUNDS FOR PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT.
WE KNOW WE ARE IN A DEEP DEFICIT
FOR PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT,
BRIDGES, SIDEWALKS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT.
>>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL. I'M
FROM WEST SEATTLE. I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THIS FORM OF PUBLIC
COMMENT IS UNREPRESENTATIVE AND
BIAS TO PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE
ABLE TO SPEND THEIR WEEKDAY
MORNING WITH YOU. IN PARTICULAR
THE PEOPLE THAT CAN BENEFIT FROM
THE MEASURE ARE LEAST LIKELY TO
BE HERE BECAUSE OUR TRANSIT
SYSTEM IS SO TIME-CONSUMING.
THAT SAID I URGE YOU TO PASS THE
MEASURE AND REJECT THE
AMENDMENTS FROM KETTLE AND SAKA.
I RELY ON PUBLIC SERVICE, THE
BUS I TAKE TO THE AIRPORT RUNS
EVERY 20 OR 30 MINUTES LATE IN
THE EVENING AND IT TAKES AN HOUR
COMPARED TO 20 MINUTES. THE BUS
I TAKE TO VISIT SEATTLE IT IS
THE SAME. FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT
TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT IMAGINE A
GATE AT THE END OF YOUR DRIVEWAY
THAT ONLY OPENS EVERY HALF-HOUR.
THIS MEASURE IMPROVES
CONNECTIVITY REDUCES EMISSIONS
AND INCREASES EQUITY. PASS IT
RATHER THAN UNDERMINE IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. THANK YOU
ALL FOR MEETING TODAY. CHAIR
SAKA, I GUARANTEE WORDS THAT THE
CHAIRMAN IS GOING TO RESPECT. I
AM NOT A TRAFFIC ENGINEER. LAST
TIME I INTERVENED IN DESIGN
SOLUTIONS IT DID NOT GO WELL FOR
ANYBODY. I AM NOT GOING TO
DICTATE OR TELL THE DEPARTMENTS
SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS THEY SHOULD
IMPLEMENT. I WILL ABSOLUTELY
PASS -- [INAUDIBLE] -- THE
STATEMENT REPRESENTS A PROFOUND
AMOUNT OF HUMILITY AND
UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THIS
COMMITTEE CAPABILITIES LIE AND
WHERE THEY NEED TO BE EMPOWERING
OTHER PEOPLE WITH SPECIFIC
ABILITIES TO GIVE US A 21st
CENTURY METRO SOLUTION. SO, I
ASK THE COUNCIL TO VOTE AGAINST
AMENDMENTS 13 AND 4 AND TO PUSH
FORWARD ON AMENDMENTS 10 AND 29.
AND LET'S LOOK BACK AND SAY
SOMETHING SIMPLE THAT WE DID NOT
METTLE, WE ENABLED THE PEOPLE
WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO
DO WHAT THEY SHOULD BE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT.
>>> GOOD MORNING. I AM AN
ACTIVIST AND ADVOCATE FOR
NON-DRIVERS ALLIANCE AND
WHEELCHAIR USER. I WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU TOO COUNCIL FOR
CONSIDERING THIS TRANSIT
MEASURE. PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO
NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE AND LIVE IN
HOUSEHOLDS THAT DO NOT HAVE
ACCESS TO A CAR. AND -- MEANING
TRANSIT ACCESS IS DISABILITY
ACCESS. PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO NOT LEAVE
THEIR HOUSE IN A DAY THAN
NONDISABLED PEERS IN THE SAME
AGE BRACKET. IT MEANS PEOPLE ARE
ISOLATED. NOT ACCESSING JOBS,
NOT ACCESSING ALL OF THE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT EVERYBODY
ELSE HAS WHO HAS ACCESS TO A
CAR. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT
I AM INCREDIBLY PRIVILEGED. I
CAN'T PUMP MY OWN GAS. IT IS
VERY DIFFICULT TO GET MY
WHEELCHAIR IN AND OUT OF A CAR
AND IT IS REALLY HARD TO FIND
SAFE PARKING IN SEATTLE BUT I
CAN AFFORD TO LIVE ON THE
FREQUENT TRANSIT NETWORK. I CAN
GET EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY THAT
I NEED TO GO BUT MOST PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES ARE IN A LOWER
INCOME BRACKET. THEY DO NOT HAVE
ACCESS TO THE TRANSIT NETWORK.
THIS MEASURE WILL GIVE PEOPLE SO
MANY OPPORTUNITIES. I JUST WANT
TO REALLY EMPHASIZE THAT WE NEED
TO EXPAND OUR TRANSIT FUNDING.
NEED TO MAKE SURE IT IS RELIABLE
TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE AND MAKE
IT AN ACCESSIBLE CITY. KEEP IT
AT .3% AND DEDICATE THAT TO MORE
TRANSIT ON THE FREQUENT TRANSIT
NETWORK AND MAKE SURE IT IS
PREDICTABLE AND THAT MEANS
KEEPING THE TRANSIT LEVEL AT THE
10-YEAR FUNDING TIME LINE. AND
DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
ENSURE METRO HAS ALL OF THE
TOOLS TO PLAN AND EXPAND OUR
TRANSIT NETWORK. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>>> HELLO. I AM AN ORGANIZERS
WITH SAFE RAIL AND VOLUNTEER. I
WANT TO START OFF WITH -- I WAS
JUST IN L.A. WITH MY HUSBAND AND
SOMETHING THAT STRUCK ME WAS HOW
MUCH BETTER OUR TRANSIT IS HERE
IN SEATTLE. I THINK L.A. IS
SUPPOSED TO BE A BIGGER, COOLER
CITY BUT MY HUSBAND AND I TRIED
TO GET AROUND BY TRAIN AND BUS
AND IT JUST -- IT WAS STRIKING
JUST HOW DIFFERENT IT IS. AND I
THINK WHAT WE SEE IS THAT
SEATTLE REALLY LIKES TO TAKE
PUBLIC TRANSIT AND WITH THE
WORLD CUP WE ARE SEEING THAT
SEATTLE REALLY IS JUST SHINING
EVERYWHERE ONLINE, HOW BEAUTIFUL
THE CITY IS, HOW ACCESSIBLE OUR
STADIUM IS AND HOW EASY IT IS TO
GET AROUND. EVEN CITY NERDS SAY
IT IS S-TIER THAT I THOUGHT WAS
REALLY COOL. TO THAT END I THINK
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE
TO FUND TRANSIT AND THAT MEANS
FUNDING THE FULL .3%. WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND MAKE IT
ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE IN THE
CITY. I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS TO CALL OUT CONNECTING
REGIONAL CENTERS. I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT COUNCILMEMBERS
LIN AND RINCK LOOKED FOR LOCAL
AND STATE LEVEL WAYS REVENUE
INCREASES CAN BE DONE AND HELP
WITH THE SALES TAX. I KNOW SALES
TAX IS PROGRESSIVE BUT THIS IS
IMPORTANT. I WORRY ABOUT
LIMITING THE MEASURE TO SIX
MONTHS OR SIX YEARS. I KNOW THAT
MIGHT TIE INTO THE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY AND SEEMS
LIKE A DISASTER. I HOPE THAT YOU
END UP PASSING THE FULL .3% IN
THE FULL 10 YEARS, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JONATHAN.
>>>.
>> NEXT.
>> HELLO, I AM A RESIDENT OF
CAPITAL HILL. I AM A NONDRIVER
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE. SINCE
ITS IMPLEMENTATION. I AM HERE TO
VOTE AND STRONGLY SUPPORT THE
RENEWAL. IN PARTICULAR TO
RECOMMEND AGAINST ADOPTING
AMENDMENTS 13 AND AMENDMENT 5.
FOR VARIOUS REASONS, THE FIRST
OF ALL BEING THAT AMENDMENT 13
CUTTING DOWN THE TAX MEASURE
WILL SIGNIFICANTLY HAMPER THE
TRANSIT FUND AND IT IS FUNDING A
LOT OF FREQUENT TRANSIT THAT
GRANTS PEOPLE LIKE ME THE
FREEDOM TO BE ABLE TO GO WHERE
THEY WANT TO GO AND WHERE THEY
NEED TO. IF IT IS WORK, LEISURE,
SEE FRIENDS, GO TO A DOCTOR,
WHAT HAVE YOU AND AT THE END OF
THE DAY, THE MEASURE AS PROPOSED
IS ONLY GOING TO, IT IS GOING TO
COST THE AVERAGE. I DON'T THINK
CUTTING THE EXTRA THIRD DOES
MUCH VERSUS THE EXTRA TRANSIT
SERVICE WE CAN BUY. AS FOR
AMENDMENT 5 I RECOMMEND
SHORTENING THE TERM PARTICULARLY
BECAUSE THAT WOULD MEAN DOING A
RENEWAL THE CITY WILL SHELL OUT
AN EXTRA SPECIAL ELECTION.
SOMETHING THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO
DO UNDER THE 10 YEAR TERM. AS
SUCH IT LEADS TO MORE
UNNECESSARY SPENDING
DOWN-THE-LINE, PARTICULARLY
SINCE THE MEASURE WOULD LIKELY
GET RENEWED REGARDLESS.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> NEXT UP IS NICK WHO IS
FOLLOWED BY HARPER.
>> HELLO. COUNCILMEMBERS. I WANT
TO THANK EVERYONE HERE FOR
WRITING AMENDMENTS. WE ARE
GETTING SO FAR ALONG IN THE
PROCESS. I KNOW IT IS NOT EASY.
I WANTED TO CALL OUT SOME
AMENDMENTS TO VOTE AGAINST FIRST
OFF AMENDMENT NUMBER 4 FORCING
APPROVAL OF THE SERVICE
AMENDMENTS THAT PUTS THE
DISTRICTS AGAINST EACH OTHER. WE
SEEN IT PLAY OUT SOUND TRANSIT.
WE HAVE A DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH
ALREADY RUN BY S-DOT. URGE YOU
TO VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 5,
SPECIAL ELECTION OR FORCE IT ON
THE SAME GENERAL ELECTION AS A
LEVY THAT WILL CAUSE PROBLEMS
FOR BOTH OF THEM. MORE
IMPORTANTLY, I URGE YOU TO VOTE
NO TO AMENDMENT 13, REDUCING THE
MEASURE BY ONE THIRD. CUTTING
SERVICE FUNDED BY THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND HALT THE EXPANSION
THAT WE HAVE PLANNED. THROUGHOUT
THE YEARS THIS COUNCIL HAS
TALKED THE TALK ON A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT GOALS LIKE CLIMATE
CHANGE, SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
PLAN, FREQUENT 0, WE VOTED FOR
AND APPROVED. IT IS WHAT IS
GOING TO GET FUNDED BY THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE. I WANT
TO CALL OUT THAT WE HAVE A LOT
OF PROBLEMS IN THE CITY THAT
WILL NOT GET SOLVED WITH LESS
TRANSIT. DOWNTOWN HAS 40%
VACANCY RATE RIGHT NOW. NOT
MAKING A DENT ON THAT WITH LESS
TRANSIT. NOT EASIER TO RUN A
BUSINESS IN THE CITY WITH LESS
TRANSIT OR HAVE A JOB AND GET TO
WORK WITH LESS TRANSIT AND NOT
AFFORDABLE CITY IF PEOPLE HAVE
TO DRIVE AND PAY FOR THE MOST
EXPENSIVE UBERS IN THE COUNTRY
AND GAS AND PARKING. WE HAVE
SEEN WE WILL NOT BE A FUN CITY
OR ENJOYABLE IF WE DON'T HAVE
TRANSIT. WE HAVE A NIGHT NETWORK
OF BUSES THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO
HAVE A NIGHT ON THE TOWN, WORK A
LATER SHIFT AT THE BAR. THAT
NIGHT NETWORK IS FUNDED BY THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE NOT
METRO ITSELF. PRIORITIZING THE
SERVICE ASK KEEPING IT AT .3 AND
10 YEARS ALLOWS US TO MAKE THE
INVESTMENTS AND THE CITY BETTER
FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>>> HELLO. I AM WITH SEATTLE
TRANSIT RIDERS UNION. MEMBER OF
DISTRICT 3. I AM A TRANSIT RIDER
AND I AM A STUDENT. THE TAX
INCREASE, IMPROVING SERVICE AND
FUND WILL SAVE ME MONEY.
EVERYONE THOUGH I DON'T HAVE A
CAR TO GIVE UP AND SAVE MONEY
ON. THIS IMPROVED BUS SERVICE
WILL REDUCE CONTRIBUTIONS TO
CLIMATE CHANGE. SOMETHING THAT
EVERYONE ON THE COUNCIL AT LEAST
SAYS THEY UNDERSTAND IS A
THREAT. IT IS A WELL-ESTABLISHED
FACT THAT TRANSIT SERVICE BOOSTS
THE ECONOMY BY PUTTING MORE
MONEY IN TRANSIT RIDERS. ARE YOU
A COUNCIL THAT BELIEVES IN ONLY
CLIMATE CHANGE AND AFFORDABILITY
AND ECONOMY? WHEN TALKING TO
VOTERS AND CUTS TRANSIT SERVICE
AND PUTS BARRIERS IN THE WAY OF
THE SUCCESS WHILE IN THE CHAMBER
OR ARE A COUNCIL THAT FOLLOWS
THROUGH ON ITS TALK? BECAUSE I
HAVE MORE TIME, BRIEFLY, I, LAST
WEEKEND WENT TO MOUNT SI TO GO
FOR A HIKE ON A BUS THAT IS HALF
FUNDED BY THE TRANSPORTATION
MEASURE. I DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO
THAT IF THAT BUS DOESN'T EXIST.
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. A LOT
OF PEOPLE I KNOW, IF THEY HAD
BETTER ACCESS TO BUS SERVICE TO
THINGS LIKE THEIR JOB, TO
VARIOUS PLACES THAT ARE NOT
DOWNTOWN AND FURTHER OUT INTO
OUR MOUNTAINS WOULD BE MORE
WILLING TO GIVE UP THEIR CAR. WE
KNOW THAT TRANSIT SERVICE BOOSTS
OUR ECONOMY. WE KNOW TRANSIT
SERVICE MAKES OUR CITY GREENER
AND MORE EQUITABLE. PLEASE, WHEN
THE VOTERS ARE ASKING, DO NOT DO
THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, HARPER. AND
FRIENDLY REMINDER, WHEN YOU HEAR
THE CHIME, YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS
LEFT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO
ABRUPTLY END YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS
LEFT. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT.
>>> MORNING COUNCIL. I HELP LEAD
REIMAGINE AND LIVE IN D-5. THERE
ARE A BUNCH OF GOOD AMENDMENTS
UP TODAY FOR VOTE. TO HIGHLIGHT
A COUPLE, THE FIRST ONE IS
AMENDMENT 16. AND 11, FINDING
NEW RESOURCES, 10, TO INCREASE
TRANSIT AND REGIONAL CENTERS
THEY WANT TO MENTION,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS I DON'T
NEED THE BUS TO GET TO DOWNTOWN
BUT NORTH GATE AND BALLARD. THAT
IS HOW I ACCESS IT AND I LOVE
THIS AMENDMENT. IT GETS ME TO
THE MARKET MORE OFTEN EVERY
WEEKEND. 20 TO INCREASE
ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCESS TO
TRANSIT. THERE IS A BUNCH MORE.
BUT, MY ASK HERE IS THAT YOU
PASS SOME OF THOSE. RECONSIDER
AND DO NOT PASS AMENDMENT 13 TO
CUT BUS SERVICE THAT WOULD CUT
JOBS FOR METRO DRIVERS. DON'T
PASS AMENDMENT 4, WE DON'T NEED
TO MICROMANAGE THE FUNDING WE
SET ASIDE TO PURCHASE MORE BUS
HOURS. DO NOT PASS AMENDMENT 5
TO SHORTEN THE MEASURE OR THE
TERM OF THIS MEASURE TO, I
THINK, SIX YEARS, NINE MONTHS.
THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY TRIGGER
AN EXPENSIVE SPECIAL ELECTION. I
WANT TO SAY, TOO, THAT, I HAD A
GREAT TIME USING TRANSIT TO GET
AROUND DURING THE WORLD CUP. I
THINK WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED HOW
GOOD SEATTLE DOES TRANSIT AND WE
CAN DO EVEN BETTER. THIS TRANSIT
MEASURE, EVEN MORE CONNECTED
CITY THAN WE ARE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>>> HELLO COUNCILMEMBER
PRESIDENCY, CLAIRE SAKA. THE
SEATTLE WILLING TRADES ARE IN
SUPPORT OF AMENDMENT 3. WE
BELIEVE THE FUNDS TO HELP
CAPITAL PROJECTS WILL CONTRIBUTE
TO GOOD-PAYING JOBS FOR WORKERS
AROUND THE COMMUNITY AND HELP
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS? THE
CAPITAL PROJECTS PROVIDE
PATHWAYS SO PEOPLE CAN BUILD A
CAREER WITHIN THE PLACE THAT
THEY LIVE AND WORK. THESE
PROJECTS ALSO PROVIDE PRIORITY
HIRING FOR PEOPLE WITHIN THE
AREA, THE ZIP CODE SO THEY
CONTINUE TO LIVE AND WORK IN
SEATTLE AND AROUND KING COUNTY.
SO, PLEASE SUPPORT AMENDMENT 3
WITH THE COMMUNITY WORKHORSE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT.
>>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS. THE
CITY AND THE COUNTRY ARE NOT
SAYING THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS
BEING TOO BOLD RIGHT NOW. THE
CITY IS NOT ASKING FOR US TO
PAIR BACK TRANSIT MEASURE. I AM
HERE TO KEEP THE TAX. I AM GEN
Z. I GET THE JOKE. IT IS FUNNY.
I DON'T THINK WE AS WELL SELL
IT BY MAKING IT A FUNNY NUMBER.
WE NEED THE LONGER TIME BECAUSE
HAVING PRO-TRANSIT
COUNCILMEMBERS IS NOT A
GUARANTEE. IT IS LIKELY THAT WE
COULD HAVE DEMOCRATS IN BOTH
LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT WHO
WILL NOT NECESSARILY CALL FOR
EXTRA TRANSIT INVESTMENT. WE
NEED TO GO AS FAR AS WE CAN
WHILE IT IS POLITICALLY POSSIBLE
TO DO SO. SALES TAX, NO
ARGUMENTS TO ME IT IS AN
AGGRESSIVE TAX. EVEN STILL,
USING IT TO INVEST IN TRANSIT IS
THE BEST BANG FOR BUCK WAY TO
CREATE AFFORDABILITY AND THE
ONLY TAX THAT THE STATE ALLOWS
US TO LEVY FOR TRANSPORTATION.
THAT IS WHY WE NEED PEOPLE,
STATE LEGISLATURES WHO WILL GIVE
US MORE OPTIONS IN THE FUTURE
FOR BETTER TAXATION, THAT IS NOT
GUARANTEED, EITHER. I WILL LEAVE
WITH THIS, AFTER THE IRAQ WAR
WHETHER I WAS JUST THREE YEARS
OLD, GOVERNMENT PROMISED EVERY
LEVEL WE WILL HAVE GOOD TRANSIT
AND WEAN OURSELVES OFF OF
FOREIGN OIL. BUT WE DIDN'T. WE
GAVE MORE SUBSIDIES FOR OIL. NOW
WE ARE IN ANOTHER OIL WAR. THEY
HAD THE SAME CONVERSATIONS AT
THE TIME ABOUT PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION, IF WE SHOULD
INVEST IN IT. LET'S NOT GO SO
BOLD. ARE WE SURE WE WANT TO
RAISE TAXS? PAIR IT BACK, DON'T
MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE. THANK
YOU.
>> THEN.
>> OUR FINAL IN-PERSON SPEAKER.
AFTER THAT WE WILL GO TO OUR
REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>>> I STRONGLY URGE THE COUNCIL
TO REJECT COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE'S REDUCING FUNDING TO
MAYOR PROPOSAL TRANSIT. SALES
TAX IS AGGRESSIVE BUT IT IS ONE
OF FEW WAYS. TAX MORE VULNERABLE
RESIDENTS WHO WILL BE OFF SET BY
THE BENEFITS OF INCREASED BUS
SERVICE. OVER 1 IN 5 PEOPLE IN
THE CITY DON'T OWN A CAR AND
PLANE MORE USE MODES OTHER THAN
A CAR KEEPING A CAR ONLY TO
REACH FAR AWAY LOCATION THAT
DON'T HAVE TRANSIT OR BIKE
STRUCTURE AND I SUPPORT RINCK
FOR INCREASED NIGHT. I WALK
FRIDAY SODO TO CAPITAL HILL AND
BIKED BEFORE BOTH OF THOSE AFTER
MIDNIGHT BECAUSE TRANSIT SERVICE
ENDED TOO EARLY. TRANSIT FUNDING
SUPPORTS VISIONS GOALS BY
ALLOWING MORE PEOPLE TO GET
AROUND WITHOUT A CAR. MAKE THIS
TRANSIT MEASURE AS STRONG AS
POSSIBLE, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> DOPE SHIRT, BY THE WAY.
STILL WAITING ON SOMEBODY TO
GIVE ME MY COURTESY COPY. LOVE
IT. THANK YOU.
>>> SWITCHING TO REMOTE CALLERS.
PLEASE HIT UNMUTE TO START
SPEAKING.
>> HIT STAR 6 TO BEGIN SPEAKING.
>>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM A RESIDENT
OF THE ROOSEVELT NEIGHBORHOOD
AND MEMBER OF THE TRANSIT RIDER
UNION. I AM HERE TO URGE THE
COUNCIL TO PROTECT THE LONGEVITY
AND VISION OF THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE. I WANT TO BE
CLEAR, I STRONGLY OPPOSE 4, 5
AND 13. FIRST, AMENDMENT 13 CUTS
THE SALES TAX RATE TO .2%,
TAKING $460 FROM TRANSIT SYSTEM.
IT COMPLETELY ELIMINATES THE
INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE
CATEGORY OPERATING ON THE 2024
LEVY WILL ABSORB ALL NEEDS.
CONSISTENTLY OUT PACED IT,
PREVENTING US FROM BUILDING THE
BUS LANES AND SPEED AND
RELIABILITY THAT MAKES TRANSIT
FUNCTIONAL AND EFFICIENT.
SECOND, AMENDMENT 4, REQUIRING
ANNUAL COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR
SERVICE HOUR PURCHASES AND ROUTE
SERVICE IS UNWORKABLE. VOTERS
HAVE TRANSIT MEASURES TO
ESTABLISH LONG-TERM NETWORK
MANAGED BY TRANSITIONAL NOT TO
YEARLY TUG OF WAR ON THE COUNCIL
FLOOR. MICROMANAGING IT ANNUALLY
TREATS A UTILITY LIKE A
POLITICAL TRIP, TAKING AWAY THE
PREDICTABILITY THAT KING COUNTY
METRO NEEDS TO FUNCTION.
FINALLY, I OPPOSE AMENDMENT 5.
DEEP OPERATIONAL INSTABILITY
WHETHER YOU NEED CERTAINTY. IF
THE COUNCIL WANTS OVERSIGHT,
LET'S DO AMENDMENT 6. IF THE
GOAL OF THE AMENDMENTS IS TO
DILUTE THE MEASURE I URGE YOU TO
LOOK AT THE ELECTION RESULTS.
SEATTLE VOTERS AND THE TRANSIT
ORGANIZERS. OUR CITY WANTS BOLD
WELL-FUNDED UTILITIES AND NOT
MICROMANAGED COMPROMISES. PLEASE
REJECT 4, 5 AND 13 AND FOCUS ON
ROW BUST MIDTERM ACCOUNTABILITY
INSTEAD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT REMOTE
CALLER. HIT STAR 6 TO SPEAK.
>>> HI, SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL. I
HAVE BEEN A WEST SEATTLE
HOMEOWNER SINCE 2011. I WANT
BETTER BUS SERVICE AND HAPPILY
PAY MORE THAN THE $29 A YEAR
THAT THE PROPOSAL WILL HELP MY
HOUSEHOLD TO GET IT. LET ME TAKE
YOU ON A BUS ADVENTURE. CLOSEST
GROCERY STORE TO MY HOUSE IS A
MILE AWAY. REASONABLE WALK BUT
IT IS STRAIGHT DOWN ONE EVER THE
STEEPEST HILLS IN WEST SEATTLE
MAKING WALKING HOME WITH A FULL
LOAD OF GROCERIES. I WOULD TAKE
THE BUS BUT THE BUS COMES ONCE
AN HOUR OR TWO BLOCKS AWAY THAT
IS SUPPOSED TO COME EVERY 15
MINUTES AND TRANSFER TO A BUS
THAT COMES EVERY 20 MINUTES. IF
I TAKE THE ONE ONCE AN HOUR I
HAVE TO WAIT 20-40 MINUTES WITH
MELTING GROCERIES, TAKE IT WITH
THE TRANSFER AND ONE EVER THE
BUSES IS DELAYED THAT HAPPENS
CONSTANTLY SINCE THE BUSES SHARE
IT WITH CARS I AM STUCK WAITING.
IF I DRIVE IT TAKES ME FIVE
MINUTES, GUESS HOW I GET MY
GROCERIES, THE MODE TO GET
PEOPLE TO TAKE TRANSIT, RELIABLE
SERVICE. AMENDMENT 13 AND 5 ARE
THE THING THAT MAKES ME WANT TO
ASSUME THEY WANT TO SABOTAGE THE
BUS SERVICE. IT IS FAVORITE OF
PEOPLE TO SLASH THE FUNDING
SERVICES MAKING IT HARDER TO USE
AND POINTING AT THE REDUCTION
POINTING TO SLASHING THEM MORE.
SUPPORT 10, 11, 17, 29. OUR
CLIMATE GOALS CAN NOT AFFORD
WORSE BUS SERVICE AND NEITHER
CAN OUR GROCERIES, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, AMY.
>>> OUR NEXT REMOTE CALLER. HIT
STAR 6 TO SPEAK.
>>> GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY WIFE AND I LIVE IN NORTH
GATE. WE ARE FULL TIME
PEDESTRIANS WITHOUT A CAR THAT
DO NOT DRIVE. WE RELY ON TRANSIT
FOR EVERYTHING AS WE HAVE SINCE
2018 WHEN THE FIRST BENEFIT
MEASURE WAS HITTING THE STRIDE.
I REMEMBER THE FIRST AMAZING
DAYS, BUSES WERE FREQUENT THAT
WE RARELY CHECKED THE SCHEDULE.
WE WORKED WITH METRO TO REVAMP
AND EXPEND IT TO THE SPAGHETTI
OF WHAT WAS BEFORE. SEATTLE WAS
THE ONLY AREA IN THE COUNTRY TO
SEE INCREASES OF BUS RIDERSHIP
BECAUSE SEATTLE INVESTED IN
BUSES. TRAINS ARE GREAT BUT CAN
NOT GO EVERYWHERE. BUSES ARE
VITAL. AFFORDABILITY IS NEEDED.
SOME OF US DO NEED TO DRIVE. A
LOT OF US DO NOT NEED TO DRIVE
OR CAN NOT OR DO NOT DRIVE.
BUSES ARE HOW WE ACCESS TRANSIT
INCLUDING LIGHT RAIL AND THE
STREETCARS, SEATTLE LIKES TO GO
BIG ON TRANSIT AND SHOULD GO
HERE. STATE LETS US HAVE 10
YEARS, USE THOSE YEARS, HIGHER
LEVEL OF TAX REVENUE, WE SHOULD
USE THE TAX REVENUE. THE
MEASURES HAVE BEEN ABOUT MORE
BUSES AND MORE PLACES AND MORE
OFTEN. BUSES OR PEOPLE CAN NOT
RIDE BUSS THAT DO NOT EXIST.
MORE PEOPLE ON TRANSIT MAKES FOR
SAFER AND ROW BUST AND POPULAR
TRANSIT. THOSE ARE GOOD THINGS
TO SPEND BIG ON PARTICULARLY
AMENDMENT 24 THAT WOULD INCREASE
THE THRESHOLD AND THE AMOUNT OF
SERVICE HOURS. PERSONALLY I NEED
THESE BUSES. MY FRIENDS NEED
THESE BUSES. VOTE TO GO BIG ON
BUSES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, WES.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER. HIT STAR 6
TO SPEAK.
>>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR SAKA. I
REPRESENT THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT
MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT
OUR COMMUNITY DEPENDS ON EVERY
DAY. I AM HERE TO SUPPORT CHAIR
SAKA AND AMENDMENT 13. THE CITY
HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO EXPAND
SERVICES ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.
UNDER TITLE 2 OF AMERICAN
DISABILITY ACT AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS ARE EXPECTED TO
MAINTAIN TRANSITION PLAN AND
IDENTIFY BARRIERS THAT AND
REMOVE THEM. INVESTING IN MORE
TRANSIT WE SHOULD INVEST IN
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS
EVERYONE IN SEATTLE. 1 OUT OF 4
IN SEATTLE REPRESENT LIVING WITH
DISABILITY. TRANSIT AND
DISABILITY IS HIGH PRIORITY.
MORE BUSES AND SERVICE HOURS DO
NOT MEAN MUCH IF THEY CAN NOT
REACH A STOP OR MOVE THROUGH THE
RIGHT-OF-WAYS WITH CONFIDENCE.
UNDER THE FIRST FEW YEARS
WORKING IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE I
DID A LOT ON ADA COMPLIANCE AND
RIPPING OUT STREET CORNERS AND I
KNOW ALL ABOUT THIS WORK.
SAKA'S AMENDMENT ALLOWS UNUSED
TRANSIT OPERATING FUNDS TO BE
DIRECTED TOWARDS ADA AND
ACCESSIBILITY CAPITAL. MAKE SURE
THE AVAILABLE DOLLARS HELP
RATHER THAN SITTING IDOL. IT
FOLKS ON TRANSPORTATION, THE
INVESTMENTS HAVE GOOD FAMILY
WAGE CAREERS AND SUPPORT LOCAL
HIGHER PATHWAYS FOR WORKERS
LOOKING FOR A WAY TO BUILD A
BETTER FUTURE AND IMPROVING THE
COMMUNITIES THEY LIVE IN.
ACCESSIBILITY IS NOT OPTIONAL IT
IS A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF
SUCCESS. I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT
AMENDMENT 3. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER. PLEASE HIT
STAR 6 TO BEGIN SPEAKING.
>>> .
>>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES. WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU.
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM A POLICY
ANALYST WITH THE RIVER COALITION
REPRESENTING SOUTH PARK AND
GEORGETOWN IN DUWAMISH. I AM
HERE TO URGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR
AMENDMENT 2. ELECTRIC BUS
EMPLOYMENT IN SOUTH SEATTLE. AND
BIG THANK YOU TO CHAIR SAKA FOR
CREATING THIS AMENDMENT OUT OF
DIRECT FEEDBACK FROM HARD TO
REACH COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN SOUTH
SEATTLE. WE CARRY THE HEAVIEST
ENVIRONMENTAL BURDEN. SITTING AT
INDUSTRIAL CORRIDORS AND HIGHWAY
99. BOTH RANK AMONG THE HIGHEST
IN THE STATE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH DISPARITIES. DIESEL BUS
EXHAUST ADD TO THE POLLUTION
LOAD THAT RESIDENTS BREATHE
EVERY DAY. AS THE REGIONAL BUS
FLEET IT HAPPENS FIRST, IT
MATTERS JUST AS MUCH AS IT
HAPPENING AT ALL. AND
OVERBURDENED COMMUNITY AND THE
BENEFITS, CLEANER AIR, NOISE,
LOWER EMISSIONS REACH THE PEOPLE
WITH THE GREATEST IMPACT.
REGARDLESS OF NEED. THIS
AMENDMENT GETS IT RIGHT BY
GRANTING -- [INAUDIBLE] -- AND
THE STATE USES TO HAVE
INVESTMENT. WE ARE GLAD TO SEE
THE CITY APPLY THAT SAME
STANDARD HERE. ELECTRIFYING
TRANSIT IS A WAY TO REDUCE THE
POLLUTION BURDEN OUR RESIDENTS
FACE EVERY DAY AND WE ASK YOU TO
ADOPT THIS AMENDMENT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT CALLER. PLEASE HIT
STAR 6.
>> HELLO. YOU CAN HEAR ME?
>> YES. HELLO, CHAIR SAKA. I AM
THE CLEAN AIR MANAGER BASED IN
SOUTH SEATTLE DUWAMISH VALLEY. I
AM HERE TO URGE SUPPORT OF
AMENDMENT 2. IN MY WORK I LISTEN
TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS PRIORITIES
AND UPLIFT THEIR VOICES IN
SPACES LIKE THESE TO IMPROVE
THEIR HEALTH AND WELL BEING AND
THE ENVIRONMENT. OVER THE PAST
TWO YEARS I CONTINUOUSLY HEARD
THAT THE DUWAMISH TRANSIT MUST
BE IMPROVED. AS YOU JUST HEARD
FROM MY COLLEAGUE IT IS HOME TO
ONE OF SEATTLE'S BUSIEST
TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS,
HIGHWAY 5, HIGHWAY 99, SUPPORTS
RESIDENTS, FREIGHT AND INDUSTRY.
HOWEVER, THIS PROXIMITY LEADS TO
SIGNIFICANT AND ENVIRONMENTAL
BURDEN. ADDITIONALLY IN DUWAMISH
SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE LIVE
AND WORK IN DUWAMISH. IT IS NOT
COVERED BY TRANSPORTATION AS 10
MINUTE OR BETTER ALL DAY SERVICE
WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK. OUR
COMMUNITY AND THOSE ENTERING IT
FOR WORK SIGNIFICANTLY RELY ON
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND IT
MUST BE IMPROVED. INVESTMENTS IN
THE DUWAMISH VALLEY PUBLIC
TRANSIT SYSTEM IS CRITICAL.
ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT WILL
SUPPORT CLEANER AIR AND BETTER
HEALTH OUTCOME FOR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT. AGAIN, I
URGE YOU TO SUPPORT AMENDMENT 2
IN A GREAT FIRST STEP IN
IMPROVING DUWAMISH VALLEY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP. PLEASE HIT STAR 6.
>>> HELLO. I LIVE IN THE UPPER
QUEEN ANNE AREA OF SEATTLE. I AM
EMBARRASSED BY SOME OF THE
AMENDMENTS TODAY. IN TIME OF GAS
RISING COSTS AND INTERNATIONAL
CLAIM DUE TO OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT
SYSTEM WHY ARE WE REDUCING OUR
BUS SYSTEM? WE NEED TO REJECT 4,
5 AND 13. MY PARENTS ARE GETTING
OLDER, THIS IS PERSONAL, THEY
ARE GETTING OLDER, THEY HAVE TO
TAKE THE BUS TO GET DOWNTOWN? I
DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR FREEDOM
TO TAKE THEM TO THEIR
APPOINTMENTS. YOU KNOW WHAT
GIVES THEM THE FREEDOM? YOU KNOW
WHAT GIVES THEM INDEPENDENCE? IT
IS THE BUS SYSTEM OF SEATTLE,
OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM. I LOVE THAT
STUFF. RIGHT NOW NO ONE TALKS
AND SAYS, WOW, I WISH I HAD
FEWER BUSES I LOVE BEING IN
TRAFFIC. I LOVE TAKING MY
PARENTS TO THE DOCTOR'S
APPOINTMENTS AND TAKING A DAY
OFF FROM WORK AND USING VACATION
TIME FOR THAT. WE NEED TO REJECT
THOSE AMENDMENTS AND WE NEED TO
SUPPORT OUR BUS SYSTEM. I WOULD
GLADLY PAY THE ADDITIONAL OF ONE
TANK OF GAS IN ORDER TO EXPAND
OUR BUS SYSTEM FURTHER. IT IS A
SHINING STAR OF SEATTLE. WE ARE
GOING TO GET MORE TOURISM FROM
ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAME AND
LOVED GOING AND VISITING PIPE
PLACE AND EVERYWHERE AROUND
SEATTLE AND USED OUR BUS SYSTEM
FOR THAT. REJECT 4, 5 AND 13.
SUPPORT ANY AMENDMENTS THAT
IMPROVES OUR BUS SYSTEM. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> OUR NEXT CALLER. PLEASE HIT
STAR 6.
>> I AM ACTUALLY HERE IN PERSON
IF THAT IS OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THE
CONFUSION. I HAD A MEETING AND I
WAS NOT SURE IF I COULD MAKE IT
IN TIME. JASON LEE, SPEAKING
HERE IN FAVOR OF THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE. AGAINST
AMENDMENT FIEFS AND 13. I
APOLOGIZE IF I SOUND LIKE A
BROKEN RECORD HERE. IN 2024,
SEATTLE ADD 13,000 DRIVERS, THAT
IS BEFORE AMAZON, MICROSOFT,
THAT IS BEFORE THEY STARTED
THEIR MANDATES AND CONTINUING TO
DO SO TODAY. 13,000 DRIVERS IF
WE PASS AMENDMENT 13 AND
MAINTAIN STATUS QUO BUS SERVICE
WE WILL CONTINUE THE TREND. IF
WE PASS AMENDMENT 5, WE WOULD OF
ADDED NEARLY 100,000 DRIVERS TO
OUR ROADS. THE WORLD CUP, THE
LAST WORLD CUP MATCH IN SEATTLE
IS TODAY. IF WE DON'T PASS, IT
WILL BE PERMANENT. OUR VISITORS
WILL LEAVE BUT KEEP ADDING
DRIVERS TO THE ROAD AND WE PLEAD
TO REVERSE THE TREND WITH A
LARGER AND BOLD TRANSIT MEASURE.
AND, TO BE CLEAR, WE WILL HAVE
MORE TRAFFIC BY THE END OF THE
SHORTENED MEASURE THAN WE HAVE
TODAY IF WE DON'T PASS A REALLY
LARGE AND INNOVATIVE ONE AND FOR
THE SHORTENED MEASURE WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP -- ONCE
WE START IMPROVING OUR TRANSIT
WE NEED TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM
GOING FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. I
WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, TOO, THE FACT
THEY WAS NOT SURE I WAS GOING TO
MAKE IT HERE IN PERSON. THE
PEOPLE MOST IN SUPPORT OF
TRANSIT ARE THE WORKING CLASS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE
ONES FOR THIS TIME PERIOD ARE
GOING TO HAVE THE MOST
DIFFICULTY MAKING IT HERE OR
CALLING IN OR BEING HERE IN
PERSON. I DON'T THINK I HEARD A
SINGLE PERSON IN FAVOR OF
AMENDMENT 5 OR 13. I WANT TO
KEEP THAT IN MIND, TOO. REALIZE
HOW POPULAR TRANSIT IS IN
SEATTLE AND HOW BADLY THE CITY
NEEDS IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. LEE.
>> BACK TO REMOTE.
>> FIRST ONE .
>> HI, THERE, GOOD MORNING. I AM
JUST CALLING IN TO VOICE PLY
SUPPORT FOR AMENDMENT 10, 11,
17, 29. I WOULD ASK THE COUNCIL
TO REJECT AMENDMENTS 4, 5 AND
STRONGLY URGE THE STRONGLY URGE
COUNCIL TO NOT PASS AMENDMENT
13. THIS IS IMPORTANT AND GREAT
FOR RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE. WITH
THAT I WILL YIELD MY TIME. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT CALLER. PLEASE HIT STAR
6.
>> Caller: KATIE WILSON IS THE
MAYOR. MAYOR WILSON IS THE
EXECUTIVE WHO IS TAKING THE LEAD
ON SOLVING THE CRISIS OF ALL OF
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION BOUND AND
ALLEVIATING THE OPPRESSIVE
FRUSTRATIONS AND THE DANGERS OF
WAITING FOR THE BUS TOO LONG OR
MISSING A TRANSFER OR NOT BEING
ALLOWED TO GO FROM THE WEST LAKE
TUNNEL TO THE RAPID RIDE BECAUSE
THE PRIVATE SECURITY REFUSES TO
LOOK AROUND THE CORNER AND SEE
AND SAY WHAT THEY SEE TO WORK
WITH THE COPS. YET, SOME PEOPLE
WANT TO HAVE IT BE POVERTY AND
SOMEONE ON LINK -- CAN TRANSPORT
A WOMAN TO RAIN HOUSE BECAUSE
THE POLICE CHIEF WANTS A SIGNAL
WITH BAD POLICIES -- IF THE CITY
COUNCIL WANTS TO IMPROVE SAFETY
COME UP WITH BETTER LEGISLATION.
PIMPS AND CUSTOM VIOLATORS
INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR THE FEDS
TO APPROACH THE POLICE CHIEF TO
ASK FOR HELP. SHUTTING THEM DOWN
BECAUSE YOU ARE JUST SWEEPING
THEM AND PUSHING THEM INTO OTHER
PLACES. IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE
LEGISLATION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY ON
THE BUSES, YOU STILL HAVE TO
HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT DEMANDS
THAT THE BUS DRIVERS, THE UNION,
SPEAKS UP, IF YOU SEE ALL OF
THESE PIECES OF CRAP DOING DRUGS
IN AND AROUND THE
INFRASTRUCTURE. BUT, PURSE
CUTING INNOCENT PEOPLE, AND
MAYOR TAKING THE LEAD AND BROWN
BULLYING AND BOGUS AMENDMENTS
WITHDRAWN AND REJECTED. YOU ALL
DID NOT SAY OR DO ANYTHING ABOUT
THE BAD POLICIES THAT WERE
IMPLEMENTED INTO THE BUDGET THAT
YOU ALL SIGNED OFF ON FOR THE
REST OF THE YEAR THAT YOU ARE
STILL WAITING TO PLAY OUT THAT
YOU ARE COMPETING WITH OTHER BAD
POLICIES THAT NEED TO BE FIXED
THAN THE TRANSPORTATION
DEPARTMENT AND THE PLAN WITH THE
RESTRICTIONS. IT IS REVOLTING.
LET THE MAYOR --
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT CALLER. PLEASE HIT
STAR 6 TO BEGIN SPEAKING.
>> Caller: I AM A HOMEOWNER, WE
OWN TWO CARS AND I HAVE BEEN A
SEATTLE RESIDENT FOR 25 YEARS.
IN 2014 I PASSED TRANSIT MEASURE
THAT FUNDED THE SERVICE. TWO OF
MY KIDS RELY ON BUSES TO GET TO
AND FROM SCHOOL, PUBLIC SEATTLE
SCHOOLS DO NOT OFFER BUSES IN
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL. THEY ARE
DELAYED AND NOT RUNNING AS
FREQUENTLY AS THEY COULD. OUR
KIDS WOULD SAVE TIME AND FEWER
TARDIES AND WE WOULD ALL SAVE
MONEY T. COSTS HOUSEHOLD DOLLARS
29 A YEAR. IT IS A GOOD DEAL. DO
NOT UNDERMINED THAT DEAL. REJECT
IT AMENDMENT 13. THE DE-FUND BUS
AMENDMENT SAVES HOUSEHOLDS A
COUPLE BUSES. COUNCIL ADOPTS IT
YOU WILL MAKE IT MORE EXPENSIVE
IN THE CITY BY INCREASING
TRANSPORTATION COSTS. AMENDMENT
13, PROBABLY MAKING IT LESS
LIKELY THAT VOTERS APPROVE IT. I
ASK TO REJECT AMENDMENT FIVE, WE
DON'T NEED A SHORTER TIME.
LET'S GET MORE BUS SERVICES FOR
OUR GREAT CITY.
>> THANK YOU, ROBERT.
>>> OUR NEXT CALLER . HIT STAR
6.
>> Caller: THANK YOU. I WOULD
SUPPORT AMENDMENTS THAT LOWER
THE TAX HIKE AND SHIFT TAXES TO
CAR USAGE AND PARKING. BETTER
FUNDING THROUGH PARKING FEES.
GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS
AND INTO PUBLIC TRANSIT. THE
RESPONSIBLE FUNDING MECHANISM
SHOULD ADDRESS ALL OF THESE
THINGS. IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT
BUILDING IT AND THEY WILL COME.
RIDERSHIP WILL REMAIN LOW
BECAUSE THE COST OF DRIVING A
CAR IS BETTER THAN TAKING TWO
BUS ROUTES TO THE PLACES PEOPLE
NEED TO TRAVEL TO. A TAX ON CAR
USAGE ITSELF WOULD BE A MORE
EQUITABLE WAY TO FUND OUR
TRANSIT SYSTEM. WEALTHY
HOUSEHOLDS OWN MULTIPLE CARS.
DRIVERS FROM THE SUBURBS CAN BE
TAXED WHEN PARKING ON OUR
STREETS AND COMMERCIAL LOTS.
THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO TACKLE
THE ISSUE OF LOW RIDERSHIP AND
UNRELIABLE BUS SERVICE. WE ARE
STUCK WITH PROGRESSIVE TAXES.
CASTING A WIDE NET OF SALES TAX
FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO BUS ROUTES.
RESPONSIBLE SPENDING TO PLACE
THE BURDEN OF TAXES ON THE
THINGS WE WANT LESS OF. AND THAT
MEANS LESS CARS ON THE ROAD.
THANK YOU, ALL, AND HAVE A GOOD
DAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER. PLEASE HIT
STAR 6.
>> HI, I'M DANIEL. I LIVE IN
CAPITAL HILL. I OPPOSE
AMENDMENTS 4, 5 AND 13. REDUCING
FUNDING BY REDUCING SALES TAX
AND REDUCING THE LENGTH OF THE
TRANSIT ITSELF. FIRST OF ALL,
THE .1% REDUCTION WILL HAVE A
DAILY EFFECT ON THE
AFFORDABILITY OF SEATTLE FOR THE
AVERAGE PERSON IN TERMS OF
TAXATION BUT A HUGE IMPACT ON
AFFORDABILITY IN SEATTLE IN
TERMS OF TRANSIT AND
TRANSPORTATION. I DECIDED, MY
PARTNER AND I DECIDED TO GET RID
OF OUR CARS A FEW YEARS AGO,
JUST DURING COVID, ACTUALLY.
AND, EVERY DAY WE SAVE MORE
MONEY BY NOT HAVING CARS THAN WE
WOULD PAY IN SALES TAX WITH THAT
.1% PER YEAR. SECOND, AS A
VOLUNTEER, I AM SICK AND TIRED
OF CAMPAIGNING FOR TRANSIT EVERY
FEW YEARS BECAUSE WE INSIST ON
PASSING SHORT FUNDING MEASURES
INSTEAD OF COMMITTING TO OUR
FUTURE AND COMMITTING TO THE
VISION THAT SEATTLE HAS HAD WITH
THE FREQUENT TRANSIT GOALS.
LET'S USE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT
AND TIME FOR THE MEASURE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE DOWN TO OUR FINAL
THREE CALLERS. FIRST WE WILL
HEAR FROM SCOTT NELSON WHO LOOKS
LIKE WE LOST HIM AND HE CAME
BACK. THEN CALLER NOT IDENTIFIED
ON THE SCREEN. PLEASE HIT STAR
6.
>> Caller: GOOD MORNING COUNCIL.
I AM THE CO-SHARE OF THE SEATTLE
DISABILITY COMMISSION AND
DISTRICT 2 IN CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
NEIGHBORHOOD. CALLING IN TODAY
TO SPEAK TO THE TRANSIT MEASURE
AS A VEHICLE, NO PUN INTENDED
FOR THE ACCESS OF SECURITY AND
FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES IN THEY
ARE INVISIBLE OR VISIBLE.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ HAS
AMENDMENT 20, DISABILITY FOR
FUNDING CHARACTER. THERE IS NO
PORTION OF THIS BILL THAT DOES
NOT HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR
SEATTLEITES WITH DISABILITIES.
INCREASED SERVICE MEANS WORKING
FOLKS THAT CAN NOT DRIVE CAN GET
TO THEIR JOBS ON TIME, RELIABLE
TRANSIT HELPS THEM ACCESS WORLD
CLASS HOSPITALS, IMPROVEMENTS
CAN PROVIDE FOLKS EXPERIENCING
CONFUSION AND ANXIETY TO ENGAGE
IN PUBLIC SPACES. LIKE TO NAME
IN CONVERSATION WITH
COMMISSIONERS FIRST THING THAT
CAME UP AND REMAINS DIFFICULT IS
THE FUNDING MECHANISM OF A SALES
TAX. LOW INCOME FAMILIES THAT
HAVE LESS ACCESS TO THE SUPPORT
LIKE AUTOMOBILES OR PRIVATE
SHUTTER ARE IMPACTED BY
INCREASES IN SALES TAX. IT IS
IMPORTANT AS A CITY TO EXPLORE
FUNDING MECHANISMS AS VIGOROUSLY
AS POSSIBLE TO PREVENT THE
BURDEN FALLING ON THE SHOULDERS
OF THE VULNERABLE. TO MY
COLLEAGUES I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE
TO BE AWARE OF HOW THE FUNDS ARE
SENT, WHAT IMPACTS IT WILL HAVE
ON FOLKS AND ENGAGING. COUNCIL,
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR INVITING
THE COMMISSION TO LEARN AND
ENGAGE. AND TO LIVE AND EMBODY
THE EXPRESSION, NOTHING ABOUT US
-- [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE WILL HEAR
FROM OUR NEXT CALLER, HIT STAR
6.
>> JOSEPH SMITH, PLEASE HIT STAR
6.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES.
>> Caller: THANK YOU. I AM A
LIFELONG SEATTLE RESIDENT, I
LIVE IN QUEEN ANNE CURRENTLY. I
WANT TO SAY THAT I AM A HUGE FAN
OF OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM. BUSES,
TRAINS, IT IS GREAT. ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT MAKES US A GREAT
CITY. I AM OPPOSED TO AMENDMENTS
4, 5, 13. AND COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. JUST AS THIS IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO SEE, WE
ARE DOWNTOWN WE NEED TO BE
FUNDING TRANSIT. THE THING IS
SEATTLE IS AN EXPENSIVE CITY.
HARD PLACE TO GET BY FOR A LOT
OF PEOPLE. AND, TRANSIT IS ONE
OF THE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN MAKE
IT AFFORDABLE. IF YOU CAN LIVE
WITHOUT A CAR. YOU DON'T NEED
TO SPEND THOUSANDS EVERY YEAR.
IT IS POPULAR. PEOPLE THAT YOU
WOULD NOT EXPECT. TALKING TO ALL
SORTS OF PEOPLE THAT DO NOT
REGULARLY RIDE THE BUS ASK THEY
ARE EXCITED FOR THE CONNECTION
TO BELLEVUE AND THE
IMPROVEMENTS. THEY DO RIDE THEM
AND BECOME TRANSIT RIDERS.
REALLY INTERESTING THING, ARE WE
A REAL CITY? REAL CITIES FUND
TRANSIT. OTHER PLACES DON'T? I
THINK WE WANT TO BE A REAL CITY
AND I HOPE THAT WE ARE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FINAL CALLER? I DON'T HAVE
THE FLAME ON THE SCREEN HERE.
WHOEVER IS SO THE LINE. IF YOU
CAN HIT STAR 6 AND CONFIRM YOUR
NAME AND THEN I WILL START YOUR
TIME.
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS. YES,
CHARLIE, MY APOLOGIZES FOR
ISSUE. I AM A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 3. I AM A TRANSIT
RIDER. I SPEAK TODAY IN OVERALL
SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL BEFORE
YOU TODAY. I SUPPORT THE BILLS
INTEND. NEEDS CONTINUE TO NEED
TO BE FUNDED IN THE CITY. MEMBER
OF THE SEATTLE COMMISSION I
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF AMENDMENT 20
ON THE BILL AND THE AGENDA
TODAY. ADDING TO THE BILL TO
CLARIFY THAT THE TRANSIT
MEASURES WORK AND DONE WITH
RECOGNITION OF DISABILITY AND
NEEDS AND ACCESSIBILITY. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE SEATTLE
CONTINUES TO BE AN ACCESSIBLE
CITY. PEOPLE CAN NOT DRIVE
BECAUSE OF DISABILITY AND RELY
ON TRANSIT, ENSURING TRANSIT IS
ACCESSIBLE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH
DISABILITIES SHOULD BE
ACKNOWLEDGED AND IMPORTANT IN
THE TRANSIT MEASURE AND
ORDINANCES LIKE THIS ONE. ALSO
UNDERSTAND THERE ARE DIFFERING
VIEWS AMONG COUNCILMEMBERS HOW
THE IT SHOULD ALLOCATE THE
SPENDING WITH TRANSIT SERVICE
AND INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE ARE
TRADE OFFS, BOTH IN SERVICE AND
INFRASTRUCTURE CAN HELP PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES. AND THE
SPENDING ALLOCATIONS BY THERE
COMMITTEE AND THE CLAIRE IS
APPROPRIATE FOR SEATTLE
DISABILITY COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> CHAIR, THAT WAS OUR FINAL
PUBLIC COMMENTER.
>> THANK YOU. NO MORE
LAST-MINUTE IN-PERSON? JUST
CONFIRM. NO?
>> CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR YOUR
PUBLIC FEEDBACK TODAY. WE WILL
NOW MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST ITEM OF
BUSINESS. WILL THE COMMITTEE
CLERK READ ITEM 1 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE. BRIEFING ON
COUNCIL BILL
>> AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO A
SALES AND USE TAX; PROVIDING
121226. FOR THE SUBMISSION TO
QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY
AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON
NOVEMBER 3, 2026, A PROPOSITION
TO COLLECT A SALES AND USE TAX
TO FUND TRANSIT AND RELATED
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS IN
SEATTLE; AND RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.
>> THANK YOU, LOOKS LIKE OUR
PRESENTERS JOINED US AT THE
TABLE. IN A MOMENT INTRODUCE
YOURSELF. COLLEAGUES A COUPLE
HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS. FIRST, JUST
KIND OF FRAMING HOW THIS IS GO,
WILL GO TODAY. WE WILL GET OUR
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW FROM OUR
CENTRAL STAFF EXPERTS. WE WILL
THEN WALK THROUGH THE INDIVIDUAL
23 AMENDMENTS STARTING FIRST
WITH CENTRAL STAFF BRIEF
DESCRIPTION, OVERVIEW AND
TURNING IT OVER TO THE AMENDMENT
AUTHOR TO CHIME IN AND CLARIFY
FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE AND SPEAK
TO THEIR OWN AMENDMENTS AND ALSO
WANT TO REMIND COLLEAGUES THAT
THERE IS, THIS IS YOUR
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK
ON THESE VARIOUS PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS. ONE OF OUR GOALS, IN
FACT, IS TO ASSEMBLE A PACKAGE
AT JULY 16th MEETING WHERE WE
WILL VOTE ON THESE TO STREAM
LIKE THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO VOTE ON 16
INDIVIDUAL AMENDMENTS. SO, DOING
SO WILL ALLOW US, PUTTING THAT
PACKAGE TOGETHER WITH MOSTLY
CONSENSUS ITEMS WILL ALLOW US TO
SPEND MORE TIME AT THAT MEETING
DELIBERATING ON AMENDMENTS THAT
WARRANT MORE ROW BUST
CONVERSATION. ONE INDICATOR IF
ONE WILL BE APPROPRIATE FOR
PACKAGE WILL BE HOW MANY
COUNCILMEMBERS VOCALIZE SUPPORT
FOR AN AMENDMENT BRIEFLY. AND
ANOTHER POTENTIAL FACTOR WOULD
BE HOW MANY COUNCILMEMBERS
VOLUNTEERED TO CO-SPONSOR AN
AMENDMENT. COLLEAGUES DO SHARE
YOUR SUPPORT FOR PARTICULAR
AMENDMENTS OR OTHERWISE EXPRESS
YOUR WILLINGNESS TO CO-SPONSOR
THESE AMENDMENTS AS THESE ARE
DISCUSSED. IN THIS OPEN-MEETING
FORMAT. NO LIMIT HOW MANY
COUNCILMEMBERS PLAY CHOOSE TO
CO-SPONSOR AN AMENDMENT.
AWESOME. THANK YOU. WELCOME,
AGAIN, PRECENTORS. PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND BEGIN THE
PRESS INTATION.
>> AMANDA ALLEN, CENTRAL STAFF.
>>AN GORMAN, CENTRAL STAFF.
>> OKAY. COUNCILMEMBERS. WHY ARE
WE HERE TODAY? ANN AND I ARE
GOING TO BE PRESENTING THE
AMENDMENTS YOU PROPOSED. AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THEM PUBLIC
AND THE CHAIR SAID WE WILL TURN
IT OVER TO YOU ALL TO DO THE
MAIN SHOW. WE HAVE THREE
PURPOSES IN THE LEGISLATION. THE
FIRST ONE IS TO SET THE MAXIMUM
AMOUNT OF SALES AND USE TAX THAT
CAN BE COLLECTED THAT WOULD BE
ALLOWED TO BE COLLECTED. THE
LEGISLATION BEFORE YOU INCLUDES
A .3% SALES AND USE TAX. THAT IS
THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED UNDER THE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT.
ALSO SET THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
YEARS FOR COLLECTION. 10 YEARS
IS WHAT IS PROPOSED IN THE
CURRENT LEGISLATION AND THAT,
AGAIN, IS THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED
FOR THIS SALES TAX AND LASTLY,
ESTABLISH THE BROAD CATEGORIES
OF ELIGIBLE USES OF THE STM.
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE
REVENUES. I WILL NOTE THAT
SPECIFIC ALLOCATIONS FOR THE BUS
LINES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS IS
SOMETHING THAT IS CURRENTLY HELD
WITH SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, S-DOT AND KING
COUNTY METRO. I WOULD LIKE THE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND AND
OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS IN
THE FINAL LEGISLATION CAN BE
CHANGED BY FUTURE COUNCIL ACTION
AND LEGISLATION AS IT RELATES TO
THE SIZE OF THE TAX AND THE TERM
OF THE TAX COLLECTIONS. BECAUSE
OF THE UP TO-LANGUAGE. THE UP
TO, .3% AND UP TO 10-YEAR TERM
THE TAX RATE COULD BE ADJUSTED
DOWNWARD AND THE TERM CAN BE
ADJUSTED DOWNWARD IN FUTURE
LEGISLATION. AND AS IT RELATES
TO THE ALLOWABLE USES, AGAIN,
COUNCIL MAY, IN THE FUTURE,
AMEND ASPECTS OF THOSE ALLOWABLE
USES IN FUTURE LEGISLATION SO
YOU ARE NOT BOXED IN TODAY. AT
FUTURES PRIORITY POP UP.
>> SO, I AM GOING TO START
SHARING MY SCREEN. OKAY. SO,
WHAT DO WE HAVE? WE HAD A
VARIETY OF AMENDMENTS, 23
AMENDMENTS. WE GROUPED THEM IN
SIMILAR CATEGORIES. THE
AMENDMENTS ARE NOT ORDERED IN
ANY -- THE NUMBERS DO NOT
INDICATE ANY SORT OF PRIORITY ON
HOUR BEHALF. THEY ARE PROBABLY
CLOSER TO WHEN WE RECEIVED THEM
AND WE ENTERED THEM INTO OUR
TRACKING SPREADSHEET THAN
ANYTHING. IT IS SIMPLY -- NO
VALUE ON THE AMENDMENTS. THERE
WERE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED FOUR
DIFFERENT AMENDMENTS PROPOSED TO
CHANGE RECITALS IN THE
LEGISLATION. THERE WERE TWO
OTHERS THAT CHANGED THE DURATION
OF THE ORDINANCE OR THE TAX RATE
HE HAD AMENDMENTS RELATED TO THE
CLARIFYING THE USES OF THE
FUNDS. AND WHICH DID NOT EXPAND
THE ELIGIBLE USES BUT MADE
EXPLICIT HOW THEY COULD BE USED.
ALSO, AMENDMENTS THAT ADDED
LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS SOME NEW OR
NEWLY EXPANDED REVENUE SOURCES
AND HOW THE CITY MIGHT ADDRESS
THOSE INTRODUCTIONS IF THEY WERE
TO HAPPEN. THERE IS ALSO
INCREASING AND OVERSIGHT
REQUIREMENTS AND REPORTING, WE
HAD EIGHT AMENDMENTS THAT
TOUCHED ON THAT. AND THE MOST
POPULAR CATEGORY WAS ADDING
ELIGIBLE USES FOR THE TRANSIT
MEASURES. SO, WE HAD AMENDMENTS
OFFERED FOR PRIORITIES OF
ALLEGATION OF REVENUES, OTHER
AMENDMENTS THAT ADDED POSSIBLE
POPULATIONS WHO COULD BE SERVED
BY THIS REVENUE SOURCE. LASTLY,
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PERCENTAGE OF
REVENUE FOR TRANSIT SERVICE. SO
WE START OFF WE WILL START WITH
THE CHAIR'S AMENDMENTS AND
REVIEW THE OTHERS GROUPED
TOGETHER BY SOME OF THESE
CATEGORIES. OKAY. AMENDMENT 1,
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
AND KETTLE. PROVIDING SAFE AND
SECURE METRO TRANSIT SERVICES,
IT WILL ADD NEW PERMISSIBLE USES
TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
KING COUNTY REGIONAL TRANSIT
TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION AND
LASTLY, ADDING A CLAUSE WITH
ADDITIONAL PURCHASES OF SAFETY
AND SECURITY INVESTMENTS AND
PROHIBIT THE RESOURCES IF
SIMILAR SERVICES WERE ALREADY
BEING PROVIDED BY KING COUNTY
METRO. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
THE CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, ANN AND AMANDA FOR
BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
THOUGHTFUL ENGAGEMENT AND
PUTTING TOGETHER 23 PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS. IT REALLY SHOWS A
STRONG COMMITMENT TO THIS WORK.
AND, MAKING THIS PACKAGE EVEN
BETTER. THANK YOU, AGAIN. I ALSO
WANT TO THANK OUR OWN CENTRAL
STAFF EXPERTS ANN, AMANDA,
OTHERS INVOLVED AS WELL. IT IS
AN EFFORT TO PUT TOGETHER THIS
MANY AMENDMENTS IN A SHORT
AMOUNT OF TIME. SO, REALLY,
APPLAUD AND APPRECIATE THE
EFFORT FROM OUR CENTRAL STAFF.
THANK YOU?.
>> ON AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE. SO,
COLLEAGUES. TRANSIT SAFETY AND
SECURITY IS ONE OF MY HIGHEST
PRIORITIES AS CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES TRANSIT
POLICY INCLUDING TRANSIT. IT HAS
BEEN SINCE I TOOK OFFICE AND
CERTAINLY HAS BEEN THROUGHOUT
THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF WORKING
TOGETHER WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE TO DEVELOP THE PROPOSAL
AND STAFF TO DEVELOP MY
AMENDMENTS. LAST NIGHT, AS WAS
NOTED IN PUBLIC COMMENTS, LAST
NIGHT A 39-YEAR-OLD MAN SUFFERED
THREE GUNSHOT WOUNDS WHILE
SITTING IN THE BACK OF A METRO
BUS IN SEATTLE. NOW, ACCORDING
TO WITNESSES, THE INCIDENT BEGAN
WHEN THE SUSPECT, ON THE BUS,
ACCUSED SOMEONE, RIDING THE BUS,
OF STEALING HIS PERSONAL
PROPERTY. THE SUSPECT EXITED THE
DISTRICT IN SODO, THE STADIUM
DISTRICT. AND THEN FIRED
MULTIPLE ROUNDS AT THE BACK OF
THE BUS ULTIMATELY STRIKING THE
VICTIM. SEATTLE POLICE
DETECTIVES ARE WORKING WITH KING
COUNTY METRO TO REVIEW ANY VIDEO
THAT MAY HAVE BEEN RECORDED ON
THE BUS. IF ANYONE HAS ANY
INFORMATION THAT CAN LEAD TO AN
ARREST PLEASE CALL THE TIP LINE
AT 206-233-5000. COLLEAGUES.
THIS IS REAL. I HOPE WE CAN WORK
TOGETHER TO PRIORITIZE TRANSIT
SAFETY AND SECURITY. BY NOW, WE
SHOULD NOT BE TOO SURPRISED THAT
THINGS LIKE THIS REMAIN AN
OCCURRING ISSUE FOR OUR ENTIRE
REGION. TRANSIT, SAFETY,
SECURITY AS NOTES, BECAUSE THE
KING COUNTY REGIONAL TRANSIT
SAFETY AND SECURITY TASK FORCE
ULTIMATELY CAME TOGETHER AND
NOTED THIS FACT AS WELL.
IMPROVING TRANSIT AND SECURITY
IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. IT
IS SHARED BY THAT MISSION BY ALL
JURISDICTIONS, NOT JUST A
RESPONSIBILITY BORN BY AN
INDIVIDUAL TRANSIT AGENCY LIKE
KING COUNTY TRANSIT, ALL
GOVERNMENTS. INCLUDING THE CITY
OF SEATTLE BEAR RESPONSIBILITY
AND IMPROVING THAT. SO DO
INDIVIDUALS, TOO, RIDING THE
BUS. SEE SOMETHING, YOU SAY
SOMETHING. THIS ALSO,
COLLEAGUES, AS WE KNOW, LAST
NIGHT'S -- CAN'T MAKE THIS
STUFF UP ON THE EVE OF THE DAY
THAT MY OFFICE IS GOING TO
PRESENT A TRANSFORMATIVE TRANSIT
AND SAFETY SECURITY AMENDMENT,
SOMEONE IS SHOT WHILE RIDING A
BUS. AND I CALLED THE ATU
PRESIDENT EARLIER THIS MORNING
TO CHECK ON HIM AND HIS MEMBERS.
IT IS SO FRESH THEY ARE STILL
WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THIS
THEMSELVES. BUT, THIS IS A REAL
ISSUE IMPACTING TRANSIT RIDERS
AND OPERATORS AND COMES ON THE
HEELS OF WHAT HAPPENED IN
DECEMBER ON DECEMBER 18th, 2024,
WHEN KING COUNTY METRO OPERATOR
SHAWN YIM WAS TRAGICALLY STRUCK
DOWN, KILLED, MURDERED WHILE
DOING HIS JOB. DRIVING A BUS.
RIDING A BUS. THAT WAS GOING
THROUGH THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
WENT TO WORK THAT DAY AND IT
WOULD BE AN ORDINARY DAY.
UNFORTUNATELY HE NEVER CAME
HOME. INCIDENTS LIKE THAT ARE
ENTIRELY PREVENTIBLE. CAN NOT
LET THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF
PEOPLE LIKE SLAWN BE FORGOTTEN.
LET US NEVER FORGET. NEVER
FORGET IS WHAT THIS PATCH SAYS.
SADLY WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE
UNSAFE CONDITIONS FOR RIDERS AS
IN THE CASE OF LAST NIGHT AND
OPERATORS AS ANY OPERATOR WILL
TELL YOU. IF YOU CHAT WITH THEM
AND LEARN ABOUT THEIR
EXPERIENCES. AND THERE HAS BEEN
SIGNIFICANT UPGRADES MADE. I
WANT TO SPECIFICALLY APPLAUD
KING COUNTY METRO FOR THEIR
INITIAL WORK AND RAPID WORK,
FRANKLY, OF MAKING THE UPGRADES.
INSTALLING BARRIERS, MAKING
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. MORE WORK
NEEDS TO BE DONE. AND FULL
RECOGNITION IS A SERVICE FIRST
BASED TRANSIT MEASURE TRANSIT
PACKAGE THAT IS WHY MY AMENDMENT
IN LINE WITH THE SERVICE FIRST,
AUTHORIZES MORE SERVICE
SPECIFICALLY SECURITY SERVICES
AND PERSONNEL TO BOOST OUR
SAFETY AND SECURITY POSTURE.
THIS IS THE THROUGH THE WORK OF
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EXPERTS,
TRANSIT SECURITY OFFICERS, METRO
AMBASSADORS, CONTRACTED SECURITY
OFFICERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS AND THE LIKE. JUST
ADDITIONAL SERVICE THAT WE CAN
DO AND PROVIDE. ON TOP OF WHAT
KING COUNTY METRO SHOULD ALREADY
BE PROVIDING WHICH IS WHY MY
PROPOSED AMENDMENT HAS A CLAUSE.
SERVING TO INSURE THESE FUNDS
WILL BE ALLOCATED FOR SAFETY AND
SECURITY SERVICES IN THE
MEASURE. AND THAT WE ARE NOT
RELIEVING ANYONE ELSE OF THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE
BASELINE LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR
TRANSIT AND SECURITY. CAN DO
MORE, MUST DO MORE. AND THIS IS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO EXACTLY
THAT TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND
TRANSIT SECURITY ON OUR TRANSIT
SYSTEM. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS FEEL FREE AFTER THE
AMENDMENTS. GO AHEAD. BEFORE WE
IT LOOKS LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA IS FIRST.
>> I JUST HAVE A -- THANK YOU,
CHAIR-JUST A QUICK QUESTION. I
AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF KING COUNTY
SAFETY TASK FORCE. IS IT AN
AMENDMENT SAYING THAT WE WILL
TAKE ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS
FROM THE TASK FORCE AND MOVE
THOSE FORWARD WITH THE
INVESTMENT. AND THE FUNDING FROM
THIS INVESTMENT.
>> FROM MY PERSPECTIVE I WELCOME
CENTRAL STAFF HAVING COMMENTS ON
THIS AS WELL. I AM NOT FAMILIAR
WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEIR
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TASK
FORCE AS WELL. I AM AWARE THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS
IN THE INITIAL REPORT AND I
THINK MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT
THIS TASK FORCE IS INTENDED, THE
WORK IS INTENDED TO KEEP GOING
AND PROVIDE REPORTING AND
RECOMMENDATIONS AND UPDATES OVER
TIME. AND, SO, THIS IS, THIS IS
-- THIS WOULD ALLOW US AS A CITY
TO DO OUR PART AND IMPLEMENTING
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT,
THAT, YOU KNOW, FALL WITHIN OUR
PURVIEW OR SHARED PURVIEW OF
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS. IN THIS
CASE, CITY AND TRANSIT AGENCY
LIKE KING COUNTY METRO.
>>> YES. A FAIR QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER. THE TASK FORCE
CURRENTLY HAVE, I WANT TO SAY,
LIKE 40 DIFFERENT
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT SPAN ALL
SORTS OF JURISDICTIONS. THERE IS
ONLY ONE RECOMMENDATION IN THE
CURRENT REPORT THAT IMPACTS
S-DOT PARTICULARLY. IT WAS
RELATED TO THE CREATION AND
DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR YOUTH TO
BE EXPOSED TO TRANSIT. ORIENTED
PROFESSIONS AND THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT S-DOT HAS ALREADY
BEGUN AND CURRENTLY THERE ARE NO
OUTSTANDING RECOMMENDATIONS THAT
WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
ACHIEVE. AND, AS THE CHAIR
MENTIONED, THIS IS AN ONGOING
GROUP THAT PLANS TO CONTINUE TO
MEET. SO, THERE MIGHT BE
SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE THAT
THEY MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON
THAT IMPACTS SPECIFICALLY S-DOT.
>> CHAIR, MAY I GO A FOLLOW UP?
>> I SUPPOSE, THE WAY I AM
READING THIS. THE WAY IT IS
WRITTEN. I AM READING IT TO SAY
IF THERE ARE ANY IMPLEMENTATIONS
THAT THE TASK FORCE BRINGS UP WE
ARE GOING TO FUND IT. I AM NOT
SURE THAT WAS THE INTENT OF THE
SPONSOR. SO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE -- SINCE IT IS
AN ONGOING THING WE WOULD HAVE,
YOU SHOULD BE REVIEWING WHAT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AND
IMPLEMENTING THEM ACCORDINGLY. I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
LANGUAGE IS CONTAINED THERE, IN
HERE, IS MORE OF THAT NATURE
THAN WE ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT
ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
THE TASK FORCE. ESPECIALLY IF
THERE IS GOING TO BE ONGOING
ONES IN THE FUTURE. WHERE WE
MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH NOW.
THAT ARE UNKNOWN TODAY, I MEAN.
>> I AM HEARING FROM A
COUNCILMEMBER, JUST CLARITY ON
THE CURRENT LANGUAGE OR
POTENTIAL AMENDMENT THAT YOU
MIGHT WORK ON WITH THE CLAIRE
AND REVIEWING THAT THE COUNCIL
MAY BE ON REVIEW AND CONSIDER
THEM BEFORE COMMITTING TO
FUNDING SOMETHING.
>> CORRECT.
>> DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS YOUR
INTENT OR NOT.
>> MY INTENT IS TO PROVIDE A
FUNDING PATH FOR THE CITY TO
IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM
THE KING COUNTY REGIONAL TRANSIT
SAFETY TASK FORCE AND THAT THERE
ARE SOME THAT ARE WITHIN, YOU
KNOW, VARIOUS JURISDICTIONS
CONTROL OR TRANSIT. ANY AGENCIES
THAT WE OWN AND MANAGE TWO
AGENCIES HERE WITHIN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. SO, THE SEATTLE
STREETCAR AND THE, AND THE
MONORAIL. NOT JUST THE TRANSIT
AGENCIES. THERE ARE 40 PLUS
AMENDMENTS THAT CENTRAL STAFF
NOTED. RATHER THAN SORT OF DIVE
DEEP INTO THE PARTICULARS OF,
YOU KNOW, WHICH ONES SHOULD BE
OF THOSE INITIAL BATCH OF 40
SHOULD BE, SHOULD THE CITY PLAY
A ROLE IN OR NOT? LIKE THIS
AMENDMENT JUST SAYS, PLAINLY, AT
A HIGH-LEVEL, WE BEAR
RESPONSIBILITY IN IMPLEMENTING,
IN ENSURING THAT THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ULTIMATELY
IMPLEMENTED. ESPECIALLY THOSE
WITHIN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
>> I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH CHAIR
AFTERWARDS SINCE WE ARE NOT
VOTING TODAY. I DO THINK THIS
NEEDS FURTHER CLARITY THAT WAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
ADDRESSING IT. I WILL FOLLOW UP.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY
AMENDMENT CO-SPONSOR, CHAIR OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE,
COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE.
APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND
CO-SPONSORING THIS WITH ME.
WHICH, LEADS ME TO THE NEXT
POINT, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANTED TO
NOTE HOW IMPORTANT TRANSIT
SAFETY AND SECURITY IS AND MOST
IMMEDIATELY BY YOUR COMMENTS. I
HAD A CALL THIS MORNING WITH
CHIEF BARNES DISCUSSING THE
INCIDENT. IT IS TRAGIC. THE
CHALLENGE S WE FACE. IT GOES TO
THE SAFETY FOR THE PEOPLE ON THE
BUSES, THE RIDERS, THE DRIVERS,
IF HE IS STILL IN THE CHAMBERS I
WOULD SAY TO HIM OUR PRIORITY
AND YOURS THE OUR PRIORITY OF
EMPLOYEES AND RIDERS ARE SAFE.
LAST NIGHT'S TRAGIC INCIDENT
UNDERLINES SAFETY AND SECURITY,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR
SAKA. I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION
TO CENTRAL STAFF. IT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE PURCHASE
OUR SERVICE, THE SERVICE HOURS
INCLUDES THE SAFETY AND SECURITY
MEASURES THAT METRO PROVIDES. IS
THAT CORRECT AND CAN YOU SPEAK
TO HOW THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
ALTER THAT, IF AT ALL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER THAT IS
CORRECT. AS PART OF OUR BASE
RATE WITH METRO KING COUNTY THEY
DO CHARGE US FOR SAFETY AND
SECURITY SERVICES. AND, THAT
RATE HAS INCREASED. AND HAS BEEN
INFLUENCED BY THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SAFETY
TASK FORCE SO, WE ARE PAYING FOR
IT IN THAT WAY ADDITION ALLY.
THE PURCHASE OF THAT, NEW
RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE TASK
FORCE THAT ARE SPECTACULAR TO
US, S-DOT IT SPECIFIC TO THEM,
WE WILL PASS IT ALONG
>> MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE CURRENTLY
BEING IMPLEMENTED SO THE
RESPONSE THAT I HEARD FROM
CENTRAL STAFF TO A PREVIOUS
QUESTION IS AT THERE POINT IN
TIME THERE ARE NO
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE TASK
FORCE THAT ARE NOT BEING
IMPLEMENTED, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> OKAY.
>> MY LAST QUESTION ON THIS ONE
IS JUST THE SUPPLEMENT, THERE IS
NO EXISTING FUNDS FOR SAFETY AND
SECURITY SERVICES. SO, DOES THAT
MEAN THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO
PURCHASE SERVICE HOURS AND
SAFETY AND SECURITY WILL
CONTINUE TO BE INCLUDED IN THOSE
SERVICE HOURS IF METRO WERE TO
WORK IN ADDITIONAL SAFETY AND
SECURITY INTO THOSE SERVICE
HOURS THAT WOULD NOT COUNT
BECAUSE OF THIS NO SUP
SUPPLEMENT CLAUSE IT IS FOR T IS
NOT IMPACTING THE SECURITY.
>> IF WE HAVE MONEY COMING FROM
THE TRANSIT MEASURE, PURCHASING
AND SAFETY IT COULD NOT BE
SUPPLANTED? THAT IS THE INTENT?
>> CORRECT
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. ALLOW ME TO PILE ON FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE AS THE AMENDMENT
AUTHOR. SO, WE DO ALREADY
INCLUDED WITH KING COUNTY METRO
IS A, AGAIN, FOR CLARITY, A
BASELINE LEVEL OF TRANSIT SAFETY
AND SECURITY SERVICES. THE
EXECUTIVE HAS REPORTED IN THEIR
EARLIER PRESENTATIONS THAT
TODAY, IS 9% OF THE TOTAL
PURCHASE PRICE INCLUDES SPECIFIC
TRANSIT AND SAFETY AND SECURITY
SERVICES FROM METRO. WHAT THIS
WOULD DO, THE INTENT OF THIS
AMENDMENT, ALLOW US AS THE CITY
TO HAVE TRANSIT AND SAFETY AND
SERVICES. THERE IS AN ANALOGY
THAT IS BASELINE LEVELS OF PURE
TRANSIT IS INSUFFICIENT. THAT IS
WHY WE ARE, WE ARE PROPOSING A
MEASURE THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO
PURCHASE ADDITIONAL TRANSIT
SAFETY AND SECURITY ABOVE KING
COUNTY METRO BASELINE LEVELS OF
TRANSIT, EXCUSE ME, OF TRANSIT
SERVICE, ABOVE BASELINE SERVICE
WITH THE NEXT NEXUS OF ROUTES.
TODAY'S LEVEL OF BASELINE
SERVICE OF TRANSIT SERVICE ARE
INSUFFICIENT. SO, JUST AS THAT
PRINCIPAL IS TRUE, THIS WOULD
ALLOW US TO PROVIDE EXTRA
TRANSIT SAFETY AND SECURITY ON
TOP OF METRO'S BASELINE LEVEL
OF SERVICES AND THAT THEY OFFER
FOR TRANSIT SAFETY AND SECURITY
THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE SECURITY
PRICE. RECOGNITION THAT THE
BASELINE LEVELS IN SEATTLE ARE
INSUFFICIENT. HERE IS ONE
EXAMPLE OF HOW IT PLAYED OUT
REAL WORLD WITHIN THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS. THIS COUNCIL
DURING OUR BUDGET ANNUAL BUDGET
PROCESS IN THE FALL WE
AUTHORIZED $2 MILLION
SPECIFICALLY FOR BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH SPECIALIST, KING COUNTY
METRO TRANSIT POLICE, KING
COUNTY TRANSIT SECURITY OFFICERS
AND AMBASSADORS WHO MIGHT HAVE
BEEN UP TO $4 MILLION. MY POINT
IS WE LEVIED THE MEASURE AND
FUNDING THE MEASURE AS A FUNDING
SOURCE TO ALLOW THE PURCHASE OF
EXTRA SERVICE IN THIS CASE
TRANSIT SAFETY AND SECURITY ON
TOP OF BASELINE LEVELS. AGAIN,
COMPANION, PARALLEL RECOGNITION
THAT THE BASELINE LEVELS OF
SERVICE INCLUDED OR OFFERED ARE
NOT SUFFICIENT. THANK YOU. ALL
RIGHT, VICE CHAIR RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA. I AM
GOING TO BUILD ON THIS TOPIC
UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE ARE
BUILDING OUR SERVICE HOURS THERE
IS A COMPONENT GOING INTO THE
CITY. I WONDER IF STAFF CAN
PLACE IT WITH TRANSIT AND
SECURITY. THINKING ABOUT OUR
CURRENT SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE
BEYOND THE LEVEL OF EMBEDDED IN
PURCHASES HOURS AND
TRANSPORTATION LEVY. I WONDER IF
WE CAN LEVEL SET AND GROUND,
PLACE THIS AMENDMENT IN THE
CONTEXT OF BROADER CITY
INVESTMENT IN THIS AREA.
>> I AM TRACKING YOU. ARE YOU
CURIOUS ABOUT -- WELL .
>> CERTAINLY, I CAN REPHRASE.
WHERE ELSE ARE WE SPENDING IN
THE CITY ON TRANSIT SAFETY AND
SECURITY? FROM THE TRANSIT, FROM
THE CURRENT TRANSIT MEASURE OR
THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY?
>> I AM NOT SURE IF WE SPEND IT
OUT OF THE LEVY. I WILL HAVE TO
DOUBLE-CHECK ON THAT. I DO KNOW
THE AMOUNT CONTRIBUTED BY THE
EXISTING STM HAS TRIPLED IN THE
LAST THREE YEARS. I HAVE BEEN
INFORMED THAT THERE IS $9
MILLION IN THE TRANSPORTATION
LEVY FOR TRANSIT SAFETY AND
SECURITY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING
THAT. I WANTED TO PLACE THIS IN
THE CONTEXT OF OUR BROADER CITY
INVESTMENTS. COLLEAGUES I KNOW
WE HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO HAVE KING COUNTY METRO AT OUR
TABLE DURING THE DELIBERATIONS
BUT I WANTED TO READ INTO THE
RECORD A PORTION OF THE LETTER
THAT THEY SENT TO FULL COUNCIL
THIS MORNING. THAT SPEAKS TO
SOME OF THE TRANSIT SAFETY AND
SECURITY INVESTMENTS. SO, JUST
TO READ THIS IN. METRO HAS MORE
THAN DOUBLED ANNUAL SPENDING ON
SAFETY AND SECURITY IN THE PAST
FEW YEARS TO SUPPORT THESE KEY
EFFORTS. GROWING PRESENCE TO
INCLUDE 89 METRO TRANSIT POLICE
OFFICERS AND 275 TRANSIT
SECURITY OFFICERS TO MAKE IT
SAFER FOR CUSTOMERS. LAUNCHING
BEHAVIORAL SPECIALISTS AND
NONOFFICER PRESENCE IN THE
SYSTEM. EXPANDING METRO'S
INTERNAL CAPACITY TO ADMINISTER
SAFETY AND SECURITY PROGRAM TO
KEEP METRO EMPLOYEES AND RIDERS
SAFE TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE
ASSISTANCE AND COLLUSIONS ACROSS
THE DIVISIONS. AND METRO SAFETY
PROGRAM CONDUCTED ADDITIONAL
COORDINATION AND KEY INCLUDING
MONITORING, TEMPORARY LAW
ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE AND
CLARIFYING PROTOCOLS FOR
CONSIDERING BUS STOP CLOSURES. I
WANTED TO JUST READ THAT INTO
THE RECORD TO AID IN THE
DISCUSSION ON THIS AMENDMENT AND
PROVIDE FURTHER BACKGROUND
INFORMATION AS THIS IS BEING
CONSIDERED. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. JUST IN
TERMS OF SAFETY. I JUST WONDER
IN TERMS OF THE BASELINE THROUGH
THE REGIONAL SAFETY TASK FORCE
WHAT EFFORTS WE HAVE, IF WE FEEL
THAT SAFETY BASELINE IS NOT HIGH
ENOUGH, HOW MUCH DOES IT MAKE
SENSE FOR US TO PUSH TO INCREASE
THAT BASELINE ACROSS THE SYSTEM.
PAYING 9%, DO WE PAY MORE. AND
SPENDING OUTSIDE OF THE
BASELINE. I AM NOT SURE IF THAT
QUESTION MAKES SENSE.
>> DEFINITELY THE ESTIMATED 9%
THAT WE ARE SPENDING IS BASED ON
METRO'S COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF
HOW THEY DEEM MOST APPROPRIATE
TO APPROACH SAFETY AND SECURITY
INVESTMENTS FOR THEIR WHOLE
SYSTEM, NOT JUST FOR SEATTLE.
SO, I AM NOT SURE I HAVE A
RECOMMENDATION AS FAR AS IF
SEATTLE DEEMED THAT WAS
INSUFFICIENT HOW WE MIGHT SIZE A
FUTURE INVESTMENT.
>> OKAY.
>> THANK YOU. NOW, I GUESS PART
OF IT IS I THINK SAFETY IS JUST
SORT OF, YOU KNOW, IT IS LIKE,
YOU KNOW, IF THE BUS, IF YOU GET
ON AND THE CHAIRS ARE BROKEN. IT
IS A BASELINE. THERE ARE
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SAFETY. HOW
SAFE IS SAFE. IT SEEMS LIKE IT
IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE
SERVICE AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED
IN IT. I AM NOT SURE WHETHER,
YOU KNOW, THE BEST WAY TO
ADVOCATE FOR IT IS THROUGH
ADVOCACY SAYING WE THINK YOU
NEED TO DO MORE VERSUS
IMPLEMENTING THE SORT OF, IN A
SENSE, POTENTIAL OUTSIDE OF THAT
BASELINE. BUT I WILL JUST SAY
LAST QUESTION, THIS AMENDMENT
DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY LEVEL OF
SPENDING IT JUST AUTHORIZES THE
LEVEL OF SPENDING IS THAT
CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT. YES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
ALL RIGHT, NO FURTHER QUESTIONS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES, LET'S PRESS
TO THE NEXT AMENDMENT.
>> THE NEXT ONE, BEFORE I
DESCRIBE AMENDMENT 2 I WANT TO
MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS THAT
THE COMMITTEE CLERK HAS THE
ABILITY PUT ANY AMENDMENT ON THE
SCREEN IF YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON
BILL LANGUAGE WE HAVE THE
ABILITY TO DO THAT IF THAT IS
NOT NECESSARY WE WILL JUST KEEP
GOING WITH THE PRESENTATION LIKE
THIS. AMENDMENT TWO TO COUNCIL
BILL 121226 IS SPONSORED BY
CHAIR SAKA AND ELECTRIC BUS. IT
ADDS NEW RECITAL TO THE BILL.
WORKING WITH KING COUNTY METRO
TO PRIORITIZE THE USE EVER
ELECTRIC BUSS IN THE DUWAMISH
VALLEY AND SOUTH SEATTLE
COMMUNITIES GUIDED BY TOOLS THAT
IDENTIFY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
DISPARITIES AND POTENTIAL
ENVIRONMENTAL VULNERABILITIES.
EACH OF THOSE TOOLS WORKS AT A
CENSUS TRACK LEVEL. THE
AMENDMENT WOULD PERMIT THE USE
OF SEATTLE TRANSIT REVENUES TO
PLAN FOR AND DEPLOY THE INCREASE
USE OF ELECTRIC BUSES AS I JUST
DESCRIBED.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL PILE ON,
THIS IS IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO
FEEDBACK THAT I RECEIVED FROM MY
CONSTITUENTS IN THE DUWAMISH
VALLEY AND SOUTH PARK. IN
PARTICULAR, MEETING WITH THE
DRCC. THEY EXPRESS CONCERN AND
FRUSTRATION IN SOME FAIR AMOUNT
OF CONFUSION AS WELL WHILE WE
HAVE CERTAIN ELECTRIC 100%
ELECTRIC BUSES NOT ONE OF THEM
GOES THROUGH VARIED CLIMATE
BURDENED AND POLLUTED
NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE SOUTH PARK.
SO, THIS WOULD AUTHORIZE THAT.
AS A POSSIBILITY AND ENCOURAGE
THAT IN NEIGHBORHOODS IDENTIFIED
ON THE WASHINGTON ENVIRONMENTAL
DISPARITY MAP. HIGHLY IMPACTED
BY AIR POLLUTION. MANY OF THEM
DO NOT RECEIVE BUS SERVICE.
AGAIN, FRUSTRATING, CONFUSING
EXPERIENCE FOR IMPACTING
COMMUNITIES. ESPECIALLY FOR
CLOSE PROXIMITY IN THIS CASE TO
METRO BASE THAT HAS A DEDICATED
CHARGES FACILITY FOR ELECTRIC
BUSES, THIS IS INTENDED TO
ACHIEVE THE ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY AND
DESIGNED TO BOOST AND BUILD
CLIMATE RESILIENCE, THANK YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THIS AMENDMENT OR SHALL WE MOVE
ON? COUNCILMEMBER LIN, IS THAT
AN OLD HAND?
>> YES. THAT IS AN OLD HAND,
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, COOL. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR.
APPRECIATE THE INTENT BEHIND
THIS AMENDMENT. HAVING DONE WORK
IN THE DUWAMISH ON AIR POLLUTION
I BELIEVE THERE IS A LOT OF WORK
FOR US TO DO THERE. THERE IS A
SIGNIFICANT LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR
RESIDENTS IN SOUTH PARK AND
GEORGETOWN IN THE HIGHEST
NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY. AND
IT MAY NOT BE CORRECT. MY
QUESTION IF I JUST WANTED TO ASK
AROUND, OBVIOUSLY THROUGH THE
TRANSIT MEASURE WE ARE PUNCHING
FROM KING COUNTY. AND I JUST
WANTED TO ASK IN TERMS OF THE
LANGUAGE HERE, HOW DOES IT SORT
OF HELP US ENSURE THE BUSES THAT
METRO SORT OF DEPLOYS ON THOSE
ROUTES END UP BEING ELECTRIC
BUSES AND I AM FAMILIAR WITH IT.
AND IT IS NOT GETTING TO THE
MECHANISM OF THIS LEVEL. THIS
AMENDMENT PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY
TO DEPLOY THE BUSES AND WHAT IS
THE CONSENSUS?
>> I WILL DO THAT.
>> THANK YOU, CLAIRE.
>> VICE CHAIR RINCK THE FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> THERE IS A CLARIFYING
QUESTION JUST ON INTENT BY THE
AMENDMENT AUTHOR. I AM WONDERING
IF THERE IS A REASON IS THAT WE
ARE NOT INCLUDING ELECTRIC BUSES
THAT WE ARE ALREADY USING TODAY
ON TOP OF BATTERY ELECTRIC
BUSES?
>> IF THERE IS A REASON THAT WE
ARE NOT REFLECTING WHAT?
>> A QUESTION ABOUT IF WE WANT
TO HAVE A AMENDMENT SPONSOR OR
FOCUS ON BATTERY ELECTRIC BUSES?
OR ARE OPEN TO EXPANDING TO
ALLOW FOR TROLLEY ELECTRIC
BUSES?
>> I WOULD BE OPEN TO EXPANSION
OF TROLLEY ELECTRIC BUSES
PROVIDED THAT THE SPECIFIC
NEIGHBORHOODS AND CRITERIA FOR
THE WASHINGTON WHATEVER IT SAYS,
HEALTH INDEX, THAT MAP. THE
HEALTH DISPARITIES MAP AND ESEG
EJ SCREEN INDEX AS LONG AS THEY
CONTINUE TO BE CALLED OUT THAT
WOULD BETTER ENSURE COMMUNITIES
LIKE DUWAMISH WOULD BENEFIT FROM
THOSE. I AM NOT SURE IF 100%
TROLLEY ELECTRIC SERVICE OR THE
CAPABILITY.
>> THANK YOU, JEFF.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. AND.
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT
INFORMATION OFF OF THE TOP OF
THE MY HEAD. I WILL FOLLOW UP.
AND READILY ACKNOWLEDGE THE
DUWAMISH VALLEY AND THE INTENT
HERE. AND GOING TO CROSS THE
CITY SO, THIS GOES BACK TO
METRO'S PLAN FOR
ELECTRIFICATION OF THE FLEET.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
>> THEY HAVE BEEN STARTING TO
USE AND DEPLOY BUSES. HAVING THE
INFRASTRUCTURE TO CHARGE THE
BUSES IS IMPORTANT. AND
GEORGETOWN AND THE AREA. AND IT
IS A CONCERN. AND USING THAT
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT I KNOW
ENOUGH ABOUT. I DO KNOW THAT
THEY HAVE HAD TROUBLE PURCHASING
ELECTRIC BUSES FROM THE VENDOR.
THERE WERE ISSUES WITH SUPPLY
CHAINS AND I, THEY ARE APPLIED
WITH THE THINKING AND GOING IN A
PATH FORWARD AND WE CAN FIND OUT
MORE . AND IF WE NEED THE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE NEED THE
DUWAMISH VALLEY WE OBVIOUSLY
NEED THE PARTNERSHIP, METRO DOES
AND DO WITH OUR OWN CITY. SO I
WANTED TO CALL THAT OUT. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. LET'S SEE, NO FURTHER
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS ON THAT
AMENDMENT. LET'S MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT ONE.
>>> AMENDMENT 3, TO COUNCIL BILL
121226 IS SPONSORED BY CHAIR
SAKA AND THE CONTEXT FOR THIS
AMENDMENT IS THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE SPENDING PLAN, THE
CATEGORIES IN THE SPENDING PLAN.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD REQUIRE ON
AN ANNUAL BASES ANY UNEXPENDED
TRANSIT SERVICE FUNDING IS
REDIRECTED TO THE TRANSIT AND
ACCESSIBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE
CATEGORY. THE AMENDMENT FURTHER
REQUIRES THAT ANY FUNDING, ANY
SUCH FUNDING IS PRIORITIZED FOR
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT
SUPPORT INCREASED OR ENHANCED
ACCESSIBILITY.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES TO PILE
ON FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD CLARIFY WHAT
WOULD LANE IF THERE WERE LEFT --
WOULD HAPPEN IF THERE WERE
LEFTOVER FUNDS. IT WOULD ENSURE
THAT THE FUNDS ARE SPENT ON, ON
TRANSIT AND SERVICES AS WELL. IF
NOT, YOU KNOW, THE MONEY HERE
WOULD ROLLOVER AUTOMATICALLY TO
TRANSIT ACCESSIBILITY AND
ENSURING THAT TRANSIT REMAINS
ACCESSIBLE AND SAFE CONNECTIONS
TO TRANSIT AS WELL. THERE ARE,
FRANKLY, OPEN QUESTIONS, TODAY
THAT EXISTS ON IF KING COUNTY
METRO COULD DELIVER A 47%
EXPANSION OF TRANSIT SERVICE
THAT THEY CURRENTLY PROVIDE THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. THEY CAN
CERTAINLY DO SO OVERNIGHT IF THE
MEASURE WERE TO PASS. 47%
INCREASE IN TRANSIT SERVICE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. HUGE ASK,
HEAVY LIFT, NONTRIVIAL AMOUNT OF
EXPANSION AND METRO STATED IT
MAY TAKE A YEAR OR TWO TO BE
ABLE TO DELIVER THE FULL AMOUNT
OF TRANSIT SERVICE THIS PROPOSAL
CONTEMPLATES. WE NEED A PLAN.
UNDER MY AMENDMENT, UNUSED FUNDS
WILL BE USED FOR TRANSIT
ACCESSIBILITY CAPITAL INVESTMENT
AND ENHANCE TRANSIT ACCESS AND
SUPPORT SAFE ACCESS FOR TRANSIT
FOR PEDESTRIANS. THANK YOU. VICE
CLAIRE RINCK THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA. I AM
WONDER FIGURE, JUST FOR THE
PURPOSES OF UNDERSTANDING THIS
AMENDMENT IN PRACTICE, I KNOW I
HAVE BEEN THROUGH ONE BUDGET
PROCESS BEFORE, ALWAYS A BLUR. I
AM WONDERING IF YOU CAN WALK
THROUGH HOW HISTORICALLY WE
REGARDED UNDERSPEND IN THE
BUDGET PROCESS WHEN IT RELATES
TO UNDERSPEND IN STM HOW WE
REGARD TODAY IN TRADITIONAL
BUDGET PROCESS? I AM WONDERING
ALSO CHAIR STRAUSS, PARDON MERE,
I MEAN COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> ARE YOU ASKING THROUGH ME?
DIRECTING A QUESTION TO STRAUSS?
AS BUDGET C CHAIR?
>> IF SO, YES.
>> HAPPY TO SHARE. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. AS WITH ALL
LEVEES WE HAVE BEFORE VOTERS,
THIS IS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,
EARLY LEARNING, SEATTLE TRANSIT,
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
YOU ARE CATCHING ME A LITTLE OFF
GUARD. I WILL SAY THERE IS
UNDERSPEND ACROSS ALL
DEPARTMENTS. LAST YEAR IT WAS
FOUND UNDERSPEND FROM A LEVEE
THAT WE DON'T EVEN HAVE ANY
MORE, GOOD WORK, JASMINE. EVERY
YEAR WE ARE ABLE TO FIND DOLLARS
THAT MAYBE WERE NOT SPENT. BUT,
WITH IN PARTICULAR SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE THROUGHOUT THE
COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC THEY WERE
ABLE TO SELL US THE HOURS WE
WANTED TO PURCHASE. WE FUNDED
CONCRETE AND I WOULD PERSONALLY
PUT FORWARD IN AN AMENDMENT OF
AMBASSADORS AND WORKED WITH
CHAIR SAKA. THESE ARE IMPORTANT
THINGS WE PUT IN TO MAKE SURE
TRANSIT IS ACCESSIBLE FOR
EVERYONE. IN THE COURSE OF THE
LAST NUMBER OF YEARS WHEN METRO
COULD NOT PURCHASE ALL OF THE
HOURS WE WERE TRYING, WE STARTED
SPENDING ON OTHER RELATED BUT
NOT TRANSIT OUR THINGS. AND EVEN
LAST YEAR PILOT PROGRAMS LIKE
GOLDEN GARDENS DIRECT WAS FUNDED
WITH UNDERSPEND FROM THE TRANSIT
CENTER. SO, IT IS NOT UNLIKE ANY
OTHER DEPARTMENT. IT HAPPENS
EVERY YEAR. YOU WILL HEAR FROM
ME LATER I WISH WE COULD BUY AS
MANY HOURS AS POSSIBLE FROM
METRO BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE A
DIFFERENT CONVERSATION. THAT IS
HOW THE BUDGET WORKED WITH US.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU FOR AFFORDING ME
THAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT
INPUT FROM OUR BUDGET CHAIR. AND
I AM WONDERING IF CENTRAL STAFF
WOULD HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD-ON TO
HIS POINT. THE THING THAT I AM
TRYING TO SEE IF WITH THIS
AMENDMENT HOW DOES IT CHANGE OUR
OPTIONS WHEN WE COME TO BUDGET
THIS YEAR?
>> SURE. VICE CHAIR. SO, THE
REVENUE GENERATED GOES INTO ITS
OWN FUND OF CHECKING ACCOUNT.
DEDICATED TO SUPPORT THE TYPES
OF INVESTMENTS THAT ARE
IDENTIFIED IN THERE ORDINANCE.
INVESTMENTS THAT WE MAKE IN
CAPITAL AND BACKED BY STM THAT
ARE UNSPENT, AUTOMATICALLY CARRY
INTO FUTURE YEARS. INVESTMENTS
IN TRANSIT ARE ON THE OPERATION
SIDE. SO THEY DO NOT
AUTOMATICALLY CARRY IT AND THEY
LAPSE BACK TO THE FUND. SO, THEY
STAY DEDICATED TO THIS STM FUND.
I GUESS ONE OTHER THING TO
SHARE, AS I UNDERSTOOD FROM
S-DOT, THE MONEY FROM GARDEN
LINE WAS TAKEN FROM OTHER
SERVICE NOT FROM UNSPENT FUND
BALANCE.
>> FIRST OFF, THANK YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBERS STRAUSS. VICE CHAIR, ANY
MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> HAPPY TO TURN IT OVER. THANK
YOU.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> DIGGING INTO THIS A LITTLE
MORE. YOU RECEIVED NEW
INFORMATION FROM S-DOT IT WAS
TAKEN FROM TRANSIT SERVICE AND
NOT UNDER SPENT?
>> CORRECT.
>> AND THIS WAS RECEIVED, WHEN?
>> OVER THE COURSE OF THIS
ORDINANCE DEVELOPMENT.
>> SO THIS IS NEW INFORMATION
FROM LAST BUDGET SESSION
>> IF IT IS NEW TO YOU THEN YES,
IT IS NEW
>> IT IS A CHANGE OF INFORMATION
FROM LAST NOVEMBER?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANT TO
DIG INTO THE AMENDMENT THAT I
GOT A FULL UNDERSTANDING. SO, WE
ALREADY, AS IS, REQUIRE AN
ANNUAL REPORT AROUND SERVICE.
THIS FIRST PORTION OF THIS OUT
LINES THE DETAILS OF A SEPARATE
ANNUAL REPORT. BUT, I WANT TO
COME BACK TO THAT. BUT I WANT TO
TURN OUR ATTENTION TO SECTION 7.
WHICH I READ TO BE THAT COUNCIL
APPROVAL OF TRANSIT SERVICE
PURCHASES IS REQUIRED BY SERVICE
HOURS AND ROUTE SERVED ANNUALLY.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT AS WE THINK
ABOUT SORT OF THE BALANCE
BETWEEN, AND I KNOW WE HEARD
COMMENT ABOUT THIS EARLIER, THE
ROLE THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS IN
DIGGING INTO AND PROPOSING WORK
AND FIGURING OUT WHERE WE ARE
GOING TO BUY OUR SERVICE IF I
READ THIS PART CORRECTLY IT
MEANS THAT WE WOULD THEN BE
REQUIRED TO APPROVE THE
PURCHASES PRIOR TO THOSE
DECISIONS BEING MADE ON AN
ANNUAL BASIS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS ONE SCENARIO THAT
COULD APPLY IF THIS AMENDMENT
WERE PASSED WITH THE BILL. AND
IT COULD REFERENCE THE BUDGET
PROCESS DURING WHICH COUNCIL
APPROVES S-.SPENDING PLAN
INCLUDING WHAT IS DESCRIBED
HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. WHAT I AM
TRYING TO GET AT HERE, TOO, IS
AN UNDERSTANDING. OF JUST THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AS IS
PROCESS. COUNCIL HAS DECISIONS
THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE ON AN
ANNUAL BASIS AND WHETHER OR NOT
IT IS CHANGING THAT PROCESS. AND
OUR EXISTING PROCESS OR ADDING
AN A DECISIONAL ONE ON TO IT.
THAT FEELS UNCLEAR TO ME. I
APPRECIATE THAT, YOUR RESPONSE
TO THE FIRST QUESTION. IT SORT
OF DOUBLES DOWN ON THAT. THAT IS
ONE INTERPRETATION. THAT COULD
BE ANOTHER. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THIS IS THE FUTURE THAT WE ARE
BRINGING TO IF THIS AMENDMENT
PASSES.
>> TO ME THE KEY PHRASE IS
"HOURS." "SERVICE HOURS" AND "IN
ROUTE" THERE IS FLOW REQUIREMENT
THAT INFORMATION BE PROVIDED TO
THE COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE COUNCIL
A ADOPTION OF A BUDGET. THAT IS
THE NUANCE. THE SAME YEAR
PROCESS IS ALSO NEW. THIS
AMENDMENT STATES BY DECEMBER
31st OF EACH YEAR S-.SHOULD
REPORT TO COUNCIL THE UNSPENT
APPROPRIATION FOR TRANSIT
SERVICE IN THAT YEAR. CURRENTLY
S-DOT RECONCILES THE SPENDING IN
THE NEXT YEAR. SO, S-DOT HAS NOT
BEEN REQUIRED TO STATE BY
DECEMBER 31st OF A GIVEN YEAR
WHAT FUNDING HAS NOT BEEN
SPENDED. IF SPENT.
>> I HAVE THAT AS AMENDMENT 5.
>> OH, SORRY.
>> WE ARE DISCUSSING AMENDMENT
3, I BELIEVE.
>> I AM, I AM SORRY, I AM
GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF.
>> OKAY. YES. ANTICIPATED
UNSPENT APPROPRIATIONS OF
TRANSIT SERVICE IN THAT YEAR.
>> I APOLOGIZE, I SENT US DOWN
THE WRONG ROAD, ANN.
>> I WENT DOWN IT DUMBLY. [
LAUGHTER ]
>> OKAY. THANK YOU, ANN, THANK
YOU, CHAIR. I WILL COME BACK
WHEN WE GET TO AMENDMENT 5.
>> ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. IN TERMS OF
SERVICE AND AREN'T WE
ANTICIPATING THAT COSTS KIND OF
WILL GO UP OVER TIME? I WONDER
IS THERE A PLAN FOR THAT? I
GUESS I CAN SEE A BENEFIT FROM
UNSPENT APPROPRIATIONS EARLY IN
THE 10 YEAR LEVY. INCLUDING,
JUST SO COULD YOU TALK ABOUT
THAT AND HOW UNSPENT
APPROPRIATIONS COULD BE USED TO
KIND OF PLAN FOR FUTURE
INCREASES.
>> I DON'T KNOW LGT MATH OF
REVERVING TO PLAN FOR UNEXPENDED
COST LATER IN A LEVY. I DO KNOW
THAT LEVY PLANNERS OFTEN -- I
COSTS CAN GO UP AT A HIGHER RATE
THAN PLANNED FOR. I DON'T HAVE
THAT INFORMATION HERE. I WOULD
BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP. OH,
AMANDA HAS SOMETHING TO ADD HERE
>> SO, THE SPEND PLAN THAT CAME
THROUGH FROM THE EXECUTIVE SIDE
DOES INCLUDE A RESERVE FOR WHAT
YOU DISCUSSED. WE ANTICIPATE
LABOR COSTS GOING UP OTHERS
OTHER COSTS WILL INCREASE. SO,
WE ARE SAVING MONEY ON THE FRONT
END IN THIS RESERVE TO SPEND IN
LATER YEARS. THAT BEING SAID, SO
THAT IS PART OF THE PLAN. THIS
AMENDMENT WILL NOT CHANGE THAT
PLAN. WHAT IT IS SAYING WHETHER
WE HAVE MORE UNDERSPEND THAN
ANTICIPATED WE WILL MOVE THE
MONEY. IF YOU ARE RIGHT. IF
THERE ARE ADDITIONAL UNKNOWN
THINGS THAT COME UP IN THE
FUTURE, SPENDING THAT MONEY,
EARLY, WOULD MAKE IT MORE
DIFFICULT TO ABSORB FUTURE
CHANGES THAT ARE CURRENTLY
UNFORESEEN?
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN,
FOSTER, IS IT A NEW HAND OR WHAT
WE ARE DISCUSSING NEXT?
>> JUST READY.
>> ALL RIGHT. YOU ARE A ANXIOUS.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT AMENDMENT.
>> AMENDMENT 4, REQUIRING ANNUAL
REPORTING AND ANNUAL APPROVAL OF
ALL TRANSIT SERVICE PURCHASES BY
SERVICE HOURS AND ROUTES. THE
AMENDMENT WOULD REQUIRE ANNUAL
REPORTING BY KING COUNTY AND
PURCHASED WITH SEATTLE TRANSIT
FUNDING. THOSE DIMENSIONING OF
FAIR COMPLIANCE. THE FAIR
RECOVERY RATIO AND ON-TIME
PERFORMANCE. THE AMENDMENT WOULD
REQUIRE THE PURCHASE OF TRANSIT
SERVICE HOURS WITH THIS FUNDING.
IT WOULD REQUIRE COUNCIL ANNUAL
APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE OF SUCH
PURCHASES BY HOURS SERVED.
APPROVING ANNUAL APPROPRIATION
AS A TOTAL SUM THROUGH THE
BUDGET ADOPTION ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU. AND, PILING ON
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. COLLEAGUES,
THIS AMENDMENT IS PRINCIPALLY AN
ACCOUNTABILITY IN OVERSIGHT AND
TRANSPARENCY AMENDMENT. IT IS
ABOUT THOSE THINGS THAT ARE
NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER. THE
EXECUTIVE PROPOSAL WOULD DOUBLE
THE SALES TAX. IT WOULD HELP
STRENGTHEN OVERSIGHT OF, OF
IMPLEMENTATION FOR THIS
PROPOSAL. ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THIS IS
THE FAIR RECOVERY AND COLLEAGUES
AS YOU KNOW, MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, OPERATING TRANSIT IS NOT
ABOUT MAKING OUR MONEY BACK.
SUCCESSFUL TRANSIT DOES NOT MAKE
MONEY OR APPEAR REVENUE NEUTRAL
AT THE END OF THE DAY ON THE
BALANCE SHEET. THE TAXPAYERS
MAKING A DECISION TO SUBSIDIZE
THE COST OF TRANSIT. BECAUSE THE
NET BENEFITS OF AND BOOSTING AND
IMPROVING OUR ENVIRONMENT,
PROMOTING CLIMATE RESILIENCE,
GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF OUR CARS,
CARS AND, WHICH HAS IMPACTS ON
CLIMATE AND ALSO THE STATE OF
OUR PAVEMENT CONDITIONS. SO MUCH
MORE. SO, NOT INTENDED TO MAKE
MONEY FROM FARES ALONE. THAT
SAID, THE FARE RECOVERY RATIO IS
ROUGHLY 10%. PRE-PANDEMIC THEY
WERE CLOSER TO 30 PLUS PERCENT.
WHICH I THINK MORE ALONG THE
LINES OF NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR
TRANSIT. 30-40% RANGE. I DON'T
THINK WE CAN AND SHOULD IN GOOD
FAITH PUT A MEASURE BEFORE
VOTERS THAT WOULD DOUBLE THE TAX
WITHOUT INSISTING ON STRONGER
ACCOUNTABILITY, OVERSIGHT,
INCLUDING WHAT IS OUR PLAN, HOW
ARE WE GOING TO IMPROVE UPON THE
FARE RECOVERY RATIO. GETTING IT
TO A MORE NORM ALLSTATE. SO,
ADDITIONAL SALES TAX IS NOT
SOLELY FUNDING AND SUBSIDIZING
THIS. 8.5% WAS THE FARE RECOVERY
FOR METRO IN 2025. SO, AGAIN,
THIS, THIS PROPOSAL STRENGTHENED
OVERSIGHT, ACCOUNTABILITY,
TRANSPARENCY, CRITICALLY NEEDED
NOW MORE THAN EVER. ESPECIALLY
WHEN WE ARE REFERRING TO A
PROPOSAL THAT WOULD DOUBLE THE
SALES TAX, AGGRESSIVE TAX. ON
EVERYDAY PEOPLE. THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?
I AM GOING TO FIRST SEE IF
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, THERE IS
THE HAND, GO AHEAD. THE FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR.
AND, APOLOGIES TO CENTRAL STAFF
FOR GETTING US MIXED UP EARLIER.
APPRECIATE YOU. I AM GOING TO
ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION NOW
THAT I DON'T MIX UP OUR
AMENDMENTS. I APPRECIATE HEARING
FROM THE CHAIR AND THE FARE
RECOVERY. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
NOW, I AM GOING TO SAY WHERE I
WAS LOOKING BEFORE. SECTION 7.
THE COUNCIL APPROVAL OF TRANSIT
PURCHASES. THIS IS SAYING WE ARE
APPROVING BY SERVICE HOURS AND
ROUTES SERVED ANNUALLY THROUGH
FUTURE ORDINANCE. SO, AS I
UNDERSTAND IT GIVES US THE
RESPONSIBILITY IN THE BEGINNING,
THE BUDGET, SIGNING OFF ON THE
SERVICE ROUTES. YOU CAN TALK
ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
AS IT AND THEN THE AS WOULD BE
WITH THIS AMENDMENT,
PARTICULARLY IN REGARDS TO
SECTION 7?
>> I AM GOING TO LET AMANDA TALK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AS-IS
ASPECT OF THAT QUESTION. I JUST
WANT TO SAY, AGAIN, APOLOGY FOR
GETTING MIXED UP. IT IS BY
SERVICE HOURS AND ROUTES SERVED
ANNUALLY. THROUGH FUTURE
ORDINANCE THIS, THIS AMENDMENT
IS NOT SPECIFIC ABOUT IF THAT
ORDINANCE IS THE BUDGET
ORDINANCE THAT IN THE FUTURE
WILL INCLUDE MORE INFORMATION,
THAT IS SERVICE INFORMATION AND
ROUTES SERVED OR SEPARATE
ORDINANCE. THIS, THERE IS, WHAT
IS DESCRIBED IN THIS AMENDMENT
IS A SIGNIFICANTLY NEW WRINKLE
FOR THE CITY FOR S-DOT AND
COUNTY METRO. AND I THINK THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS AMENDMENT
WOULD TAKE CONVERSATION BETWEEN
THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. JUST TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE INTENT OF THE
AMENDMENT IS BEING MET. AND
LEGISLATIVELY POSSIBLE SOLUTION.
SO, CURRENTLY, THE CITY COUNCIL
DOES NOT FOLLOW ANY REVIEW OR
APPROVAL PROCESS FOR INVESTMENTS
MADE IN TRANSIT SERVICE HOURS.
NEITHER DOES KING COUNTY METRO
COUNCIL APPROVED CHANGES IN OUR
INVESTMENTS AND BUS ROUTES. THE
COUNTY COUNCIL DOES HAPPEN TO
APPROVE WHEN A BUS STOP IS
CHANGED MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A
MILE. THEY ALSO APPROVE WHEN A
ROUTE IS BEING PROPOSED TO BE
CHANGED BY MORE THAN 20% OF
WHATEVER ITS ORIGINAL STATE WAS
AND THEY DO APPROVE WHETHER OR
NOT NEW ROUTES ARE ADDED. SO,
THIS WOULD BE A NEW PROCESS. THE
TIMING FOR THAT WOULD BE
SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO
DETERMINE. CURRENTLY S-DOT WORKS
WITH KING COUNTY METRO ON AN
ONGOING BASIS. S-DOT STAFF MEETS
WITH METRO ON A WEEKLY BASIS ON
ONGOING OPERATIONS, THEY MAKE
TWEAKS ASK CHANGES, THEY MAKE
TWO FORMAL CHANGES THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR TO SERVICE BASED ON
NEEDS AND CHANGES THAT THEY ARE
SEEING TO RIDERSHIP. AND,
REQUIRING AN ANNUAL APPROVAL
PROCESS WOULD OBVIOUSLY CHANGE
THAT OF HOW QUICKLY THEY COULD
MAKE ADDITIONAL CHANGES
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE WOULD
THEN BE CURTAILING THAT TO ONCE
A YEAR.
>> THANK YOU. AND I DON'T WANT
TO BELABOR THE POINT. I WANT TO
MAKE SURE I AM UNDERSTANDING IT
F. THERE WAS A PLAN BY METRO TO
MAKE, IF THERE WAS A PLAN BY
METRO TO MAKE A CHANGE, MIDYEAR,
WOULD THE LANGUAGE OF THIS
ORDINANCE THIS HAS ANNUALLY. IT
IS UNCLEAR TO ME THEY WOULD HAVE
TO COME BACK AND GET COUNCIL
APPROVAL OR FOREGO MAKING THAT
CHANGE TWICE IN A YEAR.
>> EXACTLY. YEAH.
>> MY FINAL QUESTION, ARE WE
AWARE OF ANY OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES, CITIES OR
COUNTIES, WHO HAVE THIS LEVEL OF
DECISION-MAKING REQUIREMENT FOR
SERVICE HOURS AND ROUTES?
>> YOU KNOW, GIVEN THE
COMPRESSED TIME SCHEDULE TO WORK
ON THE AMENDMENTS I RESEARCHED
IT IN A CURSORY MANOR AND I DID
NOT FIND ANY. NOW THAT I HAVE
MORE TIME I WILL FOLLOW UP AND
GET BACK TO COUNCILMEMBERS AND
LET THEM KNOW IF THERE ARE
COMPARATIVE COUNTIES.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU,, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. IF APPROVED
DOES THIS AMENDMENT INTEND TO
GIVE AUTHORITY WHAT ROUTES GET
LEVEL OF SERVICES?
>> I BELIEVE THAT IS THE
INSTENT.
>> UNDERSTOOD. AND HOW DOES THAT
JIVE? I MEAN THAT SEEMS IN
CONTRADICTION TO S-DOT EQUITY
SENTOR METHODOLOGY. I AM NOTING
THAT, ON THE TOP, MY CONCERNS ON
THAT POINT. AND, IN TERMS OF
IMPLEMENTATION, I APPRECIATE THE
DISCUSSION HOW SOMETHING LIKE
THIS WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AND
THAT AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN THE
AMENDMENT IS NOT SPECIFIC ABOUT
IF THE ORDINANCE WOULD BE AS
PART OF THE BUDGET OR A SEPARATE
STAND ALONE ORDINANCE. I AM
CURIOUS IF I MAY ASK THE SPONSOR
IF YOU HAVE AN INTENDED PATHWAY
THERE JUST SO I AM CLEAR IF YOU
HAD A PATHWAY IN MIND.
>> INTENDED PATHWAY REGARDING
WHAT SPECIFICALLY?
>> THE MATTER RELATED TO WHAT
THIS AMENDMENT SPEAKS OF HAVING
AN ORDINANCE AND SERVICE HOURS
AND ROUTES SERVED ANNUALLY. AND
CENTRAL STAFF NOTED IS IS, IT IS
NOT SPECIFIC AS TO IF THE BUDGET
PROCESS WOULD COUNT AS THAT
ORDINANCE OR A STAND ALONE
ORDINANCE. I WOULD LIKE TO
UNDERSTAND YOUR INTENT.
>> THE INTENT IS MAKING SURE WE
HAVE FULL TRANSPARENCY. MEMBERS
AS A COUNCIL. ABLE TO PROVIDE
EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT AND CONTROL
OF THIS SPENDING AND NOT WRITING
IN THE EXECUTIVE A BLANK CHECK
EVERY YEAR. AND I THINK IT IS A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY. THERE MAY BE,
I AM OPEN TO OTHER WAYS TO
SUBSTANTIALLY ACHIEVE THE SAME
SHARED GOALS IN TERMS OF MAKING
SURE THAT COUNCILMEMBERS CAN
PROVIDE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON A
YEARLY KIND OF SPENDING HOW
THESE FUNDS ARE SPENT TOO BOOST
FUNDS OF SERVICE IN THE
DISTRICT. I THINK IT IS AN
EFFECTIVE WAY. PLAY NOT BE THE
ONLY WAY IN TERMS OF THIS BEING
ONLY FOR A FUTURE ORDINANCE BEST
BE DURING THE ANNUAL BUDGET
PROCESS OR OTHER MID-YEAR. I AM
OPEN TO WHATEVER IS THE MOST
WORKABLE IN PRACTICE. THE BASIC
IDEA IS MAKING SURE, AGAIN, THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE, WELL THE
COUNCIL HAS STRONGER DIRECTIONAL
SAY IN HOW THE SERVICE LINES ARE
SPENT. RATHER THAN CALLING OUT
FRAMEWORK LEVEL GETTING A
STRONGER SAY IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION LEVEL ON A
YEAR-BY-YEAR BASIS.
>> CHAIR?
>> THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS? IT LOOKS LIKE NONE.
LET'S PRESS. WE HAVE 20 OR SO
OTHER AMENDMENTS TO GET THROUGH.
I WILL NOTE THAT SEATTLE IS KING
COUNTY METRO'S LARGEST
STRATEGIC OF ADDITIONAL TRANSIT
SERVICE ON TOP OF BASELINE
LEVELS AND SO THERE MAY OR MAY
NOT, I AM CURIOUS, GREAT
QUESTION, CURIOUS IF OTHER
JURISDICTIONS PROVIDES IT. NO
OTHERS PURCHASES OF SERVICES TO
THE LEVEL THAT WE DO IN SEATTLE.
MORE COMPELLING AND IT MAKES T
IS MORE OF A RATIONAL APPROACH
THAT WE AS A CITY WOULD WANT
THAT LEVEL. I AM CURIOUS WHERE
THE FACTS TAKE US ON THAT
ANSWER. LET'S MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT AMENDMENT, PLEASE.
>>> COUNCIL BILL WORN 121226
PRESENTED BY CHAIR SAKA. 10 YEAR
TO SIX YEAR, NINE MONTH TERM.
THE INTENT WOULD ALLOW THIS
TIMING TO CONTINUE COLLECTION OF
SALES TAX IN FUTURE BALLOT
MEASURE THAT MIGHT OCCUR AT A
SPECIAL ELECTION OR A PRIMARY
ELECTION DATE IN 2033.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE I GET INTO
MY COMMENTS CAN YOU CLARIFY WHEN
THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION LEVY
WILL BE UP FOR RENEWAL AND HOW
THIS AMENDMENT MIGHT IMPACT
THAT?
>> SURE. SO THE TRANSPORTATION
LEVY IS EXPECTED TO EXPIRE THE
YEAR PRIOR. SO THIS IS PUTTING
TO THE VOTERS IN, ASSUMING
RENEWALS DESIRED IN THE
FOLLOWING YEAR.
>> FOLLOWING YEAR.
>> SO, WHICH IS, WHICH IS WHY
THE ADDITIONAL NINE MONTH
FLEXIBILITY. THE IDEA THERE THAT
IT COULD BE IN, PUT ON A BALLOT
IN FEBRUARY ELECTION I SUPPOSE
IT COULD BE A SPECIAL ELECTION
OF SOME SORT. NOT THE INTENT
WITH FEBRUARY OPTION AVAILABLE.
IT COULD ALLOW FOR POTENTIAL
RENEWAL PLACED ON THE AUGUST
PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOT. THE
FOLLOWING YEAR WITH THAT NINE
MONTHS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I MISSED THE LAST PART
>> WITH THE SIX YEAR, NINE
MONTH, THE NINE MONTH DURATION,
I SUPPOSE, WOULD IT ALLOW A
POTENTIAL RENEWAL IF THIS WERE
TO PASS TO BE PLACED ON THE
AUGUST PRIMARY ELECTION OF THE
FOLLOWING YEAR?
>> YES, YES.
>> YEAH. SO, THE TIMING OF WHEN
AN ELECTION WOULD BE IDENTIFIED
WOULD HAVE TO, WOULD, IN PART,
BE INFLUENCED BY THE COMPONENTS
OF A FUTURE RENEWAL. IF A
VEHICLE LICENSE FEE WAS PART OF
A FUTURE RENEWAL THAT REQUIRES
US TO HAVE MORE LEAD TIME TO
NOTIFY THE STATE OF
IMPLEMENTATION. IF IT IS IN THE
FUTURE OF THE RENEWAL THAT WOULD
INCLUDE THE EARLIER TIME FRAME.
OTHERWISE IF IT IS SIMILAR TO
WHAT WE ARE REVIEWING TODAY THAT
WOULD ALLOW FOR THE PRIMARY
ELECTION TIME.
>> ALL RIGHT. GOT IT. THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, I THINK THIS
AMENDMENT IS PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD. IT WOULD JUST
RESTORE THE DURATION TO
HISTORICAL LEVELS. HISTORICALLY
BEEN A 6-YEAR TERM AND SO THIS
WOULD RESTORE ESSENTIALLY
RESTORE THAT. THE REASON IT IS
NOT A FULL SIX YEAR THAT COULD
POTENTIALLY CONFLICT WITH
PERSPECTIVE RENEWAL OF THE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY. THIS WOULD
ALLOW GREATER FLEXIBILITY SO
THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN. AND,
AGAIN, JUST PUTS THE MEASURE IN
LINE WITH HISTORICAL DURATIONS.
ESPECIALLY PAIRED AGAINST, IN
CONTEXT OF, YOU KNOW, SOME OF
THE OTHER AMENDMENTS, CALLING
FOR REVENUE AND STATE REFORM AT
THE STATE LEVEL. IF AND WHEN THE
CHANGES ARE MADE. LIKELY IN THE
NEXT SIX YEARS, MAKING THE TIME
FRAME, RESTORING IT WITH
SIX-YEAR TERM, IT WOULD ALLOW US
TO REVISIT WHAT IS THE BEST AND
MOST APPROPRIATE USE OF OUR
TAXATION AUTHORITY THAT WE ARE
GRANTED BY THE STATE TO FULFILL
THE SAME GOALS WE ARE SEEKING TO
FULFILL WITH THIS PROPOSED
RENEWAL TRANSIT MEASURE. THAT IS
TO EXPAND THE SERVICE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. FOR THOSE
REASONS. THANK YOU. ANY
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? HEARING AND
SEEING ONE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> I AM REALLY ON THE MIC TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR SAKA.
I BELIEVE THE LEVY ALLOWS US TO
GO UP TO .3% OVER THE 10 YEAR
TERM. HOWEVER, MY UNDERSTANDING
IS COUNCIL HAS THE ABILITY AT
ANY POINT IN TIME MAKE A
REDUCTION IN THE RATE IF AS
NEEDED IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> OKAY. WE CAN MAKE IT WITHOUT
REQUIRING IT TO GO BACK TO
VOTERS
>> CORRECT. RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. LOOKS LIKE WE CAN PRESS
TO THE NEXT AMENDMENT.
>> AMENDMENT 13 TO COUNCIL BILL
121226 IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND AMENDS
THE SALES TAX TO A .2% RATE.
REDUCING THE SALES TAX FROM THE
PROPOSED .3 DOWN TO .2. .2 SALES
TAX WOULD GENERATE $921 MILLION
OVER 10 YEARS AS COMPARED TO
$460 MILLION LESS THAN IN THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION. THE
AMENDMENT WOULD REMOVE FUNDING
ALLOCATED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE CURRENT $5 MILLION WOULD BE
0ED OUT AND CHANGE THE LANGUAGE
FOR THE BALLOT. FUNDING FOR
TRANSIT ACCESS PARTICIPATION FOR
THE CITY'S SOUND TRANSIT,
STAFFING FOR THE STREETCAR WOULD
REMAIN AS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.
THE 10 YEAR TERM WOULD REMAIN
UNCHANGED. THIS WOULD REDUCE THE
TOTAL OF SERVICE HOURS PURCHASED
FROM KING COUNTY METRO BY ABOUT
1.1 MILLION. AND WOULD PROVIDE
ABOUT 2.6 MILLION HOURS OVER 10
YEARS. BASED ON MY BEST
ESTIMATES AND HAVE NOT BEEN
VERIFIED WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
THE .2 MEASURE MAY ALLOW
APPROXIMATELY 160 MILLION
TRANSIT HOURS DELIVERED AND
REMOVING THE CATEGORY OF
INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING
POTENTIAL PROJECTS THAT MIGHT
HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FOR THROUGH
THE STM WOULD NEED TO BE FUNDED
BY OTHER SOURCES SUCH AS THE
2024 TRANSPORTATION LEVY.
REDUCING THE TAX TAX WILL
RESERVE .1 TAX AUTHORITY THAT
COUNCIL COULD DECIDE TO -- LEVY.
THAT IS COUNCIL PANIC. UNDER THE
AUTHORITY OF THIS COUNCIL TO
ALLOCATE. AND WOULD NOT REQUIRE
A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
>>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. AS
AUTHOR YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANT TO
THANK MRS. ALLAN AND GORMAN FOR
BEING HERE. APPRECIATE TALKING
ABOUT IT. HEALTHY TRANSIT AND
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR
SEATTLE. BOTH STRONG SUPPORTER
AND BELIEVER IN PUBLIC TRANSIT I
KNOW HOW VITAL THE CONNECTIONS
ARE TO THE DAILY LIVES AS NOTED
IN PUBLIC COMMENT. HOWEVER, WE
MUST SPEND OUR PUBLIC'S DOLLARS
STRATEGICALLY INSTEAD OF JUST
RAISING SALES TAX BECAUSE WE
CAN. EVERY DAY I HEAR FROM
NEIGHBORS ABOUT HOW LIVING IN
SEATTLE IS LESS AND LESS
AFFORDABLE. PRESERVING THE
FLEXIBILITY WE PLEAD FOR
EMERGENCY TRANSIT INVESTMENT.
THE MAYOR'S CURRENT RELEASE WAS
ON THE THIRD AND DOUBLES THE
SALES TAX THAT SUPPORTS THE
TRANSIT FROM .15 TO .3%. YOU
HEARD THE INCREASE IS IN TERMS
OF DOLLARS AND ALSO IN THE
TRANSIT. IT ASSUMES MAJOR
INCREASES IN RIDERSHIP. AS OF
POST PANDEMIC RIDERSHIP
RECOVERED TO ABOUT SPENT% OF THE
2019 NUMBERS AND 15% ARE
COMMUTERS COMPARED TO 60% IN
2019. AND, THIS AMENDMENT
ACKNOWLEDGES THE 100,000 TRANSIT
HOUR INCREASE ANTICIPATED TO BE
PLAYED IN 2028. IT WILL HELP
SUPPORT SALES SERVICES AND IT
WILL BE ADDED AND ADDED TO BY
THE .1% THAT IS THERE. IT IS
WHAT IS JUST NOTED. COMPARED TO.
IT IS BUILDING ON WHAT IS ADDED
BY KING COUNTY METRO. THE
ALTERNATIVER IS SERVES -- IT
GOES TO THE POINT THAT HAS BEEN
BROUGHT UP. AND, SO, YOU KNOW,
THAT WE CAN BE ADDING. THIS
AMENDMENT REDUCES DUPLICATE
FUNDING FOR CAPITAL SPENDING AS
VOTERS APPROVED IN THE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY IN 2024.
AND, ADDITIONALLY MAINTAINS THE
PROGRAM GIVING OUT PASSES TO
REDUCE THE IMPACT OF THE SALES
TAX. I NOTE THIS BECAUSE THIS
SALES TAX MEASURE CAN NOT JUST
BE SEEN IN ISOLATION BUT IN THE
CONTEXT OF WHAT THE COUNTY AND
THE STATE ARE DOING. VARIOUS TAX
BILLS IN OLYMPIA BY THE STATE
OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS.
SOMETIMES WITH, YOU KNOW, TAX
PIECES RESCINDED OR CORRECTED
THE NEXT YEAR. WE HAD LEVY'S
PASSED JUSTIFIED IN AND OF
THEMSELVES BUT ADD TO THE
COLLECTIVE AMOUNT. WE HAD SALES
TAX MEASURES ACROSS THE BOARD TO
INCLUDE RECENTLY BY THE COUNTY.
WE HAD TO ENGAGE ON. HIGH
AGGRESSIVE SALES TAXES. IN
ADDITION WE HAVE HAD EVERINVEES
CREASING RACE FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIGHTS. EACH SALES TAX IS DONE
IN ISOLATION. AND EACH ONE COULD
BE ARGUED. BUT, WHO LOOKS OUT
FOR THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT? WHO
LOOKS AT THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT?
JUST OUR STATE TREASURE? I
DON'T KNOW. CENTRAL STAFF? WHO
LOOKS AT THE COLLECTIVE. OF ALL
OF THESE PIECES. THIS IS SOME
THAT I THINK WE AS WELL DO.
AFFORDABILITY. WE HAD A BRIEFING
ON AFFORDABILITY AND FINANCE
BUDGET. I SPOKE LIKE EVERYBODY
ELSE, AFFORDABILITY ISSUES FOR
OUR RESIDENTS. THE BURDENS ARE E
MENTION. AND LOOKING AT THE
IMPACT ON BUSINESSES THAT ARE
IMMENSE, TOO. LEADING TO OTHER
AFFORDABILITY ISSUES LIKE TAX
BURDENS SHIFTED FROM COMMERCIAL
TO RESIDENTIAL. THE LAST POINT
THAT I MADE, WE AS A GOVERNMENT.
THIS IS WITH THE LAST COMMITTEE
MEETING, WE AS GOVERNMENT ACROSS
STATE COUNTY AND GOVERNMENT
LEVELS HAVE AN IMPACT ON A
TOWARDS A AFFORDABILITY. WE HAVE
TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ON
AFFORDABILITY. WE HAVE TO HAVE
THE DISCUSSION ON THE COLLECTIVE
IMPACT ON WHAT WE DO AT THE
STATE COUNTY AND LOCAL AREA HERE
IN SEATTLE. WE HAVE TO NOTE WHAT
IS KING COUNTY'S CAPACITY? NOT
SPOKEN TO, WHAT IS THE CAPACITY
TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES. THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN NOT JUST
WISH AWAY OR HOPE FOR. WE NEED
TO UNDERSTAND. AND TIED TO THIS
AND TO THAT POINT IS THE FACT
THAT SADLY NOT MENTIONED A LOT
IN ARTICLES OR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IT HAS BEEN SPOKEN TO IN
DIFFERENT POINTS WITH PUBLIC
COMMENT. AND THAT IS JUST NOTED,
TOO. WE DO HAVE THE RESERVE. THE
.1% THAT WE CAN ADD TO IT. AFTER
WE ENSURED KING COUNTY METRO HAS
THAT CAPACITY AND LOOKING AT
AFFORDABILITY ISSUES AND REALLY
RAISED THE QUESTIONS OF WHAT IS
THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT ON OUR
RESIDENTS, ON THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE. AND, YOU KNOW, I BRING
IT UP BECAUSE RECENTLY, YOU KNOW
I AM FROM NEW YORK, AND THE
MAYOR IN NEW YORK SPEAKING FROM
A DSA PERSPECTIVE SAID THAT THE
FACT THAT WORKING PEOPLE ARE FED
UP. WHETHER WE LOOK AT THIS
COUNTRY WE KNOW THE ONLY
MAJORITY THAT REALLY EXISTS IS
THAT OF WORKING CLASS. FOR TOO
LONG IT IS NOT REFLECTED IN OUR
POLITICS. FOR TOO LONG, OUR
POLITICS IS NOT STRUGGLING
MAKING RENT OR GOING TO THE
GROCERY STORE OR HAVING A KID.
FURTHER THERE IS A BELIEF THAT
WORKING PEOPLE HAVE TO RETURN
BACK TO THE HEART OF POLITICS.
THERE IS NOT JUST A DS APPOINT.
THIS IS A POINT FOR US AS WELL.
MAJORITY OF US GREW UP WORKING
CLASS. WE HAVE TO HAVE AN
UNDERSTANDING. AGAIN, EACH OF
THE MEASURES WE DO IS LOOKED AT
INDIVIDUALLY. BUT, WHERE IS THE
PUBLIC POLICY REVIEW IN TERMS OF
WHAT IS THAT CUMULATIVE? WHAT IS
THAT COMBINING EFFECT HAVE ON
OUR RESIDENTS? LOOKING AT IT AS
A TAX MEASURE. AND FOR THOSE
REASONS I RAISE THIS UP AND
AGAIN, NOT OFTEN NOTED AND WE DO
HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADD THE .1
AFTER DOING THE GOOD GOVERNANCE
MEASURES AND STRONG DISCUSSION
ON AFFORDABILITY AND OUR ROLE AS
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
PARTICULARLY IN PARTNERSHIP TO
COUNTY AND STATE COLLEAGUES.
WITH THE THAT, CLAIRE, IT IS MY
SUBMISSION OF AMEND -- CHAIR, IT
IS MY SUBMISSION OF AMENDMENT
13.
>> I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE FOR HIS ATTENTION TO
AFFORDABILITY PIECE. I CARE
ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.
PARTICULARLY WHETHER IT COMES TO
THE MOST AGGRESSIVE KIND OF
SALES TAX WHICH IS A SALES TAX.
I, I WOULD SAY THAT THE
ONE-PIECE I AM, SO I APPRECIATE
YOU COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE FOR
BRINGING IT FORWARD, I OFTEN
WILL SAY THAT WE ARE TAXING POOR
TO PEOPLE TO HELP POOR PEOPLE.
THAT IS WHY THE SALES TAX
INCREASES SUCH -- IT DOES
DISTRESS ME IN TERMS OF THE
AFFORDABILITY PIECE FOR OUR
WORKING FOLKS IN TOWN. I WILL
SAY IN TERMS OF THE THIS
PARTICULAR MEASURE WE HAVE HAD
IT FOR AWHILE. THE .2 DOES NOT
GET TO THE INFLATION PIECE. IT
WAS A 1.5%. ACCOUNTING TO
INFLATION TURNING INTO TODAY IT
BEING A 2 POINT, EXCUSE ME. A
.223 INCREASE WOULD COVER THE
INFLATION AND THAT WAY KEEP OUR
SERVICE LEVELS TO WHAT IT HAS
BEEN. IT JUST WOULD NOT ADD TO
IT. BUT, IT IS IMPORTANT, I
THINK, TO PRESERVE OUR SERVICE
LEVELS. I THINK THE INFLATION
PIECE IS IMPORTANT HERE AS A
FRIENDLY PIECE, COUNCILMEMBER,
KETTLE, BUT, I DO APPRECIATE ANY
ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE
SALES TAX PIECE? THAT IS ALL I
WILL SAY FOR NOW. THANKS, CHAIR.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT
FORWARD. IMPORTANT DISCUSSION,
WE ARE DOUBLING THE PACT, THAT
IS NOT THE SAME AS PANDEMIC WE
WERE NOT ABLE TO PURCHASE AS
MANY DOLLARS AND WE USED THEM
FOR OTHER PURPOSES. IT WAS UNTIL
AUGUST 2021 THAT MY ENTIRE LIFE
UNTIL AUGUST 2021 I COULD WALK
TO A BUS. AND IT HAS -- HAVE NOT
BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT SINCE. THAT
IS WHERE THESE ALTERNATIVE USES
CAME IN. IN MY OPINION THEY
SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON TRANSIT
HOURS. IF METRO COULD PROVIDE AS
MANY HOURS AS WE COULD BUY I
WOULD ADD A VRF, GETTING VOTER
APPROVAL FOR A HIGHER LEVEL AND
GIVING US ROOM TO HAVE COUNCIL
AUTHORITY IN THE FUTURE. AND I
SAY THAT BECAUSE THERE IS, THIS
TYPE OF APPROACH OF GETTING
VOTER APPROVAL FOR A HIGHER
LEVEL THAN WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY
SPENDING IS SOMETHING THAT WE
HAVE DONE IN THE PAST WITH THE
METRO PARKS DISTRICT AND IT IS A
GOOD TOOL. I THINK WE AS WELL
LOOK AT THE NEXT YEAR AND THE
YEARS COMING IF WE ARE
COLLECTING MORE REVENUE THAN
METRO IS ABLE TO SPEND ON
TRANSIT HOURS I THINK IT COULD
COME BACK AND HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION AGAIN. AT THERE
TIME I AM SET TO BUYING AS MANY.
THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUES ARE
REAL. IT IS TAKEN ME SIX PLUS
YEARS TO GET A CHANGE ON THE
DISCOUNT PROGRAM. JUST WITH THE
WITH IT. WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY
AS RELIEF AND I AM REALLY
EXCITED THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET
THIS DISCOUNT PROGRAM THAT WE
ARE ABLE TO INCREASE THE
ELIGIBILITY AND INCREASE SIGN UP
AND, YOU KNOW, I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENT FROM
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AND RINCK.
SO, I THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD
AND IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. I
THINK WE NEED TO BE MONITORING
METRO TO SEE HOW MANY HOURS THEY
ARE ABLE TO BUY FROM US OR WE
ARE ABLE TO BUY FROM THEM AND WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS
TRANSIT MEASURE IS FOCUSED ON
TRANSIT AND NOT CONCRETE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR.
AND I APOLOGIZE. MY COMPUTER DID
AN AUTOMATIC RESET. SO, I CAN
NOT SEE THE AMENDMENT. BUT,
COUNCIL AND CENTRAL STAFF I WANT
TO ASK A QUESTION TO YOU. FIRST
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I
UNDERSTAND THE HEART AND INTENT
BEHIND THIS AMENDMENT. I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT R AROUND OUR
ABILITY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
DELIVERING EFFICIENT SERVICE
FROM CLIMATE PERSPECTIVE AND
MAKING SURE WE ARE PROVIDING
SUFFICIENT SERVICE FOR OUR
RESIDENTS WHO ARE LOW INCOME,
MAY NOT OWN CARS OR OTHER MEANS
TO TRAVEL. BUT, HERE, I GUESS,
CAN YOU JUST SPEAK TO GET THE
AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT LOCKED
IN A LITTLE BIT. I KNOW WE HAD
THE AVERAGE COST, THE COST FOR
AN AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD AT .3%. AND
UNFORTUNATELY I NO LONGER HAVE
IT PULLED UP IN FRONT OF MY.
THAT WAS PRESENTED PREVIOUSLY.
IF YOU CAN REMIND US OF THAT AND
TELL US THE COST FOR HOUSEHOLD
IT IS AT .2%. I WANT TO
UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE TWO. IF YOU HAVE IT,
I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER'S
NOT LOSING THE SERVICE HOURS. WE
TALKED ABOUT IT PREVIOUSLY, THE
.223%. SO, WHAT I WOULD LOVE IS
UNDERSTAND THAT DIFFERENCE.
AGAIN BY AVERAGE AND BY LOW
INCOME HOUSEHOLD. I KNOW WE HAD
BOTH OF THE NUMBERS PRESENTED TO
US PREVIOUSLY.
>> YES. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER. SO, THE MEDIUM
INCOME, TWO-PERSON HOUSEHOLD,
$121,000 A YEAR. THE ANNUAL COST
OF THE PROPOSED STM AT .3 WOULD
BE $58. AND AT .2 IT WOULD BE
ALMOST $39. WE WILL SAY $38.67.
ROUND UP. FOR THE LOW INCOME,
TWO-PERSON HOUSEHOLD MAKING
$38,000 A YEAR. THE .3 COST IS
ABOUT $35 AND THE .2 COST IS
ABOUT $23.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU, CHAIR.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. IT
LOOKS LIKE NO FURTHER COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS. OH, ONE MORE FROM
RIVERA.
>> THOSE NUMBERS, IT WAS GIVEN
FOR ONE PARTICULAR ITEM BUT THAT
IS ADDITIVE TO THE OTHER SALES
TAX AND PROPERTY TAX
CONVERSATION. OTHER LEVY'S WE
DO AROUND HERE. I JUST WANT TO
PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE AND
UNDERSCORE THAT AS WE GET THE
FIGURES. ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE
ADDITIVE AND THAT IS IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. JUST TO
CLOSE, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS
THAT I RECEIVED FROM EVERYBODY.
BY THE WAY I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT
BEING THERE IN PERSON. I AM
AWAY. I DON'T HAVE MY GLASSES
ON AS I WAS READING MY COMMENTS.
I WANTED TO NOTE, YES, COUNCIL
WE CAN GO TO .1, I AM AWARE OF
THE 2.3. THERE IS THE
CONVERSATION, COLLEAGUES TO LOOK
AT WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE IN
TERMS OF PUBLIC TRANSIT IN WHICH
I 110% SUPPORT. BUT, ALSO, DRIVE
THE AFFORDABILITY AND GOOD
GOVERNORRANCE. I AM WILLING TO
TALK WITH ALL OF THIS ON THESE
ISSUES AND YOU CAN HAVE THE
CONVERSATION AND AGAIN,
APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS FROM YOU
AND, AND REALLY TO HAVE THIS
AFFORDABILITY AND GOOD
GOVERNORRANCE CONVERSATION WITH
YOU BETWEEN NOW AND THE 16th
>> THANK YOU
>> THANK YOU. I WILL CLOSEOUT BY
SHARING, SAYING, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE FOR YOUR
PROPOSED AMENDMENT. I APPRECIATE
THE INTENT AND THE SPIRIT THERE.
ADDRESSING AFFORDABILITY. THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS THAT
SORT OF SPEAK TO AFFORDABILITY
INCLUDING ONE OF MY OWN, THE
LAST ONE WE DISCUSSED TO SHORTEN
THE TERM. I DID NOT MENTION
THAT. ONE OF THAT IS
AFFORDABILITY. SIX YEARS, NINE
MONTHS OVER A 10 YEAR TERM. BUT,
A NUMBER OF THEM TO SPEAK TO.
THIS IS YOUR AMENDMENT 13,
SPEAKING TO IT. I APPRECIATE THE
SPIRIT. IN ANY EVENT, THANK YOU,
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
>>> AMENDMENT 16 TO COUNCIL BILL
121226 IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RIN CK. IT COULD
CLARIFY THE REVENUES THAT THEY
MAY BE USED TO SUPPORT TRANSIT
SERVICES AT NIGHT. CURRENTLY THE
STM DOES ALLOW FOR TRANSIT
SERVICE NIGHTTIME TRANSIT
SERVICE HOURS TO BE PURCHASED
AND THIS MAKES IT EXPLICIT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, IT IS
STRAIGHTFORWARD. METRO IS
RAMPING UP THEIR NIGHT SERVICE
AS RIDER TRENDS CHANGE WITH NEW
NEEDS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO OFFER
AND IT IS WORTHY ENOUGH TO MAKE
IT SIGNIFICANT AND SIGNAL OUR
SUPPORT FOR IT. I MISSED MY BUS
AND HAD TO WAIT IN THE DARK FOR
30 MINUTES AFTER GETTING OFF OF
A SHIFT TO -- WAIT TABLES. I AM
SURE THERE WOULD BE PEOPLE HAPPY
TO PAY FOR $1 OR $3 TO GET HOME
ON TIME AND GET REST FOR THE
NEXT DAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS
RINCK. I SHARE FROM M█Y
PERSPECTIVE. APPRECIATE YOU
BRINGING IT FORWARD. THIS IS
ALREADY AN AUTHORIZED EXPENSE IN
TODAY'S PROPOSAL. THERE ARE
MANY VALID POLICY REASONS FOR
SPECIFICALLY UPLIFTING A NEW ONE
EXPRESSING IT AND MAKING IT
EXPLICIT WHAT IS AUTHORIZED
TODAY. APPRECIATE IT.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, FINAL
COMMENT ON IT.
>> THIS IS A NEW ONE. I HAVE NOT
COMMENTED ON THIS ONE YET. THANK
YOU, CHAIR. FOR BRINGING THERE
FORWARD. A LOT OF WORKERS THAT
WORK OVERNIGHT AND RELY ON THE
NIGHT SERVICE. SO, THAT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. MY ONLY POINT
I WANT TO CLARIFY. THE WAY IT IS
WRITTEN IT MAKES IT SOUNDS LIKE
IT IS PRIORITIZED WITHIN THE
FRAMEWORK, DOES THAT MEAN WITHIN
OTHER SERVICE HOURS? I ASK THE
SPONSOR IF THAT WAS THE INTENT.
JUST MAKING SURE THAT IS NOT THE
CASE NECESSARILY.
>> VICE CHAIR, GO AHEAD.
>> NO IT IS NOT. THANK YOU FOR
THE QUESTION AND CLARIFYING IT
IS JUST TO MAKE IT EXPLICIT.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> ANY FINAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS?
>> HEARING, SEEING NONE, LET'S
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PROPOSED
AMENDMENT.
>>> MOVING ON TO A NEW CATEGORY
HERE. IMPACT OF POTENTIAL NEW OR
EXPANDED REVENUE SOURCES THAT WE
HAVE TWO AMENDMENTS IN THIS
CATEGORY. I WILL PRESENT BOTH OF
THEM. FIRST IS AMENDMENT 11 TO
COUNCIL BILL 121226 SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. IT WOULD ADD
A RECITAL TO THE BILL AND
COLLECTING WITH THE PARTNERS TO
ADVOCATE FOR STATE AUTHORIZATION
OF NEW PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
SOURCES TO BENEFIT TRANSIT. IT
WOULD ALLOW THE COUNCIL IN THE
FUTURE TO AMEND THE SEATTLE TAX
RATE AND OR ELIGIBLE USE FOR THE
FUNDING AS THE STATE AUTHORIZED
NEW RESOURCES.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK TO YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND, PART
OF THIS IS, CLARIFYING WHAT I
BELIEVE IS ALREADY THE CASE IF
THIS MOVES FORWARD. THAT IS THAT
THIS, IF THIS TAX IS APPROVED BY
COUNCIL AND THEN APPROVED BY
VOTERS IT GIVES US THE AUTHORITY
TO DO IT BUT NOT REQUIRE US.
GIVING THE AUTHORITY IF IT IS
PROPOSED UP TO 10 YEARS. AGAIN.
IF THE IDEA BEHIND THIS IS THAT
IF WE COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT
FUNDING SOURCE OR A BETTER
FUNDING SOURCE OF THE STATE
GIVES US DIFFERENT AUTHORITY. 10
YEARS SAY LONG TIME. AND, YOU
KNOW. THERE IS. I THINK, A LOT
OF INTEREST IN WORKING ON HOW WE
FUND TRANSIT NOT JUST, YOU KNOW,
HERE LOCALLY BUT REGIONALLY. IT
IS A BIG ISSUE. AND, SO, THIS
WOULD JUST KIND OF SIGNAL THAT
IT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR US
AS COUNCIL TO WORK WITH REGIONAL
PARTNERS TO WORK WITH OUR STATE
PARTNERS TO EXPLORE DIFFERENT
WAYS TO FUND TRANSIT. I. I
BELIEVE IN TERMS OF
AFFORDABILITY, IN TERMS OF,
THERE IS BOTH HOW WE TAX AND
WHAT WE SPEND IT ON. WHAT WE
SPEND IT ON IN TERMS OF TRANSIT
I CAN NOT IMAGINE SOMETHING MORE
IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF
AFFORDABILITY. WE KNOW TRANSIT
IS ONE OF THE TOP COSTS FOR
HOUSEHOLDS AND WE KNOW THAT AS
WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR LONG-TERM
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, DEDICATED
SOURCE FOR TRANSIT THAT WE CAN
RELY UPON IT IS CRITICAL FOR US
AS WE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. I
ALSO THINK IT IS CRITICAL FOR
US, AGAIN, COMMITTING TO THIS
LEVEL OF SPENDING ON TRANSIT. AS
WE THINK ABOUT THE CLIMATE
CHANGE. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE
ESTIMATES THAT SWITCHING FROM
DRIVING FOR AN INDIVIDUAL CAN
REDUCE YOUR CLIMATE IMPACT BY UP
TO 4600 POUNDS. EQUAL TO ABOUT
100 TREES FOR YEAR. WE HAVE A
DIFFICULT DEBATE ABOUT TREES AND
HOUSING, REALLY, WE NEED TO BE
FOCUSING ON TRANSIT. AGAIN, THIS
COMMIT TO TRANSIT IS, I THINK,
IMPORTANT. BUT THAT DOES NOT
MEAN THAT IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT
WE SHOULD NOT BE LOOKING AT
TRANSIT FUNDING. WITH THAT,
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF
FOLKS HAVE ANY.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR RINCK
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU. NO QUESTIONS ON
THIS POINT BUT I WANTED TO ASK
IF I ASK -- ASK IF I CAN BE A
CO-SPONSOR. WE HAVE NOT DONE
THAT. BUT THAT IS PART OF OUR
TASK. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK TO BE
A CO-SPONSOR.
>> YES. LET THE RECORD REFLECT
THAT COUNCILMEMBER RINCK WOULD
LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR THIS.
>> ALL RIGHT. I AM LOOKING OVER
AT OUR COLLEAGUES, TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES, LET'S MOVE ON TO
THE NEXT AMENDMENT. SIMILAR IN
MANY REGARDS.
>> AMENDMENT 17 IS SPONSORED BY
VICE CHAIR RINCK. AMEND A
RECITAL IN THE BILL AND ADD TWO
NEW RECITALS NAMING THE
COLLABORATION WITH KING COUNTY
TO ENACT A FUNDING MEASURE AND
TO IDENTIFY NEW LOCAL
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE OPTIONS TO
FUND SUCH MEASURES INVESTMENTS
WITH THE INTENT THAT THE NEW
REVENUE REPLACE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE FUNDING. THIS AMENDMENT
WOULD ALLOW THE COUNCIL TO AMEND
THE SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE TAX
RATE IN OR ELIGIBLE USE AS A
FUNDING IF NEW OR EXPENDED
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE IS
AUTHORIZED BY THE CITY.
>> ALL RIGHT. VICE RINCK YOU CAN
SPEAK TO YOUR AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA.
>> COLLEAGUES, I MENTIONED,
DURING THE LAST SESSION I MET
WITH LEGISLATURES IN AN EFFORT
TO SEE ABOUT EXPANDING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCALITIES TO
HAVE EXPANDED AUTHORITY ON
FUNDING OUR TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICTS, PARTICULARLY
TO HAVE MORE PROGRESSIVE OPTIONS
TO HELP MOVE US AWAY FROM SALES
TAX. UNFORTUNATELY THAT EFFORT
WAS OVERSHADOWED BY A NUMBER OF
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT THE
STATE WAS WORKING ON. OF COURSE,
THAT ALLOWS US AND THAT PUT US
IN THE POSITION RIGHT NOW. THIS
AMENDMENT FOCUSES ON OUR LOCAL
EFFORTS THAT WE CAN TAKE TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE MORE PROGRESSIVE
WAYS TO FUND OUR TRANSPORTATION
SERVICES. AND, SO, THIS
AMENDMENT INCLUDES IT TO NEW
REVENUE BUT COMMERCIAL PARKING
TAX. THIS, IN MANY WAYS,
COMPLEMENTS THE PREVIOUS
AMENDMENT WE HAD AN OVERVIEW ON.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> JUST WOULD LIKE TO
CO-SPONSOR.
>> ALL RIGHT. NOTED. AWESOME.
THANK YOU. LOOKS LIKE NO OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. SO, A
QUESTION FROM MY PERSPECTIVE TO
CENTRAL STAFF ON THIS ONE.
SIMILAR TO MANY IN MATERIAL
RESPECTS KEY DIFFERENCE HERE WAS
NOTED THIS ONE CALLS OUT
SPECIFIC THINGS LIKE CONGESTION
PRICING AND COMMERCIAL PARKING
TAX. CAN YOU HELP ME BETTER
UNDERSTAND HOW MANY
JURISDICTIONS IN THE U.S.
CURRENTLY HAVE CONGESTION
PRICING?
>> AS OF, AS OF RIGHT NOW, ONLY
NEW YORK CITY HAS CONGESTION
PRICING PROGRAM IN EFFECT. IT
STARTED ON JANUARY 1st OF 2025
>> GOT IT, GOT IT.
>> UNDER THE NEW YORK CITY
CONGESTION PRICING MODEL,
CURIOUS COULD THIS CONTEMPLATE
THE EXPANSION SERVICE FOR NEW
PRICING IF, SHALL ONE BE
IMPLEMENTED ONE DAY IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. CAN YOU HELP ME
UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT MODEL,
FROM NEW YORK CITY MODEL, HOW
MUCH OF THE REVENUES ARE
GENERATED FOR CONGESTION PRICES.
>> I HAVE HIGH-LEVEL
INFORMATION.
>> SERVICE.
>> YES. NOT AN EXPERT BUT HAPPY
TO FOLLOW UP LATER IF
INFORMATION IS NEEDED.
>> REVENUE FROM THE NEW YORK
CITY CONGESTION PRICING PROGRAM,
80% OF THE REVENUES FUND NEW
YORK CITY TRANSIT. 10% GO TO THE
LONG ISLAND RAILROAD AND USES OF
THOSE FUNDS ARE TRACK
EXPANSIONS, STATION RENOVATION
COMES COMMUTER LINE
INFRASTRUCTURE. TO ME THAT, THAT
SOUNDS LIKE CAPITAL. ANOTHER 10%
GOES TO THE METRO NORTH
RAILROAD. STATION IMPROVEMENTS,
POWER SYSTEM UPGRADES AND LINE
RELIABILITY. THE TOTAL REVENUES
COLLECTED IN THE FIRST YEAR FOR
CONGESTION PRICES FOR $562
MILLION AFTER OFF-SETTING
OPERATING EXPENSES. SO, ABOUT
$56 MILLION EACH FOR THE LONG
ISLAND RAILROAD AND THE METRO
NORTH RAILROAD.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. 20% -- 20%
CAPITAL. 80% FOR PURELY FOR
TRANSIT SERVICE? IS THAT
CORRECT?
>> TRANSIT SERVICE, SUBWAYS,
BUSES, STATEN ISLAND RAILWAYS.
>> SUBWAYS, BUSES LIKE
PURCHASING SUBWAYS AND THE BUSES
THEMSELVES? IF THAT IS TRUE THAT
IS A CAPITAL.
>> NO, EXCUSE ME, TRANSIT
SERVICE.
>> TRANSIT SERVICE. HOURS,
FURLOUGHS, NOT THE PURCHASING OF
SUBWAY AND TRAINS .
>> I HESITATE TO GET TOO APPLES
TO APPLES ABOUT IT. I AM NOT
FAMILIAR WITH THE SPECIFIC
LANGUAGE IN THE NEW YORK CITY
AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION BUT I
WILL, I WILL FOLLOW UP.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT.
WHAT WAS THE TOTAL AMOUNT $562
MILLION COLLECTED IN THE FIRST
YEAR.
>> GOT IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE ON THAT. LOOKS LIKE
THERE ARE NO OTHERS. LET US
PRESS TO THE NEXT AMENDMENT. IN
NEXT AMENDMENT WE MOVE TO A NEW
CATEGORY. AMENDMENTS THAT
CONCERN OVERSIGHT AND REPORTING.
RELATED TO THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE. FOR THOSE WHO ARE
LOOKING AT AMENDMENT 6 IN THE
AGENDA PACKET THERE IS A
FORMATTING ERROR IN THIS
AMENDMENT. ALL OF THE PROPOSED
NEW BILL LANGUAGE SHOULD BE IN
RED AND UNDER LINED.
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
>> NUMBER OF PEOPLE THERE, FIRST
AVENUE AND ALSO WITH THE
WATERFRONT. AND, SO, THAT IS,
THAT IS THE FOCUS -- AND .
>> YES, AMENDMENT 14 IS
REQUESTING THE METRO ON THE USE
OF THEIR CURRENT SMALLER BUSES
AND ON THE POTENTIAL I WILL
LEAVE IT TO YOU, AND TO THE
CONSEQUENCES OF DOWNTOWN. AND,
YOU KNOW,
LIKE. IT IS OUR EVENTS DOWNTOWN.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS, IT IS JUST
LIKE WHAT WE SEE ON THE BRIDGE
AND DOWNTOWN WHERE THE BUSES
DON'T FIT. AND AS I MENTIONED
IN THE EARLIER MEETING I WE
DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TRIPLE
SEVENs. AND THEY DON'T FIT. AND
ON FIRST AVENUE. THEY USE IT AS
A TURN AROUND FOR THE BUS
ROUTES. SO, AGAIN, THIS, THIS
CREATES A BIG CHALLENGE FOR WHAT
IS LANING IN DOWNTOWN. AND THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP,
AGAIN AND AGAIN IN DISCUSSIONS
AND RESIDENT COMES COMMUNITIES
AND THIS IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE
ISSUE AND TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW,
DRIVE, DRIVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO
GET, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY BUSES,
TRANSIT, THAT IS RIGHT SIZED FOR
THE AREA. AGAIN, THIS IS NOT
LOOKING AT IT BROADLY. THERE IS
UNIQUE IN TERMS OF THE DENSE
AREAS THAT WE HAVE AND RIGHT
SIZING THE SERVICE DUE TO THE
CIRCUMSTANCES. AND, AND, THAT IS
REALLY, THAT IS REALLY WHAT THIS
AMENDMENT IS ALL ABOUT, THANK
YOU, -- THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COMMENTS ON THIS,
NUMBER 14 IN.
>> HEARING AND SEEING NONE. LET
US PRESS TO THE NEXT AMENDMENT.
AND I THINK IT IS, AMENDMENT
NUMBER 23. YES.
>> AND AMENDMENT 23 TO COUNCIL
BILL 121226 IS ALSO SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. REGARD BUS
STOP SPACING AND TRANSIT
DELIVERY AND BALANCED AGAINST
INCREASING ACCESS TO BUS ROUTES.
THE REPORT WOULD REQUEST
ANALYSIS ON HOW CLOSELY METRO
FOLLOWS ITS CURRENT POLICIES ON
BUS STOP SPACING AND REQUEST
WHERE THEY MIGHT IDENTIFY
OPPORTUNITIES TO REFINE BUS STOP
PLACEMENT IN ORDER TO ENHANCE
THE EFFICIENCY OF TRANSIT.
>> ALL RIGHT, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
AS AN AUTHOR TO PEEK ON YOUR
AMEND -- TO SPEAK ON YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. IT REFLECTS
DISTRICT 7 AND DOWNTOWN. AND,
YOU KNOW, WHERE PUBLIC TRANSIT
IS SO IMPORTANT. AND IT NEEDS TO
BE AS EFFICIENT AS IT CAN. WE
HEARD FROM RESIDENT COMES
COUNCILMEMBERS IN TERMS OF HOW
THE SPACING IMPACTS THE
EFFICIENCY OF THE ROUTE. WE NEED
TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE
OPPORTUNITIES TO FURTHER THE
EFFECTIVENESS, THE TIMELINESS OF
THE PUBLIC TRANSIT, TRANSIT
SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY IN THE
DOWNTOWN AREA. THERE IS A REASON
WHY I SUPPORTED THE CHANGE FOR
THE ROUTE 8 FROM QUEEN AVENUE
NORTH TO 2nd AVENUE NORTH IN
TERMS OF FLIP FLOPPING THE LANES
FROM 3-2 AND 2-3 NORTH AND SOUTH
AND PROVIDING FOR THAT
EAST/WEST, WEST/EAST I SHOULD
SAY, BUS LANE TO SUPPORT THE
ROUTE 8. ALL OF THE LITTLE
THINGS IN TERMS OF THE PIECES TO
THESE ROUTES ARE IN IMPORTANT
FOR THE EFFICIENCY OF THE SYSTEM
OVERALL AND GOES TO THE PUBLIC
COMMENTERS IN TERMS OF HAVING
THE BUS SHOW UP ON TIME AND DO
IT IN A WAY WHERE IT MIGHT OF
MADE SENSE AT ONE POINT BUT IT
MAY BE IMPACTING, AGAIN THE
IMPLEMENTATION. THIS IS THE
FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED FROM,
AGAIN, RIDERS, THE BUS RIDERS
AND RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT 23?
FOSTER.
>> I THINK IT APPLIES TO A
COUPLE OF THE AMENDMENTS WE ARE
DISCUSSING, 22 AND 23. BUT,
CENTRAL STAFF, CAN YOU SPEAK TO
GIVEN THAT THESE ARE REPORTS
THAT WE ARE ASKING S-DOT TO
REQUEST FOR METRO, JUST THE
MECHANISM OF THAT. AND THEN CAN
WE CLARIFY ARE WE EXPECTING THAT
THESE ARE SORT OF THE THREE
QUESTIONS HERE? THE MECHANISM
FROM OUR DEPARTMENT REQUESTING
THIS FROM THE COUNTY. AND A
SECOND IS THE COST. ARE WE
EXPECTING TO SPEND STM DOLLARS
HERE? AND THEN, THE THIRD IS
ACTION, HOW TO ACTION THEM? I
DON'T KNOW. AND IN PARTICULAR,
KNOWING THAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS
BUS STOP SPACING IS A METRO
DETERMINATION AND SOMETHING THAT
THE KING COUNTY COUNCIL HAS THE
ABILITY TO WEIGH IN ON. I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE ARE
ASKING OUR DEPARTMENT STAFF TO
SPEND THE TIME AND POSSIBLY STM
DOLLARS FOR THIS INFORMATION,
WHAT, WHAT WILL BE OPTIONS BE TO
ACTION THOSE WHEN WE HAVE THAT
INFORMATION BACK. SO,
THREE-POINTS TO THOSE QUESTIONS.
>> LET'S SEE, STARTING AT YOUR
FIRST QUESTION. ABOUT HOW TO GO
ABOUT THIS S-DOT HAS TWO STAFF
MEMBERS THAT ARE CONSTANTLY
WORKING WITH KING COUNTY METRO
TO ADJUST, PROVIDE, AMEND,
SERVICE, WE HAVE MANY STAFF
PEOPLE WHO ARE, NOT JUST THOSE
TWO STAFF MEMBERS, MANY PEOPLE
WITHIN IS S-DOT WHO WORK ON
POLICY PROGRAMMING-RELATED TO
KING COUNTY METRO SERVICE. SO,
WE ARE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION
WITH KING COUNTY METRO AND, WE
WOULD WORK THROUGH THE EXISTING
CHANNELS IN ORDER TO WORK WITH
THEM TO DEVELOP THIS REPORT. IN
ANY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. AS FAR
AS THE COST, AT THE MOMENT, I
HAVE NOT TALKED TO THE EXECUTIVE
SIDE TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS AN
ADDITIONAL COST. MY EXPECTATION
IS THAT THEY WOULD ABSORB THIS
WITHIN STAFF CAPACITY AS WE
WOULD EXPECT THEM TO REPORT OUT
ON THEIR SERVICE DELIVER AND
THEIR PROGRAM OUTCOMES. AND TO
THE EXTENT OF KING COUNTY AND
S-DOT ARE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO
SERVICE DELIVERY TWICE A YEAR,
CURRENTLY. AND THIS WOULD BE
INFORMATION IF WE FOUND
INFORMATION IN THIS REPORT IF
THEY AGREED THAT IT WAS
IMPORTANT TO ACT ON, THEN, I
WOULD IMAGINE THEY WOULD MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO MAKE CHANGES
AT ONE OF THE TWO TIMES IN THE
YEAR.
FOR THIS ONE, IT WOULD GO TO THE
KING COUNTY COUNCIL?
>> FOR THE BUS STOP SPACING ?
>> THE INTENT IS FOR S-DOT FOR
THE COUNCIL TO ENGAGE ON THESE
VARIOUS QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE
WITH THESE AMENDMENTS THAT I
HAVE BEEN SPEAKING ON. THE
REASON WHY, I HAVE BEEN ASKING
S-DOT ON A REPORTED BASIS OVER
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS
REGARDING, YOU KNOW, BUS TRANSIT
SERVICE ON 1st AVENUE WEST,
QUESTIONS ABOUT, HEY, WHAT ARE
WE DOING ON THE WATERFRONT? HOW
DO WE CONNECT BELL TOWN? THIS
SECTION HAS NO TRANSIT SERVICE.
ALL OF THE QUESTIONS AND HERE,
YES. IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR.
TWO YEARS AGO. AND THE
CHALLENGES IN THERE, SUCH AS
BELL TOWN AND THE WATERFRONT.
AND TO ENSURE THESE IMPORTANT
AREAS ARE COVERED BY BUS TRANSIT
SERVICE. SO, THIS, THE INTENT IT
IS FOR MRS. ALLEN WAS SAYING,
S-DOT AND THE NORMAL WORK WITH
KING COUNTY METRO WILL BE
RAISING THE ISSUES AND
HIGHLIGHTING THESE ISSUES AND
THEN TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, GET
SOME TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, MOVEMENT
FORWARD WITH KING COUNTY METRO
IN TERMS OF BUS TRANSIT SERVICE
WEST OF 3rd AVENUE. SO, AGAIN,
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION AND
THANK YOU, MRS. ALLAN.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, IT
LOOKS LIKE NO OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THIS AMENDMENT. I
WILL CLOSE WITH MY QUESTION. AND
THIS AMENDMENT, THIS QUESTION
APPLIES TO A FEW SIMILAR
AMENDMENTS WITH THE SAME MARCH
30th, 2027 REQUESTED REPORT
DATE. SO, CURIOUS FROM THAT SORT
OF AMENDMENT AUTHORS, A FEW
AUTHORS WITH SIMILAR DATE,
CURIOUS TO HEAR FROM A CENTRAL
STAFF PERSPECTIVE. WHY MIGHT
THIS SPECIFIC DATE BE CHOSEN?
>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION,
CHAIR.WE PICKED A DATE ENDING IN
THE FIRST QUARTER, I THINK HOW
MANY OF THESE AMENDMENTS MOVE
FORWARD WE MIGHT NEED TO REVISIT
THAT DATE. WE HAVE NOT TALKED TO
THE EXECUTIVE SIDE TO SEE THE
FEASIBILITY, TO TEST THE
FEASIBILITY OF HAVING ALL OF
THESE REPORTS DUE ON THE SAME
DATE. IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE IT
WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD NEED
TO ADJUST AND THE GOAL WAS TO
PROVIDE INFORMATION IN ADVANCE
ENOUGH THAT WOULD HELP TO INFORM
ANY FUTURE ACTIONS THAT YOU
MIGHT WANT TO TAKE THE BUDGET
PROCESS OR ANY OTHER SEPARATE
PROCESS.
>> GOT IT. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. LET US MOVE ON TO
THE NEXT PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
>> AMENDMENT 25 TO COUNCIL BILL
121226 IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD REQUIRE AN
ANNUAL REPORTING BY KING COUNTY
ON DIMENSIONS OF SERVICE, HOURED
PURCHASED WITH SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE FUNDING. SPECIFICALLY
THE REPORT WOULD INCLUDE
DIMENSIONS SUCH AS KING COUNTY
METRO'S FARE RECOVERY
EFFECTIVENESS AND BUS TRANSIT ON
TIME PERFORMANCE AND
RELIABILITY.
>> ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO
SPEAK TO YOUR AMENDMENT
>> THANK YOU. IT IS PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD. THE FARE
RECOVERY PIECE IS IMPORTANT,
COLLEAGUES AS YOU ALL KNOW, OUR
ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO OPERATOR
TRANSIT RELIES ON THE FUNDING TO
DO SO AND IF FOLKS ARE NOT
PAYING THEIR FARES IT IS GOING
TO HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE
ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE.
AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE --
AND PLUS I THINK, JUST LAST
WEEK, AN ARTICLE THAT CAME OUT
ABOUT THE LOW PERCENTAGE OF FARE
RECOVERY METRO WAS DOING ON
TRANSIT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE UNDERSTAND THE FARE BOX
RECOVERY RATIO OR PERCENTAGE AND
THE OPERATING COST FUNDED BY THE
FARES SO WE HAVE A COMPLETE
PICTURE OF WHAT IS GOING ON. AND
THEN, ALSO, MAKING SURE THAT WE
UNDERSTAND BECAUSE OUR INABILITY
TO COLLECT THE FARES WILL HAVE
AN IMPACT ON REVENUE
PERFORMANCE. IT HAS THAT LEVEL
OF SPECIFICITY TO INFORMATION WE
ARE REQUESTING AND THE WHY AND
OUR ABILITY TO PERFORM, LIKE I
SAID EARLIER, BASED ON WHAT WE
ARE ABLE TO RECOVER. IT GOES TO
BY, YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE UNABLE
TO MEET THE TRANSIT NEED IT IS
DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FARE
RECOVERY SINCE THAT IS WHAT THE
MONEY GOES BACK INTO THE
SERVICE. SO, ANY WAY, HAPPY TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS AND IT GOES TO
IF METRO NEEDS TO CANCEL TRIPS
ET CETERA BECAUSE OF THIS FARE
RECOVERY PIECE WE SHOULD KNOW
ALL OF THIS AS PART OF THE
EQUATION AND WE NEED TO GET THIS
INFORMATION FROM METRO. IT
SHOULD BE MORE THAN JUST ON A
OCCASIONAL PIECE OR WE SHOULD
NOT GET THIS INFORMATION FROM
THE NEWS BUT FROM METRO. MAKING
SURE THAT PARTNERING WITH METRO
TO MAKE SURE THIS INFORMATION
COMES TO US. ANY WAY, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> HAPPY TO ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS COLLEAGUES? HEARING,
SEEING NONE, I WILL PILE ON FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA FROM
PUTTING THIS FORTH. I THINK YOU
WERE REFERRING TO THE SEATTLE
PIECE THAT WAS THOUGHT PROVOKING
THAT I, TOO, PULLED TOGETHER
INSIGHTS FROM THAT PIECE TO PUT
TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR KIND
OF OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
PROPOSED AMENDMENT WITH RESPECT
TO TRANSIT FARE RECOVERY RATIO.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR
THIS AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU
>> ALL RIGHT, LET US PRESS TO
THE NEXT PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
>>> AMENDMENT 28 TO COUNCIL BILL
121226 IS PRESENTED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. IT
RECOMMENDS S-DOT AND KING COUNTY
METRO PROVIDE A REPORT ON THE
PATHWAYS FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE
TO EXPAND THE ACCESS PROGRAM.
THAT IS THE PROGRAM THAT WE USE
CURRENTLY TO GIVE FREE CARDS TO
LOW INCOME POPULATIONS AND OTHER
STUDENT POPULATIONS INCLUDING TO
BUT NOT LIMITED TO PROVIDING
SUPPORT TO PARTICIPANTS OF
CITY-RUN INCOME VERIFIED
PROGRAMS SUCH AS UTILITY
DISCOUNT PROGRAM, SEATTLE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OR OTHERS.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH, AS
PRESIDENT AUTHOR OF 28 YOU ARE
TO SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WOULD
LOVE IF I CAN SPEAK ABOUT
AMENDMENT 26 AS WELL BECAUSE
THEY ARE BOTH CONNECTED AS WELL.
ONE IS ABOUT A REPORT AND THE
OTHER IS EXPANDING THE TRANSIT
ACCESS PROGRAM WITH YOUR
PERMISSION?
>> YES. FIRST OFF, LET US BRIEF.
YOU ARE RIGHT. I NOTICED THAT.
>> THAT IS OKAY.
>> CAN WE BRIEF THAT ONE FIRST
AND SPEAK TO BOTH OF THEM.
>> ?
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> AMENDMENT 26 TO COUNCIL BILL
121226 SPONSORED BY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH IS AN
AMENDMENT TO MAKE EXPLICIT THE
INCLUSION EVER PARTICIPANTS FROM
CITY OF SEATTLE INCOME-VERIFIED
BENEFIT PROGRAMS SO THAT THEY
WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE
SUPPORT FROM THE TRANSIT ACCESS
PROGRAM.
>> ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK TO
EACH OF YOUR TWO AMENDMENTS
TOGETHER.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU, CHAIR. I
WILL BE QUICK. SO, AMENDMENT 28,
COLLEAGUES, THIS AMENDMENT,
THANK YOU CENTRAL STAFF AS WELL
AND SHOUT OUT TO JACK IN THE
AUDIENCE WHO HAS BEEN WITH US
HERE SINCE 11:00. YOU HAVE NOT
MOVED ONE BIT, SIR. APPRECIATE
YOU STAYING WITH THIS. SO,
AMENDMENT 28. THIS AMENDMENT
REQUEST S-DOT AND PARTNERSHIP
WITH KING COUNTY METRO TO
PROVIDE A REPORT ON POSSIBLE
PATHWAYS FOR SEATTLE TO EXPAND
THE ACCESS PROGRAM "TAP "WE LIKE
ACRONYMS. THE UTILITIES
COMMITTEE, I HEARD FROM
CONSTITUENTS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY
CONCERNS, PROUD TO CO-SPONSOR
WITH COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS'LEADERSHIP, THIS WILL
SUPPORT PATHWAYS TO EXPAND THE
PROGRAM FROM WHAT WE HAVE NOW
AND AMENDMENT 26, THAT IS THE
REPORT, AMENDMENT 26 WOULD
EXPAND ACCESS TO INCLUDE
PARTICIPANTS OF ALIGNED CITY-RUN
INCOME-VERIFIED SUPPORT
PROGRAMS. THIS INTENTION FOR
THIS AMENDMENT IS TO EXPAND
ACCESS TO MORE FOLKS THAT NEED
IT EXPLICITTITY OUR CITY HAS
INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF
AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS IN THE
EXECUTIVES PROPOSAL IT MENTIONS
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY,
PRESCHOOL PROMISE PROGRAM,
SEATTLE PROMISE PARTICIPANTS AS
WELL AS COUNCILMEMBER RINCK HAS
AN AMENDMENT TO EXPAND THAT TO
MAKE SURE IT IS WITH THE TRADES
AS WELL. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT PEOPLE POSSIBLY ELIGIBLE
FOR THIS PROGRAM ARE IN THE
UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM AND
PARTICIPANTS OF FRESH BUCKS AS
WELL. PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD AND
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CLAIRE AND HOLE
HOLLINGSWORTH, I WOULD LIKE TO
CO-CHAIR. WE ARE EXPANDING TO
SEATTLE PROMISE PROGRAM
PARTICIPANTS. WE PROVIDE A
TRANSIT SERVICE TO ALL YOUNG
PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 IN
THE CITY WHICH IS REALLY
SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF. AND,
SO, THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CENTRAL STAFF
NOTED THOSE, REQUEST FOR
CO-SPONSORSHIP.
>> FOR BOTH AMENDMENTS?
>> YES, THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. SIMILARLY I
WANTED TO BE CO-SPONSOR ON THESE
TWO AMENDMENTS AS WELL
>> NOTED. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER FINAL COMMENTS,
QUESTIONS?
>> ALL RIGHT. HEARING, SEEING
NONE. LET US PRESS TO THE NEXT
AMENDMENT. NUMBER 8 ON THE LIST.
>> YES, AMENDMENT 8. THIS IS
AMENDMENT TO COUNCIL BILL 121226
AND SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. IT WOULD ADD TO THE
SCOPE OF ALLOWABLE USES OF
REVENUES GENERATED UNDER THE
MEASURE ALLOWING FUNDING FOR
CONTRACTED PASSENGER
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
PROVIDED BY TRANSIT AGENCIES AND
PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE
OPERATORS. SO, CURRENTLY THE, AS
PROPOSED, THE MEASURE ONLY
ALLOWS TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
TO BE PROVIDED KING COUNTY
METRO. AND THIS WOULD EXPAND THE
SCOPE TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO DO
PRIVATE CONTRACTS. THIS IS
SIMILAR TO AN AMENDMENT THAT,
THAT TOOK PLACE, WAS PASSED
UNDER THE CURRENT STM.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AS THE
AMENDMENT AUTHOR YOU CAN SPEAK
OF YOUR AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU. IT GOES OUT TO
GARDENS IT HAS BEEN SO WELL
RECEIVED. I CAN'T TELL YOU, ALL
WALKS OF LIFE WANT IT AND OTHER
COLLEAGUES WANT IT IN THEIR OWN
DISTRICTS AND I AM HERE TO
SUPPORT IT. AT THE END OF THE
DAY MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE THAT
METRO PROVIDE THIS IN HOUSE AND,
I DID NOT ACTUALLY THINK THE
GOLDEN GARDEN PILOT COULD HAPPEN
OR WOULD HAPPEN. BECAUSE WE KNOW
OF THE CONSTRAINTS THAT WE HAVE
BEEN DISCUSSING WITH METRO. IT
IS OCCURRING BECAUSE OF HOPE
LINK. THEY ARE NOT METRO. IT
WOULD ALLOW THE PILOT PROGRAM TO
BECOME PERMANENT. AND IT WOULD
ALLOW FOR PROGRAMMING ALL ACROSS
THE CITY IF IT IS WASHINGTON,
STEWART PARK OR OTHERS TO HAVE
SIMILAR SERVICE. SO, AS ALWAYS,
I PREFER UNIONIZED WORKFORCE
THAT IS GOVERNMENT RUN. WHEN WE
CAN'T DO THAT I WOULD RATHER
HAVE SOME SERVICE TO PLACES THAT
DO NOT EXIST DON'T HAVE SERVICE
TODAY THAN NOT AT ALL THAT IS
WHAT THIS AMENDMENT IS, THANK
YOU, COLLEAGUES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, VICE CHAIR RINCK YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA. I WANT
TO VOICE MY EXCITEMENT ABOUT
SOME DAY RIDING THE GOLDEN
GARDENS BUS IF I CAN GET OUT
THERE EASILY AND QUICKLY ON A
BUS. WE ARE WORKING ON THAT. I
REALLY WANT TO VOICE MY SUPPORT
FOR THE GOLDEN GARDEN SHUTTLE
AND TRAIL HEAD DIRECT AND
EMPHASIZE HOW THEY ARE GREAT
INVESTMENTS. I APPRECIATE THE
SPONSOR TOUCHING ON THIS POINT
AROUND HIS INTENT AND WANTING TO
MOVE TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, TRYING
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
DELIVERING ON THE INVESTMENTS
AND SUPPORT A UNION WORKFORCE. I
AM WONDERING FROM, A QUESTION
FOR CENTRAL STAFF, ARE THERE
OPPORTUNITIES OR SPEAK TO WHAT
GUARDRAILS THERE MAY BE EITHER
IN THIS BILL OR THROUGH OTHER
MEANS TO TRY AND LIMIT POTENTIAL
FURTHER PRIVATIZATION AS
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS AMENDMENT?
>> WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON THAT
POINT, TOO.
>> SO, AS THE AMENDMENT IS
CURRENTLY WRITTEN IT ALLOWS FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW
CONTRACTS TO HAPPEN. DOES NOT
REQUIRE THEM AND THE ADULT
OPTION WOULD BE KING COUNTY
METRO.
>> IN ADDITION THAT IF THERE
WERE OTHER CONSIDERATION, WE
COULD LOOK AT ADDING THOSE.
>> CERTAINLY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> LOOKS LIKE NO OTHER COMMENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> JUST WANTED TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR THIS.
THIS GOES TO MY AMENDMENT OF
WEST OF 3rd AVENUE AND
SPECIFICALLY THE WATERFRONT. YOU
KNOW, OBVIOUSLY KING COUNTY
METRO, THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS
WE ARE ASKING, GOES TO THE
QUESTION ABOUT THEIR CAPACITY TO
PROVIDE AND, YOU KNOW, BOTTOM
LINE IS, WE NEED TO HAVE THIS,
THIS TRANSIT AVAILABLE.
APPRECIATE THIS AMENDMENT.
APPRECIATE THE POINTS RINCK WAS
MAKING AND I AM LOOKING TO TIE
IN, IF YOU WILL, MY POINT ABOUT
SERVICE WEST OF 3rd AVENUE.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. IT LOOKS LIKE
THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO THIS
PROPOSAL. WE WILL PRESS AND MOVE
ON TO THE NEXT AMENDMENT.
>> AMENDMENT 10 TO COUNCIL BILL
121226 IS ALSO SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND IT
ADDS TO THE SCOPE OF PRIORITIZED
AND RELIABLE USES OF REVENUE
GENERATED FROM THE MEASURE AND
ALLOWS SUPPORT FOR CONNECTIONS
TO REGIONAL CENTERS AS
IDENTIFIED IN THE CITY'S
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THE CITY'S
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IDENTIFYING
SEVEN REGIONAL CENTERS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND THIS
WOULD PRIORITIZE CONNECTING
THOSE CENTERS.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AS THE
AMENDMENT AUTHOR YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK OF YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> AS WAS JUST NOTED IF SHE CAN
GET THERE THIS IS WHAT IT IS
ABOUT, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK READ
A QUOTE ABOUT GETTING BACK FROM
THEIR JOB AND WAITING 30 MINUTES
IN THE DARK ON A STREET CORNER
THAT WAS MY EXPERIENCE AT 6:00
P.M. ON A WEEKDAY IN THE WINTER
HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. I
WAS ABLE TO CATCH THE LAST
DIRECT BUS FROM BALLARD TO
DOWNTOWN TODAY, THE 17. DOES NOT
GET ME TO WORK BEFORE 9:00 A.M.
AND I GET THE PLEASURE OF TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT THE MAZE ON HOW TO
GET HOME BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED
EARLIER TODAY UNTIL AUGUST 2021
MY ENTIRE LIFE I HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO WALK TO A BUS STOP. THAT
CHANGED IN AUGUST OF SEPTEMBER
OF 2021 WHERE I DON'T HAVE THAT
ABILITY ANY MORE. I HAVE TO
DRIVE TO THE BUS. SO, TODAY I
DROVE TO THE 17. I CAUGHT THE
17. I AM GOING DOWN TO THE WORLD
CUP WATCH TONIGHT AND I DON'T
GET TO GO TO THE GAME BUT THE
WATCH IT IS AMAZING. AND, THAT
IS THE MAZE TO GET HOME. HOW DO
I GET BACK TO THE BUS STOP THAT
I HAD TO PARK AT? IT IS AT
MINIMUM TWO BUSES OR A LYFT OR A
BUS AND A LIME BIKE OR SCOOTER.
THE CITY DESIGNATED BALLARD AS A
REGIONAL CENTER.
>> THROUGH THE PRESENTATION THIS
MONTH THROUGH THE MAYOR AND
S-DOT IT DEMONSTRATED THAT
BALLARD COULD, IT DOES NOT HAVE
THE HIGHEST FREQUENCY AND THE
LONGEST TRAVEL TIME. AND, JUST,
REALLY -- THE PRINTED SCHEDULES
FROM PIONEER SQUARE AND BALLARD
ARE 40 MINUTES, 40 MINUTES. THE
OFFER WAS A RAPID LINE. CAN NOT
ADD A BUS LANE TO A ONE-LANE
ROAD. WE NEED DIRECT SERVICE. WE
DON'T NEED THEM TO GO INTO THE
NEIGHBORHOODS, THE NEIGHBORHOODS
OF BALLARD THAT IS, BUT WE NEED
A DIRECT CONNECTION FROM
DOWNTOWN TO COIN TOWN DOWNTOWN
BALLARD AND THE LIGHT RAIL. WHAT
IS NOT MENTIONED METRO PUT IN
BUS SERVICE FROM LAKE CITY TO
GREENWOOD IF IT CONTINUED JUST
TWO MORE MILES. FOR WHATEVER
REASON THAT OCCURRED THE MEASURE
HAS SENT TO US DOES NOT ALLOW
FOR THIS TYPE OF FUNDING. METRO
HAS NOT FUNDED THESE ROUTES.
COLLEAGUES, I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT TODAY WHEN SOUND TRANSIT
HAS BROKEN TRUST WITH THE
COMMUNITY LET'S NOT MAKE THIS
TRANSIT MEASURE BREAK TRUST AS
WELL. CURRENTLY, TO GET FROM MY
CITY HALL OFFICE TO MY DISTRICT
6 OFFICE IT TAKES ME THE SAME
AMOUNT OF TIME ON THE BUS AS IT
TAKES ME TO GET TO DOWNTOWN
TACOMA ON THE BUS. SO, I WOULD
LOVE FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO HAVE
DIRECT SERVICE TO THE AREAS IN
WHICH WE HAVE ZONED FOR GREATER
DENSITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AND, NUMBER OF
HANDS NOT SURE IF THEY ARE
STALE. I WILL GO HERE IN ORDER.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK A COMMENT OR
QUESTION?
>> YES, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADD
AS A CO-SPONSOR ON THIS
AMENDMENT.
>> CENTRAL STAFF IS NOTING THAT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I JUST WANT
TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
FIRST, THANK HIM FOR TELLING US
HIS STORY. TRYING TO GET FROM
BALLARD TO DOWNTOWN. IT IS
ALMOST LIKE I SHOULD NAME MY
AMENDMENT NUMBER 23 THE STRAUSS
AMENDMENT. WHY WE NEED TO BE AS
EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE AS WE
CAN BECAUSE OF THE DELAYS AND
IMPACTS THAT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS WAS REFLECTING ON.
DOWNTOWN AND BALLAD TO CITY HALL
IF YOU WILL. I APPRECIATE THE
POINT, I SAID IT RELATED TO
SOUND TRANSIT THAT LAND USE AND
TRANSIT ARE TWO SIDES OF THE
SAME COIN. OBVIOUSLY SOUND
TRANSIT FAILED RELATED TO THE
BALLARD REGIONAL CENTER. EVEN
THOUGH IT IS TO CONNECT REGIONAL
CENTERS. WHAT IS NEXT? THIS IS
AN IMPORTANT AREA TO CONNECT
BALLARD PROPERLY. AND, BY THE
WAY, SECOND AND THIRD IMPACTS.
RIPPLE EFFECTS IN TERMS OF WHAT
WE ARE DEALING WITH TODAY. THE
RIPPLE EFFECTS ARE DEALT HERE IN
DISTRICT 7 IN TERMS OF QUEEN
ANNE, UPTOWN, BELL TOWN AND SO
FORTH. WE NEED TO DO BETTER. I
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
SPEAKING TO THIS, RAISING THIS
AND, AND, WITH HIS STORY,
BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, UNDER LINED
MY AMENDMENT 23 THAT I LIKE TO
REFER TO AS THE STRAUSS
AMENDMENT, IF I CAN, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. LET'S SEE NO NEW
HANDS. SO, I WILL CLOSEOUT BY
SHARING THAT OR ASKING CENTRAL
STAFF A QUESTION ON THIS
PROPOSAL. SO, IF THIS AMENDMENT
WERE TO PASS WHAT WOULD BE THE
IMPACTS OF OTHER, THE CRITERIA
THAT THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION
CALLS OUT? FOR EXAMPLE. EQUITY
FOCUSED EXPANSION?
>> THE PURPOSE OF THIS AMENDMENT
IS TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL PRIORITY
COMPONENT AND, SO, ALL OF THE
EXISTING COMPONENTS THAT WERE IN
THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION WOULD
REMAIN. THEY WOULD NEED TO SHARE
THE STAGE WITH THIS NEW PRIORITY
AREA.
>> GOT IT. THANK YOU. AND, I
KNOW, THERE ARE SPECIFIC
NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICT 1 FOR
EXAMPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LONG
EXPRESSING EXPANDED SERVICE
INCLUDING AND AROUND HIGHLAND
PARK, THE SOUTH TO SERVE SOUTH
SEATTLE COLLEGE. GEORGETOWN,
ARBOR HEIGHTS, NONE OF WHICH
CURRENTLY MEET THE CRITERIA NOR
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER CRITERIA.
ALTHOUGH THERE IS, I SUPPOSE IT
IS STILL POSSIBLE. I WOULD NOT
PREFER IT. WHAT WOULD BE --
LIKE, IF THIS AMENDMENT WERE TO
PASS WHAT WOULD THE IMPACTS ON
EXPANSION TO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS
NOT MEET THE DESIGNATION AGAIN,
CALLING AND REQUESTING INCREASE
TRANSIT SERVICE.
>> SO, OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
DO NOT MEET THE REGIONAL CENTER
DESIGNATION WOULD RECEIVE
SERVICE IN THE SAME ALLOCATION
THAT HAD BEEN ORIGINALLY
PROPOSED. SO, WE ARE LOOKING AT
THE EQUITY CENTERED COMPONENT,
LOOKING AT METRO'S LONG-RANGE
PLAN. NO CHANGE WOULD OTHERWISE
BE PROPOSED BY THIS AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. LET US MOVE ON TO
THE NEXT AMENDMENT. WE ARE
APPROACHING THE END. A COUPLE
MORE TO GO, COLLEAGUES.
>> AMENDMENT 20 TO 121226. IT IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
JUAREZ AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH AND IT CLARIFIES
BILL LANGUAGE WITH THE
POPULATIONS PRIORITIZED TO
ENSURE SERVICE WHEN SEATTLE
MEASURE TRANSIT PROGRAMS AND
NAME HISTORICALLY UNDER SERVED
POPULATIONS PARTICULARLY
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
THE AMENDMENT WOULD CLARIFY
ALLOWABLE INVEST. S IN TRANSIT
INFRASTRUCTURE TO EXPLICITLY
INCLUDE ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN
CONNECTIONS AND ADA IMPROVEMENTS
AND PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE ACCESS
TO PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY, SENSORY
AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IS EXCUSED
TODAY. WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO
HOLLINGSWORTH THAT WILL SPEAK.
>> I HAVE TALKING POINTS FROM
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. PROUD TO
CO-SPONSOR THIS. EXPANDURE OF
$1.4 BILLION IN THE FULL TERM
AND THE TOTAL PERCENT OF THE
MEASURE DEDICATED TO
INFRASTRUCTURE, SAFETY IS LESS
THAN 4%, OF THE STM, 86% GOES TO
TRANSIT SERVICE AND 3.6
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, ELDERLY AND THE
VISION IMPAIRED COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS ONE
EVER THE POPULATIONS MOST
DEPENDENT ON TRANSIT AND FACE
THE GREATEST TRANSPORTATION
BARRIERS, PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE
IS A PUBLIC GOOD THAT ENABLES
MOBILITY FOR EVERYONE REGARDLESS
OF AGE, ABILITY OR INCOME. 100%
OF RIDERS ARE PEDESTRIANS, BUSES
AND LIGHT RAILS DO NOT EXIST IN
ISOLATIONS, EVERY TRIP BEGINS
AND ENDS WITH TRAVELING TO A BUS
STOP. AS STATED IN AMENDMENT 20,
CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDES
BUT NOT LIMITED TO PROJECTS THAT
IMPROVE ACCESS TO TRANSIT FOR
INDIVIDUALS WITH MOBILITY,
SENSORY, COGNITIVE AND MENTAL
DISABILITIES, ADA ACCESSIBLE AND
TRANSIT STOP INFRASTRUCTURE.
PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIONS AND WAY
IN FINDING IMPROVEMENTS. THEY
ARE INVESTED IN CONTENT WITH THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE AND THEY
ARE HERE AND NOW EXPO EMPHASIZES
THE NEED FOR ACCESSIBLE AND SAFE
PUBLIC TRANSIT. THE SEATTLE
DISABILITY SURVEYED FOLKS PEOPLE
WITH WHEELCHAIRS AND MOBILITY
IMPAIRED. PEOPLE WITH LIMITED
MOBILITY THE RESULTS ARE COSTLY
DELAYS HAVING TO TAKE DIFFERENT
ROUTES AND BEING FORCED ON TO
STREET OR BIKE LANES. SO, THE
PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD WANTS
TO EMPHASIZE THAT ACCESS TO
TRANSIT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS
TRANSIT ITSELF. THE BACKGROUND,
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE SEATTLE
DISABILITY COMMISSION AND THE
SEATTLE PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY
BOARD FOR THEIR INPUT FOR THE
MEASURE, INSIGHT AND FEEDBACK
HAVE BEEN CRITICAL IN THE
LEGISLATION FOR RELIABLE
ACCESSIBLE AND SAFE MODELS FOR
TRANSPORTATION FOR NONDRIVING
COMMUTERS. PROUD TO SPONSOR THIS
WITH COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AND I
KNOW SHE HAS BEEN VERY OPEN
ABOUT HER DISABILITY. AND SOME
OF THE BARRIERS THAT SHE HAS
WHEN USING TRANSIT. SHE IS VERY
INTENTIONAL ABOUT THERE AND HAS
BEEN A PHENOMENAL ADVOCATE FOR
FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES.
NAVIGATING TRANSIT CAN BE A
BARRIER, DOING EVERYTHING
POSSIBLE INFRASTRUCTURELY, IT IS
IMPORTANT. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH AND COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADD AS A
CO-SPONSOR.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU.
>> ANYTHING ELSE?
>> COLLEAGUES? HEARING, SEEING
NONE. I WILL CLOSE THIS ONE OUT
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. I WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AND
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH FOR
PUTTING IT FORWARD. IT MAKES A
LOT OF SENSE AND I COULD NOT
AGREE MORE WITH THE INTENT,
PURPOSE, GOALS AND THE SPECIFIC
WORDS ON PAPER. MADE CLEAR BY
THIS AMENDMENT AND I THINK IT,
IT UNDERSCORES ONE OF MY EARLIER
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WE DISCUSSED
AS WELL. THE IMPORTANCE OF
ACCESSIBILITY CAPITAL FOR
TRANSIT. SO, THANK YOU.
>>> LET US MOVE TO THE NEXT
AMENDMENT. TWO OR THREE MORE.
>> ONE MORE COMMENT ON THIS ONE,
COUNCIL MEMBERS RIVERA.
>> CAN I CO-SPONSOR THIS ONE,
PLEASE
>> YES. STAFF IS NOTING THAT,
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. NOW. LET'S MOVE
ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
>> AMENDMENT 24. TO COUNCIL BILL
121226 IS SPONSORED BY VICE
CLAIRE RINCK. THIS AMENDMENT
WOULD MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO
THE ELIGIBLE SPENDING CATEGORIES
OF SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE
REVENUES. I WILL BRIEFLY
OUTLINE THOSE. REDUCE
INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE AND
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FROM $5
MILLION TO $2 MILLION A YEAR.
SECOND, BASED ON THAT REDUCTION
INCREASE THE MINIMUM PERCENTAGE
OF SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE
REVENUES FOR TRANSIT SERVICE
FROM 60% TO 65%. AND THIRD IT
WOULD EXPAND THE CATEGORY OF
ALLOWABLE INFRASTRUCTURE
MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT SPENDING FOR
CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOUND TRANSIT
PROJECTS INCLUDING THE GRAND
STREET STATION, WEST SEATTLE
LINK EXTENSION AND BALLARD LINK
EXTENSION AND FINALLY REVISE THE
DESCRIPTION OF SOUND TRANSIT
STAFFING SPENDING CATEGORY TO
CLARIFY THESE REVENUES ARE FOR
STAFFING COSTS, SEPARATE FROM
THE REVISED CAPITAL SPENDING
ALLOWANCE.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. VICE
CHAIR RINCK. RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK
ON YOUR AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA.
>> THIS DOES A NUMBER OF THINGS,
SOUND TRANSIT, LIGHT RAIL IN
SEATTLE TO