>>> ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. GOOD
MORNING. THE MAY 7, 2026 MEETING
OF THE SAFETY, TRANSPORT,
WATERFRONT, AND SEATTLE
CENTRATION, ENGINEERING PROJECT,
SPORTS AND EXPERIENCES
COMMITTEE, FORMERLY KNOWN AS
TRANSPORT, WATERFRONT, AND
SEATTLE CENTER TRANSPORT,
WATERFRONT, AND SEATTLE CENTER
WILL COME TO ORDER. IT'S 9:30
A.M. I AM ROB SAKA, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> HERE.
>> VICE CHAIR RINCK?
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR SAKA.
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR, WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS.
>> HEARING AND SEEING NO AGENDA,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. GOOD
MORNING, COLLEAGUES, MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC, AND THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US TODAY. I WANT TO
CLARIFY THAT SAFETY IS THE TOP
PRIORITY FOR THIS COMMITTEE. AT
THE LAST MEETING I ANNOUNCED I
CALLED UPON THE AUDITOR'S
OFFICE TO HAVE LOOK INTO THE
VISION BUREAU PROGRAM, SAVING
LIVES. THEREFORE, ONE OF OUR
MOST CRITICAL INITIATIVES.
TRAGICALLY, TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE
STILL DIEING AND SUFFERING
SERIOUS INJURIES ON OUR STREETS.
THIS AUDIT WILL HELP SHED LIGHT
ON WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S
NOT. AT LEAST, THAT'S THE GOAL.
FROM THERE WE WILL BE IN A MUCH
BETTER POSITION TO REFINE OUR
APPROACH TO HAVE MORE SAFETY ON
THE STREETS. SADLY, ON THE
MORNING OF TUESDAY, MAY 5, THERE
WAS A FATAL COLLISION ON THE
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE. AT 1:57
A.M., SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS
RESPONDED TO REPORTS OF A
MOTORCYCLE CRASH. THEY LOCATED A
MAN ON THE GROUND BELOW THE
FIRST AVENUE SOUTH OFF-RAMP FROM
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE. SEATTLE
FIRE RESPONDED. AND,
UNFORTUNATELY, PRONOUNCED THE
MAN DECEASED AT THE SCENE.
POLICE DETECTIVED DETERMINED
THAT THE MOTORCYCLIST STRUCK A
GUARDRAIL TAKING THE OFF-RAMP.
THE DRIVER FLEW OVER THE
BUILDING AND LANDED BELOW ON
THE FIRST AVENUE SIDEWALK WHERE
HE DIED FROM HIS INJURIES. THE
VICTIM'S NAME HAS NOT BEEN
PUBLICALLY RELEASED SO WE'RE
NOT GOING TO SHARE IT HERE. SPD
IS ACTIVELY INVESTIGATING THE
INCIDENT. ANYONE WITH
INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL THE
TRAFFIC COLLISION INVESTIGATION
SQUAD AT 206-684-8923. AGAIN,
THAT'S 206-684-8923.
TRAGICALLY, THIS IS THE THIRD
FATALITY COLLISION ON SEATTLE
CITY STREETS IN 2026. WE CAN AND
MUST DO BETTER. ON A DIFFERENT
NOTE, SOUND TRANSIT LINK
EXTENSION HAS BEEN A HOT TOPIC
ISSUE THIS YEAR. AND I HAVE BEEN
VERY VOCAL AND OUTSPOKEN ABOUT
MY SUPPORT FOR THE WEST SEATTLE
LINK EXTENSION AND I HAVE BEEN A
STAUNCH ADVOCATE FOR THE IMPACTS
SMALL BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS
ALONG THE TRANSIT LINE AS WELL.
TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO MAKE
CRYSTAL CAREER I'M A STRONG
SUPPORTER OF THE BALLARD LINK
EXTENSION PROJECT AS WELL. THE
BALLARD LINK EXTENSION IS
PROJECTED TO CARRY BETWEEN
132,000 AND 173,000 DAILY
RIDERS, MAKING IT POTENTIALLY,
THE BUSIEST EXPANSION LINE IN
THE ENTIRE SOUND TRANSIT SYSTEM.
THE PROJECT SUPPORTS THE
BALLARD, INTERBAY AND SOUTH LAKE
UNION BY PROVIDING HIGH-CAPACITY
TRANSIT TO AREAS WITH RAPIDLY
INCREASING RESIDENTIAL AND JOB
DENSITIES, FACILITATING
EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED
DEVELOPMENT. IN SHORT, THIS IS A
NECESSARY PROJECT, AND I URGE
SOUND TRANSIT TO COMPLETE IT IN
A TIMELY MANNER. I WOULD
THEREFORE SUPPORT THE SOUND
TRANSIT BOARD ACTION, ANY
ACTIONS THEY NEED TO TAKE TO
FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO ACHIEVE
THIS. STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE
WEST SEATTLE PROJECT IS FIRST IN
LINE I APPRECIATE SOUND
TRANSIT'S WORK IN ENGINEERING
TO FIND A WAY TO DELIVER THAT
ONE ON BUDGET, MOSTLY. KIND OF
ON TIME. WE'LL NEED TO GO
THROUGH A SIMILAR EXERCISE FOR
BALLARD. WE'LL NEED THAT ONE,
TOO. AND IN TYPICAL COMMITTEE
FASHION WE HAVE A ROBUST A
JAPPED AND FIRST OFF, A BRIEFING
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE ON
BILL 121176 SPONSORED BY MY
COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
LAST YEAR IN 2025 WASHINGTON
BECAME THE FIRST STATE IN THE
COUNTRY TO OFFER SHARED STREETS
AND SERVE AS A MODEL NATIONWIDE.
SENATE BILL 9555 SPONSORED BY
STATE SENATOR EMILY ALVARADO, WE
SHARE OVERLAPPING TERRITORY IN
OUR DISTRICT. SHE'S A REPRESENT
OF THE 34th DISTRICT, THAT BILL
ALLOWS US TO ALLOCATE SHARED
STREETS AND GIVES WALKERS AND
BIKERS PRIORITY, SLOWS TRAFFIC,
VEHICLES TO 10 MILES PER HOUR
AND REMOVES JAYWALKING
RESTRICTIONS. SO THIS, WHAT WE
ARE CONSIDERING HERE TODAY,
COLLEAGUES, MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, A TRANSFORMATIVE PIECE
OF LOCAL LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
IMPLEMENT STATE SHARED STREETS
POLICY LOCALLY RIGHT HERE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND HELP KEEP US
SAFE, AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR
BROADER TRAFFIC SAFETY PRIORITY.
SO APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS AND HIS LEADERSHIP FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AGAIN, A
MAJOR STEP FOR SAFETY AND
PEOPLE-CENTERED STREETS. REALLY
EXCITED TO HEAR THIS AGENDA
ITEM. NEXT ON THE AGENDA, WE'LL
RECEIVE A BRIEFING FROM OUR
PARTNERS AT SDOT ABOUT THE
CRITICAL NEW DISTRICT PROJECT
FUND, AN IMPLEMENTATION OF IT.
THIS VITAL FUND IS DESIGNED TO
EXPAND NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE
TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENT AND
OTHER FUNDING PRIORITIES. MY
OFFICE SPENT MANY HOURS
REVIEWING REQUESTS FROM
CONSTITUENTS AND OUR PARTNERS AT
SDOT TO COME UP WITH PROJECTS TO
FIT OUR ONLY $2 MILLION BUDGET
FOR TRANSPORT. AND I AM SURE AND
YOU YOUR STAFF UNDERTOOK SIMILAR
EXERCISES IN DUE DILIGENCE TO
COME UP WITH PROJECTS TO KEEP
YOUR DISTRICTS SAFE AND YOUR
COMMUNITY. I, FOR ONE AM EAGER
TO HEAR ABOUT HOW THESE VITAL
SAFETY PROJECTS WILL BE
IMPLEMENTED. FINALLY, OUR THIRD
AGENDA ITEM TODAY, WE'LL HEAR A
BRIEFING ABOUT CLERK FILE
314530, A PETITION TO VACATE AN
ALLEY IN GREENWOOD THERE. ALLEYS
ARE CITY PROPERTY AND THEREFORE
OWNED BY THE TAXPAYERS. ONE IS A
PRIVATE PARTY KNOWN AS A
HAVECATION IS A LONG PROCESS AND
INVOLVES MULTIPLE APPEARANCES IN
FRONT OF THIS COMMITTEE. PART OF
OUR RESPONSIBILITY HERE,
COLLEAGUES, IS TO VET ALLEY
VACATIONS LIKE THIS TO ENSURE
CITIZENS ARE GETTING A FAIR
TRADE FOR THEIR PROPERTY WITH
ADEQUATE PUBLIC BENEFIT, ANOTHER
WAY OF SAYING THAT.
COLLECTIVELY, THE ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA ARE A STREET-LEVEL VIEW
OF POLITICS. SUPER EXCITING
STUFF. COLLEAGUES, MEETINGS, AND
THOSE ATTENDEES LIVE ON THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL, THIS IS WHAT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS ALL ABOUT AT
THE END OF THE DAY, FROM
CONSIDERING LAWS DESIGNED TO
CREATING SAFER COMMUNITIES FOR
STREET IMPROVEMENTS TO LOCAL
RIGHT OF WAYS TODAY'S MEETING
IS GOVERNMENT 101 AND
REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT WE DO IN
THE COMMITTEE. LET'S GO.
LASTLY, A FEW HOUSEKEEPING
ITEMS. MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE
THAT SDOT IS RECRUITING FOR
MEMBERS OF THE FUNDING TASK
FORCE. THIS TASK FORCE WILL HAVE
SEVERAL KEY FUNCTIONS INCLUDING
DEVELOPING ADVISORY POLICIES AND
ESTABLISHING FUNDING
RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADVISING ON
APPROPRIATE REVENUE TOOLS AND
FINANCING STRATEGIES AND
ULTIMATELY ASSESSING POTENTIAL
EQUITY IMPACTS AND COMING UP
WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO
ADVICE THE COUNCIL, THE MAYOR
WITH HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
RESPECT TO THREE CLASSES,
BRIDGES, SIDEWALKS, AND ROADS,
PAVEMENT CONDITIONS. YOU'LL
RECALL THAT WE ESTABLISHED THIS
IMPORTANT COMMITTEE A COUPLE
YEARS AGO DURING THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. AND
YOU WILL BE EXCITED TO KNOW THAT
OUR PARTNERS AT SDOT ARE
RECRUITING FOR THIS. SO STAY
TUNED. ALL RIGHT. THAT IS NOW ON
MY END FOR NOW IN TERMS OF
CHAIR'S REMARKS. THANK YOU. AND
WE WILL OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT IN PURVIEW OF THE
COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW MANY DO WE
HAVE SIGNED UP?
>> CHAIR, FOUR IN-PERSON
SPEAKERS AND ONE REMOTE SPEAKER.
>> PERFECT. EACH SPEAKER VERY
TWO MINUTES. WE'LL START WITH
THE IN-PERSON FIRST. WILL YOU
READ THE INSTRUCTION?
>> SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED.
SPEAKERS WILL ALTERNATE BETWEEN
IN-PERSON AND REMOTE SPEAKERS
UNTIL THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
HAS ENDED. SPEAKERS WILL HERE A
CHIME BETWEEN 10 SECONDS OF THE
END OF TIME. AND WILL BE MUTED
AT THE END OF THEIR TIME. WE'LL
BEGINNING WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER
ON THE LIST. MARK.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR SAKA,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS MARK,
AND TODAY YOU HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE SHARED
STREETS IN SEATTLE. AND I HOPE
YOU'LL VOTE YES. SHARED STREETS
ARE COMMON ACROSS EUROPE AND
ASIA. WASHINGTON AS YOU HEARD
WAS THE FIRST STATE TO LEGALIZE
THEM. I WISH SEATTLE WAS THE
FIRST CITY BUT REDMOND BEAT US
TO THE PUNCH BY SEVERAL MONTHS.
WHILE SDOT WILL NOT BE
PRESENTING A LIST OF STREETS
TODAY BUT WHEN THEY DO I HOPE
YOU'LL PRESS THEM TO TAKE A
BOLD APPROACH. I HOPE YOU'LL
PRESS THEM TO CREATE
HIGH-QUALITY EXAMPLES. I HOPE
YOU'LL PRESS THEM TO NORMALIZE
SHARED STREETS AND APPLY THEM
BROADLY ACROSS THE CITY. SHARED
STREETS ARE A TOOL. THEY CAN BE
APPLIED IN OBVIOUS PLACES LIKE
BELL STREET AND BALLARD AVENUE.
BUT THEY CAN BE APPLIED TO
HEALTHY STREET, NEIGHBORHOOD
GREENWAYS, SCHOOL STREET,
FESTIVAL STREETS, HOME ZONE,
LOW-TRAFFIC NEIGHBORHOODS AND OF
THOSE, I THINK THE GREATEST
STUDENT TO CREATE HOME ZONES IN
SOUTH SEATTLE AND NORTH OF 85th
AND WEST SEATTLE WHERE PEOPLE
ARE ALREADY FORCED TO SHARE THE
ROADWAY WITH CARS. IN THOSE
PLACES, SHARED STREETS CAN BE
USED TO REDUCE SPEED LIMITS AND
GIVE PEDESTRIANS PRIORITY. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
WILL BE ANNE-MARIE.
>> CHAIR AND COUNCILMEMBERS, I
AM A DOCTOR, AND THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT
OF SHARED STREETS. ON MONDAY ON
THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL I SAW
THE AFTERMATH OF A HORRIBLE
CRASH WHERE A CAR DROVE INTO A
WOMAN IN THE CROSSWALK. THE
REASON THESE DON'T HELP ON
RESIDENTIAL STREETS NOW IS THE
SPEED LIMITS ARE SLOWER AND A
SAFER PLACE TO BE. I WAS
ENVISIONING SHARED STREETS WITH
ALLOWING KIDS TO GET TO SCHOOL,
AND PEOPLE TO GET TO THE GROCERY
STORE AND NOT JUST PROJECTS LIKE
BALLARD AVENUE OR PIKE PLACE.
AND I'M WORRIED THAT THESE BIG
PROJECTS ARE POSSIBLY WHY A SEPA
REVIEW HAS COME UP AND DOING A
REVIEW TO PUT PLANTERS AND SIGNS
ON THE STREET MAKES NO STONES
SENSE TO ME. AND MOTOR VEHICLES
ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH
FOR PEOPLE 10 TO 24. I THINK IT
OVERLOOKS HOW IMPORTANT
COMMUNITIES ARE WHERE WE CARE
FOR EACH OTHER AND WHERE PEOPLE
MEET ON STREETS AND PEOPLE --
INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE OF
DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, THINGS
THAT DON'T HAPPEN IN THE
CONFINE OF SCHOOLS AND SPORTS
PRACTICES. SO SHARED STREETS
WILL MAKE US ALL SAFER AND
IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH, MENTAL
HEALTH, AND DESPITE WHAT SDOT
WILL SAY I DO THINK IT WILL
REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS BY
REDUCING UNNEEDED AND POSSIBLY
UNSAFE CAR TRIPS. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENTER
WILL BE MAGGIE.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'M MAGGIE HAYNES. I AM HERE TO
SPEAK ABOUT SUPPORT FOR SHARED
STREETS. APPROVED STATEMENTS
THAT THEY WORK FOR PIKE PLACE
AND THE PIKE PLACE MARKET WHICH
HAS BEEN OPERATING AS A SHARED
STREET FOR OVER 100 YEARS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COOL GLASSES, BY
THE WAY.
>> OUR FINAL IN-PERSON PUBLIC
SPEAKER WILL BE HEATHER.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
PUBLIC SERVICE. I'M THE
PRESIDENT OF THE MARKET AND I
SENT A LETTER TO EXPLAIN THE
HISTORY OF PIKE PLACE. IT'S A
SHARED STREET BY NECESSITY.
THAT'S HOW IT STARTED OUT IN
1907. IT'S THE ONLY LOADING
DOCK IN THE MARKET. IN 1971, THE
VOTER'S INITIATIVE WAS REQUIRED
TO SAVE THE MARKET FROM THE
CITY'S PLAN, THE DOWNTOWN
BUSINESS ESTABLISHED PLAN. THE
MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION IS
THE ONLY BODY THAT'S IN PLACE
TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT DESIGN
CHANGES AT PIKE PLACE. IN 1973,
THE PIKE PLACE MARKET CDA WAS
ESTABLISHED TO MANAGE THE
BUILDING. THEY DO NOT MANAGE THE
STREETS. IN 1974, THE URBAN
RENEWALS PLAN CREATED THE PIKE
PLATE DESIGN REPORT THAT CALLED
OUT PIKE PLACE AS A DESIGNED
AREA -- A CHARACTER AREA. EXCUSE
ME. IN 1979, ALL STREETS WERE
MADE EXEMPT FROM THE JAYWALKING
ORDNANCE. THAT SHOULD TELL YOU
ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF THE AREA.
THERE NO 10 MILES PER HOUR SPEED
LIMIT SIGN ON THE STREET. IT'S
NOT NECESSARY. PIKE PLACE IS
INTENDED FOR USE -- REUSING OVER
AND OVER AGAIN AND USING
FLEXIBLE, NOT HAVING PERMANENT
ELEMENTS INSTALLED ON. IT
FINALLY, I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT
TO HAVE PIKE PLACE MARKET CDA
MANAGE THE STREETS. THEY ARE ON
SITE AND CAN PIVOT ACCORDINGLY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM.
>> WE'LL NOW GO ON TO OUR
REMOTE CALLERS. THE FIRST ONE IS
IRENE. IRENE, PLEASE HIT STAR
SIX.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
THIS IS IRENE WALSH, DISTRICT 6.
WHEN THE DETAILS OF SHARED
STREETS CRITERIA ARE FINALIZED,
PLEASE BE SURE THEY FOCUS ON
MOBILITIES AND SAFETY AND NOT
EXCLUSIVITY OR FAVORITISM TO ANY
MODE. FORTUNATELY, SDOT HAS AN
EXAMPLE OF A SHARED STREET THAT
FUNCTIONED AS A SHARED STREET AS
A DECADE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED IT
AS A BIKER, A WALKER AND A
DISABLED WALKER. SO IN THE
UPCOMING FIFA EVENT, ALL THE
UPCOMING CONFUSING AND
UNNECESSARY SIGNAGE CAN BE
REPLACED WITH A SIMPLE SHARED
STREET SIGN. AS SDOT FINALIZES
THE CRITERIA FOR THIS
DESIGNATION, PLEASE ENSURE THAT
THE SPEED LIMIT APPLIES TO ALL
WHEELS, NOT JUST CARS. ALSO,
THAT A SHARED STREET DESIGNATION
DOES NOT ALLOW ANYONE OR ANY
GROUP TO OCCUPY A STREET WITH
FURNITURE OR OTHER OBSTACLES
WITHOUT A PERMIT. THERE IS ALSO
ONE AMENDMENT ABOUT BIKES RIDING
ABREAST AND PLEASE MAKE SURE THE
PHALANX OF BIKES WON'T OCCUPY
THE STREET AT THE SAME TIME.
THANK YOU FOR SHARED STREETS AND
PIKE PLACE IS THE FIRST PLACE TO
PUT IT IN PLACE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR FINAL REMOTE SPEAKER WILL
BE CARLO. CARLO, PLEASE HIT STAR
SIX. THANK YOU.
>> HI. MY NAME'S CARLO, AND I
LEAD THE REIMAGINE COALITION AND
I LIVE NORTH OF 85th. SO I
WANTED TO VOICE MY SUPPORT HERE
FOR THE SHARED STREET
LEGISLATION THAT YOU WILL BE
HEARING TODAY. I THINK
WASHINGTON IS THE FIRST STATE IN
THE U.S. TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING
LIKE THIS. AND SO THAT POSITIONS
SEATTLE IN A UNIQUE PLACE TO
REALLY BE A LEAD OR THIS FOR THE
COUNTRY AND SET EXAMPLES FOR
OTHER CITIES AND STATES AS WELL.
I GUESS LIVING NORTH OF 85th AS
YOU ARE ALL AWARE WE DON'T HAVE
SIDEWALKS UP HERE OR THE ONES
THAT DO JUST AREN'T REALLY
CONNECTED. THIS IS OUR
OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY TACKLE A
BIG ISSUE THAT IS NOT GOING TO
BE SOLVED IN THE NEXT 500 YEARS
OR SO. BUT I WANT TO CAUTION
THAT WE DO NEED TO GET THIS
RIGHT. AND THAT MEANS WE TRIED
GREENWAYS AND HEALTHY STREETS.
THEY ALWAYS COME WITH
COMPROMISES TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW
PEOPLE TO CUT THROUGH
NEIGHBORHOODS IN THEIR CARS THAT
STILL KIND OF MAKES IT DANGEROUS
FOR PEOPLE TO BE IN THE STREETS.
SO THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO
GET THIS RIGHT BUT WE HAVE TO DO
IT IN A WAY THAT DOES SLOW DOWN
TRAFFIC AND MAKES IT SAFE FOR
PEOPLE TO WALK, BIKE, ROLL, ET
CETERA IN THE STREETS. THIS IS
AGAIN A SHARED STREETS MODEL. WE
ARE NOT TRYING TO LIMIT
ANYBODY'S MOBILITY TO GET
ANYWHERE. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE
IT SAFE FOR ALL USERS OF THE
STREETS ESPECIALLY IN THOSE
PLACES WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE
SIDEWALKS. THIS IS OUR
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR
THOSE PEOPLE TO WALK, BIKE AND
ROLL IN THE STREETS WITHOUT
HAVING A SIDEWALK AVAILABLE TO
THEM. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. FIRST
OFF, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS JOINED
US REMOTELY TO SPEAK ABOUT HIS
-- THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS
WHICH WE WILL CONSIDER IN JUST A
MOMENT. SO WELCOME COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE
FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO
THE RECORD.
>> COUNCIL NUMBER ONE, CB
121176.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO SHARED
STREETS; ADDING A NEW CHAPTER
11.45 TO THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE; ADDING NEW SECTIONS
11.14.562 AND 11.52.125 TO THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE; AMENDING
SECTIONS 11.40.090, 11.40.100,
11.40.120, 11.40.160, 11.40.220,
11.40.240, 11.44.040, 11.44.060,
AND 11.53.205 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE AND AMENDING THE
TITLE OF TITLE 11, SUBTITLE I,
PART FOUR OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> YOU DESERVE A BREATHER,
CLERK. AND THANK YOU. WELCOME.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE PRESENTERS
HAVE JOINED US AT THE TABLE AND
WHEN YOU'RE READY, PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND THE
PRESENTATION.
>> MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M
CALVIN CHOW, COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF AND CHAIR, YOU MENTIONED
WHAT I WAS GOING TO DESCRIBE IN
THIS LEGISLATION SO I WILL TRY
TO BE BRIEF. BUT SHARED STREETS
WAS OFFERED LAST YEAR AND AT THE
REQUEST OF COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, THIS WAS TO BRING OUR
CODE UP INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE
NEW STATE LAW. THE KEY FEATURES
ARE THAT SHARED STREETS
PRIORITIZE PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENTS
OVER BIKES AND PRIORITIES
BICYCLES OVER MOTORIZED
VEHICLES. IT DOES ALLOW FOR A
10-MILE-PER-HOUR SPEED LIMIT AND
HAS REQUIREMENTS ABOUT ANNUAL
SAFETY REPORTING AND THE
PERFORMANCE OF THESE STREETS.
THE LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF YOU
IS REALLY ABOUT ENABLING
LEGISLATION THAT IS CONSISTENT
WITH THE CHANGES AND ALLOWS THE
STAFF TO WORK ON IMPLEMENT RULES
AND EVENTUALLY ESTABLISH
LOCATIONS IN THE CITY. SO,
AGAIN, JUST REALLY BRIEFLY, THIS
LEGISLATION DOES NOT DESIGNATE
SPECIFIC LOCATIONS BUT
ESTABLISHES THE PROCEDURES TO
THE CITY'S TRAFFIC ENGINEERING
AND WILL RELEASE THE PROCEDURES,
I BELIEVE, IN JUNE. THESE
PROCEDURES WOULD REQUIRE A
REVIEW. IT'S A BIT OF A
JUDGMENT CALL ON HOW DIFFICULT
THEY WILL BE AND IF IMPLEMENT IS
NEEDED. FUTURE LEGISLATION COULD
BE PROPOSED AS WELL. WITH THAT,
COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M HAPPY TO
TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHOW. BEFORE
WE GET THERE, I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE AND AGAIN, WELCOME
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND GIVE
HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I AM BE ON
MY WAY TO WEST TRANSIT FOR THE
LIGHTRAIL EXTENSION. AND THAT
STARTS IN ABOUT FOUR MINUTES AND
THEN iWILL HAVE TO LOG OFF. I
APPRECIATE CHAIR SAKA, HEATHER,
EVERYONE DESCRIBES THIS REALLY
WELL FROM THE HISTORY TO THE
NEED BY MARK AND THE CONTEXT
FROM HEATHER. I AM NOT GOING TO
REPEAT YOUR WORDS BECAUSE YOU
SAID IT SO WELL. I WILL ADD THE
CONTEXT OF MY ADVOCACY FOR THIS
BILL STARTED IN 2021 AS WE WERE
TURNING BALLARD AVENUE INTO A
CAFE STREET THAT IS STILL
SUCCESSFUL TODAY. IN THOSE -- IN
SITTING IN THE CAFE IN THE BREAK
PERIOD AND HOW TO REDESIGN THAT
STREET TO BE MORE LIKE WHAT PIKE
PLACE IS, WE WERE VERY AWARE
THAT THE SPEED LIMIT COULDN'T
BE REDUCED BELOW 25 MILES PER
HOUR. IF YOU'RE SITTING IN A
STREET CAFE AND THERE IS A CAR
GOING 25 MILES PER HOUR,
THERE'S A -- IT'S NOT SAFE. IT
DOESN'T WORK VERY WELL. IT'S
NOT GOOD PUBLIC POLICY. SO THAT
REQUIRED US TO GO TO OLYMPIA TO
PASS THE SEPTEMBER BILL THAT
CHAIR SAKA REFERENCED. THAT GAVE
US THE ALLOWANCE LAST YEAR. MARK
IS CORRECT. REDMOND BEAT US TO
IT BY ENABLING THE LEGISLATION.
AS CALVIN CHOW FROM CENTRAL
STAFF DENOTED, TO IMPLEMENT THIS
FULLY THE LEGISLATURE REQUIRED
COUNCILMATIC ACTION. SO TO
DESIGNATE IT WE WILL HAVE TO
COME BACK AND PASS THE
LEGISLATION. THIS IS A GREAT
BILL. I'M THANKFUL FOR EVERYONE
WHO WORKED ON IT AND GETTING IT
ACROSS THE FINISH LINE HOPEFULLY
TODAY AND NEXT TUESDAY. I'M
HAPPY TO TAKE ANYONE'S
QUESTIONS IF YOU DO HAVE
QUESTIONS. I WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE FOR GETTING THIS DONE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS AND APPRECIATE YOUR
LEADERSHIP TO BRING THIS FORWARD
AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ME TO
GET THIS DONE HOPEFULLY SOON.
COLLEAGUES, I WELCOME QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS, FEEDBACK YOU HAVE AND
STARTING ABOUT VICE CHAIR RINCK
IF YOU HAVE ANY.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA AND
COLLEAGUES. I COULD NOT BE MORE
EXCITED THAT THIS IS BEFORE US
TODAY AND THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND SHARE
TO GETTING THIS ON THE AGENDA. I
AM READY TO VOTE YES AND SUPPORT
THIS. A COUPLE OF QUICK
QUESTIONS. I UNDERSTAND WE
DON'T HAVE STAFF AT THE TABLE
TO SPEAK TO THIS. I WANT TO GET
MY QUESTIONS OUT THERE. CALVIN,
I KNOW UNDER A PREVIOUS SLIDE
AROUND -- LET'S SEE, JUST
AROUND THE DESIGNATION
PROCEDURES THAT WE'LL RECEIVE
IN JUNE. CAN YOU EXPAND A LITTLE
BIT ON WHAT THEY WILL LOOK LIKE?
>> I CAN'T SPEAK ON THAT. THAT
IS UP TO THE ENGINEER TO
ESTABLISH WHAT THOSE WILL BE. I
THINK DEPENDING ON WHAT THOSE
LOOK LIKE, WHETHER THAT REQUIRES
ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION OR NOT I
THINK REMAINS TO BE SEEN. I KNOW
THERE IS INTEREST IN THE PUBLIC
AND COUNCIL OFFICES IN HAVING
SPECIFIC LOCATIONS IDENTIFIED.
SO THERE IS PROBABLY IN ABILITY,
SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION
THERE. BUT WE WILL NEED TO SEE
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW MUCH
-- THERE MAY BE DIFFERENT WAYS
THAT THAT GETS IMPLEMENTED. BUT
WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH A -- TRY
AND MAKE SURE THAT CONVERSATIONS
ARE HAD.
>> THANK YOU. AND IT BOILS DOWN
TO WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS AND
THE NEXT QUESTION, HOW MANY
PLACES ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? AND
DOES THIS LEGISLATION LIMIT THE
NUMBER OF SHARED STREETS WE
HAVE, AND THE OPPORTUNITY AROUND
THE CITY ASK FURTHER PUTTING
THIS OUT HERE, I AM INTERESTED
IN IT OUTLINES THE PEDESTRIAN
MOVEMENT AND I WONDER WHAT THAT
WILL LOOK LIKE AND PUT THAT INTO
PRACTICE. A LOT OF QUESTIONS IN
HOW WE MOVE FORWARD IN
IMPLEMENTATION AND GETTING READY
TO WORK AND VOTE ON THAT TODAY.
THANK YOU, CHAIR AND
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR, AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA AND
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WHO I
THINK HAS LEFT AND HE PUT A LOT
OF WORK INTO THIS AND THE SHARED
STREETS IN BALLARD. LOOKING TO
BRING THE WORK OF OLYMPIA HERE
TO OUR STREETS IN SEATTLE. I HAD
A FEW QUESTIONS THAT I THINK
WOULD BE HELPFUL TO WALK
THROUGH, AND ESSENTIALLY LIKE A
SUMMARY STATEMENT. I THINK YOU
MAY HAVE MENTIONED IT, CHAIR,
BUT WILL THERE BE MORE ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SHARED
STREETS?
>> WE MAY HAVE COUNCILMEMBERS
SPECIFY THOSE, AND IT HASN'T
BEEN EXPLICITLY DESCRIBED YET.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHOW, AND
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND
THAT LEADS TO MY NEXT QUESTION.
WILL SDOT BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE
FOR IMPLEMENTING THE STREETS?
COULD COMMUNITY OR NEIGHBORHOODS
REQUEST THE SHARED STREETS AND
WILL THE PROCESS BE FOLDED INTO
THE PROTOCOL IN THE WORK PERIOD?
YOU KIND OF ANSWERED IT BUT IF
YOU WANT TO EXPAND.
>> SHARED STREETS ARE ONE OF THE
TOOL THAT WE WILL HAVE TO
DEPLOY. LIKE ANY REQUEST THEY
WILL NEED TO GO THROUGH A REVIEW
WITH A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER TO
REVIEW THE PROPOSAL AND BE
RESPONSIBLE AND LIABLE FOR IT.
AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE
THOSE IDEAS THAT COME TO
COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE REGULAR
PROCESS AND GET THE ATTENTION TO
SDOT TO HAVE THIS AS ONE OF THE
TOOLS THAT WILL BE DEPLOYED. BUT
I CAN'T SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO
HOW SDOT IS SET UP. I THINK THEY
ARE CLEARLY INTERESTED IN THE
SAME TYPE OF ISSUES YOU GET
THROUGH THE PROPOSITIONS AND
STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK. WE WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH SDOT ON
THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHOW. I CAN
SEE MR. LaBORDE BEHIND YOU
NODDING AND NO DOUBT PEOPLE AT
SDOT ARE WATCHING AND TAKING
NOTE AS WELL. MY THIRD QUESTION,
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR COUNCIL
TO REQUEST THE SHARED STREET
STATUS AND AGAIN, YOU KIND OF
ANSWERED THAT, BUT THESE ARE THE
QUESTIONS THAT THE KNOWLEDGEABLE
STAFF HAS AND THAT THE PUBLIC
HAS AND I THINK IT WILL BE
IMPORTANT TO HAVE IN THE FOR YOU
REMEMBER. AND TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR ALL THE COMMENTERS AND
PARTICULARLY MR. AUSTRO AND DR.
ANNE-MARIE, THANK YOU FOR COMING
AND COMMENTING, AND MS. THILL
FROM ALL THINGS MARKET AND
MAGGIE AS WELL. AND I'M SORRY.
I FORGOT SOME OF THE LAST NAMES
BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
COMING HERE. AND IT REALLY
SHOWS, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUES THAT
ARE THERE. AND THE D7
REPRESENTATION. THANK YOU. AND
FOR D7, THANK YOU TO HIGHLIGHT
BECAUSE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE SHARED STREETS AND THE
FEEL DUE TO THE UNIQUENESS OF
DOWNTOWN, UPTOWN, DOWNTOWN.
BELLTOWN, AND UP TO MAGNOLIA.
AND FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE
ESSENTIALLY CREATING A CIVIC
CAMPOUS TO WHICH QUEEN ANNE FOR
THE FOLLOW-ON AGENDA ITEM ON
CROCKETT -- I MEAN, THE SCHOOL
STREET AREA RELATED TO MICUR AND
QUEEN ANNE COMMUNITY CENTER AND
CROCKETT -- CROCKETT STREET. AND
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE
SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN THE CIVIC
CAMPUS, AND ONE AREA -- AND I
GOT A LOOK AT MR. AUSTRO WHEN HE
SAID HISTORIC BOULEVARD BECAUSE
THAT WAS EVENTUALLY A SOFTBALL
TO SAY QUEEN ANNE BOULEVARD
PARK. AND I JUST HAD A MEETING
WITH PARKS BECAUSE I WANT SDOT
AND PARKS TO SAY, HEY, WHAT WHEN
WE DO TO ELEVATE THE QUEEN ANNE
BOULEVARD PARK? ONE POTENTIAL
WAY IS SHARED STREETS FOR A
COUPLE OF AREAS, NEAR MARSHALL
PARK ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER
NEAR THE WILCOX WALL, THAT AREA
RIGHT THERE. I THINK THERE'S
OPPORTUNITIES PARTICULARLY
BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE OUTLOOK,
THE BETTY BOWMAN VIEWPOINT, AND
ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE
BOULEVARD, ANOTHER EXAMPLE. YOU
HAVE NO SIDEWALKS THERE. AND
DIFFERENT OUTLOOKS. SO WE HAVE
OPPORTUNITIES TO LOOK TO BRING
INTO PLAY THE SHARED STREETS AND
ALSO SOLIDIFY AND BUILD UP THE
QUEEN ANNE BOULEVARD PARK. I DO
WANT SDOT AND PARKS TO WORK
TOGETHER, HEY, WHAT CAN WE DO TO
BUILD UP THAT ESSENTIALLY CITY
ASSET, THE CITY GEM? NOT QUEEN
ANNE ONLY BECAUSE PEOPLE COME
FROM ALL OVER TO WALK THE FOUR
MILES FROM THE TOP WITH ALL THE
VIEWS AND BICYCLISTS AND WALKERS
AND ALL THE LIKE. WE HAVE ALL
THESE OPPORTUNITIES, AND I THINK
ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS AS MR.
CHOW IS NOTING AND THE ANSWERS
WITH THE CHAIR AND THE WORK YOU
WILL BE SETTING UP WITH THE
COMMUNITY AND THE FULL COUNCIL
BUT I THANK COMMENTERS FOR BEING
HERE AND THE ORGANIZATIONS TO
REPRESENT, THE OLD QUEEN ANNE
GREENWAYS AND STREET ALLIANCE,
SORRY, STREET ALLIANCE, THE
QUEEN ANNE COMMUNITY COUNCIL.
THE VARIOUS PIECES OF THE MARKET
INCLUDING FRIENDS OF THE MARKET
WHICH WE DID RECEIVE A LETTER
RIGHT HERE AND I LIKE THE
ENGAGEMENT AND WE WILL CONTINUE
WITH THE ENGAGEMENT AT LEAST
THROUGH DISTRICT SEVEN. SO THANK
YOU EVERYONE, AND CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE AND COUNCILMEMBER LIN,
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU. ALSO VERY EXCITED
ABOUT THIS AND A LITTLE BIT
CONCERNED ABOUT THE SEPA REVIEW.
I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT
DELAYS AND IMPLEMENTATION. AND
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, BUT JUST
INTERESTED IN UPDATING THE SEPA
REVIEWS AND WITH WORKING WITH
COLLEAGUES ON THAT IF NEEDED AND
I AM JUST REALLY EXCITED TO SEE
NOT ONLY THE DESIGNATION BUT I
WOULD BE CURIOUS TO FIND OUT
WHAT ARE THE ENGINEERING CHANGES
THAT ARE NEEDED TO MAKE THESE
TRULY SAFE? YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE
THING TO DESIGNATE SOMETHING
LEGALLY BUT ANOTHER THING TO
SIGNAL THAT THROUGH THE PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENT. SO I WOULD BE VERY
INTERESTED TO LEARN HOW WE COULD
DO THAT TO ENSURE THAT THESE
TRULY ARE SHARED STREETS AND NOT
JUST IN NAME ONLY. THANK YOU.
LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEP.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. LAST BUT NOT
LEAST, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. SORRY I CAN'T
BE THERE WITH YOU AND I STAYED
HOME WITH MY GERMS AS I CAME
HOME WITH A COLD. AND I WANTED
TO SAY I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
THIS AND ECHO THE COMMENTS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER LIN SAID. I AM
LOOKING FORWARD TO IDENTIFY THE
LOCATIONS AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT NEEDS
COME WITH THOSE TO HAVE REALLY
TRULY WONDERFUL SPACES THAT ARE
WORKING FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS
HERE IN SEATTLE. I WANT TO
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS BILL
AS WELL, AND THANK YOU, CHAIR,
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO VOTING TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. A
COUPLE QUICK COMMENTS AND SELF
REFLECTIONS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.
I WANTED TO THANK THE FOLKS WHO
JOINED US IN PERSON, MARK,
ANNE-MARIE, MAGGIE AND HEATHER.
REAL APPRECIATE EVERY LAST ONE
OF YOU FOR SHARING YOUR FEEDBACK
AND THE CALLERS ONLINE AND
SHARING THEIR PERSPECTIVE AS
WELL, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. AS
MR. AUSTRO NOTED WE WOULD NOT BE
THE FIRST DISTRICT TO IMPLEMENT
IT. REDMOND BEAT US TO THE
PUNCH. TAKE THAT AS YOU WILL. I
HAVEN'T DONE A SIDE BY SIDE
ANALYSIS NOR DIRECTED OUR STAFF
TO DO A SIDE-BY-SIDE ANALYSIS
AND COMPARE THEIR BILL AND THIS
AND THAT AND THE OTHER. DON'T
KNOW, DON'T CARE. HERE'S WHAT
I DO KNOW. NO DISRESPECT TO OUR
FRIENDS IN THE CITY OF REDMOND.
THEY DO GREAT WORK, GREAT PEER
GOVERNMENT. WE HAPPEN TO BE
LARGER BUT THEY ARE A PEER.
HERE'S WHAT I DO KNOW. THE
OPPORTUNITY AND THE POTENTIAL
IMPACT OF THIS LEGISLATION HERE
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS FAR
GREATER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN
THE STATE. REDMOND, PRETTY OF
SUBURBAN SPRAWL. HERE SEATTLE'S
DENSE URBAN ENVIRONMENT. EVEN
OUR SUBURBS ARE MORE DENSE THAN
MOST DENSE LOCATIONS IN
SURROUNDING JURISDICTIONS. SO
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPACT AND
TO DRIVE SAFELY AND BRING TO
LIGHT THIS LEGISLATION IN A SAFE
MANNER IS GREATER THAN ANY
LOCALITY AROUND. I KNOW THAT TO
BE TRUE. I KNOW I WORK WITH SOME
OF THE SMARTEST CENTRAL STAFF TO
WRITE THIS UP. I WORK WITH SOME
OF THE SMARTEST COLLEAGUES WHO
WROTE THIS LEGISLATION AS WELL,
WORKING WITH SOME OF THE
SMARTEST ENGINEERS AND PLANNERS
AT SDOT, A LEADING AGENCY
RECOGNIZED GLOBALLY FOR ITS
ENGINEERING EXPERTISE AND WORK.
NO DISRESPECT TO ANYONE ELSE BUT
I TRUST -- I AM CONFIDENT IN MY
TEAM. I AM CONFIDENT IN MY TEAM
ABOVE ANY TEAM. FIRST IS NOT
ALWAYS BEST. THE OPPORTUNITY
HERE IS GREATER THAN ANYWHERE.
THOSE ARE THE TRUTHS I DO KNOW.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED BUT I
WILL ECHO PASSING THE
LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK IS AN
IMPORTANT NEXT STEP BUT
IMPLEMENTATION IS IMPORTANT WITH
THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND
IMPLEMENTATION, I KNOW OUR
PARTNERS AT SDOT ARE MOTIVATED
TO GET THIS DONE AS WELL. I WILL
PUT MY PLANNERS AND ENGINEERS
AGAINST ANYBODY'S. MY CENTRAL
STAFF AGAINST ANYBODY'S.
COLLEAGUES, I AM GOING TO BREAK
MY OWN KUFTD MARRY RULE FOR
ORDINANCES WHERE WE TYPICALLY
HOLD TWO COMMITTEE MEETINGS, ONE
HERE AND A PARTICULAR COUNCIL
BILL OR LEGISLATION ORDINANCE
AND THE SECOND TO VOTE ON IT AND
I'M GOING TO WAIVE THAT HERE
FOR A COUPLE REASONS. ONE, THIS
DIRECTLY ADVANCES OUR
COMMITTEE'S SHARED PRIORITY OF
ADVANCING SAFETY. OFF THE TOP,
VERY IMPORTANT. NEXT, THIS IS A
COUNCIL-GENERATED PIECE OF
LEGISLATION AS OPPOSED TO A
PIECE OF EXECUTIVE GENERATED
PIECE OF LEGISLATION. SO
CONSIDERING TODAY WOULD DIRECTLY
ADVANCE A COUNCIL PRIORITY, AN
IMPORTANT FACTOR. THERE IS CLEAR
CENTER AND EXCITEMENT FROM THE
COMMUNITY AND MY COLLEAGUES TO
GET IT DONE. AND WE WILL
HOPEFULLY MOVE TO FORWARD. THAT
SAID, I MOVE THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF COUNCIL
BILL 121176. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDS TO APPROVE
COUNCIL BILL 121176. ARE THERE
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?
>> COUNCILMEMBER , I BELIEVE
THERE IS ONE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
>> YES. YES. THAT IS TRUE. LET
ME GET THAT. I THINK THAT'S MY
OWN AMENDMENT. WE MOVE THE MAIN
BILL. NOW WE CAN -- NOW WE CAN
MOVE THE AMENDMENT. I MOVE TO
PASS AMENDMENT ONE TO COUNCIL
BILL 121176 AS PRESENTED ON THE
AGENDA. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO PASS
THE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE. IS
THERE ANY COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT
NUMBER ONE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER , DESCRIBE IT
VERY BRIEFLY?
>> YES.
>> THIS WAS BROUGHT FORWARD AS A
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. SDOT STAFF
HAD A COUPLE OF MINOR CLARIFYING
LANGUAGING TO HELP WITH THE
INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW. IT'S
JUST THE TWO PIECES IN RED IN
FRONT OF YOU. IT DOES NOT
SUBSEQUENTLY CHANGE THE
LEGISLATION IN ANY WAY.
>> THANK YOU. ANY FINAL
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, COLLEAGUES?
NO? WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT ONE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR RINCK.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR SAKA.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FIVE VOTES
IN FAVOR, AND ZERO NOS.
>> THE AMENDMENT PASSES. NOW,
LET'S VOTE ON THE MAIN BILL AS
AMENDED. ALREADY -- WE HAVE TO
MOVE NOW AS AMENDED? NO. OKAY.
>> MOVED ALREADY.
>> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. LET'S VOTE
ON THE MAIN BILL, COUNCIL BILL
121176 AS AMENDED. WILL THE
CLERK -- ANY COMMENTS ON THE
BILL AS AMENDED? HEARING AND
SEEING NONE, WILL THE --
>> UH, CHAIR?
>> YES.
>> JUST TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
SORRY. CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE -- ON THE BILL
BEFORE US AS MENDED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR RINCK.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR SAKA?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR, FIVE VOTES FOR YES AND
ZERO NOS.
>> COUNCIL BILL 121126 WILL BE
SENT TO THE MAY 26, 2026
MEETING. THANK YOU. AND THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP.
IT'S DONE AND ON. AND NOW WE'LL
MOVE ON TO THE SECOND ITEM OF
BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM TWO INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEM TWO, DISTRICT PROJECT
FUND IMPLEMENTATION.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. PLEASE
BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA,
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I'M
BILL LaBORDE FROM THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
>> I'M JIM CURTIN FROM PROJECT
MANAGEMENT AT SDOT.
>> OKAY. I'M GOING TO GET
STARTED BUT FIRST, I WANT TO
NOTE THAT THE PERSON WHO RUNS
THIS PROGRAM, OUR PROGRAM
MANAGER SIMON BLENSKI IS OUT
SICK TODAY. I THINK HE MAY HAVE
THE COLD THAT COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER HAS BUT IF YOU ARE
WATCHING, WE HOPE YOU FEEL
BETTER. AND WE ARE HERE TO
PROVIDE YOU ALL WITH AN UPDATE
ON A NEW PROGRAM. SO AS A
REMINDER, I WANT TO PROVIDE A
QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM
ITSELF THAT FUNDS NEIGHBORHOOD
SCALE TRAFFIC SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS AND OTHER PROJECTS
AT THE DIRECTION OF CITY
COUNCIL. THERE WAS $7 MILLION
ALLOCATED IN THE 2025 BUDGET AND
7 MILLION ALLOCATED IN 2026
BUDGET AND IT WILL ROLL FORWARD
IF UNSPENT FOR FUTURE YEARS. BUT
I DO WANT TO NOTE AFTER 2027,
THERE IS NO FUNDING SECURED FOR
THIS PROGRAM. SO ACTION WOULD
NEED TO BE TAKEN IF WE WANTED
THIS TO CONTINUE. TODAY, WE'RE
HERE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE
2026 PROJECT SELECTION PROCESS
AND THE NEXT STEP. OUR ANNUAL
PROGRAM SCHEDULE IS QUITE
SIMPLE. IN THE FOLLOWING WINTER,
WE SHARED PROJECT SELECTION
RESOURCES WITH COUNCILMEMBERS.
COUNCILMEMBERS PROVIDE PROJECT
IDEAS TO SDOT BY MARCH 1 AND
SDOT THEN TAKES ABOUT TWO MONTHS
TO REVIEW THOSE PROJECTS. RIGHT?
WE LOOK AT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
THINGS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE
PROJECT IS FEASIBLE AND COME UP
WITH COST ESTIMATES. WE SHARE
THOSE WITH YOU ON MAY 1 WHICH
WAS JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
AND THEN, COUNCILMEMBERS, YOU
HAVE UNTIL JUNE 1 TO BASICALLY
SELECT THE PROJECT THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SEE PROCEED THE
DISTRICT PROJECT FUND.
>> JUST ONE CLARIFICATION THERE.
THIS YEAR, THE DEADLINE FOR
COUNCILMEMBERS TO SUBMIT
PROJECTS WAS PUSHED BACK TO
APRIL 1 BECAUSE IT'S AN ACTIVE
PROGRAM SO IN THE FUTURE, THE
DEADLINE IS MARCH 20.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
CLARIFICATION. AND YOU KNOW ONCE
WE GET THE PROJECT SELECTED BY
COUNCILMEMBERS, SDOT SELECTS
THOSE PROJECTS TYPICALLY WITHIN
ONE ON TWO YEARS. AND SO THIS
MARCH WE RECEIVED 60 PROJECT
REQUESTS ACROSS THE SEVEN
COUNCIL DISTRICTS. THIS MAP HERE
SHOWS THE LOCATIONS OF THOSE
REQUESTS ACROSS EACH DISTRICT IN
THE CITY. THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS
VARY BY DISTRICT BUT SEVERAL
REQUESTS WERE MADE BY EACH
COUNCILMEMBER . AGAIN, 60
PROJECTS WERE RECEIVED ACROSS
THE DISTRICT. WE ARE NOT HERE TO
GET INTO THE SPECIFIC DETAILS OF
THE PROJECTS HERE TODAY BUT WE
DO WANT TO SHARE HIGHLIGHTS OF
THE VARIOUS HIGHLIGHTS AND
COMMON THEMES THAT WE SAW.
PROJECTS, I THINK, RANGED FROM
STREET PROJECTS TO PUBLIC REALM
IMPROVEMENTS. I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE MENTIONED
SCHOOL STREETS WITH THE MIDDLE
SCHOOL AND WE HAVE PLAZAS IN
DIFFERENT VARIOUS PARTS OF THE
CITY INCLUDING IN COUNCILMEMBER
LIN'S DISTRICT. WE HAVE A TON
OF REQUESTS, THE MAJORITY OF THE
REQUESTS WERE FOR ENHANCED
CROSSES, MARKED CROSSWALKS AND
TRAFFIC CALMING AND THE MAJORITY
FOR SCHOOLS AND PARKS AND
BUSINESSES AS WELL. IN MARCH AND
APRIL, SDOT REVIEWED ALL 60 OF
THOSE PROJECTS. WE HAD A SMALL
BUT MIGHTY TEAM OF FOLKS AT SDOT
LEAD THE REVIEW. WE PULLED IN
OTHER SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS
WHEN NEEDED AND WERE ABLE TO GET
THROUGH THE REVIEW PROCESS AND
APPROVE THE PRELIMINARY PROJECTS
AND WERE LOOKING AT THEM TO MAKE
SURE THEY WERE FEASIBLE IN THE
CITY STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES
AND BEST PRACTICES. AS PART OF
SDOT'S REVIEW WE DEVELOPED COST
ESTIMATES WHICH LEADED
HIGH-LEVEL DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION,
AND STANDARD CONTINGENCIES AND
STAFF REVIEW TIME. THE AVERAGE
COST OF THE STAFF REVIEW WAS
PRETTY SMALL, ABOUT $1,000 PER
PROJECT WITH SOME PROJECT COSTS
BEING A LITTLE HIGHER FOR
PROJECTS THAT REQUIRED A LITTLE
MORE DATA COLLECTION OR
ANALYSIS. THE GOOD NEWS IS THE
REVIEW COSTS AND STAFF TIME AND
DATE COLLECTION IS WHAT WE WOULD
DO FOR A STANDARD PROJECT
ANYWAY. SO IF SELECTED WE NOW
HAVE A HEAD START ON THE
PLANNING AND DESIGN OF THOSE
INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS. WE, THEN,
PREPARE PROJECT REVIEW FORMS
WITH COMMENTS, DESIGN CONCEPTS,
COST ESTIMATES AND THAT WAS ALL
SENT TO YOU LAST WEEK AND DESIGN
OPTIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
MOST OF THOSE OPTIONS WERE TO
PROVIDE LOWER COST AND HIGHER
COST OPTIONS FOR THE PROJECTS TO
ACHIEVE THE PROJECT GOALS. I
THINK A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT IS
LIKE THE CURVE. WE HAVE AN
OPTION FOR A LOWER COST PAINTED
CURVE BOWL OR THE HIGHER COST
CONCRETE. AGAIN OUT OF THE 60
PROJECTS THAT WE RECEIVE WE
RECOMMEND MOVING FORWARD WITH 55
OF THOSE PROJECTS AND MOST OF
THOSE PROJECTS CAN BE DELIVERED
BY SDOT CREWS IN 2027. THERE ARE
A COUPLE OF PROJECTIONS THAT ARE
RECOMMENDED IN 2028-2029 DUE TO
OVERLAPPING WORK LIMITING THE
CONSTRUCTION FATIGUE FOR THE
COMMUNITY OUT THERE AND JUST
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR RESOURCES
AND MAXIMIZE EFFICIENCIES THERE.
THE FIVE PROJECTS THAT WERE NOT
RECOMMENDED FALL INTO A COUPLE
OF CATEGORIES. THE FIRST
CATEGORY IS PROJECTS THAT WERE
ALREADY PLANNED OR FUNDED. RIGHT
IN THERE ARE THREE PROJECTS THAT
WERE ALREADY PLANNED OR FUNDED,
AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THOSE
PROJECTS ARE GOING TO MOVE
FORWARD AND THEY ARE GOING TO
GET SOLD TO OTHER SDOT PROGRAMS.
THEIR PROJECTS WERE IN A
CATEGORY WHERE SDOT WAS NOT ABLE
TO DELIVER THOSE, GOOD IDEAS AND
IMPROVEMENTS BUT BETTER SUITED
FOR A THIRD PARTY TO FUND AND
DELIVER. SDOT CAN STILL PLAY A
ROLE AND SUPPORT THE DELIVERY OF
THE IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH THE
STANDARD PERMITTING PROCESSES.
AND WE ALSO WANT TO NOTE THE
PROJECTS THAT WERE NOT
RECOMMENDED TO MOVE FORWARD HAVE
ALREADY BEEN SHARED WITH THE
COUNCILMEMBERS AND DISCUSSED
WITH THE RESPECTIVE OFFICES AS
WELL. SO COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
UNTIL JUNE 1 TO SELECT PROJECTS,
AGAIN, $2 MILLION CURRENTLY
AVAILABLE FOR EACH COUNCIL
DISTRICT AND $1 MILLION IN 2025
AND 1 MILLION IN 2026 BUT THIS
IS THE FIRST YEAR AND WE ARE
RUNNING TWO YEARS OF FUNDING
AVAILABLE OR $2 MILLION FOR EACH
DISTRICT. THE TOTAL PROJECT
COSTS FOR SOME OF THE DISTRICTS
CURRENTLY EXCEED $2 MILLION. SO
WE MAY NEED TO CONSIDER SOME OF
THE LOWER-COST OPTIONS OR DEFER
SOME PROJECTS. AS YOU WEIGH
THOSE OPTIONS AND TAKE THOSE
UNDER CONSIDERATIONS, THE SDOT
FUND TEAM IS HERE TO HELP YOU.
AND UNUSED FUNDS COULD BE ROLLED
FORWARD AND USED IN ANY OTHER
PROCESS. SO, THE NEXT STEPS, THE
TEAM IS ON STANDBY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT
REVIEWS WE PROVIDED TO YOU NEXT
WEEK AND THE COST ESTIMATES AS
WELL AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO
REACH OUT TO US TO DISCUSS ANY
PROJECTS AHEAD OF THE JUNE 1
DEADLINE. COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
UNTIL JUNE 1 TO SELECT THEIR
PROJECTS TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE
FIRST INAUGURAL ROUND OF PROJECT
FUNDS AND THEN WE WILL RUN INTO
THE DESIGN AND BUILD PROJECTS
AND MOST OF THOSE PROJECTS WILL
BE DELIVERED IN 2027. AND
LASTLY, I WILL SAY WE WILL
PROVIDE YOU ALL WITH REGULAR
UPDATES THROUGH THE PROCESS AND
WE ARE ON STAND BY TO HELP YOU
IN ANY WAY THAT YOU NEED, AND
FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO US. I
THINK WE ARE ALL REALLY, REALLY
HAPPY THAT YOU ALL PROVIDED
GREAT PROJECTS FORS THAT YOU
WILL UNDOUBTEDLY PROVIDE A GREAT
BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY. SO
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THE
PRESENTATION HERE. COLLEAGUES,
AT THIS POINT I WILL OPEN FOR
COMMENTS FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE
WITH COUNCILMEMBER RINCK IF YOU
HAVE ANY.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I DON'T
HAVE ANY.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO
THANK SDOT FOR ALL THE WORK.
IT'S BEEN A REALLY GREAT
PROCESS TO LEARN ABOUT HOW THESE
PROJECTS GET DESIGNED, HOW THEY
GET IMPLEMENTED. I AM REALLY
EXCITED TO GET TO THE NEXT STEP
AND SEE THESE GET BUILT. I THINK
YOUR PRESENTATION NOTED THE
OVERWHELMING SENSE FROM THE
REQUESTS IS THAT NEIGHBORHOODS
ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY.
RIGHT? AND YOU WERE TALKING
ABOUT THIS EARLIER WITH SHARED
STREETS AND IT'S JUST BEEN A
TOP PRIORITY FOR THIS COMMITTEE
AROUND VISION ZERO AND YOU KNOW,
THIS -- IT'S BEEN INTERESTING
TO SEE NEIGHBORS GALVANIZING AND
SAYING, HEY, WE WANT INCREASED
SAFETY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
WHERE OUR KIDS ARE, YOU KNOW, TO
GIVE THEM A VOICE AND TO ALLOW
THEM TO SORT OF ENGAGE IN THIS
PROCESS AND TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE
OUR STREETS SAFER. IT HAS BEEN
REWARDING IN THAT REGARD AS
WELL. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER LIN, I WANT TO
THANK THE SDOT TEAM FOR YOUR
WORK ACROSS THE BOARD. I REALLY
APPRECIATE IT. I BELIEVE WE HAD
ONE THAT WAS ALREADY ON THE
BOOKS. I THINK WE FIGURED THAT
OUT EARLIER RATHER THAN LATER
AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO ENGAGE
WITH VISION ZERO AS A GUIDING
LIGHT FOR PROJECTS ACROSS
UPTOWN, QUEEN ANNE, MAGNOLIA,
AND I THINK ALL THE PROJECTS
WILL FACILITATE OTHER PROJECTS
LIKE THE CIVIC CAMPUS POINT I
RAISED EARLIER IN THE PREVIOUS
AGENDA ITEM OR WHEN I TALK ABOUT
NEIGHBORHOOD VILLAGES IN THE
APPROACH IN TERMS OF THE D7 PART
OF MAGNOLIA, THE ONE PART OF
MAGNOLIA THAT DOESN'T HAVE THAT
KIND OF VILLAGE, AND I THINK THE
TRANSPORTATION SHOULD MATCH THE
LAND USE. AS I HAVE OFTEN SAID,
TWO SIDES OF THE COIN. USUALLY I
AM TALKING ABOUT PSRC AND THE
PLAN AND BALLARD LINK EXTENSION
BUT IT APPLIES HERE, TOO, THAT
LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION
IDEAS AND WORK REALLY NEED TO BE
PAIRED UP CLOSELY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
MR. CURTIN AND LaBORDE AND SIMON
BLENSKI, I HOPE HE IS NOT
WATCHING US ON THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL BUT HOME RESTING. BUT
LIFE GOES ON AND APPRECIATE HIS
PARTNERSHIP IN HELPING TO
IMPLEMENT THIS VITAL PROGRAM AND
WORKING WITH ME AND MY OFFICE
AND THE OFFICES OF MY COLLEAGUES
TO GET US TO THIS POINT, PLENTY
MORE WORK TO DO, OF COURSE. WE
JUST BASICALLY ARE JUST AT THE
SELECTION PHASE RIGHT NOW. AND I
WANT TO THANK SDOT FOR THEIR
PARTNERSHIP. AND COLLEAGUES, I
WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP AND STRONG
ENGAGEMENT IN THIS VITAL SAFETY
PROGRAM IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. TO
SAY IT WAS WILDLY SUCCESSFUL IS
PROBABLY A GROSS UNDERSTATEMENT
BASED OFF THE ENGAGEMENT THAT
I'M HEARING, THE DISCUSSIONS
THAT I HAD AND CHECKING IN WITH
SDOT AND THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH
OUR RESPECTIVE OFFICES AS WELL
WHICH TERRIFIC NEWS. JUST TO
REMIND ABOUT THIS VITAL PROGRAM
AND HOW IT WAS ESTABLISHED FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE, AS ONE OF THE
ARCHITECTS -- ACTUALLY, THE
ENTIRE COUNCIL PASSED THIS SO MY
NAME WASN'T SOLELY ON THIS BUT
THE ENTIRE COUNCIL PASSED THIS
IN FALL 2024 BUDGET, AND
ESTABLISHED FOR CALIFORNIA YEAR
2025 AND 2026, $1 MILLION EACH
FOR EACH OF THE SEVEN RESPECTIVE
COUNCIL DISTRICTS. AT THE TIME,
TODAY THIS, IS ALLOWING OUR CITY
TO BE COLLECTIVELY MORE
RESPONSIVE TO HYPERLOCAL NEEDS,
HYPERLOCAL NEEDS, AND ALSO
ADVANCE CRITICAL SAFETY PROJECTS
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AT A HIGH
LEVEL, THOSE ARE THE TWO GOALS.
WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING, OUR
COUNCIL, WE PROVIDE FUNDING FOR
PROSPECTS AND SERVICES IN ANY
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. IN THIS
CASE, SDOT HAS NUMEROUS TRAFFIC
SAFETY PROGRAMS AND INVESTMENTS
AND FUNDS AND MONEY THEY CAN USE
TO DO ANY NUMBER OF COOL THINGS
TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE ON OUR ROADS
WITH THE LEGACY NEIGHBORHOOD
STREET FUND BEFORE THAT AND
THERE'S A SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL
FUND. THERE IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD
TRAFFIC CALMING PROGRAM, VISION
ZERO PROGRAM RESOURCES AND SO
MUCH MORE. WE AS A COUNCIL HAVE
FUNDED EACH OF THOSE VITAL
PROGRAMS FOR TENS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS. THE DEPARTMENT RETAINS
DISCRETION TO DETERMINE WHERE TO
BUILD THE PROGRAMS FROM A
CITY-WIDE PERSPECTIVE. WHAT WE
HERE AT COUNCIL ARE INTERESTED
IN WHAT IS CITY WIDE NOT THE
BEST FOR OUR DISTRICT.
SOMETIMES, IT IS, AND SOMETIMES,
IT'S NOT AND WE WANT TO BE
RESPONSIVE TO THE HYPERLOCAL
NEEDS AND KEEP PEOPLE SAFE IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ERGO, THE
PROGRAM. WE PASSED PROGRAMS LAST
FALL AND WE ARE ALL OPERATING
FROM THE SHAME SHEET OF MUSIC
AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW
THIS WILL BE STRUCTURED, RUN AND
IMPLEMENTED AND WE HAVE
ESTABLISHED A TIMELINE, AND EACH
OF US ARE FREE TO BEAT THE
TIMELINES. I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE
DEPARTMENT TO DO THE SAME ON
THEIR END. THIS PROGRAM WAS
FUNDED FOR TWO YEARS. AFTER THIS
YEAR, 2026. THERE IS NO CURRENT
FUNDING ESTABLISHED FOR THIS
PROGRAM GIVEN THE WILD SUCCESS
OF THIS PROGRAM AND THE DIRECT
TIE AND NEXUS TO STRENGTHEN OUR
SAFETY. I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE
FUNDING TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM
AND BEYOND, AND THIS IS CALLING
ON EXACTLY THAT. BUT ANYWAY, A
GREAT PROGRAM AND APPRECIATE
SDOT WITH YOUR PARTNERSHIP. AND
MR. CURTIN, I THINK SLIDE NOTES
THAT COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE UNTIL
JUNE 1 -- I HAVE ALREADY BEATEN
THAT. WE ENDEAVOR TO BE GREAT
PARTNERS. WE DON'T WANT THE
BLOCKER TO BE ON OUR END. I
APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN
GETTING THESE DONE. OFTEN TIMES
IN A REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE IN MY
NEWSLETTER YESTERDAY THAT WERE
SELECTED FOR FUNDING, FAIRMOUNT
PARK FAUNTLEROY PROJECT, THE
TRAFFIC FUNDING AND THE LIGHTING
SIGNALS -- SORRY. I SHOULD KNOW
THE APPROPRIATE ENGINEERING
TERMS. SEE MY NEWSLETTER PER MY
LAST EMAIL. SINCE I TOOK OFFICE
IN '24, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WE
STARTED RECEIVING CALLS AND
EMAILS AND CONSTITUENT REQUESTS
FROM FAMILIES AT THE SCHOOLS AND
THOSE WHO DON'T GO TO SCHOOL AT
ALL BUT REGULARLY USE THE CITY
PARK NEXT DOOR AND THE PLAY
FIELD IS NEXT DOOR AND WALK
THEIR DOG AND GO TO SUPPORT THE
LOCAL BUSINESSES, CLOSE TO THE
MORGAN JUNCTION, WHATEVER IT IS.
WE STARTED -- OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS WE RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF
CALLS AND EMAILS ASKING FOR A
TRAFFIC LIGHT OR A SAFE TRAVEL
TO ARRIVE FROM ONE SIDE SAFELY
TO THE OTHER. TODAY, IT'S THE
OLD-FASHIONED WOODEN POLES WITH
THE ORANGE FLAGS ON EACH SIDE OF
THE STREET. THE IDEA IS THE
CITY, WE KNOW PEDESTRIANS ARE
CROSSING HERE. NO MARKED
CROSSWALKS. BUT THIS IS OUR
EFFORT TO IDEALLY MAKE IT AS
SAFE AS POSSIBLE RECOGNIZING
THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO DO MORE
AND HAVE A MORE PERMANENT
SOLUTION AND SO REGULARLY
FAMILIES, HUNDREDS PER DAY
PROBABLY ARE CROSSING ACROSS A
MAJOR THOROUGHFARE -- FAUNTLEROY
-- A MAJOR ARTERIAL --
FAUNTLEROY -- AND SOMETIMES,
THESE PROJECTS FALL BELOW THE
CUTLINE FROM A CITY PERSPECTIVE.
AND THAT'S WHY THESE PROJECTS
ARE SO IMPORTANT. IT EXPECTS
EXPEDITE THESE VITAL PROGRAMS
ACROSS THE CITY TO KEEP PEOPLE
SAFE. AND ALTHOUGH IN THE
LEGISLATION, OUR PARTNERS AT
SDOT, WE ALIGN ON MINIMUM
STANDARDS FOR TIMING. I
ENCOURAGE TO EXCEED ON THE
PROJECTS -- A LOT OF PROJECTS. I
GET THAT ON TOP OF OTHER GREAT
WORKS GOING ON ACROSS THE CITY.
IT'S A LOT OF PROJECTS BUT I
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU
ALL TO KIND OF PRIORITIZE AND
FIND OUT WHICH ONES WE CAN GET
DONE THIS YEAR. AS A STARTING
POINT, I WOULD POSIT IF
ANYTHING, ANY PROJECTS THAT ARE
CONNECTING PEOPLE TO SCHOOLS --
I MENTIONED ONE IN MY DISTRICT
AND I MENTIONED ONE IN ANOTHER
DISTRICT, A MIDDLE SCHOOL, YOU
KNOW, ADVANCE -- TO HELP
FACILITATE THOSE SAFE
CONNECTIONS, I WOULD STRONGLY
PRIORITIZE THOSE BUT AGAIN, LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OFFLINE TO FIGURE OUT
WHICH ONES WE CAN GET DONE AND
DELIVER THIS YEAR AND EXCEED
SOME EXPECTATIONS. SO IN ANY
EVENT, THANK YOU AGAIN. REALLY
APPRECIATE IT, COLLEGES AND
SDOT. WE WILL -- UNLESS YOU ALL
HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD --
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
TO ALL OF AND YOUR COLLEAGUES.
YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLE LIST OF
PROJECTS, AND I GOT TO BE A
LITTLE MORE INVOLVED IN THE
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS
THAN I NORMALLY AM BECAUSE OF
THE PROGRAM AND THEY HAVE A LOT
OF ENTHUSIASM AND CONTINUE TO
HAVE A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM ABOUT
THE PROJECTS. SO THANK YOU FOR
PUTTING SO MUCH THOUGHT INTO
THEM.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW MOVE
ON TO OUR THIRD AND FINAL ITEM
OF BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM THREE INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 3, CLERK FILE,
314530.
PETITION OF THE YEW, LLC, FOR
THE VACATION OF A PORTION THE
ALLEY LYING WITHIN BLOCK TWO,
WEGENER'S ADDITION TO THE CITY
OF SEATTLE, BEING THE BLOCK
BOUNDED BY NORTH 87th STREET,
1st AVENUE NORTHWEST PALATINE
AVENUE NORTH, AND NORTH 85th
STREET, AT 8623 PALATINE AVE
NORTH.
>> THANK YOU. WE DON'T NEED
FORMERLY COMMENCE A PUBLIC
HEARING UNTIL THEY SPEAK. RIGHT?
>> EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER THE
PRESENTATION.
>> OKAY. LET'S GET THE
PRESENTATION ANY WELCOME,
PRESENTERS. FULL, ROBUST TABLE
TODAY. I WELCOME EVERYONE. I
WANT YOU TO GO AHEAD AND BEGIN
YOUR PRESENTATION AND THEN WE
CAN KICK OFF THE FORMAL HEARING.
>> THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND
THE COUNCIL HAS THREE ON A
VACATION PROPOSAL. WHEN A
PROPERTY OWNER PETITIONS THE
CITY TO VACATE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY
NEXT TO A PROPERTY, THE COUNCIL
MAY CHOOSE TO RECEIVE A BRIEFING
ON THE PROPOSAL AT THAT POINT
AND PROVIDE INPUT. THE COMMITTEE
OR THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
RECEIVED A BRIEFING ON THIS
PROPOSAL IN 2024. ONCE THE
PETITION HAS BEEN FILED, THE
CITY DEVELOPMENTS AND THE SCALE
DESIGN COMMISSION REVIEW IT AND
DEVELOP A RECOMMENDATION TO THE
CITY COUNCIL ABOUT WHETHER OR
NOT IT SHOULD BE APPROVED AND
WHAT CONDITIONS SHOULD BE PLACED
ON THE APPROVAL. THAT'S THE
STATE WE'RE AT NOW. THIS IS THE
SUBSTANTIVE DECISION ON THIS.
AND IN FRONT OF YOU IS WHETHER
OR NOT TO IMPROVE THIS AND
WHETHER OR NOT THE CONDITIONS
THAT SDOT HAS PROPOSED ARE
APPROPRIATE. THE FINAL STEP IS
AFTER APPROVAL, ONCE THE
CONDITIONS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS
PLACED ON THE VACATION HAS BEEN
MET, AN ORDINANCE WILL COME TO
YOU AND AT THAT POINT YOU ARE
PROVIDING THE FINAL AGREEMENT
THAT THEY MET THE CONDITIONS AND
THE CITY RECEIVED THEIR
RIGHT-OF-WAY. AT THE BACK OF THE
MEMO FOR TODAY'S MEETING IS A
SET OF PROPOSED CONDITIONS BASED
ON SDOT'S RECOMMENDED
CONDITIONS. AT THE NEXT MEETING
IF YOU AGREE WITH THE
CONDITIONS, THEY'LL BE ADDED TO
THE CLERK FILE, AND THIS
COMMITTEE WOULD RECOMMEND
APPROVAL WITH THOSE CONDITIONS.
AND I'LL HAND IT OVER TO SDOT
TO KICK OFF MORE SUBSTANTIVE
UNLESS THERE ARE QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. WOODSON. MY
MEA CULPA. APPRECIATE THAT
OVERVIEW FROM THE CENTRAL STAFF
AND LET'S GIVE EVERYONE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND THEN TAKE IT DOWN
THE LINE TO DO THE SUBSTANTIVE
PRESENTATION PORTION. SO GO
AHEAD.
>> I WILL START. I AM MOLLY
LAWRENCE REPRESENTING THE OWNER.
HOPEFULLY THIS IS THE LAST YOU
NEED TO HEAR FROM ME.
>> I AM FROM CENTRAL STAFF.
>> PHILLIP WARD, SDOT.
>> I AM THE ARCHITECT OF
OWNERSHIP.
>> AMY GRAY, SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION.
>> MICHAEL JENKINS, SEATTLE
DESIGN COMMISSION.
>> KELSEY TIMMER, SDOT.
>> JEFF SWANSON, GREENWOOD
SHOPPING CENTER INCORPORATED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME TODAY. SO AS WAS MOTED, THE
VACATION FOR AN ALLEY TO DEVELOP
A PROJECT IN THE GREENWOOD AREA
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY
COUNCIL ADOPTED POLICIES AND THE
CRITERIA INTO THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE AND REVISED CODE
OF WASHINGTON. IT'S EVALUATED
ON TWO IMPORTANT ELEMENTS,
PUBLIC TRUST AND PUBLIC BENEFIT.
PUBLIC TRUST LOOKS AT ONCE THE
ALLEY WAS USED HOW DO THE
REMAINING WORK ON THE SITE? THE
PROJECT HAS BEEN THROUGH A
THOROUGH VIEW WITH SDOT AND A
STREET IMPROVEMENT REVIEW,
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
ZONING REVIEWS AND ALL OTHER
TYPES OF REVIEWS THAT WE TALK
EXTENSIVELY ABOUT AND THEY ARE
ALL WEIGHING IN TO ADDRESS
IMPACT IF THE ALLEY IS VACATED.
WE HAVE EVALUATED THE PETITION
WITH RESPECT TO THE RULES THAT
THE STREETS AND ALLEYS SERVE AND
LAND USE IMPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN
EVALUATED AND THE SCALE OF THE
PROJECT FITS IN WITH THE
SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. OTHER
FUNCTIONS THAT ALLEY SERVE LIKE
CIRCULATION, LIGHT AND AIR, OPEN
SPACE AND FREE SPEECH AND PUBLIC
ASSEMBLY HAVE ALSO BEEN
ADDRESSED. THIS WILL REFLECT THE
WORK WITH THE ADJACENT
COMMUNITY, AND THE COMMUNITY HAS
HAD A VOICE IN FORMING THE
PROPOSAL, AND SDOT IS
RECOMMENDING THAT THE COUNCIL
APPROVE THE PETITION WITH THE
CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN THE
RECOMMENDATION AND I WILL TURN
OVER TO MICHAEL FOR DESIGN ROLE.
>> THANK YOU. AS AMY POINTED
OUT, THE COUNCIL POLICY -- YOU
ASKED THE DESIGN COMMISSION TO
LOOK AT TWO FUND AMAL ISSUES,
PUBLIC TRUST AND PUBLIC BENEFIT.
IN THIS CASE I THINK YOU WILL
SEE VERY CLEARLY THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS AN
ANOMALY. THIS IS A REMNANT OF AN
ALLEY THAT EXISTS BECAUSE OTHER
PORTIONS OF THAT ALLEY WERE
NEVER VACATED. SO THIS IS REALLY
AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT NEW
DEVELOPMENT THAT CAN EXIST WITH
THAT ALLEY REMOVED AS OPPOSED TO
A NO VACATION ALTERNATIVE THAT
WOULD HAVE TWO SEPARATE
STRUCTURES OF FRANKLY PROBLEM --
AND THE APPLICANT MADE A VERY
CONVINCING CASE TO THE
COMMISSION, THEY ARE PROBABLY
NOT VERY ECONOMICALLY VIABLE OR
FEASIBLE. SO THE VACATION ALLOWS
A MORE FUNCTIONING DEVELOPMENT
THAT WOULD RETURN AND ENHANCE A
RIGHT OF WAY THAT CURRENTLY DID
NOT EXIST. I THINK YOU WILL SEE
THAT AS WELL. THE CURRENT
BENEFIT PACKAGE I THINK YOU WILL
SEE EXCEEDS THE CODE REQUIREMENT
THAT ALLOWS THE COMPLETION OF A
PUBLIC REALM, SIDEWALK, AND
AMENITIES TO CREATE A PROFILE
THAT DOES NOT EXIST TODAY AND
WOULD NOT EXIST IF THE VACATION
WAS THERE NOT. AND THEY ARE
TAKING AN EXISTING CONSERVATION
EASEMENT AND TURNING IT INTO A
PUBLIC ASSET WITH IMPROVEMENT,
IMPROVEMENT AND PLANTING
ENHANCEMENT ON THE SIDEWALK
THROUGH ART AND OTHER THINGS
THAT MAKES IT MORE OF A
COMMUNITY RESOURCE. AND,
FINALLY, WE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF TIME LOOKING AT OTHER
BENEFITS INCLUDING ADVANCED
ACCESS TO SAND WILL SANDLE PARK
TO THE NORTH. I THINK WE AGREED
THAT THE EXPENSE OF DOING THAT
WORK WOULD LIMIT THE ABILITY TO
CREATE THE SIGNIFICANT RESOURCE
THAT THEY'RE CREATING ALONG
87th AND ALONG WITH THE
ENHANCEMENT TO THE FACILITY, THE
DRAINAGE FACILITY. WITH THAT I
WILL GIVE IT TO THE PROJECT.
>> THANK YOU. THE PROJECT IS
LOCATED IN GREENWOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD SEATTLE ON PALATINE
AND 87th, ONE BLOCK DIRECTLY
WEST OF GREENWOOD AVE AND A
COUPLE OF BLOCKS NORTH. ZOOMING
IN ON THE SITE YOU CAN SEE WHERE
THE GREENWOOD FRED MEYER IS, THE
LANDMARK, AND THE PROJECT SITE.
YOU CAN SEE IN THE WHITE LINE,
THE EXISTING ALLEY THAT WAS
VACATED FOR PREVIOUS WORK
HEADING TOWARDS 85th AS WELL AS
THE RIGHT LINE GOING THROUGH THE
PROJECT SITE, THE ALLEY THAT
CURRENTLY EXISTS TODAY. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. IN THE
DIAGRAMATIC NINE-BLOCK ANALYSIS
YOU CAN SEE HOW IT IS IN THE
GREENWOOD URBAN VILLAGE WHERE
HIGHER DENSITY OCCURS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. MORE OF HOW THE
ALLEY FIRSTS IN THE SITE. NEXT.
EXISTING CONDITIONS, THIS SHOWS
A BIT BETTER OF A DIAGRAM HOW
THE ALLEY SIGHTS AND HOW THE
REMNANT PARCEL IS CREATED. YOU
CAN SEE THE NARROW STRETCH
BETWEEN THE ALLEY AND THE WHITE
LINE AT THE PROPERTY LINE. ONE
OF THE FIRST THINGS WE ARE ASKED
TO DO IS LOOK AT THE VACATION,
VERSUS THE NO VACATION OPTIONS.
THE PICTURE TO THE LEFT YOU CAN
SEE THE DEAD-END ALLEY, THE
REMNANT PARCEL IT CREATES AND
THE TWO LOTS TO CREATE TWO SMALL
BUILDINGS WITH VERSUS ON THE
RIGHT, THE VACATION OPTION THAT
ALLOWS FOR A MUCH MORE COHESIVE
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. THE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT WAS
SEVERAL FOLD. WE DID THE
ELECTRONIC OUTREACH IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEN WE HAD TWO
IN-PERSON MEETING. THE FIRST
IN-PERSON MEETING WAS EARLY ON
IN THE PROCESS. HERE WE FOCUSED
ON THE INITIAL PUBLIC BENEFITS
AND THE BUILDING STRUCTURE, HOW
IT MEETS THE GROUND AND THE GIVE
AND TAKE. IT WAS A GOOD MEETING
THAT WE HAD. WE AT THAT POINT
LIVED WITH THE NEIGHBOR THAT
LIVED ACROSS THE STREET AND GOT
HER INPUT ON THE HEIGHT AND
SCALE OF THE BUILDING AS WELL AS
HER DESIRE TO REALLY ACTIVATE
THE STREETSCAPE ON THAT SIDE.
THE SECOND MEETING WE PUT IN
FRONT OF THEM THE PUBLIC BENEFIT
AND OUR NOTION OF EXTENDING THE
PUBLIC BENEFIT ACROSS THE WHOLE
OF THE LOT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THAT'S WHAT DROVE US TO WHERE
WE'RE GOING. I'M GOING TO
QUICKLY -- HERE YOU SEE IN BLUE
THE REQUIRED RIGHT-OF-WAY
IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE WOULD HAVE
TO DO. THAT SETS THE STAGE. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. WE TRIED TO FOCUS
ON MAKING THE STREET-LEVEL USE
AS ENGAGING AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE
TOWNHOMES ALONG THE STREET AND
THE AREAS FACING THE STREET. WE
HAVE THE COURT YARD FACING THE
STREET AND AS WE MOVE DOWN 87th,
MORE PEDESTRIAN ENTRY, BIKE
ENTRY AND AUTO ENTRY AND TRASH
AND LOADING USE. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. TH E PUBLIC BENEFIT
NOW WE SEE AGAIN THE BLUE
REQUIRED RIGHT-OF-WAY AREA. SO
THE PUBLIC BENEFIT IS TWOFOLD.
NUMBER ONE, WE USE A LITTLE BIT
OF ADDITIONAL AREA ALONG
PALATINE AS WELL AS A LITTLE
ADDITIONAL SLIVER OF AN AREA ON
FIRST AND INCREASE THE SIDEWALKS
AND PROMOTE PEDESTRIANS WITH THE
AREA AROUND THE SITE. WE HEARD
FROM THE PUBLIC THIS AREA WANTS
TO SEE PEOPLE WALKING TO THE
STORE AND MOVING AROUND. ONE OF
THE BIGGER ITEMS WE ALWAYS
WANTED TO DO IS ITEM NUMBER TWO
UP THERE TO EXTEND THE SIDEWALK
AND BUILD AND COMPLETE THE
BLOCK. TO COMPLETE THE BLOCK,
THE SIDEWALK IS CURRENTLY WHAT I
CALL A GOAT TRAIL, A LITTLE BIT
OF A DIRT PATH, DIDN'T HAVE
MUCH ACCESS. WE CREATED A USE
BELIEVE SIDEWALK AND PLANTING
ALONG IT AS WELL, THE SIDEWALK
AND THE PLANTS. SECONDLY OR
THIRDLY, RATHER, NUMBER THREE,
WE INCREASE THE CORNER WITH A
LITTLE BIT OF SIGNAGE,
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO
GATHER. THAT IS ONE THING AS
WELL. AND FOUR, WE ENHANCE THIS
CONSERVATION PARCEL, CLEAN UP
THE LANDSCAPING, PROVIDE PUBLIC
INTEREST WITHIN THAT
LANDSCAPING. WHAT WE HEARD IN
THE SECOND MEETING IS PROVIDE
ONGOING QUARTERLY MAINTENANCE SO
IT ALWAYS MAINTAINS VISUAL ASSET
AND VISUAL APPEAL. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. SO SCRUTINIZING A BIT,
THE SIDEWALK ON PALATINE, ADDING
WHAT WE CALL SHOULDER ROOM SO
PEOPLE CAN PASS AND WALK ABREAST
WHERE THE NEIGHBORHOOD THE
STARTS AND HELPS WHERE PEOPLE
ARE MANEUVERING. THE OTHER
SLIDE, THE LARGER AREA THAT WE
ARE GOING TO ENHANCE. THE PUBLIC
BENEFITS, THE GREEN SPACE HAS A
LOT OF OVERGROWN VEGETATION. SO
WE LOOKED FOR A LANDSCAPER TO
PLANT NATIVE GRASSES AND PLANTS
AND A MEADOW. THE STORY IS THERE
IS QUITE A BIT OF SONGBIRDS,
WHITE A BIT OF WILDLIFE THAT IS
HERE. AND THIS IS WHAT THE
COMMUNITY STARTS TO PLAY WITH.
SLIDE, PLEASE. DISCOVERY FROM
THE NEIGHBORHOOD WE ARE TERMING
THAT STARTING TO WORK WITH THE
ARTIST. OKAY. WE HAVE THE CIVIC
CORNER AND WE HAVE A SEAT AT THE
CORNER FOR PEOPLE TO REST, LOOK
IN. AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO CREATE
VISUAL INTEREST? WE CAN CREATE
BIRDHOUSES. WE CAN CREATE
OPPORTUNITIES AND/OR WHERE THE
BIRDS ARE AND DECORATIVE FENCE
PANELS THAT WE PUT ON THE FENCE
TO ENGAGE PEOPLE FROM THE MORE
AESTHETIC SIDE. THAT WAS A
SPRINGBOARD FOR BRINGING AN
ARTIST ONBOARD THAT WAS AT THE
DIRECTION OF THE DESIGN
COMMISSION. WE BROUGHT A LOCAL
ARTIST ONBOARD. HE'S PROPOSING
THAT WE WORK IDEAS OF DIFFERENT
SIGN POSTS AND BIRDHOUSES AND
WHAT A NESTING AREA MIGHT LOOK
LIKE AND WE PROVIDE SIGNS IN
THAT AREA AND THEN THE MOCKUP.
THIS IS A MOCKUP THAT AN ARTIST
CREATES ON SOME OF THE PRODUCTS
AROUND -- COVERING UP SORT OF
THE UTILITY BOXES AND CAME UP
WITH A GRAPHIC THAT WOULD BE
COMPELLING AND WHAT YOU COULD
SEE AT DIFFERENT TIMES WITHIN
THIS GREENSPACE. I TRIED TO BE
CONCISE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO
ANSWER THEM.
>> THANK YOU. AS PRESIDING
OFFICER, I AM OPENING THE PUBLIC
HEARING ON CLERK FILE
314530-YARDING THE YEW ALLEY
VACATION. CLERK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP?
>> CHAIR, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY
REMOTE OR IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
>> ALL RIGHT. THERE IS NO MEMBER
OF THE PUBLIC HEARING IN PERSON
OR REMOTELY ON CLERK FILE
314530. SO THE PUBLIC HEARING IS
NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU,
PRESENTERS, ON PRESENTING MORE
DETAILS ON THE PENDING
LEGISLATION. THIS PROPOSAL. AT
THIS POINT, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO
MY COLLEAGUES FOR QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS, FEEDBACK THAT YOU MAY
HAVE IF ANY STARTING FIRST WITH
VICE CHAIR RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. NO
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. THANK
YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, ANYONE ELSE?
COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> I -- THANK YOU FOR THIS
PRESENTATION. I'VE GOT SORT OF
A SIDE QUESTION JUST ON THE
GREEN SPACE. IS THERE -- JUST
CURIOUS. IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE
TREES THERE? THERE IS A GROWING
MOVEMENT FOR -- LIKE THE NATIVE
FOREST AND DENSE FOREST. IT
SEEMS LIKE A NICE SITE BUT I'M
NOT SURE GIVEN THE FUNCTION OF
IT IF IT NEEDS TO BE KIND OF
MORE OPEN SPACE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
83, AND AGAIN, MOLLY LAWRENCE
FROM VAN NESS FELDMAN. I WILL
SPEAK. THIS PARCEL IS THE
CONSERVATION PARCEL BECAUSE
IT'S SUBJECT TO OUR PUDA
AGREEMENT THAT REQUIRES IT BE
USED FOR STORMWATER AS WELL
WHICH HAS LIMITED TO SOME DEGREE
THE VEGETATION WE CAN USE. OUR
FOCUS WAS ON NATIVE PLANTINGS,
THE STORMWATER FUNCTIONS OF THE
SITE AS WELL. A LITTLE BIT OF A
LIMITATION THERE.
>> OKAY. YEAH. JUST WONDERING
ABOUT THE STORMWATER AND TREES
IF THEY ARE INHOSPITABLE OR
INCOMPATIBLE. BUT ANYWAY, THANK
YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANTED TO
SAY THANK YOU. USUALLY, THE
ALLEY VACATIONS ARE IN MY
DISTRICT. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE
SOMETHING NOT IN MY DISTRICT.
THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK. I
FIND IT VERY INTERESTING. THAT
URBAN WILDLIFE PIECE IS VERY
IMPORTANT AS WE HEAR THE NEWS
ABOUT THE LOSS OF BEES AND THE
SONGBIRDS, THE VERY SMALL BIRDS
AND VARIOUS PIECES. WE CANNOT
UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF ALL
THE LITTLE PIECES LIKE THIS AND
WHAT IT MEANS. I AM INTERESTED
IN THE TECHNICAL TERM, GOAT
TRAIL? IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID?
>> THAT MIGHT NOT BE TECHNICAL.
>> OKAY. I APPRECIATE THE
PRESENTATION AND THAT IS PROOF
THAT WE ARE LISTENING. THANK
YOU, CHAIR.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WASN'T
GOING TO COMMENT ON THIS BUT
SINCE COUNCILMEMBER LIN BROUGHT
UP THE FOREST, I AM GOING TO DO
A QUICK FOLLOW UP AND SAY A
NEIGHBOR OF MINE HAS DONE ONE OF
THOSE IN A VERY, VERY SMALL
SPACE TO BRING BACK THE NATIVE
TREES. SO THAT CONCEPT IS NOT
TYPICALLY CONSTRAINED BY SIZE AS
THE PRESENTERS KNOW, AND IT WAS
A GREAT QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER
LIN, AND MAYBE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPLORE AT THIS LOCATION. IT
FEELS PRETTY -- IT FEELS LIKE
YOU'RE HALFWAY THERE ALREADY
WITH THE NATIVE TREES AND WHAT
I'M SEEING IN THE SLIDE DECK.
SORRY. I CALL THIS A COMMENT.
NOT A QUESTION.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A
COMMENT ABOUT THE TREES BUT WE
ARE ROBUST BUT ONE PERSON WE ARE
MISSING IS THE LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECT. WE CAN FOLLOW UP.
>> AHA. [ Laughter ]
>> THE TREES IN THE AREA THAT
WILL BE OBVIOUSLY MAINTAINED.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST HOPES IS TO
REMOVE THE NON-NATIVE, INVASIVE
BLACKBERRIES AND JUST TRY AND
GET IN MORE -- THE FOCUS IS ON
COLOR AND NATIVE VEGETATION, THE
POLLINATORS AND THE BIRDS.
>> YEAH.
>> THANK YOU. REALLY APPRECIATE
THE PRESENTATION. AGAIN, REALLY
APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES FOR
YOUR THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS AND
REMARKS. COLLEAGUES, JUST TO
REMIND WHERE WE'RE AT IN THE
PROCESS AS IT WAS NOTED. IT WAS
HEARD ORIGINALLY IN FEBRUARY
2024. THAT WAS A LITTLE OVER TWO
YEARS AGO. I THINK THAT WAS AT
THE RESOLUTION STAGE LEVEL. THAT
WAS OUR PREFERRED -- I'LL SAY
PREFERRED, NOT ONLY OR SOLE
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE
DIRECTIONAL FEEDBACK. SO THE
TREES, LIKE THE SPECIES, LIKE
THAT IS EXCELLENT FEEDBACK.
YOU'RE AT THE ORDINANCE STAGE.
I THINK THE TEAM IS FREE TO
IMPLEMENT THOSE TERRIFIC
SUGGESTIONS EVEN IF IT'S NOT
EXPRESSEDLY INCLUDED IN THE
ORDINANTS. THAT SAID, COLLEAGUES
TO REMIND ABOUT OUR FIDUCIARY
ACCOUNTABILITY AND
RESPONSIBILITY HERE ALTHOUGH NOT
PREFERRED, GENERALLY, THE PEOPLE
HERE, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD
SUFFER THE CONVINCES OF THAT
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO
THE DRAWING BOARD, WE ARE FREE
TO REJECT THIS ORDINANCE TODAY
OR WHENEVER WE VOTE ON IT AND
CALL ON A BETTER PROPOSAL THAT
DOES INCLUDE THE PUBLIC FEEDBACK
BECAUSE THERE IS A WHOLE EXPERT
TEAM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT,
WITHIN THE CITY THAT DOES THE
ANALYSIS OF -- OF YOU KNOW, THE
COST BENEFIT. YOU KNOW, DOES THE
PUBLIC BENEFIT -- DOES IT
OUTWEIGH WHATEVER THE STANDARD
IS? DETERMINE IF THIS IS A
SUFFICIENT BENEFIT. COLLEAGUES,
WE ARE THE ONLY ONES IN THE CITY
THAT ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE
VOTERS FOR LIVING UP TO THIS.
SO, AGAIN, WE ARE -- WE ARE
ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE
DIRECTIONAL FEEDBACK AND
GUIDANCE AT ANY TIME BUT THE
MOST MEANINGFUL AND PREFERRED
TIME TO DO IT IS AT THE
RESOLUTION STAGE. IF
SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT, PULL THE
CHAIN. WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE. WE,
COLLEAGUES, ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THIS. WE ARE NOT VOTING TODAY.
JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND. BUT
EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT
FEEDBACK. ALL RIGHT. ANY FINAL
COMMENTS TODAY? NO? HEARING AND
SEEING NONE, LET ME JUST QUICKLY
REMARK AND CLARIFY A COUPLE
COMMENTS I MADE EARLIER ABOUT
THE CITY OF REDMOND -- I SEE YOU
POINTING. COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER G
AHEAD. G -- GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA. I AM
NOT SIGNALING DISSATISFACTION IN
MY COMMENTS BUT INTEREST IN A
CONCEPT THAT MY COLLEAGUE
RAISED. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
TO CLOSE THAT OUT SINCE I'M NOT
IN THE ROOM BECAUSE FOLKS CANNOT
SEE MY INTENT. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. THAT WAS MY READ
AS WELL ON WHAT IS POSSIBLE
DEPENDING ON APPETITES. AGAIN,
THE TEAM IS FREE TO IMPLEMENT
THOSE SUGGESTIONS IN THE
EXPRESSED STATUTORY GUIDANCE. SO
THANK YOU. VERY HELPFUL. I WANT
TO CLOSE OUT BY CLARIFYING MY
EARLIER COMMENTS FOR THE CITY OF
REDMOND. SHOUT-OUT NO MAYOR
BURNIE. LET ME MAKE CRYSTAL
CLEAR. THE CITY OF REDMOND IS A
CO-EQUAL JURISDICTION TO THE
STATE OF SEATTLE, BUT NOT
NECESSARILY ALL INITIATIVES OR
THINGS. AND I DO THINK THE CITY
OF REDMOND AND OTHER CITIES LIKE
-- DO LEAD. THEY DO GREAT WORK
ON THINGS. AND WE ALL LEARN FROM
EACH OTHER. WE'RE ALL IN THIS
TOGETHER. AND OTHERS LEAD ON
CERTAIN THINGS. WE LEAD ON
CERTAIN THINGS. AND I TRUST MY
TEAM. AND I AM CONFIDENT IN MY
OWN CITY. SO AT THE END OF THE
DAY, THIS IS A RACE TO THE TOP.
I'M COMPETITIVE, TRUST MY OWN
TEAM AND CAPABLE, PUTTING IN THE
WORK AND I KNOW THEY ARE, TOO,
AND THIS IS A RACE WHERE THE
TAX-PAYING PUBLIC WINS. SO
SHOUT-OUT AGAIN TO THE CITY OF
REDMOND AND THEIR LEADERSHIP IN
PASSING THE FIRST FRAMEWORK. I
THINK OUR IMPLEMENTATION WILL BE
BEST. BUT WE'LL SEE. THANK YOU
ALL. WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA. THE
NEXT MEETING WILL BE PLAY 21,
2026 AT 9:30 A.M. I WILL ASK
AGAIN ONE FINAL TIME,