[MUSIC]
-- ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. THE
JULY 27th, 2026, SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE SAFETY, TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING PROJECT, SPORTS AND
EXPERIENCES COMMITTEE STEPS.
MORE FORMALLY KNOWN AS THE
TRANSPORTATION WATERFRONT AND
SEATTLE CENTER COMMITTEE, WILL
COME TO ORDER. IT IS 9:31 A.M..
I AM ROB SAKA, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. WILL THE COMMITTEE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. HERE. VICE
CHAIR. RINK HERE.
-- CHAIR SAKA. HERE.
-- CHAIR. THERE ARE FIVE MEMBERS
PRESENT.
-- THANK YOU. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING AND SEEING NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS HEREBY
ADOPTED. GOOD MORNING.
COLLEAGUES. MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
AT THIS MORNING'S MEETING. WE
WILL START THE MEETING ON A
SOMBER NOTE. LAST NIGHT THERE
WAS A SHOOTING AT THE ANNUAL
BITE OF SEATTLE EVENT AT SEATTLE
CENTER. MY OFFICE HAS BEEN IN
CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, SEATTLE
CENTER STAFF, THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUE,
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE CHAIR
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE US AND THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. OF COURSE, A
LOT OF FOLKS INVOLVED SINCE WE
HEARD THE NEWS, THE LATEST
INFORMATION WE HAVE IS THAT
THERE WERE TWO SHOOTERS WHO
APPEARED TO BE SHOOTING AT EACH
OTHER. THERE ARE SEVEN KNOWN
CASUALTIES AT THIS POINT, THREE
DEAD AND FOUR WOUNDED. ONE
SUSPECT IS IN CUSTODY AND THE
OTHER REMAINS AT LARGE. THIS IS
AN IS CURRENTLY AN ACTIVE POLICE
INVESTIGATION. ANYONE WHO HAS
INFORMATION ABOUT THE INCIDENT
OR ABOUT THE IDENTITY OR
LOCATION OF THE OUTSTANDING
SUSPECT IS ASKED TO PLEASE CALL
THE SPD VIOLENT CRIMES TIP LINE
AT 206233 5000. THAT'S(
206) 233-5000. AT THIS POINT,
I'D LIKE TO OBSERVE A MOMENT OF
SILENCE FOR THE VICTIMS.
THANK YOU. AS HARD AS IT MAY BE,
WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE
BUSINESS OF OUR COMMITTEE. WE
HAVEN'T MET AS A FULL COMMITTEE
SINCE MAY 21st DUE TO THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT,
WHICH RECENTLY CONCLUDED. WITH
THAT WORK NOW COMPLETE, I WANT
TO RECOGNIZE THE HUNDREDS OF
HOURS SDOT DEVOTED TO DEVELOPING
THE SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE FROM
THE INITIAL PROPOSAL TO FINAL
AMENDMENTS, THEIR EXPERTISE IN
COLLABORATION WITH MY OFFICE
SHAPED THE MEASURE HEADING TO
THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. SO THANK
YOU. SDOT. THIS COMMITTEE WILL
RESUME OUR TWICE MONTHLY CADENCE
STARTING NEXT WEEK. I HAVE
SCHEDULED THIS SPECIAL MEETING
TO HANDLE A COUPLE OF TIME
SENSITIVE ITEMS. OUR FIRST
AGENDA ITEM IS A BRIEFING ON AN
ORDINANCE GRANTING PERMISSION
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SKY
BRIDGE OVER AND ACROSS EIGHTH
AVENUE IN THE FIRST HILL
NEIGHBORHOOD. WE RECEIVED AN
INITIAL BRIEFING IN APRIL OF
2025. SO A LITTLE OVER A YEAR
AGO. OUR SECOND AGENDA ITEM IS A
BRIEFING ON A PETITION FOR
VACATION OF AN ALLEY IN THE
GREENWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD. WE
RECEIVED AN INITIAL BRIEFING
BACK IN MAY OF THIS YEAR.
TODAY'S ITEMS MAY SEEM
TECHNICAL, SOMEWHAT ROUTINE, BUT
THEY DO SHAPE COMMUNITY SPACES.
A SKY BRIDGE OR ALLEY VACATION
SHIFTS PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY INTO
PRIVATE HANDS, REQUIRING CAREFUL
REVIEW. CONSIDERATION AND FULL
TRANSPARENCY. NOW OUR JOB IS
SIMPLE ENSURE THE PUBLIC
RECEIVES EQUAL OR GREATER VALUE
IN RETURN. IN EXCHANGE, MANAGING
BASIC CITY OPERATIONS. ONE MIGHT
SAY, ISN'T PARTICULARLY
GLAMOROUS, BUT IT IS VERY
ESSENTIAL. THE DECISIONS THIS
COMMITTEE MAKES TODAY MAY NOT
DRAW HEADLINES LIKE THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE, BUT THEY DO
KEEP THE CITY MOVING FORWARD BY
TENDING TO THIS EVERY DAY WORK,
WE MODEL EFFECTIVE LOCAL
GOVERNANCE, STEADY, ATTENTIVE
AND COMMITTED TO THE PUBLIC
GOOD. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW
OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
PUBLIC COMMENTS SHOULD RELATE TO
ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA AND
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE CLERK. HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP TODAY?
-- CHAIR, WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE
IN-PERSON SPEAKER SIGNED UP, AND
THERE ARE TWO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
-- THANK YOU. EACH SPEAKER WILL
HAVE APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES.
WE WILL START WITH THE IN-PERSON
SPEAKERS FIRST. CLERK, COULD YOU
PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT
INSTRUCTIONS?
-- THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN SETS OF
IN-PERSON AND REMOTE SPEAKERS
UNTIL THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
HAS ENDED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
CHIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT
OF THEIR TIME. SPEAKERS MICS
WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DO NOT END
THEIR COMMENTS WITHIN THE
ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER. THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN, AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST, DOUG
PALMER
-- THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DOUG
PALMER. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE
SKYLINE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS
PETITIONING FOR THE SKYBRIDGE ON
YOUR AGENDA. ON BEHALF OF SOME
400 SKYLINE RESIDENTS, I WANT TO
SAY HOW EXCITED WE ARE TO BE ON
THE VERGE OF FINALLY GETTING
FINAL APPROVAL FOR THE
SKYBRIDGE. WE'RE READY TO START
CONSTRUCTION AS SOON AS WE GET
THE GREEN LIGHT. IT WILL MAKE A
HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR THE SAFETY
OF OUR RESIDENTS AND FOR THE
QUALITY OF OUR OUR LIVES AS WE
AGE IN PLACE IN OUR URBAN
ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONTINUED SUPPORT IN THIS
EFFORT.
-- THANK YOU SIR.
-- WE'LL NOW SWITCH TO OUR
REMOTE CALLERS. OUR FIRST CALLER
IS DAVID HAINES. DAVID, PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX.
-- HI, DAVID. I JUST WANT TO SAY
IT'S TIME TO CONTINUE THE
REDEVELOPMENT. AND YOU CAN TAKE
A LOOK AT HOW LONG IT TAKES TO
GET TO THIS POINT. IT'S LIKE WE
NEED TO EXPEDITE VACATING THAT
ALLEYWAY AND ALLOWING A SAFER
PASSAGE WITH THE SKYBRIDGE. THE
THING IS, IS LIKE, ON A SEPARATE
NOTE, THE SEATTLE CENTER, WHY IS
THE POLICE CHIEF ALWAYS OUT OF
TOWN? IS HE JUST ENJOYING HIS
PAYCHECK? AND THEN HE COMES UP
WITH ALL THESE EXCUSES AS TO THE
REASON WHY HE'S GETTING CAUGHT
UP TO SPEED. AND HE ALWAYS HAS
THAT STAFFING ISSUE EXCUSE. I'VE
NOTICED HE KEEPS USING THE
PROPAGANDA OF TRYING TO DEFER TO
HIS CAPTAINS OF THE DIFFERENT
PRECINCTS. LIKE IT'S LIKE,
LET'S BLAME THE CAPTAINS
INSTEAD OF THE POLICE CHIEF
WHO'S WITHHOLDING SOME OF THE
CRIME FIGHTING TOOLS. YOU KNOW,
KUDOS TO THE COPS WHO SHUT THAT
ONE DUDE DOWN. BUT I HATE TO SAY
THIS. I'M TRYING. I'M NOT
TRYING TO BE TOO SARCASTIC, BUT
AFTER THE FRIDAY INCIDENT, WHEN
THE TWO PARACHUTERS JUMPED WHERE
THE COPS DEPLOYED AT THE BASE OF
THE SEATTLE CENTER, RESULTING IN
THEM BEING A LITTLE DELAYED IN
GETTING TO WHERE THE SHOOTING
WAS. I'M SORRY TO POINT THAT
OUT, YOU KNOW, BUT HOW MUCH
RESOURCE IS BEING WASTED TRYING
TO FIND THOSE PARACHUTISTS
COMPARED TO HOW MUCH RESOURCE IS
BEING USED TO FIND THE OTHER
SHOOTER, YOU KNOW? ANYWAY, WE
NEED A 21st CENTURY FIRST WORLD
QUALITY REDEVELOPMENT, AND WE
NEED TO START VACATING THE SIDE
STREETS TO CREATE A MORE GREEN
BUILD, WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT'S NOT ON THE SIDE OF THE
ROAD. AND, YOU KNOW, WHERE'S THE
18 WHEELER FROM? FRED MEYERS
GOING TO GO? ARE THEY GOING TO
DRIVE RIGHT PAST WHERE ALL THOSE
PEOPLE ARE LIVING? YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE I HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT
THE CHARACTER OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT FRED MEYERS
BIG BOX IS KIND OF UGLY. SO WHEN
COMMUNITY SHOWS UP LOOKING FOR
SOME FREE SPACE ON SOMEBODY'S
PRIVATE LOT, IT'S KIND OF A
STUCK UP, HYPOCRITICAL THING TO
POINT OUT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO
DICTATE HOW SOMEBODY ELSE IS
GOING TO DEVELOP SOMETHING. WE
NEED MORE ROBUST FLOOR SPACES
ANYWAY. SHUT DOWN THE ROAD AND.
-- THANK YOU, MR. HAINES. THE
OTHER REMOTE COMMENTER WE HAVE
SIGNED UP IS ANGELO DEJESUS.
ANGELO IS NOT CURRENTLY IN THE
QUEUE. OH, PLEASE. LOOKS LIKE
HE'LL BE JOINING US IN PERSON
-- COME ON. WELCOME
-- I AM ANGELO DEJESUS AND I
LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN. SORRY I
MANAGED TO WORK.
-- YOU JUST GOT TO SPEAK INTO.
AND LET'S RESET HIS TIME. YOU
JUST GOT TO SPEAK AS CLOSE TO
THE MIC AS POSSIBLE, OKAY.
-- I'LL JUST SPEAK UP. HI, I'M
ANGELO DECIUS. I LIVE IN
DISTRICT SEVEN, AND PRETTY MUCH
I AGREE WITH YOU GUYS ARE DOING
WITH THE SKYBRIDGE. WE NEED MORE
OF THAT FROM CAPITOL HILL DOWN
FROM DISTRICT. YOU KNOW, MY BIG
ISSUE I HAVE A BIG ISSUE ABOUT
YESTERDAY BECAUSE I LIVE IN
SEATTLE. I LIVE RIGHT THERE. AND
I SAW DURING FIFA SNIPERS ON TOP
OF BUILDINGS, ALL TYPES OF
DEFENSE ON TOP OF MY OWN
BUILDING. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
PUT DRONE SNIPING, LIKE STOPPING
MATERIAL. I MEAN, SORRY, I'M NOT
A GREAT PUBLIC SPEAKER, BUT THEY
HAD THE CAPABILITY TO STOP
DRONES. SO HOW DID SOMEONE JUMP
OFF THE SKY SPACE NEEDLE? HOW
DOES THIS HAPPEN? AND I FEEL
LIKE IT'S A LACK OF CARE. YEAH,
THE WORLD'S EYES ARE ON US
BEFORE FROM FIFA AND NOT WORSE
THAN EVER. AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE
LET THEIR GUARD DOWN ALL THE WAY
DOWN. PEOPLE ARE TAKING
VACATIONS DURING BIT OF SEATTLE.
AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE AND, YOU KNOW, I
FEEL LIKE WE ARE LACKING IN
TAKING CARE OF OUR ROADS, OUR
SCHOOL SYSTEMS. WE ARE PORT OF
SEATTLE, STOPPING REAL ESTATE
DEVELOPMENT IN SOTO. WHAT IS
THAT? YOU KNOW HOW WE NEED TO
REDISTRICT, REZONE AND PROTECT
OUR CITIZENS? BECAUSE I PAY A
LOT IN TAXES. AND ALL DUE
RESPECT, SO DO YOU. SO DOES
EVERYONE HERE, YOU KNOW, AND YOU
GUYS ARE GOING TO RAISE UP TAXES
AGAIN. YOU KNOW, THIS IS A
PROBLEM AND WE NEED
ACCOUNTABILITY FROM ALL STANCE.
AND YOU'RE A VETERAN SIR. THIS
HAPPENED IN A VETERANS DISTRICT
WITH THE I'M A VETERAN TOO.
I'M IN I WAS IN THE NAVY. AND
YOU KNOW WHAT? I DON'T LIKE
THIS. I'M VERY UPSET SORRY,
GUYS. YOU GUYS HAVE A GOOD DAY.
-- THANK YOU SIR.
-- CHAIR, THAT WAS OUR FINAL
PUBLIC COMMENT.
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR
EVERYONE TESTIFYING TODAY. IF
LET'S SEE, WE WILL NOW MOVE ON
TO OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
ONE INTO THE RECORD
-- AGENDA ITEM ONE BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
COUNCIL BILL ONE, 21242. AN
ORDINANCE GRANTING F H LLC DOING
BUSINESS AS SKYLINE. PERMISSION
TO CONSTRUCT, MAINTAIN AND
OPERATE A PEDESTRIAN SKY BRIDGE
OVER AND ACROSS EIGHTH AVENUE,
SOUTH OF COLUMBIA STREET AND
NORTH OF CHERRY STREET. IN THE
FIRST HILL NEIGHBORHOOD, AND
PROVIDING FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF
THE PERMIT AND CONDITIONS.
-- THANK YOU. LOOKS LIKE OUR
PRESENTERS HAVE JOINED US AT THE
TABLE. WELCOME. ONCE READY,
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND
BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION.
-- HELLO, MY NAME IS AMY GRAY
AND I'M WITH THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
-- MARK BRANDS SITE WORKSHOP
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND
CONSULTANT TO THE APPLICANT.
-- I'M REBECCA BASKIN, CENTRAL
STAFF SO THE TOPIC BEFORE US
TODAY IS A SKYLINE SKYBRIDGE.
AND AS YOU ELOQUENTLY STATED
ALREADY IN THE BEGINNING THAT
THIS IS A STEP TO APPROVE AN
ORDINANCE ALLOWING THIS
SKYBRIDGE TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION.
THIS IS IN THE FIRST
NEIGHBORHOOD. IT IS SPANNING.
THE SKYBRIDGE WILL SPAN
DISTRICTS SEVEN AND THREE AND
CONNECTING THESE TWO RESIDENTIAL
TOWERS. THIS IS THE SECOND STEP
IN APPROVING A SKYBRIDGE TERM
PERMIT. THE FIRST STEP WAS, AS
YOU STATED, THE COUNCIL PASSED A
RESOLUTION BACK IN APRIL OF
2025. AND THIS FINAL STEP, ONCE
THE PROPONENTS HAVE COMPLETED
THEIR FINAL DESIGN AFTER GETTING
THAT INITIAL RESOLUTION
APPROVAL, THEY COME BACK TO THE
TABLE AND DEMONSTRATE THE
CONDITIONS ARE MET AND THE TERMS
OF THE PERMIT ARE IN PLACE, AND
THE FINAL STEP FOR THIS IS THAT
THE COUNCIL WOULD APPROVE THE
TERM PERMIT FOR THE SKYBRIDGE.
SO WE HAVE OUR GUESTS TODAY TO
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
PROJECT AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
YOU HAVE. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. OKAY.
-- SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU
TODAY. AND PRESENT SKYLINE'S
PROPOSAL. AS REBECCA NOTED, THEY
ARE SEEKING APPROVAL TO BUILD
AND MAINTAIN A PEDESTRIAN
SKYBRIDGE OVER EIGHTH AVENUE
BETWEEN COLUMBIA AND CHERRY
STREETS, AND IT WILL CONNECT THE
TWO PROPERTIES AT 725 NINTH
AVENUE, THE CASCADE TOWER, AND
THE 715 EIGHTH AVENUE. OLYMPIC
TOWER AND AS NOTED, CAN'T RESIST
THE PUN HERE. IT CONNECTS THE
BRIDGES, THE TWO DISTRICTS
BETWEEN DISTRICT THREE AND
DISTRICT SEVEN. AND SDOT IS
RECOMMENDING APPROVAL. NEXT
STEP. SO SKYBRIDGE DOES HAVE A
HIGH THRESHOLD TO MEET. AND IT
HAS BEEN CITY COUNCIL'S
DIRECTION FOR MANY YEARS TO
LIMIT THEM. SKYBRIDGES TAKE
PEDESTRIANS OFF THE STREET AND
HAVE A VISUAL IMPACT ON THE
PEDESTRIAN REALM TO OFFSET THESE
ADVERSE IMPACTS, DEVELOPERS ARE
REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
BENEFITS THAT REMAIN THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEVELOPER
FOR THE DURATION OF THE PERMIT.
LATER IN THE PRESENTATION, YOU
WILL SEE THE PUBLIC BENEFIT
SKYLINE IS PROPOSING. NEXT SLIDE
AND AS REBECCA NOTED, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS THE SECOND STEP IN THE
TWO STEP APPROVAL YOU ADOPTED
RESOLUTION THREE, TWO, ONE SIX 6
IN 2025, PROVIDING CONCEPTUAL
APPROVAL. AND THIS ORDINANCE
WILL SET THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS OF THE SKYBRIDGE
PERMIT AND AS WELL AS THE
OBLIGATIONS FOR THE ONGOING
PUBLIC BENEFITS. NEXT SLIDE. LET
ME JUST THIS SKYBRIDGE WILL
PROVIDE AN ABOVE GRADE
CONNECTION FOR RESIDENTS, STAFF
AND VISITORS, AND THE PERMIT
WILL BE IN PLACE FOR 15 YEARS
WITH A RENEWABLE 15 YEAR TERM.
NEXT SLIDE. SO THIS RED CIRCLE
SHOWS THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION
OF THE SKYBRIDGE IN FIRST HILL.
AND THE NEXT SLIDE. AND THIS RED
RECTANGLE SHOWS THE APPROXIMATE
LOCATION OF SKYBRIDGE OVER
EIGHTH AVENUE. I'M GOING TO
TURN IT OVER TO MARK BROWN TO
CONTINUE THE PRESENTATION
-- THANKS, AMY. SO THESE ARE TWO
EXISTING BUILDINGS. ONE IS
RELATIVELY NEW. SO THIS IS THE
TRANSFORMING AGE SKYLINE
COMMUNITY. AND THE CASCADE
TOWER, WHICH IS A FULL BLOCK, IS
EXISTING. AND SEVERAL YEARS AGO,
THE OLYMPIC TOWER WAS BUILT. AND
AT THAT POINT THERE WAS A REAL
DESIRE TO LINK THESE TWO. THEY
HAVE CRITICAL FACILITIES THAT
NEED TO BE LINKED. AND AS WE'VE
EXPRESSED TO COMMITTEE BEFORE,
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE
HEALTH OF THIS POPULATION. THE
EXISTING CONDITIONS, AGAIN, ARE
THOSE TWO BUILDINGS. AND SO
WE'RE LINKING ACROSS EIGHTH
AVENUE. EIGHTH AVENUE IS A 66
FOOT RIGHT OF WAY. SO THAT'S
ACTUALLY THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
ASKING FOR. THE TERM PERMIT. THE
SKYBRIDGE IS A BIT LONGER. IT'S
OVER 100FT TO CONNECT THESE TWO
BUILDINGS. THE EXISTING TREE
CANOPY IN FIRST HILL IS
SIGNIFICANT. AND YOU'LL SEE IT
HERE. YOU SEE IT HERE IN THIS
SLIDE. AND WE ARE LITERALLY
THREADING A NEEDLE TO GET THESE.
THE SKYBRIDGE IN THE IMAGE TO
THE LEFT. WE'VE STRIPPED AWAY
THE TREES SO YOU CAN SEE THE
CONNECTION. AGAIN, IT'S A 66
FOOT RIGHT OF WAY. THE BRIDGE IS
A BIT MUCH LONGER THAN THAT. AND
THEN WE PUT THE TREES BACK IN.
IT REALLY DOES CONSUME THE
SKYBRIDGE. SO THERE'S A GOOD
PORTION OF THE YEAR THAT IT'S
OBSCURED BY THE STREET TREE
CANOPY. THESE ARE DECIDUOUS
TREES BY THE BY THE WAY. SO WE
HAVE A PACKAGE OF FOUR PUBLIC
BENEFITS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING
WITH. AND WE'VE WORKED PRETTY
TIGHTLY WITH THE COMMUNITY,
STARTING WITH FIRST HILL
IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION. SO
THERE'S OPEN SPACE AND ART THAT
ARE COMBINED ON EIGHTH AVENUE.
THEN WE HAVE PEDESTRIAN
IMPROVEMENTS FURTHER ALONG.
THERE'S A KEY INTERSECTION THAT
WE'RE FOCUSING IN ON PEDESTRIAN
IMPROVEMENTS FOR SAFETY. AND
THEN WE HAVE WAYFINDING PACKAGE
THAT WE'RE CONTRIBUTING BACK TO
ON THE PARK TO PARK LOOP. AND
I'LL GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO PHIA,
WHO IS AN ELLEN GREEN EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, REALLY PUSHING THE USE
OF OUR CITY STREETS. AND THAT'S
THE PARK TO PARK LOOP. SO ALL OF
THESE BENEFITS CONTRIBUTE BACK
TO THEIR BIGGER INITIATIVE OF
THE PARK TO PARK LOOP. SO THE
FIRST TWO WORK TOGETHER. THAT'S
ART. WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE
ARTIST GEORGIA GERBER. SHE'S
VERY WELL KNOWN ARTIST LOCALLY
FOR HER BRONZE SCULPTURES,
PROBABLY MOST FAMOUSLY FOR
RACHEL THE PIG AT THE MARKET. SO
WE HAVE HER WORKING WITH A SET
OF SALMON THAT ANIMATE THE
SPACE. IT'S THIS DEEP SET BACK
ON EIGHTH AVENUE. YOU CAN SEE IN
THE LOWER RIGHT IMAGE. AND THEN
WE'RE COMPLEMENTING THAT WITH
ART IN THE EXCUSE ME LANDSCAPE
AND THE RIGHT OF WAY. SO REALLY
TRYING TO DO BETTER AND CREATE A
BIT OF A POCKET PARK HERE ON
PRIVATE PROPERTY TO CONTRIBUTE
BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD FIRST
HILL TO I'LL JUST MENTION THAT
IS REALLY STARVED FOR OPEN
SPACE. SO THIS IS NOT
INSIGNIFICANT EVEN IN A SMALL
BITE OF PARK SPACE. THE OTHER
TWO BENEFITS ARE THE
IMPROVEMENTS AT EIGHTH AND
MARION. IT'S A VERY WIDE
INTERSECTION, SO WE'RE NARROWING
IT, DOING CURB EXTENSION OR CURB
BULBS. YOU HEAR THAT TERM TO
REALLY SHORTEN THE CROSSING FOR
PEDESTRIANS. THIS IS A HIGHLY
TRAFFICKED DURING RUSH HOUR. AND
SO THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT
CONTRIBUTION. AGAIN BACK TO THE
TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THEN
LASTLY IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT WE
HELPED DEVELOP A NEW CATEGORY
TYPOLOGY FOR STREET SIGNAGE. AND
IN THE SEAMLESS SEATTLE
WAYFINDING PACKAGE. SO THIS
REALLY RELATES TO, WE HOPE OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS DO THIS AS WELL.
SO THIS JUST USING SIGNAGE TO
HANG IT ON EXISTING POLES IN THE
GROUND PLANE, INTERPRETIVE
SIGNAGE TO PROMOTE WALKING IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOOPS. YOU SEE,
IF YOU'VE EVER EXPERIENCED
MARKET TO MOHAI. THAT'S A GREAT
EXAMPLE AS WELL. WE'LL GO
THROUGH THIS, BUT THERE'S A
COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF BENEFITS.
WE ITEMIZE IT. WE GIVE BACK TO
YOU A COST ESTIMATE ON THE RIGHT
OF SCREEN, THE RIGHT COLUMN TO
SHARE WITH YOU WHAT THE
DEVELOPERS ACTUALLY, WHAT IT
COST THEM. AND THEN PUBLIC
OUTREACH WAS SIGNIFICANT FOR
THIS PROJECT. AND WE ALWAYS LIKE
TO LEVERAGE PHIA AND THE REACH.
THAT'S FIRST HILL IMPROVEMENT
ASSOCIATION TO GET BACK INTO THE
COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTAND WHAT
THEY WOULD LIKE. WE ALSO HELD A
SERIES OF COFFEE HOURS AND SIX
COFFEE SHOPS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH HELPED US
GATHER COMMENTS FROM DAILY
WORKFORCE, DOCTORS, STAFF,
VISITORS TO THE INSTITUTIONS,
FOLKS THAT RESIDENTS THAT LIVE
IN THE COMMUNITY. AND IT'S VERY
SUCCESSFUL. AS YOU CAN SEE BY
THE COMMENTS ON THE SCREEN. TURN
IT BACK OVER TO AMY.
-- OKAY. NEXT SLIDE. SO WE ARE
REQUESTING CITY COUNCIL APPROVE
THE SKYBRIDGE AND THE PUBLIC
BENEFITS AS PROPOSED BY SKYLINE.
AND AS I NOTED THAT THE
ORDINANCE, IF IT IS APPROVED,
WILL BE FOR 15 YEARS WITH A
RENEWABLE 15 YEAR TERM. AND WE
ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THE
PRESENTATION HERE, COLLEAGUES,
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I NOTE THAT
WHILE WE DID HEAR THIS IN
COMMITTEE ABOUT A YEAR AGO, A
LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO, NOT ALL
CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
WERE ON THE COMMITTEE AT THE
TIME. IN FACT, WE HAVE TWO NEW
MEMBERS SO. BUT I WILL I WILL
POINT EVERYONE'S ATTENTION TO
SLIDE NUMBER FOUR. THE PROCESS
FOR NEW PERMITS. THE FIRST ONE
KIND OF TALKS ABOUT THE HISTORY
AND IS A GENERAL STATEMENT OF
WHAT TYPICALLY HAPPENS IN THESE
KIND OF REQUESTS. SO WE WOULD
HEAR AND CONSIDER AND ADOPT A
RESOLUTION OF SOME SORT
GRANTING. BASICALLY ESSENTIALLY
PERMISSION FOR THE PARTIES TO
PROCEED AND FURTHER DISCUSS KIND
OF WHAT THE APPROPRIATE TERMS
AND CONDITIONS, AND ESPECIALLY
WHAT WE TYPICALLY CARE ABOUT AS
A LEGISLATIVE BODY. AND THE, THE
DECISION MAKER OF, AT THE
ELECTED OFFICIAL LEVEL, THE
FINAL LEVEL OF THESE
ENGAGEMENTS. WHAT ARE THE
PROPOSED PUBLIC BENEFITS? AND
WHEN WE ENGAGE IN THESE
CONVERSATIONS, THAT'S REALLY THE
THE MOST MEANINGFUL, THE BEST
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PROVIDE
FEEDBACK AND DIRECTIONAL
GUIDANCE AND INPUT ON THE SCOPE
OF THOSE PROPOSED PUBLIC
BENEFITS AND WHAT THAT SHOULD
BE. BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE HALLMARK
OF ALL OF THIS IS, SURE, WE WE
ARE ABLE TO GRANT THESE
SKYBRIDGE PERMITS AND VACATION
REQUESTS, ET CETERA., BUT THE
HALLMARK IS WHAT ARE THE
PROPOSED PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT
WE'RE. WE'RE RECEIVING IN
EXCHANGE, THE PUBLIC IS IS
RECEIVING IN EXCHANGE. AND SO
THAT FIRST STAGE IS REALLY THE
BEST OPPORTUNITY, NOT THE ONLY
OPPORTUNITY, THE BEST
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE
DIRECTIONAL FEEDBACK ON, ON WHAT
THOSE PROPOSED PUBLIC BENEFITS
SHOULD, SHOULD IDEALLY BE. AND
THEN AT THE ORDINANCE STAGE AT
NUMBER TWO IS REVIEW
CONSIDERATION AND POTENTIAL
PASSAGE OF AN ORDINANCE THAT
DETAILS THOSE OBLIGATIONS IT
WOULD BE PERFECTLY APPROPRIATE
FOR US AS A BODY TO TO SAY, HEY,
WE THINK THERE SHOULD BE
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC BENEFITS OR
TWEAK, TWEAK THE THE EDGES
AROUND THESE CORNERS. IT WOULD
JUST EFFECTIVELY, AT THAT POINT
RESULT IN FURTHER DELAYS TO THE
PROJECT. BUT IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT
THERE ARE THE ADEQUACY AND
SUFFICIENCY OF THE PUBLIC. THE
PROPOSED PUBLIC BENEFIT MEETS
THE STANDARD THAT WE SET, SO ANY
EVENT IMPORTANT PROJECT
COLLEAGUES, NOW I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO YOU ALL FOR ANY COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE FROM
YOUR PERSPECTIVE. STARTING FIRST
WITH COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
-- THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR CENTRAL
STAFF AND SDOT AND THE ADVISORS
ON THIS PROJECT, THE ARCHITECT
ON THE PROJECT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE. AND OF
COURSE, THE THE SKYBRIDGE
COMMUNITY COLLEAGUES, IT'S A
COMMUNITY THAT I KNOW WELL. I'VE
BEEN THERE MANY TIMES, ALONG
WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENTS BECAUSE
AS IT TURNS OUT, ONE PART OF IT
IS IN MY DISTRICT, AND ONE PART
OF IT IS IN THE COUNCIL OF
PRESIDENTS DISTRICT. SO. SO IT
IS A LINK BETWEEN COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH AND I
AND SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SHARED
AND OUR GRATITUDE AND, AND
ENJOYMENT OF, YOU KNOW, OUR TIME
AT SKYBRIDGE, NOT SKYBRIDGE AT
SKYLINE AND TO MEET THE
COMMUNITY. AND IT'S A VERY
IMPORTANT COMMUNITY. AND ONE
PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, IT'S AN
ELDER COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY IS
THE HEALTH CARE MEDICAL PIECE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT IS TO THE
PERMIT PROCESS. THAT IS A A KEY
THING FOR ME IS THE, YOU KNOW,
THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE THE
HEALTH CARE MEDICAL ASPECT TO
THE SKYLINE COMMUNITY. AND IT'S
VERY DIFFICULT GIVEN THE AGE AND
NO DISRESPECT FOR THOSE IN THE
AUDIENCE WHO MAY BE OLDER THAN
ME, IS VERY DIFFICULT. IF YOU
HAVE IF YOU LIVE ON ONE SIDE AND
THEN YOU HAVE TO GET TREATMENT,
YOU HAVE TO DO AN APPOINTMENT ON
THE OTHER SIDE BECAUSE OF THE
ELEMENTAL, THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PIECES. FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T
BEEN IN THE HIGH WIND
SITUATIONS, BUT ALSO, AS NOTED
IN THE BRIEFING, THE AS USUAL,
EIGHTH AVENUE BECOMES A BIT OF A
DRAG RACE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE
TRYING TO RACE USING SIDE
STREETS IN ORDER TO GET TO JAMES
AND, YOU KNOW, I-5 AND OTHER
LOCATIONS, BUT TO THE TO THE
TECHNICAL PIECE, I DO WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THE HEALTH CARE
MEDICAL PIECE AND HOW IMPORTANT
THIS IS. THIS IS A MAJOR HOOK
AND SOMETHING THAT WE SEE
THROUGHOUT FIRST HILL WITH OUR
HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY. I
MENTIONED CONNECTION TO THE
COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, THE, YOU
KNOW, THE LINKAGE BETWEEN TWO
DISTRICTS, BUT IT'S ALSO TWO
COMMUNITIES, TWO BUILDINGS THAT
NEED TO BE CONNECTED. AND FOR
THE COMMUNITY THAT IS THERE AT
SKYLINE. AND THAT CONNECTION AND
THE CONNECTION TO THE TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL, FOR THOSE
THAT DON'T KNOW, I HAVE A
DISTRICT SEVEN NEIGHBORHOOD
COUNCIL, WHICH IS A COUNCIL OF
COUNCILS, IF YOU WILL, ALL THE
WAY FROM MAGNOLIA COUNCIL DOWN
TO ACROSS THE ENTIRE DISTRICT TO
THE FIRST HILL ASSOCIATION. AND
WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF FIRST
HILL AND WHAT THEY DO FOR THE
COMMUNITY AND THEIR ENGAGEMENT
TO INCLUDE ON THIS PROJECT HAS
BEEN GREAT, AND I THANK THE
SKYLINE COMMUNITY FOR FOR THAT
REVERSE FOR THESE COFFEE CHATS
AND THE LIKE, AND FOR THE
IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE BEING
MADE. KEY OF ALL THOSE, SOME ARE
ESTHETICALLY VERY IMPORTANT,
VERY NICE. BUT KEY IS BASICALLY
THE VISION ZERO IMPROVEMENTS.
THE THE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IS KEY
BECAUSE COLLEAGUES, IF IT'S ONE
THING, IF YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, 20
YOU CAN BOUNCE ACROSS THAT
STREET, YOU KNOW, 30, 40, 50.
I'M NOW 60. I CAN GET THERE.
BUT IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT
FOR OUR FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS,
FOR OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE SKYLINE
COMMUNITY TO GET BETWEEN AND
AROUND. AND SO THIS BRIDGE IS
VERY IMPORTANT BEYOND CONNECTING
WITH MEDICAL FACILITIES, BUT
ALSO SAFETY FROM A PEDESTRIAN
SIDE. AND I THANK EVERYONE FOR
THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE, BOTH
ON THE CITY SIDE. THANK YOU. BUT
ALSO FROM THE COMMUNITY. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK AND
COLLEAGUES, BOTH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND I DEFINITELY
SUPPORT THIS 110%. THANK YOU
CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE COUNCILMEMBER, VICE CHAIR
RINCK. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR SAKA. IT'S
NO QUESTION THAT THIS IS A
SOMBER MORNING, BUT I WILL SAY
TAKING UP THIS ISSUE IN
PARTICULAR BRINGS A LITTLE BIT
OF LIGHT TO MY MORNING. JUST
BECAUSE WE. IT HAS BEEN A WHILE
IN THE MAKING. I'VE BEEN
FOLLOWING THIS ISSUE FOR ABOUT
TWO YEARS NOW. TWO YEARS AGO WAS
WHEN I FIRST VISITED THIS
SKYLINE COMMUNITY, AND THIS WAS
BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION AS JUST
A REAL ISSUE. AND I RECALL A
CONVERSATION WITH A GENTLEMAN
WHO WAS TELLING ME THAT HIS
WIFE, AND BECAUSE OF HIS WIFE'S
MOBILITY CHALLENGES, NEEDED TO
LEAVE THE BUILDING AND GO ALL
THE WAY TO THE END OF THE BLOCK
WHERE THE CURB CUTS ARE, AND
WALK THROUGH AND BE ABLE TO GO
ACROSS THE STREET THERE RATHER
THAN CUTTING ACROSS IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE STREET, JUST
BECAUSE THAT WASN'T IN THE CARDS
FOR HER. AND THAT ALONE KEPT HER
FROM GOING TO A LOT OF THE
EVENTS IN THE THEATER ACROSS THE
STREET. SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I KNOW WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT SKYBRIDGE, BUT
WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT
LIVABILITY AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL
HEALTH FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE
SKYBRIDGE COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS
WHY I'M EXCITED TO TAKE UP THIS
ISSUE TODAY. SO I WILL BE VOTING
YES. I'M GLAD THAT I KNOW IT'S
BEEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF WORK TO
GET TO THIS POINT. I THINK THE
COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT HAVE
BEEN LAID OUT ARE, ARE QUITE
EXCITING TO ME AS WELL. BUT IN
PARTICULAR, I AM EXCITED TO SEE
THIS SKYBRIDGE GO FORWARD AND
HAVE MORE SKYLINE RESIDENTS BE
ABLE TO BE CONNECTED TO ONE
ANOTHER. THANK YOU.
-- ALL RIGHT.
-- THANK YOU. ANY OTHER
COMMENTS? QUESTIONS ON THE
PROPOSAL BEFORE US OKAY HEARING
AND SEEING NONE. I MOVE THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF
COUNCIL BILL 121242. IS THERE A
SECOND.
-- SECOND, SECOND.
-- ALL RIGHT. SOME SOME EAGER
BEAVERS HERE WITH THE SECOND.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT
THERE WERE TWO ATTEMPTS FOR FOR
A SECOND BY VICE CHAIR AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. THANK YOU.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF COUNCIL
BILL 121242. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL ACTUALLY. ANY OTHER
COMMENTS? WE HAVE A PENDING
MOTION. A SECOND. LET ME MAKE A
MINOR CORRECTION TO MY OWN
SCRIPT. ANY. WE HAVE A PENDING
MOTION THAT'S BEEN SECONDED.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE PROCEED TO A VOTE? NO.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THE COMMITTEE
CLERK PLEASE ROLL OR CALL THE
ROLL ON THE RECOMMENDATION.
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. AYE.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- VICE CHAIR. RINCK. YES. CHAIR
SAKA. I CHAIR, THERE ARE FIVE
VOTES IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.
-- ALL RIGHT.
-- THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT
THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE COUNCIL
BILL ONE, TWO, ONE, TWO, FOUR
TWO WILL BE SENT TO THE AUGUST
4th, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU
-- [APPLAUSE]
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
-- TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND
THE IMPACT THE COMMUNITY FOR
SHOWING UP TODAY AND SHARING
YOUR FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS
PROPOSAL. VERY HELPFUL AND
INSTRUCTIVE. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO
OUR SECOND ITEM OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
TWO INTO THE RECORD
-- AGENDA ITEM TWO BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE
CLERK FILE 314530 PETITION OF
THE ULLC FOR THE VACATION OF A
PORTION OF THE ALLEY LYING
WITHIN BLOCK TWO. WEGENER'S
ADDITION TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE
BEING THE BLOCK BOUNDED BY NORTH
87th STREET, FIRST AVENUE,
NORTHWEST PALATINE AVENUE, NORTH
AND NORTH 85th STREET AT 8623
PALATINE AVENUE. NORTH.
-- THANK YOU. LOOKS LIKE OUR
PRESENTERS HAVE JOINED US AT THE
TABLE. WELCOME. ONCE READY,
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND
BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION
-- AMY GRAY, SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION.
-- ONCE AGAIN, REBECCA BASKIN
FROM CENTRAL STAFF SO I'LL LAY
OUT THE PROCESS A LITTLE BIT AND
THEN AMY WILL DESCRIBE THIS
PROCESS OR PROJECT A LITTLE BIT
MORE. SO AGAIN, OUR SECOND TOPIC
TODAY IS RECOMMENDING
CONDITIONAL APPROVAL FOR AN
ALLEY VACATION FOR THE U.
MULTI-UNIT RESIDENTIAL BUILDING
IN THE NORTHERN EDGE OF DISTRICT
SIX IN GREENWOOD. FIRST STEPS ON
THIS PROJECT WERE COMPLETED IN
FEBRUARY OF 2024, WHERE THERE
WAS A BRIEFING ON THIS PROJECT
IN MAY OF 2026, THERE WAS A
PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS AT THIS
COMMITTEE THAT INITIALLY
REVIEWED THE LIST OF CONDITIONS
THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE
PUBLIC BENEFIT FOR THIS PROJECT,
AND ALSO THERE WAS A PUBLIC
HEARING. THERE WERE NO COMMENTS
HELD OR GIVEN AT THE PUBLIC
HEARING AS WELL. SO TODAY IS THE
MOST SUBSTANTIAL AND KIND OF
PENULTIMATE STEP BEFORE THIS
VACATION IS OFFICIALLY GRANTED.
THIS STEP APPROVES THE
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL AND ADDS
THEM TO THE CLERK FILE THAT YOU
WILL VOTE ON POTENTIALLY, AND
APPROVE THAT CLERK FILE TODAY.
LATER ON DOWN THE ROAD AFTER THE
PROJECT IS CONSTRUCTED, THE
TOPIC WILL COME BACK TO THE
BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND SEEKING A
FINAL ORDINANCE THAT WILL GRANT
THE ALLEY VACATION. SO NOW I'LL
TURN IT OVER TO AMY FROM SDOT
FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THIS
PROJECT.
-- COUNCIL CHAIR DO YOU WANT TO
GO TO SLIDE THREE?
-- THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS
PROPOSAL. THIS IS A PARTIAL
ALLEY VACATION IN SORRY. YEAH
THAT'S OKAY. SO THIS IS A
PARTIAL ALLEY VACATION IN
GREENWOOD. AND THIS IS A JUST
DEPICTION OF THE PROJECT SITE.
THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE
ALLEY WAS VACATED UNDER PREVIOUS
ORDINANCE IN THE 1970s. AND THIS
IS THE REMNANT PORTION OF THAT
THEY ARE PROPOSING TO DO 101
UNITS OF RENTAL HOUSING THERE.
AND THIS ALLEY VACATION WOULD
CONSOLIDATE THE SITE. AND TO THE
WEST IS A CONSERVATION SITE
WHERE THEY ARE PROPOSING, AS
PART OF THEIR PUBLIC BENEFIT, TO
DO IMPROVEMENTS, THEIR HABITAT
RESTORATION, AND SOME ART
ELEMENTS TO HIGHLIGHT THE NATIVE
BIRDS IN THE AREA AND SOME
HABITAT FOR BIRDS, INCLUDING
BIRDS, NEST HOUSES AND THINGS
LIKE THAT THEY HAVE. THIS
PROPOSAL HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY
EVALUATED THROUGH SDOT. OTHER
CITY DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES AND
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT RELATED TO
UTILITIES AND ACCESS. AND ALONG
WITH THE SEATTLE DESIGN
COMMISSION, HAS WEIGHED IN ON
THE PUBLIC TRUST ANALYSIS AND
THE PROPOSED PUBLIC BENEFIT
ALLEY VACATIONS ARE A PERMANENT
PRIVATIZATION OF PUBLIC ASSETS,
AND SO THEY HAVE A VERY HIGH
THRESHOLD TO MEET. COUNCIL HAS
ADOPTED POLICIES THAT WE MUST
ADDRESS IN THESE PROPOSALS, AND
THE. YOU. PARTICIPATION, THE U.
HAS PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT THAT INFORMED THEIR
PUBLIC BENEFITS AND HAS GOTTEN
THEIR BUY OFF ON THAT. AND BOTH
THE SEATTLE DESIGN COMMISSION
AND SDOT IS RECOMMENDING CITY
COUNCIL APPROVE THIS PETITION.
I'M NOT VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS
PRESENTATION, SO I'M GOING TO
SLIDE TO WHERE I CAN. I ALSO
CAN'T DO TWO THINGS AT ONCE. I
CAN'T SPEAK AND NAVIGATE A
POWERPOINT. SO I CAN DO THAT. SO
THESE ARE JUST MORE IMAGES OF
THE ALLEY VACATION WE REQUIRE.
THEY LOOK AT A NO VACATION
ALTERNATIVES TO SEE WHAT COULD
BE POTENTIALLY BUILT ON THE SITE
VERSUS WHAT THE VACATION WILL
ACHIEVE. EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY
OUTREACH. I'M TRYING. THERE
WILL BE SOME STREET LEVEL USES.
SO THIS IS THE OVERVIEW OF THE
PUBLIC BENEFIT PROPOSAL. THERE
WILL BE AN EXTENDED SIDEWALK
CONNECTION. THERE WILL BE A NEW
WIDENED SIDEWALK HIGHLIGHTED IN
ORANGE. THERE'S CURRENTLY NO
SIDEWALK. AND SO THE PROJECT IS
GOING TO BE DEVELOPING A
SIDEWALK ALONG THAT AND ALONG
FIRST AVENUE, NORTHWEST. AND
THEY'RE GOING TO, LIKE I SAID
EXPAND AND ENHANCE THE EXISTING
GREEN SPACE, OPEN SPACE. IT WILL
NOT BE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE
BECAUSE IT'S A CONSERVATION
SITE, BUT THERE WILL BE
VIEWPOINTS IN FOR PEOPLE AND
PEDESTRIANS TO LOOK INTO AND SEE
THE HABITAT RESTORATION AND BIRD
ENVIRONMENT. AND THEN HERE'S A
TABLE THAT GIVES A PROJECT
APPROXIMATE PROJECT ESTIMATES
AND AS DOT IS RECOMMENDING, CITY
COUNCIL APPROVE THE PETITION.
AND LIKE REBECCA SAID AT THE END
OF THE PROJECT, WHEN THEY'VE
COMPLETED EVERYTHING, INCLUDING
ALL THEIR PUBLIC BENEFITS, WE
WILL COME BACK TO YOU TO PRESENT
TO YOU THAT THEY HAVE COMPLETED
THE PROJECT, THAT ALL THE PUBLIC
BENEFITS HAVE BEEN DONE. THEY
HAVE PAID THEIR FEE TO ACQUIRE
THE RIGHT OF WAY AND AT THAT
POINT, COUNCIL WOULD VOTE TO
APPROVE THE FINAL VACATION,
WHICH FOREVER TAKES IT OUT OF
THE PUBLIC TRUST. AND I'M HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY
HAVE. THANK YOU.
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
-- COLLEAGUES. AT THIS POINT, WE
WILL ENTERTAIN ANY COMMENTS,
QUESTIONS ON THIS PROPOSAL
ALWAYS NORMALLY STARTING WITH
OUR VICE CHAIR. IF YOU HAVE ANY
VICE CHAIR RINCK.
-- NOT TODAY. THANK YOU.
-- CHAIR.
-- ALL RIGHT.
-- THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. ANY
OTHER COMMENTS QUESTIONS ON THE
PROPOSAL BEFORE US? HEARING
SEEING NONE. LET ME SHED A
LITTLE LIGHT ON THE PATH AHEAD
HERE. SO THIS VOTE WILL PROCEED
IN TWO PARTS. COLLEAGUES. FIRST,
WE WILL VOTE TO ADD SDOT
RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS. AND THEN
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS, WE
WILL VOTE ON GRANTING THE CLERK
FILE AS SPECIFICALLY
CONDITIONED. ALL RIGHT. NOW I
MOVE THE COMMITTEE AMEND CLERK
FILE 314530 TO ADD S DOTS.
RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS AS SHOWN
IN ATTACHMENT ONE TO COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF'S MEMO. IS THERE
A SECOND?
-- SECOND.
-- ALL RIGHT. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO ADD THE
CONDITIONS TO THE CLERK FILE
314530. IS THERE ANY FURTHER
DISCUSSION HEARING SEEING NONE.
THANK YOU. WILL THE COMMITTEE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.?
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. LYNN.
-- YES.
-- VICE CHAIR. RINCK.
-- YES.
-- CHAIR SAKA. I CHAIR, THERE
ARE FIVE VOTES IN FAVOR AND ZERO
OPPOSED.
-- THANK YOU LET'S SEE NOW. WE
WILL MOVE THE CLERK FILE AS
CONDITION. LET'S SEE HERE.
OKAY. I MOVE. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS CITY COUNCIL GRANT AS
CONDITIONED. THE CLERK FILE
314530. IS THERE A SECOND?
-- SECOND.
-- THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO GRANT AS
CONDITIONED CLERK. FILE 314530.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION
HEARING. SEEING NONE. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
GRANTING OF THE FILE OF THE
CLERK FILE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- VICE CHAIR. RINCK.
-- YES.
-- CHAIR SAKA.
-- I CHAIR, THERE ARE FIVE VOTES
IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.
-- THANK YOU. THE MOTION CARRIES
AND THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
THAT CITY COUNCIL GRANT AS
SPECIFICALLY CONDITIONED. CLERK
FILE 314530 WILL BE SENT TO THE
AUGUST 4th, 2026 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU
EVERYONE. WE HAVE REACHED THE
END OF TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA.
OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON
AUGUST 6th, 2026 AT 9:30 A.M..
IS THERE ANY FINAL BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE?
BEFORE WE ADJOURN HEARING AND
SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, WE
ARE ADJOURNED. IT IS 10:11 A.M..