>>> ARE YOU READY TO DO THIS?
GOOD AFTERNOON.
TODAY IS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24,
2019.
THE HOUSING, HEALTH, ENERGY AND
WORKERS RIGHTS COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER.
THIS IS A SPECIAL COMMITTEE
MEETING.
IT IS 2:04 PM AND I AM CHAIR OF
THE ME TOO, JOINED BY
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
WE HAVE DONE GOOD WORK TODAY.
I PROMISE WE WILL NOT ADD ANY
SPECIAL MEETINGS.
>> I PROMISE.
WE HAVE GOT SOME IMPORTANT WORK
TODAY.
TOCLOSE OUT THE YEAR WITH OUR
FRIENDS FROM SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT.
THIS IS AN ALL SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT AGENDA TODAY.
WE HAVE SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
REVIEW APPOINTED, THE NORTHWEST
PROPERTY SALE, RATE PILOTS, THE
EMERGENCY LOAN ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM AND THE NORTHERN GRID
REGIONAL PLANNING ORGANIZATION.
ALSO A PILOT PROGRAM TO STUDY
DEMAND RESPONSE AND LOW INCOME
ASSISTANCE AND ALSO WE WILL GET
A VERBAL REPORT ON SOME OF THE
CONVERSATIONS WE'VE BEEN HAVING
AROUND THE SHUT OFF NOTICES AND
HOW SOME OF THOSE MEDICATIONS
WILL CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL TAKE
PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THERE IS ONE PERSON SIGNED
UP.
>> CAN WE PLEASE HAVE SEAN
COLLINS SPEAK TO THE
MICROPHONE?
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING
HERE.
>> HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
IS THAT ON THE?
>> OKAY.
I WILL GET CLOSE TO IT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COME
COUNCILMEMBERS AND STUFF.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE
HERE.
MY NAME IS SEAN COLLINS, THE
DIRECTOR OF THE ENERGY PROJECT.
A STATEWIDE PER GRAM ADDRESSING
ENERGY POLICY ISSUES CONCERNING
LOW INCOME POPULATIONS.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
WORK WE HAVE BEEN DOING WITH
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND MEMBERS
OF BURT BARR PLACE.
THE MULTI SERVICE CENTER.
THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE
PROVIDING LOW INCOME SERVICES
THROUGH THE LIGHT HEAT PROGRAM.
WE ARE HERE WORKING IN SUPPORT
OF COUNSEL BILL 119659 AND
COUNSEL BILL 1196 THROUGH TWO
WHICH WILL SUPPORT IMPORTANT
EFFORTS AIMED AT REDUCING
ENERGY BURDEN AS WELL AS
ENCOURAGING ENROLLMENT IN THE
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND
ENROLLMENT THE LOW INCOME
WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM.
WE FEEL LIKE THESE ARE
IMPORTANT EFFORTS TO ADDRESS
AFFORDABILITY WITHIN SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT.
WE ARE HAPPY TO BE WORKING WITH
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT TO DELIVER
THESE PROGRAMS.
THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS ON
ITEMS NUMBER 4 AND THE 6. IS
THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE TO
SPEAK?
OKAY.
SEEING THEN, WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND CLOSE OUT PUBLIC COMMENT
AND FOR THE RECORD, COUNCIL
MEMBER BAGSHAW HAS JOINED US.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW AS WELL.
CANCEL NUMBER JUAREZ AND I HAD
A CHANCE TO HIGH-FIVE FOR ALL
OF THE AMAZING WORK WE DID IN
HER COMMITTEE THIS YEAR.
SO IT HAS BEEN REALLY A LEISURE
TO HAVE BOTH OF YOU ON THIS
COMMITTEE.
I WILL SAY MORE AT THE END.
I KNOW WE HAVE ADDED A FEW
MEETINGS.
WE HAVE HAD A FEW EXTRA LONG
MEETINGS AND TO THE FOLKS WE
HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF
WORKING WITH.
WE HAVE REARRANGED SOME OF OUR
TIMELINES SO WE ARE HERE WITH
OUR LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR
AND WE ARE EXCITED TO CHECK IN
WITH SEATTLE CITY LIGHT ON ALL
OF THESE ITEMS.
>> EVERYONE GETS A
PARTICIPATION TREVA.
>> EVERYONE IS A WINNER.
>> WE DON'T KEEP SCORE.
WE DON'T LOOK AT FIRST, SECOND
OR THIRD.
>> WE ARE ALL WINNERS.
>> C'MON.
AND COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW HAS A
MEETING RIGHT AFTER THIS SO WE
HAVE TO BE ON TIME.
WOULD YOU MIND READING INTO THE
RECORD ITEM NUMBER ONE?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER,
APPOINTMENT #01429, THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF LEON GARNETT
AS A MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE
LIGHT REVIEW PANEL FOR A REVIEW
AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> WE BE JOINT FOR OUR FRIENDS
WHO ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE
REAPPOINTMENT?
IS IT JUST YOU?
OKAY.
EXCELLENT.
LEON GARNETT WELCOME BACK.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW TO
REALLY MAKE I THINK AN
ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE
GOOD WORK THAT SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT IS DOING BY POTENTIALLY
REAPPOINTING CENTER.
THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TERM
FOR YOU IN POSITION NUMBER
SEVEN.
ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF LOW
INCOME CONSUMERS AND YOU HAVE
SERVED ON THE SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT REVIEW PANEL SINCE 2016.
SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND LET YOU
DO A LITTLE BIT OF AN
INTRODUCTION.
AND WONDERED WHERE DID YOU HAVE
ANYTHING TO SAY BEFORE MR.
BARNETT GOES ON?
>> I HAVE NOTHING TO ADD.
THOSE ARE THE SORTS OF THINGS I
WOULD SAID.
I WILL JUST GET OUT OF THE WAY.
>> SO IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE
CHANCE TO GO AND VISIT WITH OUR
FRIEND FROM THE COMMISSION, IT
IS REALLY A DEDICATED GROUP.
THE SEATTLE CITY LIGHT REVIEW
PANEL COMMISSION HAS TAKEN ON
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LOOKING
AT RATE REFORM AND THINKING
ABOUT HOW WE DO THIS IN AN
EQUITABLE WAY FOR RESIDENTS AND
CONSUMERS IN THE INDUSTRY AS
WELL.
SO WE KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN VERY
BUSY, YOU HAVE ADDED A LOT OF
MEETINGS TO YOUR AGENDAS,
SPEAKING OF STACKING THE AGENDA
EARLIER THIS YEAR AND LIGHT
LASTER.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU IN
ADVANCE AND PLEASE GO AHEAD AND
INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
>> AGAIN, MY NAME IS LEON
GARNETT.
I AM THE CHIEF OPERATING
OFFICER WITH BURT BARR PLACE.
THAT IS THE COMMUNITY ACTION
AGENCY THAT PROVIDES HE FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
TO THE ENERGY ASSISTANCE., WE
SERVE ABOUT 72, 7200 HOUSEHOLDS
THROUGH ADVOCACY AND FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE.
IN MY WORK, BUT THE PANEL, I AM
THE LOW INCOME CUSTOMER
REPRESENTATIVE.
I GET TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES
THAT AFFECT LOW-INCOME PEOPLE,
WHETHER THEY BE RENTERS,
HOMEOWNERS, WE HAVE PEOPLE
LIVING IN THEIR CARS.
PEOPLE WHO USE PROPANE.
WE SEE IT ALL.
WE TRY TO HELP WHERE WE CAN.
SO I WANT TO BRING THIS VISION
TO THE RATE REVIEW PANEL WHEN
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE RATE
REFORM.
WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
INTERACTING WITH CUSTOMERS,
CUSTOMER EDUCATION AND LOOKING
FOR WAYS TO FURTHER MAKE ENERGY
EQUITABLE IN SEATTLE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
IN THIS ROLE, WE HAVE HAD THE
CHANCE TO WORK ON AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ISSUES.
RECENTLY, I THINK THERE IS
EIGHT NICE DOVETAIL THERE AS WE
TALK ABOUT CREATING
SUSTAINABILITY FOR OUR FAMILIES
ACROSS THE CITY.
COUNCILMEMBERS?
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU FOR SPENDING YOUR
TIME.
I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
YOUR TALENTS COMING INTO THIS.
THE ONE AREA I WOULD REALLY
LIKE THE FLAG IS SOMETHING THAT
THIS COMMITTEE HAS WORKED ON A
LOT THIS YEAR.
IT IS WHAT WE CALL ALL AGES AND
ABILITIES.
SO IDENTIFYING PEOPLE THAT
MAYBE LOW INCOME BUT
PARTICULARLY THOSE ON FIXED
INCOMES THAT AS WE AGE, WE FIND
OURSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE
THINGS ARE GOOD 10 YEARS AGO
AND SUDDENLY THE MONEY DOESN'T
STRETCH SO FAR.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU YOUR
PARTICULAR FOCUS GOING FORWARD
TO REMEMBER THE SENIORS AND
THOSE WITH DISABILITIES THAT
NEED A LITTLE ADDITIONAL HELP
AND TO GIVE US A CALL IF THERE
IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD
FIND ARRIVE.
>> MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE
ARE OVER 55.
I KNOW THAT IS NOT REALLY A
SENIOR BUT THAT IS HOW THE FEDS
CLASSIFY IT.
SO MOST OF THAT RECIPIENTS ARE
PEOPLE WHO ARE A LITTLE BIT
OLDER.
AND WE TRY TO MAKE
ACCOMMODATIONS WHERE WE CAN FOR
THEM.
SO IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE
ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT.
>> THERE ARE A FEW ITEMS ON OUR
AGENDA FOR NEXT YEAR AS WE
THINK ABOUT CREATING MORE
ACCESSIBILITY TO SETTLE CITY
LIGHT AND MORE AFFORDABLE
OPTIONS FOR CUSTOMERS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LOVE
TO PUT ON YOUR RADAR IS FOR YOU
TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US FEEDBACK
ON THE FUTURE ABOUT HOW THE BE
THE REVIEW PANEL COULD BE MORE
OTWARD FACING.
I KNOW YOU GET A LOT OF
INFORMATION THE YOU'RE ASKED TO
DIGEST AND CONSIDER INTERNALLY.
A LOT OF REPORT OUTS.
WE HAVE APPRECIATED THE HANDFUL
OF TIMES WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
COME IN AND LISTEN IN ON THE
CONVERSATION OR PARTICIPATE IN
SOME WAY.
YOU HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF
WORKING AT THE BAR, YOU KNOW
THE IMPORTANCE OF GOING INTO
COMMUNITIES.
THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO
HELP FACILITATE MORE OF AN
OUTWARD FACING PRESENCE FOR
THAT REVIEW PANEL TO HELP D
WANT IT A LITTLE AND
RECONSTRUCTED, I THINK THAT
WOULD BE HELPFUL, ESPECIALLY AS
OUR CUSTOMERS ARE, WE WANT MORE
OF OUR CUSTOMERS TO BE INFORMED
ON THE VARIOUS OPTIONS.
LOCALE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU AS YOU BRING
YOUR 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
DIRECTLY INTO HOW WE CONTINUE
TO MAKE SEATTLE CITY LIGHT MORE
ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO I WILL KNOW AHEAD AND
MOVE THE COMMITTEE COMMENCE
PASSAGE OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF
LEON GARNETT AS A MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT REVIEW
PANEL.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
NO ONE IS A POST.
IT IS UNANIMOUS.
WE WILL BRING THIS
RECOMMENDATION TO FULL COUNCIL
ON SEPTEMBER 30.
AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE
PRESENT TO WIN.
BUT WE WILL DEFINITELY SING
YOUR PRAISES THERE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE GOT A FULL-TIME
PLUS JOB BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO BE THERE, OF COURSE WE WOULD
LOVE TO HAVE YOU, OTHERWISE, WE
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT
THE NEXT REVIEW PANEL
COMMISSION.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND READ INTO
THE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.
AS IF YOU ARE DOING THAT, IF WE
COULD BE JOINED BY THE
PRETENDERS.
EVER SMITH, DEBRA SMITH, LYNN
BEST, JENNIFER LABRECQUE,
ERIKA MALONE.
>> COUNCIL BILL 119635, AND
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE CITY
LIGHT DEPARTMENT AND THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING, TRANSFERRING
JURISDICTION OF THE FORMER
LOYAL HURTS AND FINNEY
SUBSTATION PROPERTIES FROM THAT
CITY LIGHT DEPARTMENT TO THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING FOR THE
PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOME
OWNERSHIP FOR BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION AND A POSSIBLE THAT.
>> YOU ARE WELCOME TO TAKE ANY
SEAT AT THE TABLE.
IT IS OFTEN AWKWARD TO HAVE
YOUR BACK TO FOLKS BUT YOU'RE
WELCOME TO SIT ANYWHERE YOU
LIKE.
WHAT WE START DOWN HERE AND DO
INTRODUCTIONS?
>> ERIC McCONAGHY, COUNSEL
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> JENNIFER LABRECQUE, OFFICE
OF HOUSING.
>> ERIKA MALONE, OFFICE OF
HOUSING.
DEBRA SMITH, SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT.
>> IT WAS ALL SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT TODAY BUT THERE IS A
NEXUS WITH THIS HOUSING POLICY.
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT WE
WILL WALK THROUGH.
I WILL, FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, I
WILL ASK FOLKS TO HAVE OPEN
COMMENTS.
I MIGHT HAVE SOME CLOSING
COMES.
DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT
TO SAY HERE?
>> EYE-OPENING COMMENT IS A
GENERAL THANK YOU TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR MAKING TIME FOR
US TODAY.
IT IS ALL SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
ALL DAY MEETING.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY
TO THE ITEMS AND I APPRECIATE
IT.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT ON YOUR
PLATE RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GREAT.
LET'S GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
SO WE WANTED TO PUT THE
DISPOSITION, THE DISCUSSION
AROUND THE DISPOSITION OF THESE
TWO SITES FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP.
INTO A BROADER CONTEXT TO START
WITH.
THE DISPOSITION OF THESE TWO
SITES IS JUST PART OF THE
MAYOR'S OVERALL SURGE IN
INVESTMENTS FOR HOUSING FOR LOW
AND MIDDLE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
THAT INCLUDES USING ABOUT $50
MILLION FROM THE BURSAR
PROCEEDS TO SUPPORT PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP.
$50 MILLION TO BUILD AND
OPERATE 175 NEW UNITS OF
PERMANENTLY SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
EMMA 25 MILLION AS ANNOUNCED IN
THE BUDGET YESTERDAY AND NEW
FUNDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
USING EXISTING REVENUES.
52 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS AS
PART OF THE FAIR SHARE TAX, THE
MODEST TAX ON HUBER AND LYFT.
AND PASSAGE OF THAT MULTIFAMILY
TAX EXEMPTION.
THAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT.
>> I WILL BACKUP FOR A QUICK
SECOND.
JUST UP AT THE CONVERSATION IN
THE SPOTLIGHT.
SO THAT FOLKS KNOW WHICH
PROPERTIES WE ARE TALKED ABOUT
AND WHY THE TERM DISPOSITION IS
SO EXCITING.
SO DOES BY WAY OF REMINDER,
THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO THE
POLICIES WE PASSED LAST YEAR
THAT ASKED THE CITY, STARTING
WITH CITY LIGHT AND CITYWIDE,
TO LOOK AT USING ALL OF OUR
UNDERUTILIZED PROPERTY WHERE WE
DO WE COULD BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND CREATE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING INSTEAD OF JUST SELLING
THEM ON THE MARKET.
THIS IS A REALLY GREAT
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO NOW SEE
THESE DISPOSITION POLICIES IN
ACTION AND REALLY APPRECIATE
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT FOR HELPING
US MOVE FORWARD.
SO APPROVAL OF THIS, THE BELT
119635 WOULD MEAN THAT SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT THE FORMER LOYAL
HEIGHT SUBSTATION PROPERTY AND
THE FORMER PHINNEY SUBSTATION
PROPERTY IT WOULD BE THE
CITY'S UTILITY NEEDS AND OUR
DESIRE WOULD BE TO SEE IT
TRANSFERRED TO THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING WHERE IT WOULD BE NO
COST FOR THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
TO BE ABLE TO THEM WORK TO
BUILD PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE
HOME OPTIONS.
HOMEOWNERSHIP, LOW INCOME
OPTIONS, FOR FOLKS AT OR BELOW
80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
I OFFER THAT AS LITTLE BIT OF
CONTEXT AS TO THE WHY WE ARE
LOOKING AT THESE TWO PROPERTIES
AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
CONVERSATION TODAY.
>> SOME AS YOU KNOW, UNDER
COUNCIL RESOLUTION 31424,
CITYWIDE, CITY LIGHT HAS BEEN
ASKED TO LOOK AT THE FORMER
4000 V SUBSTATION PROPERTY IN
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS.
SO WE DID THAT FOR THE
NORTHWEST PROPERTIES IN THE
AUTUMN OF 2017.
FOLLOWING THAT, THE RESOLUTION
THAT LAYS UP THE DISPOSITION
PROCESS EMMA FROM THAT PROCESS
WE WERE RECOMMENDING THE
DISPOSITION OF THE PHINNEY
SUBSTATION AND OIL HEIGHTS
PROPERTY.
TO GIVE YOU A QUICK REMINDER OF
THE PROCESS, WE FIRST CONTACTED
THE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
THAT, FOR THEIR REVIEW OF THE
PROPERTIES AVAILABLE.
WE HEARD FROM THE OFFICER OF
HOUSING THAT THEY EXPRESSED AN
INTEREST IN TWO OF THE SITES,
WHICH WE JUST NAMED.
PARKS AND RECREATION WAS NOT
INTERESTED IN ANY OF THESE
SITES.
THEY DIDN'T SEE THEM AS BEING
IN ANY SERVICE GAPS.
THERE WAS NO OTHER DEPARTMENT
OR AGENCY THAT EXPRESSED AN
INTEREST.
THEREFORE, WE STARTED THE
PROCESS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE PROVIDED INFORMATION AT ANY
INTERESTED COMMUNITY GROUP THAT
WANTED TO HEAR IT.
CITY LIGHT POSTED ITS OWN
COMMITTEE INFORMATION MEETING
AT WHICH PARKS AND SEVER OTHER
DEPARTMETS ATTENDED TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
WE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING ON
NOVEMBER 16 AS REQUIRED.
AND THEN, WE SEND OUT NOTICES
FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THEY WERE POSTED ON THE
PROPERTIES.
THEY WERE POSTED ON OUR
WEBSITE.
WE MAILED THEM TO ALL OF THE
NEIGHBORS.
AND RESIDENTS.
THE OWNERS AND THE RESIDENTS.
WE PUBLISHED LEGAL NOTICE.
AND ANYTIME WE GOT A COMMENT
THAT BASICALLY ASKED US TO
PROVIDE THE PROPERTY TO ANOTHER
DEPARTMENT, WE WENT TO THAT
EPARTMENT AND ASKED THEM
AGAIN, ARE THEY INTERESTED?
WE HAVE HAD, SOME THIS
PROPERTY.
SO ALL OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS
THAT WE GOT ARE TRANSMITTED AND
ARE RECOMMENDED TO THE CITY
COUNCIL AND AFRICA ALL OF THE
COMMENTERS WERE NOTIFIED AS
WELL.
AND WE GOT MANY COMMENTS.
MOST OF THEM RECOMMENDED PARKS
AND OPEN SPACE OR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING USE.
AND WE WENT BACK TO PARKS AND
AGAIN, THEY SAID THEY DID NOT
WANT TO PURSUE THESE
PROPERTIES.
OKAY?
AND THEN, AS WE WERE DOING THIS
OUTREACH WORK THAT LAW UNDER
THE STATE LEGISLATURE WAS
ADOPTED THAT WOULD ALLOW THE
TRANSFER OF UTILITY PROPERTIES
FOR LESS THAN FAIR MARKET
VALUE.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND THE CITY PASSED THE
RESOLUTION THAT WAS JUST
MENTIONED.
31829, THAT LAMENTED THIS.
THEY SET AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS
THE PRIORITY SERVE USE FOR THIS
PROPERTY.
ANY OTHER USE WOULD REQUIRE
FAIR AND FULL MARKET VALUE FOR
JUSTIFICATION, FOR COMPENSATION
FOR CITY LIGHT.
>> BECAUSE THE BILL NUMBER IS
AT THE, HOUSE BILL 2382, JUST A
QUICK NOTE OF APPRECIATION FOR
PRESENTED OF YOU WHO WAS THE
PRIME AND FOR THE FORMER
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, FRANK FOR
HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL TOOL THAT
WE HAVE IN OUR TOOLKIT TO
ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN
WE HAVE SURPLUS PROPERTIES.
I AM EXCITED WE ARE MOVING
FORWARD HERE.
>> SO CITY LIGHT RECOMMENDS
THAT WE DECLARE OIL HEIGHTS FOR
THE UTILITY USE AND TRANSFER
THEM TO THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
AT NO COST FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
>> SO THANK YOU, LYNN AND THANK
YOU FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND
COMMITTEE FOR HAVING US HERE
TODAY.
FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE REALLY
EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP IN NEIGHBORHOODS
NEAR TRANSIT, NEAR OTHER
AMENITIES, PARKS, WHERE FEW
AFFORDABLE HOMES EXIST NOW.
THESE FIRST TWO SLIDES JUST
SORT OF GIVING YOU A LITTLE BIT
MORE INFORMATION, DETAILED
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SITES
THEMSELVES.
THE FIRST PROPERTY LOCATED IN
BOYLE HEIGHTS TO THE NORTHWEST
CORNER OF 80th STREET AND 20th
AVENUE NORTHWEST.
WALKING DISTANCE TO SEVERAL BUS
LINES, OTHER VARIOUS AMENITIES.
GO AHEAD.
>> THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT.
>> THE SECOND SITE IS ON
PHINNEY AVENUE NORTH BETWEEN
61st AND A SECOND SECOND
STREET.
THE FIVE AND THE FIVE EXPRESS
STOP LESS THAN HALF A BLOCK
WHERE.
IT'S WALKING DISTANCE TO OTHER
BUS LINES AND AMENITIES AS
WELL.
>> SO BACKUP JUST A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AT
THE PROCESS ON THIS.
WHEN CITY LIGHT CIRCULATED THE
NOTICE AMONGST THE DEPARTMENT
OF THE EXCESS PROPERTY, OFFICE
OF HOUSING WAS PARTICULARLY
KEEN ABOUT THESE TWO SITES
BECAUSE OF THEIR LOCATION AS I
MENTIONED IN NEIGHBORHOODS
WHERE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS
VERY SCARCE.
THE TRUCK SAMITI TO
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AND
SERVICES AND THE EMPHASIS OF
THE PROPERTIES BEING A GOOD FIT
FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP.
BOTH OF THEM LARGE ENOUGH TO
ACCOMMODATE SEVERAL HOMES BUT
NOT SO LARGE AS TO BE SUITABLE
FOR A TAX CREDIT RENTAL
PROJECT.
WE STILL WEREN'T SURE HOWEVER
THAT PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP INVOLVEMENT WOULD
BE FEASIBLE AND WHETHER OR NOT
THERE WOULD BE THE VOTERS
INTERESTED.
AT FIRST WE PUBLISHED A REQUEST
FOR INTEREST AND THERE WAS
INTEREST, IT TURNS OUT
AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP IS.
IT IS FEASIBLE AND SO WE
RELEASED THIS APRIL REQUEST FOR
PROPOSALS.
WE DID RECEIVE FIVE PROPOSALS
TO THE PHINNEY SUBSTATION SITE
AND ONE TO LAUREL HEIGHTS.
THEY WILL BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSEHOLDS AT OR BELOW 80% OF
VARIAN MEDIAN INCOME AND ALSO
ENSURE THE ONGOING
AFFORDABILITY OF THOSE HOMES
AND ALL SUBSEQUENT RESALES.
SO OUR PREFERRED PROPOSAL FOR
THE LAUREL HEIGHTS SIDE WAS
SUBMITTED BY HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY, WHO HAVE A TRACK
WRITER FOR DEVELOPING
AFFORDABLE HOMES THROUGHOUT
KING COUNTY.
EIGHT THREE-BEDROOM TOWNS,
TOWNHOMES ALL OF WHICH WILL BE
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE.
THE PREFERRED PROPOSAL FOR THE
PHINNEY SUBSTATION SITE WAS
SUBMITTED BY HOMESTEAD
COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND EDGE
DEVELOPERS, A TEAM WORKING ON
SEVERAL PROJECTS TOGETHER.
HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY LAND TRUST,
LIKE HABITAT, HAS A LONG AND
SUCCESSFUL TRACK RECORD OF
CREATING AND PRESERVING
AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES.
THEY HAVE PROPOSED 19
CONDOMINIUM HOMES ON THE
PROPERTY, AGAIN ALL OF WHICH
WILL BE PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE
TO HOUSEHOLDS WITH INCOMES AT
OR BELOW AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
MOST OF THE HOMES WILL BE
FAMILY STYLIST AS WELL.
YOU SEE 93 BEDROOMS AND FIVE
TWO-BEDROOMS THERE ON THAT
SITE.
SO THAT
>> THANK YOU TO THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING.
RECOGNIZING AFFORDABLE THREE-
BEDROOM HOMES.
THIS IS A BIG DEAL OBVIOUSLY
BECAUSE EVEN TWO-BEDROOMS ARE
EXPENSIVE.
BUT INCREASING THE INVENTORY IS
REALLY A GREAT IDEA.
WE TALKED ABOUT RESALE
RESTRICTED, THE SAME THING IS
TRUE OF THE HABITAT.
CORRECT?
>> COULD YOU REPEAT THE AREA
MEDIAN INCOME A THRESHOLD AS
WELL FOR THESE?
>> I SHOULD PROBABLY KNOW THAT
OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
YOU MEAN IT IS 80% AMI FOR BOTH
SITES?
>> 80% TAKE THIS UP TO, FOR A
FAMILY OF 4, I WAS GOING TO SAY
80,000?
>> WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER
AND THAT THE MEDIAN INCOME
AROUND THIS PLACE NOW IS
$104,000.
IT IS JUST A STUNNINGLY HIGH
NUMBER AND FOR PEOPLE, WE RAN
INTO THIS AROUND CHILDCARE
EARLIER THIS MORNING.
YOU PAY YOUR MORTGAGE OR YOUR
BRENT AND IF YOU HAVE A CAR
PAYMENT, YOUR CAR PAYMENT OR
CHILDCARE.
ARE LOOKING AT VERY LITTLE LEFT
IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT FROM THOSE
THREE THINGS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THIS IS A HUGE PRIORITY WITH
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING.
AND THIS COMMITTEE.
TO SEE MORE THREE OR FOUR
BEDROOMS.
THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
A REALLY QUICK QUESTION ON THE
LAST BULLET.
RESALE RESTRICTED AND
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE, CAN YOU
TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE
AN WITH THE CURRENT POLICY IS?
>> YES.
PERMANENT AFFORDABILITY.
OUR PARTNERS THROUGH HOMESTEAD
AND HABITAT BOTH OPERATE THE
RESTRICTED HOMEOWNERSHIP
PROGRAMS USING A GROUND LEASE
OR A COVENANT THAT RESTRICT THE
RESALE PRICE OF THE HOME.
IF THE FAMILY DECIDES TO SELL.
THEY ARE SELLING IT AT AN
AFFORDABLE PRICE TO BEGIN WITH.
THEN THE FORMULA RESALE CAPS
THAT PRICE AT RESALE.
SO WE SAY PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE.
OUR COVENANT REQUIRES 50 YEARS
OF AFFORDABILITY.
BUT OUR PARTNERS ARE ABLE TO
ESSENTIALLY CREATE
AFFORDABILITY IN PERPETUITY
THROUGH THE ARRANGEMENT THAT
THEY HAVE WITH THEIR
HOMEOWNERS.
>> THEN THERE IS A MULTIPLIER
EFFECT THERE BECAUSE EVEN IF A
FAMILY DECIDES IN THE FUTURE,
THEY ARE SELLING OBVIOUSLY FOR
A RESTRICTED AMOUNT.
THEY ARE GENERATING EQUITY.
THEY ARE BUILDING A PORTFOLIO
AND IT HELPS INDIVIDUALS GET
INTO THAT POTENTIAL SECOND HOME
EMMA WHICH WE NEED MORE OF.
SO THAT MORE PEOPLE CAN MOVE
OUT OF THESE GREAT FIRST TIME
HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
INTO FUTURE HOMES SO MORE
PEOPLE CAN HAVE THIS
EXPERIENCE.
BUT THIS IS REALLY EXCITING.
THAT YOU HAVE PARTNERSHIPS THAT
ALLOW FOR THE AFFORDABILITY TO
CONTINUE INTO PERPETUITY.
>> DID YOU WANT TO CONTINUE?
>> THAT ACTUALLY IS THE LAST
SLIDE.
>> I THINK THIS IS A REALLY
GREAT IMAGE TO STAY ON REALLY
QUICK.
I KNOW THAT SEATTLE CITY LIGHT,
I'M SORRY, --
>> I LOOKED AT 2017.
IT IS 100,006 30 IN 2017.
AND LET'S SEE, THE 2008 DATA IS
COMING OUT THIS MONTH.
SO THE BRAND-NEW DATA IS OUT IN
SEPTEMBER.
IT IS A REALLY HIGH NUMBER FOR
THE AVERAGE MEDIAN INCOME.
>> THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT PHINNEY
SUBSTATION RIDGE, IT IS HIGH
ACCESS TO PARKS, TRANSIT,
RATES,.
ACCESS TO A GREEN LAKE.
I LOOKED AROUND THE CORNER ON
74th FOR A LONG TIME.
AND ONE THING I KNOW IS THAT
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING HAD THERE
EYES ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY
ORIGINALLY LAST YEAR ON THE
SITE THAT GIVEN THE HIGH COST
OF PROPERTY IN SEATTLE AND HOW
FAST PROPERTY MOVES, YOU
WEREN'T ABLE TO PURSUE THAT
PROPERTY IF I REMEMBER CRACKER.
THAT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
PUBLIC LAND BECOMING AVAILABLE.
INSTEAD OF HAVING TO COMPETE
AND GET OUTBID OR PHYSICALLY
OUTRUN BY THE PRIVATE MARKET.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
AN OFFERINTERNALLY FIRST AND
I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED OF THE
WORK YOU DID WITH PARKS.
I'M SURE PEOPLE WILL ASK ABOUT
IT.
AND THE FACT THAT THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING STEPPED UP AND IS
CREATING THESE TYPES OF UNITS,
THE FIRST TIME OPPORTUNITIES
FOR PEOPLE TO GET INTO
BEAUTIFUL HOMES.
TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE I
EXAMPLE OF HOW WE ARE
IMPLEMENTING THE LEGISLATIVE
INTENT UNDER HOUSE BILL 2382.
IT IS A GREAT WAY FOR US TO
SHOW COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO WE
ENGAGE WITH LAST YEAR ON
IMPLEMENTING THE COUNCIL BILL
WHO WERE URBANISTS,
ENVIRONMENTALISTS, SERVICE
PROVIDERS WE KNOW YOU NEED
STABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND YOU CANNOT JUST PUT A DOOR
THERE OR A ROOF OVER SOMEONE
THEY NEED ACCESS TO SERVICE SO
THIS IS A GREAT SHOW A
PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO STEPPED FORWARD AND
ASKED US TO DO THIS IN THE PAST
AND THE PARTNERSHIP WITH
HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY LAND TRUST
AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
A GREAT WAY FOR US TO EXPRESS
INTEREST IN SERVING THE
COMMUNITY WELL WITH PUBLIC
PROPERTIES.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS
, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, IT
WAS NOT EASY OR QUICK TO GET
HERE AND IT'S A GREAT
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING AND SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT AND I WILL MOVE TO
MOTION.
I'M WITH THE COMMITTEE TO
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNSEL
BILL 119635.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF PASSAGE
VOTE AYE.
NOMINAL POST, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, ONE THING.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
TO ALL OF MY SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
FRIENDS ERIKA, LYNN, TIM,
DEBORAH.
IT IS A DELIGHT YOU ARE HERE.
THIS WILL BE MY LAST COMMITTEE
WITH YOU, SO IT HAS BEEN A REAL
PLEASURE.
I KNOW HOW HARD YOUR COLLEAGUES
WORK ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE
HERE IN THE CITY AND I WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU AND
AS WE CLOSE OUT THIS PIECE I
WANT THE PUBLIC TO REMEMBER
EVERY TIME WE BUILD ON PUBLICLY
OWNED PROPERTY WE SAVE AROUND
15% IN TERMS OF OVERALL
CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE WE ARE
MAINTAINING THE LAND SO WHAT
YOU JUST DID WAS TO SAVE THE
CITY SOME MONEY ON THE WAY OUT
AND SHOW HOW EFFICIENT AND
EFFECTIVE YOU ARE AS A
COUNCILMEMBER.>> YOU ARE THE
ONE THAT STARTED THIS SERIOUSLY
LAST YEAR.>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON
TO THE NEXT ITEM I WANT FOLKS
TO KNOW THE BILL THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING WILL COME TO FULL
COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 30 SO WE WILL
HIGHLIGHT YOUR GOOD WORK AGAIN.
THANK YOU.
AGREED AND MOVING OUT WITH THE
MOTION OF 3-0 IN SUPPORT OF
FULL PASSAGE AT FULL COUNCIL ON
THE 30th.
WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND READ
INTO THE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
THREE, THANK YOU.
>> COUNSEL BILL 119633
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
RATES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
THE USE OF SALE OF ELECTRICITY
SUPPLIED BY SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
FOR 2020 FOR BRIEFING
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON
HIS AS WELL? OKAY GREAT
JUST BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION
APPROVAL OF THIS WOULD MAKE IT
POSSIBLE FOR THE CITY TO AMEND
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT RATES AND
FEES IN THREE WAYS.
>> IT IS ONE POWERPOINT FOR
THIS ITEM AND THE NUMBER SIX.
OKAY.
IF YOU CAN DOUBLE CHECK, SHE
HAS ACCESS TO ALL THE MAGIC ON
THE COMPUTER.
SO FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC.
WE CAN DO SIX AND THREE.
WE HAVE APPROVED THE AGENDA
LET'S TAKE THEM IN THE ORDER WE
WANT TO.
IS THAT OKAY?
>> YOU ARE THE BOSS.
>> WAS THAT A MOTION TO AMEND
THE AGENDA?
>> NEVERMIND.
>> THAT IS HOW WE ROLL.
>> I DON'T WANT TO CLOSE OUT
THE YEAR NOT DOING SOMETHING
PROPERLY SO CONSIDER ITEM
NUMBER THREE AND NUMBER SIX
TOGETHER.
>> I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
THE AGENDA HAS BEEN AMENDED.
ITEM NUMBER SIX.
>> COUNSEL BILL ARGENTUM AGENDA
ITEM ORDINANCE RELATED TO
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT DEPARTMENT
GRANT AUTHORITY FOR THE
DEPARTMENT TO OFFER TERM
LIMITED BY THE PROGRAMS TO
STUDY DEMAND RESPONSE OF LOW
INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> EXCELLENT.
AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE AGENDA I
WAS REALLY SEEING ITEM 4 TIED
INTO THIS BILL AND WE WILL GET
TO THAT NEXT.
WHY DON'T WE GO DOWN THE LINE
AND HAVE FOLKS REINTRODUCE
THEMSELVES FOR THE RECORD.>>
COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF.>> CEO OF
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.>> CFO
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
>> RATES MANAGER SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE IMPROMPTU
SHUFFLING.
THIS IS HELPFUL FOR US.
BY WAY OF BACKGROUND FOR FOLKS
WATCHING AT HOME ITEM NUMBER
THREE IS COUNSEL BILL 119633
WHICH RELATES TO SEATTLE CITY
RIGHT LIGHT RATES WHICH WOULD
AMEND FEES IN THREE WAYS, THE
FIRST THE RATE FOR CITY
CUSTOMERS, THE SECOND AUTOMATIC
COST ADJUSTMENT RELATED TO BOND
OF BILL POWER ASSOCIATION COST
AND THE THIRD WOULD BE CHARGING
STATION RENTAL FEES AND THEN
WHEN WE CONSIDER ITEM NUMBER
SIX IT WILL BE COUNSEL BILL
119632 WHICH IS A PILOT PROGRAM
TO STUDY LOW INCOME ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS AND APPROVAL WOULD
AUTHORIZE SEATTLE CITY LIGHT TO
OFFER PILOT PROGRAMS FOR RATE
DESIGN RESEARCH PURPOSES DURING
THE MEETING CITY LIGHT WILL
DESCRIBE SEVERAL PILOT PROGRAMS
IN DEVELOPMENT IN ANTICIPATION
OF RECEIVING AUTHORITY FOR THIS
PROPOSED LEGISLATION SO WE WILL
COUPLE THESE CONVERSATIONS
TOGETHER AND WE HAVE A
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION TO WALK-
THROUGH.
AGAIN THANK YOU FOR YOUR
FLEXIBILITY IN LETTING US PUT
THESE ITEMS TOGETHER.
>> I WILL SAY A COUPLE OF
THINGS.
ONE, THE ITEMS THAT ARE IN
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX ARE WHAT
WE CONSIDER HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS.
BUT THEY ARE IMPORTANT.
THE FIRST ITEMS WE ARE COVERING
ARE REALLY EXCITING SO YOU KNOW
I GUESS I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
UP FRONT THAT WE WORKED HARD
WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE, WITH ERIC, WITH YOUR
STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
DEVELOPED A PROGRAM WITH
RESPECT TO RATE PILOTS THAT
WOULD ALLOW US TO BE NIMBLE AND
TO LEARN AND YET FULLY KEEP YOU
FULLY AT YOUR APPROPRIATE RATE
SO IT WAS A GREAT PIECE OF
TEAMWORK SO WE ARE EXCITED TO
BE HERE TODAY AND I WILL TURN
IT OVER.
>> ALL RIGHT SO THE FIRST THING.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT IS THREE OR
SIX BUT WE WILL START TALKING
ABOUT THE PILOT PROGRAMS
BECAUSE WE ARE REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT THIS.
SO TO SET THE STAGE.
SO TO SET THE STAGE FOR OUR
VIEWING PUBLIC, THIS IS PART OF
SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
ON FOR SOME TIME NOW, CITY
LIGHT IS HARD AT WORK, WORKING
ON A NEW RATE DESIGN FOR 2021.
YOU HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE
OF US AS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
THROUGH THIS, WE STARTED IN
2018 AND THIS WAS THE
INITIATIVE THAT CAME OUT OF
CITY LIGHT STRATEGIC PLANNING.
WE IDENTIFIED THIS AS AN
OPPORTUNITY, THE RATE STRUCTURE
IS ABOUT 30 YEARS OLD AND AS WE
ALL KNOW THE WORLD HAS CHANGED
A LOT IN 30 YEARS, THERE'S NEW
TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMERS, NEW
EFFICIENCY, ALTERNATIVES,
CUSTOMERS GENERATING THEIR OWN
POWER AND IN THE FUTURE SMART
DEVICES FOR CONTROLLING HOW
POWER IS USED AND STORED WITH
BATTERIES, THERE IS A LOT
COMING SO IT FELT LIKE THE TIME
WAS RIGHT TO LOOK AT THE LEGACY
RATE DESIGN AND PREPARE FOR
WHAT THE RATES WILL LOOK LIKE
FOR THE FUTURE.
SO, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
IN 2018 AND 2019, CITY LIGHT
ALONG WITH CUSTOMER REVIEW
PANEL DELIVERED A REPORT IN
APRIL TO COUNCIL AND THIS
REPORT OUTLINED A NEW SET OF
POLICY OBJECTIVES FOR RATE
DESIGN AS WELL AS A VISION FOR
WHAT THE DESIGN COULD LOOK LIKE
IN THE FUTURE AS WELL AS A
SERIES OF RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
FOR ACHIEVING THIS NEW RATE
DESIGN AND CITY LIGHT WORKED
CLOSELY WITH THE REVIEW PANEL
INCLUDING LEON AND THE REST.
THIS WAS A BIG LIFT FOR US BUT
WE DELIVERED THAT IN APRIL SO
THIS IS THE NEXT STEP.
IT IS COMING UP BETWEEN NOW AND
2021.
TWO IMPORTANT THINGS, FIRST WE
HAVE A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY.
WE HAD TO COMPLETE ADVANCED
METERING, UPGRADES TO THE
BILLING SYSTEM TO INTEGRATE THAT
AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO DO
THESE NEW THINGS BUT THEN ALSO
DOING SOME PILOT PROGRAMS WHICH
WILL BE VERY SMALL-SCALE
PROGRAMS THAT WE LOOK TO DO TO
TEST NEW AND INNOVATIVE
APPROACHES TO PRICING AND
REALLY HELP LEARN AND PREPARE
FOR 2021 WHEN WE ARE ROLLING
OUT THE NEW RATE DESIGN.
SO THAT IS WHERE WE ARE NOW.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE WE ARE
GOING.
SO WE ENVISION IN THE FUTURE
THAT WE WILL HAVE NEW RATES,
THE NEW RATE STRUCTURES AND
WHEN I SAY RATE DESIGN IT IS NOT
HOW HIGH THE RATES ARE BUT
RATHER HOW THEY ARE STRUCTURED.
SO IT IS THE FEES, YOU CAN
CHARGE FOR HOW SOMEBODY
CONSUMES ELECTRICITY, YOU CAN
CHARGE A FLAT FEE, WE CAN
CHARGE FOR THE CAPACITY THAT
THE UTILITY HOLDS OPEN, THERE
ARE DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN
CHARGE FOR USING ELECTRICITY
SERVICES SO REDESIGN LOOKS AT
THE STRUCTURE NOT THE AMOUNT OF
THE RATE NECESSARILY.
>> BY WAY OF REMINDER FOR
COLLEAGUES YOU HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS
SINCE THE CONSIDERATION OF THE
STRATEGIC PLAN IN 2018.
PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN AS I
REMEMBER CONSIDERED LOOKING AT
THE RATE REDESIGN BUT ONE OF
THE THINGS WE DID AT THE
COMMITTEE WAS ASKED FOR THE
TIMELINE TO BE EXPEDITED AND
FOR A FEW ADDITIONAL
CONSIDERATIONS FOR PART OF THE
FINAL PROPOSAL A RECOMMENDATION
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE REALLY
THINKING THROUGH CONSUMER
ADVOCACY TO ADD MORE OPTIONS TO
WHAT DESIGN COULD LOOK LIKE.
SO WITH THE REVIEW PANEL THANK
YOU FOR BEING ACCOMMODATING TO
THOSE EDITIONS IN THE STRATEGIC
PLAN AND FOR THE QUICK WORK
THEY DID LAST YEAR IN THE
DELIVERY OF THE REPORT.
A LOT OF FOLKS WERE ASKING LAST
TIME I WAS THERE, WHAT ARE WE
DOING WITH THE INFORMATION AND
PART OF WHAT WE ARE DOING IS
FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDATION ON
THIS PILOT EFFORT AS WE ROLL
SOMETHING OUT FOR 2020.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE
WILLINGNESS TO LOOK AT THE
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AND
OPTIONS PUT IN THE STRATEGIC
PLAN AND FOR EXPEDITING THE
TIMELINE.
I UNDERSTAND THIS IS SOMETHING
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT ATTEMPTED TO
DO FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO AND
WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH THE REDESIGN APPROVAL OR
CONCEPT AT THAT POINT SO WE ARE
EXCITED YOU ARE GOING TO BE
PRESENTING SOMETHING FOR 2020
AS WELL.>> WE ARE EXCITED TOO.
LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FUTURE WE
ENVISION CITY LIGHT WILL BE
ABLE TO USE A NEW APPROACH TO
RATES TO DO DEMAND RESPONSE.
INCENTIVIZING CUSTOMERS TO
REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION AT
CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY WHEN
THE GRID IS AT RISK OF BEING
OVERLOADED OR ENERGY PRICES ARE
HIGH OR IT COULD BE A SHIFT IN
CONSUMPTION SO INSTEADOF
ELECTRIC VEHICLE OWNERS
CHARGING IN THE EVENING WHEN
THE GRID IS CONGESTED AND
PRICES ARE HIGH BUT INSTEAD
CHARGE OVERNIGHT WHEN THE POWER
IS CHEAPER AND THAT BENEFITS
EVERYONE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF INCENTIVES
IN THE DEMAND RESPONSE AREA WE
WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT, SECONDLY
LOOKING AT THE RATES TARGETING
CITY GOALS LIKE DE-
CARBONIZATION, AFFORDABILITY,
ELECTRIFICATION AND THINKING
HOW CAN WE USE RATES TO
ENCOURAGE ELECTRIFICATION OF
FOSSIL FUEL BURNING TECHNOLOGY.
AND FINALLY WE WOULD ENVISION
THESE BEING OPT IN PROGRAMS FOR
RECOGNIZING WE HAVE A DIVERSE
CUSTOMER BASE AND RIGHT NOW
RATES ARE NOT DESIGNED TO ALLOW
CUSTOMER CHOICES BUT WE CAN DO
THAT.
WE CAN OFFER CUSTOMERS A MENU
OF PRICING PLANS SO MAYBE FOR
ONE OWNER THEY WOULD CHOOSE
SOMETHING BUT FOR A LARGE FAMILY
FOR WHOM AFFORDABILITY IS AN
ISSUE THEY WOULD CHOOSE A
DIFFERENT PROGRAM SO WE CAN DO
MORE TO MEET CUSTOMER NEEDS
THAT ARE UNIQUE SO THAT'S WHERE
WE ARE GOING AND WE ARE VERY
EXCITED.
>> I WOULD NOTE CURRENTLY CITY
LIGHT USES TIERED RATES WHICH
IN THE 70s WAS VERY PROGRESSIVE
AND IT WAS A GREAT TOOL TO
ENCOURAGE ENERGY EFFICIENCY BUT
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT IS
KIND OF A BLUNT INSTRUMENT.
THERE ARE TOOLS TODAY THAT
ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO DO MORE
THINGS, TO HAVE MORE CONTROL SO
IF CUSTOMERS ARE WILLING TO PUT
THE THOUGHT AND ENERGY INTO HOW
AND WHEN THEY USE POWER IN A
WAY THAT ALLOWS US TO MAXIMIZE
THE VALUE OF HYDRO RESOURCE AND
THE CUSTOMER HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER CONTROL
THE BILL THAT SEEMS TO BE THE
WAY THAT THE MARKET IS MOVING
AND WHERE WE WANT TO MOVE WITH
IT.
THAT IS WHY WE USE THE TERM
DEMAND RESPONSE RATES BECAUSE
THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS
THOSE RATES CAN ROLLOUT BUT IN
GENERAL THEY ARE DESIGNED TO
ENCOURAGE CUSTOMERS TO THINK
ABOUT WHEN AND HOW THEY USE THE
POWER.
>> THE ORDINATES WE HAVE TODAY
WOULD GRANT AUTHORITY TO CITY
LIGHT TO OFFER PILOT PROGRAMS
TO TEST THE NEW APPROACH IN TWO
AREAS.
LOW INCOME ASSISTANCE, SEATTLE
HAS SOME OF THE LOWEST RATES IN
URBAN AMERICA AND WE ARE VERY
PROUD OF THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE UTILITY DISCOUNT
WHICH OFFERS A 60% DISCOUNT ON
ALL RATES BUT WE THINK WE COULD
DO MORE.
WE KNOW THAT AFFORDABILITY IS A
BIG ISSUE IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW
AND THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES TO
THE CURRENT UDP WE CAN EXPLORE
SO THIS WOULD BE LOOKING AT
ALTERNATIVE DISCOUNT AND
SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME
CUSTOMERS AND THE SECOND IS
INCENTIVES TO STUDY DEMAND
RESPONSE WHICH WE JUST TALKED
ABOUT.
RECOGNIZING THE PURPOSE OF THE
PILOT PROGRAM IS RESEARCH.
THE ORDINANCE OUTLINES A NUMBER
OF SPECIFIC CRITERIA THAT ANY
PILOT PROGRAM WOULD NEED TO MEET
AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE.
DEFINED RESEARCH AND CRITERIA,
TERMS AND CONDITIONS THAT ARE
TRANSPARENT AND PUBLICLY
DOCUMENTED, THE PILOTS WOULD
HAVE TO END IN THREE YEARS.
OPT IN ONLY INCLUDING
RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES TO REACH
UNDER REPRESENTED POPULATIONS.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE
AND FINALLY RECOGNIZING THESE
PILOT PROGRAMS WILL NOT REPLACE
REGULAR ELECTRIC RATES.
ANY PARTICIPANT IN A PILOT
PROGRAM WOULD BE HARMLESS SO IF
THE STRUCTURE WE DESIGNED
RESULTED IN THEM, IT WOULD BE
HIGHER THAN UNDER THE REGULAR
RATE THAN THEY WOULD BE HELD
HARMLESS AND THAT IS RECOGNIZING
THIS IS A RESEARCH PILOT SO WE
WANT IT TO BE POSITIVE AND GOOD
FOR EVERYONE.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SPECIFICS.
WE ARE WORKING ON FOUR PILOT
PROGRAMS WHICH WOULD BE ENABLED
BY THIS LEGISLATION.
THE FIRST ONE IS A PROGRAM
AIMED AT LOW INCOME CUSTOMERS
FOR WHOM UDP MIGHT NOT BE
SUFFICIENT TO HELP THEM REDUCE
ENERGY BURDEN. LOW-INCOME
ADVOCATES RECOMMEND ENERGY
BURDEN OF 6% OR LESS AND EVEN
WITH THE DISCOUNT THAT UDP
PROVIDES FOR SOME CUSTOMERS
THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.
SO THIS PROGRAM WOULD LOOK AT
ADDRESSING THAT NEED.
SO WE WOULD HAVE A RATE DISCOUNT
THAT WOULD DEEPLY SUBSIDIZE THE
SECOND BLOCK RATE AND RESULT IN
A VERY LARGE LOW SIMPLE PER
KILOWATT HOUR RATE.
AND THIS WOULD BE SUPPLEMENTED
BY OTHER SERVICES SO IT IS A
RATE DISCOUNT AND ALSO A WHOLE
SUITE OF SERVICES, SUBSIDIZE
HOME WEATHERIZATION, BALANCE
MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS SO OF
CUSTOMERS ARE BEHIND ON THE
BILL WE HAVE A PAYMENT PLAN
WORKED INTO THE WHOLE THING.
SO WE ARE NOT JUST ADDRESSING
OR DISCOUNTING BUT WE ARE
TRYING TO ADDRESS MANAGING
CONSUMPTION HELPING EFFICIENCY
AND ALSO GIVING THEM A LOW
STUDY BILL.
THIS WAS A PROJECT, SHOUT OUT
TO SEAN AND BRIAN AND LEON,
THEY WORKED WITH US IN
DESIGNING THE PROGRAM SO WAS A
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ENERGY
PROJECT AND SO IT REALLY WAS A
TEAM EFFORT SO WE ARE REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
>> DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HOW
MANY PEOPLE WILL BE ELIGIBLE
FOR THIS VERY LOW RATE AND THEN
WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE TO
OTHER CITY CUSTOMERS?
>> SURE, I THINK CARSON HAS
SOME COST NUMBERS.
>> WE ARE DESIGNING THE PILOT
NOW SO WE ARE ASSUMING WE WILL
HAVE AN UPPER LIMIT OF 300
CUSTOMERS.
AND RECRUITMENT ENROLLMENT WILL
SORT OF GET US TO THAT WE HOPE
AND IF NOT ANYTHING OVER 150
WOULD BE GOOD FOR SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH PURPOSES SO WE WILL
SEE WHERE WE END UP.
IN ADDITION TO THE COST FOR THE
RATE WE WILL WORK OUT TO ABOUT
LESS THAN ONE DOLLAR PER CITY
LIGHT RATE PAYER FOR THE COST
JUST FOR THE RATE.
>> THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES WILL
BE FUNDED THROUGH OUR ENERGY
EFFICIENCY CES GROUP AND THIS
IS THE PILOT THAT IS MOST
ADVANCED.
I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING ON THE
PIPELINE AND WILL BE.
ONE OF THE PROVISIONS IS WE
WILL BRING A CHARTER FOR EACH
INDIVIDUAL AS THEY ARE READY TO
REVIEW AND PROVIDE INPUT SO THAT
WE WILL PROVIDE REGULAR UPDATES
SO, WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO HAVING
THIS ONE COMPLETE AND READY TO
ROLL.
THE HOPE WAS TO GET IT AS CLOSE
TO THE HEATING SEASON AS
POSSIBLE SO WE CAN BEGIN TO
SIGN CUSTOMERS UP AS THEY
ACCESS OTHER FORMS OF ENERGY
HELP AVAILABLE.
IT ALSO INCLUDES FORGIVENESS
COMPONENTS WHERE WE WILL USE
DONATED FUNDS TO ALLOW US IF
CUSTOMERS ARE MEETING THE
ENERGY BURDEN AND THEY'RE
MAKING THE PAYMENTS AFTER A
PERIOD OF TIME THE REMAINING
PAST DUE BALANCE WILL BE
WRITTEN OFF AND WE CAN USE
DONATED FUNDS TO DO THAT SO THE
NICE THING IS THE PROGRAM IS
PRETTY SIMPLE.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LEARN
QUITE A BIT FROM IT AND IF IT
WORKS FOR US AND FOR THE CITY
IT IS SOMETHING WE CAN TALK
ABOUT AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING
WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN
WORK ACROSS CITY SERVICES IF WE
CHOOSE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, I
APPRECIATE WHEN ELECTRICAL
UTILITY AND WATER AND PUBLIC
UTILITIES WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE
SO OFTEN PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED
ABOUT WHO IS DOING THIS SO IT
IS GREAT.
I ALSO REALLY LIKE THE IDEA
THAT YOU MENTIONED ABOUT
DONATED FUNDS BEING USED.
HOW MANY OF US DONATE TO THAT?
>> WE CAN GET YOU INFORMATION.
>> THE PROGRAM IS CALLED
PROJECT SHARE.
>> YES I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW
THANK YOU.>> ALL RIGHT THE NEXT
THREE WE ARE TARGETING FOR
2020, RESIDENTIAL TIME OF DAY
PILOT WHICH WILL INCENTIVIZE
SHIFTING CONSUMPTION FOR
RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS TO OFF-
PEAK TIMES, WE ANTICIPATE THIS
MIGHT SUIT HIGH USE HOUSEHOLDS
AND POTENTIALLY EV OWNERS
BECAUSE THEY WILL LOOK TO
CHARGE SO THIS WOULD BE A WAY
TO INCENTIVIZE THEM TO CHARGE
AT NIGHT.
THE NEXT ONE IS COMMERCIAL
CHARGING PILOT SO THIS IS
INCENTIVIZING ELECTRIFICATION
AND CHARGING OFF-PEAK AND THIS
WOULD BE FOR FLEETS AND
COMMERCIAL PROVIDERS AND FINALLY
INDUSTRIAL DEMAND RESPONSE AND
THIS WOULD BE FAIRLY SMALL
MAYBE 3 TO 5 CUSTOMERS.
LOOKING AT IF YOU'RE A LARGE
CUSTOMER WHO HAS SOMETHING YOU
COULD VOLUNTARILY CURTAIL IF WE
HAD A NEED THEN WE COULD
INCENTIVIZE THE CUSTOMER TO DO
SO AND HAVE THAT BE A WIN-WIN.
>> THIS IS ONE, WHEN WE WERE
DOING THE TALKS WHEN I STARTED
WORKING HERE AND WE WERE DOING
THE OUTREACH WE HEARD FROM
INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE
DESIRE TO HAVE A PROGRAM LIKE
THAT, ALSO I WILL COMMENT ON
THE TIME OF DAY.
HIGH USE HOUSEHOLDS ESPECIALLY
LARGER FAMILIES THEY MAYBE HAVE
FIXED OR LOWER INCOME AND
STRUGGLE WITH ENERGY BURDENS.
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICES HAS A
PRETTY DIVERSE CUSTOMER BASE
AND THEY HAVE FOUND A LOT OF
THE CUSTOMERS REALLY HAVE
EMBRACED THE NOTION OF TIME OF
USE BECAUSE IT GIVES THEM A
TOOL TO CONTROL THEIR BILLS SO
IT'S NOT JUST ELECTRIC
VEHICLES.
IT IS PEOPLE WHO MAY WANT TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE FROM A CLIENT
EVENT OR CARBON PERSPECTIVE SO
I'M WILLING TO PUT EXTRA
THOUGHT INTO HOW I USE ENERGY
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
>> GREAT DOES THAT CONCLUDE
YOUR COMMENTS?
OKAY.
CAN YOU REMIND ME, I THINK WHEN
WE TALKED ABOUT THE 300 PERSON
UNIVERSE SPECIFIC TO THE TOP
ITEM FOR ENERGY EQUITY CAN YOU
REMIND ME OF THE UNIVERSE OF
EACH OF THE PILOTS WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT?
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RESIDENTS
AND CONSUMERS?
>> I THINK THAT IS STILL IN THE
DESIGN PHASE, RESIDENTIAL TIME
ABUSE WAS TARGETED AT 1000
CUSTOMERS INITIALLY AND AGAIN
THAT IS NOT FIRM BUT THAT IS
THE INITIAL PROPOSAL.
HOW WE ROLL THAT OUT WILL
DEPEND ON TECHNICAL ABILITIES,
AGAIN BECAUSE WE ARE DOING THIS
IN ADVANCE OF THE I.T.
INFRASTRUCTURE A LOT OF THE
PROCESS WILL BE DONE MANUALLY.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
ABLE TO ADMINISTER THE
ENROLLMENT PROCESS.
>> ANY ESTIMATES ON HOW MANY
INDIVIDUAL COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS
WE HAVE PARTICIPATING IN THE
COMMERCIAL CHARGING OR
INDUSTRIAL DEMAND RESPONSE
PILOT?
>> FOR THE DEMAND RESPONSE WE
DEMAND
>> THE INDUSTRIAL WOULD LIKELY
HAPPEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH
BONNEVILLE OR THE POWER SUPPLIER
SO WE WOULD BE SUPPORTED IN THAT
THROUGH THE ENERGY PROVIDER.
>> WITH THE COMMERCIAL CHARGE
THIS WILL BE SIMILARLY A SMALL
NUMBER BUT THESE ONES WE ARE
LOOKING AT REACHING OUT, THERE
IS NOT A LOT OF COMMERCIAL
úCHARGING SO THIS IS ONE WHERE
úWE ARE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH DIFFERENT AGENCIES, SO WE
ARE TALKING WITH KING COUNTY
METRO, THEY ARE LOOKING AT
BUILDING ELECTRIC BUS CHARGING
BASE SO WE ARE WORKING WITH
THEM TO SUPPORT THEM IN
BUILDING THIS SPACE AND
ELECTRIFYING THE BUS SYSTEM SO
THAT IS ONE POTENTIAL CUSTOMER
BUT IT WOULD NOT BE A BROAD
THING BUT WE WOULD LOOK AT
PARTNERING WITH COMMERCIAL
CUSTOMERS WHO MIGHT HAVE A FLEET
THEY WANT TO ELECTRIFY OR
PROVIDE CHARGING AND BUSES OR
OTHER TRANSIT.
>> OKAY, TWO QUESTIONS.
IS ONE OF THE CUSTOMERS US?
OUR OWN ELECTRIC CHARGE AND
VEHICLES IN THE CITY?>> YES THAT
RATE WOULD INCLUDE OUR OWN
CHARTERS.
WE HAVE ONE NOW AND WE A PLAN
FOR 18 MORE.
>> AND THEN IS THE PORT, THEY
ARE A PARTNER ALREADY BUT I
KNOW THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF
ELECTRIC CHARGING VEHICLES THAT
THEY USE ON THE PORT, AS THEY
EXPAND?
>> IT IS KIND OF PROBABLY BOTH.
WE WOULD CERTAINLY TALK TO THE
PART ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING,
THAT IS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP
SO MULTIPLE CITY DEPARTMENTS
YOU ARE AWARE OF THAT.
WE ARE WORKING AS A ONE SEATTLE
APPROACH TO ELECTRIFICATION OF
THE PORT SO FOR INSTANCE NOW WE
ARE WORKING ON HOW DO WE BEST
SERVE THE GROWING ELECTRIC
NEEDS OF THE DOCS AND THE
EXPANSION IN A WAY THAT'S NOT
DISRUPTIVE OF WATERFRONT SO
THERE ARE A LOT OF PHASES TO
THAT BUT ALSO A SMALL WIN. JUST
ONE ASIDE.
WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH METRO
AND KING COUNTY HAS ASKED IF WE
WOULD PROJECT MANAGE SO WE HAVE
A NONBINDING MO YOU ON CITY
LIGHT BEING THE PROJECT MANAGER
FOR THE ELECTRIFICATION EFFORT
IN TUKWILA SO WE ARE OUT
POTENTIALLY DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING SOME EXPERIENCE AND
REPUTATION FOR BEING ABLE TO BE
A SERVICE PROVIDER OUTSIDE OF
STANDARD SERVICES WHICH IS A
COOL THING AND A GOOD WAY TO
SAVE FOR PUBLIC AGENCIES.
>> GREAT AND LASTLY REMIND US,
YOU SAID THIS AT THE BEGINNING
BUT WHEN ARE WE PLANNING TO GET
REPORT BACK ON THESE PILOTS?
>> I THINK WE WOULD ENVISION
BRINGING THEM BACK AS WE
DEVELOP.
SO BRIAN GOES FIRST WITH THE
LOW INCOME PILOT AND I WANT TO
SAY IT'S COMING LATER.>> MID-
OCTOBER UNTIL THE END OF
OCTOBER.
>> OKAY THIS YEAR.
>> WE ARE ALMOST READY TO GO ON
THAT ONE.
WE WANTED TO GET TO YOU FIRST
BUT WE ARE CLOSE AND WE ARE
HAPPY TO REPORT PROVIDE WRITTEN
REPORTS ON A QUARTERLY OR
SEMIANNUAL BASIS.
THESE WILL BE FAIRLY SHORT-TERM
PILOTS BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO
WORK TOWARD RATE REDESIGN AT
LEAST BEGINNING TO ROLL OUT
REDESIGN JANUARY 1 REDESIGN
JANUARY 1, 2021 SO THE IDEA IS
WE GET TO LEARN ALONG THE WAY.
>> OKAY GREAT.
WE WILL TAKE YOU UP ON THE
REPORT BACKS AND I THINK I SEE
THESE IN LINE WITH THE EFFORTS
TO PASS COMPONENTS OF A NEW
DEAL.
SOMETHING I WILL TALK ABOUT
LATER TODAY AT TOWNHALL, HOW DO
WE TAKE THINGS TO SCALE?
HOW DO WE TRY TO DO THINGS MORE
AT THE MACRO LEVEL BECAUSE I
THINK WE GET OBSESSED WITH THE
LITTLE THINGS WE CAN DO IN YES
IT'S IMPORTANT TO BAND STRAWS
BUT WHAT IS THE OTHER MACRO
THING WE CAN DO IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH COMMUNITY.
SOMETHING THAT WE DO WELL
SPECIFIC TO HOUSING, SOMETIMES
WE PILOT THINGS AND WE KNOW
THEY WORK FROM THE GET GO SO
HOW DO WE TAKE SOME OF THE
EFFORTS TO SCALE FASTER SO WE
WILL BE LOOKING TO YOU TO HELP
US FULFILL THE VALUES OF THE
CITY MOVING FORWARD WITH SOME
MACRO POLICIES THAT YOU ARE
TESTING NOW AND DOING THAT AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE AND GETTING
FEEDBACK ON STRATEGIES BUT I
THINK WE HAVE A REAL INTEREST
IN MAKING SURE WE ADVANCE THE
STRATEGIES BECAUSE THEY ARE
BASED IN YOUR RESEARCH WE KNOW
THAT FOLKS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR
THESE FOR A LONG TIME SO LET US
KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP
EXPEDITE SOME OF THESE ITEMS
AND I AM EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT
THOSE MORE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THESE
FOUR PILOTS?
I THINK WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO
úIS MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBE
SIX SO WE CAN KEEP THESE ITEMS
COMPARTMENTALIZED A LITTLE BIT
AND THEN WE WILL GO TO THE NEXT
CONVERSATION IN THE POWERPOINT.
AGAIN THESE FOUR ITEMS ENERGY
EQUITY, TIME OF DAY, CHARGING
AND INDUSTRIAL DEMAND ARE THE
FOUR PILOTS REGARDING FEEDBACK
THIS IS BASICALLY AUTHORIZATION
TO MOVE FORWARD SO WE CAN OFFER
THE PILOT PROGRAM FOR RATE
REDESIGN PURPOSE BEFORE
IMPLEMENTATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO PASSAGE
OF COUNSEL BILL 11 11692 ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
NO OPPOSITION.
SO, A VOTE OF 3-0 AND WE WILL
BRING THIS COUNSEL BILL 119632
WITHOUT ANY AMENDMENTS TO FULL
COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 30 FOR A FULL
VOTE.
NOW WE ARE GOING TO THE LAST
SLIDE OF THIS PRESENTATION AND
AGAIN FOR THE VIEWING AUDIENCE
ITEM NUMBER THREE WHICH IS MORE
OF A TECHNICAL ORDINANCE.
IF WE CAN DESCRIBE THAT WAY
RELATED TO SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH THE
CITY.>> THIS IS A TECHNICAL
ORDINANCE, THREE HOUSEKEEPING
ASPECTS, THE FIRST ONE PERTAINS
TO RATES OF CUSTOMERS IN THE
CITY, THIS IS A CHANGE
INITIATED BY THE CITY AS PART
OF THEIR FRANCHISE AGREEMENT
THERE IS HOW DO I EXPLAIN THIS
SIMPLY?
CITY LIGHT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO
CHARGE FRANCHISE CUSTOMERS, WE
HAVE FIVE SUBURBAN CITIES THAT
WE SERVE.
SO A SLIGHTLY HIGHER RATE AND
ALSO THERE IS A FRANCHISE
CONTRACT PAYMENT SO THIS IS A
PAYMENT FROM CITY LIGHT TO THE
CITY OF BURIEN BURIEN OR
LAKESHORE SO TO THE CITY.
SO THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS THAT
THE CITY CAN CHOOSE.
LOW OPTION WITH A RATE
DIFFERENTIAL OF 6% IN THE
CONTRACT PAYMENT 4% OF THE
REVENUES OF THE CUSTOMERS OR A
HIGHER VERSION 6%, A % RATE
DIFFERENTIAL AND 6% CONTRACT
PAYMENT.
SO ALL THE OTHER FRANCHISE
CUSTOMERS HAVE THE HIGH OPTION
AND BURIEN IS THE ONLY LEFT ON
THE LOW AND THEY ARE OPTING TO
MOVE TO HIGH.
SO WE WILL ADJUST FOR CUSTOMERS
IN THE CITY OF BURIEN JANUARY
1, 2020 TO REFLECT THIS CHANGE.
THIS WILL ONLY IMPACT CUSTOMERS
IN THE CITY OF BURIEN RELATED
TO THIS.
>> NOT THAT I NEED ALL THE
DETAILS BUT WHY WOULD THEY GO
FROM ONE TO THE OTHER?
>> IT INCREASES CITY LIGHT
PAYMENT.
>> THEY ARE OPTING TO COLLECT
ADDITIONAL MONEY FROM THE
CUSTOMERS.
SO, SOMETIMES YOU WILL HEAR
THAT.
SOMETIMES WE TALK TO COMMERCIAL
CUSTOMERS LOCATED IN FRANCHISE
CITIES AND THEY CAN BE
FRUSTRATED USUALLY BECAUSE THE
DIFFERENTIAL THE CITY HAS
ELECTED TO PASS ON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WE WERE
JUST TALKING ABOUT THE JOINT
EFFORTS BETWEEN SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES AND SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT AND THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE.
I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANYONE IN
THE CITY OF BURIEN WITH ANY
CONCERNS.
I ASSUME THIS IS TECHNICAL AND
WE APPRECIATE ONGOING WORK WITH
COUNTERPARTS OVER IN BURIEN SO
LET US KNOW IF YOU RECEIVE
FEEDBACK OR WE WILL LET YOU
KNOW.
I SEE THIS AS A TECHNICAL
ORDINANCE RELATED TO THE
FRANCHISE AGREEMENT AND AGAIN
WE ARE DEALING WITH THE RATE
FOR THE CITY OF BURIEN
CUSTOMERS AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT
RELATED TO BONNEVILLE POWER
ASSOCIATION AND CHARTING
RENTAL.>> THERE ARE TWO MORE
COMPONENTS.
SO THERE IS CLARIFYING THE
PROCESS FOR SETTING FEES FOR
USING CITY LIGHT PUBLIC
CHARGING STATIONS, WE HAVE ONE
IN OPERATION NOW IN BEACON HILL
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ROLLING
OUT MORE SOON.
AND CITY LIGHT HAS AUTHORITY TO
OPERATE THEM UNDER SOME PRE-
EXISTING ORDINANCES BUT AFTER
TALKING WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WE DECIDED
IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO CLARIFY
THE PROCESS FOR SETTING THE
RATES TO SHOW THEY ARE COST-
BASED AND THE CHARGING STATIONS
ARE SUBJECT TO THE SAME RETAIL
RATE THAT ANY OTHER USE OF
ELECTRICITY WOULD.
SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF
HOUSEKEEPING TO CLARIFY.
FINALLY THE BPA PASS-THROUGH
MECHANISM IS IN PLACE FOR SOME
TIME WHERE CITY LIGHT PASSES
THROUGH IN RATES ANY CHANGES TO
THE RATES WE RECEIVE FROM
BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION
FOR WHOLESALE POWER.
AND THE WAY THAT THE MECHANISM
IS WRITTEN NOW DOES NOT LEAVE A
LOT OF LATITUDE SO THIS WILL
EASE IT A LITTLE BIT AND ONE
WAY THAT IS GOING TO BE HELPFUL
IS COMING UP THIS FALL, WE ARE
EXPECTING A SURCHARGE TO COME ON
WHICH WOULD INCREASE CUSTOMER
RATES BY 1.5%.
HOWEVER THERE IS ALSO A BPA
PASS-THROUGH COMING TO DECREASE
RATES BY 1.9%.
SO THE INTENT WITH THIS IS TO
BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THOSE AT
THE SAME TIME.
FOR CUSTOMERS THEY WILL SEE A
TINY DECREASE AS A RESULT OF
THESE THINGS.
>> I WILL HAVE ERIC FROM
CENTRAL STAFF WALK US THROUGH
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THESE
THREE ISSUES AND AS THEY RELATE
TO YOUR CENTRAL STAFF MEMO AND
THE TECHNICAL NATURE OF ALL
THREE ITEMS GIVEN THE DIFFERENT
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS I WANT FOR
US TO UNDERSTAND THE NEXUS
BETWEEN THE THREE.>> THIS BILL
AFFECTS BPA WHICH IS A HUGE
PROVIDER, FOR THE CITY OF
BURIEN AND HERE AT HOME
SEATTLE DEALING WITH ELECTRICAL
CHARGING, THE COMMON FEATURE IS
THAT IT CHANGES RATES AND FEES
FOR CITY LIGHT.
CODIFYING THE CITY COUNCIL
AUTHORITY TO SAY YES OR NO TO
THE CHANGES.
SO THAT IS WHY THEY GATHER IN
ONE BILL.
IN TERMS OF HOW THEY IMPLEMENT
IN THE WORLD AND HOW THEY
FUNCTION THEIR FAIRLY
INDEPENDENT BUT IN THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE AND WHAT IS ASKED
IN TERMS OF AUTHORIZING, THEY
ARE THE RATES AND FEES THAT ARE
CHARGED.>> DO YOU HAVE ANY
OTHER BACKGROUND TO SHARE ON
THE ORDINANCE?
>> I THINK THAT COVERS THE ITEMS
I MADE NOTES ON TO MAKE SURE
THOSE WERE COVERED.
IT IS ON THE SLIDE.
THE CHANGE FOR THE BURIEN
CUSTOMERS WOULD BE ABOUT 2% SO
THAT MIGHT BE GOOD TO
VOCALIZE.>> QUESTIONS FROM
COLLEAGUES.
THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM
SEATTLE CITY OF LIGHT? THANK
YOU FOR WALKING US THROUGH
THAT, THIS IS ONE OF THE ITEMS
ON THE GET TO LIST FOR A WHILE
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE
AS WE LUMP ALL OF THESE ITEMS
TOGETHER FOR TODAY.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF
COUNSEL BILL 119633 WITHOUT
AMENDMENT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF
COUNSEL BILL 119633 PLEASE VOTE
AND RAISE YOUR HAND.
SO, WE HAVE NOW MOVED THAT
COUNSEL BILL 119633 WITHOUT
AMENDMENT FROM THIS COMMITTEE
WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION TO FULL
COUNCIL FOR PASSAGE AND I WILL
COME TO COMMITTEE ON SEPTEMBER
30 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 2:00
P.M.
THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR
WALKING US THROUGH THE
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU FOR HANGING WITH
US.
I KNOW THE RATES GET PRETTY
TECHNICAL.
>> WE HAVE TWO MORE ITEMS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER FOUR
AND THEN NUMBER FIVE IS IT OKAY
IF WE DO ITEM NUMBER FIVE
BEFORE FOUR? THAT IS PRETTY
TECHNICAL IN NATURE.
MOVE THE AGENDA TO INCLUDE ITEM
5 BEFORE NUMBER FOUR MIKE.
ALL IN FAVOR? COULD YOU READ
INTO THE RECORD ITEM NUMBER
FIVE.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE CITY
LIGHT DEPARTMENT AUTHORIZING
GENERAL MANAGER AND CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF CITY LIGHT
TO EXECUTE THE NORTHERN GRID
FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR BRIEFING
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.>>
WONDERFUL.
GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK UP HERE DO
YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF
FOR THE RECORD?>> THANK YOU.
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
>> SEATTLE CITY LIGHT I WAS
ASKING ON THE WAY OVER ARE YOU
HAVING DCJC VU?
I SAID THAT I WAS BECAUSE IT
WAS ONE YEAR AGO YOU GUYS WERE
GRILLING ME IN MY CONFIRMATION
PROCESS.
IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.
>> WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU
BACK.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THIS LEGISLATION WE HAVE A
SHORT POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.
WE ARE DISCUSSING LEGISLATION
TO ENABLE CITY LIGHT TO ENTER A
TWO-YEAR FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH
THE NORTHERN GRID SUPPORTING
CITY LIGHT PLANNING FOR FUTURE
TRANSMISSION AND LONG-TERM
OPERATION NEEDS, THE NORTHERN
GRID IS A NEW REGIONAL
TRANSMISSION ORGANIZTION THAT
WILL GO LIVE IN 2020.
INTENDED TO BENEFIT THE REGION
BY HAVING A SINGLE PROCESS TO
ENHANCE REGIONAL PLANNING.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS IS
FAIRLY TECHNICAL SO WE WILL DO
THIS AND THEN GET INTO THE
CONVERSATION ON ITEM NUMBER
FOUR.
>> I HAVE TO BE OUT BY 3:30.
>> OKAY LET'S SEE HERE COUNSEL
COLLEAGUES.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT LET'S GO AHEAD.
DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.
>> IT SHOULD BE QUICK.
>> LET'S GO AHEAD.
>> IF WE LET HIM GO IT MIGHT GO
FASTER.
>> GO AHEAD AND WE WILL GET
RIGHT TO IT.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU LAID OUT WHAT THE BILL IS
ALL ABOUT.
I WOULD POINT OUT I VIEW THIS
AS A TECHNICALITY.
REALLY BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, IT IS
CHANGING THE FORM OF AN
ORGANIZATION THAT WE
PARTICIPATE IN.
SO, THERE'S NO REAL COST
IMPLICATIONS FOR CITY LIGHT AND
YOU KNOW AGAIN A DIFFERENT
ORGANIZATION THAT WE ARE
PARTICIPATING IN.
SO, WE AS MEMBERS OF THE
WESTERN INTERCONNECTION THE
WHOLE WESTERN 14 STATES IN THE
WEST AS WELL AS ALBERTA,
BRITISH COLUMBIA AND NORTHERN
BAJA ARE INTERCONNECTED AND WE
ENGAGE IN TRANSMISSION PLANNING
OFTEN REGIONALLY BECAUSE WHAT
HAPPENS AT ONE REGIONAL IMPACT
WHAT HAPPENS NEARBY AND
SOMETIMES FARAWAY.
SO WE ENGAGE IN THAT SORT OF
EFFORT ON A REGIONAL BASIS.
WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS
ENTITY CALLED COLUMBIA GRID.
YOU CAN SEE ON THE MAP THERE IS
COLUMBIA GRID IN THE FAR
NORTHWEST.
THERE HAVE BEEN A SISTER AGENCY
CALLED THE NORTHERN [ CHEERS
AND APPLAUSE ] TRANSMISSION
GROUP.
THEY HAVE BEEN DOING
TRANSMISSION PLANNING FOR SOME
OF THE OTHER UTILITIES IN THE
NORTHWEST.
WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE AND WHAT
WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE
AUTHORITY TO DO IS, THOSE TWO
ORGANIZATIONS ARE COLLAPSING
INTO ONE.
A NEW ORGANIZATION CALLED
NORTHERN GRID AND WHAT WE ARE
ASKING FOR IS THE AUTHORITY FOR
DEBORAH TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT
TO ENROLL US AS A PARTICIPANT
IN THE NORTHERN GRID.
WE WILL DO TRANSMISSION PLANNING
ON A BROAD SCALE IN THE
NORTHWEST.
THE BENEFITS OF MOVING TO
NORTHERN GRID IS THAT WE WILL
REDUCE A BUNCH OF
ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD.
WE HAVE HAD DUPLICATE
ORGANIZATIONS DOING SIMILAR
THINGS FOR DIFFERENT UTILITIES
IN THE NORTHWEST SO THAT WILL
BE HELPFUL.
THERE IS LARGE DATA BENEFITS
AND MODELING BENEFITS FROM
TRANSMISSION PLANNING THAT
SHOULD ENSUE FROM THIS
COMBINATION.
BY HAVING A LARGE REGION WE
WILL HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR REGIONAL TRANSMISSION
PROJECTS WHICH ARE BY DEFINITION
WILL SPAN A LARGE GEOGRAPHIC
AREA, IT WILL CUT DOWN ON
STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION NEEDS
AND AS I SAID AT THE BEGINNING
IT WILL CUT BACK ON DUPLICATE
ADMINISTRATIVE NEEDS FOR THE
GROUP.
SO, THE TIMING FOR THIS
TRANSITION WOULD BE AS SHOWN ON
THIS SLIDE, THE NORTHERN [
CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] PLANNING
CYCLE WILL BE ENDING AT THE
BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR SO THESE
THINGS OVERLAP AS YOU CAN SEE
BUT THEY WOULD PHASE OUT BY THE
END OF 2020, THE NEW
ORGANIZATION PHASE COMES IN
úOCTOBER OF THIS YEAR AND WOULD
BE RUNNING IN THE BEGINNING OF
2020.
AND THEN WE WOULD PHASE OUT OF
COLUMBIA GRID AND BE FULLY IN
THE NEW ORGANIZATION IN JANUARY
2021.
THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL COST TO
CITY LIGHT OR ITS REPAIRS FOR
PARTICIPATING IN THIS.
WE THINK OVERTIME THIS SHOULD
HELP REDUCE COST A LITTLE BIT,
BUT THE COST OF PARTICIPATING
WILL MORE THAN COVER THE COST
OF PARTICIPATING IN NORTHERN
GRID.
I THINK WITH THAT, THAT IS ALL
THAT I HAVE.>> GREAT, SLIDE
NUMBER THREE I THINK THAT
COVERS IT NICELY.
THE ELEMENTS.
THE BENEFITS OF GOING INTO THIS
AGREEMENT AND ERIC ON YOUR
STAFF MEMO IT SAYS I'VE NOT
IDENTIFIED ISSUES FOR THIS
BILL, ANY OTHER THINGS YOU
WOULD LIKE TO FLAG?
>> THAT IS TRUE I HAVE NOT
IDENTIFIED ANY ISSUES I WOULD
BRING UP TO TALK ABOUT OR
AMEND.
I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.
IN MANY WAYS MOVING FROM ONE
KIND OF REGIONAL PLANNING
PRIORITIZATION TO ANOTHER BUT
CHARGED WITH DOING THE SAME
THINGS UNDER THE RULES OF THE
UTILITIES TO FOLLOW.>>
EXCELLENT.
ANY QUESTIONS?
YOU ARE RIGHT, THAT WAS VERY
EFFICIENT JUST LIKE THE PROGRAM
YOU ARE PROMISING.
SO, I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD
AND CONSIDER THE COMMITTEE
APPROVE AGAIN COUNCIL BILL
119659.
>> SECOND.
>> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENT?
OKAY LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING
FORWARD TO HEARING A REPORT BACK
AS YOU GUYS ARE HEADED DOWN THE
ROAD I KNOW THE COMMENT WAS
SHORT BUT THE WORK BEHIND THE
SCENES HAS BEEN LENGTHY SO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT.
ONE COMMENT?
>> I THINK YOU READ INTO THE
RECORD ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
YOU SAID 119659.
>> DID I SAY THAT?
LET'S DO THIS AGAIN.
GOOD THING WE DID NOT VOTE.
>> I SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THAT.
>> ITEM NUMBER FIVE COUNCIL
BILL 119631 WITH AUTHORIZED FOR
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT TO ENTER
PLANNING AGREEMENT WITH
ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION
PLANNING ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS
THE NORTHERN GRID TO EXTENSION
OF THE AGREEMENT WITHOUT
FURTHER COUNCIL REVIEW OR
APPROVAL.
AND SO I'M OF THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNSEL
BILL 119631.
>> I SECOND.
>> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED?
OKAY 4-0 WE HAVE NOW MOVED THE
APPROPRIATE COUNCIL BILL OUT OF
COMMITTEE AND WE WILL BRING
THAT TO FULL COUNCIL ON THE
30th.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
CATCHING THAT.>> I HAD THAT ONE
IN MY HEAD.
HONESTLY.
SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST.
>> LET'S GET ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
PLEASE READ INTO THE RECORD
ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
ANYONE ELSE WHO IS PARTICIPATED
IN IN THE AUDIENCE PLEASE JOIN
US.
>> 119569 EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
FOR LOW-INCOME CITY LIGHT
DEPARTMENT AND SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITY DEPARTMENT CUSTOMERS
FOR BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> WE HAVE ALREADY HAD YOU
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES, HAPPY TO
HAVE YOUR.
I KNOW YOUR TIME IS LIMITED,
DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING
ABOUT THIS BEFORE WE GET INTO
THE PRESENTATION?
>> JUST RESTATING THANKS AND
APPRECIATION FOR YOU CHAIR FOR
AGREEING TO REINTRODUCE A NEW
BILL.
YOU HAD A BILL THAT MADE THESE
CHANGES FOR SEATTLE CITY LIGHT,
I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A BILL
FROM THE EXECUTIVE TO DO THE
SAME FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES.
I AM ALWAYS WANT TO TAKE
úADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY
WHEN IT PROVIDES ITSELF AND YOU
HAVE GRACIOUSLY PROVIDED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW THIS
COUNCIL TO BE MORE EFFICIENT
AND EFFECTIVE IN GETTING THIS
DONE.>> THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE AS WE TALK ABOUT THE
EMERGENCY LOW INCOME ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE
EXCITED TO DO AS WE THINK ABOUT
THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITY AND
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
WE KNOW THE GENERAL PUBLIC DOES
NOT DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE
DEPARTMENTS THEY THINK OF
GOVERNMENT OR SEATTLE WHEN THEY
GET A LETTER IN THE MAIL SO
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD MAKE THE
RATE ASSISTANCE MORE ACCESSIBLE
AND ALIGNS THE CITY LIGHT AND
SEATTLE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
AGAIN THANKS TO CENTRAL STAFF
WITH QUICK WORK HELLO, IF YOU
LIKE TO JOIN US YOU ARE WELCOME.
THANK YOU TO THE TEAM AT
CENTRAL STAFF FOR WORKING ON
THIS JOINTLY.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO OFFER
OPENING COMMENTS YOU ARE
WELCOME TO.>> VERY BRIEFLY.
A LOT OF THE HEAVY LIFTING I
APPRECIATE HIM AND YOUR STAFF
AND COUNCILMEMBERS YOUR STAFF IN
COLLABORATING AND COMING TO
THIS CONCLUSION OF THIS BILL.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE I CAN WALK
THROUGH WHAT THE BILL WOULD DO.
THIS BILL WOULD INCREASE I
SHOULD SAY IN CASE PEOPLE TRACK
THIS CLOSELY THE NAME FOR
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES PROGRAM
IS THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM AND CITY LIGHTS PROGRAM
IS THE -- THOSE ARE SOME DETAILS
IN CASE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PAYING
ATTENTION THROUGH TIME, THOSE
ARE THE PROGRAMS.
THE CHANGES IN THIS BILL WOULD
CHANGE THE CODE TO INCREASE THE
INCOME ELIGIBILITY FOR BOTH
PROGRAMS TO 80% OF THE STATE
MEDIAN INCOME WHICH IS UP FROM
70%.
IT WOULD ALLOW THE APPLICATION
OF EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR
BOTH PROGRAMS TOWARD 100% OF
CUSTOMER DELINQUENT BILLS AND
IT WOULD ADD TWICE PER YEAR
PROVISION TO CITY LIGHTS
PROGRAM THAT IS FOUND CURRENTLY.
THIS IS PROVISION TO APPLY FOR
THE ASSISTANCE TWICE PER YEAR
FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH MINOR
CHILDREN.
IT WOULD ADJUST THE MAXIMUM
CREDIT AND CITY LIGHT PROGRAM
ANNUALLY TO REFLECT THE AVERAGE
GROWTH OF ELECTRIC BILL, THE
IDEA IS A MAXIMAL AMOUNT BUT
THE CODE WOULD SAY THAT AMOUNT
WILL FLEX WITH GROWTH IN THE
BILLS AND IT WOULD ADJUST THE
RULES FOR THE CITY LIGHT
PROGRAM TO ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO
BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CREDIT ON
NOTIFICATION OF ATTENDING A 10
DAY NOTICE INSTEAD OF 24 HOURS.
I UNDERSTAND THE BILL WE HAD
BEFORE HAD BEEN PRESENTED I
WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK HE HAD
BEEN DOING.>> ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS?
YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME.
>> I DON'T WANT TO MUDDY THE
WATERS BUT I WANT TO CROSSWALK
SOMETHING IN THE INTEREST OF
BEING SUPER TRANSPARENT GIVING
THE NEXT CONVERSATION WE MAY
HAVE.
AS I AM LOOKING AT THE
POWERPOINT WE DID NOT USE THIS
SO IF I'M WALKING OFF THE
SIDEWALK PULL ME OUT BUT WE
NOTED INITIALLY THAT OUR
FORMALLY THIS FORM OF
ASSISTANCE WAS AVAILABLE TO
CUSTOMERS WHO HAD RECEIVED 24
HOUR NOTICE OF PENDING SHUT OFF.
AND SO ONE OF THE CHANGES I
THINK WE WERE PROPOSING WAS
THAT CUSTOMERS WOULD BE
ELIGIBLE UPON RECEIVING A 10
DAY SHUT OFF NOTICE, GIVEN
WHERE WE ARE AT WAS SHUT OFFS I
HAVE GONE BACK.
THIS IS WHAT WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT, WE HAVE A PROTOCOL FOR
SHUT OFFS AND PROCESS AND
DATES.
I THINK THE WAY THE CROSSWALK
COMES AND I DON'T THINK IT IS A
PROBLEM SO I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
WE ARE CHANGING THE TITLES OF
THE NOTICES THAT CUSTOMERS
RECEIVE INSTEAD OF THEM BEING
REFERRED TO AS URGENT OR
PENDING SHUT OFF THEIR BOTH
CALLED IMPORTANT NOTICES.
ONE GOES OUT 31 DAYS AFTER THE
BILL AND THE OTHER 41 DAYS SO
IT IS THE DIFFERENCE, THE 10
DAY DIFFERENCE.
THIS WOULD MEAN THE CUSTOMER
WOULD NEED TO BE AT 31 DAYS AND
WITH A BALANCE OF $300 OR MORE
IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO
RECEIVE THE PAYMENT.
SO THAT IS NOT AN ISSUE BECAUSE
THOSE ARE THE 10 DAYS THAT YOU
ARE FOCUSING ON BUT AGAIN SINCE
WE ARE TECHNICALLY CHANGING
WHAT THE NOTICES ARE CALLED I
WANTED TO CALL THAT OUT.
THERE IS NO ISSUE AND THAT
WORKS VERY WELL.
>> DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING ON
THAT?
>> IS SOMETHING WE COULD TALK
ABOUT BETWEEN NOW AND FULL
COUNCIL.
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITY FLAGGED
A SIMILAR ISSUE AS FAR AS WHAT
IS REQUIRED FROM THE CUSTOMER
TO DEMONSTRATE ELIGIBILITY.
SO, I THINK GIVEN THE FACT THAT
YOU ARE CHANGING THE NAMES OF
THE NOTICES, THEIR PRACTICES,
THEY ARE OPEN TO CHANGING THE
PRACTICE A LITTLE BIT SO THAT
THEY DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE
NECESSARILY RECEIVED NOTICE
FROM SPU THAT THEY SHUT OFF
NOTICE OF SWORDS. IT COULD BE
AN OPPORTUNTY FOR ADDITIONAL
ALIGNMENT BETWEEN COMMITTEE AND
FOUR FULL COUNCIL.
>> I KNOW THEY ARE LOOKING AT
CERTAIN INSTANCES NO SHUTOFFS
SO IF WE COULD MAKE IT BE
AROUND THE THRESHOLD FOR YOU
ARE NOW IN A PLACE WHERE YOU
REALLY NEED HELP BOTH IN TERMS
OF THE AGE OF THE BILL AND THE
AMOUNT, THAT WOULD WORK.
>> THAT IS GREAT, REALLY
POSITIVE.
SO WE ARE GOING TO DO A BRIEF
UPDATE ON THE ITEM THAT WAS JUST
TEED UP WHICH IS SOME GOOD WORK
THEY WILL DO WITH COMMUNITY
PARTNERS TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE
LANGUAGE COULD CHANGE IN THOSE
NOTICES PEOPLE RECEIVE SO IF
YOU'RE BEHIND ON THE BILL FOR
EXAMPLE, THE LANGUAGE DOES NOT
APPEAR TO BE SO CONCERNING THAT
YOU JUST DECIDE I'M NOT EVEN
GOING TO OPEN THAT.
I CAN'T OPEN IT I WILL JUST PUT
IT TO THE SIDE.
THAT FEAR SOMEBODY HAS WHEN
THEY SHUT DOWN WE HAVE ALL
EXPERIENCED AT SOME POINT SO WE
ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING
MORE FEED BACK FROM SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT AS THEY TALK ABOUT
CHANGING THE SHUT OFF POLICY
WHICH IS SOMETHING I AM
OPTIMISTIC ABOUT AND I
APPRECIATE THEIR WORK ON AND WE
WILL GET THAT UPDATE IN JUST A
MINUTE.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD BETWEEN THIS
COMMITTEE AND MONDAY IT SOUNDS
LIKE THE CEO IS INTERESTED IN
HARMONIZING SOME OF THE
LANGUAGE SO WE DO NOT
ACCIDENTALLY CREATE CONFUSION
OR GIVE FOLKS THE MISINFORMATION
THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE SO IT
IS GREAT AND WE APPRECIATE I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FLAGGING
THAT BECAUSE I DO NOT THINK
ABOUT THAT TECHNICAL ASPECT.
THAT IS GREAT.
THANK YOU.
YOU DO NOT MUDDY THE WATERS,
YOU CLEARED THAT UP AND IN THE
LEGISLATION SOME HIGHLIGHTS
EXTENDING ELIGIBILITY TO MORE
PEOPLE BY RAISING THE
QUALIFYING INCOME LEVEL FROM 70%
TO 80%.
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF TIMES
PER YEAR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
IS AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES WITH
CHILDREN TO TWICE A YEAR,
INCREASING THE MAXIMUM CREDIT
FROM 50% OF THE BILL TO 100% OF
THE BILL OF THE $200 AND WE
KNOW PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING WITH
AFFORDABILITY IN THE CITY.
IT IS NOT JUST THE LOWEST
INCOME AND MIDDLE INCOME FOLKS.
SO AS WE THINK ABOUT EVERY TOOL
IN THE TOOLKIT AND THE RISING
COST IN THE CITY THESE ARE
HELPFUL ADDITIONS TO MAKE SURE
CUSTOMERS HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY
AND THE ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO
THEM TO HELP PAY THEIR UTILITY
BILLS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER REACHING OUT,
PEOPLE ARE NOT DISTINGUISHING
WHAT IS IN HER COMMITTEE OR
MIND AND THEY SEE US ALL AS
RESPONSIBLE AND WE WANT TO BE
RESPONSIVE TO THAT SO THIS IS
ABOUT SUPPORTING LOW-INCOME
CUSTOMERS ESPECIALLY IN
EMERGENCIES AND PROVIDING THEM
WITH OPPORTUNITIES AND ACTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
LEGISLATION OR CLARIFICATION?
>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TALKED
ABOUT UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM,
HOW ALL OF THAT WILL BE
INTEGRATED.>> THEY INTEGRATE
TODAY SO THEY ARE NOT MUTUALLY
EXCLUSIVE.
SO I THINK IT IS A SUITE OF
SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
IT WAS THE SLIDE THAT I THINK
YOU DESIGNED AND THEN WE
PARTICIPATED IN IT, WE WERE
TRYING, SO WE USED THIS
ALIGNMENT OPPORTUNITY AS A WAY
OF PROVIDING ADDITIONAL
ASSISTANCE FOR THE FOLKS WHO
WERE POTENTIALLY HIGHER INCOME
BUT IT IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE
WHO WILL MEET QUALIFICATIONS
WITHIN THE CRITERIA.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I
APPRECIATED FROM BOTH
DEPARTMENTS AND ALSO FROM METRO
WAS INVOLVED, THE CROSS AGENCY
IDENTIFICATION OF WHO MIGHT
PARTICIPATE OR QUALIFY SO WE
DON'T HAVE PEOPLE SCRAMBLING
TRYING TO FIND BOB'S OFFICE IN
14 AND YOUR OFFICE IN ANOTHER
AND THEN GET OVER TO METRO THAT
IF PEOPLE CAN GET THE
ASSISTANCE THEY NEED FROM A ONE-
STOP SHOP IT IS HELPFUL.
>> I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT
AND MOST OF YOU KNOW THE
FEDERAL PROGRAM FOR ELECTRIC
CUSTOMERS RESETS OCTOBER 1 SO A
LOT OF CUSTOMERS KNOW THAT.
THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN
THE GOVERNMENT RELEASES MONEY
HAVING THESE CHANGES IN PLACE
AS THAT RESET OCCURS GIVES
CUSTOMERS THE GREATEST
OPPORTUNITY ONCE PER YEAR TO
COME FORWARD AND GET STARTED IN
THE NEW YEAR FRESH.
SO THE TIMING HERE IS REALLY
IMPORTANT.>> AS WAS MENTIONED
THIS WAS INTERDEPARTMENTAL SO
WE DO APPRECIATE THE CROSS
COLLABORATION ON THIS TO EXPAND
AND STREAMLINE ACCESS TO
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.
MORE TO COME IN THE FUTURE ON
ACCESS TO THE UTILITY DISCOUNT
PROGRAM AND HOW TO STREAMLINE.
ONE THING I AM INTERESTED IN
WORKING ON IS HOW DO WE HAVE A
WARM HAND OFF IF SOMEBODY CALLS
INTO STATEWIDE POVERTY ACTION
FOR EXAMPLE.
BEFORE WE GO DO YOU WANT TO VOTE
? OKAY LET'S DO IT.
ALL RIGHT.
WITH NO OTHER COMMENTS I WOULD
LIKE TO MOVE THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 119659.
MOVED AND SECONDED ANY
COMMENTS?
ONE COMMENT WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING ON YOU TO HARMONIZE
THIS LANGUAGE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
DONNA POST, THANK YOU FOR
STAYING COUNCILMEMBER, THE BILL
HAS PASSED OUT OF OUR COMMITTEE
WITH A VOTE 4-0 PENDING
CONVERSATION AND POTENTIAL
AMENDMENTS TO CLARIFY LANGUAGE
SO WE ARE MAYBE TALKING ABOUT
THRESHOLDS AND THE NEW NAMES
FOR THE NOTICES AND THINGS LIKE
THAT.
YOU GUYS WE ARE SO EFFICIENT
TODAY.
BEFORE WE GO WOULD YOU LIKE TO
COMMENT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
CONVERSATION THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
HAVING WITH YOUR TEAM INTERNAL
TO SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, SOME OF
THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE HAD
SINCE YOUR ARRIVAL AS CEO IS
HOW DO WE BETTER COMMUNICATE
WITH CUSTOMERS RECOGNIZING WE
ARE PUBLIC UTILITIES SERVING
THE PUBLIC, WE ARE HERE TO TRY
TO MAKE OURSELVES MORE
ACCESSIBLE AND WE HAVE DONE A
LOT TODAY TO CREATE AFFORDABLE
OPTIONS SO HOW DO WE BREAK DOWN
ANY OF THOSE BARRIERS THAT
MIGHT BE CREATED BY INDIVIDUALS
NOT PAYING THEIR BILLS AND
TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO SEE
OPPORTUNITY VERSUS A
THREATENING NOTE AND WE HAVE
RECEIVED A FEW EMAILS SAYING MY
ELECTRICITY IS BEING SHUT OFF
AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT POLICY
IN PLACE RIGHT NOW SO INSTEAD
OF GOING DOWN THE SHUT OFF
ROUTE IS WITH ENTHUSIASM I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOUR
OFFICE AS WE CHANGE THE POLICY
RELATED TO SHUT OFF NOTICES.
AND NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH
SHUTTING OFF AT THIS POINT.
THAT IS ONE IMPORTANT ELEMENT
WE CAN OFFER AS WE REGROUP AND
THINK ABOUT HOW TO COMMUNICATE
WITH CUSTOMERS.
I WILL LEAVE IT TO YOU TO SHARE
SOME OF THE INNOVATIVE THINKING
YOUR TEAM HAS COME UP WITH THAT
WAS ALREADY IN THE WORKS BUT I
THINK YOU HAVE UNDERSCORED A
COMMITMENT TO CLARIFYING WITH
CUSTOMERS WHAT THEIR OPTIONS
ARE.
>> THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE
THE OPPORTUNITY.
YOU MIGHT RECALL, I RECALL THIS
BECAUSE I SAY IT ALL THE TIME
BUT BACK WHEN I WAS GOING TO
THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS ONE OF
THE THINGS I BELIEVED FOR MY
CAREER IS THAT CUSTOMERS OR
CONSTITUENTS THAT WORK WITH
PUBLIC UTILITY WE ALL WANT THE
SAME THINGS.
WHETHER IT IS A CUSTOMER,
EMPLOYEE OR COMMUNITY MEMBER WE
WANT TO BE TREATED WITH
KINDNESS AND RESPECT AND WE
WANT TO BE HEARD SO A LOT OF
THIS IS ABOUT THAT.
I KNOW WE HAVE TALKED A LOT AND
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO
COLLECT FOR SERVICES WE PROVIDE
AND THAT IS PART OF HOW WE
MAINTAIN LONG-TERM
AFFORDABILITY BUT WE ALSO NEED
TO DO THAT IN A WAY THAT HONORS
THOSE FIRST THREE REALLY
IMPORTANT VALUES THAT I KNOW
YOU AND I SHARE AND WE HAVE
TALKED ABOUT THAT.
SO I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK
TOGETHER ON MOVING FORWARD IN A
COLLABORATIVE WAY, WITH THE
CITY, WITH MY OTHER DEPARTMENTS
AND ETC.
SO WE CAN PROVIDE SERVICES THAT
CUSTOMERS DEPEND ON.
SO THE GOAL IS AND ALWAYS HAS
BEEN TO WORK WITH CUSTOMERS TO
ENSURE UNINTERRUPTED SERVICE.
THAT IS NOT ONLY A GOAL OF
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT I WOULD SAY
THAT IS A HALLMARK OF PUBLIC
POWER, AND I WOULD SAY
CUSTOMERS THAT RECEIVE SERVICE
FROM PSC CUSTOMER
REPRESENTATIVES FEEL THE SAME
WAY BECAUSE YOU ARE DELIVERING
CRITICAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
TO PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON YOU.
I THINK IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE DO WELL TOGETHER.
HAVING SAID THAT WE HAVE KIND
OF A THREE STEP PLAN THAT I
WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU.
ONE IS WE WANT TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE CUSTOMER.
IN ORDER TO CREATE THOSE
CUSTOMER CENTRIC APPROACHES TO
DELIVERING AND ULTIMATELY
COLLECTING FOR THE SERVICES WE
PROVIDE.
I GUESS I WOULD SUMMON UP TO
SAY ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL SOLUTIONS
DO NOT FIT.
SO WE ARE DIGGING INTO THE DATA
. WHERE UNDERSTANDING BETTER
HOW MANY CUSTOMERS WE HAVE THE
FOLLOWING TO THIS, WE ARE
DEFINING PAST DUE AS BALANCE
OVER $300 OVER 30 DAYS PAST DUE
SO THAT IS HOW WE DEFINED IT.
WE ARE LOOKING INTO THAT BOTH
IN TERMS OF THE TYPE OF
CUSTOMER, COMMERCIAL,
RESIDENTIAL, HOW LATE IS THE
CUSTOMER?
HOW PAST DUE IS THE BILL HOW
LARGE IS THE BILL?
WE HAVE PULLED SPECIFICALLY ALL
UDP CUSTOMERS OUT ALTHOUGH WE
RECOGNIZE WE HAVE MANY UDP
CUSTOMERS WHO QUALIFY WHO ARE
CURRENTLY NOT UDP SO WE ARE
SENSITIVE TO THAT.
SO AGAIN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
THE DATA AND AT THE SAME TIME
WE ARE BEING CLEAR
UNDERSTANDING THE DATA IS NOT
THE SAME AS UNDERSTANDING THE
CUSTOMER.
SO PART OF THE APPROACH IS TO
LOOK AT THE FOREST BUT ALSO
REALLY FOCUS ON THE TREES AND
TALK WITH PEOPLE AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT THE SPECIFIC NEEDS ARE AND
HOW WE CAN HELP.
SO THE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES
AND THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS FOR
PAYMENT PLANS.
WE WANT TO DO RIGHT BY ALL
CUSTOMERS PROVIDING RESOURCES
AND TOOLS THAT THEY NEED, SO
TODAY YOU SAW IN THE PILOT
PROGRAM THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
WOULD BE A TOOL DOWN THE ROAD
SO WE WANT TO EXPERIMENT AND
UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN MEET
CUSTOMERS AT THE POINT OF NEED.
WE WANT TO, SO THAT IS NUMBER
ONE.
NUMBER TWO, WE WANT TO
INVESTIGATE OPTIONS AROUND
FLEXIBILITY.
TO COLLECT FOR SERVICES WE
PROVIDE.
AGAIN LEGAL OBLIGATION BUT WHAT
DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AND WHAT
FLEXIBILITY DO WE HAVE AND HOW
DO WE HONOR ALL CUSTOMERS AS WE
HONOR INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMERS WITH
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE REALLY
HARD TO DEAL WITH IN THE MOMENT.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT LATE FEES
AND I WILL TALK ABOUT THIS IN A
SECOND BUT WE ARE REVAMPING
COLLECTION NOTICES.
SO I WANT TO DIFFERENTIATE THE
COLLECTION PROCESS FROM THE
DISCONNECT PROCESS SO WE HAVE
AN OBLIGATION TO ATTEND TO
COLLECT FOR MONEY THAT IS OWED.
WHAT YOU HAVE ASKED US TO DO
AND WHAT WE HAVE AGREED TO DO
AND WE HAVE NOT DISCONNECTED
CUSTOMERS FOR A VERY LONG TIME
AND WE AGREED TO CONTINUE WITH
THAT PRACTICE NOW.
AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE LOOKING
ACTIVELY AND THIS IS WHERE WE
AGREE, HOW CAN WE BETTER
IMPROVE COLLECTION PROCESSES
WITHOUT MOVING TO DISCONNECT,
SO THAT IS THE FOCUS.
>> I THINK FOR FOLKS TO
UNDERSTAND WHO MAY BE WATCHING,
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A
COLLECTION PROCESS VERSUS
SENDING SOMEONE TO COLLECTIONS
AND FOR ME WHEN I HEAR
COLLECTION PROCESS I THINK ARE
WE SENDING PEOPLE TO
COLLECTIONS AND THAT IS NOT THE
CASE.
DO WANT TO CLARIFY THAT?
>> THERE ARE TWO SITUATIONS
GENERALLY WHERE CUSTOMER COULD
BE SENT TO COLLECTION AGENCY
AND THAT IS IF A CUSTOMER
LEAVES SERVICE TERRITORY WITH
AN UNPAID BILL AND WE MAKE AN
ATTEMPT TO REACH OUT TO ASK
THOSE CUSTOMERS TO PARTICIPATE
IN A PAYMENT PLAN TO MAKE SOME
KIND OF ARRANGEMENT BUT IF THEY
LEAVE A BILL OWING WITHOUT
MAKING ANY ARRANGEMENT THAT
ACCOUNT WILL GO TO COLLECTIONS.
SECOND WE HAVE NEW CUSTOMER
HOOKUPS.
THOSE ARE MORE OFTEN COMMERCIAL
AND AGAIN WHERE THE CUSTOMER
HAS ENTERED INTO AGREEMENT FOR
A NEW SERVICE CONNECTION AND
THEN THE BILL IS NOT PAID,
THOSE ARE THE ONLY INSTANCES
WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY SENDING
A CUSTOMER TO A COLLECTION
AGENCY.
WHEN I TALK ABOUT COLLECTION I
AM TALKING ABOUT HOW DO WE WORK
WITH CUSTOMERS TO ENCOURAGE
THEM TO ENTER INTO A PAYMENT
ARRANGEMENT TO MAKE A PAYMENT
AGREEMENT AND THOSE ARE
DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
MOST CUSTOMERS, THE MAJORITY OF
ALL CUSTOMERS THAT IS WHAT THEY
WANT.
THEY WANT TO PAY THEIR BILLS
AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT DOING THAT.
SO AGAIN WE ARE PRETTY COMMITTED
AND GENEROUS TO WORKING WITH
THEM TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
BACK TO LATE FEES.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS
CUSTOMERS WHO ENTER INTO
PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS IN EVEN
LONGER-TERM UP TO THREE YEARS
FOR PAST DUE AMOUNTS THAT ARE
THE CUSTOMER AGREES TO THE
PAYMENT PLAN AND THEY ARE ABLE
TO MAKE THE CURRENT PAYMENT,
THEY CAN PAY FOR THE CURRENT
SERVICE AND MAKE THE AGREED-
UPON PAYMENT WE WILL WAIVE ALL
FUTURE LATE FEES.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE
SECOND PIECE IS IF THE CUSTOMER
IS SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING THE
PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT AND WORKING
WITH US ON THAT FOR A PERIOD OF
TIME THAN GOING OFF AND WRITING
OFF THE LATE FEES THAT WERE
ACCRUED.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE CUSTOMERS
WITH LARGE PAST DUE BALANCES
THAT CAN BE SIGNIFICANT RELIEF
IN TERMS OF THE BALANCE OWED
AND GOING FORWARD.
I WOULD NOTE WE PUBLISHED A
DEVELOPMENTAL POLICY AND
PROCEDURE TO SOLICIT PUBLIC
COMMENT ON CREDIT AND
COLLECTION POLICIES.
SPU IS GOING TO THE SAME
PROCESS.
WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY PUBLIC
COMMENT, GIVEN WHERE WE ARE AT
IN THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU
COUNCILMEMBER WE HAVE DECIDED
NOT TO FINALIZE THE RULES AS WE
WORK THROUGH THIS SO THAT WAY
IF WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WE
CAN MAKE ADDITIONAL CHANGES.
>> WE APPRECIATE THAT.
WE UNDERSTAND THE CITY LIGHT
LEVEL, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO
ATTEMPT TO COLLECT AND WE KNOW
SOMETIMES GETTING A NOTICE OF
SHUT OFF IS THE IMPETUS THAT
PEOPLE MAY USE TO PAY THEIR
BILL AND AS YOU SAID EARLIER
THIS ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL POLICY
DOES NOT WORK FOR EVERYONE SO
THE MULTI PRONG STRATEGY
OUTLINED WHICH MOVES AWAY FROM
THREATENING SHUTOFFS AND
INITIATING SHUTOFFS I KNOW WE
HAVE NOT BEEN DOING IT BUT TO
STAY WHERE WE ARE AND THINK
ABOUT HOW WE BETTER COMMUNICATE
WITH FOLKS WILL REFLECT THE
VALUE OF THE CITY SO THANK YOU
FOR DOING THAT.
>> IRONICALLY WHERE WE STARTED
WITH THIS WAS THAT WE HAD NOT
SHUT OFF CUSTOMERS AND WE
RECOGNIZED THAT BY SENDING
NOTICES THAT SAID THEY WERE AT
RISK OF SHUT OFF AND THEN NOT
SHUTTING THEM OFF WE WERE IN
FACT SENDING A MIXED MESSAGE SO
THAT IS THE POINT AT WHICH WE
STARTED ENGAGING WITH YOU AND
OTHERS TO SAY IF WE ARE MOVING
BACK TO THIS PRACTICE WE NEED
TO DO A RESET AND THAT IS WAS
STARTED THE MORE DETAILED
CONVERSATION BETWEEN ALL OF US
THAT I THINK HAS US IN A GOOD
PLACE.
THE THIRD POINT IS AROUND
OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION.
THE CURRENT NOTICE THEY ARE
COMPUTER-GENERATED WHICH IS
RELEVANT BECAUSE WE ARE
WORKING.
I JUST HAD A CONVERSATION TODAY
WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT WORKING
TO GET THESE CHANGED ON THE
BILLS BUT I WANT TO BE
TRANSPARENT AND SAY THAT HAS
NOT HAPPENED YET.
THEY SAY I COULD COMMIT, HE AND
I ARE WORKING AS CLOSELY AS WE
CAN TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AS
QUICKLY AS WE CAN SO THAT'S
WHERE IT'S AT.
CURRENTLY THERE IS A NOTICE OF
IMPENDING SHUT OFF WHICH IS THE
FIRST NOTICE THEY GET AT 31
DAYS PAST DUE AND THEN THEY
HAVE A FINAL NOTICE OF HIM
PENDING SHUT OFF.
BOTH OF THEM DO REFER TO
FURTHER CUT ACTION UP TO AND
INCLUDING INTERRUPTION OF
SERVICE.
YOU KNOW THEY HAVE ALL CAPS IN
SOME CASES AND THINGS THAT ARE
SCARY.
THANK YOU FOR SAYING IT.
IT IS A BIT OF, A BALANCING ACT
BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND YES FOR
CUSTOMERS, THERE ARE CUSTOMERS
WHO DO NOT PAY THEIR BILL UNTIL
THEY GET THE FINAL NOTICE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT FEELS
LIKE IT IS DISINGENUOUS TO SAY
THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE AT IN THE
PROCESS IF YOU ARE NOT THOUGH
AND IF YOU'RE NOT THE CUSTOMER,
YOU ARE THE CUSTOMER WHO DOES
NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW YOU'RE
SCARED AND FEELING AT RISK.
SO THE LANGUAGE IS CHANGING, WE
HAVE SENT THEM OUT FOR REVIEW.
WE WORKED ON SOME LETTERS AND
COMMUNICATION WITH SOME LIMITED
INCOME PARTNERS HERE IN THE
COMMUNITY AND YOU HAVE PROVIDED
SOME ADDITIONAL NAMES AND WE
WILL SEND THESE NOTICES OUT TO
THE SAME GROUP AS WELL AS THE
PEOPLE THAT YOU ASKED BY NOW WE
ARE REBRANDING SO WE HAVE
PLEASE CALL US IMMEDIATELY AND
THE LANGUAGE IS ABOUT THE GOAL
TO PROVIDE YOU WITH RELIABLE
AFFORDABLE UNINTERRUPTED
ELECTRIC SERVICE AND WE NEED
YOUR HELP TO DO SO.
WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO CALL US
ENTER INTO A PAYMENT PLAN AND
GET INFORMATION ON HOW TO DO
SO.
AND SO WE ARE TRYING TO CHANGE
THE TONE AND I THINK THAT IT
WILL, I THINK YOU WILL FEEL
VERY DIFFERENT TO THE CUSTOMER.
THE GOOD NEWS IF THERE IS ANY
IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN SENDING
THIS OUT FOR THE LAST YEAR.
SO WE HAVE RESTARTED THE
COLLECTION PROCESS NOT THE
DISCONNECTION PROCESS ABOUT THE
TIME I STARTED SO WE HAVE SOME
HISTORY THAT WILL ALLOW US TO
SEE WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE
CHANGE IN LANGUAGE IF ANY SO
THAT IS MORE WORK.
AND THE LAST THING IS WE ARE
FORMING AND THIS IS THE MOST
EXCITING PART WE ARE FORMING AN
ESCALATION TEAM.
I TALKED ABOUT DATA AND
ANALYTICS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY
UNDERSTANDING CIRCUMSTANCES
CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR CUSTOMERS
SO THE ESCALATION TEAM IS A
PLACE WHERE CUSTOMERS WHO
RECEIVED THE NOTICES CAN GO AND
WE WILL BE REACHING OUT SO WE
WILL START WITH CUSTOMERS WITH
THE OLDEST LARGEST BALANCES AND
WE WILL REACH OUT AND SAY HOW
CAN WE HELP?
HERE ARE THE SERVICES AND THE
WAYS WE CAN HELP YOU MOVE
FORWARD AND WHAT ARE YOUR
SPECIFIC SITUATIONS?
OVER TIME THE ACTIVITY OF THE
ESCALATION GROUP WILL ALLOW US
TO DEVELOP THE DATA TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND IF THERE ARE THINGS
WE CAN OR SHOULD DO ON A
HOLISTIC BASIS TO IMPACT LARGER
NUMBERS OF CUSTOMERS SO WE ARE
WORKING ON PUTTING THAT
TOGETHER RIGHT AWAY.>> THANK
YOU FOR THE OVERVIEW AND FOR
ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE PUT INTO
THIS APPROACH.
A COMMENT OR QUESTION?
>> WITHOUT GOING INTO THE
INDIVIDUALS MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT
WITH SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND SPU
IS WHEN YOU HAVE MOTEL OWNERS
THAT ARE $17-$20,000 AND NO ONE
SHUTS THE WATER OFF THAT IS
JUST UNCONSCIONABLE WHERE WE
HAVE MOTEL OWNERS ARE BASICALLY
SLUMLORDS WHO DON'T PAY THE
BILLS AND THERE ARE PEOPLE
GETTING VOUCHERS TO LIVE THERE
AND THEY DON'T PAY THE BILLS.
WE HAD TWO INCIDENTS AND I
CANNOT GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER
BUT HOW DOES SOMEONE GET A
$22,000 BILL AND YOU DO NOT
SHUT OFF? WE HAVE HAD TWO
INCIDENTS OF THAT WITH MOTELS
SO I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT
THE COMMERCIAL SIDE.
>> THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL
LEARN FROM THIS.
WHEN WE ALL GOT TOGETHER WE
TALKED ABOUT TO SAY NOW WE ARE
STAYING SO WE ARE STAING THE
CREDIT SHUTOFFS BUT AS WE
GATHER DATA AND LOOK INTO IT WE
WILL COME BACK AND SAY THERE
ARE GROUPS OF CUSTOMERS WHERE
WE SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD ON
BEHALF OF ALL CUSTOMERS TO THAT
EXAMPLE AND THEN WE WILL COME
BACK AND TALK ABOUT THOSE AND
YOU WERE OPEN TO THAT BECAUSE
THE GOAL IS UNINTERRUPTED
SERVICE BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN
OBLIGATION TO HAVE PEOPLE PAY
FOR SERVICES.
SO I THINK IT IS BOTH QUITE
HONESTLY.
>> THIS IS THE INDIVIDUAL HOTEL
OWNER NOT THE TENANTS.
THAT WAS MY BIGGEST CONCERN.
>> AS WE GATHER DATA WE COULD
CHOOSE TO REINSTITUTE
COLLECTIONS FOR COMMERCIAL
CUSTOMERS FOR INSTANCE.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE
COULD CHOOSE TO DO, RIGHT NOW
WE AGREED TO GATHER DATA AND
BETTER UNDERSTAND THE PEOPLE
WHO CURRENTLY MAKE UP THAT GROUP
AND WE HAVE BEEN MOST FOCUSED
ON RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.
>> I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE A FULL
PLATE AS WELL WITH ALL THE
THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY
PLUS THE DAILY OPERATIONS, I
THINK IT IS SMART TO LOOK AT
THOSE.
THE PAST DUE HOW FAR BACK AND
HOW LARGE THEY ARE TO GET A
BETTER SENSE OF WHAT IS THE
BIGGEST BARRIER WITH SOME OF
THOSE BECAUSE AS WE TRY TO
PRIORITIZE WHAT HAS LED PEOPLE
INTO THIS WE IDENTIFY POLICY
CHANGES THAT CAN HELP A NUMBER
OF FOLKS.
I KNOW THAT IS MORE RESIDENTIAL
THAN IT IS COMMERCIAL BUT THAT
COULD POTENTIALLY HELP US AS
WELL.
>> THE INTERESTING NOTE IS WHEN
WE FINALLY PHYSICALLY WENT OUT
AND I CALLED THE STATE AND WE
HELD BACK THE LODGING LICENSE
IT WAS PAID THAT DAY.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE OUT
DOING THAT WAS MY POINT.
HOW DOES HE GET TO THAT?
OBVIOUSLY YOU COULD PAY.
>> WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT
THE FOLKS LIVING IN THOSE AREAS.
SO, I APPRECIATE THE NEXUS THERE
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
THANK YOU.
WE WANT TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION
FOR YOUR QUICK WORK ON THIS.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR THE
LAST FEW WEEKS TO TRY TO GO
THROUGH POLICY OPTIONS AND YOUR
TEAM CAME UP WITH THESE OPTIONS
AND A MENU OF WAYS IN WHICH
CUSTOMERS ESPECIALLY
RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE
ACCESS TO MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THEIR OPTIONS, WE
APPRECIATE YOU CONSIDERING THE
WAIVER OF LATE FEES WHEN PEOPLE
START PAYING THEIR BILLS, THAT
IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE
LOOKING AT WITH OTHER PUBLIC
UTILITIES WHAT DO THEY DO WITH
LONG OVERDUE BILLS? DO THEY
HAVE A PROCESS WHERE THERE IS
FORGIVENESS OR DO WE HAVE THE
LEGAL ABILITY TO DO THAT?
MORE TO COME IN THE FUTURE ON
THIS AND I WANT TO UNDERSCORE
APPRECIATION FOR THE INNOVATIVE
POLICY PIVOTING ON THIS AS WE
THOUGHT ABOUT THE CHANGES ON
THE HORIZON.>> THANK YOU AND A
QUICK CALLOUT TO CHRIS AND
KELLY AND SANDRA AND ROBERT WHO
IS BEHIND ME AND MY CHIEF OF
STAFF THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING
REALLY HARD ON THIS.
>> AS WE THINK ABOUT SHOUT OUTS,
THANK YOU, YOU ARE WELCOME TO
STAY OR LEAVE BUT WE JUST WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU.
AS WE THINK ABOUT SHOUT OUTS,
THANK YOU FIRST THE CLERK ALL
YEAR IN THE HOUSING HEALTH
ENERGY AND WORKERS RIGHTS
COMMITTEE THANK YOU FOR YOUR
FLEXIBILITY AS WE HAVE ADDED SO
MUCH TO THE AGENDA OVER THE
LAST TWO YEARS.
I SAY TWO YEARS BECAUSE I HAVE
HAD THE CHANCE TO WORK WITH YOU
BOTH.
TWO YEARS IN NOVEMBER.
THANK YOU TO THE TEAM AS
CENTRAL STAFF AS WELL.
ERIC FOR YOUR WORK ON SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT, DAN AND KARINA WHO
WORKED WITH US ON ISSUES OF
LABOR STANDARDS.
TRACY RADCLIFFE WHO WORKED WITH
EVERYTHING RELATED TO HOUSING
THOSE ARE REALLY THE THREE WE
HAVE THE CHANCE TO SEE THE MOST
AT THE TABLE AND HONESTLY THANK
YOU TO EVERYBODY ON CENTRAL
STAFF FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK
AS WE TACKLE ALL ISSUES RELATED
TO THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF
HEALTH.
THANK YOU.
DEPARTMENT HEADS, DEPARTMENT
TEAMS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO COME AND
SPEAK WITH US.
AND TO THE INCREDIBLE STAFF IN
MY OFFICE.
WHO HAVE ALL HELPED GET US
READY FOR ALL THESE COMMITTEE
MEETINGS.
THIS WILL BE THE LAST COMMITTEE
AND I KNOW I WILL SEE
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ BACK FOR
THE NEXT MEETINGS IN THE FUTURE
BUT BEFORE WE GO THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW FOR ALL
THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE IN THIS
COMMITTEE.
IF WE DON'T GET A CHANCE TO SAY
IT AGAIN BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE
A DECEMBER MEETING IT HAS BEEN
AN HONOR TO WORK AND SERVE WITH
YOU SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU
BRING TO THESE MEETINGS
ESPECIALLY YOUR COMMITMENT TO
HEALTH AND REALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU
OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS BUT
ALSO GOING TO MISS YOU ON THIS
COMMITTEE.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE
DONE AND COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
GIVING ME ON TIME AND ON TASK.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GREAT IN
WELCOMING ME.
I AM NO LONGER THE NEWEST ONE
HERE SO I HAVE TO STEP UP NEXT
YEAR AND WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP
AND MENTORING I FEEL LIKE IT
HAS BEEN A REALLY PRODUCTIVE
TWO YEARS.
SO WITH THAT I THINK WE ARE
ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.