>> GOOD MORNING IN THE MARCH 20
CANCEL BRIEFING ORDER WILL COME
TO ORDER.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
COUNCILMEMBER DEBORA JUAREZ.
CANCEL MEMBER ANDREW LEWIS.
HERE . COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY
MORALES.
HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER TERESA MOSQUEDA.
HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER ALEX PEDERSEN.
HERE . COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT.
HERE COUNCILMEMBER DAN STRAUSS
. HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD .
HERE.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT LORENA
GONZALEZ . EIGHT PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THAN
THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 2 AND
23rd 2020 WILL BE A DOCK DID.
AND HEARING NO OBJECTION THE
MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
WE WILL ALSO GO AHEAD AND
APPROVE TODAY'S AGENDA.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
NO OBJECTION TODAY'S AGENDA IS
ADOPTED AND WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND GO THROUGH THE PRESIDENTS
REPORT REALLY QUICKLY.
IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOUR FACES
AND I'M REALLY GLAD WE WERE
ABLE TO GET THE TECHNOLOGY IN
PLACE TO BE ABLE TO DO
VIDEOCONFERENCING.
I THINK IT MAKES IT A LITTLE
BIT EASIER TO DO OUR BUSINESS
VIA TELECOMMUTING AND SO I
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE
FLEXIBILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE VIDEO OPTION.
I'M SURE MANY OF US HAD TO
CLEAN UP THE CORNERS OF OUR
HOUSE TO MAKE IT LOOK
PRESENTABLE DURING THIS
SELFLESS ISOLATION QUARANTINED
PERIOD OF TIME. I WANT TO THANK
YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING.
SECONDLY I JUST WANT TO FLAG
THAT I SENT OUT TO THE ENTIRE
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT IN A
MEMO UPDATING THE LEGISLATIVE
DEPARTMENT TELECOMMUTING POLICY
AND IN THAT MEMO IT STATES WE
WILL CONTINUE TO TELECOMMUTE
THROUGH APRIL 24 WHICH IS A
FRIDAY.
OF COURSE THAT THEY COULD
EITHER BE EXTENDED AND I
SUSPECT IT WILL NOT BE
SHORTENED BUT IT CERTAINLY
COULD BE EXTENDED BEYOND APRIL
24.
WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS AND
THEIR EXECUTIVES DEPART ETC.
TO SET OF REEVALUATE THAT DATE
AS TIME EVOLVES AND AS MORE
INFORMATION COMES AROUND
RELATED TO COVID-19 AND HOW WE
ARE DOING IN TERMS OF
FLATTENING THE CURVE.
THAT INCLUDES A REMINDER
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO LEASE
THROUGHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE
DEPARTMENT I KNOW THAT RIGHT
NOW CAN BE A REALLY STRESSFUL
PERIOD OF TIME FOR FULL WHO ARE
HAVING A HARD TIME WITH
ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE AND
SOCIALLY DISTANCING IN ADDITION
TO PHYSICALLY DISTANCING.
THAT ARE NOT RESOURCES
AVAILABLE TO OUR GOALIES I JUST
WANT TO MAKE THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS ARE ALSO REMINDING
THEIR STAFF THAT THE RESOURCES
ARE AVAILABLE.
LASTLY ARE ALSO WANT TO INCLUDE
A MEMORANDUM THAT WE RECEIVED
FROM THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN RESOURCES AND THE CITY OF
SEATTLE ON THE EXECUTIVE SIDE
HAS ESTABLISHED A PROTOCOL AND
POLICY FOR DAILY SELF
ASSESSMENTS OF COVID-19
SYMPTOMS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WHO
ARE SHOWING UP AND BEING
PHYSICALLY PRESENT AT CITY
FACILITIES.
INCLUDING CITY HALL.
AND THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE
INCLUDED AS AN ATTACHMENT TO
THE EMAIL.
THEIR VOLUNTARY BUT THEY'RE
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES
THAT OUR EMPLOYEES AND VISITORS
ARE BEING ASKED TO COMPLY WITH
TO CONSIST WITH WASHINGTON
STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
RECOMMENDATIONS.
SECONDLY, I WANT TO GIVE FOLKS
A QUICK UPDATE ON SOME OF THE
WORK OFFICES ARE DOING RELATED
TO HOUSE BILL 6021.
THIS IS PASSED ON MARCH 8 TEENS
THAT WILL REQUIRE THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND OTHER PUBLIC
EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
PAID SICK LEAVE AND EXPANDED
PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE TO
EMPLOYEES FOR QUALIFYING COVID-
19 RELATED REASONS.
WHERE WORKING TO FINALIZE THE
POLICY DECISIONS AND THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THE NEW LEAD
REQUIREMENTS BY THE DEADLINE OF
THE SECOND OF 2020.
ONCE WE HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF
WHAT THE PAID SICK LEAVE
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS WOULD
BE FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYERS LIKE US
AND WE WILL MAKE SURE TO SHARE
THOSE WITH THE ENTIRE
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT AND OF
COURSE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
ALL OF OUR STAFF AND
LEGISLATIVE STAFF INCLUDING
THOSE STAFF MEMBERS IN OUR
OFFICE THAT HAVE THE
INFORMATION THEY NEED AND
ACCESS TAT THEY NEED FOR
ADDITIONAL PAID SICK LEAVE FOR
COVID-19 RELATED REASONS WE
WILL KEEP YOU UP DATED ON THAT
AND THE THIRD AND LAST THING I
WILL REPORT ON RELATED TO THE
PRESIDENTS REPORT IS RELATED TO
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR AND A PROCLAMATION WE
RECEIVED FROM GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
RELATED TO LEGISLATION THAT WE
CAN CONSIDER GIVEN THE CHANGES
TO THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETING ACT.
JUST REALLY QUICKLY ON THE
INTRODUCTORY REFERRAL CALENDAR
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE FULL ON THE
CALL TODAY TO BE MINDFUL OF THE
TIMING OF WHEN YOU ARE ASKING
THE COUNCIL AND CLERK'S OFFICE
TO PUT ITEMS ON THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
AND LAST FRIDAY WE SAW A FLURRY
OF FOUR TO FIVE LAST-MINUTE
REQUEST COMING IN AS 2:30 PM ON
FRIDAY THAT CREATES A HUGE
AMOUNT OF BURDEN FOR THE
CLERK'S OFFICE IN TERMS OF MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE FULFILLING OUR
QUALITY CONTROL PROCESSES AND
ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE COMPLY
WITH THE GOVERNOR'S NEW
FORMATION AS CURRENTLY
INTERPRETED.
FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NOT SEEN THE
PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE THERE IS SOME LANGUAGE
IN THERE THAT SEEMS TO PLAY THE
ONLY TYPE OF LEGISLATION THAT
WE ARE ALLOWED TO CONSIDER
CURRENTLY BECAUSE WE DON'T
CURRENTLY HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT
IS LEGISLATION THAT IS ROUTINE
OR RELATED DIRECTLY TO THE
COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE LAW
DEPARTMENT TO GET ADDITIONAL
GUIDANCE AND CLARIFICATION FROM
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A
FULL AND CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT THE PROCLAMATION IS.
POLICY WILL MAKE IT VERY
DIFFICULT FOR US AS A CITY
COUNCIL TO DO BASIC SERVICES
AND LEGISLATION REQUIRED TO
DELIVER BASIC SERVICES IF WE
ARE STILL SEVERELY LIMITED IN
TERMS OF WHAT LEGISLATION WE
CAN CONSIDER.
STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION
ON THAT BUT WE WANT TO REMIND
FOLKS THAT IT TAKES THE CLERK'S
OFFICE ABOUT 48 HOURS TO REVIEW
LEGISLATION AND TO MAKE SURE
IT'S UP TO PAR WITH QUALITY AND
TO OUR PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
BECAUSE WE JUST REALLY WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE ROBBING
CONSCIENTIOUS OF THOSE
LIMITATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS ON
OUR LEGISLATIVE STAFF.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS A UNIQUE
CIRCUMSTANCE AND SOMETIMES
THERE CAN BE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS
RULE BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE US
TO WORK HARD TO TRY TO BE
PROACTIVE AND TO HAVE ENOUGH
ADVANCED NOTICE AS WE ARE
CONSIDERING PREFERRING TO THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
AND THE LAST THING I WILL SAY
IS THAT I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR
REACHING OUT TO MY OFFICE AND
TO THE COUNCILMEMBER OFFICE OVER
IN COUNTY TO INSTITUTE A WEEKLY
CALL TO PROVIDE US WITH DIRECT
INFORMATION AND ACCESS TO THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO GET UPDATES
ABOUT THE STATE'S EMERGENCY
RESPONSE AND WAYS THAT WE CAN
COLLABORATE.
I WANT TO OFFER TO ALL OF YOU
AS MY COLLEAGUES AN OPPORTUNITY
TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH ME
AND PROVIDE ME WITH ANY SORT OF
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS OR ISSUES
THAT YOU WANT ME TO FLAG FOR
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
WE USUALLY MEET AT THE END OF
THE WEEK ON THURSDAY OR FRIDAY
SO JUST WANT TO PROVIDE THAT
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES SO THAT WE CAN
COORDINATE THAT TYPE OF
INFORMATION.
THAT IS ALL FOR THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENTS REPORT AND I'M HAPPY
TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR HEAR
ANY COMMENTS.
>> OKAY.
HEARING NONE, WE WILL GO AHEAD.
WE WILL START THE PRESENTATION.
>> I DO HAVE A COMMENT.
>> YES COUNCIL MEMBERS TAMMY
MORALES.
>> IN THE PHONE CHECK I DID I
HAD EMPHASIZED THAT WE DO NEED
TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
I STATED THIS KNOWING THAT OUR
STAFF HAS BEEN DOING AN
INCREDIBLE JOB AND I JUST WANT
THEM TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT IS DIRECT IT AT
THEM BUT THE COUNCIL IS A BODY
THAT WE HAVE TO TRY TO GET
PUBLIC COMMENT.
EVEN IF IT IS LEGISLATION
RELATED TO CORONAVIRUS, AND
ESPECIALLY SO I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO HAVE PUBLIC INPUT.
AND I WANT TO REGISTER ONCE
AGAIN MY SENSE OF URGENT THE TO
ADDRESS THAT ISSUE AND
ESPECIALLY TO THAT POINT THAT
WE HAVE NOT EXTENDED THIS AND
IT IS POSSIBLE IT WILL BE
EXTENDED OR IT'S LIKELY THAT IT
WILL BE CUT SHORT AND IT WILL
BE COMING BACK AND SO I JUST
WANT TO REGISTER THAT.
>> THANKS COUNCIL MEMBERS
TAMMY MORALES AND I KNOW YOU
AND I HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION
LAST WEEK ABOUT THIS ISSUE . IN
OUR OFFICE WE ARE STILL
COMMITTED TO SEE IF WE CAN FIND
SOME SORT OF TECHNOLOGICAL WAY
TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT.
SO THERE ARE COUPLE OF LAYERS
AND ONE IS FIGURING OUT THE
INTERPRETATION OF THE
GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION ABOUT
WHAT KIND OF LEGISLATION WE CAN
CONSIDER AS A MATTER COURSE
DURING THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
AND THEN SECONDLY, FIGURING OUT
HOW TO REINTEGRATE PUBLIC
COMMENT INTO THAT PERIOD.
IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME WHETHER
PUBLIC COMMENT VIA PHONE OR
VIDEO WILL ALLOW US TO CONSIDER
ANY LEGISLATION THAT IS NOT
EMERGENCY RESPONSE RELATED
BASED ON LANGUAGE WE ARE
READING IN THE PROCLAMATION.
BUT WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR
OTHER EXAMPLES OF HOW HERE
LOCALLY AND ABROAD THAT PEOPLE
ARE ADDRESSING THE COMMENT
ISSUES.
I KNOW THE BOARD OF SEATTLE HAS
FIGURED OUT OR THEIR TEST WAYS
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN HEAR
FROM THE PUBLIC AND WE ARE
LOOKING AT THOSE EXAMPLES AND
HOPING TO BE ABLE TO COME UP
WITH SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION SO
THAT WE CAN INTEGRATE PUBLIC
COMMENT
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FROM FOLKS?
>> WE HEARD FROM THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
HELLO AND I JUST WANT TO LET
YOU KNOW I WILL BE ON AUDIO AT
ABOUT 10:20 AM AND IF I DON'T
GET A CHANCE TO DO MY
PRESENTATION BEFORE GOING TO
AUDIO THAN PERHAPS THE
COUNCILMEMBER AS MY VICE CHAIR
COULD READ THE REPORT IF
POSSIBLE.
>> THAT'S FINE.
I KNOW SEVERAL FOLKS HAVE TO
LEAVE THE CALL EARLY.
I KNOW THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
REACHED OUT TO ALL OF US LAST
NIGHT WITH AN OFFER TO TOUR THE
NEW U.S. ARMY FIELD POSSIBLE AT
CENTURYLINK AND REALLY GRATEFUL
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS
ELECTED OFFICIALS TO BUILD IT
TO HER THAT FACILITY AND I KNOW
SOME OF YOU HAVE TO GET OFF THE
CALL TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT
IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK
AT THAT PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITY
AT CENTURYLINK.
SO I APPRECIATE THE HEADS UP.
>> SO LET'S MOVE INTO THE THIRD
AGENDA ITEM WHICH IS THE
PRESENTATION OF THE CONDITION
OF THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE OUR
PRESENTERS ONLINE WHICH INCLUDE
SAM ZIMBABWE AS THE DIRECTOR
OF SEATTLE D.O.T.
AND LORELEI WILLIAMS AND
MATTHEW DONAHUE AND ADIAM EMERY
ALL WITH THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION.
SO AT THIS POINT I WILL HANDED
OVER AND HAVE THE DEPARTMENT
GIVE US A PRESENTATION.
UNLESS COUNCILMEMBER ALEX
PEDERSEN OR LISA HERBOLD DO
YOU HAVE ANY INTRODUCTORY
COMMENTS WANT TO MAKE BEFORE
THE PRESENTATION STARTS?
>> IF I COULD I JUST HAVE A
COUPLE OF INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
AND I WILL MAKE IT QUICK.
>> GO AHEAD PLEASE.
>> I WANT TO THINK THANK SDOT
FOR THEIR QUICK AGREEMENT TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS BRIEFING.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE,
CONSTITUENTS AND DISTRICT ONE
WERE REALLY SHOCKED AT THE
SHORT NOTICE OF THE CLOSURE.
THERE'S UNIVERSAL SUPPORT FOR
THE FASTEST ACTION POSSIBLE FOR
WEST SEATTLE AND THIS IS THE
SECOND EMERGENCY LAYERED UPON
THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY. FOR ME
THE KEY QUESTIONS ARE HOW LONG
IS THE UPPER BRIDGE GOING TO BE
USABLE AND WHAT CAN THE COUNCIL
DO TO ASSESS THE QUICKEST
ACTION POSSIBLE.
WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS FUNDING
OR PERMANENT ASSISTANCE.
WE NEED TO KNOW HOW LONG IT
WILL TAKE TO COMPLETE THE
REPAIRS AND IF WE DON'T KNOW
NOW THAN WHEN WILL BE HAVE AN
ESTIMATE.
AND ALSO GETTING A SENSE FOR
HOW MUCH WORK THAT SDOT IS
DOING RIGHT NOW.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK SDOT
FOR THEIR QUICK RESPONSE TO THE
MANY REQUESTS FOR TRAFFIC
MITIGATION AND TRAFFIC
MANAGEMENT MITIGATION MEASURES
AND THE WORK THAT THEY ARE
ALREADY DOING TO PUT IN THE
TEMPORARY STOPLIGHT AT HIGHLAND
PARK AND HOLDEN.
BECAUSE SOME OF THE CARS ARE
GETTING OFF OF THE FIRST AVENUE
BRIDGE AND COMING UP THE HILL.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR RIGHT
NOW.
>> THANKS COUNCILMEMBER JAY
INSLEE.
COUNCILMEMBER ALEX PEDERSEN AS
CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE ARE THERE ANY REMARKS
YOU LIKE TO MAKE BEFORE WE GET
STARTED?>> I AGREE WITH WHAT
LISA HERBOLD IS SAYING AND I'M
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE AND WE ARE
GOING TO BE PUTTING ON TODAY'S
COUNCIL AGENDA ACTUALLY WITH A
RESOLUTION ADDING THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE TO OUR CAPITAL
WATCHLIST BECAUSE IT HAS NOW
BECOME AN URGENT CAPITAL
PROJECT AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE IT IS DONE THOROUGHLY AND
QUICKLY.
AND WILL BE SETTING UP
ADDITIONAL BRIEFINGS TO KEEP
THE PUBLIC INFORMED ABOUT WHAT
IS GOING ON.
NOT ONLY WITH THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE BUT ALSO WITH KEY
BRIDGES THROUGHOUT HER CITY AS
IT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
INSPECTIONS AND PROCESS FOR
BRIDGES THROUGHOUT HER CITY AND
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER ALEX
PEDERSEN.
WE WILL NOW HANDED OVER TO GO
AHEAD AND GET THE PRESENTATION
STARTED.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE
VIDEOCONFERENCING AND THERE IS
A LITTLE BUTTON THAT YOU CAN
MUTE YOURSELF ON.
SO IF YOU'RE NOT ACTIVELY
SPEAKING ASK THAT YOU MUTE
YOURSELF SO THAT WE DON'T HEAR
ANY AMBIENT NOISE TO INTERRUPT
THE PRESENTATION AND THANK
YOU.>> ALL RIGHT AND THANK YOU
FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
ANOTHER SYSTEM CHALLENGING TIME
FOR ALL OF US IN TERMS OF
HAVING IT TRANSPARENT AND OPEN
DIALOGUE ABOUT THIS ISSUE SO I
THINK YOU FOR GIVING US THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS
PLATFORM TO DO SO.
WE ARE ALL IN SEPARATE
LOCATIONS RIGHT NOW AS WELL AND
SO WE WILL BE MANAGING ON OUR
SIDE AS WELL AS WE CAN ACROSS
THIS TIME TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT
TO YOU ALL OF THIS INFORMATION.
I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST BECAUSE
ANOTHER WILL BE A LOT OF
QUESTIONS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF
INFORMATION THAT WE WILL TRY TO
PRESENT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE
AND IF FOLKS CAN USE THE CHAT
FUNCTION THEN WE WILL BE ABLE
TO PROACTIVELY ANSWER THOSE
QUESTIONS AND BE PREPARED TO DO
SO AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AS I
KNOW SOME FOLKS HAVE TO GET OFF
THE CALL AS WELL.
WE RECOGNIZE THIS HAS COME AT A
REAL SHOCK AND A TIME WHEN
THERE ARE A LOT OF STRESSORS IN
EVERYBODY'S LIVES.
HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
DOING THE EXTRAORDINARY ON A
DAILY BASIS. AND THIS IS ADDING
TO THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY
FACE IN TERMS OF GETTING AROUND
FOR THOSE ESSENTIAL RINGS THAT
THEY NEED TO GET AROUND.
WE EMPATHIZE WITH THOSE
RESIDENTS AND WITH YOU THE
COUNCIL WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE
THAT THIS WAS NOT AN EASY
DECISION OR DECISION THAT WE
TAKE LIGHTLY.
WILL CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE
REGULARLY WITH ACCURACY AND
TRANSPARENCY AND BE FLEXIBLE AS
CONDITIONS CHANGE ON THE GROUND
AND AS WE HAVE NO INFORMATION
TO SHARE.
SINCE LAST MONDAY WE HAVE BEEN
PROVIDING ALMOST DAILY UPDATES
TO THE PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA AND
WE STOOD UP A WEBSITE WITH
WWW.SEATTLE.GOV AND WE
MOBILIZED OUR COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT TEAM TO LISTEN AND
RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM THE
PUBLIC.
FROM OUR WORK IN WEST SEATTLE
AS OF LATE, OUR ABILITY TO
ENGAGE THIS COMMUNITY IS WELL
IN PLACE.
ABOVE ALL ELSE, I WANT TO
CONVEY THAT THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DOES NOT TAKE TENSES WHEN IT
COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
THAT'S WHY WE CLOSE THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE AND THE HIGH-
RISE BRIDGE ON MARCH 23 LAST
MONDAY TO ALL TRAFFIC.
WE HOPE TODAY'S DISCUSSION
MAKES THREE THINGS CLEAR.
FIRST SAFETY IS OUR TOP
PRIORITY FULL STOP. SECOND, THE
RAPID ANNOUNCEMENT TO CLOSE THE
BRIDGE CAME AS A RESULT OF
ONGOING AND CLOSE MONITORING OF
THE CONDITIONS OF THE BRIDGE.
WE REALLY REGULARLY INSPECTOR
BRIDGES AND WE EXPECT THE WEST
SEATTLE HIGH BRIDGE AT LEAST
EVERY YEAR IF NOT EVERY TWO
YEARS.
THE LIFE OF THE BRIDGE WAS IN
THE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE
BRIDGE TO LAST 75 YEARS.
DURING THE ADDED INSPECTIONS
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS
THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF THE
COURSE OF THAT TIME THAT THE
BRIDGE WAS UNSAFE FOR ORDINARY
USE.
AND THAT REMEDIATION WOULD
AFFECT THE NORMAL USE OF THAT.
THE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE WE
HAD DONE OVER THE PAST FEW
YEARS DID NOT INDICATE THAT
THERE WILL BE ANY CHANGE TO THE
NORMAL USE OF THE BRIDGE.
WE WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT WHAT HAS CHANGED AND
EVOLVED OVER THE LAST FEW
MONTHS AND EVEN FEW WEEKS TO
LEAD US TO THIS DECISION THAT
CAME ON ALL OF US VERY QUICKLY
DESPITE THE DILIGENCE THAT WE
HAVE SHOWN IN INSPECTING AND
MAINTAINING THIS BRIDGE.
>> THIRD, THIS ISSUE IS
ABSOLUTELY TOP OF MIND AND FOR
ME A KEY PRIORITY OF SDOT AND
FOR ALL OF US FOR THIS TO WORK
AND WILL WILL TALK MORE ABOUT
WHAT WE HAVE DONE ALREADY IN THE
PAST WEEK TO PUT IN PLACE THE
PROJECT TEAM TO BE ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH ALL OF WHAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT VERY QUICKLY.
SO WE ARE SHARING THE
PRESENTATION AND WE WILL GO
THROUGH AN OVERVIEW VERY QUICKLY
AND WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT
ALL OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AGES.
USUALLY DOES SO IN A
PREDICTABLE FASHION THAT
ENABLES US TO PREPARE FOR MAJOR
MAINTENANCE OR REPLACEMENT
INSTEAD OF PROJECT TEAMS AND
COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH TO
THE PUBLIC.
AND THERE ARE VERY FEW
SURPRISES.
WE HAVE HAD SOME.
WE HAD A LANE CLOSED ON THE
FOURTH AVENUE BRIDGE LATE LAST
YEAR AND WASHINGTON D.O.T.
HAD TO DO EMERGENCY REPAIRS ON
THE AURORA BRIDGE THAT CHANGED
TRAFFIC PATTERNS VERY QUICKLY.
WHEN THESE INFRASTRUCTURE
CHANGES HAPPEN AND WHEN
CONDITIONS WARRANT, WE TAKE
SWIFT AND DECISIVE ACTION TO
MAINTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE KNOW THAT OFTEN COME AS A
SHOCK AND WHEN THOSE THINGS
BECOME APPARENT AND WHEN WE
HAVE TO TAKE THAT ACTION, WE
HAVE TO DO SO WITH THE CARE.
WE LIKE TO DO THESE THINGS IN A
VERY PLANNED AND DELIBERATE
FASHION.
THE VIADUCT CLOSURE LAST YEAR
IS A GOOD EXAMPLE IT'S ALSO A
SIMILAR LEVEL OF TRAFFIC IMPACT
AND A SIMILAR LEVEL OF VEHICLES
THAT ARE USING THAT STRUCK
EVERY DAY WE DID BRIEFING AFTER
BRIEFING WITH OVER 40 JOINT
COMMUNITY BRIEFINGS AND PRESS
EVENTS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
AROUND THE VIADUCT CLOSURE THAT
IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS HAPPENING
IN A MORE PREDICTABLE WAY AND
THERE WERE MANY YEARS OF
DISCUSSING WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE
VIADUCT AS A WHOLE.
FOR REASONS THAT WE DON'T YET
KNOW ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING
WITH THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE,
WE WERE GIVEN HOURS TO DO WHAT
WE PREVIOUSLY HAD MONTHS OR
EVEN YEARS TO DO IN THE CASE OF
THE VIADUCT.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS HAS BEEN
A HUGE LEVEL OF IN PACKED AT A
TIME WHEN PEOPLE HAVE ALL SORTS
OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE
CONCERNING FOR THEM IN THEIR
LIVES.
WE NEEDED TO TAKE THIS ACTION
SWIFTLY AND DECISIVELY TO
MAINTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY AND
MAINTAIN THE ASSET OF THE
BRIDGE AND MINIMIZE THE NEED
FOR REPAIRS OVERALL.
AND WITH THAT WE CAN GO TO THE
NEXT SLIDE AND THIS IS JUST A
BRIEF OVERVIEW AND WILL KEEP AN
EYE ON TIME.
BUT WE WILL GO THROUGH SOME OF
THE INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
HISTORY WITH OUR DECISION TO
CLOSE OUR SHORT TERM
RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHAT WE'RE
DOING RIGHT NOW.
WHAT WE HAD DONE WHERE WE ARE
GOING FROM THE TRAFFIC IMPACT
AND WHERE WE ARE GOING FROM THE
REPAIR OPTION AND HOW WE ARE
ORGANIZING OURSELVES AND WHERE
WE SEE THE NEXT STEPS AND WILL
TRY TO DO THAT AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS.
I KNOW THE CHAT FUNCTION MAY
NOT BE EFFECT IN TERMS OF
MAINTAINING THE PUBLIC DIALOGUE
SO FEEL FREE TO INTERRUPT THIS
IF YOU NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS AS
WE GO.
>> DIRECTOR SAM ZIMBABWE.
WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WE
SHOULD NOT THE CHAT FUNCTION
AT ALL BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE MAINTAINING AN
APPROPRIATE PUBLIC WRECK OF
QUESTIONS BEING ASKED.
I WOULD ASK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS
THAT IF YOU DO WANT TO ASK THE
QUESTION, EITHER JUMP ON IN OR
USE THE CHAT FUNCTION TO TELL
ME THAT YOU HAVE A QUESTION SO
THAT I CAN INTERRUPT THE
PRESENTATION AND ALLOW QUESTIONS
TO BE ASKED AND SO WE ARE ALL
LEARNING HOW TO DO THIS
VIDEOCONFERENCE THE SAME
TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN MAKE IT
PRODUCTIVE AND STILL BE ORDERLY.
JUST A REMINDER TO NOT USE THE
CHAT TO ASK QUESTIONS.
BUT IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION I
HAVE THE CHAT FEATURE OPEN ON
MY COMPUTER.
AS THEY WILL TALK ABOUT THE
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT IMPACTS AND
THEN THE REPAIR OPTIONS AND
THEN I WILL CLOSE OUT FROM THE
COMMUNICATION.
MATT, TAKE IT AWAY.
>> A BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THIS
BRIDGE.
IT WAS BUILT AND OPEN FOR USE IN
JULY 1984.
ALONG WITH THE LOWER LEFT-HAND
CORNER AFTER ONE OF THE MOST
HIT BY A FREIGHTER IN 1978.
THE OPERATE HAND SECTION OF THE
PHOTO IS A CONSTRUCTION PHOTO
FROM WHEN THEY WERE BUILDING
THE HIGH-RISE.
YOU CAN SEE THESE TWO CAST IN
PLACE SEC SEGMENTED BOXES.
THE REINFORCED CONCRETE BRIDGE.
COMPRISED OF TWO VERY LARGE
BOXES WITH A MONOLITHIC SLAB
THAT TIES ACROSS THE TOP OF THE
BEADS.
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE AS WE GET
INTO THE DETERIORATION IN OUR
INSPECTION PROGRAM.
AND HOW AND WHY THAT HAD
CONCERNED US VERSUS NORMAL WEAR
AND TEAR FOR THE BRIDGE.
REINFORCED CONCRETE BRIDGES ARE
TO SOME EXTENT MADE TO CRACK.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT CONCRETE
WILL CRACK OVERTIME AND WE HAVE
PERFORMED DESIGN CALCULATIONS
FOR THE RIDGE TO ACCOMMODATE
THAT.
NO ONE AND IN PARTICULAR ME AS
THE BRIDGE MANAGER FOR THE CITY
AS A SPECIAL ENGINEER AND A
CERTIFIED RIDGE INSPECTOR
ECSTASY ANY KIND OF ATYPICAL
DETERIORATION'S WE'RE TYPICALLY
VERY CAREFUL TO FIND ANY
DETERIORATION TO MAKE SURE IT'S
NOT NORMAL DETERIORATION IN THE
STRUCTURE YOU EXPECT VERSUS
SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
A COUPLE THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT
THE RIDGE BECAUSE IT IS VERY
UNIQUE IN TERMS OF THE SPAN
LENGTH AND OVERALL HEIGHT.
IT IS ESSENTIALLY FOR
TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOGRAPHY TO GET
UP INTO WEST SEATTLE AND UP ON
THE HILL FOR THE JUNCTION.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR
THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC IN
EITHER DIRECTION.
AND THAT HAS FOUR LANES OF
TRAFFIC IN THE EASTBOUND
DIRECTION.
AND IN THE WESTBOUND DIRECTION.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
ALONG WITH WHAT THE INSPECTION
PROGRAM HAS LOOK LIKE OVER THE
LAST FEW YEARS AND EVERY BRIDGE
ON THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM
MONITORED BY THE STATE D.O.T.
AND DOWN TO THE CITY FACET
OWNERS LIKE US IT'S REQUIRED TO
BE EXPECT DID INSPECTED ABOVE
WATER EVERY MONTH FOR TWO YEARS.
WE HAD A ROUTINE INSPECTION FOR
THE BRIDGE ALONG WITH WHAT YOU
WOULD NORMALLY EXPECT FOR THIS
BRIDGE TYPE AND IT TRIGGERED
RIGHT AWAY A CLOSE EYE AND THAT
WE HIRED A CONSULTING
ENGINEERING FIRM HERE IN SEATTLE
TO WORK WITH US IN 2014 TO
STUDY THE BRIDGE TO SEE IF WE
COULD DETERMINE AT THAT POINT
WHAT IS CAUSING THIS ATYPICAL
CRACKING IT WAS NOT CONCLUSIVE
AND THEY POINTED OUT A NUMBER
OF THINGS THAT COULD CAUSING IT
WITH THIS RECOMMENDED ACTION
THAT WAS TO CONTINUE TO INSPECT
A MORE REGULAR FREQUENCY AT
LEAST EVERY YEAR OR EVERY TWO
YEARS.
AND ALSO TO MONITOR THE BRIDGE
INTO THAT SENIOR WE HAD
INSTALLED CRACKED CAGES WITH A
CONSULTING FIRM THAT DOES THAT
SORT OF WORK LINKING BACK TO
THE WEBSITE TO MONITOR THAT
DATA REAL-TIME.
AND SO THAT INSTRUMENTS
INSTRUMENTATION WAS PUT FOR THE
CRACKING THAT WE HAD OBSERVED.>>
MAY I ASK YOU TO PAUSE AND
COUNCIL MEMBERS LISA HERBOLD
HAS INDICATED SHE HAS A
QUESTION . THE FLOOR IS YOURS
BUT YOU ARE ON MUTE STILL.
>> ACTUALLY I WOULD LIKE TO
HOLD MY QUESTION UNTIL AFTER WE
GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE
SLIDE.
I'M SORRY FOR ALERTING YOU AND
I DO HAVE A QUESTION BUT AFTER
WE GET TO THE REST OF THE
SLIDE.
>> OKAY.
AND ONCE YOU ARE DONE SPEAKING
ABOUT THIS SLIDE CAN YOU PAUSE
TO ALLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS LISA
HERBOLD TO ASK HER QUESTION?
McKISSICK AND PICKS FROM 2014
TO 2019 WE CONTINUE TO PERFORM
OUR ANNUAL INSPECTIONS AND LOOK
AT STAGE DATA WE WERE GETTING
ON A REGULAR BASIS.
WE SAW THE CRACKING CONTINUING
TO GROW BUT NOT AT AN ALARMING
OR ACCELERATED RATE AND YOU CAN
SEE FROM THE PACKAGE WITH DATA
THAT THE THE STANDS AND THE
CRACKS ARE ACTIVE AND EXPAND
AND CONTRACT OVERTIME AN
AVERAGE GROWTH OVER TIME WAS
VERY SMALL DOWN TO 1000th OF AN
INCH OF GLASS SON 2019 WHAT HAD
CHANGED WAS THAT WE ALSO DO
SOMETHING REQUIRED BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN ADDITION
TO INSPECTIONS CALLED LOAD
RATING OF BRIDGES.
THIS IS A SPECIFIC CALCULATION
METHOD TO LOOK AT WHETHER OR
NOT THE BRIDGE CAN HANDLE VERY
SPECIFIC TYPES OF TRUCKS AND
THE TRUCKS ARE SPECIFIED IN
TERMS OF ACCESS AND WAIT BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WHENEVER
THEY COME OUT WITH A NEW TRUCK
THAT ACCIDENT TO THE PROGRAM
THAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
COMES UP WITH A MANDATE THAT
SAYS EVERYONE WITH THIS TYPE OF
BRIDGE OR ANY TYPE OF RIDGE
WITHIN A CERTAIN DISTANCE OF
THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM ANY
HAVE TO LOAD THE BRIDGES AND
TRUCKS SO THEY ROLLED OUT NEW
TRUCKS AND THEY GAVE US UNTIL
2022 TO DO THAT LOAD RATING AND
HAVE SCHEDULED THE BRIDGE FOR
LOAD RATING LATER THAN 2019 AND
IN 2019 BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE
THIS CRACKING ISSUE SO WE
DECIDED TO MOVE THE LOAD RATING
UP TO 2019 BECAUSE WE KNEW THE
WAY YOU COULD GET THOSE
CALCULATIONS FOR LOAD RATING IS
VERY SPECIFIC TO THE TYPES OF
DEFECTS THAT WE OBSERVED.
IF YOU SEE ATYPICAL DEFECTS YOU
ARE REQUIRED TO DO A MORE
ADVANCED ANALYSIS AND WE KNOW
WOULD BE MORE TIME TO PUMP IT
UP IN THE SCHEDULE.
SO WE HAVE THESE TWO PARALLEL
LINES WITH THIS ADVANCED
ANALYSIS AND LOAD RATING IN 2019
AND WE CONTINUE TO INSPECT THE
BRIDGE JUST AS WE NEED TO FROM
AN INSPECTION PROGRAM STANDPOINT
AND WE'RE TRYING TO GATHER THE
DATA TO FEED INTO THE ANALYSIS
SO THAT WE CAN REALLY FIND
THESE CRACKED SECTIONS AND
UNDERSTAND HOW TO ACCURATELY
ANALYZE THEM ULTIMATELY WHAT WE
DID WAS WE BUILT A LARGE MODEL
AND A LOCALIZED LAWN NONLINEAR
MODEL TO REALLY DIVE DEEP INTO
THESE CRACKED SECTIONS SO THAT
COULD DO RESPONSIBLE LOAD
MANAGEMENT.
AS WE ARE GATHERING DATA FOR
THE ANALYSIS WE SEE THE
CRACKING PATTERNS OF THE BRIDGE
THAT START TO CHANGE AND
ACCELERATE.
AND SO BY LATE FEBRUARY WE
ADOPTED THE POINT WHERE
CONSULTANT PART OF THE IS
WORKING WITH THIS RECOMMENDED
GOING DOWN TO TWO LANES IN
EITHER DIRECTION.
AS WE WERE PREPARING TO DO THAT
IN PLANNING HOW TO EXECUTE THAT
TRAFFIC CONTROL STANDPOINT AND
NOW PREPARING TO ALERT THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND CITY COUNCIL
AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT NEEDS TO
KNOW ABOUT THIS.
THE DAY WE WERE HAVING A
BRIEFING OF THE DAY BEFORE I
GOT A CALL FROM A CONSULTANT
PARTNER TO CHANGE THE
RESTRICTION DONE TO TWO LANES
TO CLOSURE.
THAT WAS ON MARCH 19. SO I HAD
A BRIEFING WITH SAM AND OTHER
LEADERSHIP AT D.O.T.
ON THE 20th AND WE DISCUSSED
THE LANE CLOSURES AND THE
RECOMMENDATION AND THEN I SPENT
FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND GOING
THROUGH AND CONSUMING ALL OF
THAT INFORMATION AND DIGESTING
IT.
AND THEN WE MADE THE CALL TO
BRING MY ENGINEERING TEAM AND
THE CONSULTANT PARTNER ONTO THE
BRIDGE AT 9 AM ON MONDAY
MORNING.
SO THAT BRINGS ME TO THE NEXT
LIGHT BUT THE DECISION TO CLOSE.
>> HOLD ON.
LISA HERBOLD HAS A QUESTION .
>> YES PLEASE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND I
JUST WANT TO RAISE THE ISSUE OF
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC AND
TRANSPARENCY.
IS REALLY BEING CRITICAL AND I
AM OF THE OPINION THAT WHEN WE
MOVED TO MONTHLY INSPECTIONS
THAT THE PUBLIC AND THE COUNCIL
SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED IN A
USEFUL WAY AND ONE WAY TO DO
THAT I BELIEVE IS THROUGH OUR
CAPITAL PROJECTS REPORT THAT
COMES TO THE COUNCIL.
THERE IS ACTUALLY A PROGRAM
RELATED I BELIEVE TO THE WORK
THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING AND
THERE'S A BRIDGE LOAD RATING
AND THE CIP PROJECT.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY
USEFUL IN THE THIRD QUARTER
REPORT LAST YEAR.
WE HAD BEEN NOTIFIED BECAUSE
AGAIN THE NOTIFICATION PROCESS
THROUGH THOSE QUARTERLY REPORTS
AND THROUGH THE PROJECT REVIEW
IS INTENDED TO NOTIFY THE
COUNCIL OF THE INCREASED RISK
AROUND PARTICULAR PROGRAMS AND
PROJECTS.
AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO
THE BRIDGE RATING IT'S NOT A
SPECIFIC PROJECT BUT IT IS A
PROGRAM AND IT'S A PROGRAM THAT
YOU ARE DOING FOR NUMBER OF
PAGES.
BUT BRIDGES.
BUT AT THE POINT THAT YOU
DECIDED THAT YOU NEEDED TO
EXPEDITE THE BRIDGE LOAD RATING
FOR THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE AND
YOU HAVE MOVED TO MONTHLY
INSPECTIONS.
I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
REALLY USEFUL THING AND AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE'S
REALLY A UNIVERSAL RESPONSE OF
SHOCK AND SOME CASES ANGER FROM
CONSTITUENTS IN WEST SEATTLE
ABOUT THIS.
IN KEEPING WITH OUR COMMITMENT
TO TRANSPARENCY AND NO SURPRISES
AND PREPARATION, I WOULD REALLY
APPRECIATE THE DEPARTMENT TO
THINK ABOUT HOW TO ADJUST ITS
REPORTING SO THAT WE CAN MOVE
TOWARDS A CULTURE OF NO
SURPRISES.
THANK YOU
>> THANKS AND I WILL JUST JUMP
INTO RESPOND AND I THINK WE ALL
HEAR THAT AND UNDERSTAND IT AND
GOING BACK TO WHAT WE SAID AT
THE VERY BEGINNING THAT IT WAS
NOT UNTIL VERY RECENTLY THAT WE
THOUGHT ANY OF THE REPAIR
NEEDED FOR THE BRIDGE WOULD
CHANGE ANY NORMAL DAILY TRAFFIC
PATTERNS ON THE BRIDGE IN TERMS
OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR
REPAIR.
WE ALL HEAR THE CONCERN AND WE
ARE HAPPY TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE COMMUNICATING
TRANSPARENTLY AND IF WE HAD
STARTED THAT REPORTING LAST ALL
THEN WE WOULD NOT HAVE SAID WE
THINK WE NEED TO CLOSE THE
BRIDGE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT
SOMETHING WE WERE PLANNING FOR
THAT POINT>> THANKS AND SO ON
THE SLIDE WITH HIS OCTOBER AND
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER TO BEGIN
ANALYZING OPTIONS AND CLOSING
THE BRIDGE WAS NOT OF THE
OPTIONS YOU ARE CONSIDERING AT
THAT TIME>> IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT IS AS HOW WE WOULD
MITIGATE THE CRACKING AND NOT
WHAT MEDICATIONS NEED TO BE
DONE.
>> JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT
LINE OF QUESTIONING.
IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS SLIDE
TO SLIDE FORWARD THEN AT WHAT
POINT IN TIME IS THE CLOSURE TO
TRAFFIC CONSIDERED AS A
POTENTIAL OPTION THAT WOULD BE
REQUIRED TO ADDRESS THE
CRACKING.
>> THE FIRST TIME WE RECEIVE AN
INDICATION FROM A CONSULTANT
PARTNER THAT THEY WOULD
RECOMMEND GOING IN EACH
DIRECTION IS FEBRUARY 21.
>> FEBRUARY 21 WAS THE
REDUCTION UNDER CONSIDERATION
THAT SHOWS UP HERE.
WE DID NOT RECEIVE NOTICE UNTIL
LAST WEEK?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
WHEN WE GOT THE INITIAL IT WAS
NOT THE IMMEDIATE THAT THIS
NEEDS TO HAPPEN TOMORROW.
THE LANE RESTRICTION.
WE STARTED TO PUT TOGETHER WHAT
IT WOULD TAKE FROM A TRAFFIC
MITIGATION AND WHAT IT WOULD
START TO LOOK LIKE FROM A
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN
PERSPECTIVE.
INDICATION AT THAT POINT IS
THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAD TO
SERIOUSLY CONSIDER BUT THEN WE
DID NOT HAVE TO DO THAT
IMMEDIATELY.
THIS WAS AT THE SAME TIME AS
EVERYBODY KNOWS IT WAS THE SAME
TIME AS THE DEPARTMENT AND CITY
RESPONDENT TO COVID-19 AND
PUTTING A LOT OF DIFFERENT
PRACTICES IN PLACE AND THINGS
LIKE THAT THAT ARE ALSO
CONSUMING ATTENTION AND THEY
DID NOT STOP THE INSPECTION
PROCEDURES BUT THEY DID MAKE IT
MORE DIFFICULT TO HAVE SOME OF
THE PREPARATORY DISCUSSIONS
EVEN FOR WHAT LANE RESTRICTIONS
WILL LOOK LIKE.
WE TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE
FRUSTRATION AND CONCERN ABOUT
THIS AND WE WILL SEEK THAT FROM
HERE FORWARD ON THIS PROJECT
AND ON ALL PROJECTS WE SEEK TO
HAVE THAT DIALOGUE AS EARLY AS
WE THINK POSSIBLE TO NOT
UNDOING THE ALARMING THE PUBLIC
BUT ALSO TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
ACCURATE AND TRANSPARENT IN OUR
COMMUNICATIONS WITH YOU AND THE
PUBLIC AS A WHOLE.
>> I THINK TO THE POINT OF
COUNCIL MEMBERS LISA HERBOLD
THAT IT WAS ABOUT THREE TO FOUR
WEEKS BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL
FOUND OUT THAT THE LEAN
PRODUCTION IN THIS CASE WAS A
FULL CLOSURE WAS GOING TO OCCUR.
AND WE FOUND OUT JUST A FEW
HOURS BEFORE THE GENERAL PUBLIC
FOUND OUT AND OUR CONSTITUENTS
LEARNED THAT THEY WOULD NO
LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE.
I THINK OVER A PERIOD OF THREE
OR FOUR WEEKS THAT COULD HAVE
BEEN MORE PRODUCT ENGAGEMENT
CERTAINLY AT A MINIMUM AS THE
CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND
UTILITIES COMMITTEE AND THE
DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE FOR
DISTRICT 1. I'M DISAPPOINTED
THAT THAT PROACTIVE ENGAGEMENT
DID NOT OCCUR.
AND THAT IT TOOK SORT OF THIS
SEVERE ACTION FOR THE DEPARTMENT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE MOVING FORWARD
THAT HE NEEDS TO ENGAGE CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS ON ISSUES OF
SUCH SIGNIFICANT IMPORT.
SO I UNDERSTAND AND I
APPRECIATE THAT WE ARE ALL
UNDER PRESSURE BUT WE STILL
HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO
COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER AND
THE OBLIGATION IS ESCALATING
AND EVEN MORE SERIOUS AND EVEN
A HARDER TO DO WHICH MEANS WE
HAVE TO BE MUCH MORE PROACTIVE
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ENGAGE
WITH EACH OTHER AND ALL OF THE
COUNCILMEMBERS HERE AND THEY
TAKE IT VERY SERIOUS TO BE
ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS
AND TO COMMUNICATE
TRANSPARENTLY.
AND SO I THINK THE DEPARTMENT
COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB IN
ENGAGING THE COUNCILMEMBERS AS
IT RELATES TO THIS PARTICULAR
ISSUE.
I APPRECIATE THE THREE HOURS
MAC HEADS UP BECAUSE I DID NOT
FIND OUT ABOUT IT FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN THE MEDIA.
BUT I ALSO THINK WE CAN DO
BETTER AND I KNOW THAT WE CAN
DO BETTER IN TERMS OF HOW WE
CAN CAME JUST
>> I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THIS
POINT BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO
THAT SAME LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY
AND THE RECOMMENDATION FOR
CLOSURE DID NOT COME TO US
UNTIL FRIDAY, MARCH 19.
IT WAS NOT UNTIL MATT HIMSELF
WENT UP ON THE BRIDGE ON MONDAY
MORNING MARCH 23 OR THURSDAY,
MARCH 19 AND THEN WENT UP ON
THE BRIDGE ON MONDAY, MARCH 23
IN THE MORNING AND CONFIRMED
WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION WAS AND
SAW THE GROWTH THAT WILL GO TO
THE NEXT SLIDE AND THEN FROM
THAT POINT ONCE WE HAVE THAT
LEVEL OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE
CANNOT TAKE THE TIME TO BRIEF
EVERYBODY AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE
ALL OF THE PLANS IN PLACE.
WE HAVE TO TAKE SWIFT AND
DECISIVE ACTION AND SO I FULLY
APPRECIATE HIS FRUSTRATION WE
COULD HAVE HAD MORE DISCUSSION
IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO IT
AND WE WILL SEEK TO DO THAT
FROM HERE ON FORWARD AND ALSO
AT THAT POINT THERE WAS NOT AN
INDICATION THAT WE HAD TO TAKE
SUCH SWEET SWIFT ACTION TO
MAINTAIN THE PUBLIC HEALTH
SAFETY.
I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO BOGGED
DOWN WITH THIS BUT I DO THINK
WE HAVE A SHARED COMMITMENT TO
OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY AND
SHARED COMMITMENT TO INFORMING
AND BEING OPEN AND TRANSPARENT
GOING FORWARD.
>> GREAT AND LET'S MOVE ALONG.
>> OKAY THANK YOU.
CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
WE SAW A RAPID AND UNEXPECTED
GROWTH IN THE BRIDGE IN THE
DAYS AND WEEKS BECAUSE PUBLIC
SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY AND IS THE CERTIFIED
BRIDGE INSPECTOR WITH OVER 25
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND IF YOU
LOOK AT THE BLUE LINES IN THE
PHOTO, THAT IS GROWTH THAT
OCCURRED BETWEEN 5 MARCH WHICH
IS THE EARLIEST TIME IN MARCH
IN THE BRIDGE AND THE 23rd WHEN
WE WENT OUT TO SEE THE BRIDGE.
THAT TYPE OF GROWTH IN THE
REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURE
IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND
THAT IS TYPICALLY THE TYPE OF
GROWTH YOU SEE OVER YEARS BUT
NOT OVER WEEKS AND DAYS.
THAT DROVE ME PRIMARILY AS A
BRIDGE INSPECTOR AND BRIDGE
MANAGER TO THE CITY TO.
UP THE PHONE FROM INSIDE THE
BRIDGE AND CALL LORELEI
WILLIAMS AND MY DEPUTY DIRECTOR
TO SAY WE NEEDED TO CLOSE THE
BRIDGE THAT DAY . AND THEN WITH
THAT LIVE LOAD OR VEHICULAR
LIVE LOAD FROM THE BRIDGE.
WITH THE RISK OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND THEN TOWARDS THE END OF IT.
ANGULAR CRACKS LIKE THAT ARE
DIAGONAL AND THAT TYPE OF
DETERIORATION IN THE BRIDGE
WILL GO UNTIL FAILURE AND AND
FAILURE TYPICALLY HAPPENS
QUICKLY WITHOUT WARNING AS
OPPOSED OTHER KIND OF CRACKING
IT IS NOT ORIENTED THAT WAY.
THAT EXACERBATES THAT CONCERN.
IT COULD HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY
WITHOUT THE BRIDGE CHANGING
SHAPE BEFORE IT ACTUALLY GETS
THAT WAY IN ADDITION TO THE
RATE OF THE CRACKING.
WE CAN GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SHORT-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS FROM
THE HIGH PASS
>> WE WILL BE INSPECTING THESE
CRACKS AND WHAT THE BRIDGE CAN
HANDLE AS THEY CONTINUE TO BE
TRUE WITH A SUITE OF
INSTRUMENTATION AND TECHNIQUES
AND HOW THE MECHANICS OF THE
CRACK SECTIONS ACTUALLY WORK TO
HELP THINKING ABOUT DESIGN AND
REPAIRS EVEN BEFORE WE START
THE DESIGN PROCESS.
ALONG WITH THIS ISSUE.
>> THE GRAPHIC YOU SHOWED SEEM
PRETTY QUICK AND THE RATE OF
THE CRACKS EXPANDING AND THEN
IF THIS IS SUDDEN DISASTER
HAPPENING.
THEN IF THEY ALLOW THAT LOWER
BRIDGE AND A CHANCE THAT THE
UPPER BRIDGE MAY COLLAPSE AT
ANY MOMENT.
>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S A RISK
THE BRIDGE CAN COLLAPSE AT ANY
MOMENT.
WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE
BRIDGE IN APRIL.
THEY VERY ASTUTELY POINTED OUT
IN THE BRIEFING LAST MONDAY THE
SAME POINT AND WE GET TO THE
BRIDGE TO FAILURE AND TO COME
UP WITH THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE
PLANS.
ALONG WITH THAT FASHION TO
MITIGATE RISCH FOR ANY
INFRASTRUCTURE OR PEOPLE THAT
THE CURRENTLY WORK AROUND THE
BRIDGE AT THE SOUTH IN OF
HARBOR ISLAND.
ALONG WITH THIS MODE
MODIFICATION ON THAT.
ALONG WITH THE ENGINEER WITH
LANE REDUCTIONS.
ALONG WITH THE IMMEDIATE
NOTIFICATION WITH THE RAPID
DISCUSSION AND HOW TO
COMMUNICATE THAT BECAUSE LANE
CLOSURES THAT SOUND VERY SERIOUS
TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND
COMMUNICATED WITH THAT LEVEL OF
SERIOUSNESS TO OUR CONSTITUENTS
úIF WE NEED TO CLOSE LANES WITH
SEVERAL BRIDGES THROUGHOUT THE
CITY.
AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THE BULLET POINT REFERENCING
THE GOAL OF INTERIM REPAIRS
WITH THE GOAL OF RESTORING SOME
TRAFFIC THEN WE UNDERSTAND
THERE MAY BE A POSSIBILITY OF
ADDING ELAINE BACK AT SOME BACK
LIKE SO MANY GENERAL
REOPENING'S.
AND WON'T BE ABLE TO DETERMINE
THAT UNTIL WE GET INTO THE WEEDS
BUT WE WILL TAKE THE LINES TO
SEE WHAT THEY COULD RETURN AND
SUCH FASHION.
>> AND RELATED TO THE FOLLOWING
BULLET POINT FOR MAJOR
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE
AS WE MENTIONED.
>> THE CLASSIC MESSAGE FOR
DELIVERY THE STRUCTURE IS
THROUGH THE ENTIRE DESIGN
PUTTING IT UP FOR BIDS TO BUILD
IT.
AND THAT OTHER WAYS TO DO IT WE
HAVE THE DESIGNER OF RECORD AND
THE CONTRACTOR WITH REPAIRS
WORKING HAND-IN-HAND EARLIER IN
THE PROCESS TO CUT DOWN ON
DIFFICULTIES AND CONSTRUCTION
THAT ARE NOT REALLY REALIZED IN
THE DESIGN PROCESS.
>> UNDERSTOOD THE PROCESS BUT I
WAS ASKING IF THERE WERE OTHER
STRATEGIES BEYOND THAT PROCESS.
AND I MAY BE WRONG ON THAT THIS
REQUIRES AN EXTRAORDINARY OUT-
OF-THE-BOX THINKING TO MOVE THE
WORK FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
AND TO COMBINE THAT WITH
GATHERING STRESS AND STRAIN DATA
AND HOW THE BRIDGE CURRENTLY
CARRIES THEIR OWN WEIGHT AS A
WAY TO GET AHEAD OF DESIGN.
TYPICALLY THAT'S NOT SOMETHING
WE WOULD START TO GET INSIDE OF
THE OFFICIAL DESIGN PROCESS AND
WE'RE DOING THAT NOW.
LIKE I WOULD LIKE TO THROW OUT
THAT GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE
HAVE 17,000 FOLKS WHO TRAVEL
THE BRIDGE WITH ANOTHER 100,000
VEHICLES THAT WE SHOULD LOOK TO
SEE WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE
STILL ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES
THAT WE CAN CONSIDER AS YOU
MENTIONED EARLIER IT IS TRULY
AN EMERGENCY FOR THE WEST
SEATTLE COMMUTERS AND I WOULD
JUST LIKE TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT
EXTRAORDINARY APPROACHES THAT
COULD BE USED TO ADDRESS THESE
EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> WE ARE LOOKING FOR ANY
POSSIBLE WAY TO RETURN THE
BRIDGE TO NORMAL OPERATIONS AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND RESTORE
ANY AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC AS
QUICKLY ASPOSSIBLE.
AND WE WOULD NOT GO OUT OF STEP
IN TERMS OF MAKING DECISIONS TO
PUT US IN A DIFFICULT POSITION
TO DO SO SAFELY AND
SUCCESSFULLY.
REAR RIGHT THERE WITH YOU IN
TERMS OF GETTING THINGS DONE AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND LOOKING
FOR ALL OF THE POSSIBLE WAYS TO
ACCELERATE THIS PROCESS AND
WILL BE HAPPY TO HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION AS WE GO FORWARD.
AND WILL MAKE IT CLEAR THAT OUR
DECISIONS THAT END UP PUTTING
OURSELVES AND FINANCIAL RISK
THAT WOULD BE SUCCESSFULLY ABLE
TO MAKE THOSE REPAIRS TO BE
EXPEDIENT OVER BEING PRUDENT.
>> THAT WAS NOT MY SUGGESTION
BUT I APPRECIATE YOU CLARIFYING
THAT.
I'M SPEAKING TO TREATING THIS
LIKE AN EMERGENCY AS WELL AS IT
RELATES TO THE CONTRACTING
PROCESSES THAT WERE DISCUSSED
BEFORE.
AND WE APPRECIATE OBVIOUSLY
THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD
THAT ARE FOUNDED BY CONCERNS
AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY AND THANK
YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY AND WE SHARE
THAT.>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE
ALONG.
>> NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
>> NOW TO THE PREVIOUS COMMENT
BECAUSE WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT
THE SWING BRIDGE VERY CAREFULLY
THAT WE HAD BEEN ADDRESSING
OVER THE PAST MONTHS IN THE
NORMAL COURSE OF ASSET FOR THE
BRIDGE BUT IT IS LASER FOCUSED
IS THE PRIMARY BYPASS ROUTE AS
EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND
TRANSIT.
THE THINGS WE'RE DOING RIGHT
NOW AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO
AND THE WEEKLY INSPECTIONS AND
MONITORING OF PARTICULAR AREAS
OF THE BRIDGE AS THEY CONTINUE
TO BE MORE HEAVILY LOADED WITH
TRAFFIC COINCIDENTALLY SEVERAL
WEEKS OR MONTHS AGO WE HAVE A
LOAD RATING PROJECT FOR THE
BRIDGE AND WILL BRING THAT TO A
CLOSE AND WE HAVE PROBLEM WITH
THESE DATES THAT NEED TO MOVE
AND LOCK IN A PARTICULAR
SEQUENCE AND AND OPENING CYCLE.
AND SO THOSE THINGS HAVE A
PARTICULARLY LONG LEAD TIME AS
WE ORDER THEM TOWARD THE END OF
LAST YEAR AND WE RECENTLY
RECEIVED THOSE AND WE HAVE A
MAINTENANCE INSTALLATION PLAN
COMING UP FOR IN A COUPLE OF
WEEKS I APRIL.
WE ALSO HAVE AN ONGOING PROJECT
FOR THE CONTROL SYSTEM TO
REPLACE THE BRIDGE AND AS SOME
OF YOU MAY REMEMBER IN 2018 WE
HAD AN OUTAGE OF THE PEER SIX
ON THE WESTERN SIDE.
THE PEER IN THIS PHOTO WITH THE
LIFT CYLINDER THAT WENT OUT ON
US WE HAD TO PUT OUT AND PUT IT
IN HER SPARE CYLINDER AND WE
ARE BRINGING OUR FORENSIC
ANALYSIS AND REHABILITATION
PROGRAM FOR THAT CYLINDER IS
THERE CURRENTLY IN SERVICE FOR
THE SEVEN SERVITOR THIS
CYLINDER THIS YEAR.
>>
AND WITH THAT HE WILL TURN IT
OVER TO AUDIO MEMORY FOR THE
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN.>>
THANKS AND IN REGARDS TO TRAFFIC
AND THE LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY OF
CLOSING THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE
IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE VIADUCT
IF NOT MORE COMPLICATED.
THOSE TWO INFRASTRUCTURES COVER
THE SAME AMOUNT OF AVERAGE
DAILY TRAFFIC DIVIDED INTO
100,000 WITH WEST SEATTLE WITH
84,000.
WITH THE VIADUCT WE HAVE HAD
AMPLE TIME TO DEVELOP
STRATEGIES TO PARTNER WITH HER
AGENCIES TO HAVE ENHANCED OUR
TRANSIT AND SO FORTH AND TO
INFORM THE PUBLIC AND
PARTICIPATING IN MINIMIZING
THEIR TRIP.
SO WITH WEST SEATTLE WE DID NOT
HAVE THAT LUXURY BUT WE HAD
STATED THAT PRIOR THEY
IMPLEMENT THE EMERGENCY CLOSURE
A WEEK AGO.
AND WE COULD GO WITHIN FIVE
HOURS MIKE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE UNDERSTAND
THAT WEST SEATTLE HAS VERY
LIMITED CROSSING POINT OF THE
WATERWAY.
THE FIRST AVENUE SOUTH BRIDGE
AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CAN
ADDRESS OR HANDLE A LOT OF THE
REROUTES.
AND IN THE NORTH END OF WEST
SEATTLE WE HAVE VERY LIMITED
CAPACITY WITH 20,000 MAXIMUM
CAPACITY THAT CAN HANDLE.
WHICH ACTUALLY TRANSLATES TO
STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IF WE
ALLOWED 20,000 TO UTILIZE THE
BRIDGE.
HENCE WE HAVE LIMITED THE USAGE
OF LOWER SPOKANE BRIDGE FOR
EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND
TRANSIT AND FREIGHT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE NOT IMPEDING
EMERGENCY VEHICLES RESPONS
RATE AND SO FORTH TO THESE
RESIDENTS.
WE ARE REDIRECTING CURRENTLY
EVERYONE TO SOUTH PARK AND WE
ARE ALSO BEING AWARE AND
CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHERE WE ARE
REDIRECTING THIS TO MAKE SURE
WE HAVE UPPER MEDICATION.
SO THAT WE HAVE EXPEDITED THIS
TO BE BUILT AT THE PARKWAY.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT
IT IS OPERATIONAL AND IT WAS
TURNED ON YESTERDAY SO IT IS
OPERATING RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ADDING
MORE TRAFFIC STATIONS TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE DATA-DRIVEN AS
WE ASSESS OUR MITIGATION
APPROACH MOVING FORWARD.
NOT COORDINATING OUR SOUTH PARK
RESIDENCE AND MAKING SURE
NEIGHBORHOOD STREET SUCH AS
SOUTH PARK ARE NOT INUNDATED
WITH TRAFFIC IMPACT WE WILL
CONTINUE TO MITIGATE AND
STRATEGIZE HOW WE MANAGE THE
TRAFFIC.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
>> BEFORE YOU MOVE ON COUNCIL
MEMBER JAY INSLEE HAS INDICATED
SHE HAS A QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I JUST WANT TO REPEAT EARLIER
THANKS FOR YOUR QUICK ACTION TO
INSTALL THE SIGNAL AND AS IT
RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO
MONITORING THE TRAFFIC COUNT.
THANK YOU FOR ADDING THE TRAFFIC
COUNT STATIONS AND I'M
INTERESTED TO KNOW HOW
FREQUENTLY THAT YOU WILL HAVE
REPORTS ON THOSE TRAFFIC COUNTS.
AND WHAT YOUR PLAN IS TO SHARE
THAT INFORMATION PARTICULARLY
WITH MYSELF AND THE
TRANSPORTATION CHAIR ALEX
PEDERSEN.
AND JUST BECAUSE I AM REALLY
INTERESTED TO KNOW AS NEW
TRAFFIC PATTERNS DEVELOP AND
HOW QUICKLY YOU MAY BE ABLE TO
CONSIDER ADJUSTING ACCESS.
YOU HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT THAT
YOU ARE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS
ON A DATABASE APPROACH AND I
JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND A
LITTLE BIT MORE WITH SOME
ADDITIONAL GRANULARITY HOW
FREQUENTLY YOU WILL BE
MONITORING THOSE TRAFFIC
PATTERNS AND IN PARTICULAR I
WANT TO PUT ANOTHER PLUG-IN.
I AM HEARING A LOT FROM OUR
HEALTHCARE WORKERS THAT ARE
NURSES AND FIREFIGHTERS AND
POLICE OFFICERS AND EMTS AND
THEY ARE WORKING A LOT OF
OVERTIME.
THEY ARE NOT TAKING PUBLIC
TRANSIT SO THAT THEY CAN BE
MORE LIKELY TO STAY HEALTHY AS
THEY ARE DRIVING TO THEIR JOBS.
I AM REALLY HOPING THAT OF
COURSE FOUNDED BY THE
PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC SAFETY THAT
THERE IS AN APPROACH OF TRAFFIC
MITIGATION APPROACH THAT ALLOWS
THE CONSIDERATION OF THE
EXPANSION OF THE LOWER-LEVEL
BRIDGE FOR SOME OF THOSE
WORKERS.
>> OKAY.
AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE.
SO WHERE WE HAVE CURRENTLY THE
TRAFFIC COUNT AT THE LOWER
SPOKANE BRIDGE WHICH WE CAN
REPORT IN A DAILY BASIS.
THE FIRST INFLUX WE SAW AFTER
THE CLOSURE ON A TUESDAY WE SAW
15,000 CROSSING IN LOWER
SPOKANE WHICH HAD REALLY
STRESSED THE EMERGENCY
RESPONDERS AND WE HEARD A LOT
MY PARTNER AGENCY FOR THE
RESPONDERS TO SAY THAT THIS IS
NOT RELIABLE.
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
RESTRICTION OF LOWER SPOKANE
CONTINUES AND AS YOU STATED WE
WILL BE DATA-DRIVEN AND IF
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES IN
WHICH TO OPEN IT UP MAYBE IN
THE LATE EVENING AND SO FORTH
IF THERE IS CAPACITY WE COULD
CONTINUOUSLY CONSIDER THOSE
THINGS.
THE NEW ADDED DATA POINTS ONCE
WE HAVE THEM IN PLACE WOULD BE
VERY HAPPY TO REPORT OUT DAILY
OR WEEKLY IN TERMS OF THE
ANALYSIS AND FROM AN
ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE WE'RE
UTILIZING THE DATA FOR THE
SIGNAL TIMING TO ADJUST OTHER
THINGS CONTINUOUSLY ON A DAILY
BASIS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WANT TO
STRESS THE LEVEL OF THE LOWER
SPOKANE BRIDGE BECAUSE CLEARLY
IT IS THE CLOSEST IN TERMS OF
THE WATERWAY CROSSING BUT
KEEPING IT AVAILABLE AND
RELIABLE FOR EMERGENCY
RESPONDERS ESPECIALLY IN THE
TIME THAT WE ARE IN IS VERY
ESSENTIAL AND I JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE PLACE THESE
RESTRICTIONS FOR THE TIME WHICH
WE HAVE RESTRICTED IT FOR NOW.
WE KEEPING OUR VULNERABLE USE OF
PEDESTRIANS IN MIND ALONG WITH
THE BIKES AND TRANSIT IN MIND
AS WE HOPE TO MITIGATE AND WITH
ALL OF THE ROUTES WHERE WE ARE
DIRECTING OTHER TRAFFIC TO GO
THROUGH.
SO IT IS A CONTINUOUS
MONITORING AND ADJUSTMENT.
>> I WANT TO JUMP IN AND SAY
THAT RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN AN
EXTRAORDINARY TRAFFIC PERIOD.
WE HAVE SEEN MASSIVE DECLINES
IN FOLLOWING THE HOME STAY AT
HOME ORDER PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING
THAT AND ARE NOT TRAVELING IN
THE WAY THAT THEY NORMALLY
WOULD.
AND SO RIGHT NOW WE KNOW THAT
HER TRAFFIC LEVELS ARE DIFFERENT
EVEN IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF
DAYS OF THE CLOSURE DESPITE
PUTTING IN RESTRICTIONS ON THE
LOWER BRIDGE AND WE SAW 13,000
PEOPLE A DAY OR 15,000 PEOPLE
PER DAY USING THAT BRIDGE.
IF AND WHEN THINGS COME BACK TO
NORMAL LET'S SAY AND I'M UP
DOMESTIC WILL BE BACK TO NORMAL
HOPEFULLY SOON FROM A TRAFFIC
PERSPECTIVE BUT WE NEED TO BE
VERY CAREFUL ABOUT NOT TAXING
AND OVER STRESSING HER
INFRASTRUCTURE KNOWING THAT
THERE ARE THESE IMPACT SO WE
ARE VERY COMMITTED TO SHARING
AND FIGURING OUT THE BEST WAYS
DURING THE VIADUCT CLOSURE WITH
THE -- BOARD AND COMMUNICATING
WITH AN AUTOMATED BASIS
BASICALLY WHAT TRAFFIC IMPACTS
WERE AND WE ARE VERY COMMITTED
TO DOING THE SAME THINGS AND
UNFORTUNATELY THIS WILL NOT BE A
SHORT-TERM ISSUE THAT WE HAVE
TO DEAL WITH BUT WE WILL FIGURE
OUT WAYS TO SHARE INFORMATION
AND ADAPT AS WE GO FORWARD.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
THE DETOUR MAP INDICATES HOW WE
ARE ADVANCING EVERYONE THAT HAD
TO THE FIRST AVENUE HERE AND
THEN LIMITING THE LOWER SPOKANE
BRIDGE.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE PEOPLE
THAT LIVE IN THE NORTH END OF
WEST SEATTLE AND WE'RE ASKING
THEM TO TRAVEL AND ADDING FIVE
MORE MILES TO THEIR DRIVING
TIME TO GET BACK INTO 99 AND WE
RECOGNIZE THAT THAT COULD BE A
CHALLENGE FOR SOME.
I THINK AS SOME HAVE STATED
THAT WHEN WE GO BACK TO NORMAL
THAT THIS HAS A SPECIAL REQUEST
IN WHICH A NUMBER OF TRIPS NEED
TO BE REDUCED IN ORDER TO
MITIGATE IMPACT WE ARE SEEING.
AND WE ARE NOT SEEING THAT MANY
IMPACTS BUT IT IS JUST THAT
LEVEL OF TRAFFIC THAT WE ARE
MOVING THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE
ON A DAILY BASIS WITH 84,000
AND SO THAT WILL REQUIRE A LOT
OF STRATEGIES AND SO FORTH TO
REDUCE THE NUMBER PERSONAL
TRIPS THAT WE ARE MAKING MOVING
FORWARD.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
>> THIS IS REITERATING WHAT SAM
HAD INDICATED BECAUSE WE ARE
PLANNING WHAT THE STRATEGIES
WILL BE AS WE GET BACK INTO
NORMAL TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND WE
HAVE A TASK FORCE SET FOR THE
METRO REPORT TO STRATEGIZE HOW
WE WILL HANDLE THIS IMPACT THAT
HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO OUR
NETWORK.
AND IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME LEVEL
OF EFFORT THAT WE HAD SEEN IN
THE VIADUCT AND THAT IS THAT
LEVEL THAT WE ANTICIPATE TO
IMPLEMENT FORWARD.
>> NOW I WILL PASS IT ON TO
MATTHEW DONAHUE.
>> OKAY SO WHAT WILL WE DO TO
GET THE BRIDGE BACK IN SERVICE?
FIRST WE NEED TO PUT IN
TEMPORARY SHORING TO PRESERVE
THE STRUCTURE AND THAT IS
PRIMARILY TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR
CONTRACTOR TO BE ON THE BRIDGE
AND TO DO MORE EXPLICIT
EXTENSIVE REPAIRS.
THE APPROACH TO THE REPAIRS AT
THIS POINT WE THINK IT WILL
LIKELY BE CARBON FIBER WRAPPING
WITH ADDITIONAL REINFORCEMENT
TO KEEP CONNECTIONS AS THE
CARBON FIBER WRAPPING IS A
WOVEN CARBON FIBER MESH AND HE
CAN LAY IT ONTO THE BRIDGE AND
ANCHOR IT DOWN TO CODE IT WITH
THE TYPE OF EPOXY AS IT HARDENS
UP TO FOUR MICHELLE THAT
ADDITIONALLY REINFORCES AND
PROVIDES INTEGRITY AS A BRIDGE
AND WE WILL LIKELY COMBINE IT
WITH A STEEL STRAND IN THE
CONCRETE THAT WAS TIGHTENED UP
AS PART OF THE ORIGINAL
CONSTRUCTION AND LOCKED DOWN
AND WE COULD STILL USE THAT
TECHNIQUE TO PUT ADDITIONAL
POSTAGE INSIDE THE HOLLOW PART
OR ON THE OUTSIDE IF NECESSARY
DEPENDING ON HOW THE MECHANICS
OF THE CRACKED SECTIONS
ULTIMATELY WORK OUT.
AND WE MENTIONED BEFORE WE WILL
BE LOOKING AT ALTERNATE
DELIVERY METHODS AND WE NEED TO
BE REALLY CAREFUL IN THE DESIGN
TO SEE IF WE CAN DO IT IN SUCH
A WAY THAT IT DOES NOT IMPACT
THE BOX AND THE THEORETICAL BOX
AROUND THE FEDERAL NO
NAVIGATION CHANNEL ANY THE
BRIDGE.
IF YOU CROSS INTO THE PLANE OF
THE HORIZONTAL LIMITS OF THAT
NAVIGATION CHANNEL OR IF YOU
CHANGE THE CLEARANCE OF THE
BRIDGE AND IT TRIGGERS FEDERAL
PERMIT THROUGH THE COAST GUARD
THAT COULD ADD SIGNIFICANT TIME
TO CAPACITY BECAUSE HE CANNOT
STAY OUTSIDE OF THAT BOX.
AND SO I THINK WITH THE NEXT
SLIDE AS WE TALK ABOUT
COMMUNICATIONS.>> SURE.
JUST TRYING TO WRAP UP HERE AS
WELL.
THANKS EVERYBODY FOR THEIR TIME
ON THIS.
SO WE HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT
OUR COMMITMENT TO OPENNESS AND
TRANSPARENCY AND WE STOOD UP A
WEBSITE AND WE ARE CONTINUING
TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION.
WE HAVE AN ONGOING PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS TO CONNECT WITH
COMMUNITY AND OPEN THE FEET
BACK CHANNELS SO THAT WE CAN
PROBLEM SOLVE IN REAL TIME WITH
PEOPLE AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT
WE KEEP EVERYBODY UP-TO-DATE AS
NEW INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE
AND AS WE HAVE A REGULAR RHYTHM
OF INFORMATION TO SHARE AND AS
WE COME UPON MAJOR MILESTONES.
I HEAR THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER
HAS A QUESTION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD
YOU ARE ON MUTE AND THEN AFTER
THIS WE HAVE A QUESTION AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
AS IT RELATES TO COMMUNICATION,
I THINK PART OF COMMUNICATION
ALSO INCLUDESMAKING SURE THAT
THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE
ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES ARE.
IF YOU COULD JUST SPEAK TO HOW
WE ARE PLANNING TO ENFORCE THE
RESTRICTION OF THE LOWER-LEVEL
BRIDGE TO THE FREIGHT TRANSIT
AND FIRST RESPONDERS AND OTHER
POPULATIONS OF DRIVERS AS THOSE
RESTRICTIONS ARE CONSIDERED FOR
RELAXATION.
>> SURE AND SO RIGHT NOW WE
HAVE SIGNS OUT INDICATING WHO
IS PERMITTED TO TRAVEL AND WE
HAVE SUPPORT FROM THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND TRYING TO MAKE
SURE THAT PEOPLE FOLLOW THOSE.
WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT THE BEST PRACTICE AND HOW
TO BEST DO THAT.
AND UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE SEEN
A LOT OF PEOPLE VIOLATING THOSE
RESTRICTIONS WHICH HAS LED TO
CHALLENGES IN MANAGING THE
TRAFFIC FLOW.
OUR GENERAL APPROACH TO
ENFORCEMENT OF ALL OF OUR
TRAFFIC RULES IS TO HAVE PEOPLE
FOLLOW THE RULES AS WE SET THE
AMOUNT AND TO HAVE A SLIGHT OF
AN ENFORCEMENT TOUCH AS POSSIBLE
AND IF WE CANNOT GET RESULTS
THAT WE NEED THROUGH THAT THEN
WE WILL HAVE TO REEVALUATE THE
STRATEGIES.
BUT I THINK ULTIMATELY THAT IF
WE HAVE EVERYBODY TRYING TO USE
THE LOWER BRIDGE THEN NOBODY
WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE LOWER
BRIDGE>> THAT'S RIGHT AND AS
YOU NOTE, I THINK A LOT OF
FOLKS ARE CONTINUING TO USE THE
LOWER-LEVEL BRIDGE.
THIS IS AN AREA THAT I WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE SOME CONTINUING
CONVERSATION. WITH YOU ABOUT.
OBVIOUSLY I AM SPEAKING ON ONE
HAND TO THE INTEREST OF USING
THE LOWER-LEVEL BRIDGE FOR MORE
COMMUTERS AS IS SAFE IN THE
FUTURE AND I ALSO HAVE REAL
CONCERNS ABOUT THE EXTENT TO
WHICH IT IS BEING USED NOW IN
CONFLICT WITH THE CURRENT
RESTRICTIONS.
>> ABSOLUTELY AND I THINK
THAT'S A PLACE WHERE WE KNOW
THAT NOT EVERYBODY READS ARE
LOGGED OR GETS OUR TWITTER
STREAM.
I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE USED TO
DOING THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE
USED TO DOING THEM I WANT TO
MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE GETTING
SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THESE
RESTRICTIONS SO THAT THEY KNOW
HOW TO PLAN THEIR TRIPS AND IT
WILL BE SOMETHING WE WILL ALL
NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AS A
COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE WE USE
THAT RIDGE TO THE BEST EXTENT
POSSIBLE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER TERESA
MOSQUEDA IS ON THE LINE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND THANKS TO SAM ZIMBABWE WITH
TWO BRIEF POINTS AND ONE IS
THAT WE JUST WENT TO
CENTURYLINK FIELD FOR THE TOUR
AND I WILL WANT YOUR TEAM TO
ASSESS THE CURRENT SITUATION
THIS MORNING BUT I WANT TO ECHO
THE CONCERNS ABOUT FIRST
RESPONDERS BEEN STUCK IN
TRAFFIC RIGHT NOW AND PEOPLE
CLEARLY USING THAT AS A SHORTCUT
. I HOPE THAT SOME OF THEM ARE
MEDICAL PROVIDERS.
IT DOES APPEAR THAT THERE ARE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT
FIRST RESPONDERS AND NOT IN
THAT COMMERCIAL TRANSIT THAT
ARE CLOGGING UP THE LOWER
BRIDGE AND I JUST WANT TO FLAG
THAT FOR YOU AND I ECHO THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS POINT THAT IF
THE DESIRE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THAT IS A VIABLE TRAFFIC PATHWAY
NOT JUST FOR HEALTHCARE
PROVIDERS BUT ALSO THOSE WHERE
HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS AND
PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO OUR
HOMELESS POPULATION AND
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
AND SO I JUST WANT TO FLAG
THAT.
AND MY QUESTION FOR YOU WAS ON
A SECOND TO LAST SLIDE.
YOU MENTION THE WAY IN WHICH WE
ARE GOING TO TRY TO ADHERE TO A
QUICK RESPONSE IN THE LONG-TERM
IS ONES
AND WITH HER QUICK RESPONSE CAN
YOU SPEAK TO THE SAFETY OF THE
WORKERS AND THE PRECAUTIONS WE
WILL PUT INTO PLACE SO THAT WE
CAN MAKE SURE THE BRIDGE IS A
SAFETY HAZARD.
SO HOW WILL WE KEEP OUR WORKERS
PROTECTED FROM COVID-19
EXPOSURE?
>> SURE.
SO WE HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED
SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES
FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF AND WE ARE
WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR
CONSTRUCTION SITES TO IMPLEMENT
UPDATED SAFETY PLANS THAT TAKE
INTO COUNT HEALTH BEST
PRACTICES AS IT ROTATES RELATES
TO COVID-19 EXPOSURE AND AS
MATT SAID, SOME OF THE WAY THAT
THE BRIDGE IS BUILT WITH THE
HOLLOW NATURE OF THE BRIDGE IS
A PRETTY TIGHT AND CLOSE SPACE.
AND SO AS WE LOOK TO EVEN
INSTALLING AND ENSURING THEN WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE
ABILITY TO KEEP THEIR WORKFORCE
SAFE THAT IS DOING THAT
ESSENTIAL WORK TO GET THE
BRIDGE REOPENED.
NONE OF THIS WAS MADE EASIER BY
THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IN
WHICH WE FIND OURSELVES.
AND SO WE NEED TO KEEP ALL OF
THOSE ISSUES FRONT AND CENTER
AS WE ARE WORKING ON SOME OF
THESE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS.
>> THANKS COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
I JUST APPRECIATE ALL OF THE
WORK THAT WE HAVE ALREADY
CHATTED ABOUT IN TERMS OF TRULY
ESSENTIAL CONSTRUCTION WORK AND
I WILL CONTINUE TO RAISE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OTHER
PROJECTS IN OUR REGION THAT
HAVE A DEADLINE OF 2023 AND I
THINK IT REMAINS WHAT IS THE
ADDITIONAL TWO TO FOUR WEEKS
AND I THINK THIS IS IN A
DIFFERENT CATEGORY WITH THE
SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY AT
STAKE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING WORK
NOW AND IN THE FUTURE TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING WHAT IS
ESSENTIAL TO LET THEM STAY HOME
AND THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE AND
WE APPRECIATE THE PROTECTION OF
WORKERS.>>
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER DAN STRAUSS
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> I'M ALSO JUST ABOUT TO ENTER
CENTURYLINK FIELD WITH THE
EVENT CENTER WITH COUNCILMEMBER
TERESA MOSQUEDA AND I WANT TO
ECHO ALL OF HER THOUGHTS WHICH
I THINK WERE SPOT ON AS WELL
AS ECHOING COUNCILMEMBER ALEX
PEDERSEN WITH THE APPRECIATION
FOR THE FAST MOVEMENT OF SDOT
TO TAKE SAFETY MEASURES AS A
PRIORITY AS WELL AS MORE
INFORMATION EARLIER THAT IS
APPRECIATED AND WE WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THANKS TO SDOT AND
YOUR TEAM FOR MOVING QUICKLY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER DAN
STRAUSS . AND SO WE KNOW THAT
WE HAVE GONE QUITE LONG BUT I
ALSO REALLY JUST WANT TO ON THE
SLIDE WHICH IS ABOUT
COMMUNICATIONS PLAN I REALLY
WANT TO PUT IN A PLUG FOR
UTILIZING OUR LOCAL MEDIA TO
GET OUT AS MUCH INFORMATION AS
POSSIBLE TO PEOPLE IN WEST
SEATTLE AND TO DO THAT THROUGH
THE LENS OF NOT JUST ENGLISH
BUT ALSO FOR LIMITED ENGLISH
PROFICIENCY OR NON-ENGLISH
PROFICIENT POPULATIONS OF WHICH
THERE ARE MANY IN WEST SEATTLE
AS IT RELATES TO DETOURS AND
STAYING OFF OF THE LOWER BRIDGE
UNLESS YOU FALL INTO THE
APPROPRIATE POPULATION.
AND ALSO AS IT RELATES TO
TRAFFIC IMPACTS AND MITIGATION.
DISTRICT 1 IS INCREDIBLY
DIVERSE AS IT RELATES TO
LANGUAGE AND ECONOMIC POSITION
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS
THROUGH THE LENS OF LEVERAGING
LOCAL MEDIA THAT IS REALLY
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO GET OUT
THAT INFORMATION AND I KNOW
THAT SOUTH PARK HAS STRONG
CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SOUTH
PARK.
AND THEY FOLLOW THE WEST
SEATTLE BLOG WITH A LITTLE DOG
WITH HER FRIENDS OVER AND THE
BLOG TO MAKE SURE THAT SDOT IS
WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH
THROUGHOUT DISTRICT 1 THAT
FOLKS WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AT
STAKE HERE.
AND PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES
TO WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOT
JUST SHORTCUTS THROUGH THE
LOWER BRIDGE. AND PEOPLE JUST
REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
THE UPDATE IF THEY ARE NOT
FOLLOWING THOSE RESTRICTIONS AS
OUTLINED BY THE CITY.
>> WITH ALL OF THOSE POINTS
THAT'S ALSO WHERE OUR
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
HELPS US TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
COMMUNICATING OUT BROADLY AND
EXCESSIVELY WITH THE WEST
SEATTLE LOG I THINK WE ALL KNOW
IT'S JUST CRITICAL FOR ANYTHING
HAPPENING IN WEST SEATTLE AND
TRACY WAS THE FIRST INTERVIEW
WITH THE MEDIA ON THIS AND WE
WILL LOOK TO CONTINUING THAT
CHANNEL.
I JUST COMPLETELY AGREE THAT
IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE GET
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS.
BOTH THE REPAIR AND ONGOING
MITIGATION AND DETOURS AND
STUFF LIKE THAT AS BADLY AS
POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN BE
SUCCESSFUL.
OUR LAST SLIDE AND I KNOW WE
HAD A LOT OF DIALOGUE ALONG THE
WAY.
IT ALSO REALLY JUST ABOUT HOW
WE ARE STRUCTURING OURSELVES
VERY QUICKLY TO TACKLE THIS AND
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT
FALLS WITHIN ONE WORK GROUP BUT
IT IS WITH ALL OF US VERY
QUICKLY.
OACS NO AND HEATHER MARKS WHO
WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN OUR SUCCESS
AROUND THE VIADUCT CLOSURE LAST
YEAR AND BRINGING PUBLIC
INFORMATION AND PUTTING
TOGETHER ALL OF THE THINGS THAT
NEEDED TO HAVE BEEN FROM THE
SDOT PERSPECTIE AND I ASKED
HER TO TAKE THE LEAD ON
COORDINATING ALL OF THE.
BACK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WITH
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM MATT AND HOW
HE IS LEADING ON THE STRUCTURAL
ASPECTS AND THE TRAFFIC
MANAGEMENT ASPECT ALONG WITH
DAN ANDERSON WHO HAS BEEN
úLEADING A LOT OF OUR
COMMUNICATION ON THE MULTIMODAL
CORRIDOR AND THE RAPID
INVESTMENTS.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF TIES A
KNOWLEDGE WITH COMMUNITY LIVING
ON A PUBLIC INFORMATION AND AS
A DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF AND THE
AGENCY LIAISON WORKING WITH
OTHER AGENCIES AND BRING OTHER
PEOPLE TOGETHER VERY QUICKLY.
FOR ALL OF YOU ON THE COUNCIL,
OUR COUNCIL LIAISON IS
INVALUABLE RESOURCE FOR
CHANNELING REQUESTS AS SHE IS
TIED IN WITH THE TEAM AS WELL.
AND THEN, THIS IS REALLY JUST A
CRITICAL AND WITH ALL KNOW THIS
IS A CRITICAL PIECE OF WORK
WHICH IS WHERE WE HAD RAPIDLY
STOOD UP THIS TEAM WITHIN THE
CONTEXT OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH
RESPONSE RIGHT NOW AND THE
COVID-19 RESPONSE TIED INTO ALL
OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE WE
ARE DOING THERE AND THEN THIS
WILL LIVE ON AS A STRUCTURE
GUIDING US THROUGH THIS WHOLE
PROCESS.
I WANT TO REINFORCE AGAIN THAT
WE ARE TAKING THIS INCREDIBLY
SERIOUSLY AND WORKING TO
ORGANIZE OURSELVES TO BE
SUCCESSFUL IN DELIVERING
RESTORING THE BRIDGE.
>> THANKS SO MUCH TO ALL OF THE
STAFF AT SDOT FOR JOINING US IN
SHORT ORDER TO DO THIS
PRESENTATION.
BEFORE WE CONCLUDE I KNOW THAT
WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT
THE NEXT STEPS.
AND SO I WILL GO AHEAD AND
HANDED OVER TO HER.
AND SHE MAY ACTUALLY BE GEARING
UP TO ASK THE QUESTION THAT I
WAS THINKING ABOUT.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO ASK MY
QUESTION UNTIL I HEAR WHAT
COUNCIL MEMBER LISA HERBOLD HAS
TO SAY.
PLEASE AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANKS COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
SO AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY
TO OUR NEXT STEPS AND TO BOTH
THE NEAR-TERM AND THE LONG-TERM
REPAIRS IT WOULD BE REALLY
HELPFUL TO KNOW HOW IT IS THAT
YOU INTEND TO FUND THE SHORT-
TERM REPAIRS AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
AND WHAT CAN SDOT DO TO
ADDRESS OR IDENTIFY WHICH
PROJECTS THAT THEY CAN NO
LONGER AFFORD TO DO THAT WE CAN
MAKE THESE FUNDS AVAILABLE AND
WHETHER OR NOT THE COUNCIL
ACTION IS NEEDED AND I'M
ASSUMING IT WOULD TO AUTHORIZE
SHIFTING SOME RESOURCES AND
WHEN WILL WE HAVE MORE OF A
PICTURE ON THAT
>> THOSE ARE ALL GOOD
QUESTIONS.
AND YES.
THERE WILL BE BUDGET IMPACTS ON
THE WHOLE OF THE SDOT PROGRAM
IN TERMS OF TAKING THESE STEPS
AND THESE WILL BE DISCUSSIONS
WE WILL NEED TO HAVE.
QUITE LIKELY WE NEED TO GET A
LITTLE BIT OF A BETTER HANDLE
ON WHAT EXACTLY THE REPAIR AND
THE SHORING AND REPAIR OPTIONS
ARE.
WE EXPECT THAT WILL HAPPEN OVER
THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND CAN HAVE
SOME MORE OF THAT DISCUSSION
AND THIS IS THE SAME TIME AS WE
ALL KNOW AND RECOGNIZE ALONG
WITH OUR CBO DIRECTOR THAT HAS
BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT SOME OF
THE CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING AS
A CITY IN THE ECONOMIC RESPONSE
TO COVID-19 AS WELL.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT THAT WILL
BE COMING AROUND THE BUDGET AND
HOW THIS FITS INTO ALL OF THAT.
AND IT WILL BE A DIALOGUE THAT
WE WILL NEED TO HAVE.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT TIMING
BUT I RECOGNIZE IT WILL BE KEY
AND SOMETHING WE WILL ENGAGE ON.
LASTLY I ALSO WANT TO MENTION
THAT LAST YEAR AND BEYOND WHERE
WE ARE RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF
SHORING AND REPAIR THEN WE ALSO
RECOGNIZE THERE IS A NEED TO
START TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE
LONG-TERM IS BEYOND EVEN REPAIR
AND HOW IT IS SIMILAR TO WHAT
E HAVE BEEN DOING ON THE BALL
OR BRIDGE RECENTLY AND OTHER
BRIDGES WERE WE HAVE A LITTLE
BIT MORE LEADTIME IN THESE
TYPES OF DISCUSSIONS TO HAVE
THIS IN-DEPTH AND ROBUST
DISCUSSION OF WHAT THE OPTIONS
ARE BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE NEAR-
TERM SITUATIONS THAT WE FIND
OURSELVES IN RIGHT NOW.
THAT IS NOT OUR IMMEDIATE
PRIORITY RIGHT NOW BUT IT IS
SOMETHING WE NEED TO START
DOING AS SOON AS WE POSSIBLY
CAN.
>> NOW IN TERMS OF THE NEXT
STEPS HERE AND I AM STILL
MISSING IN TERMS OF THIS PIECE
OF INFORMATION AND WOULD
APPRECIATE AND KNOWING WHAT THE
DEPARTMENT IS THINKING ABOUT
THIS AND THESE TIMELINES AROUND
SOME OF THE SHORT-TERM
SOLUTIONS THAT YOU IDENTIFIED
AND OF COURSE THE LONG-TERM
SOLUTIONS.
CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE FOR
WHEN THIS TIMELINE OF
IMPLEMENTATION AND PROCESSING
RELATED TO THOSE TWO DIFFERENT
STEP'S OF SOLUTIONS IDENTIFIED
IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.
>> THIS IS OBVIOUSLY TAKING US
A LITTLE BIT ACCELERATING
FASTER THAN WE THOUGHT IT WOULD
AND NOT AS MUCH INFORMATION AS
WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN IN
TERMS OF SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
AND SOME OF THAT WILL GO HAND-
IN-HAND WITH WHAT THE BUDGETARY
IMPACT MAY BE FOR THE SHORT OR
THE LONG-TERM AND THE MIDTERM
REPAIR OPTIONS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY IT WILL NOT
BE A SHORT DURATION AND I DON'T
WANT TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION
THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL
HANDLE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW
WEEKS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE ARE WORKING TO DO IT AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND TO DO
ALL THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MAY
OUTLAST THE PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY THAT WE FOUND
OURSELVES IN RIGHT NOW WHICH IS
WHY WE NEED TO BE THINKING
ABOUT WHAT THE MEDICATIONS ARE
AS THINGS GET BACK TO A STATE
OF NORMALCY AS WELL.
>> YOU AND YOUR STAFF CANNOT
GIVE THE CITY COUNCIL ANY SORT
OF STRESS OF A TIMELINE AS IT
RELATES TO THE SHORT TERM GOALS
AND THE LONG-TERM GOALS OF
REPAIR.
>> A WEEK AFTER THIS WE MADE
THIS DECISION TO CLOSE THE
BRANCH AND VERY RELUCTANT TO
SPECULATE WITH WHAT THE
TIMELINES ARE.
AND AT THIS POINT WITH ANYTHING
THEY GIVE THE THEY WOULD LIKELY
HAVE PROBLEMS AND I'M VERY
RELUCTANT TO EVEN TRY TO
SPECULATE ON IT.
AND IT WOULD PUT OUT A FALSE
SENSE WITH A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF THE PATH
FORWARD THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY
DO.
>> I CAN APPRECIATE THAT AND WE
CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO CREATE
TIMELINES FOR OURSELVES THAT
WILL NOT BE REALISTIC AND SET
OF FALSE EXPECTATION FOR PEOPLE
WHO RELY ON THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE FOR MOVING ABOUT AND
WHETHER IT IS PEOPLE ON BUSES
ARE PEOPLE IN CARS.
BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO GET A
SENSE FOR WHAT THE PROCESS WILL
BE THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL
UNDERTAKE TO BE ABLE TO GET TO
APPOINT WHERE IT HAS A HIGH
LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE IN
ESTABLISHING THE TIMELINE AND
WHETHER THAT IS BY PHASES OR
FOR THAT COMPLETE PROJECT AND
RIGHT NOW WE'RE STANDING UP FOR
ONLY ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THE
DECISION WAS MADE AND IT WAS
MADE PUBLIC THAT THERE WILL BE
FULL CLOSURE OF THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE.
I DO THINK IT IS INCUMBENT UPON
US TO GET A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING FROM YOU ALL WITH
SDOT WHAT THE PROCESS WILL
LOOK LIKE FOR DETERMINING THE
RELEVANT TIMELINES AND WHAT
THEY MIGHT BE.
IS THAT SOMETHING THE
DEPARTMENT CAN DO?
>> YES WE CAN DO THAT.
I THINK IT WILL BE OVER THE
NEXT MONTH OR SO THAT WE WILL
HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF WHERE
AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
AND WE CAN START TO PUT SOME OF
THOSE ACTIONS IN PLACE AT THE
SAME TIME.
I AM VERY COMMITTED TO SHARING
THAT WITH THE COUNCIL AS WE
HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT.
AND I DO THINK THAT THE NEXT
THREE OR FOUR WEEKS ARE WHAT WE
WILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO COME
BACK WITH A BETTER INFORMATION
AND ANSWER ALL OF THOSE
QUESTIONS.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT
GIVES ME A BETTER SENSE OF HOW
LONG THE PROCESS WILL TAKE TO
REEVALUATE TIMELINES AND I
THINK THAT IS HELPFUL.
WHAT I'M HEARING FROM USE IN
THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR WEEKS
YOU WILL HAVE A SENSE FOR WHAT
THE POTENTIAL TIMELINES MIGHT
LOOK LIKE.
WHAT I WOULD ASK OF YOU NOW IS
FOR A COMMITMENT TO WORK WITH
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD AND
COUNCIL MEMBER ALEX PEDERSEN IN
MY OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE IN TIGHT COMMUNICATION
AROUND WITH THAT PROCESS IS.
AND WHAT POTENTIAL TIMELINES
MIGHT LOOK LIKE AS IT RELATES
TO BOTH THE SHORT-TERM
STRATEGIES AND THE LONG-TERM
STRATEGIES OF REPAIR OF THE
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU ALL COULD
DO?
>> DEFINITELY.'S MIKE GREAT.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
OTHER ANY OF MY OTHER
COLLEAGUES WITH QUESTIONS
BEFORE I CLOSE OUT THE
PRESENTATION?
I'M NOT HEARING FROM ANYONE.
I JUST WANT TO REALLY QUICKLY
THINK SDOT FOR ALL OF THE QUICK
WORK THAT YOU ALL DID.
I THINK THAT I WAS HERE HAD
EXPRESSED SOME FRUSTRATION AT
THE TOP OF THE PRESENTATION AS
IT RELATES TO THE TIMING OF THE
PLANNED NOTIFICATION GIVEN TO
US.
BUT I DON'T WANT THAT
EXPRESSION OF FRUSTRATION TO
MINIMIZE THE HARD WORK THAT I
KNOW THAT SDOT IS DOING AND I
ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK MATT
FOR THIS QUICK WORK AND
RECOGNIZING THAT THIS WAS A
SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE FOR
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE.
AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE SORT OF
HOW SIGNIFICANT IT WAS FOR
MATTHEW DONAHUE TO UNDERTAKE
THAT DECISION AND TO SEE WHAT
YOU SAW IN THAT MOMENT WITH
YOUR OWN EYES AND TO BUILD TO
MAKE THAT CALL AND DO IT
QUICKLY FOR THE BEST INTEREST
OF ALL USERS OF THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE AND I REALLY
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
MAKING THAT TOUGH CALL AND FOR
DOING THE WORK NECESSARY TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE AS A CITY
ACTED QUICKLY TO PRESERVE LIFE
AND SAFETY.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS AN
INCONVENIENCE FOR MANY FOLKS IN
WEST SEATTLE OR PEOPLE COMING
IN AND OUT OF WEST SEATTLE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE A
PARAMOUNT DUTY TO PRESERVE LIFE
AND SAFETY OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO
USE OR MAY USE THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE AND EMILY PROUD OF THE
WORK THAT SDOT DID TO STEP
INTO ACTION TO DO THAT. SO WE
HAVE TO GIVE JUST A LITTLE BIT
MORE AMIDST THIS CRISIS TO
DRIVE THOSE ADDITIONAL FIVE
MILES TO GET TO WHERE WE NEED
TO GET DURING THIS CREATIVE TIME
TO BE ON.
SO THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR
YOUR WORK IN THAT AND MATTHEW
DONAHUE ESPECIALLY FOR ALL OF
THE WORK YOU ARE DOING ON THIS
AS WELL .
>> YOU'RE WELCOME ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CONCLUDE
THIS PORTION OF OUR AGENDA AND
WE COULD SAY GOODBYE TO OUR
SDOT FOLKS AND THANKS SO MUCH
FOR BEING WITH US.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND
WE WILL GO THROUGH AHEAD AND
MOVE THROUGH OUR AGENDA.
WE ARE RUNNING A LITTLE LONG
TODAY AS WE ARE SLATED TO BE
HERE UNTIL AT LEAST 1130 SO
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THE
REPORTS OF TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL
ACTIONS DONE AND ABOUT 30
MINUTES.
COLLECTS WE WILL GO AHEAD AND
BECOME THE NEXT DISCUSSION ON
THE PREVIEW OF TODAY'S CITY
COUNCIL ACTIONS AND COUNSEL AND
REGIONAL COMMITTEES.
ONCE AGAIN I'LL CALL ANNA
COUNCIL MEMBERS BY DISTRICT
NUMBERS STARTING WITH DISTRICT
ONE AND ENDING WITH THE
CITYWIDE POSITIONS OF EIGHT AND
NINE.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND START WITH
DISTRICT ONE.
COUNCILMEMBER I THINK THAT YOU
ARE GIVING THE REPORT FOR
COUNCILMEMBER TERESA MOSQUEDA
AS WELL?
>> I BELIEVE THAT I AM BUT IF I
COULD DO THAT AT THE END SO I
CAN SHIFT MY PIECE OF PAPER AND
STAY IN ORDER.>> DISTRICT 1
COUNCILMEMBER TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANKS SO MUCH.
HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA TODAY.
THE FIRST IS THE RESOLUTION
31939.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT
OF THE BID BY THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO HOST THE NATIONAL
LEAGUE OF CITIES IN 2025.
THIS IS A LITTLE SURREAL TO
TALK ABOUT INVITING CONVENTION
TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE IN THE
MIDST OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT WE ARE LIVING IN.
THIS IS IN 2025 AND IT RE-UPS A
PREVIOUS RESOLUTION THAT THE
COUNCIL HAD PASSED.
THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF
BACKGROUND WITH THE COUNTRY'S
OLDEST AND LARGEST AND MOST
REPRESENTATIVE ORGANIZATION
SERVING MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS
WITH THE MISSION TO STRENGTH
AND AND PROMOTE CITIES AND
CENTERS OF OPPORTUNITY AND
LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS A
LONGTIME MEMBER AND THEY HAD
PREVIOUSLY HOSTED THIS
CONFERENCE IN 2013.
VISIT SEATTLE IS PREPARING
SEATTLE'S BID AND WORKING IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON
CITIES.
THE MAYOR HAS ALREADY SIGNED A
LETTER INDICATING THE SUPPORT
FOR HOSTING THE 20/25
CONFERENCE AND MY OFFICE HAS
PREVIOUSLY CIRCULATED
INFORMATION ABOUT THE
CONFERENCE AND ITS EXPECTED
IMPACT ON SEATTLE.
INCLUDING ANSWERS TO THE
CHECKLIST OF QUESTIONS REQUIRED
BY THE RESOLUTION FOR SPECIAL
EVENTS THAT MAY HAVE IMPACTS ON
THE CITY AND IMPACT AND
OTHERWISE AND THIS IS A PIECE
OF LEGISLATION THAT THE COUNCIL
HAD PASSED A COUPLE OF YEARS
AGO.
TODAY'S RESOLUTION DECLARES THE
CITY COUNCILS OF COURT OF
SEATTLE'S BID AND INVITE THE
NLC TO CONDUCT A SITE VISIT AS
IT CONSIDERS WHETHER IT WILL
HOST IT IS PROJECTED TO BE
ABOUT 4500 ATTENDEES WITH AN
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT OF
ABOUT $13.8 MILLION FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
JUST AS FAR AS A LITTLE BIT OF
FURTHER BACKGROUND IN 2018 AS
MENTIONED EARLIER THE
COUNCILMEMBER HAD SPONSORED AND
PASSED ANOTHER RESOLUTION TO
SUPPORT THE HOSTING OF THE
CONFERENCE IN 2024 OR 2025.
VISIT SEATTLE BELIEVES A NEW
RESOLUTION SPECIFICALLY WITH
THE TARGET DATE THAT WILL BE
REQUIRED TO ENSURE A MORE
COMPETITIVE BID FOR THEM AND
GIVEN THAT DESIRE I HAD
INITIATED THE REVIEW PROCESS
OUTLINED IN THE RESOLUTION TO
ENSURE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS
PROVIDING APPROPRIATE OVERSIGHT
AND CENTRAL STAFF REVIEWED THE
VISIT SEATTLE REQUEST AND HAS
INDICATED THAT CONFERENCE MEETS
THE DEFINITION OF A MAJOR EVENT.
SPECIAL PERMITTING IS UNLIKELY
TO BE REQUIRED AND THIS EVENT
IS UNLIKELY TO RESULT IN THE
TRIGGERING OF THE FUTURE
OBLIGATION PER THE REVEILLE
RESOLUTION TO DETERMINE THE
CITY'S FINANCIAL EXPOSURE AND
RESOURCE COMMITMENT TO THE
EVENT.
THE THRESHOLD TO TRIGGER THE
OBLIGATION THAT WAS NOT MET IS
ANTICIPATED OVERTIME
EXPENDITRES WITH 3% OF HIS
SEATTLE LEASE DEPARTMENT BUDGET
OVERTIME OTHER ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA TODAY IS WE ALSO HAVE A
RESOLUTION 31942 AND THIS
RELATES TO THE NEAR-TERM
SPENDING AND THE MITIGATION
COSTS FOR THE REPAIR AND
MITIGATION DURING CLOSER FOR
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE AND IT
BASICALLY ADDS THE BRIDGE TO
QUARTERLY REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER ALEX PEDERSEN MAY
HAVE MORE TO ADD ABOUT THIS BUT
THIS ADDS THIS PROJECT TO OUR
QUARTERLY WATCH PROGRAM.
AND THAT WILL ENHANCE OTHER
EFFORTS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS
ENGAGED IN TO MAKE SURE THAT AS
A BODY WE ARE WELL INFORMED
ABOUT BOTH IMPACTS TO COMMUTERS
AND IMPACTS TO THE CITY BUDGET
AND THE POSSIBLE NEED TO MAKE
CHANGES IN OUR OTHER SDOT
PROGRAM COMMITMENTS IN ORDER TO
FACILITATE THE NECESSARY REPAIR
AND NECESSARY MITIGATION DURING
THE CLOSER.
ONE THING I ALSO WANTED TO
MENTION IS THAT I HAD RECEIVED
SOME INQUIRIES ABOUT THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT ENFORCEMENT OF THE
STAY-AT-HOME ORDER AND THERE
WERE CONCERNS RAISED AT LAST
MONDAY'S COUNCIL BRIEFING
MEETINGS ALONG WITH SOME
ACTIVITY ONLINE ABOUT CONCERNS
ABOUT HOW THIS SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IS GOING ABOUT
ENFORCING THE STAY-AT-HOME
ORDER.
THE CHIEF CLEARLY COMMUNICATED
TO ME THAT THEY'RE NOT
ENFORCING OR STOPPING FOLKS FOR
BEING OUT AND ABOUT.
NOW AND THE CHIEF IS ALSO HT
CLEARLY COMMUNICATED THAT
TRAFFIC AND OTHER STOPS SHOULD
ONLY OCCUR IF THERE IS RISK TO
THE SAFETY OF FOLKS DRIVING
VEHICLES OR OTHERS.
AND THE INTENT IS TO LIMIT
EXPOSURE AND THAT RELATES TO
TRAFFIC STOPS.
THE CHIEF HAS BEEN MESSAGING TO
THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE DIRECTLY
CONTACTED HER AS WELL THAT IF
THIS UP AND'S WITH ALL CONCERNS
ABOUT POLICE BEHAVIOR THAN THEY
ARE REALLY RELYING ON RECEIVING
THESE DETAILS OF THOSE
EXPERIENCES.
AND IF AN INDIVIDUAL OFFICER IS
TAKING ACTIONS THAT ARE NOT
AUTHORIZED BY THE RECURRENT
POLICIES AROUND ENFORCEMENT OF
STAY-AT-HOME ORDERS THEN THE
CHIEF IS COMMITTED TO LOOKING
INTO THOSE COMPLIANCE AND SHE
HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT
THIS IS NOT THE OPERATIONAL
POLICY OF THE DEPARTMENT.
I HAVE TWO AMENDMENTS TO TWO OF
THE BILLS COMING UP LATER ON
TODAY AND IN THE INTEREST OF
TIME THEY ARE SMALL MOSTLY
TECHNICAL AMENDMENT SO I WILL
HOLD MY COMMENTS ON THOSE
BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN
CIRCULATED.
ONE RELATES TO THE ORDINANCE
FOR THE GROCERY VOUCHERS AND
THE OTHER RELATES SPECIFICALLY
TO THE ORDINANCE ALLOWING THE
CITY TO ACCEPT GIFTS.
AND THE SMALL AMENDMENTS ARE IN
YOUR INBOXES AND WE CAN TALK
ABOUT THE MORE AT 2:00 TODAY.
LASTLY I JUST WANT TO MENTION
THAT ONE OF THE EVENTS I AM
PARTICIPATING IN THIS WEEK IS A
VIRTUAL MEETING AND
PRESENTATION FOR THE DISTRICT 1
COMMUNITY NETWORK ABOUT MY
COMMITTEE WORK PLAN AND
PRIORITIES FOR THIS YEAR AND
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY.>>
THANKS COUNCILMEMBER LISA
HERBOLD.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
LISA HERBOLD?
HEARING NONE WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND MOVE ON.
COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY MORALES HAD
TO GET OFF THE CALL AND SHE
TOLD US EARLIER.
DID SHE GIVE REPORT TO ANYONE?
IT LOOKS LIKE SHE DID NOT SO WE
WILL GO AHEAD AND GO STRAIGHT
TO COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT
IN DISTRICT 3.
>> THANK YOU COUNSEL PRESIDENT
LORENA GONZALEZ.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RIGHTS
COMMITTEE.
THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE IS ON
TUESDAY, APRIL 20 AT 2 PM
ALTHOUGH OF COURSE THAT WILL
DEPEND ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE
COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
SCHEDULE THIS COMING MONTH AND
HOW THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
EVOLVES IN THE COMING WEEKS.
MY OFFICE IS PLANNING TO HOST A
VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETING THIS
THURSDAY, APRIL 2 AND WE'RE
SETTING UP TECHNOLOGY NOW AND
WILL SEND OUT MORE DETAILS
ALONG WITH LINKS TO PARTICIPATE
ONCE THEY ARE READY.
AS I JUST LAST WEEK THE
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS IS CREATING
ECONOMIC DEVASTATION WHICH IS
COMPOUNDING THE SUFFERING
CAUSED BY THE ILLNESS ITSELF.
AND OF COURSE THE FAMILIES WHO
HAVE LOST THEIR LOVED ONES AND
COWORKERS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR
COWORKERS AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE
LOST THEIR FRIENDS AND SO WE
CANNOT HOPE TO ADDRESS THE
CRISIS WITH ROBBING PETER TO
PAY PAUL AND SACRIFICING ONE
VITALLY PORT AND SOCIAL PROGRAM
TO SUPPORT ANOTHER WHICH IS WHY
WE ARE OPPOSING AS I'M SURE YOU
HAVE ALL HEARD OF ANY A BIG
BUSINESS TO RAISE SIGNIFICANT
FUNDS TO ADDRESS THE IMMEDIATE
RELATED NEEDS OF WORKING PEOPLE
AND ALSO TO CONTINUE INTO THE
FUTURE AS A PUBLIC PROGRAM AND
BUILDING AFFORDABLE SOCIAL
HOUSING AND NEW DEAL ASPECTS.
WE WILL BE UNVEILING
LEGISLATION PUBLICLY EARLIER
THIS WEEK AND I HOPE TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
COUNCILMEMBER ABOUT THAT.
THE LEGISLATION AS I'M SURE WE
WILL ALL AGREE EVEN IF THERE IS
NOT AGREEMENT ON THE
LEGISLATION ITSELF IS THAT IT
IS THE RESULT OF A GRASSROOTS
MOVEMENT THAT WE ARE HELPING TO
BUILD AND LEAD FOR NEARLY 3
YEARS ESPECIALLY AFTER THE LAST
SEVERAL MONTHS.
TO LET MY COLLEAGUES KNOW THAT
I AM ALLOWED TO CHAIR THE
COMMITTEE WHERE THE LEGISLATION
WILL BE DISCUSSED AND I HAVE IT
IN MY SUSTAINABILITY AND
WINTERS RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
SO THAT THE MOVEMENT CAN
CONTINUE TO HAVE A VOICE AS A
COUNCIL PRESIDENT IT IS
UNACCEPTABLE TO ME THAT THIS
LEGISLATION IS GIVEN ITS
SIGNIFICANCE THAT IS NOT IN THE
COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY ME BUT
COURSE IN THE PAST I HAVE NOT
HAD OBJECTIONS TO HAVING MY
LEGISLATION BEING DISCUSSED IN
COMMITTEE SHARED BY THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS BECAUSE IT'S A QUESTION
OF WHERE WE THINK WE ARE IN
TERMS OF WINNING AND WHAT THE
ROLE NEEDS TO BE FOR THE
MOVEMENT.
IN THIS CASE I THINK IT IS
EXTREMELY NECESSARY AS THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS ANNOUNCE THEY
ARE SUPPORTING THIS LEGISLATION
AND IN WHICH CASE I WILL
GREATLY WELCOME THAT.
BUT IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT I
WOULD REALLY URGE THAT THE
MOVEMENT HAVE A CLEAR AND
DIRECT VOICE BY ALLOWING MY
OFFICE TO SHARE WITH THE
COMMITTEE AND I HAVE OFFERED TO
COCHAIR COMMITTEE AND AM HAPPY
TO DO THAT AND DISCUSS THESE
OPTIONS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION
WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND
PRESIDENT GONZALES.
FINALLY BUT NOT LEAST I WOULD
LIKE TO EXPRESS SOLIDARITY WITH
ALL OF THE INSTACART WORKERS
WHO ARE ON STRIKE TODAY ACROSS
THE COUNTRY AS THEY HAVE BEEN
EXPLOITING THE CORONAVIRUS
PANDEMIC ALONG WITH THE NORMAL
EXPLOITATION OF THE WORKERS
THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR
YEARS AND AS PROVIDERS OF
PEOPLE DOING THE WORK WITH
ALMOST NO SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND
ITS QUITE INCREDIBLE AND THE
WORKERS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR
WEEKS FOR SIMPLE THINGS I CAN
SANITIZERS AND SPRAYS AND WIPES
WHICH THE COMPANY HAS REFUSED
TO PAY WITH THE SAME STORY WITH
THE AMAZON DELIVERY STATION AS
WELL AND AMAZON CARGO HANDLERS
AND DELIVERY DRIVERS REPORTING
THEIR NOT GETTING HAND
SANITIZERS FOR THEIR TRUCK.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IS TO
CART INSTACART SHOPPERS ARE
GOING ON STRIKE AND HOPEFULLY
THEY WILL BE HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF THEM PARTICIPATING
IN THE NATIONWIDE STRIKE TODAY
AND IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO
THE STRIKE BECAUSE THEY ARE
NERVOUS ABOUT THE STRIKE THEY
MAKE CONCESSIONS LIKE PROMISING
TO PROVIDE HAND SANITIZER BUT
IT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED THE
VICTORY OF THE MOVEMENT AND THE
COLLECTIVE ACTION CAN WIN.
TODAY THE STRIKE DEMANDS ARE
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WITH NO COST
TO WORKERS AND THE PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND
INCLUDING HAND SANITIZERS BUT
ALSO BEYOND THAT AND HAZARD PAY
WHICH IS AN EXTRA FIVE DOLLARS
PER ORDER ALONG WITH THE
INACTIVE AND NOT TO AT LEAST
10% OF THE ORDER TOTAL AND THE
EXTENSION AND EXPANSION OF PAY
FOR WORKERS IMPACTED BY COVID-
19 AND ANYONE WITH A DOCTOR'S
NOTE FOR PRE-EXISTING
CONDITIONS IS A KNOWN RISK
FACTOR OR UNDER SELF QUARANTINE
AND THE FULL DEMAND IS THE
DEADLINE TO QUALIFY FOR THESE
BENEFITS MUST BE EXTENDED AND
APRIL 8. I JUST WANT TO USE
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY
SOLIDARITY WITH THEM AND I WANT
TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL THAT
YESTERDAY I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE
OF INTERVIEWING ONE OF THE MAIN
STRIKE LEADERS AND I WILL BE
SHARING WITH THAT WITH YOU
SOON.
THANK YOU.>> GREAT AND THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT WE
WILL GO AHEAD.
AY QUESTIONS?
HEARING NONE WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND MOVE OVER TO DISTRICT 4
WITH COUNCILMEMBER ALEX
PEDERSEN AND THE FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> GOOD EVENING AND GOOD
MORNING IT'S NICE TO SEE
EVERYBODY.
NICE TO SEE YOU ALL AND I MISS
YOU ALL.
FOR EVERYONE VIEWING THIS
CANCEL BRIEFING JUST REMINDER
THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE
HEARING ABOUT SPECIFIC
INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS AND
PROPOSALS BUT THE SEATTLE.GOV
WEBSITE HAVE GREAT RESOURCES
THERE RIGHT NOW AND YOU CAN GO
TO WWW.SEATTLE.GOV FOR THE
NEIGHBORS COVID-19 RESOURCES
AND THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ITS
OWN WEBSITE THANKS TO THE WORK
OF ALL OF THE COUNCIL STAFF WHO
PUT IT TOGETHER WITH SEATTLE.GOV
éCOUNSEL.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT LIST OF
EXISTING RESOURCES FOR FOLKS.
ON THIS AFTERNOON'S FULL CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA THERE ARE NO
ITEMS DIRECTLY FROM THE
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE.
OUR COMMITTEE NORMALLY MEETS ON
THE FIRST AND THIRD WEDNESDAYS
OF EACH MONTH HOWEVER THERE
NOTE COMMUNITY MEETING
SCHEDULED AT THIS TIME AS WE
RESPOND TO GO COVID-19 PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS.
THANKS TO THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALES AND HER DEDICATED TEAM
FOR WORKING WITH THE CHAIRS OF
THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES TO
PRIORITIZE THEIR WORK LOADS.
WE ARE HEARING IS THE
COUNCILMEMBER MENTIONED THE
RESOLUTION 31942 WHICH SHE AND
I HAD WORKED ON TOGETHER TO ADD
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE TO THE
WATCHLIST CAPITAL PROJECTS NOW
THAT IT HAS BECOME A MAJOR
CAPITAL PROJECT SO THAT WE CAN
TAKE THE VERY INTENSE OVERSIGHT
WITH LAWRENCE.
AND ANOTHER TRANSPORTATION
ISSUE IS THAT WE HAVE LISTENED
LAST WEEK AND TOOK ACTION TO
MEET THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS
OF HOSPITAL WORKERS TO STAY
HEALTHY AND MAINTAIN SOCIAL
DISTANCING WHEN THEY DRIVE TO
THEIR JOBS.
LAST WEEK AHEAD ANNOUNCED FREE
ON STREET PARKING AROUND
HOSPITALS AND TESTING SITES FOR
HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
THERE WERE VARIOUS PARKING
RESTRICTIONS AROUND THE
HOSPITALS WHICH HAVE BEEN
RELAXED.
AND THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION HAD WORKED WITH
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN
AND I WANT TO THANK THEM THAT
WE PRIORITIZE TRANSPORTATION
OPTIONS FOR OUR BRAVE
HEALTHCARE WORKERS ON THE FRONT
LINES OF THIS CRISIS.
DISTRICT 4 AND FOR THOSE
WATCHING THAT LIVE IN EASTLAKE
AND NORTHEAST SEATTLE, PLEASE
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SMALL
BUSINESSES IN OUR DISTRICT BY
ORDERING TAKEOUT MEALS OF LOCAL
RESTAURANTS.
LAST WEEK I WENT TO SANDPOINT
WAY TO GET TAKEOUT FOR FAMILY
AND I HOPE THAT IF YOU ARE ABLE
TO DO THAT AND I ENCOURAGE THAT
TO SUPPORT THESE SMALL
BUSINESSES.
AND ALTHOUGH OUR TEAM IS
WORKING REMOTELY DURING THIS
CRISIS BUT WE ARE STILL HAVING
OUR OFFICE HOURS AND PLEASE
SCHEDULE OFFICE HOURS BY PHONE.
THEY HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL
AND HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL
PEOPLE THIS PAST FRIDAY
AFTERNOON.
JUST EMAIL US WITH ALEX
PEDERSEN AT SEATTLE.GOV.
THAT IS WITH THE LETTER D LIKE
DISTRICT AND ALONG WITH A
CAPITAL E WHICH IS THE MISSING
D. ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA TODAY
IS THE RESOLUTION FROM
COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY MORALES
ABOUT EVICTIONS AND THE
MORATORIUM ON FORECLOSURES.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING
THAT IN THE COUNCIL TODAY AND
ALSO COUNCILMEMBER TERESA
MOSQUEDA HAD CIRCULATED A
LETTER WHICH IS COMPLEMENTARY
TO THAT RESOLUTION AND IT ZEROS
IN ON ASKING THE GOVERNOR TO
HAVE A BAN ON FORECLOSURES
DURING THE CRISIS.
THROUGH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
EQUATION WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
EVICTIONS AND WE NEED TO
CONSIDER FORECLOSURES.
SO THAT THE BANKS ARE NOT
FORECLOSING ON THE FOLKS
PROVIDING HOUSING OR PROVIDING
COMMERCIAL SPACE.
AS SOMEBODY WHO HAD WORKED AT
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS LET ME
SAY THIS TO THE BANKS.
DO THE DECENT THINGS, BANKS.
DO NOT FORECLOSE AND TO MAKE
SURE YOU DO THE RIGHT THING
WE'RE ASKING OUR GOVERNOR TO BAN
BANK FORECLOSURES DURING THIS
PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC
CRISIS.
YOU HAVE ALL SEEN THE MOVIE
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE AND WE
ARE ASKING THE BANKS TO BE LIKE
THAT CHARACTER JIMMY STEWART
PLAYED AND NOT THE CHARACTER
WHO IS ALWAYS FORECLOSING.
LEASE TO THE RIGHT THING AND
THANKS VERY MUCH.
NOW WE MEET READ THE NOTES OF
COUNCILMEMBER DEBORA JUAREZ.
>> YES YOU CAN.
AND BEFORE YOU DO THAT IF THAT
CONCLUDES THE REPORT , I WANT
TO OPEN IT UP TO LET YOU ASK
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR
REPORT.
>> I HAVE COMMENTS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT.
>> THIS IS IN RELATION TO THE
RESOLUTION OF COUNCILMEMBER
TAMMY MORALES BUT I WILL JUMP
IN AND JUST SAY THAT JUST FOR
ANYBODY WHO IS LISTENING AT
THIS MOMENT OUTSIDE OF THIS
ECONOMIC COUNSEL WITH THE
RESOLUTION THAT CALLS FOR A
MORATORIUM ON RENT PAYMENTS AND
MORTGAGE PAYMENTS.
WHICH IS A STEP AHEAD OF AUTO
MOVEMENT WISHED FOR AND TO THE
MAYOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON THE
COUNCIL FOR THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM AND FORECLOSURE
MORATORIUM AND I DO THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT THE RENT
PAYMENTS AND MORTGAGE PAYMENTS
ARE SUSPENDED AND THE USABILITY
PAYMENTS ALSO TO BE SUSPENDED
THROUGH THE END OF THE CRISIS.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LAID OFF
AND LOST THEIR WAGES AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANNOUNCED
THAT OVERALL AT LEAST OVER 3
MILLION PEOPLE NATIONWIDE HAVE
LOST THEIR JOBS JUST IN THE
LAST WEEK.
THIS IS THROUGH USING THE
UNINSURANCE FILINGS AS A
MEASURE WHICH WINDOWS REGULARLY
AND UNDERESTIMATE BECAUSE MANY
PART-TIME WORKERS DON'T QUALIFY
AN ECONOMY WORKERS DON'T
QUALIFY AND SELF-EMPLOYED
PEOPLE DON'T QUALIFY.
WE KNOW BY THAT MEASURE THAT
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
LOST THEIR JOBS AND WASHINGTON
STATE IS WELL ABOVE WHAT IS
ANNOUNCED WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF LABOR OF OVER 130,000.
WE SHOULD IMAGINE THAT ROUGHLY
150 TO 200,000 WORKERS ARE
BEREFT RIGHT NOW AND WE KNOW
THAT THE MAJORITY OF AMERICA
LIVES PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND
THERE'S NO WAY THAT MANY OF
THESE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO
PAY THEIR RENT AND IN THE CASE
OF HOME OWNING WORKERS AND
STRUGGLING SMALL BUSINESSES
THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PAY
THE RENT OR MORTGAGE.
THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO
CALL FOR SUSPENDING BOTH AND I
SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND
BEFORE THE RESOLUTION WAS
ANNOUNCED TO MY OFFICE HAD
ANNOUNCED A PETITION URGING THE
GOVERNOR STATEWIDE TO CALL FOR
SUSPENSION OF RENT AND MORTGAGE
AND UTILITY PAYMENTS AND ALSO
THE PETITION CALLS FOR RENT
FREEZE.
MEETING NO INCREASES IN THE
MONTHLY RENT THROUGH THE END OF
2020.
AND WHAT IS STUNNING IS THAT WE
HAVE BEEN TOLD IN THE POSITION
THAT WE ARE HEARING FROM PEOPLE
AROUND THE STATE THAT CORPORATE
LANDLORDS ARE SO BLOODSUCKING
THEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
PANDEMIC ARE SENDING RENT
INCREASE NOTICES TO TENANT FOR
A COUPLE OF MONTHS FROM NOW.
THAT IS UNCONSCIONABLE AND WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A
SUSPENSION OF RENT AND MORTGAGE
PAYMENTS.
AND A RENT FREEZE MEETING NO
INCREASES IN THE MONTHLY RENT
UNTIL THE END OF 2020.
AND I WANT TO SHARE THAT OUR
PETITION HAS GATHERED WELL OVER
6000 SIGNATURES AND IT WILL
CONTINUE TO GATHER AS WE SPEAK
AS THEY ARE ROLLING IN.
AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
THIS AND IN FACT WE ARE NOT
ALONE BECAUSE ACTUALLY THERE'S
A PETITION IN OHIO FOR EXAMPLE
IT HAS GATHERED OVER 115,000
SIGNATURES AND SO PEOPLE ARE IN
CRISIS THROUGHOUT THE NATION
AND THROUGHOUT WASHINGTON STATE
AND IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
THAT STEPS ARE TAKEN BECAUSE IT
IS MARCH 30th AND RENT WILL BE
DUE AND PEOPLE WILL BE IN
CRISIS IMMEDIATELY.
I REALLY URGE THE QUICK PASSAGE
OF THIS RESOLUTION AND THANK
YOU.
>> THANKS COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT AND ALEX PEDERSEN FOR
THOSE REMARKS.
ON THE RESOLUTION THAT IS BEING
SPONSORED BY THE COUNCILMEMBER
WHICH WE SUPPORT WE WANT TO
CLARIFY BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN
RECEIVING EMAILS AND SOCIAL
MEDIA TRAFFIC ON THIS ISSUE AND
THIS SEEMS TO BE A
MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT THE
RESOLUTION WILL ACCOMPLISH.
THE RESOLUTION WILL CREATE A
STATEMENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE
RECORD THAT WE SUPPORT WITH THE
GOVERNOR TO ENCOURAGE THE
GOVERNOR TO TAKE THIS ACTION AS
IT RELATES TO STOPPING
FORECLOSURES AND THE INCREASES
OF RENT.
SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
ADVOCATING FOR THIS SEEM TO
THINK THE PASSAGE OF THIS
RESOLUTION WILL IN EFFECT
FREEZE RENTS AND STOP RENT
INCREASES AND STOP FORECLOSURES
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE REALLY
CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC THAT THIS
IS NOT WHAT THE RESOLUTION WILL
ACCOMPLISH WHEN IT IS PASSED
THIS AFTERNOON.
OUGHT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT
SENDING OUT A FALSE EXPECTATION
ABOUT WHAT THIS RESOLUTION WILL
ACCOMPLISH IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND STATEWIDE.
DO YOU WANT TO PROVIDE THE
REPORT FOR COUNCILMEMBER DEBORA
JUAREZ?
>> YES AND THANK YOU.
BECAUSE WE ARE THE VICE CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE THAT THEY HAD
CHAIRED THEY ASKED TO READ THE
COUNCIL BRIEFING NOTES AND THE
FIRST ONE IS ABOUT THE SOUND
TRANSIT . LAST THURSDAY THEY
HAD ATTENDED THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS MEETING AND THEY HAD
MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR MEMBERS TO
PARTICIPATE LOCALLY AND TO
DISCUSS SEVERAL ITEMS SUCH AS
THE COVID-19 IMPACT ON A
TRANSIT SYSTEMS.
AND ONGOING POLICY DISCUSSIONS
AROUND FAIR ENFORCEMENT.
COUNCILMEMBER DEBORA JUAREZ
WANTS TO THANK THE MANY
INDIVIDUALS THAT CONTACTED HER
ABOUT THE INVESTMENT IN PILOT
PROJECTS THAT SERVICES LOW
INCOME RIDERS AS WELL AS THE
IMPORTANCE OF ENFORCING
PROTOCOLS FROM COMPLICATIONS OF
THE SYSTEM.
THEY WHOLEHEARTEDLY STAND WITH
THIS MESSAGE AND ADVOCATE FOR
THESE IMPROVEMENTS AND THEY
HAVE DECIDED TO DELAY THE MAJOR
POLICY VOTE TO A LATER TIME TO
ALLOW MORE ATTENTION TO THE
COVID-19 IMPACT.
SHE HAS A PARKS UPDATE BECAUSE
PARKS IS IN HER COMMITTEE AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKS IN
RECREATION AS WE KNOW THEY
TEMPORARILY CLOSED SOME PARKING
LOTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND PARKS TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE
FROM TRAVELING TO THE PARKS AND
TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING
PROTOCOLS.
THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL
PARKING LOTS CLOSED AND
SPECIFICALLY ON WASHINGTON
BOULEVARD TO HELP LIMIT THE
AMOUNT OF PEOPLE CONGREGATING
IN PARKING LOTS AND A PARKED
SITES.
COUNCILMEMBER DEBORA JUAREZ IS
CONTINUING TO ASSESS THESE
CLOSURES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
ADDRESSING SOCIAL DISTANCING
CONCERNS AND NOT HAVING ANY
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
THESE PARKING LOTS ARE PICTURED
BEACH AND ADAMS STREET AND 49th
STREET AND MOUNT BAKER AND
COLEMAN PARK AND D STREET.
THESE MEASURES ARE NOT MEANT TO
PROHIBIT INDIVIDUALS FROM USING
THE PARKS BUT JUST TO DOVETAIL
WITH THE RECENT CLOSURES AT
OTHER PARKING LOTS AROUND THE
CITY THAT SERVICE PARKS.
COUNCILMEMBER DEBORA JUAREZ
WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE HANDWASHING STATIONS
AND IMAGINE OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS MAY BE TALKING
ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
BRIEFLY THE MAYOR HAD ANNOUNCED
THE APPOINTMENT OF 14 TOILETS
WITH SIX HANDWASHING STATIONS
NEAR IMPACT DID AREAS AND HIGH-
IMPACT ENCAMPMENT AREAS
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE AND ONE OF
THOSE INCLUDES NEAR THE LAKE
CITY COMMUNITY CENTER IN
DISTRICT 5 IF THEY ARE OPEN
FROM 7 AM UNTIL 8 PM AND DAILY
MAINTENANCE WILL BE PROVIDED.
THAT IS THE COUNCILMEMBER
DEBORA JUAREZ REPORT .
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
ALEX PEDERSEN FOR DOING THAT.
OKAY I THINK COUNCILMEMBER DAN
STRAUSS IS DOING A TOUR.
DID HE LEAVE A REPORT WITH
ANYONE?
IT LOOKS LIKE HE DID NOT SO WE
WILL MOVE ON TO DISTRICT 7 AND
COUNCILMEMBER ANDREW LEWIS.
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANKS SO MUCH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT LORENA GONZALEZ.
FIRST OF ALL CAN EVERYONE HEAR
ME ? FIRST OF ALL CAN EVERYONE
HEAR ME?
I SEE NODDING SO THAT'S GREAT.
TO START NOTHING FROM THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESSNESS AND ON THE COUNCIL
AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON.
I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
RECOGNIZE AS COUNCILMEMBER ALEX
PEDERSEN JUST DID, THE
DEPLOYMENT OF THE ADDITIONAL
HYGIENE FACILITIES TO PROVIDE
RESOURCES TO OUR NEIGHBORS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN
THE 14 TOILETS AND SIX
HANDWASHING STATIONS AND SOON
THERE WILL BE DEPLOYED FOUR
HYGIENE TRAILERS WITH SHOWERS
AND TOILETS AND HANDWASHING
STATIONS.
ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE
NAVIGATION TEAM HAS DISTRIBUTED
1600 HYGIENE KITS TO FOLKS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND
TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO ADEQUATELY
MAINTAIN HYGIENE IN THE WAKE OF
THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK.
I AM ALSO GRATEFUL FOR THE 1900
ADDITIONAL TRANSITIONAL SHELTER
SPACES THAT HAVE BEEN STOOD UP.
MY COMMITTEE AND I KNOW I HAVE
TALKED TO A NUMBER OF
COLLEAGUES ABOUT THIS.
IS INTERESTED IN LOOKING INTO
HOW MANY OF THESE TRANSITIONAL
SPACES THAT WE CAN HANG ONTO
AND PROTECT ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THIS OUTBREAK GIVEN THAT WE
WILL STILL HAVE A STATE OF
EMERGENCY ON HOMELESSNESS WHEN
COVID-19 IS NO LONGER SUCH AN
ISSUE.
SOME OF THE 1900 SPACES I WOULD
NOTE INCLUDE THE TRANSITIONAL
ENCAMPMENTS THAT HAD BEEN
BUDGETED TO BE STOOD UP BY THIS
COUNSEL IN THE LAST CYCLE AND
I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT THE SOUTH
LAKE UNION ENCAMPMENT IN MY
DISTRICT HAS BEEN EXPANDED AS
ONE OF THOSE SITES AND I
BELIEVE ADDITIONAL SITES ARE
BEING STOOD UP BY LEHIGH AND
I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT
RESPONSE.
I DO WANT TO SAY ON THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
UNRELATED TO THE COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESSNESS THAT HAVE PUT
FORWARD A RESOLUTION ON CREATING
A WAY FOR WORKERS TO COME UP
WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON
PERFORMANCE AUDITING.
THIS WAS A BIG ISSUE I TALKED
ABOUT DURING THE CAMPAIGN.
I KNOW NUMBER OF FOLKS ON THIS
COUNSEL HAVE A LONG AND WELL-
ESTABLISHED INTEREST IN THE
AUDIT FUNCTION OF OUR
DEPARTMENT.
I THINK IT IS OFTEN FORGOTTEN
BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE
OFFICE OF AUDITORS A
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH POSITION AND
A VERY IMPACTFUL OFFICE THAT
HAS DONE SIGNIFICANT WORK TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE ORDINANCES
OF THIS COUNSEL ARE CARRIED OUT
IN AN EFFICACIOUS WAY AND THAT
THERE IS RESPONSE FROM THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO THE REQUEST
AND THE DESIRES OF THE COUNCIL
AND THAT THE MONEY THAT WE AS A
COUNCIL BUDGET AND APPROVE IS
BEING SPENT EFFECTIVELY TO
REALIZE THE GOALS AND THE
POLICY GOALS OF THE COUNCIL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT
CONVERSATION AS THAT RESOLUTION
DEVELOPS AND MORE CONVERSATIONS
ONE-ON-ONE OVER THE COMING
WEEKS.
ALSO WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE
DISCUSSION ON THE COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES RESOLUTION ON THE
MORATORIUM ON RENT AND
MORTGAGES.
AND THE ACTOR THAT HAD PLAYED
MR. POTTER AND COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON AND I WANT TO ECHO
YOUR COMMENTS THAT ALL OF OUR
BANKERS NEED TO ASPIRE TO BE
LIKE LIONEL BARRYMORE AND YOU
CANNOT TAKE IT WITH YOU AND IT'S
NOT LIKE IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
AND THIS IS CRITICAL AND
IMPORTANT AND I AGREE WITH YOU
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS
MOMENT OF CRISIS THAT WE DON'T
WANT ANYONE TO BE FORECLOSED ON
OUT IN THE STREET AND MAKE WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE'RE LEANING ON
THIS IS A COUNCIL AND A NATION
AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND
THE RESOLUTION IS A GOOD STEP
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
MOVING ONTO THE LAST THING I
WANT TO TOUCH ON BEFORE
COMPLETING THE REPORT, I KNOW
IT IS HARD TO FOCUS ON THIS
GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING
ON AS A CITY AND AS A COUNTRY.
AND THE OTHER DAY WHEN I TOOK
MY DAILY OUTSIDE OF MY
APARTMENT ACTIVITY OF GETTING
MY MAIL I WENT DOWNSTAIRS AND I
NOTICED IN THE BIN WHERE JUNK
MAIL WAS THROWN OUT AND FOLKS
ASKING YOU TO SIGN UP FOR
CREDIT CARD OR UNSANCTIONED
ADVERTISEMENTS OR COUPONS AND
THERE WAS AN ALARMING NUMBER OF
CENSUS CARDS THAT HAD BEEN
THROWN INTO THAT BEEN WITH ALL
OF THE JUNK MAIL.
OUT TO MAKE A QUICK PLEA HERE
AT THE BRIEFING FOR ALL OF YOU
WATCHING TO GO AND FILL OUT THE
CENSUS.
IT IS EXTREMELY EASY AND
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US AS A
CITY AND IS A REGION THAT WE BE
ADEQUATELY REPRESENTED AND THAT
FOLKS COME ONLINE AND FILL OUT
THE CENSUS AND GET THEIR
INFORMAION IN.
IT'S VERY SIMPLE AND YOU CAN GO
TO MY 2020 CENSUS AND IT'S
SPELLED OUT IN NUMBERS AND NOT
LETTERS.
MY 2020 CENSUS.GOV ALL ONE WORD.
IT'S CRITICAL FOR THE FUTURE OF
OUR DEMOCRACY SINCE
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATES AND
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AND
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS ARE DRAWN
BASED ON THE NUMBERS IN THE
CENSUS.
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO GET
HER ADEQUATE CHAIR
REPRESENTATION IN WASHINGTON,
D.C. AND IN OLYMPIA, IT'S
CRITICAL THAT YOU GO ONLINE TO
MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU LIVE
HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
IT'S CRITICAL FOR OUR SHARE OF
FEDERAL MONEY FOR ALL OF THE
PROJECTS THAT WE FEEL REALLY
DEEPLY FOR AND THAT WE FEEL A
DEEP NEED FOR.
JUST TO GIVE A COUPLE OF
EXAMPLES OF SNOUT FUNDS AND
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH AND
MEDICAID AND HEADSTART PROGRAMS
AND COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH.
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE THAT WE
HAD TALKED ABOUT EARLIER WITH
INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING AND ALL
OF THESE FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED
BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND
BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND PART
PROPORTIONAL TO REPRESENTATION
OF POPULATION.
IT'S CRITICAL FOR THOSE OF YOU
WATCHING AT HOME AND THE CENSUS
IS IMPORTANT.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT GOING ON
RIGHT NOW BUT MAKE SURE YOU GO
ONLINE TO MY 2020 CENSUS.GOV
AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE HEARD AND
COUNTED.>> WITH THAT MADAM
PRESIDENT I DON'T HAVE ANY
FURTHER REMARKS.
>> THANKS COUNCILMEMBER ANDREW
LEWIS.
OTHER ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER ANDREW LEWIS?
>> IT'S THE HAND RAISING.
>> I CAN SEE YOU ARE RAISING
YOUR HANDS AND IT MAKES IT A
LITTLE EASIER.
GO WITH PICKS IN THANKS FOR
MAKING THE PLUG ABOUT THE CENSUS
AND WE HAD SIMILAR THOUGHTS AND
ANXIETY. AROUND PEOPLE BEING
DISTRACTED FROM CARRYING OUT
THIS VERY IMPORTANT FUNCTION
AND A REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
RAISING THE IMPORTANCE.
COUNCILMEMBER ANDREW LEWIS I
HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT PART OF
YOUR REPORT RELATED TO
SPECIFICALLY THE HAND WASHING
STATIONS AND THE PUBLIC
BATHROOMS.
THOSE ARE LOCATED IN SIX
LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
14 BATHROOMS THAT ARE IN SOME
CASES IT JUST MEANS THEY HAVE
TWO BATHROOMSAT A SINGLE
LOCATION AND THEY ARE ONLY TO
MY KNOWLEDGE OF MY
UNDERSTANDING SIX LOCATIONS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I'M GETTING SOME CONFLICTING
INFORMATION ABOUT THE
EXECUTIVES INTENT TO EXPAND THAT
BEYOND THE SIX LOCATIONS AND
I'M JUST WONDERING IS ON THE
ONE HAND I HAVE HEARD THAT THEY
ARE CONSIDERING ADDITIONAL
LOCATIONS.
BUT I'M NOT REALLY CLEAR ON THE
PROCESS OR THE TIMING ON THAT
I'M JUST WONDERING WHETHER OR
NOT YOU HAVE HEARD FROM THE
EXECUTIVE ABOUT THE LONG-TERM
PLAN AROUND THIS REALLY
IMPORTANT NEED FOR OUR UN-
HOUSED POPULATION.
WE HAVE A COVID-19 CRISIS ON
OUR HANDS AND WE DON'T WANT
OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES
TO ARISE BECAUSE OF
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES THAT
COULD BE SPREAD FROM LACK OF
ACCESS TO BATHROOMS.
EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE AS
MANY PUBLIC RESTROOMS AS WE
WOULD LIKE IN THE CITY AT THE
FACT THAT SO MANY PUBLIC
BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN CLOSED AND
SO MANY BUSINESSES ARE CLOSED
IS REALLY HAVING A PROFOUND
IMPACT ON THE ABILITY OF OUR
AND SHELTERED POPULATION TO
ACCESS BASIC HYGIENE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
LISA HERBOLD FOR THAT QUESTION.
I SHARE THE SAME COMMITMENT
THAT SO MANY OF US ON THE
COUNCIL SHARE AND MAKING SURE
THAT WE STAND UP THESE HYGIENE
FACILITIES.
IT WAS ONE OF OUR SPECIFICALLY
ENUMERATED AND ALL THE WAY BACK
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CRISIS
ONE OF OUR SPECIFICALLY
ENUMERATED REQUESTS AND ARE
RESOLUTION TO THE EXECUTIVE AT
THE BEGINNING THAT THESE
LOCATIONS BE STOOD UP.
AT THIS TIME, I DON'T HAVE ANY
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT
ADDITIONAL SITES THAT ARE
PLANNED.
IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
UPON HEARING ABOUT THIS AND THE
CONFIRMATION OF THE SITES THAT
ARE BEING STOOD UP THAT I HAD
ASKED THE EXECUTIVE LAST FRIDAY.
I HAVE NOT HEARD A RESPONSE YET
BUT THINGS ARE MOVING VERY
QUICKLY AND IT'S ONE OF THE
THINGS ON MY AGENDA TODAY TO
CIRCLE BACK AND IT'S IMPORTANT
AND I KNOW IT'S A PRIORITY FOR
ALL OF US AS A COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
ANDREW LEWIS.
I APPRECIATE YOU FOLLOWING UP
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
MORE.
IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO
BOTH APPLAUD THE STANDING UP OF
THE SIX LOCATIONS WHILE ALSO
BEING REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT
THERE ARE SO FEW WHEN THE NEED
IS SO GREAT PICKS ARE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR FOCUS ON THIS
ISSUE AS WELL.
>> THANKS COUNCILMEMBER FOR
HIGHLIGHTING THAT.
I KNOW A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN
DOING A LOT OF WORK IN THE
SPACE FOR MANY YEARS AND WE
SORT OF SHARE YOUR CONFLICTING
SENTIMENT THERE AS IT RELATES
TO THIS ISSUE.
WE APPRECIATE THAT.
>> WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE
ALONG.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO HEAR FROM
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD WITH
THE REPORT FOR COUNCILMEMBER
TERESA MOSQUEDA IN POSITION
EIGHT.
>> YES AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
TERESA MOSQUEDA ASKED A REPORT
ON TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION
ON THE FULL COUNCIL AGENDA
TODAY FOR CONSIDERATION.
THE FIRST IS COUNTABLE 11 9763.
THIS RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO
THE GOAL OF BEING ABLE TO
QUICKLY DEPLOY RESOURCES FROM
PRIVATE DONATIONS OR GRANTS
QUICKLY TO PROVIDE COVID-19
RELIEF TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
THIS WILL RELAX SOME
REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE TYPICALLY
IN PLACE FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF
RESOURCES FROM PRIVATE
DONATIONS OR GRANTS.
BUT COUNCILMEMBER TERESA
MOSQUEDA I NOTICED THAT WHILE
RELAXING THESE REQUIREMENTS
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE
TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT AND
HOW WE ARE ALLOCATING THESE
DOLLARS.
AS A COUNCIL IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE FULL
PICTURE OF DOLLARS GOING TO
SUPPORT VARIOUS NEEDS SUCH AS
SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT AND FOOD
ASSISTANCE AND HOMELESSNESS
SUPPORT ETC.
AND THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE
INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT OTHER
EXPENDITURES.
SHE HAS AN AMENDMENT TO THIS
BILL THAT WILL REQUIRE WEEKLY
REPORTING ON HOW THESE FUNDS
ARE BEING SPENT.
SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN
PROPER OVERSIGHT.
AND THAT WE CAN ENABLE THE
EXPEDIENT DIRECTION OF THESE
FUNDS TO WHERE THEY ARE MOST
NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY.
EARLIER WE HAD AN AMENDMENT TO
THIS BILL AND MY AMENDMENT IS
ACTUALLY CONSIDERED A FRIENDLY
AMENDMENT.
IT SIMPLY ADDS TO HER REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS THAT WILL ALSO
INCLUDE THE CATEGORIES OF USE
AS DESCRIBED AS PERMISSIBLE
USES IN THE RESOLUTION ITSELF.
THE SECOND PIECE OF LEGISLATION
THAT COUNCILMEMBER TERESA
MOSQUEDA IS ANSWERING AND THAT
SHE ALSO HAS AN AMENDMENT FOR
HIS COUNSEL BILL 11 9764.
WHICH CREATES A NEW $5 MILLION
GROCERY VOUCHER PROGRAM IN THE
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT TO SUPPORT 6250 LOW
INCOME FAMILIES FACING FOOD
INSECURITY BECAUSE OF THE
RESPONSE TO COVID-19.
THE PROGRAM ITSELF IS FOUNDED
WITH SUGARY BEVERAGE TAX
REVENUES AND DUE TO THE CRISIS
WE ARE IN WE DECIDED TO
REALLOCATE SOME OF THE FUNDS
THAT WERE GOING TO PARKS IN THE
DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND
THE COMMITTEE ADVISORY BOARD
FOR THE SUGARY BEVERAGE FUND
THAT IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE
REALLOCATION OF THE FUNDS.
AND DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF
LAYOFFS DURING COVID-19, WHEN
HE TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE GETTING FAMILIES FOOD AT
THIS REALLY CRISIS TIME THAT
CAN INCREASE FOOD AND
SECURITY.>> COUNCILMEMBER
TERESA MOSQUEDA NOTES SHE IS ON
IT THAT THE DOLLARS ARE BEING
USED AT A UNION GROCERY STORE
WHERE WORKERS ARE RECEIVING
STRONGER SUPPORTS AND RESOURCES
TO PERFORM THE VARIOUS CENTRAL
SERVICES.
AND SHE WANTS ME TO NOTE THAT
SHE HAS THIS ON HER AS SOMEBODY
WHO HAS WORKED IN LABOR AND
PUBLIC HEALTH FOR OVER A
DECADE.
SHE HAS HEARD A LOT FROM
EMPLOYERS THAT THEY ARE
DEFENDING THE MINIMUM WAGE.
AND THAT THEY DEFEND HEALTH
INSURANCE.
BECAUSE THESE ARE ENTRY-LEVEL
JOBS.
AND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
I THINK THAT EMPLOYERS MIGHT
HAVE DIVERGENT OPINIONS ABOUT.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEING
THAT JANITORS AND CUSTODIAL
SERVICES AND LPNS AND HOME CARE
WORKERS AND GROCERY WORKERS AND
NURSES AND RESIDENTS AND
DOCTORS IN TRAINING AND DOCTORS
ARE SO ESSENTIAL.
I THINK THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO HOLD AS WE CONSIDER
DURING THIS TIME OF CRISIS.
AND THE COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE
IS A CITY TO WORKER STANDARDS.
AND THEY ARE SO ESSENTIAL TO
KEEP HER COMMITTEE FROM
COLLAPSE.
MANY OF THESE FOLKS ARE DOING
SO FOR VERY LOW WAGES.
AND SHE MAKES A NOTE THAT WHEN
THIS IS OVER SHE HOPES THAT WE
TAKE TIME TO PAY AND RESPECT
ALL OF THESE WORKERS FOR WHAT
THEY ARE DOING AND WHAT THEY
HAVE DONE FOR US DURING THIS
CRISIS.
AND I JUST WANT TO FLAG THAT I
HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THIS BILL
THAT REQUEST THAT ONC PURSUE
PARTNERSHIPS BEYOND SAFEWAY
WITH ADDITIONAL RETAILERS WITH
A PREFERENCE FOR THOSE WERE
ALSO UNIONIZED TO EXPAND RETAIL
OPERATIONS FOR HOUSEHOLDS
RECEIVING A MARSH EMERGENCY
GROCERY VOUCHERS.
I HAVE HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS
THAT HAVE CONTACTED ME ABOUT
HELPING HOPING WE CAN EXPAND
THIS BEYOND SAFEWAY.
THAT IS THE END OF THE
COUNCILMEMBER TERESA MOSQUEDA
REPORT .
>> THANKS AND WE WILL MOVE ON
TO THE FINAL REPORT FOR TODAY.
WHICH IS MY REPORT.
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD
TOUCHED ON IT A LITTLE BIT VIA
THIS AMENDMENT TO THE COUNSEL
BILL WITH AGENDA ITEM ONE WHICH
IS A BILL THAT I AM THE PRIMARY
SPONSOR FOR AS DESCRIBED BY
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD.
>> MY APOLOGIES.
>> NO IT'S OKAY.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
IT IS A BILL DESIGNED TO ALLOW
FOR PHILANTHROPIC.
AND CORPORATE PARTNERS TO
DONATE RESOURCES TO ASSIST
PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES IN NEED.
ARTICLE 1 SECTION 1 OF THE
CHARITY PROVIDES THAT THE CITY
OF SEATTLE MAKES UP GIFTS AND
DONATIONS OF ALL KINDS IN DUAL
ACCESS TO CARRY OUT THE
PURPOSES OF GIFTS AND DONATIONS.
WE DO HAVE SOME LANGUAGE IN THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE THAT
ALLOWS DURING THE PERIOD FOR
THEM TO ADVANCE GIFTS OR LOANS
WITH THE COUNSEL CONSIDERING
APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION TO
ALLOW FOR THAT ACCEPTANCE.
THIS LEGISLATION EFFECTUATES
THAT LANGUAGE AND OUR CHARTER
AND OR MUNICIPAL CODE WHILE
CREATING A NEW FUND AND THE
CITY TREASURY FOR GIFTS AND
DONATIONS AND GRANTS TO THE
CITY TO ASSIST IN MANAGEMENT
AND RECOVERY FROM THIS CRISIS.
WE WILL GO INTO GREATER DETAIL
ABOUT WHAT THE BILL WILL
ACCOMPLISH A 2:00 DURING THE
FULL COUNCIL BUT IT WAS A
STRAIGHTFORWARD PIECE OF
LEGISLATION AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN ASKING HOW CAN I HELP
IN GETTING GAUGED.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF NONPROFITS
THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED RELIEF
FUNDS THAT LABOR UNIONS HAVE
ESTABLISHED SOME WORKER RELIEF
FUNDS AND NOW THIS IS THE
CITY'S OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A
SIMILAR RELIEF FUND OPPORTUNITY
TO SUPPLEMENT SOME OF THE WORK
THAT WE ARE DOING IN THIS SPACE
AND OF COURSE WE ARE CONTACTED
BY MANY PRIVATE INTEREST WHO
WON'T WANT TO GIVE GIFTS OR
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AS WE LOOK AT AND WORK
AROUND MEETING THE NEEDS
CREATED BY THIS CRISIS.
AND THIS IS OUR TOOL TO BE ABLE
TO DO THAT.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
BEING ABLE TO SPONSOR THAT
LEGISLATION AND PLEASE CONSIDER
THE AMENDMENTS THAT WILL BE PUT
FORWARD AS AT 2 PM AS FRIENDLY
AMENDMENTS TO THAT LEGISLATION.
SECONDLY I WOULD SAY THAT LAST
FRIDAY I BELIEVE WE HAD RECEIVED
AN ADDITIONAL EXECUTIVE ORDER
FROM THE MAYOR RELATED TO
PROVIDING EMERGENCY CHILDCARE
TO FIRST RESPONDERS AND OTHER
ESSENTIAL WORKERS THROUGHOUT
THE CITY.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
EVALUATING THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER.
IS THE CHAIR THE COMMITTEE
RESPONSIBLE FOR EDUCATION I
TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY THE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE PROPOSED
REPURPOSE SEEING OF THE LEVY
DOLLARS IS WITHIN THE PURVIEW
OF THE ORDINANCE.
EVEN IN LIGHT OF A DECLARED
CIVIL EMERGENCY RELATED TO THIS
PARTICULAR ISSUE.
SO I AM WORKING CLOSELY WITH
CENTRAL STAFF AND I HAVE BEEN
IN COMMUNICATION FOR THE PAST
WEEK WITH THE EXECUTIVES AND
TALKING ABOUT THE PROPOSAL AND
THE FUNDING SOURCE.
OBVIOUSLY VERY SUPPORTIVE OF
THE DESIRE TO PROVIDE CHILDCARE
TO ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND WE
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THE
SERVICES WILL BE PROVIDED NOT
JUST FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND NOT
JUST FOR POLICE OFFICERS BUT
ALSO GROCERY WORKERS AND OTHERS
WHO ARE ALSO BEING REQUIRED TO
CONTINUE TO GO TO WORK AS
ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
SO HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO
CLOSE THE LOOP SOMETIME THIS
WEEK AND IF A RESOLUTION IS
NECESSARY ON THE ISSUE THAN THE
RESOLUTION WILL BE CONSIDERED
ON MONDAY, APRIL 6 SO YOU CAN
STAY TUNED AND WATCH YOUR
INBOXES FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT
EXECUTIVE ORDER.
LASTLY I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE
STARTED A STORY BANK TO COLLECT
STORIES RELATED TO HER COUNSEL
BILL'S AND TO CREATE ADDITIONAL
DEFENSES FOR COVID-19 AS
RELATED ECONOMIC ISSUES FOR NOT
BEING ABLE TO PAY RENT AS WELL
AS CREATING A PATHWAY FOR
TENANTS TO COME UP WITH A
PAYMENT PLAN IF TENANTS FALL
BEHIND ON THEIR RENT AS A
RESULT OF LOSING THEIR JOB OR
INCOME AS A RESULT OF COVID-19
BUSINESS CLOSURES.
WE ARE EXCITED THAT WE WERE
ABLE TO LAUNCH THAT EFFORT LAST
FRIDAY AND WE ARE ASKING FOLKS
TO SHARE THEIR STORIES WITH US
OF HOW THEY ARE ENGAGING WITH
THEIR LANDLORDS OR HOW THERE
NOTES ARE ENGAGING WITH THEM.
AND BY ELI MANNING US THE
STORIES TO SEE WHAT WITHIN
CORONA AND DIAGNOSIS AND 19
UNDERSCORE RENT AT SEATTLE.READ
THAT GOP AND YOU CAN GO TO THE
SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES WITH
GONZALES WITH A Z AT THE END TO
FIND A LINK TO THE GOOGLE
DOCUMENT TO SUBMIT THOSE
STORIES AS WELL.
WHEN IT TO MAKE SURE IT'S
IMPORTANT WE ARE BUILDING AT
LEGISLATIVE RECORD IN PART AND
PARCEL IS TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING NEGATIVELY
IMPACTED BY THE RENTAL MARKET
AND WHO ARE EXPERIENCING
SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC ISSUES AS
A RESULT OF HAVING TO LOSE
THEIR JOB AND GO AND
UNEMPLOYMENT AS A RESULT OF
THEIR BUSINESS BEING CLOSED
BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
BEING ABLE TO LAUNCH THIS EFFORT
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO READING
MANY OF THE STORIES THAT I'M
SURE WILL BE SHARED.
>> HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> NOT A QUESTION BUT I DO
APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE WITH THE VIEWING PUBLIC.
BECAUSE OF YOUR REMARKS I AM
REMINDED THAT ONE THING THAT WE
ARE HEARING FROM LANDLORDS IS
CONCERN ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO
ACCESS THE CITY AND THE STATES
EVICTION PREVENTION RESOURCES
AND HAVE CONFIRMED WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE BECAUSE WE HAVE
THE MORATORIUM IN PLACE THAT
PROHIBITS MEMBERS FROM ISSUING
DIFFICULTY UNDER OUR CURRENT
PROGRAMS TO ACCESS RENT
ASSISTANCE.
PREVIOUSLY RENT ASSISTANCE
COULD ONLY BE ACCESSED IF YOU
HAVE AN EVICTION NOTICE.
AND SO THE EXECUTIVE IS CHANGING
THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
TO ALLOW TENANTS TO ACCESS THE
EVICTION RESOURCES OR I'M SORRY
THE RENT ASSISTANCE RESOURCES
IF THEY HAVE A BILL.
SO AS WE ARE MAKING IT AND
ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF TENANTS
UNDER THIS REALLY DIFFICULT
ECONOMIC CRISIS.
I REALLY JUST WANT TO THANK THE
EXECUTIVE FOR WORKING TO
ADDRESS SOME OF THE NEEDS OF
SMALL LANDLORDS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALSO
COUNCILMEMBER AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALES FOR YOUR
CREATION OF THE TIMELY PAYMENT
PLANS.
IT IS SIMILAR TO A BILL THAT I
HAVE ON THE REFERRAL CALENDAR
TODAY RELATED TO THE COMMERCIAL
MORATORIUM AND I THINK IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WITHIN
THE CONTEXT OF RENT MORATORIUMS
ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT RESIDENTIAL RENT
MORATORIUMS OR COMMERCIAL RENT
MORATORIUMS BUT THAT WE CREATE
A PASS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN NOT
PAYING THE RENT AT ALL OR
HAVING TO PAY ALL OF THE RENT.
I THINK THESE TIMED PAYMENT
PROGRAMS CREATES THAT PASS FOR
PEOPLE WHO CAN CONTRIBUTE SOME
MONEY TO THE RENT AS THEY MOVE
FORWARD.
AND I ALSO APPRECIATE OBVIOUSLY
THE YOUR LEGISLATION ALSO HELPS
PEOPLE ONCE WE GET OUTSIDE OF
THE COVID-19 CRISIS.
AND THEN LASTLY, I REALLY LOVE
THE IDEA OF COLLECTING STORIES.
I THINK THAT IS NOT ONLY USEFUL
FOR THE LEGISLATIVE FOUNDATION
OF THE POLICY THAT WE ARE
CREATING.
BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT
JUST TO HIGHLIGHT SORT OF WHAT
THE PRACTICES ARE AND WHAT SOME
OF THE BETTER PRACTICES ARE.
TODAY WE READ ABOUT THE NORTH
SEATTLE MOBILE HOME PARK
LANDLORD WHO IS SHOWING A GREAT
DEAL OF FLEXIBILITY WITH THE
RESIDENCE THERE AND ALSO I HAVE
HEARD A NUMBER OF SIMILAR
STORIES AND PERSONAL FRIENDS
WERE SENDING ME NOTES THAT THEY
HAD RECEIVED FROM THEIR
LANDLORDS OF REAL EXPRESSIONS
OF GRACE IN THIS DIFFICULT
TIME.
I HAVE ALSO HEARD UNFORTUNATELY
OF LANDLORDS RAISING THE RENTS
FOR ALL OF THE TENANTS IN THE
BUILDINGS OUT OF AN ASSUMPTION
THAT SOME TENANTS WILL BE ABLE
TO PAY THE INCREASED RENTS
BECAUSE IT'S A BUILDING THAT
HAS MIXED INCOME AND HAS HIGH
INCOME EARNERS AS WELL AS LOW
INCOME EARNERS.
THIS LANDLORD IS ASSUMING THAT
THE LOW INCOME EARNERS WILL USE
THE OPPORTUNITIES CREATED BY
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM AND NOT
PAY THE RENT.
BUT BY ASSESSING LARGE RENT
INCREASES TO ALL TENANTS IN THE
BUILDINGS IN THIS PARTICULAR
LANDLORD IS HOPING TO MAKE UP
THE DIFFERENCE FROM HIS HIGHER
INCOME TENANTS.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE GET ALL OF THE STORIES
OUT WITH THE GOOD AND THE BAD
AND UGLY SO THANKS FOR CREATING
THE ABILITY TO DO THAT AND I
WILL LET THE PERSON WHO
REPORTED THIS PARTICULAR
INSTANCE TO ME KNOW ABOUT THIS
OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THEY ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE PUBLIC
ABOUT THIS UNFORTUNATE
PRACTICE.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
I COULD NOT AGREE MORE AND I
ECHO THE COMMENTS AND I
APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF ALL
OF YOU AS MY COLLEAGUES AS WE
CONTINUE TO COLLECT THESE
STORIES TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A
FULL HOLISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT IS HAPPENING OUT THERE IN
THE RENTAL MARKET DURING THIS
CRISIS.
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND THE COUNCILMEMBER YOU HAVE
BILLS RELATED TO COMMERCIAL
RENT MORATORIUMS ON THE
CALENDAR AND WE DID NOT HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THAT
WE ARE CLOSE TO NOON AT THIS
POINT.
BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING
MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU ENVISION TO
BE THE PROCESS AND THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN TERMS OF
TIMING AND CONSIDERATION OF THE
BILL.
WE ARE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO
CONSIDERBILLS SOMETIME IN
APRIL.
AND WOULD YOU THINK YOUR BILL
IS OBVIOUSLY A GOOD COMPLEMENT
TO THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING.
IN ADDITION TO A GOOD
COMPLEMENT TO THE LETTER TO THE
GOVERNOR AND THE RESOLUTION TO
THE GOVERNOR ENCOURAGING NOT
JUST A RELIEF FOR MENTORS BUT
ALSO FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE
GOING TO BE FACED WITH MORTGAGES
AND MORTGAGE PAYMENTS BEING DUE
HERE PRETTY SOON.
AND MAKE NO MISTAKE THAT THERE
ARE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW ON THE ROLES
OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS WHO
WILL BE SEEING ONLY PARTIAL
WAGE REPLACEMENT.
ANY OF THOSE HOMES WHETHER THEY
ARE RENTED OR MORTGAGED ARE
PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY
EXPERIENCING UNEMPLOYMENT.
SOME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
THEIR LIVES.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
LOOKING AT THE FULL SPECTRUM OF
WHO WILL BE FEELING THE CRUNCH
OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS AS IT
RELATES TO HOUSING COSTS.
>> OKAY AND ANY OTHER COMMENTS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES?
OKAY.
HEARING NONE.
BEFORE WE CONCLUDE BECAUSE THAT
IS THE END OF OUR AGENDA.
I REALLY WANT TO THINK OUR
TECHNOLOGY FOLKS WITH IAN AND
ERIC AND OTHERS FOR MAKING
VIDEOCONFERENCING POSSIBLE FOR
US.
THANKS TO ALL OF THE TECHNOLOGY
FOLKS IN THE LEGISLATIVE
DEPARTMENT.
AND OF COURSE THINGS START
COUNSEL CENTRAL CLERK'S OFFICE.
AND TO TOM WITH THE CENTRAL
STAFF WHO IS ON THE LINE
AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
BUT THERE WERE NOT ANY
SUBSTANTIVE QUESTIONS ON ANY OF
THE AMENDMENTS FOR THE BILLS
THAT YOU WILL BE HEARING.
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO WAS ON
THE CALL TODAY.
IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE ALL
OF YOUR FACES AND WE WILL SEE
YOU AT 2 PM.
WE ARE ATTEND.
>>