>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
SORY FOR THE SLIGHT DELAY.
TODAY IS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26
-- 6th.
AND IT IS 2020.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING.
THE COMMITTEE WILL COME TO
ORDER.
I'M TERESA MOSQUEDA.
JOINED BY COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, LEWIS, STRAUSS, AND
SOON BY TAMMY LEWIS.
I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS
TO OUR COUNC PRESIDENT WHO IS
NOT HERE.
AND WELCOME COUNCILMEMBEMORALES
AS THE DESIGNEE.
THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE WILL MEET EVERY FIRST
AND THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH.
WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS.
BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS LIKE
WE ARE TODAY.
AS OF NOW, WE ARE SCHEDULED TO
HAVE 18 MEETINGS FOR THIS YEAR.
AND WE MAY HAVE A FEW
ADDITIONAL MEETINGS THAT WE
WILL TRY TO WORK IN BEFORE THE
FULL BUDGET SESSION.
WE HAVE A PACKED AGENDA ALREADY
IN FRONT OF US, IN TERMS OF OUR
WORK PLAN.
FOR EXAMPLE, WITH OUR FRIENDS
FROM LABOR SITTING IN THE
AUDIENCE, WE KNOW WE WANT TO
LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF WORK,WORK
FORCE DEVELOPMENT AND
TECHNOLOGY.
AND LOOKING AT HOW THE
INTERSECTION BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY
AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT HAS
CHANGED THE NATURE OF WORK.
WE'LL BE TAKING UP ISSUES LIKE
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THOSE
DRIVERS FROM TN Cs HAVE AN
ADEQUATE AND FAIR LIVING WAGE.
VERY EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU
ALL FROM THAT.
FOR FOLKS FROM HOUSINGS.
I SEE SOME PEOPLE FROM THE
HOUSING AND TRANSIT WORLD.
WE'LL LOOK AT ENDING
EXCLUSIONARY ZONING.
WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE LAID THE
GROUNDWORK FOR UPDATING OUR
OUTDATED RACES AND INEQUITABLE
COVERAGE THAT LEADS TO
EXCLUSIVE ZONING.
LET'S TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT HOW
WE CAN LOOK AT MORE EQUITABLE
SYSTEMS OF GROWTH AND CREATING
DENSENESS IN OUR CITY.
WE HAVE A FEW THINGS LIKE THE
CLEANUP BILL.
AND LASTLY, WE HAVE SOME WORK
THAT FOLLOWS UP ON OUR
COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE THAT
PEOPLE HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.
DOMESTIC BILL OF RIGHTS
CLEANUP.
WHERE WE MADE SURE EVERYBODY
HAD MINIMUM WAGE AND SICK LEAVE
AND PROTECTION FROM RETALIATION
A GREAT COMMON ISSUE.
TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO BE
HEARING FROM FOLKS FROM ORCA
FOR ALL.
AND MAKING SURE EVERYBODY HAS
ACCESS TO TRANSIT PASSES.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH ALL OF YOU.
I KNOW THAT OUR WORK AGENDA,
OUR COUNCIL AGENDA WILL BE
CIRCULATED TO YOU VERY SOON.
SO WE'RE GOING TO THINK ABOUT
INCLUDING YOUR EDITS AS WELL.
BUT THIS IS ALL A LEAD-UP TO
THE BIG BUDGET DISCUSSIONS THAT
WILL HAPPEN THIS FALL.
VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND WE'LL HAVE MORE TO COME
SOON ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY BUDGET
DISCUSSIONS SO THAT WE GET OUT
EARLY AND TO MAKE SURE WE GET
IN YOUR DISTRICTS.
MORE TO COME ON THAT.
TODAY, WE HAVE FOUR AGENDA
ITEMS.
THE APPOINTMENTS TO THE SEATTLE
CITY EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT
SYSTEM BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION.
THE APPOINTMENT TO THE LABOR
STANDARDS ADVISORY COMMISSION,
A BRIEF DISCUSSION ON ORCA FOR
ALL AND BRIEF DISCUSSION ON THE
CAPITAL PROJECTS WATCH LIST FOR
THE YEAR.
WITH THE COMMITTEE'S
CONSIDERATION, I WOULD LOVE FOR
US TO CONSIDER TAKING ITEMS 1,
2 AND 4, AND THEN GOING BACK TO
ITEM NUMBER 3. BECAUSE I
UNDERSTAND OUR CENTRAL STAFF
HAS TO LEAVE AT 3:00 P.M.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE GET HIS PRESENTATION ON THE
COUNCIL PROJECT WATCH LIST.
WHICH COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD IS
A CHAMPION OF THERE AND HAS
BEEN WORKING ON.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, WE AM
WORK 1, 2, 4 AND COME BACK TO
ITEM 3. WITH THAT IN MIND, WE
HAVE A FEW FOLKS THAT HAVE
SIGNED UP SPECIFICALLY FOR ORCA
FALLS.
I'M GOING TO HOLD THOSE
SPECIFICALLY.
IF YOU REALLY NEED TO LEAVE
EARLY, LET ME KNOW.
WE HAVE A FEW FOLKS WHO HAVE
DESIRED TO SPEAK ABOUT ORCA FOR
ALL.
BUT CAN'T STAY THAT LATE.
SO I'M GOING TO CALL YOU UP AT
THIS FIRST GO-AROUND.
BUT WE'LL ASK THE REST OF THE
FOLKS TO SPEAK IN JUST A
MINUTE.
AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GOING TO
MOVE INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL START WITH MATTHEW LANG,
NICOLE AND JESS.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE TWO MINUTES
ON THE TIMER.
>> COOL.
THANK YOU.
HELLO.
MY NAME IS MATTHEW LANG AND I'M
THE LEADER ORGANIZER AT THE
TRANSIT UNION.
I'M HERE TO READ A STATEMENT
FROM A FELLOW RIDER.
WORKS FOR GLOBAL HEALTH
NONPROFIT BASED IN SEATTLE.
"A HUGE PORTION OF MY LIFE HAS
BEEN SPENT ISOLATED.
NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE FROM ONE
PLACE TO ANOTHER.
AND HAVING RELATIONSHIP WITH
FEWER AND FEWER NEIGHBORS AS MY
TIME BECAME SWEPT IN OTHER
THINGS.
BECAME A PROBLEM IT WAS
DIFFICULT TO NAME.
TRANSIT WAS $5 OUT OF MY POCKET
EVERY TIME IIMENTED TO -- I
WANTED TO SEE SOMEONE.
WHILE IT SOUNDS LIKE LITTLE
MONEY.
IT IS ALSO A BARRIER.
WHEN YOU KNOW YOU COULD SAVE
$5, IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
THIS TURNS MANY OF US INTO SHUT-
INS.
IT WASN'T UNTIL RECENTLY THAT I
GOT A JOB TO PAY FOR IT.
I SEE SO MANY PEOPLE.
I DON'T LIMIT MYSELF.
AND TOP OF THAT, ALL OF THAT
$195 TO $200 A MONTH COMMUTE
FEE I WAS PAYING IS GONE.
SO MUCH OF MY FINAL AND MONEY
HAS BEEN FREED UP.
IF THIS MEANS SO MUCH FOR ME, A
YOUNG PROFESSIONAL WITH AN
EDUCATION, I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN
TO FATHOM WHAT IT MEANS FOR
SOMEONE WHO IS IN THE WORK
INDUSTRY, SOMEONE WITH KIDS.
THIS COULD BE HUGE.
THANK YOU.
>>> AND NICOLE, I UNDERSTAND
YOU NEED A FEW MINUTES.
>> COULD WE DO 5?
>> YES.
>>> COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS
NICOLE GRANT FROM MLK LABOR.
AND WE'RE HERE TO SPEAK
TOGETHER IN FAVOR OF ORCA FOR
ALL.
THIS A CENTRAL POLICY PRIORITY
FOR THE LABOR COUNCIL IN 2020.
BECAUSE TRANSIT IS AN ISSUE
THAT TOUCHES EVERY WORKER AND
THE SUPPORT AMONGST THE
DIFFERENT UNIONS FOR THIS
POLICY HAS BEEN POWERFUL AND
UNANIMOUS.
>> OKAY.
>> HI.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME HAVE A
MOMENT TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS LORRA LIBURNS.
I AM THE SENIOR SCHEDULING
PROJECT COORDINATOR AND A
MEMBER OF TEAMSTERS 117.
THIS PAST NOVEMBER, DUE TO A
NEW CONTRACT, OUR OFFICE OF
APPROXIMATELY 100 EMPLOYEES AND
NINE PARKING SPACES, FIRST
COME, FIRST PARKED, LOST THE
ORCA CARDS WE HAD THE PREVIOUS
10 YEARS.
WE ALL KNOW THE HOUSING AND
RENTAL PRICES HAVE SOARED IN
KING COUNTY.
THE WAGES RANGE FROM $15.50 TO
$18 AN HOUR.
MOST EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY
SUPPOSE WITH FAMILIES
CANNOTAFFORD TO LIVE IN THE
CITY, LET ALONE THE COUNTY.
AND USING SOUND TRANSIT BUS
TOMETHROW ADDS.
THIS ADDS UP TO $1188 A YEAR
FOR A METRO ORCA MONTHLY PASS.
IT'S $1836 FOR AN INTERCOUNTY
MONTHLY ORCA PASS.
AND USING THE SOUNDER TRAIN,
THE REGIONAL MONTHLY ORCA
PASSES RANGE FROM $180 TO $207
FOR $2167 TO $2484 A YEAR.
DEPENDING ON THE STATION USED.
THAT IS NOT A SUPPORTABLE
SITUATION.
ESPECIALLY WITHOUT WARNING.
MANY PEOPLE CHOOSE TO DRIVE.
THEY'RE ALREADY PAYING FOR
THEIR CARS.
BUT NOW THEY HAVE THE ADDED
COST OF GAS, MAINTENANCE, GOOD
TO GO PASSES AND STREET
PARKING.
OUR OFFICE IS NOT IN THE BEST
NEIGHBORHOOD WITH OPEN DRUG
USE.
IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS.
FOUR OF MY COWORKERS HAVE HAD
THEIR CARS BROKEN INTO.
AND THEIR WINDOWS SMASHED OUT.
STREET PARKING FARES HAVE
INCREASED.
IN ADDITION, THERE ARE GAME
DYS WHEN ALMOST NO PARKING CAN
BE FOUND AND PRICES SOAR.
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE FRIGHTENED TO
GO TO THEIR CARS, WAIT FOR
OTHERS TO GO IN PAIRS.
OUR OFFICE IS ABOUT 85% FEMALE.
WE'RE A 24/7 OPERATION THIS.
ALSO REQUIRES EMPLOYEES TO
LEAVE THEIR STATIONS AND GO
MOVE THEIR CARS EVERY TWO
HOURS.
THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR OUR TEAMS.
AND IT'S NOT GOOD FOR OUR
CLIENTS.
BUT THERE AREN'T ANY
ALTERNATIVES.
I'VE CANCELED EVERY
NONESSENTIAL SERVICE IN ORDER
TO FIT THE COST OF ORCA INTO MY
BUDGET.
THIS REBUDGETTING HAS BEEN
DIFFICULT FOR SO MANY OF US,
ESPECIALLY IF LIKE ME, YOU HAVE
A DISABILITY, WHICH INEVITABLY
MEANS A LOT OF MEDICAL DEBT TO
PAY OFF.
WE'VE HAD HIGHLY-SKILLED
TENURED EMPLOYEES WHO LOVE
THEIR JOB WITH A WEALTH OF
KNOWLEDGE, LEAVE.
IT'S EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTING TO
SCRAMBLE FOR CHANGE WHEN YOUR
BANK COULD BALANCE IS TOO LOW
TO PURCHASE AN ORCA TICKET.
I OFTEN WONDER WHAT THE DRIVER
WOULD THINK WHEN I EVENTUALLY
HAVE TO PAY WITH PENNIES.
BUT AN EXTENSION OF THAT.
TO OPERATE WITH LIMITED STREET
PARKING, EVEN MORE LIMITED
PARKING GARAGES OR LOTS.
AND ONE PARKING SPOT PER NINE
EMPLOYEES.
TO REFUSE TO SUPPORT PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION FOR YOUR OWN
EMPLOYEES SHOWS A BLATANT
DISREGARD FOR WELFARE AND
POTENTIAL FOR SKILLED WORKERS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ANNIE WEI GUESS.
AND I'M THE OPERATIONS
DIRECTOR.
WE REPRESENT OVER 100,000
WORKERS IN UNION COUNTY.
AIMS TO PROTECT PEOPLE TO
HOUSING, JOBS, FOOD.
HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION.
VIA AN EMPLOYER-SUBSIDIZED
TRANSIT SYSTEM.
THE CLIMATE CRISIS NECESSITATES
THAT WE TAKE ACTION.
WHICH INCLUDES LOW CARBON
METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION.
THIS CAN HAPPEN BY ENSURING
THAT PUBLIC TRANSIT IS
RELIABLE, FREQUENT AND
INCENTIVIZED.
ASI HAVE PERSONALLY RELIED ON
PUBLIC TRANSIT TO GET TO AND
FROM WORK FOR OVER EIGHT YEARS.
I'M PROUD TO STAND WITH THE
ORCA FOR ALL CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE
FOLKS LIKE MYSELF CAN CONTINUE
TO WORK AND THRIVE IN THE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> WELCOME.
>> MY NAME IS -- GREAT.
I DON'T NEED FIVE MINUTES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JESS WALLIC.
AND I'M WITH 350 SEATTLE.
AND I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT
OF THE ORCA FOR ALL CAMPAIGN.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING 350
SEATTLE.
WE OBJECT THIS IS A HUMAN
RIGHT.
AND EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
GET AROUND OUR CITY, REGARDLESS
OF HOW MUCH MONEY THEY MAKE.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF ORCA FOR
ALL.
WE IMAGINE THAT SEATTLE'S
HEALTHY FUTURE IS ONE WHERE ALL
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE CONNECTED BY
FREE, 100% TRANSIT.
STREETS ARE SAFER FOR WALKING
AND BIKING.
AND NEIGHBORHOODS MORE VIBRANT.
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WALKING,
BUZZING.
AND THEY'RE WALKING WITH EACH
OTHER.
IN THAT FUTURE, WE BELIEVE OUR
PEOPLE ARE HEALTHIER AND
HAPPIER.
WE SEE ORCA FOR ALL AS A
CRITICAL AND COMMON SENSE FIRST
STEP TOWARDS REALIZING THAT
HEALTHY FUTURE.
AND I'M ALSO HERE BECAUSE I
KNOW WE'RE FACING A CLIMATE
EMERGENCY.
ASK WE ARE IN A CRITICAL TIME
TO ACT.
SEATTLE'S POLLUTION IS STILL
GOING UP.
2020.
SEATTLE'S CLIMATE POLLUTION IS
STILL GOING UP.
AND OF THAT NEW CLIMATE
POLLUTION, OVER HALF OF IT IS
FROM VEHICLES.
WE KNOW IT'S TIME TO ACT.
AND I JUST WANT TO ADD
SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO ME PERSONALLY.
WHEN I SAY IT'S TIME TO ACT.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT
CLIMATE POLLUTION OR PARTS PER
MILLION OR TALKING CLIMATES
ABSTRACTLY.
WE HAVEN'T HAD NIRE FIRE IN
OUR CITY FOR A FEW MONTHS.
BUT I HAVE FAMILY IN AUSTRALIA.
SOME OF THEM ARE IN THE
HOSPITAL NOW BECAUSE OF SMOKE.
MY FAMILY HAS LOST THEIR HOMES.
THE WORLD IS ON FIRE.
HERE IN SEATTLE, WE ARE SO MUCH
PREPARED TO ACT.
SO MUCH MORE SO THAN MANY
PLACES AROUND THE WORLD.
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO
LEAD ON CLIMATE.
AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH
ORCA FOR ALL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MARIAH MITCHELL, MARY
LUCHESSY, AND LEIF GLENNING.
I'M SORRY ABOUT MISPRONUNCIATION
DO WE HAVE MARIAH?
WONDERFUL.
THEN MARY.
THEN LEIF.
>> MY NAME IS MARIAH MITCHELL.
AND I'VE BEEN A GIG WORKER FOR
ABOUT FIVE YEARS.
I WORK FOR UBER EATS AND POST
MATES.
AND I'M A MOTHER OF THREE
CHILDREN.
AND I STARTED WORKING WITH GIG
WORK PART-TIME.
I WAS WORKING A 9-TO IF 5. AND
FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO FIND THE
FLEXIBILITY TO DROP OFF AND
PICK UP MY CHILDREN.
AND I GRADUATED FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON 2005,
I HAVE TWO BACHELORS DEGREES.
AND I'M JUST BASICALLY WORKING
PART-TIME TO PAY MY BILLS AND
SURVIVE.
AND IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH MONEY.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
THE CITY COUNCIL IS HOLDING
THESE MEETINGS TO LET PEOPLE
COME AND EXPLAIN THAT.
AND I WAS LAID OFF BY PRESIDENT
RESTAURANT INDUSTRY AND HAD TO
TURN TO GIG WORK, PRETTY MUCH
FULL TIME.
I'M STILL PULL BEING 32 TO 40
HOURS PER WEEK.
AND I WORK AT NIGHTS WHEN MY
CHILDREN ARE ASLEEP.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME
BECAUSE IF IT WASN'T FOR THE
GIG WORK, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE
TO HAVE ANY MONEY, PROBABLY BE
HOMELESS, LIVING IN A TENT,
UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE.
BUT WITH THAT, I'M ONLY MAKING
ABOUT $3 TO $4 PER DELIVERY
WITH POST MATES AND YOU NEED 5
TO CASH OUT.
WHICH MEANS I HAVE TO DO TWO
ORDERS WITH THEM BEFORE I CAN
EVEN MAKE ANY MONEY, PUT THAT
BACK INTO THE GAS TANK SO I CAN
KEEP GOING TO DO ANOTHER TWO
ORDERS, PUT MONEY IN THE GAS
TANK, DO ANOTHER TWO ORDERS.
SO TO MAKE MONEY, I HAVE TO
WORK WHEN THEY OFFER THE
BONUSSES DURING THE TIME THEY
OFFER IT.
AND IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT
CUSTOMERS ARE WILLING TO PAY
WORKERS ENOUGH FOR IT TO BE
WORTH IT FOR US.
AND RAISING STANDARDS IN THE
GIG ECONOMY WILL BENEFIT
FAMILIES LIKE MINE AND OUR
ECONOMY AS A WHOLE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE THESE
CHANGES.
THANK YOU.
>> WONDERFUL.
MARY?
GO AHEAD, MARY.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS JACQUELINE.
AND THIS IS MARY.
AND SHE'S GOING TO BE SIGNING
SO I'M GOING TO SPEAK FOR HER.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS MARY LUKESY.
>> COULD YOU PULL THE
MICROPHONE A LITTLE CLOSER TO
YOU?
>> SORRY.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS MARY LUKESY.
AND I STARTED WORKING FOR
INSTACART IN 2015.
AT THE TIME, I WAS WORKING WITH
DEAF-BLIND CLIENTS, HELPING
WITH SHOPPING.
IT WAS A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION.
AND I DIDN'T WORK FULL TIME.
I HAD DIFFICULTY FINDING JOBS.
AND I SAW AN ADVERTISEMENT
ABOUT WORKING FOR INSTACART AND
SHOPPING FOR GROCERIES FOR
CUSTOMERS.
IT SEEMED LIKE SOMETHING I
COULD DO TO MAKE EXTRA INCOME.
I BELIEVE GROCERY SHOPPING FOR
CUSTOMERS IS A GREAT INDUSTRY.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOODNESS IN
HELPING CUSTOMERS GET HEALTHY
FOOD.
I ALSO NOTICED THERE ARE A LOT
OF DEAF WORKERS ON INSTACART.
THE APP TECHNOLOGY ENABLES
THEM.
THE GIG ECONOMY IS GOOD BECAUSE
IT PROVIDES INCOME.
INCLUDING FOR DEAF INDIVIDUALS
WHO ARE PROBABLY TRYING TO FIND
WORK.
WORKING FOR INSTACART WAS A
SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME SOURCE FOR
ME.
I WORKED FOUR-HOUR SHIFTS IN
THE AFTERNOON, AND MADE ABOUT
$66 PER SHIFT.
BUT THEN THE AVERAGE PAY
DECREASED, SO I WONDERED, IF I
WORK MORE HOURS, IF I COULD
START EARNING MORE.
I REALIZED THAT THE AMOUNTIN
STACART OFFERED FOR EACH BATCH
WAS RANDOM.
SOMETIMES I WAS ASKED TO GO A
LONG WAY TO DELIVER A BATCH
THAT DIDN'T PAY VERY WELL.
SO I TRIED TO CHOOSE WHICH
BATCHES HAD GOOD PAY OR NOT.
BUT I HAD DIFFICULTY IN
DECIDING WHICH BATCHES WERE
GOOD PAY.
I WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 30 AND 50
MILES PER SHIFT.
AND AS GIG WORKERS, WE HAVE TO
COVER ALL OF THOSE EXPENSES FOR
OUR CARS.
ALL THE MILES MEANT I NEEDED
MORE BODY REPAIRS AND MY TIRES
WEAR OUT FASTER.
I ALSO GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT IN
THE EARLY DAYS OF DRIVING FOR
INSTACART.
AND I HAD TO BE CAREFUL WHILE
MULTITASKING.
I DECIDED I DIDN'T LIKE WHAT
INSTACART HAS BEEN DOING.
IT SEEMS THAT THEY'RE PLAYING
WITH ME, TRYING TO TRICK ME
INTO ACCEPTING BATCHES.
FOR ME, I WAS ABLE TO GET MORE
HOURS AT MY OTHER JOB AND LEAN
IT TOWARDS MORE.
BUT I SEE OTHER SHOPPERS WHO
ARE STILL STRUGGLING
FINANCIALLY.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I THINK WE
SHOULD GET FAIR PAY, REAL PAY,
DECENT PAY.
WE ARE WORKING TO PAY
GROCERIES, RENT AND BILLS.
WE NEED MINIMUM WAGE WITH TIPS
ON TOP AND TRANPARENCY FOR
COMPANIES.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
I APPRECIATE IT.
I HOPE THE CITY COUNCIL WILL
MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO IMPROVE
GIG WORKERS PAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MARY.
SORRY.
THAT WAS MARY.
LEE?
>> MY NAME IS LEIF GERRING.
I WORKED IN THE GIG ECONOMY
FROM 2017 TO THE END OF 2018.
I WORKED FOR A HANDFUL OF APPS,
INCLUDING UBER AND LYFT.
PERSONAL RIGHT NOW, UBER EATS
AND DOLLY.
I GOT INTO THE GIG BUSINESS
BECAUSE I NEEDED A FLEXIBLE
SCHEDULE AS A YOUNG ADULT AND A
STUDENT.
AND FOR A WHILE, IT WORKED.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, ESPECIALLY
IN THE COURIER SERVICES, LIKE
UBER EATS, IT -- I REALIZED
BEFORE VERY LONG THAT THE
ENTIRE POINT IS -- IS KIND OF
SELF-DEFEATING BECAUSE ON A
TYPICAL DELIVERY, I MIGHT DRIVE
10 MILES TOTAL ROUND TRIP, GET
PAID $4.50, AND THEN MY -- AND
EVEN IN THE MODEST ECONOMY CAR
VALUE WITH DRIVING, I MIGHT
SPEND HALF OF THAT ON GAS.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, TIPS
AND OTHER WAGES AREN'T REALLY
SHOWN.
THERE'S SPECULATION THAT TIPS
AREN'T EVEN BEING COMPLETELY
DIVERTED TO THE DRIVERS.
AND WE NEED TO HAVE APP
TRANPARENCY, IN TERMS OF HOW
MUCH WE'RE GETTING PAID IN
ADDITION TO RECEIVING MORE PAY
SO THAT OUR WORK ISN'T
ULTIMATELY MEANINGLESS.
IT WASN'T EVEN UNHEARD OF,
WHERE I WOULD HAVE A NET GAIN
OF ZERO BECAUSE A DELIVERY
MIGHT INCLUDE, AND I'M NOT
EXAGGERATING, 20, 25 MILES OF
DRIVING BUT BECAUSE THEY ONLY
PAY YOU BASED ON THE DISTANCE
BETWEEN THE RESTAURANT AND THE
CUSTOMER, EVEN IF MOST OF THE
DRIVING WAS BETWEEN YOUR
STARTING LOCATION AND THE
RESTAURANT, IT ENDS UP BEING
NOTHING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR
STORY.
>> IF IT'S OKAY WITH THE REST
OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE, IF
YOU CAN STAY A LITTLE BIT,
WE'LL GET TO THE REST OF THE
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ORCA FOR ALL
IN ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR.
IF THAT'S OKAY.
IF THERE'S ANYBODY WHO NEEDS TO
LEAVE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND
RIGHT NOW.
OKAY.
GO AHEAD AND COME ON UP.
AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR
THE RECORD.
>> YES.
MARY KYLIE CRANFORD.
I'M HERE -- I'M A D6
CONSTITUENT.
O I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT ORCA
FOR ALL.
I MOVED TO SEATTLE LESS THAN
THREE YEARS AGO, AND GOT A
MINIMUM WAGE JOB, WHICH WAS
WONDERFUL.
I WAS SO HAPPY I GOT ONE SO
QUICKLY.
DIDN'T REALIZE I HAD TO TAKE
THE BULLS EVERY DAY.
AND FROM A STATE THAT DOESN'T
HAVE AS GOOD OF TRANSPORTATION,
IMMEDIATELY CALCULATING $100 A
MONTH FROM MAZE PAYCHECK MADE
ME WORRIED.
THE CONTRACTOR I WORKED FOR,
WHO WAS A CONTRACTOR THROUGH
AMAZON DID OFFER THAT BENEFIT.
I LATER WORKED FOR COMMUTER
BENEFITS FOR AMAZON.
I WAS HELPING OTHER EMPLOYEES
GET THEIR ORCA CARDS AND THEY
THINKS THEY NEEDED.
BUT JUST LOOKING AT THAT
LOCATION, THERE IS A LOT OF
DISCREPANCY IN BETWEEN
CONTRACTED EMPLOYEES, AND A LOT
OF THOSE EMPLOYERS ARE BIG
COMPANYLESS.
SO WHILE AMAZON MAY GIVE THEIR
CORPORATE EMPLOYEES ORCA FOR
ALL BENEFITS, A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT ARE WORKING THERE MAY NOT
BE GETTING THEM.
AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT
OFTEN NEED IT THE MOST.
SO I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU
GUYS TO LOOK AT THIS BILL AND
THIS RESOLUTION SO THAT WE CAN
HAVE THIS EQUITY ACROSS AL OF
THE PEOPLE WORKING HERE IN
SEATTLE.
IT REALLY MAKES A HUGE
DIFFERENCE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT ARE WORKING SIDE BY SIDE.
TAKING THE SAME COMMUTES, DO
THE SAME -- SPENDING THAT SAME
MONEY.
BUT IT WOULD MEAN SO MUCH MORE
FOR A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT
AREN'T CURRENTLY GETTING THAT
BENEFIT.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME
SPEAK NOW.
>> I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU PUT
YOUR NAME ON THIS SHEET IF YOU
COULD HELP OUT.
AND WE WILL KEEP PUBLIC COMMENT
OPEN FOR JUST A MOMENT.
THANK YOU FOR BEARING WITH ME.
WE HAVE A HEARD DEADLINE.
WE ARE GOING TO KEEP THESE
FIRST THREE APPOINTMENTS AND
KEEP PUBLIC COMMENT OPEN.
IF WE CAN HAVE OUR FIRST ITEM
ON THE AGENDA READ.
IF WE COULD BE JOINED BY JEFF
DAVIS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOR SURFS AND JUDITH BLINDER.
THE APPOINTEE FOR
CONSIDERATION.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1. APPOINTMENT
OF JUDITH BLINDER AS MEMBER FOR
A BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> WONDERFUL.
WELCOME.
SO JEFF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I
SHOULD SAY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
AT THE TABLE.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE
YOU.
AND WE KNOW THAT THE SEATTLE
CITY EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT
SYSTEM, BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
IS SORT OF A UNIQUE BOARD, AND
THAT SOME OF THE POSITIONS ARE
SELF-APPOINTING.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE
UNIQUE SITUATION WE FIND
OURSELVES IN WITH SOME FOLKS
HAVING TRANSITIONED OFF IN THE
TEMPORARY NATURE OF THIS AND
THE MAKEUP OF THE BOARD AND
WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN UP TO
LATELY.
AND THEN, MS. BLINDER, WE'RE
GOING TO ASK YOU TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, THE
WORK YOU'VE DONE.
WE HAVE YOUR PACKETED WITH US.
WE KNOW OF YOUR COMPREHENSIVE
WORK AND YOUR RESUME.
WE WOULD LOVE TO MORE MORE OF
WHAT YOUR INTERESTSOR THE
BOARD.
>> THE ROWTIREMENT SYSTEM IS
GOVERNED BY A SEVEN-MEMBER
BOARD.
THE MUNICIPAL BOARD SPELLS OUT
THE MEMBERSHIP OF THAT BOARD.
AND THREE OF THE POSITIONS ARE
ELECTED BY MEMBERS.
TWO OF THOSE BOARD MEMBER
POSITIONS ARE ACTIVE EMPLOYEES.
LAST SUMMER, WE HAD AN ELECTION
FOR ONE OF THOSE ACTIVE CITY
EMPLOYEE MEMBERS.
AND THE MEMBERSHIP VOTED ON A
NEW BOARD MEMBER.
THAT BOARD MEMBER SERVED FOR A
NUMBER OF MONTHS, BUT THEN LEFT
AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
THE MUNICIPAL CODE ACTUALLY
SPELLS OUT WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN
WHEN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE HAPPENS.
AND UNTIL THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM
HOLDS ANOTHER ELECTION, WHICH
WE WILL THIS COMING SUMMER,
CITY COUNCIL APPOINTS AN
INTERIM BOARD MEMBER.
SO WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK
ABOUT THAT.
THE MUNICIPAL CODE ALSO SPELLS
OUT THAT THE INTERIM MEMBER HAS
TO BE FROM THE SAME DEPARTMENT
THAT EMPLOYED THE PREVIOUS
BOARD MEMBER.
SO ANOTHER FORTUNATE
CIRCUMSTANCE, LAST SUMMER, ALL
THREE NOMINEES, ALL THREE
CANDIDATES WERE FROM SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT.
JUDITH BLENDER, WHO IS WITH US
HERE TODAY, WAS THE SECOND-
PLACE FINISHER.
SO WE ARE PUTTING FORWARD HER
NAME FOR CONSIDERATION FOR
COUNCIL TO APPOINT ON AN
INTERIM BASIS, UNTIL WE HOLD
ELECTIONS NEXT SUMMER.
>> WHAT LUCK.
THAT'S GREAT.
THANK YOU.
HI, JUDITH.
WELCOME.
>> THANKS.
SO WHY AM I INTERESTED IN DOING
THIS?
LET ME LOOK AT MY NOTES.
>> NO BE FROM.
>> I DON'T DO A LOT OF PUBLIC
SPEAKING.
THIS IS TO HELP ME GET THROUGH
WITHOUT PANIC.
>> WE'RE EXCITED.
JUST PULL YOUR MICROPHONE A
LITTLE CLOSER.
>> I'M SOFT SPOKEN.
SINCE YOU HAVE MY RESUME, IT
DOES A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF
SUMMING UP MY WORK EXPERIENCE
AND BACKGROUND.
BUT FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T READ
IT.
BASICALLY, I GUESS I COULD JUST
SUMMARIZE BY SAYING I'VE WORKED
IN FINANCE FOR MANY, MANY
YEARS.
I STARTED OUT AT FIRST
INTERSTATE BANK OF WASHINGTON
WHEN FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF
WASHINGTON EXISTED.
AND WHEN IT WENT OUT
OFEXISTENCE, I TRAVEL
TRANSFERRED OVER TOIBLE KIBBLE
INVESTMENTS IN THEIR INVESTMENT
DEPARTMENT.
AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO
PURSUE A CFA.
SO I AM A CHARTERED FINANCIAL
ANALYST.
AND I DID WORK THAT IS VERY
SIMILAR TO WHAT THE RETIREMENT
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION DOES.
I REVIEWED PERFORMANCE, FUND
PERFORMANCE.
I MADE SELECTIONS OF FUND
MANAGERS.
I USED AIR VARIETY OF SOFTWARE
TO ANALYZE AND SCREEN WHO I
THOUGHT WOULD BE THE BEST
CHOICE.
I HELPED DRAFT POLICIES,
INVESTMENT POLICY STATEMENTS
FOR CLIENTS TO BEST MATCH THEIR
NEEDS, MANY WHICH WERE
RETIREMENT PLANS, ACTUALLY.
MADE EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION
-- DIDN'T MAKE THEM, THE
ADVISERS THAT I WAS THE ANALYST
FOR MADE THEM.
BUT I HELPED DRAFT AND DID THE
ANALYSIS FOR, PRESENTATIONS TO
EMPLOYEES TO SHOW THEM WHAT
THEIR BENEFITS WOULD BE.
AND WHAT THEIR RETURNS WOULD BE
FROM THE FUN CHOICES THAT
THEY'VE MADE AND SO FORTH.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF COMMONALITY
THERE.
AND I'M INTERESTED IN THIS KIND
OF WORK.
WORKING AT CITY LIGHT, WHERE
I'VE BEEN FOR QUITE A LONG
TIME.
I MAINLY WORK IN FORECASTING,
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND RATE
DESIGN.
I'M VERY INVOLVED IN THE RATE
PROCESS.
THAT'S MUCH OF WHAT I DO.
SO IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
IT'S MORE LIKE DOING CORPORATE
FINANCE.
BUT I STILL HAVE A STRONG
INTEREST IN INVESTMENTS.
AND THAT'S WHAT LED ME TO APPLY
FOR THIS.
I ALSO REALLY LIKE BEING PART
OF TEAM EFFORTS.
I WANTED TO MENTION A LITTLE
BIT, MY VOLUNTARY EXPERIENCE.
I SERVED ON THE BOARD OF --
WHAT'S THE WORD?
FUNDS ESTABLISHED BY A
CHARITABLE BEQUEST OF THE
AUDUBON SOCIETY THAT WAS MAINLY
VESTED IN FIX INCOME.
ACTUALLY, WE EXPANDED IT AND I
WAS PART OF THAT POLICY
DECISION.
BUT THE PERSON WHO MADE THE
BEQUEST WAS VERY CONSERVATIVE
AND LOVED BIRDS.
SO BASICALLY, THAT FUND WAS
USED TO ACQUIRE MAINLY
WETLANDS.
SO ANYWAY.
THAT BIT OF BACKGROUND.
AND I'VE SERVED ON A VARIETY OF
OTHER BOARDS OF VARIOUS
ORGANIZATIONS I WON'T NAME.
BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, I ENJOY
TEAM WORK.
I ENJOY SERVING ON BOARDS.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I LIKE
DOING.
>> WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE
YOU.
AND IT'S QUITE LUCKY THAT WE
HAVE YOU TEED UP FOR THIS
POSITION.
COLLINS, YOU HAVE THE RESUME IN
FRONT OF YOU, AND THE
CREDENTIAL.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE NOMINEE?
>> JUST TO SAY, IT WAS A
PLEASURE TO MEET YOU LAST YEAR.
AND IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU BACK
HERE AT THE TABLE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YEAH.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> JUST CURIOUS.
ARE YOU PLANNING TO RUNNING FOR
THE SEAT WHEN IT BECOMES OPEN?
>> YES.
>> IN THIS ELECTION.
YOU DO.
GREAT.
THAT'S EXCITING TO HEAR.
AND EXCITING THAT YOU'LL BE
BRINGING YOUR SORT OF --
GETTING YOUR FEET WET
EXPERIENCE TO THAT -- THAT
ELECTION LATER.
IN JUNE, YOU SAID?
>> YEAH.
>> AS IT RELATES TO FIDUCIARY
RESPONSIBILITY, I THINK THAT'S
AN AREA OF EVOLVING THINKING.
AND WE'D JUST LOVE TO HEAR A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS
AROUND FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY
AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO
THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE MOVING
AWAY FROM INVESTMENTLESS IN --
OR MOVING AWAY FROM USE OF
FOSSIL FUELS.
AND THAT HAS AN IMPACT ON THE,
SORT OF THE BOTTOM LINE OF
PORTFOLIOS THAT INCLUDE FOSSIL
FUEL INVESTMENTS.
JUST WOULD REALLY WELCOME TO
HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.
>> YEAH.
I WOULD SAY PHILOSOPHICALLY,
I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT MOVEMENT
AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS.
I'M ALSO WELL AWARE OF OUR NEED
TO ABIDE BY OUR FIDUCIARY
RESPONSIBILITIES.
SO IT HAS TO BE DONE IN A WAY
THAT ISN'T AT ODDS WITH GIVING
OUR RIGHT RETIREES PRESENT AND
FUTURE, A FAIR RETURN ON THEIR
INVESTMENTS.
SO -- I THINK THERE'S A BALANCE
TO BE STRUCK.
AND IF WE CAN DO IT IN A WAY
THAT IS RESPONSIBLE, THEN YES.
AND I WOULD BROADEN THAT A
LITTLE BIT AND SAY THAT I THINK
IT'S GREAT THAT THE BOARD HAS
ESG STANDARD.
THAT IT IS PURSUING,
IMPLEMENTING THROUGH ITS POLICY
DECISIONS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING
PART OF THAT PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> WELL, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, AS
BEING THE FORMER CHAIR OF
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON
REDESIGN.
WE KNOW THAT THAT WAS A LOT OF
WORK AS WELL.
AND YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK ON
THAT JUST FOR THE CITY.
AND TAKING ON THIS NEW ROLE ON
BEHALF OF BOTH THE CURRENT
EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
AND THANK YOU FOR STEPPING INTO
THIS POSITION.
SO GREAT NOMINEE.
COLLEAGUES, I'D LIKE TO GO
AHEAD AND MOVE THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF JUDITH BLINDER,
AS THE MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE
CITY EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT
SYSTEM BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION.
>> SECOND.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
SEEING NONE?
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RECOMMENDING
PASSAGE OF THEAPPOINTEE, RAISE
YOUR HAND.
>> AYE.
>> NO NOS AND NO ABCEPTION.
THIS WILL GO TO FULL COUNCIL
WHICH TAKES PLACE FEBRUARY
TINth.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE THERE.
WE WILL SEND A STRONG
RECOMMENDATION.
THANK YOU.
AND WE'LL TALK TO YOU MONDAY
AND SING YOUR PRAISES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU ALL.
>>> IF YOU COULD READ INTO THE
RECORD, ITEM NUMBER 2.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 2.
APPOINTMENT OF BETSY McFEELY AS
MEMBER OF LABOR STANDARDS
ADVISORY COMMISSION FOR
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> WONDERFUL.
IF I COULD BE JOINED BY JENEE
JAHN, FROM THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.
AND THE -- AND BETSY McFEELY,
THE APOINTEE WE'RE GOING TO
OCCUR.
HELLO AND WELCOME.
IN ORDER TO CONSIDER THIS, I'D
LOVE FOR DIRECTOR JAHN IF YOU
COULD GIVE US A SHORT UPDATE ON
WHAT THE ADVISORY COMMISSION IS
WORKING ON.
AND THEN MS. McFEELY, THANKS
AGAIN FOR JOINING US TODAY.
IF YOU COULD GIVE US A LITTLE
BIT OF YOUR BACKGROUND, WE ALSO
HAVE YOUR MATERIALS IN FRONT OF
US.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
MORE ABOUT WHAT YOUR INTERESTS
ARE ON THE BOARD.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING
US HERE THIS AFTERNOON.
THE LABOR STANDARDS ADVISORY
COMMISSION, AS YOU ALL KNOW,
HELPS ADVISE OUR OFFICE, AS
WELL AS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND
THE CITY COUNCIL.
ON WORKING CONDITIONS.
IT'S COMPRISED OF ABOUT RIGHT
NOW, 13.
BUT THERE ARE 15 SLOTS OF FOLKS
FROM THE EMPLOYER AND BUSINESS
COMMUNITY FROM LABOR AND
WORKERS AS WELL.
WORKER COMMUNITY.
THIS YEAR, THEY HAD THEIR FIRST
QUARTERLY MEETING YESTERDAY.
SO THEY ARE GEARING UP FOR A
VERY ACTIVE 2020.
THEIR RETREAT, I THINK, WILL
OCCUR IN ABOUT MAY.
SO THEY'RE PLANNING TO HAVE A
FUN RETREAT IN MAY.
TO GET A LOT OF WORK DONE.
THEY HAVE TWO ACTIVE
SUBCOMMITTEES.
ONE IS ON OUTREACH.
THEY ADVISE US ON HOW BETTER WE
CAN REACH THE WORKER AND
EMPLOYER COMMUNITIES.
SO WE'LL SEE MORE.
IT'S A RECENTLY NEW, I THINK,
DEVELOPED SUBCOMMITTEE.
AND THE SECOND SUBCOMMITTEE IS
ONE THAT WAS FORMED OUT OF
RESOLUTION 3861.
WHICH IS SUBCOMMITTEE THAT
WORKS ON INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS AND
MISCLASSIFICATION.
WE'LL SEE MORE FROM THEM THIS
YEAR.
SO STAY TUNED.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU.
>> WELCOME.
>>> HI.
MY NAME IS BETSY McFEELY.
I AM -- WELL, I'VE BEEN ON THE
COMMISSION ACTUALLY FOR A
LITTLE BIT OVER A YEAR OR SO.
SO I THINK SOMEHOW WE MISS THE
ORIGINAL SWEARING IN.
I WORK FOR SEATTLE GOOD WILL.
I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 20 YEARS,
AS THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF
COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS.
AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS.
AND NOW I'M IN THE COMMUNITY
RELATIONS SIDE.
I WAS ACTUALLY ASKED TO JOIN
THE COMMISSION TO REPRESENT THE
SEATTLE METROPOLITAN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE.
SO I WOULD BE REPRESENTING
THEM.
ALTHOUGH I DO FEEL LIKE BEING
AN EMPLOYEE OF A NONPROFIT
WOULD BE USEFUL.
A USEFUL PERSPECTIVE TO BRING
TO THE COMMISSION, FROM WHAT
I'M SEEIG SO FAR.
I ALSO HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED
IN THE COMMUNITY.
I LIVE IN SOUTH PARK.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD'S
DISTRICT.
AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED ON THE
SOUTH PARK NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION.
I'M ALSO ON THE BOARD OF VIA
COMMUNEITERA.
ONE OF THE BOARDS THAT PROVIDE
SERVICE FOR THE WONDERFUL
HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
>> COLLEAGUES.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPOINTEE
OR INTERIM DIRECTOR?
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE TO
SERVE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE KNOW THERE'S ALSO A LOT
OF NEW LABOR STANDARDS THAT
HAVE BEEN SENT FROM THIS
COUNCIL TO THE COMMITTEE FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION, AS YOU
THINK ABOUT HOW WE BOTH DO
EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND
NFORCEMENT.
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING THE
REGULAR REPORT BACKS.
WE ALSO KNOW COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD WAS PART OF AN EFFORT
TO MAKE SURE WE GET REGULAR
REPORT BACKS TO THIS COMMITTEE.
SPECIFICALLY ON KIND OF THE
FUTURE OF WORKS, I BELIEVE AND
MISCLASSIFICATION.
THERE'S A LOT TO DO.
VERY EXCITED THAT YOU'RE HERE
WITH US.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR
WORK.
OTHER COMMENT.
>> OKAY.
SEEING NONE.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENT 01150.
>> SECOND.
>> WONDERFUL.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
THAT THE APPOINTMENT BE
CONFIRMED.
WE ARE REALLY THANKFUL FOR ALL
OF YOUR WORK HERE.
THE -- JUST -- SORRY.
I DO HAVE ONE COMMENT.
SO THIS IS IN COMMENTS SECTION
BEFORE WE DO THE FINAL VOTES.
THE APPOINTMENT OF THE TERM
THAT EXPIRED IN APRIL IS
REALLY, I THINK, CRITICAL.
HOW MANY FOLK DOS YOU HAVE ON
YOUR FULL TEAM?
>> THERE'S A TOTAL OF 15 OPEN
SPOTS.
AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF FOLKS
WHO ARE COMING UP FOR EITHER
REAPPOINTMENT OR WE NEED TO
FILL.
>> OKAY.
GREAT.
SO I WANTED TO KNOW FOR FOLKS,
THAT THIS WILL BE ONE OF MANY
TO COME.
SO IF YOU DO HAVE FOLKS YOU'D
LIKE TO SEE THERE, BOTH FROM
THE EMPLOYER COMMUNITY OR
WORKER COMMUNITY, THIS IS
IMPORTANT TO KNOW BEFORE ALL
THE OF THE WORK COMES TO US.
COLLEAGUES ALL OF THOSE IN
FAVOR OF VOTING -- SORRY.
FIDETA DO I HAVE TO READ THIS
SPECIFICALLY?
OKAY.
I MOVE THE APPOINTMENTS.
I'D HAVE TO MOVE TO AMEND
APPOINTMENT 01150 BY
SUBSTITUTING APPOINTMENT PACKET
TO REFLECT THE UPDATED TERM OF
OFFICE.
SO THAT'S THE INFORMATION
YOU'VE RECEIVED IN FRONT OF
YOU, HAS A NEW DATE THAT HAS
BEEN INCLUDED SO THAT WE HAVE
UPDATED APPOINTMENT PACKET THAT
GOES WITH THIS NOMINEE.
WE HAVE TO AMEND THE
APPOINTMENT IN FRONT OF US.
SO I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO AMEND
APPOINTMENT 01150 BY
SUBSTITUTING THE PACKET TO
UPDATE THE TERM OF OFFICE.
>> SECOND.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
NONE.
ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF
THESUBSTITUTE, VOTE AYE.
>> AYE.
>> NONE OPPOSED.
THE MOTION CARRIES
ASSUBSTITUTED AND THE
APPOINTMENT IS AMENDED.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THIS APPOINTEE FOR THE
FORMALITY?
WONDERFUL.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE
APPOINTMENT, VOTE AYE.
>> AYE.
>> NO NOS OR ABSENSIONS.
IT WILL BE BEFORE THE FULL
COMMITTEE MONDAY.
WE AGAIN WELCOME YOU TO JOIN
US.
BUT YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE
THERE.
WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU.
BUT OTHERWISE, WE WILL
DEFINITELY BRING THIS IN FRONT
OF THE FULL COUNCIL ON MONDAY
FEBRUARY 10th.
WHAT WE'LL HAVE TO DO,
COUNCILMEMBERS, DUE TO THE
MEETING OCCURRING AFTER NOON ON
THURSDAY.
I'M GOING TO BE PROPOSING THAT
WE SUSPEND THE RULES.
WE JUST ASK THAT WE BE ALLOWED
TO REFER THIS VERSUS NEEDING TO
WAIT ANOTHER WEEK.
ANY OBJECTION TO THAT?
>> NONE.
>> SEEING NONE.
COUNCIL RULES REFERRING TO THE
LEGISLATION -- I'M SORRY.
THE COUNCIL RULE CONSIDERED AT
A MEETING AFTER NOON WILL BE
SUSS PENDED SO THAT WE CAN
ALLOW THIS APPOINTMENT TO BE
CONSIDERED ON MONDAY FEBRUARY
10th.
WONDERFUL.
SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S NO
OBJECTION.
WE'LL SEE YOU IN THE AUDIENCE,
OR WE'LL JUST SEND YOU THE GOOD
NEWS VIA E-MAIL.
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING
YOU ON THE COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, INTERIM DIRECTOR.
>> WONDERFUL.
FIDETA, IF YOU COULD READ INTO
THE RECORD ITEM 4. AND THAT
WOULD BE GREAT.
AND AS WE ARE DOING SO.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, DAN
EDER FROM CENTRAL STAFF.
AND ANYBODY ELSE?
HELLO.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN YOU YET THIS
YEAR.
WELCOME DIRECTOR NOBLE.
AND I'M NOT SURE IF I KNOW YOUR
NAME.
WELCOME.
I WANT TO HAVE YOU GUYS
INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
AND WE WILL GO FROM THERE.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 4.
CAPITAL PROJECTS -- CAPITAL
PROJECT WATCH LIST FOR BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION.
>> AND YOU MUST BE CALEB.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES.
>> LET'S START WITH YOU.
>> CALEB WAGGONER CITY BUDGET
OFFICE.
>> BEN NOBLE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE.
>> DAN EDER, CENTRAL STAFF.
>> HELLO.
THANK YOU.
THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT
COULD GO DEEP INTO THE WEEDS.
BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE CENTRAL
STAFF AND DIRECTORNOBLE, YOUR
NOTES THAT HELP US STAY ON THE
IMPORTANCE OF LOOKING AT
CERTAIN PROJECTS THAT NEED
MAYBE A LITTLE ADDITIONAL
OVERSIGHT.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR HER WORK THE LAST
FEW YEARS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO
PROVIDE EVALUATION, INPUT AND
PUBLIC TRANPARENCY, ESPECIALLY
ON SOME LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THIS IS ABOUT US BEING GOOD
STEWARDS OF THE CITY'S PUBLIC
FUNDS ON THESE PROJECTS.
I'D LOVE TO HAVE DAN WALK US
THROUGH THE MEMO.
I THINK ALL OF OUR COUNCIL
SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED COPIES.
IF NOT, WE CAN GET COPIES FOR
YOU.
AND DIRECTOR NOBLE, PERHAPS WE
CAN TURN IT OVER TO YOU AND
CALEB.
>> BE HAPPY TO DO THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER.
THIS ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA
CONCERNS A RESOLUTION THAT IS
UP FOR DISCUSSION ONLY AT THIS
POINT.
BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN THROUGH
THE FORMAL INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL PROCESS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IS
CUED UP FOR THIS COMING MONDAY.
SO IT WILL COME BACK TO THIS
COMMITTEE FOR ACTION IN THE
FUTURE.
IN BRIEF, THE RESOLUTION WOULD
ESTABLISH AN ANNUAL WATCH LIST
OF SELECTED CAPITAL PROJECTS.
FOR EACH OF THE PROJECTS THAT
END UP ON THE FINAL VERSION OF
THE 2020 WATCH LIST, THE
EXECUTIVE WILL PROVIDE ENHANCED
REPORTS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS,
PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT THE
PROJECT'S SCOPE, SCHEDULE AND
BUDGET AND IDENTIFY HOW THINGS
ARE GOING FOR THOSE COMPLEX
PROJECTS.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, I'M SORRY,
I SHOULD SAY, THE PROPOSED
WATCH LIST IS INCLUDED IN BOTH
THE RESOLUTION AND THE STAFF
REPORT, LABELED AS TABLE NUMBER
1. AND I HAVE PUT IT UP ON THE
SCREEN.
THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE WATCH
LIST IS FOR COUNCIL TO GET
REGULAR UPDATES ABOUT THESE
PROJECTS.
AND HAVE FORWARD-LOOKING
INFORMATION ABOUT THE POTENTIAL
RISKS AND THE MITIGATION
STRATEGIES THAT ARE ENVISIONED
ADDRESSING THESE RISKS BEFORE
PROBLEMS OCCUR.
TERMS OF JUST VERY
BRIEFBACKGROUND, IN 2018, THE
COUNCIL WORKED COOPERATIVELY ON
RESOLUTION 31853.
THAT ESTABLISHED A PROCESS FOR
DETERMINING WHICH PROJECT GOES
ON A WATCHLIST AND WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN THE PROJECTS GO ON A WATCH
LIST.
IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS, THE
EXECUTIVE AT THE BEGINNING OF
THE YEAR, BY JANUARY 15th, WILL
PROPOSE A LIST OF ITEMS THAT
MEET WHATEVER CRITERIA THE
EXECUTIVE USES TO COME UP WITH
ITS PROPOSAL.
THE COUNCIL WILL REVIEW THAT
PROPOSAL.
AND I SHOULD SAY THAT THE
EXECUTIVE DID, INDEED BY
JANUARY 15th THIS YEAR, GIVE US
THEIR PROPOSAL.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS LIST IS
COMPRISED OF.
THE PROCESS CALLS FOR THE
COUNCIL TO REVIEW THAT AND MAKE
A DETERMINATION BY RESOLUTION
OF A FINAL LIST.
AND THAT CAN CERTAINLY BE
EXACTLY THE LIST THAT IS ON
YOUR SCREEN.
OR YOU CAN DECIDE YOU MAY WANT
TO ADD PROJECTS TO THAT LIST OR
OTHERWISE CHANGE THE LIST.
AND THEN THROUGH THE YEAR, EACH
QUARTER, YOU'LL GET INFORMATION
THAT IS IN THE FORM OF A REPORT
THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE STAFF
REPORT.
AND THAT WAS ALSO ANATTACHMENT
TO RESOLUTION 31853.
YOU WILL ALSO, FOR PROJECTS
THAT ARE NOT ON THE WATCH LIST,
YOU WILL ALSO GET INFORMATION
QUARTERLY.
BUT IT WILL BE AT A HIGHER
SUMMARY LEVEL, PROVIDING
INFORMATION ABOUT THE LIFETIME
BUDGET FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECT.
AND HOW LIFE DATA IS ACTUALLY
MEASURING UP AGAINST THAT
LIFETIME BUDGET.
AND YOU'LL ALSO HAVE
INFORMATION.
SIMILAR SUMMARY LEVEL
INFORMATION ABOUT SCHEDULE
STATUS.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE
ARE A COUPLE OF PROJECTS THAT
WERE INCLUDED IN THE 2019 LIST
THAT WERE NOT CARRIED FORWARD
ONTO THE 2020 LIST THAT WAS NOT
DONE AS A PURPOSEFUL DECISION,
AND IN FACT, AFTER DISCUSSION
BETWEEN CENTRAL STAFF AND CBO
STAFF, WE ARE BOTH IN AGREEMENT
THAT THOSE PROJECTS SHOULD BE
ADDED TO THIS LIST.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY YOUR DECISION.
BUT IT WOULD BE A JOINT STAFF
RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY BE
ADDED.
THE PROJECTS ARE THE LAKE
CENTER COMMUNITY PROJECT.
AND THE CENTER CITY GATEWAY,
INTELLIGENT INFORMATIONS
PROJECT AND S-DOT.
WITH THA, I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO CBO.
IF YOU ALL WANTED TO HAVE
ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO ADD.
>> BEFORE YOU DO THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND ANY
OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE GET
INTO THIS SORT OF PRESENTATION
ON THE BACKGROUND?
>> THANK YOU.
ACTUALLY, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS.
I REMEMBER IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS
WE HAD DISCUSSED THAT THE WATCH
LIST DOES NOT NEED TO BE ONLY
COMPRISED OF DISTINCT CAPITAL
PROJECTS BUT COULD ALSO INCLUDE
PROGRAMMATIC PROJECTS.
FOR INSTANCE, THE ASPHALT
REPAVING PROGRAM.
OR ANY NUMBER OF SORT OF
PROGRAMMATIC PROJECTS WITHIN
THE C.I.P.
DOES THE REVIEW OF THE
WATCHLIST FOR 2020 INCLUDE THE
POTENTIAL FOR THOSE KIND OF
PROGRAMMATIC PROJECTS AS WELL?
>> I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT FOR
SURE THAT ANY PROJECT IN THE
C.I.P.
IS ELIGIBLE TO BE PUT ON THE
WATCHLIST.
I WILL SAY THAT THE FORMAT OF
THE REPORT SEEMS, MOST OF THE
SECTIONS LEND THEMSELVES TO A
DISCREET PROJECT.
A PROJECT THAT HAS A BEGINNING
AND AN END.
AND THEREFORE HAS A -- YOU
KNOW, A FINITE LIFETIME BUDGET.
AND ACCOMPLISHMENT SCHEDULE.
THAT SAID, THE EXECUTIVE THIS
TIME AROUND ON THIS PROPOSED
LIST.
LET'S SEE WHERE IT IS.
NUMBER 4. THE SEATTLE CITY OF
LIGHT POLE REPLACEMENTS PROJECT
IS A RESULT OF PROGRAMMATIC
BECAUSE OF ISSUES THAT AROSE IN
THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
THE EXECUTIVE HAS PROPOSED
ADDED TO THIS YEAR'S WATCH
LIST.
SO WE CAN GET QUARTERLY REPORTS
ON IT.
AS YOU'VE MENTIONED, THIS IS A
PROGRAMMATIC PROJECT.
>> AND GIVEN THE FACT THAT SOME
PROGRAMMATIC PROJECTS ARE
DERIVED FROM FINITE FUNDING
SOURCES, BE OUR PROPERTY TAX
LEVIES.
úTHEY MIGHT IN SOME WAYS STILL
LEND THEMSELVES TO THE SAME OR
SIMILAR REVIEW AS WE DO FOR
CAPITAL PROJECTS.
BECAUSE WE MIGHT NOT EVER STOP
REPAVING ASPHALT.
BUT WE HAVE A SIX-YEAR FUNDING
WINDOW BECAUSE OF A
PARTICULARLEVY.
>> YEAH.
BEN IF YOU WANT TO ANSWER.
I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, THIS
IS ONE OF THE OVERSIGHT TOOLS
THAT IS AT YOUR DISPOSAL.
IT IS CERTAINLY NOT THE ONLY
TOOL.
AND THE -- I THINK IT'S CALLED
THE MOVE SEATTLE LEVY OVERSIGHT
AT THIS POINT.
GETS REGULAR UPDATES FROM S-DOT
AND PROVIDES PERIODIC FEEDBACK
TO THE COUNCIL.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER WAY THAT YOU
WOULD GET THAT KIND OF
INFORMATION.
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, WE
WILL REPORT IN WHATEVER DETAIL
YOU WANT.
AND I MEAN THAT VERY SINCERELY.
I MEAN, AS DAN HAS POINTED OUT,
THE POLE REPLACEMENT PROJECT IS
HERE BECAUSE OF THE ATTENTION
AROUND POLE REPLACEMENT AT THIS
POINT.
AND WE ARE DEBATING WHETHER OR
NOT NEXT YEAR THAT MIGHT BE A
SEPARATE PROJECT.
WITH RESPECT TO PAVING AS AN
EXAMPLE.
TO GIVE YOU IN A SENSE, THERE
ARE EXAMPLES IN THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT ABOUT TRAIL
MAINTENANCE.
AND THE LIKE.
NOT UNUSUAL, TYPICAL OF THOSE
THINGS.
IT'S THAT THEY'RE MULTIPLE
FUNDING SOURCES FLOWING IN.
DOESN'T MAKE THEM UNRIGHT IF
YOU WILL FOR REVIEWING.
BUT JUST ECHO WHAT DAN SAID.
THIS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT
ACCOUNTABILITY.
WHICH IS WHY I'M HERE TO SAY,
WE WILL DELIVER WHATEVER YOU
NEED.
THERE IS, WITH RESPECT TO
SEATTLE, THERE IS A SEPARATE
SET OF REPORTING ABOUT THAT.
BUT IF YOU WANT THE OVERALL
PICTURE, HAPPY TO PROVIDE IT.
ANOTHER THING --
>> MY QUESTION IS JUST SIMPLY
WHETHER OR NOT WE LOOKED AT
PROGRAM ATTIC PROJECTS, AND DID
THIS SAME SORT OF RISK SCREEN?
>> WE HAVE.
WHICH IS WHY THE POLELESS ARE
THERE.
BUT OUR CRITERIA AND YOURS
MIGHT NOT BE THE SAME.
>> I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR ANY
BEING PARTICULAR PROGRAM
ATTICELEMENT TO BE ADDED.
>> AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE
DEFENSIVE.
POINT WELL TAKEN.
AND YEAH, WE DID.
>> OKAY.
AND MY OTHER QUESTION IS, JUST
HOW ARE WE FINDING THE -- THE
ADEQUACY OF THE REPORTS FROM
CENTRAL STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE AT
REALLY IDENTIFYING RISK?
AND THE ABILITY FOR NOT JUST
CENTRAL STAFF AND THE EXECUTIVE
BUT ALSO POLICY MAKERS TO NOT
JUST ANTICIPATE OR SEE RISK
WHEN IT IS EVIDENT, BUT ALSO TO
RESPOND TO IT WHEN IT BECOMES
EVIDENT.
WHEN SOMETHING MOVES FROM, FOR
INSTANCE, FROM GREEN TO YELLOW.
>> YOU KNOW, WE, AS YOU KNOW,
THERE ARE CENTRAL STAFF
ANALYSTS WHO ARE ASSIGNED TO
STAFF THE COUNCIL ON INDIVIDUAL
DEPARTMENTS.
I DON'T PRETEND TO BE ONE WITH
ALL OF THE INFORMATION.
BUT WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM THE
ANALYSTS WHO ARE WORKING WITH
THE DEPARTMENTS, AND WHAT I
HAVE OBSERVED IN TERMS OF
INTERACTIONS WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS WHEN THE
INFORMATION COMES TO THIS
FLOOR, IS THAT IT IS A USEFUL
STARTING PLACE FOR
CONVERSATIONS.
IT IS NOT AN ENCYCLOPEDIC DUMP
OF INFORMATION.
BUT IT DOES PROVIDE VERY USEFUL
INFORMATION.
AND A CHECK-IN ON PROJECTS THAT
SUNLIGHT IS A GOOD THING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD ECHO THE SAME.
AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR IT IN THE
SENSE THAT -- REPORTS AREN'T
DESIGNED AS MUCH TO ANSWER THE
QUESTIONS AS TO HAVE YOU AND US
WANT TO POSE MORE.
AND IT CREATES AN AFFIRMATIVE
OBLIGATION ON THE PART OF THE
DEPARTMENTS TO INFORM US BOTH.
IN PLACES WHERE THERE ARE
ISSUES OR WHETHER THEY'RE
ANTICIPATING THERE COULD BE
ISSUES THAT GIVES US BOTH A
CHANCE TO THEN FOLLOW UP.
AND ALMOST INVARIABLY, IT'S
FOLLOW-UP THAT IS REQUIRED.
BUT THOSE AREN'T QUESTIONS THAT
WOULD HAVE BEEN ASKED WITHOUT
THE INFORMATION IN THE REPORT.
>> AND DIRECTOR, DAN, CALEB.
I HAVE TO LEAVE YOU ALL.
I HAVE TO LEAVE AT 3:00.
IT IS NOW 3:00.
I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION
REGARDING THE MEMO FROM YOU,
DIRECTOR NOBLE.
HAD 6 -- 17, YEAH.
17 ITEMS AND THE MEMO FROM MR.
EDER INCLUDED 14 ITEMS.
AND THAT IS DUE TO THE
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT A FEW OF
THE PROJECTS BE REMOVED FROM
THE WATCH LIST.
ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS IS A
SMITH COVE PARK DEVELOPMENT.
AND I RAISE CONCERNS WITH IT
BEING REMOVED FROM THE WATCH
LIST AS IT HAS NOT BEEN
COMPLETED FOR THE PARK.
I SUBMIT FOR THE RECORD THIS
PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE TIMES WITH
COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY BAGSHAW.
I WOULD LIKE TO REFLECT IN THIS
NOTE, WE HAVE MAYOR McGINN.
WE HAVE GAIL TALENTON.
LARRY PHILLIPS AS COUNTY
COUNCILMEMBER.
ALL CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF
THE PARK.
AND YET, IT -- WE HAVE NOT
BROKEN GROUND.
SO THIS RAISES CONCERNS FOR ME
FOR IT TO BE REMOVED FROM THE
LESS I KNOW THERE WERE CONCERNS
REGARDING KING COUNTY METRO
WASTE WATERS.
TUNNELS AND TYPES TO THE WAIST
TREATMENT PLAN.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE
REASONABLE VARIABLES THAT
DELAYED THIS PROJECT.
I JUST DO NOT FEEL THAT IT
SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE LESS
SINCE IT HAS NOT BROKEN GROUND.
HAPPY TO INCLUDE IT.
IT'S RELATIVELY UNCOMPLICATED.
IT WASN'T A COMPLEX ONE WITH
RISK.
BUT AGAIN, WE ARE HAPPY TO
INCLUDE IT AND UNDERSTAND THAT
IT HAS BEEN SLOW IN DELIVERY.
AND KEEPING ON THE WATCHLIST
RAISES -- IF IT HELPS CREATE
SOME PRESSURE TO DELIVER.
AND I COULD SEE FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE THAT IT COULD.
THAT MAKES ALL THE SENSE IN THE
WORLD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I FULLY SUPPORT THAT AS
WELL.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT
HISTORIC RECORD.
THAT DOCUMENT.
IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL WHEN
IT GETS COMPLETE FOR US, TO
HAVE A SIMILAR PHOTO SOSHOW THE
COMPLETION AND THE TIME FRAME.
I ALSO WILL LIKE TO HEAR WHERE
WE STAND ON THE STAGE OF THE
USE OF THE FUNDS THAT WERE
ORIGINALLY ALLOCATED FOR 35th
STREET.
AND CREATING SAFE BIKE LANES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS
ALREADY BEEN BROUGHT UP WITH
YOU OR CENTRAL STAFF, DAN, IF
YOU HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK
INTO THIS.
BUT PRIOR TO BRINGING THIS BACK
BEFORE COMMITTEE'S
CONSIDERATION, IT WILL WOULD BE
HELPFUL FOR ME TO KNOW WHAT
STAGE WE'RE AT, GIVEN THAT THE
PROTECTED BIKE LANE ON 35th WAS
OPTED OUT OF.
AND HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE
REMAINING IN THAT EFFORT.
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ON
THAT AS WELL.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT?
>> NO QUESTIONS.
>> WONDERFUL.
>> I HAVE TO THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I HAVE TO BE EXCUSED.
I WANT TO SIGNAL MY SUPPORT FOR
THE ORCA FOR ALL PROPOSALS AS
IT IS NEEDED TO NAVIGATE OUR
CITY.
>> WE WILL RESUME OUR COMMITTEE
MEETINGS ON OUR USUAL TIME SO
YOU CAN BE THERE FOR THE FULL
TIME VERY SOON.
>> SORRY FOR THE EXTRA TIME.
I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO
TACK ON TO THAT AS WELL.
PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> WE'LL GET BACK TO 35th.
>> PROCEDURALLY.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS JUST
MENTIONED A MEMO FROM THE
BUDGET OFFICE.
TO YOU.
RECOMMENDING PROJECTS AND NOT
ALL OF THEM MADE IT ONTO THE
LESS.
IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> THE MEMO INCLUDES THE LIST
FROM -- IT INTENDED TO INCLUDE
THE LESS FROM 2019.
AND TO ESSENTIALLY TRACE
THROUGH ANY PROJECTS THAT WERE
NOT RECOMMENDED TO REMAIN ON
THE LESS IN 2020.
AS I MENTIONED IN MY OPENING
COMMENTS, THERE WERE A COUPLE
OF PROJECTS THAT WERE
ERRONEOUSLY EXCLUDED FROM THE,
WHAT WAS ASSUMED TO BE THE 2019
LIST, THAT STAFF WAS
RECOMMENDING, IN FACT, MOVE
FORWARD, TO THE 2020 LIST.
THEN THERE ARE ALSO A FEW
PROJECTS THAT WERE ON THE 2019
LIST THAT THE EXECUTIVE
DESCRIBED WHY THEY PROPOSED TO
REMOVE FROM THE 2020 PROPOSED
LESS.
>> OKAY.
>> SO THIS -- THE MEMO THAT
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WAS
RECOMMENDING WAS A JANUARY 15th
MEMO TO YOU.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> SO THAT CROSSWALK THAT YOU
JUST VERBALLY DESCRIBED IS
REPLICATED HERE.
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> AND THERE WAS AN OVERSIGHT
ON TWO OF THEM.
>> SUPER.
THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENT.
>> PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> WE WANTED TO REMAIN
CONSISTENT WITH THE COOPERATIVE
EFFORT THAT STARTED THIS A
COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
WE FIND THIS ACTUALLY USEFUL ON
OUR SIDE AS WELL.
IT'S GREAT.
AGAIN, FROM THE RESPONSIBILITY
FROM THE DEPARTMENTS.
S WE ARE ALL ON BOARD.
WE DO THINK, YOU KNOW, A
HIGHLIGHTED LESS TO HELP FOCUS
ATTENTION IS USEFUL.
>> IT IS.
>> AND APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO
WORK WITH YOU ON THAT LIST.
>> SO OUR INTENT, COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES.
DID YU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION?
>> NOT A QUESTION.
BUT A HOPE?
AND FOR ANOTHER ADDITION.
THE -- REVIEWING THE 2020 WORK
PLAN ITEMS FOR MY COMMITTEE,
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICE
COMMITTEE, I'VE ASKED THAT
CENTRAL STAFF REVIEW ONE OF THE
PROJECTS ON THAT WORK PLAN.
AND THAT'S THAT CRIMINAL
JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM
PROJECTS.
IT IS IN THE C.I.P.
THE 2020, 2025C.I.P.
AND IN THAT DOCUMENT, IT'S
CALLED MCIS, 2.2 REPLACEMENT
PROJECT.
AND BASED ON THAT REVIEW,
CENTRAL STAFF IS RECOMMENDING
THAT WE ADD THIS PROJECT TO THE
WATCH LIST.
BECAUSE 1, IT'S -- AMONG THE
RISK FACTORS THAT THEY USE, ONE
OF THEM IS THE SIZE OF THE
PROJECT.
AND SO IN THIS INSTANCE, THE
PRICE TAG IS SIGNIFICANT.
IT'S $41 MILLION.
THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR SCOPE
CREEK.
PRIOR TO 2018.
THE PROJECT WAS NAMED THE
MUNICIPAL COURT INFORMATION,
SYSTEM REPLACEMENT PROJECT.
BUT THEN WAS RENAMED CRIMINAL
JUSTICE, SYSTEM PROJECT IN 2018
TO MORE ACCURATELY REFLECT
EFFORTS BEYOND MCIS
REPLACEMENT.
THE PROJECT IS SHOWING AS
YELLOW ON THE PROJECT STATUS
REPORT.
AND THEN INTERBRANCH
COORDINATOR WITH THE COURT.
ADDS A LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY WITH
THE PROJECT.
AND FINALLY THIS IS ONE OF THIS
COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES.
AND FOR THESE REASONS, I WOULD
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ADD IT TO THE WATCHLIST AS
WELL.
>> I HAPPENED TO BE ON THE
STEERING COMMITTEES.
IT IS A COMPLEX PROJECT.
WITH RISKS.
SO IN THAT CONTEXT, A WORTHY
ADDITION.
WE HAD FOCUSED ON INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY ONES.
I THINK WE SHOULD ADD THIS ONE.
THEN WE SHOULD SPEND A LITTLE
MORE -- JUST -- AND PASS THIS
RESOLUTION.
AND THEN WE, ON THIS SIDE OF
THE TABLE, SHOULD SPEND A
LITTLE MORE TIME, GOING FORWARD
THE REST OF THIS YEAR, THINKING
ABOUT HOW TO TRACK I.T.
PROJECTS.
I'M ONLY THINKING THAT THE FORM
AT MIGHT NOT REALLY MATCH UP IN
JUST THE RIGHT WAY.
>> THE REPORTS.
>> EXACTLY.
>> BUT --
>> MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
>> BUT THE COST AND THE RISKS
ARE THERE.
AND IT'S PART OF THE CAPITAL
PROGRAM.
ANYWAY, YOU CAN POSSIBLE
APPRECIATE THE I.T.
ONES.
THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE
TRANSPARENCIY ISSUES ARE
IDENTICAL.
>> WONDERFUL.
ANYTHING ELSE?
DAN?
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT
I'VE HEARD SEVERAL POTENTIAL
AMENDMENTS TO THE CURRENT
ITERATION OF THE LESS, AND I'D
BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH
INDIVIDUAL COUNCILMEMBERS ON
BOTH THOSE AND ANY OTHERS THAT
YOU MIGHT HAVE IN MIND BEFORE
YOU -- THIS IS CUED UP FOR
ACTION AT THE NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING.
>> THANK YOU, DAN, FOR THAT
SEGUE.
BECAUSE OUR NEXT MEETING IS
PLANNED FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY
19th.
ANOTHER SPECIAL TIME DUE TO
PRESIDENT'S DAY.
DAN, IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, I'M
GOING TO PUT A DEADLINE THERE.
AND YOU TELL ME IF THIS IS
WORKABLE FOR YOU.
IDEALLY, WEDNESDAY CLOSE OF
BUSINESS NEXT WEEK.
THAT GIVES YOU TWO FULL
BUSINESS DAYS, ACTUALLY THREE.
AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL GIVE US
TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT LANGUAGE
AND PUT THAT INTO LANGUAGE
FORMAT.
>> FINE.
>> IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL
YEMENT MEAMENT IDEAS, PLEASE
LET DAN KNOW.
AND WE'LL WORK WITH HIS OFFICE
TO FINALIZE THE CONSIDERATION.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTOSS THE
C.I.P.?
AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF OUR
BUDGETING PROCESS.
GIVEN SOME OF THE HISTORIC
OVERRUNS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE
LOOK AT SOME OF THE SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT PROJECTS WHICH I HAD
THE PURVIEW OF CHAIRING THE
LAST TWO YEARS.
IT WAS PRETTY SURPRISING TO SEE
SOME OF THOSE DOLLAR FIGURES
REMEMBER SO I THINK THIS IS A
GREAT WAY FOR US TO BE REALLY
TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC
ABOUT THE USE.
AND TO USE STAGE BUDGETING IF
NECESSARY.
GREAT TO SEE YOU HERE.
GOOD TO SEIZE YOU AGAIN, DAN.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR NOBLE.
>>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE
BACK INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.
BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR THIRD ITEM
ON THE AGENDA THAT IS STILL YET
TO BE DISCUSSED.
AND THAT IS THE CONCEPT OF ORCA
FOR ALL, OR TRANSIT BENEFITS
FOR MORE WORKERS THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE.
AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO
INVITE UP THE NEXT THREE
SPEAKERS, WHICH WOULD BE LAURA
LOBERNSTEIN.
MARIETTA HUNTER.
AND MARLA VANDER WATER.
YOU CAN CORRECT ME IN I SAID
THAT WRONG.
HELLO, LAURA.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> YEA.
BACK.
>> MY NAME IS LAURA
LOBERNSTEIN.
AND A DISTRICT 7 RENTER.
AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ORCA
FOR ALL.
NOT JUST FOR ME BUT ON BEHALF
OF ALL OF THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE
I ORGANIZE WITH.
AND ALL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZING
COLLECTIVE.
A LOT OF FOLKS ARE AT HOME NOW
WATCHING.
JUSTIN HAS A SUBSIDIZED ORCA
CART THAT LITERALLY HELPED HIM
SELL HIS CAR IN JANUARY 2018,
LIVING IN CAPITOL HILL
ANDCOMMUTING TO BELLEVIEW AT
THE TIM.
THE EMPLOYER DIDN'T HAVE A
PROGRAM FOR IT AT THE TIME.
BUT SAID THAT IT WAS CHEAPER
THAN A PARKING SPACE.
MY HEALTH IS WAY BETTER TAKING
THE MONORAIL AND LIGHT RAIL
THAN SITTING FOR AN HOUR AND A
HALF IN TRAFFIC.
ANOTHER PERSON SAID I MOVED
FROM SEATTLE TO REDMOND.
I HAVE SINCE CHANGED JOB JOBS.
AND MY NEW JOB GIVES ME AN ORCA
PASS.
WE LOVE TAKING THE BUS AND
TRAIN.
MOLLY SAYS, I HAD TO.
SO I BOUGHT A CAR FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN 18 YEARS.
I'M STILL SAD ABOUT IT.
>> STEVE SAID I BOUGHT A NEW
CAR SHORTLY AFTER GETTING A NEW
JOB.
BUT THEN MOVED TO CAPITOL HILL
AND GOT A PASS.
NOW MY NEW CAR HAS 12,000
MILES, WHICH INCLUDES ROUND-
TRIP MILES TO LOS ANGELES.
AND THE BATTERY IS DEAD BECAUSE
I NEVER DRIVE ANYWHERE.
>> IT IS AMAZING HOW BEHAVIOR
CHANGES WHEN PEOPLE GET THAT
SUBSIDIZED PASS AND FEEL
EXCITED TO NOT WASTE IT AND
TAKE THE BUS AROUND THE CITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, LAURA.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> MIRANDA?
MARIETTA?
I'M SORRY.
THANK YOU FOR CORRECTING ME.
>> IT'S ALL GOOD.
HELLO.
MY NAME IS MIRANDA HUNTER, AND
I'M GLAD TO BE WITH YOU HERE
TODAY.
IT IS A BLESSED DAY.
I CAME TO SUPPORT ORCA FOR ALL
AS WELL.
I FEEL THAT IN THE FUTURE,
THOUGH, WE SHOULD BE WORKING
TOWARDS FREE TRANSPORTATION FOR
EVERYONE
JUST BECAUSE I'M COMING OUT OF
A PLACE FOR HOMELESSNESS.
AND FOR ME, ONE OF THE MOST
DIFFICULT THINGS WAS MAKING
SURE I COULD GET TO WORK.
I HAD TWO JOBS AND WAS WORKING
VOLUNTEER AND WAS STILL RIDING
AROUND, TRYING TO GET TRANSIT
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IT'S JUST VERY HARD FOR ME
AT THE TIME.
I AM THANKFUL NOW THAT I AM
GETTING INTO RESOURCES IN OUR
COMMUNITY THAT ACTUALLY HELP ME
GET FREE PASSES.
SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT.
BUT LIKE I SAID, WE SHOULD BE
WORKING TOWARDS MAKING SURE
IT'S FREE TRANSPORTATION FOR
ALL.
>> THANKS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MARLA?
FOLLOWED BY JESSICA SECRETARY
OF STATELOW.
-- SCOZLOW.
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBER.
MY NAME IS MANDY.
I AM HERE AS A MEMBER OF
TRANSIT UNION.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF
ORCA FOR ALL.
AS A FIRST STEP TOWARDS ALSO,
FREE TRANSIT FOR EVERYONE.
IT WILL GET PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR
CARS, MAKING THE STREETS SAFER
FOR EVERYONE WHO WALKS, BIKES
AND FOR DRIVERS.
IT'S BETTER FOR OUR BURNING
PLANET.
AND BETTER FOR ALL LOW-INCOME
WORKERS WHO ARE FORCED OUT OF
OUR VERY EXPENSIVE CITY TO HAVE
RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION
EVERYWHERE TO AND FROM WORK.
AND EVERY EVERY PLACE ELSE THEY
NEED TO GO.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
JESSICA.
JESSICA WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
SCOTT ALESPATCH.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS JESSICA.
AND I WORK AT TRADER JOE'S ON
CAPITOL HILL.
WE DO NOT HAVE A SUBSIDIZED
ORCA PASS.
WHAT WE HAVE IS A PRETAX
WRITEOFF.
AND I KNOW THAT BARELY ANYBODY
USES IT BECAUSE IT'S QUITE
CONFUSING TO FIGURE OUT.
I HAVE RECENTLY HAD A LOT OF
INJURIES AND SO FOUND MYSELF
HAVING TO TAKE THE BUS A LOT,
AFTER USING MY BIKE OR MY LEGS
FOR MOST OF MY TRANSPORTATION.
AND I FOUND OUT I WAS SPENDING
AT LEAST $175 MORE PER MONTH
THAN WHAT I HAD BEEN
PREVIOUSLY.
WHICH WAS DEFINITELY AN ADDED
EXPENSE.
I DID RECENTLY FIGURE OUT THAT
I COULD BUY A PASS.
IT WAS ABOUT $100 A MONTH.
BUT IT DEFINITELY IS AN ADDED
EXPENSE.
I ALSO AM QUITE SURPRISED BY
THE DISCREPANCY, AS FAR AS 85%
OF PEOPLE MAKING $100,000 OR
MORE RECEIVE SUBSIDIZED
TRANSIT.
WHILE THOSE OF US MAKING
$50,000 OR LESS, MAYBE HALF OF
US DO.
SO I DEFINITELY FIND THAT TO BE
AN ISSUE OF CONCERN.
JUST YESTERDAY, SPEAKING WITH A
COWORKER.
HE HAS A CAR.
AND HE TOLD ME ABOUT DECIDING
BETWEEN DRIVING A CAR OR TAKING
THE BUZZ.
AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT
WORKING OUT THE NUMBERS, WHICH
ONE ONE WAS MORE AFFORDABLE.
AND HIS OPINION, BECAUSE HIS
CAR WAS PAID OFF, THAT WAS MORE
AFFORDABLE.
AND DISAPPOINTING.
BUT THAT'S THE TRUTH.
BUT ALSO, EVEN THE FACT THAT
RUNNING THE NUMBERS, YOU HAVE
TO DECIDE, LIKE WHICH ONE IS
CLOSER.
I FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT
TO MAKE IT JUST COMPLETELY
OBVIOUS.
THAT TRANSIT IS HEADS ABOVE
EVERYTHING ELSE AS THE LEAST
EXPENSIVE OPTION.
AND WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, I
THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY
THAT WE MOVE IN THE DIRECTION
OF FREE TRANSIT FOR ALL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SCOTT FOLLOWED BY BOBBY
GRILL.
AND THEN BILLY.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, BILLY.
>> HI.
>> WELCOME SCOTT.
>> MY NAME IS SCOTT ALSPOT.
AND I'M THE CHAIR AND IN
SUPPORT OF THE ORCA FOR ALL
CAMPAIGN.
LAST YEAR, WE VOTED TO SUPPORT
IT.
WE BELIEVE THAT MOBILITY IS A
HUMAN RIGHT.
ONE THAT IS CURRENTLY
DISTRIBUTED INEQUITABLY.
AND USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
AND AWAY FROM SINGLE-OCCUPANCY
VEHICLE TRIPS.
PERSONALLY, HAVING A FULLY
SUBSIDIZED EMPLOYER WAS THE
REASON I BEGAN TAKING A BUS TO
WORK EVERY DAY.
I LIVE IN CAPITOL HILL AND WORK
IN REDMOND.
AND IN THE MIDDLE OF 2012.
WHEN THE TOLLS WENT IN ON THE
BRIDGE, IT COST ME $5 TO DRIVE
TO WORK EVERY DAY, I SAID, OH,
I HAVE THIS TRANSIT PASS.
MAYBE I SHOULD START USING IT.
SO THAT HAS BROUGHT ME A LOT OF
OF BENEFITS.
I WALK THROUGH EXERCISE.
I CAN TWITTER.
UNFORTUNATELY, RIGHT NOW, MANY
LOWER-INCOME SEATTLITES DON'T
HAVE THE OPTION I DID.
BECAUSE THEIR.
AM EMPLOYERS DON'T PROVIDE THE
SUBSIDIZED TRANSIT PASS.
WHEN MY WIFE SWITCHED JOBS, IT
WAS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THE
OPTIONS AND CHOICE.
AND FORTUNATELY, IT DOESN'T
MAKE SENSE WHY A TECH EMPLOYEE
LIKE ME CAN RIDE THE TRANSIT.
I AND THE 43rd DISTRICT
DEMOCRATS URGE YOU TOPAZ ORCA
FOR ALL LEGISLATION.
AND LOOK AT REDUCING OR
ELIMINATING TRANSIT FARES FOR
EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> AND WE HAVE BOBBY AND
BILLY.
HI, BOBBY.
>> HI THERE.
>> BOTH OF THESE WORK?
>> YES, THEY DO.
>> OKAY.
>> YEAH.
MY NAME IS BOBBY.
I'M ACTUALLY FROM OLYMPIA,
WHERE WE HAVE FREE TRANSIT.
I CAN VERIFY THAT IT'S PRETTY
EPIC.
BUT RIGHT NOW, I'M GOING TO
PRETEND TO BE BRENNA STROP WHO
WROTE THIS STATEMENT.
HERE GOES.
MY NAME IS BRENNA STRAWP.
AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
HOUSE STAFF ASSOCIATION.
THE LABOR UNION THAT REPRESENTS
FELLOW PHYSICIANS AT UPW.
WE REPRESENT OVER 1400 DOCTORS
AT U-DUB.
WE SUPPORT THE ORCA FOR ALL
MOVEMENT.
AND ARE HERE TO EXPRESS OUR
SUPPORT TODAY.
WE FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THENEED
FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT.
NOT ONLY FOR US, BUT FOR THE
PATIENTS WE SERVE.
MEMBERS HAVE A DEEPLY PERSONAL
FACTOR.
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, HIGHER
ASTHMAERATES IN THE CITY.
FOLLOW POP POLUTION.
PARTICULARLY VEHICLE EXHAUST.
DRIVEN IN PART BY VEHICLE
EMISSIONS.
REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CARS ON
THE ROAD IS VERY MUCH A PUBLIC
HEALTH AND MEDICAL NEED.
MORE PEOPLE ON BUSES MEAN FEWER
IN CARS.
AND FEWER CARS MEAN LESS
DRIVING ASTHMA.
GLOBAL WARMING AND THE MANY ILL
HEALTH EFFECTS THEREFORE --
THEREOF.
EVEN PUBLIC HEALTH IS NOT A
CONCERN FOR YOU.
AS IT IS FOR THE MEMBERS OF
UHA.
LEADERS IN THE CITY HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO REMOVE ALL
BARRIERS TO PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION TO ACHIEVE THE
GOAL WE ALL SHARE.
REDUCING THE NUMBER OF DRIVERS
ON OUR ROAD AND MAKING TRANSIT
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL THOSE IN
NEED.
AND THE MOST STUBBORN BARRIER
REMAINING IS THE COST OF
TRANSIT ON CITIZENS.
UWHA MEMBERS COVER PATIENTS
FROM HERE TO THE VA.
MEMBERSHIP REQUIRE TRAVEL
BETWEEN SITES.
OUR MEMBERS ARE AN ADEAL GROUP
TO UTILLIZE PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION FOR BROADLY.
WHILE WE ARE PHYSICIANS, WE ARE
RESIDENT PHYSICIANS PAID LESS
THAN MINIMUM WAGE PER HOUR.
PROMPTING RESIDENTS AND FELLOWS
TO DRIVE ALONE TO AND FROM WORK
SITES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WORK WOULD GREATLY REDUCE
THOSE WHO USE PUBLIC TRANSIT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE REST IN
WRITING IF THAT'S OKAY WITH
YOU.
>> YEAH, THAT'S FINE.
>> APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
BILLY, FROM LABORS 242.
THANK YOU FOR WAITING.
>> MY NAME IS BILLY ETHERING
TON.
LABOR 242.
AND MLK DELEGATE.
EVERYBODY FROM 242 WANTS TO
WELCOME COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
BACK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND JUST WANT TO SPEAK IN
FAVOR OF ORCA FOR ALL.
AND ECHO THE WORDS FROM
EVERYBODY BEFORE ME THAT CAME
FROM THE TRANSIT UNION AND SAY
WE'RE IN FAVOR OF IT.
THANK YOU.
>> AMAZING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR WAITING TO TESTIFY.
I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE
THE GAIN BEGINNING AS MANY OF
YOU HAVE BEEN.
ANYBODY ELSE THAT DIDN'T GET A
CHANCE TO SIGN UP THAT WOULD
LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING?
GOING ONCE.
GOING TWICE.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU.
LET'S GET INTO ITEM NUMBER 3 ON
THE AGENDA.
FIDETA.
CAN YOU READ ITEM NUMBER 3. AND
CAN WE BE JOINED BY KATIE
WILSON AND TYREE.
JESSICA SCOZLOW.
AND BRITNEY BOLAY.
HEY, BRITNEY, FROM SIERRA CLUB.
AND TOBIAS.
DO WE HAVE TOBIAS GRILL FROM
LGBTQ ALLIANCESHIP.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 3. ORCA
FOR ALL BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION.
I KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER.
HELLO.
ANYBODY FROM CENTRAL IS WELCOME
AS WELL.
COME ON UP.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALEIS, I KNOW
THIS IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE BEEN
INTERESTED IN AND ARE EXCITED
TO WORK WITH US AS WELL AS WE
THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN MOVE
FORWARD ON THE ORCA FOR ALL
CONCEPT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS,
WELCOME THOSE AS WELL.
AND FOR ME, I THINK THIS IS A
REALLY EXCITING WAY FOR US TO
TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HAS
BEEN DISCUSSED TODAY.
FROM PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
TO REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS.
WE KNOW THIS IS THE BIGGEST
EMITTER OF CARBON POLLUTION.
AND FOR US TO HELP WORKERS.
WORKERS GET IN AND AROUND THE
CITY.
AND HOPEFULLY FACE LESS
ECONOMIC HARDSHIP.
THE STORY THAT WAS SHARED ON
THE TRADEOFF ON WHETHER YOU
RIDE OR TAKE THE BUS AS AN
EXAMPLE.
WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TO BE IN A
SITUATION WHERE EITHER IS A
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.
AND TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT
IS BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
IS WHERE WE HOPE TO INCENTIVIZE
THIS.
>> I'D LIKE TO SEE IF YOU'D
LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING.
I KNOW THIS IS AN AREA OF
INTEREST FOR YOU, TOO.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
HI, EVERYBODY.
GLAD TO SEE YOU ALL HERE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M
EXCITED TO BE WORKING WITH YOU
ON THIS.
I KNOW WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO SHARE
THIS INFORMATION AND WHAT
THISIS ABOUT.
PARTICULARLY IN DISTRICT 2 TO
HELP FOLKS COME TO UNDERSTAND
WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.
AND TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
ADVOCATING FOR A CLEANER WAY TO
GET FOLKS AROUND THE CITY AND A
WAY THAT IS MUCH MORE
AFFORDABLE AND EQUITABLE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> CELEBRITY.
I THINK THE TIMING IS
IMPORTANT.
AS FOLKS MAY HAVE SEEN.
FEBRUARY 4th ON TUESDAY WAS
TRANSIT EQUITY DAY.
THIS IS TO MAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT
ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL.
WE'RE EXIE THE TO CONTINUE THAT
DAY'S CELEBRATION THROUGHOUT
THE WEEK HERE.
WE'LL HEAR FROM INDIVIDUAL
WORKERS.
AND POSSIBLE STRATEGIES.
I KNOW THE COALITION HAS BEEN
WORKING ON.
YOU'VE BEEN ENGAGED WITH THE
COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME ON
THIS VERY CONCEPT.
AND FOR US COUNCIL COLLEAGUES,
I'D LIKE TO HAVE A FEW MORE
CONVERSATIONS HERE AT THE TABLE
AS WE THINK THROUGH POLICY
CONCEPTS, BOTH WITH WORKERS,
ADVOCATES, LOCAL BUSINESSES.
AND ANY IDEAS THAT YOU ALL HAVE
FOR WHO NEEDS TO BE AT THE
TABLE.
WE'D WELCOME THAT AS WELL.
TO MAKE SURE WE'RE THINKING
WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO GET
MORE TRANSIT PASSES INTO
WORKERS HANDS.
AND WE WILL HAVE CONVERSATION
WITH SOME OF THE BUSINESS FOLKS
WHO HAVE ALSO BEEN, I THINK,
PROVIDING A VALUABLE
PERSPECTIVE ON HOW TO MAKE THIS
APPLY MORE EQUITABLY.
WE KNOW THERE ARE SOME
BUSINESSES WHO DO PROVIDE ORCA
PASSES, WHICH WE APPRECIATE.
BUT FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S
CHALLENGING WHEN THOSE ORCA
PASSES ARE OFFERED IN AN
EXECUTIVE BUILDING BUT THEN NOT
OFFERED TO THE SERVICE WORKERS
FROM THAT SAME COMPANY.
SO THAT'S THE TYPE OF EXAMPLE
FROM THE TYPE OF EQUITY WE'RE
LOOKING AT.
IN THIS POINT, IT IS OPEN-ENDED
FOR IDEAS.
YOUR IDEAS, INPUT AND DIRECTION
IS APPRECIATED BOTH FROM THE
COMMUNITY AND OUR COLLEAGUES.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO
START US OFF ON THE PANEL.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE NOTE
OF BUDGET ACTION.
THAT WE ALL COLLECTIVELY TOOK
THAT I SPONSORED.
RELATED TO THE REALITY THAT THE
CITY HAS MADE A CHOICE RATHER
THAN TO PROVIDE -- RATHER THAN
PROVIDING HUMAN SERVICES IN
HOUSE WITH OUR OWN CITY STAFF.
>> RIGHT.
>> WE CONTRACT OUT FOR THOSE
SERVICES.
SO THIS IS REALLY I THINK AN
IMPORTANT EXAMPLE OF THE REASON
WHY WE OFTEN HEAR FROM BROTHERS
AND SISTERS IN THE LABORING
MOVEMENT.
THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT
CONTRACTING OUT CITY WORK.
BECAUSE CITY WORKERS GET
TRANSIT PASSES.
BUT THOSE WORKERS DON'T
NECESSARILY GET TRANSIT PASSES.
SO WE PASSED A STATE OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
AND HAVE REQUESTED A REPORT
FROM THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT ABOUT THIS QUESTION
OF THE CITY, SORT OF ACTING IN
MANY WAYS AS AN EMPLOYER,
PROVIDING TRANSIT PASSES FOR
EMPLOYEES OF HSD CONTRACTED
SERVICE PROVIDERS.
THERE WAS AN INTERNAL TO THE
CITY MEETING ON THIS OBLIGATION
THAT HSD HAS RECENTLY, THEY
BELIEVE THEY CAN PROVIDE A
REPORT TO US.
BY JUNE 30th.
AND THE QUESTIONS ARE QUESTIONS
SUCH AS.
>>> CURRENTLY HAS ACCESS TO
TRANSIT PASSES.
HUMAN SERVICES.
PROVIDED CONTRACTS.
WHAT THE COST WOULD BE FOR THE
CITY TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES
TO THOSE WHO DON'T.
WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION
WITH KING COUNTY TO DEVELOP A
JOINT PROGRAM.
THAT ALSO COVERS THE DEPARTMENT
OF COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES
CONTRACTS.
AND WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL
FUNDING SOURCES EXISTING THAT
COULD EXIST OR SUBSIDIZE.
I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO BE
TALKING ABOUT LARGE EMPLOYERS
IN THE CITY PROVIDING THIS AS A
LABOR STANDARD, AS A BENEFIT,
WE NEED TO DO MORE AS AN
EMPLOYER BY PROXY, BY THE FACT
THAT WE ARE CONTRACTING THESE
SERVICES AS WELL.
AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO
BRINGING ON LARGE EMPLOYERS IN
SUPPORT OF THIS CAMPAIGN.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW BEST TO
SEQUENCE THAT WORK THAT THIS
COMMITTEE IS GOING TO BE DOING
ON THE CAMPAIGN.
MAYBE WE CAN THINK ABOUT HAVING
A JOINT COMMITTEE BRIEFING IN
JUNE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> YES.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
AND AND I WILL DEFINITELY WORK
WITH YOUR OFFICE TO SEQUENCE
THOSE.
LET'S KICK OFF THE PANEL.
>> GREAT.
WELL, THANK YOU.
FOR HAVING THIS DISCUSSION.
IN YOUR COMMITTEE.
MAYBE WE'LL START WITH SOME
QUICK INTRODUCTIONS.
FOR THE FOLKS WHO ARE UP HERE.
OR YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELVES
IF YOU WANT TO.
SO I WAS THINKING, WE COULD
EACH SAY OUR NAME AND WHO WE
ARE.
AND THEN ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR
OWN EXPERIENCE WITH TRANSIT
BENEFITS AT CURRENT OR PAST
JOBS AS KIND OF A LITTLE INTRO?
SO I'LL START.
MY NAME IS KATIE WILSON.
I'M THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF
THE TRANSIT RIDERS UNION.
AND I GUESS THE TRANSIT RIDERS
UNION KIND OF PAYS ME SOMETHING
FOR TRANSPORTATION.
I'VE NEVER HAD A JOB IN THE
PAST WHERE I GOT ANY KIND OF
TRANSIT BENEFIT.
AND I'VE BEEN ORGANIZING WITH
THE TRANSIT RIDERS UNION FOR
SOME YEARS NOW.
AND REALLY, PART OF THE KIND OF
IMPETUS TO START THE
ORGANIZATION WAS THAT THERE WAS
A SPACE OF A FEW YEARS STARTING
IN KIND OF 2008, WITH THE
RECESSION, WHERE FARES WENT UP.
LIKE FOUR TIMES IN THE COURSE
OF A FEW YEARS.
AND JUST LIKE BASICALLY
DOUBLED.
AND WE DID A CALCULATION AT
THAT POINT, ABOUT LIKE IF
YOU'RE A MINIMUM WAGE WORKER,
GOING TO WORK, LIKE HOW MUCH OF
YOUR TIME ARE YOU ACTUALLY
SPENDING JUST TO PAY FOR YOUR
BUS COMMUTE TO AND FROM WORK?
AND IT WAS LIKE 40 MINUTES OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO YOU JUST IMAGINE GOING TO
WORK IN YOUR FIRST 40 MINUTES.
YOU'RE JUST COVERING YOUR BUS
RIDE TO AND FROM WORK.
THAT'S THE KIND OF THING WHERE
YOU CAN REALLY SEE THE IMPACT
THAT THAT HAS.
AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE HAVING
TO COMMUTE A LONG DISTANCE.
SO YOU'RE LIKE SPENDING EVEN
MORE OF YOUR TIME AS WELL.
SO ANYWAY.
THAT'S MY INTRODUCTION.
AND I'LL PASS IT TO WHOEVER
WANTS TO GO NEXT.
>> HI.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
MY NAME IS BRITNEY BUSH BOLAY.
AND CHAIR OF SEATTLE GROUP.
I WAS JUST THINKING THIS
MORNING ACTUALLY ABOUT WHEN I
HAD MY OWN NEWBORN KIDDO.
AND HE HATED THE CAR.
HE HATED THE CAR SO MUCH, HE
WOULD SCREAM IN HIS CAR SEAT SO
LOUD, IT WASN'T SAFE FOR ME TO
DRIVE.
LIKE I COULDN'T CONCENTRATE ON
THE ROAD.
NOT TO MENTION HIS OWN MISERY.
SO WE TOOK THE BUS ALL THE
TIME.
SO FOR ME IN THAT MOMENT IT
REALLY MADE ME REALIZE, TRANSIT
IS FREEDOM.
IT LOOTY LET ME GET OUT OF THE
HOUSE AND OUT IN THE WORLD WITH
A KIDDO AS A NEW MOM.
WHEN YOU'RE IN ONE OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE ANDIZEALATING TIMES
IN YOUR LIFE.
>> AMEN.
>> YEAH.
I HAD A TRANSIT PASS.
I COULD GET ON THE BUS, GO
PLACES AND STILL BE PUKNOW, A
PERSON IN THE WORLD.
I WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE THAT
FREEDOM.
REGARDLESS OF WHO YOU WORK FOR
AND WHAT TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT
STATUS IS.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
>> OKAY.
I'LL GO.
AS I SAID EARLIER.
MY NAME IS JESSICA.
AND I WORK AT TRADER JOES.
I WORKED THERE FOR 12 YEARS.
AND WE DON'T HAVE TRANSIT
PASSES.
AND I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE
TRADER JOES TO PROVIDE TRANSIT
PASSES TO ALL OF ITS EMPLOYEES.
I THINK ALL OF US DO TAKE THE
BUS.
I HAVEN'T TAKEN THE POLL.
BUT I KNOW MOST HAVEN'T DONE
THE PRETAX THAT IS OFFERED TO
US.
AND YEAH.
AS A CITIZEN, I DON'T HAVE A
CAR.
I'VE CHOSEN NOT TO FOR MANY
REASONS.
AND I LIKE TAKING THE BULLS.
AND BECAUSE OF RECENT INJURIES,
I'VE HAD TO TAKE IT MORE.
AND IT DEFINITELY HAS INCREASED
MY COST.
AND I THINK THAT LIKE I SAID,
WITH MY COWORKER, HAVING TO
DECIDE, YOU KNOW, WHICH ONE IS
MORE EQUITABLE, INSTEAD OF
MAKING IT HEADS ABOVE THAT, THE
PUBLIC TRANSIT IS THE WAY TO
GO.
DEFINITELY SAYS WHERE WE ARE AS
A SOCIETY.
AND I THINK SEATTLE CAN LEAD
THE WAY AND SHOW A DIFFERENT
WAY OF DOING THINGS THAT IS THE
WAY OF THE FUTURE.
SO THANK YOU.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS TY.
I'M THE FIELD ORGANIZER FOR THE
TRANSIT RIDERS UNION.
LAST YEAR, I USED TO WORK FOR A
TERRIBLE COMPANY.
I HATED IT.
BUT THEY WERE A CONTRACTOR OF
AMTRAK.
WHICH LIKE MOVES BILLIONS OF
PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY ALL
THE TIME.
BUT EVEN AMTRAK WORKERS DON'T
GET A PASS.
EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE IN THE
KWEISII SPACE THAT GOVERNMENTAL
SPACE THAT THEY LIKE TO BE IN.
AND AS A CONTRACTOR FOR THEM.
I DEFINITELY DIDN'T GET A PASS.
AND I WORKED OVERNIGHT.
WOULD A PASS REALLY HAVE HELPED
WITH THE WAY OUR BUS SYSTEMS
ARE?
NOW I WORK FOR HUMAN SERVICES
PROVIDER.
I WORK FOR $1.50 MORE.
I PAY FOR HEALTHCARE.
AND CONTRIBUTE TO 43B.
SO I TOOK A PAY CUT TO DO THIS
WORK.
AND I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT UNTIL
MY FIRST PAYCHECK.
AND I REALLY STILL LOVE THE
WORK.
AND IT'S REALLY BEEN BOTHERING
ME THE WAY THE LEGISLATION IS.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT LATER.
THIS IDEA THAT IT COULD BE LESS
THAN 100%.
I THINK THAT GOING FORWARD, IF
THIS ISN'T 100% THEN IT'S
USELESS.
POINTLESS.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW WAGES
HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH INFLATION
OR PRICES OR ANYTHING FOR
DECADES.
AND WE THINK THAT 50% IS GOING
TO CHANGE SOMETHING.
WE HAVE TO START GIVING AWAY
THIS FREE STUFF THAT WE'VE
ALREADY PAID TOWARD.
OTHERWISE, WE ARE JUST SETTING
OURSELVES UP FOR ANOTHER FAILED
PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT
LEAVES TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THE
GAPS FIX WE DON'T KNOW QUITE
WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.
YOU TALKED ABOUT WORK.
WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO THE
ADVENT AND INFLUX OF CONTRACT
WORK.
100% SUBSIDY.
THEN WE'RE FAILING THE
CONSTITUENTS.
AND THE LEGISLATION WILL BE
ANOTHER PIECE OF LIP SERVICE TO
WHAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DO WITH
THE MONEY WE HAVE.
SO I DON'T KNOW.
I'M EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS.
I FEEL LIKE NOW IS THE TIME TO
DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL.
NOW IS THE TIME TO CAPTURE
PEOPLE'S IMAGINATION WITH WHAT
SEATTLE CAN BE.
AND IF IT ISN'T EVERYTHING, WE
SHOULDN'T EVEN BOTHER DOING IT.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE AT
THE TABLE.
MORE THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE
PAST.
AND A LOT MORE FACES.
AND I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THIS
IS SERIOUS FOR FOLKS.
AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A LOT
OF LIFE-CHANGING MOMENTS.
FOR ME, $100 IS A LOT PER
MONTH.
I'M HAPPY TO PAY IT.
I'M SO HAPPY I CAN PAY IT.
BUT IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO.
I WONDER WHAT THAT WOULD GO FOR
AS WELL.
SO PLEASE CONSIDER THAT WHEN
YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT WHAT
SLASHES TO START MAKING.
WHAT PEOPLE TO START EXCLUDING
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT THE
LEGISLATION LOOKS LIKE.
>> HI.
I'M TOBIAS GRILL, HE/HIM
PRONOUNS.
WE'RE A WORKERS RIGHTS
ORGANIZATION.
WE ALSO DO HOUSING.
CONTRACT THROUGH THE OLS.
IN TERMS OF MY PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE, I'VE ONLY HAD A
TRANSIT PASS ONCE IN MY LIFE.
THAT WAS WHEN I WORKED IN
OLYMPIA.
BEFORE THE FREE TRANSIT.
YES.
OLYMPIA.
AND IT WAS A GAME CHANGER.
I WASN'T MAKING VERY MUCH MONEY
WORKING FOR THE CITY.
THE BUS FARE WAS STEEP.
AND HAVING THAT FREE PASS
ALLOWED ME A LOT OF
FLEXIBILITY.
I DIDN'T HAVE TO NICKEL AND
DIME WITH MY CHANGE.
I DIDN'T HAVE TO STRESS ABOUT
MAKING IT TO THE TRANSIT IN
TIME TO PICK UP A NEW ONE FOR
THAT MONTH.
IN MY JOB NOW, I TRAVEL A FAIR
AMOUNT IN THE CITY.
MULTIPLE TIMES DURING THE DAY.
IT'S NOT A SIMPLE ONE
DESTINATION TO ANOTHER
DESTINATION.
I'M SOMEOE WHO WOULD FALL IN
THE HOLE OF A COMMUTE IN THE
MORNING.
THEN A COMMUTE IN THE
AFTERNOON.
AND THEN A COMMUTE LATER.
AND THAT ADDS UP VERY, VERY
QUICKLY FOR WORKERS.
WHO DON'T MAKE THEIR TRANSFER
TIMES.
IT IS NOT TECHNICALLY CHEAPER
FOR ME TO DRIVE MY CAR, IF YOU
GO BY THE FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT
RATES.
BUT WITH MY WAGES AND WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE A
RELATIVELY LOW-WAGE WORKER.
THE GAS COSTS ALONE, WHICH ARE
THE IMMEDIATE ONES UP FRONT.
THAN IT IS TO TAKE A BUS DURING
THE DAY.
ON A PURELY PERSONAL LEVEL.
LEAVING ASIDE MY CLIENTS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I WOULD
GREATLY APPRECIATE A SUBSIDIZED
TRANSIT PASS.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO
NEXT IS WALK THROUGH A VERY,
FAIRLY SHORT SLIDE
PRESENTATION.
WHICH WILL GIVE US CONTEXT FOR %
WHY WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS
ISSUE AND WHY WE WERE AT.
IF YOU WERE PAYING ATTENTION
LAST YEAR, THIS MIGHT LOOK
FAMILIAR.
BECAUSE WE KIND OF JUST UPDATED
ONE WE DID IN THE FALL.
SO HERE WE GO.
FIRST.
AS A LITTLE BACKGROUND.
HERE IN SEATTLE.
WE'RE ALREADY IN MANY WAYS A
NATIONAL LEADER ON TRANSIT.
TRANSIT RIDERSHIP HAS BEEN
RISING IN GENERAL OVER THE
YEARS WHILE MANY CITIES
NATIONWIDE HAVE BEEN
EXPERIENCING DECLINES IN
TRANSIT RIDERSHIP.
AND THAT'S LARGELY DUE TO MAJOR
INVESTMENTS THAT WE ALL HAVE
MADE IN OUR REGIONAL TRANSIT
SYSTEM.
BOTH LIGHT RAIL AND OUR BUS
SYSTEM.
TRANSIT SERVICE AND
INFRASTRUCTURE OVER THE PAST
YEARS.
WE ARE ALSO A NATIONAL LEADER
IN FREE AND REDUCED PROGRAMS.
THE ORCA LIFT PROGRAM.
THE TRANSIT RIDERS UNION WERE
INVOLVED IN GETTING IMPLEMENTED
SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
IS A PROGRAM MANY HAVE LOOKED
TO AND TRIED TO COPY.
AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF REDUCED
FARE PROGRAMS THAT WE COME ARE
GREAT.
AND WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL
PROGRAMS AND LAWS THAT
ENCOURAGE DRIVE ALONE
COMMUTING.
WE'RE STARTING WITH THE
POSITIVE HERE.
THIS IS GOOD.
AND -- OKAY.
I'M GOING TO PAUSE AT EACH
SLIDE, IN CASE PEOPLE HAVE
THINGS THEY WANT TO ADD OR ANY
DISCUSSION.
>> ONE THING I WILL SAY ABOUT
THIS IS THAT THE TRANSIT
RIDERSHIP RISING HERE HAS
ACTUALLY KIND OF PLATEAUED.
THIS NEWS CAME OUT, I THINK IN
DECEMBER.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY NO LONGER
TRANSIT RIDERSHIP RISING.
AND WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR CARBON
REDUCTION GOALS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED
TO KIND OF GET BACK ON TRACK.
SO WE'RE DOING WELL IN MANY
VERY CAR-DOMINATED CITY.
AS YOU'LL KNOW IF YOU SPEND ANY
TIME GETTING AROUND THE CITY.
AND THIS HAS A LOT OF REALLY
NEGATIVE IMPACTS.
OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
ARE CONTINUING TO RISE.
WE'RE NOT ON TRACK TO MEET
SEATTLE'S CLIMATE GOALS.
THESE ARE THE LARGEST
CONTRIBUTOR TO OUR CITY
EMISSIONS.
OVER HALF COME FROM PASSENGER
VEHICLES AND THE POLLUTANTS
FROM CARS HARM HEALTH.
LIKELY TO LIVE NEAR BUSY ROADS.
AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO
BE KILLED BY TRAFFIC VIOLENCE
IN OUR CITY.
>> OKAY.
I'M JUST GOING TO RUN THROUGH
THIS.
>> SO WE ALSO SOME OF THE WORST
TRAFFIC IN THE NATION.
AND THAT HAS IMPACTS ON
PEOPLE'S TIME PEOPLE SPENDING
HOURS ON THE ROAD.
AND HAS IMPACTS ON OR ECONOMY,
RIGHT?
YOU KNOW, BUSINESSES NEED
THINGS TO MOVE.
AND LOWER WAGE WORKERS ARE MOST
LIKELY TO HAVE LONG COMMUTES,
LARGELY DUE TO HOUSING COSTS
AND DISPLACEMENT.
ANDALSO TO SPEND A LARGE PART
OF INCOME ON THEIR
TRANSPORTATION.
>> CAN I SAY SOMETHING REAL
QUICK?
>> GO FOR IT.
>> WHENEVER WE MEET WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, LOOKING FOR
COMMUNITY INPUT ON THEIR NEEDS
FOR HOUSING EMPLOYMENT.
ONE THING THAT CONSISTENTLY
COMES UP WITH THEIR RELIANCE ON
PUBLIC TRANSIT.
WORKERS ARE LIKELY TO BE IN
SHIFT WORK.
GENERAL LOW-WAGE JOBS WITH
IRREGULAR HOURS.
SO WE ARE AMONG THOSE
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY
THOSE LONG COMMUTES.
>> TOTALLY.
>>> OKAY.
AND BENEFITS WHICH WE'RE HERE
TO TALK ABOUT TODAY ARE
EFFECTIVE.
MULTIPLE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN
THAT THESE ARE EFFECTIVE IN
SHIFTING COMMUTERS TOWARD
PUBLIC TRANSIT.
THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE THAT
FOUND EMPLOYEES WHO PROVIDED
FREE OR SUBSIDIZED TRANSIT PASS
HAD 156% HIGHER ODDS.
ALL ELSE EQUALED COMPARED TO
THEIR COUNTERPARTS.
AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY
SIGNIFICANT.
ESPECIALLY LIKE ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WE FOUND AS LAST
YEAR, YOU KNOW, OUR ORGANIZERS
DID A WHOLE BUNCH OF OUTREACH
TO WORKERS IN SEATTLE.
AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE KIND OF LIKE HOBBLING
TOGETHER.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY DO THE SAME
THING EVERY DAY.
AND HAVING THAT TRANSIT PASS IN
HAND REALLY TIPS THE BALANCE
OVER TO TRANSIT.
REALLY FREQUENTLY.
>> AND AS A STUDENT, I WENT TO
U-DUB.
WHAT ARE WE?
BULLDOGS?
SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> I HAVE TERRIBLE SCHOOL
PRIDE.
I LIKE THE LEARNING PART MORE
THAN THE THING.
BUT I WENT TO U-DUB.
AND I HAD THE TRANSIT PASS.
I USED IT SO MUCH.
I USED IT TO GO DOWN THE
STREET.
THERE'S ALWAYS A BUS GOING.
AND YOU HOP ON AND IT'S
NOTHING.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT ENCOURAGED ME WHEN I WAS
DOING OUTREACH.
WE WENT DOWN TO LIKE WEST LAKE.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS LIKE
WORKING AT RETAIL STORES.
A LOT OF YOUNG KIDS.
AND A LOT OF THEM ARE LIKE U-
DUB STUDENTS.
SO THEY HAVE THIS FREE PASS.
BUT IF THEY WERE NOT STUDENTS
AND THEY WERE STILL WORKING
THAT JOB, WHICH AT SOME POINT,
THEY WILL BE.
THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
GET A CAR OR START PAYING FOR
THIS ALL OF A SUDDEN.
IF WE WANT TO START EFFECTING A
CULTURE.
LET'S BE HONEST.
A LOT OF COLLEGE KIDS DO WORK.
THEY'RE ALREADY GOT ONE.
IT'S ASSUMED.
IT'S JUST LIKE THIS SEAMLESS
TRANSITION.
HONESTLY, IT'S REALLY HARD TO
NOT HAVE A CAR.
AS MUCH AS I DO TAKE THE BUS, I
ALSO DO OWN A CAR.
JUST BECAUSE IT'S ALSO HANDY
WHEN YOU HAVE TO DRIVE OTHER
PLACES.
AND I CAME TO THE CITY NEEDING
A CAR.
BECAUSE I HAD TO DRIVE UP TO
EVERETT ALL THE TIME.
SO IF I HAD TO COME HERE WITH A
PASS ALREADY.
WHO KNOWS WHAT JOBS I WOULD
HAVE TAKEN, WHAT OPPORTUNITIES
WOULD HAVE BEEN OBVIOUS.
BUT I KIND OF CAME HERE AND
DECIDED, I LIVE FAR AWAY FROM
MY JOB, I NEED TO GET A CAR.
SO THAT'S WHAT I DID WITHIN A
FEW MONTHS OF LIVING HERE.
IF THERE HAD BEEN A DIFFERENT
PATH FORWARD FOR ME.
A LOT OF FOLKS WOULD TAKE THAT.
AND WHEEZE SHOULD DEFINITELY
MAKE THAT AVAILABLE FOR THEM.
>>> OKAY.
AND WE DID THE COMMUTE SURVEY
LAST YEAR AND ASKED PEOPLE WHO
ALREADY HAVE TRANSIT BENEFITS
THROUGH THE EMPLOYER KIND
OFWHAT THAT MEANS FOR THEM.
TURNS OUT, PEOPLE HAVE TRANSIT
BENEFITS.
IT MEANINGST WORLD FOR ME AND
MY COMMUTE.
IT'S FANTASTIC.
MEANS NO SECOND THOUGHT.
IN ALL HONESTY, IT'S A NEAR
NECESSITY FOR ME.
NO REASON NOT TO OFFER IT.
IT'S A FANTASTIC RELIEF AND
MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M MAKING
PACE SINCE I DON'T HAVE TO
SPEND SO MUCH ON TRANSIT FARES.
>> THE ILLUSION OF A RAISE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD REAL
QUICK.
A COUPLE OF COLLEAGUES SPENT
THE AFTERNOON CANVASSING UP AND
DOWN THIRD AVENUE DURING THE
EVENING COMMUTE.
GOING TO THE BUS STOPS AND
TALKING TO PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I
HEARD.
A SMALL PORTION OF THE PEOPLE
SAID, OH, YEAH.
I ALREADY HAVE A TRANSIT PASS
FOR MY JOB.
IT'S AMAZING.
AND LIKE THEIR FACES WOULD
LIGHT UP.
AND THEY WERE SO EXCITED.
AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO DIDN'T
HAVE ONE THE YOU'RE LIKE, OKAY.
SIGN ME UP.
ID WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT.
AND YEAH, I'LL REACH OUT TO MY
COUNCILMEMBERS.
SO IT'S AN INCREDIBLY
POPULARPROPOSAL.
>> YEAH.
I WOULD SECOND THAT, TOO.
>> CONSIDER ME REACHED OUT TO.
>> YEAH.
SO THEN THIS NEXT SLIDE.
ACTUALLY, JESSICA ALREADY
WALKED US THROUGH THIS IN HER
PUBLIC COMMENT.
ACCORDING TO HER SURVEY.
WE FOUND 100,000 OR MORE, VAST
MAJORITY OF THEM GET SOME KIND
OF TRANSPORTATION BENEFITS.
AND WORKERS MAKING $50,000 OR
LESS.
ONLY HALF REPORT GETTING
TRANSPORTATION BENEFITS.
>> KATIE, YOU MENTIONED THIS IS
A NONSCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF FOLKS
THAT YOU GUYS HAVE CANVASSED.
BUT DO WE HAVE A BETTER SENSE
OF WHERE WE CAN GET THAT DATA
FROM?
AND FOR FOLKS THAT DON'T KNOW
KARINA BULL.
SHE IS CENTRAL STAFF.
AND STAFFS ON ISSUES OF LABOR
AS WELL.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A REPORT
THAT EXISTS.
OR IF YOU'VE DONE THIS BECAUSE
THERE IS A LACK OF SUCH DATA?
>> WELL, THE NEXT SLIDE IS --
>> ALL RIGHT.
OH.
THERE WAS AN ERROR.
>> YES, I SEE.
>> YEAH.
THE NEXT SLIDE IS A GRAPH.
IF IT --
>> IT'S OKAY.
WE HAVE IT IN FRONT OF US.
>> WELL, THERE SHOULD BE A
GRAPH THERE FROM THE PUGET
SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL.
WHICH IS MORE OF LIKE A
REGIONAL TRAVEL SURVEY.
SO THEY FIND, IT'S NOT AS STARK
A DIFFERENCE AS WHAT WE FOUND
IN THE FOLKS THAT WE SURVEYED.
WHICH KIND OF MAKES SENSE.
BECAUSE I THINK REGIONALLY,
JUST FEWER PEOPLE ARE GETTING
TRANSIT BENEFITS REGARDLESS OF
THEIR INCOME.
BUT IT WAS A SIMILAR SITUATION
IN THIS REGIONAL SURVEY.
WHERE HIGHER PAID WORKERS ARE
LIKELY TO GET BENEFITS.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE
KIND OF LIKE A REPRESENTATIVE
SAMPLE SURVEY OF SEATTLE
SPECIFICALLY.
MAYBE THAT DATA EXISTS
SOMEWHERE AND COULD BE PUT
TOGETHER.
BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF IT.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO JUMP IN REAL
QUICK ON THE 50,000 NUMBER.
IN A DIFFERENT PRESENTATION
TODAY.
A SOUND ENFORCEMENT FARE.
AND ANOTHER MEETING.
THEY MENTIONED THAT THE $50,000
INCOME LINE WAS A VERY CLEAR
DIVIDER, ACTUALLY, WITHIN FARE
ENFORCEMENT.
PEOPLE MAKING $50,000 OR LESS,
WERE FAR MORE LIKELY TO BE
INVOLVED IN THE FARE
ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM.
THEY WERE FAR MORE LIKELY TO
HAVE PAID THEIR FARE BECAUSE
THEY WERE UNABLE.
AND A LARGE PORTION OF THOSE
PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE INCOME AND
EMPLOYMENT.
BUT JUST NOT HIGH-PAYING INCOME
ARE IN THE GAP AREA, WHERE THE
SUBSIDIES WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
THEY'RE CLEARLY USING TRANSIT
BECAUSE THEY NEED IT.
AND THAT THEY'RE HOPEFULLY
GOING TO GET CAUGHT AND NOT
PAYING.
>> ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT TO
ME THAT I FIND ODD WITH THE
DATA IS THE OFFER THAT I DON'T
USE.
AND THE OFFER THAT I USE, THAT
FOR FOLKS, UNDER $25,000, THE
OFFER THAT I USE IS 7%.
WHICH IS JUST A STRANGE
STAIVITYIC TO ME.
I MEAN, I -- IT'S NOT A SURVEY
THAT PARENTS CONDUCTED.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF ANY
ORGANIZING OR ANECDOTAL
INFORMATION COULD GLEAN ON WHY
A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER.
THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME
EMPLOYERS THAT ARE OFFERING AND
FOLKS THAT ARE UNDER $25,000
ARE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT.
IS MY READ OF THAT STATISTIC.
>> I CAN SPEAK TO THAT.
UNLESS YOU WANT TO, KATIE.
>> YOU GO FIRST.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY.
FIRST OFF, THERE IS KIND OF
WHAT JESSICA ALLUDED TO.
THIS IDEA THAT THERE ARE FOLKS
OUT THERE WHO CANNOT NAVIGATE
OR DON'T UNDERSTAND THE
PROGRAMS THAT THEIR JOBS OFFER.
THEY'RE HONESTLY, THE OUTREACH
FOR THESE KIND OF THINGS WITHIN
BUSINESS IS LIKE TERRIBLE.
SOMETIMES IT'S REALLY GOOD.
IF PEOPLE ARE PROUD OF IT, THEY
ADVERTISE IT.
BUT IT'S NOT LIKE SOMEBODY CAN
SIGN YOU UP.
AND THERE'S TAXES INVOLVED.
AND NUMBERS YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND.
SO A LOT OF FOLKS MIGHT HAVE IT
AND DON'T USE IT.
I WOULD SAY, IF YOU MAKE
$25,000 I PROMISE YOU, YOU LIVE
VERY FAR FROM YOUR JOB.
FOR ME, I WORKED OVERNIGHT AND
I WAS READING AN ARTICLE ABOUT
HOW OVERNIGHT PEOPLE ALMOST
ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE CARS JUST
BECAUSE TRANSIT YOU KNOW, I
HAVE TO EITHER SHOW UP AN HOUR
EARLY OR 7 MINUTES LATE AND
THEN YOU'RE SCREWED.
JUST WORKING THOSE TIMES.
I CAN SEE FOR ME, I DON'T HAVE
ANY PROOF OF THAT.
BUT WHEN I SEE THAT NUMBER.
THAT'S KIND OF HOW I SEE IT.
IF YOU'RE MAKING UNDER $25,000.
AT THAT POINT, YOU'RE PROBABLY
GETTING A LEMON OF A CAR AND
DRIVING IT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.
>> WITH THAT, THAT'S GREAT
CONTEXT.
WOULD SOME OF THOSE SCENARIOS
FALL UNDER THE I DON'T KNOW
CATEGORY?
LIKE THE NAVIGATION ISSUES?
I MEAN, BECAUSE THAT'S A
CATEGORY AS WELL.
BECAUSE IF IT'S SORT OF A
PARTICULAR BYZANTINE OR
CONVOLUTED SYSTEM.
MAYBE SOME FOLKS WOULD RESPOND
UNDER THAT.
I GUESS YOU COULD PUT THEM
UNDER BOTH.
BECAUSE IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW,
THE SYSTEM IS SO COMPLICATED,
YOU DON'T KNOW AS AN EMPLOYEE.
OR IT COULD BE THE SYSTEM IS SO
COMPLICATED.
AND I KNOW IT'S COMPLICATED SO
I DON'T EVEN BOTHER WITH IT.
SO THERE COULD BE OVERLAP
BETWEEN THOSE, I GUESS.
>> I WOULD IMAGINE THERE ARE
OTHER KINDS OF SCENARIOS, WITH
SOMEBODY WHOSE JOB
PROVIDESSUBSIDIZED TRANSIT,
MAYBE DOESN'T TICK IT BECAUSE
OF A COMPLEX LIFE
RESPONSIBILITIES THAT MAKE
TAKING TRANSIT DIFFICULT.
FOR INSTANCE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE
YOU WORK IN A PLACE THAT WOULD
REQUIRE, IN ORDER FOR YOU TO
GET TO CHILD CARE, REQUIRE A
TRANSFER, WHICH WOULD MEAN YOU
SHOW UP TO CHILD CARE TO PICK
UP YOUR KIDDO LATE.
AND IT'S A DOLLAR A MINUTE FOR
EVERY MINUTE YOU'RE LATE.
SO -- AND DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS.
I MEAN, THERE ARE THE TYPES OF
THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE IN
THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES THAT CAN
MAKE TRANSIT DIFFICULT.
HOPEFULLY WE'RE ALL HERE,
TRYING TO MAKE IT LESS
DIFFICULT.
>> AND I THINK THE REALLY
IMPORTANT STATISTIC HERE IS
THAT 56% OF THE FOLKS WHO WERE
SURVEYED SAID IT IS NOT OFFERED
AT ALL.
SO THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO CHANGE.
>> OKAY.
WE HAVE ABOUT 10 MORE MINUTES.
>> GREAT.
I WILL ZOOM THROUGH THIS THEN.
WOW, WE'RE NOT GETTING PICTURES
ANYMORE.
SO PARTLY THIS DISPARITY IS AN
OUTCOME OF POLICY.
CITY POLICY PLAYS A ROLE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS TO NOTICE
ABOUT SEATTLE'S POLICY IS THAT
WE HAVE A COMMUTE TRIP
REDUCTION PROGRAM THAT DOESN'T
REQUIRE TRANSIT BENEFITS.
BUT DOES REQUIRE EMPLOYERS WITH
LARGE WORK SITES TO DO CERTAIN
THINGS TO TRY TO REDUCE THEIR
DRIVE-ALONE COMMUTE RATES.
AND THAT PROGRAM REALLY FOCUSES
ON LARGE WORK SITES LIKE
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, WHICH
MEANS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS CH
TEND TO BE HIGHER-PAID WORKERS,
YOU KNOW, 9:00 TO 5:00 KIND OF
WORK SITES.
THAT DOESN'T TOUCH THE RETAIL
HOSPITALITY, GROCERY INDUSTRIES
THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WHERE LOWER WAGE WORKERS ARE
TINDING TO NOT GET THIS
BENEFIT.
SO I NEED TO SEE WHAT OUR NEXT
SLIDE IS GOING TO BE.
>> LIMBO.
>> OKAY.
SO YEAH.
SO CITY POLICY IS KIND OF PART
OF THE REASON WE'RE IN THE
SITUATION WE'RE IN.
AND ALSO, CITY POLICY CAN FIX
IT.
PARTLY.
SO.
AND SEATTLE IS REALLY ALREADY
BEGUN THIS WORK BY PASSING A
COMMUTER BENEFITS ORDINANCE IN
2018, WHICH JUST WENT INTO
EFFECT THIS JANUARY.
AND THAT ORDINANCE REQUIRES
BUSINESSES WITH 20 OR MORE
EMPLOYEES TO OFFER THEIR
EMPLOYEES THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO
THE PRETAX PAYROLL DEDUCTION
THAT JESSICA WAS REFERRING TO
THAT TRADER JOE'S ALREADY DOES
AND MANY BUSINESSES ALREADY DO
TO PAY FOR EMPLOYEE TRANSIT
EXPENSES.
THE EMPLOYEE PAYING FOR
TRANSIT.
BUT IT'S LESS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE
THEY NOT HAVING TO PAY TAXES TO
PAY FOR THOSE WAGES.
WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING THIS YEAR
IS TO REALLY STRENGTHEN THAT
ORDINANCE, BY ADDING A
REQUIREMENT THAT LARGE
EMPLOYERS SUBSIDIZE TRANSIT FOR
ALL OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.
>> DID I HEAR CORRECTLY THAT
THERE WAS SOME CHANGE TO THE
TAX CODE, AS RELATES TO OUR
COMMUTE BENEFITS ORDINANCE THAT
MAKES IT MORE ONEROUS FOR
EMPLOYERS TO ADHERE TO THE
REQUIREMENTS?
I THOUGHT I REMEMBERED SEEING
THAT THERE WAS SOME MATH ON HOW
IT ALL WORKED OUT.
SO THAT IT DIDN'T ACTUALLY COST
EMPLOYERS ANYTHING TO MAKE THIS
OFFER.
AND THEN I THOUGHT I SAW
SOMETHING VERY RECENTLY ABOUT A
TAX CODE CHANGE.
>> SO IN 2017, THE TRUMP TAX
PLAN, I THINK, MADE IT SO THAT
EMPLOYERS COULD NOT DEDUCT
CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD
TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES FROM
THEIR CORPORATE INCOME TAX.
I BELIEVE, WAS THE CHANGE.
AND IT HIT NONPROFITS
ESPECIALLY HARD.
BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY REQUIRED
NONPROFITS TO PAY UNRELATED
BUSINESS TAX ON ANY SUBSIDIES
THEY PUT TOWARDS THEIR
EMPLOYEES TRANSPORTATION.
NOW, WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THIS
PAST DECEMBER IS THAT PART HAS
BEEN REPEALED.
AND I THINK NONPROFITS CAN
ACTUALLY APPLY FOR A REBATED
FOR ANY MONEY THEY HAD TO PAY
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
THAT'S GOOD.
SO THERE IS STILL A LITTLE BIT
LESS OF AN INVENTIVE ACROSS THE
BOARD FOR PRIVATE EMPLOYERS TO
PAY FOR TRANSIT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND AT THE SAME TIME, SO
LAST THING IS JUST THAT WE KNOW
THAT THIS LEGISLATION,
INCREASING WORKER ACCESS TO
TRANSIT PASSES IS GREAT AND
NEEDED.
IT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE ALL OF
OUR PROBLEMS.
SO AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO
BE SUPPORTING AND EXPANDING
PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE FREE OR
DEEPLY AFFORDABLE TRANSIT
ACCESS FOR LOW INCOME AND VERY
LOW INCOME RIDERS.
AND WE ALSO NEED TO EXPAND AND
IMPROVE SERVICE, INCLUDING LATE
NIGHT AND OFF-PEAK SERVICE FOR
RESIDENTS WHO RIDE TRANSIT ALL
TIMES OF DAY AND NIGHT SO THAT
IT'S A VIABLE OPTION FOR
PEOPLE.
AND DECRIMINALIZE FAIR
NONPAYMENT AND PROVIDE A PATH
TO FREE FOR ALL AS SOME OF OUR
PUBLIC COMMENTATORS MENTION
THE.
>> THIS IS GREAT.
ON THAT LAST POINT, ARE YOU
ALSO ENGAGED WITH FOLKS AT THE
KING COUNTY LEVEL, ABOUT
ENFORCEMENT ISSUES THAT YOU
HAVE BOTH HEARD ABOUT
ANECDOTALLY.
AND THE DATA YOU SHARED WHICH
IS REALLY COMPELLING FROM AN
EQUITY PERSPECTIVE.
>> A NUMBER HAVE BEEN ENGAGING
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
BOTH KING COUNTY METRO AND
SOUND TRANSIT.
ON MAKING MAJOR REFORMS TO
THEIR FARE ENFORCEMENT
POLICYLESS.
>> EXCELLENT.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF THAT WORK
WAS LED BY MANY IN THE
COMMUNITY.
AND FROM THE ORGANIZATION AS
RELATED TO FOLKS WHO ARE
DEALING WITH FARE ENFORCEMENT,
ESPECIALLY DURING THE COLDEST
DAYS IN SEATTLE.
COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> WELL, JUST ON THAT NOTE.
I WOULD ASK OR OFFER THAT IF WE
CAN BE HELPFUL IN THE
CONVERSATIONS WITH SOUND
TRANSIT.
WHICH I THINK IS MORE RETICENT
TO MAKE CHANGES TO FARE
ENFORCEMENT.
WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
>> OTHER COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YEAH.
SO I HAD A GREAT MEETING
EARLIER TODAY, WITH SOME FOLKS
FROM THE PIKE PLACE MARKET.
WHO, YOU KNOW, AMALGAMATION OF
VERY SMALL VENDORS.
AND ONE OF THEIR ONGOING
CONCERNS IS BEING IN A POSITION
WHERE THEY CAN SOMEHOW OFFER TO
THEIR EMPLOYEES, SOME KIND OF
SUBSIDIZED OR LOWER BARRIER
ORCA KIND OF PROGRAM.
YOU KNOW, SOMETHING I'M A HUGE
SUPPORTER FOR ORCA FOR ALL.
AND I WANT TO SEE THIS WORK.
I THINK A MANDATE MAKES A LOT
OF SENSE.
AND I WANT TO WORK ON THE
DETAILS OF THAT.
BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO DO IS
FIGURE OUT STRATEGIES, WHERE WE
CAN WORK WITH SMALL BUSINESSES
AND SORT OF THESE AMALGAMATIONS
OF SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGH A
LOT OF THESE PDAs OR BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT.
OR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS
OR BUSINESS DISTRICTS THAT WANT
TO FIGURE SIMILAR SCHEMES OUT.
BUT THE INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES
THEMSELVES MIGHT NOT HAVE THE
RESOURCES.
AND WE'RE IN THIS KIND OF
AWKWARD SPACE, WHERE THEY'RE
NOT QUITE BIG ENOUGH.
WHERE WE FEEL COMFORTABLE
MANDATING THAT WE'RE DOING
THIS.
WE'RE ALSO NOT REALLY IN A
POSITION WHERE WE CAN GIVE THEM
A GIFT OF PUBLIC FUNDS TO DO IT
NECESSARILY.
AND I'D REALLY BE INTERESTED IN
MEETING AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
THE CREATIVITY OF THIS GROUP
HERE TO FIGURE OUT WAYS WE CAN
HAVE THAT INTERVENTION.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IT'S -- THE
MARKET EMPLOYS A LOT OF FOLKS.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF SIMILARLY
SITUATED GROUPS.
AND I THINK THAT THERE COULD BE
SOME ROOM FOR SOME PARTNERSHIPS
THERE.
AND SOME OTHER KIENSD OF
INTERVENTIONS.
>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT.
>> THAT'S A WONDERFUL POINT.
DID YOU HAVE A SECOND ITEM?
DID I CUT YOU OFF?
>> NO.
>> WE'D LOVE TO MEET AND TALK
ABOUT THAT.
I THINK -- WELL, FIRST OF ALL,
THERE IS ACTUALLY A PILOT
PROGRAM THAT THE STATE HAS BEEN
FUNDING WHICH PROVIDES A MATCH
FOR SMALLER EMPLOYERS THAT WANT
TO PROVIDE A TRANSIT BENEFIT.
I THINK IT PROVIDES A MATCHUP
OF UP TO $10,000.
AND IT'S NOT TERRIBLY WIDELY
PUBLICIZED.
BUT IT HAS BEEN CONTINUED FOR
ANOTHER YEAR.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE AWARE
OF.
BUT I THINK THERE'S THIS WHOLE
QUESTION OF WORK SITES, WHERE
THERE'S A NUMBER OF SMALLER
EMPLOYERS THERE.
AND I KNOW UNIVERSITY VILLAGE,
WE HEARD, FROM DOING OUTREACH
THERE.
THE UNIVERSITY VILLAGE HAS KIND
OF A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM.
IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW
HOW THEY'VE DONE THAT.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD
BE INTERESTED IN HELPING FIGURE
OUT.
>> DO PASSES HAVE A VARIABLE
COST TO THE EMPLOYER, DEPENDING
ON HOW MANY PASSES THEY'RE
PROVIDING?
DO YOU GET CHEAPER PASSES IF
YOU HAVE MORE EMPLOYEES?
>> SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF WAYS
THAT EMPLOYERS CAN PROVIDE
TRANSYIT BENEFITS -- TRANSIT
BENEFITS.
AND THE MOST SIMPLE AND
EFFICIENT WAY IS THE ORCA
BUSINESS PASSPORT PROGRAM THAT
METRO OFFERS.
IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN 500
EMPLOYEES ON YOUR PASSPORT
PROGRAM.
THEN METRO ACTUALLY DOES CUSTOM
PRICING.
WHERE ESSENTIALLY, EACH
EMPLOYEE GETS AN UNLIMITED
METRO PASS.
AND METRO IS ADJUSTING YOUR
COST YEAR BY YEAR BASED ON THE
USAGE OF THOSE EMPLOYEES.
SO IT ENDS UP BEING CHEAPER PER
PASS THAN A RETAIL UNLIMITED
PASS.
THE COST PER PASS IS STILL
CHEAPER THAN RETAIL BECAUSE
IT'S BASED ON KIND OF THE USAGE
IN YOUR ZONE ACROSS THE
PASSPORT PROGRAMS.
FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK FOR
DOWNTOWN, IT'S LIKE MAYBE $800
A YEAR PER EMPLOYEE FOR AN
UNLIMITED CARD UNDER THE PASS
PORT PROGRAM.
>> SO MAYBE SOME SORT OF PASS-
BUYING CO-OP.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS WONDERING.
LIKE IF THESE B.I.A.s COULD BE
A PURCHASER OF THE PASSPORT
PROGRAM.
>> YEAH.
>> COLLECTION OF BIAs OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO IF THEY GET THE HIGH
EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT.
>> YEAH.
AND I THINK THAT THE CHALLENGES
TO SOME EXTENT, MOSTLY
ADMINISTRATIVE.
LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE AN
ENTITY IN THESE MULTIEMPLOYER
SITES TO.
HANDLE THE COULD AND DISTRIBUTE
THE PASSES TO EVERYONE.
UT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT
SHOULD BE AN INSURMOUNTABLE
CHALLENGE.
>> SO AS WE CONTINUE THE
CONVERSATION, IT WOULD BE ALSO
GREAT TO HEAR OF ANY OTHER
CITIES THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE
GOOD MODELS FOR US TO LOOK AT.
AND IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN
ENACTED.
WHAT ARE THEY CONSIDERING.
I LOVE OLYMPIA.
THAT'S MY HOMETOWN.
AND WHEN I WAS ASKING ABOUT
WHICH CITIES HAVE FREE TRANSIT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE NUMBER OF
RESIDENTS IN THOSE CITIES IS
MUCH SMALLER.
BUT IF WE CAN LOOK AT
COMPARABLE CITY SIZES AND WHAT
OTHER CITIES ARE DOING THAT,
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
AND AS USUAL, WE'RE SORT OF ON
THE CUTTING EDGE.
THAT'S ALSO EXCITING.
AND I LOVE THESE IDEAS THAT
HAVE ALREADY BEEN BRAINSTORMED
TODAY.
ANY OTHER COMMENT.
>> SO JUST TO REITERATE.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE
DISCUSSION.
WE REALLY WANTED TO HAVE THIS
FROM THE GET GO IN THIS
COMMITTEE FOR US TO GET GOING.
I KNOW, AS I MENTIONED IN THE
BEGINNING, THERE'S A NUMBER OF
COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAD PAST
FINGERPRINTS WITH HELPING
EXPAND ACCESS TO ORCA CARDS AND
NEW MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN
ADVOCATES OF THESE EFFORTS.
SO THANKS TO OUR PAST AND NEW
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR THEIR
ONGOING INTEREST IN THIS.
AND WE WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH
YOU ALL IN TERMS OF WHEN THIS
WILL COME BACK TO OUR
COMMITTEE.
AND I'M SURE WE'LL BRAINSTORM
IDEAS.
AND TO COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS'S
POINT, TOO, I THINK THIS IS
REALLY AN ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO
MANY OF THE BUSINESS ENTITIES,
DOWNTOWN CORE, MAKING SURE
WORKERS CAN SHOW UP FOR THE
HEALTH AND WELFARE OF FAMILIES
WHO NEED TO GET TO CHILDCARE ON
TIME.
AND TO REDUCE OVERALL STRESS IN
OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH WE KNOW
HAS PHYSICAL CONSEQUENCES ON
OUR HEALTH, BY NOT HAVING
RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE TRANSIT
OPTIONS.
WE INCREASE STRESS AND CORTISOL
LEVELS IN MUCH OF OUR
COMMUNITY.
AND WE CAN HELP ADDRESS THAT
FROM A HEALTH EQUITY
PERSPECTIVE AS WELL.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND WRAP
UP THIS ITEM, WHICH IS THE LAST
ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, BY SAYING
THANK YOU ALL.
I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE
GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO FADETTA
QUIVAS.
WHO IS STAFF HERE.
AND AM BE WITH US ALL YEAR
LONG.
WE'LL BE SHARING OUR WORK PLAN
VERY SOON SO PEOPLE CAN PROVIDE
US WITH INPUT.
AND AGAIN, OUR NEXT COMMITTEE
WILL BE ANOTHER SPECIAL MEETING
ON WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 19th.
AT 2:00 P.M.
WE'LL BE TAKING A VOTE ON THE
CAPITAL PROJECTS RESOLUTION.
AS WE DISCUSSED TODAY, IDEALLY
DISCUSSION OF BUSINESS.
AND POTENTIALLY HAVING A
DISCUSSION ON THE FUTURE OF
WORK, WHICH WE BEGAN TO HEAR
ABOUT TODAY, WITH SOME OF OUR
FRIENDS WHO CAME FROM THE GIG
ECONOMY AND THE APP-BASED WORK.
SO THANK YOU ALL.
AND TODAY'S MEETING IS
ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU.