>> ONE ITEM BEING CONSIDERED
WILL BE THE CEO OF PUBLIC
UTILITIES AND RELEASES SERVING
THE PERMANENT ROLE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN
INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
DISCUSSION ON JUNE 7. AT THIS
TIME WE WILL MOVE TO PUBLIC
COMMENT.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE'S FIVE
SPEAKERS.
WE WILL NOW OPEN THE REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENT. WE APPRECIATE
YOUR PATIENCE WITH THIS REMOTE
SYSTEM.
IT REMAINS THE STRONG INTENT OF
THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENT REGULARLY
INCLUDED ON MEETING AGENDAS.
HOWEVER, AS A REMINDER, THE
CITY COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT
TO END OR ELIMINATE THESE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS AT ANY
POINT IF WE DEEM THAT THIS
SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED OR IS NO
LONGER SUITABLE FOR ALLOWING
OUR MEETINGS TO BE CONDUCTED
EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER: IT WILL BE UP TO 20
MINUTES AND EACH SPEAKER WILL
BE GIVEN 2 MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I WILL CALL ON EACH AS THEY ARE
REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL
WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO YOU CAN
SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF THE
PUBLIC COMMENT BY GOING TO THE
WEBSITE AT SEATTLE.GOV/COMMENT.
A PROMPT OF YOU HAVE BEEN A
MUTED IT WILL BE THE SPEAKER'S
CUTE THAT IT IS THEIR TURN TO
SPEAK.
THE SPEAKER MUST PRESS STAR SIX
TO BEGIN SPEAKING.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRESS STAR
SIX WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO
SPEAK.
PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
AS A REMINDER, PUBLIC COMMENT
SHOULD RELATE TO AN ITEM ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A TIME WHEN
THERE ARE 10 SECONDS LEFT.
THEN WE ASK THAT YOU WRAP UP
YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE SPEAKERS DO NOT END THERE
COMMENTS AT THE TIME ALLOTTED,
THE SPEAKERS MICROPHONE WILL BE
MUTED TO ALLOW US TO CALL THE
NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT WE ASK YOU TO
DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE.
IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING THE MEETING PLEASE DO
SO VIA SEATTLE CHANNEL.
THE REGULAR PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN.
WE WILL MOVE TO THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
FIRST WE HAVE RACHEL SCHAFER
FOLLOWED BY GORDON TELFORD.
GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING, TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
MY NAME IS RACHEL SCHAFER.
I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
CASCADE BICYCLE CLUB.
I WANTED TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION
TODAY TO THE DIED WHILE BIKING
IN SODA LAST WEEK.
THIS WAS ALSO A BLOCK AWAY FROM
WHERE THE PERSON WAS KILLED
WHILE BIKING IN JANUARY.
THESE PREVENTABLE DEATHS ARE
TRULY TRAGEDIES FOR THEIR
FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY.
THEY DO NOT HAPPEN IN A VACUUM.
I THINK FOR YEARS THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS HAVE CALLED ATTENTION
TO THE REALLY WIDE AND FAST
GROWTH OF SODO.
THERE ARE BARELY ANY SIDEWALKS
AND NO ROUTES FOR BIKING.
THIS WAS ENDORSED TO THE
DOWNTOWN BIKE ROUTE THROUGH
SODO WAS ADDED TO THE MASTER
PLAN.
IN THREE YEARS ALL WE HAVE TO
SHOW RIGHT NOW IS SOME VERY
PRELIMINARY ROUTE DESIGNS.
YOU HAVE TO DO BETTER AND ACT
FASTER TO KEEP THESE FATALITIES
FROM OCCURRING AGAIN.
I WANT TO SAY THAT THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE IS
PROVIDING OVERSIGHT AND
TRANSPORTATION MATTERS FOR
EVERYBODY ON THE CITY
REGARDLESS.
I URGE YOU TO PLEASE WORK WITH
SDOT TO GET FUNDING FOR THE
PROJECT BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL
CONTINUE TO WALK AND BIKE
EITHER TO GET TO THEIR JOB IN
SODO OR TO GET BETWEEN
GEORGETOWN, SOUTH PARK, AND
DOWNTOWN.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE IT
WAIT ANY LONGER TO BE ABLE TO
DO THIS.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK
ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT UP WE HAVE A STELLA ORTEGA
. GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING ALL.
MY NAME IS ESTELLA ORTEGA.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE CENTER FOR PEOPLE OF ALL
RACES. AS LATINOS WE ARE OFTEN
MISTAKEN FOR INDIGENOUS
INDIVIDUALS.
WE ARE INVOLVED IN PROGRAMS
SUCH AS EARLY CHILDHOOD
DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING I AM HERE TODAY TO ADD
[ SPEAKING IN A FOREIGN
LANGUAGE ] SUPPORT FOR THE
THREEFOLD REMOVAL FOR THE LEVY.
THIS SEATTLE HOUSING MONDAY IS
AN ESSENTIAL NEED FOR
INCREASING AND REINFORCING
EQUITY IN OUR CITY.
WE COULD NOT HAVE PROVIDED 112
UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
WITHOUT THE LEVY.
HOUSING IS A HOME CREATING THE
CONDITIONS FOR A BETTER FUTURE,
STABILITY, SAFETY, HEALTH,
GRADUATION, COLLEGE, AND
ULTIMATELY A PLACE TO THRIVE
WITH DIGNITY AND HAPPINESS.
ALL FAMILIES DESERVE THIS.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR
COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND FOR YOUR WORK AND
INCREASING OUR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL
PASSAGE OF JUMPSTART 2020.
THE TIMES WE LIVE IN CALLS FOR
US TO ASK THE HOUSING LEVY TO
CONTINUE TO ADD HOUSING FOR
ALL.
>> WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS ON
THE HOUSING COMMITTEE HERE SO
WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
GORDON FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL. GO
AHEAD, GORDON.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS GORDON WITH THE
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAYS.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE
RECENT FATALITIES ON OUR
STREETS.
NOT ONLY IN SODO BUT IN WEST
SEATTLE.
IT IS TRULY TRAGIC.
IN OUR POLL LAST FALL WE FOUND
THAT SAFETY WAS THE TOP
TRANSPORTATION PRIORITY FOR
SEATTLE VOTERS.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE NOT DOING
ENOUGH.
THERE ARE REALLY TWO IMPORTANT
ROLES THAT I THINK THE
COMMITTEE CAN PLAY TO ADVANCE
THIS.
I KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALL
COMMITTED TO IT.
THE FIRST IS AROUND FUNDING.
WE NEED STATE AND FEDERAL
FUNDING TO REALLY MAKE A BIG
INVESTMENT IN ROAD REDESIGN
LIKE AURORA AND THE CITYWIDE
POLICY CHANGES LIKE THE RED ON
RED TO REALLY MAKE SOME OF
THESE HAPPEN.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS NOW
OFFERING $5 BILLION FOR LOCAL
MUNICIPALITIES.
I HOPE THAT WE WILL ALL
ENCOURAGE SDOT TO GIVE A
REALLY ROBUST APPLICATION FOR
THAT.
SECOND AND PERHAPS MORE
IMPORTANT IS THE POLITICAL WILL
TO MAKE HARD CHANGES AND MAKE
THE CALL THAT SOMETIMES SAFETY
REALLY NEEDS TO BE THE TOP
PRIORITY ON OUR STREETS.
I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT AND PUSHED THE
ADMINISTRATION TO DO MORE TO
MAKE THE STREETS SAFER FOR
EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE MICHAEL FOLLOWED
BY THE LAST SPEAKER, DAVID
HAYNES.
GO AHEAD, MICHAEL.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
MY NAME IS MICHAEL BOYLE AND
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE 2006
LLC.
I'M REPRESENTING THE TUNNEL
PERMIT THAT IS ON THE DOCKET
TODAY.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE SOME
PUBLIC COMMENT ON WHAT THAT
TUNNEL PROVIDES, AS IT IS A
CRITICAL CONNECTION PATHWAY
BETWEEN THE WESTIN BUILDING
FACILITY AND THE PARKING GARAGE
AREA.
THE PATHWAY IN THE TUNNEL
CARRIES THE MAJORITY OF THE
UTILITY AND GENERATOR POWER FOR
THE BUILDING, AS WELL AS
MULTIPLE, REGIONAL, NATIONAL
AND INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS BETWEEN
VARIOUS ENTRY POINTS IN AND
AROUND THE PROPERTY.
ALSO, IT CONVEYS COOLING TOWER
WATER AND CONDENSER WATER THAT
MAKE UP THE COOLING SYSTEMS
WITHIN THE BUILDING. I JUST
WANTED TO LET THE COUNCIL KNOW
THAT THAT TUNNEL IS VERY
CRITICAL TO THE COMMUNICATIONS
ACTIVITIES THAT ARE CONDUCTED
WITHIN THE BUILDING TO INCLUDE
MOST OF THE TECHNOLOGY UTILIZED
IN OUR DAILY LIVES, INCLUDING
THE 911 SYSTEMS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR LAST SPEAKER IS DAVID
HAYES.
GO AHEAD.
>>, AND.
>> GOOD MORNING.
TRANSIT AND CITY POLICE SHOWED
ARREST ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS
IN THE OPEN AIR DRUG MARKETS
THAT OPERATE THROUGH THE BUS
CORRIDOR ESPECIALLY BEFORE
MEMORIAL DAY AND THE UPCOMING
PROMOTION OF PUBLIC TRANSIT
MONTH.
IT IS SLIGHTLY RESPONSIBLE TO
PROMOTE PUBLIC TRANSIT WHEN IT
IS TOTALLY UNSAFE ON THIRD
ANIMAL AVENUE BETWEEN CHERRY
STREET AND JAMES STREET RIGHT
NOW AN ENCAMPMENT IS OPERATING
AN OPEN DRUG AND CRIMINAL
MARKET DENYING BUS RIDERS ANY
SAFETY.
WE HAVE WAIT TIMES OF 20
MINUTES TO 45 MINUTES TO WRITE
AN ABUSIVE BUS SYSTEM WITH A
UNION PAID TO GET OFF SHIFT 30
MINUTES EARLY MAKING PEOPLE
MISS IMPORTANT MEETINGS AND
SOMETIMES SICK EJECTED
SUBJECTED TO OVERCROWDING AMID
UNMASKED DISEASED CUSTOMS
VIOLATORS WITH NO SECURITY
CAPABLE OF MAINTAINING SAFETY
WITHOUT IMPRESSIVE FAIR
ENFORCEMENT OR BUS DRIVERS EVER
HELPING NOTIFY SECURITY OF
UNSAFE SITUATIONS THAT WILL
PRESS AND VICTIMIZE. PEOPLE
SHOULD BOYCOTT DOWNTOWN UNTIL
SEATTLE CITY HALL, THE POLICE
CHIEF, COUNCIL, AND THE
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE STOP
EXEMPTING LOW-LEVEL DRUG
PUSHERS FROM JAIL THAT ARE
DESTROYING LIVES DAILY. THEY
ARE LISTED NONVIOLENT
MISDEMEANOR YET THEY ARE
COMMITTING CRIME AGAINST
HUMANITY ALL THROUGHOUT. IN
EVERY EMPTY DOOR ENTRANCE
AROUND TRANSIT STOPS AND OTHER
BUILDINGS, YET THE MAYOR, THE
CHIEF, THINKS THEY ARE MAKING
IT SAFER SHUTTING DOWN A BUS
STOP IN BETWEEN PINE AND PIKE
AND LOOKING THE OTHER WAY WITH
THE SAME CRIMINALS MOVE A BLOCK
DOWN THIRD AVENUE AROUND THE
CORNER ALLOWING THE SAME
CRIMINALS TO ROME AREAS OF
TRANSIT WHILE COUNCIL WILL
PROVIDE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR LIST OF
SPEAKERS FROM THE GENERAL
PUBLIC.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
SLATE OF ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
JUST AS A REMINDER, THE FIRST
THREE ITEMS ARE ROUTINE
RENEWALS OF EXISTING PERMITS.
THAN WE HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT
WE WILL ALSO VOTE ON TODAY.
SDOT IS THE STAR OF THE SHOW
HERE GOING FORWARD.
WE WILL HEAR FROM AMY GRAY FROM
SDOT AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE
WORK OF CENTRAL STAFF THAT
WORKED ON MEMOS FOR THESE
RENEWALS FOR THESE ROUTINE
PERMITS.
CALVIN CHOW WORKED ON THE
FOURTH ITEM.
SO LISH WHITSON, DO YOU WANT TO
INTRODUCE ANYTHING ABOUT THESE
PERMITS OR AT LEAST THE FIRST
ONE THAT IS DOWNTOWN?
>> NO.
THESE ARE ROUTINE RENEWALS.
YOU HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF THESE
ALREADY THIS YEAR.
THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO OTHERS
WE'VE REVIEWED.
>> THANK YOU, LISH.
WE KNOW YOU WILL STANDING BY IF
WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
AMY GRAY, GOOD MORNING AND
ANYBODY ELSE FROM SDOT,
WELCOME.
WE KNOW YOU WILL SHARE A
PRESENTATION.
COLLEAGUES, WE DID EMAIL THE
PRESENTATIONS AND THEY WILL BE
POSTED LATER TO THE AGENDA.
THE AGENDA, OF COURSE, HAS THE
LEGISLATION, THE SUMMARY OF
FISCAL NOTE AND STAFF MEMO.
WE WILL BE PUBLISHING THESE
BRIEF POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS
AS WELL.
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS AMY GRAY AND I WORK
AT THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION ON TERM PERMITS.
YOU WILL SEE ME A LOT THIS
MORNING SINCE I HAVE ORDERED
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
THE FIRST OF THESE IS THE 2001,
2006 LLC TUNNEL RENEWAL.
THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING A
PERMIT FOR THE EXISTING UTILITY
TUNNEL IN THE SPACE BETWEEN
VIRGINIA STREET.
IT PROVIDES A PATHWAY FOR A
MAJOR PORTION OF THE UTILITY
AND GENERATED POWER FOR THE
WESTIN BUILDING.
AND TENANTS FROM THE PARKING
GARAGE.
THESE TENANTS ARE TECH SERVERS.
BASICALLY IT'S WHERE THE
INTERNET LIVES IN SEATTLE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF CONNECTIONS
THAT ARE A VITAL IMPORTANCE FOR
THE OPERATION OF THE BUILDING
THAT USE THE TUNNEL.
THE PERMIT WAS ORIGINALLY
GRANTED IN 1999.
THE RENEWAL WILL BE FOR 15
YEARS IF IT IS APPROVED.
SDOT IS RECOMMENDING RENEWAL OF
THE PERMIT.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THE
COUNCIL BECAUSE I DO NOT THINK
THAT I HAVE IT TODAY.
WITH THE SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE
DEFINITION IS WITH THE SIMPLE
CODE.
TO MEET THE LEVEL FOR A TERM
PERMIT, THE STRUCTURE NEEDS TO
BE IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR A
LONG TIME.
IT WOULD IMPEDE THE PUBLIC
FLEXIBILITY TO USE THE RIGHT-OF-
WAY AND IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE
FUNCTIONING OF THE BUSINESS.
THE RIGHT-OF-WAY IS DEFINED AS
NOT ONLY STREET SERVICE, BUT
THE AREA ABOVE AND BELOW THE
SURFACE.
THESE ARE CONSIDERED PART OF
THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AND THAT IS WHY
THEY NEED A COUNCIL TERM PERMIT.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, DID I
SEE YOUR HAND GO UP?
>> WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT
THIS.
>> THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORY ON
BY THIS IS THE INTERNET HOTEL
THAT I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT AT
ANOTHER TIME BECAUSE I ALWAYS
KNOW THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
LAND-USE HISTORY OF SEATTLE.
>> GOT IT.
I LOVE IT.
THE INTERNET HOTEL?
>> IT IS BASICALLY WHERE THE
INTERNET LIVES.
34 FLOORS OF BUILDING AND 70%
IS USED FOR SERVERS AND
EXCHANGES AND ROUGHLY 30% IS
STILL USED AS OFFICE SPACE. I
THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE IN SEATTLE IS LOCATED IN
THE BUILDING AS WELL SO IT HAS
A LOT OF SECURITY.
>> DOES THE INTERNET NEED TO
PAY THE HOTEL TAX?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
[LAUGHTER]
>> SO AT RENEWAL, WHAT WE DO IS
LOOK AT THE CURRENT USE OF THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY TO MAKE SURE IT IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE ORIGINAL
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE
ORDINANCE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SCOPE
CREEP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE ARE REALLY MAKING SURE THE
INTENT OF THE ORIGINAL
ORDINANCE IS BEING MET AND THE
APPLICANT CONTINUES TO ABIDE BY
THOSE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
WITH THE RENEWAL ORDINANCE, WE
UPDATE ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION
REGARDING INSPECTION
REQUIREMENTS, INSURANCE
LANGUAGE, INDEMNIFICATION
LANGUAGE TO PROTECT THEM FROM
RISK.
THE BOND AMOUNT AND FEES SO FOR
THIS PROJECT THE BOND IS $10,000
AND 2022 FEET IS $3340.
NEXT SLIDE.
>> AS WE NOTED, THIS PROJECT IS
DOWNTOWN.
IT'S IN THIS ALLEY THAT ALSO HAS
TWO SKY BRIDGES UNDER SEPARATE
TERMS AND THEN THERE IS THE SKY
BRIDGE OVER VIRGINIA STREET.
THIS IS A VERY BUSY LOCATION
FOR TERM PERMITS, BUT THIS IS
IN THE ALLEY BETWEEN 2001 SIX
BUILDING AND THE PARKING GARAGE.
>> NEXT SLIDE.
HERE IS AN IMAGE UNDER THE
ALLEY WHERE THE CONNECTION
LIVES AND THESE CONNECTIONS
BASICALLY ALLOW US TO DO
BUSINESS NOW IN THE ONLINE WORLD
AND ACCESS OUR PHONES AND
CRITICAL SERVICES LIKE 911,
PARTICIPATE IN ZOOM.
IT IS ALL THROUGH THESE
CONNECTIONS THAT HAPPEN IN THIS
TUNNEL IN THE ALLEY.
SO SDOT IS RECOMMENDING
APPROVAL.
IT WILL BE RENEWED FOR 15 YEARS
UP TO 2037. I AM HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU
HAVE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I WOULD LIKE US TO READ THE
ITEM INTO THE RECORD REALLY
QUICKLY HERE AND THEN WE CAN
SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
WE WILL HAVE THE CLERK READ IT
AS ITEM ONE HERE.
GO AHEAD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1. THE ORDINANCE
GRANTING PERMISSION TO 2001 SIX
LLC TO CONTINUE OPERATING AND
MAINTAINING A UTILITY TUNNEL
UNDER THE ALLEY BETWEEN FIFTH
AVENUE AND SIXTH AVENUE NORTH
OF VIRGINIA STREET REPEALING
ORDINANCE 11947 AND PROVIDING
ACCEPTANCE FOR BRIEFING
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE ALREADY HAVE THE
PRESENTATION.
SDOT IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL
OF THIS.
I JUST WANT TO ASK COUNCIL
MEMBERS IF THEY DO HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, OTHERWISE I WILL
MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF THE BILL.
OKAY.
GREAT.
THANK YOU COUNSELOR STRAUSS.
THAT IS HELPFUL TO KNOW.
COLLEAGUES, I WILL MOVE THAT
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
APPROVAL OF COUNCIL BILL
120300, ITEM 1 ON THE AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND?
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
BY COUNCILMAN STRAUSS. ARE
THERE ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
OKAY GREAT.
WILL LOOK WORK THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE THAT THE COUNCIL
BE APPROVED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MIRELES
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL NUMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES OF THE
RECOMMENDATION IS THAT IT WILL
BE SET FOR APPROVAL ON THE MAY
24 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
WE WILL HAVE SDOT AND LISH STAY
HERE.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE OF THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM
FOR THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 2. COUNCIL BILL
120301, AND ORDINANCE GRANTING
KING COUNTY PERMISSION TO
CONTINUE MAINTAINING AND
OPERATING TWO PEDESTRIAN
TUNNELS UNDER AND ACROSS NINTH
AVENUE BETWEEN ALDER STREET AND
JEFFERSON STREET REPEALING
SECTION 8 OF ORDINANCE 123842
AND PROVIDING FOR ACCEPTANCE OF
THE PERMIT CONDITIONS FOR
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION, AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU.
AGAIN WE HAVE LISH WHITSON AND
AMY GRAY.
>> ANY OPENING REMARKS ABOUT
THIS RENEWAL, WHICH IS ACTUALLY
FOR TWO SEPARATE TUNNELS?
WE HAVE YOUR MEMO ON THE AGENDA
AS WELL NOTING NO ISSUES FOR
THIS.
AMY GRAY FROM SDOT I KNOW THAT
YOU HAVE ANOTHER PRESENTATION
FOR US.
THANK YOU.
>> I DO.
ALL RIGHT.
KING COUNTY OPERATES HARBORVIEW
HOSPITAL. KING COUNTY OWNS
HARBORVIEW HOSPITAL BUT UW
MEDICINE OPERATES IT FOR THEM.
THEY ARE SEEKING APPROVAL TO
RENEW TWO EXISTING PEDESTRIAN
TUNNELS UNDER NINTH AVENUE
BETWEEN ALDER STREET AND
JEFFERSON STREET.
THE NORTH TUNNEL CONNECTS TO
HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER TO
THE MAIN BUILDING ON THE SOUTH
ONE CONNECTS THE MAIN BUILDING
TO THE RESEARCH AND TRAINING
BUILDING IN THE EAST CLINIC.
THIS WILL BE FOR 15 YEARS AS
WELL.
THE PERMIT WAS ORIGINALLY
GRANTED IN 1956, ALTHOUGH THE
ORIGINAL PERMIT WAS FOR ONE
TUNNEL TO THE HOSPITAL FOR
HOUSING FOR NURSING STUDENTS IN
1930.
THE ONE TUNNEL HAS BEEN AROUND
FOR A LONG TIME.
THE SECOND TUNNEL HAS BEEN
AROUND FOR A LOT LONGER TIME.
SDOT IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL
OF THIS RENEWAL AS WELL.
THIS MEETS THE DEFINITION OF A
SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE FOR LONG-
DURATION AND IMPEDING THE
ABILITY TO USE THE RIGHT-OF-
WAY.
IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE
FUNCTIONING OF THE BUSINESS.
HOSPITALS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE
CONNECTIONS, CONTINUOUS
CONNECTIONS TO MAINTAIN LEVELS
OF SAFETY AND MACHINE
OPERATIONS AND SANITATION. IF
THEY DID NOT HAVE THE USE TYPES
OF CONNECTIONS THEY WOULD HAVE
TO DUPLICATE THESE FACILITIES
IN SEPARATE BUILDINGS.
IT REALLY IS NECESSARY TO THE
FUNCTION OF THE OPERATIONS.
THIS IS THE PROCESS.
WE LOOK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
TUNNELS ARE OPERATING AS
AUTHORIZED IN THE ORIGINAL
ORDINANCE.
WE UPDATE THE FEES, INSPECTION
REQUIREMENTS, INDEMNIFICATION
LANGUAGE.
WE DO NOT REQUIRE BONDS FOR
KING COUNTY OR OTHER PUBLIC
ENTITIES SO IT DOES NOT HAVE A
BOND, BUT APHID ANY POINT AT
TIME AND ORDINANCE ALLOWS SDOT
AND COUNCIL TO REQUIRE A BOND
IF THE OWNERSHIP OF THE
HOSPITAL IS TRANSFERRED TO
ANOTHER ENTITY.
DID I SEE YOUR HAND GO UP?
>> I'M SORRY.
IT IS A LITTLE BIT HARD TO READ
BODY LANGUAGE THROUGH THIS
SCREEN.
THE FEE ON THIS PROJECT FOR
2022 IS $7500.
HARBORVIEW IS LOCATED UPON
FIRST HILL.
IT IS THE MAJOR TRAUMA BURN
CENTER FOR THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST.
IT HAS VITAL IMPORTANCE TO THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR
COMMUNITY AND THE LOCATION OF
THE TWO TUNNELS AS OUTLINED
THERE.
NEXT SLIDE SO HERE ARE PICTURES
OF THE TUNNELS. THEY ARE JUST
FUNCTIONAL, OPERATIONAL TUNNELS
. THEY CAN BE USED BY THE
PUBLIC BUT THEY ARE PRIMARILY
USED BY STAFF AND PATIENTS
USING THE HOSPITAL FACILITIES.
SDOT IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL
FOR THESE RENEWALS AS WELL.
LIKE THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE IF
IT IS GRANTED IT WILL BE
THROUGH 2037.
I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE HAVE THE
CENTRAL STAFF MEMO AND
IDENTIFIED NO ISSUES WITH THE
REMOVAL.
US.
TRAN14 IS RECOMMENDING
APPROVAL.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS BEFORE I
MOVE THIS OUT OF COMMITTEE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, I MOVE THAT
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
APPROVAL OF 120301.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE
OF THE BILL.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE IN THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT 120301 BE
APPROVED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MIRELES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
DID I HEAR A YES THERE?
>> CHAIR PEDERSEN.
>> FOUR YES.
ZERO NO.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES IN THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION IS
THAT THE COUNCIL WILL BE SET
FOR APPROVAL AT THE MAY 24 CITY
COUNCIL MEETING.
WILLS THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE OF THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM
ON THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 3 COUNCIL BILL
120302.
AND ORDINANCE GRANTING SWEDISH
HEALTH SERVICES PERMISSION TO
CONTINUE MAINTAINING AND
OPERATING AN EXISTING
PEDESTRIAN SKY BRIDGE OVER AND
ACROSS CHERRY STREET WEST OF
BROADWAY AND EAST OF MINOR
AVENUE REPEALING SECTION 9 OF
ORDINANCE 123048 AND PROVIDING
FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE
PERMIT AND CONDITIONS FOR
BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS SKY BRIDGES EXISTING THAT
WILL BE APPROVING THE RENEWAL
OF.
AGAIN LISH WHITSON NO MEMOS
WITH THIS.
AMY GRAY IS HERE FROM SDOT FOR
A BRIEF PRESENTATION.
HELLO AGAIN.
>> HELLO.
THIS IS THE SKY BRIDGE.
IT'S ON FIRST HILL OPERATED BY
THE SWEDISH HEALTH SERVICES.
NEXT SLIDE.
THEY ARE SEEKING RENEWAL OF THE
PERMIT FOR THE SKY BRIDGE.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY GRANTED IN
2009.
IT CONNECTS THE FIRST HILL
CAMPUS WITH THE SWEDISH
ORTHOPEDIC CENTER ACROSS THE
STREET.
IT WOULD BE FOR 15 YEARS. SDOT
IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL.
NEXT SLIDE.
JUST POINTING OUT A SLIGHT
DIFFERENCE. SKY BRIDGES HAVE
THEIR OWN SECTION OF THE CODE.
WHEN THEY ARE NEW AND WHEN THEY
ARE AT THE END OF THEIR TERMS
THERE'S A HIGHER THRESHOLD OF
REVIEW FOR THEM TO BE APPROVED
FOR COUNCIL TO MAKE THAT
DECISION.
LIKE THE OTHER HOSPITAL THE SKY
BRIDGES NECESSARY TO THE
FUNCTIONING SO THAT THEY CAN
MEET THE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE
REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FOR HOSPITALS
REGARDING SANITATION AND
TRANSFER OF PATIENTS ET CETERA.
LIKE WE HAVE DONE WITH THE
OTHER ONES, WE MADE SURE THAT
THEY HAVE NOT ADDED ANY USES
LIKE MAJOR UTILITIES ACROSS THE
SKY BRIDGE DURING THE RENEWAL.
THEY ARE STILL CONTINUING TO
OPERATE AS IT WAS INTENDED IN
2009. WE HAVE UPDATED THE BOND
AND FEE LANGUAGE TO INCLUDE
BOND OF $150,000 IN THE EVENT
THAT SDOT NEEDS TO TAKE THE
SKY BRIDGE OUT WHICH WE DO NOT
ANTICIPATE EVER HAPPENING, BUT
COUNCIL DOES HAVE THE AUTHORITY
IN THE ORDINANCE IF THEY CHOOSE
THAT THIS AREA IS NEEDED FOR
TRANSPORTATION. THE FEE IN 2022
IS $22,809.
IT IS LOCATED ON FIRST HILL
NEAR THE MAIN SWEDISH CAMPUS.
HERE ARE SOME IMAGES FROM THE
OUTSIDE AT GROUND LEVEL AND
WHAT YOU WOULD SEE FROM YOUR
BIKE, CAR, OR WALKING DOWN THE
STREET AND INSIDE YOU SEE A
HOSPITAL WORKER USING THE SKY
BRIDGE TO GO BETWEEN THE
FACILITIES.
SO WE AGAIN ARE RECOMMENDING
APPROVAL OF THIS RENEWAL. IF
THE ORDINANCE IS APPROVED IT
WOULD BE REVIEWED THROUGH 2037
AND WOULD REACH THE END OF THE
ORIGINAL TERM SO IT WOULD
REQUIRE RE-PERMITTING AT THAT
POINT WHERE WE WOULD MAKE SURE
THAT THE HOSPITAL CONTINUED TO
NEED IT FOR THE OPERATION OF
THE FACILITY AND ANY PUBLIC AND
IF IT THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED OF
THAT TIME WOULD BE EVALUATED
AND THEY WOULD MAKE THAT
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL AS
WELL.
I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THIS RENEWAL OF THE SKY
BRIDGE?
OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE MEMO ON
THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, I MOVE THAT
THE CITY RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF
THIS 120302, ITEM 3 ON THE
AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
WE RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
ARE THERE ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT IT BE
APPROVED FOR FORWARDING TO THE
FULL CITY COUNCIL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MIRELES.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
CHAIR PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
FOUR IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES IN THE
RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE BILL
BE SET FOR APPROVAL TO THE MAY
24 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE OF THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM?
>> AGENDA ITEM 4 RESOLUTION
32053.
A RESOLUTION GRANTING
CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL TO
CONSTRUCT, MAINTAIN, AND
OPERATE PRIVATE COMMUNICATION
CONDUIT UNDER AND ACROSS LATONA
AVENUE NORTHEAST AS PROPOSED BY
DUNN LUMBER COMPANY'S
CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW WAREHOUSE
IN THE WALLINGFORD NEIGHBORHOOD.
FOR BRIEFING, DISCUSSION, AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS NEW PERMIT IS FOR A PROJECT
AS WAS MENTIONED IN THE
WALLINGFORD NEIGHBORHOOD FOR
DUNN LUMBER COMPANY
CONSTRUCTING NEW BUILDING
ACROSS THE STREET FROM ITS
EXISTING LUMBERYARD.
THEY SEEK TO CONNECT THE
BUILDINGS WITH AN UNDERGROUND
FIBER OPTIC CABLE RUNNING UNDER
LATONA AVENUE NORTHEAST.
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION HERE.
CALVIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR MEMO
ON THIS AS WELL.
AMY IS BACK TO DO THE
PRESENTATION, I BELIEVE.
>> FIN.
JUST LIKE COUNCILMAN PEDERSEN
NOTED THIS IS FOR A NEW PERMIT
FOR A PRIVATE CONDUIT UNDER
LATONA AVENUE.
THE COMMUNICATION CONDUIT WOULD
CONNECT THE EXISTING DUNN
LUMBER COMPANY OFFICE WITH THE
NEW FACILITY ACROSS THE STREET.
TO THE RIGHT HERE YOU SEE THE
PROPOSED LOCATION DRAWN WITH
THE RED LINE TO GIVE YOU SOME
CONTEXT OF WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK
LIKE THERE.
SDOT IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL
OF THE RESOLUTION AS WELL.
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE
AND HOW WE EVALUATED THIS WAS
THAT IT WILL BE IN THE RIGHT-OF-
WAY FOR A LONG DURATION.
IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE
FUNCTIONING OF THE BUSINESS.
FOR NEW PERMITS THEY HAVE TO
MEET THE THRESHOLD OF A
COMPELLING NEED FOR THE LONG-
TERM USE OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY
THAT CAN'T BE ACCOMMODATED ON
THEIR PRIVATE PROPERTY. SDOT
HAS DONE THE EVALUATION AND WE
AGREE THAT THEY HAVE A
COMPELLING NEED FOR THE LONG-
TERM USE OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.
NEXT SLIDE.
FOR NEW PERMITS IT IS A TWO
STEP PROCESS.
THE FIRST STEP IS COUNCIL
ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION THAT
PROVIDES CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL TO
THE APPLICANT.
THEY KNOW THAT COUNCIL LIKES
THE PROJECT AND IS COMFORTABLE
WITH IT MOVING FORWARD.
WE WORK WITH THE STREET
IMPROVEMENT PERMIT COLLEAGUES.
THEY DETERMINE WHETHER IT IS
TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE.
WE DO NOT TAKE SOMETHING TO YOU
FOR A POSSIBLE VOTE ON
CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL UNLESS THE
ENGINEERS HAVE DETERMINED THAT
IT CAN BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY FROM AN
ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE.
THE SECOND STEP IN THE PROCESS
IS THE ORDINANCE. IT OUTLINES
THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE
PERMIT, THE OBLIGATIONS FOR
PAYMENT OF FEES, MAINTENANCE
OBLIGATIONS, DURING THE TIME
BETWEEN RESOLUTION AND
ORDINANCE, THE ENGINEERS WORK
THROUGH THE FINAL DETAILS AND
MAKE SURE THAT IT IS AN
APPROVED PROJECT AND IS AT 100%
APPROVAL.
THEY DO NOT ISSUE THE PERMIT
UNTIL COUNCIL MAKES THE VOTE
BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY
TO APPROVE OR DENY AN
APPLICATION, SO WE WOULD NOT
ISSUE THE PERMIT UNTIL WE HAVE
GOTTEN THAT OKAY FROM YOU. WE
DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS
A REAL PROJECT THAT YOU ARE
APPROVING AT THAT TIME.
THE CONDUIT WILL CARRY PRIVATE
COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO
FACILITIES.
IT WILL CONNECT THE OPERATIONS
IN A WAY THAT MAKES IT
OPERATIONAL FOR THE BUSINESS TO
FUNCTION.
SO HERE IS A LARGER IMAGE
SHOWING THE LOCATION.
THE PROPOSED LOCATION OF WHERE
THE CONDUIT WOULD GO UNDER
LATONA AVENUE.
IT IS JUST A SMALL
COMMUNICATION CONDUIT THAT
WOULD RUN FIBER OPTICS BETWEEN
THE FACILITIES.
HERE ARE SOME IMAGES.
THE A RIGHT HAND CORNER WITH
THE SQUIGGLY LINE SHOWS THE
EXISTING DONE #DUNN #AND THIS
SHOWS THE NEW FACILITY.
THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED IN
WALLINGFORD AT THE DUNN LUMBER
FACILITY LORD NORTHEAST WAY.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT
COUNCIL PROVIDE APPROVAL BY
THIS RESOLUTION OF THE
COMMUNICATION CONDUIT . IF THE
RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED WE WILL
PREPARE THE TERM PERMIT
ORDINANCE AND WORK WITH OUR
COLLEAGUES ON THE STREET
IMPROVEMENT PERMIT GROUP TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE MEETING
THE OBLIGATIONS AND ADDRESSING
THEIR CONCERNS REGARDING THE
TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF
CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION AND
RIGHT-OF-WAY.
IF THE ORDINANCE IS APPROVED IT
WILL BE IN PLACE FOR 15 YEARS
AND IT WILL HAVE ONE RENEWABLE
15 YEAR TERM.
I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING
EVERYTHING INTO CONTEXT THAT
TODAY WE ARE APPROVING JUST THE
RESOLUTION CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL
FOR THE CONDUIT THAT WOULD GO
UNDERGROUND ACROSS THE STREET.
IT IS NOT THE PROJECT AS A
WHOLE.
EVEN FOR THIS CONDUIT ACROSS
THE STREET WE WILL GET ANOTHER
OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE WHETHER
TO APPROVE IT VIA THE COUNCIL
BILL THAT IS SENT TO US IN THE
FUTURE . THANK YOU TO THE
CENTRAL STAFF EXPERT CALVIN CHOW
ON THIS ONE FOR YOUR MEMO ON
THIS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT NO ISSUES WERE IDENTIFIED
WITH THIS PARTICULAR
RESOLUTION.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR
CENTRAL STAFF OR SDOT?
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
I NOW MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF
RESOLUTION 32053, ITEM 4 ON THE
AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> THANK YOU.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT RESOLUTION
32053 BE APPROVED FOR
FORWARDING TO THE FULL COUNCIL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MIRELES
>> YES.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
CHAIR PEDERSEN.
FOUR YES AND NO OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU THE MOTION CARRIES
IN THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT
IT BE SENT FOR APPROVAL TO THE
MAY 24 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THANK YOU, AMY, FOR ALL OF YOUR
HARD WORK ON THESE.
AND THANK YOU TO THE STAFF.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> THOSE WERE THE ITEMS WE ARE
VOTING ON TODAY.
WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS NOW
BOTH FROM SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE OF THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM
TO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 5 SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES 2021 AUDIT REPORT FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU.
AS WE KNOW SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES IS ONE OF THE LARGEST
APARTMENTS. IT MANAGES THREE
MAJOR BUSINESS LINES,
WASTEWATER DRAINAGE AND SALT
WASTE AND DRINKING WATER.
EACH OF THESE BUSINESS LINES IS
MANAGED SEPARATELY FOR
FINANCIAL CONTROL PURPOSES.
THE UTILITY HAS TO HAVE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AUDITED.
THE RESULTS OF THE AUDITS ARE
PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY. I AM
PLEASED THAT THE AUDITORS FROM
THE INDEPENDENT FIRM HAVE
ESSENTIALLY GIVEN SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES A CLEAN AUDIT.
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS EXPRESSED
NO CONCERNS REGARDING AREAS OF
THOROUGH REVIEW.
WE LOOK AT THAT PRESENTATION NOW
. WE HAVE SEVERAL DOCUMENTS
RELATED TO THIS ATTACHED TO THE
AGENDA AS WELL.
SO WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I AM HERE, LAURIE TISH.
ON PARTNERED WITH MOSS ADAMS AS
WELL AS NICOLE WHO IS THE
MANAGER FOR AUDIT ENGAGEMENTS.
THIS COMMITTEE SERVES AS THE
BOARD GOVERNANCE OR THOSE
CHARGED WITH GOVERNANCE OVER
THE UTILITIES.
WE DO HAVE SOME REQUIRED
COMMUNICATIONS AS PART OF
AUDITING STANDARDS THAT WE MAKE
TO YOU UPON THE CONCLUSION OF
THE AUDIT.
I WILL SHARE MY SCREEN HERE FOR
YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU.
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC AND
COLLEAGUES, I HAVE THE INTERIM
GENERAL MANAGER AND CEO OF
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES WITH
US, ANDREW LEE, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LET ME GET THE CORRECT
PRESENTATION APPEAR.
>> IF YOU HAD INTRODUCTORY
COMMENTS TO THE AUDIT THAT WE
COULD HEAR THOSE NOW.
OTHERWISE WE COULD JUST JUMP
INTO THE PRESENTATION.
>> IN SHORT, WE ARE REALLY
PLEASED.
WE OBVIOUSLY DO THESE AUDITS
EVERY SINGLE YEAR RELATED TO
REVENUES, EXPENSES, CASH FLOWS,
I'M VERY PLEASED TO REPORT THAT
WE RECEIVED A CLEAN AUDIT TITLE
JUST
OFF TO LORI.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NICOLE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
GIVE ME A HEADS UP THAT YOU SEE
THE PRESENTATION.
>> YES.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU.
FIRST, JUST TO REVIEW WE
PROVIDE AN AUDIT FOR EACH OF
THE THREE FUNDS.
A REMINDER THAT AS PART OF THE
SCOPE WE DO NOT DRAFT THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
MANAGEMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
PREPARING AND PUTTING THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TOGETHER.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO COME
IN AND PERFORM THE AUDIT TO
DETERMINE IF THE AMOUNTS ARE
PRESENTED FAIRLY.
YOU WILL SEE FROM MY
PRESENTATION THAT THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF SYSTEMS OF INTERNAL
CONTROLS THAT WE TEST AS WELL.
IT IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF
LOOKING AT THE ENDING FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS BUT THE SYSTEMS AND
PROCESSES THAT COMBINE THOSE
INTO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
I ALSO WANT TO REASSURE THE
COMMITTEE THAT OUR AUDITS ARE
NOT DUPLICATED BY THE STATE
AUDITOR.
THE STATE AUDITOR DOES RELY ON
THE WORK THAT WE DO FOR EACH OF
THE FUNDS.
THEY COME INTO THE OFFICE.
IT IS ACTUALLY DONE REMOTELY
NOW BUT THEY USED TO COME INTO
THE OFFICE IN PERSON AND REVIEW
OUR PAPERS TO SATISFY
THEMSELVES THAT A PROPER AUDIT
HAS BEEN DONE.'S FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS ROLL UP INTO THE
CITY COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL
REPORT.
THE OTHER PURPOSE FOR THE AUDIT
REPORTS IS THAT THE FUNDS USE
THEM IN THE OFFICIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE BOND ISSUANCE IS.
OF COURSE, THE AUDIT REPORT AND
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE
AVAILABLE TO ALL OF THE CITIES
AND UTILITY STAKEHOLDERS.
AS CHAIR PEDERSEN NOTED WE
ISSUED A CLEAN OR UNMODIFIED
OPINION ON EACH OF THE THREE
SEPARATE SETS OF FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
WE DID COMPLETE THE AUDIT AS
THE DEADLINE REQUIRED BY THE
END OF APRIL.
THE REPORTS ARE ALL DATED APRIL
29. THE OTHER PIECE OF GOOD
NEWS I AM BRINGING TO THE
COMMITTEE TODAY IS THAT AS PART
OF THE AUDIT, WE PROVIDE YOU
WITH A REPORT ON INTERNAL
CONTROLS. I AM PLEASED TO NOTE
THAT THERE WERE NO MATERIAL
WEAKNESSES NOTED AND NO
SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES.
AGAIN, ANOTHER CLEAN SET OF
REPORTS FOR ALL THREE SETS OF
UTILITIES WITH RESPECT TO THE
INTERNAL CONTROLS THIS SLIDE
REALLY LAYS OUT IN GRAPHIC FORM
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES.
I ALREADY MENTIONED WE EXPRESS
AN OPINION.
WE PERFORM THE AUDIT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH TWO DIFFERENT
SETS OF AUDITING STANDARDS.
WHAT I WOULD CALL ALMOST THE
REGULAR SET ISSUED BY THE
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CPAS, BUT
ALSO BECAUSE IT IS PART OF THE
GOVERNMENT AND CITY OF SEATTLE
WOULD PERFORM THE AUDIT UNDER
GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS
WHICH HAS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
INCREASED PROCEDURES AND
STANDARDS THAT WE PROVIDE BY.
RELATING TO INDEPENDENCE,
RELATING TO OUR ABILITY TO
PERFORM ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES,
AND THAT IS ALSO THE REASON WE
PROVIDE THE INTERNAL CONTROLS
REPORT.
IT DOES REQUIRE US TO LOOK AT
THE INTERNAL CONTROLS AT AN
ELEVATED LEVEL.
I DO WANT TO MENTION, WE DID
NOT LOOK AT THE INTERNAL
CONTROLS FOR THE PURPOSE OF A
PINING ON THEM, BUT RATHER
BECAUSE OF THEIR SUPPORT AND
RATIONALE FOR THOSE SYSTEMS
COMBINING INTO THE FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND BEHIND THE
NUMBERS THAT ARE IN THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
LASTLY, OUR RESPONSIBILITY
WHICH WE ARE CARRYING OUT THIS
MORNING WITH YOU IS TO
COMMUNICATE THE FINDINGS OR THE
STATUS OF THE AUDIT.
THE NEXT COUPLE SLIDES I JUST
WANT TO COVER THE AREAS THAT WE
PARTICULARLY BELIEVE CARRY RISK
OR THAT WE REALLY SPEND MOST OF
OUR TIME.
WEEK, OF COURSE, LOOK AT THE
ENTIRE SET OF STATEMENTS AND
ALL OF THE AMOUNTS AND LINE
ITEMS, BUT WHEN WE SIT DOWN TO
PLAN THE AUDIT WHERE ARE WE
GOING TO SPEND MOST OF OUR
TIME.
THESE ARE THE ACCOUNTS THAT
RISE TO THAT LEVEL.
REALLY AT THE HEART OF THE
AUDIT IS THE UTILITY PLANT AND
THE RELATED ACCOUNTS THAT FEED
INTO THAT AND THE SYSTEMS THAT
FEED INTO THAT.
THE WORK ORDERS.
THE AGENDA SO FAR THIS MORNING
HAS RELATED TO THIS PROJECT.
WE TAKE A VERY HARD LOOK AT ALL
OF THE PROJECTS, HOW THEY ARE
ACCOUNTED FOR, ALL OF THE
SYSTEMS SUCH AS CASH
DISBURSEMENTS, PAYROLL,
OVERHEAD, ANY TYPES OF CHARGES
THAT GO INTO THOSE SELF
CONSTRUCTED ASSETS.
WE LOOK AT THEM VERY CLOSELY.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN
IS HOW ARE THOSE PROJECTS
FINANCED?
THROUGH BONES, THROUGH
INVESTMENTS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SITE OF
HOW THE PROJECTS ARE PAID FOR
AND WHAT IS REALLY MAKING THAT
UTILITY TAKE AS FAR AS THE
OPERATIONS.
I MENTIONED ALREADY THE
INTERNAL CONTROLS THAT WE LOOK
AT.
THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE LISTED HERE
ARE THE PRIMARY SYSTEMS THAT WE
DO. WE PUT TOGETHER SAMPLES OF
TRANSACTIONS TO TEST AND LOOK
AT THE CONTROLS IN PLACE IN THE
SYSTEMS.
SOME OF THOSE LISTED HERE, CASH
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS,
PAYROLL, WE LOOK AT ALL OF THE
PROCEDURES THAT GO INTO
DRAFTING THOSE FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AT YEAR-END.
BUDGETING, OF COURSE, FOR A
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY IS VERY
IMPORTANT AS IS THE TREASURY
AND INVESTMENTS.
I MENTIONED THAT ALREADY.
THE LAST ONE IS PARTICULARLY
IMPORTANT.
EACH YEAR, INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY AND GENERAL COMPUTER
CONTROLS THAT ARE IN PLACE HAVE
INCREASED IMPORTANCE.
WE DO SPEND A LOT OF TIME.
IN FACT, I HAVE AN ENTIRE TEAM
OF SPECIALISTS THAT SPEND TIME
DIVING INTO THE I.T.
AND GENERAL COMPUTER CONTROLS
AT EVERY AUDIT THAT WE PERFORM.
OF COURSE, THE INCOME STATEMENT
IS IMPORTANT AS WELL.
WE LOOK AT THE OPERATING
EXPENSES AND NONOPERATING
EXPENSES.
AND EQUITY, WHICH IS CALLED IN
THAT POSITION FOR A
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.
ALSO, IN 2021 AND WILL BE TRUE
AGAIN IN 2022, YOU HAVE A LOT
OF BOND ACTIVITY.
WE DO LOOK AT THE NEW BOND
ISSUANCES. ANY REFUND DEEDS OR
PAYMENTS OF OLD BONES AND
ISSUES THAT OCCUR.
SO THE MORE ACTIVE YOU ARE IN
THE BOND MARKET, WE DO RAMP UP
PROCEDURES RELATED TO THAT.
LASTLY, WE DO READ THE
MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND
ANALYSIS THAT PRECEDES THOSE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO MAKE
SURE EVERYTHING IS CONSISTENT
AND THAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS
MATCHUP.
WE DO AUDIT THE DISCLOSURES
THAT ARE RELATED TO THOSE
STATEMENTS.
THE NEXT FEW SLIDES I WILL GO
THROUGH RATHER QUICKLY.
THESE ARE THE MATTERS THAT WE
ARE REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE TO
YOU.
THEY ARE ALL FAIRLY STANDARD
AND ROUTINE AND BECAUSE YOU
HAVE THEM IN YOUR PACKETS I
WILL JUST DO A HIGH-LEVEL
OVERVIEW AS WE GO THROUGH.
OF COURSE, IF YOU WANT TO GO
BACK AND HAVE QUESTIONS ON ANY
OF THEM OR FEEL FREE TO
INTERRUPT ME AS I GO THROUGH IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO STOP AND TALK
ABOUT ANY OF THEM.
ESSENTIALLY, THE NOTE TO YOUR
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS EXPLAIN
ALL OF THE SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING PRACTICES AND
POLICIES IN PLACE.
WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME LOOKING
AT THESE POLICIES.
AS I MENTIONED, TESTING THE
INTERNAL CONTROLS THAT COMPRISE
THE POLICY PROCEDURES.
THERE WERE NO CHANGES TO THOSE
POLICIES.
THEY ARE VERY CONSISTENT WITH
THE PRIOR YEAR.
WE BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE
REASONABLE AND IN ACCORDANCE
WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED
ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES.
WE HAD NO DIFFICULTIES
PERFORMING THE AUDIT THIS YEAR.
THERE WERE NO DISAGREEMENTS
WITH MANAGEMENT.
THERE WERE NO PAST ADJUSTMENTS.
BY THAT I MEAN OFTEN TIMES IF
WE SEE A SMALL ERROR IN THE
FINANCIALS IT IS VERY SMALL WE
MIGHT POST IT BUT IT DOES NOT
GET POSTED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING
YEAR JUST BECAUSE IT IS SMALL.
I AM HERE TO TELL YOU, WE DID
NOT HAVE ANY OF THOSE PAST
ADJUSTMENTS.
THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS RECORDED
WAS ONE RECLASSIFICATION FOR
THE WATERFRONT WHICH JUST
IMPACTED A COUPLE OF ACCOUNTS
ON THE BALANCE SHEET.
NO IMPACT AT ALL TO THE
OPERATIONS ON THE WATERFRONT.
WE DO OBTAIN A REPRESENTATION
LETTER FOR MANAGEMENT EVERY
YEAR THAT REALLY LISTS OUT THE
ASSUMPTIONS AND BELIEFS
REGARDING A LOT OF THE
ESTIMATIONS THAT ARE IN THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
OF COURSE, A LOT OF THE NUMBERS
TO COME FROM ESTIMATES SUCH AS
ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY OR
POTENTIAL LITIGATION.
ALLOWANCE FOR ACCOUNTS TO THE
RECEIVABLES OR DEPRECIATION THE
ONLY OTHER UNUSUAL ITEM THAT IS
IN THAT LETTER THIS YEAR, THERE
WAS A NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARD
THAT WAS REQUIRED TO BE ADOPTED
THIS YEAR RELATED TO INTEREST
COSTS ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
BECAUSE THE UTILITIES ADOPTED
REGULATORY ACCOUNTING, THERE IS
NO CHANGE GOING FORWARD WITH
THE UTILITY POLICIES ON THIS.
INTEREST COST WILL CONTINUE TO
BE RECORDED IN THE CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS WE ARE NOT AWARE OF
MANAGEMENT CONSULTING WITH ANY
OTHER ACCOUNTANTS.
I DID JUST WANT TO POINT OUT
THAT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER SPU
IS SUBJECT TO ENVIRONMENTAL OR
LEGAL CLAIMS THAT COME ALONG IN
THE ORDINARY COURSE OF
BUSINESS.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE UTILITIES
PROPERLY DISCLOSED THE EXPOSURE
IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
THIS IS AN AREA THAT IS COVERED
IN THE LETTER OF REPRESENTATION
AS WELL.
LASTLY, MOSS ADAMS IS
INDEPENDENT.
NOT ONLY WITH RESPECT TO EACH
OF THE UTILITIES, BUT ALSO TO
THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS A WHOLE.
FINALLY, I WANT TO SAY THAT THE
AUDIT WENT VERY WELL THIS YEAR
BUT THIS WAS THE SECOND FULL
YEAR OF DOING IT ALL REMOTELY.
I SURE HOPE WE CAN BE BACK IN
PERSON AT LEAST PARTIALLY GOING
FORWARD, BUT WE ARE DOING QUITE
WLL IN THE REMOTE ENVIRONMENT.
WE HAVE STATUS MEETINGS,
CERTAINLY ALMOST ON A DAILY
BASIS.
THEN WE HAVE FORMAL WEEKLY
MEETINGS WHERE WE REALLY GO
THROUGH ANYTHING THAT IS OPEN.
HOW ARE WE ON TRACK WITH
DEADLINES AND HAVING GREAT
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN BOTH
PARTIES.
THAT CONTINUES TO GO VERY WELL.
I WANT TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT
AND LET THE COMMITTEE KNOW WE
SPENT A LOT OF TIME LOOKING AT
INTERNAL CONTROLS AND HOW DO
THEY CAN REVERBERATE THROUGHOUT
THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, NOT
JUST THE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT.
I REALLY TRULY BELIEVE THAT
THERE IS A GREAT TONE AT THE
TOP AMONGST SENIOR EXECUTIVES.
THEY ARE VERY OPEN TO BEING
AUDITED.
YOU ARE AUDITED BY A LOT OF
PARTIES, NOT JUST US.
EVERYBODY DOES SEEM TO
UNDERSTAND THE BENEFIT OF THAT.
THEY ARE VERY OPEN IN THEIR
DEALINGS WITH US AND
COMMUNICATIONS WITH US.
THEY ARE VERY HELPFUL WHEN WE
ASK FOR SCHEDULES OR DATA TO
SUPPORT THE FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS IT WAS ALWAYS
PROVIDED ON A TIMELY BASIS. THE
AUDITS WERE ALL ON TIME, EVEN
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE IN MANY
PHASES.
IT COULD NOT HAVE GONE BETTER
FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE.
I DO WANT TO GIVE A BIG THANK
YOU TO THE ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCE TEAM, ESPECIALLY
BECAUSE IT IS A LOT OF WORK AND
WE ARE VERY INTRUSIVE WHEN WE
ARE IN THERE FOR AUDITS.
AGAIN, IT WENT VERY WELL AND I
WANT TO EXTEND OUR THANKS FOR
THAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I KNOW THAT WE TALK A LOT WITH
CONSTITUENTS AND OTHER PARTNERS
ABOUT FINANCIAL AND FISCAL
ACCOUNTABILITY. HERE WE HAVE IT
IN ACTION.
HERE IS THIS CITY OF SEATTLE
ENTERPRISE AND IT WORKED REALLY
HARD TO COMPILE THEIR FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS BUT THEN HAVING THEM
INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED EVERY
YEAR FOR DIFFERENT LINES OF
BUSINESS AND TO HAVE SUCH GOOD
MARKS COMING BACK FROM THE
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR IS VERY
PLEASING. NORMALLY WE WOULD
HAVE A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS BUT
BECAUSE THE AUDIT WAS CLEAN
WITH MATERIAL ISSUES AND
THOROUGH AND I KNOW THAT
CENTRAL STAFF REVIEWED THIS AS
WELL. I WANT TO THANK MOSS
ADAMS FOR THEIR INDEPENDENT WORK
REVIEWING IT.
COLLEAGUES, AND THE QUESTIONS
FOR THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR OR
THE INTERIM GENERAL MANAGER AND
CEO ABOUT THOSE STATEMENTS.
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC THESE
ARE ALL PUBLISHED ON OUR AGENDA
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING
THEM BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS
THAT WE GOT ANOTHER CLEAN AUDIT
THIS YEAR WHICH WE APPRECIATE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THOSE
FOR MOSS ADAMS.
I KNOW THAT ANDREW LEE WILL BE
STAYING FOR THE NEXT ITEM. THE
NEXT ITEM IS THE LAST ITEM ON
THE AGENDA SO WE WILL HAVE THE
CLERK GO AHEAD AND READ THAT
FOR THE RECORD
>> THE INITIATIVE FOR SOCIAL
JUSTICE REPORT FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, AS YOU KNOW WE ARE
HEARING FROM SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS
, THE RACE AND SO SO JUSTICE
INITIATIVES AND PLANS FOR THE
FUTURE TO DO MORE. WE ARE DOING
THIS WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES AND LATER WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
WE HAVE ANDREW LEE HERE THE
INTERIM GENERAL MANAGER AND CEO
OF SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES.
THEY ARE JOINED BY SOME OTHERS.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ANDREW
LEE.
>> I WANT TO BEGIN THIS
PRESENTATION FROM A PLACE OF
HUMILITY AND SELF REFLECTION.
DESPITE THE YEARS OF FOCUS ON
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE THE
REALITY IS THAT RACISM, BIAS,
AND JUSTICE CONTINUE.
RACISM IS STILL ALIVE IN OUR
COUNTRY.
THE MATTER HOW MUCH WE WANT TO
BELIEVE THAT THINGS ARE BETTER
PEOPLE ARE STILL LOSING THEIR
LIVES OVER THIS FIGHT.
IN THE MIDST OF LIVING IN A
COUNTRY WHERE THE DEEPLY ROOTED
HISTORY OF RACISM EXISTS, WE
HAVE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SPU WHO
ARE STANDING UP IN THIS FIGHT
AND SAYING ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD TO BE PART
OF A CITY AND ORGANIZATION THAT
ARE WORKING TO DISMANTLE
RACISM.
I WILL BE THE FIRST TO SAY THAT
WE ARE FAR FROM PERFECT.
BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO THIS
FUTURE WHERE RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE ARE NOT THE EXCEPTION
BUT THE NORM.
TODAY I'M JOINED BY MONICA
LEWIS, FROM CUSTOMER CARE.
RECRUITING WITHIN OUR HUMAN
RESOURCES DIVISION.
TODD SNIDER.
AND LESLIE WEBSTER, THE PLANNING
MANAGER FOR BUSINESS.
EACH OF OUR PRESENTERS TODAY
WILL BE SHARING WHAT ADVANCING
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE LOOKS
LIKE WITHIN THEIR PART OF THE
ORGANIZATION.
LASTLY, AS A LUNCHEON TO THIS
PRESENTATION, YOU WILL HEAR ME
SAY REPEATEDLY THAT RACIAL
EQUITY WORK IS NOT THE WORK OF
ANYONE PERSON OR SET OF PEOPLE
IN AN ORGANIZATION.
IT'S THE WORK OF OUR ENTIRE
DEPARTMENT.
I WANT TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU
TO OUR SERVICE EQUITY TEAM, OUR
CHANGE TEAM, AND MANY SPU STAFF
WHO HAVE MADE HUGE
CONTRIBUTIONS TO ADVANCING THIS.
NEXT SLIDE.
I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF BY
GROUNDING US IN OUR STRATEGIC
BUSINESS PLAN, WHICH STARTED
LAST YEAR.
AND IT IS PART OF OUR OUR SJ
WORK.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE THIS SPEAKS
EXPLICITLY TO PARTNERING WITH
OUR COMMUNITY FOR EQUITABLE
WATER AND WASTE MANAGEMENT.
PROVIDING OUR SERVICES WITH A
FOCUS ON RACIAL EQUITY AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE IS A PART OF OUR
CORE MISSON.
THIS MISSION STATEMENT WAS
APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
LAST SPRING, 2021.
I DO CONSIDER HAVING EQUITY IN
OUR MISSION IS AN IMPORTANT
ACCOMPLISHMENT ON ITS OWN.
NEXT SLIDE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT
ONE OF OUR PRINCIPLES.
THESE ARE SHARED VALUES THAT
GUIDE ALL THAT WE DO.
ONE OF THESE PRINCIPLES IS
EQUITY AND EMPOWERMENT.
IT CENTERS ON DISMANTLING
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM IN OUR
EMPLOYEES WORK THIS PRINCIPLE,
ALONGSIDE OUR CORE MISSION
TOGETHER, EXEMPT FROM WHY HOW WE
FEEL ABOUT RSJ.
>> ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, THE
TEAL SIDE OF THE GRAPHIC, YOU
CAN SEE THAT IS SIMILAR TO MANY
DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE A CHANGE TEAM, WE HAVE
AFFINITY GROUPS, WE HAVE
ANTIRACIST WAY ALICE GROUP, AND
THE SILENCE BREAKERS.
WE ARE ALSO INCREDIBLY
FORTUNATE TO HAVE A DEDICATED
TEAM OF INDIVIDUALS IN OUR
SERVICE EQUITY TEAM, WHOSE ROLE
IT IS TO ADVANCE EQUITY WORK
ACROSS THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT.
THEY HELP US TO ACHIEVE OUR
UTILIZATION GOALS FOR WOMEN AND
MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.
THEY HAVE FOCUSED EFFORT SUCH
AS OUR COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
PROGRAM.
ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, AND
BLUE, WE HAVE TEAMS THAT ARE
EMBEDDED IN SPECIFIC PARTS OF
UTILITY.
WE CALL THEM THE B.E.T.'S OR
THE BRANCH EQUITY TEAMS.
THESE TEAMS ESTABLISH WORK
PLANS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
BRANCH LEADERSHIP TO ADDRESS
THE MOST OPPRESSIVE NEEDS IN
THEIR BRANCH.
THEY PROVIDE CRITICAL ON THE
GROUNDWORK. JUST LAST YEAR WE
PUT TOGETHER THIS NEW GROUP
CALLED THE EQUITY BRANCH THAT
WORKS TO COORDINATE ACROSS ALL
TEAMS.
IT HAS REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL
TEAMS SHOWN HERE AND IT
AMPLIFIES THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT
OF ALL OF OUR TEAMS THROUGH
PRIORITIZATION, COMMUNICATION,
AND COORDINATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO END THE SLIDE
BY SAYING I WANT TO
SPECIFICALLY RECOGNIZE ALL OF
THE SPU STAFF THAT WORK ON THIS
TEAM.
THEY ARE THE ENGINES THAT HELP
US WITH OUR FORWARD MOMENTUM.
AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE
ARE PRESENTING TODAY IS BECAUSE
OF THESE TEAMS.
THE STRUCTUR THAT I REFERRED
TO IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE HAS
BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ADVANCING
RACIAL EQUITY WORK ACROSS THE
BOARD.
AND DECENTRALIZED --
>> BEFORE WE LAUNCH INTO THREE
SPECIFIC EXAMPLES I WANT TO
LOOK AT A FEW METRICS TO
RESPOND TO THE QUESTION, ARE WE
MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
THE FIRST IS THE HIRING
EFFORTS.
THE CHARTS ON THE SLIDES SHOW
TWO MEASURES.
THE FIRST IS IN THE DARKER BLUE
BARS.
ON THE LEFT IS THE PERCENTAGE
OF NEW HIRES THAT ARE BIPOC
EMPLOYEES.
THE NEXT IS THE OVERALL
EMPLOYEE DEMOGRAPHICS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, OVER THE PAST
THREE YEARS, OUR BIPOC HIRING
PERCENTAGES, WHICH WERE ALREADY
HIGH IN 2019, HAVE ACTUALLY
INCREASED THE LAST TWO YEARS.
IN 2021, OF OUR 364 HIRES, MORE
THAN 50% WERE BIPOC.
NOT ONLY HAVE WE INCREASED THE
RATE OF HIGHER FOR BIPOC
EMPLOYEES, WE HAVE ALSO
PROVIDED GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES.
IN THE UPPER RIGHT GREEN CIRCLE
MORE THAN HALF OF OUR CURRENT
LEADERSHIP TEAM ARE BIPOC
EMPLOYEES.
THIS INCLUDES MYSELF, OUR
EXECUTIVE TEAM, OUR DIVISION
DIRECTORS, AND OUR SENIOR
EXECUTVE . 70% OF SPU'S HIRES
IN 2021 WERE BIPOC EMPLOYEES.
THESE ARE GOOD SIGNS THAT WE
ARE MAKING PROGRESS.
I DON'T WANT TO OVERSTATE
THINGS.
AS A LARGE DEPARTMENT WE STILL
HAVE PARTS OF OUR ORGANIZATION
WHERE DIVERSITY IS NOT GOOD AND
THERE ARE BARRIERS TO
ADVANCEMENT THAT STILL EXIST.
THAT IS WHERE WE ARE FOCUSING
OUR ENERGY ON MAKING SURE THAT
THIS TYPE OF PROGRESS IS
VISIBLE IN EVERY PART OF OUR
ORGANIZATION.
ANOTHER MEASURE OF RACIAL
EQUITY PROGRESS IS OUR
UTILIZATION OF WOMEN AND
MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES WITH
RESPECT TO CONSULTING CONTRACTS
, PURCHASING AND PUBLIC WORK
CONTRACTS.
IT IS A SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT TO
OUR CITY BECAUSE IT LEADS TO
WEALTH AND CAPACITY BUILDING IN
BIPOC COMMUNITIES.
AS YOU ARE AWARE OF, SO MUCH OF
THE MONEY WE SPEND ENDS UP
GOING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFIT
CENTERS OUTSIDE OF OUR REGION.
WHEN WE CAN INVEST IN MINORITY
WOMEN OWNED ENTERPRISES WE ARE
PUTTING MONEY BACK INTO THE
COMMUNITY.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CHART
I 2021 WE HAVE PURCHASING
GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN INCREASED
BY 5%.
NOT SHOWN ON THE SLIDE IS THE
UTILIZATION FOR CONTRACTORS.
THAT IS TRACKED BY FAS.
IN 2021 THE UTILIZATION REACH
FOR SPU WAS AT 11.9%, SLIGHTLY
LESS THAN THE CITY'S AVERAGE OF
15.1%.
THERE IS ROOM TO IMPROVE IN
THAT.
ACHIEVING THESE GOALS INVOLVES
A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK TO
REMOVE BARRIERS FROM FIRMS.
THIS INCLUDES HOSTING
NETWORKING EVENTS, OTHER
ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR PROJECT
MANAGERS, OUR PROCUREMENT STAFF,
HOSTING PRE-PROPOSAL AND PRE-
BID MEETINGS AND OTHER WAYS TO
MAKE CONTRACTING MORE
ACCESSIBLE FOR WOMEN.
>> WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COULD YOU REMIND US WHETHER OR
NOT THE CONSULTANT AND PERCH
SINGLES FOR ENGAGEMENTS ARE
CITYWIDE OR IF THEY ARE
DEVELOPED DEPARTMENT BY
DEPARTMENT?
>> I BELIEVE THEY ARE CITYWIDE.
I WOULD HAVE TO CONFIRM.
I'M ONLY FAMILIAR WITH OUR
SPECIFIC GOALS.
>> SURE.
THOSE GOALS ARE GIVEN TO YOU.
THE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T DEVELOP
THEM.
>> YES.
TYPICALLY I THINK WE TRY TO
HAVE STRETCHED GOALS.
WE ARE TRYING TO INCREASE OUR
GOALS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
>> AND YOU ARE.
FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THIS LAST SLIDE IS JUST
TALKING ABOUT OUR CUSTOMER
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
AT A HIGH LEVEL WE ARE MAKING
SURE OUR RATES ARE AFFORDABLE
FOR CUSTOMERS.
THAT MEANS THAT CUSTOMER
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS ARE
REACHING THOSE WITH THE
GREATEST FINANCIAL NEEDS.
AS YOU KNOW THIS WAS ESPECIALLY
IMPORTANT DURING COVID WHEN
MANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS WERE
UNABLE TO PAY FOR THEIR UTILITY
BILLS.
OUR WORK ON PROVIDING CUSTOMERS
WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE HAS A
SIGNIFICANT INTERSECTION WITH
RACIAL EQUITY, THE SINGLE
GREATEST DETERMINANT OF WEALTH.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT FORMS OF
CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT ARE SHOWN
ON THE SLIDE.
WE HAVE THE EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
I WILL FIRST TALK ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO
HELP HOUSEHOLDS WHERE THEY HAVE
TROUBLE PAYING FOR ONE OR TWO
BILLS.
AS THE NAME IMPLIES, IS TO HELP
PEOPLE GOING THROUGH EMERGENCY
SITUATIONS.
WHETHER THAT BEING TEMPORARY
UNEMPLOYMENT OR AN UNEXPECTED
MEDICAL BILL.
IN 2020 WE EXPANDED THE
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO
ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO USE THAT
PROGRAM TWICE, AS OPPOSED TO
JUST ONCE A YEAR.
THAT BENEFIT WAS PREVIOUSLY
ONLY AVAILABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS
WITH CHILDREN.
THROUGH THIS PROGRAM IN 2021 WE
WERE ABLE TO TO PROVIDE $1.5
MILLION OF ASSISTANCE TO 3159
ACCOUNTS.
HOUSEHOLDS WERE RECEIVING UP TO
$954 IN ASSISTANCE.
WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO, IN 2021,
TO PROVIDE INCOME ELIGIBLE
HOUSEHOLDS WITH COVID RENTAL
ASSISTANCE MONEY.
ABOUT HALF $1 MILLION WAS
DISTRIBUTED TO QUALIFYING
ACCOUNTS.
THE AVERAGE ASSISTANCE WAS
AROUND $1400.
LASTLY, SPU CURRENTLY HAS 9779
ACCOUNTS ENROLLED IN OUR
UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM.
THROUGH THE UDP, UTILITY
DISCOUNT PROGRAM, WE REDUCE THE
UTILITY BILLS FOR ELIGIBLE
HOUSE COMES BY HALF.
40% OF ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS IN
SEATTLE ARE CURRENTLY SIGNED UP
FOR THIS PROGRAM.
SIMILAR PROGRAMS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY TYPICALLY HAVE RATES
AROUND 20 TO 25%, WITH 30%
CONSIDERED A HIGH NUMBER.
SPU ACTUALLY HAS ONE OF THE
HIGHEST ENROLLMENTS IN THE
NATION.
EVEN WITH OUR HIGH ENROLLMENT
WE ARE STILL PURSUING
ADDITIONAL MEASURES TO INCREASE
ENROLLMENT AND MAKE SURE THESE
PROGRAMS ARE EVEN MORE
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL OF OUR
QUALIFIED RESIDENCE.
THAT INCLUDES LOOKING AT
COMPREHENSIVE CITYWIDE, OR
COUNTYWIDE VERIFICATION
EFFORTS.
EXPANDING ENROLLMENT EFFORTS,
AND IMPROVING ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS.
WE ARE GOING TO BE PARTNERING
WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO
IMPROVE THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE A COMMENT OR QUESTION
FROM COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M SORRY, DR. LEE.
CAN YOU REPEAT WHAT YOU SAID
ABOUT UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM?
HE SAID THERE ARE 9700 ACCOUNTS.
YOU SAID 40% OF HOUSEHOLDS IN
SEATTLE PARTICIPATE?
>> IT'S ABOUT 5% OF THE
HOUSEHOLDS.
WHAT THIS NUMBER REPRESENTS,
THEN 9779, WE BELIEVE TO BE
ABOUT 40% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS
THAT WE BELIEVE ARE ELIGIBLE.
>> I SEE.
OKAY.
ENQUEUE FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
>> SURE.
I WANT TO CLOSE MY PORTION OF
THE PRESENTATION BY REINFORCING
HOW RACIAL EQUITY WORK TOUCHES
SO MANY DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
ORGANIZATION.
I HAVE TOUCHED ON A FEW AREAS
AND HIGHLIGHTED THE PROGRESS WE
HAVE MADE.
THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER WAYS WE
ARE SEEKING TO DISMANTLE
SYSTEMIC AND INSTITUTIONAL
RACISM.
THE SLIDE IS INTENDED TO
CAPTURE THE WORK OF OUR 49
RACIAL EQUITY PLANS.
I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW
AREAS THAT I'M PARTICULARLY
EXCITED ABOUT.
ONE IS THE WORK ON OUR
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
THIS IS A PROGRAM TO HELP
CUSTOMERS WHO ARE FACING
EXTREMELY COSTLY REPAIRS TO FIX
SIDE DOORS.
AND THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO TURN
TO HELP THEM WITH THESE COSTS.
THIS PROGRAM LAUNCHED AT THE
END OF LAST YEAR TO PROVIDE
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO
QUALIFIED HOUSEHOLDS.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STORMWATER
PROGRAMS.
WHAT'S EXCEPTIONAL ABOUT BOTH
OF THESE PROGRAMS IS THAT THEY
WERE INITIATED BY THE STAFF AT
THE GROUND LEVEL OF THE
ORGANIZATION.
AS I HAND THINGS OFF TO OUR
THREE PRESENTERS WHO WILL DIVE
DEEPER INTO HOW RACIAL AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACTS HER
WORK, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE A FEW
KEY POINTS.
RACIAL EQUITY BEGINS WITH A
STRONG COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORM
OUR CULTURE AND THIS REQUIRES
US TO BE ALL IN.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, RSJ
NEEDS TO BE RELATIONAL AND
COMMUNITY CENTERED.
WE ARE STRIVING TO DO THAT.
THIRD, WE ARE USING TOOLS SUCH
AS EQUITY MAPPING AND
PERFORMANCE METRICS TO SEE OUR
SERVICE GAPS.
WE BELIEVE IF WE DO THIS WELL
THEN ULTIMATELY OUR COMMUNITY
WILL SENSE A SHIFT IN POWER
DYNAMICS.
SPU WILL BE SEEN MORE AS A
PARTNER AND AN ADVOCATE FOR
THOSE TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS,
INSTEAD OF AS A BARRIER.
WITH THAT WE HAVE SOME AMAZING
EXAMPLES THAT ARE HAPPENING
ACROSS THE UTILITY.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT
THREE OF THOSE.
I'M GOING TO PASS THINGS OFF.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS -- TOWN ACQUISITION
MANAGER.
REGISTERED WITH WASHINGTON STATE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND
INDUSTRIES, AND THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.
ALL PROGRAMS REQUIRE TWO YEARS
OF ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND
UNPAID CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION.
THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO
ENTER SKILLED TRADES AND BECOME
A JOURNEYMAN.
WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR EFFORTS
FOR THE BIPOC COMMUNITY'S.
INCLUDING OUTREACH TO
ORGANIZATIONS, GROUPS, PARTNERS
THAT ENGAGE WITH THESE
COMMITTEES.
THROUGH THIS WORK WE RECRUIT A
DIVERSE COHORT OF APPRENTICES,
WHICH IS REPRESENTED ON THIS
SLIDE.
THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IS
ONE OF MANY WAYS THAT SPU IS
APPLYING RSJ FOR HIRING
PROCESSES.
WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT CAREER
PATHWAY TO THE APPRENTICESHIPS,
INTERNSHIPS, AND OTHER
PROGRAMS.
INCLUDING THE SEATTLE YOUTH
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM. WE REMOVE
BARRIERS AND EXTEND ACCESS.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS TODD SNIDER.
I AM A MEMBER OF SPU'S
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.
TO PROVIDE BACKGROUND, AFTER
SEVERAL YEAR HIATUS, THERE WAS
A TOP TO BOTTOM REVIEW OF OUR
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.
WE IMPLEMENT IT A REDESIGN THAT
SHOWS BEST PRACTICES FROM OUR
CONSTRUCTION TRADE PARTNERS AND
WORK TO THEM BEND RSJ INTO OUR
FRAMEWORK.
THE MOST CRITICAL COMPONENT OF
THE REDESIGN WAS PROCESSED AND
PLACED FRONT-LINE WORKERS AT
THE FOREFRONT OF OUR
APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING EXPERTS.
THEY HAVE PASSION FOR THE
RESPECTIVE CRAFTS.
IT ALSO MEANS FIELD STAFF ARE
NOT ONLY OUR INSTRUCTORS AND
TRAINERS, BUT ARE ALSO
EMPOWERED TO LEAD INTERNAL
CHANGE.
THIS IS NOT JUST FOR IMPROVING
TECHNICAL SKILLS AND
ACCOUNTABILITY.
BUT FOR PROMOTING RACE AND
GENDER EQUITY AS WELL.
THESE EFFORTS HAVE EXPRESSED
THEMSELVES IN OUR RECRUITMENT
EFFORTS, AS YOU JUST DESCRIBED.
IT'S ALSO THE INCORPORATION OF
RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE INTO
OUR FIELD LEAD CURRICULUM
DEVELOPMENT, PROMOTING A
CULTURE OF INCLUSION. OUR
FRONTLINE STAFF BOTH DESIGN AND
DELIVERED A TRAINING CALLED,
THE EXPERIENCE OF WOMEN IN THE
TRADES.
THAT HELPED ILLUMINATE THE
CHALLENGES WOMEN OFTEN
EXPERIENCE NAVIGATING
EXTENSIVELY MALE-DOMINAED
FIELDS.
BY INCORPORATING OUR EQUITY
EFFORTS AND CENTERING OUR
FRONTLINE STAFF IN THE REDESIGN
WE WERE ABLE TO NOT ONLY
RECRUIT THE MOST DIVERSE COHORT
OF APPRENTICES IN THE ENTIRE
HISTORY, WE HAVE WORKED TO
CREATE A COASTAL FRAMEWORK TO
HELP US COLLECTIVELY MOVE OUR
CITY VALUES FORWARD.
AS WELL AS PROVIDING HIGH
SKILLED FAMILY WAGE CAREERS FOR
OUR RESIDENTS, ELEVATING THE
BAR FOR EXISTING JOURNEY LEVEL
STAFF, AND MEETING THE
UTILITIES FUTURE WORKFORCE
NEED.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS MONICA LEWIS.
I'M PLEASED TO BE HERE TO SPEAK
ABOUT THE SPU CUSTOMER CONTACT
CENTER.
WITHIN THE CUSTOMER CARE
DIVISION. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
HOW WE ARE SUPPORTING OUR STAFF
TO EMPOWER THEM TO PROVIDE HIGH
QUALITY SERVICES FOR ALL OF OUR
CUSTOMERS.
THE CONTACT CENTER HAS OVER 80
UTILITY ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES
WHO INTERACT WITH CUSTOMERS
ACROSS MULTIPLE PLATFORMS.
THIS INCLUDES HANDLING OVER
30,000 PHONE CALLS AND 7000
EMAILS MONTHLY.
WE HAVE AN EMPOWERED AND A
DEDICATED WORKFORCE THAT VALUES
THE VOICE OF THE CUSTOMER.
THEY STRIVE TO DELIVER
EQUITABLE, HIGH QUALITY SERVICE
TO THE CUSTOMERS.
THIS INCLUDES SPECIFICALLY
MEETING THE CUSTOMERS WHERE
THEY ARE AT.
ONE WAY WE MEASURE THE VOICE OF
OUR CUSTOMER IS THROUGH THE
QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM.
THIS IS FOCUSED ON DELIVERING A
HIGH QUALITY CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
AND IT ENSURES WE HAVE
POLICIES, PROCESSES, AND
PROCEDURES THAT IDENTIFY
SUCCESS AND GAPS FOR
IMPROVEMENT.
IN 2020 WHEN WE REALIZE THAT
APPLYING A RACIAL EQUITY
TOOLKIT TO OUR QUALITY
ASSURANCE PROGRAM COULD HELP
BOTH OUR STAFF TO SERVE
CUSTOMERS, AND OUR CUSTOMERS.
WE APPLIED THE RACIAL EQUITY
TOOLKIT TO OUR REFERENCE GUIDE.
THE SCORECARD REFERENCE GUIDE IS
SPECIFICALLY HOW CONTACT CENTER
STAFF ARE SCORED ON THEIR
CUSTOMER INTERACTIONS.
RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT PROJECT
TEAM WAS PUT TOGETHER, WHICH
WAS RACIALLY DIVERSE. AND IT
INCLUDED STAFF THAT REPRESENTED
VARIED ROLES WITHIN THE
CUSTOMER CONTACT CENTER.
WE REVIEWED EACH OF THE
CONFIDENCE AND BEHAVIORS IN THE
SCORECARD, SPECIFICALLY LOOKING
AT THE REQUIRED SKILLS IT TOOK
TO PASS AND INTERACTION
EVALUATION.
AND THEN WE LOOKED FOR AND
DISCUSSED THE SCORING CRITERIA
THAT COULD PERPETUATE RACIAL
DISPARITIES AND TO DETERMINE
APPROACHES TO MITIGATE THOSE
IMPACTS.
SOME OF THE LESSONS THAT THE
TEAM MEMBERS MENTIONED THAT
THEY LEARNED THROUGH THE PROCESS
, I HAVE THREE EXAMPLES.
ONE TEAM MEMBER STATED THAT IT
MADE THEM MORE AWARE OF THE
CULTURAL NEEDS OF THEIR
CUSTOMERS.
THEY LEARNED TO BE MORE
RESPECTFUL OF CULTURAL PRACTICES
, ADDITIVES, AND BELIEFS OF
OTHERS.
ANOTHER STATED THAT EVEN
PROGRAMS THAT WERE BUILT WITH
THE BEST INTENTIONS TO MAKE A
POSITIVE IMPACT CAN CONTAIN
ELEMENTS THAT ARE NOT
COMPLETELY EQUITABLE.
ANOTHER ONE STATED THAT IT WAS
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER TO ENGAGE
THOSE THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED BY
PROPOSED CHANGES.
WITH THAT BEING SAID THE RACIAL
EQUITY TOOLKIT RESULTED IN 10
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT SPU'S
CONTACT CENTER IS GOING TO BE
IMPLEMENT IN.
TWO OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS
SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON WAYS FOR
STAFF ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH
CUSTOMERS TO IMPROVE OUR
EQUITABLE SERVICE DELIVERY.
ONE IS THE CULTURAL
COMMUNICATION AWARENESS
TRAINING.
THE OTHER IS DEVELOPED TRAINING
WITH SPECIFIC FOCUS ON EMPATHY,
STRESS MANAGEMENT, ACTIVE
LISTENING, DE-ESCALATION, AND
OTHER SKILLS FOR CUSTOMER
ENGAGEMENT.
THIS TOOLKIT THAT THE CONTACT
CENTER DID ON THE QUALITY
ASSURANCE PROGRAM IS JUST ONE
OF THE WAYS THAT SPU EMBED
RACIAL EQUITY INTO THE WORK TO
IMPROVE SERVICES FOR ALL OF OUR
CUSTOMERS.
>> A GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS LESLIE WEBSTER.
THE PLANNING MANAGER FOR
TRAINING AND WASTEWATER AT SPU.
I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY TO
SHARE HOW EQUITY IS COURT TO
SHAPE OUR WATER PROJECT.
IT IS THE 50 YEAR PLAN FOR
SEATTLE'S WATER RESILIENCE.
SHAPE OUR WATER IS IDENTIFYING
MULTIPLE BENEFIT SOLUTIONS FOR
THE COMPLEX AND CHANGING
FLOODING AND SEWER CHALLENGES.
THIS PLAN WILL DRIVE SPU'S
FUTURE CAPITAL AND PROGRAMMATIC
INVESTMENTS FOR DECADES INTO
THE FUTURE.
I WILL HIGHLIGHT THREE WAYS
THAT WE CENTERED EQUITY IN THIS
PROJECT.
FIRST IS OUR APPROACH TO
ANALYSIS.
IN THE PAST SPU RELIED
PRIMARILY ON A COMPLAINT BASED
APPROACH TO IDENTIFY FLOODING
AND SEWER SYSTEM PROBLEMS,
WHICH IS INHERENTLY INEQUITABLE.
WE SHIFTED AWAY FROM THIS BY
INCORPORATING RACIAL AND SOCIAL
EQUITY INTO HOW WE IDENTIFY AND
PRIORITIZE PROBLEMS.
THIS HELPS US MAKE THE DRAINAGE
AND WASTEWATER PROBLEMS THAT WE
ARE FACING HISTORICALLY
UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES
MORE VISIBLE.
AND IT WILL LEAD TO A MORE
EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTIONAL OF SPU
INVESTMENTS IN THE FUTURE.
SECOND IS THE COMMUNITY
COCREATED VISION AND GOALS FOR
THIS PROJECT.
THE SHAPE OUR WATER COMMUNITY
VISION WAS COMPLETED IN 2021.
OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
FOCUSED ON HISTORICALLY
UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS,
INCLUDING YOUTH, GRASSROOTS
ORGANIZERS, AND BIPOC COMMUNITY
ADVOCATES.
SOME OF OUR ENGAGEMENT
ACTIVITIES ARE LISTED ON THIS
SLIDE.
THESE ACTIVITIES WERE COCREATED
WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WE
RESOURCED TO SHARE THEIR
EXPERTISE AND TALENTS WITH THIS
PROJECT.
SOME OF THOSE FABULOUS CO-
CREATORS ARE PICTURED ON THIS
SLIDE AS WELL.
I WILL NOTE, ALSO, THAT OUR
CONSULTING CONTRACT SUPPORTING
THIS WORK WAS EXCLUSIVELY WMBE
FIRMS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT 10% OF THE
TOTAL BUDGET OF OUR CONSULTING
CONTRACT WAS DEDICATED TO
FUNDING THIS CO-CREATION.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
THE THIRD HIGHLIGHT I WANT TO
SHARE IS OUR EQUITY FRAMEWORK.
WE CREATED THIS EQUITY
FRAMEWORK TO GROUND OUR
PLANNING TEAM IN A SHARED
UNDERSTANDING AND COMMITMENT TO
RACIAL EQUITY.
THE FRAMEWORK IS THE KEY TO
CENTERING SPU'S EQUITY VALUES
IN THE SHAPE OUR WATER PLAN.
IT INCLUDES THE EQUITY
PRINCIPLES THAT ARE SHOWN IN
THE GRAPHIC ON THIS SLIDE.
THESE PRINCIPLES WILL DRIVE
PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
THE FRAMEWORK WAS DEVELOPED
COLLABORATIVELY WITH SPU STAFF
AND LEADERSHIP, AND IS A LIVING
DOCUMENT THAT WILL BE REVISITED
THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE
PLANNING PROCESS.
THE LAST THING I WILL SAY IS I
WANT TO NOTE THAT NONE OF THIS
WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE
WITHOUT THE LIVING LEGACY OF
THE PEOPLE THAT CREATED THE
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVE FOR THE CITY AS WELL
AS THE PARTNERSHIP OF SPU'S
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE AND
EQUITY TEAM.
OR WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF
LEADERS WITHIN SPU, LIKE
ANDREW, THEY UNDERSTAN THAT
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE IS
NOT ENOUGH, AND ARE WILLING TO
WORK DIFFERENTLY TO PLAN A MORE
EQUITABLE WATER FUTURE FOR
SEATTLE.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT BACK
OVER TO ANDREW.
>> THANK YOU.
AS I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING
OF THIS PRESENTATION, SPU IS ON
A JOURNEY TO DISMANTLE RACISM
IN OUR ORGANIZATION AND OUR
CITY.
WE SHARE JUST A FEW HIGHLIGHTS
ABOUT THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE
AS A DEPARTMENT.
I STILL WANT TO BE IN A PLACE
OF HUMILITY.
THERE'S A LOT LEFT TO DO.
WE STILL HAVE AREAS OF OUR CITY
THAT HAVE SERVICE DISPARITIES.
THAT INCLUDES A HIGHER
LIKELIHOOD OF HAVING SEWER
BACKUPS AND SERVICE FLOODING IN
NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE SOUTH PARK.
WE ALSO HAVE SIGNIFICANT
SEDIMENT POLLUTION THAT REMAINS
TO BE CLEANED UP IN OUR MOST
POLLUTED WATER BODY IN THE
DUWAMISH.
OUR RATES ARE BECOMING MORE AND
MORE UNAFFORDABLE FOR MANY
CUSTOMERS.
OUR PROGRAMS ARE NOT REACHING
THE MAJORITY OF HOUSEHOLDS THAT
ARE IN NEED.
ON AN INTERNAL FOCUS, WITHIN
OUR DEPARTMENT, I STILL GET
COMPLAINTS OF DISCRIMINATION
AND HARASSMENT THAT SHOULD HAVE
NO PLACE IN OUR WORKPLACE.
I SHARE ALL OF THIS BECAUSE
DESPITE THE PROGRESS, AS WE
HAVE STATED SO MANY TIMES IN
THIS PRESENTATION, THERE IS SO
MUCH MORE WORK TO DO.
FORTUNATELY SPU HAS AN
INCREDIBLY STRONG COMMITMENT TO
THE CITY'S RSJ INITIATIVE.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO ELIMINATING
RACIAL DISPARITIES AND
RESHAPING RACIAL EQUITY.
THAT IS TRUE FOR ME, IT'S TRUE
FOR THE FOLKS IN THIS
PRESENTATION, IT'S TRUE FOR OUR
EXECUTIVE AND LEADERSHIP TEAM ,
AND SO MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
I WANT TO CLOSE BY SAYING WE
ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE
TACKLING THESE CHALLENGES HEAD-
ON AND BE PART OF WRITING THAT
STORY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
HIGHLIGHTING ALL OF THE WORK,
THE GRASS WORKS WITHIN YOUR
ORGANIZATION THAT CONTRIBUTED
TO THIS.
THAT IS AN ONGOING CONTRIBUTION.
I APPRECIATE YOU ALSO SPENDING
A LOT OF TIME WITH WHAT YOU ARE
DOING IN THE COMMUNITY, IN
TERMS OF NOT DOING THE
COMPLAINT BASED HIM ABOUT GOING
BEYOND THAT TO SEEING WHAT THE
DESPERATE OUTCOMES ARE AND
WORKING TO CORRECT THOSE.
ANDREW LEE WILL BE BACK IN OUR
COMMITTEE ON JUNE 7th TO
DISCUSS HIS NOMINATION. WE DO
HAVE SOME RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE QUESTIONS THAT WE WILL
BE GETTING BACK TO.
WE WILL BE GETTING ANSWERS BACK
FROM HIM AS WELL.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE
TEAM FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND
FOR ALL OF THE WORK YOU ARE
DOING.
WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS
BE MORE WORK TO DO.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
DIRECTLY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT
THERE ARE STILL SOME INTERNAL
WORKS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN IN
ORDER FOR OUR CITY FAMILY TO
FEEL LIKE THEY ARE IN AN
ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SAFE FOR
THEM.
AND THAT OUR RATE STRUCTURE IS
SUCH THAT A LOT OF OUR LOW
INCOME FAMILIES, PROBABLY AT
THIS POINT EVEN MIDDLE INCOME
FAMILIES MIGHT STRUGGLE.
WE CERTAINLY HAVE MORE WORK TO
DO.
I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU ARE
PRESENTING HERE ABOUT THE WAYS
YOU ARE STARTING TO MOVE THAT
DIRECTION.
IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PLACES
YOU MENTIONED TRAINING PROGRAMS.
THE INTERNAL CUSTOMER CONTACTS,
TRAINING PRIORITIES THAT WERE
IDENTIFIED, THE SHAPE OUR WATER
SERIES OF TRAININGS THAT YOU
ARE DOING.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WHO IS DOING THOSE TRAININGS?
WHO IS HELPING YOU TO DEVELOP
THEM?
IS THIS PART OF A COLLABORATION
WITH OCR?
YOU HAVE YOUR OWN INTERNAL
PEOPLE?
ARE YOU WORKING WITH
CONSULTANTS ON THAT PIECE?
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THE
TRAINING DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS?
>> WE HAVE DEFINITELY WORKED
WITH OCR AS WELL AS OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SERVICE
EQUITY TEAM TO IMPLEMENT SOME
OF THE TRAININGS, THE CITYWIDE
TRAININGS.
OBVIOUSLY THAT PLAYS A POWERFUL
ROLE IN OUR DEPARTMENT.
MORE RECENTLY A NUMBER OF OUR
GROUPS, ESPECIALLY OUR FRONT-
LINE GROUPS, HAVE TAKEN ANOTHER
RACIAL EQUITY TRAINING.
I'M FORGETTING THE NAME OF IT
RIGHT NOW.
LESLIE, DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT IT
IS?
OKAY.
THAT WAS ONE THAT WAS DONE ALSO
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE
OF CIVIL RIGHTS. SOME OF THE
FACILITATORS CAME FROM OCR.
THEY HELPED FACILITATE THAT,
ESPECIALLY FOR THE FRONTLINE
WORKING GROUPS.
WE HAVE TAKEN, IN SOME CASES, A
DECENTRALIZED APPROACH TO
TRAINING. ACKNOWLEDGING THE
FACT THAT THE TRAINING NEEDS
ARE DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT
GROUPS.
MONICA OBVIOUSLY TALKED ABOUT
SPECIFIC TRAINING NEEDS WITHIN
THE CUSTOMER CONTACT CENTER AND
WITHIN SOME OF OUR FRONT-LINE
GROUPS.
THEY HAVE HAD DIFFERENT
TRAINING NEEDS.
WE TRY TO TAILOR TO WHERE EACH
GROUP IS AT AND WHAT THEY ARE
EXPRESSING IN TERMS OF THEIR
NEEDS.
WE ARE BRINGING IN MANY, MANY
DIFFERENT EXPERTS.
A NUMBER OF OUR STAFF RECENTLY
WENT TO THE GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY AND RACIAL
EQUITY CONFERENCE.
THAT WAS A TRADING THAT A
NUMBER OF FOLKS HAVE ACCESSED.
WE ALSO HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE
TAPPING INTO OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
PROVIDING SIMILAR TRAINING.
IT'S PRETTY DIVERSE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE I WOULD BE
HAPPY TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT
MORE OF A DETAILED SUMMARY OF
WHAT THAT ENTAILS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> JUST GOING BACK TO THE WMBE
GOALS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE
PREVIOUSLY SPOKE ABOUT THE
DEPARTMENT EXCEEDING ITS WMBE
GOALS.
I'M HAVING A HARD TIME
UNDERSTANDING THE NARRATIVE OF
THE DESCRIPTION IN THE REPORT,
WHICH SUGGESTS A DIFFERENT
CONCLUSION.
I MIGHT BE MISUNDERSTANDING
WHAT I'M READING HERE.
IT SAID THAT THE WMBE
UTILIZATION GOAL IS NOT MET.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THAT?
>> I APOLOGIZE, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
I WOULD HAVE TO CROSSWALK THE
TWO.
THE DATA THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH
IS THAT WE HAVE EXCEEDED BOTH
UTILIZATION GOALS.
IF IT'S OKAY CAN I FOLLOW-UP
WITH YOU ON THAT?
>> PLEASE.
IT'S ON PAGE SIX OF THE REPORT.
THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> WE CAN CIRCULATE THAT
RESPONSE TO THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
I BELIEVE THAT MAY BE THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
CONSULTING WORK, THE
PURCHASING, AND THE
CONSTRUCTION.
I THINK YOU ARE NOTING WITH THE
CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING
CONTRACTS, THAT'S WHERE YOU
HAVE MORE WORK TO DO.
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> OKAY.
>> IT'S INTERESTING NOW.
ON THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE THE
CITY DOES NOT HAVE GOALS ON
WMBE UTILIZATION FROM MY
UNDERSTANDING.
MAYBE ON THE CONTRACTING SIDE.
THOSE TYPICALLY DON'T COUNT
TOWARDS WHETHER WE ARE MEETING
OR EXCEEDING THE GOALS OR NOT
MEETING THEM.
I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO THE
DATA A LITTLE BIT MORE.
>> A SECOND QUESTION IF I MAY.
>> YES.
>> AS IT RELATES TO THE
HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE ENROLLED IN
UDP.
I THINK YOU REPORTED ON THE
PRESENTATION, SOMEWHERE AROUND
UPWARDS OF 9000 HOUSEHOLDS.
SAGAN PLEASE?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
9779 HOUSEHOLDS ARE ENROLLED.
THAT IS 40% OF THOSE THAT WE
BELIEVE ARE ELIGIBLE.
>> THAT'S 40% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS
THAT ARE ELIGIBLE.
HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO
PREVIOUS YEARS?
JUST SEEING THAT NUMBER IN A
VACUUM DOESN'T CONVEY A MESSAGE
OF WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE MAKING
GAINS AND ENROLLING ELIGIBLE
HOUSEHOLDS OR WHETHER OR NOT WE
HAVE HAD A PLATEAU.
>> I NEED TO LOOK AT DATA THAT
IS FROM PRECEDING YEARS.
MY RECOLLECTION IS WE WERE
HOVERING AROUND 30% ENROLLMENT
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
THAT STARTED TO INCREASE IN THE
LAST 3 TO 5 YEARS.
INTERESTINGLY, DURING COVID, WE
DID STARTS RIGHT AROUND 2020.
WE STARTED A PROGRAM OF NO
INCOME VERIFICATION FOR
ENROLLMENT IN THE UDP.
WE HAD TO, SUBSEQUENTLY AFTER
PEOPLE ENROLLED, WE WERE ABLE
TO RECEIVE THE BENEFIT.
WE DO SUBSEQUENT INCOME
VERIFICATION.
IN MANY CASES THE HOUSEHOLDS
THAT AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLED
DROPPED OFF.
BETWEEN 2020 AND 2022, WHERE WE
ARE AT RIGHT NOW, THE NUMBER IS
APPROXIMATELY THE SAME.
SO WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY GROWTH
IN THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS
THAT ARE IN THE PROGRAM IN THE
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
ABOUT THIS PRESENTATION?
AGAIN, WE WILL HAVE ANDREW LEE
BACK IN OUR COMMITTEE FOR MORE
DETAILED RESPONSES ABOUT
MINORITY OWNED VENDORS.
THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS THAT
WE ASKED, RACIAL AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE QUESTIONS WE ASKED, AS
PART OF STANDARD QUESTIONS FOR
NOMINEES.
WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING
THOSE AND CIRCULATING THOSE AS
WELL.
THANK YOU, ANDREW, AND YOUR TEAM
FOR BEING HERE.
ALL OF THE TIME YOU SPENT TO
PUT THIS TOGETHER AND THE TIME
THAT WE WILL BE SPENDING TO
CONTINUE IMPLEMENTING AND
IMPROVING.
I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD REST
OF YOUR DAY.
COLLEAGUES, FOR OUR COMMITTEE
MEETING THAT WAS OUR FINAL
AGENDA ITEM.
I WILL SAY THAT THIS CONCLUDES
THE MAY 17th, 2022 MEETING OF
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC AND
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
THE NEXT IS ON JUNE 7th.
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING.