>>> GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME
TO THE SEPTEMBER 19, 2023
TRANSPORTATION AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMITTEE
MEETING. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> COUNCILMEMBERS HERBOLD AN
SAWANT ARE EXCUSED. IF THERE AR
NO OBJECTIONS, THE AGENDA WILL
BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, IT IS ADOPTED.
WELCOME TO THIS COMMITTEE
MEETING, WE HAVE 24 ITEMS ON
OUR AGENDA, 18 OF THEM ARE
APPOINTMENTS TO VARIOUS
ADVISORY BOARDS, AND WE WILL BE
GROUPING THOSE TOGETHER. FIRST
ON THE AGENDA, SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES IS BACK AND WILL
LIKELY VOTE ON CELTIC 120507,
REVISING WATER RATES. THE RATE
IN THIS IS LOWER THAN
ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED IN THE
SIX-YEAR RATE PASS. WE WILL
ALSO HAVE THE LITTER CODE TO
ESTABLISH AN ADMINISTRATIVE
PROCESS FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING,
THIS IS ALSO BEFORE US FOR A
LIKELY VOTE TODAY. THIRD,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES IS
BRINGING TOGETHER A PROPOSAL T
REQUIRE SIDEWALKS TO BE FIXED O
INSTALLED WITH MAJOR IMPROVEMEN
PROJECTS, LED BY OUR SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY
MORALES, FOR PUTTING THAT
FORWARD. WE HAVE A LIKELY
VOTE, A PROPOSAL FROM THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION TO TEMPORARILY
ELIMINATE THESE FOR VENTING
CARTS, FOOD TRUCKS, AND SMALLER
ACTIVITIES. FIFTH, WE HAVE A
DRAFT, REGARDING MODIFIED
TREES, CRAFTED WITH THE
SNOQUALMIE TRIBE, TO PREVENT
THREATS TO TREES. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK, THIS
DRAFT LEGISLATION IS WAITING FO
FORMAL INTRODUCTION. IN THE
MEANTIME, WE WILL HAVE A
PRE-PRESENTATION HEAR FROM OUR
CONCERT AT CENTRAL STAFF. SIX
THROUGH 23 , 18 APPOINTMENTS TO
FIVE ADVISORY OVERSIGHT BOARDS,
INCLUDING THE BICYCLE ADVISORY
BOARD, LATE , TRAVEL, AND THE
SAFETY COMMITTEE. I WANT TO GIV
A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE
APPOINTEES AND RE-APPOINTEES
TODAY WHO VOLUNTEERED ALL OF
THEIR TIME FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES IMPACTIN
OUR CITY. WE WILL FINALLY HAVE
AN UPDATE REGARDING VISION ZER
EFFORTS. SAFETY AND PRIORITY
HAS BEEN MADE AT SDOT,
INCLUDING A TOP TO BOTTOM
REVIEW OF THE VISION ZERO
PROGRAM, COMMITTED TO ENDING
TRAFFIC FATALITIES BY THE YEAR
2030. WE WILL HEAR AN UPDATE
FROM 2030 ON THE EARLY ACTION
INITIATIVES AS WELL AS OTHER
UPDATES. WE WILL OPEN THE
COMMENT. FOR OUR HYBRID
MEETING, WE HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED
UP TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT BOTH
ONLINE AND IN PERSON. LET'S SEE
I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT HEARING IN THE FOLLOWIN
MANNER. I WILL START WITH THOS
WHO REGISTERED ONLINE, THEN I
WILL BEGIN WITH THOSE WHO ARE
IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE UP TO
20 MINUTES, BUT I WILL EXPEND ,
I WILL EXTEND UP TO 30 MINUTES.
I WILL CALL ON SPEAKERS TWO AT
TIME, AS THEY ARE REGISTERED O
THE WEBSITE OR THE SIGNING SHEE
IN CHAMBERS. IN THIS CASE, WE
HAVE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
SNOQUALMIE TRIBE WHO WILL BE
SPEAKING. SO, THEY WERE
GOLFERS. FOR REMOTE SPEAKERS,
ONCE I CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME,
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE. AN
AUTOMATIC PROMPT OF YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTE IT WILL BE THE CUE
TO SPEAK. AND YOU MUST PRESS
STAR 60. PLEASE BEGIN BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING. AS A
REMINDER, PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD
RELATE TO AN ITEM ON TODAY IS
PUBLIC AGENDA, OR TO THE
OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITIES OF
THE COMMITTEE. YOU WILL HEAR A
CHIME WHEN YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS
LEFT, SO, WHEN YOU HEAR THE
CHIME, KEEP GOING, BUT START TO
WRAP IT UP IT IF SPEAKERS DO NO
WRAP UP THEIR TIME AT THE END
OF THE ALLOTTED TIME, THE
MICROPHONES WILL BE MUTED TO
PROVIDE TIME FOR OTHER PUBLIC
SPEAKERS. ONCE YOU HAVE
COMPLETED YOUR COMMENT, IF YOU
ARE PROVIDED COMMENTS REMOTELY
ONCE YOU HAV COMPLETED, WE ASK
THAT YOU PLEASE DISCONNECT FRO
THE LINE. IF YOU PLAN TO
CONTINUE FOLLOWING THE MEETING,
PLEASE DO SO VIA THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL OR THE LISTENING
OPTIONS. I AM GETTING A NOTE
THAT A COUPLE OF THE ONLINE
SPEAKERS HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE
EMAIL WITH THE CALL IN
INFORMATION, SO, IF OUR I.T.
STAFF COULD JUST MAKE SURE THA
IS WORKING PROPERLY AND THAT
THEY ARE GETTING THE EMAIL BACK
ON HOW TO CALL IN. OKAY? SO.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND START WITH
OUR ONLINE SPEAKERS AND THE
ONES WHO ARE PRESENT, AT THIS
TIME, WE WILL ENSURE THAT
THEY GET THAT CONTACT
INFORMATION, THE CHAIRMAN ,
BECAUSE HE IS WAITING FOR THAT
WE WILL START WITH ANDREW,
FOLLOWED BY JESSICA. GO AHEAD,
ANDREW.
>> THANK YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> MY NAME IS ANDREW, I LIVE IN
SOUTH SEATTLE. I AM TESTIFYING
IN FAVOR OF THE TRAVEL
CONSTRUCTION ORDINANCE. THERE
ARE MANY REASONS TO SUPPORT THI
BILL. IT PROMOTES NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMUNITY, IT PROMOTES HEALTH
AND SAFETY, SO IMPORTANT FOR OU
COMMUNITY. AND IT WILL RESULT
IN LESS CLIMATE AND AIR
POLLUTION . FOR MANY OF US,
THESE ARE PUBLIC POLICY
QUESTIONS RIGHT IN FRONT OF OU
FACE. MY NEIGHBOR IS A RETIRED
SCHOOLTEACHER LIVING ALONE.
THERE IS A BIG CRACK IN THE
SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE.
AND IT IS UP ABOUT 3 ", SHE
CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX IT. SHE
CAN PAINT IT, BUT SHE STILL
WORRIES ABOUT SOMEBODY GETTING
HURT. I HAVE AN ELDERLY
NEIGHBOR WHO WALKS BY ON HER
WALKER. SHE CRAWLS HER WEIGHT
OVER ON TO THE NEIGHBOR'S
SIDEWALK. OUR CURRENT POLICY ON
SIDEWALKS POSES DANGER AND
ANXIETY FOR OUR NEIGHBORS. WE
CAN DO BETTER. PLEASE EXPEDITE
THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS, NEXT WE HAVE JESSIC
DIXON, FOLLOWED BY SANDY. GO
AHEAD, JESSICA.
>> GOOD MORNING, THIS IS JESSIC
DIXON, I AM ON THE BOARD OF PLA
AMNESTY, I AM REFERENCING THE
BILL TO RECOGNIZED
CULTURALLY-MODIFIED TREES IN
THE CITY. ALL GENERAL COUNCIL
MEETINGS START WITH A MESSAGE
RECOGNIZING THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE OCCUPIES LAND THAT IS
OWNED BY PEOPLE OF MANY TRIBES
DID THAT HAS BEEN FOR THOUSAND
OF YEARS , BEFORE THE SETTLERS
MOVED HERE. SO, IT IS
DISHEARTENING TO SEE THE
AGENCIES AND OFFICIALS STANDING
BY WHEN THEY ARE TAKING DOWN
THE LAST OF OUR 100-PLUS
-YEAR-OLD TREES. AND BUSINESS
PEOPLE, THEY HAVE BEEN PRESENT
, BY RECOGNIZING THESE SACRED
SITES. THE NATIVE TREES WERE
CULTURALLY MODIFIED TO STAND OU
FOR GATHERINGS. PLEASE ALLOW
COUNCILMEMBER TRENTON'S
LEGISLATION, FOR VOTING TO
SUPPORT THIS. THE SIMPLE BILL
WAS CRAFTED LAST MONTH, WITH TH
SNOQUALMIE TRIBE AND IT HAS
ALREADY BEEN PRESENTED THREE
TIMES ON THE CALENDAR. AND
PRESENTING THIS BILL WOULD
PROTECT THE CULTURALLY-MODIFIE
TREES FROM BEING HURT. IT IS
THE CITY COUNCIL WITH THE POWER
AND INFLUENCE OVER THESE
DEVELOPERS AND THE TRIBES, WHO
HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO ERASURE
IN OUR CITY. THEY CAN , SDCI,
DO THIS WITH THE SPEED OF AN
EMAIL. THEY CAN PROTECT
CULTURALLY-MODIFIED TREES AND
ARCHITECTURAL OBJECTS. I URGE
YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND
SUPPORT THE SEATTLE TREE CANOPY
THE TRIBE DESERVES TO HAVE THE
CITY AND STATE GOVERNMENTS
DETECT THESE TREES AND COMPLY
WITH STATE LAW. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SANDY IS NEXT,
FOLLOWED BY MARK. GO AHEAD,
SANDY.
>> HI, GOOD MORNING. THIS IS
SANDY, WITH TREE ACTION
SEATTLE. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBERS , FOR LISTENING
TO THE PRESENTATION TODAY, AND
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER ALE
PEDERSEN FOR CRAFTING THIS
IMPORTANT BILL. THIS BILL
CODIFIES AND EXTENDS THE
PROTECTION WHICH IS ALREADY
MANDATED FOR CULTURALLY-
MODIFIED TREES BY THE WASHINGTO
STATE GOVERNMENT AND LEGAL
TREATIES. RECENTLY, I LEARNED
ABOUT THE REMOVAL OF A HUGE
CEDAR IN WEST SEATTLE THAT MAY
HAVE BEEN CULTURALLY MODIFIED.
WHEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS CALLED
SDCI TO REPORT IT, THE INTAKE
STAFF TOLD CALLERS THERE IS N
SUCH THING AS CMT . AND THAT
TREE IS NOW GONE. THEY SIMPLY
RECOGNIZE THE TRIBES AND IT IS
AN OF KNOWLEDGE MEANT OF STATE
LAW. IT PUTS SEATTLE ON THE
RIGHT PART OF HISTORY AND IT
FULFILLS A VERBAL COMMITMENT
THAT WE FREQUENTLY REPEAT IN TH
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT. THANK YOU
FOR SUPPORTING US.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, MARTHA,
FOLLOWED BY ALICE. GO AHEAD,
MARTHA.
>> YES, GOOD MORNING, ALL. I A
PLEASED TO BE WEIGHING IN ON
CULTURALLY-MODIFIED TREES ,
PLEASE ALLOW COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S BILL TO BE HEARD
THIS AFTERNOON. A CEDAR IN
NORTH SEATTLE BROUGHT THE ISSUE
OF CULTURALLY-SIGNIFICANT TREE
TO THE PUBLIC ATTENTION. BUT AS
SANDY JUST SAID, THERE ARE MAN
SUCH TREES ALL OVER OUR SMALL
CITY. AND THIS BILL HAS ALREAD
BEEN PREVENTED FROM BEING
HEARD. IT HAS , AS DISCUSSED
THIS MORNING, BEEN PRESENTED
THREE TIMES. IT CERTAINLY SHOUL
BE ALLOWED TO BE AT LEAST VOTED
ON. CULTURALLY-MODIFIED TREES
ARE THOSE THAT THESE TRIBES AR
VERY MUCH WANTING TO PROTECT A
WE MOVE FORWARD, AND I THINK TH
TRIBE WOULD BE APPRECIATIVE OF
ANY COUNCILMEMBERS DOING THE
RIGHT THING TO SUPPORT THE
SEATTLE TREE CANOPY. AGAIN,
SCARE TACTICS ABOUT DEVELOPERS
HAVING TO WORK AROUND SUCH
TREES, OFTEN STANDING ON THE
EDGE OF A LOT, IS INDEED A SCAR
TACTIC. AND SDCI NEEDS TO CHEC
WITH THE STATE. IT IS NO
LEGITIMATE EXCUSE. SOMETHING
ELSE WILL HAPPEN. BUT I URGE, I
URGE CITY COUNCIL TO ALLOW THI
LEGISLATION TO BRING THIS
FORWARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE ALICE, GO
AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, I AM ALICE LOCKHART,
SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE
SIDEWALK ORDINANCE, 120568, THI
IS REALLY AN EXEMPLARY
LEGISLATION AND I AM SO HAPPY
TO SEE IT. ALL OF THESE
MAINTENANCE PROJECTS, THEY ARE
ALL ABOUT CARS. SIDEWALKS ARE
REALLY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
CLIMATE-FRIENDLY TRANSPORTATION
AND IF SEATTLE IS TO REDUCE TH
POLLUTION THAT COMES FROM
TRANSPORTATION, WE NEED PHSKC
REFLECT THIS POLICY IN EVERY
WAY. AND WE ROUTINELY
PRIORITIZE THINGS , MOST OF US
WALKING TO AND FROM THE LIGHT
RAIL AND SHORT TRIPS IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD, DOING EXACTLY
THAT. I REALLY HOPE THAT IT
WOULD BE QUICK AND EASY FOR YOU
ALL TO PASS THIS GREAT
LEGISLATION. AND I DO HOPE TO
SEE IT FOLLOWED UP BY
ADDITIONAL SUCH REALLY --
THAT, SORRY , THAT, WILL JUST
REVOLUTIONIZE SDOT. IT IS HIGH
TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE THE
SNOQUALMIE CHAIRMAN, ROBERT,
PRESENT AND AVAILABLE NOW.
CHAIRMAN, WELCOME, THANK YOU.
YOU CAN PRESS STAR SIX ON YOU
PHONE, AND IT WILL BE ABLE TO
HEAR YOU.
GO AHEAD , PRESS STAR SIX ,
CHAIRMAN, SO WE CAN UNMUTE YOU
PHONE.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK . THE
UTILITIES COMMITTEE, I AM THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE SNOQUALMIE TRIB
, IN LOS ANGELES, AS YOU KNOW,
OUR TRIBE HAS DECIDED TO BE
PUBLIC THIS SUMMER ABOUT THE
NEED TO PROTECT
CULTURALLY-MODIFIED TREES, ALS
KNOWN AS CMTs. WE BECAME AWAR
OF BEING PERMITTED OF THE
REMOVAL OF CMTs. THEY ARE
BELOVED AND THEY ARE PROTECTED
UNDER STATE LAW. IT IS CRITICA
THAT OTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
ARE PRESENTED , PROTECTED
WITHIN CITY LIMITS OF SEATTLE
AND BEYOND. WHEN THEY PASS
ORDINANCES WITHOUT CONSULTING
TRIBES, AS A RESULT, LANGUAGE
TO PROTECT CMTs DOES NOT GO
THROUGH. IT HAS BEEN CAREFULLY
CRAFTED , THANKS TO
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN. WE
THANK COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN
FOR PROTECTING THESE SITES IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND REACHIN
UP, NOT ONLY TO THE SNOQUALMIE
INDIAN TRIBE, BUT OTHER TRIBES
IN THE AREA. ALL WE ASK IS ,
PLEASE MAKE SURE THIS BILL IS
HEARD WITH YOUR URGENCY .
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
SPEAK
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH ,
CHAIRMAN, FOR YOUR WISDOM AND
YOUR TIME. AND WE WILL KEEP
COMMUNICATING WITH YOU ON THIS.
NEXT, WE HAVE AMERICA , GO
AHEAD.
>> HELLO, GOOD MORNING
EVERYONE. I AM HERE WITH
EMPOWER MOVEMENT WASHINGTON. I
AM CALLING FOR SUPPORT OF AN
ORDINANCE RELATED TO SIDEWALK
CONSTRUCTION AND PEDESTRIAN
MOBILITY IMPROVEMENT. I AM
CALLING FOR THAT TO BE ADDED TO
THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF SEATTLE.
AND , SO, SEATTLE HAS A SIDEWAL
PROBLEM. 24% OF 11,000 OF OUR
CITY STREETS ARE MISSING
SIDEWALKS, ACCORDING TO A
FEDERAL ASSESSMENT, LESS THAN
HALF ARE ACCESSIBLE BECAUSE OF
EXISTING, UNREPAIRED CRACKS AN
BUMPS. THERE ARE DISABLED
PEOPLE WHO PREFER TO TAKE THE
BUS, THEY'D HAVE TO SCHEDULE,
AND THEY ARE STUCK AT HOME MUC
MORE THAN THEY LIKE. THEY GIVE
UP ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD KEEP
THEM HEALTHY AND CONNECTED TO
THE COMMUNITY. ADULTS WITH
DISABILITIES, THEY WALK FOR A
GREATER SHARE OF TRIPS, OUR
SIDEWALKS IMPACT ECONOMIC
MOBILITY . ACCESS TO
OPPORTUNITY, AND PARTICIPATION
IN OUR COMMUNITIES. SO,
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH SHOWS
THAT SIDEWALKS THAT ARE MISSING
AREAS IN SEATTLE, INCLUDING
MISSING SIDEWALKS ON 85th
STREET, PARTS OF SOUTH SEATTLE,
IT MEANS THAT PEOPLE LIVING IN
THESE NEIGHBORHOODS EXPERIENCE
INCREASED RISK. HAVING SAFE
PLACES TO WALK IS AN IMPORTANT
STEP FOR CURBING THE EPIDEMIC
OF TRAFFIC VIOLENCE. IT WOULD
ALSO BE A BENEFIT FOR THE
CLIMATE, THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTO
OF GAS EMISSIONS AND IT IS
CRITICAL THAT WE CREATE
CONNECTIONS , WHETHER THAT IS
AROUND THE CORNER OF THE STORE
OR FOR A LIGHT RAIL STOP. WE CA
EXPECT OUR CITIES TO BUILD AND
RETAIN ROADS. THE SAME SHOULD B
EXPECTED FOR SIDEWALKS. THANK
YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> NEXT WE HAVE SUZANNE GRANT
GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, SO PLEASED TO BE ABLE
TO SPEAK AT YOUR COMMITTEE. I
AM SPEAKING TO ITEM NUMBER
FIVE, THE ORDINANCE RELATING TO
TREE PROTECTION. WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN A CITY CUTS DOWN ALL OF
THEIR TREES? THERE ARE SO MAN
ARTICLES IN CITIES AROUND THE
WORLD, ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO
SAVE OURSELVES FROM THE CLIMAT
CATASTROPHE WE ARE PACING, LEAV
TREES IN THE GROUND, PLEASE
ALLOW COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN '
LEGISLATION TO BE HEARD BY
VOTING THIS AFTERNOON TO PUT IT
ON THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRA
CALENDAR, THIS SIMPLE BILL WILL
PROTECT A SMALL UNIVERSE OF
CMTs FROM BEING HURT AND IT WIL
MAKE IT LOOK LIKE YOU, CITY
COUNCIL ARE BEING MORE
RESPONSIBLE TO THE TRIBES . AN
THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS , LIKE
MANY OF US, SEEKING TO PROTECT
SEATTLE'S DWINDLING TREE
PROTECTED EVEN THE SIERRA CLUB
HAS FINALLY COME AROUND TO
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE TREE
ORDINANCE NEEDS SOLVE AMENDING.
WE WOULD BE SO GRATEFUL FOR ANY
OF THE CITY COUNCILMEMBERS TO
DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT THE
TREES. THINK OF YOUR LEGACY. YO
HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY, NOT ONL
TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, BUT TO OU
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN TO D
ALL YOU CAN DO TO CARE FOR THE
EARTH THAT THEY WILL INHERIT.
ALL THE SCIENCE, NOT THE MONEY.
LISTEN TO YOUR CONSCIOUS, AND
NOT THE VOICE OF YOUR MASTER,
THE VOTERS DID THANK YOU.
>> GO AHEAD, BARBARA.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. THIS
IS BARBARA BENARD , CALLING TO
ASK FOR CONSIDERATION OF
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN 'S
LEGISLATION THAT PROTECTS
CULTURALLY-SIGNIFICANT TREES TO
BE PROTECTED. AND TO PUT THE
LEGISLATION, EXCUSE ME, ONTO TH
COUNCIL 'S INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR. WE WOULD BE
REALLY GRATEFUL TO ANY CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS TO DO THE RIGHT
THING THIS AFTERNOON TO SUPPORT
THE SEATTLE TREE CANOPY AND
INDIGENOUS TRIBES. INCLUDING
THE SNOQUALMIE TRIBE. THEY ARE
HELPING TO PROTECT CULTURALLY-
SIGNIFICANT TREES, WITH THE
HELP OF STATE LAW. THE PEOPLE
WHO SPOKE BEFORE ME SPOKE
ELOQUENTLY TO THE CONCERNS AND
THINK THAT THEY HAVE REALLY
COVERED ALL OF THE BASES IN
DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO. I WAN
CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER DOING
THE RIGHT THING TODAY. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME, TAKE CARE.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE KAREN,
FOLLOWED BY RICHARD. GO AHEAD,
KAREN.
>> MY NAME IS KAREN TAYLOR. I A
A MEMBER OF THE TRANSIT --
>> KAREN, YOU CUT OUT THERE.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS KAREN
TAYLOR, I AM A MEMBER OF THE
TRANSIT RIDERS UNION. I WALK
WITH A CANE. I AM CALLING IN
SUPPORT OF SIDEWALKS. IT IS NO
TIME TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
OUR SIDEWALKS, ALONG WITH THE
PRIVATE BENEFITS . PEOPLE USE
TRANSPORTATION. THAT LAST
LITTLE BIT IS ON THE SIDEWALK
THAT IF WE DO NOT HAVE THEM, WE
HAVE TO WALK IN TRAFFIC. IT IS
DANGEROUS. OR WE WALK OVER
SIDEWALKS THAT ARE ILL
MAINTAINED. PLEASE VOTE IN FAVO
OF SIDEWALKS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
RICHARD. GO AHEAD , RICHARD.
>> GOOD MORNING. THIS IS
RICHARD ELLISON, AND I LIVE IN
DISTRICT FOR AND I ALSO LIVE I
THE COMMUNITY OF WEDGEWOOD. AN
THERE WAS A TREE DISCOVERED
AND THE COMMUNITY HAD TO TRY T
PROTECT THIS TREE. IF IT WAS NO
FOR THE UPRIGHT DEVOTION OF THE
COMMUNITY TO SAVE THIS TREE, I
WOULD EXPECT THE TREE TO BE
GONE NOW. IT ALSO CAUGHT THE
ATTENTION OF THE TRIBES THAT
SPOKE UP TO SAY THAT IT WAS A
CULTURALLY-MODIFIED TREE. I
STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL
TO CLOSELY MONITOR
CULTURALLY-MODIFIED TREES , AND
I THINK FOR THE CITY COUNCIL,
AND AT THE BEGINNING OF ALMOST
EVERY CITY MEETING, TO SAY THAT
WE THINK THE LOCAL TRIBES FOR
GIVING THIS LAND TO THE CITY AN
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. AND THE
TO NOT SUPPORT CULTURALLY-MODIF
ED TREES WOULD BE A INDISTINCT
I RGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO DO
ALL THAT IT CAN TO PROTECT
CULTURALLY-MODIFIED TREES BY
SUPPORTING THIS ORDINANCE. I
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SUPPORT THE
ORDINANCE ABOUT SIDEWALK
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS AND
PRIORITIES. IT IS UNFORTUNATE
THAT SO MANY OF OUR STRAYS AND
COMMUNITIES DO NOT HAVE
SIDEWALKS AND THIS IS A DANGE
TO PEDESTRIANS. AND IT IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR SIDEWALK
TO BE MAINTAINED FOR
PEDESTRIANS. I WOULD SAY THERE
NEEDS TO BE A MODIFICATION IN
THAT, THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING
NOTED, AS SIDEWALKS ARE CREATED
OR MODIFIED, THAT ALL ACTIVITY
AND EFFORTS ARE MADE TO SAVE TH
TREES THAT ARE THERE, IN PLACE
. THESE TREE ROOTS MAYBE HAVING
AN IMPACT ON THE SIDEWALKS. I
WOULD URGE SOME SORT OF LANGUAG
TO PROTECT THE TREES IN SPITE
OF ALL THE CONSTRUCTION.
>> THANK YOU, OUR LAST SPEAKER
THOUGH AHEAD , FORMER
COUNCILMEMBER . WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING ,
COUNCILMEMBERS, I AM THE
GOVERNMENT DIRECTOR FOR SOUND
TRANSIT. I AM SPEAKING IN
APPRECIATION OF THE
COLLABORATION BETWEEN SDOT AND
ALL THOSE WHO USE TRANSPORTATIO
IN THE RAINIER VALLEY. IN 2020
THERE WAS A MULTIYEAR EFFORT T
ENHANCE THINGS FOR ALL USERS I
THE MLK CORRIDOR ART. AND TH
EFFORT HAS BEEN LED ON THIS
MULTIYEAR EFFORT TO ENHANCE
SAFETY. SOUND TRANSIT 2021 LEA
A ROBUST COMMUNITY EFFORT AND
THEY HAD CONCERNS RELATED TO
SOUND TRANSIT, AND WE ARE
IMPLEMENTING NEAR,
INTERMEDIATE, AND LONG-TERM
ENHANCEMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN , AND COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, INC. YOU FOR
CHALLENGING US TO BETTER SERVE
OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, IN-PERSON
SPEAKERS, WELCOME. WE WILL GO
BY THE LIST THAT IS FILLED OUT
HERE. GO AHEAD. AND PULL THAT
MICROPHONE REALLY CLOSE. EITHE
ONE SHOULD WORK. YEAH.
>> THIS IS WORKING? THANK YOU,
CHAIR PEDERSEN. I AM A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 3 AND I
LIVE ON MLK WAY BETWEEN JUNIO
AND TERRY STREETS, THEY ARE
AFFECTED BY THE DANGER POSED BY
FAST-MOVING CARS. LEVELS OF
TRAFFIC NOISE ARE LIMITED AT
80 DECIBELS . THIS DIRECTLY
IMPACTS THE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS
FOR EXAMPLE THROUGH THE CRISP
QUALITY. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST
RACIALLY-DIVERSE AREAS,
HIGHLIGHTING EQUITY CONCERNS.
AM ASKING YOU TO TAKE MEASURES
THAT WILL TAKE MEASURES.
DECREASE THE EFFECTS OF NOISE
POLLUTION. IN 2020, THE COUNCIL
WISELY VOTED TO LOWER THE SPEE
LIMIT TO 25 MILES PER HOUR BUT
UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NO LONGER
ENFORCED, NOR ADHERED TO. SPEE
BUMPS ARE PEDESTRIAN
CROSSWALKS WOULD REDUCE THE
AVERAGE SPEED OF CARS. THE POOR
CONDITIONS OF THE ROAD PAVEMENT
MAKES THE TRAFFIC VIBRATIONS
EVEN LOUDER THAN UNDER NORMAL
CIRCUMSTANCES. THE STREET BADL
NEEDS REPAVING. PASSERSBY ON
MLK WILL BENEFIT. I HAVE TRIED
TO CONTACT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, WHO IS UNFORTUNATELY NO
HERE TODAY. WE WANT HER TO AC
ON THIS AND MAKE IT PART OF HER
LEGACY, BEFORE SHE RETIRES. TAK
EFFORTS TO REDUCE CAR SPEED AN
CAR POLLUTION ON MLK JR. WAY.
>> NEXT .
>> HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME ?
>> ONE MOMENT.
>> NO WORRIES. IS THIS THE
RIGHT ONE? I AM MIKE TAYLOR.
ONLINE, I AM A BIKE
INFLUENCER. I WAS NOT PLANNING
TO COME HERE, BUT I WANTED TO
ADDRESS PEOPLE ON THE CYCLING
ADVISORY BOARD WHO ARE RECEIVIN
THEIR APPOINTMENTS. SOMETHING
THAT I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH,
WITH THE CYCLING COMMUNITY ARE
E-BIKES , WHICH HAVE MADE BIKIN
FAR MORE ACCESSIBLE. YOU SEE
THEM ALL OVER THE TRAILS, IT IS
A WONDERFUL THING. ANOTHER CITY
SING A HUGE BOOM IN E-BIKES I
NEW YORK CITY. THEY HAVE SEEN
HIGHER THAN 54 E-BIKE FIRES IN
THEIR CITY, WHICH HAS LED TO 14
DEBTS. THEY HAVE BEEN REACTIVE
IN APPLYING LEGISLATION TO
E-BIKE BATTERIES, TO ENSURE THA
THEY MEET FIRE SAFETY STATUTES
I AM ASKING THE COUNCILMEMBERS
TO REVIEW WHAT NEW YORK HAS
DONE, SO THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO
BE REACTIVE TO ISSUES, AS THEY
ARISE. WHAT GOT ME DOWN, A BIKE
BATTERY EXPLODED IN A
LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY IN THE
AREA. I THANK YOU FOR LETTING
ME SPEAK. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE LYNN.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
LYNN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BRINGING UP THIS LEGISLATION.
AM WITH THE NATIONAL FEDERATIO
OF THE BLIND, AND I AM ALSO
HERE TO SUPPORT THE DISABILITY
INITIATIVE. THANK YOU ,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, FOR
BEING HERE , AND SUPPORTING THE
DISABILITIES COMMUNITY. I KNOW
THAT I HAVE HAD MANY TALKS TO
YOU ABOUT SIDEWALK ISSUES AND
SAFETY. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY MORALES FO
PROVIDING THIS LEGISLATION. I
AM VERY MUCH A DEPENDENT
PERSON. I WALKED THREE HOURS
DAY TO TRY TO TRANSPORT MYSELF
ON BUSES
FRIENDS OFTENTIMES HAVE
DIFFICULTIES INTERACTING,
BECAUSE WE ARE SO FRUSTRATED,
WITH SHARING OUR SIDEWALKS
WITH OTHERS WHO ARE NON-
PEDESTRIAN , E-BIKES, SIDEWALK
GRADES, DID IS REALLY HARD TO
GET UP THERE AND WALK. EVERY
YEAR, I CARRY THESE AROUND SO
THAT I CAN BE MOBILE AND
INDEPENDENT. I AM VERY MUCH
PLEASED THAT WE CAN ADDRESS TH
SIDEWALK ISSUE , AS IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT FOR UNIVERSAL
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE MAY NOT
BE ALL ABLE. BUT WE ARE ABLE TO
GET AROUND. SO, THE ISSUES OF
DISABILITY , IT IS NOT THE ISSU
OF NOT BEING THERE, BUT OF
SUPPORTING EACH OTHER. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE
CECELIA BLACK, FOLLOWED BY
NOAH. GO AHEAD, CECELIA.
>> MY NAME IS CECELIA BLACK AN
I AM A DISTRICT 4 RESIDENT , A
QUADRIPLEGIC, AND I HAVE
MOBILITY ISSUES. I AM URGING TO
SUPPORT THE SIDEWALK ORDINANCE
I LIVE TWO BLOCKS FROM THE NEW
ROOSEVELT LIGHT RAIL STATION,
AND WITHIN FOUR BLOCKS OF
SEVERAL MAJOR BUS LINES. I HAVE
WATCHED THE BUS CORNER TRANSFOR
WITH ADDED CENTER LANES, BIKE
LANES, AND NEW BUS STOPS. EVERY
SINGLE BUS STOP, LIGHT RAIL AN
PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT ARE
SEPARATED BY LONG STRETCHES OF
BROKEN SIDEWALKS THAT ARE
INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO NAVIGAT
IN A WHEELCHAIR. I AM FORCED T
USE THE BICYCLE LANE. ROOSEVEL
IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF A WAY T
CREATE A SAFE, COHESIVE
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR PEDESTRIANS AN
WHY WE NEED THIS LEGISLATION.
THERE ARE SERIOUS LIMITATIONS
FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
WITHOUT SIDEWALKS, WE CANNOT
ACCESS THINGS LIKE PUBLIC
TRANSIT. SIDEWALKS ARE A PROVE
SAFETY MEASURE TO REDUCE
COLLISIONS. HE SAID THAT PEOPL
OF DISABILITIES ACCOUNTED FOR
53% OF PEOPLE KILLED IN TRAFFIC
INCIDENCE. WHEN WE INVEST IN
ROADS WITHOUT SIDEWALKS, WE NOT
ONLY CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE
ROADS WITHOUT CARS, WE BUILD A
DANGEROUS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
THAT TAKES US FURTHER AWAY FRO
OUR VISION ZERO AND CLIMATE
GOALS. IF WE WANT TO TRULY CAR
ABOUT TRAFFIC FATALITIES, WE
HAVE TO REFRAME HOW WE VIEW
SIDEWALKS AND TREAT THEM AS A
VITAL ELEMENT OF THE TRANSIT
SYSTEM. THIS ORDINANCE IS A VER
IMPORTANT FIRST STEP. THANK YOU
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE
NOAH. GO AHEAD, AND WELCOME
BACK.
>> THANK YOU, HEY THERE, I AM A
NOAH, ON BEHALF OF OF THE
COMMUNITY OF SADDLE, TESTIFYING
ON THE BILL RELATING TO
SIDEWALKS. IT MAKES IT EASY FOR
PEOPLE TO GET OUT OF THEIR CARS
AND WALK, BIKE RIDE, AND ROLL
THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND THIS
LEGISLATION SUPPORTS THAT GOAL.
ONE OF THE WAYS WE DO THIS IS
THROUGH OUR 2022 SURVEY, LAST
FALL WE TALKED TO 1 IN 10
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE AND ASKED THE
HOW THEY ARE GETTING AROUND THE
CITY, POST-PANDEMIC. WHEN YOU
MAP THE DATA OUT, YOU CAN SEE
WHERE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS
ADEQUATE AND WHERE IT IS
LACKING. WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE
PEOPLE ARE WALKING IN THE CITY
IT CORRELATES VERY STRONGLY TO
PLACES WHERE WE KNOW WE HAVE
SIDEWALK NORTH OF 85th, FOLKS
ARE NOT WALKING AT THE SAME
RATES SOUTH OF 85th. IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT, AGAIN, THAT W
BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE. WE AR
SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING FOLKS OUT
OF THEIR CARS. IF WE ARE
SERIOUS ABOUT CLIMATE, SAFETY,
AND EQUITY GOALS, WE HAVE TO
EXPAND AND MAINTAIN SIDEWALK
NETWORKS. THIS IS WHAT THE
LEGISLATION WILL HELP US DO. ON
A SEPARATE NOTE, I WOULD LIKE T
MENTION THE TRANSIT ADVISORY
BOARD APPOINTMENTS. SHE IS UP
FOR THE TRANSIT ADVISORY
BOARD, SHE WILL BE AN INCREDIBL
ASSET. WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE
HER START SERVING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, GOOD MORNING,
EVERYONE. I DIRECT THE
DISABILITY INITIATIVE, WE ARE
PROGRAM OF DISABILITY RIGHTS
WASHINGTON. I AM TESTIFYING IN
SUPPORT OF THE SIDEWALK
ORDINANCE. WE STARTED WORKING O
THIS POLICY SOLUTION LAST SPRIN
IN A WORKGROUP THAT INCLUDED
MIKE McGINN, THE DIRECTOR NOW O
AMERICA WATTS, SAM, LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECT, SMART BOOTH
AMERICAS, THE COMPLETE STREETS
PROGRAM, COMMUTE SEATTLE, THANK
YOU, NOAH, FOR BEING THERE. AND
, SO, THE POLICY THAT WE CAME U
WITH, WE WORKED ON IT, IN
ADDITION TO THAT GROUP, WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES '
OFFICE, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF
THE WORK. THIS IS A POLICY
SOLUTION THAT IS GOING TO WORK
FOR EVERYONE. WE HAVE CIRCULATE
IT TO A GROUP OF ADVOCATES IN
THE CITY WHO HAVE SIGNED ON IN
SUPPORT. YOU HAVE HEARD FROM
AMERICA WATTS, B SEATTLE,
CASCADE BICYCLE CLUB, DAVID
MILLER, A CERTIFIED ORIENTATIO
AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST AT THE
WHITE HOUSE, EMPOWER MOVEMENT,
AND THEY ARE A NEW BIPOC
DISABILITY GROUP THAT IS
COHOSTED BY DISABILITY AND
MOBILITY ISSUE, THE FIRST,
TRANSIT RIDERS UNION,
TRANSPORTATION CHOICES
COALITION, AND THE URBANIST.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, FOR RECOGNIZING THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS IN ADVANCE O
THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY. THE
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION LEVY
FUNDING CONVERSATION. WE HOPE
THAT COUNCIL WILL SUPPORT THIS
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION SO THAT W
CAN MAKE OUR CITY ACCESSIBLE FO
EVERYONE. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE GORDON, FOLLOWE
BY ERIN. GO AHEAD, GORDON. IT'
BEEN A GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
GORDON. I AM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOO
GREENWAYS WE WANT TO MAKE EVER
NEIGHBORHOOD A SAFE PLACE TO
WALK, BIKE, AND LIVE. I JUST
WANT TO SHARE MY GRATITUDE TO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS , FOR TH
WORK TO GET SIDEWALK SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS INTO THE 15th
AVENUE REPAVING PROJECT. I THIN
THAT IS A REALLY PRIME EXAMPLE
OF THE WAY YOU SHOULD NOT DO%
THINGS. IT SHOULD NOT REQUIRE
LAST-MINUTE LEADERSHIP TO LIMIT
SIDEWALK SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AN
MAJOR REPAVING PROJECTS, THIS
IS A $16 MILLION REPAVING
ADEQUATE TO HONOR SOMETHING
ABOUT THE NEXT LEVY, AS WE ARE
SCOPING THESE PROJECTS, WE NEED
TO THINK ABOUT THE WHOLE
RIGHT-OF-WAY. WE ARE NOT
THINKING CURB- TO-CURB, WE ARE
THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE DRIVING,
WALKING, AND ROLLING. WE ARE
RIPPING UP THE ENTIRE STREET.
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE EXPECT U
TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO
WALK AND ROLL TO WHERE THEY
NEED TO GO. THIS IS IMPORTANT,
AND WE ARE THRILLED THAT YOU AL
ARE PUSHING FORWARD AT A
CRITICAL TIME. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, AARON, FOLLOWED BY OUR
LAST SPEAKER, MADELEINE JONES.
>> FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS
ERIN EMMA AND I APPRECIATE YOU
LISTENING TO MY WORDS TODAY. I
AM IN ABSOLUTE POSITIVITY ABOU
THIS ORDINANCE ABOUT SIDEWALKS
AND I THINK , FOR ME, IT COMES
DOWN TO CONSISTENCY ON THREE
LEVELS. FIRST, WHEN I AM WALKIN
WITH FERNS, AND WE SEE A
SIDEWALK IN DISREPAIR, WE SAY,
THE CITY REALLY NEEDS TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I SAY, IT
IS NOT THAT SIMPLE. THEY SAY,
EXPLAIN IT TO ME.
>> I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO EXPLAI
IT TO THEM BECAUSE IT IS SO
CONFUSING. THE CITY, I THINK,
MAY BE THERE MUST BE SOME
CONSISTENT WAY OF THINGS BEING
SMOOTHLY TAKEN CARE OF.
SECONDLY, AFTER OUR PROJECTS
ARE FINISHED , THEY FILL OUT
ALL OF THE FORMS AND THE ABA
LAWS. DO NOT FORGET THAT I SAID
THE WORD LAW. IT SHOULD BE A
SPECIFICATION FOR SIDEWALKS , E
CETERA, FOR ONE, I HAVE HEARD
FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE
BUSINESS, THEY HAVE A LOT OF
EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULES.
A.K.A., LOOPHOLES. WHEN
SOMEONE IS PUTTING IN A
RESTAURANT AND THEY NEED A HOOD
FAN FOR A PARTICULAR REASON,
ARE THERE LOOPHOLES THAT ARE? I
DO NOT THINK SO. AND THERE
SHOULD NOT BE FOR THESE A.V.A
LAWS AS WELL. I WOULD HATE TO
BE HIT BY A CAR THAT COULD NOT
HIT ME, BECAUSE I HAD TO GO HAL
A BLOCK TO FIND THE CORRECT
CUTOUT, I WOULD CONSISTENTLY
LIKE TO COME HOME UNINJURED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST SPEAKER
IS MADELEINE JONES.
>> HELLO. I AM HERE TO SPEAK
ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY
FRIENDS WHO COULD NOT BE HERE
TODAY. I AM DISABLED, I AM PAR
OF THE DISABILITIES COMMUNITY
IN SEATTLE AND I HAVE WORKED AS
A CAREGIVER IN THE CITY. I AM
DISABLED, BUT I AM PRIVILEGED
TO NOT RELY ON MOBILITY AIDS TO
GET AROUND IT AS A CAREGIVER, I
WOULD COMMUTE REGULARLY ACROSS
THE CITY ON FOOT AND ON PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION WITH MY CLIENT,
SHE USED A WHEELCHAIR, WE WERE
FREQUENTLY IN DANGER OF INJURY
AND DEATH DUE TO INACCESSIBLE
SIDEWALKS. ACROSS THE STREET OR
GET AROUND DAMAGED OR MISSING
PATCHES OF SIDEWALK, YOU WOULD
HAVE TO WALK DOWN BUSY STREETS
ALONGSIDE FAST CARS, WHEN
TRAVELING ON SIDEWALKS, LITTERE
WITH POTHOLES, SHE WOULD BE
SHAKEN AS SHE WAS PUSHED OVER
THEM, DUE TO BUMPY STREETS AND
SIDEWALKS, I HAVE KNOWN PEOPLE
TO LITERALLY LOSE WHEELS OFF OF
THEIR CHAIRS, IF THEY WERE
ALONE, LEAVING THEM STRANDED AN
POTENTIALLY INJURED, MY CLIENT
AND I WERE LUCKY IN THESE
SITUATIONS TO HAVE EACH OTHER.
THERE ARE MANY INDEPENDENT ,
DISABLED ADULTS WHO WOULD BE
TRAPPED IF, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY
CROSSED THE STREET AND THE
SIDEWALK ON THE OTHER SIDE WAS
TOO DAMAGED TO GET UP. CARS ARE
RUTHLESS KILLING MACHINES FOR
PEOPLE WHO CANNOT GET AWAY FROM
THEM. THAT IS WHY I CONSIDER
MYSELF PRIVILEGED , NOT GETTING
RUN OVER IN THE STREET, DUE TO
THE CITY'S NEGLIGENCE, NOT
LOSING A WHEEL , BEING STUCK
ALONE AND IN DANGER, JUST
BECAUSE YOU NEED TO LEAVE THE
HOUSE, LIKE EVERY OTHER PERSON
IN THE CITY, ANY ACTION IN THIS
SITUATION WILL CAUSE DEATHS. BY
DOING NOTHING, THE CITY WILL BE
MAKING ITSELF A DANGEROUS PLAC
FOR ITS MOST STATISTICALLY-VUL
ERABLE CITIZENS. ALL WE ASK FO
IS EQUALITY AND WE CANNOT HAVE
THAT WITH BROKEN SIDEWALKS.
>> COLLEAGUES, THAT CONCLUDES
OUR LIST OF SPEAKERS FROM THE
GENERAL PUBLIC. WE WILL GO AHEA
AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. AND WE WILL MOOT OUR
FIRST AGENDA ITEM. WILL BE
CLERK PLEASE READ THE FULL
TITLE INTO THE RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BELL 120657, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO RATES AN
CHARGES FOR WATER SERVICES OF
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES,
REVISING WATER RATES AND
CHARGES, AND CREDITS TO
LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS, AND
AMENDING SECTIONS 21 . 04. 430
OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> LAST MEETING, THEY WALK US
THROUGH THE PROPOSED RATE.
SEATTLE UTILITIES WALKS WITHIN
A RATE SET BY THE RESOLUTION,
FOR WATER, SOLID WASTE, AND
WASTEWATER. TODAY, WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE WATER,
DRINKING WATER, WE TYPICALLY SE
AN INCREASE IN THOSE RATES EVER
YEAR , THE RATE INCREASE THAT
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES IS
PROPOSING , HOWEVER, IS
SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN
EXPECTED, WHEN COMPARED TO THE
CURRENT APPROVED RATE PATH, AN
IT IS WELL BELOW THE RATE OF
INFLATION, I AM REALLY PROUD OF
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES FOR
HEATING THE CALLS TO PRIORITIZE
LOW RATES AND MANAGE COSTS. I
WANT TO THANK THE CUSTOMER
REVIEW PANEL FOR THEIR STEADFAS
PANELS IN MONITORING THE COST
AND RATES AT SPU . I BELIEVE W
HAVE WITH US, OUR CITY COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF, THE ANALYST
BRIAN GOODNIGHT. AND HE CAN
WALK US THROUGH A REVIEW OF TH
LEGISLATION HE DID, BEFORE WE
HAVE THE FINAL VOTE THAT I WANT
THE BANK BRIAN GOODNIGHT FOR
HIS ANALYSIS WORK ON THIS. AND
HIS MEMO, WHICH IS ATTACHED TO
THE AGENDA. WITH THAT, I WILL
TURN IT OVER TO BRIAN GOODNIGHT
>> GOOD MORNING ,
COUNCILMEMBERS. AS YOU SAID,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN,
COUNCIL BELL 120657 WOULD
REVISE RATES FROM 2024 THROUGH
2026. I WILL NOT WALK THROUGH M
ENTIRE MEMO, BUT I WANT TO TOUC
ON A FEW HIGHLIGHTS, THE COUNCI
TYPICALLY CONSIDERS
RATE-SETTING LEGISLATION EACH
YEAR, THIS IS THE YEAR FOR THE
WATER RATES. DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC, THE PREVIOUS CYCLE WA
INTERRUPTED, THAT LED TO THE
MOST RECENT UPDATE IN 2021,
RATHER THAN IN 2020. THE SPU
WATER SYSTEM IS PRIMARILY
SUPPORTED IN THREE WAYS. FIRST
BY RATES CHARGED TO RESIDENTIA
CUSTOMERS, COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS
AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
CUSTOMERS. THIS GROUP MAKES UP
THE LARGEST PORTION, ABOUT 75%,
AND THESE RATES ARE THE SUBJECT
OF TODAY IS LEGISLATION.
WHOLESALE WATER CONTRACTS WITH
NEARBY CITIES AND WATER
DISTRICTS. THESE ARE TYPICALLY
OWNED BY THOSE WHO OWN THEIR OW
ASSETS AND RELAY ON THE
TOP-RATE REVENUE SYSTEM,
FINALLY, THAT REMAINING RATE
CONSIST OF MISCELLANEOUS RATE
REVENUES, THESE ARE COVERING ,
TO MAKE SURE THAT SU , SPO IS
COMPLIANT. IN TERMS OF PROPOSED
RATES , RETAIL RIGHTS ARE
INCREASED FOR THE NEXT THREE
YEARS, 2024, 2025, AND 2026.
THESE RATES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY
BELOW THE SPU STRATEGIC 2021
BUSINESS PLAN, WHICH ESTIMATED
THAT THE INCREASES FOR THOSE
YEARS WOULD FALL BETWEEN 3.5%
AND 5.5% EACH YEAR. AS DESCRIBE
AT THE LAST MEETING, THE
PRIMARY DRIVER IS THE REDUCED
SPENDING ON CAPITAL EXPENSES.
SPU HAD SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS OVE
THE FIRST THREE YEARS, AND THE
DEPARTMENT EXPECTS THOSE RATES
TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT IS
IN IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS AS
WELL. ADDITIONALLY, SPO WAS ABL
TO REFINANCE EXISTING RATES,
RESULTING IN ANNUAL DEBT
SERVICING SAVINGS. I WANTED TO
BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE
DISCUSSIONS ON RATES THAT
OCCURS ON PAGE 4. THEY HAVE
DISCUSSED MANAGEMENT POLICIES,
SUCH AS THE DEBT SERVICE
COVERAGE REQUIRED, AND THE
PERCENTAGE TO BE FUNDED WITH
TASK, AND A MINIMUM CASH
BALANCE TO BE KEPT ON HAND.
TYPICALLY, RETAIL WATER RATES
ARE SET TO GENERATE A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF REVENUE TO SATISFY AL
OF THE FINANCIAL POLICIES. WIT
THE RATE INCREASE PROPOSAL IN
COUNCIL BELL 120657, SPU IS
RECOMMENDING RATE INCREASES WIT
THE INTENTION OF SMOOTHING
RATES OVER A LONGER TIME. IT I
USED TO REDUCE RATE VOLATILITY,
INCREASING RATES ABOVE THE A
MINIMUM, ALLOWING FUTURE RATES
TO BE LOWERED THEN THEY WOULD
NORMALLY NEED TO BE. IN THIS
INSTANCE, APPROVAL OF THE
PROPOSED RATE INCREASE , WOULD
GENERATE THAT DURING THE
THREE-YEAR PERIOD. ONE WAY
WOULD BE TO MAINTAIN A CASH
BALANCE THAT EXCEEDS FINANCIAL
TARGETS. TWO, TO INCREASE CASH
FINANCING OF THE CAPITOL
PROGRAM. WITH REGARDS TO THE
CASH BALANCE, THE GOAL IS TO
RETAIN 120 DAYS OF OPERATING
EXPENSES IN THE WATER FUN, FOR
2024, THAT WOULD BE
APPROXIMATELY $67 MILLION. THE
PROPOSED RATE PACKAGE WOULD HAV
SPU MAINTAINING A BALANCE OF
$110 MILLION FOR ALL THREE
YEARS. EXCESS REVENUE WOULD
INCREASE CASH FINANCING BY
APPROXIMATELY $31.5 MILLION
OVER THE THREE-YEAR THERE TOO
AND REDUCING THE NEED TO BORRO
FOR PROJECTS, ULTIMATELY
LOWERING OVERALL PROJECT COSTS
CASH FINANCING OF THE PROGRAM
COULD BE INCREASED EVEN FURTHER
BUT SPU EXPECTS BY THE END OF
THE DECADE, RATES COULD BE
INCREASED TO KEEP UP WITH
CAPITAL SPENDING, IF CASH IS NO
KEPT ON HAND TO BUFFER. LASTLY,
JUST IN TERMS OF THE FINANCIAL
IMPACTS FOR THE CITY, THE
PROPOSAL WOULD GENERATE ALMOST
$4.4 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL
REVENUE IN 2024. DUE TO THE
IMPOSITION OF A CITY TAX, THE
GENERAL FUND IS ESTIMATED TO
RECEIVE ADDITIONAL REVENUE IN
2024. SIMILARLY, INCREASES
WOULD BE EXPECTED IN 2025 AND
'26. IF THE COMMITTEE REMAINS
PASSIVE, IT COULD TAKE PLACE AT
THE SEPTEMBER 26th MEETING. I A
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ANALYSIS
OF THIS, BRIAN. AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE CMTs KEEPING THESE
RATES LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED
COLLEAGUES, AND HE COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ? THIS IS THE SECOND
TIME THAT WE HAVE HEARD THIS
PROPOSED ORDINANCE. WE WOULD
LIKE TO VOTE OUT OF COMMITTEE
TODAY. AGAIN, IT IS RELATIVELY
POSITIVE NEWS SINCE THE RATE I
LOWER THAN WHAT WE PREVIOUSLY
APPROVED AND WE HAD A GOOD
PRESENTATION LAST TIME FROM
SPU, AND THOSE AVAILABLE FOR
AVAILABLE ON LINE. NEXT
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th , THE
NEXT MEETING. I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE READY TO GO.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FOR BRIAN GOODNIGHT,
OR FOR SPU ? YES,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES ?
>> I WAS NOT HERE AT THE LAST
MEETING, BRIAN, COULD YOU REVIE
SLIDE EIGHT, THAT IS THE
REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES SLIDE,
PLEASE JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT, ABOUT -- JUST REALLY,
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE THE
REVENUE COMES FROM AND WHAT
KINDS OF THINGS WE SPEND IT ON
AND WHAT RESTRICTIONS THERE MAY
BE, WITH FUNDING GOING INTO THE
GENERAL FUND. AS WE MOVE INTO
THE LARGER BUDGET CONVERSATION
FOR THE CITY, I AM TRYING TO GE
SOME CLARITY ABOUT OUR DIFFEREN
UTILITIES AND WHAT FUNDING IS
RESTRICTED, BASED UPON THOSE
SERVICES .
>> SURE, THANKS. I WILL TAKE A
ATTEMPT AT ANSWERING THAT
QUESTION AND THE FINANCE
MANAGER TO SPU IS ALSO ON THE
LINE. I CAN BRING SLIDE NUMBER
EIGHT UP ON THE SCREEN, FOR
THOSE WHO DID NOT SEE IT MAYBE,
LAST TIME. JUST A MOMENT,
PLEASE. HOPEFULLY, YOU ARE ALL
ABLE TO SEE THIS NOW.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THIS IS SHOWING 2022
REVENUE AND THE PROTECTED
EXPENDITURES ON THE RIGHT SIDE
OF THE SCREEN, THE KIND OF
PERIOD THROUGH 2026, AS YOU CA
SEE. WHAT I WAS DESCRIBING, THE
TWO BLUE TRIANGLES ON THE OTHE
SIDE, THOSE ARE BOTH PART OF TH
RETAIL REVENUES THAT CMTs
RECEIVES. 71% , OVERALL, THAT I
CHARGED TO BUSINESSES,
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES,
MULTIFAMILY, ALL OF THAT,
INCLUDED. AND WHOLESALE
REVENUES, THAT IS WHAT THE CITY
SELLS TO OTHER DISTRICTS THAT
OPERATE NEARBY. THE SMALLER
SLICE THAT YOU SEE IN THE
CORNER, THE PRIVATE FIRE,
PUBLIC FIRE, PUBLIC FIRE, FIRE
HYDRANTS FOR BOTH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND NEARBY
JURISDICTIONS, AND PRIVATE FIRE
IS FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS
ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, THOSE
COSTS ARE IN ADDITION TO THE
TYPICAL RATES, YOU PLAY THE
PRIVATE BUYER ON TOP OF IT. AN
KIND OF, THOSE, THOSE NON-RATE
REVENUES, FEES, THAT SORT OF
THING, ALL OF THIS REVENUE IS
RESTRICTED. IT CAN ONLY BE USED
FOR OPERATION OF THE WATER
SYSTEM, UTILITY TAX, THE CITY
HAS AUTHORIZED THESE CHARGES,
IT DOESN'T FOR POWER, SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT, DRAINAGE, AND FOR
SOLID WASTE , AS WELL. THE CITY
TAXES THE RETAIL REVENUE, JUST
THE BLUE PORTIONS OF THE CHART
AT 15.54%. AND THAT MONEY WILL
GO INTO THE GENERAL FUND, THIS
IS THE CITY OF SEATTLE, TAXING
THE UTILITY, ALSO PRIVATE
UTILITY OPERATORS, THE UTILITY
OPERATED IS THE CITY, ONE FUND
PAYING THE OTHER FUND, YOU WILL
SEE ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, THI
AMOUNT, THAT PORTION IS MONEY
THAT IS GOING TO EITHER THE
STATE OR THE CITY GENERAL FUND
IT WOULD NOT BE USED FOR
OPERATION OF THE LARGER SYSTEM,
IT WOULD BE USED FOR THE ONES
THAT GO TO THE CITY AND THE RES
ARE USED , JUST FOR THE
OPERATION OF THE WATER SYSTEM.
AND, CARL, I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO ANY OF
THAT.
>> KNOW. I THINK YOU ALREADY
COVERED IT WELL. THANKS, BRIAN!
>> THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU,
BRIAN, I APPRECIATE IT.
>> I GIVE COLLEAGUES, ANY MORE
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, WE HOPE
TO VOTE ON THIS RIGHT NOW.
OKAY. OKAY. WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND VOTE ON THIS AND WE WILL BE
SENDING IT TO THE FULL CITY WIL
ON SEPTEMBER 26th. I WILL DO
THE PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE.
COUNCILMEMBERS, I NOW MOVE THAT
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
PASSAGE, ITEM NUMBER ONE , ON
OUR AGENDA. IS THERE A SECOND.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED , ANY FINAL
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, BEFORE W
MOVE TO A VOTE? OKAY. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL,
ON THE RECOMMENDATION TO PASS
THE BILL? COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN ?
>> YES.
>> THREE IN FAVOR.
>> IT WILL GO TO THE SEPTEMBER
26th COUNCIL MEETING, THANK YOU
AGAIN TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND
TO BRIAN GOODNIGHT. NOW THAT I
HAS BEEN SAFELY MOVED ON, A
QUICK, 30- SECOND BILL, WE HAVE
TO REPEAL THE TAX THAT THE
GOVERNMENT CHARGES. I THINK
THAT IS ABOUT $40 MILLION PER
YEAR, SO THAT WILL HELP ALSO T
BRING THESE BILLS DOWN FURTHER
IF WE WANT TO BRING THESE DOWN
AS EARLY AS THE REVIEW PROCESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
FULL TITLE OF THE SECOND AGENDA
ITEM INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 2, COUNCIL BIL
120661, AN ORDINANCE RELATING
TO SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
UPDATING THE SOLID WASTE CODE T
ESTABLISH AN ADMINISTRATIVE
ENFORCEMENT PROCESS USING
NOTICES OF VIOLATION ADDING A
NEW SECTION TO THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE, AND AMENDING
SECTIONS 21.3 6.420 , 21.3
6.920, AND 21.3 6.922 OF THE
SEATTLE INVISIBLE BOAT.
>> THIS IS AIMED AT HELPING
CURB ILLEGAL DUMPING, AND
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES IS
PROPOSING A PROCESS AND FEE
SCHEDULE TO ADDRESS THIS. THAN
YOU IN ADVANCE,
COUCIL@SEATTLE.GOV, IN ADVANCE
FOR YOUR REVIEW. BRIAN, DO YOU
HAVE ANY OPENING REMARKS, BEFOR
WE TURN IT OVER TO SPU?
>> I DO NOT. I AM HAPPY TO TUR
IT OVER AND LET THEM CONTINUE
WITH THIS PRESENTATION.
>> I DO THINK THAT WE HAVE OUR
PRESENTERS , GOOD MORNING.
>> HELLO, GOOD MORNING, CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS. TODAY, WE ARE
HERE TO GET A VOTE ON THE CODE
UPDATE, AND THAT CODE, THAT IS
IT WILL BE UP IN A SECOND. AS
WE ARE WAITING FOR THAT TO COME
UP, I WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE
BIT OF A BACKGROUND, THIS IS TO
REVIEW COUNCIL BILL 120661,
THERE HAS BEEN ALARMING
STATISTICS TO TELL THE FOLLOWIN
STORIES, IT HAS BEEN A 300%
INCREASE IN ILLEGAL DUMPING, IN
2009, THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY
5000 ILLEGAL DUMPING
INCIDENCES. IN 2022, IT
SKYROCKETED TO OVER 22,000, THI
TREND IS UNSUSTAINABLE. AND IT
REQUIRES THEM TO REDO THE FINE
AND SCHEDULES, TO MAKE THEM MOR
EFFECTIVE. OUR MECHANISMS OFTEN
FALL SHORT, LEADING TO A HIGHE
INCREASE IN ILLEGAL DUMPING OVE
THE YEARS. I WANT TO LEAD WITH
EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT, BY
IMPOSING THESE PENALTIES, WE
COULD EMPHASIZE THE SERIOUSNES
OF ILLEGAL DUMPING AND THE
IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. WE
WILL TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED
CHANGES, UPDATING SOME OF THE
LANGUAGE IN THE BILL, AND
TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
NOTICE OF VIOLATION PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU. SO, PART OF THE
CHANGES THAT SPU , THEY DO NOT
CURRENTLY HAVE AN EFFECTIVE
PROPOSAL MECHANISM. IT GIVES
THEM A NEW ENFORCEMENT TOOL BY
ISSUING NOTICES OF VIOLATIONS
AND PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL
DUMPING. THE CODE ENFORCEMENT
PROVISION RELIES ON PRACTICE, I
RELIES ON INFRACTIONS TO BE
APPLIED BY SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE. IT ALLOWS A TOOL THAT SP
IS EFFECTIVELY USING WITHOUT
HAVING TO ISSUE TICKETS OR REL
ON THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT.
BY USING EDUCATION TO DETER
ILLEGAL DUMPING. THE PROPOSAL
WILL CONDUCT , ESTABLISH, WE
COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, TO
THE ENFORCED PROCESS, CMTs WIL
CONDUCT A PROGRAM WITH ONE OF
THE ILLEGAL DUMPING INSPECTORS
AND ISSUE A NOTICE OF VIOLATIO
A NOTICE OF VIOLATION REQUIRES
PHOTOGRAPH OF THE VEHICLE
LICENSE PLATE WITH THREE OR MOR
ITEM NUMBERS. IT HAS BEEN USED
IN OTHER DOCUMENTATION
REQUIREMENTS, AND IT WILL BE
USED TO REVIEW AN ISSUE TO THE
RESPONSIBLE PARTY, IF WE DO NOT
HAVE THOSE, OR A PICTURE OF THE
VEHICLE, THIS WILL BE KIND OF
LIKE A LETTER. A LETTER THAT I
RECEIVED. IF WE HAVE ALL OF TH
HARD FACTS OF WHO WE BELIEVE AR
THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES OR
THOSE IDENTIFIED DURING THE
INVESTIGATION, THE NOTICE OF
VIOLATION WILL BE SENT. WHAT WE
REALLY WANT IS A DIALOGUE. IF I
IS A FIRST OFFENSE AND NOT
EGREGIOUS, WE WILL WORK WITH
THEM AND GIVE THEM A WARNING.
OUR GOAL IS EDUCATION FIRST,
ENFORCEMENT AS NEEDED. DOING
NOTHING HAS INCREASED ILLEGAL
COMPLAINTS FROM 2009 2/27,000
REPORTS IN 2022, JUST UNDER
ONE MILLION POUNDS OF ILLEGAL
DUMPING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. NEX
SLIDE, PLEASE. SO, THE CURRENT
PENALTIES, THE CURRENT PENALTIE
ARE COMPLICATED AND CONFUSING
THE CODE CHANGES AND
SIMPLIFIES THESE , AS THEY ARE
MUCH EASIER TO ENFORCE. THE FEE
, LET ME GET THERE. THE FEES AR
UNCLEAR. THEY ARE NOT OFTEN
UTILIZED. THEY ARE OUTDATED.
THEY USE CUBIC FEET. WE DO NOT
USE CUBIC FEET, WE USE POUNDS ,
WHICH IS EASIER TO INTERPRET. I
IS CHALLENGING TO ENFORCE. THE
NOTICE OF VIOLATION PROCESS
THAT WE ARE ADDING IS A PROVEN
ENFORCEMENT TO THOSE RULES BY
SDOT AND BY SPU. IT IS NOT TO
GET MONEY FROM THE ONE-TIME
DUMPER , WE WANT TO CHANGE
BEHAVIOR AND LET PEOPLE KNOW
THAT THEY HAVE A VOUCHER FOR
LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS AND
EDUCATE THEM ON OTHER LOW-INCOM
PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE. CHANG
OF BEHAVIOR AND EDUCATION IS OU
GOAL, NOT TAKING MONEY AWAY FRO
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. THE
CURRENT PENALTY, AGAIN, IT IS
TWO TIMES CLEANUP COSTS, $50
PER CUBIC FOOT, A LITTLE BIT
CUMBERSOME TRYING TO NAVIGATE
THROUGH THAT. AND, WE WILL GO
TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THE
PROPOSED PENALTIES , THE
STUDIES, AS WE HAVE SAID, YOU
HAVE SHOWN THAT THERE ARE NO
IMPOSITIONS FOR THE DUMPER. WE
HAVE ADDED A PENALTY THAT WE
HOPE WILL GET THE ILLEGAL
NUMBER'S ATTENTION AND STOP
THEM FROM DOING IT AGAIN. THE
BASE FEE IS $100, UP TO 100
POUNDS, AND NO PREVIOUS ,
SIMILAR VIOLATIONS. ONE OR MOR
PREVIOUS VIOLATIONS , WITHIN
THE PAST 12 MONTHS, THAT WOULD
BE UP TO 400 POUNDS. ONCE YOU
EXCEED 400 POUNDS, IT WILL BE
AN ADDITIONAL $200, PLUS THE
BASE FEE AND THE CLEANUP COSTS.
IF IT IS OVER 500, AND BASE
FEE, UP TO 1000 POUNDS, AND
1500 POUNDS. AGAIN, I WANT TO
STRESS, ONE MORE TIME, IF THE
ILLEGAL DUMPER CAUSES A NOTICE,
AND A IS A FIRST OFFENSE,
CHANGE OF BEHAVIOR IS OUR GOAL
NOT FINDING THE FIRST TIME
OFFENDER. WE LEAD WITH
COMPASSION. WE HOPE THAT WE CAN
GET A GRASP ON PEOPLE WHO DUMP
IN THE FIRST PLACE. ONE OF THE
GOALS IS TO CHANGE, GO AFTER
WHAT WE WOULD CALL THE
OPPORTUNISTIC DUMPER. THEY ARE
THE DUMPER THAT DOES NOT LIVE I
THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY MADE
WORK IN SEATTLE, BUT LIVE
SOMEONE ELSE, IN ANOTHER CITY O
NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WHAT THEY NEE
TO KNOW, THE RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE BIPOC COMMUNITY AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE IS
STRAINED. AND IT AS LONG AS IT
IS NOT ON THEIR PROPERTY, RIGHT
DETROIT AVENUE, SOUTHWEST, THE
HAVE CONSTRUCTION PROCESSES AN
THEY CHARGE THEIR CLIENTS MAYB
EXTRA FUNDING FOR A PRODUCT THE
DO NOT USE, THE KITCHEN SINK,
THE DRYWALL, AND EVERYTHING
ELSE OUT THERE, ON THE STREETS
OF SEATTLE. AND OTHER NUMBERS,
AS IF THEY ARE REALLY HELPING
THEM, GIVING THEM A COUCH, A
TABLE, THAT THEY DID NOT WANT
LASTLY, THIS IS OUR GOAL,
EDUCATION, BUT WE HAVE A
MECHANISM TO CHANGE AND GO AFTE
THOSE WHO WANT TO ABUSE THE
SITUATION. I DO NOT CALL THAT A
PENALTY. HE OR SHE CAN DECIDE
THAT THIS ILLEGAL DUMPER HAS
BEEN IN FRONT OF ME MULTIPLE
TIMES, OR THAT THE ITEMS THEY
HAVE DUMPED ARE SO EGREGIOUS, W
CAN LEVY A HEAVIER FIND . WE DO
LEAD WITH COMPASSION, BUT WE AR
NOT PUSHOVERS EITHER. WE HOPE
THAT THE INDIVIDUALS AND
BUSINESSES WILL BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE TO ILLEGAL DUMPING
ACTIVITIES. THAT WAY WE WILL NO
SEE ANOTHER 300% RISE IN COMIN
YEARS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
TODAY. AND WE WILL NOW TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANTE
TO ASK BRIAN GOODNIGHT IF HE
HAD ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS T
ADD , AT THIS POINT?
>> I DO NOT, THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> OKAY. I RECEIVED A BRIEFING
ON THIS, LAST WEEK. I AM VERY
COMFORTABLE ADDING THIS
ADMINISTRATIVE TOOL FOR SPU,
SEEING HOW THIS WORKS, OR HOW I
DOES NOT WORK, IN REALITY, SO
THEY HAVE THIS ABILITY TO HELP
DETER ILLEGAL DUMPING, SO, WE
JUST WANTED TO CHECK WITH
COLLEAGUES, TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY ARE OKAY ADVANCING THIS OU
OF COMMITTEE TODAY. ONE OF THE
THINGS WE CAN DO, INSTEAD OF
SENDING IT TO THE SEPTEMBER 26t
FULL COUNCIL, WE COULD GO TO
OCTOBER THIRD , OR OCTOBER 12th
I AM VERY COMFORTABLE VOTING FO
THIS. YES, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES ?
>> FIRST OF ALL, I SEE LOTS OF
DUMPING, I KNOW THIS IS A HUGE
ISSUE. WE DID A LOT OF WORK
PUTTING IN BIKE TRAILS IN THE
GREEN SPACE, FOR EXAMPLE. EVER
TIME I WENT OUT THERE, IT WAS
POINTED OUT TO ME, THE FENCE,
WHERE PEOPLE DUMP WASHING
MACHINES AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER
THINGS. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE NEED
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RESOLVE.
AND I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT
HOW WE, HOW WE CATCH PEOPLE,
BECAUSE YOU HAVE MENTIONED , YO
KNOW? SOMETIMES MULTIPLE
VIOLATIONS. SO, I AM INTERESTE
IF YOU CAN GIVE SOME EXAMPLES
ABOUT HOW THE INVESTIGATION
WORKS . YOU KNOW, HOW YOU
IDENTIFY SOMEBODY WHO IS
DUMPING, YOU KNOW, DO YOU HAVE
FOOTAGE, CAN YOU TALKED ? WHO
IS DOING IT, HOW WOULD YOU
ENFORCE IT?
>> WHAT WE ARE HOPING TO DEPEND
ON, THE FIND IT AND FIX IT APP
PEOPLE CAN TAKE A PICTURE OF
ILLEGAL DUMPING. AND PEOPLE CA
HAVE THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER,
AND MAYBE A PICTURE OF THE
PERSON, IF THEY FEEL SAFE DOIN
THAT, AS ONE OF THE TOOLS.
PEOPLE CAN CALL INTO OUR
CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND
REPORT THAT THEY HAVE SEEN
PEOPLE, ILLEGALLY DUMPING THERE
AND THAT IS WHERE THE THREE
PIECES OF IDENTIFIABLE MAIL
SOMETHING IN THAT PILE, OR A
PICTURE, REALLY WILL HELP THE
INVESTIGATION.
>> CAN I ASK ANOTHER QUESTION ?
>> PLEASE.
>> YOU ALSO MENTIONED, AND WE
HAVE HEARD, REPEATEDLY , ABOUT
PEOPLE COMING TO EITHER DONATE
THEIR STUFF TO ENCAMPMENTS , O
PEOPLE COMING IN AND DUMPING
THINGS, WITH THE ASSUMPTION THA
IT WOULD BE JUST ASSOCIATED WIT
AN ENCAMPMENT, RATHER THAN
SOMEONE COMING IN FROM OUTSIDE.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOU
WOULD ADDRESS THE ILLEGAL
DUMPING BY HOUSED PEOPLE AT
ENCAMPMENTS, AND HOW YOU CAN
ENSURE THAT , YOU KNOW , THE
FOLKS WHO ARE HAVING STUFF
DUMPED IN THEIR SPACE ARE NOT
INTERRUPTED OR , YOU KNOW, DO
NOT GET THIS INTERFERENCE, WHE
THEY ARE NOT THE ONES WHO WERE
CONTRIBUTING THAT, AT LEAST
THOSE LOADS OF TRASH?
>> I CAN TAKE THIS ONE. THAT
IS A GREAT QUESTION. WE CALL
THAT OPPORTUNISTIC ILLEGAL
DUMPING. WE HAVE DONE RESEARCH,
UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT ON TH
UN-HOUSED POPULATION ARE HAVING
ON OTHER FOLKS UTILIZING THEIR
SPACE AS A DUMPING SPACE. WE
LEAD WITH COMPASSION,
OFTENTIMES THE UN-HOUSED
POPULATIONS WILL INFORM US OF
THE PEOPLE DUMPING. WE CREATE A
TRASH SERVICE , TO MAKE SURE
THAT IT IS NOT ACCUMULATING OR
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING
UN-HOUSED, WE WILL REACH OUT TO
THOSE WHO ARE VIOLATING OR
DUMPING ON THE SITE AND EDUCATE
THEM ABOUT THE APPROPRIATE
CHANNELS TO GO THROUGH. IF YOU
WANT TO DONATE, THERE ARE OTHER
WAYS TO DONATE, SO THAT
EDUCATION ON THE FRONT AND IS
IMPORTANT FOR US. IF IT IS
SOMETHING EGREGIOUS, WE HAVE
SEEN SOME ORGANIZATIONS, NOT
ORGANIZATIONS, BUT SMALL,
OUTFITS, THEY WILL DUMP A BUNC
OF DEBRIS AND SO FORTH. THAT I
WHEN WE WOULD GO DOWN THE NOTIC
OF VIOLATION, AND POST PENALTIE
ON THOSE DUMPERS.
>> ONE MORE QUESTION. YOU MAY
NOT HAVE THIS DATA OR
INFORMATION, MAYBE YOU DO. I AM
CURIOUS, PRESUMABLY THERE ARE
MANY REASONS WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE
TO DUMP IN THIS WAY, DO YOU
KNOW WHY PEOPLE DO IT THIS WAY?
IS IT A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE?
IS IT THAT A MATTER OF TAKING
THINGS TO THE DUMP OR TRANSFER
STATION IS TOO EXPENSIVE? DO YO
KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING?
>> WE CAN ASSUME IT IS A
COMBINATION OF WHAT YOU JUST
MENTIONED. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT
FOR US TO DO THAT EDUCATION
CAMPAIGN. WE WANT FOLKS TO KNOW
THAT IT IS ILLEGAL TO DUMP IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, NOT
THINKING IT IS AN OPTION FOR
THEM TO DUMP THINGS, PUTTING
THINGS LIKE, FREE COUCH AND
THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WE THINK
IT IS THESE, PEOPLE DO NOT WANT
TO PAY THE TRANSFER STATION
FEES. FOR OTHERS, IT IS MERELY
MATTER OF CONVENIENCE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
OKAY. WHY DON'T WE , WHAT I A
GOING TO DO, I WILL MOVE TO
SEND THIS TO THE OCTOBER 3rd
CITY COUNCIL MEETING. I AM
REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THAT
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES HAS
BEEN RESEACHING THIS TO FIGURE
OUT, YOU KNOW, THE CURRENT
SYSTEM IS SIMPLY NOT WORKING, W
ARE RELYING ON THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, THE MUNICIPAL COURT
SYSTEM, THEN THEY ARE ADDING
THIS EDUCATION COMPONENT. I
THINK THIS IS WHERE WE ARE
SEEING THE CIT GOVERNMENT TREND
ON ALL SORTS OF THINGS. SO, WE
REALLY APPRECIAT THE HARD WORK
THAT WENT INTO THIS. AND, YOU
KNOW, WE HAVE A BUDGET, WE ARE
NOT ABLE TO HAVE A COMMITTEE
DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS,
TYPICALLY. WE WILL GIVE THAT
EXTRA WEEK OF HAVING THIS BILL
IN THE PUBLIC REALM AND WE WILL
GO OUT AND ADVANCE IT . IT IS
GOOD WORK. AND I THINK THAT WE
SHOULD BE MOVING IT FORWARD. I
WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO SEND IT
TO THE OCTOBER 3rd MEETING COUL
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM
COMMITTEE METERS ABOUT THAT?
OKAY, COUNCILMEMBERS, I NOW
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 120661 ON OUR AGENDA TO G
TO THE OCTOBER 3rd CITY COUNCIL
MEETING GOOD IS THERE A SECOND
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. ANY FINAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS, BEFORE WE VOTE? OKAY
WILL THE CLERK CALL ON THE
RESOLUTION TO PASS OUT ABOUT
120661 TO GO TO THE OCTOBER 30
CITY COUNCIL MEETING?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES. THREE IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE COUNCIL BILL WILL BE
PASSED TO THE OCTOBER 3rd CITY
COUNCIL MEETING, THANK YOU VER
MUCH TO UN-HOUSED SEVEN, AND
THE COUNCIL STAFF FOR THE
RECOMMENDATIONS. WILL THE CLICK
PLEASE READ THE THIRD AGENDA
ITEM TITLE?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE,
COUNCIL BILL 120 658 , AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO SIDEWALK
INSTRUCTION AND PEDESTRIAN
MOBILITY AND MOVEMENTS, ADDING
NEW SECTION 15.7 0.040 TWO TH
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE .
>> THIS IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR
PEDERSEN. I KNOW THIS IS A BUS
TIME. I AM REALLY HERE WITH MAN
OF OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS, WHO
HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS
LEGISLATION. I WANT TO THANK
THEM. TO BRING A THIS BILL TO
MY OFFICE. WE COCREATED THIS
TOGETHER, PARTICULARLY
DISABILITY RIGHTS WASHINGTON,
FORMER MAYOR AND CURRENT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MIKE
McGINN, AND FORMER SDOT
DIRECTOR, AND NOAH, FROM COMMUT
SEATTLE, AND SMART GROWTH
AMERICA , SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD
GREENWAYS, AND MANY OTHERS,
MOBILITY ADVOCATES AND
ORGANIZATIONS. SO, I WANT TO
TALK, FOR A MOMENT, ABOUT WHY S
MANY ORGANIZATIONS 25% OF OUR S
SIDEWALKS. WE HAVE ALMOST
4000 MILES OF ROADWAY FOR CARS
IN THE CITY. KNOWING THAT 1 IN
3 AMERICANS CANNOT DRIVE, WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT DISABLED
FOLKS, ELDERS , KIDS, PEOPLE
WHO CANNOT AFFORD A CAR, THEY
ARE FORCED TO NAVIGATE THROUGH
THE CITY ON DANGEROUS ROADS
THAT DO NOT MEET MOBILITY
NEEDS. WE HAVE AREAS IN THE
CITY, WITH THE FEWEST
SIDEWALKS. THE SOUTH END,
DISTRICT 2, DISTRICT 5, AND
IN THE CASE OF DISTRICT 2,
THESE ARE THE AREAS OF TOWN
THAT EXPERIENCE ELEVATED
PEDESTRIAN COLLISIONS AND
DEATHS. MANY OF OUR SIDEWALKS
ARE IN DISREPAIR WITH UNEVEN
SURFACES, AS WE HEARD FROM THE
PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING.
THEY ARE MISSING CURB RAMPS ,
THAT MAKE IT HARD FOR PEOPLE
USING MOBILITY DEVICES, AND
PARENTS USING STROLLERS TO
NAVIGATE THE CITY. WE KNOW
THAT SIDEWALKS ARE ESSENTIAL
PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, THEY
PROVIDE A PUBLIC GOOD. THEY
ENABLE MOBILITY FOR EVERYONE,
REGARDLESS OF AGE, ABILITY, OR
INCOME, SOMETHING THAT CAR
INFRASTRUCTURE DOES NOT DO. WE
HAVE MORE PUBLIC ON-STREET
PARKING IN THE CITY THEN WE
HAVE MILES OF SIDEWALK IN THE
CITY. THIS IS IMPORTANT,
BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF SAFE AND
COMFORTABLE MOBILITY
INFRASTRUCTURE DOES NOT JUST
PUT PEOPLE IN DANGER. WE KNOW
THAT IT IS ALSO SOCIALLY
ISOLATING , FOR PEOPLE WHO
CANNOT GET AROUND. DUE TO A
DISABILITY, HEALTH, OR AGE. IF
THERE IS ANYTHING WE HAVE
LEARNED OVER THE PAST FEW
YEARS, IT IS THAT SOCIAL
ISOLATION IS A PUBLIC HEALTH
ISSUE. ISOLATION ITSELF PUTS A
STRAIN ON MENTAL HEALTH AND IT
CAN JEOPARDIZE PEOPLE'S LIVES.
SO, THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS
FOR THIS BILL AND I AM REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT HAVING COCREATED
IT WITH THESE ADVOCATES. I
WANT TO GO THROUGH A FEW
THINGS, WHAT THIS BILL DOES, IT
WOULD REQUIRE SIDEWALKS, AND
MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING
SIDEWALKS, TO BE INCLUDED IN
REPAVING PRODUCTS. THIS IS IN
FAVOR WITH FORMER COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN 'S BILL, FOR CREATING
BIKE LANES. AND IT CLOSELY
RESEMBLES SIDEWALK RELATIONS
IN WASHINGTON, D.C. OUR BILL
REQUIRES INVENTORY AND REPORT
OF ROAD REPAVING PROJECTS TO BE
PRESENTED TO COUNCIL BY
FEBRUARY OF EACH YEAR, AND IT
REQUIRES A REPORT FROM THE SDOT
DIRECTOR ON WHY THEY WOULD NOT
ELECT TO INSTALL SIDEWALKS IN
CURRENT PROJECTS, INCLUDING
HOW THEY WOULD MITIGATE SAFETY
AND ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES.
ADDITIONALLY, MY OFFICE AND OUR
ADVOCATES ARE PURSUING THIS
CHANGE, AHEAD OF THE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND LEVY
RENEWAL, AS A WAY FOR US TO SET
THE BENCHMARK FOR SIDEWALK
FUNDING IN THE NEXT
TRANSPORTATION LEVY. AS IT
STANDS RIGHT NOW, OUR SIDEWALK
INSTALLATION AND REPAIR BUDGET
IS VERY SMALL. OUR OFFICE HAS
BEEN ABLE TO WIN OVER 20
BLOCKS OF NEW SIDEWALKS FOR
DISTRICT 2, THROUGH THE BUDGET
PROCESS, ADVOCATES SHOULD NOT
HAVE TO ASK FOR THIS BASIC
INVESTMENT EVERY YEAR. FUNDING
SIDEWALKS THROUGH THE ANNUAL
BUDGET PROCESS IS INEFFICIENT.
SETTING THIS BENCHMARK NOW WILL
ALLOW US TO BETTER FUND THIS
CRUCIAL PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT PROVIDES EQUITABLE ACCESS
TO MOBILITY THAT STREETS THAT
ARE SOLELY MADE FOR CARS DO NOT
PROVIDE. LASTLY, FOR
AWARENESS, SDOT HAS PROPOSED
A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT TO THIS
BILL. WE RECEIVED THE AMENDMENT
LAST WEEK , WHICH IS WHY IT IS
NOT ON THE AGENDA. I WANT TO
SIGNAL THAT THE AMENDMENT IS A
SMALL, TECHNICAL CHANGE OF MY
OWN. AND IF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT,
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK FOR
MORE INFORMATION. I WANT TO
THANK YOU, CHAIR, FOR GETTING
THIS ON THE AGENDA, BEFORE WE
CLOSE OUT THE YEAR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. I SUPPORT THIS BILL.
AND WE CAN HEAR FROM CENTRAL
STAFF NEXT. THERE IS A
PRESENTATION, I BELIEVE , AND
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE BEST
TIMING FOR YOU AND ALL OF THE
ADVOCATES ON THIS, THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING , I AM CALVIN
CHOW. AND I HAVE A VERY SHORT
PRESENTATION. VERY QUICKLY,
THIS DOES, THIS LEGISLATION
WAS DRAFTED FOR COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES ' OFFICE, IT DOES
ADDRESS THE 11,000 LOTS OF
SIDEWALKS, AND THE KNOWN
INSTANCES OF SIDEWALK
DEFICIENCIES THAT THE CITY HAS
DOCUMENTED. THE LEGISLATION
DOES TWO THINGS. IT
ESTABLISHES SIDEWALK
REQUIREMENTS IN THE CODE, AS
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
DETAILED. AND AT LEAST ONE
SIDE OF THE STREET WOULD BE
PART OF A MAJOR REPAVING
PROJECT. AND CORRECTING THE
IDENTIFIED DEFICIENCIES WOULD
BE PART OF THAT WORK, AS WELL.
THERE ARE PROVISIONS TO ALLOW
THE DIRECTOR TO DETERMINE WHEN
FULL COMPLIANCE IS NOT
POSSIBLE. IT REQUIRES THAT THE
DIRECTOR, THEY WILL BAND WITH
THE COUNCIL, ON WHAT THOSE
PROJECTS ARE, AND WHY THOSE
PROJECTS WOULD NOT REACH FULL
COMPLIANCE. THE SECOND PART
ESTABLISHES SIDEWALK
INSTALLATION PRIORITIES, FOR
NONMAJOR PAVING PROJECTS. SO,
THIS PRIORITIZES AREAS,
LOCATIONS, WHERE PEDESTRIAN
MOVEMENT IS IMPAIRED. WHERE
THERE ARE PROBLEMS ACCESSING
SCHOOLS, PARKS AND RECREATION
FACILITIES, TRANSIT STOPS,
AND, ADDITIONALLY, AREAS OF
HIGH-DENSITY LAND USES, AND
EQUITY AREAS WHERE THERE IS A
RISK OF DISPLACEMENT. WITH
THAT, I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
TYPICAL QUESTIONS. THE FRIENDLY
AMENDMENT THAT WAS REFERENCED
IS REALLY MORE IN LINE WITH
SOME CLARIFYING EDITS, ADDING
SOME WORDS THAT THE
PRIORITIZATION DOES NOT INTEND
TO COVER. IT IS NOT SIMPLE
POTHOLE REPAIR EMERGENCY
RESPONSE TYPE OF MAINTENANCE
WORK, IN ADDITION TO JUST SOME
REORDERING OF SECTIONS FOR
CLARITY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ABOUT CENTRAL STAFF'S
PRESENTATION? IN TERMS OF
TIMING, YOU KNOW, WE DO , OUR
NEXT, IF WE DO NOT HAVE A
SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE MEETING, DURING THE
TWO MONTH BUDGET REVIEW
PROCESS, OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER .
IF WE DON'T HAVE ONE, IF WE DO
HAVE ONE, WE COULD HEAR THIS.
IF WE DON'T HAVE ONE, DECEMBER
5, THAT WOULD BE OUR NEXT
REGULARLY-SCHEDULED MEETING.
WE HAVE ALREADY HEARD THE BILL,
SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE.
HAVE THE COMMITTEE ON DECEMBER
5, AND HAVE THE CITY COUNCIL
APPROVED IT, AS EARLY AS THE
NEXT TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12th ,
BEFORE WE GET IT DONE, BEFORE
THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WORKS
FOR YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ?
>> YES.
>> OKAY. IN TERMS OF THE
AMENDMENT, WILL THAT BE READY,
WILL THAT BE READY THIS WEEK?
IN CASE , IN CASE WE WERE TO
HAVE A SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE MEETING?
>> I THINK, CALVIN CHOW, THAT
IS DOABLE?
>> YES.
>> OKAY, WE HAVE NOTHING
SCHEDULED RIGHT NOW. OKAY,
WELL, GOOD. THIS IS EXCITING
AND WE WILL, YOU KNOW, DURING
OUR BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS, AS
YOU MENTIONED, COUNCILMEMBERS ,
IT IS NOT FAIR OF US TO
ADVOCATE FOR SIDEWALKS DURING
THE BUDGET MEETING, BECAUSE IT
IS SUCH A CRITICAL NEED. I
WILL BE THERE TO HELP ADVOCATE
FOR THAT, THIS FALL, AS NEEDED.
HOPEFULLY, THE MAYOR'S BUDGET
THAT WE RECEIVE HAS A ROBUST
INVESTMENT IN SIDEWALKS. THERE
ARE WAYS TO DO THAT. YOU DO NOT
HAVE TO RELY JUST ON THE
SEATTLE PROPERTY TAX THAT IS
CURRENTLY IN PLACE. BUT THERE
ARE CHOICES THAT WILL HAVE TO
BE MADE. AND WE WILL ALSO BE
TALKING ABOUT NEW REVENUE
SOURCES. THIS IS ONE OF THE
REASONS I SUPPORT
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES, IT
GIVES US ANOTHER OPTION. WE
ARE TRYING TO GET OVER A
PROCEDURAL HURDLE, SIMPLY
AMENDING THE COMP PLAN. WE
HOPE TO DO THAT ON NOVEMBER
21st, SO THAT , WE WILL BE ABLE
TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT
REVENUE SOURCE AND THE OTHER
REVENUE SOURCES WE CAN CONSIDER
AS WELL, LOTS TO DO ON
SIDEWALKS AND REVENUE, ALL
RIGHT, WELL, WITH THAT, I GUESS
WE WILL JUST MOVE TO THE NEXT
ITEM ON THE AGENDA. OKAY ? ALL
RIGHT, WILL BE CLERK PLEASE
READ THE FULL TITLE OF THE
FOURTH AGENDA ITEM ?
>> AGENDA ITEM 4, ABOUT 120642,
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
STREET AND SIDEWALK USE,
AMENDING THE STREET USE FEE
SCHEDULE AUTHORIZED BY SECTION
15.0 4.074 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE. FOR POSSIBLE
VOTE.
>> COLLEAGUES, YOU WILL
REMEMBER, COUNCIL BELT 120 642
, FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING,
SEPTEMBER 5, IT IS BACK IN
COMMITTEE, I AM VERY CHOKED UP
ABOUT THIS. AS YOU WILL RECALL,
THIS IS A PROPOSAL FROM THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION TO TEMPORARILY
ELIMINATE FEES FOR SMALLER
SIDEWALK ACTIVITIES, AND WHILE
THIS MEASURE AS OFTEN BEEN
REPORTED, ALONG WITH THE
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN FOR
THE IDEAS, IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE
A CITYWIDE POLICY. NO,
ACCORDING TO THE FISCAL NOTE,
THE CITY WOULD FORGO REVENUE
OF $140,000 OR SO FOR EACH
12-MONTH PERIOD. THESE FEES
WOULD BE RESUMING JANUARY 1,
2026. I WANT TO THANK CALVIN
CHOW, FROM COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF, FOR HIS REVIEW OF THIS
LEGISLATION. CALVIN, I WANTED
TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY REMARKS
ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION?
>> NO, COUNCILMEMBERS. THIS
IS SIMILAR TO SOME OF THE
CITY'S APPROACH TO THESE
PERMITS, DURING THE COVID
PANDEMIC. I DO NOT HAVE ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS.
>> OKAY, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD A
FULL PRESENTATION LAST TIME,
YOU KNOW, THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR AMENDMENTS. WE
DO NOT HAVE ANY. WE HAVE THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION HERE TO ANSWER
ANY FINAL QUESTIONS, BEFORE WE
PROCEED TO A VOTE. COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM THAT
WE ARE HEARING FOR THE SECOND
TIME TODAY? OKAY. WELL, I WILL
GO AHEAD AND START THE
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE TO VOTE
THIS ITEM OUT OF OUR COMMITTEE
TODAY. COUNCILMEMBERS, I NOW
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 120642 , IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED ANY FINAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS, BEFORE WE VOTE ?
OKAY, WILL THE CLICK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ?
>> YES.
>> THREE ENDEAVOR, NONE OPPOSE.
>> THIS WILL BE SENT TO THE
SEPTEMBER 26th CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
THANK YOU TO CALVIN CHOW AND TO
SDOT FOR BEING HERE. WILL BE
CLERK PLEASE READ THE FULL
TITLE OF ITEM 5, INTO THE
RECORD, WHICH IS THE DRAFT
ORDINANCE ?
>> AGENDA ITEM 5, AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO TREE PROTECTIONS,
ADDING NEW PROVISIONS RELATING
TO TREES THAT ARE PART OF AN
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE, AND
AMENDING SECTIONS 25.1 1.060
AND 25.1 1.130 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> WE RALLIED TO SUCCESSFULLY
DEFEND THAT MAGNIFICENT CEDAR
TREE SAVING IT FROM CHAINSAWS
IN NORTH SEATTLE. AND I TOOK
TIME TO TO DRAFT A VERY BRIEF
BILL TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE.
>> THIS BILL IS CRAFTED IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE TRIBE TO
PREVENT MORE THREATS TO SUCH
IMPORTANT TREES. WE HEARD TODAY
A PUBLIC COMMENT FROM THE TRIBE
AND WE HAVE RECEIVED EMAILS AND
COMMUNICATIONS FROM TREE CAN BE
DISCUSSED AND AMENDED IF
NEEDED. I REALLY WANT TO THANK
ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WROTE TO US
AND CALLED IN. APPRECIATE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY, AS WELL
THAT WE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM THE
TRIBE. BASED ON GUIDANCE FROM
THE OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS IS OUR DIRECTOR OF
TRIBAL RELATIONS. I ALSO
PROVIDED THE LEGISLATION TO
OTHER FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED
SEATTLE-BASED TRIBES. TRIBAL
LEADERSHIP AND CONNECTED WITH
THEIR OFFICES, AS WELL. SO I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT.
KICKSTART IT HERE SO WE DO
HAVE A PRESENTATION. REALLY
APPRECIATING CENTRAL STAFF, AND
THEIR HARD WORK ON THIS ISSUE
FOR SO LONG. AND THEN ON THIS
BILL WHICH WAS A SHORT BILL AND
GETTING CITY ATTORNEY OFFICE'S
APPROVAL FOR THE BILL, AS WELL.
PRESENTED THIS TO THE FORESTRY
COMMISSION A COUPLE OF WEEKS
AGO. AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT
OF ARCHAEOLOGY WAS CONTACTED
ABOUT THE BILL, AS WELL. LET'S
GO AHEAD AND HAVE CENTRAL STAFF
DO THEIR PRESENTATION.
CURRENTLY THIS BILL IS IN OUR
SYSTEM AS A TMP FILE. TMP
MANNING 02, FOUR PAGES LONG AND
HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET THIS ON
THE IRC SOON. THANK YOU,
YOLANDA, GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR. MY
GOAL TODAY IS TO PROVIDE A
LEGISLATION ON THE TREES FOR
PRIVATE PROPERTY TO INCLUDE
CONSIDERATION OF TREES ON
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES. I WILL GO
OVER THE BACKGROUND OF THE
LEGISLATION. DESCRIBE THE
DRAFT, A TOUCH TO THE AGENDA
AND SOME ISSUES.
>> EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE
COUNCIL PASSED AN ORDINANCE
TO-SIX. UPDATED THE REGULATIONS
FOR TREES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
I WILL NOT GO THROUGH ALL OF
THAT. BUT I WANTED TO NOTE SOME
KEY CHANGES THAT WERE ADOPT IT
AS PART OF THAT LEGISLATION.
THERE WAS A NUTRI NAMING
CONVENTION. FOR EXAMPLE, THESE
ARE NOW TIER 2 TREES. THERE ARE
EXPANDED REDUCTIONS FOR TREES
BEGINNING 24 INCHES IN DIAMETER
AT STANDARD HEIGHT BY INCLUDING
THEM IN THE TIER 2 CATEGORY
PREVIOUSLY WITH REGULATIONS
THAT PROVIDED ADDITIONAL
PROTECTIONS FOR TREES 30 INCHES
OR GREATER. INCREASED
RESTRICTIONS ON TREE REMOVAL
UNDEVELOPED LOT CREATING AN
OPTION FOR TREE REPLACEMENT AND
REPLACING THE NUMBER OF TREES
REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED AND
ALSO ESTABLISHED A NEW LOT
COVERED STANDARD FOR LOTS UNDER
DEVELOPMENT AND MIDRISE
COMMERCIAL AND SEATTLE MIXED
ZONES TO FIND TREES THAT CAN BE
MAINTAINED AND THOSE THAT NEED
TO BE REMOVED IN THE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
PREVIOUSLY, THERE WAS A RATIO
TO DETERMINE TREE PROTECTION
AND REMOVAL. IN JULY, AS THE
CHAIR NOTED, THE PUBLIC CAN
AWARE OF THE PLANNED REMOVAL OF
A LARGE DOUBLE TRUNK DRESSED IN
WHITE CEDAR FOR DEVELOPMENT IN
WEDGEWOOD. BEFORE IT WAS MOVED
IT WAS ASSESSED AS A CULTURALLY
MODIFIED TREE, REGULATED AS AN
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF THE
STATES. A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON
CULTURALLY MODIFIED TREES,
CMT'S, TREES THAT HAVE BEEN
MODIFIED AS THAT OF THE
TRADITIONAL PRACTICES. SOME OF
THE REGION'S OLDEST AND LARGEST
TREES. SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF
MODIFICATIONS ARE FAILING PARK
TO BE USED FOR TEXTILES,
BASKETS, CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS, TRIMMING BRANCHES
FOR WAYFINDING, MARKING
LOCATIONS, CARBON SYMBOLS,
LETTERS AND OTHER MARKINGS INTO
THE BARK. REGULATION FOR
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN CHAPTER
52 OF THE REVISED CODE OF
WASHINGTON. WASHINGTON STATE
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL --
ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORIC
RESERVATION ALSO KNOWN AS DAHP
AND I WILL BE REFERRING TO THE
AGENCY AS SUCH FROM HERE ON
OUT. THEY'RE REQUIRED TO GET
PERMISSION BEFORE CAUSING ANY
DISTURBANCE TO AN
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE AREA THAT
DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A PROCESS
FOR VERIFYING WHETHER A TREE IS
NOT A MONARCH LOGICAL SITE.
ONTO THE SUMMARY OF THE DRAFT
LEGISLATION. THE LEGISLATION
WOULD ESTABLISH A PROCESS FOR
VERIFYING WHETHER OR TREES
HEARD OF AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SITE. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS THAT
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
INSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS
WOULD NOTIFY IF AN APPLICANT
IS SEEKING TO REMOVE A TIER 2
OR TIER 3 TREE. ANY TREE OVER
12 INCHES IN DIAMETER AT
STANDARD HEIGHT. DAHP WOULD
THEN DETERMINE WHETHER IT IS
PART OF AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE.
IF THE TREE IS NOT PART OF AN
IDEOLOGICAL SITE, MAY PERMIT
ITS REMOVAL. IT IS PART OF AN
ECOLOGICAL SITE AND THE
APPLICANT STILL WANTS TO REMOVE
THE TREE, THEN THE APPLICANT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING
REMOVAL FOR THE TREES REMOVAL.
THE LEGISLATION WOULD ALSO ADD
A DEFINITION OF CULTURALLY
MODIFIED TREE TO CHAPTER 25
.11. ANY QUESTIONS? THERE'S A
COUPLE OF FINANCIAL ISSUES FOR
THE COMMUNITY'S CONSIDERATION
WITH THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
FIRST ONE IS ADMINISTRATION
REGULATIONS. IT COULD
ESSENTIALLY INCREASE THE
WORKLOAD , WHICH COULD RESULT
IN DELAYS TO THE PERMANENT
PROCESSING TIMES. BECAUSE WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN IS THAT STAFF
WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEY
HEARD BACK FROM DAHP BEFORE
PROCEEDING WITH COMPLETING
THEIR TREE REVIEW. IF THE TREE
IS PART OF AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SITE, THE APPLICANT WOULD THEN
HAVE TO APPLY TO DHP FOR
PERMISSION TO REMOVE THE TREE
BEFORE STC I COULD MAKE
DECISIONS. THEY COULD ADD
FUNDING TO SDCI TO ACCOMMODATE
THE INCREASED WORKLOAD BUT WILL
BE UNABLE TO ADDRESS THE
CAPACITY ISSUES AT DAHP, A
STATE AGENCY. ALTERNATIVELY,
YOU COULD SHIFT THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PERMIT
APPLICANT, SO THE APPLICANT
WOULD BE PROVIDING CONFIRMATION
THAT THEY VERIFIED AND OBTAINED
PERMISSION FOR REMOVAL IF
NEEDED FROM DAHP. THIS WILL BE
MORE CONSISTENT WITH CURRENT
PRACTICES AND OTHER STATE LAWS.
FOR EXAMPLE, APPLICANTS ARE
REQUIRED TO CONSULT WITH THE
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH
AND WILDLIFE AND COME LIE WITH
ANY REQUIREMENT OR OTHERWISE
SHOW THAT THEIR PLAN HAS BEEN
APPROVED BY THE STATE AGENCY.
THIS COULD HELP REDUCE THE
BURDEN ON SDCI, BUT DAHP'S
TURNAROUND TIME COULD STILL BE
A LIMITING FACTOR THAT IMPACTS
PROCESSING TIME . THE NEXT
ISSUE IS RELATED. SEPARATE IS
THAT THE TYPES OF TREES THAT
ARE SUBJECTED TO THIS
VERIFICATION PROCESS, AS
MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, SOME OF
THE REGION'S OLDEST AND LARGEST
TREES. INCLUDING ALL TIER 2 AND
TIER 3 TREES MAY BE OVERLY
BROAD. TREES THAT ARE 12 INCHES
IN DIAMETER AT STANDARD HEIGHT.
THERE IS SOMEWHERE AROUND
70,400 TREES THAT ARE 12 INCHES
IN DIAMETER, STANDARD HEIGHT
AND ON LOTS OF SINGLE-FAMILY,
MULTIFAMILY AND COMMERCIAL
ZONES. THAT'S THE NUMBER OF
TREES THAT WOULD BE SUBJECTED
TO THIS PROCESS OR THEREABOUTS.
ADDITIONALLY, SOME TREE
SPECIES ARE MORE LIKELY THAN
OTHERS TO BE CULTURALLY
MODIFIED IN THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST AND THIS LIST IS FROM
THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION. MAY NOT
COMPLETELY REFLECT WHAT IS
RELEVANT TO SEATTLE, BUT THE
SPECIES ARE DOUGLAS FIR,
INCENSE CEDAR, WHITE OAK, PAPER
BIRCH, PONDEROSA PINE , ASPEN,
WESTERN HEMLOCK, WESTERN MARCH,
WESTERN JUNIPER AND WESTERN RED
CEDAR. TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF
TREES SUBJECT TO THE
VERIFICATION PROCESS, THERE CAN
SHOULD BE MORE SPECIFICITY
ABOUT THE TYPES OF TREES WHICH
COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY
ESTABLISHING A DIRECTORS RULE
TO IDENTIFY SPECIES AND SIZE
THRESHOLDS. FOR INSTANCE ANY
PLAN THAT INVOLVES A WESTERN
RED CEDAR IN AT LEAST 50 INCHES
IN DIAMETER AT STANDARD HEIGHT
WILL NEED TO BE VERIFIED AS A
CULTURALLY MODIFIED TREE MOVING
FORWARD. THIS COULD ALSO HELP
TO REDUCE WORKLOAD IMPACT FOR
SDCI AND DAHP. AND THAT IS MY
VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION. ANY
QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
YOLANDA. AGAIN, THIS IS JUST ON
THE AGENDA AS A DRAFT
ORDINANCE, NOT OFFICIALLY BEING
INTRODUCED. THERE ARE SOME
INTERESTING ISSUES TO DISCUSS
AND POTENTIALLY AMEND AS LONG
AS IT IS AS PART OF THE
CONSULTATION PROCESS. ALL THE
MORE REASON TO GET IN ON THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR,
GET IT MOVING SO THAT WE CAN
HAVE THAT, DAYLIGHT THAT
DEBATE, SOME OF THE INFORMATION
IS SORT OF COMING THROUGH
BEHIND THE SCENES AND I THINK
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO DAYLIGHT
THAT, AS WELL. AND SO I HOPE
TO TRY TO GET THIS ONTO THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
SO WE CAN PUT IT THROUGH THE
REGULAR PROCESS. AS YOU CAN SEE
IT IS ALREADY WRITTEN IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE TRIBE AND
WE'VE REACHED OUT AND CONNECTED
WITH OTHER TRIBES, AS WELL. SO
WE JUST WANT TO -- THEY ARE
EXPECTING US TO SHOW SOME --
TAKE SOME ACTION AND SHOW SOME
FORWARD MOMENTUM HERE. IF THE
CITY DEPARTMENT HAS
RECOMMENDATIONS TO DAYLIGHT
THOSE, HAVE IT OUT IN THE
PUBLIC REALM FOR DISCUSSION, WE
DID TALK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORIC
PRESERVATION AT THE STATE AND
THEY ARE READY TO RESPOND
QUICKLY TO ANY REQUEST LIKE
THIS FROM THE CITY. AND SO LOOK
FORWARD TO TRYING TO ADVANCE
THIS. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
HERE BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE
OTHER ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA?
OKAY, THANK YOU, YOLANDA.
APPRECIATE IT. LET'S GO AHEAD.
WE'VE GOT ONE OF THE MOST
EXCITING THINGS ON OUR AGENDA
HERE TODAY, WHICH IS THE
APPOINTMENTS TO THE ADVISORY
BOARD. CLERK, GO AHEAD AND READ
THE FULL TITLE OF ITEMS SIX
THROUGH 10 INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEMS SIX THROUGH 10.
APPOINTMENTS OF HERB CRONE,
ERIC NIELSEN AND WAYLON ROBERT
AND REAPPOINTMENTS OF DANIEL J
KELLY AND ERIC RIGHT AS MEMBERS
TO THE SEATTLE ADVISORY BOARD
THROUGH TERMS MAY 31st, 2025
FOR BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> OKAY. I THINK WE ARE GOING
TO HEAR FROM OUR SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ROTATION
LIAISON FIRST. ELEEN TRANG. AND
WE WILL INTRODUCE THE NOMINEES
WHO ARE ABLE TO BE HERE. THIS
IS A MIX OF THINGS. SEVERAL
ADVISORY BOARDS GROUPED
TOGETHER ON THE AGENDA TO BE
EFFICIENT. WE WILL BE ABLE TO
HEAR FROM ANYBODY ABOUT WHAT
THEY ARE INTEREST DID IN
SURVEYING , WE CAN ASK YOUR
QUESTIONS. JUST FOR THE VIEWING
PUBLIC, COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
ALREADY REVIEWED APPOINTMENT
PACKET AND RESUMES OF THESE
APPLICANTS. SOME OF THEM ARE
REAPPOINTMENTS. SO IF WE ARE
NOT DOING EXHAUSTIVE INTERVIEWS
ON TV HERE IT IS BECAUSE WE'VE
ALREADY DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE
TO REVIEW THESE APPLICANTS. WE
JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY
FOR WANTING TO VOLUNEER AND
AGREEING TO VOLUNTEER SO THAT
THEY CAN PROVIDE THEIR
EXPERTISE ON THE DIFFERENT
MODES OF TRAVEL THROUGH THE
CITY AND KEEP US MOVING IN AN
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, SAFE
WAY. AND WE HAVE THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN DRAFT THAT
IS OUT THERE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
RIGHT NOW. COMMENTS ARE DUE IN
THE NEXT 30 DAYS ON THE PLAN
WHICH ATTEMPTS TO SYNTHESIZE
ALL THE DIFFERENT MODES OF
TRAVEL. BUT WE HAVE THESE
INDIVIDUAL AREAS OF EXPERTISE
WITH FRAME AND BIKE AND PED AND
TRANSIT. WE WILL APPOINT THESE
FOLKS TODAY TO THESE ADVISORY
COMMITTEES. SO ARE YOU HERE
WITH US TODAY? THERE IS. HELLO.
>> HI, THANK YOU, CHAIR
PEDERSEN. THE ADVISORY BOARD
BRINGS TOGETHER PEOPLE WHO ARE
FAMILIAR WITH THE FREIGHT
INDUSTRY AND ITS IMPACT TO HELP
SEATTLE UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES. DESIGN
REVIEWS AND ADVISING THAT CITY
ON POLICY. WE HAVE TWO
REAPPOINTMENTS AND THREE NEW
APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD.
>> GREAT. AND WE'VE GOT
SOMEBODY HERE WITH US, TOO. WE
HAVE AN APPOINTEE HERE WITH US
TODAY. DO YOU WANT TO PULL THE
MICROPHONE -- IS THERE A GREEN
LIGHT ON IN THE MIDDLE THERE AT
THE BASE? IF NOT, JUST PRESS
THE BUTTON DOWN THERE AND PULL
IT REALLY CLOSE. WE CAN GO
THROUGH THE DIFFERENT
APPOINTEES AND HEAR WHY YOU
WANT TO SERVE AND WHAT YOU HOPE
TO BRING TO THE ADVISORY
COMMITTEE. WE WILL START WITH
THE PERSON WHO SHOWED UP HERE.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM ACTUALLY
ONE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. I WAS
A CITY EMPLOYEE FOR MANY YEARS
IN THE WAR AND UNITS OF THE
CITY. I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD SINCE
2003 AND I WORK FOR THE BNSF
MOONLIGHTING WHEN I WORKED FOR
THE CITY. SWITCH PERSON,
CONDUCTOR, THE LOCAL
CHAIRPERSON FOR UNION PACIFIC
EMPLOYEES IN THE AREA. BETWEEN
SEATTLE AND TACOMA.AND I'M
ALSO THE KIND LEGISLATOR
DIRECTOR FOR RAILROAD WORKERS
WITHIN WASHINGTON STATE. MY
INTERESTS AND EXPERTISE IS
PRIMARILY IN RAIL
TRANSPORTATION. I LIVE IN THE
CITY AND TRANSPORTATION AND
EFFECTIVE MOVEMENT OF GOODS IS
A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT I
THINK EVERYBODY LEARNED THE
IMPORTANCE OF DURING THE
PANDEMIC, AND THE ABILITY TO
MOVE FREIGHT. I JUST HOPE TO BE
A VOICE OF REASON AND THE
ISSUES THAT I NOTED THIS
MORNING, I ATTENDED A FREIGHT
ADVISORY BOARD HEARING FOR THE
FIRST TIME. THE ISSUES AROUND
1st AVENUE 4th AVENUE OVERPASS
BY THE UNION PACIFIC RAIL YARD
WHERE CONCRETE IS CRUMBLING AND
FALLING DOWN AND WE ARE VERY
CONCERNED THAT ONE OF OUR
MEMBERS WORKING THERE COULD GET
HURT OR KILLED BY THIS
CONCRETE. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A
LOT OF DIFFICULTY IN GETTING
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE CITY
AND UNION PACIFIC. I HOPE TO BE
ABLE TO FOSTER THAT AND HELP
MOVE THIS PROJECT ALONG. THOSE
ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND OF
COURSE WE ARE ALWAYS INTERESTED
IN SEPARATION PROJECTS. THINGS
TO MAKE PEOPLE IN CARS AND
PEDESTRIANS AND RAIL WORKERS
SAFE WHEN WE HAVE CAR
COLLISIONS AT CROSSINGS, IT IS
OFTEN DEVASTATING, NOT ONLY FOR
THE PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLES BUT
ALSO FOR THE CREW MEMBERS. SOME
NEVER COME BACK AFTER INCIDENTS
LIKE THAT. I AM HAPPY TO SHARE
MY EXPERTISE. WANT TO SUPPORT
THE MOVEMENT OF FREIGHT AND THE
CITY WORKING WITH THESE ISSUES
AND I WANT TO BE USED AS A
VALUABLE RESOURCE WHEN YOU NEED
INFORMATION ABOUT RAIL
OPERATIONS AND HOW THE
RAILROADS FUNCTION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE TODAY, AND YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO GIVE THE CITY
ALL YOUR EXPERTISE ON THIS. IT
IS GOING TO BE REALLY VALUABLE
FOR THE ISSUES YOU'VE
MENTIONED. AND SO, LET'S GO
BACK TO SEE, DO WE HAVE ANY OF
THE FREIGHT ADVISORY BOARD
APPOINTEES HERE TODAY? IF SO,
DO YOU WANT TO CALL ON THEM TO
LET US KNOW WHY THEY WOULD LIKE
TO SERVE AND WHAT THEY HOPE TO
GET OUT OF IT?
>> YEAH, SO ERIK NIELSEN IS
ALSO IN AND I THINK HE HAS
POPPED UP, SO I WILL LET HIM
TAKE OVER.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR
PEDERSEN AND OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM SO EXCITED
TO BE HERE TO BE NOMINATED FOR
THIS POSITION. I AM A
25-YEAR-OLD IN YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD. I KNOW IT'S IS
CAPITOL HILL. I'M STILL IN
DISTRICT 3 BUT I JUST RECENTLY
MOVED, ACTUALLY CLOSER TO A
MARGINALIZED AREA HISTORICALLY
UNDERREPRESENTED AND
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY
FREIGHT MOVEMENT. I FEEL LIKE I
COME WITH A SET OF PERSPECTIVE
THAT THE ADVISORY BOARD HAS NOT
HAD RECENTLY, WHICH IS
PARTICULARLY YOUNG PEOPLE AND
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY
FREIGHT MOVEMENT. THEY'VE
ALLOWED THE INDUSTRY AND
RESIDENCES TO BE IN CLOSE
PROXIMITY. NOW IN SOUTH SEATTLE
AND GETTING TO EXPERIENCE THAT
FIRSTHAND. BUT I ALSO STUDIED
SUPPLY-CHAIN AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON, RECENTLY
GRADUATED IN 2020. I HAVE A
RELATIVELY FRESH BACKGROUND
UNDERSTANDING THE ACADEMIC
RESEARCH BEHIND FREIGHT
MOVEMENTS. I'VE ANALYZED A LOT
OF THE GREAT WORK THAT THE
MOBILITY LAB HAS PUT TOGETHER.
STUDIED A LOT OF THE ECONOMIC
BEHIND e-COMMERCE AND RAPID
RISING DELIVERY FOR SHOPPING.
RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANT VALUE
THAT FREIGHT HAS IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. YOU HAVE TO ENABLE
IT. HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW
FREIGHT IS GOING TO COEXIST
WITH OUR NET ZERO POLICIES.
TOTALLY INCOMPATIBLE WITH EACH
OTHER AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE
TO MAKE SACRIFICES FOR OUR
ECONOMY TO REACH THESE
POSITIONS OF NET ZERO GOALS.
FIGURING OUT HOW TO UTILIZE IN
A SMARTER AND MORE INNOVATIVE
WAY TO BUILD THE ECONOMIC THAT
RESIDENTS NEED TO GET WHAT THEY
NEED ON A DAILY BASIS WILL
FIGURING OUT HOW TO MAKE IT
SAFER FOR EVERYONE, ALL USERS
IN ALL OF OUR CITY STREETS,
WHETHER IN VEHICLES OR NOT.
ALSO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY,
ELECTRIFICATION TO REDUCE MILES
TRAVELED AND REDUCE CARBON
EMISSIONS THAT TO HAVE A
DISPROPORTIONATE EFFECT ON
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN
PRESENTED BEFORE ON BOARD LIKE
THIS. I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO
BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE ECONOMIC
RECOVERY AND UNDERSTANDING THE
IMPACT IT HAS ON OUR
COMMUNITIES AND HOW TO MAKE IT
SAFER FOR EVERYBODY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WHALEN WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE
IT. HE WORKS ON POLICY ISSUES
IN THE STATE AND REGIONAL
LEVELS AND HAS PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE IN THE MARITIME
INDUSTRY.
>> THANK YOU, YES. WE'VE
RECEIVED SOME EMAILS SUPPORTING
WELL AND ROBERT, AS WELL. WE
HAVE A MIX OF EXPERIENCE AND
PERSPECTIVES. WE WILL BE VOTING
ON THESE AS A GROUP. AND THEN
GOING TO THE NEXT -- DO WE HAVE
ONE MORE PERSON?
>> THE REAPPOINTMENT.
REAPPOINTMENT OF DANIEL KELLY
AND ERIC RIGHT WE WILL GROUP
THESE TOGETHER. ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FOR ELEEN TRANG ABOUT
ANY OF THE FREIGHT ADVISORY
BOARD APPOINTMENTS OR THE TWO
THAT WE HAVE HERE?
>> MAY I, CHAIR?
>> OF COURSE. I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE IN PERSON,
BUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ
THROUGH THE PACKET AND JUST
WANT TO APPRECIATE THE
WILLINGNESS ALL THE TIME OF
FOLKS WHO WANT TO PROVIDE
EXPERTISE TO THE CITY. I WILL
ASK -- I THINK THIS IS A
QUESTION FOR EILEEN ABOUT THE
OUTREACH FOR THESE BOARDS TO
ERIC'S POINT ABOUT MAKING SURE
THAT COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOT
TYPICALLY REPRESENTED ARE ALSO
PART OF THESE BOARDS. I THINK
IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THERE
ARE NINE POSITIONS HERE. ONLY
TWO ARE WOMEN. THERE ARE NO
PEOPLE OF COLOR ON THIS BOARD.
AND WE KNOW THAT PARTICULARLY
WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME
OF THESE FREIGHT AND
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES ITS
COMMUNITY OF COLORS THAT ARE
MOST IMPACTED BY THE
EXTERNALITIES OF CLIMATE
CHALLENGES THAT SOME OF THIS
CAN PRESENT. I WOULD JUST
ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO BE
KEEPING THAT IN MIND AND AS WE
MEET PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE ABLE
TO SERVE AND REPRESENT SOME OF
THOSE PERSPECTIVES ON THESE
BOARDS THAT WE ENCOURAGE THEM
TO REACH OUT, MAYB TO YOU AND
EXPRESS THEIR INTEREST IN
SERVING THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL.
>> ANYMORE COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS BEFORE WE VOTE ON
THIS GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS FOR
THE FREIGHT ADVISORY BOARD?
OKAY. LET ME GO TO MY SCRIPT
HERE. SO THERE ARE SEVERAL OF
THE NUMBERS HERE. I WILL READ
THEM IN MY MOTION HERE. I MOVE
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS
2611 THROUGH 2644 AND 2678,
WHICH ARE ITEMS 6 THROUGH 10 ON
OUR AGENDA. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN
MOVED. AND IT FINAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS BEFORE WE VOTE?
OKAY. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL ROLE ON THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM THE
APPOINTMENTS?
>> CONSOLE MEMBER MORALE IS,
>> YES.
>> THREE IN FAVOR, IN
UNOPPOSED.
>> WE CARRY THE MOTION TO
CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT.
APPOINTEES DO NOT HAVE TO SHOW
UP TO THE MEETING. IT IS
USUALLY AT THE COMMITTEE WHERE
WE LIKE TO SEE YOU AND TALK TO
YOU. GREAT. CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT.
TAKE CARE. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ THE FULL TITLE OF
AGENDA ITEMS 11 THROUGH 14 INTO
THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEMS 11 THROUGH 14.
APPOINTMENTS 266522668
APPOINTMENTS OF PRIYADHARSHINI
BALAN, ZACHARY BURTON, DANA
COPPERNOLL-HOUSTON AND CAROLYN
TILLINGER AS MEMBERS TO THE
ADVISORY BOARD FOR NOW THROUGH
AUGUST 2025.
>> WE HAVE CAROLYN BIRKENFELD
HEAR FROM OUR DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION. A TEAM EFFORT
TO GET APPOINTEES HERE. THANKS
FOR BEING HERE. IF YOU DON'T
MIND GOING THROUGH AND TELLING
US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THESE AND
WARRANTEES. -- APPOINTEES.
>> ABSOLUTELY, YES, THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS CAROLYN. I AM A
LIAISON TO THE ADVISORY BOARD
FOR THE TAB MADE UP OF 12
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ADVISE
THE CITY ON PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION. THE BOARD ALSO
FUNCTIONS AS THE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE OF REVENUE COLLECTED
UNDER THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE, PREVIOUSLY THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICT. TODAY WE HAVE FOR
APPOINTEES. TWO OF THEM ARE
PRESENT HERE ON THE CALL AND
THE OTHER TWO, I HAVE PREPARED
STATEMENTS THAT I WILL SHARE.
SO I CAN GO THROUGH AND
INTRODUCE EACH OF THOSE FIRST.
FIRST WE HAVE PRIYADHARSHINI
BALAN MEETING WITH US TODAY. A
TRANSPORTATION SPECIALIST IN
SEATTLE WHO HAS COLLABORATED
WITH A RANGE OF COMMUNITY
GROUPS WITH EXPERIENCES AND
NEEDS.
>> THANK YOU. I AM
PRIYADHARSHINI BALAN ,
TRANSPORTATION SPECIALIST -- A
LOT OF WORK TO MY ORGANIZATION
THAT IS SUPPOSED TO TALK TO
PEOPLE ABOUT TRANSPORTATION
CHALLENGES THAT THEY FACE ON A
DAY-TO-DAY BASIS IN DIFFERENT
PARTS OF THE CITY INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITED TO THIS IN THE
BEGINNING AND I FEEL
COMFORTABLE WITH EXPERIENCE AND
COLLABORATING WITH GRASSROOTS
ORGANIZATIONS AND TALKING TO
PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK
ABOUT THEIR COMMUTE AND
TRANSPORTATION. ALL THAT
EXPERIENCE, IT IS HIGH-VALUE TO
THE BOARD AND MY MAIN
MOTIVATION IS TO WORK FOR
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT FOR THE
CITY'S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE. I STRONGLY
BELIEVE SAFE, ACCESSIBLE,
AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION
SERVICES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR
COMMUNITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO
PLAYING AN ACTIVE ROLE IN
REALIZING SEATTLE'S MISSION OR
CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS THIS
GROWTH ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF
TRANSPORTATION AND THE
REMARKABLE ADVANCEMENT OF THE
LAST FEW YEARS. AND THERE IS
MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO
ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR
ALL. MAKING THE EXPERIENCE
SEAMLESS AND EFFICIENT FOR ALL
PEOPLE LIVING AND WORKING IN
SEATTLE. I'M EXCITED ABOUT
COLLABORATING TO PRIORITIZE
COMMUNITY NEEDS AND
PERSPECTIVES, WHAT THEY WANT
AND ADVOCATING FOR
TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT IN
THE CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
APPOINTEE, ZACHARY BURTON. HE'S
A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED
MOBILITY IN PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION AND IS CONNECTD
TO A RANGE OF COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS. OVER TO YOU,
ZACHARY.
>> THANK YOU AND EVERYBODY FOR
HAVING ME TALK TODAY. I HAVE
BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT
ENVIRONMENTALISM AND
ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION
SINCE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. IN
MY HOMETOWN IN HIGH SCHOOL I
SERVED ON THE LIVABLE STREETS
ADVISORY BOARD. IT IS A SIMILAR
BOARD TO THE TRANSIT ADVISORY
BOARD. WE ADVOCATED FOR
PEDESTRIAN EYES ASIAN OF
NEIGHBORHOODS. TRANSIT
INFRASTRUCTURE. I BELIEVE THAT
EXPERIENCE CAN HELP ME PERFORM
ON THIS BOARD. I'VE LIVED IN
SEATTLE. I'VE EXPERIENCED THE
CHALLENGES OF NOT HAVING A CAR
IN SEATTLE AND HAVING TO RELY
ON TRANSIT. I BELIEVE THAT
RINGS ME A GOOD PERSPECTIVE. I
LIVE IN THE LOWER CLEAN AND
NEIGHBORHOOD GRID I WOULD LIKE
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A VOICE TO
ADVOCATE HER TRANSIT THERE AND
ALL ACROSS SEATTLE. SO JUST
LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WILL MOVE ON TO OUR FINAL
TWO CANDIDATES. THERE WERE NOT
ABLE TO JOIN THE CALL DUE TO
WORK CONFLICTS BUT I HAVE
PREPARED STATEMENTS ON THEIR
BEHALF THAT I WILL SHARE NOW.
OUR THIRD CANDIDATE IS CAROLYN
TILLINGER , A REAL ESTATE
DEVELOPER BRINGING UNIQUE
PERSPECTIVES ON THE
RELATIONSHIP TWEEN TRANSIT
ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND ALSO A NATIVE TO
THE SEATTLE AREA. CAROLYN IS
INTERESTED IN JOINING TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT OUR ISSUES AND OTHER
MEMBER AND COMMUNITY
PERSPECTIVES. AS A FREQUENT
TRANSIT WRITER HERSELF, SHE
HOPES TO MAKE THE TRANSIT MORE
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.
>> FINALLY, OUR FOURTH
CANDIDATE IS DANA
COPPERNOLL-HOUSTON, WHO
CURRENTLY WORKS AS A COMMUNITY
COLLEGE ACADEMIC ADVISOR AND
HAS A BACKGROUND IN
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND
TEACHING. THEY WANTED ME TO
SHARE WITH EVERYONE HERE THAT
THEY ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE TRANSIT
ADVISORY BOARD. THEY'RE
PASSIONATE ABOUT
TRANSPORTATION, THE WAYS WE CAN
MAKE CITIES MORE ACCESSIBLE AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY FOCUSED DESIGN
CHOICES. THEY ALSO HAVE
PARTICULAR INTEREST IN MAKING
TRANSIT IS ATTRACTIVE AND
RELIABLE AS POSSIBLE TO ATTRACT
NEW TRANSIT RIDERS. AND THAT
CONCLUDES THE FOUR CANDIDATES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR OUR
20s? AGAIN, APPOINTMENT PACKETS
ARE ONLINE. COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
REVIEWED THEM PRIOR TO THE
COMMITTEE MEETING. IF WE DO NOT
ASK QUESTIONS IT IS BECAUSE WE
HAVE ALREADY REVIEWED THEIR
STUFF. THANK YOU. WE WILL
ADVANCE THESE AND DO THE
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE TO VOTE
ON ADVANCING THESE
APPOINTMENTS. COLLEAGUES, I
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDED CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENTS 2665 THROUGH 2668.
ITEMS 11 THROUGH 14 ON OUR
AGENDA. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED. ANY FINAL
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BEFORE WE
VOTE? OKAY, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO
CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENTS?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> THREE IN FAVOR COME IN
UNOPPOSED.
>> IT WILL BE SENT TO THE
SEPTEMBER 26th COUNCIL MEETING.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR
APPOINTEES. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ THE FULL TITLE OF
AGENDA ITEMS 15 THROUGH 20.
>> APPOINTMENTS 2669 THROUGH
274. AMY CONROY AS MEMBER OF
THE BICYCLE ADVISORY BOARD.
REAPPOINTMENTS OF THREE OTHER
MEMBERS AS MEMBERS TO THE
SEATTLE BICYCLE ADVISORY BOARD
FOR TERMS AUGUST 31st, 2025 FOR
BREATHING, DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE
VOTE FOR IT
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE ANOTHER
SUPERSTAR HERE WITH US. GOOD
MORNING. GO AHEAD AND USE
YOURSELF AND THE APPOINTEES WHO
ARE ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR PEDERSEN
AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
SIMON, STAFF LIAISON TO THE
BIKE ADVISORY BOARD. THE BOARD
IS MADE UP OF 12 MEMBERS AND
ADVISES THE CITY ON ALL ISSUES
RELATED TO BIKING INCLUDING
POLICY AND DESIGN. TODAY WE
HAVE THREE REAPPOINTMENTS AS
MENTIONED. THEY HAVE ALL BEEN
ACTIVE MEMBERS OVER THE LAST
ONE OR TWO YEARS. AND THEN
THREE NEW APPOINTMENTS. WE HAVE
ONE MEMBER HERE TODAY AND WE
HAD TO. ONE HAD TO DROP OFF
EARLY DUE TO A WORK ISSUE. WE
WILL START WITH AMY CONROY. I
WILL HAND IT OVER TO AMY TO
INTRODUCE HERSELF AND THEN THE
OTHER TWO MEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HI THERE, THANK YOU, SIMON.
MY NAME IS AMY. CAN EVERYONE
HEAR ME OKAY?
>> YES, THANK YOU.
>> JUST CHECKING. I LIVE IN
SEATTLE IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
AND I WORK DOWNTOWN. I AM
INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE
SEATTLE BICYCLE ADVISORY BOARD.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE AS A CITY
FIRST AND FOREMOST AND SEE WHAT
WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE OUR
STREETS FOR A DAILY BICYCLE
COMMUTER LIKE MYSELF. I BIKED
TO WORK EVERY DAY. I BIKED FOR
RECREATION AND FUN, AS WELL. SO
WITH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS
ON HAVING OTHERS NOT BE AFRAID
TO PUT BIKING ON OUR STREETS.
ACCESSIBILITY. THE LOCATION OF
BIKE LANES, AND HOW WE BALANCE
STANDARD BICYCLES, E-BIKES,
SCOOTERS AND OTHERS THAT ALL
WANT TO USE THESE LANES. REMIND
THE PUBLIC ESPECIALLY THOSE
DRIVING CARS ABOUT BICYCLE
LAWS. WHAT MEASURES MIGHT BE
INSTILLED TO HELP PEOPLE WHO
ARE WALKING AND RIDING SHARING
THIS CASE WITH OTHER MUCH
FASTER MOVING VEHICLES. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANKS. THAN THE OTHER TWO
MEMBERS WHO COULD NOT BE HERE
FIRST. DIANE LIVES IN WEST
SEATTLE. SHE RECENTLY RETIRED
BUT PREVIOUSLY WORKED IN THE
HEALTHCARE FIELD AND WANTS TO
ENSURE THERE IS AN ACCESSIBLE
OPTION FOR EVERYONE. THE FINAL
APPOINTMENT, NEAH, WHO LIVES IN
THE ATLANTIC NEIGHBORHOOD AND
HAS A REALLY CLOSE SENSE OF
HISTORY WITH BIKING INCLUDING
TEACHING MOUNTAIN BIKE YOUTH
CLASSES. ALSO LEADING BIKE
EVENTS FOR WOMEN AND THE LGBTQ
COMMUNITY. AND THAT WRAPS UP
THE BICYCLE ADVISORY BOARD
APPOINTMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT
THESE APPOINTMENTS TO THE BIKE
BOARD? THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
REAPPOINTMENTS AND SOME NEW
APPOINTMENTS AND WE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE.
OKAY, GREAT. WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND MOVE THESE APPOINTMENTS
FORWARD TO THE BICYCLE ADVISORY
BOARD TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
COUNCILMEMBERS, I NOW MOVE THAT
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS
2669 THROUGH 2674, ITEMS 15
THROUGH 20 ON OUR AGENDA. IS
THERE IS SECOND?
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN
RECOMMENDED FOR CONFIRMATION OF
THE APPOINTMENT AT ANY FINAL
COMMENTS BEFORE WE VOTE? OKAY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE AND THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM THE
APPOINTMENTS?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]THREE
IN FAVOR COME IN UNOPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM THE
APPOINTMENTS WILL BE SENT TO
OUR SEPTEMBER 26th CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. THANK YOU, SIMON AND
AMY. WHILE THE WORK PLEASE READ
THE FULL TITLE OF THE 21st
AGENDA ITEM?
>> AGENDA ITEM 21. APPOINTMENT
2675. APPOINTMENT OF DESIREE AS
MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE
PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD FOR
TERMS MARCH 31st, 2025. FOR
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. AND WE HAVE BALIN
HERRERA FROM .HERE. GOOD
MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. I
AM THE PEDESTRIAN ADVISOR FOR
THE LIAISON. DESIREE WAS NOT
ABLE TO ATTEND TODAY DUE TO A
MEDICAL EMERGENCY THAT THEY HAD
TO ATTEND TO.
>> OKAY. ARE YOU ABLE TO GIVE A
BRIEF OVERVIEW?
>> YES I CAN. SO DESIREE WAS
OUR INDIVIDUAL AND WE HAD
QUITE A BIT OF APPLICATIONS
COME IN. THEY ARE CURRENTLY A
SECURITY OFFICER WHO WOULD LIKE
TO MAKE SEATTLE A BETTER PLACE.
DESIREE HAS IDENTIFIED SIMILAR
MOBILITY CHALLENGES.
>> THANK YOU. OF COURSE WE HAD
A GOOD DISCUSSION TODAY ABOUT
SIDEWALKS AND INTERSECTION WITH
TRANSIT AND MOBILITY , SO I
KNOW THE PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY
BOARD WILL BE HELPFUL WITH THE
EFFORT TO ADD SIDEWALKS, AS
WELL. THANK YOU. OUR COLLEAGUES
HAVE ALREADY READ THE
APPOINTMENT PACKET. JUST ONE
APPOINTMENT TODAY FOR THE
PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD. ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BEFORE WE
TRY TO ADVANCE THIS
APPOINTMENT? OKAY. I NOW MOVE
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT
2675, ITEM 21 ON OUR AGENDA. IS
THERE A SECOND? IT HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED. RECOMMENDED
CONFIRMATION OF THIS
APPOINTMENT. ANY FINAL COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE
AND THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM THE
APPOINTMENT?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]THREE
IN FAVOR COME IN UNOPPOSED.
>> THE APPOINTMENT WILL BE SENT
TO THE SEPTEMBER 26th CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. AND NOW ARE
OUR FINAL APPOINTMENTS HERE
BEFORE WE GO TO THE UP DATE.
WHILE THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
FULL TITLE OF AGENDA ITEMS 22
AND 23 ON OUR AGENDA ?
>> AGENDA ITEMS 22 AND 23.
APPOINTMENTS 267692677.
APPOINTMENTS OF RYAN BAUM AND
KELSEY ROAD TO THE SEATTLE
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. FOR
BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. TWO APPOINTMENTS
FOR THE SEATTLE SCHOOL OF
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. WE
HAD A PRESENTATION AT OUR
COMMITTEE RECENTLY WITH SOME
REALLY GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS, SO
WE ARE GLAD WE ARE REPLENISHING
THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE
WITH THESE APPOINTMENTS. AND
DIANE WASH FROM .IS HERE.
>> GOOD MORNING. [
INDISCERNIBLE - LOW VOLUME ]
>> SOMETHING IS SQUEAKING. IT
IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND YOU.
>> I DID NOT HAVE MY MICROPHONE
DOWN. I AM SORRY ABOUT THAT.
NOW CAN YOU HEAR ME? THE SCHOOL
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE WAS
CREATED IN 1975 TO BRING
TOGETHER PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE
CITY AND PARENTS FOR SAFER
SCHOOLS. THE RECOMMENDED NEW
LOCATIONS, CROSSING GUARD
ASSIGNMENTS, TRAFFIC
CIRCULATION PLANS FOR SCHOOLS.
THE SCHOOL TRAFFIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF
REPRESENTATIVES FROM ., COUNTY
METRO AND THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. ONE MEMBER
REPRESENTING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY,
BICYCLE SAFETY AND THREE OTHER
MEMBERS. WE HAVE TWO CANDIDATES
FOR APPOINTMENT RECOMMENDED TO
SERVICE BICYCLE SAFETY MEMBER
AND A GENERAL MEMBER. I WILL
HAND IT OVER FIRST TO RYAN TO
INTRODUCE HIMSELF.
>> THINGS, DIANE. I SERVE ON
THE SEATTLE COMMITTEE AS A
SAFETY ADVOCATE. WHAT WE ARE
DOING IS AS A 17 YEAR BIKE
COMMUTER THROUGH DOWNTOWN. I
HAVE ADVOCATED FOR BIKING WITH
OTHER PARENTS TO SCHOOL AND
WORK, PARTICULARLY DURING THE
SEATTLE BRIDGE CLOSURE
INCLUDING BIKING TO DAYCARE
YEAR-ROUND. ON THE BACK OF A
CARGO BIKE. I AM FAMILIAR WITH
A BIT OF A CHALLENGE.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND AS A PARENT,
DEVELOPING SAFE ROUTES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GREAT, NEXT WE HAVE KELSEY.
>> I AM A CAPITAL BUDGET
ADVISOR WITH THE GOVERNOR. I
WORK ON K-12 AND HIGHER
EDUCATION. THIS COMMUNITY
FEELS REALLY INTO MY WORK AS
FAR AS SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE IS
CONCERNED AND THEN I THINK IT
IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE
PROVIDE WAYS FOR KIDS TO GET TO
AND FROM SCHOOL THAT ARE SAFE
AND CONVENIENT FOR FAMILIES,
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND
PROVIDE GOOD INTERACTION WITH
THE COMMUNITY AROUND THEM. I'M
EXCITED TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE. ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE TWO
APPOINTMENTS? OKAY, GREAT AND
THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. ALL
RIGHT. I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS
2676 AND 2677. ITEMS 22 AND 23
ON OUR AGENDA. IS THERE A
SECOND? IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED FOR CONFIRMATION OF
THE APPOINTMENTS. ANY FINAL
COMMENTS?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]THREE
IN FAVOR COME IN UNOPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES. CONFIRM
THE APPOINTMENT SENT TO THE
SEPTEMBER 26 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING AND THANK YOU, DIANE.
ALL RIGHT, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ THE FULL TITLE OF
THE FINAL AGENDA ITEM INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 24. VISION ZERO
UPDATE FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS HERE
TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE
EARLY ACTION INITIATIVES
FOLLOWING THEIR TOP TO BOTTOM
REVIEW OF THE PROGRAM AND ANY
OTHER INFORMATION THEY HAVE FOR
US ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THESE
SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND POLICIES.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING
THE PRESENTATION TOGETHER AT
OUR REQUEST. IT'S ON THE AGENDA
AND AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC.
WE WILL GO THROUGH THIS
EFFICIENTLY TODAY. ALWAYS
AVAILABLE TO HAVE US COME HERE
TO TALK ABOUT IMPORTANT SAFETY
PRIORITY. THAT MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR GIVING US SOME TIME
TODAY. WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON
ALL OF THE WORK THAT IS
UNDERWAY. SPECIFICALLY THE TOP
TO BOTTOM REVIEW. ROUGHLY A
YEAR AGO. IT IS IMPORTANT TO
KNOW THAT GIVEN THE
PRESENTATION IS THE FIRST CHIEF
SAFETY OFFICER AND THAT HE
TRAFFIC ENGINEER OF A POSITION
SPECIFICALLY CREATED AFTER A
REVIEW OF THE PROGRAM, AND
ELEVATING HIS POSITION TO TALK
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING
ALIGNMENT IN HIS WORD AND IN
HIS POSITION, AS WELL AS THE
OUTCOME. WE WILL BE TALKING
ABOUT THE WAYS WE ARE REALLY
ACTIVELY IMPLEMENTING THE
FINDINGS UNDER REVIEW. FOCUSING
ON MOMENTUM BUILDING ACTIONS
DOCUMENTED IN THE REVIEW. ALSO
GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT WORK
THAT IS UNDERWAY AS WE GET INTO
THE ACTION PLAN UPDATE. AS WELL
AS THE REALLY SUBSTANTIAL
TRANSFORMATIVE SAFE STREETS FOR
ALL GRANT, WHICH WILL BE
FOCUSED IN D2, DELIVERING
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF SAFETY
AND IMPROVEMENTS OF MANY
DIFFERENT TYPES. OUR FOCUS ON
SAFETY IS REALLY GETTING
AMPLIFIED AND IT IS REALLY EVEN
MORE THAN WE HAVE TIME TO TALK
TO YOU ABOUT TODAY. WE'RE
GETTING READY TO INSTALL A
PROTECTED INTERSECTION AT
THOMAS AND DEXTER. THE FIRST
ONE THAT WILL BE INTRODUCED
HERE IN SEATTLE. MOVED FOR
SAFETY AND PART OF OUR
CONTINUED INNOVATION AND
FACILITY DESIGN TO IMPROVE
SAFETY ON OUR ROADS. WE ARE
ALSO RE-ENVISIONING AURORA IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH WSDOT. AS PART
OF THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE ALREADY
BEEN SEEN CHANGES WITH THE
PRODUCTION OF A TRAVEL LANE
AROUND THE LAKE AS WELL AS
GETTING READY TO INSTALL A NO
TURN ON RED ALONG AURORA AS AN
EARLY MOVE. WE JUST COMPLETED
SIDEWALKS TO WING LUBE
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. A REALLY
GREAT PROJECT. CONNECTED DEEPLY
TO OUR VISION ZERO SAFETY WORK.
WE ARE GETTING READY TO KICK
OFF CONSTRUCTION ON MARTIN
LUTHER KING JR. SAFETY PROJECT
WHICH IS PROTECTED BY GLANDS ON
MARTIN LUTHER KIG JR. WAY. WE
ARE JUST WRAPPING UP THE FIRST
LANES OF PEDESTRIAN
IMPROVEMENTS FOR 15th AVENUE
SOUTH SAFETY PROJECT. THE
LONGER-TERM PROJECT WILL BE
COMING ONLINE NEXT YEAR, BUT
THE FIRST PHASE WAS IMPORTANT,
THE WAY WE ARE DEMONSTRATING
OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUDING
SAFETY IN OUR PROJECT AS WE
DESIGN LARGER CAPITAL PROJECT.
WE ARE ALSO CREATING THOUGHTFUL
DESIGN GUIDANCE AROUND
AUTOMATED AND FORCED LAND. WE
WILL TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
WORKGROUP AND OTHER
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
LOT OF THINGS UNDERWAY
STRUCTURALLY AND THE DEPARTMENT
FROM OUR DESIGN PERSPECTIVES
AND POLICIES SO THAT WE CAN
SYSTEMATICALLY BE IMPROVING
SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE NETWORK.
WITH THAT, I WILL HAND IT OVER
TO VENU AND HE WILL SHARE MORE
INFORMATION, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING
EVERYONE. I AM SHARING MY
SCREEN, CAN YOU SEE MY SCREEN?
EXCELLENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LET ME FIRST KIND OF START WITH
OUR MISSION VALUES AND GOALS.
AS ALWAYS WE AFFIRM THE
COMMITMENT TO LEAD WITH CORE
VALUES OF MOBILITY,
SUSTAINABILITY, EXCELLENCE IN
EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. WHY IS
MY SCREEN NOT DOING MORE?
SORRY. OKAY, COOL. I WILL GIVE
YOU A BRIEF IDEA WHERE WE ARE.
GETTING AN UPDATE ON TOP TO
BOTTOM REVIEW, PROMOTING
SAFETY. HERE ARE SOME NEXT
STEPS ON OUR ACTION PLAN.
BEFORE THEY BEGIN, I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE 16 PEOPLE WHO
LOST THEIR LIVES TO VIOLENCE ON
THE STREET SINCE WE BEGAN THE
EFFORT. PEOPLE WERE SERIOUSLY
INJURED. TOGETHER WE WANT TO
HOLD THIS SPACE FOR THEM.
BRIEFLY THIS IS HOW OUR 2023
HAS GONE SO FAR. WE HAVE HAD
THESE COLLISIONS ON OUR STREETS
WITH 19 PEOPLE LOSING THEIR
LIVES. DUI, ONE OF WHICH
RESULTED IN MULTIPLE
FATALITIES. WE THINK THESE
PEOPLE WERE ON HOUSED WHO WERE
INVOLVED IN THESE FEDERAL
COLLISIONS. MOST OF THESE
CRASHES, 18 FEDERAL COLLISIONS
WERE HAPPENING BETWEEN DUSK AND
DAWN. EIGHT OF THESE INVOLVE
SPEEDING. IT CONTINUES TO
POINT UPWARD IN TERMS OF
GETTING A LOT MORE WORK TO DO.
WE AFFIRM AND GOING FORWARD WE
WILL BE FOCUSING MORE ON THE
SAFE SYSTEMS. WE HAVE A SAFE
SYSTEMS APPROACH TO IMPROVING
SAFETY AND SAFER STREETS ARE
WHERE WE HAVE THE BIGGEST
INFLUENCE WITH WHAT IS MORE IN
OUR REVIEW. AS YOU WILL KNOW,
LAST YEAR, OUR DEPARTMENT HAS
INITIATED A TOP TO BOTTOM
REVIEW AND WE FINALIZE THE TOP
TO BOTTOM REVIEW EARLIER THIS
SUMMER. BUILDING ACTIONS TO
PROMOTE SAFETY AND I WILL
PROVIDE MORE DETAILS ON THE
PROGRESS OF THE NEXT FEW
SLIDES. AND THE NEXT STEP ON
THE VISION AND ACTION PLAN.
WE'VE HEARD A LOT FROM THE
PUBLIC. WE GOT FEEDBACK. WE
HAVE INCORPORATED THE FEEDBACK
INTO OUR FINAL VERSION TO MAKE
OUR ACTIONS MORE CLEAR.
PRESENTING A CLEAR LINK TO THE
ACTION PLAN. WE ARE LOOKING AT
THE ELEMENTS. SEEING A DESIRED
TO HEAR TRANSPORTATION ALL
PROPOSALS IS SOMETHING THAT WE
HAVE INCORPORATED INTO OUR
TRANSPORTATION PLAN WHICH WE
JUST PUBLISHED. AND ALSO
INTEREST IN UNDERSTANDING WHERE
THE NEXT STEPS ARE IN TERMS OF
THE ACTION PLAN. SO THE FIRST
ONE BUILDING ACTION LEADING TO
IMPLEMENTATION. SO FAR THIS
YEAR WE HAVE -- [
INDISCERNIBLE ] OF THE 980 THAT
WE HAVE. WE HAVE OTHER
APPLICATIONS FOR THE
END-OF-THE-YEAR AND WEIRD
DEVELOPING A STRATEGY WITH
CITYWIDE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
SAFETY COMMISSIONER WHERE WE
HAVE SEEN TREMENDOUS SAFETY
BENEFITS IN THE NEXT YEARS. AS
FRANCISCO POINTED OUT, WE HAVE
ALSO DONE SOME POLICY WORK. A
POLICY THAT RESTRICTS AND
REQUIRES EVALUATION OF THE
INTERSECTION -- WORKING ON THIS
INTERSECTION. THUS FAR, WE HAVE
INSTALLED THEM AT 40
APPLICATIONS, MOSTLY DOWNTOWN.
ON TRACK TO COMPETE WITH
ANOTHER 85 LOCATIONS PRIMARILY
AROUND THE COURT ORDER.
DEVELOPING A STRATEGY TO
IMPLEMENT THIS CITYWIDE,
FOCUSING ON UNDERSERVED
NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEN WORKING
OUR WAY ACROSS THE CITY.
ANOTHER MOMENT OF BUILDING
ACTION WAS OUR PARTNERSHIP TO
BUILD A SERIES OF THESE ON
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WAY. WE
ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGED WITH
THEM AT THE STAFF AND
LEADERSHIP LEVEL. WE ARE HAVING
BIWEEKLY STAFF MEETINGS TO TALK
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY
ISSUES AT SPECIFIC LOCATIONS.
LEADERSHIP AS THEY ARE
INVOLVED WITH THEIR
COUNTERPARTS AT THE LEADERSHIP
LEVEL AND THIS COMBINED TEAM.
COMPLETING COMMUNITY SAFETY
WALKS. LEARNING FIRSTHAND FROM
CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THEIR SAFETY
CONCERNS AND ALSO TO
DEMONSTRATE THE VARIOUS
SAFETIES THAT WE HAVE PURSUED
AND COMPLETED AND WE ARE
PURSUING AS WE MOVE FORWARD. WE
HAVE SEVERAL PILOT PROJECTS
CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT. TWO
OF THEM ARE BEING LED BY
TRANSIT. THERE IS A
MODIFICATION THAT CHANGES THE
TRENDS ON LEVELS AS THEY ARE
APPROACHING THE STATIONS.
SOMETIMES COMPLETING AS THEY
APPROACH THE STATIONS. THE
RE-PRIORITIZATION. WHAT WE HAVE
SEEN ALONG THE COURT OR IS THAT
TRAINS THROUGH INTERSECTIONS,
THERE MAY BE TIME WHEN YOU HAVE
TO SKIP PEDESTRIANS TO LET THE
SYSTEM COME BACK INTO SYNC WITH
ALL OTHER MOVEMENTS. MAYBE
SKIPPING SOME'S PEDESTRIAN
SPACES TO BRING THE SYSTEM BACK
INTO SYNC. WE WANT FIERY PRIOR
AUTHORIZATION OCEAN -- THE
RE-PRIORITIZATION AND A MUCH
BETTER WAY WHILE STILL
PRIORITIZING TRAIN TRAVEL
THROUGH THE CORRIDOR. WE ARE
EXCITED ABOUT THIS. WE ARE
WORKING OUT THE DETAILS AND
HOPE THAT IT MIGHT LAUNCH VERY
SOON. PURSUING A NUMBER OF
SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ON MLK
CORRIDOR. ALL INTERSECTIONS
ALONG THE CORRIDOR, WE HAVE
FINISHED MARKING AT THREE
LOCATIONS ALONG THE CORRIDOR
WHICH WE EXPECT TO COMPLETE A
MONTH FROM NOW. WE HAVE
REFRESHED CROSSWALK AND
MARKINGS ON THE CORRIDOR.
REFLECTIVE TAPE ON SIGNAL HEADS
AT INTERSECTIONS. MORE CROSSING
MARKINGS TO BRING ATTENTION TO
LEFT TURNING MOTORISTS THAT
THEY WILL BE CROSSING TRACKS.
COUPLED WITH DYNAMIC NO LEFT
TURN AND LIGHT RAIL SYMBOL THAT
COMES ON WHEN A TRAIN IS
APPROACHING. IN ADDITION TO
THIS, WE'VE INSTALLED ANOTHER
19 TRAIN COMING SIGNS DIRECTED
AT PEDESTRIANS TO GRAB THEIR
ATTENTION AND GIVE THEM AN
ADVANCED WARNING OF A TREND
THAT HAS PASSED THROUGH OR IS
COMING TO THE INTERSECTION. WE
HAVE ALSO IMPLEMENTED
SUPPLEMENTAL PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS
THAT ARE CLOSER AS THEY CROSS
THE INTERSECTIONS ON MLK. SOME
INTERSECTIONS ABOUT SPECIFIC
CROSSWALK APPROACHES AND WE ARE
LOOKING TO INSTALL MORE IN THE
COMING YEARS AT MORE
INTERSECTIONS. WE HAVE TRANSIT
AND SD IN PARTNERSHIP. A SMART
PLAN WORTH ABOUT $2 MILLION FOR
APPLYING INNOVATIVE
TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE SAFETY
FOR ALL ROAD USERS. PRIMARILY
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO DO WITH
THE SMART PLAN. USING
ANALYTICS TO STUDY SAFETY
BEHAVIOR ON THE COURT ORDER.
LOOKING AT PREVENTING --
TESTING PUSHBUTTONS FOR
PEDESTRIANS, SMART BUTTONS FOR
TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND BACKUP AND
LETTING THE SYSTEM BENEFIT AT
AL TIMES. LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT
ANALYTICS MEANS. TRADITIONALLY,
WE RELY ON INFORMATION THAT WE
OBTAIN FROM POLICE REPORTS. WE
ARE GOING ONE STEP FORWARD AND
USING THE ANALYTICS AND A HIGH
POWERED ENGINES TO UNDERSTAND
CONFLICTS AND NEAR MISSES ON
THE CORRIDOR. SAFETY
CONFIRMATIONS ON THE CORRIDOR.
WE ARE IN THE GRAND OBLIGATION
PHASE. AFTER THAT WE HAVE 18
MONTHS TO FINISH THE PILOT AND
DEMONSTRATE THESE VARIOUS NEW
TECHNOLOGIES. ELIGIBLE FOR $15
MILLION IN IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE PILOT PROJECTS ALONG THE
CORRIDOR. ANOTHER MOMENT IN
BUILDING ACTION STAYING ENGAGED
. WE'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF
FEEDBACK AFTER OUR TOP TO
BOTTOM REVIEW, INCORPORATING IT
INTO OUR FINAL VERSION. WE
HAVING GAUGED WITH OUR
TRANSPORTATION GROUP AND A
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION
WHO EXPAND THIS, CENTERING ON
BOTH SAFETY AND EQUITY.
CURRENTLY WORKING ON
COMPREHENSIVE POLICY FOR
ENFORCEMENT BASED ON THE
ABILITY TO SEE FROM THE
TRANSPORTATION GROUP AND
COMMUNITY INPUT. AND SEE HOW WE
CAN CENTER EQUITY AND SAFETY,
HAS TO BE CONSIDERED POTENTIAL
EXPANSION OF THE AUTOMATED
ENFORCEMENT. I HAVE THE INTENT
TO EXPAND SCHOOL ZONES AND
OTHER PLANS. WE HAVE A METHOD
FOR EXPANDING SCHOOL ZONES
USING SAFETY AND EQUITY.
EXPANDING ACROSS THE CITY BASED
ON THE INPUT WE RECEIVED FROM
OUR TRANSPORTATION CREW.
EXPECTING SOME CONSTRAINTS IN
THE CURRENT SYSTEM. THE FINAL
MOMENT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS
CHIEF ENGINEER. I AM ALSO
SAFETY OFFICER. IN THIS
CAPACITY, PROVISIONS OF THE
PROGRAM REVIVING SAFETY AND
PROTECTIVE PROJECTS AND ALL OF
POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT ARE
NEEDED TO CENTER WORK ON SAFETY
AND CORE VALUES. THIS IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY TO HAVE A
GREATER IMPACT ON SAFETY
ISSUES. WE ALSO HAVE A
COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF SEVERAL
DEPARTMENTAL LEADERS SO THAT
VISION ZERO IS A PROGRAM THAT
SITS ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT, NOT
JUST IN ONE DIVISION. IN ORDER
TO BENEFIT VARIOUS GRANTS, WE
ARE WORKING ON THE SAFE STREETS
FOR ALL GRANT. ENGAGING TO
EXPECT THE WORK TO BE COMPLETED
AT THE END OF THE YEAR. IN THE
DESIGN PHASE BY THE END OF THE
YEAR. CURRENTLY EXPLORING TO
SEE HOW WE CAN MORE EFFICIENTLY
AND EXPEDITIOUSLY IMPLEMENT THE
VARIOUS PROGRAMS PROVIDED GRID
WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE MONEY
THAT WE HAVE REQUESTED, SO WE
HAVE PLENTY OF ENGAGEMENT WITH
HOW WE CAN WORK AS MANY
PROJECTS AS WE CAN. WE ARE ALSO
WORKING STEADILY ON THE AURORA
SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. WE HAVE
COMPLETED INITIAL COMMUNITY
OUTREACH AND WE ARE WORKING
WITH WSDOT AND OTHER STATE
COORDINATORS TWO MAKE SURE TO
PLAN THE STUDY. WE WANT TO
SEEK ADDITIONAL PUBLIC INPUT ON
THE DESIGN FEATURES YOU WANT TO
SEE ON THE CORRIDOR. WE ARE NOT
WAITING FOR THE PLANNING STUDY
TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING BUT ALSO
WORKING ON SOME IMPROVEMENTS
IMPLEMENTING THAT WHICH WILL
HAPPEN LATER THIS YEAR. WE ARE
LOOKING AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS
THAT WE ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE.
INSTALL EXPANDED CROSSWALKS.
TREATMENT INTERVENTIONS ALONG
THE CORRIDOR SO THAT WE CAN
BENEFIT MOMENTUM FOR MORE
SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE
CORRIDOR WITH THE PLAN STUDY.
THIS LEADS US TO OUR NEXT STEP,
THE LAST PART OF THE TOP TO
BOTTOM REVIEW. WE'VE BEEN
WORKING ON AN ACTION PLAN. IT'S
GOING TO INTEGRATE THE TOP TO
BOTTOM COMMUNICATIONS BASED ON
THIS APPROACH. WE WILL BE
FOCUSING ON PROACTIVE AND
RESPONSIBLE APPROACHES TO
SAFETY, INTEGRATING SAFETY INTO
THE ACTIONS. COMPLETING THE
DRAFT BY THE END OF THE YEAR
AND MOVING TO IMPLEMENTATION
COME NEXT YEAR. WITH THAT I
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR
SUPPORT FOR MORE TRANSPORTATION
SAFETY AND I AM HAPPY TO TAKE
ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VENU.
THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL TO HAVE
THIS BASELINE INFORMATION AS WE
HAD IN OUR BUDGET REVIEW.
SESSION. ONCE WE GET THE
MAYOR'S BUDGET A WEEK FROM
TODAY. I KNOW A LOT OF US WILL
BE LOOKING AT THE PROPOSAL TO
SEE IF IT HAS VARIOUS SAFETY
ELEMENTS. WE ARE HOPING TO SEE
IT THROUGHOUT OUR CITY AND OUR
DISTRICT. WHERE THEE
COLLISIONS ARE OCCURRING, WE
KNOW THAT THE DATA IS SHOWING
IT. PREDOMINANTLY IN SOUTH
SEATTLE AND SO WE WANT TO
SUPPORT EFFORTS TO FUND SAFETY
PROJECTS THERE. ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS? I KNOW
YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THIS
MATERIAL ALREADY BUT IT IS ON
THE AGENDA AVAILABLE IF YOU
WANT TO REFERENCE BACK TO HER
DURING THE BUDGET DISCUSSION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU , CHAIR. I WANT TO
THANK THE ENTIRE .TEAM. THIS IS
IMPORTANT WORK AS WE KNOW FOR
THE SAFETY OF OUR NEIGHBORS. I
ALSO WANT TO THINK APRIL WHO
WAS ON FROM SOUND TRANSIT
DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. MY OFFICE MEETS
REGULARLY WITH THEM
PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE SAFETY
ISSUES ALONG MLK CORRIDOR. MEET
REGULARLY WITH S., AS WELL. I
APPRECIATE THE UPDATE ON SOME
OF THE IMPROVEMENTS, SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS, DEFINITELY WILL
BE REFERENCING THIS WITH THE
BUDGET DISCUSSIOS. CONTINUING
TO WORK WITH YOU. THANK YOU FOR
ALL OF THIS. FEELS TO ME LIKE A
REAL SHIFT OF PRIORITY IN
CENTERING THE GOALS, SO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT,
COLLEAGUES. THANKS FOR STICKING
WITH US FOR THE EXTRA LONG
MEETING TODAY AND WE APPRECIATE
GETTING ALL THIS INFORMATION
OUT THERE FOR THE PUBLIC ON
SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. THAT
IS OUR LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
COLLEAGUES , WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND CLOSE OUT THIS MEETING. THE
TIME IS 12:10 P.M. AND THIS
CONCLUDES THE SEPTEMBER 19,
2023 MEETING OF THE
TRANSPORTATION SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMITTEE. WE WILL DO
THE TRADITIONAL BUDGET REVIEW
PROCESS. TWO MONTHS, ALL OF
OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER. WE
TYPICALLY SUSPEND REGULAR
COMMITTEE MEETINGS. THEREFORE
UNLESS WE END UP HAVING A
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND
OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
MEETING WILL BE HELD ON
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5 AT 9:30
A.M. THANK YOU AND WE ARE
JOINED. [ EVENT CONCLUDED ]