>> COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> SIX PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER
LIN.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA ARE
EXCUSED FOR THE DAY.
THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 9th,
2026 WILL BE ADOPTED WRK
LOOKING LEFT AND RIGHT.
LOOK RIGHT AND LEFT FIRST,
RIGHT AND LEFT, THERE IS NO
OBJECTION SO THE MINUTES ARE
ADOPTED.
I APOLOGIZE.
I WAS GOING TO SAY ABDUCTED
BUT THEY WERE ADDUCTED.
WE HAVE OIR PRESENTATION AND
SOUND TRANSIT PRESENTATION
TODAY.
WE ALSO HAVE ONE
EXECUTIVE SESSION SCHEDULED
AFTER THIS
MEETING.
AND ON TOMORROW'S SKI
COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA, WE HAVE
EIGHT ITEMS ON THE INTRODUCTION
AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
WE HAVE A BILL FOR THE BILLS,
A BILL FOR THE BILLS.
WE ALSO HAVE AN
ORDINANCE RELATED TO SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT.
OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE.
WE ALSO HAVE A REAPPOINTMENT
OF FOUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO
THE JOINT APPRENTICESHIP
TRAINING
COMMITTEE.
WE ALSO HAVE A PETITION FOR
VACATION OF ALLEY BLOCK OFF
DENNY'S WATERFRONT ADDITION TO
IT CITY OF SEATTLE.
AND ON TOMORROW' CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA, WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON
THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
BILLS AND MEETING MINUTES FOR
2/17.
WE ALSO HAVE ONE ITEM UP FOR A
VOTE, AND THAT IS APPOINTMENT OF
CBO DIRECTOR ALI PANUCCI.
ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS REGARDING THE
PRESIDENT'S
REPORT?
AWESOME, SEEING NONE, NEXT,
WE'LL JUST JUMP RIGHT INTO IT.
WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION FOR 2026.
I BELIEVE -- OH, YOU'RE HERE IN
PERSON.
GREAT. I WAS LOOKING ON THE
SCREEN,
AND YOU CAME FROM AROUND THE
CORNER.
I APPRECIATE YOU.
ALWAYS APPRECIATE TO SEE YOU,
DIRECTOR. I KNOW YOU ALL ARE
ALWAYS
BACK AND FORTH, BUT IT'S GOOD
TO
SEE YOU IN PERSON TODAY.
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH
AND
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
AND I'M JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES
ANNA
JOHNSON AND SAMIR WHO YOU'LL
HEAR FROM MOMENTARILY.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
JUST 17 DAYS REMAIN OF
THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
LAST WEEK, THE
LEGISLATURE WRAPPED UP HOUSE OF
ORIGIN FOR
ACTION, SENDING A WAVE OF
BILLS TO THE OFFICE AT
CHAMBER'S
POLICY COMMITTEES. AMONG MANY
REASONS WHY A
BILL NOT MAKE IT OUT IN TIME ON
THE
ANTICIPATED LEVEL OF
CONTROVERSY AND AMOUNT
OF DEBATE TIME IT WILL REQUIRE.
DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF FLOOR
ACTION, LEADERS ON BOTH
SIDES BROUGHT BILLS THAT WERE
WIDELY
SUPPORTED.
MORE CONTENTIOUS OR COMPLEX
BILLS, PARTICULARLY
THOSE EXPECTED TO GENERATE
LENGTHY DEBATE OR MANY
AMENDMENTS
ARE OFTEN HELD UNTIL LATER IN
THE
CALENDAR.
FREQUENTLY SURFACING DURING
EXTENDED EVENING SESSIONS
AS DEADLINES DRAW NEAR.
LAWMAKERS NOW FACE A FAST-
MOVING TIMELINE WITH A
DEADLINE OF FEBRUARY 25th TO
REVIEW,
DEBATE, AND ADVANCE POLICIES
FROM
THE OPPOSITE CHAMBER.
ALSO THIS WEEK, OPERATING
BUDGETS ARE EXPECTED TO BE
RELEASED AND HEARD WITH
THE TRANSPORTATION AND
CAPITAL BUDGETS TYPICALLY
FOLLOWING SHORLY THEREAFTER.
BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MY
COLLEAGUES, I WILL SET UP
OUR SLIDE DECK.
WE HAVE LISTED
LEGISLATION CORRESPONDING TO THE
CITY'S OFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA
AND ITS STATUS IN THE FIRST FEW
SLIDES.
AND FOR THE SAKE OF TIME,
OUR PRESENTATION WILL COVER
UPDATES FROM WEEKS FIVE AND SIX
TO THESE
PRIORITIES.
AND OTHER IMPORTANT
LEGISLATION THAT THE CITY IS
TRACKING.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN
IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES TO GET
INTO THE
DETAILS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
>> I'LL START US OFF.
GIVING YOU A FEW UPDATES OF SOME
OF THE SEATTLE PRIORITIES WE
SAW ACTION ON IN THE LAST COUPLE
WEEKS.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS
SLIDE IS THE FULL LIST OF OUR
SEATTLE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE
BEEN
TRACKING.
I WILL HIGHLIGHT HOUSE BILL
21- 199, THIS IS HELPING
IMPROVE THE PROCESSES TO
ADDRESS DERELICT VESSELS AND
THIS
BILL HAD A HEARING IN THE SENATE
LAST WEEK AND IS SCHEDULED
FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS
AFTERNOON.
I'LL ALSO HIGHLIGHT HOUSE BILL
2038, THAT CREATES A STATE-
WIDE FOOD SECURITY COORDINATION.
THIS BILL ALSO HAD A
HEARING LAST WEEK.
IT'S SCHEDULED FOR EXEC THIS
AFTERNOON. THIS BILL IS
IMPORTANT TO
SEATTLE BECAUSE IT
HELPS STRENGTHEN ALIGNMENT
BETWEEN FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS AND
SEATTLE'S PROGRAMS.
IT HELPS IMPROVE SUPPLY
CHAIN VISIBILITY DURING
EMERGENCIES
AND ALSO CREATES
CLEARER PATHWAYS TO SUPPORT
WASHINGTON FARMERS TO SELL INTO
URBAN
MARKETS FOR OUR SCHOOLS, FOOD
BANKS, AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.
ALSO SENATE BILL 5880
FROM SENATOR WAGNER DEALS WITH
ACCREDITED TOXICOLOGY LAB
TESTING.
THIS PASSED THE SENATE
UNANIMOUSLY AND IS SCHEDULED
FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION TOMORROW.
>> A FEW OTHER BILLS AS WELL
ON THIS LIST.
2105 RELATED TO IMMIGRANT
WORKING PROTECTIONS.
MOVED OUT OF THE SENATE
LABOR AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE
LAST
WEEK. AND TWO HOUSING BILLS ON
THIS
LIST, A HOUSE BILL
RELATED TO SOCIAL HOUSING AND
2304 WHICH
IS OUR LIABILITY LAW REFORMS.
BOTH OF THOSE BILLS PASSED
OUT OF THE SENATE HOUSING
COMMITTEES
LAST WEEK.
ALSO FLAGGED TRANSPORTATION
BILL, HOUSE BILL 2495
WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO
REMOVE VEHICLE OBSTRUCTIONS FROM
THE STREET CAR TRACKS.
THAT BILL HAS A HEARING TODAY
IN SENATE TRANSPORTATION.
AND THEN SENATE BILL 6148
WHICH WOULD MODIFY TERMS FOR THE
TRANSIT. HAD A HEARING LAST WEEK
IN
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION.
LASTLY, SENATE BILL 6346 WHICH
TAX ON MILLIONAIRES.
IT HAS A HEARING LATER THIS
WEEK IN THE HOUSE.
IT PASSED OUT OF THE SENATE
LAST
WEEK. NOW MOVED TO THE HOUSE
FINANCE
COMMITTEE.
I'LL FLAG A COUPLE CHANGES
THAT WERE MADE.
PUBLIC DEFENSE FUNDING WENT
FROM 5% OF REVENUES TO 7% OF
REVENUES.
NOW 10% OF THAT WOULD GO TO
CITIES.
THE REST TO COUNTIES.
AND THEN LASTLY, IT ALSO
REPEALS MANY OF THE SALES TAX
CHANGES THAT WERE MADE LAST
SESSION
IN SENATE BILL 5814 WHICH
ADDED SALES TAX TO A VARIETY OF
NEW
SERVICES LIKE DIGITAL
SURFACES, TEMPORARY STAFFING,
AND
SO REPEALED MANY OF THOSE,
EXCEPT FOR ADVERTISING SERVICES
STARTING IN 2030 WHICH IS
WHEN THE REVENUE FROM THE INCOME
TAX WOULD ALSO BE IN EFFECT.
I'LL MOVE ON TO A RECAP OF
OTHER BILLS WE HAVE TRACKED.
SO MOVING FIRST TO
BUDGET REVENUE BILLS.
I'LL FLAG SENATE BILL
6347, WHICH REPEALS MANY OF
THE CHANGES TO ESTATE TAX THAT
THE
LEGISLATURE MADE IN THE LAST
SESSION, WHICH INCREASED THE
TOP MARGINAL TAX RATE IN THE
STATE AND REPEALS THAT BACK TO
WHAT WAS IN PLACE THIS PAST
YEAR.
AND HOUSE BILL 1408, CREATES
A DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE
FOR COMMUNITY PRESERVATION
AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES BY
DIVERTING SALES TAX PAID
AT THE TWO STADIUMS.
>> CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
BILLS, I WANTED TO SHARE HOUSE
BEEN 1903.
THIS BILL ESTABLISHES A
STATE- WIDE LOW INCOME
ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
THE HEARING ON THE SENATE
SIDE ON THIS BILL, AND HOUSE
BILL
2515, WHICH IS ADDRESSING
EMERGING LARGE ENERGY
USE FACILITIES OR OTHERWISE
KNOWN
AS DATA CENTERS.
THIS CITY WAS ABLE TO MOVE
FROM MONITOR POSITION TO PRO
POSITION
WHEN THE BILL HAD A HEARING
IN THE OPPOSITE CHAMBER.
BOTH OF THESE BILLS
ARE SCHEDULED FOR EXECUTIVE
SESSION
THIS WEEK.
>> GENERAL GOVERNMENT BILL HERE,
6239, WHICH ESTABLISHES
A PROCESS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE
ADJUDICATION FOR TORT CLAIMS
IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON AND
POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS LIKE THE
CITY.
AND HEALTH CARE BILL AS
WELL, SENATE BILL 5981, WHICH
PROTECTS PATIENT ACCESS TO
DISCOUNTED
MEDICATIONS THROUGH
WASHINGTON'S
HEALTH CARE SAFETY NET BY
PREVENTING MANUFACTURER
LIMITATIONS ON THE DRUG
PRICING PROGRAM WHICH IS A
FEDERAL
DRUG PRICING PROGRAM THAT
HELPS HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS
THAT SERVE LOW- INCOME AND
UNINSURED
PATIENTS.
HOUSING AND HOMELESSINIZE.
HOUSE BILL 1974, WOULD ALLOW
PDAs, HOUSING AUTHORITIES,
OTHER NONPROFITS TO ESTABLISH
LAND MAKING AUTHORITIES.
AND SENATE BILL 6200, WHICH
PROHIBITS LANDLORDS FROM
RESTRICTING A TENET
FROM INSTALLING PORTABLE COOLING
DEVICES.
FIELD LABOR AND COMMERCE BILLS.
STARTING WITH SENATE BILL
5061, WHICH REQUIRES CERTAIN
WAGES
IN PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS TO
BE AT LEAST THE PREVAILING WAGE
IN EFFECT WHEN THE WORK IS
PERFORMED AS OPPOSED TO WHEN
THE CONTRACT IS AWARDED.
AND ESTABLISHING
LABOR PROTECTIONS FOR DOMESTIC
WORKERS.
AND HOUSE BILL
1833, WHICH CREATES
AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE GRANT
PROGRAM
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
FOR ESSENTIALLY SERVICES THAT
WOULD BE OF BENEFIT TO THE
STATE.
>> NEXT, I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THIS NEW SECTION ADDED
TO
OUR BRIEFING THIS WEEK AROUND
BILLS THAT RELATE TO NATIVE
COMMUNITIES TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.
STARTING WITH SENATE BILL
5374, THIS BILL IS A CARRY OVER
FROM
LAST SESSION, WHICH IS MEANT TO
INCLUDE TRAVEL REPRESENTATION IN
CERTAIN TRANSPORTATION
ACTIVITIES.
SENATE BILL 5838 ADDS A
TRIBAL MEMBER TO THE BOARD OF
THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL
RESOURCES, AND THEN SENATE BILL
6034
IS MOVING THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
OF INDIAN AFFAIRS INTO A
STATUTORY
ESTABLISHMENT. ALL THREE OF
THESE BILLS ARE
SET TO HAVE HEARINGS IN
EXECUTIVE
SESSION THIS WEEK.
AND THEN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND
CRIMINAL JUSTICE, SENATE BILL
5067 IS CONCERNING
IMPAIRED DRIVING AND LOWERING
THE
BAC LIMIT TO .05.
SENATE BILL 5925 CONCERNS THE
GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.
SPECIFICALLY AS THIS
BILL RELATES TO PUBLIC SAFETY,
IT EXPANDS ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE
CITY
AND COUNTY JAILS ACT AS WELL
AS ENFORCING THE LAWS THAT
ADDRESS LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES,
RESTRICTIONS RELATED TO
FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT
THROUGH ISSUING CIVIL
INVESTIGATIVE
DEMANDS.
BOTH THESE BILLS ARE
SCHEDULED FOR EXEC THIS WEEK AS
WELL.
>> IN TERMS OF SOCIAL
PROGRAMS AND EDUCATION, I WANTED
TO HIGHLIGHT HOUSE BILL 2219.
THIS IS KIND OF A
GOOD GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY
BILL RELATED TO THE
OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY OF CHILD
CARE
PROVIDERS.
AND THEN ALSO SENATE BILL
5993 DEALS WITH INTEREST CHARGES
FOR NEW AND UNPAID MEDICAL DEBT.
THIS BILL RELATES TO MANY
FOLKS' ATTENTION ON
AFFORDABILITY THIS
YEAR.
>> TRANSPORTATION BILLS, HOUSE
BILL 2095, WHICH ESTABLISHES
A PRESUMPTION OF NEGLIGENCE FOR
TORT CLAIMS FROM A
VEHICLE COLLISION THAT CAUSES
INJURY
OR DEATH TO A VULNERABLE USER OF
A PUBLIC WAY OR PEDESTRIAN.
AND SENATE BILL 6311
WHICH PROVIDES FOR CONTINUOUS
SAFE
PASSAGE DURING CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS.
MUCH OF THIS BILL MODELED
ON CITY POLICY.
AND I MENTIONED EARLIER THIS
WEEK, YOU'LL SEE HEARINGS
ON HOUSE AND SENATE BUDGETS,
OPERATING CAPITAL
AND TRANSPORTATION BUDGETS ARE
GOING
TO BE HAVING HEARINGS AND
WILL HAVE COMMITTEES THIS WEEK
AND NEXT WEEK.
AND THEN TWO DAYS FROM NOW IS
THE CHAMBER OF POLICY COMMITTEE
CUTOFF AND A FISCAL CUTOFF
MARCH 2nd.
WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE
ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU FOR THAT
PRESENTATION.
COLLEAGUES, I'LL PAUSE HERE
TO SEE IF ANYONE HAS ANY
QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR FOR BEING
HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
UPDATE.
I JUST WANTED TO TALK TO TWO
ITEMS, OF COURSE, PUBLIC SAFETY
RELATED.
FIRST, JUST HAD A MEETING WITH
OUR CITY ATTORNEY EVANS, AND
I WANTED TO REITERATE
HOW IMPORTANT THE TOXICOLOGY
BILL
IS. WE REALLY NEED TO WORK THIS
BILL.
IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFIC
RELATED TO IT?
I BELIEVE EVERYTHING IS MOVING
POSITIVELY.
IS THAT -- DID I READ THAT
RIGHT?
DID I HEAR THAT RIGHT?
>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
THE BILL IS SET TO BE VOTED OUT
OF THE OPPOSITE CHAMBER'S
POLICY COMMITTEE TOMORROW, SO
IT'S ON
A GOOD PATH AS OF TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
AND COLLEAGUES, THIS BILL
WILL BE IMPORTANT ASSUMING
EVERYTHING CONTINUES AS IT IS,
IT WILL
BE IMPORTANT OVER THE COURSE
OF THIS YEAR TO WORK WITH THE
EXECUTIVE, WITH THE MAYOR,
ALONG WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY IN
TERMS OF PUTTING IN PLACE THIS
ABILITY
TO USE TOXICOLOGY LAB
BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT,
AND
THERE WILL BE A COST TO IT.
I THINK IT'S MANAGEABLE IN
RESPECT TO THE BROADER PUBLIC
SAFETY BUDGET, BUT I THINK
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO PRESS
FORWARD ON WHAT IS REALLY A
MAIN FOCUS FOR OUR CITY
ATTORNEY.
BUT IT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT
IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING
TO DO FROM THE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH
AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.
SEPARATELY, CAN KNOW IT'S NOT
ON OUR BRIEFING, BUT I DID WANT
TO MENTION SENATE BILL 6002.
THIS RELATED TO
AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY
BECAUSE THIS HAS COME UP IN
MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, RECENTLY,
IN MANY DIFFERENT VENUES,
WHETHER IT'S THE RADIO OR, YOU
KNOW, PODCASTS OR TV AND THE
LIKE,
AND IT WAS IN THE SEATTLE TIMES
TODAY.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THIS
BILL IS VERY IMPORTANT.
THE AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE
READER BILL, SENATE BILL
6002 WHICH IS NOW OVER IN THE
HOUSE.
I SUPPORT IT.
I
CAN SUPPORT IT BECAUSE A LOT OF
THE JURISDICTIONS IN
THE REGION WEREN'T BASICALLY
DOING THEIR JOB WITH RESPECT TO
THIS VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I
DO BELIEVE THE STATE NEEDED TO
COME
IN AND BASICALLY REGULATE THE
ALPR, THE AUTOMATIC
LICENSE PLATE READERS BECAUSE WE
WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE WITH IT.
AND THIS IS PRIMARILY, BY THE
WAY, RELATED TO ISSUES WITH
FLOCK SAFETY.
PRACTICALLY ALL OF THE
REPORTS THAT I HAVE SEEN RELATED
TO THE
NEGATIVE ASPECTS THAT HAVE
COME OUT HAVE RELATED TO FLOCK.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY
RIGHT HERE THAT WE DO NOT
USE FLOCK IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
WE HAVE VERY SEPARATE
SYSTEM, AND IT CAME OUT VERY
DIFFERENTLY.
WE DO NOT HAVE FIXED POST
SYSTEMS. THESE FLOCK SYSTEMS
ARE BASICALLY FIXED POST
SYSTEMS. EE DO NOT HAVE THAT.
OURS ARE, AS NOTED IN THE
SEATTLE TIMES ARTICLE TODAY,
ARE ON OUR SQUAD CARS, OUR
POLICE
VEHICLES.
AND WITHIN SPD.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE A NOTE,
TOO.
OUR ALPRs WORK WITHIN OUR
SYSTEM IN OUR REAL TIME CRIME
CENTER
AND ALONG WITH CCTV, WE HAVE
BUILT IN A LOT OF PROTECTIONS
ON WHO CAN ACCESS, WHO CAN IT BE
RELEASED TO, AND BY THE
WAY, WE'RE NOT CONNECTED TO
THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT
OF
LICENSING.
THERE'S SO MUCH
MISINFORMATION OUT THERE RELATED
TO ALPR,
IT'S REALLY INHINTED OUR
ABILITY TO
SPEAK TO THE SUBJECT.
I WANTED TO NOTE THAT BECAUSE
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THIS BILL
IS HERE.
SENATE BILL 6002.
AND I'M GOOD WITH THE 2021-
DAY FEATURE OF THE SENATE BILL.
I AM GOOD WITH THE PDR
ELEMENT, THE RESTRICTION OF
PDRs.
THAT REALLY ADDRESSES THE
COUNTY JUDGMENT THAT CAME OUT
LAST
YEAR.
AND IN FACT, IF YOU PUT
THOSE TWO PIECES TOGETHER,
COMBINE THEM
WITH WHAT ALL OF THE ELEMENTS WE
HAVE WITH ALPR,
CCTV, AND OUR CRIME CENTER,
IT ADDRESSES THE ISSUES THAT
PEOPLE HAVE.
AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR EVERYONE TO WALK THROUGH
THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS, THE
VARIOUS
PERSPECTIVES, THE VARIOUS
PIECES OF WHAT WE HAVE COMBINED
WITH WHAT'S IN THE BILL IN
RESPECT
TO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PDR PIECE,
RESTRICTION ON THE ABILITY TO
DO A PDR ON THIS DATA, AND
YOU'LL
FIND THAT WE HAVE A VERY
GOOD SYSTEM THAT'S REALLY
HELPING US
AND REALLY HELPING US CREATE
A SAFE BASE IN OUR CITY.
AND SO I ASK FOR EVERYONE
TO LOOK AT THESE PIECES.
I ASK FOR THE STATE
LEGISLATURE TO COME TO SEATTLE,
TO ASK
ABOUT OUR SYSTEM.
I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO
CONNECT, ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO
SEE
THE REALTIME CRIME CENTER FROM
THE SEATTLE DELEGATION OR
ANYBODY
ELSE, SENATOR OR ANYBODY,
I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT
TO HELP COORDINATE THAT AND
WALK THROUGH THESE PIECES
BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT.
WHEN OUR ALPR SYSTEM CAME UP ON
BOARD, MISSING PERSONS,
THOSE AMBER ALERTS, THOSE SILVER
ALERTS, MANY THAT HAVE COME
TO THE AID OF THAT.
SUICIDE CONTACT REPORTS.
VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THEN YOU ADD TO THE
THINGS LIKE STOLEN VEHICLES.
YOU KNOW, THAT IS SO
IMPORTANT AS WELL.
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE
STOLEN VEHICLES ARE USED IN
CRIMES.
A CAR IS STOLEN THEN USED IN A
CRIME.
AND THAT HAPPENS SO MUCH.
I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT THIS
BILL, I BELIEVE, IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
WE NEED THIS BILL IN WASHINGTON
STATE.
NOW IT'S THE DETAILS AND
IT'S ABOUT BRINGING OUR PROGRAM
AND EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE DONE
IN WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN OLYMPIAN RIGHT NOW, AND I
WOULD ARGUE SOME
ADJUSTMENTS ACCOUNTING FOR THE
SEATTLE
SYSTEM, THAT COMBINATION
WOULD BE GREAT FOR SEATTLE AND
THIS BILL OVERALL WOULD BE GREAT
FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON AND
TO
INCLUDE OUR REGION HERE OF
PUGET SOUND.
WITH
THAT --
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
IF YOU WANT TO HEAR MORE
PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING IS
TOMORROW AT
9:30.
THAT WAS THE PLUG. THE BUILD- UP
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
TOMORROW.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER FOLLOWED
BY COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH,
DIRECTOR. I ALWAYS APPRECIATE
GETTING THE
UPDATE.
ACTUALLY, I HAVE A COUPLE
OF QUESTIONS ON DIFFERENT BILLS
BUT I'LL PICK UP WHERE
COUNCIL' MEMBER KETTLE LEFT OFF
ON 6002.
MY OFFICE HAS HEARD FROM
SOME FOLKS WHO ARE CONCERNED
AROUND SAFETY AND PROTECTIONS
FOR
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES WHEN
IT COMES TO THIS DATA.
CAN YOU JUST START OFF
WITH TALKING ABOUT WHAT
PROTECTIONS ARE IN THIS BILL?
>> CERTAINLY.
I'LL SHARE THAT THIS BILL
INCLUDES A LOWERING OF THE
RETENTION PERIOD OR SETTING A
STATE- WIDE PERIOD FOR ALPR DATA
THAT IS LOWER THAN CURRENT CITY
PRACTICE WHICH IS 21 DAYS.
IT PROVIDES STRICT AUTHORIZING
PURPOSES FOR ALPR.
THERE'S SPECIFIC
DEFINED CIRCUMSTANCES IN
WHICH AGENCIES ARE ALLOWED TO
USE ALPR.
IT PROHIBITS THE USE OF
ALPR SYSTEMS FOR
IMMIGRATION INVESTIGATIONS OR
ENFORCEMENT.
IT PROHIBITS THE USE RELATED TO
PROTECTIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
IT PROHIBITS THE USE FOR
TRACKING AND MONITORING
OF ACTIVITY PROTECTED UNDER
OUR STATE OR FEDERAL
CONSTITUTION AND REQUIRES
SPECIFIC
REPORTING, AUDITING THROUGH THE
ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE, AND
ALSO CREATES CLEAR REQUIREMENTS
FOR
ACCOUNTABILITY AND STANDARDS
FOR THE ALPR VENDORS.
AND ALSO CREATES A STATE-
WIDE FLOOR FOR THESE PROTECTIONS
THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OR
AGENCIES CAN GO ABOVE AND BEYOND
AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
APPRECIATE THAT.
I KNOW ONE OF THE CONCERNS
IN PARTICULAR THAT I HAVE HEARD
IS AROUND FOLKS WHO MAY BE
SEEKING
DIFFERENT TYPES OF CARE
IN WASHINGTON STATE, AND CARE
THAT MIGHT BE OUTLAWED IN OTHER
REGIONS.
AND A CONCERN THAT
INFORMATION MAY GO TO OTHER
ACTORS, NOT
JUST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
BUT OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THOSE
SPECIFIC PROTECTIONS BETWEEN
JURISDICTIONS?
>> YEAH.
THERE'S SPECIFIC AUTHORIZATIONS
LIKE I MENTIONED THAT
AGENCIES ARE ALLOWED TO USE ALPR
FOR, AND
THOSE ARE REALLY LIMITED TO
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AS
WELL AS PARKING ENFORCEMENT.
AND THEN THERE'S STRICT
STANDARDS AND PROTOCOLS IN
WHICH AGENCIES ARE ALLOWED TO
QUERY
OR USE OR SHARE DATA WITH OTHER
ENTITIES AND IT CREATES A LOT OF
SAFEGUARDS TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE USING IT WITHIN THE USES
IN
THE BILL AND NOT FOR USES THAT
ARE NOT ALLOWED AS WELL AS USING
THE
EXEMPTION, IF THE DATA IS BEING
HELD FOR THAT 21- DAY
PERIOD, FOLKS CANNOT REQUEST
THAT DATA
THROUGH PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST.
THERE IS PROTECTIONS BY
WHICH THAT WE CAN INSURE
THAT DATA DOES NOT GET INTO THE
HANDS
OF SOMEBODY WHO IS TRYING TO,
YOU
KNOW, USE IT FOR HARMFUL
PURPOSES.
>> AND THEN I UNDERSTAND,
AND THIS IS MY FINAL QUESTION ON
THIS.
I UNDERSTAND THERE'S ALSO SOME
CONVERSATION REGARDING
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE LOCATIONS
AND POPULATIONS THAT MAY BE
MORE VULNERABLE TO OTHERS.
CAN YOU JUST GIVE US AN
UPDATE ON THAT?
>> YEAH.
DEFINITELY. SO THE BILL ALSO HAS
THE SECTION
THAT PROHIBITS THE COLLECTION
OF ALPR DATA IN AN
ENUMERATED NUMBER OF SENSITIVE
LOCATIONS.
THIS SECTION IS SOMETHING
THAT HAS DRAWN KIND OF OUR RED
FLAGS IN SEATTLE IN TERMS OF HOW
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
IMPLEMENT THAT WITH OUR MOBILE
ALPR.
WE SINCE OUR VEHICLES HAVE
ALPR AND WE'RE PASSING BY SOME
OF THESE LOCATIONS AND
COLLECTING PHOTOS OF LICENSE
PLATES OF
CARS THAT ARE MAYBE OUT FRONT
OF THOSE FACILITIES OR PASSING
BY
ON THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THOSE
LOCATIONS, WE HAVE REQUESTED
A TARGETED CHANGE TO THAT
SECTION, BUT THAT SECTION ALSO
WOULD APPLY TO THOSE FIXED KIND
OF
POOL BASED ALPR THAT THE
COUNCILMEMBER MENTIONS
EARLIER AS WELL.
IT WOULDN'T BE HAVING
THE ABILITY TO COLLECT DATA
24/7 AT THOSE RESTRICTS
LOCATIONS.
>> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO DO A
HARD PIVOT
INTO MILLIONAIRE'S TAX NOW.
I HEARD SOME QUESTIONS OR
HEARD AN UPDATE EARLIER
REGARDING THE
PERCENTAGES FOR CITIES.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I GOT
THAT CORRECT.
CAN WE TURN TO THAT?
IS IT 5 OR 10% THAT I
HEARD SAMIR SAY?
>> YEAH, SO 7% OF THE
REVENUE WILL GO TO PUBLIC
DEFENSE
GENERALLY.
AND 10% OF THAT 7% WILL GO TO
CITIES.
>> OKAY, AND THAT'S UP FROM
A PREVIOUS 5%, IS THAT CORRECT?
SAMIR, DID YOU HEAR ME?
>> SAMIR, CAN YOU HEAR US?
OKAY, THERE WE GO.
>> DID YOU HEAR MY QUESTION,
SAMIR?
>> WAS IT -- IT'S UP FROM --
IT WENT FROM 5% TO 7%, THAT'S
CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ FOLLOWED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT
POWERPOINT.
16 PAGES.
PUT THE PRIORITIES IN FRONT.
LOVE THE CHEAT SHEET ON PAGE
3 SO WE CAN TRACK IT REALLY
FAST.
I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION AND THEN
A FOLLOW- UP ON A COUPLE BILLS
WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING.
ON PAGE 11, THE TRIBAL
ISSUES WITH SENATOR KAUFMAN.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT,
SO HOUSE OF ORIGIN ON THE
SENATE SIDE ON FEBRUARY 12th,
YOU
SAID THE STATUTORY ESTABLISHMENT
OR CODIFYING THE
GOVERNMENT'S OFFICE OF INDIAN
AFFAIRS SO THE
HOUSE OF ORIGIN WAS THERE.
NOW IT'S SITTING ON THE HOUSE
SIDE.
YOU WROTE THERE'S GOING TO BE
AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TOMORROW?
>> YES.
AND IT'S IN THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE.
AND SCHEDULED TO BE EXEC'd OUT
TOMORROW. IS THAT CORRECT, ANNA?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> GREAT. GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF
INDIAN AFFAIRS HAS BEEN AROUND
SINCE
THE '70s. FOR THEM TO MOVE
FORWARD AND
CODIFY IT, I WAS IN D.C. WHEN
I GOT MESSAGES SAYING THEY'RE
FINALLY GOING TO CODIFY THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF INDIAN
AFFAIRS. IA KNOW MARTY, THAT'S
WHO WAS
TEXTING ME.
LET ME GO BACK TO THE
OTHER QUESTIONS WE TALKED ABOUT
LAST
TIME YOU WERE HERE.
SO WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING
MOST SPECIFICALLY HOUSE BILL
2515,
REGARDING THE LARGE ENERGY USE
FACILITIES BASICALLY DATA
CENTERS, SO I'M GOING TO
ASK THAT YOU FOLLOW UP WITH ME
ON THAT ONE.
THERE'S ALSO -- THERE'S A
BUNCH OF A.I. ONES WE TRACK,
TOO,
THAT PASSED ON THE HOUSE SIDE.
HB- 1170 PASSED ON THE HOUSE
SIDE.
HB- 2515, WHICH IS THE ONE
I'M REALLY FOCUSED IN ON, DATA
CENTERS, PASSED ON THE HOUSE
SIDE.
I KNOW ON THE SENATE SIDE, YOU
HAD, THERE'S LIKE THREE OR
FOUR OF THEM THAT PASSED BUT
THEY
MAINLY WERE GOING TO A.I.
FORGED DIGITAL LIKENESS A.I.
DISCIPLINE, CHAT BOTS, ALL THAT
STUFF.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK THAT IF
YOU COULD HELP ME KEEP AN EYE
ON SENATE BILL 5886, SENATE BILL
5956, SENATE BILL 5984, WHICH
HAS A COMPANION BILL IN THE
HOUSE, WHICH IS HOUSE BILL 2225,
WHICH I UNDERSTAND THE
SENATE AND THE HOUSE BILL WERE
BOTH
REQUESTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
SO GETTING BACK TO MY
QUESTION THEN IS, IS THERE
ANYTHING
MORE YOU CAN SHARE WITH US, I
KNOW
IT PASSED THE HOUSE ON THE
LARGE ENERGY USE FACILITIES FOR
THE DATA CENTERS, BECAUSE OUR
CONCERN IS GOING TO BE THE
IMPACTS TO ALL OF OUR RATE
PAYERS, SEATTLE CITY LIGHT,
THE RATES GOING UP POSSIBLY NOW
THAT WE HAVE MOVED FROM FOSSIL
FUEL TO ELECTRICITY.
AND HAVING SOME CHANGES OVER AT
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, POSSIBLY
SOME NEW LEADERSHIP, SO I'LL
BE CHAIRING THAT.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU
IF THERE'S ANYTHING TODAY YOU
CAN SHARE WITH ME OR ALSO MAYBE
WE CAN DO IT OFF LINE AS WELL,
THAT YOU KEEP US UP TO DATE ON
HOUSE BILL 2515.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU.
WE HAVE NOTED THOSE BILLS AND WE
WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU,
AND MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP YOU
UPDATED.
ANNA, DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHINGIA WANT TO SHARE ABOUT
THAT
PARTICULAR LEGISLATION?
>> YEAH, YEAH.
2515, IT'S IN A STRONG
POSITION AS IT'S CONSIDERED IN
THE
SENATE.
IT ALLOWS SEATTLE SEE LIGHT
TO HAVE A SPECIFIC POLICY OR
TARIFF
AS IT RELATES TO THE LOADS
AND RATES OF DATA CENTERS, AND
SO IT STILL GIVES THE UTILITY A
LOT OF
AUTONOMY AND FLEXIBILITY AS
WELL AS TOOLS TO HELP MANAGE THE
LOAD THAT MIGHT COME FROM
POSSIBLE DATA CENTERS ADDED TO
OUR SERVICE TERRITORY AS WELL
AS EXISTING DATA CENTERS ABOVE
20 MEGA WATTS AS WELL AS
CREATES REPORTING AND CLEAN
ENERGY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
DATA CENTERS SO THEY STILL
ARE FALLING IN LINE WITH OUR
STATE AND CITY'S CLEAN ENERGY
GOALS.
>> LET ME ASK A FOLLOW- UP,
MADAM
CHAIR.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> A QUICK FOLLOW-UP.
WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO
THINK ABOUT THE ACTUAL FOOT
PRINT
WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO TART
PUTTING
DATA CENTERS.
I MAY HAVE MISSED IT BECAUSE
I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE WHOLE
BILL, QUITE FRANKLY, ABOUT
WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO LOCATE
DATA
CENTERS, WHETHER IT'S IN
EASTERN WASHINGTON OR THIS SIDE
OF THE
MOUNTAINS.
HAS THERE BEEN DISCUSSION ON THE
ACTUAL LOCATION OF DATA
CENTERS AND THE STRAIN IT WOULD
PUT ON
THE GRID WHICH WILL AFFECT
OUR RATE PAYERS?
>> I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT WAS
THE DISCUSSION OUT OF A
GROUP THAT I DON'T WANT TO
MISSPEAK, BUT THE GOVERNOR
FERGUSON DID DO
AN EXECUTIVE ORDER LAST
YEAR AROUND DATA CENTERS, AND I
DO BELIEVE THIS WAS PART OF
THEIR
WORK.
SO I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU
OFF LINE TO MAKE SURE THAT I GET
YOU
ACCURATE INFORMATION.
BUT THIS DEFINITELY HAS BEEN
A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION.
>> YOU CAN GIVE ME THE
COMEKATIVE ORDER?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, AND THANK YOU, TEAM,
AS
ALWAYS FOR THE WORK YOU DO AND
FOR
BEING WITH US TODAY TO
PRESENT AND SHARE ON THAT WORK.
I WANTED
TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS DISCUSSION
RELATED TO
SENATE BILL 6002 ON ALPR.
ANNA, YOU MENTIONED THERE IS --
THAT YOU ARE REQUESTING
A TARGETED CHANGE TO A
SECTION RELATED TO SENSITIVE
LOCATIONS.
CAN YOU EXPAND EXACTLY WHAT
THAT TARGETED CHANGE IS?
>> YEAH, WE SEE THAT SPECIFIC
SECTION AS VERY DIFFICULT TO --
VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT
GIVEN THE CURRENT SITUATION OF
SEATTLE'S ALPR TECHNOLOGY ON
THE
VEHICLES. AND HOW THERE IS A
PASSIVE NATURE TO THE COLLECTION
OF
DATA AS YOU PASS BY THESE
SENSITIVE
LOCATIONS.
AND NOT AN ABILITY TO
RESTRICT THE ALPR BASED ON WHERE
YOU
ARE IN THE CITY, SO WE'RE
REQUESTING A VERY TARGETED
CHANGE TO APPLY
THAT SECTION TO FIXED
ALPR SYSTEMS LIKE FLOCK OR
CAMERAS THAT HAVE BEEN
POSITIONED SPECIFICALLY WITHIN
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS SO THAT
THOSE
CAMERAS THAT ARE ON ALL THE
TIME CANNOT BE PLACED AT
THOSE SENSITIVE LOCATIONS, BUT
THEN STILL ALLOWS SEATTLE'S
MOBILE
ALPR ON VEHICLES TO CONTINUE
OPERATING AS THEY ARE NOW.
AND THEN THIS IS ALSO, YOU
KNOW, ACCOMPANIED BY THE
MAINTENANCE AND CONTINUED
ESTABLISHMENT
OF OTHER PROTECTIONS IN THE BILL
AS WELL AS IN CITY ORDINANCE.
>> UNDERSTOOD.
SO JUST SO I'M CLEAR, DO
WE UNDERSTAND HOW MANY
OTHER JURISDICTIONS ALSO HAVE
MOBILE
ALPR AS OPPOSED TO FIXED ALPR?
>> I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT
NUMBER
OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT
THERE ARE OTHER
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT USE
SIMILAR VENDORS TO SEATTLE THAT
ALSO HAVE ALPR ON VEHICLES.
I THINK MERCER ISLAND,
BRENTON, KENT ARE A FEW THAT
COME TO
MY MIND THAT HAVE BEEN ENGAGED
IN THE LEGISLATIVE CONVERSATION.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S
AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST AS WELL.
BUT I DON'T HAVE A FIRM
NUMBER OF HOW MANY CITIES.
>> WE COULD GATHER
THAT INFORMATION IF IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL.
>> CERTAINLY.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND AT THIS TIME,
UNDERSTANDING THAT
IT SOUNDS LIKE, AND AGAIN, I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LANGUAGE
RELATED TO THIS TARGETED CHANGE
THAT
OIR IS LOBBYING FOR AT THIS
TIME.
AND I'M HEARING THE POINTS THAT
YOU ALL ARE MAKING
THAT THERE ARE ELEMENTS WITHIN
OUR OWN
MUNICIPAL POLICY ON THE ALPR
PROGRAM, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE I'LL
DO A DEEPER DIVE ON THE BILL
TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF
THE PROTECTIONS FOR SENSITIVE
LOCATIONS.
I'M JUST CLEAR EYED ON HOW
TO PROTECT SENSITIVE LOCATIONS
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AND
HEARING,
I'M THINKING ABOUT
JURISDICTIONS THAT MAY ALSO HAVE
MOBILE
ALPRs THAT PERHAPS HAVE NOT
BUILT
INTO THEIR OWN RESPECTIVE
CITY SYSTEMS PROTECTIONS
FOR SENSITIVE LOCATIONS.
AND WHETHER OR NOT PURSUING
THIS CHANGE IN THE STATE LAW
CREATES SOME REAL GAPS AND
VULNERABILITIES FOR
FOLKS SEEKING SERVICES OUTSIDE
OF THE
CITY OF
SEATTLE. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE
MAY
BE ENGAGING WITH SOME OF
THOSE OTHER JURISDICTIONS OR IF
WE UNDERSTAND AT THIS TIME,
PERHAPS THOSE CITIES YOU NAMED,
IF
THEY HAVE SIMILAR
KINDS OF PROTECTIONS BUILT INTO
THEIR
RESPECTIVE ALPR PROGRAMS.
>> I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE OTHER
JURISDICTIONS, BUT AS I
MENTIONED, WITHIN THIS BILL,
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
PROTECTIONS, RESTRICTIONS, AND
GUARDRAILS ON THE
TECHNOLOGY THAT ALL CITIES
IMPLEMENT
AND AGENCIES WOULD HAVE TO
FOLLOW.
SO IT DOES SET KIND OF
A STATE-WIDE FLOOR, IF YOU WILL,
FOR EVERYBODY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND MY FINAL QUESTION JUST HERE
IS I'M WONDERING
ABOUT ENGAGEMENT WITH SCHOOL
DISTRICTS OR EVEN UNDERSTANDING
THAT SCHOOLS ARE CONSIDERED
ANOTHER SENSITIVE LOCATION IN MY
UNDERSTANDING, HAS
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR
SUPERINTENDENT OR OTHER
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TAKEN A
POSITION ON
THIS?
I KNOW I HAD CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT THIS BILL WITH
REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH CARE RIGHTS GROUPS
AND IMMIGRANT RIGHTS GROUPS BUT
HAS
OIR HEARD ABOUT ANY
POSITION FROM OUR SCHOOL
DISTRICTS?
>> TO MY KNOWLEDGE,
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS NOT
TAKEN
AA ON THIS BILL.
AT LEAST PUBLICLY OR TO MY
AWARENESS.
WE HAVE ALSO MET WITH THE
PROPONENTS OF THE BILL, WHICH
INCLUDE IMMIGRANT RIGHTS
GROUPS, REPRODUCTIVE CARE GROUPS
AND
ACLU TO REALLY TALK
THROUGH WHERE OUR SHARED GOALS
ARE
IN THIS BILL AND THE PROTECTIONS
THAT WE ALL SUPPORT AND NEED AT
THE STATE LEVEL, AS WELL AS
SOME OF THE KIND OF EDUCATIONAL
OR
CONTRASTING POINTS THAT WE
MIGHT HAVE WITH THE PROPONENTS
AND
HOW IT RELATES TO SEATTLE'S
ALPR
AS OF TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND IF I MAY, I'M GOING TO
PIVOT
TO ANOTHER TOPIC NOW.
I JUST WANTED TO DIVE INTO THE
ESTATE TAX ROLL BACK A LITTLE
BIT.
JUST UNDERSTANDING
IMPACT. CAN YOU BREAK DOWN
QUICKLY,
AGAIN, WHERE WERE WE,
WHAT ACTION WAS TAKEN IN THE
SENATE?
DO WE UNDERSTAND THE FISCAL
IMPACT OF THAT?
AND JUST AS A REFRESHER, WAS THE
ESTATE TAX DESIGNATED FOR
A SPECIFIC KIND OF SPEND OR FOR
AN
AREA OR ARE WE GOING CITY THE
IMPACTS OF THAT LOSS IN
REVENUE, POTENTIAL LOSS IN
REVENUE
REFLECTED IN ONE PARTICULAR
AREA?
>> THE STATE TAX REVENUE,
WHICH I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER
IN FRONT OF ME, BUT SOMEWHERE
AROUND THE
$400 TO $500 MILLION RANGE, WAS
DEDICATED FOR GENERAL FUND,
SO NOT FOR A SPECIFIC FUND OR
PURPOSE.
AND THERE'S A RANGE OF
RATES GOING UP TO -- IT WENT UP
TO
35% WAS TOP RATE.
AND SO THIS BILL
WOULD ESSENTIALLY REPEAL ALL OF
THOSE, THE RATE INCREASES, THE
35%
TOP RATE WOULD REDUCE BACK DOWN
TO
20%.
AND SO IN TERMS OF IMPACTS,
I THINK IT WILL BE A GENERAL
FUND
IMPACT, AND THEN CERTAINLY, AS
THEY WHICH UP WITH NEW
REVENUE SOURCES LIKE THE INCOME
TAX, WHICH WOULD HELP FILL THAT,
BUT I CAN GET YOU KIND OF
THE EXACT RATES BECAUSE THERE'S
A FEW
OF THEM THAT ARE BEING ROLLED
BACK.
>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT, SAMIR.
CERTAINLY WE'LL FOLLOW UP AND
COLLEAGUES, I'LL CLOSE ON
THIS POINT TO SAY I'M
DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE STATE
BUDGET.
AND ROLL BACKS OF THIS KIND
ULTIMATELY, OUR RESIDENTS DEPEND
ON SO MANY SERVICES, AND I
DON'T THINK THEY CARE
NECESSARILY
IF IT'S FUNDED BY THE STATE OR
THE COUNTY OR THE CITY, BUT
THEY'LL KNOW IF IT'S GONE.
SO I'LL BE CURIOUS TO SEE,
I KNOW BUDGETS ARE JUST COMING
OUT.
I'M REALLY CURIOUS TO SEE
HOW THOSE REALLY SHAPE UP.
I KNOW IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME
TO DIGEST EVERYTHING THAT'S IN
THERE.
BUT I REMAIN VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT CUTS HAPPENING,
SLATED FOR
THIS YEAR.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THAT
CONCLUDES MY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU.
>>> AND JUST BUDGETS, THEY
JUST CAME OUT LAST NIGHT.
SUNDAY.
>> DID THEY COME OUT TODAY?
THEY'RE COMING OUT THIS WEEK.
>> THIS WEEK, OKAY.
I THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS DROPPED
YESTERDAY.
NEVER MIND.
OKAY.
THANK YOU. SO WE'LL SEE THEM
SOON.
>> THAT'S THE OPERATING
BUDGETS AND TRANSPORTATION AND
CAPITAL BUDGETS SHOULD FOLLOW
LATER
THIS WEEK.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, DIRECTOR.
I BELIEVE THAT'S AN OLD HAND BY
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> THAT'S AN OLD HAND, SORRY.
>> YOU'RE NOT OLD BUT THAT'S
AN
OLD HAND.
AND COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
JUST TO REITERATE.
WE DO HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM
THAT IS BUILT IN ALL THESE
DIFFERENT PIECES RELATED TO THE
CONCERNS
PEOPLE HAVE WITH
AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS.
AND THE KEY THING HERE IS
THE SHOW SUPPORT FOR SENATE BILL
6002 THAT HAS VERY IMPORTANT
PIECES TO IT, TO INCLUDE THE
21-DAY POINT MENTIONED, BUT
ALSO THE PDR.
PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT,
YOU KNOW, PULLING AWAY
THAT ABILITY TO DO A PDR THAT
DATA
IS
KEY. AND IT REALLY ADDRESSES ALL
OF THE ISSUES IN COMBINATION
FOR THOSE IN GENERAL, BUT ALSO
FOR THOSE SELECTED GROUPS AS
MENTIONED, AS I MENTIONED
BEFORE.
I THINK WE HAVE DONE THE RIGHT
THING, AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT
COMBINATION.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
TO STATE THAT.
SO THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU.
I DON'T SEE ANY MORE
QUESTIONS SO THANK YOU.
I'LL LOOK LEFT, RIGHT.
AWESOME.
OKAY, DIRECTOR, THANK
YOU ALWAYS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO
DETAIL
AND
INFORMATION. THANK YOU, ANNA,
THANK YOU,
SAMIR.
ALL YOUR HARD WORK, WE KNOW
THIS SESSION WAS JAM- PACKED,
AND THERE'S LOT GOING ON, SO WE
LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHERE
SOME OF
THE BILLS END UP,
WHERE THE BUDGET IS, ALL THE
GOOD
THINGS AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO
IMPACT
SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
AWESOME.
DID THE POWERPOINT HAVE NUMBERS
ON THEM?
>> YES, THEY DID.
>> YOU GOT COOL POINTS FROM
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
OKAY.
NEXT, WE ARE SOUND TRANSIT
UPDATE.
I KNOW -- AND I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WENT TO
THE RESTROOM, BUT I WANT TO
TAKE THIS TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE,
AND
I'LL DO IT WHEN HE COMES
BACK, HIS DILIGENCE, HIS WORK ON
THE
COMMITTEE, AND I KNOW
HE REPRESENTS DISTRICT SIX, BUT
HE REPRESENTS CITY- WIDE ON THIS
BOARD, AND HE'S DONE A
PHENOMENAL JOB.
WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR HIS
INSIGHT.
AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE
SOUND TRANSIT EXPANSION
PROGRAM UPDATE AS ALWAYS.
WE WANT LIGHT RAIL.
WE WANT IT NOW.
ALL RIGHT.
WE ACTUALLY DO.
SO TOMORROW WOULD BE GREAT.
OKAY.
>> START US OFF.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
US IN FRONT OF THE COMMITTEE
TODAY.
I'M SARA MAXANA, SOUND
DIRECTOR AND I'LL HANG THINGS
DOWN FOR
INTRODUCTIONS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS BRAD OWEN,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE SOUND
TRANSIT.
>> GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ALEX
KRIEG.
I LEAD ENTERPRISE PLANNING AT
SOUND TRANSIT.
>> I'M CODY REITER, FOR
THE CENTRAL CORRIDOR.
>> I'M GOING TO START US
OFF WITH A COUPLE REMARKS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT FOR HAVING US HERE
TODAY. I AM NOT JOINED BY
DIRECTOR ANGELA BRADY TODAY WHO
IS
UNFORTUNATELY OUT
SICK, BUT AS OUR CITY OF SEATTLE
DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE WOULD
HAVE
LIKED TO HAVE BEEN HERE, I'LL
BE REPRESENTING OUR ST- 3 CITY
TEAM IN HER STEAD.
AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT
OUR ST-3 CITY TEAM AT THE CITY
OF
SEATTLE IS AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL
AGENCY, WE HAVE A LOT
OF DIFFERENT ROLES WE PLAY,
INCLUDING SUPPORTING OUR
STAFF MEMBERS WITH STAFFING
RESOURCES
IN THEIR GOVERNING CAPACITIES.
WE SERVE REGULATORY
ROLES THROUGH PROJECT REVIEW AND
PERMITTING.
WE HAVE PARTNERING ROLES
DEFINED BY OUR PARTNERING
AGREEMENT
WITH SOUND
TRANSIT. AT TIMES WE HAVE
FUNDING
ROLES WHERE THE CITY OF SEATTLE
MIGHT CHOOSE TO FUND ELEMENTS OF
THE
PROJECTS THEMSELVES.
WE WILL HAVE DELIVERY ROLES
TO SUPPORT PLANNING THAT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE WILL DELIVER ON,
AND IN MANY CASES WE HAVE
ADVOCACY ROLES FOR CITY
INTERESTS IN
THE SOUND TRANSIT SPACE.
ONE KEY ROLE WE DON'T HAVE
IS THE BIGGEST ROLE OF ALL.
THAT'S ACTUALLY DELIVERING THE
ST- 3 PROJECTS.
VERY HAPPY TO BE JOINED BY
SOUND TRANSIT STAFF TO SPEAK TO
THE STATUS OF THOSE PROJECTS IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THIS PRESENTATION WAS BORN
OUT OF INTEREST FROM THE COUNCIL
LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE IN
FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL ON A
BUDGET
AMENDMENT IN SMENT.
THERE WAS INTEREST IN
HAVING SOUND TRANSIT
AT THE TABLE TO SPEAK TO THE
STATUS OF THEIR
CAPITAL PROGRAM, SO VERY HAPPY
TO BE JOINED BY THEM TODAY, AND
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO
HAND THINGS OFF TO, I THINK,
CODY, TO
WALK HROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU PRESIDENT AND
MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PREBT
TO YOU TODAY.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE AN
UPDATE ON SOUND TRANSIT SYSTEM
EXPANSION PROGRAM AND ENTERPRISE
INITIATIVE.
THE FOCUS OF OUR
PRESENTATION TODAY IS THE
ENTERPRISE
INITIATIVE, WHICH IS OUR
AGENCY- WIDE EFFORT TO ACHIEVE
AN AFFORDABLE SYSTEM PLAN.
WE WILL ALSO SHARE UPDATES
ON THE STATUS OF MAJOR CAPITOL
PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
I WANT TO START BY NOTING
MAJOR LINK OPENING THIS YEAR.
ON MARCH 28th, WE WILL OPEN
THE CROSS LAKE CONNECTION.
THIS OPENING WILL INCLUDE
THE ADDITION OF TWO NEW
STATIONS, MERCER ISLAND AND
JUDKINS
PARK, AND LINK SEATTLE AND
THE EAST SIDE ACROSS THE I-90
FLOATING
BRIDGE.
TWO LANE TRAINS HAVE
BEGIN SERVING RIDERS AND ON
MARCH 28th, THAT SERVICE WILL
EXTEND FROM LINWOOD ALL THE WAY
TO
DOWNTOWN. IN ADDITION,
CONSTRUCTION
IS PROGRESSING AT PINEHURST
STATION IN DISTRICT FIVE.
THE PROJECT SCHEDULE IS TRENDING
TOWARDS A QUARTER 3 2026
OPENING.
ZOOMING OUT AND LOOKING AHEAD
TO FUTURE SYSTEM EXPANSION
PROJECTS.
HERE A MAP OF OUR FUTURE SYSTEM
AS APPROVED BY VOTERS.
IT INCLUDES A NUMBER OF
HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT PROJECTS
INCLUDING LINK LIGHT RAIL,
SOUND OR COMMUTER RAIL, AND
STRIDE
BUS TRANSIT.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER NOW
TO
ALEX TO PRESENT ON
THE ENTERPRISE MISSION.
>> THANK YOU, CODY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, AGAIN,
COUNCILMEMBERS AND THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US TODAY.
MY NAME IS ALEX KRIEG.
PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW OF
THE ENTERPRISE INITIATIVE.
THE ENTERPRISE INITIATIVE IS
SOUND TRANSIT'S EFFORT
TO MAXIMIZE AVAILABLE CAPACITY
IN RECOGNITION OF THE FACT WE
ARE FACING A MISALIGNMENT
BETWEEN
PROJECTED REVENUES AND
PROJECTED EXPENDITURES OVER THE
LIFE
OF THE PLAN.
THIS IS NOT
THE FIRST TIME THE AGENCY HAS
FACED AFFORDABILITY
CHALLENGES WHICH WE HAVE ALWAYS
OVERCOME, BUT WE NEED
TO APPROACH IT DIFFERENTLY THAN
WE HAVE IN THE PAST.
MORE COMPREHENSIVELY, MORE
TRANSPARENTLY, AND
AT ENTERPRISE SCALE GIVEN THE
SIZE OF THE ST-
3 PROGRAM AND OUR RAPIDLY
EXPANDING OPERATIONAL FOOTPRINT.
THE CONSEQUENCE OF NOT
ACTING WILL BE AN UNAFFORDABLE
FINANCE PLAN AND ST- 3
PROGRAM.
FORTUNATELY, THE AGENCY AND THE
BOARD HAVE VARIOUS TOOLS TO
RESPOND TO OUR CHALLENGES
AND I'LL DESCRIBE THESE
MOMENTARILY.
WE WERE BEGINNING TO SEE
EARLY WARNING SIGNS RELATED TO
PROGRAM AFFORDABILITY IN LATE
2024 AND
INTO 2025.
AND I'LL BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THOSE
NOW.
THIS INCLUDED UPDATED COST
DATA FOR THE WEST SEATTLE
PROJECT FROM LATE 2024, WHICH
THE BOARD
RESPONDED TO BY DIRECTING
STAFF TO DEVELOP A COST SAVINGS
WORK PLAN THAT WAS EXPANDED
ACROSS ALL PROJECTS AND
PLANNING. ANOTHER LEADING
INDICATOR
RELATED TO SYSTEM RESILIENCY
AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES
THE AGENCY IS FACING FOLLOWING
RAPID SYSTEM EXPANSION TO
DELIVER
SAFE RELIABLE SERVICE.
WE HAD ALSO SEEN A COUPLE
OF ROUNDS OF LOWER SALES TAX
AND REVENUE PROJECTIONS
WHICH PARTIALLY REFLECTED
GENERAL ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY,
BUT ALSO
INCLUDED POST- COVID FACTORS
THAT ARE ALSO
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR ALL
TRANSIT AGENCIES AS WE ADAPT TO
CHANGE
MOBILITY PATTERNS AND
PREFERENCES.
SUCH THAT THESE INDICATORS
SPEAK TO THE RANGE OF
FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO OUR
OVERALL
COST PRESSURES THEY ALSO GREATLY
INFORMED OUR NEED TO TAKE AN
AGENCY- WIDE APPROACH.
BY AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, WE
WERE ABLE TO INITIALLY QUANTIFY
THE
SCALE OF OUR
AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES WHICH
WERE SUBSEQUENTLY REFIND IN OUR
FALL
UPDATE OF THE LONG
RANGE FINANCIAL PLAN.
IN SHORT, THE AGENCY MUST
IDENTIFY $34. 5 BILLION IN
COST SAVINGS AND/OR NEW FUNDING
TO DELIVER THE FULL ST- 3
PROGRAM.
THIS FIGURE REPRESENTS COST
GROWTH IN THE CAPITAL
PROGRAM AND SPECIFICALLY
THE INCORPORATION OF UPDATED
COST DATA ON EIGHT PROJECTS IN
THE
ST- 3 PROGRAM AS WELL AS
COST RISK FOR TRANSIT
OPERATIONS RELATED TO POTENTIAL
NEW INVESTMENTS TO IMPROVE
SYSTEM RESILIENCY AND INCREASING
COSTS FOR NEW LIGHT RAIL
VEHICLES.
UNFORTUNATELY, BETWEEN
THE AUGUST BOARD MEETING AND
THE FALL UPDATE OF OUR FINANCIAL
PRAN, WE SAW AN
IMPROVED FINANCIAL FORECAST,
DRIVEN BY
EXPANDING GOODS AND SERVICES
SUBJECT TO THE SALES TAX AND
INCORPORATED MINOR CHANGES
TO FINANCIAL PLANNING
ASSUMPTIONS THAT TOGETHER
IMPROVED
FINANCIAL CAPACITY BY $4
BILLION.
FINALLY, IT'S IMPORTANT
TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE AGENCY'S
LONG RANGE FINANCIAL PLAN
PROJECTS ALMOST $150 BILLION IN
FINANCIAL
CAPACITY WITH MORE THAN
$50 BILLION OF THAT TOWARD ST-
3 PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT YET BASE
LINED. ALSO IN AUGUST, THE BOARD
ADOPTED MOTION M-2025- 36,
WHICH ESTABLISHED PRINCIPLES TO
GUIDE THE WORK OF ENTERPRISE
INITIALATIVE INCLUDING IT
SHOULD BUILD ON ST- 3
PERFORMANCE
CHARACTERISTICS AS WELL
AS DEMONSTRATE HOW IT SUPPORTS
ADVANCING REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY,
SUPPORTING FUTURE GROWTH,
PRIORITIZING THE PASSENGER
EXPERIENCE, AND
PROTECTING PUBLIC INVESTMENTS
WITH FISCAL
INTEGRITY.
THE MOTION THE BOARD ADOPTED
HAD KEY ELEMENTS IN
ENGAGING COMMUNITIES THROUGH
INCLUSIVE
COLLABORATION, BUILDING
TRUST, AND DRIVING DECISIONS
WITH
DATA AND INSIGHT.
FINALLY, THE MOTION
IDENTIFIED THE KEY DELIVERABLES
ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENTERPRISE
INITIATIVE
INCLUDING AN UPDATED ST- 3
SYSTEM PLAN, NEW REGIONAL
TRANSIT LONG
RANGE PLAN AND UPDATED
LONG RANGE FINANCIAL PLAN AS
WELL
AS TIMELINES TO COMPLETE EACH.
THE MOTION ALSO DIRECTED STAFF
TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE
FRAMEWORK AND WORK PLAN FOR
THE INITIATIVE WHICH WE
REVIEWED WITH THE BOARD AT THEIR
MOST RECENT RETREAT IN
MID-NOVEMBER.
SO THIS SLIDE IS ORGANIZED
BY THE MAJOR WORK
STREAMS THAT MAKE UP THE
ENTERPRISE INITIATIVE
ALONG THE TOP.
ALONG THE SIDE THERE ARE
TWO QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE
WORK STREAM ENTAILS AND THE
TOOLS
AND LEVERS THAT THE BOARD HAS
AVAILABLE.
SO FOR POLICY AND PLANNING
WE'LL BE LOOKING AT EXISTING
POLICIES
PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS AND HOW
KINJS HAVE CHANGED.
THE TOOLS INCLUDES WHETHER
THESE ASSUMPTIONS NEED TO BE
MODIFIED OR IF WE NEED TO UPDATE
EXISTING
OR CREATE NEW POLICIES TO
GUIDE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION.
FOR CAPITAL DELIVERY, THIS
WORK BUILDS FROM THE COST
SAVINGS
OPPORTUNITIES, PROJECT
TEAMS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFYING PER
BOARD
DIRECTION PROVIDED IN LATE 2024.
THE TOOLS THAT THE BOARD HAS
IN THIS WORK STREAM INCLUDE
FINDING PROJECTS SPECIFIC AND
PROGRAM WIDE EFFICIENCIES AND
EXPLORING MORE COST EFFECTIVE
POSITIONS
LIKE PHASING PROJECTS AND
RECONSIDERING SOME PROJECTS.
FOR SERVICE DELIVERY, WHICH WE
ALSO REFER TO AS TRANSIT
OPERATIONS, WE'LL BE LOOKING TO
IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SAVINGS
BY BETTER UNDERSTANDING OUR
COST NEEDS TO OPERATE OUR
GROWING SYSTEM AND TO MAINTAIN
OUR ASSETS IN A STATE OF GOOD
REPAIR.
IT TOOLS THAT THE BOARD HAS
INCLUDES MODIFYING
SERVICE LEVELS ACROSS MODES,
REVISITING
STAFFING AND RESOURCE LEVELS
AND CLARIFYING ASSET MANAGEMENT
NEEDS.
FINALLY, FOR FINANCE, THE
PRINCIPLE TASK WILL BE TO
ASSESS OVERALL FINANCIAL
CAPACITY,
TO DELIVER PLAN INVESTMENTS,
AND THEN TO MAXIMIZE THAT
CAPACITY.
THE TOOLS THE BOARD HAS INCLUDE
CHANGING FINANCIAL PLAN
ASSUMPTIONS AND
CONSIDERING ENHANCEMENTS THAT
ARE
WITHIN EXISTING BOARD AUTHORITY.
WHILE THESE ARE PRESENTED AS
DISCREET WORK STREAMS THERE ARE
CRITICAL INTERDEPENDENCIES
WITHIN THEM AND IT WILL BE
AN ACT OF SYNTHESIS TO BRING
THESE
TOGETHER.
I MENTIONED THAT WE PRESENTED
A COMPREHENSIVE WORK PLAN
FOR DELIVERING THE
ENTERPRISE INITIATIVE AT A BOARD
DIRECTORS
RETREAT IN MID-NOVEMBER.
THE KEY DIRECTION COMING
FROM THE BOARD RETREAT WAS FOR
STAFF
TO DEVELOP PLAUSIBLE
AFFORDABLE SCENARIOS FOR AN
UPDATED ST-
3 SYSTEM PLAN FOR BOARD
CONSIDERATION.
WE'RE DOING SO BY BUILDING UP
ELEMENTS WITHIN EACH OF THE
WORK STREAMS I JUST REVIEWED.
FINALLY, WHILE WE ARE BEING WIDE
RANGER IN OUR APPROACH
TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES THAT
SAVE COSTS, SAVE TIME, OR
EXPAND FINANCIAL CAPACITY,
WE ANTICIPATE THAT SOME OF
THESE OPPORTUNITIES WILL REQUIRE
ADDITIONAL TIME TO ANALYZE
AND CONSIDER AND/OR MAY
REQUIRE ENGAGEMENT OR ACTION BY
OTHERS TO FULLY REALIZE.
SO I WANT TO BRIEFLY
DESCRIBE THE GENERAL RULES THAT
WE ARE
SEEKING TO FOLLOW AS WE
DEVELOP SCENARIOS WHICH ARE
LISTED HERE.
AS A STARTING POINT, THE PURPOSE
OF THIS EXERCISE IS NOT TO
SAY HERE ARE THREE OR FOUR OR
FIVE
OPTIONS.
CHOOSE ONE.
BUT INSTEAD TO IDENTIFY REAL
TRADE- OFFS AND POLICY
CHOICES FOR THE BOARD.
WE WILL FOCUS ON COMPONENTS
THAT HAVE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT
ON EASING OUR
AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES WHILE
EMPHASIZING
SIMPLICITY AND SERVICE
TO HIGHLIGHTING THE POLICY
TRADEOFFS.
FINALLY, WE'LL LEVERAGE THE
WORK THAT TEAMS ACROSS THE
AGENCY
HAVE BEEN DOING AND
ULTIMATELY EXPECT A HYBRID THAT
COMBINES ELEMENTS FROM DIFFERENT
SCENARIOS.
AND THEN THIS SLIDE IS JUST
A SIMPLE PROCESS GRAPHIC FOR
HOW WE PLAN TO GET FROM THE
LAST BOARD RETREAT TO THEIR NEXT
RETREAT, SCHEDULED FOR
MARCH 18th, AND TO BRING BACK
PLAUSIBLE AFFORDABLE
SCENARIOS FOR AN UPDATED ST- 3
SYSTEM PLAN.
WE DEFINED AN APPROACH
FOR SCENARIO DEVELOPMENT AT THE
END OF 2025.
IN JANUARY, WE FOCUSED
ON DEVELOPING DIFFERENT
SCENARIO BUILDING BLOCKS, WHICH
WILL
ENABLE US TO BEGIN
DEVELOPING INITIAL SCENARIOS
THAT WILL BE
INFORMED BY THE BOARD
ENGARJMENT WE HAVE CONDUCTED
OVER THE
MONTH OF FEBRUARY, AND FINALLY
HAVING SCENARIOS IN PLACE IN
MARCH
FOR THE NEXT BOARD RETREAT.
SO THAT IS A HIGH LEVEL
OVERVIEW OF THE ENTERPRISE
INITIATIVE.
NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO
BRAD OWEN TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE
ON
ST- 3 PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, ALEX.
SO BEFORE I PROVIDE A
BRIEF UPDATE ON THE PROJECTS, I
WANT TO CROSS WALK HOW WORK
BEING
PERFORMED WITHIN
CAPITAL DELIVERY ALIGNS WITH AND
SUPPORTS THE
ENTERPRISE INITIATIVE WORK THAT
ALEX
JUST SPOKE TO.
SO FIRST, OUR WORK
WITHIN CAPITAL DELIVERY
RESPONDS DIRECTLY TO BOARD
MOTIONS
2024- 59 AND 2025- 36, WHICH
WAS REFERENCED EARLIER.
THOSE MOTIONS DIRECTED STAFF
TO DEVELOP A STRUCTURED
CAPITAL SAVINGS COST WORK PLAN
TO
IMPROVE THE AGENCY'S FINANCIAL
POSITION.
SO TO ACHIEVE THIS, WE
HAVE ORGANIZED OPPORTUNITIES
INTO
TWO CATEGORIES.
PROGRAMMATIC OPPORTUNITIES
OUR PORTFOLIO WILL PROVIDE
IMPROVEMENTS AND TARGETED
ADJUSTMENTS TO INDIVIDUAL
PROJECTS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IN THE LIST ON
THE RIGHT, WE'RE DEVELOPING
COST SAVING OPPORTUNITIES
ACROSS VIRTUALLY EVERY PROJECT
IN ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT.
BUT IMPORTANTLY, THESE ARE NOT
REDUCTIONS THAT SACRIFICE
THE RIDER EXPERIENCE.
MANY OF THE OPPORTUNITIES
IMPROVE PASSENGER FLOW, REDUCE
LONG- TERM ONM COSTS AND
SIMPLIFY
OPERATIONS ALL WHILE LOWERING
CAPITAL COST ACROSS THE
PROJECTS.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT PROJECTS THAT ARE
ADVANCED FURTHER INTO DESIGN
PROVIDE GREATER OPPORTUNITY AS
WE
CONCLUDE PLANNING AND MOVE INTO
ENGINEERING, CLARITY
INCREASES AND SO DOES OUR
ABILITY TO
BANK MEANINGFUL SAVINGS.
SO NOW WE'LL DIVE INTO THE
START WITH THE WEST SEATTLE
PROJECT.
AS A REMINDER, WEST SEATTLE LINK
EXTENSION ADDS
APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILES OF
LIGHT RAIL
SERVICE WITH UP TO FOUR NEW
STATIONS.
AND WHEN THE ST- 3 PROGRAM
IS BUILT OUT, THIS PROJECT WILL
REDUCE TRAVEL TIMES FROM
ALASKA JUNCTION TO WEST LAKE
STATION BY
50%. WE RECEIVED THE FEDERAL
RECORD OF DECISION IN APRIL OF
LAST
YEAR,
AND WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE
DESIGN PHASE WHERE WE'RE
IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES TO
REDUCE COMMUNITY
IMPACTS WHILE ACHIEVING THOSE
COST SAVINGS
WE MENTIONED ACROSS THE ENTIRE
ALIGNMENT.
MOVING TO THE NEXT SLIDE,
WE SHOW THE BALLARD LINK
EXTENSION
PROJECT WHICH ADDS MORE
THAN 7 1/2 MILES OF LIGHT RAIL
WITH UP TO NINE NEW STATIONS.
IMPORTANTLY, THE BALLARD
PROJECT CONSTRUCTS THE NEW LIGHT
RAIL ONLY TUNNEL THAT IMPROVES
CONNECTIVITY AND
RESILIENCY THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE.
WE ANTICIPATE THE PUBLICATION
OF THE BALLARD DIS THIS SPRING,
AND WE'RE PLANNING
EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
AND PUBLIC
OUTREACH ASSOCIATED WITH THAT
PUBLICATION AND THAT WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY A SOUND
TRANSIT BOARD ACTION TO CONFIRM
OR MODIFY THE PREFERRED
ALTERNATIVE.
AND JUST LIKE WEST
SEATTLE, WE'RE IDENTIFYING
OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE
COMMUNITY
IMPACTS WHILE ACHIEVING COST
SAVINGS ACROSS THIS ENTIRE
ALIGNMENT.
NOW MOVING TO THE GRAHAM AND
INFILL STATION PROJECT.
WE'RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS
ON THIS PROJECT.
IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR,
THE SOUND TRANSIT BOARD
APPROVED ACTION TO AUTHORIZE
PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING AND MOVE
THIS PROJECT INTO THE
PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING PHASE.
THIS PROJECT IS IMPORTANT
TO NOTE ON THIS PROJECTS, THE
CLASS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION IS
A DOCUMENTED CATEGORICAL
EXCLUSION AND YOU CAN SEE THE
TARGETED
FORECAST SERVICE STATE OF
2031 FOR THIS PROJECT.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR
PRESENTATION TO THE COMMITTEE.
WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE
ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL.
HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
STEPPING IN FOR
COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUST
FACILITATING WHILE SHE WILL BE
RIGHT BACK.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE
PRESENTATION.
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS A
PRESENTATION AND AMALGAMATION
OF WHICH I HAVE SEEN, LIVED,
AND BREATHES MAYBE MORE THAN ANY
OF US WOULD LIKE, BUT IT'S
REALLY
GOOD WORK THAT SOUND TRANSED IS
DOING.
THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK TO BE
DONE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT
UP NOW FOR OTHER QUESTIONS SINCE
I GET SO MUCH OF SOUND
TRANSIT'S
TIME.
I WILL ALSO SAY IF THERE ARE
QUESTIONS THAT ARE
NOT APPROPRIATE FOR STAFF TO
ANSWER, I'M HAPPY TO ADD
CONTEXT TO
IT, AND YOU CAN ASK ME ANY
QUESTION
ANY TIME ANYWHERE.
AND WHERE WILL GIVE YOU
THE LATEST ON SOUND TRANSIT.
THERE ARE HARD DECISIONS COMING
FORWARD. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
REALLY GOOD WORK TO MAKE THE
FINANCIAL POLICIES BETTER,
GETTING ALLOWANCES FROM THE
STATE
TO CHANGE HOW WE DO OUR BONDING.
THERE'S ALSO EFFICIENCIES YOU
SEE THAT THE
ORIGINAL SOUND TRANSIT STATIONS
WERE BUILT TO A GOLD STANDARD.
THE STATIONS THAT WERE JUST
UNVEILED IN FEDERAL WAY ARE
NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME LEVEL
OF STATION THAT WE WILL GET HERE
IN
SEATTLE. BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GO
THROUGH COST EFFICIENCY
EXERCISES.
BUT WITH THAT, I SEE WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
UPDATE AND I APPRECIATE IT.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO GET
BASELINE.
IT TRACKS WITH WHAT
WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE
POINT BECAUSE THERE IS DIFFERENT
TALK OUT THERE, AND THEN ASK
A QUESTION
RELATED TO SOME EMAILS I HAVE
BEEN RECEIVING RECENTLY.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WE RECEIVE
A LOT OF CORRESPONDENCE IN
VARIOUS WAYS.
THE FIRST ONE IS, NOW A
FORMER MEMBER OF THE PSRC
EXECUTIVE BOARD AND
TRANSPORTATION POLICY
BOARD, I WAS KICKED OFF STARTING
THIS NEW TERM WITH
THE COUNCIL FROM THAT DUE TO
COMMITTEE CHANGES AND SO FORTH.
I WILL SAY I DO MISS IT.
I BRING IT UP BECAUSE I DO
MISS BEING ON THE PSRC.
EXCELLENT ORGANIZATION, VERY
PROFESSIONAL.
I DO STILL PLAN ON GOING
TO THEIR ANNUAL MEETING.
AND THAT IS THE
IDEA PARTICULARLY COMBINED WITH
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT THE
LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION
PIECES NEED TO BE IN SYNC.
WE PRESS FORWARD WITH
OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
WE HAVE THE
REGIONAL CENTER GOING IN
BALLARD.
THE BALLARD LIGHT LINK
EXTENSION NEEDS TO BE THERE.
AND I KNOW THERE'S
BEEN DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS.
I'M JUST STATING THIS FOR
THE BASIC REASON THAT IF
WE'RE BUILDING IT WITH ONE
HAND,
IF THE GOVERNMENT IS SAYING WE
HAVE TO HAVE THE BALLARD
REGIONAL
COUNCIL, WHICH WE NEED, WE
ALSO NEED TO HAVE THE BALLARD
LINK
EXTENSION AS WELL.
THOSE TWO HAVE TO GO TOGETHER.
I'M AGAIN SAYING THIS
ONLY BECAUSE THERE'S DIFFERENT
PEOPLE TALKING BECAUSE
OF THE COST AND SO FORTH THAT WE
HAVE TO
HAVE THE BALLARD LINK EXTENSION.
SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH A
STATEMENT. THE QUESTION COMES
TO, AND
I HAVE BEEN GETTING A LOT
OF EMAILS RECENTLY RELATED TO
AND
THE TEXTS YOU SAY CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT, WHICH
IS WHAT IT IS, BUT IT'S BEEN
NOTICED, HIGHLIGHTED TO US,
AND THIS MAY BE JUST NOT FOR
VERY GOOD REASON, BUT SOUND
TRANSIT CALLS IT THE
INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT/CHINATOWN.
WHICH IS WHAT SHOWS UP ON THE
MAP, ON THE CHART.
IT IS CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT, SO I DON'T KNOW WHY
ON THE GRAPHIC IT SAYS
INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT/CHINATOWN.
IT THESE TO BE THE OTHER WAY
AROUND.
I'M SAYING THIS PARTLY
BECAUSE IT IS WHAT IT IS.
TWO, I HAVE BEEN
GETTING INUNDATED WITH EMAILS
AND
OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS AN EASY FIX FOR SOUND
TRANSIT.
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT.
>> HAPPY TO TAKE THAT FEEDBACK
TO OUR AGENCY LEADERSHIP, AND BE
ABLE TO SPEAK IN THE
FUTURE ABOUT PROCESS FOR
STATION CHANGES AND WHAT THAT
WOULD
LOOK LIKE.
>> WELL, THE LEADERSHIP KNOWS
ALREADY, SO I THINK THE
EXECUTIVE CAN DO IT PRETTY
QUICKLY, LIKE THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> HARD TO FOLLOW A SNAP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, SOUND
TRANSIT TEAM.
USUALLY I DON'T MAKE
STATEMENTS BUT I WILL MAKE ONE
TODAY,
WHICH IS JUST AROUND HOW
IMPORTANT THE
GRAHAM STREET STATION PROJECT
IS, AND I KNOW I'M NOT
TELLING YOU ANYTHING WHEN I SAY
THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN DELAYED IN
THE
PAST.
AND IN THE INTERIM PERIOD,
AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS
MADE INVESTMENTS IN PLANNING AND
IN INVESTING IN NEW HOUSING,
INCLUDING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AROUND THE AREA.
AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
I BELIEVE IN SOME CASES THAT IS
DESIGNED FOR ELDERS AND SENIORS
AND
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE
SURE WE
HAVE THAT INFILL STATION AS A
CRITICAL POINT OF TRANSPORTATION
ACCESS FOR THE COMMUNITIES
THAT LIVE THERE.
I WAS OVER AT THE SUMMER, I
WAS AT A GREAT GRAHAM
STREET VISIONING PARTY, I
SUPPOSE,
AND THERE WAS JUST INCREDIBLE
TURNOUT AND INCREDIBLE
COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS
HOW IMPORTANT I BELIEVE THAT
STATION IS FOR SOUTH SEATTLE
COMMUNITIES WHO ARE REALLY
LOOKING
TO BENEFIT FROM THE
INVESTMENTS FROM SOUND TRANSIT
IN TERMS OF
ACCESSIBILITY.
OKAY, THERE'S MY STATEMENT.
THE QUESTION THAT I WOULD
LIKE TO ASK IS JUST, AS
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT QUEUEING
UP OPTIONS FOR THE BOARD FOR
SOUND
TRANSIT, AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE SPOKE TO
THIS
ALREADY, HOW YOU'RE THINKING
ABOUT
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN THE
AREAS WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE REALLY EXCITING GROWTH IN
THE
AREA.
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
OUR INVESTMENTS IN
OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
CONTINUE TO ALIGN WITH THE
GROWTH THAT'S
EXPECTED.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
I THINK WHAT I WOULD SAY IS TO
REFER BACK TO THE
PRINCIPLES THAT THE BOARD
ESTABLISHES ARE
PRETTY HIGHER LEVEL, BUT DO
INCLUDE SUPPORTING REGIONAL
CONNECTIVITY AND FUTURE GROWTH.
WE ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW WE
CAN TRANSLATE THOSE PRINCIPLES
INTO CRITERIA THAT WE CAN USE
TO DEMONSTRATE THE RELATIVE
PERFORMANCE OF THESE DIFFERENT
SCENARIOS AND UNDERSTAND IN
JUST THE APPLICATION OF THOSE
WHICH
ARE THOSE PROJECTS THAT
INCREASE ACCESS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT SORT OF
PROJECTED TO GO BACK TO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S
POINT ABOUT THE SRC DATA FROM
THE PUGET SOUND REGIONAL
COUNCIL, WHETHER IT'S THE
CENTERS ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE
PUGET SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL TO
HELP GIVE A SENSE OF HOW MANY
ARE
REACHED, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR
POPULATION WITHIN
DIFFERENT STATION AREAS AND SO
ON AND SO
FORTH.
>> I'LL CLOSE WITH ONE MORE
STATEMENT.
COLLEAGUES, I'M STATEMENT HEAVY
TODAY. WHICH IS JUST AROUND
CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
AND INSURING WE GET IT RIGHT
IN TERMS OF WHICHEVER OPTION
SOUND TRANSIT CHOOSES.
WHAT I HAVE HEARD
CONSISTENTLY FROM COMMUNITY
MEMBERS IS
A DESIRE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
COMMUNITY REAPS DIRECT
BENEFIT FROM SOUND TRANSIT,
WHETHER
THAT'S IN ACCESSIBILITY TO
THE STATION OR WHETHER THAT'S
IN MAKING SURE THAT THE
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE SUPPORTED
AND
TAKEN CARE OF OVER THE LONG
HAUL.
TO INSURE THAT THE
COMMUNITY THERE MAINTAINS THEIR
IDENTITY AS WE CONTINUE TO
INVEST IN
OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
SO JUST WANT TO ELEVATE THAT AS
SOMETHING THAT I KNOW WE ALL
CARE ABOUT AND YOU'RE
PAYING ATTENTION TO IN THE
PROCESS.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, AND I
DO WANT TO TAKE
THIS TIME BECAUSE YOU HAD
STEPPED OUT,
THANKING YOU FOR SERVING ON THE
SOUND
TRANSIT BOARD, AND YOU
ARE CONSTANTLY KEEPING US
UPDATED.
COUNCILMEMBERS, AND MAKING
SURE WE'RE ABREAST OF ALL THE
INFORMATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
AND YOU'RE UP, MY FRIEND.
>> THANK YOU.
THEY HAVEN'T JUST PUT ME ON THE
BOARD, BUT THEY ALSO PUT ME
ON THE SYSTEM EXPANSION
COMMITTEE AND THE FINANCIAL
COMMITTEE.
I GET THREE MEETINGS FOR
THE PRICE OF ONE.
WITH THAT, I ONLY RAISED MY
HAND, I LOVE WORKING WITH YOU.
YOU HAVE TEED ME UP TO ASK
THE SAME QUESTION THAT YOU JUST
ASKED, BUT A LITTLE MORE
POINTED.
WE ARE GOING THROUGH OUR COMP
PLAN.
WE ARE CHANGING OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS. WE'RE CHANGING OUR
URBAN
CENTERS, AND WE'RE CHANGING OUR
ZONING.
HOW IS SOUND TRANSIT
ADDING THESE CHANGES TO YOUR
ANALYSIS OF OUR RIDERSHIP AND OF
OUR
GROWTH AND HOW THAT CONNECTS
WITH THE PROJECTIONS THAT
YOU ARE PRESENTING US FOR THE
DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT WE'RE
MAKING?
I ASK YOU THIS IN SUCH A
POINTED FASHION BECAUSE I HAVE
ASKED IT
PREVIOUSLY, NOT RECEIVED AS
MUCH INFORMATION AS I WAS HOPING
FOR.
AND THIS IS GOING ON AT THE
EXACT SAME TIME AS YOU'RE
DOING THE ENTERPRISE INITIATIVE.
SO HOW ARE YOU INCORPORATING
THE REALTIME CHANGES WE ARE
MAKING TO LAND USE INTO YOUR
ANALYSIS?
AND IT IS OKAY TO SAY GET BACK
TO ME, BECAUSE I DID NOT PREP
YOU FOR THIS.
BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A
SATISFACTORY ANSWER TO DATE,
AND IT WAS JUST ASKED BY MY
COLLEAGUE, WHO WAS BEING
A LITTLE NICER.
>> SO I GUESS I'LL TRY TO
ANSWER THIS IN TWO PARTS.
ONE OF WHICH IS THE WE'LL
GET BACK TO YOU.
THE SECOND PART, I WOULD SAY, IS
I WOULD GO BACK AGAIN TO
THE REFERENCE TO THE PUGET
SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL.
THEY'RE A BIG DATA SOURCE
FOR OUR RIDERSHIP
MODEL, PARTICULARLY THE LAND USE
PROJECTIONS THAT
THEY INCORPORATE FROM ALL
JURISDICTIONS.
OF COURSE, THEY CAN'T DO THAT
UNTIL COMPREHENSIVE PLANS ARE
ACTUALLY UPDATED AND
THEN INCORPORATED INTO THEIR
LAND
USE AND TRANSPORTATION MODELS
THEMSELVES.
SO I THINK THE BEST WE CAN
DO, CERTAINLY, IS TRY TO HAVE
OUR FINGER ON THE PULSE OF WHAT
IS BEING PROPOSED, CERTAINLY
WANT
TO LEVERAGE OUR BOARD
MEMBERS WHO KNOW WHAT THAT
IS, AND REFLECT IT THE BEST WAY
WE CAN.
>> I SEE SARA GOING FOR HER
MICROPHONE.
I WOULD SAY LEANING ON
SARA, BECAUSE BY THE TIME THAT
YOU PULL -- BY THE TIME YOU
HAVE TO PROVIDE ANALYSIS TO
BOARD
MEMBERS, THAT INFORMATION
WILL NOT HAVE MADE IT TO PSRC.
SO THAT WILL NOT HAVE MADE IT TO
YOU.
AND SO I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF
MY COLLEAGUES, ASKING FOR US TO
HAVE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT
PROCESS TO INTAKE THIS
INFORMATION.
SARA, OVER TO YOU.
>> YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO
ADD, A GREAT QUESTION, AND I
THINK IT
REALLY DOES CALL OUT ONE OF THE
ROLES THE CITY TEAM HAS IN THIS
PROCESS.
WHEN WE GET THE DRAFT DIS
FOR BALLARD LINK
EXTENSION FOR EXAMPLE LATER THIS
YEAR,
IT'S GOING TO HAVE DATA LIKELY
THAT IS A LITTLE STALE BECAUSE
AS
YOU NOTED THIS IS HAPPENING IN
REAL
TIME.
SO ONE OF THE JOBS THAT THE CITY
HAS, IN OUR PARTNERING
AGREEMENT, IS TO LOOK AT THAT
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND
TO ASSESS THE EQUACY OF THE
ANALYSIS.
THAT'S ONE PLACE IN THE LAND
USE SECTION WE CAN LOOK AT
THE RECENT CHANGES WE HAVE PUT
IN PLACE AND CALL OUT IN OUR
COMMENTS IF WE THINK THERE'S
ANY ADDITIONAL DATA THAT NEEDS
TO
BE CONSIDERED.
>> VERY WELL, THANK YOU.
STATEMENT FOR MY COLLEAGUES
HERE THAT I MIGHT MAKE SO THAT
YOU MIGHT ASK SOUND TRANSIT
MORE QUESTIONS ON THIS SHOULD
YOU
DESIRE.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
THE DOWNTOWN TUNNEL.
AND SO THERE'S A REALLY AWKWARD
SITUATION GOING ON, WHICH
IS THAT NORTH KING COUNTY SUB
AREA
IS A SOUND TRANSIT
DEFINITION FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
SO I'M GOING TO, FOR
THE PURPOSES OF TODAY, I'M
GOING TO
SAY SEATTLE, AND FOR
SOUND TRANSIT FRIENDS, THAT
MEANS NORTH KING SUB AREA.
IN THE SEATTLE AREA, WE ARE
ON THE HOOK FOR PAYING FOR 51%
OF THE SECOND DOWNTOWN TUNNEL.
THIS IS AFTER KING
COUNTY TAXPAYERS PAID FOR THE
FIRST DOWNTOWN TUNNEL.
IT WAS GIVEN TO SOUND
TRANSIT FOR A SINGLE DOLLAR WITH
A FAIR
AMOUNT OF DEFERRED
MAINTENANCE, SO SOUND TRANSIT,
BUT THEN
AGAIN, NORTH KING COUNTY PAID
FOR, AGAIN, SEATTLE PAID FOR
THE MAINTENANCE AND THE UPGRADES
TO THE FIRST DOWNTOWN
TUNNEL. SO SO FAR, KING COUNTY
BUILT
THE FIRST ONE.
SEATTLE REFURBISHED IT, AND
NOW SEATTLE IS BEING ASKED TO
PAY
FOR 51% OF A SECOND TUNNEL.
THERE WAS AN EXERCISE CONDUCTED
STATING DO WE NEED THE SECOND
TUNNEL OR NOT?
WHAT IT AMOUNTED TO IS TWO STUB
ENDS, WEST SEATTLE IS A
STUB, AND BALLARD IS A STUB.
BUT WE COULD
ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL OF GETTING
TO WEST
SEATTLE AND TO BALLARD ON TIME
WITHOUT
THE SECOND DOWNTOWN TUNNEL.
THIS DEMONSTRATES FOR ME
THAT THE SECOND DOWNTOWN UNNEL
IS A ASSET, NOT A CITY
OF SEATTLE ASSET.
WHEN I CAME DOWN HERE FOR
THE SEAHAWKS GAME, I TRAVELED TO
SHORELINE TO BE ABLE TO GET
A SEAT ON SOUND TRANSIT.
SO I HAD TO TRAVEL OUT OF
OUR SUB AREA TO BE ABLE TO USE
LIGHT RAIL.
THE SECOND DOWNTOWN TUNNEL IS
ESSENTIAL IF FOR TACOMA AND FOR
EVERETT TO NOT HAVE A
SINGLE LONG LINE.
SO WITHOUT A SECOND TUNNEL,
YOU RUN ONE SINGLE LINE FROM
TACOMA TO EVERETT AND BACK.
THAT'S NOT GOOD.
IT'S NOT IDEAL.
AND IT DEMONSTRATES THE
NEED THAT THE SECOND DOWNTOWN
TUNNEL
IS A REGIONAL ASSET, NOT A LOCAL
ASSET, AND YET SEATTLE IS BEING
ASKED TO FOOT THE BILL FOR 51%.
WHICH IS WHAT PUTS US OUT
OF WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
DIFFERENT SUB AREAS, WE ARE WAY
OUT OF
LINE, OUT OF BUDGET, WE'RE
WAY OUT OF BEING IN LINE WITH
OUR BUDGET AS COMPARED TO THE
OTHER
SUB AREAS BECAUSE FOR THE THIRD
TIME, WE ARE PAYING FOR
A DOWNTOWN TUNNEL.
THIS IS NOT DIRECTED AT STAFF.
DON'T WORRY, TEAM. I'M SHARING
THIS WITH YOU
ALL BECAUSE IT IS REALLY
AWKWARD.
I DON'T WANT A STUB END
FROM BALLARD TO SEATTLE CENTER.
BUT AT THIS POINT, I CAN'T --
WE
CAN'T PAY FOR 51% OF THE
THIRD TIME WE'RE PAYING FOR THE
TUNNEL.
SO I JUST RAISE THIS WITH YOU,
COLLEAGUES, BECAUSE IT'S A BIT
AWKWARD.
AND I BELIEVE IT'S A RELIC OF
THE PAST.
YEAH.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT
UP WITH ALL OF YOU.
I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, DID
I GET ANYTHING FACTUALLY
INACCURATE?
>> THE ONLY CLARIFICATION
I WOULD OFFER IS THE NORTH
KING SUB AREA DOES INCLUDE THE
CITY OF SHORELINE, THE CITY OF
LAKE FOREST PARK, AND SOME BITS
OF
UNINCORPORATES KING COUNTY,
BUT THAT'S IT.
>> SO I STAYED WITHIN MY
SUB AREA TO CATCH MY TRAIN.
JUST BY THE SKIN OF MY TEETH.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY
FOLLOW- UP OR COMMENT FROM SOUND
TRANSIT.
I'M SEEING NO.
AWESOME.
OKAY.
UNDERSTOOD.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, IS THAT
A NEW HAND?
>> IT IS.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN ONE TO PASS UP
AN ALLEY-OOP.
SO I'M GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS'S
QUESTION OR STATEMENT WITH A
FOLLOW UP
QUESTION. ONE THAT I THINK I GET
TO ASK
AS A NEW MEMBER, I CAN BEG A
LITTLE BIT OF IGNORANCE, WHICH
IS WHAT
OPPORTUNITIES, SO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS LAID OUT
THIS CURRENT
AGREEMENT THAT HAS OUR SUB AREA
PAYING 51%.
ARE THERE OTHER
OPPORTUNITIES THAT SOUND TRANSIT
IS LOOKING
AT TO EXPLORE DIFFERENT KINDS OF
COST SHARING?
>> THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES.
THE LONGER ANSWER
IS, AND TO QUOTE OUR CEO, THIS
PROCESS REALLY IS ABOUT
EVERYTHING IS
ON THE TABLE.
WE HAVE OF COURSE MANY MORE
PIECES OF CONTENT FOR HOW
THE WORK IS BEING PERFORMED, ALL
OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS
WE'RE LOOKING AT IN ADDITION TO
COST SAVINGS T IS ALSO ABOUT HOW
OUR COSTS ARE SHARED, WHAT WAS
THE BASIS AT THE TIME ST- 3 WAS
ADOPTED BY VOTERS IN 2016,
AND WHAT DO WE NEED NOW?
HOW MUCH MORE DO WE KNOW ABOUT
WHAT IS REQUIRED TO OPERATE THE
SYSTEM HAVING LIVED TEN
YEARS AND EXPANDED THE SYSTEM
GREATLY IN THAT PERIOD.
SO AGAIN, SHORT ANSWER IS YES.
THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR PROCESS
IN DEVELOPING SCENARIOS, AND I
WOULD SAY THAT THE TOPIC THAT
THE BOARD MEMBER AND
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FLAGGED
WOULD BE, I THINK, AN OBJECT
OF A LOT OF DISCUSSION AMONG
THE SOUND TRANSIT BOARD.
>> THANK YOU.
LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THAT WAS A GREAT ALLEY-
OOP AND A GREAT WINDMILL.
AND THEN HERE'S BACK TO THE
ALLEY-OOP.
COUNSELMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> TAKING IT ONE STEP
FURTHER WHICH IS THE SOUND
TRANSIT POLICIES HAVE DIVIDED
THE DOWNTOWN TUNNEL INTO,
FROM CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT TO THE -- TO DENNY WAY.
THEY HAVE UNDERSTOOD WITHIN
THEIR POLICIES FROM DENNY WAY
TO THE TUNNEL PORTAL ON ELLIOT
SERVING THE SEATTLE CENTER
IS NOT BEING A REGIONAL ASSET.
I HAVE MADE THE STATEMENTS
TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT YOU
CAN'T
SPLIT THE TACOMA AND
EVERETT LINES WITHOUT THAT
SECTION,
SO IT DOESN'T MAKE GOOD SENSE
TO ME
TO DIVIDE THE TUNNEL IN THAT
WAY.
AND THEN A SECOND POINT BEING
THAT THE STATEMENT FROM DENNY
TO SEATTLE CENTER IS NOT A
REGIONAL ASSET THEN SAYS TO ME,
SO
IF YOU'RE COMING FROM TACOMA,
YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO THE SPACE
NEEDLE? IF YOU'RE COMING FROM
EVERETT, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO
THE THEATER OR THE ARMORY,
YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO A CRACKEN
GAME, THE OPERA, THE BALLET,
NEVER
GOING TO DICK'S WALK- IN
RESTAURANT, THE ONLY WALK-
IN THERE IS.
I SAY THIS IN A JOKING
MANNER BUT I'M DEAD SERIOUS
THAT
THE POLICIES NEED TO BE UPDATED
BECAUSE THE
REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY AND THE
REGIONAL ASSET ABSOLUTELY
EXTENDS TO
THE SEATTLE CENTER.
AND BACK TO THE BAD
SCENARIO PLANNING THAT GETS US
TO
WEST SEATTLE AND BALLARD ON
TIME,
WE CAN STILL DO THOSE TWO SPUR
ROUTES WITHOUT THE
SECOND DOWNTOWN TUNNEL, AND THE
REGION CAN CONNECT TO SEATTLE
CENTER VIA THE MONORAIL.
IF THAT'S, AGAIN, I'M NOT
LOOKING AT STAFF FOR
ANSWERS RIGHT NOW, BUT FOR
COLLEAGUES,
I WANTED TO BRING YOU UP TO
SPEED WITH WHERE WE HAVE BEEN
WITH WHERE WE HAVE BEEN AT WITH
SOUND
TRANSIT REGARDING THE
SECOND DOWNTOWN TUNNEL AND THE
FACT
THAT THE SEATTLE CENTER
IS ABSOLUTELY A REGIONAL ASSET.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
DID I GET ANYTHING WRONG, SOUND
TRANSIT?
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANY COMMENTS
FOLLOWING UP ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT
THE SEATTLE CENTER IS TO SOUND
TRANSIT?
COME ON.
I'M THROWING YOU THE EASIEST
ALLEY- OOP IN THE WORLD.
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
SO WE HEARD FROM COUNCIL
MEMBERS, WE HEARD ABOUT
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE
CID, ALSO FOR THAT TO BE NAMED.
COST SHARING FROM
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND
COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER, REGIONAL
CONNECTIVITY, AND HOW IMPORTANT
THE SEATTLE
CENTER IS.
AND UNDERSTANDING THAT PIECE.
WE HEARD IT FROM EVERYONE.
THANK YOU, ALL.
AND THANK YOU, SOUND TRANSIT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU
ALL COMING BACK AND UPDATING US
MORE, BUT UNTIL THEN, WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WHO
HAS BEEN KEEPING US ABREAST OF
EVERYTHING.
OR BOARD MEMBER STRAUSS.
THANK YOU.
NEXT, WE HAVE THE SIGNING OF
PROCLAMATIONS AND WE
ACTUALLY HAVE NONE, SO THERE ARE
NO LETTERS TODAY FOR
PROCLAMATION.
NOW, WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN
OUR NEXT DISCUSSION OF THE
PREVIEW OF CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS
AND COUNCIL AND REGIONAL
COMMITTEES.
THIS IS GOING TO GO IN THE
ORDER OF DISCUSSION WITH
MEMBERS SITTING ON MY
LEFT. I'M GOING TO START -- I
KNOW
WE USUALLY DO ROLL CALL, BUT
WE'LL GO WITH COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, FOLLOWED BY JUAREZ, AND
THEN
FOSTER, RINCK, KETTLE.
AWESOME.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THE FINANCE
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE -- SORRY,
THAT'S THE
TITLE. OUR COMMITTEE WILL MEET
ON
TUESDAY, MARCH 3rd, AT 9:30 A.M.
COLLEAGUES, YOU MAY HAVE
HEARD THAT SOUND TRANSIT HAS
STOLEN YET ANOTHER ONE OF OUR
AMAZING
EMPLOYEES FROM THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL.
MEGAN WILL BE GRADUATING
TO SOUND TRANSIT AND THE THIRD
WILL
BE HER LAST DAY.
NICE WORK, SOUND TRANSIT.
IN THE FINANCE COMMUNITY
ON MARCH 3rd, WE WILL HAVE
A BRIEFING ON LEVY CAPACITY.
YOU MAY, BACK TO SEATTLE
CENTER, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD WE'RE
NEAR THE LEVEE CAPACITY, THE
LEGALLY ALLOWED LEVEE CAPACITY.
WE'LL HAVE CBO, WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE OFFICE OF CITY FINANCE
AND SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL STAFF
PRESENTING.
WE MAY ALSO HAVE A
PRESENTATION ON THE SIX- YEAR
LOOKBACK
BUDGET DOCUMENT THAT CENTER
STAFF
HAS ALREADY COMPLETED FOR US.
THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING
THAT COMPLETED SO QUICKLY.
FOR FULL COUNCIL, THE FINANCE
NATIVE COMMITTEE HAS ONE
APPOINTMENT COMING TO
FULL COUNCIL FOR FINAL VOTE
TOMORROW.
THAT IS THE APPOINTMENT OF
ALI PANUCCI FOR A TERM
TO DECEMBER 31st, 2029.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK
COUNCIL PRESIDENT EMERITUS
JUAREZ FOR
INVITING ME TO THE
CONGRESS --
>> NATIONAL.
>> NATIONAL CONGRESS OF
AMERICAN INDIANS.
IT WAS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY
TO GET TO LEARN FROM SO MANY
AND MEET SO MANY PEOPLE.
I WAS ALSO ABLE TO MEET THE
ELECTED LEADERSHIP OF THE UPPER
SKAGET TRIBES AND VISIT WITH
THE SOUTH SEATTLE TRIBE AT THEIR
RESERVATION ON THAT FRIDAY.
WE HAD A LOT OF TIME IN
THE NATIVE COMMUNITIES.
MOVING ON TO SOUND TRANSIT,
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL
MEET THIS THURSDAY.
WE ARE PURCHASING A FEW PIECES
OF PROPERTY FOR THE WEST SEATTLE
PROJECT.
COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO UPDATE YOU
THAT I DON'T FIND SOUND
TRANSIT'S POLICIES
REGARDING PROPERTIES THAT THEY
OWN TO BE
SUFFICIENT.
IN THE PAST, THEY WOULD
PURCHASE PROPERTIESES
AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY GO INTO
CONSTRUCTION.
WE'RE NOW AT A PLACE WHERE
WE'RE PURCHASING PROPERTIES.
THERE'S A TIME THAT LAPSES
AND THEN WE GO INTO
CONSTRUCTION.
THEY'RE UPDATING THESE POLICIES
BUT I NOTE FOR YOU, WE HAVE
A HOUSE THAT SOUND TRANSIT OWNS
IN WEST SEATTLE THAT IS
CURRENTLY BOARDED UP, AND IF
COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA IS HERE, I
WOULD
WANT TO KNOW IF THAT HOUSE IS
BECOMING A PROBLEM BECAUSE
THE LAST THING SOUND TRANSIT
SHOULD BE DOING IS OWNING
PROPERTIES THAT THEN DO NOT
INCREASE
THE VIBRANCY OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, AND PEOPLE NEED
HOMES.
WITH THAT, WE WILL ALSO BE
PASSING A MOTION DIRECTING
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER TO
IDENTIFY INVESTMENTS IN THE ST-
3 PLAN, INCLUDING MUCH OF WHAT
YOU JUST SAW AS WELL AS THE
SUSTAINABILITY PLAN.
I BELIEVE WE ALSO HAVE GOT
A MOTION REGARDING ACCESS BUSES
IN
SOUTH KING COUNTY.
BACK TO DISTRICT SIX, I'LL
BE HOSTING OFFICE HOURS AT
MY DISTRICT OFFICE IN BALLARD
I BELIEVE THIS WEDNESDAY.
I HOLD OFFICE HOURS ALMOST
EVERY WEEK.
ONE ON ONE WITH FOLKS.
I HAD OFFICE HOURS LAST WEEK
AS WELL AS I HAD OFFICE HOURS
THIS LAST SUNDAY.
IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO SPEND MY
SUNDAY.
IN FACT, I KID YOU NOT,
BECAUSE IT'S AN AMAZING -- THIS
IS
WHERE I GET A WHOLE LOT OF IDEAS
OF WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IN MY
DISTRICT, IN OUR DISTRICT,
IN OUR CITY, BECAUSE PEOPLE FROM
THE DISTRICT COME DIRECTLY TO
ME.
COLLEAGUES, THAT'S MY REPORT.
SEEING NO QUESTIONS I'M GOING
TO PASS IT OVER TO
COUNCIL PRESIDENT EMERITUS
JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU.
MAY I GO, MADAM PRESIDENT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THANK YOU.
BEFORE I LAUNCH INTO THE FIVE
OR SIX PAGES OF WHAT I HAVE TO
TELL YOU WHAT I DID LAST WEEK
AND THIS WEEK AND WHAT I'LL DO
NEXT
WEEK, LET ME START WITH THIS.
SORRY ABOUT THIS.
ON WEDNESDAY, WE'LL BE
WELCOMING
OUR FOUR GOLD MEDALISTS FROM THE
PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S HOCKEY
TEAM AT THE SPACE NEEDLE AND
WE'LL
BE MEETING WITH AND
SEEING HOPEFULLY TEAM USA
CAPTAIN
HILARY KNIGHT WHO TIPPED IN
THE TYING GOAL TO SEND THE
GOLD MEDAL GAME TO OVERTIME.
ALTERNATE CAPTAIN ALEX
CARPENTER, AND FIRST-
TIME OLYMPIAN HANNAH BILKA,
AND CAYLA BARNES SCORING THE 5-
0 SEMIFINAL
WIN OVER SWEDEN.
YES, I NEED A CAREER IN
BROADCASTING. IF SOMEBODY WOULD
JUST LET ME
DO THAT.
I WOULD BE SO GOOD.
ANYWAY, AND THEN ON MARCH
9th, WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TORRENT
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIBE
TRIBAL
RELATIONS AS WELL AS
OTHER DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THE
SAME KIND OF DISCUSSIONS WE HAD
WITH THE CRACKEN.
WHEN YOU COME HERE, THE NHL,
HOW DO YOU BUILD A BASE, HOW DO
YOU GET YOUNG PEOPLE IN?
TO THE KRAKEN'S CREDIT,
THEY MAKE SURE EVERY WEDNESDAY,
FOUR BUSES FROM ALL THE PRE- K
SCHOOLS IN SEATTLE GET TO GO TO
THE COMMUNITY ICE PLEX AND LACE
UP AND LEARN HOW TO SKATE.
THAT IS SO COOL SEEING ALL
THESE KIDS WHERE ENGLISH IS
THEIR SECOND LANGUAGE, AND
WATCHING THESE PARENTS WHO HAVE
NEVER EVEN SEEN ICE, IT WAS
AMAZING.
AND I USED TO GO UP THERE
AND HELP LACE UP BOOTS AND THEN
I QUIT DOING IT BECAUSE I WAS
ON THE ICE AND I ALMOST HURT A
CHILD.
OTHER THAN THAT, IF YOU CAN EVER
GO THERE ON A WEDNESDAY WITH
OUR FRIEND SUSAN LEE, YOU SHOULD
GO.
COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS CAME ONE
TIME, SO IT'S JUST REALLY
COOL TO SEE THAT.
ANYWAY, LET ME GET THROUGH
HERE QUICKLY WHAT I'M GOING TO
BE
DOING.
SO PARKS AND CITY LIGHT
COMMITTEE, OUR NEXT MEETING IS
SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 4th.
ON THE AGENDA IS SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT 2026 DISTRIBUTION
EASEMENT AND ACTUALLY TWO
EASEMENTS.
ROUTINE LEGISLATION.
AND THEN FOUR APPOINTMENTS TO
THE JOINT
APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING
COMMITTEE WHICH
IS ALWAYS A BIG DEAL FOR US.
I ALWAYS LIKE WORKING WITH
THESE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.
ONE TIME, WE DID ONE AT
NORTH SEATTLE COLLEGE AND IT
WORKED OUT GREAT.
LAST WEEK, WE MET WITH BETH
KNOX, CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE
SEATTLE SPORTS COMMISSION.
IF YOU REMEMBER, SEATTLE
SPORTS COMMISSION USED TO BE A
PART
OF VISIT SEATTLE AND THEY BROKE
OFF IN 2020.
SO WE WANTED TO SIT DOWN
WITH BETH AND SAY OKAY, NOT JUST
WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR OUR CITY
AND
OUR YOUTH, BUT ALSO HOW ARE WE
INCORPORATED INDIAN COUNTRY,
WOMEN'S SPORTS, AND GIVING
THAT KIND OF, WHAT IS THE
LEGACY,
WHO ARE YOU GUYS DOING, HOW ARE
YOU BEING FUNDED, HOW CAN WE
WORK CLOSER WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE?
AND WHAT WE LEARNED IS, OF
COURSE, THEY ARE A 12-
MEMBER BOARD AND THEIR EXECUTIVE
BOARD,
THEIR ADVISORY BOARD, AND THEIR
OVER 150 COMMISSIONERS.
LIKE I SAID, WE TALKED ABOUT
WOMEN'S SPORTS, TRIBAL
RELATIONS, CITY FUNDING,
SUPPORT THROUGH, AND OF COURSE
FIFA.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL.
AND OF COURSE, WE'RE TRYING
TO HAVE A SIGNATURE EVENT
FOR NATIVE AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL
KIDS FOR MEN AND WOMEN, SO THEY
CAN HAVE SCOUTING OPPORTUNITIES
IN
BASEBALL OR SOME SPORT DEEMED
IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE DON'T GET
A LOT OF THAT.
WE ALSO MET WITH CHRISTIAN,
OUR GOOD FRIEND CHRISTIAN,
DEPUTY
GENERAL COUNSEL AND SENIOR
DIRECTOR GOVERNMENT AND
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS WITH THE
MARINERS.
I KNOWN
CHRISTIAN FROM HIS DAYS AT
SEATTLE U.
WE DISCUSSED AGAIN, INDIAN
COUNTRY TRIBAL RELATIONS,
CITY OF SEATTLE, SIGNATURE
EVENTS, WORKING WITH -- WE WERE
WORKING WITH OMARE SALISBURY AT
CONVERGE, THE HBCU SERIES,
THE BASEBALL BEYOND
BORDERS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
WHICH GOES
BEYOND JUST HANDING OUT FREE
TICKETS.
HOW CAN YOU BE GOOD CIVIC
PARTNERS AND INCLUDE OUR
PEOPLE ALL THE WAY AROUND.
AND THEN, JUST LAST WEEK,
WHICH IS GREAT, BECAUSE I HAVE
BEEN AROUND THIS BLOCK A FEW
TIMES, WE MET WITH THE NATIVE
AMERICAN
BANK, ED DAVIS, MARKET
PRESIDENT, CRAIG LITTLE,
CHIEF LENDING OFFICER, ANNA
VALENCIA, AND LILA RODRIGUEZ,
WHO
CAME FROM DENVER TO MEET WITH
US.
THE NATIVE AMERICAN BANK
WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2001 BY 20
TRIBAL NATIONS AND IS A SELF
SUSTAINING
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION WHICH
BASICALLY MEANS THEY'RE A CDFI
AND
THEY CAN GIVE MONEY TO LOW-
INCOME OR
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, SMALL
BUSINESSES, KIND OF LIKE
WIMBY, BUT IT'S A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY
FOR FOLKS TO IF THEY WANT TO
START
A BUSINESS, CAPITAL, SEED
CAPITAL.
THE NATIVE AMERICAN
BANK HOPEFULLY WILL BE
PRESENTING
AT OUR COMMITTEE FOR ABOUT AN
HOUR ABOUT HOW THEIR SMALL
BUSINESSES AND HOW WHAT THEY'RE
DOING CAN
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
OUR OFFICE ATTENDED OUR CITY
OUR SAFETY MEETING FOR NORTH
SEATTLE
AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER WITH SBD
CHIEF BARNES, CITY ATTORNEY
EVANS, CAPTAIN DAVIS,
AND DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND AGAIN, THE COMMUNITY OF
CONVERSATION, I KNOW
IT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE CITY,
CITY
LEADERS ARE COMING TO
THE COMMUNITY TO HEAR DIRECTLY
FROM
THE COMMUNITY AND REPORTING BACK
TO COMMUNITY IN QUARTER
THREE ABOUT HOW THE CITY HAS
DIRECTLY ADDRESSED AND RAISED
THESE
ISSUES. AS YOU KNOW, PUBLIC
SAFETY IS A
BIG ONE.
WE WANT TO THANK ALL THE
PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP FROM D- 5
AND D-
6 WHO ATTENDED THIS MEETING
AND THEIR CONCERNS.
AND WE HAVE ALREADY
STARTED WORKING ON A NUMBER OF
THESE ISSUES WITH SPD AND THE
CITY ATTORNEYS OFFICE.
THEN I WANT TO GIVE A BIG
SHOUT OUT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
AT NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN
INDIANS.
COUNCIL' MEMBER
STRAUSS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON THAT
HAS EVER CAME WITH ME
TO WASHINGTON, D.C. TO MEET WITH
WELL OVER 500
TRIBES.
LOBBYISTS, LAWYERS, IT'S AN
AMAZING EVENT, AND THEN OUR
OWN LOCAL NAVAJO CEO OF THE
SEATTLE INDIAN HEALTH BOARD WAS
RECOGNIZED BY THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
COMMUNITY
HEALTH CENTERS IN D.C. ON
FEBRUARY 11th, AND RECEIVED THE
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.
NOW, THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
THIS ORGANIZATION HAS
BEEN AROUND SINCE 1979 AND A
NATIVE
AMERICAN PERSON HAS NEVER
WON IT, AND THEY'RE ALSO AT OUR
LUNCHEON, TO BE RECOGNIZED,
SEATTLE SOUND HEALTH BOARD DOING
GREAT THINGS BEYOND JUST
INDIAN COUNTRY AND NOT JUST
TAKING
CARE OF OUR RELATIVES BUT OUR
RELATIVES' BROTHERS,
SISTERS, AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THE
HEALTH BOARD HAS BEEN AROUND
SINCE
1970.
IT OPERATES THREE HEALTH CENTERS
AND THE LAST TIME I WAS ON
COUNCIL, WE GOT OUR
SECOND CLINIC OPENED AT LAKE
CITY
IN THE McDERMOTT HOUSE.
AND THAT NOW WITH FRED
MEYER BEING GONE, NOW HAVING
THE CLINIC THERE AND A PHARMACY,
IT IS -- I MET WITH ESTHER
AGAIN.
EVERYONE IS NOW COMING TO
THE CLINIC AND USING OUR
PHARMACY NOW THAT, YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE
WHEN FRED MEYER LEFT, THEY
REALLY
HURT OUR COMMUNITY UP THERE.
ANYWAY, WE WILL BE POSTING
THE SPEECH IN OUR NEWSLETTER AND
I KNOW WHEN WE MET AT BOARD OF
HEALTH, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER
AND BOARD MEMBER -- I'M LOOKING
AT
IT, ALEXIS MERCEDES RINCK,
I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO PUT IT
IN
YOUR NEWS LETTER TOO.
I HEARD THE SPEECH.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
WHAT A BIG AWARD IT WAS.
ANYWAY, GETTING BACK TO
GOING BACK TO NATIONAL CONGRESS.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS CAME.
WE ALSO MET WITH OUR
LOBBYIST, LESLIE PULLNER, THAT
WAS IMPORTANT
NOT ONLY IN THE NATIONAL ISSUES
BUT WHAT
WE'RE LOOKING AT AND HOW WE CAN
BE MORE TARGETED IN WHAT WE CAN
DO UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION, IF
WE
CAN DO ANYTHING, HOW WE CAN
DO AND MEET WITH CERTAIN
REPRESENTATIVES, AND WE
ALREADY HAD MET WITH SENATOR
MURRAY AND
SENATOR CANTWELL, DID THE
KEY NOTE AT OUR HONORING NATIVE
AMERICAN HONORING
WOMEN'S LUNCHEON WHICH HAS BEEN
GOING
ON FOR 30 YEARS AND YOURS TRULY
HAS BEEN AT 23 OF THEM.
I HELPED EMCEE THAT WITH MY
SISTER AND FRIEND WHO IS
A COUNCIL MEMBER ON THE TRIBAL
COUNCIL, DEBRA SHELTON.
AS I SHARED, SENATOR MARIA
CANTWELL WAS OUR KEY NOTE AS
WELL AS PEGGY FLANAGAN, GOOD
FRIEND OF OURS OUT OF
MINNESOTA, AND THAT WAS
WONDERFUL AND
INSPIRING TO HEAR HER
SPEAK ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING
IN THEIR CITY TO PROTECT THEIR
PEOPLE.
OBVIOUSLY WITH I.C.E.
AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S
GOING ON.
AND WITH THAT, I THINK WE DID
A COUPLE MORE HONORINGS AND I'M
HOPING THAT WHEN I'M GONE, THAT
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND SOME
OF YOU OTHERS WILL TAKE UP
THE BATON AND GO TO
NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN
INDIANS BECAUSE ANYONE WHO IS
ANYONE
IN INDIAN COUNTRY, TRIBAL
LEADERS FROM EVERYWHERE ARE
THERE,
AND THIS IS THE TIME TO SIT IN
AND BASICALLY HEAR WHAT IS GOING
ON, AND AGAIN, ALL OF THESE
ISSUES THAT WE DEAL WITH, PUBLIC
SAFETY, I.C.E. , HOUSING,
ADDICTION, YOU NAME IT, AS
YOU ALL KNOW, THEY DON'T HAVE
--
THEY DON'T END AT ANY CITY
LIMIT OR JURISDICTION.
WE GET GREAT IDEAS ABOUT WHAT
WE CAN USE AND IMPLY IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
TO SEE THE REPRESENTATION
FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST,
BECAUSE
FOR YEARS THE NORTHWEST
DOMINATED THE PRESIDENCY,
OUR FRIENDS FROM JAMESTOWN,
THEY'RE ALL ON THE EXECUTIVE
BOARD.
AND SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE
A WONDERFUL DEEP BENCH AT
THE NATIONAL CONGRESS OF
AMERICAN INDIANS SO I'M HOPING
NEXT
YEAR I'LL SEE YOU THERE.
IF NOT, I'LL BE THERE AND
I'LL GET YOU A T- SHIRT, I
PROMISE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
THERE WE GO.
OKAY, I REALIZE WE HAVEN'T
DONE UPDATES IN A WHILE BECAUSE
LAST MONDAY WAS A HOLIDAY.
SO YEAH, IT WAS REALLY
WONDERFUL ON THE BOARD OF HEALTH
TO GET
TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT FROM
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AND
HONOR BOARD MEMBER LUCERO FOR
THE AWARD SHE RECEIVED.
THAT WAS REALLY FANTASTIC.
AND AN INCREDIBLE SPEECH.
AND THAT SAME BOARD OF HEALTH
MEETING, WE ALSO ADOPTED
A RESOLUTION CALLING ON
THE WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE
TO FULLY FUND FOUNDATIONAL
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES.
IT WAS A REALLY
IMPORTANT RESOLUTION AND IN THAT
SAME
MEETING WE HEARD DIRECTLY
FROM SOME COMMUNITY PROVIDERS
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE
PUBLIC HEALTH DOLLARS BECAUSE
THEY FUND
DATA THAT THEN GOES TO THEIR
ADVOCACY.
ONE OF THOSE GROUPS
REALLY HIGHLIGHTED HOW IMPORTANT
THAT WAS FOR THEIR WORK
AROUND ADVOCATING FOR CHANGES IN
STATE POLICY REGARDING BLACK
MATERNAL
HEALTH OUTCOMES SO I REALLY
WANTED TO LIFT THIS UP AS THAT
FUNDING, WHEN WE'RE IN
THIS MOMENT OF SO MANY BUDGET
CUTS HERE AND BUDGET CUTS THERE,
IT CAN BE REALLY IMPORTANT -- IT
IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE
CLOSELY TRACKING THE MEANING AND
IMPACT
OF THOSE DOLLARS SO I WANTED TO
UPLIFT THAT COLLEAGUES IN
TERMS OF OUR SUPPORT FOR THAT.
THOSE RESOURCES GOING
TO FOUNDATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH.
NEXT, I WANT TO SHARE
SOME MEETINGS I HAVE HAD WITH
SOME HOUSING PROVIDERS.
I WAS THIS MORNING AT PLYMOUTH.
LAST WEEK, I WAS WITH THE
BELLWETHER AND CONNECTING
WITH THEIR CEOs.
I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN READING
LOT AND SEEING THE IMPACTS IN
OUR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
SECTOR ACROSS THE BOARD, AND SO
THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE ONGOING
WITH PROVIDERS TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S
HAPPENING NOT JUST IN THEIR
BUILDINGS, NOT JUST WITH
THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
CITY,
BUT ALSO THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND
BEYOND
THAT, REALLY, BEGINNING
TO QUESTION OUR
EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOW
WE
HAVE SET UP OUR FUNDING TO
OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROVIDERS.
AS FOLKS NO, OPERATIONAL
DOLLARS ARE A RARITY IN THAT
SPACE, AND
RELATIVELY NEW WITH THE
INVESTMENTS, THE
LARGER INVESTMENTS THE CITY HAS
BEEN MAKING TO STABILIZING
PROVIDERS.
SO THOSE MEETINGS ARE ONGOING.
OUR HOUSING MEETING IS
CANCELED THIS WEEK, BUT I'M
CONTINUING
TO MEET WITH THOSE PROVIDERS
AND LOOK FORWARD TO
ONGOING CONVERSATIONS TO MAKE
SURE
THAT THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT
THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
THE CRITICAL SERVICES THAT WE
NEED THEM
TO PROVIDE. ON AN EXCITING NOTE,
I GOT
TO TOUR A SPACE IN PIONEER
SQUARE THAT WILL SOON BE KNOWN
AS THE
NEBULA ART SPACE.
IT IS JUST REALLY FANTASTIC.
AND SUCH A COOL VISION
THAT THESE ARTISTS AND SMALL
BUSINESS
OWNERS HAVE FOR BRINGING
A CREATIVE PROJECT INTO PIONEER
SQUARE.
THEY'RE WORKING ON
PUTTING TOGETHER THEIR FINANCING
FOR IT.
BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I GOT
TO WALK AROUND AND SEE ALL OF
THESE HIDDEN ROOMS AND GOT LOST
IN THERE A FEW TIMES.
AND I'M REALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO SEEING THE VISION
THAT
THEY ARE WORKING TO BRING
FORWARD.
AND ALSO FRANKLY THE
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT
EXIST IN
THE ARTS SECTOR WHEN
INVESTMENTS LIKE THIS COME TO
FRUITION.
SO BIG SHOUT OUT TO THE FOLKS
OVER THERE WHO ARE WORKING ON
THAT.
I ALSO WALKED THE
PIKE PINE -- I DIDN'T WALK.
WE WERE GOING TO DO A WALK, BUT
IT ENDED UP BEING A MEETING
WITH SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER TO TALK ABOUT CONCERNS AND
I WALKED
BELLTOWN WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AS WELL.
LAST FRIDAY, I GOT TO MEET WITH
THE FOLKS AT RAY NEAR RISING.
WHICH INCLUDES A COALITION
OF SOUTHEAST SEATTLE
SCHOOLS, LEADERSHIP FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SCHOOL
OF
EDUCATION.
I WANT TO LIFT THIS UP AS WE GO
INTO THE SEASON WHERE WE WILL BE
WORKING ON THE
FAP IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT
WE'RE HAVING THESE
CONVERSATIONS
WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL ADVOCATES
AND ORGANIZERS ABOUT THEIR NEEDS
AND THE NEEDS OF THEIR YOUNG
PEOPLE.
THEY ARE HOLDING SOME
COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSIONS
RIGHT
NOW IN ADDITION TO THE WORK THAT
OUR OWN DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
AND EARLY LEARNING IS DOING.
AND I THINK THAT WILL BE AN
IMPORTANT SOURCE OF
INFORMATION WHEN IT COMES TO
APPROVING THAT
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
LASTLY, WELL, TWO MORE.
I WANTED TO SAY I GOT A
GREAT VISIT WITH THE SEATTLE
SOMALI
COMMUNITY SERVICES DOWN
IN RAINIER BEACH WITH THE
WORK THEY'RE DOING TO CONNECT
SENIORS AND YOUTH WITH SERVICES,
AND
THEN JUST THIS LAST WEEKEND,
I GOT TO ATTEND A CONVENING OF
THE
WASHINGTON STATE COALITION
OF AFRICAN LEADERS ON SATURDAY,
AND NOT ONLY WAS I WELL FED AND
GOT TO SUPPORT ON THE PANEL BUT
WE GOT TO HEAR, AGAIN, DIRECTLY
FROM YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT
THEIR EXPERIENCES NAVIGATING
MENTAL
HEALTH, NAVIGATING EDUCATION,
AND I'M REALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO BRINGING WHAT I HEARD
FROM THOSE FOLKS INTO OUR
POLICY PROCESS WITH FAP
IMPLEMENTATION.
THAT'S WHAT I GOT.
>> AWESOME.
THANK YOU, YOU WERE BUSY.
>> WE WERE DOING IT.
>> RIGHT.
OUT HERE, WHICH IS GREAT.
WE'RE OUT HERE IN THE
COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, AND THANK YOU,
COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, FOR PARTICIPATING
IN OUR MEETING LAST WEEK ON
FRIDAY
WHERE WE HAD A SERIES OF
PRESENTATIONS HEARING
DIRECTLY FROM THE HUMAN SERVES
DEPARTMENT.
WE ALSO HAD OUR COLLEAGUES
FROM KING COUNTY DEPARTMENT
OF COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES,
AS WELL AS A PANEL OF
HUMAN SERVICES PROVIDERS COMING
TO TALK ABOUT WAGE EQUITY.
IT WAS A ROBUST DISCUSSION.
A LOT WAS IDENTIFIED AND
UNEARTHED AND I WANT TO
THANK COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR
THEIR
PARTICIPATION AND WE ALSO
VOTED OUT THE WEST LAKE
RESOLUTION AS
WELL.
SO EXCITED WE CAN MAKE
SOME PROGRESS ON THAT.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
HUMAN SERVICES LABOR AND
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WILL
TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY, MARCH 6th.
AND COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO
REMIND YOU ALL THAT THE FIRST
MEETING
OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION
AND POLICY CHANGES WILL BE ON
MARCH 5th.
AND SO WE ARE FINALIZING THAT
AGENDA, BUT CERTAINLY WHAT
YOU CAN EXPECT ON THAT AGENDA
WILL BE DISCUSSION ON THE SLY
FOR
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
THAT
WE APPROVED IN THE BUDGET
PROCESS. SO REALLY EXCITED TO
HAVE
THAT OPEN DISCUSSION ON THE SLY
RESPONSE.
ACTUALLY, IN THE INTEREST OF
TIME, I'M GOING TO BE
HOLDING THE REST OF MY UPDATES
AND ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CHECK OUT
OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND NEWSLETTER.
WE'LL BE GETTING A
NEWSLETTER OUT THIS WEEK THAT
WILL INCLUDE
UPDATES ON OUR WORK AS WELL AS
RESOURCES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, I BELIEVE
THERE'S A QUESTION.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> MORE OF A STATEMENT.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FEDERAL
POLICY COMMITTEE.
IT HAS BEEN SCHEDULED OVER
MY OFFICE HOURS SO I'M NOT
SURE I'LL BE ABLE TO ATTEND.
JUST MAKING THE NOTE ON
THE RECORD TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
REALLY QUICKLY, TO
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S POINT
ABOUT TIME.
PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING TOMORROW
MORNING. THREE ITEMS UP.
FIRST IS OUR PROFESSIONALISM
AND STANDARDS RESOLUTION.
THAT WILL BE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
ONE.
NUMBER TWO IS OUR STAGING BILL.
THESE FIRST TWO RELATE TO
FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND ALL THE ISSUES RELATED
TO LAW ENFORCEMENT MORE
GENERALLY.
AND THEN THIRD IS ALTERNATIVE
RESPONSE.
IN THE PAST, WE HAVE HAD
OUR THREE CHIEFS GIVE
INDIVIDUAL BASED ON THEIR
DEPARTMENTS.
BUT THIS ONE IS A MEETING OF
THE THREE CHIEFS, BUT FOCUSED
ON ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE.
SO OBVIOUSLY, POLICE, FIRE,
AND OF COURSE, OUR CARE
DEPARTMENT.
THIS WEEK, MEETING WITH LOTS
OF INDIVIDUALS OR DIFFERENT
MEETINGS.
I MET WITH CITY ATTORNEY
EVANS EARLIER TODAY.
IMPORTANT DISCUSSION, AGAIN,
HIGHLIGHTING AS WE TALKED ABOUT
EARLIER, THE TOXICOLOGY BILL IN
OLYMPIA THAT'S SO
IMPORTANT. WEDNESDAY MEETING
WITH OUR NEW
METRO CHAMBER HEAD,
FORMERLY SERVING IN OLYMPIA
HIMSELF.
ALSO, HAVING A TOUR WITH
DSC, THE STAR CENTER, ON
THURSDAY.
PLUS, THERE'S THE
EARTHQUAKE ANNIVERSARY EVENT
HERE AT
BERTHA KNIGHT LANDIS ON THURSDAY
EARLY
EVENING. BECAUSE WE'RE AT THE
25th ANNIVERSARY OF THE
EARTHQUAKE, AND OF COURSE, FROM
THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE BE READY
FOR WHATEVER COMES NEXT.
AND ON FRIDAY, MEETING WITH
AGC, BUT ALSO AMAZON ON THE
QUESTION OF VETERANS.
YOU KNOW, AMAZON DOES A LOT OF
WORK FOR A LOT OF
DIFFERENT GROUPS TO
INCLUDE VETERANS SO CHECKING IN
ON THAT.
NEXT WEEK, I HAVE A MEETING ON
MONDAY WITH COALITION FOR RIGHTS
AND SAFETY.
AND ALSO THE SEATTLE LGBTQ
PLUS COMMISSION THAT WILL BE ON
MONDAY. I GOT MEETINGS ON THIRD
AND
PIKE ON TUESDAY, PUBLIC SAFETY
WALK
IN BEACON HILL ON FRIDAY.
AND JUST WANTED TO NOTE,
TOO, LAST WEEK HAD VERY GOOD
MEETING WITH COMMUNITY
PASSAGEWAYS, LAST
WEDNESDAY, VERY
IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY AS WE
FACE THE
GUN VIOLENCE THAT'S IMPACTED
OUR
SCHOOLS.
AND ALSO SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD
GREENWAYS.
LOTS GOING ON RELATED TO, YOU
KNOW, OUR PEDESTRIANS,
OUR BICYCLISTS AND ALL OF THE
ABOVE.
LIME ON THURSDAY, PLUS
THE SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER
ON FRIDAY.
BUT I WANT TO CLOSE ON TWO
THINGS.
ONE IS REALLY QUICK, IS
YESTERDAY, I HAD THE HONOR
OF REPRESENTING THE MAYOR
AND GIVING HER PROCLAMATION ON
THE DAY OF UKRAINE SOLIDARITY.
I READ HER PROCLAMATION
AT SEATTLE CENTER.
AND THEN I GAVE MY REMARKS WHERE
I KIND OF PARALLELED WHAT
WE'RE SEEING TODAY WITH UKRAINE
AND THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE, WITH
WHAT
WE HAD GIVEN THIS IS OUR 250th,
AND KEEPING IN THE SPIRIT OF
1776
AND THE BRITISH EMPIRE.
THERE ARE PARALLELS, AND
THERE'S DEFINITELY LESSONS
LEARNED.
ONE OF THEM IS THAT WE HAVE
TO STAND TALL.
THAT IS FOR TODAY.
AND THE LAST THING I JUST WANTED
TO SAY, I HAVE HAD SOMEBODY JOIN
MY OFFICE SINCE MY CHIEF OF
STAFF WAS ON PARENTAL LEAVE,
AND THIS WEEK IS HER LAST WEEK,
SO
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO SARAH
HANNEMANN, WHO HAS BEEN PROVIDE
OUTSTANDING SUPPORT RELATED TO
POLICY OVER THE PERIOD OF
TIME THAT MY CHIEF OF STAFF WAS
OUT.
AGAIN, AS A NEW DAD, AND I
JUST WANT TO THANK HER FOR ALL
THE WORK SHE'S DONE FOR MY
OFFICE AND THE DISTRICT AND THE
CITY
OF SEATTLE.
SO THANK YOU, SARAH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
THANK YOU, SARAH.
SARAH'S SISTER IS ALSO A GREAT
CHEF. AND WHEN I WAS DOING A
FOOD ACCESS VIDEO, SARAH'S
SISTER
WAS THE ONE PREPARING THE FOOD
TO MAKE ME LOOK REALLY GOOD SO
I DIDN'T BURN DOWN THE KITCHEN.
GREAT FAMILY, AND THANK YOU
FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
AND TO YOUR SISTER, WHO IS A
GREAT CHEF AS WELL.
COLLEAGUES, I HAVE ONE ITEM
THAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT,
THE GOVERNANCE AND UTILITIES
MEETING, THE NEXT MEETING
WILL BE 3/12, SO MARCH 12th.
THAT IS A THURSDAY AT 9:30 A.M.
WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA
COMCAST, THE COMCAST RENEWAL.
WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING LAST
COMMITTEE MEETING.
THIS IS ANOTHER MEETING
THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.
WE HAD THE UPDATE ABOUT IT.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, AS WE'RE
LOOKING AT WAYS IN WHICH
WE'RE TRYING TO DIVERSIFY
DIFFERENT TYPE OF REVENUE
SOURCES AND THE
COMCAST RENEWAL PIECE IS REALLY
IMPORTANT.
AND WE'RE STILL ADJUSTING
AND ADDING MORE THINGS TO THE
AGENDA.
AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE
MORE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING, I
AM CONSTANTLY ON SOCIAL
MEDIA UPDATING PEOPLE AND IN MY
NEWSLETTER AS WELL.
SO YOU CAN SEE A VIDEO
ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON AND ALSO
IN MY
NEWSLETTERS ABOUT WHAT
WE'RE DOING OR IF YOU WANT TO
STOP ME
IN THE GROCERY STORE, LIKE
YOU REGULARLY DO, AND WANT TO
TALK ABOUT YOUR ISSUES, I
AM AVAILABLE AT THE SELF-
CHECKOUT
LINE.
SO THANK YOU.
OTHER THAN THAT, COLLEAGUES,
I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER FURTHER
COMMENTS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS TO
COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL?
>> THE EARTHQUAKE THING,
WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?
>> THE EARTHQUAKE THING?
THURSDAY.
THE EARTHQUAKE THING.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I SEE
YOU GRABBING YOUR MICROPHONE.
>> I THINK THE QUESTION IS WHY
ARE WE CELEBRATING?
MY ANSWER IS BECAUSE WE
SURVIVED.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> TWO FOR TWO TODAY,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THE EARTHQUAKE HAPPENED AT
10:54 A.M.
ALL THE GOOD OF THE ORDER I HAVE
FOR YOU, I SUGGEST WE MOVE
TO EXECUTIVE SESSION BEFORE
THIS GETS ODD.
>> THANK YOU.
SO IF THERE'S NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, WE'RE GOING TO
NOW MOVE TO THE EXECUTIVE
SESSION.
I'M ANNOUNCING THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WILL NOW CONVENE INTO
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE PURPOSE OF THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION IS TO DISCUSS
PENDING
POTENTIAL OR ACTUAL LITIGATION.
THE COUNCIL'S EXECUTIVE
SESSION IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS
CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL MATTERS WITH
OUR CITY
ATTORNEY AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW.
A LEGAL MONITOR FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS
ALWAYS PRESENT TO INSURE THE
COUNCIL
RESERVES QUESTIONS FOR THE
POLICY FOR AN OPEN
SESSION. I EXPECT THE TIME OF
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION TO END
TODAY AT 5:00 P.M.
IT SAYS 5:30, BUT WE'LL SAY
5:00
P.M.
IF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS TO
BE EXTENDED AT THAT TIME, I
WILL ANNOUNCE THE EXTENSION AND
THE EXPECTED DURATION.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF
THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION, THIS
COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING WILL
AUTOMATICALLY ADJOURN.
THE NEXT COUNCIL BRIEFING
WILL BE ON MARCH 2nd, 2026, AT
2:00
P.M.
THE COUNCIL IS NOW IN EXECUTIVE
SESSION. THANK YOU.