SEATTLE-ITE AND TO BE A SEA HAWK
FAN AFTER THAT PHENOMENAL
PARADE. IT IS -- WELCOME, IT'S
FEBRUARY 12th. 2026 AND MEETING
OF THE GOVERNANCE AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER IT
IS 9:32 A.M. I'M JOY
HOLLINGSWORTH CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. CLERK?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> HERE.
>> THEY ARE EXCUSED.
>> THERE ARE THREE PRESENT.
JUAREZ IS EXCUSED AND SO IS
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA UNTIL SHE
GETS HERE. ALSO I WANT TO SAY
THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME THAT CAM
IS CLERKING. THEY'RE DOING A
GREAT JOB. AND SO GIVE US LITTLE
PATIENCE AND I DON'T WANT TO
PUT THEM ON THE SPOT AND
EMBARRASS THEM BUT THEY'RE
DOING A GREAT JOB. FIRST TIME
AND WE'RE SO HAPPY. I ALSO WANT
TO PLEASE, FOR THE RECORD,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA IS PRESENT.
THANK YOU. SO I'D LIKE TO TAKE
THIS MOMENT AS WE ARE OPENING UP
OUR COMMITTEE. THERE IS THE
FIRST ONE OF THE YEAR TO HONOR
THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF R AJ
KUMAR. HE WAS A VALUED MEMBER
AND HE PASSED AWAY RECENTLY. RAJ
JOINED THE PANEL IN 2022. HE
MADE IT BETTER SIMPLY BY BEING
-- IN THE ROOM. HE BROUGHT A
CALM PRESENCE, A GENEROUS
SPIRIT.
>> 225.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE --
>> HEY BOB.
>> THANK YOU. HE WANTED TO JUMP
IN ABOUT RAJ AND THAT'S GOOD.
GENEROUS SPIRIT AND A STEADY
COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE. HE
LISTENED CAREFULLY ASKED
THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS AND KEPT
OUR CONVERSATIONS GROUNDED IN
WHAT MATTERS MOST TO CUSTOMERS
AND COMMUNITIES. RAJ ALSO
BROUGHT REAL ENTHUSIASM TO THE
WORK. HE SPOKE ABOUT WANTING TO
BRING WASTE REDUCTION TO ITS
NEXT LEVEL -- HIGHER LEVEL. HE
CARED DEEPLY ABOUT MAKING SPU
SERVICES WORK BETTER BOTH IN
NEIGHBORHOODS AND ACROSS
SEATTLE. HIS VOICE HELPED KEEP
THE PANEL PRACTICAL AND HUMAN
AND FOCUSED ON LONG TENTH
IMPACTS. I'D LIKE TO SHARE A
FEW WORDS FROM HIS COLLEAGUES.
THE CRP CHAIR AMANDA RICHARD
SAID RAJ WAS A DEDICATED AND
KIND MAN WHO CARED DEEPLY ABOUT
HIS COMMUNITY AND CPR VICE CHAIR
MIKE SOTIS SHARED THAT HE WAS
QUIET BUT INCREDIBLY PERCEPTIVE
AND WHEN HE SPOKE, HIS QUESTIONS
WERE IMPORTANT AND SUPER
IMPACTFULFUL. HIS PASSING IS A
PROFOUND LOSS AND WE'RE VERY
GRATE L FOR HIS SERVICE AND HIS
INSIGHT AND THE KINDNESS. WE
EXTEND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES
TO HIS FAMILY AND HIS WIFE AND
ALSO HIS LOVED ONES IN OUR
COMMUNITY. HE WILL BE DEEPLY
MISSED. HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON
THROUGH THE WORK HE CARED SO
DEEPLY ABOUT. SO JUST WANTED TO
TAKE TIME. THANK YOU SPU, FOR
PROVIDING SOME COMMENTS AND
GETTING SOME QUOTES AND ALSO
JUST WANTED TO HONOR HIS LIFE AS
WELL. SO ANYONE WHO DOES THIS
WORK AND IS VERY PASSIONATE
ABOUT ANYTHING SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES IS A PHENOMENAL THING.
JUST BECAUSE OF THE WORK IS SO
POLICY ORIENTED AND IT'S A LOT
OF INTRICACIES. SO JUST VERY
GRATEFUL FOR RAJ.
>>> AND ALSO ON A DIFFERENT
NOTE, I WANTED TO FLAG THAT THIS
COMMITTEE IS ONLY MEETING ONCE A
MONTH. AND ON THE SECOND
THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH, THAT
MEANS THAT WE HAVE EIGHT MORE
COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THE YEAR.
AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO
THIS WORK. COLLEAGUES, I REALLY
APPRECIATE SOME OF THESE
MEETINGS MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT
MORE BEEFIER THAN OTHERS. AND SO
REALLY THANKFUL FOR YOUR
COMMITMENT AND TIME BECAUSE WE
HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO GO
THROUGH. WE'RE NOW GOING TO
CONSIDER THE AGENDA. IF THERE'S
NO OBJECTIONS TO THE AGENDA, IT
WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NONE,
THE AJEANDA IS ADOPTED AND NOW
WE'RE GOING TO GO ON TO PUBLIC
COMMENT. WILL THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD, PUBLIC
COMMENTERS SHOULD BE RELATED TO
TODAY'S AGENDA OR BE WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE. CLERK?
DO WE HAVE ANY PEOPLE SIGNED UP
FOR TODAY?
>> WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC
COMMENTERS SIGNED UP TODAY.
>> AWESOME. PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. THAT WAS
THE QUICKEST PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD EVER. SO IT'S NOW
CLOSED. AND WE'RE NOW GOING TO
JUMP RIGHT INTO THE ITEMS OF
BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ NUMBER ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE. COUNCIL BILL
121-155. ORDINANCE RELATED TO
THE BITTER LAKE RESERVOIR
REPLACEMENT PROJECT TRANSFERRING
PARTIAL JURISDICTION OF A
PORTION OF THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES' BITTER LAKE
RESERVOIR PROPERTY TO THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION. FOR BRING
DISCUSSION -- BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU SPU FOR COMING TO
THE TABLE AND WE KNOW YOU HAVE A
COUPLE OF ITEMS FOR TODAY. HAPPY
NEW YEAR, IT'S FEBRUARY BUT
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL IN OUR
FIRST MEETING THIS YEAR. AND
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> HERE. OH, I'M SORRY, BEFORE
WE GO. I'M SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH. SORRY MY COMMENTS
ARE NOW A LITTLE BIT OUT OF
ORDER JUST IN COMMENT TO YOUR
CHAIR'S REPORT ABOUT THE
SCHEDULE OF THIS COMMITTEE. IS
GOING FORWARD. SAYING WHAT WE
TALKED ABOUT DURING THE
COMMITTEE SCHEDULING PROCESS
JUST HERE ON THE RECORD. AS THE
BUDGET CHAIR I SIT ON THE
SEATTLE CITY EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT
SYSTEMS BOARD WHICH HAS A
MEETING ON THE SAME SCHEDULE AT
10:00 A.M. SO I'M GOING TO
UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO LEAVE THIS
MORNING AT 10:00 AND WILL DO MY
BEST TO BE HERE IN YOUR
COMMITTEE AND JUST LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING ON THIS
COMMITTEE. SO JUST WANTED TO PUT
THAT ON THE RECORD. SINCE I'M
NOW SPEAKING DURING THIS
POTENTIAL TRANSFER OF
JURISDICTION, JUST TO SAY SPU
GAVE ME THE BRIEFING AND I THINK
THAT THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB
AND I FULLY SUPPORT THIS. SO
THANK YOU CHAIR FOR LETTING ME
JUST JUMP RIGHT IN.
>> NO. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I KNOW WITH THE SCHEDULING OF
COMMITTEES THERE'S A TON OF
OTHER COMMITTEES PEOPLE DON'T
SEE THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR REGULAR
COMMITTEES FOR OUR -- AS OUR
CITY. WE ALSO HAVE REGIONAL
COMMITTEES, THERE'S A TON OF
OTHER BODY WORK THAT WE SIT ON
AND SO THE SCHEDULING PIECE IS
ALWAYS THE CHALLENGE. SO THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR
HIGHLIGHTING THAT. GENERAL
MANAGER LEE, YOU ARE WELCOME TO
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> DO YOU WANT TO QUICKLY
INTRODUCE OURSELVES.
>> PLEASE FOR THE RECORD AND
THEN YOU CAN JULY RIGHT IN.
>> ANDREW LEE, GENERAL MANAGER
CEO FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES.
>> SEAN RODRIGUEZ, SENIOR
PROPERTY AGENT FOR SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES. [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> SECTION MANAGER -- SPU.
>> AND BRIAN GOODNIGHT. COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND
FIRST OFF REALLY APPRECIATE THE
KIND WORDS SHARED ABOUT RAJ. WE
MISS HIM ALREADY. THIS IS THE
FIRST OF THREE ITEMS WE HAVE FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY. THE
PROPOSED ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU
AUTHORIZED THE TRANSFER OF
PARTIAL JURISDICTION FROM SPU TO
SDOT OF A VERY SMALL PORTION OF
SPU'S BITTER LAKE RESERVOIR
PROPERTY. THE TRANSFER ALLOWS
SDOT TO CONSTRUCT AND MAINTAIN A
SIDEWALK ALONG LYNDEN AVENUE
NORTH. THIS ACTION IS LIMITED IN
SCOPE AND DOES NOT AFFECT
FEASIBILITY TO OPERATE OR
MAINTAIN CRITICAL WATER UTILITY
INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS TIME I'M
GOING TO PASS IT OFF TO JACQUES
RODRIGUEZ OUR SENIOR RURAL
PROPERTY AGENT WITH SPU.
>> TODAY A PARTIAL ORDINANCE
RELATED TO THE BITTER LAKE
RESERVOIR REPLACEMENT PROJECT.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS LEGISLATION
IS TO AUTHORIZE TRANSFER OF
PARTIAL JURISDICTION FROM SPU TO
SDOT TO SUPPORT REQUIRED
SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS ALONG
LYNDEN AVENUE NORTH. HERE,
HERE'S THE CITY MAP THAT SHOWS
THE PROXIMITY OF THE ROSE ROY IN
NORTH SEATTLE CLOSE TO THE CITY
BOUNDARY LINE NORTH 145th
STREET. IT'S NORTHEAST OF
BITTER LAKE AND NORTHWEST OF
INGRAM HIGH SCHOOL. SO SPU
ACQUIRED THE BITTER LAKE SITE IN
1955 FOR UTILITY PURPOSES.
>> AND OPEN AIR RESERVOIR WAS
CONDUCTED OF EARTH AND DAM AND
CONCRETE EMBANKMENT AND IT WAS
TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS IN NORTH
SEATTLE AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
IN THE 2000s, THE DRINKING WATER
REGULATIONS HAD CHANGED AND SPU
WAS REQUIRED TO COVER OUR INTOWN
DRINKING WATER RESERVOIRS. AND
LAKE FOREST PARK AND BITTER LAKE
WERE TWO OF THE FIRST RESERVOIRS
THAT WERE COVERED. THEY WERE
FLOATING COVERS WERE INSTALLED
AT THESE RESERVOIRS. SOON AFTER,
HE HAD AN INITIATIVE TO BURY
OTHER RESERVOIRS IN TOWN AND PUT
PARKS ON THOSE RESERVOIRS. IN
THE FAST FORWARDING 20 JEERS
INTO THE FUTURE, BITTER LAKE AND
LAKE FOREST PARK HAVE COME TO
THE END OF THE USEFUL LIFE FOR
THEIR FLOATING COVERS. SO WE
LOOKED AT OPTIONS FOR THE BITTER
LAKE SITE FOR THE NEW RESERVOIR
AND DECIDED TO CONSTRUCT A NEW
RESERVOIR WHICH OPENED UP SIX
AND A HALF ACRES OF NEW PARK
SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
>> SO THE BITTER LAKE RESERVOIR
PROJECT, IT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF
FOUR PROJECTS THAT ARE OCCURRING
ON THIS SITE. SO FOR THE
RESERVOIR REPLACEMENT ITSELF, SO
WE'RE REPLACING THE EXISTING
RESERVOIR WITH THE NEW CONCRETE
RESERVOIR THAT WILL BE
SEISMICALLY RESILIENT AND HAVE
THE SAME CAPACITY AS THE
EXISTING RESERVOIR. ALSO STREET
IMPROVEMENT ALONG NORTH 143rd
STREET AND LYNDEN AVENUE NORTH
AND NORTH 138th STREET WHICH
INCLUDE PAVED PARKING AND A
TRAIL AND A SIDEWALKS. MULTIPLE
CITY DEPARTMENTS COMING TOGETHER
TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY BENEFITS
AND IN ADDITION TO THE
RESERVOIR, THERE'S A NEW PARK.
PUBLIC ARTS AND A PEA PATCH
EXPANSION. SO COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT HAS REALLY BEEN
CRITICAL ON THIS PROJECT. WHEN
WE -- EARLY ON WE COMPLETED THE
EQUITY TOOL KITS AND WHERE WE
LEARNED THIS IS TRULY A DIVERSE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND IN OUR INITIAL
ENGAGEMENT ON THE PROJECT WE
HELD STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS WITH
COMMUNITY GROUPS AND NEARBY
RESIDENTS. MOVING INTO 60%
DESIGN, WE CONDUCTED OUTREACH
WITH ONLINE OPEN HOUSES AS WELL
AS AN IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSE AT
THE BITTER LAKE COMMUNITY
CENTER. WE ALSO HAD -- I MEAN
EXCUSE ME THE BROAD VIEW
LIBRARY. ALSO TABLING EVENTS A T
THE BITTER LAKE COMMUNITY CENTER
AS WELL AS THE RESERVOIR PARK.
DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS THAT
PEOPLE HAD IN THE AREA. SPU HAD
MET WITH SPD COMMUNITY CRIME
PREVENTION OFFICERS ON THE SITE
TO DISCUSS SAFETY. WE ALSO
REACHED OUT TO COMMUNITY TO ASK
THEM QUESTION, WHAT MAKES THEM
FEEL SAFE IN PUBLIC SPACES AND
JUST HAVING PEOPLE AROUND AND
ALSO ACTIVATING THE SPACE IN A
POSITIVE FAMILY-FRIENDLY
ENVIRONMENT. SO AS WE MOVED INTO
90% DESIGN OUTREACH ON THIS
PROJECT WE DECIDED TO PIVOT ON
THE OUTREACH AND INSTEAD OF A
FORMAL OPEN HOUSE WE DECIDED TO
REALLY GO OUT TO WHERE THE
COMMUNITY WAS. SO PART OF THIS
WE WENT TO DIFFERENT EVENTS AND
WE WENT TO THE HELP LINE FOOD
BANK. WENT TO THE BITTER LAKE
COMMUNITY CENTER PANCAKE
BREAKFAST AND ALSO WENT TO
NEARBY APARTMENTS AS WELL AS
SENIOR LIVING FACILITY AT THE
SHAG INTERURBAN AND ALSO HAVING
EVENTS AT THE BITTER LAKE PARK
THERE. SO ALSO AS PART OF THIS
90% OUTREACH, THAT THIS WAS A
TRUE ONE SEATTLE EVENT WHERE WE
HAD ALL FOUR CITY DEPARTMENTS
THERE GETTING FIELDBACK ON ALL
FOUR OF THE PROJECTS. SO ALSO AT
THIS TIME, WITH ARTS AND SPR,
THEY HAD FOCUS GROUPS AND ALSO
HAD A COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE. SO
IN OUR FINAL DESIGN WE ALSO HAD
OUTREACH ON INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE
AS WELL AS NOW THAT WE'RE
MOVING INTO CONSTRUCTION, WE'RE
HAVING OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS AS
WELL IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH
BITTER LAKE COMMUNITY CENTER
PANCAKE BREAKFAST AND ASIAN FOOD
MARKET AS WELL AS THE BITTER
LAKE PARK.
>> THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS
APPROXIMATELY 610 SQUARE FEET.
CONSISTING OF ONE FOOT WIDE
STRIP ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING
RIGHT OF WAY. PART OF TO PROJECT
SDOT SIDEWALK STANDARDS ARE
TRIGGERED WHICH REQUIRES MINIMUM
6-FOOT SIDEWALK. OWN AND OPERATE
AND MAINTAIN THIS SIDEWALK BY
SDOT. SPU AND SDOT WORKED
CLOSELY TO IDENTIFY MUTUAL AND
OFFSETTING BENEFITS. BECAUSE THE
TRANSFER SUPPORTS REQUIRED
PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, NO
MONETARY COMPENSATION IS
REQUIRED. SPU DETERMINED THAT
THIS TRANSFER AREA IS NO LONGER
NEEDED FOR FUTURE SPU UTILITY
NEEDS AND OPERATIONS. THIS MAP
SHOWS THE TRANSFER LOCATION
WITHIN COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 IN THE
BITTER LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD. WITH
COUNCIL APPROVAL, SPU CAN MOVE
FORWARD WITH THE REQUIRED
JURISDICTIONAL TRANSFER TO
SUPPORT BOTH INFRASTRUCTURE
UPGRADES AND NEIGHBORHOOD
BENEFITS. THIS CONCLUDES OUR
PRESENTATION. IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS?
>> AWESOME. AND THANK YOU FOR
THAT. AND I'D LIKE TO JUMP
RIGHT TO MR. BRIAN GOODNIGHT IF
YOU HAVE ANY CENTRAL STAFF MEMO
POINTS.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY EXCEPTS FOR
THE ITEM. IT'S A FAIRLY
STRAIGHTFORWARD CONSIDERATION BY
THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME AND COLLEAGUES I WILL
PAUSE HERE TO SEE IF WE HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS AT ALL. I SAW YOU CAME
OFF MUTE. COUPLE MEMBER KETTLE
IN.
>> YES. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE
THE OPPORTUNITY WITH
COUNCILMEMBER -- FORMER
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON IN MIND,
TO REALLY THANK EVERYONE FOR
REALLY BRINGING IN SEPTED
PROCESS INTO THIS BECAUSE IT
KIND OF GOES TO THE IDEA OF AN
OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A
POUND OF CURE. BY PUTTING THIS
UP FRONT AND BRINGING IT INTO TO
PROJECT, YOU KNOW, IT HELPS US
TO AVOID HAVING TO COME IN
AFTERWARDS TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO
CREATE A SITUATION THAT'S
REALLY NET POSITIVE FOR THE
PUBLIC SAFETY PROCESSTURE OF THE
AREA. SO -- I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT. AND SAY THANK
YOU FOR THE WORK DONE WITHIN THE
SEPTED AREA AND I GUESS A LITTLE
SHOUT-OUT FOR FORMER
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> AWE? , THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE GENERAL MANAGER LEE AND MR.
RODRIGUEZ AND MR. KARCH. I --
JUST WANTED TO REALLY THANK YOU
FOR DOING THE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT. THIS IS A VERY --
PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD ITEM.
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT GOES FROM ONE
CITY DEPARTMENT TO ANOTHER.
SISTER CITY DEPARTMENT. ALL THE
MORE REASON SOMETIMES WE CAN
FORGET TO DO AS A CITY COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT AND IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITY WHEN
THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS ARE
MOVING FORWARD. THAT THEY REALLY
FEEL LIKE THEY HEARD ABOUT IT
AND THEY DIDN'T JUST SEE A SIGN
THAT SAID THIS IS HAPPENING. SO
I THINK YOU ARE FOCUSED ON
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND I JUST
WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU ON THAT.
THANK YOU ON THAT. IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITY. THIS IS
OBVIOUSLY NOT MY DISTRICT. BUT I
CARE IN GENERAL ACROSS THE CITY
ABOUT ALL OUR CONSTITUENTS AND
REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU AND
UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF
THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVEN
IN THESE MORE SIMPLE PROCESSES
SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. CP.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU. WE HEARD
PANCAKE BREAKFAST AND THOUGHT
THAT WAS PRETTY AWESOME. SO
THAT'S ALL I HEARD -- NO. BUT
ANYHOO. THANK YOU ALL. AND JUST
TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THAT, THE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WE KNOW IS
LIKE ONE OF THE BIGGEST
IMPORTANT PIECES TO THIS. AND SO
THANK YOU MR. K ARC H AND MR.
RODRIGUEZ AND GENERAL MANAGER
ANDREW LEE. ANY MORE OTHER
QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES? NOPE? SO
I'M GOING TO MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE PASSAGE
OF COUNCIL BILL 121-155. IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL. ARE THERE ANY FINAL
COMMENTS TO THE BILL? CLERK,
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
ON THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
TO PASS THE BILL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> YOU ARE ON MUTE. COUPLE
MEMBER KETTLE. THERE YOU GO.
>> AYE AGAIN.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED.
>> MOTION CARRIES THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION TO THE BILL WILL
BE SENT TO TUESDAY, FEBRUARY
17th. 2026. WE WILL JUMP RIGHT
INTO THE ITEM NUMBER TWO. CLERK,
PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER TWO INTO
THE RECORD.
>>> AGENDA ITEM TWO. COUNCIL
BILL 121-160: ORDINANCE
AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL MANAGER
AND CEO OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES TO ENTER INTO AN
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE REGIONAL
WATER SUPPLY FORUM TO COORDINATE
AND COLLABORATE ON CURRENT AND
FUTURE REGIONAL DRINKING WATER
SUPPLY ISSUES IN KING, SNOHOMISH
AND PIERCE COUNTIES FOR
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> WE HAVE MARTHA WHO IS
AWESOME. SO EXCITED TO HAVE HER
AND JUMP RIGHT INTO THE
PRESENTATION.
>> THANKS. JUST AS A WAY OF
INTRODUCTION, SINCE 1999, SO
MORE THAN 25 YEARS AGO, DRINKING
WATER SUPPLIERS IN THE CENTRAL
PUGET SOUND REGION HAVE BEEN
MEETING UNDER WHAT'S CALLED THE
WATER SUPPLY FORUM. AND THE
WATER SUPPLY FORUM IS AN
INFORMAL ASSOCIATION TO
COORDINATE AND COLLABORATE ON
WATER SUPPLY AND WATER RESOURCES
ITEMS OF MUTUAL BENEFIT. SO THE
THINGS THAT GET DISCUSSED IN
THIS FORUM ARE THINGS LIKE WATER
SUPPLY PLANNING, SYSTEM
RESILIENCY AND WATER
CONSERVATION. SO FOR OUR MEANS
PERIODICALLY ENTER INTO FUNDING
AGREEMENTS INCLUDING ASSISTANCE
AND CONSISTENT WITH THEIR MUTUAL
INTERESTS AND THEIR IDENTIFIED
BUDGETS. THE MOST RECENT
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE FORUM MEMBERS COVERED THE
YEARS 2021 TO 2025. PROPOSED
LEGISLATION BEFORE YOU NOW
AUTHORIZES A NEW INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT THAT SPELLS OUT ROLES
AND RESPONSIBILITIES. FUNDING
AND ADMINISTRATION OPERATIONS.
AND OTHER PROVISIONS. AT THIS
POINT HAND IT OFF TO MARTHA
NEUMAN TO PROVIDE MORE DETAIL
ABOUT THE NEW AGREEMENT.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR HAVING US
HERE TODAY AND HEARING THE
LEGISLATION. JUST GOING TO GIVE
A QUICK RECAP WITH SOME PICTURES
ABOUT WHAT ANDREW TALKED ABOUT.
TODAY THE LEGISLATION TODAY
WOULD AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL
MANAGER TO SIGN AN INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT WITH THE CITIES OF
EVERETT AND TACOMA AND THE
CASCADE WATER ALLIANCE FOR THE
REGION WATER SUPPLY FORUM. IT
WOULD BE FROM 2026 THROUGH 2035.
AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE
HERE, THOSE ARE THE CENTRAL
PUGET SOUND WATER -- MAJOR WATER
PURVEYORS. EVERETT THERE ON THE
TOP IN GREEN. SEATTLE IN THE
BLUE. AND TACOMA IN THE PINK. OR
PURPLE ON THE BOTTOM. SO THE
WATER SUPPLY FORUM STARTED IN
1999 AND THE REGIONAL DRINKING
WATER SUPPLIERS AND ASSOCIATION
LEADERS SO SMALLER WATER
PURVEYORS WHO ARE NOT OUR
WHOLESALE CONTRACTORS STARTED
MEETING TOGETHER. THEY MEET
QUARTERLY AND COLLABORATE ON
WATER SUPPLY AND WATER RESOURCE
ITEMS. THEY HAVE DONE SOME WORK
ON REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY
PLANNING. SYSTEM RESILIENCY, A
CURRENT FOCUS IS ON EMERGENCY
PLANNING AND ROLES LIKE SUCH AS
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING
DRINKING WATER IN AN EMERGENCY
WHICH IS SURPRISINGLY NOT CLEAR.
WATER QUALITY, WATER OPERATIONS,
WATER CONSERVATION. THE -- FORUM
HAS A THREE TIERED MEMBERSHIP
APPROACH. THE REGIONAL MEMBERS
ARE THE FOUR -- THE BIG FOUR
ENTITIES AND THEN FEE MEMBERS AN
EXAMPLE WOULD BE ALDERWOOD WATER
AND WASTEWATER. THEY'RE THE
LARGEST DISTRICT IN THE STATE.
KING COUNTY AND THEN DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH AND OTHER GUESTS
PARTICIPATE. THE FORUM CAN
COLLECT DUES WHICH IS WHY WE
HAVE THE ALA. SO THE NEW ILA
REPLACES OLDER MEMORANDUMS OF
AGREEMENT. THE MOST RECENT ONE
IS ANDREW MENTIONED EXPIRED THE
END OF 2025. THE -- FORUM
MEMBERS DECIDED THAT TACOMA WAS
BEARING A LITTLE TOO MUCH
FINANCIAL RISK UNDER THE MOA
STRUCTURE AND SO SHIFTED TO THE
ILA. JUST THE FOUR LARGE
REGIONAL PURVEYORS WOULD SIGN A
SIGNING SIGNALS OUR
PARTICIPATION AND VALUE AND
PARTICIPATING IN A REGION FORUM.
THERE WILL BE A STEERING
COMMITTEE WE ROTATE IN AS CHAIR
ALEX CHEN WHO YOU KNOW
REPRESENTS SEATTLE. WE WILL PAY
DUES WHEN WE'RE COLLECTED AND
THERE'S A FORMULA BASED ON
PERCENTAGE OF CONNECTIONS AND
AREA. SEATTLE WOULD PAY ABOUT
35%. THE FORUM HAS NOT OVERLY
COLLECTED DUES FOR MANY YEARS
INCLUDING DURING THE EARLY YEARS
OF THE PANDEMIC. SO THEY HAVE A
LARGE BALANCE. THEY HAVE NOT
COLLECTED DUES IN AT LEAST FIVE
YEARS. AND THEN THEY'LL OPERATE
-- ADOPT SOME OPERATIONAL BYLAWS
THIS YEAR. AND THAT'S IT. FRIT
STRAIGHT -- PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
BRIAN. ANYTHING TO ADD?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. JUST ONE
NOTE ON THE DUES. WHICH IS THAT
AS AN EXAMPLE IN THE MID 2010s.
THE ANNUAL FEE WAS ABOUT
$50,000, NOT A LOT IN TERMS OF
SPU'S BUDGET AND THE FUNDING
WOULD COME FROM THE WATER FUND.
IT'S NOT A GENERAL FUND
EXPENSE. JUST PUT THAT ON THE
RECORD.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I BELIEVE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
HAS A COMMENT OR A QUESTION.
>> I DO CHAIR, AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. MARTHA, GREAT TO SEW
YOU. I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF
BEING STAFFED ON THE WIRE 8
COUNCIL BY MARTHA AND SHE DOES
SUCH A GREAT JOB AND I'M
GRATEFUL FOR IT. IT'S NICE TO
SEE YOU HERE TODAY. THANKS FOR
EXPLAINING ALL OF THIS. MY -- I
ONLY HAVE ONE QUESTION AS I
ALWAYS DO. MY DUE DILIGENCE AND
RIVERA DUE DILIGENCE FASHION AS
COUNCIL PRESIDENT LIKES TO SAY.
I -- THE MOU DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE MOU AND THE ILA. BECAUSE YOU
SAID IT WAS OPERATING AS AN MOU
AND THEN THERE WAS SOME --
THINGS THAT WEREN'T WORKING
GREAT AND NOW IT'S TURNED INTO
AN ILA AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC THEY
UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE AND
WHAT -- IF ANYTHING HAS CHANGED
SUBSTANTIALLY.
>> NOTHING HAS CHANGED
SUBSTANTIALLY. ALL OF THE SAME
TERMS AND CONDITIONS, HOW THEY
OPERATE, ARE -- THE SAME. BUT
THE ISSUE IN ANDREW PLEASE SPEAK
UP IF YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION
ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
ILA AND THE MOU. THE ILA, THE
COUNCIL IS GIVING AUTHORIZATION
AND SO YOU ARE GIVING THE
BLESSING THAT AN AUTHORITY TO
SPU TO PARTICIPATE VERSUS SPU
JUST DECIDING THAT IT'S
SOMETHING WE CAN DO. WE CAN SIGN
UNDER AN ILA, BUT I THINK
BECAUSE THERE'S A LARGE BALANCE
INVOLVED AND TACOMA IS THE
FISCAL AGENT IT GIVES TACOMA A
LITTLE BIT OF PROTECTION THAT
THE CITIES ARE FORMALLY COMING
-- COOPERATING ON THIS.
>> MAKES THEM FEEL BETTER.
>> YEAH.
>> SINCE TACOMA AND YOU ARE
DOING DUE DILIGENCE BY BRINGING
US THROUGH COUNCIL. SO VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS FOR THIS COUNCIL BILL?
I WILL JUMP ON THE JUST -- POINT
OF PRIVILEGE JUMP ON THE
BANDWAGON ABOUT MARTHA BEING SO
KNOWLEDGEABLE. I HAVE HAD THE
CHANCE TO WORK WITH YOU. THIS IS
MY THIRD YEAR. AND YOU STAFF US
FOR THE REGIONAL WATER QUALITY
COMMITTEE. AND ALL OF THE
PRESENTATIONS, ALL OF THE MEMOS
THAT YOU WRITE, THE AMOUNT OF
TIME THAT IT TAKES TO WRITE ALL
THESE THINGS, WHAT COMES OUT OF
YOUR BRAIN AFTER YOU READ THEIR
LONG AGENDA AITEMS AND THE --
YOU KNOW, THE AGENDA FOR THE
MEETINGS THAT ARE LIKE MASSIVE
AMOUNT OF PAGES. THEN TO BE ABLE
TO PUT IN? A HEM ROW HAS BEEN
VERY PERSPECTIVE AND SUPER
HELPFUL. JUST WANTED TO JUMP ON
THE BANDWAGON. HOW LONG HAVE YOU
BEEN AT THE CITY FOR?
>> 12 YEARS.
>> 12 YEARS. ALL THAT KNOWLEDGE.
12 YEARS. MARTHA JUST THROWING
IT OUT THERE. BEFORE THERE WAS
CHATGPT. I WANT TO THROW THAT
OUT THERE TOO. I'M JUST SAYING.
[ LAUGHTER ] SOME OF Y'ALL WE
KNOW IS -- ANYWAYS. OKAY. SO
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY MORE
QUESTIONS? I'LL PAUSE HERE.
OKAY. I FEEL COMFORTABLE VOTING
ON THIS. COLLEAGUES, I THINK WE
ALL -- OKAY. AWESOME. PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD. THANK YOU. SO
I'M GOING GO AHEAD AND MOVE
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
COUNCIL BILL 121-160. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL. ARE THERE ANY OTHER FINAL
COMMENTS ON THIS? OKAY, CLERK,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> SAY IT ONE MORE TIME
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> HE WENT TO HIS OTHER MEETING.
I THINK.
>> CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> THREE IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED.
>> AWESOME, THE MOTION CARRIES
AND THE COMMUNITY RECOMMENDATION
OF THE BILL PASSED WILL BE SENT
TO TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17th, 2026.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. I
DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE STAYING
AGAIN MARTHA OR PLAYING MUSICAL
CHAIRS?
>> MUSICAL CHAIRS.
>> MUSICAL CHAIRS. OKAY. SO WE
SAID ALL THE NICE THINGS ABOUT
MARTHA BEFORE SHE LEAVES. OKAY.
AWESOME.
>>> THEN CAN WE READ ITEM NUMBER
THREE INTO THE RECORD.
>> NUMBER THREE. COUNCIL BILL
121-161. ORDINANCE RELATING TO
THE CEDAR RIVER WATERSHED
AMENDING THE SECONDARY USE
POLICIES ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE
114-632. TO PROVIDE THE LIMITED
APPLICATION OF THE HERBICIDE AND
-- TO TREAT INVASIVE KNOTWEED
SPECIES FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCURSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> HERBICIDE. SO EXCITED FOR
THIS ONE. WE DID NOT KNOW THERE
WAS SO MUCH DETAIL IN IT. SO
WELCOME TO YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> AGAIN THIS LAST TOPIC RELATES
TO THE CONTROL OF THE NEW YORK
CITY WEED KNOTWEED IN OUR CEDAR
RIVER KNOT WEED. IT'S AN
EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE AND
INVASIVE SPECIES. IT CAN BE
SPREAD BY A TINY FRAGMENT OF A
PLANT FALLING INTO A STREAM OR
TRANSPORTED BY AN ANIMAL. THE
PLANT CLONES ITSELF AND
ESTABLISHES A NEW INFESTATION
AND CREATES A SIGNIFICANT THREAT
TO WATER QUALITY AND FISH AND
WILDLIFE HABITAT. SO AN ZOE
LOUTOS WILL REPORT.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING
COUNCILMEMBERS. HI, I'M ZOE
LOUTOS. I WORK OUT AT CEDAR
FALLS IN THE CEDAR RIVER
WATERSHED AND I'M SHEER THE
PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION TODAY
IS TO RENEW AUTHORITY TO CONTROL
KNOTWEED IN THE CEDAR RIVER
WATERSHED WITH IT. THIS
ORDINANCE AUTHORITY HAS BEEN
APPROVED PREVIOUSLY BY COUNCIL
FIVE TIMES AND MOST RECENTLY
PASSED IN 2023 FOR THREE YEAR
ORDINANCE PERIOD. SO LET'S
START WITH KNOTWEED. WHAT'S THE
PROBLEM? WHY DOES SPU CARE ABOUT
A PLANT GROWING IN THE WATERSHED
35 MILES AWAY FROM THE CITY?
WELL, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE
PHOTO, KNOTWEED FORMS DENSE
STANDS ALONG RIVER BANKS THAT
CROWD OUT NATIVE VEGETATION
WHICH NEGATIVELY IMPACTS FISH
AND WILDLIFE HABITAT. ROOTS ALSO
HAVE REALLY POOR EROSION CONTROL
WHICH CAN CREATE WATER QUALITY
ISSUES IN HIGH FLOW EVENTS WHICH
IS OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE IN
UNFILTERED MUNICIPAL WATER
SUPPLY. ALSO CIVIC REASONS. KING
COUNTY REGULATES IT ON THE CEDAR
EVERY AND TRANSCRIBE LAIRS AND
AS A LANDOWNER, SPU IS LEGALLY
REQUIRED TO CONTROL KNOTWEED.
AND WITHOUT THE TOOL OF
HERBICIDE TO DO THIS CONTROL
WORK, IT'S REALLY EXPENSIVE AND
INEFFECTIVE. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE
A MOMENT TO ORIENT OURSELVES TO
WHERE THE WATERSHED IS IN
RELATION TO THE CITY. HAS YOU
CAN SEE IT'S ABOUT 35 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF THE CITY AND CITY
LAND OWNERSHIP EXTENDS FROM THE
CREST OF THE CASS CADES TO
LANDSBURG DAM AND THE MAPLE
VALLEY AREA. FOR A BRIEF HISTORY
OF CONTROL, AS YOU MAY KNEE,
THERE'S AN HERBICIDE MORATORIUM
IN THE CITY CEDAR RIVER
WATERSHED. THIS HERBICIDE
MORATORIUM DATES BACK TO THE
1989 SECONDARY USE POLICY THAT
POLICY WAS INTENDED TO PREVENT
BROADCAST SPRAYING OF ROADSIDE
VEGETATION AND DIDN'T CONSIDER
SPOT TREATMENT OF WEEDS. SO IN
2002, WHEN SPU FIRST DISCOVERED
IT ON ITS LANDS, CONTROL OPTIONS
WERE LIMITED TO DIGGING AND
COVERING WITH BLACK FABRIC LIKE
YOU SEE IN THIS PHOTO. THOSE
STRATEGIES WERE NOT PRACTICAL TO
IMPLEMENT ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT LARGE INFESTATIONS
FAR AWAY FROM THE ROAD AND ALONG
THE RIVER. HOWEVER, LIMITED
OPTIONS FOR CONTROL SPU
CONTROLLED THESE CONTROL EFFORTS
WITH DIGGING AND COVERING WITH
BLACK FABRIC FOR ALMOST A DECADE
UNTIL IN 2010, WE FIRST WENT TO
CITY COUNCIL AND ASKED FOR
ORDINANCE AUTHORITY TO USE THE
HERBICIDE TO CONTROL KNOT WEED
WIDELY CONSIDERED THE BEST
MANAGEMENT PRACTICE FOR
CONTROLLING THIS PLANT. AS I
MENTIONED THERE HAVE BEEN FIVE
CONSECUTIVE PASSAGES THIS
ORDINANCE HAS BEEN PASSED FIVE
CONSECUTIVE TIMES AND MOST
RECENTLY WAS PASSED IN 2023 ON A
THREE YEAR ORDINANCE PERIOD.
SINCE 2010, OUR KNOTWEED CONTROL
PROGRAM HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS.
THESE ARE PHOTOS OF THE
EDUCATION CENTER AND YOU CAN SEE
HERE IN THE LEFT PHOTO, BEFORE
TREATMENT, WE'VE GOT TALL
KNOTWEED SEVEN, EIGHT FEET TALL
GROWING INTO THE TREES. AND IN
THIS RIGHT PHOTO, YOU CAN SEE
AFTER MANY YEARS OF TREATMENT,
THERE IS NO KNOTWEED. NOW GRANTS
THIS IS AN EARLY SPRAYING. BUT
YOU CAN SEE THE DIVERSITY. THIS
IS WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH WITH
MULTIPLE YEARS OF TREATMENT AND
REESTABLISHING WITH NATIVE
PLANTS. NOW WE ARE STILL
TREATING THESE LONG-TERM PROJECT
SITES. BUT AFTER TREATMENT,
KNOTWEED GROWS BACK SMALL AND
STUNTED AND MORE LIKE ONE OR TWO
FEET TALL INSTEAD OF THE LEFT
PHOTO. WHICH MEANS WE NEED A LOT
LESS HERBICIDE TO CONTROL THESE
PLANTS. WE UNDERSTAND THE PUBLIC
MAY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE
HERBICIDE USE IN THE WATERSHED.
IMPORTANTLY THE HERBICIDE
INHIBITS THE ENZYME AND DOESN'T
HARM ANIMALS. WE'VE ALSO --
UTILIZED TOXICOLOGY STUDIES FROM
FOREST SERVICE AND WASHINGTON
STATE UNIVERSITY WHICH HAVE
FURTHER DEMONSTRATED THAT
THERE'S NO ADVERSE IMPACT TO
HUMAN HEALTH OR FISH AND
WILDLIFE. SPU takes great care
to protect the environment while
spraying and we take water
quality samples before and after
TREATMENT. TO ENSURE THERE'S NO
HERBICIDE ENTERING THE WATER. WE
ALSO AVOID POLLINATORS AND
NATIVE PLANTS WHILE SPRAYING. I
WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK
ABOUT CURRENT TREATMENT EFFORTS
BECAUSE THEY'VE EVOLVED A
LITTLE BIT OVER THE YEARS AS
WE'VE SEEN SUCCESS. SO
LONG-TERM SITES LIKE THE
EDUCATION CENTER WITH THAT ONE
TO TWO FOOT TALL ARE NOW BEING
TREATED OVER OTHER YEAR, WE ARE
STILL CONDUCTING ANNUAL SURVEYS
ALONG THE SEAL CAR RIVER AND ITS
TRIBUTARIES AND THOSE SURVEYS
ALLOW US TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY
NEW PATCHES THAT MIGHT BE
POPPING UP ARE TREATED RIGHT
AWAY BEFORE IT BECOMES MORE
WIDESPREAD. THIS ALLOWS US TO
USE MINIMAL HERBICIDE BUT
MAINTAIN PROJECT PROGRESS THAT
WE'VE ACHIEVED SINCE THAT FIRST
PASSAGE OF THE ORDINANCE IN
2010. SO AGAIN, I'M HERE ASKING
FOR RENEWED AUTHORITY TO CONTROL
KNOTWEED IN THE CEDAR RIVER
WATERSHED WITH THE HERBICIDE AND
BECAUSE OF OUR CONTROL SUCCESS
AND THAT REDUCTION IN HERBICIDE
NEEDED, WE ARE NOW USING ABOUT
THE SAME AMOUNT OF HERBICIDE
OVER SIX YEAR Z AS WE WERE
PREVIOUSLY USING IN ABOUT THREE
YEARS. AND SO WE ARE ASKING FOR
A LONGER ORDINANCE PERIOD TO
REFLECT THIS CHANGE IN
MANAGEMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO OPEN THE
FLOOR TO ANY QUESTIONS.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THAT. MR. GOOD NIGHT?
>> NO SUBSTANTIAL COMMENTS AND I
WAS GOING TO JUST HIGHLIGHT THE
SIX YEARS VERSUS THREE YEARS IF
PAST ORDINANCES. BUT THAT HAS
BEEN SUFFICIENTLY COVERED.
THANKS.
>> GOT IT. IT'S FROM THREE
YEARS TO SIX YEARS. AND I'LL
PAUSE HERE TO SEE IF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I
DON'T KNOW KNOTWEED COULD BE TO
INVASIVE. YOU'LL TALK ABOUT IT
LIKE IT'S THIS INVASE EVERY
SPEED THAT'S LIKE YOU KNOW, THE
WAY YOU DESCRIBED IT I'M LIKE
SCARED OF IT NOW. YEAH.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. IT COULD
BE A SCARY MOVIE.
>> THIS INVASIVE WEED.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND CHAIR. ZOE, THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE AND I HAVE NOT HAD
THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH
YOU. BUT THANK YOU FOR RUNNING
THROUGH THIS REALLY GREAT
PRESENTATION. I TOO HAD A
CONCERN ABOUT USING THIS
HERBICIDE SO YOU ADDRESSED TO MY
CONCERNS. YOU KNOW WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT AS WE ARE USING A
CHEMICAL TO MANAGE FOR SOME OF
THESE INVASIVE SPECIES THAT WERE
NOT INADVERTENTLY BEING HARMFUL
TO THE WILDLIFE AND TO FISH LIFE
AND TO HUMANS. IN FACT; THAT'S
WHY YOU ARE CONTROLLING THE
KNOTWEED IS BECAUSE IT IS
HARMFUL TO FISH AND WILDLIFE IN
THE -- IN THIS CEDAR RIVER
WATERSHED. SO THANK YOU FOR
THAT. I REALLY JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT FOR THE PUBLIC
BECAUSE I KNOW THEY CARE AS
WELL. AND THEN I JUST REALLY
WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE
WORK THAT SPU DOES AT THE
WATERSHED. AND ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE
WITH OUR TRIBAL PARTNERS ALSO
THAT CARE ABOUT THE CEDAR RIVER
WATERSHED. SO WANTED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND UPLIFT THAT
BECAUSE I KNOW HOW HARD SPU
WORKS TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE
WATERSHED. AND HOW MUCH YOU CARE
ABOUT ENSURING THAT OUR TRIBAL
PARTNERS THAT YOU ARE IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR TRIBAL
PARTNERS THERE. SO THANK YOU,
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
CHAIR.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. ALL RIGHT.
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
REGARDING THIS? THE ONE QUESTION
I HAD BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE BEEN
DOING THIS SINCE 2010.
>> SINCE 2010.
>> SUCCESSFULLY. RIGHT? SINCE
2010. AND HAS THERE -- HAS THERE
BEEN A CHANGE IN THE AMOUNT OF
HERBICIDE THAT YOU HAVE HAD TO
BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, USE?
>> I'M GLAD YOU ASKED. SO IN
2011, SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST
ORDINANCE WAS PASSED, MY
PREDECESSOR WAS USING ABOUT 700
OUNCES TO CONTROL ALL OF THE
KNOTWEED IN THE WATERSHED AND
FOR CONTEXT, LAST YEAR, I
SPRAYED 1.5 OUNCES OF THE
HERBICIDE. SO THAT'S A
TESTAMENT TO OUR CONTROL SUCCESS
AND AGAIN, THESE PLANTS GROW
BACK VERY SMALL AND STUNTED
AFTER THEY'VE BEEN TREATED. SO
THAT REDUCES OUR HERBICIDE AND
SWITCHING THESE LONG-TERM
PROJECT SITES TO TREATMENT EVERY
OTHER YEAR ALSO FURTHERS OUR
REDUCTION OF HERBICIDE. SO YES
IT'S BEEN A DRASTIC REDUCTION
AND THAT 1.5 IS LESS THAN 1% OF
THE LEGAL RATE OF THE HERBICIDE
USE. SO IT'S A REALLY SMALL
AMOUNT OF HERBICIDE. BUT THAT
ALLOWS US TO BE REALLY EFFECTIVE
IN KEEPING THESE PLANTS FROM
REESTABLISHING AND WE KNOW IF WE
WALKED AWAY ALTOGETHER FROM
THESE PROJECTS, THEY MIGHT
REESTABLISH AND THEN
UNFORTUNATELY, WE MIGHT NEED TO
USE MORE HERBICIDE. SO WE'VE
GOT THEM ON THIS GOOD SCHEDULE
WHERE THEY NEED MAINTENANCE DOSE
AND LOW HERBICIDE USE AND THAT
JUST PROTECTS THE PROJECT.
>> THAT'S REALLY GOOD TO HEAR
AND I KNOW THAT'S GREAT FOR THE
PUBLIC AS WELL. TO UNDERSTAND.
WHEN THEY UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS
ON SUCH BECAUSE WHEN THEY HEAR
HERBICIDE THEY'RE LIKE WHAT'S
GOING ON? BUT THE MAINTENANCE
PIECE OF 700 OUNCES TO 1.5
OUNCES, AND THE MAINTENANCE ON
THAT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE
TO UNDERSTAND TOO AND THEN THE
GREAT CARE OBVIOUSLY WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA HAD TALKED
ABOUT OF OUR CEDAR RIVER
WATERSHED. I HAVE HAD A CHANCE
TO SEE IT FIRSTHAND AND IT'S
ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. AND THE
AMOUNT OF CARE AND ATTENTION AND
DETAIL THAT WE PAY -- THAT WE --
THAT WE HAVE IS REALLY, REALLY
GREAT. SO JUST WANTED TO --
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THE GREAT EDUCATION CENTER
THAT'S THERE TOO. THAT'S
REALLY ENCOURAGE FOLKS THAT MAY
BE WATCHING, TO REALLY GO VISIT.
BRING YOUR FAMILIES. IT'S REALLY
A BEAUTIFUL SITE IN THE
EDUCATION CENTER HAS BEEN THERE
FOR A LONG TIME. THEY'RE THE
RANGE DRUMS. IT'S REALLY
AMAZING.
>> YEP. ABSOLUTELY. COLLEAGUES,
I'M GOING TO PAUSE HERE TO FIND
OUT IF THERE'S ANY MORE
QUESTIONS. AWESOME. OKAY. I'M
GOING TO MOVE THAT WE --
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS COUNCIL
BILL 121-161. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL. ARE THERE ANY FINAL
COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, I SEE YOU
ARE ALREADY OFF MUTE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. GOOD JOB.
ALL RIGHT. WILL THE AMERICA
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MY MAN.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> WE COULDN'T HEAR YOU
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I DON'T
KNOW IF IT'S --
>> I MAY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY
LAPTOP. SORRY.
>> OKAY. CAN YOU CALL THE ROLL
AGAIN? WHAT'S YOUR VOTE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> AYE. THREE IN FAVOR, ZERO
OPPOSED.
>> WE'RE ALLOWED TO GO FOR A
THUMBS UP TOO. GREAT. THANK YOU
CLERK. THE MOTION CARRIES.
COMMITTEE WILL RECOMMEND THE
BILL PASSAGE BE SENT TO TUESDAY,
FEBRUARY 17th , 2026. COUNCIL
MEETING. THANK YOU ALL. THAT IS
OUR SPU VIBE FOR THE DAY. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU GENERAL MANAGER
LEE. DO THEY CALL IT GM LEE? CEO
LEE? WHICH ONE DO YOU LIKE?
>> WHATEVER YOU WANT.
>> OKAY. OKAY. WHATEVER HE
WANTS. OKAY. THEY ALWAYS SAY CM,
CEO. YOU ARE THE BOSS. SLASH: I
COULD CALL YOU SLASH. ANYWAYS.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SPU AND NOW
I'M GOING TO READ AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER FOUR INTO THE RECORD.
>>> IT IS COMCAST FRANCHISE
RENEWAL PRESENTATION. AND THAT
IS FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE I. T.
HERE. HELLO.
>> HELLO.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND CHAIR. CITY
COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS
AND ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC. ROB LLOYD, CHIEF
TECHNOLOGY OFFICER HERE WITH JON
MORRISON WINTERS DIGITAL EQUITY
AND BROADBAND MANAGER AND OUR
GREAT COLLEAGUE BRIAN GOODNIGHT
FROM COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF AND
PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO EXTEND
THE CABLE FRANCHISE BETWEEN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND COMCAST FOR
SEVEN YEARS CONSISTENT WITH
ALLOWANCES UNDER FEDERAL AND
STATE LAW. STAFF IS UPDATING THE
COMMITTEE AND HAS PREVIOUSLY
UPDATED ON THE INFORMAL
NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS THAT WAS
INITIATED PER THE FRANCHISE.
STAFF CONDUCTED COMMUNITY
ASSESSMENT WORK ON THE COMMUNITY
BENEFITS TO INFORM OUR
NEGOTIATIONS GOALS WHICH
RESULTED IN POSITIVE OUTCOMES
THAT YOU WILL HEAR FROM JON
SHORTLY. AND TO BE MAXIMALLY
TRANSPARENTS THIS A FIRST
BRIEFING. WE WOULD RETURN IN
MARCH FOR ACTIONABLE AND WE'LL
COVER THAT MORE HERE SHORTLY.
BUT JON? YOU CAN BEGIN.
>> THANK YOU ROB AND THANK YOU
COMMITTEE HAIR AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR
HAVING US TODAY. SO ROB SAID,
THIS IS JUST THE FIRST BRIEFING
THAT WE'RE GIVING ON THIS
MATTER. AND FIRST I'D LIKE TO
START WITH AT LITTLE BIT OF
CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND OF CABLE
FRANCHISES, THIS MAY BE REVIEW
FOR SOME OF YOU BUT IT'S
IMPORTANT CONTEXT TO HAVE IN
TERMS OZ WHAT OUR ROLE IS AS THE
LOCAL FRANCHISE AUTHORITY IN
THIS MATTER. FIRST, TO BEGIN,
CABLE FRANCHISES ARE GOVERNED BY
FEDERAL LAW. AND THAT INCLUDES
THE CABLE ACT OF 1984 AND THE
TELE-COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF
19967. THESE ACTS ESTABLISHED
OUR REGULATORY AUTHORITY AS THE
LOCAL FRANCHISE AUTHORITY FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. AND THEY
ARE FAIRLY PRESCRIPTIVE IN SOME
RESPECTS IN TERM OF RENEWAL
PROCESS AND OTHER MATTERS
GOVERNING CABLE FRANCHISING IN
THE UNITED STATES. AS THE LOCAL
FRANCHISE AUTHORITY, WE HAVE
ESTABLISHED A CABLE CODE WHICH
IS SM C-21.60. THAT REQUIRES
CABLE PROVIDERS TO MEET
TECHNICAL, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND
PRIVACY STANDARDS AND THAT
INCLUDES OUR CABLE CUSTOMER BILL
OF RIGHTS FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. EXCUSE ME. THERE'S
CURRENTLY TWO CABLE FRANCHISEES
IN THE CITY AND THAT'S COMCAST
AND ASTOUND. AS I MENTIONED, THE
PROCESS OF CABLE FRANCHISE
RENEWALS IS FAIRLY PRESCRIPTIVE
UNDER THE FEDERAL LAW. AND WHAT
THAT ESTABLISHES AND LAYS OUT IS
A RENEWAL PROCESS THAT BEGINS
THREE YEARS PRIOR TO THE
EXPIRATION OF A CABLE FRANCHISE.
HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
HISTORICALLY, THANK YOU. HERE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HISTORICALLY
OUR FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS RAN FOR
TEN YEARS AND THAT IS IN LINE
WITH THE CURRENT FRANCHISE
NEGOTIATED WITH COMCAST AND THE
FRANCHISE WITH ASTOUND. AND SO I
CAME TO CITY COUNCIL BACK IN
JULY OF 2023. CITY COUNCIL
PASSED A RESOLUTION TO BEGIN THE
-- TO BEGIN THE ASCERTAINMENT
PROCESS FOR RENEWAL OF THE
COMCAST CABLE FRANCHISE.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THERE IS A
FORMAL AND INFORMAL RENEWAL
PROCESS THAT'S LAID OUT IN THE
CABLE ACT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
AND TYPICALLY, THE NOTICE FROM
THE OPERATOR THAT WE RECEIVE
INDICATES THEIR INTENT TO
NEGOTIATE AN INFORMAL RENEWAL AT
THE SAME TIME BOTH PARTIES
RETAIN THE RIGHT TO PURSUE A
FORMAL RE NULL PROCESS. ACROSS
THE COUNTRY THE SLIDE SAYS THE
MAJORITY: I CAN SAY ALMOST ALL
FRANCHISES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
ARE CURRENTLY RENEWED AND HAVE
BEEN FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS
RENEWED VIA THE INFORMAL
PROCESS. IN TERMS OZ TIMELINE,
AGAIN, WE WERE HERE BACK IN JULY
5th OF 2023 TO COMMENCE THE
RENEWAL PROCEEDINGS WITH
COMCAST. AND THAT ESTABLISHED
THAT THREE YEAR PERIOD. THE
NOTICE THAT WE RECEIVED FROM
COMCAST BEGAN THAT THREE YEAR
PERIOD. IN FEBRUARY 21st, 2023.
AND IT RAN THROUGH 2026. NOW
THERE IS A NOTE ON THIS SLIDE.
THE COMCAST -- THE CURRENT
COMCAST FRANCHISE WAS AND IS SET
TO EXPIRE IN JANUARY 20th OF
2026. AND SO IN ORDER TO ALLOW
THE CITY AND CITY COUNCIL TO
CONTINUE WITH THE DECISION
MAKING PROCESS FOR THAT DECISION
MAKING PROCESS TO RUN ITS
COURSE, WE DID ASK COMCAST TO
SIGN A LETTER STATING THAT, YOU
KNOW, WE CONSIDER THE FRANCHISE
AND ARE OPERATING UNDER THE
PREVIOUS FRANCHISE THROUGH APRIL
30th OR UNTIL THE CITY ADOPTS
THE NEW COUNCIL BILL. SO WE ARE
IN A BIT OF AN INTERIM PERIOD
RIGHT NOW IN THAT RESPECT. THE
DATES HERE UNDER ASTOUND ARE
REALLY JUST HERE FOR CONTEXT.
AND TO KNOW WE WILL BE BACK. AND
TO DISCUSS THE ASTOUND FRANCHISE
RENEWAL WHEN THAT TIME COMES.
AND THEIR CURRENT FRANCHISE IS
SET TO EXPIRE AROUND NOVEMBER
11th OF 2027. UNDER THE FEDERAL
RENEWAL PROCESS, WE ARE LIMITED
IN WHAT WE CAN TAKE INTO ACCOUNT
IN TERMS OF THE CRITERIA THAT WE
WOULD ESTABLISH FOR RENEWING A
FRANCHISE. AND THAT CRITERIA
INCLUDES WHAT WE DO AS WE
CONDUCT AN ASCERTAINMENT OF THE
CABLE RELATED NEEDS AND
INTERESTS OF RESIDENTS IN THE
CITY AND WE ALSO DO CONSIDER THE
CABLE OPERATORS' PERFORMANCE
AND THEIR HISTORY OF COMPLIANCE
WITH THE TERMS OF THE FRANCHISE.
SO FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS
WE'VE BEEN CONDUCTING A
COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT AND THAT
INCLUDED SEVERAL COMPONENTS IN
ORDER TO -- IN ORDER TO CAPTURE
THE CABLE RELATED NEEDS AND
INTERESTS OF SEATTLE RESIDENTS
AND ALSO TO -- TO LOOK AT
COMCAST' PERFORMANCE UNDER THE
FRANCHISE. AND SO THE -- THOSE
COMPONENTS ARE LISTED HERE. WE
CONDUCTED A RESIDENT SURVEY. WE
CONDUCTED LISTENING SESSIONS IN
THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO
CAPTURE VOICES THAT MAY BE WERE
UNDER RELATED IN THAT SURVEY. WE
LOOKED AT COMCAST'S COMPLIANCE
IN THE CITY AUDITOR LOOKS AT
COMCAST'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE
CABLE CUSTOMER BILL OF RIGHTS
AND THEY CONDUCTED AN AUDIT. WE
ALSO ASKED THE SEATTLE CHANNEL
TO CONDUCT A CAPITAL NEEDS
ASSESSMENT. AND THAT WAS
IMPORTANT FOR A -- THE
NEGOTIATION OF THE PEG FEE RATE.
PEG STANDING FOR PUBLIC
EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL
TELEVISION AND THE P. E. G. FEE
THAT COMCAST PAYS DOES SUPPORT
SEATTLE CHANNEL. SO WE ASSESSED
THE CAPITAL NEEDS OF SEATTLE
CHANNEL AND WE ALSO CONDUCTED A
TECHNICAL REVIEW. AND THE IDEA
THERE IS THAT WAS DONE IN ORDER
TO ASSESS COMCAST'S COMPLIANCE
WITH THE RELEVANT ELECTRICAL
CODES. AS I MENTIONED PART OF
THAT COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT IS
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHO IS
SERVED UNDER THE FRANCHISE AND
WHO REALLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMCAST'S
CABLE CUSTOMERS. CURRENTLY,
ABOUT A THIRD OF SEATTLE
HOUSEHOLDS AND THE COMCAST
SERVICE AREA HAVE CABLE
TELEVISION. AND IN TERMS OF WHO,
YOU KNOW, WHO THAT IS AND WHAT
THE MAKEUP IS OF THE CUSTOMER
BASE, OBVIOUSLY IT'S A WIDE
SWATH OF THE CITY. BUT AT THE
SAME TIME, WE KNOW THAT IN 2026,
NOT EVERYONE HAS CABLE
TELEVISION. AND SO WHEN WE LOOK
AT WHO CURRENTLY HAS CABLE
TELEVISION, IT IS -- YOU KNOW,
THE OVERREPRESENTED GROUPS ARE
OLDER ADULTS. AND THOSE IN
MIDDLE OR LOWER INCOME BRACKETS
AS WELL. SO WE DO SEE THAT AS
WELL IN OUR WORK IN CUSTOMER
SERVICE AND ENFORCING THE
CUSTOMER SERVICE BILL OF RIGHTS
IS THAT MANY PEOPLE THAT COME TO
US WITH ISSUES THAT THEY WANT TO
BRING FORWARD TO THE CITY. ARE
LOW INCOME OLDER ADULTS. GIST TO
CHEMOIN MIND THE FULL EXTENT
THOUGH OF COMCAST SERVICE AREA.
CURRENTLY, COMCAST CABLE AND
BROADBAND SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE
TO OVER 98% OF SEATTLE HOUSEHOLD
ZS. AND SO IT DOES COVER A LARGE
MAJORITY OF THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA
OF THE CITY. IN TERMS OF
UNDERSTANDING THE BENEFITS OF
THE FRANCHISE, THE BENEFITS
LISTED HERE ARE WHAT HAS BEEN
NEGOTIATED IN PAST FRANCHISES.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, SORT OF
WHAT WE ASK FOR AND WHAT WE'RE
LOOKING IN AND WHAT OUR
PRIORITIES WERE IN THE FRANCHISE
AND SO THIS IS THE CONTEXT OF
THE BENEFITS THAT COMCAST
CURRENTLY PROVIDES AND THAT WERE
NEGOTIATED IN PAST FRANCHISE
NEGOTIATIONS. THESE INCLUDE THE
LOW INCOME CABLE TELEVISION
DISCOUNTS, THE COMPLEMENTARY
CABLE SERVICE TO SCHOOLS AND
CITY BUILDINGS AND INCLUDES HERE
IN CITY HALL, AND THEN I
MENTIONED PEG, PUBLIC
EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL
TELEVISION. AND THAT INCLUDES
SEATTLE CHANNEL, IT ALSO
INCLUDES SEATTLE COLLEGES
TELEVISION AND SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS TELEVISION. SO THOSE
OPERATIONS ARE SUPPORTED THROUGH
THIS FRANCHISE AND THAT
INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, AN
EXPECTATION THE CHANNELS WILL
HAVE SIMILAR SIGNAL QUALITY
COMPARED TO OTHER CHANNELS THAT
COMCAST OFFERS ON THEIR LINEUP.
SO -- WHEN WE WENT THROUGH ALL
OF OUR PROCESS AND ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND
ASCERTAINMENT PROCESS, WE LOOKED
AT THAT AND GATHERED THAT
INFORMATION TOGETHER AND
IDENTIFIED SOME CITY PRIORITIES
AND COMMUNITY PRIORITIES FROM
THAT WORK THAT WE DID. AND SO --
WHEN WE ENTERED INTO THE
NEGOTIATION WITH COMCAST, THESE
ARE THE THINGS THAT WE BROUGHT
FORWARD AS BEING IMPORTANT TO
CONTINUE IN THE FRANCHISE. AND
THAT INCLUDES MAINTAINING THE
BENEFITS OF THE CURRENT
FRANCHISE AS ONE OF THE PRIMARY
THINGS WE WERE LOOKING FOR. AND
I NOTE HERE WHEN IT SAYS
MAINTAIN THE BENEFITS OF THE
CURRENT FRANCHISE, WHEN WE'VE
GONE THROUGH NEGOTIATION WITH
COMCAST IN THE PAST, WE ALWAYS
HAVE ASKED AND WE DID ASK THIS
TIME, WHAT ARE -- ARE THERE ANY
BENEFITS AND ARE THERE YOU KNOW,
NEW THINGS THAT WE CAN ASK FOR?
AND WHEN THIS SAYS MAINTAIN,
PART OF THIS IS IN RECOGNITION
OF SOME CHANGES AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL THAT HAVE MADE IT MORE
DIFFICULT FOR LOCAL FRANCHISE
AUTHORITIES TO GET BENEFITS THAT
REALLY GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE
FEES THAT COMCAST IS PAYING. SO
WHEN WE LOOKED AT THAT WE SAID
WELL THAT MAY BE THE CASE BUT WE
DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP ANYTHING
THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY. WE ALSO
FELT IT WAS OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT
TO ADDRESS ANY AUDIT FINDINGS
THAT WERE FOUND IN THE TECHNICAL
REVIEW AND THE AUDIT OF COMCAST
COMPLIANCE WITH THE CCBOR. THE
CABLE CUSTOMER BILL OF RIGHTS.
AND THEN CONTINUING TO SUPPORT
OUR IMPORTANT WORK THAT CABLE
FRANCHISE FEES AND P. E. G. FEES
CURRENTLY SUPPORT WHICH INCLUDES
OUR INTERNET FOR ALL EFFORTS AND
SEATTLE CHANNEL. WE HAVE A
PROGRAM AS SORT OF PART OF
INTERNET FOR ALL REALLY THAT
OFFERS FREE INTERNET FOR
NONPROFITS. IT'S CALLED THE
ACCESS FOR ALL PROGRAM. AND WHEN
WE WENT OUT INTO COMMUNITY AND
WHEN WE LOOKED AT CITY PRIORITY,
THIS WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE
FELT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO
CONTINUE. AND UNDERPINNING ALL
OF THIS IS REALLY THE CONTINUED
PROMOTION OF EQUITY AND
AFFORDABILITY IN THE CITY. SO MY
NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES HERE ARE
REALLY JUST SORT OF REPORTING
OUT ON WHAT CAME OUT OF THE
NEGOTIATION WITH COMCAST. AND
FOR CONTEXT IT'S IN COMPARISON
TO THE LAST TIME WE NEGOTIATED
WITH COMCAST BACK IN 2016. SO
FIRST IS JUST THE FEES THAT
COMCAST PAYS. AND WHEN WE SPOKE
WITH COMCAST AND NEGOTIATED WITH
THEM, THE CURRENT RATES THAT
THEY'RE PAYING ARE 4.4% OF
GROSS REVENUES FOR CABLE
TELEVISION IN FRANCHISE FEES.
AND 0.4% IN THAT P. E. G. FEE
THAT SUPPORTS THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL. AS PART OF THAT
NEGOTIATION AND RECOGNIZING THE
INCREASED COSTS OF RUNNING
SEATTLE CHANNEL, THE P. E. G.
FEE INCREASED -- PROPOSE TODAY
INCREASE FROM 0.4% TO 0.6%. AND
THEN THE FRANCHISE FEE TO
INCREASE FROM 4.4% TO 5% AND I
NOTE 5% IS THE MAXIMUM THAT WE
CAN CHARGE UNDER THE CABLE ACT
AND UNDER FEDERAL LAW. SO THIS
WOULD BE REALLY ALIGNING THE
RATE HERE WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE WITH THE RATES OF MANY
OTHER CITIES AND STATE OF
WASHINGTON AND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY IN TERMS OF CHARGING
THAT 5% MAXIMUM RATE OF
FRANCHISE FEES. NOTE HERE ABOUT
TECHNOLOGY GRANTS AND I WOULD
ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT
THESE -- THESE ITEMS AS BEING
RELATED. WE DID NOT CONVINCE
COMCAST TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
TECHNOLOGY GRANTS OVER AND ABOVE
THE INCREASE IN FEES AND OVER
AND ABOVE WHAT'S NOTED HERE IS
THAT THEY DO ON A VOLUNTARY
BASIS, PROVIDE SUPPORT OF
DIGITAL EQUITY PROJECTS IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. FLUSH FLUSH AND
WE COORDINATE WITH THEM THROUGH
OUR TECHNOLOGY MATCHING FUND AND
SHARE INFORMATION WITH THEM AND
THEY DIRECTLY FUND AND HAVE FOR
THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS,
DIRECTLY FUNDED SOME TECHNOLOGY
MATCHING FUND GRANTS. AND SO
THAT'S NOTED HERE. BUT IN
INCREASING THE FRANCHISE FEES,
THAT'S -- NOTED AS WELL THAT
THERE IS A REVENUE INCREASE THAT
COMES FROM THAT INCREASE IN
FEES. AND WE WERE UNABLE TO
CONVINCE THEM TO ADD TECH NORMAL
GRANTS ON TOP OF THAT. BUT
AGAIN, LOOKING AT THIS TOGETHER
WITH THE PROJECTED INCREASE,
THIS YEAR IN 2026 BEING ABOUT
$600,000 THAT WE FELT THAT WAS
SIGNIFICANT AND SO WE MOVED
FORWARD WITH THE NEGOTIATION
WITH THAT IN MIND. THAT IS
UNFORTUNATELY EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE TO DECLINE. AGAIN THE
FEES THEY PAY ARE ASSOCIATED
WITH CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE
ONLY. AND SO AS ADDITIONAL CORD
CUTTING HAPPENS AS IT DID OVER
THE TERMS TO HAVE PREVIOUS
FRANCHISE, THAT NUMBER WILL
DECLINE. BUT WE'RE STARTING AT
-- ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF ABOUT
$600,000 PER YEAR. THIS SLIDE
SPEAKS TO SOME OF THE BENEFITS
THAT WE -- THAT I TALKED ABOUT
IN TERMS OF THINGS THAT WE
WANTED TO MAINTAIN. AND I'M
VERY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO COME TO
YOU AND SAY THAT IN THIS
AGREEMENT, WE WERE ABLE TO
MAINTAIN THESE BENEFITS. AND
THESE INCLUDE SOME OF OUR EQUITY
BENEFITS AND AFFORDABILITY
BENEFITS. SO WE CERTAINLY SAW
THESE AS VERY IMPORTANT AND
HEARD FROM OUR COMMUNITY THAT
THESE WERE VERY IMPORTANT THAT
INCLUDES THE 30% DISCOUNT ON
LIMITED BASIC SERVICE FOR LOW
INCOME RESIDENTS. INCLUDES THOSE
FREE CABLE CONNECTIONS TO CITY
BUILDINGS AND SCHOOLS AS WELL AS
THE ACCESS FOR ALL PROGRAM I
MENTIONED THAT PROVIDES FREE
INTERNET CONNECTIONS FOR
NONPROFITS. FINALLY THIS SPEAKS
TO SOME OF THE P. E. G. BENEFITS
WHICH WILL CONTINUE. BEING
AVAILABLE ON VIDEO ON DEMAND.
AND THE P. E. G. SIGNAL QUALITY
COMPARABLE TO COMMERCIAL
CHANNELS. IT'S NOT NOTE ON THE
SLIDE HERE B BUT THAT DID
INCLUDE THE AVAILABILITY IF THE
OPERATOR IS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH THIS FOR SEATTLE COLLEGES
TV TO BE BROADCAST IN HIGH
DEFINITION. SO THAT WAS AN ADD
AS WELL. AND THEN WE DID WHEN WE
WENT OUT AND DID THE TECHNICAL
REVIEW, WE FOUND A PARTICULAR
DEFICIENCY IN BONDING AND
GROUNDING AT MULTIPLE DWELLING
UNIT AT APARTMENT BUILDINGS. AND
SO WE DID ASK COMCAST AND THEY
AGREED TO ADDRESS THAT WITH A
REMEDIATION PROGRAM OVER THE
NEXT FIVE YEARS THAT THEY WILL
BE SENDING THEIR TECHNICIANS OUT
AND ADDRESSING THE GROUNDING AND
BONDING ISSUES THAT WERE FOUND
AT APARTMENT BUILDINGS IN THE
CITY. WITH THAT AISLE GOING TO
PASS IT BACK TO ROB. THANK YOU.
>> SO COMMITTEE -- WITH THIS, WE
ARE AGAIN JUST BRIEFING YOU ON
THIS. IT DOES INTEND TO COME
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE IN MARCH.
AND FOR YOUR COMMITTEE VOTE.
WITH THE ACTION BY THE
COMMITTEE, IT WOULD ACTUALLY
THEN GO TO COUNCIL FOR ITS
ACTION AND IF APPROVED, GO TO
THE MAYOR FOR SIGNATURE WITH
THAT LEGISLATION AND FOR ME TO
THEN SIGN WITH THAT APPROVAL AND
SIGNATURE. WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS. WE DO THINK THAT
IS POSITIVE ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE
FEDERAL CONTEXT AND WHERE THE
FCC IS AT BUT HERE AGAIN TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU
HAVE.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU. I WILL
KICK IT OVER. MR. BRIAN
GOODNIGHT?
>> SURING THANK YOU CHAIR. JUST
TO LET YOU KNOW E THAT WE GOT
THIS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHICH
IS GREAT AND I'LL BE DIGGING IN
NOW AND I'LL BE ASKING
QUESTIONS. IF COUNCILMEMBERS
HAVE QUESTIONS ALREADY AT THIS
POINT. PLEASE LET KNOW AND I CAN
WORK THROUGH THE ISSUES WITH I.
T.. ON THE SCHEDULE, WE'RE
STILL WORKING THROUGH THE -- I
THINK WE'RE USING A BELT AND
SUSPENDSERS APPROACH SO IT MIGHT
BE SLIPPING ONE WEEK ON THE
SCHEDULE FOR FULL COUNCIL
APPROVAL TO BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS
BUT AS WE HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS
WE'LL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION
NEXT MEETING. THANK YOU.
>> ALSO GIVE CREDIT WHERE IT'S
DUE. WONDERFUL COLLEAGUES AT THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND SAY
THANK YOU TO THEM FOR BEING GOOD
PARTNERS IN THE PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT'S
GOOD TO KNOW AND I WILL PAUSE
HERE TO SEE IF ANY COLLEAGUES
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. WAIT, I HAVE
TO LOOK AT MY ZOOM TO SEE
PEOPLE'S HANDS. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE?
>> YES. CHAIR, THANK YOU. I JUST
HAD A QUESTION REGARDING SLIDE
SEVEN. AND MAY I ADD SINCE
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IS NOT
HERE, THANK YOU FOR NUMBERING
YOUR SLIDES. AND IN HONOR OF HER
WHICH SHOWS UP ON A REGULAR
BASIS. REALLY THANK YOU. MY
QUESTION IS AND KIND OF GOES TO
THE DIGITAL EQUITY PIECE BECAUSE
I HAVE HAD MEETINGS WITH COMCAST
ON -- FEW OCCASIONS OVER THE
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE TALKED
ABOUT WAS THEIR SUPPORT FOR
STUDENT GROUPS AND YOU KNOW,
VARIOUS PIECES, BASICALLY, YOU
KNOW, BEING THERE. AND, YOU
KNOW, PARTICULARLY IN NEED. TO
SUPPORT THOSE THAT MAY NOT HAVE
THE EASIEST ABILITY TO HAVE
ACCESS. AND SO GIVEN THE FACT
THAT WE'RE CHANGING AND AS YOU
NOTED THAT WE'RE CABLE TV IS --
GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER AND
SMALLER. IS THERE EQUIVALENT TO
THE ENTIRE PROCESS FOR THE 64%
THAT'S THERE? OR WE'RE JUST
GOING TO GO FROM 34% AND JUST
SHRINK DOWN OR BASICALLY I
GUESS, NO, 36% AND THEN JUST
SHRINK DOWN CONTINUALLY. I GUESS
THE BASIC QUESTION IS IN TERMS
OF THAT KIND OF SUPPORT AND THIS
KIND OF AGREEMENT. CAN YOU SPEAK
TO THE 64% IN TERMS OF, YOU
KNOW, DIGITAL ACCESS AND, YOU
KNOW, IS THERE -- YOU KNOW, SOME
COMPANION PIECES?
>> YEAHING THANK YOU FOR THAT
QUESTION COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I
-- I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING YOU
SPEAK TO WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT
IS THIS IS REALLY LIMITED IN
SCOPE. AND IT IS FOCUSED ON
CABLE TELEVISION. UNDER FEDERAL
LAW, WE ARE THE LOCAL FRANCHISE
AUTHORITY FOR CABLE TELEVISION.
WE DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE
EQUIVALENCY OR EQUIVALENT ROLE
FOR INTERNET OR BROADBAND. THE
CITY OF SEATTLE CURRENTLY DOES
NOT HAVE BROADBAND FRANCHISES.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY THERE ARE
JURISDICTIONS LOOKING INTO
DIFFERENT OPTIONS BUT THIS IS A
NEW AND UNTESTED AREA UNDER THE
FEDERAL LEVEL IN TERMS OF WHAT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO
SPECIFICALLY AROUND BROADBAND
FRANCHISING. NOW THAT SAID, WE
DO A LOT OF WORK IN DIGITAL
EQUITY AND SUPPORTING ACCESS AND
ADOPTION OF INTERNET FOR
RESIDENTS. SO THAT'S AN
IMPORTANT PART OF OUR WORK. AND
I'M -- VERY -- I THINK, YOU
KNOW, SOME CREDIT TO THE
SHOULDERS THAT I STAND ON. AND
MY ROLE. AND THE FOLKS WHO
ESTABLISHED THE -- THE CABLE
FUND WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY AND
HAS FOR AND YEARS, SUPPORTED
THOSE DIGITAL EQUITY EFFORTS. SO
EVEN THOUGH THOSE FEES THAT GET
FROM COMCAST AND FROM ASTOUND
ARE TIED TO CABLE TELEVISION,
THEY DO SUPPORT ACCESS AND
ADOPTION OF BROADBAND. AND TO BE
HONEST, WHEN WE GO OUT INTO THE
COMMUNITY AND TALK TO PEOPLE,
SOMETIMES WE HEAR, YOU KNOW,
DEPENDING ON WHO WE'RE TALKING
TO AS THE SLIDE SHOWS, THERE IS
STILL A SIZABLE MINORITY OF THE
CITY THAT ARE CABLE SUBSCRIBERS
BUT THERE ARE MANY IN THE CITY
WHO DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO CABLE
TELEVISION. KIND OF LIKE
WONDERING WHY WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THAT RATHER THAN
BROADBAND. AND SO OFTEN THE
CONVERSATION GOES GO TO
BROADBAND AND IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT PART OF OUR WORK.
>> AND COUNCILMEMBER, COMMITTEE
MEMBER, I'LL ADD TO THREE MORE
CUTS AND COLORS TO THAT. SO THE
TELE-COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996
IT IS ONLY ENTERTAINMENT AND NOT
COMMUNICATIONS. WHICH IS OUR
RIGHTS OF WAY LIMIT. THERE IS
THAT DEBATE AS JON REFERRED TO,
SHOULD CITIES HAVE MORE
AUTHORITY? THE OTHER TREND YOU
ARE TALKING ABOUT IS CABLE
CUTTING IS CONTINUING TO OCCUR.
BUT AS MORE AND MORE OF THESE
OVER THE TOP SERVICES THE
COMPETITION HAPPENS AND THE
COSTS GO UP, YOU HAVE A
COUNTERVAILING TREND IS DOES
CABLE THEN BECOME COMPETITIVE
AGAIN AND THERE ARE SOME DEBATES
WILL YOU SEE THEN PEOPLE TREND
BACK TO IT AND CAN THEY BECOME
COMPETITIVE AGAIN IN THE NEW
KIND OF ECOSYSTEM? TO BE
DETERMINED ON THAT. AND THEN
NUMBER THREE IS, DEPENDING WHERE
THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION IS
AND WHERE COMMUNITIES CAN MAKE
THEIR CASE ON THEIR RIGHTS OF
WAY ADMINISTRATION, CAN THERE BE
A GOOD CASE FOR REFRESHING
BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS LAWS WERE
CREATED IN 1996. MOST RECENTLY
UPDATED. AND THE WORLD HAS
CHANGED AND HOW WE USE
COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERNET. AND
HOW CRITICAL THAT IS TO OUR
DAY-TO-DAY. THAT'S AN ACT OF
DEBATE AND WHERE FEDERAL AND
STATES' POSITION THEMSELVES AND
CREATE THESE LAWS, THAT'S AN
ACTIVE DEBATE. BUT CURRENTLY
WE'RE PRETTY LIMITED IN OUR
TOOL BOX WITH WHERE LAWS ARE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT AND YOU
ARE GOING TO -- A., HIGHLIGHTING
THE ISSUE AND IT IS REALLY ABOUT
BROADBAND ACCESS ULTIMATELY. AND
NOTING THAT THE WORLD HAS
CHANGED AND WE AS A CITY, YOU
KNOW, SHOULD, YOU KNOW, WE FEEL
IT. THERE'S ALWAYS LOCAL
GOVERNMENT FEELS IT FIRST. AND
SO WE NEED TO HAVE THESE POINTS
BUBBLED UP TO OUR FEDERAL
DELEGATION. AND YOU KNOW, DO I
SEE THE LAW BEING CHANGED? YOU
KNOW, IN THE NEAR TERM? PROBABLY
NOT. BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
SHOULD BE STARTING TO HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE WE NEED TO
ENSURE THE BROADBAND PIECE IS
THERE GENERALLY BUT ALSO FOR THE
DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT WE'RE
SEEING WITH CABLE BUT ACROSS THE
BOARD. BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW
WHEN WE NODE TO GO REMOTE. AND
THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP
DURING THE PANDEMIC PARTICULARLY
WITH STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT. IN TERMS OF ACCESS.
AND THEN SEPARATELY, YOU KNOW,
YESTERDAY, LOTS OF PEOPLE WERE
TOLD NOT TO -- WERE TOLD TO WORK
FROM HOME. AND THEY COULDN'T
COME IN. I -- MULTIPLE, YOU
KNOW,, THE ENTIRE FEDERAL
BUILDING WAS TOLD TO GO REMOTE.
I TALKED TO SOMEBODY WHO WORKS
IN A FINANCIAL FIRM AND THEY
TOOK A VOTE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DO
WE GO REMOTE ON THE PARADE DAY
OR DO WE COME IN THE OFFICE AND
THERE'S A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO
SAID COME IN THE OFFICER. BUT
THEY LOST THE VOTE. AND I DON'T
KNOW -- I SUSPECT THEY HAVE
BROADBAND. BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE
PEOPLE WILL BE FORCED TO GO
REMOTE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED
TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE
HAVE A SYSTEM THAT KIND OF
ADAPTS TO THE TIME TO ENSURE
THAT BROADBAND DIGITAL EQUITY
PIECE IS THERE. SO YOU ARE
ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS SPOT ON
AND I THINK THIS IS THE TIME TO
START ASKING THE QUESTIONS UP TO
THE FEDERAL LEVEL. AND
IN-BETWEEN COUNTY AND STATE AND
SAYING HEY, THESE ARE SOME OF
THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN THIS
BROADER AREA IN TERMS OF POLICY.
AND THIS IS THE HOOK TO KIND OF
HIGHLIGHT IT. HEY, THIS IS BIG
CHANGES HAPPENING IN THE CABLE
WORLD AND I NOTE THE POINT ABOUT
ENTERTAINMENT VERSUS ACCESS BUT
HEY, THESE ARE CHANGES AND SO WE
SHOULD BE REALLY LOOKING TO, YOU
KNOW, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE
COVERED, YOU KNOW, FROM A PUBLIC
POLICY PERSPECTIVE. SO I
APPRECIATE THE ANSWERS. YOU ARE
HITTING THE POINTS THAT I WAS
RAISING. AND I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT IT. YOU KNOW IN TERM
OF MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND CHAIR. I JUST WANTED TO
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, FOR GIVING
ME A BRIEFING EARLIER LAST WEEK
I THINK IT WAS. ON THIS. AND
REALLY JUST STATE FOR THE RECORD
THAT WE DID HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION YOU TOOK ME THROUGH
THIS PIECE THAT WE DID TODAY.
AND SO I DON'T HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS TODAY. BUT I DID WANT
THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT I HAD
HAD THAT BRIEFING AND YOU
ANSWERED ALL MY QUESTIONS THEN.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. AND -- I
TOO WILL PROBABLY HAVE MORE
QUESTIONS FOR YOU ALL AND AS
WE'RE GETTING CAUGHT UP AND
GETTING ALL THIS INFORMATION.
BUT ONE OF THE ONES I WILL POSE
IS AND IT WAS GREAT TO SEE HOW
IT COMPARED FROM -- WAS IT 2016?
TO NOW. WHICH A LONG TIME. TEN
YEARS. BUT ALSO TOO HOW DO WE
COMPARE TO OTHER CITIES AND DO
WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE GETTING THE
BEST OFFER OR WHATEVER THAT
LOOKS LIKE AND I KNOW YOU ALL DO
A GREAT JOB OF NEGOTIATING.
NEGOTIATING. AND I DO -- AND
SHE'LL PROBABLY BE EMBARRASSED
THAT I DO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO
MISS BRENDA TATE WHO'S HERE.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED FOR THE
CITY MISS BRENDA? DID I HEAR 31?
OOH. 31 YEARS. NO. 32. 32 YEARS.
32 YEARS. SHE'S WORKED AT THE
CITY. PHENOMENAL. MISS BRENDA,
THE WORK THAT YOU DO, JUST
KNOWING ALL OF THE TIME AND
ATTENTION THAT YOU PUT INTO
DETAIL AND JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR
YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. SO I
KNOW YOU WILL PROBABLY BE
EMBARRASSED THAT I'M PUTTING
YOU OUT THERE ON BLAST. YOU ARE
GOING TO TELL ME LATER. SHE WAS
LIKE CUT IT OFF. ANYWAYS JUST
ALL THE WORK THAT DOUGH AND THEN
OBVIOUSLY OUR I. T.. SO YEAHING
THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE
THEQUES THAT I ASK IS GOING TO
BE COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES. AND
THEN THINKING LONG-TERM, LIKE --
AND YOU TALKED ABOUT IT DIRECTOR
LLOYD, WITH TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE
ARE CUTTING THE CABLE. WHERE IS
OUR NEW REVENUE COMING IN? WHAT
DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? AND
UNDERSTANDING THAT TIMES ARE
CHANGING. AND US HAVING TO BE
CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE ON
THINGS I THINK IS GOING TO BE
IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU ALL. AND
WE LIVE IN A TECHNOLOGY CITY. WE
SHOULD HAVE THE BEST TECHNOLOGY
-- I CAN'T -- I CANNOT STRESS
THAT ENOUGH. IS LIKE WE LIVE IN
ONE OF THE BEST CITIES IN THE
WORLD. BEST TECHNOLOGY CITY. WE
SHOULD HAVE THE BEST AND OUR
PEOPLE DESERVE THE BEST FOR THE
CITY AS WELL. SO THANK YOU ALL.
WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO MORE
QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, WITH YOU
ALL AND WITH CENTRAL STAFF. AND
THEN FOR OUR NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING AS WELL. SO THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> OKAY. COLLEAGUES, THAT IS --
BEFORE WE GO, I DO WANT TO
MENTION AND THIS IS NOT -- WELL,
I GUESS IT'S THE GOVERNANCE
COMMITTEE SO IT IS IN THE
PURVIEW OF OUR COMMITTEE.
BECAUSE ANYTHING CAN BE IN
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE. BUT I
DEFINITELY LIKE WE HAD A BIG
PARADE YESTERDAY. AND WE HAD
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
COME TO SEATTLE AND TO DOWNTOWN
WHICH WAS PHENOMENAL. I WANT TO
GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO THE WORKERS
WHO PEAKED UP ALL THE -- PICKED
UP ALL THE TRASH AND CLEANED UP
ALL OF THE PIECES DOWNTOWN. WHO
WE HAD THE CITY SWEEPERS, WE HAD
PEOPLE THAT WERE PICKING UP
TRASH ALONG THE ROUTE. WE HAD
FOLKS THAT WERE DIRECTING
TRAFFIC WITH OUR DIFFERENT LAW
ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS ALL OVER.
WE HAD SO MANY FOLKS THAT WERE
PLAYED -- PLAYED A PART BEHIND
THE SCENES THAT FOLKS DID NOT
SEE IN THE PARADE BEHIND -- LIKE
JUST CITY WORKERS AND I JUST
WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL A
SHOUT-OUT BECAUSE YOU ALL MADE
THAT HAPPEN. WE WERE ABLE TO
RESTORE 4th AVENUE BY THE
AFTERNOON SO IT WAS OPEN AND
SDOT HAD THE STREET SWEEPERS AND
THEY HAD PEOPLE OUT THERE
PICKING UP TRASH. THEY HAD
PEOPLE MOVING SOME OF THE METAL
-- METAL FENCING MAKING SURE
THAT ALL THE THINGS WERE
REPLACED SO I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE I DON'T
THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE THAT.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND MAKE
SURE TO WE KNEW. -- THAT WE
KNEW. SO WE ARE -- DOES ANYONE
HAVE ANY MORE ITEMS TO COME
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE? OKAY.
AWESOME. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR
THE DISCUSSION. SO WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE MORE ON THAT ITEM THAT
WE JUST TALKED ABOUT WITH OUR
CABLE FRANCHISE MARCH 12th. AND
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS
TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL WHICH
I'LL PAUSE HERE, NOPE? THAT'S
OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY. SO THIS
CONCLUDES OUR FEBRUARY 12th
MEETING OF THE GOVERNANCE AND
UTILITY COMMITTEE. OUR NEXT
MEETING IS GOING TO BE SCHEDULED
FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 12th AT
9:30