>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
UM, TODAY IS APRIL 1, THIS IS A
MEETING OF THE PARKS AND SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT COMMITTEE, IT IS
GOING-- I AM CALLING IT TO
ORDER, 2:03, I I AM DEBORAH
JUAREZ, CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT.
>> VICE CHAIR KETTLE?
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU, OR HERE. COUNCIL
MEMBER KETTLE, LETS CHECK YOUR
MIC ONE MORE TIME.
>> TESTING, ONE, TWO.
>> CAN YOU TURN IT UP A LITTLE
BIT? I THINK WE HAD THIS-- WE
WERE DEALING WITH THIS WITH YOU
YESTERDAY, OR TUESDAY. TEST IT
NOW.
>> WE CAN BARELY HEAR.
>> I THINK YOU ARE CUTTING OUT.
OKAY. WELL, LETS SEE WHAT
HAPPENS IF WE HAVE TO, WE WILL
HAVE THE CLERK WATCH THE SCREEN
WHEN WE VOTE. OKAY? THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. LETS GO TO
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. THERE IS
NO OBJECK WILL OBJECTION WILL BE
ADOPTED. TWO PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIODS TODAY, THERE WILL BE A
REGULAR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
BEFORE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA THAT
SHOULD BE RELATED TO ITEMS ON
THE AGENDA AND WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE. THE
SECOND IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON
THE SECOND AGENDA ITEM, COUNCIL
BILL 121177, WHICH WE ARE
REQUIRED TO HAVE FOR ITEMS THAT
CONCERN THE TRANSFER OF CITY
LIGHT PROPERTY. COMMENTS DURING
THE PUBLIC HEARING SHOULD BE
RELATED TO THE SPECIFIC COUNCIL
BILL. THE TWO ORDINANCES THAT
ARE ON THE AGENDA TODAY ARE THE
FIRST IS THE SKAGIT
HYDROELECTRIC RELICENSING AND
COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT, THE SECOND
PRESENTATION ABOUT SKAGIT
RELICENSING, THE PRESENTATION IS
FOCUSED ON THE HISTORICAL
CONTEXT OF THE LICENSING AND
WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE PROCESS
IF THE CITY PASSES THE
LEGISLATION. THIS WOULD START
AFTER THE CITY'S THREE-STEP
PROCESS. FIRST, THIS COMMITTEE,
THEN FULL COUNCIL, AND THEN TO
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. MY
UNDERSTANDING TODAY IS FOR ITEM
NUMBER ONE, THE PRESENTATION
WILL BE PRESENTED, OBVIOUSLY, BY
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, AND WE WILL
BE JOINED BY CRAIG SMITH, DENNIS
MCLARYN, CHRIS TROUNZENED,
STEVEN, MATT LOVE, AND IS ERIC
HERE? ERIC FROM CENTRAL STAFF.
SECOND ORDINANCE IS LAND
TRANSFER IN WHICH CITY LIGHT IS
SELLING LAND TO SNOHOMISH
COUNTY, BUT RETAIN RIGHTS AND
ACCESS FOR AN ELECTRICAL
EASEMENT. THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC
HEARING FOR THIS LEGISLATION
FOLLOWED BY A PRESENTATION. THIS
PRESENTATION WILL BE PRESENTED
FOR SEATTLE CITY LIGHT BY CRAIG
SMITH, SAME FOLKS, DENNIS
MCLERRAN, TWO NEW FOLKS, BILL
DEVAROW, AND KATIE TASRY, AND
ERIC IN THE BACK. SO, I WANT A
VOTE ON BOTH ITEMS, I EXPECT A
VOTE ON BOTH ITEMS TODAY. SO,
WITH THAT, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE
TO PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WILL NOW
OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD, PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD BE
RELATED TO TODAY'S ITEM, CLERK,
HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE
SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY ZERO IN PERSON
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP AND ONE
REMOTE SPEAKER.
>> OKAY. SO, LETS GO TO THE ONE
REMOTE PERSON, YOU DON'T NEED
TO READ ALL THE STUFF, JUST
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, TWO
MINUTES, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO
ADD TO THAT, PAUL? BESIDES THE
TWO MINUTES? BE NICE. ANYTHING
ELSE. OKAY.
>> DAVID HANES, YOU ARE OUR
REMOTE SPEAKER, IF YOU WOULD--
LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE NOT PRESENT.
>> MR. HANES? I DON'T SEE HIM ON
THE-- MR. HANES, STAR 6. OKAY.
>> OKAY. HE IS NO LONGER
PRESENT. WE HAVE ZERO REMAINING
PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
>> ALL RIGHT. THAT BEING SAID,
SINCE WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE IN
CHAMBERS, NOBODY ON LINE OR
REMOTE, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
CLOSED. ITEM NUMBER ONE, WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 12177, ORDINANCE
RELATING TO THE CITY LIGHT
DEPARTMENT AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR
OR HER DEZ IGNEE TO EXECUTE A
COMPREHENSIVE SETMMENT
AGREEMENT, FIVE OFF-CISEANCE
AGREEMENTS AND RELATED
AGREEMENTS FOR PURPOSE OF
RELICENSING THE CITY OF
SEATTLE'S SKAGIT RIVER
HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT BEFORE THE
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY
COMMISSION AND RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.
>> WHY DON'T WE HAVE FOLKS AND
FRIENDS FROM SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
COME UP TO THE TABLE AND I WILL
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOUR
TITLES AND I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE
GOING TO WALK US THROUGH A
FIVE-PAGE POWER POINT. THANK YOU
FOR TWO WEEKS AGO, GREAT
POWERPOINT, AND THANK YOU FOR
TAKING SOME OF MY COMMENTINIZE
TO CONSIDERATION FOR THIS
FIVE-POINT POWERPOINT. I THINK
THE MAIN QUESTIONS WE GOT ARE
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THIS? WHEN IT
KICKS OVER, AND MORE COMMENT
PERIOD, AND IF THERE ARE ANY
OTHER OBJECTIONS, WITH THAT, WE
WILL HAND IT OVER TO THE PANEL.
YOU WANT TO START WITH MR. SMITH
AND THEN MOVE DOWN?
>> CRAIG SMITH, INTERIM DIRECTOR
AND CEO SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
CHRIS TOWNSEND, DIRECTOR OF
NATURAL RESOURCES AND HIDE
ROLICENSING AT SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MATT LOVE
PARTNER AT CASCADIA LAW GROUP,
OUTSIDE THE COUNCIL FOR THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, ASSISTANT
CITY ATTORNEY WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, I AM DENNIS
MCLERRAN, DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER
AT SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
>> I AM ERIC MCONAGHY ON CENTRAL
CITY STAFF.
>> WHY DON'T WE MOVE FORWARD
WITH THE PRESENTATION?
>> THANK YOU, COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
WE ARE PLEASED TO RETURN TO THE
COMMITTEE TODAY FOR A FINAL
REVIEW AND COUNCIL VOTE ON THE
SKAGIT HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
RELICENSING OF SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT. THIS IS HISTORIC
MILESTONE FOR CITY LIGHT, AND
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, TO SECURE
AN AGREEMENT THAT INSURES THE
CRITICAL HYDROPOWER RESOURCE
WILL CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE
FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS FOR CITY
LIGHT CUSTOMERS IN THE WESTERN
REGION. IT ALSO REFLECTS THE
OUTSTANDING WORK OF LICENSE
PARTNERS, ESPECIALLY OUR TRIBAL
PART NERS, TO SECURE A
COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENT THAT
STRENGTHENS OUR ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP AND LONG-TERM
MANAGEMENT OF THE SKAGIT
WATERSHED. I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO CHRIS, DIRECTOR OF NATURAL
RESOURCES AND LICENSING CITY
LIGHT, TO PROVIDE HISTORICAL
CONTEXT FOR THE COMMITTEE AND
DISCUSS NEXT STEPS IN THE
RELICENSING PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU, CRAIG. LITTLE
INTIMIDATING PROVIDING A HISTORY
OF THE SKAGIT PROJECT IN FRONT
OF A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO PROBABLY
KNOWS THE HISTORY BETTER THAN I
DO. HOWEVER, I WILL ENDEAVOR TO
STATE ACCURATE HISTORY AND STAND
READY TO BE CHALLENGED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS. SO, THE
PROJECT WAS STARTED IN 1927,
GORGE DAM WAS THE FIRST DAM TO
BE BUILT IN THE SYSTEM AND THE
LAST DAM TO BE BUILT IN THE
SYSTEM. THE FIRST GORGE DAM WAS
WOOD CRIBBED DAM AND WAS IN
PLACE TO HELP CONSTRUCT THE
OTHER TWO DAMS IN THE SYSTEM,
BEFORE BEING REPLACED BY THE
HIGH GORGE DAM IN 1961. SO,
CONSTRUCTION STARTED IN 1924,
DIABLO WAS THE SECOND DAM IN THE
SYSTEM TO BE CONSTRUCTED, AND
ROSS FOLLOWED WITH CONSTRUCTION
STARTING IN 1937, AND EVERYTHING
WITH THE POWER HOUSE BEING
COMPLETE IN 1956. THEN WE
REPLACED THE GORGE DAM IN 1961
WITH THE DAM YOU SEE TODAY. I
WANTED TO JUST MAKE A FEW POINTS
ABOUT THE STORAGE AS WELL, THE
GORGE DAM HAS NO STORAGE. DIABLO
HAS A FEW HOURS OF STORAGE BUT
ROSS ALSO HAS A SIGNIFICANT
FLOOD POCKET THAT SERVES A
REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE FOR THE
VALLEY. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR
NOT IT IS PRODUCING POWER. I
ALSO WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT
THAT ROSS DAM IS THE HEIGHT OF
THE SMITH TOWER THAT YOU COULD
JUST SEE THE TOP OF. SO IF WE
ARE SITTING NEXT TO ROSS DAM
RIGHT NOW, IT WOULD BE THAT
HIGH, SO, IT IS A MASSIVE
STRUCTURE, QUITE AN ENGINEERING
ACCOMPLISHMENT. THE ORIGINAL
LICENSE WAS ISSUED IN 1927, A
50-YEAR LICENSE, IT EXPIRED IN
1977. IT TOOK 18 YEARS FOR THE
FOLLOWING LICENSE TO BE ISSUED
IN 1995. WE ARE HOPING THAT THIS
LICENSE DOESN'T TAKE 18 YEARS.
BUT THAT LICENSE THAT WAS ISSUED
IN 1995 WAS ISSUED ON THE BASIS
OF A COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT REACHED IN 1991. I
BELIEVE IT WAS THE FIRST SUCH
COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT IN RELICENSING, THE
CITY OF SEATTLE DID PIONEER
APPROACH OF USING COMPREHENSIVE
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND
RELICENSING. OUR LICENSE IS
EXPIRED, IT EXPIRED IN APRIL OF
LAST YEESHG ABOUT A YEAR AGO,
AND WE WILL BE OPERATING UNDER
ANNUAL LICENSES, PRETTY MUCH PRO
FORMA BASIS UNTIL WE HAVE THE
NEW LICENSE. IT DOESN'T TAKE AN
APPLICATION TO GET AN ANNUAL
LICENSE, THEY ARE ISSUED ON A
YEAR-BY-YEAR BASIS AND WE EXTEND
THE EXISTING CONDITIONS OR THE
CONDITIONS IN THE 1995 LICENSING
UNTIL THE NEW LICENSE IS ISSUED.
WE BEGAN THE PROCESS FOR THE NEW
50-YEAR LICENSE IN 2018, AND THE
FIRST SIGNIFICANT STEP WAS TO
COMPLETE A NUMBER OF STUDIES. I
WE DID 33 STUDIES THAT COST $25
MILLION. WE DID EXTENSIVE AMOUNT
OF SCIENCE TO SUPPORT THE
DECISION MAKING IN THE PROCESS
AND WE HAVE USED THAT BODY OF
WORK IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
COMREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT THAT WE ARE ASKING YOU
TO APPROVE FOR MOVING FORWARD.
WE SUBMITTED LICENSE APPLICATION
IN APRIL OF 2023, AND WE
CONCLUDED SETTLEMENT DISCUSSIONS
IN DECEMBER OF 2025, WHICH WAS A
REAL MILESTONE. ALL PARTIES THAT
HAVE ANY REGULATORY AUTHORITY OR
TREATY RIGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH
THIS HYDROELECTRIC SYSTEM SIGNED
THE AGREEMENT ALREADY. WE WILL
BE THE FINAL SIGNATURE TO GO ON
TO THE AGREEMENT. I WOULD LIKE
TO REPORT THAT THE SKAGIT COUNTY
DID APPROVE AND SIGN THE
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, I THINK,
TWO DAYS AGO. SO, THAT WAS A
SIGNIFICANT WIN TO HAVE A LOCAL
GOVERNMENT SIGN ON.
>> WERE THOSE THE FOLKS THAT
SENT US THE LET? THE
COMMISSIONERS, DATED OVER A WEEK
AGO, THAT WERE OPPOSING IT?
>> AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
RESPONDED TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
>> WE SAW THE RESPONSE.
>> OKAY. GREAT.
>> WE, EVEN WHEN WE, HOPEFULLY
SIGN THE AGREEMENT AND HAVE A
SIGNING CEREMONY AT SOME POINT
IN MAY, EARLY MAY, WE ARE
HOPING, WE STILL ANTICIPATE THAT
WE WILL NOT GET A NEW LICENSE
UNTIL 2030. THERE IS STILL A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PROCESS,
WHICH I WILL GO THROUGH WITH YOU
NOW. ONCE WE SUBMIT THE
COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT AND UPDATED LICENSE
APPLICATION, THEY WILL ISSUE A
PUBLIC NOTICE AND PUBLIC COMMENT
OPPORTUNITY WILL BEGIN RIGHT
AWAY. THERE WILL BE A COUPLE OF
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
DURING THAT PERIOD. THE INITIAL
ONE IS PRETTY QUICK, THE NOTICE
IS ISSUED AND THEN THE PUBLIC
WILL HAVE 20 DAYS TO COMMENT.
AFTER THAT PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD, THEY MAY REQUEST
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, IF THEY
DO, THAT COULD INVOLVE, YOU
KNOW, SEVERAL MONTHS TO A YEAR
OF ADDITIONAL STUDIES. AFTER
WHICH, THEY WOULD ISSUE THEIR
READINESS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
ANALYSIS, AND THAT PROCESS KICKS
OFF THE REGULATORY PROCESS FOR
THE OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES WITH
THE ROLE AND STATE AGENCY WITH
401 WATER QUALITY ROLE. THOSE
ARE ALSO LISTED HERE. AGAIN, THE
NEW LICENSE WOULD BE ABOUT 2030
WITH ALL THE PROCESS AND THAT IS
MAYBE AN OPTIMISTIC TIMEFRAME,
GIVEN THE COMPLEXITY OF THE
PROJECT. I DID WANT TO MAKE THE
POINT ON THE SLIDE, TOO, THAT
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER A
NEW ORDINANCE IN 2030 TO ACCEPT
THE LICENSE. SO THERE IS ONE
MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY
COUNCIL TO HEAR THIS AND THAT
WILL BE WHEN FIRK ISSUED THE
LICENSE FOR ADOPTION. AS SOON AS
WE SIGN THE AGREEMENT, THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT, AND THE AGREEMENT
INCLUDES SEVERAL DIFFERENT
ACTIVITIES THAT DEPEND ON THE
EFFECTIVE DATE THAT WE WILL GET
BUSY ON RIGHT AWAY. EVEN THOUGH
IT WILL TAKE UNTIL 2030 TO ISSUE
THE LICENSE, WE AGREED TO DO A
NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WILL GIVE
US A JUMP START ON A LOT OF THE
GOOD MEASURES WE HAVE INCLUDED
IN COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT. WE WILL SET UP THE
GOVERNANCE PROGRAM AND YOU WILL
KNOW FROM THE LETTER FROM THE
COUNTY AND OTHERS THAT THERE IS
A KEEN INTEREST IN US BEING OPEN
AND TRANSPARENT AND GETTING A
JUMP ON ACTIVITIES RIGHT AWAY,
NOT DRAGGING OUR FEET. BY
SETTING UP THE LICENSE
IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE, AND
THE ECO SYSTEM MONITORING
ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM,
THAT IS IMMEDIATE ACTION RIGHT
OUT OF THE GATE, INCLUDING OUR
PARTNERS IN IMPLEMENTATION OF
CRITICAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
TO KEEP THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF
THIS GOING. WE WILL IMPLEMENT,
COMPLETE HISTORICAL PROPERTIES
MANAGEMENT PLAN, AND THEN WE
WILL START THE FLOW AND HABITAT
PLANNING. WE ARE GOING TO BE
DOING A NUMBER OF STUDIES
RELATED TO JUVENILE HABITAT TO
MAKE SURE FLOW MEASURES ARE
ACCURATE. WE WILL DO A GRAVEL
AUGMENTATION PILOT, THE THEORY
BEING THE DAM IS BLOCKING
NATURAL FLOW OF SEDIMENT AND IT
MAY BE POSSIBLE TO PUT SEDIMENT
IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE RIVER TO
RESTORE THE SEDIMENT FLOW. WE
WILL DEVELOP A PROCESS FLOW
ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN.
PROCESS FLOWS ARE FLOWS THAT
MIMIC STORM EVENTS AND OTHER
UNUSUAL EVENTS THAT CAN PROVIDE
SERVICES LIKE KEEPING SIDE
CHANNELS OPEN. WE WILL BEGIN
IMPORTANTLY ESTUARY HABITAT
ENHANCEMENT PLAN. WE HAVE A
TWO-YEAR TIMEFRAME FOR THAT. BUT
YOU WANT TO WORK WITH SKAGIT
COUNTY, DRAINAGE AND DIKING
DISTANCE, TRIBES AND OTHERS TO
IDENTIFY THE MOST IMPORTANT
PROPERTIES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
RESTORATION. THAT WILL BE A
COLLABORATIVE PROCESS THAT
HAPPENS EARLY ON. OPERATIONS AND
WATER QUALITY, ACTIONS THAT WILL
BE TAKEN, WE HAVE ALREADY
STARTED ON DESIGNING MINIMUM,
MINISTERING FLOW STRUCTURE TO
PUT WATER BACK INTO GORGE REACH.
AS SOON AS WE ARE ISSUED THE
LICENSE, WE WILL IMPLEMENT THAT.
LIKELY A LOW-FLOW GENERATOR. OF
COURSE THE TRIBE INCLUDES
REVENUE SHARING AGREEMENT ON
THAT LOW-FLOW GENERATOR. WHICH
IS APPROPRIATE BECAUSE THE GORGE
DAM, OR THE LOW-FLOW GENERATOR,
WILL BE BUILT, IS BUILT ON ONE
OF THEIR SPIRITUAL HISTORICAL
SITES. THE GORGE REGION OF THE
RIVER. WE WILL BE RETURNING THE
250CSF THROUGH THE MINIMUM FLOW
GENERATOR TO THE REACH. WE WILL
CONTINUE WITH WATER QUALITY
TEMPERATURE MONITORING AND DO
WORK WITH ECOLOGY. MOST
IMPORTANTLY, WE WILL BE STARTING
THE EARLY WORK ON THE FISH
PASSAGE PROGRAM. THERE ARE FOUR
KEY ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT,
CITY LIGHT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
DOING A BODY OF ADDITIONAL
SCIENTIFIC STUDIES THAT WILL
CONVENE RIGHT AWAY, WE ARE
WORKING ON THE STUDY PLANS, THE
SCOPE SCHEDULES AND BUDGETS
RIGHT NOW-TO GET AGREEMENT ON
THAT SO WE CAN START
IMMEDIATELY. WE HAVE ONE YEAR TO
CONDUCT THE ADDITIONAL STUDIES,
AND IF WE NEED TO, WE WILL
CONDUCT MORE WORK THAN WHAT IS
REQUIRED IN ORDER TO MAKE GOOD
DECISIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE FISH PASSAGE SYSTEM THAT
WILL WORK AND WILL RETURN A LOT
OF VALUE TO THE RIVER. THE
SECOND ITEM IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY, UPPER SKAGIT
INDIAN TRIPE, THEY WILL BE
WORKING WITH MCMILLAN TO DO A
COST AND SCHEDULE REPORT FOR THE
DOWN STREAM COLLECTOR AND OTHER
ELEMENTS OF THE FISH PASSAGE
PROGRAM. THAT WORK NEEDS TO
OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST SIX
MONTHS, SO THAT WILL GIVE US
INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE DOWN
STREAM COLLECTOR WILL LOOK LIKE,
IT IS REALLY REMOTE AREA OF THE
ROSS RESERVOIR, GOING TO BE
DIFFICULT TO BUILD SO WE WILL
GET A JUMP ON THE ENGINEERING
WORK ASK HAVING THE UPPER SKAGIT
TRIBE LEADING IT REMOVES ANY
FEELING THAT THE CITY MIGHT BE
KIND OF STEERING THINGS IN THE
DIRECTION THAT WE WANT TO GO.
LIKE A SECOND PARTY DESIGNING
THAT IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE
WORK. SIMILARLY, WE HAD THE
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DESIGN THE
ROSS ACCESS REPORT. ONE OF THE
FEASIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE
DOWNSTREAM COLLECTOR IS WE ARE
ABLE TO ACCESS THE RESERVOIR
WITH THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND
MATERIALS NEEDED TO BUILD THE
DOWNSTREAM COLLECTOR. THE
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IS GOING
TO LEAD THAT EFFORT AND THAT
EFFORT WILL INCLUDE LOOKING AT A
ROAD AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE MEANS
OF ACCESS SUCH AS A SKY DRAIN.
THEN THE FOURTH ASK IMPORTANT
COMPONENT WILL BE ABLE TO BE
TRANSPARENT. THE FOURTH
COMPONENT IS STOCK SELECTION AND
MANAGEMENT PLAN, WHICH IS
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FISH
MANAGERS WHO ARE THE TRIBES,
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH
AND WILDLIFE&THE NATIONAL
FISHERY SERVICE. THAT WILL
LIKELY BE DONE IN A SLIGHTLY
MORE CONFIDENTIAL MANNER GIVEN
IT IS IMPORTANT TREATY AND
TRIBAL RIGHTS ISSUES ARE BEING
DISCUSSED IN THOSE ROOMS. THEY
WILL TELL US WHAT FISH,
ULTIMATELY, THEY WOULD LIKE US
TO PASS AND THEN WE WILL DESIGN
AND STUDY THE SYSTEM TO
ACCOMPLISH THOSE GOALS. I
BELIEVE THAT IS THE END OF MY
PRESENTATION.
>> GREAT. LET ME ASK A QUICK
QUESTION, IS THIS POWERPOINT
ONLINE FOR THE PUBLIC? LIKE YOUR
LAST ONE WAS? IT IS? OKAY. OKAY.
WELL, I AM A ACTUALLY OKAY, BUT
I AM GOING TO LOOK TO MY
COLLEAGUES AND SEE IF THERE ARE
ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS
POWERPOINT. I KNOW IT IS A LOT.
WE WENT THROUGH THE REAL MEAT
AND BONES OF IT AT THE LAST ONE.
BUT THE FOLLOW-UP ONE, THE THING
WE WANTED TO FOCUS ON WAS WHAT
HAPPENS POST, IF, INDEED, THIS
PASSES, IT GOES TO FULL COUNCIL,
THEN TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND
THE COMMENT PERIOD, AND THEN IN
THE MEANTIME, WE HAD THE LETTER
OF OPPOSITION FROM THE SKAGIT
FOLKS NOW THAT GOT FIXED. AND
THEN, SO, I KIND OF ALREADY KNOW
SOME OF THE HISTORY OBVIOUSLY,
SO I WANTED TO ASK COLLEAGUE
PHYSICAL THEY HAVE QUESTIONS.
DID YOU?
>> I WILL MAKE SOME STATEMENTS.
>> OKAY. YOU OKAY?
>> MY VICE CHAIR OKAY? WELL, WE
CAN'T HEAR HIM, SO.
>> IF I MAY, CHAIR,
COMPLIMENTING THE REMARKS YOU
JUST MADE ABOUT WE JUST RECEIVED
A FIVE-PAGE POWER POINT, WENT
PRETTY QUICKLY THROUGH IT, HAD A
GOOD PRESENTATION TWO WEEKS AGO,
SO ARE WE READY TO VOTE?
>> YEP, WE ARE GOING TO VOTE.
>> IT FEELS A LITTLE
ANTICLIMACTIC AT THIS MOMENT,
AND THE REASON, IN MY OPINION,
IS SUCCESS IS NOT BY CHANCE, IT
IS THE PRODUCT OF A LONG, LIKE A
NUMBER OF YEARS OF REALLY HARD
WORK AND GETTING INTO DETAILS
WITH A PANDEMIC IN THE MIDDLE OF
IT. RIGHT? SO WE ARE HERE TODAY,
I HAVE ASKED FOR IN-DEPTH
BRIEFINGS OVER THE COURSE OF A
NUMBER OF YEARS SO I WOULD NOT
GET INTO HAD MOMENT WITH A LOT
OF QUESTIONS. YOU HAVE BEEN
SUCCESSFUL. I WATCHED YOUR
PRESENTATION FROM TWO WEEKS AGO
AND I WAS STRUCK AND I WAS AWED
BY HOW MUCH THIS TEAM HAS BEEN
ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH, THE BARRIERS
YOU HAVE OVERCOME, I JUST
REMEMBER THAT FIRST TRIP THAT WE
TOOK, CHRIS, UP TO THE SKAGIT. I
WAS ASKING SOME PRESSING
QUESTIONS AND I WAS NOT LIKING
THE ANSWERS I WAS RECEIVING.
VERY DIRECTLY. RIGHT? AND FOR
EVEN ME, YOU BEING ABLE TO WORK
THROUGH THAT, AND THEN YOU DID
THIS, WHAT? 19 OR 26
STAKEHOLDERS? COUNTLESS. WE WILL
SAY COUNTLESS, FOR THE RECORD.
>> A LOT.
>> 16. I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE,
THE PRESENTATION TWO WEEKS AGO
WAS REALLY GREAT. YOU BREEZED
OVER IT ABOUT THE SKY CRANE, BUT
YOU PAUSED IT ON IT LAST TIME
AROUND, AND JUST FOR THE RECORD
TO REFLECT, I HAVE BEEN UP
THERE, I HAVE FOUND THE
FOOTINGS, THEY STILL EXIST, ALL
YOU NEED IS BOLTS AND STEEL AND
WE WILL GET THAT SKY CRANE
RUNNING RIGHT BACK LIKE IT USED
TO. AND THERE IS ALSO SOME OTHER
FOLKS IN THE ROOM RIGHT NOW,
NOAH, AMY, YOU HAVE BEEN VERY
HELPFUL. I WANT TO TAKE THE
MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE YOU SINCE
YOU ARE NOT AT THE TABLE. AND IF
I MAY, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I WILL
READ THE LETTER THAT I SENT, HAD
YOU READ LAST TIME, EVEN THOUGH
TRIBAL LEADERS AREN'T HERE, I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO SAY
THESE WORDS ONE MORE TIME. WHEN
I WAS WRITING THIS, I USED THE
WORD "HISTORIC," THIS IS A
HISTORIC MOMENT. I PAUSE BECAUSE
I QUESTIONED, IS THAT ACCURATE?
BECAUSE THAT IS A VERY WEIGHTY
WORD. AND, IN REFLECTION, I
REMAIN THAT THIS IS A HISTORIC
MOMENT OF THE TIMELINE YOU JUST
PRESENTED WITH THE RELICENSE IN
THE 1970s IS AND AGAIN AND HERE
WE ARE WITH A 50-YEAR LICENSE. I
WILL READ THIS LETTER BECAUSE I
THING IT REALLY GETS THE CORE OF
THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN
ACCOMPLISHED, THANK YOU TO OUR
TRIBAL LEADERS, THANK YOU FOR
LETTING US BE YOUR GUEST HERE
TODAY IN CHAMBERS, AND IN THE
SKAGIT RIVER WATER SHED . ONE OF
THE HEALTHIEST RIVER, BECAUSE OF
YOUR STEWARDSHIP, CONSERVATION
EFFORTS THE LAST CENTURY&THE
POSITIONS YOU HAVE HELD IN THIS
LAST DECADE OF NEGOTIATING THIS
RELICENSE AGREEMENT. ME, MY
FAMILY, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS,
ARE IN DEBTED TO YOU AND WHAT
YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED FOR ALL OF
US. THE LAST LICENSE AGREEMENT
CONSERVED THE LAND IN THE SKAGIT
RIVER BASIN SO MUCH THAT IT
EQUATES TO THE SIZE OF ROSS
LAKE, WHICH EXTENDS SO FAR, IT
GOES TO CANADA. THE AGREEMENT
BEFORE US GOES EVEN FURTHER.
YOUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US
IN AN OFF LICENSE AGREEMENT AND
YOUR COMMITMENT TO HOLD TO
ACCOUNT IS WHAT MAKES THIS
MOMENT INCREDIBLY SPECIAL. IT IS
WHAT MAKES THIS AGREEMENT
HISTORIC. WE WILL LIVE BETTER
LIVES, OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS
WILL BE BETTER OFF, BECAUSE OF
THE AGREEMENTS WE ARE IN THE
PROCESS OF MAKING TODAY. FROM
THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THANK
YOU. I GO ON TO SAY I WOULD LOVE
TO CONTINUE MEETING WITH THE
TRIBAL LEADERS UP IN THE SKAGIT
RIVER BASIN. I THINK IT WILL BE
IMPORTANT THAT WE USE THE NATIVE
COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS TO CONTINUE THIS
WORK TO BE ABLE TO MEET WITH
FOLKS UP THERE, BECAUSE WHILE
THEY WERE HERE LAST MEETING, AND
WE GOT THROUGH A FAIR AMOUNT OF
THE INFORMATION THEY WERE ABLE
TO SHARE WITH US, THERE WAS SO
MUCH LEFT ON THE TABLE FOR US TO
DISCUSS, BECAUSE A DECADE OF
NEGOTIATING TO GET TO AN OFF
LICENSE AGREEMENT WHERE WE ARE
NOT SUING IN COURT, AND WE ARE
CONTINUING TO HAVE ELECTRICAL
GENERATION OPERATING IN SKAGIT
IN THE SKAGIT, IS JUST
INCREDIBLE. SO, THE BACK PAY FOR
OUR USE OF THE LAND, OUR
CONSERVATION, OUR ELECTRICAL
GENERATION, PUTTING WATER BACK
IN THE RIVER AND STILL NOT
LOSING GENERATION, THIS IS A
REALLY HISTORIC MOMENT. CHRIS,
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY
HEART FOR YOU WORK ON HAD BEHALF
OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYTHING,
COMMENTS FROM ANYONE ELSE? WHAT
ABOUT MR. KETTLE?
>> FOLLOW UP, CAPTURES THE
BIGGER PICTURE, LONGER TERM, THE
FULLNESS OF THIS, THANKS FOR HIS
COMMENTS AND FOR THE WORK DONE
BY EVERYBODY, REALLY APPRECIATE
IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE I CLOSE US OUT.
>> SURE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I WANT TO CONTINUE, I SUPPOSE,
BY THANKING OUR PARTNERS AT CITY
LIGHT FOR GETTING US TO THIS
POINT RIGHT NOW, VERY COMPLEX,
MULTI-YEAR, MULTI-PARTY
ENGAGEMENT. AND MULTIPLE MILLION
DOLLARS, OF COURSE, AS WELL, BUT
IT IS TREMENDOUSLY IMPACTFUL AND
HUGELY CONKWENS AND BENEFICIAL
FOR A LOT OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS
OUR REGION. I CAN'T SAY THAT
WITHOUT ALSO REAFFIRMING MY
GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO
THE TRIBAL LEADERS AND ELDERS
WHO SHARED THEIR OWN
PERSPECTIVES WITH US AT THIS
VERY MEETING LAST TIME, TWO
WEEKS AGO. I AM TREMENDOUSLY
GRATEFUL FOR THEIR TIME, SHARING
THEIR INSIGHTS AND KNOWLEDGE AND
GUIDANCE, AND IMPORTANTLY,
HISTORY. ALSO, WANT TO RECOGNIZE
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE INDIAN
TRIBAL COMMUNITY, UPPER SKAGIT
INDIAN TRIBE, THE INDIAN TRIBE,
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, THESE
ARE SOVEREIGN TRIBAL NATIONS
WITH DEEP, ENDURING CONNECTIONS
TO THE SAJT RIVER. THEIR VOICES
REMIND US THAT THIS WORK IS NOT
ONLY TECHNICAL, IT IS CULTURAL,
SPIRITUALLY, AND ROOTED IN
GENERATIONS OF STEWARDSHIP. WHAT
WE ARE CONSIDERING IN, THINK
ABOUT TO VOTE ON, IS NOT JUST
THE LICENSE, BUT A DECISION WITH
GENERATIONAL IMPACTS ON CULTURE,
ON CLIMATE, ON ECO SYSTEMS, AND
SO MUCH MORE. THE COMMITMENTS IN
THIS AGREEMENT REPRESENT AN
IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD PROTECTING
NATURAL RESOURCES, SUPPORTING
TRIBE PRIORITIES, AND
ACKNOWLEDGING PAST WRONGS, PAST
TRAUMAS, PAST IMPACTS. SO, WANT
TO THANK, AGAIN, THE TEAM FROM
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, FOR ALL YOUR
HARD WORK IN THIS HIGHLY
COMPLEX, BUT HUGELY IMPACTFUL
EFFORT OVER MANY YEARS. AND MORE
WORK TO COME, OF COURSE, IN
TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION. BUT
GREAT PLACE TO BE RIGHT NOW, AND
MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD BE REMISSED
AS WELL IF I DIDN'T ALSO
RECOGNIZE YOU AND YOUR
STEWARDSHIP OF THIS PROCESS,
YOUR TREMENDOUS LEADERSHIP. SO
MANY DIFFERENT FACETS, I HAVE
BEEN PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO
OBSERVE FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS
ON THIS EFFORT, BUT I KNOW YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND INVOLVEMENT IN
THIS BROADER, STRATEGIC EFFORT,
TRANSCENDS MY OWN TWO-PLUS YEAR
PERIOD ON THE COUNCIL. SO, OUR
CITY IS BENEFITING FROM YOUR
WISDOM AND EXPERTISE ASK YOUR
LEADERSHIP, AND IS GOING TO
CONTINUE TO DO SO FOR DECADS AND
GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. YOU DONE? I AM
GOING TO CLOSE US OUT, UNLESS
YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I
SAID A LOT LAST TIME, SO I WILL
JUST SAY, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO
THE CITY LIGHT TEAM, THE ENTIRE
TEAM WHO WORKED ON THIS&THANK
YOU TO OUR TRIBAL PARTNERS WHO
CAME LAST TIME TO SAY THEY
SUPPORT THIS. THERE WAS A LOT OF
WORK DONE OVER MANY YEARS TO GET
TO THIS POINT. I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT WORK, MADAM
CHAIR, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL
THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE, AND
THE TIME THAT YOU WERE HERE PAST
AND PRESENT, TOWARD THIS EFFORT
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO TAKING THE
BOAT TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM. I WAS GOING
TO SAY MADAM CHAIR. COUNCIL
MEMBER RIVERA. I AM GOING TO BE
STRAIGHT FORWARD HERE, I
APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES, THANK
YOU GUYS, BUT I COME FROM A
GENERATION WHERE I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT YOU LAID OUT THE
HISTORY, STARTING IN 1924, TO
WHERE WE ARE AT. WHAT I ALWAYS
FIND A BIT DISINGENUOUS, THOUGH
IS YOU NEVER PUT IN THE HISTORY
OF TREATIES THAT GUARANTEED
TRIBES RIGHTS TO THE FISH AND
WHAT THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
DID TO OUR RIVER AND STREAM
SYSTEMS, AND THE DEGRADATION,
YOU NEVER TALK ABOUT, AFTER 1977
AND 1978 WITH THE DECISION IN
USC WASHINGTON&WHAT IT TOOK US
HERE FOR US TO BE AT THE TABLE.
I AM JUST CAUTIONING YOU IN THE
FUTURE, I AM NOT GOING TO CALL
BS, BUT THOSE OF US THAT LIVED
THROUGH THIS, AND THE FISH WARS,
I MEAN, THAT IS PART OF THE
HISTORY. I KNOW YOU ALL WORK
HARD AND I GET THAT, BUT HAVING
ITS GENESIS TO MAKE THE STATE
AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ARMY
CORPS AND ALL THESE GROUPS
INCLUDING GROUPS LIKE THE SIERRA
CLUB AND ALL OF THEM AS WELL, IT
TOOK US TO HAVE TO BE IN FEDERAL
DISTRICT COURT, THE 9th CIRCUIT,
AND THE UNITED STATES SUPREME
COURT TO SECURE OUR RIGHTS TO
EVEN BE AT THE TABLE. WHILE I
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, I THINK
THE REAL, FOR ME, ANYWAY, THE
REAL HERO IS WHAT I LOOK BACK ON
AND I AM SURE YOU WATCHED THE
FISH WARS, IS THAT-- WHEN WE SAY
TRIBAL OR TRADITIONAL, WE ALSO
HAD THE SCIENCE. I WAS LOOKING
AT YOUR POWERPOINT AND BEING
TRIGGERED BY REMEMBERING HAVING
TO CROSS EXAMINE HYDROLOGISTS
AND LEARN ABOUT THE MAIN STEM
AND SHADE IN THE RIVERS AND
PEOPLE TELLING US THAT IT IF YOU
TAKE IT OUT THE FISH WON'T COME
BACK AND THEY CAME BACK, DEALING
WITH-- I COULD GO ON AND ON, SO
I GUESS MY POINT IS, I THINK IT
IS IMPORTANT WHEN YOU DO THE
SIGNING SHS IF WE GET THIS OUT
OF COMMITTEE TO FULL COUNCIL, I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT, THAT WE
TALK ABOUT THE WHOLE HISTORY
HERE, AND IT HAS BEEN VERY
TRAGIC. AND WE HAVE LOST A LOT
OF LAND&A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT
WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET BACK,
CALL IT WHAT IT IS. THERE IS A
TIME WHERE THE COLOMBIA RIVER IN
THE 1970s WHEN THE SPRING
CHINOOK CAME BACK, I REMEMBER
ONE YEAR THERE WERE LIKE 12, AND
THEM LOSING THE DALLES, FISHING,
AND TRADITIONAL FISHING SITES.
YES, WE HAVE DONE THAT FOR
ENERGY AND THAT IS WHAT POWERS
THE CITY. SO, WHEN I LOOK-- YOU
KNOW, I PLOT IT OUT, I GO BACK
AND LOOK FOR MY DAYS OF
LITIGATING, SO, I, YOU KNOW,
KNOW HOW HARD IT WAS ON THESE
COMMUNITIES AND I WAS THERE IN
1991 AT EVERGREEN LEGAL SERVICES
IN THE NATIVE AMERICAN PROJECT
WITH THE LIKES OF DOREEN MALONEY
AND LORRAINE AND ALL OF THOSE
FOLKS. AND SO I REMEMBER HOW
CONTENTIOUS IT WAS, IT WASN'T
LIKE IT IS RIGHT NOW. I SAY
THIS, NOT AS QUITE ELDER YET,
JUST MAKES ME LAUGH, BUT HAVING
THAT HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE, EVEN THE
FIVE OFF LICENSE AGREEMENTS FOR
$350 MILLION. IF WE-- NO ONE
WANTS TO DO THIS&I THINK THAT IS
WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND,
TRIBES NEVER WANT TO BE IN A
POSITION WHERE THEY HAVE TO SUE
BECAUSE WE DON'T ALWAYS GET
WHAT ALL WE WANT EITHER. THAT IS
WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY. THIS IS
HISTORIC, $4 BILLION, AS YOU
KNOW, PACKAGE. I DON'T HAVE TO
GO INTO IT, YOU KNOW HOW LONG
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON, AS
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS POINTED
OUT, 15, 16 PARTIES, IT IS NOT
EASY Y. AM NOT GOING TO TAKE
THAT AWAY FROM YOU. I KNOW IT IS
HARD. WITH THE COMPETING
INTERESTS AND NOT JUST WITH THE
FEDS AND THE STATE AND THE CITY,
BUT THE RECREATIONAL GROUPS AND
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, AND
EVERYBODY'S POSITION ABOUT DAMS
IN GENERAL. SO, I LOOK FORWARD
TO THIS GETTING TO THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND THIS GETTING OVER AND
SEEING HOW THE PROCESS WORKS,
AND STEPPING BACK AND SEE IF THE
FISH PASSAGES WORK CAN AND THE
SCIENCE WORK, I THINK IT MAY BE
THE FIRST OF ITS KIND, CORRECT
ME IF I AM WRONG, IN THE
COUNTRY, WHERE THE TRIBES HAVE
DONE THIS WITH YOU AND THIS TYPE
OF AGREEMENT, IF IT IS GOING TO
BE YOUR LICENSE FOR 50 YEARSISM
WE KNOW WHEN THE LICENSES
STARTED IN THE LATE 20s AND I
SAID THIS LAST TIME Y WILL SAY
IT BRIEFLY AGAIN, THEY USED
EMINENT DOMAIN TO TAKE AWAY
MILLIONS OF ACRES OF TRIBAL
LAND, NOT JUST IN WASHINGTON
STATE. WHEN YOU GO TO
CALIFORNIA, YOU SEE NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA AND OREGON, AND YOU
SEE WHAT THE DAMS HAVE DONE TO
THE FISH RUNS, IT IS OBSCENE.
THAT IS WHERE WE ARE AT IN THE
WORLD. I DO WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR WORKING WITH THE THREE
TRIBES AND AGREEMENTS TAKING
INTO ACCOUNT. YOU HAVE YOUR WORK
CUT OUT FOR YOU WHEN CULTURAL
STUFF COMES IN, YOU LOT OF WORK.
BUT THE GOOD THING IS, THE LAW
DOES ACCOUNT FOR THAT NOW, IT
DOES ACCOUNT FOR STEWARDSHIP AND
TRIBAL LEADERSHIP. IT DOES
ACCOUNT FOR GOVERNMENT TO
GOVERNMENT, TRIBAL CONSULTATION,
AND I HAVE TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT
THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT BASED
ON RACE T IS BASED ON POLITICAL
RELATIONSHIP BASED ON THE OUN
860 TREATIES, THE SUPREME LAW OF
THE LAND. THAT BEING SAID, I AM
HAPPY TO GET THIS OUT OF HERE. I
AM TIRED OF LOOKING AT IT SINCE
2018, AND I AM SURE THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE WILL BE AS WELL. I WILL
NOT BE HERE IN 2030, I WILL TELL
YOU THAT. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL
ALL GO SMOOTHLY, AND YOU WILL
GET YOUR LICENSE AND YOU WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE
TRIBES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY,
JUST SHOWING, NOT JUST THE CITY
OF SEATTLE, BUT OTHER CITIES,
THAT THIS CAN BE DONE, THAT YOU
CAN HAVE THESE TYPE OF
AGREEMENTS, AND YOU CAN WORK
WITH THE TRIBES AND OTHER GROUPS
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
AS YOU HEARD ME SAY LAST TIME,
WE DON'T WANT TO BE FIGHTING
OVER THE LAST SALMON. WE HAVE A
LOT OF STUFF COMING, LOT OF
THINGS TO WORK ON WHEN IT COMES
TO ENERGY, HYDRO, DAMS, AND, OF
COURSE SHS REPLENISHING THOSE
SPECIES THAT WE HAVE LOST. THAT
IS JUST MORE OF A PERSONAL POINT
OF WHERE I AM AT. OKAY. WITH
THAT, ALL RIGHT. IS THERE
ANYTHING YOU WANT A SAY BEFORE
WE GO TO A VOTE? ARE YOU OKAY?
ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD? YOU
GOT ANYTHING FOR US, ERIC? NOT A
DANG THING.
>> IF THIS GETS VOTED ON TODAY
IT COULD GO TO COUNCIL AS SOON
AS APRIL 7, NEXT WEEK.
>> I WAS GOING TO MAKE AN APRIL
FOOL'S JOKE BUT I THOUGHT IT
WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE. NOT
GOING TO VOTE TODAY.
>> NOT TOO LATE.
>> STILL GOT TIME. WITH THAT, NO
MORE QUESTIONS, I DID MY CLOSING
REMARKS, YOU ARE OKAY. LET ME DO
THIS NOW. BACK ON THE SCRIPT
HERE, GOT TO FOLLOW ROBERT'S
RULES OF ORDERS. I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF
COUNCIL BILL 121177, IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED, THREE SECONDS, TO
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THE BILL. I
KNOW WE HAVE NO FURTHER
COMMENTS, WITH THAT, CLERK, WILL
YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> VICE CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> FIVE VOTES IN FAVOR, ZERO
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES, COUNCIL
BILL 12177 WILL BE SENT TO THE
FULL CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT
2:00, TUESDAY. ALL RIGHT.
>>> SO WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO
OUR NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS, WHICH
HAS A PUBLIC HEARING. WILL YOU
PLEASE READ INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA 2, 121183, ORDINANCE
RELATING TO THE CITY LIGHT
DEPARTMENT DECLARING CERTAIN
REAL PROPERTY SURPLUS TO THE
NEEDS OF CITY LIGHT DEPARTMENT
AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF A
PORTION OF CITY LIGHT DEPARTMENT
REAL PROPERTY FOR ROAD PURPOSES
TO SNOHOMISH COUNTY, RESERVING
AN EASEMENT FOR ELECTRIC
TRANSMISSION LINE PURPOSES AND
ACCEPTING THE PAYMENT OF FAIR
MARKET VALUE FOR THE PROPERTY
SOLD, AND DEPOSIT OF THE PAYMENT
INTO THE LIGHT FUND.
>> THANK YOU, I AM NOW OPENING
THE PUBLIC HEARING ON COUNCIL
BILL 121183. HOW MANY SPEAKERS
DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP?
>> NO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TODAY.
>> ZERO. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE NO
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP IN CHAMBERS,
OR ONLINE. WITH THAT, I AM GOING
TO OFFICIALLY CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING REGARDING COUNCIL BILL
121183. NOW THAT THE HEARING IS
CLOSED, I KNOW WE HAVE NEW FOLKS
AT THE TABLE, SO IF WE CAN
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AGAIN WITH
YOUR TITLES STARTING WITH YOU,
MR. SMITH, THEN WE WILL GET
GOING.
>> CRAIG SMITH, GENERAL MANAGER
AND CEO.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL,
BRIDGET MALINA, COUNCIL
LEGISLATION COORDINATOR FOR
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
>> HELLO, KATY TASSERY, REAL
ESTATE MANAGER FOR SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT.
>> BILL DEV ROW, DIRECTOR OF
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND
REAL ESTATE FOR SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT.
>> I SEE BRIDGET IS NEW HERE,
SHE WASN'T ON OUR-- YOU ARE
JUST MANNING THE POWERPOINT
POINT.
>> YES.
>> YOU ARE WORKING THE
POWERPOINT, GOOD GOD, I WILL USE
THE WRONG WORD AND GET IN
TROUBLE. YOU ARE USING THE
POWERPOINT. THANK YOU. WITH
THAT, YOU GUYS CAN GO AHEAD AND
START YOUR PRESENTATION, WE HAVE
YOUR POWERPOINT IN FRONT OF US
ON THE PROPERTY TRANSFER TO
SNOHOMISH COUNTY. WITH THAT Y
WILL HAND IT OVER TO YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE
ORDINANCE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
TODAY AUTHORIZES CITY LIGHT TO
TRANSFER A PORTION OF PROPERTY
RIGHTS AND TRANSMISSION PORTAL
TO SNOHOMISH COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
THE ACTION SUPPORTS SNOHOMISH
COUNTY'S IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
ALONG 43rd AVENUE SUNSET
CORRIDOR, SUNSET ROAD CORRIDOR,
SAFETY, MOBILITY, CONNECTIVITY
FOR THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
CITY LIGHT RETAINS THE RIGHTS
NECESSARY TO INSURE THE
CONTINUED SAFE AND RELIABILITY
OPERATION OF OUR TRANSMISSION
SYSTEM. SNOHOMISH COUNTY WILL
PROVIDE FAIR MARKET VALUE
COMPENSATION THROUGH ONE-TIME
BILL, AND ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY.
ACTION REFLECTS STRONG
INTERGOVERNMENTAL PARTNERSHIP
WHILE PROTECTING CORE UTILITY
FUNCTIONS AND PUBLIC
INFRASTRUCTURE. I WILL NOW HAND
IT OVER TO KATY TO SHARE THE
PRESENTATION AND ANSWER
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU CAN MOVE IT UP.
>> WE ARE HERE BECAUSE ANY TIME
CITY LIGHT IS BUYING OR SELLING
REAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, WE NEED
COUNCIL AUTHORITY TO DO SO, THIS
FIRST SLIDE SPEAKS TO THAT. WE
ACTUALLY BEGAN NEGOTIATIONS WITH
SNOHOMISH COUNTY OVER FIVE YEARS
AGO ON THIS PROJECT, AND WE WILL
GET INTO WHERE, YOU CAN MOVE THE
SLIDE. THE LOCATION OF THE
PROPERTY THAT CITY LIGHT OWNS
AND THE ROADWAY PROJECT THAT
SNOHOMISH COUNTY IS EMBARKING ON
IS 43rd AVENUE SOUTHEAST HERE,
SOUTH OF MILL CREEK, AND
SOMETIMES SIGNS SAY NORTH CREEK
IS SORT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AREA. AND IT IS UNINCORPORATED
AND IT IS PRETTY RURAL AREA, BUT
LOTS AND LOTS OF NEW DEVELOPMENT
OUT THERE. NEXT SLIDE. SO
SNOHOMISH COUNTY IS PART OF
THEIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, PER
GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT, IS DOING
THIS ROADWAY PROJECT TO IMPROVE
1.7 MILES ON THE 43rd AVENUE
CORRIDOR, THERE HAVE BEEN
STUDIES THIS IS THE BEST
LOCATION. IT RUNS JUST ADJACENT
TO CITY LIGHTS TRANSMISSION
CORRIDOR, AND IT IS TO CREATE A
NEW ROADWAY TO MOVE CARS NORTH
AND SOUTH BETWEEN SOME OF THE
MAJOR ARTERIALS OUT THERE.
>> I HAVE TO SAY THIS, THIS IS
MY FAVORITE PICTURE. I DIDN'T
KNOW WHAT A BIO SWELL WAS. I HAD
TO ASK.
>> LOOKS NICE.
>> IT DOES.
>> CITY LIGHT HAS TRANSMISSION
CORRIDOR THAT GOS JUST ALONG ON
THE WEST SIDE OF THAT ROADWAY.
SOME OF THE ROADWAY ALREADY
EXISTS, WIDENED,ER AND SOME
NEEDS TO BE CONNECTED TO OTHER
STREETS ALONG THE CORRIDOR. CITY
LIGHTS, TRANSMISSION LINE, IS
PART OF THE LARGER EASTSIDE LINE
AND IT IS A A LONG, SKINNY
STRIP, 155 FEET WIDE THAT JUST
ALLOWS THE CORRIDOR TO BRING
ELECTRICITY FROM UP NORTH TO
DOWN SOUTH. AND THE ROADWAY IS
JUST ON THE EAST SIDE OF THAT,
EXISTING ROADWAY. SO THE PORTION
THAT SNOHOMISH COUNTY IS
ACQUIRING IS REALLY JUST THIS
LITTLE SLIVER BETWEEN THE HIGH
TRANSMISSION LINES, WHICH
PREVENT AND RESTRICT ANY SORT OF
DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN THE
EXISTING ROADWAY.
>> IS THAT A LITTLE LAKE, THE
BLUE THING ON THE CORNER? OR IS
THAT A BUILDING BLUE BLOB .
>> YEAH, LOOKS LIKE IT--
>> I WAS WONDERING WHAT THAT
WAS.
>> WE CAN FOLLOW UP.
>> I DON'T NEED TO KNOW. JUST
WONDERING. IT IS OKAY. YOU
DON'T HAVE TO GET BACK TO ME.
>> IN ADDITION, THERE IS SOME
TREES AND THINGS THAT ARE IN
THIS NARROW STRIP THAT SNOHOMISH
COUNTY PUD WOULD BE ACQUIRING,
AND WE HEARD FROM OUR OPERATIONS
FOLKS THAT THOSE TREES ARE A
RISK TO THE TRANSMISSION LINE
ANYWAY, AND SOMETHING CITY LIGHT
WOULD HAVE HAD TO ADDRESS WITH
BUT THE PROJECT RESOLVES THAT
ISSUE AND CITY LIGHT NO LONGER
HAS TO REMOVE THOSE TREES.
SO, IN THE TRANSFER, THERE IS A
PORTION OF PROPERTY THAT WOULD
BE TRANSFERRED, A LONG, SKINNY
STRIP, AS I SAID, CITY LIGHT
WOULD RETAIN ALL OF OUR EASEMENT
RIGHTS TO KEEP THE CORRIDOR IN
TACT, AND WE WOULD RECEIVE A
ONE-TIME PAYMENT OF $452,216,
WHICH IS THE FAIR MARKET VALUE
FOR THE PROPERTY RIGHTS.
>> THE REASON WE ARE SMILING AND
LAUGHING IS BECAUSE YOU ARE
PROTECTING TREES. PEOPLE REALLY
CARE ABOUT TREES. SOME OF US,
MORE THAN OTHERS. BUT, THANK YOU
FOR THAT.
>> NEXT SLIDE. THAT IS IT. ARE
THERE--
>> THAT IS IT? OKAY. WELL,
ANYTHING FROM MY COLLEAGUES?
COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA, ARE YOU
HAPPY WITH THE TREES? THE WHOLE
THING?
>> YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
PRESERVING TREES. WE LAUGH, BUT
IT IS AN IMPORTANT THING,
PARTICULARLY JUST GIVEN CLIMATE
CHANGE, YOU ALL KNOW, PROTECTING
OF OUR CANOPY IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, HOWEVER WE CAN DO IT
AS OFTEN AS WE CAN DO IT. SO I
REALLY APPRECIATE.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, THEY WOULD
BE CUTTING THOSE TREES DOWN.
>> I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU WERE
PRESERVING THOSE TREES.
>> I THOUGHT SO TOO.
>> I HEARD YOU SAY JUST NOW YOU
DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
>> CITY LIGHT DOES NOT HAVE TO
BUT SNOHOMISH COUNTY WOULD BE TO
PUT THE ROADWAY THROUGH.
>> WELL THEN I TAKE IT BACK,
BOO.
>> WE TAKE IT BACK.
>> WE THOUGHT YOU SAID, WE ARE
NOT DOING IT, THOUGH. WELL THEN,
YEA.
>> WE ARE NOT DOING IT, THEY ARE
THE BAD GUYS.
>> BLAME THEM.
>> NOT THAT WE DON'T CARE ABOUT
SNOHOMISH COUNTY.
>> HUNDRED PERCENT.
>> WE CARE A LOT.
>> I MEAN, I GUESS I WILL SAY,
CHAIR, THAT-- I AM DISAPPOINTED
TO HEAR WE HAVE TO CUT DOWN
TREES, AND I AM NOT GOING TO
THROW OUR COLLEAGUES IN
SNOHOMISH COUNTY UNDER THE BUS,
I DO, IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, YOU
KNOW, ANY TIME WE CUT DOWN
TREEATIZE IS A BIG DEAL. AND THE
RESIDENTS THAT I REPRESENT IN
THE DISTRICT, BUT ALSO ACROSS
THE CITY, WE KNOW WE HAVE BROAD
SUPPORT FOR PRESERVATION OF
TREES, SO WE DON'T TAKE IT
LIGHTLY WHEN THOSE HAVE TO BE
REMOVED AND THAT IS TRUE FOR
CITY LIGHT, AND IT IS
DISAPPOINTING IN THIS INSTANCE
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE TO,
IS PART OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE
TO DO. THIS IS WHY, IN OTHER
AREAS WE DON'T HAVE TO, WE
SHOULD BE REALLY WORKING TO
PRESERVE TREE CANOPY, IN OUR
CITY AND ACROSS OUR STATE: THAT
IS WHY WE ARETHE EVERGREEN STATE
AND WE WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
IT ALSO GOES TO THE ECO SYSTEMS,
CHAIR, AND HAS A NEXUS TO SALMON
AND WATERWAYS. ALL OF THAT IS
TRUE. REALLY, TRULY, TREES HELP
KEEP OUR WATERWAYS CLEAN.
>> I KNOW, YOU JUST DID THE
WHOLE CIRCLE OF LIFE RIGHT
THERE.
>> CIRCLE OF LIFE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER,
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL KIDDING ASIDE, SORRY, IT
HAS BEEN-- IT IS ONLY WEDNESDAY
AND WE ARE TIRED. IS THERE
ANYTHING FROM COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS?
>> YEAH, MAY I?
>> YES, YOU MAY.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. YOU MAY
KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ HAS
TASKED ME WITH THE LEGACY SHE
HAS CREATED AS PART OF THIS, I
THINK EVERYBODY HAS BEEN HEARING
THE SONG I HAVE BEEN SINGING, WE
NAMED IT, AS OF TODAY, WE WILL
BE RUNNING BEYOND THE LAND
ACKNOWLEDGMENT RESOLUTION.
>> LAND BACK. IT IS CALLED LAND
BACK.
>> YOU CAN ADD THAT PART AS AN
AMENDMENT. WOULD BE A LITTLE
AWKWARD FOR ME TO START OFF
THERE. BUT WE ARE GOING WITH
THIS, IT IS A CONVERSATION WE
HAVE HAD WITH SPU, I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATIONS WE
HAD IN BRIEFING FOR THIS
MEETING, WE HAVE SPOKEN TO FAS
AND STILL IT IS NOT OFFICIAL
POLICY OR RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
OF SEATTLE YET. I HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON MY SENATOR MCCOY'S
TWO YEAR EDUCATION BEFORE
WRITING A POLICY, I THINK WE ARE
GETTING CLOSER TO HAVING A
FORMAL POLICY SO THERE IS LESS
CONFUSION. IN THIS SITUATION, I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT
YOU DONE BECAUSE, AGAIN, SUCCESS
IS NOT BY ACCIDENT, IN THIS
CASE, MANY YEARS IN THE WORKS,
AND THE NEXUS OF TRANSFERRING
THE LAND TO ANOTHER UTILITY FOR
A UTILITY PURPOSE IS REALLY
CENTER FOR ME, THE AMOUNT OF
LAND THAT WE ARE TRANSFERRING
AND THE PURPOSE IT IS BEING USED
FOR WHERE IT HAS BEEN USED AND
WILL BE IN THE FUTURE, GIVES ME
NO PAUSE IN SUPPORTING THIS LAND
TRANSFER TODAY Y. REALLY
APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S KEEN
ATTENTION TO ENGAGING IN A
GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT
CONSULTATION WITH FEDERALLY
RECOGNIZED TRIBES WHEN WE ARE
DISPOSSESSING OR TRANSFERRING OF
LAND Y. KNOW WITH SPU THEY
TALKED TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT WHEN
THEY WERE TRANSFERRING THE LAND.
IF WE ARE TALKING TO SCHOOL--
THIS IS NOT A SHADE AT ANYONE,
ACNN, BUT BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, IF
WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONWISE
ANOTHER GOVERNMENT THAT IS A
SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE DARN WELL
SHOULD BE HAVING CONSULTATION
WITH OUR SOVEREIGN NEIGHBORS WHO
ARE FEDERALLY-RECOGNIZED TRIBE.
ALL OF THAT SAY TOO SAY, JOB
REALLY WELL DONE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS. ARE THERE QUESTIONS
BEFORE I GO TO A VOTE? ALL
RIGHT. I AM NOT SEEING ANY. VICE
CHAIR? NOPE. THINK WE ARE GOOD.
ALL RIGHT. OKAY. SO, LET ME DO
THIS. I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 121177. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
PASSAGE OF THE BILL, ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS? NOT SEEING ANY. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> VICE CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY I WAS DOING
THUMBS UP, TOO, WATCHING COUNCIL
MEMBER KETTLE. YES. YES. SO,
WHAT IS THAT?
>> FIVE VOTES IN FAVOR, ZERO
OPPOSED.
>> GREAT. THE MOTION CARRIES,
COUNCIL BILL 121183 WILL BE SENT
TO APRIL 7th FULL CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. THAT IS TUESDAY, APRIL
7th AT 2:00 ALONG WITH COUNCIL
BILL 12177, SKAGIT RIVER
HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT.
>>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE REACHED
THE END OF TODAY'S MEETING
AGENDA. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE
FROM MY COLLEAGUES? NOT SEEING
ANY, ANY OTHER FURTHER BUSINESS
TO COME