>> GREAT. THANK YOU, SEATTLE
CHANNEL. GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S
GOOD TO SEE ALL YOU, FOLKS, HERE
TODAY. TODAY IS -- I AM GOING TO
CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER, TODAY
IS MAY 20th, THIS IS A MEETING
OF THE PARKS AND CITY LIGHT
COMMITTEE, IT WILL NOW COME TO
ORDER, IT IS I HAVE 2:03.
DEBORAH WAR AS, FOR THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR JUAREZ?
>> PRESENT.
>> WE HAVE A QUORUM.
>> LET'S MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF
THE AGENDA, IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. NOT HEARING OR SEEING
ANY, THE AGENDA IS INDEED
ADOPTED. TODAY, FOLKS, WE WILL
HAVE THREE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIODS. THERE WILL BE A REGULAR
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS
ON THE AGENDA AND COMMENTS
SHOULD BE RELATED TO TODAY'S
AGENDA AND WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF
THE COMMITTEE. THE SECOND IS A
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FIRST
AGENDA ITEM, COUNSEL BILL 121199
WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE
FOR ITEMS THAT GRANT DEEDS OF
RIGHT TO THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON. COMMENTS DURING THIS
PUBLIC HEARING SHOULD BE RELATED
TO THAT SPECIFIC COUNCIL BILL.
THE THIRD IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON
THE FOURTH AGENDA ITEM AND THAT
IS COUNCIL BILL 121-2111 WHICH
WE ARE REQUIRED UNDER STATE LAW
FOR APPLICATIONS FOR CURRENT USE
TAXATION, COMMENTS DURING THIS
PUBLIC HEARING SHOULD BE RELATED
TO THE SPECIFIC COUNCIL BILL.
SO, TODAY, WE HAVE SIX
ORDINANCES AND ONE RESOLUTION ON
THE AGENDA. I AM GOING TO
BRIEFLY GO THROUGH, AS THE
CHAIR, WHAT OUR AGENDA LOOKS
LIKE AND THEN WE WILL GET GOING.
SO, AS I SHARED, THERE ARE SIX
ORDINANCES, ONE RESOLUTION. THE
FIRST ORDINANCE IN WHICH WE WILL
HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN
I WILL HAVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES
TO VOTE IS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES
ACT LAND DEED ACCEPTANCE. THIS
PRESENTATION SPEAKS TO THE
UTILITIES, ENVIRONMENTAL
MITIGATION EFFORTS UNDER THE
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT. THIS IS
PART OF THE CITY LIGHTS ONGOING
WORK TO HELP PROTECT CRITICAL
HABITAT IN THE SKAGIT RIVER
WATERSHEDS, THERE WILL BE A
PUBLIC HEARING. THE PRESENTATION
WILL BE PRESENTED BY SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT AND THOSE FOLKS AT
THE TABLE CAN INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES. THE SECOND ORDINANCE
IS A -- I SHOULD ADD THAT THE
FIRST ORDINANCE, I UNDERSTAND
THAT SEATTLE CITY LIGHT HAS A
FIVE PAGE POWERPOINT TO GO WITH
THEIR PRESENTATION. THE SECOND
ORDINANCE IS AN EASEMENT
ALLOWANCE IN WHICH CITY LIGHT IS
GRANTING A PORTION OF THE OWNED
PROPERTY IN BELLEVUE TO PUGET
SOUND ENERGY FOR FAIR MARKET
VALUE PAYMENT. THAT IS A SEVEN
PAGE POWERPOINT WHICH THEY WILL
WALK US THROUGH, AS WELL. THE
THIRD ORDINANCE IS AN EASEMENT
ALLOWANCE IN WHICH CITY LIGHT
GRANTS A PORTION OF THE OWNED
PROPERTY AND SKYWAY,
UNINCORPORATED KING COUNTY, TO
KING COUNTY FOR FAIR MARKET
VALUE PAYMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF
INSTALLING CURB RAMPS AND
SIDEWALKS. AGAIN, THIS
PRESENTATION WILL BE PRESENTED
BY SEATTLE CITY LIGHT. THE
FOURTH ORDINANCE, AGAIN, WE WILL
MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES
BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC
HEARING IS APPROVING THE
APPLICATION OF A FOR DISTRICT 1,
FOR THE CURRENT USE TAXATION
UNDER THE KING COUNTY PUBLIC
BENEFIT RATING SYSTEM. MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS
PRESENTATION WILL BE WITH OUR
OWN KARINA BULL FROM CENTRAL
STUFF, AND WE HAVE FOLKS FROM
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES,
AND PARKS, AND G.R.O.W. FOR THE
FIFTH AND SIX ORDINANCES, ALLOW
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION TO
RENEW LEASES WITH THE MADISON
PARK COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL IN
DISTRICT 3, TO OPERATE AND
MANAGE THE MADISON PARK
BATHHOUSE, AND WITH VICTORY
HEIGHTS COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL IN
DISTRICT FIVE, TO OPERATE AND
MANAGE THE VICTORY HEIGHTS
SHELTER HOUSE FOR AN ADDITIONAL
10 YEARS. BOTH OF THESE
CONTRACTS HAVE PUBLIC BENEFITS
AND THE CONTRACT DURATION IS 10
YEARS. THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE
BY MICHELE FINNEGAN, THE PARKS
INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT AND HER
STAFF. THE FINAL ITEM ON THE
AGENDA IS A RESOLUTION ABOUT
DATA CENTERS, THIS COMES AS A
RAPID INCREASE OF DATA CENTERS,
MEGA DATA CENTERS BEING BUILT
AND CONTINUES TO BOOM IN A.I.
THE RESOLUTION ADDRESSES THE
NEED FOR CITY DEPARTMENTS TO
TAKE A LOOK AT THE LONG-TERM
EFFECTS OF DATA CENTERS ON OUR
CITY, RESIDENTS, AND NATURAL
RESOURCES. TODAY WILL JUST BE
PRESENTATION ONLY, WE WILL NOT
BE VOTING ON THAT. SO, WE HAVE
SIX PIECES OF LEGISLATION AND
THEN OF COURSE, ONE RESOLUTION,
DISCUSSION ONLY. AND I JUST WANT
TO ADD THAT COUNCILMEMBER LYNN,
WHO IS THE CHAIR OF LAND-USE,
HAS HIS COMMITTEE ON THE SAME
DAY AS US EXCEPT HIS COMMITTEE
IS AT 9:30 IN THE MORNING, SO I
JUNE 3rd, COMMISSIONER LIN, IN
HIS COMMITTEE, WILL BE VOTING ON
A DATA CENTER RETORT THEM AND IN
OUR JUNE 3rd AT 2:00, WHEN WE
COME NEXT, AND HOPEFULLY, AT
THAT POINT, WE WILL BE ABLE TO
HAVE MORE DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON
THE DATA CENTER RESOLUTION, SO
THE PUBLIC AND EVERYBODY
INCLUDING STAFF WILL HAVE MORE
INFORMATION AND MORE COVERAGE
ABOUT DATA CENTERS AND WHERE WE
ARE HEADED, SO WITH THAT, WE ARE
NOW GOING TO MOVE TO -- OKAY.
PAUL, PLEASE NOTIFY REMOTE
SPEAKERS TO CHECK EMAIL. OKAY.
FOR CORRECTED PASSCODE. OKAY,
FROM I.T.? OKAY. SO, THAT IS THE
NOTE, EVERYBODY, THE SECRET NOTE
I JUST GOT. PLEASE NOTIFY REMOTE
SPEAKERS TO CHECK EMAIL FOR
CORRECTED PASSCODE. OKAY, PUBLIC
COMMENT. WE WILL NOW USE THE
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD,
PUBLIC COMMENTS SHOULD BE
RELATED TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA AND WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF
THIS COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW MANY
FOLKS DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 19 IN
PERSON SPEAKERS SIGNED UP AND
NINE REMOTE SPEAKERS, FOR 28,
TOTAL.
>> SAY IT AGAIN, WE HAVE HOW
MANY IN PERSON?
>> 19 IN PERSON.
>> OKAY, AND QUACKS
>> NINE REMOTE.
>> OKAY, GREAT. SO, SINCE WE
HAVE 29, SO, THAT IS LESS THAN
30 PEOPLE, EVERYBODY WILL GET
TWO MINUTES, IS THAT CORRECT,
PAUL? DON'T YOU HAVE TO READ
SOMETHING ELSE IN THERE? ARE YOU
READY TO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ?
>> YOU WANT ME TO READ THE
RULES?
>> YEAH.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER, THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS UP TO 60
MINUTES UNLESS EXTENDED AT THE
DISCRETION OF THE COMMITTEE
CHAIR. SPIEGEL'S WILL BE CALLED
IN THE ORDER THEY ARE
REGISTERED, WE WILL BEGIN WITH
IN PERSON SPEAKERS THEN MOVED TO
REMOTE SPEAKERS, UNTIL THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD HAS ENDED,
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A TIME WHEN
10 SECONDS ARE LEFT IN THEIR
TIME. SPEAKERS' MICS WILL BE
MUTED IF THEY DO NOT END THERE
COMMENTS IN THE ALLOTTED TIME.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN FOR IN PERSON COMMENTERS.
THE FIRST PERSON --
>> OKAY, HOLD UP, PAUL. LET'S
START WITH THE FIRST 10 IN
PERSON, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO
THE NINE REMOTE, AND THEN WE
WILL COME BACK FOR THE LAST NINE
IN PERSON, SO LET'S QUEUE UP
THE FIRST 10, AND IF PEOPLE
COULD BE READY TO GO, THREE AT A
TIME, CLOSE TO THE MICROPHONE,
THEN WE CAN JUST MOVE ALONG
QUICKLY. SO, GO AHEAD AND START
NAMING OUT THE FIRST THREE.
>> THE FIRST 10 IN PERSON
SPEAKERS ARE EMILY JOHNSON, EVAN
SUTTON, MICHELLE HOUSEMAN,
AUDREY WANG GAZLAN AND GOODRICH,
BRADLEY DOSE, REBECCA YOUNG,
PATRICK McKEE, AND AMELIA
ALBERT.
>> SO, THE FIRST THREE ARE ?
>> FIRST THREE ARE EMILY
JOHNSON, EVAN SUTTON, AND
MICHELLE HOUSEMAN.
>> IF YOU THREE COULD COME UP
AND QUEUE UP, THAT WOULD BE
GREAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO, THE
FIRST THING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND, IS THAT THESE DATA
CENTERS ARE NOT, IN ANY WAY, A
NORMAL BUSINESS. COMPANIES OFTEN
OBJECT TO WHAT THEY CALL BEING
"SINGLED OUT" FOR DEFERENTIAL
TREATMENT, LIKE HIGHER RATES FOR
POWER. BUT, IN THIS CASE, THAT
IS ABSURD. THE LARGE LANGUAGE
MODELS THAT REQUIRE THESE
MASSIVE DATA CENTERS DIDN'T
EXIST, EVEN FIVE YEARS AGO. AND
YET, THEY ARE PROJECTED TO USE
BETWEEN 9% AND 20% OF ALL U.S.
ELECTRICITY BY 2030. AN IMPACT
LIKE THAT ABSOLUTELY MERITS
SPECIAL SCRUTINY. WITH HER
VORACIOUS APPETITE, THEY HAVE
SINGLED THEMSELVES OUT, AND WE
HAVE A LEGITIMATE INTEREST IN
ASSESSING WHAT PART WE WANT TO
PLAY IN SUPPORTING THAT
APPETITE. THE SILVER LINING IS
THAT, AS A RESULT OF THAT
UNDENIABLY LEGITIMATE INTEREST,
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL HAS
SOME LEVERAGE OVER THESE
COMPANIES. EVEN WHEN THEY INTEND
TO SITE THEIR DATA CENTERS IN
TUKWILA, SINCE THIS COMMITTEE
HAS OVERSIGHT OF SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT, WHICH WOULD SERVE THEM.
SO, IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO
HELP TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORS IN
TUKWILA, TOO, TO SET HIGH
MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR UNDER WHAT
CIRCUMSTANCES -- IF ANY -- WE
DECIDE TO PROVIDE THEM THE
MASSIVE AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY
THAT THEY DESIRE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
CHAIR JUAREZ, AS A DISTRICT FIVE
RESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS
ISSUE.
>> I LIKE YOUR T-SHIRT.
>> THANK YOU. SEATTLE PRIDE. I
WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS SOMETHING
THAT I AM SURE WE WILL HEAR FROM
SOMEONE TODAY AND THAT WE ARE
HEARING OVER AND OVER. BECAUSE
IT IS PART OF A COORDINATED
MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN, THAT
THE A.I. INDUSTRY IS SPENDING
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
TO PUSH IN ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITIES, IT'S SOMETHING
THAT'S FAMILIAR TO ALL OF US
BECAUSE IT COMES STRAIGHT OUT OF
THE BIG TOBACCO AND BIG OIL
PLAYBOOK. WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
-- AND WHAT WE WILL NO DOUBT
HEAR -- IS THAT DATA CENTERS ARE
NOTHING NEW. YOU NEED DATA
CENTERS TO RUN YOUR PHONE, TO
CHECK YOUR EMAIL. SEATTLE
ALREADY HAS 30 PLUS DATA
CENTERS. NO BIG DEAL. IT'S
TRUE, THAT SEATTLE ALREADY HAS
30 PLUS DATA CENTERS, AND THOSE
30 PLUS DATA CENTERS, ACCORDING
TO REPORTING, DRAW A TOTAL OF
AROUND 155 MEGAWATTS OF POWER.
THE FIVE PROPOSED HYPER- SCALE
DATA CENTERS THAT KICKED OFF
THIS WHOLE SHIT SHOW PARDON MY
FRENCH, WOULD HAVE DRAWN A WHOLE
370 MEGAWATTS OF POWER, AND
THESE ARE BABIES IN THE HYPER-
SCALE DATA CENTER WORLD. MOST
HYPER- SCALED DATA CENTERS TODAY
ARE BEING MEASURED IN GIGAWATTS.
COMPARING THE 30 WE HAVE IN
SEATTLE TO THE ONES THEY ARE
TRYING TO BUILD HERE AND THAT
THEY ARE TRYING TO BUILD ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY, IS LIKE
SAYING, "MY BEARDED DRAGON IS
THE SAME AS GODZILLA." IT'S
PREPOSTEROUS. IT'S INTENTIONAL
MISINFORMATION BEING SPREAD, AND
WE CANNOT ALLOW THE INDUSTRY TO
CONFUSE VOTERS ON THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN A TRADITIONAL DATA
CENTER THAT POWERS YOUR PHONE,
AND A HYPER SCALE, THEY I A.I.
DATA CENTER, WHOSE ONLY PURPOSE
IS TO REPLACE JOBS, THEY WANT TO
REPLACE EVERYONE, FROM NURSES,
TO FAST FOOD CASHIERS, TO THE
AGENTS WHO DRIVE THEM, WITH
CHATBOTS, THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF
THESE DATA CENTERS AND WE MUST
REGULATE THEM.
>> WAIT, I WANT TO ASK YOU A
QUESTION. I DON'T NORMALLY DO
THIS, BUT I WOULD JUST TAKE THE
CHAIR'S PRIVILEGE, HERE. WHAT
IS YOUR NAME, AGAIN?
>> EVAN.
>> EVAN, IF YOU CAN GET A HOLD
OF OUR OFFICE LATER, TO WALK US
THROUGH SOME OF THAT -- I HAVE
NOT HEARD THE TERM "HYPER,"
BEFORE EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE BEEN
DOING THE RESEARCH AND THEN
SOME, I WILL SHARE MORE LATER.
SO, IF YOU COULD REACH OUT TO MY
OFFICE, AND SOMEBODY IN MY STAFF
IS WATCHING SO I WILL -- NOT
YOU, PAUL. HE WILL LET SOMEONE
ELSE FROM OUR OFFICE KNOW AND
TALK TO YOU, SO IF WE COULD GET
MORE INFORMATION FROM YOU?
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO, THANK
YOU.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR.
>> THE NEXT PUBLIC SPEAKER IS
MICHELLE HOUSEMAN, FOLLOWED BY
AUDREY AND THEN ANNE GOODRICH.
>> HI, THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY
COMMENT, MY NAME IS MICHELLE
HOUSEMAN AND I AM URGING YOU TO
VOTE YES FOR THE MORATORIUM OF
DATA CENTERS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT
THE DATA CENTER IMPACT ON OUR
POWER GRID, THE COST OF
ELECTRICITY, AND THE USAGE OF
WATER THAT THESE CENTERS
REQUIRE. ALSO, WE HAVE NOT DONE
OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND FULLY
RESEARCHED ALL POTENTIAL
OUTCOMES. BUT, MOSTLY, THOUGH, I
AM CONCERNED ABOUT OUR
NEIGHBORS, WHO WILL LIVE IN
PROXIMITY TO THESE CENTERS. WHAT
WILL IT BE LIKE FOR THEM, TO
LIVE NEXT TO THESE VISUAL BLIGHT
OF WINDOWLESS INDUSTRIAL
COMPLEXES, THAT CREATES CONSTANT
NOISE AND AIR POLLUTION? I KNOW
I WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE NEXT TO
THOSE AND I AM SURE ANYBODY ON
THE COUNCIL WOULDN'T WANT TO
LIVE NEXT TO ONE OF THOSE,
EITHER. AS A CITY COUNCILMEMBER,
ONE OF YOUR ROLES IS TO CREATE
POLICIES THAT SHAPE OUR
COMMUNITY AND I WOULD HOPE THAT
YOU CHOOSE POLICIES THAT SUPPORT
THE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, WELL-BEING
OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS OVER THE
INTEREST OF OUT-OF-STATE
CORPORATIONS. PLEASE CHOOSE
SEATTLE, CHOOSE TRANSPARENCY,
AND CHOOSE YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
VOTE YES ON THE MORATORIUM.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE YOU SPEAK,
LET ME ASK OUR CLERK A QUESTION.
PAUL, WE POSTED THE PROPOSED
RESOLUTION, CORRECT? IT'S
ONLINE? OKAY. GO AHEAD.
>> HI, MY NAME IS AUDREY, I AM
AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
SPECIALIZING IN POWER AND
ELECTRICAL ENERGY AND I LIVE IN
DISTRICT TWO. I SIT ON THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS OF SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT AND AN ORGANIZATION FOR
LGBTQ PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK IN
CLIMATE. AS AN EXPERT IN THE
FIELD OF SUSTAINABILITY, I AM
HERE TO URGE YOU TO APPROVE THE
MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS. A
PHRASE OFTEN UTTERED WITHIN THE
TECH INDUSTRY IS, "MOVE FAST AND
BREAK THINGS." WE MUST NOT LET
THEM MOVE FAST AND BREAK OUR
CRITICAL ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE.
OUR POWER GRID IS NOT PREPARED
TO HANDLE LARGE LOAD DATA
CENTERS. DATA CENTERS IN SEATTLE
WOULD MEAN HIGHER ELECTRICITY
PRICES FOR SEATTLEITES, WHO ARE
ALREADY STRAINED BY THE HIGH
COST OF LIVING. RECENTLY CANNOT
BEAR THAT COST. A MORATORIUM
WILL GIVE US TIME TO MAKE SURE
WE HAVE THE RIGHT SAFEGUARDS TO
PROTECT OUR CITY FROM THE
ENVIRONMENTAL AND FINANCIAL
RISKS OF LARGE LOAD DATA
CENTERS. IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE
CHANGE AND THE GLOBAL ENERGY
CRISIS, WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON
MEETING OUR MISSIONS TARGETS
THROUGH THE BUILDOUT OF CLEAN
ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL
POWER THE CITY AND ITS
INHABITANTS, RATHER THAN DATA
CENTERS THAT ONLY BENEFIT
CORPORATIONS AND A SMALL HANDFUL
OF SHAREHOLDERS. THANK YOU.
>> I'M GOING TO ASK YOU A
QUESTION REALLY QUICK, TOO. I
NORMALLY DON'T DO THIS, BUT --
>> SURE.
>> WERE YOU ON THE WEBINAR FROM
ALICE LOCKHART, AT 3:50 WHEN WE
WERE ON THE WEBINAR EARLIER?
>> NO.
>> OKAY, BUT YOU KNOW WHO ALICE
IS, ALICE LOCKHART FROM 350?
>> OH, YES, I KNOW WHO ALICE IS.
>> ALL RIGHT, I THOUGHT I
RECOGNIZED YOUR NAME FROM THE
WEBINAR, BUT, THANK YOU.
>> THANKS. AN
>> -- GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD
AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY
NAME IS ANNE GOODRICH AND I AM
HERE ON BEHALF OF MADISON
COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL. FOR OVER
50 YEARS, OUR COOPERATIVE
PRESCHOOL HAS SERVED SEATTLE
FAMILIES FROM THE HISTORIC
BATHHOUSE BUILDING IN MADISON
PARK, THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP
WITH SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION. TODAY, WE SERVE
APPROXIMATELY 130 CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES EACH YEAR THROUGH OUR
CAREGIVER COOPERATIVE MODEL.
WHAT MAKES OUR PRESCHOOL UNIQUE
IS THAT IT IS ENTIRELY
CAREGIVER-VOLUNTEER LEAD.
CAREGIVERS ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED
IN THE CLASSROOM, SCHOOL
OPERATIONS, FUNDING,
MAINTENANCE, AND COMMUNITY
BUILDING. FAMILIES ARE NOT
SIMPLY DROPPING CHILDREN OFF,
THEY ARE LEARNING ALONGSIDE
THEM, AND BUILDING LASTING
CONNECTIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER AND
WITH THEIR COMMUNITY. OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH SEATTLE PARKS
AND RECREATION HAS BEEN
INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE
OUR MISSIONS ALIGN SO NATURALLY.
TOGETHER, WE HELP STEWARD A
BELOVED PUBLIC SPACE WHILE
CREATING AN ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY
CENTER OF EARLY LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT FOR SEATTLE
FAMILIES. THE BATHHOUSE IS NOT
JUST A BUILDING TO US. IT IS A
GATHERING PLACE, A COMMUNITY
ANCHOR, AND A HOME FOR
GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES. WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL
FOR THE STRONG WORKING
RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE BUILT WITH
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR MANY
YEARS, AND WE RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN SECURING A
LONG-TERM, 10 YEAR LEASE SO WE
CAN CONTINUE SERVING SEATTLE
FAMILIES FOR DECADES TO COME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT PUBLIC SPEAKER IS
ALICIA GELSON, FOLLOWED BY
BRADLEY DOSHI, AND REBECCA
YOUNG.
>> HI. MY NAME IS ALICIA. I LIVE
IN DISTRICT 3 AND I AM HERE TO
URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON DATA
CENTER MORATORIUM. I AM GOING TO
SPEAK JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE
FROM THE HEART ON THIS ONE. WE
ARE IN A CLIMATE CRISIS. WE KNOW
THIS. AND IT IS TIME FOR US TO
ACT URGENTLY. BUILDING DATA
CENTERS IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF
WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING, IF WE
WANT TO BE ACTING URGENTLY IN
THE FACE OF A CLIMATE CRISIS.
THE TECH COMPANIES THAT WANT TO
BUILD THESE DATA CENTERS HAVE
WALKED DR. CLIMATE COMMITMENTS
AND CLIMATE GOALS BECAUSE THEY
WANT TO BUILD THE A.I. OF THE
FUTURE. THESE DATA CENTERS NEED
JUST INSANE AMOUNTS OF ENERGY
AND WATER. WE DO NOT HAVE THE
ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE OR THE
WATER TO SUPPORT THESE MEGA
CENTER DATA CENTERS. WE ARE
GOING INTO OUR FOURTH YEAR OF
DROUGHT. I HAVE LIVED IN
WASHINGTON MY WHOLE LIFE, AND
THE WATER, THE WETNESS, THE
GREENNESS OF THIS STATE, ISN'T
JUST SOMETHING I LOVE ABOUT IT,
IT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS
A DEEP PART OF MY IDENTITY AS A
WASHINGTONIAN. AND I AM AFRAID
FOR THE FUTURE, NOT JUST FOR ME,
BUT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS,
WHERE THIS WATER, THIS LAND, THE
FOOD, THE AIR, THAT IS PROVIDED
BY OUR EARTH, WILL NO LONGER BE
A RESOURCE THAT WE CAN RELY ON.
AND WE ARE REALLY GOING TO RUN
HEAD ON INTO CLIMATE
CATASTROPHE, IF WE SAY "YES" TO
A.I., AND NOT "YES" TO BUILDING
THE RENEWABLE ENERGY THAT WE
NEED. WE CAN HAVE GREAT JOBS,
BUILDING MASS TRANSIT, HOMES,
WIND FARMS, SOLAR FARMS, THAT IS
THE FUTURE I DREAM OF. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT PUBLIC SPEAKER IS
BRADLEY, FOLLOWED BY REBECCA
YOUNG AND PATRICK McKEE.
>> WELCOME, BRAD.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME
IS BRADLEY, I AM IN COUNCIL
DISTRICT 3, I AM AT SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT REPAIR, I WORK IN
RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND
MICRO GRIDS. I FEEL GRATEFUL
THAT SEATTLE CITY LIGHT IS
MUNICIPALLY OWNED AND I CAN COME
TO A COMMENT PERIOD LIKE THIS
AND TALK TO UTILITY. I WOULD
JUST LIKE TO READ SOME MISSION,
VISION, AND VALUES, FROM THE
CITY LIGHT WEBSITE. CITY LIGHT
MISSION SAYS TO "PROVIDE OUR
CUSTOMERS," WHICH IS US, "WITH
AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE
ENERGY SERVICES, ITS VISION IS
TO CREATE A SHARED ENERGY FUTURE
BY PARTNERING WITH OUR
CUSTOMERS," THAT IS US, "TO MEET
THEIR ENERGY NEEDS IN WHATEVER
WAY THEY CHOOSE." SOME VALUES
ARE, "CUSTOMERS FIRST,
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP,
EQUITABLE COMMUNITY
CONNECTIONS," AMONG OTHERS. AND
SO, READING THESE ON THE
WEBSITE, I AM STRUGGLING TO SEE
HOW BUILDING DATA CENTERS ALIGNS
WITH THESE GOALS, VISIONS,
VALUES, AND MISSIONS. IN THIS
2024 ANNUAL REPORT, CITY LIGHT
MENTIONS A PEAK DEMAND OF TWO
GIGAWATTS DURING JANUARY 2024,
DURING THE COLD SNAP, WHICH IS
AN OUTLIER FOR THE ENTIRE CITY,
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE THAT ONE
DATA CENTER ALONE CAN HIT TWO
GIGAWATTS, EASILY, WHICH IS AN
IMMENSE AMOUNT OF POWER, BUT AS
WE ARE SEEING IN THE TRENDS,
THEY ARE MOVING THAT DIRECTION
AND GREATER. JUST THE ONE IN
UTAH ALONE IS NINE GIGAWATTS.
SO, IT IS INFURIATING TO SEE THE
DISCUSSION AT CONFERENCES, AND
WITH CITY LIGHT LEADERS, TO
BRING ON NATURAL GAS, FOSSIL
FUEL GENERATED RESOURCES, TO
MEET THOSE DEMANDS. WE KNOW WE
CANNOT BRING ON MORE FOSSIL FUEL
GENERATORS WITH NATURAL GAS AND
METHANE. SO, I URGE YOU TO
PLEASE VOTE YES ON THE DATA
CENTER MORATORIUM AND DO THE
RIGHT THING FOR US, THE
CUSTOMERS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, BRADLEY.
>> NEXT, IS REBECCA YOUNG,
FOLLOWED BY PATRICK McKEE AND
AMELIA ALBERT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK
YOU. MY NAME IS REBECCA YOUNG. I
AM A VOTER, PARENT, AND
HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT 3 AND I AM
HERE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED DATA
CENTER MORATORIUM. I AM DEEPLY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL
IMPACTS OF ADDITIONAL LARGE DATA
CENTERS ON SEATTLE'S ELECTRIC
GRID AND CLIMATE COMMITMENTS.
SEATTLE IS ALREADY MANAGING
RECORD HIGH ELECTRIC DEMAND DUE
TO ELECTRIC NEEDS, POPULATION
GROWTH, AND OUR LEGALLY BINDING
EMISSIONS TARGETS. LARGE DATA
CENTERS WOULD COMPETE FOR THE
SAME ELECTRICAL CAPACITY THAT IS
URGENTLY NEEDED TO THE
CARBONIZED OUR CITY. PUBLIC
UTILITIES SHOULD PRIORITIZE
PUBLIC NEEDS, INCLUDING CLIMATE,
OVER THE PROFIT INTERESTS OF BIG
TECH. THESE LARGE DATA CENTERS
WOULD BE COMPETING FOR THAT SAME
CAPACITY. I AM ALSO CONCERNED
ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
IMPACTS OF LARGE DATA CENTERS.
NEW DATA CENTERS WOULD LIKELY BE
PLACED IN SOUTH SEATTLE AND
TUKWILA, COMMUNITIES WHICH HAVE
HISTORICALLY BORNE THE BRUNT OF
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND
POLLUTION. THESE COMMUNITIES
SHOULD NOT BE TREATED AS
SACRIFICE ZONES FOR DATA CENTER
EXPANSION WITHOUT A
COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF
POTENTIAL HARMS AND BENEFITS. I
URGE YOU TO PASS THIS DATA
CENTER MORATORIUM AND USE THIS
TIME TO PERFORM A COMPREHENSIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REVIEW. I
ALSO URGE YOU TO ESTABLISH
PROCESSES TO GUARANTEE PUBLIC
TRANSPARENCY, COMMUNITY BUY-IN,
AND DEMOCRATIC OVERSIGHT OF ANY
PROPOSED DATA CENTER PROJECTS.
THIS MORATORIUM WAS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY TO BE A
LEADER FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES AND
DEMONSTRATE HOW TO PRIORITIZE
PEOPLE, CLIMATE COMMITMENTS, AND
DEMOCRATIC TRANSPARENCY OVER
UNCHECKED, SPECULATIVE DATA
CENTER EXPANSION. I THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU, REBECCA.
>> NEXT, IS PATRICK McKEE,
FOLLOWED BY AMELIA ALBERT, AND
IN REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> YEAH, HI, I LIVE IN WEST
SEATTLE, I AM A FATHER AND A
GRANDFATHER, AND I FULLY SUPPORT
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR A DATA CENTER
MORATORIUM, NOT JUST IN SEATTLE,
BUT IN THE GREATER CITY LIGHT
SERVICE AREA. I AM CONCERNED
ABOUT DATA CENTERS INTENSIVE
DEMANDS FOR POWER AND WATER,
RECENT PROPOSALS CALLED FOR
ADDING AS MUCH AS ONE THIRD OF
SEATTLE'S DAILY POWER
CONSUMPTION. OUR BEST HOPE FOR
CUTTING CLIMATE EMISSIONS IS TO
GREEN ELECTRIFY AS MUCH AS WE
CAN, AS FAST AS WE CAN, AND I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT OUR CAPACITY TO
SUPPORT THIS INCREASED SUPPLY AT
THE NECESSARY SCALE. I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT SUPPLY
REGIONWIDE. WE HAVE A COMMITMENT
TO HONOR A TREATY SIGNED OVER A
CENTURY AGO WITH THE TRIBES,
GUARANTEEING THEIR ABILITY TO
TAKE SALMON AND THOSE FISHERIES
DEPEND ON THE REMOVAL OF THE
LOWER SNAKE RIVER DAMS FROM THE
GRID. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE
IMPACTS OF ARTIFICIAL GENERAL
INTELLIGENCE ON HUMAN BRAIN
FUNCTION, CONCERNED ABOUT THE
INDUSTRY'S OWN PREDICTIONS OF
THE DISPLACEMENT OF MILLIONS OF
WORKERS. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT
BIG TECH THREAT TO DEMOCRACY SO
THERE IS A LOT OF ISSUES TO
CONSIDER WHEN WE PROPOSE TO
MULTIPLY ELECTORATE OF DEMAND
FOR THE STRATEGIES OF MONOPOLY
TECH INTEREST. AND I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT TRANSPARENCY. IT
IS NOT CLEAR WHY OUR PUBLIC
UTILITY IS SIGNING NDAs WITH
TECH COMPANIES IN THE FIRST
PLACE. MAYBE THERE ARE LARGER
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHOSE INTERESTS
ARE SERVED BY THE CURRENT
COMPOSITION OF THE CITY LIGHT
REVIEW PANEL, BUT WITH THE
MORATORIUM IN PLACE, WE CAN
START TO HAVE SOME OF THESE
CONVERSATIONS. SO, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU, PATRICK. PATRICK,
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING UP THE TRIBES, AND
ALSO, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING UP -- WHICH, WE WON'T
HAVE A COMPLETE DISCUSSION, I
DON'T NORMALLY DO THIS FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT BUT I KNOW IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR SOME OF THESE
ISSUES -- THAT, YOU KNOW, WE
SHOULD NOT BE OUTSOURCING OUR
CRITICAL THINKING AND NO ONE HAS
TALKED ABOUT THE HUMAN BRAIN
STUFF, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. GO
AHEAD.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS AMELIA
ALBERT, FOLLOWED BY REMOTE
SPEAKERS.
>> HI, MY NAME IS FAMILIAR, I AM
A LIAISON WITH SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION FOR VICTORY HEIGHTS
PRESCHOOL. MY SON HAS ATTENDED
VICTORY HEIGHTS COOPERATIVE
PRESCHOOL FOR THE LAST THREE
YEARS AND THE PROGRAM ITSELF HAS
BEEN AROUND FOR THE LAST 40
YEARS IN THE SEATTLE PARK
SHELTER HOUSE. TODAY, WE HAVE 42
STUDENTS ATTENDING THE SCHOOL
AND FAMILY VOLUNTEERS KEEP THE
PRESCHOOL RUNNING. PRESCHOOL
FAMILIES TAKE CARE OF THE
BUILDING AND WORK WITH THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE IT IS
MAINTAINED AND SAFE. WE HAVE
ALWAYS MET OUR OBLIGATIONS WHILE
SERVING THE CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES OF SEATTLE. WE LOVE OUR
SCHOOL AND WE LOVE OUR
COMMUNITY. VICTORY HEIGHTS IS
ONE OF THE FEW AFFORDABLE
PRESCHOOL OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES
IN OUR AREA. THIS 10 YEAR LEASE
WITH SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION IS THE SECURITY IT
NEEDS TO THRIVE. WE ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO OUR LONG-TERM
CONTRACT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. G.O., D5.
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO REMOTE
SPEAKERS. THE FIRST REMOTE
SPEAKER IS SAGE WALLIN, FOLLOWED
BY NINO. REMINDER FOR REMOTE
SPEAKERS -- WHEN YOU HEAR THE
PROMPT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED, PRESS STAR SIX.
>> EACH SPEAKER HAS TWO MINUTES,
SO, THAT'S -- SAGE, DO I SEE
SAGE ON HERE? STAR SIX, SAGE.
>> HYBRID
>> HI!
>> HI, AM I HERE?
>> YEP.
>> I AM JUST CALLING TO SUPPORT
THE MORATORIUM ON THE A.I. DATA
CENTERS. I AM ACTIVELY VERY
TERRIFIED OF WHAT A.I. IS DOING
TO NOT ONLY OUR ENVIRONMENT, OUR
BRAINS, AND IT IS GOING TO
DESTROY JOBS, IT'S NOT GOING TO
BRING THEM. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE
WOULD EVER, HONESTLY, ENTERTAIN
THE IDEA OF LARGE-SCALE DATA
CENTERS IN SEATTLE. MY UTILITY
BILL IS ALREADY SO HIGH THAT I
CAN BARELY AFFORD TO LIVE. [
LAUGHTER ] AND IF WE JUST
INCREASE IT MORE, I AM VERY
SCARED FOR THAT. I AM REALLY
HORRIFIED OF WHAT CERTAIN
NONSENSE ARE COMING OUT OF A.I.,
BILLIONAIRES TALKING ABOUT HOW
INTELLIGENCE IS GOING TO BE
SOMETHING THAT IS A UTILITY THAT
NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE,
BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT A.I. IS
DOING TO OUR BRAINS. I JUST
REALLY HOPE THAT THIS MORATORIUM
BECOMES A PERMANENT THING IN THE
LONG TERM, BUT I AM REALLY
GRATEFUL THAT YOU GUYS HAVE
BROUGHT IT UP IN THE FIRST PLACE
AND I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO PUSH
IT THROUGH. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SAGE.
>> NEXT, IS NINO, FOLLOWED BY
PATRICK AND ARIANNA.
>> WHAT IS THE FIRST NAME?
>> NINO.
>> WHO?
>> NINO.
>> NINO? OKAY.
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, GO AHEAD, NINO.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. HI, MY
NAME IS NINO AND I AM A PHD
STUDENT IN SCIENCE AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND I
AM A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT 4. I
WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY
BECAUSE I FULLY SUPPORT A
MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS. A.I.
IS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT HAS ALSO
BEEN THE SUBJECT OF MY RESEARCH
OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, AND
THE MORE THAT I HAVE LEARNED,
THE MORE ASTOUNDED I HAVE BEEN
AND TERRIFIED, AS WAS MENTIONED.
JUST IN TERMS OF THE MISSION
PROJECTIONS, ESTIMATE THAT A.I.
RELATED DATA CENTER EMISSIONS
WILL INCREASE TO ANYWHERE FROM
9% TO 20% IN THE NEXT FIVE
YEARS. THIS IS A VERY
UNPRECEDENTED CASE, IT IS MORE
DIFFERENT AND SUBSTANTIAL AS A
MISSION THAN JUST THE INTERNET
AND MORE SUBSTANTIAL THAN VIDEO
STREAMING AND MORE SUBSTANTIAL
THAN EVEN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY.
SO, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE ARE
IN A CLIMATE CRISIS, WE CANNOT
AFFORD TO BE ADDING THESE EXTRA
EMISSIONS TO THE ATMOSPHERE, AND
HARMING THE ENVIRONMENT. AND
ALTHOUGH TECH COMPANIES WILL SAY
THAT THESE DATA CENTERS MIGHT BE
POWERED WITH RENEWABLES, CASE
STUDY AFTER CASE STUDY HAS SHOWN
THAT THE REALITY IS VERY
DIFFERENT. THEY WILL KIND OF ADD
RENEWABLE POWER SOURCES, EITHER
THROUGH SERVICE TO OFFSET SOME
OF THE ENERGY COST, BUT MUCH
MORE SIGNIFICANT CAPACITY IS
ADDED THROUGH NONRENEWABLE
SOURCES SUCH AS NATURAL GAS AND
FOSSIL FUELS. AND MORE THAN
THAT, I'M ALSO JUST REALLY
CONCERNED, FROM A SOCIAL JUSTICE
AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
PERSPECTIVE, I DO A LOT OF WORK
WITH COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH
SEATTLE, AT A SUPERFUND SITE
WHICH IS ALREADY ALLERGIC TO
POLLUTANTS. SO, I URGE YOU TO
MAKE A DECISION FOR A JUST AND
MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE AND PAST
THE MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS
IN SEATTLE.
>> NEXT IS PATRICK, FOLLOWED BY
ARIANNA AND TILA. PATRICK,
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX.
>> HI, I AM PAT KORMAN, DISTRICT
1, BORN AND RAISED WASHINGTONIAN
AND COMPUTER PROGRAMMER FOR OVER
TWO DECADES AND I URGE APPROVING
THE DATA CENTER MORATORIUM. I
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN
NEW TECHNOLOGY AND READ A LOT OF
SCI-FI AS A KID, BUT THESE LARGE
DATA CENTERS ARE BEING PEDDLED
AS PART OF THE GOLDEN FUTURE I
HAVE READ ABOUT, BUT WHAT IS
BEING DELIVERED ARE DESTRUCTIVE
SLUDGE FACTORIES. AS NOTED,
THESE HYPER- SCALE DATA CENTERS
ARE NOTHING LIKE WHAT WE ALREADY
HAVE. ONCE BUILT, THEY DO NOT
PROVIDE JOBS, BUT INSTEAD HAVE
AN INSATIABLE NEED FOR ENERGY
RESOURCES, AND FOR TECH
COMPANIES, THEIR AIM IS FOR A.I.
TO REPLACE AS MANY JOBS AS
POSSIBLE. WE ALREADY KNOW, FROM
OTHERS' MISFORTUNES, THE TOLL
THAT THESE DATA CENTERS ARE
TAKING ON ENERGY COSTS,
ILLEGALLY TAPPED WATER LINES
RUINING THE ENVIRONMENT AND
PROPERTY TAX. SEATTLE HAS
ALREADY BEEN WORKING HARD TO
REDUCE BURNING FUEL, WHICH IS
GREAT, BUT THAT MEANS THERE IS
AN INCREASED LOAD ON THE GRID.
AND WITH THE CONTINUED RISE OF
GAS PRICES, ELECTRIC CARS ARE
LOOKING REAL ATTRACTIVE RIGHT
NOW AND I AM JUST NOT SEEING THE
BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITY, TO
BUILD THESE NATURAL RESOURCE
GUZZLING BUILDINGS WITH THE
INTENT TO REMOVE MORE JOBS AND
OVERLOAD AN ALREADY STRAINED
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ON TOP OF
THIS, THESE DATA CENTERS ARE NOT
PROFITABLE. ANYTHING THAT LOOKS
LIKE PROFITABILITY COMES FROM
DUMPING THE COSTS ONTO THE
COMMUNITY, DISINGENUOUS
MESSAGING, AND SUPPORTING
ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. TECH
COMPANIES LIKE TO BRAG THAT THEY
CAN DO THINGS "AT SCALE," BUT
THEY CANNOT KEEP USERS SAFE
ONLINE AND INSTEAD HAVE MADE
RANSOMWARE AND DEEP FAKES
AVAILABLE TO EVEN THE MOST
BUDGET CONSCIOUS SCAMMERS. NO,
THANKS. THESE COMPANIES ARE
HIDING BEHIND NDAs AND WANT TO
STRIP US OF OUR RESOURCES, AND
MAKE US FOOT THE BILL. WE NEED
TO KEEP THESE HYPER- SCALED A.I.
DATA CENTERS OUT, WE DON'T NEED
THEM. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND SHOWS WHAT
IT LOOKED LIKE TO PROTECT OUR
CITIZENS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU, PATRICK.
>> NEXT IS ARIANNA FOLLOWED BY
KYLA AND JACKSON.
>> PAUL, YOU HAVE TO SPEAK UP. I
CAN'T HEAR YOU. INTO YOUR
MICROPHONE.
>> HI. MY NAME IS ARI. CAN YOU
HEAR ME?
>> ARIANNA?
>> YEAH, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> HI.
>> HI. GO AHEAD.
>> [ LAUGHTER ] OKAY. I AM A
20-YEAR-OLD UNIVERSITY STUDENT,
SPEAKING TODAY TO ENCOURAGE THE
MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS IN
SEATTLE. I AM AGAINST A.I. IN
GENERAL, INCLUDING THE
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE FLOCK
AND A.I. COMPANIES WHICH WILL
ALLOW FOR A.I. TO BE USED BY
MASS SURVEILLANCE FOR THE
PUBLIC, FOR UNCONSTRAINED
MONITORING. ON A LOCAL LEVEL, I
HAVE VARIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE
MASSIVE AMOUNT OF ENERGY AND
WATER, THAT IS REQUIRED FOR A
DATA CENTER, SHOULD THEY BE
BUILT IN SEATTLE. DATA CENTERS
CAN TAKE ENERGY FROM RESIDENCE
WHICH CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN HAVING A HOME AND LIVING
ON THE STREET FOR LOWER INCOME
RESIDENTS. [ INAUDIBLE - LOW
VOLUME ] INCREASES THE RISK OF
POWER SHORTAGES, AND STROKES FOR
RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT
ARE NEAR THE DATA CENTER. I HAVE
GROWN UP WITNESSING THE EFFECTS
OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND I HAVE
READ ABOUT THE IMPACT OF DATA
CENTERS AND A.I. ON MY
NEIGHBORS, SO PLEASE HELP US
PROTECT OUR PEOPLE AND OUR
PLANET BY VOTING YES ON A
MORATORIUM IN DATA CENTERS IN
SEATTLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, HARYANA.
>> OUR NEXT PUBLIC SPEAKER IS
KYLA, FOLLOWED BY JACKSON AND
NEEVE.
>> DID YOU SAY, TWYLA? CAN
EVERYONE HERE PAUL? OR, IS IT
JUST ME?
>> I CAN HEAR HIM JUST FINE.
SORRY. BUT, I AM ALSO ON A
COMPUTER.
>> SO, WE HAVE --
>> HI, EVERYONE.
>> HI, TWYLA.
>> HI, TWYLA YES, THANK YOU FOR
LETTING US SHARE OUR THOUGHTS. I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 1, I AM A
HOMEOWNER, LOADER, AND PARENT. I
REALLY THINK THIS IS A CRITICAL
TIME FOR US TO PRIORITIZE
PEOPLE, DEMOCRATIC
ACCESSIBILITY, AND PUBLIC
INFRASTRUCTURE. MY CONCERN LIES
DEEPLY IN THE OVERLOADING OF OUR
GRID, AND HAVING LARGE-SCALE,
HYPER- SCALED COMPANIES, MOVING
LARGE AMOUNTS OF GIGABYTES, AS
WE SAID BEFORE, 229 GIGAWATTS OF
ENERGY. I AM ALSO VERY ALARMED
AT THE UNDERLYING PURPOSE OF
A.I., TO LAY PEOPLE OFF. I KNOW
MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
AFFECTED AND HAD THEIR JOBS
ELIMINATED BECAUSE THEY TRAINED
A.I. MODELS TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK
AND WRITE LIKE THEM. SO, BETWEEN
THESE CLIMATE COMMITMENTS, AND
ENERGY REALITIES, THIS
UNDERSCORES THE NEED FOR
DELIBERATE GOVERNANCE. PLEASE
VOTE YES ON THE MORATORIUM.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, TWYLA.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE PUBLIC
SPEAKER IS JACKSON, FOLLOWED BY
NEEVIE AND ANGELA.
>> JACKSON? JACKSON?
>> HOWDY! AM I COMING IN
CORRECT?
>> YES, YOU ARE.
>> PERFECT. LOVELY. I HOPE YOU
HAVE A NICE DAY. MY NAME IS
JACKSON AND I AM A RESIDENT AND
FLOATER WITHIN DISTRICT 6. I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT THESE DATA
CENTERS, AND I WOULD LOVE FOR
YOU TO PASS A MORATORIUM FOR
DATA CENTER CONSTRUCTION IN THIS
CITY, AND TO CREATE A
TRANSPARENT AND ACCESSIBLE
RULEMAKING PROCESS FOR HOW WE
APPROACH THIS ISSUE, LONG-TERM.
MANY PEOPLE IN OUR FINE CITY ARE
STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW UNDER THE
YOKE OF RISING COSTS ACROSS THE
BOARD. AN INCREASE IN
ELECTRICITY RATES CAUSED BY DATA
CENTERS -- [ INAUDIBLE - LOW
VOLUME ] GETTING KICKED OUT ON
THE STREET. ADDITIONALLY, WHAT
IS ALREADY STRAINED BY
INCREASING ACU USAGE AND
INCREASING ELECTRIFICATION AS
MANY OF THE FINE FOLKS HERE
TODAY HAVE TALKED ABOUT, HAVING
THIS FURTHER REDUCED GRID
CAPACITY COULD MEAN THAT ELDERLY
OR LOW ACCESS RESIDENTS SUFFER
AND ARE POSSIBLY AT HARM DURING
A POWER OUTAGE DURING A HEAT
WAVE, WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN
INCREASINGLY HOT SUMMERS HERE
ACROSS THE REGION. AND, YOU
KNOW, OUR HOMES AREN'T REALLY
BEAT OUT FOR THIS INCREASINGLY
WARM ENVIRONMENT WE ARE FINDING
OURSELVES IN. WHO COULD FORGET
THE HEAT ZONE THAT HAPPENED FIVE
YEARS AGO AND ALL THE FOLKS WHO
WERE HARMED BY IT? IT IS IN MY
ESTIMATION THAT IN OUR CITY, WE
PRIDE OURSELVES AS STEWARDS AND
BEING ONE WITH OUR AMAZING
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. WHY SHOULD
WE SEEK TO PUNISH THAT
REPUTATION FOR SOMETHING THAT --
AS ANOTHER SPEAKER MENTIONED --
WOULD CREATE MINIMAL ECONOMIC
BENEFITS, AND A WHOLE LOT OF
NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL
EXTERNALITIES? I IMPLORE YOU TO
PLEASE PASS THIS MORATORIUM AND
MAKE THE RULEMAKING PROCESS FOR
THIS AS TRANSPARENT AND AS
ACCEPTABLE AS POSSIBLE. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE YOU
HAD A LOVELY DAY.
>> THANK YOU, JACKSON.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER IS
NEEVIE FOLLOWED BY ANGELA AND
DAVID.
>> I AM ACTUALLY HERE, CAN I --
>> SHOOT, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T
CATCH YOUR NAME.
>> NEEVIE.
>> I AM IN THE PHONE QUEUE
BECAUSE MY BUS WAS RUNNING LATE,
IF MY NOTE CARD PRETTY MUCH
SAYS, "WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT
THIS? SOMEONE, PLEASE HELP." MY
NAME IS NEEVIE, I AM THE FOUNDER
AND CEO OF AN ORGANIZATION
CALLED SOAPBOX PROJECT WHERE WE
CREATE ENJOYABLE COMMUNITY
SPACES FOR CLIMATE ACTION EVERY
WEEK IN BELLTOWN, AND I DON'T
THINK IT SHOULD BE A SECRET THAT
WE ARE ALL VERY, VERY SCARED OF
WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH A.I. AND
THE CLIMATE CRISIS. I MOVED TO
SEATTLE FROM SAN FRANCISCO,
WHERE I WAS WORKING IN TECH. I
WAS IMPACTED BY A 2018 WILDFIRE
THAT WAS THE WORST IN THE STATE,
WHILE WORKING IN TECH, CAME UP
TO SEATTLE BECAUSE I SAW A
FUTURE WHERE THE TECH INDUSTRY
WAS BOOMING, BUT IT STILL SEEMS
TO BE A LOT MORE HUMAN THAN THAT
OF SILICON VALLEY, AND I FEEL
LIKE US EVEN INDULGING AN A.I.
DATA CENTER LANDSCAPE HERE IS
ERODING THE HUMANNESS AND THE
CONNECTION WITH NATURE, AND ALL
OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS I LOVE
IN SEATTLE. THANK YOU. [
LAUGHTER ] I AM ALSO A RENTER,
SO COST IS A BIG ISSUE FOR ME,
BUT THE MAIN THING I WANTED TO
SAY THAT I DON'T THINK HAS BEEN
SAID AS MUCH, IS THAT THE MENTAL
AND PHYSICAL HEALTH IMPACT ON
YOUNGER PEOPLE FROM A.I. IS
SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK WE
CAN EVEN BEGIN TO QUANTIFY. AT
SOAPBOX, WE SEE, LIKE, 30-ISH
PEOPLE EVERY WEEK, MANY OF WHOM
WHO WORK IN TECH, AND WE FEEL
POWERLESS, WE FEEL LIKE NO ONE
IS LISTENING, AND NOW, WHEN WE
ARE SEEING NDAs SIGNED WITH
THESE NAMELESS TECH COMPANIES
THAT DON'T LIVE HERE, THAT
DON'T WORK HERE, THAT ARE NOT
CREATING JOBS HERE, IT DRIVES US
FURTHER AND FURTHER INTO THIS
SITUATION WHERE WE LIVE IN A
CITY WHERE WE FEEL LIKE NOBODY
CARES ABOUT US. SO, NOT ONLY ARE
DATA CENTERS JEOPARDIZING ALL OF
OUR NATURAL RESOURCES THAT
SEATTLEITES CARE SO MUCH ABOUT,
THEY ARE ALSO POSING AN
EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO THE
CLIMATE CRISIS, TO OUR MENTAL
HEALTH, AND I THINK WE SHOULD
USE THIS MORATORIUM TO NOT ONLY
SAY NO, BUT ALSO LEAD ON THINGS
LIKE COMMUNITY MICRO GRIDS AND A
BETTER FUTURE FOR US, ALL. THANK
YOU.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE PUBLIC
SPEAKER IS ANGELA, FOLLOWED BY
DAVID.
>> HI, I AM ANGELA. I AM ALSO
HERE. THANK YOU.
>> YOU ARE WELCOME.
>> WE MOVED TO SEATTLE IN 2022
TO ATTEND A DESIGN PROGRAM,
MASTERS PROGRAM AT UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON, AND SO, I AM A USER
EXPERIENCED DESIGNER BY SKILL,
BUT GRADUATING IN 2023 MEANT I
WAS FACING A JOB MARKET THAT WAS
POOR AND HAS ONLY BEEN GETTING
WORSE BECAUSE OF A.I. I LIKE,
CANNOT EVEN OPEN MY -- OH! I AM
ASKING YOU TO APPROVE THE
MORATORIUM ON BUILDING A.I. DATA
CENTERS. BUT, BASICALLY, A.I.
TAKING PEOPLE'S JOBS, AND
DESIGNERS LIKE ME BEING EXPECTED
TO ENHANCE, LIKE, HOW MUCH
OUTPUT WE CAN GET FROM OUR
LABOR, LIKE, IT'S JUST VERY
STRESSFUL TO WORK IN TECH
BECAUSE WE ARE EXPECTED TO DO SO
MUCH USING A.I., AND THERE IS
JUST SO MUCH DESPERATION AND
INSTABILITY AMONG TECH WORKERS.
AND SO, I AM SHARING THAT THIS
IS MY EXPERIENCE WITH A.I.,
AFTER ALL THE AMAZING COMMENTARY
THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE, THAT
YOU ALREADY KNOW, ABOUT, HOW,
YOU KNOW, THESE DATA CENTERS ARE
NOT SUSTAINABLE, WE ARE FACING A
CLIMATE CRISIS, THIS IS -- YOU
KNOW, NOBODY WANTS TO LIVE NEAR
THESE A.I. DATA CENTERS, IT DOES
NOT FIT THE CHARACTER OF
SEATTLE, AND ALSO, RIGHT NOW,
A.I. IS, QUITE FRANKLY, BEING
USED BY, I THINK, BILLIONAIRES,
TO MANIPULATE SOCIETY, CREATE
MORE DESPERATION, MORE
INSTABILITY. THIS IS NOT, LIKE,
CONDUCIVE TO DEMOCRACY. THIS IS
JUST NOT CONDUCIVE TO HUMANITY,
QUITE HONESTLY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR FINAL REMOTE PUBLIC
SPEAKER IS NOT PRESENT, SO WE
WILL COME BACK TO YOU, DAVID.
SO, MOVING BACK INTO IN PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENTERS. WE HAVE BEEN
JONES -- BEN JONES FOLLOWED BY
MAGNOLIA AND LAUREN.
>> WE HAVE BEN, AND WHO ARE THE
OTHER TWO QUESTS
>> I KNOW LEAH AND LAUREN.
>> SO, IF YOU ARE HERE, CAN YOU
WANT UP BEHIND BEN? I THINK WE
ARE ALL GETTING AN AMBER ALERT,
THAT IS WHAT IS ON OUR PHONES
RIGHT NOW, FOR A NATIVE AMERICAN
CHILD. GO AHEAD, BEN.
>> YEAH, IT FEELS A LITTLE
STRANGE, JUST TO KEEP GOING PAST
THE AMBER ALERT. BUT, MY NAME IS
BEN JONES, I AND THE COMMUNITY
DIRECTOR FOR 350 SEATTLE. I AM
TESTIFYING IN SUPPORT OF THE
RESOLUTION FOR A DATA CENTER
MORATORIUM. I CHECKED BEFORE
COMING UP HERE, AT THIS POINT,
THIS COUNCIL AND MAYOR HAS
RECEIVED 93,270 MESSAGES IN
SUPPORT OF THIS MORATORIUM.
>> [ AUDIENCE REACTS ]
>> AND PART OF THAT PROCESS, WE
HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK
WITH SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR CITY
ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT A.I.,
HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT DATA
CENTERS, AND OVER AND OVER
AGAIN, PEOPLE SAY, THEY JUST
FEEL LIKE GIFTS TO THE RICH,
THEY DON'T SEE THEMSELVES IN
A.I., THEY DON'T SEE THEMSELVES
IN DATA CENTERS, THEY DON'T SEE
HOW IT IS GOOD FOR THE CITY OR
HOW IT IS GOOD FOR OUR FUTURE.
ANOTHER CONCERN WE HEAR OVER AND
OVER AGAIN IS ABOUT THE PROCESS
OF THESE NONDISCLOSURE
AGREEMENTS WHERE, LIKE, THE
SCALE OF THESE FACILITIES IS NOT
SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE LEARNING
ABOUT IN "THE SEATTLE TIMES"
WITH BREAKING INVESTIGATIONS.
THESE ARE THE THINGS WE SHOULD
BE HEARING ABOUT IN COMMITTEES,
OR YEARS IN ADVANCE. AND, YOU
KNOW, LAST YEAR, HALF OF ALL
PROPOSED DATA CENTERS, OR DATA
CENTER PROPOSALS WERE WITHDRAWN.
YOU ALL ARE AWARE THAT WE ARE IN
THE MIDST OF A NATIONAL BACKLASH
TO FACILITIES LIKE THESE, AND I
THINK IT IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY
FOR SEATTLE, FOR THIS COUNCIL,
TO SHOW LEADERSHIP. IT IS A
CHANCE TO SHOW THAT EVEN HERE,
IN A PLACE THAT IS VERY MUCH
ASSOCIATED WITH BIG TECH, THAT
THE PEOPLE AND COUNCIL REJECT
THIS SORT OF INEVITABLE FUTURE
BEING SHOVED AT US, REJECT THE
RECKLESS ROLLOUT OF THESE DATA
CENTERS AND FACILITIES. SO, I AM
URGING THIS COUNCIL TO SHOW
LEADERSHIP. I ALSO THINK THIS IS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW WHAT A
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND
UTILITY COULD BE, AS WELL AS,
THIS COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SORT OF MOVE THE REST OF THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT IS
POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE
TO HAVE, AND HOW THESE
FACILITIES CAN BENEFIT
COMMUNITIES. SO, I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU
THROUGHOUT THIS MORATORIUM
PROCESS AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HI. I AM ANALIA. I AM A U.N.
STUDENT AT 4W211 AND I AM A PHD
RESEARCHER, STUDENT AT
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON,
RESEARCH AND DATA CENTERS. I
ALSO USED TO WORK IN THE TECH
INDUSTRY, AS A SOFTWARE
ENGINEER. I URGE YOU TO ENDORSE
THE MORATORIUM. SEATTLE NEEDS TO
FOLLOW OTHER PLACES THAT HAVE
ENDORSED MORATORIUMS. TO THE
BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE ARE
57 COUNTIES, TOWNS, AND
TOWNSHIPS ACROSS THE U.S. THAT
HAVE ACTIVE MORATORIUMS ACROSS
BIPARTISAN LINES. I AM GOING TO
READ SOME OF THOSE. GEORGIA,
NEVADA, NEW JERSEY, IOWA,
WISCONSIN, ARIZONA, MISSOURI,
TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, LOUISIANA,
INDIANA, KANSAS, I THINK I SAID
THAT TWICE? MICHIGAN,
CALIFORNIA, NORTH DAKOTA, NORTH
CAROLINA, MAINE, OHIO, ALABAMA.
I THINK WE WANT SEATTLE TO JOIN
THIS LIST, AND LEAD BY EXAMPLE,
TO ESTABLISH LEADING STANDARDS.
ALSO, BECAUSE I READ AND ANALYZE
DATA CENTER INDUSTRY REPORTS,
MANY OF THESE COMPANIES ARE
LOOKING TOWARDS BUILDING DATA
CENTERS THROUGH PREFABRICATED
MODELS, TO REDUCE AS MUCH
UNIONIZED LABOR ON SITE AS
POSSIBLE. SO, FOR ASSEMBLY
PROCESSES, EVEN AS THEY SPEAK OF
JOB BENEFITS. YEAH, AND DATA
CENTERS PRODUCE LOTS OF NOISE
POLLUTION FROM THIRD DIESEL
GENERATORS, GAS TURBINES, THE
COOLING HVAC SYSTEMS. NOISE
IMPACTS DATA CENTER WORKERS,
COMMUNITIES, AND WILDLIFE. SO, I
URGE YOU TO SAY YES TO THIS
MORATORIUM. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, IS LAUREN REDFIELD,
FOLLOWED BY PAUL GOSLIN AND
LAUREN TOSLI.
>> THIS IS LAUREN?
>> LAUREN REDFIELD.
>> DID YOU CALL THREE NAMES, SO
ALL THREE OF THEM TO COME UP AT
THE SAME TIME?
>> LAUREN REDFIELD, PAUL GOSLIN,
AND LAUREN TOASTY.
>> TWO LAWRENCE? THERE IS TWO
LAUREN?
>> OKAY, SO --
>> I AM LAUREN TOSI. IS THE
OTHER LAUREN FIRST?
>> LAUREN REDFIELD IS FIRST, AND
THEN PAUL WAYNE GOSLIN.
>> IS LAUREN REDFIELD HERE? I DO
NOT SEE HER, SO WE WILL GO TO
THE NEXT PERSON.
>> OKAY, WE WILL MOVE ON TO PAUL
WAYNE GOSLIN AND THEN MOVE ON TO
LAUREN REDFIELD AND FOLLOWING
PAUL WILL BE LAUREN TOSI, AND
THEN RENAISSANCE.
>> HELLO. I AM HERE IN SUPPORT
OF THE MORATORIUM OF THE DATA
CENTER. YOU HAVE HEARD HERE, AND
BEFORE, PROBABLY, MANY POINTS
THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT,
REGARDING THE GREED, POLLUTION,
AND NOISE, EVERYTHING. I JUST
WANT TO ADD A WARNING TO THAT,
IN THAT IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO
BELIEVE THAT WE CAN AVOID THOSE
ASPECTS BY ADDING SOME
REGULATIONS, OR SOME LIMITS,
WHEN WE AUTHORIZE DATA CENTERS.
TRUTH IS, IN THE CCP, THE DATA
CENTER WAS USING UNAUTHORIZED
GAS GENERATORS. AND IN
FAYETTEVILLE, GEORGIA, THEY
FOUND THAT THE GENERATORS STOLE,
LITERALLY, 30,000 GALLONS OF
WATER. MY POINT IS, THE TECH
BILLIONAIRES HAVE A RECURRING
STRATEGY, AND THEY DON'T HIDE
IT. THE STRATEGY IS, BREAK THE
LAW, BREAK THINGS, AND MAYBE ASK
FOR FORGIVENESS WHEN YOU GET
CAUGHT. WHICH IS, TOO LATE,
BASICALLY. SO, MY POINT IS VERY
SIMPLE. WE SHOULD NOT GIVE THEM
THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. SO,
SAY YES TO THE MORATORIUM, AND
NO TO THESE DATA CENTERS.
>> THANK YOU. NOW, WE HAVE
LAUREN. LAUREN?
>> FOR YOUR RECEPTIVENESS, BY
THE WAY.
>> OKAY.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS LAUREN TOSI,
FOLLOWED BY RENAISSANCE,
FOLLOWED BY BROOKE.
>> NOW, WE HAVE LAUREN, LAURA
NUMBER TWO.
>> HELLO. I AM GOING TO READ
WHAT I HAVE TO SAY BECAUSE IT IS
ALWAYS A LITTLE NERVE-RACKING.
>> OKAY, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
>> BUT, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
HAVING THIS HEARING, IT IS SO
VERY IMPORTANT. MY NAME IS
LAUREN, I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE
SINCE 1980 AND I AM CLEARLY AND
STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF A
MORATORIUM ON THE BUILDING OF
DATA CENTERS, AND IN SEATTLE, OR
ANY OTHER TOWN, CITY IN OUR
STATE, THERE SEEMS TO BE A RUSH
TO GET THESE DATA CENTERS BUILT
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND I FEEL
THAT THAT IS EXTREMELY ALARMING.
THERE IS NO SUFFICIENT INFO ON
LAND AND WATER USAGE, EFFECTS ON
UTILITY RATES, EFFECTS ON OUR
PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY,
THE ELECTRIC GRID CAPACITY, AND
THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGES THAT
CAN COME. WE ALL KNOW THAT FAST
TRACKING POLICIES ARE MYOPIC AND
CAN LEAD TO DANGEROUS RESULTS.
SO, I ASK ALL OF YOU TO TAKE
INTO ACCOUNT AND SERIOUSLY
REMEMBER OUR COMMENTS, AND TAKE
INTO ACCOUNT WHY THE PUBLIC IS
SO VERY WARY OF THESE DATA
CENTERS. PLEASE, I ASK YOU, NO
BUSINESS AS USUAL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, LAUREN.
>> NEXT, IS RENAISSANCE,
FOLLOWED BY BROOKE AND
MAXIMILIAN.
>> RENAISSANCE?
>> RENAISSANCE!
>> OKAY, WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
>> RENAISSANCE. I AM AN
ORGANIZER WITH 350 SEATTLE. AND
I AM IN SUPPORT OF A MORATORIUM
ON THE DATA CENTERS. I WANT TO
START BY SAYING THAT, I WAS
QUITE IMPRESSED BY THE STATE BIT
OF INTENT FOR THIS MORATORIUM.
AND I HAVE BEEN COMING DOWN TO
CITY COUNCIL FOR MANY, MANY
YEARS. OFTEN TIMES, I HAVE BEEN
WALKED OUT OF THESE CHAMBERS.
BUT, IN NONE OF THOSE TIMES WHEN
I HAVE BEEN HERE, HAVE I EVER
SEEN AN IMPORTANT ISSUE RUNNING
THROUGH TWO COMMITTEES,
SIMULTANEOUSLY. AND I THINK THIS
MARKS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT
ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR
CITY RIGHT NOW. AND WE -- MANY
OF US -- BELIEVE THAT IT IS
VITAL FOR US TO PUT IN A PAUSE
BEFORE WE JUMP HEADFIRST INTO A
PROJECT THAT CAN HAVE DAMAGING
RAMIFICATIONS FOR GENERATIONS TO
COME, SO I REALLY WANT TO
IMPLORE THIS COMMITTEE AND THE
OTHER COMMITTEE FOR REALLY
PUTTING THAT IN PLAY. AND WHAT I
HOPE BY THE END OF THIS PROCESS
IS THAT WE WILL HAVE A UNANIMOUS
VOTE WHEN BOTH OF THESE GET TO
CITY COUNCIL. MY FEAR, IS THAT
IF WE DON'T DO THAT, THEN THE
COST OF THESE DATA CENTERS WILL
BE BORNE BY FOLKS WHO DON'T
HAVE -- ARE NOT GIVEN CONSENT
FOR THIS, AND IS NORMALLY BORN
FOR FOLKS WHO ARE POOR, WHO ARE
MARGINALIZED, WHO ARE
VULNERABLE, WHO DON'T OFTEN
HAVE A LOT THE OPPORTUNITIES TO
SHOW UP IN THESE SPACES. DON'T
FEEL THE POWER TO SHOW UP IN
THESE SPACES. AND IT WILL BE
TAXED, IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH THE
PRICE OF ENERGY GOES UP, AND HOW
MUCH WATER WE HAVE ACCESS TO.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT,
AS THIS CHANGE PROGRESSES, AS TO
WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD HAVE
ENOUGH WATER TO FUND ALL OF THIS
STUFF. SO, PLEASE, CONTINUE
VOTING YES FOR THIS MORATORIUM
AND LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO
THIS RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, IS BROOKE, FOLLOWED BY
MAXIMILIAN.
>> HI, THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY
COMMENT. MY NAME IS BROOKE. I AM
NOT AN EXPERT ON ANY OF THIS,
BUT A CONCERNED CITIZEN, MOTHER,
VOTER, HOMEOWNER. I ECHO ALL OF
MY PEERS' CONCERNS AND FEARS
ABOUT THE RATE AT WHICH A.I. IS
TAKING HOLD IN THIS COUNTRY. IT
FEELS SIMILAR TO THE RACE FOR
THE ATOMIC BOMB IN THE 1940s,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE SECRECY, AND
NDAs, AND WHO IS INVOLVED, AND
THE TRUE OUTCOME WE ARE SEEKING
IS, IT FEELS LIKE IT IS PROFIT
OVER PEOPLE, OVER, AND OVER
AGAIN. THE HARMS ARE
INSURMOUNTABLE. THEY HAVE BEEN
STATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN
THIS SESSION, THE BENEFITS SEEM
TO ONLY BENEFIT THE FEW, AND I
HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE TO
VOTE YES ON THIS MORATORIUM.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, IS MAXIMILIAN, THEN WE
GO BACK TO LAUREN REDFIELD AND
REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. I AM
MAX FROM DISTRICT 7. I THINK
ENOUGH OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE
TALKED ABOUT A.I. RISKS ON THE
ENVIRONMENT, ELECTRICITY GRID. I
KIND OF WANT TO FOCUS ON ITS
EFFECTS ON HUMANITY. ARE YOU
GUYS AWARE OF WHO PETER THIEL
IS? RIGHT, I THINK WE ALL DO,
HEAD OF PALANTIR, THEY HAVE ALL
COLLECTED AROUND $1.8 BILLION
FROM THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT FOR A.I. WEAPONS
MANUFACTURING. DEEP ROOTS IN THE
CIA, BY THE WAY. AND PETER THIEL
WAS INTERVIEWED AND ASKED THE
QUESTION, "SHOULD HUMANITY
ENDURE, " AND IF YOU WATCHED
THAT INTERVIEW, YOU UNDERSTAND
THAT HIS RESPONSE WAS BASICALLY,
"I DON'T KNOW." IT WAS
SOMETHING OTHER THAN, "YES,"
WHICH ALARMS ME. SO, I WOULD
URGE THAT ANY TIME A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION COMES ACROSS YOUR
DESK, ABOUT A.I., YOU REMEMBER
WHAT THE LEADERS ARE THINKING
ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY.
REMEMBER THAT PETER THIEL SAID,
"I DON'T REALLY KNOW," IF
HUMANITY SHOULD ENDURE. EVEN THE
CEO OF ANTHROPIC ADMITS, THEY
DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY ARE
BUILDING ANYMORE. AND I THINK
THAT WE MIGHT BE AT ONE OF THE
MOST CATASTROPHIC POINTS IN
HUMANITY. I REALLY DO BELIEVE
THAT. AND I THINK THAT EVERY
STEP THAT EVEN THE CITY COUNCIL
TAKES, IS AN IMPORTANT ONE. SO,
I WOULD SAY, YES, TO THIS
MORATORIUM ON A.I. DATA CENTERS,
AND URGE YOU TO HANDLE THIS WITH
THE SEVERITY THAT IT DESERVES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IS LAUREN REDFIELD HERE?
>> LAUREN, AND THEN WHO ELSE IS
ONLINE?
>> AND THEN, REMOTE SPEAKER,
TESSA, YOU WILL BE NEXT.
>> LAUREN?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL, MY
NAME IS KEN, I AM A CANDIDATE
MEMBER WITH THE PARTY OF LABOR,
I URGE YOU TO PASS THIS
MORATORIUM AND I URGE YOU TO
CONSIDER MAKING IT A PERMANENT
MORATORIUM. I WANT TO ASK YOU A
QUESTION, WHO WITH THE DATA
CENTERS BENEFIT? IS IT US? IS IT
THE UNHOUSED PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE
SWEPT TO MAKE ROOM FOR THESE
CENTERS? IS IT THE LOW INCOME
AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES,
WHO WILL BE FORCED TO MOVE NEXT
TO THESE CENTERS? IS IT THE
PEOPLE IN THE SEATTLE AREA WHO
WOULD HAVE TO SACRIFICE WATER
AND ELECTRICITY FOR THIS? NO,
IT'S NOT US, IT DOESN'T BENEFIT
US. I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. WHY
DO YOU THINK A.I. IS FREE? MOST
SERVICES PRESENTED TO US BY BIG
TECH COMPANIES ARE PAID, SO WHY
WOULD THIS BE FREE? IT IS
BECAUSE IT IS DATA COLLECTION.
IT IS BECAUSE IT IS
SURVEILLANCE. IT IS BECAUSE IT
IS DANGEROUS. NOW, THERE ARE
SEVERAL REPORTS FROM AROUND THE
COUNTRY ABOUT HOW THESE DATA
CENTERS ARE CAUSING THESE PEOPLE
TO GET THESE WEIRD, RARE KINDS
OF CANCER. IT IS AFFECTING THEM
IN THEIR HOMES, IT IS AFFECTING
THEM WITH A WEIRD HUMMING NOISE
TO WHERE THEY CAN'T SLEEP. IT
IS AFFECTING THEM, TO WHERE
THEIR DRINKING WATER IS
CONTAMINATED. THERE IS SET AND
PARTICLES IN THEIR WATER. THAT
WOULD BE COMING TO US IN
SEATTLE. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY
UNACCEPTABLE. AND, BY THE WAY,
THIS IS NOT YOUR LAND TO SELL.
WE ARE AN UNSEATED LAND. THIS IS
NOT YOURS. THIS IS NOT OURS. IT
IS IRRESPONSIBLE, TO ALLOW DATA
CENTERS TO BE HERE IN SEATTLE.
IT IS DANGEROUS. KETTLE, YOU ARE
NOT GOING TO EXPERIENCE THIS, IN
QUEEN M, BUT WE ARE. THAT IS
ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. WE NEED
TO PASS THIS MORATORIUM, YOU
NEED TO MAKE IT PERMANENT. YOU
NEED TO THINK ABOUT US, RATHER
THAN WHOEVER IS LINING YOUR
POCKETS. THANK YOU.
>> OUR FINAL PUBLIC SPEAKER IS
TESSA. PLEASE --
>> TESSA IS HERE. COME ON UP.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS TESSA. I AM
HERE TO, YES, SAY YES TO THE
MORATORIUM. I AM HERE BECAUSE OF
SOAPBOX, AS WELL. I AM A PART OF
THAT COMMUNITY. AND ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS -- THEY DID A THEME ON
A.I. FOR ONE OF THE MONTHS, AND
ONE OF THE THINGS THEY WROTE AND
TALKED ABOUT WAS, LIKE, WHAT
HAPPENS, WHEN A.I. IS
SUCCESSFUL, WHEN YOU ARE MORE
PRODUCTIVE, YOUR EMAILS ARE
BEING WRITTEN FOR YOU, YOUR
IMAGES ARE BEING CREATED. WHAT
DO YOU DO WITH THAT EXTRA TIME?
AND I FEEL LIKE, WHEN YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT CREATING DATA
CENTERS, OR ENCOURAGING THEM,
AND ALLOWING THEM TO BE BUILT,
YOU BETTER THINK ABOUT, WHAT ARE
YOU ALLOWING TO HAPPEN, FROM
THOSE DATA CENTERS? WHAT IS
THEIR CONSEQUENCE? A.I. IS IN
OUR LIVES EVERYWHERE, NOW. IT IS
UNAVOIDABLE AND IT IS NOT GOING
AWAY. BUT, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT
YOU, I GO ONLINE NOW AND I
CAN'T TRUST ANYTHING. I DON'T
KNOW WHAT I'M LOOKING AT. WHEN
I HAD A PHONE CALL THE OTHER
DAY, I HAD A TEXT MESSAGE WITH
MY PHONE COMPANY, AND THE PERSON
WAS AMAZING. I WAS LIKE, "ARE
YOU REAL?" AND THEY SAID, "YES,"
AND I COULDN'T TRUST THAT. SO,
WHAT DATA CENTERS ARE BACKING,
IS AN A.I. TO ACTUALLY MAKE US
QUESTION WHAT REALITY IS. THIS
FEELS VERY HEADY, BUT I THINK WE
CAN'T AVOID UNDERSTANDING THAT
THIS IS QUESTIONING HOW WE
INTERACT, HOW WE EXIST IN THE
WORLD WITH EACH OTHER. A.I. IS
NOT GOING AWAY, BUT THAT IS WHY
EVERY SINGLE POINT, WE NEED TO
INJECT HUMANITY INTO IT. WE HAVE
TO PUT HUMANS IN THERE, MAKING
DECISIONS, HUMANS TALKING TO
EACH OTHER IN ROOMS, AND HUMAN
BEINGS ENGAGING IN EVERY ASPECT
OF IT, BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY
WAY WE WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE
ALONGSIDE IT. PLEASE, PLEASE,
PUT THIS MORATORIUM FORWARD, AND
GIVE MANY MORE HUMAN BEINGS, THE
PEOPLE HERE, OF SEATTLE, A
CHANCE TO ENGAGE IN WHAT WILL
HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE FOR US.
>> TESSA? SO, WE ARE GOOD ON IN
PERSON AND ONLINE. SO, BEFORE WE
GO ON TO OUR AGENDA -- WE DON'T
NORMALLY DO THIS, BUT I HAVE
BEEN DOING THIS TODAY, SO I
MIGHT AS WELL FINISH IT UP -- I
WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AT
THIS TIME. BEFORE WE GO TO ITEMS
OF BUSINESS, I DO WANT TO MAKE
SOME CLARIFICATIONS AND A COUPLE
COMMENTS. FIRST OF ALL, THE
MORATORIUM WILL BE ON JUNE 3rd
AT 9:30 IN COUNCILMEMBER LIN'S
COMMITTEE, AND I WILL BE, AS
WELL, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
CLOSELY WITH COUNCILMAN
BERLIN'S OFFICE. THEN, ON JUNE
3rd, 2:00, WE WILL BE BACK IN
HERE FOR THE RESOLUTION. SO, WE
HAVE THE MORATORIUM AND THE
RESOLUTION AND WE ARE WORKING
TOGETHER WITH THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE AND SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
COMMITTEE. I MIGHT HAVE TO GO
BACK TO THE PEARL JAM GUY. I
KIND OF LIKE THAT THIS IS
PROBABLY -- I DON'T WANT TO USE
THE WORD "GEEK," BUT THIS IS
PROBABLY THE TECHIEST CROWD I
HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY YEARS AT
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL AND I JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP
AND PAYING ATTENTION BECAUSE WE
CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN PAYING
ATTENTION SINCE BEFORE THE NEW
YEAR. THE QUESTION, ONE OF THE
POINTS I WANTED TO MAKE -- AND
AGAIN, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY
THIS BECAUSE THIS IS WHO I AM --
GIGAWATTS ARE MORE THAN
MEGAWATTS, RIGHT? OKAY, GOOD.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, BUT I
WANTED TO WRITE THAT DOWN AGAIN,
BECAUSE WHEN I WAS HEARING IT,
THAT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE, BETWEEN
GIGAWATTS, AND MEGAWATTS, AND
THAT IS GOING TO BECOME AN
ISSUE. SO, I'M GOING TO ASK AND
ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU, ON JUNE
3rd, TO COME AT 9:30, THEN GO
HAVE LUNCH, THEN COME BACK HERE
AT 2:00, SO PEOPLE WILL VOTE ON
THE MORATORIUM THAT MORNING,
THEN WE WILL VOTE ON THE
RESOLUTION ON JUNE 3rd, AS WELL.
TODAY IS THE BRIEFING. WE HAVE
CENTRAL STAFF COMING, AND YOU
ALL HAVE SEEN ONLINE, WE HAD THE
RESOLUTION POSTED, THE SUMMARY
AND FISCAL NOTE POSTED, AND THE
POWERPOINT POSTED. SO, ALL OF
THOSE THINGS ARE ONLINE FOR YOU
TO LOOK AT. MAKE COMMENTS, SEND
YOUR COMMENTS TO COUNCILMEMBER
LIN, OF COURSE, AND OF COURSE,
IN HIS COMMITTEE, AND OF COURSE,
TO MYSELF, DEBRA JUAREZ IN OUR
COMMITTEE. AND I JUST WANT YOU
TO KNOW THAT SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL AND THE DISCUSSIONS WE
HAVE HAD IN THE HALLWAY,
OFF-LINE, THOSE OF US ATTENDING
WEBINARS AND, YOU KNOW, GOING TO
GEEKWIRE EVENTS, AND PAYING
ATTENTION TO ANTHROPIC, AND
PALANTIR, AND LOOKING AT OTHER
CITIES -- AND SOMEBODY OUT HERE
SAID SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT
WAS REALLY IMPORTANT -- THEY
READ OFF DIFFERENT CITIES AND
STATES THAT ARE DOING -- I JUST
WANT TO POINT OUT THAT INDIAN
COUNTRY AND TRIBES STARTED DOING
THIS SIX MONTHS AGO BECAUSE OF
WATER RIGHTS, TREATY RIGHTS,
PROTECT TREATY RIGHTS, FEDERAL
CONSULTATION, STATE
CONSULTATION, CITY CONSULTATION.
SO, INCLUDE THAT ON YOUR LIST,
AS WELL. AND THEN, I WILL HAVE
SOME CLOSING COMMENTS WHEN WE
GET TO ITEM SEVEN, WHICH IS THE
RESOLUTION REGARDING THE
RESEARCH THAT WE HAVE DONE, AND
IF THERE IS MORE INFORMATION YOU
WANT US TO SEE OR LOOK AT,
PLEASE SEND US THE INFORMATION
IN THE LINK AND YOU WILL GET TO
IT. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK
ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR HEARTFELT
PUBLIC COMMENTS. WE DON'T
ALWAYS GET A LOT OF INFORMATIVE
PUBLIC COMMENT. SO, IT IS KIND
OF NICE TO HAVE PEOPLE BE NICE,
AND KIND, AND RESPECTFUL IN THE
PEOPLE'S HOUSE, SO WITH THAT,
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO
TO OUR AGENDA, AND OUR ITEMS OF
BUSINESS. FIRST ITEM OF
BUSINESS, WHICH, DO WE HAVE TO
HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING ON
THIS ONE? OKAY. SO, MR. CLERK,
WILL YOU PLEASE READ THAT, ITEM
ONE, INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE -- COUNCIL
BILL 121199 -- AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO THE CITY LIGHT
DEPARTMENT, ACCEPTING STATUTORY
WARRANTY DEEDS, FUNDING FOR
PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS, RATIFYING
THE CITY'S GRANTS OF DEEDS OF
RIGHT TO THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
FOR THESE PROPERTIES FOR
RECOVERY, AND CONSERVATION
PURPOSES. THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC
HEARING, BRIEFING, DISCUSSION,
AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> OKAY, I AM GOING TO HAVE THE
PRESENTERS GO AHEAD AND PRESENT
THEMSELVES, AND THEN I WILL GO
AHEAD -- ACTUALLY, I WILL DO IT
RIGHT NOW AND I WILL LET YOU
TALK. SO, AS PRESIDING OFFICER,
I AM NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC
HEARING ON COUNCIL BILL 121199
AND CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY
SPEAKERS TO THAT ITEM, ITEM
NUMBER ONE?
>> THERE IS ONE REMOTE SPEAKER
SIGNED UP.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> HE IS DAVID, IF YOU ARE
LISTENING, SIGNED IN.
>> DAVID, ARE YOU HERE? GOING
ONCE, GOING TWICE? NO DAVID. ALL
RIGHT. SO, WE HAVE HOUSE
SPEAKERS AND THEN WE DON'T, SO
THERE ARE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS,
THERE ARE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS IN
CHAMBERS, SO AT THIS POINT, WE
WILL GO AHEAD AND -- DO I CLOSE
PUBLIC COMMENT, THEN, MR. CLERK?
OKAY. THEN, I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THAT ITEM, AND WITH
THAT -- OH, HERE WE GO. "IF NO
SPEAKERS," THANK YOU, PAUL. I
WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING,
NOW ALLOW THE FOLKS AT THE TABLE
TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. AND I
SHOULD ADD THAT WE HAVE A
POWERPOINT AND SUMMARY AND
FISCAL NOTE REGARDING THE
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT LANDS
DEED ACCEPTANCE ORDINANCE, SO
WITH THAT, GO AHEAD AND DO YOUR
PRESENTATION AND WE WILL GO
THROUGH THE POWERPOINT.
>> IT AFTERNOON, CHAIR JUAREZ,
VICE CHAIR KETTLE, AND
COUNCILMEMBERS, MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. I AM DENNIS McLERRAN
AND I SERVE AS THE GENERAL
MANAGER AT SEATTLE CITY LIGHT,
AND IN THAT ROLE, I OVERSEE
COMMUNICATIONS, GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS, GOVERNMENTAL
MANAGEMENT, REAL ESTATE, NATURAL
RESOURCES, HYDRO RELICENSING,
AND THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION
OFFICER. I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU HERE
TODAY, TO DISCUSS SEVERAL ITEMS
FROM OUR ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT AND REAL ESTATE
BUSINESS UNIT, AND THE FIRST
ITEM THAT CHAIR JUAREZ
INDICATED, WE ARE BRINGING
FORWARD AN ORDINANCE TO ACCEPT
PROPERTY ASSOCIATED WITH
ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION
EFFORTS, WITH THE ENDANGERED
SPECIES ACT. THIS IS PART OF THE
LIGHTS ONGOING WORK TO HELP
PROTECT CRITICAL HABITAT IN THE
SKAGIT AND PULPIT WATERSHEDS. IT
IS WORK WE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR
MANY YEARS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
OTHERS ACROSS THE REGION TO
SUPPORT RECOVERY AND CARE FOR
THESE NATURAL AREAS. TODAY'S
ACTION ALLOWS US TO ACCEPT
REQUIRED PROPERTY INTERESTS
THROUGH GRANT FUNDED
ACQUISITIONS TO CONTINUE TO DO
THAT WORK AND WITH THAT, I WILL
TURN IT OVER TO DENISE
KROWNBELL, STRATEGIC ADVISER AT
CITY LIGHT, TO WALK YOU THROUGH
THE PRESENTATION POINT COULD
AFTERNOON.
>> CHAIR?
>> YES?
>> CHAIR, POINT OF PERSONAL --
POINT OF ORDER, I GUESS. ON
ZOOM, THE CHAMBER ZOOM CONTROL
IS NOT SHOWING WHAT IT IS
SHOWING ON SEATTLE CHANNEL, SO I
HAVE THE TV ON MIXED WITH THIS
POWERPOINT, SO JUST WONDERING IF
THERE IS A TECHNICAL FIX THAT WE
CAN MAKE, SO WE CAN SEE INTO
CHAMBERS?
>> SO, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
ARE YOU SAYING YOU CAN'T SEE
THE POWERPOINT?
>> I CAN SEE THE POWERPOINT --
>> PRESENTERS?
>> I CANNOT SEE INTO THE
CHAMBERS. I CAN ON SEATTLE
CHANNEL, BUT NOT ON THIS ZOOM.
>> SO, MR. CLERK WILL CONTACT
SEATTLE CHANNEL TO FIX IT.
>> IT'S FIXED! THERE, IT IS
PART
>> THERE, YOU GO, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> THANKS, I.T. LEGIT.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE DO FOR
DISTRICT 6. OKAY. OKAY, WELL --
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. I AM DENISE
KROWNBELL, STRATEGIC ADVISER
FROM SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND THIS
IS THE ESA LAND DEEDS ACCEPTANCE
ORDINANCE. THIS PROGRAM IS A
VOLUNTARY PROGRAM. IT STARTED IN
2000, WITH THE LISTING OF
CHINOOK AND BULL TRAIL AND
STEELHEAD WAS INCLUDED IN THIS
WORK, WITH ITS LISTING IN 2007.
AND IT IS ESSENTIALLY TO PROTECT
HABITAT THAT IS CRITICAL TO THIS
SPECIES. WITH THIS ORDINANCE, WE
ARE COVERING AND INCLUDING IN
THE PAST, 3900 ACRES IN SKAGIT
AND THE TOTAL WATERSHEDS TODAY
THAT ARE BEING PROTECTED. THESE
ARE ALL PURCHASES THAT ARE
CONSISTENT WITH REGIONAL SALMON
RECOVERY PLANS IN THE SKAGIT AND
SNOHOMISH BASIN. AND JUST TO
TALK ABOUT HOW THIS EXPANDS
FUNDING, THAT SINCE THIS PROGRAM
HAS BEGUN, WE HAVE USED $6.9
MILLION OF CITY LIGHT FUNDS AND
HAVE ACCESS TO $10.6 MILLION OF
GRANT FUNDS AND THAT IS FROM
MOSTLY FROM EITHER SALMON
RECOVERY FUNDING BOARD OR
NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE
FOUNDATION.
>> HEY, DENISE, CAN I ASK YOU A
QUICK QUESTION?
>> SURE.
>> THE SKAGIT IS UP NORTH, WE
SEE THE OTHER WATERSHED, YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT DOWN SOUTH TOWARD
MOUNT RAINIER?
>> THE TALLEST PART OF THE
SNOHOMISH, SO WHERE IT ENTERS
PUGET SOUND BY EVERETT, STILL
NORTH OF US.
>> OKAY.
>> WHERE THE OUTLET IS. THE TOLL
ITSELF IS OUT BY CARNATION AND
DO FALL.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> SURE. THIS MAP SHOWS OVERALL,
IN RED, ALL OF THE PROPERTIES
THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE ESA
LAND PROGRAM. THE ONES WITH THE
YELLOW LABEL ARE THE PROPERTIES
THAT ARE COVERED BY THIS
SPECIFIC ORDINANCE. AND THEN,
THERE IS ONE PROPERTY THAT IS
ALSO GREEN AND RED AND IT JUST
IS A PROPERTY THAT WAS PURCHASED
WITH BOTH ESA FUNDING, AND THEN
CURRENT SKAGIT LICENSE WILDLIFE
AND FISHERY LANDS. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. THIS IS SHOWING THE
PROPERTY THAT WAS PURCHASED, THE
MEYER PROPERTY, AND SHOWING THE
OTHER HOLDINGS IN THE TOLD AND I
JUST WANT TO SAY THAT CITY LIGHT
PARTNERS WITH KING COUNTY, TO
WORK AT SPECIFIC AREAS IN THE
TOLT, AREAS THAT WOULD BE GOOD
TO REQUIRE LAND, AND GET PEOPLE
OUT OF HARM'S WAY.
>> SO, DENISE, WHAT IS THE BIG,
RED SQUARE FOR?
>> THAT IS THE CREEK PURCHASE,
THAT IS OUR CLIMATE ADAPTATION
PROPERTY WHERE WE ARE DOING A
LOT OF DIFFERENT TREE PLANTINGS
TO SEE HOW THEY WILL RESPOND TO
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THAT WILL BE
A WHOLE OTHER PRESENTATION THAT
I WILL BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU AT
SOME TIME.
>> I JUST WANT A BIGGER MAP,
THAT IS ALL. SQUINTING FROM THE
PRINTER AND THE THING, BUT THANK
YOU, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE
EVERYONE IN THE PUBLIC CAN SEE
IT, AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. FOR THE SPECIFICS
IN THIS ORDINANCE, WE ARE
ACCEPTING THESE DEEDS FOR EIGHT
PROPERTIES, AND IT IS FOR THESE
PROPERTIES IN BOTH THE SKAGIT
AND THE TOLT, 326 ACRES IN THE
SKAGIT AND JUST SHY OF ONE ACRE
IN THE TOLT. AND THIS ORDINANCE
RATIFIES THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE
GRANTS, AND SPECIFICALLY,
$60,000 IN CITY LIGHT FUNDS, AND
$5 MILLION IN STATE GRANT FUNDS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND WITH THAT, I AM HAPPY TO
TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM
MY COLLEAGUES BEFORE I MOVED TO
SUSPEND THE RULES? EVERYBODY --
I GUESS EVERYBODY IS GOOD FOR
THE MAP, I GUESS I AM THE ONLY
ONE WHO CAN'T SEE. SO, THANK
YOU, DENISE, AND I WILL GO
FORWARD, THEN. IF THERE ARE NO
OBJECTIONS, THE COUNCIL RULES
WILL BE SUSPENDED TO ALLOW THE
COMMITTEE TO VOTE ON LEGISLATION
ON THE SAME DAY THAT HEARING WAS
HELD. HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL IS SUSPENDED AND THE
COMMITTEE WILL PROCEED WITH
VOTING ON COUNCIL BILL 121199. I
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 121199. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL, SEEING NO
FURTHER COMMENTS, CLERK, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR, FIVE VOTES IN FAVOR,
ZERO OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL CARRIES, COUNCIL
BILL 121199 WILL BE SENT TO THE
JUNE -- IS IT JUNE 2nd? JUNE
2nd? I THOUGHT THAT WAS COUNCIL.
JUNE 2nd? OKAY. OH, SORRY. OKAY,
THANK YOU, BOTH OF YOU. [
LAUGHTER ] THIS WILL BE SENT TO
THE JUNE 2nd FULL CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO TO
ITEMS TWO AND THREE. NOW, THIS
IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING
BECAUSE WE HAVE ITEMS TWO AND
THREE, BUT WE HAVE THE SAME
POWERPOINT, CORRECT? SO, IF WE
HAVE NEW PEOPLE AT THE TABLE
THAT COULD INTRODUCE THEMSELVES,
I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE A
POWERPOINT THAT YOU HAVE IN
FRONT OF US, I AM GOING TO LET
THE COURT -- CLERK GO AHEAD AND
READ THE ITEMS INTO THE RECORD,
THEN I WILL SAY SOMETHING, THEN
WE WILL GO BACK TO THE TABLE.
>> AGENDA ITEMS TWO AND THREE,
COUNCIL BILL 121204 AND 121205,
ORDINANCES RELATING TO THE CITY
LIGHT DEPARTMENT AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER AND GENERAL CEO TO
GRANT AN EASEMENT OVER A PORTION
OF THE FEE OWNED PROPERTY TO
PUGET SOUND ENERGY IN KING
COUNTY AND AFFECT ACCEPTING
PAYMENTS OF THE FAIR MARKET
VALUE FOR THE EASEMENT. THERE
WILL BE BRIEFING, DISCUSSION,
AND A POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> OKAY, SO, JUST FOR SOME
CLARIFICATION, I KNOW ME AND THE
CLERK WERE MAKING SURE WE
UNDERSTOOD THIS -- PLEASE
CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, FOLKS,
PARTICULARLY YOU, PAUL --
COUNCIL BILL 121204 HAS TO DO
WITH PUGET SOUND ENERGY, THE
EASEMENT, FAIR MARKET VALUE AT
6800. AND COUNCIL BILL 121205
HAS TO DEAL WITH FAIR MARKET
VALUE, NUMBERS, EASEMENT,
PAYMENT TO KING COUNTY. ALL
RIGHT, THOSE ARE THE TWO
MATTERS. ALL RIGHT, I WILL LET
YOU REINTRODUCE YOURSELVES FOR
THE RECORD AND THE VIEWING
PUBLIC AND THEN I WILL LET YOU
GO THROUGH YOUR POWERPOINT.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU, CHAIRWOMAN
JUAREZ. AS THE CLERK AND YOU
BOTH INDICATED, WE ARE BRINGING
FORWARD TWO ORDINANCES THAT
ALLOW CITY LIGHT TO PROVIDE
LIMITED EASEMENTS TO PUGET SOUND
ON CITY LIGHT PROPERTY, THESE
ARE LIMITED EASEMENTS THAT
SUPPORT PARTNER INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS WHILE MAINTAINING CITY
LIGHT'S OPERATIONS AND SYSTEM
RELIABILITY. BOTH OUR ACTIONS
ARE CONSISTENT WITH OUR ONGOING
COORDINATION WITH THE PARTNERS,
AND INCLUDE FAIR MARKET VALUE
COMPENSATION AND I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO KATY TASSERY, OUR REAL
ESTATE SERVICES MANAGER, TO WALK
THROUGH THE DETAILS AND ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS, AS SHE HAS SOME
SUPPORTING CAST WITH HER, AS
WELL, IF THERE ARE ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL. I AM KATY TASSERY, THE
OUT OF CLASS REAL ESTATE MANAGER
FOR SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, HERE TO
PRESENT ON THESE TWO TOPICS. AND
WE HAVE THE ORDER A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT IN THE PRESENTATION, I
HOPE THAT IS OKAY.
>> I KNOW, YOU REVERSED IT ON
ME, THAT'S WHY I WAS GETTING
CONFUSED, BUT GO AHEAD.
>> AND I WILL PASS IT OVER TO
BILL.
>> IT AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS BILL
DEVEREAUX, I AM THE DIRECTOR OF
FINANCE AND REAL ESTATE.
>> IT AFTERNOON, ANDY STRONG,
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT ENGINEERING
AND PROJECT DELIVERY OFFICER.
>> AND I AM ERIC McCONAGHY ON
THE COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> SO, WE ARE HERE BEFORE YOU
BECAUSE THE CITY CHARTER
REQUIRES PROPERTY ACTIONS,
INCLUDING DISPOSITIONS OF
EASEMENTS, PROPERTY RIGHTS, TO
BE APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL
BEFORE CITY COUNCIL CAN EXECUTE
ON THEM. AND THESE TWO PROJECTS,
TWO SEPARATE AGREEMENTS, WOULD
ALLOW OUR PARTNER AGENCIES TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH PROJECTS THAT
HAVE NO IMPACT ON CITY LIGHT
OPERATIONS. SO, THE FIRST ONE,
HERE, IS AN EASEMENT CONVEYANCE
TO KING COUNTY, THIS IS A SIMPLE
PARCEL THAT SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
OWNS IN SKYWAY, WHICH IS
UNINCORPORATED KING COUNTY. IT
IS PART OF OUR TRANSMISSION
CORRIDOR, AND -- NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE -- KING COUNTY HAS A
PROJECT TO DO SOME ROADWAY
IMPROVEMENTS AT SEVEN
INTERSECTIONS. ONE OF WHICH,
OVERLAPS WITH OUR PROPERTY, IT
IS JUST A TEENY TINY OVERLAP.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO, YOU CAN
SEE HERE, THE SCALE ON THIS, IT
IS A 65 SQUARE-FOOT TRIANGULAR
PORTION OF THE SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT PROPERTY. KING COUNTY
NEEDS A PERMANENT EASEMENT FOR
AN A.D.A. ACCESSIBLE SIDEWALK
RAMP TO BE INSTALLED AT THAT
INTERSECTION, AND NO IMPACT TO
CITY LIGHT OPERATIONS, SO THAT
IS THAT ONE. ANY QUESTIONS ON
THAT ONE?
>> ANY QUESTIONS? NOT SEEING
ANY.
>> AND THEN, THE NEXT PROPERTY
TRANSACTION, HERE, IS ANOTHER
FEE SIMPLE PROPERTY THAT SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT OWNS, THIS TIME IT'S
AT THE JUNCTION OF I-405 AND
I-90 IN BELLEVUE, KIND OF THE
WILBERT AND NEIGHBORHOOD. AND
THERE IS A TRANSMISSION POLL ON
THIS PROPERTY WHICH HAS SOME
EQUIPMENT THAT IS KNOWN BY
T-MOBILE, THAT CITY LIGHT LEASES
OUT TO T-MOBILE FOR, LIKE, IT IS
A CELLULAR CLUSTER, SO THEY CAN
BROADCAST THEIR SIGNAL FOR
SELF-SERVICE. AND T-MOBILE
REQUIRES A GENERATOR AS BACKUP
POWER TO POWER THEIR
INFRASTRUCTURE. THE NEAREST
POWER SUPPLIER IS PUGET SOUND
ENERGY, AND THEY HAVE A NATURAL
GAS LINE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> WAIT, LET'S HOLD UP, HERE.
THIS IS WHERE WE HAD SOME
HEARTBURN WITH SOME FOLKS.
UPGRADES REQUIRE GENERATOR POWER
FROM NEARBY PUGET SOUND ENERGY
GAS LINE. SO, CAN YOU JUST
EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE
EXISTING T-MOBILE EQUIPMENT,
WHAT HAPPENED, HERE?
>> SO, THE T-MOBILE EQUIPMENT IS
POWERED BY ELECTRICITY,
CURRENTLY, BUT IF THERE IS A
POWER OUTAGE, THEY WILL NEED A
BACKUP SOURCE OF ENERGY, TO BE
ABLE TO CONTINUE THEIR EQUIPMENT
TO BROADCAST THE SIGNAL. SO,
THEY ORIGINALLY PROPOSED A
PROPANE ENERGY SOURCE, WHICH WE
DECLINED, BECAUSE OF THE RISK TO
INFRASTRUCTURE. AND ON THE NEXT
SLIDE, I THINK YOU CAN SEE A BIT
MORE CLEARLY, THE DISTANCES
BETWEEN THE NATURAL GAS LINE --
WHICH IS HIGHLIGHTED THERE, IN
YELLOW -- THE GENERATOR -- WHICH
IS ABOUT 42 FEET AWAY FROM THE
TRANSMISSION POLL, WHICH IS
HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN -- AND THE
LINES FROM THE TRANSMISSION POLE
GO IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM
THE GENERATOR AND THE NATURAL
GAS LINE. SO, 41.6 FEET IS THE
MINIMUM DISTANCE BETWEEN THE
NATURAL GAS LINE AND THAT
TRANSMISSION POLE.
>> SO, THEY USE ELECTRICITY NOW,
AND YOU ARE JUST SAYING IF THE
POWER GOES OUT, THEN THE
GENERATOR WILL BE POWERED BY THE
GAS LINE? SO, IT'S NOT, LIKE
EMMA SWITCHING OVER TO GAS FROM
ELECTRICITY?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT, THAT WAS THE
QUESTION SOME COUNCILMEMBERS
HAD. I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
I'M LOOKING AT SLIDE SIX,
STILL, BUT NOW WE ARE ON SEVEN.
OKAY, GOT IT.
>> MAY I JUMP IN?
>> OH, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T SEE
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I
SHOULD HAVE SEEN YOUR HAND UP.
GO AHEAD.
>> NOPE. NO PROBLEM. JUST ASKING
A STUPID QUESTION OF, IF WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT, EITHER HAVING A
GAS -- YOU KNOW, GASOLINE
GENERATOR, OR A PROPANE
GENERATOR, OR A NATURAL GAS
LINE, HOW -- ALL OF THOSE ARE
EXPLOSIVE, ALL OF THOSE ARE NEAR
OUR TRANSMISSION TOWER. HOW ARE
THEY DIFFERENT? HOW ARE THEY THE
SAME? AND WE DON'T NEED TO TAKE
A LOT OF TIME IN COMMITTEE
TODAY, I'M JUST -- I STILL HAVE
CONCERNS ABOUT PUTTING
COMBUSTIBLES NEAR OUR
TRANSMISSION TOWERS AND IF THERE
IS AN ISSUE WITH T-MOBILE, I
GUESS, I OPENLY -- I WONDER OUT
LOUD AS TO, MAYBE THEY NEED A
DIFFERENT PLACE TO PUT THEIR
TOWER. BUT, I DON'T -- YOU
KNOW, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE A
RESPONSE FROM THE TABLE. I WILL
BE WEIRD TODAY AND I WILL
ABSTAIN, BECAUSE I STILL HAVE
CONCERNS ABOUT PUTTING
COMBUSTIBLES NEAR OUR
TRANSMISSION TOWERS.
>> ACTUALLY, I AM GLAD YOU
ASKED, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I
THINK THAT'S A VERY INTELLIGENT
QUESTION TO ASK. BUT, IT DID
ALLOW ME TO BREAK OUT MARK'S
HANDBOOK FROM MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING, TO FIND AN ANSWER
FOR YOU.
>> OH, THE NERD, YES!
>> GOES WAY BACK. THE GOOD THING
ABOUT NATURAL GAS IN THIS
PERSPECTIVE, IT IS LIGHTER THAN
AIR, SO ANY ACCUMULATIONS TEND
TO DISSIPATE QUITE QUICKLY.
THERE IS NOT A STORAGE TANK
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PARTICULAR
PLACEMENT. AND SO, THAT MEANS
THAT THE AMOUNT OF ACTUAL
EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS IS REALLY
QUITE SMALL. I CALCULATED IT TO
BE ABOUT 560 JOULES. IF THE GAS
LINE WERE TO BREAK, THAT IS
APPROXIMATELY EQUIVALENT TO A
ONE POUND OBJECT BEING DROPPED
FROM ABOUT 125 FEET. SO, QUITE A
SMALL IMPACT, IF SOMETHING WERE
TO HAPPEN, COMBINED WITH THE
DISTANCE FROM THE TRANSMISSION
TOWER ITSELF, I DON'T
ANTICIPATE ANY IMPACT.
>> THANK YOU, ANDY, I'M HAPPY
TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION. I
THINK YOU HAVEN'T SATIATED MY
WORRY, ONE POUND FROM 125 FEET
IS -- THAT IS NOT A LIGHT
IMPACT, BUT I AM NOT A
MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND, YOU
KNOW, STILL HAVE THE QUESTIONS
OF, A RUPTURED LINE, IS THIS A
CONTINUAL SOURCE OF
COMBUSTIBLES? AND THAT IS AN
ISSUE. SO, THE QUESTION STILL
REMAINS, IF T-MOBILE STILL NEEDS
THIS KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
THEIR CELL TOWERS. MAYBE THIS IS
NOT THE BEST PLACE FOR IT. HAPPY
TO CONTINUE THOSE CONVERSATIONS
OFF-LINE, AND THANK YOU FOR
UNDERSTANDING MY WEIRD CONCERNS
AND WHY I WILL BE ABSTAINING
TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. MR. STRONG,
I DO APPRECIATE THE JEWELS
COMING UP, FLASHBACKS TO GOD
KNOWS WHAT CLASS, YOU KNOW, IN
TERMS OF CONTEXT, I SEEM TO SEE
-- AND THERE ARE MANY OF OUR
UTILITY POLES, I GUESS, ACROSS
THE BOARD, WHERE THIS IS NOT A
ONE-OFF, IN TERMS OF, LIKE, A
CELL PROVIDER USING EQUIPMENT.
CAN YOU GIVE US SOME CONTEXT IN
TERMS OF HOW OFTEN THIS HAS
HAPPENED ACROSS THE NETWORK? AND
YOU KNOW, IS THIS A REGULAR
THING? CAN YOU JUST GIVE SOME
CONTEXT TO IT? I MEAN, I HAVE
ONE NEAR MY HOUSE, IT'S NOT
T-MOBILE, I DON'T THINK, BUT
WHATEVER IT WAS, CAN YOU GIVE
SOME CONTEXT TO THIS? IS THIS A
ONE-OFF, OR IS IT PART OF THE
STANDARD PRACTICE?
>> CERTAINLY NOT A ONE-OFF. YOU
KNOW, WE ARE REQUIRED TO HOST
SMALL CELL SITES AND OTHER
TELECOM INFRASTRUCTURE. AND SO,
WE DO WORK WITH TELECOM, A PLACE
THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE AREA. I
COULDN'T TELL YOU THE EXACT
NUMBER OF SMALL CELL SITES THAT
WE CURRENTLY HOST, BUT IT IS
CONSIDERABLE. MOST OF THESE ARE
HOSTED ON OUR VERTICAL, WOODEN
INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR UTILITY
POLES. WE WORK WITH A NUMBER OF
TELECOM PROVIDERS IN THE AREA TO
DO THAT PLACEMENT. IF THE
COUNCIL WOULD LIKE, I CERTAINLY
CAN GET THE EXACT NUMBER FOR
YOU. BUT, IT -- IT IS SAFE TO
SAY IT IS IN THE THOUSANDS.
>> OKAY, THEN, YOU DON'T HAVE
TO GIVE ME A NUMBER. THAT SHOWS
THAT THIS IS STANDARD PRACTICE,
IF YOU WILL.
>> YES.
>> YOU KNOW, TO BE HONEST, I
RECOGNIZE THIS THREAT TO
ALLIANCE AND SO FORTH, MY
BIGGEST CONCERN IS WITH CLIMATE
CHANGE, AND GRASS FIRES, AND
GRASS FIRES, THAT THREAT IS, I
WOULD IMAGINE, WORSE THAN
ANYTHING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
HERE TODAY.
>> YES, IT IS.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DID
YOU HAVE ANY OTHER FOLLOW-UP?
ARE YOU GOOD?
>> SO, JUST TO WRAP UP THE
SLIDE, HERE, THE EASEMENT AREAS
ARE A 10 FOOT BY 90 FOOT, LIKE,
FOLLOWING THE PATH OF THE
NATURAL GAS LINE. IT HAS BEEN
APPRAISED FAIR MARKET VALUE
$6800, AND THAT IS THE ACTION WE
ARE HOPING TO TAKE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO,
WITH THAT, THAT IS THE COUNCIL
BILL 121204. SO, WITH THAT, ARE
THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS, I AM
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE -- I
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 121204, 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 ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> VICE CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FIVE IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL CARRIES, 121204 WILL
BE SENT TO THE JUNE 2nd, 2026
FULL COUNCIL MEETING. ALL RIGHT,
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE SECOND
PIECE, HERE. I NOW MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF
COUNCIL BILL 121205, AND THAT IS
THE KING COUNTY EASEMENT FOR
FAIR MARKET VALUE OF $500,
RIGHT? OKAY, ALL RIGHT. CAN I
GET A SECOND ON THAT ONE?
>> SECOND.
>> ALL RIGHT, I GOT A FIRST, I
MOVED IT, IT GOT SECOND --
>> I AM YOUR SECOND TODAY.
>> WELL, YOU ARE MY VICE CHAIR,
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT HAS
BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED FOR
PASSAGE OF THE BILL, AND AFTER
THAT, CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> ABSTAIN. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
ABSTAIN.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> VICE CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FOUR VOTES
IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED, ONE
ABSTENTION.
>> THE BILL CARRIES, COUNCIL
BILL 121205 WILL BE SENT TO THE
JUNE 2nd CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
ALL RIGHT, SO, LET'S MOVE ON TO
ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH WE HAVE
TO HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING,
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM FOUR, COUNCIL
BILL 121211 -- AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO CURRENT USE TAXATION
-- APPROVING AN APPLICATION FOR
CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 4807 SOUTHWEST 54th
STREET UNDER THE KING COUNTY
PUBLIC BENEFIT RATING SYSTEM.
THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING,
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION, AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU, WE HAVE SOME NEW
PRESENTERS AT THE TABLE, WE HAVE
OUR OWN KARINA FROM CENTRAL
STUFF -- IS IT JUST YOU, KARINA?
>> THERE ARE TWO PRESENTERS --
>> THAT ARE ATTENDING REMOTELY?
>> OH, DO I SEE THEM, YET? OH.
ARE THEY -- OH, HERE WE GO.
THERE IS BILL. THANK YOU, GUYS.
AND WHO ELSE DO WE GOT?
>> ERIC TODDERUD.
>> I JUST SEE BILL ON THERE.
>> OH, I THINK HE JUST JOINED.
>> OKAY, SO, DID YOU ALREADY
READ IT INTO THE RECORD? OKAY,
SORRY ABOUT THAT. OKAY, THANK
YOU. AS PRESIDING OFFICER, I AM
NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING
ON COUNCIL BILL 121211. CLERK,
ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS SIGNED
UP?
>> THERE IS ONE REMOTE SPEAKER.
AND ZERO IN PERSON SPEAKERS.
>> OKAY, CAN YOU PLEASE -- IS
OUR REMOTE SPEAKER ONLINE?
>> DAVID, IF YOU ARE ONLINE?
>> DAVID? STAR SIX. I DO NOT SEE
DAVID ONLINE. DO YOU? OKAY. SO,
WITH THAT, WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE
IN CHAMBERS. WE HAD A SPEAKER,
BUT I DON'T SEE IT ONLINE, OUR
SPEAKER ONLINE, SO WITH THAT,
THERE ARE NO MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC PRESENT FOR THIS PUBLIC
HEARING ON COUNCIL BILL 121211,
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW
CLOSED. SO, WE WILL NOW MOVE
FORWARD. I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE OUR PRESENTER, SO
AFTER THAT, I WILL GO AHEAD AND
LET YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND
WE WILL MOVE FORWARD ON THIS
PARTICULAR BILL. FLOOR IS YOURS.
KARINA?
>> IT AFTERNOON, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, KARINA BULL WITH
CENTRAL STAFF AND THERE ARE TWO
OTHER MEMBERS JOINING REMOTELY
-- YOU MIGHT WANT TO INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES, IF THEY ARE ONLINE
RIGHT NOW.
>> HI, I AM BILL BERNSTEIN WITH
THE KING COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARKS AND
I ADMINISTER THE PUBLIC BENEFIT
RATING SYSTEM FOR THE OPEN SPACE
PROGRAM.
>> AND IS ERIC WITH US?
>> ALL RIGHT, WELL, I WILL
LAUNCH IN, AND HE MIGHT JOIN IN
LATER, TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
TODAY'S PRESENTATION CONCERNS
COUNCIL BILL 121211, WHICH WOULD
APPROVE AN APPLICATION FOR THE
CURRENT USE TAXATION PROGRAM FOR
A 5700 SQUARE-FOOT PROPERTY,
KNOWN AS THE MYERS PEA PATCH IN
SOUTH SEATTLE, IT IS OWNED BY
G.R.O.W., A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION FOUNDED OVER 50
YEARS AGO THAT CREATES COMMUNITY
GARDENING OPPORTUNITIES AND
SUPPORTS THE CITY'S PPATCH
PROGRAM, G.R.O.W. OPERATES
PPATCH EIGHT OF THEM THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE. IT PROVIDES AN
INCENTIVE FOR PROPERTY OWNERS TO
VOLUNTARILY MAINTAIN OPEN SPACE,
BY TAXING THE PROPERTY AT A
LOWER RATE, BASED ON ITS CURRENT
USE, RATHER THAN THE POTENTIAL
MARKET VALUE FOR ITS MOST
PROFITABLE USE. SUCH AS,
RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL
PURPOSES. IN RECENT YEARS,
PROPERTIES IN SEATTLE APPROVED
FOR THE SEARCH AND TAX PROGRAM
INCLUDING NORTH OF PAGODA
GARDENS OWNED BY INDIGENOUS
CREATIVE'S COLLECTIVE, THAT WAS
LAST YEAR'S APPLICATION, THE
OPEN SPACE SURROUNDING ANNE HOLT
HALL, SURROUNDING THE U DISTRICT
AND OTHER P-PATCHES OWNED BY
G.R.O.W. SUCH AS THOSE IN HAZEL
HEIGHTS AND JUDKINS THAT WERE
ALL APPROVED IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS. EVALUATED UNDER A PUBLIC
BENEFITS RATING SYSTEM, KNOWN AS
PBRS, IT IS ADMINISTERED BY THE
KING COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARKS. MR.
BERNSTEIN IS THE COORDINATOR OF
THAT PROGRAM. PROPERTIES WITH
HIGHER POINT TOTALS FOR
AVAILABLE OPEN-SPACE RESOURCES
RECEIVE LARGER REDUCTIONS ON
PROPERTY TAXES. EXAMPLES OF
OPEN-SPACE RESOURCES INCLUDE
PUBLIC RECREATION AREAS, PUBLIC
LANDS, VIEW CORRIDORS, AND THERE
ARE ALSO BONUS POINTS FOR
CERTAIN CATEGORIES SUCH AS
UNLIMITED PUBLIC ACCESS. AFTER
KING COUNTY ISSUES A REPORT WITH
THE APPLICATIONS PBRS POINTS
TOTAL, BOTH THE CITY AND KING
COUNTY, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER,
MUST BOTH HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING
AND TAKE LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO
APPROVE THE APPLICATION.
APPROVAL RESULTS IN LOWER
PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE PROPERTY
OWNER AND SHIFTS THE TAX
OBLIGATION TO OTHER PROPERTY
OWNERS AT A MARGINAL RATE OF
INCREASE, WITH NO IMPACT TO THE
TOTAL TAX COLLECTION FOR THE
CITY. THE APPLICATION THAT IS
UNDER CONSIDERATION IS THE
BUYERS BULLDOG GARDEN P-PATCH IN
WEST SEATTLE. THE GARDEN IS
NAMED FOR THE BUYERS FAMILY WHO
OWNED AND GARDENED ON IT AND
DEVELOPED PROPERTY FOR MANY
GENERATIONS. G.R.O.W. --
>> WHERE DID BULLDOG COME FROM?
>> THEY HAD BULLDOGS. THE LAST
OWNER, MARGARET BIER, AND HER
SPOUSE, HAD A BULLDOG. THERE IS
A PICTURE OF THEM HOLDING THE
BULLDOG, ON THE P-PATCH PHOTO,
AND THE DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOOD
WEBSITE.
>> OH, OKAY.
>> G.R.O.W. ACQUIRED THIS
PROPERTY IN 2024 FROM THE ESTATE
OF MARGARET BYERS WHO LEFT IT TO
HER ESTATE IN HER PASSING,
CURRENTLY USED AS A COMMUNITY
GARDEN WITH GARDEN BEDS, AND
PRODUCE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
MUCH OF IT IS DONATED TO LOCAL
FOOD BANKS, AND IN THE FUTURE,
G.R.O.W. PLANS TO INSTALL
ACCESSIBLE WALKWAYS AND ADD MORE
GARDEN BEDS. KING COUNTY
ASSESSED THIS PROPERTY USING
FEET PBRS CRITERIA AND ENDED UP
RECOMMENDING A TOTAL OF 10
POINTS FOR TWO CATEGORIES.
PUBLIC RECREATION AREA, AND THE
BONUS CATEGORY OF UNLIMITED
PUBLIC ACCESS. THIS RATING WOULD
RESULT IN A 50% REDUCTION OF
MARKET VALUE, AND A
CORRESPONDING 50% REDUCTION IN
TAXABLE VALUE. SO, TO PUT THIS
IN CONTEXT USING THE 2025
APPRAISED VALUES, THE PROPERTY
WAS VALUED AT ABOUT $500,000,
PROPERTY TAX AT ABOUT $5000.
ENROLLMENT IN THIS PROGRAM WOULD
REDUCE THE TOTAL TAXABLE VALUE
TO ABOUT $250,000, AND THE
PROPERTY TAX AMOUNT TO ABOUT
$2500. IF APPROVED FOR THE
PROGRAM, THERE ARE CONTROLS,
G.R.O.W. WOULD BE REQUIRED TO
MAINTAIN THE OPEN SPACE IN THE
SAME OR BETTER CONDITION AS OF
THE DATE OF ENROLLMENT, AND
SUBMIT REQUIRED MONITORING
REPORTS. IF EVER DISQUALIFIED,
G.R.O.W. WOULD BE REQUIRED TO
PAY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
AMOUNT OF TAX PAID AS OPEN
SPACE, AND THE AMOUNT THAT WOULD
HAVE BEEN PAID FOR A MAXIMUM OF
SEVEN YEARS, PLUS INTEREST, AND
POSSIBLY A 20% PENALTY.
>> OKAY, LET ME ASK YOU A QUICK
QUESTION. SO, WHO WOULD BE
MONITORING THIS? IS IT GOING TO
BE THE CITY? OR, IS IT GOING TO
BE BILL AT KING COUNTY?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT
IS BILL AT KING COUNTY, CAN YOU
CONFIRM THAT?
>> YEAH, KING COUNTY STAFF WOULD
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING
THE COUNTY PARTICIPATION,
MONITORING ANY COMPLIANT ISSUE,
WE WOULD BE THE ONES MAINTAINING
REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH THE
PROPERTY OWNER.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> PROCEDURALLY, FOR THIS
OPERATION, IF THE COMMITTEE
VOTES TO APPROVE IT, IT COULD BE
CONSIDERED FOR A COUNCIL VOTE AS
SOON AS JUNE 2nd. THE KING
COUNTY HEARING EXAMINER IS
SCHEDULED TO HOLD A PUBLIC
HEARING ON MAY 28th. IF THE KING
COUNTY HEARING EXAMINER
RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE
APPLICATION, THE COUNTY COUNCIL
WOULD VOTE ON IT SOON
THEREAFTER, AND IF BOTH THE CITY
COUNCIL AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL
BOTH APPROVE THE APPLICATION IN
WHOLE, KING COUNTY WOULD
INCORPORATE THE LOWER TAXABLE
VALUE OF THE PROPERTY IN ITS
2027 TAX RULES. AND THAT
CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION.
>> SO, WE ARE BASICALLY LOWERING
THE TAX IMPACT BY 50%, SO IT CAN
BE A P-PATCH?
>> CORRECT. AND SO THAT IT WOULD
BE A AN OPEN SPACE IN PERPETUITY
AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
>> OPEN-SPACE. SO, FIRST OF ALL,
LET ME JUST SAY A FEW THINGS
BEFORE I HAND IT OFF TO MY
COLLEAGUES. KARINA, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR MEMORANDUM. APPRECIATE
THAT. WE ALSO GOT A COPY OF THE
COORDINATION AGREEMENT, SO THANK
YOU FOR THAT. ARE THERE OTHER --
AND, OF COURSE, WONDERFUL
POWERPOINT WITH PAGE NUMBERS, SO
THANK YOU FOR THAT. ARE THERE
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MY COLLEAGUES,
REGARDING COUNCIL BILL 121211?
OKAY. NOT SEEING ANY. NOW -- OH,
WAIT. I HAVE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND.
SO, IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS,
COUNCIL RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED
TO ALLOW THE COMMITTEE TO VOTE
ON THE LEGISLATION ON THE SAME
DAY THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD.
NOT HEARING OR SEEING AN
OBJECTION. COUNCIL RULE IS
SUSPENDED. THE COMMITTEE --
EXCUSE ME -- WILL PROCEED WITH
VOTING ON COUNCIL BILL 121211. I
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 121211. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. HAVE A SECOND. IT
HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
CLARK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, RAISE
YOUR HAND, YES OR NO?
>> AYE. SORRY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> VICE CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FIVE IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY,
COUNCIL BILL 121211 WILL BE SENT
TO THE JUNE 2nd FULL COUNCIL
MEETING. WITH THAT, WE WILL GO
INTO ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER
FIVE INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM FIVE, COUNCIL
BILL 121212 -- AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION -- AUTHORIZING THE
SUPERINTENDENT TO ENTER INTO A
TEN-YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE
MADISON PARK COOPERATIVE
PRESCHOOL TO OPERATE AND PROVIDE
MANAGEMENT OF THE MADISON BEACH
PARK BATHHOUSE. THERE WILL BE
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION, AND A
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> OKAY, SO, WE HAVE THE MADISON
PARK COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL FOLKS
IN OUR PUBLIC RECREATION FOLKS
HERE, I WILL LET YOU ALL
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AGAIN FOR
THE RECORD. CLERKS ALREADY
INTRODUCED IT, BUT GO AHEAD AND
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES, AND WE
WILL GO THERE -- OR, I SHOULD
SAY, WE HAD YOUR POWERPOINT WITH
US IN OUR SUMMARY AND FISCAL
NOTE, SO GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE TECH
SUPPORT. I AM MICHELE FINNEGAN,
SUPERINTENDENT WITH THE SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
>> I AM KATHLEEN GANTZ.
>> KARINA BULL ESSENTIAL STAFF.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
TODAY, WE WILL BE PRESENTING TWO
PIECES OF LEGISLATION FOR
COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOLS OPERATING
AT SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION
FACILITIES FOR THE TWO
FACILITIES WE WILL BE TALKING
ABOUT TODAY ARE LESS THAN 2500
SQUARE FOOT BUILDINGS, WHICH
KATHLEEN WILL GIVE A LITTLE BIT
OF HISTORY ABOUT, MOMENTARILY.
AS YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBERS,
SOMETIMES, THESE SMALLER
FACILITIES ARE HARDER FOR
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION TO
ACTIVATE, CONSISTENTLY. AND WE
ALSO HAVE NOT HAD A LOT OF
PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN THESE
FACILITIES OVER THE RECENT
YEARS. I AM PLEASED TO SHARE,
HOWEVER, THAT AS YOU HEAR MORE
ABOUT TODAY, THESE TWO
COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOLS HAVE BEEN
OPERATING CONSISTENTLY IN THESE
FACILITIES FOR MANY YEARS. THESE
ORGANIZATIONS POSITIVELY IMPACT
THE FACILITIES, AND ALSO PROVIDE
OUR EYES ON THE PARK, RAISING
POTENTIAL ISSUES TO KATHLEEN'S
TEAM, WHICH ARE PUBLIC BENEFITS
BEYOND WHAT YOU WILL ENUMERATE
IN THE PROPOSED CONTRACTS,
MOMENTARILY. WITH THAT, I WILL
TURN THIS OVER TO KATHLEEN TO
WALK YOU THROUGH THE DETAILS OF
THE PROPOSED CONTRACT AT MADISON
PARK COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL AT
MADISON BEACH.
>> IT'S A TONGUE TWISTER.
>> IT IS PAIRED
>> I SHOULD ADD THAT WE HAVE
YOUR 69 PAGE OPERATION AND USE
CONTRACT WITH US, AS WELL, WITH
YOUR POWERPOINT, SO THANK YOU
FOR DISTILLING THIS, INTO THIS.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> THEY GOT MUCH LONGER WHEN
THEY HAD TO BE DOUBLESPACED.
>> WELL, I APPRECIATE IT, SO
THANK YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> THE PURPOSE OF THIS
LEGISLATION, AS MICHELE SAID, IS
TO EXECUTE A NEW CONTRACT
BETWEEN MADISON PARK COOPERATIVE
PRESCHOOL AND THE CITY OF
SEATTLE BETWEEN SEATTLE PARKS
AND RECREATION. MADISON PARK
COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL PROVIDES
EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS AS WELL
AS COMMUNITY-BASED ACTIVITIES
FOR THE MADISON PARK
NEIGHBORHOOD. IN THIS
PRESENTATION, I WILL WALK YOU
THROUGH ALL THE DETAILS OF THIS
CONTRACT. SO, THE PRIMARY GOAL
OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO ENSURE
THAT THE PRESCHOOL PROVIDES
ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE EARLY
CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS TO THE
GREATER SEATTLE COMMUNITY. THEIR
PROGRAMS SERVE CHILDREN THROUGH
INFANCY, TO 5 YEARS OF AGE AND
HAVE PRESCHOOL CLASSES, PARENT
EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, AND
COMMUNITY EVENTS. IN ADDITION,
THE PRESCHOOL PLAYS AN IMPORTANT
ROLE IN PLAYING AND MAINTAINING
THE BATHHOUSE FACILITY, AND THE
SURROUNDING PARK. THEIR PROGRAMS
HELP SUPPORT THE BROADER MISSION
AND VALUES OF SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION. THE MADISON PARK
BATHHOUSE OPENED IN 1938 AND IS
A UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF EARLY, WOOD
FRAMED PUBLIC FACILITIES IN
SEATTLE. THE PRESCHOOL HAS A
LONG AND MEANINGFUL HISTORY TIED
TO THE MADISON BE -- BEACH PARK
BATHHOUSE, THIS STARTED IN 1970
AS A SMALL BABYSITTING
COOPERATIVE AND LATER EXPANDED.
BY 1986, FORMAL PRESCHOOL
OPERATIONS WERE ESTABLISHED IN
THE BUILDING. SINCE THEN, THEY
HAVE REMAINED A CONSISTENT
PRESENCE, CONTRIBUTING NOT ONLY
TO EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY
EVENTS, BUT ALSO TO THE
PRESERVATION AND USE OF THIS
HISTORIC SPACE. THE PUBLIC
PROCESS FOR THIS NEW CONTRACT
BEGAN IN 2024, WHEN A LETTER OF
INTEREST WAS PUBLISHED FOR THE
COMMUNITY. SPR RECEIVED ONLY ONE
RESPONSE FROM MADISON
COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL. SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION THEN
AWARDED THE NEW CONTRACT TO THE
PRESCHOOL AND BEGAN NEGOTIATIONS
IN THE SUMMER OF 2024.
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, THE
PRESCHOOL HAS CONTINUED OFFERING
ITS PROGRAMS THROUGH ITS
PREVIOUS CONTRACT. CURRENTLY,
THEY ARE SERVING APPROXIMATELY
130 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN
THEIR PROGRAMS. SO, THIS SLIDE
HIGHLIGHTS THE KEY TERMS OF THE
NEW CONTRACT. OVERALL, THE
AGREEMENT FOCUSES ON THE
PRESCHOOL ROLE AS THE OPERATOR
OF THE BATHHOUSE, PROVIDING
EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS AND
FAMILY EVENTS. IT ALSO
REINFORCES EXPECTATIONS AROUND
PROGRAM DELIVERY, FACILITY
UPKEEP, AND ALIGNMENT WITH CITY
GOALS. PRESCHOOL WILL BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR MINOR CUSTODIAL
MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITY,
WELL SPR WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
MOST MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDING
AND ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS. LABS. THE
NEW CONTRACT OUTLINES HOW
SOURCES ARE MANAGED TO KEEP
PROGRAMS AFFORDABLE WHILE
MAINTAINING THE FACILITY. THE
TABLE ON THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE
USE FEES AND REQUIRED PUBLIC
BENEFITS, AS OUTLINED IN THE
CONTRACT. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE
USE FEE IS THE CASH PAYMENT SPR
WILL RECEIVE FOR THE OPERATIONS.
WE WILL TOUCH ON PUBLIC BENEFIT
ON THE NEXT SLIDE. WITH REGULAR
INCREASES EVERY TWO YEARS, WE
ARE ABLE TO FOCUS ON BALANCING
AFFORDABILITY FOR FAMILIES WITH
THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE
PROGRAM AND THE BUILDING. WE
WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS REMAIN
FINANCIALLY ACCESSIBLE WHILE
REMAINING STEWARDS OF THIS
COMMUNITY.
>> CAN I STOP YOU FOR ONE
SECOND? CAN YOU GO BACK TO PAGE
SEVEN, REALLY FAST? ME AND MY
CHIEF OF STAFF, KELLY, WERE
GOING BACK AND FORTH ON THESE
NUMBERS TO MAKE SURE WE
UNDERSTOOD THEM. SO, THAT
$274,800, IS THAT THE TOTAL --
IT SAYS, "TWO YEAR TOTAL."
>> THAT IS THE 10 YEAR TERM
TOTAL.
>> THAT IS THE 10 YEAR? OKAY,
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. IT'S --
OKAY. SO, YOU DO THE TWO YEAR
UNTIL YOU GET TO THE VERY END,
AND THEN AFTER 10 YEARS, THIS
WOULD BE THE PUBLIC BENEFIT
TOTAL, 274 $800,000 PER
>> THAT IS THE TOTAL, CASH IN
PUBLIC BENEFIT.
>> FOR 10 YEARS?
>> CORRECT.
>> FOR 30 KIDS?
>> 130 --
>> 130 KIDS?
>> OR MORE, AS THE YEARS EXPAND.
>> OKAY, THAT IS WHAT WE WERE
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, ON THE
CARE SIDE, AND WHAT IT WOULD BE
AT THE END OF 10 YEARS, SO THIS
IS THE NUMBER AFTER 10 YEARS?
>> CORRECT. INSTEAD OF DOING
CPI, WHICH IS UNKNOWING AND HARD
FOR THEM TO PLAN FOR, WE DID
THIS KIND OF INCREASE, SO THAT
THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO
EXPECT.
>> OKAY, BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING
AT -- OKAY. SO, WHEN WE GET TO
PAGE EIGHT, THEN, I WILL LET YOU
GET THROUGH EIGHT, BECAUSE THERE
IS A COUPLE QUESTIONS WE HAD ON
THAT ONE, AS WELL.
>> OKAY. SO, PUBLIC BENEFITS ARE
AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT TO MANY OF
SPR'S FACILITY CONTRACTS. THEY
ALLOW NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO
PLAY PAY A VERSION OF THE USE
FEE BY PROVIDING RESOURCES TO
THE COMMUNITY AND FOR CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT TO THE FACILITY.
ANNALEE, GROUPS HAVE A PUBLIC
BENEFIT PLAN FOR THE COMING YEAR
AND THEN A REPORT FOR THE PRIOR
YEAR. THE REPORTS MONETIZE THE
PUBLIC BENEFITS PROVIDED TO
ENSURE THEY REACH THE REQUIRED
AMOUNT THAT IS IDENTIFIED IN THE
CONTRACT. THE AMOUNT REQUIRED
FOR MADISON PARK STARTS AT $9600
ANNUALLY AND IS ADJUSTED EVERY
TWO YEARS, AS WAS SHOWN ON THE
PREVIOUS SLIDE. THE CONTRACT
TEAM WITHIN SPR READS REVIEWS
AND WORKS WITH OUR CONTRACTORS
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MEET THE
REQUIRED AMOUNT AND PROVIDE TRUE
PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT MEET THE
NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES SERVED.
IN THE CONTRACT, THE PRESCHOOL
HAS PUT TOGETHER A PLAN THAT
INCLUDES ITEMS THAT THEY MAY
PROVIDE IN ANY GIVEN YEAR. THIS
IS A MENU OF SORTS THAT ALLOWS
THEM TO BUILD THE ANNUAL PLANS
FROM THIS PROJECT. IF THE
PRESCHOOL WAS TO PROVIDE
EVERYTHING ON THE PLAN EVERY
YEAR, THEY WOULD FAR EXCEED
THEIR FINANCIAL REQUIREMENT. THE
CONTRACTS TEAM HAS WORKED
CLOSELY WITH THE PRESCHOOL TO
DEVELOP THE PLAN AND THE
CONTRACT TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN
MEET THE FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
OF THE CONTRACT, AND THE NEEDS
OF THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE. SO,
MADISON PARK COOPERATIVE
PRESCHOOL PROVIDES NUMEROUS
PUBLIC BENEFITS, ANNUALLY, THE
PRESCHOOL IS PROVIDED $15,000 IN
SCHOLARSHIPS TO CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES TO ENSURE THAT
PRESCHOOL AND THEIR PROGRAMMING
IS ATTAINABLE AND THEY PLAN TO
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS
AT THIS LEVEL, AS NEEDED. THEY
SERVED FAMILIES FROM ALL OVER
THE GREATER SEATTLE AREA,
INCLUDING MADISON PARK, CAPITOL
HILL, THE CENTRAL DISTRICT, AND
THE RANIER VALLEY. IN ADDITION
TO PRESCHOOL, THEY PROVIDE FREE
COMMUNITY EVENTS AND PARENT
EDUCATION FOR BOTH ARE ENROLLED
FAMILIES AND THE GREATER SEATTLE
COMMUNITY, WHILE ALSO PARTNERING
WITH CO-OP PRESCHOOLS SUCH AS
VICTORY HEIGHTS, RAINIER VALLEY,
AND WHITE CENTER, AND THE
NONPROFITS, FRIENDS OF THE
CHILDREN OF SEATTLE AND REFUGEE
WOMEN'S ALLIANCE. IN SUPPORT OF
THEIR PARTNERS, THEY ALSO HAVE
DRIVES TO PROVIDE SCHOOL
SUPPLIES, CLOTHING, AND BASIC
NEEDS FOR UNDERSERVED CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES PARTICIPATING IN
THESE PRESCHOOLS AND NONPROFIT
PROGRAMS. IF THEY WERE TO
PROVIDE ALL PROPOSED ACTIVITIES
IN ONE YEAR, THEY WOULD HAVE
OVER $40,000 IN PUBLIC BENEFIT.
AS FUNDS ALLOW, THE PRESCHOOL
ALSO PLANS TO PROVIDE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BATHHOUSE,
WHICH MAY INCLUDE PAINTING AND
REPLACING FLOORING AND
CABINETRY. THEIR FIRST FOCUS
REMAINS ON THE CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES THEY SERVE, BUT, WHEN
POSSIBLE, THEY WANT TO SUPPORT
THE GREATER COMMUNITY IN HELPING
TO MAINTAIN THE FACILITY AND
CREATING A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT
FOR ALL THOSE WHO USE THE PARK.
AND FINALLY, THE PRESCHOOL
ENSURES CONTINUED CARE AND USE
OF A HISTORIC PUBLIC FACILITY,
KEEPING IT ACTIVE AND ACCESSIBLE
TO THE COMMUNITY. HAVING EYES ON
THE COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING
PARK, CONTRIBUTES FURTHER TO THE
PUBLIC BENEFIT IN THIS CONTRACT.
>> SO, THE QUESTION I HAD -- AND
I THINK HE ANSWERED IT -- SO, IN
2025 -- I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT
PAGE OF THE CONTRACT, MAYBE 65?
CAN'T REMEMBER. BUT, THERE IS
$60,000, FOR THESE QUARTER
SCHOLARSHIPS THAT ADD UP TO
$15,000?
>> THAT IS THE ANNUAL AMOUNT,
SO, THEY HAVE FOUR QUARTERS,
FALL, WINTER, SUMMER, SPRING --
I DID THAT OUT OF ORDER [
LAUGHTER ] -- AND WITHIN THAT
FULL YEAR, THEY HAVE PROVIDED
$15,000, THAT IS THEIR CURRENT
AMOUNT.
>> OKAY, AND THANK YOU FOR
FOLLOWING THIS -- WHEN WE GET TO
VICTORY HEIGHTS, I SEE THAT YOU
FOLLOWED THE SAME FORMAT, SO
THANK YOU FOR THAT. WITH THAT,
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES, REGARDING THE
MADISON BEACH BATHHOUSE,
COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL? AND
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE
SUMMARY, AND FISCAL NOTE, AND
POWERPOINT, AND THE OPERATION
AND USE CONTRACT. OH -- A
PERSON. HELLO.
>> HELLO.
>> DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> I JUST CAME FOR A QUICK
COMMENT BECAUSE I KNOW THE
AGENDA ITEM IS PACKED, THANK YOU
FOR HAVING THIS ON YOUR AGENDA,
THANKS TO SEATTLE PARKS
DEPARTMENT FOR SENDING THIS
DOWN. JUST IN SUPPORT OF THE
PRESCHOOL, AND IT IS A REALLY
BIG ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY. I
KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SEND
THEIR CHILDREN THERE AND JUST
REALLY GRATEFUL THAT THIS IS ON
THE DOCKET AND JUST WANTED TO
LEND MY SUPPORT TO MY COLLEAGUES
THAT THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO
MY COMMUNITY. THANK YOU PEERED
>> ALSO, YOU ARE REPRESENTING D3
AND THIS IS IN D3.
>> CORRECT. THIS IS CORRECT.
THIS IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS? OKAY, I'M NOT SEEING
ANY. OH, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I JUST
WANTED TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR THE
BRIEFING. AND AS SOMEONE, AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE, WHO CAME INTO
THIS JOB FROM BEING A
STAY-AT-HOME DAD, I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE SERVICE, AND I AM
A LITTLE BIT JEALOUS, IN TERMS
OF THE BRIEFING, LIKE, ON SLIDE
FIVE -- THANK YOU FOR THE
NUMBERS -- IT LOOKS TO BE
FANTASTIC. I AM A LITTLE BIT
JEALOUS ABOUT HOW NICE OF A
SPACE THAT IS FOR THE CHILDREN
AND IT IS FANTASTIC. AND I DO
LIKE THE POINT ABOUT ACTIVATING
THE AREA, I THINK THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, SO I JUST -- YOU
KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO REMARK ON
THAT, SO THANK YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATION.
>> YEAH, SO, SINCE 1958, THEY
HAVE BEEN AROUND?
>> WELL, THE HISTORY IS HISTORY
AND IT IS A LITTLE CONVOLUTED.
SO -- [ LAUGHTER ] THAT'S WHAT
WE KNOW. [ LAUGHTER ]
>> THE '70s, I DON'T REMEMBER
THE '70s. I WASN'T BORN. SO --
>> ALL RIGHT. NOT SEEING ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS. I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF
COUNCIL BILL 121212, IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
PASSAGE OF THE BILL. ANY OTHER
COMMENTS? I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
THANK COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH FOR JOINING US,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? VICE
CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FOUR IN
FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION PARRIES
AND COUNCIL BILL 121212 WILL BE
SENT TO THE JUNE 2nd FULL CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR
SHOWING UP IN PUBLIC COMMENT AND
DOING THE JAZZ HANDS. IT'S
REALLY, REALLY NICE. INSTEAD OF
SCREAMING AT US. I APPRECIATE
THAT. ALL RIGHT, WE WILL NOW
MOVE OUR NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS,
ITEM NUMBER SIX, MR. CLERK, CAN
YOU PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER SIX
INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM SIX, COUNCIL BILL
121213 -- AUTHORIZING SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION TO ENTER
INTO A CONTRACT WITH VICTORY
HEIGHTS PRESCHOOL, AND PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT WITH VICTORY HEIGHTS
SHELTER HOUSE, THERE WILL BE
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> LET'S HEAR IT FOR VICTORY
HEIGHTS! I THOUGHT I WAS GOING
TO DO IT.
>> YES, LET'S HEAR IT FOR
VICTORY HEIGHTS, D5! AGAIN,
THANK YOU FOR THE FORMAT AND
DOING IT EXACTLY THE SAME AND I
AM SURE MICHELE HAS SOMETHING TO
DO WITH THIS BECAUSE SHE KNOWS
HOW WE FEEL ABOUT CHRONOLOGIES,
AND PAGE NUMBERS, AND ATTACHING
THE FISCAL NOTE -- GOODBYE,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT!
>> BIG PAGE NUMBERS SO I CAN SEE
THEM, TOO. [ LAUGHTER ] YES. OUR
SECOND PRESENTATION TODAY IS
SIMILAR TO THE FIRST, BUT WITH A
DIFFERENT FACILITY IN D5 AND
DIFFERENT CONTRACTOR, SO I WILL
LET KATHLEEN WALK YOU THROUGH
OUR VICTORY HEIGHTS SHELTER
HOUSE AGREEMENT.
>> SO, WHILE THESE ARE BOTH
COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOLS IN OUR
FACILITIES, THEY ARE UNIQUE
OPERATIONS IN PROGRAMS, I JUST
WANTED TO BRING THAT TO
EVERYONE'S ATTENTION. THEY DO
ALSO PROVIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD
PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PRESCHOOL
AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND I WILL
WALK YOU THROUGH THE DETAILS OF
THE CONTRACT. THE PRIMARY GOAL
OF THIS CONTRACT, IS TO MAKE
SURE THAT VICTORY HEIGHTS
PRESCHOOL PROVIDES EARLY
CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN
IN THE VICTORY HEIGHTS
NEIGHBORHOOD AND SURROUNDING
SEATTLE COMMUNITY. THEIR
PROGRAMS SERVE CHILDREN THROUGH
INFANCY TO AGE 5. IN ADDITION TO
PRESCHOOL, THEY OFFER FREE
COMMUNITY EVENTS WHICH ARE OPEN
TO THE PUBLIC, SUPPORTING
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND
PROVIDING FREE AND FUN
OPPORTUNITIES. THEY ALSO PLAY AN
IMPORTANT ROLE IN MAINTAINING
AND CARING FOR THE SHELTER HOUSE
FACILITY AND THE SURROUNDING
PARK AND THEIR PROGRAMS ALSO
SUPPORT THE BROADER VISION AND
VALUES OF SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION. THE VICTORY HEIGHTS
SHELTER HOUSE WAS CONSTRUCTED IN
1938, WHEN THE AREA WAS STILL
PART OF UNINCORPORATED KING
COUNTY, AND IN THE 1950s, A
PRESCHOOL BEGAN OPERATING OUT OF
THE FACILITY, PROVIDING PROGRAMS
TO THE COMMUNITY. IN 1954, THE
PROPERTY WAS ACQUIRED BY SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION, AND SINCE
AT LEAST 1988, VICTORY HEIGHTS
COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL HAS HELD A
FORMAL CONTRACT WITH THE CITY TO
OPERATE IN THE SHELTER HOUSE.
THIS LONG HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS
BOTH DISABILITY OF THE PROGRAM
AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE
COMMUNITY. THE PUBLIC PROCESS
BEGAN IN 2024 WHEN WE ISSUED A
LETTER OF INTEREST. SPR
RECEIVED, AGAIN, ONLY ONE
RESPONSE, FROM VICTORY HEIGHTS
COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL. FOLLOWING
THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROCESS,
WE AWARDED THE CONTRACT TO THE
PRESCHOOL AND BEGAN NEGOTIATIONS
IN THE SUMMER OF 2024, AND THEY
HAVE ALSO BEEN CONTINUING THEIR
PROGRAMS THROUGH THEIR PREVIOUS
CONTRACTS. AND THEY ARE
CURRENTLY SERVING 42 STUDENTS IN
THEIR PROGRAM. SO, THIS SLIDE
HIGHLIGHTS THE KEY TERMS OF THE
NEW CONTRACT. THE CONTRACT
FOCUSES ON MAINTAINING THE
PRESCHOOL ROLE AS OPERATING THE
SHELTER HOUSE WHILE PROVIDING
EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS FOR THE
10 YEAR TERM. IT ALSO FORCES
EXPECTATIONS AROUND PROGRAM
DELIVERY, FACILITY UPKEEP, AND
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY GOALS. THE
PRESCHOOL WILL BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR MINOR AND CUSTODIAL
MAINTENANCE AT THE FACILITY AND
SPR WILL REMAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR
ALL MAJOR MAINTENANCE. THE NEW
CONTRACT OUTLINES HOW RESOURCES
ARE MANAGED TO KEEP RESOURCES
AFFORDABLE WHILE KEEPING THE
FACILITY. THE TABLE ON THIS
SLIDE SHOWS THE USE FEES AND
REQUIRED PUBLIC BENEFITS, AS
OUTLINED IN THE CONTRACT. AND
AGAIN, THE USE FEE IS OUR CASH
PAYMENT. WE WILL TOUCH ON PUBLIC
BENEFITS, NEXT. WITH REGULAR
INCREASES EVERY TWO YEARS, WE
ARE ABLE TO FOCUS ON BALANCING
THE PORTABILITY FOR FAMILIES
WITH THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE
PROGRAM AND THE BUILDING. AS
DESCRIBED IN THE MEDICINE PARK
PRESENTATION, VICTORY HEIGHTS
HAS PUT TOGETHER A PUBLIC
BENEFITS PLAN FOR THIS PROJECT.
THE PROJECT TEAM WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE
PRESCHOOL TO ENSURE THEIR PLAN
AND REPORTS MEET THE REQUIRED
AMOUNT. FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS
OF THE PROJECT, THAT AMOUNT IS
$13,200 ANNUALLY AND INCREASES
EVERY TWO YEARS, AS INDICATED IN
THE PREVIOUS SLIDE. VICTORY
HEIGHTS' CONTACT DELIVERS A
PLAN THAT EXPANDS ACCESS TO
PROGRAMS. THE PRESCHOOL HAS
PROVIDED OVER $2000 ANNUALLY IN
SCHOLARSHIPS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES
AND MAKE PRESCHOOL ACCESSIBLE.
THEIR GOAL IS TO NEVER TURN A
CHILD AWAY DUE TO FINANCIAL
ISSUES. THIS AMOUNT MAY
FLUCTUATE, BASED ON THE NEED
OVER THE TERM OF THIS CONTRACT.
THEY ALSO PROVIDE FREE COMMUNITY
EVENTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC,
CREATING A STRONG SENSE OF
NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY. THE
ESTIMATE IS THAT THEY WILL
PROVIDE APPROXIMATELY $12,000 IN
FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS ANNUALLY.
ONGOING STEWARDSHIP OF THE
SHELTER HOUSE AND PARK ARE
IMPORTANT TO THE PRESCHOOL, THIS
INCLUDES VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES IN
THE PARK AND CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FACILITY, AS
FINANCES ALLOW. VOLUNTEER HOURS
ARE MONETIZED WITH AN HOURLY
RATE PROVIDED BY THE INDEPENDENT
SECTOR ANNUAL REPORT, AND ARE AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THE PUBLIC
BENEFITS FOR THE PRESCHOOL. AND
FINALLY, HAVING EYES ON THE
FACILITY AND SURROUNDING PARK
CONTRIBUTES FURTHER TO THE
PUBLIC BENEFITS IN THIS
CONTRACT.
>> SO, LET ME ASK YOU THIS, JUST
SO I AM CLEAR. AND I THINK WE
ASKED YOU THIS ON PAGE EIGHT.
SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED ANNUALLY.
PAGE 59 OF YOUR CONTRACT FOR
2025, 22 STUDENTS?
>> CORRECT. THIS IS A LITTLE
DIFFERENT. SO, VICTORY HEIGHTS
TAPS INTO THE PACKED
SCHOLARSHIPS, WHICH GOES INTO
THE CO-OP, OVERARCHING THROUGH
NORTH SEATTLE. SO, THEY ARE
OFFSETTING WHAT THESE OTHER
SCHOLARSHIPS AREN'T ABLE TO
PROVIDE POINT YOU MAKE OKAY.
>> YEAH, SO, IT'S A MISSING
PIECE. THEY DON'T COUNT THAT IN
THEIR PUBLIC BENEFITS, BECAUSE
THEY ARE NOT PAYING THAT. SO,
THAT IS WHY THAT NUMBER LOOKS
LOW. BUT, IN FACT, THEY HAVE A
LARGER NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIP
STUDENTS.
>> AND I WANT TO THANK OUR CHIEF
OF STAFF, KELLY, WHO FIGURED
THAT OUT FOR ME.
>> CORRECT, WE HAD THAT
DISCUSSION THIS MORNING.
>> THANK YOU, THAT'S JUST THE
CLARIFICATION WE NEEDED ON THE
PUBLIC BENEFIT PIECE, SO THANK
YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU
WANTED TO ASK, BEFORE I ASK MY
COLLEAGUES IF THEY HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS?
>> I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THOSE
QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES?
ALL RIGHT, I AM NOT SEEING ANY
QUESTIONS. SO, AFTER THAT, THEN,
WHAT I AM GOING TO DO, IS I AM
GOING TO MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 121213, THE VICTORY HEIGHTS
SHELTERHOUSE PRE-K. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED FOR PASSAGE OF THE
BILL, NOT SEEING ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS. CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> VICE CHAIR KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FIVE VOTES
IN FAVOR, AND ZERO OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES, COUNCIL
BILL 121213 WILL BE SENT TO THE
JUNE 2nd, 2026 FULL COUNCIL
MEETING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. CLERK, PLEASE
READ ITEM NUMBER SEVEN INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM SEVEN --
RESOLUTION 32204 -- A RESOLUTION
RELATING TO DATA CENTERS --
RECOGNIZING THE POTENTIAL OF
LONG-TERM IMPACTS OF DATA
CENTERS ON ELECTRICAL GRID
CAPACITY AND RELIABILITY, WATER
USAGE, UTILITY RATES, LAND USE
AND DEVELOPMENT, JOBS AND THE
ECONOMY, AND PUBLIC HEALTH --
AND REQUESTING ENGAGEMENT AND
COOPERATION FROM THE EXECUTIVE
IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATA
CENTER POLICIES AND POTENTIAL
LEGISLATION -- AND ANTICIPATES
RELATED LEGISLATIVE ACTION.
THERE WILL BE BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE WE BEGIN,
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, ERIC,
FOR BEING HERE AND WORKING WITH
OUR OFFICE ON THE DATA CENTER,
AND OF COURSE, YOU SAT HERE
DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, SO YOU
HEARD A LOT. I WILL TAKE THE
CHAIR'S PRIVILEGE HERE AND MAKE
A COUPLE COMMENTS, THEN WE WILL
GO INTO THE RESOLUTION WHICH
AGAIN, WE ARE NOT VOTING ON. AND
I WANT TO THANK YOU NOT ONLY
AGAIN FOR THE POWERPOINT, BUT
THE RESOLUTION, AND THE SUMMARY,
AND THE FISCAL NOTE. THE
COMMENTS I WANT TO MAKE OUR
THAT, IT IS A RESOLUTION AND WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR
HER, I DON'T KNOW, SINCE THE
BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. I AM
GOING TO SAVE SOME OF MY
COMMENTS FOR WHEN WE ACTUALLY GO
THROUGH THE QUESTIONS AGAIN, AND
GO TO A VOTE, BECAUSE I THINK
THERE ARE A FEW ISSUES I WILL
ASK YOU AS YOU GO THROUGH YOUR
PRESENTATION THAT I THINK WE
PROBABLY NEED TO ADD TO THE
POWERPOINT. IN THE RESOLUTION
ITSELF -- AND I KNOW YOU WILL GO
THROUGH THIS -- WE COVER SIX
TOPICS, THE ELECTRICAL GRID,
WATER USAGE, UTILITY RATES, LAND
USE AND DEVELOPMENT, THE
ECONOMY, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND THEN
WE HEARD OF A BUNCH OF OTHER
ISSUES, AS WELL, FROM PEOPLE WHO
EITHER WORK IN THE TECH INDUSTRY
-- AND ARE PROBABLY A LOT MORE
SAVVY THAN I AM -- AND SO, WE
DID OUR FIVE-PAGE RESOLUTION.
SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, WHEN
WE GET THERE, AND I WANT TO
THANK YOU, ERIC, IS I DO WANT TO
INCLUDE, EVEN THOUGH WE DO HAVE
IT IN THE RECITALS, TRIBALLY
PROTECTED TREATING RIGHTS TO
FISH IN WATER AND THOSE
PARTICULAR WATERSHEDS AND THAT
WOULD PROBABLY BRING US TO SEVEN
EMERGENT TOPICS IN THE RECITALS
AND ALSO IN THE SECTION, IN THE
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED. SO,
WITH THAT, I WILL LET YOU GO
AHEAD AND WALK US THROUGH THIS,
AND THEN I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU. GO
AHEAD, ERIC, THANK YOU.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. I ERIC
McCONAGHY WITH COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF, AT CHAIR, WHAT I WILL SAY
BACK TO YOU, WHAT I AM HEARING
FROM YOU IS THAT MAYBE THERE
WILL BE AN AMENDMENT OFFERED
THAT WILL CHANGE THIS RESOLUTION
BEFORE THE ACTUAL VOTE,
ACCORDING TO THE TOPIC THAT YOU
JUST OUTLINED? I WANT TO MAKE
SURE I CAPTURED THAT IDEA.
>> THANK YOU.
>> TWO, JUST KIND OF REORIENTS
US TO THE RESOLUTION THAT IS
BEFORE US. THERE IS, OF COURSE,
THE DATA CENTER MORATORIUM,
FOLKS HAVE TALKED TO THAT TODAY,
THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM THIS
RESOLUTION, BUT THEY WERE
DRAFTED COGNIZANT WITH EACH
OTHER, AND ONE LEADS TO THE
OTHER. THE DATA CENTER
RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF YOU WOULD
RECOGNIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR THE
PROLIFERATION OF DATA CENTERS TO
SPECIFICALLY IMPACT SEATTLE IN
REGARD TO POLICY AND REGULATION.
AND IN THE FACE OF THAT VERY
REAL IMPACT THAT COUNCIL IS
RECEIVING, IT WOULD -- IT WOULD
REQUEST, WITH THE EXECUTIVE,
WITH THE MAYOR AND ALL THE
DEPARTMENTS, ENGAGEMENT AND
COOPERATION IN THAT THE
DEVELOPMENT OF DATA CENTER
POLICIES, AND POTENTIAL
LEGISLATION, TO GOVERN DATA
CENTERS. AND ALSO, ANTICIPATE
SOME RELATIVE LEGISLATIVE
ACTION, AND THAT BEING THE
MORATORIUM WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT,
AND WE EXPECT THIS SUMMER, FROM
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, A NEW RATE
THAT WOULD BE FOR A RATE CLASS
FOR DATA CENTERS AND THE
RESOLUTION CALLS THAT OUT. SO,
THAT IS THE KIND OF HIGH LEVEL
AND I WILL STEP THROUGH THE
PRESENTATION. SO, JUST TO
DESCRIBE HOW DATA CENTERS ARE
DEFINED IN THE RESOLUTION, THESE
ARE FACILITIES PRIMARILY FOR
HOUSING, OR CO-LOCATING COMMUTE
-- COMPUTER AND COMMUNICATIONS
EQUIPMENT. THEY HANDLE, STORE,
MANAGE, PROCESS, AND BACKUP ALL
KINDS OF DIGITAL DATA. AND THEN,
ALL OF THE ASSOCIATED
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS NECESSARY
FOR THOSE SYSTEMS TO COOL THEM,
BACK THEM UP, PROVIDE BATTERY
STORAGE. JUST AS YOU MENTIONED,
CHAIR JUAREZ, THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF ITEMS THAT ARE CALLED OUT, AS
POTENTIAL KINDS OF LONG-TERM
IMPACTS. MAINLY, THE ELECTRICAL
GRID CAPACITY AND RELIABILITY,
WATER USAGE, UTILITY RATES, LAND
USE AND DEVELOPMENT, JOBS AND
THE ECONOMY, AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND LIKE YOU JUST MENTIONED,
TALKING ABOUT IMPACTS TO TRIBES,
TRIBAL RIGHTS, THAT ARE A PART
OF THIS WHOLE PICTURE.
>> YEAH, PROBABLY TREATY
PROTECTED FISHING RIGHTS FOR
SALMON AND WATER, WHICH WILL
REQUIRE CONSULTATION, BUT WE CAN
TALK MORE ABOUT THAT. SO --
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AND TO BE CLEAR,
THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN
THE MORATORIUM -- IT IS A HIGHER
LEVEL, SOMETHING LIKE, THE WORK
THAT WOULD BE A PART OF THE
MORATORIUM WORKPLAN SORT OF
TALKS INTO THE NOTIONS THAT ARE
IN THIS RESOLUTION. AND SO,
IT'S ABOUT DEVELOPING GUIDING
POLICY TO SUPPORT POTENTIAL
LEGISLATION. FOR EXAMPLE, THE
KINDS OF THINGS THAT MAY IMPACT
A LAND-USE THAT WOULD GUIDE
DECISIONS ON CITY LIGHT RATES.
THAT COULD POTENTIALLY GUIDE
BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS. AND ALSO,
DEPARTMENT ACTIONS. HOW THE CITY
WOULD SPEND SOME MONEY TO WORK
WITH, AND USE DATA CENTERS, BUT
ALSO, HOW TO, YOU KNOW, MONITOR
THESE THINGS GOING FORWARD. THE
RESOLUTION DOES NOT LAY OUT THAT
PLAN, BUT IT DOES CALL FOR THOSE
KINDS OF ACTIONS TO COORDINATE.
YEAH, AND THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE
OR MITIGATE THOSE SERIOUS
EFFECTS, TO HOLD DATA CENTER
OPERATORS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE
COSTS AND EFFECTS OF THEIR
OPERATIONS, AND IT DOES SAY TO
HARVEST AND MAXIMIZE ANY
BENEFITS OF DATA CENTER
DEVELOPMENT OPERATION IN
RECOGNITION OF THAT REAL
POTENTIAL. AND I MENTIONED THE
ANTICIPATED LEGISLATION, SO THIS
SLIDE IS JUST TO KEEP US HONEST
ABOUT THAT. AND WITH THAT, WE
ARE TO THE QUESTIONS SLIDE.
HOPEFULLY, I DIDN'T RATTLE
THROUGH THAT TOO QUICKLY. I AM
HAPPY TO GO BACK AND COVER ANY
OF THOSE TOPICS AGAIN, ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THERE'S TWO THINGS I WANT TO
SAY, THEN I WILL OPEN IT UP TO
MY COLLEAGUES. I THOUGHT I
FLAGGED IT IN THE RESOLUTION,
BUT DIDN'T WE PUT LANGUAGE IN
HERE, IN WORKING WITH THE
EXECUTIVE? BUT, I THOUGHT THAT
WE HAD LANGUAGE IN HERE TO WORK
CLOSELY WITH THE EXECUTIVE ON
THESE TYPE OF DATA CENTERS AND
POTENTIAL POLICY, AND ET CETERA?
DIDN'T -- WHAT PAGES THAT, ON
THE RESOLUTION?
>> SO, IT WOULD BE -- I CALL IT
BY SECTION, BECAUSE I'M NOT
SURE -- WELL, PAGE FOUR AND FIVE
IN THIS PACKET IS SECTION 2. AND
I CAN READ IT VERBATIM, IF YOU
LIKE.
>> OKAY, I SEE IT, NOW.
>> IT SAYS, "IN RECOGNITION OF
POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF DATA
CENTERS AND AS ELECTED STEWARDS
OF HEALTH, SAFETY, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL WELFARE FOR THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE, THIS COUNCIL
REQUESTS THE COOPERATION OF THE
EXECUTIVE ACROSS THE DEPARTMENTS
WITH A TIMELY DEVELOPMENT TO THE
SPRING LEGISLATION AND
DEPARTMENT ACTIONS," AND THEN IT
TALKS ABOUT THOSE THINGS THAT I
MENTIONED WITH REGARD TO DATA
CENTERS.
>> AND YOU ARE RIGHT AND WHAT I
DID IS I HAD FLAGGED IT IN THE
SUMMARY AND FISCAL NOTE ON PAGE
ONE, SO THAT IS WHERE I HAD
COOPERATION EXECUTIVE, SO THANK
YOU FOR TAKING THAT LANGUAGE AND
PUTTING IT RIGHT INTO THE
RESOLUTION, THAT OBVIOUSLY, WE
INTEND TO WORK WITH A LAND-USE
COMMITTEE, OBVIOUSLY, ON THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, BUT ALSO
WORK WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH,
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, THE CITY
FAMILY, TO KNOW WHAT WE KNOW AND
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW, AND THEN
FORWARD LOOKING. AND THEN, THE
OTHER ISSUE, WELL, THEN, I AM
GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO MY
COLLEAGUES BECAUSE I KNOW THEY
HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND I WILL
DO SOME FOLLOW-UP. SO, WITH
THAT, COLLEAGUES? COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, DID YOU HAVE -- YES, YOU
DO HAVE YOUR HAND UP. I AM RIGHT
HERE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO
THAT. [ LAUGHTER ] YOU CAN JUST
--
>> HABIT.
>> GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. VICE CHAIR.
>> YES, VICE CHAIR. THANK YOU,
CHAIR, AND THANK YOU, MR.
McCONAGHY FOR THE PRESENTATION,
AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ADDRESS THIS PRETTY THINK THIS
IS SUPER IMPORTANT FOR US, AS A
CITY, TO TAKE A STAND, TO
UNDERSTAND, WHAT ARE THE
CONSIDERATIONS, AND FOR US TO
HAVE OUR VOICE, AND TO ECHO THE
VOICES OF CROSS THE COMMUNITY
HERE, THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS --
WE HAVE TWO, THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE -- AND IT IS SUPER
IMPORTANT THAT WE DO SO AND ONE
OF THE THINGS, I THINK, THAT WE
ALSO NEED TO DO IS, YOU KNOW,
GET TO THE POINT, YOU KNOW, SOME
OF WHICH WERE RAISED TODAY, AND
HIGHLIGHT, ALSO, SPECIFICALLY,
THE DATA CENTERS SUCH AS THE
HYPERSCALER, WHICH IS A TERM
THAT WAS USED TODAY,
LARGE-SCALE, AND THEN THERE WAS
ALSO A.I. DATA CENTERS, WITH --
A.I. IN THE SENSE IS ANOTHER
VERSION OF LARGE OR HYPER SCALE
BECAUSE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF
THE AIP'S TO THIS. REALLY
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE
IMPACTS, FIRST, TO SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT TO THE POINT YOU RAISED IN
YOUR BRIEFING IN TERMS OF
ELECTRICAL POWER AND THE ABILITY
TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, BALANCE THE
NEEDS, THE RATES -- BUT ALSO,
YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN DO AND
MINDFUL OF WHERE WE WILL BE IN
THE FUTURE, WITH REGARD TO
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT. THERE'S A
LOT OF PRESSURES ON CITY LIGHT
IN TERMS OF TRANSMISSION, BUT
ALSO THE GENERATION, WHERE WE
GET IT FROM, THE MARKET. SO, IT
IS VERY COMPLICATED, BOTTOM
LINE. SO, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND
THESE PIECES AND I THINK IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO KIND OF STEP
THROUGH THESE ELEMENTS, RELATED
TO SEATTLE CITY LIGHT BUT ALSO
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES. THIS
GOES TO THE QUESTION, OR POINTS
MADE, IN THE EARLIER PUBLIC
COMMENT AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN AND
READ IN OTHER LOCATIONS IS THE
WATER IN PACKS. AND ON THIS
POINT, BY THE WAY, RELATED TO
WATER, I THINK IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, CHAIR, HAS BROUGHT UP
THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS BECAUSE
YOU KIND OF TEND TO FORGET,
CHAIR, AND WE SHOULDN'T FORGET,
BECAUSE WE ARE NOT THE ONLY
PLAYERS IN THIS. AND SO, THIS
ALSO SEPARATELY HIGHLIGHTS THE
NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHO THE
STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS, BECAUSE
THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS. YOU
KNOW, AND PART OF THIS, TOO, IN
TERMS OF THAT, IS OTHER LEVELS
OF GOVERNMENT, BECAUSE THE
SYSTEM IS NOT -- IT IS THE
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT BUT THE
SYSTEM IS MUCH WIDER AND BROADER
THAN THE JURISDICTION OF THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, SO THE WATER
PIECES, FOR EXAMPLE, THEN LEADS
INTO -- I AM USING DEPARTMENTS
AS MY MEANS TO DO THIS, BUT
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT, AND PARKS AND
RECREATION. BUT, WE JUST HAD A
BRIEFING ON THE ENDANGERED
SPECIES LAND DEED ACCEPTANCE
ORDINANCE. THE WATER PIECE IS
HUGE ON THIS, RELATED TO
ENDANGERED SPECIES THAT ARE OUT
THERE. AND AGAIN, WE HAVE TO
WALK THROUGH THESE PIECES. BUT,
THEN, THERE IS ALSO DEAL. AS I
NOTED EARLIER, ON AN EARLIER
AGENDA ITEM, I CAME INTO THIS
JOB FROM BEING A STAY-AT-HOME
PARENT, SO STILL RATHER YOUNG
AND I HAVE SEEN THIS TRANSITION,
THIS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
PIECE. SO, ON THE ONE HAND, WE
PASSED THE EDUCATION LEVY, AND
WE SAW WHAT STEELE IS TRYING TO
DO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ON THE
FLIPSIDE, WE HAD AN OLDER
GENTLEMAN, AND A LADY -- I
BELIEVE FROM AUSTRALIA, IF I
RECOGNIZE THE ACCENT -- SPEAKING
TO THIS PIECE, WHICH IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, IN TERMS OF, YOU
KNOW, WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE? AND AGAIN, AS A
PARENT OF A RELATIVELY YOUNG
CHILD, I SEE THIS ON A REGULAR
BASIS. BUT, ALSO, THERE IS ALSO
OED IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, AND I THROW IN OIR
BECAUSE OF THE TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS PIECE, BUT WE ALSO
NEED TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY,
AND THE STATE, AS WELL. AS WE DO
THIS, I THINK IT IS ALSO VERY
IMPORTANT THAT WE ALSO LOOK AT
TRADITIONAL DATA CENTERS AND
WHAT THEY ARE DOING, AS WELL.
JUST THIS PAST MONDAY, I WENT TO
A DATA CENTER THAT IS ABOUT
EIGHT, 10 BLOCKS NORTH OF WHERE
WE ARE RIGHT NOW AND IT IS
IMPORTANT TO DO THAT, BECAUSE IT
HIGHLIGHTS WHAT THESE DATA
CENTERS, WHAT THEY HAVE
TRADITIONALLY BEEN, WHAT IT DOES
FOR OUR ECONOMY, WHAT IT DOES
FOR OUR SPD, FIRE, OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS. BECAUSE THAT
LOCATION IS -- SERVES OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS. IT ALSO SERVES, FOR
EXAMPLE, UW'S, UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON'S DIGITAL ACCESS
PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE
THAT ARE HINDERED IN TERMS OF
THEIR DIGITAL ACCESS, SO WE NEED
TO STEP THROUGH THESE PIECES
BECAUSE THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, AND THAT EXAMPLE IN
TERMS OF THE LOCATION I VISITED
ON MONDAY, THIS OFF ALSO GOES TO
THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT, BECAUSE THAT
OFFICE, HEATS ABOUT FIVE OR SIX
BUILDINGS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA,
SO THE EXHAUST HEAT IS ACTUALLY
RECYCLED, AND IT HEATS, LET'S
JUST SAY, HALF A DOZEN
BUILDINGS. AND DURING THAT
BRIEFING, THEY SAID, "YEAH, WE
CAN DO SOME MORE, TOO." SO,
MAYBE 10? I DON'T KNOW. BUT,
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE
REALLY INTERESTING, IT IS LIKE,
"HEY, HOW CAN WE GET THE
BENEFITS AND AVOID THE NEGATIVE
PIECES? HOW CAN WE SQUARE THE
CIRCLES?" MY STAFF LIKES TO HEAR
ME SAY ALL THE TIME. SO, FOR THE
TRADITIONAL DATA CENTERS, WE
REALLY NEED TO WALK THROUGH
THESE PIECES ON -- YOU KNOW, A
VERY DELIBERATIVE WAY, TO BE
SURE THAT WE GAIN THE GOOD
PIECES, WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
INNOVATIVE PIECES LIKE EXHAUST
HEAT HEATING BUILDINGS, THAT'S
SUPER IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, I
HAVE ALSO BEEN SAYING, CHAIR,
YOU KNOW, AS IT RELATES TO
TRANSIT, LAND USE,
TRANSPORTATION ARE TWO SIDES OF
THE SAME COIN, BUT I AM GOING TO
ADAPT THAT TO SAY, LAND-USE AND
CITY LIGHT ARE REALLY TWO SIDES
OF THE SAME COIN, AND I THINK
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. FOR
EXAMPLE, PREVIOUS MEETING, BOTH
YOU AND I ATTENDED AS CHAIR AND
VICE CHAIR, CITY LIGHT AND
LAND-USE COMMITTEE CAN SPEAK TO
THESE TOPICS. IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
LAND-USE AND CITY LIGHT -- SO,
THE POINT ABOUT THE MORATORIUM
AND RESOLUTION MAKES GREAT
SENSE, IN TERMS OF PARTNERING
TWO PIECES THAT ARE COMPLEMENT
EACH OTHER, BECAUSE WE DO NEED
TO WALK IN LOCKSTEP, IF YOU
WILL, FROM A POLICY DEVELOPMENT
POINT OF VIEW FROM LAND-USE AND
CITY LIGHT. SO, FOR THESE
THINGS, WE SHOULD WALK THROUGH
THIS RESOLUTION, ALSO WALK
THROUGH THE MORATORIUM PIECE,
AND DO SO IN A WAY THAT SHOWS
THAT WE ARE TAKING IN ALL OF THE
DIFFERENT PIECES, YOU KNOW? WE
ARE LOOKING TO PROTECT
SEATTLE'S FUTURE. GOOD
GOVERNANCE IS ALSO A FACTOR,
HERE. WE NEED TO HAVE THAT
STRATEGIC WANT, PARTICULARLY IN
THIS AREA, WE NEED TO HAVE THE
STRATEGIC LONGVIEW APPROACH, AND
THIS GOES FOR THE HYPER,
LARGE-SCALE A.I. DATA CENTER
SETS, BUT ALSO FOR THE
TRADITIONAL DATA CENTER SETS. WE
NEED TO THINK LONG TERM, IN
TERMS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
THESE DIFFERENT AREAS, AND
CHAIR, I WOULD JUST NOTE, TOO,
IN TERMS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE,
THIS TOPIC OF DATA CENTERS ALSO
HIGHLIGHTS JUST ANOTHER AREA
THAT SEATTLE CITY LIGHT IS
FACING IN THIS DYNAMIC TIME, YOU
KNOW, IN DISTRICT SEVEN, WE HAVE
A LOT OF ISSUES WITH BURIED
DIRECT CABLE, WE HAVE ISSUES,
YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF POWER
PRODUCTION, CLIMATE CHANGE, HOW
IT IMPACTS SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
SO, THIS IS A TIME WHEN WE NEED
TO HAVE STRONG LEADERSHIP AND I
SAID THIS BEFORE, WE HAD GREAT
LEADERSHIP FOR THE SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE
MAYOR LET WHAT WE HAVE AS A
NATIONALLY KNOWN POWER INDUSTRY
EXPERT THAT CAN WORK BOTH THE
POWER INDUSTRY PIECES, BUT ALSO
THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS,
WITHIN THE CITY GOVERNMENT, TO
ENSURE THAT WE ARE IN THE BEST
POSITION. AND, UNFORTUNATELY, WE
ARE NOT THERE IN TERMS OF THE
LEADERSHIP PIECE FOR CITY LIGHT
AND I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE
THESE DATA CENTERS ARE SUPER
IMPORTANT FOR WHERE WE ARE GOING
TO BE, LONG-TERM. AND THE
DECISIONS MADE TODAY WILL IMPACT
US IN THE FUTURE AND WE NEED TO
HAVE THAT STRONG LEADERSHIP THAT
WE HAD, TO BE FRANK, IN THE CITY
WITH RESPECT TO SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE NOW,
IN THE SENSE, IN TERMS OF
LONG-TERM. I DO HAVE FAITH IN
OUR ACTING GENERAL MANAGER, CEO
OF CITY LIGHT, MR. SANTOS. BUT,
IT'S WORTH MENTIONING THAT, YOU
KNOW, WE DO NOT HAVE A FULL
GENERAL MANAGER FOR CITY LIGHT
AND UNFORTUNATELY, CHAIR, WE HAD
A GREAT LEADER IN THIS, IN THE
INDUSTRY, AND HERE, WE ARE. SO,
I THINK IT IS WORTH NOTING. SO,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR, FOR
ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TO THIS AND
TO ADD IN THE SPECIFIC SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR KETTLE,
MY TRUSTEE VICE CHAIR. SO, I
HAVE A FEW MORE COMMENTS, IF
THERE IS ANYTHING TO KIND OF
TAKE US OUT? COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR JUAREZ, JUST
BRINGING IN AN ATTITUDE OF
GRATITUDE FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS
BECAUSE THIS IS SO INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT. I'M NOT GOING TO
REPEAT ALL OF THE IMPORTANT
TOPICS THE PUBLIC BROUGHT UP,
WHETHER IT IS FROM OUR
ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION, TO OUR
WATER USAGE, TO NOT HAVING AS --
I APPRECIATE WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE SAID ABOUT REUSING THE
HEAT THAT THESE CREATE, AND
THERE ARE MORE AND BETTER WAYS
TO USE THAT WASTE ENERGY AND
MAKE IT GOOD ENERGY, NOT WASTED,
WITH OPPORTUNITIES. BUT, UNTIL
WE CAN UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE
STRAINS ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT ARE ALREADY BUILT HERE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT YOU BROUGHT THIS
FORWARD SO WE CAN TAKE A PAUSE
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THIS
RIGHT. JUST DIDN'T WANT TO --
NOT GOING TO SPEND THE NEXT 20
MINUTES REPEATING EVERYTHING THE
PUBLIC COMMENTERS SAID, JUST
SAYING, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. ALL RIGHT, I AM GOING
TO MAKE SOME CLOSING COMMENTS. I
DON'T SEE ANYTHING ELSE FROM MY
COLLEAGUES. FIRST OF ALL, ERIC,
THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN
PUTTING UP WITH ME SINCE
JANUARY. [ LAUGHTER ] SENDING
YOU LINKS, AND WEBSITES, "HAVE
YOU READ THAT? HAVE YOU READ
THIS?" SO, I HAVE SOME COMMENTS
I PUT TOGETHER AND I JUST WANT
TO READ THEM INTO THE RECORD,
AND I MAY REPEAT SOME OF THESE
AT OUR -- IS IT OUR JUDEN THIRD
MEETING? AT OUR JUNE 3rd
MEETING, AS WELL. AND TODAY, WE
HAD 30 ODD PEOPLE AT PUBLIC
COMMENT, AND I TOOK COPIOUS
NOTES, AND OF COURSE, YOU
DIDN'T HEAR ANYONE SAY, "YES,
YAY, LET'S HAVE DATA CENTERS."
EVERYBODY IS CONCERNED, AS THEY
SHOULD BE. AND WE WILL LET THE
PUBLIC KNOW THAT WE WILL WORK
HAND IN HAND WITH THE LAND-USE
COMMITTEE SO THAT OUR
LEGISLATION, OUR MORATORIUM,
ERIC, THAT OUR LANGUAGE
COMPLEMENTS EACH OTHER, THAT WE
SHARE THE SAME LANGUAGE
RESPONSIBILITIES, AND
SENSIBILITIES, AND CHARACTERS OF
SEATTLE, AND THAT IS REFLECTED
NOT ONLY IN THE MORATORIUM, BUT
IN OUR RESOLUTION. SO, WE
BROUGHT THIS RESOLUTION AND WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT WITH THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AS A RESULT OF
THE RAPID INCREASE OF LARGE DATA
CENTERS BEING BUILT, AS THEY
CONTINUE TO ADD TO THE BOOM OF
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
INCLUDING WHAT IT HAS DONE TO
THE GLOBAL AND NATIONAL
MARKETPLACES, PEOPLE MAKING
MONEY. THESE DATA CENTERS ARE
BEING BUILT IN A RUSH BY
ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPANIES THAT
ARE ONLY, AS WE BELIEVE, SOME OF
US BELIEVE, CONCERNED WITH THE
RACE TO EXTRACT RESOURCES,
MAINLY WATER AND SPACE. RAPID
DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT FOCUSES
ON SHORT-TERM GAINS, WHILE
PERHAPS DISREGARDING THE
WELL-BEING OF COMMUNITIES THEY
ARE BEING BUILT IN. AND AS I
HAVE SAID BEFORE, WATER AND
THESE OTHER RESOURCES ARE A
FINITE RESOURCE FOR ALL PEOPLE.
MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING AND
ALONG WITH OTHER OFFICES AND
OTHER LEADERS, ALONG WITH TRIBAL
LEADERSHIP, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
THESE ISSUES OVER THE LAST YEAR.
WE HAVE ATTENDED EVENTS HOSTED
BY GEEKWIRE, THE NATURAL HISTORY
MUSEUM, AND NUMEROUS WEBINARS TO
UNDERSTAND NOT JUST THE
TECHNOLOGY, BUT TO KNOW WHAT WE
KNOW RIGHT NOW AND WHAT WE SEE
COMING. WE HAVE TRACKED NINE
DATA CENTER A.I. BUILDS DURING
THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION,
WITH ONLY ONE BILL, SENATE BILL
1984 THAT WAS PASSED. I SHOULD
ADD -- AND I WANT TO THANK PAUL,
OUR CLERK, PAUL, FOR ATTENDING
THE STATE A.I. WORK GROUP THAT
GOVERNOR FERGUSON PUT TOGETHER
AND COORDINATED. PAUL HAS BEEN
ATTENDING THOSE MEETINGS. AND WE
WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AND ATTEND
THOSE MEETINGS AND CONTINUE TO
LEARN MORE. I'M ACTUALLY VERY
HAPPY TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU, WE
HAVE SOPHIA SUAREZ IN OUR OFFICE
ROOM -- IS SHE AT SEATTLE OR UW?
UW. WHERE PAUL WENT. SHE HAS
BEEN WORKING WITH PAUL AND WE
ARE GOING TO BE MEETING WITH
STAFF MEMBERS FROM THE MEDIA
JUSTICE TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR
WORK ON THE SUPERIOR COURT CASE,
CALLED "PROJECT BLUE: NO DESERT
DATA CENTER IN PIMA COUNTY," IN
THE STATE OF ARIZONA. AND THIS
IS IN TUCSON, CORRECT, PAUL?
TUCSON. WE HAVE BEEN PAYING
ATTENTION, AND READING THEIR
PLEADINGS, AND SHARING IT WITH
THE CHAIR OF LAND-USE, CHAIRMAN
LIN. SO, WE ARE GOING TO MEET
WITH THE ATTORNEYS AND THE FOLKS
THAT HAVE BEEN LEADING A LOT OF
THE INNOVATION AND OUTLINING
PARTICULARLY IN THE CORE PROCESS
ABOUT DATA CENTERS AND WHAT
THEIR CONCERNS ARE AND WHAT
THEIR RESEARCH HAS FOUND. IN OUR
RESEARCH, WE HAVE FOUND THAT
THESE DATA CENTERS HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO SIGNIFICANTLY
BURDEN OUR COMMUNITY AND IMPACT
THE ELECTRICAL GRID BY, NUMBER
ONE, FORCING SUBSTANTIAL CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS. NUMBER TWO,
CONSUMING LARGE QUANTITIES OF
WATER RESOURCES. NUMBER THREE,
OCCUPYING LARGE AMOUNTS OF
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SPACE.
NUMBER FOUR, IMPACTING JOBS AND
THE ECONOMY THROUGH A BOOM AND
BUST EMPLOYMENT AUTOMATION.
NUMBER -- ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR
-- FIVE, THE EFFECT ON PUBLIC
HEALTH BY PRODUCING NOISE,
LIGHT, AIR, WATER POLLUTION AND
THAT DOESN'T EVEN GO INTO THE
WHOLE ISSUE OF WHAT IT DOES TO
MENTAL HEALTH, IT DOESN'T GO
INTO WHAT IT DOES TO LABOR,
PEOPLE LOSING THEIR JOBS. AND
ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE
HAVE ALL BEEN READING ABOUT THAT
WE ARE STILL LEARNING ABOUT IN
REAL TIME. THIS RESOLUTION SEEKS
-- ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS THE NEED
FOR CITY DEPARTMENTS TO TAKE A
LOOK AT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF
DATA CENTERS ON THE ELECTRICAL
GRID, RESIDENTIAL UTILITY RATES,
LAND AND WATER USAGE, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, THE IMPACT TO
TREATY PROTECTED FISHING IN
WATER RIGHTS, AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
WE ARE A CITY OF TECHNOLOGY,
THIS RESOLUTION IS FOCUSED ON
RESPONSIBLE EXPLORATION OF THIS
NEW FIELD, FOR THIS AND FUTURE
GENERATIONS. IT IS VITAL THAT WE
MORE COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE
IMPACT OF DATA CENTERS AND HOLD
DATA CENTER DEVELOPERS
ACCOUNTABLE, ALSO THROUGH COSTS,
THROUGH BINDING COMMUNITY
BENEFIT AGREEMENTS OR CONTRACTS.
WE MUST MAKE SURE DATA CENTERS
AND COMPANIES DO NOT PAY THE
COSTS, AND AND -- OR, PASS ON
THE COSTS, I'M SORRY -- AND
LONG-TERM EFFECTS TO OUR
RESIDENCE, OUR HEALTH, OUR
RESOURCES, OUR WATERSHEDS, OUR
PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITIES. SO, I
DID PUT THOSE COMMENTS TOGETHER
WITH MY TEAM, WHO HAS BEEN
WORKING VERY CLOSELY. PAUL AND I
WENT TO A GEEKWIRE EVENT WHERE
WE LEARNED A LOT, AND BROUGHT
CENTRAL STAFF FOLKS WITH US,
WHICH WE APPRECIATED. SO, I
THINK WE HAVE SOME MORE
INFORMATION TO INCLUDE AND TO
ADD A COMMA TO BOLSTER OUR
RESOLUTION, AND WORK WITH
COUNCILMEMBER LIN, CHAIR OF
LAND-USE ON HIS MORATORIUM,
BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF THIS
LANGUAGE DOVETAILS AND
COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER, SO WE ARE
WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE
ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT TODAY,
THAT WE HEARD IN PUBLIC COMMENT,
AND I AM SURE WE WILL CONTINUE
TO LEARN MORE IN HERE, MORE
ABOUT, PARTICULARLY AFTER OUR
MEETING NEXT WEEK WITH THE FOLKS
FROM TUCSON, ARIZONA. ALL RIGHT.
WITH THAT, LET ME GET BACK,
HERE, IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE?
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ELSE FOR
THE GOOD OF THE ORDER.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS HIS
HAND UP? GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> YEAH, SORRY, ME, AGAIN. AT
PRESENT, AS YOU SAID VERBALLY,
AND I HEARD YOU SAY, THE
CITYWIDE EASEMENT PARCEL BILLS
WERE PRESENTED IN THE OPPOSITE
ORDER IN WHICH WE VOTED, BUT I
DID NOT CONFORM THAT TO MY
VOTING HABIT, SO I'M JUST
STATING FOR THE RECORD, I
ABSTAINED ON THE INCORRECT BILL.
I AM ALSO NOT GOING TO ASK US TO
REVOTE ON THOSE, BECAUSE IT
DOESN'T MATTER ENOUGH.
>> I THOUGHT YOU DID, BUT I
DIDN'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING,
BECAUSE --
>> YOU ARE ALWAYS GOOD AT
TELLING ME WHEN I AM WRONG, YOU
SHOULD HAVE. IT WAS ANOTHER GOOD
OPPORTUNITY.
>> IT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN
EVERYBODY, BUT, I REMEMBER OUR
DISCUSSION ON THE ABSTENTION. I
THOUGHT HE WAS ABSTAINING ON THE
OTHER ONE, SO, OKAY. YOU ARE
GOOD FOR THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE
IT WILL GO TO FULL COUNCIL.
>> YEAH, I WILL TAKE IT UP AT
FULL COUNCIL. JUST ASKING,
PRESENTERS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY ARE DOING IT -- IT DOESN'T
MATTER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. AND I WOULD ALSO ADD
IT, AND WOULD INVITE ANY
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON THE
RESOLUTION AHEAD OF TIME IF THEY
WOULD LIKE TO ADD YOUR NAME AS A
COSPONSOR.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I WOULD
LOVE TO ADD MY NAME AS A
COSPONSOR.
>> GREAT. LET'S ADD
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AS A
COSPONSOR TO OUR RESOLUTION THAT
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
ERIC AND CENTRAL STAFF. AND SO,
WITH THAT, IS THERE ANYTHING
ELSE TO COME TO OUR COMMITTEE,
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
EFFECTS THANK YOU, ERIC. ALL
RIGHT, WITH THAT, WE HAVE
REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S
MEETING AGENDA, AND WE ARE NOW
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. GOOD JOB,
EVERYBODY. GOOD JOB, VICE CHAIR.