PRESENT.
>> EXCELLENT. IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING AND SEEING NO
OBJECTIONS, THE AGENDA IS HEREBY
ADOPTED. WELL, GOOD MORNING
AGAIN. WELCOME TO OUR SECOND
MEETING OF THE S. T. E. P. S.
COMMITTEE. BEAUTIFUL DAY OUT
TODAY. AND WELCOME AS WELL,
COLLEAGUES. I WOULD LIKE TO WISH
EVERYONE START OFF BY WISHING
EVERYONE A VERY HAPPY BLACK
HISTORY MONTH. IT'S A MONTH TO
BE PROUD OF AND CELEBRATE LOT OF
SMART BLACK ENGINEERS MADE
TREMENDOUS IMPACTFUL
CONTRIBUTIONS TO IMPROVING OUR
BROADER TRANSPORTATION NETWORK
NOT JUST IN THIS CITY, BUT
ACROSS THE GLOBE. SO WE SHOULD
HONOR AND CELEBRATE THOSE
ACHIEVEMENTS NOW MORE THAN EVER.
IT'S ALSO AN EXCELLENT
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REFLECT
AND CELEBRATE CONTRIBUTIONS OF
MEMBERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY
MORE BROADLY AS WELL ACROSS THE
UNITED STATES. AND DIVING DEEPER
HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
EARLIER IN WEEK, I HAD THE
PRIVILEGE OF SPEAKING AT A BLACK
HISTORY DAY ASSEMBLY AT GENESEE
HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE
THEME OF THAT PARTICULAR EVENT
WAS BLACK LIVES MATTER, LIFT
EVERY VOICE AND SING. I WAS
AMAZED TO GO TO THAT SCHOOL AND
WITNESS FIRSTHAND WHAT TRULY
REMARKABLE TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE CAN LOOK LIKE.
DIRECTLY RIGHT OUT FRONT OF THE
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, IN A CRITICAL
SORT OF EGRESS INGRESS ROUTES,
DROPOFF, PICKUP LOCATION POINTS,
THE STREETS ARE BLOCKED OFF. SO
CARS ARE UNABLE TO PASS THROUGH.
IN MOST CIRCUMSTANCES. MEANING
PEDESTRIANS, BIKES, WHEELS, OUR
MOST VULNERABLE USERS INDEED
STARTING WITH OUR CHILDREN ARE
ABLE TO SAFELY NAVIGATE THEIR
WAY TO SCHOOL. I RECOGNIZE NOT
ALL SCHOOLS ARE CURRENTLY SO
WELL OFF AND SITUATED FROM A
SAFETY STANDPOINT OR EVEN FROM A
SIDEWALK STANDPOINT. PLENTY MORE
WORK TO DO. ALL RIGHT. IN OUR
LAST MEETING, WE FOCUSED HEAVILY
ON TRAFFIC SAFETY. AGAIN, A CORE
PRIORITY OF S. T. E. P. S. THAT
REALLY UNDERLIES EVERY SINGLE
THING THIS COMMITTEE DOES.
TODAY, WE WILL PIVOT A LITTLE
BIT AND START OUR AGENDA BY
ADVANCING ANOTHER CORE PRIORITY
OF THIS COMMITTEE. STRENGTHENING
TRANSPORTATION RELIABILITY AND
LEVY DELIVERY. WE CAN DIRECTLY
ADVANCE THIS PRIORITY BY
INITIATING TWO KEY ACTIONS. TWO
KEY MOVES. ONE, IMPROVING
OVERSIGHT OF LEVY IMPLEMENTATION
AND TWO, ENSURING A STRONG,
DISCIPLINED START TO LEVY FUNDED
INVESTMENTS. GOOD OLD-FASHIONED
GOOD GOVERNANCE IF YOU WILL.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
AND WHICH IS ALSO WHY WE'LL BE
HEARING DIRECTLY FROM OUR
PARTNERS AT SDOT ABOUT LEVY
DELIVERABLES AND THE
DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSED LEVY
DELIVERY PLAN FOR 2026. AS
YOU'LL HEAR AND LEARN MORE
SHORTLY, APPROXIMATELY 430
PROJECTS ACROSS ALL SEVEN
COUNCIL DISTRICTS WILL BE FUNDED
BY THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY IN
2026. THESE PROJECTS RANGE FROM
SMALLER NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS
THAT IMPACT A SMALL NUMBER OF
PEOPLE TO HIGH COLLISION SAFETY
PROJECTS SUCH AS ONE THAT WILL
COMMENCE ON THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE. WHICH WILL IMPACT
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE EACH DAY. NOW REGARDLESS
OF THE SIZE, EACH ONE OF THESE
PROJECTS REPRESENTS AN
IMPROVEMENT AND AN UPGRADE WHICH
DIRECTLY BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY.
NEXT, WE WILL ALSO HEAR FROM
SDOT ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT'S
ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM AND ADA
COMPLIANCE. WE WILL LEARN MORE
ABOUT THE BROADER EFFORTS BEHIND
A CONSENT DECREE, GUIDING OUR
WORK THAT OUR CITY IS SUBJECT
TO, AND HOW THOSE VARIOUS LEGAL
REQUIREMENTS GOVERN OUR BROADER
ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVES. NOW
AS AN ASIDE, COLLEAGUE, I WOULD
LIKE TO REMIND MY DISTRICT
COLLEAGUES TO KINDLY SUBMIT YOUR
PROJECTS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO USE
FOR OUR NEWLY LAUNCHED DISTRICT
PROJECT FUND BY MARCH 1st. THAT
DOES NOT LEVERAGE LEVY FUNDING.
BUT IT STILL IS A COOL NEW
MICROSCALE INVESTMENT,
NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL SCALE
INVESTMENT, SAFETY UPGRADE
PROGRAM. AND FUND. AND WE'RE
THE FIRST SORT OF STEP IN THE
PROCESS IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE EMPOWERING THE DEPARTMENT
AND SETTING THEM UP FOR SUCCESS
AND WE NEED TO DO OUR PART BY
MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO MEET THAT
MARCH 1st TARGET. PLEASE WORK
WITH THE DEPARTMENT CONSULT SDOT
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
ABILITY THE DISTRICT PROJECT
FUND THAT WE PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
LAST YEAR. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON,
WE'LL HEAR A PRESENTATION FROM
SDOT ON THE PLAN FOR '26 AND
ALSO HEAR A PRESENTATION FROM
SDOT REGARDING ACCESSIBILITY IN
OUR PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY. ADA
AND CONSENT DECREE COMPLIANCE.
MOVING ON, WE WILL NOW MOVE ON
TO THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENTS SHOULD
RELATE TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA. AND WITHIN THE PURVIEW
OF THIS COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW
MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> CHAIR, WE CURRENTLY HAVE
THREE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS SIGNED
UP AND WE DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE
ANY REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. EACH
SPEAKER WILL HAVE APPROXIMATELY
TWO MINUTES AND WE WILL START
WITH ONLY ONE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
CURRENTLY IN-PERSON SPEAKER IS
FIRST. CLERK CAN YOU KINDLY READ
THE PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS?
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED AND SPEAKERS
WILL ALTERNATE BETWEEN SETS OF
IN-PERSON AND REMOTE SPEAKERS
UNTIL THE LICK COMMENT HAS ENDED
AND SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME
WHEN TEN IT COULDS ARE LEFT OF
THEIR TIME. SPEAKERS' MICS WILL
BE MUTED IF THEY DON'T END
THEIR COMMENTS LISTEN THE
ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER. PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. AND
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST, WHICH IS
STU HENNESSY.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> IS THE MIC ON? I DON'T THINK
IT IS. GOOD MORNING
COUNCILMEMBERS. YEAH, YOU CAN
START MY TIME. YEAH. I'M HERE
TO COMMENT ON THE DELIVERABLES.
THE -- WHAT YOU -- YOU HAD JUST
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, JUST SAID
ABOUT SCHOOLS. MY MAIN FOCUS IS
IN THE ADMIRAL DISTRICT. AND ON
PAGE 32 OF THE DELIVERABLES,
IT'S -- UNDER PEOPLE STREETS IT
DOES MENTION SOUTHWEST LANDERS
STREET WHICH IS A STREET THAT IS
THE ONE WAY. THAT CROSSES
LAFAYETTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. TO
EXPLAIN IT THOROUGHLY, THE
PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WANT TO GO
THROUGH THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS ALONG
CALIFORNIA AVENUE TO GET TO
ADMIRAL TO GET TO THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE, THEY OFTEN TAKE
THAT SIDE STREET WHICH IS 44th
OR 45th AVENUE AND CUT THROUGH
LANDER WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO GET
THROUGH PAST HIAWATHA PARK
WITHOUT SEEING ANY LIGHTS AT
ALL. S THIS NOT THE SAME TIME --
THE KIDS ARE SOMING TO SCHOOL AT
THE SAME TIME. IT'S BEEN OUR
PROPOSAL AT THE SAME TIME TO
HAVE THAT PARTIALLY CLOSED. THIS
WOULD BE A -- PEDESTRIAN PLAZA
AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE
UNDERSTOOD THIS LINE ON PAGE 32
MIGHT BE REFERRING TO A
PEDESTRIAN PLAZA. WHICH IS A
USABLE FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT
REASONS. FURTHER FROM THERE, WE
DO HAVE A ADA PROBLEM AT WALKER
STREET AND AND CALIFORNIA
AVENUES, IT'S A CURB ON ALL
FOUR CORNERS. AND WE DID A WALK
THROUGH A YEAR AND A HALF AGO
AND TO THIS DAY, WITH SDOT AND
TO THIS DAY IT'S STILL NOT ADA
COMPLIANT. THE LAST THING ON MY
LIST IS THE BRANDON -- SORRY,
BARTON AND 18th AVENUE
SOUTHWEST, THAT STREET VACATION
IS REALLY GOOD IDEA AND I'M
GLAD IT'S ON THE DRAFT. AND I
HOPE IT GOES FORWARD. THAT'S
ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MR. HENNESSY.
>> OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT
SPEAKER WILL BE JACK WIZNER.
>> GOOD MORNING CHAIR SAKA AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME JACK
WIZNER AND I LIVE IN BILLARD,
DISTRICT 6 AND I WANTED TO
COMMENT ON ITEM ONE OF THE
DELIVERY PLAN. ON PAGE 27,
THERE'S AN ITEM THAT SAYS THAT
THEY WILL SPEND MONEY TO ADVANCE
THE PLANNING OF WHAT WE CALLED
THE STRAUSS PLAN. THE COMPLETION
OF THE TRAIL IN DOWNTOWN
BALLARD. AND 30% PLAN WAS
RELEASED I BELIEVE IN THE SUMMER
OF '24. SO BETWEEN NOW AND
THEN, WE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED
ENOUGH THAT THAT PLAN IS FATALLY
FLAWED. THAT IT WOULD SLOW
TRANSIT ROUTES 40 AND 44 WHICH S
SOT JUST SPENT MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS TO SPEED UP AND THAT
THERE'S SENIOR HOUSING PROJECT
ON LARRY AND THEY HAVE OBJECTED
TO THE PLAN. AND WITH A MIXED
USE TRAIL, IT WILL ATTRACT
DOUBTLESS E DEVICES WHICH ARE
SPEEDY AND THERE'LL BE FRICTION
BETWEEN TRANSIT RIDERS AND
SHOPPERS WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO
USE THE SIDEWALK THE TRAIL WILL
BE NEXT TO THEM. IT'S PRETTY
CLEAR TRANSIT WILL BE SLOWER
BECAUSE THE STRAUSS PLAN CALLED
FOR TAKING AWAY A LANE BETWEEN
THE BUS STOPS AT BALLARD AVENUE
AND 24th AVENUE NORTHWEST. AND
THROUGHOUT THE STREET TODAY YOU
CAN SEE THAT'S A BUS LANE. AND
THEN I HAVE ONE COMMENT ON ITEM
TWO. I WANT SDOT AND THE COUNCIL
TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF THE
DOCKLESS E DEVICES ON ADA
ACCESSIBILITY AND THE CLUTTER IS
A BIG HAZARD WHEN THEY BLOCK BUS
STOPS, CURB RAMPS AND SIDEWALKS.
ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE
ELDERLY AND DISABLED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SIR.
>> OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT
SPEAKER IS TYLER VASQUEZ.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. VICE CHAIR
RINK. COUNCILMEMBER LIN AND
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. MY NAME IS
TYLER VASQUEZ AND I AM THE
ADVOCACY AND POLICY OFFICER FOR
CASCADE BICYCLE CLUB. I WANTED
TO THANK SDOT FOR ALL THE WORK
THAT WENT INTO THE PROJECT LIST.
ADDITIONALLY, I WANTED TO THANK
COUNCIL FOR THE AMENDMENT TO BE
ABLE TO PROVIDE THE PROJECT
LIST. THIS BUILDS PUBLIC TRUST
AND TRANSPARENCY WERE THOSE TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS COMING UP IN
2026. I ALSO WANT TO BRING
ATTENTION TO A CORRIDOR THAT IS
NEAR AND DEAR TO CASCADE
BICYCLE'S PROGRAMS. AND NEAR
AND DEAR TO CURRENT NEWS SOUTH
HENDERSON. THE SOUTH HENDERSON
PROJECT IS IN THE PROJECT LIST.
IT PROVIDES BIKE LANES FOR THOSE
WHO BIKE OR WANT TO BIKE. WE
PARTNER WITH BIKE WORKS WHO RUNS
AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM AT
RAINIER BEACH HIGH SCHOOL AND
ALSO SOUTH SHORE K-8. THOSE
PEOPLE WHO BIKE OR WANT TO ARE
DEFINED IN THAT PROGRAM. THIS --
THESE BIKE LANES WILL PROVIDE
SAFER STREETS BY NARROWING THE
ROAD, ALSO A DIRECT CONNECTION
TO THE RAINIER BEACH LIGHTRAIL
STATION. LASTLY, I WANT TO LET
YOU ALL KNOW THAT AS A PERSON
WHO BIKES, AS A PERSON WHO GREW
UP IN A COMMUNITY SIMILAR TO THE
RAINIER BEACH COMMUNITY,
DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS AND ALSO
SHOOTINGS HAD ME STOPPING MY
LITTLE LEAGUE GAMES AND THEY HAD
ME STOPPING MY SCHOOLS AND ALSO
THEY MADE ME WANT TO BE AN
ADVOCATE BECAUSE I HAD MANY
QUESTIONS AS LITTLE TYLER. THAT
I COULDN'T ANSWER. THAT MY
PARENTS COULDN'T ANSWER. AND AS
AN ADVOCATE TODAY, I ASKED MANY
QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE THE
UNDERSTANDING OF WHY. BUT I WANT
TO ANSWER WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES
THAT WE WANT IN OUR CITY AND HOW
ARE WE GETTING THERE? AND I
THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE
PROJECT LIST, THAT'S SOMETHING
THESE BIG KEY GOALS CAN BRING.
THANK YOU AND I HOPE YOU ALL
HAVE A GREAT DAY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. VASQUEZ. SO --
APPRECIATE THAT. JUST AS AN
ASIDE, TYLER IS WITH CASCADE IN
HIS DAY JOB. BUT HE WAS ALSO
RECENTLY ELECTED CO-CHAIR OF THE
LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WHICH I
ALSO SIT ON, EARLIER THIS WEEK.
CONGRATULATIONS TYLER. ALL
RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE?
>> NO, WE HAVE NO MORE PUBLIC
COMMENTERS.
>> OKAY. COOL.
>>> LET'S SEE HERE. ALL RIGHT.
LET US NOW MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST
SUBSTANTIVE ITEM OF BUSINESS
TODAY. WILL THE CLERK READ TIME
ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE. PRESENTATION
FROM SDOT PROPOSED ANNUAL LEVY
DELIVERY PLAN FOR 2026.
>> THANK YOU. AND AS OUR
PRESENTERS JOIN US AT THE TABLE
NOW, PLEASE SHARE YOUR
PRESENTATION ONCE READY IN JUST
A MOMENT, PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION. BUT BEFORE WE DO
THAT, LET ME JUST START OFF BY
KIND OF ORIENTING THE
CONVERSATION AND ACKNOWLEDGING
SOME OF THE WORK HERE. SO WHAT
WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS GOING
THROUGH A VERY -- A FAIRLY
DETAILED LIST OF PROPOSED
PROJECTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT
INTENDS TO DELIVER THAT WOULD
LEVERAGE LEVY FUNDING AS PART OF
THE $1.55 BILLION LEVY PACKAGE
GENEROUSLY APPROVE BY VOTERS
ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
THIS IS A LIST OF A
NON-EXCLUSIVE AND A
NONEXHAUSTIVE LIST. BUT A FAIRLY
REPRESENTATIVE LIST OF ALL THE
GREAT PROJECTS THE DEPARTMENT
INTENDS TO COMPLETE THIS YEAR
PURSUANT TO THE LEVY. AND JUST
-- THIS IS A CREATURE OF
LEADERSHIP FROM THIS COUNCIL
WRITING IN THAT REQUIREMENT.
THAT WE VISIT EVERY YEAR AND
GIVE THE DEPARTMENT AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH US
THEIR VISION AND THEIR PLANS
FOR, YOU KNOW, ENSURING WE HAVE
A STRONG START TO THE LEVY.
IT'S ALSO A REFLECTION OF SOME
WORK FROM OUR LEVY OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE WHO IN THEIR FINAL
REPORT ULTIMATELY RECOMMENDING A
RENEWAL OF THE NOW EXPIRED MOVE
SEATTLE LEVY WHICH IS I THINK
TRANSFORMED INTO THE KEEP
SEATTLE MOVING LEVY OR SOMETHING
ALONG THOSE LINES. THE CURRENT
TRANSPORTATION LEVY. AND THEIR
FINAL LETTER, THERE WAS A
RECOMMENDATION TO HAVE A SIMILAR
REPORTING STRUCTURE AND HAVE
MORE TRANSPARENCY UP FRONT ON AN
ANNUAL BASIS. AND TO BETTER
ENSURE OUR CITY IS WELL
POSITIONED TO EFFECTIVELY
DELIVER UPON OUR LEVY
COMMITMENTS AND SO ALL THIS TO
SAY, IT'S -- BUT IT ALSO
REPRESENTS A VERY -- AS THE 30
PLUS PAGE DOCUMENT WE'LL SHARE,
I HIGHLIGHTED DOG EARED VERSION
HERE IN FRONT OF ME, IT'S A
VERY DETAILED COMPREHENSIVE LIST
-- AND IT REPRESENTS A LOT OF
WORK BY THE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO
A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURE
FROM PAST PRACTICES. IT
REPRESENTS -- OF THE DEPARTMENT.
IT ALSO REPRESENTS A -- WHAT
I'LL CALL A HERCULEAN EFFORT TO
PLAN THIS MUCH FAR AHEAD AND
DOCUMENT IT. AND SO I
ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK AND
THE TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTIONS BY
MANY. NOT JUST THOSE AT THIS
TABLE. YOU KNOW, TO PUT THIS
RESOURCE TOGETHER, BUT BECAUSE
OF OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY,
TO VOTERS AND TAXPAYERS, IT'S
-- IT'S MUCH-NEEDED AND I THINK
WE'RE ALL GRATEFUL FOR IT. SO
BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FORWARD
TO LEARNING MORE. SO WELCOME
AGAIN. AND AGAIN, PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND BEGIN
YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, I'M BILL LA BOARD FROM
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION.
>> I'M MEGAN HOYT. ACTING
DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
>> SERENA LEHMAN. LEVY MANAGER.
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION.
>> LET'S GO BACK TO THE --
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. JUST
GOING TO KICK US OFF WITH SOME
GROUNDING BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY
EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY. WE
WERE HERE THE END OF LAST YEAR
TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
WHAT WE'VE DONE IN '25. WE'LL
GIVE YOU A LITTLE TASTER OF THAT
TODAY AS WELL. BUT REALLY TODAY
WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR
DELIVERY PLAN. AND I THINK EVEN
JUST FROM LISTENING TO THE
PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY, LIKE EVERY
LINE ON HERE HAS COMPLEXITIES
AND INTERESTS AND SOME OF THEM
HAVE BEEN COMING FOR SOME TIME.
SO IT -- IT REALLY IS QUITE AN
EFFORT OF BOTH PUTTING THE LIST
TOGETHER WITH SERENA AND HER
TEAM, AND ALL HER PROGRAM OWNERS
PUT TOGETHER, BUT IT'S --
THERE'S A LOT -- THERE'S SO
MUCH COMPLEXITY AND
WONDERFULNESS TO THIS PLAN TO BE
ABLE TO SEE THE THINGS IN HERE.
AT THE SAME TIME, THIS IS JUST A
SLICE OF WHAT SDOT DOES BECAUSE
THE THINGS THAT ARE IN HERE ARE
JUST THE LEVY FUNDED WORK THAT
WE DO THAT IS STARTING PLANNING
DESIGN OR CONSTRUCTION IN 2026.
SO BIGGER BROADER PLANS. SO
WE'RE EXCITED TO RUN THROUGH
KIND OF HOW TO READ THE PLAN AND
SOME OF THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT
GO INTO IT. AND THEN EXAMPLES OF
SOME OF THE PROJECTS. I'M
PERSONALLY VERY EXCITED TOO
BECAUSE WE -- ALWAYS KNOW
THERE'S AN ENDLESS AMOUNT OF
THINGS WE COULD DO AND THAT
PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO DO. IT IS
HARD TO MAKE THE DECISIONS OF
WHEN TO FUND SOMETHING. YOU
KNOW, IN WHAT YEAR. AND I'M
VERY INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT
ACTUALLY COMES WITH OUR FIRST
YEAR OF HAVING THE DISTRICT
PROJECT FUND AROUND AND
PROVIDING ANOTHER AVENUE FOR
THAT. SO THAT'S VERY EXCITING
TO US AS WELL. SO WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO DO TODAY IS WE'RE
GOING TO GIVE JUST A LITTLE KIND
OF WARM-UP OF THE KIND OF THINGS
THAT THE LEVY DELIVERED IN 2025
JUST AS A REMINDER OF KIND OF
THE WIDE VARIETY OF PROJECTS AND
WHAT WE DID AND THEN WE'RE
GOING GIVE THE OVERVIEW OF HOW
THE PLAN ITSELF IS SET UP AND
THEN SERENA IS ACTUALLY GOING TO
GO INTO A LOT OF THE HIGHLIGHTED
PROJECTS AND SOME DETAIL ABOUT
THEM AND THEN WE ARE VERY HAPPY
TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. AND WITH
THAT I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER
TO THE PERSON WHO KNOWS SO MUCH
ABOUT YOU CAN'T KNOW EVERYTHING
THAT'S IN THE DELIVERY PLAN.
BUT THE PERSON WHO COMES THE
CLOSEST I THINK IS SERENA.
>> GREAT. THANKS SO MUCH MEGAN.
SO AS MEGAN MENTIONED YOU KNOW
WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO A REALLY
QUICK OVERVIEW OF HIGHLIGHTS OF
WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED IN 2025 AND
THEN DIVE INTO LIKE KIND OF THE
NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE LEVY
DELIVERY PLAN. SO YOU KNOW, WE
STARTED OFF 2025 THE FIRST YEAR
OF OUR LEVY KNOW WE STARTED OFF
FAST. WE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
REALLY LEANING INTO OUR
EXPERIENCE WITH DELIVERING KIND
OF THE O AND M PROGRAMS AND
BEING OUT THERE FILLING IN
POTHOLES AND DOING OUR SIGNINGS
AND MARKINGS. WE ALSO YOU KNOW,
REALLY LAUNCHED INTO OUR HIRING
PROCESS AND WE WERE ABLE TO HIRE
50 NEW POSITIONS IN 2025 TO
SUPPORT OVERALL LEVY DELIVERY.
WHAT YOU ARE SEEING ON THESE
SERIES OF SLIDES IS SOME
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TYPES OF
PROJECTS YOU KNOW, WE'RE BEING
OUT THERE DOING LIKE AIRWAY
INSPECTIONS AND YOU KNOW WE WERE
ABLE TO GO AND DO THE QUICK
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HIGH
LOCATIONS TO IMPLAYOFF STATE IN
THE CITY. IN ADDITION TO THE
HIRING WE ALSO WERE OUT THERE IN
COMMUNITY. WE HAD COMMUNITY
WALKS TO DETERMINE KIND OF WHERE
WE WANTED TO DO THOSE SIDEWALKS
-- THE SIDEWALKS AND
NEIGHBORHOOD WALKWAYS THAT ARE
SO IMPORTANT AND KEY TO
DELIVERING ON THIS LEVY. ALSO
OUT THERE LAUNCHING NEW PROGRAMS
LIKE THE BICYCLE MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM OUT THERE REPLACING
POSTS WHICH WAS HAD NEW
DEDICATED FUNDING THROUGH THE
LEVY. AND THEN KIND OF THE LAST
LITTLE HIGHLIGHT I WANT TO GIVE
IN TERMS OF 2025 IS THAT YOU
KNOW, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA TOUCHED
ON THIS IN HIS OHING REMARKS, IS
THAT OVERSIGHT AND KIND OF
TRANSPARENCY IS ABSOLUTELY KEY.
SO A KEY PIECE LAST YEAR WAS WE
STOOD UP THE LEVY OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
AND STAFF CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
THE ONGOING OPERATIONS OF THAT.
AND THEN ANOTHER KEY PIECE OF
LAUNCHING 2025 WAS GETTING OUR
DASHBOARD READY TO GO. SO PART
OF A -- A KEY PART OF THE
ORDINANCE WAS, YOU KNOW, HAVING
A PUBLIC DASHBOARD THAT REPORTED
ON A REGULAR CADENCE OF WHAT WE
HAD DELIVERED THROUGH THE LEVY
AND OUR SPENDING. SO WE MODELED
OUR NEW DASHBOARD AFTER OUR
PREVIOUS LEVY TO MOVE SEATTLE
DASHBOARD BASED ON THE FEEDBACK
WE RECEIVED AND ENGAGED WITH THE
LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE LAST
YEAR AND NOW LAUNCHED OUR
DASHBOARD. YOU WILL KIND OF WHAT
WE DELIVERED THROUGH THE
DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND HOW MUCH
WE SPENT THROUGH THE DIFFERENT
PROGRAMS AND ALSO SEE LISTS OF
KIND OF ONGOING PROJECTS. THINGS
THAT ARE IN PROGRESS THAT WE'RE
WORKING ON. THIS IS UPDATED ON A
QUARTERLY BASIS. WHICH WILL BE
ALIGNED WITH OUR REGULAR
QUARTERLY REPORTING. WE'LL HAVE
THROUGH THE LEVY. AND THEN LAST
BUT NOT LEAST, WHICH WE ARE VERY
EXCITED ABOUT, IS THAT THERE'LL
BE A MAP OF WORK THAT WE HAVE
COMPLETED AND HOPING TO --
PLANNING ON LAUNCHING THAT IN
APRIL OF 2026. YOU WILL BE ABLE
TO LOOK TO SEE WHERE WE'VE BEEN
DOING WORK THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
GREAT. SO NOW ON TO OUR LEVY
DELIVERY PLAN. SO THIS IS THE
SECOND YEAR WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER
A LEVY DELIVERY PLAN AND FOR
THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN IT DEEP,
EVERY SINGLE DAY, THIS PLAN
OUTLINES KIND OF WHERE WE'RE
GOING TO BE INVESTING LEVY
DOLLARS OVER THE COURSE OF THE
NEXT YEAR. SO IT'S WHERE WE'RE
PLANNING TO BE OUT THERE DOING
PLANNING AND DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION WORK. YOU KNOW,
THIS WORK IS CONTINUOUS SO SOME
OF IT REALLY IS FOCUSING ON
WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE. NOT
NECESSARILY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO
BE COMPLETING OVER THE NEXT
YEAR. AND THIS IS INFORMED BY
MANY DIFFERENT FACTORS
INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, OTHER
THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING
THROUGHOUT THE CITY. PRIVATE
CONSTRUCTION WORK, WHAT EMERGING
PRIORITIES HAVE COME UP OVER THE
PAST YEAR, WITH WE'RE HEARING
FROM OUR COMMUNITY. NEXT SLIDE?
SO 2026 I LIKE TO CALL IT A
SPECIAL YEAR. YOU KNOW, EVERY
YEAR THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING
THAT'S DIFFERENT IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE BUT THIS YEAR WE HAVE
TWO BIG THINGS. SPECIFICALLY IN
THE REALM OF TRANSPORTATION. WE
HAVE REVIVE BY 5 THAT'S
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND LIKELY
IMPACTING SEVERAL OF YOU HERE
TODAY IN YOUR TRAVELS AROUND OUR
CITY. BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE
FIFA WORLD CUP THAT'S HAPPENING
THIS SUMMER. BOTH REALLY NEEDED.
IT MEANS THERE'S GOING TO BE
SOME CONSTRAINTS ON WHERE WE CAN
DO WORK IN OUR STREETS.
ESPECIALLY DURING OUR DRY
MONTHS. SO WE'RE BEING REALLY
THOUGHTFUL WHEN WE PUT TOGETHER
THIS PLAN. WHILE WE HAVE A LOT
OF CONSTRAINTS ON HOW PEOPLE ARE
MOVING AROUND DURING KIND OF OUR
PEAK CONSTRUCTION SEASON. SO WE
REALLY FOCUSED ON WHAT CAN WE
GET DONE THIS YEAR AND WHERE CAN
WE GET IT DONE AND THEN WHAT CAN
WE REALLY FOCUS ON PLANNING AND
DESIGN SO THAT WE CAN JUST HIT
THE GROUND RUNNING IN 2027 WHERE
WE CANNOT DELIVER THIS YEAR?
ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT SEVERAL
PRO-- MANY PROJECTS IN HERE ARE
SOME -- PROJECTS THAT CAN BE
COMPLETED WITHIN A YEAR. YOU
KNOW, LOOK AT SOME OF OUR CURB
RAMPS AND OUR TRANSIT SPOT
PROGRAMS. OUR MARKINGS, THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT GENERALLY HAS A
QUICK TURN AROUND. A YEAR OR
TWO. BUT THEN WE HAVE SOME
LARGER PROJECTS THAT ARE
MULTIYEAR PROJECTS AND YOU'LL
SEE THOSE PROJECTS SHOWING UP AS
STARTING PLANNING OR IN DESIGN
AND THEY MIGHT BE IN THAT PHASE
FOR ONE TO TWO PLUS YEARS AS WE
ARE NAVIGATING WITH POTENTIAL
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL
FUNDING. OR JUST -- YOU KNOW,
AND THEN ONGOING COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT. SO THE PROJECTS IN
HERE ARE VARIED AND THEIR
TIMELINES ARE VARIED AS WELL.
WHEN WE PUBLISHED THIS PLAN, WE
SHARED IT WITH ALL OF YOU ON
JANUARY 30th AND AT THE SAME
TIME, WE SHARED IT WITH THE LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. AND WE GAVE
A VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION TO
THEM EARLIER THIS WEEK AND WILL
BE COMING BACK TO THEM IN MARCH
FOR A DEEPER DISCUSSION TO HEAR
KIND OF THEIR THOUGHTS AROUND
WHAT WE HAVE PUT FORWARD. ALL
RIGHT. SO NOW TO THE -- SO
THERE'S -- AS COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA ALREADY MENTIONED, THERE
ARE A LOT OF PROJECTS IN HERE,
WE HAVE 430 NAMED PROJECTS AND
THIS DOESN'T EVEN INCLUDE THE
THOUSANDS OF ONM PROJECTS THAT
ARE HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE
CITY. I'M THINKING LIKE
SIDEWALK SAFETY REPAIR. WE NAMED
A HANDLED BUT THERE ARE
THOUSANDS MORE THAT WILL BE
HAPPENING. ADDITIONALLY OUR
POTHOLE REPAIR AND SOME OF OUR
SPOT PAVING WORK. SO YOU SEE
THAT 430 NAMED PROJECTS BUT
THERE'S -- A VAST MAJORITY MORE
THAT'S HAPPENING WHICH WE'RE
NOT NAMING IN THE PLAN BECAUSE
THE NUMBER OF PAGES HERE WOULD
BE -- VERY LONG. AND THEN WE
ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
THERE'S $190 MILLION
APPROPRIATED TO THE OVERALL
PORTFOLIO IN THE 2026 BUDGET. IN
THE DOCUMENT YOU'LL SEE
OUTLINED VIA KIND OF OUR 11
PRIMARY BUCKETS HOW MUCH WAS
APPROPRIATED DURING EACH KIND OF
PROGRAM AREA. ALL RIGHT. NEXT
SLIDE. ALL RIGHT. SO NOW WE'RE
GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE FUN
PART. WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GIVE
SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT YOU
WOULD EXPECT TO SEE IN THE PLAN.
HIGHLIGHT KIND OF JUST YEAH SOME
ITEMS THAT YOU EXPECT TO SEE.
WE'RE MAKING INVESTMENTS
FOCUSED ON IMPROVING SAFETY FOR
PEOPLE TRAVELING IN OWL MODES
ALL AROUND THE CITY. REALLY
FOCUSING ON ADVANCING OUR CITY
AND VISION ZERO GOALS. THIS
INCLUDES PROJECTS ON STREETS
MOST PRONE TO COLLISIONS AND
IMPROVING SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
AND PARKS AND TRANSIT AND
BUILDING NEW SIDEWALKS AND
CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS AND
PROTECTED BIKE LANES. AND THEN
PLANNING -- BEGINNING TO PLAN
MAJOR UPGRADES ALONG THE HIGH
PRIORITY CORRIDORS LIKE AURORA
AVENUE NORTH.
>> A LOT OF THE WORK WE DO AND A
LOT OF THE PROJECTS WE'RE GOING
TO BE DESIGNING AND BUILDING
REALLY COME FROM WORKING VERY
CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY. THERE'S
A FEW PROGRAMS THE NEIGHBORHOOD
INITIATED SAFETY PARTNER PROGRAM
AND LOW POLLUTION NEIGHBORHOODS
WHERE WE'LL BE BUILDING? CLOSE
COORDINATION WITH COMMUNITY. WE
ACTUALLY HAVE FEATURED SOUTH
HENDERSON STREET AS PART OF A
REALLY GREAT EXAMPLE OF JUST
VERY EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY WORK.
SLEEVE VERY EXCITED TO BUILD IT
ON SOUTH HENDERSON STREET. GIVEN
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK WE'RE
ALSO WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH
THE COMMUNITY TO FIND THE RIGHT
TIME TO DO THAT CONSTRUCTION
WHICH ORIGINALLY HAD BEEN
SCHEDULED TO START THIS WEEKEND.
THAT'S KIND OF ULTIMATE EXAMPLE
OF HOW RESPONSIVE TO KIND OF
SMALL AND LARGE PROJECTS JUST --
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD
AND WE'RE GOING TO ADJUST
ACCORDINGLY. ALL RIGHT.
>> SO WHILE YOU KNOW WE TALKED
ABOUT THE NEW THINGS THAT ARE
COMING TO STREETS AND ALSO
FOCUSED ON MAINTAINING THE
ASSETS WE HAVE AND THIS INCLUDES
LAUNCHING THE WORK ON THE BRIDGE
PROGRAM. YOU KNOW WE HAVE
CONTRACTS OUT WE'RE WORKING
WITH DESIGNERS TO GET THAT GOING
AND ALSO LOOKING AT -- DO OUR
WORK ON STRATEGIC REPAVING AND
BRIDGE PRESERVATION AND REPAIR
PLANNING WORK. WE'RE ALSO
CONTINUING TO WORK ON SUPPORTING
OUR FREIGHT ACCESS AND
CONNECTIONS TO THE PORT OF
SEATTLE. AND WE THINK OF ASSETS
THIS GOES BEYOND OUR PAVING AND
BRIDGES. AS WE LOOK AT KIND OF
DOING THESE SUMMER LARGER
PROJECTS WE LOOK AT HOW TO
MAINTAIN AND BUILD OUT THE
MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN
INCLUDING BIKE LANES AND
PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> 2026 IS A BIG YEAR WITH A LOT
GOING ON. WE HAVE MENTIONED
ALREADY THE WORLD CUP. REVIVE BY
5 AND HOW MUCH WE WANT TO KEEP
PEOPLE MOVING DURING THOSE
PROJECTS AS WELL AS REALLY
SHOWCASE THE CITY SO WE HAVE A
LOT OF PROJECTS THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO GET DONE BEFORE THEN.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE LIKE
MAJOR -- REGIONAL TRANSIT COMING
AND SO A LOT OF OUR IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO DESIGNED TO GET PEOPLE
SHORT TERM AND LONG-TERM OUR
SMALL AND LARGE PROJECTS
CONNECTING TO LIGHTRAIL STATIONS
AND THEN CONTINUING OUR TRANSIT
SPOT IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS THE
CITY.
>> SO AS I BELIEVE I MENTIONED
EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION,
ANOTHER THING THAT YOU'LL FIND
OUTSIDE OF PROJECT LISTS IN THE
LEVY DELIVERY PLAN IS YOU'LL SEE
SORT OF HOW MUCH WAS
APPROPRIATED IN THE BUDGET FOR
THIS YEAR FOR OUR VARIOUS LEVY
PROGRAM BUDGET. RIGHT NOW THEY
ARE OUTLINED IN KIND OF THE 11
MAIN CATEGORIES AND WHAT WAS
BUDGETED I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT
BECAUSE PROJECTS ARE DYNAMIC AND
THINGS CHANGE, THAT WHILE WE SEE
THIS NUMBER APPEAR WE DON'T
EXPECT TO SPEND LIKE $16.3
MILLION EXACTLY. WE EXPECT THERE
TO BE CHANGES YEAR TO YEAR BASED
ON WHERE WE ARE ON THE PROJECT
DELIVERY, WHAT EMERGING NEEDS
COME UP. SO JUST WANT TO -- THIS
WILL -- AS WE GET INTO KIND OF
OUR ANNUAL REPORT LATER WE'LL
PROBABLY HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS
IN THIS SPACE. IT WILL DISTRICT
PROJECT FUND IS ALSO NOTED ON
HERE. IT DOES -- HAVE $2 MILLION
ALLOCATED OF LEVY DOLLARS FOR
THE YEAR IN ADDITION TO OTHER
FUNDS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THAT
PROGRAM . CONTINUE ON LEVY
PROJECTS AND WE'RE CURRENTLY
OUT THERE YOU KNOW, THERE'S --
YOU KNOW, I GO OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY AND I SEE SIDEWALKS
BEING REPAIRED AND WORK BEING
DONE. YOU KNOW, AS WE SPEAK. WE
ARE GOING TO BE ENGAGING WITH
THE LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AS
I MENTIONED IN MARCH TO DO A
DEEPER DIVE AND HEAR THEIR
FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW
WE'RE DOING OUR WORK. WE'VE
ALSO OFFERED BRIEFINGS TO ALL OF
OUR MODAL BOARDS TO BRIEF THEM
ON THE LEVY DELIVERY PLAN AND
YOU KNOW, FOCUSING ON THE AREAS
THAT ARE RELEVANT TO THEIR
PURVIEW. SO WE'LL BE AT THAT
FREIGHT ADVISORY BOARD THIS
MONTH AND THEN THE PEDESTRIAN
ADVISORY BOARD NEXT MONTH ALONG
WITH OUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. AS WAS
ALREADY MENTIONED THE DISTRICT
PROJECT FUND IDEAS. THOSE ARE
DUE MARCH 1st AND WE'RE REALLY
EXCITED TO ENGAGE WITH ALL OF
YOU IN KIND OF WHAT THAT WORK
LOOKS LIKE. AT THE END OF MARCH
BE PUBLISHING THE 2025 ANNUAL
REPORT. THEN WE WILL BE ALSO
PUBLISHING AT THAT TIME OUR
FIRST QUARTERLY REPORT IN MAY
WE'LL BE PUBLISHING OUR FIRST
QUARTERLY REPORT FOR 2026. I
THINK THAT CONCLUDES KIND OF OUR
VERY HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF OUR
LEVY DELIVERY PLAN AND KIND OF
WHAT'S COMING UP FOR US AND
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO ANSWER
YOUR QUESTIONS TODAY.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH
SDOT COLLEAGUES. APPRECIATE THE
PRESENTATION HERE. I TAKE
CHAIR'S LIBERTY AND JUST KIND
OF FRAMING SOME INITIAL
DISCUSSION BEFORE WE TAKE
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS FROM MY
DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES HERE AT
THE DAIS. FIRST OFF JUST WANT TO
-- CLARIFY THERE ARE BROADLY I
THINK 11 BUCKETS OR TRAIN. S IN
TERMS OF SPENDING LEVY PROCEEDS
TO BUILD OR MAINTAIN COOL THINGS
IN OTHER WORDS. BUT IT IS ALSO
SOMEWHAT CONFUSING. SO I WOULD
ENCOURAGE NOT A STRICT ADHERENCE
TO THE CATEGORIES, THERE'S A
LOT OF OVERLAP AND CROSS
POLLINATION THAT HAPPENS ALL THE
TIME. SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A
DEDICATED VISION ZERO INVESTMENT
LINE ITEM IS ONE OF THE 11. THAT
DOESN'T MEAN ALL THE TRAFFIC
SAFETY PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS
THAT WE DO TO ADDRESS ROAD
SAFETY IN OUR RIGHTS OF WAY ARE
LIMITED TO THAT SPECIFIC
CATEGORY OF INVESTMENTS.
THERE'S A LOT, FOR EXAMPLE, OF
BIKING INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES
AND HARDENED INFRASTRUCTURE
AROUND SOME OF OUR EXISTING
BIKING CORRIDORS THAT I THINK
WOULD QUALIFY AS VISION ZERO
INVESTMENTS AS WELL. ANOTHER
EXAMPLE IS OUR MAJOR ROAD
REHABILITATION PROJECTS. UNDER
OUR CITY'S COMPLETE STREETS
POLICY, WHENEVER THERE IS A
MAJOR ROAD REHABILITATION
PROJECT AND WE KNOW COLLEAGUES,
THAT IS THE MOST INTENSIVE OF
THE WORK, TO REPAIR OUR ROADS
THAT WE CAN UNDERTAKE. THE NEXT
LEVEL IS SORT OF A SHAVE AND
PAVE. OTHERWISE KNOWN AS A MILL
AND OVERLAY WHERE THEY JUST
BASICALLY GRIND OUT THE OLD
STUFF. PAVE OVER IT. THAT
EXTENDS THE LIFE CYCLE FOR 10,
20 YEARS I THINK MAYBE. AND THEN
THERE'S SPOT IMPROVEMENTS
POTHOLE REPAIR BUT THE MOST
INTERNIVE FORM IS MAJOR ROAD
REHABILITATION WHERE THEY DIG
DEEP AND IT'S ALSO THE MOST
COST INTENSIVE. BUT UNDER OUR
STREETS, OR UNDER OUR CITY'S
COMPETE STREETS POLICY. WE MUST
SORT OF REIMAGINE WHAT THAT --
DESIGN OF THAT STREET SHOULD
LOOK LIKE TO ACCOMMODATE ALL
USERS CURRENT AND ANTICIPATED IN
THE FUTURE. AND SO THAT MEANS
THAT INCORPORATE THE DEPARTMENT
IN THEIR SMART TRAFFIC SAFETY
ENGINEERS INCORPORATE BEST
PRACTICES AND ENGINEERING
STANDARDS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
DO THAT. OFTEN THAT ENTAILS, FOR
EXAMPLE, NARROWING THE ROAD.
PUTTING MORE BARRIERS UP. BUT
IT'S -- ESSENTIALLY A COMPLETE
REIMAGINING OF THE USE OF THOSE
-- OF THAT PARTICULAR STRETCH OF
ROAD TO ACCOMMODATE ALL USERS
SAFELY. AND ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF
THIS IN RESPONDING TO A PUBLIC
COMMENT NOT IN THIS COMMITTEE
BUT AT COUNCIL MEETING A WEEK OR
TWO AGO. SOMEONE COMMENTED ABOUT
THERE'S A LOT OF -- REACHED OUT
TO MY OFFSIDE AND SDOT ABOUT A
LOT OF SPEEDING VEHICLES ON 35th
AVENUE SOUTHWEST. WHICH IS A
KNOWN PROBLEM AREA IN MY
DISTRICT. [ CAPTIONERS
TRANSITIONING ] UNDER THE
CURRENT DESIGN. BUT THAT'S WHY
IN THE LEVY, I WAS -- MY OFFICE
WAS ABLE TO ADD A STRETCH OF
THAT ROAD FROM MORGAN TO ALASKA
TO BE COMPLETELY RENOVATED.
REPAVED. AS PART OF MAJOR ROAD
REHABILITATION. SO THAT MEANS
THAT IT'S PART OF THAT DESIGN
PROCESS, YOU ARE GOING TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO MAKE CARS SLOW DOWN.
HOW TO ACCOMMODATE ALL USERS ET
CETERA. SO THAT I WOULD PAUSE
IT. AND I THINK THE DEPARTMENT
WOULD AGREE. IS ALSO A BROADLY A
VISION ZERO INVESTMENT. SO THESE
-- ALL THIS TO SAY IS THESE
VARIOUS LEVY CATEGORIES, THEY'RE
GUIDE POSTS ONLY. THEY'RE -- I
WOULD ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC FOLLOWING ALONG, MY
COLLEAGUES, THERE ARE SOME GOOD
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS DURING OUR
LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE EARLIER
THIS WEEK. SO THEY'RE GUIDE
POSTS ONLY. A LOT OF CROSS
POLLINATION AND OVERLAP BETWEEN
OTHER INVESTMENT CATEGORIES AS
PRACTICAL MATTER. COMMENT, QUICK
QUESTION. I -- I NOTE THAT THE
DEPARTMENT NOTED THAT WE WERE
ABLE TO HIRE 50 NEW POSITIONS.
AND WE AS A COUNCIL AUTHORIZED
THE HIRING OF I BELIEVE 71 TO 77
NEW POSITIONS TO HELP ENSURE A
STRONG START TO THE LEVY. DO YOU
STILL ANTICIPATE HIRING 20 PLUS
POSITIONS TO FILL THAT GAP? OR
IS THE CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED
THAT YOU -- YOU THINK 50 IS
ENOUGH?
>> GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THE PERSPECTIVE ON
ALSO COMPLETE STREETS AND WHY
SOME OF THE PROJECTS HAVE
ASTERISKS NEXT TO THEM SAYING
YOU SEE THIS THIS IN A LOT OF
PLACES.
>> CONTEXT MATTERS.
>> YES. WE DID -- WE HIRED AS
FAST AS WE COULD LAST YEAR, THE
FIRST PROCESS WE GO THROUGH IS
ALIGNING WHAT WE THOUGHT WITH
YOU NEED WITH ACTUALLY FITTING
IT INTO THE RIGHT
CLASSIFICATION. AND SOME OF
THOSE HAVE TAKEN A LITTLE LONGER
KIND OF JUST TO PUT THOUGHT
ESPECIALLY FOR THE NEW PROGRAMS.
LIKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATED
SAFETY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. SO
YES, ALL OF THE POSITIONS ARE
STILL IN PROCESS AND A LOT OF
THEM ARE FINALLY GETTING TO
THEIR HIRING STATE. SO.
>> AND ROUGHLY WHEN DO YOU
ANTICIPATE FINALIZING THOSE
HIRES?
>> WE CAN CHECK BACK ON ALL OF
THE DETAILS AND I KNOW THERE ARE
ACTIVELY -- I'M GOING TO SAY AT
LEAST TEN OF THOSE ARE GETTING
VERY CLOSE. I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE
SOME APPRENTICESHIP POSITIONS
THAT SORT OF NEED THE FIRST STEP
IN THAT AND THAT IS THE ONE WE
GOT THE MOST DELAYED. IT IS
STILL A REALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM
FOR US TO DO TO START
APPRENTICESHIP FOR SIGNAL
ELECTRICIANS. AND PUTTING THAT
INTO PLAY IS JUST TAKING US
LONGER THAN WE THINK. SO I'D SAY
SHORT-TERM QUITE NUMBER OF THOSE
ARE GETTING FILLED AND THEN I
THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE OF
LIDGERS -- LINGERING ONES THAT
WE'RE MAKING SURE ALL THE RIGHT
PIECES AND SOME OF THEM WE HAD
TO HIRE THE FIRST PERSON FIRST
WHO'S THEN GOING TO PICK THE
SUBSEQUENT FOLKS.
>> GOT IT. MAKES SENSE. PLEASE
CONTINUE TO KEEP ITS POSTED AND
KEEP THE LEVY OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE POSTED ON THIS AS WELL
BECAUSE THIS IS ACTUALLY ANOTHER
CREATURE OF -- OF SOME SPECIFIC
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE LEVY
OVERSIGHT -- THE LAST ITERATION
OF LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MADE
TO HELP IMPROVE -- TO HELP
DIRECTLY ADVANCE THE GOAL THAT I
MENTIONED AT THE OUTSET. WHICH
IS TO ENSURE OR KEY MOVE THAT I
MENTIONED WHICH IS TO ENSURE A
STRONG RAPID START TO THE LEVY
AND THIS IS WHAT YOU ALL PUT IN
YOUR -- IN YOUR THOUGHTFUL LEVY
RAMP-UP OR ON BOARDING PROPOSAL
AND ABOUT A YEAR AGO. AND SO NOW
WE JUST NEED TO CLOSELY TRACK
AND MONITOR THAT AND MAKE SURE
WE'RE WELL SET UPFOR SUCCESS.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THAT'S
ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR NOW. BUT I
DO WELCOME THOSE OF MY
COUNCILMEMBER COLLEAGUES
STARTING FIRST WITH
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> #.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR,
THANK YOU SO MUCH TEAM FROM
SDOT. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE
PRESENTATION AND GETTING THE
OVERVIEW. REALLY EXCITING TIME
TO GET TO WORK ON DELIVERING ON
THE LEVY. SO REALLY THRILLED. I
WANT TO JUMP IN WITH A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS ON CLIMATE AND
RESILIENCY. SO I'D LOVE TO HEAR
A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE
PLANNING AND THE UPDATES THAT
ARE -- WHOOPS EXCUSE ME, FOR THE
LOW POLLUTION NEIGHBORHOODS. I
KNOW THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS
FOR QUITE A WHILE AND MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE
NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN NARROWED
DOWN. BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE
FINAL SET. SO INSTEAD OF ME
TRYING TO TALK FOR YOU WHY
DON'T I ASK THE QUESTION? I'D
LOVE TO HEAR WHO WHAT PROGRESS
HAS BEEN MADE ON SELECTING THE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND YOU KNOW, JUST
WHERE THAT PROJECT STANDS TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER. WE ARE SO VERY
CLOSE TO BEING ABLE TO SHARE
THAT LIST SO WE'RE JUST PUTTING
THE VERY FINISHING TOUCHES ON
KIND OF -- YOU KNOW, GETTING ALL
THE DUCKS IN A ROW AND MAKING
SURE IT'S ALL DOCUMENTED. I
WOULD EXPECT YOU GET TO HEAR
ABOUT THAT WITHIN THE NEXT
MONTH.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR SAKA. THANK
YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE
TODAY. I THOUGHT YOUR ANSWER WAS
GOING TO BE REGARDING THE 20
HIRES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN WAS
THE FACT THAT BILL LA BOARD DOES
THE WORK OF TEN PEOPLE AND THEN
-- YOU KNOW, YOU HAD TO ADJUST.
[ LAUGHTER ] SO -- BUT NO. WELL,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
BRIEFING. AND ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS I HAVE IS I'M LOOKING
AT CREATING A YOU KNOW, WORK
WITH CENTRAL STAFF AND OTHERS, A
CITY OF SEATTLE MARITIME
STRATEGY. THERE'S SO MANY
ELEMENTS TO OUR MARITIME CITY
THAT IT'S NOT CAPTURED. AND WE
NEED TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE ALL
WORKING, YOU KNOW, PULLING THE
OAR IN THE SAME DIRECTION KIND
OF THING. THE FREIGHT PROGRAM IS
OF GREAT INTEREST. ANYTHING MORE
YOU CAN SAY ON THAT AND
SEPARATELY BILL, COULD WE MAYBE
YOU KNOW, GET WITH THE FREIGHT
PROGRAM TEAM AT SOME POINT?
>> SURE. OKAY. JUST GOING TO
JUMP IN ON THIS ONE TOO AND
SERENA CAN AUGMENT IF I HAVE
MISSED ANYTHING. IN A WAY THE
LEVY GAVE SORT OF UNPRECEDENTED
NEW MONEY TO MU THINGS. WE'RE
IN THE PLANNING MOMENT OF WHAT
WE DO WITH IT. WE HAVE THE
CONNECTIONS TO I-90 AND ALSO
HAVE THE HEAVY HOME THAT WORKS
AND WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY
WITH THE PORT ON WHAT DOES THAT
MEAN FOR THE NEXT STEP FOR THE
HEAVY HOME NETWORK. MOST LIKELY
ON HARBOR ISLAND. ALSO AT THE
SAME TIME THE FEDERAL GRANT
CLIMATE IS EVER CHANGING RIGHT
NOW. BUT ONE THING THAT SEEMS TO
RESONATE VERY WELL IS FREIGHT.
SO OUR GRANTS' TEAM IS ALSO
DOING AN AWFUL LOT OF WORK FOR
SOME OF THE FREIGHT PROGRAMS AND
SO A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IS
TRYING TO KIND OF MIX AND MATCH
AND OVERLAP THE RIGHT THINGS,
YOU KNOW, WHERE IS MONEY FOR
PLANNING HELPFUL? WHERE COULD WE
JUMP-START TO GET SOME
CONSTRUCTION FUNDS FOR IT? SO
IT'S A -- FEEL FREE TO ASK
CLARIFYING QUESTIONS ON --
BECAUSE WE'RE DOING A LOT OF
SPOTWORK BUT IT'S ALSO JUST A
VERY INTENSE PLANNING YEAR TO
SAY WHAT'S REALLY NEEDED AND
HOW DOES IT ALL WORK TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU. AND I WOULD LIKE
TO CORRECT YOU KNOW, BRIEFING.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR LIKE A
MARITIME STRATEGY BUT ALSO
IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF CREATING
OUR 15 MINUTE CITY. YOU KNOW, WE
NEED TO HAVE THE AGAIN -- STORES
CANT GET PRODUCT ON THEIR
SHELVES, STILL HAVE A FOOD
DESERT FOR EXAMPLE. VERY
IMPORTANT. NOT BY ACCIDENT BY
THE WAY THE FREIGHT PROGRAM AND,
YOU KNOW, I THINK CHAIR WOULD,
YOU KNOW, BACK ME UP ON IT. THAT
THAT'S NOT BY ACCIDENT.
>> IF I COULD ADD ONE OTHER
LITTLE COMMENT. SOMETHING THAT
CAME INTO PLAY BOTH FOR THE
FREIGHT PROJECTS AND ALSO FOR
SOME OF OUR BRIDGE PROJECTS, WAS
SORT OF BY DEFINITION THOSE ARE
ON A LOT OF REALLY BUSY
ARTERIALS THAT WE WANTED TO BE
VERY CAREFUL ABOUT DURING REVIVE
BY 5 AND DURING THE WORLD CUP.
SO WE ALSO VERY PURPOSELY ARE
NOT DOING MAJOR CONSTRUCTION ON
A LOT OF THOSE -- THIS
PARTICULAR YEAR.
>> THAT MAKES COMPLETE SENSE
BECAUSE THE REVIVE BY 5 IS NOT
JUST IMPACTING I-5. IT'S
IMPACTING 99 AND GREENWOOD AND
ANY NORTH/SOUTH YOU KNOW, KIND
OF CORRIDOR. WHICH IN A WAY IS A
SEGUE TO THE NEXT QUESTION
BECAUSE I'M REALLY INTERESTED
IN EAST/WEST AND I KNOW IT'S
NOT PART OF THE '26 BECAUSE IT
SHOULD BE COMPLETED. BUT DO YOU
HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE BELL
STREET EAST/WEST PROJECT? YOU
KNOW, THAT PIECE THAT LAST
COUPLE OF BLOCKS OF THE BELL
STREET PROJECT? IS THAT --
NEARING COMPLETION?
>> IS THAT THE ONE FROM LIKE 1st
TO WESTERN?
>> YES.
>> I KNOW -- I DON'T THINK
IT'S LEVY FUNDED WHICH IS --
WHY YOU DON'T SEE IT HERE. I
ALSO THINK --
>> IT'S PART OF IN WATERFRONT
PROJECT.
>> I THINK A LOT -- IS HAPPENING
WITH THAT. SO WE SHOULD JUST GET
THE DETAILS AND WE CAN PASS THAT
ON.
>> OKAY. I JUST THOUGHT I'D ASK
THAT BUT ALSO AS A LEADUP TO THE
NEXT QUESTION BECAUSE ITS GIVEN
ADVANCE WARNING IN TERMS OF
EAST/WEST STREETS AND COMING UP,
IS THE CROCKETT STREET. IN
DISTRICT 7 SPECIFICALLY QUEEN
ANNE. ANYTHING ON THAT?
>> I THINK -- YOU KNOW, WHAT
WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING, THIS
IS REALLY BEEN GENERATED FROM
COMMUNITY. THIS IS PART OF OUR
PEOPLE STREETS PUBLIC SPACES
PROGRAM. AND SO WE'RE WORKING
REALLY CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY TO
DETERMINE KIND OF WHAT THE RIGHT
TREATMENT IS RIGHT THERE.
GENERALLY IT'S MORE TECHNICAL
LIKE PLACE MAKING FOR PEOPLE. SO
I THINK -- MORE TO COME. BUT IT
WAS SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO BE
WORKING ON THIS YEAR AND REALLY
EXCITED TO ENGAGE WITH FOLKS IN
YOUR DISTRICT.
>> OKAY. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU.
AGAIN, THIS IS NOT PART -- THIS
IS NOT PART OF THE LEVY SPENDING
THIS YEAR BUT I WANT TO MAKE
ESSENTIALLY EDITORIAL COMMENT
BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
DISCUSSION IN THE NEWS LATELY
REGARDING THE CONVENTION CENTER.
AND THAT THAT HAS SPOKEN -- THE
STORIES IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGES THAT IMPACT THE
CONVENTION CENTER. AND I REALIZE
A LOT OF EAST -- ANOTHER
EAST-WEST CORRIDOR IS PIKE PINE
AND THE EFFORTS DONE FOR PIKE
PINE BY SDOT ARE VERY IMPORTANT
FOR THAT. SO I THANK YOU AND I
DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING
BIG RIGHT NOW. I KNOW CITY LIGHT
WAS DOING SOME LIGHTING THING
PROJECTS. BUT I JUST WANTED TO
THANK THAT BECAUSE IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, THESE
EAST-WEST CORRIDORS ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT. IT'S ALSO IMPACTING
LIKE OUR BIKE CONNECTIONS AS
WELL. AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK
DONE SPEAKING OF BIKE LANES AND
SO FORTH. THE CONNECTIONS WITH
SEATTLE CENTER AND 4th AND YOU
KNOW, JUST -- AGAIN, NORTH SOUTH
IS ONE THING. EAST WEST OR
DIAGONALS ARE ANOTHER. SO
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WORK.
AND THE LAST QUESTION -- OR
STATEMENT IS AGAIN, DISTRICT 7
FUNDS AGAIN, KIND OF ASIDE. WE
WILL DEFINITELY BE USING
DISTRICT 7, VISION ZERO,
BASICALLY PEDESTRIAN AND
BICYCLIST SAFETY VICK SEE ROW
WORLD AND WE PRETTY MUCH HAVE
OUR SET LIST. WE CAN WORK ON
THAT TO GET AHEAD OF THE
CHAIR'S MARCH 1st DEADLINE.
GOOD STEAD WITH OUR CHAIR. SO --
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. THAT'S OUR SHARED
AGREED UPON UNANIMOUSLY AGREED
UPON GOAL AND I WOULDN'T CALL IT
A DEADLINE. BUT IT IS A GOAL
THAT WE WORKED OUT TOGETHER AS
YOU'LL RECALL. AND WITH OUR --
WITH OUR SDOT PARTNERS. SO WE'RE
-- SO YEAH. MARCH 1st. SOUNDS
LIKE YOU ARE ON TRACK ON TARGET.
THANK YOU.
>> BY THE WAY, PACKAGE, YOU
WEREN'T SEEING THE EXCITEMENT
HERE WHEN THE CHAIR WAS LOOKING
AT THE POTHOLE STATS AND THE
BRIEFING. I JUST WANTED TO PUT
THAT OUT THERE TOO.
>> OKAY. I WAS -- I WAS GOING TO
MENTION THAT LATER BUT I'LL JUST
SAY YES. DEFINITELY PIQUED MY
INTEREST AND WAS REALLY ONLY
EXCITED. BUT DELIGHTED ACTUALLY
I WAS TICKLED TO SEE THAT. COOL
STAT. IN THE LEVY, WE MADE A
COMMITMENT THAT ESSENTIALLY
AMOUNTED TO A SERVICE LEVEL
AGREEMENT SOA THAT WE WILL AS A
CITY, WILL REPAIR 80% MINIMUM OF
POTHOLES THAT -- REPORTED
POTHOLES, WITHIN 72 HOURS AND
THE DEPARTMENT THROUGH SOME BOLD
INVESTMENTS AND POTHOLE
INCLUDING THOSE THAT ARE IN THE
LEVY, WAS ABLE TO DELIVER GO
ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT. AND FILL
90% OF REPORTED POTHOLES WITHIN
72 HOURS AND I THINK THAT SHOULD
BE THE NEW STANDARD. WE'RE
ALWAYS TRYING TO RAISE THE BAR.
AND HOLD OURSELVES TO ACCOUNT.
SO YES. I'M TICKLED BY THAT.
LOVE IT. ALL RIGHT. COOL. THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND
VICE CHAIR WRINK THE FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU
FOR PREPARING THIS FOR US AND
THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE FOR
YOUR CONTINUED WORK AND THANK
YOU TOT VOTERS FOR APPROVING
THIS LEVY TO KEEP SEATTLE
MOVING. NONE OF THIS WOULD BE
POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU. SO THANK
YOU. AND I KNOW THERE ARE SO
MANY WHO ARE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT
THESE PROJECTS WILL MEAN FOR OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. FOR INCREASING
MOBILITY AROUND OUR CITY. AND I
HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS TODAY
JUST THINKING ABOUT THE
IMMEDIATE TERM AND LONG-TERM
MORE STRUCTURALLY. THINKING IN
THE IMMEDIATE TERM, WHAT CAN WE
EXPECT TO SEE IN TERMS OF
PEDESTRIANIZATION? INVEST 789S
FROM THE LEVY IN TIME FOR FIFA.
>> A LOT OF THE THINGS HOPEFULLY
WE GOT DONE IN YEARS PRIOR.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
CONSISTENT WORK. I FEEL LIKE THE
BIGGEST THINGS THAT ARE
HAPPENING AROUND THERE. THERE'S
GOING TO BE SOME SHORT TERM WORK
MORE IN LIKE THE PEOPLE STREETS
AND PUBLIC SPACES. NEAR
OCCIDENTAL AND THE LONGER PLAN
WOULD COME MUCH LATER AND SOME
VARIOUS SPOT THINGS ON
APPROACHES. WE ARE GETTING OUR
PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING THROUGH THE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
THAT'S UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW.
FORTSON SQUARE IS IN THE MIDDLE
OF CONSTRUCTION AND THAT IS
GOING TO BE DONE -- NOT TRYING
TO LIKE BUILD BIG THINGS BUT
MORE -- KEEP CLEAN THE -- YOU
KNOW, THAT ONE IMAGE OF THE
LIGHTS ON 3rd AVENUE FOR
ACTIVATION. YOU KNOW, THAT CAN
REALLY JUST CHANGE THE TONE OF
THE SPACE. LOT OF THINGS THAT
WILL BE HAPPENING I BELIEVE
DURING WORLD CUP LIKE THERE'S
THE -- THE NORMAL DAY WHEN
THERE'S LIKE A NORMAL AMOUNT OF
PEOPLE AND THINGS LIKE THAT MAKE
A DIFFERENCE AND THEN THERE'S
GOING TO BE MOMENTS DURING WORLD
CUP WHERE LIKE THE PEOPLE WILL
MAKE THE PEOPLE STREET JUST BY
HOW MANY PEOPLE WE'LL HAVE.
JUST ALSO REALLY DOING OUR WORK
TO PROVIDE THE SPACES FOR THAT
WHERE NEEDED AND HOW TO KEEP
TRAFFIC MOVING AROUND.
>> REALLY PRIORITIZING THOSE
LOCATIONS IN LIKE THAT WOULD
HELP FACILITATE TRAVEL IN AND
OUT OF DOWNTOWN FOR THE WORLD
CUP. BUT YEAH, KIND OF THOSE
LIKE -- ONGOING LIKE SMALLER
IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL BE FRONT
LOADING.
>> HAND IS UP AND FOLLOW-UP TO
THAT. I KNOW IN PREVIOUS
DISCUSSIONS THERE'S A STATED
GOAL FOR HOW MANY OF THE
VISITORS ASSOCIATED WITH FIFA
ARE ARRIVING AND -- NOT COMING
IN VEHICLES. DO YOU KNOW THAT
FIGURE AT THIS TIME? I CAN'T
RECALL IT.
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT OFF THE
TOP OF MY HEAD.
>> IT'S A GREAT GOAL. THAT'S
COMING FROM THE LOCAL ORGANIZING
COMMITTEE AND SO ON AND I THINK
WE HAVE AN ASPIRATION AND ALSO
KNOW THE PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS OF
DOWNTOWN. NOT EVERYBODY CAN
DRIVE. AND I DON'T THINK IT'D
BE BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY IF
EVERYBODY IS DRIVING HERE. SO
JUST WANTED TO CONNECT TO THOSE
DOTS THINKING ABOUT THE
INFORMATIONMENTS THAT WE CAN
MAKE IN TIME FOR FIFA TO SUPPORT
AS MANY FOLKS WALKING, TAKING
THE BUS, USING MICROMOBILITY
OPTIONS IS A REAL GOAL AND I
HOPE THAT CONNECTIVE TISSUE IS
THERE. MY NEXT QUESTION IS JUST
RELATED TO THINKING --
STRATEGICALLY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
HOW THE DEPARTMENT IS THINKING
ABOUT WHERE WE'RE SPENDING THE
DIFFERENT BUCKETS. THE LEVY
ACROSS THE EIGHT YEARS HAS, YOU
KNOW, DIVIDED UP IN DIFFERENT
BUCKETS. BUT OF COURSE YEAR OVER
YEAR THAT KIND OF RATIO OF
SPENDING LOOKS REALLY DIFFERENT.
SO AS I WAS LOOKING ACROSS AND
THINKING AND LOOKING AT SOME OF
THE BIKE INVESTMENTS WE'RE
FRONT LOADING SOME OF THE BIKE
INVESTMENTS THERE. CAN YOU JUST
UNPACK A LITTLE BIT OR PULL BACK
THE CURTAIN KIND OF WHAT'S
DRIVING THE DECISIONS ABOUT HOW
WE SLICE UP THE PIE?
>> YES. I CAN GIVE YOU A -- YEP.
ASK FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS BUT I
THINK THERE'S -- SOME OF THE
PROGRAMS LIKE STREET MAINTENANCE
AND MODERNIZATION WHICH ARE
REALLY LARGE CORRIDOR PROJECTS
OR OUR TRANSIT CORRIDOR
PROJECTS, THAT REQUIRE
MULTIYEARS FOR DELIVERING SO WE
ARE, YOU KNOW, THOSE -- YOU WILL
SEE THE SPENDING OF THAT LIKE IT
WILL BE SLOW TO START AND THEN
IT WILL KIND OF -- IT WILL
INCREASE OVER TIME. BIKE PERHAPS
IS ALSO PART OF THE LARGE
CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS BUT YOU
MIGHT SEE THE SPENDING KIND OF
TRAVEL ALONG THAT CORRIDOR
PROJECT. SOME OF THE STUFF WE'RE
FRONT LOADING IS THE STUFF WE
CAN DO QUICK IMPLEMENTATION FOR.
SO THOSE TEND TO BE SMALLER
IMPROVEMENTS BECAUSE THEY'RE
DELIVERED BY OUR CREWS AND SO
THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE OUR
CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS WHICH ARE
MORE KIND OF OUR SPOT PROGRAMS
AROUND THE CITY. WE ARE TAKING A
LOOK KIND OF THROUGH THE EIGHT
YEARS ABOUT KIND OF WHAT WE CALL
OUR BOULDERS, OUR BRIDGE
PROJECTS AND BIG PAVING PROJECTS
AND LOOKING HOW WE CAN SEQUENCE
THOSE AND THINK ABOUT IMPACTS TO
COMMUNITY AND THINGS LIKE FIFA
AND REVIVE BY 5. LIKE OTHER
CONSTRUCTION LIGHTRAIL
CONSTRUCTION, AND THEN SEEING
HOW THOSE SMALLER ELEMENTS IN
TERMS OF SPENDING SPRINKLE IN
NOSE. SO THAT'S I THINK -- WHAT
KIND OF DRIVES OUR OVERALL SPEND
IS GOING TO BE THE BIG LARGE
PROJECTS. BUT WE ARE TRYING TO
FRONT LOAD AS MUCH AS OF THE
SMALLER STUFF AS POSSIBLE. THAT
SAID SOMETIMES SMALL DOLLAR
SPEND DOESN'T OLE CALL SMALL
IMPACT TO COMMUNITY. WE HAVE
SOME OF IN PROJECTS THAT AREN'T
NECESSARILY GOING TO BE
MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PROJECT BUT
ALSO MATE TIME TO DELIVER. SO
JUST -- REALLY VARIES PROGRAM BY
PROGRAM. I HOPE THAT ANSWERS
YOUR QUESTION.
>> IS THAT -- YOU KNOW, IT'S --
IT IS WORK THAT OUR CREWS CAN
DELIVER THAT CAN ALSO DELIVER IT
IN -- YOU KNOW, RELATIVELY BAD
WEATHER. COMPARED TO A LOT OF
OTHER WORK THAT IS DEPENDENT ON
WARM DRY WEATHER.
>> THANK YOU ALL IN THAT. JUST
KIND OF HELP. TO UNDERSTAND HOW
THE DEPARTMENT IS THINKING ABOUT
BALANCING THE INVESTMENTS. AND
WITH -- I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT ALL THESE
PROJECTS COMING TO FRUITION.
I'M CURIOUS ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
HOW WE'RE THINKING ABOUT SOME
OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE
IN THE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES THAT
ARE THERE. SO HOW MUCH OF THE
WORK ASSOCIATED WITH ALL THESE
PROJECTS IS BEING DONE WITH
IN-HOUSE CREWS AND HOW MUCH ARE
WE BIDDING OUT? DO THESE
PROJECTS FALL UNDER THE CITY'S
COMMUNITY WORK FORCE AGREEMENT?
AGAIN, THESE ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS AND WE
PALL WANT TO SEE THEM COME TO
FRUITION AND I'M THINKING ABOUT
THE GOOD UNION JOBS THAT COME
WITH ALL THE CAP COOL PROJECTS.
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND
WE HAVE AT LOT OF WAYS O
DELIVERING AND WE HAVE A
DELIBERATE STAFF WHO WORK -- WE
CAN GO FASTER WHEN IT'S
IN-HOUSE DESIGN AND IN-HOUSE
DELIVERY. THAT IS THE PLACE WE
-- ANYTHING THAT CAN GO THAT
ROUTE. THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF
HIRING HAPPENED. THAT IS
ABSOLUTELY A PLACE WE FOCUS A
LOT. WE ARE ABLE TO DO SOME OF
THE BIG CAPITAL PROJECTS ALSO
WITH IN-HOUSE DELIVERY. ONCE WE
GET UP TO THAT $5 MILLION
THRESHOLD, WE DEFINITELY HAVE
COMMUNITY WORK FORCE AGREEMENTS
FOR OUR CONTRACTOR WORK AND ARE
TRYING TO BUILD THAT IN. JUST
BECAUSE OF THE BULK OF HOW MUCH
WE'RE STARTING UP, WE ABSOLUTELY
ARE ALSO AT THE SAME TIME USING
CONSULTANTS TO HELP WITH DESIGN
AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT OF
-- WE BUILT SO MANY PROJECTS AT
THE END OF THE MOVE SEATTLE
LEVY. SO SOME OF THEM ARE STILL
IN CONSTRUCTION. AND SO THE --
WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH HUMANS
SAY TO DO THE CONSTRUCTION
MANAGEMENT. AND SO IT'S THAT
BALANCE BETWEEN HIRING FOR THE
SURGE MOMENTS I THINK SOME OF
THE SURGE LIGHT NOW IS KIND OF
PLANNING AND DESIGN FOR THE
REALLY BIG THINGS. AND WE STILL
HAVE A LITTLE BIT IN THE
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT BUT TO
THE EXTENT WE CAN, WE ARE DOING
THINGS IN-HOUSE.
>> FABULOUS. AND MY LAST
QUESTION TODAY, I KNOW THIS
DISCUSSION IS REALLY FOCUSED ON
ALL THE PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH
LEVY INVESTMENTS AND AS YOU
MENTIONED THE DEPARTMENT IS
ENGAGED IN ALL -- ALL KINDS OF
OTHER WORK. NOT NECESSARILY
ASSOCIATED WITH LEVY FUNDS. BUT
I'M WONDERING HOW DOES THE
DEPARTMENT CONSIDER WHEN WE HAVE
MULTIPLE PROJECTS HAPPENING
WITHIN THE SAME AREA AND THERE
MAY BE A MULTIPLIER EFFECT
HAPPENING? WHEN WE HAVE MULTIPLE
BLOCKS OF SIDEWALK THAT CAN BE
DOWN BECAUSE OF A FEW DIFFERENT
PROJECTS HAPPENING. AND HOW THAT
CAN IMPACT, YOU KNOW, IN THE --
TEMPORARY TERM, MOBILITY FOR
RESIDENTS AND HOW IS THE
DEPARTMENT KIND OF HANDLING AND
WORKING ON COORDINATING THAT?
>> OKAY. ACTUALLY AS SHE WAS
TALKING ABOUT HOW SOME OF THOSE
BIG BOULDERS GET SCHEDULED, I
MEAN, THINGS WE'RE THINKING
ABOUT WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO
SCHEDULE THOSE WAS LIKE -- DO
THEY ALREADY JUST HAVE A BIG
PROJECT COME BY? BECAUSE WE
REALLY DON'T WANT TO -- A
CONSTRUCTION FATIGUE IS A REAL
THING. AND KIND OF NOT
UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE'RE BACK
HERE NEXT YEAR AND NOW YOU ARE
TOUCHING THIS. PARTLY BY -- US
DOING THIS WORK, BY SERENA'S
TEAM, REALLY YOU KNOW, STARTING
US THINKING FURTHER AND FURTHER
AHEAD, THAT IS HELPING A LOT
BECAUSE THEN WE CAN FIND OUT OH
WAIT, I'M GOING TO BE IN THAT
AREA TOO. WELL, MAKE SENSE TO
HAVE TWO OR THREE THINGS, YOU
KNOW, BECOME A BIGGER THING. BUT
ACTUALLY REALLY, REALLY RELATES
TO YOUR WORK FORCE QUESTION TOO
THOUGH BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE LOT
OF THINGS THAT ARE A BIG THING.
YOU ARE GOING OUT WITH THE
CONTRACTOR OFTEN INSTEAD OF OUR
CREWS. SO CONSTANT BALANCE,
CONSTANT CONVERSATION. SOMETHING
THAT WE HAVE -- IT'S RELATED TO
-- WE TALKED ABOUT IT. DURING
THE LEVY. TIED INTO A FEW
PROGRAMS. BUT THE IDEA OF THE
GEOTEAMS REPRESENTATIVE STARTING
TO GIVE MORE NONTRANSACTIONAL
WAY OF ENGAGING WITH IN
COMMUNITY NOT JUST ABOUT A
SPECIFIC PROJECT, THAT'S ALSO
REALLY GOING TO HELP US INFORM
SOME OF OUR STAGING BECAUSE A
LOT OF THE OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT WE DO IT IN SO MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS. A LOT OF IT IS
TIED TO A PROJECT. WE'RE KIND
OF ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT A VERY
PARTICULAR THING AND BUILDING UP
OUR ABILITY TO REALLY UNDERSTAND
HOW ONE THING -- THEY DON'T
HAVE TO BE IN THE SAME PLACE TO
HAVE IMPACT. SOMETHING THAT'S
HAPPENING BLOCKS AWAY OR FURTHER
DOWN A CORRIDOR CAN HAVE BIG
IMPACTS. SO THAT'S A SKILL
WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING RIGHT
NOW. IT'S A LITTLE MORE THE
BLUNT LIKE WE'RE JUST ASKING A
LOT OF QUESTIONS AND TRYING TO
GET THE LAY OF THE LAND. AND AS
WE BUILD OUR SENSE OF BEING ABLE
TO CARD MAID MORE YEARS IN
ADVANCE AND CAN UNDERSTAND WE'LL
CONSISTENTLY HONE. SOMETIMES YOU
SEE SOMETHING IN A PLAN AND THEN
-- YOU SEE IT THE NEXT YEAR AND
WE'RE AT THE SAME PLACE,
THAT'S BECAUSE IT DIDN'T MAKE
SENSE TO KEEP IT GIVEN OTHER
THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR ANSWERING
MY QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU VICE CHAIR.
APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTFUL
QUESTIONS THERE. TWO QUICK
COMMENTS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.
GREAT QUESTIONS ON THE -- ON THE
WORK FORCE AND YOU KNOW, THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY AS PART
OF THE LEVY STAFFING. AND
SPENDING TO HIRE MORE, YOU KNOW,
OF OUR LABOR PARTNERS. GOOD
UNION LIVING WAGE JOBS AND I
JUST NOTE THAT THE POTHOLE
RANGER TEAM WHO -- AMONGST
DUTIES FILLING AND REPAIRING
POTHOLES, THEY ALSO HELP WITH
SIDEWALK REPAIR AMONGST OTHER
THINGS. THEY ARE PROUD MEMBERS
OF LAHUNA. AND SO I THINK MANY
OF THE FRONT LINE CREWS
DELIVERING THIS IN-HOUSE FROM AN
IN-HOUSE PERSPECTIVE ARE LABOR
PARTNERS AS WELL. SO -- AND THEN
GREAT QUESTION ON THE FIFA
READINESS AND PREP, REST HAY
SURED VICE CHAIR, LATER THIS
YEAR, WE WILL LIKELY IN THE
SPRING, WE WILL HAVE A DEDICATED
AGENDA ITEM TO SPECIFICALLY
DISCUSS FIFA PREP, PLANNING AND
READINESS. WE'LL INVITE OUR
PARTNERS FROM SDOT SOME OTHER
COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS WELL
LIKELY KING COUNTY METRO AND
FIGURE OUT THE PLAN TO -- EXPAND
BUS SERVICE. SO WE CAN MEET
THESE GOALS WHATEVER THEY ARE.
WHATEVER THE GOALS ARE. SCOOTER
CORRALS ALL THOSE THINGS. SO IN
ANY EVENT. THANK YOU VICE CHAIR.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> YOU MENTIONED A POTENTIAL
DELAY FOR HENDERSON STREET. JUST
TALK ABOUT WHAT THE PLAN WAS, IF
THERE ARE ANY -- WE CAN TAKE
THIS OFFLINE LATER. BUT IF
THERE'S ANYTHING MORE YOU CAN
JUST SHARE ON THE TIMING OR
WHETHER THERE MIGHT BE ANY
POTENTIAL CHANGES TO PUBLIC
SAFETY RELATED -- YOU KNOW,
LIGHTING OR OTHER ISSUES THAT
ARE COMING TO THE FOREFRONT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. AND YOU KNOW, I
SAID PAUSE WITH THE CAPITAL P..
WE ARE GOING TO STAY POSITIONED
TO START THAT PROJECT. WE WERE
-- STARTING WITH SOME SIGNAL
WORK THAT'S THE FIRST THING
THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND
THEN -- ACTUALLY OUT DOING A
WALK THIS FRIDAY. TO SEE IF
THERE'S -- ANYTHING MORE.
ANYTHING SHORTER TERM. WHEN IT
FEELS LIKE THE RIGHT TIME TO
ACTUALLY START THAT
CONSTRUCTION. SOME OF THE THINGS
WE WERE GOING TO DO WITH THE
SIGNALS WERE LIKE LEAD
PEDESTRIAN INTERVALS AND THINGS
THAT WOULD INCREASE PEDESTRIAN
SAFETY AND YOU KNOW, JUST --
POTENTIALLY BE HELPFUL AND MIGHT
STILL BE WANTED PRETTY SOON. SO
WE'RE JUST -- HAPPY TO ADAPT TO
WHATEVER THE TIMING FEELS RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUPLE
OF QUICK ONES FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE. THANK YOU
COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL
QUESTIONS. ANSWERED QUITE A FEW
OF MINE. BUT I STILL HAVE -- ONE
MORE. JUST NOTE ON THE BRIDGE
WORK. THE ADVANCED DESIGN STAGES
FOR BALLARD, FREEMONT AND
UNIVERSITY BRIDGES, JUST -- I
LOVE BRIDGES. AND GEEK OUT ABOUT
THEM REGULARLY. SO -- JUST KEEP
UP THE WORK ON BRIDGE
MAINTENANCE AND SEPARATELY WE'RE
GOING TO INVITE YOU ALL BACK
LATER THIS YEAR SOMETIME TO
FOCUS SOLELY ON BRIDGE
MAINTENANCE. STATUS. AND NEEDS.
SO WE'LL DO A DEEPER DIVE ON
THAT BUT APPRECIATE THE HARD
WORK SO FAR ON BRIDGES. THE --
OKAY. THE TRANSIT PASSENGER
SAFETY LINE ITEM. CAN YOU TALK A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE
DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS TO USE
LEVY AND NONLEVY FUNDS TO BOOST
TRANSIT SAFETY THIS YEAR?
>> ALL RIGHT. LET ME JUST GET TO
THAT RIGHT PAGE BECAUSE I GET --
AMBASSADORS AND TRANSIT SAFETY
OFFICERS MIXED UP. OKAY. GREAT.
SO CONTINUING THE WORK WE DID
LAST YEAR, AND FUNDING THE TEAM.
THE TEAM HAS BEEN PROVIDING SOME
EXTRA INVESTMENT TO TRANSIT
SAFETY OFFICERS. AND IN
PARTICULAR, METRO HAS A LOT OF
THESE PEOPLE ALREADY. THEY ARE
AROUND DEPLOYED IN VARIOUS PARTS
OF THE CITY. WHAT WE WERE ABLE
TO DO WITH OUR MONEY WAS TO
SUGGEST LIKE FOCUS AREAS FOR
THAT. FOR INSTANCE, THE SOUTH
JACKSON CORRIDOR. ON 3rd AVENUE.
AND SO WE HAVE PROPOSED
CONTINUING THAT INVESTMENT FOR
THE SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR. WE
HAVE RESEARCH UNDERWAY ABOUT
LIKE WHAT ACTUALLY MOVES THE
NEEDLE ON SAFETY. LIKE WHAT
MAKES PEOPLE FEEL SAFE. AND THE
TEAM IS GOING TO BE DOING A LOT
OF WORK THIS YEAR TO HELP INFORM
WHAT OUR 2027 INVESTMENT IS
GOING TO BE FOR TRANSIT SAFETY
BASED ON WHAT WE HEAR FROM
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY
YOUTH, ABOUT -- OF WHAT WE CAN
DO BEST TO HELP THAT.
>> YEAH. THANK YOU. I WOULD -- I
WOULD CAUTION YOU AS YOU
UNDERTAKE RESEARCH ON WHAT
ACTUALLY MAKES PEOPLE SAFE,
DON'T RECREATE THE WHEEL.
DON'T DUPLICATE EFFORTS.
BECAUSE THE KING COUNTY REGIONAL
TRANSIT SAFETY TASK FORCE
LITERALLY HAS A VERY
COMPREHENSIVE ROBUST LIST. THEY
ALREADY DID THE WORK. AND
REFLECTED MORE THAN JUST EACH
INDIVIDUAL MEMBER CITY THAT
PARTICIPATED IN THAT. AND THAT
WAS COLLEAGUES AS YOU'LL RECALL,
ONE OF THE -- ONE OF THE OUTPUTS
FROM THE TRAGIC MURDER IN '24
OF KING COUNTY METRO BUS
OPERATOR SEAN YIM. YOU KNOW,
THERE WAS A REGIONAL TRANSIT
SAFETY TASK FORCE THAT WAS PUT
TOGETHER. REPRESENTATIVES FROM
ALL CITIES, ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND
THEY HAVE -- THERE'S LITERALLY
A SHINY REPORT SO I WOULD
CAUTION YOU NOT TO -- LIKE SPIN
YOUR WHEELS TOP ON DUPLICATING
EFFORT. INSTEAD FIGURING OUT HOW
TO DUPLICATE FROM A SEATTLE
PERSPECTIVE. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT
UP. THE -- THE WORK THEY WOULD
DO IS ACTUALLY INFORMED
DIRECTLY. THEY HAD PULLED FROM
THE REGIONAL TASK FORCE PLAN.
AND ESPECIALLY THE FOCUS ON
ENGAGING WITH YOUTH. A BIT MORE
HOW SOME OF OUR -- PEOPLE
STREETS AND PUBLIC SPACES AND
SOME OF OUR MORE COMMUNITY
CENTERED WORK, BUT YEAH. JUST
TRYING TO CALIBRATE WHAT WE'RE
DOING BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
UP THE TASK FORCE.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. LET'S
SEE HERE. JUST -- QUICK NOTE ON
PAGE 22 OF THE DOCUMENT ON ONE
OF THE NEW -- WANT TO CALL OUT
AND HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THE
SPECIFIC NEW SIDEWALK INVESTMENT
BEING CONSTRUCTED THIS YEAR. THE
LAST BULLET THERE ON -- AT THE
TOP OF THAT PAGE. SOUTHWEST
HUDSON STREET BETWEEN DELRIDGE
AND 26th AVENUE. THAT IS AN ITEM
THAT MY OFFICE SINCE I TOOK
OFFICE TO YEARS AGO, HAVE BEEN
STRONGLY ADVOCATING FOR AND
PUSHING THE DEPARTMENT TO DO.
AND SO -- I HAVE BEEN -- WE'VE
BEEN UNBLOCKING AND PROVIDING --
WELL, YEAH, PROVIDING UNBLOCKING
AND TACKLING ASSISTANCE AND
REMOVING BARRIERS INCLUDING BY
PROVIDING FUNDING SO ALL THIS TO
SAY REALLY GLAD TO SEE BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY COMMUNITY LONG
REQUESTED THIS PARTICULAR
SIDEWALK UNDER OUR 2024 SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN, THAT WE
APPROVED AS A COUNCIL TWO YEARS
AGO NOW. ALL THE OBJECTIVE
EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR
SUGGESTING NEW SIDEWALKS, IT
CHECKS EVERY BOX FROM SAFE
ROUTES TO SCHOOLS TO, YOU KNOW,
EQUITY AND CONSIDERATIONS AND
HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED
NEIGHBORHOODS. ALL THAT. SAFE
ROUTES TO TRANSIT. ALL THE
THINGS. SO ALSO RIGHT IN FRONT
OF THE DISABLED AMERICAN
VETERANS ORGANIZATION IN WEST
SEATTLE. A -- VETERANS SERVICES
ORGANIZATION. MANY DISABLED
VETERANS OBVIOUSLY REGULARLY
VISIT. SO REALLY, REALLY EXCITED
TO SEE THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR
DELIVERING THAT THIS YEAR.
QUESTION ON THE GOOD GOVERNANCE
AND EQUITABLE IMPLEMENTATION
CATEGORY OF INVESTMENTS. MORE
SPECIFICALLY, THE PROPERTY TAX
RELIEF OUTREACH AND EDUCATION.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT'S STATUS
AND EFFORTS THERE AND I'LL JUST
SAY FROM A -- THE AUTHOR'S
INTENT WHEN WE WROTE THAT UP, A
COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WAS THAT AT
THE TIME, THIS WAS THE SINGULAR
LARGEST INVESTMENT IN LEVY IN
SEATTLE'S HISTORY. HAS SINCE
BEEN SUPERSEDED BY THE RECENTLY
GENEROUSLY VOTER APPROVED FEP
LEVY. OVER EIGHT YEARS THIS ONE
-- THAT WAS THE FEP IS SIX
YEARS. AND SO WE WANT TO -- AT
THE SAME TIME COINCIDED WITH
RECENT RECHANGING TO THE
CLASSIFICATION OF WHAT BECOMES
ELIGIBLE FOR ADDITIONAL PROPERTY
TAX RELIEF SERVICES AT BOTH THE
STATE AND THE COUNTY LEVEL. AND
SO WE WANT TO HELP EMPOWER
PEOPLE AND CONNECT THEM WITH
THESE COOL EXISTING PROGRAMS AND
RESOURCES GIVEN THAT UNIQUE
COMBINATION OF FACTORS. WHAT WE
ENVICKED WAS EDUCATION PIECES
AND MAILERS POTENTIALLY, DIGITAL
-- JUST REACHING OUT AND HUMAN
SERVICES AT SENIOR CENTERS.
WHATEVER -- TALKING TO PEOPLE.
IN ANY EVENT, CAN YOU TALK MORE
ABOUT HOW YOU ARE BRINGING THAT
TO LIFE THIS YEAR?
>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING WITH
OTHER CITY AGENCIES AS WELL AS
THE COUNTY TO SEE WHAT'S
ALREADY BEING DONE AND LOOKING
AT THE BEST WAY TO LEVERAGE
EXISTING TOUCH POINTS. TO
SUPPORT KIND OF THIS -- OUTREACH
AND ENGAGEMENT FOR PROPERTY TAX.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S KIND OF THE
GENERAL APPROACH AND THERE'LL
BE MORE TO COME IN A PUBLIC WAY
LATER THIS YEAR BUT WORKING WITH
OUR OTHER LIKE HSD FOR INSTANCE
TO SEE KIND OF THEIR BEST
PRACTICES ARE IN DOING THAT
WORK.
>> PLEASE DO KEEP US POSTED AND
IT -- MIGHT MAKE SENSE BECAUSE
WE HAVE A FEP LEVY AND ANOTHER
AT LEAST ONE MORE PENDING LEVY
THIS YEAR. LIKE -- KIND OF --
HARMONIZE AND CONNECT. NOT JUST
LIMITED TO THE TRANSPORTATION
LEVY. SO -- ALL RIGHT. FINAL
COMMENT ON AN ITEM -- A VERY
IMPORTANT STRATEGIC WORK STREAM
THAT WAS INTENTIONALLY
STRUCTURED AND DESIGNED TO BE
STOOD UP IN CONNECTION WITH THE
LEVY. AND THAT IS THE FINANCIAL
FUNDING TASK FORCE. WHEN WE
PASSED THAT, COLLEAGUES, AS
YOU'LL RECALL OR JUST A
REFRESH, IF YOU WEREN'T ON
COUNCIL AT THAT TIME, WE -- SOME
OF THE TRANSPORTATION ADVOCATES
FOR WERE CALLING AT THE TIME FOR
A $3 BILLION LEVY. AND WHICH BY
THE WAY DIDN'T INCLUDE BRIDGES.
AND YOU KNOW, MINDFUL OF THE
COST INCREASING COSTS AND
SENSITIVITY AROUND THAT AND
BROADER AFFORDABILITY CRISIS,
WHERE WE LANDED WAS THE
COMPROMISE APPROACH WAS A $1.55
BILLION LEVY. AND BUT EVEN IF WE
HAD -- WE ALSO RECOGNIZED AT THE
TIME THAT EVEN IF WE HAD A $3
BILLION LEVY. STILL WOULDN'T
MEET THE NEED TO HELP US
DELIVER. BRIDGES, THE OVERALL
STATE OF ROADS AND PAVEMENT
CONDITIONS, AND LAST BUT NOT
LEAST, ADDRESSING OUR MISSING
SIDEWALK NETWORK. CONSTRUCTING
NEW SIDEWALKS. AND -- WE
PROVIDED A TRANSFORMATION MALL
GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT IN
BUILDING NEW SIDEWALKS FOR
EXAMPLE. THE -- THEN EXECUTIVE
HAS A VERY GENEROUS INVESTMENT
OF $60 MILLION AND WE DOUBLED IT
ON THIS FLOOR. AND IT'S STILL
NOT ENOUGH. SO WE -- SO WE PUT
TOGETHER THIS TASK FORCEBACKED
BY RESOURCES INCLUDING
CONSULTING AND LEGAL SERVICES
POTENTIALLY TO HELP VET THESE
IDEAS SO THAT -- AND
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT FLOW FROM
THIS TASK FORCE TO ENSURE THAT
THE IDEAS ARE NOT JUST WELL
INTENDED IDEAS BUT LIKE TRULY
ACTIONABLE AND IMPLEMENTABLE
FINANCIAL FUNDING STRATEGIES TO
HELP US BETTER ACHIEVE AGAIN,
YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC TARGETS FOR
THOSE THREE ASSET CLASSES, ROADS
BRIDGES AND NEW SIDEWALKS. WE'RE
GOING TO -- I HAVE INVITED THE
DEPARTMENT TO COME JUST GIVE US
A QUICK UPDATE ABOUT THAT WORK
STREAM. AT OUR VERY NEXT S. T.
E. P. S. MEETING IN TWO
WEEKSMENT JUST GOING TO CHECK IN
ABOUT THAT. BUT WE'LL
DEFINITELY WANT TO -- THERE ARE
SOME PAST DUE DELIVERABLES AND
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THERE AND
WE NEED TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM
GOING. SO WE'LL WANT TO
CONSIDER THAT. AND MAKE SURE
THAT THAT TASK FORCE IS ACTUALLY
STOOD UP LATER THIS YEAR BUT
JUST CHECK IN ABOUT IT IN TWO
WEEKS, STAY TUNED. ALL RIGHT.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. GO AHEAD.
FINAL QUESTION ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU. I SKIPPED OVER
THIS BUT YOU WERE MENTIONING THE
BRIDGES. I JUST WANTED TO ASK
ABOUT THE MAGNOLIA BRIDGE. VERY
IMPORTANT. AND TIED TO THAT IS
THE EMERGENCY ACCESS ROAD
BECAUSE AS EVERYONE KNOWS, WE'RE
PAST DUE ON THE MAGNOLIA BRIDGE.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT CAN COME DOWN
ANYTIME AND EMERGENCY ACCESS IS
REALLY IMPORTANT FROM AN
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS POINT OF
VIEW. FOR THOSE THAT DON'T
KNOW, BASICALLY CONNECTING THE
MARINA UP UNDERNEATH NEARBY THE
-- BRIDGE BELOW THE MAGNOLIA
BOULEVARD TO LIKE WHERE THE
BEACH IS. AS YOU COME DOWN OUT
OF MAG KNOLL MA VILLAGE. IN THAT
SOME WAYS THAT SHOULD BE LIKE
THE FIRST THING BECAUSE AGAIN WE
DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN WITH THAT BRIDGE.
PARTICULARLY IF THERE'S AN
EARTHQUAKE BUT ALSO THE
MAINTENANCE ISSUES SO FORTH.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT. I CAN SAY WE DO HAVE A
TRAFFIC ENGINEER ACTIVELY
LOOKING AT THAT RIGHT NOW. OFFER
TEAM USING SOME OF THE CONCEPTS
THAT CAME OUT OF THE MAGNOLIA
BRIDGE REPLACEMENT STUDY. WHAT I
DON'T HAVE AND BILL I DON'T
KNOW IF YOU HAVE IS THE ACTUAL
-- ETA ON WHEN WE'RE GETTING
THE ANSWER BACK FROM THEM. I
KNOW IT'S A VERY ACTIVE ITEM.
>> YEAH. I KNOW THAT -- TRAFFIC
ENGINEER IS WORKING ON THE
PLANNING. TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
THE FEASIBILITY OF THE ROUTE. IT
REALLY ONLY CAME UP AS AN IDEA
DURING THE BRIDGE STUDY PUBLIC
OUTREACH. IT WASN'T -- YOU
KNOW, FORMAL ADOPTED PLAN OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT WAS --
ESSENTIALLY REVIVED BY THE LEVY.
BUT YOU KNOW, WE ARE ABLE TO
SORT OF DIG UP THAT INFORMATION
FROM THE OUTREACH THAT GOES BACK
TO 2017 AND 2018. THAT TRAFFIC
ENGINEERS LOOKING AT IT AND HE
WORKS WITH THE PORT A LOT. AND
SO -- HE'S YOU KNOW, THERE'S --
PORT PROPERTY INVOLVED AND SO
TRYING TO SORT OF FIGURE OUT THE
FEASIBILITY RIGHT NOW OF THAT
CONCEPT. AND YOU KNOW, I'D SAY
-- AT LEAST WITHIN THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS, WE CAN PROBABLY JUST,
YOU KNOW, PROVIDE YOU A BRIEFING
ON WHERE THAT STANDS AND WHAT
HE'S LEARNING FROM THAT. FROM
THAT WORK.
>> OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. EXCELLENT
DISCUSSION COLLEAGUES.
APPRECIATE YOUR VERY THOUGHTFUL
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS AND
STRONG ENGAGEMENT IN THIS VERY
IMPORTANT TOPIC. IF -- THERE ARE
NO FINAL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES, WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO OUR SECOND ITEM OF
BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK READ
ITEM TWO INTO THE RECORD.
>> TWO. PRESENTATION FROM SDOT
ACCESSIBILITY IN OUR PUBLIC
RIGHT OF WAY ADA AND CONSENT
DECREE COMPLIANCE.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND
WILL OUR NEWEST PRESENTERS
PLEASE JOIN US AT THE TABLE AND
WHEN YOU ARE READY, INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION S.
>> GOOD MORNING, JIM CURTIN.
>> I'M THE SDOT PROGRAM
MANAGER. I THINK OUR TIME IS
TRUNCATED HERE TODAY SO I'M
GOING TO -- GET THE MIC OVER TO
TOM HERE AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.
AS I MENTIONED I MANAGE THE
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
WITHIN SDOT. WE HAVE A LOT OF
THE MODAL PROGRAMS SO OUR TEAMS.
WE HAVE OUR FREIGHT GROUP IN
THAT GROUP AS WELL. BUT ADA ALSO
RESIDES IN PROJECT DEVELOPMENT.
AND TOM IS OUR SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERT ON THE MATTER. AND HE
ADVISES NOT JUST SDOT BUT REALLY
THE CITY AS A WHOLE. AND REALLY
HAS AN AWESOME HANDLE ON ALL
THINGS ADA. AND WITH THAT, I
WILL TURN IT OVER TO TOM TO GO
THROUGH THE PRESENTATION WE HAVE
FOR YOU TODAY.
>> THANK YOU JIM. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBERS. TODAY, I YOU
KNOW, WE REALLY WANT TO GO OVER
THIS REALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM
WITHIN SDOT AND LIKE JIM SAID
WITHIN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE WANT DO
GROUND IN OUR TITLE 2
RESPONSIBILITIES AND GO OVER THE
REQUIREMENTS AGAIN. NOT ONLY FOR
SDOT BUT FOR THE ENTIRE CITY IN
GENERAL. WE'LL GO OVER SDOT'S
ADA PROGRAM AND OUR MISSION,
SCOPE, AND THE COMPOSITION OF
OUR TEAM. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE
REYNOLDSSON CONSENT DECREE, THE
REQUIREMENTS THEREIN AND ALSO
DISCUSS THE ADA TRANSITION PLAN.
ALSO GROUND US IN TALKING ABOUT
BUILDING AN ACCESSIBLE SEATTLE.
AFTER ALL IT'S A CIVIL RIGHT.
ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE PEPLATION
HAS A DISABILITY AT SOME POINT
IN THEIR LIFE AND SDOT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL
ACCESSIBILITY WITHIN THE PUBLIC
RIGHT OF WAY. AND THAT ALSO HAS
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS ON IT AS
WELL SO FEDERAL AND STATE
FUNDING CAN COME FROM, YOU KNOW,
ADA REQUIREMENTS. BUT I ALSO
WANT TO GROUND AND UNDERSTAND
THAT IT'S BEYOND JUST BASIC
COMPLIANCE. WE WANT TO ACHIEVE A
UNIVERSAL DESIGN APPROACH. BUILD
STREETS AND SIDEWALKS THAT ARE
BUILT FOR EVERYBODY. SO PEOPLE
CAN AGE IN PLACE AND WE CAN HAVE
A MORE -- YOU KNOW, PEDESTRIAN
FRIENDLY SEATTLE. [ INAUDIBLE ]
SO THAT MEANS WE CANNOT EXCLUDE
ANYBODY FROM PARTICIPATION. IN
ADDITION TO TITLE II
REQUIREMENTS THERE ARE PAST
COURT CASES SPECIFICALLY BARTON
VERSUS CITY OF SACRAMENTO,
CALIFORNIA IN 2022 OR SORRY,
2002. THAT DETERMINED THAT THE
PEDESTRIAN RIGHT OF WAY
INCLUDING SIDEWALKS AND CURB
RAMPS FALL ZS UNDER PROGRAM
ACCESS REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE
ADA. SO WE HAVE THESE
REQUIREMENTS. IN ADDITION,WELL
GO INTO THE DETAILS OF THE
REYNOLDSON CONSENT DECREE. THAT
WAS BECOME IN 2017 THAT WILL GO
INTO SOME DETAILS ON THOSE
SPECIFICS AND THOSE REQUIREMENTS
THAT WE HAVE TO FULFILL EVERY
YEAR. BEFORE THAT I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT THE ADA PROGRAMS MISSION
AND SCOPE. SO OUR MISSION IS
SIMPLE. NUMBER ONE, FIRST AND
FOREMOST, THE ADA PROGRAM IF IT
HAD THE ORIGIN STORY IT WOULD BE
THE CONSENT DECREE. IT WAS
TORMENTED AS A RESULT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS AND COMMITMENTS.
BEYOND THE DECREE HOWEVER, THE
PROGRAM INTAKES PUBLIC REQUESTS
PERTAINING TO ADA AND
ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES IN THE
PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. WE WORK TO
REMOVE BARRIERS TO ACCESS VIA
INSPECTIONS OF EXISTING PUBLIC
FACILITIES AND DEVELOP PROJECTS
TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY. WE'RE
ALSO THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS
FOR THE ORGANIZATION ON ALL
THINGS ADA LIKE JIM MENTIONED.
WE DEVELOP POLICIES AND GUIDANCE
DOCUMENTS AND TRAINING TO
SUPPORT SDOT AND ACCESS, IN THE
CITY'S RIGHT OF WAY AND LAST BUT
NOT LEAST BELISTEN TO THE
COMMUNITY AND WORK ON INNOVATIVE
APPROACHES TO IMPROVE AC SISMENT
IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY AND
GO BEYOND MINIMUM COMPLIANCE
WITH THE FOCUS ON UNIVERSAL
DESIGN. THE SCOPE IS VAST AND
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
>> SO WITH ADA PROGRAM
MANAGEMENT, AS THE ADA
COORDINATOR, I OVERSEE ALL
ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE PROGRAM.
IN ADDITION, I WORK WITH ALL THE
OTHER ADA COORDINATORS IN THE
CITY AS WELL AS THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ADDRESS
COMPLAINTS AND REMOVE BARRIERS
AND IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY FOR
EVERYONE. I LISTEN TO THE
DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND A FORUM
THROUGH OUR PEDESTRIAN ACCESS
ADVISORY COMMITTEE. WE MEET
QUARTERLY EVERY YEAR AND DISCUSS
ISSUES AND DEVELOP PROJECTS FROM
THOSE ISSUES. THE ADA PROGRAM
AGAIN STARTED WITH THE BEGINNING
OF THE CONSENT DECREE. AND IT
WAS REALLY PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON
CURB RAMP DELIVERY. HOWEVER,
OVER MY FOUR YEARS IN SDOT, I
HAVE IDENTIFIED THREE KEY FOCUS
AREAS AND DEVELOPED SPECIFIC
TEAMS WITHIN THE PROGRAM TO
ADDRESS EACH ASPECT. FROM
CUSTOMER SERVICE TO PLANNING AND
PROJECT PRIORITIZATION ALL THE
WAY THROUGH TO DESIGN AND
INSPECTION OF ACCESSIBLE
PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND
WILL GO INTO EACH OF THOSE TEAMS
IN THIS PRESENTATION.
>> OURSELF FUR CUSTOMER
EXPERIENCE TEAM INTAKES A
VARIETY OF ADA REQUESTS WHICH
CAN BE UPWARDS OF 600 REQUESTS
YEAR. IT DOESN'T CORRECTLY ACT
ON MANY OF THESE, WE COORDINATE
WITH OTHER DIVISIONS AND
RESPONSIBLE TEAMS TO INSURE THAT
AC SISMENT AND COMPLIANCE IS
MET. FOR EXAMPLE THIS INCLUDES
SIDEWALK BARRIER REMOVAL
REQUESTS AND MAINTENANCE
ACTIVITIES SUCH AS UPLIFTS OR
OVER GROWN VEGETATION. THE
REQUESTS WE DO HAVE CONTROL OVER
INCLUDE CURB RAMPS AND
ACCESSIBILITY PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS
OR APS. LICK I MENTIONED, WE
ALSO UTILIZE REQUESTS AND
FEEDBACK FROM THE DISABILITY
COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY WITHIN
THE PAC. WE RESEARCH BEST
PRACTICES FOR DEVELOPING
PROJECTS AND EFFORTS TO SUPPORT
INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS TACTILE
WORKING SURFACE INDICATORS. THE
IMAGE ON THE RIGHT ACTUALLY
SHOWS ONE OF OUR CUSTOMER
EXPERIENCE MANAGERS SURVEYING A
PARTICIPATE WITH A NEW TACTILE
TREATMENT IN THE "U" DISTRICT
LIGHTRAIL STATION RIGHT NEXT TO
IT. THIS IS A TEAM THAT INTAKES
REQUESTS AND DEVELOPS PROJECTS
RELATED TO BARRIER REMOVAL
PROJECTS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE
DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED AN
ACCESSIBILITY PASSENGER LOADING
ZONE ADJACENT TO THE ELEMENT
SCRY SCHOOL FOR A STUDENT WHO
HAD MOBILITY ISSUES. THIS TEAM
ALSO HANDLES OUR MAIN PROGRAM,
OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE REQUESTS
CURB RAMP PROGRAM WHICH A
REQUIREMENT. AS WELL AS
COORDINATION OF ALL CURB RAMP
IMPROVEMENTS FROM OTHER SDOT
PROJECTS WHICH I'LL DISCUSS IN
A FEW SLIDES. AND LAST BUT
CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, IS OUR
DESIGN REVIEW AND INSPECTIONS
TEAM. WHO PROVIDES TECHNICAL
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE ON ALL
THINGS ADA AND ACCESSIBLE
DESIGN. WE PROVIDE TRAINING TO
ALL SDOT STAT SPECIFICALLY
RELATED TO CURB RAMPS AND ALSO
HAVE A MOBILE INSPECTION APP
CALLED CREA, OUR CURB RAMP
INSPECTION APP WHICH IS USED BY
ANYONE WHO INSPECTS CURB RAMPS
WITHIN THE CITY OF SAT AND IT'S
A REQUIREMENT OF THE CONSENT
DECREE. ALSO INSPECTS FACILITIES
FOR COMPLIANCE AND REVIEWS PLANS
AND DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO APPROVE
CURB RAMPS SO ALL THE PROJECTS
THAT YOU HEARD ABOUT IN THE LEVY
COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE
PROJECTS WE REVIEW FOR
ACCESSIBILITY. AND INCLUDING
MAXIMUM EXTENT FEASIBLE
DOCUMENTATION. SO IT'S NO
SURPRISE THAT BUILDING CURB
RAMPS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE CAN
BE DIFFICULT GIVEN THE EXISTING
DEVELOPED FACILITIES AND THE
TOPOGRAPHY CHALLENGES. SO MY
TEAM AND I MAKE SURE EACH CURB
RAMP IS BUILT COMPLIANT OR
COMPLIANT TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT
FEASIBLE. NOW WE'LL GO INTO THE
OVERVIEW OF THE REYNOLDSON
CONSENT DECREE. 18 YEAR DECREE
FOR NOT ONLY SDOT. BUT THE CITY
OF SEATTLE IN GENERAL. AND THERE
ARE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS WITH
THE AGREEMENT ENDING IN 2035. SO
BACK IN 2014, LIKE MANY
JURISDICTIONS, NOT ENOUGH
ATTENTION WAS PAID TO CURB RAMPS
AND ACCESSIBILITY IN THE PUBLIC
RIGHT OF WAY. SO AFTER YEARS OF
NEGOTIATION, THIS AGREEMENT WAS
FINALIZED AGAIN BACK IN 2017 AND
GOES FOR 18 YEARS UNTIL 2035. SO
WHILE SDOT SPECIFICALLY IMAGINES
ASPECTS OF THE DECREE WITH
COORDINATION FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THE DECREE
APPLIES TO SEATTLE AND NOT JUST
SDOT. AS A RESULT ALL ENTITIES
WORKING IN THE RIGHT OF WAY MUST
INCORPORATE THE TOOLS AND
REQUIREMENTS AND PROCESSES THAT
WE HAVE DEVELOPED IN ORDER TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMPLYING
WITH NOT ONLY THE ADA BUT THE
REYNOLDSON CONSENT DECREASES
WELL. SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND
EVEN PRIVATE DEVELOPERS. ANYBODY
WHO'S TOUCHING THE RIGHT OF WAY
HAS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE
COMPLYING WITH THE DECREE. TAKES
A TEAM TO SUPPORT COMPLIANCE
WITH THIS CONSENT DECREE. AND
OVER THE YEARS, IMPROVED OUR
TOOLS AND PROCESSES TO DELIVER
AND TRACK CURB RAMP IMPROVEMENTS
AND INCLUDING ANNUAL
REQUIREMENTS REPORTING AND
OVERSIGHT. SO LET'S GET INTO
THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT. AT
A MINIMUM ANNUALLY, WE HAVE TO
DELIVER 1,250 CURB RAMPS A YEAR.
OUT OF THOSE 1250 A MINIMUM 150
HAVE TO BE RELATED DIRECTLY
TOKOS MORE SERVICE REQUESTS ON A
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS AS
NEEDED. WE ALSO HAVE ADA
SELF-EVALUATION AND TRANSITION
PLAN REQUIREMENTS THAT'S WITHIN
THE CONSENT DECREE AS WELL AS
ADA STAFF TRAINING IN PARTICULAR
USING OUR CURB RAMP INSPECTION
APP THAT I JUST MENTIONED. WE
HAVE QUARTERLY MEETINGS WITH THE
PLAINTIFF'S COUNSEL AND THE
NAME PLAINTIFFS AND IT REQUIRES
AN ADA COORDINATOR: HENCE WHY
I'M HERE RIGHT NOW. REGARDING
THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REQUEST
PROGRAM, OUR MAIN PROGRAM WITHIN
THE ADA PROGRAM, WE GET OVER 600
REQUESTS ANNUALLY. 0 OF THEM
SPECIFICALLY TO CUSTOMER SERVICE
REQUESTS. SO ON AVERAGE WE GET
ABOUT 50 REQUESTS JUST FOR CURB
RAMPS ALONE. HOWEVER, IN PAST
YEARS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2024, WE
HAD 91 REQUESTS FOR 277 CONCERN
RAMPS. THIS IS A THREE YEAR
PROCESS. WITH INTAKES STARTING
AND THEN GOING INTO SURVEY SO WE
NEED TO GET ALL THE YOU KNOW,
THE SURVEY POINTS, SO THEN
THAT'S IN YEAR ONE. BY YEAR TWO
WE DO THE DESIGN AND THEN YEAR
THREE, WE DO THE CONSTRUCTION
AND APPROVAL AND INSPECTIONS. SO
HISTORICALLY, WE'LL CONSTRUCT
BETWEEN 150 TO 170 CURB RAMPS
ANNUALLY AVERAGING OR ABOUT 156
CSCs AS WE CALL THEM A YEAR. SO
SINCE 2017, SDOT HAS DELIVERED
OR PERMITTED 11,609 CURB RAMPS.
ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THEM BEING
DELIVERED BY SDOT. WITH THE
OTHER THIRD BEING PRIVATE
DEVELOPERS AND UTILITY COMPANIES
THAT ARE TRIGGERING CURB RAMP
REQUIREMENTS. ON AVERAGE AS WELL
SDOT DELIVERS OR PERMITS 1,362
CURB RAMPS. BASED ON THE CONSENT
DECREE AND LASTLY A THIRD OF THE
RAMPS WE APPROVE ARE CONSTRUCTED
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT FEASIBLE.
AGAIN, WE LIVE IN A CITY WITH A
LOT OF EXISTING FACILITIES. A
LOT OF TOPOGRAPHY CHALLENGES. SO
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IF THE CURB
RAMPS AREN'T BUILT EXACTLY TO
REQUIREMENTS THEY'RE BUILT TO
THE MAX NUMB EXTENT FEEDSABLE
AND WE HAVE TO JUSTIFY THAT.
EACH RAMP HAS DOCUMENTATION WHY
IT CANNOT BE BUILT PER
COMPLIANCE. LASTLY I'LL GOAT
INTO OUR ADA TRANSITION PLAN.
RAN EVALUATION OF THE EXISTING
ACCESSIBLE BARRIERS AND A PLAN
TO REMOVE IMPED 789S TO
ACCESSIBILITY. OUR LAST PLAN WAS
DEVELOPED IN DECEMBER 2020 AND
SO THIS IS ANOTHER TITLE II
REQUIREMENT THAT ALL MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENTS AND ALL TITLE II
SPITIS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A
TRANSITION PLAN. THIS BECAUSE
SDOT IS SUCH A LARGE
ORGANIZATION, THIS IS A SUBSET
OF THE CITY-WIDE TRANSITION PLAN
THAT WE WORK WITH WITH OUR TITLE
II ADA CORD NAY TOUR FOR THE
CITY AND THE PROGRAM COMPLIANCE
MANAGER. AND WHAT A TRANSITION
PLAN ENTAILS IS NUMBER ONE,
IT'S AN INVENTORY OF EXISTING
BARRIERS. SO IT'S
IDENTIFICATION OF EXISTING
PHYSICAL OBSTACLES. WE HAVE TO
DEVELOP A PRIORITIZED SCHEDULE
FOR WHEN THEY WILL BE ELIMINATED
AND CORRECTED AND A DESCRIPTION
OF METHODS THAT WILL BE USED TO
MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE WITH OUR
STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICES AND
THEN IDENTIFICATION --
IDENTIFYING PERSON RESPONSIBLE
WHICH WOULD BE ME. ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION. A LOT OF FOLKS
HERE AND I OFFICIALLY BELIEVE
YOU KNOW, THE SAYING NOTHING
ABOUT US WITHOUT US. I THINK
NOTHING WITHOUT US ABOUT US SO
GETTING FEEDBACK FROM IN
COMMUNITY IS CRITICAL FROM THE
DISABILITY COMMUNITY SO WE CAN
DEVELOP PROJECTS THAT ARE
SPECIFIC TO THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES IN SEATTLE. A
LOT OF TIMES YOU KNOW, WITH OUR
TRANSITION PLAN, WE COORDINATE
WITH OTHER PROJECTS WITH LEVY
PROJECTS AND WITH ANY OTHER
NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS OR ANY
OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING IN
THAT ARE IMPROVING PEDESTRIAN
FACILITIES. AND THOSE COUNT FOR
TRANSITION PLAN EFFORTS AS WELL.
BUT THE MAIN CRUX OF THE
TRANSITION PLAN IS SO THAT THERE
ARE AREAS THAT DON'T GET LEFT
BEHIND. FOR EXAMPLE IF WE'RE
PAVING PROJECT, AND THERE MIGHT
BE A COMMUNITY CENTER A FEW
BLOCKS TO THE WEST, OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT, AND THERE'S
INACCESSIBLE SIDEWALK. WE WOULD
COME IN AND DEVELOP A PROJECT
THAT WOULD THEN YOU KNOW, GO
ALONG WITH THE SIDEWALK
IMPROVEMENTS FOR THAT MAJOR
PAVING PROJECT SO WE CAN THEN --
FOLKS CAN ACCESS THE COMMUNITY
CENTER USING TRANSIT AND THE
SIDEWALK AND WHATNOT. SO
CURRENTLY, THE STATUS OF OUR
TRANSITION PLAN, WE'RE RIGHT
NOW FINALIZING A PUBLIC SURVEY
AND SO IN 2026, WE'RE GOING TO
BE PUTTING OUT A PUBLIC SURVEY
AND THEN FOLLOWED BY FOCUS
GROUPS AND LISTENING SESSIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE USING OUR PAC
OUR PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE AS WELL AS OTHER CITY
PARTNERS SUCH AS THE DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS, COMMUNITY
LIAISONS TO OBTAIN FEEDBACK ON
PRIORITY DESTINATIONS AND ANY
BARRIERS TO ACCESS. IN LATE 2026
TO 2027, WE'LL LOOK AT A
PRIORITIZATION OVERLAY AND
DEVELOP ADDITIONAL
SELF-EVALUATION EFFORTS BUT WE
CANNOT FIX SOMETHING IF THERE'S
A BARRIER THERE. WE ALSO INCLUDE
UPDATES TO OUR STANDARD PLANS SO
WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR FOLKS IN
SPU AND INTERNALLY TO UPDATE
STANDARD PLANS. WE HAVE UPDATES
TO OUR STREETS ILLUSTRATED AND
OUR RIGHT OF WAY IMPROVEMENTS
MANUAL. AND WORKING WITH OUR
TRANSPORTATION EQUITY FRAMEWORK
AND SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION PLAN
TO COORDINATE ALL THE PROJECTS.
AND WE'RE SLATED TO DEVELOP AND
FINALIZE THIS TRANSITION PLAN IN
2028. AND THAT CONCLUDES THE
PRESENTATION.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
PRESENTATION HERE. I WILL HAVE A
FEW COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS RATHER
MYSELF BUT I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR
TO MY COLLEAGUES TO CHIME IN
FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVES. IF ANY.
OH, YEAH. OKAY. GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
PRESENTATION. I REALLY
APPRECIATE IT. AND REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR FOCUS ON SERVICE
DELIVERY AND I APPRECIATE YOU
CALLING OUT, YOU KNOW, NOTHING
WITHOUT US WITHOUT US AND THE
COLLABORATION WITH THE DIVERSE
DISABILITY COMMUNITIES AND FOLKS
WE HAVE HERE IN SEATTLE. AND
WITH THAT I KNOW A LOT OF THE
PRESENTATIONS TODAY WAS FOCUSED
ON CURB RAMPS. AND I KNOW WHY
GIVEN THE SETTLEMENT AND THAT
CORE AREA OF WORK. WHAT I'M
CURIOUS TO HEAR MORE ABOUT AND I
WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M
UNDERSTANDING, YOU TALKED ABOUT
THOSE 600 REQUESTS THAT YOU
RECEIVED. AND YOU WERE SAYING
THOSE ARE 600 REQUESTS AND THOSE
INCLUDE CURB RAMPS BUT THEY ARE
NOT LIMITED TO. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT'S CENT.
>> OKAY. AND SO BASED ON THAT
I'M CURIOUS IF YOU CAN SHARE
MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE HEARING
OR IF THERE'S SORT OF -- A TOP
THREE CONCERNS OR TRENDS WHEN IT
COMES TO THE REQUESTS THAT YOU
ARE RECEIVING FROM FOLKS IN THE
DISABILITY COMMUNITY.
>> NO, THAT'S A VERY GOOD
QUESTION. COUNCILMEMBER. AND I
THINK YOU KNOW LOOKING AT THESE
REQUESTS LIKE I SAID WE DO A LOT
OF COORDINATION. YOU KNOW, OUR
PROGRAM IS SPECIFICALLY FOR CURB
RAMP COMPLIANCE. BUT WE
COORDINATE PRIMARILY WITH
SIDEWALKS. WHETHER IT'S
SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE IN THE FORM
OF UPLIFTS YOU KNOW, AND SO WE
WORK WITH OUR SIDEWALK SAFETY
REPAIR PROGRAM TO WORK ON THOSE
COMPLAINTS. WE ALSO HAVE
MAINTENANCE ISSUES WITH REGARDS
TO OVERGROWN VEGETATION AND YOU
CAN IMAGINE IF WE HAVE -- FOR
EXAMPLE A FIVE FOOT SIDEWALK AND
THERE'S -- YOU KNOW, SOME BERRY
BUSHES THAT ARE STICKING OUT. WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE ARE
TRIMMED BACK SO WE KEEP
ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS
ROUTE. THE TOP THREE WOULD BE
YOU KNOW, TOM TWO WOULD BE
SIDEWALKS YOU KNOW, BEVELS AND
SHIMS AS WELL AS MAINTENANCE
ISSUES. AND THEN CURB RAMPS
WOULD PROBABLY BE THE THIRD BUT
IF YOU DON'T COUNT THAT, I
WOULD SAY ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN
SIGNALS WOULD BE FIRST --
ANOTHER ONE. OUTSIDE OF CURB
RAMPS. AND THOSE ARE THE TACTILE
FUNCTIONS THAT YOU HAVE ON
PEDESTRIAN PUSH BUTTONS SO THAT
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND, DEAFBLIND
OR LOW VISION, CAN SAFELY CROSS
THE STREET.
>> THANK YOU, THAT'S INCREDIBLY
HELPFUL AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
THEN I JUST -- I WANT TO GO BACK
TO A LITTLE BIT AROUND
COORDINATION. IF YOU CAN SPEAK
TO THAT A BIT MORE. YOU WERE
SORT OF TALKING ABOUT THE NEED
TO MAKE SURE YOU GIVE THAT
COMMUNITY CENTER EXAMPLE TO SORT
OF LOOK A LITTLE BIT FURTHER
DOWN THE STREET. SORT OF MY TAKE
AWAY FROM THAT RIGHT OF
CONSTRUCTION IS HAPPENING YOU
ARE GOING OKAY, CAN FOLKS GET
ALL THE WAY TO THIS AREA OF
INTEREST OR THIS PLACE WHERE
PEOPLE MIGHT BE WANTING TO GO?
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW WHEN YOU
GET THOSE 600 REQUESTS, THE
INFORMATION FROM THOSE ARE
SHARED WITH OTHER PARTS OF SDOT?
JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THEY
ALREADY HAVE AN EXISTING OR A
PLANNED PROJECT, THAT THOSE
REQUESTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET
INTEGRATED INTO THOSE PROJECTS?
I THINK -- WE CARE A LOT ABOUT
NOT YOU KNOW, NOT GOING BACK AS
WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT IN
THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION AND
ALSO LOOKING FOR THE
OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THINGS DONE
A LITTLE BIT FASTER.
>> NO, THAT'S A VERY GOOD
QUESTION. AND YOU KNOW, SO WHEN
WE ARE CAN BE DECIDE
COORDINATION IS THE NAME OF THE
GAME. WHETHER IT'S COORDINATING
OF TIMING OF PROJECTS OF FUNDS
WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON, REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK TOGETHER
AND SO YES, YOU KNOW, MY PROGRAM
SPECIFICALLY THE CURB RAMP
DELIVERY YOU KNOW S A SMALL
PIECE OF WHAT WE DO. YOU KNOW,
ACTING AS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS
BUT WE WANT TO GO INTO THE AREA
AND WE TOUCH IT ONCE. AND SO
YEAH, WE USE THAT NEEDBACK AND
WE WORK WITH OTHER PARTNERS
BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER
PRIORITIZATIONS THAT, FOR
EXAMPLE, SIDEWALK SAFETY REPAIR
PROGRAM HAS A PRIORITIZATION YOU
KNOW, WE HAVE -- NEW SIDEWALKS
HAS THEIR PRIORITIZATIONS AND SO
-- WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
WORK WITH THESE OTHER PROGRAMS
TO ASSURE THAT WE ARE
PRIORITIZING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES SO THAT THEY
CAN ACCESS THE PLACES YOU YOU
KNOW THEY NEED TO GO. AND YOU
KNOW, SO -- ACCESS TO TRANSIT IS
ALWAYS IMPORTANT. ACCESS TO
COMMUNITY FACILITIES. LIBRARIES,
COMMUNITY ISN'TS, THESE ARE
THINGS THAT WE PUT ON THE HIGH
PRIORITY LIST BUT WE ARE
UPDATING THE ADA SPECIFIC
PRIORITIZATION AS THE PLAN
UPDATE OCCURS SO THAT'S GOING
TO BE HAPPENING WITH OUR SURVEY
WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING TOM.
WE'LL HAVE WHAT WE'RE CALLING
ADA PRIORITY OVERLAY AND WE
DON'T WANT TO REINVENT THE
WHEEL. WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT
DATA AT SDOT AND A LOT OF GOOD
ALREADY OCCURRING AND A LOT OF
PROJECT FOR EXAMPLE WITH THE
LEVY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT. WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE HA WE ARE NOT
MISSING ANY GAPS. AND SO THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE ADA
PRIORITY OVERLAY AND OUR ADA
TRANSITION PLAN AND AGAIN
THAT'S STEMMING FROM THE PUBLIC
COMMENTS THAT WE'RE RECEIVING
FOR PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. AND COLLEAGUES, I KNOW
AT LEAST ONE OF US HAS A HARD --
COMMITMENT. HAS TO DROP AROUND
NOON. SO WE'LL -- I THINK WE'LL
BE ABLE TO GET US THROUGH BY
THEN. NEXT UP -- ACTUALLY, I'M
GOING TO -- YIELD TO VICE CHAIR.
YOU WEREN'T -- IN THE ORDER ON
OPERATIONS BUT I WOULD LOVE TO
-- CALL ON YOU. VICE CHAIR.
>> YEAH. SURE, WELL, THANK YOU
CHAIR. COLLEAGUES APOLOGIES.
APPRECIATE THAT. JUST TWO QUICK
QUESTIONS. MOSTLY CLARIFYING
POINTS AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
THE REALLY INFORMATIVE
PRESENTATION. I'M GLAD THAT I
GOT A BIT OF A DOWNLOAD AND
UNDERSTANDING A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THIS CONSENT DECREE. AND
HOW IT'S AT THAT POINTLATED TO
OUR CITY. ONE POINT OF
CLARIFICATION I KNOW YOU HAVE A
SLIDE AND I DON'T QUITE HAVE
THE NUMBER. BUT IT'S A PIE
CHART BREAKING DOWN TALKING
ABOUT PERMITTED CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT CURBS. PER THE CONSENT
DECREE, DO THE PERMITTED CURBS
COUNT TOWARDS THE CONSENT DECREE
MANDATE? OKAY. JUST WANTED TO --
>> YES. ANYTHING THAT'S BUILT
IN OUR PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY CAN
COUNT SO THAT'S WHY IT'S
CRUCIAL THAT IT'S DONE
CORRECTLY. SO WE HAVE OVERSIGHT
AND WE HAVE OUR STREET USE
DIVISION. AND THEY HAVE STREET
IMPROVEMENT INSPECTORS THAT GO
OUT THAT ARE TRAINED BY US. SO
WE MAKE SURE THEY CAN COMPLY
WITH OUR CITY STANDARDS AS WELL
AS OUR FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR
ACCESSIBILITY.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. AND MY
SECOND AND LAST QUESTION FOR
TODAY IS ON SLIDE 13 ON THE --
BULLET POINT AT THE BOTTOM. IT
STATES ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF CURB
RAMPS APPROVED ARE APPROVED AND
CONSTRUCTED TO THE MAXIMUM
EXTENT FEASIBLE. AND SO -- WHY
ONLY 29%? I WANTED TO KIND OF
DIG INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
>> I MEAN, TO THE -- WHAT'S THAT
SAYING? THE OTHER TWO-THIRDS OR
THE OTHER 81% ARE ACTUALLY BUILT
COMPLIANT. SO THEY'RE BUILT --
SO FOR EXAMPLE, ONE -- I DON'T
WANT TO NERDS OUT. BUT LIKE YOU
KNOW, CURB RAMP IS 8.3% RUNNING
SLOPE IS THE MAXIMUM. BUT YOU GO
OUTSIDE CITY COUNCIL, YOU KNOW,
WE HAVE VERY STEEP TOPOGRAPHY.
SO THAT -- EVERY OTHER
REQUIREMENT CAN BE MET. BUT
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
MEET THAT 8.3% RUNNING SLOPE. SO
IN THAT CASE, THAT CURB RAMP
WOULD BE BUILT TO THE BEST THAT
WE CAN. SO IT WOULD BE BUILT TO
THE MAXIMUM EXTENT FEASIBLE. WE
HAVE TO DOCUMENT ALL THE
CONDITIONS WHENEVER WE'RE
BUILDING SOMETHING NOT
COMPLIANT. SO 29% OF ALL OF OUR
CURB RAMPS BUILT ARE BUILT TO
THE BEST WE CAN AND THEY'RE
DOCUMENTED IN THAT SENSE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
CLARIFYING THAT FOR ME. THANK
YOU CHAIR. THOSE ARE MY
QUESTIONS FOR TODAY.
>> THANK YOU VICE CHAIR.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> THANK YOU. WE HEARD A --
PUBLIC COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT
JUST CONCERNS ABOUT ON
CONSTRUCTIONS DUE TO SCOOTERS
AND SHARED BIKES. COULD YOU JUST
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ANY
PLANNING AROUND THERE? ABOUT
DOCKING OR -- YOU KNOW, HOW TO
ADDRESS THAT CONCERN?
>> IT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
COUNCILMEMBER, AND SO WE'VE
HEARD THAT FROM OUR PEDESTRIAN
ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS
WELL. AND SO WHILE I CAN'T
COMMIT SPECIFICALLY ON THE
SHARED MOBILITY, YOU KNOW,
PROGRAMS, WE HAVE BEEN CARD
MARRIEDING WITH THEM AS WELL AS
SOME OF OUR PARTNERS IN THE
COMMUNITY SUCH AS, YOU KNOW,
DISABILITY SERVICES FOR THE
BLIND. AND LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE
BLIND. TO MAKE SURE THAT CERTAIN
CORRIDORS ESPECIALLY AROUND
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES THERE
ARE SCOOTER CORRALS SO WE HAVE
SPECIFIC SPOTS THAT ARE OFF THE
PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ROUTE. THE
ACCESSIBLE ROUTE ON THE
SIDEWALK. NOT ONLY THAT, WE ARE
GOING TO BE TESTING AND WE
ACTUALLY JUST GOT THESE
MATERIALS AND I'M KIND OF
EXCITED. A NEW TACTILE TREATMENT
THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING
AROUND THE CORRAL SO IT IS CANE
DETECTABLE BY PEOPLE WITH VISION
DISABILITIES WHO ARE BLINDS OR
LOW VISION. THAT'S A WAY AGAIN,
THAT -- CUE FOR PEOPLE TO BE
ABLE TO PUT, YOU KNOW, THESE
DEVICES IN A PARKING STRUCTURE,
BUT IT'S NOT JUST PAINTED OFF.
IT'S ACTUALLY GOT A TACTILE
TREATMENT. NOT RUNNING INTO
THESE SCOOTERS. TEXTING THAT OUT
THIS SPRING AND I'M EXCITED TO
SEE WHAT THE RESULTS YIELD.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
MR. KURT? AND MR. HEWITT AND OF
COURSE MR. LA BOARD. SORRY. AND
ALSO TO THE ADA PROGRAM. I HAVE
SEEN THEM OUT AND ABOUT AND I
HAVE ENGAGED IN CONVERSATION AND
IT WAS INTERESTING AND ENGINEER.
AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
WORK SO PLEASE PASS OUR THANKS
ON THAT. AND ALSO THE THANKS,
YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT SIDEWALK
SHIMMING AND BEVELING AND ALL
THAT. YOU KNOW, CONSTITUENT CAME
DO ME AND SAID HEY, OUT OF THE
BLUE, BECAUSE THE TREE ROOT
DAMAGED THE SIDEWALKS, SOME VERY
NICE ASPHALT CAME IN AND THE
BEST THAT HE COULD. SO THERE'S
ONE CONSTITUENT FROM DISTRICT 7
THAT SAYS THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MY QUESTION IS, AND -- LEADING
UP TO THE QUESTION FIRST I WANT
TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER LIN FOR
THAT QUESTION BECAUSE THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE'RE FALSING IN
TERMS OF THE STREETS AND
DOWNTOWN BELLTOWN AND SOUTH LAKE
UNION. UPTOWN. IT IS A -- MAJOR
ISSUE FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO
INCLUDE SOME THAT MAY BE IN
CHAMBERS TODAY. BUT MY QUESTION
GOES TO THE KIND OF TIED TO YOUR
YOU KNOW, THE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS
COMMITTEE. IT'S TIED TO THE
MISSION OF SCOPE. DEVELOP AND
MAINTAIN AN ACCESSIBLE SEATTLE
PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY FOR ALL. YOU
NOTED THE ADA PIECE TO THIS BUT
ALSO THE REYNOLDSON CONSENT
DECREE. THE DECREE. AND I JUST
NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST SDOT.
WE REALLY NEED SPD, FIRE, CARE,
AND HSD AND OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS ALSO, WORKING THIS
BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT
WE SEE IN OUR SIDEWALKS. FOR
MANY REASONS. WELL, RELATED TO
YOU KNOW, MORE BROADER SOCIETAL
CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING.
AND IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU
WORK WITH IN TERMS OF THE
COMMITTEE? YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF
LIKE -- YOU KNOW, CARE
DEPARTMENT FOR EXAMPLE? YOU
KNOW, THEY'RE ENABLED NOW AND
THEY CAN DO MUCH MORE. THERE'S
SOME STILL RESTRICTIONS, BUT TO
ADDRESS THOSE CHALLENGES OR THE,
YOU KNOW, UNIFIED CARE TEAM.
THOSE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE
SEEING ON THE SIDEWALKS BECAUSE
FROM AN ADA PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S
BLOCKED JUST AS MUCH AS IT IS
MAYBE BY A TREE ROOT OR A -- YOU
KNOW, E MOBILITY STALL.
>> NO, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT
COUNCILMEMBER. AND YOU KNOW,
THAT'S ONE THING WE COORDINATE
A LOT. YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY
INTERNALLY WITHIN SDOT. BUT WITH
THE CARE TEAM WITH OTHER ADA
COORDINATORS AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE'RE LISTENING FROM ALL
DIFFERENTAGEFULS WITHIN THE
CITY. AND THAT WE ARE MAKING
SURE THAT OUR RIGHT OF WAY IS
ACCESSIBLE. AND USABLE BY
EVERYONE. I MEAN, AND IT'S --
WE OBVIOUSLY FOCUS ON PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES. BUT EVEN
OLDER ADULTS, YOU HAVE, YOU
KNOW, PARENTS WITH STROLLERS OR
GROCERY CARTS AND WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT JUST OUR RIGHT OF
WAY IS USABLE BY EVERYONE AND
THAT'S WHY WE PUT IT ON THERE.
YOU KNOW THE ADA IS THE FLOOR.
IT'S NOT THE CEILING AND WE TRY
TO STRIVE TO, YOU KNOW, THIS
UNIVERSAL DESIGN APPROACH. TO
MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF
THE FACILITIES ARE ACCESSIBLE
AND USABLE BY EVERYONE. AND SO
YEAH, THAT INCLUDES TEMPORARY
CONDITIONS AS WELL. YOU KNOW, SO
YEAH, IT'S -- COORDINATION IS
THE NAME OF THE GAME. WHEN IT
COMES TO THINGS LIKE THAT. TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING
OR ASSURING THAT THERE'S NO
BLOCKAGES OR OTHER IMPEDIMENTS
IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. AND FEW
QUICK COMMENTS, QUESTIONS FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE. FIRST OFF, JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU, MR. CURTIN
AND MR. HEWITT FOR BEING HERE
TODAY AND MR. LA BOARD AS
ALWAYS. REALLY IMPORTANT TOPIC.
AND GLAD WE'RE ABLE TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT IT COLLECTIVELY HERE
TODAY. BUT IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT WORK THAT GOES ON
EVERY SINGLE DAY AND IT -- TRULY
DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN
PEOPLE'S EVERYDAY LIVES. SO CAN
YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
THE REYNOLDSON CONSENT DECREE?
IN? PARTICULAR KIND OF HOW THAT
CAME ABOUT SORT OF LIKE THE
FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES ABOUT
HOW THAT CAME ABOUT? DEFINITELY
UNDERSTAND THE -- SORT OF RULES
AND REQUIREMENTS THAT FLOW FROM
IT. CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND YOU
KNOW, THE -- YEAH. THAT ASPECT
OF IT. AND LIKE THE COMPLEX
INTERDEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION
THAT'S REQUIRED BECAUSE IT
DOESN'T JUST APPLY SOLELY SO
SDOT. CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT
THAT DECREE CAME ACT AND FACTS.
>> I CAN'T IMAGINE SPEAK TO
GREAT DETAIL. I STARTED FOUR
YEARS AGO AT SDOT AND YOU KNOW
THE DECREE STARTED IN 2017. BUT
FROM MY KNOWLEDGE AND THAT
HISTORY IS QUITE FRANKLY WE JUST
DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCESSIBLE RIGHT
OF WAY AND PEOPLE WERE FEDS UP
AND ENOUGH PEOPLE GOT TOGETHER
TO INFORM YOU KNOW, A CLASS
ACTION LAWSUIT. TO MAKE SURE YOU
KNOW, TO ASSURE BECAUSE AGAIN
THE ADA WAS PASSED IN 1990. TO
THINK FROM THEN TO 2015 FOR
EXAMPLE, WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED
HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS, WE'RE
NOT THE ONLY CITY THAT IS
OCCURRING YOU KNOW, THAT'S THIS
IS HAPPENING IN UNFORTUNATELY
AROUND THE COUNTRY. BUT RIGHT
NOW, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE
CONSENT DECREE, WE HAVE YOU
KNOW, WE HAVE THE MINIMUM. AND
WHAT WE NEED TO DO. AND WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THE
PROGRAM AND SDOT IN GENERAL IS
GO BEYOND THE MINIMUM TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE HAVING USABLE
ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES
BUT AGAIN FROM THE ORIGINS OF
THE DECREE, JUST THAT YOU KNOW,
THE RESIDENTS YOU KNOW, PEOPLE
WITHIN THE CITY OF SEATTLE JUST
-- WEREN'T HAPPY WITH THE
PROGRESS THAT WAS BEING MADE FOR
REMOVING THE BARRIERS AND
PROVIDING CURB RAMPS WITHIN THE
RIGHT OF WAY.
>> IF I CAN QUOTE TOM HEWITT
REALLY QUICK HERE ACTUALLY.
IT'S N GREAT. RATHER NOT BE
RIGHT? BUT OUTCOMES HAVE BEEN
AMAZING RIGHT? I THINK WE'VE
BUILT MORE THAN 11,000 CURB
RAMPS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND
AS TOM SAID OUR VISION IS TO GO
BEYOND THAT. RIGHT? TO MAKE THE
RIGHT OF WAY ACCESSIBLE AS
POSSIBLE FOR ALL. SO REALLY GOOD
STORY DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE
GOT ENTANGLED IN -- YOU KNOW,
SOME OF THE LEGAL ISSUES THERE.
>> SURE. REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
YEAH. CERTAINLY THE CONSENT
DECREE AND THE REQUIREMENTS SET
FORTH IN THE ADA AND THE
COMPANION WASHINGTON STATE
STATUTE WHATEVER IT IS, IF YOU
-- SOME COMPONENT OF THE
WASHINGTON LAW AGAINST
DISCRIMINATION POTENTIALLY. WHO
KNOWS? THOSE REFLECT THE BARE
MINIMUM TO YOUR POINT, THESE
REFLECT THE BARE MINIMUM BASE
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS EVERY CITY
DEPARTMENT AND AGENCY IS
OBVIOUSLY FREE TO AND IS NOT
ONLY FREE, BUT STRONGLY
ENCOURAGED BACKED WITH PLENTY OF
RESOURCES AND EMPOWERED TO
EXCEED THESE THRESHOLDS AND
WE'RE DOING IT NOT JUST BECAUSE
WE'RE NOW SUBJECT TO THIS
CONSENT DECREE BUT WE'RE DOING
IT BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING
TO DO. AND WE ARE TRULY HELPING
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN
PEOPLE'S EVERYDAY LIVES. AND
PROMOTING A -- A DURABLE,
RELIABLE, TRANSPORTATION NETWORK
INSTEAD OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT
WORKS FOR ALL AND IS AN
INCLUSIVE AS POSSIBLE. SO AS KEY
-- GREATLY EXCEEDING THOSE
THRESHOLDS AND BY THE ACCOUNTS
AND DATA THAT I HAVE SEEN,
PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO
CURB RAMP INSTALLATION, WE DO
THAT REGULARLY AND CONSISTENTLY
ALL THE TIME. SO LET'S KEEP THAT
UP. ON SLIDE 11, THE -- WHEN WE
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF
THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT. IS
THE SECOND BULLET NOTES THERE
ARE 150 CURB RAMPS REQUIRED A
YEAR AND WE GENERALLY GREATLY
EXCEED THAT NUMBER. IS THAT
MINIMUM THRESHOLD REQUIREMENT,
DOES THAT INCLUDE CURB RAMP
INSTALLATIONS? OR CURB RAMPS
INSTALLED OR DELIVERED BY THIRD
PARTY DEVELOPERS? OR IS THAT
SOLELY SDOT OR CITY FUNDED AND
DELIVERED CURB RAMPS AND I ASK
BECAUSE IN JUST SOME ADDITIONAL
CONTEXT, WHEN WE WENT THROUGH
OUR RECENT FIRST PHASE OF THE
COMP PLAN PROCESS LAST YEAR, AS
CHAIR OF OUR THEN TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE, I -- SPONSORED A
NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS INCLUDING
BECAUSE I -- UNAPOLOGETIC FAN OF
CONSTRUCTING NEW SIDEWALKS. AND
INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE SURE YOU
KNOW, AS -- AS WE GROW, PEOPLE
HAVE ACCESSIBLE SPACES TO WALK
AND LIKE -- THE DRAINAGE AND
WASTE. PIPING AND INFRASTRUCTURE
IS -- IS APPROPRIATE. YOU KNOW,
AS WELL. SO AND -- ADDED SOME
AMENDMENTS INCLUDING ONE THAT
GOVERNED THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW
SIDEWALKS AND WE USE THAT COMP
PLAN PROCESS AS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO REVISIT THE FINANCIAL
ALLOCATION BETWEEN THE CITY
RESPONSIBILITY AND DEVELOPER
RESPONSIBILITY. SO ONE SPECIFIC
EXAMPLE IS, YOU KNOW, THE --
PROPOSAL THAT WAS TRANSMITTED TO
US REQUIRED URBAN CENTERS AND
URBAN VICTIM -- VILLAGES I THINK
DEVELOPERS TO CONSTRUCT AND MAKE
REPAIRS TO SIDEWALKS FOR THOSE
AREAS AROUND THE ADJACENT
PROPERTIES AND WE ADDED
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS TO THAT.
BASICALLY GUARANTEEING THAT THE
DEVELOPER, YOU KNOW, WOULD
CONSTRUCT AND REPAIR MORE
SIDEWALKS. SO -- WE KNOW THAT
DEVELOPERS AND THIRD PARTIES YOU
KNOW, MAKE SOME OF THESE
ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS AS
WELL. THAT'S THE CONFECTION
BACK TO MY ORIGINAL QUESTION.
DOES THAT -- MINIMUM 150 CURB
RAMP FIGURE PER YEAR, DOES THIS
-- IS THAT INCLUSIVE OF THIRD
PARTY CONTRIBUTIONS?
>> THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION
IS YES. IT CAN. IT'S A MATTER
OF WHERE THE CURB RAMP IS
REQUESTED. SO IF IT HAPPENS TO
OCCUR AT THE SAME LOCATION AS A
UTILITY PROJECT OR AS A PRIVATE
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, THEN THAT
CAN BE COUNTED. BUT THEN WE'LL
GO ON AND WE'LL TYPICALLY BUILD
MORE TO MEET WITH OUR 150. BUT
WE CAN GET THAT CREDIT SO THAT
-- PUBLIC UTILITY OR PRIVATE
DEVELOPMENT COULD BUILD THOSE
CURB RAMPS AS PART OF THEIR
PROJECT. BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S --
IN THE ORDER IN WHICH IT'S
RECEIVED. SO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A
LIST AND AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH
OUR LIST, IF THERE IS, YOU KNOW,
PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
THAT'S GOING AND IT'S GOING TO
IMPROVE THAT INTERSECTION, AND
THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN EARLIER
THAN WHEN WE'RE SLATED TO BUILD
THAT CURB RAMP. THAT PROJECT,
THAT PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
CAN BUILD THOSE CURB RAMPS THAT
ARE REQUESTED BY THE CITIZEN.
>> GOT IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, APPRECIATE YOUR --
WELL, ON THE COMP PLAN, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THAT
AMENDMENT. AND -- THAT WAS
DEFINITELY -- THERE WAS THE COMP
PLAN IS A VERY COMPLEX AND
STRATEGIC NUANCED WORK STREAM
THAT WASN'T ONE OF THE YOU
KNOW, SORT OF GLAMOROUS ASPECTS
OF THAT BROADER EFFORT THAT WE
WORKED ON TOGETHER. BUT IT IS
GOING TO TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE
-- IN OUR LIVES. TODAY AND
TOMORROW. FOR DECADES TO COME.
BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE
PLACES TO WALK. AND I DON'T
KNOW, COLLEAGUES, HOW MANY
CONSTITUENT AND COMPLAINTS YOU
ALL GET ABOUT BUSTED PIPING AND
INFRASTRUCTURE; BUT MY OFFICE
GETS A LOT. THIS HELPS --
DIRECTLY ADDRESS THAT. AND SO --
REALLY APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERS
AT SDOT FOR YOUR PRESENTATION
TODAY. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY,
DOING THE WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY
AND ENGAGING WITH FOLKS AND A
COLLABORATIVE WAY. ALL THE
DISABILITY ADVOCATES AND
ACCESSIBILITY ADVOCATES
INCLUDING OUR OWN, YOU KNOW,
DURING MY PREBRIEFING YOU KNOW,
YOU ALL ENGAGED WITH OUR CITY'S
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. CITY'S
DISABILITY COMMISSION AMONGST
OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. SO REALLY
ROBUST PROCESS. LET'S KEEP IT
UP. NOT JUST KEEP IT UP. LET'S
DO MORE. SO -- APPRECIATE YOU
ALL. THAT IS IT. WE HAVE REACHED
THE ENDS. OF TODAY'S MEETING
AGENDA. OUR NEXT MEETING IS
FEBRUARY 19th , 2026 AT 9:30
A.M. IS THERE ANY FURTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE BEFORE WE ADJOURN?
HEARING AND SEEING NONE, WANT TO
THANK MY COLLEAGUES AGAIN.
REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR
THOUGHTFUL ENGAGEMENT AND
DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS. IT --
MAKES FOR A BETTER SORT OF SET
OF INFORMATION SHARING NOT ONLY
FOR US AS CITY PROFESSIONALS
HERE, BUT IMPORTANTLY THE
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. SO THANK
YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU
COLLEAGUES. ALL RIGHT, HEARING
NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE