JEER.
>> VICE CHEER RINCK.
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR
SAKA.
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR, THERE
ARE FIVE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED.
THE AGENDA IS HEREBY ADOPTED.
ALL RIGHT.
WELCOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
THOSE TUNING IN TO
SEATTLE CHANEL LAND, COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
TODAY AT OUR NEXT -- OUR VERY
NEXT MEETING OF THE STEPS
COMMITTEE.
FIRST AND
FOREMOST, CONGRATULATIONS OUR
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS FOR WINNING
SUPER BOWL
LX AND A LOT OF PLANNING
WENT INTO THAT FROM A CITY
PERSPECTIVE.
IT WAS A COMPLEX,
INTERGOVERNMENTAL,
INTERDEPARTMENT S INTERAGENCY,
INTERORGANIZATION BECAUSE
NOT JUST GOVERNMENTS WERE
INVOLVED IN SUCH A PULLING OFF
SUCH
A SUCCESSFUL EVENT, BUT I THINK
IT
IS APPROPRIATE, GIVEN THIS
COMMITTEE'S FOCUS, WHICH IS
AN EXPANDED
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
PORTFOLIO,
THAT
INCLUDES SEATTLE CENTER S
SPORTS, BIG EVENTS LIKE THIS,
TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND THE
PLANNING EFFORTS SURROUNDING
THE SUCCESSFUL SUPER BOWL
VICTORY PARADE LAST WEEK.
SO LET'S DOUBLE CLICK FOR JUST
A
MOMENT INTO THE DATA.
SO EVENTS AT THIS SCALE REQUIRE
RAPID,
DISCIPLINED, COORDINATION ACROSS
PLUCKPLUCK
SAFETY, TRANSPORTATION AND
REGIONAL PARTNERS MOBILIZED
WITHIN WEEKS.
AN ESTIMATED 750,000 TO
1 MILLION PEOPLE SHOWED UP
TO CELEBRATE IN SEATTLE.
AND A GATHERING OF THAT SIZE
AND SCALE THE MOST REMARKABLE
STATISTIC MIGHT BE THIS.
ZERO ARRESTS AND ONLY MINOR
REPORTED TRAFFIC INCIDENTS.
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN BY
ACCIDENT. IT HAPPENS THROUGH
THOUGHTFUL AND INTENTIONAL
PLANNING, PARTNERSHIP AND
PROFESSIONALISM.
A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS CITY
A LOT OF OUR PARTNERS,
NONPROFITS,
ALONG WITH THE SEAHAWKS,
WERE HARD AT WORK FOR WEEKS
BEFORE THE SUPER BOWL EVEN
KICKED
OFF DOING CONTINGENCY PLANNING,
THE
PEOPLE'S
WORK, JUST IN CASE, WE WERE
HOPING, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO
BRING ALL THAT WORK TO
LIFE WITH THE VICTORY
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENED.
PUBLIC SAFETY WE DEPLOYED
600 OFFICERS SUPPORTED BY 213
MUTUAL AID PERSONNEL FROM
REGIONAL
PARTNERS. SAME MUTUAL AID
PARTNERS IN MY
ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE CHAIR
OF PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE HIS
EARS WERE PERKING UP A LITTLE
BIT.
THE PARADE ROUTE STRETCHED TWO
MILES, SECURED WITH 700
POUND PROTECTIVE BARRIERS,
ENSURE
A SAFE
CELEBRATION FOR FAMILIES ACROSS
OUR CITY.
BEHIND THE SCENES THE
LOGISTICS WERE JUST AS
IMPRESSIVE.
THE PARADE INCLUDED 33
VEHICLES, AT LEAST.
WE INSTALLED AT LEAST
98 PORT-A- POTTIES AND AID
STATIONS
TO SUPPORT ATTENDEES.
WITHIN HOURS OF THE EVENT, 20
FRONTLINE CREW MEMBERS FROM SDOT
DEPLOYED STREET SWEEPERS
AND HELPED CLEAR THE STREETS OF
ALL
THE DEBRIS, CONFETTI, ET CETERA.
THAT'S VERY FOCUSED,
DISCIPLINED EXECUTION.
AND THE
MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THE
TRANSPORTATION CONTEXT, IT
WAS ALSO RECORD
SETTING. WE SAW A RECORD
200,000 PASSENGERS ON SOUND
TRANSIT
ALONE.
THE HIGHEST IN THE
ORGANIZATION'S HISTORY.
ALSO SAW AN ESTIMATED
75,000 PLUS SHARED MICRO
MOBILITY
TRIPS, INCLUDING A CONFIRMED
60,000 RIDES ON LINE SCOOTERS
ALONE. WE HELPED MOVE
PEOPLE EFFICIENTLY AND
EFFECTIVELY.
WE EXPANDED SERVICE.
WE HAD EXPANDED SERVICE
FROM PARTNERS AT KING COUNTY
METRO, WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES,
MONORAIL SERVICES AND OUR
OWN SEATTLE STREETCAR, OF
COURSE.
THE LATTER TWO OF WHICH ARE THE
TWO TRANSIT AGENCIES THAT
OUR CITY OWNS AND MANAGES,
BUT DOESN'T OPERATE.
I'M PROUD OF THE CITY AND
EXCITED TO APPLY THESE
LEARNINGS AS WE PREPARE TO
WELCOME
THE WORLD FOR THE 2026 FIFA
WORLD
CUP.
DAY OF EXECUTION WAS SPOT- ON
AND REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I THINK IMMEDIATELY AFTER
THE SEAHAWKS WON ON SUPER BOWL
NIGHT, IT LEFT MORE TO BE
DESIRED IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS
POSSIBLE TO PREVENT SOME
DAMAGE TO THE HISTORIC PERGOLA
IN
PINER'S SQUARE, FOR EXAMPLE,
AND
THERE IS LEARNINGS TO
DERIVE FROM THAT AS WELL AND NO
DOUBT OUR CITY WILL, BUT WHEN WE
TALK
ABOUT THE ACTUAL DAY OF
PARADE AND PLANNING AND
EXECUTION OF
THAT, IT WAS A VERY
WELL- ORGANIZED PLAN AND
EXECUTED EVENT.
I WANT TO COMMEND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, OUR REGIONAL
PARTNERS, INCLUDING KING COUNTY
METRO, SOUND TRANSIT, OUR OWN
CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT LED A LOT
OF THAT WORK, SDOT, PARKS AS
WELL.
SO MANY OTHERS.
AND ALSO OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE SEATTLE
SEAHAWKS,
OBVIOUSLY, THE SEA FAIR, AND
THE SEATTLE SPORTS COMMISSION
PLAYED CENTRAL ROLES IN SUCH
A SUCCESSFUL EVENT OF THE
PARADE LAST WEEK.
SO KUDOS AGAIN, AND WE'LL BE
ABLE TO APPLY SOME OF THOSE
LEARNINGS, THE GOOD, THE
BAD, AND THE UGLY IN A FEW SHORT
MONTHS SO STAY TUNED.
AT OUR LAST MEETING WE
HEARD FROM
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION ABOUT THE
LEVY DELIVERY MAN AND THEIR
ONGOING WORK TO NOT ONLY COMPLY
WITH
BUT EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS WITH
THE
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
IT WAS AN INSPIRING
AND ENCOURAGE TO SEE HOW THE
CITY OF
SEATTLE'S
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IS
BECOMING
SAFER AND MORE INCLUSIVE,
MORE EQUITABLE AND MORE
JUST. THIS YEAR WE ARE PLEASED
TO WELCOME SEATTLE CENTER TO THE
GROUP OF EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENTS FOR WHICH WE PROVIDE
LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT IN THIS
CITY.
SEATTLE CENTER IS ONE OF
THE MOST VISITED
WELCOMING APPROXIMATELY 11 TO 12
MILLION
VISITORS ANNUALLY.
IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF
A NORMAL YEAR, THIS IS NOT A
NORMAL YEAR FOR THE REASONS
WE TALKED ABOUT, NAMELY WORLD
CUP,
SUPER BOWL VICTORY PARADE, IT
IS TRULY ONE OF THE CROWN JEWELS
IN TERMS OF CIVIC HUBS, CULTURAL
EXPERIENCE, OF OUR ENTIRE CITY.
TODAY WE'LL HEAR AN
OVERVIEW PRESENTATION FROM
SEATTLE
CENTER
LEADERSHIP. THIS PRESENTATION
WILL SET
THE STAGE FOR FUTURE BRIEFINGS
AND ROUNDTABLES THAT WILL
HELP ENSURE A STRONG,
COLLABORATIVE, AND MUTUALLY
BENEFICIAL
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIS
COMMITTEE AND THIS VITAL PUBLIC
INSTITUTION.
WE WILL CONTINUE OUR
DISCUSSION
ON TRANSPORTATION POLICY.
PARTNERS FROM SDOT AND
SEATTLE CENTER WILL PROVIDE AN
UPDATE ON THE TASK FORCE.
THIS TASK FORCE A CRITICAL
COMPONENT OF THE VOTER
APPROVED TRANSPORTATION LEVY
THAT
BRINGS TOGETHER DIVERSE
PERSPECTIVES TO
COME SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
CHALLENGES AND EXPLORE
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING OPTIONS
GOING FORWARD.
AS THIS IS THE TIME
STEPS COMMITTEE MEETING OF
BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN
FEBRUARY, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROFOUND IMPACT
OF BLACK INNOVATORS,
ENGINEERS, AND LEADERS THAT HAVE
HAD IN THE
FIELD OF
TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING
POLICY AND SAFETY IN
PARTICULAR.
COLLEAGUES, GARRET MORGAN
INVENTED THE MODERN
TRAFFIC SIGNAL INCLUDING THE
ADDITION
OF A YELLOW LIGHT.
SUPER COOL.
A SIMPLE BUT
TRANSFORMATIVE INNOVATION THAT
HELPS PREVENT
COLLISIONS AND SAVES LIVES
EACH AND EVERY DAY.
RAMBLE T. WOODS DEVELOPED
AN ELECTRIC POWERED METAL WHEEL
FOR
TROLLEYS, ADVANCING RAILWAY
TECHNOLOGY AND URBAN TRANSIT
SYSTEMS.
WILLIAM HUNTER DAMMOND
PATENTED THE SAFETY SYSTEM FOR
OPERATING
RAILROADS.
VERY COOL.
WHICH ALLOWED TRAINS
TO COMMUNICATE THROUGH AUDIO
AND VISUAL SIGNALS, DRAMATICALLY
IMPROVING RAIL SAFETY.
JUST TO NAME A FEW.
IN OUR OWN CITY OF
SEATTLE, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF
PIONEERS, BLACK PIONEERS AND
BLACK
EXCELLENCE SHINING THROUGH
AND THROUGH IN TRANSPORTATION
POLICY.
FORMER SDOT DIRECTOR DARYL
GRIGGSBY WAS THE
FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN SDOT
DIRECTOR IN
OUR CITY UNDER FORMER MAYOR
SHELL.
MOST RECENTLY, OUR CITY
WELCOMED INTERIM DIRECTOR EMORY,
WHO
WAS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN HEAD
OF
SDOT.
THERE ARE AMAZING LEADERS
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT LIKE
RODNEY MAXIE
AND OTHERS AND SUCH TREMENDOUSLY
IMPACTFUL, FRONTLINE
CREWS SHOWING UP, DOING THE WORK
EACH
AND EVERY DAY AND MAKE US
PROUD, KEEPING US SAFE ON OUR
ROADS
AND OUR COMMUNITIES, ON OUR
STREETS.
NOW TODAY, WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER AND HER LEADERSHIP.
BLACK WOMAN, SHOWING
UP, CONTRIBUTING TO THE MISSION
OF
MAKING OUR ROADS SAFE,
ACCESSIBLE, WELCOMING FOR
ALL, PROVIDING HER INSIGHTS AND
HER
WISDOM, REALLY GRATEFUL FOR HER
LEADERSHIP.
AS THE CHAIR OF THIS
COMMITTEE, WHO HAPPENS TO BE
BLACK, I
STAND PROUDLY ON THE SHOULDERS
OF GIANTS LIKE ALL THOSE THAT I
MENTIONED, SO MANY OF THOSE
UNNAMED, THAT
HAVE LED AND PROVIDED TREMENDOUS
IMPACT TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE
AND BEYOND
IN TRANSPORTATION POLICY.
GRATEFUL FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS
TO OUR CITY.
ALL RIGHT.
WITH THAT LET US MOVE ON
TO TODAY'S AGENDA.
A BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION ON
THE SEATTLE CENTER OVERVIEW
AS MENTIONED EARLIER PRESENTED
BY SEATTLE CENTER LEADERSHIP.
SECOND A BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION ON THE TRANSPORTATION
FUNDING
TASK FORCE.
WE BEGIN THE PUBLIC COMMENT
FIRST.
MOVING ON WE WILL OPEN THE
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD RELATE
TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA
OR WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE. HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE
SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> WE CURRENTLY HAVE
ONE IN- PERSON SPEAKER AND TWO
CALL
N SPEAKERS WHO ARE WAITING ON
THE
LINE.
>> EXCELLENT.
EACH SPEAKER WILL
HAVE APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES.
WE WILL START WITH THE IN-
PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST.
CLERK, CAN YOU READ
THE PUBLIC COMMENT
INSTRUCTIONS.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE
MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED.
SPEAKERS WILL ALTERNATE BETWEEN
SETS OF IN-PERSON AND REMOTE
SPEAKERS UNTIL THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD HAS ENDED.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THEIR
TIME.
SPEAKERS' MICS WILL BE MUTED IF
THEY DO NOT END THEIR COMMENTS
WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME TO
ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH
THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
TINA BUSHAY.
>> THAT WAS PRETTY CLOSE.
THANKS.
IT'S TINA BECA.
I LIVE DOWNTOWN.
I WANTED TO BEGIN
BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE STRONG
VISION BEING PRESENTED HERE
TODAY FOR THE WEST LIGHT
TRANSPORTATION
HUB.
THE GOALS AROUND ACCESSIBILITY
AND CREATING A WELCOMING
PUBLIC SPACE ARE IMPORTANT AND
APPRECIATED. AND WITH NO
DISRESPECT TO
THE HARD WORK OF THE WEST LAKE
CIVIC
COMMITTEE I WANT TO NAME A
GAFFE THAT MANY DOWNTOWN
RESIDENTS ARE
FEELING, MEANINGFUL,
RESIDENTIAL INVOLVEMENT IN THIS
PROCESS
HAS BEEN EXTREMELY LIMITED.
WEST LAKE IS NOT ONLY A
TRANSIT GATEWAY AND ECONOMIC
CATALYST, IT IS THE DAILY FRONT
YARD
OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE
HERE AND WHO EXPERIENCE ITS
SUCCESSES AND
CHALLENGES 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN
DAYS A WEEK.
ENGAGING RESIDENTS EARLIER
AND MORE CONSISTENTLY IS NOT
ABOUT SLOWING PROGRESS.
RATHER, IT STRENGTHENS OUTCOMES.
RESIDENTS BEING REALTIME,
24- HOUR LIVED IN AND TO SAFETY
USABILITY, STEWARDSHIP THAT
CAN ONLY HELP THE CITY ACHIEVE
THE VERY GOALS THAT ARE BEING
OUTLINED IN THE PRESENTATION
TODAY.
I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE WORK
AND HOPEFUL THAT THE NEXT PHASE
INCLUDES A MORE INTENTIONAL,
INTENTIONAL, PARTNERSHIP.
WITH
THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SO
THAT WESTLAKE EVOLVES BOTH
AS A WORLD-CLASS HUB AND
A TRULY
LIVABLE NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE
REMOTE CALLERS.
FIRST ONE IS CLARA CANTER.
>> HI.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS CLARA CANTER.
I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD GREEN WAYS
AND I WOULD LOVE TO THANK
THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR
ONGOING ATTENTION TO SIDEWALK
FUNDING.
IN SEATTLE, WE'RE MISSING IT
OVER 11,000 BLOCKS OF
SIDEWALK, WHICH IS OVER 24% OF
OUR
STREETS.
AND WITH OUR INVESTMENT
YEARS IT WOULD TAKE US OVER 500
YEARS
TO COMPLETE THAT SIDEWALK
NETWORK.
EVEN IF WE'RE JUST LOOKING
AT TIER ONE, TOP PRIORITY
SIDEWALKS, WE ARE STILL MISSING
1,642 BLOCKS OUT OF FIVE TIERS.
SEATTLE'S LACK OF A COMPLETE
SIDEWALK NETWORK IS A
SAFETY HAZARD FOR EVERYONE,
LIMITS THE
USABILITY OF OUR TRANSPORTATION
NETWORK, CRISIS FOR ELDERS
AND
KIDS. I DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS ON
MY STREETS AND IT'S A DAILY
STRUGGLE TO KEEP MY
KIDS SAIF REFER TIME WE LEAVE
HOME.
MOST PRONOUNCED IN DISTRICT 5,
2, 1, THE DISTRICTS HAVE THE
MOST DANGEROUS HIGHEST RATES
OF PEOPLE BEING KILLED OR
INJURED ON OUR STREETS.
WE ARE MISSING SIGNIFICANT
GAPS OF SIDEWALKS ALONG OUR
HIGHEST USED TRANSIT ROUTES AND
IT IS
AN ENORMOUS FUNDING PROBLEM.
OUR CURRENT TRANSPORTATION
LEVY, WHICH MANY OF YOU HELPED
CRAFT IN 2024, FUNDS
CONSTRUCTION OF A
TOTAL OF 350 BLOCKS OF NEW
SIDEWALKS.
AND THE FUNDING IS FRONT LOADED
AND IT DROPS TO ZERO IN
2028, WHICH IS JUST TWO YEARS
FROM
NOW.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT
THE TASK FORCE CONVENE, THAT
IT MOVES QUICKLY AND THAT IT
IS GIVEN THE TOOLS AND
POWER IT NEEDS FOR SEATTLE TO
FINALLY HAVE A SUSTAINABLE AND
RELIABLE FUNDING SOURCE FOR
BUILDING
OUT HAD THAT SIDEWALK NEW
YORK THAT IS COMMENSURATE TO THE
NEED.
I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK ON
THIS.
IT IS NOT EASY BUT IT IS VITAL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU,
CLARA.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID
HAINES.
>> HI.
DAVID HAINES.
LUCKILY THE LAW ABIDING
PARADE FOR THE SEAHAWKS WAS IN
THE
MORNING.
BUT IT'S NOTED THERE WERE
600 COPS THAT DEPLOYED TO
GET OVERTIME BUT WHEN IT COMES
TO FIGHTING CRIME, WE STILL HAVE
THE SAME BOGUS EXCUSES THEY NEED
MORE STAFFING.
IT'S LIKE THE COPS GOT PLENTY
OF COPS TO DEPLOY FOR A LAW
ABIDING EVENT TO GET RICH ON
OVERTIME, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO
DOING
THEIR JOB CRIME FIGHTING,
THERE'S
NOT ENOUGH COPS THAT ARE
DEPLOYABLE, THAT ARE PROPERLY
TRAINED.
IT'S A REAL CONCERN.
YOU KNOW, PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION SUCKS ON SO MANY
LEVELS. AND ONE OF THE MAIN ONES
IS
PEOPLE SMOKING AND DOING
DRUGS IN AND AROUND.
WHEN IS COUNCIL GOING
TO COLLABORATE WITH THE COUNTY
AND MAKE SOME LAW THAT MAKES THE
COPS AND THE METRO POLICE
WORK TOGETHER INSTEAD
OF ARGUING ABOUT WHO IS
RESPONSIBLE
FOR POLICING THE NEIGHBORHOODS,
BUS STOPS AND SIDEWALKS.
WE HAVE TO TICKET CIGARETTE
SMOKERS, VAPORIZERS AND
POT SMOKERS AND NEED TO TRESPASS
ILLICIT DRUG USERS AND SEND
THEM TO DRUG ADDICTIONS INSTEAD
OF
CAPITULATING TO THE
DEVIL'S MINIONS AND WE'RE NOT
ALLOWED TO
JUDGE THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE
CONSTANTLY PASSIVE/AGGRESSIVELY
INNOCENT PEOPLE AND BOTHERING
US.
THAT SAID, WE STILL NEED GREEN
LIGHT PRIORITY FOR THESE BUSSES
WHO FOR SOME GODFORSAKEN REASON
HAVE ALL OF THESE
TRAFFIC CONGESTION BACKUPS ON
THIRD
AVENUE WHERE YOU'RE ONLY ALLOWED
TO DRIVE A BUS BUT
BECAUSE YOU HAVE THESE STUPID
LIGHTS
SO ANTIQUATED AND OUTDATED IN
THEIR PROGRAMMING THAT THE BUS
DRIVERS
HAVE TO STOP AT THE RED LIGHT.
WHEN TRYING TO DO A
TRANSFER BECAUSE THEY SCREWED UP
THE
BUS STOP TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE
THE CITY IS BIGGER THAN IT
IS, YOU HAVE TO LEAP FROG EVERY
OTHER BUS
STOP SO YOU ARE TRYING TO CATCH
UP WITH THE BUS AND MAKE
A TRANSFER TO AND IT'S ASININE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A COUPLE
OTHER
THINGS THAT ARE A REAL CONCERN.
>> THANK YOU, MR. HAYNES.
>> WE HAVE ONE MORE PERSON
WHO HAS JOINED OUR FINAL CALLER
WILL
BE RICK GROSSMAN.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS RICK GROSSMAN.
I AND 130 SENIORS LIVE AT
PRIDE PLACE ON BROADWAY.
WE UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS
WITH TRAFFIC IN THE CITY AND THE
NEED TO USE MULTIPLE MEANS TO
REDUCE CAR USE.
AND WE'RE PLEASED
THAT WE HAVE THE BICYCLE LANES
RIGHT ON OUR
BLOCK.
BUT WE ADDED E- SCOOTERS SEVERAL
YEARS AGO TO OUR MIX AND
WE NEVER CREATED A SAFETY
PROGRAM
AND WE NEVER HAVE REVIEWED IT
OR MADE IT SAFER, WHEREAS
OTHER CITIES AND LOCATIONS ARE
ADDING NEW REGULATIONS.
WE'VE ADDED NONE.
THERE IS NO ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE BEHAVIOR OF ESCOOTER RIDERS.
WE'VE HAD AS MANY AS 11
SCOOTERS ON OUR SIDEWALKS EVEN
WITH
THE BIKE LANE IN THE SINGLE
MINUTE.
EVERY ONE OF OUR SENIORS
HAS EITHER BEEN STRUCK BY,
KNOCKED
OVER, OR TERRORIZED ASAS
SILENT SCOOTER SUDDENLY BEARS
DOWN
UPON
THEM. EVEN A DOG WAS NEARLY
DECAP PATED AS
THE SCOOTER RAN THROUGH
THE LEASH, WENT THROUGH THE
LEASH.
WE'VE SPOKEN TO MICRO
MOBILITY DEPARTMENTS AND THEY'VE
DONE
NOTHING.
THERE'S NO WAY TO IDENTIFY
SCOOTERS AND NO ONE IN THE
CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR
BEHAVIOR.
THE -- PERHAPS OUR PROBLEM IS
THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH THEFT.
MAYBE IT'S THE FACT THAT THE
LEADER OF MICRO MOBILITY SITS
ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
AN INDUSTRY GROUP WHICH IS A
CLEAR
CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
WE NEED TO HAVE A SAFETY
PROGRAM.
WE DON'T HAVE A SAFETY PROGRAM
AFTER YEARS. NO PLANNING.
NO ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
BEHAVIOR.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NO
MORE REGISTERED SPEAKERS SO WE
WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST
ITEM
OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
ONE INTO THE RECORD.
>>.
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION, SEATTLE CENTER
OVERVIEW PRESENTED BY THE
SEATTLE CENTER.
>> THANK YOU.
AND LOOKS LIKE
OUR PRESENTERS HAVE JOINED US AT
THE TABLE.
WELCOME.
PLEASE DO INTRODUCE YOURSELF
AND WHEN YOU'RE READY, SHARE
YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> SOUNDS GOOD.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> GOOD MORNING.
FOR THE RECORD I'M DIAMATRIS
WINSTON.
INTERIM DIRECTOR AT SEATTLE
CENTER.
WITH ME IS KARIN BUTLER, OUR
ORGANIZATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER AT SEATTLE
CENTER, THE
ONE AND ONLY.
SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN
INSTRUMENTAL IN A LOT OF
OUR PROJECTS INCLUDING OUR
STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND THIS MORNING, THANK YOU
FOR LETTING US HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU
OUR ORG
OVERVIEW THIS MORNING.
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.
WE'RE GOING TO COVER THE
FOLLOW.
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO AT
SEATTLE CENTER, PROVIDE YOU AN
OVERVIEW OF OUR ORGANIZATIONAL
STRUCTURE AND BUDGET AND
SHARE SOME OF OUR 2026
PRIORITIES
AND LEAVE PLENTY OF TIME FOR
QUESTIONS.
SO AS YOU ALL
KNOW, SEATTLE CENTER IS A 74
ACRE CAMPUS
ABOUT 40 ACRES IS GREEN
SPACE AND SO SEATTLE CENTER IS
BOTH
A REGIONAL DESTINATION FOR
EVENTS BUT ALSO A GREEN SPACE
FOR THE
COMMUNITY.
SEATTLE CENTER WELCOMES EVERY
YEAR ABOUT 11 TO 12 MILLION
VISITORS.
SO IT IS THE MOST VISITED ARTS
CULTURAL DESTINATION IN
THE RECENTLY IN THE STATE AND
IT RANKS ABOUT NUMBER 22 IN THE
NATION.
>> CAN YOU PAUSE.
ARE WE ABLE TO SHARE THE SLIDES?
ARE THEY UP ON MY SCREEN?
SEATTLE CHANNEL VIEW
THEM? ACCESSIBLE?
JUST A MOMENT.
>> WHILE WE FIX THIS
ACCESSIBILITY
ISSUE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET US PROCEED.
THANK YOU.
WE JUST HAD QUITE LITERALLY
JUST HAD A PRESENTATION ON
ACCESSIBILITY, SO ALLOW US
TO APPRECIATE YOUR GRACE
AND PATIENCE FOR MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC WHILE WE TRY TO
PROMOTE ACCESSIBILITY WITH THESE
SLIDES
HERE.
LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE ACCESSIBLE
NOW.
GO AHEAD,
DIRECTOR.
>> ALL RIGHT.
I THINK WHERE I LEFT
OFF SEATTLE CENTER SEES ABOUT 11
TO
12 MILLION VISITORS A YEAR
MAKING IT THE NUMBER ONE ARTS
AND CULTURAL DESTINATION IN
THE STATE AND IN THE REGION.
AND IT RANKS AROUND 22 IN THE
COUNTRY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME
POINT TO BE THE TOP TEN.
THAT'S OUR LONG GOAL.
WE'RE HOME TO ABOUT
30 INDEPENDENT
ORGANIZATIONS, SOME OF THOSE
ARTS AND
CULTURAL SPORTS AND
ENTERTAINMENT, ALL
THINGS THAT BRING THE COMMUNITY
TOGETHER. WE ARE LARGELY SELF-
FUNDED
AND GENERATE ABOUT 70% OF
OUR OPERATING REVENUE EVERY
YEAR.
SEATTLE CENTER MANAGES
THE WATERFRONT OPERATIONS IN
TERMS OF THE MAINTENANCE AND
PROVIDES SECURITY DOWN AT THE
WATERFRONT.
SEATTLE CENTER HAS ABOUT 240
PLUS EMPLOYEES AND ABOUT
500 INTERMITTENT STAFF THAT COME
ON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND SEATTLE CENTER HOUSES
ABOUT 10 LABOR UNIONS THAT ARE
ALL ESSENTIAL PARTNERS IN
SERVING
OUR
MISSION. WITHIN THOSE UNIONS WE
HAVE
PAINTERS, CARPENTERS, HVAC,
ELECTRICIANS, SECURITY FOLKS,
LANDSCAPERS, USHERS, ET CETERA.
AND SO WHEN YOU TALK TO
PEOPLE ABOUT SEATTLE CENTER,
THEY
ALL HAVE A STORY.
IT COULD BE THEIR FIRST THEATER
EXPERIENCE, THEIR FAVORITE
MUSIC
EVENTS, IT COULD BE THEIR FIRST
DATE AND EXHIBIT THEY WENT TO
OR A SPORTS MEMORY THEY HAVE.
OUR VISION IS TO CREATE
MORE MEMORIES FOR PEOPLE SIMILAR
TO
THOSE AND TO BE A PLACE WHERE
A COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER, AN
ICONIC, INCLUSIVE
DESTINATION THAT DELIGHTS AND
INSPIRES THE
HUMAN SPIRIT.
WE DO THAT ON A DAILY BASIS.
TO DO THAT WE VALUE SEATTLE
BEING A SAFE AND
WELCOMING, INCLUSIVE, INVITING
PLACE, A PLACE THAT'S
WELL MAINTAINED AND
INVESTED IN, AND A PLACE THAT
ENABLES OUR ARTS,
CULTURE, SPORTS
AND ENTERTAINMENT TO THRIVE AND
SERVE EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO ON THE SCREEN NOW YOU SEE
A MAP OF OUR
CAMPUS. IT'S A MIX OF PRIVATE,
PUBLIC
AND NONPROFIT ON CAMPUS.
IT'S THE 30 PLUS
ORGANIZATIONS WE REFER TO AS
PARTNERS OR RES SENT ORGS.
ON THE BOTTOM SEPARATELY
OWNED AND OPERATED PLACES ON
CAMPUS, MEMORIAL STADIUM, THE
PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER AND THE
SPACE
NEEDLE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
THERE'S SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO
ON CAMPUS.
THE CAMPUS IS AN ECOSYSTEM
THAT EXTENDS INTO THE COMMUNITY
AND THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
SEATTLE CENTER HAS A
LONG HISTORY OF PUBLIC/PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS.
YOU CAN ADD
PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERSHIPS INTO
THAT.
RELATIONSHIPS
AND PARTNERSHIPS ARE VERY
IMPORTANT AT SEATTLE
CENTER.
SO MUCH THAT WITH THESE
RESIDENT ORGs ON THE SCREEN WE
HAVE
BIMONTHLY MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT
THE CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES,
UPCOMING EVENTS AND
OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER.
SO AN EXAMPLE OF A PRIVATE
PARTNER ON CAMPUS, AS
THE CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA,
CLIMATE
PLEDGE ARENA.
>> GO BACK ONE SLIDE. THANK YOU.
SO CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA IS
AN ANCHOR TENANT AND PARTNER ON
CAMPUS.
OPENED IN 2021
PRIVATELY OPERATED BY THE OAK
VIEW
GROUP UNDER A LONG- TERM LEASE
HOME TO THE SEATTLE KRAKEN,
SEATTLE STORM AND THE SEATTLE
TORREN.
THE CLIMATE PLEDGE
WELCOMED ABOUT 1.7 MILLION
VISITORS ACROSS ALL EVENTS AND
HOSTED
ABOUT 200 PLUS EVENTS LAST
YEAR WHICH MAKES IT A STRONG
NATIONAL PRESENCE FOR EVENTS.
IT ADDS VALUE AND
ACTIVATION TO THE SEATTLE CENTER
CAMPUS.
AND THAT FLOWS THROUGH TO
OUR ABILITY TO GAIN SPONSORSHIP
IN
ACTIVITIES.
CLIMATE PLEDGE IS NBA READY.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
THAT OPPORTUNITY AT SOME POINT.
AND, YOU KNOW, SEATTLE'S
PROVEN TO BE A STRONG MARKET AND
HAS
STRONG FAN SUPPORT AND
SO AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THE
COMMISSIONER
HAS REPORTED THAT THERE COULD BE
A DECISION IN 2026.
WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.
BUT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
IT.
I'M GOING TO PASS IT TO KARIN
BUTLER TO TALK ABOUT THE
WATERFRONT.
>> THANKS, DIAMATRIS, AND THANK
YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SEATTLE CENTER EXPANDED
OUR SERVICES TO THE CITY OUTSIDE
OF OUR CAMPUS BORDERS TWO YEARS
AGO AND WE NOW PROVIDE
OPERATIONS AND PUBLIC SAFETY
SERVICES AT THE WATERFRONT PARK
WHICH
IS OPEN AS OF LATE LAST YEAR.
WE WANTED
TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS
FAIRLY RECENTLY
ADDITION TO SEATTLE CENTER'S
PORTFOLIO AND A WHOLE TEAM OF
SEATTLE CENTER STAFF THAT
MAKE WATERFRONT THE SUCCESS THAT
IT
IS.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, I FEEL
JUST REVIEW A COUPLE OF THE
SO JUST TO BE
CLEAR, SEATTLE CENTER PROVIDES A
DEDICATED
AND SPECIALIZED CITY
MAINTENANCE TEAM AND ALSO A
24/7 PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM, OUR
EMERGENCY SERVICES UNIT.
ON THE SEATTLE WATERFRONT
AT WATERFRONT PARK.
OF COURSE WATERFRONT IS
MANAGED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE FANTASTIC NONPROFIT FRIENDS
OF
WATERFRONT PARK.
THEY ARE OUR PARTNER IN THIS
WORK AND THEY ARE TO THANK
FOR MUCH OF THE
PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT AND ALL OF
THAT
FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMMING AND
EVENTS YEAR- ROUND THAT WE'RE
ALL BEGINNING AND CONTINUING TO
ENJOY.
THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THE
WATERFRONT OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE IS IN PLACE THAT HELPS
ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY AND MAYOR
AND COUNCIL REPORTING AND THEN
WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
SEATTLE CENTER COLLABORATES
WITH OUR PEER DEPARTMENTS,
ESPECIALLY SDOT, AND SEATTLE
PARKS,
FOR CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF
WATERFRONT
PARK'S SUCCESS.
AND DIAMATRIS, BACK TO YOU
FOR OUR NEXT SLIDE AROUND YEAR-
END
STAFF.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THIS IS THE INTRODUCTORY SLIDE.
WE'VE MENTIONED IT'S NUMBER
ONE IN THE CITY, NUMBER ONE IN
THE
STATE, 22 IN THE NATION.
THE NUMBERS ARE GREAT, BUT
WE PRIDE OURSELVES AND WHAT
MAKES THAT POSSIBLE WHICH IS
BEING
AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE,
SAFE, WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE.
SO THE STATS --
>> ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
THANK
YOU.
>> THE STATS REALLY SHOW THAT.
FEW PUBLIC PLACES ARE ASKED TO
DO SO MUCH.
AGAIN, HOME TO 30 PLUS RESIDENT
ORGS.
WE PRODUCED LAST YEAR 362
EVENTS, ABOUT HALF OF
WHICH WERE FREE EVENTS
ATTRACTING 1.
2 MILLION VISITOR, THERE WERE 25
FESTAL EVENTS THAT ATTRACTED
400,000 VISITORS.
THE VISITOR IMPACT
PRETTY SIGNIFICANT HERE.
47% OF THE VISITORS FROM KING
COUNTY, 74% FROM THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON, AND WE
ATTRACTED ABOUT 26% OF THE FOLKS
OUT
OF STATE AND THAT INCLUDES 5%
INTERNATIONAL VISITORS.
DIVERSITY AND CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT ALSO IMPORTANTED AT
SEATTLE
CENTER AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.
47% BIPOC.
KIND OF INDICATING IT'S A
SAFE AND WELCOMING PLACE FOR
EVERYONE.
WE HOST THE SEATTLE KING
COUNTY HEALTH CLINIC.
LAST YEAR THE TENTH YEAR AND
SO FAR OVER THE TEN YEARS,
33,000 PATIENTS HAVE BEEN SERVED
AND $30 MILLION DONATED CARE
HAVE BEEN CONTRIBUTED THROUGH
THE
CLINIC.
SEATTLE CENTER ALSO HOUSES
COLD WEATHER SHELTERS AND
EMERGENCY SHELTERING AND
EXHIBITION
HALL IN THE FISHER PRO PA VILL I
DON'T KNOW.
SEATTLE CENTER HAS A
REGIONAL ECONOMIC IMPACT AND A
CITY ECONOMIC IMPACT.
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IS ABOUT
2 MILLION PLUS EVERY YEAR.
15,000 JOBS.
TENS OF MILLIONS IN TAXES.
AND HOME TO THOUSANDS OF
ARTS AND CULTURE AND ARTS
OPPORTUNITIES.
THE PARTNERS AT SEATTLE
CENTER SUPPORT THE LOCAL
ECONOMY IN SIGNIFICANT WAYS
EVERY YEAR
AS I'VE INDICATED HERE.
SO NEXT I'LL GIVE YOU AN
OVERVIEW OF OUR ORGANIZATIONAL
STRUCTURE.
WE HAVE SIX CORE
FUNCTIONAL AREAS FROM
ADMINISTRATION AND
FINANCE TO PUBLIC PROGRAMMING
EVENTS, MARKETING AND STRATEGIC
PARTNERSHIPS.
CAMPUS OPERATIONS,
WATERFRONT OPERATIONS AND
PLANNING AND CAN'T DEVELOPMENT.
SEATTLE CENTER IS
A DYNAMIC CAMPUS WITH DEDICATED
TEAMS
DOING SO MUCH AND SO ON
THIS LIST YOU'LL SEE THAT WE
HAVE
ABOUT 240 FTEs.
WE DON'T OFTEN -- WE
DON'T ALWAYS REACH THAT LEVEL
SO WE HAVE A SMALL, BUT MIGHTY
TEAM COVERING 74 ACRES OF
CAMPUS.
SO THE BUDGET SNAPSHOT, YOU'LL
SEE HERE OUR OPERATING BUDGET IS
THREE DIFFERENT BUDGETS.
WE HAVE THE CAMPUS BUDGET, MCCAW
BUDGET AND THE WATERFRONT
BUDGET AND OUR TOTAL OPERATING
BUDGET
$59 MILLION IN 2026.
WE'RE BUDGETED AT 260 FTEs
BUT RARELY REACH THAT BECAUSE
OF BUDGET CONSTRAINTS
WHETHER INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL
CITYWIDE.
60% OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET
GOES TO STAFFING COSTS.
ON OUR CAPITAL BUDGET YOU
SEE FOR 2026 OUR BUDGET IS $33.
3
MILLION.
IT WILL HAVE A BREAKOUT
SLIDE LATER ON THAT.
YOU WILL SEE A LARGE JUMP IN
2026.
ABOUT 27 MILLION OF THE
38 MILLION RELATED TO
MEMORIAL STADIUM AND YOU'LL
ALSO SEE A
JUMP IN 2025 ABOUT $9
MILLION OF THE 2025 WAS ALSO
RELATED
TO MEMORIAL STADIUM.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO OUR CAMPUS BUDGET, SHOWS
THE STRUCTURE AND THE INCOME
SOURCES.
YOU'LL SEE ON OUR CAMPUS BUDGET
61% IS EARNED REVENUE.
YOU'LL SEE THAT 38% IS
GENERAL FUND AND SEE SOME
PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX THERE.
FOR THE MCCAW HALL 83% IS
EARNED REVENUE, 12% GENERAL FUND
AND THE WATERFRONT BUDGET
THE HIGHEST FUNDING SOURCE BEING
THE PARK DISTRICT FUNDING AT
88.5.
SECURITY DOWN AT THE WATERFRONT.
OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES UNIT.
THEY ALSO PROVIDE
SERVICES AT THE WATERFRONT.
WE ALSO SEE THE WATERFRONT ABOUT
2. 6% OF OUR BUDGET COMES
FROM SDOT FOR LANDSCAPE THAT
SDOT
OPERATES THAT WE MAINTAIN.
SO THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS YOU OUR
BUSINESS MODEL AT SEATTLE
CENTER.
FOR THE CAMPUS SPECIFICALLY,
61% OF OUR REVENUE IS EARNED
REVENUE COMES FROM LEASES,
PARKING, EVENT RENTAL,
SPONSORSHIPS,
FOOD AND BEVERAGE, TICKETING,
OTHER
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS.
ABOUT 38% COMES FROM GENERAL
FUNDS AND THE CR CAPITAL
BUDGET, EXERCISED TAXES AND
PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
CAPITAL FUNDING THINGS
HAVE HAPPENED THROUGH
PARTNERSHIPS ON
CAMPUS AND SO OUR BUSINESS
MODEL AT SEATTLE CENTER IS GOOD
FOR THE CITY AND THAT SEATTLE
CENTER ACTIVITIES GENERATE
TAXES, INCLUDING THE MISSIONS
TAX, SWEET AND BEVERAGE
TAX,
COMMERCIAL TAX AND SALES TAX AND
OTHER TAXES FOR THE CITY.
AND HERE'S THAT BREAKOUT OF
OUR CAPITAL BUDGET TO GIVE YOU
A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL.
YOU SEE 38 MILLION.
THAT IS A LARGE NUMBER.
BUT IT'S NOT THAT LARGE ON MOST
YEARS.
YOU'LL SEE 71% OF THAT
38 MILLION IS RELATED TO
MEMORIAL STADIUM AND SO THAT'S
A --
CURRENTLY FUNDED THROUGH AN
INTERFUND LOAN PAID BACK
THROUGH A GENERAL OBLIGATION
BOND THAT
STARTED IN 2027.
8. 8 MILLION RELATES TO BUILDING
CAMPUS MAINTENANCE AND
IMPROVEMENTS.
USUALLY THAT MEANS
MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS.
IT DOESN'T MEAN NEW FACILITIES.
8. 8 MILLION DOESN'T GO THAT
FAR.
AS YOU ALL KNOW IF YOU OWN
A HOME OR MAINTAIN A CAR OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IT
GOES FAST.
ONE TIME FUNDING OF THAT 1. 6
MILLION GOES TO BALLARDS TO GET
READY FOR FIFA.
WE HAD MONEY FROM 2025
ALSO GOING TOWARDS A PHASED
EFFECT.
1. 2 MILLION OF OUR
CAPITAL BUDGET FROM THE FEDERAL
TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION
FOR MONORAIL REHABILITATION.
AND I'LL PASS IT BACK TO KARIN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE WANTED TO JUST WRAP UP WITH A
LOOK AT SOME OF OUR
DEPARTMENT'S ORGANIZATIONAL
PRIORITIES
FOR THIS CURRENT YEAR.
SOME OF THESE ITEMS ARE -- HAVE
ALREADY COME UP IN THE ROOM
TODAY.
FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE
FOCUSING THIS YEAR ON DOING THE
WORK TO
ADVANCE OUR NEW STRATEGIC
VISION AND TEN- YEAR ACTION PLAN
WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED LAST
SUMMER
AND LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK
TO THIS GROUP TO DO A DEEPER
DIVE THERE AND DESCRIBING A LOT
OF OUR STRATEGIC WORK AT THIS
TIME.
WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE KICKED
OFF JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND OUR
ANNUAL SEASON OF THE SEATTLE
CENTER FESTAL CULTURAL
FESTIVALS WITH TET ON FEBRUARY
14th AND A
PHOTO THERE FOR YOU.
THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY CLINIC,
THE TENTH ITERATION IS COMING UP
IN APRIL AND I BELIEVE THERE
ARE STILL VOLUNTEER SPOTS
AVAILABLE SHOULD ANYONE BE
INTERESTED.
FIFA WORLD CUP FAN
ACTIVITIES, SEATTLE CENTER WILL
BE A HUB
FOR THOSE ACTIVITIES.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR
PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE CITY
TO MAKE
THAT SAFE AND ENJOYABLE TIME
THIS SUMMER.
WATERFRONT PARK, WE'RE
FULL SPEED AHEAD.
THIS IS OUR FIRST YEAR OF
FULL PARK OPERATIONS NOW THAT
THE PARK IS FULLY OPEN.
IT'S AN EXCITING TIME.
OUR TEAM DOWN THERE IS DOING AN
EXCELLENT JOB AND WE'RE
MAKING SURE WE HAVE ALL THE
STAFFING AND ATTENTION NECESSARY
TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE
WATERFRONT PARK THE GEM IT IS.
AS DIAMATRIS MENTIONED IN
OUR CAPITAL BUDGET, MEMORIAL
STADIUM IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE OUR
OFFICE WINDOWS EVERY DAY.
IT DEFINITELY CHANGES THE
VIEW FROM THE ARMORY LOOKING TO
THE NORTH AND IT'S FUN TO WATCH
THAT
IN DEVELOPMENT AND THAT WILL
BE CONTINUING THROUGH THE TARGET
OF
AN OPENING IN Q3 OF 2027.
SO THOSE ARE JUST A SHORT
LIST OF OUR ORGANIZATIONAL
PRIORITIES
AT SEATTLE CENTER FOR THIS
YEAR AND I BELIEVE THAT IS THE
LAST SLIDE WE HAVE FOR YOU.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO
YOUR
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALL RIGHT.
I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR TO
MY COLLEAGUES FOR ANY QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS,
FEEDBACK, INSIGHTS. QUICK
TRIVIA.
IF ANY.
ALL RIGHT.
ACTUALLY, I'M GOING TO ADOPT AA
PRACTICE, VICE CHAIR RINCK, I'M
GOING TO GIVE YOU
THE OPPORTUNITY IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.
IF NOT, NO WORRIES.
WE CAN COME BACK TO YOU IF
ANY POP UP.
BUT --
>> NO QUESTIONS FOR TODAY,
BUT DID WANT TO TAKE -- AFFORDED
THE OPPORTUNITY, THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
JUST A CHANCE TO REALLY
REFLECT MY APPRECIATION FOR
JUST ALL OF THE WORK THAT
SEATTLE CENTER
IS DOING BEING ABLE TO
JOIN ALONGSIDE FOLKS FOR
THE GROUNDBREAKING AT
MEMORIAL STADIUM AND THEN ALSO
WANT
TO EMPHASIZE THE SUPPORT
AND APPRECIATION THAT
WE'RE CONTINUING ON THE HEALTH
CLINIC
DAY AND OPPORTUNITY.
A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS REALLY RELY ON THAT
HEALTH
CARE SERVICE THAT WE'RE
PROVIDING
ALONGSIDE PUBLIC HEALTH.
I'M GLAD WE'RE CONTINUING IT.
I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW
HOW DEMAND WILL GO UP AS WE'RE
HEARING
THAT FOLKS ARE LOSING HEALTH
CARE
ACCESS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
GO SEATTLE CENTER.
>> AWESOME.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR RINCK
AND MODELING A GOOD
BEST PRACTICE FROM OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE CHAIR KETTLE
WHO ALWAYS DEFERS TO ME AS HIS
VICE
CHAIR, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT
INCLUSIVE PRACTICE OF, YOU
KNOW, LETTING FOLKS KNOW THAT WE
ARE ESSENTIALLY TWO IN THE BOX.
THE CHAIR DOES HOLD AN
IMPORTANT ROLE BUT WE'RE TWO IN
THE BOX.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS
AND REFLECTIONS THERE, VICE
CHAIR.
I NOTE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
LIN WAS NEXT WITH HIS HAND UP,
BUT I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO GO --
OKAY.
FIRST REFUSAL TO THE PERSON WHO
ACTUALLY REPRESENTS SEATTLE
CENTER, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, GO AHEAD.
COUNCILMEMBER
LIN.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
KIND OF MORE OF A COMMENT,
BUT IT'S JUST INTERESTING TO ME
TO
SEE, YOU KNOW, THAT THESE
ARE THE TOP SITES FOR VISITATION
AND
WHAT IS -- WHAT I NOTICE IS
THAT THESE ARE CAR- FREE,
PEDESTRIAN ACTIVATED SPACES.
THESE ARE INCREDIBLY POPULAR
SPACES AND, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD
TIME AND TIME AGAIN
THAT ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE
PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES IS VEHICLE, YOU KNOW,
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND
UNFORTUNATELY WE LOST THE LIFE
OF
ANOTHER SEATTLE RESIDENT JUST
RECENTLY ON CAPITOL HILL
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, DESPITE OUR
BEST
EFFORTS WE DON'T -- PEDESTRIANS
AND VEHICLES OFTEN DON'T MIX
WELL.
SO PARTIALLY I JUST WANT TO
CALL OUT THE AMAZING SUCCESS
THAT
YOU ALL DO FOR ACTIVATING THESE
SPACES, CREATING GREAT
PROGRAMMING, AND
PROVIDING, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC
SAFETY IN
THESE SPACES AND I JUST THINK WE
AS
A CITY HAVE A LOT TO LEARN
FROM WHAT YOU DO AND INCLUDING
THINGS LIKE THE PUBLIC BATHROOM
ON THE
WATERFRONT.
I'VE HEARD GREAT REVIEWS
ABOUT THAT AND ANOTHER THING
THAT WE
DESPERATELY NEED TO IMPROVE
UPON.
SO, YEAH, JUST WOULD LOVE TO
DO WHAT I CAN TO SUPPORT YOUR
PROGRAMMING AND YOUR
CAPITAL NEEDS AND TO REALLY
LEARN HOW
WE CAN EXPAND WHAT YOU DO IN
OTHER PLACES THROUGHOUT THE
CITY, GIVEN YOUR SUCCESS.
>> YEAH.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE
SUPPORT.
LIKE I SAID LAST
YEAR WE RECEIVED MONEY BALLARDS.
WE HAVE MONEY FOR BALLARDS AS
WELL, KEEPING VEHICLES AND
PEDESTRIANS SEPARATE.
WHEN BOLLARDS DON'T WORK WE
PUT OUT ECOLOGY BLOCKS WHICH CAN
BE DANGEROUS BUT IT'S
TIME INTENSIVE WHEN USING, YOU
KNOW, EQUIPMENT TO MOVE THOSE
BOLLARDS
AROUND OR THE ECOLOGY BLOCKS
AROUND.
APPRECIATE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT OF
THOSE INVESTMENTS.
THE TERMS OF PUBLIC BATHROOMS
WE TOOK A TOUR WITH A MEMBER OF
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE EARLIER THIS
WEEK
TO LOOK AT THE BATHROOM AT
THE WATERFRONT TO SEE HOW THAT
CAN
BE REPLICATED OR
DONE DIFFERENTLY TO MAKE
SURE THERE ARE BATHROOMS
DOWNTOWN.
WHEN PEOPLE GO DOWNTOWN
OR ANYWHERE IN THE CITY THEY
WANT IT TO BE CLEAN AND
SOMETIMES IT'S NOT.
WE HAVE A LACK OF BATHROOMS
AROUND CAMPUS OR AROUND THE
CITY.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU.
NOW MOVING ON TO COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. COUNCILMEMBER WHO
COINCIDENTALLY
HAPPENS TO REPRESENT THIS PART
OF THE CITY AND
PROVIDES LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT
ON THIS
COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR
WINSTON, THANK YOU MS.
BUTLER, THERE'S BEEN A CHANGE
OF
THE COMMITTEES BUT I'VE BEEN
ENGAGED
WITH YOUR TWO PREVIOUS
DIRECTORS.
YOU'RE ACTING, BUT THE
TWO PREVIOUS DIRECTORS
OF SEATTLE CENTER ON A HOST OF
ISSUES TO
INCLUDE THE STADIUM.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
CALLING OUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS
BECAUSE IT'S INTERESTING WITH
A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, RIGHT
NOW WE'RE GOING THROUGH OUR
DOWNTOWN REGIONAL PLAN,
BELLTOWN,
BUT WE HAVE THE SOUTH LAKE UNION
AND
UPTOWN REGIONAL CENTERS COMING
UP SOON AS WELL, AND I THINK
WITH THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT'S
BEING DONE ON THOSE PLANS AND
THE WAY THAT SEATTLE
CENTER'S ROLE IN THAT AS NOTED
IN
SLIDE THREE OF BEING A GREEN
SPACE
AND BEING A PLACE FOR LOCALS,
YOU TALK ABOUT VISITORS, BUT
WHEN OUR DAUGHTER WAS YOUNGER
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I
WAS AT SEATTLE CENTER
WITH OUR DAUGHTER AND
NEIGHBORHOOD
KIDS GOING INTO THAT SPACE AND
IT REALLY GOES TO ACTIVATION.
SO THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING.
IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT AS
WE
GO FORWARD WITH
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, I
UNDERSTAND THERE'S PRETTY
ROBUST
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOODS
SURROUNDING PARTICULARLY UPTOWN
WITH
THE SEATTLE CENTER AND
THEN, OF COURSE, THE OTHER THING
REQUIRING THIS KIND OF
INTERACTION WITH
THE NEIGHBORHOODS IS TRANSIT.
CAN YOU SPEAK GENERALLY,
BECAUSE FOR THOSE THAT DON'T
NECESSARILY KNOW, YOUR
ENGAGEMENT WITH
THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS TO
INCLUDE QUEEN ANNE WHICH HAS AN
URBAN
CENTER THAT COMES BASICALLY A
BLOCK OR
TWO, A COUPLE BLOCKS AWAY FROM
SEATTLE CENTER.
>> YEAH. WE'VE GOT FREQUENT
ENGAGEMENT
WITH ALL OF THE
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO HEAR
ABOUT THEIR NEEDS.
SEATTLE CENTER DRIVES A LOT
OF TRAFFIC IN THE AREA IN TERMS
OF
CARS, PEOPLE ON FOOT, ALSO
A LOT OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.
SO WE REGULARLY MEET WITH
ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATIONS
TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT'S
UPCOMING, TO HEAR THEIR CONCERNS
AND
CHALLENGE, AND
FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK
TOGETHER TO MITIGATE THE
CHALLENGES.
>> AND DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE
THAT TO CONTINUE AND WITH OUR
OFFICE
AS WELL.
SEPARATELY, IN THE -- ON THAT
SAME SLIDE YOU NOTE ABOUT THE
30 INDEPENDENCE ORGANIZATIONS.
I KNOW FROM MY WORK OVER
THE LAST COUPLE YEARS THE
WORK THAT THE SEATTLE CENTER HAS
DONE
IN TERMS OF SUPPORT OF THE REP
OR THE ARMORY LIKE THE
SEATTLE THEATER GROUP AND THE
OTHERS, THE GREAT
AMOUNT OF WORK. CAN YOU SPEAK TO
THAT?
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE IN THE
CITY REALIZE WHAT SEATTLE CENTER
DOES IN TERMS OF PARTNERING
AND ENGAGING WITH ITS VARIOUS
TYPES OF TENANTS IN TERMS OF
MAKING SURE EVERYBODY IS
SUCCESSFUL
AND THEN OFFERING, YOU KNOW,
THOSE
EXPERIENCES, THOSE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR SEATTLEITE AND OUR
VISITORS ACROSS THE STATE,
COUNTRY AND
THE
WORLD
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I MENTIONED EARLIER WE HAVE
BIMONTHLY MEETINGS WITH
THE RESIDENT ORGS ON CAMPUS.
WE ALSO ALLOW FOR RENT REDUCTION
FOR ORGS ON CAMPUS
THROUGH PUBLIC BENEFIT AND SO
THAT'S
A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION
IN RENT THAT'S ALLOWED AND IN
RETURN, THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE FREE AND
REDUCED PRICE
TICKETING AND ACCESS OR SPACE
RENTALS TO THE SPACES THAT
THEY OPERATE ON CAMPUS BUT
LEASE FROM THE CITY.
>> AND DIAMATRIS, IF I CAN
JUMP IN HERE, I WOULD ALSO SAY
THAT, YOU KNOW, AT ANOTHER TIME,
WE LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO
YOU
ABOUT THE VISION OF OUR
TENURE STRATEGIC VISION AND
ACTION
PLAN, BUT I WILL SAY
THAT ONE OF THE KEY PILLARS OF
THAT PLAN
IS FOCUSING IN ON HOW WE CAN
LIFT UP AND SUPPORT THE CAMPUS
WRIT LARGE AND ALL OF
THE ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN IT AND
OUR PARTNER NETWORK IS THE
SEATTLE
CENTER FOUNDATION, WHICH IS
A NONPROFIT PARTNER THAT
SUPPORTS SEATTLE CENTER.
WE DEFINITELY ARE FOCUSED ON
THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE BECAUSE
THAT'S
HOW WE ALL THRIVE.
>> THANK YOU, KARIN.
IT IS AN ECOSYSTEM AND WE
NEED TO SUPPORT THAT ECOSYSTEM
AND THAT
ECOSYSTEM EXPANDS OFF-CAMPUS TO
THE ARTS
AND CULTURAL IMPACTS.
AT SOME POINT IN OUR STRATEGIC
PLAN WE WOULD LIKE TO
ELEVATE THAT AND MAYBE EVEN
PROVIDE SOME
SHARED SERVICES FOR FOLKS ON
CAMPUS, SHARED MARKETING,
SHARED TICKETING, TAKING SOME OF
THOSE THINGS OFF THEIR PLATE
SO THEY CAN EXCEL AND THRIVE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I NOTED YOUR VISITORS WHICH IS
ENCOURAGING BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN
A LOT LESS, WE DON'T SEE AS
MANY CANADIANS LAST YEAR AS WE
DID
PREVIOUSLY AND CONCERN
ABOUT IMPACTS ON THE CITY
OVERALL.
I'M ENCOURAGED BY WHAT YOU'RE
NOTING REGARDING VISITORS
GENERALLY TO SEATTLE CENTER.
CAN I ASK ABOUT MEMORIAL STADIUM
STATUS.
YOU HAD A GREAT VIEW OF IT
FROM THE ARMORY, MS. BUTLER, BUT
HOW
DO YOU SEE THAT INTERACTION
LIKE IN TERMS OF HOW YOU ARE
SEEING THE CHANGES FROM WHAT'S
GOING
ON WITH MEMORIAL STADIUM
AND SEATTLE
CENTER?
>> I SEE IT AS BEING AS DYNAMIC
AND ATTRACTIVE, MORE
ATTRACTIVE, THAN IT WAS BEFORE
IN TERMS
OF HOSTING EVENTS.
THERE'S WALLS GOING
UP, STRUCTURAL AND FOUNDATIONAL
WORK GOING UP AT THE STADIUM.
THE SEWER WORK UNDERNEATH THE
FIELD IS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
SO THAT'S REALLY GOOD.
BUT, YEAH, LIKE KARIN
MENTIONED, IN 2027, WE LOOK TO
OPEN IT UP
FOR, YOU KNOW, HIGH
SCHOOL SPORTING EVENTS, SEMI PRO
EVENTS, SOME OTHER THINGS
THAT COULD BE CAPTURED IN THE
STADIUM, CONCERTS AND
REALLY JUST GOING TO ADD TO
THE ACTIVATION AND THE
DYNAMIC CAMPUS THAT WE CURRENTLY
HAVE.
>> CHANGES TO THE
PHYSICAL PROFILE OF THE STADIUM,
IS
GOING TO BE FOR THE CAMPUS IT
WILL OPEN UP SOME CONNECTIONS
FROM
THE INTERNATIONAL FOUNTAIN
LAWN TO THE STADIUM ITSELF.
WE'LL NO LONGER HAVE THE TALL
WALLS THAT ARE DOWN NOW
AND IT WILL HAVE LIKE I SAID A
LOWER PROFILE AND LOVELY
INTEGRATION INTO THE CAMPUS, SO
IT'S
ALL MOVING IN A POSITIVE
DIRECTION
EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A LOT
OF DIRT RIGHT
NOW.
>> A LOT OF DIRT, LOT OF
CONSTRUCTION.
IT DOES HAVE LOCAL IMPACTS.
CONSTRUCTION ALWAYS DOES.
IT CAME TO OUR ATTENTION AND
SINCE WE HAVE SDOT
HERE MR. LABORDE, THE QUESTION
OF --
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO
GROUPS LIKE BIKE LANES COMING
FROM THOMAS STREET,ERS INNER,
IN THAT AREA, JUST SOMETHING
THAT YOU'VE SEEN AND SDOT
COMING
UP AS WELL, BUT, YOU KNOW,
THE POSSIBILITIES OF HAVING A
LIKE
TEMPORARY, PROTECTED BIKE
LANES, YOU KNOW, TO -- RELATED
TO
THE CONSTRUCTION AND WHAT'S
GOING
ON WITH THAT PART OF SEATTLE
CENTER?
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, IF NEEDED THERE WOULD BE
OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, DO
SEPARATED SPACES FOR
PEDESTRIANS
OR BIKES.
>> OKAY.
>> I THINK SDOT WOULD BE
BEST TO SPEAK TO WHAT THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES ARE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO ENGAGE
WITH THEM IF THERE'S A NEED ON
THE RESOLUTIONS OR
SOLUTIONS.
>> YES.
THIS IS KIND OF A HEAD'S UP
QUESTION.
OVER.
TWO LAST THINGS REALLY QUICK.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINTS
ABOUT LIKE SECURITY AND THE
SAFETY PIECES OF FIFA WORLD CUP
AND, OBVIOUSLY, SEEING THAT FOR
A
WHILE NOW AND WILL CONTINUE
IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY TOO.
CAN YOU SPEAK, YOU KNOW, WITH
THE PLANS FOR THE WORLD CUP AND
SO FORTH, IS THERE ENGAGEMENT
GOING BACK TO THE
NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND ENGAGING
WITH
THE NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE I
KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME CHANGES,
BUT CAN YOU SPEAK TO LIKE
WHAT'S
THE SEATTLE CENTER IS LOOKING
TO DO WITH FIFA WORLD CUP AND
ALSO
POSSIBILITIES WITH
THOSE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS
IN TERMS OF PARTNERING, YOU
KNOW, WITH THEM AS WELL MAYBE?
>> YEAH.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALREADY
HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
RESIDENT
ORGS ON CAMPUS ABOUT
THINGS THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO
LIKE I SAID
WEWE DO TALK TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS ON A
REGULAR
BASIS AND THERE ARE SOME THAT
ARE
INTERESTED IN DOING
DIFFERENT THINGS AND SO I --
FIFA
HAS CHANGED TO A DISTRIBUTIVE
MODEL, THE CELEBRATION, AND, YOU
KNOW,
IT WON'T JUST HAPPEN AT SEATTLE
CENTER, IT WILL HAPPEN AT
OTHER PLACES IN THE CITY.
FOR US OUR FOCUS IS ON FREE AND
AFFORDABLE PROGRAMMING.
YOU KNOW, DOING SOMETHING IN
THE ARMORY.
WE'LL SHOW ALL GAMES,
ALL MATCHES IN THE ARMORY AND
IF WE CAN WE'LL ACTIVATE THE
MURAL
AMPHITHEATER FOR THE
SEATTLE SPECIFIC GAMES.
OUR PROGRAMMING WILL
INCLUDE MATCH STREAMING SO
EVERYONE CAN WATCH THE GAMES,
LOTS OF US
WON'T BE ABLE TO GET INTO
THE STADIUMS FOR THOSE GAMES,
PRETTY
EXPENSIVE, THAT'S
ACCESSIBILITY AND
AFFORDABLIBILITY.
CULTURAL PERFORMANCES, ARTS AND
HERITAGE EXHIBITS, GLOBAL
FOOD JUST TO KIND OF RECOGNIZE
THE
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT THAT, YOU
KNOW, WORLD CUP AND FIFA
AND SOCCER HAVE AND
INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES WITH
PARTICIPATING NATIONS JUST TO
REALLY
HIGHLIGHT THE ARTS AND
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE THAT WE
HAVE IN
SEATTLE.
AND SO WE WELCOME
THE NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS
IF THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW,
WATCH PARTIES OR THINGS THEY
WOULD
LIKE TO COORDINATE ON.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE OUR PROGRAMMING
EVENTS TEAM THAT, YOU
KNOW, I CAN'T GIVE YOU ALL THE
DETAILS BUT THEY'RE ACTIVELY
WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD SURROUNDING SEATTLE
CENTER ON ACTIVATIONS TO MAKE IT
AS
ROBUST AND INCLUSIVE AS
POSSIBLE.
>> THANK YOU.
I'VE.
PUSHING THIS FOR A YEAR NOW.
THAT'S IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'VE
BEEN OVERSEAS AND SEEING
WORLD CUP HOW IT'S BEEN DONE,
THE POTENTIAL IS GREAT.
ONE LAST THING.
THANK YOU,
CHAIR. I WAS RECENTLY AT THE
BOON
BOON OPENING ON THE OVERLOOK
WALK
AND NOTED IN MY REMARKS ABOUT
HOW THE WATERFRONT IS CONNECTING
BECAUSE WE'RE A NORTH/SOUTH
CITY FROM A
TRANSPORTATION PERSPECTIVE BUT
NEED TO
WORK ON THE EAST/WEST, LOVE
THE CONNECTIONS TO THE STADIUMS
OR
PIONEER SQUARE, PIKE PINE,
PIKE PLACE MARKET AND THEN THE
MARKET
TO MO HIGH THE BELL STREET
PROJECT, A LOT COMING
UP, WE HAVE THE CONNECTION PARK
WITH
McKENZIE SCOTT AND ME
LINDA FRENCH GATES,
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO
CONNECT SEATTLE
CENTER.
I KNOW SEATTLE CENTER
WAS BROUGHT IN TO SUPPORT
WATERFRONT
PARK IN TERMS OF WHAT
THEY'RE DOING BUT TO ACTUALLY
REALLY
KIND OF CONNECT AND I JUST
WANTED TO ASK, YOU
KNOW, BROADENING THAT
RELATIONSHIP AS
OPPOSED TO LIKE IN TERMS
OF SECURITY AND SO FORTH,
MANAGEMENT, BUT ALSO BUILD
ON THESE CONNECTIONS LIKE MARKET
TO
MOHIGH AND EAST/WEST CONNECTIONS
AND CONNECTING SEATTLE
CENTER PHYSICALLY TO THE
WATERFRONT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON
THAT?
>> CHAIR, YEAH.
I CAN JUMP IN.
AGAIN, I WOULD LOVE TO
TALK TO YOU FURTHER ABOUT OUR
TEN- YEAR
PLAN.
ABSOLUTELY THOSE KINDS OF
CONNECTIONS FOR SEATTLE CENTER
CONNECTIONS
BETWEEN SEATTLE CENTER AND
WATERFRONT AND
SOUTH LAKE UNION ARE IN OUR
BIG PICTURE VISION FOR WHAT
MIGHT BE
POSSIBLE IN THE FUTURE AND
WE'RE ACTIVELY THINKING ABOUT
THAT.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK
YOU. AND THANK YOU --
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE THE
BIG THING AS YOU KNOW IS FUNDING
THAT. WE'RE HIGHLY IN FAVOR
OF CONNECTING SOUTH COMMUNITY,
THE
WATERFRONT, SEATTLE
CENTER, MAKING IT MORE WALKABLE,
HAVING A TRAIL OR LOOP THAT
PEOPLE
COULD, YOU KNOW, TRAVEL ON
WITHOUT GETTING TO A
CAR WOULD BE GREAT.
IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR, YOU
KNOW, THE QUALITY AND THE
LIVEABILITY OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE BUT
THE HEALTH IMPACTS TOO.
WE'RE HIGHLY IN FAVOR OF
THAT HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH MANY
AND MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS IN
THIS STATE IN TERMS OF GETTING
THE FUNDING TO BE
ABLE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> TOM STREET BEING A
GREAT EXAMPLE LIKE SOUTH LAKE
UNION.
CHAIR SAKA WILL TAKE CARE OF
ALL THE FUNDING.
TALK TO CHAIR AND
WE'LL GET EVERYTHING
SORTED.
>> THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S SEE.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THIS FANTASTIC PRESENTATION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
BIG FAN OF THE SEATTLE CENTER.
I DON'T KNOW IF KIDS ARE
ALLOWED TO PLAY IN THE WATER
FOUNTAIN
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, BUT
GREAT MEMORIES THERE AND
APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU DO.
A COUPLE QUESTIONS I HAD FOR
YOU.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE
ABOUT SEATTLE CENTER IS
THE SMALL BUSINESSES THERE.
I WONDER IF YOU CAN SPEAK
A LITTLE BIT TO THE
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SEATTLE
CENTER AND
OUR LEGAL BUSINESSES IN THE
ARMORY AND IN THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITY.
>> YEAH.
WE HAVE QUITE A
FEW SMALL BUSINESSES THAT, YOU
KNOW, ALL
CONTRIBUTE TO THE VIBRANCY AND
THE ACTIVATION OF SEATTLE
CENTER.
YOU KNOW, THANKFULLY WHEN
EVENTS COME ON CAMPUS, FESTIVAL,
FEST
ALS, THEY SUPPORT THOSE SMALL
BUSINESSES ON CAMPUS.
WE HAVE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT
STUDY THAT WAS LAST RENEWED IN
2016 BUT WE'RE IN THE PROCESS
OF UPDATING IT CURRENTLY AND
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU
MORE FACTS AND
FIGURES.
SMALL BUSINESSES THRIVE IN
SEATTLE CENTER.
JUST IN TERMS OF THE
RENT STRUCTURE, THE AMOUNT OF
TRAFFIC
THAT COMES THROUGH WITH 11 TO
12 MILLION VISITORS A YEAR,
WHETHER THEY GO TO CLIMATE
PLEDGE OR
ONE OF THE ARTS AND
CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS ON CAMPUS.
THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS THAT WE
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES,
BUT SMALL BUSINESSES ALSO
SUPPORT
US BECAUSE IT BRINGS TRAFFIC ON
TO
CAMPUS AND HONESTLY IT
SUPPORTS THE CITY THROUGH TAX
REVENUE
BUT, YEAH,
CERTAINLY SMALL BUSINESSES
IMPORTANT PART
OF
SEATTLE CENTER IN ADDITION TO
THE NONPROFITS ON CAMPUS.
>> YEAH.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND ANOTHER QUESTION I
HAVE, I KNOW THIS IS NOT
TECHNICALLY
PART OF SEATTLE CENTER,
BUT I KNOW THAT -- IS IN THE
MIDST OF
SELLING THEIR PROPERTY
PURCHASED BY THE SPACE NEEDLE.
I'M CURIOUS HOW YOU'RE
ANTICIPATING ANY IMPACTS
TO SEATTLE CENTER FROM THAT
CHANGE?
>> YEAH.
SO, YOU KNOW, FOR THE RECORD,
PACSI IS A PRIVATE NONPROFIT AND
THEY CONSIDERED WHAT TO DO FOR
YEARS, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS
OF SELLING OFF A PIECE OF
PROPERTY AND SO FOR THEM IT WAS
REALLY A
MISSION OF BUSINESS
ALIGNED DECISION TO SELL IT, YOU
KNOW, A
PORTION OF THE PROPERTY ABOUT
20, 25% TO THE SPACE NEED
TOLL HELP THEM INVEST IN THEIR
INFRASTRUCTURE, NEW
EXPERIENCES AND EXHIBITS.
SO, YOU KNOW, STABILIZE THEIR
BUDGET.
BUT FOR US AT SEATTLE CENTER
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER
PUBLIC/PRIVATE
PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERSHIPS
THAT'S THE
WAY SEATTLE CENTER HAS
THRIVED OVER THE YEARS.
HAVING PEOPLE COME IN AND
INVEST IN THE CAMPUS.
NO MAJOR CHANGES DO I SEE FROM
US. WE STILL ARE COMMITTED TO
OPENING UP THE COURT YARDS AND
HELPING SEATTLE OUR PACIFIC
SCIENCE CENTER RESTORE
THE ARCHES AND SO BUT IT'S
GOING
TO ACTUALLY JUST PROVIDE, YOU
KNOW,
THROUGH THAT PROJECT IN
TAKING DOWN THE GATES MORE
PUBLIC
ACCESS AND REALLY EXPAND
ON CAMPUS AND ALSO OFFER A
BETTER
GATEWAY ENTRANCE ON THE CAMPUS
FROM THAT PORTION OF CAMPUS.
SO POSITIVE THINGS THAT WE'RE
SEEING.
I KNOW FOR THE PACSI
THEY BELIEVE THEY FOUND A
PARTNER
AND WE DO TOO THAT'S MISSION
ALIGNED
WITH THE DIRECTION THEY'D
LIKE TO GO AND SO THE SPACE
NEEDLE ACQUISITION OF THAT
PROPERTY
IS PROBABLY FAVORABLE
TO SEATTLE CENTER AS WELL AS
PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE HEARING THAT
GIVEN JUST THE OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS HAVE SPOKEN TO IN TERMS
OF NEED
FOR OPEN SPACE AND
ACCESSIBILITY.
I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT VOTE OF
CONFIDENCE. I WANT TO TAKE US TO
ONE
THING I KNOW IS SIGNIFICANT FOR
Y'ALL WHICH IS JUST
ANTICIPATED INFRASTRUCTURE
NEEDS.
YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THE
VALUE THAT THE SEATTLE CENTER
BRINGS
AND I KNOW THERE'S
BEEN INVESTMENTS WE'VE MADE
RECENTLY AND UPDATING ELECTRICAL
AND OTHER THINGS AT THE SEATTLE
CENTER.
CONDITION YOU TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE - - THOSE
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT YOU
HAVE?
>> YEAH.
WE HAVE, YOU KNOW -- IT'S
AN AGING CAMPUS.
IT HAS LOT OF NEEDS.
THE FURTHER YOU PUSH THOSE
NEEDS DOWN, THE MORE, THE
GREATER
THE COST OF THOSE NEEDS ARE.
WE HAVE BUILDINGS THERE
THAT WERE BUILT FOR THE WORLD
FAIR AND SO THOSE BUILDINGS
ARE AGEING.
SOME OF THOSE BUILDINGS
WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DEMOLISHED
WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER THE WORLD
FAIR.
THEY'RE STILL THERE.
WE HAVE THE BELOW GROUND
INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE'VE HAD HEATING PROBLEMS.
A LOT OF THINGS THAT
HAVE OPERATIONAL COSTS ON US
THAT
AREN'T, YOU KNOW, CAPITAL COSTS
ARE, THEY'RE OPERATING COSTS
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DO
EMERGENCY FIXES.
NOT ONLY IMPACT THE CITY AND
ITS OPERATIONS ON CAMPUS BUT
IMPACT OUR RESIDENT ORGS ON
CAMPUS
WHO LEASE SPACE FROM SEATTLE
CENTER.
AND SO FOR US IT IS TIME TO
REINVEST AND LOOK AT FUNDING
OPERATIONS, VOTER
APPROVED FUNDING OPTIONS MORE
THAN
LIKELY.
WE'VE DONE FACILITY
CONDITION ASSESSMENTS SO THOSE
ARE
OUTSIDE GROUPS, NOT JUST OUR
STAFF, YOU KNOW, TAKE OUR WORD
FOR IT BUT
ALSO VALIDATE WHAT THOSE NEEDS
ARE.
SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS AS YOU
PROBABLY READ IN THE SEATTLE
TIMES ARTICLES
RECENTLY. WE'VE BEEN OPEN ABOUT
WHAT
OUR NEEDS ARE AND WE ARE
CURRENTLY IN TALKS WITH THE
MAYOR'S
OFFICE ABOUT HOW TO -- WHAT THE
OPTIONS
ARE TO FUND THOSE NEEDS.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER.
I'LL QUICKLY COMMENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE
THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS AND
COMMENTS FROM
MY COLLEAGUES HERE.
COMMENT ON THAT BEFORE I
JUMP INTO A FEW OTHER QUICK
QUESTIONS.
SO AS COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER ALLOWED TO THERE ARE
NONTRIVIAL, IN FACT SUBSTANTIAL,
MAINTENANCE, BACKLOG, CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT NEEDS WITHIN
SEATTLE CENTER.
AND, YOU KNOW, WIDELY
REPORTED THE LAST ADMINISTRATION
WAS CONSIDERING A POTENTIALLY
$1 BILLION LEVY PROPOSAL PACKAGE
TO
HELP MEET THE NEED AND I
SAID THIS BEFORE AT
PRODUCTIVE INITIAL CONVERSATIONS
WITH THE
MAYOR, THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE ABOUT THIS AS WELL, AS
CHAIR OF
THIS COMMITTEE THAT
OVERSEES SEATTLE CENTER I AM NOT
AT ALL
INTERESTED IN CONTINUING TO KICK
THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ON
THESE LONG DEFERRED MAINTENANCE
NEEDS.
PRIORITIES SHIFT AS A CITY
FROM TIME TO TIME AND THAT'S
TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE SO A $1
BILLION VOTER APPROVED LEVY WHEN
WE'RE ALREADY APPROACH THE CAP,
WE ALREADY HAVE A LIBRARY
LEVY LIKELY EXPECTED THIS YEAR,
IT'S NOT -- MIGHT NOT BE
REASONABLE OR REALISTIC AT THIS
POINT,
BUT I DO NOTE THAT WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING.
MLK LABOR COUNCIL PASSED
A RESOLUTION ON JANUARY 21st
CALLING FOR A VOTER APPROVED
LEVY TO HELP FUND THESE MISSION
CRITICAL MAINTENANCE BACKLOG
NEEDS.
I'M OPEN TO A SPECIFIC DOLLAR
VALUE, WHATEVER THAT COULD
BE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO GET
CREATIVE, LESS FLEXIBLE ON
TIMING. WE NEED TO ACT
SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
BUT FLEXIBLE ON THE AMOUNT,
THE INVESTMENT VEHICLES, WHETHER
IT'S BONDING WITH
CREATIVE EXERCISE OF OUR BONDING
AUTHORITY, POTENTIAL
LEVY, ROBUST PUBLIC/PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS AND THE LIKE.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE OPTIONS.
AND THIS IS INTENDED TO BE
A KIND OF OVERVIEW PRESENTATION
OF THE CENTER AND SO I
INTENTIONALLY ASK THE DEPARTMENT
NOT TO SPEAK EXTENSIVELY ABOUT
THAT, BUT I'M GLAD
COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER ASKED BECAUSE
IT'S APPROPRIATE AND I PLAN TO
USE THIS COMMITTEE TO DAYLIGHT
THAT ISSUE A LITTLE MORE
EXTENSIVELY AND TALK ABOUT THE
CURRENT
NEED AND SOME POTENTIAL OPTIONS.
IN ANY EVENT, LET'S GO TO
SLIDE 17 THAT SAYS 2026
OPERATING BUDGET STRUCTURE AND
INCOME
SOURCES.
USE
THAT AS KIND OF A LAUNCHING
POINT.
SO GREAT QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS AROUND THE CROSS-
COLLABORATION,
CROSS POLLINATION,
INTERDEPARTMENT,
INTERAGENCY WORK THAT GOES ON
EVERY
DAY BETWEEN SEATTLE CENTER,
THE OFFICE OF THE WATERFRONT, SO
THIS IS INTENDED TO FOCUS
MOSTLY ON SEATTLE CENTER
RECOGNIZING, OF COURSE, THAT
THERE IS
THAT NATURAL CROSS POLLINATION
AND COLLABORATION THAT HAPPENS
WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AND
AGENCIES AS WE TALKED ABOUT
SEPARATELY AND ANOTHER
COMMITTEE WE'LL HAVE A BRIEF
OVERVIEW
OF THE CITY OFFICE OF THE
WATERFRONT.
I THINK THE FORMAL NAME FOR
THAT IS THE OFFICE OF THE
WATERFRONT CIVIC PROJECTS AND
SOUND
TRANSIT.
BUT THERE IS, OBVIOUSLY,
A LOT OF IMPORTANT WORK THAT
GOES
ON BETWEEN THE VARIOUS --
THIS DEPARTMENT AND OTHER
OFFICES
AND AGENCIES ACROSS THE CITY AND
EXTERNALLY.
MEMORIAL STADIUM RENOVATION.
WE'RE GOING TO DO A
SEPARATE SORT OF SLIGHTLY DEEPER
DIVE
OR JUST CHECK IN ABOUT THAT
PROJECT
USING TAXPAYER FUNDED AND
MIXTURE OF PUBLIC/PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS TO FUND THAT
LONG- NEEDED RENOVATION OF
THE STADIUM AND AS SOMEONE ON
THIS COUNCIL AT THE TIME WHEN
WE AUTHORIZED THAT AND AS AN
AIR FORCE VETERAN, I'M
PARTICULARLY
PROUD OF THE NEW
VETERANS MEMORIAL ASPECT OR
FEATURE
OF THAT MEMORIAL STADIUM
RENOVATION
PROJECT AND I KNOW MY
COLLEAGUE HERE WHO IS A NAVY
VETERAN AS
WELL SHARES IN THAT.
APPRECIATE HIS LEADERSHIP
ON GETTING THAT DONE.
SO WE'LL SEPARATELY INVITE
YOU ALL TO TALK ABOUT AND JUST
CHECK
IN ABOUT THE STATUS.
CAN YOU JUST HIGH
LEVEL TALK ABOUT WHERE WE'RE
AT, TIMELINE?
ARE WE ON TRACK AND ON BUDGET
CURRENTLY FOR THAT
PROJECT?
>> WE ARE ON TRACK AND ON
BUDGET.
LIKE I SAID THE SEWER
PROJECT UNDERNEATH THE FIELD IS
AHEAD
OF TIME, WHICH IS GOOD.
THERE'S FOUNDATIONS AND
WALLS GOING UP CURRENTLY.
YOU SHOULD CERTAINLY COME TAKE
A TOUR OF IT.
AS KARIN MENTIONED, THE SPACE
IS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE
OPEN, YOU KNOW, SO IF YOU ARE
LOOKING TOWARDS THE SPACE
NEEDLE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE
IT FROM
THAT PART OF CAMPUS.
IT WILL BE GENERAL AND OPEN
TO CAMPUS TOWARDS THE
INTERNATIONAL
FOUNTAIN.
IT IS ON TIME.
RIGHT NOW IT IS ON BUDGET.
THE CITY COMMITTED $40 MILLION
TOWARDS THE PROJECT.
THE MONEY CAME FROM THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
ABOUT 4
MILLION, 69,000 FROM THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SOME FROM
PRIVATE AND PHILANTHROPIC
CONTRIBUTIONS.
ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF A
PLUCK PUBLIC/PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIP.
THE MEMORIAL WILL BE OPEN
AN CONDUCIVE TO PEOPLE GOING IN
AND
OBSERVING AND SPENDING TIME
THERE. IT BE AS CLOSE TO THE
PARKING AREA AND THAT WILL BE A
MAJOR
IMPROVEMENT AND RESPECT TO THE
MEMORIAL.
>> AWESOME.
THANK YOU.
WORLD CUP READINESS.
THAT WAS A THREAD THAT CONNECTED
MULTIPLE QUESTIONS,
SPECIFIC TOPICS THAT YOU COVERED
IN
YOUR OVER ARCHING PRESENTATION.
AND WE'LL DEVOTE AT LEAST ONE
COMMITTEE MEETING
TO DIVING DEEPER INTO WORLD CUP
AND
WORLD CUP READINESS AND WE CAN
DEVOTE A WHOLE COMMITTEE TO
SOLELY TALK ABOUT TRANSIT POLICY
ON
WORLD CUP AS IT RELATES TO WORLD
CUP
READINESS.
WE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
APPROPRIATE SCOPING, BUT WE
DO NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT
AND STARTING NEXT MONTH, SO STAY
TUNED. BUT CAN YOU TALK ABOUT --
AND
YOU MENTIONED THE -- HOW THE
DEPARTMENT, THE ORGANIZATION IS
FUNDED, MIXTURE OF FEES, CAN
YOU TALK ABOUT FOR WORLD CUP,
THE PROJECTED INCREASE IN
POTENTIAL REVENUE FROM OPERATING
INCOME, WHETHER IT'S FROM
PARKING, EVENT
RESIDENTIAL, SPONSORSHIP, FOOD,
TICKETING, BASED OFF
THE ESTIMATES OF I THINK THE
LATEST LATEST I'VE SEEN IN THE
LOCAL
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE BALLPARK
750,000 ON THE CONSERVATIVE
END, HIGH END, 1. 5 MILLION
AROUND THE
REGION AND THE CENTER PLAYS A
ROLE, BUT IT'S A DISTRIBUTIVE
MODEL AS YOU NOTED EARLIER.
ANY INITIAL SYSTEM OR
PROJECTIONS ON POTENTIAL
INCREASES IN REVENUE FROM THE
CENTER AS A DIRECT RESULT OF
WORLD CUP?
>> YEAH.
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, CHAIR
SAKA.
SO WE KNOW DURING THAT TIME OF
YEAR, HOW MUCH REVENUE WE
GENERALLY GENERATE AND SO FOR
US, THE WORLD CUP AT LEAST
NEEDS TO DO THAT FOR CAMPUS AND
SO
THE REVENUE WOULD BE
GENERATED THROUGH PARKING,
THROUGH CONCESSIONS AND OTHER
ACTIVITIES ON CAMPUS.
WE DON'T HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE AN EXACT
NUMBER.
WE DON'T HAVE AN
ESTIMATE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE
DISTRIBUTIVE MODEL MEANS SOME OF
THESE
EVENTS ARE THINGS THE TRAFFIC
IS GOING TO GO TO OTHER PLACES,
YOU
KNOW, THAT AREN'T ON CAMPUS,
BUT WE
DO EXPECT, YOU KNOW, HIGHER
VOLUME OF PEOPLE ON CAMPUS AND,
YOU
KNOW, THE PARKING GARAGES TO BE
FULL, PEOPLE TAKING THE
MONORAIL.
LAST YEAR'S MONORAIL WAS THE
SECOND BEST YEAR IN RECENT
HISTORY, AND SO WE EXPECT TO SEE
THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR WHICH
WILL ALL CONTRIBUTE.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE KIND OF IN
A PIVOT MODE TO PIVOT AND
MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROGRAMMING
ON CAMPUS IS SUFFICIENT AND
ADVERTISED AND SUPPORTED
ENOUGH SO THAT WE CAN AT LEAST
MAKE
THE REVENUE WE USUALLY MAKE
DURING THAT TIME OF YEAR FROM
OTHER
EVENTS. SO WHILE WE WERE
PLANNING
FOR SOME OF THE FIFA EVENTS, WE
HAD TO KIND OF PUT ON HOLD
SOME OTHER PROGRAMMING WE WOULD
HAVE OTHERWISE DONE TO MAKE SURE
THAT IT WAS COORDINATED BUT NOW
THAT IT'S A DISTRIBUTED AND
OPEN MODEL WITHOUT GATES AND
FENCING
AND ALL THOSE THINGS, WE HAVE
TO RECALIBRATE WHAT WE THINK
WE'RE GOING TO DO REVENUE
WISE. OUR
GOAL IS NOT TO LOSE ANY
REVENUE DURING THAT PERIOD OF
THE YEAR.
AS A RESULT OF THE PIVOT.
>> THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE THE INITIAL ANSWER
AND CLARITY AND WE WOULD
LOVE SOME MORE SPECIFIC FOLLOW-
UP
DATA AROUND REVENUE.
OFF
LINE. THANK YOU.
AS A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES
NOTED THE CENTER IS TRULY AT ITS
BEST AN ENJOYABLE AND
SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL
WHEN IT'S CAR-FREE.
AND PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY AND
ACCESSIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE
TO SHARED MICRO MOBILITY AS
WELL.
THE DEPARTMENT, THIS
COUNCIL, HAS A -- HAS PROVIDED
DIRECTION THAT WE WANT TO ACROSS
THE CITY
BUILD AT LEAST 600, MIGHT BE
506, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE
FINAL NUMBER WE LANDED ON LAST
YEAR,
NEW SCOOTER CORRALS.
IT'S ONE THING WE CAN DO
TO ADDRESS SAFETY, AN
IMPORTANT THING TO ADDRESS
SAFETY, NOT
THE ONLY THING WE SHOULD BE
HANGING HANGING OUR HATS ON, BUT
SCOOTER
CORRALS REQUIRES A LOT OF
COORDINATION
WITH SDOT.
WHAT'S THE DEPLOYMENT AT A HIGH
LEVEL, WHAT'S THE
DEPLOYMENT PLAN AND APPROACH FOR
SCOOTER
CORRAL DEPLOYMENT IN AND
AROUND THE CENTER?
>> YEAH.
HARD FOR ME TO SPEAK ON.
WE HAVE PLACES YOU CAN PUT
BIKES.
IN TERMS OF SCOOTER
CORRALS I DON'T KNOW THAT WE
HAVE
ANY.
>> ON THE PERIMETER I
BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME.
WE DO HAVE AN INTERNAL TEAM
THAT WOULD BE OUR SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERTS ON THAT AND
THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING WE
WOULD
LIKE TO COME BACK ON AND GET
A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION.
>> GOOD.
THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, DIRECTOR WINSTON, MS.
BUTLER, REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR TIME TODAY.
YOU SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS AND
PERSPECTIVE ON THIS
TRULY COMMUNITY TREASURE, A GEM
THAT
WE HAVE HERE IN THIS CITY.
VIBRANT ARTS, CULTURE AND
SPORTS EXPERIENCES HAPPEN THERE
EVERY
DAY. WE WELCOME THE WORLD THERE.
FIFA WORLD CUP YEARS AND NOT.
LOVE THIS PRESENTATION.
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE
TERRIFIC WORK THAT YOU ALL
DO AND LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR
CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP TOGETHER
AND MORE TO COME.
ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
ANY FINAL
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS BEFORE WE
MOVE ON?
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
IS THAT A STALE HAND.
AWESOME.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO
OUR SECOND ITEM OF
BUSINESS.
>> APPRECIATE
IT.
>> WILL THE CLERK READ ITEM
TWO INTO THE RECORD.
>> ADDENDA ITEM TWO, BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION,
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TASK
FORCE
UPDATE PRESENTED BY CENTRAL
STAFF AND
SDOT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
WILL OUR PRESENTERS PLEASE
JOIN US AT THE TABLE AND WHEN
YOU
ARE READY SHARE YOUR
PRESENTATIONS.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
WELCOME.
.
WHILE WE ADDRESS SOME TECHNICAL
ISSUES, GETTING THE SLIDES UP,
COLLEAGUES, LET ME JUST
SHARE KIND OF ORIENT THIS
CONVERSATION FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE.
WE'RE HERE TODAY TO CHECK IN
ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION REVENUE
FUNDING TASK FORCE.
AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT KIND
OF SOME SPECIFICS AROUND COUNCIL
DIRECTION, HOW THIS CAME
ABOUT, BUT AT A HIGH LEVEL, THIS
CAME ABOUT BECAUSE THERE WAS A
RECOGNITION THAT AT THE
TIME IT WAS THE BIGGEST LEVY IN
SEATTLE'S HISTORY AT 1.
55 BILLION TRANSPORTATION
LEVY THAT WAS OVERWHELMINGLY
APPROVED BY
GENEROUS VOTERS ACROSS
SEATTLE BUT THERE WAS
RECOGNITION
THAT EVEN IF WE DID A $3 BILLION
LEVY -- EVEN IF WE -- ALL RIGHT.
NO AWKWARD ECHO.
RECOGNITION EVEN IF WE HAD A
$3 BILLION TRANSPORTATION LEVY
PANEL AS SOME ADVOCATES
WERE CALL FOR AT THE TIME THAT
DIDN'T INCLUDE BRIDGES, WE
STILL WOULDN'T MEET THE NEEDS.
PUBLIC COMMENT EARLIER
TODAY TALKED ABOUT THE
COMPELLING
NEED FOR MORE SIDEWALK FUNDING.
STILL WOULDN'T HAVE PUT US
ON TRACK TO DELIVER THE 27%
MISSING
SIDEWALK GAP ACROSS THE CITY.
WE DEVOTED IT TO ROADS WOULDN'T
HAVE DID IT, BRIDGES SAME THING.
AND SO JUST THE
RECOGNITION IT WAS A GENEROUS
CONTRIBUTION
S AND DOWN PAYMENT FROM
VOTERS, BUT WE NEED TO FIND
OTHER OPTIONS THAT DON'T SOLELY
RELY ON VOTER GENEROSITY FROM A
LEVY
PERSPECTIVE. WE CREATED THIS
TASK FORCE
TO LOOK AT THREE ASSET CLASSES,
ROADS, BRIDGES, SIDEWALKS, TO
FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN GET
CREATIVE HERE AND
ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, OUR HOPE
FOR THIS BODY
IS THAT THEY'LL PROVIDE
SOME ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS
AND POLICY OPTIONS THAT ARE
TRULY
IMPLEMENTBLE, THAT'S WHY WE
NOT ONLY CREATED THIS TASK
FORCE, BUT WE BACKED IT WITH
DOLLAR INVESTMENT TO ENSURE THE
FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND
POLICY PROPOSALS THAT FLOW FROM
THIS
TASK FORCE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN
VETTED, BY CONSULTANTS AND
LEGAL PROFESSIONALS, TO ENSURE
THAT
IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT
POLITICAL WILL AND WE SAY YES,
WE CAN
ACTUALLY DO IT.
SO THAT'S JUST THE OVERVIEW
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS SOMEONE
WHO
IS AN ARCHITECT OF THIS WORK.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO
OUR
EXPERTS HERE. AGAIN, PLEASE DO
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AN HOPEFULLY
GOT RID OF
THAT BACKGROUND
NOISE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM CALVIN CHOW
WITH CENTRAL STAFF
STAFF.
>> I'M SARAH STRAND, SDOT.
>> BILL LABORDE, SDOT.
>> COUNCIL
MEMBERS, I HAVE A SMALL
PRESENTATION.
ACTUALLY THE CHAIR HAS
GONE THROUGH MOST OF THE
INFORMATION I WANTED TO PRESENT.
I WILL DO IT QUICKLY.
AS THE CHAIR MENTIONED,
THE TRANSPORTATION
REVENUE TASK FORCE WAS
ORIGINALLY PROPOSED
AS PART OF THE EXECUTIVE
PROPOSAL FOR THE 2024
TRANSPORTATION
LEVY.
THIS WAS PRESENTED TO THE SELECT
COMMITTEE AND REALLY THE
INTENT WAS TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC
FORUM
FOR ONGOING COMMUNITY AND
STAKEHOLDER DISCUSSIONS TO
LOOK MORE BROADLY AND INTO THE
FUTURE OF WHAT TRANSPORTATION
FUNDING NEEDS ARE AND WHAT WAYS
THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR CAN
THINK ABOUT IN THE FUTURE TO
ADDRESS
THEM.
AND SO AT THE BOTTOM HERE I
HAVE A LIST OF SOME OF THE
POTENTIAL TRANSPORTATION
REVENUES, SOME OF
WHICH WE DO USE, BUT PROPERTY
TAX, SALES TAX, VEHICLE LICENSE
TAX, COMMERCIAL PARKING
TAX, TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE,
TOLLS AND CONGESTION PRICING,
LOCAL
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS
AND GENERAL FUND RESOURCES ARE
ALL THINGS THAT CAN BE USED.
THE COUNCIL WHEN IT ENDORSED
THE -- WHEN IT PUT THE
PROPOSAL UP FOR THE LEVY FOR
VOTERS IT
INCLUDED A COMPANION
RESOLUTION AND THAT RESOLUTION
ENDORSED
THE IDEA OF FORMING
THE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TASK
FORCE.
THIS RESOLUTION HAD
SOME REQUESTS ABOUT A DIVERSE
AND REPRESENTED MEMBERSHIP ON
THE TASK FORCE THAT COULD
BE IMPLEMENTED QUICKLY AND
PROPOSE A TIMELINE FOR
FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE END
OF NEXT YEAR, 2027.
THE RESOLUTION IS IT
HIGHLIGHT THE NEED FOR
SIDEWALKS, BRIDGES AND PAVEMENT
PROJECTS AS THE TRANSPORTATION
PROJECT GREATEST
NEEDS.
FOLLOWING THAT
RESOLUTION, THERE WAS A
SUBSEQUENT RESOLUTION THAT
GAVE A LITTLE MORE
DEFINITION TO THE COUNCIL'S
EXPECTATION FOR
THIS WORK.
THIS WAS AGAIN JUST
IDENTIFIED THAT COUNCIL WOULD
CONFIRM
THE ACTUAL MEMBERSHIP THROUGH
A RESOLUTION THAT SDOT WOULD
LEAD
THE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP TO
SUPPORT THIS TASK FORCE.
IT CLARIFIED JUST THE MINIMUM
SCOPE REQUIREMENTS FOR WHAT THE
TASK FORCE SHOULD COVER.
ANTICIPATED THE ANTICIPATION
OF MEMBERS BY JUNE OF LAST YEAR
WITH AGAIN RECOMMENDATIONS BY
THE END OF NEXT YEAR.
SO IN TERMS OF CURRENT STATUS
THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY DID PASS
THROUGH VOTERS.
THAT PACKAGE INCLUDES ABOUT
$5 MILLION FOR
DURABLE INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS
OF WHICH ABOUT 1. 5 TO 2
MILLION WOULD BE SET ASIDE TO
COVER
THE COSTS TO SUPPORT THIS TASK
FORCE.
AND THE LEVY SPENDING
BREAKDOWN DID INCLUDE SPECIFIC
DIRECTION TO INVESTIGATE
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES AS
PART OF THIS
WORK. DURING LAST YEAR'S BUDGET
SDOT DID PROVIDE AN UPDATED
SCHEDULE RECOGNIZING THAT WE
WERE
A LITTLE BEHIND IN GETTING
THE TASK FORCE SET UP, WHICH YOU
CAN
SEE HERE, I THINK THE SDOT
IS HERE TO GIVE THE CURRENT
STATUS OF WHERE THEY ARE.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
THEM.
>> THANKS, CAL.
SARAH STRAND, THE REVENUE
AND CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM,
POLICY AND PLANNING AT SDOT.
I JOINED AS THE PROJECT
MANAGER FOR THIS PROJECT IN
AUGUST
OF LAST YEAR, AND AS YOU KNOW
WE'RE A LITTLE BEHIND, BUT WE
WENT THROUGH A COMPLEX AND
ROBUST PROCUREMENT PROCESS
THROUGH
LAST YEAR AND WERE ABLE TO BRING
A
CONSULTANT ON BOARD AT THE
END OF OCTOBER.
WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING
WITH NELSON NIGUARD THEY
HAVE EXPERTISE IN FINANCE, LOCAL
CONTEXT, SUPPORTED SOME OF THE
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE RESPONSE SO
THEY'VE WORKED WITH SDOT
AND WE HAVE A GREAT
SUBCONSULTANT
TEAM, VARIETY OF TECHNICAL
EXPERTS SOME FOCUSED ON MORE
REVENUE,
FINANCE, SOME ASSET, AS WELL
AS A SPOUSAL WHO IS A REALLY
EQUITY DRIVEN FACILITATION TEAM
THAT'S
GOING TO BE SUPPORTING
THE ACTUAL TASK FORCE
FACILITATION
WORK.
SINCE OCTOBER
OF LAST YEAR WE'VE REALLY BEEN
DIGGING IN
AND WORKING ON FURTHER REFINING
THE SCOPE.
SO AS MENTIONED, THE GIGOTS
LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING A BARE
MINIMUM OF THE FOCUS AREAS
WE'RE TASKED WITH AND WILL
ADHERE
TO, BUT AS WE STEP THROUGH, WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE CLEAR
EXPECTATIONS, NOT JUST FOR
AND WHAT SCOPE AND DESIRED
OUTCOMES WILL BE BUT WHAT THE
COMPOSITION
WILL LOOK LIKE AS SOME OF
THOSE CATEGORIES ARE DEFINED BY
THE RESOLUTION CERTAINLY NEED TO
BE
DIVERSE, BUT THE PROCESS THAT WE
GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO REACH
THAT.
RIGHT NOW THE PHASE THAT
WE'RE ACTIVELY IN IS WE ARE
VERY
CLOSE TO HAVING RECOMMENDATIONS
ON
THESE THINGS TO BRING
FORWARD THAT WE WILL BE WANTING
TO WORK
THROUGH OUR NEW SDOT DIRECTOR'S
OFFICE,
MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND CITY
COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE
ALIGNMENT ON THOSE
EXPECTATIONS IN A VERY MUCH
MEASURE TWICE CUT
ONCE APPROACH SO THAT WE
CAN, IN FACT, HAVE A SUCCESSFUL
TASK FORCE THAT CAN WORK TOWARDS
ACTIONABLE, LEGAL LONG- TERM
FUNDING SOLUTION.
WE WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO
COMING BACK WITH ADDITIONAL
DETAILS AND UPDATES,
BUT RIGHT NOW THAT IS OUR
PRIMARY FOCUS IN
THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WITH
THE GOAL OF LAUNCHING THE TASK
FORCE THIS SUMMER.
WE WOULD WANT TO GET THAT
INITIAL INPUT, GET
RECRUITMENT GOING AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE
AND THEN PROCEED WITH THAT
ON BOARDING AND LAUNCH THIS
SUMMER IN ORDER TO REACH THE
FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
BY THE END OF 2027.
SO WITH THAT I WILL PASS IT BACK
FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
MR. CHOW, MS. STRAND.
APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHTS HERE
ON THE MORE SPECIFICS ABOUT THE
HISTORY AND CURRENT
STATUS OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT
STRATEGIC
WORK STREAM THAT'S GOING TO
SET THE FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS.
ARE WE ABLE TO FUND ALL THE COOL
THINGS AND PROJECTS
AND PRIORITIES THAT ARE
LISTED IN THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION
PLAN THAT WE ADOPTED TWO YEARS
AGO?
OR ARE WE NOT?
IS THAT JUST A PIPE
DREAM? WE NEED TO BACK ALL THOSE
COOL THINGS AND PUR
IMPORTANTED POLICY PRIORITIES
WITH INVESTMENT AND THAT'S WHAT
THIS TASK FORCE IS ULTIMATELY
DESIGNED TO HELP US ACHIEVE.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER NOW
TO
MY COLLEAGUES FOR ANY QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS, INSIGHTS THAT
YOU MIGHT HAVE AND I FEEL START
WITH
VICE CHAIR RINCK, IF YOU HAVE
ANY?
>> THANK
YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THIS
PRESENTATION.
I KNOW WE HAD SOME
CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS TOPIC A
FEW
MONTHS BACK AND CERTAINLY FEEL A
LOT
OF URGENCY TOWARDS GETTING
THIS GROUP TOGETHER AND SO THANK
YOU FOR TODAY'S PRESENTATION.
I WANT TO DIVE INTO TWO POINTS
RELATED TO THE TAX
SPECIFIC OPTIONS IF MAY.
ONE OF WHICH BEING COULD YOU GO
OVER THE CAPS
AND LIMITATIONS THAT WE HAVE OR
UNDERSTAND AT THIS TIME RELATED
TO
A COMMERCIAL PARKING TAX?
HAVE WE HIT THOSE CAPS OR
IS THERE ROOM TO ADJUST?
IT'S A LITTLE IN THE WEEDS
AND LESS ABOUT THE BODY ITSELF.
I'M EAGER TO GET INTO
DISCUSSION ON
THESE OPTIONS
>> TO MY KNOWLEDGE
THE COMMERCIAL PARKING TAX DOES
NOT HAVE A STATUTORY CAP.
IT IS MORE OF A POLITICAL
CONSIDERATION.
IT IS ESSENTIALLY ACTS LIKE A
SALES TAX SO FOR THAT
SPECIFIC FUNCTION IT STARTS TO
ADD UP.
IT WAS IMPLEMENTED WITH A
10% INITIAL COMMERCIAL PARKING
TAX.
IT WAS INCREASED BY 2. 5% TO
HELP
SUPPORT THE VIADUCT REMOVAL
WORK AND I BELIEVE WE ADDED
ANOTHER 2% A FEW YEARS AGO.
IT'S AT 14. 5
CURRENTLY.
>> THANK YOU, CAL.
MY SECOND QUESTION IS RELATED
TO A LITTLE BIT ON THE SCOPE OF
THE
WORK FOR THIS
GROUP. I'M CURIOUS
WHETHER THERE WILL BE SOME
CONSIDERATION FOR THIS
GROUP TO ALSO
IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR
EXPANDED
AUTHORITY AND THINGS THAT WE CAN
TAKE TO THE STATE?
I KNOW IN OUR TEAM WE'VE BEEN
EVALUATING OUR LOCAL OPTIONS
AND, YOU KNOW, HAD
SOME PROPOSALS THAT WE
BROUGHT FORWARD TO STATE
LEGISLATORS THIS YEAR TO EXPAND
LOCAL
AUTHORITY.
I WOULD HOPE THIS GROUP
WOULD OFFER RECOMMENDATIONS WE
CAN
USE IN OUR LEGISLATIVE
ADVOCACY TO THE STATE.
>> YEAH.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE TYPE
OF FEEDBACK WE'RE GOING TO
BE COMING AROUND ON THE CIRCUIT
TO RECEIVE FROM
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TO MAKE
SURE WE'RE
ALIGNED ON WHAT TYPES OF
OUTCOMES TO WHAT YOU WANT
TO SEE AS WELL AS WHAT'S
FEASIBLE
TO FIT INTO A YEAR AND A
HALF TASK FORCE TIMELINE.
WE'LL BE COMING
SOON.
>> THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR RINCK.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN, THE FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR THIS WORK.
A COUPLE COMMENTS.
AS WE ARE LOOKING AT
OPTIONS, CERTAINLY
HOPING THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT
MORE PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE OPTIONS AND THAT THAT'S
THE PRIORITY.
SECOND, I WOULD LOVE TO SORT OF
UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN LOOK AT
THESE REVENUE OPTIONS TO HELP US
DO MODE SHIFT AND SO, YOU
KNOW, AS WE LOOK AT THINGS
LIKE CONGESTION PRICING OR OTHER
US
ACHIEVE MULTIPLE GOALS, NOT JUST
RAISE REVENUE BUT RANGE
BEHAVIORS, HELP US ACHIEVE OUR
VISION ZERO
GOALS, IN THAT
REGARD, COORDINATE SORT OF OUR
REVENUE
OPTIONS WITH OUR COMPREHENSIVE
PLANNING.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT AREAS,
BUT I WANT TO THINK HOLISTICALLY
AS
WE DO SORT OF LOOK AT BOTH
OUR SORT OF TAXING OR REVENUE
OPTIONS
BUT ALSO OUR PLANNING TO MAKE
SURE
THAT WE'RE NOT WORKING CROSS
PURPOSES.
MORE OF A COMMENT THAN QUESTION.
BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY
RESPONSE.
>> I CAN SPEAK TO IT AND JUST
SAY THESE THINGS ARE ON OUR
RADAR.
WE'RE CONSIDERING IT AS
SOMEONE WHO WORKED ON OUR
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION PLAN,
FAMILIAR WITH OUR PRIORITIES AND
GOALS AND IMPORTANT PART OF THE
TASK
FORCE.
EQUITY CENTRAL TO THIS NOT JUST
IN THE RECOMMENDATION
AND SCENARIO ANALYSIS BUT INFORM
THE
RECOMMENDATION AND
PROCESS
ITSELF AND SO WE'LL BE WORKING
THROUGH ALL OF THOSE
THINGS WITH THE TASK FORCE.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE
GROUNDING THINGS THE TASK FORCE
IS GOING NEED TO START WITH IS
UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE
TRANSPORTATION ASSETS ARE
AND THE NEEDS ARE AND I
THINK THAT IS PART OF ULTIMATELY
GETTING
VOTERS' APPROVAL IS GOING TO BE
MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE
A COMPELLING STORY AND WE CAN
MAKE THE CASE.
THAT'S A LOT OF WHAT
THE TASK FORCE IS MEANT TO DO
EARLY ON IS
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEEDS
ARE AND THE PRIORITIES SHOULD
BE.
>> I THINK IT ALSO -- THIS
CONVERSATION ALSO
RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU
KNOW,
DOES THAT TENSION BETWEEN IF
WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY
NEW
TAX SOURCES OR TWEAKED TAX
SOURCES THAT EXIST TODAY, YOU
KNOW, WHAT'S THE LINE BETWEEN
WHAT'S, YOU KNOW, REALISTIC,
WHAT'S
ACHIEVABLE.
YOU KNOW, IF CHANGES ARE
NEEDED IN OLYMPIA.
ONE THAT COMES TO MIND
IN TALKING ABOUT THE
COMMERCIAL PARKING TAX IS RIGHT
NOW WHAT
COMMERCIAL PARKING TAXES IS
PARKING THAT'S ALREADY PRICED.
IT DOESN'T TAX PARKING THAT'S,
YOU KNOW, FREE.
AND THERE'S SORT OF A
BASIC INEQUALITY IN THAT RIGHT
THERE SETTING THE WRONG PRICE
SIGNALS
IN TERMS OF OUR
CLIMATE GOALS
AND EQUITY GOALS FOR THAT
MATTER.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TEAM.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.
ONE THING I'M CONCERNED
ABOUT, I KNOW THAT THE RESOURCES
THAT
THE COUNCIL PUT INTO THE LEVY
SPECIFICALLY FOR
SIDEWALKS I BELIEVE ARE INTENDED
TO BE
SPENT DOWN BY 2028.
I THINK IS CORRECT.
I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT WE
HEARD OUR PUBLIC COMMENTER
REFERENCE
TODAY. MY UNDERSTANDING
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MEANT
TO COME TO COUNCIL IN DECEMBER
2027.
WITH SOME EXPERIENCE THAT
I'VE HAD IN NEW TAX SOURCES, I
KNOW
THAT EVEN WHEN COUNCIL OR
A LEGISLATIVE BODY PASSES THOSE
YOU MAY FACE LAWSUITS AND OTHER
CHALLENGES, NOT KNOWING WHAT'S
FORTHCOMING.
I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT
CONCERNED AROUND THE TIMELINE
AND MY
QUESTION, IS IT AT ALL
POSSIBLE, WE'RE HERE IN Q1 OF
2026, IS
IT AT ALL POSSIBLE TO DO
THIS BEFORE DECEMBER 2027?
IF SO ARE THERE THINGS
THAT COUNCIL CAN SUPPORT
THE TASK FORCE WITH TO ACHIEVE
THAT
EARLIER TIMELINE?
>> I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THE
SIDEWALK PART OF THAT QUESTION
FIRST.
SO THERE'S FUNDING IN THE
LEVY FOR I BELIEVE 330 BLOCK
FACES OF
SIDEWALK OR PATHWAY AND AN
INTENTIONAL DECISION MADE
BY COUNCIL AND THE
EXECUTIVE AT THE TIME WAS TO
FRONT
LOAD THE SIDEWALK COMMITMENTS
250
OF THOSE BLOCKS WOULD BE
DELIVERED IN THE FIRST FOUR
YEARS OF THE
LEVY. SO IT'S -- IT'S, YOU
KNOW,
IT'S NOT SO MUCH A MATTER OF
ITIT RUNNING -- OF THE
DOLLARS RUNNING OUT.
IT WAS JUST A SEQUENCING
DECISION THAT WAS MADE TO SHOW
COMMITMENT AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY
REFLECT THE NEED FOR SIDEWALKS
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT --
EVEN THOUGH THE MONEY DOESN'T
RUN
OUT, WE STILL
CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THE NEED AND
A BIG
PART OF THE RUSH BEHIND
THE TASK FORCE WAS TO FIGURE OUT
HOW
TO SORT OF ACCELERATE AND
KEEP GOING ON DELIVERING NEW
SIDEWALKS.
>> YEAH.
I WILL TAG ON TO THAT.
IT'S THE NEED IS FAR
BEYOND WHAT THE LEVY CAN PROVIDE
AND
THE TASK FORCE IS ABOUT LOOKING
AT ADDITIONAL WAYS WE CAN GROW
OR IMPROVE THE PROCESSES WE
HAVE VIA POLICY OR PROJECT
DELIVERY.
WE'LL BE EXPLORING ALL OF THOSE
FRONTS WITH THE TASK FORCE.
>> JUST TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO
THE TIME.
SDOT MAY HAVE OTHER OPINIONS
ABOUT THIS, BUT I
THINK, YOU KNOW, ASKING
VOLUNTEERS TO COME
TOGETHER AND
UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THE LEVEL
OF DETAIL
THAT WE WANT TO GET TO
UNDERSTAND
THE TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES
AND THE TRADEOFFS, I THINK THAT
IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME AND
SO TO GET TO A PERIOD OF, YOU
KNOW, A DRAFT RECOMMENDATION,
SOME
FEEDBACK, SOME PUBLIC AIRING
OF WHAT THOSE ARE, IF THEY
START THIS SUMMER AND THAT'S A
YEAR
AND A HALF, THAT SEEMS LIKE A --
THAT STILL SEEMS
LIKE A A PRETTY -- THAT SEEMS
LIKE A LOT
TO GET DONE IN A YEAR AND A
HALF.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA.
WELCOME.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MS.
STRAND AND MR. LABORDE AS USUAL
AND, OF COURSE, OUR
OWN MR. CHOW.
I VIEW THIS AND I THINK THE
CHAIR DOES TO AS KEEPING UP
WITH THE GOOD GOVERNANCE
PRINCIPLE THAT'S SO IMPORTANT
THAT WE DO
SO.
THIS FUNDING AND JUST
OVERALL GENERALLY TO INCLUDE OUR
ROLE ON THIS COMMITTEE BUT AS A
COUNCIL
OVERALL AS WELL.
THERE'S DIFFERENT AREAS OF, YOU
KNOW, THAT I'VE BEEN SPEAKING
TO LIKE BRIDGES AND FREIGHT
PROGRAMS, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE
ARE BEING DONE AND, OF COURSE,
THE VISION ZERO AS
HIGHLIGHTED WITH OUR LATEST
TRAGEDY THIS WEEK TO CONTINUE TO
DO THAT
AND HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DO
THAT.
AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS MY
EARLIER QUESTION RELATED TO
SEATTLE
CENTER AND THE MEMORIAL
STADIUM OF HAVING FLEXIBILITY
WHEN
THERE'S, YOU KNOW, A CHANGE,
ATTEMPT CHANGE, TO ALSO LOOK OUT
FOR THOSE SITUATIONS AS WELL
IN TERMS OF LIKE TEMPORARY BIKE
LANES AROUND MEMORIAL STADIUM
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
AND SO I THINK BY CONTINUING
ENGAGING AND BUILDING OUT THESE
OTHER PIECES IS HELPING.
I THINK ON THE SLIDE 2, FROM
OUR RESOLUTION, THAT
WE ASKED FOR DIVERSE AND
REPRESENTATIVE
MEMBERSHIP.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE
THING, TOO, ABOUT IN TERMS OF
THE ENGAGEMENT WE HEARD
IN PUBLIC COMMENT RELATED TO THE
WESTLAKE
PROJECT BECAUSE WE DO HAVE NOW
A DOWNTOWN CAPITAL D
COMMUNITY COUNCIL WITH BELL
TOWN, SOUTH
LAKE, YOU HEARD ABOUT
SEATTLE CENTER AND QUEEN ANNE
AND
WE BRING THEM TOGETHER IN OUR
DISTRICT 7 NEIGHBORHOOD
COUNCIL MY OFFICE COORDINATORS
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND
IMPORTANT
TO HAVE DIVERSE REPRESENT
DAYTIVE MEMBERSHIP BUT TO BE PRO
ACTIVE.
I JUST ASK BECAUSE I'VE
BEEN STUDYING THIS RECENTLY TO
OTHER DEPARTMENTS FOR SDOT TO
ENGAGE
ALL OF US, PARTICULARLY
THE DISTRICT REP, WE ARE SO
ENGAGED IN THE DISTRICT WITH
ALL THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATION,
PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT
HAVE LIKE NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMUNITY BROAD IT'S IMPORTANT
TO ENSURE
THAT THESE
PIECES OF THE LEVY AND WORK
BEING DONE OVER THE
COURSE OF THE LEVY IS
REALLY CONNECTED TO THE
COMMUNITIES THEY'RE SERVING.
IT'S NOT REALLY A QUESTION
THERE.
IT WAS AN ASK.
TO DO THAT.
IT POPS UP.
YOU HEARD IT IN THE PUBLIC
COMMENT EARLIER.
THE LADY IS GONE, BUT I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE
THAT KIND OF ENGAGEMENT THERE
WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, THE
RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, OF THESE
DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU, AGAIN.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
COUPLE COMMENTS FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE.
FIRST ALL, AS MR. CHOW
NOTED I THINK WHEN THIS
COMMITTEE FORMS
PRIORITY NUMBER ONE IS TO
ALIGN ON TRANSPORTATION NEEDS
AN WHAT'S DOABLE AND
ACHIEVABLE,
REALISTIC, SET SMART GOALS AND
I THINK I KNOW THIS COUNCIL
PROVIDED STRONG DIRECTION
AND GUIDANCE ON THAT IN TERMS OF
CALLING OUT WITH RESPECT TO
THE PAVING CONDITIONS AND
ROADS CALLING OUT SPECIFIC ASSET
SUSTAINABILITY
RATIO INFORMATION, COMPOSITE
PAVEMENT CONDITION INDEX
INFORMATION,
VERY NERDY, NITTY- GRITTY
ENGINEERING WAYS OF
ASSESSING THE OVERALL CONDITION
IN THAT
CONTEXT ROADS.
TALKING ABOUT THE OVERALL
STATE OF OUR BRIDGES.
THE BRIDGE AUDIT, GOOD
LAUNCHING POINT.
SIDEWALK AUDIT.
GOOD LAUNCHING POINT.
SO ALIGNING ON THOSE NEEDS AND
WHAT'S DOABLE WITH SMART
GOALS, VERY KEY, PRIORITY OF
THIS
NEW TASK FORCE UP FRONT.
I ALSO THINK IT'S GOING TO
BE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR
THIS NEW TASK FORCE TO
CAREFULLY PAIR -- CRAFT AND PAIR
ITS
SCOPE.
TIME IS ALREADY OF THE ESSENCE.
AND WE WANT TO AVOID BOILING THE
OCEAN.
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT --
THIS IS SUCH A COMPLEX
HARD CHALLENGE AND IF IT WERE
EASY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE
YEARS AGO
BUT THERE ARE SO MANY
COMPLEX RABBIT HOLES THAT WE
COULD POTENTIALLY DIVE DEEP ON,
SO MANY DEPENDENCIES, THE STATE,
WE
ARE AT THE END OF THE DAY GIVEN
OPERATING UNDER THE
CURRENT TOOLS THAT WE ARE
EMPOWERED WITH
FROM THE STATE, SO ALIGNING
ON WHAT'S DOABLE, WHAT'S
ACHIEVABLE, REALIST I AGAIN,
WITHIN THE SMART GOALS
THAT SORT OF FRAMEWORK CAN BE
VERY KEY.
CAN'T -- IT'S ALREADY
A SUBSTANTIAL EFFORT THAT WE
HAVE THREE ASSET CLASSES,
SIDEWALKS,
BRIDGES, AND ROADS, CAN'T BE
ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE AT ALL
TIMES.
BUT VERY IMPORTANT TO ALIGN
ON THE VERY AMBITIOUS,
BUT SMART SET OF GOALS AND, YOU
KNOW, NARROW THAT SCOPE.
AND I'VE HAD SOME PRODUCTIVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE DEPARTMENT ON THIS EFFORT
SINCE
I CREATED IT AND CREATED IT
BASICALLY TOGETHER TWO YEARS AGO
NOW, PRODUCTIVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PAST
ADMINISTRATION,
CURRENT ADMINISTRATION
AND THERE'S A SHARED
UNDERSTANDING
WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION
THAT WE NEEDED TO DO THIS, THIS
IS VERY IMPORTANT AND THIS IS
ALSO AN EXERCISE OF THE
PRINCIPAL POWER WE HAVE ON THIS
FLOOR BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT IT.
I INVITED THE DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE HAD PRODUCTIVE
CONVERSATIONS OFF- LINE NOW
IT'S TEAM TO TALK ABOUT IT
OPENLY FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE.
EVEN THOUGH THERE'S NOT MUCH
NET NEW TO REPORT BUT THE GOOD
NEWS
THERE IS A PLAN IN PLACE BY
JUNE TO PROPOSE THAT, GET IT
THROUGH
COUNCIL, GET THIS IMPORTANT BODY
UP, SO APPRECIATE ALL THE
WORK.
THIS IS A COMPLEX EFFORT.
I WANT TO SAY I WISH THIS
HAD BEEN ABLE TO PROCEED AND
BEEN
ABLE TO STAND UP SIX MONTHS AGO.
I THINK LINE WITH WHAT
THE RESOLUTION WAS CALLING FOR.
I ALSO, AT THE SAME
TIME, DEFINITELY RECOGNIZE THE
COMPLEXITIES SURROUNDING
THE DEPARTMENT NEEDING TO STAFF
UP TO SUPPORT THIS NEW LEVY,
TO STAND UP A NET NEW LEVY
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO --
THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT LIKE
TO IMPLEMENT THIS LEVY IT'S
A CHALLENGING AND COMPLEX THING.
I TOTALLY RECOGNIZE THAT AND I
APPRECIATE THE SHARED
COMMITMENT ON URGENCY TO GETTING
THIS
DONE ONCE AND FOR ALL.
SOME COMMENTS WERE MADE ABOUT
STRATEGIES, WHICH EXCELLENT
FEEDBACK.
MY COLLEAGUES NEVER CEASE TO
AMAZE ME.
MIC DROP MOMENTS THROUGHOUT,
BUT, YOU KNOW, ARE
THERE SPECIFIC STRATEGIES OR
THINGS WE CAN DO NOW.
YES, AND WE'VE ALREADY
BEEN THINKING ABOUT THEM.
WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN
INITIAL ACTION ON THIS COUNCIL
AND
THERE'S MORE WORK TO DO
EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF THE
FINAL DECEMBER 2027 REPORT AND
PACKAGE OF OPTIONS.
THERE'S STUFF WE CAN DO.
THERE'S STUFF WE HAVE DONE.
I'M THINKING OF TWO HIGH- LEVEL
STRATEGIES.
WE KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO SAY.
IT'S GOING TO SAY, THE
REPORT GOING TO SAY HIGH LEVEL
EVERY SINGLE REVENUE BITE AT THE
APPLE THAT YOU GET, DEVOTE SOME
OF THAT MONEY
TOWARDS TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE,
WHETHER IT'S NEW SIDEWALKS,
ROADS, BRIDGES.
IT'S GOING TO SAY EVERY
SINGLE BITE AT THE APPLE YOU GET
DEVOTE SOME MONEY, MORE MONEY,
INCREASE
RESOURCES TOWARDS THOSE THINGS.
THAT'S WHY LAST YEAR AROUND
THIS TIME WHEN WE CONSIDERED THE
AUTOMATED SAFETY TRAFFIC CAMERA
LEGISLATION, I SPONSORED
AN AMENDMENT TO INCREASE THE
ALLOCATION FOR SDOT FOR REVENUE
ALLOCATION SPECIFICALLY FOR
SDOT RAISED IT FROMFROM 20% TO
30%, WHATEVER IT WAS,
AND SPECIFICALLY SAID, AT
LEAST, AT LEAST HALF
OF THAT MUST GO
TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW
SIDEWALKS.
THAT'S IN LINE WITH THE STRAM
WE
KNOW THE TASK FORCE IS GOING
TO SAY AND ALSO WHY I ADDED AN
AMENDMENT, APPRECIATE
MY COLLEAGUES FOR PASSING THAT.
I ADDED AN AMENDMENT DURING
THE B AND O TAX STRUCTURE
PROPOSAL, ADDED AN AMENDMENT TO
MAKE SURE
TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE IS AN AUTHORIZED
CATEGORY OF
EXPENSE.
NOW WHETHER THAT ENDS UP BEING
THE CASE REMAINS TO BE SEEN,
BUT WE CAN AT LEAST ADD IT AS AN
AUTHORIZED EXPENSE AND
I'M THANKFUL FOR MY COLLEAGUES
FOR SUPPORTING THAT.
A SECOND STRATEGY WE
KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO SAY,
REVISIT COST ALLOCATIONS FOR NEW
DEVELOPMENT.
REVISIT COST ALLOCATIONS FOR NEW
DEVELOPMENT. DURING THE PHASE
ONE OF THE
COMP PLAN LAST YEAR, I SPONSORED
AN
AMENDMENT, APPRECIATE
MY COLLEAGUES FOR
SUPPORTING THAT, TO ADD
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS WHEN
TALKING ABOUT NEW
DEVELOPMENT MUST ADD AND DO MORE
FOR NEW
SIDEWALKS.
PREVIOUSLY UNDER THE
BASE EXECUTIVE PROPOSAL IT WAS
JUST URBAN CENTERS THAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT.
NOW IT'S NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
WE'RE BETTER SHARING THE COSTS
OF NEW SIDEWALKS FOR
DEVELOPMENT.
WE KNOW THOSE TWO THINGS
HIGH- LEVEL THEY'RE GOING TO
SAY.
THE CHALLENGING PART IS
LIKE WHAT IT MEANS, MORE
SPECIFICS.
SO I'M AS CHAIR OF
THIS COMMITTEE,
I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK
FOR THOSE WAYS IN THE
ABSENCE OF A FINAL, YOU KNOW,
REPORT.
RECOMMENDATIONS WE'LL CONTINUE
TO LOOK FOR STRATEGIES TO
BETTER INVEST AND MAKE
PROGRESS ON THOSE THREE SPECIFIC
ASSET
CLASSES.
FINALLY I FEEL NOTE THE --
ON THAT SLIDE ONE THERE THE LAST
BULLET WITH THE SUB- BULLETS OF
TRANSPORTATION REVENUE
SOURCES, THOSE ARE SUGGESTION,
NONEXCLUSIVE LIST OF
OPTIONS, BUT I THINK
FAIRLY REPRESENTATIVE AT THE
SAME
TIME AS WELL.
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES
WAS DEFINITELY ADDED AS SORT OF
A MANDATORY THING BUT
THAT'S NOT -- THAT MUST BE
STUDIED AND
EXAMINED IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS WORK.
MY ONLY THOUGHTS THERE WORTH
REPEATING NOW, IT COMES DOWN TO
THE COMPOSITION OF THIS
COMMITTEE, WE NEED TO
HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM
THE DEVELOPER COMMUNITY ON
THIS TALKING IMPACT FEES.
AND I THINK THAT'S
ALREADY CALLED OUT IN TERMS OF
SPECIFIC GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION
IN THE
RESOLUTION, BUT THAT'S
IMPORTANT FOR THOSE REASONS.
ALSO TO THE EXTENT IMPACT FEES
EVEN WOULD MAKE SENSE AND DOES
FLOW OUT OF A FINAL
RECOMMENDATION FROM THIS TASK
FORCE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT IT'S -- IT FAIRLY AND
ACCURATELY REFLECTS THE TRUE
COST
OF DEVELOPMENT HERE IN THE CITY
OF
SEATTLE. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS,
IMPACT FEES IMPOSE A COST BURDEN
AND
CAN HAVE THE POTENTIAL ON
DEVELOPMENT, HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO SLOW OR HINDER
HOUSING.
IT'S NO SECRET.
AND WHEN YOU LAYER THAT,
WHICH WE DO NOT CURRENTLY
HAVE TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES
TODAY, OTHERS HAVE IMPACT FEES,
WITH THOSE OTHER
JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE STATE
THAT DO
NOT HAVE IMPACT FEES TODAY,
WE DON'T, WE HAVE MHA, WHICH IS
ANOTHER TOOL THAT
REQUIRES PAYMENT FOR PERFORMANCE
OF
PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WHICH IS ANOTHER -- IT'S
ANOTHER
IMPORTANT TOOL AMONG OUR BROADER
TOOLS TO IMPROVING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN OUR CITY.
ALL I'M SAYING THAT'S WHY
WE ADDED RESOURCES WITH
CONSULTANTS THAT CAN -- IF THAT
IS ONE OF THE OPTIONS IT'S NOT
GOING TO BE
A MERE IMAGE OF THE BELLVIEW
PROPOSAL, FOR EXAMPLE.
BELLVIEW, THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF
IMPACT FEES, THIS IS WHAT IT
SHOULD BE IN SEATTLE.
BELLVIEW DOESN'T HAVE MHA.
IT HAS TO --
WHATEVER RECOMMENDATIONS
INCLUDED IN
THIS REPORT MY HOPE THEY WOULD
BE RECOGNIZING THE COMPLEXITIES
AN NUANCES INVOLVED IN OUR
UNIQUE SYSTEM HERE IN SEATTLE
BECAUSE WE DO ABSOLUTELY WANT TO
BUILD
AND CONTINUE TO GROW AND
DEVELOP AND ALLOW MORE HOUSING
AND
INCLUDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND NEED TO IMPROVE
OUR TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THOSE MUST COEXIST AT THE
SAME TIME AND THIS TASK FORCE IS
IN PART TO HARMONIZE THAT.
THAT IS MY COMMENTARY, MY TWO
CENTS FROM THE CHEAP SEATS.
I WELCOME ANY FINAL
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM ANYANY
MY
COLLEAGUES. ANYONE AT THE TABLE
IF YOU HAVE
ANY.
ALL TO SAY, MS.
STRAND, MR. LABORDE, MR. CHOW,
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR
INSIGHTS
AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP OFF LINE
TO GET THIS DONE AND LOOK
FORWARD TO BRINGING THIS
VITAL TRANSPORTATION
FUNDING TASK FORCE TO LIFE ONCE
AND FOR ALL.
LET'S GO.
ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE REACHED THE END
OF TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS MARCH 5th,
2026, AT 9:30 A.M.
IS THERE ANY FINAL
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE
BEFORE WE ADJOURN?
VICE THEIR, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES,
FOR ROBUST DISCUSSION TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE AND COUNCILMEMBER LIN FOR
DISCUSSING THE FATAL CRASH
THAT HAPPENED IN CAPITOL HILL
THIS
WEEK.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE
27-YEAR- OLD WOMAN WHO LOST HER
LIFE, LILLIANA MORENO.
OUR OFFICE HAS ENGAGED WITH SPD
AS WE UNDERSTAND
THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.
NO ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE.
IN THE PAST 48 HOURS,
FIRE STATION 25 ALONE IN 48
HOURS, TO THREE
PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICLE CRASHES
ON CAPITOL
HILL ALONE.
THAT'S SHOCKING.
THAT'S FRIGHTENING.
THESE LOCATIONS WHERE
THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED,
WERE NOT A PART OF OUR HIGH
INJURY NETWORK.
THIS HAS BEEN DEVASTATING
FOR COMMUNITY AND WHERE DO WE GO
FROM HERE?
BECAUSE I WANT US TO THINK
ABOUT THE MESSAGE
WE'RE SENDING RIGHT NOW TO OUR
RESIDENTS YOU CAN BE
WALKING DOWN THE STREET
AND A CAR COULD HIT YOU AND FROM
A LEGAL STANDPOINT IT WOULD BE
ON YOU TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE THAT
THE DRIVER WAS NEGLIGENT.
AND REPRESENTATIVE REED'S BILL
2095 WHICH WOULD FLIP
THAT ASSUMPTION AND NOW WOULD
SAY THAT IF YOU ARE IN SPACE YOU
ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AS A
PEDESTRIAN IT WOULD BE ON THE
DRIVER TO
PROVE THEY WEREN'T DRIVING
NEGLIGENTLY.
THAT CHANGE JUST MAKES SENSE.
THE LEGAL PIECE OF THIS IS ONE
COMPONENT, BUT IT'S ON US TO
BE CHANGING OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDAMENTALLY SO
WE ARE
JUST CREATING A BUILT
ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE DON'T HAVE
PEDESTRIANS
IN THE CLOSE PROXIMITY TO
VEHICLES.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN NOTED IT
EARLIER.
VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS DON'T
MIX. I JUST WANTED TO CENTER US
ON
THAT AND APPRECIATIVE OF
TODAY'S PRESENTATIONS FOCUSING
ON HOW
DO WE FUND THE
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE
NEED.
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S GOING
TO MAKE US SAFER AND
CREATE SAFER SPACES FOR
PEDESTRIANS SO WE
CAN HAVE LESS HARM AND DEATH IN
OUR
COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.
ANY FINAL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?
JUST NOTE THAT DEFINITELY IN
LINE WITH THIS COMMITTEE'S
LASER
FOCUS, TRAFFIC SAFETY,
SAFETY
FIRST. SO PLENTY MORE WORK TO DO
AS
A CITY TO BETTER POSITION OUR
CITY
TO TRULY MAKE PROGRESS ON OUR
AMBITIOUS, BUT I
THINK ULTIMATELY ACHIEVABLE
VISION ZERO GOALS.
HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, IS
GETTING IT DONE FOR THE MOST
PART.
WE CAN TOO.
IT'S NOT JUST SUFFICIENTLY
DISTINGUISHING THE TWO.
WELL THAT IS MORE DENSE AND
MORE URBAN ENVIRONMENT.
SEATTLE'S MORE SPRAWL.
CAN'T JUST DISMISS THAT.
RAISE THAT.
IT'S A VALID POINT, BUT
THERE'S
MORE WE CAN DO HERE AS
WELL TO BE MORE LIKE HOBOKEN OR
HELSINKI
WHEN I WAS SPEAKING WITH
SENATE TRANSPORTATION CHAIR
SENATOR
LIAS DURING OLYMPIA ACTION
DAYS, BOTH SHARE PROUD FINNISH
DESCENT.
THE SUCCESSES OF HELSINKI
AND TRAFFIC SAFETY.
MORE TO COME.
APPRECIATE THE GROUNDING
THERE AND THE COMMENTS FROM ALL
OF
MY
COLLEAGUES ON THAT. DEFINITELY
IN LINE AND ON
BRAND FOR THE HIGHEST STRATEGIC
PRIORITY OF THIS COMMITTEE.
SAFETY ON OUR ROADS.
THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'VE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S COMMITTEE.
THAT WAS THE LAST COMMENT.
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS
COME BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE WE ARE ADJOURNED
AT 11:27 A.M.