>>> ALL
RIGHT, GOOD MORNING. ALL SET?
GOOD MORNING.
TESTING.
HELLO, TESTING.
GREAT.
COOL.
WE'RE READY TO
ROLL. THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT
AND ASSIST TAPS IN RESOLVING
THAT.
ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING,
THE APRIL 2nd, 2026 MEETING OF
THE
TRANSPORTATION, WATERFRONT, AND
SEATTLE CENTER COMMITTEE, I
SHOULD STRAIGHTEN MY
TIE WHEN SAYING THAT, BUT THIS
MEETING
WILL COME TO ORDER.
I AM ROB SAKA, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
WILL THE COMMITTEE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[ ROLL CALL TAKEN ]
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FIVE
MEMBERS
PRESENT.
>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING AND SEE NOTHING
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS HERE BY
ADOPTED.
GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, COLLEAGUES,
MEDIA PARTNERS AND OTHERS.
THIS IS OUR VERY FIRST
STEPS COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE
SPRING.
SPRING OBVIOUSLY SYMBOLIZING
RENEWAL, REBIRTH, AND GROWTH.
ACTING AS A POWERFUL
METAPHOR FOR EMBRACING NEW
BEGINNINGS.
IT'S MY PERSONAL FAVORITE
SEASON.
I LIKE TO THINK OF SPRING AS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK FORWARD.
AND TO BE MINDFUL OF THE
PAST, AS
WELL. OUR AGENDA TODAY HAS
SOME EXCITING ITEMS TO DO JUST
THAT.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'LL
SHARE THAT I'M DISHEARTENED TO
REPORT
THAT TRAGICALLY SEATTLE RECENTLY
EXPERIENCED ITS SECOND TRAFFIC
FATALITY IN 2026.
A WOMAN OF APPROXIMATELY
52 YEARS OF AGE TRAGICALLY LOST
HER LIFE IN A SINGLE CAR
COLLISION ON THE 1500 BLOCK OF
ELLIOTT AVENUE WEST ON MARCH 18,
JUST
BEFORE OUR LAST COMMITTEE
MEETING.
BECAUSE OF SOME LATENCY IN
DATADATA
REPORTING, WE'RE LEARNING
ABOUT IT NOW.
HER NAME HAS NOT BEEN PUBLICLY
RELEASED.
SO THEREFORE, WE'RE NOT NAMING
HER TO
PROTECT AND PRESERVE HER DIGNITY
AND PRIVACY.
MY OFFICE HAS BEEN
WORKING CLOSELY WITH S- DOT AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
TO
HOLD A FIRST- EVER
COMMUNITY TRAFFIC SAFETY FORUM.
THE PLAN IS FOR THIS TO OCCUR
SOMEWHERE, AND I APPRECIATE
THE PARTNERSHIP AND
COLLABORATION OF
COUNCILMEMBER LYNN, AS WELL.
I KNOW THIS IS AN ISSUE NEAR AND
DEAR TO HIM AND HIS
CONSTITUENTS, AND SO
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE
DEPARTMENTS RIGHT NOW TO
FINALIZE,
AGAIN, THE FIRST- EVER COMMUNITY
TRAFFIC
SAFETY
FORUM. STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS.
IN THE SPRING SOMETIME, IT WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE LATE MARCH,
EARLY
APRIL. BUT STAY
TUNED. I IMAGINE IT WILL BE IN
THE SPRING AT THE LATEST.
SO STAY TUNED.
AND ALSO WE'LL SHARE ON
THE TRAFFIC SAFETY FRONT THAT AT
OUR
VERY NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING,
I'VE INVITED S- DOT TO COME
SHARE A NEW DIMENSION AND REPORT
OUT ON THE STATE OF TRAFFIC
SAFETY IN OUR CITY.
AND SO AT OUR VERY NEXT
MEETING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
THE
CHIEF TRAFFIC SAFETY OFFICER
FROM
S- . DOT COME DO EXACTLY THAT.
THIS ISSUE REMAINS A
HIGH PRIORITY FOR ME AND THIS
COMMITTEE. I KNOW MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES, AS
WELL. SO WE'LL KEEP LASER
FOCUSED ON
THAT AND HOLDING OURSELVES
ACCOUNTABLE, INCLUDING
BY INITIATING THE EFFORTS THAT I
MENTIONED EARLIER AND MORE.
ON A LIGHTER NOTE, LAST WEEK
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE
OF ATTENDING THE MARINERS
OPENING DAY GAME
AGAINST THE
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS AT T-MOBILE
PARK.
I TOOK A PERSONAL RECORD
FOR SHARED MICROMOBILITY TRIPS
IN
ONE DAY.
EXCITING TIMES, FROM
THE WATERFRONT TO CITY HALL,
CITY HALL TO THE CONVENTION
CENTER, BACK TO CITY
HALL, AND CITY HALL TO
THE STADIUM, AND MORE, PROBABLY.
BUT LOVE SHARING MICROMOBILITY.
WE ALSO KNOW ON THE SPORTS
FRONT, WHICH IS A PART OF
WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY WITH THE
LEADERSHIP OF CO- OWNERS
SAMANTHA HOLLOWAY OF THE SEATTLE
CRACKEN, THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED
THEMSELVES AS A VIABLE AND
LEADING NHL
FRANCHISE IN MANY RESPECTS IN
JUST FIVE YEARS.
IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO THINK
ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF A
PERSPECTIVE NBA FRANCHISE WE
COULD EXPERIENCE RIGHT HERE
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE, GIVEN
OUR RICH TRADITION
AND HISTORY AS A BASKETBALL
CITY.
NOW, SOME SAID SEATTLE MIGHT GET
A SHOT.
THE TRUTH IS, WE'VE BEEN
READY ALL ALONG.
FOR MANY IN SEATTLE AND
ACROSS OUR REGION, THE MERE
PROSPECT
OF RETURNING AN NBA FRANCHISE
TO OUR CITY
HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
SENSE THE SONICS DEPARTED IN
2008, THERE'S BEEN A
NOTICEABLE VOID IN SEATTLE'S
CULTURAL
LANDSCAPE. BUT THE EXCITING NEWS
IS
THAT LAST WEEK, ON MARCH 25th,
THE
NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS VOTED TO
AUTHORIZE FORMAL EXPANSION
TALKS WITH PERSPECTIVE
OWNERSHIP GROUPS IN SEATTLE AND
LAS VEGAS.
BEGINNING PLAY AS SOON AS
THETHE 2028-'29 SEASON.
SO THE QUESTION ISN'T IF
THETHE SONICS COMING
BACK, IT'S WHEN.
AND IN FAIRNESS, THE LEAGUE
IS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AT
THIS POINT.
THE LEAGUE IS IN CHARGE OF THIS
VERY IMPORTANT PROCESS,
AND THERE ARE ALSO A LOT
OF INTRICATE DEPENDENCIES AT
PLAY, AS WELL.
THAT SAID, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE REFUSES TO BE A PASSIVE
OBSERVER IN THE PROCESS.
WE'RE STEPPING UP AND TAKING
SPECIFIC, CONCRETE ACTIONS AND
WORKING WITH LOCAL
POLICY AND MORE TO HELP SHAPE
AND
INFLUENCE OUR OWN DESTINY.
IN SPORTS SPEAK, WE'RE
CONTROLLING OUR OWN
CONTROLLABLES.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR BRINGING BACK
OUR SONICS IS
SHARED. AND I'M PROUD TO SAY
THAT
OUR CITY IS STEPPING UP TO DO
ITS
PART, AS WELL.
THAT'S WHY I PROUDLY
SPONSORED AND INTRODUCED A JOINT
MAYORAL COUNCIL RESOLUTION
AFFIRMING
SEATTLE'S READINESS TO
WELCOME BACK THE SONICS.
BUT LET IT BE KNOWN, HEAR
YE, HEAR YE, WE'RE NOT
AUDITIONING, WE'RE READY, AND
WE'RE READY
TODAY.
YOU CAN HEAR IT IN OUR
GYMS, FEEL IT ON OUR STREETS.
THIS IS A BASKETBALL CITY!
AND THIS MOMENT REFLECTS REAL
ACTION. THIS IS ABOUT SHOWING
THE
LEAGUE, OWNERSHIP GROUPS AND
THE WORLD THAT SEATTLE IS
ALIGNED,
PREPARED, AND VERY SERIOUS.
WE HAVE DEEP -- WE HAVE A DEEP
BASKETBALL LEGACY, A
STRONG, RABID AND PASSIONATE
GLOBAL FAN
BASE.
THE ARENA ISN'T A PROPOSAL,
IT'S PROOF.
WE'VE GOT ONE OF THE
STRONGEST MARKETS IN THE
COUNTRY.
UNIFIED LEADERSHIP ACROSS OUR
REGION, CITY AND STATE.
THIS IS BIGGER THAN BASKETBALL,
FOLKS. IT IS ABOUT ECONOMIC
GROWTH,
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT AND
RESTORING A DEFINING PART OF
SEATTLE'S IDENTITY.
I DID A RECENT HOT TAKE VIDEO ON
SOCIAL MEDIA.
SEATTLE IS
NOT WAITING, SEATTLE IS READY.
SEATTLE READY.
WE'RE DOING THE WORK,
WE'RE CLOSELY COLLABORATING,
AND
IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE LEADING.
WE'RE ALSO READY AND WILLING TO
PARTNER WITH THE NATIONAL
BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION TO
BRING OUR SONICS BACK HOME ONCE
AND FOR ALL.
BUCKLE UP, BECAUSE TODAY
YOU'LL LEARN THAT SEATTLE IS
NOT
MAKING A CASE, SEATTLE IS MAKING
A
DECLARATION.
THE HEADLINE ABOUT OUR CITY'S
READINESS IS CRYSTAL CLEAR.
IF YOU'RE BUILDING A 32- TEAM
LEAGUE, YOU DON'T SKIP THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
WE'VE GOT THE FANS, THE
ARENA, THE ECONOMY.
THIS IS A LAYUP.
LAYUPS IS TOO EASY.
THIS IS ACTUALLY CHANNEL THE
SONICS HISTORY AND LEGACY.
THIS IS AKIN TO A GARY PAYTON
ALLEY- OOP WITH THE VERY VICIOUS
POSTERIZATION TOMA HAWK JAM BY
TOM KEMP.
SO FOR TODAY'S MEETING, WE
HAVE TWO EXCITING AGENDA ITEMS
THAT
ARE INTENDED TO SEND A
CRYSTAL CLEAR MESSAGE THAT
SEATTLE IS
READY FOR THE RETURN OF
A PROFESSIONAL MEN'S STABLE
TEAM.
FIRST, WE WILL HOST AND
CONVENE A COMMUNITY
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION BETWEEN
LEADERS
AND REPRESENTS FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, THE SEATTLE
SPORTS COMMISSION, LOCAL FAN
ADVOCACY
GROUPS, A YOUTH ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATION.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE A -- WE'RE
LUCKY TO HAVE A TEN- YEAR
NBA VETERAN AND LOCAL LEGEND
WHO PLAYED HIS HIGH SCHOOL AND
COLLEGE BASKETBALL RIGHT HERE
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THIS IS TRULY -- THIS WILL
TRULY BE A HISTORIC AND TIMELY
CONVERSATION.
NEXT, WE WILL CONSIDER A BOLD,
TRANSFORMATIVE NEW
LEGISLATIONLEGISLATION THAT MY
OFFICE DEVELOPED IN
PARTNERSHIP AND
COLLABORATION WITH MAYOR WILSON,
WHICH
UP EQUIVOCALLY DECLARES
THAT SEATTLE IS READY FOR AN NBA
TEAM. SEATTLE READY.
THIS TRANSFORMATIVE PIECE
OF LEGISLATION HAS THE POTENTIAL
TO
BE, AGAIN, IN THE SPORTS
CONTEXT, A TOTAL GAME
CHANGER IN TERMS OF SEALING THE
DEAL TO
BRING OUR SONICS BACK HOME
ONCE AND FOR
ALL. THIS HISTORIC BILL
LEVERAGES
A DATABASED APPROACH TO
HIGHLIGHT A NUMBER OF KEY
FACTORS THAT
REALLY DEMONSTRATE OUR CITY'S
READINESS, RESOLVE, AND ENDURING
COMMITMENT TO BRING HOME OUR
SONICS. SO TODAY, WE'RE
RALLYING
AROUND SEATTLE READY.
GO, SONICS!
AND I WILL SHARE EQUALLY
EXCITING, EQUALLY AS
GLAMOROUS, AT LEAST IN MY MIND,
IN MY
HEART, OUR THIRD AND
FINAL AGENDA ITEM WILL BE
A PRESENTATION FROM THE
WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION ABOUT THE 1st
AVENUE
SOUTH BRIDGE REPAIR PROJECT.
BRIDGES ARE GLAMOROUS.
BRIDGES ARE IMPORTANT, AND
WE'RE GOING TO CHECK IN ABOUT
THIS
IMPORTANT PROJECT THAT'S CAUSED
SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTIONS AND
DELAYS IN MY COUNCIL
DISTRICT BUT HAVE CITY WIDE
IMPACT.
IT LED TO LANE CLOSURES AND
A FULL REPAIR RESPONSE DUE
TO SAFETY CONCERNS.
SO REALLY APPRECIATE
OUR PARTNERS AT WASH- DOT
AND THEIR RESPONSE TO THIS
EMERGENCY SITUATION SO FAR.
LOOKING FORWARD TO
HEARING THEIR
UPDATE. THANK YOU.
WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD.
IT SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA.
CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS
ARE SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> CHAIR, WE HAVE ONE IN-
PERSON SPEAKER SIGNED UP AND ONE
REMOTE
SPEAKER.
>> THE SPEAKER WILL
HAVE APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES.
WE'LL TALK WITH IN SPEAKERS
FIRST.
CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION COMMENTS.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL
BE MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED.
SPEAKERS WILL ALTERNATE.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT IN THEIR
TIME.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN, AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH
THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST,
THAT WILL BE IN-
PERSON SPEAKER AARON PRICE.
>> ARE YOU READY?
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE
CORRECT NUE TO CHOICE THESE
COMMENTS.
BUT MY COMMUNITY HAS
BEEN DESPERATE TO BE HEARD.
I'M AARON PRICE, A RESIDENT
OF 14th AVENUE WEST.
I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF
MY NEIGHBORS TO ADDRESS THE
PROPOSAL OF REMOVAL OF PARKING
SPOTS.
THE IMPACT IS REAL.
SENIORS AND RESIDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES WHO DEPEND ON
PARKING TO REACH THEIR HOMES.
THIS WILL LEAD TO A
SIGNIFICANT VALUE LOSS FOR
HOMEOWNERS.
WE WENT FROM ANNOUNCEMENT TO
ENFORCEMENT WITH NO
OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY INPUT.
AS TAXPAYERS AND VOTERS,
THIS IS NOT HOW THIS SHOULD
WORK.
TO BE CLEAR, WE
SUPPORT EMERGENCY VEHICLE
ACCESS.
WE'RE NOT HERE TO OPPOSE THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE HERE BECAUSE
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS EXIST.
FOR EXAMPLE, FORMALIZING
HOW RESIDENTS HAVE PARKED FOR
OVER 25 YEARS COULD GUARANTEE
ACCESS TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
NEEDS WITHOUT DESTROYING PARKING
FOR
A NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ARE REQUESTING A MEETING FOR
OUR COMMUNITY, AND THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO
DISCUSS SOLUTIONS
BEFORE ENFORCEMENT. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL
BE REMOTE SPEAKER DAVID HANES.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6, MR. HANES.
>> DAVID HANES.
IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN GET
A LAW THAT SAYS ANY WASH-
DOT CONTRACT HAS TO
HAVE DOUBLE- SHIFTS ON THE JOB
WITH A
PROPER AMOUNT OF PAY SO
THAT WE CAN EXPEDITE THE
PROJECTS
AND GET IT DONE IN A TIMELY
FASHION?
SECONDLY, I WOULD LIKE TO
LODGE A PROTEST AND COMPLAINT
ABOUT THE RESOLUTION THAT
COUNCIL IS
OFFERING UP AS A FAVORITE OF
OBG, MA NOP RISING THE
OWNERSHIP OF THE NBA.
THE ARENA VIOLATED THE
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
AND DUG 20 FEET DEEP AND CUT OFF
EVERY FOUNDATION TO THAT
CRACKED ROOF AND PUT THESE
CRANES UNDERNEATH
IT TO HOLD THE BALANCE, AND THEN
SPACKLED
IT AND REPAINTED IT.
IT'S THE UGLIEST
THING YOU'VE EVER SEEN.
THEY WOULD PUT THESE TIE BACKS
UNDERNEATH THE SIDEWALK TO
HOLD UP THE UNSAFE WALLS.
IT'S NOT FAIR THAT --
[ INAUDIBLE ]
-- WITH A PEDOPHILE MAYOR THAT
DID A DEAL WITH THE CRACKEN THAT
ALLOWS THEM TO GET A
$100 MILLION TAX BREAK.
IT LOOKED LIKE A
SLUM -- WE HAVE A BETTER
INTERPRETATION OF POLICY.
I CAN'T EVEN GET TO THE BUS
STOP BETWEEN PINE ON 3rd
AVENUE BECAUSE IT'S STILL TOO
UNSAFE.
THE PUBLIC BUS STOP THAT
THEY PAID $1 MILLION TO PUT IN.
AND WE MISS THE TRANSFER EVERY
TIME.
YET ALL THESE DRUG ADDICTS
ARE OUT TO RUIN IT FOR
EVERYBODY, AND WE STILL DON'T
HAVE
A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE
BUS DRIVERS -- AND THE
SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT TO SHUT DOWN
THE
EVIL PREDATORS IN AND AROUND
TRANSIT ORIENTED PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION AND THEY --
[ MUTED ]
>> ALL RIGHT.
CONFIRMING THERE ARE
NO ADDITIONAL REGISTERED
SPEAKERS.
>> CONFIRMED.
>> WE
WILL PROCEED TO OUR ITEMS OF
BUSINESS.
SO LET US NOW MOVE ONTO
OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS.
PLEASE
READ ITEM NUMBER ONE INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE,
SEATTLE NBA READINESS
ROUNDTABLE.
>> WILL OUR PRESENTERS AND
PANELISTS PLEASE JOIN US AT THE
TABLE WHILE THE PRESENTERS
COME TO THE TABLE, COLLEAGUES,
I'LL
EXPLAIN THE SORT OF GENERAL
PLAN FOR TODAY'S COMMUNITY
ROUND TABLE CONVERSATION.
AGAIN, TO FRAME THIS
CONVERSATION, THE NBA BOARD OF
GOVERNORS HAS
RECENTLY AUTHORIZED EXPLORING A
SEATTLE EXPANSION TEAM, AND
OWNERSHIP GROUPS MAY NOW APPLY.
THE LEAGUE WILL CONDUCT A
STRICT APPROVAL PROCESS LED BY
CURRENT
OWNERS. TODAY'S ROUNDTABLE
CONVERSATION IS INTENDED TO BE A
FACILITATED
DISCUSSION DESIGNED TO SHOW
SEATTLE'S READINESS
FOR THE RETURN OF THE SONICS.
NOW, THERE ARE MANY FANS,
ORGANIZATIONS,
INDIVIDUALS, LEADERS WHO HAVE
SUPPORTED THIS
INITIATIVE OVER THE YEARS.
AND IN ORGANIZING THIS PANEL
AND CONVENING IT, WE'VE HAD TO
MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS TO
HAND SELECT -- BUT WE WERE ABLE
TO HAND SELECT, BUT WE WILL
NEED TO BE SEVEN OF THE BEST
LEADERS IN
THIS SPACE THAT SHARES
INVALUABLE PERSPECTIVES
AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE BROADER
COMMUNITY
CONVERSATION SHOWCASING OUR
READINESS
TO WELCOME BACK THE SONICS.
EACH PANELIST WILL GET
ANAN TO SORT OF
BRIEFLY INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND
EXPLAIN
YOUR AFFILIATION TO THE LOCAL
BASKETBALL COMMUNITY.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE MAX.
AT THAT POINT, I WILL
THEN FACILITATE A
STRUCTURED, GUIDED CONVERSATION
BY ASKING A SERIES
OF QUESTIONS TO INDIVIDUAL
PANELISTS.
EACH PANELIST WILL GET AT LEAST
ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER, AND IF A
QUESTION IS ASKED OF ANOTHER
PANELIST NOT DIRECTED AT
YOU, BUT IT REALLY IS ON YOUR
MIND AND HEART AND YOU FEEL
MOVED TO
SPEAK, FEEL FREE TO DO
THAT.
OCCASIONALLY. AND SO WE'LL GO
THROUGH THAT
SORT OF PROCESS, AND AFTER
WE FINISH THE STRUCTURED
QUESTIONS FOR EVERYONE, I'LL
TURN IT OVER
TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR
QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK THAT THEY
HAVE.
BUT FIRST, LET'S BEGIN WITH
SOME BRIEF SELF- INTROS,
STARTING FIRST WITH OUR DEPUTY
MAYOR AND
THEN GO BACK THAT WAY.
DEPUTY MAYOR, AND FOR
EVERYONE, STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR
BASKETBALL COMMUNITY
AFFILIATION, AND LET'S
GO WITH WHAT EXCITES YOU
THE MOST ABOUT THE PROSPECT
OF BRINGING BACK OUR SONICS.
GO AHEAD, DEPUTY MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
AND CHAIR SAKA AND MEMBERS
OF THE STEPS COMMUNITY.
I'M THE DEPUTY MAYOR FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
MY AFFILIATION TO THIS,
TO SONICS BASKETBALL WAS, I
MOVED FROM OKLAHOMA TO SEATTLE
IN
1998.
THIS WAS MY FIRST NBA TEAM,
FIRST NBA EXPERIENCE, AND PROUD
OF THAT FACT.
SO WHAT WAS THE THIRD QUESTION?
>> WHAT EXCITES YOU THE
MOST ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF
WELCOMING OUR SONICS BACK HOME?
>> JUST HAVING BASKETBALL,
MEN'S
BASKETBALL HERE TO ROUND IT OUT.
EVERYONE ELSE HAS STAYED THE
COURSE.
OUR WOMEN'S STABLE.
BUT WE NEED TO BRING
MEN'S PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL
BACK TO
SEATTLE.
>> LOVE IT. THAT'S A DOPE
SHIRT.
CAN YOU SHOW IT OFF FOR THE
CAMERA?
THERE IT IS. THERE IT IS.
SO THEY CAN SEE IT IN THE BACK.
THANK YOU.
MR. HAAS, WELCOME.
YOUR NAME,
WHAT EXCITES YOU THE MOST ABOUT
BRINGING BACK THE
SONIC?
>> SONG.
I'M SPENCER HAAS, BORN
AND RAISED IN SEATTLE WHO
WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH
TO PLAY FOR A WHILE IN THE NBA.
BUT ALWAYS A SONICS FAN
FIRST, AND I THINK THE THING
THAT
I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT IS
GOING BACK
TO A GAME WITH MY
DAD.
>> LOVE
IT. I NOTE THAT YOU ARE A
FORMER
HUSKIE. GO, DOGS.
AND ONE OF OUR LOCAL LEGENDS, AS
WELL.
WELCOME.
ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
I'M BRYAN ROBINSON, A SEATTLE
NATIVE, UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON GRADUATE.
IN JULY 2006, NEARLY 20 YEARS
AGO, I FOUNDED SAVE OUR
SONICS AND STORM AND FOR 20
YEARS, I
WITNESSED A FAN MOVEMENT SO
LASTING THAT IT'S
DESCRIBED AS UNPRECEDENTED IN
THE HISTORY
OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.
I WANT TO JUST TAKE A SECOND TO
REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE HAVE
AN OBLIGATION TO PROTECT THE FAN
BASE THAT HAS BEEN THROUGH A
LOT, AND THAT WE SHOULD NOT GET
AHEAD OF THIS ISSUE.
IN THIS MOMENT OF
OPPORTUNITY, GOOD LEADERSHIP
MEANS ENCOURAGING OUR CITY TO
BE PREPARED WHILE MANAGING
EXPECTATIONS AND
COMMUNICATING CLEARLY THAT THIS
DEAL IS NOT
DONE.
TO QUOTE COOPER KUPP, I'M
NOT SMILING UNTIL THERE ARE
THREE ZEROS ON THE CLOCK.
THE THING THAT EXCITES ME THE
HOST, THE HEART OF THE
CONFLICT, THE MORE GLORIOUS THE
TRIUMPH.
ENDEARNESS IS THE ONLY
THING THAT GIVES IT VALUE.
BECAUSE OF OUR LONG JOURNEY,
NOT IN SPITE OF IT.
WE HAVE THE FAN BASE THAT IS
HUNGRIER THAN ANY OTHER IN
HISTORY.
WE ARE RABID AND OBSESSED AND
READY. IN ADDITION, I'M EXCITED
ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR SONICS
FAN
BASE.
PEOPLE NEW TO THE CITY,
PEOPLE WHO ARE TOO YOUNG TO
REMEMBER THE TEAM, ARE DRAWN TO
THIS
ISSUE.
THEY SENSE THE
CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TEAM AND
THE
CITY THAT IS DEEPLY FELT, EVEN
IF IT
DEFINES EXPECTATIONS.
I'M EXCITED WHEN THIS NEW FAN
BASE COMES TOGETHER WITH
OUR LONG STANDING COMMUNITY OF
FANS, WE ARE GOING TO CREATE THE
MOST UNIFIED MOMENT IN SEATTLE
HISTORY.
>> LOVE IT.
THANK YOU, MR. ROBINSON.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS KRISTEN ACRES.
IN 2012, WHILE I WAS A
STUDENT AT UW, I WORKED WITH
BRIAN --
>> CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE
MICROPHONE?
>> I WORKED WITH BRIAN AS A
VOLUNTEER AT ARENA SOLUTIONS.
THAT INTRODUCED ME TO THE SONICS
COMMUNITY AND SHOWED ME
THE POWERFUL ROLE THAT SPORTS
CAN PLAY IN COMMUNITY IDENTITY.
TODAY, 14 YEARS LATER
AFTER MEETING BRIAN, I'M A
CORPORATE ATTORNEY AND PROUD TO
STILL
BE PART OF THE SONICS COMMUNITY.
I SERVE IN A VOLUNTEER EDUCATION
DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING
THE RETURN OF BASKETBALL TO
SEATTLE.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT FANS HAVE
A VOICE IN THE RETURN OF THE
SONICS.
IN MANY WAYS, THE FAN BASE
HAS BEEN ACTIVATED FOR THE PAST
18
YEARS. WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS
JUST
THE ACCELERATION OF THAT.
SPORTS UNIFY COMMUNITIES IN
A UNIQUE WAY, WHERE EVERY
POLITICAL PARTY, RACE AND
GENDER IS REPRESENTED IN THE
STANDS. SO USING THIS MOMENT IS
A
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY.
THAT'S WHAT I'M MOST EXCITED
ABOUT.
>> LOVE IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS ROSE SULLIVAN.
I SERVE ON THE ONE- ROOF
FOUNDATION BOARD.
I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT
THE RETURN OF THE SONICS OR THE
RETURN OF NBA BASKETBALL
FOR PROFESSIONAL REASONS, BUT
FOR A
PERSONAL REASON IN HOW
WE EXPERIENCED WHAT SPORTS CAN
DO
TO COMMUNITY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY
IMPACTFUL ACROSS A LARGE
BREADTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK WHAT SPORTS HAS THE
POWER TO DO IS
UNPRECEDENTED. SO IT'S EXCITING
TO SEE
THEM
COME BACK.
>> TERRIFIC. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBER AND CHAIR SAKA.
I'M BETH KNOX, PRESIDENT AND
CEO OF THE SEATTLE SPORTS
COMMISSION.
OUR PRIMARY PURPOSE, IN
ADDITION TO SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL
SPORTS SPORTS
COMMUNITY, IS TO WORK WITH
OUR PROFESSIONAL TEAMS AND
OUR SPORTS VENUES TO BID ON
FUTURE
EVENTS, AS WELL AS FUTURE TEAMS
TO BRING TO THIS REGION.
SO THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME.
ONE OF MY GREATEST
EXCITEMENT ABOUT BRINGING BACK
THE
SONICS OR HAVING AN NBA TEAM
HERE
IS THE NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION THAT
WILL BRING TO OUR
REGION.
WE ARE -- HAVE TREMENDOUS
MOMENTUM RIGHT NOW WITH ALL OF
OUR RECENT EVENTS THAT WE HAVE
HOSTED, THE RECENT SUCCESSES,
AND PROVING THAT WE ARE TRULY
A WORLD CLASS SPORTS CITY.
AND I THINK THE NBA
TEAM WILL JUST DRIVE THAT
MESSAGE HOME.
>> THANK YOU, MS. KNOX.
LOVE IT.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'M BRAD MYERS, CO- FOUNDERS OF
A NONPROFIT CALLED RISE ABOVE
AND WE ALSO HAVE FORMAL
PARTNERSHIPS
WITH GARY PAYTON, DALE
ELLIS, BEN BAKER, ET CETERA.
WE USE SPORTS AS A MODALITY
TO REACH OUR YOUTH.
ALONG WITH EDUCATIONAL AND
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, WE SERVE
ABOUT 20,000 KIDS A YEAR.
>> TERRIFIC.
THANK YOU.
WHAT EXCITES YOU THE
MOST?
>> I THINK WHAT EXCITES ME IS,
WELL, THERE'S TWO THINGS.
ONE IS THE PLATFORM THAT THE
SONIC FRANCHISE CAN GIVE US TO
REACH MORE YOUTH.
I'LL GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE.
WE BROUGHT A GUY IN HERE ABOUT
A YEAR AGO, CHRIS HARRIS, A
FORMER
NBA PLAYER, BEEN IN RECOVERY FOR
13 YEARS.
WE BROUGHT SHAWN KEMP WITH US.
WE GOT ABOUT 1800 KIDS IN THE
ASSEMBLY.
WE FOCUS ON THE MENTAL
ELEMENT, HAVING SHAWN THERE.
AT THE END, WE HAD 70 KIDS
COME FORWARD AND ASK FOR HELP.
THAT'S THE BEAUTY AND MAGIC
THATTHAT
THE HAVE, AND THE
GUYS WE WORK WITH UNDERSTAND
IT'S
NOT ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS, IT'S
ABOUT REACHING THE YOUTH.
THAT GIVES US A
PLATFORM TO REACH MORE KIDS.
WE SEE THIS AS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH
THOUSANDS OF KIDS.
>> LOVE IT, LOVE IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO I HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS, TARGETED QUESTIONS TO
EACH
PANELIST.
I WILL START WITH
DIRECTLY FROM THE PLAYERS
EXPERIENCE,
PLAYERS PERSPECTIVE WITH MR.
HAAS.
SO MANY NBA PLAYERS PLAYED THEIR
HIGH SCHOOL AND/OR COLLEGE BALL
IN SEATTLE AND THE SURROUNDING
REGION.
CAN YOU PLEASE DISCUSS AND SHARE
HOW THIS NETWORK
SPECIFICALLY CONTRIBUTES TO THE
LOCAL BASKETBALL CULTURE AND
IDENTITY
HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE?
>> YEAH, THAT'S A
GREAT
QUESTION. I THINK WE'RE SO
UNIQUE KIND OF
BEING TUCKED UP HERE AT THE
EDGE OF THE COUNTRY.
I THINK THE THING THAT STANDS
OUT THE MOST TO ME IS
THE CONNECTION KIND OF THROUGH
THE
GENERATIONS, AND
THE ACCESSIBILITY THAT -- TO
BRAD'S
POINT, THE KIDS HAVE ALWAYS HAD,
WHETHER IT BE SONICS OR LOCAL
PROFESSIONAL GUYS LIKE MYSELF.
I NEVER PLAYED FOR THE
SONICS BUT PLAYED ELSEWHERE.
AND THE WILLINGNESS FROM KIND
OF THE OLDER GENERATION TO
STICK OUT THEIR HANDS AND TAKE
US
UNDER THEIR WING,
PROVIDE MENTORSHIP AND INSTILL
CONFIDENCE IN THEM, AND I
THINK IT STARTED KIND OF -- MY
EXPERIENCE BACK IN THE EARLY
TO MID '90s AND ROLLING
FORWARD
SINCE. DESPITE THE SONICS BEING
GONE,
I THINK WE KIND OF DOUBLED DOWN
ON
SHARING THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
IF YOU LOOK AT JAMAL
CRAWFORD AND ALL THE WORK THAT
HE'S PUT
INTO THAT, SUMMER AFTER
SUMMER, YOU KNOW, CALLING IN
FAVORS,
GETTING GUYS TO COME OUT
AND PARTICIPATING IN THAT.
I THINK A LOT OF US
VIEW THAT AS THE ONLY WAYWAY WE
CAN PROVIDE,
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AN NBA GAME,
BUT TO SEE LeBRON JAMES COME
OUT, CHRIS PAUL, IT GIVES KIDS
A
TASTE OF THAT. THERE IS A LOST
GENERATION
HERE THAT HAS NO EXPERIENCE WITH
PROFESSIONAL --
MALE PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL IN
THE
CITY. AND I THINK THE COOL
THING ABOUT THE CULTURE HERE IS
THAT PART
NEVER DIED, THAT
CONNECTION NEVER DIED.
I THINK IT MAKES IT THAT MUCH
EASIER GOING FORWARD HAVING
THAT COLLECTIVE IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT'S READY TO JUMP
BACK IN
AND EMBRACE IT WITH OPEN ARMS.
I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE
BEEN A PART OF IT, AND JUST
WANT TO HELP SEE THE NEXT
GENERATION
SUCCEED ON AND OFF THE COURT.
I THINK THAT MENTORSHIP
IS WHAT STANDS OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY,
AND FOR ME PERSONALLY WAS A
HUGE PART OF MY DEVELOPMENT AS
A PLAYER AND AS A PERSON.
>> MAKES SENSE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YOU MENTIONED SEATTLE LEGEND
JAMAL CRAWFORD.
I HAD THE PLEASURE RECENTLY
OF WATCHING HIS SON PLAY AGAINST
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL THAT
I
REPRESENT. I THINK THE KID IS IN
THE 9th
GRADE, BUT HE'S A STONE COLD
KILLER ON THE COURT.
MAYBE HE WILL BE A
FUTURE SONIC ONE DAY.
BUT THANK YOU.
DEPUTY MAYOR, WE WOULD LOVE TO
HEAR FROM YOU, FROM A CITY
PERSPECTIVE, WHAT DOES NBA READY
ACTUALLY REQUIRE IN TERMS OF
POLICY, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND
ALIGNMENT? AND WHERE ARE WE
TODAY ON THAT
PATH?
>> THANK
YOU AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER AND
CHAIR SAKA.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
STEP BACK AND GROUND US ON WHAT
CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA REPRESENTS
AND WHY IT'S ONE OF
THE STRONGEST
PRIVATE/PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS THAT
THE CITY
HAS EVER DELIVERED.
A LITTLE OVER A DECADE AGO, WE
FACED A CLEAR CHALLENGE.
KEY ARENA, WHILE ICONIC, WAS NO
LONGER VIABLE AS A MODERN SPORTS
VENUE.
WE WERE LOSING CONCERTS,
EVENTS, AND WE HAD ALREADY LOST
THE
SONICS.
THE QUESTION BEFORE THE CITY
AT THAT TIME WAS
STRAIGHTFORWARD, HOW DO WE
TRANSFORM A
CRITICAL CIVIC ASSET WITHOUT
PLACING
NEW BURDENS ON TAXPAYERS?
THIS CITY COUNCIL, THIS
CITY, MADE A DELIBERATE POLICY
CHOICE.
WE WOULD PURSUE A
PRIVATELY FINANCED SOLUTION ON
PUBLIC OWNED LAND.
SO THE TIME MACHINE, 2016,
WE ISSUED A COMPETITIVE RFP,
WHICH
I WAS HONORED TO HAVE LED
WITH TWO OTHER CITY LEGENDS, BEN
NOBLE, WHO WE HONORED LAST
NIGHT, AND ROBERT NOMS.
THE THREE OF US ULTIMATELY
SELECTED A DEVELOPER THAT WOULD
DO WHAT OTHERS WOULD NOT
DO, FULLY FINANCE, DESIGN,
AND OPERATE A WORLD CLASS
ARENA WHILE PRESERVING THE
HISTORIC ROOF AND INTEGRATING
THAT
FACILITY INTO THE FABRIC
OF SEATTLE CENTER.
FROM THERE, THE CITY
COUNCIL APPROVED AN MLU AND
FINAL
TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS SETTING
IN MOTION MORE THAN $1 BILLION
OF PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND
DELIVERED
WITHOUT A SINGLE
CENT OF DIRECT PUBLIC CAPITAL.
AND THE STRUCTURE OF THIS
DEAL IS WHAT MATTERS THE MOST.
THE CITY RETAINED OWNERSHIP
OF THE ARENA AND THE LAND.
THE PRIVATE PARTNER TOOK ALL
THE CONSTRUCTION RISKS,
INCLUDING COST OVERRUNS AND
OPERATIONAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
THE CITY BENEFITTED FROM THE
RENT, TAX REVENUE, AND LONG-TERM
ASSET VALUE.
THAT WAS A RIGHT ALIGNMENT OF
RISK AND REWARD.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THIS
WAS NOT JUST A FINANCIAL
TRANSACTION. IT WAS A POLICY
DRIVENDRIVEN AGREEMENT REFLECTED
ALL OF OUR
VALUES.
STRONG LABOR, AND WORKFORCE
COMMITMENTS, INNOVATION THAT --
WITH THE GOAL TO REDUCE
CONGESTION, GLOBAL LEADERSHIP IN
SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE
INNOVATION, AND INTENTIONAL
INTEGRATION WITH THE
SEATTLE CENTER AS A CIVIC AND
CULTURAL
CAMPUS.
TODAY, WE ARE SEEING THE
RESULTS.
WE HAVE THE SEATTLE CRACKEN.
WE HAVE THE STORM.
WE HAVE THE TORRENT.
WE HAVE RESTORED SEATTLE AS A
TOP- TIER GLOBAL ENTERTAINMENT
MARKET.
WE HAVE CREATED JOBS
AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
THAT RIPPLE ACROSS THIS REGION.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS
ARENA WAS BUILT TO BE NBA READY
FROM DAY ONE.
SO
WE TALK ABOUT THE POSSIBLE
RETURN OF THE SONICS, THIS IS NO
LONGER A QUESTION IF THE CITY
IS READY, BUT IT IS A QUESTION
OF
TIMING. SEATTLE IS READY.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE
STRONGEST MEDIA MARKETS AND FAN
BASES
IN THE COUNTRY, A PROVEN
TRACK RECORD OF SUPPORTING
STABLE THROUGH THE SEATTLE
STORM, AND
A CIVIC AND BUSINESS
COMMUNITY ALIGNED AND BRINGING
BACK THE
SONICS.
AND A STRONG PARTNER IN ONE
ROOF SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT TO
BRING THIS ALL HOME.
JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE
SHOWN THE LEAGUE SOMETHING
CRITICAL.
WE CAN DELIVER MAJOR
LEAGUE INFRASTRUCTURE THE RIGHT
WAY.
ALIGN WITH OUR VALUES WITHOUT
PUTTING TAXPAYERS AT RISK.
THAT MATTERS, BECAUSE LEAGUES
DON'T JUST EVALUATE MARKETS,
THEY EVALUATE STABILITY,
PARTNERSHIP, AND EXECUTION.
AND OUR CITY
HAS DEMONSTRATED ALL THREE OF
THOSE.
NO DEAL IS WITHOUT TRADEOFFS.
WE HAVE AGREED TO A LONG-
TERM ARENA EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT
AND
LEASE TERMS TO SECURE THIS
INVESTMENT.
BUT IN RETURN, WE UNLOCKED THE
TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT
THAT CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW
TO DO BETTER.
SO AS REFLECTED ON THIS
PROJECT, AS LOOK AHEAD, THE
CONCLUSION IS
CLEAR -- WE PRESERVE PUBLIC
OWNERSHIP, WE TRANSFER RISKS, WE
DELIVERED A WORLD CLASS NBA
READY FACILITY, AND WE
POSITIONED SEATTLE FOR THE
RETURN OF THE SONICS.
AS YOU SAID IN YOUR OPENING
COMMENTS, WE ARE READY, AND
WE'VE BEEN PREPARING
OURSELVES FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR.
WELL SAID, AND I APPRECIATE YOU
WALKING US THROUGH THE ARC
OF THE JOURNEY AND VARIOUS
PLAYERS AND LEADERS INVOLVED IN
THAT
PROCESS.
YOURSELF INCLUDED.
I APPRECIATE YOUR
PRIOR INVOLVEMENT AND YOUR
CURRENT
INVOLVEMENT.
NOW THERE'S ALWAYS
NEW PARTICIPANTS AND NEW LEADERS
AND PEOPLE STEPPING UP TO THE
PLATE TO BUILD UPON THAT GREAT
WORK THAT IS A VERY INNOVATIVE
MODEL
THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, AS
YOU DESCRIBED FOR THE
PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
MODEL, SO LET'S GO.
SEATTLE READY.
ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO PASS
THE
BATON AND ASK A QUESTION OF OUR
PARTNERS AND FAN GROUP LEADERS.
CAN YOU SHARE FROM EACH OF
YOUR PERSPECTIVES WHAT ARE
THE STRONGEST INDICATORS TODAY
THAT
SEATTLE IS
AN UNDENIABLE NBA MARKET?
>> 20 YEARS AGO WHEN WE FORMED
SAVE OUR SONICS AND STORM,
WE WERE PARTIALLY SUCCESSFUL.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE STORM
FOR MAINTAINING BASKETBALL
CULTURE IN THE CITY.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THOSE
WHO KEPT THE CULTURE ALIVE
AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR CLIMATE
PLEDGE
ARENA, ALL THE HARD WORK OF
THE DEPUTY MAYOR.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS
HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO SEATTLE
STATUS AS
AN UNDENIABLE MARKET.
GEORGE
>> THE SEATTLE CITY DESERVES
THIS TEAM.
THE SUCCESS OF THE STORM,
THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BASKETBALL
CULTURE, COMMERCIAL VENTURES
SUCH AS THE PODCAST THAT'S
HOSTED HUNDREDS OF PODCASTS
AND BROUGHT TOGETHER THOUSANDS
OF
PEOPLE.
THE SONICS APPAREL IS ONE OF
THE TOP SELLING COLLECTIONS,
WITH DEMAND SURGING, AND WE
ARE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT
INTEREST FROM FANS TO THE RETURN
OF THE
SONICS. SO YOU HAVE A LEVEL
OF COMMERCIAL INTEREST, A LEVEL
OF CULTURAL INTEREST.
YOU HAVE RESTAURANTS, NIGHT
LIFE, YOU HAVE MUSIC, ALL
DEEPLY ATTACHED TO THE SONICS
MOVEMENT.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE
INDICATORS THAT, OVER 20 YEARS,
THE CULTURE HAS STAYED ALIVE.
BUT THE THING THAT MAKES
SEATTLE MOST UNDENIABLE AS AN
NBA
MARKET IS OUR FUTURE AUDIENCE.
IT IS THE INTEREST OF THE YOUNG
PEOPLE.
IT IS ALL OF THE PEOPLE
THAT HAVE BEEN NURTURED BY
SPENCER
HAWES, PEOPLE THAT GREW UP
CHEERING FOR THE STORM, THAT
ARE READY FOR THE NBA'S RETURN.
>> LOVE IT.
AND VERY WELL SAID.
MS. ACRES, FEEL FREE TO
BUILD UPON THAT IF YOU WANT, BUT
I'M
GOING TO TEE UP A
NEW QUESTION FOR YOU, IF YOU
DON'T MIND AS
WELL.
SO SPEAK TO WHICH EVER IS
ON YOUR HEART THE MOST.
WHERE DO GRASSROOTS EFFORTS LIKE
SEATTLE NBA FANS HAVE THE MOST
INFLUENCE AND IMPACT FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE?
>> TO BUILD ON WHAT BRIAN SAID,
I THINK WE ALSO HAVE ONE OF
THE STRONGEST CORPORATE
ECOSYSTEMS
TO SUPPORT NBA EXPANSION.
WE HAVE A GROWING TECH FORWARD
YOUNGER AUDIENCE THAT PERFECTLY
ALIGNS WITH THE NBA'S FUTURE.
SEATTLE ISN'T A MARKET
WAITING TO PROVE ITSELF, IT'S A
PROVEN
MARKET THAT'S MISING A TEAM.
AND I THINK PARTICIPATING
IN DISCUSSIONS LIKE THIS ONE
STARTS
WITH ENSURING FANS HAVE A
VOICE AND A SPOT AT THE TABLE.
WE DEMONSTRATE THAT
THE INTEREST IS ACTIVE AND
GROWING.
THE SONICS BRAND IS IN HIGH
DEMAND, AND VERY FEW TEAMS
HAVE GONE THIS LONG AND STILL
CARRY THIS LEVEL OF RECOGNITION
AND
EMOTIONAL CONNECTION.
THERE CAN BE A DECENT AMOUNT
OF FAIRNESS WITH THE FANS HOW WE
LOST THE TEAM IN 2008.
SO WE HAVE DEDICATED OURSELVES
TO BEING FORWARD LOOKING AND
POSITIVE, AND TO SET THE
TONE, ESPECIALLY FOR A NEW
GENERATION THAT ARE JUST HAPPY
TO HAVE A
TEAM IN THEIR CITY.
>> LOVE, LOVE, LOVE ALL OF THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER, CAN I ADD --
>> PLEASE.
>> OVER THE YEARS, WE
LOOKED BACK TO SEE WHY THE
SONICS HAVE
THE STAYING POWER THAT THEY DO.
WHAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM PEOPLE
IS THAT THE SONICS
EXISTEDEXISTED
THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE
OUR COMMUNITIES LIVE AND WORK.
THEY WERE CLOSE TO WORKING
CLASS PEOPLE.
THEY HAD AN ACTIVE PRESENCE IN
PIONEER SQUARE.
AND THE FUTURE OF THE SONICS
IMPACTING THE FAN BASE WILL
LIE IN THOSE TRADITIONAL
NEIGHBORHOODS, NEIGHBORHOODS
OF COLOR THAT HAVE DEEP TIES
AND MEMORIES OF GARY PAYTON
AND SPENCER HAWES.
BUT THE PRESENCE OF THE
SONICS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES
ORIGINALLY IS WORTH NOTING AND
RECOGNIZING.
>> MAKES SENSE. THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR
CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA LEADER.
HOW IS CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA
UNIQUELY POSITIONED
AND SPECIFICALLY READY TO HOUSE
THE SONICS FOR A NEW NBA
FRANCHISE?
AND ARE THERE PLANS FOR ANNUAL
UPGRADES TO THE FACILITY?
>> SURE, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER.
SO WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT WE
POSTED OVER 90 STORM GAMES,
WITH FIVE SUCCESSFUL SEASONS.
SO WE'VE BEEN HOSTING
BASKETBALL
SINCE WE OPENED FIVE YEARS
AGO WITH THE L.A. CLIPPERS,
WE'VE ALSO HOSTED TWO NCAA
MARCH MADNESS EVENTS WITH THE
WOMEN'S SUPER REGIONAL IN 2023,
AND THE
MEN'S FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS
IN '25, WHICH WE WILL AGAIN
HOST
IN
'28. SO THIS BUILDING, AS THE
DEPUTY MAYOR ALLUDED TO, WAS
BUILT
INTENTIONALLY WITH BASKETBALL
IN MIND, WITH HOCKEY IN MIND
OBVIOUSLY, AND WITH CONCERTS
AND OTHER EVENTS, PRODUCING
NEARLY 1,000 EVENTS SINCE WE
OPENED.
IT'S SOMETHING OUR STAFF AND
OUR TEAM ARE UNIQUELY CAPABLE
OF DOING THAT TYPE OF VOLUME.
SO THAT'S ONE WAY I WOULD SAY
THAT WE'RE READY TO HAVE
THE SONICS PART OF OUR
LEASE THAT WAS NEGOTIATED AS AN
ANNUAL
IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
WE DO HAVE TO PUT MONEY
BACK INTO THIS BUILDING TO MAKE
SURE
IT'S STATE OF THE ART
FOR LONG-TERM.
AND I THINK SPECIFICALLY TO AN
NBA FRANCHISE, I THINK MANY OF
YOU HAVE SEEN THE NBA
LOCKER ROOM SPACE THAT IS ON THE
EVENT
LEVEL, SITTING THERE READY TO BE
BUILT OUT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST
THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE
CONTEMPLATED, BUT WE ARE
READY FOR NBA BASKETBALL TODAY,
AND
ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH
THE LEAGUE SHOULD ANY OTHER
REQUIREMENTS BE NECESSARY.
>> YES, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND THANK YOU FOR
SPECIFICALLY CALLING OUT AND
MENTIONING OUR
FOUR- TIME CHAMPION SEATTLE
STORM. LOVE TAKING MY FAMILY TO
THE STORM GAMES AND WATCHING
THOSE
TERRIFIC WOMEN DO GREAT
THINGS ON AND OFF THE COURT AND
IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT ONE OR THE
OTHER.
MANY THINGS CAN CO- EXIST
AT THE SAME TIME.
THIS ISN'T EVEN
ABOUT PROFESSIONAL VERSUS SEMI
PRO.
WE ARE A SPORTS CITY AND WE ARE
A BASKETBALL CITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I'M GOING TO ASK A QUICK
FOLLOWUP QUESTION FOR YOU
BEFORE RETURNING TO MS. KNOX.
HOW WOULD ADDING AN NBA
FRANCHISE CHANGE THE
ARENA'S EVENTS AND ECONOMICS,
AND
WHAT DOES A SUCCESSFUL LONG-
TERM PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE
ARENA AND A TEAM LOOK LIKE?
>> YES.
I THINK I'LL GO BACK TO WHEN WE
DEVELOPED OUR OPERATING PLANS
FOR THIS ARENA.
IT IS TO BE BUSY EVERY DAY
OF THE YEAR, IF POSSIBLE.
WE DO ABOUT 220 PUBLIC
EVENTS EVERY YEAR, ADDING 40
PLUS
MORE GUARANTEED DATES IS THE
GOAL.
AND SO THAT'S ABSOLUTELY
SOMETHING THAT WE
HAVE CONTEMPLATED SINCE OPENING
IS HOW DO WE FIT AS MANY DATES
INTO THE BUILDING AS POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE AN AMAZING
PROGRAMMING TEAM THAT MANAGES A
REALLY COMPLICATED
CALENDAR. THEY HAVE GOTTEN
REALLY GOOD
AT WORKING WITH THE LEAGUE
AND GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
SO ADDING 40 PLUS MORE DATES
FOR US IS THE GOAL EVERY YEAR.
SO SOMETHING WE'RE ABSOLUTELY
PLANNING ON.
I THINK IN REGARDS TO
A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN A TEAM AND
ARENA, WE LOOK
AT WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH THE
CRACKEN,
HOW WE HAVE INTEGRATED INTO
THE COMMUNITY AND SEATTLE CENTER
AND
DRIVEN ECONOMIC IMPACT INTO THE
AREA.
THAT'S A GOAL WITH ANOTHER
FRANCHISE, THE EXPANSION TEAM
WITH THE PWHL, WE HAVE
SEEN ACTIVITY WITH THAT TEAM
COMING THROUGH AND INTEGRATING
THEMSELVES INTO OUR CITY.
SO THAT WOULD BE WHAT OUR GOAL
IS WITH A NEW TEAM.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MOVING ON TO OUR PARTNER AT THE
SEATTLE SPORTS COMMISSION, MS.
KNOX.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY FIVE
CITIES, FIVE THAT HAVE ALL SIX
MAJOR PROFESSIONAL SPORTS
LEAGUES.
THE MLB, NFL, NBA, WNBA,
NHL, AND MLS.
THESE CITIES ARE NEW YORK, L.A.
,
CHICAGO, DALLAS,
AND WASHINGTON,
D.C. THE OTHER WASHINGTON.
WHAT MAKES SEATTLE UNIQUELY
PREPARED AND POSITIONED
TO BECOME THE SIXTH CITY TO HAVE
A
TEAM FROM ALL SIX LEAGUES?
>> WELL, FIRST OF
ALL, WE HAVE ALREADY HOSTED THIS
TEAM.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD THIS TEAM
HERE. SO THAT FOUNDATION AND
GROUND
WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN LAID.
I THINK THAT IT'S
ALSO INTERESTING THAT, TO YOUR
POINT, WE ACTUALLY ALSO HAVE A
NUMBER OF OTHER PROFESSIONAL
TEAMS
IN ADDITION TO THE FIVE YOU
MENTIONED.
AND WE HAVE ALSO
RECENTLY LAUNCHED A NEW
PROFESSIONAL TEAM
HERE IN SEATTLE WITH THE PWHL,
JUST OVER A YEAR AGO.
SO WE ARE UNIQUELY QUALIFIED
FROM THAT STAND POINT.
BUT WE HAVE -- WE'LL -- WE
ARE SUCCESSFUL IN BRINGING THE
NBA
BACK, SEATTLE WILL BE THE
ONLY CITY IN THE UNITED STATES
TO HAVE NINE PROFESSIONAL TEAMS
HERE.
SO YOU'VE GOT THE MWSL, THE
PHSP, MAJOR
LEAGUE RUGBY. THIS IS AN
ECOSYSTEM
OF SPORTS HERE IN STAT THAT WILL
IS
UNIQUE AND VERY SPECIAL.
WE HAVE CROSS SUPPORT FROM ALL
OF OUR PROFESSIONAL TEAMS.
WE HAVE SEEN IT WHEN
PLAYERS ATTEND THE GAMES OF
OTHER TEAMS,
AND THE SUPPORT FROM THE FRONT
OFFICE ORGANIZATIONS
IN PROMOTING WHAT THE TEAMS ARE
DOING, CHEERING EACH OTHER ON.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS
UNIQUE TO SEATTLE, AND I CAN
ASSURE YOU FROM TALKING WITH MY
COUNTERPARTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
THAT IT IS UNIQUE, THAT THAT
COLLABORATION AND
REALLY INCLUSIVE SUPPORT FOR
EACH OTHER
IS SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT WE
HAVE.
AND THAT IS, I THINK WHAT
IS REALLY AN ELEMENT
THAT PROVIDES A LOT OF
CONFIDENCE IN OUR
ABILITY TO BRING ON A TEAM
LIKE THE NBA AND KNOW IT WILL BE
SUCCESSFUL.
>> WELL SAID, MS. KNOX.
I SAY AGAIN THAT WAS VERY
IMPORTANT.
I'M GOING TO ECHO WHAT I JUST
HEARD. THE SONICS COME BACK,
SEATTLE
WOULD BE THE ONLY CITY TO HAVE
NINE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS.
THE ONLY CITY, AND THAT IS A
REFLECTION OF OUR CITY, OUR
ECONOMY, THE LOCAL MARKET,
THE CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA
READINESS, SO MANY FACTORS.
WE HAVE A LOYAL FAN
BASE, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND
ORGANIZATIONS AND SO MUCH MORE.
THE LEAGUE WOULD BE LUCKY TO
REENTER THE SEATTLE
MARKET WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MEN'S
PROFESSIONAL
BASKETBALL. AND IF GIVEN THE
OPPORTUNITY, OUR CITY AND OUR
FAN BASE WOULD
BE LUCKY TO HAVE THEM, AS WELL.
MOVING ON TO MR. MYERS, LAST BUT
NOT LEAST, OF COURSE.
WHAT WILL AN NBA TEAM ADD TO
THE YOUTH EXPERIENCE IN THE
SEATTLE AREA THAT IS UNIQUE
FROM WHAT OTHER LOCAL TEAMS
CONTRIBUTE?
>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A FEW
THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, I THINK
BASKETBALL HAS BEEN A CENTRAL
PART OF
THIS COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME,
AND I
BROUGHT A PHOTO TODAY I WANT
TO SHARE WITH YOU RIGHT NOW.
IT'S MY BROTHER AND I IN
1968 WEARING OUR SEATTLE SONIC
T-SHIRTS. I WENT TO THE FIRST
GAME HERE.
BOB RULE WAS THE FIRST SUPERSTAR
FOR THE SONICS IN '68.
SO BASKETBALL IS ENTRENCHED IN
THIS COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH
THE PRO FRANCHISES, BUT I WANT
TO
HIGHLIGHT, ONE IS THE
SEATTLE STORM RELATIONSHIP WE
HAVE.
IT'S VERY INTENTIONAL.
IT'S MENTAL HEALTH RELATED.
WE'RE ABLE TO SERVE THOUSANDS
OF KIDS EVERY YEAR, SO IT
GIVES US A PLATFORM TO REACH
KIDS.
THE SECOND GROUP I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE, JACKIE WAS
BLESSED ENOUGH TO RECEIVE A
NATIONAL
AWARD AROUND HEALTH AND WELLNESS
BY JOE BIDEN AND ABLE TO GO
BACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE A COUPLE
YEARS AGO AND PRESENT THE
WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, AND
MORE IMPORTANTLY PRESENT
WHY PARTNERSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT.
WHAT ONE GROUP HAS DONE IS
GIVEN US A PLATFORM TO REACH
THOUSANDS OF KIDS BECAUSE
THEY'RE SPENGSAL.SPENGS
-- INTENTIONAL.
BETH AND HER PLATFORM HAS
GIVEN
US TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES TO
REACH KIDS.
THERE ARE
AMAZING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO
GIVE BACK TO OUR
YOUTH. WE ARE PART OF THE WNBA,
NBA,
NFL, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL,
AND THEY'RE ALL ON A PUSH NOW
FORFOR
MENTAL HEALTH,
SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE YOUTH.
SO WE HAVE ALIGNED
OURSELVES WITH THE FRANCHISES
LOCALLY,
BUT I WILL SAY THIS, AND JACKIE
USED THAT TESTIMONY BACK WITH
JOE
BIDEN TO SAY HERE'S WHAT CAN BE
IMPACTED WHEN A FRANCHISE IS
BACK IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT
DOLLARS, IT'S ABOUT ACCESS.
WE'RE BLESSED IN SEATTLE TO
HAVE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE
HAVE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
I'M GOING TO CLOSE OUT
SOME QUESTIONS AND OPEN IT UP TO
MY
COLLEAGUES. AT THE END OF THE
DAY, THIS
IS ABOUT CREATING A VIBRANT,
RICH,
FUN, SAFE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR
FANS, AND EAT ENVIRONMENT.
SO FINAL TWO
QUESTIONS FOR OUR GROUP.
MR. HAWES, FIRST OFF,
IF YOU COULD JUST BRIEFLY --
I'M A
FIRM BELIEVER IN THE POWER OF
STORY
TELLING. I THINK YOU ALL ARE, AS
WELL.
WHAT STORY ABOUT
SEATTLE BASKETBALL IS RESONATING
MOSTMOST RIGHT NOW FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE?
>> I THINK WE'RE STICKING
TO SEATTLE IS READY AND SEATTLE
IS
A BASKETBALL CITY AND ALWAYS
HAS BEEN.
SEATTLE NEVER TURNED ITS BACK ON
THE SONICS AND NOW THAT STORY IS
EVOLVING INTO SOMETHING BIGGER.
IT'S INCREASINGLY VIEWED AS
THE MOST OBVIOUS EXPANSION AND
RELOCATION DECISION IN SPORTS.
WE'RE SEEING A SHIFT
FROM NOSTALGIA TO READINESS, AND
THERE'S A NATIONAL CONSENSUS
THAT SEATTLE IS THE RIGHT
CHOICE.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WE WISH
WERE STILL HERE TO SEE
THIS. IF AND WHEN WE HAVE A
TEAM, I'M
EXCITED TO SEE THOSE STORIES BE
CELEBRATED. I SEE COMMENTS
ONLINE THAT SAY
THINGS LIKE I LIVE IN
DENVER, BUT I HOPE SEATTLE GETS
ITS TEAM
BACK. IT JUST FEELS LIKE THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY IS ROOTING FOR US
RIGHT
NOW.
>> YES, INDEED.
MR. ROBINSON, I'M GOING TO
SHIFTSHIFT UP HERE JUST A LITTLE
BIT.
WHAT DOES AN ACTIVATED
SONICS FAN BASE LOOK LIKE IN
2026?
>> IN 2026, AN ACTIVATED SONICS
FAN BASE STOPS ASKING IF
SEATTLE IS READY AND STARTS
ASKING WHAT IS SEATTLE READY
FOR?
BASED ON ASKING WHAT IS THE
BEST CASE SCENARIO IF THE SONICS
RETURN.
THEY START IMAGINING
TREMENDOUS, POSITIVE COMMUNITY
IMPACT.
THEY START STRIVING FOR
DEEPLY ROOTED FRANCHISE THAT IS
TIED TO
HISTORY, BUT ALSO FOCUSED ON THE
FUTURE. WE HAVE SEEN
TREMENDOUS PARTICIPATION FROM
KIND OF
THE HOLY TRINITY OF GATHERING
SPACES, FOOD, MUSIC, SPORTS, ALL
COMING TOGETHER AROUND THIS
ISSUE.
WE HAVE SEEN YOU NG PEOPLE
AND NEW PEOPLE COMING AROUND
THIS
ISSUE.
SO GOING FORWARD, OUR FAN
BASE NEEDS TO NOT SETTLE AND NOT
HAVE
LOW EXPECTATIONS, AND AN
ACTIVATED SONICS BASE LOOKS AT
THE JOURNEY, LOOKS AT THE HUNGER
WE HAVE AND SAYS WHAT CAN WE
ACCOMPLISH FROM HERE.
>> YES.
FINALLY, MR. HAWES, HOW
HAVE PLAYER EXPECTATIONS AROUND
ARENAS AND FACILITIES CHANGED
SINCE YOUR ERA, YOUR TEN-
YEAR NBA ERA, AND HOW IMPORTANT
IS
A VENUE LIKE CLIMATE PLEDGE
ARENA
TO LONG- TERM
SUCCESS AND VIABILITY?
>> IT'S BEEN A MONUMENTAL SHIFT
FROM WHEN I CAME IN THE LEAGUE.
I REMEMBER MY FIRST PRESS
CONFERENCE DOWN IN
SACRAMENTO, THEY ASKED ME IF I
WANTED TO DO
A TOUR OF THE OLD ARENA.
I WAS VERY EXCITED.
ABOUT TWO MINUTES INTO
THE TOUR, I'M LOOKING AROUND
AND
THINKING WE'RE LOSING THE
SONICS
BECAUSE KEY RENA IS NOT
SUITABLE.
ARCO WAS IN A STATE OF
DISREPAIR BEYOND THAT.
SO THE LEAGUE HAS COME A LONG
WAY. PLAYER EXPECTATIONS, GUYS
ARE
A LITTLE SPOILED
NOW BECAUSE OF THE CONSISTENCY
OF THE LEVEL
OF VENUES ACROSS
THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL
ASSOCIATION.
BUT YOU NOTICE IT.
FS EASIER WHEN I WAS PLAYING,
BECAUSE THERE WAS MORE OF
A DELTA BETWEEN THE WORLD CLASS
VENUES AND THEN THE ONES
THAT WERE JUST KIND OF
SUFFICIENT.
I THINK THAT TIDE HAS
RISEN SIGNIFICANTLY,
LIKE I SAID. BUT IT'S SOMETHING
AS A
PLAYER, WHETHER IT'S YOUR HOME
ARENA, HAVING PRIDE IN THAT
BUILDING.
IF YOU'RE COMING IN AS A
VISITOR, YOU NOTICE, WOW, THE
AMENITIES, THE CROWD, IT'S
SOMETHING YOU TAKE NOTE OF.
FOR FREE AGENTS, YOU KNOW, IF
IT'S EQUAL ON THE CONTRACT
OFFERS, THINGS LIKE NOT ONLY
THE ARENA, BUT THE PRACTICE
FACILITY AND EVERYTHING ALONG
THE LINE.
THOSE CAN SWING DECISIONS.
SO I THINK IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT, AND I'VE BEEN TO A
LOT OF
THE NEW ONES, AND I CAN'T SAY
I'VE BEEN TO ONE THAT'S MORE
IMPRESSIVE THAN CLIMATE PLEDGE.
OBVIOUSLY LIKE EVERYONE SAID,
BUILD UP A LOCKER ROOM AND
WE'RE READY TO GO.
>> BUILD UP THAT LOCKER ROOM
AND WE'RE READY TO GO.
I'M SO FIRED UP, I'M GOING
TO THROW ON MY SONIC HAT HERE.
COLLEAGUES, I'M GOING TO
TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO YOU FOR
ANY
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, FEEDBACK.
I KNOW THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS KETTLE AND FOSTER
HAVE
THEIR HAND UP.
BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO THE
VICE CHAIR FOR
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENT IT IS
YOU HAVE ANY.
KEEP THING MOVING ALONG.
NEXT UP WAS COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE
WHO, IN ADDITION TO
SEATTLESEATTLE
U DUB, I ALSO WANT TO CLAIM ST.
ANNE'S, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE
SPENCER
HAWES AND EVERYONE BEING HERE
TODAY.
YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY THAT
SEATTLE CENTER HAS BEEN ADDED TO
THIS
COMMITTEE, BECAUSE IT OFFERS
US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
THIS FORUM AND TALK ABOUT WHERE
WE'RE GOING AS A CITY.
I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC.
I'VE BEEN ENGAGED FROM
THE BEGINNING IN TERMS
OF COMING FROM COMMUNITY.
STARTING WITH CPA, CLIMATE
PLEDGE ARENA.
THIS IS NOT JUST AN ARENA,
THIS IS PART OF THE CENTER OF
SEATTLE
CENTER. IT IS PART OF THE
COMMUNITY CENTER.
IT IS PART OF UPTOWN, QUEEN
ANN, SOUTHLAKE UNION.
IT IS A COMMUNITY ASSET,
IN ADDITION TO BEING A SEATTLE
ASSET.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN
EMBRACED AND SOMETHING
THAT'S BEEN REALLY UNDERSTOOD
TO
BE, YOU KNOW, THAT NEXT LEVEL.
THIS GOES TO -- COMING BACK TO
TRANSPORTATION, INNOVATIVE.
YOU KNOW, NEW LIFE INTO
THE MOANO RAIL.
JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE
DONE
IN TERMS OF THE ENTIRE
ECOSYSTEM, IN TERMS OF THE
BUSINESSES, THE TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEMS, AND WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO BE DOING IN THE FUTURE.
A LOT OF THIS CENTERS ON
WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH THE
ARENA. AND I WATCHED THE
CONSTRUCTION,
YOU KNOW, FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING.
I WATCHED THE ROOF, WHICH WAS
AN ENGINEERING MARVEL TO SEE
THE ROOF AND NOTHING UNDERNEATH
IT.
IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE.
I WILL SAY LATER, I'VE
BEEN THROUGH EVERY INCH OF
THAT ARENA, AND IT IS FANTASTIC.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT HOME TO THE
STORM.
THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING A
DISTRICT SEVEN REPRESENTATIVE
IS TO GET TO KNOW THE STORM.
IT ALSO HELPS HAVING A
SO-YEAR- OLD DAUGHTER AND
MY WIFE AND MYSELF ARE GREAT
FANS.
WITH THE OWNERSHIP GROUP OF THE
STORM, BUT TO BE THERE
FOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL.
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH
MADNESS, RIGHT?
WITH UCONN TAKING OUT
DUKE,
INCREDIBLE. BUT I WAS THERE WITH
MY
FAMILY SEEING CAITLIN CLARK AT
THE
'23 MARCH MADNESS AT THE
WOMEN'S
TOURNAMENT. THIS IS WHAT THIS
ARENA
OFFERS US AS A CITY TO BRING
THIS HERE.
THE CRACKEN, SO MANY MEMORIES
THERE, BEING
THERE AND WATCHING A GOALGOAL
AROUND AND
HIGH FIVING SOME INCREDIBLE
PEOPLE THERE AT THE ARENA AND
THE
EXCITEMENT
OF THE GAME. IT WAS FANTASTIC.
BUT EVEN RECENTLY, AGAIN,
WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER, BEING
AT
THE OPENING GAME OF THE TORRENT.
I MEAN, THIS IS UNIQUE.
YOU DON'T SEE THIS AROUND THE
COUNTRY. THAT WAS UNBELIEVABLY
BEAUTIFUL
TO SEE THAT, AND THE GAME WAS
INCREDIBLE.
AGAIN, MAXED
OUT. AT THE TIME, THE BIGGEST
ATTENDANCE OF ANY WOMEN'S
PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY EVER.
THIS IS WHAT THE ARENA HAS DONE.
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE
CREDIT TO ONE GROUP SPORTS
AND ENTERTAINMENT AND ALSO THE
FOUNDATION.
I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
PIECE THAT GOES TO MY
INITIAL POINT ABOUT THE
COMMUNITY
AND ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT THE ONE ROOF FOUNDATION
DID WITH RESPECT TO MEMORIAL
STADIUM AND MEMORIAL WALL, WHICH
IS DEAR
TO MY
HEART. YOU KNOW, I WAS THERE AT
AN EVENT CLOSING OUT, AND ONE
ROOF FOUNDATION WAS SO KEY
PROVIDING
THAT LAST PIECE OF
FUNDING AND AT THE EVENT, I
THANK AMAZON FOR
THEIR SUPPORT BECAUSE THEY GAVE
THAT LAST $2 MILLION TO
GET OVER THE
GOAL. IT WAS INCREDIBLE,
BECAUSE IT IS NOW TRANSFORMING
THAT SIDE
OF SEATTLE CENTER, AND THE
LINKAGES IN TERMS OF WHAT WE
CAN DO BETWEEN VARIOUS PARTS OF
SEATTLESEATTLE CENTER IS
INCREDIBLE.
THAT'S A TESTIMONY TO
COMMITMENT AND COMMUNITY.
SO I WANT TO THANK ONE
ROOF SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT IN
ADDITION TO THE FOUNDATION, AS
WELL. IT'S LED BY SAM HOLLOWAY.
TALK ABOUT BEING ENGAGED IN
COMMUNITY.
I'VE SEEN HER.
SHE'S BEEN TO MY OFFICE.
I'VE SEEN HER IN COMMUNITY, AT
THE ARENA.
EVEN AT A GIRL'S SUMMER
SOCCER CAMP DROPOFF, WHICH
REALLY SHOWS
THAT SHE IS HERE IN SEATTLE.
YOU KNOW, AND
ENGAGED. I THINK THAT'S SUPER
IMPORTANT.
I THANK HER FOR ALL HER SUPPORT
THAT SHE'S DONE IN TERMS
OF GETTING US TO WHERE WE ARE
TODAY.
I THINK IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT.
BUT JUST TO CLOSE, CHAIR,
AGAIN, I NOTED EARLIER, I'VE
BEEN THROUGH EVERY INCH OF
THAT
ARENA. THE COOL LITTLE PIECES,
THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL.
ALL THESE DIFFERENT PIECES ARE
INCREDIBLE.
AGAIN, WATCHING IT BEING BUILT,
THAT WAS FASCINATING.
WATCHING THEM ENGAGING WITH
COMMUNITY.
THE LITTLE THINGS, LIKE
THE TUNNEL UNDERNEATH THAT
COMES BACK ON THE OTHER SIDE.
YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN CONCERTS
THERE, INCREDIBLE TO SEE PETER
GABRIEL. IT WAS
UNBELIEVABLE. JUST DIFFERENT
THINGS.
BUT WHAT'S KEY ABOUT THIS
ARENA,
IT IS NBA READY.
AND IT SHOWS THAT THE
ARENA, THE ENTIRE AREA, THE CITY
THAT WE
ARE, CAN I SAY IT, SONICS
READY, CHAIR.
SO THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR
COMING.
I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, BECAUSE I CAN'T
OUTMATCH MY CHAIR, BUT
I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
COMING
AND PARTICIPATING IN THIS
COMMITTEE MEETING THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
SHOUTOUT TO SAM HOLLOWAY.
A TRUE LEADER IN THIS SPACE.
AND DONE A LOT OF GREAT WORK TO
BETTER POSITION OUR CITY AND
OUR ARENA FOR THE SONICS RETURN.
AND ALSO SHOUTOUT TO
ANOTHER GOVERNING PARTNER, AND
FRIEND
OF THE CITY AND FRIEND OF MY
OFFICE, CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE,
AMAZON WHO HAS
DONE GREAT JOB IN OUR COMMUNITY,
AS WELL.
EVERYONE HAD THEIR HAND UP.
WE HAD SOME MINOR TECHNICAL
ISSUES WITH THE VICE CHAIR
EARLIER.
WE'RE GOING TO RETURN TO HER
AND SEE IF THAT HAS BEEN
RESOLVED.
VICE CHAIR, THE FLOOR IS
YOURS, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO --
CANNOT HEAR YOU, SO
WE'LL TRY YOU AFTER THE OTHER
TWO COLLEAGUES HAVE SPOKEN,
STARTING WITH COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER.
FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO
OUR
PRESENTERS. THIS WAS REALLY
EXCITING.
I ALSO DON'T HAVE A
QUESTION, BUT I CAN'T RESIST
THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
A COMMENT AND JUST SAY THIS
IS TREMENDOUSLY EXCITING.
SEATTLE IS MANY, MANY
THINGS, BUT WE ARE ABSOLUTELY A
SPORTS
TOWN.
I MYSELF AM A SEASON
TICKETHOLDER TO THE STORM AND I
GOT TO BE THERE WHEN WE HUNG
UP SUE BIRD'S JERSEY IN THE
RAFTERS.
IT WAS JUST INCREDIBLE.
JUST WATCHING THE YOUNG
KID'S FACES LIGHT UP AROUND
THAT
ENGAGEMENT, AND SEE THE IMPACT
THAT IT HAS FOR
BOTH BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER
AND GIVING
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SOMETHING TO
LIKE JUST DREAM ABOUT
AND PARTICIPATE IN AND FEEL
CONNECTED TO.
I ALSO HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT AN EVENT
BEFORE
A SEAHAWKS PLAYER, AND I'VE
NEVER BEEN MORE -- PEOPLE ARE
LIKE, WE'RE READY, WE'RE
READY. SO I THINK
ABOUT THOSE EXPERIENCES AND I'M
LIKE, I
WANT TO HAVE THOSE WITH OUR
MEN'S PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL
TEAM,
AS
WELL. I WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS
FOLKS
CLIMATE FLEDGE.
I GOT TO DO A TOUR OF
THE FACILITY AND SEE THE LOCKER
ROOM THAT'S WAITING THERE FOR
OUR
MEN'S TEAM TO COME BACK.
AND I THINK THERE'S JUST
NO GREATER
TESTAMENT TO HOW READY WE ARE AS
A CITY.
THE OTHER BENEFIT WE HAVE FROM
OUR SPORTS TEAMS IS THE
PRACTICE FACILITIES AND THE
CRACKEN
PRACTICE FACILITY AT NORTH
GATE HAS BEEN THIS FANTASTIC
PART OF
REVITALIZATION AND INVESTMENT.
WE HAVE HAD THE SEAHAWKS, THE
STORM ARE A LITTLE FURTHER UP
NORTH.
BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT IF/WHEN WE GET TO WELCOME
BACK A
TEAM, WE WOULD BE BUILDING
A PRACTICE FACILITY RIGHT HERE
IN
SEATTLE, IS THAT
RIGHT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
THAT'S PART OF THE LEASE TERMS
WE NEGOTIATED WITH THE FACILITY,
YES.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT
WILL BE SO EXCITING.
I CAN IMAGINE HOW ACTIVE
THAT WILL BE AND WHAT A LOCATION
THAT WOULD BE NOT JUST FOR THE
TEAM BUT A COMMUNITY.
>> JUST TO ADD ON TO THAT, I
THINK YOU'RE
RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER,
THAT --
AND SPENCER TALKED ABOUT IT
AS FROM A PLAYERS STAND POINT,
AS PART OF THEIR RECRUITMENT,
THAT LEVEL OF INFRASTRUCTURE,
BUT ALSO I THINK TEAMS HAVE
BECOME MORE SOPHISTICATED.
I THINK THE CRACKEN HAVE LED THE
WAY IN SAYING THESE ARE NOT
JUST PRACTICE FACILITIES
BUT COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACES.
SO THAT IS CRITICALITY.
IN A TIME WHERE WE WANT TO BE
WITH COMMUNITY, IT IS -- WE'RE
ALL FOR IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. AND I'LL JUST NOTE AS
THE
COUNCILMEMBER WHO CHAIRS
THE COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES
THE SEATTLE CENTER, AND A
COUNCILMEMBER WHO
REPRESENTS FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS IN
THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF
SEATTLE, INCLUDING SOTO, THE
STADIUM DISTRICTS AND ALL THE
SPORTS TEAMS DOWN THERE, AND AS
A
SEATTLE SPORTS FAN AND DAD OF
THREE, ALL OF MY KIDS ARE INTO
SPORTS.
I'LL JUST SHARE I AM STRONGLY
ADVOCATING, IT IS TRUE, DEPUTY
MAYOR, THAT WE WILL HAVE,
UNDER THE TERMS OF THE
AGREEMENT,
A PRACTICE FACILITY SOMEWHERE
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
I'M GOING TO SHARE RIGHT
NOW, I'M ADVOCATING AND
FIGHTING
FOR THAT NEW FACILITY TO BE
BUILT IN
WEST SEATTLE.
SEATTLE'S LARGEST
NEIGHBORHOOD BY GEOGRAPHY, AND
POPULATION. SO WHY NOT US?
IN ANY EVENT, THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER, THE FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
WHAT A FUN MORNING.
THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY ON
THE PANEL AND TO REALLY ALL THE
FANS, EVERYONE WHO HAS
BEEN WORKING SO HARD TO, YOU
KNOW, HOPEFULLY BRING BACK THE
SONICS.
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF MY PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIP STORY.
I GREW UP IN DURHAM, NORTH
CAROLINA, ONE OF THE STRONGEST
AREAS OF BASKETBALL HISTORY WITH
DUKE AND UNC WITH
SOME INCREDIBLE COACHES AND
PLAYERS,
INCLUDING MICHAEL JORDAN.
AND ALSO MY FAMILY, MY
GRANDMAGRANDMA FROM OUTSIDE OF
SPRINGFIELD,
MASS, THE BIRTH OF BASKETBALL.
SHE WORKED AT
SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE WHERE,
AGAIN, STABLE
WAS STARTED AS A WAY TO, YOU
KNOW,
SPRINGFIELD MASS HAS
COLD WINTERS LIKE WE DO HERE,
AND WANTED TO -- THERE WAS A
PE TEACHER THAT WANTED TO
DEVELOP
AN ACTIVITY FOR YOUTH DURING THE
WINTER, WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE.
WE HAVE SEEN JUST THE
INCREDIBLE GROWTH OF BASKETBALL
BECOME
A WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON.
YOU KNOW, I THINK JUST A FEW
COMMENTS HERE, NO QUESTIONS,
BUT IT'S CLEAR WE ARE SO READY
AND
POISED.
OBVIOUSLY, CLIMATE PLEDGE,
JUST A SHOUTOUT TO ALL THE HARD
WORK THAT MADE THAT SUCH
AN INCREDIBLE FACILITY FOR
SPORTS, FOR OTHER ARTS.
ANYBODY THAT HAS BEEN THERE
UNDERSTANDS WHAT
AN INCREDIBLE FACILITY THAT IS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WELL NAMED FOR
THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, BEING
SUCH A GREAT FACILITY, LEADING
THE WAY THERE.
OBVIOUSLY IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
ALSO, IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR
THAT OUR FAN BASE, OUR
SPORTS IS SECOND TO NONE.
I WOULD PUT UP OUR FAN BASE
HERE TO ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE
COUNTRY
REALLY, ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE
WORLD.
AND I THINK IT'S CLEAR HOW
COMPLEMENTARY THAT
ECOSYSTEM THAT WE WERE HEARING
ABOUT,
HOW COMPLEMENTARY IT IS BETWEEN
MEN AND WOMEN'S SPORTS, BETWEEN
ALL THESE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW,
YOU
THINK THAT THESE SPORTS
MIGHT COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER,
BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE.
THEY COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER.
YOU KNOW, I THINK BOTH WITH
THE FANS, BUT ALSO WITH THE
ATHLETES, WHERE PEOPLE,
THE CIVIC PRIDE, AND IT'S NOT
JUST
SEATTLE, IT'S REGION WIDE, IT
IS
STATEWIDE THAT THE CIVIC PRIDE
BUILDS AND COMPLEMENTS EACH
OTHER.
I ALSO JUST WANT TO POINT OUT
THAT I THINK SEATTLE IS
SUPER WELL POSITIONED -- AGAIN,
WE SEE
BASKETBALL AS A WORLDWIDE
PHENOMENON.
I HAD THE PLEASURE TO STUDY
ABROAD IN CHINA IN 2000, AND TO
SEE THE LOVE FOR BASKETBALL ININ
CHINA.
WE KNOW THE LOVE FOR
BASKETBALL IN THE PHILIPPINES IS
INCREDIBLY
STRONG.
AND SEATTLE, ONE, WE
OBVIOUSLY HAVE A VERYVERY
COMMUNITY
HERE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A
GATEWAY FROM THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST
TO ASIA AND HAVE THESE STRONG
CONNECTIONS.
SO IT IS JUST ANOTHER REASON WHY
I THINK WE ARE SO WELL SUITED.
FINALLY, JUST, YOU KNOW,
THE YOUTH BASKETBALL.
THE LOVE FOR
BASKETBALL CONTINUES TO BE
STRONG WITH OUR
YOUTH. I'M SUPER HONORED TO
REPRESENT SOUTHEAST SEATTLE,
WHICH
HAS SOME VERY STORIED, YOU KNOW,
STABLE BASKETBALL LEGENDS WITHIN
OUR
HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS.
THEY HAVE HAD AN INCREDIBLE RUN,
AND JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO
THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT WOULD
BE INCREDIBLE TO SEE SOME OF OUR
SEATTLE YOUTH WEARING THE
SONICS JERSEYS IN THE NEAR
FUTURE.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL, TO
EVERYONE WHO HAS PUT IN
COUNTLESS HOURS.
THE LOVE IS REAL.
THE PRIDE IS REAL, AND LET'S
MAKE IT HAPPEN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN. WELL
SAID.
AND I WAS CONNECTING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER -- OR VICE CHAIR
OFFLINE, AND WE SHARED -- WE'RE
WORKING WITH OUR I.T. TEAM,
HOPEFULLY WE RESOLVE THE
AUDIO ISSUES SOON.
BUT SHE INDICATED SHE
DIDN'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS, BUT JUST EXPRESSING
HER
GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION
FOR YOU ALL BEING HERE TODAY.
SO THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO CLOSE OUT WITH
SOME
QUICK, FUN, HOPEFULLY PLAYFUL
RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS.
VERY SHORT ANSWERS.
VERY SHORT.
EMPHASIS ON SHORT.
QUICK, RAPID FIRE RESPONSE.
FIRST QUESTION, EVERYONE,
JUST GOING TO GO DOWN THE LINE.
IF THE LEAGUE ENDS UP
APPROVING A NEW NBA EXPANSION
FRANCHISE
IN SEATTLE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THE
FINAL DECISION WHETHER TO
EVEN USE THE SONICS NAME, LOGO,
BRAND, COLORS WOULD
ESSENTIALLY BE FOR THE NEW
OWNERSHIP GROUP.
ALL THAT ASIDE, JUST FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE, WHAT IS
YOUR PREFERRED COLOR FOR A NEW
NBA FRANCHISE IN SEATTLE?
DEPUTY MAYOR?
>> COLOR OR COLORS?
WHY MESS WITH THE
BRILLIANCE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT
NOW?
DON'T CHANGE.
NOT A DAMN THING.
>> LOVE IT.
GREEN, GOLD, BABY.
>> GREEN GOLD.
>> GREEN AND GOLD.
>> I DEFER TO THE FANS.
I AM OBVIOUSLY PARTIAL TO
GREEN
AND GOLD. BUT THE UNOFFICIAL
COLORS
OF OUR CITY ARE GREEN AND BLUE.
SO IF WE RESTORE THE
BRANDING, MY HOPE PERSONALLY
WOULD
BE AT LEAST THERE'S AN
ALTERNATIVE UNIFORM THAT
REFLECTS THAT
GREEN AND BRILLIANT BLUE
IDENTITY
OF OUR CITY AND OUR SPORTS KIND
OF
HERITAGE HERE.
NEXT QUESTION, WHAT WILL THE
HEADLINE READ THE DAY
THE SONICS FINALLY DO RETURN?
WHAT WILL THE HEADLINE READ THE
DAY THE SONICS FINALLY DO
RETURN?
>> ABOUT TIME.
>> YES.
MS.
KNOX?
>> LEGACY RESTORED.
>> WE'RE BACK.
>> WE DID IT.
>> JOY.
>> HOME.
>> FINALLY, LET'S MAKE THIS
REAL FOR JUST A MOMENT.
PANELISTS, COLLEAGUES
ACTUALLY, ANYONE IN THE
AUDIENCE.
WHO IS READY, MY SHOW OF HANDS,
WHO IS READY TO TO BACK OUR
SONICS?
SHOW OF HANDS IN THE AUDIENCE.
EVERYONE -- OUR CLERK IS
NOT READY APPARENTLY.
OKAY, OKAY.
EVERYONE.
UNANIMITY. RARE IN
SEATTLE POLITICS. EVEN JOEL.
LET'S GO, LET'S BRING OUR
SONICS
BACK.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK
YOU, EVERYONE, FOR BEING HERE
TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO NOW MOVE ON
TO OUR SECOND ITEM OF
BUSINESS, WHICH GOOD NEWS IS, I
DON'T
EXPECT TO GO NEARLY AS LONG.
SO I THINK WE CAN KEEP
THIS MOVING IN FAIRLY SHORT
ORDER.
THANK YOU AGAIN.
BUT WE WILL MOVE ON.
WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM TWO INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM TWO.
A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE CITY
OF SEATTLE'S READINESS FOR
AA NATIONAL BASKETBALL
TEAM, DECLARING THE ARENA IS
READY FOR AN NBA TEAM
AND AFFIRMING SEATTLE IS
A BASKETBALL CITY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
WILL OUR NEWEST -- WE HAVE
A RETURNING
PRESENTER. JOIN US AT THE TABLE.
ONCE READY
REINTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND BEGIN
YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> WE ARE READY FOR THE RETURN
OF THE NBA AND READY TO
WELCOME THE SONICS HOME.
THIS RESOLUTION IS GROUNDED
IN BOTH HISTORY AND REPARATION.
SEATTLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN
A BASKETBALL CITY FROM THE
LEGACY OF THE SONICS TO THE
STRENGTH
OF OUR YOUTH AND
GRASSROOTS PROGRAMS AND TO THE
CONTINUED
SUCCESS OF THE SEATTLE
STORM, WHICH HAS KEPT THIS CITY
ON THE
FOREFRONT OF PROFESSIONAL
BASKETBALL.
THIS IS ALSO ABOUT READINESS.
THROUGH A COMPETITIVE
PROCESS, WE DEVELOPED THE ARENA
INTO
A WORLD CLASS VENUE DESIGNED
FOR NBA PLAY.
IT'S OPERATIONALLY
PROVEN, SUPPORTED BY UNION
WORKFORCE
AND BACKED BY LEASE TERMS
THAT ANTICIPATE AN NBA TEAM.
AT A MOMENT WHEN
THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL
ASSOCIATION BOARD
OF GOVERNORS IS CONSIDERING
EXPANSION, THIS JOINT MAYOR
AND COUNCIL RESOLUTION SENDS A
CLEAR AND UNIFIED MESSAGE.
SEATTLE IS PREPARED.
SEATTLE IS ALIGNED, AND
SEATTLE IS READY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR
CONSIDERATION AND
PARTNERSHIP,
AND ADVANCING THIS CHAIR AND
EFFORT. THANK YOU.
>> WELL SAID, DEPUTY MAYOR.
THANK YOU.
MR. WHITSON, GO AHEAD.
>> SO THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT
DECLARES THE CITY'S
INTERESTS AND READINESS TO
PARTNER
WITH THE NBA AND REGIONAL AND
LOCAL
PARTNERS TO BRING
A PROFESSIONAL
BASKETBALL TEAM BACK TO THE
CITY.
>> THANK YOU.
AND I THINK THE LEGISLATION
CONTENT IS STRAIGHTFORWARD,
BUT I'LL JUST CHIME IN AS THE
PRIME
SPONSOR OF THIS, AND
SEATTLE IS READY.
PAST TIME.
NO ONE OR NOTHING IS OWED
ANYTHING IN LIFE. BUT WE ARE
READY.
AND WE ARE A BASKETBALL CITY.
WE ARE A GLOBAL CITY, AND
A LEADING CITY IN SO MANY
RESPECTS.
THAT'S WHAT THIS
RESOLUTION MAKES CLEAR.
SO I APPRECIATE THE
PARTNERSHIP OF MAYOR WILSON,
DEPUTY
MAYOR AND HER OFFICE, SURRAT,
AND
SO MANY OTHERS, TO -- IN
THEIR COLLABORATION AND
PARTNERSHIP, AS THE DEPUTY MAYOR
NOTED, WE ARE TRULY UNIFIED IN
OUR
APPROACH. THIS IS PART OF AN
INTENTIONAL, PRINCIPLED APPROACH
AND NIFIED
STRATEGY TO BRING THE SONICS
BACK, AND THERE'S MORE
TO COME BY THE WAY.
BUT WE ARE DEMONSTRATING THROUGH
POLICY THAT SEATTLE IS READY.
SO AT THIS MOMENT, I
WILL WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES, IF
ANY, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO A
VOTE, STARTING FIRST, TO THE
EXTENT
THE TECHNICAL ISSUES
HAVE BEEN RESOLVED WITH THE VICE
CHAIR.
LET'S GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER LIN.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
AGAIN, JUST WHAT A FUN MORNING.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
THE NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS
FORFOR UNANIMOUSLY TO
EXPLORE EXPANSION AND JUST WANT
TO PROVIDE OUR ASSURANCES THAT,
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO
DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE
THIS
HAPPEN.
SO THANK YOU.
>> EXCELLENT POINT.
WELL SAID.
WE ARE IN A FRIENDLY
AMENDMENT TO THAT, WE ARE --
WE WILL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR
POWER,
AND WE ARE DOING THAT.
THIS IS ONE METHOD OF THAT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I JUST
WANTED TO SECOND COUNCILMEMBER
LIN'S POINT
ABOUT THANKING THE NBA BOARD OF
GOVERNORS, THE NBA COMMUNITY
OVERALL.
SIT A COMMUNITY, AND
I APPRECIATE THEIR ENGAGEMENT
WITH SEATTLE IN ALL ITS
DIFFERENT
FORMS.
SO YES, LET'S WORK TOGETHER.
>> YES.
AND WE'RE EXCITED FOR
AND GRATEFUL FOR THE VOTE FROM
THE
NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS, AND
THE IMPLICIT AND EXPLICIT VOTE
OF
CONFIDENCE IN THE
SEATTLE MARKET IN RETURNING A
TEAM BACK.
IT WOULD BE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL.
I THINK THEY WOULD
BE LUCKY TO
HAVE US, AND LUCKY TO WELCOME
THEM BACK.
SO AWESOME.
THERE'S NO -- OH, VIR CE CHAIR,
GO AHEAD.
PLEASE, AUDIO, WORK THIS TIME.
[ NO AUDIO ]
>> NO!
I SEE YOU TRYING THROUGH YOUR
MOBILE DEVICE.
PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE.
STILL CAN'T HEAR HER.
SO APOLOGIES, VICE CHAIR.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE
WORKING HARD ON THIS, AND I WANT
YOU TO
KNOW THAT.
CAN WE AT LEAST GET A THUMBS
UP THAT YOU
ARE PREPARED TO VOTE? OKAY,
THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, HEAR NOTHING
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FROM MY
COLLEAGUES, I MOVE THAT
THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF SOLUTION
32198.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
I IMAGINE IFIF HAD AUDIO
WORKING FROM VICE CHAIR,
SHE WOULD HAVE CHIMED IN
WITH A SECOND, AS WELL.
IT'S MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF SOLUTION
32198.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
HEARING AND SEEING NONE,
I WILL -- WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON
THE RECOMMENDATION TO
PASS RESOLUTION 32198?
[ ROLL CALL TAKEN ]
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FIVE VOTES
IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.
>> I KNOW THERE WAS A
VISUALLY
ENTHUSIASTIC TWO THUMBS UP FROM
VICE CHAIR.
SIGNIFYING HER STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THIS.
THANK YOU.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
THAT THE COUNCIL PASS
THE RESOLUTION WILL BE SENT TO
THE APRIL 7,
2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THANK YOU, FOLKS.
TODAY, WE ALIGNED, WE ACTED,
AND NOW WE ADVANCE.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR AGAIN
THAT TODAY'S SEATTLE
READINESS ROUND TABLE AND OUR
SEATTLE
READY LEGISLATION ARE NOT
ONE- OFF EVENTS OR INITIATIVES.
THEY'RE PART OF A BROADER
AND COORDINATED STRATEGY TO
BRING BACK OUR SONICS.
LET'S GO!
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND
COLLABORATION.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR
THIRDTHIRD ITEM OF
BUSINESS. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM THREE
INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM THREE.
UPDATE ON FIRST SOUTH BRIDGE
REPAIRS.
>> THANK YOU.
WILL OUR PRESENTERS PLEASE
JOIN US AT THE TABLE.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH
OUR FINAL ITEM, I WOULD LIKE TO
TAKE A MOMENT TO NOTE THAT
BRIDGES AND REMIND EVERYONE,
BRIDGES
ARE A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
ELEMENT OF OUR LOCAL
INFRASTRUCTURE.
BRIDGES FACILITATE TRAVEL,
COMMERCE, AND EMERGENCY
RESPONSE.
BRIDGES ARE MUCH MORE THAN
STRUCTURES.
THEY ARE ECONOMIC LIFELINES,
AS THE COUNCILMEMBER
REPRESENTING WEST SEATTLE, I
REMEMBER FIRSTHAND QUITE VIVIDLY
THE DAY
THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE CLOSED IN 2020.
IT'S CAUSED MASSIVE,
SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTIONS TO DAILY
LIFE
FOR THE WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY
ANDAND
BEYOND.
THE EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANTLY
LONGER COMMUTES, INCREASED
TRAFFIC ON ALTERNATIVE ROUTES,
NEIGHBORHOODS STILL
UNPACKING THE DAMAGE OF WHAT
HAPPENS
WHEN THE SINGLE INGRES/EGRESS
POINT, OR AT LEAST THE PRIMARY
ONE, THAT HOLDS THAT VOLUME OF
TRAFFIC, WHEN TRAFFIC
IS DEFERRED AND REROUTED THROUGH
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND
NONARTERIALS THAT
WEREN'T SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED
FOR THAT KIND OF TRAFFIC LOAD.
SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, BRIDGES
ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY
OFFICE.
AND ALTHOUGH THEY DON'T
HAVE QUITE THE APPEAL AS THE
SONICS,
AGAIN, IN MY VIEW, THEY
ARE EQUALLY GLAMOROUS, SUPER
IMPORTANT.
WHEN THE 1st AVENUE
BRIDGE CLOSED FEBRUARY 18, WE
STARTED
RECEIVING CALLS, MY OFFICE
DID, AND EMAILS FROM MEMBERS OF
THE
COMMUNITY AND OTHERS WHO
RELY HEF LIE AVILY ON THAT
BRIDGE.
SO I KNOW OUR PARTNERS HAVE
BEEN HARD AT WORK DEVELOPING A
PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION
APPROACHAPPROACH
MAKE THIS RIGHT AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE, WHICH I REALLY
APPRECIATE. WORKING CLOSELY WITH
OUR PARTNERS AT S- DOT, WASH-
DOT
OWNED AND MANAGED ASSET
WITHIN SEATTLE THAT CONNECTS TO
OUR
CITY TRANSPORTATION NETWORK.
HENCE, THE S- DOT TIE- IN AS
WELL.
THAT'S WHY I REQUESTED THIS
PRESENTATION.
I'M EAGER TO HEAR WHAT YOU
HAVE
TO SHARE TODAY. SO PANELISTS,
PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND WHEN
YOU'RE
READ READY, BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR SAKA
AND FELLOW COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I AM BRIAN GILLSON, REGIONAL
ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE NORTHWEST
REGION. THANK YOU FOR TIN I HE
INVITATION TO
SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT
THE EMERGENCY REPAIR WORK ON THE
BRIDGE.
>> I'M BILL
PARK, REPRESENTING
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION.
>> OKAY, MY APOLOGIES.
>> NO APOLOGIES NEEDED.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SOME
INFORMATION ABOUT THE REPAIR
WORK.
I'M GOING TO START
THE PRESENTATION WITH THE
HISTORY ABOUT THE NORTH BOUND
SPAN.
WE'LL DISCUSS OUR EFFORTS
TO MAINTAIN AND PRESERVE THIS
BRIDGE OVER THE LAST 30
YEARS AND EXPLAIN BOTH THE
EMERGENCY WORK THAT WAS
COMPLETED
LAST MONTH AND THE BRIDGE DECK
REPAIRS WE WILL START LATER
THIS WEEK.
I'LL ALSO TALK
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE
COMMUNICATIONS
OUTREACH EFFORTS WE PLAN
AHEAD OF THIS UPCOMING REPAIR.
THE STATE ROUTE 509 AND
99 CORRIDOR CONNECT CITIES IN
THE
SOUTHERN KING COUNTY, THE
SEATTLE AND POINTS NORTH AS
A PRIMARY ALTERNATE TO
INTERSTATE
5.
IT'S A BUSY ROUTE, AND THE
FREIGHT CORRIDOR FOR VEHICLES
BOUND FOR THE PORT OF
SEATTLE AND BEYOND.
THIS IS A DOUBLE LEAF BRIDGE
THAT OPENS TO ALL MARITIME
TRAFFIC TO PASS ALONG THE RIVER
AND DOUBLE LEAF BRIDGE IS A
TERM MAYBE NOT ALL ARE FAMILIAR
WITH.
SIMPLY, THE BRIDGE IS --
THE MAIN SPAN IS BROKEN INTO TWO
LEAVES.
THOSE LEAVES ARE FOUNDED ON
THE SHORES WITH A HINGE, AND
THEY
CONNECT IN THE MIDDLE.
SO WHEN A BOAT NEEDS TO
PASS THROUGH THE SPAN, THE
BRIDGE -- THE LEAVES OPEN
TOWARDS
SHORE AND OPEN UP THAT MAIN
CHANNEL.
THE BRIDGE ALSO IS A BICYCLE AND
PEDESTRIAN LINK BETWEEN
GEORGETOWN AND THE OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS IS A HEAVILY
TRAVELED
BRIDGE, AND IT'S SHOWING ITS
AGE.
DESPITE CONSISTENT
MAINTENANCE OVER THE YEARS TO
KEEP IT
OPERATIONAL, WE LAST
REPLACED THIS BRIDGE DECK IN
1999,
WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THE
STEEL GRID PANELS WOULD LAST 20
TO 25
YEARS.
WE ARE NOW PAST
THAT EXPECTED LIFE SPAN FOR THE
DECK.
EMERGENCY WORK THIS
SPRING SHOULD ALLOW US TO
SAFELY OPERATE THE BRIDGE AT
FULL
CAPACITY UNTIL 2027, WHEN
WE WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE
BRIDGE DECK ON THE NORTH BOUND
BRIDGE.
WE WILL, OF COURSE, SHARE
DETAILS ON THAT PROJECT AS WE
A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE REPAIRS.
IN LATE FEBRUARY, WASH- DOT
BRIDGE INSPECTORS IDENTIFIED
FAILURES ON THE STEEL GRATES
ON THE NORTH BOUND BRIDGE.
WE CLOSED TWO LANES ACROSS
THE BRIDGE AND DEVELOPED A
THREE- PHASE REPAIR STRATEGY.
PHASE ONE REPAIRS WERE
COMPLETED DURING A FIVE- DAY
NORTH BOUND
BRIDGE CLOESHER SURE.
CREWS INSTALLED STEEL PLATES
ACROSS FIELD DECK SECTIONS
AND WELDED MORE THAN 100 CRACKED
GRID NUMBERS, ALLOWING ALL
LANES TO SAFELY REOPEN TO
TRAFFIC, ALBEIT
WITH A REDUCED SPEED LIMIT.
PHASE TWO REPAIRS ARE
SCHEDULED TO BEGIN LATER THIS
MONTH.
THIS PHASE, WE'LL REMOVE AND
REPLACE TEN DECK PANELS THAT
WERE TEMPORARILY REPAIRED IN
MARCH.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE,
WE'RE PLANNING FOR A FULL
REPLACEMENT OF THE BRIDGE DECK
THAT
WE EXPECT TO BEGIN AS SOON AS
NEXT
YEAR.
THIS HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE
STRUCTURAL FAILURES
WE IDENTIFIED IN FEBRUARY AND
THE TEMPORARY FIXES OUR CREWS
MADE DURING THE EMERGENCY
REPAIRS LAST MONTH.
EACH OF THE FRACTURED PANELS
THAT ARE NOW COVERED WITH
STEEL PLATE ALSO BE REPLACED AS
PART OF THE EMERGENCY
WORK STARTING LATER THIS MONTH.
TURNING TOWARD THESE
FAILURES, WE DO NOT HAVE A
DETAILED CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE
TO SHARE.
FACTORING IN THE PROCUREMENT
TIME FOR THE REPLACEMENT
PANELS AND NORMAL MOBILIZATION
TIME
FOR OUR CONTRACTOR, WE
EXPECT CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN AS
SOON
AS A MONTH AND LAST ABOUT A
MONTH.
WE ARE PLANNING ON
MULTIPLE NORTHBOUND LANE
CLOSURES
ACROSS THE BRIDGE AT LEAST A
WEEK BEFORE AND THE WEEK
FOLLOWING CONSTRUCTION TO SET
UP AND REMOVE SCAFFOLDING.
ONCE CONSTRUCTIONAL BEGINS,
WE EXPECT TO USE A COMBINATION
OF WEEKEND AND WEEKNIGHT
CLOSURES ON THE NORTH BOUND
BRIDGE
TO COMPLETE THE
WORK. OUR HOPE IS THAT THE PHASE
TWO
REPAIR CAN BE COMPLETED
OVER WEEKENDS IN LATE APRIL AND
MAY WITH WEEKNIGHT CLOSURES IN
BETWEEN.
THERE ARE MANY
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SCHEDULE
FOR THESE PHASE TWO REPAIRS,
END COLLUDING WORLD CUP
MATCHES STARTING IN MID JUNE.
WE AIM TO BEGIN
CONSTRUCTION AS SOON AS THE
BRIDGE PANELS
ARRIVE, TO ENSURE WE CAN
FINISH WELL BEFORE THE FIRST
MATCH, WHICH IS JUNE 15th.
WE NEED OUR HIGHWAY NETWORK
IN FULL CAPACITY ONCE THE WORLD
CUP ARRIVES, AS WE ARE GOING TO
BE ACCOMMODATING HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS
OF VISITORS TO THE SEATTLE AREA.
WE'RE PLANNING WEEKEND
AND OVERNIGHT CLOSURES
AFTER LISTENING TO THE CONCERNS
ABOUT TRAFFIC ALONG THE
DETOURED ROUTES IN PHASE ONE.
STRUCTURING THESE REPAIRS
OUTSIDE OF HEAVY HOURS
SHOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF
VEHICLES USING THE DETOUR ROUTE.
WEEKEND CLOSURES GIVE CREWS
MORE TIME DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS
AND REDUCES THE NUMBER OF
EXPECTED BRIDGE OPENINGS NEEDED
FOR MARITIME TRAFFIC, WHICH
HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY ON
WEEKDAYS.
I WANT TO
BE CLEAR WHERE WE ARE IN THE
PLANNING PROCESS.
WE HAVEN'T HIRED A CONTRACTOR
YET.
WE'RE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH A
COUPLE OF CONTRACTORS WORKING
TO DETERMINE WHO IS BEST
RESOURCED TO PERFORM THIS WORK
ONCE
WE SELECT CONTRACT, A
CONTRACTOR, WE WILL AWARD THE
CONTRACT.
AND THEN WE WILL GO INTO VERY
DELIBERATE SCENARIO
PLANNING WITH THE CONTRACTOR.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S
THREE DIFFERENT WAYS TO APPROVE
THIS THAT WE WANT TO WORK
THROUGH.
THERE'S DOING THE PANEL
REPLACEMENTS WITH OVERNIGHT
CLOSURES, DOING THE
REPLACEMENT WITH OUR TYPICAL
WEEKEND
CLOSURES, WE CALL THEM 55
WEEKEND. THEY START FRIDAY NIGHT
AFTER THE COMMUTE HOURS AND OPEN
BY
MONDAY MORNING COMMUTE.
WE ALSO WILL EXPLORE WITH
THE CONTRACTOR EXTENDED WEEKEND
CLOSURES.
SO STARTING THURSDAY NIGHT AND
GOING THROUGH MONDAY.
OUR GOAL IS TO IDENTIFY
A STRATEGY THAT REALLY BALANCES
THE SPEED OF CONSTRUCTION
WITH THE IMPACTS OF THE
COMMUNITY AND
COMMUTERS.
AGAIN, WE WANT TO GET THE
CONTRACTOR ON BOARD SO
THAT WE CAN TALK SPECIFICALLY
ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, THE RESOURCES THEY
HAVE AVAILABLE AND HOW THEY CAN
MOST EFFICIENTLY DELIVER THE
WORK
SO WE MINIMIZE
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CLOSURES.
NEXT SLIDE.
THIS MAP SHOWS THE DETOUR ROUTE
THAT WILL BE USED FOR THE
PHASE TWO REPAIRS STARTING LATER
THIS MONTH.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE SAME
DETOUR THAT WAS IN PLACE FOR
THE PHASE ONE REPAIRS IN MARCH.
THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS WE DON'T
PLAN TO DO THE CLOSURES DURING
THOSE BUSIEST WEEKDAYS
TUESDAY, WEDNESDAYS AND
THURSDAYS
SPECIFICALLY AND PERHAPS NOT
WEEKDAYS AT ALL.
THIS MAP IS SOMETHING
WE'LL SHARE DIRECTLY WITH OUR
MEDIA
PARTNERS, FIRST RESPONDERS,
FREIGHT COMMUNITY
AND NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS.
WE WILL ALSO POST WIDELY ON OUR
SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS TO
BUILD PUBLIC AWARENESS.
WHEN THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF
A MAJOR CLOSURE LIKE THIS ONE,
IT WILL FREQUENTLY RESPOND
BY TAKING ALTERNATE
ROUTES AND AVOID THE DETOURS.
COMMUNICATION IS ALWAYS A
CHALLENGE WITH EMERGENCY
WORK BECAUSE BY ITS NATURE,
IT'S NOT
SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE PLANNED
FOR.
PHASE TWO EMERGENCY BRIDGE
REPAIRS ARE SOMETHING OF AN
EXCEPTION IN THIS CASE, THOUGH.
WE ARE PLANNING AN
INTENSIVE CAMPAIGN TO INFORM
COMMUTERS,
FREIGHT HAULERS, PORT PARTNERS,
MARINERS, TRANSIT OPERATORS AND
THE SOUTH PARK RESIDENTS
ABOUT THIS EMERGENCY
CONSTRUCTION.
WE WILL FOCUS ON SHARING
WHAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WORK,
AND COMMUTE IN THIS AREA CAN
EXPECT
BEFORE, DURING,
AND AFTER CONSTRUCTION.
WE KNOW THIS TYPE OF WORK IS
DISRUPTIVE, PARTICULARLY
FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEARBY.
BUT THESE ARE NECESSARY REPAIRS
THAT HAVE RIPPLE
EFFECTS
THROUGHOUT OUR REGION HIGHWAY
NETWORK.
OUR GOAL FOR THIS PROJECT AND
ALL OF OUR PROJECTS IS TO
COMPLETE THIS WORK AS QUICKLY,
SAFELY, AND EFFICIENTLY AS
POSSIBLE, AND TO
KEEP COMMUNITIES AND PARTNERS
INFORMED AT EVERY STAGE OF THE
PROCESS. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
AGAIN, IN THIS CASE, EFFICIENCY
REALLY MEANS THAT BALANCE
BETWEEN
SPEED OF CONSTRUCTION AGAINST
AND
WITH THE IMPACTS TO THE
LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND COMMUTERS.
SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHOOSE
THE
MOST IMPACTFUL
APPROACH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO
CHOOSE THE FASTEST
APPROACH.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE
BALANCE THAT
STRIKES FAIRNESS AND EQUITY IN
THAT.
THERE ARE
JUST A FEW -- NEXT SLIDE.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE
WAYS WE KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED
FROM OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO
SMARTPHONE APPS TO EMAIL
NEWSLETTERS.
WE HOPE YOU ARE FAMILIAR
WITH AT LEAST SOME OF THESE
TOOLS,
BUT IF NOT, THIS
SLIDE SHOWS HOW YOU CAN ACCESS
EACH OF THEM.
AND FINALLY,
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MYSELF
AND OUR COMMUNICATION
LEADS, SUPPORTING THE PHASE
TWO EMERGENCY REPAIRS ON THE
FIRST
AVENUE SOUTH BRIDGE.
FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT ANY
TIME, AND THANK YOU AGAIN, CHAIR
SAKA AND COUNCILMEMBERS, FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE
YOU
TODAY.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN
THE FLOOR OVER TO YOU FOR ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR.
NEILSON, FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION AND THE UPDATE ON
THE STATUS
OF THE
WORK AND THESE IMPORTANT
EFFORTS.
WE HAVE -- WE HAVE A HARD
STOP BY 1:30, BUT AT THIS
MOMENT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO
MY COLLEAGUES FOR ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE.
WE'LL TRY AGAIN WITH THE
VICE CHAIR, IF YOU HAVE ANY.
NONE, THANK YOU.
MOVING ON TO ANOTHER
UNAPOLOGETIC CHAMPION
AND SUPPORTER OF OUR BRIDGES
AND BRIDGE NETWORK,
COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA.
THANK YOU, MR. NEILSON, TO GET
THIS UPDATE.
AND ALSOALSO THANK TO S- DOT FOR
BEING HERE, AS WELL.
THIS IS -- YOU KNOW,
ANOTHER LESSON WHERE WE HAVE
MAINTENANCE IS SO IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE THE TIMELINES AND IT'S
NEVER A GOOD TIME PUSHING IT
DOWN, YOU KNOW, THE PANDEMIC
AND WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE,
THERE'S
DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE IN
PLAY HERE, BUT I SUPPORT THIS
EFFORT, AS PAINFUL AS IT MAY BE.
BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE DONE.
OBVIOUSLY, KIND OF LIKE THE SHIP
CANAL BRIDGE PROJECT, VERY
SIMILAR. YOU KNOW, IT HAS TO BE
DONE.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S PAINFUL.
I APPRECIATE CARVING OUT A
SPACE JUST LIKE THE SHIP CANAL
PROJECT OR FIFA WORLD CUP TIME
PERIOD,
BECAUSE THAT'S A VERY UNIQUE
CIRCUMSTANCE.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AND
I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO SO.
I WOULD NOTE, CHAIR TOO,
IT'S NOT JUST LOCAL
COMMUNITIES
ANYMORE. AND GIVEN 99 IS A WASH-
DOT
RESPONSIBILITY FROM DISTRICT
SEVEN, MY CONSTITUENTS JUMP ON
99 RIGHT THERE AT THE
AURORA BRIDGE AND JUMP THROUGH
THE
TUNNEL.
NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THEY'RE
AT THAT BRIDGE ON THEIR WAY TO
THE
AIRPORT OR ON THEIR WAY TO
A SOCCER GAME OR, YOU KNOW,
ALL THESE
DIFFERENT SPORTS THAT WE HAVE
TALKED ABOUT, CHAIR.
AND SO THE COMMUNITY A LOT
OF TIMES IS MUCH BROADER THAN
ONE
THING.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
THAT'S BASICALLY A
CONSEQUENCE OF THE TUNNEL, WHICH
HAS BEEN
FANTASTIC, BUT IT CHANGED
PATTERNS, WHICH IS ONE OF
THE REASONS WHY WHAT WE'RE
DOING WITH OUR DISTRICT FUNDS,
WE'RE MAKING THESE
ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE TRAVEL
PATTERNS CHANGE.
THE TUNNEL HAS BEEN SO
GREAT, THAT REALLY FACILITATES
THIS
MOVEMENT. SO I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT
THAT IN TERMS OF THE
IMPACT, RECOGNIZING IT'S MORE
SO FOR
THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY. BUT THIS IS A BROADER
IMPACT, AND I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT.
SO NO QUESTIONS.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR THE
COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM
COLLEAGUES?
HEARING AND SEEING NONE,
I'LL JUST CLOSE OUT BY BY
SAYING
MY GRATITUDE AND SINCERE
APPRECIATION FOR YOU, AGAIN, MR.
NEILSON, FOR BEING HERE TODAY,
SHARING THIS VERY IMPORTANT
UPDATE.
AND I ALSO APPRECIATE
THE COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING AND
IMPLEMENTING A THOUGHTFUL,
DELIBERATIVE,
METHODICAL APPROACH TO DO THIS
WORK RIGHT.
ALSO DOING IT AND
ALSO APPRECIATE HEARING WASH-
DOT'S
COMMITMENT TO DO IT
QUICKLY, SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY.
AND I HEARD EQUITY MENTIONED
AND SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT AS
AN IMPORTANT FACTOR.
SO TO THE EXTENT WHICH MAKES
A LOT OF SENSE IN OUR OWN S-
DOT,
UNDER OUR PLAN WE APPROVED A
COUPLE YEARS AGO, EQUITY IS
A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR THAT
GUIDES OUR WORK AT ALL TIMES.
SO EQUITY IS A FACTOR, YOU
KNOW, IN YOUR ANALYSIS, I WOULD
JUST
REMIND THAT THERE ARE
SCANT BETTER NEIGHBORHOODS MORE
DESERVING CANDIDATES FROM A
NEIGHBORHOOD PERSPECTIVE ACROSS
THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAN
THE COMMUNITY WHERE
THIS RUNS THROUGH AND
SERVES EVERY DAY, AND PEOPLE ARE
IMPACTED.
SO I KNOW -- I'M SURE WASH-
DOT IS SIMILAR TO OUR VERY OWN
S-
DOT IN ADOPTING A VERY
DATABASED APPROACH TO GUIDE
YOUR DECISION MAKING.
SO LET'S GO GET THIS --
WE'LL STAY TUNED.
HOPEFUL THAT
WE WILL BE ABLE TO STICK TO THAT
EARLY JUNE
2026 TENTATIVE PROJECT
COMPLETION.
IF IT HAPPENS TO SLIP MATERIALLY
LATER THAN THAT, WE'LL
PROBABLY INVITE YOU BACK LATER
THIS SUMMER TO CHECK
IN, JUST BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH AN
IMPORTANT
AND CONSEQUENCE SHALL
PROJECTPROJECT MY
DISTRICT.
FREIGHT AND CARGO MOBILITY
ACROSS OUR REGION AND CONNECTING
PEOPLE WITH OPPORTUNITIES.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND WORK AND
GET THING DONE.
HUGE SHOUTOUT TO OUR BRIDGES.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
WE HAVE REACHED THE END
OF TODAY'S MEETING.
OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON
APRIL 16, 2026 AT 9:30 A.M.
IS THERE ANY FINAL BUSINESS
TO COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
BEFORE WE
ADJOURN? HEARING AND SEEING NO
FURTHER
BUSINESS, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
IT
IS 11:26 A.M. THANK YOU.