[MUSIC]
-- RIGHT? COOL. ALL RIGHT. GOOD
MORNING. THE JULY 16th, 2026
MEETING OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT WILL COME TO
ORDER. IT IS 9:33 A.M.. I AM ROB
SAKA, CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
WILL THE COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. PRESENT
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE HERE.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
HOLLINGSWORTH. PRESENT.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. COUNCIL
MEMBER. LIN HERE. COUNCILMEMBER.
STRAUSS. HERE. COUNCILMEMBER.
FOSTER. HERE. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. PRESENT. CHAIR SAKA.
-- HERE.
-- CHAIR. THERE ARE EIGHT
MEMBERS PRESENT.
-- THANK YOU.
-- COUNCIL MEMBER.
-- LET'S SEE. LET THE RECORD
REFLECTS THAT. COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ IS EXCUSED UNTIL SHE
ARRIVES. SHE'S. SHE. ONLINE? I
DON'T SEE HER. SHE IS EXCUSED
UNTIL SHE ARRIVES. IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED HEARING AND SEEING NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. ALL RIGHT. GOOD
MORNING. COLLEAGUES. MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING HERE TODAY. EXCITING
DAY TODAY. BEFORE WE BEGIN
TODAY'S BUSINESS, I WANT TO
TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE
SOMETHING TRULY REMARKABLE. OVER
THE PAST MONTH, DURING THE HEART
OF THIS VERY COMMITTEE'S WORK,
SEATTLE WELCOMED THE WORLD
DURING THE FIFA WORLD CUP.
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCED
OUR CITY AND ONE THING STOOD OUT
AGAIN AND AGAIN. OUR
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM DELIVERED.
SOUND TRANSIT RECORDED THE
HIGHEST MONTHLY RIDERSHIP IN ITS
HISTORY. KING COUNTY METRO
CARRIED NEARLY 2 MILLION RIDERS
DURING SEATTLE'S MATCH DAYS. OUR
OWN SEATTLE STREETCAR REPORTED
RECORD RIDERSHIP DURING THIS
PERIOD, PARTICULARLY FOR THE
CRITICAL FIRST HILL LINE. IN
ALL, TRANSIT HELPED PEOPLE MOVE
SAFELY, EFFICIENTLY, AND
RELIABLY THROUGHOUT OUR CITY AND
THEIR WERE EVEN MORE EXCITING
WINS FOR THINGS LIKE SHARED
MICROMOBILITY, WHICH EMPOWER
THOSE CRITICAL FIRST MILE AND
LAST MILE CONNECTIONS WITH LIME
SCOOTERS, TALLYING RECORD
RIDERSHIP IN SEATTLE DURING
FIFA, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
MEDIA HAVE CONSISTENTLY PRAISED
SEATTLE NOT ONLY FOR OUR STADIUM
AND OUR FANS AND THE EXPERIENCE,
BUT FOR THE WAY PEOPLE COULD
ACTUALLY GET THEIR. AND
SEATTLE'S VIBRANT TRANSIT
SYSTEM EVEN OUR LEGENDARY
SEATTLE HOT DOGS EARNED
RECOGNITION AND KUDOS FROM THE
NEW YORK TIMES AS AMERICA'S BEST
DOG. EXTRA CREAM CHEESE AND
ONIONS FOR MINE, PLEASE. COOL
ACCOLADES, OF COURSE. BUT WHY
DOES ALL THAT EVEN MATTER IT
MATTERS BECAUSE IT REMINDS US
THAT INVESTMENTS IN
TRANSPORTATION ARE ULTIMATELY
INVESTMENTS IN PEOPLE WHEN
TRANSIT IS SAFE AND RELIABLE,
OPPORTUNITIES MOVE JOBS BECOME
MORE ACCESSIBLE. NEIGHBORHOODS
BECOME MORE CONNECTED, WORKING
FAMILIES SPEND LESS TIME IN
TRAFFIC AND MORE TIME TOGETHER
AND AS WE'VE HEARD FROM MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC EARLIER THIS WEEK
DURING OUR PUBLIC HEARING
OFTENTIMES TRANSIT IS SIMPLY THE
PEOPLE'S LIMOUSINE. IT CAN EVEN
HELP MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT LATE
FOR A DATE NOW, I SUPPOSE WE'RE
ALL INDIVIDUALLY RESPONSIBLE AND
ACCOUNTABLE FOR SETTING UP THOSE
DATES. BUT AS A CITY AND AS A
REGION, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY
FROM A TRANSIT PLANNING AND
POLICY PERSPECTIVE TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOUR TRANSIT, TO GET YOU TO
THE DATE IS SAFE AND RELIABLE.
THAT'S WHAT TODAY IS ABOUT. I
APPRECIATED THOSE COMMENTS FROM
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE
THEY REMINDED US THAT BEHIND
EVERY POLICY DISCUSSION ARE REAL
PEOPLE LIVING THEIR LIVES. THAT
BRINGS US TO TODAY'S MEETING.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS,
THIS COMMITTEE HAS HEARD FROM
THE EXECUTIVE, INCLUDING THE
TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD, RECEIVED
INDEPENDENT ANALYZES FROM OUR
OWN CENTRAL STAFF EXPERTS.
LISTEN TO HOURS UPON HOURS OF
PUBLIC TESTIMONY, RECEIVED
THOUSANDS OF WRITTEN
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
AND CAREFULLY CONSIDERED NEARLY
30 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT IS EXACTLY
HOW GOOD LEGISLATION SHOULD BE
DEVELOPED, NOT BEHIND CLOSED
DOORS, NOT IN SMOKE FILLED ROOMS
SOMEWHERE. NOT THROUGH
ASSUMPTIONS, BUT THROUGH OPEN
DIALOG. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND
RESPECTFUL DISAGREEMENT. BUT
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THROUGH A
WILLINGNESS TO IMPROVE ONE
ANOTHER'S IDEAS. TODAY, WE TAKE
THE NEXT STEP IN OUR JOURNEY
TOGETHER. WE WILL FIRST CONSIDER
A CHAIR'S PROPOSED CONSENT
PACKAGE, DESIGNED TO INCORPORATE
AMENDMENTS THAT REFLECT BROAD
CONSENSUS ACROSS THE COMMITTEE.
WE WILL THEN DELIBERATE ON THE
REMAINING AMENDMENTS BEFORE
DECIDING WHAT PROPOSAL SHOULD
ULTIMATELY MOVE FORWARD TO THE
FULL COUNCIL ON TUESDAY. NOW,
BEFORE WE DO THAT, I WANT TO
THANK EACH OF MY COLLEAGUES
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
HOLLINGSWORTH. THANK YOU FOR
CHAMPIONING EQUITABLE TRANSIT
ACCESS AS PART OF THIS PROCESS
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. THANK YOU FOR
CHALLENGING US TO THINK
CREATIVELY ABOUT AFFORDABILITY
AND PROGRESSIVE REVENUE.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA THANK YOU
FOR STRENGTHENING OUR FOCUS ON
RELIABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. AUNTIE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEADFAST
LEADERSHIP ON ACCESSIBILITY.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR STRONG ADVOCACY FOR
REGIONAL TRANSIT AND YOUR
CONSTITUENTS. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. THANK YOU FOR
CHALLENGING US TO EXAMINE
AFFORDABILITY AND FISCAL
DISCIPLINE. COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
VICE CHAIR RINCK, THANK YOU FOR
PUSHING THIS COMMITTEE TO
CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE ROLE AND
PURPOSE OF THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE. LAST BUT NOT LEAST,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, THANK YOU
FOR ELEVATING ACCOUNTABILITY AND
LONG TERM PERFORMANCE AS PART OF
THIS PROCESS EACH OF YOU MADE
THIS PROPOSAL STRONGER.
REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE LAND
TODAY. TODAY'S VOTE IS NOT THE
END OF THIS CONVERSATION, NOR
SHOULD IT BE, BUT IT IS THE
PRODUCT OF A PUBLIC PROCESS THAT
HAS CHALLENGED OUR ASSUMPTIONS,
SHARPENED OUR THINKING, AND
STRENGTHENED THIS LEGISLATION.
IF SEATTLE'S TRANSIT SYSTEM
HELPS SHOW THE WORLD WHAT OUR
CITY IS CAPABLE OF. TODAY'S WORK
IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SHAPE
WHAT COMES NEXT. THAT SAID,
TODAY ISN'T SIMPLY ABOUT VOTING
ON AMENDMENTS OR OFFICIALLY
CLOSING THE WORK OF THIS
COMMITTEE. IT'S ABOUT EARNING
THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE THAT
THIS PROPOSAL IS STRONGER
BECAUSE OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE
HERE TOGETHER NOW LET US ROLL UP
OUR SLEEVES AND FINISH THE WORK
TOGETHER. ALL RIGHT. PER THE
AGENDA THAT WAS PUBLISHED ON
JULY 14th, ONLY WRITTEN PUBLIC
COMMENT IS BEING ACCEPTED AT
THIS MEETING. WE HAD A REMOTE
AND IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT AT
OUR FIRST THREE SELECT COMMITTEE
MEETINGS. WE ALSO HAD A PUBLIC
HEARING ON JULY 13th, WHICH
INCLUDED AN EVENING SESSION FOR
THOSE WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC COMMENT
DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS.
TODAY, WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS OUR
TIME TOGETHER ON DELIBERATION ON
THE NEARLY 30 AMENDMENTS SO WE
CAN ULTIMATELY APPROVE A PACKAGE
TO SUBMIT TO THE FULL COUNCIL
FOR CONSIDERATION. MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO
SUBMIT THEIR WRITTEN COMMENTS ON
THE SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE VIA
EMAIL, POSTAL MAIL OR DROPPING
THEM OFF HERE ON THE SECOND
FLOOR. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE
ALSO WELCOME TO CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS OFFICES DIRECTLY
TO EXPRESS THEIR VERBAL
FEEDBACK. ALL RIGHT. 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 ON COUNCIL BILL
121226. AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
A SALES AND USE TAX PROVIDING
FOR THE SUBMISSION TO QUALIFIED
ELECTORS OF THE CITY AT AN
ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER
3rd, 2026. A PROPOSITION TO
COLLECT A SALES AND USE TAX TO
FUND TRANSIT AND RELATED
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS IN
SEATTLE, AND RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.
-- THANK YOU. FIRST OFF, LET THE
RECORD REFLECT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ HAS JOINED
US. WELCOME. THANK YOU. NOW, LET
ME KIND OF FRAME THE
CONVERSATION AND KIND OF SET
FORTH NEXT STEPS HERE. THE
CONSENT AMENDMENT PACKAGE
CONSISTS OF ITEMS THAT WERE
INITIALLY PROPOSED AND DISCUSSED
AT THE JULY 6th MEETING THERE
ARE A FEW TWEAKS, INCLUDING
NON-SUBSTANTIVE AND SUBSTANTIVE
TWEAKS THAT WERE MADE TO A FEW
OF THE ITEMS IN THE PROPOSED
CONSENT PACKAGE. BUT AND WE'LL
TALK ABOUT THAT HERE
MOMENTARILY. BUT THE PLAN IS TO
VOTE ON ALL ITEMS AS A CONSENT
PACKAGE. CENTRAL STAFF WILL
PROVIDE US WITH A BRIEF OVERVIEW
OF ITEMS THAT HAVE EITHER BEEN
REVISED OR PRESENT. NEW IDEAS
SINCE THE JULY 6th MEETING.
AFTER CENTRAL STAFF'S OVERVIEW,
I WILL ASK MEMBERS IF THEY WOULD
LIKE TO REMOVE AN ITEM FROM THE
CONSENT PACKAGE. THIS REQUEST
DOES NOT NEED A SECOND OR ANY
REASON WHY THE REQUEST IS BEING
MADE. IF AN ITEM IS REMOVED, IT
WILL THEN BE CONSIDERED AFTER
THE CONSENT AMENDMENT PACKAGE
VOTE AND IN NUMERICAL ORDER
BEFORE VOTING ON THE CONSENT
AMENDMENT PACKAGE, MEMBERS WILL
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SPECIFICALLY HIGHLIGHT AND SPEAK
TO ITEMS WITHIN THE GROUP
CENTRAL STAFF, WOULD YOU PLEASE
BEGIN YOUR. INTRODUCE YOURSELVES
AND THEN BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATIONS. WELCOME.
-- GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS
AMANDA ALLEN WITH CENTRAL STAFF
AND CARMEN CENTRAL STAFF ALL
RIGHT.
THERE WE GO. THE CONSENT PACKAGE
IS COMPRISED OF 15 AMENDMENTS
PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED IN THIS
COMMITTEE AND MANY CASES, THOSE
AMENDMENTS NOW REFLECT ADDITIONS
OF ADDITIONAL CO-SPONSORS OR A
CO-SPONSOR. SOME COUNCILMEMBERS
HAVE ADDED THEIR CO-SPONSORSHIP
AFTER THE JULY 6th MEETING. TWO
OF THE AMENDMENTS, AMENDMENT TWO
AND FOUR, ARE HAVE A BIT MORE
SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES, RATHER THAN
JUST THE ADDITION OF
CO-SPONSORSHIP. SO AN AMENDMENT
TO IT NOW INCLUDES A MORE
EXPANSIVE REFERENCE TO ELECTRIC
TRANSIT, RATHER THAN JUST SOLELY
REFERENCING BUS TRANSIT,
ELECTRIC BUS TRANSIT. AND
AMENDMENT FOUR NO LONGER
INCLUDES A REQUIREMENT FOR
COUNCIL'S ANNUAL APPROVAL OF
TRANSIT SERVICE PURCHASES AND
RATHER REFLECTS MORE LANGUAGE
RELATED TO COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY.
-- THANK YOU. AND AS THE
AMENDMENT AUTHOR FOR BOTH OF
THOSE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE
REVISED, I'LL BRIEFLY SHARE THAT
WITH RESPECT TO AMENDMENT NUMBER
TWO, THE CHANGE THERE WAS A
DIRECT RESULT OF THESE OPEN
EXCHANGES THAT OCCUR HERE AT THE
DAIS IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC. SO
VICE CHAIR RINCK GREAT
SUGGESTION ON, YOU KNOW, ADDING
OR BROADENING THE SCOPE OF THAT
TO SPECIFICALLY REFLECT ELECTRIC
TRANSIT AS OPPOSED TO PURELY
JUST ELECTRIC BUSSES. AND, AND
SO WE ADDED THAT THAT TERM
ACCORDINGLY AND ALSO PRESERVED
THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCT OF, OF
BUSSES, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE
BELIEVE WE CAN DELIVER IN THE
DUWAMISH VALLEY TODAY AND OTHER
AREAS THAT MEET THAT OBJECTIVE
CRITERIA. SO THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR VICE
CHAIR RINCK FOR YOUR HELP,
QUESTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE
AMENDMENTS TWEAKS. VERY
SUBSTANTIVE ACTUALLY TO
AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR. LOOK,
THIS IS ALSO A DIRECT RESULT OF
ENGAGEMENT WITH THIS COUNCIL.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FEEDBACK.
YOU KNOW, I HEARD YOU LOUD AND
CLEAR ON ON THE MOST POTENTIALLY
CONCERNING PROVISIONS OF THAT
EARLIER. THE FIRST VERSION OF
THAT AMENDMENT THAT WOULD
PURPORT TO REQUIRE PARALLEL
COUNCIL REVIEW AND APPROVAL EACH
YEAR I THINK THAT I THINK THAT
IS WITHIN OUR AUTHORITY TO DO.
BUT I BUT I HEAR THE CONCERNS
AND TO RESPOND TO THOSE CONCERNS
GOOD NEWS IS STRIP THAT OUT. DID
AWAY WITH THAT REQUIREMENT. AND
INSTEAD INCLUDED A STATEMENT
THAT IS ESSENTIALLY A
RESTATEMENT OF COUNCIL'S
EXISTING PLENARY PLENARY
AUTHORITY OVER BUDGETARY
MATTERS. THAT'S IT. SO I THINK
I THINK IT'S A LOT BETTER AS A
RESULT. SO I WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE, MY COLLEAGUES, MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC FOR YOUR
ENGAGEMENT IN THIS PROCESS. ALL
RIGHT. AT THIS MOMENT, WE'LL
WE'LL ASK, ARE THERE ANY ITEMS
A COUNCILMEMBER WOULD LIKE TO
BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT OR AN ITEM A
COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO
REMOVE FROM THE PROPOSED CONSENT
AGENDA PACKAGE, STARTING FIRST
WITH COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
-- I SAW SOME HAND CHANGE IN
THERE ON THE ZOOM. THANK YOU SO
MUCH, CHAIR, AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR WORK ON
PUTTING THIS PACKAGE TOGETHER. I
KNOW IT HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS
LIFT AND REALLY LOOKING FORWARD
TO THE REMAINDER OF THE
DISCUSSION TODAY. I WOULD LIKE
TO REMOVE FROM THE CONSENT
PACKAGE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE, AS
WELL AS AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR.
-- LET THE RECORD REFLECT
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE. AMENDMENT
NUMBER FOUR WERE WITHDRAWN. WE
WILL CONSIDER THOSE SEPARATELY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. LET'S SEE
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. IS THIS
A TIME WHERE I CAN JUST. YOU
SAID WE CAN JUST OPEN THE FLOOR
AND JUST SPEAK BRIEFLY TO OUR
AMENDMENT. THAT'S IN THE
CHAIR'S PACKAGE.
-- ABSOLUTELY, YES. THANK YOU.
IT'S YOUR TIME TO REQUEST
WITHDRAWAL OF ANY SPECIFIC
AMENDMENT INCLUDED IN THE
BROADER CONSENT PACKAGE, OR
SPEAK MORE BROADLY TO ANY ANY
ITEM THAT IS IN THERE. SO YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED TO.
-- DO. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO
THANK YOU, CHAIR, FOR LISTENING.
AND OBVIOUSLY YOU DO DO THIS TO
PUBLIC COMMENT AND TO YOUR
COLLEAGUES AND MAKING THE
CHANGES THAT YOU DID THAT MADE A
BIG DIFFERENCE. AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. THAT IS
EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP, AND I
APPRECIATE THAT. SO ONLY WHAT I
WANT TO SHARE, AND I MAY ADD,
ADD SOME MORE LATER. IF I SPEAK
IN OPPOSITION TO ANY AMENDMENT,
IS I WANT TO THANK NOT ONLY THE
CHAIR, BUT ALL MY COLLEAGUES,
AND ALSO TO THANK THE COALITIONS
WHO SUPPORTED AMENDMENT NUMBER
20. AGAIN, I SPOKE TO MR. NELSON
THIS MORNING, CO-CHAIR OF THE
DISABILITY COALITION, AND HE
ATTENDED PUBLIC COMMENT MANY
TIMES AND EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR
OUR AMENDMENT, WHICH IS
AMENDMENT NUMBER 20. TWO. AND
I'M TRYING TO GET THESE THANK
YOUS OUT THERE NOW BECAUSE I
KNOW THEY'RE LISTENING. I WANT
TO THANK THE PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY
BOARD, WHO SUBMITTED A LETTER,
WHO SUBMITTED A LETTER OF
SUPPORT IN JUNE STATING THAT
100% OF TRANSIT RIDERS ARE
PEDESTRIANS, BUSSES AND LIGHT
RAIL DO NOT EXIST IN ISOLATION.
EVERY TRIP BEGINS AND ENDS WITH
WALKING. THE FUNDING IN THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL FOR CAPITAL
PROJECTS TO ACCESS TRANSIT
INFRASTRUCTURE IS A VERY
IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO THE
OVERALL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
FOR THE FRAMEWORK OF THE CITY.
ALSO, I WANT TO THANK THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE BECAUSE WE AS
YOU KNOW, MR. CHAIR, WE STARTED
WITH THE MAYOR'S ORIGINAL
PACKAGE HAVING A MUCH LOWER
AMOUNT THAN $5 MILLION, AND WE
RAISED IT TO FIVE. OBVIOUSLY, WE
WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE MORE,
BUT WE ARE TRYING TO STAY WITHIN
THE FRAMEWORK AND THE INTENT OF
THE SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE. I
ALSO WANT TO THANK S DOT'S OWN
TRANSIT EQUITY WORKGROUP, WHICH
SUBMITTED A LETTER ON THE 14th
SHARING COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE
ACCESSIBILITY LANGUAGE
REPRESENTING PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES IS VITAL AND ALIGNS
WITH OUR COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING
EQUITY FOR ALL UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES. AND ON A PERSONAL
NOTE, I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SALLY BAGSHAW, WHO
I WORKED WITH FOR EIGHT YEARS ON
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, AND
SHARING HER AND HER COMMENTS TO
ALL OF OUR TO THE WHOLE COUNCIL
TO THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH
THE DISABILITY COMMISSION AND
THE PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD TO
DEVELOP AN AMENDMENT THAT WILL
IMPROVE ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES LIKE YOU WITH M S
AND MY HUSBAND WITH MUSCULAR
DYSTROPHY. WE HAVE. WE HAVE
IMPROVED ACCESS VIA SIDEWALK
CURB CUTS, CROSSING SIGNALS,
PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING, OR SEATING
IN. IT'S VERY MUCH NEEDED UNTIL
WE ARE LIVING WITH A DISABILITY
OR LIVING WITH A PERSON WHO HAS
A DISABILITY. THESE NEEDS CANNOT
BE MISSED. THANK YOU FOR BEING
SO CONSCIENTIOUS AND DEDICATING
THESE NEEDS. THANK COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS AS WELL. I WOULD LIKE TO
SHARE ONE LAST NOTE. AND I
NORMALLY DON'T DO THIS, BUT I
WANT TO SHARE IT BECAUSE IT'S
IMPORTANT. BEFORE I END ON A
HARD FACT, WE RECEIVED MANY
LETTERS FROM PEOPLE FROM THE
DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND THE
SIGHTED COMMUNITY, AND ALSO
PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHILDREN WHO USE
STROLLERS, WHO USE PUBLIC
TRANSIT. HELLO COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS SAWYER AND I MYSELF A
SPINAL CORD INJURY AND I RELY ON
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. AMENDMENT
20 WILL ALLOW FOR INFRASTRUCTURE
WORK, WAYFINDING IMPROVEMENTS,
MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS, MORE
ACCESSIBLE SEATING ON THE BUS,
WHICH WILL LEAD TO AN INCREASE
IN TRANSIT RIDERS OVERALL, MORE
INCLUSION OF OUR ELDERS,
DISABLED POPULATION, MOTHERS AND
CHILDREN AND MOTHERS USING
STROLLERS, ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT
FOR ME IS CRUCIAL FOR MY DAILY
LIFE. I RELY ON TRANSIT TO
SAFELY GET ME TO WORK, TO TAKE
PART IN MY INTERESTS, SUCH AS
ADVOCACY, WORK, ATTENDING
SPORTING EVENTS AND ENJOYING
SEATTLE. I AM IN SUPPORT OF
AMENDMENT 20 SO THAT PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES WHO ARE ABLE TO
SAFELY ACCESS PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION WITHOUT THE FEAR
OF SAFETY CONCERNS AND THE
INCLUSION APPROACH IT WILL BRING
THAT INVITES PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES TO ALL THE AMAZING
THINGS SEATTLE HAS TO OFFER
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HERE IN
SEATTLE HAVE A RIGHT TO AN
ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT SYSTEM. SOME
MAY NOT NOTICE, AND IT IS NOT
ONLY BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO
ATTEND, BUT RATHER BECAUSE THE
PATH TO GET THERE THROUGH
TRANSPORTATION WOULD BE MORE OF
A HEADACHE, SO THEY'D RATHER NOT
GO. BUT HERE WE ARE, AND WE WANT
TO ENJOY SEATTLE IN A SAFE AND
ACCESSIBLE WAY, JUST AS ANYBODY
ELSE WANTS. AMENDMENT 20 IS A
STEP TOWARDS ACCESSIBLE
TRANSPORTATION FOR ALL. AND THE
LAST NOTE I WANT TO SHARE IS YOU
ALL KNOW HOW I LOVE TO START
WITH FACTS. BEFORE I GET INTO
FEELINGS, THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE AS IT STANDS NOW, IF
INDEED IT STAYS AT TEN YEARS,
HAS A TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF 1.4
BILLION OVER ITS FULL TERM, AND
THE TOTAL PERCENTAGE OF THIS
MEASURE THAT IS DEDICATED TO
TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE,
ACCESSIBILITY AND SAFETY, NOT
JUST SIDEWALKS, IS LESS THAN 4%.
AND I DON'T THINK ASKING FOR
LESS THAN 4% OUT OF 1.4 BILLION
IS A BIG ASK. AND I DON'T WANT
THIS AMENDMENT TO SEEM LIKE
WE'RE PITTING PEDESTRIANS
AGAINST TRANSIT RIDERS AGAINST
SOUND TRANSIT. BUT I AM GOING TO
SHARE THIS. THERE IS A PART OF
THIS CITY THAT FINDS PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES TO BE INVISIBLE.
AND SOMETIMES FOR ALL OF OUR
SOMETIMES PERFORMATIVE, WE
DON'T ALWAYS CENTER AND UPLIFT
THOSE FOLKS. SO I DON'T THINK,
AND I HOPE I HAVE THE SUPPORT.
AND AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND AND
ANTICIPATING SOME AMENDMENTS
THAT MAY TAKE AWAY FROM THIS
THAT WE KEEP WITH THE INTENT IN
THE SPIRIT THAT THIS IS THE REAL
SEATTLE, THAT NOT EVERYBODY IS
PHYSICALLY ABLE TO GET TO A BUS
STOP TO HOP IN AN UBER, TO GET
ON LIGHT RAIL, OR HAS A CAR. AND
SO I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT. AND
THANK YOU AGAIN. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, YOU'VE BEEN REALLY GOOD TO
ME IN GOING OVER THIS. AND THANK
YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
YOU'VE BEEN REALLY GOOD ABOUT
TALKING AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
YOU INTRODUCED IT BECAUSE I
COULDN'T BE HERE FOR THAT AND
GAVE ME THE ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND PERCENTAGES, AND
THAT MEANT A LOT TO ME. SO THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, FOR
INDULGING ME.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. WELL SAID. AND AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER, I REALLY DO
APPRECIATE YOUR STEADFAST
LEADERSHIP AND AND BEING A
CHAMPION OF ALL ISSUES RELATED
TO ACCESSIBILITY, ESPECIALLY IN
THE CONTEXT OF THIS PROPOSED
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE. SO
THANK YOU AGAIN. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND I ECHO
YOUR COMMENT ABOUT COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. SHE. FOR THOSE THAT
DON'T KNOW, IS FEROCIOUS IN HER
ADVOCACY ON THE VARIOUS ISSUES
THAT ARE OUT THERE.
-- BECAUSE I'M OLD.
-- AND I'M RIGHT BEHIND YOU.
OKAY, CHAIR, I, I WANT TO TAKE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SUPPORT TO INCLUDE THOSE
THAT MY AMENDMENTS THAT ARE IN
THE CHAIR PACKAGE. BUT IT WAS
ALSO TOLD BY LEGAL THAT I NEED
TO SAY OUT LOUD HERE FROM THE
DAIS, THOSE AMENDMENTS THAT I
WOULD LIKE TO CO-SPONSOR. AND I
THINK THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME
TO DO IT. CENTRAL STAFF'S NOT
NODDING THEIR HEAD. SO WITH THAT
CHAIR, IF IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE
TO COSPONSOR YOUR AMENDMENT
NUMBER TWO, WORK IN MARITIME
ISSUES. I'VE LEARNED ABOUT THE
LOWER DUWAMISH AND THE
CHALLENGES IN THAT AREA AND THE
COMMUNITIES TO INCLUDE SOUTH
PARK AND THE LIKE. AND SO THIS
IS VERY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF
THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
THAT ARE THAT EXIST IN THAT
AREA, BOTH ON LAND AND AT SEA.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO CO-SPONSOR, IF
I MAY. COUNCILMEMBER RINK'S
ELIGIBILITY NIGHT SERVICE. THIS
IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I'VE HAD
CONVERSATIONS WITH LOCAL EIGHT
RECENTLY, WHICH IS A REMINDER TO
ME ABOUT THOSE THAT WORK IN
HOSPITALITY, WHETHER IT'S HOTEL
RESTAURANTS AND, AND OFTEN AT
NIGHT, AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT
THEM AND THEIR ABILITY TO GET
HOME SAFE. SO THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. IF I CAN
ALSO, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER'S
NUMBER SIX MID-TERM EVALUATION
PROGRAM. THIS SCREAMS GOOD
GOVERNANCE IN MY MIND.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, IF I ALSO
CAN. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. HER NUMBER 28,
WHICH EXPANDS ACCESS TO TAP. I
BELIEVE I CAN DO THAT ON ALL OF
THESE. I BELIEVE I CAN STILL DO
IT. THERE'S THERE'S CURRENTLY.
AND THEN ALSO BACK TO
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AND WHAT
SHE WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT
AMENDMENT NUMBER 20, IF I CAN BE
A CO-SPONSOR ON THAT, THAT'S THE
ONE. I'M NOT SO SURE IF I CAN.
BUT IF.
-- YOU CAN, WE'RE IN PUBLIC.
-- OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN AND
THEN LASTLY, AND THIS IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO ME AS WELL IS, YOU
KNOW, BRINGING IN THE TRADE
SCHOOLS, THIS IS SOMETHING IN
TERMS OF MY UPBRINGING AND, YOU
KNOW, APPROACH. AND THIS TIES
INTO SO MANY THINGS AND WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO DO. SO
AMENDMENT NUMBER 27 FROM
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, IF I CAN
YES. SO CHAIR, THAT'S IT. I'M
HOPING THAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL
ACCEPT THESE SPONSORSHIPS AND
CENTRAL STAFF HAS IT. AND I'M
LEGAL ACCORDING TO LEGAL. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU. IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION FROM THE PRIME
SPONSORS OF THOSE RESPECTIVE
AMENDMENTS, LET THE RECORD
REFLECT THAT COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE WILL CO-SPONSOR AMENDMENT
NUMBERS TWO, 16, SIX, 28, 20, 27
AND ANY OTHER THAT I MIGHT HAVE
MISSED. I THINK THAT'S IT. BUT
ALSO, YOU WERE ALREADY
CO-SPONSOR ON AT LEAST ONE OF
THOSE. MY PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
NUMBER TWO. BUT THANK YOU FOR
DOUBLING DOWN ON THAT. IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT. CLIMATE,
ELECTRIFICATION, CLIMATE
JUSTICE, CLIMATE RESILIENCY
AMENDMENT. SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. ALL RIGHT.
LET'S SEE. COUNCILMEMBER OR
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED.
-- CHAIR, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND
COLLEAGUES. I ALL I KNOW, I
ALWAYS SAY I DON'T LIKE WALK ON
AMENDMENTS OR CHANGING THINGS,
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO PULL
AMENDMENT 28 BECAUSE I AM GOING
TO BRING A VERBAL AMENDMENT TO
EXTEND THE DATE TO 2028, WHICH
GIVES METRO AND SDOT A YEAR TO
GIVE US MORE AND MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACCESS
PROGRAM. SO I KNOW I HAVE TO DO
THAT WHOLE THING, BUT I WOULD
LIKE TO PULL IT SO I CAN.
THAT'S MY INTENT ON THAT ONE.
-- CHAIR THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. JUST SO JUST SO I'M
CLEAR, WE'RE CLEAR HERE. DO YOU
DO YOU WANT TO PULL IT FROM THE
PROPOSED CONSENT PACKAGE AND
THEN VOTE ON IT SEPARATELY
TODAY? OR INSTEAD, DO YOU WANT
TO JUST WITHDRAW IT AND THEN
POTENTIALLY EITHER BRING IT BACK
WITH THE ADJUSTED DATE AT FULL
COUNCIL NEXT TUESDAY OR MAKE A
VERBAL AMENDMENT. SO PULL IT
FROM THE CONSENT PACKAGE, THEN
MAKE A VERBAL AMENDMENT TO
ADJUST THE DATE TODAY AND VOTE
ON IT TODAY. WHAT IS YOUR
PREFERENCE ON THAT ONE?
-- IDEALLY, I WOULD JUST HAVE
LOVED TO MAKE A VERBAL AMENDMENT
BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S A SMALL
TECHNICAL CHANGE WITH CHANGING
THE DATE.
-- JUST TO NOTE, THE RULES WOULD
NEED TO BE SUSPENDED FOR THAT.
IF THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED TO
ALLOW AN AMENDMENT AFTER THE
DEADLINE, THEN YOU CAN PROCEED
WITH THE AMENDMENT. AND THEN
ALSO THERE MAY BE SOME. WHEN WE
GET TO DEBATE, WE CAN DISCUSS
THE MERITS OF THE ACTUAL
AMENDMENT AND ANY FEEDBACK THAT
CENTRAL STAFF MAY HAVE.
-- AND HERE'S THE DEAL, CHAIR,
IF I MAY, I WANT TO MAKE IT
EASY, AS EASY AS POSSIBLE. SO IF
IT'S EASIER JUST TO PULL IT AND
I CAN BRING IT BACK, I'M MORE
THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT. WHATEVER
PLEASES YOU, CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO PULL
IT. DO AYE AND THEN BRING IT
BACK TO FULL COUNCIL ON TUESDAY.
AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE
THERE'S A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS
THAT INCLUDE THE SAME DATE AND
RAISE THE SAME UNDERLYING
ISSUES. AND SO I THINK WE NEED
TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS TODAY. AND
THEN I NEED TO, YOU KNOW,
OFFLINE INDIVIDUALLY WITH YOU
ALL WORKING WITH CENTRAL STAFF
TO, TO, TO FIGURE OUT THE, THE
BEST PATH. YOU KNOW, THERE'S,
THERE'S SOME ADMINISTRATIVE
OVERHEAD THAT WE'RE IMPOSING ON
THIS IN THE INTEREST OF
TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT AND
RESPONSIBLE SPENDING. BUT WE
ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU
KNOW, THE WHATEVER REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS THAT WE, WE IMPOSE
AS PART OF THIS IN EXCHANGE FOR
ALMOST $2 BILLION, POTENTIALLY
OVER TEN YEARS, THAT THAT WE'RE
ALSO SETTING THE DEPARTMENTS,
WHETHER IT'S SDOT AND METRO, UP
FOR SUCCESS TO, TO EFFECTIVELY
BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THOSE. SO
SO FOR THOSE REASONS, MY
PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO WITHDRAW
IT TODAY, BRING IT BACK, AND
THEN MAKE A POTENTIAL LIKE
BROADER AMENDMENT TO, TO, YOU
KNOW, FOR, FOR, TO ADDRESS THE
SAME ISSUE AND SOME OF THE OTHER
THINGS. BUT ARE YOU OKAY WITH
THAT.
-- IF I MAY, CHAIR. ABSOLUTELY.
MORE THAN HAPPY TO THANK YOU ALL
FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THE
CO-SPONSORS. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AND
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. I'LL BE
WORKING WITH YOU ALL. IT'S JUST
A SLIGHT. THANK YOU ALL.
-- THANK YOU. AND AND I HAD
THOSE SAME CONCERNS, RAISED THEM
IN OUR COMMITTEE. SO THIS THIS
IS US BEING RESPONSIVE ON THE
FLY. SO REALLY, REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU. SO LET THE
RECORD REFLECT. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HAS WITHDRAWN
AMENDMENT 28 FROM THE CONSENT
PACKAGE. AND WE WITHDRAWN FROM
CONSIDERATION TODAY AND
RESERVING THE RIGHT TO. AND WE
WILL BRING IT, BRING IT BACK.
-- FULL INTENTIONS. IT WILL COME
BACK. YES, ABSOLUTELY. YES. COME
BACK.
-- THANK YOU. AND I'LL WORK WITH
YOU TO ENSURE THAT HAPPENS TOO.
BY THE WAY. COOL. LET'S SEE ANY
OTHER FINAL COMMENTS. QUESTIONS?
OH, LOOKS LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. IS THAT A STALE HAND OR
NEW FRESH. GO AHEAD.
-- YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
CHAIR. I, I WANTED TO COME BACK
AND SPEAK TO MY AMENDMENT
THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CO-SPONSORING THIS AMENDMENT.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, APPRECIATE
YOUR SUPPORT AND COLLEAGUES. I
KNOW AFTER THE AMENDMENT
PACKAGE, WE'RE GOING TO
CONSIDER SOME OTHER. EXCUSE ME,
AFTER THE CHAIR'S PACKAGE,
WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER SOME
OTHER AMENDMENTS. SO I JUST
WANTED TO SPEAK TO THIS ONE
QUICKLY. YOU KNOW, FROM MY
VANTAGE POINT, I BELIEVE IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THIS
MEASURE IS A FULL TEN YEAR
MEASURE. FROM MY VANTAGE POINT,
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A REAL
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE INVESTING SUBSTANTIALLY AND
ADEQUATELY IN OUR TRANSIT
SERVICE SO THAT WE ARE PROVIDING
AFFORDABILITY FOR FOLKS. WE
HEARD SO MUCH THROUGH THIS, THIS
FANTASTIC PUBLIC, THE PUBLIC
MEETINGS FROM PUBLIC COMMENTERS
AROUND THE COST OF OWNING A CAR
VERSUS THE COST OF TAKING
TRANSIT. WE KNOW THAT OUR
INVESTMENTS, I KNOW THAT OUR
INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO
MAKE IN THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION MEASURE ARE GOING
TO BE SOMETHING THAT HELPS US TO
INCREASE OUR RIDERSHIP. I, I
DEEPLY BELIEVE THAT. I ALSO
DEEPLY BELIEVE, AS COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE JUST SAID, IN GOOD
GOVERNANCE. AND FROM MY VANTAGE
POINT, THIS AMENDMENT IS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO STRIKE A BALANCE
SO THAT AT THE SIX YEAR POINT,
WE CAN REVIEW THE SUCCESS OF
THESE INVESTMENTS. WE CAN LOOK
AT THE IMPACT OF THOSE ON
RIDERSHIP. AND WE CAN ALSO LOOK
AT OUR ABILITY TO HAVE OTHER
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE SOURCES.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
AND COUNCILMEMBER LIN, FOR YOUR
AMENDMENTS, AND MAKE A
DETERMINATION ON WHETHER WE ARE
ABLE TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT INTO
THAT SALES TAX RATE AT THAT
POINT IN TIME. SO I JUST WANTED
TO SPEAK TO THE INTENT BEHIND
THIS AMENDMENT FROM MY VANTAGE
POINT, THAT ALLOWS US TO DO
THESE INVESTMENTS, DO THE RIGHT
THING, GET US ON TRACK TO TACKLE
CLIMATE CHANGE, AND ALSO MANAGE
WITH GOOD GOVERNANCE. AND A
REVIEW OF THESE INVESTMENTS AT A
MIDWAY POINT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE
CHANGES AS NEEDED. SO THANK YOU
SO MUCH, CHAIR, I APPRECIATE
THAT.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER AND LOVE THIS AMENDMENT.
YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT ALL THE
AMENDMENTS IN THE PROPOSED
CONSENT PACKAGE TO VARYING
DEGREES. AND BUT, YOU KNOW, I
INTENTIONALLY, AS CHAIR OF NOT
COSPONSORING THEM JUST BECAUSE I
THINK THE INFERENCE IS
SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR THAT THEY'RE
INCLUDED IN MY PROPOSED PACKAGE.
BUT THIS ONE, YOU KNOW, I
STRONGLY SUPPORT. SO SO THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
VICE CHAIR RINCK, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR SAKA. AND
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR WORK IN PUTTING
TOGETHER THIS CHAIR'S PACKAGE.
AND THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, FOR
YOUR ENGAGEMENT WITH MY OFFICE
ON ON THESE AMENDMENTS, I'D LIKE
TO FIRST SPEAK TO MY AMENDMENTS.
16, 17 AND 27, WHICH ARE IN THIS
PACKAGE, THE FIRST OF THREE
AMENDMENTS, 16 I WILL NOTE THAT
KING COUNTY METRO HAS BEEN
RAMPING UP THEIR NIGHT SERVICE
AS WRITER. TRENDS CHANGE WITH
NEW NEEDS. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
SERVICE TO OFFER, AND I BELIEVE
IT'S WORTHY ENOUGH TO MAKE IT
EXPLICIT AND SIGNAL OUR SUPPORT
FOR IT. I KNOW IN MY EXPERIENCE,
I'VE MISSED MY BUS AND HAD TO
WAIT IN THE DARK FOR 30 MINUTES
AFTER GETTING OFF A SHIFT,
WAITING TABLES AROUND 1 A.M..
NOW, THE ALTERNATIVE TO WAITING
IN THE DARK AND FEELING UNSAFE.
WAITING IN THE DARK IS PAYING
$40. MAYBE FOR A RIDESHARE. AND
THERE ARE SO MANY WORKERS IN
NIGHTLIFE WHO I AM SURE WILL BE
MUCH HAPPIER PAYING $3 OR FOR
SOME $1 TO BE ABLE TO GET HOME
AND GET SOME REST. AND I'M VERY
GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT THIS
AMENDMENT HAS RECEIVED FROM THE
WASHINGTON HOSPITALITY
ASSOCIATION. GSBA AND THE
TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD, AS WELL
AS HUGE GRATITUDE TO THE
CO-SPONSORSHIP OF MANY ON THIS
DAIS. THANK YOU. SECONDLY,
AMENDMENT 17, I'VE NOTED THIS
BEFORE, BUT LAST LEGISLATIVE
SESSION, I MET WITH LEGISLATORS
IN AN EFFORT TO ALLOW LOCALITIES
LIKE SEATTLE TO HAVE ADDITIONAL
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE OPTIONS TO
MOVE US AWAY FROM SALES TAXES.
ONE SUGGESTION WAS TO EXPAND THE
FUNDING TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICTS. NOW, UNFORTUNATELY,
THAT EFFORT WAS OVERSHADOWED BY
THE MANY OTHER ISSUES THAT OUR
STATE IS WORKING ON. SO THIS
AMENDMENT FOCUSES OUR EFFORTS ON
WHAT WE CAN DO TO PROGRESSIVE
OUR TRANSPORTATION FUNDING, AND
INCLUDING COLLABORATING WITH
KING COUNTY TO POTENTIALLY
OFFSET OUR LOCAL SALES TAXES.
THIS AMENDMENT WAS DONE IN A
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH
COUNCILMEMBER LIN, WITH
AMENDMENTS 11 AND 17 WORKING
TOGETHER TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE. HUGE THANK
YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER LIN FOR
YOUR WORK ON THIS. AND THIRD
AMENDMENT 27, A PATH FOR
WORKING, WORKING FAMILIES TO
ACHIEVE A LIVABLE INCOME HAS
BEEN EVOLVING OVER THE YEARS,
AND THE PATH TO TRADES PROGRAM
THAT WE PUT FORWARD IN THE
FAMILIES, EDUCATION, PRESCHOOL
PROMISE LEVY IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT EFFORT AND REALLY
LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN ALSO
DIVERSIFY AND UNDERSTAND THAT
COLLEGE IS NOT THE ONLY OPTION
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. AND THERE ARE
INCREDIBLE CAREERS AVAILABLE IN
THE TRADES AND TRADE. SCHOOL
STUDENTS SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR
TRANSIT PASSES, JUST LIKE THOSE
WHO ARE ELIGIBLE IN THE SEATTLE
PROMISE PROGRAM. AND SO HUGE
GRATITUDE TO ALL WHO COSPONSORED
THIS AMENDMENT AS WELL. AND IF I
MAY, I'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY SPEAK
TO SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS IN
THIS PACKAGE BROUGHT FORWARD OF
MY COLLEAGUES THAT I'M REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT, NOTABLY STARTING
WITH YOU ON AMENDMENT TWO, CHAIR
SAKA SINCERELY THANKING YOU FOR
BEING RECEPTIVE TO THE PROPOSED
CHANGES TO JUST EXPAND AND
INCLUDE TROLLEY BUSSES IN THIS
AMENDMENT. REALLY GRATEFUL FOR
THAT INCLUSION AND EXCITED ABOUT
THIS AMENDMENT. SIX
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. I
APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTFUL
EFFORTS IN ENSURING THAT WE'RE
REALLY STRIKING THAT BALANCE AND
LOOKING AT AN OPPORTUNITY TO
EVALUATE AND RECALIBRATE DOWN
THE LINE TO ENSURE THE SERVICE
WE'RE FUNDING IS MEETING THE
NEEDS OF OUR RIDERS. AMENDMENT
11 COUNCILMEMBER LIN. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR COLLABORATION AND YOUR
OFFICE'S COLLABORATION AND
HAVING THIS SHARED FOCUS ON
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE OPTIONS TO
OFFSET OUR REGRESSIVE SALES
TAXES AND EXPAND TRANSIT SERVICE
AMENDMENT 20 FROM COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SEATTLE
DISABILITY COMMISSION AND SO
MANY OTHERS IN SHAPING THIS
AMENDMENT, AND I WANT TO EXPRESS
MY APPRECIATION IN THEIR
CONSULTATION EARLY AND
CONSISTENTLY AND THROUGHOUT THIS
PROCESS, AND VERY GRATEFUL FOR
YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP OF MATTERS
RELATED TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH
DISABILITIES. THANK YOU. AND I
KNOW THEY WERE PULLED, BUT I
STILL WANT TO VOICE MY
APPRECIATION FOR COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH ON THE
AMENDMENTS FOR ACCESSING WORK
CARDS. WE'LL TAKE IT UP LATER,
BUT AYE. I AM VERY EXCITED THAT
THOSE WILL BE RETURNING TO THIS
BODY TO TAKE UP FOR
CONSIDERATION. BUT WITH THAT,
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO VOTING
TO PASS THIS CONSENT PACKAGE
INTO THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE. THANK YOU CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR RINCK.
WELL SAID. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- THANK YOU, CHAIR. EXCUSE ME,
COLLEAGUES. FIRST, I WANT TO
THANK THE CHAIR FOR ALL THE WORK
THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM, YOUR
OFFICE HAS DONE IN PUTTING
TOGETHER THIS PACKAGE. THESE
THINGS ARE REQUIRE MANY, MANY,
MANY HOURS DELIBERATION AND
CONSULTATION WITH COLLEAGUES.
AND I REALLY ALWAYS APPRECIATE
YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS ON COMING TO
ALL OF US, TO CONSULT ON THE
THINGS THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN
THIS TRANSIT MEASURE. AND SO I
AND THEN ALSO MY TEAM HAS
CONSULTED WITH YOUR TEAM. AND SO
REALLY WANT TO UPLIFT THAT. AND
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK
THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO THIS. THEN
I WANT TO SAY, I WANT TO SPEAK
TO THE ONE MY ONE AMENDMENT
THAT'S IN THE PACKAGE. BUT
FIRST, I REALLY WANT TO UPLIFT
AND GIVE A HUGE NOTE OF
GRATITUDE TO OUR COLLEAGUE
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ FOR HER
AMENDMENT NUMBER 20 ON THE
ACCESSIBILITY PIECE. YOU KNOW,
WHEN WE WERE DOING THE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY, WE HAD A
LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT MANY
THE THE LACK OF STREETS,
SIDEWALKS ACROSS THE THE
DISTRICT AND MANY IN YOUR
DISTRICT. AND THAT IS OBVIOUSLY
AN ACCESSIBILITY ISSUE. AND I
KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN
GRAPPLING SINCE FOR YEARS NOW
AND SINCE I WORKED EVEN UPSTAIRS
IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON THE
CURB CUTS, WHICH IS ANOTHER HUGE
ACCESSIBILITY PIECE FOR OUR
CONSTITUENTS. AND SO I JUST WANT
TO REALLY ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AND
THANK YOU AND GIVE A BIG PLUS
ONE. THIS IS A HUGE AND VERY
IMPORTANT ISSUE ACROSS OUR CITY.
AND LIKE MANY THINGS, IT
DOESN'T ALWAYS GET THE ATTENTION
THAT IT DESERVES. AND YOU ARE
UPLIFTING IT IN THIS PROCESS TO
GIVE IT THE ATTENTION THAT IT
DESERVES. AND SO THIS WAS I
PROUDLY, YOU KNOW, ADDED MY
CO-SPONSORSHIP. I AM REALLY SO
THRILLED AND SO GRATEFUL THAT
YOU PUT THIS AMENDMENT IN AND
GAVE THIS FOCUS. SO I CANNOT
THANK YOU ENOUGH. AND I THINK WE
ALL ACROSS THIS CITY OWE A BIG
NOTE OF GRATITUDE FOR YOU FOR
PUTTING THIS IN HERE. AND ALSO
WANT TO THANK FOLKS THAT CAME
FROM THE COMMUNITY TO ALSO
SUPPORT THIS, TO REQUEST IT, TO
SUPPORT IT. IT'S HOW THE SYSTEM
SHOULD WORK. AND THESE THINGS
SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT ARE
NOT CALLED OUT ON THE FRONT END.
AS IS USUALLY CALLED OUT ON THE
BACK END. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU CALLING THIS OUT. AND
ESPECIALLY TO THE FOLKS WHO CAME
TO CHAMBERS TO CALL THIS OUT ON
THE FRONT, FRONT END, WE NEED
THIS. SO THANK YOU. AND THEN
LASTLY, AND VERY BRIEFLY, I JUST
WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR FOR
INCLUDING MY AMENDMENT ON THE
RECOVERY AND PERFORMANCE REPORT.
RELIABILITY IS SUCH A HUGE ISSUE
ON TIME PERFORMANCE. I KNOW MANY
FOLKS RELY ON THE BUSSES TO GET
TO SCHOOL, TO GET TO WORK.
THEY'RE OFTEN OVERCROWDED,
WHICH IS ANOTHER AMENDMENT THAT
I PUT IN AND PREVIEW CHAIR. I'LL
BE PULLING THAT OUT AND BRINGING
IT BACK TO FULL COUNCIL LATER,
AND I'LL EXPLAIN WHY. BUT IN
TERMS OF REALLY GETTING THIS
ANNUAL REPORT ON FAIR RECOVERY
HAS BEEN AN ISSUE DISCUSSED NOT
JUST IN OUR CITY, BUT ACROSS THE
COUNTRY FOR TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEMS, THE ABILITY TO RECOVER
FAIR HELPS US CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE THE SERVICE, PROVIDE THE
SERVICE ROBUSTLY, KEEP THINGS
GOING, BE ABLE TO MANAGE OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. AND SO THE
FAIR RECOVERY IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. AND THEN, AS I SAID
EARLIER, THIS PERFORMANCE PIECE
ON TIME. AND SO PEOPLE CAN GET
TO SCHOOL AND WORK ON TIME AND
AND AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES,
WHICH IS ANOTHER AMENDMENT I
BROUGHT THAT WE'RE GOING TO
TALK ABOUT LATER IN TERMS OF
NIGHT SERVICE TO, TO TEENS WHO
ARE DOING TEEN NIGHTS. SO
ANYWAY, I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT
LATER, BUT THANK YOU FOR
INCLUDING THIS HERE. THAT'S THE
INTENT OF THIS. AND I THINK IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS
REPORT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. SO WE
SEE HOW WELL WE'RE DOING AND
WE'RE SHOWING OUR WORK TO THE
PUBLIC. THANK YOU CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK
AND COMMENTS. THERE. LET'S SEE.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED.
-- I'LL BE VERY BRIEF. I
APOLOGIZE. I HAD MEANT TO BE A
CO-SPONSOR ON SOME OF THESE
AMENDMENTS IN THE CHAIR'S
PACKAGE, BUT I KNEW THAT THERE
WERE SOME CHANGES THAT WERE
BEING MADE. SO I WAS WAITING
UNTIL WE GOT ON THE FLOOR AND IN
FRONT OF GOD AND EVERYBODY. SO I
JUST WANTED TO IF I CAN JUST
RATTLE THOSE OFF. THANK YOU
CHAIR. I WANTED TO BE A
CO-SPONSOR ON AMENDMENT NUMBER
TWO WITH COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
AYE. WANTED TO BE A A CO-SPONSOR
ON AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR.
COUNCIL. ALSO AMENDMENT NUMBER
16, AMENDMENT NUMBER 17. AND
AMENDMENT NUMBER 26. AS WELL AS
27. I FEEL LIKE WE'RE PLAYING
BINGO HERE. DO WE GET THEM ALL?
SO TWO, FOUR. 16 1726 AND 27.
CORRECT. GOT THEM. THANK YOU
GUYS. I MEAN THANK YOU
EVERYBODY. THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ LET THE RECORD REFLECT.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WOULD LIKE
TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR FOR
AMENDMENT NUMBERS TWO, FOUR, 16,
17, 26 AND 27. ALL RIGHT.
EXCELLENT. ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
QUESTIONS BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE
PACKAGE? THE PROPOSED PACKAGE?
YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
-- SORRY, I DON'T WANT TO ADD
TO I WILL ADD TO THE CHORUS,
JUST REALLY THANKING YOU FOR
ADDING MY AMENDMENTS. BUT ALSO I
THINK THIS IS A GREAT GROUP OF
AMENDMENTS THAT YOU ADDED FOR
THE PACKAGE. AND SO YOU WERE
TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING
THAT EVERY YOU KNOW, THAT THERE
WAS A GENERAL SUPPORT FOR. SO
JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
WORK, YOUR WORK ON THAT, BECAUSE
I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO PUT
SOMETHING TOGETHER FOR EVERYONE.
SO THANK YOU. CHAIR. I JUST
WANTED TO SAY THOSE WORDS.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
APPRECIATE YOU, YOUR LEADERSHIP
AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND ALL
THIS. AND CONSENSUS IS WHAT THIS
IS ABOUT. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT. ALL RIGHT LET'S SEE HERE.
NOW LET'S VOTE ON THE THE
PROPOSED CONSENT PACKAGE AS
IT'S CURRENTLY CONSTRUCTED SO I
MOVED TO AMEND THE BILL. EXCUSE
ME, EXCUSE ME. PROCEDURALLY
COMPLEX. ALL RIGHT. AMENDMENT.
SO FOR CLARITY, AMENDMENT
NUMBERS ONE, FOUR AND 28 HAVE
BEEN REMOVED AND WILL BE
ADDRESSED SEPARATELY. WE KNOW
AMENDMENT 28 WILL NOT BE
CONSIDERED TODAY, BUT WILL BE
BROUGHT BACK TO FULL COUNCIL ON
TUESDAY. CORRECT. THEREFORE, I
MOVE TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
AMENDMENT PACKAGE EXCLUDING
AMENDMENTS 1428. IS THERE A
SECOND.
-- SECOND, SECOND?
-- IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
ADOPT THE CONSENT AMENDMENT
PACKAGE EXCLUDING AMENDMENT
NUMBERS ONE, FOUR AND 28. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED
CONSENT PACKAGE PACKAGE
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. AYE.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AYE.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. AYE.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. YES.
CHAIR SAKA.
-- AYE.
-- CHAIR. THERE WERE NINE EYES
AND ZERO NAYS.
-- ALL RIGHT. THE CONSENT
AMENDMENT PACKAGE EXCLUDING
AMENDMENT NUMBERS ONE, FOUR, AND
28 ARE HEREBY ADOPTED AND WILL
BE INCORPORATED INTO THE BILL.
LET'S SEE NOW. NOW WE TAKE UP,
I THINK THE THE TWO ITEMS THAT
WERE REMOVED. CORRECT? YEAH. ALL
RIGHT. SO I MOVE SO THAT'S
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. WE'RE
GOING TO TAKE UP THE TWO ITEMS
THAT WERE WELL YEAH TWO ITEMS
THAT WERE REMOVED. WE KNOW THAT
ONE OF THOSE ITEMS. THERE'S A
THIRD ITEM THAT WILL BE BROUGHT
BACK AT FULL. AND THEN WE WILL
PROCEED WITH THE AMENDMENTS
CONTAINED IN THAT GROUP B
PACKAGE INDIVIDUALLY. SO ANY
QUESTIONS COMMENTS ON THAT ON
THAT PROCESS. JUST SO WE'RE
CLEAR, COLLEAGUES HEARING NONE.
SEEING NONE. OKAY, COOL. AND BY
THE WAY, THAT'S THAT'S THUNDER
THAT WE'RE HEARING OUTSIDE AS A
AS A KID WHO GREW UP IN
MINNESOTA, I LOVE HEARING
THUNDER. I MISS THE, THE STORMS.
AND IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT
EVERY NOW AND AGAIN HERE IN THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST. ALL RIGHT
LET'S SEE. AYE. LET US FIRST
TAKE UP. SHOULD WE MOVE THE
FIRST AMENDMENT FIRST AND THEN.
OKAY, I MOVE TO AMEND THE BILL
AS PRESENTED AN AMENDMENT NUMBER
ONE, IS THERE A SECOND?
-- SECOND.
-- IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
AMENDMENT TO AMEND THE BILL AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT NUMBER
ONE, CENTRAL STAFF, COULD YOU
PLEASE PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF
THE AMENDMENT?
-- AMENDMENT ONE, VERSION ONE TO
COUNCIL BILL ONE, 21226
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ADD
RECITALS AND AMEND SECTIONS OF
THE BILL REGARDING ADDING
LANGUAGE TO STRESS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS IN KING COUNTY
METRO IN PROVIDING SAFE AND
SECURE TRANSIT SERVICES. IT ALSO
CREATES A NEW PERMISSIBLE USE OF
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE REVENUES
TO SUPPORT LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION
OF KING COUNTY REGIONAL TRANSIT
SAFETY TASK FORCE
RECOMMENDATIONS, AND IT ALSO
ADDS A CLAUSE REGARDING
ADDITIONAL PURCHASES AND
PROHIBITING SUPPLEMENTATION OF
RESOURCES ALREADY PROVIDED BY
KING COUNTY METRO
-- THANK YOU AMANDA. AND AS THE
AMENDMENT PRIME SPONSOR, I'LL I
WILL SHARE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE
THAT THIS AMENDMENT IS THE
DIRECT RESULT OF COMMUNITY
FEEDBACK, INCLUDING FROM METRO
OPERATORS AND THE TRANSIT
OPERATOR, UNION LEADERSHIP UNION
LEADERSHIP. AS CHAIR OF THIS
COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES
TRANSPORTATION POLICY IN OUR
CITY, TRANSIT SAFETY AND
SECURITY IS ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND
ALWAYS WILL BE ONE OF MY HIGHEST
PRIORITIES. JUST LAST MONTH, IN
A REPORT MANDATED BY A SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT, SLY THAT I
SPONSORED DURING THE 2025 CITY
BUDGET PROCESS. S DOT S DOT
PROVIDED DATA ON SECURITY AND
SAFETY INCIDENTS ON KING COUNTY
METRO FROM THE FIRST QUARTER OF
2023 THROUGH THE FIRST QUARTER
OF 2025. SO YOU ALL LIKE DATA? I
LOVE DATA TOO. HERE IT IS. DATA
IS VERY DISCOURAGING. HEADS UP,
HARASSMENT AND THREAT INCIDENTS
INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY DURING
THAT PERIOD, RISING FROM 397 IN
20 23 TO 560 4 IN 2024. THOSE
HARASSMENT AND THREAT INCIDENTS
REMAINED HIGH IN QUARTER ONE OF
2025, WITH 152 INCIDENTS, WHICH
WAS ON PACE FOR 608 TOTAL FOR
THE YEAR PASSENGER ASSAULTS
DISTURBANCES ALSO SHOWED A
SIGNIFICANT UPWARD TREND,
INCREASING FROM 313 AND 2023 TO
340 8 IN 2024. Q1 OF 2025 SHOWED
75 INCIDENTS OF PASSENGER
ASSAULTS AND DISTURBANCES,
CONSISTENT WITH PRIOR QUARTERLY
RANGES, TRANSIT WORKER ASSAULTS
HAVE ALSO RISEN SIGNIFICANTLY.
THERE WERE 38 INCIDENTS IN 2023
AND 51 IN 2024, WHICH IS AN
INCREASE OF OVER 34% YEAR OVER
YEAR. Q1 OF 2025 REPORTS 12
INCIDENTS OF TRANSIT WORKER
ASSAULTS, WHICH WAS ON PACE FOR
48 SUCH INCIDENTS BY THE END OF
THAT YEAR. ALL THIS MEANS THAT
IN THE LAST FIVE QUARTERS FOR
THIS REPORTING PERIOD FOR WHICH
DATA IS AVAILABLE, THERE WAS
ALMOST ONE ASSAULT ON A TRANSIT
WORKER EVERY WEEK. THAT IS
TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. NOW, AS WE
TALK ABOUT INCREASING TRANSIT
SERVICE, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND
THE IMPORTANCE OF RECRUITMENT
AND RETENTION OF TRANSIT WORKERS
CAN'T JUST WRITE A CHECK AND
EXPECT MORE BUSSES TO ROLL OUT
THE NEXT DAY I KNOW WE ALL CARE
ABOUT WORKERS, COLLEAGUES WE
HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
MAINTAINING HEALTHY AND
DESIRABLE WORKING CONDITIONS. IF
WE IGNORE THESE PROBLEMS, WE
WON'T BE ABLE TO COUNT ON
ENOUGH PEOPLE COMING FORWARD.
IT'S DIFFICULT BUT HIGHLY
IMPACTFUL JOB TO SERVE AS
TRANSIT WORKERS. NOR WILL WE BE
ABLE TO ASSUME THAT WILL THAT
PEOPLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY CHOOSE
PUBLIC TRANSIT AS THE PREFERRED
OPTION AND CHOICE TO DRIVING.
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
IT'S A CHOICE. BUT DON'T TAKE
MY WORD FOR IT A LITTLE MORE
DATA ON JULY 2nd, A METRO BUS
DRIVER DID NOT ALLOW A MAN TO
BOARD A BUS NEAR FOURTH AVENUE
SOUTH AND SOUTH JACKSON STREET
IN THE CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT BECAUSE HE RECOGNIZED
THE MAN FROM A PREVIOUS INCIDENT
AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT
THAT THE MAN WAS CARRYING A
MACHETE, MACHETE THIS A BANANA
REPUBLIC THE MAN THEN ALLEGEDLY
USED THE MACHETE TO DAMAGE THE
BUS WINDOW AND WINDSHIELD. HOW
HORRIFYING THAT MUST HAVE BEEN
FOR THAT DRIVER AND ALL THOSE
PASSENGERS ON BOARD. COMMON
CARRIER. THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS
HURT THAT DAY, AT LEAST WITH
RESPECT TO THAT INCIDENT. AND
COLLEAGUES. FRIENDLY REMINDER,
QUITE LITERALLY ON THE EVE THE
DAY THAT I ORIGINALLY PRESENTED
THIS AMENDMENT TO YOU ALL AND TO
THE PUBLIC, NIGHT BEFORE THE
NIGHT OF JULY 5th, A 39 YEAR OLD
MAN SUFFERED THREE GUNSHOT
WOUNDS WHILE SITTING IN THE BACK
OF A METRO BUS. ACCORDING TO
WITNESSES, THE INCIDENT BEGAN
WHEN THE SUSPECT ACCUSED SOMEONE
ON THE BUS OF STEALING HIS
PROPERTY. THE SUSPECT THEN
EXITED THE BUS IN THE 500 BLOCK
OF SOUTH LANDER STREET, MY
DISTRICT, BY THE WAY AND THEN
PROCEEDED TO FIRE MULTIPLE
ROUNDS AT THE BACK OF THE BUS.
ULTIMATELY STRIKING THE VICTIM.
THE VICTIM WAS TRANSPORTED TO
HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER IN
CRITICAL CONDITION. AS OF TODAY,
AN UPDATE TO HIS CONDITION HAS
NOT YET BEEN MADE PUBLIC.
COLLEAGUES, THIS AMENDMENT IS
INTENTIONALLY SERIALIZED AS
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE FOR A
REASON THESE SAFETY ISSUES
AMOUNT TO AN IMMINENT THREAT TO
TRANSIT RIDERS AND OPERATORS.
RIGHT NOW, WE SHOULD NOT EVEN BE
SURPRISED THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE,
BECAUSE WE KNOW IN 2025, THE
KING COUNTY COUNCIL ADOPTED A
MOTION ESTABLISHING THE KING
COUNTY REGIONAL TRANSIT SAFETY
TASK FORCE. THIS WAS IN DIRECT
RESPONSE TO 33 REPORTED ASSAULTS
ON OPERATORS IN 2023.
CONTAMINATION FROM DRUG USE
ABOARD VEHICLES, FENTANYL
BROADER SAFETY CONCERNS SHAPED
BY HOMELESSNESS, BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CHALLENGES AND FRAGMENTED
JURISDICTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES,
AS WELL AS THE TRAGIC, HIGH
PROFILE MURDER IN DECEMBER 2024
OF METRO OPERATOR SEAN YIM. THE
TASK FORCE CONSISTED OF ATU
LOCAL 587 OPERATORS, AGENCY
LEADERSHIP, LAW ENFORCEMENT,
MUNICIPALITIES, BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH PROVIDERS, CARE
RESPONDERS, RIDERS AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZERS. OPERATORS SHARED
FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE OF RISK AND
RIDERS DESCRIBE CONDITIONS AND
MADE THAT MADE THEM FEEL UNSAFE.
THEY WERE, IN FACT UNSAFE.
AGENCY LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTED
EXPERTISE TO TRANSLATE THE
EXPRESS CONCERNS INTO PRACTICAL
SOLUTIONS AND AS A DIRECT
RESULT, THE TASK FORCE PUBLISHED
AN INITIAL RESOURCE THAT I
HIGHLY RECOMMEND EACH OF MY
COLLEAGUES READ. THIS AMENDMENT
PLEDGES THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S
SUPPORT FOR LOCAL CITY OF
SEATTLE IMPLEMENTATION. LOCAL
CITY OF SEATTLE. IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS LISTED IN
THIS DOCUMENT, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO HIRING ADDITIONAL
PERSONNEL SUCH AS BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH SPECIALISTS, METRO METRO
TRANSIT POLICE OFFICERS, TRANSIT
SECURITY OFFICERS, METRO
AMBASSADORS CONTRACTED SECURITY
OFFICERS, FARE ENFORCEMENT AND
THE LIKE. ALTHOUGH THE TASK
FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS DO NOT
CONTAIN. WELL, I'LL JUST STOP
THERE THIS IS A COMMON SENSE
AMENDMENT. I'M PROUD OF THE
WORK OF COMMUNITY WORKING SO
CLOSELY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MY
OFFICE TO DEVELOP THIS IN TERMS
OF SOME OF THE SAUSAGE MAKING,
THE. WE LEARNED FROM THE TASK
FORCE THAT IMPROVING TRANSIT
SAFETY AND SECURITY IS A SHARED
RESPONSIBILITY, NOT JUST ONE
SOLELY BORNE BY AN INDIVIDUAL
TRANSIT AGENCY LIKE KING COUNTY
METRO AND SOUND TRANSIT. THAT'S
WHAT THE AMENDMENT SAYS, BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT THE TASK FORCE
SAID. ATU LOCAL 587 SHARED WITH
ME THAT THEY TAKE THE POSITION
THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR OF
INVESTMENT FOR TRANSIT AND
TRANSIT SERVICE, THERE SHOULD BE
A CERTAIN PORTION OR PERCENTAGE
OF THAT DOLLAR MINIMUM INVESTED
IN PARALLEL WITH TRANSIT SAFETY
AND SECURITY. WE. WE WEREN'T
ABLE TO ALIGN IN THE LIMITED
TIME ON WHAT THAT PRECISE
ALLOCATION SHOULD BE. AND
INSTEAD, THIS IS WHERE WE
LANDED. THIS AMENDMENT ALLOWS US
TO INVEST ABOVE AND BEYOND.
AGAIN, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT
BASELINE. WHAT METRO HAS ALREADY
PROVIDED AND WILL PROVIDE. WE
WANT THEM. THEY MADE A
SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN IMPROVING
TRANSIT SAFETY AND SECURITY, BUT
THERE'S PLENTY MORE WORK TO DO
AS SOME OF THE DATA AND EVIDENCE
I SHARED EARLIER MAKE CRYSTAL
CLEAR. AND WE AS A CITY ALSO
HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY. SO FOR
THOSE REASONS, COLLEAGUES, I ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS
AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. I WILL NOW
TURN IT OVER TO COLLEAGUES FOR
QUESTIONS. COMMENTS FOR FROM
YOUR PERSPECTIVE, STARTING FIRST
WITH COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER,
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR
SAKA. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE THE PASSION WITH
WHICH YOU SPEAK ABOUT TRANSIT
SAFETY AND SECURITY. AND, YOU
KNOW, I TALK OFTEN ABOUT THE
FACT I'M A MOM TO A 13 YEAR
OLD. AND WHAT'S REALLY COOL IS
THAT HE RIDES THE BUS NOW BY
HIMSELF. AND WHAT'S REALLY COOL
IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A FREE YOUTH
PASSES, HE RIDES HIS BUS BY
HIMSELF, AND I DON'T HAVE TO
PAY FOR IT. SO SHOUT OUT TO ALL
THE ORGANIZERS WHO MADE THAT
POSSIBLE. BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK
A LOT ABOUT SAFETY AND SECURITY
BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS HE RIDING
THE BUS, BUT HE'S RIDING THE BUS
AND HE'S DOING TRANSFERS BY
HIMSELF, WHICH MEANS HE'S
WAITING AT THE BUS STOP BY OUR
HOUSE, BUT HE'S ALSO WAITING AT
THE BUS STOP, WHEREVER HIS
TRANSFER IS. AND I, YOU KNOW,
I'M A MOM. I'M GUILTY OF
GETTING NERVOUS EVERY NOW AND
AGAIN AND SENDING A TEXT MESSAGE
AND GOING, DID YOU GET ON YOUR
TRANSFER? ARE YOU OKAY? IS
EVERYTHING OKAY AT THE BUS STOP?
TRANSIT SAFETY AND SECURITY IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ME. I
HAVE A DEAR FRIENDS WHO ARE BUS
DRIVERS WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
GET FINANCIAL STABILITY THROUGH
BECOMING BUS DRIVERS WHO HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO SORT OF SUPPORT
THEMSELVES AND STAYING IN OUR
CITY BECAUSE THEY ARE BUS
DRIVERS AND THEY ARE GOOD UNION
JOBS. AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO
ALL OF OUR BUS DRIVERS,
ESPECIALLY THE ONES I KNOW WHO
WARM MY DAY AND I WANT THEM ALL
TO BE SAFE. THE REASON THAT I
WANTED TO PULL THIS AMENDMENT
OUT OF THE PACKAGE, FULLY
KNOWING HOW CONTROVERSIAL IT
WOULD BE TO PULL AN AMENDMENT
ABOUT TRANSIT SAFETY AND
SECURITY OUT OF THE PACKAGE IS
ACTUALLY AROUND THAT, WHERE YOU
CLOSED CHAIR SAKA, WHICH IS YOUR
POINT AROUND THE INVESTMENTS IN
TRANSIT SAFETY AND SECURITY. AND
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WHEN
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, WE'RE
REALLY CLEAR THAT WE ARE ALREADY
PURCHASING TRANSIT SAFETY AND
SECURITY WITH EVERY DOLLAR OF
SERVICE THAT WE PURCHASE FROM
METRO. SO IN FACT, THE CURRENT
AS IS, IS THAT EVERY DOLLAR OF
SERVICE THAT WE PURCHASE FROM
METRO, 10% AROUND IT MIGHT BE
NINE POINT SOMETHING, SOMETHING.
SO I'LL TURN TO CENTRAL STAFF
HERE IN A SECOND, GOES TO
TRANSIT SAFETY AND SECURITY.
IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT WE HAVE
ABOUT $9 MILLION IN THE RECENT
MOVE, SEATTLE LEVY THAT'S
INTENDED TO GO TOWARDS TRANSIT
SAFETY AND SECURITY THAT WE
HAVEN'T YET PROGRAMED. SO WE
HAVE THOSE RESOURCES. AND AS WE
CONTINUE TO SCALE OUR
INVESTMENTS IN TRANSIT SERVICE,
IF WE ARE SPENDING MORE DOLLARS
ON TRANSIT SERVICE THAN WE ARE
SPENDING MORE DOLLARS ON TRANSIT
AND SAFETY AND SECURITY, AS WE
INCREASE THOSE, BECAUSE IT IS
BAKED INTO EVERY DOLLAR. AND
FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, I THINK
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. I KNOW
THAT WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, GOOD GOVERNANCE AND FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY. AND SO I THINK
WE HAVE TO SAY WE ARE PURCHASING
TRANSIT SAFETY AND SECURITY.
WHEN WE DO THOSE PURCHASES FROM
METRO. AND I JUST WANT THAT TO
BE A CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT
COMPONENT AS WE'RE CONSIDERING
THIS AMENDMENT. AND AS I READ
THIS AMENDMENT, THERE'S MANY
PARTS OF THE PARTICULARLY,
PARTICULARLY MANY PARTS OF THE
RECITALS THAT I JUST DEEPLY
AGREE WITH. RIGHT. OUR DUTY TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR DRIVERS ARE
SAFE, OUR DUTY TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE WHO
ARE RIDING THE BUS. I DEEPLY
AGREE WITH THAT. I COULDN'T
AGREE MORE. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR THAT WE
ARE MAKING THESE INVESTMENTS
WITH THIS LEVY, PARTICULARLY
THROUGH SIZING UP THIS LEVY,
INCREASING OUR INVESTMENTS IN
TRANSIT SERVICE. WE WILL BE
INCREASING OUR INVESTMENTS IN
SAFETY AND SECURITY. SO FOR THAT
REASON, I'LL BE VOTING NO ON
THIS AMENDMENT TODAY. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR SAKA. YOU
KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING TO LOOK
AT THIS ISSUE. AND I THINK, YOU
KNOW, LOOKING AT IT, YOU CAN'T
BE JUST SO FOCUSED JUST ON THE
THE TRANSIT PIECE. YOU HAVE TO
LOOK AT IT MORE BROADLY. AND I
HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TO THIS
ISSUE, PUBLIC SAFETY MORE
GENERALLY A LOT LATELY. FIRST
WITH LITTLE SAIGON AND THE
CHALLENGES THAT WE FACED THERE,
THE NORTH AURORA AND WHAT WE'RE
SEEING IN THAT LOCATION, AND
ALSO HIGHLIGHTING WHY WE ARE
ESSENTIALLY CHRONICALLY DEALING
WITH THESE PROBLEMS. AND IT'S
BECAUSE WE ARE A CITY OF TWO
MINDS. WE WANT TO TAKE ACTION,
BUT THEN WE DON'T FOR DIFFERENT
REASONS. I SEE THIS ACROSS THE
BOARD IN PUBLIC SAFETY, AND
IT'S THE REASON WHY I BRING IT
UP. AND IT'S BASICALLY A
FUNDAMENTAL REASON WHY WE ARE IN
A CHRONIC STATE OF CHALLENGE
FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY
PERSPECTIVE. IN LITTLE SAIGON,
DOWNTOWN THIRD PIKE AND PINE
THIRD AND BLANCHARD SECOND, AND
LENORA UP INTO THE C. I'D NOW
NORTH BEACON HILL, YOU KNOW,
ACROSS ALL SEVEN DISTRICTS AND
THE CHALLENGE UNDERLYING A LOT
OF THIS IS CAPACITY. WE'RE
SEEING IT RIGHT NOW. WE'RE
BACKSLIDING ON NORTH AURORA,
PARTLY BECAUSE THERE WAS A SURGE
AS RELATED TO THE WORLD CUP. BUT
THEN THE SURGE ENDS AND WE START
FALLING BACK. THE NEXT THING YOU
KNOW IT. HERE WE ARE. I SAID
THIS IN THE IN THE PRESS
CONFERENCE THAT WE HAD JUST
OUTSIDE CHAMBERS HERE NOT LONG
AGO, THAT I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH
CONFIDENCE, BECAUSE WE CANNOT
SUSTAIN THE EFFORT. WE HAVE TO
SUSTAIN THE LEADERSHIP. WE HAVE
TO HAVE THE FOLLOW UP AND THE
FOLLOW THROUGH. AND THAT TAKES
RESOURCES. SO THAT'S THE BROADER
PUBLIC SAFETY PIECE. BUT WHEN
YOU START NECKING IT DOWN TO THE
PIECES THAT YOU KNOW HOW THIS
PLAYS INTO PUBLIC TRANSIT. AND I
WANT TO THANK MR. WHITFIELD FROM
8587 FOR BEING HERE AND
REPRESENTING HIS BUS DRIVERS FOR
ALL THE REASONS THAT CHAIR SAKA
NOTED, THEY THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE
TO DEAL WITH THIS ON A DAY IN
AND DAY OUT BASIS. THE TRANSIT
RIDERS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL
WITH THIS IN A DAY IN AND DAY
OUT BASIS. BUT HERE WE ARE
AGAIN, CHRONIC. SO WE NEED TO
TAKE ACTION AND IT'S IMPORTANT
IN MY BOOK TO BUILD THE CAPACITY
TO WHERE THE CITY AND THE COUNTY
ARE WORKING TOGETHER, THAT WE'RE
BRINGING THE ASSETS FROM SEATTLE
PD, BUT ALSO KING COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE. AND THEN
ADDITIONALLY WITH KING COUNTY
METRO AND METRO SECURITY,
BECAUSE THAT WILL IN TURN HELP
OUR BROADER PUBLIC SAFETY.
PROFILE AND POSTURE. SO WE CAN
SAY, NO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN KIND
OF ENABLE THE CHRONIC SITUATION
THAT WE HAVE WITH PUBLIC SAFETY,
WHICH I'M ALREADY SEEING IN
DIFFERENT PLACES ALREADY, THAT
WE'RE TRYING TO SURGE ON. BUT
THIS AMENDMENT A PUTS RESOURCES
TO IT, AND B SENDS A MESSAGE
THAT WE ARE SERIOUS, THAT WE'RE
NOT GOING TO BE OF TWO MINDS.
AND SO FOR THOSE REASONS, CHAIR,
I'M GOING TO VOTE YES ON THIS
AMENDMENT. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR, CHAIR
MEMBERS. WHEN BUS DRIVER SEAN
YIM WAS KILLED IN MY DISTRICT,
ACTUALLY THE D FOR DRIVING A BUS
IN D FOR YOU AND I SAT TOGETHER
AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE AND IT
WAS IT WAS PROFOUND. AND WHAT
WAS MOST PROFOUND AND DEEPLY
TROUBLING TO ME AND BOTH OF US
AT THE TIME, BECAUSE WE WE
TALKED ABOUT THIS, WE DID SOME
FOLLOW UP WITH METRO ON THIS IS
THE BUS DRIVERS HAD BEEN ASKING
FOR THOSE SHIELDS. THE, THE, THE
PARTITIONS FOR A LONG TIME. AND,
YOU KNOW, METRO HAD COMMITTED TO
DOING SO. AND IT JUST HAD NOT
GOTTEN DONE. AND SO I THINK IF
IT HAD GOTTEN DONE, PERHAPS SEAN
YIM WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY. SO,
YOU KNOW, WHILE YOU KNOW, I
AGREE THAT METRO'S
RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERY DOLLAR
THAT WE GIVE THEM, THEY SHOULD
BE DOING THE PUBLIC SAFETY
PIECES. COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR
COMMENTS. AND I'M A MOM TOO. WE
HAVE THAT IN COMMON. AND I KNOW
YOU CARE. SO I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. BUT THE FACT
IS, IT DOESN'T EXACTLY WORK THAT
WAY. AND SO WE'VE HAD TO PUT
SUPPLEMENTS TO THE TO THE
INVESTMENT THAT WE MAKE TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE SAFETY ON THE
TRANSIT IS ACTUALLY THERE,
BECAUSE SEAN YIM IS SADLY ONE
EXAMPLE, BUT THERE ARE MANY, AS
CHAIR POINTED OUT, AND I HAVE
SEEN A LOT OF THINGS ON THE
BUSSES, AS WE PROBABLY ALL HAVE.
AND, YOU KNOW, OUR KIDS HAVE
SEEN A LOT OF THINGS ON THE
BUSSES. AND SO WHILE WE WOULD
WANT THE MONEY, OUR SERVICE
HOURS, YOU KNOW, OUR SERVICE
DOLLARS TO FUND SECURITY IN THIS
ROBUST MANNER, IT JUST DOESN'T
IT DOESN'T MEET AND RISE TO THE
LEVEL OF WHAT IS NEEDED. AND
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS NEEDED. SO
I DO APPRECIATE THE CHAIR
PUTTING IN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC
ADDITIONAL SAFETY DOLLARS TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR BUSSES ARE
SAFE IN SEATTLE FOR THE FOLKS
THAT ARE DRIVING THE BUSSES AND
FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE RIDING
THE BUSSES, IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT. AND I'VE SAID THIS
BEFORE, IF YOU DO NOT PROVIDE
SAFE TRANSIT SERVICE, FOLKS ARE
NOT GOING TO USE IT. SO WE'VE
BEEN GRAPPLING WITH THIS FOR A
WHILE, AND I THINK IT'S
WARRANTED TO DO. YES, I FULLY
EXPECT THAT METRO IS GOING TO
PROVIDE THAT SAFETY THAT WE PAY
FOR IN THOSE SERVICE HOURS. AND
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE HAD TO
SUPPLEMENT THAT SAFETY BECAUSE
WE'RE SEEING IT'S NOT YIELDING
THE RESULTS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE
IN TERMS OF SAFETY ON OUR
BUSSES. SO. I, YOU KNOW, AND I
WISH WE DIDN'T HAVE TO
SUPPLEMENT, BUT THIS IS WHERE WE
ARE AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUES THAT ARE BEFORE US. AND
FOR THOSE REASONS, I DO
APPRECIATE THAT YOU PUT THIS IN
HERE AND TRANSIT SAFETY IS VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. AND SO I
WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS
AMENDMENT. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA COUNCILMEMBER LIN, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED
-- THANK YOU CHAIR. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, FOR ALL
THE DISCUSSION ON THIS. I WILL
BE VOTING YES. YOU KNOW, TRANSIT
SAFETY AND SECURITY IS
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. AND TO
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER POINT, YOU
KNOW, WE I DO THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE
IT'S PART OF WHAT WE PAY FOR
WHEN WE, WHEN WE PAY FOR
SERVICE, IT SHOULD BE PART AND
PARCEL OF THAT SERVICE SECURITY
AND SAFETY. AND, YOU KNOW, BUT I
ALSO JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO, YOU
KNOW, WHEN I THINK I DON'T THINK
THERE'S ANYTHING NECESSARILY
UNIQUE ABOUT BUSSES IN TERMS OF
OUR SAFETY AND SECURITY, THAT
THEY ARE UNIQUELY UNSAFE. I
THINK IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, A
CONSEQUENCE OF OUR FAILURES TO
ADDRESS OUR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
IN THE CITY ARE SUBSTANCE USE
ISSUES IN OUR CITY. AND, YOU
KNOW, GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY.
WE TRAGICALLY LOST TWO RAINIER
BEACH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
EARLIER THIS YEAR AT A BUS STOP
IN RAINIER BEACH. AND YOU KNOW
THAT THAT SPEAKS TO OUR OUR
FAILURES TO ADDRESS, YOU KNOW,
GUN VIOLENCE, YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE
MORE BROADLY. AND SO AS I THINK
ABOUT SORT OF INVESTMENTS IN
TRANSIT SAFETY, I THINK JUST
INVESTMENTS IN SAFETY MORE
GENERALLY ACROSS OUR CITY, OUR
INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY,
VIOLENCE INTERVENTION WORK, OUR
INVESTMENTS IN ADDRESSING MENTAL
HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE WILL
PROVIDE THOSE BENEFITS TO OUR
COMMUNITY MORE GENERALLY AT
THOSE BUS STOPS, BUT ALSO ON
BUSSES AS WELL. AND SO I ALSO
THINK THAT AS WE TALK ABOUT
PUBLIC SAFETY, WE HAVE TO WORK
IN PARTNERSHIP. WE HAVE TO WORK
IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH KING
COUNTY METRO. AND SO I'M
SUPPORTING THIS IN PART BECAUSE
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE,
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS REGIONAL
TRANSIT SAFETY TASK FORCE IN,
YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS
IMPLEMENTING THOSE TASK FORCE
RECOMMENDATIONS. AND OBVIOUSLY,
IT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW,
THOSE WE HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS
TODAY AND THOSE MIGHT CHANGE.
THIS IS A TEN YEAR MEASURE. AND
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS DOESN'T
DICTATE ANY SPECIFIC SPENDING OR
THAT'S HOW I INTERPRET IT. IT
DOESN'T DICTATE ANY SPECIFIC
AMOUNT, BUT IT SAYS THAT WE ARE
GOING TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP OR
THAT'S HOW I INTERPRET IT, THAT
WE'RE GOING TO WORK CLOSELY
WITH THIS TASK FORCE AND DO OUR
BEST TO IMPLEMENT THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS. AND FOR THAT
REASON, I'M VOTING YES. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS AND
ROBUST DISCUSSION ON THIS VERY
IMPORTANT AMENDMENT ANY FINAL
COMMENTS FOR THE GOOD OF THE
ORDER ON THIS PROPOSAL? HEARING
AND SEEING NONE. I WILL JUST
SHARE, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE,
CLOSE THIS OUT. AS THE SPONSOR
OF THIS PRIME SPONSOR OF THIS
PROPOSAL THAT I REALLY DO
APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS
EXPRESSED AND RAISED BY
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. AND I
APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR YOUR
WILLINGNESS, LEADERSHIP AND
BRAVERY FOR FOR BEING ABLE TO
TEE UP THIS CONVERSATION IN SUCH
A MANNER AND I KNOW, I KNOW YOU,
I KNOW YOUR HEART, I KNOW YOU, I
KNOW YOU CARE ABOUT, AND I KNOW
YOUR INTENT. I KNOW YOU CARE
DEEPLY ABOUT TRANSIT SAFETY AND
SECURITY, BOTH FOR. FROM THE
OPERATORS PERSPECTIVE AND FROM
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. AND I
DON'T QUESTION THAT AT ALL.
WE'RE 100% ALIGNED ON THAT ON
THOSE GOALS. WE JUST HAPPEN TO
SEE SEE THIS PARTICULAR
AMENDMENT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY
FROM A PHILOSOPHY PERSPECTIVE,
PERSPECTIVE, WHICH HAPPENS. BUT
I WHAT I WILL JUST SAY ON THIS
AMENDMENT CONTAINS CONTAINS NON
SUPPLEMENTATION PROVISION, WHICH
WILL SERVE TO ENSURE THAT THE
FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR SAFETY AND
SECURITY SERVICES IN THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE WILL BE USED TO
PROVIDE SERVICES BEYOND WHAT IS
OTHERWISE BUDGETED FOR BASELINE
AS AS WAS ALLUDED TO, IT'S
ROUGHLY 9%. THE EXECUTIVE, WHEN
THEY REPORTED THAT FIRST
MEETING, IT'S ROUGHLY 9% OF OUR
BASELINE TRANSIT SERVICE. WHAT
WE PURCHASED FOR SERVICE HOURS
IS, IS APPROPRIATED ON THE BACK
END. APPROPRIATED ON THE BACK
END, SPECIFICALLY FOR TRANSIT
SAFETY AND SECURITY. I'M GLAD
THAT'S APPROPRIATED ON THE BACK
END. I'M TRYING TO APPROPRIATE
IT ON THE FRONT END TO AND GO
ABOVE AND BEYOND BASELINE,
BECAUSE THOSE I THINK THE DATA
THAT I SHARED EARLIER, THE
EVIDENCE THAT I SHARED EARLIER
AND TALK TO TALK TO YOUR
FRIENDLY DRIVER NEXT TIME YOU
SEE HIM. HE'LL TELL YOU.
IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE.
THERE'S PLENTY MORE WORK TO DO.
TRUE STORY. CAN'T MAKE THIS
STUFF. YOU CAN'T MAKE ANY OF
THIS UP. THE OTHER DAY, SITTING
IN THE BACK OF THE BUS AND
EVERYBODY KNOWS IF YOU KNOW, YOU
KNOW, I'M A REGULAR TRANSIT
RIDER. PROUD OF IT. SEE ME, SEE
ME THERE. AND JUST THE OTHER DAY
IN THE BACK OF THE BUS, GOT ON
GENTLEMAN PROBABLY SUFFERING
FROM A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CHALLENGE OF SOME SORT. CRISIS
SITUATION BARE CHEEKS ALL OUT,
EXPOSED, SPRAWLED OUT ALL OVER
THE BACK OF THE. THE BACK SEAT.
SMOKING ON SOME UNKNOWN
SUBSTANCE. I DON'T KNOW I
DON'T KNOW WHAT FENTANYL SMELLS
LIKE, BUT I KNOW AS SOON AS I
SAW WHAT HE WAS DOING, I GOT UP
AND MOVED A COUPLE SEATS
FORWARD. SO I DON'T HAVE TO
INGEST THAT STUFF. BEING ON THE
BUS, RIDING THE BUS DAILY SEEN
MANY INCIDENTS LIKE THAT
INCIDENTS THAT COULD. ARGUMENTS.
DISPUTES THAT COULD RAPIDLY
DEVOLVE INTO. ONE OF THE
SITUATIONS I DESCRIBED EARLIER
SEEING PEOPLE STRIPPING COPPER
WIRE IN THE BACK OF THE BUS,
OPENLY, UNASHAMED,
UNAPOLOGETICALLY LIKE THAT'S A
NORMAL BEHAVIOR. LOOK, I GOT A
HIGH TOLERANCE FOR THAT KIND OF
STUFF. I'M BUILT A LITTLE
DIFFERENTLY, BUT NOT EVERYONE
WHO HAS A CHOICE TO CHOOSE TO
RIDE TRANSIT AS A SIMILARLY
THICK SKIN. IF OUR GOAL IS
CLIMATE TO TO, TO ADDRESS THE
CLIMATE, YOU KNOW, REDUCE
TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND ALL THOSE
THINGS AND MORE. THIS IS A
CRITICAL COMPONENT. AND IT
AIN'T FLASHY, IT AIN'T FLASHY.
I GET IT. IT'S NOT SEXY FOR SOME
BUT IT IS A MISSION CRITICAL
THING WE CAN DO TO ACTUALLY
INVEST AND PUT SOME DOLLARS
BEHIND THOSE, THOSE EXCELLENT
RECITALS THAT WE WORKED ON WITH
THE WITH THE UNION AND PUT SOME
ACTUAL DOLLARS AND INVESTMENT
BEHIND OUR VALUE STATEMENTS THAT
WE ALL SHARE. SO ALSO CLOSE OUT
BY NOTING THE BECAUSE WAS NOTED
AS WELL, THE THERE WAS $9
MILLION FOR TRANSIT SAFETY IN
THE LEVY THAT WAS APPROVED BY
BOTH THIS COUNCIL AND THEN
ULTIMATELY VOTERS BEFORE. SEAN
YIM WAS MURDERED IN DECEMBER OF
2024. SO THAT REFLECTS AN
INVESTMENT BEFORE. AND THAT WAS
AN EYE OPENING WAKE UP CALL FOR
ALL OF US TO SNAP OUT OF IT, TO
GET IT TOGETHER, TO GET OUR ACT
TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY AS A
REGION, AS A, AS A CITY, AS
TRANSIT AGENCIES. AND BY THE
WAY, WE, WE, WE OWN TWO
DIFFERENT TRANSIT AGENCIES. AS A
REMINDER, FRIENDLY REMINDER
COLLEAGUES, SEATTLE MONORAIL AND
THE SEATTLE STREETCAR, ONE OF
WHICH THE EXECUTIVE HAS REPORTED
THAT THEY INTEND TO USE FUNDS TO
EXPAND SERVICE ON THE STREETCAR.
SO AGAIN.
-- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, I'D LIKE
TO CALL THE QUESTION
-- SECOND.
-- CALL.
-- TO CALL. THE QUESTION IS TO
END DEBATE. IF TWO THIRDS OF
MEMBERS AGREE, THEN THE COUNCIL
WILL THEN PROCEED WITH A VOTE.
-- ALL RIGHT.
-- LET'S. LET'S JUST LET'S
JUST LET'S DO THAT. LET'S DO
THAT. SO IT'S MOVED AND
SECONDED. ANY ANY FINAL
COMMENTS? QUESTIONS. OKAY.
HEARING NONE IS MOVED AND
SECONDED.
-- THE CURRENT QUESTION RIGHT
NOW IS WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD
END DEBATE. AND SO THE ROLL CALL
VOTE RIGHT NOW WOULD BE TO END
DEBATE. AND SO WE WOULD JUST
CALL THE ROLL. IF TWO THIRDS
AGREE, THEN WE WOULD.
-- THEN ADDRESS THE PENDING
MOTION TO. OKAY, COOL. CAN THE
COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE MOTION?
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE NO.
COUNCILMEMBER PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- I
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. I
COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
-- YES.
-- CHAIR SAKA
-- NO.
-- CHAIR. WE HAVE SIX VOTES FOR
AND THREE OPPOSED.
-- ALL RIGHT.
-- THANK YOU. THE MOTION IS
ADOPTED AND WILL NOW PROCEED TO
VOTE. ALL RIGHT ARE OKAY. WILL
THE. SO IT'S BEEN MOVED.
SECONDED DEBATE AND ENDED. SO
NOW WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE?
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. I
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. AYE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. RINCK.
-- NO.
-- CHAIR SAKA.
-- AYE.
-- CHAIR WE HAVE SEVEN VOTES FOR
AND TWO OPPOSED.
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THE
MOTION CARRIES AN AMENDMENT.
NUMBER ONE IS ADOPTED. LET US
PROCEED TO THE NEXT AMENDMENT
THAT WAS WITHDRAWN. OKAY.
AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR. ALL
RIGHT. SO I MOVED TO AMEND THE
BILL AS PRESENTED IN AMENDMENT
NUMBER FOUR. IS THERE A SECOND?
-- SECOND.
-- IT IS.
-- MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND
THE BILL AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR. CENTRAL
STAFF, WOULD YOU PLEASE PROVIDE
AN OVERVIEW OF THE AMENDMENT?
-- AMENDMENT FOR VERSION TWO TO
COUNCIL BILL ONE, TWO, 1226.
THIS AMENDMENT IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ ADDED HER
CO-SPONSORSHIP THIS MORNING.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD REQUEST
ANNUAL REPORTING BY KING COUNTY
ON VARIOUS DIMENSIONS OF SERVICE
HOURS PURCHASED WITH SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE REPLACEMENT
FUNDING. THOSE DIMENSIONS ARE
FARE COMPLIANCE. THE FARE
RECOVERY RATIO, RELIABILITY AND
ON TIME PERFORMANCE. VERSION TWO
OF THIS AMENDMENT ALSO INCLUDES
SOME ADDITIONAL SPECIFICITY
ABOUT HOW THE REPORTING SHOULD
INCLUDE COMPARISONS BOTH TO PEER
AGENCIES AND TO PREVIOUS YEARS
STATISTICS COMING FROM KING
COUNTY. THE AMENDMENT ALSO
STATES THE COUNCIL'S INTENT TO
EXERCISE ITS LEGISLATIVE AND
BUDGETARY POWERS WITH RESPECT TO
ALL INVESTMENTS FUNDED BY THIS
FUNDING SOURCE.
-- THANK YOU. AND AS THE
AMENDMENTS, PRIME SPONSOR, I'LL
I'LL SPEAK TO THIS. AS I
ALLUDED TO EARLIER, ACTUALLY,
DURING THIS CONVERSATION, YOU
KNOW, I HEARD GREAT COMMUNITY
FEEDBACK AND FEEDBACK FROM MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE, THE MOST, YOU
KNOW, THE SPICIEST OF THE
PROVISIONS IN THERE, WHICH WAS
THE PROVISION THAT WOULD PURPORT
TO REQUIRE PARALLEL CITY COUNCIL
APPROVAL ANNUALLY OF THE
PROPOSED SPEND PLAN. INSTEAD. SO
DID AWAY WITH THAT, REMOVED IT,
AND INSTEAD THERE'S A GENERIC
STATEMENT THAT ESSENTIALLY
RESTATES COUNCIL'S EXISTING
PLENARY AUTHORITY OVER BUDGETARY
MATTERS. AND SO REMOVE REMOVE
THAT PROVISION. SO IT'S
ESSENTIALLY A GLORIFIED
REPORTING PROVISION OR REPORTING
AMENDMENT. BASICALLY, AND LET
THE RECORD REFLECT. ALSO ADDED
SOME SOME VERBIAGE ON SOME OF
THE OTHER REPORTING ELEMENTS TO
TO COMPARE SOME OF THE REQUESTED
INFORMATION TO SPECIFIC THINGS
LIKE AGENCY, TRANSIT, AGENCY
PEERS. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE FARE RECOVERY RATIO AND A
RELIABILITY AND ON ON TIME
PERFORMANCE AS IT RELATES TO,
YOU KNOW, COMPARING OUR AGAINST
OURSELVES, JUST TO PROVIDE
APPROPRIATE CONTEXT. AND SO
ANYWAYS, FOR THOSE, FOR THOSE
REASONS, COLLEAGUES, I ASK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS AMENDMENT.
IT STRENGTHENS OVERSIGHT,
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
AND IT'S JUST A DARN GOOD, GOOD
GOVERNANCE THING. I THINK SO,
BUT I WELCOME COMMENTS,
QUESTIONS FROM YOU ALL.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH. CHAIR SAKA
CHAIR, WITH YOUR PERMISSION,
I'D LIKE TO ASK A FEW QUESTIONS
TO CENTRAL STAFF BEFORE I SHARE
SOME COMMENTS. PLEASE DO. THANK
YOU. COULD YOU. AND I APPRECIATE
THAT CHAIR SAKA JUST SHARED SOME
DIFFERENCES, BUT CENTRAL STAFF,
COULD YOU WALK US THROUGH THE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VERSION ONE
AND VERSION TWO OF THIS
AMENDMENT, PLEASE?
-- SURE. AS AS CHAIR SAKA HAS
HAS EXPLAINED, ONE OF THE
FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
VERSION TWO AND VERSION ONE IS
THAT IN VERSION TWO, THE
AMENDMENT NO LONGER CONTAINS A
REQUIREMENT THAT COUNCIL
ANNUALLY APPROVE TRANSIT SERVICE
PURCHASES BY HOURS AND ROUTE
SERVED IN TERMS OF THE
REPORTING, THE FOUR DIMENSIONS,
WHICH I LISTED EARLIER ARE AS
THEY WERE IN VERSION ONE, BUT
THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL
SPECIFICITY REQUIRED ABOUT HOW
HOW SOME OF THOSE WILL BE
REPORTED. FOR INSTANCE, IN TERMS
OF REPORTING AROUND THE FARE
RECOVERY RATIO, THERE IS NOW A
REQUEST THAT THAT INCLUDE
COMPARISON TO A NATIONAL GROUP
OF AT LEAST 20 COMPARATOR OR
PEER TRANSIT AGENCIES. AND HOW
KING COUNTY METRO RANKS WITHIN
THAT GROUP. THAT FOR FOR THE
RELIABILITY REPORTING, THERE IS
NOW IN VERSION TWO, A
REQUIREMENT THAT EACH YEAR'S
RELIABILITY, BEGINNING IN YEAR
TWO OF REPORTING, BE COMPARED TO
THE PREVIOUS YEAR OF REPORTING
AND THAT SAME THAT SAME THING
HOLDS FOR THE REQUIREMENT TO
REPORT ON ON TIME PERFORMANCE
ACROSS SERVICE HOURS AND ROUTES
SERVED. JUST NOT NOT ONLY HOW
HOW WAS IT THIS YEAR, BUT HOW
WAS IT THE YEAR, THE YEAR
PREVIOUS?
-- THANK YOU. AND I KNOW WE JUST
ADOPTED THE CHAIR'S PACKAGE,
WHICH INCLUDED AMENDMENT NUMBER
25 ON FAIR RECOVERY AND
PERFORMANCE REPORTING FROM
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. CAN YOU
JUST SPEAK TO THE FARE
COMPLIANCE COMPONENTS IN THIS
AMENDMENT AND HOW THEY ALIGN
WITH THE AMENDMENT WE JUST
ADOPTED THROUGH THE CHAIR'S
PACKAGE?
-- LET ME HOLD ON. HOLD ON JUST
A SECOND. LET ME GET BOTH OF
THEM IN FRONT OF ME SO I CAN I
CAN DIRECTLY COMPARE.
-- YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU.
-- SO WHAT WE WHAT WE ADOPTED IN
AMENDMENT 25 AS PART OF THE
CHAIR'S PACKAGE, THE FARE
RECOVERY EFFECTIVENESS,
INCLUDING THE PERCENTAGE OF
PEOPLE PAYING FARES, THE FAREBOX
RECOVERY RATIO, OR THE
PERCENTAGE OF KING COUNTY METRO
OPERATING COSTS THAT WAS FUNDED
DIRECTLY BY PASSENGER FARES.
THAT'S ESSENTIALLY A DEFINITION
OF FARE RECOVERY RATIO. TOTAL
FARE REVENUES COLLECTED, AND ANY
SERVICE, OPERATIONAL OR POLICY
CHANGES THAT AFFECTED REVENUE
PERFORMANCE. AN AMENDMENT FOR
WHICH WHICH IS BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW, THE
REQUIRED REPORTING ON THE FARE
RECOVERY RATIO ASKS FOR THE
PERCENTAGE OF KING COUNTY METRO
OPERATING COSTS THAT WAS FUNDED
BY PASSENGER FARES. AGAIN, JUST
A DEFINITION, INCLUDING THE FARE
RECOVERY RATIOS OF A NATIONAL
GROUP OF AT LEAST 20 COMPARATOR
OR PEER TRANSIT AGENCIES, AND
KING COUNTY METRO'S RANKING
WITHIN THAT GROUP. SO THE
DIFFERENCES ARE THAT AMENDMENT
FOUR CONTAINS THAT COMPARISON,
AND AMENDMENT 25 ALSO ASKS FOR A
FEW DIMENSIONS THAT ARE NOT
PRESENT IN AMENDMENT FOUR. FOR
INSTANCE, TOTAL FARE REVENUES
COLLECTED AND ANY SERVICE
OPERATIONAL OR POLICY CHANGES
THAT AFFECTED REVENUE
PERFORMANCE.
-- THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT,
AND I'M NEVER ENVIOUS OF THAT
ROLE THAT YOU ALL HAVE. SO I
THANK YOU FOR THAT COMPARISON. I
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
TRACKING AS WE'RE SORT OF
COMPARING WITH THE CHAIR'S
PACKAGE. SO I NOW DO JUST SOME
QUICK COMMENTS AND JUST SHARE A
LITTLE BIT OF PART OF WHY I
PULLED THIS AMENDMENT. YOU KNOW,
I SPOKE EARLIER TO MY AMENDMENT
AND THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THAT
IN THE CHAIR'S PACKAGE. YOU
KNOW, I, I DEEPLY BELIEVE THAT
THROUGH OUR INVESTMENTS AND OUR
INCREASED INVESTMENTS AND
IMPROVEMENTS IN RELIABILITY,
WE'LL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE
MOVING SEATTLE FORWARD TO BEING
THE WORLD CLASS TRANSIT CITY
THAT WE ARE, AND THAT WE'RE
GOING TO CONTINUE GROWING TO BE.
I DO HAVE SORT OF CONCERN AROUND
THE LEVEL OF REPORTING THAT WE
ARE REQUIRING HERE AND THE
POTENTIAL FOR US TO MAKE. AND
COLLEAGUES, FORGIVE ME, BECAUSE
THIS IS THE WORD THAT'S COMING
TO MIND. BUT LIKE KNEE JERK OR
SHORT SIGHTED PIVOTS BASED ON
THAT INFORMATION, PRIOR TO
ALLOWING SUBSTANTIVE OR ENOUGH
TIME FOR THOSE INVESTMENTS TO
TAKE PLACE, BE ABSORBED IN THE
NETWORK AND RESULT IN THE
TRANSIT RIDERSHIP CHANGES THAT I
BELIEVE THAT WE WILL SEE OVER
THE LIFETIME OF THIS SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE. AND THAT'S PART
OF WHY I PUT FORWARD MY
AMENDMENT WITH THIS SIX YEAR
REVIEW, AS OPPOSED TO AN ANNUAL
BASIS, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S
GOING TO TAKE TIME FOR THOSE
INVESTMENTS TO SHOW UP IN
RELIABILITY AND OTHER CHANGES.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT METRO HAS SOME
WORK THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE
DOING INTERNALLY IN THE NEXT
COUPLE OF YEARS, AND I BELIEVE
IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO ENSURE
THAT WE ALLOW METRO TO DO THAT
WORK ON THEIR SERVICE
REALIGNMENT PRIOR TO MAKING ANY
SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES. SO,
COLLEAGUES, I PULLED THIS
BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT DESERVES
DISCUSSION. AS WE ARE THINKING
ABOUT THE WORK THAT COMES WITH
PRODUCING THESE REPORTS AND THE
LIKELIHOOD THAT WE WOULD BE
TAKING SUBSTANTIVE ACTION ON
THEM. FROM MY VANTAGE POINT,
THOSE DO NOT LINE UP, AND I'LL
BE VOTING NO ON THIS AMENDMENT.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. COUNCILMEMBER VICE
CHAIR, RINCK, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR SAKA, I WANT
TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER
FOR PULLING THIS AMENDMENT FOR
FURTHER DISCUSSION AND WANT TO
VOICE A COUPLE OF THE CONCERNS
THAT I HAVE RELATED TO THIS
AMENDMENT, MANY OF WHICH HAVE
ALREADY BEEN COVERED BY
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, BUT WANT
TO ADD A POINT TO THEM AS WELL,
PARTICULARLY, THE POINTS RELATED
TO REPORTING IS OF CONCERN TO
ME, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE MUCH OF
THIS DATA IS WITHIN METRO'S
CONTROL. THE PART THAT IS WITHIN
ITS CONTROL IS ALREADY REPORTED
IN THE REGULAR ANNUAL REPORT. SO
THIS WOULD BE, AS I UNDERSTAND
IT, A REDUNDANT ANNUAL REPORT.
THIS WOULD TAKE STAFF TIME,
WHICH ISN'T FREE, AND THE
REPORTS WOULD END UP BEING
MOSTLY DUPLICATIVE. AND SO WHILE
IT'S AN IMPROVEMENT THAT
COMPARED TO THE EARLIER VERSION
OF THIS AMENDMENT, NOW SECTION
SEVEN NO LONGER REQUIRES ANNUAL
COUNCIL APPROVAL OF ANNUAL
SERVICE HOUR PURCHASES. I
BELIEVE THE NEW LANGUAGE
REFLECTS A LACK OF APPLICATION
TO OUR STAFF. I WANT TO UPLIFT
THAT. SDOT ALREADY HAS AN EQUITY
CENTERED PRIORITIZATION
METHODOLOGY ROOTED IN THE
FREQUENT TRANSIT NETWORK AND
SUPPORTIVE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN THAT IS USED TO MAKE
TRANSIT SERVICE INVESTMENTS. AND
THESE INVESTMENTS ARE REPORTED
IN STM ANNUAL REPORTS AND TO THE
TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD. SO THE
POSSIBILITY OF COUNCIL
INVOLVEMENT DOWN THE ROAD COULD
INVALIDATE OUR CURRENT APPROACH
TO SERVICE INVESTMENTS AND
CREATE SITUATIONS WHERE THERE IS
REAL OF SERVICE HOURS BASED ON
POLITICAL CONCERNS, WHICH WOULD
IMPACT RIDERS WHO DEPEND ON
CONSISTENT SERVICE FROM YEAR TO
YEAR. THANK YOU CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR RINCK.
-- ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- THANK YOU, CHAIR. IT JUST SO
THAT I'M CLEAR, THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THIS AMENDMENT AND AND
THE AMENDMENT THAT I BROUGHT
THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE
IS JUST THERE'S A COUPLE OF
EXTRA THINGS HERE THAT ARE NOT
IN MY AMENDMENT. IS THAT
CORRECT? I MEAN, TO ME, THESE
ARE SO SIMILAR. SO I'M TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WHAT IS
ADDITIONAL.
-- THEY THEY ARE SIMILAR. THE
THE PRIMARY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
WHAT'S CONTAINED IN AMENDMENT
25 AND WAS CONTAINED IN
AMENDMENT FOUR IS THAT AMENDMENT
FOUR INCLUDES A COMPARISON
REQUIREMENT IN TERMS OF THE FARE
RECOVERY RATIO AND ALSO IN TERMS
OF THE FARE RECOVERY RATIO.
AMENDMENT 25 INCLUDES A FEW MORE
REPORTING DIMENSIONS. FOR
INSTANCE, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF
FARES RECOVERED. THAT'S THAT'S
IN 25. IT IS NOT IN FOUR.
-- RIGHT. I'M JUST I'M MORE
LOOKING AT FOUR AND THINKING
WHAT'S IN FOUR? THAT'S NOT
ALREADY. BECAUSE WE JUST PASSED
25. SO WHAT'S IN FOUR. THAT'S
NOT IN 25. AND I'M LOOKING AT
THE PEER PEER CITIES COMPARISON
AND AND ALSO SECTION SEVEN. SO
CHAIR IS IT. I WOULD LIKE TO
ACTUALLY ASK A QUESTION OF.
CHAIR IN TERMS OF THE THINKING
BEHIND THE PEER CITY COMPARISON,
AND THEN ALSO WHAT DOES SECTION
SEVEN PRACTICALLY MEAN?
-- THANK YOU. SO FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, THE PEER CITY
COMPARISON IS IS A STANDARD
REPORTING MECHANISM THAT MANY
TRANSIT AGENCIES ACROSS THE
NATION ARE SUBJECT TO. AS I SIT
ON THE KING COUNTY REGIONAL TASK
FORCE OR EXCUSE ME, KING COUNTY
RTC REGIONAL TRANSIT COMMITTEE,
SORRY, SO MANY COMMITTEES AND
EVEN I RECEIVE BRIEFINGS OVER
TIME IN THAT VERY BODY FROM
METRO REPORTING ON AND ON HOW
THEY STACK IN VARIOUS METRICS,
INCLUDING FARE RECOVERY RATIO
AGAINST PEERS ACROSS THE NATION.
SO IT'S A IT'S A COMMON AND
STANDARD AND ACCEPTABLE
BENCHMARK. IT'S A WAY TO STACK
YOURSELF. SO THE, THE THINKING
THERE IS LIKE DATA ALONE IN
ISOLATION IS HELPFUL, BUT IT'S
ALSO A LITTLE MORE HELPFUL IN
BROADER CONTEXT OF WHAT
EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING. AND SO
THAT'S, THAT'S THE WHOLE
PURPOSE AND INTENT THERE. THE
FINAL PROVISION THERE AGAIN,
THAT YOU ASKED ABOUT
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA SECTION
SEVEN, IT SAYS IT IS THE INTENT
OF THE COUNCIL TO EXERCISE ITS
LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY AND ITS
BUDGETARY POWERS WITH RESPECT TO
ALL SERVICE PURCHASES, PROGRAMS,
ACTIVITIES, INVESTMENTS FUNDED
THROUGH PROPOSITION REVENUES,
ESPECIALLY VIA THE CITY'S ANNUAL
BUDGET PROCESS. AND THAT IS JUST
A RESTATEMENT OF COUNCIL'S
EXISTING PLENARY AUTHORITY. OVER
THAT. WE HAVE THE POWER THAT WE
HAVE, POWER OF THE PURSE THAT WE
HAVE ENSHRINED IN THE IN THE
CHARTER AND AND SO THAT THAT'S
THAT'S THE INTENT THERE. THE
AND AGAIN, I MADE THAT CHANGE
DIRECTLY IN RESPONSE TO
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, BECAUSE I
THINK IT STRENGTHENS THE CITY
COUNCIL'S TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY ROLE IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS MEASURE.
SHOULD IT BE APPROVED BY VOTERS.
I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT
THE MEASURE WOULD GENERATE BY MY
BACK OF THE NAPKIN MATH TALLY.
THIS MEASURE WOULD GENERATE AN
AVERAGE OF $186.6 MILLION PER
YEAR IN ITS CURRENT UNMODIFIED
UNAMENDED FORM. TOGETHER, THIS
WOULD AMOUNT TO A GRAND TOTAL OF
$1.87 BILLION IN TAX DOLLARS
OVER TEN YEARS, AS IT'S
CURRENTLY DRAFTED. ASSUMING THE
TEN YEAR THING, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT ALMOST $2 BILLION AT STAKE
HERE, CHAIR.
-- SORRY, DO I STILL HAVE.
-- YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. I'M
ANSWERING. I'M FINISHING THE
ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION. IT'S A
GOOD ONE. BECAUSE THIS CLOSES
OUT YOUR SECOND QUESTION ON THAT
SECTION SEVEN THERE. I THINK
IT'S A FAIR EXCHANGE PAIRED
WITH THE REPORTING THAT WE AND
THE PUBLIC NEED TO SEE THIS
INFORMATION. AND WE'RE GOING TO
EXERCISE OUR OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY
OVER THIS, NO DIFFERENT THAN WE
WOULD ANY OTHER SORT OF FORM OF
SPENDING. SO THANK YOU. ANY
OTHER ANY OTHER COMMENTS
QUESTIONS.
-- SO JUST BASICALLY THE ONLY
DIFFERENCE THAT SEVEN JUST IS
RESTATING WHAT WE ALREADY DO AS
A BODY. SO IT'S REALLY THE ONLY
DIFFERENCE IS THE PEER REVIEW
PIECE. SO IT'S ADDING IF, IF YOU
WERE TO ADD THAT TO MY
AMENDMENT, IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE
SAME. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANKS,
CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU. ANY OTHER ANY
FINAL QUESTIONS COMMENTS ON THIS
AMENDMENT? OKAY. HEARING AND
SEEING NONE. FINALLY, I'LL JUST
NOTE THAT BECAUSE IT WAS NOTED,
THERE ARE SOME REDUNDANT AND
OVERLAPPING CONSTRUCTS.
ABSOLUTELY TRUE. ABSOLUTELY
TRUE. AND WE LEARNED THE
SIMILARITIES AND DISSIMILARITIES
AS WELL. I ALSO NOTE THAT THIS
ISN'T THE ONLY CASE WHERE THAT
HAPPENED IN THE CONSENT PACKAGE
WE JUST ADOPTED AND PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE.
THE THERE'S A AMENDMENT CALLING
ON ADDITIONAL PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE. TWO OF THOSE
SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TOPICS,
SUBJECT MATTER AND UNDERLYING
SUBJECT MATTER AT ISSUE. MANY OF
THE SAME VERBIAGE. IF YOU DO
COMPARE. SO THAT'S ALREADY
THAT'S ALREADY INCLUDED. THERE
ARE. WE'RE ASSEMBLING KIND OF A
FRANKENSTEIN ISH THING RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE OF THE FAST MOVING
NATURE OF THIS. THAT'S ALREADY
CONTEMPLATED BY THE LAST. ON
EACH AMENDMENT. YOU'LL NOTE AT
THE END, THERE'S A NOTE FROM
CENTRAL STAFF THAT SAYS NO
MULTIPLE AMENDMENTS MAY AMEND
THE SAME SECTIONS OR SUBSECTIONS
FOLLOWING THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ACTION ON ALL AMENDMENTS,
CENTRAL STAFF WILL RECONCILE
LANGUAGE AND RENUMBER RE LETTER
SECTIONS AND SUBSECTIONS AS
NEEDED IN THE BILL. SO THEY'RE
ALREADY. THERE'S ALREADY. THERE
WILL BE AN EFFORT TO RECONCILE,
YOU KNOW, THE LANGUAGE
DIFFERENCES, RESTRUCTURE, DRIVE,
IMPROVE CLARITY AS WELL. SO THAT
WAS ALREADY GOING TO HAPPEN FOR
THE PROGRESSIVE REVENUE THINGS
THAT WE JUST IMPROVED. IT'LL
HAPPEN FOR THIS TOO IF IT
PASSES. SO FOR THOSE REASONS I
ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
ANY FINAL VOTE. ALL RIGHT.
LET'S LET'S LET'S DO IT.
LET'S DO IT. BUT GREAT
QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. IT'S MOVED
AND SECONDED. SO NO MORE FINAL
COMMENTS. WILL THE COMMITTEE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER
FOUR.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- ABSTAIN
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. STRAUSS.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. FOSTER.
-- NO
-- COUNCILMEMBER. RINCK.
-- NO.
-- CHAIR SAKA.
-- AYE.
-- CHAIR. WE HAVE FOUR FOUR
VOTES FOR FOUR VOTES OPPOSED AND
ONE ABSTENTION.
-- ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION FAILS
AND IS NOT ADOPTED. THANK YOU.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE. SO
WE VOTED ON ALL BOTH AMENDMENTS
THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER
TODAY. THEY'RE REMOVED FROM THE
PACKAGE. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO
GROUP B AMENDMENTS INDIVIDUALLY.
IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH. OKAY LET
ME.
-- HEATHER.
-- ALL RIGHT.
-- OKAY. THE FIRST ONE THAT
WE'LL CONSIDER. SO WE'LL
CONSIDER THEM IN ORDER. RIGHT.
SO DO WE MOVE THEM FIRST? OKAY,
SO GROUP B
-- OKAY.
-- THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND GROUP
B IS WOULD DIRECT THE USE OF
UNSPENT FUNDS ALLOCATING
ALLOCATED FOR TRANSIT SERVICE.
SO AS A SPONSOR, AS THE PRIME
SPONSOR OF THAT AMENDMENT, I
MOVE TO AMEND THE BILL AS
PRESENTED IN AMENDMENT THREE.
VERSION TWO. IS THERE A SECOND?
-- SECOND.
-- IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT THREE, VERSION TWO.
CENTRAL STAFF, CAN YOU PLEASE
PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE
AMENDMENT
-- AMENDMENT THREE, VERSION TWO
TO COUNCIL BILL ONE, 21226
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD DIRECT THE
USE OF UNSPENT FUNDS ALLOCATED
FOR TRANSIT SERVICE. THE
AMENDMENT WOULD DIRECT THAT THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION ANNUALLY REPORT
TO THE COUNCIL ANY UNSPENT
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE REVENUES
THAT WERE ALLOCATED FOR THE
PURCHASE OF KING COUNTY METRO
TRANSIT SERVICE HOURS. FURTHER
STATES THE COUNCIL'S INTENT TO
RE-APPROPRIATE THOSE FUNDS FOR
SUPPORTING SAFE ACCESS TO
TRANSIT FOR PEDESTRIANS AND
INCREASED OR ENHANCED
ACCESSIBILITY FOR TRANSIT RIDERS
IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AS DESCRIBED
IN SECTION TWO E OF THE BILL,
VERSION TWO MAKES SOME CHANGES
TO THE PREVIOUS VERSION OF THIS
AMENDMENT, REFLECTING THE
SPONSOR'S INTENT TO INCLUDE
FROM POTENTIAL TO EXCUSE ME, TO
EXCLUDE FROM POTENTIAL
REALLOCATION ANY TRANSIT SERVICE
FUNDING THAT SDOT RESERVES FOR
THE MAINTENANCE OF CONSISTENT
TRANSIT SERVICE OVER THE LIFE OF
THE SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE.
THIS AMENDMENT SOLELY ADDRESSES
FUNDING PLANNED AND NOT EXPENDED
IN A GIVEN YEAR FOR THE PURCHASE
OF TRANSIT SERVICE HOURS.
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AS THE
PRIME SPONSOR OF THIS AMENDMENT,
I'LL NOTE THAT THE AMENDMENT
SIMPLY CLARIFIES WHAT WILL
HAPPEN WITH LEFTOVER FUNDS IF
METRO IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE FULL
AMOUNT OF TRANSIT SERVICE AS
BUDGETED IN THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS A
REPORT WILL HAPPEN AND AND YOU
KNOW, THIS IS AND THEN THERE'S A
POTENTIAL FOR THAT TO WITH
SUBSEQUENT COUNCIL ACTION FOR
THIS TO BE ROLLED OVER TO
ACCESSIBILITY CAPITAL, WHICH WE
KNOW IS SO VITALLY IMPORTANT.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONTINGENCY
TO ANTICIPATE AS IT IS EXACTLY
WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE CURRENT
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE. THERE
IS AN OPEN QUESTION AS TO
WHETHER METRO CAN DELIVER A
4,747% EXPANSION OF THE SERVICES
THEY CURRENTLY PROVIDE IN
SEATTLE METRO, ESPECIALLY IN THE
VERY NEAR TERM. METRO HAS STATED
THAT THEY MAY TAKE A YEAR OR TWO
FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO
EFFECTIVELY DELIVER THE FULL
AMOUNT OF TRANSIT SERVICE THIS
PROPOSAL CONTEMPLATES. SO WE
NEED A PLAN. UNDER MY AMENDMENT,
UNUSED FUNDS ARE INTENDED TO BE
USED FOR ACCESSIBILITY, CAPITAL
INVESTMENTS ENHANCE PROVIDING
ENHANCED ACCESSIBILITY AND
SAFETY SUPPORTS TO ALLOW
PEDESTRIANS TO SAFELY ACCESS
TRANSIT. AND AFTER RECEIVING
SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE
COMMUNITY, I REVISED THIS
AMENDMENT TO CLARIFY THAT
RESERVES SDOT HOLDS ASIDE, THE
DEPARTMENT TOLD. ASIDE, TO
ACCOMMODATE FUTURE INCREASES IN
THE COST OF TRANSIT SERVICES ARE
PROTECTED. SO WE ADDED, WE
RESTRUCTURED THE AMENDMENT TO
MAKE THAT CLEAR IT WAS TO WORK
CLOSELY WITH CENTRAL STAFF AND
LAW TO DO EXACTLY THAT, TO BE
RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY
CONCERNS. THIS AMENDMENT ENSURES
FUNDS DON'T SIT IDLE WHILE
OPERATIONAL CONSTRAINTS ARISE.
WE'RE NOT RAISING THE SALES TAX
AND COLLECTING PEOPLE'S HARD
EARNED MONEY JUST TO LET IT SIT
IN THE BANK. THIS KEEPS THE
MONEY WORKING FOR TRANSIT RIDERS
AND FOR THE LABORERS WHO BUILD
AND MAINTAIN THE SYSTEM. I'M
PROUD THAT THIS AMENDMENT HAS
THE SUPPORT OF THE SEATTLE
DISABILITY COMMISSION. SEATTLE
BUILDING TRADES, INCLUDING LIUNA
LOCAL 42 PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY
BOARD AND MORE. MY OFFICE
CONSULTED CLOSELY WITH THE
SEATTLE DISABILITY COMMISSION.
WHEN DEVELOPED, THIS COMMON
SENSE AMENDMENT AND. ONE MORE
FINAL DATA POINT ON THIS
AMENDMENT. I PULL IT UP. LOT
GOING ON. BUT THIS IS. THIS IS
IMPORTANT SO MY OFFICE CAREFULLY
NEGOTIATED WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AN INCREMENTAL INCREASE
TO THE ANNUAL MAXIMUM
LEGISLATIVE MAXIMUM ANNUAL
EXPENDITURE. EXCUSE ME, FOR
ACCESSIBILITY CAPITAL FROM $3.5
MILLION PER YEAR TO $5 MILLION
PER YEAR. PROUD OF THAT WORK.
THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP. AND, YOU
KNOW, GETTING US TO THIS POINT
AND BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY.
HOWEVER YOU SLICE IT, THAT STILL
REFLECTS A CUT IN ACCESSIBILITY
CAPITAL FROM TODAY'S LEVELS OF
INVESTMENTS FOR THE SAME THING.
THE AVERAGE. ANNUAL BASED OFF
OF. SO IF YOU WERE TO
EXTRAPOLATE THINGS OUT AND DO
THE MATH. BECAUSE THE CURRENT
MEASURE 0.15% SALES TAX, THE
PROPOSAL WOULD DOUBLE THAT 0.3%
SALES TAX. SO IF YOU EXTRAPOLATE
THAT OUT. WE'RE TALKING THE,
THE, THE, IF WE HAVE A BASELINE
LEVEL OF, OF INVESTMENT FOR THE
SAME THING, NOT NOT INCLUDING
INFLATION, IT WOULD AMOUNT TO
$47 MILLION, $47 MILLION WOULD
BE THE AVERAGE ANNUAL AMOUNT FOR
THE LEGISLATIVE MAX. NOW, IF YOU
SLICE IT BY THE ACTUALS, WHAT
WAS ACTUALLY SPENT UNDER THE
CURRENT MEASURE AT THE 0.15%
SALES TAX RATE. AND EXTRAPOLATE
THAT OUT TO CONTEMPLATE THE
DOUBLING OF THE SALES TAX, THE
ACTUALS. IT WOULD STILL BE $27.4
MILLION EVERY YEAR. AND WHAT
WE'RE LEFT WITH IS $5 MILLION
STILL A SIGNIFICANT CUT. WHEN
YOU EXTRAPOLATE THIS OUT TO
VITAL TRANSIT ACCESSIBILITY. AND
THIS TRANSIT MEASURE RECOGNIZES
IT'S A TRANSIT SERVICE, FIRST
MEASURE. AND THE $5 MILLION
REFLECTS THAT. AND THIS JUST
THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT JUST
SAYS, HEY, IF IT'S NOT IF WE
CAN'T, IT ALSO OPERATES AS AN
INCENTIVE FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO
MAKE SURE IT ACTUALLY SPENDS ON,
ON WHAT WE ALL INTEND, PRIMARILY
TRANSIT SERVICE. IF IT DOESN'T,
THEN THERE'S A REPORT, THEN IT
MIGHT GET CONVERTED TO CAPITAL.
SO FOR THOSE REASONS,
COLLEAGUES, I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT. WELCOME. ANY I THINK IT
IS COMPLEMENTARY TO THE TERRIFIC
AMENDMENT NUMBER 20 OFFERED BY
OUR COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ REGARDING ACCESSIBILITY,
BECAUSE IT. HER AMENDMENT. HOW I
VIEW THEM AT LEAST, IS HER
AMENDMENT ADDS AND CLARIFIES
INTENT AND EXPANDS THE SCOPE AND
PERMISSIBLE, YOU KNOW, LIKE
SCOPE OF WHAT WE CAN USE THOSE
THOSE VITAL FUNDS FOR. AND MY
AMENDMENT COULD POTENTIALLY PUT
SOME DOLLARS BEHIND THOSE
INVESTMENTS, SOME EXTRA DOLLARS
BEHIND THOSE INVESTMENTS AS
WELL. ANYWAYS, I WELCOME YOUR
COMMENTS. QUESTIONS STARTING
FIRST WITH COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WANT
TO THANK EVERYBODY HERE FOR THE
WORK THAT AND DISCUSSIONS THAT
WE HAD, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF
THE THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE
PULLED FROM THE CHAIR'S PACKAGE.
I DO WANT TO SAY, FIRST AND
FOREMOST, THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND
THAT THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE, OF COURSE, THE TARGET
IS INCREASED BUS SERVICES. BUT I
THINK WHAT YOU'RE HEARING TODAY,
AND YOU HEARD THIS FROM
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, THAT THERE
ARE OTHER FACTORS INVOLVED AS
WELL. PUBLIC SAFETY, DRIVER
SAFETY, ET CETERA. AND COUNCIL.
THE CHAIR IS CORRECT. I THINK
THAT THIS DOVETAILS NICELY NOT
ONLY WITH AMENDMENT 20 FOR THE
DISABILITY PIECE, BUT I ALSO
THINK THAT IT ALSO DOVETAILS
NICELY WITH COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER'S AMENDMENT SIX. IF
INDEED WE LOOK AT A FIVE YEAR
ROLLOVER TO LOOK AT TRANSIT
TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY,
WHAT GOT DELIVERED? I THINK IF
YOU PASS SOMETHING FOR TEN
YEARS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME
MARKER IN THERE FOR THE COUNCIL
TO STOP AND SAY, HEY, HAVE WE
MET THESE GOALS OF BUS INCREASE?
AND ALSO SOME OF THE WORDS THAT
CAME OUT THAT WAS JUST PASSED AN
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE, THAT
PASSED 7 TO 3 BY COUNCILMEMBER
OR THE CHAIR AND COUNCILMEMBER.
KETTLE COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE SAID
SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE'VE ALL
TALKED ABOUT, BUT SAID IT MUCH
MORE ELOQUENTLY THAN I PROBABLY
WILL SAY IT. BUT THAT EXPANSION
OF BUS SERVICES IS, IS
IMPORTANT. BUT ALL THESE OTHER
FACTORS ARE IMPORTANT TOO. AND
WE CAN HAVE BOTH. WE CAN HAVE
PUBLIC SAFETY, WE CAN HAVE
DRIVER SAFETY, WE CAN HAVE
DISABILITY, AND WE CAN ALSO
INCREASE BUS SERVICES. SO I ALSO
THINK THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD
UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE USE THE
WORD UNDERSPEND, THAT THAT IS A
TERM OF ART. IT'S A BUDGET,
POLITICAL TERM OF ART, THAT
THOSE DISCUSSIONS WILL STILL GO
ON IN THE END, AS AT S DOT IN
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WITH SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL, AND OF COURSE, THE
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE FOR
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION. SO THESE AREN'T
DONE IN A VACUUM. THESE
DISCUSSIONS WILL HAPPEN. CITY
DEPARTMENTS DO COME FORWARD AND
SAY, WE HAVE AN UNDERSPEND HERE.
BUT WHAT'S NICE ABOUT AMENDMENT
NUMBER SIX BY COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER IS WE'LL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, YOU KNOW
WHAT, IF THE FIVE YEAR MARK, IT
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE X AMOUNT AND
THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE SPENT.
WE'VE HAD A DISCUSSION AND NOW
WE CAN DEDICATE THIS TO THE
SERVICES THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT SUPPORTING SAFE ACCESS,
ACCESS TO TRANSIT FOR
PEDESTRIANS AND INCREASED OR
ENHANCED ACCESSIBILITY. AND I
JUST WANT TO END ON THE NOTE
THAT AS MY PRIOR LIFE AS A
LITIGATOR AND REPRESENTING
TRIBES AND HAVING A RIGHT, I
ALWAYS USED TO SAY, AND I
CERTAINLY HAVE WON ON THIS
ARGUMENT MANY, MANY TIMES WHAT
GOOD IS A RIGHT TO SOMETHING IF
YOU CAN'T ACCESS IT? WHAT GOOD
IS THE RIGHT TO GET ON A BUS AND
HAVE MORE INCREASED BUS
SERVICES? IF YOU CAN'T GET
THERE? IF THERE ISN'T
SIDEWALKS, CUTAWAYS, LIGHTS,
BUTTONS TO PUSH FOR THE HEARING
IMPAIRED, THE SIGHT IMPAIRED,
MOMS WITH STROLLERS. AND THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
SO IT ISN'T A MATTER OF A MIND
OF SCARCITY THAT YOU'RE TAKING
AWAY FROM INCREASED BUS
SERVICES. YOU'RE SAYING WE
RECOGNIZE IN THE ECOSYSTEM OF
EXPANDING BUS SERVICES THAT
THERE'S OTHER ORBITS IN THERE
AS WELL THAT NEED TO BE
ADDRESSED. SO THANK YOU. I WILL
BE SUPPORTING THIS. THANK YOU.
COUNSEL. MR. CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. VERY WELL SAID.
COLLEAGUES. ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH. CHAIR
SAKA. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE
QUESTIONS FOR CENTRAL STAFF. I
JUST WANT TO CLARIFY. SO, YOU
KNOW, THE LANGUAGE, THE UPDATED
LANGUAGE IN THIS AMENDMENT UNDER
THE NEW SECTION FOUR SAYS THE
COUNCIL INTENDS TO APPROPRIATE
THE UNSPENT FUNDS, AND THEN IT
DELINEATES THE USES. IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE. CAN YOU
DESCRIBE THE CURRENT PRACTICE
FOR UNSPENT FUNDS OR UNDERSPEND?
-- SURE. I THINK I THINK THAT S
DOT S DOT TALKS ABOUT A RESERVE
MORE THAN THEY DO UNDERSPEND.
CURRENTLY, S DOT MAINTAINS WHAT
IT CALLS THE SERVICE PLANNING
RESERVE, WHICH WHICH WOULD BE
FUNDED BY SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE REPLACEMENT REVENUES AND
OVER THE LIFE OF THE TAX, SOME
REVENUES ARE SET ASIDE EVERY
YEAR AND NOT USED FOR SAME YEAR
TRANSIT SERVICE PURCHASES, BUT
HELD FOR TRANSIT SERVICE
PURCHASES IN FUTURE YEARS. AND
THE REASON THIS IS NECESSARY IS
THAT SDOT IS BALANCING TWO
THINGS. ONE, THE PROVISION OF A
CONSISTENT LEVEL OF TRANSIT FROM
YEAR TO YEAR. AND TWO, THE FACT
THAT THE COSTS OF PROVIDING
TRANSIT SERVICE INCREASED FASTER
THAN THE THE REVENUES THAT
SUPPORT THAT SERVICE COSTS
PROVIDE ARE GROWING FASTER THAN
THE THE RATE OF GROWTH OF THE
REVENUES FROM THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE. SO ESPECIALLY
THE FIRST FEW YEARS THAT THIS
TAX IS IN EFFECT, STOP PLANS TO
BUILD UP A RESERVE TO ENSURE
THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO REDUCE
SERVICE. IN THE LAST FEW YEARS,
THAT IT'S IN EFFECT. AND WE WE
HAVE CONFIRMED WITH SDOT THAT
THE PROCESS OF DETERMINING THE
RESERVE AMOUNT IS EXTREMELY
QUANTITATIVE AND ANALYTICAL,
WITH A LOT OF COST INPUTS, AND
SOME OF THOSE COST INPUTS ARE
SAFETY AND SECURITY, LABOR, BUS
MAINTENANCE AND FUEL. EXCUSE ME.
-- THOSE FUEL. YES. THANK YOU. I
APPRECIATE THAT. AND THEN I JUST
WANT TO SAY, I THINK IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT WITH THIS,
WE'RE STATING OUR INTENT TO
APPROPRIATE THOSE FUNDS FOR ONE
PARTICULAR USE IN THE FUTURE. IS
THAT CORRECT?
-- WE THIS THIS AMENDMENT STATES
INTENT NOT NOT TO TOUCH ANY OF
THE FUNDING THAT SDOT PLANS FOR
THE SERVICE PLANNING RESERVE.
THIS FUNDING WOULD STATE
COUNCIL'S INTENT TO REALLOCATE
FUNDING THAT IS PLANNED FOR THE
PURCHASE OF TRANSIT SERVICE
HOURS, BUT UNABLE TO BE SO
EXPENSIVE. SO SO EXPENDED. FOR
INSTANCE, IF METRO IS NOT ABLE
TO HIRE ENOUGH DRIVERS TO TO
DRIVE THE ROUTES TO WHICH THEY
WANT TO EXPAND. BUT LET ME LET
ME JUST BE VERY CLEAR THAT THE
SERVICE PLANNING RESERVE WOULD
BE WOULD BE UNTOUCHED BASED ON
THIS AMENDMENT.
-- THANK YOU
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. COUNCILMEMBER VICE
CHAIR, RINCK, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR SAKA, I WANT
TO RESPECTFULLY OFFER A
CORRECTION TO AN ASSERTION MADE
EARLIER, BECAUSE IT IS NOT AN
OPEN QUESTION AS TO WHETHER KING
COUNTY METRO CAN DELIVER THIS
SERVICE. AND I WANT TO NOTE FOR
THE RECORD THAT ON JULY 6th,
KING COUNTY METRO SENT A LETTER
TO THIS BODY REAFFIRMING THE
FOLLOWING QUOTE METRO HAS THE
CAPACITY TO CONTINUE ADDING
ADDITIONAL BUS SERVICE IN 2027
AND 2028. METRO WILL COLLABORATE
WITH THE CITY AND COMMUNITY TO
PLAN HOW TO PHASE IN ANY, ANY
RENEWED, STM FUNDED SERVICE
GROWTH OVER TIME, END QUOTE. AND
SO I BRING THAT UP JUST BECAUSE
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO
NOTE. FOR THE RECORD, SINCE
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF
POINTS AND QUESTIONS RAISED
ABOUT THIS MATTER, AND I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE
THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THAT
AFFIRMATION FROM KING COUNTY
METRO. AND WE'VE ALSO DISCUSSED
AT LENGTH HOW THIS PROPOSED
MEASURE WOULD INCREASE BUS
SERVICE IN SEATTLE BY 100,000
BUS TRIPS, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE
AND AND EXCITING AND GOING TO BE
VERY MEANINGFUL FOR OUR
COMMUNITY AND FOR KING COUNTY
METRO. THIS IN TOTAL INCREASE IN
HOURS REPRESENTS 2 TO 3% GROWTH
IN METRO'S OVERALL SERVICE
PLAN. AND OVER HERE IN SEATTLE,
AND WE'RE FOCUSED ON SEATTLE,
KING COUNTY METRO HAS A VERY
LARGE SERVICE AREA. AND SO WHEN
WE LOOK AT THE WHOLE, WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT AN INCREASE OF 2
TO 3% GROWTH. SO I JUST WANTED
TO MAKE THAT THAT COMMENT FOR
THE RECORD, TO SPEAK
SPECIFICALLY TO THIS AMENDMENT.
JUST GIVEN SOME OF THE ANSWERS
THAT CENTRAL STAFF HAVE PROVIDED
RELATED TO OUR CURRENT BUDGET
PROCESS, UNDERSTANDING THAT WE
HAVE THE ABILITY TO DIRECT THE
USE OF UNSPENT FUNDS TO AREAS
LIKE CAPITAL WHEN WE CAN'T GET
DOLLARS OUT THE DOOR, SHOULD
THAT SCENARIO ARISE IN OUR
CURRENT BUDGET PROCESS. SO I
HAVE SOME CONCERNS MORE
PROCEDURALLY RELATED TO IF WE
TIE OUR HANDS NOW AND REQUIRE
THIS FUNDING TO BE SPENT A
CERTAIN WAY, THERE COULD BE
BUDGETARY CHALLENGES DOWN THE
LINE, AND THE NEED FOR A
LEGISLATIVE CHANGE TO BE
FLEXIBLE AGAIN, TO SOLVE FOR ANY
OF THOSE ISSUES. SO FOR THAT
REASON, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING
THIS AMENDMENT TODAY. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR RINCK
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? QUESTIONS?
LET'S SEE. COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR BRINGING
UP THE COUNCILMEMBER RINCK JUST
CAN I ASK HER A QUESTION
-- YOU CAN ASK. YES.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ YOU CAN ASK
HER A QUESTION THROUGH ME AS
CHAIR. I'LL RECOGNIZE HER TO
ANSWER. GO AHEAD.
-- OKAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
SAME LETTER. ARE YOU TALKING
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK THE JULY 6th
LETTER THAT WE RECEIVED FROM
KING COUNTY METRO.
-- CORRECT. CHAIR RINCK.
CORRECT.
-- ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER.
-- I CAN JUST IT'S JUST THAT
I'M LOOKING AT HER. SO I
THOUGHT I COULD JUST SAY IT.
OKAY, SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER, OUR CHAIR
AND COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. AND IT,
IT IS IT'S A GREAT LETTER THAT
WE GOT FROM KING COUNTY METRO
ADDRESSING SERVICE DELIVERY
CAPACITY, NEW JOBS, SAFETY AND
SECURITY, AND IT'S TWO AND
ALMOST THREE PAGES LONG, SIGNED
BY DEANA MARTIN, CHIEF OF STAFF
FOR METRO. SO I JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE
SAME PAGE. I KNOW THAT IT WENT
TO ALL THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I
WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY WAS
AWARE OF IT. SO THANK YOU. I
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
QUESTIONS ON THIS AMENDMENT?
OKAY. HEARING SEEING NONE. AS
THE AMENDMENT PRIME SPONSOR, I
WILL CLOSE OUT THE CONVERSATION.
I'LL JUST NOTE THAT THE WITH
WITH RESPECT TO THE THE
PURPORTED CORRECTION OF, OF, YOU
KNOW, THE FACTS. I RESPECTFULLY
DISAGREE ON THAT ASSERTION THAT.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT KING COUNTY
METRO'S LETTER SPECIFICALLY
SAYS, OR EVEN IMPLIES, FRANKLY,
THAT THEY ARE READY DAY ONE TO
IMPLEMENT. NO. IT SAYS. THAT
OKAY, FOR CLARITY THAT THEY'RE
READY DAY ONE TO IMPLEMENT A
MEASURE THAT WOULD DOUBLE THE
TAX, WHICH MEANS DOUBLE THE
REVENUE RECEIVED, WHICH MEANS
DOUBLE THE EXPENDITURE SPENT TO
METRO, WHICH THE EXPENDITURES I
WOULD ACCOUNT FOR 47% INCREASE
IN EXPANSION OF SERVICE. QUITE
LITERALLY OVERNIGHT. THAT'S NOT
WHAT THE LETTER. THAT'S NOT WHAT
THE LETTER SAYS. IT'S NOT. BUT,
YOU KNOW, REASONABLE MINDS
DIFFER. THEY DO SAY MORE
GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE
THEY HAVE CAPACITY TO CONTINUE
ADDING QUOTE, UNQUOTE. METRO HAS
CAPACITY TO CONTINUE ADDING
ADDITIONAL BUS SERVICE IN 27 AND
28. METRO WOULD COLLABORATE WITH
THE CITY AND COMMUNITY TO PLAN
HOW TO PHASE IN ANY RENEWED, STM
FUNDED SERVICE GROWTH OVER TIME.
IT'S NOT THE SAME THING AS WE
ARE READY DAY ONE TO IMPLEMENT
47% NET EXPANSION OF SERVICE.
AND WE ALSO HAVE HISTORY AS A AS
AS A, AS A COMPARATOR. AND THERE
WERE SOME INITIAL ROLLOUT
CHALLENGES EARLIER. SO ANYWAYS,
FOR BUT REASONABLE MINDS
DISAGREE, APPRECIATE THE DEBATE
AND THE CONVERSATION. IF THERE
ARE NO FINAL QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS, IS THAT A STALE HAND?
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. YES IT IS.
ALL RIGHT. COOL. IF THERE ARE NO
FINAL COMMENTS. QUESTIONS, WILL
THE CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT THREE?
-- COUNCILOR? EXCUSE ME. OKAY.
-- OKAY, OKAY, LET ME RESTATE.
SO IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT THREE? VERSION TWO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- OH, WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT.
-- PAUSE, PAUSE FOR JUST A
MOMENT. THERE'S A LOT GOING ON
PROCEDURALLY HERE, WHICH I
UNDERSTAND. AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE
FLIPPING THROUGH DOCS LIVE ON
THE SCREEN, LIKE IN REAL TIME.
SO LET US BE. DOES IT?
-- OKAY. SORRY. SO IT'S.
-- THREE VOTING.
-- VOTING ON THREE.
-- VERSION TWO.
-- AMENDMENT. AMENDMENT THREE,
VERSION TWO.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. AYE.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES. COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. RINCK.
-- NO.
-- CHAIR SAKA. I CHAIR THERE ARE
FIVE VOTES FOR AND FOUR VOTES
OPPOSED.
-- ALL LET ME SEE. OKAY. THE
MOTION CARRIES AN AMENDMENT
NUMBER THREE, VERSION TWO IS
ADOPTED. ALL RIGHT. LET US MOVE
ON TO THE NEXT ONE. I MOVE.
LET'S SEE I MOVE TO AMEND THE
BILL AS PRESENTED IN AMENDMENT
NUMBER FIVE, VERSION TWO. IS
THERE A SECOND?
-- SECOND.
-- IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE, VERSION
TWO. CENTRAL STAFF, CAN YOU
PLEASE PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF
THE AMENDMENT?
-- AMENDMENT FIVE, VERSION TWO
TO COUNCIL BILL ONE, 21226
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
AMENDS THE TERM OF THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE, THE VERSION
THAT YOU ALL SAW OF THIS
AMENDMENT BACK ON JULY 6th, HAD
A SIX YEAR, NINE MONTH TERM.
THIS AMENDMENT BEFORE YOU TODAY
IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT IN THAT IT
SETS OUT A SEVEN YEAR TERM. SO
THIS WOULD END ADJUST THE END
DATE OF THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE FROM MARCH 31st, 2037 TO
MARCH 31st, 2033.
-- THANK YOU AMANDA. AND AS
PRIME SPONSOR OF THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT, I'LL JUST SHARE FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE THAT THIS THE
PURPOSE OF THIS AMENDMENT IS TO
MAKE SURE THE CITY COUNCIL HAS A
CHANCE TO LEVEL SET IN A
REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME,
PROVIDE EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT,
RESPOND TO RAPIDLY EVOLVING
CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES,
POTENTIAL CHANGES TO STATE LAW
TO ACCOMMODATE POTENTIAL NEW
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
OPPORTUNITIES. AS EARLIER
AMENDMENTS CONTEMPLATE, A
SHORTER TERM WILL GIVE THE CITY
A MORE IMMINENT OPPORTUNITY TO
RECALIBRATE AFTER EVALUATING
RIDERSHIP TRENDS AND TO REVISIT
THE FUNDING MECHANISM TO ENSURE
FAIRNESS AND EFFICACY. I ALSO
BELIEVE IT SERVES AS A GOOD
FORCING FUNCTION, IF YOU WILL,
WHICH CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REEVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
THE PROGRAM BEFORE EXTENDING IT
EVEN FURTHER. GIVEN THE CHANGING
ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE, MOUNTING
AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS THE
IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING
SEATTLE'S COMPETITIVENESS AS A
VISITOR DESTINATION AND
POTENTIAL AGAIN, STATE REFORMS
TO UNLOCK NEW PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES. I BELIEVE
PERIODIC REASSESSMENTS LIKE THIS
IS BOTH PRUDENT AND RESPONSIBLE
AND FOR AND THIS AGAIN ALSO
RESTORES THE MEASURE TO BE IN
TERMS OF A SPECIFIC DURATION, TO
BE MORE IN LINE WITH THE HOW IT
HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY. SIX
YEARS. THIS IS SEVEN YEARS. SO
IT'S AN EXTRA YEAR. BUT AND I
DID CHANGE THE I DID TWEAK THE,
THE TERM THERE IN DIRECT
RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.
SOME OF IT, SOME OF THE ANGST
ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT,
AT LEAST IN PART, WAS DUE TO THE
FACT THAT IT WAS LIKE A LITTLE
CONFUSING SIX YEARS AND NINE
MONTHS. WELL, WHAT DOES THAT BE
DO WITH THAT? SEVEN YEARS?
PLENTY OF FLEXIBILITY. AND IT'S
ONLY THREE SHORT YEARS SHORTER
THAN THE THE ORIGINAL TEN YEAR
PROPOSAL. SO FOR THOSE REASONS,
COLLEAGUES ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD GOVERNANCE,
EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT PROVISION.
THANK YOU. WELCOME. QUESTIONS.
COMMENTS IF ANY. ALL RIGHT.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED.
-- I'LL JUST BE BRIEF. THANK
YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR, AND THANK
YOU FOR MAKING CHANGES TO THIS
BASED ON COMMUNITY FEEDBACK. I
JUST WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION TO
CENTRAL STAFF. CENTRAL STAFF,
CAN YOU JUST SHARE A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT COUNCIL'S ABILITY TO
AMEND THE SALES TAX PERCENTAGE
AT ANY POINT DURING THE MEASURE?
-- YES. COUNCIL CAN, AT ANY
POINT IN IN THE TIMELINE CAN
ADJUST THROUGH AN ORDINANCE,
COULD ADJUST BOTH THE SALES TAX
RATE TO SOMETHING LESS THAN
WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED, AS WELL
AS COULD ADJUST THE TIMELINE.
-- THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO
REITERATE THAT I APPRECIATE YOUR
INTENT, CHAIR, AND I WON'T. I
ALREADY SPOKE TO AMENDMENT SIX,
SO I WON'T RESTATE THAT. BUT
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER COLLEAGUES,
ANY FINAL COMMENTS? QUESTIONS ON
THE PROPOSAL BEFORE US BEFORE WE
PROCEED TO VOTE? HEARING AND
SEEING NONE.
-- LET'S SEE.
-- WILL THE COMMITTEE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT
NUMBER FIVE, VERSION TWO TO THE.
-- BILL
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- AYE
-- SORRY.
-- THIS ONE WAS A TRANSIT
MEASURE. NO, SORRY. NAY.
-- CONFIRMATION. YOUR VOTE IS
NAY.
-- NAY.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- NO.
-- COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK.
-- NO.
-- CHAIR SAKA.
-- AYE CHAIR.
-- THERE ARE TWO VOTES FOR AND
SEVEN VOTES OPPOSED.
-- THANK YOU. THE MOTION FAILS
AND THE AMENDMENT IS NOT
ADOPTED. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO
THE NEXT ITEM IN NEXT AMENDMENT
IN THE GROUP B, THAT'S AMENDMENT
NUMBER 13, VERSION TWO IS IN A
MOTION WOULD BE IN ORDER.
-- CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THE
BILL TO.
-- AMEND WITH AMENDMENT NUMBER
13, VERSION TWO.
-- SECOND, IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED. I CAN. SECOND, MOTION.
IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO TO
ADOPT AMENDMENT NUMBER 13,
VERSION TWO TO THE BILL WILL
CENTRAL STAFF PLEASE BRIEF THE
BILL, PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OR THE
AMENDMENT
-- AMENDMENT 13, VERSION TWO TO
COUNCIL BILL 121226 IS SPONSORED
BY COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. THE
VERSION THAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU.
TODAY I WILL HIGHLIGHT THE
DIFFERENCES FROM. FROM WHAT WE
SAW ON JULY 6th. ON THE JULY 6th
MEETING, THIS AMENDMENT HAD A
SALES TAX RATE OF 0.2%. THE
PERCENTAGE PROPOSED TODAY
INCLUDES A SLIGHTLY HIGHER RATE
OF 0.225. 3.225%. TAX RATE WOULD
GENERATE ABOUT ONE POINT OR
SORRY, ABOUT $1 BILLION OVER TEN
YEARS, WHICH IS ABOUT $345
MILLION LESS THAN THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION. I'LL ALSO NOTE THAT
THE AMENDMENT ADDS BACK THE
ELIGIBLE SPENDING CATEGORY OF
CAPITAL FUNDING AND, IT ADDS,
ALLOWS THAT FUNDING TO BE
ALLOCATED FOR ANNUAL MAXIMUM
RATE OF $5 MILLION A YEAR IT
RETAINS FUNDING FOR THE. IT
RETAINS ELIGIBLE SPENDING FOR
TRANSIT ACCESS PROGRAM
PARTICIPATION, FUNDING OF THE
CITY, SOUND TRANSIT, STAFFING
AND THE STREETCAR. AS ORIGINALLY
PROPOSED, THE TEN YEAR TERM
REMAINS UNCHANGED. I WILL NOTE
THAT BECAUSE THE TAX RATE IS
REDUCED AND THE SPENDING LIMITS
SET OUT BY THIS AMENDMENT REMAIN
UNCHANGED, THE ACTUAL MAXIMUM
SPENDING PER CATEGORY WOULD NEED
TO BE ADJUSTED, OR SPENDING ON
TRANSIT SERVICE HOURS WOULD NEED
TO BE ADJUSTED. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE KETTLE INTENT IS THAT
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD DELIVER
TRANSIT SERVICE BY 2028 TO
ACHIEVE THE 97% OF THE 2019
SERVICE HOURS. COMPARED TO THE
PROPOSAL BEFORE THE COUNCIL
CURRENTLY, WHICH WOULD ACHIEVE
100% OF THOSE HOURS, THIS
TRANSIT SERVICE LEVEL IS ABOUT
34% LESS TRANSIT SERVICE THAN
SUBMITTED, WHICH IS MAINTAINING
OUR TRANSIT SERVICE AT CURRENT
LEVELS REDUCING THE SALES TAX TO
FROM POINT THREE, WHICH IS IN
THE CURRENT PROPOSAL DOWN TO THE
.225, WOULD PRESERVE 0.075%
SALES TAX AUTHORITY, WHICH COULD
BE LEVIED BY FUTURE COUNCIL
ORDINANCE AND COULD BE AVAILABLE
TO SUPPORT ANY TRANSIT RELATED
INVESTMENT. AND THAT IS DOESN'T
NEED TO GO TO A VOTE. THAT'S A
COUNCIL AUTHORITY. THE AMOUNT OF
THAT .07 5% SALES TAX IS
ESTIMATED AT 345 MILLION. AND
THAT IS THE END OF MY COMMENTS.
-- THANK YOU, MISS ALLEN.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, AS PRIME
SPONSOR OF THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO
SPEAK TO YOUR AMENDMENT. FIRST
COLLEAGUES, LET ME CLARIFY A LOT
GOING ON, A LOT OF PROCEDURE
PROCESS, ROBERT'S RULES, A LOT
OF SUBSTANTIVE AMENDMENTS. WE'RE
CYCLING THROUGH FOR CLARITY. WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE PROPOSED AMENDMENT 13,
VERSION TWO, THE SHORT TITLE OF
WHICH WOULD AMEND THE SALES AND
USE TAX RATE TO 0.0 OR 0.225%,
AND WHICH WAS JUST BRIEFED BY
OUR OUR EXPERT CENTRAL STAFF
TEAM. AND NOW COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE IS SPONSOR THIS PROPOSAL.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK TO
YOUR AMENDMENT.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR SAKA. I ALSO
WANT TO THANK MISS ALLEN AND
MISS GORMAN FROM CENTRAL STAFF
FOR YOUR SUPPORT. WORKING WITH
MY TEAM COLLEAGUES. I JUST WANT
TO STATE QUITE CLEARLY, I
SUPPORT TRANS YOU KNOW, I'VE
EXPERIENCED IT IN THE METRO IN
MOSCOW, RUSSIA. THE U-BAHN AND
S-BAHN OF STUTTGART AND BERLIN,
GERMANY, THE METRO AND THE TUBE.
WHEN I WAS STUDYING IN FRANCE
AND ENGLAND, IN BOSTON, WHEN I
WAS AN UNDERGRAD, I OFTEN
QUIPPED THAT NOTHING IN LIFE IS
FREE EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE GROUND
OUTBOUND T, WHICH IS WHEN YOUR.
YOUR DORM ROOMS IN WEST CAMPUS.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. AND THEN
ALSO IN DC, WHEN I WHERE I WAS
STATIONED THREE TIMES, I WOULD
TAKE A BUS TO THE BRADDOCK
STREET METRO STATION UP TO THE
PENTAGON, AND THEN I WOULD TAKE
A SHUTTLE OVER WHERE I WORK
PRIMARILY TO CAPITOL HILL, NOT
OUR CAPITOL HILL, THE ONE THAT
HAS CONGRESS. SO WITH THAT
EXPERIENCE, I SEE THAT AS VERY
IMPORTANT. AND I SEE WHERE WE
ARE AS A CITY. AND I KNOW THAT
WE HAVE MORE TO DO AND WE HAVE
TO BUILD OUT. AND I'M REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT THE LIGHT RAIL
EXPANSION BECAUSE THAT STARTS TO
BRING US UP TO THOSE LEVELS OF
ALL THOSE CITIES THAT I'VE SAID,
JUST LISTED. AND THAT'S WHY I
SUPPORTED, FOR EXAMPLE, THE THE
CHANGE FOR THE ROUTE EIGHT FROM
QUEEN AVENUE NORTH TO TWO SECOND
AVE NORTH TO SUPPORT IT, TO MAKE
IT LESS LATE. AND I ALSO SUPPORT
DIFFERENT PIECES, LIKE EVEN IN
THE CHAIR AMENDMENT CHAIR
PACKAGE TODAY BECAUSE IT
SHOULDN'T TAKE COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS SO LONG TO GET FROM
BALLARD TO DOWNTOWN SEATTLE AND
I KNOW THAT THESE BUS ROUTES
FROM THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
CITY COME THROUGH MY DISTRICT TO
COME TO GREATER DOWNTOWN, AND WE
NEED TO DO BETTER IN THOSE
AREAS, AND WE NEED TO IMPROVE
IT. MY INITIAL AMENDMENT, YES,
DROPPED THE PROPOSED MEASURE
FROM POINT 3 TO 0.2. AND I
SHOULD NOTE, NOT OFTEN NOTED,
BUT THE REMAINING 0.1% WAS
BASICALLY PLACED INTO A RESERVE.
IT DIDN'T DISAPPEAR. IT WAS IN
A RESERVE, IF YOU WILL, THAT
COULD BE ACTED UPON BY THE
COUNCIL IN THE FUTURE. AND THIS
WAS DONE FOR TWO REASONS. THE
FIRST IS AFFORDABILITY.
AFFORDABILITY MUST BE PART OF
THE DISCUSSION. I ACKNOWLEDGE
HOW PUBLIC TRANSIT CAN HELP
AFFORDABILITY. I AGREE WITH
WHAT'S BEEN SAID BY MANY ON
THIS POINT, BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY
THAT SALES TAX CUTS ACROSS THE
ENTIRE SPECTRUM, BEYOND THOSE
THAT TAKE TRANSIT TODAY, OR
THOSE THAT MAY TAKE TRANSIT IN
THE FUTURE, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE
OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING
TODAY. MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED
TO LOOK AT AFFORDABILITY BY, YOU
KNOW HOLISTICALLY BY
UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS HAPPENING
WITH PROPERTY TAX, SALES TAX,
UTILITY RATES. THIS COMBINATION,
BUT NOT JUST THAT BY WHAT WE'RE
DOING HERE IN THE CITY, BUT
WHAT'S THE COUNTY DOING? WHAT
IS THE STATE DOING? AND THAT
COMBINATION ACROSS THESE AREAS
BY THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT HAS A CUMULATIVE
EFFECT. YOU KNOW, THE RECENTLY
THE COUNTY JUST INCREASED THE
SALES TAX BY 0.1% FOR
TRANSPORTATION AS IT IS, WE'RE
ACTUALLY THEY WERE LOOKING TO
TAKE FUNDS FROM THE CITY. AND I
THANK MY COLLEAGUES AND I WHO
JOINED ME IN BASICALLY LOBBYING
THE KING COUNTY COUNCIL TO NOT
ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN. AND AND
THEN AND TO BE FRANK, IT ADDS TO
WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR WITH THE
PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX AS THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR, I
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. AND AND I
SHOULD AS I AT THE SAME TIME
NOW, I'M TALKING ABOUT
AFFORDABILITY. I ALSO SERVED ON
THE REGIONAL WATER QUALITY
COMMITTEE, AND I SAW FIRSTHAND
THE THE ISSUES RELATED TO OUR
WATER RATES WERE GOING UP. AND
THEN JUST YESTERDAY IN COMMITTEE
WITH SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, WE'RE
GOING TO SEE INCREASES IN OUR
ELECTRIC BILLS. THIS IS ALL
HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME. BUT
WHO LOOKS AT THE CUMULATIVE
IMPACTS HERE IN THE CITY AS WE
PASS LEVIES AND SALES TAX AND
UTILITY RATES INITIATIVES?
WHO'S KEEPING THE BIG PICTURE
OF THE IMPACTS OF THOSE MULTIPLE
PIECES? THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THESE INCREASES ADD UP. I
ACKNOWLEDGE THE POINTS MADE
ABOUT EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY, BUT
WHO KEEPS THE BIGGER PICTURE AND
WHO KEEPS THE BIGGER PICTURE
IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE HERE IN THE
CITY? EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHO
LOOKS AT WHAT IS HAPPENING AGAIN
ACROSS THE STATE, THE COUNTY AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT? I'D ARGUE
NOBODY, MAYBE OUR STATE
TREASURER, MIKE PELLICCIOTTI,
YOU KNOW, WHO BASICALLY WARNED
THE LEGISLATURE DOWN IN OLYMPIA
ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE DOING WITH
TAX POLICY AND HOW IT COULD
IMPACT OUR RATINGS AND THE LIKE.
AND HE WAS BEING BASICALLY
PROVEN RIGHT. SO WE HAVE WHAT'S
GOING ON IN OLYMPIA. WE HAVE
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COUNTY,
AND WE HAVE WHAT'S GOING ON
HERE. THESE QUESTIONS ARE ALSO
BACKDROPPED BY A PERIOD OF HIGH
INFLATION, SADLY SELF-INDUCED
WITH OUR PRESIDENT'S TARIFF
POLICY AND NOW WAR ON IRAN AND
ITS IMPACTS ON THE STRAIT OF
HORMUZ. THE IMPACTS OF INFLATION
SHOULD NOT BE UNDERESTIMATED,
AND THEIR IMPACTS ON LEVIES,
SALES TAX AND UTILITY RATES. SO,
COLLEAGUES, I ASK YOU TO START A
DISCUSSION WITH ME, YOU KNOW,
REGARDING AFFORDABILITY. I WOULD
ALSO ADD GOOD GOVERNANCE IS
IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, THIS
AMENDMENT CREATES A RESERVE
INITIALLY POINT ONE RESERVE. AND
I DID THAT PURPOSELY, BY THE
WAY, TO HIGHLIGHT THE
COUNCILMANIC PIECE OF THIS AND
THE CREATION OF A RESERVE. IT'S
NOW DOWN TO 0.075, WHICH TAKES
CARE OF THE INFLATION PIECES.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO CENTRAL
STAFF, MY TEAM, FOR WORKING
THROUGH THESE PIECES. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. BUT WE SHOULD
DO THIS, HAVE THIS RESERVE. SO
THEN WE CAN SEE TO THE TO THE TO
THE QUESTIONS BACK AND FORTH
REGARDING KING COUNTY METRO'S
ABILITY TO, TO PROVIDE THOSE
SERVICE HOURS, A BIT OF A TRUST,
BUT VERIFY IF YOU WILL REMEMBER,
I USED TO SERVE IN RUSSIA AND
YOU KNOW, AND SO THIS IS
IMPORTANT. AND ALSO LET'S LOOK
AT OUR UTILIZATION RATES. YOU
KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE
SHOULD BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION
TOO, FROM A GOOD GOVERNANCE
POINT OF VIEW AS WE LOOK
COMPARED TO PRE-PANDEMIC AND
ALSO TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE
PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES THAT WE
FACE AND THEIR IMPACTS ON
UTILIZATION, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, AS
CHAIR SAKA MENTIONED, THIS WAS
INTRODUCED. I GOT A CALL THAT
MORNING FROM CHIEF BARNES ABOUT
THREE DIFFERENT SHOOTINGS, ONE
AS CHAIR WAS TALKING ABOUT A MAN
WHO WAS SHOT. IT WAS INCREDIBLE.
WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THE
UTILIZATION IF NOBODY USES THE
BUS, THEN FROM A GOOD GOVERNANCE
POINT OF VIEW, THIS IS A
PROBLEM. SO THAT KIND OF GOES
BACK TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY. BUT
AGAIN, AFFORDABILITY IS KEY. AND
COLLEAGUES, MY GOAL WITH THIS
AMENDMENT WAS NOT TO CUT PUBLIC
TRANSIT. THE AMENDMENT ACTUALLY
INCREASES TRANSIT HOURS ACROSS.
IN ADDITION, WITH THE KING
COUNTY METRO PLUS UP, THOUGH
ADMITTEDLY REDUCES FROM WHAT THE
MAYOR SAW WITH HER MEASURE. MY
GOAL IS TO BRING ATTENTION TO
THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC
AFFORDABILITY, THAT IMPACTS
EVERYONE, BUT ESPECIALLY THE
WORKING POOR, THE WORKING CLASS
AS THEY LIVE OUT THEIR DAILY
LIVES. AND I SEE THIS. I SEE
THIS AND CLEARLY. I DON'T LIVE
THIS NOW, BUT AS A AS A KID, I
DID, MUCH LIKE MANY OF US
SITTING HERE ON THE DAIS. THE
MAJORITY OF US, I BELIEVE, HAD
WORKING CLASS UPBRINGINGS. SO I
SEE THIS AND I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE AFFORDABILITY
IMPACTS BY OUR ACTIONS. TO TAKE
A DEEP BREATH, TO STEP BACK AND
SAY, HEY, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE
IN TERMS OF BIGGER PICTURE, NOT
JUST THIS IMMEDIATE PIECE HERE
WITH THE SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE
BUT THEN ALSO THE ACTIONS OF OUR
COLLEAGUES AT THE COUNTY AND THE
STATE, BECAUSE THE IMPACTS ARE
REAL. SO, COLLEAGUES, I'M NOT
GOING TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT
FOR THIS AMENDMENT, BUT I JUST
ASK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. AND
AS WE MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER,
LOOKING AT DIFFERENT PIECES AND
KEEPING AN EYE ON THE CUMULATIVE
IMPACT OF WHAT WE DO,
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE APPARENTLY
WE DO IT IN ISOLATION FROM THE
COUNTY AND THE STATE. THERE'S NO
INDICATION THAT GOVERNOR
FERGUSON EXECUTIVE AND MAYOR
WILSON DISCUSSED THEIR ACTIONS
BEFORE THEY TAKE THEM. CLEARLY,
I DON'T THINK THIS HAPPENED ON
THE KING COUNTY BILL SALES TAX
THAT WAS JUST DONE. SO,
COLLEAGUES, THAT'S ALL I ASK.
AND THANK YOU, CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK
YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE FOR
BRINGING THIS AMENDMENT FORWARD
FOR THE CONVERSATION.
COLLEAGUES, WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE
US IS A TRANSIT MEASURE. THIS IS
NOT A CONCRETE MEASURE OR A
TRANSPORTATION MEASURE OR A
STAFFING MEASURE. THIS IS A THIS
IS A TRANSIT MEASURE. WE SHOULD
NOT BE COLLECTING MORE TAX THAN
WE NEED TO FUND THE TRANSIT THAT
CAN BE PROVIDED TO US. HEARING
THE CHAIR'S PREVIOUS COMMENTS,
I SHARE THE CONCERNS ABOUT
RAMPING UP SERVICE QUICKLY, BUT
IN THAT MOMENT, I BELIEVE WE
SHOULD NOT TAX SEATTLEITES FOR
THE SERVICE THAT WE CAN'T
RECEIVE. RATHER THAN SPENDING
THE TAX ON CONCRETE, WE DO NEED
TO SET METRO UP FOR SUCCESS. AS
I SHARED, I HAVE SOME CONCERNS
THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO FULLY
UTILIZE ALL OF THE MONEY NEXT
YEAR, BUT WE NEED TO SET THEM UP
FOR SUCCESS BECAUSE THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC, WE SAW MANY ISSUES
THAT WERE OUTSIDE OF EVERYONE'S
CONTROL, WHICH SET US UP TO USE
THIS TRANSIT MEASURE IN WAYS
THAT WERE NOT TRANSIT AND
COLLEAGUES. WE HAVE TO STOP THAT
PRACTICE. WE NEED TO RETURN THIS
TO BEING A TRANSIT MEASURE,
BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT METRO
IS NOW SET UP TO SUCCEED IN THE
WAYS THAT WE WANT. I BELIEVE
THAT METRO IS SET UP TO BE ABLE
TO EXPEND THE FUNDS SO THAT WE
CAN PURCHASE THE, THE SERVICE
HOURS THAT SEATTLEITES ARE
ASKING FOR. SO WE NEED TO SET
THEM UP FOR THAT. AND IF I WAS
AS CONFIDENT, IF I WAS MORE
CONFIDENT, OR IF I KNEW THAT
METRO COULD PROVIDE US EVERY
SERVICE HOUR FOR EVERY DOLLAR
THAT WE COULD, WE COULD GIVE
THEM, I'D ADD A VEHICLE LICENSE
FEE TO THIS PACKAGE BECAUSE I
KNOW THAT SEATTLEITES WANT MORE
TRANSIT SERVICE, BUT WE'RE NOT
QUITE THERE YET. AND SO RATHER,
I'M IS THAT ANOTHER WAY? IF I
WOULD, I WOULD SUPPORT THIS
AMENDMENT IF WE HAD A VLF ADDED,
BUT WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE YET,
AND SO I WON'T BE SUPPORTING
THIS AMENDMENT TODAY, BUT I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
CONVERSATION THAT THIS AMENDMENT
CREATES, BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE
VERY CLEAR EYED ABOUT WHAT HOW
WE ARE TAXING SEATTLEITES AND
HOW WE ARE USING THOSE TAX
REVENUES. AND WHAT I KNOW IS
THAT SEATTLEITES WILL PAY FOR
TRANSIT SERVICE. AND SO AS MUCH
TRANSIT SERVICE AS METRO CAN
PROVIDE US, WE WILL BUY FROM
YOU. AND I THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU
DO FOR OUR CITY.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. SHOUT OUT TO KING
COUNTY METRO, OUR PARTNERS
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU CHAIR AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE JUST WANT
TO SAY THAT I SHARE YOUR CONCERN
ABOUT AFFORDABILITY. JUST TO BE
KIND OF TRANSPARENT. YOU KNOW,
WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT A 0.3
PROPOSAL FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, I HAD A LOT OF CONCERNS
SIMILAR TO YOU, BUT I THANK THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR BEING BOLD
HERE AND PUSHING, PUSHING ME ON
THAT ISSUE. AND BECAUSE WE KNOW
THAT. YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S
NOTHING, AT LEAST IN MY OPINION,
MORE IMPORTANT, THAT WE CAN DO
BOTH ON AFFORDABILITY AND THE
URGENT ISSUE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
THAN MAKING A LONG TERM
COMMITMENT TO TRANSIT. AS WE SEE
THE WILDFIRE SMOKE. IN IN CANADA
RIGHT NOW, THE FIRES THAT WE
HAVE, YOU KNOW, THAT SMOKE THAT
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED HERE THIS
LONG TERM INVESTMENT IS PROBABLY
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN
DO IN THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL
THING WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS
YEAR. AND SO AGAIN, I APPRECIATE
THE CONCERN ABOUT SALES TAX. I
DO NOT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY
LOVES SALES TAX HERE, BUT THAT
IS THE TOOL THAT WE HAVE. AND SO
I YOU KNOW, AYE. I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT THAT WE COMMIT TO
THE SPENDING ON TRANSIT AND THAT
WE COMMIT TO WORKING TOGETHER
WITH OTHER ELECTEDS ACROSS THE
REGION, ACROSS THE STATE TO COME
UP WITH BETTER WAYS TO FIX OUR,
OUR TAX SYSTEM. AND THIS GIVES
US THAT OPPORTUNITY. THIS IF AYE
VOTERS APPROVE THIS. AND I THINK
THAT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT NOTE
THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT US
THAT IS APPROVING IT. I MEAN, WE
ARE JUST PUTTING THIS ON THE
BALLOT FOR VOTERS. IT IS
ULTIMATELY UP TO THEM TO DECIDE
WHETHER TO TO PASS THIS. BUT WE
DO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY OVER
THIS TEN YEAR TERM TO CONTINUE
TO WORK ON OUR TAX SYSTEM TO TO
COME UP WITH BETTER WAYS TO FUND
TRANSIT OR MANY OF THE OTHER
ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON.
AND SO I'LL BE VOTING NO. BUT I
AM COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH YOU
AND OTHERS ON FINDING BETTER
WAYS TO FIX THIS LONG TERM.
ASSUMING VOTERS APPROVE THIS.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD SO WE
COULD HAVE THIS REALLY IMPORTANT
AND DIFFICULT DECISIONS. THESE
DECISIONS ARE NOT EASY. THEY'RE
OFTEN PORTRAYED AS, YOU KNOW,
NOT WE SUPPORT SOMETHING. AND I
THINK THAT THAT'S WRONG. I HAVE
SO MUCH SUPPORT FOR THE TRANSIT
SYSTEM AND FOR THE ALMOST FIRST
30 YEARS OF MY LIFE, I
EXCLUSIVELY USE PUBLIC TRANSIT.
DIDN'T HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE
UNTIL I WAS ALMOST 30 YEARS OLD.
AND SINCE THEN I'VE USED TRANSIT
A LOT. SO JUST BECAUSE I HAVE A
DRIVER'S LICENSE DOESN'T MEAN
THAT I DON'T USE AND SUPPORT
TRANSIT. AND OF COURSE, MY KIDS
USE PUBLIC TRANSIT AS WELL. MY
SPOUSE HAS BEEN ON THE BOARD OF
THE TRANSPORTATION CHOICES
COALITION. FULL DISCLOSURE,
WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD. I'M
SO PROUD OF HIS WORK ON SOUND
TRANSIT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS
NOW. SO I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY WE
SHOULD NOT BE JUDGED BY
SOMETIMES THE DECISIONS THAT WE
HAVE TO GRAPPLE AND STRUGGLE
WITH. IT'S NOT JUST DO YOU
SUPPORT IT OR DO YOU NOT? IT'S
WE DO. AND THERE ARE OTHER
CONSIDERATIONS, AS I APPRECIATE
MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ RAISING EARLIER ABOUT
SOME OF THESE OTHER USES FOR
THIS. THESE FUNDS, THE REASON
WHY I DECIDED TO CO-CHAIR, I
MEAN, SORRY, CO-SPONSOR THIS
WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE IS BECAUSE I AM SO
CONCERNED ABOUT SALES TAX
INCREASES THAT HURT OUR LOW
INCOME PEOPLE THE MOST. WE ALL
KNOW THIS. IT'S THE MOST
REGRESSIVE TAX YOU CAN BRING.
CURRENTLY IN SEATTLE, WE HAVE
ONE OF THE MOST OR ONE OF THE
HIGHEST SALES TAXES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. AND I AM ALSO COMPELLED
BY THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SOME OF
OUR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS WHO
HAVE TO USE A CAR. IF YOU'RE A
DOMESTIC WORKER, YOU DON'T HAVE
A CHOICE TO USE PUBLIC TRANSIT,
TRANSIT. SO WE HAVE TO BE
MINDFUL THAT THAT PERSON WOULD
ALSO BE PAYING INTO THIS SYSTEM,
AND THEY MAY OR MAY NOT BE
UTILIZING IT FOR FOR WORK. THAT
IS NOT A REASON NOT TO SUPPORT
IT. BUT I AM COMPELLED BY THE
FACT THAT FOLKS ARE PAYING MORE
AND MORE BY WAY OF SALES TAX,
WHICH CURRENTLY ONLY MOSTLY
GROCERIES, ARE EXEMPT FROM. EVEN
WITH THE MILLIONAIRE'S TAX THAT
HAS SOME ADDITIONAL EXEMPTIONS
THAT DOES NOT KICK IN UNTIL
2029. AND IT DOES NOT EXEMPT
EVERYTHING. YOU STILL HAVE TO
PAY FOR THINGS LIKE FEMININE
HYGIENE PRODUCTS, CLOTHING,
SHOES. IF YOU'RE A PARENT, YOU
KNOW, DEPENDING ON THE AGE OF
YOUR CHILD, YOU'RE BUYING SHOES
EVERY FEW MONTHS. SO, YOU KNOW,
EVERY LITTLE BIT THAT, THAT OUR
LOW INCOME RESIDENTS CAN KEEP IN
THEIR POCKET IS IMPORTANT. SO TO
ME, YOU KNOW, THE BASE PLUS
INFLATION WAS A PRUDENT WAY TO
GO WHILE STILL, YOU KNOW, STILL
SUPPORTING TRANSIT WHILE AT THE
SAME TIME SUPPORTING OUR WORKING
FAMILIES THAT ALSO PAY SALES
TAX. SO IT'S A DIFFICULT
DECISION. AND HERE WE ARE. SO
FOR THESE REASONS, YOU KNOW, I
AM GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS
PARTICULAR AMENDMENT. BUT AGAIN,
PLEASE KNOW THAT WHEN WE SIT UP
HERE, WE HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH
VERY DIFFICULT CHOICES. AND WHAT
I DON'T WANT TO BE SAID IS THAT
WE DO NOT SUPPORT TRANSIT. I
VERY MUCH MORE SO THAN THAN I
THINK SOME OTHER FOLKS
DEFINITELY 100% SUPPORT PUBLIC
TRANSIT, SINCE IT'S WHAT MY
FAMILY USED GROWING UP. AND I
USE, LIKE I SAID, FOR, FOR THE
FIRST 30 YEARS OF MY LIFE. SO
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. WE DO
HAVE TO HAVE THESE
CONVERSATIONS, AND WE DO NEED TO
CONSIDER THE IMPACTS ON OUR LOW
INCOME RESIDENTS WHEN WE PASS
THINGS LIKE SALES TAX IS IT'S
WHY LAST YEAR I ACTUALLY DID NOT
VOTE. I WAS THE LONE VOTE
AGAINST THAT SALES TAX INCREASE
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. BUT IT MAKES
A DIFFERENCE. WE PASSED ONE LAST
YEAR AND NOW THIS IS ANOTHER ONE
THIS YEAR. SO WE TALK ABOUT
AFFORDABILITY. BUT THEN WE'RE
RAISING THE SALES TAX. SO I'M
HERE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL TO
FIGURE OUT OTHER WAYS THAT WE
CAN SUPPORT TRANSIT AND THE
OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED TO
SUPPORT, LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY ON
BEHALF OF OUR RESIDENTS. BUT I
DO NOT TAKE THESE DECISIONS
LIGHTLY, AND I'M NOT SAYING WE
CAN'T SUPPORT TRANSIT WITH A
SALES TAX INCREASE. I'M SAYING
WE OUGHT TO CONSIDER
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S PROPOSAL
THAT DOES NOT DOUBLE IT, BUT
THAT BRINGS THE BASE PLUS
INFLATION. SO WE'RE NOT LOSING
SERVICE. I THINK THAT'S
IMPORTANT, AND WE OWE IT TO OUR
LOW INCOME RESIDENTS AND THE
FOLKS THAT WE, YOU KNOW, THE,
THE, THE, THIS AFFORDABILITY
PIECE TO AT LEAST CONSIDER THIS.
THANK YOU
-- CHAIR THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA VICE CHAIR,
RINCK. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR SAKA. I WANT
TO START BY SAYING THAT I THINK
THE POINTS ABOUT COORDINATION
ACROSS CITY, COUNTY AND STATE IN
TERMS OF TAX APPROACH BY
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ARE VERY
WELL TAKEN. I HOPE THAT THIS IS
A CATALYST FOR ALL OF US TO BE
WORKING ACROSS LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT, TO BE CONSIDERING
THE LARGER PICTURE AS IT RELATES
TO TAX BURDEN AND HOW WE HAVE TO
BALANCE OUR TAX CODE. SO IT IS
MORE FAIR TO WORKING PEOPLE. THE
CONCERN THAT I'VE HAD ABOUT OUR
REGRESSIVE TAX SYSTEM IS WHY
ALONG WHY I, ALONG WITH
COUNCILMEMBER LIN, BROUGHT
FORWARD AMENDMENTS TO COMMIT US
TO PARTNERING WITH THE COUNTY
AND STATE TO FIND ALTERNATIVE
FUNDING SOURCES TO FUND OUR
TRANSIT, IF IMPLEMENTED, THAT
WOULD THEN LOWER OUR RELIANCE ON
SALES TAX. BUT PUTTING MY
OPINING OVER OUR REGRESSIVE TAX
SYSTEM ASIDE, I AM CONCERNED
ABOUT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD LOCK US
INTO. IT'S BEEN MADE CLEAR THAT
IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE LEVEL
OF SERVICE FOR BUS LEVELS OVER
THE NEXT TEN YEARS, THIS. THIS
.22 5% RATE WOULD ESSENTIALLY
LOCK US INTO OUR CURRENT LEVELS
OF BUS SERVICE FOR THE NEXT TEN
YEARS. RATHER THAN EXPAND THAT
ACCESS. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
SAVE THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD ABOUT
$1 A MONTH, AND THAT'S AT THE
EXPENSE OF A EXPANSION OF
100,000 BUS SERVICE HOURS.
THAT'S NOT A TRADE OFF I CAN
SUPPORT TODAY. I'LL ALSO LIFT
UP THAT CAR. OWNERSHIP IS
EXPENSIVE. THE AVERAGE COST OF
CAR OWNERSHIP IN THE US IS
$11,000 A YEAR. THAT IS ABOUT
$900 A MONTH. SO IF SOMEONE CAN
GET BY IN THIS CITY WITHOUT A
CAR BECAUSE OF THIS EXPANSION TO
BUS SERVICE TO THE LEVEL, MAYBE
THEY CAN SELL THEIR CAR AND THAT
THAT'S MONEY BACK IN FOLKS'S
POCKET. I'LL ALSO LIFT UP THAT
60% OF OUR LOCAL EMISSIONS
LOCALLY IN CITY OF SEATTLE COME
FROM TRANSPORTATION, AND THAT'S
PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY CARS. SO THE
BEST WAY THAT WE CAN GET FOLKS
TO GET OUT OF THEIR CARS AND
ONTO THE BUS IS IF THEY KNOW
THAT THE BUS IS GOING TO COME
QUICKLY AND THEY CAN RELY ON IT.
SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS
AMENDMENT TODAY, BUT I DO THINK
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE FURTHER
DISCUSSION.
-- THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. RINCK
QUICK TIME CHECK. I NOTE THAT IT
IS NOON, 2.5 HOURS INTO THIS
MEETING. THE AMENDMENTS THAT I
EXPECTED TO HAVE IN HERE, THE
MOST DISCUSSION AND DEBATE OVER
AMENDMENTS ONE AND THIS ONE. SO,
SO HOPEFULLY AFTER THIS, WE'LL
CONTINUE TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS
HERE. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL
AT OUR OUR OWN TIME. LAST BUT
NOT LEAST, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH. CHAIR
SAKA. AND THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS TODAY
AND YOUR COMMENTS AROUND BEING
ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
AROUND AFFORDABILITY. I THINK,
YOU KNOW, EARLIER, OBVIOUSLY, I
BROUGHT FORWARD SOMETHING THAT I
WANTED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
ABOUT. SO I APPRECIATE THAT
INTENT. I WANTED TO TURN BACK TO
CENTRAL STAFF JUST FOR A MOMENT
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, FOR THOSE
COMMENTS AND YOUR YOUR
INCREDIBLE MATH. I THINK WE'VE
HAD A COUPLE OF CONVERSATIONS ON
THE DAIS HERE. CENTRAL STAFF,
CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY SOMETHING
FOR ME? I KNOW THAT WE'VE TALKED
OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS WHEN
THIS HAS BEEN IN COMMITTEE
AROUND WHAT THE WHAT IT WOULD
TAKE IN TERMS OF THE SALES TAX
TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE
CONTINUITY AND NOT A LOSS OF
SERVICE. AND SO I WANT TO SAY
THAT NUMBER WAS 0.23%, 0.223%.
OR CAN YOU JUST AFFIRM THAT FOR
ME REALLY QUICKLY?
-- YES, IT WAS 0.223. THIS
AMENDMENT SEEKS TO NOT JUST KEEP
THE TRANSIT AT STATUS QUO, BUT
ALSO SOUGHT TO ALLOW THE
INCREASE IN TRANSIT ACCESS
PROGRAM SPENDING. SO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE PROPOSED IT
AT THE .225. THANK YOU. CORRECT.
.223.
-- THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO
BRING THAT UP JUST BECAUSE I
KNOW A LOT OF THERE'S BEEN A LOT
OF PUBLIC DISCOURSE AROUND THE
DOUBLING OF THE SALES TAX. AND I
JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO REVISIT
THE FACT THAT IN ORDER TO JUST
MAINTAIN OUR SERVICE LEVELS, WE
WOULD HAVE TO INCREASE IT FROM
THE EXISTING .15 TO THAT POINT
TWO, TWO, THREE, JUST TO
MAINTAIN OUR SERVICE LEVELS. SO
I DON'T TAKE THIS DECISION THAT
WE'RE MAKING TODAY LIGHTLY AT
ALL, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT VOTERS HAVE THAT
UNDERSTANDING OF IN ORDER TO DO
WHAT WE HAVE HEARD SO MUCH
DURING THE PERIOD THAT WE'VE
BEEN CONSIDERING, THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE, WHICH IS TO
EXPAND TRANSIT SERVICE SO THAT
WE CAN REACH MORE PEOPLE. WE WE
HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY GO
BACK AND INCREASE BEYOND THAT
BARE MINIMUM AT 0.223% AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, I
APPRECIATE YOU REVISED THIS FROM
THE PREVIOUS MEASURE, WHICH WAS
0.2%, WHICH WE KNOW WOULD HAVE
BEEN A REDUCTION BASED ON
INFLATION. HOWEVER, FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, WHEN I CONTINUE TO
HEAR FROM INDIVIDUAL VOTERS AND
INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS, IT'S BEEN
CLEAR THAT WE NEED ADDITIONAL
TRANSIT INVESTMENTS AND THAT WE
NEED THOSE ADDITIONAL TRANSIT
INVESTMENTS TO GET TO
ACCESSIBILITY, THAT WE NEED THEM
TO GET TO OUR CLIMATE GOALS, AND
ALSO THAT THEY'RE A PART OF
AFFORDABILITY SO THAT PEOPLE
HAVE OPTIONS BEYOND CAR
OWNERSHIP. I DO THINK THAT IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. SO I WILL
NOT BE VOTING IN SUPPORT OF THIS
TODAY. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I
JUST SHARE. FIRST, I WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AS
THE PRIME SPONSOR OF THIS
AMENDMENT. ALSO, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, AS THE CO-SPONSOR OF
THIS AMENDMENT. YOUR AMENDMENT
RAISES NONTRIVIAL, VERY
IMPORTANT ISSUES RELATED TO
AFFORDABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
INCLUDING WHEN WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, THE
CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF EVERY
SINGLE TAX MEASURE AND INCREASE
INCREMENTALLY THAT IS MADE AT
THE STATE PROPERTY TAX LEVEL.
THE SALES TAX LEVEL, ALL THE
LEVELS, THE LEVERS OF TAXATION
AUTHORITY THAT OUR CITY HAS AS A
LOCAL MUNICIPALITY, COMPOUNDING
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF THOSE YOURS
RAISES THOSE REALLY IMPORTANT
ISSUES AS IT RELATES TO
AFFORDABILITY. AND WHAT I LIKE
ABOUT YOUR AMENDMENT, YOUR
PROPOSAL HERE IS THAT IT
DOESN'T RELY ON PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE FERRIES DEPENDENT
DEPENDENCIES OR CONTINGENCIES
THAT MAY HAPPEN OR MAY NOT IT IT
ALLOWS IT WOULD ALLOW US AS A
CITY TO CONTROL OUR
CONTROLLABLES AND SAY ALL THAT
STUFF MIGHT HAPPEN. YES. AND AND
WE'RE STILL GOING TO TAKE
ACTION TODAY, AND WE'RE STILL
GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO ADDRESS
AFFORDABILITY TODAY. THAT'S WHAT
I LOVE ABOUT IT. SO I WANT TO
THANK YOU. AND THAT IS BOLD.
PROBABLY SOME OF THE PROBABLY
THE MOST SINGULAR, MOST BOLD
AMENDMENT THAT WE'VE SEEN TODAY.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN THAT LEADERSHIP.
IT'S HARD WORK. GOT TO PUT
YOURSELF OUT THERE. YOU GOT TO
INITIATE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS.
AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THE
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF THESE
VARIOUS TAX INCREASES DOES HAVE
AN IMPACT THAT SQUEEZING PEOPLE
OUT, PRICING PEOPLE OUT IMPACTS
AFFORDABILITY. AND AT A AT A
CERTAIN POINT WHEN WE'RE TALKING
THIS LEVY OVER HERE, THIS LEVY
OVER HERE, SALES TAX OVER HERE,
WE'RE PLAYING A EFFECTIVELY A
MUSICAL CHAIRS GAME. AT SOME
POINT, THE MUSIC'S GOING TO
STOP. AND SOME COMMUNITY
PRIORITY IS GOING TO BE LEFT
UNDERFUNDED BECAUSE OUR HANDS
ARE EFFECTIVELY TIED
-- THAT'S TRUE.
-- BUT I WOULD POSIT TO YOU THAT
IT SHOULD NOT BE TRANSIT SHOULD
NOT BE TRANSIT. AFFORDABILITY IS
IMPORTANT. BUT I DON'T THINK WE
CAN STOP INVESTING IN TRANSIT
DESPITE SOME OF THESE HUGELY
IMPACTFUL AFFORDABILITY
CONCERNS. BECAUSE TRANSIT IS SO
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY
FOR SO MANY REASONS TRANSIT
TODAY, TRANSIT TOMORROW, AND
TRANSIT FOREVER CAN'T LET
TRANSIT BE LEFT WITHOUT THAT
LEFT STANDING WHEN THE MUSIC
STOPS. AND THIS MUSICAL CHAIRS
GAME. BUT I STILL APPRECIATE YOU
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
APPRECIATE YOUR BOLD LEADERSHIP.
I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING IT, BUT
I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR FOR
YOU INITIATING THIS CONVERSATION
AS CHAIR OR EXCUSE ME, AS
SPONSOR OF THIS AMENDMENT, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THE LAST
WORD. IS IT? WAIT, IS THAT A NEW
HAND? COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
FIRST, I HOPE IT'S QUICK. AND
THEN. AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
-- THANK YOU, CHAIR. THIS ISN'T
A FUNNY, BUT THE COMMENT ABOUT
QUICK MADE ME LAUGH. THANK YOU
FOR RECOGNIZING ME. I REALLY
JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT
YOU JUST SAID BECAUSE AGAIN, I
DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO LEAVE HERE
THINKING THAT SOMEHOW
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND I DO
NOT SUPPORT TRANSIT. SORRY,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE I THREW YOU
IN THERE, BUT THIS IS NOT STOP.
WE'RE NOT STOPPING INVESTING IN
TRANSIT. WE ARE MERELY SAYING
AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS IS A
SALES TAX INCREASE THAT HAS HUGE
IMPACTS FOR OUR LOW INCOME
FOLKS, OUR HIGH EARNERS, MAYBE
NOT AS MUCH, BUT OUR LOW INCOME
FOLKS. THIS CAN HAVE A HUGE
IMPACT. SO WE'RE SAYING, LET'S
MAKE SURE WE DO NOT DECREASE
TRANSIT. WE KEEP IT WHERE IT IS.
THAT'S WHY IT'S IS THE
INFLATIONARY PIECE IS IN HERE.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE. IT
SAID THAT SOMEHOW WE'RE NOT
INVESTING IN TRANSIT. WE 100%
ARE INVESTING IN TRANSIT.
WHETHER THIS ONE PASSES OR THE
THE UNDERLYING BILL PASSES, WE
ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO INVEST
IN TRANSIT. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. WELL SAID. I KNOW YOU
BOTH CARE DEEPLY ABOUT TRANSIT
AND HAVE DEMONSTRATED YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO INVEST IN TRANSIT
IN SO MANY WAYS. I APPRECIATE
THAT COMMENT. THANK YOU FOR THE
CLARIFICATION. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. FINALLY, AS PRIME
SPONSOR, RECOGNIZE ANY FINAL
COMMENTS?
-- THANK YOU CHAIR, I
APPRECIATE.
-- EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS. AND FOR
THOSE OUT THERE, I THINK ALL MY
MY COLLEAGUES KNOW THAT A ONE
EIGHT VOTES KIND OF LONELY. SO I
JUST WANT AS AS CHAIR KNOWS FROM
THE PREVIOUS ONE. SO I JUST WANT
TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
FOR HER VOTE TO. SO WE DON'T
HAVE THE THE LONELY ONE EIGHT
VOTE. AND AGAIN, I RECOGNIZE IT,
BUT THAT IS. THE MAIN THRUST OF
MY AMENDMENT WAS THE
AFFORDABILITY. SO THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. WILL THE COMMITTEE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT 13,
VERSION TWO TO THE BILL.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. I
COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE. I COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. STRAUSS.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. FOSTER.
-- NO.
-- COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK.
-- NO.
-- CHAIR SAKA.
-- NO.
-- CHAIR. THERE ARE TWO VOTES
FOR AND SEVEN VOTES OPPOSED.
-- RIGHT. THE MOTION FAILS AND
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT ADOPTED.
MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ITEMS IN
THAT GROUP. B, WE SPECIFICALLY,
AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, WITHDREW AMENDMENT
NUMBER 21, VERSION ONE. SO
MOVING ON TO.
-- I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO.
-- SURE, SURE. YEAH. BUT LET
LET'S LET'S SPEAK TO IT. IF
YOU WANT TO MOVE IT, YOU CAN
TOO. BUT WE. BUT FEEL FREE TO.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED ACTUALLY.
FIRST, CAN WE HAVE CENTRAL
STAFF. WOULD YOU MIND BRIEFING.
BRIEFING. AMENDMENT 21 VERSION
ONE FIRST AND THEN WE'LL. THEN
WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO TO THE
AMENDMENT SPONSOR.
-- WE DON'T NEED TO BRIEF IT. I
CAN JUST MOVE TO TO WITHDRAW IT.
BUT THEN I WANT.
-- TO.
-- IT'S ALREADY ALREADY BEEN
WITHDRAWN. SO, SO BUT IF YOU.
-- WITHDREW IT.
-- DIDN'T DIDN'T.
-- TOLD ME TO WAIT TILL NOW.
-- OKAY. SORRY. SORRY. LOT GOING
ON NOW. THAT'S MY THAT'S MY
APOLOGIES. NOW I'M CONFUSED.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. GO
AHEAD. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR. I AM GOING
TO BE WITHDRAWING AMENDMENT
NUMBER 21, BUT I WILL BE
BRINGING IT. I'M GOING TO BE
AMENDING IT AND BRINGING AND
BRINGING IT TO FULL COUNCIL.
I'M GOING TO BE EXPANDING TO
INCLUDE ALL. IT'S A REPORT.
THIS WAS A REPORT. I'M GOING TO
BE AMENDING IT TO INCLUDE ALL
MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOLS
AND COMMUNITY CENTERS AS A WHAT
I WILL BE REQUESTING IS START TO
LOOK AT IN TERMS OF SERVICE,
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE BUSSES
HAVE BEEN VERY PACKED AND KIDS
CAN'T GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME OR
TO THEIR AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
ON TIME. AND SO IT'S NOT JUST
THE KIDS IN MY DISTRICT, AT MY
SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS,
BUT AT OTHERS. SO I WILL BE
BRINGING THIS BACK TO MAKE SURE
IT'S, IT'S INCLUDES ACROSS THE
CITY. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. DO WE HAVE TO MOVE TO
WITHDRAW? NO. OKAY. WE CAN JUST
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE. OKAY.
WE WILL THEREFORE MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT ONE, WHICH IS AMENDMENT
NUMBER TEN, VERSION TWO, CENTRAL
STAFF, OR ACTUALLY FIRST MOTION
WILL BE IN ORDER IF WE WANT TO
DISCUSS THAT ONE.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR. I MOVE
AMENDMENT TEN TO THE BILL
-- SECOND.
-- IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
CONSIDER PASSAGE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT TEN TO THE BILL. WILL
CENTRAL STAFF PLEASE BRIEF THE
BILL? THE AMENDMENT.
-- AMENDMENT TEN, VERSION TWO TO
COUNCIL BILL ONE, 21226 IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
ADD TO THE SCOPE OF PRIORITIZED
AND ALLOWABLE USES OF REVENUE
GENERATED BY THE STM TO ALLOW
SUPPORT OF TRANSIT NETWORK
CONNECTIONS TO REGIONAL TRANSIT
OR SORRY REGIONAL CENTERS AS
IDENTIFIED IN THE CITY'S
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THE CITY'S
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IDENTIFIES
SEVEN DIFFERENT REGIONAL CENTERS
KNOWN FOR THEIR KEY HUBS FOR
GROWTH, JOBS AND SERVICES, AND
INCLUDES DOWNTOWN NORTHGATE,
UPTOWN, SOUTH LAKE UNION,
CAPITOL HILL, FIRST HILL
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT AND BALLARD.
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IS SPONSOR
OF THE AMENDMENT. YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK TO YOUR
AMENDMENT.
-- THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES, FOR THE
CONSIDERATION OF THIS AMENDMENT.
WE HAVE TO PAIR OUR
TRANSPORTATION AND OUR LAND USE
DECISIONS TOGETHER AS THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE IS
CURRENTLY WRITTEN, DIRECT
SERVICE TO THE REGIONAL CENTER
OF BALLARD IS UNATTAINABLE.
IT'S NOT ALLOWED, ACTUALLY, AS
WE HEARD IN COMMITTEE HERE, THE
SUGGESTIONS WERE TO USE THE
ROUTE 40, WHICH IS A MILK RUN
THROUGH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
REGIONAL CENTERS THAT EVENTUALLY
GETS TO THE BALLARD REGIONAL
CENTER, OR TO USE THE RAPID
RIDE, WHICH GOES THROUGH UPTOWN.
AND WHEN QUESTIONS WERE PRESSED
THERE, IT WAS SHARED THAT WE
SHOULD PUT IN MORE BUS LANES.
BUT YOU CAN'T PUT A BUS LANE ON
A ONE LANE ROAD. I GUESS I'M
QUITE DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS WAS
NOT AN ALLOWABLE USE WHEN IT WAS
TRANSMITTED TO US, AND THIS
SIMPLY STATES THAT IF WE'RE
GOING TO INCREASE OUR HOUSING
AND JOB CAPACITIES BASED ON OUR
LAND USE CODE, WE SHOULD ALSO BE
CREATING DIRECT SERVICE BETWEEN
OUR REGIONAL CENTERS AND BETWEEN
OUR REGIONAL CENTERS AND OUR
LIGHT RAIL STATIONS. AS YOU'VE
NOTICED, I HAVE NOT I HAVE NOT
STATED SPECIFIC BUS ROUTES
BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS
BEFORE US TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE
THIS, AS WELL AS WE KEPT IT
CENTERED ON OUR LAND USE
DECISIONS. BECAUSE IF CHAIR SAKA
IF YOU VOTE TO PUT A REGIONAL
CENTER IN WEST SEATTLE, WE
SHOULD BE GIVING YOU DIRECT
SERVICE AS WELL. AND THAT GOES
ACROSS THE BOARD, RIGHT WHERE WE
CHOOSE WITHIN OUR CITY. THAT
SHOULD BE THE JOB AND GROWTH
CENTERS. WE SHOULD ALSO BE
CREATING DIRECT TRANSIT THERE
BETWEEN OUR DOWNTOWN, OTHER
REGIONAL CENTERS AND LIGHT RAIL.
WOULD LOVE TO EARN EVERYONE'S
SUPPORT. THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS COLLEAGUES. ANY
COMMENTS? QUESTIONS ON THE
AMENDMENT BEFORE US? AND FOR
CLARITY, WE ARE TALKING RIGHT
NOW ABOUT AMENDMENT
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AMENDMENT
TEN, VERSION TWO. ANY COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS ON THAT HEARING?
SEEING NO COMMENTS. QUESTIONS.
I'LL JUST SAY COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD I LIKE
THIS AMENDMENT. IT MAKES SENSE.
THANK YOU FOR NOT CALLING OUT,
YOU KNOW, KIND OF SPECIFICITY,
SPECIFICITY, LEVEL LINE
DECISIONS INSTEAD, YOU KNOW,
CENTERING IT ON, YOU KNOW,
FRAMEWORK AND OBJECTIVE
CRITERIA. I SUPPORT THIS
AMENDMENT AND WOULD HAVE
INCLUDED IT IN AND WOULD HAVE
LOVED TO INCLUDE IT IN THE
CHAIR'S PACKAGE. BUT THE
REQUEST WAS MADE TO HAVE IT
DISCUSSED SEPARATELY. SO HERE WE
ARE. SO MAKE SENSE. I'M GOING TO
BE SUPPORTING IT. AND THERE WE
GO. ALL RIGHT. WELL WILL THE
COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER TEN,
VERSION TWO.
-- COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA. I
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. STRAUSS.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
-- YES.
-- CHAIR SAKA.
-- AYE.
-- CHAIR. THERE ARE NINE VOTES
FOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.
-- ALL RIGHT. THE AMENDMENT
PASSES IS APPROVED AND OR THE
MOTION CARRIES AND THE AMENDMENT
NUMBER TEN, VERSION TWO IS
ADOPTED. DISPATCH. WITH THAT,
THREE MORE FOLKS, THREE MORE
COLLEAGUES. THE NEXT ONE UP FOR
DISCUSSION IS AMENDMENT NUMBER
24, VERSION ONE, OR SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. A MOTION
WOULD BE IN ORDER.
-- BEFORE MOVING.
-- HIM OKAY ALL RIGHT. THERE ARE
SOME. SO WITH RESPECT TO
AMENDMENTS 24 AND 29, THEY
CONFLICT WITH EACH OTHER. AND
SO. AND IF ONE PASSES, WE'LL
LEARN MORE ABOUT IT. I'M NOT
GOING TO TALK. I'M GOING TO LET
CENTRAL STAFF BRIEF AMENDMENT
NUMBERS 24 AND THEN 29. AND THEN
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE
AMENDMENT SPONSORS TO SPEAK TO
THEIR VARIOUS AMENDMENTS. AND
THEN AND THEN WE WILL MOVE THE
FIRST AMENDMENT IN NUMERICAL
ORDER. CENTRAL STAFF.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR. THE REASON
THAT AMENDMENTS 24 AND 29 ARE IN
CONFLICT IS BECAUSE THEY WOULD
BOTH RAISE THE MINIMUM
PERCENTAGE OF SEATTLE TRANSIT,
MEASURE REVENUES THAT ARE
ALLOCATED TO TRANSIT SERVICE.
AMENDMENT 24 WOULD INCREASE THAT
PERCENTAGE TO 65%, AND AMENDMENT
29 WOULD INCREASE THAT
PERCENTAGE TO 75%. SO IF IF THIS
COMMITTEE PASSES AMENDMENT 24,
AMENDMENT 29 CANNOT BE VOTED ON
I WILL BRIEFLY DESCRIBE BOTH OF
THE AMENDMENTS. AMENDMENT 24 TO
COUNCIL BILL ONE, TWO, 1226 IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. THIS AMENDMENT IS IS
PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH
REVISING THE ALLOWABLE SPENDING
CATEGORIES OF PROPOSITION
REVENUES, AND IT IS THROUGH
THOSE REVISIONS THAT THE
PROPOSED CHANGE IN TRANSIT
SERVICE MINIMUM IS COMES ABOUT.
AMENDMENT 24 WOULD DO THE
FOLLOWING. IT WOULD REDUCE THE
MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF
INFRASTRUCTURE, MAINTENANCE AND
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT SPENDING
FROM 5 MILLION PER YEAR TO 2
MILLION PER YEAR. IT WOULD
EXPAND THE CATEGORY OF ALLOWABLE
INFRASTRUCTURE, MAINTENANCE AND
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT SPENDING TO
INCLUDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOUND
TRANSIT. THREE PROJECTS,
INCLUDING THE GRAHAM STREET
INFILL STATION, INFILL STATION,
WEST SEATTLE LINK EXTENSION AND
BALLARD LINK EXTENSION, AND
WOULD REVISE THE DESCRIPTION OF
SOUND TRANSIT THREE STAFFING
SPENT OF THE SOUND TRANSIT THREE
STAFFING SPENDING CATEGORY TO
CLARIFY ITS STAFFING COSTS.
SEPARATE FROM THE REVISED
CAPITAL SPENDING ALLOWANCE. AND
FINALLY, IT WOULD INCREASE THE
MINIMUM PERCENTAGE OF US OF
REVENUES FOR TRANSIT SERVICE
FROM 60%, AS IS EXPRESSED IN
SECTION THREE OF THE BILL, TO
65%. MOVING ON TO AMENDMENT 29,
AMENDMENT 29 IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, AND IT
WOULD SIMPLY RAISE THE MINIMUM
SPENDING ON TRANSIT SERVICE IN
SECTION THREE OF THE BILL. IT
WOULD REVISE THE 60% MINIMUM TO
A 75% MINIMUM.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND WE'LL NOW MOVE IT OVER NEXT
TO VICE CHAIR RINCK TO SPEAK TO
HER AMENDMENT. THEN WE'LL MOVE
IT TO COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS TO
SPEAK TO HIS CONFLICTING
AMENDMENT. COUNCIL MEMBER, VICE
VICE CHAIR, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU.
-- I BELIEVE I NEED TO MOVE THE
AMENDMENT, SO I MOVE TO AMEND CB
121226 AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT
24.
-- SECOND.
-- ALL RIGHT. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED. HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR
DISCUSSION. COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR SAKA. AND
I'LL I'LL NOTE AT THE TOP.
ACTUALLY, I WANT TO GET INTO
JUST SOME OF THE MECHANICS OF
THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TWO
AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSED, JUST TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE CLEAR ON A
PROCEDURAL BASIS. CONSIDERING.
SO FOR AMENDMENT 29, ASSUMING A
IF AMENDMENT 24 WERE TO PASS AND
AMENDMENT 29 COULD NOT BE
CONSIDERED TODAY, IT COULD BE
BROUGHT TO FULL COUNCIL. IS THAT
CORRECT? THIS QUESTION FOR
CENTRAL STAFF.
-- I SEE I SEE THE THE I SEE THE
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY
CLERK'S OFFICE NODDING. I WILL
SAY YES, THAT IS CORRECT.
-- THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT IS CLEAR. FOR THE
PURPOSES OF CLARIFICATION,
BECAUSE AND I KNOW I'LL SPEAK
TO THIS WHEN HOPEFULLY WE HAVE A
CHANCE TO SPEAK TO AMENDMENT 29,
BECAUSE I WANT TO VOICE MY
SUPPORT FOR IT AND IS NOT MY
INTENT TO TAKE THAT POLICY
CONSIDERATION OFF THE TABLE
ENTIRELY. AND SO I JUST WANTED
TO GET CLEAR ON THAT PROCEDURAL
POINT COLLEAGUES. NOW, I'LL
SPEAK TO JUST THE AMENDMENT
BEFORE US, WHICH IS AMENDMENT
24. THIS AMENDMENT HAS THREE
MAIN COMPONENTS. FIRST, IT
SHIFTS $3 MILLION FROM CAPITAL
INTO AN ALLOWABLE SPEND TO ALLOW
FOR ADDITIONAL PURCHASE OF
TRANSIT SERVICE. SECOND, IT
NAMES ALLOWABLE SPENDING FOR
CAPITAL TO INCLUDE STREET THREE
PROJECTS FROM WEST SEATTLE,
BALLARD AND COMPLETION OF GRAHAM
STREET STATION, AND THEN THIRD.
IT RAISES THE REQUIRED
PERCENTAGE OF FUNDING IN THE
MEASURE UP FROM THE CURRENTLY
STATED 60%, UP TO 65%. SO I WANT
TO FIRST TOUCH ON THE POINT
RELATED TO CAPITAL SPENDING BY
STARTING BY PLACING OUR CAPITAL
SPENDING IN CONTEXT QUICKLY
WITHIN THE EIGHT YEAR, $1.55
BILLION TRANSPORTATION LEVY, WE
HAVE 160.5 MILLION FOR VISION
ZERO PROJECTS, 403 MILLION
OUTLINED FOR STREET MAINTENANCE,
193 MILLION OUTLINED FOR
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, INCLUDING
SIDEWALKS AND ADA IMPROVEMENTS,
AND 133.5 MILLION FOR BIKE
SAFETY. NOW, I SAID THIS BACK
WHEN THIS LEVY WAS UP FOR
CONSIDERATION. BACK WHEN I WAS
JUST A COMMUNITY MEMBER. I DO
WISH WE WENT LARGER WITH THE
LEVY IN ORDER TO INCREASE
ALLOWABLE CAPITAL SPENDING, BUT
I DO WANT TO ALSO UPLIFT THAT.
JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE DID
SECURE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR
CAPITAL THROUGH THE KING COUNTY
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT.
WITH THE MATTER OF THE CITY PASS
THROUGH, THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT
ON THE TABLE THAT WE'VE
DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT IN
COMMITTEE TODAY THAT WOULD HAVE
DIRECTED $3 MILLION AWAY FROM
SEATTLE AND ACTUALLY TO OTHER
JURISDICTIONS AROUND THE REGION.
AND COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO THANK
YOU AGAIN FOR SIGNING ON TO MY
LETTER TO KING COUNTY COUNCIL,
CALLING OUT THIS WHAT I THINK IS
FAIR TO SAY, A VERY UNFAIR
AMENDMENT TO OUR RESIDENTS. AND
IT WAS BETWEEN THAT AND THE
ADVOCACY OF MEMBERS OF THIS
BODY, INCLUDING CHAIR SAKA, AS
WELL AS COUNCILMEMBER LIN, WHO
HIMSELF WENT AND TESTIFIED
BEFORE KING COUNTY COUNCIL. THE
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
COMMITTEE, AGAINST THIS MEASURE.
AND BECAUSE OF THOSE EFFORTS
COMBINED, WE NOW WILL HAVE 4.8
MILLION IN NEW REVENUE COMING TO
CITY OF SEATTLE ANNUALLY. THAT
IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED TO
CAPITAL PROJECTS IN OUR RIGHT OF
WAY, INCLUDING SIDEWALKS, ADA
IMPROVEMENTS, AND OTHER
ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS. THAT ALL
BEING SAID, WE'VE LONG TALKED
ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WITH OUR
SIDEWALK NETWORK ACROSS THE
CITY, AND THIS IS A TREMENDOUS
CHALLENGE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. I
DON'T WANT TO NEGATE THAT IN
ANY WAY, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE
EFFORT OF ADDRESSING OUR MISSING
SIDEWALK REALLY NEEDS FOCUSED
ATTENTION AND ENERGY FROM THIS
BODY. AND I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN
EFFORTS IN PART OF THE FORMATION
OF THE REVENUE TASK FORCES TO
IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS FOR
BEING ABLE TO FUND THE WORK THAT
WE NEED TO BE DOING ON OUR
SIDEWALKS. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO
THIS EFFORT, COLLEAGUES,
PARTICULARLY WITH THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE, I'VE BEEN
CONSISTENT SINCE OUR FIRST
COMMITTEE MEETING HERE THAT I
BELIEVE THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURES TOP PRIORITY NEEDS TO
BE SERVICE HOURS, AS THE OTHER
FUNDING MEASURES THAT I
MENTIONED DON'T CONTRIBUTE TO
TRANSIT SERVICE LIKE THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE DOES. STM
REPRESENTS THE SINGLE LARGEST
LOCAL FUND FOR BUSSES, AND OUR
DOLLARS STRETCH FAR FOR THE COST
OF 4 TO 6 BLOCKS OF SIDEWALK. WE
CAN PURCHASE 2400 ANNUAL BUS
SERVICE HOURS OR 54 BUS TRIPS
PER WEEK. THAT LOOKS LIKE THE
25, WHICH TRAVELS FROM WESTWOOD
VILLAGE TO SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE
TO DOWNTOWN, IMPROVING FROM 60
MINUTES TO 30 MINUTES ON
SATURDAYS AND 30 MINUTES ON
SUNDAYS, RATHER THAN NO SERVICE
ON SUNDAYS AT ALL. I ALSO WANT
TO TOUCH ON THE OTHER ELEMENT OF
THIS AMENDMENT, PARTICULARLY TO
NAMING OF SOUND TRANSIT. THREE
PROJECTS. I JUST WANT TO BE
CLEAR ON THIS POINT THAT THE
NAMING OF STREET THREE PROJECTS
IN THE CAPITAL BUCKET IS MORE OF
A TRANSPARENCY MEASURE WITHOUT
THIS AMENDMENT, AND AS WRITTEN,
SPENDING ON STREET THREE
PROJECTS IS STILL AN ALLOWABLE
SPEND. FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW,
EARLIER THIS YEAR, MAYOR WILSON
PASSED AN AMENDMENT, THE SOUND
TRANSIT BOARD, TO FULLY FUND
GRAHAM STREET STATION. AND TO DO
THIS, THE CITY OF SEATTLE
PLEDGED TO ALLOCATE $30 MILLION
TO THE PROJECT IF OTHER FUNDING
SOURCES COULDN'T BE IDENTIFIED.
NOW, 20 MILLION OF THAT 30
MILLION WAS
-- IDENTIFIED WITHIN THIS STM
CAPITAL BUCKET. AND NOW WE
DON'T KNOW FOR SURE UNTIL THE
LATE 2020s IF THIS MONEY WILL BE
NECESSARY TO FUND THE PROJECT,
AS IT'S ONLY A BACKUP FUND. SO
IF IT ISN'T ULTIMATELY NEEDED,
THAT 2 MILLION COULD BE SPENT ON
CAPITAL PROJECTS A YEAR. SO FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS OUR
CHANCE TO INVEST IN AS MUCH BUS
SERVICE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD ADD AN
ADDITIONAL 90,000 SERVICE HOURS
OVER TEN YEARS, 9000 HOURS A
YEAR IN SERVICE IS ROUGHLY
EQUIVALENT TO DOUBLING THE
WEEKEND FREQUENCY EN ROUTE FROM
EVERY 30 MINUTES TO EVERY 15
MINUTES. BY INCREASING FUNDING
TO SERVICE. WE'RE ALSO
SUPPORTING OUR UNION MEMBER
TRANSIT OPERATORS, AND WE'RE
IMPROVING THE ACCESS FOR RIDERS
WHO RELY ON THESE ROUTES EVERY
DAY. AND I'M PROUD THAT THIS
AMENDMENT HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE
NON DRIVERS ALLIANCE, AS WELL AS
THE TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD,
WHICH OVERSEES THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE FUNDS AND OUR
LOCAL BUS DRIVERS UNION. 8587.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. AGAIN
AMENDMENTS. 2429 WERE PRESENTED
TOGETHER. WE KNOW THAT IF
AMENDMENT 24 PASSES, AMENDMENT
29 CANNOT BE VOTED ON. BUT WE
ALSO LEARNED, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE REALM OF
POSSIBILITY FOR THE FULL FINAL
VOTE ON AT FULL COUNCIL ON
TUESDAY. THE ORIGINAL INTENT
COMING INTO THIS CONVERSATION
FROM A PROCEDURAL PROCESS
PERSPECTIVE, WAS TO BRING BOTH
ITEMS, BOTH ITEMS BE ABLE TO BE
DISCUSSED BY THE SPONSORS AND
THEN AND THEN MOVE THE FIRST ONE
IN SEQUENTIAL ORDER. THAT SAID,
THAT'S MORE OF A FORM OVER
SUBSTANCE DISTINCTION IN MY
MIND. SO COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO
RECOGNIZE YOU NEXT TO BECAUSE WE
DO HAVE A PENDING MOTION ON
AMENDMENT 24, I'M GOING TO
RECOGNIZE YOU TO DISCUSS
AMENDMENT 24 IN THE CONTEXT OF
YOUR AMENDMENT 29.
-- THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A
COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR CENTRAL
STAFF. CENTRAL. THANK YOU FOR
BRIEFING US ON THE AMENDMENT
BEFORE US. CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT
WITHOUT THIS AMENDMENT, WE CAN
STILL USE THE FUNDS WITHIN THE
MEASURE TO PAY FOR PROJECTS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE WEST SEATTLE
EXTENSION, THE GRAHAM STREET
STATION AND THE BALLARD LINK
EXTENSION? IS THAT CORRECT
-- I DON'T HAVE THAT
INFORMATION AT MY FINGERTIPS, I
APOLOGIZE. I WILL FOLLOW UP.
-- MAYBE I WILL SHARE THE
PROACTIVE STATEMENT THAT I HAVE
RECEIVED FROM CENTRAL STAFF IN
THE PAST WEEKS THAT WE WOULD BE
ABLE TO. AND AS THE SPONSORS
COMMENTS JUST MENTIONED, THAT WE
WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THE FUNDS
WITHIN THIS MEASURE TO SUPPORT
OUR WORK WITH SOUND TRANSIT. IS
THERE ANY DIFFERENCE OF OPINION
TODAY?
-- THERE'S THERE'S NO THERE'S NO
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. I'LL LET
AMANDA FIELD THIS QUESTION.
-- FANTASTIC.
-- THANK YOU.
-- YES. THAT'S TRUE.
-- FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. AND AT
THE LAST COMMITTEE BRIEFING, I
BELIEVE IT WAS PRESENTED THAT
THE CURRENT SPEND PLAN FOR THIS
MEASURE IS 75%. IS THAT CORRECT
-- IN THE SPEND PLAN THAT
ACCOMPANIES THE THE BILL, THE
THE BILL THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING
TODAY, APPROXIMATELY 80% OF
REVENUES IS ALLOCATED FOR
TRANSIT SERVICE PURCHASE ON ON
AN ANNUAL BASIS.
-- SO EVEN MY 75% AMENDMENT IS
BELOW WHAT WE ARE TELLING VOTERS
THAT WE WILL SPEND ON IS THAT.
-- IT IS IT IS. IT IS BELOW THE
SPENDING LEVEL THAT IS ALLOCATED
IN THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE
SPENDING PLAN. THAT SPENDING
PLAN WOULD CHANGE. IF IF THERE
WERE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE
COST OF PROVIDING TRANSIT
SERVICE OR IN THE AMOUNT OF
REVENUES THAT'S COMING IN
VERSUS WHAT IS FORECAST. BUT YOU
ARE YOU ARE CORRECT. BASED ON
THE PLAN THAT ACCOMPANIES THE
BILL.
-- THANK YOU. I WILL SHARE WHAT
I APPRECIATE ABOUT AMENDMENT 24
AND THE CONCERNS THAT I HAVE.
WHAT I APPRECIATE ABOUT THIS IS
THAT IT IS VERY SPECIFIC IN HOW
WE WILL USE CONCRETE MONEY. I
DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE
SPENDING MONEY WITHIN THIS
MEASURE, ON CONCRETE OR ON
SIDEWALKS. THIS IS A TRANSIT
MEASURE AND THE IMPORTANT THING
THAT WAS IN THE CHAIR'S PACKAGE
THIS MORNING IS AS COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ NOTED, IF YOU CANNOT
ACCESS TRANSIT, YOU CAN'T USE
IT. AND THAT IS WHY AYE. WITHOUT
THAT PROVISION WITHIN AMENDMENT
24, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT. AND AS
CENTRAL STAFF JUST MENTIONED,
THE SPEND PLAN IS CURRENTLY 80%
OF THIS MEASURE. AND I BELIEVE
THAT 75% IS A PRUDENT NUMBER
BECAUSE THIS IS A TRANSIT
MEASURE. THIS ISN'T A
TRANSPORTATION MEASURE. THIS
ISN'T A SIDEWALKS MEASURE.
IT'S NOT A STAFFING MEASURE. WE
SHOULD BE RESERVING THE DOLLARS
WITHIN THIS MEASURE FOR TRANSIT.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO
ADDRESS BOTH AMENDMENT 24, IF I
CAN, AND AND COMMENT ON. 29
BECAUSE I AM A CO-SPONSOR.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR BEING A
CO-SPONSOR ON AMENDMENT 20 FOR
PROMOTING AND PROTECTING
ACCESSIBILITY. AND I GUESS MY
CONCERN WITH THIS AMENDMENT IS
AMENDMENT 24. I ALSO BELIEVE NOT
ONLY CONFLICTS WITH AMENDMENT
29, BUT TO SOME DEGREE CONFLICTS
WITH AMENDMENT 20. I SUPPORTED
AMENDMENT BY COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH
THERE IS THE. THE DIFFERENCE IN
THE PERCENTAGE, THERE IS STILL
THE MONEY THAT WE ARE HOPING THE
5 MILLION FOR WHAT WE'RE HOPING
FOR ACCESS AND SAFETY FOR OUR
COMMUNITY. I WILL BE VOTING NO
ON AMENDMENT 24 BECAUSE THIS IS
JUST A POSITION AS IT TAKES
ABOUT 30 MILLION AWAY FROM
ACCESSIBILITY AND SAFETY CAPITAL
PROJECTS. IF WE WERE LOOKING AT
A TEN YEAR SPAN, I BELIEVE TO
SOME DEGREE, AMENDMENT 24 ALSO
UNDERMINES THE WORK OF AMENDMENT
20 THAT WE WAS IN THE CHAIR'S
PACKAGE, AMENDMENT 20 CLARIFIES
ALLOWABLE INVESTMENTS OF TRANSIT
INFRASTRUCTURE, EXPLICITLY
INCLUDE ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN
CONNECTIONS. ADA IMPROVEMENTS,
AND PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE ACCESS
FOR PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY,
SENSORY, COGNITIVE, AND
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THIS
IS THE LANGUAGE THAT WE RECEIVED
FROM THE SEATTLE DISABILITY
COMMITTEE AND COMMISSION AND THE
STATE FOLKS FOR THE VISIBILITY
IMPAIRED FOLKS. AMENDMENT 24. I
STILL, AS YOU CAN JUST DO THE
MATH DECREASES THE TRANSIT
INFRASTRUCTURE BY 60% FROM 5
MILLION ANNUALLY TO 2 MILLION
ANNUALLY. THIS MONEY TAKES AWAY
FROM VITAL PROJECTS AND EFFORTS
IN THE STM TOWARDS ACCESSIBILITY
AND SAFETY. ALLOWED BY AMENDMENT
20, THE STM HAS A TOTAL
EXPENDITURE. AS I SHARED THIS
MORNING OF 1.4 BILLION OVER ITS
FULL TERM AND THE TOTAL
PERCENTAGE OF THIS MEASURE THAT
IS DEDICATED TO TRANSIT
INFRASTRUCTURE IS LESS THAN 4%.
I JUST CAN'T SEE IT CUTTING IT
ANY MORE. I SHOULD ADD AND THANK
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE BECAUSE WHEN
WE SAW THE ORIGINAL PLAN, IT WAS
MUCH LESS THAN 5 MILLION. SO I
DO WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE. AND OF COURSE, THE CHAIR
FOR BEING SUPPORTIVE TO SEE THAT
WE COULD AT LEAST GET IT UP TO 5
MILLION. AND I JUST WANT TO END
ON THIS NOTE, DECREASING THE
BUDGET FOR TRANSIT
INFRASTRUCTURE BUDGET BY 60% TO
2 MILLION ANNUALLY DELAYS THESE
IMPORTANT PROJECTS THAT ADVANCE
EQUITY, ACCESS AND SAFETY. BUT
MORE IMPORTANTLY, I BELIEVE WE
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE AND
SUPPORT A COMMUNITY THAT IS
OFTEN OVERLOOKED AND ABLE BODIED
WORLD. I WANT EVERYONE WHO USES
TRANSIT TO BE SEEN AND TO BE
SAFE. NOT EVERYBODY IS ABLE
BODIED TO ACCESS A BUS STOP
LIGHT RAIL TO PAY FOR AN UBER,
TO HAVE A FRIEND WITH A CAR TO
RIDE A BIKE OR HOP ON A SCOOTER.
AND SO $5 MILLION, LESS THAN 4%
OVER TEN YEARS, I THINK. WELL,
ACTUALLY, I THINK IT'S A SHAME.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE MORE
WILLING TO BE AND UNDERSTAND
THAT IN THIS JOB, DIPLOMACY AND
CONSENSUS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I
STILL THINK THAT THIS AMENDMENT
CONFLICTS WITH WHICH, AGAIN,
I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, YOU WERE A
CO-SPONSOR OF AMENDMENT 20, BUT
THAT AMENDMENT 24 CONFLICTS WITH
NOT ONLY MY AMENDMENT, BUT ALSO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AMENDMENT
29, WHICH I'M A CO-SPONSOR.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. WELL SAID THERE. LET'S
SEE. ANY OTHER. OKAY. YEAH.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR. CAN YOU
JUST CONFIRM CENTRAL STAFF ON
THE THE LAST TRANSIT MEASURE?
HOW MUCH WAS HAD BEEN PROPOSED
FOR THE CAPITAL ON THE CAPITAL
SIDE FOR ACCESSIBILITY AND OTHER
USES THAT REALLY SUPPORT TRANSIT
AND THE ABILITY TO USE TRANSIT I
THINK IT WAS IN THE 12 MILLION
RANGE, BUT I JUST WANT TO
CONFIRM, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE
THE ACTUAL NUMBER.
-- SO FROM WHAT I REMEMBER, THE
ORIGINAL STM HAD A AN INITIAL $9
MILLION CAPITAL FUNDING. AND
THEN WAS INTENDED TO DECREASE TO
3 MILLION. THAT NUMBER THEN WAS
LATER ADJUSTED BY THE CITY
COUNCIL AT VARIOUS POINTS, AND
IT CONTINUED TO INCREASE IT. AND
THAT WAS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND
UNDERSPEND RELATED TO KING
COUNTY METRO NOT BEING ABLE TO
STAFF UP THE THE TRANSIT
SERVICE. SO I THINK AT THE VERY
END, IT WAS AT 15.6 MILLION.,
-- 15 MILLION.
-- PER YEAR.
-- 15.6 WAS THE LAST YEAR'S
MAXIMUM SPEND IS WHAT I
REMEMBER.
-- AND I'M GOING TO TAKE
CHAIR'S PRIVILEGE HERE BECAUSE
THIS IS IMPORTANT. WE CRUNCHED
THE NUMBERS AND INCLUDING
WORKING WITH CENTRAL STAFF, YOU
KNOW, A MONTH OR TWO AGO. BUT IF
MY MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY.
SO THERE'S THE BASELINE AMOUNT
THAT WAS INCLUDED IN AUTHORIZING
THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION, THEN I
THINK THE MORE APPROPRIATE
NUMBERS ARE THE FOLLOWING. TWO
FOR WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
CURRENT SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE,
ARE THE REVISED LEGISLATIVE
MAXIMUM AMOUNTS. AND BY MY
RECOLLECTION, ON AVERAGE, UNDER
THE REVISED LEGISLATIVE MAXIMUM
AMOUNTS, IT WAS ROUGHLY EQUATED
TO BE ABOUT ROUGHLY $12.5
MILLION PER YEAR. THEN THE AND
THEN YOU LOOK AT THE ACTUALS,
WHAT WAS ACTUALLY SPENT. IT. IT
WAS ROUGHLY $7.5 MILLION PER
YEAR UNDER THE CURRENT SOON TO
BE EXPIRING MEASURE. AND AGAIN,
IMPORTANTLY, THAT MEASURE
REFLECTED A 0.15% SALES TAX. SO
IF YOU DOUBLE IT AND EXTRAPOLATE
IT OUT AND YOU WANTED TO COMPARE
APPLES TO APPLES, YOU WOULD HAVE
TO DOUBLE THOSE EXPENDITURES FOR
THE FOR THE SAME RATE ANYWAYS.
CENTRAL STAFF. GO AHEAD.
-- SO JUST MAKE A CORRECTION.
THE ORIGINAL. THE CURRENT STM
THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT THAT HAD
BEEN PROPOSED BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC HAD BEEN PLANNED AT 3
MILLION. AND THE. IN THE VERY
LAST YEAR, 16.4 MILLION IS WHAT
THE NUMBER HAD BEEN OR IS
CURRENTLY.
-- THANK YOU, CENTRAL STAFF. I
WAS THAT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW. I
THOUGHT IT WAS MORE IN THE 12
MILLION. 15 IS MORE. BUT THE
POINT BEING, FOR A. CAPITAL
NEEDS WERE NEEDED. I DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT WAS USED FOR, BUT I CAN
ONLY SURMISE IT WAS FOR
ACCESSIBILITY PIECES BECAUSE I
KNOW WE'VE HAD A D, A AND OTHER
TYPE OF OF ADJUSTMENTS THAT
WE'VE HAD TO MAKE. AND SO NOW
WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED IS THE
MAXIMUM IS ABOUT 5 MILLION. SO
IT'S A LOT LESS THAN WAS
INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL. AND
ALSO ALSO THE OR WHAT WE'VE
UTILIZED RATHER IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT
WAS. LAST YEAR WAS 15, BUT THE
YEAR BEFORE AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS
PRIOR, I DON'T KNOW.
-- I, I'M NOT SURE OF THE BUT
CAL HAS
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- JOINED US.
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- SO CAL.
-- COUNCILMEMBERS EVELYN CHOW
CENTRAL STAFF. I THINK IT'S
ALWAYS USEFUL TO REMEMBER THAT
THE LAST MEASURE CAME RIGHT AT
THE START OF THE COVID PANDEMIC.
WE FOUND OURSELVES WITH
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES PILING UP.
AND SO THERE WAS A DECISION MADE
BY PREVIOUS COUNCILS AND THE
EXECUTIVE TO DIVERT THOSE
RESOURCES TO DO MORE CAPITAL
PROJECTS IN SUPPORT OF TRANSIT.
SO THAT'S THAT. THAT DEFINITELY
CHANGES THE CHARACTER OF HOW WE
SPENT IN THE LAST MEASURE. THE
PREVIOUS MEASURE HAD A SMALL
CAPITAL COMPONENT THAT'S MORE IN
LINE WITH WHAT'S PROPOSED HERE.
BUT OUR RECENT EXPERIENCE HAS
BEEN TO DO MORE CAPITAL
PROJECTS.
-- BECAUSE THEY'RE NEEDED. I
MEAN, THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO
TAKE AWAY FROM THAT. SO ALL THAT
TO SAY THAT THE OH.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA I WOULD
JUST NOTE THAT ONE DIFFERENCE
THAT WE HAVE TODAY THAT WE
DIDN'T HAVE IN THE LAST MEASURE
IS THE PASSAGE OF THE 2024
TRANSPORTATION LEVY, WHICH
INCLUDES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR
CAPITAL SPENDING I THINK THERE
IS $30 MILLION IN THE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY FOR ADA
INVESTMENTS, $111 MILLION FOR
SIDEWALKS, WHETHER IT'S NEW
SIDEWALKS OR REPAIRING
SIDEWALKS. SO I'LL JUST THAT'S
A DIFFERENCE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE
THAT FUNDING SOURCE. SO GOING
FORWARD IN THIS, THIS NEW
REALITY THAT IS A SOURCE FOR US.
-- CHAIR'S PRIVILEGE TO LET THE
RECORD REFLECT THAT. WE ALSO HAD
TRANSPORTATION LEVY BEFORE IN
THE EARLIER MEASURE, THE 2014
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE THAT WAS
IN PLACE AT THE TIME TO COVER
SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THOSE SAME
EXACT THINGS. SO LET THE RECORD
REFLECT THAT. ALL RIGHT, GO
AHEAD. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- THANK YOU CHAIR. I WAS GOING
TO MAKE THAT EXACT POINT, SO
THANK YOU. SORRY. LET ME WRAP
UP. I AM TRYING TO GET TO THE
FACT THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
TO DO THIS. ACCESSIBILITY
PIECES. WE HEARD FROM
CONSTITUENTS WHO CAME FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT ALL THE TIMES WE HAD
PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT HOW
IMPORTANT IT WAS TO ENSURE WE
HAVE ACCESSIBILITY TO, TO BE
ABLE TO UTILIZE TRANSIT. SO BACK
TO COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, THANK
YOU FOR YOU'RE PUTTING IN. THAT
WAS THE POINT OF AMENDMENT 20,
WHICH AYE. I COSPONSORED, AND
FOR THOSE REASONS, AYE. I'M NOT
GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS
AMENDMENT BECAUSE THE THE
ACCESSIBILITY PIECE AND BEING
ABLE TO USE CAPITAL FOR
ACCESSIBILITY IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. AND THIS IS A REDUCED
AMOUNT OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN USING
BASED ON LAST YEAR'S NUMBER, AT
THE VERY LEAST. SO IT SEEMS LIKE
AN INCREASING NEED. THANK YOU
CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER YOU
RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR. AND
THANK YOU, CENTRAL STAFF. THIS
IS A MARATHON. I APPRECIATE YOU
ALL. I JUST WANTED TO, I GUESS,
SHARE A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS HERE
AND AND THEN I'LL JUST SORT OF
SHARE WHERE I'M AT. I, I REALLY
WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND IN
PARTICULAR FOR THE TRANSPARENCY
PIECES AROUND GRAHAM STREET
STATION, WEST SEATTLE STATION,
AND THE BALLARD LINK EXTENSION.
SO I'M GOING TO SPEAK TO THAT
BRIEFLY AND WHY I BELIEVE THOSE
ARE IMPORTANT THINGS. EVEN NO
MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS
AMENDMENT, IMPORTANT COMPONENTS
FOR US TO DAYLIGHT IN THIS
COMMITTEE TODAY. AND THAT'S
BECAUSE IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING,
AND I BELIEVE IT'S OUR SHARED
UNDERSTANDING AS THIS MEASURE
WAS SENT DOWN FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, THAT THERE'S AN INTENT
TO ENSURE THAT SOME OF THESE
RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE IF
NEEDED, TO HELP SUPPORT THE
FINAL EXECUTION OF THOSE
PROJECTS. IT'S MY BELIEF, BASED
ON THE RESPONSE THAT WAS
PROVIDED BY CENTRAL STAFF TO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS QUESTION,
THAT WE RETAIN THE ABILITY TO
SPEND THOSE RESOURCES ON THOSE
PROJECTS. WITHOUT THIS
AMENDMENT. HOWEVER,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, I DO THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT, AND YOU GAVE US
AN OPPORTUNITY TO DAYLIGHT AND
DISCUSS THAT INTENT HERE. SO I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I
ALSO WANT TO JUST, I GUESS,
SHARE MY OWN REFLECTION ON THIS,
THIS REALLY IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION AROUND THE MINIMUM
AMOUNT ALLOWABLE, THE MAXIMUM
AMOUNT ALLOWABLE, AND THE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THIS MEASURE
AND THE PREVIOUS SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE. AND FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, I DO THINK IT IS AN
IMPORTANT DISTINCTION THAT IN
THE PREVIOUS MEASURE, MY
UNDERSTANDING IS WE HAD THE SAME
OR EXCUSE ME, WE HAD THE $3
MILLION THERE. BUT GIVEN THE
PANDEMIC AND GIVEN THE IMPACTS
ON RIDERSHIP, COUNCIL MADE A
DECISION TO PIVOT INVESTMENTS
AND TO SPEED UP OR INCREASE OUR
INVESTMENTS IN TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE. AND I DO THINK
THAT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE ARE
MAKING A 1 TO 1 COMPARISON
BETWEEN THE PREVIOUS MEASURE AND
THIS MEASURE. AGAIN, JUST
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAD THAT
HIGH CAPITAL EXPENDITURE. BUT
PART OF THAT WAS OUR RESPONSE TO
TO THE PANDEMIC CHANGES. SO I
JUST THAT DOES IMPACT THE WAY I
LOOK AT THE 1 TO 1 COMPONENTS
THERE. AND LASTLY, I DO WANT TO
SAY, AND, YOU KNOW, I DEEPLY,
DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE
CONVERSATION THAT COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ IS BRINGING US TO HAVE
AROUND TRANSIT ACCESSIBILITY.
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT. AND I JUST WANT TO
REFLECT WHAT I HEARD DURING THE
THIS PROCESS. AND I HEARD BOTH
FROM TRANSIT AND DISABILITY
ACCESS ADVOCATES, EXCUSE ME,
DISABILITY ACCESS ADVOCATES.
THERE WE GO. WHO TALKED ABOUT
THE NEED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, THE
NEED TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE
SAFELY TO A BUS STOP, TO HAVE
CLEAR WAYFINDING. AND I ALSO
HEARD REALLY CLEARLY FROM
ADVOCATES THAT TRANSIT SERVICE
IS A COMPONENT OF ACCESSIBILITY,
PARTICULARLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
NON DRIVERS AND ARE RELYING ON
THAT TRANSIT SERVICE TO GET
WHERE WE NEED TO GO. AND I SAY
ALL THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S
WHAT MAKES THIS CONVERSATION
DIFFICULT, BECAUSE WE HEARD I
HEARD BOTH OF THOSE THINGS AND
BOTH OF THOSE COMPONENTS. AND I
THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING
REFLECTED IN OUR CONVERSATION ON
THE DAIS TODAY. SO AGAIN, I WANT
TO EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AND
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, BECAUSE WE
COULDN'T HAVE HAD THAT SPACE
WITHOUT THESE TWO AMENDMENTS
COMING FORWARD. I DID NOT KNOW
UNTIL I CAME OUT HERE THAT IF WE
VOTED ON THIS AMENDMENT, WE
CANNOT VOTE ON AMENDMENT NUMBER
29. AND SO THAT IS AN IMPORTANT
DISTINCTION. FROM MY VANTAGE
POINT. AND FOR ME, THAT'S THE
SORT OF FINAL DECISION POINT IN
TERMS OF INFLUENCING MY VOTE
TODAY. I DO WANT TO BE ABLE TO
VOTE IN FAVOR OF AMENDMENT
NUMBER 29, INCREASING THE
SERVICE UP TO 75%. SO I WILL BE
VOTING NO ON THIS MEASURE FOR
THAT REASON. BUT I WANT TO
APPRECIATE YOU DEEPLY,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, FOR THE
CONVERSATION YOU ALLOWED US TO
HAVE.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER LOOKS LIKE A NEW HAND.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO
CLARIFY SOMETHING. I WANT
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK TO KNOW THAT
I APPRECIATE. I DON'T WANT HER
TO THINK THAT. I MEAN, I THINK
WHEN THE VIEWING PUBLIC,
WHOEVER'S OUT THERE LISTENING,
THINKING THAT THERE'S JUST SOME
KIND OF INTENSE CONFLICT, A LOT
OF TIMES WHEN WE'RE DOING OUR
AMENDMENTS, WE'RE NOT CENTRAL
STAFF ISN'T ALWAYS TO SHOW
WHAT'S GOING ON. AND THAT'S WHY
WE'RE OUT HERE HAVING THESE
CONVERSATIONS. AND I KNOW FOR A
FACT THAT COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
APPRECIATES, AND AS SHE ALWAYS
SAYS, CENTERS AND UPLIFTS THE
ISSUES OF THE DISABILITY
COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDS THE
DIFFERENCES WITH THE ABLED
COMMUNITY. BUT I AND I HAD THIS
INTENSE DISCUSSION, AND I WAS
LOOKING AT OUR NOTES FROM LATE
JUNE WITH THE CHAIR. THIS IS
BEYOND SIDEWALKS. AND I KNOW YOU
MENTIONED THAT, AND IT'S WAY
BEYOND SIDEWALKS. AND THE OTHER
ISSUE WAS, YOU KNOW, LET'S NOT
BE LET'S BE CLEAR HERE. WE'RE
UNDER A CONSENT DECREE FROM 2017
UNDER THE FEDERAL COURT THAT WE
HAVE TO BUILD SIDEWALKS. THAT'S
WHAT THAT'S FOR THE LAWSUIT.
AND WE'RE UNDER THE CONSENT
DECREE. I'M SURE YOU WOULD
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. I READ
IT, I KNOW THE CHAIR READ IT AS
WELL. AND SO I'M THAT IS
IMPORTANT AS A SIDE NOTE. SO
WHEN PEOPLE SAY, WELL, YOU
DON'T REALLY NEED THAT 5
MILLION BECAUSE THERE'S A
CONSENT DECREE AND THERE'S SDOT
MONEY AND THERE'S THE MOVE
SEATTLE AND THAT MONEY IS THERE.
WELL, THE PROBLEM I'VE HAD
SITTING UP HERE FOR ALMOST A
DECADE IS PEOPLE THINK IT'S
ALWAYS JUST SIDEWALKS, AND IT'S
NOT. IT IS A VISUALLY IMPAIRED.
IT'S OUR ELDERS. IT'S WOMEN
WITH STROLLERS OR PEOPLE WITH
STROLLERS. IT'S CHILDREN. PEOPLE
THAT HAVE DISABILITIES LIKE
MYSELF, THAT WE DO THE
WAYFINDING THAT WE, WE, WHEN WE
SPOKE TO THE IMPAIRED OR THE
DISABILITY COMMISSION AND ALSO
THE STATE PEOPLE FOR VISION
IMPAIRED AND THE WORK THAT WE
DID ON COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
HELPED ME ON THIS. AND THE LAST
TIME I WAS HERE WITH THE RIDER
INSTITUTE AND PUTTING UP
SIDEWALKS AND PUTTING UP, I
DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL THAT,
THE BUTTON THAT YOU PUSH TO SAY
YOU CAN WALK NOW. I MEAN, I
DON'T KNOW ALL THE TECHNICAL
TERMS, BUT I ASKED THE
DISABILITY FOLKS AND THE
PEDESTRIAN PEOPLE THAT SUPPORTED
US TO JUST GIVE US THE LANGUAGE
SO I CAN UNDERSTAND IT. AND WHEN
YOU LOOK AT OUR AMENDMENT, AND
THAT'S WHY I ACTUALLY PUT THAT
IN THERE, THAT THE ADA
IMPROVEMENTS AND PROJECTS AND
ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY,
SENSORY, COGNITIVE AND
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES THAT
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. SO I
DON'T WANT PEOPLE THINKING
THAT, OH, WE'RE JUST HERE
DIGGING FOR SIDEWALKS. WE'RE
NOT. THAT'S MY POINT. SO WITH
THAT AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
YOU DID CO-SPONSOR AMENDMENT 20.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THANK
YOU, CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
QUESTIONS BEFORE I GIVE MY FINAL
REMARKS AND TURN IT OVER TO THE
AMENDMENT SPONSOR FOR LAST WORD
HEARING SEEING NONE. I'LL SHARE
ON THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT. I
HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
THE THE SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION,
THE 60% REDUCTION IN
ACCESSIBILITY CAPITAL LETTERS. I
ON THE ONE HAND, WHICH ON THE
OTHER HAND WOULD ALSO PURPORT TO
EXPAND THE SCOPE OF WHAT IT
COULD COVER AND THEREFORE DILUTE
WHAT LITTLE IS LEFT. I
RECOGNIZE, OF COURSE, THERE IS
AN OPEN QUESTION OF WHETHER YOU
KNOW THE EXISTING AMOUNT COULD
COVER SOME OF THOSE TRANSIT
STATION INVESTMENTS, BUT I HAVE
CONCERNS ABOUT REDUCING THAT
BASELINE AMOUNT, WHICH IN AND OF
ITSELF REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT
CUT TO TODAY'S LEVELS OF
ACCESSIBILITY CAPITAL
IRRESPECTIVE OF HOW HOWEVER YOU
SLICE IT. WE TALKED ABOUT THE
DIFFERENT WAYS. STILL A
SIGNIFICANT CUT AND BUT TO
ACCESSIBILITY AND THAT $5
MILLION FIGURE. ALTHOUGH IS. IT
REFLECTS A SUBSTANTIAL CUT. IT
WAS ALSO CAREFULLY NEGOTIATED.
AMOUNT THAT I LANDED ON AT AN
ARM'S LENGTH NEGOTIATION AND
TRANSACTION, WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. AND SO I THINK
WE NEED TO HOLD THE LINE
SOMEWHERE. AND FOR ME, THAT'S
$5 MILLION. AND I COULDN'T
AGREE MORE WITH THE ESSENCE OF
OF WHAT I'VE HEARD TODAY. I
THINK THERE'S COMMON CONSENSUS
THAT THIS MEASURE IS NOT
PRINCIPALLY A SIDEWALK MEASURE.
IT'S NOT A CURB CUT MEASURE.
IT'S NOT A CONCRETE MEASURE TO
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ EARLIER
POINT. YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS IT'S
A TRANSIT ACCESSIBILITY MEASURE.
IT'S A SAFE ACCESS TO TRANSIT
MEASURE. IT'S A HUMAN BASIC
HUMAN DIGNITY WITH RESPECT TO
TRANSIT MEASURE. AND I THINK
LOOKED AT IT THROUGH THAT LENS.
I DO THINK WE NEED TO HOLD THE
LINE AT THAT 5 MILLION. I
APPRECIATE THE INTENT, BUT I
WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS
TODAY. COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED TO HAVE LAST WORD
ON YOUR PROPOSAL.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR SAKA AND I
WANT TO START BY VOICING JUST MY
DEEP RESPECT FOR THE POSITION
AND POINTS MADE BY RAISED BY
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ ON THIS
MATTER. AND I WANT TO RESPOND
DIRECTLY JUST TO THE POINT
AROUND POTENTIAL CONFLICTS,
BECAUSE MY TEAM TOUCHED BASE
WITH THE DISABILITY COMMISSION
CO-CHAIR THIS MORNING. JUST TO
TALK THROUGH THIS ISSUE. I KNOW
WE HAVE ONGOING WORK WITH THE
COMMISSION GOING ON, AND IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE WORKING
WITH THE COMMISSION. THEY DID
NOT SEE THE AMENDMENT 20 AND 24
IN DIRECT CONFLICT. I UNDERSTAND
IF YOU DO, I DIDN'T, AND THEY
DIDN'T. AND BUT I UNDERSTAND IF
THAT THAT'S YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON
ON THIS MATTER. AND I BELIEVE IT
IS JUST REALLY A POINT ON, YOU
KNOW, I BECAUSE NOT SEEING THAT
PARTICULAR CONFLICT, THAT'S WHY
I WANTED TO SUPPORT AMENDMENT 20
AND BE A CO-SPONSOR ON IT, JUST
BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE IT IS
TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT.
COLLEAGUES, I WANTED TO BRING
THIS AMENDMENT FORWARD BECAUSE
AND I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS A
NUMBER OF TIMES, I AM THE ONLY
MEMBER OF THIS BODY WHO DOES NOT
OWN A CAR AND RELIES ON OUR
TRANSIT SYSTEM TO GET WHERE I
NEED TO GO. AND I KNOW I PROUDLY
REPRESENT THE 20% OF SEATTLE
HOUSEHOLDS WHO ALSO LIVE THAT
REALITY, AND THAT 20% OF SEATTLE
HOUSEHOLDS WHO DO NOT OWN CARS
DO NOT DRIVE. SOMETIMES THAT IS
BY CHOICE. OTHER TIMES IT IS
NOT. WE HEARD IN THE PUBLIC
HEARING EARLIER THIS WEEK FROM A
NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO CANNOT DRIVE
A NUMBER OF FOLKS FOR MEDICAL
REASONS OR LIVING WITH
DISABILITIES CANNOT DRIVE. AND
SO I THINK COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER
NAMED THIS PARTICULARLY WELL IN
JUST THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION. FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS A MATTER
OF STRATEGY AND APPROACH ON HOW
WE MEET OUR ADA OBLIGATIONS AND
CREATE A MORE ACCESSIBLE CITY,
RATHER THAN DISAGREEMENT OVER
PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES
AND HOW WE INVEST IN THEM. SO I
DO NOT ANTICIPATE THIS AMENDMENT
PASSING. I LOOK FORWARD TO
VOTING ON COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
AMENDMENT. BUT COLLEAGUES, I
SINCERELY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
THE TIME IN COMMITTEE TODAY TO
DISCUSS THESE TRADE OFFS AND
CONSIDERATIONS. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR RINCK.
HEARING, SEEING. NO FINAL
COMMENTS. QUESTIONS. WILL THE
COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT 24 VERSION?
-- DID I HAVE A CHANCE TO
ADDRESS MY AMENDMENT OR NO.
-- I, I GAVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY
EARLIER THROUGH TO TO SPEAK TO
HER AMENDMENT BECAUSE THERE WAS
A PENDING MOTION THROUGH THE
CONTEXT OF YOUR AMENDMENT.
-- SO I'LL BE PROVIDED THE
OPPORTUNITY AFTER THIS
AMENDMENTS VOTE.
-- WE CAN WE CAN REVISIT AFTER
THIS AFTER WE VOTE ON THIS
AMENDMENT. IF YOU HAVE ANY FINAL
COMMENTS ON THIS, THIS
AMENDMENT, YOU ARE YOU ARE DO
YOU HAVE ANY FINAL COMMENTS ON
THIS, THIS AMENDMENT BEFORE US?
-- I JUST HAVE FINAL COMMENTS ON
MY AMENDMENT. SO IF YOU'D LIKE
THAT NOW OR LATER, YOUR CALL.
-- AFTER WE VOTE ON THE PENDING
AMENDMENT BEFORE US.
-- THANK YOU.
-- CHAIR, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT NUMBER 24, VERSION
ONE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
-- NO.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- NO.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
-- YES.
-- CHAIR SAKA.
-- NO.
-- CHAIR. THERE ARE TWO VOTES
FOR AND SEVEN VOTES OPPOSED.
-- ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION FAILS
AND THE AMENDMENT IS NOT
ADOPTED. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO DISCUSS
YOUR AMENDMENT 29 VERSION ONE.
-- THANK YOU. FINAL COMMENTS.
CORRECT. THANK YOU.
-- YEAH. SEE, I'M EVEN CONFUSED.
THANK YOU. WE HAVE OUR EXPERT
PARLIAMENTARIANS KEEPING US
HONEST HERE. YOURS WOULD NOT BE
APPROPRIATE FOR TODAY IF AND
ONLY IF AMENDMENT 24 VERSION ONE
HAD PASSED BECAUSE IT DID NOT
PASS. THEREFORE, THERE IS NO
CONFLICT. THEREFORE, YOUR
AMENDMENT IS ALIVE AND WELL AND
VIABLE. SO THEREFORE A MOTION
COULD AND WOULD BE IN ORDER. IF
YOU IF YOU WANT TO DEBATE AND
DISCUSS, YOU'RE ALSO WELCOME TO
BRING IT BACK ON TUESDAY. IF YOU
WANT.
-- I MOVE AMENDMENT 29 TO THE
BILL.
-- SECOND, ALL RIGHT.
-- COOL. WE'RE CHALLENGING
ROBERT'S RULES TO THE FULL
EXTENT HERE, BUT THERE'S A
MOTION. IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED
TO AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT 29, VERSION ONE.
CENTRAL STAFF, PLEASE PROVIDE AN
OVERVIEW OF THE AMENDMENT.
-- AMENDMENT 29 TO COUNCIL BILL
121226, SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WOULD
RAISE THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE REVENUES
THAT MAY BE DEDICATED TO TRANSIT
SERVICE FROM 60% TO 75%. AND IF
I MAY, I WOULD. I WOULD ALSO
LIKE TO MAKE A SMALL CORRECTION
TO TO SOME INFORMATION I
PROVIDED EARLIER. I CHARACTERIZE
THE SPENDING PLAN AS PROVIDING
APPROXIMATELY AS ALLOCATING
APPROXIMATELY 80% OF REVENUES TO
TRANSIT SERVICE F SDOT HAS HAS
POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THAT
NUMBER IS ACTUALLY 86%. THERE
ARE SOME SMALL FLUCTUATIONS FROM
YEAR TO YEAR. AND JUST FOR THE
FOR THE SAKE OF SPEAKING
GENERALLY, I HAVE BEEN SAYING
80%. BUT I THINK THAT THE
CORRECTION IS IMPORTANT IN THIS
CONTEXT.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS YOU RECOGNIZE THE
SPEAKER?
-- THANK YOU. I'VE HAD A NUMBER
OF INSTANCES THROUGHOUT THIS
PROCESS WHERE SDOT HAS BEEN
CHANGING THE. THAT THEY ARE
PROVIDING US. AND SO I JUST NEXT
TIME THROUGH THIS, PLEASE COME
PREPARED. COLLEAGUES IN THE LAST
AMENDMENT, I SUPPORTED ALL OF
THE SOUND TRANSIT INVESTMENTS
THAT WE DISCUSSED, AND THE ONLY
REASON I VOTED AGAINST IT WAS SO
THAT WE COULD HAVE THE
CONVERSATION ON MINIMUM
PERCENTAGE. AS WE HEARD FROM CAL
AND A NUMBER OF OTHER TIMES. AND
I THINK COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER PUT
IT BEST ABOUT THE APPLES TO
APPLES COMPARISON BETWEEN THE
LAST MEASURE AND THIS, WHICH IS
THAT WE BEGAN DOING OTHER THINGS
OTHER THAN TRANSIT WITH THE LAST
MEASURE, BECAUSE OF THE
CONSTRAINTS THAT WE HAD WITHIN
THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE WERE
OPERATING. THESE ARE BAD HABITS,
AND WE NEED TO STOP THESE BAD
HABITS. WE DO NEED TO MAKE THIS
TRANSIT MEASURE ABOUT TRANSIT.
WE NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT AND
ACCOUNTABLE WITH SEATTLEITES
ABOUT WHAT WE ARE REQUESTING
THEIR TAX MONEY BE SPENT ON AND
HOW WE ARE SPENDING IT. SO
LET'S ENSURE THIS TRANSIT
MEASURE IS ABOUT TRANSIT AND NOT
ABOUT OTHER THINGS. THANK YOU
COLLEAGUES.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS COLLEAGUES. ANY
COMMENTS? QUESTIONS ON THE
PENDING MOTION BEFORE US? THE
AMENDMENT BEFORE US. LET'S SEE.
HEARING AND SEEING NONE. I GUESS
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CENTRAL
STAFF. IF THIS AMENDMENT PASSES,
WOULD IT LIMIT THE FUNDING FOR
ACCESSIBILITY CAPITAL OR TRANSIT
SAFETY SECURITY INVESTMENTS IN
ANY WAY? AND IF SO, HOW EXACTLY?
-- IF IF IN FUTURE YEARS, THERE
WERE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE
COST OF PROVIDING TRANSIT
SERVICE OR IN THE AMOUNT OF
REVENUES THAT WAS COMING IN
VERSUS WHAT IS CURRENTLY
FORECAST, THEN IF THERE IS A 75%
MINIMUM MANDATED FOR TRANSIT
SERVICE, IT COULD BECOME
NECESSARY TO REVISE THE SPENDING
PLAN TO MEET THAT 75% MINIMUM BY
REDUCING FUNDING IN SOME OTHER
AREAS THERE. THERE WOULD THERE
WOULD HAVE TO BE A SIGNIFICANT
CHANGE AGAIN, IN EITHER THE
COSTS OR THE REVENUES COMING IN.
-- IF I IF I COULD ADD IN TERMS
OF THE COST SIDE, I DON'T THINK
IT HAS AN IMPACT BECAUSE THIS IS
ABOUT THE MONEY THAT'S GOING IN.
SO IF THE COST PER HOUR
DELIVERED CHANGES, THAT IS JUST
THE COST OF THE HOUR DELIVERED.
SO IT DOES NOT AFFECT THAT CASE.
AND SO IT SHOULD NOT AFFECT THE
CURRENT SPEND PLAN THAT THAT THE
EXECUTIVE HAS PROPOSED. AND WHAT
YOUR CHANGES ARE TO THIS TO THE
ALLOWANCES HERE, THERE COULD BE
A SITUATION WHERE WE FIND SALES
TAX SIGNIFICANTLY COMING UNDER,
AND THAT COULD BE A SITUATION
WHERE WE WOULD BE WE WOULD BE
HELD TO THIS STANDARD, AND WE
WOULD HAVE TO ADJUST THE
SPENDING PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
-- OKAY. THANK YOU. SO IS IT
FAIR, WOULD YOU SAY AGAINST THAT
BACKDROP, LIKE THIS AMENDMENT
COULD POTENTIALLY POSE A LIKE A
FUTURE RISK TO THAT KIND OF
FUNDING FOR ACCESSIBILITY
FOCUSED CAPITAL PROJECTS OR
DISCRETE SAFETY PROJECTS? IF
THERE IF AND WHEN THERE'S A
SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE THE
REVENUES RECEIVED.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. IF SALES TAX
GOES DOWN, WE WILL BE HURTING IN
A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS. I
THINK THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT
UNDER THE CURRENT PROJECTION,
THIS DOES NOT AFFECT THE CAPITAL
SPENDING MAXIMUMS THAT WE'VE
DISCUSSED IN THE BILL THAT YOU
GUYS HAVE TALKED ABOUT AT THE
DAIS HERE, THE SITUATION WOULD
BE IF THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT
REDUCTION IN THE OVERALL
ECONOMY, FRANKLY, THEN YES, WE
WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER WE WOULD
HAVE LESS MONEY. WE WOULD HAVE
TO ADJUST.
-- ACROSS THE BOARD.
-- OKAY.
-- THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.
YEAH. GIVEN THE POTENTIAL
UNCERTAINTY, I, I HAVE CONCERNS
ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD
POTENTIALLY MEAN FOR SOME OF
THOSE INVESTMENTS THAT SAID, I
RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- THANK YOU, CHAIR. BUT AGAIN,
THAT'S ACROSS THE BOARD. SO THE
ONLY WAY THAT THIS WOULD REDUCE
OUR COMMITMENT WE'VE MADE VIA
THE AMENDMENTS WE'VE TAKEN TO
THE CAPITAL ACCESSIBILITY PIECE,
IS IF WE SEE THE ACROSS THE
BOARD SALES TAX HAS DECREASED
AND THEN SO WILL SERVICE HOURS,
BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE LESS REVENUE.
-- CURRENTLY, THE WAY THE
SPENDING PLAN HAS BEEN PRESENTED
TO YOU FROM THE EXECUTIVE, IT
SHOWS A MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF
SPENDING THAT EQUALS SOMETHING
LIKE 86% OF SERVICE HOURS GOING
TO OF REVENUES, GOING TO SERVICE
HOURS. SO THAT UNLESS PEOPLE
HAVE MORE APPETITE TO GO BEYOND
WHAT IS ALREADY CAPPED OUT IN
YOUR ALLOWANCES FOR NON-SERVICE,
THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. BUT
THE ISSUE DOES COME IF THE PIE
SHRINKS, IF WE DON'T HAVE IF WE
HAVE LESS MONEY, THEN THAT COULD
BECOME AN ISSUE DEPENDING ON HOW
HOW MUCH REVENUE COMES INTO THE
INTO THE COFFERS. SO IF IF.
-- THE QUESTION IS CAL LIKE. BUT
THAT'S TRUE FOR THE SERVICE
HOURS BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE LESS
MONEY IN GENERAL.
-- THAT'S CORRECT. AND SO WE
WOULD JUST BE REQUIRED TO KEEP
IT UNDER UNDER 75%. YEP.
-- THANK YOU.
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED FOR LAST WORD.
-- THANK YOU. I REALLY
APPRECIATE ALSO, SINCE THE LAST
TRANSIT MEASURE, WE HAVE PASSED
ANOTHER TRANSPORTATION MEASURE.
AND WHILE WE DID ALSO HAVE 1 IN
2014, THE ONE OF THE GREATEST
STRENGTHS OF THIS LAST
TRANSPORTATION MEASURE WAS THE
AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT THAT WE
MADE IN SIDEWALKS. I'VE NEVER
SEEN IT IN THE LAST 20 PLUS
YEARS. THAT LEVEL OF INVESTMENT
IN SIDEWALKS, AND THAT IS NO
COUNCIL. IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE GOT
SUED. IT'S BECAUSE THE CHAIR
REALLY MADE A STRONG PITCH FOR
SIDEWALKS, BECAUSE COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE MADE A VERY STRONG PITCH
FOR SIDEWALKS. IT'S BECAUSE I
SUPPORTED THAT, BECAUSE THERE
THERE ARE MANY PARTS OF THE
DISTRICT THAT DON'T HAVE
SIDEWALKS. SO WE HAVE MADE A
REALLY IMPORTANT INVESTMENT IN
SIDEWALKS, IN THE TRANSPORTATION
MEASURE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE
SIDEWALK MONEY BELONGS. AND JUST
TO REITERATE ONE, ONE LAST
QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER
BROUGHT UP GREAT POINTS EARLIER
TODAY AS PART OF US PURCHASING
SERVICE HOURS FROM METRO. THERE
ARE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH US
PAYING FOR SECURITY WITHIN THOSE
HOURS. IS THAT CORRECT?
-- YES.
-- THAT'S CORRECT.
-- AND SO EVEN IF ALL OF THE BAD
THINGS THAT PEOPLE WERE JUST,
YOU KNOW, THE WHAT IFS THAT
PEOPLE WERE JUST SHARING, EVEN
IF ALL OF THAT OCCURS, WE'RE
STILL PAYING FOR SECURITY ON
METRO THROUGH OUR TRANSIT HOURS.
AND SO, COLLEAGUES, I'LL JUST
I'LL END HERE BECAUSE WE'RE AT
1:02 P.M. AND I WOULD LOVE TO
EARN YOUR SUPPORT TO TURN THIS
HALF MEASURE INTO AT LEAST A
THREE QUARTER MEASURE. THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. SHOUT OUT TO SIDEWALKS
AND SIDEWALKS. LET'S SEE. ALL
RIGHT. WELL, THE COMMITTEE
CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT
BEFORE US.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AYE.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
-- YES.
-- CHAIR SAKA.
-- ZANE.
-- CHAIR. THERE ARE EIGHT VOTES
FOR AND ONE ABSTENTION.
-- ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION CARRIES
AN AMENDMENT 29. VERSION ONE IS
ADOPTED. COLLEAGUES, WE'RE
ALMOST THERE. WE'RE CLOSE. BEAR
WITH US. ONE MORE. ALL RIGHT.
FINAL ITEM IN THAT GROUP B
PACKAGE IS AMENDMENT NUMBER 30.
SO AN AMENDMENT WOULD BE OR A
MOTION WOULD BE IN ORDER.
-- THANK YOU CHAIR. I MOVE TO
AMEND COUNCIL BILL 121226 AS
PRESENTED AN AMENDMENT 30.
-- SECOND. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT 30
VERSION ONE TO THE BILL. WILL
CENTRAL STAFF PLEASE PROVIDE US
AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT?
-- AMENDMENT 30 TO COUNCIL BILL
ONE, TWO, 1226 IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD CLARIFY THE
ELIGIBLE USES OF SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURE REVENUES TO SUPPORT THE
PURCHASE OF TRANSIT SERVICE AT
NIGHT ALONG BUS LINES THAT SERVE
THE CITY'S TEEN LATE NIGHT
PROGRAMS, PROVIDING SERVICE AT
NIGHT IS CURRENTLY AN ALLOWED
ALLOWABLE EXPENSE OF STM
REVENUES AND THE OFFERED
LANGUAGE MAKES THAT USE EXPLICIT
IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY'S
EVENING PROGRAMING FOR TEENS.
-- THANK YOU.
-- ALL RIGHT. YEAH, YOU'RE
ALMOST THERE. THERE YOU GO.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. AMENDMENT
SPONSOR COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR COLLEAGUES.
I'VE HEARD ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY
OF SOMETIMES KIDS GETTING OUT AT
MIDNIGHT. TEEN NIGHT GOES TO
MIDNIGHT AT OUR COMMUNITY
CENTERS ACROSS THE CITY, AND THE
ABILITY TO GET KIDS HOME SAFELY
AFTER TEEN NIGHT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. SO IT'S A NIGHT
SERVICE IS AN ELIGIBLE ELIGIBLE
USE, BUT ESSENTIAL STAFF HAS
NOTED. I WANTED TO MAKE IT VERY
CLEAR THAT THAT COUNCIL
RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF
GETTING TEENS HOME SAFELY AFTER
TEEN. THEIR TEEN NIGHTS, AND
ALSO TO SIGNAL TO SDOT THAT THEY
SHOULD BE LOOKING AT TRANSIT
SERVICE ALONG OUR TEEN NIGHT
COMMUNITY CENTER AREAS TO MAKE
SURE THAT THAT SERVICE IS INDEED
A ROBUST. IN A WAY THAT IS
REALLY PRIORITIZING OUR TEENS TO
GET HOME SAFELY. I HOPE I HAVE
YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. COLLEAGUES, ANY
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS ON THE
AMENDMENT BEFORE US? HEARING.
SEEING NONE. I'LL SHARE THAT. I
WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS
AMENDMENT TODAY BECAUSE IT LOOKS
AT IT SETS HIGH LEVEL PRIORITIES
GUIDELINES, AND OBJECTIVE
EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR MAKING
THESE DECISIONS AND THEREFORE
EXPANSION OF NIGHT SERVICE TO
THESE CRITICAL AREAS AND
SUPPORTING TEENS AND AND
ENABLING ALL THE IMPORTANT
LOGISTICS AND TRANSIT SERVICE
NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE THAT. SO
I'LL BE SUPPORTING IT TODAY.
BUT COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED FOR LAST WORD ON YOUR
PROPOSAL.
-- I GOOD, THANK YOU, CHAIR.
-- OKAY. THANK YOU. WELL, THE
COMMITTEE CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT
NUMBER 30, VERSION ONE TO THE
BILL.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCIL MEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. FOSTER.
-- YES
-- COUNCILMEMBER. RINCK.
-- YES.
-- CHAIR SAKA.
-- AYE.
-- CHAIR. THERE ARE NINE VOTES
FOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THE
MOTION CARRIES AND AMENDMENT 30.
VERSION ONE IS ADOPTED. OU. ALL
RIGHT. WE'VE AMENDED THE HECK
OUT OF THAT BILL. NOW IT'S TIME
TO TO VOTE ON THE ON THE MAIN
BILL, AS AMENDED. SO THAT WAS
OUR LAST AMENDMENT FOR
CONSIDERATION TODAY. MULTIPLE
AMENDMENTS, I NOTE THAT MULTIPLE
AMENDMENTS MAY AMEND THE SAME
SECTIONS OR SUBSECTIONS
FOLLOWING SELECT COMMITTEE ON
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICT ACTION ON ALL
AMENDMENTS. CENTRAL STAFF WILL
RECONCILE LANGUAGE AND RENUMBER
AND RELATED SECTIONS AND
SUBSECTIONS AS NEEDED IN THE
FINAL AMENDED FORM OF THE BILL.
THE BILL, AS AMENDED, IS BEFORE
THE SELECT COMMITTEE. ANY FINAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL, AS AMENDED
HERE TODAY. HEARING. SEEING
NONE. WILL THE COMMITTEE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON ADOPTION
OF THE BILL, AS AMENDED?
-- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. JUAREZ.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. LIN.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
-- AYE.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER. RINCK.
-- YES.
-- CHAIR SAKA. CHAIR. THERE ARE
NINE VOTES FOR AND ZERO.
OPPOSED.
-- ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION CARRIES
AND THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE
BILL PASS, AS AMENDED, WILL BE
SENT TO THE JULY 21st CITY
COUNCIL MEETING FOR FINAL
CONSIDERATION. WE HAVE REACHED
THE END OF TODAY'S MEETING
AGENDA. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES,
FOR A THOUGHTFUL AND PRODUCTIVE
DISCUSSION TODAY. IMPORTANTLY,
LISTEN TO THIS. I WANT TO THANK
CENTRAL STAFF AMANDA AND CAL
LIST. SO MANY NOT HERE AT THE
TABLE ON CENTRAL STAFF FOR THEIR
OUTSTANDING WORK ON SUCH A TIGHT
TURNAROUND AND RAPIDLY EVOLVING
SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. PREPARING
THESE AMENDMENTS 30 PLUS AND
HELPING GUIDE US THROUGH THEM
TODAY AND BEFORE, I'D ALSO LIKE
TO SAY, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO
ALL OF OUR TERRIFIC DEPUTY CITY
CLERKS, AMELIA, JODY PHIL
AMAZING, AMAZING. THIS IS, I
DON'T KNOW, LEVEL 400 LEVEL
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE STUFF WE
DID HERE TODAY. AND WE COULDN'T
HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THEIR
EXPERTISE AND TIRELESS SUPPORT
THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY
OWN D1 OFFICE TEAM OF
LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANTS THAT
WORKED TIRELESSLY ON THIS EFFORT
OVER MANY, MANY MONTHS. BRENDAN,
ERIC, MICHAEL AND HADIA. THIS IS
TRULY BEEN A TEAM EFFORT. SO
REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
ALL. THIS HAS BEEN THE FINAL
MEETING OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT. BY VIRTUE OF
OUR WORK OVER THE PAST TWO
MONTHS, THIS SELECT COMMITTEE IS
SUBMITTING A FINAL PACKAGE TO
THE FULL CITY COUNCIL FOR
POSSIBLE APPROVAL AT THE JULY
21st CITY COUNCIL MEETING. AFTER
A HIATUS TO ACCOMMODATE THE
SELECT COMMITTEE, THE STEPS
COMMITTEE WILL BE RECONVENING
FOR A SPECIAL MEETING ON MONDAY,
JULY 27th AT 9:38 A.M. THIS
MEETING WILL INCLUDE A SHORT
AGENDA TO ADDRESS SOME TIME
SENSITIVE ORDINANCES. WE WILL
THEN CONTINUE WITH OUR TYPICAL
TWICE MONTHLY CADENCE STARTING
ON AUGUST SIXTH. IS THERE ANY
FINAL BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE? BEFORE WE ADJOURN
HEARING AND SEEING NONE. THANK
YOU. WE ARE ADJOURNED. IT IS
1:10 P.M..
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