AND UTILITIES COMMITTEE MEETING
COME TO ORDER. I'M CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> I AM THE VICE CHAIR. I
PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED
SECOND. JUST KIDDING, HERE.
>> THERE ARE FIVE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. WE
HAVE A PACKED AGENDA, SO WE ARE
GOING TO BE MOVING FAIRLY
QUICKLY, NOT QUICKLY BUT YOU
KNOW, ON POINT. WE WILL SECURE
THE AGENDA. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION TO THE AGENDA, IT WILL
BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. OPENING THE HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP?
>> CHAIR, WE HAVE ONE.
>> MY FAVORITE SPEAKER. PLEASE
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED IN ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL'S
WEBSITE STARTING WITH IN-PERSON
SPEAKERS FIRST. IF YOU HAVE NOT
REGISTERED TO SPEAK AND WOULD
LIKE TO YOU CAN SIGN UP BEFORE
THE END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT
AND COMMENT ON WHAT IS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA. WHEN CALLED
UPON, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
SPEAKERS DO NOT END THEIR
COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME, THE SPEAKER'S
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED.
>> AWESOME. THE FIRST ITEM --
ACTUALLY, WE HAVE SOMEONE
ONLINE, AND WE HAVE SOMEONE IN
PERSON, AND BEFORE WE START IF
WE COULD DO THE LIGHTS SHUT
DOWN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL
RIGHT. WE'LL PUT YOUR TIME UP
AND GO AHEAD AND START WHEN
YOU'RE READY.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. IT'S
GREAT TO BE BACK AT SEATTLE CITY
HALL. I'M THE POLITICAL
DIRECTOR FOR THE JOINT COUNCIL
28. TEEMERS JOINT COUNCIL 28
REPRESENTS 25,000 WORKERS IN
WASHINGTON, ALASKA AND IDAHO.
>> WE ARE GOING TO PAUSE YOUR
TIME. WE WILL RESTART YOUR TIME
AND FIGURE OUT THE LIGHTS. NO
WORRIES AT ALL. IS THIS GOOD,
COLLEAGUES?
>> PERFECT.
>> OH, THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. BAILEY, WE WILL GET THE
MINUTES BACK. AWESOME. GO AHEAD.
>> GREAT. IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE
BACK AT CITY HALL FOR YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS
MORNING. MY NAME IS BAILEY
BURGESS, THE POLITICAL DIRECTOR
FOR TEAMSTERS COUNCIL 28 WITH
25,000 WORKERS ACROSS
WASHINGTON, ALASKA AND IDAHO AND
WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF SOLID WASTE
WORKERS THAT CONTRACT THAT
PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND OTHER LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS. WE ARE HERE JUST TO
ASK SOME QUESTIONS AND MAYBE
ELEVATE A COUPLE OF CONCERNS
ABOUT THE WASTE MANAGEMENT
CONTRACT AND AGENDA TODAY. SO
THERE IS NO PREVAILING WAGE
PROTECTIONS WHICH IS SOMETHING
THAT REALLY MATTERS TO US AND
OUR WORKER, SOLID WASTE WORKERS
AND THE WAGE JOBS HAVE GOOD
BENEFITS. WE ARE HOPING THERE IS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE
LACK OF PREVAILING WAGE LANGUAGE
IN THE CONTRACT. WE'RE HOPING
FOR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT LANGUAGE
IN THE PROPOSED CONTRACT. OFTEN
MUNICIPALITIES WILL SWITCH THEIR
SERVICE PROVIDERS. USUALLY, OUR
WORKERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO QUIT
THEIR JOBS AND FOLLOW THEIR
WORK. THEY ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN
THEIR SAME BENEFITS. THEY ARE
ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR ACCRUEDED
VACATION TIME BUT WE ARE NOT
SEEING THAT IN THE CONTRACT. AND
I JUST WANTED TO ELEVATE A
COUPLE OF THOSE CONCERNS. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> AWESOME, BAILEY. NEXT ONLINE
TO DAVID HAYNES. PLEASE PRESS
STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. STAR
SIX. WE SAW YOU UNMUTED FOR ONE
SECOND. NOW YOU'RE ON MUTE.
>> SORRY. THANK YOU. DAVID
HAYNES. YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE
TO POINT OUT THAT SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER WAS GIVEN CARTE
BLANCHE RULES CHARGES YESTERDAY.
SINCE THE COMMITTEE TOOK --
FIRST WE HAVE FAILURES THAT THE
SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO WERE
TALLYING THE COST AND THINGS ARE
GETTING WORSE BUT WHEN IT COMES
TO THE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER,
THERE SEEMS TO BE A CHANGING OF
THE RULES WITH THE RESOLUTION.
THERE IS REALLY NO OVERSIGHT.
THERE NO TRANSPARENCY WITH THE
AUTHORIZATION TO BASICALLY CATER
TO THEMSELVES AND CHANGE THEIR
OWN RULES. LIKE THE NEXT SEVEN
PEOPLE THAT WILL BE MOVING INTO
THE APARTMENTS, THE ONES THAT
ARE PUT IN CHARGE TO DECIDE WHO
GETS TO MAKE THE DECISIONS
WITHIN, WHAT THE RENTERS'
COMMISSION, AND THEN THE BOARD?
LIKE NOBODY HAS SCRUTINIZED THE
FACT THAT THE ETRA APARTMENTS
WAS LIKE WRONG LOW PAID FOR LIKE
AN EXORBITANT RATE LIKE $61
MILLION. I THINK IT WAS NO MORE
THAN $20 MILLION TO BUILD THE
DAMN THING. I SWEAR TO CHRIST,
IF YOU SCRUTINIZE THE LEGITIMACY
OF THE SO-CALLED LUXURY
APARTMENT WITH THE ADVERTISEMENT
LIKE IT'S ON PIKE PLACE AND ALL
THAT, THERE IS A BUILDING RIGHT
ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ETRA.
I THINK IT'S LIKE A GOD
FORSAKEN TOXIC GARAGE AND THIS
GIGANTIC OPENING, AND IT'S
RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET INTO
ETRA. THAT ALONE TAKES A WAY A
LOT OF THE VALUE. AND IT'S
POISONING THE AREA, AND YOU ACT
LIKE THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER SEEMS TO GIVE MORE
POWER TO KEEP RUNNING --
>> THANK YOU, MR. HAYNES. ARE
THERE ANY MORE PUBLIC
COMMENTERS? I WILL GIVE A QUICK
SUCCESS. ALL RIGHT. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. WE
WILL JUMP INTO THE AGENDA ITEMS.
WILL THE CLERK READ AGENDA ITEM
INTO THE RECORD?
>> APPOINTMENT NUMBER 03510,
APPOINTMENT OF SARAH CHAMP AS
MEMBER, SEATTLE PUBLIC U AT THIS
TIME CUSTOMER FOR A TERM TO JULY
31, 2028.
>> AWESOME. PLEASE START WHEN
YOU ARE READY, ANDREW LEE.
>> WE HAVE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES
CUSTOMER REPANEL WITH COMMENTS
ON THE RATES AND BUSINESS PLAN.
AS YOU RECALL WE WERE HERE LAST
MONTH TO PRESENT TWO NOMINEES TO
THE PANEL. WE ARE BACK TODAY
WITH THE FINAL NOMINEE, AND HER
NAME IS SARAH CHAMP. SARAH WITH
UNFORTUNATELY NOT BE HERE THIS
MORNING BUT JUSTIN CHAN HERE TO
SPEAK ON HER BEHALF.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THIS IS
JUSTIN CHAN. AS A REMINDER, THE
CUSTOMER REPANEL WAS FORMED IN
2013 AND THIS MIGHTY DIVERSE AND
MIGHTY PANEL EXPANDED FROM 11 TO
13 FOR TWO YOUNG ADULT SUITES.
SO SARAH CAN'T RESIDE IN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE. SARAH IS A
WASTE REDUCTION ANALYST FOR
KITSAP COUNTY TO HELP RESIDENTS
REDUCE WASTE AND PREVENT
POLLUTION AND CONSERVE NATURAL
RESOURCES AND HER BACKGROUND
INCLUDES INFRASTRUCTURE ASSESS
MANAGEMENT GIVING HER A CRITICAL
VIEW OF HOW IT RETAINS OVERTIME
AND SHE BRINGS PERSPECTIVE
ACROSS SOLID WASTE WITH A STRONG
FOCUS ON EQUITABLE ACCESS. SHE
UNDERSTANDS FIRSTHAND THE
CHALLENGES FACED BY CUSTOMERS
WHO RELY ON UTILITY SERVICES BUT
HAVE LIMITED CONTROL. AND AS
ANDREW MENTIONED, SHE IS UNABLE
TO JOIN US TODAY BUT WE'RE
GRATEFUL FOR HER WILLINGNESS TO
SERVE ON THE PANEL. LOOKING
CONSIDERED TO THE COMMITTEE
CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, JUSTIN.
COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS? A QUICK COMMENT. I
READ THROUGH MS. CHAMP'S
INFORMATION AND VERY IMPRESSED
AND ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR PEOPLE
WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO
SERVE. SO IS THERE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS? AWESOME. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. OKAY. PERFECT. WELL,
I'M GOING TO MOVE -- THANK YOU,
JUSTIN. THANK YOU GENERAL
MANAGER LEE. I GO BACK AND FORTH
SAYING GENERAL MANAGER LEE AND
DIRECTOR LEE. BOTH, YOU'RE
BOTH, GENERAL MANAGER AND
DIRECTORIALLY. I RECOMMEND THAT
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT
3510. SECOND?
>> MOVED.
>> SECONDED.
>> THANK YOU. SECONDED AND
MOVED. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> FIVE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> AWESOME. THE MOTION CARRIES
AND THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
WILL BE SENT TO THE JUNE 16th
CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEMS
TWO THROUGH 10 INTO THE RECORD.
>> ITEMS 3520, 3522, 3525, 3523,
2536 AND 35 BETWEEN FOR THE
TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY BOARD
APPOINTMENTS.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE NINE
APPOINTMENTS AND
RE-APPOINTMENTS. THANK YOU ALL
FOR JOINING US TODAY. YOU WILL
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND TELL US
ABOUT THE APPOINTMENTS AND
REAPPOINTMENTS.
>> THANK YOU. I AM RAJAT
AGGARWAL. I HAVE CALLED SEATTLE
HOME SINCE DECEMBER 2019. I
SERVED TWO YEARS IN THE BOARD
WHICH SERVES THE HOMELESS CENTER
AND VOLUNTEERED WITH THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL. TODAY, MY FOCUS IS
TECHNOLOGY AT THE PIKE MARKET
AND THE SENIOR CENTER. AND DOING
THAT WORK, RISING TO TOP. I SAT
WITH SENIORS WHO LOST THEIR
SAVINGS AND THEIR CONFIDENCE TO
SOMEONE WHO SAW THEIR TRUST AS A
TARGET. THE DOLLAR AMOUNT
REPORTED DOESN'T SHOW UP IN ANY
SPREADSHEET IS THE FEAR THAT
FOLLOWS, AND THAT'S THE COST I
CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT. THIS
IS A HARD PROBLEM WITH NO SINGLE
FIX. IT TAKES TECHNOLOGY, POLICY
AND EDUCATION WORKING TOGETHER.
BUT AT GROUND LEVEL I SEE
SOMETHING, HUNDREDS OF SENIORS
THAT SEE REAL HARM AND OFTEN
DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TERM. I
HOPE TO BE A BRIDGE BETWEEN
THOSE SENIORS AND THIS COUNCIL.
I WELCOME THE OUTREACH AND
EQUITY COMMITTEE AND I WANT TO
BRING WHAT I SEE ON THE GROUND
TO THE CITY, SHAPED BY THE
PEOPLE MOST OFTEN LEFT BEHIND BY
TECHNOLOGY. THANK YOU FOR
CONSIDERING ME.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. AND WE'LL
HAVE EVERYONE INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES AND THEN JUMP RIGHT
IN AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT
WAS BEAUTIFUL. PERFECT. GO
AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'M COLIN SANDERS. I'M AN
APPOINTMENT NOMINEE FOR THE
COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY
BOARD.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, GOOD
MORNING COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I AM
WILLIAM SMITH, THE CHIEF OF
STAFF FOR SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M SHANNON
SMITH. I AM THE ACTING CHIEF
TECHNOLOGY OFFICER. THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE
CITY.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
FRIDAY O. ENABULELE. I AM GLAD
TO BE HERE. I'VE BEEN IN THE
SEATTLE AREA FOR OVER 20 YEARS
AND I HAVE OVER 20 YEARS OF
TECHNOLOGY EXPERIENCE. I LOVE TO
SERVE THE PEOPLE AND WORKING FOR
MY REFUGEES. I KNOW HOW IT IS
FOR PEOPLE TO BE LEFT OUT. SO I
WANT TO BE HERE TO WORK FOR THE
COMMITTEE.
>> AWESOME. I KNOW WE HAVE TWO
ONLINE AND YOU WILL INTRODUCE
YOURSELF REAL QUICK AND I'LL
TURN IT BACK TO OUR TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT WHO WILL DO AN
OPENING AND WE'LL GO AND ASK
QUESTIONS. OKAY. SO WE HAVE TWO
ONLINE?
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'M VENITA SUBRAMANIAN. I AM AN
APPOINTEE FOR THE TECHNOLOGY
ADVISORY BOARD. THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.
>> AND KATHLEEN?
>> THANK YOU. I AM KATHLEEN
ROHDE I AM ALSO AN APPOINTEE FOR
THE TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY BOARD.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. WE HAVE THE
APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS
TO THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY
ADVISORY BOARD KNOWN AS CTAB.
CTAB SERVES AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
DEVELOPMENT AND GATHERS INPUT
AND HELPS RESIDENTS -- HELPS
CONDUCT RESEARCH, PROMOTE VISUAL
EQUITY TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL
DIVIDE. CTAB'S WORK HAS
INCLUDED HOLDING A TELECOM
FORUM, PROVIDING INPUT ON A
CABLE FRANCHISE AND A.I.
TECHNOLOGY. THE BOARD IS
COMPRISED OF 10 MEMBERS, FOUR
APPOINTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
AND ONE ENGAGED MEMBER, AGES
FROM 18 TO 29. OVER THE LAST
MONTH, SEATTLE I.T. IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY
COUNCIL CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS FOR
THOSE PAYMENTS AND WANTS TO
THANK CAMERON YOUNG FOR BEING
PART OF THE INTERVIEW PANEL
WHICH INCLUDES MEMBERS FROM THE
EQUITY TEAM AND MEMBERS FROM
CTAB. WE HAVE NINE APPOINTMENT
FILES FOR THE CITY'S
CONSIDERATION, FIVE NEW
APPOINTMENTS AND FOUR
REAPPOINTMENTS. I KNOW WE ARE
EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THE FIVE
NEW MEMBERS. WE HAVE COLIN
SANDERS, FRIDAY O. ENABULELE,
RAJAT AGGARWAL HERE WITH US, AND
VENITA SUBRAMANIAN AND KATHLEEN
ROHDE JOINED US VIRTUALLY.
FILLIN MENG AND OMARI STRINGER
AND DEI'MARLON SCISNEY --
EXCUSE ME FOR THE PRONUNCIATION,
AND ALSO, AISHAH BOMANI. THANK
YOU FOR SERVING ON THE SECOND
TERM AND I WOULD LIKE THE NEW
MEMBERS TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES
AND SHARE THEIR BACKGROUND AND
BIO AND WHY THEY WANT TO SERVE
ON CTAB. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. I KNOW YOU CAME IN
HEARD. THAT'S WHY I'M SERVING.
THIS IS WONDERFUL. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. ONCE AGAIN, I'M
COLIN SANDERS. I HAVE BEEN IN
SEATTLE FOR JUST A FEW YEARS
NOW, A TRANSPLANT FROM THE
SOUTH, TEXAS, ORIGINALLY, AND
EXPERIENCE IN SOFTWARE
ENGINEERING, A.I. AND HARDWARE
STRUCTURE AND AN EMPLOYEE THEA
AMAZON WEB SERVICES AND AN
ORGANIZATION FOCUSING ON
DATACENTER BUILDOUTS AND DOING
THAT THE RIGHT WAY AND EXCUSING
MYSELF FROM ANY CONTRACTS WITH
AMAZON. I HAVE A LARGE HISTORY
WITH A.I. EQUITY IN PARTICULAR.
I THINK IT'S AN UNDER
REPRESENTED AREA OF BUSINESS
WHERE THERE IS AN INCREASINGLY
LARGE DIVIDE WITH THOSE WHO HAVE
ACCESS TO THOSE WHO HAVE A.I.
AND THOSE WHO DON'T. EXCITED TO
SERVE.
>> THANK YOU, COLIN. OH, I
APOLOGIZE.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN, MY NAME IS
FRIDAY ENABULELE. I HAVE A
BACHELOR DEGREE IN COMPUTER
SCIENCE AND I HAVE 20 YEARS
SOLVING COMPLEX PROBLEMS AND
WORKING WITH VIDEO. I AM
CURRENTLY A MEMBER OF MICROSOFT
A.I. I HAVE BEEN IN THE SEATTLE
AREA. I BELIEVE MY COMMITMENT TO
THE COMMUNITY WILL HELP THE
DIGITAL EQUITY DIVISION AND
BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND
MAKE AMAZING DECISIONS WHEN IT
COMES TO TECHNOLOGY, ESPECIALLY
ON A.I. TECHNOLOGY. IT'S A NEW
ENVIRONMENT THAT THE CITY SHOULD
BE AWARE OF AND MAKE SURE THAT
NOBODY'S LEFT BEHIND. THAT'S
WHY I'M HERE TO BE NOMINATED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, FRIDAY. THAT WAS
BEAUTIFUL. ALL RIGHT. VENITA?
DID I SAY IT RIGHT?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER .
ANYTHING ELSE. I AM VENITA
SUBRAMANIAN. I AM HONORED TO BE
APPOINTED TO THE COMMUNITY
TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY BOARD. I AM
A CURRENT DESIGNER CURRENTLY AT
MICROSOFT AND HAVE SPENT MORE
THAN A DECADE HELPING NAVIGATE
TECHNOLOGY. A BIG PART OF MY
WORK IS TAKING COMPLEX SYSTEMS
AND MAKING THEM MORE HUMAN, AND
THE QUESTIONS THAT GUIDE MY WORK
HAVE REMAINED CONSISTENT. FOR ME
IT STARTS ASKING WHO BENEFITS?
WHO MIGHT BE LEFT OUT AND HOW DO
YOU MAKE SURE THAT TECHNOLOGY IS
UNDERSTANDABLE, ACCESSIBLE TO
THE PEOPLE THAT IT'S INTENDED
TO SERVE. THAT'S WHAT I WILL
BRING TO CTAB. I BELIEVE THAT
QUESTIONS MATTER MORE NOW
BECAUSE TECHNOLOGY IS SO DEEPLY
EMBEDDED IN OUR DAILY LIFE AND
HOW IT ACCESSES COMMUNITIES. MY
PERCEPTION IS SHAPED BY MY OWN
EXPERIENCES AS THE DAUGHTER
IMMIGRANTS I AM RAISING A
DAUGHTER IN SEATTLE AND HAVE
SEEN HOW THAT AFFECTS
OPPORTUNITIES. MY PERSPECTIVE IS
OPPORTUNITIES DON'T HAPPEN BY
ACCIDENT. THEY REQUIRE LISTENING
AND SEEK A PERSPECTIVE THAT
WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNHEARD. WHAT
EXCITES ME MOST ABOUT CTAB IS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING MY
EXPERIENCE TO THE WORK WHILE
LEARNING FROM OTHERS. I LISTEN
AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS
THE COMMUNITY AND HELPING TO
ENSURE THAT TECHNOLOGY SERVES
SEATTLE RESIDENTS IN NEW AND
MEANINGFUL WAYS. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU, VENITA. AND WE'LL
GO TO KATHLEEN.
>> THANK YOU. I AM EXCITED TO BE
APPOINTED AS THE NEWEST MEMBER
OF THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY
ADVISORY BOARD. I AM A COMMUNITY
LEADER AND HAVE A DECADE OF
EXPERIENCE IN THE INTERSECTION
OF PUBLIC AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
MY CAREER IS ON PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT AND COMPLEX TOPICS
LIKE A.I. I SPENT MY
PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
CAREER HELPING PEOPLE NAVIGATE
HIGH-STAKES MOMENTS, WORK
TECHNOLOGY AND PUBLIC TRUST AND
WHERE IMPACT CONVERGE. BEFORE
WORKING IN TECHNOLOGY FOR
TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES, I BEGAN MY
CAREER IN THE EDUCATION EQUITY
SAYS WITH NON-PROFIT CALLED
COLLEGE POSSIBLE WORKING TO
EXPAND ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY
FOR UNDER REPRESENTED STUDENTS.
EQUITY AND TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN
THE CORE OF MY VALUES SINCE THE
BEGINNING OF MY CAREER. I'M A
LONG-TIME SEATTLE RESIDENT AND
THAT IS WHERE I AM JOINING YOU.
AND I ENGAGE WITH THE CITY ON
BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS. THESE
DECISIONS DETERMINE IF ALL
SATELLITES CAN PARTICIPATE IN
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL LIFE. I
WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO THE BOARD
THE ABILITY TO BRING COMPLEX
TECHNOLOGY TOPICS AND MAKING
THEM UNDERSTANDABLE AND
PRODUCING WELL-RESEARCHED
RECOMMENDATIONS TO DRIVE THEM. I
AM ALSO A CAREFUL LISTENER AND I
APOLOGIZE I COULD NOT BE THERE
IN PERSON BUT I WOULD HAVE LOVED
TO AND BELIEVE THAT
COMMUNICATING CLEARLY IS KEY.
I'M HONORED TO CONTRIBUTE AND
APPRECIATE THE TIME. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, KATHLEEN,
AND THANK YOU FOR OUR
APPOINTMENTS AND RE-APPOINTMENTS
THE PEOPLE IN PERSON AND THE
ONES THAT COULDN'T MAKE IT BUT
I WOULD LIKE TO PAUSE HERE TO
SEE IF THERE ARE ANY COMMENTS
REGARDING THE APPOINTEES BEFORE
I MAKE COMMENT? COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANT TO
THANK EVEN -- EVERYONE HERE AT
THE TABLE AND ONLINE. I
RECOGNIZE THAT SOMETIMES, YOU
HAVE TO RECUSE YOURSELF BECAUSE
OF YOUR DUTIES, MR. SANDERS,
WITH YOUR TIME AT AMAZON. AND I
HAD ADF IN MY OFFICE TALKING
ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE HAD TO
HAVE AN INFORMED DEBATE ABOUT
THAT. AND PLEASE INFORM YOUR
COLLEAGUES, USING YOUR EXPERTISE
AND YOUR ACADEMIC BACKGROUND AND
ALL THE ABOVE, REALLY, YOUR
PERSONAL BACKGROUND TO REALLY
BRING THAT TO BEAR FOR THE
CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE. THANK
YOU, ALL OF YOU TO INCLUDE --
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. ARE THERE
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS IN OUR
APPOINTEES? WELL, I FIRST WANT
TO SEE -- I DON'T KNOW IF THERE
IS ANY CLOSING REMARKS AT ALL
FROM ANYONE.
>> NO CLOSING REMARKS BUT THANK
YOU FOR THE TIME.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I AM VERY
GRATEFUL AND I BELIEVE I MET
WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THE
COMMITTEE BEFORE AND THE
EXPERTISE AND THE WORK THAT CAME
OUT OF THE GROUP TO GIVE EQUITY,
BROADBAND ACCESS, GOVERNMENT,
ALL THE THINGS WAS VERY, VERY
IMPRESSIVE. TO HEAR THE
KNOWLEDGE IN THE ROOM. AND YOU
MAKE A GREAT ADDITION, RAJAT --
WAS IT RAJAT? VENITA AND
KATHLEEN ONLINE AND FRIDAY,
THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE, AND
COLIN. AND I AM GOING TO
RECOMMEND THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND THE APPOINTS. IS THERE
A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECOND
TO CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENTS. ANY
OTHER COMMENTS ON THE
APPOINTEES? WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES, AND IT WILL
BE SENT TO THE JUNE 16th CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. THANK YOU ALL
FOR BEING HERE AND REALLY
APPRECIATE GETTING TO KNOW YOU
ALL AS WELL. THANK YOU. WILL YOU
PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER 11. AND
WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR OUR
PRESENTERS TO COME TO THE TABLE,
I WILL TURN TO COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS FOR OPENING REMARKS. S
THIS HIS DURING THE BUDGET
SEASON LAST YEAR AND I AM
EXCITED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE
OUTCOME. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, FOR BEING
HERE. I WILL HAVE AN OPENING
REMARK. I WANT TO SAY THIS IS
MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS' WORTH OF
ASKING QUESTIONS TODAY AND THIS
IS A REALLY BIG DEAL. THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT MADE
IMPLEMENTATIONS TO THE PROGRAM
AND WE CANNOT -- THAT'S A
SOURCE OF CHECKS AND BALANCES
AND THE SEPARATION OF POWER. AND
THEY HAVE LIMITED THE PEOPLE
SIGNING UP FOR THIS PROGRAM, 4%
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS SO WE KNOW
THE CHANGES ARE IN FACT WORKING
AND THERE MORE WORK TO DO. WHY
ARE WE HERE TODAY? WE'LL GET
INTO THE DISCOUNT UTILITY
PROGRAM. BUT WHAT IT DOES IS IT
PROVIDES DISCOUNTS ON UTILITY
BILLS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NEED
IT. WHY DO WE HAVE CHANGES
TODAY? WE HAVE CHANGES TODAY
BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN USING THE
STATE-MEDIAN INCOME AS FOR THOSE
WHO ARE ELIGIBILITY. WE HAVE A
CLIFF OF ELIGIBILITY. IF YOU
MAKE $1 MORE THAN WHAT IS
ELIGIBLE YOU CAN'T BENEFIT. WE
HAVE HAD INCREASING AFFORDABLE
CHALLENGES IN THE CITY. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, HAD A PRESENTATION
THIS LAST WEEK DEMONSTRATING
WITH HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGES.
THE UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM IS
ONE OF THE FEW PLACES WE IN OUR
CITY FAMILY ARE ABLE TO MAKE A
CRITICAL AND LARGE DIFFERENCE
FOR FAMILIES THAT NEED A LITTLE
BIT OF HELP. AND SO THIS
LEGISLATION WILL MAKE ABOUT
31,000 NEW LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
ELIGIBLE FOR THE UTILITY
DISCOUNT PROGRAM. IT'S
ESTIMATED THAT 8800 ARE SENIOR
HOUSEHOLDS, MANY ON A FIXED
INCOME. I REALIZE ALL OF THESE
TALKING POINTS I AM SKEWING YOUR
SLIDES. I WILL STOP AND LET YOU
BASK IN YOUR WORK. WHY ARE WE
HERE? WE ARE HERE FOR THE
PARENTS OF THE FRIENDS THAT I
GREW UP WITH THAT ARE PAYING
MORE THAN IN TAXES THAN THEIR
ORIGINAL MORTGAGE. WE ARE HERE
FOR THE SENIORS THAT HAVE HAD
DIFFICULTY IN SIGNING UP AND WE
ARE CHANGING OUR PROCESSES TO
MAKE IT ELIGIBLE. AND WE ARE
HERE FOR THE FAMILIES DOWN ON
THEIR LUCK AT THE MOMENT THAT
NEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF HELP OR
THE PERSON WALKING DOWN THE
STREET THAT YOU WOULD PERCEIVE
BEING JUST FINE AND JUST LOST
THEIR JOB AND NEEDS HELP FOR A
COUPLE OF MONTHS. SO THIS IS
REALLY BIG -- THIS IS A REALLY
BIG AND IMPORTANT CHANGE AND WE
COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT
COUNCIL PRESIDENT EMERITUS
JUAREZ AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, JOY
HOLLINGSWORTH, AND EVERYONE AT
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
>> AWESOME. JUMP.
>> ANDREW LEE, CEO FOR SEATTLE
UTILITIES.
>> MARCUS JACKSON, SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT. TANYA KIM, DIRECTOR HUMAN
SERVICES DIRECTOR. LESLIE
BRINSON, SPU.
>> WE WANT TO REPORT ON THE
EXECUTIVE RESPONSE FOR THE
COUNCIL'S STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT FOR THE RATE
SERVICES PROGRAM. BUT I WANT TO
START BY THANKING THE COUNCIL
HERE FOR LEADERSHIP ON THIS
REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE. I KNOW
AFFORDABILITY IS THE TOP
FINANCIAL CONCERN FOR MOST
SEATTLE RESIDENTS. WHILE UTILITY
BILLS ARE NOT THE LEADING
CONTRIBUTOR TO THE HIGH COST OF
LIVING IN THE REGION MORE PEOPLE
FIND IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT
TO COVER MONTH-TO-MONTH
EXPENSES. OUR PRESENTATION HAS
SEVERAL PRIMARILY ELEMENTS. WE
WILL PROVIDE BACKGROUNDS WITH
THE PROGRAM AND HOW WE GOT HERE
TODAY. NEXT WE WILL DISCUSS THE
INCREASE ENROLLMENT OF THE
PROGRAM TO MAXIMIZE THE
ENROLLMENT OF THE ALREADY
EXISTING CUSTOMERS WHO WISH TO
PARTICIPATE. AND LASTLY, WE WILL
OUTLINE A PROPOSAL TO EXPAND THE
PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY. AS
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS SAID,
EXPANDING EMERGENCY EXISTENCE TO
80% OF THE AREA AS WELL. THE
BOTTOM LINE OF ALL THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS IS IT EXPANDS
THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS FOR THE
PROGRAM. BEFORE BEGINNING OUR
PRESENTATION, I WOULD LIKE TO
OFFER DIRECTOR KIM AND INTERIM
MANAGER AND CEO SANTOFF TO MAKE
OPENING REMARKS.
>> WELL, THE DIRECTOR HIT ON THE
FUNCTIONS IN THE ROLE. AND
NUMBER ONE, I AM WEARING THE
UTILITY DISCOUNTS PROGRAM SWAG.
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
REALLY WORKS TO BRING ON
RESOURCES AND HAVE RESOURCES
ACCESSIBLE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
IN THIS CASE YOU MAY KNOW US AS
A FUNDER. WE ARE THE DIRECT
PROVIDER. WE HAVE SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES AND SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
SUPPORTING OUR MIGHTY TEAM OF 21
EMPLOYEES WHO ARE EMBEDDED DO
THOSE OUTREACHES AND HAVE THE
LANGUAGE AND BUILD PARTNERSHIPS,
RECERTIFICATIONS, ALL OF THE
GOOD STUFF THAT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS HAS NOTED IN HIS OPENING
REMARKS. AND I WANTED TO JUST
HIGHLIGHT WITH THAT TEAM, 21 --
I THINK THAT'S SMALL AND MIGHTY
FOR THE FACT THAT WE HAVE
APPROXIMATELY 39,000 FOLKS WHO
ARE ENROLLED IN BENEFITING AS OF
DECEMBER. AND JUST IN 2025, THE
PROGRAM PROCESSED OVER 13,000
APPLICATIONS. AND IT CONSIDERED
17400 PHONE CALLS AND MET WITH
NEARLY 600 WALK-IN CUSTOMERS SO
THIS IS A LABOR OF LOVE, AND IT
BENEFITS PEOPLE ON A, YOU KNOW,
A MONTHLY BASIS. SO IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT. THE OTHER -- I
MENTIONED THE COMMUNITY EVENTS.
WE ARE IMMERSED IN VERY
IMPRESSIVE STATS ON THIS, TOO,
BUT INCREASING OUR OUTREACH AND
IT'S REALLY INCREASING OUR
OUTREACH, ALSO, WITH THOSE WHO
ARE UNDERSERVED. IT'S BEING
WITH A COMMUNITY THAT IS TRUSTED
PARTNERS AND IN ALL AREAS YOU
KNOW HOW CRITICAL THAT IS. I
WILL SAY AS A SERVICE PROVIDER
WE ARE READY TO HELP IN THE
EXPANSION AND WE ARE REALLY
EXCITED TO LEAN IN. THANK YOU.
>> LET ME START OUT BY SAYING
THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEF YOU TODAY.
AT CITY LIGHT, AFFORDABILITY
REMAINS AT THE CENTER OF OUR
WORK. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL
YEARS WE'VE FOCUSED ON MAKING
SURE HOUSEHOLDS FACING FINANCIAL
PRESSURE CAN MORE EASILY ACCESS
THE SUPPORT THEY QUALIFY FOR,
INCLUDING STATE AND FEDERAL
RESOURCES. BY WORKING BY
SIMPLIFYING ENROLLMENT AND
PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, ALIGNING OUR
PROGRAMS, INCOME ELIGIBILITY
WITH SPU, WE ARE HELPING MORE
FAMILIES, SENIORS AND WORKING
PEOPLE KEEP THEIR ELECTRIC BILLS
MANAGEABLE. WE ARE ALSO GUIDED
BY WASHINGTON'S CLEAN ENERGY
TRANSFORMATION ACT, CETA. THAT
KEEPS THE HOUSEHOLD ENERGY
BURDEN TONIGHT 6% OR LESS
ENSURING THAT THE TRANSITION TO
CLEAN ENERGY DOES NOT IMPACT THE
MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION. I
WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE TEAM AT
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT FOR
COLLABORATING WITH OUR PARTNERS
AND COMMITTING TO A CONTINUOUS
FOCUS ON THIS IMPORTANT EFFORT.
THANKS.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE'LL KICK OFF
THIS PRESENTATION. I HAVE BEEN
NOMINATED BY THESE LOVELY FOLKS
TO SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF. THE
CENTRAL BUILDING HAS CONTRIBUTED
THIS PRESENTATION AND TODAY WHEN
I SAY WE I AM SPEAKING FOR ALL
THREE DEPARTMENTS UNLESS I
CERTIFY SPU. ALL RIGHT. THIS
ALSO HAS BEEN A PATH. WE HAVE
BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH
COUNCIL FOR MANY YEARS BUT ALSO
-- BUT SPECIFICALLY OVER THE
LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS I CAN
REMEMBER REACHING OUT WHILE WE
WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
PROGRAM EVALUATION TALKING ABOUT
EXPANSION. THAT PROGRAM
EVALUATION WE DID IN 2023-2024
WAS REALLY A REFLECTION POINT
COMING OUT OF COVID WHERE WE
WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE
HEARING DIRECTLY FROM OUR
CUSTOMERS. WE SURVEYED OVER 1000
TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND HOW
THE UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
WERE IMPACTING THEM AND WHAT WAS
PREVENTING THE CUSTOMERS FROM
ENROLLING. WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH
THAT OVER THE YEARS AND WE
WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE
BARRIERS OUT OF THE WAY. TODAY
IS HOW TO CHANGE OUR APPROACH TO
ENROLLMENT IN THAT WAY AND AS
DIRECTOR LEE MENTIONED, WE WILL
TALK ABOUT EXPANSION.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS DID STEAL
MY THUNDER A LITTLE BIT ON THE
SLIDES.
>> SORRY!
>> ALL GOOD. SO THE UTILITY
DISCOUNTS PROGRAM IS KNOWN AS
ONE OF THE MOST GENEROUS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY. WE ARE INCREDIBLY
GENEROUS WITH THE 60% ON THE
CITY LIGHT BILL AND 50% ON SPU
BILL. WE ARE KNOWN AMONG THE
WATER UTILITIES AS INNOVATIVE
PROVIDING WATER, SEWER, AND
SOLID WASTE ASSISTANCE FOR
RENTERS WHO PAY THEIR SERVICE
THROUGH THEIR RENT OR A
THIRD-PARTY BILLER. SO THE
SITUATIONS LIKE THE RATIO
UTILITY BILLING SITUATION, THOSE
RENTERS IF THEY HAVE A SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT ACCOUNT THEY HAVE
ACCESS TO SPU EVEN IF THEY ARE
PAYING OTHERWISE FOR SERVICES.
CURRENTLY -- THIS WILL BECOME A
MAIN PART OF CONVERSATION --
ELIGIBILITY GOES UP TO 70% OF
THE STATE MEDIUM INCOME WHICH
FOR REFERENCE IS 52, 53% OF AREA
MEDIUM INCOME. SO DURING OUR
SURVEY PROCESS THESE TWO QUOTES
WERE THE MOST IMPACTFUL. THIS
PROGRAM MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
IT'S FUNDED BY CITY LIGHT AND
SPU RATEPAYERS AND CAN OFFER UP
TO $1400 A YEAR IN SAVINGS. WHEN
WE SURVEYED OUR CUSTOMERS, 80%
OF THOSE ENROLLED SAID IT HELPS
THEM TO STAY CURRENT. AND THE
EMERGENCY SYSTEM IS REALLY
INTENDED FOR MORE EPISODIC
HARDSHIPS VERSES ELIGIBILITY AND
IT HELPS WITH THE WATER SHUTOFF
WHEN THE CUSTOMERS GET BEHIND ON
THEIR BILLS AND HIT THE
UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES. YOU CAN
SEE THESE PROGRAMS OFFER HIGHER
SAVINGS. THE PROJECT -- SPD
LIGHTS PROJECT SHARE GOES UP TO
80% AMI. ONE THING TO NOTE,
CURRENTLY, THE ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS OFFER -- ONLY OFFER
MAXIMUM ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSEHOLD
WITH CHILDREN, AN IMPORTANT
DISTINCTION WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN
A MINUTE. ALL RIGHT. DURING THIS
PROCESS WE HAVE LANDED ON
MULTIPLE GOALS IN REDESIGNING
AND EXPANDING THE PROGRAM. THESE
GOALS ARE NOT COMPREHENSIVE.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY WITHIN THEM
BUT WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE PROGRAM IS HELPING
CUSTOMERS REDUCE THEIR ENERGY
BURDEN OR THEIR UTILITY BURDEN.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
CUSTOMERS ARE MAINTAINING THAT
BENEFIT OVER TIME, THAT AS
MENTIONED, CITY LIGHT IS ABLE TO
COMPLY WITH THE WASHINGTON CLEAN
ENERGY TRANSFORMATION ACT. AND
THAT WE'RE MAKING ENROLLMENTS
SIMPLE AND LOWEST. BOTH FOR
CUSTOMERS AND STAFF WHO ARE
PROCESSING APPLICATIONS. THESE
NEXT FEW SLIDES ARE REALLY
LOOKING AT HOW WE HAVE CHANGED
THINGS OVER THE LAST COUPLE
YEARS COMING OUT OF THAT PROGRAM
ENROLLMENT I MENTIONED, THE
PROGRAM EVALUATION THEY
MENTIONED. IN RULING
PREQUALIFIED CUSTOMERS HAS BEEN
A KEY STRATEGY. GENERALLY
CUSTOMERS WHO ACCESS GOVERNMENT
PROGRAMS ARE OFTEN SUBJECT TO
MULTIPLE BURDENSOME PROCESSES TO
PROVE THAT THEY QUALIFY FOR THIS
PROGRAM AND THIS PROGRAM. AND
OUR GOAL IS TO REDUCE BURDEN ON
CUSTOMERS AND GET THEM INTO THE
UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAMS AND
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. WE HAD A
DATA-SHARING PARTNER WITH THE
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND WE
WERE ABLE TO SHARE DATA WITH THE
CUSTOMER'S CONSENT, BEING, TO
AUTOMATICALLY ENROLL THEM. WE
REMEMBER ABLE TO EXPAND THAT THE
LAST YEAR OR SO TO INCLUDE THE
KING COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY TO
INCLUDE RESIDENTS OUTSIDE THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND FOR THE
RECIPIENTS OF THE FEDERAL ENERGY
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. WE'VE ALSO
ENTERED ANOTHER PIECE COMING OUT
OF COVID WHERE OUR PARTNERSHIP
STRATEGIES GENERALLY WITH
HOUSING PROVIDERS HAD LANGUISHED
A LITTLE BIT. THANKS TO A NEW
STAFF MEMBER AT CITY LIGHT WE
HAVE REALLY BEEN ABLE TO INVEST
ENERGY IN BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS
AND WE RECEIVED 20 NEW
PARTNERSHIPS WITH HOUSING
PROVIDERS PERSONALLY INCLUDING
SHAG, ONE OF THE CITY'S LARGEST
SENIOR HOUSING PROVIDESSER.
THESE PARTNERSHIPS ALLOWS YOU TO
HOST ENROLLMENTS ON SITE AND GO
WHERE CUSTOMERS ARE AND LEVERAGE
THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
VERIFICATION. FINALLY, WE ARE
WITH A CROSS-COUNTY PUBLIC
ENROLLMENT WITH KING COUNTY.
AGAIN, DOUBLING DOWN ON
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WAS A
BIG, BIG PART OF THE FEEDBACK
THAT WE HEARD DURING THE PROGRAM
EVALUATION. WE ARE SHIFTING THE
WAYS WE ARE ENGAGING COMMUNITY.
WE ARE BOTH LEVERAGING OUTSIDE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SUPPORT
CUSTOMER ENROLLMENT. WE ARE ALSO
REALLY ENGAGING WITH THEM TO
HELP US DESIGN NEW POLICY AND
PROCEDURES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
HISTORIC ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIERS
FACED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE
ACTUALLY WORKING. WE HAVE
SHIFTED TO -- IN THE PAST WE
HAVE MOSTLY FLYERED AND
ADVERTISED FOR THE PROGRAM AND
NOW WE SHIFTED TO IN-PERSON
ENROLLMENT SUPPORT AT EVENTS. WE
HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND
TRAINED A COHORT OF COMMUNITY
LIAISON TO PROVIDE IN-LANGUAGE
SUPPORT BOTH AT EVENTS AND ALSO
THEIR EXPERTISE IN MAKING SURE
THAT OUR RESIDENTS WHO SPEAK
OTHER LANGUAGES ARE ABLE TO
ACCESS PROGRAMS AND THAT THE
PROGRAM CHANGES THAT WE'RE
MAKING ARE WORKING FOR THEM.
THESE IMAGES ARE JUST TO CAPTURE
THE WORK THAT OUR COMMUNICATIONS
FOLKS AND TEAM -- IF YOU LOOK TO
THE FAR LEFT, THAT WAS OUR PAPER
APPLICATION BEFORE THE RECEIPT
REDESIGN. IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHAT THE WORDS SAY. YOU CAN ALL
PROBABLY IMAGINE THE LEVEL OF
BUREAUCRACY AND CONFUSION
THAT'S EMBEDDED IN THOSE BLACK
AND WHITE LINES. OUR TEAM HAS
REALLY GONE ABOUT LOOKING
THROUGH AND MAKING SURE THAT WE
ARE CREATING APPLICATION
PROCESSES THAT CUSTOMERS CAN
ACTUALLY COMPLETE DIRECTLY THE
FIRST TIME TO REDUCE THE BACK
AND FORTH WITH STAFF. BEFORE
THIS, OUR STAFF REPORTED THAT
GENERAL HEY CUSTOMERS WERE
UNABLE TO CORRECTLY COMPLETE AN
APPLICATION WITHOUT ENGAGING
WITH STAFF. WE'RE REALLY
LOOKING TO EMPLOY DESIGN BEST
PRACTICES AND INPUT FROM
COMMUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT. AND
FINALLY, WE'VE BEEN TAKING A
HARD LOOK AT OUR PROGRAM
POLICIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
ALIGNING THOSE WITH THE GOALS
WITH HELPING CUSTOMERS GET THE
HELP THEY NEED. A FEW CHANGES TO
HIGHLIGHT. JUDGMENTALLY, THE
PROGRAM REQUIRES CUSTOMERS TO
CONFIRM THEY ARE PROGRAM
ELIGIBLE ARE EVERY YEARS. WE
HAVE REMOVED THAT FOR 65 AND
OLDER INCOMES. WE FOUND THE RISK
OF THEM INCREASING THEIR INCOME
WAS NEGLIBLE. WE REACHED OUT TO
S.N.A.P. RESIDENTS TO RENEW AND
RECONFIRM THEIR INCOME. AND
LOOKING AHEAD, THERE IS STILL A
LOT OF WORK IN PROCESS OVER THE
NEXT TWO YEARS TO COMPLETELY
REDESIGN THE RENEWAL PROCESS
GENERALLY AND TO STREAM LINE OUR
INCOME DOCUMENTATION
REQUIREMENTS AND TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE ALL OF OUR
COMMUNICATIONS AVAILABLE IN
MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. WE ARE ALSO
IN THE MIDDLE OF A TECHNOLOGY
OPTIONS ANALYSIS TO MAKE SURE AS
WE MOVE FORWARD TECHNOLOGY
ISN'T A BARRIER FOR CUSTOMERS .
OKAY. THE GOOD NEWS ALL OF THIS
WORKS WITH THE ARMY OF FOLKS AND
IT'S ACTUALLY WORKING. IT'S
INCREASING PARTICIPATION. MY
PHONE IS ON. THAT'S NOD GOOD.
RIGHT NOW AT 70% OF STATE INCOME
WE HAVE 70,000 ELIGIBLE
CUSTOMERS ACROSS CITY LIGHT AND
SP U TERRITORY. WITH THE EFFORTS
IN 2025, WE HAVE INCREASED UP TO
36% AND WE ARE NOW AT ROUGHLY
39% AND ARE HOPING TO REACH 40
BY THE END OF THE YEAR. THIS
SLIDE IS REALLY TO SHOW AS WE
INCREASE PARTICIPATION OF THE
CURRENT ELIGIBLE POOL OF
CUSTOMERS THAT IT ALSO INCREASES
THE COST OF THE PROGRAM. THE
COST CAN INCREASE WHEN WE
INCREASE PARTICIPATION AND LATER
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INCREASING
AND EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY. I
WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE
TWO PRESSURES ON THE FINANCIAL
SIDE. IF OUR GOAL IS TO REACH
50% OF ENROLLMENT OF THE
CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE POPULATION
THAT WOULD RUN ROUGHLY 75
MILLION. ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING
TO TRANSITION. ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT?
>> YEAH. PERFECT. LET'S PAUSE
HERE AND SEE IF WE HAVE
QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
COUNCILMEMBER -- WERE YOU FIRST
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? WE'LL GO
TO YOU, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> I APOLOGIZE I DIDN'T GET THE
HAND UP QUICKLY ENOUGH. I WAS
GOING TO ASK WHEN WE CAN ASK
QUESTIONS. SO I WILL GO AHEAD
AND ASK MY QUESTIONS. GOOD TO
SEE YOU AGAIN, LESLIE. I DIDN'T
RECOGNIZE YOU. I'M LIKE THAT'S
LESLIE FROM YOUR OTHER JOB AND
NOW HERE AT SPU DOING YOUR SAME
EXCELLENT WORK.
>> I JUST DON'T GO AWAY.
>> THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE WHAT
YOU ARE DOING SO MUCH. AND I
DON'T WANT TO GET TO -- ON PAGE
EIGHT -- FIRST OF ALL, THANK
YOU, THIS IS ALL GREAT AND I AM
THE ONE PERSON FOR THANK YOUING
YOU THANK YOU -- YOU FOR DOING
YOUR JOB. AND ON PAGE 8, THE
PROCEED FOR SIGNING UP FOR UDP,
THE DATA, WHAT IS THE NEW
CONSENT PROCESS AND WHAT DOES IT
LOOK LIKE? HOW DO YOU GET PEOPLE
TO SAY YOU CAN USE MY
INFORMATION AND ARE YOU HEARING
ON ZIP CODES -- TWO QUESTIONS
HERE. ARE YOU USING ZIP CODES
LIKE WE DO WITH HOUSING AND
OTHER INDICATORS AND DATA
MARKETERS? IF YOU LOOK AT THE
CITY AND SEE A HEAT MAP AND YOU
SEE WHO'S NEEDING IT THE MOST
YOU CAN KIND OF GET AHEAD IT AND
GET TO THE COMMUNITY EVENTS LIKE
98125 OR WHATEVER WHEN THEY ARE
HAVING EVENTS. I KNOW YOU HAVE
BOOTHS EVERYWHERE, AND THE THIRD
THING QUICKLY AND CORRECT ME IF
I'M WRONG, YOU STILL HAVE A
CONTRIBUTION PROGRAM. WAS IT
WITH SEATTLE CITY LIGHT WHERE
FOLKS LIKE ME CAN CONTRIBUTE TO
THE WARM HOUSE -- WARM -- WHAT
WAS IT CALLED? YOU CAN GIVE
MONEY --
>> PROJECT SHARE? YOU CAN INTO
NATE FOR THE BILLS.
>> WAS THAT ONLINE OR IN THE
PAPER? DON'T THEY GIVE US THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DONATE IN THE
WINTER?
>> IT WOULDN'T BENEFIT SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT.
>> OKAY. SO CAN SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT AND SPU HAVE THE DONATION
PROGRAM IN THE PAPER BILL? MY
DAUGHTERS CALL ME AMISH MOM. MY
MILLENNIAL DAUGHTERS BECAUSE I
AM NOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND I
DON'T CARE BUT I THINK ON THE
PAPER BILL YOU CAN GIVE MORE FOR
THE WARM HOMES IN THE WINTER.
THAT WOULD BE A NICE AREA
BESIDES LOWERING AMI FOR
ELEVATING EXPANDING AMI FOR
THOSE OF US WHO WOULD LIKE TO?
THANK YOU.
>> MADAM CHAIR?
>> GO AHEAD.
>> THE PROCESS -- REALLY, THE
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
WORKING DIRECTLY WITH CLIENTS
THROUGH THE COMMUNITY DIRECTORS
PROGRAM, WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING
THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE A CONSENT
DISCLOSURE PROCESS, BUT WE
WEREN'T ACCEPTING THAT
DISCLOSURE FORM SO THEY COULD
INQUIRE ON THEIR CLIENTS'
BEHALF. WE RULED THAT OUT ON ALL
THREE ASSISTANCE UTILITY TEAMS
SO WE WERE SHARING THE
INFORMATION IN A WAY THAT WAS
HELPFUL OPPOSED TO PUTTING UP
BARRIERS. THE SECOND QUESTION IS
ZIP CODES AND HEAT MAPS. I WOULD
LOVE TO GET BACK TO COUNCIL ON
THAT. WE DO HAVE THAT BUT IF I
TRANSPORT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD
--
>> CUSTOMERS CAN DONATE. IT'S
ON YOUR BILL. IT IS ON AVERAGE
BILL HOWEVER MUCH YOU WANT TO
DONATE OR DO IT ONE TIME AND IT
GOES IN THE PROJECT CHAIR FUND.
>> WE DO INCLUDE IT ON THE BILL.
>> THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD IS
WHEN WE DO THE PLANNING FOR
OUTREACH LANGUAGE, WHERE WE ARE
PROMOTING, WE DO LOOK AT WHERE
THERE ARE LOWER INCOME
RESIDENTS, OF COURSE, AND WHO IN
THE PAST WE HAVE IDENTIFIED, FOR
EXAMPLE, THE REAL NEED TO PUSH
FOR SPANISH SPEAKING AGENCIES TO
WORK WITH. SO THAT MARKETING
OUTREACH DEPARTMENT IS IMPORTANT
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE KIND OF
FLOODING THAT ZONE. WE HAVE
DEFINITELY UTILIZED THAT
DEMOGRAPHIC AS WELL.
>> ONE QUICK COMMENT. IT'S GOOD
TO SEE YOU. WE USE THE DATA FROM
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR
LOW-INCOME STUDENTS FOR LUNCH.
SO ARE YOU WORKING WITH SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS? THAT MIGHT BE
SOMETHING YOU MIGHT WANT TO
THINK ABOUT BECAUSE WE DID THAT
WITH THE PROGRAM PROMISE. AND WE
CAN GET IT OUT WITH THE
LEADERSHIP OF COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS AND THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT -- ACTUALLY, EVERYBODY
HERE. I THINK IF WE HAVE MORE WE
SHOULD GIVE MORE AND IF YOU GIVE
US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT,
WE WILL COME THROUGH. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND FIRST,
I WANT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR MY
COLLEAGUE ON THE OTHER END OF
THE DAIS. I, TOO, LIKE TO PAY ON
MY BILLS. AND IT'S PAPER. AND I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. YOU CAN
COMPARE THIS YEAR TO LAST YEAR
AND YOU CAN TAKE A GLANCE. AND
BY THE WAY, STRONG MOVE BY THE
SLIDE NUMBERS AGAIN. AND FOR THE
SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUE ON THE
RECOLLECT END OF THE DAIS . WE
ARE ON SLIDE EIGHT. IF YOU COULD
GO TO SLIDE 10. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE REMARKS REGARDING
-- THE FIRST BULLET REGARDING
THE REMOVAL ENVIRONMENTS FOR
SENIORS OF THE 65 HOUSEHOLD. AS
SOMEONE WHO IS GETTING
EVER-CLOSER TO THAT NUMBER
MYSELF, I RECOGNIZE THAT ISSUE
AND I REALLY RECOGNIZE IT FOR
TWO ISSUES. ONE, MY ENGAGEMENT
IN THE COMMUNITY, THERE ARE A
LOT OF ELDER CONSTITUENTS,
NEIGHBORS THAT I KNOW THAT LIVE
IN HOMES. AND IT'S DIFFICULT.
THEY WANT TO AGE IN PLACE, YOU
KNOW. THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO GET
THEIR HOUSE PAINTED. THEY CAN'T
AFFORD TO GET A NEW ROOF WHICH
IS LIKE BUYING A NEW CAR WHICH
IS LIKE BUYING THREE HOUSES WHEN
THEY WERE YOUNGER. THE
AFFORDABILITY ISSUE IS MASSIVE
BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT. IT
GOES TO YOUR POINT THEY HAVE
INCREASE THE NEXTS BUT THE
DIFFICULTY OF DOING SO. I THINK
OF MY MOTHER AND MY DAD PASSED
FIVE YEARS AGO, AND ONE BROTHER
AND I TOOK CARE OF THE FINANCIAL
AND LEGAL PIECES WITH ANOTHER
BROTHER HELPING OUT. SISTER
LIVED ACROSS THE STREET SIX
HOUSES DOWN. FANTASTIC, AND
GOING BACK TO THE CONSTITUENTS,
RESIDENTS, AND FRIENDS, A LOT OF
THEM DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT
NETWORK. AND THE IDEA THAT, YOU
KNOW, THEY GET CONFUSED IN THIS
EVER-INCREASING TECHNOLOGICAL
WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN. IT'S
SUPER IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW,
KEEP IT SIMPLE, BOTTOM LINE.
KEEP IT SIMPLE. SO I APPRECIATE
THAT ELEMENT. I WANTED TO PUT
THAT SLIDE AND THAT BULLET
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE REASONS
THAT I JUST SAID AND ALSO TO
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> IF I CAN TAG ON TO THAT FOR
THE VOWING PUBLIC MEMBERS, THE
SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS THE
AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES
DIVISION THAT WE CAN LEAN ON AS
WELL AND WE HAVE TRUSTED
PARTNERS AT SENIOR CENTERS AND
OTHERS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
ALSO ENGAGING FOLKS IN A WAY
THAT WE ARE MEETING THEIR NEEDS
BEING PRESENT AND HAVING THE
PAPER FORMS AND I WANTED TO
EXPRESS THAT WE CAN LEAN ON OUR
OWN INTERNAL RESOURCES. WHAT IS
REALLY NICE ABOUT THE AGING AND
DISABILITY SERVICES, TOO, WE
HAVE A COUNTY-WIDE REACH. SOME
OF THE SERVICES ARE BEYOND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. SO WE HAVE THE
INTERNAL MECHANISM. AND WITH
PAPER WE WERE VERY SPECIFIC THIS
YEAR TO REDESIGN OUR PAPER
APPLICATION WITH THE IDEA THAT
WE KNOW FOLKS -- I WAS IN THE
MIDST OF ELDER CARE AND THEY
HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE ONLINE
TECHNOLOGY AND PAPER IS A TEST
TO SEE WHICH WORKS BETTER AND WE
CAN RULE THAT OUT OF OUR
TECHNOLOGY. SO THAT'S WHERE
WE'RE AT.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL TO KNOW.
WE'LL GO TO COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU HERE. AND
THE DISCOUNT UTILITY PROGRAM IS
SOMETHING I KNOW GENERAL MANAGER
LEE AND LESLIE FROM WORKING
TOGETHER IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
A FEW YEARS AGO. IT'S SOMETHING
THAT I REALLY CARE ABOUT AND I
HAVE A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS,
ELDER CONSTITUENTS WHO HAVE
LIVED IN THEIR HOMES FOR MANY,
MANY YEARS AS YOU HAVE HEARD ME
SAY IN THE PAST. SOME OF THESE
EXPENSES ARE, YOU KNOW,
DIFFICULT FOR THEM. SO I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE DIRECTOR KIM. THANK
YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT ALL THE
OTHER AREAS WHERE YOU WILL FIND
SENIORS. IT'S NOT JUST FHA. AS
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE DESCRIBED,
AGE IN PLACE AND THEY ARE HAVING
TROUBLE MAKING ENDS MEET WITH
THE AFFORDABLE ISSUES THEY ARE
EXPERIENCING BECAUSE THEY BOUGHT
THEIR HOMES SO LONG AGO AND NOW
THEY'RE WORTH SO MUCH. BUT YET
THEIR INCOMES ARE NOT INDICATIVE
OF HOW MUCH THEIR HOMES ARE
WORTH. I REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE
FEATURES OF THIS, ANDS TO
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ'S POINT, I
WANT TO SAY IN TERMS OF THE
PROMISE STUDENTS AND SPF, THOSE
ARE GREAT PARTNERS BECAUSE THE
PROMISE STUDENTS, THAT WE ARE
SERVING, 70% OF THEM I THINK ARE
LOW INCOME OR IN THAT RANGE
ANYWAY. IF I GOT THE 70% WRONG,
IT'S NOT FAR ENOUGH. I THINK
THESE ARE PARTNERS THAT WE CAN
MAKE SUCH A GREAT PARTNER TO US.
IF WE ARE NOT ALREADY DOING THAT
I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT AS
ANOTHER GREAT PARTNERSHIP,
LESLIE, SO WE CAN REACH THE
FAMILIES OF THOSE STUDENTS.
THAT'S IMPORTANT, TOO. THANK
YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND THANK
YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU ALL
COLLECTIVELY ARE DOING TO ENSURE
THIS PROGRAM IS BEING UTILIZED
AND ALSO EXPANDED. I KNOW YOU
ARE GOING THERE NEXT TO REACH
MORE FOLKS IN THE CITY. WE NEED
THE SUPPORT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I GUESS I ALSO REALIZE WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT RIGHT NOW AND
WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE
COUNCIL BILL IN JUST A SECOND.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE SAME
PRESENTATION. I JUST WANT TO
THANK EVERYONE FOR ALL OF YOUR
WORK ON THIS. WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING AND ASKING QUESTIONS FOR
OVER EIGHT YEARS. WE'LL TALK
ABOUT THE LEGISLATION IN A
MINUTE. PART OF THIS IS THE
CLIFF THAT WE NEED TO ATTEND TO
IF SOMEONE MAKES $1 MORE THAN
THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR. THEY ARE
LEFT OUT IN THE COLD. THIS
LEGISLATION SETS THE SCHEDULE TO
CONTINUE EXPANDING BEYOND THE
60% MEDIUM INCOME. WE MADE THE
CHANGE TO THE PEOPLE WHO WERE
JUST OUT OF REACH, AND THERE IS
MORE FAMILIES THAT WE NEED TO
HELP SERVE IN THE 60 TO 70 AND
70 TO 80% MEDIUM INCOME. SO THIS
BILL THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN
JUST A SECOND BUT THE
PRESENTATION ESSENTIALLY
KICKSTARTS THE WORK TO THOSE
HOUSEHOLDS. THE LEGISLATIVE
INTENT WAS THE PRE-WORK TO GET
TO WHERE WE ARE AND REALLY
HELPED US TO REALLY STAY ON THIS
SCHEDULE. THIS WORK THAT HSD,
AND SEATTLE CITY LIGHT HAS DONE,
AND FOR THE ELDERS AND THOSE ON
A FIXED INCOME THAT SUDDENLY
FOUND THEMSELVES ON HARD TIMES
AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T MOVED
OR CHANGED JOBS BUT OUR CITIES
CHANGED AROUND THEM. THE FAMILY
I GREW UP IN WOULD NOT BE ABLE
TO AFFORD TO MOVE TO BALLARD
TODAY. THE PARENTS OF THE
FRIENDS I GREW UP WITH ARE
PAYING HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES
THAN THEIR ORIGINAL MORTGAGE.
THE K-SHAPED ECONOMY BANDS THAT
WE SAW IN THE PRESENTATION LAST
WEEK SHOWED HOW WE WENT FROM A
PORT CITY, GATEWAY TO ALASKA,
SLEEPY FICTIONING VILLAGE INTO A
TECH HUB LEADING THE WORLD IN
SOFTWARE AND TECHNOLOGICAL
ADVANCE. ANYONE IN ANY OF THOSE
BANDS COULD HAVE A CHANGE IN
THEIR LIFE THAT MAKE THEM REALLY
NEED THIS PROGRAM. IT REALLY
ONLY TAKES THREE EVENTS IN 72
HOURS TO TRANSFER ANYONE FROM A
STABLE LIFE TO POTENTIALLY BEING
HOMELESS. THIS IS NOT A SILVER
SOLUTION TO STOP THAT TRANSFER
FROM OCCURRING BUT WHEN YOU CAN
TAKE 50 TO 60% OFF YOUR UTILITY
BILL UNTIL YOUR SITUATION
STABILIZES, THAT'S A REALLY BIG
DEAL. I AM JUST GOING TO TAKE --
WHILE WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION
GOING ON AND GET INTO THE
SPECIFICS IN JUST A MINUTE, I
WANT TO THANK EVERYONE ABOUT
THIS. LIKE THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
SAID WE DON'T THANK THEM FOR
DOING THEIR JOBS BUT FOR A GOOD
JOB. AND WE HAVE KATIE SOLDER,
DILLON KING, JESSICA KENYAN,
CRIST MATHENY, MIKE HAMILTON,
CATHERINE A.M.S BURG, MARCUS
JACKSON, MIKE HAYNES, CRAIG
SMITH, AND ABSOLUTELY DON
LINDELL. AND SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES, WE GOT LESS LEE
BRINSON, WAYNE LOUISIANA, PAUL
HANNAH, AND PAUL HENNESSY, AND
LEFT YOUR NAME OFF AND I'M
THANKING YOU AS WELL. I'M SORRY
ABOUT THAT. SORSIA, WE COULDN'T
HAVE ANY OF THIS WITHOUT YOU. I
HAVE BEEN A DOG WITH A BONE ON
THIS FOR YEARS AND YOU HAVE BEEN
HELPFUL IN GETTING US TO WHERE
WE ARE TODAY. REALLY CANNOT
THANK YOU ENOUGH. SURE. YEAH.
>> SO I WILL READ ITEM NUMBER 12
INTO THE RECORD.
>> WE ARE NOT TO THE BILL YET.
WE ARE STILL DOING THIS -- I
DON'T KNOW. ANYWAY, WE ARE
CLOSING UP. I WILL SAY CHRISTIE
PARKER YOU HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE
TO THE WORK AND HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE JEN
SHALBURG, KATIE HOLLINS, LANA
SORENSON, KATIE KILPATRICK,
ALLISON McCLEAN-WRIGHT, MAGGIE
THOMPSON, DIRECTOR KIM, ALLISON
-- I JUST -- 2018 WE WERE
WORKING FOR SALLY BAGSHAW SAYING
WHY CAN'T WE CHANGE THESE
THINGS? IT'S YOURS. HERE WE
ARE. AND AT THE CITY COUNCIL WE
HAD COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, AND
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH
AND ANTHONY AND JESSIE THOUGHT I
WAS GOING UP A BIG MOUNTAIN WITH
A REALLY BIG ROCK AND WERE WE
EVER GOING TO GET TO THE TOP?
HERE WE ARE. ERIC McCONAGHY AND
BRIAN GOODNIGHT.
>> THAT WAS A FULL LIST AND I AM
SURE THERE IS MORE.
>> THEY WOULD NOT LET ME SAY THE
WHOLE LIST AT THE PRESS
CONFERENCE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, AND ALL
YOUR WORK AND LEADERSHIP ON
THIS. I KNOW IT TOOK A LOT. I
KNOW WE WILL TALK, AND YOU SAID
THE PRE-WORK TO GET TO THE BILL.
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING THAT.
I WILL READ NUMBER 12 INTO THE
RECORD IF THERE ARE NO MORE
QUESTIONS. COUNCILMEMBER SHAW I
WILL KICK IT BACK TO YOU IF
THAT'S OKAY AND WE WILL JUMP
BACK IN AND INVITE BRIAN AND
ERIC, YEAH, BRIAN AND ERIC, TO
THE TABLE. I AM GOING TO READ
THIS INTO THE RECORD, ITEM
NUMBER 12, COUNCIL BILL
121-22-2222, AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO THE UTILITY DISCOUNT
PROGRAM AMENDING THE NEXT
THRESHOLD. THIS WILL BE FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION. I
DON'T THINK WE NEED TO
REINTRODUCE OURSELVES BUT IF
BRIAN AND ERIC AND --AS. THE
PEOPLE THAT JUST CAME IN, IF YOU
COULD INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE
RECORD, WE WILL JUMP RIGHT IN.
>> BRIAN GOODNIGHT, COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> ERIC McCONAGHY, COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> AND COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
RIGHT TO YOU.
>> I HAVE NOTHING MORE TO ADD. I
MADE MY CLOSING REMARKS BUT
LET'S JUMP INTO THE BILL.
>> WE HAVE A SMASHUP OF THE
PRESENTATION BUT WE HAVE A FEW
MORE SLIDES TO WALK THROUGH
BEFORE WE GET TO THE LEGISLATION
IF THAT'S OKAY. CUT ME OFF IF I
AM STEALING YOUR TALKING POINT.
>> NOT MY DECISION TO MAKE. I'M
UP HERE.
>> THAT'S FINE. YES. SO WHAT
WE'LL DO IS GO THROUGH THE
SLIDES, AND WE'LL TURN TO BRIAN
AND ERIC AND SEE IF THEY HAVE
ANY COMMENTS FROM CENTRAL STAFF.
AWESOME. LET'S ROLL. OH, ROCK.
>> SO AS COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
MENTIONED, THIS IS A LOT OF THE
PREWORK TO WHAT THESE FINE
GENTLEMEN WILL TALK ABOUT. AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER, SEATTLE
UTILITY ASSISTANCE STANDS OUT
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AMONG OUR
PEERS. MOST AGENCIES EITHER CUT
OFF THE ASSISTANCE AT A LOWER
INCOME THRESHOLD, OFTEN AROUND
30% AMI OR 50% AMI OR OFFER
SMALLER FIXED MONTHLY CREDIT
THAT DON'T NEARLY GET US THE
IMPACT OF THE UTILITY PROGRAM
DISCOUNT. IN THINKING ABOUT THIS
THIS SLIDE REALLY JUST HELPS US
VISUALIZE THE MOVE BETWEEN 70%
OF THE STATE MEDIUM INCOME INTO
THE MEDIUM INCOME CATEGORY. AS I
MENTIONED, THE 70% SMI IS
ROUGHLY 52, 53% OF AMI. SO THE
NEXT KIND OF NATURAL STEP UP
WOULD BE AT 60% AMI. JUST FOR
THE RECORD THESE NUMBERS COME
FROM THE 2025 LIMIT THROUGH THE
CONSISTENCY OF THE FINANCIAL
WORK WE DID. AND WE WANTED TO
MAKE SURE WE STUCK WITH ONE
GROUPING OVERTIME. THOSE NUMBERS
RECENTLY WENT UP TO 2026 AND
INCREASED BY A FEW THOUSAND
DOLLARS EACH. THIS GRAPH REALLY
SHOWS HOW SEA LIGHT AND SPU
CUSTOMERS BREAK ACROSS THE AREA
MEDIAN INCOME SCALE. EVERYTHING
TO THE RIGHT OF THE LINE ARE
FOLKS THAT WE CONSIDERED AS WE
WERE LOOKING AT EXPANSION. YOU
WILL SEE THE 50 TO 60% AMI IS
REALLY A FAIRLY BIG GROUPING. SO
JUST MOVING TO 60% AMI -- AS
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS SAID
-- 31,000 CUSTOMERS, THERE WILL
BE 50,000 CUSTOMERS BETWEEN 50
AND 60% AMI. SO FAR WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT HOUSEHOLD DOLLAR
AMOUNTS. AND I THINK THIS SLIDE
REALLY HELPS US LAND THAT MORE
IN A HUMAN CONTEXT. CURRENT
ELIGIBLE UPD CUSTOMERS ARE FOLKS
ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND FOLKS
EARNING MINIMUM WAGE. EXPANDING
THE AMI WOULD TAKE HOURLY WAGES
UP TO $31 AN HOUR AND EXPANSION
TO WOULD BE $42 AN HOUR ROUGHLY
IF SOMEONE WERE WORKING
FULL-TIME. PROBABLY THE FIRST
QUESTION WE ASKED OURSELVESES IS
WHAT WOULD IT BE? WHAT WOULD IT
LOOK LIKE IF WE EXPANDED THE
UTILITIES DISCOUNT PROGRAM AS IS
WITH THE 50 AND 60 DISCOUNTS ALL
THE WAY UP TO 80% AMI. THIS
DEMONSTRATES IT'S A VERY LARGE
FINANCIAL IMPACT AND IT ROUGHLY
DOUBLES THE COST OF THE PROGRAM
WHEN WE DO THAT. WHEN WE SAW
THAT AND THE 2.4 AND 2.7% IMPACT
WE THOUGHT WE NEED TO CONSIDER
THIS DIFFERENTLY. AND WE NEED TO
THINK ABOUT EXPANDING
INCREMENTALLY UP THE NEXT SCALE
AS WE CAN ABSORB ALONG THE WAY
OR ADHERING TO A DISCOUNT. OUR
CURRENT TECHNOLOGY DOESN'T
SUPPORT THE TIERED DISCOUNT. SO
THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY
WE ARE NOT YET SUGGESTING THAT.
NEXT. ANOTHER METHOD THAT WE
LOOKED AT IS UTILITY BURDEN.
IT'S WELL KNOWN IN THE
LITERATURE AND CHOIRS CITY LIGHT
TO GET THE ENERGY BURDEN KNOW TO
BE LESS THAN 6% OF THE HOUSEHOLD
INCOME. WATER AND WASTEWATER HAS
A TARGET OF 4.5%. THE CONCEPT OF
UTILITY BURDEN IS SOMETHING WE
CREATED TO THINK WHAT IS THE
BURDEN OF THE SPU BILLS AND OUR
CUSTOMERS SO WE LOOKED AT THESE
FOUR SERVICES, ELECTRICITY,
WATER, SEWER, SOLID WASTE, AND
LOOKED AT MAKING SURE THOSE WERE
BELOW 10%. WITH THE UTILITY
DISCOUNT PROGRAM FOR EVERYONE
EXCEPT THE VERY LOWEST INCOME
CUSTOMERS WE HAVE ALREADY MET
THAT METRIC. WE PUT THAT ONE OFF
TO THE SIDE. HERE IS WHERE I GET
TO STEAL BRIAN AND ERIC'S
TALKING POINT. SEATTLE LIGHT IS
LOOKING TO EXPAND THE UTILITY
PROGRAM UP TO 60% OF THE MEDIUM
INCOME. WE THINK THIS APPROACH
EXPANDS AT A RATE THAT CAN BE
SUPPORTED FINANCIALLY. THE CITY
LIGHT 2027 AND 2828 RATE PACKAGE
THAT IS COMING TO COUNCIL IN
ABOUT A WEEK INCLUDES A .5%
IMPACT ON RATES TO FUND THIS
EXPANSION AND SPU IS MORE
FLEXIBILITY WITH THE RATE PACKS
BUT THIS FUNDS THE SIX-YEAR RATE
PACK, FUNDING ALL OF THEM
TOGETHER AT .1% AND WE THINK
THIS EXPANDS US AT A PACE THAT
CAN SUPPORT US OPERATIONALLY AND
IT BOTH MAXIMIZES AUTO
ENROLLMENT WITH AFFORDABLE
HOUSING SINCE 60% OF AMI IS THE
STANDARD CUTOFF FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING INCOME AND ALLOWS US A
BIT MORE TIME TO ROLL OUT AND
CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE THE
IMPROVEMENTS WE TALKED ABOUT
WHICH GET TO WHERE WE HAVE A
SOLIDLY OPERATING PROGRAM. THIS
EXPANSION, THAT .5% AND .1% RATE
IMPACT EQUATES TO AN EXTRA $6
PER YEAR FOR A RESIDENT, AND $3
PER YEAR. AND UPD FOLKS WOULD
GET A DISCOUNT ON THAT. SPEAKING
TO THE BENEFIT CLIFF, ONE WAY
THAT WE HAVE CONSIDERED
ADDRESSING THAT IS TO EXPAND OUR
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ALL THE WAY
UP TO 80% AMI TO MAKE SURE THAT
FOLKS WHO ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF 60% HAVE OPTIONS AND HAVE
ASSISTANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY ARE ABLE TO PAY THEIR BILLS
AND AVOID SHUTOFFS. THIS WILL --
THE UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
WILL OPERATE DIFFERENTLY. FOR
CITY LIGHT THAT WILL ADD 50,000
MORE CUSTOMERS FOR ASSISTANCE
OPPORTUNITIES AND FOR SPU, OUR
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PRIMARILY
IS AVAILABLE TO DIRECTLY BUILD
CUSTOMERS SO THOSE FOLKS WHO
HAVE THEIR OWN WATER METER, WE
WOULD ADD 13 -- 13,000 MORE
CUSTOMERS. THIS IS GOING TO
SMASHUP ALL THE NUMBERS. SO
THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE I CAN
STOP. WOULD YOU ALL LIKE TO TAKE
OVER WITH THE SLIDES?
>> YES, ERIC AND BRIAN, PLEASE.
>> SO I'LL JUMP IN TO HELP US
STAY ORIENTED. WHAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS COUNCIL
BILL 121222. I'LL SAY THAT
AGAIN I DROPPED OFF A 2. 121222.
THIS IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND IT HAS
BEEN DISCUSSED. THIS NEXT
ORDINANCE AND SOMEONE OVER THERE
F YOU DON'T MIND JUMPING TO THE
NEXT SLIDE. I'M SORRY. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THIS WOULD MAKE A
CHANGE FROM 70% OF THE STATE
MEDIUM INCOME TO 60% OF THE AREA
MEDIUM INCOME FOR BOTH SPU AND
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND WOULD
ALSO ANTICIPATE AND CALL FOR
COUNCIL TO CONSIDER LEGISLATION
DURING 2027 TO LOOK AT THE OTHER
TWO THRESHOLDS AND A YEAR LATER
IN 2029, 80% OF THE AREA MEDIUM
INCOME. THOSE ARE THE AFFECTS OF
THE ORDINANCE. AND I THINK WITH
THAT, I'LL PAUSE AND LET THE
SPONSOR, COSPONSOR SPEAK TO
THAT. I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY
THE NEXT BEST THING.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> I REALLY HAVE NOT MUCH MORE
TO SAY. WE SAID IT A BUNCH OF
TIMES.
>> I KNOW. I KNOW.
>> I WILL SAY THAT THIS CHANGE
THAT YOU HEARD ABOUT SIMPLY
CHANGING FROM STATE TO AREA
MEDIUM INCOME ALLOWS US TO PAIR
THE APPLICATION WITH OTHER
APPLICATIONS FOR SUPPORT
SERVICES AND WE COULD NOT
NECESSARILY DO THAT BEFORE WE
MADE THIS CHANGE BECAUSE IT WAS
INACCURATE FOR ALL CLIENTS TO
RECEIVE THAT SET OF PACKAGE --
THAT SET OF PAPERWORK. IT
DOESN'T APPLY TO EVERYONE. IT
APPLIED TO MANY BUT NOT ALL.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE IMPORTANT
CHANGE WE ARE MAKING TO INCREASE
THE UPTAKE, THE USAGE, AND THIS
IS IMPORTANT TO DO AND THIS HAS
MORE OF AN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT
TOOL THAT WE HAVE DIRECT CONTROL
OVER. THE CITY COUNCIL, AS YOU
CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE, THE
CHANGES ARE SIMPLE. THE BACKEND
WORK IS COMPLICATED. THAT'S WHY
IT'S TAKEN SO MANY YEARS TO GET
US TO HERE TODAY. AND TODAY WE
ARE TAKING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION TO
MAKE OUR SEATTLE MORE AFFORDABLE
FOR 81,000 FAMILIES OVER THE
NEXT THREE YEARS. THAT'S ALL I
GOT.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, AND I
WILL SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON THIS AND ALL THE
WORK THAT YOU DID. IT WASN'T
JUST THE LAST YEAR. IT WAS ALL
THE PREP WORK TO GET TO GET
HERE. I WILL SAY OFTEN TYPES
ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
AFFORDABILITY IT FEELS OUT OF
REACH FOR US AS ELECTED
OFFICIALS. WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT
HOUSING WITH GRANDIOSE IDEAS AND
PEOPLE CAN FEEL IN TOUCH WITH
THIS IMMEDIATELY. I AM GRATEFUL
FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT'S JUST A
BASIC WORKING BARRIER THAT FEEL
CAN FEEL AND TOUCH EVERY DAY. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THIS COMING
BEFORE US AS WELL AND HAPPY TO
COLLABORATE WITH COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS AS WELL. COLLEAGUES,
THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THIS? I AM GOING TO THROW IT
BACK TO COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
FOR MORE COMMENTS. I AM JUST
KIDDING. COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
BUT A COMMENT MUCH I WANT TO ASK
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IF HE
FORGOT ANYONE TO THANK? SOMEONE
WILL BE HURT BUT WE THANK
EVERYBODY EVERYWHERE FOR DOING
EVERYTHING, OPRAH, CHER, GOD,
EVERYBODY.
>> WHAT HAPPENED TO MARY
MITCHELL? WHERE IS SHE? SHE DID
GREAT WORK.
>> A GREAT SHOUTOUT, THE WHOLE
TEAM.
>> I WANT TO ADD COUPLE
PRESIDENT, THANK YOU. YOU AND I
TALKED AND THIS IS ONE THING I
LIKE ABOUT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. I WILL EMBARRASS HIM
FOR ONE SECOND AND I'LL BE
QUIET. I LOVE WHEN HE COMES INTO
MY OFFICE AND HE DOES AND HE
CALLS ME BOSS BEHIND THE SCENES.
I DON'T KNOW WHY. AND HE SAID I
KNOW YOU ARE CHAIR OF SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
AND I SAID YEAH AND COME BACK
AND WE TALKED ABOUT AND I SAID
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, JUST GO
WITH IT. YOU GOT THIS. YOU GOT
MY SUPPORT AND YOU ARE WORKING
WITH COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW AND I
WAS WITH SEATTLE CITY LIGHT ON
THAT COMMUNITY FOR ALMOST A
DECADE. THIS WAS A GREAT IDEA
AND GO DO GOOD THINGS. GOOD
LUCK. GOD BLESS. DON'T DIE.
HERE WE ARE.
>> THANK YOU, GUYS. GOOD JOB.
THANK EVERYONE. WE DONE?
>> YES. NOW WE ARE GOING TO
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ FOR THANKING
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. OR
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> I KNOW WHAT USER MEANT.
>> I KNOW WE WILL BE LOOKING AT
AN INCREASE IF CITY LIGHT AND
SPU RATEPAYERS. AND MY QUESTION
IS, I WILL ASK IT FOR THE
RECORD. I ASSUME THAT WAS TAKEN
INTO ACCOUNT, WITH THE CHANGING
OF THE AMI AND FOR THE CUSTOMERS
THAT WERE TRYING TO HELP WITH
UPD. SO THAT WAS MY QUESTION.
ALL THE RATEPAYERS GET AN
INCREASE BUT WITH THIS PROPOSAL
WE WILL SEE THE FOLKS GET A
BENEFIT THAT ARE ELIGIBLE AND IN
PART, MAYBE THAT'S WHY WE ARE
INCREASING THE AMI, CHANGING
FROM SMI TO AMI AS WE HAVE DONE
OTHER PROGRAMS IN THE CITY. THIS
IS NOT NEW. WE HAVE DONE THIS
ALSO WITH CHILD CARE AND SOME OF
OUR OTHER INVESTMENTS WHERE WE
ARE NO LONGER DOING THE STATE
MEDIUM INCOME.
>> I WANT TO COMMENT ON THE --
>> CAN I JUST IN REAL QUICK TO
SAY? DON'T CONFIRM OR TELL ME
THAT I'M WRONG. IT'S A .4%
INCREASE FOR CITY LIGHT AND .1%
FOR SPU. .5% FOR CITY LIGHT.
>> THAT'S TO COVER THIS
PROGRAM, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT WE'RE
INCREASING RATEPAYER -- FOLKS AT
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT ARE
INCREASING RATES BOTH AT CITY
LIGHT AND SPU ABOVE THAT IN
GENERAL. SO EVERYONE IS SUBJECT
TO THE RATEPAYER INCREASES. SO
MAYBE PART OF THE .5 INCREASE
AND .1 INCREASE IS TO COVER UPD.
BUT EVERYTHING IS INCREASING FOR
EVERYBODY BEYOND .5 AND .1. SO
I GUESS WHAT I AM GETTING TO IS
WE ARE ALL GOING TO PAY MORE,
INCLUDING LOW-INCOME FOLKS. I AM
GOING TO DAYLIGHT EVEN IS PAYING
MORE, MORE THAN .5 AND .1. AND
THE ADDITIONAL INCREASE WILL
INCLUDE THE .1 AND .5 IN ORDER
TO COULD HAVE THE EXPANSION. AND
IN ADDITION, THIS EXPANSION WILL
HAVE A GREAT BENEFIT TO THE
FOLKS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE BECAUSE
WE ARE DOING ALL THOSE INCREASES
ACROSS THE BOARD AND I SEE BOTH
CITY LIGHT FOLKS NODDING.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, YOU'RE
CORRECT. SO THIS .1 AND .5 IS
THE IMPACT OF THE EXPANSION OF
THE UTILITIES DISCOUNT PROGRAM.
WHEN YOU SEE THE CITY LIGHT
RATES COME FORWARD NEXT WEEK, I
THINK, AND THE WATER RATES COME
FORWARD, YOU WILL SEE THIS BASED
INTO THE OVER ALL RATE
INCREASES. THIS IS A PORTION OF
THAT.
>> BUT A VERY SMALL PORTION?
>> YES. WE EXPECT ABOUT -- OFF
THE TOP -- 19 MILLION IN
ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE GOING OUT.
>> THANK YOU, LESLIE, AND I WANT
TO SAY AND TO THE PUBLIC
WATCHING, WE RECOGNIZE THERE IS
NO AVOIDING INCREASING RATES.
THAT'S JUST -- SADLY, I WISH I
COULD AVOID THAT BUT WE ARE
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THIS WILL
HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON A LOT OF
FOLKS IN OUR CITY, SO WE'RE
DOING THIS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE
ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME BENEFIT TO
THE FOLKS THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED
BY THE INCREASES ACROSS THE
BOARD THAT WE ARE FORCED TO DO.
WE HAVE TO. SO I REALLY WANT TO
THANK YOU ALL AGAIN. COUNCIL --
NOT COUNCIL, GENERAL MANAGER LEE
AND I HAVE HAD MANY, MANY
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS AND I
ALSO HAD A CONVERSATION WITH
GENERAL MANAGER JOHN LINDELL,
FORMER, ABOUT HAVING TO INCREASE
RATES, AND THEN ITS IMPACT TO
OUR LOW-INCOME FOLKS. I
APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE EXPANDING
THE U.P. D IN RESPONSE TO HAVING
THE RATE INCREASES. SO THANK
YOU.
>> AWESOME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
CLOSING COMMENTS? OR THANKING?
>> NO MORE THANK YOUs.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA CALLED OUT
SOMETHING VERY CRITICAL AND VERY
IMPORTANT HERE AND I JUST WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR NOTING THAT. SO
I WANT TO EXPAND ON THAT. ON
AVERAGE, THIS PART OF THE RATE
INCREASE THAT WE'LL SEE OVER
THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS IS
ABOUT 50 ACCEPTS PER MONTH FOR A
CITY LIGHT CUSTOMER OR 27
ACCEPTS A MONTH FOR AN SPU
CUSTOMER WHO IS NOT ON THE
DISCOUNT UTILITY PROGRAM. AS
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA NOTED AS
THE RATES CHANGE, EVEN THOSE ON
THE UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM
WILL ALSO HAVE TO SEE AN
INCREASE. ONE OF THE ASPECTS IF
YOU GO TO THE SLIDE PREVIOUS TO
THIS, ABOUT FOUR QUESTIONS, WHAT
WE DID WITH THIS LEGISLATION IS
WE SET THE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR
THE INCREASE OF THE THRESHOLD TO
COINCIDE WITH THE DISPERSAL OF
UPDATED FIGURES FOR AREA MEDIUM
INCOME. I AM JUST GOING TO NOTE
THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A GAP
BETWEEN JAN 1 WHEN RATES CHANGE
AND APRIL 1 SO WE MAY MAKE A
ONE-YEAR ALTERATION SO WE GET
PEOPLE -- IF WE ARE INCREASING
RATES THIS YEAR WE NEED A GAP.
BUT WE NEED MORE CONVERSATION.
AND I WANT TO NOTE THAT THE
APRIL 1 DATE IS DIFFERENT THAN
THE RATE INCREASE DATE OF
JANUARY 1.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAW. STRAUSS.
DID YOU --
>> NO. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I
WANTED TO DAYLIGHT BOTH THE CITY
LIGHT AND SPU END AND OFFER
TRANSPARENCY, AND THAT'S WHY I
RAISED THE FACT THAT WE WILL BE
INCREASING THOSE RATES AND
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO THAT, WE
ARE MINDFUL ABOUT AFFORDABILITY
AND THE HIGH IMPACT ONLY INCOME
RESIDENTS INCLUDING SENIORS WHO
MIGHT HAVE DIFFICULTY PAYING
THEIR UTILITY BILLS AND THAT'S
WHY WE ARE LOOKING AT DEALING
WITH -- CHANGING OUR DISCOUNT
PROGRAM TO MEET THAT NEED. THANK
YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS. JULY 9
WE WILL HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION
ABOUT THIS AS WE CONTINUE TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AND THANK
YOU ALL. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME
AND WORK ON THIS. AND THANK YOU.
HOPEFULLY, SOMEONE IS NOT
PLAYING THE WATER DRINKING GAME
AT HOME FOR THE THANK YOU. THAT
WOULD BE VERY FULL OF WATER.
ITEM NUMBER 13 INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGAIN, ITEM 13, CB 121221, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES AUTHORIZING THE
GENERAL MANAGER AND CEO TO ENTER
INTO A CONTRACT WITH WASTE
MANAGEMENT OF WASHINGTON
INCORPORATED TO PROVIDE
RECYCLING PROCESSING SERVICES
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE. FOR
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> I LIKE WHEN YOU TALK TRASH.
THIS IS RECYCLE BUT IT'S STILL
TRASH. COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
LIKES TO TALK TRASH A LOT. WE
ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE TRASH
TALK.
>> MORE INTRODUCTIONS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> MICROPHONE, SALLY.
>> SORRY. I AM SALLY HULSMAN,
SPU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR OUR DRINKING GAMES AT
MOMENT. THANK YOU. SO RECYCLABLE
PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS. AND
COLLEAGUES, BEFORE WE START, WE
HAVE THIS ON THE AGENDA, IF WE
FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT VOTEING
-- VOTING ON THIS -- OKAY. I
WANTED A TEMPERATURE CHECK AND
CHECK WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
>> A PROPOSED ORDINANCE
AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT TO
PROCESS RECYCLES MATERIAL
COLLECTED IN THE CITY. SPU'S
CURRENT RECYCLING CONTRACT WITH
REBANKO EXPIRES MARCH 31, 2027.
HAPPY TO SAY THAT WASTE
MANAGEMENT OF WASHINGTON ALSO
KNOWN AS WM, WAS SELECTED BASED
ON THE CRITERIA AND TODAY WE
HAVE SALLY HULSMAN, SPU'S SOLID
WASTE MANAGER HERE TO TALK MORE
ABOUT THE PROPOSED CONTRACT.
>> THANK YOU, ANDREW.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVEN. EVERYONE
AND THANK YOU FORGIVING US THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE
CONTRACT IN DETAIL AND ANSWER
YOUR QUESTIONS. THE PURPOSE OF
THE LEGISLATION BEFORE YOU TODAY
IS TO AUTHORIZE SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES INTO CENTER INTO A
CONTRACT WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT,
WM WITH WASHINGTON FOR SERVICES
FOR THE CITY. I WANT TO MENTION
RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE THIS IS A
MORE EXTENSIVE CONTRACT THAN OUR
CURRENT CONTRACT IT WILL NOT
HAVE ANY RATE IMPACT. I AM GOING
TO PROVIDE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF
AN OVERVIEW OF THE SOLID WASTE
CONTRACT. THIS WILL GIVE YOU A
BIG PICTURE OF HOW WE ARE
RUNNING THE SOLID WASTE SYSTEM.
WE HAVE THE RECYCLING PROCESS
CONTRACT AS ONE OF FIVE MAJOR
CONTRACTS, STARTED IN 2009 AND
AS ANDREW SAID IT WILL END MARCH
31, 2027. WE HAVE A LONG HAUL
AND DISPOSAL CONTRACT WITH WM
THAT WAS STARTED IN 1991 AND
ENDS A YEAR LATER. WE HAVE
CURVESIDE COLLECTION CONTRACTS
WITH BOTH WM AND RECOLOGY AND
THE WASTE COLLECTION CONTRACT
WITH CEDAR GROVE AND LENZ. WE
COVER ALMOST ALL THE CONTRACT
RENEWALS TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE
EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY. A
LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON
SEATTLE'S RECYCLING. OVER THE
PAST 20 YEARS, SEATTLE HAS
GROWN. OUR SOLID WASTE
COLLECTIONS AT TIMES GENERATED
INCLUDING RECYCLE AND COMPOST
HAS STAYED FLAT OR DROPPED AS
OUR POPULATION HAS GROWN. THIS
HAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE EXCELLENT
ACTIVITIES OF OUR RESIDENTS AND
BUSINESSES WHO HAVE LEARNED TO
IMPROVE UPON WASTE DIVERSIONS
AND WASTE PREVENTION. WE HAVE
ABOUT 80,000 TONS OF RECYCLING
PER YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 62% OF
THOSE KNOW TOES ARE SINGLE
FAMILY. 35% ARE MULTI-FAMILY AND
THE REMAINDER ARE SMALL BUSINESS
AND SELF-HAULED TONS WHICH IS
THE TONS TAKEN TO THE
TRANSPORTATION. THE WAY THE CITY
WORKS IS THE CITY HAS A LIST OF
DESIGNATED RECYCLABLES AND WE
REQUIRE CUSTOMERS TO SORT THEIR
MATERIAL AT CURBSIDE LOCATIONS.
SPU HAS EDUCATED CUSTOMERS AND
YOU HEARD CLEAN AND DRY AND THAT
ALLOWS FOR A SUCCESSFUL
RECYCLING OUTCOME. AND I DON'T
KNOW IF THIS IS STANDARD BUT
PLEASE INTERRUPT ME IF NEEDED.
THANK YOU. SEATTLE'S RECYCLING
PROCESSING CONTRACT AND
PROCUREMENT PROCESS IS SUCH THAT
WE CONTRACT FOR RESIDENTIAL
RECYCLE PROCESSING SEPARATELY
FROM OUR COLLECTIONS CONTRACT.
THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM MANY OF
OUR SUBURBAN NEIGHBORS CITIES
WHICH PACKAGE WITH THE
CONTRACTORS IS, WM AND RECOLOGY
ARE THE MAIN. CITY SEATTLE HAS
SUFFICIENT TONS AND FACILITIES
TO MANAGE OUR OWN PROCESSING
CONTRACT WHICH ALLOWS US, THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF HAVING OUR OWN AND
MEETING OUR OWN GOALS AND
PRIORITIES. CITIES WITH SIMILAR
PROCESSING SERVICE CONTRACTS ARE
TACOMA, OLYMPIA, SPOKANE,
VANCOUVER, AND LOS ANGELES, SAN
DIEGO, NEW YORK CITY, WASHINGTON
D.C., AND OTHERS. THESE ARE
LARGE CONTRACTS THAT WE ARE ABLE
TO MANAGE OURSELVES, AND WE DO
GET FINANCIAL AS WELL AS
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS.
SEATTLE'S CONTRACT WITH
REPUBLIC SERVICES STARTED IN
2009. AS A RESULT OF THIS AGING
CONTRACT, THE TERMS ARE OUTDATED
AND INSUFFICIENT. WE DEVELOPED A
PROCESS TO COME UP TO DATE WITH
ALL THE CONTRACT TERMS. TO
PREPARE FOR THE CONTRACT WE DID
A BENCH-MARKING STUDY, NATIONAL
AS WELL AS CANADIAN CONTRACTS.
AND THEN WE DID A REQUEST FOR
INFORMATION FROM INTERESTED
CONTRACTORS AND WE RECEIVED
SEVEN RESPONSES TO OUR REQUEST
FOR INFORMATION AND WE TOOK THE
INFORMATION, THE BENCH MARKING
AND RFI FEEDBACK AND DEVELOPED
AN RFP ISSUED IN APRIL OF 2025.
WE RECEIVED TWO RESPONSES TO OUR
CONTRACTS -- TO OUR RFT, EXCUSE
ME. REPUBLIC AND WM RESPONDED.
AS ANDREW MENTIONED, WM WAS
BASED UPON THE EVALUATION, WAS
THE HIGHER RESPONDER TO THE
EVALUATION. THEY SCORED HIGHER
ON THE TECHNICAL AND THE PRICE.
TH E TECHNICAL THEY SCORED 50%,
JUST OVER 50% HIGHER. THE
TECHNICAL CRITERIA INCLUDED
COMMODITY CAPTURE, RESIDUAL
WASTE RATES, PROCESSING,
MARKETING, AND OPERATOR
PERFORMANCE AND EXPERIENCE AND
CONTINGENCY PROCESSING OPTIONS.
ON THE PRICE CRITERIA, WM SCORES
43% LOWER IN TERMS OF THE PRICE.
SO BOTH TECHNICAL AND THE PRICE
THEY WERE OUTPERFORMED. WE THEN
ENTERED INTO A NEGOTIATION AND
CONTRACT DEVELOPMENT STAGE. I
JUST WANT TO PROVIDE YOU A
LITTLE BIT OF A DETAIL ON THE
PROPOSED -- ON THE EVALUATION
CRITERIA. YOU SEE HERE THE FINAL
RESULT OF THE CRITERIA WAS WM
81.4. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER,
THIS WILL COME AT A HIGHER COST
TO ADDRESS ALL OF THE CHANGES
OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS. THE NEW
CONTRACT IS ESTIMATED TO COST
APPROXIMATELY 6.4 MILLION IN
2027 WHICH IS AN INCREASE FROM
1.4 MILLION IN 2025. WHILE WE
DID ANTICIPATE INCREASES IN THE
RECYCLING CONTRACT COST, THEY
WERE OVER WHAT WE HAD
ANTICIPATED. BUT AS NOTED, THEY
WILL NOT RESULT IN A RATE
INCREASE. THE SOLID WASTE FUND
WILL ABSORB THE COST. SO WHY IS
THE PRICE OF RECYCLING GOING UP?
CONTRACTORS -- CONTRACTING COSTS
ARE BASED ON SEVERAL FACTORS.
THE FIRST IS THE FEE TO PROCESS
ALL OF SEATTLE'S RECYCLABLES.
THAT WOULD BE THE GROSS COST.
THE NET COST IS MINUS THE
MONTHLY COMMODITY CREDIT REVENUE
BASED ON HOW WELL THE RECYCLED
MATERIALS ARE SORTED AND THEN
TURNED INTO COMMODITYS THAT ARE
THEN SOLD INTO THE MARKETPLACE.
SINCE 2009, THE INDUSTRY HAS
SEEN SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
IMPACTING OVERALL PROCESSING
COST BOTH IN THE PROCESSING --
THE REQUIREMENTS TO PROCESS THE
MATERIALS AS WELL AS THE
COMMODITY CREDIT REVENUE AREA.
THE DIFFERENCES THAT WE SEE NOW
THAT WERE DIFFERENT -- THAT HAVE
CHANGED SINCE 2009 ARE THE
MATERIALS MIXED AND THE CURBSIDE
RECYCLING BIN, THE BIN THAT --
THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE BLUE
BIN. MANY MORE PLASTICS AND
TYPES OF PLASTICS ARE THE
PREDOMINANT CHANGE TO THE
RECYCLING MIX. BUT THIS COMPLEX,
MORE COMPLEX STREAM REQUIRES
PROCESSING IMPROVEMENTS WHICH
ARE GENERALLY IN THE FORM OF
AUTOMATION AND TECHNOLOGY
IMPROVEMENTS WHICH COME AT A
SIGNIFICANT COST. SO IT'S IT'S
A MIXED RECYCLING FACILITY WHERE
WE TAKE OUR RECYCLING TO BE
CHANGED INTO COMMODITY THAT HAS
CHANGED INTO A TECHNOLOGY THAT
IS USED TO SHORT THROUGH ALL THE
VARIOUS MATERIALS. ADDITIONALLY,
THE MARKETS NOW DEMAND CLEANER
COMMODITIES. IF YOU'RE
FAMILIAR, IF YOU THINK BACK TO
2018, WE HAVE WHAT IS CALLED
CHINA SWORD OR CHINA REJECTED
OUR RECYCLING MATERIAL BECAUSE
IT'S NOT CLEAN OR QUALITY
COMMODITIES. SO NOW, THE MARKETS
OVERALL, EVERYONE LAND INS
HIGHER QUALITY MATERIALS WHICH
REQUIRES HIGHER QUALITY
PROCESSING. AND ADDITIONALLY OR
FINALLY, THE COMMODITIES ARE
CHANGING, ALUMINUM CONTINUES TO
GROW BUT THINGS LIKE CLASS AND
LATELY PDT DECLINED IN VALUE AND
THAT AFFECTS THE MATERIAL
COMMODITY MIX WHICH I WILL BRING
BACK TO HAVE TO ADDRESS IN THE
OVER ALL COST OF RECYCLING. SO
AGAIN, THE PROCESSING FEE MINUS
THE COMMODITY CREDIT REVENUE
THAT BRINGS US TO THE CURRENT
COMMODITY -- CURRENT RECYCLING
COST. ON A GOOD NOTE WE HAVE
UPCOMING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE
RECYCLING REVENUES. THE
RECYCLING TAX PASSED LAST YEAR
AND AS A RESULT OF THE
LEGISLATION, PACKAGING PRODUCERS
WILL FUND THE COST FOR RECYCLING
PRODUCTS. THE STATE WILL
IMPLEMENT THIS. THE DEPARTMENT
OF ECOLOGY WILL IMPLEMENT THIS.
AND IN 2030 WE WILL START TO SEE
REIMBURSEMENTS OF THE RECYCLING
COSTS. IN 2031, IT WILL GO UP TO
75% REIMBURSEMENTS OF RECYCLING
COSTS AND IN 2032, THE
REIMBURSEMENTS WILL TAP OUT AT
90%. AND FINALLY, WE HAVE SOME
IMPORTANT OTHER UPDATES THAT WE
HAD TO MAKE, TO ADDRESS CHANGES
TO -- OVERALL CHANGES AND NEEDS
IN THE RECYCLING INDUSTRY BOTH
TO MAINTAIN AFFORDABILITY HERE
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND TO
BENEFIT A STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL
OUTCOME. WE WANT TO CAPTURE AS
MUCH AS RECYCLABLES IN IN THE
BLUE BIN AND TURN THEM INTO
COMMODITIES. THE CONTRACT WILL
ALLOW US TO ACHIEVE VERY HIGH
CAPTURE RATES AS WELL AS
HIGH-QUALITY COMMODITIES. WE
ALSO WANT TO SEE IMPROVED
ENVIRONMENTAL OUT OUTCOMES AND
WE WANT TO SEE MORE TRANSPARENCY
IN THE CONTRACT. WHAT HAPPENS TO
OUR RECYCLABLES? THIS THIS
CONTRACT WE HAVE IMPROVED
COMMUNICATION ABOUT WHERE OUR
MATERIALS ARE GOING. WE WILL
KNOW THE NAME AND THE
RESPONSIBLE MARKETING BUSINESSS
THAT WILL BE TAKING OUR
COMMODITIES AND WE HAVE BUILT
INTO THE CONTRACT THE ABILITY
FOR THE CITY OF STATLE TO SAY IF
WE DO NOT FIND THAT IS NOT
ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE, WE CAN
CURTAIL THE WORK WITH THAT
COMPANY. WE ALSO WANT TO HAVE
FLEXIBILITY IN THIS CONTRACT. IF
THE MATERIAL VALUE CHANGED, THEN
WE CAN QUICKLY RESPOND TO THE
CHANGES TO THE UNDERLYING
COMMODITY VALUE SUCH AS THE
DECLINE OF PDT SO WE ARE NOT
COLLECTING MATERIALS THAT DON'T
HAVE A VALUE. WE HAVE ALSO ADDED
ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES TO THE
CONTRACT, ADDITIONAL
PERFORMANCES AND VERY IMPORTANT
STRONG YEARLY AUDITS TO ASSESS
HOW THE CONTRACTOR IS DOING IN
RELATION TO OUR CONTRACTING ON
AND PROCESSING GOAL. SO I WANT
TO CONCLUDE AND BE ABLE TO
ADDRESS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS
THAT WAS ASKED IN THE QUESTIONS
TODAY, A QUESTION ABOUT WAGES
AND ANTIDISPLACEMENT PROVISIONS.
P RO VISIONS. SPU FOLLOWED THE
GUIDELINES IN DEVELOPING THIS
CONTRACT INCLUDING ALL WAGE
REQUIREMENTS. WM MET ALL OF THE
WAGE REQUIREMENTS AND ALL THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE CONTRACTING GUIDELINES
THAT WERE PROVIDED. WE FOLLOWED
THE GUIDELINES THAT SAS PROVIDED
TO SPU. WM AND REPUBLIC HAVE A
STRONG COMMITMENT TO UNION
EMPLOYEES. WM HAS 245 EMPLOYEES
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE, AND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE THANKS BOTH
REPUBLIC AND WM FOR THEIR UNION
EMPLOYEES. THEY HAVE UNION
EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
AND SO THE CITY OF SEATTLE
ENTERS INTO THIS CONTRACT AND
ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS WITH THE
GOAL OF STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH
STRONG CONTRACTORS AND EXCELLENT
EMPLOYEE OPPORTUNITIES. AND WE
FEEL THIS CONTRACT REALLY
REPRESENTS THE BEST OF WHAT WE
ARE ABLE TO ACHIEVE IN RECYCLING
WITH WM AS OUR PARTNER. THANK
YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU FOR THAT
PRESENTATION. BRIAN, DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING FROM CENTRAL STAFF?
>> NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS,
CHAIR. I THINK IT WAS WELL
COVERED. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. AWESOME. DIRECTOR LEE,
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? ALL
RIGHT. AWESOME. COLLEAGUES, ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS REGARDING THE
CONTRACT AND THE TERMS?
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? OH, SORRY.
I THOUGHT THE SMILE MEANT YES.
>> I DO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> I WILL BE QUICK. SALLY
HULSMAN IS A PERSON THAT WORKS
FOR OUR CITY WHO IS STALK
BETWEEN OUR BUREAUCRACY AND THE
CONTRACTS THAT WE CONTRACT. AND
SOMETIMES, THERE ARE ISSUES WITH
PEOPLE GETTING THEIR RECYCLING
PICKED UP OR THE TRASH PICKED
UP. SOMETIMES, THE DRIVER
DOESN'T REALIZE THAT THE
UNPAVED ROAD IS ACTUALLY AN
ALLEYWAY THOUGH IT'S HERE IN
THE 17th LARGEST CITY IN THE
NATION. SALLY, YOU DO REALLY
HARD WORK ON BEHALF OF OUR
CLIENTS STUCK BETWEEN THE
CONTRACT AND THE HARD PLACE. I
WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
THANK YOU. I WILL HAVE
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
PREVAILING WAGE AND
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT CLAUSES. IF
YOU WANT TO VOTE THIS OUT TODAY
I MIGHT BRING AN AMENDMENT TO
FULL COUNCIL BUT NOT KNOWING, I
DON'T KNOW. THIS IS ALL
REAL-TIME OPEN PUBLIC MEETING
DISCUSSION.
>> YOU'RE GOOD. I THINK I WILL
CHECK IN WITH COLLEAGUES IF THEY
FEEL COMFORTABLE VOTING. I AM
SEEING HEAD NODS. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, ARE YOU OKAY OUT OF
COMMITTEE IN BRINGING YOUR
AMENDMENT?
>> YEAH. I HATE DOING THAT AND I
SEE BOB LOOKING AT ME.
>> IS THAT -- OKAY. AWESOME. AND
OH, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, YOU
HAVE A QUESTION. I'M SORRY. I
DIDN'T FORGET YOU.
>> YES, CHAIR, AND THANK
EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE. I
APPRECIATE THE RUNDOWN. I
REVIEWED THE BRIEF BEFORE. IT
STRUCK ME -- THERE NEEDS TO BE A
STRONG DISPARITY IN TERMS OF THE
SERVICE THAT WE SEE TODAY OVER
THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS. IS
THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DRAWN
FROM THAT? THE DISPARITY OF THE
SCORES BETWEEN WM AND REPUBLIC?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I THINK WM
AND REOFFER STRONG RECYCLING
PROCESSING SERVICES. WM HAS
COMMITTED AND INVESTED MORE AND
MORE RECENTLY IN THEIR MIXED
RECYCLING FACILITIES, BOTH HERE
AND THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST. THAT IS A REFLECTION
IN THE EVALUATION. WE SEE A
STRONGER PROCESSING -- A
COMMITMENT TO STRONGER
PROCESSING, STRONGER AUTOMATION
AND STRONGER OVERALL OPERATION
OF THE FACILITY AND WE EXPECT
WITH THE RECYCLING REFORM ACT
THAT REPUBLIC WILL ALSO BE DOING
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS IN ORDER
TO IMPROVE ON THEIR MRF RESULTS
AND MRF OPERATIONS. IT WILL
INCREASE RECYCLING THROUGHOUT
THE PUGET SOUND AND THE STATE.
THE RECYCLING FORMAT IS DRIVING
A LOT OF ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS
THAT YOU SEE IN THIS CONTRACT.
THESE ARE INDUSTRY-WIDE
IMPROVEMENTS. SO BOTH REPUBLIC
AND WM WILL HAVE TO MEET THE
GOALS OF THE -- THE GOALS AND
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
RECYCLABLE FORMAT IN ADDITION TO
HAVING MORE MATERIALS THAT NEED
TO BE PROCESSED. I THINK THAT
WILL CHANGE IN THE TIMELINE THAT
THE RECYCLABLE FORMATS WILL COME
OUT. WM AND REPUBLIC BOTH HAVE
CONTINUAL COMMITMENTS TO
UPDATING THEIR FACILITIES.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
IT BEGS THE QUESTION WHEN YOU
SEE SUCH A DISPARITY. I GUESS
IT'S MORE OF A POSITIVE RELATED
TO WM OPPOSED TO A NEGATIVE TO
REPUBLIC. I FOUND IT INTERESTING
IN SUPPORT, SLIDE TWO, IN TERMS
OF THE OVER VIEW AND THE VARIOUS
CONTRACT TYPES AND HAVING THE
POINT THAT YOU MADE AT THE END
IN TERMS OF THE ABILITY FOR THE
CITY TO DO ITS PIECE AND TO BACK
UP MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, IT SAID CURVESIDE
COLLECTION. MINE'S IN THE
ALLEY. AND I WANTED TO PUT A
PLUG IN FOR ALLEY COLLECTION AS
WELL. MINE IS PAVED OR
CONCRETED, IF YOU WILL. SO
THAT'S IMPORTANT. AND BY THE
WAY, I DO EMPTY CLEAN AND DRY
OUR RECYCLING. FOR SOME REASON,
IT'S ME IN THE FAMILY THAT CAN
PUT EVERYTHING OUT IN THE
RECYCLING BIN. I CAN CONFIRM
THAT FOR MY FAMILY AND I WANTED
TO POINT OUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO
DO THIS AND ORGANICS FOR CEDAR
GROVE AND THE OTHER AREAS THAT I
DO FOR MY FAMILY TO HAVE THE
DIFFERENT TYPES OF RECYCLING AND
EVEN THE BROADER MORE INDUSTRIAL
RECYCLING IT, IT PAINS ME WHEN A
CONTRACTOR IS DOING DRYWALL OR
RECYCLING GLASS THAT IS WATT OUT
BY THE FRENCH RECYCLING COMPANY
AND THEY DON'T CARE AND WE NEED
TO BE LOOKING OUT FOR THE BIGGER
PICTURE SO WE HAVE IN ADDITION
TO WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE THE
INDUSTRIAL RECYCLING BECAUSE
IT'S SO IMPORTANT IN A GENERAL
SENSE. THAT'S JUST AN EDITORIAL
COMMENT ADDED TO THE ECONOMIES
AND THE OBSERVATIONS OF THE
SLIDE DECK AND MY OWN FAMILY
PRACTICES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING A
COMMITTED FAMILY MEMBER. IT IS
INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE
ALLEYWAYS ARE A SIGNIFICANT PART
OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE SOLID
WASTE SYSTEM, AND THE BENEFIT OF
THAT IS IT KEEPS THE TRUCKS OFF
THE MAIN ROADWAYS. SO WE ARE
ALWAYS ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF
WELL-MAINTAINED ALLEYS. SO
THAT'S A GOOD PLUG FOR ALWAYS
WELL-MAINTAINED ALLEYS. IT KEEPS
THE TRUCKS OFF THE MAIN STREETS.
>> GOD BLESS THEM WITH THE STEEP
SLOPED STREETS -- SAY THAT
THREE TIMES FAST -- IN SEATTLE
BETWEEN MAGNOLIA AND QUEEN ANNE
PARTICULARLY AND THE SKILL THEY
MANEUVER AND THEN COME BACK INTO
MY DEAD-END ALLEY, IT'S A FEAT
EVERY WEEK FOR THOSE GUYS TO DO
THAT. SO PLEASE PASS, YOU KNOW,
OUT IN THE CHAMBER, HERE AT THE
TABLE, PLEASE PASS THE
ADMIRATION FOR THEIR ABILITY TO
DRIVE THE BIG RIGS IN THE
ALLEYS.
>> WE WILL APPRECIATE THAT AND
WE WILL PASS IT ON AND I WILL
SEE YOU IN THE FUTURE ON THE C
AND D COLLECTION CONTRACT THAT
ADDRESSES OUR CONCERN AND
INTERESTS ON THE RECYCLING IN
THE INDUSTRIAL SIDE OF THE
WORLD.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. COLLEAGUES, IF WE ARE
COMFORTABLE I WILL MOVE THIS OUT
OF COMMITTEE WITH A POTENTIAL
AMENDMENT FROM COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO
THAT AND THANK YOU FOR -- I AM.
I DIDN'T SAY THAT IN THE RUDE
WAY -- IT WAS THE LAST THAT MADE
IT -- [ LAUGHTER ] OKAY. AND
OKAY. SO I'M GOING TO MOVE THAT
THE COMMITMENTEE RECOMMEND
PASSAGE OF COUNCIL BILL 121221.
IS THERE A SECOND? MOVED AND
SECONDED TO MOVE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL. ANY COMMENTS? WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES IT WILL BE MOVED. AND
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD
WORK. IT'S REALLY GREAT. AND
TWO THINGS. THIS BRINGS US TO
THE END OF OUR MEETING AND
HOWEVER, BEFORE WE CLOSE AND SHE
WILL BE MAD THAT I EMBARRASSED
HER, MARTHA NEWMAN IS RETIRING
AND THIS WILL BE HER LAST
MEETING. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE
WORKING WITH YOU, AND YOU WORKED
14 YEARS WITH SPU AND YOU
STARTED WITH GOVERNANCE, AND YOU
MAKE INFORMATION PALATABLE AND
MAKE IT SO I CAN UNDERSTAND IT
AND YOU MAKE IT SO CAN I
ARTICULATE IT TO OTHER PEOPLE
AND SO THAT CAN I GET IT. EVEN
THE MOST WONKIEST STAFF ON THE
WASTEWATER COMMITTEE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE USED TO BE
ON BUT NOW IT'S ME AND IT'S
BEEN A TRUE PLEASURE AND WE ARE
SO GRATEFUL AND I KNOW WE HAVE
STUFF, SURPRISES FOR YOU, BUT IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION IF YOU
WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS ON THE
RECORD, COLLEAGUES, IF YOU WANT
TO. COME ON, MARTHA NEWMAN. AND
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVE ANY
COMMENTS AFTER, I'LL GO TO YOU.
>> IS THAT MICROPHONE ON?
>> I WAS NOT EXPECTING TO THIS
AND I WAS NOT EXPECTING TO BE
HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN
AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE TO
SERVICE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL AND
THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES. I
LEARNED SO MUCH FROM ALL OF YOU,
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION
TO MAKE OUR CITY IAR WELCOMING
AND LIVABLE PLACE. I WILL MISS
ALL OF YOU.
>> DON'T GO, MARTHA!
>> DON'T GO. PROBABLY THE MOST
IMPRESSIVE THING I READ IN LIKE
YOUR BIO AND ALL THIS STUFF WAS
THE TWO YEARS YOU SPENT IN
SIERRA LEONE HELPING FARMERS
LEARN ABOUT LIKE RICE AND HOW TO
FARM AND ALL THOSE PIECES, SO
THAT WAS LIKE TO ME SHOWS THE
TYPE OF PERSON YOU ARE, JUST
COMMITTED TO SERVICE AND
COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. SO
GRATEFUL FOR YOU. COLLEAGUES,
ANY COMMENTS?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> YES, CHAIR. FIRST, I WANT A
THANK YOU. I HAVE BEEN ON PUBLIC
UTILITIES THE WHOLE TIME AND
WE'VE HAD CHANGES FOR THE
COMMITTEE AND IN TERMS OF THE
EXTERNAL COMMITTEE, THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT MADE CHANGES.
THEREFORE I AM NOT ON THE
REGIONAL WASTEWATER COMMITTEE
ANY LONGER BUT THAT EXPERIENCE
IN ADDITION TO BEING ON THE
COMMITTEE REALLY POINTS TO THE
GREAT WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND
I ALSO APPRECIATE BOB HENNESSY,
TO, AND PREPARING THE PIECES
RELATED TO THE COUNCIL AND THE
WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO AND
SUPPORT OF SPU AND THE SUPPORT
OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY, AND I
WANT TO SAY FAIR WINDS AND
FOLLOWING SEAS WHICH IS APROPOS
NOT JUST FOR THE NAVY BUT
WASTEWATER AND SO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> OH, MARTHA. I'M SO SAD. I'M
SO APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE HELP
YOU PROVIDED AS PART OF MY
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT. AND IT'S
NOT JUST YOUR HELP. IT'S JUST
ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND THE
CARING THAT YOU HAVE TOWARDS
THIS WORK AND ALL THE WORK THAT
YOU DO. IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE.
I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR IT. AND I
KNOW YOU HAVE TO RETIRE. YOU
DESERVE IT. I HOPE YOU HAVE A
GREAT RETIREMENT. BUT YOU WILL
BE MISSED. AND WE'RE BEING
JOKEY UP HERE BUT YOU WILL BE
MISSED. AND I JUST WANT YOU TO
KNOW THAT ON THE RECORD I AM SO
APPRECIATIVE TO THE SERVICE TO
THE CITY. THE CITY IS BETTER FOR
YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YOU WILL BE VERY, VERY TERRIBLY
MISSED. I MIGHT TRACK YOU DOWN.
>> I LIVE IN YOUR DISTRICT.
>> I'M JUST KIDDING. THANK YOU,
MARTHA AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MARTHA, I
KNOW YOU WERE EXPECTING THAT.
APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH. I KNEW
YOU WOULD NOT BE MAD AT ME FOR
PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT. YOU
LIKE ME. AND COLLEAGUES, IF
THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL -- IF
THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS,
THIS CONCLUDES THE JUNE 11th
MEETING ON THE GOVERNANCE AND
UTILITIES MEETING. THE NEXT
MEETING JANUARY 9 AT 9:30 A.M.
AND HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS,
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. IT'S
11:31. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.