>>> JUNE 16th, 2021 MEETING
WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE TIME IS 9:30 A.M.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR PEDERSEN.
>> HERE.
>> FOUR ARE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED
FOR THE COMMITTEE.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
A QUICK CHAIRS REPORT, AN
OVERVIEW OF TODAY'S AGENDA, WE
HAVE THREE NEW APPOINTMENTS IN
THE ADVISORY BOARD, LEGISLATION
TO PROCEED WITH A LOAN FOR
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES, THE
SHIP CANAL PROJECT.
WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS, ONE
FROM SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, THE
STRATEGIC PLAN, AND THEN SOUND
TRANSIT IS HERE, WE WILL TALK
ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE CALLING THE
REALIGNMENT PROCESS, AND ASKING
THEM QUESTIONS.
I H.O.P.E.
THIS IS JUST THE FIRST OF
SEVERAL VISITS WITH SOUND
TRANSIT HERE AND THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN THE
REMOTE GENERAL COMMENT PERIOD.
I ASK THAT EVERYONE PLEASE BE
PATIENT AS WE OPERATE THE
ONLINE SYTEM, WE ARE LOOKING
TO FINE-TUNE THE PROCESS OF
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
IT REMAINS A STRONG INTENT TO
HAVE PUBLIC -- REGULARLY,
HOWEVER WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO
-- THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IF
IT IS BEING ABUSED OR
UNSUITABLE FOR ALLOWING OUR
MEETINGS TO RUN EFFICIENTLY AND
RUN NECESSARY BUSINESS.
I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER.
PUBLIC COMMENT IS 20 MINUTES
AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE GOT
13 OR 14 SPEAKERS.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE TIME OF
A MINUTE AND A HALF, FOR THE
SPEAKERS.
WE HAVE A FULL AGENDA TODAY.
SO WE WILL HAVE, EVERYBODY WILL
GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK, IT WILL
BE FOR A MINUTE AND A HALF, 90
SECONDS.
I WILL CALL ON TWO SPEAKERS AT
A TIME, IN THE ORDER OF THE
COUNCIL WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED
TO SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO YOU
CAN SIGN UP BY GOING TO THE
COUNCIL WEBSITE AT SEATTLE.GOV/
COUNSEL.
THE STUFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE AND THE
PROMPT OF "YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTE
IT" IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK AND
THEN YOU MUST PRESS STAR 6 TO
BEGIN SPEAKING.
STATE YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
AS A REMINDER PUBLIC COMMENTS
RELATE TO AN ITEM ON TODAY'S
AGENDA.
SPEAKER WAS WILL HEAR A TIME
WHEN THERE IS 10 SECONDS
ALLOTTED AND WE ASK YOU TO WRAP
UP YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF THE SPEAKERS DO NOT END
THEIR COMMENTS AT THE END OF
THE ALLOTTED TIME, THE SPEAKERS
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED TO
ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT WE ASK THAT YOU
PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM THE
LINE.
AND IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE
WITH THE MEETING PLEASE
CONTINUE THE OTHER LISTENING
OPTIONS ON THE AGENDA.
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
HAS JOINED THE MEETING.
THE REGULAR PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS OPEN.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
ONE MOMENT.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> GO AHEAD, MIKE, THANK YOU.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
[ LAUGHTER ]. I REPRESENT
HUNDREDS OF SMALL BUSINESSES
AND THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS IN
BALLARD.
THANK YOU MIDI CHAIR PEDERSEN
AND VICE CHAIR STRAUSS, FOR
ORGANIZING TODAY'S MEETING
REGARDING SOUND TRANSIT.
THIS IS A TRANSFORMATIVE
PROJECT THAT WILL HAVE A
SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE IMPACT ON
THE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE
REGION.
FOR BALLARD WE RECEIVED A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
RESIDENTIAL GROWTH OVER THE
PAST DECADE.
THE PROJECT WILL DELIVER ON THE
PROMISE TO PROVIDE NEEDED
INFRASTRUCTURE TO A COMMUNITY
THAT HAS SIGNIFICANT GROWTH AND
CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH IT.
BALLARD IS UNITED IN ITS DESIRE
FOR ALIGNMENT FOR THE STATION
LOCATED ON MARKET STREET, THE
STATION PLACE IN THIS LOCATION
WILL NOT ONLY SERVE THE
ABUNDANCE OF RESIDENTS, TRANSIT
RIDERS THAT ARE IN THE CENTRAL
BALLARD CORE, BUT ALSO HELP
PRESERVE THE MARITIME
INDUSTRIAL LANDS FOR THEIR
INTENDED USE.
WE ARE AT A PIVOTAL TIME AS WE
INCH EFFORT CLOSER TO THE END
OF THE PANDEMIC AND WAIT FOR
THE SWIFT ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
I ENCOURAGE THAT SOUND TRANSIT
DECISION-MAKERS TAKE THE TIME
THAT IS REQUIRED TO CONDUCT
MEANINGFUL AND TRANSPARENT
ENGAGEMENTS WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE LEADERSHIP AND KEY
STATION AREA STAKEHOLDERS.
ADDITIONAL TIME AND ANALYSIS IS
NEEDED.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> I AM SORRY.
ADDITIONAL TIME AND ANALYSIS IS
NEEDED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
CHANGING CANONIC LANDSCAPE AND
PROJECT PROJECT COST VOLATILITY
AND IS ESSENTIAL TO CARRYING
OUT A THOUGHTFUL REALIGNMENT
PROCESS.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP JAMES LINSKY
FOLLOWED BY DEBORA . A REMINDER
TO PRESS STAR 6. GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR
TAKING COMMENTS TODAY.
I AM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
SEATTLE CENTER FOUNDATION AND
WE APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTFUL
COMMITMENT TO THE PROGRAM THAT
VOTERS APPROVED.
AT SEATTLE CENTER WANT TO
PROVIDE EQUALLY THOUGHTFUL
INFORMATION BACK TO YOU SO THAT
THE FULL WEST SEATTLE AND
BALLARD LINK EXTENSIONS ARE
BUILT AND HELP SEATTLE BECOME
AN EVEN MORE ECONOMICALLY
VIBRANT CITY WITH SUSTAINABLE
TRANSIT.
FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURE
ENTERTAINMENT ORGANIZATION AT
SEATTLE CENTER WHICH COME IN
ALL SHAPES AND SIZES, FROM SOME
OF THE REGION'S LARGEST TO
SMALLEST, WE NEED TRANSPARENCY,
ADEQUATE INFORMATION AND ENOUGH
TIME TO REVIEW THE INFORMATION.
WE ASK THAT THE CITY OF SEATTLE
AND SOUND TRANSIT WORK WITH US
OVER THE COMING MONTHS TO
ENGAGE IN STAKEHOLDER
CONVERSATIONS BEFORE MAKING
DECISIONS THAT CAN DELAY LIGHT
RAIL, SHORTCHANGE SEATTLE
VOTERS, AND HAVE A LASTING
IMPACT ON THE HEALTH AND
VITALITY OF SEATTLE CENTER.
THE DECISIONS BEFORE YOU WILL
HAVE CONSEQUENCES NOT ONLY ON
OUR REGION'S MASS TRANSIT
SYSTEM BUT THE CRITICAL HEALTH
OF THE SEATTLE CENTER, ONE OF
OUR MOST IMPORTANT CULTURAL
ASPECTS.
AS A CITY WE MUST PAY CAREFUL
ATTENTION TO OUR ARTS AND
CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS AND ADD
EVERMORE VALUABLE GATHERING
PLACES.
OUR ECONOMIC, MENTAL AND
SPIRITUAL HEALTH DEPENDS ON IT.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE DEBORA,
FOLLOWED BY TIA.
GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO, I AM REPRESENTING
UPTOWN ALLIANCE AND THE UPTOWN
ART DISTRICT AND HAVE COMMENTS
AS WELL.
OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS THE
ALLIANCE HAS BEEN A STRONG
PARTNER WITH SOUND TRANSIT IN
PROVIDING THOUGHTFUL INPUT IN A
COMMUNITY VOICE TO PLANNING, TO
THE SEATTLE CENTER UPTOWN
STATION.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR
COMMUNITY PARTNERS, TO PROVIDE
A CLEAR VISION FOR THE EVENTS.
GIVEN THE STATION IN THE
INITIAL BUILDOUT, THAT IS KEY
TO THE -- PROVIDING EQUITABLE
ASPECTS TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
COMING TO A REGIONAL
DESTINATION, AS WELL AS OUR
RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.
PREPARING FOR THE RELEASE, WE
NEED INFORMATION NOW ON HOW THE
COMMUNITY INPUT HAS INFLUENCE
THE INPUT OF THE STATION AND
ASK THAT THE REVIEW PERIOD BE
EXTENDED.
AN EXPECTED 45 DAY REVIEW IN A
COUPLE GET A DOCUMENT,
THOUSANDS OF PAGES LONG, IS A
HUGE BURDEN TO PUT ON THE
COMMUNITY.
WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR AN
EXTENDED REVIEW.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU DEBORA.
NEXT UP WE HAVE GOT TIA.
FOLLOWED BY TARYN.
GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU
FOR PUTTING SOUND TRANSIT ON
THE AGENDA FOR THE COMMITTEE
AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK.
MONEY MS. TIA, I AM A CHAIR OF
THE RESIDENTIAL COUNCIL AND I
LIVE IN MORALES' DISTRICT.
MY CONCERN IS THE IMPACT THAT
WE WILL FEEL WITH THIS PROJECT.
WITH SOMETHING THIS BIG WASTE
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE SHOULD
BE HEARING FROM BIPOC VOICES,
THOSE THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED
BY THE DESIGN AND ELEMENTS.
THIS WILL AFFECT MANY
GENERATIONS TO COME AND I WANT
TO KEEP VOICES ON THE TABLE
THAT ARE REFLECTIVE OF THOSE
WHO USE THE FACILITY AND WHO
LIVE EXTREMELY NEAR THE
FACILITY.
MY ASK OR REQUEST, CAN WE PLEASE
GET CALENDAR COMMITMENTS FOR
REGULAR REPORTING ON REALIGNMENT
AND THE JACKSON HOLE PROCESS
PLANNING, AND ALLOW INPUT WHERE
POSSIBLE.
THE GOAL WOULD BE TO DESIGN
SOMETHING THAT FEELS LIKE IT
BELONGS HERE IN IS NOT JUST PUT
HERE LEAVING NEIGHBORHOODS TO
FIGURE OUT THERE ON ADAPTATIONS
AND NEXT STEPS IN THE PROJECT.
THANKS AGAIN FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE TARYN, FOLLOWED BY
ALEX HUDSON.
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR PEDERSEN AND
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
MY NAME IS TARYN AND I LIVE IN
THE CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT AND I SERVE ON THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
SEATTLE CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT PRESERVATION. MY
CONCERN IS THE SOUND TRANSIT
REALIGNMENT.
WE ARE PLEASED TO SEE THE
COMMITTEE IS ENGAGING WITH
SOUND TRANSIT ON THE BALLARD-
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL
EXTENSION.
THEY NEED THE COUNCIL, MAYOR
AND CITY STAFF TO DO EVERYTHING
THEY CAN TO ENSURE THAT OUR
COMMUNITY VOICES ARE HEARD
DURING THE REVIEW PROCESS.
AND THAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE
REFLECTED ON THE NEW LIGHT RAIL
STATION AND SURROUNDING STATION
AREA, AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.
THE NEW STATION CAN BRING
MEANINGFUL BENEFIT TO OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD BUT ALSO POSES
SERIOUS RISKS.
IN THE PAST, INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS HAVE BEEN A --
PARTICULARLY STAFF AND OWNERS
OF SMALL BUSINESSES, AND IT IS
NOT JUST THE STREETCAR
IMPACTING THE CID.
IT IS CUT IN HALF BY AN ELEVATED
12 LANE INTERSTATE.
WE ASK THAT THE NEW LIGHT RAIL
STATION AND SURROUNDING STATION
AREA DO NOT REPEAT THE MISTAKES
OF THE PAST.
INSTEAD THEY ARE PLANNED IN
CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE CID
AND OUR NEIGHBORS IN PIONEER
SQUARE, SETTING UP A MEETING
BETWEEN SOUND TRANSIT AND THIS
COMMITTEE WOULD BE HELPFUL AS A
FIRST STEP TOWARD THE GOAL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
THIS MORNING AND LEADERSHIP ON
THE ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE GOT ALEX HUDSON,
FOLLOWED BY TOM.
GO AHEAD, ALEX.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THIS
IMPORTANT TOPIC, THE TIMELY
DELIVERY AND MULTI GENERATIONAL
IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON THIS
AREA.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
PCC, DEEPLY COMMITTED TO
HELPING ALL PARTIES DELIVER ON
THE PROMISE OF A ROBUST AND
EQUITABLE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM IN
OPERATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IS NOT HYPERBOLIC TO RECOGNIZE
THAT PROCESSES WILL COME BEFORE
THE COUNCIL AND HAVE AS MUCH
CONSEQUENCE IS HOW, WHEN, AND
WHEN LIGHT RAIL SERVICES
DELIVERED TO SEATTLE.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS THE PLAN
OF THE CENTURY AND WILL
FUNDAMENTALLY RESHAPE OUR
COMMUNITY IN EVERY POSSIBLE
REGARD.
THE ESSENCE OF THE CITY'S
FUTURE IS ON THE TABLE.
YOU ARE MAKING DECISIONS WHERE
SEATTLEITES CAN LIVE, MAKING
OPPORTUNITIES RICHER AND LIFE
MORE CONNECTED AND COMMUNITY
SAFER.
IT WILL ENSURE OUR PLANET'S
FUTURE IS MORE VIABLE.
WE URGE YOU TO MAKE THE
PLANNING DELIBERATE AND TAKE
TIME TO ENSURE YOU ASK ALL
QUESTIONS AND GET ALL THE
ANSWERS TO ENSURE WE DO RIGHT
BY THE RESPONSE ABILITY.
A DELIBERATE PLANNING PROCESS
MUST INCLUDE MEANINGFUL AND
TRANSPARENT ENGAGEMENT,
INCLUDING WITH SEATTLE
RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS,
PARTICULARLY HIGH RISK
NEIGHBORHOODS.
INCLUSIVE CONVERSATION SHOULD
INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF
PRIORITIES THAT WILL GUIDE THE
POLICY MAKING AND DESIGN AND
ONGOING AND SUBSTATION AREAS.
WHILE THE MAGNITUDE OF THE
DECISIONS CANNOT BE OVERSTATED,
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
THE CITY SHOULD MAKE IT A TOP
PRIORITY.
--
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALEX
HUDSON AND PLEASE, FOR ANYBODY
PREPARING FOR THE TWO MINUTES
AND NOW DOWN TO ONE MINUTE 30
SECONDS, PLEASE ON SO ALSO
EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS TO US AND
WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS
MORNING.
NEXT WE HAVE TOM FOLLOWED BY
JONATHAN HOPKINS.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY AND
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
I AM TOM MARTIN, DIRECTOR OF
THE --, AND ANOTHER MEMBER OF
THE SEATTLE CENTER FOUNDATION
BOARD.
MY ORGANIZATION IS ADJACENT TO
THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE SITE,
FOR SEATTLE CENTER.
THE STATION.
AND AT THIS POINT WE ARE QUITE
CONCERNED, ALMOST AT THE
EXISTENTIAL LEVEL OF HOW WE
MIGHT BE ABLE TO OPERATE DURING
THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION AND
ALSO DURING THE TIME OF
OPERATION.
AFTERWARDS.
WE SEEK MORE INFORMATION AND
BETTER UNDERSTANDING, MORE
ENGAGEMENT WITH SOUND TRANSIT
LEADERSHIP TO LOOK AT
ALTERNATIVES AND WAYS TO REMAIN
VIABLE DURING THIS TIME.
ALSO I THINK THANK -- FOR
STARTING A DIALOGUE.
MUCH APPRECIATION.
THANKS AGAIN FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY.
>> NEXT WE HAVE JONATHAN
HOPKINS FOLLOWED BY JACLYN.
GO AHEAD JONATHAN.
>> GOOD MORNING CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
ON BEHALF OF SEATTLE SUBWAY I
WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL OF
SPEAKING ON SOUND TRANSIT
REALIGNMENT.
WE H.O.P.E.
TO ASK SOUND TRANSIT A FEW
CRITICAL ANSWERS.
THIS WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE
IMPACT ON OUR CITY, CONCEPTS TO
THE LAST A JUNCTION, INTO THE
24 EAST, AS WELL AS MOVING
QUICKLY, TO IMPROVEMENTS 25
YEARS OUT.
THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
REALIGNMENT PROCESS IS CREATED
WITH FAILURE AS A CORE
ASSUMPTION, LITERALLY GETTING
INTO BREAKING BASE WITH VOTERS.
SUSTAINABILITY AS PART OF OUR
DAILY BUSINESS YET IN AND ARROW
WHERE WE HAVE NINE YEARS WITH
THE CASCADING SERIES OF
ECOLOGICAL DISASTER, HOW CAN
THE TRANSIT AGENCY WILLFULLY
GIVE INTO DELAYING PROJECTS?
IT IS ECOLOGICALLY AN UNFAIR BY
ANOTHER AGENCY.
WE HAVE TWO QUESTIONS, WHY NOW?
WE HAVE CALLED FOR A PAUSE TO
REALIGNMENT BECAUSE WE FEEL
THAT WE ARE LOWERING THE BAR
WITHOUT A BASIS AND KNOWN FACTS.
PROOF THAT WE HAVE NO CLUE AT
THIS TIME WHAT THE GAP IS, WE
SHOULD NOT LOWER THE BAR
WITHOUT KNOWING.
WHY HASN'T SOUND TRANSIT
ORGANIZED FOR SUCCESS, CREATING
A WORKING GROUP TO KEEPING
PROJECTS ON TIME OR EARLY?
IT IS NOT DONE THIS AT ALL.
SP 2 AND 3, ACTUALLY DID THAT,
THE FILLING GAPS IN PRIOR
PROJECTS ON TIME ARE NEARLY ON
TIME.
>> THANK YOU JONATHAN, AGAIN
EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS TO US AS
WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME
THIS MORNING.
NEXT WE HAVE JACLYN, FOLLOWED
BY LISA, GO AHEAD JACLYN.
>> MY NAME IS JACQUELINE GRUBER
AND I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING
FALCON TO REPRESENT SP 3. WE'VE
REPRESENTED SEVERAL AREAS AND
SOUND TRANSIT 3 GIVES US THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET OUR
ENVIRONMENT HER GOALS.
GETTING IT RIGHT WILL NOT BE
EASY, THOUGHTFUL ATTENTION AND
ANALYSIS NECESSARY TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND AND OVERCOME THE
RECENT COST INCREASES AND
DELIVER THE PACKAGE TO VOTERS.
FINALIZING THE STATION LOCATION
AND DESIGN WILL REQUIRE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BUT SHOULD
NOT BE RUSHED.
WE MUST ENSURE THAT THE
STATIONS ARE THOUGHTFULLY
DESIGNED, ACCESSIBLE AND ENABLE
TRANSFER BETWEEN MODES.
ALL WHILE MINIMIZING A IMPACT TO
ORGANIZATIONS DURING
CONSTRUCTION.
WHILE THE WORK WILL BE
CHALLENGING THE BENEFITS WILL
BE LONG-LASTING.
THEY REQUIRE THE INTENTIONAL
AND DELIBERATE PLANNING.
THANK YOU FOR INITIATING THE
DIALOGUE TO DELIVER THE PREMISE
OF ST 3.
>> THANK YOU JACLYN.
NEXT WE HAVE LISA HOWARD,
FOLLOWED BY KATHLEEN JOHNSON.
GO AHEAD, LISA.
>> THANK YOU MEMBER PEDERSEN.
FIRST OFF I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR HOSTING THE DISCUSSION AND
WE HOPE THAT YOUR LEADERSHIP
HERE KICKS OFF A SERIES OF
DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THE
BALLARD LINK ATTENTION.
WE NEED LEADERSHIP OF THE
ENTIRE COUNCIL, PARTICULARLY
THIS COMMITTEE, TO ENSURE THAT
THE PROJECT THAT VOTERS ARE
LARGELY PAYING FOR, IS BUILT
FOR THE CITY.
WE HOPE YOU WILL USE THIS FORUM
AS A REGULAR OPPORTUNITY FOR
COUNCIL TO IDENTIFY AND MEET
PROJECT PLANNING NEEDS INSIDE
OF THE CITY.
A KEY GOAL FOR THE DOWNTOWN
COMMITTEE IS THAT PROJECTS ARE
DEVELOPED IN A WAY THAT
IMPLEMENT AND REFLECT THE
PRIORITIES IN THESE TWO
HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS.
FOR DECADES PEOPLE HAVE ENGAGED
IN OUTREACH AND PLANNING
EFFORTS AND THROUGHOUT THAT TIME
INCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY,
ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC SPACES AND
DESIGN THAT CONNECTS THE TWO
NEIGHBORHOODS AND PEOPLE THAT
LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY HERE.
JACKSON HUB BECAME A JOINT
COMMUNITY EFFORT AND THINGS TO
THE MAYOR'S EFFORT, WE HAVE
DELIVERED THE STATIONARY
PLANNING PROCESS TO BUILD ON
THESE PLANNING EFFORTS, RAISE
UP COMMUNITY VOICES AND IMPROVE
AMONG AGENCIES.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK
BEING DONE BY THE CITY AGENCIES
AND DEVELOPED OUTCOMES FROM THE
PROCESS THAT WILL GUIDE THE
RESPONSIBLE DESIGN AND HOPE YOU
WILL SUPPORT THE AGENCIES AND
THEIR WORK.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE ONGOING
COLLABORATION OF THE COMMITTEE
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WEHAVE KATHLEEN JOHNSON,
FOLLOWED BY JAMIE LEE.
GO AHEAD, KATHLEEN.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR PEDERSEN FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE
WEST SEATTLE-BALLARD LIGHT RAIL
EXTENSION PROJECT.
INVESTING IN THE TWO
NEIGHBORHOODS, WE ARE GRATEFUL
TO SEATTLE FOR PROVIDING
FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO PROVIDE
CAPACITY BETWEEN THE TWO
NEIGHBORHOODS, TO FULLY ENGAGE
THE PLANNING PROCESS.
THE PROJECT IS THE LARGEST
SINGLE INVESTMENT IN
TRANSPORTATION IF A STRUCTURE
IN SEATTLE.
THE ALIGNMENT RUNS THROUGHOUT
WEST SEATTLE AND BALLARD AND
THE ENTIRE CITY.
WE WELCOME THAT THE PROJECT IS
PLANNED AND OPERATED IN A WAY
THAT SERVES THE PEOPLE THAT
LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY HERE AND
BOTH WHO WE ARE TODAY AND WHO
WE WILL BE IN 100 YEARS.
THE TWO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE
FOCUS THE WORK ON, WITH A
HISTORY OF NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF
MAJOR PROJECTS, WHILE THE
BENEFITS INCLUDE PEOPLE LIVING
IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY,
COUNTY, STATE AND COUNTRY.
-- THE TWO STADIUMS THAT BRING
JOY AND THE COMMUNITY TO PEOPLE
ALL OVER THE STATE BUT SOUTH
DOWNTOWN -- TRAFFIC.
THE LIST IS ENDLESS AND FOR
THAT REASON THE STATE FOUNDED
AN AGENCY TO HELP INVEST IN
RAISING THE VOICE OF THE
COMMUNITY.
WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL LEAD THE
DISCUSSION TO REFLECT THE
PRIORITIES AND CONCERNS OF THE
PEOPLE THAT LIVE, WORK, AND
PAY IN THESE TWO
NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> THANK YOU KATHLEEN.
NEXT WE HAVE JAMIE, FOLLOWED BY
MARK JOHNSON.
GO AHEAD, JAMIE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING MY NAME IS JAMIE
LEE, I WORK FOR THE CHINATOWN
DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING
THE -- WAS FINISHED AND MY
FIRST PROJECT WAS TO HELP THE
COMMUNITY MITIGATE THE IMPACT
OF THE CONSTRUCTION THAT IT HAD
ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I SAW FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT NOT
ONLY IN OUR BUSINESSES, BUT
WHAT OUR COMMUNITY HAD WITH
THAT UPGRADE.
THE THOUGHT GIVEN TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD WAS LACKING AND IT
TOOK MANY YEARS FOR US TO
RECOVER.
I DO NOT NEED TO TELL YOU THAT
THE WEST SEATTLE DEVELOPMENT
STATION IS A LARGER PROJECT ANY
ONCE IN A GENERATION PROJECT,
LIKELY IMPACTING THE
NEIGHBORHOOD MORE THAN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF-5, AND A 100
YEAR PLUS TRANSIT PROJECT.
YOU THE CITY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED
THAT PROJECTS LIKE THIS
DISPROPORTIONATE LY IMPACT SOUTH
DOWNTOWN WITHOUT CENTERING THE
VOICES OF BIPOC VOICES.
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT
THIS WILL FALL IN THE FOOTSTEPS
OF MANY OTHERS, PLANNING
SOMETHING THROUGH OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR OTHER PARTS OF
THE CITY AND NOT FOR OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I URGE YOU AS OUR CITY TO WORK
CLOSELY WITH SOUND TRANSIT TO
MAKE SURE THE PROJECT TAKES
INTO CONSIDERATION THE NEEDS OF
OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND
RESIDENTS AS THEY MAKE UP THE
FABRIC OF WHAT MAKES THE
NEIGHBORHOOD SO UNIQUE.
WE NEED OUR LEADERSHIP TO BE
INVOLVED IN THE REALIGNMENT
PROCESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEW.
WE NEED THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL
TO MAKE SURE IT THE COMMUNITY'S
VOICES ARE HEARD.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT MARK JOHNSON FOLLOWED BY
JEFFREY.
GO AHEAD, MARK.
>> YOU WANT TO PRESS TRAN 27.
-- STAR 6. THIS IS FOR MARK
JOHNSON.
>> WE WILL GO AHEAD AND GO TO
JEFFREY HERMAN AND COME BACK TO
MARK LATER.
JEFFREY HERMAN, IF YOU DON'T
MIND PRESSING STAR 6 AND
STARTING.
>> HELLO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> GREAT.
GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR ALL COMING
COMMENTS THIS MORNING.
MY NAME IS JEFFREY HERMAN,
MANAGING DIRECTOR AT SEATTLE
REP.
BASED ON INFORMATION THAT IS
AVAILABLE, THE LIGHT RAIL
PROJECT AND THE STATION WILL
HAVE HUGE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE
REP AND MANY COLLEAGUES ON THE
SEATTLE CENTER CAMPUS.
I BELIEVE THERE IS A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITY HERE BUT ALSO A LOT
OF RISK AND CONSEQUENCE IN REAL
CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THE REP AND
OUR NEIGHBORS CAN OPERATE
DURING THE DURATION OF THE
PROJECT.
I URGE YOU PLEASE TO ENSURE
THAT WE HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME
AND TRANSPARENCY AND ENGAGEMENT
WITH OUR FRIENDS AT THE CITY
AND SOUND TRANSIT AND ON THE
SEATTLE CENTER CAMPUS AND
NEIGHBORHOOD TO MAKE SURE WE
ALL MOVE TOGETHER THOUGHTFULLY
AND COHESIVELY.
I KNOW TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE
BUT THE MAGNITUDE IN THESE
DECISIONS AND IMPACT ON ALL
STAKEHOLDERS CANNOT BE
UNDERESTIMATED.
THIS IS SUCH A HUGE PROJECT AND
MORE TIME AND INFORMATION AND
PARTNERSHIP AND DIALOGUE IS
NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD
THOUGHTFULLY.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR
HELP IN ENSURING A PROCESS THAT
WILL INVOLVE, INCLUDE, AND
RESPECT ALL KEY STAKEHOLDERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
WE WILL TRY MARK JOHNSON AGAIN.
F YOU CAN HEAR US PRESS STAR
6.
>> MARK JOHNSON, WE ARE READY
FOR YOU.
THOSE THAT ARE LISTENING, YOU
CAN STILL EMAIL THE COUNCIL
COUNSEL@SEATTLE.GO V, WITH YOUR
COMMENTS.
THAT APPEARS TO BE THE LAST
SPEAKER THAT WE HAVE PRESENT, I
WILL CHECK WITH THE I.T.
TEAM, TO MAKE SURE.
>> THERE ARE NO OTHER PUBLIC
COMMENT REGISTRANTS.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY THAT
CALLED IN TO SPEAK.
AGAIN, YOU CAN EMAIL US AT ANY
TIME.
COUNCIL@ SEATTLE.GOV.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND WE
WILL START WITH THE FIRST THREE
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
WE HAVE THREE APPOINTMENTS.
IS HAVE THE CLERK READ THE
FIRST THREE INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDAS ITEMS NUMBER 1-3,
APPT 01947-49.
APPOINTMENTS OF ERIN
FITZPATRICK , HANG NGUYEN, AND
GRACE, FOR TERMS MARCH 31st,
2023, FOR BRIEFING, DISCUSSION,
AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU, I'M EXCITED TO
HAVE THESE THREE NEW
APPOINTMENTS HERE AT THE
MEETING TODAY.
POLY FROM S.D.O.T., IF YOU
DON'T MIND REMINDING US ABOUT
THE ADVISORY BOARD AND THEIR
MISSION, AND ALSO WE WILL THEN
HEAR FROM THE THREE CANDIDATES,
TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THEIR BACKGROUND AND WHY THEY
WOULD LIKE TO SERVE ON THE
BOARD.
THANK YOU.
GO AHEAD, POLLY.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM THE S.D.O.T.
LIAISON FOR THE ADVISORY BOARD
AND THE BOARD ADVISES S.D.O.T.
ON PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS AND
ESPECIALLY THE PEDESTRIAN
MASTER PLAN.
WE HAD A BIG RECRUITMENT
PROCESS AND RECEIVED NEARLY 50
APPLICATIONS, MORE THAN A
TYPICAL YEAR, IT WAS EXCITING,
WE NARROWED IT DOWN TO THE
FINAL THREE APPLICANTS WHOM I
AM VERY PROUD TO PRESENT TODAY,
THAT INCLUDES HANG NGUYEN, ERIN
FITZPATRICK , AND GRACE SIMON,
THANKS FOR HAVING US.
I KNOW THEY HAVE OTHER THINGS
TO GET TO TODAY, SO I WILL KEEP
IT BRIEF.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND JUST GO,
DOWN THE LIST, AS PRESENTED ON
THE AGENDA.
WE WILL START WITH AND 44.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND
AND WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO SERVE
ON THE ADVISORY BOARD.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
>> MY BACKGROUND IS IN THE
PUBLIC SECTOR, I WORKED AT
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY,
PRIOR TO COMING TO KING COUNTY
METRO.
MY INTEREST IS IN URBAN
PLANNING, THAT IS WHAT I GOT MY
EDUCATION IN.
SO I SAW THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
ON THE BOARD, IS A GREAT WAY TO
BE MORE INVOLVED AND WITH THE
PUBLIC, SERVING MY COMMUNITY.
HAVING BEEN A RESIDENT, CLOSE
TO MAJOR ROADWAYS LIKE AURORA
AND LAKE CITY WAY, NO
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IS AT THE
FOREFRONT OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. I
WANT TO BE TAKEN TO READING
MEMBER TO FINDING WAYS TO MAKE
OUR PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE A LOT
SAFER AND ENJOYABLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, WE WILL ASK
WESTON'S, IF YOU WANT TO ASK
QUESTIONS WHEN WE HEAR FROM THE
OTHER TWO CANDIDATES FIRST.
LET'S GO TO THE NEXT CANDIDATE,
GREYSON SIMON.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU
FOR HAVING US HERE.
MY NAME IS GREYSON SIMON, I DO
NOT HAVE PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE RELEVANT TO THIS, I
AM A QUEER TRANS PERSON, AND AS
OUR COMMUNITY IS GENERALLY
UNDEREMPLOYED AND UNDERPAID,
MOST OF US ARE PEDESTRIANS FOR A
LARGE PART OF OUR LIVES.
SAFETY, ESPECIALLY, IS A BIG
PART OF THAT.
I JUST HAPPENED TO STUMBLE OVER
THE FACT THAT THE BOARD HAD
OPENINGS AND WAS THRILLED
BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR
A WAY TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN
THE ACTUAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF
THE COMMUNITY HERE.
AND I AM SO THANKFUL THAT I GET
TO BRING MY EXPERIENCE AND THE
RELEVANT PERSPECTIVE OF MY
COMMUNITY TO THIS POSITION.
I AM VERY EXCITED TO SEE
EXACTLY WHAT WE CAN DO HERE.
>> THANK YOU, GREYSON.
NEXT WE HAVE ERIN FITZPATRICK .
MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM ERIN FITZPATRICK IN MY
BACKGROUND IS IN ORIENTATION
AND MOBILITY, TEACHING PEOPLE
THAT ARE BLIND AND DEAF BLIND
OR OTHER DISABILITIES HOW TO
TRAVEL SAFELY THROUGHOUT THEIR
ENVIRONMENT.
WE ARE BASED IN SEATTLE AND AS
YOU IMAGINE I DO A LOT OF
WALKING ON SEATTLE STREETS AND
SIDEWALKS.
I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING
SURE THINGS ARE ACCESSIBLE AND
TRYING TO MARRY OUR
TRANSPORTATION AND OUR
PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE SO
THAT IT IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.
VERY EXCITED TO WORK ON THE
BOARD AND BE ABLE TO ADVOCATE
FOR MY PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL
THREE OF YOU FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, I KNOW WE HAVE
REVIEWED THERE APPLICATION
PACKETS, BUT IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANTS,
PLEASE, LET ME SEE, LET ME JUST
CHECK HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES, THANK YOU FOR THE OLD-
FASHIONED RACING OF THE HAND.
>> THANK YOU.
I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS BUT WANT
TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THIS
BOARD OR COMMISSION, BOARD, YOU
KNOW, THE THING, ERIN,
ESPECIALLY AS YOU WORK
SPEAKING, THAT I WAS THINKING
ABOUT, IS A FEW MONTHS AGO,
TAKING A WALK WITH FOLKS FROM
LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND, DOWN
UNDERNEATH THE INTERSECTION OF
I-90, WHERE THE NEW LIGHT RAIL
STATION IS GOING IN.
SORRY, THE JUDKINS PARK LIGHT
RAIL STATION.
AND JUST SEEING HOW SCARY IT
IS.
[ LAUGHTER ] TO BE WALKING
AROUND WITH A LOT OF FAST-
MOVING TRAFFIC, CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS GOING ON, BLOCKING
SIDEWALKS, WITH THE HIGHWAY
RAMP THAT IS BLOCKING SOMEBODY'S
ACCESS TO THE BUS STOP.
THERE IS A LOT HAPPENING AND IT
WAS HARD FOR ME TO TRY TO WALK
THROUGH THERE WITH NO
IMPAIRMENT.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU
WILL BRING TO THIS BODY,
BECAUSE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT NOT
EVERYBODY DRIVES.
NOT EVERYBODY HAS THE KIND OF
MOBILITY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO
NAVIGATE OUR STREETS SAFELY.
AND WE REALLY NEED TO KEEP FOLKS
, PEOPLE'S SAFETY IN MIND, NO
MATTER HOW THEY MOVE AROUND THE
CITY.
I AM EXCITED ALL OF YOU ARE
WILLING TO SERVE IN THIS
CAPACITY AND ARE WILLING TO
HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE TO KEEPING
OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
I AM GLAD YOU ARE HERE FOR THIS
PARTICULAR PANEL BECAUSE I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL
OF OUR DIFFERENT TRANSPORTATION
ENTITIES UNDERSTAND THAT THE
WORK THEY DO IMPACT PEOPLE WHO
ARE NOT JUST DRIVING.
WHO CAN'T DRIVE, AND WE NEED TO
KEEP THEIR SAFETY IN MIND TOO
AND NEED TO KEEP THEIR MOBILITY
IN MIND AS WE PLAN THE DIFFERENT
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS,
WHETHER IT IS DIRECTLY RELATED
TO A PEDESTRIAN PROJECT OR NOT,
PEDESTRIANS ARE IMPACTED AND
SAFETY IS IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR
BEING HERE AND WELCOME ABOARD.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES.
ANYMORE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE
APPOINTMENTS?
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THANK YOU, THIS IS NOT A
COMMENT NOR QUESTION DIRECTED AT
THE APPOINTMENTS HERE WITH US
TODAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR SERVICE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU.
I WANT TO FLAG MY QUICK REVIEW
OF THE PARTICIPATION ROSTER.
IT SHOWS A DEARTH OF
REPRESENTATION FROM DISTRICT 1,
I AM JUST FLAGGING THAT FOR
FUTURE VACANCIES, WOULD LOVE TO
WORK WITH YOU AND/OR THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND FEELING
EITHER MAY ORAL OR COUNCIL
VACANCIES WITH A DISTRICT 1
PERSON.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS BEFORE VOTING ON THE
APPOINTMENTS?
OKAY.
AND WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
WAS SAYING ABOUT INTEGRATION OF
DIFFERENT MODES, WE HAVE SOUND
TRANSIT HERE IS THE LAST ITEM
TODAY BUT WE WILL BE TALKING
WITH THEM, MAYBE NOT AT THIS
MEETING SO MUCH BUT IN A FUTURE
MEETING ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY TO
THEIR STATIONS AND NEW STATIONS
AND HOW THEY ARE BUILT FOR
PEDESTRIANS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN
GET THERE OR EASILY, TO THE
STATIONS INTO THE WORKING
ESCALATORS AND WHAT IS NEEDED
TO KEEP PEOPLE MOVING.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS,
UNLESS ONE OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SEPARATE OUT ANY PARTICULAR
CANDIDATE, FOR A SEPARATE VOTE,
I WOULD LIKE TO VOTE ON ALL
THREE TOGETHER, FOR THE
PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD.
OKAY, SO HEARING NO WISH TO DO
THAT, I WILL MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF
APPOINTMENTS 01947, 48, 49,
ITEMS 1, 2, 3 ON OUR AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
OKAY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE COMMITTEE
FRAGMENTATION AT THE THREE
APPOINTED BE APPROVED FOR THE
CITY COUNCIL.
>> GONZALEZ.
>> AYE.
>> HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> THE APPOINTMENTS BE SET FOR
APPROVAL TO THE JUNE 21st CITY
COUNCIL MEETING.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR
APPOINTMENTS.
YOU'RE GOING OFF TO THE BIG
SHOW, THE FULL CITY COUNCIL.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO ATTEND THE
MEETING THOUGH, WE WILL BE ABLE
TO TALK ABOUT YOUR APPOINTMENT
PACKETS.
AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
SERVING.
I AM SURE THAT I WILL SEE YOU
AT A PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY
MEETING.
OKAY, THANK YOU, GOODBYE.
THANKS POLLY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE OF THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM
INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 4, RES 32007.
A RESOLUTION RELATED TO THE
CITY LIGHT DEPARTMENT, ADOPTING
A 2022-2026 STRATEGIC PLAN FOR
THE CITY LIGHT DEPARTMENT AND
ENDORSING THE ASSOCIATED FIVE-
YEAR RATE PATH.
>> FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
THE COMMITTEE WILL NOW DISCUSS
THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
A MULTIYEAR PLAN FOR THE
MISSION OF THE $1 BILLION CITY-
OWNED UTILITY ENTERPRISE, WHICH
DIVIDES AFFORDABLE AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE
ELECTRICITY TO OVER 900,000
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE AND
SURROUNDING AREAS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY I AM PLEASED
THAT DESPITE SEVERAL COST
PRESSURES, SUCH AS THE COVID
PANDEMIC, SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
HAS SURPASSED EXPECTATIONS IN
KEEPING THEIR RATE INCREASE IN
CONTROL.
THEY DID NOT INCREASE THE BILLS
OF LIGHT CUSTOMERS THIS YEAR,
WHILE ALSO LOWERING FUTURE RATE
INCREASES WHEN COMPARED TO
STRATEGIC PLANS.
THERE IS A SIX YEAR AVERAGE
INCREASE, LESS THAN 3.5%,
INSTEAD OF THE ORIGINAL 4.5%
INCREASE WE WERE EXPECTING.
IN OTHER WORDS THE RATES WILL
RISE AS CLOSE TO POSSIBLE THE
RATE OF INFLATION, PHYSICALLY
-- FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND
REASONABLE FOR RATE PAYERS.
NOT SURPRISINGLY THE PANEL HAS
ENDORSED THE PLANET SUPPORTS
THE ADOPTION BY THE COUNCIL.
WE ARE HEARING THE RESOLUTION
WITH TODAY JUST EVERYTHING IN
DISCUSSION OF THE RESOLUTION.
I WANT TO WELCOME SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT AND GIVE THE CENTRAL
STAFF ANALYST, ERIC McCONAGHY,
THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD OFF
WITH ANY INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
ERIC McCONAGHY, I DO NOT HAVE
ANYTHING TO ADD IN ADDITION TO
HOW YOU FRAMED IT UP.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING
ANOTHER AUDIENCE MEMBER TO THE
PRESENTATION.
AND THEN WE WILL SEE EVERYONE
BACK IN THE MONTH OF JULY FOR
THE COMMITTEE'S CONTINUED
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL VOTE
ON THE RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WE WILL WELCOME GENERAL MANAGER
SMITH AND YOUR TEAM.
PLEASE GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
US.
I WANT TO SAY THAT ERIC IS
INCREDIBLY KIND BECAUSE I
CANNOT IMAGINE THAT HE IS
ACTUALLY ALL THAT INTERESTED IN
BEING PART OF THE AUDIENCE FOR
THIS PRESENTATION THAT HE HAS
HEARD, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY
TIMES.
[ LAUGHTER ] ERIC, YOU ARE A
TROOPER.
THANK YOU AGAIN.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY AS WE
STARTED TODAY, THAT I AM A
DOWNTOWN DWELLER AND HAVE BEEN
WITH THE CITY NOW GOING ON
THREE YEARS, WHICH IS CRAZY TO
THINK ABOUT.
AND LIVE DOWNTOWN AND MY
HUSBAND AND I INTENTIONALLY
CHOSE TO STAY, EVEN AS THINGS
HERE HAVE BEEN HARD.
AND YOU KNOW I LAY IN BED AT
NIGHT AND HAVE THE WINDOWS OPEN
NOW, AND WHAT I WANT TO
APPRECIATE, ALL OF YOU, BECAUSE
I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE SIMON
AND GARFUNKEL SONG, "SOUNDS OF
SILENT" LAST NIGHT AND WHAT I'M
STARTING TO HERE IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE IS OPPOSITE.
I'M STARTING TO HEAR A CITY
COME BACK ALIVE AND APPRECIATE
ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS TO MAKE
SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.
AND I KNOW THAT IT IS --'S WORK
AND THINK THAT IT IS NOT MY
JOB.
I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE JOB
THAT YOU DO.
LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO SAY TO
COUNCIL CHAIR GONZALEZ, YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY CONTINUE TO BE IN
MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AND I
AM SO, SO, SO SORRY FOR YOUR
LOSS.
SO ON THAT NOTE, THIS IS MY
FIRST PLAN AND AS I SAID IT HAS
BEEN ALMOST THREE YEARS AND YET
BECAUSE OF COVID, I GOT
ANOTHER YEAR TO KIND OF
ASSIMILATE AND EXPLORE AND
LEARN ABOUT THE UTILITY.
AND NOW WE ARE MOVING AND WE
ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE DIRECTION
WE ARE MOVING.
SO WE JUST COMPLETED SOME
RATING AGENCY PRESENTATIONS,
FOR SOME -- WE ARE ISSUING
LATER THIS MONTH.
AS WE CONTINUED WITH THAT
PROCESS WE WERE ABLE TO SAY WE
HAVE A GOOD STORY TO TELL.
WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT DID IN OVER 2020 AND
THE FUTURE WE ARE MOVING
TOWARD, AND GOOD IT IS A GOOD
STORY.
I AM PROUD OF MY FOLKS INTIME
WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE
INCREDIBLE CHANGES AND TO TRULY
PIVOT IN TERMS OF OUR
PRIORITIES AS AN ORGANIZATION
AND AS PART OF THE CITY FAMILY.
AND TO DO SO IN A WAY THAT
UPLIFTS CUSTOMERS, UPLIFTS
BIPOC COMMUNITIES, AND IS
BEGINNING TO FOCUS ON THE
EQUITABLE RESULTS THAT WE WANT
TO SEE FOR OUR CITY.
SO LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLI,
PLEASE.
LET ME INTRODUCE FOLKS FIRST.
THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING ERIC
McCONAGHY BUT I HAVE WITH ME
TODAY, MAURA BRUEGER, LARGELY
GOING TO BE MY BABY CONSULTANT,
-- MY AB CONSULTANT, AND
PARTICIPATING HIS SEATTLEITES,
AND LEIGH BARRECA, WHO MAY
JUMP IN A BIT.
OR FOR THE SAKE OF QUICKNESS,
AS YOU GO THROUGH THE SLIS AND
IN PARTICULAR, AS YOU LOOK
THROUGH THE ACTUAL DRAFT PLAN,
YOU WILL FIND THAT A NUMBER OF
THE PHOTOS THAT YOU SEE ARE
ACTUALLY PART OF THE
ESSENTIALLY SEATTLE PROJECT THAT
LEIGH BARRECA WORKED ON WITH
THE SEATTLE ARTS AND CULTURE
GROUP.
THE IDEA WAS TO CREATE WORK
EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC FOR SOME
OF OUR ARTISTS AND STRUGGLING
ART COMMUNITY, BY ENGAGING
FOLKS TO TAKE PICTURES OF
ESSENTIAL WORKERS ACROSS THE
CITY, CERTAINLY NOT JUST CITY
EMPLOYEES OR SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
EMPLOYEES, THIS IS A PROJECT
THAT I WANT TO NOTE THAT
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES AND
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT LARGELY
FUNDED.
SOME PHOTOS THAT YOU SEE IN THIS
PRESENTATION WERE TAKEN BY
THOSE LOCAL ARTISTS AND
PHOTOGRAPHERS, AND WE WERE
HONORED TO WORK WITH THEM DURING
THIS TIME.
NEXT SLI, PLEASE.
SO, THIS IS JUST A BIT OF
HISTORY.
OVER TO YOUR RIGHT YOU SEE THE
STRATEGIC LAND PROCESS WAS
ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE IN
2010.
THIS IS OUR FIFTH PLAN,
ALTHOUGH IT IS IN SOME WAYS OUR
SIXTH, BECAUSE WE STARTED A
PLAN THAT WOULD HAVE COME
FORWARD IN 2020.
BUT WE PULLED IT.
SO TYPICALLY SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
DOES A SIX-YEAR VIEW OF
PRIORITIES AND THEN A SIX-YEAR
RATE TRAJECTORY.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THE
PLAN YOU ARE SEEING TODAY IS
THAT IT IS A FIVE-YEAR PLAN AND
THE REASON FOR THAT IS TO GET
US BACK ON OUR TYPICAL BIANNUAL
BUDGETING PROCESS.
WE ARE DOING A ONE YEAR PLAN, A
ONE YEAR RATE, A RATE STRATEGY
THAT THE COUNCIL HAS ALREADY
ACTED ON.
SO THAT IS ANOTHER THING THAT
IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THIS
PLAN.
USUALLY THE RATE PIECE WOULD
FOLLOWED THE PLAN BUT WE WENT
AHEAD AND LEGISLATED THAT AND
USED THE AMOUNT THAT WAS IN
THAT 2018 PLAN THAT YOU SEE
OVER ON THE CORNER.
AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION
TODAY, KIRSTY GRAINGER TALK
MORE ABOUT THE FINANCIAL
IMPACTS AND THE RATES.
THAT IS WHERE WE ARE, THE REVIEW
PANEL, AS COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN NOTED, SUPPORTS THE
PLAN.
WE HAD A FANTASTIC TIME WORKING
ON THEM WITH THIS.
AND THEY WERE REALLY GOOD
SPORTS, THEY DID ONE PLAN AND
HAD TO COME BACK AND DO ANOTHER
AND QUITE HONESTLY THEY WERE
GOING TO STOP IN AND START ALL
OVER AGAIN HERE IN A FEW
MONTHS.
SO THEY HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS TO
WORK WITH.
THEY REPRESENT, AS YOU KNOW THE
VARIOUS CUSTOMER GROUPS.
AND THERE ARE FIVE MEMBERS
APPOINTED BY MAYOR, FOUR BY
COUNCIL, AND WE HAVE VACANCIES
RIGHT NOW THAT WE ARE WORKING
WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN
AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO FILL.
SO LET'S MOVE ON.
SO, THIS IS JUST WHERE WE ARE
IN THE PROCESS. WE ARE GOING
TO GO THROUGH THE SLIS FAIRLY
QUICKLY.
I DOUBT WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF
TIME LEFT FOR Q&A, IF WE DO
THAT WILL BE FANTASTIC.
IF NOT WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS OFF-LINE, HAPPY TO
MEET WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE
ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
WITH STAFF.
WE WILL BE BACK ON JULY 7th, AT
COMMITTEE.
AND OUR REVIEW PANEL WILL BE
THERE TO SHARE THOUGHTS AND
COMMENTS AND ANSWER QUESTIONS
AND THEN MOVING FORWARD EITHER
ON JULY 12th OR 19th, FOR THE
FINAL ACTION AT COUNCIL.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO, GUIDING OUR PATH, IN 2020,
ACTUALLY BEGINNING IN 2019,
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT UPDATED THE
MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES.
THE MISSION IS LARGELY
UNCHANGED, WE TWEAKED A COUPLE
WORDS, IT USED TO TALK ABOUT
DELIVERING AND NOW WE ARE
PROVIDING, BECAUSE CUSTOMERS
RECEIVE ENERGY SERVICES IN
DIFFERENT WAYS.
IT ALSO USED TO SAY ELECTRICITY
SERVICES BUT WE ARE AGAIN
NOTING THAT FOR CUSTOMERS,
ENERGY IS A COMMODITY.
IT PROVIDES COMFORT, LIGHT, IT
CAN PROVIDE ALL THE THINGS THAT
WE VALUE.
AND I THINK THAT WE VALUE THEM
MORE NOW AFTER THE PANDEMIC AND
LIVING AND WORKING FROM HOME
THAN WE EVER HAVE.
BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS OF
MEETING THE NEEDS AND WE WANT
TO BE COGNIZANT OF THAT AND OUR
VISION IS ABOUT CREATING A
SHARED ENERGY FUTURE BY
PARTNERING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS
TO MEET THEIR ENERGY NEEDS
WHICHEVER WAY THEY CHOOSE.
THE FOCUS IS ON PARTNERSHIP AND
CUSTOMER CHOICE.
OUR VALUES ARE THE WAY WE DO OUR
WORK, THE HOW WE APPROACH OUR
WORK, AND SOME ARE VERY WELL
EMBEDDED IN THE ORGANIZATION
TODAY.
FOR INSTANCE, ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP IS VERY MUCH WHO WE
ARE.
CUSTOMERS FIRST.
AND THERE IS A REASON THAT IT
COMES FIRST, BECAUSE WE ARE
REALLY PIVOTING AND FOCUSING
AND CENTERING THE WORK WE DO ON
OUR CUSTOMERS, WITH AGAIN
SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON EQUITABLE
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND
MAKING SURE THAT OUR PRODUCT
SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO
EVERYONE IN THE SAME WAY.
LET'S MOVE ON.
SO, WE DID QUITE A BIT OF
OUTPUT AND I WOULD SAY THAT OUR
OUTREACH ACTUALLY BENEFITED
FROM THE PANDEMIC IN SOME WAYS.
WE WERE ABLE TO TALK WITH MORE
FOLKS BECAUSE IT WAS LESS OF AN
INVESTMENT OF TIME BY DOING IT
REMOTELY.
WE HAD 10 STAKEHOLDER GROUP
HESITATIONS ACROSS THE BOARD,
LOTS OF ATTENDEES, AND AS I
SAID WE HAD 22 STRATEGIC
LANDING MEETINGS WITH THE CITY
LIGHT REVIEW PANEL.
AND THEN AGAIN, A GREAT DEAL OF
COMMUNITY AND EMPLOYEE
OUTREACH.
WE SHARED MATERIALS, HAD A
VIRTUAL TOWN HALL OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC AND SHARED EMPLOYEE
MEETINGS.
WE REALLY TRY TO GET THIS OUT.
ALSO AS WE DEVELOPED THE PLAN
WE NOT ONLY WORKED WITH THE
REVIEW PANEL BUT WE WORKED WITH
GROUPS OF EMPLOYEES AS WELL SO
THEY COULD SEE THEMSELVES IN
THE WORK THAT WE WERE DOING
WITH OUR REVIEW PANEL.
THAT WAS SUPER IMPORTANT TO US.
WE KNOW THE KEY TO ENGAGED
WORKFORCE IS UNDERSTANDING HOW
"MY WORK" IS TIED TO THE GOALS
OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT I WORK
FOR.
WE WANTED TO INCORPORATE THAT
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
DESPITE THE PANDEMIC WE MADE
SOME AMAZING PROGRESS AND I
WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT HERE
THAT THE YOUNG WOMAN, SHE WILL
LIKE ME SAYING THAT, THE WOMAN
ON THE LEFT IS MICHELLE VARGO,
AND SHE JUST AS OF THIS MONDAY
IS OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER,
BUT WE GOT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
OF WORK DONE.
WE MADE PROGRESS WITH OUR
PORTAL AND BROUGHT THE PORTAL
ONLINE, INCREASED ENROLLMENT IN
THE EDP, BY OVER 23%.
A BIG PART OF THAT WAS BY
IMPLEMENTING SELF CERTIFICATION
DURING THIS TIME.
WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE,
INCLUDING MAKING GOOD PROGRESS
AND ACHIEVING OUR GOALS WITH
RESPECT TO THE ACCELERATED
REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.
WE WENT LIVE WITH THE WESTERN
PIM, AND WE DID THAT APRIL 1 OF
2020, WHICH WAS PRETTY
REMARKABLE.
WE THOUGHT ABOUT DELAYING IT
BUT DID NOT AND IT WAS A GOOD
YEAR, THE FIRST YOUR RESULTS IN
THE EIM, EXCEEDED $8 MILLION.
WE EARNED THE HIGHEST RELIABLE
PUBLIC RATING FROM THE POWER
ASSOCIATION, THE RATING THEY
CALL IS THE RPD 3, WHICH IS THE
RELIABLE PUBLIC PROVIDER, AND
THE FIRST TIME WE EVER --, WE
WERE AWARDED PLATINUM STATUS,
THE HIGHEST THAT THEY AWARD.
IT SPEAKS NOT ONLY TO THE
RELIABILITY OF OUR SYSTEM BUT
ALSO SPEAKS TO HOW WE HANDLE
PEOPLE AND CULTURE ISSUES.
HOW WE HANDLE SAFETY AND
PLANNING.
IT IS THE BIG VERSION OF
RELIABILITY.
>> GENERAL MANAGER SMITH, WE
HAVE VICE CHAIR STRAUSS WITH A
COMMENT OR QUESTION.
>> PERFECT.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
IT IS HARD TO SEE WHEN YOU ARE
PRESENTING.
COUNCIL MEMBER?
>> I ALWAYS HAVE TO REMEMBER
THE MUTE BUTTON.
THANK YOU.
WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION
BEFORE THIS MEETING, TALKING
ABOUT EDP ENROLLMENT BEING A. I
WANTED TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO
HIGHLIGHT THE WESTERN ENERGY
AND BALANCE MARKET.
BECAUSE WHEN THIS LEGISLATION,
WHEN WE WERE MAKING THE
DECISION TO ENTER INTO THIS
MARKET, WE WERE THE FIRST
PUBLIC UTILITY TO DO SO.
WHICH YOU ALL KNOW, I GUESS I
AM JUST REHASHING THIS FOR THE
PUBLIC, THERE WAS A LOT OF RISK
INVOLVED, A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY.
AND GENERAL MANAGER, CAN YOU
REMIND ME, WHAT WAS THIS YEAR
LIKE FOR US IN THE WESTERN
ENERGY MARKET?
>> AS I SAID IT WAS VERY
SUCCESSFUL FIRST YEAR.
WE HAD VARIOUS ESTIMATES FOR
WHAT WE DID BECAUSE OF THE
CITY.
OF COURSE I WAS NOT HERE YET
EITHER COUNCIL MEMBER, NONE OF
US CAN TAKE CREDIT FOR IT.
BUT THE FOLKS THAT CAME BEFORE
ME AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE STILL
HERE MAKE GREAT DECISIONS.
SO WE LOOKED AT VARIOUS
BUSINESS CASES BUT EXCEEDED OUR
MOST LIKELY, AND LIKE I SAID WE
MADE MORE THAN $8 MILLION IN
ADDITIONAL REVENUE, DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
AND I WILL ALSO SAY, JUST AS A
QUICK REMINDER, THE EIM DEALS
WITH IN OUR VARIANCES.
SO WE BALANCE OUR POWER AND
HAVE A REAL-TIME DESK.
THE PHYSICS OF ENERGY, WHICH I
WILL SAY I ONLY PARTLY
UNDERSTAND, BUT THE REASON THE
LIGHTS COME ON WHEN YOU FLIP
THE SWITCH IS BECAUSE THE
SYSTEM IS ALWAYS IN BALANCE.
THAT IS WHY WE SPILL WATER AT
CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR AND
EVEN WHY SEATTLE CITY LIGHT IN
GENERAL IS A LONG UTILITY,
WHICH MEANS BY LONG, WE HAVE
ACCESS TO MORE POWER ON AN
ANNUAL AND GENERALLY EVEN A
MONTHLY BASIS THAN OUR
CUSTOMERS USE.
WITHIN THE DAY, WITHIN THE HOUR,
WE ARE CONSTANTLY BUYING AND
SELLING, IN ORDER TO STAY IN
BALANCE.
WITH THE EIM ALLOWS IS FOR THE
MOST VALUE FROM THE IN OUR
TRANSACTIONS.
THOSE ARE CRITICAL.
LAST YEAR WITH ALL OF THE
WILDFLOWERS, THE PUBLIC SAFETY
SHUTOFFS THAT HAPPENED IN
PRIMARILY CALIFORNIA AND IN
SOME OTHER PLACES, THE VALUE OF
BEING IN THE MARKET, IN THAT
MOMENT, WAS VERY HIGH.
WHEN WE LOOK AHEAD TO THIS
SUMMER, THE PRICES FOR THE SPOT
PRICES ARE VERY HIGH.
BEING WHERE WE ARE POSITIONS US
WELL FOR THE FUTURE AND YOU
SHOULD KNOW TOO THAT TACOMA IS
ALSO IN PROCESS NOW AND WILL GO
LIVE NEXT SPRING.
EXCITING NEWS FOR THEM.
>> THAT IS GREAT, THANK YOU
GENERAL MANAGER.
IT IS GREAT TO HEAR THAT WHILE
WE UNDERSTOOD THERE WAS RISK
WITH ENJOYING THE MARKET, WE
HAVE BEEN REWARDED.
ALSO HIGHLIGHTED ON THIS SLI IS
OUR HIGHEST RELIABLE POWER
PROVIDER RATING FROM AMERICAN
PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION AND
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC I WILL
HIGHLIGHT GENERAL MANAGER SMITH
JOINED AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER
ASSOCIATION'S PODCAST AND SHE
DID AN AMAZING JOB DISCUSSING
EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT.
IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO
LISTEN I HIGHLY SUGGEST IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
NEXT SLIDE.
WE WILL GO THROUGH THIS
STRATEGIC PLAN.
I WILL NOT REALLY TALK ABOUT
THIS LIKE, THIS IS AN OVERLY.
INSTEAD I WILL TALK BRIEFLY
ABOUT EACH OF THEM AND I WILL
GO QUICKLY THROUGH THEM.
I WILL STOP AT THE END OF EACH
TO ASK IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION
OR COMMENT.
NUMBER ONE, AGAIN, CUSTOMERS
FIRST WAS THE LEAD THAT YOU.
IMPROVING THE CUSTOMER
EXPERIENCE IS THE LEAD STRATEGY.
OUR GOAL IS TO CONSISTENTLY
MEET OUR CUSTOMER'S NEEDS BY
PROVIDING EMPLOYEES WITH
OPPORTUNITY TO DELIVER TARGETED
AND RESPONSIBLE SOLUTIONS.
ONE THING WE HAVE BECOME CLEAR
ON IS OUR EMPLOYEES IN SOME
AREAS, BECAUSE OF THE PACE OF
GROWTH IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
WHICH REALLY DID NOT EVEN LET UP
LAST YEAR, THE PACE OF GROWTH
IS SUCH THAT OUR EMPLOYEES
STRUGGLE AT TIMES TO KEEP UP
WITH THEIR WORKLOAD.
ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT DEAL
DIRECTLY WITH CUSTOMERS.
WE ARE WORKING TO EMPOWER THEM,
GIVE THEM TRAINING AND
DEVELOPMENT AND TOOLS THEY NEED
TO REALLY DELIVER ON THAT
CUSTOMER VALUE PROPOSITION.
WE HAVE A VOICE OF THE CUSTOMER
INITIATIVE WE ARE WORKING ON.
WE ARE STRENGTHENING AND FIXING
OUR CORE CUSTOMER SERVICES.
WE CALL THAT THE SERVICE TO
BILL PROJECT AND IT IS
LITERALLY, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH
THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING ALL
OF THE PAIN POINTS THAT A
CUSTOMER FEELS WHEN THEY SIGN UP
FOR SERVICE OR ASK FOR NEW
SERVICE AT THEIR HOME AND HOLD
THE PLACES THEY TOUCH US AND
ALL THE PLACES THAT GO WELL AND
ALL THE PLACES THERE IS
OPPORTUNITY TO DO BETTER.
WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.
WE ARE ALSO EXPANDING CUSTOMER
SERVICE OPTIONS, DIGITALLY, HOW
DO YOU DEAL WITH US?
AND ALSO CUSTOMER ENERGY
SOLUTIONS SIDE OF THE HOUSE, ET
CETERA.
WHAT ARE THE PRODUCTS AND THE
SERVICES THAT THE CUSTOMERS OF
TODAY WANT AND NEED?
I SHOULD HAVE SAID, ON EACH OF
THE SLIS, WE HAVE LISTED SOME
OF WHAT WE CALL PIA, PROJECT,
INITIATIVES, ACTIVITIES.
THESE ARE NOT EXHAUSTIVE AND
JUST EXAMPLES OF THINGS THAT WE
ARE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO
THE REVIEW PANEL.
BUT THERE ARE OTHERS.
AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PLAN
AND WE WILL UPDATE THE PLAN
NEXT YEAR BUT WE WILL LIVE WITH
THE PLAN FOR SOMETIME TO COME.
SO AS TIME GOES ON WE WILL
UPDATE THE PIA.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IMPROVING
THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE?
OKAY.
I DO NOT SEE ANY, LET'S MOVE ON.
THIS IS WHERE WE ARE SUPER
EXCITED.
YOU KNOW, THE TIME I HAVE BEEN
HERE YOU HAVE HEARD ME TALKING
ABOUT THIS, THE FUTURE IS NOW
AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY
AND OUR HUGE, HUGE PRIVILEGE TO
CREATE THE ENERGY FUTURE FOR
SEATTLE.
THERE IS A LOT OF WORDS ON THIS
SLI BUT THEY ARE ALL IMPORTANT
AND ALL MEAN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT
THINGS.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, YOU
KNOW USUALLY I WILL USE THIS AS
AN EXAMPLE, SO FORGIVE ME IF
YOU HAVE SEEN A. I NEED TO GO
OUT AND I NEED TO GET A
MOTOROLA FLIP PHONE.
A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT HERE, ESPECIALLY IN THE
BEGINNING, WE NEED
INFRASTRUCTURE AND A GRID THAT
IS CAPABLE OF TWO-WAY
COMMUNICATION, THAT IS LIVABLE
OF HANDLING THE INCREASED LOAD
OF ELECTRIFICATION, THAT IS
CAPABLE OF SELF-HEALING AT A
FASTER RATE, AND THAT CENTERS
OUR INVESTMENTS ON BIPOC
COMMUNITIES . MY IN-LAWS, WHO
ARE IN THEIR 90s, AND HAVE DONE
GREAT THROUGH COVID, THEY HAVE
A VERY OLD MOTOROLA FLIP PHONE.
MY FATHER-IN-LAW IS LEGALLY
BLIND.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PHONE
HARDLY WORKS, HE KNOWS HOW TO
CALL PEOPLE ON THE FLIP PHONE,
THAT IS ALL HE CAN USE IT FOR.
IN MANY WAYS THE CITY LIGHT'S
GRID IS THE FLIP PHONE.
NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.
BUT IT CANNOT RUN THE APPS, YOU
CANNOT TEXT, IT DOES NOT MEET
TODAY'S NEEDS.
SO YOU KNOW MY iPHONE DOES AND
OUR GOAL FOR THE GREATEST TO
UPDATE TO THE iPHONE.
AND WE BELIEVE THIS NOT JUST
BECAUSE IT SOUNDS GOOD, WE
TALKED TO PEOPLE ALL THE TIME
AND THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST
WITH PARTNERING WITH SEATTLE TO
MAKE SEATTLE TRULY A CITY OF THE
FUTURE.!
RED CAN DO A LOT -- A SMART
GRID CAN DO A LOT FOR THE CITY.
YOU KNOW SAM AND I TALK ABOUT
THIS AND HE IS PROBABLY ON THIS
CALL, SAM ZIMBABWE, BUT
CERTAINLY A SMART GRID WILL
ALLOW US TO DO THINGS WITH OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE CANNOT
REALLY THINK ABOUT TODAY.
THE PIA IS DOING THE GRID
MODERNIZATION ROADMAP AND
WORKING WITH CONSULTANTS.
ANY TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY, HAVING
A ROADMAP AND KNOWING WHERE YOU
ARE GOING IN DESIGNING THE
ARCHITECTURE IS CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT IN ORDER TO MAKE
STRONG INVESTMENTS.
WE ARE IN PLUMMETING
ELECTRIFICATION PLANS, THAT
INCLUDES --, WHICH YOU APPROVED
LAST FALL.
IT ALSO INCLUDES THE CITY'S
ELECTRIFICATION ROADMAP.
WE ARE WORKING TO FIND AND
IMPLEMENT THE UTILITY NEXT
PORTFOLIO, WHICH IS A GROUP OF
18 SEPARATE PROJECTS THAT HAVE
ALL BEEN SCOPED, BUDGETED AT A
HIGH LEVEL, AND READY TO SHOP
AND RECEIVED FUNDING.
WE HAVE SPENT SIX WEEKS WITH A
GROUP OF SMART, MOTIVATED,
BRIGHT CITY LEADERS BACK AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.
THEY CREATED THIS PORTFOLIO IN
TODAY WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK
WITH FOLKS AT A NATIONAL LAB
AND DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, WHO
WERE PART OF THE PROJECT TEAM,
AND HELPING US FIND FUNDING
SOURCES.
WE ARE READY FOR THE FOR
STRUCTURE BUILT TO HIT, AND THE
FUNDING TO BE AVAILABLE.
ALSO EVEN NOW WE ARE TRACKING
EXISTING FUNDING, WORKING WITH
THE PORT ON ELECTRIFICATION.
JUST A TON GOING ON.
AND LASTLY, AS WE THINK ABOUT A
NEW GRADE, IT IS INTEGRATED.
IN THE PAST WE DID RESOURCE
PLANNING, KIND OF LIKE IF I
HAVE A FUNNEL AND PUT STUFF AT
THE TOP AND IT COMES OUT THE
BOTTOM, NOW WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT PLANNING IT VERY
DIFFERENT WAY.
BECAUSE THE RESOURCES AND WHERE
WE ARE LONG AND WHERE WE ARE
SHORT, ARE ALSO DEPENDENT ON
THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
WE ARE INTEGRATING OUR RESOURCE
PLANNING, STRATEGIC PLANNING,
FINANCIAL PLANNING, AND
SHIFTING THE FOCUS.
WE RECOGNIZE WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR GOVERNING
BODY, WHICH IS YOU.
TO DELIVER THE PRODUCTS AND THE
WORK PRODUCT THAT YOU NEED IN
THE FORM YOU NEED THEM.
BUT WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY
ALSO AS LEADERS WITHIN THE CITY
DEPARTMENT, TO OPERATE OUR
UTILITY USING THE VERY BEST
INFORMATION AVAILABLE.
SO WE ARE FOCUSING AND REALLY
GETTING CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE
NEED IN ORDER TO BE GOOD
STEWARDS OF THE RESOURCES WE
ARE GIVEN.
QUESTIONS ON THIS REALLY
EXCITING BUSINESS STRATEGY?
>> WE WILL RAISE OUR HANDS IF
WE HAVE GOT QUESTIONS.
>> OKAY.
NEXT SLIDE.
THE NEXT THREE WILL GO FASTER.
THEY ARE SUPER IMPORTANT.
BUT THEY ARE MORE INTERNALLY
FOCUSED.
SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT
THAT THE ONLY WAY TO DELIVER
OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE IS
THROUGH ENGAGED AND OUTSTANDING
EMPLOYEES.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP
THE WORKFORCE, AND TO BUILD ON
AN ORGANIZATIONAL AGILITY AND
FLEXIBLY, THE NIMBLENESS THAT
WE ACQUIRE DURING THIS LAST
YEAR.
WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR FOLKS HAVE SKILLS AND
KNOWLEDGE TO ADVANCE SOCIAL
JUSTICE BECAUSE IT HAS TO
HAPPEN EVERYWHERE.
WE CAN PLAN FOR A YEAR BUT IF
IT IS NOT IMPLEMENTED AT THE
FRONT LINE, AN ORGANIZATION OF
1700 TO 1800 EMPLOYEES, WE ALL
NEED TO BE ROWING IN THE SAME
DIRECTION AND WE KNOW THAT IS
THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GROW.
WE WANT TO BUILD AN AGILE
WORKFORCE.
WE WANT TO PREPARE EMPLOYEES
FOR THE FUTURE.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TONS OF NEWER
EMPLOYEES WHO ARE SUPER EXCITED
AND THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE KIND OF
FIGURING OUT WHAT THEIR ROLE IS
IN THIS FUTURE.
WE ARE WORKING ON A MATRIX TYPE
OF APPROACH SO THAT WE ARE NOT
STANDING UP NEW GROUPS AND OLD
GROUPS IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY
OR DIRECTION, BUT THAT WE ARE
ONE UTILITY AND SUPPORTING OUR
CURRENT ORGANIZATION WHILE WE
ARE BUILDING THE ORGANIZATION
OF THE FUTURE.
AND WE ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
MANAGEMENT.
WE HAVE COME TO REALIZE THIS
PAST YEAR THAT MOST PLACES WE
STRUGGLE, WHETHER IT IS THROUGH
TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION,
CUSTOMER WILLING, YOU NAME IT,
IT IS BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE
APPROPRIATE RESOURCES PUT TO
COMMUNICATING WITH EMPLOYEES,
COMMUNICATING WITH EMPLOYERS,
GETTING FOLKS READY FOR CHANGE.
WE ARE SETTING UP A SMALL
S.D.O.T.
PRACTICE, MY CHIEF OF STAFF IS
HEADING IT AND IF THERE ARE NOT
OCM RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO
SUPPORT PROJECTS IN THE RIGHT
WAY, WE WILL NOT DO THE
PROJECT.
NEXT SLIDE.
ENSURING FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP
AND PORTABILITY IS OF COURSE
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
AND WE WANT TO OFFER RATES THAT
ARE AGAIN, A LOT OF WORDS, BUT
EACH ONE IS IMPORTANT.
TRANSPARENT.
UNDERSTANDABLE.
REASONABLE.
EQUITABLE.
CONSISTENT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS CAN
AFFORD OUR PRODUCTS AND HAVE A
SUSTAINABLE AND PREDICTABLE
APPROACH TO SETTING RATES.
CUSTOMERS WE KNOW, CUSTOMERS
VALUE PREDICT ABILITY VERY
HIGHLY.
SO AS ALREADY DISCUSSED, WITH
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN DOING
A GREAT JOB AT KEEPING THIS
INITIATIVE UP, WE ARE --
ACTIONS.
INTRODUCTORY FOR SOMETIME WAS
NOT SUSTAINABLE.
WE WERE FREQUENTLY, ALMOST
EXCLUSIVELY HAVING RATE OPTIONS
THAT WERE IN THE 4% TO 6%.
AND I CAME IN AND WE SAID, WE
STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT.
AND MY TEAM, MY SENIOR TEAM,
THEY ARE EQUALLY COMMITTED TO
ENSURING THAT RATES GOING
FORWARD INCREASE AT ABOUT THE
INFLATIONARY RATE.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE WORKING ABOUT
3%, AS WHAT WE SEE AS BEING
WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON RIGHT
NOW.
AND THAT IS WHAT YOU SHOULD
EXPECT FROM US, UNLESS
INFLATION STARTS TO CHANGE AT A
DIFFERENT RATE.
WE WANT TO PRICE PRODUCTS FOR
THE FUTURE.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO PLAN FOR
TIME OF DAY PRICING, WHICH WILL
BE OPTIONAL, OPT IN.
IT WILL BE A RATE STRATEGY THAT
CUSTOMERS CAN SELECT AND HAVE
THE ABILITY TO PRICE IT, USING
HISTORICAL DATA, BEFORE THEY
HIT GO.
IT IS SLOWER THAN WE PLANNED,
2020 SLOWED US DOWN FROM A
TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION
PERSPECTIVE.
AS IT NEEDED TO.
AND SO THAT COMBINED WITH LACK
OF OCM, AND OTHER THINGS, WE
ARE LOOKING AT 2023 IS THE YEAR
THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT THOSE
KINDS OF RATE STRATEGIES.
BUT WE ARE EXCITED TO DO SO
WHEN WE HAVE PILOTS THAT ARE IN
PLAY AND WE ARE LEARNING FROM
THE PILOTS ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND LASTLY, ROAD TO RECOVERY.
SO THIS IS THE NAME WE HAVE
GIVEN TO OUR PROJECT, WHICH IS
DESIGNED TO WORK WITH CUSTOMERS
WHO ARE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY
COVID AND THE ECONOMIC
DOWNTURN ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
TO GET THEM ON PAYMENT PLANS,
HELP THEM DEAL WITH PAST-DUE
MARRIAGES, WE ARE LOOKING AT A
VARIETY OF FUNDING SOURCES.
-- MARRIAGES AND HELPING TO
MOVE THEM ALONG.
WE ARE WORKING WITH PSC, WE ARE
SHAKING EVERY BRANCH TO COME UP
WITH THE RESOURCES THAT OUR
CUSTOMERS NEED FOR US TO HELP
THEM.
OKAY, NOW NEXT SLI.
LASTLY, THIS IS OUR MISSION
CRITICAL SERVICES, EVEN AS WE
PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.
WE ARE MANAGING THE UNCERTAINTY
OF THIS COVID WORLD AND STILL
LEARNING EVERY DAY.
BY THE WAY WE ARE HAVING A
SKAGIT EAP EMERGENCY RIGHT NOW.
I AM GETTING CUTE RIGHT NOW BUT
IT IS AN ANNUAL EXERCISE THAT
GETS PLANNED IN GREAT DETAIL.
SO UNDERNEATH WE POWER GREAT
EXAMPLES AND THAT IS WHERE YOU
WILL FIND THE RELICENSING, THE
ACCELERATED REPLACEMENT PLAN.
THERE ARE EXAMPLES AND WORK
UNDER EACH BUSINESS UNIT, UNDER
EACH DIVISION.
IN OVERTIME, WE ARE PILOTING
THIS RIGHT NOW BUT OVER TIME
EACH DIVISION WILL HAVE A
DASHBOARD THAT ALLOWS THEM TO
MANAGE THE KEY METRICS, THINGS
LIKE RELIABILITY, YOU KNOW LOST
DAYS, ET CETERA.
AND ALSO KEY INITIATIVES AND
HOW WE ARE DOING WITH THOSE.
NEXT SLI.
THAT IS THE END OF THE STRATEGY
PORTION.
I WILL TURN THINGS OVER TO
KIRSTY GRAINGER, THE CFO, TO
TALK TO US ABOUT THE RIGHT
PATH.
>> GREAT.
SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
NUMBERS PART OF OUR STRATEGIC
PLAN.
SO YOU CAN SEE HERE AT THE TOP
LINE OF THE CHART, THAT IS THE
RATE PATH FROM THE LAST PLAN
THAT WE BROUGHT TO COUNCIL.
BACK IN 2018.
WHICH IS LIKE A DECADE AGO, OR
FEELS LIKE IT AT THIS POINT,
COVID TIME.
AND YOU CAN SEE THERE THE
AVERAGE FOR THE SIX YEAR PLAN
WAS 4.5%.
WITH THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN THAT WE
ARE BRINGING FORWARD TO COUNCIL
TODAY, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE
AVERAGE FOR THAT PLAN IS 3.5%.
THESE ARE THE RATING INCREASES
THAT UNDERLIE WHAT DEBORA JUST
DESCRIBED.
AND AS A REMINDER, THE
FINANCIALS UNDERNEATH THIS
INCLUDE FUNDING FOR ALL OF THE
PROJECT, ACTIVITIES, AND
INITIATIVES THAT DEBORA JUST
DESCRIBED, AS WELL AS
REPLACEMENTS AND RELICENSING.
ALSO, I DO NOT THINK WE HAVE A
SLI AS PLANNED BUT AS MANY OF
YOU ARE AWARE, OUR DEMAND FOR
ELECTRICITY HAS BEEN DECLINING,
AS OUR CUSTOMERS GET MORE AND
MORE EFFICIENT.
AND SO THE RATE PATH TAKES INTO
ACCOUNT A FLAT AND DECLINING
OUTLOOK FOR DEMAND FOR
ELECTRICITY THAT WE ARE
EXPECTING FOR THE NEXT WHILE.
UNTIL ELECTRIFICATION COMES IN
AND STARTS TURNING IT BACK
TOWARDS INCREASING.
ALL OF THAT IS INCORPORATED IN
THIS FINANCIAL THAT YOU HAVE
HERE IN THIS GREAT PATH.
-- RATE PATH.
CITY COUNCIL HAS ALREADY
APPROVED THE INCREASE AS YOU
SEE HERE.
THANK YOU.
THAT WAS IN MARCH.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER, THE
2021 RATE INCREASE REPLACED A
DECREASE IN SURCHARGES.
SO CUSTOMER BILLS IN 2021 ARE
UNCHANGED OF WHAT THEY WOULD
SEE IN 2020.
AND LOOKING AT JANUARY 1, 2022,
WE HAVE LEGISLATED A 3.9%
ACROSS THE BOARD RATE INCREASE,
MEANING IT WOULD BE THE SAME
FOR ALL CUSTOMER CLASSES.
HOWEVER WE ARE ANTICIPATING
THAT NEWS FROM THE POWER
ADMINISTRATION, THE FEDERAL
AGENCY THAT WE GET OUR BULK
POWER FROM, THEY WILL ANNOUNCE
RATES LATER THIS SUMMER AND WE
HAVE THE RATE PASS THROUGH
WHERE WE PASS THROUGH THE
DIFFERENCES OF OUR BUDGET AND
THE ACTUAL, THAT GOES RIGHT
INTO CUSTOMER RATES.
BASED ON EVERYTHING WE ARE
HEARING WE ANTICIPATE THAT WHAT
WILL HAPPEN IS THAT THE
BONNEVILLE PASS-THROUGH WILL BE
A DECREASE, SO WHEN WE COMBINE
THE DECREASE WITH THE 3.9%
LEGISLATED INCREASE, WE THINK
THAT WHAT CUSTOMERS WILL SEE IS
SOMETHING ABOUT 2%, MAYBE LESS,
ON JANUARY 1. WE ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO THAT AND HAVING GOOD
NEWS FOR YOU ON THAT THIS FALL.
THIS IS JUST SOME BILL
INCREASES THAT TRANSLATE THE
PERCENTAGES INTO NUMBERS THAT
FOLKS MIGHT BE ABLE TO RELATE
TO.
SO FOR AN AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL
CUSTOMER, THEY WOULD HAVE A
MONTHLY ELECTRICITY COST OF
ABOUT $77.00, AND AS A REMINDER
A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER IS
BILLED EVERY OTHER MONTH.
SO WE HAVE MADE ALL THE NUMBERS
MONTHLY BUT JUST A REMINDER
THAT THE BILLING CYCLE IS
DIFFERENT.
THAT WOULD TRANSLATE TO ABOUT
$3.00, THE 3.9% RATE INCREASE.
AND AS I MENTIONED WITH THE
BONNEVILLE PASS-THROUGH COMING,
WE THINK ALL THE NUMBERS ON
THIS CHART FOR 2022 WILL
PROBABLY BE ABOUT HALF OF WHAT
WE SHOW HERE ON THIS CHART,
ONCE THE OTHER PART COMES
THROUGH.
THAT IS JUST NEWS TO COME
LATER.
BUT THESE ARE JUST SOME BILLING
PATHS HERE.
AND THEN FINALLY, JUST AS A
REMINDER, WE ARE COMMITTED TO
MAKING SURE THAT ALL CUSTOMERS
CAN AFFORD ELECTRICITY FOR
THEIR ENERGY BILLS, WE HAVE THE
UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM, WHICH
OFFER 60% DISCOUNT TO QUALIFIED
CUSTOMERS. WE HAVE A SELF
CERTIFICATION PROCESS TO MAKE
IT EASY FOR FAIRLY 'S -- EASY
FOR FOLKS TO JOIN THE PROGRAM.
WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT CAN HELP
CUSTOMERS WHO ARE BEHIND ON
THEIR BILLS AND THAT IS
ADMINISTERED BY OUTSIDE
AGENCIES THAT WE PARTNER WITH
IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY BILL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT WAS
RECENTLY EXPENDED FOR 2021,
USING SOME COVID RELIEF FUNDS.
THERE IS SOME OPPORTUNITIES
THERE FOR CUSTOMERS WHO MIGHT
BE BEHIND ON THEIR BILLS.
AND WE ALSO HAVE PROJECT SHARE,
ANOTHER PROGRAM AND WE ARE
ALWAYS WORKING TO INCREASE
AWARENESS OF ALL THE PROGRAMS.
WE KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF
INFORMATION OUT THERE BUT WE
ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING NEW
CUSTOMERS WHERE THEY ARE AND
HELPING EVERYONE WHO MAY BE
BEHIND ON THEIR BILLS GET
CAUGHT UP.
>> WE HAVE GOT A QUESTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANKS SO MUCH.
WHILE WE ARE ON THE PAGE ABOUT
AFFORDABILITY, I SAW IN THE
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT LETTER, THEY
CALLED OUT SOME SUCCESSES, ON A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PILOTS, BUT
SPECIFICALLY I WOULD BE
INTERESTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT
THE ENERGY EQUITY RATE PILATE.
CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT THAT?
>> SURE, SO THE ENERGY EQUITY
RATE PILOT IS DESIGNED TO
REACH A SMALL GROUP OF
CUSTOMERS THAT WE KNOW EVEN
WITH THE DISCOUNT OFFERED BY THE
EDP, THEY ARE STILL ENERGY
BURDENED.
I GUESS IT IS DEFINED AS 6% OF
YOUR MONTHLY INCOME.
IF YOU SPEND MORE THAN THAT ON
YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL, THEN YOU
ARE BY DEFINITION ENERGY
BURDENED.
THAT PROGRAM PROVIDES ON
AVERAGE ABOUT 80% DISCOUNT, NO
BASIC SERVICE CHARGE AND ABOUT A
PRICE OF THREE CENTS PER
KILOWATT HOUR.
AND THEN OTHER SERVICES, LIKE
BALANCE MEASUREMENT, IN-HOME
WEATHERIZATION, WE ARE REALLY
TRYING TO OFFER A COMPREHENSIVE
PROGRAM TO HELP CUSTOMERS WHO
ARE ENERGY BURDENED MANAGE
THEIR COSTS.
IT IS A SMALL PROGRAM, I WANT
TO SAY WE HAVE ABOUT 70
PARTICIPANTS RIGHT NOW.
TO BE HONEST THE PROGRAM
LAUNCHED RIGHT BEFORE COVID
STARTED, SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE
SOME ASPECTS LIKE GOING INTO A
CUSTOMERS HOME TO HELP WITH
WEATHERIZATION, JUST THE
CONDITIONS OF THE PANDEMIC
RESPONSE HAVE SLOWED DOWN THE
EFFORTS ON THAT FRONT.
SO I THINK IT IS A GREAT
PROGRAM AND I AM GLAD THAT WE
ARE TRYING TO BE CREATIVE ABOUT
CREATING SOMETHING THAT WILL
HELP FOLKS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING
ENERGY BURDENED.
BUT WE ARE LEARNING A LOT AND
OF COURSE COVID HAS MADE IT
CHALLENGING AS WELL.
>> THANKS FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND I BELIEVE THIS IS
ACTUALLY OUR LAST SLI.
WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS JUST
SAY, END WITH, OUR COMMITMENT.
THE PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY HAS
PUT INTO PLACE TO HELP
CUSTOMERS, THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN
MORE NEEDED THAN NOW.
AND WHEN I MENTIONED THE ROAD
TO RECOVERY, YOU KNOW IT IS
PERSPECTIVE, AND WE HAVE BEEN
THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO ENROLL
ADDITIONAL CUSTOMERS AND WE
WILL BEGIN POTENTIALLY
CERTIFYING CUSTOMERS THIS FALL.
NO ONE WHO WAS SELF CERTIFIED,
WHO DOES NOT QUALIFY WILL BE
ASKED TO REPAY PRIOR BILLS, BUT
WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT SOURCES
OF FUNDING TO DEAL WITH FUNDING.
AND I BELIEVE GOING FORWARD THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO
AS A PUBLIC UTILITY WHO
PROVIDES CRITICAL SERVICES, THE
NUMBER ONE THING THAT WE CAN DO
IS MANAGE OUR OWN RATE
TRAJECTORY.
THAT IS THE COMMITMENT WE ARE
MAKING HERE, TO MANAGE AND MAKE
OUR SERVICES AND ENSURE OUR
SERVICES ARE AS AFFORDABLE AS
POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.
THE ONE THING WE CERTAINLY HAVE
LEARNED THROUGH THIS TIME IS
THERE ARE A HOST OF PEOPLE OUT
THERE WHO ARE NOT EDP CUSTOMERS.
THE EDP CUSTOMERS, THERE ARE
VERY FEW WITH PAST-DUE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THAT PROGRAM
AND WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS
HAPPENS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING.
SO MANAGING THE RATE OF
TRAJECTORY IS RADICAL.
>> THANK YOU GENERAL MANAGER
SMITH AND TO YOUR TEAM.
I WANT TO COMMEND EVERYBODY AT
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT WITH HER
FOCUS OF CONTROLLING COST TO
PASS THE AFFORDABILITY ONTO THE
RATE PAYERS.
WE KNOW THAT UTILITY BILLS BY
THEIR VERY NATURE ARE
REGRESSIVE AND LOWER INCOME
FAMILIE END UP PAYING MORE
FROM THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME.
SO BY YOU CONTROLLING COST OVER
THE YEARS, WORKING WITH THE
REVIEW PANEL AND EMPLOYEES TO
DO THAT, YOU ARE ABLE TO SHOW
THIS AMAZING OUTCOME.
IN TERMS OF THE OLD STRATEGIC
PLAN AT 4.5% AVERAGE INCREASE,
DOWN TO NOW 3.5% FOR THE FIVE
YEARS, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE
SIX YEARS, INCLUDING THIS YEAR,
YOU ARE DOWN TO LIKE 3.4%.
AND WE ARE EXPECTING PERHAPS
LOWER RATES BASED ON THE
BONNEVILLE PASS-THROUGH.
THIS IS REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR
RATE PAYERS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANY FINAL
COMMENTS?
I KNOW THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HEAR
BACK, AND COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS HAS HIS HAND RAISED.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR, THANK YOU
DEBRA SMITH AND SEATTLEITES.
IF YOU COULD SLIDE BACK TO SLIDE
15, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
I THINK THIS JUST DEMONSTRATES
WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN
SAID, YOU ARE KEEPING YOUR
RATES AS CLOSE TO INFLATION AS
POSSIBLE, WHICH WAS NOT A
PREVIOUS PRACTICE.
AND FURTHERMORE, IN THE PAST,
OFTEN TIMES SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
WOULD COME BACK AND ASK FOR A
HIGHER RATE THAN WHAT WAS
ENDORSED IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND YOU GENERAL MANAGER HAVE
DONE A GOOD JOB HERE IN KEEPING
US TO THE NUMBER THAT WE HAVE
PASSED IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND I JUST HAVE TO CALLOUT YOUR
LEADERSHIP FOR THAT.
THANK YOU, THIS IS DIFFICULT
WORK.
IT DOES NOT ALWAYS OCCUR.
I WILL NOTE THAT ANOTHER FUN
FACT THAT I LEARNED LISTENING TO
THE PODCAST, IS THAT THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT REALLY DOES PROVIDE
THE WHOLESALE POWER FOR THE
COUNTRY.
AND THAT IT IS LOCAL ENTITIES
THAT DO THE RETAIL, SELLING TO
THE CUSTOMERS.
THAT IS IN PART WHY THE RATE,
THE BONNEVILLE POWER RATE IS
WHAT DRIVES OUR RATES, BECAUSE
THEY SET RATES AND WE DON'T
HAVE CONTROL OVER THAT.
SO UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS
AN ASPECT THAT YOU CANNOT
CONTROL, GENERAL MANAGER, AND
YOU KEPT THE RATE TO INFLATION
IN YOUR BUDGET TO WHAT IS
ENDORSED, I CANNOT THANK YOU
ENOUGH.
RATE JOB TO YOU AND MARK AND
KIRSTY GRAINGER.
THANK YOU.
I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THE FOLLOW-
UP MEETING.
>> LET US KNOW WHO WOULD LIKE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WE
LOOK FORWARD TO PROVIDING THAT
TO YOU AND/OR YOUR STAFF.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WITH YOU
AS WE DEVELOP OUR DASHBOARD, ET
CETERA.
WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE LEVEL
DASHBOARD WHICH I THINK YOU
WILL ENJOY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU EVERYBODY FROM
NEXT SLIDE.
>> A BIG THANK YOU TO LEIGH
BARRECA.
JUST BEFORE WE AND.
SHE IS BEHIND THE SCENES AND
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING
HAPPENS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE OF THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM
INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 5, CB 120100.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES;
AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL
MANAGER/CEO OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES TO ENTER INTO A WATER
QUALITY COMBINED FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY AND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, PUBLIC
UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, TO
PARTIALLY FINANCE COSTS RELATED
TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SHIP
CANAL WATER QUALITY PROJECT
THROUGH A CLEAN WATER STATE
REVOLVING FUND LOAN.
>> FOR BRIEFING, DISCUSSION,
AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU.
WELCOME SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES TO THE COMMITTEE
AGAIN.
AND THIS ITEM, CB 120100, WILL
APPROVE A LOW INTEREST LOAN AS
PLANNED TO FINANCE $66 MILLION
OF THE $570 MILLION SHIP CANAL
PROJECT.
AS YOU MAY RECALL THIS IS A
MEGA-PRODUCT -- PROJECT OVER
MANY YEARS, TO PREVENT HARMFUL
STORMWATER AND WASTEWATER FROM
POLLUTING OUR LOCAL WATERWAYS.
THIS PROJECT INCLUDES A NEW
TUNNEL BORING MACHINE CREATING
A 2.7 MILE STORAGE TUNNEL FROM
WALLINGFORD BALLARD, THIS
PARTICULAR FINANCING THROUGH
THE STATE GOVERNMENT ALLOWS
BELOW-MARKET INTEREST RATE OF
APPROXIMATELY 1%, WHEREAS IF WE
WENT TO THE CONVENTIONAL BOND
MARKET WE WOULD PAY A HIGHER
RATE, AROUND 3%.
THIS WILL SAVE APPROXIMATELY
$12 MILLION FOR THIS LOAN.
I KNOW SPU AND KING COUNTY HAVE
BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB AT
FINANCING AND REFINANCING THEIR
DEBT TO KEEP THE COST LOW AND
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOW INTEREST
RATES, WHICH THEN HELPS SAVE
MONEY FOR OUR PAYERS.
WELCOME SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES, I WANT TO JUST GIVE
BRIAN GOODNIGHT FROM THE STAFF
AN OPPORTUNITY IF HE WANTED TO
SAY ANY INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM JAY INSLEE FOR, COUNCIL
CENTER STAFF.
I THINK YOU SUMMED IT WELL -- I
AM BRIAN GOODNIGHT, COUNCIL
CENTER STAFF.
THINK WE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF COST TO THE PROJECT AND WILL
LET SPU HANDLE THE
PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WELCOME GENERAL MANAGER, MAMI
HARA AND YOUR TEAM.
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE.
YOUR COMMITTEE HAS A FULL
AGENDA TODAY AND WE WILL HIM TO
BE AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE.
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION IS
STRAIGHTFORWARD.
IT WOULD AUTHORIZE SPU TO
ACCEPT THE $66 MILLION LOW
INTEREST LOAN FROM THE
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF
ECOLOGY FOR THE SHIP CANAL
PROJECT AND I BELIEVE YOU HAVE
BRIEFING MATERIALS ON THE
OVERALL BUDGET AND STATUS IN
YOUR PACKET.
WE WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO
PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL BRIEFINGS
AND OTHER TIME IF YOU WOULD
LIKE.
THIS MORNING THE PROGRAM
MANAGER FOR THE SHIP CANAL WATER
PROJECT WILL SPEND A BRIEF
MOMENT REORIENTING YOU TO THE
PROJECT.
THIS WILL BE DISCUSSED WITH THE
LOAN AND WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY
HAVE.
WITH THAT, KEITH, I WILL ASK
YOU TO PROVIDE THE OVERVIEW OF
THE PROJECT.
>> THANK YOU.
>>THANK YOU.
>> SO JUST A COUPLE SLIDES ON
WHAT IS THE PROJECT, THIS IS
PART OF THE REGIONAL EFFORT TO
PROTECT PEOPLE AND WATER FROM
SEWAGE AND STORMWATER SOLUTION.
IT WILL REMOVE ABOUT 75 MILLION
CAN EIGHT GALLONS OF SEWAGE
WATER DUE TO OVERFLOWS IN LAKE
UNION, THE SHIP CANAL AND
SALMON BAY.
JUST TO GET US ORIENTED WE HAVE
A MAP ON THE RIGHT.
THIS IS GASWORKS PARK AT THE
END OF LAKE UNION.
YOU HAVE THE BALLARD LOCKS IN
THE AREAS HERE SHADED ARE
BASINS THAT FLOW TO OUTFALLS
WHERE WE MUST DISCHARGE THE
COMBINED SEWAGE OVERFLOWS IN
VERY LARGE STORM EVENTS.
SO IN THE CITY SINCE 2013,
UNDER A FEDERAL CONSENT TO
CREATE -- BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
ECOLOGY TO BRING OUR 82
OVERFLOW LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT
THE CITY DOWN TO A PERFORMANCE
CRITERIA THAT EACH OVERFLOW
CANNOT OVERFLOW MORE THAN ONE
COMBINED SEWAGE OVERFLOW AT
THAT SPECIFIC OUTFALL PER YEAR
ON A 20 YEAR MOVING AVERAGE.
AND BY FAR OUR LOAD JUST --
LARGEST ARE BY THE SHIP CANAL.
THE AREAS IN GREEN ARE COUNTY
BASINS, THE AREAS IN PINK ARE
THE CITY OF SEATTLE BASINS, YOU
CAN SEE THAT WE JOIN TOGETHER A
JOINT PROJECT, THE SHIP CANAL
PROJECT, TO BRING SIX OF THE
OVERFLOW LOCATIONS TWO FOR THE
COUNTY AND PORTAGE FOR THE
COUNTY, DOWN TO MEET THE
STANDARD.
WE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT THAT HAS
THE COST OF APPROXIMATELY 65%
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND 35%
FOR THE COUNTY.
THE OVERALL BUDGET FOR THE MEDCO
PROJECT IS $575 MILLION AND
THAT WAS SET AT A 65% COMP IN
2018.
AND THAT MEANS THAT THE PROJECT
IS 65% LIKELY TO BE DELIVERED
AT OR ABOVE THE BUDGET.
I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT AFTER
THREE YEARS OF A VERY HERCULEAN
EFFORT, WE ARE STILL ON TRACK
AT THAT SAME BUDGET AND SAME
COMP.
SO MOVING ON TO A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE PROJECT ITSELF, WHAT
YOU SEE HERE ARE THE FIVE
NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE HAVE THE
OVERFLOW LOCATIONS.
WE MUST BE WORKING IN THOSE
AREAS.
AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
JUST STARTING A 2.7 MILE ALONG
TUNNEL THAT GOES FROM BALLARD,
TO LONGFORD, AND 18 FOOT 10
INCH DIAMETER THAT WILL PROVIDE
ABOUT 30 MILLION GALLONS OF
STORAGE, ESSENTIALLY AN
UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK.
IN EACH NEIGHBORHOOD WE NEED TO
BUILD DEEP SHAFTS TO BRING THE
WATER DOWN INTO THE TUNNEL.
AT THE END OF COMPLETION OF THE
TUNNEL IN EARLY 2013, WE WILL
BUILD A LARGE PUMP STATION IN
BALLARD TO DRAIN THE TUNNEL TO
THE TREATMENT PLANT, WHEN THE
PLANT IS READY TO TAKE THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO CLARIFY THAT WE
HAVE A SECOND TUNNEL WE ARE
ALMOST GETTING READY TO PUT IN,
EIGHT FOOT DIAMETER TUNNEL,
UNDERNEATH THE SHIP CANAL.
SO A LOT OF WORK, AT THE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
WHAT I NEGLECTED TO MENTION IS
THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THE
PROJECT COMPLETE AND
OPERATIONAL 4 1/2 YEARS FROM
NOW, FROM THE END OF 2025,
ACCORDING TO OUR CONSENT DECREE.
NOW I WILL TURN THIS OVER TO
BEN MARRE, WHO WILL TALK ABOUT
OUR MODEL.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANKS KEITH.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO VOTE ON
CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND
LOAN FOR THE PROJECT, THE THIRD
OF FOUR LOANS THAT WE HAVE
PURSUED.
TODAY'S IS A $65 MILLION LOAN
FOR COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE
STORAGE TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION.
A VERY LOW INTEREST RATE OF 1.2%
OVER 20 YEARS, WHICH IS A LOWER
RATE THAT WE COULD OBTAIN ON A
CONVENTIONAL BOND MARKET.
CONVENTIONAL FINANCING, AND IT
SAVES RATEPAYERS APPROXIMATELY
$12 MILLION IN COST.
SO I MENTIONED THAT THIS IS THE
THIRD O█F FOUR LOANS THAT WE
HAVE PURSUED AN ALREADY PURSUED
A SIMILAR CLEAN WATER REVOLVING
, STATE REVOLVING FUND LOAN IN
2019, FOR THIS PROJECT.
WE ALSO PURSUED FEDERAL EPA
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING
AND INNOVATION FUNDING, FOR THE
PROJECT.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT
THE $66 MILLION LOAN AND THEN
ONE MORE NEXT YEAR FOR $28
MILLION.
OVER OUR FINANCING OF 65%
THROUGH THE LOW INTEREST LOANS,
AND OVERALL SAVING OUR
RATEPAYERS ABOUT $84 MILLION.
NEXT SLIDE.
I THINK THAT IS IT.
ANY QUESTIONS?
>> EXCELLENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATION.
IT IS GREAT TO SEE ALL THE
DEPARTMENTS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
THE LOW INTEREST RATES AND
SAVING MONEY FOR RATEPAYERS IN
THIS CASE, ON THIS BIG PROJECT.
BRIAN GOODNIGHT, ANY
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON THIS?
I KNOW WE ARE VOTING TODAY AND
COMMITTEE.
>> NO, NO THANK.
NO CONCERNS FROM CENTRAL STAFF.
>> K. ANY QUESTIONS?
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
>> MY QUESTION RELATES TO THE
PROJECT, I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THIS
LEGISLATURE AND REALIZE THE
SAVINGS.
BUT GENERALLY ON THE PROJECT,
KEITH, YOU MENTIONED THE BUDGET
WAS SET WITH THE 65% CONFIDENCE
RATE IN 2018.
AND IT SOUNDED LIKE WHEN YOU
WERE RIGHTFULLY POINTING OUT
THE GOOD NEWS THAT WE ARE STILL
AT THAT SAME TARGET FOR THE
COST OF THE PROJECT, I THOUGHT
YOU SAID THAT WE ARE STILL AT
65% CONFIDENCE RATE, WHEN WILL
WE GO TO EVEN MORE CONFIDENCE?
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> GOOD QUESTION.
THAT IS ALWAYS SOMETHING I AM
FOCUSED ON.
THAT IS ACTUALLY IN THE PACKET
MATERIALS THAT WE GAVE TO
COUNCIL BUT I AM GLAD YOU
MENTIONED THAT.
WE HAVE A $255 MILLION CONTRACT
WITH THE CONTRACTOR AND HAVE
KIND OF TRANSFER THAT PORTION
OVER.
THAT IS GOOD NEWS.
WE STILL HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT WE
WILL BE BIDDING ON THE OPEN
MARKET IN 2022.
THEY ARE ABOUT $100 MILLION
BETWEEN THOSE TWO.
SO ONCE WE GET BIDS ON THAT, I
MEAN, YOU KNOW, I DO WANT TO
SAY THAT MOST OF THIS PROJECT
IS UNDERGROUND AND THERE IS
ALWAYS UNDERGROUND RISKS.
BUT WE HAVE TRANSFERRED SOME OF
THOSE RISKS TO OUR CONTRACTOR
SO I AM HOPING THAT BY ABOUT
LATE FALL 2022, WE WILL HAVE
MORE COST CERTAINTY ON THE
ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS.
AND I EXPECT, ASSUMING
TUNNELING GOES WELL, BY THEN WE
SHOULD BE FINISHED WITH
TUNNELING, OUR CONFIDENCE
SHOULD GO UP.
>> THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> SURE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
ON THE APPROVAL OF THE LOW
INTEREST LOAN?
GREAT, WE WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT
THE SHIP CANAL WATER QUALITY
PROJECT, AND THERE IS AN
ATTACHMENT THAT GIVES A FULLER
EXPLANATION OF IT.
I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS
AND I ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH IT
BECAUSE OUR DISTRICTS.
OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WOULD
LIKE TO MOVE NOW THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED APPROVAL
OF CB 120100, ITEM NUMBER 5 ON
OUR AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
MOVED AND SECONDED, TO
RECOMMEND MOVING PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE CB
120100?
>> GONZALEZ
>> AYE.
>> HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR AND UNOPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.
THE MOTION CARRIES AN THE
COMMITTEE PIGMENTATION THAT THE
BILL PASSED WILL BE SENT FOR
JUNE 31st COUNCIL MEETING FOR
FINAL CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FROM
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES FOR
EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING FOR
THE RATEPAYERS AND CITY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO YOU
AND ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR
YOUR ATTENTION AND TO BRIAN
GOODNIGHT FOR HIS SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE COME TO THE
LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA, BASED
ON WHAT WE WERE JUST TALKING
ABOUT WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES, SEATTLE CITY LIGHT,
THESE ARE MASSIVELY PUBLICLY
OWNED ENTERPRISES, AND DOING
CRITICAL WORK FOR THE CITY,
PROVIDING CLEAN WATER AND
ELECTRICITY, THE PUBLIC
COMMENTERS ARE VERY EXCITED
ABOUT SOUND TRANSIT THING HERE
AT THE MIDI AND THIS IS THE
LAST ITEM.
LET'S HAVE THE CLERK READ THE
NEXT TITLE IN THE RECORD.
>> PRESENTATION ON SOUND
TRANSIT REALIGNMENT, FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> I AM PROUD TO INTRODUCE JAY
INSLEE FIVE FROM SOUND TRANSIT
AND ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO
THANKS SAM ZIMBABWE AND SARA
MAXANA FROM JOINING US, FOR THE
DENTAL PLANS THAT IT IS CALLING
THE REALIGNMENT PROCESS, THE
MOST VITAL TRANSIT AGENCY FOR
SEATTLE IN THE REGION, AS WE
KNOW THE BOARD OF SAN TRANSIT
IS 18 MEMBERS AND WHILE ONLY
TWO OF THEM ARE FROM THE CITY
GOVERNMENT, THE MAYOR AND
COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORA JUAREZ,
OUR MEMBERS IN THE REGION, I
WANT TO THANK THEM FOR MAKING
THIS AND I'M SURE THERE ARE
OTHER PRESENTATIONS WE WILL GET
FROM THEM.
WE ARE EXCITED HERE IN THE CITY
ABOUT THE OPENING THIS OCTOBER
ABOUT THREE NEW LIGHT RAIL
STATIONS IN SEATTLE.
APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IN 2008,
THE AMBITIOUS NEXT STEP IS THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ST 3
EXPANSION, APPROVED IN 2016.
VOTERS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN
MAKING POSSIBLE THE FUNDING FOR
ST 3, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
IT DELIVERS ON ITS PROMISES FOR
SEATTLE.
WE HAD A LOT OF PUBLIC
COMMENTERS FOCUSING ON THIS,
THIS INCLUDES LIGHT RAIL
STATIONS IN SEATTLE, PORT OF
SEATTLE, STATIONS TO BALLARD
WHICH WILL IMPACT SEATTLE
CENTER, ADDITIONAL STATIONS FOR
SOUTH SEATTLE, AS WELL AS THE
STATION AT NORTHEAST 130th
STREET AND THE MASSIVE
CONNECTION FOR THE ENTIRE
REGION IMPACTING THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT I SHARE
THE STANCE OF MANY OTHERS IN
THE CITY THAT WE PREFER THE
SOUND TRANSIT BOARD TO DELAY
ANY DRASTIC DECISIONS ON
REALIGNMENT OF SOUND TRANSIT 3
PROJECT, UNTIL THE RAPIDLY
CHANGING PICTURE OF REVENUES
BECOMES CLEAR.
I BELIEVE TODAY WE WILL HAVE
SOME QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAVE
BEEN RELYING ON TO MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS, AND IN
ADDITION TO THE PRESENTATION
TODAY, WE HOPE THAT SOUND
TRANSIT RETURNS LATER THIS YEAR
TO UPDATE US ON THE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
PROCESS.
THERE WILL BE AN APPROPRIATE
PLATFORM FOR RAISING OTHER
ISSUES IMPORTANT TO US SUCH AS
THE NEED FOR THOUGHTFUL
COMMUNITY DRIVEN STAKEHOLDER
INPUT, TO ENSURE EXCELLENT
ACCESS TO STATIONS AND
INTEGRATION INTO OUR
COMMUNITIES.
TO DELIVER A POSITIVE
EXPERIENCE FOR RIDERS, AS WE
ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO MOVE
OUT OF THEIR GASOLINE FUELED
CARS TO CARBON FRIENDLY
TRANSIT, TO MEET OUR GOALS AND
ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE.
CEO JAY INSLEE FIVE, WELCOME,
AND PLEASE INTRODUCE YOUR TEAM.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR PEDERSEN.
CAN I CONFIRM THAT YOU CAN HEAR
ME OKAY?
CAN ANYONE DO A THUMBS-UP?
GREAT.
THANK YOU.
I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
INVITING SOUND TRANSIT TO
ADDRESS YOU TODAY.
WE REALLY WELCOME THIS
OPPORTUNITY AND HAVE BEEN DOING
REALIGNMENT PRESENTATIONS TWO
DOZEN OF CITY AND COUNCILS,
IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDER GROUPS,
THROUGHOUT SOMIS, KING, AND
PIERCE COUNTIES.
I DID HEAR YOUR INTEREST IN
HAVING US COME AGAIN TO DISCUSS
THE EIS, WE DO WELCOME THE
OPPORTUNITY.
AND I HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT
WANTING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION OF
STATION ACCESS.
AND WHEN WE DO THAT, I HOPE YOU
WILL INCLUDE A POSITION THAT I
CREATED AT SOUND TRANSIT,
INCLUDING OUR OFFICER THAT IS
REALLY FOCUSED ON THESE ISSUES,
RUSS ARNOLD, WHO CAN COME WITH
A PROJECT STAFF AND TALK
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THAT.
AS WAS POINTED OUT BY ONE OF
THE PUBLIC WITNESSES, WE ARE AT
A PIVOTAL MOMENT AT PUGET SOUND
AND KNOW THAT MILLIONS OF
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND
WE CAN NOW FINALLY SEE THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE PANDEMIC.
PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK TO WORK.
COMMUNITIES ARE COMING BACK TO
TRANSIT AND JUST THIS LAST
WEEKEND WE INCREASED SERVICE
EVERY EIGHT MINUTES DURING
WEEKDAY PEAK HOURS, 10 MINUTES
OFF-PEAK AND 15 MINUTES LATE AT
NIGHT, TO RECOGNIZE THAT NOT
ONLY WERE PEOPLE ARE COMING
BACK BUT WE WANT TO INVITE MORE
PEOPLE BACK TO TRANSIT.
THE SERVICE NEEDS TO BE
RELIABLE.
SO AT THE SAME TIME INFLATION
IS GROWING AND COST FOR MOST
GOODS, BUT MOST ESPECIALLY REAL
ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS ARE CONTINUING TO
RISE.
THROUGH IT ALL WE REALLY
EXPECTED SOUND TRANSIT TO
CONTINUE TO BE A DRIVING FORCE
IN THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
THAT WITH VOTER APPROVAL, SOUND
TRANSIT IS CURRENTLY PLANNING
AND BUILDING THE LARGEST
EXPANSION PROGRAM IN THE U.S.
THAT INCLUDES THE $54 BILLION
ST 3 THAT WAS APPROVED BY
VOTERS IN 2016.
WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE GROUND
BUILDING EIGHT MAJOR CAPITAL
PROJECTS SIMULTANEOUSLY.
SEVEN OF THE EIGHT ARE HONOR
UNDER BUDGET AND ALL EIGHT ARE
ON SCHEDULE.
ULTIMATELY OVER THE NEXT
QUARTER-CENTURY WE WILL BUILD
OUT 252 MILE 16 WITH 116 MILES
OF LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM AND 45
MILES OF BUS ROUTE AND TRANSIT.
THAT WILL CONNECT SEATTLE TO
EVERETT, TACOMA, BELLEVUE,
REDMOND, AND WEST SEATTLE,
BALLARD, AND WILL GIVE CITIZENS
MOBILITY OPTIONS WHILE
SIMULTANEOUSLY REDUCING
GREENHOUSE GRASSES -- GASES IN
A GROWING SUSTAINABLE UNION.
HOWEVER WE HAVE A SHORTFALL IN
FINANCES AND IT IS CLEAR WE DO
NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO
DELIVER THE APPROVED PLAN ON
THE TIMELINES SPECIFIED IN THE
PLAN.
LIKE MANY ENTITIES IN THE
REGION, SOUND TRANSIT BASES A
COMBINATION OF REVENUE LOSS
BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND
SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH IN ESTIMATED
FUTURE PROJECT COSTS.
BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS AND
BOTH REVENUES AND COST TO
DELIVER THE PROGRAM, THE AGENCY
HAS AN ESTIMATED AFFORDABILITY
GAP OF $7.9 BILLION OVER THE
DURATION OF THE 25 YEAR PLAN.
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF OUR
MEASURE, THE SOUND TRANSIT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS REQUIRED
TO IMPLEMENT REALIGNING, WHEN
IT KNOWS THE PROGRAM TO BE ON
AFFORDED.
THE BOARD HAS KNOWN THE PLAN TO
BE UNAFFORDABLE AND WORKING ON
THE PROCESS NOW FOR 14 MONTHS.
THIS IS NOT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO
POINT OUT THAT THIS IS NOT THE
FIRST TIME THE BOARD HAS GONE
THROUGH THE REALIGNMENT
PROCESS, SIMILARLY IT WAS
COMPLETED IN 2010 WHEN THE
GREAT RECESSION HIT, SOON AFTER
THE APPROVAL OF THE ST 2 BALLOT
MEASURE.
THIS IS THE WAY THAT SOUND
TRANSIT PLAYS IT STRAIGHT WITH
VOTERS AND TAXPAYERS, THE WAY
THE SOUND TRANSIT STAYS
TRANSPARENT WITH THE COMMUTERS
THROUGHOUT THE AREA AND WHAT
EXPANSIONS THEY CAN EXPECT AND
WHEN THE SERVICES WILL BE
DELIVERED.
IMPORTANTLY, REALIGNMENT IS THE
PROCESS THROUGH WHICH WE ALSO
DEMONSTRATE TO OUR LENDERS AND
THE BOND MARKET AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT THAT WE ARE LIVING
WITIN OUR MEANS AND WORTHY OF
THEIR CONTINUED FINANCIAL
SUPPORT.
EARLIER YOU HEARD DEBRA SMITH
AT CITY LIGHT TALK ABOUT THE
RATE AGENCIES AND OBVIOUSLY WE
TOO MUST MAKE PRESENTATIONS TO
THE RATE AGENCIES TO APPROVE
OUR CREDIT RATING.
AND WE NEED A GOOD STORY TO
TELL BECAUSE THE POSITIVE
CREDIT RATING WILL RESULT IN
LOWER TAX COST TO RESIDENTS OF
THE REGION.
ALSO TO ALLOW THE BOARD TO MOVE
FORWARD ON NUMEROUS PROJECT
ACTIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY
PAUSED.
OUR BOARD IS CURRENTLY IN THE
PROCESS OF SQUARING THE
FINANCIAL CAPACITY WITH THE
PROJECTS, WHILE BALANCING THE
INTEREST ACROSS THE REGION TO
DELIVER THE VOTER MANDATED
REGIONAL TRANSIT NETWORK WITHIN
THE NEW ECONOMIC REALITIES.
THE BOARD IS SIMULTANEOUSLY
LOOKING AT NEW SOURCES OF
REVENUE, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL
AND STATE LEVELS.
ALSO WHILE LOOKING AT THE COST-
SAVING OPPORTUNITIES.
I KNOW THAT YOU MAY HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BOARD
REALIGNMENT WORK, I WANTED TO
SAY THAT WE WILL DO A LITTLE
TABLE SETTING BEFORE WE GET
INTO THAT.
TODAY OUR TEAM WILL PROVIDE A
COMPREHENSIVE SNAPSHOT ON THE
LATEST OF SOUND TRANSIT'S
EFFORTS IN SEATTLE AND ACROSS
THE REGION.
OUR AIM IS TO SHARE WHEN
DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE IN THE
SCOPE OF THE DECISIONS.
OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
MANAGEMENT WILL PREVIEW NEW
SERVICE OPENINGS AND HOW WE
HAVE PROGRESS THROUGHOUT THE
PROJECT.
AND THEN DON BILLEN, WILL
DISCUSS THE RECESSION IMPACTS
ON OUR COST AND THE 2021
REALIGNMENT PROCESS TO ADJUST
THE PROJECT PLANS AND SCHEDULES.
AND DON BILLEN WILL ALSO COVER
COST SAVINGS AS WE MOVE
FORWARD.
BEFORE I HAND IT TO STAFF I
WANT TO COMMENT ON SOME GENERAL
OBSERVATIONS.
UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE TO
APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE, I AM
GOING TO HAVE TO DO A HARD STOP
AT 11:45, WE HAD A MAJOR
ANNOUNCEMENT AND AMAZON
REGARDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
TODAY AND I NEED TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS ON THAT.
STAFF WILL BE ABLE TO STAY
BEYOND THAT.
BUT I DID WANT TO MAKE A FEW
COMMENTS AND PERHAPS WE CAN GET
INTO IT IN GREATER DETAIL WITH
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
COMMENTS REGARDING SOME THINGS
YOU HAVE HEARD HELICALLY.
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE ALL OF
THE PUBLIC WITNESSES THAT CAME
OUT EARLIER TO DISCUSS CONCERNS
AND ANXIETIES AROUND THE
SURROUNDING REALIGNMENT PROCESS.
THE FIRST OBSERVATION I WANT TO
MAKE IS I THINK THERE IS A LOT
OF ANXIETY AND CONCERN THAT
WHATEVER THE BOARD DOES FOR THE
REALIGNMENT PROCESS THIS SUMMER,
IT IS GOING TO BE AS THE BOARD
CHAIR PUTS IT, PERMANENTLY
CARVED IN STONE.
IN FACT THE RESOLUTION THAT WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
BOARD CHAIR ON DRAFTING, IS
SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.
IT IS WHAT WE REFER TO AS A
FLEXIBLE FRAMEWORK.
THE FLEXIBLE FRAMEWORK IS
BUILDING INTO IT AN ANNUAL
PROGRAM REVIEW SO THE BOARD CAN
UPDATE AND APPROVE THE PLAN
BASED ON NEW PROJECTIONS OF
REVENUES AND COSTS, AND PERHAPS
FEDERAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY
COME THROUGH AND IN THE
STRUCTURE PLAN, SHOULD IT BE
ADOPTED.
SECONDLY I HER CONCERN ABOUT
STATION PLANNING AND ENGAGEMENT
WITH THE COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO ENSURE EVERYONE THAT
THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT THE
REALIGNMENT PROCESS THAT PUTS A
STOP TO OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE
COMMUNITY ON STATION PLANNING.
WE FULLY INTEND TO ENGAGE WITH
EVERYONE AND ALL CONCERNED
STAKEHOLDERS AS WE DO THIS.
I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME
CONCERN THAT THE REALIGNMENT
PLAN, FOLKS MAY SUDDENLY WAKE
UP AND DISCOVER THE BOARD
ELIMINATED A WHOLE STATION.
I WILL TELL YOU AND ALL THE
DOZENS OF REALIGNMENT SCENARIOS
THAT WE HAVE REPAIRED AT THE
BOARD'S REQUEST, NONE OF THEM
ELIMINATE A MAJOR STATION.
THAT REALLY BRINGS ME TO MY
THIRD POINT, WHILE THERE IS SOME
DISAGREEMENT AMONG THE BOARD
MEMBERS ON PRECISELY HOW THE
REALIGNMENT PROCESS SHOULD
PROCEED, EVERY BOARD MEMBER,
EVERY TEAM THAT I HAVE HEARD
FROM IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS
IS FULLY COMMITTED TO
DELIVERING THE FULL PLAN.
NO ONE IS INTERESTED IN
SEGMENTING OFF OR THROWING OVER
THE SIDE ANY MAJOR INVESTMENT
THAT WERE ADOPTED BY THE VOTERS
IN 2016.
IN FACT TO THE CONTRARY, THEY
ARE ALL VERY COMMITTED TO
DELIVERING IT AS CLOSE AS WE
POSSIBLY CAN.
AND FORTH, I WILL REPEAT
SOMETHING I SAID IN MY REMARKS,
WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
THE CAPITAL PLAN AND
REALIGNMENT, FOR REASONS WE CAN
EXPLAIN, IS WHY WE BELIEVE
ALLOWS THE BOARD TO MOVE
FORWARD ON NUMBER OF ACTIONS.
THAT IS HOW I THINK WE CONTINUE
TO MAKE PROGRESS THROUGH THE
BOARD'S ACTIONS IN THE COMING
MONTHS.
WITH THAT I WANT TO APOLOGIZE
AGAIN FOR HAVING TO LEAVE IN
ABOUT A HALF HOUR'S TIME.
MR. CHAIRMAN, YOUR INVITATION
LETTER ASKED US TO GET THROUGH
QUITE A BIT OF MATERIAL, SO
PLEASE FORGIVE THE STAFF IF
THEY RIFLE THROUGH IT PAST.
BUT I KNOW WE WANT TO GET TO
Q&A.
SO WITH THAT I WILL HAND IT TO
RON LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU CEO -- SEVEN.
THIS WILL BE PUT ON OUR A
GENDER AND WAS RECEIVED LATE
LAST NIGHT.
I JUST SAW IT THIS MORNING FOR
THE FIRST TIME, SO WE WILL
CIRCULATE THAT AND IT WILL BE
POSTED ON THE AGENDA.
I BELIEVE IT IS ABOUT 43 SLIDES,
SO THE LARGEST PORTION IS ABOUT
REALIGNMENT.
I ENCOURAGE SOUND TRANSIT TO
FOCUS IN ON THE REALIGNMENT
DISCUSSION AND TO ENCOURAGE
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ASK QUESTIONS
DURING THE PRESENTATION.
ESPECIALLY WHILE WE HAVE CEO
ROGOFF HERE.
THERE IS A SITE CALLED "WHAT IS
REALIGNMENT?
YOU CAN WHICH I BELIEVE IS
SLIDE 10 AND WILL BE KEY.
BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO KNOW WHAT
IS BAKED IN AND WHAT IS NOT?
AND WHY NOT DECIDE LATER IN THE
FALL WHEN THERE IS MORE
SECURITY FROM FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SOURCES AND FUNDING?
I BELIEVE THE $7.9 BILLION GAP,
WHILE THAT IS A VERY LARGE
NUMBER, RELATIVE TO MANY
BUDGETS, YOU KNOW THAT WAS A
SMALLER NUMBER THAN WHAT IT WAS
ORIGINALLY.
IN FACT IT KEEPS SHRINKING AS
THE OUTLOOK IT'S BETTER.
QUESTIONS OF WHY NOT JUST WAIT
A FEW MORE MONTHS UNTIL WE HAVE
BETTER RVENUE OF COST
ESTIMATES, AND WANT TO ALSO ASK
ABOUT HOW INDEPENDENT, WHETHER
THERE IS INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS
TO THE COST, VALUE ENGINEERING
THAT HAS OCCURRED, TO TRIM THE
COST.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT MR.
CHAIR.
MY NAME IS RON LEWIS, DIRECTOR
OF DESIGN ENGINEERING AND SOUND
TRANSIT MANAGEMENT.
I AM PLEASED TO SHARE WITH THE
COMMUNITY HOW ARE OUR PROGRAM
IS IN PROGRESS WITHIN THE
REGION.
THIS PHOTO IS OF THE NEW
DISTRICT STATION WHERE TESTING
IS UNDERWAY, AS THE CHAIR
NOTED, AS WE APPROACH THE
OCTOBER 2nd OPENING.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE SEVERAL MAJOR
PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AS
THE CHAIR, AS CEO ROGOFF NOTED.
WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY $15
BILLION WORTH OF INVESTMENTS IN
THE THREE COUNTY REGION WE
SERVE.
28 NEW STATIONS WILL COME
ONLINE BY 2024, AND PICTURED
HERE, JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE
OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE
FIELD, THREE OF OUR LIGHT RAIL
EXTENSIONS, THE SYSTEMS WORK
THAT IS GOING ON IN THE
EASTLAKE PROJECT, ELEVATED
GUIDEWAY CONSTRUCTION ON THE
FEDERAL WAY PROJECT, AND THEN
FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR MAJOR
CONCRETE POUR IN THE LYNWOOD
PROJECT OVER I-5. THIS IS AN
EXCITING TIME TO BE PART OF
THIS EXPANSION PROGRAM.
NEXT SLIDE.
I WANT TO FOCUS JUST FOR A
MINUTE AND HIGHLIGHT THE
NORTHGATE PROJECT WITH THE
UPCOMING DATE OF OCTOBER 2nd.
THE NORTHGATE PROJECT WILL BRING
IN A LINE THREE NEW STATIONS.
THE PROJECT IS COMPRISED OF
THREE TO HALF MILES OF TUNNEL
AND APPROXIMATELY UNDER ONE
MILE OF ELEVATED GUIDEWAY AS WE
APPROACH THE NORTHGATE STATION.
WHEN IT OPENS WE WILL PROVIDE
14 MINUTE TRIPS TO DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE, AND 47 MINUTES TO THE
AIRPORT.
I WANT TO NOTE THAT TWO NOTES
OF APPRECIATION FOR THE CITY
PARTICIPATION, FIRST, THE
PARTNERSHIP WITH SAM ZIMBABWE
AND THE S.TEAM, ON THE RIDGE
THAT WILL ENHANCE MOBILITY FOR
BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS.
AND ALSO RECENT WORK DONE BY
SEATTLE CITY, ENERGIZING THE
LAST POWER SUBSTATION, THE
FACILITATION THAT IS NOW
UNDERWAY.
NEXT FIVE.
>> THANK YOU.
AND VICE CHAIR STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU.
IT WAS, YES, SLIDE FIVE AND SIX
THAT I HAD A COMMENT ON.
JUST HIGHLIGHTING THAT FOR THE
NEXT FOUR YEARS, YOU ARE
OPENING NEARLY 10 STATIONS PER
YEAR.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
AS A SUCCESS.
AS YOUR MOMENTUM CONTINUES TO
BUILD, WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE
BENEFITS RATHER QUICKLY, AND IT
TOOK US A WHILE TO GET HERE AND
IT IS EXCITING TO SEE THIS FINE
EXPANSION.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE COMMENTS, TO
LEAD US OFF. I
APPRECIATE THE CHAIR INVITING
YOU HERE AND I APPRECIATE SOUND
TRANSIT PRESENTING TO CITY
COUNCIL.
IS HARD FOR ME, I DO NOT
BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE MOST
APPROPRIATE VENUE FOR THIS
DISCUSSION.
WE HAVE MANY ELECTED LEADERS
THROUGHOUT THIS REGION THAT
NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE FOR
THIS CONVERSATION, BECAUSE
HITTING -- PITTING SEATTLE
AGAINST EVERETT DOES NOT WORK.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
FINISH THIS ALL THE WAY TO
EVERETT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND
AT THE SAME TIME ENSURE THAT
130th STREET STATION, WHICH I
TESTIFIED BEFORE THE SOUND
TRANSIT BOARD IN JANUARY 2020,
AS BENEFITS TO DISTRICT 6, THE
DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENT IN
SEATTLE, WE NEED TO DO BOTH.
AND SO THIS IS MY, I AM SAYING
THIS IS NOT THE MOST
APPROPRIATE VENUE BECAUSE WE
NEED TO HAVE ALL THE REGIONAL
ELECTED -- AROUND THE TABLE SO
THAT WE CAN ADVOCATE AND HAD
CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH OTHER.
AT THIS TIME I STATE THAT WE
RESTART THE GROUP OR SOMETHING
SIMILAR TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS
WITH EACH OTHER, RATHER THAN IN
A VACUUM.
WITH ALL THAT SAID I APPRECIATE
YOU BEING HERE TODAY AND I WILL
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS AS WE
CONTINUE.
>> THANK YOU.
LET ME CONTINUE HERE, WITH JUST
A COUPLE MORE SLIDES IN THIS
PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION.
I DESCRIBED WHAT WE WERE
BUILDING AND ALL THE WORK THAT
IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION OUT
WITHIN THE REGION.
I WANT TO SPEND JUST A MOMENT
ON HOW WE BUILD IT.
THE WHAT IS IMPORTANT BUT HOW
IS ALSO IMPORTANT AND WE ARE
VERY PROUD OF THE DIVERSE
WORKFORCE THAT IS BUILDING OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT THE
REGION.
YOU SEE NEARLY 20,000 JOBS TO
DATE, FAMILY WAGE JOBS,
SUPPORTING THE CONSTRUCTION.
OVER 12 MILLION LABOR HOURS,
AND IMPORTANTLY DID EMPIRE CITY
OF THE LABOR FORCE THAT IS
BUILDING OUR PROJECTS.
PEOPLE OF COLOR PERFORMING
NEARLY ONE THIRD OF THE WORK
BETWEEN 2016 AND 2020, AND THE
LAST BULLET IS ALSO IMPORTANT,
WOMEN MAKE UP 7.5% OF OUR
WORKERS, COMPARED TO THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 3% IN THE
CONSTRUCTION TRADES.
WE ARE PROUD OF THE 7 1/2% BUT
NOT STOPPING THERE AS WE ARE
INVESTING HEAVILY IN
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND
TRAINING PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE
AND HELP WOMEN BECOME A LARGER
PART OF OUR WORKFORCE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND FINALLY, MY FINAL SLIDE,
REALLY REFLECTING OUR
COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY.
SOUND TRANSIT AND THE LIGHT
RAIL, THE FIRST SYSTEM IN THE
NATION THAT IS 100% CARBON FREE
AND WE BELIEVE THAT IS
IMPORTANT IN LARGE PART BECAUSE
OF THE CONTRIBUTION THAT
TRANSPORTATION MAKES THE
GREENHOUSE GASES WITHIN OUR
STATE.
IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT
WE BE A LEADER IN THIS EFFORT,
AND WE ARE.
THIS IS JUST A SHORT SNAPSHOT
OF HOW WE ARE DEALING WITH
POWER PROGRESS AT SOUND
TRANSIT, COMPLETING CURRENT
PROJECTS TO MAKE WAY FOR THE
NEXT SERIES OF PROJECTS THAT
JAY INSLEE SEVEN WILL ADDRESS
IN THE NEXT PORTION OF THE
PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, RON.
AND THANK YOU ARE PEDERSEN AND
COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR HAVING US
HERE THIS AFTERNOON.
IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT
SLIDE.
SO, I WANT TO START WITH WHAT
IS REALIGNMENT?
PETER DESCRIBED THIS WELL IN
HIS OPENING REMARKS, THIS IS
REALLY THE SOUND TRANSIT BOARD
RESPONDING TO AN ESTIMATED
AFFORDABILITY GAP IN THE
PROGRAM.
BY REALIGNING OUR PLAN TO
BALANCE COST IN REVENUES.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, YOU
APTLY DESCRIBE THE PROGRAM AS
"MASSIVE" IN FACT ST 3 IS THE
LARGEST PROGRAM IN THE NATION
CURRENTLY.
AND ALL OF THE REALIGNMENT
PLANS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT
WILL STILL DELIVER THE FULL
PROGRAM WITH SOME POTENTIAL
ADJUSTMENTS IN SCHEDULE AND
SCOPE OVERTIME.
OPTIONS THAT THE BOARD HAS
INCLUDES MODIFYING SCOPE TO
REDUCE COST, RAISING NEW
REVENUES, AND/OR DELAYING OR
FACING PROJECTS.
NEXT SLIDE.
>> WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WAS KIND OF ZONING IN ON THE
LANGUAGE, IN THE TEXT, IN
ORANGE.
A REQUIRED RESPONSE TO
ESTIMATED SHORTFALLS.
AND I DO NOT THINK THAT THERE
IS A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT
THERE NEEDS TO BE A RESPONSE.
BUT THERE ARE, I BELIEVE, A LOT
OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TIMING
OF THESE DECISIONS, AND SO THIS
SLIDE SEEMS TO ME TO IMPLY THAT
MORE ACTION IS NEEDED RIGHT NOW.
AND I AM HEARING A LOT OF GOOD
ARGUMENTS FOR WAITING UNTIL WE
HAVE A COPY, A FINAL VERSION OF
THE DRAFT EIS FOR WEST SEATTLE
BALLARD, WHICH WILL BE
PUBLISHED THIS YEAR.
JUST REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT THE RATIONALE IS FOR
MAKING A DECISION ON
REALIGNMENT BEFORE THE PUBLIC
HAS EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW
THE DRAFT EIS.
FURTHER, NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY
WE MUST MAKE A DECISION, WHY
YOU MUST MAKE A DECISION BEFORE
THERE IS CLARITY ON HOW MUCH
FEDERAL FUNDING WILL BE
AVAILABLE.
YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE UPDATES
THAT WE ARE ALL RECEIVING ON
POTENTIAL APPROACHES FOR
FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE,
PACKAGES NEARLY EVERY WEEK.
I THINK THIS IS A REALLY
CRITICAL FACTOR TO ANY DECISION
THAT IS PART OF CONSIDERATION OF
REALIGNMENT.
>> WHY DON'T I TAKE A RUN AT
ANSWERING THAT AND THEN JAY
INSLEE SEVEN AND OTHERS CAN
TAKE A RUN.
YOU ARE RIGHT THAT WHILE THE
PROCESS OF REALIGNMENT IS
REQUIRED UNDER THE BALLOT
MEASURE, THE BALLOT MEASURE IS
NOT SETTING AN ABSOLUTE
TIMELINE OR DEADLINE FOR WHICH
IT MUST OCCUR.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
PROGRAMMATIC AND POLICY REASONS
WHY THE BOARD CHAIR FEELS THAT
IT SHOULD BE CONCLUDED THIS
SUMMER.
AND I WILL JUST NAME A FEW, AS
I SAID EARLIER, THE BOARD HAS
BEEN AT THIS FOR SOME 14 MONTHS.
AND THERE ARE, I THINK THIS
COMES AT A LATER SLIDE, OR
CERTAINLY INFORMATION THAT WE
CAN PROVIDE, $2.4 BILLION IN
ACTIONS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
TAKE IN THE COMING YEAR.
WHAT WE REFER TO AS MAJOR
BASELINE ACTIONS, WHICH IS TO
SAY WE WOULD GO FORWARD,
BASELINE, SET THE SCHEDULE AND
SCOPE OF THE PROJECT AND PUT IT
OUT FOR BID.
IT IS GOING TO BE
EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT, AS
IT ALREADY HAS BEEN, EVEN PRIOR
TO THIS, TO GET THE BOARD TO
MOVE FORWARD ON MAJOR ACTIONS.
ESPECIALLY MAJOR ACTIONS IN
OTHER PEOPLE'S REGIONS OF THE
DISTRICTS OR OTHER SUB AREAS.
WITHOUT KNOWING IF AND WHEN THE
PROJECT WILL BE DELIVERED IN
ANY REASONABLE TIMEFRAME.
SO THE BOARD CHAIR BELIEVES
STRONGLY THAT IN ORDER TO BE
ABLE TO COALESCE THE BOARD
WITHOUT MOVING CAPITAL PROGRAM
FORWARD, THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE
GOING TO NEED TO KNOW WITH SOME
LEVEL OF COMFORT AND
TRANSPARENCY AND CLARITY, WHEN
THE PROJECTS CAN AND WILL BE
AFFORDABLE.
NOW THE BOARD IS REQUIRED, THIS
IS A REQUIREMENT, IT IS
REQUIRED TO BE ADOPTED EVERY
YEAR BOTH IN STATE LAW AND
REQUIRED SUBMISSION TO THE
FEDERAL TRANSIT AND
MINISTRATION, TO ANNUALLY
PRODUCE WHAT WE CALL A TIP, THE
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
IT LAYS OUT WHAT AMOUNTS OF
MONEY WE WILL SPEND AND ON WHAT
PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT SIX
YEARS.
AT THE END OF LAST YEAR THE
BOARD ADOPTED A T.I.P.
THAT WAS A PLACEHOLDER THAT
SAID EVERY PROJECT WILL BE
DELAYED FIVE YEARS, MAKING THE
PROJECT AFFORDABLE IN THE
MOMENT.
I THINK WHAT YOU WILL SEE WHEN
DON BILLEN COMES FORWARD WITH
SOME SCENARIOS THAT THE BOARD
IS CONSIDERING, IT IS NOT
NECESSARY FOR ALL THE MAJOR
PROJECTS TO BE DELAYED FIVE
YEARS.
IN FACT, SOME OF THEM MAY ONLY
NEED TO BE DELAYED A YEAR OR
TWO.
A LOT OF THAT CORRESPONDS NOT
NECESSARILY WITH FINANCIAL
DELAYS BUT DELAYS ASSOCIATED
WITH THE FACT THAT IT HAS TAKEN
THEM LONGER DURING COVID TO
GET ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS
CLEAR TO THE FEDERAL RESOURCE
AGENCIES, THE FTA, TO GET THE
LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT THAT WE
NEED TO PRODUCE THE DOCUMENTS.
SO WE CAN DO A LOT BETTER THAN
DELAYING EVERYTHING FOR FIVE
YEARS, AND I THINK THAT IS WHY
IF WE ADOPT THE REALIGNMENT
PLAN THIS SUMMER, THE STAFF CAN
THEN BRING A TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENT PLAN TO THE BOARD
IN THE FALL, ALONG WITH BUDGET
FOR 2022.
THAT WILL ALIGN WITH THE
REALIGNED PLAN.
AND YOU KNOW, THE BOARD CHAIR'S
VIEW, THAT IS HOW WE MAKE
PROGRESS IN THE THINKING BEHIND
THE TIMING.
>> THANK YOU PETER.
AND I WOULD ADD IN TERMS OF THE
RELATIONSHIP TO THE WEST
SEATTLE AND BALLARD
ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS, THERE
HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DISTINCTION
BETWEEN SYSTEM-LEVEL PLANNING
AND PROJECT LEVEL PLANNING.
THE ORIGINAL ST 3 PLAN,
ESTABLISHED A SYSTEM PLAN FOR
THE BUILD OUT TO WEST SEATTLE
AND BALLARD, FIRST TO WEST
SEATTLE IN 2030, THEN BALLARD
IN 2035, LEFT DETAILS ABOUT
PROJECT LEVEL PLANNING PRECISE
STATION LOCATIONS, AS AN
EXAMPLE, TO THE PROJECT AND
NOTHING IN THIS REALIGNMENT
PROCESS PRESUPPOSES ANY OUTCOME
OF THOSE PROJECT LEVEL
DECISIONS THAT ARE YET TO COME.
IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT
SLIDE.
SO WHAT IS INCLUDED IN
REALIGNMENT?
PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY
UNDER CONSTRUCTION, THE
PROJECTS THAT RON LEWIS JUST
OVERVIEW FOR YOU, ARE NOT
INCLUDED IN THE REALIGNMENT
PROCESS.
PROJECTS IN PLANNING OR THAT
HAVE NOT YET STARTED PLANNING,
ARE AFFECTED.
I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT IN SOME
CASES THE BOARD HAS AUTHORIZED
VERY IMITATE CONSTRUCTION ON
PORTIONS OF PROJECTS, THAT
LIMITED CONSTRUCTION IS NOT
AFFECTED AT THE COMPLETION OF
THE PROJECTS ARE INCLUDED IN
THE REALIGNMENT PLANS.
AND THAT INCLUDES BOTH OUR BUS
RAPID TRANSIT PROJECTS AND THE
1/30 STATION.
>> SO WHY IS NORTHEAST 130th
STREET INCLUDED, IF IT IS
ALREADY UNDER CONSTRUCTION?
>> THAT IS AN EXAMPLE WHERE THE
BOARD HAS AUTHORIZED ONLY VERY
LIMITED CONSTRUCTION.
SO THE ST 3 PLAN ASSUMED THAT
THE NORTHEAST 1/30 STATION
WOULD BE COMPLETED IN 2031,
LAST YEAR THE BOARD AUTHORIZED
COMPLETING DESIGN ON THE
STATION AND DOING SOME VERY
LIMITED CONSTRUCTION WORK, TO
REDUCE THE FUTURE DISRUPTION,
THAT WOULD OTHERWISE OCCUR WHEN
THE STATION IS COMPLETED.
THEY DID NOT MAKE A DECISION
HOWEVER TO ACCELERATE FULL
COMPLETION OR FULL CONSTRUCTION
OF THE STATION.
SO THAT QUESTION OF WHEN THE
STATION IS FULLY BUILT OUT,
REMAINS BEFORE THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS.
>> OKAY, AND I KNOW COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ IS THE BOARD
MEMBER ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THAT
AND COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ, I AM ALSO INTERESTED
THE STATION AT 1/30, BECAUSE IT
DOES SERVE DISTRICT 6, AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE.
I WANTED TO ASK A COUPLE
QUESTIONS.
THE ORIGINAL COST ESTIMATE FOR
THE FIVE PROJECT, ESTIMATED
BETWEEN 65 AND 67 MILLION.
AS OF APRIL 2021, THE PROJECT
IS ESTIMATED TO COST 311
MILLION.
SO OVER THE LAST FIVE YEAR
PROJECT IT HAS COST FIVEFOLD,
THIS IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER
THAN PREDICTED BY SOME TRANSIT
MODELS AND UPDATES FURTHER
REVIEW, CAN YOU HELP ME
UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS SO HIGH.
>> WELL LET ME INTERJECT FIRST
AND THEN LET STAFF ANSWER THE
QUESTION.
RESPECTFULLY, COUNCIL MEMBER, I
THINK YOU ARE DOING AN APPLE TO
ORANGE COMPARISON.
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE
NORTHEAST FIVE STATION, ALONG
WITH THE COST ESTIMATES, THAT
HAVE UNDERGONE, THE COST GROTE
AND SIGNIFICANT COST GROWTH.
I THINK THE NUMBERS YOU ARE
CITING INCLUDE AN EXPENDITURE
NUMBER BUT STAFF CAN MAKE WHAT
THE REAL NUMBERS ARE CLEAR, AND
ANSWER YOUR QUESTION AS FAR AS
THE COST.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK WHAT YOU SAID HELPS ME
AS MY QUESTION AGAIN, DOES THE
UPDATE WARRANT FURTHER REVIEW?
>> I COULD JUST ADD A LITTLE
BIT MORE TO THAT RESPONSE,
COUNCIL MEMBER.
PETER IS CORRECT, IT IS A
LITTLE BIT APPLES AND ORANGES,
WITH REGARD TO THE DOLLAR THAT
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH
ESCALATION.
BUT EVEN ADJUSTING FOR PUTTING
ALL OF THE DOLLARS IN 20 $20,
THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE
IN THE COST OF THE STATION.
SO IN 2020 DOLLARS THE
COMPARISON WOULD BE $79 MILLION,
IN ST 3, 130 MILLION FOR
DESIGN, AND 210 MILLION AT
DESIGN, SO IT IS DELAY
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE.
AND I WILL JUST GET THE QUICK
HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT CONTRIBUTED
TO THAT.
THEN I WILL NOTE, AS YOU NOTED,
WE HAVE BEEN BRIEFING BOARD
MEMBER JUAREZ, PROVIDING HER A
MORE DETAILED PRESENTATION AND
HAPPY TO SEND THAT OVER TO THE
COUNCIL AT YOUR DISCRETION.
THE ITEMS THAT ATTRIBUTED TO
THE COST, THESE ARE ITEMS THAT
WE ARE REVIEWING IN LIGHT OF THE
OVERALL COST METHODOLOGY, WITH
A CONSULTANT THAT WE BROUGHT ON
TO HELP US LOOK AT THAT PROCESS.
ONE THING WE HAVE NOTED IS THE
LACK OF DETAIL DESIGN, AT THE
POINT WHERE THE ST 3 ESTIMATES
WERE PUT TOGETHER.
THERE WERE SOME FAIRLY MAJOR
COMPONENTS WHICH WERE NOT WELL
DEFINED IN THE STATION, WHICH
LED TO EARLY ESTIMATES BEING
LOW.
WE ALSO UNDERESTIMATED THE TRUE
CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULTIES
ASSOCIATED WITH CONSTRUCTING
AROUND AN OPERATING SERVICE.
AND AS WE UPDATED THE
ESTIMATES, WE ARE NOW TAKING
INTO ACCOUNT WHAT THE ACTUAL
IMPACTS ON CONSTRUCTION WOULD
BE FROM OPERATING, FROM HAVING
AN OPERATING LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM,
AS WE ARE DOING SOME OF THAT
CONSTRUCTION.
THAT RESULTS IN DOING MORE WORK
OFF-HOURS, OR MORE OVERTIME AND
OTHER CHALLENGES WORKING AROUND
THE LIGHT RAIL.
THE THIRD ITEM, SOME ADDITIONAL
RIGHT AWAY IMPROVEMENTS THAT
WERE IDENTIFIED IN
COLLABORATION WITH OUR PROJECT
PARTNERS, CITY OF SEATTLE AND
WATCH..
ALSO ESTIMATES RELATED TO
LABOR, SUPPLY SHORTAGES AND
COSTS, AS WE SPOKE WITH THE
INITIAL PRESENTATION.
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF ISSUES
AND WE ARE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE
SAME DETAILED INFORMATION TO
BOARD MEMBER JUAREZ AND THE
BALANCE OF THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT
PRESENTATION AND WOULD LOVE TO
MEET WITH YOU OUTSIDE OF THE
COMMITTEE.
MY LAST QUESTION IS, IS THE
CONCURRENT OPENING DATE STILL
ON THE TABLE AND WHY OR WHY NOT?
>> KNOW IT IS NOT ON THE TABLE.
CONSTRUCTING, THE BEST CASE
SCENARIO, FOR CONSTRUCTING THE
LINWOOD STATION, WOULD BE GOING
BACK TO THE BOARD THIS FALL,
FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE NEXT
PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION.
AND THEN BACK IN THE FIRST
QUARTER OF 2022, ONCE THE
DESIGN IS COMPLETED, AND WE
HAVE FINAL PRICING FOR BOARD
CONSIDERATION, IF THE BOARD
WERE TO CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH THAT, IT WOULD STILL MEAN
THAT THE 130th STATION WOULD
STILL BE COMPLETE, THE YEAR
FOLLOWING THE LYNNWOOD LINK,
IN 2024.
>> THAT IS HARD NEWS TO HEAR.
JUST REGISTERING MY HOPE THAT
WE DO NOT HAVE A GHOST STATION
FOR 20 YEARS, AS WE KNOW THAT
RIDERSHIP IN THAT AREA, IF WE
ARE TO PUT ALL RIDERS AT 1/44,
AND NORTHGATE, IT WILL NOT ONLY
JAM THOSE STATIONS BUT ALSO
REDUCES THE ABILITY TO BUILD
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AND AROUND
STATIONS, 130th IN PARTICULAR.
WHY THIS MIGHT SOUND LIKE A PIE-
IN-THE-SKY IDEA, WE ARE
STUTTERING HOW WE LIVE AND
THERE IS A RIPE OPPORTUNITY TO
SEE AJ CHOKER WITH BOTH PRIVATE
AND PUBLIC INVESTMENTS.
I GUESS I AM VERY DISHEARTENED
TO HEAR
>> YOU KNOW AN OPEN
CONCURRENTLY.
I AM HAPPY TO TAKE THE
CONVERSATION OFF-LINE, IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU.
I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT TWO
STATIONS, GRANT STREET AND
JACKSON.
BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, AND BEFORE
THE DIRECTOR HAS TO GO, BEFORE
YOU LEAVE, I WANT TO REITERATE
WHAT WE ARE ALL HEARING FROM
OUR CONSTITUENTS.
WHICH IS THAT WE NEED TO KEEP
NEIGHBORHOOD VOICES OFF THE
TABLE AND THERE IS A REQUEST TO
HEAR MORE REGULARLY FROM SOUND
TRANSIT.
I APPRECIATE THE HAIR INVITING
YOU HERE.
I KNOW THIS IS NOT A NEW
MESSAGE, AND SOUND TRANSIT HAS
BEEN DOING WORK ON ENGAGEMENT
PRACTICES AND COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT IN YOUR WORK IS
CRITICAL.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
THERE IS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT
YOU ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE
COMMUNITY THAT YOU WORK IN.
YOU KNOW SOUND TRANSIT IS NOT
JUST ABOUT LAYING TRACK THROUGH
A NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE IN THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS, COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE SURROUNDING THE RAIL AND
PERMANENTLY IMPACTED BY THE
WORK THAT GOES IN.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
TO TALK TO YOU AND HEAR
REGULARLY.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE GRANT
STREET STATION, WHICH I KNOW IS
ON A COMPLETED LINE, THAT IS
DIFFERENT FROM THE SITUATION AT
130th.
WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT
WHY THE STATION OPENING IS
BEING PUSHED BACK SO FAR.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE
ABOUT WHETHER THERE IS PLAN AND
DESIGN, WHERE IN THE DESIGN
PROCESS IT IS, AND I WOULD ALSO
LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT THE JACKSON
STREET HUB, AND WHERE IN THE
DESIGN PROCESS THAT IS, THAT IS
MY UNDERSTANDING AT THE
BEGINNING OF LAST YEAR, ONLY AT
5% OR 6% DESIGN.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT
THE PROGRESS THERE.
>> LET ME ANSWER A COUPLE PARTS
OF THAT THEN I WILL ASK DON AND
RON TO FILL IN THE BLANKS.
FIRST, WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE
AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING
OUR IMPROVED EFFORTS TO ENGAGE
THE COMMUNITY ON ALL PARTS OF
OUR PROCESS.
IT IS NOT REALLY JUST PLANNING
FOR NEW PROJECTS BUT HOW WELL
OUR SERVICE IS SERVING THE
COMMUNITY NOW, INCLUDING THE
EXISTING SERVICE.
I SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT HIRING
OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
WORKING INCREASINGLY MORE WITH
OUR NEW DIRECTOR, IN TERMS OF
HOW WE ENGAGE COMMUNITIES,
ESPECIALLY BIPOC COMMUNITIES.
NOT JUST IN LOOKING AT OUR
FUTURE BUT LOOKING AT OUR
PRESENT.
AND THIS IS ONE AREA WHERE I
THINK WE HAVE UPPED OUR GAME,
WE HAVE IMPROVEMENTS YET TO
MAKE, AND WE ARE ALSO AN AGENCY
THAT RECOGNIZES THAT YOU MADE
THE COMMENT ABOUT WE NEEDING TO
DO MORE THAN JUST LAY TRACK.
I THINK WE RECOGNIZE THAT.
WHEN THE INITIAL SEGMENT OF
LIGHT RAIL WAS BUILT, THERE WAS
A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE AGENCY
TO GET TRACK IN THE GROUND.
SOME OF THE COMMUNITY IMPACTS
WERE NOT INVESTIGATED ENOUGH.
SO WE ARE NOT LOOKING JUST AT
AGAIN, OUR FUTURE STATES BUT
ALSO LOOKING AT THE CURRENT
STATE AND SEEING WHERE WE CAN
APPROVE ON THAT.
AND WITH THAT, RON AND DON CAN
PROVIDE INFORMATION
SPECIFICALLY ON THE STATUS.
I DO KNOW THAT IF YOU HAVE THE
ASSUMPTION ON THE LENGTH OF
DELAY, SIMILAR TO WHAT COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS SAID ABOUT
130th, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
TO HIGHLIGHT THESE VARIOUS
MEASURES OF DELAY ARE JUST
PROPOSALS CURRENTLY BEFORE THE
THE BOARD, THAT HAVE NOT BEEN
ACTED ON.
SO AS WE SAID NOTHING IS CAST
IN STONE.
AND EVEN WHEN THE BOARD ACTS,
THE BOARD HAS SAID RATHER
UNANIMOUSLY, WHATEVER THEY DO
THEY PLAN TO AS A GROUP OF 18,
AGGRESSIVELY WORK TO IMPROVE ON
IT.
SO WITH THAT, MAYBE DON AND RON
CAN CORRECT SOME DETAIL.
>> SURE.
IN THE ST 3 PLAN, THE GRANT
STREET STATION WAS SCHEDULED
FOR 2031.
SO THAT PLAN WE WOULD DESIGN
WORK IN APPROXIMATELY 2024.
SO WE ARE A FEW YEARS OUT FROM
THAT.
IF I COULD REQUEST THAT YOU LET
ME GET THROUGH A LITTLE BIT
MORE OF THE PRESENTATION, THEN
WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOW THE
REALIGNMENT PROCESS IS TREATING
THAT AND OTHER STATIONS.
AND THEN OUR PROJECT DIRECTOR
FOR THE WEST SEATTLE AND
BALLARD PROJECT, CATHAL RIDGE,
AT THE END OF THE PROJECT, CAN
GIVE YOU MUCH MORE DETAIL ON
THE JACKSON STREET HUB PROCESS.
IF THAT IS ALL RIGHT WITH YOU.
THANK YOU.
LET'S, YEAH, HERE WE GO.
FINANCIAL CHANGES, AS PETER
INDICATED, THE TOTAL ESTIMATED
AFFORDABILITY GAP IS CURRENTLY
$7.9 BILLION. AND THAT IS MADE
UP OF A COMBINATION OF
PROJECTED REVENUE DECLINES OVER
THE 25 YEAR PLAN OF 1.5 BILLION,
AND A NET INCREASE AND COST OF
6.4 BILLION, FOR SOME OF THE
REASONS PETER DESCRIBED,
ESTIMATED PROJECT COSTS HAVE
GROWN, BEEN PARTIALLY OFFSET BY
GRANTS AND DEBT CAPACITY BUT
ANOTHER 6.4 BILLION STILL TO
ADDRESS.
LEAVING THE AFFORDABILITY GAP OF
7.9 BILLION, THAT WE ARE
TACKLING THROUGH THE REALIGNMENT
PROCESS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO
THEN MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR
PROJECT PLANNING AND DELIVERY
WORK.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO IN TERMS OF THE REALIGNMENT
TIMELINE, THE BOARD REALLY
BEGAN THIS CONVERSATION LAST
APRIL, THE CHAIR IS TARGETING
NEXT MONTH FOR POTENTIAL ACTION
THAT WILL THEN IN TURN INFORM
OUR ANNUAL BUDGET AND TIP
PROCESS IN DECEMBER.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO THE WAY THAT WE TACKLE THE
AFFORDABILITY GAP IS BY
ANALYZING DIFFERENT SCENARIOS
FOR REPROGRAMMING OUR EXPANSION
PLANS.
AND THE BOARD REALLY STARTED
THIS CONVERSATION LAST SPRING,
WITH A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT
CRITERIA MIGHT GUIDE THEIR WORK.
THEY CONDUCTED A WORKSHOP IN
JUNE AND AT THE END OF JUNE,
ADOPTED EIGHT CRITERIA,
INCLUDING RIDERSHIP, EQUITY,
CONNECTING CENTERS, AND OTHER
CRITERIA THAT INFORMED THEIR
WORK.
AT THE END OF THE YEAR WE
PUBLISHED EVALUATION RESULTS,
USING THE CRITERIA AND THE BOARD
HELD A WORKSHOP IN JANUARY TO
GO THROUGH THE RESULTS.
FEBRUARY AND MARCH WE DEVELOPED
ILLUSTRATIVE SCENARIOS THAT
BUILT ON THOSE CRITERIA.
AND THEN HAVE LED TO DISCUSSION
AROUND TO WHAT WE REFERRED TO
AS -- SCENARIOS THAT PERFORM
WELL AGAINST MULTIPLE CRITERIA,
THAT INTEGRATE WITH KING COUNTY
METRO AND THE WASHINGTON STATE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
AND ALSO ACCOUNT FOR AGENCY
PARTNERSHIPS ACCOUNT FOR
SUBAREA EQUITY.
NEXT SLIDE.
SOMETHING THAT IS INTEGRAL TO
EVERY AREA THAT WE HAVE LOOKED
AT IS POTENTIALLY PHASING
PROJECTS.
BY BUILDING A FIRST AFFORDABLE
SEGMENT, AND THEN LOOKING AT
COMPLETING THE PROJECT, IN
FUTURE PHASES.
THIS IS A COMMON APPROACH,
REALLY AROUND THE COUNTRY,
AROUND THE WORLD, FRANKLY.
SOUND TRANSIT HAS USED IT
BEFORE, OUR PROJECT STARTED
WITH LIGHT RAIL BETWEEN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE AND -- AND
THEN EXPANDED INCREMENTALLY
OVER TIME, WITH THE NEXT
INCREMENT COMING IN OCTOBER AS
RON DECIDED -- DESCRIBED COMING
TO NORTHGATE, FOLLOWED BY
REDMOND.
OTHER PROJECT FEATURES, WE ARE
IN AN ACTIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT
WHAT IS SOUND TRANSIT'S ROLE IN
SUPPORTING DRIVE ACCESS TO OUR
STATIONS AND MAY CONSIDER
DEFERRING SOME PART CAPACITY TO
LATER PHASES.
NEXT SLIDE.
I JUST WANT TO WALK THROUGH A
FEW EXAMPLES OF THINGS.
THE TRANSIT PROGRAM, ST 3, AND
THE I-405, AND THE CORRIDOR,
THE ST 3 PLAN ENVISIONING
OPENING ALL OF THOSE SERVICES
ON THE SAME DAY.
IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO PHASE
THE SERVICES, AND TO, THEY ARE
THREE SEPARATE OPERATING LINES,
SO EACH LINE CAN OPERATE IN A
DIFFERENT DATE.
NEXT SLIDE.
TO THE NORTH, ST 3 ENVISIONED
LIGHT RAIL EXTENSION BETWEEN
WINWOOD AND EVERETT, OPENING AT
ONE SEGMENT, WE ARE EVALUATING
A POTENTIAL -- AT THE MARINER
PARK EXIT.
NEXT SLIDE.
TO THE SOUTH, EXTENDING FROM
FEDERAL WAY TO THE TACOMA DOME,
NEXT SLIDE.
WEST SEATTLE AND BALLARD, THE
ST 3 PLAN, CALLED FOR LIGHT
RAIL TO GO FROM SOTO, TO WEST
SEATTLE, IN 2030 AND THEN BE
EXTENDED NORTH TO BALLARD IN
2035.
SO IN THAT SCENARIO, SOTO IS
THE INTERIM IN TERMINI.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT DELL
RIDGE, DENNY AND SMITH COVE AS
POTENTIAL TERMINI.
I WILL SPEAK TO THAT MORE IN
JUST A MOMENT.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO ALL OF THESE SCENARIOS ARE
UTILIZING SCHEDULE AS A WAY TO
SPREAD OUR COST OVER TIME, IN
ORDER TO KEEP THE PROGRAM
AFFORDABLE.
BUT IMPORTANTLY THEY ALSO
FILLED IN KEEPING THE PLAN
SHOVEL READY.
SO EACH PROJECT, DEPENDING UPON
THE TIER IT IS PLACED ON AND
THE ESTIMATED YEARS OF DELAY,
WOULD CONTINUE WITH WORK THAT
ENABLES THAT PROJECT TO BE
ACCELERATED.
NEARLY EVERY TIER WOULD
INCLUDE, AS AN EXAMPLE,
COMPLETING ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW,
AND PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND
LIMITARY STRATEGIC ACQUISITION.
THIS WILL ENABLE US TO BE
FLEXIBLE SO THAT IF FINANCIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES IMPROVE, WHETHER
THAT BE BY REDUCING COST OR NEW
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, THAT THE
BOARD RETAINS THE OPTION OF
ACCELERATING SOME PROJECTS FROM
THE REALIGNMENT DATES.
NEXT SLIDE.
I WANT TO VERY QUICKLY WALK YOU
THROUGH THREE SCENARIOS THAT
THE BOARD IS CURRENTLY
REVIEWING.
ALL OF THE SCENARIOS INCLUDE
SYSTEM COMPONENTS, BUS BASIS,
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
FACILITIES FOR LIGHT RAIL AND A
SECOND TUNNEL THROUGH DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR
SYSTEM OPERATIONS.
IN THE NORTH, EVERY SCENARIO
CONSIDERS THE ENTRANCE TERMINUS
AT MARINER FOR THAT EXTENSION
AND THE EASTSIDE LOOKS AT
DIFFERENT WAYS TO PHASE THE PRT
PROGRAM.
IN THE CENTRAL CORE DOOR THIS
PARTICULAR SCENARIO WOULD
PRIORITIZE FUNDING OF THE DELL
RIDGE TO SMITH COVE PORTION OF
THE PROJECT.
FOR OPERATIONAL REASONS IT
WOULD OPEN BETWEEN SEATTLE AND
SODO IN 2035, THEN GO TO
BALLARD IN 2040.
GRAHAM STREET WOULD BE IN TIER
2 IN THIS SCENARIO AND THE 1/30
-- 130th STATION IN TIER 4.
NEXT SLIDE.
SCENARIO TWO, THE CENTRAL
CORRIDOR, TAKING A DIFFERENT
APPROACH.
TRYING TO PROVIDE DIRECT
SERVICE FROM THE WEST SEATTLE
AREA INTO DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
SOONER, WITH THAT DELRIDGE TO
DENNY SEGMENT IN 2035.
AND EXTENSION OUT TO THE WEST
SEATTLE JUNCTION IN 2038 AND
THEN BALLARD IN 2041.
IN THIS SCENARIO BOTH STATIONS
WOULD BE IN TIER 4, WITH THE
PROJECTED 2041 COMPLETION DATE.
NEXT SLIDE.
FINALLY SCENARIO THREE,
FOLLOWING MOST CLOSELY THE
ORIGINAL ST 3 SEQUENCING, GOING
BETWEEN SODO AND THE ALASKA
JUNCTION, IN 2032.
AND THEN BUILDING A TUNNEL
THROUGH DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, OUT
TO SMITH COVE IN 2038, THEN ON
TO BALLARD IN 2040.
IN THIS CASE BOTH STATIONS ARE
IN TIER 2, WITH ESTIMATED
COMPLETION DATES OF 2037.
NEXT SLIDE.
>> EXCUSE ME.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR.
THANK YOU AGAIN DON, FOR THE
PRESENTATION.
I GUESS JUST IN THE SLIDES, CAN
YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT
FEDERAL FUNDING IS ALREADY
ASSUMED IN THE MATH AND WHAT
ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING CAN
BE OBTAINED?
>> YES.
SO THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR,
THE AGENCY UPDATED THE FEDERAL
FUNDING PROJECTIONS, AND
CURRENTLY THE ST 3 PLAN ASSUMES
THAT THE CAPITAL EXPANSION
PROGRAM WOULD RECEIVE ABOUT
17.7% OF THE TOTAL PROGRAM
WOULD BE UNDERWRITTEN BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE ARE OF COURSE ACTIVELY
ENGAGED UNDER PETER'S
LEADERSHIP, WITH DISCUSSIONS AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL, ABOUT
OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE THAT
SHARE.
BUT IT WILL BE MANY YEARS
BEFORE WE HAVE CERTAINTY ABOUT
WHAT THE OVERALL FEDERAL SHARE
MIGHT BE.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT IS HELPFUL.
MY NEXT QUESTION LEADS ME TO
THIS SLIDE AND THEN IF WE COULD
CIRCLE BACK TO SLIDE 19.
I GUESS WITH MAKING THE
DECISIONS TO DELAY, WHEN THE
MATH IS STILL UNCERTAIN, SEEMS
LIKE A BAD IDEA TO ME.
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT
THE RIGHT TIME TO DELAY WOULD
BE?
>> YOU KNOW FOR THE REASONS
THAT PETER DESCRIBED, WE ARE
WORKING UNDER THE CHAIR'S
DIRECTION TOWARDS A JULY ACTION
ON REALIGNMENT.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS IT WOULD
BE SO HELPFUL TO HAVE CLARITY
ON THE REALIGNMENT FRAMEWORK IN
THE NEAR TERM, IS THAT WE HAVE
ABOUT $2.5 BILLION WORTH OF
PROJECTS THAT ARE THROUGH
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.
AND WE CANNOT ADVANCE THOSE
PROGRAMS INTO DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION, UNTIL WE
REBALANCE THE OVERALL PROGRAM OR
THE BOARD GOES THROUGH A VERY
CHALLENGING PROJECT PROCESS OF
LOOKING AT HOW EACH INDIVIDUAL
PROJECT WOULD AFFECT FUTURE
DECISIONS.
AND THOSE INCLUDE WHETHER TO
ADVANCE FURTHER, ON THE 130th
CONSTRUCTION, THE BUS RAPID
TRANSIT PROGRAM, ALONG THE
NORTH EDGE OF SEATTLE, AND THEN
SOUNDER INVESTMENTS IN SOUTH
KING AND PIERCE COUNTY.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
I GUESS I WILL JUST STILL SAY
THAT MAKING DECISIONS TO DELAY
WHEN THERE IS SUCH AN CERTAINTY,
IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A GOOD
IDEA TO ME.
BUT IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO
SLIDE 19, I GUESS THAT MY
QUESTION HERE IS WHAT IS
PHASING LOOK LIKE FROM THE
USABILITY PERSPECTIVE, RATHER
THAN THE CASH FLOW?
IT ALSO SEEMS TO ME THAT
DELRIDGE TO SMITH COVE, DOES
NOT SERVE THE CITY FROM A
USABILITY FRAMEWORK.
I WILL MAKE ONE COMMENT, AND
THEN MY LAST QUESTION, I HEARD
FROM THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY TODAY
THAT BUILDING THE STATION AT
BALLARD WEST OF 15th WAS CALLED
OUT TODAY.
THAT IS A POSITION I SUPPORT.
IN MY LAST QUESTION, WEST
SEATTLE HAS BEEN SEEMING TO GO
BEFORE BALLARD AND IT SEEMS LIKE
BALLARD COULD GO BEFORE WEST
SEATTLE BUT WHY NOT DO THESE
CONCURRENTLY?
SO THE TWO QUESTIONS THAT I
WANTED TO CIRCLE AROUND, WHAT
IS PHASING LOOK LIKE FROM THE
USABILITY PERSPECTIVE RATHER
THAN CASH FLOW?
CAN WE DO BALLARD AND WEST
SEATTLE CONCURRENTLY?
RATHER THAN ONE BEFORE THE
OTHER.
>> OKAY.
LET ME START WITH THE USABILITY
QUESTION.
I MEAN WHETHER A STATION IS
INTERIM OR LONG-TERM TERMINI,
THERE ARE SIMILAR
CONSIDERATIONS.
ANY STATION THAT IS THE END OF
THE LINE IS LIKELY TO HAVE
HIGHER RIDERSHIP DEMAND AND SO
WE LOOK VERY CLOSELY AT HOW WE
DESIGN THE STATION TO
ACCOMMODATE THE RIDERSHIP
DEMAND, AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO
IN TERMS OF ENSURING GOOD BUS
INTEGRATION. AT INTERIM TERMINI
STATIONS.
SO CAHILL AND HIS PROJECT TEAM
ARE IN FACT AT EACH OF THESE
LOCATIONS, IN CONVERSATIONS
WITH KING COUNTY METRO AND
S.D.O.T.
ABOUT HOW WITH THE STATIONS
FUNCTION, AS POTENTIAL TERMINI
LOCATIONS, TO ENSURE THAT THERE
IS GOOD BUS ACCESS, GOOD WALK
ACCESS, GOOD BIKE ACCESS AND
THAT WE DESIGNED THE STATION TO
ACCOMMODATE WHAT THE RIDERSHIP
DEMAND MIGHT BE.
CAN YOU REPEAT YOUR SECOND
QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER?
>> YES, I APPRECIATE THAT.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS, CAN WE DO
BATTLE AND WEST SEATTLE
CONCURRENTLY?
RATHER THAN ONE BEFORE THE
OTHER.
>> YES.
THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER.
>> I KNOW THEY BOTH DEPEND ON
THE DOWNTOWN TRANSIT TUNNEL.
WHICH IS THE LARGEST.
>> YES.
THE TUNNEL IS PRECISELY WHY IN
THE ORIGINAL ST 3 PLAN, THAT
WEST SEATTLE WAS PROPOSED TO
OPEN AHEAD OF THE BALLARD
EXTENSION.
IS JUST A REALITY THAT THE
CONSTRUCTION DURATION FOR THAT
TUNNELING IS GOING TO BE LONGER
THAN FOR THE EXTENSION TO WEST
SEATTLE.
SO THERE WILL BE IN FACT
CONCURRENT WORK OCCURRING JUST
AS BOTH ARE BEING EVALUATED
SIMULTANEOUSLY THROUGH THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS.
IT IS QUITE LIKELY YOU WILL SEE
CONCURRENT CONSTRUCTION, WE
NEED TO FACE THE OPENING DATES
TO MATCH WHEN ENOUGH
CONSTRUCTION CAN MAKE IT
COMPLETE TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE
REVENUE SERVICE.
>> OKAY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO DO
MORE.
I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD
ALSO HAS A QUESTION.
I AM WAITING WITH ANTICIPATION
TO HEAR WHAT SHE HAS TO ASK.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER, PLEASE.
>> THANKS.
IT IS NOT ALL THAT EXCITING,
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
[ LAUGHTER ] QUESTIONS ON
THREE OF THE SLIDES, SCENARIOS,
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, THEN
GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT ALL
SCENARIOS.
MOVING FIRST TO SLIDE 21.
SCENARIO 1, AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE SLIDE IT SAYS THAT THE
DELRIDGE STATION OPENS WITH THE
TIER 2 TO THE ALASKA JUNCTION,
I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
IS THERE A STATION THAT
DELRIDGE NOT BEEN USED FOR
SEVERAL YEARS?
AND JUST FLAGGING, THAT THAT IS
INDEED THE CASE, THAT IS GOING
TO CREATE A LIVE OF STRESS ON
THE RESIDENTS OF THE YOUNGSTOWN
NEIGHBORHOOD, WITH IMPACTS
POSSIBLY, IF I SAY THIS
CORRECTLY, OCCURRING AT
DIFFERENT TIMES, RATHER THAN
ALL AT ONCE.
SLIDE 22, MY QUESTION IS,
WHETHER OR NOT, WE OFTEN HEAR
UNDER SCENARIO 2, ENTAILING A
STATION IN DELRIDGE, IN 2035.
AND LASTLY, SLIDE 3, I WANTED
TO JUST CONFIRM THAT I AM
UNDERSTANDING THIS CORRECTLY.
THAT IN SIX YEARS, THERE WOULD
BE A LINE FROM WEST SEATTLE, TO
SODO.
I AM THINKING ABOUT THE CAPACITY
THAT IF RIDERS HAVE TO WAIT,
THAT IT WOULD HINDER THE
SUCCESSIVE HOLD SYSTEM PUMP,
AND NEEDS INTEGRATION AND
COOPERATION AMONGST TRANSIT,
METRO, AND S.D.O.T..
>> YES, IN THIS SCENARIO YOU
WOULD FIRST HAVE RAIL OPERATION
BETWEEN THE JUNCTION AND SODO.
AND THEN SIX YEARS LATER,
COMPLETE THE EXTENSION, OUT TO
SMITH COVE, INCLUDING THE
SECOND DOWNTOWN TUNNEL.
SO THERE IS A SIX-YEAR PERIOD
WHERE RIDERS FROM WEST SEATTLE,
WOULD TRANSFER AT SODO, ON TWO
OTHER TRAINS.
THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE ORIGINAL
ST 3 PLAN, THAT HAD ABOUT A
FIVE YEAR PERIOD WHERE THE
TRANSFER WOULD OCCUR.
AND WE ARE IN ALL THE WORK
LOOKING CLOSELY AT NOT JUST THE
INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS, BUT THE
WHOLE SYSTEM.
SO WE WILL HAVE TO, IN 2032, IN
THIS SCENARIO, WE ALSO EXTEND
THE LIGHT RAIL TO TACOMA.
AND WE WOULD HAVE TO ESTABLISH
HEADWAY AND TRAIN LINKS ON THAT
TO TACOMA SERVICE, SUFFICIENT TO
ACCOMMODATE THE TRANSFERS FROM
WEST SEATTLE.
IF WE GO BACK ONE SIDE TO
SCENARIO 2, IN THIS SCENARIO,
DELRIDGE TO DENNY, WOULD BE
COMPLETE.
WE HAVE SEGMENTATION IN PLACE,
WHICH IS OUR TECHNICAL TERM
THAT ENABLES TRAINS FROM WEST
SEATTLE AND IN THIS CASE
DELRIDGE, TO OPERATE THROUGH
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, AND ACTUALLY
NORTH TO LYNNWOOD.
AND THEN THREE YEARS LATER,
WOULD EXTEND FROM DELRIDGE,
OUT TO THE JUNCTION.
THERE WOULD BE A THREE YEAR
PERIOD IN WHICH THE DELRIDGE
STATION WOULD BE AN INTERIM
TERMINUS STATION.
AND THEN IF WE GO TO THE PRIOR
SLIDE, THIS IS WHERE MAYBE WE
HAVE NOT DONE THE BEST JOB, OF
COMMUNICATING THIS SCENARIO.
WE WOULD NOT COMPLETE THE
DELRIDGE STATION, AND HAVE IT
SIT UNUTILIZED FOR A MULTI-YEAR
PERIOD.
PRACTICALLY SPEAKING WHAT THIS
SCENARIO WOULD MEET, IS THAT IN
2035, YOU WOULD RUN TRAINS FROM
THE JUNCTION, DeSOTO, AND THEN
WE WOULD PHASE OUT TO SUPPORT
THAT.
FIVE YEARS LATER WE WOULD, I AM
SORRY, TWO YEARS LATER EXTEND
TO SMITH COVE AND THEN THREE
YEARS AFTER THAT TO BALLARD.
SO IN THIS SCENARIO, COUNCIL
MEMBER, THERE IS A TWO YEAR
PERIOD BETWEEN 2035, AND 2037,
WHERE WEST SEATTLE RIDERS WOULD
TRANSFER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DID NOT WANT TO GIVE ANY OF MY
FRIENDS IN YOUNGSTOWN A SCARE.
[ LAUGHTER ] BY ASKING THAT
QUESTION.
AND WITH THE CHAIR'S
COOPERATION HERE, ONE FOLLOW-UP
QUESTION AS IT RELATES TO ALL
SCENARIOS REALLY.
>> YES.
OF COURSE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO FOR ALL OF THE SCENARIOS,
IF REALIGNMENT IS TAKEN BY THE
BOARD, WITH ALL OF THE OPTIONS
APPROVED BY THE BOARD FOR THE
WEST SEATTLE AND BALLARD LINES,
BE INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT EIS
HAS PLANNED?
ASKED A DIFFERENT WAY, COULD
WARD ACTION ON REALIGNMENT LIMIT
WHAT IS PUBLISHED IN THE DRAFT
EIS?
AND WOULD BOARD ACTION ON
REALIGNMENT RESULT IN ANY
ADDITIONS TO THE DRAFT EIS?
>> I AM NOT SEEING ANYTHING OUT
OF REALIGNMENT THAT WOULD LIMIT
WHAT IS PUBLISHED IN THE DRAFT
EIS.
THE ONLY POTENTIAL ADDITION IS
IF IN FACT THE BOARD ADOPTS THE
REALIGNMENT SCENARIO, IN WHICH
DENNY IS THE INTERIM TERMINI.
WE WOULD THEN NEED TO ADD
EVALUATION OF THE AFT TO THE
DRAFT EIS.
AND I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE
THAT IN ALL SCENARIOS, WEST
SEATTLE AND BALLARD, IS
COMPLETED WITHIN TIER 2, AND SO
THE PROPOSED WORK PLAN IS NOT
ONLY TO FINISH THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROCESS, BUT ALSO TO ADVANCE
THE FULL CORE DOOR IN FINAL
DESIGN, AND THEN BEGIN RIGHT
AWAY ACQUISITION, IN ORDER TO
TRY AND CONTAIN THE TYPE OF
REAL ESTATE PRICING INCREASES
THAT WE HAVE SEEN ON THAT
PROJECT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO I THINK I AM NEARLY DONE.
I WILL WRAP THIS UP REALLY
QUICK IF WE GO TO SLIDE 24.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES, AND I
KNOW THE FULL COUNSELOR, VERY
INTERESTED IN ENGAGEMENT.
AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING
INTENSIVE OUTREACH, INCLUDING A
FOCUS ON EQUITABLE ENGAGEMENT
OVER THE LAST YEAR, IN
PARTICULARLY IN THE SPRING TIME
FRAME.
AND WE HAVE A LOT MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT WORK
THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH COUNCIL
MEMBERS, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO NEXT STEPS, WE ARE
ANTICIPATING THAT BOARD CHAIR
KIEL, AT THE JUNE MEETING, WILL
PROPOSE A DRAFT REALIGNMENT
ACTION AND THEN THE BOARD,
DURING THE MONTH OF JULY, WILL
CONSIDER WHETHER THEY ARE READY
TO TAKE ACTION AND ADOPT A
REALIGNMENT FRAMEWORK.
WITH, YOU KNOW, BUILT-IN ANNUAL
PROGRAM REVIEWS, TO CONTINUE TO
MONITOR FINANCIAL CONDITIONS
AND ADJUST AS THE CONDITIONS
CHANGE.
INTO THAT POINT I JUST WANT TO
SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT OUR COST-
SAVING WORK.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO WHEN WE SAW THE SIGNIFICANT
INCREASES IN THE ESTIMATED COST
IN THE NUMBER OF THE ST 3
PROJECTS, WE MADE A DECISION TO
BRING IN AN INDEPENDENT THIRD-
PARTY REVIEWER, TO REVIEW THE
ESTIMATES, A CONSULTING FIRM BY
THE NAME OF TRI-UNITY.
THEY CONFIRMED THE ESTIMATES
ARE APPROPRIATE FOR CURRENT
LEVEL OF DESIGN AND THE BOARD
ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE
TRI-UNITY TO HELP ASSIST WITH
CAPITAL COST-SAVING WORK, THAT
WE WILL ALSO BE UNDERTAKING.
NEXT SLIDE.
AND THERE IS REALLY THREE
CATEGORIES TO LIST COST
ADMITTING WORK.
ONE, LOOKING AT COST ESTIMATES,
LOOKING AT CONTROLS, AND THREE,
LOOKING AT CAPITAL COST SAVINGS.
AND THAT WILL BE ONGOING AND
TIED TO SPECIFIC PROJECT
SCHEDULES, SO IN THE CASE OF
THE WEST SEATTLE AND BALLARD
PROJECTS, THAT IS WORK THAT
CAHILL RIDGE WILL MEET.
THIS CONCLUDES THE REALIGNMENT
SECTION OF THE PRESENTATION,
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
WE DO HAVE CAHILL HERE, IF YOU
WANT TO UPDATE THE WEST SEATTLE
PROJECT.
>> WE HAVE AN UPDATE FROM
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, AND WE
ARE COMING UP AGAINST TIME
HERE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU
BACK TO OUR COMMITTEE.
I KNOW ONE THING WE WILL WANT
TO TALK ABOUT ARE THE DESIGN
ELEMENTS, AND THE OUTREACH, AND
THE ACCESS AND THE INTEGRATION
OF THE STATIONS, TO PLAN THAT
VERY EARLY.
BECAUSE I KNOW WITH THE
STATIONS THAT ARE OPENING THIS
OCTOBER, WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT
IT, AND WE KNOW WHAT A LONG
LEAD TIME IS REQUIRED, TO HAVE
INPUT ON STATIONS LIKE THAT.
SO WE WANT TO INVITE THE OFFICE
OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, OUR DESIGN
COMMISSION, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
THE ACTUAL STATIONS THEMSELVES.
BUT WE HAVE QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW
FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD AND
MORALE IS.
GO AHEAD.
>> WELL ON THE COST SAVINGS
WORKPLAN, I RECALL THAT WE
RECEIVED A PRESENTATION A WHILE
BACK.
A PRESENTATION AROUND THE WEST
SEATTLE LINE TUNNEL AND THAT
THE PRESENTATION SHOWED THE
DELTA BETWEEN A TUNNEL AND AN
ELEVATED LINE, WAS ACTUALLY
DECREASING.
AND JUST WANTING TO KNOW
WHETHER OR NOT VALUE
ENGINEERING IS BEING DONE.
IS IT STILL PLANNED?
MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT THIS
REALLY PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN
DECISION TO TUNNEL FROM
ROOSEVELT, TO CLOSE THE
NORTHGATE STATION, AND YOU KNOW
AGAIN, IF VALUE ENGINEERING IS
BEING DONE, I THINK THAT MIGHT
BE ANOTHER REASON TO NOT LOCK
IN A DECISION AT THIS TIME.
AND AGAIN, REALLY JUST WANT TO
RESTATE THAT I APPRECIATE THE
NEED FOR THE BOARD TO MAKE
REALIGNMENT DECISIONS.
I DO CONTINUE TO QUESTION THE
PROPOSED TIMING.
THANK YOU.
>> CAHILL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SPEAK TO THE EXAMINATION OF
TUNNEL VERSUS ELEVATED COST IN
SEATTLE?
>> YES, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
YES WE CAN.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, IN
MY SLIDES, I DON'T KNOW PEOPLE
GET TO THEM TODAY BUT WE DO
SPEAK TO THE ENVIRONMENT ALL
PROCESS.
YOU KNOW WE ARE PUBLISHING THE
DRAFT EIS LATER THIS YEAR AND
AT THAT TIME WE ARE ABLE TO
SPEAK TO ALL THE COSTS OF THE
ALTERNATIVES IN WEST SEATTLE
AND HAVE MORE DETAIL ON THAT.
YOU HAD SOME PREVIEW OF THAT OF
COURSE IN PREVIOUS
CONVERSATIONS.
AND THEN OF COURSE AS DON
MENTIONED, WE ARE LOOKING AT
COST SAVINGS EFFORT THROUGHOUT
THE QUARTER, LOOKING TO REDUCE
COST AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT
WE CAN DO TO CONFIGUE OUR
ALTERNATIVES TO POTENTIALLY
HITTING COST SAVINGS, PART OF
THE EFFORT MOVING FORWARD FROM
THIS PERIOD AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU.
I HAVE A QUESTION, I THINK IT
IS FURTHER DOWN, SLIDES 37, IN
TERMS OF HOW THE STATION HAS
SERVED THE COMMUNITY.
MY SPECIFIC QUESTION IS HOW YOU
ASSESS THE SAFETY AND THE
DESIGN OF STATIONS.
I WILL GIVE YOU TWO EXAMPLES.
AT THE MT. BAKER STATION, WHICH
IS ELEVATED, THERE ARE AREAS
BELOW THE PLATFORM THAT ARE
POORLY LIT OR HAVE NARROW
CORRIDORS BETWEEN THE PLATFORM
AND OTHER STRUCTURES.
IT IS CREATING SPACE RIGHT NOW
WHERE PEOPLE ARE USING DRUGS,
IT IS DARK IN THE EVENING AND
PEOPLE FIND BULLETS UNDER THE
PLATFORM.
SO I AM INTERESTED IN
UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS, FOR
INCORPORATING SAFETY ELEMENTS
INTO THE PLAN FOR FOLKS THAT
WILL BE AROUND THERE.
AND THEN AT THE NEW JENKINS PARK
STATION, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE,
YOU KNOW, I KNOW SOUND TRANSIT
IS WORKING ON SIDEWALK
IMPROVEMENTS DIRECTLY
UNDERNEATH THE PLATFORM, BUT
LIGHTING, STREET CROSSINGS
WITHIN A COUPLE HUNDRED FEET OF
THE PLATFORM, THE SIDEWALKS
LEADING TO THE PLATFORM, THEY
ALSO NEED IMPROVEMENT AND
SAFETY.
RAINIER AVENUE IS A FAST READ
AND THERE WAS A HIGHWAY
ENTRANCE JUST A FEW FEET AWAY.
I AM INTERESTED IN WHAT THE
PLANNING IS FOR KEEPING FOLKS
WHO WILL BE WALKING TO THE
STATION, SAFE IN THAT SPACE AS
WELL.
>> CATHAL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
BRIEFLY SPEAK TO SLIDE 37?
>> YES, SURE.
REMIND ME OF SLIDE 37.
[ LAUGHTER ] ESSENTIALLY HERE,
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE STATION
PLANNING WORK, WHICH I BELIEVE
WILL DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE
CONCERNS THAT THE COUNCIL
MEMBER RAISED.
THIS IS AN EFFORT THAT WE HAVE
TAKEN ON WITH THE CITY AS LONG
AS METRO PARTNERS OVER THE PAST
YEARS, TO THINK ABOUT ALL
THINGS NOTED ON THE SCREEN
HERE.
FROM VARIOUS PROJECT
DEVELOPMENT, SO WE DON'T HAVE
ISSUES YOU ARE HIGHLIGHTING.
I THINK OF THOSE THINGS EARLY
AND WE CAN ACCOUNT FOR THOSE
THINGS AND PERHAPS PERHAPS DO A
BETTER JOB THAN WAS DONE IN THE
PAST IN THIS REGARD.
SO WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF WORK IN
TERMS OF STATION NEIGHBORHOOD
FORMS IN PHASE 1 OF THE
PROJECT, THAT HAS INFORMED OUR
WORKSHOPS, A NOTED EFFORT THAT
WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN WITH THE
CITY AND OTHERS.
WE ARE REALLY THINKING ABOUT
ALL OF THESE THINGS ON THE
SCREEN HERE.
>> I WILL SKIP OVER THIS IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME BUT THE SLIDE
WILL SPEAK TO THE DIFFERENT
ROLES TO THE CITY IN THIS
EFFORT.
AND THEN MOVE ONTO THE NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE.
REALLY WHAT YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT THERE IS THE STATION
CONTEXT.
AS NOTED ON THIS TRAFFIC, SOUND
TRANSIT IS VERY FOCUSED, THE
ROLE TO FOCUS ON THE STATION
ITSELF AS WE SEE ON THE LEFT.
WORK NEARING BEYOND THE STATION
AND FOCUSING ON THE WORK
TOGETHER WITH THE CITY AND
OTHERS, WITH THE STATION
CONTEXT.
THE AREA WORKING WITH SOUND
TRANSIT AND THE INTERFACE AND
THINKING ABOUT THOSE CONCERNS
INCLUDING SAFETY, AS YOU
MENTIONED.
AND MAKING SURE THAT WE
CONSIDER THAT EARLY IN PROJECT
DEVELOPMENT.
NEXT SLIDE.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT HOW YOU ARE WORKING
TOGETHER FOR FUTURE PLANNING
BUT AS YOU AND MR. ROGOFF
MENTIONED, THERE ARE MISTAKES
THAT WERE MADE PLANNING THAT
WAS NOT DONE THIS WELL.
IN THE EXISTING TRACK, WHICH IS
WHERE MY DISTRICT IS.
YOU KNOW, THE EXISTING LIGHT
RAIL TRACKS ARE IN SOUTHEAST
SEATTLE, WHERE THE PLANNING DID
NOT INCORPORATE THESE
PRINCIPLES.
MY QUESTION IS WHAT WILL YOU DO
WITH THE EXISTING PLACE TO MAKE
SURE THE AMOUNT ACRE STATION IS
SAFE, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
JENKINS PARK AREA IS DESIGNED
WITH THE FOLKS IN MIND.
AND SO THE STATIONS THAT WE DO
HAVE IN THE CITY ALREADY, THAT
THE NEIGHBORS WHO ARE WALKING
TO AND FROM THE LIGHT RAIL
STATION WHERE THERE IS POOR
LIGHTING, OR GETTING TO THE
COLUMBIA CITY STATION, THAT
THESE AREAS ALREADY EXIST AND
CAN BENEFIT FROM WHAT YOU HAVE
LEARNED.
IN THE PAST, FROM THE PAST
EXPERIENCES, AND CAN GET ACCESS
TO THE KIND OF SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY NEED.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES, IF
I MIGHT OFFER, WE WOULD BE
HAPPY TO COME BACK AND TO GO
INTO GREATER DETAIL ON THE
EXISTING SYSTEM.
ONE THING I WOULD NOTE, THAT
THE ST 3 PLAN INCLUDES A SYSTEM
ACCESS FUND, WHICH IS GIVING US
THE OPPORTUNITY IN FACT TO GO
BACK AND LOOK AT SOME EXISTING
STATIONS AND PARTNER WITH LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS TO MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS, TO ADDRESS THE
TYPES OF THINGS THAT YOU ARE
RAISING.
AND IN FACT, IN THE FIRST ROUND
OF GRANT AWARDS OUT OF THAT
FUND, THE BOARD DID DIRECT SOME
FUNDING TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN
SOUTHEAST SEATTLE, AND SO WE
WOULD BE HAPPY TO COME BACK AND
SPEAK TO THAT.
AND SOME OF THAT FUNDING I
BELIEVE IS ALSO SUPPORTING THE
JENKINS PARK STATION THAT WILL
OPEN IN A FEW YEARS.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL TAKE YOU UP ON THAT AND
LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK WE HAVE A FINAL
QUESTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD.
IF SHE IS STILL --
>> AND D. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I JUST WANT TO GET BACK TO THE
COST-SAVING WORKPLAN.
I AM NOT SURE I GOT AN ANSWER
TO THE QUESTION [ LAUGHTER ]
ABOUT THE COST DECREASING.
BUT LET'S PUT THAT ASIDE FOR A
MOMENT HERE.
I WANT TO ALSO ASK WHETHER OR
NOT THERE ARE COST SAVINGS THAT
ARE NOT JUST FOCUSED ON CAPITAL
COST SAVINGS, WOULD LOVE TO HEAR
THAT WE ARE SCRUBBING ALL OF
OUR BUDGETS, IN ADMINISTRATION
AND OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE,
AS WELL AS TO FIND COST
SAVINGS.
THANK YOU.
>> IF PETER WERE HERE I THINK
HE WOULD REALLY WANT TO SPEAK
TO THAT ISSUE BECAUSE THERE
WERE A NUMBER OF COST
REDUCTIONS THAT HEBER DECK --
THAT HE DIRECTED ON THE
ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE OF THE
AGENCY AND ALSO WE ARE LOOKING
VERY CLOSELY AT THOSE LONG-%
RANGE OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE COST OF THE SYSTEM,
AS WELL.
ALMOST ALL SOUND TRANSIT
SERVICE IS RUN BY OTHER TRANSIT
AGENCIES, ON OUR BEHALF.
IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF ONGOING
ENGAGEMENT ON HOW WE MANAGE THE
COST OVER TIME.
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT,
THEY DO AFFECT THE OVERALL
FINANCIAL PLAN AS WELL.
>> IF YOU BELIEVE THAT WE COULD
GET SORT OF A MORE FULL PICTURE
OF THAT WORK, FROM PETER, --
>> I AM SURE.
>> PERHAPS FOLLOW-UP?
>> I AM SURE HE CAN FOLLOW UP
WITH YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I WANT TO THANK SOUND TRANSIT
FOR ACCEPTING OUR INVITATION TO
START THIS CONVERSATION ON THE
SOUND TRANSIT 3, AND ALL OF THE
COMPLEXITY INVOLVED IN WHAT YOU
ARE TRYING TO DEAL WITH RIGHT
NOW IN TERMS OF CHANGING
REVENUES AND COSTS, AS WELL AS
THE DESIGNING OF THE FUTURE
STATIONS, SOME THINGS THAT
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES TALKED
ABOUT LEARNING FROM PREVIOUS
ITERATIONS. AND WE WANT TO HAVE
YOU BACK AT OUR COMMITTEE, TO
TALK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STATEMENT, WHEN THERE IS
A LOGICAL TIME TO COME BACK.
AND TO TAKE YOU UP ON YOUR
OFFER, I KNOW INDIVIDUAL
COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE EAGER TO
TALK WITH YOU AND DO A DEEPER
DIVE, IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY,
ON STATIONS IMPACTING THEIR
DISTRICTS OR STATIONS THEY ARE
FAMILIAR WITH, AND HEARING
ABOUT.
I HOPE THAT YOU TAKE TO HEART
SOME OF THE THEMES THAT YOU
HAVE HEARD TODAY FROM A MAJORITY
OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ALSO
FROM THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS TODAY.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
BEING HERE AND CONTINUING TO
COORDINATE WITH OUR SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
THANK YOU TO DIRECTOR SAM
ZIMBABWE WITH YOUR ACTIVE
ENGAGEMENT TO SOUND TRANSIT ON
AN ONGOING BASIS.
YOU AND YOUR TEAM OF COURSE
REALLY INDEBTED TO OUR BOARD
MEMBERS, DEBORA JUAREZ, MAYOR
DURKAN, AND THE ONGOING ADVICE
THAT THEY GET FROM ANNE
FENNESS AS WELL IN THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
STAYING FOR EXTRA TIME TODAY.
AND IT WILL BE AVAILABLE
SHORTLY FOR FOLKS TO TAKE A
CLOSER LOOK AT AND AGAIN, THANK
YOU SOUND TRANSIT AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS.
WITH THAT, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS
CONCLUDES THE JUNE 16th 2021
MEETING OF THE TRANSPORTATION
UTILITY COMMITTEE.
THE COMMITTEE PLANS TO MEET
AGAIN ON JULY 7th.
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.