♪ ♪ >>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. THIS IS THE MARCH 11, 2025 MEETING OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL. IT IS 4:02, AND I'M SARA NELSON, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL STRAUSS. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL HOLLINGSWORTH. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL KETTLE. >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> HERE. >> AND COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. >> PRESENT. >> EIGHT PRESENT. >> THANK YOU. I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY PRESENTATIONS FOR TODAY, SO WE'LL MOVE INTO THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, LIMITED TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA, AND THE COUNCIL WORK PROGRAM. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SIGNED UP TODAY? >> WE HAVE FIVE IN- PERSON SPEAKERS AND ONE REMOTE SPEAKER. >> LET'S GIVE EVERYBODY TWO MINUTES AND START WITH THE FIVE IN- PERSON SPEAKERS. >> ALL RIGHTY. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE REGISTERED, AND SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT ON THEIR TIME. SPEAKERS MICS WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DO NOT END THEIR COMMENTS. THE FIRST TWO ARE NANCY CRAIG FOLLOWED BY LAND LOHSER. >> I'M NANCY CRAIG, I LIVE AT THE BALLARD LANDMARK SENIOR COMMUNITY. WE OPPOSE THE CURRENT ROUTE. WE TRACK TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND FULL COUNCIL MEETINGS TO IDENTIFY PROJECTS RELATED TO THAT. LAST JULY, WE WERE PLEASED THAT THE COUNCIL DEFEATED AN AMENDMENT TO DEFEND THE UPCOMING TRANSPORTATION LEAVY TO MOVE $20 MILLION FROM STREET REPAIRS TO ANOTHER CATEGORY FROM WHICH IT COULD BE USED TO FUND THE MARKET ROUTE. WE WERE BLIND SIDED WHEN, ONE WEEK LATER, THE AMENDMENT WAS PRESENTED AGAIN. TWO COUNCILMEMBERS CHANGED THEIR VOTE AND PASSED IT. IN DECEMBER, A PROVISO WAS PASSED BY THE COUNCIL REQUIRING THEM TO PROVIDE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS, BOTH COUNCIL'S REVIEW AND APPROVAL BEFORE SPENDING THE MONEY. THIS NEW LEVEL OF OVERSIGHT ALSO PROVIDES THIS VISIBILITY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. COUNCIL BILL 102946 LIFTS THIS PROVISO. WE STRONGLY OBJECT AND REQUEST A NO VOTE ON COUNCIL BILL 120946. WE DO NOT WANT TO BE BLINDSIDED AGAIN. THIS WAS GOOD GOVERNANCE IN DECEMBER. IT IS GOOD GOVERNANCE NOW. >> NEXT UP IS LAND LOHSER, FOLLOWED BY BENNETT HASSLETON. >> MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS LANING LOHSER, LAN FOR SHORT. I'M THE RESIDENT AT THE BALLARD CARE LANDMARK INN. YOU WERE WISE TO TAKE EXTRA STEPS IN DECEMBER TO HAVE EXTRA OVERSIGHT AND INPUT INTO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BIG LEVY FOR TRANSPORTATION. IT IS, INDEED, AS ONE OF YOUR MEMBERS SAID, INCREDIBLY DETAILED AND A LONG-TERM PLAN. YOU WERE RIGHT IN DECEMBER WHEN YOU DECIDED YOU SHOULD KEEP A FIRM GRIP ON HOW OUR DOLLARS ARE SPENT. YOU CAN DO THAT BEST, I THINK, BY REJECTING CB 120946. YOUR INVOLVEMENT AND OVERSIGHT WILL PRODUCE BETTER OUTCOMES AND NEED NOT DELAY PROGRESS. PAIR I WORKED A LONG TIME IN GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL ENGINEERING AND HEAVY CONSTRUCTION. WHAT YOU FOLKS NEED TO DO SHOULDN'T DELAY ANYTHING AT ALL. YOU WERE RIGHT IN DECEMBER AND THERE'S NO REASON TO CHANGE NOW. PLEASE VOTE NO ON CB 120946. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BENNETT HASSLETON, FOLLOWED BY ALEX SILVERMAN. GO AHEAD, BENNETT. >> HI, SMALL WORLD. SO YOU REMEMBER YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WHERE THE PROTESTORS GOT ARRESTED. I WAS THE GUY THAT GOT SHOVED. I WAS IN THE PROTEST AND THE OTHER GUY SHOVED ME IN FRONT OF THE POLICE AND THEY ARRESTED HIM. AREN'T YOU ONE OF -- SO I HAD A FALLING OUT WITH SOME PEOPLE IN THIS GROUP A WHILE AGO BECAUSE THEY WERE YELLING WILDLY HOMOPHOBIC THINGS AND COPS AND TELLING COPS TO KILL THEMSELVES. I SAID WE'RE ON THE SAME TEAM BUT YOU SHOULD NOT BE DOING THAT. THEY GOT MAD AT ME AND THEY ARE STILL MAD ABOUT IT. SO WE WERE THERE ON THE SAME SIDE, BUT I HAVE NO TIES TO THAT GROUP. NO TIES! A COMPLETE LACK OF TIES. AN ABSENCE LEVEL OF TIES TO THAT GROUP. WE WERE JUST THERE AT THE SAME EVENT. WELL, THE CITY ATTORNEY ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING THERE WILL BE NEW CHARGES FILED FOR THE PERSON THAT ATTACKED ME. TO BE CLEAR WHAT THAT MEANS, YOU REMEMBER A YEAR AGO I WAS HERE, WE FIGURED WE WOULD GET ARRESTED. I GOT CHARGED FOR THAT. THE PERSON WHO SHOVED ME TO THE GROUND THAT I ALMOST HIT MY HEAD ON THE PAVEMENT, NOT CHARGED. WHY IS THAT? WELL, OF COURSE, THIS IS THE SAME CITY ATTORNEY THAT I FILED THE COMPLAINT AGAINST FOR PUTTING OUT A FALSE COMPLAINT, AND THEY INITIALLY DID CHARGE THE PERSON, BUT YOU THINK AT SOME POINT THEY LOOKED TAT DOCUMENT AND SAID, OH, YOU SHOVED THAT GUY? OH, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, THIS IS A PRETTY BAD LOOK FOR AN ELECTED CITY ATTORNEY. YOU CHARGE A PROTESTOR FOR A NON- VIOLENT SIT- IN, AND THEN THE PROTESTOR FILES A COMPLAINT AGAINST YOU FOR SOMETHING UNRELATED, AND LATER SOMEBODY ATTACKS THAT SAME PROTESTOR AND YOU DON'T CHARGE THAT PERSON. NOW, I DID NOT WANT THE GUY'S LIFE RUINED WHO ATTACKED ME BUT THE CITY ATTORNEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE POSITION THAT WHAT HE DID WAS WORSE THAN WHAT I DID, AND TAKING THE OPPOSITE POSITION WAS RIDICULOUS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEX ZIMMERMAN, FOLLOWED BY SAM MONTROS. WE'LL TRY IT AGAIN. THANK YOU. LANGUAGE ] MY NAME IS ALEXANDER, I AM SUPPORTER FOR TEN YEARS AND MAGA MEMBER. I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT AGENDA NUMBER -- THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. SO, FOR SIX MONTHS, EVERY DAY, I COME TO COUNCIL OFFICE AND ASK FOR ONE MINUTE FOR SIX MONTHS EVERY DAY. AND THEY REFUSE. WHY? I TALKING ABOUT TICKET FOR -- BUT AS WE PAY RIGHT NOW TOO MUCH. GOVERNMENT CROOKS ARE -- WITH ARTIFICIAL GOVERNMENT DECISION. THIS EXACTLY WHY I NEED ONLY ONE MINUTE. THIS COUNCIL, BOB SAKA, HE DON'T GIVE ME SPEAKER. SAME HAPPENED WITH HUMAN RIGHT COMMISSION, YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEAN. I COMPLAINT TO KATIE MOORE ABOUT THIS HUMAN RIGHT COMMISSION REFUSES FOR THREE, FOUR MONTHS AND REFUSE -- GUYS, SITUATION VERY SIMPLE. FOR TEN YEAR, I ASK YOU OPEN BETTER ROOM IN CITY HALL ONE DAY PER WEEK SO EVERYBODY CAN COME AND TALK FOR THREE MINUTES WITHOUT YOU CONTROLLING. I HAVE -- YOU ARE IDIOT. NO ONE COUNCIL, NO ONE MAYOR. WHERE IS THE PROBLEM? WHY YOU CANNOT TALK ONE DAY PER WEEK SO PEOPLE CAN COME AND SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES. STAND UP TO IDIOT. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SAM MONTROSS. >> HI THERE. MY NAME IS SAM THE MONTROSS. I WASRY CENTLY MADE AWARE OF THE PLAN TO BUILD PICKLEBALL COURTS WHERE THERE ARE WETLANDS. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THERE ARE NOT MORE STUDIES BEING PUT FORTH HOW THIS WILL IMPACT THE LIFE THAT IS THERE RIGHT NOW. WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON ANY, YOU KNOW, MATERIAL PUT OUT THERE ABOUT WHY THIS IS BEING CREATED IS JUST DUE TO GENERAL INTEREST. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY REPORTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS PUT FORTH ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THIS GOING TO DO, WHAT IMPACT IS THIS GOING TO HAVE? SO I'M ADDRESSING PARTICULARLY THE MEMBERS HERE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN PARKS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THAT. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. THAT'S OUR LAST IN- PERSON SPEAKER. WE'LL NOW MOVE INTO OUR ONE REMOTE SPEAKER, WHICH WILL BE DAVID HANES. >> YES, AS A REMINDER, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6. GO AHEAD, DAVID. >> HI. DAVID HANES. WHAT MAKES IT UP SAFE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY, THAT IGNORES THE CONTENT OF THE CRIMINAL CHARACTER, THE ONE SEATTLE -- WITH RACIST DEI PRIORITIES -- [ INAUDIBLE ] LISTED NON- VIOLENT, LOW LEVEL, WHILE PAYING POLITICALLY CONNECTED NON-PROFITS TO RUN INTERFERENCE FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS USING HOMELESS MONEY SQUANDERED ON CRIMINALS THAT DESERVE PUNISHMENT -- NOT REWARD THEM FIRST LIKE COUNCIL HAS RACIALLY DISCRIMINATED CITIZENS HATED BY SERVICE PROVIDERS, WITH NO LEGITIMATE CLI QUALIFIED WRAP AROUND SERVICE PROVIDERS TO DO EXPERT'S WORK -- [ INAUDIBLE ] THE ONE SEATTLE THAT REMINDS YOU WHAT COMES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL AND DUMPS THEIR RACIST, PERVERTED TRAUMA ON EVERYBODY ELSE. THE ONE SEATTLE THAT SABOTAGES THE INTEGRITY OF POLICE REFORM AND CHOOSES A CHIEF -- THE ONE SEATTLE WITH THE SAME MAYOR WHO HAS BEEN PUSHING HIS DRUG WORLD -- THE VERY MAYOR THAT THIS COUNCIL DEAFS TO ON PUBLIC SAFETY, THE SAME CORRUPT MAYOR WITH A WAR ON THE HOMELESS INSTEAD OF A WAR ON LOW- LEVEL DRUG PUSHERS UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE -- BY TRESPASSING ALL THESE DRUG ADDICT, THIEVING, AND PREDATORY APEX DRUG PUSHERS WHO SHOULD BE DROVE BACK TO THEIR SAFE HAVENS AND SHUT DOWN. WE NEED A BETTER NETWORK OF EFFORT INSTEAD OF PEOPLE USING EXCUSES TO ALLEVIATE -- >> THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS. >> ALL RIGHT. WE'VE REACHED THE END OF OUR LIST OF PUBLIC SPEAKERS, SO THE COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE PRO- PRO- REFERRAL CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. AND IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NONE, IT IS ADOPTED. NOW WE WILL CONSIDER THE PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR. ITEMS INCLUDE THE MINUTES OF MARCH 4, 2025. COUNCIL BILL 120947, PAYMENT OF THE BILLS. AND THAT'S IT. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE FROM TODAY'S CONCEPT SENT CALENDAR? HEARING NONE, I MOVE TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON? >> AYE. >> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES ON MY BEHALF. MOVING INTO COMMITTEE REPORTS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD. >> RESOLUTION 32165, A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE STATEMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT TO THE 2025 ADOPTED BUDGET, AND 2025 THROUGH 2030 ADOPTED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> THANKS. SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE HERE LAST YEAR, YOU'LL REMEMBER A SIMILAR RESOLUTION WHICH IS AN ANNUAL TRADITION. IT'S THE RESOLUTION -- THIS RESOLUTION REPLACES THE VERSIONS OF THE CLERK FILE THAT SHOWS WHAT WAS IN OUR 2025 ADOPTED BUDGET IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. SO EACH YEAR, WHEN WE PASS THE BUDGET, WE DO SO WITH A NUMBER OF STATEMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT OR SLIDES FOR THE PUBLIC'S INFORMATION AND THE FOLLOWING SPRING WE LEARNED THAT SOME OF THOSE SLIDES NEED REVISION, EITHER FROM THE INPUT OF THE EXECUTIVE OR FROM INPUT FROM COUNCIL STAFF AND MEMBERS. AND SOMETIMES THAT'S ABOUT CHANGING THE REPORTING BACK TO COUNCIL, OR TO CLARIFY WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE EXECUTIVE TO DO. SO YOU'LL -- YOU WILL HAVE SEEN IN YOUR IN BOX LAST WEDNESDAY AN EMAIL FROM THE CENTRAL STAFF DESCRIBING THE CONTEXT AND DETAILS OF THIS RESOLUTION, AND ULTIMATELY IT REMOVES ONE SLIDE, BECAUSE THE EXECUTIVE IS GOING TO BE SENDING US LEGISLATION, MAKING IT REDONE UNREDUNDANT THEN MODIFICATION TO SEVEN OTHER SLIDES ADJUSTING THE DUE MATES -- DATES. I UNDERSTAND THAT CENTRAL STAFF DRAFTED THE RESOLUTION AFTER SPEAKING WITH EACH OF YOU DIRECTLY, WHO ARE THE SPONSORS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL SLIDE. ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE CHANGED. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THE CONTENT OR THE REASON FOR THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION? OKAY. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER PRESIDENT NELSON. >> AYE. >> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION. AND PLEASE READ ITEM TWO INTO THE RECORD. >> THE REPORTREPORT THE COUNCIL BILL 120946, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AMENDING ORDINANCE 127156 WHICH ADOPTED THE 2025 BUDGET, INCLUDING THE 2025 THROUGH 2030 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK TO IT. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. COLLEAGUES, I HAVE SHARED OUR COLLECTIVE STORIES, AND STORY IN PARTICULAR, SO MANY TIMES I'LL BE BRIEF TODAY. THIS WORK COULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT COUNCILMEMBER SAKA AND HIS PARTNERSHIP AS WELL AS THE ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTABILITYACCOUNTABILITY INCLUDED IN THE LEVY, WHICH HAVE FOLDED IN VERY NICELY TO THIS WHOLE PROCESS. THIS PROVISO IS THE PRODUCT OF ESDOT SUBMITTING A CURRENT FALL BUDGET, MEANING THE BUDGET DID NOT INCLUDE APPROPRIATIONS IN THE CASE THAT THE LEVY PASSED. LUCKY FOR SEATTLE, THE LEVY PASSED. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE USE THIS TOOL OF MEGA PROVISO TO ENSURE THAT THE ACCOUNTABILITY WORK WASN'T AVOIDED, AND AS THIS ACCOUNTABILITY WORK IS COMPLETE WE MUST MOVE SWIFTLY TO RELEASE THIS PROVISO TO ENSURE THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF DELAY ARE AVOIDED. WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO DO TO PROVIDE THE ENVIRONMENT THAT RESIDENTS ARE REQUESTING, AND THAT KEEPS OUR ECONOMY WORKING. I WAS ASKED LAST WEEK IF THERE IS A SPECIFIC SINGLE LARGE OR SMALL PROJECT THAT I'M EXCITED FOR IN THIS 2025 PLAN. MY ANSWER, THE 2025 PLAN AND THIS PROVISO HAVE SO MANY PROJECTS ACROSS OUR CITY, BIG, MEDIUM AND SMALL. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE PASSING TODAY. CHANGES ALL ACROSS OUR CITY. WHEN WE WENT THROUGH APPENDIX A, SOME OF THE SECTIONS THAT LIST PROJECTS WENT ON FOR PAGES. FOR EXAMPLE, SIDEWALK REPAIR AND CURB RAMP CONSTRUCTION, THOSE START ON 18 AND END ON PAGE 21. THE NEXT SECTION, A CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS, THOSE PROJECTS START ON PAGE 22 AND ENDS ON PAGE 24. THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. EACH OF THOSE SPECIFIC PLACES IS GOING TO CHANGE THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT FOR SOME OR MANY PEOPLE. WHEN YOU AGGREGATE ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS TOGETHER, IT BECOMES A REALLY BIG PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. SO THANK YOU TO ESDOT. NOW TIME FOR COUNCIL ACTION. THIS LEGISLATION RELEASES THE FULL FUNDING FOR THOSE PROJECTS IN 2025 TO ENSURE ESDOT HAS EVERYTHING IT NEEDS TO GET THIS WORK DONE. SO COLLEAGUES, LET'S GET THIS LEVY DELIVERED. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR ANY CLOSING STATEMENTS OR ANYTHING? >> SURE, THANK YOU, MADAME COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I WILL BE VOTING FOR THIS LEGISLATION TODAY AND I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES, ESDOT, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR GETTING US TO THIS POINT WHERE WE'RE IN A POSITION TO LIFT THE LEVY PROVISO. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT, AND YOUR THOUGHTFUL PARTNERSHIP. AND THIS WHOLE COLLECTIVE, STRATEGIC EFFORT. COLLEAGUES, YOU'LL RECALL THIS PROVISO WAS PLACED ON THE DEPARTMENT DURING BUDGET LATE LAST YEAR, BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL BUDGET DID NOT INCLUDE A LEVY SPENDING PLAN. WE DIDN'T HAVE, AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY, WE DIDN'T HAVE ADEQUATE TIME TO THOUGHTFULLY CONSIDER WHAT A CITY BUDGET WITH A PAST LEVY WOULD LOOK LIKE AND SO THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT -- WAS AND IS AN IMPORTANT ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM. THAT IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT AND DIMENSION TO THIS STORY. ANOTHER IMPORTANT DIMENSION TO THIS STORY IS THAT WE LIVE IN A DISTRICT SYSTEM. AS ELECTED OFFICIALS IN OUR DISTRICTS, WE ARE NOW MORE CLOSELY CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE. REGULAR ENGAGEMENT WITH COUNCIL BY ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS, IN THIS CASE ESDOT IS CRUCIAL NOW MORE THAN EVER. AND SO AS WE LOOK AT THE PROVISO TODAY, THE EXPECTATION INHERENT IN THIS LEVY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT ESDOT CONTINUE TO PROACTIVELY ENGAGE NOT NEARLY INFORM THIS COUNCIL AND COMMUNITIES THAT WE ALL SERVE. I THINK THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF THAT SO FAR, WHICH IS IN PART WHY I'M PREPARED AND EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO LIFT THIS LEVY TODAY, OR LIFT THIS PROVISO TODAY. BUT LET'S CONTINUE THAT PATH, MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE AS I'VE SAID IN THE PAST, THIS IS A FAIRLY LARGE LEVY. THE LARGEST IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY. IT'S ALSO THE MOST ACCOUNTABLE LEVY IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY. WE SAW THAT ACCOUNTABILITY IN ACTION LAST WEEK. AND THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND OUR SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND HERE WE ARE TODAY. COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, ESPECIALLY COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. I WANT TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP, AND I'M EXCITED TO PUT THEM IN POSITION TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO DELIVER UPON THESE EXCITING PROJECTS. THAT IS ALL FOR ME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. I WAS NOT MEANING TO FORECLOSE FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM MY OTHER COLLEAGUES. IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. >> I HAD ONE QUESTION, AND I WANTED TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS ADDRESSED. IS THAT -- COULD YOU -- IS THAT THE ONE THAT REQUIRED FUNDING -- WAS THAT AN AMENDMENT TOGETHER WITH SOME OF THE -- WITH FUNDING FROM ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE THAT WAS USED OTHERWISE FOR -- TO HELP JUMP- START OTHER PROJECTS? CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT AMENDMENT? >> YEAH. I WOULD DEFER SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE AMENDMENT AUTHOR ON THAT, BUT THAT WAS A VOTE THAT WE TOOK DURING THE LEVY LEGISLATION PROCESS, AND IT WAS ULTIMATELY FORMED THE BASIS OF ATTACHMENT A, WHICH IS A COMMITMENT THAT WE AS A CITY MADE. I WELCOME ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THE AMENDMENT AUTHOR. >> YES. I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT IS THE AMENDMENT THAT PASSED IN JULY OF 2024. >> RIGHT. >> WHICH COUNCIL PRESIDENT I BELIEVE YOU VOTED AGAINST. >> RIGHT. >> WHICH WAS MOVING FUNDING FROM THE AAC RESERVE FUND, WHICH WAS UNACCOUNTED FOR DOLLARS. SO THESE WERE DOLLARS THAT DID NOT HAVE A SPEND PLAN ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. SO THESE UNACCOUNTED FOR DOLLARS WERE THEN ACCOUNTED FOR BY PLACING THEM IN THE MISSING LINK FUND FOR MARKET AND LEERY. THE PROCESS CONTINUES OF PLANNING, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE'S BEEN DEEP ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BALLARD LANDMARK FROM THE FIRST PROPOSAL TO WHERE ESDOT IS NOW, AND AS ESDOT CONTINUES THEIR DESIGNS AND REFINING THEIR DESIGNS, THE BALLARD LANDMARK WILL CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED. JUST BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND PLAN, A NEW DRIVEWAY WAS PROPOSED THAT WOULD SEPARATE THEIR FRONT DOOR FROM THE TRAIL. SO WE HAVE HAD PUBLIC COMMENT HERE, DISCUSSING RESIDENT'S CURRENT SITUATION, STEPPING OUT OF THE FRONT DOOR AND BEING BUZZED BY SCOOTERS GOING TOO FAST ON THE SIDEWALK. THAT WOULD BE WHOLLY AVOIDED BY HAVING A DRIVEWAY THAT ALLOWS FOR PRIVATE ACCESS TO THE LANDMARK FACILITY THAT SEPARATES BOTH THE ROAD AND THE TRAIL FROM THEIR FRONT DOOR. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION. I WANTED TO SIMPLY EXPLAIN TO FOLKS THAT ARE PROBABLY WATCHING -- THAT ARE HERE IN CHAMBERS, AND EXPLAIN WHY I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION. AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO WAS THE ONE THAT I WAS THINKING IT WAS. AND SO I DID VOTE AGAINST THAT AMENDMENT BECAUSE I -- NOT BECAUSE OF THE MERITS OF THE PROJECT ITSELF, BUT BECAUSE OF THE USE OF FUNDING FROM ANOTHER SOURCE THAT WAS, YES, IT WAS UNALLOCATED AND COULD BE USED FOR OTHER THINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. I DID VOTE AGAINST THAT, BUT I AM EXPLAINING THAT I'M GOING TO BE VOTING TODAY, BECAUSE THISTHIS A -- THESE ARE CRUCIAL -- THIS IS A LONG LIST OF CRUCIAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THAT WILL NOT ONLY IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT MAKE CIRCULATION THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, NO MATTER THE MODE, SAFER AND THAT IS THE -- THAT'S THE FIRST REASON. BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRING THING FORWARD, BECAUSE IT'S TIME TO GET THESE PROJECTS GOING, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY VOTE THAT WE TAKE HAS TO BE WEIGHED AGAINST THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF THE WHOLE PACKAGE. SO ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY. LET'S SEE, JUST MAKING SURE. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> AYE >> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. >> AYE. >> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF. THERE WERE NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR AND THERE'S NOT A RESOLUTION FOR INTRODUCTION AND PTION TODAY. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST TO BE EXCUSED FROM THE COUNCIL MEETING ON APRIL 22nd. >> ALL RIGHT. NOT SEEING ANY OBJECTIONS. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA IS EXCUSED ON APRIL 22nd. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT? >> YES. >> I WOULD LIKE TO BE EXCUSED FROM THE APRIL 1st SEATTLE COUNCIL MEETING, AND IT'S NOT A >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE WOULD LIKE TO BE EXCUSED FROM THE APRIL 1st COUNCIL MEETING. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, REQUESTING TO BE EXCUSED APRIL 1st AND THAT IS ALSO NOT A JOKE. >> NO JOKE, I WANT TO GO SOMEPLACE TOO. NO OBJECTION FOR THE -- EXCUSING COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FROM THE APRIL 1st COUNCIL MEETING? GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE. ALL RIGHT. AS THERE IS NO -- WE'VE REACHED TODAY'S AGENDA. OUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS MARCH 18 AT 2:00 P.M. LOOKS LIKE THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS. THE TIME IS 2:31 P.M. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.