Thread by @andrew_ace_agh

Hello and welcome to #AceReporting on today's Seattle City Council Meeting! As always, tips are appreciated-

venmo: houstonace
CashApp: $Archstar

if you do not know already, the 2020 budget veto override is happening TOMORROW (Tues) so get ready for that.

#SeattleProtests

Today we have a # of items including a slate of commission appointments. Other notable items:

- Agreement with Seattle Arena Company, LLC related to transit plans around CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA

- The carbon note I wrote about in The Urbanist

- Property transfer to Byrd Barr Place

- Establishment of an Equitable Development Initiative Oversight Board

First item is that we are declaring this week Diaper Need Awareness Week. Check westsidebaby.org for more info on their diaper drive.

Speaking of diapers, we have a happy baby!

And now we have an amendment to to introduce a new bill, which is the potential substitute bill should the Council not override the veto tomorrow. (per my understanding) Motion carries unanimously.

Some other clerical work that is currently being done. A bill is moved to a resolution and two appointments are being removed from today's decisions. (assuming they weren't available today)

We also just added a landmark designation vote for the Via Camini. Apparently it is time sensitive.

Villa Camini* building. It is in the U District.

And now we are opening public comment!

First comment is from a representative of Puget Sound Sage in favor of the permanent Equitable Development Initiative Board. Currently it is temporary.

Second comment is from a D4 constituent and hold the line on overriding the veto. #DefundSPD

D7 resident now calling to also ask the Council to hold the line on the veto.

D3 resident also asking for Council to override Mayor Jenny's budget veto.

D2 resident also calling in favor of overriding the veto. If we have a D1, D5, and D6 resident call in, that's every district.

Another D7 caller against overriding the veto.

And now we have a D3 resident calling to complain about an encampment. (not going to guess his race)

TK now calling in and talking about their 13 stitches from SPD, asking for Council to keep their promises and override the mayor's veto. #DefundSPD

lol @ Cathy Tuttle: "this resolution is far from perfect..."
re: carbon note. Noting that this does not detract from the need for more dense housing.

(her whole comment is essentially saying I had a point with my open letter, which happens to be here:)

theurbanist.org/2020/09/21/ope…

And another D2 resident asking Council to override the mayor's veto.

Current comment from a D7 resident condemning the OPA's recent reports which absolved SPD of many of their egregious acts against protesters, also chiding CM Herbold in the process.

Missed a piece of today's agenda but the last two comments are in support of the resolution which will rename a portion of E. Union Street between 34th and 35th Ave "Douglas Q. Barnett Street."

Comment in favor of Ranked Choice Voting and another D4 resident comment in favor of overriding the mayor's veto.

Now we have the CEO of Byrd Barr place in support of the land transfer of the former Fire Station No. 23 to them.

Another D3 comment in support of overriding the mayor's veto and a second week with a person asking Seattle reducing the voting age to 12.

Another lovely comment in favor of Douglas Q. Barnett Street.

And now a comment explaining what happened with the Hyatt last week and the fake fliers given to unhoused individuals on that day. Also noting the harsh police response that day.

And now we have a D6 resident in favor of overriding the veto. I think that leaves D1 and D5 from having called in.

Another two comments asking for the Council to override the veto, the last one being a constituent of CM Lewis. (D7)

Alright and now into the agenda. First item is related to the "transit-related" improvements around CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA.

The agreement essentially allows the arena to use the street impact fees they would have to pay to do improvements during construction.

tldr: any credits given to developers over 300K have to be approved by Council and it makes sense to do the construction once instead of twice, so overall it's not bad. (though portions of the plan are still questionable)

Passes unanimously! Now the City Auditor is asking a question for the suspension of the report of the city's budget outlook b/c of COVID-related issues as well as the time it takes to do the report. This comes as there is nothing timely or helpful that would come from this report

Also passes unanimously!

Now getting into new Item #3, which is designating Villa Camini as a historical landmark that also passes unanimously.

And now we're getting into the carbon note resolution.

CM Pedersen is now crowing.

"City Hall can do more to address climate change."

"This is a qualitative response."

Exactly, this is extremely subjective carbon note.

Resolution passes unanimously.

Alright! Moving on to more important things, the transfer of property from the City to Byrd Barr Place. This transfer, like almost every transfer of city property to a community organization, has been ten years in the making.

Passes unopposed! (we seem to have lost CM Mosqueda)

Now getting into establishing the Equitable Development Initiative Advisory Board as permanent.

And it passes!

We are now getting into appointments so I'm going to disassociate for a bit.

If you're extremely curious as to who the appointments are, the agenda is here: seattle.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&…

appointment list starts on page 7.

Ok we're back on to items and discussing the Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network. This replaces an analog system that already exists with a digital one. Something handy to have just in case...you know.

Passes unanimously! And now into RapidRide G aka the Madison BRT. This increases the amount of money committed by the City to $121 to $134MM, an increase of $5MM from the city. This is necessary to qualify for a federal grant.

CM Pedersen reporting concern around diverting non-dedicated funds to a "high ticket item" like this.

CM Strauss now speaking in favor of the project and explaining how the project is not "true" rapid transit (b/c they lack transit-only lanes) and is committed to more projects like this.

CM Herbold now speaking and concerned about taking funds that are currently designated for the Fauntleroy Way Project. Please note that if we defunded SPD this wouldn't have to be the case.

And the bill passes unanimously!

Now a bill that clarifies that tenants at some city owned property pay regular rates to Seattle City Light. (must've been some kind of disagreement.) It passes unanimously.

And now two more bills that pass related to Seattle City Light: one related to the dam we get hydro energy from (renewal of agreement) and another that updates metering related to solar power production to put things in line with new state law.

And another bill related to energy - it creates "a broader suite of voluntary renewable energy program options to City Light customers."

This also passes unanimously.

And now the renaming of a portion of E. Union to "Douglass Q. Barnett St." He is known as a pioneer of Black theater in the PNW.

And it passes unanimously!

And the last item, sets the time and place for the hearing related to the Waterfront Local Improvement District and its appeal. Essentially landowners in the area are peeved they have to pay for the improvements. But it's a required resolution.

And this passes, so we are done for the day!

A reminder to call your CM before tomorrow's veto. It seems like email isn't getting responses right now.
That, or protest tonight and/or call in during comment tomorrow.

#SeattleProtests