News
Campaign Info
King County has published the contents of the campaign brochures you will receive in a few weeks. But why wait, right? Here they are now. Campaign Statements
I made not one, but two videos yesterday! The first is somewhat tongue in cheek and will only take 60 seconds of yer life. The second is decidedly not and will require nine minutes. I hope you watch both and find at least one useful. But the one titled An Externality is one of the more complicated, but important concepts I’ve been trying to convey for a very long time.
Traffic
Note that 216th near Military Road will be closing soon for the next year. as part of the SR-509/Link Light Rail project. One. Year. But in exchange, when complete, you’ll get an entirely new bridge with bike lanes and everything. 🙂
This Week
Wednesday 11:00AM Coffee With a Cop is coming to Highline College, building 8b.
Wednesday: As you’ll read, apparently there will be a demonstration of a Navier Boat next Wednesday, October 4th at the Marina. I hope you all can be there to watch. I’ll try to get a time published asap.
Thursday: The scheduled Public Safety Committee meetings has been cancelled.
Last Week
Wednesday: Senator Patty Murray’s office to talk about air quality monitors. We’ve become so complacent on airport issues that the amount of re-education gets tiresome, so forgive me if you’ve heard this before.
In 1976, the area created the Sea-Tac Communities Plan which promised all kinds of ‘stuff’ to the area so we all might learn to live in harmony a growing airport (you can stop laughing now.) One of the things that was forgotten was the concept of ongoing noise and air quality monitoring. The Port installed the noise monitors, but skipped the air quality monitoring. In fact, the Port has updated their noise monitoring equipment three times, spending $15MM to do so.
OK, why noise monitors but no air quality monitoring? My slightly cynical, slight over-simplification (but not much.) Federal law forbids legal action based on noise; so it’s no legal threat to have those numbers. But measuring air quality? That’s potential trouble. Poor air quality is actionable, but only if it is measured over time to a certain standard–which has never happened when it comes to aviation emissions. You’ll see air quality monitor readings all over the region, but those devices only track road and smoke (wildfire) emissions, not aviation emissions. You will know that an elected is serious about the airport when they aggressively support comprehensive aviation air quality monitoring. As I do. 🙂
Wednesday: Seattle South Side Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum. Candidates for all the local city council and school board races were there, but unlike previous versions, there was no q&a or video. It was just a mixer, with drinks and very tasty snacks. I spent the time regretting some of my life choices, but ended up having a couple of very productive interactions I did not expect. I’ve come to believe that a lot of ‘politics’ is like amateur fishing–you spend enough time on the water and you’re bound to get a couple of often unexpected hits.
Thursday: 4:00PM Economic Development Committee (Economic Development – 28 Sep 2023 – Agenda – Pdf) (Video).
Thursday: 5:00PM Municipal Facilities Committee (Municipal Facilities Committee – 28 Sep 2023 – Agenda – Pdf). (Video) Which was particularly unfortunate as this was the first meeting since 2022.
Both meetings featured an ‘update’ from our Ferry Consultant Peter Philips on something called Navier Boat/Hydrofoil. Which sounds like this: https://www.navierboat.com/mobility
I used the air quotes because this is the first mention I can find of the thing in Council records. Mr. Philips is also the publisher of the City Currents Newsletter. He is also the organiser of a thing called the Ferry Conference–a for-profit event which promotes the commercial ferry service. If I ever sound stroppy about ferries, I have never thought it was ethical to have a paid consultant, whose works in parallel to promote ferry service.
Cm Nutting, who chairs both the Municipal Facilities Committee and the Economic Development Committee, commented on the great stats the first (and only) year of service provided. As I listened to his recitation I was reminded of that famous quote, Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics, which ironically, I’ve been improperly attributing to Mark Twain for the past forty years. 😀
Apparently there will be a demonstration of a Navier Boat next Wednesday, October 4th at the Marina. I hope you all can be there to watch.
I strongly encourage you to watch this bit from the MFC meeting which gives Mr. Philip’s take on our ferry history and the plan for this new electric gizmo. Maybe I’m being too harsh.
Thursday: 6:00PM City Council Meeting (Agenda) (Video) Recap follows.
Council Meeting Recap
SCORE Update
As I reported last week, the Seattle Times published the following article: Following deaths, King County cancels deal to send people to a regional jail. Four inmates have died at the facility in 2023: News Releases. I asked the City Manager to provide an update, he did, and it is greatly appreciated.
As I said in my closing comments, one of the best ways to build confidence in any service is to get out in front whenever there is any challenge. SCORE is the path to recovery for many people. We have to feel and project confidence that we are providing safety to inmates.
Presentations
Timewise, the majority of the meeting consisted of two presentations, one from Genesis Now concerning sex trafficking and the other from Lighthouse Northwest concerning domestic violence which were outstanding and I highly recommend you watch.
Recology rate increase
We vote 7-0 on a pro-forma rate increase with Recology, which I mentioned last week from the Ad Hoc Franchise Committee. Customers with 32-gallon garbage service may expect to see a new $1.00 – $2.00 ‘FAC’ on their bill.
Basically, the County is calculating landfill fees differently now as people recycle more and use ‘garbage’ less.
My colleagues praised the City for negotiating a ten year contract last year which will be a 20-25% increase (aside from this new FAC), but which is still said to be better than other cities. I won’t re-litigate that deal. But I will say that when the contract was negotiated, my concern was in quality of service. The City praised Recology’s quality of service to the skies, and since no residents spoke otherwise, I had to curb my skepticism. However, in the past year, many residents have begun speaking out about service issues and I see that as only being a very good thing.
My comment to the consultant was that the County better have a really good web site, because in addition to higher rates, the new billing scheme will confuse residents. They won’t praise us for having a better contract than City(x) — especially if they have trouble understanding their bills.
Capital Improvements Plan
The Council voted 4-2 to adopt the 2024 2029 Capital Improvements Plan (CIP), which is a list of items like roads and building projects that have been actually budgeted. I mention that because people will often comment on various ‘plans’ the City publishes, such as the TIP (Transportation Improvement Plan) or various Marina ‘plans’. But until it’s on the CIP? It’s simply aspirational.
Priorities
The meeting lasted a little over two hours. We spent 90 minutes on the two presentations for Genesis Project and Lighthouse NW and fifteen minutes on the Recology rate increase. In fact, we spent more time on a $1 a month trash increase than the entire capital improvements plan consisting of 80 ongoing projects and $150 million dollars.
I want to note something to the audience. The speakers for the Genesis Project and Lighthouse NW both asked the Council for funding. I know a few residents found this confusing, because in fact, they have already made their proposals to the Human Services Advisory Committee, which will report their recommendations in November. The Council will then vote on those requests as a single slate. And it’s about 100% certain that all seven of us will vote ‘yes’ on their projects. 🙂
So don’t misunderstand me. I valued the presentations. I urge you to watch them and contribute to their great work. However, those presentations were informational and symbolic; the money has already been decided. On the other hand, the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) consists of over $150MM in projects–everything from playground equipment to storm water to roads. These are real decisions concerning your money. They are anything but symbolic and there were zero questions from my colleagues.
I voted ‘no’ on the CIP for many reasons. First of all, because last Thursday was the first meeting of the Municipal Facilities Committee this year and only the third meeting of any other committee–and these would usually vet all those items in more detail.
In previous years, every Council would spend at least an hour going through the list. Every Cm would have at least a few questions–if for no other reason than to show residents that they took an interest in specific projects: a park, some play equipment, a particular storm water challenge, etc. I certainly came armed with a few softballs. 🙂
The need for a second reading…
But regardless, the CIP is arguably the second or third most important vote in any year, representing more than $150MM in spending. It is exactly the kind of item that should always have a second reading.
Because my colleagues refused to go along with a second reading, I did not bother with questions and simply voted no on the item. For those of you who sent me questions regarding specific projects, I will try to get you an update.
But we’ve reached a point where there is no point. To be so satisfied with the management of the City, to be so unconcerned even with the optics, such that there are literally no questions from those charged with oversight should concern residents. A lot.
I was reminded today of that big Study Session back in January about the Marina Hotel, and how many questions my colleagues had that night. It may just be coincidence, but that night, the room was was packed.
On the other hand, last Thursday, by the time we got to talking about the Capital Improvements Plan, there room was almost empty.
Would have been there but I was seeing my 92-year-old sister in Sequim. On one hand I can name others in my neighborhood who missed the meeting because they were: 1) also out of town, 2) in the hospital after a heart attack or 3) recovering from other maladies. We still care, still want a second reading, so don’t rule us out because of poor turnout. We have lives, too.
Thank you for your continued interest. The point was not to scold the public so much as to point out a how much of a difference public involvement makes. Call it a ‘law of physics’. It’s a measurable fact that the Council conducts business differently according to the number of people who are present and engaged.
Well, the best I could do was send me comments to the council in advance, so at least they became a matter of record.