Ron,
we're ready whenever you are.
>> Good evening everybody. We are going to
start with the pledge of allegiance. So,
please join me if you can.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
And tonight's first item of special
business is ID 1991, recognition of Barb
D. Michelle. And Barb, we're going to
have you come up to lecture and I'm
going to meet you up there.
Okay. For more than 40 years, Barbara D.
Michelle has been a champion for the
Isqua community. Through her service on
the Isqua City Council, Isqua School
Board, Arts Commission, and numerous
regional and community organizations,
Barb has consistently worked to
strengthen connections, support families
and youth, and improve the quality of
life for all Isqua residents. During her
time on city council from 2019 up until
January this year in 2026, including as
deputy council president and council
president, Barb brought thoughtful
leadership, compassion, and a
collaborative spirit to every issue she
faced. She also helped to establish
important community resources as a
founding member of influence the choice
in 2010 and a founding member of the
garage at teen cafe in 2018
organizations that have provided
critical support and connection for
local youth. She was inducted in the
hisqua hall of fame and award of the
Isqua schools foundation golden apple
award for her contributions to public
education in 2012. She was also the
recipient of the elected official of the
year award in 2020 by the alliance of
east side agencies. Her commitment to
public service combined with her genuine
care for the community has made a
lasting difference throughout Isiziqua
and will continue to inspire future
generations. Barb, on behalf of the city
of Isqua, it's my great honor to present
you with, to my knowledge, this is the
first key to the city that we've given
out that I'm aware of.
And
oh, look at that.
Nor normally normally the highlight's
the plaque, but the plaque is no longer
the highlight when you got the key to
the city. But you do get both.
Okay, we're going to do one more.
>> Okay.
>> Okay.
>> All right. Well, my son has my speech,
so
>> that's what sons are for. Adding value.
>> Yes, that's right. Nope. That's right.
My son just said no crying in baseball.
So, thank you so much for this uh for
this evening. Thank you, Mark. Uh for
the last few days, I've been thinking
about a song from the musical Oklahoma.
It's called I'm Just a Girl That Can't
Say No.
It's been the honor and privilege of my
life to spend the last 40 years saying
yes to serving the comm wonderful
community, this wonderful community. But
beyond the honor, it has been an
absolute joy connecting with so many of
the of the visionary people of this
community. Working with them to build
the Isiqua today has been a journey
filled with wonderful friendships and
lots of laughter.
It's an old cliche, but it's true. I've
received more than I've ever given to
this community. Uh I think that's part
of community engagement and community
volunteerism. you've it it is you give
but you receive so much and it's true in
my case. Thank you for honoring me
tonight. Thank you to the council, to
the mayor, and to the city
administration for this honor. I will
use this key wisely.
>> Let me know when you have what door to
open.
And so, thank you everyone and thank you
to everybody who took the time to come
tonight. I really, really appreciate
seeing you all. Thank you.
Wednesday.
>> Okay.
You got to hold your
>> Very nice.
Before we go on to Chief Schwan, I was
going to see if anyone on the council
had any I'll say brief remarks.
Okay.
Okay. Excellent. Thank you very much, B.
Uh, the next item is ID 20002,
recognition of Police Chief Paulo
Schwan. We'd like to invite Chief Schwan
up front.
And now we get to have Wallally's take
over and and say all the nice words.
>> Good evening, Shuan.
>> Good evening. Um, before we start, I
know that you have a little presentation
you'd like to make to the city council.
So, if you wouldn't mind sharing that, I
think that they'd be very interested in
hearing about it.
Council members, mayor,
community members. So last week I went
to Waspik and we had Wasp is Washington
Association of Police Chiefs and
Sheriffs and uh we uh presented and
applied for accreditation for our
department and we were approved for
accreditation and so we will be
accredited for the next four years and
then they will reacredit and um so we
officially um were recognized as one of
the 85 organizations in the state that
are um accredited through Wasp. IC which
is a big deal and that's all about the
proofs and standards that we hold and
our policies and our procedures are all
in compliance with the best practices
and have to have a huge shout out to our
staff. Um Holly Luck actually received a
WASPIC award for the U man accreditation
manager and so she received a plaque at
Waspik as well. I will be submitting a
photograph to you with our certificate
as well. Holly's back here.
Trisha and a lot of our staff also had a
huge um lift. Paul Frighten also who is
here also had a huge lift in that
accomplishment. Oh, there you are. And
so huge shout out to them to make this
possible. And so the next four years
they'll be working very hard to get
reacredited after that. So very much.
>> Well, congratulations, Chief. And it's
fitting um to share this as uh one of
your final of many many accomplishments
as the distinguished chief of police of
the city of Isiqua. Uh Paula came to us
in November of 2017 as a police
commander um and was appointed uh police
chief in June of 2022. Uh a lot has
happened in the the years that you've
been police chief. uh you took over the
uh department in the wake of a worldwide
pandemic uh where there was uh lots of
upset on many many levels. There were uh
issues of race relations not only in the
greater Seattle area but all over the
country and uh running a police
department was perhaps not on the top 10
list of most popular jobs around. Um and
we suffered people who decided to retire
to leave change jobs professions. um and
you were left to lead and recover the
department in tremendous ways. Uh Chuwan
has hired 50% of the police staff of
this department in her time as chief. So
you think about the the the the energy
and time it has taken for the chief to
rebuild this department uh to the
excellent level that Wasp would would
recognize us with accreditation. When I
think about what qualities you want in a
police chief, certainly Chief Schwan
personifies all of them. Good judgment.
I mean, every single day, 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, you are asked to
make judgments on behalf of the safety
of your officers, on behalf of the
safety of community. And you never
failed at that. You were available 24/7,
365,
uh, with your good judgment for whatever
came our way. uh law enforcement issues,
bomb cyclones, whatever came our way,
you were there making uh decisions.
Another quality that's so important in a
chief is integrity and honesty. Uh your
integrity, incredible. You always called
things as you saw them, uh took uh
credit for good things, took blame for
bad things, never hesitated with that,
and you led this department with great
integrity and honesty, decisiveness. Um,
unfortunately bad things happen
sometimes in this community and you need
a chief that's not going to waver from
making decisions and you always made
good decisions on behalf of this
community.
Supporting officers, you support your
people tremendously. I cannot even count
the number of times you came to me and
said, "Wally, we got to do this because
this person needs this training. We need
to make these promotions work. We need
to find good positions for people." You
defended and supported every single one
of your employees day in and day out.
And the part of the strength of this
department is your support of its
officers. And lastly, and perhaps most
important in the world today is trust
and community trust. You went out of
your way to make the department more
transparent with monthly reports. You
brought back the police blott, your use
of social media, you know, making the
national night out something where we
connect with communities. your
commitment to building that transparency
and that community trust. People want to
be in Isqua because it's a safe place
and it's a safe place because of your
leadership as chief of police. So, it's
with very heavy heart uh that first of
all, we have to say goodbye, but I want
you to know from your staff, from all of
us at the city of Isiqua, we have a
heartfelt thank you for a job well done.
I got my picture.
You got to have an old school camera.
Okay, go ahead.
Well, first of all, it's an honor to
share tonight with Barbara Michelle.
I can't promise no deers.
I've done this job for 31 and a half
years.
Definitely a lot of lessons learned um
and working with a lot of people. Um I
appreciate the council's support.
Even though we had differences, we've
always been able to work through things
through education and through um growth.
U my staff, everybody at the police
department, whether I've hired them or
they've been there. And one of the
reasons I stayed was because of the
staff that remained. and they worked so
hard and still do um for each other.
None of them live here in the community
and they work so hard for all of you.
And that's the biggest thing and the
thing that oftentimes gets unnoticed and
realized and recognized.
um they put their lives on the line
every day 24/7 when everybody else is
sleeping and home alone um or together
and they look out for every single one
who live, works and plays here. And so
my biggest thing is that my hope is that
you get someone better than me that can
move this um department forward and does
an amazing job for the community and the
council and specifically for my staff
because they work so hard to make this
place um the best it can be. So I
appreciate the opportunity to work for
them and to work for you and this is
greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Chief Schwan. And
thank you very much, Barb. Uh, I really
appreciate both of your service to this
community. It's greatly appreciated. The
next item is ID 2026, Safe Boating and
Paddling Week Proclamation. We'd like to
invite US Coast Guard auxiliarist Dale
Vodica to lectern.
All right. Whereas the city of Isqua is
adjacent to Lake Seamameish and is close
to other navigable navigable waterways.
And whereas many Isqua residents of all
ages engage in recreational boating and
paddling. Whereas the city of Isiqua has
demonstrated a commitment to boating and
paddling safety by providing residents
with information and educational
programming in these areas in
collaboration with the US Coast Guard
Auxiliary. And whereas with the surge of
Americans engaging in paddling activity
since 2020, many without any training,
paddling fatalities now constitute more
than 25% of all boating fatalities
nationwide. And whereas the vast
majority of serious boating and paddling
accidents are caused by lack of
training, human error, or poor judgment.
Whereas a significant number of voters
who lose their lives by drowning each
year would be alive today had they worn
their life jackets. Now therefore, I,
Mark Mullet, mayor of the city of
Isquad, do hereby proclaim May 16th to
May 22nd, 2026 to be safe boating and
paddling week in the city of Isqua,
encourage all Iscar residents to
dedicate themselves to learning about
the learning about and practicing safe
boating, including wearing life jackets.
>> We'll do a quick photo and then get give
you the mic. And I'm warning the
council. I think there gonna be a
there's gonna be life jackets involved
for everybody. So be prepared.
>> Well, there's a photo op.
>> You want to use that? You want Molly to
take one of that one?
>> Love it.
Push and hold.
There we go.
>> All right.
>> Okay. Let me leave this with you.
>> Okay. Thank you. Uh Dale Vodica,
immediate past uh division commander of
division 2, which is the greater Seattle
area in King County. Good evening and
thank you for recognizing National Safe
Boating and Paddling Week. also the
great livability provided by the
recreational boating opportunities pro
provided in the city of Isqua with your
miles of shoreline on lake on lake
excuse me on lake Samish
and uh creeks and rivers
uh we come to you with this request at
this time of year to remind the
residents of the inherent dangers of
those activities and while the air may
be warmer and getting warmer it The
water is still cold.
It was snow a couple of weeks ago.
To prevent incidents and preserve life,
the Coast Guard has established minimum
carriage requirements for all vessels,
including paddle craft.
The most important of which is the life
jacket for everyone aboard or towed by
the vessel.
I would encourage the city of Isiqua to
look at what other cities have have done
towards requiring the wear of life
jackets on paddle craft.
That would be a great step forward
towards lowering the likelihood of death
or injuries for those vessels which is
now pushing unfortunately is now 40%
of the of the deaths and injuries
nationally. I would also like to
highlight the requirement to carry a
sound producing device on all vessels
including paddlecraft which can be
simply accomplished by putting a whistle
on your life jacket. This can be used to
prevent collisions and summon help in an
emergency.
our efforts in the past decades of
educating voters on safe boating
practices and require and the
requirement in Washington state of a
boater education card to operate a
motorized vessel has driven the in the
incidents down on those vessels. But
unfortunately the recent increases
recent increase in uneducated
paddlecraft operators has resulted in
the continuence of our unacceptable
numbers of deaths, injuries, and
property damage in the state of
Washington.
Hopefully the residents of Isiqua will
hear our message tonight and adopt safe
operating procedures to enjoy their
recreational boating activities. And we
look forward to continuing partnering
with the city of Isiqua to advance to
advance water safety activity and
boating organizations within the city of
Isiqua.
Okay, I think we're doing this, right?
Yeah, let's do it. And you should know,
you'll be proud. Coun Council President
Marts is the biggest promoter of life
jackets on boats that I know. And so you
are speaking his language right now.
Well, if any of the council members
would like to donate
>> Yes.
We got to put this thing the right way
around.
>> I'm the one who drowned.
Wait, are we short?
>> I won't go out on the water.
>> Double cover.
last weekend.
>> Hey, you guys have to up your game. I
mean postcards make you look bad.
Thank you very much, Dale. We now move
on to ID 2028, Emergency Medical
Services Week Proclamation. We're going
to invite our friends from East Side
Fire and Rescue and Assistant Chief Culp
up to the front here. Go on up.
Everybody come
and council. After this, you get to put
out a fire. So, no, it's it's going to
be all the photo ops.
And they didn't even know there was
going to be buntinis here. They just
showed up without any buntini knowledge.
Okay. Whereas in 1974, President Gerald
Ford authorized the first National
Emergency Medical Services Week to
recognize the vital contributions of
emergency medical professionals. And
whereas emergency medical services are
an essential public service that
protects the health and safety of the
Isqua community. Whereas the dedicated
members of East Side Fire and Rescue
provide life-saving care 24 hours a day,
7 days a week, and continually
strengthen their skills through
extensive training and education.
Whereas access to quality emergency
medical care greatly improves the
survival and recovery of those
experiencing sudden illness or injury.
And whereas emergency medical services
week is an opportunity to recognize the
commitment professionalism and
compassion of all EMS personnel who
serve our community. Now therefore, I
Mark Mullet, mayor of the city of Isqua,
do hereby proclaim the week of May 17th
to the 23rd to be emergency medical
services week in the city of Isiqua. And
I invite the community to join me in
thanking the East Side Fire and Rescue
for their service and outstanding
contributions.
I'll definitely make mine uh uh short
and sweet. Uh my name is Brian Culp. the
assistant chief of East Side Fire and
Rescue and be uh in behalf of uh Chief
Will Ao and all of the members of East
Side Fire and Rescue. Uh thank you uh
for the recognition. Um each and every
one of our members works extremely hard
all the time to keep their skills up to
date. Um they are some of the best e EMS
personnel uh within the state of
Washington, within the United States. Um
and so very proud and and very humbled
to have you guys uh recognize us uh
today and um we will continue to serve
you proudly uh within the city of Isqua.
>> Okay, we'll stand up behind you.
>> Oh, that's a good idea. I like that.
Yep.
>> That work.
the the the meeting agenda is shorter
than the proclamation agenda. You are
correct, Council Member Joe. Uh,
okay. Now, we have ID 2033, Mental
Health Awareness Month Proclamation.
We're going to have Kaylee and Aaron
come up from the garage.
I love it.
Whereas, more than one in five adults in
the United States face a mental health
challenge each year. And many people in
our community are living with stress,
anxiety depression trauma substance
use, and other mental health conditions.
And whereas compassionate support,
education, and access to resources help
build stronger, healthier, and more
connected communities. And whereas youth
mental health remains a growing concern
and organizations such as the garage
provide free mental health counseling,
supportive services, and safe spaces for
youth in Isiqua. Whereas the city of
Isqua is committed to fostering a safe
and inclusive community where all
residents are treated with dignity and
courage to seek help when needed. And
whereas mental health awareness month
provides an opportunity to promote
understanding, reduce stigma, and
encourage compassion throughout the
Isqua community. Now therefore, I, Mark
Mullet, mayor of the city of Isiqua, do
hereby proclaim the month of May 2026 as
mental health awareness month in the
city of Isiziqua. Encourage all
residents support mental wellness
initiatives. Show compassion to those
facing mental health challenges and help
create a community where everyone feels
supported and connected.
see the photo and then
it's all yours.
>> Thank you, mayor and council and city
staff. We're going to also try to keep
this brief. Um, but truly it is through
the city's partnership, uh, support and
encouragement all of these years that
the garage was born into existence with
you, Kaylee, and that we continue to
thrive today. We continue to see 80 to
100 teens walk through our doors every
afternoon where they find community and
real belonging and safe space. We have
case management that helps these teens
navigate through complex systems, keep
in school, get jobs, graduate, and stay
housed. And it's because of your
partnership and support that we have two
mental health therapists on staff. One
is now uh at Gibson and Isakiqua High
three days a week. So, we're always
looking for those ways to meet these
mental health gaps for youth. and we
truly could not do this work without
your partnership and support. So, thank
you.
>> Wait, wait, wait.
>> I get to just say one little thing. Um,
it's I think it's super appropriate that
Barb is here tonight because Barb
founded the garage with me and one of
the things that we knew for sure in our
heart. um we didn't have a lot of
parameters about what it was going to
be. We really wanted teens to decide,
but we knew it would have mental health
um support and therapy every day for the
kids. And so that that's happening and
that's destigmatizing as these
generations come through and they are
going to be so much more um prepared and
supported. Um,
yeah. And that's because of this amazing
woman sitting here. So, thank you. Thank
you very much.
Okay, we now have ID 2025, a
presentation by ICMA Army Senior
Management Fellow Martha Bowers,
director of the Army Civilian Career
Management Agency. And Martha, we can
have you come on up. And I think I'm
going to share what Wally learned today.
I think if if there was it'd be the
equivalent of a one-star general, I
think if we were to look at where Martha
would fall in the hierarchy of our armed
services. And with that, you just have
to turn on your mic and then you're all
set.
>> Okay. Thank you, mayor and mayor and
city council and all of the
citizens here today. It's a pleasure for
me to be in Isiqua. Um we 10 years ago
the army began a partnership with the
international city managers association
and it's where we take our garrison
deputy garrison commanders and we train
them and they are like at an install
military installation and they manage
that installation similar to your city
here. And as I took on this role with
the department of the army uh recently,
not too long ago, I saw this item on the
budget and it said ah city manager
training and I'm like what what in the
world is that you know and I had the
staff come in tell me and they're like
yeah we can skip it if you like. I'm
like oh no no no no we can't skip it. So
I said, "I'll attend as well." And as I
attended, I got to meet some of the
previous members. Got to meet some folks
at MMA. And all the previous members
said, "You have to go to Isiqua for your
city manager visit. It's the best city."
And I'm like, "Well, it's clear across
the country. I live in Virginia. Are you
kidding? Do you know how long it takes
to get there?" And they said, "You have
to go to Isiqua." Right? So here I am in
Isiqua, right? And I've been here a
couple of days looking around and I
thought if I had only moved here when I
was younger, I would never move again.
Right? But it's actually very
interesting to see the parallels in
which we manage the army. Right? We
have60
military bases worldwide. I managed
268,000
uh army civilians across the world in
their career trajectories. Right? and
they are the stationary continuity of
the army when our military members are
either downrange taking care of events
or moving themselves and their families.
And so, uh, it's a pleasure to learn
from Wall-E and from the mayor and from
all of the staff here in Isiqua. And,
um, one of the things we've learned in
the army in the last few years, uh, is
the concept of not just change, but
collaboration and figuring out how we
get parties to Yes. And and so we kind
of practice that in negotiations and
things. And so I I want to say to the
council as a volunteer kind of a
volunteer board, right, for the city,
always think about how you have
commonalities and collaboration.
Even if you really just are drawn with
the blue color and that they are asking
you to change to green, right? And
figure out why each party has that value
thought, right? And um it's going to be
critical in the next few years to be as
agile and adaptive with change and
collaboration and meeting each other and
the citizens all around. So, but I'm
excited to be here the rest of the week.
Molly's looking at me with the eye like
you got to get off the stage. Where's
the hook? But they said a presentation
and I thought bring a PowerPoint in. No,
I don't. But thank you for having me and
keep up the great city here. I mean, I
can't believe it. It's amazing already.
It's just my first day. All right. Thank
you.
>> Director Power started off her tour of
Isqua lunch establishments with Sunset
Sunset Ale House today and then she will
go through the rest of the list as the
week progresses. And uh we'll now move
on to audience comments and those who
from the public comments were made in
person or virtually. Those who signed up
in advance will be called on first. If
you're here virtually, use your virtual
hand or press star three if you're on
the phone. And if you're in the room but
did not sign up, do not panic. We will
give you a chance to speak at the end.
And madame clerk, is there anybody
signed up for audience comments?
>> There is.
The first will be
Josh Sher.
>> You said it right. Well done.
>> Josh, you're supposed to go to that one.
All right.
Good evening, mayor, council members,
members of the viewing public. My name
is Josh Sher. I am here tonight to join
my voice to those who have honored Barb
D. Michelle this evening. Um, I haven't
spoken in this body in probably close to
a decade. Uh, and I don't have anything
scripted, so bear with me. I first met
Barb, uh, when I was in high school,
which was actually a long, long time
ago. And uh Barb was the uh the chair or
the facilitator uh of the King County
Metro Transit Citizen Sounding Board.
And I was a volunteer on that board and
her guidance was foundational um in
providing me information about transit
uh that that helped me later uh when I
did my service on this city's uh
transportation committee. More recently,
uh, thanks to Barb and Mayor Fred
Butler, I was recruited into the Kanis
Club of Isiqua as well. Uh, and that has
been a a wonderful time of service. Uh,
and it is not without exaggeration to
say that Barb uh, really on many
occasions carried the goals and events
of that organization almost
single-handedly uh, really on many
occasions. Uh, and so we I know the the
club thanks you for that uh as well. Um,
I'm reminded this evening uh of another
council member um our friend uh Dr.
Moren McCary who um served with us. Uh
Moren uh also faced physical challenges
and she overcame them and continued her
duties with dedication and grace and a
commitment to this community. And like
Barb, Moren was a champion for the
environment, for transit, for youth, uh
for for really the working class. And um
Barb has uh demonstrated uh her
commitment to this community for so many
decades. And we are all so thankful for
everything that she has done, for the
things that we have learned from her,
for the time we have had working with
her. And um I I'm just so happy to be
here to honor her this evening uh and
and to see her smile and um just just
truly appreciate this this opportunity.
Um Barb's dedication and and commitment
uh to this community and really to
greater East King County uh are not
diminished uh by the challenges she has
faced. Uh and so while councils may
change, legacies are forever. So thank
you, Barb, and God bless you.
There you go. Josh, you got audience
applause. I love it on the I know. And
Barbara, I will say when my wife started
teaching the school district 26 years
ago, I think you were on the school
board then cuz that was her first
recollection of meeting you was as a
schoolboard member when she started her
career. Okay, Madame Clerk. Next,
>> Sabri Leica
and Charles Kite.
>> Good afternoon. I'm Sabria Leica. I'm
here with my colleague Charles Kite.
We're with the Small Business
Administration and this is more of a
just a public uh notice for everyone.
We're here basically because of the
disasters from December. So, it's coming
now to the end and we want if you know
of anybody that's been affected or
impacted, we still have uh small
lowterest loans available for small
businesses, nonprofits, and also
homeowners and renters. Very often peop
the small business administration is
misnomer because 60% of the loans that
we provide are to homeowners and to
renters. The remaining 40% are for
business owners. Um
it's it's important because people don't
make that distinction. We have the small
business administration and then we're
basically disaster recovery and
resilience. And those loans not only
provide for the physical damage that
businesses might have incurred, it also
relates to economic damage. So they
might not realize it that because the
roads were closed or because they didn't
make the sales that they normally make
that they're economically impacted by
that and they have until January to
apply for those loans. The physical
damage that the homeowners or the
businesses or even the renters might
have uh incurred. The deadline is coming
in June 10th, but they're very liberal
with that deadline. It's just more we're
trying to get the word out that that
we're still here and the resources are
still available. And especially for
renters because they don't think since
they don't own the property that they're
eligible for any kind of a recovery. But
especially with the flooding, if they
had personal property, even their
vehicle, if it was flooded while it was
in the parking lot, they have an
opportunity to recover for that.
>> So, I don't know if there's anything
else I can talk about. to just to
reiterate what she stated, uh there is
low interest government loans available.
Uh for businesses, that interest rate is
4%. For homeowners is 2.875.
For nonprofits and faith-based
organizations is 3.675.
The terms can be up to 30 years. It's
12-mon deferment on the payment as well
as the interest. And uh like she stated,
you don't for businesses, they don't
necessarily have to have physical
damage. it may be economic injury as
well. And so we have capital for u
operating expenses to keep them afloat
until things return to normal.
And uh last but not least, I want to
thank the mayor, the city clerk, the
council members, and the uh uh public
for having us here. And if there's any
way you can assist us in getting this
information out to the public uh so that
they know, it'd be greatly appreciated
as well.
>> Because you would know better. I mean,
we're deployed wherever the disasters
are. So, we're not as familiar with all
of the areas. I mean, we can see where
the damage has been done, but you all
know better who's really suffering from
from the the damage, whether it's the
businesses or the the individual
homeowners or renters. And I also wanted
to say I'm thank you for for having us
here, but um you are all so blessed with
the people that you have here. Bravo to
all of the women that you have, the the
police chief and all of them. I'm so
impressed with this. And you truly are
like a village. you're there for each
other and bravo to all of you. It's very
impressive.
>> Thank you very much. Come by. If you
have a card,
>> yeah,
>> maybe leave it with our city clerk so
we'd have a way to get in contact with
you because we can help get that
information out.
>> Okay.
>> Okay.
Madam clerk, is anybody I think that was
everyone who signed up for audience
comments. Is there anybody else in the
room who would like
to make audience comments? who didn't
sign up. I'm going once, going twice.
With that, audience comments are closed.
We now move on to the next item of
business, which is our consent calendar.
I do not have any remarks on the consent
calendar. Are there any committee chairs
or chair design who like to report on
any of the consent calendar items?
Looking not seeing any. The consent
calendar was distributed to the council
in advance if authorized. The item items
on the consent calendar be considered
together and approved by one motion.
Have the payables and payrolls been
reviewed?
>> They have.
>> Oh,
>> they have.
>> I thought council member Boyd was asking
very detailed questions on the payrolls
and payable. I liked it. I could tell
she had reviewed it for sure. Uh, does
any council member want to remove any
items from the consent calendar?
Consider it under regular business.
Okay. With that, is there a motion?
Council President Marts. Mr. Mayor, I
move we adopt adopt the consent agenda
uh from tonight's packet.
>> Second.
>> There's been a motion and a second. All
those in favor, please say I.
>> I.
>> I.
>> I.
>> All those opposed, nay. And that passes
unanimously.
The next item is regular business agenda
bill 9190 resolution for streamlining
Sound Transit light rail permits. Like
to invite Deputy City Administrator
Andrea Leonard to present this item.
Good evening, members of city council.
I'm Andrea Leonard, deputy city
administrator, and uh today we are
talking about uh a resolution for
streamlining Sound Transit light rail
permits.
The purpose uh for this evening is to
review a proposed resolution to
streamline permitting in order to reduce
planning, design, and construction costs
of the four line. That's the light rail
that's the planned light rail line
connection between Isiqua and Kirkland.
And
um also the purpose of that I'm so sorry
Adobe has decided to to uh update at
this very moment. So let me try to start
that again.
Uh such convenient time.
Okay,
let's try this again.
Okay, we will try this. Uh so
uh all right. So the purpose of the
resolution is really to demonstrate to
Sound Transit and the region that Isiqua
is a willing and creative partner in
reducing costs of the four line to
ensure that it is completed.
And our recommendation as the
administration is to pass the resolution
with any types of changes council wishes
to make this evening.
A little bit of background before we
talk about the resolution. Sound Transit
3, also known as ST3, was passed by a
vote of the people in 2016.
With that vote, the people in uh the
Greater Puget Sound area, approved light
rail from Kirkland uh to Isiqua via
Belleview, among other lines and aspects
of transit infrastructure. In order to
build this light rail and transit
infrastructure, uh the people also voted
in additional taxes and fees to pay for
ST3.
And the estimated average the estimated
cost to average Isiqua household between
the time that the tax was imposed in
2016 to 2044 uh is about $50,000. So
it's a large investment from every
household of the Isiqua community. And
here uh in the administration and the
city with the cooperation of city
council, we've been working hard to make
good on that investment and ensure light
rail comes to Isiqua.
So while that vote occurred in 2016, the
city has been planning for light rail
for a very long time, even before the
vote occurred. In 2015, the city uh had
an urban core designated as a regional
growth center. That's a specific type of
designation um which allows for higher
density and more transportation
investments, including transit. And
that's one of those things that um
attracted uh light rail to Isiqua. And
again in 2016 the voters approved ST3.
In 2024 we started planning for light
rail uh with the idea of um getting a
planning guide. So that planning guide
was adopted in 2024. The idea of what
are the steps that we need to take in
order to make sure we're preparing for
light rail and that we are um
cooperating with Sound Transit and
making it as easy as possible for Sound
Transit to site a light rail station in
Isiqua. And 2025, following that guide,
uh, we adopted a station area vision and
guiding principles with the idea that
this is our ability as a city to be able
to influence what does light rail look
like in Isiqua, what does the station
area look like, what do we want out of
this massive transit investment, and to
do some pre-planning uh, for when Sound
Transit is uh, ready to start their
planning process on our light rail
connection. In 2026, we also started the
station location study or station
alignment study. So, this is a a study
that is ongoing. We pressed pause during
the current Sound Transit process which
I'm going to talk about in a second. But
um that project will be picked up this
summer and is really uh the focus for
that project is to evaluate where could
the station be in the city of all the
different locations, what makes the most
sense for us from a local perspective,
how we want this to help shape our
community in Isiqua and be able to
provide those recommendations to Sound
Transit. It also that station location
study also includes a preliminary
environmental re uh review just for
feasibility and seeing what station
options uh are feasible. And then we
take the that recommendation and we'll
be providing that to Sound Transit again
in the effort of streamlining the
planning, streamlining the design for
Sound Transit and making it easier for
light rail to come to Isiqua and also
for our community to have our say in
what this station looks like in terms of
uh building the community of the future.
So, while the vote was passed in 2016
and we've been actively working on
preparing for light rail, Sound Transit
has announced has announced budget
concerns. Recently, they've announced
$34.5 billion
uh needed in cost savings and additional
revenues in order to build out the ST3
program. So, they cite that as really
their budget deficit in order to build
out the rest of ST3.
the uh South Kirkland to Isiqua line or
that four line is estimated to cost uh
roughly 10 billion 10 billion um
reflecting reflecting a 40% increase
since the vote was made in 2016. So uh
costs have really increased for Sound
Transit since that original vote and
that's due to tariffs, supply chain
issues and rising land costs beyond what
they had originally forecasted.
Because of all of these costs, Sound
Transit uh and rising costs, Sound
Transit has been coming up with ideas
for how they can build out
infrastructure and reduce that budget
deficit that they have projected. And
that includes phasing of buildout, scope
reduction, different types of financial
policies, 75-year bonds, which are would
allow them to borrow more over time, um
and examine other revenue streams. But
it also has included things like perhaps
uh pushing out the Isiqua line or even
cancelling lines altogether and
cancelling infrastructure. So that was
the original conversation um when really
Mayor Mullet was elected and the year
started that we really thought that the
four line was in threat and under danger
of being cut or deferred indefinitely.
The good news is that the fourline
currently is included in their proposal
as fully funded as we move forward. So
that is good. The Sound Transit Board is
expecting to vote on that on May 28th.
So it's still just a proposal at this
point, but we've been working really
hard to make sure that the line doesn't
get deferred indefinitely or doesn't get
cancelled. It has in the proposal been
pushed back from the original date of
2041. Um then it was 2044 for a while
and now in the proposal it's 2050. So it
has been pushed back but there is a def
a definitive date that it's been pushed
back to instead of sometime in the
future when we can afford it. Uh and
also part of the proposal is a regional
poolled parking fund as part of our
light rail station. There was originally
planned to be a parking structure of 500
stalls and now um there's a regional
pulled parking fund. So that kind of
parking aspect of the light rail station
is still to be determined in the future.
So that's what's being proposed right
now by the Sound Transit Board as a way
to fill their budget deficit and that's
how it affects Isiqua is we're still on
the map and um we're very excited about
that because as I said uh originally the
mayor and I were told time and time
again that the four line would likely be
cut. And so we're very happy to say
we're still on the map. It does push
back our timeline though. Um, so, uh,
the Sound Transit board vote again is
happening on May 28 at 1:30. Many of us
will be there, uh, to provide support
for the Isiqua line, and I invite
council members and any member of the
public to attend with us as well.
At this point, as we talk about the
advocacy work over the past couple of
months to make sure that the four line
is included and that we stay on the map,
I just want to take a moment to thank
the community in Isiqua. People have
really come out to support light rail.
Many of the council members here tonight
have written in or attended meetings or
provided public comment um along with so
many community members. We had this room
full uh to capacity at one point. We've
had over a hundred people engaged in
this effort coming to meetings in
Seattle, Tacoma, um all over the place
to show their support wearing our purple
Save Isiqua light rail shirts and it
really has made a difference and set the
tone for regional conversations about
light rail. So, thank you to the Isiqua
community for your engagement and
assistance in saving Isiqua light rail.
Isiqua uh the city we've also been
trying to provide solutions to speed up
the line and also reduce costs. So,
while currently in the current proposal
we're slated for 2050, there are ways
that we can move up light rail and try
to get it built sooner and quicker and
definitely in a more cost-effective
manner than previous stations have been
built. And uh so a couple of the ideas
that we have had to reduce costs and
speed up delivery of the light rail
station include partnering to make it as
easy as possible to build light rail in
Isiqua. And this is really what we've
been doing since the start is trying to
make it as easy as possible for Sound
Transit doing some of that pre-planning
work that I described earlier. Also um
we've been talking about station area
alignment and where that where the line
can be. So instead of looking at putting
at the station on private property and
needing to buy up more property, our
suggestion is to use wash right ofway.
That rightway is already there for
public transportation use. We've been
talking to Sound Transit about that. If
it's mostly in wash rightway, then that
reduces land acquisition costs.
Um we would connect to that uh light
rail station with a pedestrian overpass.
so that it'll be easier for folks to get
to and from the station from both north
and south of I90.
Also, we've suggested that new parking
facilities are built uh in Snowqualami
or Maple Valley or outlying cities so
that folks can actually uh from the
cities that typically come through is to
access I90, they can park in their own
city, hop on a shuttle that comes to
Isiqua light rail. Parking is generally
cheaper to build in those outlying
cities. They have a little bit more land
than in central Isiqua. And so this way
we can reduce the amount of traffic
coming through Isiqua, provide some
transit that those other cities are
wanting to have and that access to the
light rail station.
Um, we've also talked about potential
use of city bonding capacity to acquire
land for a staging area so that as they
have need for land and staging
construction equipment and materials,
they can use that land for that time
period. The city purchases that land for
Sound Transit's use. Once they're done
with that land and the light rail
station is completed, then we can sell
off the land um for development once the
light rail is there.
Um other other ideas that we've come up
with is uh supporting and advocating for
Sound Transit and unlocking different
financial tools for Sound Transit such
as increasing debt capacity so that they
can borrow more and build more and also
advocating for their 75-year bonds.
Our
resolution tonight is along those lines
of partnering and making it as easy as
possible for Sound Transit to build a
light rail station here by again
reducing costs of construction, design,
and planning. So, the resolution that we
have before you tonight is to uh the
intent is to partner uh with Sound
Transit on permitting by reducing
timelines and costs including the
exploration of consolidated permits and
self-permitting.
Also, the resolution establishes a
willingness to modify land use and
technical codes in advance that would
otherwise maybe threaten the project or
make it difficult or costly to build.
So, we would like to take a moment to
evaluate what could those um code
barriers be and then make modifications.
The resolution also establishes options
for vesting and extending duration of
land use approvals for the four line
knowing that this infrastructure takes a
long time to build and uh if we go
through one review process we don't need
to reinvent the wheel two years later
just because we hit an expiration date
and that should also reduce costs and uh
also the resolution establishes um that
the next step with Sound Transit
following the resolution would be
negotiating a development agreement. to
establish a permit process for the
fourline. So, while the resolution
doesn't go over details about what
streamlining permitting looks like
exactly um or what uh what
self-permitting would really entail, we
would have a development agreement that
we would need to negotiate with Sound
Transit in order to establish all of
those details and other things that
again would help make it easier uh for
Sound Transit to build in Isiqua and
ultimately less costly.
So the options for you tonight are uh
you to pass the resolution with or
without modifications in advance of the
Sound Transit board meeting on May 28th
to demonstrate Isiqua's partnership. One
thing to note about that is we have
heard regionally as we've talked to
other communities, other Sound Transit
board members um and Sound Transit staff
that one of the things that has made the
four line so compelling and that
Isiqua's argument to keep the four line
has been so compelling is our uh our
demonstration of partnership and
willingness to reduce costs. In the
past, other cities um when we think
about ST2 projects, for example, have
really used this opportunity of getting
light rail from Sound Transit as a way
to have Sound Transit pay for a bunch of
other things and um to really increase
some of the costs of the light rail for
additional city amenities. That's not
what we're trying to do here. We
recognize that Sound Transit has a
serious budget deficit and we're really
trying to partner and um that is what
has brought us so much widespread
support across the region is our
leadership in this area and again one of
the reasons why we're coming to you
tonight with this resolution. The other
option would be to delay the resolution
to make more modifications. Perhaps you
want to send it to a mobility and
infrastructure committee or um delay uh
in consideration of other modifications
you want to make. Um and finally, third
option would be to simply not pass the
resolution.
Our recommendation tonight from the
administration is to pass the resolution
with any modifications council wishes to
make this evening. Again, an attempt to
demonstrate our willingness to partner.
Timing and next steps. As I said earlier
this evening, Sound Transit is is
expected to adopt the ST ST3 plan update
on May 28th. And we are also pushing for
early design money. So while
construction may not be complete until
2050, we want to start design now. We
are ready and we've been demonstrating
that and make progress now. So we're
still pushing for early design money
from Sound Transit. Also, um next steps
include uh the city light rail alignment
study that I discussed earlier. We kind
of put it on hold during the Sound
Transit process. We'd like to pick that
up again uh to recommend a station
location to Sound Transit by the end of
the year, which means public
participation is anticipated in Q3 um
and finishing up in Q4. In order to do
that,
we will also continue to advocate for
additional cost savings and financing
options to speed up delivery of light
rail and ensure that light rail comes to
Isiqua. And again, uh, we would be
looking at at a future date, uh, the
development agreement to be negotiated
between the city and Sound Transit. That
development agreement would need to come
back to council for approval, uh, once
we're closer to the planning phase for
the four line.
And we have a proposed motion, which is
to approve the resolution committing to
streamline permitting for Sound Transit
light rail.
>> Okay. Before I open it up to questions,
I'm going to share the three things I
learned during this process this year.
The first is never underestimate the
power of a purple t-shirt. They're very
effective. Second, never underestimate
our city administrator, Deputy City
Administrator Andrea Leonard, cuz she
has she's really good at going after
things that are very complicated and
challenging. And I think the fact that
we're breaking ground on the TOD project
this year is a testament to Andrea's
efforts of being persistent and the fact
that we were able to navigate this light
rail process the last four months is the
exact same testament. We really
appreciate your efforts. And finally, I
think we've talked about this at some of
our council retreats. It's a testament
to the fact that we've all been pointed
in the same direction. Like we're in a
canoe. We're all rowing at the same time
in the same direction. other communities
were not doing that. there was a
division either between the
administration and the mayor or the
mayor and the council or within the
council members themselves and obviously
we had joint opeds between myself and
fellow council members and everyone's
been showing up at those Sound Transit
meetings with the same message and I
think it really does show the power when
we're all pointing in the same direction
of what we're able to achieve as a body
and I thank everyone on the council for
those efforts and with that council
member
>> Adair
had two quick questions one. Okay, this
is going to be just being new here. Uh,
is in terms of this resolution, I'm just
kind of curious what is the kind of
commitment and specifics of this being a
resolution since obviously it doesn't
have specifics to the policy. Is this
just best making the statement we want
to do this or what is the kind of level
of commitment the city is committing to
in this resolution?
>> Great question. Thank you. It really is
stating the city's desire to make a
commitment and and that's really the
intent of the resolution is to make that
statement, make it formal when approved
by council so that we're sending a
message to Sound Transit and to the
region that we are willing to partner
and be creative and that we want to help
reduce costs and get the line built.
>> Got it. Okay, great. Thank you. And then
the second question is just I have more
questions about the whole bonding
capacity to buy land, but I don't think
that's a part of this resolution. Is
that correct? because if if not then I
I'll save those questions for a later
date. Yeah,
>> that's correct. That's just one of the
ideas that we've been exploring to um to
help reduce costs and be a partner.
Tonight is really just focused on
streamlining permitting and trying to
explore those kind of code barriers that
may make it a little more difficult for
Sound Transit to build here.
>> Got it. Thank you,
>> Deputy President Jen.
>> Um a couple quick questions. So, first
of all, do we have an estimated timeline
for some of these actions like updating
our our land use code and all of that or
is it very kind of loose right now?
>> Well, our timeline is going to have to
depend on Sound Transit staff time. So,
we can't do these things without Sound
Transit dedicating some staff time to
us, which is why we're really pushing
for that early design money because as
we get that, then we'll have Sound
Transit staff time, access to their
engineers, and what they need because
they're going to be the ones that have
to um explore the code with us and find
out um what might be a barrier to them,
what they might need in the development
agreement, etc. So um while we have a
desire to do this uh sooner rather than
later, it is going to require Sound
Transit resources to be dedicated and
work with us. So no exact timeline at
this point. That's why we keep pushing
for that early design money.
>> Great. Thank you. Um one thing, so
another quick question. So I noticed um
the there's some places in this
ordinance where we say, you know, the
line four project, there's other areas
where we say the four-line project. Are
those interchangeable or should we try
to align those throughout the
resolution? They're they're
interchangeable. Okay. Thank you,
>> Council Haro. Do you have a do you have
a president uh a preference, Deputy
President Jen? The four line or the line
four?
>> I think everywhere else it's been called
the four line. So, I think that would be
my preference.
>> Council member Joe,
>> thank you. Um, Deputy uh, administrator,
appreciate all the hard work you've done
to get us here. Mr. Mayor, thank you for
all the hard work that you've done. And,
um, I know that many of us attended
those meetings. I see council member
Adair in the pictures and council member
Jang is in one of the pictures and so is
council member Nichols doing that
advocacy for the city. It's much
appreciated. Uh my question was um are
there other cities that are doing this
or are we kind of showing ourselves to
be a little bit more supportive by doing
this as compared to the Kirklands,
Everetts and Tacomaomas of the world.
>> Uh Isiqua has been a leader in this area
in the region and so I know of no other
city that is asking uh their councils to
make a resolution about streamlining
permitting process. There are other
cities for the construction of the um
ST2 projects that have done development
agreements with Sound Transit. It's our
desire as we get closer in that process
to learn from those cities who've gone
through it with Sound Transit and um not
reinvent the wheel in any way, but
Isiqua has been a leader in setting the
tone of the conversation for how to
partner and uh and build the station and
the line in the most cost-effective
manner possible.
>> Thank you. appreciate all the work
you're doing to distinguish Isiqua as a
partner in this process and uh uh I'll
be in full support this this evening.
Excuse me. It should be noted council
member Dere also brought children to
sound transport meetings which I'm not
aware of many children who that would be
the first place they would choose to go
but they have been there to support. Uh,
council member Boyd.
>> Um, this might be putting the cart
before the horse or the light rail car
before the line, but um, with the early
design money aspect,
I what is the community process for I
guess say best case scenario happens and
we get what we want. Do we feel like we
have the community input or the
infrastructure for rapid quick community
input or is that within the engineering
process is that come later and it's
first to the engineering aspect. So my
answer is yes. And so um with starting
off with that um uh light rail vision
area uh that council has already
approved that was a lot of community
input and considering lots of different
perspectives about what do we really
want out of this? What do we want it to
look like when it's done? How do we want
it to shape our community? And that was
really the starting point is let's set
that vision and that came with a lot of
community input. So, we've already
started on the public engagement to help
us guide what we want it to look like.
Also, the station alignment study that
we're doing this year, that public input
of gathering feedback from the
community. And that includes all all
types of perspectives, property owners,
business owners, residents, transit
users, um, and to find out again what is
what's the preferred alignment for the
community? What are things that we
should be thinking about when we're
thinking about where we want the station
to be located? how can we connect that
station better to the rest of the
community, ensure it's easily accessible
and used by others. So, that's really
the starting point of our public
engagement and we've been we've been
doing that. Um, but there will be more
public engagement as we proceed in the
design process. Um, it's uh through the
permitting process, there's specific
points where we ask for public comment.
Um, and so we anticipate that
continuing. There may be additional
public surveys and other opportunities
to uh to chime in and provide feedback,
but we're certainly starting that
process now to help shape it and we'll
be able to use that information that the
public provides moving forward.
>> Thank you. Yeah, it kind of sounds like
it's happening concurrently and I yeah,
in my mind with the visioning
principles, all the documents that we
have and have been the city's been
undertaking and approving the past
couple years for this was very much on
my mind as I asked this question. So,
thank you.
>> Yeah. And I think the previous councils
had approved money for a consultant to
look at station alignment studies, but
we had paused that when we were nervous
about getting cut off the map. So, but
now that we're things are in a much
better spot, we will re-engage with that
consultant after the vote on May 28th.
That's the plan.
Let's I'm looking around.
Not seeing any more questions. So, then
I'll ask
Deputy Council President Jen, is there a
motion? Yes. I move to adopt resolution
number 2026-12
committing to streamline permitting for
Sound Transit light rail.
>> Second.
>> Okay. There is a motion and a second. Is
there any other comments? Council member
Dair.
>> Uh I also just wanted to take a moment
to thank you, to thank the mayor, to
thank the full administration for the
really hard work that went into this. I
fully believe that the four line would
not be on that map right now if not for
all of your hard work that went into
this. Um so I don't need to just kind of
take a moment to also formally thank you
for all that hard work. Um I also look
to your point earlier I encourage you to
bring your kids to any of these events
cuz my daughter still talks about it.
She the bus we took the 554 line like
she sees it on the street. She's like
look dad the 554. Like she talks about
it. She is, I think, now has a love of
public transit that will continue.
Hopefully, she gets to be older and
there's a there's a there's a light rail
here to take her into the city and stuff
like that. So, encourage everyone to
continue to bring their kids to this.
Um, and also kind of just want to bring
up what I kind of feel about this is
that like the reward for a good job is
another job and that okay, we got it on
the map and now we need to work to get
it sooner. Um, so want to do all the
work we can do. I really appreciate this
resolution and now looking at what are
the steps now to get it before 2050. Um
because I think that's possible and I
think that's that's our next job. So I
will be supporting this. Thank you.
>> Could not agree more. 2039 here we come.
Council member Nichols.
>> Uh 2027 ideally. Let's see what we can
do. Um first of all, yeah, I'll
reiterate all the the the positive
comments were made. Thank you to the
administration. Thank you to everyone on
council who came out and supported light
rail. uh and everyone in the community
who did as well. That was great to see.
Um I have also learned to appreciate the
power of a purple shirt. So uh whoever
came up with that on staff, uh please uh
that that was great. Um so
Brandy was awesome. Um the um
the overall resolution looks great to
me. I will also be in support. Uh the
only thing that I would like to push us
on is how we might be able to do a
little bit more sooner. Um I think Sound
Transit has a a very interesting and uh
pretty well-ritten uh they call it the
policy opportunity register that they
they published. One of the policies that
they have some detail on within that
document is the agency self-permitting
uh local option. Um I would like to
question if we how much we need to wait
for them. Um of course we we to some
working in partnership with them is of
course going to be necessary, right? But
it would be nice to try to figure out
however we can what we could if there's
any lowhanging fruit. If we can find
some other cities to work with um if we
can try to get ahead of that a little
bit um and go beyond a resolution and
come up with some concrete things that
we could actually offer and show further
leadership regionally that will not only
help us but that will help everyone
else. So, um, once again, I support this
and my only, uh, feedback would be that
I would like to see us try to do even
more and try to do a little bit more
even sooner and see how much we can go
beyond this resolution and lead with
something, um, in code sooner that might
make us look even more attractive and
that might help other cities figure out
ways to uh,
join the effort to reduce cost
systemwide as well.
>> Excellent. Uh I don't Deputy President
Jen or President Marts, I don't know who
was Okay,
>> great. Um yeah, well I want to echo
everyone's thanks to the mayor and the
city administration, everyone in our
community who's really, you know, had a
full force effort on this campaign to
save Isiquaz light rail for the last
what four and a half months. It's it's
crazy that it's only been that short. Um
I know Mayor Mullet came in on day
probably 15. his number one priority was
saving Isiqua's light rail and it's
amazing to see that we're remaining on
the map. Um I think the regional
leadership that Mayor Mullet has shown
has really changed the conversation. I
think you know in the past with Sound
Transit sometimes people start
squabbbling over you know oh my project
is the most important for XYZ reason. I
think setting the bars like let's figure
out you know how can we all build all
the trains? How can we get cost down as
a whole system? Um, and you know, how
can we as a city really be a partner and
show leadership on that? I think really
kind of has been changing the
conversation. I don't think we've been
seeing as much of the cities trying to
demand concessions as we may have in the
past, which I think is really a
testament to uh the leadership of our
mayor and administration.
Um, I also think it's been really fun to
see others adopt our organizing tactics
like the matching t-shirts. you know, 3
months after we came out with their
purple t-shirts. Ballard came out with
their green t-shirts, uh, West Seattle
came out with their pink t-shirts, but
we did have the matching t-shirts first.
So, uh, I'll I'll say that. Um, I also,
um, I'm I'm fully in support of this
measure. I think, you know, this is yet
another example of us showing leadership
of wanting to, you know, make it easier,
not harder, to build transit that we so
desperately need. We of it, you know,
it's so often that we see that, you
know, especially with the lines in
Seattle, they keep studying all these
different alignments at nauseium and uh
dragging things out, whereas we we want
to say, you know, we want light rail as
soon as possible and we want to build it
in the most cost-ffective way possible
because that's what's going to be best
for our community, not dragging it out.
So, I will uh be very very happy to
support this and uh to see Sound Transit
vote in favor of keeping the four line
on May 28th.
>> Excellent. Thank you very much, Council
President Marts.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, I want to join
the chorus. Um, I'm not sure I've seen
an endeavor that brought the mayor's
office and staff and council together
quite so um quite so resolutely in in a
very very long time. and including
council members making just great opeds
um out there, not just saying, "Oh, we
should find ways to save money," but
actually finding ways to save money. Uh
which is better than saying we should
find ways to save money. You know, I am
from Minneapolis and Minneapolis has a
heartbreaking history with mass transit.
Minneapolis in 1952.
You could ride the trolley from my town
of White Bear Lake on the northeast side
of the Twin Cities all the way to Lake
Minnotonka, 20 miles west of town. It
was unbelievable.
And in 1954, they ripped it all out. And
for 40 years, we had nothing in the Twin
Cities. And it took electing a
professional wrestler as governor, if
you can believe it or not, uh to finally
get the Twin Cities to begin the first
steps towards mass transit and back
towards mass transit and uh or to to
rail beyond beyond buses. And I got here
in 2003 and we had the Montreal, a a
tourist ride. Forgive me for anybody who
uh uses the Montreal uh to get from the
needle to downtown, but you know, so to
see over the last 25 years uh to see
this great metropolitan area finally
start to get the the the real transit
options that enable uh you know,
affordable people living in affordable
places to go to the jobs that that pay
great salaries to make everyone's lives
better to uh lower the amount of carbon
that goes into the atmosphere as people
go about their lives was was amazing.
And to see it now really uh be closer
than ever to getting to our beautiful
side of the Seattle metro area is just
such a joy to behold. So I commend
everybody. Of course, I will I will be
supporting this measure tonight. And I
know Mayor Mullet, so I know I don't
have to say we need to keep our uh
finger on the pulse of this because I
know he will do it and I know that we
will all be uh in this together. So it
Thank you very much.
>> I did not know Jesse Ventura was a
transit champion, but I'm learning new
things every night. Council member Boyd.
Um I'll echo the yeah positive comments
and thank you to uh you deputy
administrator Leonard and the mayor and
all the other council members and
community members. I know uh various
folks on uh the transportation advisory
board where I came from have been uh
also uh pedal on the gas. That's maybe
not the best metaphor here, but on uh
this effort I'm very encouraged by it.
And I just want to also remark that it's
broadly very encouraging to see um an
organization and uh movement that people
uh are really bought into and forward
and feel that they can make change,
right? Um the I think the strong
president board is clearly listening to
what uh the community and the leadership
is saying and that's just um you know in
times that aren't always so hopeful that
I think that means a lot. Um so I I will
uh I'm very supportive of this
resolution. Uh uh we mentioned the
guiding principles for the light
visioning uh earlier and I think this
clearly falls in line uh uh they call
upon us to foster a strong collaborative
partnership with Sound Transit. Um and
this is doing exactly that. So I'm
really looking forward to voting in
favor of this.
>> Excellent. Okay. With that, not seeing
any other discussion.
Let's see. All those in favor of the
motion before council is to adopt
resolution number 2026-12 committing to
streamlining permitting for Sound
Transit light rail. Please say I.
>> I.
>> I.
>> All those opposed? No.
And that passes unanimously. The next
item of business is committee regional
reports. And we will start with council
member Boyd.
Nothing to report. I hope to be on a
regional committee soon.
>> Council member Dair. Uh
>> I too have no reports at this time.
Okay,
>> we're being very efficient. Council
member Nichols,
>> I too have no uh committees to report.
>> Council member Joe,
>> thank you. Cascade Water Alliance Board
will be meeting on the 27th. Uh are you
able to go, Mayor? Thank you. Uh the
finance committee will be meeting
tomorrow at uh 1:30 I think it is. The
uh mobility and infrastructure committee
had two agenda items. They'll be coming
back to council later. Frontage
improvements for public utility projects
and a look at the six-year
transportation improvement program.
Finally, ELTAC the lodging tax advisory
committee will next be meeting on June
1st. We'll be receiving a quarterly
update from visit Isiqua and some other
miscellaneous items probably on the
agenda. That concludes my report. Thank
you.
>> And Council Joe, I've had the finance
meetings removed from my calendar
because I'm I'm told they're under your
purview now. I attend all other
meetings. Okay. Council Walsh.
>> Thank you. Uh the planning, development,
environment committee of the city
council meets tomorrow. Our agenda
includes one item um com 0238 promoting
build building investments in Isiqua
where staff will present the draft goals
and outcomes chart for the proposed 2026
27 work plan items plus a proposed
schedule. So should be a good
conversation. Um Eastside Fire and
Rescue we met last Thursday. Uh the
agenda included a presentation by Puet
Sound Regional Fire Authority. um
they've already been through an RFA
process. So, they were talking to us
about what that was like. Um and then we
also had the remainder of our
presentation with some very very very
back of the napkin estimates about the
financial decisions that we'll have to
consider as we look at a possible
regional fire authority or a combined
fire district. Um
the good news is it looks good for the
city of Isiqua. we're about the average
from everybody else and everybody else
is either going to go up or down or
something like that. Um the next steps
is that in June we're asking the East
Side Fire and Rescue board to give a
thumbs up to one of the options. Either
stay the course with our current funding
model, consolidate into a or explore
consolidating into a fire district or
explore forming a regional fire
authority. All that thumbs up would do
is direct staff to begin education of
the nine jurisdictions, the cities and
the fire districts, including ours, um
with a presentation on what that would
look like, what the process would look
like. If we then agree, we agree to form
a planning uh committee which would meet
for a year and a half to two years to
work out all of the details. Um, and I
heard in the last um, time I was giving
an update on this that you would like
really clear understanding of what the
decision points are for the Epher board
versus what the decision points are for
the ESQUA city council. And so that will
be a part of our presentation. And then
the um, regional coalition for housing
arch um, committee of electeds meets
this Thursday. The agenda includes a
discussion on different ways that
affordable housing is funded. Um what
the uh funding stack looks like and how
that compares to market rate housing. um
updates on a potential King County
housing levy and how we might have a
conversation about reporting credit for
investing in ARCH as a way to satisfy
the King Countywide
planning policies or CPPs
um which say we have to make efforts
toward affordable housing and this one's
one of those big question marks out
there. So, we're going to have start
that conversation. That concludes my
report.
>> Deputy President Jane.
>> Great. Um so the I have three so bear
with me. Uh the first one is the East
Side Transportation Partnership. We had
a meeting on Friday uh May 8th. Uh our
letter uh in support of the four line uh
which we worked on with Kirkland and
Belleview was approved by the East Side
Transportation Partnership. So that's
great. So you know that'll be sent to
the Sound Transit Board. Um, the King
County Regional Homelessness Authority
Governing Board, our finance committee
had our first meeting last Monday, uh,
May 11th at 11:00 a.m. We received a
financial update from KCHA staff. Um,
their preliminary numbers show that
their negative cash balance in the King
County investment pool has grown from
$45 million at the end of the audit
period, which was July 2025, to65
million at the end of March 2026. In
comparison, they have about $50 million
in accounts receivable. Uh although that
this this number is also pending, you
know, full reconciliation. Now, I'm not
an accountant. I know others on this
body are, but that does point to pretty
significant remaining uh net, you know,
net financial position. Um I've asked
them repeatedly when they're going to
have a estimate of their net financial
position according to generally accepted
accounting principles and I will
continue to push for that. Um, so you
know it there there's a lot of things
that they need to do to figure out their
financial situation and I know King
County and Seattle are kind of figuring
out what their next steps are. Our next
governing board meeting for the full
governing board is this Friday, May 22nd
at 10 a.m. And the King County Flood
Control District Advisory Committee is
also meeting this Friday, May 22nd at
1:30 p.m. So that concludes my report.
Council
President Mortz.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Two Sound Cities
Association related things. Public
issues committee met on May 13th at 7
p.m. Uh, you know, I had been saying
that I was looking forward to them
getting back to substantive meetings and
hoo-ha. We had three major elements.
Potential affordable housing regional
initiative. Um, this was presented by
the housing development consortium. They
are going to be looking to input from
cities um on putting together some
possibly large uh initiative regionwide.
Um they avoided talking specific
numbers. They talked about funding
mechanisms and several different kinds
of funding mechanisms. And I said, "And
how much money could that bring in per
year?" because we were told that the
total need uh across all housing uh is
approximately $3.5 billion per year. Um
and that the need for uh uh transitional
housing is about 500 million of that 3.5
billion. Uh they did not specify a
number um but more towards the uh trying
to put something together and wanting to
get cities at the table. So more on this
going forward. There isn't a specific
SCA uh motion associated with this right
now. There was on the 2027 proposed
sewer rate response letter. You've all
seen that. Kudos to SCA. They had nine
amendments uh that they had to work
through and they did a nice job of
getting through uh passing about half of
them. None of them were substantive
changes. None of them um changed the net
effect which is that we were all
disappointed in the um you know doubling
over the next uh 10 years and tripling
over the next 15 or 20 years um of sewer
rates. So that'll go before the board
shortly. Um then there was a Sound
Transit Enterprise initiative. Um they
wanted to say something positive about
Sound Transit. there was an obvious
understanding that there are you know
here there be dragons and there would be
many ways to come up with a statement
that might
uh might violate the charter of south
cities association which is to do no
harm to any individual cities. So the
message was um I think fairly um broad
sports a regional transit system that
strengthens our communities by
connecting our families, friends, jobs,
large and small businesses and services.
We recognize that Sound Transit is
facing significant financial challenges,
but fulfilling the commitments made to
voters in SD3 is critical for our
region's mobility and for the future
success of local and regional
transportation measures. Cities are
willing to be flexible and look forward
to engaging directly with Sound Transit
to find potential resources and savings.
Uh, and that was forwarded on to the
board. Uh the board is meeting on May
20th, this Wednesday, at Belleview City
Hall at 10 a.m. Uh in addition to those
three things I just mentioned, there's
going to be uh impaneling of the equity
and inclusion cabinet um and uh a uh
uh discussion includes um SCA's press
policy, build for zero leadership table,
potential contact list swapping with the
county. Uh those are the major things
that are going to go before it. This
concludes my report.
>> Okay. The mayor's report. I first want
to touch on the topic from last week's
committee, the whole and this is
obviously a topic that's been in front
of this community for the last few
months is the flock camera discussion.
And just to be 100% crystal clear that
the federal grant we received through
Congressman Shrier's office, the
$452,000,
0% 0% is being used on any flock
cameras. 99% is being used on conductive
energy devices, more commonly known as
tasers. Uh 1% is being used on an
interview camera which was damaged and
destroyed in our police department uh
last year. I will also say that we will
bring before this council on June 1st a
resolution that clearly highlights that
the administration is working with the
council on policies of if Isqua were to
ever utilize camera technology, we would
make sure it be done in a way where the
data is secure and not at risk of
federal interference. And we will make
that resolution crystal clear that there
will be no policies
going forward until we come to agreement
with the council on what those would
look like. And I think we have a a
scheduled discussion for that on July
20th and we will see at that time if we
can find an agreement on a policy and if
not we will come back again. But in the
meantime, nobody has to worry at all
about any purchases of of any camera
equipment because we are waiting to get
guidance from the council of what the
rules of the road would be in in that
space. And so at the June 15th meeting,
we will ask the council to approve uh
this federal grant with full clear
understanding that 0% of that will be
used on vlog cameras. It will be used on
on the tasers and this and $45,000 on
the interview camera replacement. And I
just want to make sure that our
community understands that that is the
path going forward. In terms of other
items, public works open house. Uh this
is I I'm thinking of council member
Darren and his kids. This sounds like
something they're going to enjoy. Uh it
is May 20th from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at
city's public works facilities. They can
come do public works zoo featuring heavy
duty equipment like the deer, the
bobcat, the caterpillar machines. They
can tour city facilities and enjoy
hands-on demonstrations. I'm told they
use back hose to throw tires. And so I
have not attended this before, but we I
think we call it the public works rodeo.
Uh the Sound Transit board meeting we
heard about from our city uh deputy city
administrator earlier is going to be May
28th at 1:30. And so we're going to once
again show up in our purple shirts to
make sure as this final vote does occur
and we will be there to support keeping
us on the map and we do plan to have so
on June 1st we're going to raise the
pride flag before the council meeting.
We think roughly that'll occur around 6
pm. Our plan is then to have a chance
from 6:15 to 6:45 to thank the Isqua
community for showing up to save Isquas
light rail. This is all contingent of us
obviously staying on the map on this May
28th vote, but we think we will. And so
assuming that does happen, we do want to
have a chance to thank our community for
showing up and engaging in this process.
and we will do that in that intervening
time between raising the pride flag and
our meeting starting on June 1st at 7:00
p.m. Memorial Day is coming up on Monday
and so we invite community members to
join us at the Isqua Senior Center as we
honor the men and women who made the
ultimate sacrifice and service to our
country. The ceremony is hosted by local
veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3436 whose
members continue to serve the Isqua
community with both dedication and
pride. This event starts at 10:00 a.m.
and is opening to the public. Those
interested in volunteering can also join
community members on May 23rd at 9:00
a.m. to decorate headstones of veterans
at the Lower Hillside Cemetery at 3 at
555 West Sunset Way as well as under
parading them at 6 p.m. on May 25th. Uh
and with that, that ends my mayor's
report. We will now go to good of the
order.
Council member Joe. Yeah, I would just
like to thank the circle and all the
volunteer organizations that made the
AsianAmerican Pacific Islander event on
Sunday a great success. They had a
thousand people that registered for the
event. Uh when I was there there were
about uh at 450 people that had already
gone through the doors. I saw council
deputy council president Jen there.
Thanks for attending. It was a great
event to see cultural dancing and
experience the Asian-American Pacific
Islander culture. Thank you,
>> Council Member Boyd.
Um, I had the opportunity to do a ride
along with uh Isqua PD on Friday evening
um from 7 to a little bit past 11:00
p.m. And uh I just um I passed my
comments along in writing to um the
sergeant and Chief Schwan, but I uh
would be remiss if I did not say that I
am incredibly proud of our um our Esqua
Police Department uh throughout the
evening. um they treated anyone they
encountered with um the full dignity
that everyone deserves and their u
professionalism is just um uh I commend
it and uh I would encourage uh any other
council members if you haven't done a
ride along or uh if it's maybe been a
few years um it was uh I'm just so
grateful to them for um letting me be a
fly on the wall for a few hours on
Friday.
>> Excellent. That's very nice. I'm waiting
for the awkward moment when somebody
does a ride along and pulls over one of
my six mullet children driving around
our city.
I'm not sure stop at every stop sign
completely. Uh the Okay, looking for the
good of the order. Not seeing any. Our
next council meeting, as we said, will
be on Monday, June 1st. We will raise
the pride flag first. I think tenatively
we're shooting for 6 p.m. We'll give out
updates as we get closer. Then on
Monday, June 8th, we have the committee
of the whole with Isqua climate action
plan, econom economic development plan
update. And I think we're penciling in
the downtown ISQA association update as
well. And there is no executive session
this meeting. And with that, so we did
have a lot of proclamations today, but
for the record, done at day 35. We are
journed.