City Council Regular Meeting · Monday, May 18, 2026 · City Council Digest

3. SPECIAL BUSINESS

Recognition of Barbara de Michele ID 1991

5 min

▶ Watch from 15:48

Recognition of Police Chief Paula Schwan ID 2002

5 min · packet pp.5

Topics: Public Safety

▶ Watch from 18:34 Open packet at p.5 ↗

Staff report:

SPECIAL BUSINESS c) CITY OF ISSAQUAH Mayor's Office 130 E. Sunset Way WASHINGTON Issaquah, WA 98027 425-837-3000 issaquahwa.gov

Safe Boating and Paddling Week Proclamation ID 2026

5 min · packet pp.7

▶ Watch from 21:21 Open packet at p.7 ↗

Staff report:

SPECIAL BUSINESS d) CITY OF ISSAQUAH Mayor's Office 130 E. Sunset Way WASHINGTON Issaquah, WA 98027 425-837-3000 issaquahwa.gov

Emergency Medical Services Week Proclamation ID 2028

5 min

Topics: Public Safety

▶ Watch from 24:07

Mental Health Awareness Month Proclamation ID 2033

5 min

▶ Watch from 26:53

Presentation by ICMA Army Senior Management Fellow Martha Bowers ID 2025

Director, Army Civilian Career Management · 10 min

▶ Watch from 29:40

5. CONSENT CALENDAR

Accounts: Payables and Payroll of May 18, 2026, $7,484,056.60 ID 1967

Carried 7-0

Approve · packet pp.9–18

Topics: Budget

▶ Watch from 43:16 Open packet at p.9 ↗

Staff report:

Finance Department P.O. Box 1307 Issaquah, WA 98027 PH: 425-837-3050 www.issaquahwa.gov

Roll call:

Moved by Council President Marts · seconded by Deputy Council President Jiang

In favor: Paul Adair, Erika Boyd, Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Kevin Nichols, and Councilmember Lindsey Walsh

Minutes: City Council Regular Meeting, May 4, 2026

Carried 7-0

Approve · packet pp.19–22

▶ Watch from 43:22 Open packet at p.19 ↗

Staff report:

CONSENT CALENDAR b) 05-04-26 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page (0000) CITY OF ISSAQUAH City Council Regular Meeting 7:00 PM Council Chambers, 135 E. May 4, 2026 MINUTES Sunset Way, Issaquah WA

Roll call:

Moved by Council President Marts · seconded by Deputy Council President Jiang

In favor: Paul Adair, Erika Boyd, Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Kevin Nichols, and Councilmember Lindsey Walsh

Minutes: City Council Committee of the Whole, May 9, 2026

Carried 7-0

Approve · packet pp.23–26

▶ Watch from 43:28 Open packet at p.23 ↗

Staff report:

CONSENT CALENDAR c) 05-09-26 City Council Committee of the Whole Page (0000) Minutes CITY OF ISSAQUAH City Council Committee-of-the-Whole – City Council Retreat 9:00 AM Gibson Hall, 105 Newport Way May 9, 2026 MINUTES SW

Roll call:

Moved by Council President Marts · seconded by Deputy Council President Jiang

In favor: Paul Adair, Erika Boyd, Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Kevin Nichols, and Councilmember Lindsey Walsh

Informational Update: Board and Commission 2026 Workplans ID 2007

Carried 7-0

Receive Report · packet pp.27–56

▶ Watch from 43:34 Open packet at p.27 ↗

Staff report:

To provide the City Council an overview of the City’s advisory board/commission work items in 2026.

Roll call:

Moved by Council President Marts · seconded by Deputy Council President Jiang

In favor: Paul Adair, Erika Boyd, Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Kevin Nichols, and Councilmember Lindsey Walsh

PFAS One Time Grant Program and Consultant Contract Amendments AB 9189

Carried 7-0

Authorize · packet pp.57–66

Topics: Water

▶ Watch from 43:39 Open packet at p.57 ↗

Staff report:

The City is responsible under the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) for conducting a PFAS-related Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study at Memorial Field and along the Rainier Trail, as part of the Agreed Order for this site. Decades ago, lawfully used firefighting foam containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) was applied at these sites for fire department training purposes. This foam is no longer used. More information about the City's approach to PFAS can be found on the City's website.

Roll call:

Moved by Council President Marts · seconded by Deputy Council President Jiang

In favor: Paul Adair, Erika Boyd, Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Kevin Nichols, and Councilmember Lindsey Walsh

King County Conservation Futures Interlocal Agreement Amendments 2 & 3 AB 9194

Carried 7-0

Authorize · packet pp.67–92

Previously discussed: City Council Regular Meeting · Feb 24, 2025

▶ Watch from 43:45 Open packet at p.67 ↗

Staff report:

King County Conservation Futures is a County program that is the primary source of funding for the Land Conservation Initiative. It's goal is to promote preservation and conservation of critical open spaces and urban green areas throughout King County, and has been a large source funding support for our open space acquisition program in the City of Issaquah.

Roll call:

Moved by Council President Marts · seconded by Deputy Council President Jiang

In favor: Paul Adair, Erika Boyd, Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Kevin Nichols, and Councilmember Lindsey Walsh

2026 Concrete Maintenance AB 9195

Carried 7-0

Award Bid · packet pp.93–97

▶ Watch from 43:51 Open packet at p.93 ↗

Staff report:

City Attorney Review Rachel Bender Turpin City Attorney Review Date: May 13, 2026

Roll call:

Moved by Council President Marts · seconded by Deputy Council President Jiang

In favor: Paul Adair, Erika Boyd, Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Kevin Nichols, and Councilmember Lindsey Walsh

6. REGULAR BUSINESS

Resolution for Streamlining Sound Transit Light Rail Permits AB 9190

Carried 7-0

Approve Resolution · 30 min · packet pp.99–120

Topics: Land UseTransportation

▶ Watch from 43:57 Open packet at p.99 ↗

Staff report:

In 2016, Puget Sound voters approved the Sound Transit 3 (ST3) package, which authorized Sound Transit to impose additional taxes and car tab fees on area residents in order to fund an extensive build out of the regional light rail system in addition to other transportation infrastructure. A new light rail line between Issaquah and Kirkland via Bellevue was included in the package, with construction anticipated to be completed in 2041.

Roll call:

Moved by Deputy Council President Jiang · seconded by Council President Marts

In favor: Paul Adair, Erika Boyd, Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Kevin Nichols, and Councilmember Walsh

9. GOOD OF THE ORDER

Upcoming Council Meetings

▶ Watch from 1:35:06

2229 segments .txt ↗

0:20 ↗ Ron,

0:27 ↗ we're ready whenever you are.

0:38 ↗ >> Good evening everybody. We are going to

0:40 ↗ start with the pledge of allegiance. So,

0:42 ↗ please join me if you can.

0:47 ↗ I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

0:50 ↗ United States of America and to the

0:53 ↗ republic for which it stands, one nation

0:56 ↗ under God, indivisible, with liberty and

0:59 ↗ justice for all.

1:04 ↗ And tonight's first item of special

1:06 ↗ business is ID 1991, recognition of Barb

1:10 ↗ D. Michelle. And Barb, we're going to

1:12 ↗ have you come up to lecture and I'm

1:13 ↗ going to meet you up there.

1:40 ↗ Okay. For more than 40 years, Barbara D.

1:43 ↗ Michelle has been a champion for the

1:44 ↗ Isqua community. Through her service on

1:46 ↗ the Isqua City Council, Isqua School

1:48 ↗ Board, Arts Commission, and numerous

1:50 ↗ regional and community organizations,

1:52 ↗ Barb has consistently worked to

1:54 ↗ strengthen connections, support families

1:56 ↗ and youth, and improve the quality of

1:57 ↗ life for all Isqua residents. During her

2:00 ↗ time on city council from 2019 up until

2:03 ↗ January this year in 2026, including as

2:05 ↗ deputy council president and council

2:08 ↗ president, Barb brought thoughtful

2:09 ↗ leadership, compassion, and a

2:11 ↗ collaborative spirit to every issue she

2:13 ↗ faced. She also helped to establish

2:15 ↗ important community resources as a

2:16 ↗ founding member of influence the choice

2:18 ↗ in 2010 and a founding member of the

2:20 ↗ garage at teen cafe in 2018

2:23 ↗ organizations that have provided

2:24 ↗ critical support and connection for

2:26 ↗ local youth. She was inducted in the

2:28 ↗ hisqua hall of fame and award of the

2:30 ↗ Isqua schools foundation golden apple

2:32 ↗ award for her contributions to public

2:34 ↗ education in 2012. She was also the

2:36 ↗ recipient of the elected official of the

2:37 ↗ year award in 2020 by the alliance of

2:40 ↗ east side agencies. Her commitment to

2:42 ↗ public service combined with her genuine

2:44 ↗ care for the community has made a

2:45 ↗ lasting difference throughout Isiziqua

2:48 ↗ and will continue to inspire future

2:50 ↗ generations. Barb, on behalf of the city

2:52 ↗ of Isqua, it's my great honor to present

2:54 ↗ you with, to my knowledge, this is the

2:58 ↗ first key to the city that we've given

2:59 ↗ out that I'm aware of.

3:02 ↗ And

3:06 ↗ oh, look at that.

3:29 ↗ Nor normally normally the highlight's

3:31 ↗ the plaque, but the plaque is no longer

3:33 ↗ the highlight when you got the key to

3:34 ↗ the city. But you do get both.

3:37 ↗ Okay, we're going to do one more.

3:39 ↗ >> Okay.

3:44 ↗ >> Okay.

3:51 ↗ >> All right. Well, my son has my speech,

3:52 ↗ so

3:56 ↗ >> that's what sons are for. Adding value.

3:58 ↗ >> Yes, that's right. Nope. That's right.

4:01 ↗ My son just said no crying in baseball.

4:07 ↗ So, thank you so much for this uh for

4:10 ↗ this evening. Thank you, Mark. Uh for

4:13 ↗ the last few days, I've been thinking

4:15 ↗ about a song from the musical Oklahoma.

4:18 ↗ It's called I'm Just a Girl That Can't

4:19 ↗ Say No.

4:22 ↗ It's been the honor and privilege of my

4:24 ↗ life to spend the last 40 years saying

4:26 ↗ yes to serving the comm wonderful

4:28 ↗ community, this wonderful community. But

4:31 ↗ beyond the honor, it has been an

4:33 ↗ absolute joy connecting with so many of

4:36 ↗ the of the visionary people of this

4:38 ↗ community. Working with them to build

4:40 ↗ the Isiqua today has been a journey

4:42 ↗ filled with wonderful friendships and

4:44 ↗ lots of laughter.

4:47 ↗ It's an old cliche, but it's true. I've

4:49 ↗ received more than I've ever given to

4:52 ↗ this community. Uh I think that's part

4:55 ↗ of community engagement and community

4:57 ↗ volunteerism. you've it it is you give

5:01 ↗ but you receive so much and it's true in

5:04 ↗ my case. Thank you for honoring me

5:06 ↗ tonight. Thank you to the council, to

5:08 ↗ the mayor, and to the city

5:09 ↗ administration for this honor. I will

5:12 ↗ use this key wisely.

5:16 ↗ >> Let me know when you have what door to

5:17 ↗ open.

5:19 ↗ And so, thank you everyone and thank you

5:21 ↗ to everybody who took the time to come

5:23 ↗ tonight. I really, really appreciate

5:25 ↗ seeing you all. Thank you.

5:33 ↗ Wednesday.

5:34 ↗ >> Okay.

6:04 ↗ You got to hold your

6:22 ↗ >> Very nice.

7:00 ↗ Before we go on to Chief Schwan, I was

7:03 ↗ going to see if anyone on the council

7:04 ↗ had any I'll say brief remarks.

7:11 ↗ Okay.

7:13 ↗ Okay. Excellent. Thank you very much, B.

7:16 ↗ Uh, the next item is ID 20002,

7:20 ↗ recognition of Police Chief Paulo

7:21 ↗ Schwan. We'd like to invite Chief Schwan

7:24 ↗ up front.

7:27 ↗ And now we get to have Wallally's take

7:28 ↗ over and and say all the nice words.

7:36 ↗ >> Good evening, Shuan.

7:37 ↗ >> Good evening. Um, before we start, I

7:41 ↗ know that you have a little presentation

7:43 ↗ you'd like to make to the city council.

7:45 ↗ So, if you wouldn't mind sharing that, I

7:48 ↗ think that they'd be very interested in

7:49 ↗ hearing about it.

7:53 ↗ Council members, mayor,

7:56 ↗ community members. So last week I went

7:59 ↗ to Waspik and we had Wasp is Washington

8:03 ↗ Association of Police Chiefs and

8:04 ↗ Sheriffs and uh we uh presented and

8:08 ↗ applied for accreditation for our

8:10 ↗ department and we were approved for

8:13 ↗ accreditation and so we will be

8:16 ↗ accredited for the next four years and

8:17 ↗ then they will reacredit and um so we

8:20 ↗ officially um were recognized as one of

8:22 ↗ the 85 organizations in the state that

8:26 ↗ are um accredited through Wasp. IC which

8:28 ↗ is a big deal and that's all about the

8:30 ↗ proofs and standards that we hold and

8:33 ↗ our policies and our procedures are all

8:35 ↗ in compliance with the best practices

8:39 ↗ and have to have a huge shout out to our

8:42 ↗ staff. Um Holly Luck actually received a

8:44 ↗ WASPIC award for the U man accreditation

8:47 ↗ manager and so she received a plaque at

8:50 ↗ Waspik as well. I will be submitting a

8:52 ↗ photograph to you with our certificate

8:53 ↗ as well. Holly's back here.

8:56 ↗ Trisha and a lot of our staff also had a

8:59 ↗ huge um lift. Paul Frighten also who is

9:01 ↗ here also had a huge lift in that

9:03 ↗ accomplishment. Oh, there you are. And

9:05 ↗ so huge shout out to them to make this

9:07 ↗ possible. And so the next four years

9:09 ↗ they'll be working very hard to get

9:10 ↗ reacredited after that. So very much.

9:20 ↗ >> Well, congratulations, Chief. And it's

9:22 ↗ fitting um to share this as uh one of

9:27 ↗ your final of many many accomplishments

9:29 ↗ as the distinguished chief of police of

9:31 ↗ the city of Isiqua. Uh Paula came to us

9:34 ↗ in November of 2017 as a police

9:35 ↗ commander um and was appointed uh police

9:38 ↗ chief in June of 2022. Uh a lot has

9:42 ↗ happened in the the years that you've

9:44 ↗ been police chief. uh you took over the

9:47 ↗ uh department in the wake of a worldwide

9:49 ↗ pandemic uh where there was uh lots of

9:53 ↗ upset on many many levels. There were uh

9:55 ↗ issues of race relations not only in the

9:59 ↗ greater Seattle area but all over the

10:01 ↗ country and uh running a police

10:03 ↗ department was perhaps not on the top 10

10:05 ↗ list of most popular jobs around. Um and

10:09 ↗ we suffered people who decided to retire

10:11 ↗ to leave change jobs professions. um and

10:14 ↗ you were left to lead and recover the

10:17 ↗ department in tremendous ways. Uh Chuwan

10:21 ↗ has hired 50% of the police staff of

10:24 ↗ this department in her time as chief. So

10:26 ↗ you think about the the the the energy

10:29 ↗ and time it has taken for the chief to

10:31 ↗ rebuild this department uh to the

10:33 ↗ excellent level that Wasp would would

10:35 ↗ recognize us with accreditation. When I

10:38 ↗ think about what qualities you want in a

10:41 ↗ police chief, certainly Chief Schwan

10:43 ↗ personifies all of them. Good judgment.

10:46 ↗ I mean, every single day, 24 hours a

10:48 ↗ day, 7 days a week, you are asked to

10:50 ↗ make judgments on behalf of the safety

10:52 ↗ of your officers, on behalf of the

10:54 ↗ safety of community. And you never

10:55 ↗ failed at that. You were available 24/7,

10:58 ↗ 365,

10:59 ↗ uh, with your good judgment for whatever

11:02 ↗ came our way. uh law enforcement issues,

11:04 ↗ bomb cyclones, whatever came our way,

11:07 ↗ you were there making uh decisions.

11:09 ↗ Another quality that's so important in a

11:11 ↗ chief is integrity and honesty. Uh your

11:14 ↗ integrity, incredible. You always called

11:17 ↗ things as you saw them, uh took uh

11:20 ↗ credit for good things, took blame for

11:21 ↗ bad things, never hesitated with that,

11:24 ↗ and you led this department with great

11:26 ↗ integrity and honesty, decisiveness. Um,

11:30 ↗ unfortunately bad things happen

11:31 ↗ sometimes in this community and you need

11:33 ↗ a chief that's not going to waver from

11:35 ↗ making decisions and you always made

11:37 ↗ good decisions on behalf of this

11:39 ↗ community.

11:41 ↗ Supporting officers, you support your

11:44 ↗ people tremendously. I cannot even count

11:46 ↗ the number of times you came to me and

11:48 ↗ said, "Wally, we got to do this because

11:51 ↗ this person needs this training. We need

11:53 ↗ to make these promotions work. We need

11:55 ↗ to find good positions for people." You

11:57 ↗ defended and supported every single one

11:59 ↗ of your employees day in and day out.

12:01 ↗ And the part of the strength of this

12:03 ↗ department is your support of its

12:05 ↗ officers. And lastly, and perhaps most

12:08 ↗ important in the world today is trust

12:11 ↗ and community trust. You went out of

12:13 ↗ your way to make the department more

12:14 ↗ transparent with monthly reports. You

12:17 ↗ brought back the police blott, your use

12:19 ↗ of social media, you know, making the

12:21 ↗ national night out something where we

12:22 ↗ connect with communities. your

12:24 ↗ commitment to building that transparency

12:26 ↗ and that community trust. People want to

12:28 ↗ be in Isqua because it's a safe place

12:30 ↗ and it's a safe place because of your

12:32 ↗ leadership as chief of police. So, it's

12:35 ↗ with very heavy heart uh that first of

12:38 ↗ all, we have to say goodbye, but I want

12:41 ↗ you to know from your staff, from all of

12:43 ↗ us at the city of Isiqua, we have a

12:45 ↗ heartfelt thank you for a job well done.

13:01 ↗ I got my picture.

13:15 ↗ You got to have an old school camera.

13:18 ↗ Okay, go ahead.

13:22 ↗ Well, first of all, it's an honor to

13:23 ↗ share tonight with Barbara Michelle.

13:27 ↗ I can't promise no deers.

13:37 ↗ I've done this job for 31 and a half

13:39 ↗ years.

13:49 ↗ Definitely a lot of lessons learned um

13:51 ↗ and working with a lot of people. Um I

13:54 ↗ appreciate the council's support.

13:57 ↗ Even though we had differences, we've

13:59 ↗ always been able to work through things

14:01 ↗ through education and through um growth.

14:05 ↗ U my staff, everybody at the police

14:07 ↗ department, whether I've hired them or

14:09 ↗ they've been there. And one of the

14:11 ↗ reasons I stayed was because of the

14:12 ↗ staff that remained. and they worked so

14:15 ↗ hard and still do um for each other.

14:20 ↗ None of them live here in the community

14:21 ↗ and they work so hard for all of you.

14:24 ↗ And that's the biggest thing and the

14:26 ↗ thing that oftentimes gets unnoticed and

14:28 ↗ realized and recognized.

14:31 ↗ um they put their lives on the line

14:33 ↗ every day 24/7 when everybody else is

14:37 ↗ sleeping and home alone um or together

14:40 ↗ and they look out for every single one

14:41 ↗ who live, works and plays here. And so

14:44 ↗ my biggest thing is that my hope is that

14:46 ↗ you get someone better than me that can

14:50 ↗ move this um department forward and does

14:52 ↗ an amazing job for the community and the

14:54 ↗ council and specifically for my staff

14:57 ↗ because they work so hard to make this

14:59 ↗ place um the best it can be. So I

15:02 ↗ appreciate the opportunity to work for

15:03 ↗ them and to work for you and this is

15:07 ↗ greatly appreciated. Thank you.

15:35 ↗ Thank you very much, Chief Schwan. And

15:37 ↗ thank you very much, Barb. Uh, I really

15:41 ↗ appreciate both of your service to this

15:42 ↗ community. It's greatly appreciated. The

15:45 ↗ next item is ID 2026, Safe Boating and

15:48 ↗ Paddling Week Proclamation. We'd like to

15:50 ↗ invite US Coast Guard auxiliarist Dale

15:52 ↗ Vodica to lectern.

16:02 ↗ All right. Whereas the city of Isqua is

16:05 ↗ adjacent to Lake Seamameish and is close

16:07 ↗ to other navigable navigable waterways.

16:09 ↗ And whereas many Isqua residents of all

16:11 ↗ ages engage in recreational boating and

16:14 ↗ paddling. Whereas the city of Isiqua has

16:16 ↗ demonstrated a commitment to boating and

16:18 ↗ paddling safety by providing residents

16:20 ↗ with information and educational

16:21 ↗ programming in these areas in

16:23 ↗ collaboration with the US Coast Guard

16:24 ↗ Auxiliary. And whereas with the surge of

16:27 ↗ Americans engaging in paddling activity

16:29 ↗ since 2020, many without any training,

16:31 ↗ paddling fatalities now constitute more

16:33 ↗ than 25% of all boating fatalities

16:36 ↗ nationwide. And whereas the vast

16:38 ↗ majority of serious boating and paddling

16:40 ↗ accidents are caused by lack of

16:41 ↗ training, human error, or poor judgment.

16:44 ↗ Whereas a significant number of voters

16:46 ↗ who lose their lives by drowning each

16:48 ↗ year would be alive today had they worn

16:49 ↗ their life jackets. Now therefore, I,

16:51 ↗ Mark Mullet, mayor of the city of

16:52 ↗ Isquad, do hereby proclaim May 16th to

16:55 ↗ May 22nd, 2026 to be safe boating and

16:58 ↗ paddling week in the city of Isqua,

17:00 ↗ encourage all Iscar residents to

17:02 ↗ dedicate themselves to learning about

17:03 ↗ the learning about and practicing safe

17:06 ↗ boating, including wearing life jackets.

17:18 ↗ >> We'll do a quick photo and then get give

17:19 ↗ you the mic. And I'm warning the

17:21 ↗ council. I think there gonna be a

17:23 ↗ there's gonna be life jackets involved

17:24 ↗ for everybody. So be prepared.

17:26 ↗ >> Well, there's a photo op.

17:35 ↗ >> You want to use that? You want Molly to

17:37 ↗ take one of that one?

17:41 ↗ >> Love it.

17:45 ↗ Push and hold.

17:49 ↗ There we go.

17:49 ↗ >> All right.

17:54 ↗ >> Okay. Let me leave this with you.

18:02 ↗ >> Okay. Thank you. Uh Dale Vodica,

18:04 ↗ immediate past uh division commander of

18:07 ↗ division 2, which is the greater Seattle

18:10 ↗ area in King County. Good evening and

18:13 ↗ thank you for recognizing National Safe

18:15 ↗ Boating and Paddling Week. also the

18:18 ↗ great livability provided by the

18:20 ↗ recreational boating opportunities pro

18:22 ↗ provided in the city of Isqua with your

18:25 ↗ miles of shoreline on lake on lake

18:28 ↗ excuse me on lake Samish

18:30 ↗ and uh creeks and rivers

18:35 ↗ uh we come to you with this request at

18:38 ↗ this time of year to remind the

18:39 ↗ residents of the inherent dangers of

18:41 ↗ those activities and while the air may

18:44 ↗ be warmer and getting warmer it The

18:47 ↗ water is still cold.

18:49 ↗ It was snow a couple of weeks ago.

18:52 ↗ To prevent incidents and preserve life,

18:54 ↗ the Coast Guard has established minimum

18:56 ↗ carriage requirements for all vessels,

18:59 ↗ including paddle craft.

19:01 ↗ The most important of which is the life

19:03 ↗ jacket for everyone aboard or towed by

19:07 ↗ the vessel.

19:09 ↗ I would encourage the city of Isiqua to

19:11 ↗ look at what other cities have have done

19:13 ↗ towards requiring the wear of life

19:15 ↗ jackets on paddle craft.

19:18 ↗ That would be a great step forward

19:19 ↗ towards lowering the likelihood of death

19:21 ↗ or injuries for those vessels which is

19:23 ↗ now pushing unfortunately is now 40%

19:27 ↗ of the of the deaths and injuries

19:29 ↗ nationally. I would also like to

19:31 ↗ highlight the requirement to carry a

19:33 ↗ sound producing device on all vessels

19:35 ↗ including paddlecraft which can be

19:38 ↗ simply accomplished by putting a whistle

19:40 ↗ on your life jacket. This can be used to

19:43 ↗ prevent collisions and summon help in an

19:46 ↗ emergency.

19:47 ↗ our efforts in the past decades of

19:49 ↗ educating voters on safe boating

19:51 ↗ practices and require and the

19:53 ↗ requirement in Washington state of a

19:55 ↗ boater education card to operate a

19:57 ↗ motorized vessel has driven the in the

20:00 ↗ incidents down on those vessels. But

20:03 ↗ unfortunately the recent increases

20:06 ↗ recent increase in uneducated

20:08 ↗ paddlecraft operators has resulted in

20:11 ↗ the continuence of our unacceptable

20:13 ↗ numbers of deaths, injuries, and

20:15 ↗ property damage in the state of

20:17 ↗ Washington.

20:18 ↗ Hopefully the residents of Isiqua will

20:20 ↗ hear our message tonight and adopt safe

20:22 ↗ operating procedures to enjoy their

20:24 ↗ recreational boating activities. And we

20:27 ↗ look forward to continuing partnering

20:29 ↗ with the city of Isiqua to advance to

20:31 ↗ advance water safety activity and

20:33 ↗ boating organizations within the city of

20:35 ↗ Isiqua.

20:43 ↗ Okay, I think we're doing this, right?

20:44 ↗ Yeah, let's do it. And you should know,

20:46 ↗ you'll be proud. Coun Council President

20:48 ↗ Marts is the biggest promoter of life

20:50 ↗ jackets on boats that I know. And so you

20:52 ↗ are speaking his language right now.

20:54 ↗ Well, if any of the council members

20:55 ↗ would like to donate

21:22 ↗ >> Yes.

21:33 ↗ We got to put this thing the right way

21:34 ↗ around.

21:50 ↗ >> I'm the one who drowned.

21:52 ↗ Wait, are we short?

21:57 ↗ >> I won't go out on the water.

22:02 ↗ >> Double cover.

22:42 ↗ last weekend.

22:44 ↗ >> Hey, you guys have to up your game. I

22:46 ↗ mean postcards make you look bad.

23:19 ↗ Thank you very much, Dale. We now move

23:21 ↗ on to ID 2028, Emergency Medical

23:24 ↗ Services Week Proclamation. We're going

23:26 ↗ to invite our friends from East Side

23:28 ↗ Fire and Rescue and Assistant Chief Culp

23:31 ↗ up to the front here. Go on up.

23:34 ↗ Everybody come

23:42 ↗ and council. After this, you get to put

23:43 ↗ out a fire. So, no, it's it's going to

23:46 ↗ be all the photo ops.

23:55 ↗ And they didn't even know there was

23:56 ↗ going to be buntinis here. They just

23:58 ↗ showed up without any buntini knowledge.

24:02 ↗ Okay. Whereas in 1974, President Gerald

24:05 ↗ Ford authorized the first National

24:07 ↗ Emergency Medical Services Week to

24:09 ↗ recognize the vital contributions of

24:10 ↗ emergency medical professionals. And

24:12 ↗ whereas emergency medical services are

24:14 ↗ an essential public service that

24:16 ↗ protects the health and safety of the

24:17 ↗ Isqua community. Whereas the dedicated

24:19 ↗ members of East Side Fire and Rescue

24:21 ↗ provide life-saving care 24 hours a day,

24:24 ↗ 7 days a week, and continually

24:26 ↗ strengthen their skills through

24:27 ↗ extensive training and education.

24:29 ↗ Whereas access to quality emergency

24:31 ↗ medical care greatly improves the

24:33 ↗ survival and recovery of those

24:34 ↗ experiencing sudden illness or injury.

24:37 ↗ And whereas emergency medical services

24:38 ↗ week is an opportunity to recognize the

24:41 ↗ commitment professionalism and

24:42 ↗ compassion of all EMS personnel who

24:45 ↗ serve our community. Now therefore, I

24:47 ↗ Mark Mullet, mayor of the city of Isqua,

24:48 ↗ do hereby proclaim the week of May 17th

24:50 ↗ to the 23rd to be emergency medical

24:53 ↗ services week in the city of Isiqua. And

24:55 ↗ I invite the community to join me in

24:56 ↗ thanking the East Side Fire and Rescue

24:58 ↗ for their service and outstanding

25:01 ↗ contributions.

25:10 ↗ I'll definitely make mine uh uh short

25:12 ↗ and sweet. Uh my name is Brian Culp. the

25:15 ↗ assistant chief of East Side Fire and

25:16 ↗ Rescue and be uh in behalf of uh Chief

25:21 ↗ Will Ao and all of the members of East

25:23 ↗ Side Fire and Rescue. Uh thank you uh

25:26 ↗ for the recognition. Um each and every

25:28 ↗ one of our members works extremely hard

25:31 ↗ all the time to keep their skills up to

25:33 ↗ date. Um they are some of the best e EMS

25:37 ↗ personnel uh within the state of

25:39 ↗ Washington, within the United States. Um

25:42 ↗ and so very proud and and very humbled

25:45 ↗ to have you guys uh recognize us uh

25:49 ↗ today and um we will continue to serve

25:51 ↗ you proudly uh within the city of Isqua.

26:02 ↗ >> Okay, we'll stand up behind you.

26:04 ↗ >> Oh, that's a good idea. I like that.

26:11 ↗ Yep.

26:23 ↗ >> That work.

27:05 ↗ the the the meeting agenda is shorter

27:07 ↗ than the proclamation agenda. You are

27:08 ↗ correct, Council Member Joe. Uh,

27:11 ↗ okay. Now, we have ID 2033, Mental

27:14 ↗ Health Awareness Month Proclamation.

27:16 ↗ We're going to have Kaylee and Aaron

27:18 ↗ come up from the garage.

27:22 ↗ I love it.

27:26 ↗ Whereas, more than one in five adults in

27:28 ↗ the United States face a mental health

27:30 ↗ challenge each year. And many people in

27:31 ↗ our community are living with stress,

27:34 ↗ anxiety depression trauma substance

27:36 ↗ use, and other mental health conditions.

27:39 ↗ And whereas compassionate support,

27:41 ↗ education, and access to resources help

27:43 ↗ build stronger, healthier, and more

27:45 ↗ connected communities. And whereas youth

27:46 ↗ mental health remains a growing concern

27:49 ↗ and organizations such as the garage

27:51 ↗ provide free mental health counseling,

27:52 ↗ supportive services, and safe spaces for

27:54 ↗ youth in Isiqua. Whereas the city of

27:56 ↗ Isqua is committed to fostering a safe

27:58 ↗ and inclusive community where all

28:00 ↗ residents are treated with dignity and

28:02 ↗ courage to seek help when needed. And

28:04 ↗ whereas mental health awareness month

28:05 ↗ provides an opportunity to promote

28:07 ↗ understanding, reduce stigma, and

28:10 ↗ encourage compassion throughout the

28:11 ↗ Isqua community. Now therefore, I, Mark

28:13 ↗ Mullet, mayor of the city of Isiqua, do

28:15 ↗ hereby proclaim the month of May 2026 as

28:18 ↗ mental health awareness month in the

28:20 ↗ city of Isiziqua. Encourage all

28:21 ↗ residents support mental wellness

28:23 ↗ initiatives. Show compassion to those

28:25 ↗ facing mental health challenges and help

28:27 ↗ create a community where everyone feels

28:29 ↗ supported and connected.

28:36 ↗ see the photo and then

28:49 ↗ it's all yours.

28:52 ↗ >> Thank you, mayor and council and city

28:55 ↗ staff. We're going to also try to keep

28:57 ↗ this brief. Um, but truly it is through

29:01 ↗ the city's partnership, uh, support and

29:05 ↗ encouragement all of these years that

29:07 ↗ the garage was born into existence with

29:12 ↗ you, Kaylee, and that we continue to

29:14 ↗ thrive today. We continue to see 80 to

29:18 ↗ 100 teens walk through our doors every

29:20 ↗ afternoon where they find community and

29:23 ↗ real belonging and safe space. We have

29:27 ↗ case management that helps these teens

29:29 ↗ navigate through complex systems, keep

29:33 ↗ in school, get jobs, graduate, and stay

29:37 ↗ housed. And it's because of your

29:39 ↗ partnership and support that we have two

29:41 ↗ mental health therapists on staff. One

29:44 ↗ is now uh at Gibson and Isakiqua High

29:48 ↗ three days a week. So, we're always

29:51 ↗ looking for those ways to meet these

29:53 ↗ mental health gaps for youth. and we

29:56 ↗ truly could not do this work without

29:58 ↗ your partnership and support. So, thank

30:01 ↗ you.

30:03 ↗ >> Wait, wait, wait.

30:05 ↗ >> I get to just say one little thing. Um,

30:08 ↗ it's I think it's super appropriate that

30:10 ↗ Barb is here tonight because Barb

30:12 ↗ founded the garage with me and one of

30:15 ↗ the things that we knew for sure in our

30:17 ↗ heart. um we didn't have a lot of

30:19 ↗ parameters about what it was going to

30:20 ↗ be. We really wanted teens to decide,

30:24 ↗ but we knew it would have mental health

30:27 ↗ um support and therapy every day for the

30:30 ↗ kids. And so that that's happening and

30:33 ↗ that's destigmatizing as these

30:35 ↗ generations come through and they are

30:38 ↗ going to be so much more um prepared and

30:42 ↗ supported. Um,

30:45 ↗ yeah. And that's because of this amazing

30:48 ↗ woman sitting here. So, thank you. Thank

30:50 ↗ you very much.

31:05 ↗ Okay, we now have ID 2025, a

31:08 ↗ presentation by ICMA Army Senior

31:11 ↗ Management Fellow Martha Bowers,

31:12 ↗ director of the Army Civilian Career

31:15 ↗ Management Agency. And Martha, we can

31:19 ↗ have you come on up. And I think I'm

31:21 ↗ going to share what Wally learned today.

31:23 ↗ I think if if there was it'd be the

31:27 ↗ equivalent of a one-star general, I

31:29 ↗ think if we were to look at where Martha

31:31 ↗ would fall in the hierarchy of our armed

31:34 ↗ services. And with that, you just have

31:37 ↗ to turn on your mic and then you're all

31:38 ↗ set.

31:39 ↗ >> Okay. Thank you, mayor and mayor and

31:42 ↗ city council and all of the

31:44 ↗ citizens here today. It's a pleasure for

31:47 ↗ me to be in Isiqua. Um we 10 years ago

31:50 ↗ the army began a partnership with the

31:53 ↗ international city managers association

31:56 ↗ and it's where we take our garrison

31:59 ↗ deputy garrison commanders and we train

32:01 ↗ them and they are like at an install

32:03 ↗ military installation and they manage

32:05 ↗ that installation similar to your city

32:07 ↗ here. And as I took on this role with

32:10 ↗ the department of the army uh recently,

32:13 ↗ not too long ago, I saw this item on the

32:16 ↗ budget and it said ah city manager

32:18 ↗ training and I'm like what what in the

32:20 ↗ world is that you know and I had the

32:22 ↗ staff come in tell me and they're like

32:24 ↗ yeah we can skip it if you like. I'm

32:26 ↗ like oh no no no no we can't skip it. So

32:29 ↗ I said, "I'll attend as well." And as I

32:33 ↗ attended, I got to meet some of the

32:35 ↗ previous members. Got to meet some folks

32:36 ↗ at MMA. And all the previous members

32:39 ↗ said, "You have to go to Isiqua for your

32:42 ↗ city manager visit. It's the best city."

32:44 ↗ And I'm like, "Well, it's clear across

32:46 ↗ the country. I live in Virginia. Are you

32:48 ↗ kidding? Do you know how long it takes

32:49 ↗ to get there?" And they said, "You have

32:52 ↗ to go to Isiqua." Right? So here I am in

32:55 ↗ Isiqua, right? And I've been here a

32:58 ↗ couple of days looking around and I

33:00 ↗ thought if I had only moved here when I

33:01 ↗ was younger, I would never move again.

33:04 ↗ Right? But it's actually very

33:06 ↗ interesting to see the parallels in

33:09 ↗ which we manage the army. Right? We

33:11 ↗ have60

33:12 ↗ military bases worldwide. I managed

33:15 ↗ 268,000

33:17 ↗ uh army civilians across the world in

33:19 ↗ their career trajectories. Right? and

33:22 ↗ they are the stationary continuity of

33:24 ↗ the army when our military members are

33:27 ↗ either downrange taking care of events

33:29 ↗ or moving themselves and their families.

33:31 ↗ And so, uh, it's a pleasure to learn

33:34 ↗ from Wall-E and from the mayor and from

33:36 ↗ all of the staff here in Isiqua. And,

33:40 ↗ um, one of the things we've learned in

33:43 ↗ the army in the last few years, uh, is

33:46 ↗ the concept of not just change, but

33:50 ↗ collaboration and figuring out how we

33:53 ↗ get parties to Yes. And and so we kind

33:56 ↗ of practice that in negotiations and

33:59 ↗ things. And so I I want to say to the

34:01 ↗ council as a volunteer kind of a

34:03 ↗ volunteer board, right, for the city,

34:06 ↗ always think about how you have

34:08 ↗ commonalities and collaboration.

34:11 ↗ Even if you really just are drawn with

34:13 ↗ the blue color and that they are asking

34:15 ↗ you to change to green, right? And

34:18 ↗ figure out why each party has that value

34:21 ↗ thought, right? And um it's going to be

34:23 ↗ critical in the next few years to be as

34:26 ↗ agile and adaptive with change and

34:28 ↗ collaboration and meeting each other and

34:30 ↗ the citizens all around. So, but I'm

34:34 ↗ excited to be here the rest of the week.

34:36 ↗ Molly's looking at me with the eye like

34:37 ↗ you got to get off the stage. Where's

34:39 ↗ the hook? But they said a presentation

34:41 ↗ and I thought bring a PowerPoint in. No,

34:44 ↗ I don't. But thank you for having me and

34:46 ↗ keep up the great city here. I mean, I

34:49 ↗ can't believe it. It's amazing already.

34:51 ↗ It's just my first day. All right. Thank

34:54 ↗ you.

35:01 ↗ >> Director Power started off her tour of

35:03 ↗ Isqua lunch establishments with Sunset

35:06 ↗ Sunset Ale House today and then she will

35:08 ↗ go through the rest of the list as the

35:10 ↗ week progresses. And uh we'll now move

35:12 ↗ on to audience comments and those who

35:16 ↗ from the public comments were made in

35:17 ↗ person or virtually. Those who signed up

35:19 ↗ in advance will be called on first. If

35:21 ↗ you're here virtually, use your virtual

35:24 ↗ hand or press star three if you're on

35:25 ↗ the phone. And if you're in the room but

35:27 ↗ did not sign up, do not panic. We will

35:29 ↗ give you a chance to speak at the end.

35:32 ↗ And madame clerk, is there anybody

35:33 ↗ signed up for audience comments?

35:35 ↗ >> There is.

35:38 ↗ The first will be

35:41 ↗ Josh Sher.

35:43 ↗ >> You said it right. Well done.

35:56 ↗ >> Josh, you're supposed to go to that one.

36:06 ↗ All right.

36:08 ↗ Good evening, mayor, council members,

36:10 ↗ members of the viewing public. My name

36:12 ↗ is Josh Sher. I am here tonight to join

36:15 ↗ my voice to those who have honored Barb

36:18 ↗ D. Michelle this evening. Um, I haven't

36:22 ↗ spoken in this body in probably close to

36:24 ↗ a decade. Uh, and I don't have anything

36:26 ↗ scripted, so bear with me. I first met

36:30 ↗ Barb, uh, when I was in high school,

36:33 ↗ which was actually a long, long time

36:35 ↗ ago. And uh Barb was the uh the chair or

36:39 ↗ the facilitator uh of the King County

36:42 ↗ Metro Transit Citizen Sounding Board.

36:45 ↗ And I was a volunteer on that board and

36:48 ↗ her guidance was foundational um in

36:52 ↗ providing me information about transit

36:55 ↗ uh that that helped me later uh when I

36:58 ↗ did my service on this city's uh

36:59 ↗ transportation committee. More recently,

37:02 ↗ uh, thanks to Barb and Mayor Fred

37:05 ↗ Butler, I was recruited into the Kanis

37:07 ↗ Club of Isiqua as well. Uh, and that has

37:10 ↗ been a a wonderful time of service. Uh,

37:14 ↗ and it is not without exaggeration to

37:16 ↗ say that Barb uh, really on many

37:19 ↗ occasions carried the goals and events

37:23 ↗ of that organization almost

37:24 ↗ single-handedly uh, really on many

37:27 ↗ occasions. Uh, and so we I know the the

37:29 ↗ club thanks you for that uh as well. Um,

37:32 ↗ I'm reminded this evening uh of another

37:35 ↗ council member um our friend uh Dr.

37:38 ↗ Moren McCary who um served with us. Uh

37:44 ↗ Moren uh also faced physical challenges

37:47 ↗ and she overcame them and continued her

37:51 ↗ duties with dedication and grace and a

37:55 ↗ commitment to this community. And like

37:58 ↗ Barb, Moren was a champion for the

38:01 ↗ environment, for transit, for youth, uh

38:04 ↗ for for really the working class. And um

38:09 ↗ Barb has uh demonstrated uh her

38:12 ↗ commitment to this community for so many

38:15 ↗ decades. And we are all so thankful for

38:18 ↗ everything that she has done, for the

38:20 ↗ things that we have learned from her,

38:22 ↗ for the time we have had working with

38:24 ↗ her. And um I I'm just so happy to be

38:27 ↗ here to honor her this evening uh and

38:30 ↗ and to see her smile and um just just

38:33 ↗ truly appreciate this this opportunity.

38:36 ↗ Um Barb's dedication and and commitment

38:40 ↗ uh to this community and really to

38:42 ↗ greater East King County uh are not

38:44 ↗ diminished uh by the challenges she has

38:46 ↗ faced. Uh and so while councils may

38:50 ↗ change, legacies are forever. So thank

38:53 ↗ you, Barb, and God bless you.

39:00 ↗ There you go. Josh, you got audience

39:03 ↗ applause. I love it on the I know. And

39:06 ↗ Barbara, I will say when my wife started

39:08 ↗ teaching the school district 26 years

39:10 ↗ ago, I think you were on the school

39:11 ↗ board then cuz that was her first

39:13 ↗ recollection of meeting you was as a

39:15 ↗ schoolboard member when she started her

39:17 ↗ career. Okay, Madame Clerk. Next,

39:19 ↗ >> Sabri Leica

39:25 ↗ and Charles Kite.

39:28 ↗ >> Good afternoon. I'm Sabria Leica. I'm

39:30 ↗ here with my colleague Charles Kite.

39:32 ↗ We're with the Small Business

39:33 ↗ Administration and this is more of a

39:35 ↗ just a public uh notice for everyone.

39:39 ↗ We're here basically because of the

39:40 ↗ disasters from December. So, it's coming

39:43 ↗ now to the end and we want if you know

39:45 ↗ of anybody that's been affected or

39:47 ↗ impacted, we still have uh small

39:51 ↗ lowterest loans available for small

39:52 ↗ businesses, nonprofits, and also

39:55 ↗ homeowners and renters. Very often peop

39:57 ↗ the small business administration is

39:59 ↗ misnomer because 60% of the loans that

40:02 ↗ we provide are to homeowners and to

40:04 ↗ renters. The remaining 40% are for

40:07 ↗ business owners. Um

40:10 ↗ it's it's important because people don't

40:12 ↗ make that distinction. We have the small

40:14 ↗ business administration and then we're

40:16 ↗ basically disaster recovery and

40:17 ↗ resilience. And those loans not only

40:20 ↗ provide for the physical damage that

40:22 ↗ businesses might have incurred, it also

40:24 ↗ relates to economic damage. So they

40:26 ↗ might not realize it that because the

40:28 ↗ roads were closed or because they didn't

40:29 ↗ make the sales that they normally make

40:31 ↗ that they're economically impacted by

40:33 ↗ that and they have until January to

40:35 ↗ apply for those loans. The physical

40:37 ↗ damage that the homeowners or the

40:39 ↗ businesses or even the renters might

40:40 ↗ have uh incurred. The deadline is coming

40:44 ↗ in June 10th, but they're very liberal

40:46 ↗ with that deadline. It's just more we're

40:48 ↗ trying to get the word out that that

40:50 ↗ we're still here and the resources are

40:51 ↗ still available. And especially for

40:53 ↗ renters because they don't think since

40:56 ↗ they don't own the property that they're

40:58 ↗ eligible for any kind of a recovery. But

41:00 ↗ especially with the flooding, if they

41:02 ↗ had personal property, even their

41:04 ↗ vehicle, if it was flooded while it was

41:06 ↗ in the parking lot, they have an

41:08 ↗ opportunity to recover for that.

41:11 ↗ >> So, I don't know if there's anything

41:12 ↗ else I can talk about. to just to

41:14 ↗ reiterate what she stated, uh there is

41:16 ↗ low interest government loans available.

41:19 ↗ Uh for businesses, that interest rate is

41:21 ↗ 4%. For homeowners is 2.875.

41:25 ↗ For nonprofits and faith-based

41:27 ↗ organizations is 3.675.

41:30 ↗ The terms can be up to 30 years. It's

41:32 ↗ 12-mon deferment on the payment as well

41:34 ↗ as the interest. And uh like she stated,

41:38 ↗ you don't for businesses, they don't

41:39 ↗ necessarily have to have physical

41:41 ↗ damage. it may be economic injury as

41:43 ↗ well. And so we have capital for u

41:46 ↗ operating expenses to keep them afloat

41:48 ↗ until things return to normal.

41:51 ↗ And uh last but not least, I want to

41:54 ↗ thank the mayor, the city clerk, the

41:56 ↗ council members, and the uh uh public

41:59 ↗ for having us here. And if there's any

42:01 ↗ way you can assist us in getting this

42:03 ↗ information out to the public uh so that

42:05 ↗ they know, it'd be greatly appreciated

42:07 ↗ as well.

42:08 ↗ >> Because you would know better. I mean,

42:09 ↗ we're deployed wherever the disasters

42:10 ↗ are. So, we're not as familiar with all

42:12 ↗ of the areas. I mean, we can see where

42:14 ↗ the damage has been done, but you all

42:16 ↗ know better who's really suffering from

42:18 ↗ from the the damage, whether it's the

42:21 ↗ businesses or the the individual

42:23 ↗ homeowners or renters. And I also wanted

42:25 ↗ to say I'm thank you for for having us

42:28 ↗ here, but um you are all so blessed with

42:31 ↗ the people that you have here. Bravo to

42:33 ↗ all of the women that you have, the the

42:34 ↗ police chief and all of them. I'm so

42:36 ↗ impressed with this. And you truly are

42:38 ↗ like a village. you're there for each

42:40 ↗ other and bravo to all of you. It's very

42:42 ↗ impressive.

42:44 ↗ >> Thank you very much. Come by. If you

42:45 ↗ have a card,

42:46 ↗ >> yeah,

42:47 ↗ >> maybe leave it with our city clerk so

42:48 ↗ we'd have a way to get in contact with

42:49 ↗ you because we can help get that

42:51 ↗ information out.

42:54 ↗ >> Okay.

42:55 ↗ >> Okay.

42:59 ↗ Madam clerk, is anybody I think that was

43:01 ↗ everyone who signed up for audience

43:02 ↗ comments. Is there anybody else in the

43:04 ↗ room who would like

43:06 ↗ to make audience comments? who didn't

43:08 ↗ sign up. I'm going once, going twice.

43:11 ↗ With that, audience comments are closed.

43:14 ↗ We now move on to the next item of

43:16 ↗ business, which is our consent calendar.

43:19 ↗ I do not have any remarks on the consent

43:21 ↗ calendar. Are there any committee chairs

43:22 ↗ or chair design who like to report on

43:25 ↗ any of the consent calendar items?

43:29 ↗ Looking not seeing any. The consent

43:32 ↗ calendar was distributed to the council

43:33 ↗ in advance if authorized. The item items

43:36 ↗ on the consent calendar be considered

43:37 ↗ together and approved by one motion.

43:39 ↗ Have the payables and payrolls been

43:41 ↗ reviewed?

43:42 ↗ >> They have.

43:44 ↗ >> Oh,

43:45 ↗ >> they have.

43:47 ↗ >> I thought council member Boyd was asking

43:48 ↗ very detailed questions on the payrolls

43:50 ↗ and payable. I liked it. I could tell

43:52 ↗ she had reviewed it for sure. Uh, does

43:54 ↗ any council member want to remove any

43:55 ↗ items from the consent calendar?

43:57 ↗ Consider it under regular business.

44:00 ↗ Okay. With that, is there a motion?

44:03 ↗ Council President Marts. Mr. Mayor, I

44:05 ↗ move we adopt adopt the consent agenda

44:07 ↗ uh from tonight's packet.

44:09 ↗ >> Second.

44:12 ↗ >> There's been a motion and a second. All

44:13 ↗ those in favor, please say I.

44:15 ↗ >> I.

44:16 ↗ >> I.

44:17 ↗ >> All those opposed, nay. And that passes

44:20 ↗ unanimously.

44:22 ↗ The next item is regular business agenda

44:24 ↗ bill 9190 resolution for streamlining

44:26 ↗ Sound Transit light rail permits. Like

44:29 ↗ to invite Deputy City Administrator

44:31 ↗ Andrea Leonard to present this item.

44:54 ↗ Good evening, members of city council.

44:56 ↗ I'm Andrea Leonard, deputy city

44:58 ↗ administrator, and uh today we are

45:01 ↗ talking about uh a resolution for

45:04 ↗ streamlining Sound Transit light rail

45:06 ↗ permits.

45:10 ↗ The purpose uh for this evening is to

45:12 ↗ review a proposed resolution to

45:15 ↗ streamline permitting in order to reduce

45:17 ↗ planning, design, and construction costs

45:19 ↗ of the four line. That's the light rail

45:21 ↗ that's the planned light rail line

45:23 ↗ connection between Isiqua and Kirkland.

45:27 ↗ And

45:30 ↗ um also the purpose of that I'm so sorry

45:36 ↗ Adobe has decided to to uh update at

45:39 ↗ this very moment. So let me try to start

45:42 ↗ that again.

45:44 ↗ Uh such convenient time.

45:48 ↗ Okay,

45:50 ↗ let's try this again.

46:00 ↗ Okay, we will try this. Uh so

46:07 ↗ uh all right. So the purpose of the

46:09 ↗ resolution is really to demonstrate to

46:11 ↗ Sound Transit and the region that Isiqua

46:14 ↗ is a willing and creative partner in

46:16 ↗ reducing costs of the four line to

46:18 ↗ ensure that it is completed.

46:22 ↗ And our recommendation as the

46:24 ↗ administration is to pass the resolution

46:26 ↗ with any types of changes council wishes

46:28 ↗ to make this evening.

46:31 ↗ A little bit of background before we

46:32 ↗ talk about the resolution. Sound Transit

46:35 ↗ 3, also known as ST3, was passed by a

46:37 ↗ vote of the people in 2016.

46:40 ↗ With that vote, the people in uh the

46:43 ↗ Greater Puget Sound area, approved light

46:46 ↗ rail from Kirkland uh to Isiqua via

46:48 ↗ Belleview, among other lines and aspects

46:51 ↗ of transit infrastructure. In order to

46:53 ↗ build this light rail and transit

46:56 ↗ infrastructure, uh the people also voted

46:58 ↗ in additional taxes and fees to pay for

47:01 ↗ ST3.

47:03 ↗ And the estimated average the estimated

47:05 ↗ cost to average Isiqua household between

47:08 ↗ the time that the tax was imposed in

47:10 ↗ 2016 to 2044 uh is about $50,000. So

47:14 ↗ it's a large investment from every

47:16 ↗ household of the Isiqua community. And

47:19 ↗ here uh in the administration and the

47:21 ↗ city with the cooperation of city

47:22 ↗ council, we've been working hard to make

47:24 ↗ good on that investment and ensure light

47:25 ↗ rail comes to Isiqua.

47:29 ↗ So while that vote occurred in 2016, the

47:31 ↗ city has been planning for light rail

47:33 ↗ for a very long time, even before the

47:35 ↗ vote occurred. In 2015, the city uh had

47:39 ↗ an urban core designated as a regional

47:41 ↗ growth center. That's a specific type of

47:44 ↗ designation um which allows for higher

47:47 ↗ density and more transportation

47:49 ↗ investments, including transit. And

47:50 ↗ that's one of those things that um

47:52 ↗ attracted uh light rail to Isiqua. And

47:56 ↗ again in 2016 the voters approved ST3.

47:59 ↗ In 2024 we started planning for light

48:02 ↗ rail uh with the idea of um getting a

48:06 ↗ planning guide. So that planning guide

48:07 ↗ was adopted in 2024. The idea of what

48:10 ↗ are the steps that we need to take in

48:11 ↗ order to make sure we're preparing for

48:13 ↗ light rail and that we are um

48:16 ↗ cooperating with Sound Transit and

48:17 ↗ making it as easy as possible for Sound

48:19 ↗ Transit to site a light rail station in

48:21 ↗ Isiqua. And 2025, following that guide,

48:25 ↗ uh, we adopted a station area vision and

48:27 ↗ guiding principles with the idea that

48:29 ↗ this is our ability as a city to be able

48:32 ↗ to influence what does light rail look

48:33 ↗ like in Isiqua, what does the station

48:35 ↗ area look like, what do we want out of

48:37 ↗ this massive transit investment, and to

48:39 ↗ do some pre-planning uh, for when Sound

48:41 ↗ Transit is uh, ready to start their

48:43 ↗ planning process on our light rail

48:45 ↗ connection. In 2026, we also started the

48:48 ↗ station location study or station

48:50 ↗ alignment study. So, this is a a study

48:53 ↗ that is ongoing. We pressed pause during

48:56 ↗ the current Sound Transit process which

48:58 ↗ I'm going to talk about in a second. But

49:00 ↗ um that project will be picked up this

49:02 ↗ summer and is really uh the focus for

49:06 ↗ that project is to evaluate where could

49:08 ↗ the station be in the city of all the

49:10 ↗ different locations, what makes the most

49:12 ↗ sense for us from a local perspective,

49:14 ↗ how we want this to help shape our

49:16 ↗ community in Isiqua and be able to

49:18 ↗ provide those recommendations to Sound

49:19 ↗ Transit. It also that station location

49:22 ↗ study also includes a preliminary

49:24 ↗ environmental re uh review just for

49:26 ↗ feasibility and seeing what station

49:28 ↗ options uh are feasible. And then we

49:31 ↗ take the that recommendation and we'll

49:32 ↗ be providing that to Sound Transit again

49:34 ↗ in the effort of streamlining the

49:36 ↗ planning, streamlining the design for

49:38 ↗ Sound Transit and making it easier for

49:40 ↗ light rail to come to Isiqua and also

49:42 ↗ for our community to have our say in

49:44 ↗ what this station looks like in terms of

49:47 ↗ uh building the community of the future.

49:52 ↗ So, while the vote was passed in 2016

49:54 ↗ and we've been actively working on

49:56 ↗ preparing for light rail, Sound Transit

49:58 ↗ has announced has announced budget

50:00 ↗ concerns. Recently, they've announced

50:03 ↗ $34.5 billion

50:06 ↗ uh needed in cost savings and additional

50:08 ↗ revenues in order to build out the ST3

50:10 ↗ program. So, they cite that as really

50:12 ↗ their budget deficit in order to build

50:14 ↗ out the rest of ST3.

50:17 ↗ the uh South Kirkland to Isiqua line or

50:20 ↗ that four line is estimated to cost uh

50:24 ↗ roughly 10 billion 10 billion um

50:26 ↗ reflecting reflecting a 40% increase

50:29 ↗ since the vote was made in 2016. So uh

50:33 ↗ costs have really increased for Sound

50:35 ↗ Transit since that original vote and

50:37 ↗ that's due to tariffs, supply chain

50:40 ↗ issues and rising land costs beyond what

50:43 ↗ they had originally forecasted.

50:47 ↗ Because of all of these costs, Sound

50:49 ↗ Transit uh and rising costs, Sound

50:52 ↗ Transit has been coming up with ideas

50:53 ↗ for how they can build out

50:55 ↗ infrastructure and reduce that budget

50:58 ↗ deficit that they have projected. And

51:00 ↗ that includes phasing of buildout, scope

51:03 ↗ reduction, different types of financial

51:05 ↗ policies, 75-year bonds, which are would

51:08 ↗ allow them to borrow more over time, um

51:10 ↗ and examine other revenue streams. But

51:13 ↗ it also has included things like perhaps

51:16 ↗ uh pushing out the Isiqua line or even

51:19 ↗ cancelling lines altogether and

51:21 ↗ cancelling infrastructure. So that was

51:22 ↗ the original conversation um when really

51:25 ↗ Mayor Mullet was elected and the year

51:27 ↗ started that we really thought that the

51:29 ↗ four line was in threat and under danger

51:32 ↗ of being cut or deferred indefinitely.

51:38 ↗ The good news is that the fourline

51:41 ↗ currently is included in their proposal

51:44 ↗ as fully funded as we move forward. So

51:47 ↗ that is good. The Sound Transit Board is

51:49 ↗ expecting to vote on that on May 28th.

51:51 ↗ So it's still just a proposal at this

51:53 ↗ point, but we've been working really

51:55 ↗ hard to make sure that the line doesn't

51:56 ↗ get deferred indefinitely or doesn't get

51:58 ↗ cancelled. It has in the proposal been

52:02 ↗ pushed back from the original date of

52:04 ↗ 2041. Um then it was 2044 for a while

52:08 ↗ and now in the proposal it's 2050. So it

52:11 ↗ has been pushed back but there is a def

52:13 ↗ a definitive date that it's been pushed

52:15 ↗ back to instead of sometime in the

52:17 ↗ future when we can afford it. Uh and

52:20 ↗ also part of the proposal is a regional

52:24 ↗ poolled parking fund as part of our

52:26 ↗ light rail station. There was originally

52:29 ↗ planned to be a parking structure of 500

52:31 ↗ stalls and now um there's a regional

52:34 ↗ pulled parking fund. So that kind of

52:36 ↗ parking aspect of the light rail station

52:38 ↗ is still to be determined in the future.

52:41 ↗ So that's what's being proposed right

52:42 ↗ now by the Sound Transit Board as a way

52:45 ↗ to fill their budget deficit and that's

52:48 ↗ how it affects Isiqua is we're still on

52:50 ↗ the map and um we're very excited about

52:52 ↗ that because as I said uh originally the

52:56 ↗ mayor and I were told time and time

52:58 ↗ again that the four line would likely be

53:00 ↗ cut. And so we're very happy to say

53:02 ↗ we're still on the map. It does push

53:03 ↗ back our timeline though. Um, so, uh,

53:07 ↗ the Sound Transit board vote again is

53:09 ↗ happening on May 28 at 1:30. Many of us

53:12 ↗ will be there, uh, to provide support

53:14 ↗ for the Isiqua line, and I invite

53:16 ↗ council members and any member of the

53:18 ↗ public to attend with us as well.

53:22 ↗ At this point, as we talk about the

53:24 ↗ advocacy work over the past couple of

53:25 ↗ months to make sure that the four line

53:27 ↗ is included and that we stay on the map,

53:29 ↗ I just want to take a moment to thank

53:30 ↗ the community in Isiqua. People have

53:33 ↗ really come out to support light rail.

53:35 ↗ Many of the council members here tonight

53:36 ↗ have written in or attended meetings or

53:39 ↗ provided public comment um along with so

53:41 ↗ many community members. We had this room

53:44 ↗ full uh to capacity at one point. We've

53:47 ↗ had over a hundred people engaged in

53:49 ↗ this effort coming to meetings in

53:51 ↗ Seattle, Tacoma, um all over the place

53:54 ↗ to show their support wearing our purple

53:56 ↗ Save Isiqua light rail shirts and it

53:58 ↗ really has made a difference and set the

54:00 ↗ tone for regional conversations about

54:02 ↗ light rail. So, thank you to the Isiqua

54:04 ↗ community for your engagement and

54:06 ↗ assistance in saving Isiqua light rail.

54:11 ↗ Isiqua uh the city we've also been

54:14 ↗ trying to provide solutions to speed up

54:16 ↗ the line and also reduce costs. So,

54:18 ↗ while currently in the current proposal

54:20 ↗ we're slated for 2050, there are ways

54:23 ↗ that we can move up light rail and try

54:25 ↗ to get it built sooner and quicker and

54:27 ↗ definitely in a more cost-effective

54:29 ↗ manner than previous stations have been

54:31 ↗ built. And uh so a couple of the ideas

54:34 ↗ that we have had to reduce costs and

54:37 ↗ speed up delivery of the light rail

54:38 ↗ station include partnering to make it as

54:41 ↗ easy as possible to build light rail in

54:43 ↗ Isiqua. And this is really what we've

54:44 ↗ been doing since the start is trying to

54:46 ↗ make it as easy as possible for Sound

54:48 ↗ Transit doing some of that pre-planning

54:49 ↗ work that I described earlier. Also um

54:53 ↗ we've been talking about station area

54:55 ↗ alignment and where that where the line

54:57 ↗ can be. So instead of looking at putting

54:59 ↗ at the station on private property and

55:01 ↗ needing to buy up more property, our

55:03 ↗ suggestion is to use wash right ofway.

55:06 ↗ That rightway is already there for

55:07 ↗ public transportation use. We've been

55:09 ↗ talking to Sound Transit about that. If

55:11 ↗ it's mostly in wash rightway, then that

55:14 ↗ reduces land acquisition costs.

55:17 ↗ Um we would connect to that uh light

55:19 ↗ rail station with a pedestrian overpass.

55:22 ↗ so that it'll be easier for folks to get

55:24 ↗ to and from the station from both north

55:26 ↗ and south of I90.

55:28 ↗ Also, we've suggested that new parking

55:30 ↗ facilities are built uh in Snowqualami

55:34 ↗ or Maple Valley or outlying cities so

55:36 ↗ that folks can actually uh from the

55:40 ↗ cities that typically come through is to

55:43 ↗ access I90, they can park in their own

55:46 ↗ city, hop on a shuttle that comes to

55:48 ↗ Isiqua light rail. Parking is generally

55:50 ↗ cheaper to build in those outlying

55:51 ↗ cities. They have a little bit more land

55:53 ↗ than in central Isiqua. And so this way

55:56 ↗ we can reduce the amount of traffic

55:57 ↗ coming through Isiqua, provide some

55:59 ↗ transit that those other cities are

56:01 ↗ wanting to have and that access to the

56:03 ↗ light rail station.

56:06 ↗ Um, we've also talked about potential

56:08 ↗ use of city bonding capacity to acquire

56:11 ↗ land for a staging area so that as they

56:14 ↗ have need for land and staging

56:17 ↗ construction equipment and materials,

56:20 ↗ they can use that land for that time

56:21 ↗ period. The city purchases that land for

56:24 ↗ Sound Transit's use. Once they're done

56:25 ↗ with that land and the light rail

56:27 ↗ station is completed, then we can sell

56:29 ↗ off the land um for development once the

56:32 ↗ light rail is there.

56:35 ↗ Um other other ideas that we've come up

56:37 ↗ with is uh supporting and advocating for

56:40 ↗ Sound Transit and unlocking different

56:42 ↗ financial tools for Sound Transit such

56:44 ↗ as increasing debt capacity so that they

56:46 ↗ can borrow more and build more and also

56:49 ↗ advocating for their 75-year bonds.

56:53 ↗ Our

56:55 ↗ resolution tonight is along those lines

56:56 ↗ of partnering and making it as easy as

56:58 ↗ possible for Sound Transit to build a

57:00 ↗ light rail station here by again

57:02 ↗ reducing costs of construction, design,

57:04 ↗ and planning. So, the resolution that we

57:07 ↗ have before you tonight is to uh the

57:10 ↗ intent is to partner uh with Sound

57:13 ↗ Transit on permitting by reducing

57:15 ↗ timelines and costs including the

57:16 ↗ exploration of consolidated permits and

57:19 ↗ self-permitting.

57:21 ↗ Also, the resolution establishes a

57:23 ↗ willingness to modify land use and

57:25 ↗ technical codes in advance that would

57:27 ↗ otherwise maybe threaten the project or

57:29 ↗ make it difficult or costly to build.

57:31 ↗ So, we would like to take a moment to

57:33 ↗ evaluate what could those um code

57:35 ↗ barriers be and then make modifications.

57:39 ↗ The resolution also establishes options

57:41 ↗ for vesting and extending duration of

57:43 ↗ land use approvals for the four line

57:45 ↗ knowing that this infrastructure takes a

57:47 ↗ long time to build and uh if we go

57:49 ↗ through one review process we don't need

57:51 ↗ to reinvent the wheel two years later

57:52 ↗ just because we hit an expiration date

57:54 ↗ and that should also reduce costs and uh

57:58 ↗ also the resolution establishes um that

58:02 ↗ the next step with Sound Transit

58:04 ↗ following the resolution would be

58:06 ↗ negotiating a development agreement. to

58:08 ↗ establish a permit process for the

58:10 ↗ fourline. So, while the resolution

58:12 ↗ doesn't go over details about what

58:13 ↗ streamlining permitting looks like

58:15 ↗ exactly um or what uh what

58:19 ↗ self-permitting would really entail, we

58:21 ↗ would have a development agreement that

58:22 ↗ we would need to negotiate with Sound

58:24 ↗ Transit in order to establish all of

58:25 ↗ those details and other things that

58:27 ↗ again would help make it easier uh for

58:30 ↗ Sound Transit to build in Isiqua and

58:32 ↗ ultimately less costly.

58:37 ↗ So the options for you tonight are uh

58:40 ↗ you to pass the resolution with or

58:42 ↗ without modifications in advance of the

58:45 ↗ Sound Transit board meeting on May 28th

58:47 ↗ to demonstrate Isiqua's partnership. One

58:50 ↗ thing to note about that is we have

58:51 ↗ heard regionally as we've talked to

58:53 ↗ other communities, other Sound Transit

58:55 ↗ board members um and Sound Transit staff

58:58 ↗ that one of the things that has made the

58:59 ↗ four line so compelling and that

59:01 ↗ Isiqua's argument to keep the four line

59:04 ↗ has been so compelling is our uh our

59:07 ↗ demonstration of partnership and

59:08 ↗ willingness to reduce costs. In the

59:11 ↗ past, other cities um when we think

59:13 ↗ about ST2 projects, for example, have

59:16 ↗ really used this opportunity of getting

59:18 ↗ light rail from Sound Transit as a way

59:20 ↗ to have Sound Transit pay for a bunch of

59:22 ↗ other things and um to really increase

59:25 ↗ some of the costs of the light rail for

59:27 ↗ additional city amenities. That's not

59:30 ↗ what we're trying to do here. We

59:31 ↗ recognize that Sound Transit has a

59:32 ↗ serious budget deficit and we're really

59:34 ↗ trying to partner and um that is what

59:37 ↗ has brought us so much widespread

59:39 ↗ support across the region is our

59:40 ↗ leadership in this area and again one of

59:42 ↗ the reasons why we're coming to you

59:44 ↗ tonight with this resolution. The other

59:46 ↗ option would be to delay the resolution

59:48 ↗ to make more modifications. Perhaps you

59:50 ↗ want to send it to a mobility and

59:52 ↗ infrastructure committee or um delay uh

59:55 ↗ in consideration of other modifications

59:57 ↗ you want to make. Um and finally, third

59:59 ↗ option would be to simply not pass the

1:00:01 ↗ resolution.

1:00:05 ↗ Our recommendation tonight from the

1:00:07 ↗ administration is to pass the resolution

1:00:08 ↗ with any modifications council wishes to

1:00:11 ↗ make this evening. Again, an attempt to

1:00:13 ↗ demonstrate our willingness to partner.

1:00:17 ↗ Timing and next steps. As I said earlier

1:00:19 ↗ this evening, Sound Transit is is

1:00:21 ↗ expected to adopt the ST ST3 plan update

1:00:25 ↗ on May 28th. And we are also pushing for

1:00:29 ↗ early design money. So while

1:00:30 ↗ construction may not be complete until

1:00:33 ↗ 2050, we want to start design now. We

1:00:36 ↗ are ready and we've been demonstrating

1:00:37 ↗ that and make progress now. So we're

1:00:40 ↗ still pushing for early design money

1:00:42 ↗ from Sound Transit. Also, um next steps

1:00:46 ↗ include uh the city light rail alignment

1:00:49 ↗ study that I discussed earlier. We kind

1:00:50 ↗ of put it on hold during the Sound

1:00:52 ↗ Transit process. We'd like to pick that

1:00:54 ↗ up again uh to recommend a station

1:00:56 ↗ location to Sound Transit by the end of

1:00:58 ↗ the year, which means public

1:00:59 ↗ participation is anticipated in Q3 um

1:01:03 ↗ and finishing up in Q4. In order to do

1:01:05 ↗ that,

1:01:07 ↗ we will also continue to advocate for

1:01:09 ↗ additional cost savings and financing

1:01:11 ↗ options to speed up delivery of light

1:01:12 ↗ rail and ensure that light rail comes to

1:01:14 ↗ Isiqua. And again, uh, we would be

1:01:17 ↗ looking at at a future date, uh, the

1:01:19 ↗ development agreement to be negotiated

1:01:21 ↗ between the city and Sound Transit. That

1:01:23 ↗ development agreement would need to come

1:01:24 ↗ back to council for approval, uh, once

1:01:27 ↗ we're closer to the planning phase for

1:01:28 ↗ the four line.

1:01:32 ↗ And we have a proposed motion, which is

1:01:34 ↗ to approve the resolution committing to

1:01:37 ↗ streamline permitting for Sound Transit

1:01:38 ↗ light rail.

1:01:41 ↗ >> Okay. Before I open it up to questions,

1:01:44 ↗ I'm going to share the three things I

1:01:46 ↗ learned during this process this year.

1:01:49 ↗ The first is never underestimate the

1:01:51 ↗ power of a purple t-shirt. They're very

1:01:54 ↗ effective. Second, never underestimate

1:01:56 ↗ our city administrator, Deputy City

1:01:59 ↗ Administrator Andrea Leonard, cuz she

1:02:01 ↗ has she's really good at going after

1:02:03 ↗ things that are very complicated and

1:02:05 ↗ challenging. And I think the fact that

1:02:07 ↗ we're breaking ground on the TOD project

1:02:09 ↗ this year is a testament to Andrea's

1:02:12 ↗ efforts of being persistent and the fact

1:02:14 ↗ that we were able to navigate this light

1:02:17 ↗ rail process the last four months is the

1:02:19 ↗ exact same testament. We really

1:02:20 ↗ appreciate your efforts. And finally, I

1:02:22 ↗ think we've talked about this at some of

1:02:23 ↗ our council retreats. It's a testament

1:02:25 ↗ to the fact that we've all been pointed

1:02:28 ↗ in the same direction. Like we're in a

1:02:30 ↗ canoe. We're all rowing at the same time

1:02:32 ↗ in the same direction. other communities

1:02:34 ↗ were not doing that. there was a

1:02:36 ↗ division either between the

1:02:38 ↗ administration and the mayor or the

1:02:40 ↗ mayor and the council or within the

1:02:41 ↗ council members themselves and obviously

1:02:44 ↗ we had joint opeds between myself and

1:02:46 ↗ fellow council members and everyone's

1:02:48 ↗ been showing up at those Sound Transit

1:02:50 ↗ meetings with the same message and I

1:02:53 ↗ think it really does show the power when

1:02:55 ↗ we're all pointing in the same direction

1:02:56 ↗ of what we're able to achieve as a body

1:02:58 ↗ and I thank everyone on the council for

1:03:00 ↗ those efforts and with that council

1:03:02 ↗ member

1:03:02 ↗ >> Adair

1:03:04 ↗ had two quick questions one. Okay, this

1:03:06 ↗ is going to be just being new here. Uh,

1:03:09 ↗ is in terms of this resolution, I'm just

1:03:11 ↗ kind of curious what is the kind of

1:03:12 ↗ commitment and specifics of this being a

1:03:15 ↗ resolution since obviously it doesn't

1:03:16 ↗ have specifics to the policy. Is this

1:03:18 ↗ just best making the statement we want

1:03:20 ↗ to do this or what is the kind of level

1:03:22 ↗ of commitment the city is committing to

1:03:23 ↗ in this resolution?

1:03:26 ↗ >> Great question. Thank you. It really is

1:03:28 ↗ stating the city's desire to make a

1:03:30 ↗ commitment and and that's really the

1:03:32 ↗ intent of the resolution is to make that

1:03:34 ↗ statement, make it formal when approved

1:03:36 ↗ by council so that we're sending a

1:03:38 ↗ message to Sound Transit and to the

1:03:40 ↗ region that we are willing to partner

1:03:42 ↗ and be creative and that we want to help

1:03:45 ↗ reduce costs and get the line built.

1:03:47 ↗ >> Got it. Okay, great. Thank you. And then

1:03:49 ↗ the second question is just I have more

1:03:52 ↗ questions about the whole bonding

1:03:53 ↗ capacity to buy land, but I don't think

1:03:54 ↗ that's a part of this resolution. Is

1:03:55 ↗ that correct? because if if not then I

1:03:58 ↗ I'll save those questions for a later

1:03:59 ↗ date. Yeah,

1:04:00 ↗ >> that's correct. That's just one of the

1:04:01 ↗ ideas that we've been exploring to um to

1:04:04 ↗ help reduce costs and be a partner.

1:04:06 ↗ Tonight is really just focused on

1:04:08 ↗ streamlining permitting and trying to

1:04:11 ↗ explore those kind of code barriers that

1:04:13 ↗ may make it a little more difficult for

1:04:15 ↗ Sound Transit to build here.

1:04:16 ↗ >> Got it. Thank you,

1:04:18 ↗ >> Deputy President Jen.

1:04:20 ↗ >> Um a couple quick questions. So, first

1:04:22 ↗ of all, do we have an estimated timeline

1:04:24 ↗ for some of these actions like updating

1:04:26 ↗ our our land use code and all of that or

1:04:28 ↗ is it very kind of loose right now?

1:04:30 ↗ >> Well, our timeline is going to have to

1:04:32 ↗ depend on Sound Transit staff time. So,

1:04:35 ↗ we can't do these things without Sound

1:04:37 ↗ Transit dedicating some staff time to

1:04:39 ↗ us, which is why we're really pushing

1:04:41 ↗ for that early design money because as

1:04:43 ↗ we get that, then we'll have Sound

1:04:45 ↗ Transit staff time, access to their

1:04:47 ↗ engineers, and what they need because

1:04:48 ↗ they're going to be the ones that have

1:04:50 ↗ to um explore the code with us and find

1:04:52 ↗ out um what might be a barrier to them,

1:04:56 ↗ what they might need in the development

1:04:57 ↗ agreement, etc. So um while we have a

1:05:00 ↗ desire to do this uh sooner rather than

1:05:02 ↗ later, it is going to require Sound

1:05:04 ↗ Transit resources to be dedicated and

1:05:06 ↗ work with us. So no exact timeline at

1:05:08 ↗ this point. That's why we keep pushing

1:05:09 ↗ for that early design money.

1:05:11 ↗ >> Great. Thank you. Um one thing, so

1:05:14 ↗ another quick question. So I noticed um

1:05:17 ↗ the there's some places in this

1:05:19 ↗ ordinance where we say, you know, the

1:05:21 ↗ line four project, there's other areas

1:05:22 ↗ where we say the four-line project. Are

1:05:24 ↗ those interchangeable or should we try

1:05:27 ↗ to align those throughout the

1:05:29 ↗ resolution? They're they're

1:05:30 ↗ interchangeable. Okay. Thank you,

1:05:34 ↗ >> Council Haro. Do you have a do you have

1:05:36 ↗ a president uh a preference, Deputy

1:05:38 ↗ President Jen? The four line or the line

1:05:41 ↗ four?

1:05:42 ↗ >> I think everywhere else it's been called

1:05:44 ↗ the four line. So, I think that would be

1:05:45 ↗ my preference.

1:05:46 ↗ >> Council member Joe,

1:05:48 ↗ >> thank you. Um, Deputy uh, administrator,

1:05:52 ↗ appreciate all the hard work you've done

1:05:54 ↗ to get us here. Mr. Mayor, thank you for

1:05:57 ↗ all the hard work that you've done. And,

1:05:59 ↗ um, I know that many of us attended

1:06:02 ↗ those meetings. I see council member

1:06:05 ↗ Adair in the pictures and council member

1:06:08 ↗ Jang is in one of the pictures and so is

1:06:10 ↗ council member Nichols doing that

1:06:12 ↗ advocacy for the city. It's much

1:06:14 ↗ appreciated. Uh my question was um are

1:06:18 ↗ there other cities that are doing this

1:06:20 ↗ or are we kind of showing ourselves to

1:06:23 ↗ be a little bit more supportive by doing

1:06:25 ↗ this as compared to the Kirklands,

1:06:27 ↗ Everetts and Tacomaomas of the world.

1:06:30 ↗ >> Uh Isiqua has been a leader in this area

1:06:33 ↗ in the region and so I know of no other

1:06:36 ↗ city that is asking uh their councils to

1:06:40 ↗ make a resolution about streamlining

1:06:41 ↗ permitting process. There are other

1:06:43 ↗ cities for the construction of the um

1:06:46 ↗ ST2 projects that have done development

1:06:49 ↗ agreements with Sound Transit. It's our

1:06:51 ↗ desire as we get closer in that process

1:06:54 ↗ to learn from those cities who've gone

1:06:56 ↗ through it with Sound Transit and um not

1:06:58 ↗ reinvent the wheel in any way, but

1:07:00 ↗ Isiqua has been a leader in setting the

1:07:02 ↗ tone of the conversation for how to

1:07:03 ↗ partner and uh and build the station and

1:07:06 ↗ the line in the most cost-effective

1:07:08 ↗ manner possible.

1:07:09 ↗ >> Thank you. appreciate all the work

1:07:10 ↗ you're doing to distinguish Isiqua as a

1:07:13 ↗ partner in this process and uh uh I'll

1:07:16 ↗ be in full support this this evening.

1:07:18 ↗ Excuse me. It should be noted council

1:07:20 ↗ member Dere also brought children to

1:07:22 ↗ sound transport meetings which I'm not

1:07:24 ↗ aware of many children who that would be

1:07:26 ↗ the first place they would choose to go

1:07:27 ↗ but they have been there to support. Uh,

1:07:29 ↗ council member Boyd.

1:07:32 ↗ >> Um, this might be putting the cart

1:07:34 ↗ before the horse or the light rail car

1:07:35 ↗ before the line, but um, with the early

1:07:38 ↗ design money aspect,

1:07:41 ↗ I what is the community process for I

1:07:44 ↗ guess say best case scenario happens and

1:07:47 ↗ we get what we want. Do we feel like we

1:07:50 ↗ have the community input or the

1:07:52 ↗ infrastructure for rapid quick community

1:07:55 ↗ input or is that within the engineering

1:07:58 ↗ process is that come later and it's

1:08:00 ↗ first to the engineering aspect. So my

1:08:04 ↗ answer is yes. And so um with starting

1:08:08 ↗ off with that um uh light rail vision

1:08:11 ↗ area uh that council has already

1:08:13 ↗ approved that was a lot of community

1:08:16 ↗ input and considering lots of different

1:08:18 ↗ perspectives about what do we really

1:08:20 ↗ want out of this? What do we want it to

1:08:21 ↗ look like when it's done? How do we want

1:08:23 ↗ it to shape our community? And that was

1:08:25 ↗ really the starting point is let's set

1:08:26 ↗ that vision and that came with a lot of

1:08:29 ↗ community input. So, we've already

1:08:30 ↗ started on the public engagement to help

1:08:32 ↗ us guide what we want it to look like.

1:08:34 ↗ Also, the station alignment study that

1:08:37 ↗ we're doing this year, that public input

1:08:39 ↗ of gathering feedback from the

1:08:40 ↗ community. And that includes all all

1:08:42 ↗ types of perspectives, property owners,

1:08:44 ↗ business owners, residents, transit

1:08:46 ↗ users, um, and to find out again what is

1:08:51 ↗ what's the preferred alignment for the

1:08:52 ↗ community? What are things that we

1:08:53 ↗ should be thinking about when we're

1:08:54 ↗ thinking about where we want the station

1:08:56 ↗ to be located? how can we connect that

1:08:58 ↗ station better to the rest of the

1:09:00 ↗ community, ensure it's easily accessible

1:09:01 ↗ and used by others. So, that's really

1:09:03 ↗ the starting point of our public

1:09:04 ↗ engagement and we've been we've been

1:09:06 ↗ doing that. Um, but there will be more

1:09:08 ↗ public engagement as we proceed in the

1:09:11 ↗ design process. Um, it's uh through the

1:09:14 ↗ permitting process, there's specific

1:09:16 ↗ points where we ask for public comment.

1:09:18 ↗ Um, and so we anticipate that

1:09:21 ↗ continuing. There may be additional

1:09:23 ↗ public surveys and other opportunities

1:09:25 ↗ to uh to chime in and provide feedback,

1:09:28 ↗ but we're certainly starting that

1:09:29 ↗ process now to help shape it and we'll

1:09:32 ↗ be able to use that information that the

1:09:34 ↗ public provides moving forward.

1:09:36 ↗ >> Thank you. Yeah, it kind of sounds like

1:09:37 ↗ it's happening concurrently and I yeah,

1:09:39 ↗ in my mind with the visioning

1:09:41 ↗ principles, all the documents that we

1:09:42 ↗ have and have been the city's been

1:09:44 ↗ undertaking and approving the past

1:09:46 ↗ couple years for this was very much on

1:09:48 ↗ my mind as I asked this question. So,

1:09:50 ↗ thank you.

1:09:51 ↗ >> Yeah. And I think the previous councils

1:09:53 ↗ had approved money for a consultant to

1:09:55 ↗ look at station alignment studies, but

1:09:57 ↗ we had paused that when we were nervous

1:09:59 ↗ about getting cut off the map. So, but

1:10:01 ↗ now that we're things are in a much

1:10:03 ↗ better spot, we will re-engage with that

1:10:05 ↗ consultant after the vote on May 28th.

1:10:08 ↗ That's the plan.

1:10:10 ↗ Let's I'm looking around.

1:10:13 ↗ Not seeing any more questions. So, then

1:10:15 ↗ I'll ask

1:10:17 ↗ Deputy Council President Jen, is there a

1:10:19 ↗ motion? Yes. I move to adopt resolution

1:10:23 ↗ number 2026-12

1:10:25 ↗ committing to streamline permitting for

1:10:27 ↗ Sound Transit light rail.

1:10:31 ↗ >> Second.

1:10:32 ↗ >> Okay. There is a motion and a second. Is

1:10:36 ↗ there any other comments? Council member

1:10:38 ↗ Dair.

1:10:40 ↗ >> Uh I also just wanted to take a moment

1:10:42 ↗ to thank you, to thank the mayor, to

1:10:44 ↗ thank the full administration for the

1:10:45 ↗ really hard work that went into this. I

1:10:47 ↗ fully believe that the four line would

1:10:50 ↗ not be on that map right now if not for

1:10:52 ↗ all of your hard work that went into

1:10:54 ↗ this. Um so I don't need to just kind of

1:10:56 ↗ take a moment to also formally thank you

1:10:58 ↗ for all that hard work. Um I also look

1:11:02 ↗ to your point earlier I encourage you to

1:11:04 ↗ bring your kids to any of these events

1:11:05 ↗ cuz my daughter still talks about it.

1:11:07 ↗ She the bus we took the 554 line like

1:11:10 ↗ she sees it on the street. She's like

1:11:11 ↗ look dad the 554. Like she talks about

1:11:13 ↗ it. She is, I think, now has a love of

1:11:16 ↗ public transit that will continue.

1:11:17 ↗ Hopefully, she gets to be older and

1:11:20 ↗ there's a there's a there's a light rail

1:11:22 ↗ here to take her into the city and stuff

1:11:24 ↗ like that. So, encourage everyone to

1:11:26 ↗ continue to bring their kids to this.

1:11:27 ↗ Um, and also kind of just want to bring

1:11:30 ↗ up what I kind of feel about this is

1:11:31 ↗ that like the reward for a good job is

1:11:33 ↗ another job and that okay, we got it on

1:11:35 ↗ the map and now we need to work to get

1:11:36 ↗ it sooner. Um, so want to do all the

1:11:39 ↗ work we can do. I really appreciate this

1:11:41 ↗ resolution and now looking at what are

1:11:43 ↗ the steps now to get it before 2050. Um

1:11:46 ↗ because I think that's possible and I

1:11:47 ↗ think that's that's our next job. So I

1:11:50 ↗ will be supporting this. Thank you.

1:11:52 ↗ >> Could not agree more. 2039 here we come.

1:11:54 ↗ Council member Nichols.

1:11:57 ↗ >> Uh 2027 ideally. Let's see what we can

1:12:00 ↗ do. Um first of all, yeah, I'll

1:12:02 ↗ reiterate all the the the positive

1:12:04 ↗ comments were made. Thank you to the

1:12:05 ↗ administration. Thank you to everyone on

1:12:07 ↗ council who came out and supported light

1:12:09 ↗ rail. uh and everyone in the community

1:12:10 ↗ who did as well. That was great to see.

1:12:12 ↗ Um I have also learned to appreciate the

1:12:14 ↗ power of a purple shirt. So uh whoever

1:12:17 ↗ came up with that on staff, uh please uh

1:12:19 ↗ that that was great. Um so

1:12:22 ↗ Brandy was awesome. Um the um

1:12:27 ↗ the overall resolution looks great to

1:12:29 ↗ me. I will also be in support. Uh the

1:12:31 ↗ only thing that I would like to push us

1:12:32 ↗ on is how we might be able to do a

1:12:34 ↗ little bit more sooner. Um I think Sound

1:12:37 ↗ Transit has a a very interesting and uh

1:12:40 ↗ pretty well-ritten uh they call it the

1:12:41 ↗ policy opportunity register that they

1:12:43 ↗ they published. One of the policies that

1:12:45 ↗ they have some detail on within that

1:12:46 ↗ document is the agency self-permitting

1:12:48 ↗ uh local option. Um I would like to

1:12:51 ↗ question if we how much we need to wait

1:12:53 ↗ for them. Um of course we we to some

1:12:58 ↗ working in partnership with them is of

1:12:59 ↗ course going to be necessary, right? But

1:13:01 ↗ it would be nice to try to figure out

1:13:02 ↗ however we can what we could if there's

1:13:04 ↗ any lowhanging fruit. If we can find

1:13:06 ↗ some other cities to work with um if we

1:13:08 ↗ can try to get ahead of that a little

1:13:10 ↗ bit um and go beyond a resolution and

1:13:14 ↗ come up with some concrete things that

1:13:15 ↗ we could actually offer and show further

1:13:17 ↗ leadership regionally that will not only

1:13:19 ↗ help us but that will help everyone

1:13:20 ↗ else. So, um, once again, I support this

1:13:23 ↗ and my only, uh, feedback would be that

1:13:25 ↗ I would like to see us try to do even

1:13:27 ↗ more and try to do a little bit more

1:13:28 ↗ even sooner and see how much we can go

1:13:31 ↗ beyond this resolution and lead with

1:13:33 ↗ something, um, in code sooner that might

1:13:36 ↗ make us look even more attractive and

1:13:37 ↗ that might help other cities figure out

1:13:39 ↗ ways to uh,

1:13:42 ↗ join the effort to reduce cost

1:13:44 ↗ systemwide as well.

1:13:46 ↗ >> Excellent. Uh I don't Deputy President

1:13:49 ↗ Jen or President Marts, I don't know who

1:13:51 ↗ was Okay,

1:13:53 ↗ >> great. Um yeah, well I want to echo

1:13:56 ↗ everyone's thanks to the mayor and the

1:13:57 ↗ city administration, everyone in our

1:13:59 ↗ community who's really, you know, had a

1:14:01 ↗ full force effort on this campaign to

1:14:04 ↗ save Isiquaz light rail for the last

1:14:06 ↗ what four and a half months. It's it's

1:14:07 ↗ crazy that it's only been that short. Um

1:14:09 ↗ I know Mayor Mullet came in on day

1:14:11 ↗ probably 15. his number one priority was

1:14:14 ↗ saving Isiqua's light rail and it's

1:14:16 ↗ amazing to see that we're remaining on

1:14:18 ↗ the map. Um I think the regional

1:14:20 ↗ leadership that Mayor Mullet has shown

1:14:22 ↗ has really changed the conversation. I

1:14:25 ↗ think you know in the past with Sound

1:14:27 ↗ Transit sometimes people start

1:14:29 ↗ squabbbling over you know oh my project

1:14:31 ↗ is the most important for XYZ reason. I

1:14:33 ↗ think setting the bars like let's figure

1:14:34 ↗ out you know how can we all build all

1:14:37 ↗ the trains? How can we get cost down as

1:14:39 ↗ a whole system? Um, and you know, how

1:14:42 ↗ can we as a city really be a partner and

1:14:44 ↗ show leadership on that? I think really

1:14:46 ↗ kind of has been changing the

1:14:48 ↗ conversation. I don't think we've been

1:14:49 ↗ seeing as much of the cities trying to

1:14:51 ↗ demand concessions as we may have in the

1:14:52 ↗ past, which I think is really a

1:14:54 ↗ testament to uh the leadership of our

1:14:56 ↗ mayor and administration.

1:14:59 ↗ Um, I also think it's been really fun to

1:15:01 ↗ see others adopt our organizing tactics

1:15:03 ↗ like the matching t-shirts. you know, 3

1:15:05 ↗ months after we came out with their

1:15:07 ↗ purple t-shirts. Ballard came out with

1:15:08 ↗ their green t-shirts, uh, West Seattle

1:15:11 ↗ came out with their pink t-shirts, but

1:15:12 ↗ we did have the matching t-shirts first.

1:15:15 ↗ So, uh, I'll I'll say that. Um, I also,

1:15:19 ↗ um, I'm I'm fully in support of this

1:15:21 ↗ measure. I think, you know, this is yet

1:15:23 ↗ another example of us showing leadership

1:15:25 ↗ of wanting to, you know, make it easier,

1:15:28 ↗ not harder, to build transit that we so

1:15:31 ↗ desperately need. We of it, you know,

1:15:33 ↗ it's so often that we see that, you

1:15:34 ↗ know, especially with the lines in

1:15:36 ↗ Seattle, they keep studying all these

1:15:37 ↗ different alignments at nauseium and uh

1:15:40 ↗ dragging things out, whereas we we want

1:15:43 ↗ to say, you know, we want light rail as

1:15:44 ↗ soon as possible and we want to build it

1:15:46 ↗ in the most cost-ffective way possible

1:15:47 ↗ because that's what's going to be best

1:15:48 ↗ for our community, not dragging it out.

1:15:50 ↗ So, I will uh be very very happy to

1:15:53 ↗ support this and uh to see Sound Transit

1:15:56 ↗ vote in favor of keeping the four line

1:15:58 ↗ on May 28th.

1:16:00 ↗ >> Excellent. Thank you very much, Council

1:16:02 ↗ President Marts.

1:16:03 ↗ >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, I want to join

1:16:05 ↗ the chorus. Um, I'm not sure I've seen

1:16:08 ↗ an endeavor that brought the mayor's

1:16:11 ↗ office and staff and council together

1:16:14 ↗ quite so um quite so resolutely in in a

1:16:18 ↗ very very long time. and including

1:16:21 ↗ council members making just great opeds

1:16:24 ↗ um out there, not just saying, "Oh, we

1:16:27 ↗ should find ways to save money," but

1:16:28 ↗ actually finding ways to save money. Uh

1:16:30 ↗ which is better than saying we should

1:16:31 ↗ find ways to save money. You know, I am

1:16:34 ↗ from Minneapolis and Minneapolis has a

1:16:37 ↗ heartbreaking history with mass transit.

1:16:39 ↗ Minneapolis in 1952.

1:16:42 ↗ You could ride the trolley from my town

1:16:45 ↗ of White Bear Lake on the northeast side

1:16:47 ↗ of the Twin Cities all the way to Lake

1:16:49 ↗ Minnotonka, 20 miles west of town. It

1:16:52 ↗ was unbelievable.

1:16:54 ↗ And in 1954, they ripped it all out. And

1:16:59 ↗ for 40 years, we had nothing in the Twin

1:17:01 ↗ Cities. And it took electing a

1:17:04 ↗ professional wrestler as governor, if

1:17:06 ↗ you can believe it or not, uh to finally

1:17:08 ↗ get the Twin Cities to begin the first

1:17:10 ↗ steps towards mass transit and back

1:17:12 ↗ towards mass transit and uh or to to

1:17:15 ↗ rail beyond beyond buses. And I got here

1:17:18 ↗ in 2003 and we had the Montreal, a a

1:17:23 ↗ tourist ride. Forgive me for anybody who

1:17:26 ↗ uh uses the Montreal uh to get from the

1:17:27 ↗ needle to downtown, but you know, so to

1:17:30 ↗ see over the last 25 years uh to see

1:17:34 ↗ this great metropolitan area finally

1:17:38 ↗ start to get the the the real transit

1:17:40 ↗ options that enable uh you know,

1:17:43 ↗ affordable people living in affordable

1:17:46 ↗ places to go to the jobs that that pay

1:17:48 ↗ great salaries to make everyone's lives

1:17:50 ↗ better to uh lower the amount of carbon

1:17:54 ↗ that goes into the atmosphere as people

1:17:56 ↗ go about their lives was was amazing.

1:17:58 ↗ And to see it now really uh be closer

1:18:02 ↗ than ever to getting to our beautiful

1:18:05 ↗ side of the Seattle metro area is just

1:18:07 ↗ such a joy to behold. So I commend

1:18:10 ↗ everybody. Of course, I will I will be

1:18:12 ↗ supporting this measure tonight. And I

1:18:14 ↗ know Mayor Mullet, so I know I don't

1:18:16 ↗ have to say we need to keep our uh

1:18:18 ↗ finger on the pulse of this because I

1:18:19 ↗ know he will do it and I know that we

1:18:21 ↗ will all be uh in this together. So it

1:18:24 ↗ Thank you very much.

1:18:27 ↗ >> I did not know Jesse Ventura was a

1:18:28 ↗ transit champion, but I'm learning new

1:18:30 ↗ things every night. Council member Boyd.

1:18:34 ↗ Um I'll echo the yeah positive comments

1:18:37 ↗ and thank you to uh you deputy

1:18:39 ↗ administrator Leonard and the mayor and

1:18:41 ↗ all the other council members and

1:18:43 ↗ community members. I know uh various

1:18:45 ↗ folks on uh the transportation advisory

1:18:47 ↗ board where I came from have been uh

1:18:50 ↗ also uh pedal on the gas. That's maybe

1:18:52 ↗ not the best metaphor here, but on uh

1:18:54 ↗ this effort I'm very encouraged by it.

1:18:56 ↗ And I just want to also remark that it's

1:18:58 ↗ broadly very encouraging to see um an

1:19:02 ↗ organization and uh movement that people

1:19:06 ↗ uh are really bought into and forward

1:19:08 ↗ and feel that they can make change,

1:19:10 ↗ right? Um the I think the strong

1:19:13 ↗ president board is clearly listening to

1:19:15 ↗ what uh the community and the leadership

1:19:18 ↗ is saying and that's just um you know in

1:19:21 ↗ times that aren't always so hopeful that

1:19:23 ↗ I think that means a lot. Um so I I will

1:19:27 ↗ uh I'm very supportive of this

1:19:29 ↗ resolution. Uh uh we mentioned the

1:19:32 ↗ guiding principles for the light

1:19:33 ↗ visioning uh earlier and I think this

1:19:35 ↗ clearly falls in line uh uh they call

1:19:38 ↗ upon us to foster a strong collaborative

1:19:40 ↗ partnership with Sound Transit. Um and

1:19:43 ↗ this is doing exactly that. So I'm

1:19:45 ↗ really looking forward to voting in

1:19:46 ↗ favor of this.

1:19:49 ↗ >> Excellent. Okay. With that, not seeing

1:19:53 ↗ any other discussion.

1:19:56 ↗ Let's see. All those in favor of the

1:20:00 ↗ motion before council is to adopt

1:20:01 ↗ resolution number 2026-12 committing to

1:20:03 ↗ streamlining permitting for Sound

1:20:04 ↗ Transit light rail. Please say I.

1:20:08 ↗ >> I.

1:20:10 ↗ >> All those opposed? No.

1:20:12 ↗ And that passes unanimously. The next

1:20:15 ↗ item of business is committee regional

1:20:17 ↗ reports. And we will start with council

1:20:18 ↗ member Boyd.

1:20:20 ↗ Nothing to report. I hope to be on a

1:20:22 ↗ regional committee soon.

1:20:25 ↗ >> Council member Dair. Uh

1:20:26 ↗ >> I too have no reports at this time.

1:20:29 ↗ Okay,

1:20:29 ↗ >> we're being very efficient. Council

1:20:30 ↗ member Nichols,

1:20:31 ↗ >> I too have no uh committees to report.

1:20:35 ↗ >> Council member Joe,

1:20:36 ↗ >> thank you. Cascade Water Alliance Board

1:20:38 ↗ will be meeting on the 27th. Uh are you

1:20:42 ↗ able to go, Mayor? Thank you. Uh the

1:20:44 ↗ finance committee will be meeting

1:20:46 ↗ tomorrow at uh 1:30 I think it is. The

1:20:51 ↗ uh mobility and infrastructure committee

1:20:53 ↗ had two agenda items. They'll be coming

1:20:54 ↗ back to council later. Frontage

1:20:56 ↗ improvements for public utility projects

1:20:58 ↗ and a look at the six-year

1:21:00 ↗ transportation improvement program.

1:21:02 ↗ Finally, ELTAC the lodging tax advisory

1:21:05 ↗ committee will next be meeting on June

1:21:06 ↗ 1st. We'll be receiving a quarterly

1:21:09 ↗ update from visit Isiqua and some other

1:21:12 ↗ miscellaneous items probably on the

1:21:14 ↗ agenda. That concludes my report. Thank

1:21:16 ↗ you.

1:21:16 ↗ >> And Council Joe, I've had the finance

1:21:18 ↗ meetings removed from my calendar

1:21:20 ↗ because I'm I'm told they're under your

1:21:22 ↗ purview now. I attend all other

1:21:24 ↗ meetings. Okay. Council Walsh.

1:21:26 ↗ >> Thank you. Uh the planning, development,

1:21:28 ↗ environment committee of the city

1:21:30 ↗ council meets tomorrow. Our agenda

1:21:32 ↗ includes one item um com 0238 promoting

1:21:36 ↗ build building investments in Isiqua

1:21:38 ↗ where staff will present the draft goals

1:21:40 ↗ and outcomes chart for the proposed 2026

1:21:43 ↗ 27 work plan items plus a proposed

1:21:46 ↗ schedule. So should be a good

1:21:48 ↗ conversation. Um Eastside Fire and

1:21:50 ↗ Rescue we met last Thursday. Uh the

1:21:53 ↗ agenda included a presentation by Puet

1:21:56 ↗ Sound Regional Fire Authority. um

1:21:59 ↗ they've already been through an RFA

1:22:01 ↗ process. So, they were talking to us

1:22:02 ↗ about what that was like. Um and then we

1:22:05 ↗ also had the remainder of our

1:22:07 ↗ presentation with some very very very

1:22:10 ↗ back of the napkin estimates about the

1:22:12 ↗ financial decisions that we'll have to

1:22:14 ↗ consider as we look at a possible

1:22:16 ↗ regional fire authority or a combined

1:22:18 ↗ fire district. Um

1:22:22 ↗ the good news is it looks good for the

1:22:23 ↗ city of Isiqua. we're about the average

1:22:26 ↗ from everybody else and everybody else

1:22:28 ↗ is either going to go up or down or

1:22:30 ↗ something like that. Um the next steps

1:22:33 ↗ is that in June we're asking the East

1:22:36 ↗ Side Fire and Rescue board to give a

1:22:39 ↗ thumbs up to one of the options. Either

1:22:42 ↗ stay the course with our current funding

1:22:44 ↗ model, consolidate into a or explore

1:22:48 ↗ consolidating into a fire district or

1:22:51 ↗ explore forming a regional fire

1:22:53 ↗ authority. All that thumbs up would do

1:22:55 ↗ is direct staff to begin education of

1:22:58 ↗ the nine jurisdictions, the cities and

1:23:00 ↗ the fire districts, including ours, um

1:23:03 ↗ with a presentation on what that would

1:23:06 ↗ look like, what the process would look

1:23:07 ↗ like. If we then agree, we agree to form

1:23:12 ↗ a planning uh committee which would meet

1:23:14 ↗ for a year and a half to two years to

1:23:16 ↗ work out all of the details. Um, and I

1:23:19 ↗ heard in the last um, time I was giving

1:23:22 ↗ an update on this that you would like

1:23:24 ↗ really clear understanding of what the

1:23:27 ↗ decision points are for the Epher board

1:23:29 ↗ versus what the decision points are for

1:23:30 ↗ the ESQUA city council. And so that will

1:23:33 ↗ be a part of our presentation. And then

1:23:36 ↗ the um, regional coalition for housing

1:23:39 ↗ arch um, committee of electeds meets

1:23:42 ↗ this Thursday. The agenda includes a

1:23:44 ↗ discussion on different ways that

1:23:48 ↗ affordable housing is funded. Um what

1:23:51 ↗ the uh funding stack looks like and how

1:23:53 ↗ that compares to market rate housing. um

1:23:56 ↗ updates on a potential King County

1:23:58 ↗ housing levy and how we might have a

1:24:03 ↗ conversation about reporting credit for

1:24:06 ↗ investing in ARCH as a way to satisfy

1:24:10 ↗ the King Countywide

1:24:12 ↗ planning policies or CPPs

1:24:15 ↗ um which say we have to make efforts

1:24:18 ↗ toward affordable housing and this one's

1:24:20 ↗ one of those big question marks out

1:24:22 ↗ there. So, we're going to have start

1:24:23 ↗ that conversation. That concludes my

1:24:25 ↗ report.

1:24:27 ↗ >> Deputy President Jane.

1:24:28 ↗ >> Great. Um so the I have three so bear

1:24:31 ↗ with me. Uh the first one is the East

1:24:33 ↗ Side Transportation Partnership. We had

1:24:34 ↗ a meeting on Friday uh May 8th. Uh our

1:24:38 ↗ letter uh in support of the four line uh

1:24:41 ↗ which we worked on with Kirkland and

1:24:43 ↗ Belleview was approved by the East Side

1:24:45 ↗ Transportation Partnership. So that's

1:24:46 ↗ great. So you know that'll be sent to

1:24:48 ↗ the Sound Transit Board. Um, the King

1:24:50 ↗ County Regional Homelessness Authority

1:24:52 ↗ Governing Board, our finance committee

1:24:55 ↗ had our first meeting last Monday, uh,

1:24:57 ↗ May 11th at 11:00 a.m. We received a

1:25:00 ↗ financial update from KCHA staff. Um,

1:25:04 ↗ their preliminary numbers show that

1:25:06 ↗ their negative cash balance in the King

1:25:08 ↗ County investment pool has grown from

1:25:10 ↗ $45 million at the end of the audit

1:25:11 ↗ period, which was July 2025, to65

1:25:15 ↗ million at the end of March 2026. In

1:25:17 ↗ comparison, they have about $50 million

1:25:20 ↗ in accounts receivable. Uh although that

1:25:22 ↗ this this number is also pending, you

1:25:24 ↗ know, full reconciliation. Now, I'm not

1:25:27 ↗ an accountant. I know others on this

1:25:28 ↗ body are, but that does point to pretty

1:25:30 ↗ significant remaining uh net, you know,

1:25:33 ↗ net financial position. Um I've asked

1:25:36 ↗ them repeatedly when they're going to

1:25:37 ↗ have a estimate of their net financial

1:25:40 ↗ position according to generally accepted

1:25:41 ↗ accounting principles and I will

1:25:43 ↗ continue to push for that. Um, so you

1:25:46 ↗ know it there there's a lot of things

1:25:47 ↗ that they need to do to figure out their

1:25:49 ↗ financial situation and I know King

1:25:51 ↗ County and Seattle are kind of figuring

1:25:52 ↗ out what their next steps are. Our next

1:25:56 ↗ governing board meeting for the full

1:25:57 ↗ governing board is this Friday, May 22nd

1:26:00 ↗ at 10 a.m. And the King County Flood

1:26:04 ↗ Control District Advisory Committee is

1:26:06 ↗ also meeting this Friday, May 22nd at

1:26:09 ↗ 1:30 p.m. So that concludes my report.

1:26:13 ↗ Council

1:26:14 ↗ President Mortz.

1:26:15 ↗ >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Two Sound Cities

1:26:17 ↗ Association related things. Public

1:26:18 ↗ issues committee met on May 13th at 7

1:26:21 ↗ p.m. Uh, you know, I had been saying

1:26:24 ↗ that I was looking forward to them

1:26:25 ↗ getting back to substantive meetings and

1:26:27 ↗ hoo-ha. We had three major elements.

1:26:30 ↗ Potential affordable housing regional

1:26:32 ↗ initiative. Um, this was presented by

1:26:35 ↗ the housing development consortium. They

1:26:37 ↗ are going to be looking to input from

1:26:39 ↗ cities um on putting together some

1:26:43 ↗ possibly large uh initiative regionwide.

1:26:48 ↗ Um they avoided talking specific

1:26:50 ↗ numbers. They talked about funding

1:26:53 ↗ mechanisms and several different kinds

1:26:55 ↗ of funding mechanisms. And I said, "And

1:26:57 ↗ how much money could that bring in per

1:26:58 ↗ year?" because we were told that the

1:27:00 ↗ total need uh across all housing uh is

1:27:05 ↗ approximately $3.5 billion per year. Um

1:27:08 ↗ and that the need for uh uh transitional

1:27:12 ↗ housing is about 500 million of that 3.5

1:27:14 ↗ billion. Uh they did not specify a

1:27:16 ↗ number um but more towards the uh trying

1:27:20 ↗ to put something together and wanting to

1:27:22 ↗ get cities at the table. So more on this

1:27:24 ↗ going forward. There isn't a specific

1:27:26 ↗ SCA uh motion associated with this right

1:27:28 ↗ now. There was on the 2027 proposed

1:27:30 ↗ sewer rate response letter. You've all

1:27:32 ↗ seen that. Kudos to SCA. They had nine

1:27:35 ↗ amendments uh that they had to work

1:27:38 ↗ through and they did a nice job of

1:27:40 ↗ getting through uh passing about half of

1:27:42 ↗ them. None of them were substantive

1:27:44 ↗ changes. None of them um changed the net

1:27:46 ↗ effect which is that we were all

1:27:48 ↗ disappointed in the um you know doubling

1:27:52 ↗ over the next uh 10 years and tripling

1:27:55 ↗ over the next 15 or 20 years um of sewer

1:27:58 ↗ rates. So that'll go before the board

1:28:01 ↗ shortly. Um then there was a Sound

1:28:03 ↗ Transit Enterprise initiative. Um they

1:28:06 ↗ wanted to say something positive about

1:28:08 ↗ Sound Transit. there was an obvious

1:28:10 ↗ understanding that there are you know

1:28:12 ↗ here there be dragons and there would be

1:28:14 ↗ many ways to come up with a statement

1:28:15 ↗ that might

1:28:18 ↗ uh might violate the charter of south

1:28:20 ↗ cities association which is to do no

1:28:21 ↗ harm to any individual cities. So the

1:28:23 ↗ message was um I think fairly um broad

1:28:28 ↗ sports a regional transit system that

1:28:29 ↗ strengthens our communities by

1:28:31 ↗ connecting our families, friends, jobs,

1:28:32 ↗ large and small businesses and services.

1:28:34 ↗ We recognize that Sound Transit is

1:28:36 ↗ facing significant financial challenges,

1:28:38 ↗ but fulfilling the commitments made to

1:28:39 ↗ voters in SD3 is critical for our

1:28:42 ↗ region's mobility and for the future

1:28:43 ↗ success of local and regional

1:28:44 ↗ transportation measures. Cities are

1:28:46 ↗ willing to be flexible and look forward

1:28:48 ↗ to engaging directly with Sound Transit

1:28:50 ↗ to find potential resources and savings.

1:28:52 ↗ Uh, and that was forwarded on to the

1:28:54 ↗ board. Uh the board is meeting on May

1:28:57 ↗ 20th, this Wednesday, at Belleview City

1:28:58 ↗ Hall at 10 a.m. Uh in addition to those

1:29:01 ↗ three things I just mentioned, there's

1:29:02 ↗ going to be uh impaneling of the equity

1:29:05 ↗ and inclusion cabinet um and uh a uh

1:29:10 ↗ uh discussion includes um SCA's press

1:29:14 ↗ policy, build for zero leadership table,

1:29:17 ↗ potential contact list swapping with the

1:29:19 ↗ county. Uh those are the major things

1:29:22 ↗ that are going to go before it. This

1:29:24 ↗ concludes my report.

1:29:27 ↗ >> Okay. The mayor's report. I first want

1:29:29 ↗ to touch on the topic from last week's

1:29:32 ↗ committee, the whole and this is

1:29:33 ↗ obviously a topic that's been in front

1:29:34 ↗ of this community for the last few

1:29:36 ↗ months is the flock camera discussion.

1:29:38 ↗ And just to be 100% crystal clear that

1:29:42 ↗ the federal grant we received through

1:29:44 ↗ Congressman Shrier's office, the

1:29:46 ↗ $452,000,

1:29:47 ↗ 0% 0% is being used on any flock

1:29:51 ↗ cameras. 99% is being used on conductive

1:29:54 ↗ energy devices, more commonly known as

1:29:56 ↗ tasers. Uh 1% is being used on an

1:29:59 ↗ interview camera which was damaged and

1:30:02 ↗ destroyed in our police department uh

1:30:04 ↗ last year. I will also say that we will

1:30:07 ↗ bring before this council on June 1st a

1:30:09 ↗ resolution that clearly highlights that

1:30:12 ↗ the administration is working with the

1:30:13 ↗ council on policies of if Isqua were to

1:30:16 ↗ ever utilize camera technology, we would

1:30:18 ↗ make sure it be done in a way where the

1:30:19 ↗ data is secure and not at risk of

1:30:22 ↗ federal interference. And we will make

1:30:25 ↗ that resolution crystal clear that there

1:30:26 ↗ will be no policies

1:30:28 ↗ going forward until we come to agreement

1:30:31 ↗ with the council on what those would

1:30:32 ↗ look like. And I think we have a a

1:30:34 ↗ scheduled discussion for that on July

1:30:36 ↗ 20th and we will see at that time if we

1:30:39 ↗ can find an agreement on a policy and if

1:30:41 ↗ not we will come back again. But in the

1:30:43 ↗ meantime, nobody has to worry at all

1:30:46 ↗ about any purchases of of any camera

1:30:49 ↗ equipment because we are waiting to get

1:30:50 ↗ guidance from the council of what the

1:30:52 ↗ rules of the road would be in in that

1:30:55 ↗ space. And so at the June 15th meeting,

1:30:58 ↗ we will ask the council to approve uh

1:31:01 ↗ this federal grant with full clear

1:31:03 ↗ understanding that 0% of that will be

1:31:05 ↗ used on vlog cameras. It will be used on

1:31:07 ↗ on the tasers and this and $45,000 on

1:31:10 ↗ the interview camera replacement. And I

1:31:13 ↗ just want to make sure that our

1:31:14 ↗ community understands that that is the

1:31:16 ↗ path going forward. In terms of other

1:31:19 ↗ items, public works open house. Uh this

1:31:22 ↗ is I I'm thinking of council member

1:31:23 ↗ Darren and his kids. This sounds like

1:31:24 ↗ something they're going to enjoy. Uh it

1:31:27 ↗ is May 20th from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at

1:31:29 ↗ city's public works facilities. They can

1:31:31 ↗ come do public works zoo featuring heavy

1:31:34 ↗ duty equipment like the deer, the

1:31:35 ↗ bobcat, the caterpillar machines. They

1:31:37 ↗ can tour city facilities and enjoy

1:31:38 ↗ hands-on demonstrations. I'm told they

1:31:41 ↗ use back hose to throw tires. And so I

1:31:45 ↗ have not attended this before, but we I

1:31:47 ↗ think we call it the public works rodeo.

1:31:49 ↗ Uh the Sound Transit board meeting we

1:31:51 ↗ heard about from our city uh deputy city

1:31:53 ↗ administrator earlier is going to be May

1:31:54 ↗ 28th at 1:30. And so we're going to once

1:31:58 ↗ again show up in our purple shirts to

1:32:00 ↗ make sure as this final vote does occur

1:32:02 ↗ and we will be there to support keeping

1:32:04 ↗ us on the map and we do plan to have so

1:32:08 ↗ on June 1st we're going to raise the

1:32:09 ↗ pride flag before the council meeting.

1:32:11 ↗ We think roughly that'll occur around 6

1:32:14 ↗ pm. Our plan is then to have a chance

1:32:16 ↗ from 6:15 to 6:45 to thank the Isqua

1:32:19 ↗ community for showing up to save Isquas

1:32:21 ↗ light rail. This is all contingent of us

1:32:23 ↗ obviously staying on the map on this May

1:32:25 ↗ 28th vote, but we think we will. And so

1:32:27 ↗ assuming that does happen, we do want to

1:32:29 ↗ have a chance to thank our community for

1:32:30 ↗ showing up and engaging in this process.

1:32:33 ↗ and we will do that in that intervening

1:32:35 ↗ time between raising the pride flag and

1:32:37 ↗ our meeting starting on June 1st at 7:00

1:32:39 ↗ p.m. Memorial Day is coming up on Monday

1:32:42 ↗ and so we invite community members to

1:32:45 ↗ join us at the Isqua Senior Center as we

1:32:47 ↗ honor the men and women who made the

1:32:48 ↗ ultimate sacrifice and service to our

1:32:50 ↗ country. The ceremony is hosted by local

1:32:52 ↗ veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3436 whose

1:32:55 ↗ members continue to serve the Isqua

1:32:56 ↗ community with both dedication and

1:32:59 ↗ pride. This event starts at 10:00 a.m.

1:33:01 ↗ and is opening to the public. Those

1:33:03 ↗ interested in volunteering can also join

1:33:05 ↗ community members on May 23rd at 9:00

1:33:07 ↗ a.m. to decorate headstones of veterans

1:33:09 ↗ at the Lower Hillside Cemetery at 3 at

1:33:11 ↗ 555 West Sunset Way as well as under

1:33:15 ↗ parading them at 6 p.m. on May 25th. Uh

1:33:18 ↗ and with that, that ends my mayor's

1:33:21 ↗ report. We will now go to good of the

1:33:24 ↗ order.

1:33:25 ↗ Council member Joe. Yeah, I would just

1:33:28 ↗ like to thank the circle and all the

1:33:30 ↗ volunteer organizations that made the

1:33:32 ↗ AsianAmerican Pacific Islander event on

1:33:35 ↗ Sunday a great success. They had a

1:33:37 ↗ thousand people that registered for the

1:33:39 ↗ event. Uh when I was there there were

1:33:41 ↗ about uh at 450 people that had already

1:33:45 ↗ gone through the doors. I saw council

1:33:47 ↗ deputy council president Jen there.

1:33:49 ↗ Thanks for attending. It was a great

1:33:51 ↗ event to see cultural dancing and

1:33:54 ↗ experience the Asian-American Pacific

1:33:55 ↗ Islander culture. Thank you,

1:34:02 ↗ >> Council Member Boyd.

1:34:04 ↗ Um, I had the opportunity to do a ride

1:34:06 ↗ along with uh Isqua PD on Friday evening

1:34:10 ↗ um from 7 to a little bit past 11:00

1:34:13 ↗ p.m. And uh I just um I passed my

1:34:16 ↗ comments along in writing to um the

1:34:18 ↗ sergeant and Chief Schwan, but I uh

1:34:21 ↗ would be remiss if I did not say that I

1:34:23 ↗ am incredibly proud of our um our Esqua

1:34:26 ↗ Police Department uh throughout the

1:34:28 ↗ evening. um they treated anyone they

1:34:30 ↗ encountered with um the full dignity

1:34:32 ↗ that everyone deserves and their u

1:34:34 ↗ professionalism is just um uh I commend

1:34:38 ↗ it and uh I would encourage uh any other

1:34:41 ↗ council members if you haven't done a

1:34:42 ↗ ride along or uh if it's maybe been a

1:34:45 ↗ few years um it was uh I'm just so

1:34:47 ↗ grateful to them for um letting me be a

1:34:49 ↗ fly on the wall for a few hours on

1:34:50 ↗ Friday.

1:34:52 ↗ >> Excellent. That's very nice. I'm waiting

1:34:53 ↗ for the awkward moment when somebody

1:34:55 ↗ does a ride along and pulls over one of

1:34:56 ↗ my six mullet children driving around

1:34:58 ↗ our city.

1:35:00 ↗ I'm not sure stop at every stop sign

1:35:02 ↗ completely. Uh the Okay, looking for the

1:35:06 ↗ good of the order. Not seeing any. Our

1:35:08 ↗ next council meeting, as we said, will

1:35:10 ↗ be on Monday, June 1st. We will raise

1:35:13 ↗ the pride flag first. I think tenatively

1:35:15 ↗ we're shooting for 6 p.m. We'll give out

1:35:17 ↗ updates as we get closer. Then on

1:35:20 ↗ Monday, June 8th, we have the committee

1:35:22 ↗ of the whole with Isqua climate action

1:35:24 ↗ plan, econom economic development plan

1:35:26 ↗ update. And I think we're penciling in

1:35:29 ↗ the downtown ISQA association update as

1:35:32 ↗ well. And there is no executive session

1:35:36 ↗ this meeting. And with that, so we did

1:35:40 ↗ have a lot of proclamations today, but

1:35:42 ↗ for the record, done at day 35. We are

1:35:44 ↗ journed.

Approved minutes

Extracted from the next meeting's packet, where this meeting's minutes were approved as a consent-calendar attachment.

Open PDF

Attendance

Council / Members (7)

Paul Adair

Erika Boyd

Kelly Jiang

Russell Joe

Tola Marts

Kevin Nichols

and Councilmember Lindsey Walsh

Staff (4)

Wally Bobkiewicz, City Administrator

Andrea Lehner, Deputy City Administrator

Rachel Bender Turpin, City Attorney

Hannah Haver, Acting City Clerk

Motions and votes (2)

approve the consent agenda as presented.

Moved by Council President Marts · seconded by Deputy Council President Jiang

Carried 7-0

In favor: Paul Adair, Erika Boyd, Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Kevin Nichols, and Councilmember Lindsey Walsh

Approve Resolution No. 2026-12, committing to streamline permitting for Sound Transit Light Rail.

Moved by Deputy Council President Jiang · seconded by Council President Marts

Carried 7-0

In favor: Paul Adair, Erika Boyd, Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Kevin Nichols, and Councilmember Walsh