Dev Mode. Emulators used.

Select Committee on Seattle Transportation Benefit District, Session I 7/13/2026

Publish Date: 7/13/2026
Description:

Agenda: Call to Order; Approval of the Agenda; Public Comment; CB 121226: An ordinance relating to a sales and use tax; Adjournment.

SPEAKER_01

[15s]

Good morning.

The July 13th, 2026 committee select committee on the Seattle Transportation Benefit District public hearing will come to order.

It is 9.33 a.m.

I am Rob Sokka, chair of the committee.

Will the committee clerk please call the roll?

SPEAKER_15

[1s]

Councilmember Foster.

SPEAKER_09

[0s]

Here.

SPEAKER_15

[5s]

Councilmember Hollingsworth.

Council Member Juarez.

SPEAKER_17

[0s]

Here.

SPEAKER_15

[1s]

Council Member Kettle.

SPEAKER_17

[0s]

Here.

SPEAKER_15

[5s]

Council Member Lynn.

Council Member Rink.

SPEAKER_09

[0s]

Here.

SPEAKER_15

[1s]

Council Member Rivera.

SPEAKER_09

[0s]

Present.

SPEAKER_15

[7s]

Council Member Strauss.

Here.

Chair Sacca.

Here.

Chair, there are seven present.

SPEAKER_01

[2m33s]

Thank you.

If there is no objection, the agenda will be adopted.

Hearing and seeing no objection, the agenda is adopted.

Good morning, colleagues, members of the public, virtually.

Thank you all for being here as we review the proposed Seattle transit measure renewal and consider proposed amendments put forward by committee members.

It's worth remembering that public input isn't a procedural formality.

It's the backbone of responsiveness and transparent policymaking.

Public feedback helps us understand the broader landscape and ensures we hear from seniors, workers, students, people with disabilities, and families.

It allows us to identify gaps, anticipate consequences, and design a system that aligns with the priorities and values of the whole community.

And importantly, when residents help guide these decisions, we strengthen public trust.

We create solutions that are more equitable, more durable, and more widely supported over time.

I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to share your perspective with us so far, and will do so with us today, this morning.

Your contributions help shape better decisions and guide us towards a transportation future that truly serves our entire city.

Before we officially begin public hearing, I wanna provide an overview of the process.

This morning session one is only for remote speakers.

Registered speakers will be recognized in the order they registered.

The online registration period started this morning at 8.30 a.m.

and will close at 10.30 a.m.

If you would like to provide remote public comment, please register before 10.30 a.m.

At 5 p.m.

today, we will open session two of this hearing where we will be accepting in-person comments and any remaining remote speakers.

Registration for in-person comments begins at 4.30pm and will continue until we have heard all registered speakers.

If we have more speakers than time allotted, we may need to reduce the time per speaker to help us try to hear from everyone tonight.

With that, let's open the hearing.

And before we begin, actually, one of my colleagues would like to make a brief note.

Council Member Strauss, you are recognized.

SPEAKER_00

[15s]

Thank you, Chair Saka.

Just letting the public know that I will be pulling Amendment 8 regarding contracted transit shuttles as I've been reassured that the Hopelink transit shuttles that are being used today can continue to be used in the future.

So thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Council Member Strauss.

SPEAKER_01

[3s]

Will the clerk please read item one into the record?

SPEAKER_15

[26s]

Agenda item one, briefing and discussion on Council Bill 121226, an ordinance relating to a sales and use tax providing for the submission to qualified electors of the city at an election to be held on November 3rd, 2026, a proposition to collect a sales and use tax to fund transit and related transportation programs in Seattle and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.

SPEAKER_01

[18s]

All right, thank you.

We will now open the public hearing on Council Bill 121226. Public comments should relate only to Council Bill 121226 relating to the Seattle transit measure.

Clerk, how many remote speakers are signed up today?

SPEAKER_15

[3s]

Chair, we currently have 15 remote speakers signed up.

SPEAKER_01

[7s]

All right, thank you.

Each speaker will have approximately two minutes.

Clerk, could you please read the public comment instructions?

SPEAKER_15

[26s]

The public comment period will be moderated in the following manner.

Speakers will be called in the order in which they're registered.

Speakers will hear a chime when 10 seconds are left of their time.

Speakers mics will be muted if they do not end their comments within the allotted time to allow us to call on the next speaker.

Comments are only being accepted on Council Bill 121226. With that, we will begin with the first speaker on the list.

SPEAKER_02

[2s]

Get a second to share this.

SPEAKER_15

[11s]

The first speaker on the list is Owen Begley Collier.

Following Owen will be Alice Lockhart.

Owen, please hit star six.

SPEAKER_07

[3s]

Hello, my name is Owen Begley Collier and I'm from Ballard.

SPEAKER_02

[39s]

Public transit is my main mode of transport.

I'm lucky to live in a city that is actively expanding transit as opposed to cutting it.

Expansions like the Cross Lake Connection, the painting of bus lanes on Denny Way, and the new bus to Golden Gardens.

Seattle is growing.

If we want our city to be affordable, accessible, and to meet its climate goals, we must not halt this progress by cutting transit.

As our city grows, we will need more transit priority, frequency, and coverage.

That's why I urge the council to not cut back on the Seattle transit measure expansion.

I urge the council to vote no on amendments 13, 5, and 4 so we can expand Seattle transit.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_15

[11s]

Thank you.

Our next speaker will be Alice Lockhart.

Following Alice will be James Widener.

Alice, please hit star six.

SPEAKER_08

[1m55s]

Good morning, Council.

I am Alice Lockhart with 350 Seattle.

And Seattle can't reach our climate goals without cutting emissions from car trips.

The Seattle transit measure by paying for the service Seattle needs has been and needs to remain key to reducing transportation climate emissions.

I'm here to ask you to pass the strongest possible transit measure without any weakening amendments.

The best and most proven way to get people out of their cars is fully funded and frequent transit that serves the routes and times people need to get to work.

Please reject weakening amendments 3, 4, 5 and 13. Amendment 13 would cut funding for transit transit funding for bus service that we need.

Amendment 3 steals bus service funds for other needs, which may be real, but we really, really need the transit measure to pay for bus service.

Amendment 4 moves transit measure renewal to a special election when it is less likely to pass.

Please, again.

and Amendment 5 adds expense and bureaucratic delay to a system that's functioning just fine.

Again, please reject 3, 4, 5, and 13. By contrast, please support Amendments 10, 11, 17, and 29. These all help make transit funding more equitable and direct funding to the routes and communities that need it most.

Again, please reject weakening amendments 3, 4, 5, and 13 for the sake of our communities and for the sake of our climate goals and please support amendments 10, 11, 17, and 20 for a truly great transit system.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_15

[12s]

Thank you, Alice.

Our next caller is James Widener.

Following James will be Riley Averon.

James, please hit star six.

SPEAKER_07

[1m11s]

Considering the benefits to the economy, cost of living and the environment from letting working people move around the city without needing a car, I strongly support expanding the transit measure and oppose cutting it.

and I oppose shortening the duration of the funding or requiring annual approval that would cut in to the City Council's valuable time for addressing other problems and I also support requiring more progressive funding for the measure and opposed redirecting funds to other projects.

SPEAKER_01

[0s]

Thank you.

SPEAKER_15

[14s]

Thank you.

Our next speaker will be Riley Avron.

After Riley, we'll hear from June Freeman.

Riley, please hit star six.

SPEAKER_20

[1m04s]

Good morning.

My name is Riley from West Seattle in Cher Saka's district.

I want to first recognize that this form of public comment is profoundly unrepresentative and biased towards people like me who are able to spend their weekday morning on this call.

In particular, the people most likely to benefit from this measure are least likely to be able to be on this call, in part because our transit system can be so time-consuming.

That said, I urge you to pass the Seattle transit measure and to reject the amendments from Council Members Kettle and SACA weakening that measure.

Like many residents, I rely on public transit to get around, but many routes are infrequent or non-existent.

While this measure will cost me about $29 each year in sales tax, if it saves me even one expensive taxi or rideshare trip each year, it's well worth it.

Please reject the amendments 4 and 5 from my Council Member SACA.

Most critically, please reject Amendment 13 from Council Member Kettle, which would cut the purchase bus service by half.

In contrast, please support amendments 10, 11, 17, and 29 which would together strengthen the final measure.

This measure increases connectivity, reduces emissions, and improves equity.

Please pass it rather than undermine it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_15

[13s]

Our next caller will be June Freeman.

After June, we'll hear from Joe Kunzler.

June, please hit star six.

SPEAKER_05

[1m02s]

Hi, this is June from King Capitol Hill.

I am on the train because I have to go to work and I agree with Siley that this method of public comment is extremely unrepresentative.

It's very difficult for me to make these.

In any case, I work about 20 cents over minimum wage and This would cost me $6, about, in an entire year, the proposed increase.

And I think that, you know, the single line bike ride or Uber that I will have to call because of Donald's disgraceful amendment would cost me more than what I will pay for this increased service in a year.

The only reason that I can afford to live in this city is because of the transit access.

I don't own a car.

The median cost of a car is about $1,000 a month, which is almost as much as my rent.

And if I had to rely on one, like I said, I couldn't live here.

SPEAKER_07

[5s]

So I strongly urge you to reject number 13, five, and four.

SPEAKER_05

[22s]

I really think that all of the posturing around affordability is completely ridiculous when it comes to cutting or limiting funding for transit service.

I understand this is a regressive tax, but at the end of the day, you know, the benefit really outweighs the amount that pretty much anyone who is making what I make would pay.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01

[1s]

Thank you, June.

SPEAKER_15

[13s]

Our next caller is Joe Kunzler.

After Joe, we have Billy Hetherington.

Joe, please hit star six.

SPEAKER_19

[1m21s]

Thank you.

It's Joe Kuntler here.

Good to hear your voice, Chair Asaka.

I really appreciate, again, what you did with Disability Pride Month, but one of the things that I think needs to be stressed to you and your colleagues respectfully is that, as the previous caller mentioned, for disabled folks, public transit is vital.

It is necessary.

we're differently able.

Many of us don't drive a car.

And so we need a robust public transportation system that works.

I really don't appreciate sounds during my public comment, but I will say, hopefully respectfully, that King County Metro is about to enter a financial crisis, as reported on by Erica C. Barnett and others.

and I would highly encourage you to keep that in mind before cutting in any way Mayor Wilson's proposal.

I think it's better just to make the investment in public transit.

Realize that trying to save $12 a year at sales tax is going to cost the most vulnerable a lot more than $12 a month.

and may make travel in Seattle prohibitive.

I ask you please support the full Seattle transit measure.

I want to thank all of you for your public service.

It is much appreciated.

Thank you for your time.

SPEAKER_01

[5s]

Thank you, Mr. Gunzler.

SPEAKER_15

[7s]

Next, we'll hear from Billy Hetherington after Billy Mark Brunson.

Billy, please hit star six.

SPEAKER_11

[1m39s]

Good morning, Chair and Council Members.

My name is Billy Heather Ainten.

I first want to talk about while I am in support of the transit measure sent down from Mayor Wilson's office, I am extremely concerned that doubling the measure and actually reducing the amount of capital investment for ADA and accessibility measures is very, very concerning.

And that's why I want to support Amendments 3 and 20 today You know, a quarter of Seattleites recognize themselves as disabled.

And under the 2017 consent degree that Seattle is currently under for the next 18 years, they're required to replace or repair over 22,000 curb ramps and maintain currently over 2,000 miles of sidewalks.

And if we're reducing the amount of money this measure is spending while recognizing that the secondary source of money to the transportation levy, but still a reduction in this amount, is not going to allow the city to live up to that consent degree that they're currently halfway through and this measure will take them completely through.

So not only the accessibility and everything that that money creates for the residents of Seattle, but also the apprenticeship opportunities and opportunities for family wage careers that these projects allow Seattleites through priority hire and the rest of the measures that Seattle has put in place.

So again, I would just urge you to support amendments three and 20. Thank you.

SPEAKER_15

[14s]

Thank you, Billy.

Our next caller is Mark Brunson.

After Mark, we'll hear from Chris Mackay.

Mark, please hit star six.

SPEAKER_16

[1m56s]

Good morning.

My name is Mark Brunson.

I'm a resident of Capitol Hill and have been riding transit around our city since before the first local funding measure.

Even though I live between the G Line and the light rail station, I still need a frequent transit network because there are so many places to go that are not near these lines.

A choice rider is usually thought of as someone who chooses to use transit over a car for a particular trip.

I'd like to talk about another choice people make, whether to take the trip at all, When I hear about a local restaurant that I want to try, I often find that its bus route is infrequent and decide it isn't worth standing along a dangerous road for 30 minutes after dinner.

Sometimes the choice is how often you see a friend across the city.

When someone moves to Ballard, the joke is that you'll never see them again.

How true that is might depend on the friend, but our transit network should not be limiting people's mobility.

We should be able to get around our city both for things we need and for things we want.

The updated Seattle transit measure will get us most of the way to a frequent transit network that enhances everyone's mobility.

It will add frequency all over the city and will add it during midday, evening, and night hours that are currently lacking.

People don't always work 9 to 5. They need to get groceries, see their friends, and try new dinner spots.

To that end, please reject Amendment 13 that will prevent us from achieving our frequent transit network.

Please reject amendments three and four so that Metro and Seattle residents can make long-term decisions about our mobility and depend on the funding approved by voters.

Please reject amendment five so that we don't put a renewal on a costly special election ballot.

Please support amendments that enhance our transit service and seek a future progressive funding source.

These include amendments 10, 11, 17, and 29. Thank you very much for your time today.

SPEAKER_01

[1s]

Thank you, Mark.

SPEAKER_15

[46s]

Our next speaker is Chris Mackay.

After Chris, we have Kathy Albert.

Chris, please hit star six.

Chris, it looks like you're muted.

Chris Mackay, are you on the line?

SPEAKER_01

[3s]

Chris, please hit star six, time to meet yourself.

SPEAKER_15

[14s]

We'll come back to Chris.

There may be technical issues.

Our next caller we're going to hear from is Kathy Albert and then Anna Zivarts.

Kathy Albert, please hit star six.

SPEAKER_09

[2m03s]

Hi there.

I am Kathy Albert.

I am a resident of the Northgate neighborhood.

I live at Northgate Senior Housing.

or North Haven Senior Housing, excuse me.

And within a one block range, in my block in Northgate, there are three senior residences.

Many of us, many of us rely upon public transportation to get to appointments, including doctor's appointments, to shop, to go grocery shopping, to go to our faith tradition gatherings as well as visiting friends going to events and for me and others going to work.

I work as a substitute teacher and I work almost full time in that capacity and I make less than $36,000 a year.

And I do not collect Social Security yet.

So I rely a great deal, I rely completely on public transportation.

I had to give up driving about three years ago when my insurance rates skyrocketed.

So I urge you with all urgency to support public transportation in total and to cut amendments 3, 4, 5, and 13. Thank you.

SPEAKER_15

[0s]

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01

[1s]

Thank you, Kathy.

SPEAKER_15

[47s]

Next, we're gonna hear from Anna Zavarts after Anna Ayan Mohamed.

Anna, please hit star six.

Anna, it looks like you're still muted.

Perhaps we'll go on to our next caller and get back to Anna as well as Chris Mackay toward the end.

We'll try Ayan Muhammad after Ayan Zach Howell.

Ayan, please hit star six to speak.

SPEAKER_01

[2s]

Ayan, star six, please, unmute yourself.

SPEAKER_18

[0s]

Yes.

SPEAKER_01

[1s]

There you are.

SPEAKER_18

[53s]

Hello.

Good morning.

Good morning, council members.

My name is Ayan Muhammad, and I am a member of the Transportation Equity Work Group, and I represent the Refugee Women's Alliance.

We strongly support the 3% proposed tax to maintain and expand progressive revenue, accessibility to underserved communities, which includes council member Ware's amendment to include people with disabilities, and expand services which include the transit access program.

Thank you Councilmember Collinsworth and RINC.

Amendment 11 and 17 sponsored by Linn and RINC align with our recommendation for exploring and creating progressive funding.

Amendment 26 and 27 expands eligibility for the TAT program.

We do not support Councilmember Kettle's reduction in the 0.3 tax proposal to 0.2%.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01

[1s]

Thank you, Ian.

SPEAKER_15

[15s]

Our next caller will be Zach Howell.

After we hear from Zach, we're going to revisit Chris Mackay and Anna Zavarch.

Zach, please hit star six to speak.

SPEAKER_06

[1m08s]

Good morning, council members.

I live in Green Lake.

I used to live in Councilmember Kettles District in Queen Anne.

I generally take the bus home from South Lake Union every day, but also own a car and carpool with my wife in the morning and take the bus home.

Buses running fast, however, is good for everybody, even for drivers, as this is one of the only ways to actually reduce traffic and congestion.

It's also good for the environment, where tire waste is one of the worst pollutants for salmon runoff but somehow we focus less on decreasing driving and more on saving trees or something in housing zoning laws.

Please pass the 0.3% tax in full without any diluting amendments.

Like most tax increases in Seattle, I'd fully expect this to pass on the ballot and don't really see why there's any point in trying to decrease it or have random articles that talk about how it's a regressive tax.

Look forward to having more frequent bus routes across the city.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01

[2s]

Thank you, Zach.

SPEAKER_15

[10s]

We're going to try Chris Mackay again.

After Chris, we'll hear from Anna Zivartz.

Chris, please hit star six to speak.

SPEAKER_17

[57s]

Hi, good afternoon Council Members.

My name is Chris McKay.

I serve on the Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board.

I'm here today to encourage you guys to place the Seattle Transit Measure renewal on the November ballot.

You know, one thing we often forget is that every transit rider is also a pedestrian and every single trip begins and ends with someone walking.

And that's why investing in transit isn't just about buses and light rail.

It's also about making it safe and easy for people to get to and from those services.

The mayor's proposal recognizes that by funding improvements that make transit more accessible, especially in neighborhoods that have historically those investments advance equity, improve accessibility, and help the city meet its ADA commitments.

We also encourage the council to continue moving forward on sidewalk construction and repair because access to transit is just as important as transit itself.

So on behalf of the Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board, I urge you to send the Seattle Transit Measure renewal to the voters.

Thank you so much for all your hard work.

SPEAKER_01

[1s]

Thank you, Chris.

SPEAKER_15

[5s]

Next, we're going to hear from Anna Zivartz.

After Anna, we'll have Will Oberst.

SPEAKER_10

[2s]

Hello, this is Anna Zivartz.

Can you hear me now?

SPEAKER_15

[1s]

Yeah, we can hear you.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_10

[23s]

I'm with the Non-Drivers Alliance for an advocacy group of folks who can't drive or can't afford to drive throughout the state of Washington.

I am joined today by a young non-driver, my kiddo, who's going to introduce himself and talk a little bit about why he wants to make sure that we fund transit service to the fullest extent possible so that we can get places quickly and easily

SPEAKER_09

[5s]

and it doesn't take two or three times longer to take transit than driving.

SPEAKER_10

[4s]

So do you want to introduce yourself?

Okay, what's your name?

SPEAKER_18

[1s]

Casper.

SPEAKER_10

[1s]

And how old are you?

SPEAKER_18

[1s]

Nine.

SPEAKER_10

[8s]

And where do you like to go on the bus?

You don't know.

What buses would you like to run more frequently?

SPEAKER_18

[2s]

The 50 and the 106.

SPEAKER_10

[1s]

And where does the 50 go?

SPEAKER_18

[1s]

Alki.

SPEAKER_10

[2s]

Would you like to get to Alki more frequently?

SPEAKER_09

[1s]

Yes.

SPEAKER_10

[25s]

Yes.

We all like to get to the beach in the summer, and it would be great if we had more frequent and more reliable transit service.

Just to touch base quickly on the amendments, Non-Drivers Alliance encourages the council to reject Amendment 13, 5, 3, and 4, Support 11 and 17, as well as 10 and 29. Thank you for your patience with our technical difficulties today.

SPEAKER_01

[1s]

Thank you, Anna.

SPEAKER_15

[10s]

Our next caller will be Will Oberst.

After Will, we have Conrad Parker.

Will, please hit star six.

SPEAKER_12

[1m03s]

Hi, everyone.

This is Will Oberst, your Director of Drinks and Democracy.

And also great work, Anna.

That was just an amazing presentation.

I live and work in D3.

I'm a UFCW 3000 member grocery store worker and a restaurant worker and a former recipient of the Orca List Card which I'm a big fan of spreading out to multiple as many people as we can to make public transportation easier in the city Currently it's set at about 20% AMI to receive that and I'd like to see a few of our amendments including 17, 26 and 27 to increase that limit so that 60% and lower AMI can receive that so that we can get more people on buses and public transportation all around the city.

and that's what I came to say.

All right.

Thanks very much and keep up the great work all.

SPEAKER_01

[3s]

Cheers.

Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_15

[9s]

Our next caller is Conrad Parker.

After Conrad, we'll hear from Alberto Alvarez.

Conrad, please hit star six.

SPEAKER_04

[42s]

Hi, I'm Conrad.

I live in Madison Valley in District 3. I just finished the Seattle-Fortland bike ride yesterday, and I'd really like to be relaxing right now, but I feel the need to call in and ask you to please reject amendments 4, 5, and 13 to the Seattle transit measure.

For the median Seattle household, the full increase that is proposed will cost $29 per year.

That's less than one day of parking in downtown for work, one Uber to West Seattle, or five gallons of gas.

in a city where 30% of commute trips are taken on public transit and where 20% of households don't even own a car, maximizing transit funding, even with a sales tax, is an absolute policy slam dunk.

Please take this opportunity to do what's right for the people of the city, reject amendments four, five, and 13, and don't water this down.

SPEAKER_15

[24s]

Thank you.

We currently have two more speakers signed up.

We have Alberto Alvarez, who we'll hear from next.

After Alberto, we will hear from Peter Briggs.

Alberto, please hit star six.

SPEAKER_14

[33s]

Thank you.

Good morning.

We need to increase taxes to car usage and parking.

I support the amendments that lower the tax hike and the ones about looking forward to progressive revenue.

A responsible funding method to address all these things.

It's not just about building it and they will come.

Ridership will remain low because the cost of driving a car is better than taking two bus routes to the places people must travel to.

SPEAKER_04

[1s]

Hello?

I think the lines are crossed.

SPEAKER_14

[1m11s]

We can still hear you.

It's not just about building it and they will come.

Ridership will remain low because the cost of driving a car is better than taking two bus routes to the places people need to travel to.

A tax on car usage itself would be a more equitable way to fund a transit system.

Wealthy households own multiple cars.

Drivers from the suburbs can be taxed when parking on our streets and in commercial lots.

There are better ways to tackle the issues of low ridership and unreliable bus service.

We are stuck with regressive taxes.

passing the wide net of a sales tax for limited improvements to bus routes.

Then this bill to voters and immediately after council should pass taxes on cars and parking, fund improvements to our transit system.

Thank you and have a good day.

SPEAKER_01

[16s]

Alberto, thank you for providing public comments.

Apologies for the technical difficulties.

You're absolutely right.

The lines were crossed there for about 30, 40 seconds.

We'll give you about 45 seconds if you want to share any other sort of final thoughts or remarks.

I know you rushed through a little bit towards the end.

SPEAKER_14

[37s]

Thank you.

Yeah, just to wrap up.

Set up progressive revenue by taxing car usage and parking.

That's my number one goal.

to me the amendment that lowers the tax hike is ideal but you know we need to move forward on progressive revenue we can't just keep talking about it thank you have a good day thank you Alberto our next speaker is Peter Briggs Peter please hit star six

SPEAKER_03

[1m19s]

Good morning, council members.

I'm Peter Briggs.

I'm a high school student who lives in Rainier Valley.

My schooling has been relatively unique, but for some classes I attend a school on the east side.

Getting to the east side has been revolutionized by the opening of the light rail cross-light connection in March.

However, the light rail connection isn't everything.

When I use transit to get to school, a major part of my journey is just getting to Judkins Park Station to board the train.

Fortunately, there are bus routes that run near my house to the station.

Unfortunately, this last mile connection is infrequent and often feels unsafe to me as a youth.

Funding provided by the Seattle Transit Measure would allow me to get to school, church, and other important destinations more easily.

Others have stressed climate and equity concerns, and I'd like to add my safety concerns.

Without strong transit, my peers and I are forced to drive almost everywhere.

I trust my driving skills, but it feels like an unnecessary risk and a waste of time for 16-year-olds to be piloting individual motor vehicles everywhere they go.

Please project all amendments that would cut the funding benefits offered by Seattle Transit Measure.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01

[1s]

Thank you, Peter.

SPEAKER_15

[2s]

Chair, we currently do not have anyone else registered.

SPEAKER_01

[30s]

All right, thank you.

At this time, given that there are no additional registered speakers and registration closes at 10.30 a.m., we will be in a brief recess.

So colleagues, if there's no objection, the Select Committee on the Seattle Transportation Benefit District will be in recess until 10.30 a.m.

It is 10.11 currently, so 10.30 a.m.

Hearing no objection, the Select Committee on the Seattle Transportation Benefit District will be in recess until 10.30 a.m.

today.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_17

[0s]

Thank you

SPEAKER_99

[8s]

This is a very good idea.

I'm not sure how to use it.

SPEAKER_01

[14s]

2026 Select Committee in the Seattle Transportation Benefit District.

Public hearing will come back to order.

It is 1030 a.m.

I'm Rob Socket, chair of the committee.

Will the committee clerk please call the roll?

SPEAKER_15

[1s]

Councilmember Foster.

SPEAKER_09

[0s]

Here.

SPEAKER_15

[1s]

Councilmember Hollingsworth.

SPEAKER_17

[0s]

Present.

SPEAKER_15

[1s]

Councilmember Juarez.

SPEAKER_17

[0s]

Here.

SPEAKER_15

[1s]

Councilmember Kettle.

SPEAKER_12

[0s]

Here.

SPEAKER_15

[1s]

Councilmember Lin.

SPEAKER_07

[0s]

Here.

SPEAKER_15

[1s]

Councilmember Rink.

SPEAKER_07

[0s]

Here.

SPEAKER_15

[1s]

Councilmember Rivera.

SPEAKER_07

[0s]

Present.

SPEAKER_15

[7s]

Councilmember Strauss.

Chair Sacca.

Here.

SPEAKER_01

[3s]

Councilmember Strauss, let the record reflect that Councilmember Strauss is here.

SPEAKER_15

[1s]

Chair, there are nine members present.

SPEAKER_01

[9s]

All right.

Thank you.

We will continue with the public hearing on the proposed Seattle transit measure.

Clerk, do we have any additional registered speakers this morning?

SPEAKER_15

[2s]

Chair, we have two more registered speakers.

SPEAKER_01

[5s]

All right.

Each member will have two minutes in line with earlier.

SPEAKER_15

[29s]

Our first registered speaker is, we'll hear from Monte Anderson.

After Monte, we'll hear from Jeremy Fountain.

Monte, please hit star six to begin speaking.

Monte, are you there?

SPEAKER_01

[35s]

Monty, star six to unmute yourself.

Correct.

There we go, we hear ya.

Monty?

We heard ya.

Monty, star six to unmute yourself.

SPEAKER_15

[47s]

Monty, we're showing you his mute.

While we're waiting for Monte, our final speaker is Jeremy Fountaine.

Jeremy has registered, but has not called in yet.

So Jeremy, if you could please call in, we'll be happy to hear from you.

At the moment, it's still Monte.

Monte, please hit star six.

SPEAKER_01

[11s]

Monty, we see you on the line here, and I think we heard you a moment ago.

Are you able to come back off mute?

Star six comes off mute.

SPEAKER_13

[1s]

Does it say I'm off mute now?

SPEAKER_01

[5s]

Monty.

I can hear you.

Oh.

SPEAKER_15

[1s]

You just went back on mute.

SPEAKER_01

[1s]

Back on mute, Monty.

SPEAKER_13

[1s]

Oh my God.

SPEAKER_01

[0s]

There he is.

SPEAKER_13

[1s]

Okay, am I unmuted now?

SPEAKER_01

[0s]

There we go.

SPEAKER_13

[43s]

Monty, good morning.

Welcome.

Good morning.

I'm sorry.

Yeah, I'm embarrassed about my audio skills here.

Thank you very...

Thank you for being patient with me.

Good morning, everybody.

This is Monty Anderson with Seattle Building Traits.

On behalf of the 20,000 construction workers and their families across the region, we want to express our appreciation first and support for moving forward with the renewal of the Seattle Transit Mission.

It's important, as we all know, and invest in transit and infrastructure and streets and sidewalks and ramps and bus lanes.

Am I on mute still now?

No, we can hear you.

SPEAKER_01

[0s]

Perfect.

SPEAKER_13

[1s]

They can hear me.

Oh, that's mine.

SPEAKER_11

[1s]

They'll be coming in to help me.

SPEAKER_13

[59s]

It's important.

We're particularly interested in the construction elements of the package, obviously, because that's what we do for a living.

As we know, every part of these projects has their own space.

And for construction, that's mine.

I would like to strongly support amendments such as Amendment 3 to prioritize infrastructure and repair and expansion of sidewalks.

And we're not a fan of Amendment 24, even though I understand their intentions, but it just reduces capital spending.

And everybody knows that if you don't take care of what you have, it falls apart and it's more expensive to fix later.

So I want to let everybody know that capital investments help with reliability and accessibility.

We need good jobs.

So thank you for your leadership, Chair Saka, and many of you who are working together to get this done, and we're going to build some better lives out there and do it all together.

and I appreciate your time.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01

[1s]

Thank you, Mr. Anderson.

SPEAKER_15

[45s]

Our final registered speaker is Jeremy Fountaine.

Jeremy is not currently on the line.

So Jeremy, if you're listening, please call in.

Mr. Fountain has not called in at this point.

There are no more registered speakers.

SPEAKER_01

[1m47s]

All right.

Well, thank you.

We have reached the end of the remote public hearing session.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to a thoughtful and productive discussion this morning.

Later today at 5 p.m.

we will host an in-person public hearing, continue the conversation there.

Overflow seating for the in-person public hearing will be available downstairs in the Bertha Knight Landis room if needed.

All are welcome and strongly encouraged to participate.

Their feedback on the proposed Seattle transit measure.

Again, the, we will reconvene the final meeting of the Select Committee on the Seattle Transportation Benefit District on Thursday, July 16th, later this week at 9.30 a.m.

At this meeting, we will vote on the proposed amendments and the legislation itself, which will allow us to submit a final package to the full council for a possible approval at next week's July 21st City Council meeting in time to get this on the ballot.

So, friendly reminder, good legislation is strengthened by thoughtful public engagement, comment, and public deliberation.

Look forward to continuing this vital work together.

Just one final check for if that last caller has joined us.

He has not.

Okay.

If there's no objection, then the Select Committee on the Seattle Transportation Benefit District will be in recess until 5 p.m.

today.

Seeing no objection, the Select Committee on the Seattle Transportation Benefit District is in recess until 5 p.m.

today.

Thank you.