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ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING. ALL SET? GOOD MORNING. TESTING. HELLO, TESTING. GREAT. COOL. WE'RE READY TO ROLL. THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AND ASSIST TAPS IN RESOLVING THAT. ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING, THE APRIL 2nd, 2026 MEETING OF THE TRANSPORTATION, WATERFRONT, AND SEATTLE CENTER COMMITTEE, I SHOULD STRAIGHTEN MY TIE WHEN SAYING THAT, BUT THIS MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER. I AM ROB SAKA, CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. WILL THE COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. [ ROLL CALL TAKEN ] CHAIR, THERE ARE FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT. ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING AND SEE NOTHING OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS HERE BY ADOPTED. GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, COLLEAGUES, MEDIA PARTNERS AND OTHERS. THIS IS OUR VERY FIRST STEPS COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE SPRING. SPRING OBVIOUSLY SYMBOLIZING RENEWAL, REBIRTH, AND GROWTH. ACTING AS A POWERFUL METAPHOR FOR EMBRACING NEW BEGINNINGS. IT'S MY PERSONAL FAVORITE SEASON. I LIKE TO THINK OF SPRING AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK FORWARD. AND TO BE MINDFUL OF THE PAST, AS WELL. OUR AGENDA TODAY HAS SOME EXCITING ITEMS TO DO JUST THAT. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'LL SHARE THAT I'M DISHEARTENED TO REPORT THAT TRAGICALLY SEATTLE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED ITS SECOND TRAFFIC FATALITY IN 2026. A WOMAN OF APPROXIMATELY 52 YEARS OF AGE TRAGICALLY LOST HER LIFE IN A SINGLE CAR COLLISION ON THE 1500 BLOCK OF ELLIOTT AVENUE WEST ON MARCH 18, JUST BEFORE OUR LAST COMMITTEE MEETING. BECAUSE OF SOME LATENCY IN DATADATA REPORTING, WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT IT NOW. HER NAME HAS NOT BEEN PUBLICLY RELEASED. SO THEREFORE, WE'RE NOT NAMING HER TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE HER DIGNITY AND PRIVACY. MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH S- DOT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO HOLD A FIRST- EVER COMMUNITY TRAFFIC SAFETY FORUM. THE PLAN IS FOR THIS TO OCCUR SOMEWHERE, AND I APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION OF COUNCILMEMBER LYNN, AS WELL. I KNOW THIS IS AN ISSUE NEAR AND DEAR TO HIM AND HIS CONSTITUENTS, AND SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS RIGHT NOW TO FINALIZE, AGAIN, THE FIRST- EVER COMMUNITY TRAFFIC SAFETY FORUM. STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS. IN THE SPRING SOMETIME, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LATE MARCH, EARLY APRIL. BUT STAY TUNED. I IMAGINE IT WILL BE IN THE SPRING AT THE LATEST. SO STAY TUNED. AND ALSO WE'LL SHARE ON THE TRAFFIC SAFETY FRONT THAT AT OUR VERY NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING, I'VE INVITED S- DOT TO COME SHARE A NEW DIMENSION AND REPORT OUT ON THE STATE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY IN OUR CITY. AND SO AT OUR VERY NEXT MEETING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE CHIEF TRAFFIC SAFETY OFFICER FROM S- . DOT COME DO EXACTLY THAT. THIS ISSUE REMAINS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR ME AND THIS COMMITTEE. I KNOW MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, AS WELL. SO WE'LL KEEP LASER FOCUSED ON THAT AND HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE, INCLUDING BY INITIATING THE EFFORTS THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER AND MORE. ON A LIGHTER NOTE, LAST WEEK I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING THE MARINERS OPENING DAY GAME AGAINST THE CLEVELAND GUARDIANS AT T-MOBILE PARK. I TOOK A PERSONAL RECORD FOR SHARED MICROMOBILITY TRIPS IN ONE DAY. EXCITING TIMES, FROM THE WATERFRONT TO CITY HALL, CITY HALL TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, BACK TO CITY HALL, AND CITY HALL TO THE STADIUM, AND MORE, PROBABLY. BUT LOVE SHARING MICROMOBILITY. WE ALSO KNOW ON THE SPORTS FRONT, WHICH IS A PART OF WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF CO- OWNERS SAMANTHA HOLLOWAY OF THE SEATTLE CRACKEN, THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES AS A VIABLE AND LEADING NHL FRANCHISE IN MANY RESPECTS IN JUST FIVE YEARS. IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO THINK ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF A PERSPECTIVE NBA FRANCHISE WE COULD EXPERIENCE RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE, GIVEN OUR RICH TRADITION AND HISTORY AS A BASKETBALL CITY. NOW, SOME SAID SEATTLE MIGHT GET A SHOT. THE TRUTH IS, WE'VE BEEN READY ALL ALONG. FOR MANY IN SEATTLE AND ACROSS OUR REGION, THE MERE PROSPECT OF RETURNING AN NBA FRANCHISE TO OUR CITY HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. SENSE THE SONICS DEPARTED IN 2008, THERE'S BEEN A NOTICEABLE VOID IN SEATTLE'S CULTURAL LANDSCAPE. BUT THE EXCITING NEWS IS THAT LAST WEEK, ON MARCH 25th, THE NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS VOTED TO AUTHORIZE FORMAL EXPANSION TALKS WITH PERSPECTIVE OWNERSHIP GROUPS IN SEATTLE AND LAS VEGAS. BEGINNING PLAY AS SOON AS THETHE 2028-'29 SEASON. SO THE QUESTION ISN'T IF THETHE SONICS COMING BACK, IT'S WHEN. AND IN FAIRNESS, THE LEAGUE IS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AT THIS POINT. THE LEAGUE IS IN CHARGE OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT PROCESS, AND THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF INTRICATE DEPENDENCIES AT PLAY, AS WELL. THAT SAID, THE CITY OF SEATTLE REFUSES TO BE A PASSIVE OBSERVER IN THE PROCESS. WE'RE STEPPING UP AND TAKING SPECIFIC, CONCRETE ACTIONS AND WORKING WITH LOCAL POLICY AND MORE TO HELP SHAPE AND INFLUENCE OUR OWN DESTINY. IN SPORTS SPEAK, WE'RE CONTROLLING OUR OWN CONTROLLABLES. RESPONSIBILITY FOR BRINGING BACK OUR SONICS IS SHARED. AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT OUR CITY IS STEPPING UP TO DO ITS PART, AS WELL. THAT'S WHY I PROUDLY SPONSORED AND INTRODUCED A JOINT MAYORAL COUNCIL RESOLUTION AFFIRMING SEATTLE'S READINESS TO WELCOME BACK THE SONICS. BUT LET IT BE KNOWN, HEAR YE, HEAR YE, WE'RE NOT AUDITIONING, WE'RE READY, AND WE'RE READY TODAY. YOU CAN HEAR IT IN OUR GYMS, FEEL IT ON OUR STREETS. THIS IS A BASKETBALL CITY! AND THIS MOMENT REFLECTS REAL ACTION. THIS IS ABOUT SHOWING THE LEAGUE, OWNERSHIP GROUPS AND THE WORLD THAT SEATTLE IS ALIGNED, PREPARED, AND VERY SERIOUS. WE HAVE DEEP -- WE HAVE A DEEP BASKETBALL LEGACY, A STRONG, RABID AND PASSIONATE GLOBAL FAN BASE. THE ARENA ISN'T A PROPOSAL, IT'S PROOF. WE'VE GOT ONE OF THE STRONGEST MARKETS IN THE COUNTRY. UNIFIED LEADERSHIP ACROSS OUR REGION, CITY AND STATE. THIS IS BIGGER THAN BASKETBALL, FOLKS. IT IS ABOUT ECONOMIC GROWTH, COMMUNITY INVESTMENT AND RESTORING A DEFINING PART OF SEATTLE'S IDENTITY. I DID A RECENT HOT TAKE VIDEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SEATTLE IS NOT WAITING, SEATTLE IS READY. SEATTLE READY. WE'RE DOING THE WORK, WE'RE CLOSELY COLLABORATING, AND IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE LEADING. WE'RE ALSO READY AND WILLING TO PARTNER WITH THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION TO BRING OUR SONICS BACK HOME ONCE AND FOR ALL. BUCKLE UP, BECAUSE TODAY YOU'LL LEARN THAT SEATTLE IS NOT MAKING A CASE, SEATTLE IS MAKING DECLARATION. THE HEADLINE ABOUT OUR CITY'S READINESS IS CRYSTAL CLEAR. IF YOU'RE BUILDING A 32- TEAM LEAGUE, YOU DON'T SKIP THE CITY OF SEATTLE. WE'VE GOT THE FANS, THE ARENA, THE ECONOMY. THIS IS A LAYUP. LAYUPS IS TOO EASY. THIS IS ACTUALLY CHANNEL THE SONICS HISTORY AND LEGACY. THIS IS AKIN TO A GARY PAYTON ALLEY- OOP WITH THE VERY VICIOUS POSTERIZATION TOMA HAWK JAM BY TOM KEMP. SO FOR TODAY'S MEETING, WE HAVE TWO EXCITING AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE INTENDED TO SEND A CRYSTAL CLEAR MESSAGE THAT SEATTLE IS READY FOR THE RETURN OF A PROFESSIONAL MEN'S STABLE TEAM. FIRST, WE WILL HOST AND CONVENE A COMMUNITY ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION BETWEEN LEADERS AND REPRESENTS FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE SEATTLE SPORTS COMMISSION, LOCAL FAN ADVOCACY GROUPS, A YOUTH ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION. WE WILL ALSO HAVE A -- WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE A TEN- YEAR NBA VETERAN AND LOCAL LEGEND WHO PLAYED HIS HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE BASKETBALL RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. THIS IS TRULY -- THIS WILL TRULY BE A HISTORIC AND TIMELY CONVERSATION. NEXT, WE WILL CONSIDER A BOLD, TRANSFORMATIVE NEW LEGISLATIONLEGISLATION THAT MY OFFICE DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION WITH MAYOR WILSON, WHICH UP EQUIVOCALLY DECLARES THAT SEATTLE IS READY FOR AN NBA TEAM. SEATTLE READY. THIS TRANSFORMATIVE PIECE OF LEGISLATION HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE, AGAIN, IN THE SPORTS CONTEXT, A TOTAL GAME CHANGER IN TERMS OF SEALING THE DEAL TO BRING OUR SONICS BACK HOME ONCE AND FOR ALL. THIS HISTORIC BILL LEVERAGES A DATABASED APPROACH TO HIGHLIGHT A NUMBER OF KEY FACTORS THAT REALLY DEMONSTRATE OUR CITY'S READINESS, RESOLVE, AND ENDURING COMMITMENT TO BRING HOME OUR SONICS. SO TODAY, WE'RE RALLYING AROUND SEATTLE READY. GO, SONICS! AND I WILL SHARE EQUALLY EXCITING, EQUALLY AS GLAMOROUS, AT LEAST IN MY MIND, IN MY HEART, OUR THIRD AND FINAL AGENDA ITEM WILL BE A PRESENTATION FROM THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ABOUT THE 1st AVENUE SOUTH BRIDGE REPAIR PROJECT. BRIDGES ARE GLAMOROUS. BRIDGES ARE IMPORTANT, AND WE'RE GOING TO CHECK IN ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT THAT'S CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTIONS AND DELAYS IN MY COUNCIL DISTRICT BUT HAVE CITY WIDE IMPACT. IT LED TO LANE CLOSURES AND A FULL REPAIR RESPONSE DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. SO REALLY APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERS AT WASH- DOT AND THEIR RESPONSE TO THIS EMERGENCY SITUATION SO FAR. LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING THEIR UPDATE. THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IT SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP TODAY? CHAIR, WE HAVE ONE IN- PERSON SPEAKER SIGNED UP AND ONE REMOTE SPEAKER. THE SPEAKER WILL: THE SPEAKER WILL HAVE APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES. WE'LL TALK WITH IN SPEAKERS FIRST. CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC INSTRUCTION COMMENTS. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL: PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL ALTERNATE. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT IN THEIR TIME. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN, AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST, THAT WILL BE IN- PERSON SPEAKER AARON PRICE. ARE YOU READY: ARE YOU READY? GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE CORRECT NUE TO CHOICE THESE COMMENTS. BUT MY COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DESPERATE TO BE HEARD. I'M AARON PRICE, A RESIDENT OF 14th AVENUE WEST. I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF MY NEIGHBORS TO ADDRESS THE PROPOSAL OF REMOVAL OF PARKING SPOTS. THE IMPACT IS REAL. SENIORS AND RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WHO DEPEND ON PARKING TO REACH THEIR HOMES. THIS WILL LEAD TO A SIGNIFICANT VALUE LOSS FOR HOMEOWNERS. WE WENT FROM ANNOUNCEMENT TO ENFORCEMENT WITH NO OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY INPUT. AS TAXPAYERS AND VOTERS, THIS IS NOT HOW THIS SHOULD WORK. TO BE CLEAR, WE SUPPORT EMERGENCY VEHICLE ACCESS. WE'RE NOT HERE TO OPPOSE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE ARE HERE BECAUSE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS EXIST. FOR EXAMPLE, FORMALIZING HOW RESIDENTS HAVE PARKED FOR OVER 25 YEARS COULD GUARANTEE ACCESS TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NEEDS WITHOUT DESTROYING PARKING FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ARE REQUESTING A MEETING FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO DISCUSS SOLUTIONS BEFORE ENFORCEMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL: OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE REMOTE SPEAKER DAVID HANES. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6, MR. HANES. DAVID HANES: DAVID HANES. IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN GET A LAW THAT SAYS ANY WASH- DOT CONTRACT HAS TO HAVE DOUBLE- SHIFTS ON THE JOB WITH A PROPER AMOUNT OF PAY SO THAT WE CAN EXPEDITE THE PROJECTS AND GET IT DONE IN A TIMELY FASHION? SECONDLY, I WOULD LIKE TO LODGE A PROTEST AND COMPLAINT ABOUT THE RESOLUTION THAT COUNCIL IS OFFERING UP AS A FAVORITE OF OBG, MA NOP RISING THE OWNERSHIP OF THE NBA. THE ARENA VIOLATED THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND DUG 20 FEET DEEP AND CUT OFF EVERY FOUNDATION TO THAT CRACKED ROOF AND PUT THESE CRANES UNDERNEATH IT TO HOLD THE BALANCE, AND THEN SPACKLED IT AND REPAINTED IT. IT'S THE UGLIEST THING YOU'VE EVER SEEN. THEY WOULD PUT THESE TIE BACKS UNDERNEATH THE SIDEWALK TO HOLD UP THE UNSAFE WALLS. IT'S NOT FAIR THAT -- [ INAUDIBLE ] -- WITH A PEDOPHILE MAYOR THAT DID A DEAL WITH THE CRACKEN THAT ALLOWS THEM TO GET A $100 MILLION TAX BREAK. IT LOOKED LIKE A SLUM -- WE HAVE A BETTER INTERPRETATION OF POLICY. I CAN'T EVEN GET TO THE BUS STOP BETWEEN PINE ON 3rd AVENUE BECAUSE IT'S STILL TOO UNSAFE. THE PUBLIC BUS STOP THAT THEY PAID $1 MILLION TO PUT IN. AND WE MISS THE TRANSFER EVERY TIME. YET ALL THESE DRUG ADDICTS ARE OUT TO RUIN IT FOR EVERYBODY, AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE BUS DRIVERS -- AND THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT TO SHUT DOWN THE EVIL PREDATORS IN AND AROUND TRANSIT ORIENTED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND THEY -- [ MUTED ] ALL RIGHT: ALL RIGHT. CONFIRMING THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS. CONFIRMED: CONFIRMED. WE WILL PROCEED TO OUR ITEMS OF BUSINESS. SO LET US NOW MOVE ONTO OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS. PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER ONE INTO THE RECORD. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE, SEATTLE NBA READINESS ROUNDTABLE. WILL OUR PRESENTERS AND: WILL OUR PRESENTERS AND PANELISTS PLEASE JOIN US AT THE TABLE WHILE THE PRESENTERS COME TO THE TABLE, COLLEAGUES, I'LL EXPLAIN THE SORT OF GENERAL PLAN FOR TODAY'S COMMUNITY ROUND TABLE CONVERSATION. AGAIN, TO FRAME THIS CONVERSATION, THE NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS HAS RECENTLY AUTHORIZED EXPLORING A SEATTLE EXPANSION TEAM, AND OWNERSHIP GROUPS MAY NOW APPLY. THE LEAGUE WILL CONDUCT A STRICT APPROVAL PROCESS LED BY CURRENT OWNERS. TODAY'S ROUNDTABLE CONVERSATION IS INTENDED TO BE A FACILITATED DISCUSSION DESIGNED TO SHOW SEATTLE'S READINESS FOR THE RETURN OF THE SONICS. NOW, THERE ARE MANY FANS, ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS, LEADERS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS INITIATIVE OVER THE YEARS. AND IN ORGANIZING THIS PANEL AND CONVENING IT, WE'VE HAD TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS TO HAND SELECT -- BUT WE WERE ABLE TO HAND SELECT, BUT WE WILL NEED TO BE SEVEN OF THE BEST LEADERS IN THIS SPACE THAT SHARES INVALUABLE PERSPECTIVES AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY CONVERSATION SHOWCASING OUR READINESS TO WELCOME BACK THE SONICS. EACH PANELIST WILL GET ANAN TO SORT OF BRIEFLY INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND EXPLAIN YOUR AFFILIATION TO THE LOCAL BASKETBALL COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE MAX. AT THAT POINT, I WILL THEN FACILITATE A STRUCTURED, GUIDED CONVERSATION BY ASKING A SERIES OF QUESTIONS TO INDIVIDUAL PANELISTS. EACH PANELIST WILL GET AT LEAST ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER, AND IF A QUESTION IS ASKED OF ANOTHER PANELIST NOT DIRECTED AT YOU, BUT IT REALLY IS ON YOUR MIND AND HEART AND YOU FEEL MOVED TO SPEAK, FEEL FREE TO DO THAT. OCCASIONALLY. AND SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THAT SORT OF PROCESS, AND AFTER WE FINISH THE STRUCTURED QUESTIONS FOR EVERYONE, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK THAT THEY HAVE. BUT FIRST, LET'S BEGIN WITH SOME BRIEF SELF- INTROS, STARTING FIRST WITH OUR DEPUTY MAYOR AND THEN GO BACK THAT WAY. DEPUTY MAYOR, AND FOR EVERYONE, STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR BASKETBALL COMMUNITY AFFILIATION, AND LET'S GO WITH WHAT EXCITES YOU THE MOST ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF BRINGING BACK OUR SONICS. GO AHEAD, DEPUTY MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER AND CHAIR SAKA AND MEMBERS OF THE STEPS COMMUNITY. I'M THE DEPUTY MAYOR FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE. MY AFFILIATION TO THIS, TO SONICS BASKETBALL WAS, I MOVED FROM OKLAHOMA TO SEATTLE IN 1998. THIS WAS MY FIRST NBA TEAM, FIRST NBA EXPERIENCE, AND PROUD OF THAT FACT. SO WHAT WAS THE THIRD QUESTION? WHAT EXCITES YOU THE: WHAT EXCITES YOU THE MOST ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF WELCOMING OUR SONICS BACK HOME? JUST HAVING BASKETBALL, MEN'S BASKETBALL HERE TO ROUND IT OUT. EVERYONE ELSE HAS STAYED THE COURSE. OUR WOMEN'S STABLE. BUT WE NEED TO BRING MEN'S PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL BACK TO SEATTLE. LOVE IT. THAT'S A DOPE SHIRT. CAN YOU SHOW IT OFF FOR THE CAMERA? THERE IT IS. THERE IT IS. SO THEY CAN SEE IT IN THE BACK. THANK YOU. MR. HAAS, WELCOME. YOUR NAME, WHAT EXCITES YOU THE MOST ABOUT BRINGING BACK THE SONIC? SONG: SONG. I'M SPENCER HAAS, BORN AND RAISED IN SEATTLE WHO WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO PLAY FOR A WHILE IN THE NBA. BUT ALWAYS A SONICS FAN FIRST, AND I THINK THE THING THAT I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT IS GOING BACK TO A GAME WITH MY DAD. LOVE: LOVE IT. I NOTE THAT YOU ARE A FORMER HUSKIE. GO, DOGS. AND ONE OF OUR LOCAL LEGENDS, AS WELL. WELCOME. ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. I'M BRYAN ROBINSON, A SEATTLE NATIVE, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON GRADUATE. IN JULY 2006, NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO, I FOUNDED SAVE OUR SONICS AND STORM AND FOR 20 YEARS, I WITNESSED A FAN MOVEMENT SO LASTING THAT IT'S DESCRIBED AS UNPRECEDENTED IN THE HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS. I WANT TO JUST TAKE A SECOND TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PROTECT THE FAN BASE THAT HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT, AND THAT WE SHOULD NOT GET AHEAD OF THIS ISSUE. IN THIS MOMENT OF OPPORTUNITY, GOOD LEADERSHIP MEANS ENCOURAGING OUR CITY TO BE PREPARED WHILE MANAGING EXPECTATIONS AND COMMUNICATING CLEARLY THAT THIS DEAL IS NOT DONE. TO QUOTE COOPER KUPP, I'M NOT SMILING UNTIL THERE ARE THREE ZEROS ON THE CLOCK. THE THING THAT EXCITES ME THE HOST, THE HEART OF THE CONFLICT, THE MORE GLORIOUS THE TRIUMPH. ENDEARNESS IS THE ONLY THING THAT GIVES IT VALUE. BECAUSE OF OUR LONG JOURNEY, NOT IN SPITE OF IT. WE HAVE THE FAN BASE THAT IS HUNGRIER THAN ANY OTHER IN HISTORY. WE ARE RABID AND OBSESSED AND READY. IN ADDITION, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR SONICS FAN BASE. PEOPLE NEW TO THE CITY, PEOPLE WHO ARE TOO YOUNG TO REMEMBER THE TEAM, ARE DRAWN TO THIS ISSUE. THEY SENSE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TEAM AND THE CITY THAT IS DEEPLY FELT, EVEN IF IT DEFINES EXPECTATIONS. I'M EXCITED WHEN THIS NEW FAN BASE COMES TOGETHER WITH OUR LONG STANDING COMMUNITY OF FANS, WE ARE GOING TO CREATE THE MOST UNIFIED MOMENT IN SEATTLE HISTORY. LOVE IT: LOVE IT. THANK YOU, MR. ROBINSON. GOOD MORNING: GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KRISTEN ACRES. IN 2012, WHILE I WAS A STUDENT AT UW, I WORKED WITH BRIAN -- CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE: CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE? I WORKED WITH BRIAN AS A: I WORKED WITH BRIAN AS A VOLUNTEER AT ARENA SOLUTIONS. THAT INTRODUCED ME TO THE SONICS COMMUNITY AND SHOWED ME THE POWERFUL ROLE THAT SPORTS CAN PLAY IN COMMUNITY IDENTITY. TODAY, 14 YEARS LATER AFTER MEETING BRIAN, I'M A CORPORATE ATTORNEY AND PROUD TO STILL BE PART OF THE SONICS COMMUNITY. I SERVE IN A VOLUNTEER EDUCATION DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING THE RETURN OF BASKETBALL TO SEATTLE. WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT FANS HAVE A VOICE IN THE RETURN OF THE SONICS. IN MANY WAYS, THE FAN BASE HAS BEEN ACTIVATED FOR THE PAST 18 YEARS. WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS JUST THE ACCELERATION OF THAT. SPORTS UNIFY COMMUNITIES IN A UNIQUE WAY, WHERE EVERY POLITICAL PARTY, RACE AND GENDER IS REPRESENTED IN THE STANDS. SO USING THIS MOMENT IS SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY. THAT'S WHAT I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT. LOVE IT: LOVE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING: GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ROSE SULLIVAN. I SERVE ON THE ONE- ROOF FOUNDATION BOARD. I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT THE RETURN OF THE SONICS OR THE RETURN OF NBA BASKETBALL FOR PROFESSIONAL REASONS, BUT FOR A PERSONAL REASON IN HOW WE EXPERIENCED WHAT SPORTS CAN DO TO COMMUNITY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPACTFUL ACROSS A LARGE BREADTH OF OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK WHAT SPORTS HAS THE POWER TO DO IS UNPRECEDENTED. SO IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THEM COME BACK. TERRIFIC. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER AND CHAIR SAKA. I'M BETH KNOX, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SEATTLE SPORTS COMMISSION. OUR PRIMARY PURPOSE, IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL SPORTS SPORTS COMMUNITY, IS TO WORK WITH OUR PROFESSIONAL TEAMS AND OUR SPORTS VENUES TO BID ON FUTURE EVENTS, AS WELL AS FUTURE TEAMS TO BRING TO THIS REGION. SO THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME. ONE OF MY GREATEST EXCITEMENT ABOUT BRINGING BACK THE SONICS OR HAVING AN NBA TEAM HERE IS THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION THAT WILL BRING TO OUR REGION. WE ARE -- HAVE TREMENDOUS MOMENTUM RIGHT NOW WITH ALL OF OUR RECENT EVENTS THAT WE HAVE HOSTED, THE RECENT SUCCESSES, AND PROVING THAT WE ARE TRULY A WORLD CLASS SPORTS CITY. AND I THINK THE NBA TEAM WILL JUST DRIVE THAT MESSAGE HOME. THANK YOU, MS. KNOX. LOVE IT. LAST BUT NOT LEAST. GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M BRAD MYERS, CO- FOUNDERS OF A NONPROFIT CALLED RISE ABOVE AND WE ALSO HAVE FORMAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH GARY PAYTON, DALE ELLIS, BEN BAKER, ET CETERA. WE USE SPORTS AS A MODALITY TO REACH OUR YOUTH. ALONG WITH EDUCATIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, WE SERVE ABOUT 20,000 KIDS A YEAR. TERRIFIC: TERRIFIC. THANK YOU. WHAT EXCITES YOU THE MOST? I THINK WHAT EXCITES ME IS, WELL, THERE'S TWO THINGS. ONE IS THE PLATFORM THAT THE SONIC FRANCHISE CAN GIVE US TO REACH MORE YOUTH. I'LL GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE. WE BROUGHT A GUY IN HERE ABOUT A YEAR AGO, CHRIS HARRIS, A FORMER NBA PLAYER, BEEN IN RECOVERY FOR 13 YEARS. WE BROUGHT SHAWN KEMP WITH US. WE GOT ABOUT 1800 KIDS IN THE ASSEMBLY. WE FOCUS ON THE MENTAL ELEMENT, HAVING SHAWN THERE. AT THE END, WE HAD 70 KIDS COME FORWARD AND ASK FOR HELP. THAT'S THE BEAUTY AND MAGIC THATTHAT THE HAVE, AND THE GUYS WE WORK WITH UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS, IT'S ABOUT REACHING THE YOUTH. THAT GIVES US A PLATFORM TO REACH MORE KIDS. WE SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THOUSANDS OF KIDS. LOVE IT, LOVE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, TARGETED QUESTIONS TO EACH PANELIST. I WILL START WITH DIRECTLY FROM THE PLAYERS EXPERIENCE, PLAYERS PERSPECTIVE WITH MR. HAAS. SO MANY NBA PLAYERS PLAYED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL AND/OR COLLEGE BALL IN SEATTLE AND THE SURROUNDING REGION. CAN YOU PLEASE DISCUSS AND SHARE HOW THIS NETWORK SPECIFICALLY CONTRIBUTES TO THE LOCAL BASKETBALL CULTURE AND IDENTITY HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK WE'RE SO UNIQUE KIND OF BEING TUCKED UP HERE AT THE EDGE OF THE COUNTRY. I THINK THE THING THAT STANDS OUT THE MOST TO ME IS THE CONNECTION KIND OF THROUGH THE GENERATIONS, AND THE ACCESSIBILITY THAT -- TO BRAD'S POINT, THE KIDS HAVE ALWAYS HAD, WHETHER IT BE SONICS OR LOCAL PROFESSIONAL GUYS LIKE MYSELF. I NEVER PLAYED FOR THE SONICS BUT PLAYED ELSEWHERE. AND THE WILLINGNESS FROM KIND OF THE OLDER GENERATION TO STICK OUT THEIR HANDS AND TAKE US UNDER THEIR WING, PROVIDE MENTORSHIP AND INSTILL CONFIDENCE IN THEM, AND I THINK IT STARTED KIND OF -- MY EXPERIENCE BACK IN THE EARLY TO MID '90s AND ROLLING FORWARD SINCE. DESPITE THE SONICS BEING GONE, I THINK WE KIND OF DOUBLED DOWN ON SHARING THAT RESPONSIBILITY. IF YOU LOOK AT JAMAL CRAWFORD AND ALL THE WORK THAT HE'S PUT INTO THAT, SUMMER AFTER SUMMER, YOU KNOW, CALLING IN FAVORS, GETTING GUYS TO COME OUT AND PARTICIPATING IN THAT. I THINK A LOT OF US VIEW THAT AS THE ONLY WAYWAY WE CAN PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AN NBA GAME, BUT TO SEE LeBRON JAMES COME OUT, CHRIS PAUL, IT GIVES KIDS TASTE OF THAT. THERE IS A LOST GENERATION HERE THAT HAS NO EXPERIENCE WITH PROFESSIONAL -- MALE PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL IN THE CITY. AND I THINK THE COOL THING ABOUT THE CULTURE HERE IS THAT PART NEVER DIED, THAT CONNECTION NEVER DIED. I THINK IT MAKES IT THAT MUCH EASIER GOING FORWARD HAVING THAT COLLECTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT'S READY TO JUMP BACK IN AND EMBRACE IT WITH OPEN ARMS. I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF IT, AND JUST WANT TO HELP SEE THE NEXT GENERATION SUCCEED ON AND OFF THE COURT. I THINK THAT MENTORSHIP IS WHAT STANDS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND FOR ME PERSONALLY WAS A HUGE PART OF MY DEVELOPMENT AS A PLAYER AND AS A PERSON. MAKES SENSE: MAKES SENSE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU MENTIONED SEATTLE LEGEND JAMAL CRAWFORD. I HAD THE PLEASURE RECENTLY OF WATCHING HIS SON PLAY AGAINST WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL THAT REPRESENT. I THINK THE KID IS IN THE 9th GRADE, BUT HE'S A STONE COLD KILLER ON THE COURT. MAYBE HE WILL BE A FUTURE SONIC ONE DAY. BUT THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR, WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, FROM A CITY PERSPECTIVE, WHAT DOES NBA READY ACTUALLY REQUIRE IN TERMS OF POLICY, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ALIGNMENT? AND WHERE ARE WE TODAY ON THAT PATH? THANK: THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER AND CHAIR SAKA. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO STEP BACK AND GROUND US ON WHAT CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA REPRESENTS AND WHY IT'S ONE OF THE STRONGEST PRIVATE/PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS THAT THE CITY HAS EVER DELIVERED. A LITTLE OVER A DECADE AGO, WE FACED A CLEAR CHALLENGE. KEY ARENA, WHILE ICONIC, WAS NO LONGER VIABLE AS A MODERN SPORTS VENUE. WE WERE LOSING CONCERTS, EVENTS, AND WE HAD ALREADY LOST THE SONICS. THE QUESTION BEFORE THE CITY AT THAT TIME WAS STRAIGHTFORWARD, HOW DO WE TRANSFORM A CRITICAL CIVIC ASSET WITHOUT PLACING NEW BURDENS ON TAXPAYERS? THIS CITY COUNCIL, THIS CITY, MADE A DELIBERATE POLICY CHOICE. WE WOULD PURSUE A PRIVATELY FINANCED SOLUTION ON PUBLIC OWNED LAND. SO THE TIME MACHINE, 2016, WE ISSUED A COMPETITIVE RFP, WHICH I WAS HONORED TO HAVE LED WITH TWO OTHER CITY LEGENDS, BEN NOBLE, WHO WE HONORED LAST NIGHT, AND ROBERT NOMS. THE THREE OF US ULTIMATELY SELECTED A DEVELOPER THAT WOULD DO WHAT OTHERS WOULD NOT DO, FULLY FINANCE, DESIGN, AND OPERATE A WORLD CLASS ARENA WHILE PRESERVING THE HISTORIC ROOF AND INTEGRATING THAT FACILITY INTO THE FABRIC OF SEATTLE CENTER. FROM THERE, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED AN MLU AND FINAL TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS SETTING IN MOTION MORE THAN $1 BILLION OF PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND DELIVERED WITHOUT A SINGLE CENT OF DIRECT PUBLIC CAPITAL. AND THE STRUCTURE OF THIS DEAL IS WHAT MATTERS THE MOST. THE CITY RETAINED OWNERSHIP OF THE ARENA AND THE LAND. THE PRIVATE PARTNER TOOK ALL THE CONSTRUCTION RISKS, INCLUDING COST OVERRUNS AND OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. THE CITY BENEFITTED FROM THE RENT, TAX REVENUE, AND LONG-TERM ASSET VALUE. THAT WAS A RIGHT ALIGNMENT OF RISK AND REWARD. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THIS WAS NOT JUST A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION. IT WAS A POLICY DRIVENDRIVEN AGREEMENT REFLECTED ALL OF OUR VALUES. STRONG LABOR, AND WORKFORCE COMMITMENTS, INNOVATION THAT -- WITH THE GOAL TO REDUCE CONGESTION, GLOBAL LEADERSHIP IN SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE INNOVATION, AND INTENTIONAL INTEGRATION WITH THE SEATTLE CENTER AS A CIVIC AND CULTURAL CAMPUS. TODAY, WE ARE SEEING THE RESULTS. WE HAVE THE SEATTLE CRACKEN. WE HAVE THE STORM. WE HAVE THE TORRENT. WE HAVE RESTORED SEATTLE AS A TOP- TIER GLOBAL ENTERTAINMENT MARKET. WE HAVE CREATED JOBS AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT RIPPLE ACROSS THIS REGION. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS ARENA WAS BUILT TO BE NBA READY FROM DAY ONE. SO WE TALK ABOUT THE POSSIBLE RETURN OF THE SONICS, THIS IS NO LONGER A QUESTION IF THE CITY IS READY, BUT IT IS A QUESTION OF TIMING. SEATTLE IS READY. WE HAVE ONE OF THE STRONGEST MEDIA MARKETS AND FAN BASES IN THE COUNTRY, A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF SUPPORTING STABLE THROUGH THE SEATTLE STORM, AND A CIVIC AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY ALIGNED AND BRINGING BACK THE SONICS. AND A STRONG PARTNER IN ONE ROOF SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT TO BRING THIS ALL HOME. JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE SHOWN THE LEAGUE SOMETHING CRITICAL. WE CAN DELIVER MAJOR LEAGUE INFRASTRUCTURE THE RIGHT WAY. ALIGN WITH OUR VALUES WITHOUT PUTTING TAXPAYERS AT RISK. THAT MATTERS, BECAUSE LEAGUES DON'T JUST EVALUATE MARKETS, THEY EVALUATE STABILITY, PARTNERSHIP, AND EXECUTION. AND OUR CITY HAS DEMONSTRATED ALL THREE OF THOSE. NO DEAL IS WITHOUT TRADEOFFS. WE HAVE AGREED TO A LONG- TERM ARENA EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT AND LEASE TERMS TO SECURE THIS INVESTMENT. BUT IN RETURN, WE UNLOCKED THE TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT THAT CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO BETTER. SO AS REFLECTED ON THIS PROJECT, AS LOOK AHEAD, THE CONCLUSION IS CLEAR -- WE PRESERVE PUBLIC OWNERSHIP, WE TRANSFER RISKS, WE DELIVERED A WORLD CLASS NBA READY FACILITY, AND WE POSITIONED SEATTLE FOR THE RETURN OF THE SONICS. AS YOU SAID IN YOUR OPENING COMMENTS, WE ARE READY, AND WE'VE BEEN PREPARING OURSELVES FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR. WELL SAID, AND I APPRECIATE YOU WALKING US THROUGH THE ARC OF THE JOURNEY AND VARIOUS PLAYERS AND LEADERS INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS. YOURSELF INCLUDED. I APPRECIATE YOUR PRIOR INVOLVEMENT AND YOUR CURRENT INVOLVEMENT. NOW THERE'S ALWAYS NEW PARTICIPANTS AND NEW LEADERS AND PEOPLE STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE TO BUILD UPON THAT GREAT WORK THAT IS A VERY INNOVATIVE MODEL THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, AS YOU DESCRIBED FOR THE PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP MODEL, SO LET'S GO. SEATTLE READY. ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO PASS THE BATON AND ASK A QUESTION OF OUR PARTNERS AND FAN GROUP LEADERS. CAN YOU SHARE FROM EACH OF YOUR PERSPECTIVES WHAT ARE THE STRONGEST INDICATORS TODAY THAT SEATTLE IS AN UNDENIABLE NBA MARKET? 20 YEARS AGO WHEN WE FORMED SAVE OUR SONICS AND STORM, WE WERE PARTIALLY SUCCESSFUL. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE STORM FOR MAINTAINING BASKETBALL CULTURE IN THE CITY. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WHO KEPT THE CULTURE ALIVE AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA, ALL THE HARD WORK OF THE DEPUTY MAYOR. ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO SEATTLE STATUS AS AN UNDENIABLE MARKET. GEORGE THE SEATTLE CITY DESERVES: THE SEATTLE CITY DESERVES THIS TEAM. THE SUCCESS OF THE STORM, THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BASKETBALL CULTURE, COMMERCIAL VENTURES SUCH AS THE PODCAST THAT'S HOSTED HUNDREDS OF PODCASTS AND BROUGHT TOGETHER THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. THE SONICS APPAREL IS ONE OF THE TOP SELLING COLLECTIONS, WITH DEMAND SURGING, AND WE ARE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT INTEREST FROM FANS TO THE RETURN OF THE SONICS. SO YOU HAVE A LEVEL OF COMMERCIAL INTEREST, A LEVEL OF CULTURAL INTEREST. YOU HAVE RESTAURANTS, NIGHT LIFE, YOU HAVE MUSIC, ALL DEEPLY ATTACHED TO THE SONICS MOVEMENT. ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE INDICATORS THAT, OVER 20 YEARS, THE CULTURE HAS STAYED ALIVE. BUT THE THING THAT MAKES SEATTLE MOST UNDENIABLE AS AN NBA MARKET IS OUR FUTURE AUDIENCE. IT IS THE INTEREST OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE. IT IS ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN NURTURED BY SPENCER HAWES, PEOPLE THAT GREW UP CHEERING FOR THE STORM, THAT ARE READY FOR THE NBA'S RETURN. LOVE IT: LOVE IT. AND VERY WELL SAID. MS. ACRES, FEEL FREE TO BUILD UPON THAT IF YOU WANT, BUT I'M GOING TO TEE UP A NEW QUESTION FOR YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND AS WELL. SO SPEAK TO WHICH EVER IS ON YOUR HEART THE MOST. WHERE DO GRASSROOTS EFFORTS LIKE SEATTLE NBA FANS HAVE THE MOST INFLUENCE AND IMPACT FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE? TO BUILD ON WHAT BRIAN SAID, I THINK WE ALSO HAVE ONE OF THE STRONGEST CORPORATE ECOSYSTEMS TO SUPPORT NBA EXPANSION. WE HAVE A GROWING TECH FORWARD YOUNGER AUDIENCE THAT PERFECTLY ALIGNS WITH THE NBA'S FUTURE. SEATTLE ISN'T A MARKET WAITING TO PROVE ITSELF, IT'S A PROVEN MARKET THAT'S MISING A TEAM. AND I THINK PARTICIPATING IN DISCUSSIONS LIKE THIS ONE STARTS WITH ENSURING FANS HAVE A VOICE AND A SPOT AT THE TABLE. WE DEMONSTRATE THAT THE INTEREST IS ACTIVE AND GROWING. THE SONICS BRAND IS IN HIGH DEMAND, AND VERY FEW TEAMS HAVE GONE THIS LONG AND STILL CARRY THIS LEVEL OF RECOGNITION AND EMOTIONAL CONNECTION. THERE CAN BE A DECENT AMOUNT OF FAIRNESS WITH THE FANS HOW WE LOST THE TEAM IN 2008. SO WE HAVE DEDICATED OURSELVES TO BEING FORWARD LOOKING AND POSITIVE, AND TO SET THE TONE, ESPECIALLY FOR A NEW GENERATION THAT ARE JUST HAPPY TO HAVE A TEAM IN THEIR CITY. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE ALL OF THAT. COUNCILMEMBER, CAN I ADD -- PLEASE: PLEASE. OVER THE YEARS, WE LOOKED BACK TO SEE WHY THE SONICS HAVE THE STAYING POWER THAT THEY DO. WHAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM PEOPLE IS THAT THE SONICS EXISTEDEXISTED THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE OUR COMMUNITIES LIVE AND WORK. THEY WERE CLOSE TO WORKING CLASS PEOPLE. THEY HAD AN ACTIVE PRESENCE IN PIONEER SQUARE. AND THE FUTURE OF THE SONICS IMPACTING THE FAN BASE WILL LIE IN THOSE TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS, NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR THAT HAVE DEEP TIES AND MEMORIES OF GARY PAYTON AND SPENCER HAWES. BUT THE PRESENCE OF THE SONICS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES ORIGINALLY IS WORTH NOTING AND RECOGNIZING. MAKES SENSE. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA LEADER. HOW IS CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA UNIQUELY POSITIONED AND SPECIFICALLY READY TO HOUSE THE SONICS FOR A NEW NBA FRANCHISE? AND ARE THERE PLANS FOR ANNUAL UPGRADES TO THE FACILITY? SURE, THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. SO WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT WE POSTED OVER 90 STORM GAMES, WITH FIVE SUCCESSFUL SEASONS. SO WE'VE BEEN HOSTING BASKETBALL SINCE WE OPENED FIVE YEARS AGO WITH THE L.A. CLIPPERS, WE'VE ALSO HOSTED TWO NCAA MARCH MADNESS EVENTS WITH THE WOMEN'S SUPER REGIONAL IN 2023, AND THE MEN'S FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS IN '25, WHICH WE WILL AGAIN HOST IN '28. SO THIS BUILDING, AS THE DEPUTY MAYOR ALLUDED TO, WAS BUILT INTENTIONALLY WITH BASKETBALL IN MIND, WITH HOCKEY IN MIND OBVIOUSLY, AND WITH CONCERTS AND OTHER EVENTS, PRODUCING NEARLY 1,000 EVENTS SINCE WE OPENED. IT'S SOMETHING OUR STAFF AND OUR TEAM ARE UNIQUELY CAPABLE OF DOING THAT TYPE OF VOLUME. SO THAT'S ONE WAY I WOULD SAY THAT WE'RE READY TO HAVE THE SONICS PART OF OUR LEASE THAT WAS NEGOTIATED AS AN ANNUAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. WE DO HAVE TO PUT MONEY BACK INTO THIS BUILDING TO MAKE SURE IT'S STATE OF THE ART FOR LONG-TERM. AND I THINK SPECIFICALLY TO AN NBA FRANCHISE, I THINK MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE NBA LOCKER ROOM SPACE THAT IS ON THE EVENT LEVEL, SITTING THERE READY TO BE BUILT OUT. THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE CONTEMPLATED, BUT WE ARE READY FOR NBA BASKETBALL TODAY, AND ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE LEAGUE SHOULD ANY OTHER REQUIREMENTS BE NECESSARY. YES, THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THANK YOU FOR SPECIFICALLY CALLING OUT AND MENTIONING OUR FOUR- TIME CHAMPION SEATTLE STORM. LOVE TAKING MY FAMILY TO THE STORM GAMES AND WATCHING THOSE TERRIFIC WOMEN DO GREAT THINGS ON AND OFF THE COURT AND IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS ISN'T ABOUT ONE OR THE OTHER. MANY THINGS CAN CO- EXIST AT THE SAME TIME. THIS ISN'T EVEN ABOUT PROFESSIONAL VERSUS SEMI PRO. WE ARE A SPORTS CITY AND WE ARE A BASKETBALL CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M GOING TO ASK A QUICK FOLLOWUP QUESTION FOR YOU BEFORE RETURNING TO MS. KNOX. HOW WOULD ADDING AN NBA FRANCHISE CHANGE THE ARENA'S EVENTS AND ECONOMICS, AND WHAT DOES A SUCCESSFUL LONG- TERM PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE ARENA AND A TEAM LOOK LIKE? YES. I THINK I'LL GO BACK TO WHEN WE DEVELOPED OUR OPERATING PLANS FOR THIS ARENA. IT IS TO BE BUSY EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, IF POSSIBLE. WE DO ABOUT 220 PUBLIC EVENTS EVERY YEAR, ADDING 40 PLUS MORE GUARANTEED DATES IS THE GOAL. AND SO THAT'S ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE CONTEMPLATED SINCE OPENING IS HOW DO WE FIT AS MANY DATES INTO THE BUILDING AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE AN AMAZING PROGRAMMING TEAM THAT MANAGES A REALLY COMPLICATED CALENDAR. THEY HAVE GOTTEN REALLY GOOD AT WORKING WITH THE LEAGUE AND GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS. SO ADDING 40 PLUS MORE DATES FOR US IS THE GOAL EVERY YEAR. SO SOMETHING WE'RE ABSOLUTELY PLANNING ON. I THINK IN REGARDS TO A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN A TEAM AND ARENA, WE LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH THE CRACKEN, HOW WE HAVE INTEGRATED INTO THE COMMUNITY AND SEATTLE CENTER AND DRIVEN ECONOMIC IMPACT INTO THE AREA. THAT'S A GOAL WITH ANOTHER FRANCHISE, THE EXPANSION TEAM WITH THE PWHL, WE HAVE SEEN ACTIVITY WITH THAT TEAM COMING THROUGH AND INTEGRATING THEMSELVES INTO OUR CITY. SO THAT WOULD BE WHAT OUR GOAL IS WITH A NEW TEAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH: THANK YOU SO MUCH. MOVING ON TO OUR PARTNER AT THE SEATTLE SPORTS COMMISSION, MS. KNOX. THERE ARE CURRENTLY FIVE CITIES, FIVE THAT HAVE ALL SIX MAJOR PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LEAGUES. THE MLB, NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, AND MLS. THESE CITIES ARE NEW YORK, L.A. CHICAGO, DALLAS, AND WASHINGTON, D.C. THE OTHER WASHINGTON. WHAT MAKES SEATTLE UNIQUELY PREPARED AND POSITIONED TO BECOME THE SIXTH CITY TO HAVE TEAM FROM ALL SIX LEAGUES? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE ALREADY HOSTED THIS TEAM. WE'VE ALREADY HAD THIS TEAM HERE. SO THAT FOUNDATION AND GROUND WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN LAID. I THINK THAT IT'S ALSO INTERESTING THAT, TO YOUR POINT, WE ACTUALLY ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER PROFESSIONAL TEAMS IN ADDITION TO THE FIVE YOU MENTIONED. AND WE HAVE ALSO RECENTLY LAUNCHED A NEW PROFESSIONAL TEAM HERE IN SEATTLE WITH THE PWHL, JUST OVER A YEAR AGO. SO WE ARE UNIQUELY QUALIFIED FROM THAT STAND POINT. BUT WE HAVE -- WE'LL -- WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN BRINGING THE NBA BACK, SEATTLE WILL BE THE ONLY CITY IN THE UNITED STATES TO HAVE NINE PROFESSIONAL TEAMS HERE. SO YOU'VE GOT THE MWSL, THE PHSP, MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY. THIS IS AN ECOSYSTEM OF SPORTS HERE IN STAT THAT WILL IS UNIQUE AND VERY SPECIAL. WE HAVE CROSS SUPPORT FROM ALL OF OUR PROFESSIONAL TEAMS. WE HAVE SEEN IT WHEN PLAYERS ATTEND THE GAMES OF OTHER TEAMS, AND THE SUPPORT FROM THE FRONT OFFICE ORGANIZATIONS IN PROMOTING WHAT THE TEAMS ARE DOING, CHEERING EACH OTHER ON. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS UNIQUE TO SEATTLE, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU FROM TALKING WITH MY COUNTERPARTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT IT IS UNIQUE, THAT THAT COLLABORATION AND REALLY INCLUSIVE SUPPORT FOR EACH OTHER IS SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT WE HAVE. AND THAT IS, I THINK WHAT IS REALLY AN ELEMENT THAT PROVIDES A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR ABILITY TO BRING ON A TEAM LIKE THE NBA AND KNOW IT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL. WELL SAID, MS. KNOX. I SAY AGAIN THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT. I'M GOING TO ECHO WHAT I JUST HEARD. THE SONICS COME BACK, SEATTLE WOULD BE THE ONLY CITY TO HAVE NINE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS. THE ONLY CITY, AND THAT IS A REFLECTION OF OUR CITY, OUR ECONOMY, THE LOCAL MARKET, THE CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA READINESS, SO MANY FACTORS. WE HAVE A LOYAL FAN BASE, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND SO MUCH MORE. THE LEAGUE WOULD BE LUCKY TO REENTER THE SEATTLE MARKET WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MEN'S PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL. AND IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, OUR CITY AND OUR FAN BASE WOULD BE LUCKY TO HAVE THEM, AS WELL. MOVING ON TO MR. MYERS, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, OF COURSE. WHAT WILL AN NBA TEAM ADD TO THE YOUTH EXPERIENCE IN THE SEATTLE AREA THAT IS UNIQUE FROM WHAT OTHER LOCAL TEAMS CONTRIBUTE? WELL, I THINK THERE'S A FEW THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, I THINK BASKETBALL HAS BEEN A CENTRAL PART OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME, AND I BROUGHT A PHOTO TODAY I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU RIGHT NOW. IT'S MY BROTHER AND I IN 1968 WEARING OUR SEATTLE SONIC T-SHIRTS. I WENT TO THE FIRST GAME HERE. BOB RULE WAS THE FIRST SUPERSTAR FOR THE SONICS IN '68. SO BASKETBALL IS ENTRENCHED IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE PRO FRANCHISES, BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, ONE IS THE SEATTLE STORM RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE. IT'S VERY INTENTIONAL. IT'S MENTAL HEALTH RELATED. WE'RE ABLE TO SERVE THOUSANDS OF KIDS EVERY YEAR, SO IT GIVES US A PLATFORM TO REACH KIDS. THE SECOND GROUP I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, JACKIE WAS BLESSED ENOUGH TO RECEIVE A NATIONAL AWARD AROUND HEALTH AND WELLNESS BY JOE BIDEN AND ABLE TO GO BACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND PRESENT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY PRESENT WHY PARTNERSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT. WHAT ONE GROUP HAS DONE IS GIVEN US A PLATFORM TO REACH THOUSANDS OF KIDS BECAUSE THEY'RE SPENGSAL.SPENGS -- INTENTIONAL. BETH AND HER PLATFORM HAS GIVEN US TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES TO REACH KIDS. THERE ARE AMAZING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO GIVE BACK TO OUR YOUTH. WE ARE PART OF THE WNBA, NBA, NFL, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, AND THEY'RE ALL ON A PUSH NOW FORFOR MENTAL HEALTH, SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE YOUTH. SO WE HAVE ALIGNED OURSELVES WITH THE FRANCHISES LOCALLY, BUT I WILL SAY THIS, AND JACKIE USED THAT TESTIMONY BACK WITH JOE BIDEN TO SAY HERE'S WHAT CAN BE IMPACTED WHEN A FRANCHISE IS BACK IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT DOLLARS, IT'S ABOUT ACCESS. WE'RE BLESSED IN SEATTLE TO HAVE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. I'M GOING TO CLOSE OUT SOME QUESTIONS AND OPEN IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS ABOUT CREATING A VIBRANT, RICH, FUN, SAFE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR FANS, AND EAT ENVIRONMENT. SO FINAL TWO QUESTIONS FOR OUR GROUP. MR. HAWES, FIRST OFF, IF YOU COULD JUST BRIEFLY -- I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE POWER OF STORY TELLING. I THINK YOU ALL ARE, AS WELL. WHAT STORY ABOUT SEATTLE BASKETBALL IS RESONATING MOSTMOST RIGHT NOW FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE? I THINK WE'RE STICKING TO SEATTLE IS READY AND SEATTLE IS A BASKETBALL CITY AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN. SEATTLE NEVER TURNED ITS BACK ON THE SONICS AND NOW THAT STORY IS EVOLVING INTO SOMETHING BIGGER. IT'S INCREASINGLY VIEWED AS THE MOST OBVIOUS EXPANSION AND RELOCATION DECISION IN SPORTS. WE'RE SEEING A SHIFT FROM NOSTALGIA TO READINESS, AND THERE'S A NATIONAL CONSENSUS THAT SEATTLE IS THE RIGHT CHOICE. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WE WISH WERE STILL HERE TO SEE THIS. IF AND WHEN WE HAVE A TEAM, I'M EXCITED TO SEE THOSE STORIES BE CELEBRATED. I SEE COMMENTS ONLINE THAT SAY THINGS LIKE I LIVE IN DENVER, BUT I HOPE SEATTLE GETS ITS TEAM BACK. IT JUST FEELS LIKE THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IS ROOTING FOR US RIGHT NOW. YES, INDEED. MR. ROBINSON, I'M GOING TO SHIFTSHIFT UP HERE JUST A LITTLE BIT. WHAT DOES AN ACTIVATED SONICS FAN BASE LOOK LIKE IN 2026? IN 2026, AN ACTIVATED SONICS FAN BASE STOPS ASKING IF SEATTLE IS READY AND STARTS ASKING WHAT IS SEATTLE READY FOR? BASED ON ASKING WHAT IS THE BEST CASE SCENARIO IF THE SONICS RETURN. THEY START IMAGINING TREMENDOUS, POSITIVE COMMUNITY IMPACT. THEY START STRIVING FOR DEEPLY ROOTED FRANCHISE THAT IS TIED TO HISTORY, BUT ALSO FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE. WE HAVE SEEN TREMENDOUS PARTICIPATION FROM KIND OF THE HOLY TRINITY OF GATHERING SPACES, FOOD, MUSIC, SPORTS, ALL COMING TOGETHER AROUND THIS ISSUE. WE HAVE SEEN YOU NG PEOPLE AND NEW PEOPLE COMING AROUND THIS ISSUE. SO GOING FORWARD, OUR FAN BASE NEEDS TO NOT SETTLE AND NOT HAVE LOW EXPECTATIONS, AND AN ACTIVATED SONICS BASE LOOKS AT THE JOURNEY, LOOKS AT THE HUNGER WE HAVE AND SAYS WHAT CAN WE ACCOMPLISH FROM HERE. YES. FINALLY, MR. HAWES, HOW HAVE PLAYER EXPECTATIONS AROUND ARENAS AND FACILITIES CHANGED SINCE YOUR ERA, YOUR TEN- YEAR NBA ERA, AND HOW IMPORTANT IS A VENUE LIKE CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA TO LONG- TERM SUCCESS AND VIABILITY? IT'S BEEN A MONUMENTAL SHIFT FROM WHEN I CAME IN THE LEAGUE. I REMEMBER MY FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE DOWN IN SACRAMENTO, THEY ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO DO A TOUR OF THE OLD ARENA. I WAS VERY EXCITED. ABOUT TWO MINUTES INTO THE TOUR, I'M LOOKING AROUND AND THINKING WE'RE LOSING THE SONICS BECAUSE KEY RENA IS NOT SUITABLE. ARCO WAS IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR BEYOND THAT. SO THE LEAGUE HAS COME A LONG WAY. PLAYER EXPECTATIONS, GUYS ARE A LITTLE SPOILED NOW BECAUSE OF THE CONSISTENCY OF THE LEVEL OF VENUES ACROSS THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION. BUT YOU NOTICE IT. FS EASIER WHEN I WAS PLAYING, BECAUSE THERE WAS MORE OF A DELTA BETWEEN THE WORLD CLASS VENUES AND THEN THE ONES THAT WERE JUST KIND OF SUFFICIENT. I THINK THAT TIDE HAS RISEN SIGNIFICANTLY, LIKE I SAID. BUT IT'S SOMETHING AS A PLAYER, WHETHER IT'S YOUR HOME ARENA, HAVING PRIDE IN THAT BUILDING. IF YOU'RE COMING IN AS A VISITOR, YOU NOTICE, WOW, THE AMENITIES, THE CROWD, IT'S SOMETHING YOU TAKE NOTE OF. FOR FREE AGENTS, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S EQUAL ON THE CONTRACT OFFERS, THINGS LIKE NOT ONLY THE ARENA, BUT THE PRACTICE FACILITY AND EVERYTHING ALONG THE LINE. THOSE CAN SWING DECISIONS. SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND I'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF THE NEW ONES, AND I CAN'T SAY I'VE BEEN TO ONE THAT'S MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN CLIMATE PLEDGE. OBVIOUSLY LIKE EVERYONE SAID, BUILD UP A LOCKER ROOM AND WE'RE READY TO GO. BUILD UP THAT LOCKER ROOM: BUILD UP THAT LOCKER ROOM AND WE'RE READY TO GO. I'M SO FIRED UP, I'M GOING TO THROW ON MY SONIC HAT HERE. COLLEAGUES, I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO YOU FOR ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, FEEDBACK. I KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBERS KETTLE AND FOSTER HAVE THEIR HAND UP. BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO THE VICE CHAIR FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENT IT IS YOU HAVE ANY. KEEP THING MOVING ALONG. NEXT UP WAS COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA. I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO, IN ADDITION TO SEATTLESEATTLE U DUB, I ALSO WANT TO CLAIM ST. ANNE'S, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE SPENCER HAWES AND EVERYONE BEING HERE TODAY. YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY THAT SEATTLE CENTER HAS BEEN ADDED TO THIS COMMITTEE, BECAUSE IT OFFERS US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS FORUM AND TALK ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING AS A CITY. I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC. I'VE BEEN ENGAGED FROM THE BEGINNING IN TERMS OF COMING FROM COMMUNITY. STARTING WITH CPA, CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA. THIS IS NOT JUST AN ARENA, THIS IS PART OF THE CENTER OF SEATTLE CENTER. IT IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER. IT IS PART OF UPTOWN, QUEEN ANN, SOUTHLAKE UNION. IT IS A COMMUNITY ASSET, IN ADDITION TO BEING A SEATTLE ASSET. IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN EMBRACED AND SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN REALLY UNDERSTOOD TO BE, YOU KNOW, THAT NEXT LEVEL. THIS GOES TO -- COMING BACK TO TRANSPORTATION, INNOVATIVE. YOU KNOW, NEW LIFE INTO THE MOANO RAIL. JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IN TERMS OF THE ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM, IN TERMS OF THE BUSINESSES, THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING IN THE FUTURE. A LOT OF THIS CENTERS ON WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH THE ARENA. AND I WATCHED THE CONSTRUCTION, YOU KNOW, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. I WATCHED THE ROOF, WHICH WAS AN ENGINEERING MARVEL TO SEE THE ROOF AND NOTHING UNDERNEATH IT. IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE. I WILL SAY LATER, I'VE BEEN THROUGH EVERY INCH OF THAT ARENA, AND IT IS FANTASTIC. IT'S BEEN A GREAT HOME TO THE STORM. THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING A DISTRICT SEVEN REPRESENTATIVE IS TO GET TO KNOW THE STORM. IT ALSO HELPS HAVING A SO-YEAR- OLD DAUGHTER AND MY WIFE AND MYSELF ARE GREAT FANS. WITH THE OWNERSHIP GROUP OF THE STORM, BUT TO BE THERE FOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL. WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH MADNESS, RIGHT? WITH UCONN TAKING OUT DUKE, INCREDIBLE. BUT I WAS THERE WITH MY FAMILY SEEING CAITLIN CLARK AT THE '23 MARCH MADNESS AT THE WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT. THIS IS WHAT THIS ARENA OFFERS US AS A CITY TO BRING THIS HERE. THE CRACKEN, SO MANY MEMORIES THERE, BEING THERE AND WATCHING A GOALGOAL AROUND AND HIGH FIVING SOME INCREDIBLE PEOPLE THERE AT THE ARENA AND THE EXCITEMENT OF THE GAME. IT WAS FANTASTIC. BUT EVEN RECENTLY, AGAIN, WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER, BEING AT THE OPENING GAME OF THE TORRENT. I MEAN, THIS IS UNIQUE. YOU DON'T SEE THIS AROUND THE COUNTRY. THAT WAS UNBELIEVABLY BEAUTIFUL TO SEE THAT, AND THE GAME WAS INCREDIBLE. AGAIN, MAXED OUT. AT THE TIME, THE BIGGEST ATTENDANCE OF ANY WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY EVER. THIS IS WHAT THE ARENA HAS DONE. BUT I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE CREDIT TO ONE GROUP SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AND ALSO THE FOUNDATION. I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE THAT GOES TO MY INITIAL POINT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY. WHAT THE ONE ROOF FOUNDATION DID WITH RESPECT TO MEMORIAL STADIUM AND MEMORIAL WALL, WHICH IS DEAR TO MY HEART. YOU KNOW, I WAS THERE AT AN EVENT CLOSING OUT, AND ONE ROOF FOUNDATION WAS SO KEY PROVIDING THAT LAST PIECE OF FUNDING AND AT THE EVENT, I THANK AMAZON FOR THEIR SUPPORT BECAUSE THEY GAVE THAT LAST $2 MILLION TO GET OVER THE GOAL. IT WAS INCREDIBLE, BECAUSE IT IS NOW TRANSFORMING THAT SIDE OF SEATTLE CENTER, AND THE LINKAGES IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN DO BETWEEN VARIOUS PARTS OF SEATTLESEATTLE CENTER IS INCREDIBLE. THAT'S A TESTIMONY TO COMMITMENT AND COMMUNITY. SO I WANT TO THANK ONE ROOF SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT IN ADDITION TO THE FOUNDATION, AS WELL. IT'S LED BY SAM HOLLOWAY. TALK ABOUT BEING ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY. I'VE SEEN HER. SHE'S BEEN TO MY OFFICE. I'VE SEEN HER IN COMMUNITY, AT THE ARENA. EVEN AT A GIRL'S SUMMER SOCCER CAMP DROPOFF, WHICH REALLY SHOWS THAT SHE IS HERE IN SEATTLE. YOU KNOW, AND ENGAGED. I THINK THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT. I THANK HER FOR ALL HER SUPPORT THAT SHE'S DONE IN TERMS OF GETTING US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. I THINK IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT. BUT JUST TO CLOSE, CHAIR, AGAIN, I NOTED EARLIER, I'VE BEEN THROUGH EVERY INCH OF THAT ARENA. THE COOL LITTLE PIECES, THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL. ALL THESE DIFFERENT PIECES ARE INCREDIBLE. AGAIN, WATCHING IT BEING BUILT, THAT WAS FASCINATING. WATCHING THEM ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITY. THE LITTLE THINGS, LIKE THE TUNNEL UNDERNEATH THAT COMES BACK ON THE OTHER SIDE. YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN CONCERTS THERE, INCREDIBLE TO SEE PETER GABRIEL. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. JUST DIFFERENT THINGS. BUT WHAT'S KEY ABOUT THIS ARENA, IT IS NBA READY. AND IT SHOWS THAT THE ARENA, THE ENTIRE AREA, THE CITY THAT WE ARE, CAN I SAY IT, SONICS READY, CHAIR. SO THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING. I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BECAUSE I CAN'T OUTMATCH MY CHAIR, BUT I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING AND PARTICIPATING IN THIS COMMITTEE MEETING THIS MORNING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. SHOUTOUT TO SAM HOLLOWAY. A TRUE LEADER IN THIS SPACE. AND DONE A LOT OF GREAT WORK TO BETTER POSITION OUR CITY AND OUR ARENA FOR THE SONICS RETURN. AND ALSO SHOUTOUT TO ANOTHER GOVERNING PARTNER, AND FRIEND OF THE CITY AND FRIEND OF MY OFFICE, CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE, AMAZON WHO HAS DONE GREAT JOB IN OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL. EVERYONE HAD THEIR HAND UP. WE HAD SOME MINOR TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH THE VICE CHAIR EARLIER. WE'RE GOING TO RETURN TO HER AND SEE IF THAT HAS BEEN RESOLVED. VICE CHAIR, THE FLOOR IS YOURS, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO -- CANNOT HEAR YOU, SO WE'LL TRY YOU AFTER THE OTHER TWO COLLEAGUES HAVE SPOKEN, STARTING WITH COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, CHAIR. CAN YOU HEAR ME? THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR PRESENTERS. THIS WAS REALLY EXCITING. I ALSO DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I CAN'T RESIST THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A COMMENT AND JUST SAY THIS IS TREMENDOUSLY EXCITING. SEATTLE IS MANY, MANY THINGS, BUT WE ARE ABSOLUTELY A SPORTS TOWN. I MYSELF AM A SEASON TICKETHOLDER TO THE STORM AND I GOT TO BE THERE WHEN WE HUNG UP SUE BIRD'S JERSEY IN THE RAFTERS. IT WAS JUST INCREDIBLE. JUST WATCHING THE YOUNG KID'S FACES LIGHT UP AROUND THAT ENGAGEMENT, AND SEE THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS FOR BOTH BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND GIVING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SOMETHING TO LIKE JUST DREAM ABOUT AND PARTICIPATE IN AND FEEL CONNECTED TO. I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT AN EVENT BEFORE A SEAHAWKS PLAYER, AND I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE -- PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WE'RE READY, WE'RE READY. SO I THINK ABOUT THOSE EXPERIENCES AND I'M LIKE, I WANT TO HAVE THOSE WITH OUR MEN'S PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM, AS WELL. I WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS FOLKS CLIMATE FLEDGE. I GOT TO DO A TOUR OF THE FACILITY AND SEE THE LOCKER ROOM THAT'S WAITING THERE FOR OUR MEN'S TEAM TO COME BACK. AND I THINK THERE'S JUST NO GREATER TESTAMENT TO HOW READY WE ARE AS A CITY. THE OTHER BENEFIT WE HAVE FROM OUR SPORTS TEAMS IS THE PRACTICE FACILITIES AND THE CRACKEN PRACTICE FACILITY AT NORTH GATE HAS BEEN THIS FANTASTIC PART OF REVITALIZATION AND INVESTMENT. WE HAVE HAD THE SEAHAWKS, THE STORM ARE A LITTLE FURTHER UP NORTH. BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF/WHEN WE GET TO WELCOME BACK A TEAM, WE WOULD BE BUILDING A PRACTICE FACILITY RIGHT HERE IN SEATTLE, IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S PART OF THE LEASE TERMS WE NEGOTIATED WITH THE FACILITY, YES. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT: I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WILL BE SO EXCITING. I CAN IMAGINE HOW ACTIVE THAT WILL BE AND WHAT A LOCATION THAT WOULD BE NOT JUST FOR THE TEAM BUT A COMMUNITY. JUST TO ADD ON TO THAT, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, THAT -- AND SPENCER TALKED ABOUT IT AS FROM A PLAYERS STAND POINT, AS PART OF THEIR RECRUITMENT, THAT LEVEL OF INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT ALSO I THINK TEAMS HAVE BECOME MORE SOPHISTICATED. I THINK THE CRACKEN HAVE LED THE WAY IN SAYING THESE ARE NOT JUST PRACTICE FACILITIES BUT COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACES. SO THAT IS CRITICALITY. IN A TIME WHERE WE WANT TO BE WITH COMMUNITY, IT IS -- WE'RE ALL FOR IT. THANK YOU: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. AND I'LL JUST NOTE AS THE COUNCILMEMBER WHO CHAIRS THE COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES THE SEATTLE CENTER, AND A COUNCILMEMBER WHO REPRESENTS FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF SEATTLE, INCLUDING SOTO, THE STADIUM DISTRICTS AND ALL THE SPORTS TEAMS DOWN THERE, AND AS SEATTLE SPORTS FAN AND DAD OF THREE, ALL OF MY KIDS ARE INTO SPORTS. I'LL JUST SHARE I AM STRONGLY ADVOCATING, IT IS TRUE, DEPUTY MAYOR, THAT WE WILL HAVE, UNDER THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT, A PRACTICE FACILITY SOMEWHERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. I'M GOING TO SHARE RIGHT NOW, I'M ADVOCATING AND FIGHTING FOR THAT NEW FACILITY TO BE BUILT IN WEST SEATTLE. SEATTLE'S LARGEST NEIGHBORHOOD BY GEOGRAPHY, AND POPULATION. SO WHY NOT US? IN ANY EVENT, THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, CHAIR. WHAT A FUN MORNING. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY ON THE PANEL AND TO REALLY ALL THE FANS, EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN WORKING SO HARD TO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY BRING BACK THE SONICS. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF MY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP STORY. I GREW UP IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, ONE OF THE STRONGEST AREAS OF BASKETBALL HISTORY WITH DUKE AND UNC WITH SOME INCREDIBLE COACHES AND PLAYERS, INCLUDING MICHAEL JORDAN. AND ALSO MY FAMILY, MY GRANDMAGRANDMA FROM OUTSIDE OF SPRINGFIELD, MASS, THE BIRTH OF BASKETBALL. SHE WORKED AT SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE WHERE, AGAIN, STABLE WAS STARTED AS A WAY TO, YOU KNOW, SPRINGFIELD MASS HAS COLD WINTERS LIKE WE DO HERE, AND WANTED TO -- THERE WAS A PE TEACHER THAT WANTED TO DEVELOP AN ACTIVITY FOR YOUTH DURING THE WINTER, WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE. WE HAVE SEEN JUST THE INCREDIBLE GROWTH OF BASKETBALL BECOME A WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON. YOU KNOW, I THINK JUST A FEW COMMENTS HERE, NO QUESTIONS, BUT IT'S CLEAR WE ARE SO READY AND POISED. OBVIOUSLY, CLIMATE PLEDGE, JUST A SHOUTOUT TO ALL THE HARD WORK THAT MADE THAT SUCH AN INCREDIBLE FACILITY FOR SPORTS, FOR OTHER ARTS. ANYBODY THAT HAS BEEN THERE UNDERSTANDS WHAT AN INCREDIBLE FACILITY THAT IS. AND, YOU KNOW, WELL NAMED FOR THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, BEING SUCH A GREAT FACILITY, LEADING THE WAY THERE. OBVIOUSLY IT'S SO IMPORTANT. ALSO, IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT OUR FAN BASE, OUR SPORTS IS SECOND TO NONE. I WOULD PUT UP OUR FAN BASE HERE TO ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY REALLY, ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. AND I THINK IT'S CLEAR HOW COMPLEMENTARY THAT ECOSYSTEM THAT WE WERE HEARING ABOUT, HOW COMPLEMENTARY IT IS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN'S SPORTS, BETWEEN ALL THESE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK THAT THESE SPORTS MIGHT COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE. THEY COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER. YOU KNOW, I THINK BOTH WITH THE FANS, BUT ALSO WITH THE ATHLETES, WHERE PEOPLE, THE CIVIC PRIDE, AND IT'S NOT JUST SEATTLE, IT'S REGION WIDE, IT IS STATEWIDE THAT THE CIVIC PRIDE BUILDS AND COMPLEMENTS EACH OTHER. I ALSO JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I THINK SEATTLE IS SUPER WELL POSITIONED -- AGAIN, WE SEE BASKETBALL AS A WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON. I HAD THE PLEASURE TO STUDY ABROAD IN CHINA IN 2000, AND TO SEE THE LOVE FOR BASKETBALL ININ CHINA. WE KNOW THE LOVE FOR BASKETBALL IN THE PHILIPPINES IS INCREDIBLY STRONG. AND SEATTLE, ONE, WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE A VERYVERY COMMUNITY HERE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A GATEWAY FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TO ASIA AND HAVE THESE STRONG CONNECTIONS. SO IT IS JUST ANOTHER REASON WHY I THINK WE ARE SO WELL SUITED. FINALLY, JUST, YOU KNOW, THE YOUTH BASKETBALL. THE LOVE FOR BASKETBALL CONTINUES TO BE STRONG WITH OUR YOUTH. I'M SUPER HONORED TO REPRESENT SOUTHEAST SEATTLE, WHICH HAS SOME VERY STORIED, YOU KNOW, STABLE BASKETBALL LEGENDS WITHIN OUR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS. THEY HAVE HAD AN INCREDIBLE RUN, AND JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT WOULD BE INCREDIBLE TO SEE SOME OF OUR SEATTLE YOUTH WEARING THE SONICS JERSEYS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL, TO EVERYONE WHO HAS PUT IN COUNTLESS HOURS. THE LOVE IS REAL. THE PRIDE IS REAL, AND LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN. THANK YOU. THANK: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN. WELL SAID. AND I WAS CONNECTING WITH COUNCILMEMBER -- OR VICE CHAIR OFFLINE, AND WE SHARED -- WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR I.T. TEAM, HOPEFULLY WE RESOLVE THE AUDIO ISSUES SOON. BUT SHE INDICATED SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, BUT JUST EXPRESSING HER GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR YOU ALL BEING HERE TODAY. SO THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO CLOSE OUT WITH SOME QUICK, FUN, HOPEFULLY PLAYFUL RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS. VERY SHORT ANSWERS. VERY SHORT. EMPHASIS ON SHORT. QUICK, RAPID FIRE RESPONSE. FIRST QUESTION, EVERYONE, JUST GOING TO GO DOWN THE LINE. IF THE LEAGUE ENDS UP APPROVING A NEW NBA EXPANSION FRANCHISE IN SEATTLE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE FINAL DECISION WHETHER TO EVEN USE THE SONICS NAME, LOGO, BRAND, COLORS WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE FOR THE NEW OWNERSHIP GROUP. ALL THAT ASIDE, JUST FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED COLOR FOR A NEW NBA FRANCHISE IN SEATTLE? DEPUTY MAYOR? COLOR OR COLORS: COLOR OR COLORS? WHY MESS WITH THE BRILLIANCE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW? DON'T CHANGE. NOT A DAMN THING. LOVE IT: LOVE IT. GREEN, GOLD, BABY. GREEN GOLD: GREEN GOLD. GREEN AND GOLD: GREEN AND GOLD. GREEN AND GOLD: GREEN AND GOLD. GREEN AND GOLD: GREEN AND GOLD. I DEFER TO THE FANS: I DEFER TO THE FANS. I AM OBVIOUSLY PARTIAL TO GREEN AND GOLD. BUT THE UNOFFICIAL COLORS OF OUR CITY ARE GREEN AND BLUE. SO IF WE RESTORE THE BRANDING, MY HOPE PERSONALLY WOULD BE AT LEAST THERE'S AN ALTERNATIVE UNIFORM THAT REFLECTS THAT GREEN AND BRILLIANT BLUE IDENTITY OF OUR CITY AND OUR SPORTS KIND OF HERITAGE HERE. NEXT QUESTION, WHAT WILL THE HEADLINE READ THE DAY THE SONICS FINALLY DO RETURN? WHAT WILL THE HEADLINE READ THE DAY THE SONICS FINALLY DO RETURN? ABOUT TIME: ABOUT TIME. YES. MS. KNOX? LEGACY RESTORED: LEGACY RESTORED. WE'RE BACK. WE DID IT: WE DID IT. JOY: JOY. HOME: HOME. FINALLY, LET'S MAKE THIS REAL FOR JUST A MOMENT. PANELISTS, COLLEAGUES ACTUALLY, ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE. WHO IS READY, MY SHOW OF HANDS, WHO IS READY TO TO BACK OUR SONICS? SHOW OF HANDS IN THE AUDIENCE. EVERYONE -- OUR CLERK IS NOT READY APPARENTLY. OKAY, OKAY. EVERYONE. UNANIMITY. RARE IN SEATTLE POLITICS. EVEN JOEL. LET'S GO, LET'S BRING OUR SONICS BACK. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WE'RE GOING TO NOW MOVE ON TO OUR SECOND ITEM OF BUSINESS, WHICH GOOD NEWS IS, I DON'T EXPECT TO GO NEARLY AS LONG. SO I THINK WE CAN KEEP THIS MOVING IN FAIRLY SHORT ORDER. THANK YOU AGAIN. BUT WE WILL MOVE ON. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM TWO INTO THE RECORD. AGENDA ITEM TWO: AGENDA ITEM TWO. A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S READINESS FOR AA NATIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM, DECLARING THE ARENA IS READY FOR AN NBA TEAM AND AFFIRMING SEATTLE IS A BASKETBALL CITY. ALL RIGHT: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WILL OUR NEWEST -- WE HAVE A RETURNING PRESENTER. JOIN US AT THE TABLE. ONCE READY REINTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION. GOOD MORNING: GOOD MORNING. WE ARE READY FOR THE RETURN: WE ARE READY FOR THE RETURN OF THE NBA AND READY TO WELCOME THE SONICS HOME. THIS RESOLUTION IS GROUNDED IN BOTH HISTORY AND REPARATION. SEATTLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BASKETBALL CITY FROM THE LEGACY OF THE SONICS TO THE STRENGTH OF OUR YOUTH AND GRASSROOTS PROGRAMS AND TO THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THE SEATTLE STORM, WHICH HAS KEPT THIS CITY ON THE FOREFRONT OF PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL. THIS IS ALSO ABOUT READINESS. THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS, WE DEVELOPED THE ARENA INTO A WORLD CLASS VENUE DESIGNED FOR NBA PLAY. IT'S OPERATIONALLY PROVEN, SUPPORTED BY UNION WORKFORCE AND BACKED BY LEASE TERMS THAT ANTICIPATE AN NBA TEAM. AT A MOMENT WHEN THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION BOARD OF GOVERNORS IS CONSIDERING EXPANSION, THIS JOINT MAYOR AND COUNCIL RESOLUTION SENDS A CLEAR AND UNIFIED MESSAGE. SEATTLE IS PREPARED. SEATTLE IS ALIGNED, AND SEATTLE IS READY. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONSIDERATION AND PARTNERSHIP, AND ADVANCING THIS CHAIR AND EFFORT. THANK YOU. WELL SAID, DEPUTY MAYOR. THANK YOU. MR. WHITSON, GO AHEAD. SO THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT: SO THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT DECLARES THE CITY'S INTERESTS AND READINESS TO PARTNER WITH THE NBA AND REGIONAL AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO BRING A PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM BACK TO THE CITY. THANK YOU: THANK YOU. AND I THINK THE LEGISLATION CONTENT IS STRAIGHTFORWARD, BUT I'LL JUST CHIME IN AS THE PRIME SPONSOR OF THIS, AND SEATTLE IS READY. PAST TIME. NO ONE OR NOTHING IS OWED ANYTHING IN LIFE. BUT WE ARE READY. AND WE ARE A BASKETBALL CITY. WE ARE A GLOBAL CITY, AND A LEADING CITY IN SO MANY RESPECTS. THAT'S WHAT THIS RESOLUTION MAKES CLEAR. SO I APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP OF MAYOR WILSON, DEPUTY MAYOR AND HER OFFICE, SURRAT, AND SO MANY OTHERS, TO -- IN THEIR COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP, AS THE DEPUTY MAYOR NOTED, WE ARE TRULY UNIFIED IN OUR APPROACH. THIS IS PART OF AN INTENTIONAL, PRINCIPLED APPROACH AND NIFIED STRATEGY TO BRING THE SONICS BACK, AND THERE'S MORE TO COME BY THE WAY. BUT WE ARE DEMONSTRATING THROUGH POLICY THAT SEATTLE IS READY. SO AT THIS MOMENT, I WILL WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, IF ANY, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO A VOTE, STARTING FIRST, TO THE EXTENT THE TECHNICAL ISSUES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED WITH THE VICE CHAIR. LET'S GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER LIN. THANK YOU, CHAIR. AGAIN, JUST WHAT A FUN MORNING. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS FORFOR UNANIMOUSLY TO EXPLORE EXPANSION AND JUST WANT TO PROVIDE OUR ASSURANCES THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU. EXCELLENT POINT: EXCELLENT POINT. WELL SAID. WE ARE IN A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THAT, WE ARE -- WE WILL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER, AND WE ARE DOING THAT. THIS IS ONE METHOD OF THAT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? THANK YOU, CHAIR. I JUST WANTED TO SECOND COUNCILMEMBER LIN'S POINT ABOUT THANKING THE NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS, THE NBA COMMUNITY OVERALL. SIT A COMMUNITY, AND I APPRECIATE THEIR ENGAGEMENT WITH SEATTLE IN ALL ITS DIFFERENT FORMS. SO YES, LET'S WORK TOGETHER. YES. AND WE'RE EXCITED FOR AND GRATEFUL FOR THE VOTE FROM THE NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS, AND THE IMPLICIT AND EXPLICIT VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE SEATTLE MARKET IN RETURNING A TEAM BACK. IT WOULD BE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL. I THINK THEY WOULD BE LUCKY TO HAVE US, AND LUCKY TO WELCOME THEM BACK. SO AWESOME. THERE'S NO -- OH, VIR CE CHAIR, GO AHEAD. PLEASE, AUDIO, WORK THIS TIME. [ NO AUDIO ] NO! I SEE YOU TRYING THROUGH YOUR MOBILE DEVICE. PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE. STILL CAN'T HEAR HER. SO APOLOGIES, VICE CHAIR. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING HARD ON THIS, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT. CAN WE AT LEAST GET A THUMBS UP THAT YOU ARE PREPARED TO VOTE? OKAY, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WELL, HEAR NOTHING FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF SOLUTION 32198. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND: SECOND. I IMAGINE IFIF HAD AUDIO WORKING FROM VICE CHAIR, SHE WOULD HAVE CHIMED IN WITH A SECOND, AS WELL. IT'S MOVED AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF SOLUTION 32198. ANY FINAL COMMENTS? HEARING AND SEEING NONE, I WILL -- WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE RECOMMENDATION TO PASS RESOLUTION 32198? [ ROLL CALL TAKEN ] CHAIR, THERE ARE FIVE VOTES IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED. I KNOW THERE WAS A: I KNOW THERE WAS A VISUALLY ENTHUSIASTIC TWO THUMBS UP FROM VICE CHAIR. SIGNIFYING HER STRONG SUPPORT FOR THIS. THANK YOU. THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE COUNCIL PASS THE RESOLUTION WILL BE SENT TO THE APRIL 7, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. THANK YOU, FOLKS. TODAY, WE ALIGNED, WE ACTED, AND NOW WE ADVANCE. BUT I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR AGAIN THAT TODAY'S SEATTLE READINESS ROUND TABLE AND OUR SEATTLE READY LEGISLATION ARE NOT ONE- OFF EVENTS OR INITIATIVES. THEY'RE PART OF A BROADER AND COORDINATED STRATEGY TO BRING BACK OUR SONICS. LET'S GO! THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR THIRDTHIRD ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM THREE INTO THE RECORD. AGENDA ITEM THREE: AGENDA ITEM THREE. UPDATE ON FIRST SOUTH BRIDGE REPAIRS. THANK YOU: THANK YOU. WILL OUR PRESENTERS PLEASE JOIN US AT THE TABLE. BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH OUR FINAL ITEM, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO NOTE THAT BRIDGES AND REMIND EVERYONE, BRIDGES ARE A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF OUR LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE. BRIDGES FACILITATE TRAVEL, COMMERCE, AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE. BRIDGES ARE MUCH MORE THAN STRUCTURES. THEY ARE ECONOMIC LIFELINES, AS THE COUNCILMEMBER REPRESENTING WEST SEATTLE, I REMEMBER FIRSTHAND QUITE VIVIDLY THE DAY THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE CLOSED IN 2020. IT'S CAUSED MASSIVE, SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTIONS TO DAILY LIFE FOR THE WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ANDAND BEYOND. THE EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER COMMUTES, INCREASED TRAFFIC ON ALTERNATIVE ROUTES, NEIGHBORHOODS STILL UNPACKING THE DAMAGE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE SINGLE INGRES/EGRESS POINT, OR AT LEAST THE PRIMARY ONE, THAT HOLDS THAT VOLUME OF TRAFFIC, WHEN TRAFFIC IS DEFERRED AND REROUTED THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND NONARTERIALS THAT WEREN'T SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THAT KIND OF TRAFFIC LOAD. SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, BRIDGES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY OFFICE. AND ALTHOUGH THEY DON'T HAVE QUITE THE APPEAL AS THE SONICS, AGAIN, IN MY VIEW, THEY ARE EQUALLY GLAMOROUS, SUPER IMPORTANT. WHEN THE 1st AVENUE BRIDGE CLOSED FEBRUARY 18, WE STARTED RECEIVING CALLS, MY OFFICE DID, AND EMAILS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND OTHERS WHO RELY HEF LIE AVILY ON THAT BRIDGE. SO I KNOW OUR PARTNERS HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK DEVELOPING A PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION APPROACHAPPROACH MAKE THIS RIGHT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, WHICH I REALLY APPRECIATE. WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS AT S- DOT, WASH- DOT OWNED AND MANAGED ASSET WITHIN SEATTLE THAT CONNECTS TO OUR CITY TRANSPORTATION NETWORK. HENCE, THE S- DOT TIE- IN AS WELL. THAT'S WHY I REQUESTED THIS PRESENTATION. I'M EAGER TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SHARE TODAY. SO PANELISTS, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND WHEN YOU'RE READ READY, BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR SAKA AND FELLOW COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I AM BRIAN GILLSON, REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE NORTHWEST REGION. THANK YOU FOR TIN I HE INVITATION TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT THE EMERGENCY REPAIR WORK ON THE BRIDGE. I'M BILL PARK, REPRESENTING THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. OKAY, MY APOLOGIES. NO APOLOGIES NEEDED: NO APOLOGIES NEEDED. SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE REPAIR WORK. I'M GOING TO START THE PRESENTATION WITH THE HISTORY ABOUT THE NORTH BOUND SPAN. WE'LL DISCUSS OUR EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN AND PRESERVE THIS BRIDGE OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS AND EXPLAIN BOTH THE EMERGENCY WORK THAT WAS COMPLETED LAST MONTH AND THE BRIDGE DECK REPAIRS WE WILL START LATER THIS WEEK. I'LL ALSO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE COMMUNICATIONS OUTREACH EFFORTS WE PLAN AHEAD OF THIS UPCOMING REPAIR. THE STATE ROUTE 509 AND 99 CORRIDOR CONNECT CITIES IN THE SOUTHERN KING COUNTY, THE SEATTLE AND POINTS NORTH AS A PRIMARY ALTERNATE TO INTERSTATE 5. IT'S A BUSY ROUTE, AND THE FREIGHT CORRIDOR FOR VEHICLES BOUND FOR THE PORT OF SEATTLE AND BEYOND. THIS IS A DOUBLE LEAF BRIDGE THAT OPENS TO ALL MARITIME TRAFFIC TO PASS ALONG THE RIVER AND DOUBLE LEAF BRIDGE IS A TERM MAYBE NOT ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH. SIMPLY, THE BRIDGE IS -- THE MAIN SPAN IS BROKEN INTO TWO LEAVES. THOSE LEAVES ARE FOUNDED ON THE SHORES WITH A HINGE, AND THEY CONNECT IN THE MIDDLE. SO WHEN A BOAT NEEDS TO PASS THROUGH THE SPAN, THE BRIDGE -- THE LEAVES OPEN TOWARDS SHORE AND OPEN UP THAT MAIN CHANNEL. THE BRIDGE ALSO IS A BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN LINK BETWEEN GEORGETOWN AND THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS IS A HEAVILY TRAVELED BRIDGE, AND IT'S SHOWING ITS AGE. DESPITE CONSISTENT MAINTENANCE OVER THE YEARS TO KEEP IT OPERATIONAL, WE LAST REPLACED THIS BRIDGE DECK IN 1999, WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THE STEEL GRID PANELS WOULD LAST 20 TO 25 YEARS. WE ARE NOW PAST THAT EXPECTED LIFE SPAN FOR THE DECK. EMERGENCY WORK THIS SPRING SHOULD ALLOW US TO SAFELY OPERATE THE BRIDGE AT FULL CAPACITY UNTIL 2027, WHEN WE WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRIDGE DECK ON THE NORTH BOUND BRIDGE. WE WILL, OF COURSE, SHARE DETAILS ON THAT PROJECT AS WE A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE REPAIRS. IN LATE FEBRUARY, WASH- DOT BRIDGE INSPECTORS IDENTIFIED FAILURES ON THE STEEL GRATES ON THE NORTH BOUND BRIDGE. WE CLOSED TWO LANES ACROSS THE BRIDGE AND DEVELOPED A THREE- PHASE REPAIR STRATEGY. PHASE ONE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED DURING A FIVE- DAY NORTH BOUND BRIDGE CLOESHER SURE. CREWS INSTALLED STEEL PLATES ACROSS FIELD DECK SECTIONS AND WELDED MORE THAN 100 CRACKED GRID NUMBERS, ALLOWING ALL LANES TO SAFELY REOPEN TO TRAFFIC, ALBEIT WITH A REDUCED SPEED LIMIT. PHASE TWO REPAIRS ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN LATER THIS MONTH. THIS PHASE, WE'LL REMOVE AND REPLACE TEN DECK PANELS THAT WERE TEMPORARILY REPAIRED IN MARCH. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE'RE PLANNING FOR A FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE BRIDGE DECK THAT WE EXPECT TO BEGIN AS SOON AS NEXT YEAR. THIS HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE STRUCTURAL FAILURES WE IDENTIFIED IN FEBRUARY AND THE TEMPORARY FIXES OUR CREWS MADE DURING THE EMERGENCY REPAIRS LAST MONTH. EACH OF THE FRACTURED PANELS THAT ARE NOW COVERED WITH STEEL PLATE ALSO BE REPLACED AS PART OF THE EMERGENCY WORK STARTING LATER THIS MONTH. TURNING TOWARD THESE FAILURES, WE DO NOT HAVE A DETAILED CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE TO SHARE. FACTORING IN THE PROCUREMENT TIME FOR THE REPLACEMENT PANELS AND NORMAL MOBILIZATION TIME FOR OUR CONTRACTOR, WE EXPECT CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN AS SOON AS A MONTH AND LAST ABOUT A MONTH. WE ARE PLANNING ON MULTIPLE NORTHBOUND LANE CLOSURES ACROSS THE BRIDGE AT LEAST A WEEK BEFORE AND THE WEEK FOLLOWING CONSTRUCTION TO SET UP AND REMOVE SCAFFOLDING. ONCE CONSTRUCTIONAL BEGINS, WE EXPECT TO USE A COMBINATION OF WEEKEND AND WEEKNIGHT CLOSURES ON THE NORTH BOUND BRIDGE TO COMPLETE THE WORK. OUR HOPE IS THAT THE PHASE TWO REPAIR CAN BE COMPLETED OVER WEEKENDS IN LATE APRIL AND MAY WITH WEEKNIGHT CLOSURES IN BETWEEN. THERE ARE MANY FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SCHEDULE FOR THESE PHASE TWO REPAIRS, END COLLUDING WORLD CUP MATCHES STARTING IN MID JUNE. WE AIM TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION AS SOON AS THE BRIDGE PANELS ARRIVE, TO ENSURE WE CAN FINISH WELL BEFORE THE FIRST MATCH, WHICH IS JUNE 15th. WE NEED OUR HIGHWAY NETWORK IN FULL CAPACITY ONCE THE WORLD CUP ARRIVES, AS WE ARE GOING TO BE ACCOMMODATING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO THE SEATTLE AREA. WE'RE PLANNING WEEKEND AND OVERNIGHT CLOSURES AFTER LISTENING TO THE CONCERNS ABOUT TRAFFIC ALONG THE DETOURED ROUTES IN PHASE ONE. STRUCTURING THESE REPAIRS OUTSIDE OF HEAVY HOURS SHOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES USING THE DETOUR ROUTE. WEEKEND CLOSURES GIVE CREWS MORE TIME DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS AND REDUCES THE NUMBER OF EXPECTED BRIDGE OPENINGS NEEDED FOR MARITIME TRAFFIC, WHICH HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY ON WEEKDAYS. I WANT TO BE CLEAR WHERE WE ARE IN THE PLANNING PROCESS. WE HAVEN'T HIRED A CONTRACTOR YET. WE'RE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH A COUPLE OF CONTRACTORS WORKING TO DETERMINE WHO IS BEST RESOURCED TO PERFORM THIS WORK ONCE WE SELECT CONTRACT, A CONTRACTOR, WE WILL AWARD THE CONTRACT. AND THEN WE WILL GO INTO VERY DELIBERATE SCENARIO PLANNING WITH THE CONTRACTOR. YOU KNOW, THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT WAYS TO APPROVE THIS THAT WE WANT TO WORK THROUGH. THERE'S DOING THE PANEL REPLACEMENTS WITH OVERNIGHT CLOSURES, DOING THE REPLACEMENT WITH OUR TYPICAL WEEKEND CLOSURES, WE CALL THEM 55 WEEKEND. THEY START FRIDAY NIGHT AFTER THE COMMUTE HOURS AND OPEN BY MONDAY MORNING COMMUTE. WE ALSO WILL EXPLORE WITH THE CONTRACTOR EXTENDED WEEKEND CLOSURES. SO STARTING THURSDAY NIGHT AND GOING THROUGH MONDAY. OUR GOAL IS TO IDENTIFY A STRATEGY THAT REALLY BALANCES THE SPEED OF CONSTRUCTION WITH THE IMPACTS OF THE COMMUNITY AND COMMUTERS. AGAIN, WE WANT TO GET THE CONTRACTOR ON BOARD SO THAT WE CAN TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE RESOURCES THEY HAVE AVAILABLE AND HOW THEY CAN MOST EFFICIENTLY DELIVER THE WORK SO WE MINIMIZE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CLOSURES. NEXT SLIDE. THIS MAP SHOWS THE DETOUR ROUTE THAT WILL BE USED FOR THE PHASE TWO REPAIRS STARTING LATER THIS MONTH. AGAIN, THIS IS THE SAME DETOUR THAT WAS IN PLACE FOR THE PHASE ONE REPAIRS IN MARCH. THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS WE DON'T PLAN TO DO THE CLOSURES DURING THOSE BUSIEST WEEKDAYS TUESDAY, WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS SPECIFICALLY AND PERHAPS NOT WEEKDAYS AT ALL. THIS MAP IS SOMETHING WE'LL SHARE DIRECTLY WITH OUR MEDIA PARTNERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, FREIGHT COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS. WE WILL ALSO POST WIDELY ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS TO BUILD PUBLIC AWARENESS. WHEN THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF A MAJOR CLOSURE LIKE THIS ONE, IT WILL FREQUENTLY RESPOND BY TAKING ALTERNATE ROUTES AND AVOID THE DETOURS. COMMUNICATION IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE WITH EMERGENCY WORK BECAUSE BY ITS NATURE, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE PLANNED FOR. PHASE TWO EMERGENCY BRIDGE REPAIRS ARE SOMETHING OF AN EXCEPTION IN THIS CASE, THOUGH. WE ARE PLANNING AN INTENSIVE CAMPAIGN TO INFORM COMMUTERS, FREIGHT HAULERS, PORT PARTNERS, MARINERS, TRANSIT OPERATORS AND THE SOUTH PARK RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS EMERGENCY CONSTRUCTION. WE WILL FOCUS ON SHARING WHAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WORK, AND COMMUTE IN THIS AREA CAN EXPECT BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER CONSTRUCTION. WE KNOW THIS TYPE OF WORK IS DISRUPTIVE, PARTICULARLY FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEARBY. BUT THESE ARE NECESSARY REPAIRS THAT HAVE RIPPLE EFFECTS THROUGHOUT OUR REGION HIGHWAY NETWORK. OUR GOAL FOR THIS PROJECT AND ALL OF OUR PROJECTS IS TO COMPLETE THIS WORK AS QUICKLY, SAFELY, AND EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE, AND TO KEEP COMMUNITIES AND PARTNERS INFORMED AT EVERY STAGE OF THE PROCESS. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AGAIN, IN THIS CASE, EFFICIENCY REALLY MEANS THAT BALANCE BETWEEN SPEED OF CONSTRUCTION AGAINST AND WITH THE IMPACTS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND COMMUTERS. SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHOOSE THE MOST IMPACTFUL APPROACH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHOOSE THE FASTEST APPROACH. WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE BALANCE THAT STRIKES FAIRNESS AND EQUITY IN THAT. THERE ARE JUST A FEW -- NEXT SLIDE. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE WAYS WE KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED FROM OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO SMARTPHONE APPS TO EMAIL NEWSLETTERS. WE HOPE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH AT LEAST SOME OF THESE TOOLS, BUT IF NOT, THIS SLIDE SHOWS HOW YOU CAN ACCESS EACH OF THEM. AND FINALLY, CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MYSELF AND OUR COMMUNICATION LEADS, SUPPORTING THE PHASE TWO EMERGENCY REPAIRS ON THE FIRST AVENUE SOUTH BRIDGE. FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT ANY TIME, AND THANK YOU AGAIN, CHAIR SAKA AND COUNCILMEMBERS, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY. WITH THAT, I WILL TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO YOU FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. NEILSON, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THE UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE WORK AND THESE IMPORTANT EFFORTS. WE HAVE -- WE HAVE A HARD STOP BY 1:30, BUT AT THIS MOMENT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE. WE'LL TRY AGAIN WITH THE VICE CHAIR, IF YOU HAVE ANY. NONE, THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ANOTHER UNAPOLOGETIC CHAMPION AND SUPPORTER OF OUR BRIDGES AND BRIDGE NETWORK, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA. THANK YOU, MR. NEILSON, TO GET THIS UPDATE. AND ALSOALSO THANK TO S- DOT FOR BEING HERE, AS WELL. THIS IS -- YOU KNOW, ANOTHER LESSON WHERE WE HAVE MAINTENANCE IS SO IMPORTANT. WE HAVE THE TIMELINES AND IT'S NEVER A GOOD TIME PUSHING IT DOWN, YOU KNOW, THE PANDEMIC AND WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE, THERE'S DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE IN PLAY HERE, BUT I SUPPORT THIS EFFORT, AS PAINFUL AS IT MAY BE. BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE DONE. OBVIOUSLY, KIND OF LIKE THE SHIP CANAL BRIDGE PROJECT, VERY SIMILAR. YOU KNOW, IT HAS TO BE DONE. EVEN THOUGH IT'S PAINFUL. I APPRECIATE CARVING OUT A SPACE JUST LIKE THE SHIP CANAL PROJECT OR FIFA WORLD CUP TIME PERIOD, BECAUSE THAT'S A VERY UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AND THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO SO. I WOULD NOTE, CHAIR TOO, IT'S NOT JUST LOCAL COMMUNITIES ANYMORE. AND GIVEN 99 IS A WASH- DOT RESPONSIBILITY FROM DISTRICT SEVEN, MY CONSTITUENTS JUMP ON 99 RIGHT THERE AT THE AURORA BRIDGE AND JUMP THROUGH THE TUNNEL. NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THEY'RE AT THAT BRIDGE ON THEIR WAY TO THE AIRPORT OR ON THEIR WAY TO A SOCCER GAME OR, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE DIFFERENT SPORTS THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, CHAIR. AND SO THE COMMUNITY A LOT OF TIMES IS MUCH BROADER THAN ONE THING. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. THAT'S BASICALLY A CONSEQUENCE OF THE TUNNEL, WHICH HAS BEEN FANTASTIC, BUT IT CHANGED PATTERNS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR DISTRICT FUNDS, WE'RE MAKING THESE ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE TRAVEL PATTERNS CHANGE. THE TUNNEL HAS BEEN SO GREAT, THAT REALLY FACILITATES THIS MOVEMENT. SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT, RECOGNIZING IT'S MORE SO FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. BUT THIS IS A BROADER IMPACT, AND I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. SO NO QUESTIONS. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COLLEAGUES? HEARING AND SEEING NONE, I'LL JUST CLOSE OUT BY BY SAYING MY GRATITUDE AND SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR YOU, AGAIN, MR. NEILSON, FOR BEING HERE TODAY, SHARING THIS VERY IMPORTANT UPDATE. AND I ALSO APPRECIATE THE COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A THOUGHTFUL, DELIBERATIVE, METHODICAL APPROACH TO DO THIS WORK RIGHT. ALSO DOING IT AND ALSO APPRECIATE HEARING WASH- DOT'S COMMITMENT TO DO IT QUICKLY, SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY. AND I HEARD EQUITY MENTIONED AND SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT AS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR. SO TO THE EXTENT WHICH MAKES A LOT OF SENSE IN OUR OWN S- DOT, UNDER OUR PLAN WE APPROVED A COUPLE YEARS AGO, EQUITY IS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR THAT GUIDES OUR WORK AT ALL TIMES. SO EQUITY IS A FACTOR, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR ANALYSIS, I WOULD JUST REMIND THAT THERE ARE SCANT BETTER NEIGHBORHOODS MORE DESERVING CANDIDATES FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD PERSPECTIVE ACROSS THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAN THE COMMUNITY WHERE THIS RUNS THROUGH AND SERVES EVERY DAY, AND PEOPLE ARE IMPACTED. SO I KNOW -- I'M SURE WASH- DOT IS SIMILAR TO OUR VERY OWN S- DOT IN ADOPTING A VERY DATABASED APPROACH TO GUIDE YOUR DECISION MAKING. SO LET'S GO GET THIS -- WE'LL STAY TUNED. HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO STICK TO THAT EARLY JUNE 2026 TENTATIVE PROJECT COMPLETION. IF IT HAPPENS TO SLIP MATERIALLY LATER THAN THAT, WE'LL PROBABLY INVITE YOU BACK LATER THIS SUMMER TO CHECK IN, JUST BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT AND CONSEQUENCE SHALL PROJECTPROJECT MY DISTRICT. FREIGHT AND CARGO MOBILITY ACROSS OUR REGION AND CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH OPPORTUNITIES. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND WORK AND GET THING DONE. HUGE SHOUTOUT TO OUR BRIDGES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S MEETING. OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 16, 2026 AT 9:30 A.M. IS THERE ANY FINAL BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE BEFORE WE ADJOURN? HEARING AND SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE ARE ADJOURNED. IT IS 11:26 A.M. THANK YOU.