City Hall
A Preview of this Afternoon's Tunnel Meeting
In half an hour or so, the city council's viaduct oversight committee will meet to discuss a resolution affirming the council's desire to move forward with the deep-bore tunnel, but delaying the signing of three agreements with the state until next year, after two potential contractors have released their bids. At this morning's council briefing meeting, council president Richard Conlin predicted that the meeting will go on until at least 5:00.
Council member Mike O'Brien, a tunnel opponent, has introduced five amendments to the resolution; most, as we reported over the weekend, are unlikely to pass. In a surprising move, council member Bruce Harrell, a tunnel supporter, is expected to second O'Brien's amendments.
In lieu of O'Brien's amendments, which would put off signing any agreement with the state until several conditions were met, the council's pro-tunnel majority has proposed a resolution "calling upon the Governor and the state legislature to authorize new funding to stabilize
local transit services" as part of the viaduct replacement project. Unlike O'Brien's amendment, however, the resolution would not delay the signing of agreements with the state until the state authorized a new transit funding source for King County Metro.
Additionally, council members plan to walk on two amendments that would replace O'Brien's. The first would water down the language O’Brien has proposed, which would forestall any agreements with the state until the Port of Seattle has identified funding sources for the $300 million it has committed to the tunnel. The second would replace O’Brien’s proposal to hold off on agreements until the state department of transportation studies the impact of the tunnel on traffic on city streets with language saying the city and state will resolve traffic impacts at a later date.
Finally, council member Tom Rasmussen has proposed increasing the commercial parking tax, currently 10 percent, to 12.5 percent to help pay for viaduct replacement. Mayor Mike McGinn has proposed increasing the commercial parking tax between five and ten percent to help pay for a funding shortfall at the city's department of transportation; his office did not immediately return a call for comment on Rasmussen's proposal.
Council member Mike O'Brien, a tunnel opponent, has introduced five amendments to the resolution; most, as we reported over the weekend, are unlikely to pass. In a surprising move, council member Bruce Harrell, a tunnel supporter, is expected to second O'Brien's amendments.
In lieu of O'Brien's amendments, which would put off signing any agreement with the state until several conditions were met, the council's pro-tunnel majority has proposed a resolution "calling upon the Governor and the state legislature to authorize new funding to stabilize
local transit services" as part of the viaduct replacement project. Unlike O'Brien's amendment, however, the resolution would not delay the signing of agreements with the state until the state authorized a new transit funding source for King County Metro.
Additionally, council members plan to walk on two amendments that would replace O'Brien's. The first would water down the language O’Brien has proposed, which would forestall any agreements with the state until the Port of Seattle has identified funding sources for the $300 million it has committed to the tunnel. The second would replace O’Brien’s proposal to hold off on agreements until the state department of transportation studies the impact of the tunnel on traffic on city streets with language saying the city and state will resolve traffic impacts at a later date.
Finally, council member Tom Rasmussen has proposed increasing the commercial parking tax, currently 10 percent, to 12.5 percent to help pay for viaduct replacement. Mayor Mike McGinn has proposed increasing the commercial parking tax between five and ten percent to help pay for a funding shortfall at the city's department of transportation; his office did not immediately return a call for comment on Rasmussen's proposal.
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