Seattle/King County Climate News 11.3.22
Robin Briggs
Seattle
Updated revenue projections for 2023 and 2024 are out, and the revenue forecast has been decreased by $4.5M in 2023, and $14.5M in 2024. This means that the Council must find decreases of at least that much, and that any budget amendments that are passed be paid for by cuts elsewhere in the budget. In addition, the City is expecting a $64M decrease in Real Estate Excise Tax revenues. The City is forecasting an increase in parking meter revenue. The Balancing Package, where Budget Chair Teresa Mosqueda releases a balanced budget based on the Mayor's draft budget, the new revenue projections and the amendments expected to pass, is now due out on Nov. 14, with a final vote after Thanksgiving.
Councilmembers have submitted their budget amendments; each one requires a prime sponsor and two other sponsors to move forward. These amendments offer a view of what each councilmember thinks is most important. A list of the amendments that most pertain to climate is linked here. Of these, one major one is the Funds Flexibility Ordinance which authorizes transfers from the JumpStart fund to the General Fund.
The Office of Planning and Community Development is holding a series of 5 public in-person meetings on the Comprehensive Plan Update. These meetings are:
Monday, November 14: New Holly Gathering Hall, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 1: Langston Center, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 8: South Seattle College, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Monday, December 12: Loyal Heights Community Center, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 10: Meadowbrook Community Center, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
The Seattle Planning Commission released an issue brief on Repurposing the Right of Way: Mobility Options and People-Oriented Streets in an Equitable City. One quote from the brief: "Taking climate action requires allocating more space to providing safe and convenient alternatives to driving everywhere for everything. On the adaptation side, taking the edge off the intensifying urban heat island calls for increased tree canopy and vegetation and less pavement overall."
Puget Sound Regional Council
The Executive Board approved the Transportation Improvement Projects; these are lists of transportation projects receiving funding from the Federal and sometimes State level that is funneled through the PSRC to local jurisdiction. In future, these projects will be accompanied by modelling data that will show the impact the project has on GHG emissions. The Executive Council also heard a report on the Climate Change Analysis and Implementation Strategy (video: 10:50 9. Discussion Item). This is a report from staff on how they plan to gather more information on policy choices related to transportation, and contains an interesting discussion of local leaders being introduced to road pricing.