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Seattle City Councilmembers Herbold, Pedersen celebrate decision in favor of the City – Seattle City Council Blog

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Seattle City Councilmembers Herbold, Pedersen celebrate decision in favor of the City – Seattle City Council Blog


Decision removes roadblock to vote on Comp Plan amendment that could diversify funding options for transportation safety projects

Seattle City Councilmembers Lisa Herbold (District 1 – West Seattle and South Park) and Alex Pedersen (District 4 – Northeast Seattle) praised today’s decision by the Seattle Office of Hearing Examiner that supports the City’s position that the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment receive a declaration of non-significance.  This ruling will allow the city to take a small step forward in its discussion on transportation impact fees.

“I am relieved that the ruling today means that we are going to finally going to be able to have this vote. In 2017, Council made a commitment that the City would consider including in the Comp Plan a list of priority transit, pedestrian and bike safety, and bridge projects that Seattle could consider funding with a transportation impact fee program, if legislation implementing the program was adopted later. Council restated that commitment to the public by passing additional resolutions in 2020, 2021, and 2022. What has kept Council from deliberating about this revenue tool have been successive lawsuits opposing even the recognition of these 25 priority projects as ones that would be eligible if a program were enacted in the future. The City has been trying hard to identify new revenue in anticipation of a 2024 revenue gap,” said Councilmember Herbold.

“The Hearing Examiner’s decision in favor of our City demonstrates that the distractions and disinformation by lobbyists and their lawyers failed to defeat fairness and fiscal responsibility, but their detrimental delay means we must amend the Comprehensive Plan this November to provide time for a more robust discussion on reasonable transportation impact fees in the future,” said Councilmember Pedersen. “Seattle has been an embarrassing outlier as more than 70 other cities are leveraging this reasonable revenue source – revenue that could enable our city to avoid massive increases in property taxes to pay for sidewalks, crosswalks, bridge safety, bike lanes, and other overdue transportation safety projects.”

In 2018, the Council drafted legislation that would amend the Comprehensive Plan to clear the way to develop separate legislation that, if passed, could enact a transportation impact fee program. Today’s decision upholds a key piece of that draft legislation that had been appealed – the determination of non-significance under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). For more information, refer to the Council’s Impact Fee webpage or to Councilmember Pedersen’s website.

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What’s next?

The Hearing Examiner’s decision comes as the Council considers related legislation (CB 120635), cosponsored by Councilmembers Herbold and Pedersen. That legislation would clear an additional procedural roadblock and allow next year’s City Council to consider adopting transportation impact fees. To be clear, this legislation would not create or require an impact fee program; such a program would first need more robust discussions and ultimately a separate Council vote on future legislation.

In fact, the Hearing Examiner wrote in his decision today, “Adoption of generalized policies of a comprehensive plan do not require (or even guarantee) that implementing ordinances be adopted… There is no imperative or requirement that Comprehensive Plan policies be implemented through subsequent regulations – they may, but they are not required to be.” To emphasize this point and address related concerns, Councilmembers Herbold and Pedersen plan to bring forward an amendment to CB 120635 that would re-insert the word “consider,” so that the Transportation Element reads “Consider use of transportation impact fees” instead of the current proposal that reads “Use transportation impact fees.”

The Council will be holding a public hearing on CB 120635 during its meeting tomorrow, November 7, at 2:00 PM. The meeting will be streamed live via Seattle Channel. To comment on this legislation (which does not enact impact fees) by phone, go to: https://www.seattle.gov/council/committees/public-comment

What are transportation impact fees?

As communities grow, so does the need for crucial government services like transportation infrastructure. Transportation impact fees are one-time charges developers pay to help fund that added need. It’s the idea that growth should help pay for growth. Most cities in Washington State have transportation impact fees. Seattle does not. A statistically valid, professional survey conducted in May 2023 revealed that 75% of Seattle adults SUPPORT these one-time impact fees on new for-profit real estate developments. Affordable housing projects and nonprofit facilities would likely be exempt under a Seattle program as explicitly allowed by law.

In each 2017, 2020 2021, and 2022, the Council has docketed consideration of this Comprehensive Plan amendment for impact fees. The ruling today by the Hearing Examiner and a vote on CB 120635 later in November would finally allow the Council to move ahead to keep its promise to consider this amendment. Doing so, will allow formal discussions next year on an impact fee program that would enable Seattle to diversify its options for funding key transportation safety projects.

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What people are saying

Katie Wilson, Transit Riders Union General Secretary, said: “Seattle is far off track from meeting its stated climate goals and two-third of Seattle’s carbon emissions come from transportation.  It is urgent to give Seattle residents more safe and realistic options for traveling around our city without driving. If well-designed, we believe that a Transportation Impact Fee could be a piece of the solution.”

Disability rights advocate Anna Zivarts stated in her letter dated August 16, 2023, “Seattle is far behind in funding the construction of missing sidewalks…The Disability Mobility Initiative supports the City Council exploring transportation impact fees as a possible source for the necessity of increasing funding for this essential need.”



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Seattle, WA

Ciara and Russell Wilson sell lakefront Washington estate for $31M: See inside the 11,100-square-foot home

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Ciara and Russell Wilson sell lakefront Washington estate for $31M: See inside the 11,100-square-foot home


They’re about to level up.

Ciara and Russell Wilson are reportedly making a massive profit off the sale of their Washington estate.

A source familiar with the real estate deal told the Wall Street Journal Wednesday that the NFL quarterback and “Goodies” singer sold their 11,100-square-foot home for $21.25 million and its adjacent lot for almost an additional $10 million, totaling $31 million for the entire estate.

In 2015, Wilson reportedly paid just $6.7 million for the six-bedroom house and an additional $6.7 million for the lot next door four years later, meaning he stands to make $17.6 million from the latest sale.

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The lavish home is more than 11,000 square feet. Andrew Webb / Clarity NW
It boasts six bedrooms. Andrew Webb / Clarity Northwest/ @andrewwebbphotography

Per the Wall Street Journal’s source, the home is under contract and scheduled to close sometime in May.

Wilson, 35, was a resident of Washington because he played for the Seattle Seahawks for 10 seasons. However, he was traded in 2022 to the Denver Broncos in a massive deal worth more than $242 million.

The quarterback was then recently cut from the Mile High City team and was signed to a one-year deal with the Pittsburg Steelers in March. He will receive $1.21 million from the East Coast team while the Broncos pay the remainder of his $39 million salary.

Amid all of the tumultuousness of Wilson’s career, he and Ciara have been trying to rid themselves of the Washington property and a separate $25 million home in Denver.

Wilson paid $6.7 million for the house in 2015. Andrew Webb / Clarity Northwest/ @andrewwebbphotography
He then paid $6.7 million for the lot next door in 2019. Andrew Webb / Clarity Northwest/ @andrewwebbphotography
The Washington home sits on 1.06 acres on Lake Washington. Andrew Webb / Clarity NW

In February, BusinessDen reported that the famous couple were accepting offers, and providing tours to prospective buyers for their $25 million mansion in Cherry Hills Village.

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Per the Denver Post, he sold that property for $21.5 million, and actually took a loss that time, as he had paid $3.5 million more for it in 2022.

However, Wilson was able to score more with his Washington estate following several renovations that were reportedly made to the home, which also includes a gym, home theater, yoga and dance studio.

Ciara and Wilson lived in Washington because he played for the Seattle Seahawks for 10 seasons. ciara/Instagram
The married couple shares three kids. dangerusswilson/Instagram

The NFL star also reportedly put a sports court on the lot, which sits on about 1.06 acres on Lake Washington.

It’s unclear whether Wilson and Ciara plan to buy a home in Pittsburgh, where his home team is based.

The couple, who wed in 2016, doesn’t just have themselves to think about. They share three kids, with their youngest, a baby girl named Amora Princess Wilson, being born just last December.

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City of Seattle to clear asylum seekers encampment

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City of Seattle to clear asylum seekers encampment


Time is running out for asylum seekers to leave an encampment at Powell Barnett Park in Seattle’s Central District. They have just about 24 hours to find a new place to stay. They’ve been there since last week after their stay at a local hotel ran out.



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Four-run 9th inning lifts Seattle Mariners to 10-6 win over Twins

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Four-run 9th inning lifts Seattle Mariners to 10-6 win over Twins


MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MAY 07: Josh Rojas #4 of the Seattle Mariners hits an RBI single against the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning at Target Field on May 07, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  (David Berding / Getty Images)

Josh Rojas and Ty France each hit an RBI single during Seattle’s four-run ninth inning, and the Mariners beat the Minnesota Twins 10-6 on Tuesday night.

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Cal Raleigh connected for a pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh for Seattle, which has won three of four. Mitch Haniger hit a solo homer in the second and added a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

Ryne Stanek (1-0) got two outs for the win after fellow reliever Tayler Saucedo got hurt while covering first base. Andrés Muñoz pitched a scoreless ninth.

“We were kind of waiting for this game to come,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “At some of these points, you’re going to have to find a way to score a bunch of runs to pick up your pitching, and we did that tonight.”

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Minnesota reliever Jorge Alcala (1-1) allowed four runs on four hits, issued two walks and threw a wild pitch during Seattle’s ninth-inning rally. The Twins have lost two of three after their 12-game winning streak.

“We didn’t play the kind of baseball we’ve been playing,” Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli said. “We didn’t play a complete game. We played pieces of a game.”

A wild three final innings was highlighted by a clutch swing for Raleigh, who was out of the starting lineup for a rare occasion. Raleigh hit for Seby Zavala against left-hander Steven Okert and drove a hanging slider to the third deck in left at Target Field.

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“If you’re down in the game or the game’s close, he’s just got a way late in the game,” Servais said of Raleigh. “He has really good at-bats. He doesn’t always come through. But when he does, he usually comes through in a big way.”

Down 6-4 after Raleigh’s homer, Minnesota got a run in the bottom of the seventh and another one in the eighth.

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Kyle Farmer’s double followed Jose Miranda’s leadoff double in the seventh. The tying run scored as Saucedo was on the ground in pain in the eighth.

Pinch-hitter Austin Martin hit a ball to France at first base. Martin slid safe into first while Saucedo took the throw from France and stepped on the bag. But Saucedo slipped in the process and went down. As he was on the ground, Max Kepler rounded third base and came home.

After several moments, Saucedo was helped off the field with assistance from a trainer.

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“He’s going to be out for a little while; a little bit of a knee issue there,” Servais said. “We’ll get some imaging on that, but we’re going to miss him.”

Ryan Jeffers hit a three-run homer in Minnesota’s four-run third. Jeffers reached base safely in a career high-tying 14th straight game.

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RIGHTY OR LEFTY
Jay Jackson started the seventh for the Twins, loading the bases on a pair of singles and a walk before Raleigh was announced as the pinch hitter. Baldelli turned to Okert to turn around the switch-hitting Raleigh. But the seventh pitch of the at-bat got away from Okert to the middle of the zone and Raleigh went deep for his ninth homer.

“They’re always going to do it to one side or the other, so it’s just part of the game,” Raleigh said, adding that he noticed Okert was warming up quickly and knew he might face the lefty. “I was able to get work in the cages, do some stuff and make sure I had both sides ready just in case that was to happen.”

Five of Raleigh’s homers this season have come from the right side, but he entered the day with a .921 OPS from the left side versus .662 from the right.

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TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: Servais said SS J.P. Crawford (right oblique strain) has been swinging in the cage and is feeling good, but he offered no timeline for a return. Servais also said RHP Bryan Woo (elbow inflammation) might be in line for a return to the rotation but didn’t have a particular date.

UP NEXT
Seattle right-hander George Kirby (3-2, 3.76 ERA) starts on Wednesday night in the third game of the four-game series. Minnesota counters with righty Chris Paddack (3-1, 4.78 ERA).

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MORE MARINERS NEWS

Simeon Woods Richardson allows 1 hit in 6 shutout innings as Seattle Mariners fall 3-1 to Twins

Cal Raleigh’s 9th inning homer gives Mariners 5-4 win over Astros

Logan Gilbert delivers dominant outing in Seattle Mariners 5-0 win over Astros

Mariners squander late lead as Seattle falls 5-3 to Astros



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