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Be a part of the City of Seattle’s First Youth Transportation Summit

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This December, youth from across the city will come together to discuss and learn about transportation issues in Seattle at the City of Seattle’s first Youth Transportation Summit.  

Youth pose in front of a Seattle Metro Bus. (Photo Courtesy of SDOT)

Event Details 

The summit is on December 9, 2023 from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM at the Westin Seattle, and participants from ages 14-24 who live, work, study, or play in Seattle are welcome to register for free by 11:59 PM on November 29. Participants under 18 must also complete and send a photo consent form to Katelyn.Saechao3@seattle.gov.  

We encourage all young people who are interested in climate action and transportation to join us at the inaugural Youth Transportation Summit. Your experiences and ideas are valuable, and everyone is welcome to participate. The first half of the day will be focused on learning from community experts on a variety of topics, such as climate optimism, youth transportation, and environmental racism. The second half of the day is when youth will share their expertise, providing feedback on Seattle’s transportation that will inform the creation of the Youth Climate & Transportation Action Plan to be delivered to Mayor Harrell.  

About the Summit 

The summit is part of Mayor Harrell’s 2022 Climate Justice Executive Order, which called for the city to accelerate and invest in climate justice actions that reduce climate pollution from the transportation sector. The Executive Order and the Youth Transportation Summit build on community advocacy for Free Transit for Youth and for continuing to center youth voices in transportation planning. 

The summit is particularly interested in learning how the pandemic changed transportation for Seattle youth and what changes they want to see moving forward. OSE is energized about the opportunity to hear from youth about their ideas on transportation access, mobility justice, and climate-smart transportation! 

Youth are integral to designing a sustainable, just transportation network that serves all Seattleites. They are the future of our city, and we can’t wait to hear what their vision is for transportation in Seattle.  

Learn more and register here.  

Welcoming OSE’s 2023 New Hires

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OSE is excited to welcome a crew of new talented staff members on board in 2023! We are looking forward to working together to build a more sustainable, equitable, and carbon-neutral future for our city. Take a moment to get to know our new team members by reading their bios presented below in alphabetical order:

Amy Fowler, Climate & Buildings Support Program Advisor

Amy comes to OSE from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, our regional air quality management and regulatory agency, where she spent nearly 23 years in various roles, including 9.5 years leading the agency’s diesel emission reduction projects and wood smoke reduction efforts and over 13 years managing the agency’s Department of Clean Air Initiatives. This department develops and implements voluntary and incentive-based programs to reduce fine particle pollution from indoor burning and diesel vehicles and equipment, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the on-road and off-road transportation sector.  

Before returning in 2000 to the Seattle area where she’d lived as a child, Amy was employed by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation, a non-regulatory state agency, where she conducted seminars on air pollution regulations that affected small businesses and served as a writer, editor, and graphic designer for related technical publications and outreach materials as part of the state’s Small Business Assistance Program (created under the Clean Air Act). Prior to that, she was a technical seminar instructor and technical editor for a university-based research center on energy-efficient lighting technologies and applications and has held other technical communications positions in the private and non-profit sectors. 

An “Air Force brat,” Amy has lived in many states and is thrilled to call Washington home again. She’s an avid knitter who loves to travel and collect yarn “souvenirs”; has two cats, an adult daughter who lives nearby, and a grand-dog and grand-cat; and is married to a passionate climate-conscious architect.  

Role at OSE: As the new Climate & Buildings Support Program Advisor, Amy will manage the Clean Building Accelerator program as it expands to include funding opportunities for frontline buildings to retrofit their energy infrastructures. Amy will develop and implement the mechanisms to disburse $4.5 million in funding allocated from the City’s Green New Deal. 

Gemma Holt, Building Compliance Technical Lead

Gemma joined the Office of Sustainability and Environment as the temporary Building Compliance Technical Lead in June. She recently completed a Master in Public Policy and a Master in Urban Planning at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Gemma’s environmental policy career has taken her from researching sustainable development in the Finnish Arctic to advising the National Park Service on alternative transportation systems on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Gemma grew up in Seattle and is thrilled to be back in the Pacific Northwest after a decade in Massachusetts.  She tries to spend as much time outside as possible running, hiking, or skiing.  

Role at OSE: As a Building Compliance Technical Lead, Gemma coaches building owners and service providers on program goals, requirements, and compliance with the Seattle Building Tune-Ups ordinance, manages the Building Tune-Ups help desk, and ensures that building tune-ups meet the standards of the program.  

Bin Jung, Resilience Hubs Advisor

Bin joins OSE as its new Resilience Hubs Advisor and is an urban planner with experience and expertise in project and strategy design, community planning, stakeholder facilitation, and policy development. She has extensive knowledge of affordable housing development, having previously worked at the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Seattle Office of Housing. She first became passionate about environmental justice while leading a campaign to decommission a 1.3-mile highway in the Bronx, New York. She holds degrees from Wesleyan University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is the recipient of a Fulbright-Garcia Robles Scholarship to Mexico.

In her spare time, Bin enjoys sewing clothes, gardening, karaoke, and dog memes.

Role at OSE: Bin leads the creation of the Citywide Resilience Hub Plan, which will guide how the City develops and supports a network of resilience hubs. Resilience hubs are trusted, community-serving facilities that can support the community in their daily lives before, during, and after an emergency.

Jaime Macadangdang, Operations Manager

Jaime Macadangdang joins OSE after seven years at Seattle University, leading the operations team for the Center for Community Engagement. In that role, Jaime worked to centralize the finance, administration, communications, data, and staffing systems of the 25-person team. Before moving to Seattle, Jaime worked in operations at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. She approaches her work with the core values of dignity, transparency/clarity, accessibility, and collaboration and loves operations because it finds her at the intersection of people and systems. Jaime is inspired by the mission of OSE and the people who find themselves drawn to it. She is a mother, an artist, a hiker, and a planner.  

Role at OSE: Jaime is the Operations Manager of the Office of Sustainability and Environment, leading the efforts to manage staffing and central administration needs for the office. 

Elise Rasmussen, Climate and Environmental Justice Associate

Elise Rasmussen (she/her) came to OSE from the WA State Department of Health, where she was an Equity and Social Justice Manager focused on environmental justice as well as a Climate Justice Coordinator in the state’s Climate and Health Program. Previously, Elise was the manager for the WA State Environmental Justice Task Force and worked with communities across the state to write the Healthy Environment for All Act, an environmental justice law that keeps WA state government accountable to communities most overburdened by pollution.

Elise is passionate about working toward and re-imagining a world where all living beings have the opportunity to thrive in healthy environments, especially in a changing climate. Outside of work, you can find Elise in the mountains year-round, competing in ultimate frisbee, or in the kitchen trying out a new recipe with vegetables from her garden.  

Role at OSE: As a Climate and Environmental Justice Associate, Elise staffs the Green New Deal Oversight Board and supports the implementation of the City’s Green New Deal Ordinance and Environmental Justice Fund.  

Mike Roos, Building Climate Policy Advisor

Mike is a data-driven sustainability professional with more than a decade of public sector experience. Most recently, Mike worked at Sound Transit where he managed annual sustainability and greenhouse gas reporting, oversaw a $25M internal sustainability grant program, and led research on topics like the Washington Clean Fuel Standard and zero emission locomotive technologies. 

Prior to arriving in Seattle in 2019, Mike lived in New York City, where he worked as an energy analyst with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services Division of Energy Management and the New York City Housing Authority. Over the course of several years in New York City government, Mike conducted portfolio scale building energy performance analyses, supported the implementation of energy efficiency projects, facilitated energy benchmarking, and managed many large datasets. 

Mike holds a Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University, a BA from Colgate University in Economics and Geography, and a Certified Energy Manager credential. Mike lives in Capitol Hill and enjoys live music, skiing, and hiking. 

Role at OSE: Mike joined the Buildings team with the Office of Sustainability and Environment in January 2023 as a Building Climate Policy Advisor and has been providing data analysis and program management support for the Energy Benchmarking and Building Tuneup Programs.  

Lauren Urgenson, Senior Urban Forestry Advisor 

Lauren has been connecting science, policy, and collective action toward sustainable and equitable management of natural resources for over 20 years. She is excited to apply her strategic leadership, partnership-building skills, and deep forestry knowledge to work with interdepartmental and external partners to achieve Seattle’s vision of an urban forest where everyone— starting with those most harmed by inequities—has access to trees and the benefits they provide and where we keep our trees and forest healthy and thriving in the face of a changing climate.  

She joins OSE from King County, where she led partnerships to solve complex issues affecting communities, salmon habitat, and environmental health in an urbanized watershed. Prior to her work at King County, Lauren worked as a research scientist at UW, leading projects focused on monitoring outcomes of ecological forest management and on community-based approaches to forest policy. Lauren has an M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of Washington, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, and a B.A. from the University of Maryland. When not at work, Lauren enjoys spending time with family and friends exploring the wonders of the Northwest and around her home neighborhood in Beacon Hill, Seattle.  

Role at OSE: As Senior Urban Forestry Advisor, Lauren will collaborate across departments and with external stakeholders to equitably sustain and grow our urban forest. Lauren will foster collaboration on the City’s overall urban forestry strategy, lead the development of a canopy equity & resilience plan, oversee a recently awarded federal grant to engage environmental justice communities in urban forestry planning and restoration, identify and pursue opportunities to advance projects that address the needs of the urban forest and strengthen and build partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders.

Gus Williams, Climate and Workforce Development Advisor

Gus Williams joins OSE as the Climate and Workforce Development Advisor with over a decade of invaluable workforce development experience to the table, specializing in cultivating enduring partnerships between agencies and employers to facilitate training and employment services. His expertise lies in creating impactful programs that benefit individuals and communities alike.  Gus has served as a thought leader at many organizations, overseeing a diverse portfolio of initiatives and workforce development programs. 

Outside of his professional commitments, Gus treasures spending quality time with his family. He finds joy in cheering on his two children as they compete in sporting events, witnessing their growth and achievements firsthand. Additionally, Gus maintains an active lifestyle and nurtures his passion for fitness through his love for Peloton.  

Role at OSE: Gus is the thought leader to OSE on the build-out of a Climate and equitable Economy and workforce priority policy for the City, focusing on driving positive change by shaping policies, fostering collaboration, and supporting initiatives that lead the city toward a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future.

Sunny Ysa, Program Associate, Data & Finance 

Sunny entered the City of Seattle in the Fall of 2019 with the Department of Neighborhoods, working on inclusive community engagement and outreach, and providing administrative support to the Community Liaison program. Sunny’s personal history includes Sunny’s family’s journey as refugees of the Vietnam War, growing up in South Seattle, and studying political theories, post-colonialism, and critical refugee studies at Whitman College. Sunny enjoys watching soccer, gardening, and drinking cappuccinos and is most likely to be found shopping for chocolate or coffee beans.  

Role at OSE: Sunny will be focusing on building, streamlining, and improving budget coordination and tracking, contract tracking, systems and operations improvement, and providing administrative and program support to the Climate Justice team.

Mayor Harrell Transmits Updated Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS) Policy to Council 

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Bold policy proposal is one of the most impactful actions Seattle can take to reduce emissions, and follows significant stakeholder engagement and climate analysis 

Seattle – Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell transmitted legislation to the City Council for the Building Performance Emission Standard – a bold policy to address the climate crisis and create clean buildings. The policy would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing large buildings by approximately 325,000 metric tons by 2050 – a 27% decrease in emissions from a 2008 baseline.  At the City Council, the legislation will be sponsored by Councilmember Lisa Herbold and heard in the Council’s Select Committee on Climate Action formed by Council President Debora Juarez. 

“Buildings are one of our largest sources of pollution and must be part of the solution to the climate crisis,” said Mayor Harrell. “Advancing meaningful climate action – like this policy – to create healthy communities, clean buildings, and good jobs is a priority for my administration. The City is leading by example to decarbonize our buildings with the 62-story Seattle Municipal Tower now fully fossil fuel free – a milestone for our efforts to reduce emissions. In this proposal, we are making it a priority to reduce emissions from buildings across the city and provide the needed support systems for building owners to actually get it done. It is thanks to the partnership with Councilmember Herbold and a broad coalition of environmental leaders and advocates, labor partners, building owners, and community members that we are able to advance this fair, equitable, and ambitious policy that furthers our sustainability goals and continues Seattle’s decades-long legacy of national climate leadership.” 

The proposed Building Emissions Performance Standard Policy (BEPS) was announced in June 2023, and applies to existing nonresidential and multifamily buildings greater than 20,000 square feet. The reduction in climate emissions which will result from the passage of this legislation is the equivalent of taking 72,322 gasoline-powered cars off the road for a year. Key policy details include:  

  • BEPS sets carbon-emissions targets that buildings must meet over time to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.  
  • Compliance starts with reporting requirements by 2027 that quantify building emissions and encourage owners to prepare for emissions reductions, followed by requirements to meet emissions targets in five-year intervals starting in 2031 that become progressively lower until reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.  
  • The BEPS policy has flexible compliance pathways to accommodate buildings of many uses, size, type, ownership, age, and systems, with low-income housing and human services given a longer lead time to prepare.  

Councilmember Lisa Herbold (District 1, West Seattle & South Park) said, “Addressing our climate crisis is one of the greatest challenges of our time. We need to act swiftly and take big swings. This legislation does just that and will significantly move the needle on reducing emissions in Seattle. I thank the Mayor, Office of Sustainability and Environment, and advocates for working together. I appreciate the extensive outreach and stakeholder meetings that OSE carried out during the last two years – it serves as an example of how our community can move forward together on this critically important issue. I thank Council President Juarez for creating a special committee to hear this legislation.”   

“BEPS is a unique piece of legislation with broad support across labor, affordable housing, and environmental sectors,” said Jessyn Farrell, Director of the Office of Sustainability and Environment. “Years of meaningful collaboration with stakeholders has led to BEPS, one of the best climate actions we can take to reduce our emissions. I am grateful for passionate advocates, Mayor Harrell’s leadership, and support from Council to move BEPS forward, and excited to see Seattle take another step towards reaching our climate goals.” 

“350 Seattle is excited to see Building Emissions Performance Standards up for a vote in December. We especially want to uplift the hard work of the community organizations and Seattle residents that championed this policy for the City of Seattle, and we encourage Council Members to vote yes!” said Shemona Morena, Executive Director at 350 Seattle. “We look forward to working with the Office of Sustainability and Environment toward supporting energy retrofits for low-income housing and the Seattle Social Housing Developer, and on further progress toward meeting Seattle’s climate goals.”  

The BEPS policy was developed to maximize benefits to building owners and tenants and to ensure equitable pathways to high quality green jobs, especially for people of color and women. The policy is forecasted to create hundreds of local jobs that cannot be outsourced and will support workers directly in the Seattle area. 

In addition to the proposed standard, the City has developed programmatic and technical support for building owners through programs like the Seattle Clean Buildings Accelerator program which provides technical support and funding for upgrades. Mayor Harrell included $4.5M year to support the Accelerator program in the 2024 proposed budget for engineering and capital investments, prioritized for buildings in or serving frontline communities, as well as an additional $530,000 for BEPS implementation.  

This legislation was called for both in the City’s 2013 Climate Action plan and more recently in Mayor Harrell’s Downtown Activation Plan. The proposed legislation will now make its way through a specially created Council committee on climate change. 

The City of Seattle received input from hundreds of people during the process of developing the legislation, including residents, workers, community-based organizations, nonprofits, building owners and managers, tenants, labor representatives, environmental justice groups, affordable housing providers, and more, over nearly two years of meetings, open houses, webinars, advisory group and specialized task force sessions.    

For more information about the proposed BEPS policy, see the Office of Sustainability’s website at: https://www.seattle.gov/building-performance-standards 

What People Are Saying:   

“Buildings are still the fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in Washington, and burning fossil fuels inside our homes and buildings pollutes our indoor air and harms public health. Seattle’s new Building Emissions Performance Standard will ensure Seattle’s largest existing buildings transition to being fully powered by clean energy over the next few decades. This policy will help put Seattle on track to meeting its climate targets while also protecting the health and safety of our communities, reducing air pollution, and increasing the use of heat pumps that provide both heating and air conditioning. We’re very pleased to have worked with the City on making the policy more equitable, effective, and enforceable, and look forward to continuing this work in the coming years.”  

Deepa Sivarajan, Washington Local Policy Manager, Climate Solutions 

“To protect public health and mitigate the worst impacts of the climate crisis, Seattle must transition off of fossil fuels like polluting fracked gas. Developing strong and enforceable Building Emissions Performance Standards and requiring large buildings to make the switch from dirty fuels is a critical step to protect our climate and reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution and will offer a model for other cities in the region to follow.”  

Dylan Plummer, Senior Campaign Representative, Sierra Club 

“Climate change has reached Seattle in the form of wildfire smoke and heatwaves and this policy is part of the solution. Mayor Harrell’s Building Performance Standards policy is forecasted to create thousands of jobs over its lifespan which will benefit Seattle-area workers and expand career pathways for women and workers of color.”   

Katie Garrow, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, MLK Labor (AFL-CIO) 

“The Building Emissions Performance Standard is a great opportunity to advance Seattle’s Green New Deal by addressing one of the city’s largest sources of emissions while creating green union jobs and expanding strategies to support climate resilience for people across Seattle. Equitable implementation and ensuring no communities are left behind in Seattle’s clean energy transition is essential. We look forward to working with the Mayor, City Council, and community partners in the coming years to ensure BEPS plays a key role in Seattle’s Just Transition.”  

Debolina Banerjee, Green New Deal Oversight Board Executive Committee Member 

“Affordable housing is critical, as is solving our ever-growing climate crisis. Today, through Mayor Harrell’s leadership, we will start making meaningful reductions in the climate pollution that, sadly, impacts our most vulnerable communities in Seattle first and worst. We will, at the same time, ensure that we are creating more resilient housing for Seattle’s residents far into the future. This is one of those rare moments when we can celebrate a giant policy leap forward that addresses the intersecting crises of affordable housing, racial equity, and climate change. I am proud of the work we did together to ensure that the Building Emissions Performance Standard works for affordable housing providers and the broader ecosystem.”  

Patience Malaba, Executive Director, Housing Development Consortium 

“Buildings must be part of the climate solution and Seattle’s Building Emissions Performance Standards is a key strategy, guiding the city’s largest buildings on a path to clean, efficient electric systems as they upgrade over the coming years. The resulting clean energy retrofits will make a difference in day-to-day lives, by expanding access to heat pumps for cooling in the face of heat events and wildfire smoke that are now familiar in our region.”  

Rachel Koller, Managing Director, Shift Zero

“This proposed Building Performance Standard is vital to helping Seattle achieve its climate, clean energy, and economic goals. Building retrofits require planning and investment, and this proposal provides both. Large commercial and multifamily building owners will be able to access funding and incentives for clean energy retrofits from the Federal Inflation Reduction Act, state and local programs to decarbonize their buildings in the coming years, creating healthier living and working spaces.”  

Nancy Hirsh, Executive Director, NW Energy Coalition 

“Seattle’s bold action to adopt a Building Energy Performance Standard sets a powerful example of what climate leadership looks like. With the proposed building standards, Seattle will join C40 Cities like New York, Boston, and Washington DC in charting a path forward for cities to reduce emissions from buildings, create good green jobs, and keep residents safe and healthy. C40 commends Seattle and Mayor Harrell and looks forward to the greener future enabled by this milestone achievement.”   

Laura Jay, C40 Cities Regional Director for North America

“The proposed Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standard positions the city among national leaders in reducing emissions from existing buildings—a crucial step to confronting the climate crisis and delivering health and economic benefits for families and businesses. RMI applauds Mayor Harrell for proposing this new standard and we look forward to supporting this strong policy that prioritizes housing equity, climate justice, and energy savings for its most vulnerable residents.” 

Jonny Kocher, Manager, Carbon-Free Buildings Program, RMI 

“Congratulations Mayor Harrell for this groundbreaking achievement. Seattle’s collaborative approach, working closely with the building industry and environmental community to deliver the kind of impactful policy that the climate crisis requires, is a model for other cities.”  

Simone Mangili, Executive Director, Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance 

“Seattle’s proposed law marks a significant step towards aligning with major US cities like Boston, St. Louis, New York, and Washington DC. This strategic move not only integrates Seattle into a national effort but also enhances its potential to obtain crucial federal funding for equitable implementation. The impact of the proposed building performance standards extends beyond buildings; it offers substantial benefits for residents and the climate.”   

Jessica Miller, Senior Director of Policy Strategy & Engagement, IMT 

“This is important and challenging legislation. As a member of the Technical Advisory Group, it feels like our concerns were heard and addressed. The City did a great job of listening to stakeholders and crafting a standard that is simple to understand and will be effective at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings.”   

Neil Bavins, Principal, Windward Consulting NW

“Fossil fuel use in buildings is one of the biggest contributors to the pollution that causes climate change. Seattle has helped to lead the way in Washington on reducing pollution in new construction and we’re encouraged to see them moving forward with a proposal to reduce pollution from existing buildings. This is a step in the right direction, and we hope this policy can help accelerate related efforts. A win in Seattle sets a template for cities across the country to do the same.”   

Michelle Piñon, SAFE Cities Senior Organizer, STAND.earth 

Duwamish Valley Program – Mid-Year Update 2023 

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This year marks a big year for the Duwamish Valley Program. In June of 2018, the City released the Duwamish Valley Action Plan, which has been our north star as we coordinate City investments in South Park and Georgetown. This summer, the Action Plan celebrated its 5th year anniversary of release! 

We’ve made some great strides in implementing the mid-term opportunities and developing the long-term strategies identified in the Action Plan, and we’ll provide a full report in our end-of-year update to be released in early 2024! Stay tuned for more information about major accomplishments and the status of implementing the Action Plan. 

While there is much to celebrate to recognize the collaboration between community members, community-based organizations, and City of Seattle departments, 2023 began on rough footing for families in the Duwamish Valley. The December 2022 flooding left significant damage and trauma behind for families in South Park. 

Community organizations tabling at the “One Duwamish Valley” event at the South Park Pump Station on September 30th.
Youth eating lunch provided by Muy Macho while playing the loteria hosted by Georgetown Youth Council.  

Since then, the City has supported families as they recover from the flooding and is implementing plans to prepare for the future. This year, Seattle Public Utilities received $1.5 million from the King County Flood Control District to increase community resilience to flooding. In addition, these funds will support the City’s response to the upcoming wet weather season that begins with the coming King Tide season. Most of this funding will be used to deploy the temporary sandbag barrier that was installed in January of 2023.

Relatedly, Seattle Public Utilities, the Duwamish Valley Program, the Seattle Department of Transportation, and the Office of Arts & Culture held an event this September titled “One Duwamish Valley: Celebrating Community Resilience and City Investments” at the newly opened South Park Pump Station. This event focused on the recognition of the 5th Year Anniversary of the Duwamish Valley Action Plan and the opening of the pump station and major roadway conveyance work.  

The South Park Pump Station will help address regular flooding in the industrial area of South Park during regular high tide events when the water levels in the river block the pipes that drain into the river. The pump station will force the water into the river even when the water is above the pipes. The roadway conveyance work represents major investments into sidewalks and pipe systems that will help move stormwater as it falls into storm drains out to the river. Together, these two projects in the industrial areas of South Park will reduce the annual flooding and ponding that businesses and residents experience.  

However, it is important to note that the pump station will not help solve the problems that resulted in the flooding in December 2022, when the river over-topped the banks. To help address those problems, the City is designing a Duwamish Valley Resilience District. We will continue working with the Resilience District Advisory Group, City departments, other agencies, and you as we continue to move this work forward. Please stay on the lookout for upcoming opportunities to engage in this work. 

Here are some other project-specific updates related to work in the Acton Plan: 

Healthy Environment:  

Heavy-Duty Truck Electrification: The City launched this pilot project this summer to help truck drivers who drive heavy trucks with toxic fuel emissions transition to electric vehicles. The City investment will fund point-of-sale rebates for new electric vehicles operating in the Duwamish Valley. Incentives are available for Battery Electric Class 8 Tractor Trailer Trucks and will cover 40% (Up to $180,000) per truck for a total of $1.7 million available in funding.  

Parks & Open Spaces 

South Park Plaza: The City opened up the bidding process for construction this summer. However, due to some hiccups in the bidding process, the project had to go out for bid a second time, which delayed the ultimate timeline for beginning construction. Seattle Parks & Recreation (SPR) anticipates that construction will begin this fall. 

South Park Community Center and Site Redevelopment: The City is currently working on renovations to the South Park Community Center. In the interim, SPR is offering weekday evening programming at Concord on Tuesdays/Wednesdays, and Late Night on Fridays/Saturdays.  

South Park Community Center programming is moving to Concord International Elementary School located at 723 S Concord St, Seattle, WA 98108. Programming will occur in the Gym and Cafeteria spaces of the school beginning on September 15, 2023. Weekday evening programs will be open to the public for all ages. Friday, our Late Night Program will be held for teens ages 13-19, and Saturday our Late Night Program will be held for tweens ages 9-12.  

The hours for programming at Concord are as follows: 

  • Weeknight Programs from 6:30 p.m – 8:30 p.m.
  • Friday Teen Late Night Program from 6:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m . 
  • Saturday Tween Late Night Program from 3:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.  

Contact Information: 

Amadanyo Oguara can be contacted for information regarding Late Night Programming at amadanyo.oguara@seattle.gov. 

Zara Soares can be contacted for information regarding weekday programming at zara.soares@seattle.gov. 

Community Capacity 

Georgetown Community Spaces: The Duwamish Valley Program led community engagement efforts in Georgetown from Fall 2022 – Summer 2023 to understand residents’ priorities on investing $500,000 in community spaces in Georgetown. Currently, the City has two contracts for this work.  

  1. Resilience Hub Programming at Mini Mart City Park: the Mini Mart will embark on retrofitting the facilities to help support residents during extreme weather events. Additionally, they will develop a resilience hub program plan for the facility. To increase community accessibility to the premises, the Mini Mart will expand their operating hours, add additional community programming, and create outdoor accessible features like tables and benches.  
  2. Building Design Program for a Neighborhood Center: the City has hired MAKERS architecture & urban design and Environmental Works to lead residents through a design process to understand what kinds of facility needs Georgetown would want in a community-owned and operated neighborhood center. This project is in its early conceptualization. There will be a community advisory group that will guide the consultants throughout the year on the project. 

Duwamish River Opportunity Fund: This year, the Office of Sustainability & Environment began to manage the Duwamish River Opportunity Fund (DROF). The City has $240,000 available this year to award to community-based organizations that serve Duwamish Valley communities with programming and projects. Applications closed earlier this summer, and decisions will be announced later this fall. 

Mobility & Transportation 

Reconnect West Seattle – Dallas Ave S: As part of Reconnect West Seattle, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will be making improvements to Dallas Avenue South in South Park. Through engagement with residents, SDOT has decided on a preliminary plan that will work to keep all trees on the street. The plan is to save as many trees as possible and the new design accommodates that, however, it is still possible that some will be removed. When the crews are done removing the old sidewalk, SDOT will have Urban Forestry inspect the roots to make sure the trees are in good health. Residents will be able to join Urban Forestry if they want to see the roots/process. 

So far, there have been only two trees identified for concern: the trees in front of 8331 Dallas Ave S, as they sustained some fire damage in the past.  

The current plan is to keep all the trees depending on their root health conditions. SPNA and community members have communicated that so long as the trees don’t pose any danger to the roadway/adjacent property, they’d like to keep them. 

Economic Opportunity & Jobs 

Support for Small Businesses: The Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE) continues its support of Duwamish Valley businesses through a contract with Vision 7 Advertising. OSE is awarding $500 mini grants to small businesses to support their efforts in South Park and Georgetown and provide technical support.

Seattle Forest Week: A Celebration of the Urban Forest  

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The City of Seattle’s urban forests are not only a beautiful part of our City but also play a crucial role in combating the impacts of climate change.  

To celebrate and protect this vital resource for our City, Seattle Forest Week returns this year from October 28 to November 4, 2023. The citywide initiative is supported by the Green Seattle Partnership, a collaboration between the City of Seattle, community groups and non-profits, businesses, schools, and thousands of volunteers working together to restore and actively maintain the City’s forested parklands and offers a way to invest in the health of the urban landscape and celebrate Seattle’s trees.   

This year marks the third annual Seattle Forest Week, and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved with events hosted by partner organizations like Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, Serve Ethiopians Washington, Environmental Coalition of South Seattle (ECOSS), Sea Potential, and Tilth Alliance.  

You can learn more about Seattle Forest Week, find a list of events, and get involved on the Green Seattle Partnership Website.   

Mayor Harrell Kicks Off Seattle Forest Week at Jefferson Park   

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Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, City Staff, and volunteers came together at Jefferson Park on Saturday, October 28, to plant trees in the park and along the right away as a part of Seattle Forest Week.  

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Mayor Harrell spoke about the work Seattle is doing to improve tree canopy and meet the City’s goal to reach 30% canopy cover by 2037 and to improve the equitable distribution of trees throughout our City so that all communities have access to green spaces and shade.   

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It’s Been a Big Year for Seattle’s Urban Forest!  

Seattle’s recent Canopy Cover Assessment showed Seattle lost 255 acres of canopy between 2016 and 2021. The report found that not only do higher disadvantaged areas have less canopy cover, but they are also losing canopy at a faster rate.

Part of the work to invest in these areas will be supported by the City’s recently awarded $12.9 million by the U.S. Forest Service to plant trees, create green careers for young people, and restore forested places near schools, parks, and low-income housing. The grant will build on the long history of the Green Seattle Partnership to restore forested parklands, which are threatened by invasive species and the challenges of climate change.   

Earlier this year, Seattle was among the first Washington cities to sign onto a new statewide tree equity collaborative and pledged to plant more than 8,000 trees over the next five years on public and private properties and 40,000 trees in parks and natural areas. Mayor Harrell also issued the One Seattle Tree Plan Executive Order in April, directing City Departments to accelerate efforts to expand tree canopy on public land and updated the City’s Tree Ordinance to increase tree protections and provide for more equitable distribution of tree canopy.  

Also bolstering these efforts are Mayor Harrell’s 2024 proposed budget that includes funding to expand the Trees for Neighborhoods program to 1,300 trees planted in 2024 and evaluate siting a One Seattle Tree Nursery to grow trees locally.   

And most recently, the United Nations Environment Program selected the City of Seattle to participate in Generation Restoration, a collaborative initiative of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Seattle, which will be a “role model city,” joins 18 other cities around the world seeking to share best practices to advance urban habitat. Seattle is the only city in the United States participating. 

Seattle’s Green New Deal is Building an Equitable Clean Energy Economy  

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Green jobs are good jobs.  

But according to the recent Seattle Jobs Initiative’s report, the Construction and Building Operations sector is primarily white and male, with all occupational levels except helpers being at least 70% white.  

As we transition away from fossil fuels, we must diversify the clean energy workforce to meet growing demand and address economic disparities to ensure Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and women have access to critical workforce development opportunities that offer living wage jobs. 

Seattle’s Green New Deal and Workforce Development Programs 

Workforce development is a critical strategy of Seattle’s Green New Deal, which aims to address the climate crisis by investing in a low-carbon economy. One way the City of Seattle is doing that is to advance an equitable transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy by prioritizing investments in communities historically most harmed by economic, racial, and environmental injustices.  

As part of this work, the City of Seattle has invested $1 million in Clean Energy Career Training programs across six workforce development organizations: ANEW, Northwest Carpenters Institute of Washington, Seattle Central Pre-Apprenticeship Training (PACT), Sphere Solar Energy, YouthCare’s YouthBuild, and Emerald Cities Collaborative.  

OSE is proud to partner with Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) and the Office of Economic Development (OED) to support investments in a workforce that can help address climate change, and we are excited to spotlight two of these organizations that recently held graduation events.   

Celebrating Seattle’s New Additions to the Clean Energy Workforce 

Emerald Cities Collaborative Spotlight 

Emerald Cities Collaborative graduates

On Saturday, June 24, Emerald Cities Collaborative celebrated the graduation of participants in the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC/R) Training and Career Preparation Academy.  

As part of their mission to engage communities historically left out of the economic and development process, Emerald Cities Collaborative’s HVAC Career Prep Academy is designed to train women, veterans, low-income individuals, and Black and Brown community members in HVAC/R systems.  

Participants completed the 12-week program with 12 evening lectures, demonstrations, and 4-weekend hands-on laboratory training at the HVAC Institute in Kent.  

Sphere Solar Energy Spotlight 

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell poses with graduates of the Sphere Solar Energy program.

On September 27, OSE  joined Mayor Bruce Harrell, Seattle Office of Economic Development, and Seattle FAS to celebrate the graduates of Sphere Solar Energy’s latest Clean Energy Career Pathway program!  

The program provides interactive, hands-on experience learning about clean energy components, system assembly, electricity fundamentals, and business functions such as how to assess solar feasibility, size a system, and calculate electricity consumption. 

Congrats to the graduates, and thank you to Sphere Solar Energy for your work delivering clean energy solutions that strengthen community resilience and create pathways for individuals from all walks of life to thrive in the sustainable energy sector. 

Our Next Steps in Building an Equitable Workforce 

These recent graduation events are just the beginning of a more equitable and clean energy economy in Seattle. We are committed to advancing the Green New Deal and transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy in a way that prioritizes investments in underserved communities.  

With the City working to implement and pass policies like the Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS), the Clean Heat Program, and the Transportation Electrification Blueprint, we will continue to support programs that diversify the clean energy workforce and offer living wage jobs to BIPOC and women.   

Stay tuned for more!  

Building a Greener Emerald City 

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Green jobs are essential for creating healthy communities. By investing in the skills of the future and prioritizing sustainable workforce development, cities can provide well-paying and accessible employment opportunities to ensure Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and women have access to living wage jobs while reducing emissions and meeting climate targets at the same time.  

Seattle is collaborating with local partners and global organizations like C40 Cities to share best practices and learn about efforts to build a sustainable future with good, green jobs that reduce emissions and benefit us all. Workforce development is a key strategy of Seattle’s Green New Deal which supports expanding access to clean energy careers that can help build generational wealth at the intersection of climate action, infrastructure, and clean, renewable energy.  

Seattle’s work and partnerships were recently recognized as part of C40’s Green Jobs Now-City Stories series!  

The video features Yaharia, a carpenter’s apprentice participating in the Northwest Carpenter’s Institute of Washington’s training program*. Yaharia shares her experience in the video and the impact of green jobs on her life. The opportunity created by Seattle’s Green New Deal has made her financially secure and allowed her to care for her mother in retirement, something she had always dreamed of. 

“This apprenticeship positively impacted my life because now my mom is able to retire, and I get to care for her.”  

– Yaharia, Carpenter’s Apprentice, Northwest Carpenter’s Institute of Washington

In the video, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell also spoke about the importance of providing youth employment opportunities in the green economy.

“A lot of these younger folks, they’re looking for their roads, a road that could lead into the green economy, and that’s why I’m so passionate about getting youth from all backgrounds to be here.” 

– Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell

The C40 video showcases the importance of green jobs and how they can positively impact people’s lives and highlights the importance of creating green job opportunities that benefit everyone in the transition to an inclusive and sustainable economy.  

Check out Seattle’s video, and see the other cities highlighted as part of C40’s Green Jobs Now campaign.  

* The City of Seattle has invested $1 million for Clean Energy Career Training programs across six workforce development organizations: ANEW, Carpenters Employers Apprenticeship & Training Trust (CEATT) , Seattle Central Pre-Apprenticeship Training (PACT), Sphere Solar Energy, YouthCare’s YouthBuild, and Emerald Cities Collaborative. 

SPU Ask 1.5 Million People to Use Less Water to Stretch Region’s Water Supply

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While Seattle’s regional water supply has looked good throughout the summer, SPU is asking its 1.5 million customers to voluntarily reduce their water use to help stretch our region’s water supply until there is enough rain this fall. This is a necessary step to stretch the region’s water supply until we get enough rain this fall and our water supply our water supply improves for people and fish. 

“Our hydrologic model suggests a deep drawdown of our mountain reservoirs. Water levels are already lower than average, and we are adjusting to sustain adequate water supply for our customers and the rivers this fall,” said Elizabeth Garcia, water resources planner at SPU. “We are also asking our customers to help, too, by voluntarily reducing their water use.”

Every day SPU calculates how many millions of gallons of water the region, as a whole, used that day. Then, every Monday, the Utility provides an average daily water consumption number based on the last seven days. (See SPU’s water supply conditions page for more information.) As of Monday, September 18, the region is averaging about 149 million gallons per day (mgd) of water use. This includes water consumed by City of Seattle residents and businesses, plus consumption amounts for customers who receive Seattle Water through other cities and water districts in King County. 

Top Ways to Save Water  

  • Take shorter or fewer showers 
  • Do full loads of laundry and dishwasher 
  • Stop watering your lawn  
  • Fix leaks and running toilets 

For a full list of ways to save water, visit www.savingwater.org. You can also download and print our water-saving tips flyer (PDF).

For more information about Seattle’s water supply conditions and additional ways to save water, please visit SPU’s At Your Service Blog, https://atyourservice.seattle.gov/2023/09/21/use-less-water-to-stretch-regions-water-supply/    

The Mayor’s 2024 Mid-Biennial Budget Update continues Seattle’s dedication to community-driven initiatives for climate justice. 

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By Jessyn Farrell, Director of Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment 

Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell is releasing the 2023-2024 Proposed Mid-Biennial Budget Adjustments. This budget reflects Mayor Harrell’s continued commitment to, and investment in, bold actions that address urgent needs of our communities and advance our One Seattle priorities. Mayor Harrell’s proposal continues work initiated in the 2023 Adopted Budget to invest in creating safe, healthy, and thriving communities.  This budget continues Seattle’s dedication to community-driven initiatives for climate justice, while also supporting efforts to deliver effective public safety, build affordable housing and address the homelessness crisis, activate our Downtown, and advance opportunity and equity for all. With the investments in this budget proposal, we can work together to advance our shared One Seattle vision and an agenda that will inspire the best in our city and keep us moving forward. 

 
OSE’s 2024 proposed budget reflects Seattle’s commitment to responding to the climate crises through Mayor Harrell’s One Seattle Climate Justice Agenda to achieve a healthy, sustainable city for every resident. For the Office of Sustainability & Environment, key highlights included in the mayor’s proposed budget include:  

Building an Equitable Clean Energy Economy 
The proposed 2024 budget continues key Duwamish Valley economic development investments, clean energy workforce development investments, and workforce development capacity to connect climate policies to the needs of an inclusive and equitable and low carbon economy. 2024 Highlights include: 

  • Continued investment in capacity to support partnership and coordinated action to advance clean energy workforce development through apprenticeships and training. 
  • Continued investment in clean energy training ($1M) to support contractors with inclusive job readiness so workers are ready for clean energy jobs.  
  • Continued support for youth leadership and green job pathways in the Duwamish Valley ($700K). 

Ensuring a Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels 
The proposed 2024 budget affirms Seattle’s commitment to community-led environmental and climate justice action by providing new capacity, technical assistance, and incentives to support residents, businesses, organizations, and workers reduce energy use and carbon pollution. 2024 Highlights include: 

  • Funding for the Seattle Clean Buildings Accelerator ($4.5M) to help buildings owned- by or serving frontline communities (like community centers, low-income housing facilities, and non-profits) implement capital projects to reduce energy and emissions.  
  • $530,000 to implement Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standards for reducing emissions from larger commercial and multifamily buildings.   
  • Continued capacity and incentives ($800K) to help residents leverage rebates to make the transition from dirty oil heat to clean electric heat pumps through Seattle Clean Heat. 
  • Continued capacity and incentives ($1M) to support the recently launched Seattle Electric Trucks Incentive Pilot. 

Building Healthy, Climate Resilient Communities 
The proposed 2024 budget prioritizes holistic investments in resilience and environmental justice, prioritizing community-led programs and projects in communities most impacted by climate impacts. 2024 Highlights include: 

  • New customer service capacity to help residents access Fresh Bucks healthy food benefits in languages they are comfortable speaking and from retailers with culturally diverse fruits and vegetables.  
  • New capacity in climate and environmental justice grantmaking and continued grantmaking to support community-led solutions to address racial, economic, and environmental injustice ($2M). 
  • Continued investment in Indigenous sustainability projects that honor Tribal sovereignty and advance Indigenous led approaches to climate action ($2.6M.) 
  • Completing the Tree Canopy Equity & Resilience Plan, a City-community roadmap to equitably meet Seattle’s canopy goals and increase the climate resilience of the urban forest. 
  • Continue investing in new tree planting in low canopy industrial neighborhoods at higher risk for extreme heat, pollution, and health disparities ($300K).  
  • Completing Resilience Hub planning, and launch pilots to support residents in both their everyday lives and during extreme weather and climate emergencies. 

 
NEXT STEPS AND COMMUNICATION 

For more information on the proposed budget, read the mayor’s press release here.


Over the next two months, the City Council will review the Mayor’s 2023-2024 Proposed Mid-Biennial Budget Adjustments. Public hearings are on October 18 and November 13. Final adoption of the budget is expected on Tuesday, November 21. Read more about the Mayor’s proposed budget here and you can also direct any questions to MOS_COMMS@seattle.gov.  

One Duwamish Valley: Celebrating Community Resilience and City Investments

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Come to the South Park Pump Station grand opening event to recognize the completion of the pump station and to celebrate the 5th year anniversary of the Duwamish Valley Action Plan!

Seattle Public Utilities will present information about the upcoming wet weather season and what you can do to help prepare yourself for flooding, as well as updates on the City’s broader flood response work. Other City departments will provide updates on ongoing work in the Duwamish Valley. There will be brief remarks by public officials and community leaders, followed by time to explore the area.

You can take a self-guided walking tour of the campus and the drainage and street improvements in the area. Lunch is provided for free!

Saturday, September 30, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
South Park Pump Station 636 S Riverside Drive, Seattle, WA 98108

Celebrate the 5th year anniversary of the release of the Duwamish Valley Action Plan, the opening of the South Park Pump Station, and the completion of the first phase of major roadway and conveyance improvement projects. It also marks approximately 6-8 months since high tide inundation greatly impacted part of South Park.

There are three overlapping goals for this event:

  1. Highlight the essential role of community leadership in identifying priorities for continued City investments to improve South Park and Georgetown.
  2. Engage with residents and businesses on flooding-related investments and on flooding preparedness actions. 
  3. Enjoy the day!

Here is what to expect throughout the event:

  • Opening remarks by invited dignitaries
  • South Park Pump Station and the Roadway/Conveyance Project Phase 1 completion celebration
  • Tabling and information sharing
    • “Why does it flood” demonstration
    • Duwamish Valley Action Team (IDT)
    • Flood Preparedness information
    • CIP Project info (SPWQF, Roadway/conveyance Ph 2)
    • Arts celebration (1% art funded pieces)
  • Food and entertainment by local artists
  • Self-guided tour of pump station and drainage and conveyance work
  • Duwamish Valley youth engagement

We hope to see you all there!

¡Únase al evento de inauguración en el South Park Pump Station para reconocer la finalización de la estación de bombeo y para celebrar el quinto aniversario del Plan de Acción de Valle Duwamish!

Seattle Public Utilities presentará información sobre la próxima temporada de lluvias y que se puede hacer para prepararse para las inundaciones, así como actualizaciones sobre el trabajo de respuesta a inundaciones de la Ciudad. Otros departamentos de la Ciudad presentarán información sobre el trabajo en curso en el Valle Duwamish. Habrán comentarios breves por funcionarios públicos y líderes comunitarios, seguido de tiempo para explorar el área.

Puede realizar un recorrido a pie autoguiado por el campus y las mejoras de drenaje y calles en el área. ¡El almuerzo se proporciona gratis!

Cuándo: Sábado 30 de septiembre, 11 a. m. a 2 p. m.

Dónde: South Park Pump Station 636 S Riverside Drive, Seattle, WA 98108