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Initiative Measure No. 123 (Alaskan Way Park)
1. The law as it presently exists
By ordinance, the City Council adopted a plan to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct, including demolition of the existing Viaduct structure. By statute, the State adopted a financing plan for this purpose. By contract with the City, the State committed to funding removal of the Viaduct. The City and State will jointly perform the design and construction of the Viaduct demolition through a future agreement.
2. The effect of the initiative if approved
Initiative 123, if enacted, creates a Downtown Waterfront Preservation and Development Authority (PDA) for purposes, such as retaining a portion of the Viaduct, that conflict with existing plans for the waterfront as established in state law, City ordinances and contractual agreements.
The PDA would be a municipal corporation established for the purpose of building, operating and maintaining an elevated park along the central waterfront. The elevated park would be a new 45-foot wide garden bridge for pedestrians and bicycles from just north of the Pike Street Hillclimb to CenturyLink Field. The plan includes park access, roadway reconfiguration and redevelopment of Waterfront Park. As part of the design, the elevated park retains and integrates an approximately 400-foot section of the existing Alaskan Way Viaduct from the Hillclimb to just north of Union Street. Real estate developments are planned for each end of the park. The PDA would seek private money for these purposes, in addition to public funding. The Seattle City Council shall make funds available to the PDA from any source available, including the general fund, to facilitate the PDA’s purpose and its plan for the waterfront. Surplus City property shall be made available to the PDA at no cost.
The PDA would have powers necessary for its purposes, in accordance with the powers granted to public corporations under Chapter 35.21 RCW.
A permanent twelve-member Council would govern the PDA. An interim Council would govern the PDA for 190 days and include Kate Martin, Teri Hein, Richard Warner, Susan Bean, Don Harper, Irene Wall and three members selected by the interim members from applicants. The permanent PDA Council would include four members appointed by the Seattle Metropolitan Parks District; four members elected by the PDA Constituency; and four appointed by the PDA Council. Appointed members would be subject to City Council confirmation. All members of the PDA would serve a four-year term.
The PDA Constituency would include any person who pays regular dues. The Constituency would hold regular meetings to conduct its business. Constituency approval would be required for certain actions such as changes to the PDA plan.
PDA Council approval would be required for certain transactions, including the transfer of real estate and issuance of debt. The PDA would be required to submit an annual report to the City with a statement of its finances which would be audited by the State Auditor and publicly available.
City Council approval would be required for changes to the PDA plan or organization, and to annually fix the compensation of PDA Councilmembers.