CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the Bitter Lake Reservoir Replacement Project; transferring partial jurisdiction of a portion of Seattle Public Utilities’ Bitter Lake Reservoir property to the Seattle Department of Transportation, situated in a portion of the Northeast quarter of the Northwest quarter of Section 19, Township 26 North, Range 4 East, Willamette Meridian, and Lots 1, 2, and 3, Block 3, Allendale; designating the property for street and sidewalk purposes; and laying it off as right-of-way.
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WHEREAS, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) in 1955 acquired through condemnation the approximately 13.3- acre Bitter Lake Reservoir (BLR) property for utility purposes and the property was accepted by Ordinance 83429; and
WHEREAS, in 1958 SPU built an open reservoir on the property; and
WHEREAS, in response to new drinking water regulations in the 1990s prohibiting open drinking water reservoirs, SPU installed a floating cover on the BLR in 2003; and
WHEREAS, the floating cover on BLR is approaching the end of its useful life; and
WHEREAS, in 2022 SPU decided to build a new, partially buried reinforced concrete reservoir and open a significant portion of the property to public use; and
WHEREAS, the resulting project is known as the Bitter Lake Reservoir Replacement Project (Project); and
WHEREAS, as part of the Seattle Department of Transportation’s (SDOT’s) street improvement requirements for the Project, SPU is required to increase the width of the sidewalk along Linden Avenue North between North 143rd Street and North 138th Street to meet the standard width of 6 feet, laying the groundwork for long term pedestrian infrastructure improvements; and
WHEREAS, to meet SDOT’s requirements, SPU must transfer to SDOT a 610 square foot portion of BLR property immediately adjacent to the public right-of-way (Transfer Area), for street and sidewalk purposes; and
WHEREAS, SPU determined the Transfer Area is not needed for current or future utility purposes; and
WHEREAS, SPU and SDOT identified mutual and offsetting benefits arising from this jurisdictional transfer, and no monetary compensation is required between departments; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council authorizes the transfer of jurisdiction from Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) of a portion of SPU’s fee-owned property along Linden Avenue North between North 143rd Street and North 138th Street, as legally described in Attachment 1 and depicted in Attachment 2 (Transfer Area) to this ordinance and designates it for transportation purposes (a portion of tax parcel number 192604-9009). In case of a conflict between the description of the boundaries in Attachment 1 and the map in Attachment 2, the description shall control.
Section 2. The Transfer Area is laid off, opened, widened, extended, and established as right-of-way.
Section 3. SPU and SDOT shall coordinate to ensure the sidewalk improvements and jurisdictional boundaries are implemented in a manner consistent with long-term infrastructure and community benefit goals for the Bitter Lake Reservoir site.
Section 4. The General Manager/CEO of SPU and the Director of SDOT, or their designees, are authorized to execute such further documents and agreements as may be necessary to carry out the intent of this ordinance.
Section 5. This ordinance shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Sections 1.04.020 and 1.04.070.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2026, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this ________ day of _________________________, 2026.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved / returned unsigned / vetoed this ____day of _______________, 2026.
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Katie B. Wilson, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2026.
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Scheereen Dedman, City Clerk
(Seal)
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Legal Description
Attachment 2 - Transfer Area