Committee backs sale of narrow City Light strip to Snohomish County for roadway, retaining transmission easement

The Parks and Seattle City Light Committee voted unanimously to recommend passage of Council Bill 121183, which authorizes Seattle City Light to transfer a narrow portion of real property rights to Snohomish County for a roadway improvement project while reserving an electrical transmission easement.

City Light officials told the committee the parcel is a long, narrow transmission corridor (roughly 155 feet wide in the corridor area described) adjacent to Snohomish County's planned 43rd Avenue Southeast corridor improvements near Mill Creek/North Creek. "City Light would retain all of our easement rights to keep the corridor intact, and we would receive a one‑time payment of $452,216, which is the fair market value for the property rights," Katy Tassery, real estate manager for Seattle City Light, said.

Staff said the transfer resolves operations concerns about trees within the narrow strip that posed a risk to transmission lines. Council members expressed concern about tree removal associated with the county roadway project: committee members initially assumed the trees would be preserved but staff clarified City Light would not be performing the tree removal — the county's roadway construction would necessitate clearing in the transfer area.

Council Member Teresa Rivera and others emphasized the value of preserving tree canopy where possible and that tree removal has downstream ecological impacts. Council Member Strauss noted the importance of government‑to‑government consultation with federally recognized tribes when land is transferred, and said she supported the transfer given the utility purpose and City Light's retention of necessary easement rights.

The committee's recommendation advances Council Bill 121183 to the full City Council meeting on April 7 at 2:00 p.m.