Jake Fey — Jake Fey is referenced and speaks as the committee chair and 27th District representative from Tacoma, with later mentions again addressing him as Chair Fey and noting prior discussion with him about the meeting.
Jake Fey — John is referenced in connection with prior remarks about the Olympics; likely the chair or another member, but the transcript does not explicitly identify him here.
Jake Fey — Addressed as Chair.
Jake Fey — The chair is managing the question queue and calling on members.
Jake Fey — Representative Reed addresses the chair.
Jake Fey — The chair grants the follow-up question.
Brandy Donaghy — Introduces herself as representing the 44th Legislative District.
Brandy Donaghy — Representative Brandy Donaghy is called on for questions, then announced as next in line, and later noted as having passed.
Sam Low — Introduces himself as assistant ranking member from the 39th District.
Sam Low — Sam Low thanked the presenters and then focused his questions on ferry system staffing. He asked whether the increase to about 1,900 employees is sufficient, whether the staffing model is at the right level compared with other jurisdictions and future needs, whether better scheduling and efficiency could reduce pressure to add headcount, and how interchangeable staff are between vessels, including key roles such as chief engineers and able-bodied sailors.
Sam Low — Representative Low asks what happens to the engine crew while the vessel is out of service for conversion.
David Stuebe — David Stuebe introduces himself as representing the 17th District and continues by describing the counties included in that district, including Clark County, Schimani County, and Click County.
Mark Klicker — Introduces himself as representing the 16th District.
Mark Klicker — Asked why the dock would be moved farther offshore if sea levels are rising and questioned the logic of the design choice.
Janice Zahn — Introduces herself as representing the 41st Legislative District.
Janice Zahn — The chair announced Representative Zahn as the next member to ask questions; likely a transcription error for Representative Janice Zahn.
Greg Nance — Greg Nance greets the group and introduces himself, noting that he represents Kitsap and ferry-served communities including Bremerton, Bainbridge, and Kingston.
Greg Nance — Representative Nance is called on after Representative Richards and then thanks the presenters, saying John and David’s presentation was appreciated and acknowledging Eastern’s strong track record on smaller vessels.
Greg Nance — Possibly mis-transcribed as 'Representative Marcus'; the speaker referred to an earlier question by this member.
Debra Entenman — Introduces herself as representing the 47th Legislative District.
Debra Entenman — Representative Debra Entenman is called on to speak and then raises concerns about building boats in Florida, echoing Representative Reed’s worries and questioning the risks. She then asks for a quick follow-up, indicating she has additional questions on the same topic.
Joey DeSarna — Identified as the head of Eastern Shipyard and quoted as wanting a long-term relationship with Washington State Ferries.
Sharon Wylie — The chair says Representative Wylie will be next.
Sharon Wylie — Representative Wiley is called on by the chair, with a later reference likely repeating the call due to a transcription error. The ensuing exchange centers on concerns about contract risk and the maritime industry, with a speaker responding directly to Wiley's questions or comments on those issues.
David Hackney — The discussion centers on procurement and bidding decisions, with the speaker first referencing David’s predecessor in relation to earlier procurement choices, then turning to David directly to continue the explanation of the first boat bid and how risk was allocated.
Gavin Higgins — Identified as the owner of Nichols Brothers and cited permitting, environmental, and wage-related cost factors.
Scott Nostia — Introduced himself as senior vice president at Siegel and national practice leader for organizational effectiveness; noted long partnership with Washington State Ferries.
Candace Polk — Candace Polk is introduced by a colleague and then identifies herself as a senior consultant in Siegel’s organizational effectiveness practice, serving primarily as the engagement leader for Washington State Ferries.
Siegel representative — The Siegel representative explained that the 2021 study found no single cause for Washington State Ferries’ overtime problem, but rather a set of interconnected issues: longstanding operational policies, recruiting and scheduling practices, workplace culture, seasonal staffing patterns, weak retention, and reliance on maritime-industry hiring. These conditions limited advancement into mate and captain roles, contributed to labor shortages and overtime, and risked future shortages of qualified captains. The witness then described the 2024 follow-up review, noting that state funding and a new staffing model helped address shortages, improve retention, restore service, and avoid Coast Guard minimum-staffing shutdowns. They also highlighted career-development efforts such as paid pilotage time, advancement from AB to mate, guaranteed hours, and broader recruitment beyond the traditional maritime workforce. Finally, the witness said the 2024 survey of 406 employees showed improved conditions, including a strong share reporting that immediate supervisors treat them with respect.
Nicole — Nicole was invited to come up and discuss terminal projects and terminal electrification.
Nicole McIntosh — Nicole McIntosh, Director of Terminal Engineering for Ferries, described the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal and the planning process for its replacement or improvement. She explained that the terminal serves Vashon Island and Southworth, handles about 2.3 million customers annually, and faces major constraints from its age, low dock elevation, limited access and holding space, and vulnerability to earthquakes and sea level rise. She outlined the project timeline, noting that the need was identified in the 2040 long-range plan, followed by a Planning and Environmental Linkages study in 2021, with the project now moving toward NEPA and state environmental review. McIntosh summarized community input, including support from Southworth and Vashon for a larger dock and Fauntleroy neighbors’ preference for maintaining the same size, and said that input was used to establish project values and evaluation criteria. She then described the screening process that narrowed many concepts to two main options—a similar footprint and a larger footprint—and said the current preferred concept is the mid-size B alternative. She also noted that the design considers intersection improvements and advance ticketing, maintains the same width footprint to avoid impacts to Cove Park, increases vehicle capacity by moving the dock offshore, and could allow eelgrass and microalgae habitat to reestablish.
WSDOT staff member (unnamed) — The WSDOT staff member explained the project’s coordination structure, noting that the City of Seattle participates in the technical advisory committees (CAG and TAG) and that engagement will continue through NEPA. They also added that an executive advisory group is in place and that a memorandum of agreement was recently signed regarding the intersection improvement, with the city responsible for owning and maintaining the work on the street.
Jake Fey — The speaker addressed the members generally and said he would engage with them further on ferry system planning.
Andrew Barkis — Andrew Barkis is identified as the Ranking Member, and he introduces himself as representing the 2nd Legislative District (Thurston and Pierce County) and serving as the committee’s ranking member.
Andrew Barkis — Andrew Barkis questions the project’s overall timeline and financial assumptions, noting his long involvement since around 2018 and asking whether cost escalation and delays have been factored into the return-on-investment analysis. He continues pressing on whether electrification still makes sense economically over time and asks why design work appears to still be ongoing despite his understanding that it had already been completed.
Andrew Barkis — Representative Barkis asks whether new prime movers were installed after two engines were removed.
Davina Duerr — Davina Duerr is introduced and then introduces herself, identifying her legislative district as the First District, including Woodinville, Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, and parts of unincorporated Snohomish County.
Adison Richards — Introduces himself and references ferry travel and an accident in Kitsap Harbor.
Adison Richards — Representative Richards is called on by the chair and then asks why the bids came in so much higher, specifically whether factors beyond labor and cost of living contributed to the increased costs.
Adison Richards — Representative Richards asks about the timeline for bringing new vessels online and what to prepare for.
Adam Bernbaum — Introduces himself as representing the 24th Legislative District and the Olympic Peninsula.
Adam Bernbaum — The chair says Representative Bernbaum will be next; likely meant Bernbaum/Bernbaum.
Adam Bernbaum — The chair announces that he will move on to questions from Representative Bernbaum/Birnbaum, identifying the member as the next questioner.
Adam Bernbaum — Adam Bernbaum asked a series of follow-up questions to understand the conversion project’s economics and emissions impact. He requested clarification on the reported conversion costs and lifetime savings, did some quick subtraction to gauge the net cost, then asked how many tons of greenhouse gas emissions the project would reduce and whether, from a cost-per-emissions-reduction perspective, the project represents a good use of state money.
Adam Bernbaum — Representative Bernbaum was cited as having raised concerns about whether funding for carbon reduction investments is the best use of resources compared with other possible investments.
Julia Reed — Julia Reed introduces herself as representing the 36th Legislative District in Northwest Seattle and notes her prior work as City of Seattle policy staff.
Julia Reed — Representative Julia Reed is called on to ask a question about the risks of transporting boats from Florida. She raises concerns about how that transport risk is being handled, the response addresses her concern by explaining the contract and transport-related tradeoffs, and another member later second her concern.
Julia Reed — Representative Entenman was referenced as having asked a prior question about risk.
Julia Reed — Julia Reed first asked to wait until the end of the presentation before asking her question, then raised a question about how WSDOT will work with the City of Seattle on the chosen option, referencing community concerns and the need to address local issues.
Jake Fey — Addressed by the speaker while transitioning to the next questions.