Reclaiming Streets for People Across WA

Session 1A | Wednesday | 11:15 AM – 12:30 PM (PT)

All around the country, people have been reclaiming streets as public spaces. The COVID-19 pandemic gave people a taste for what our cities and neighborhoods could look like if we gave some of the space traditionally used by cars back to people walking, sitting at cafes, or connecting with friends. Here in Washington, urban planners have been working with community members to redesign streets. This session looks at how the cities of Seattle, Walla Walla, and Leavenworth have been reclaiming streets for people through both policy and on-the-ground projects.

Ian Macek

Principal Urban Designer, City of Seattle Department of Transportation

Ian Macek is and urban designer and transportation planner with over 15 years of experience delivering design strategies, masterplans, guidelines, and built projects across urban, regional, and rural contexts. He has worked in the public and private sector and is currently the Principal Urban Designer at the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT). As an urban designer in the public sector, Ian's work largely focuses on shaping public spaces via interdisciplinary collaboration and extensive community engagement. He is leading Seattle’s citywide effort to plan and implement low-pollution neighborhoods and was a co-author and leading implementation of the city’s new People Streets and Public Spaces Element of the Seattle Transportation Plan. Ian is fueled by his passion for collaborating with communities to design streets and spaces that serve all people and support livable, equitable, and sustainable neighborhoods.

Sarah Saviskas, AICP

Senior Transportation Planner, Seattle Department of Transportation

Sarah is a Senior Transportation Planner in the Policy & Planning division at SDOT and has been with the City of Seattle for a little over 2 years. She is the nonmotorized access lead for the West Seattle and Ballard Link light rail extension projects, and just wrapped up working on the city's 20-year transportation plan for all modes of travel - the Seattle Transportation Plan. She is passionate about making our cities more livable, walkable, and bikeable with quality public spaces. Sarah graduated from UC Berkeley with a Master's in City Planning in 2016. Prior to working for the City of Seattle, she worked for Fehr & Peers for 5.5 years.

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Margaret R. Boles, AICP

Senior Planner, City of Leavenworth

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Elizabeth F. Chamberlain, AICP

City Manager, City of Walla Walla

Elizabeth is the City Manager for the City of Walla Walla. She joined the City ten years ago as the Development Services Director, transitioned to Deputy City Manager, in July 2020, and was appointed City Manager in December 2022. Elizabeth and her team completed a major update to the City's comprehensive plan, Walla Walla 2040, adopted by the City Council in June 2018. Implementation of the Comprehensive Plan led to eliminating single-family zoning, the first City in Washington State to do so, and allowing a variety of housing types with the goal of making housing diverse again. Walla Walla has been a leader in the state on missing middle housing. Addressing the housing crisis is a key focus of Elizabeth's work with the City of Walla Walla. She led the Regional Housing Action Plan project, funded with a state grant. The plan was adopted in August 2021 and the City has transitioned into implementation of the recommended policies. She graduated from the University of Washington in 2001, earning a degree in geography with a focus in urban planning and GIS. Elizabeth worked for several jurisdictions in the Puget Sound region before moving to the City of Walla Walla. Outside of work, Elizabeth enjoys book club (aka wine club), skiing, cycling, traveling, and cooking as well as spending time with family, especially her niece and nephew.

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