>>> MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT'S 9:31 A.M.
I'M DAN STRAUSS CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> HERE.
>> VICE CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
>> PRESENT.
>> THE LAND USE NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE.
WE BEGIN WITH LAND
ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
JUST WANTED TO START WITH
ACKNOWLEDGING WE ARE ON THE
TRADITIONAL AND ANCESTRAL LANDS
OF THE FIRST PEOPLE OF THIS
REGION PAST AND PRESENT.
THEY ARE REPRESENTED IN A
NUMBER OF TRIBES AND AS URBAN
NATIVES.
WE HONOR WITH GRATITUDE THE
PEOPLE AND THE LAND.
WE ARE GUESTS ON THIS LAND AND
WE NEED TO STEWARD OUR LAND AS
SUCH AS GUESTS.
WE ARE HERE TEMPORARILY AND FOR
A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND I
THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO
START OUR MEETINGS WITH THAT
RECOGNITION.
SO ON THE LAND USE AGENDA TODAY
LAND USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE AGENDA WE HAVE THREE
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
A DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON
COUNCIL BILL 120001 BRING.
A PRESENTATION ON THE ANNUAL
REPORT AND A PRESENTATION ON
THE WORK PLAN FOR 2021.
SDCI DID HAVE A PRESENTATION
SCHEDULED REGARDING PERMIT
TIMING.
THAT PRESENTATION HAS BEEN
APPROVED BY THE SEVENTH FLOOR
SO IT WILL COME TO OUR NEXT
MEETING WHEN IT HAS BEEN
REVIEWED AND I'LL HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS AT THE END OF
COMMITTEE FOR SDCI ABOUT THAT
MEETING.
WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION JUST
LAST WEEK.
THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
MEETING OF THE LAND USE AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE IS ON
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24th STARTING
AT 9:30 A.M.
BEFORE WE BEGIN IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED.
AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN THE
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
FOR ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA
BEFORE WE BEGIN I ASK EVERYONE
PLEASE BE PATIENT AS WE LEARN
TO OPERATE THIS NEW SYSTEM IN
REALTIME.
WHILE IT REMAINS OUR STRONG
INTENT TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT
REGULARLY INCLUDED ON MEETING
AGENDAS THE CITY COUNCIL
RESERVES THE RIGHT TO END OR
ELIMINATE THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIODS IF WE DEEM THAT THE
SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED OR IS
UNSUITABLE FOR ALLOWING OUR
MEETINGS TO BE CONDUCTED
EFFICIENTLY AND IN A MANNER IN
WHICH WE ARE ABLE TO CONDUCT
BUSINESS.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR
THIS MEETING IS UP TO TEN
MINUTES AND EACH SPEAKER WILL
BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I WILL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME AND IN THE RECORDER IN
WHICH THEY REGISTERED ON THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK AND WOULD LIKE TO YOU CAN
SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF
PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINK IS
LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL THE SPEAKER'S NAME
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
MICROPHONE.
THE SPEAKER'S CUTE IT IS THEIR
TURN TO SPEAK.
PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
IN WHICH YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT.
ONCE SPEAKER HEARS THE CHIME WE
ASK THAT YOU WRAP UP YOUR
COMMENTS.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT END THEIR
COMMENTS THE SPEAKER'S
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED AFTER
TEN SECONDS TO ALLOW US TO CALL
ON THE NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT WE ASK YOU
PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE
AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING THE MEETING DO SO VIA
SEATTLE CHANNEL OR THE
LISTENING OPTIONS ON THE
AGENDA.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
MEGAN, STEVE.
STARTING WITH MEGAN.
GOOD MORNING.
>> AS YOU SAID, I'M A DOWNTOWN
RESIDENT IN DISTRICT 7. I'M
COMMENTING TODAY ON SDCI AND
THE COMMITTEE'S WORK PROGRAM
FOR CHANGES TO LAND USE AND
DESIGN WE VIEW.
WE ASK THIS WORK BE DONE WITH
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
I'D LIKE TO COMMENTFOR A GREAT
JOB.
PUBLIC FORUMS NEED TO BE THE
STANDARD FOR DESIGN REVIEW.
WHICH HAS NOT SLOWED DOWN
DURING THE PANDEMIC.
TWO OTHER INITIATIVES HAVE
FALLEN BY THE WAYSIDE.
ESTABLISHING A COMMITTEE OF
PUBLIC EXPERTS.
THIS DIRECTIVE WAS PART OF
2019'S CB 119600 THAT CALLED
FOR THE COMMITTEE TO BE
ESTABLISHED AND INFORM CHANGES.
THE SECOND IS THE DIRECTOR'S
RULE.
THIS RULE WAS VETTED BY PUBLIC
AND DEVELOPER FOCUS GROUPS IN
2019.
THEN SDCI ANNOUNCED IT WOULD BE
IN PLACE AT THE BEGINNING OF
2020.
IT'S DISAPPEARED WITHOUT
EXPLANATION.
PLEASE FIND OUT WHAT'S
HAPPENED.
INITIATIVES LIKE THE ONE JUST
MENTIONED ARE NEEDED MORE THAN
OF TO GROW DOWNTOWN EQUITABLY
AND WITH RESILIENCY WE NEED
INPUT FROM ALL STAKE HOLDERS.
THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU.
UP NEXT IS STEVE ZEMKE FOLLOWED
BY RICHARD AND JANET.
STEVE, GOOD MORNING.
>> DOWN MORNING.
I'M CHAIR OF TREE PACK.
IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO NOT SEE
UPDATING THE TREE ORDINANCE AS
A PRIORITY IN 2021 IN THEIR
PRESENTATION WHICH WAS PUT ON
THE WEBSITE IT IS NOT
SURPRISING, HOWEVER,
CONSIDERING SDCI'S HISTORY ON
TREE PROTECTION.
RUMOR HAS IT THERE WILL NOT BE
A TREE ORDINANCE UPDATE THIS
YEAR.
IT'S TIME TO END THIS REPEATED
DELAY BY SDCI IN PRESENTING THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WITH AN
UPDATED ORDNANCE.
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS REPEATEDLY
ASKED SDCI FOR AN UPDATED
WORKABLE AND EFFECTIVE
ORDINANCE DRAFT TO CONSIDER AND
IT IS OBVIOUS SDCI IS NOT
RESPONDING AS REQUESTED.
GAVE SPECIFICISSUES FOR SDCI
TO INCLUDE AS DID PREVIOUS
RESOLUTIONS.
PLEASE REMOVE TREE AND URBAN
FOREST PROTECTION FROM SDCI.
AS THE CITY AUDITOR PROPOSED IN
2009, TRANSFER TREE AND URBAN
FORESTRY OVERSIGHT AND
AUTHORITY TO THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY ENVIRONMENT.
CONSIDER MAKING IT A
DEPARTMENT.
SDCI HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST
IN TREE OVERSIGHT.
THEIR PRIORITY MISSION HAS BEEN
TO HELP BUILDERS DEVELOP, NOT
PROTECT TREES.
YEARS OF INACTION IN OUR URBAN
FORESTS DEMANDS THAT A SEPARATE
ENTITY TAKE OVER THE CITY'S
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT AND
ENHANCE OUR URBAN FOREST.
TREES NEED AN ADVOCATE TO
REPRESENT THEM.
SDCI IS NOT THAT ADVOCATE BASED
ON THEIR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I CAN TELL YOU I'VE HEARD
RUMORS IN IF THE OPPOSITE
DIRECTION.
LET'S MAKE SURE TO CIRCLE UP
REGARDING THE TREE ORDINANCE.
UP NEXT IS RICHARD ELLISON
FOLLOWED BY JANET WAY.
I DO HAVE DOUG BAMBRICK AND
ANDREW LISTED BUT NOT PRESENT.
SO DOUG AND ANDREW IF YOU ARE
OUT THERE, CALL IN TO THE
NUMBER ASSOCIATED.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS RICHARD
ELLISON.
I'M A RETIRED COMMUNITY COLLEGE
PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY AND
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE.
AND ALSO A BOARD MEMBER OF A
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE FOR
TREES.
THE 2021 SBCI PRIORITY PLAN
DOES NOT UPHOLD SEATTLE'S
COMPREHENSIVE PLANS CORE VALUE
OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.
QUOTE, THE PLAN'S FOUR CORE
VALUES.
COMMUNITY, ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP, ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY AND SECURITY AND
SOCIAL EQUITY ARE KEY
COMPONENTS OF SUSTAINABILITY.
KNOCK INCLUDES MENTION OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, PLANNING
FOR CLIMATE CHANGE NOR FOR THE
LIVING ENVIRONMENT THAT
INCLUDES TREES, CLEAN AIR AND
ENVIRONMENTAL STRUCTURE.
SDCI ONCE AGAIN IGNORES
UPDATING THE ORDINANCE AND
DIRECTORS RULE.
IT'S NOT ON THE 2021 AGENDA.
IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE DELAYED
IN THE PLAN.
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL KEEPS
WAITING ON SDCI.
ON THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR HOW
LONG.
IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE IT WAS
LAST UPDATED.
IT'S BEEN 12 YEARS SINCE THE
DEPARTMENT'S BEEN DIRECTED BY
THE COUNCIL FOR AN UPDATE AND
SINCE 1997 SINCE I WAS ON THE
FORCE. 'S OWN URBAN FOREST TASK
IT'S TIME FOR THE CITY COUNCIL
TO TAKE ACTION AND UPDATE THE
TREE ORDINANCE.
THE CITY COUNCIL'S OWN URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION HAS A
WORKING DRAFT AND IS HAPPY TO
ASSIST THE COUNCIL.
IT NEEDS NO FURTHER DELAYS.
WE CAN'T WAIT FOR SDCI.
WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEW MAYOR
OR IF THE NEW ELECTION FOR THE
NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS IF WE HAVE
ANY CHANGE.
PLEASE ACT NOW WITH THE POWERS
YOU HAVE AND STOP THE STONE
WALLING BY SDCI ON UPDATING THE
SEATTLE TREE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE AND DIRECTIVES RULE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
AND UP NEXT IS JANET FOLLOWED
BY KAITLYN.
DOUG AND ANDREW, WE STILL SEE
YOU'RE NOT PRESENT.
JANET, THERE YOU ARE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
HI, MY NAME IS JANET WAY.
I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF TREE PAC.
AND I'M ALSO A FOUNDING MEMBER
OF THORTON CREEK ALLIANCE.
THIS MORNING I AM ASKING YOUR
COMMITTEE TO AND COUNCIL TO
PLEASE INSTRUCT DIRECT STAFF
FROM DCI TO INCLUDE THE TREE
PROTECTION ORDINANCE THAT
COUNCIL HAS ALREADY ASKED BE
INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA OF THE
DEPARTMENT.
THE TREE CANOPY IN SEATTLE IS
SUFFERING AND IT IS IMPACTING
WATER QUALITY AND WILDLIFE
HABITAT IN THE HORTON CREEK
WATER SHED WHERE I LIVE.
SEATTLE IS DESPERATELY IN NEED
OF TREE PROTECTION.
THE COUNCIL HAS ALREADY
ADVOCATED FOR PROTECTIONS
AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE
MOST EFFECTIVE THING YOU CAN DO
ON CLIMATE CHANGE AT THIS TIME
IS TO PROTECT EXISTING TREES.
AS THE CITY MOVES AHEAD WITH
APPROVALS OF DEVELOPMENT, THE
STAFF SHOULD REQUIRE PROTECTION
OF AS MANY TREES AS POSSIBLE
WHENEVER DEVELOPMENTS ARE
APPROVED.
AT THIS TIME WE WOULD LIKE TO
URGE YOU AND YOUR COMMITTEE TO
ASK THE SPEAKER FROM IT DCI
ABOUT INCLUDING TREE PROTECTION
IN THEIR AGENDA.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU, JANET.
>> UP NEXT WE HAVE KAITLYN AND
THEN DOUG.
I SEE YOU ARE NOW PRESENT.
ANDREW, I SEE YOU ARE STILL NOT
PRESENT.
WELCOME, KAITLYN.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
I AM THE FOUNDER OF YONDER
CIDER.
I WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO
SHARE WHY I SUPPORT COUNCIL
BILL 120001 THE BRINGING
BUSINESS HOME BILL.
TO BE SIMPLE, OUR SMALL RETAIL
SPACE IS FOSTERED AND FUNDED
THE GROWTH OF YONDER CIDER.
A VITAL PART OF ANY NEW
BEVERAGE BRAND AND THEN THREE
MONTHS INTO THE LAUNCH A DREAM
THAT'S MORE THAN TWO YEARS IN
THE MAKING THE SECOND WAVE OF
SHUT DOWNS HIT HALTING SALES IN
RESTAURANTS AND BARS.
DURING THE EARLY MONTHS YONDER
BAR PROVIDED US THE VITAL
DIRECT TO CONSUMER SALES LIFE
FUND AND HELPED US SURVIVE.
IN THAT SPACE WE WERE ABLE TO
TEST THE WATERS, GAIN SUPPORT
AND BECOME A PART OF OUR
COMMUNITY WHILE SAVING MONEY
AND EVENTUALLY SIGNING A LONG
TERM LEASE IN BALLARD.
YONDER BAR CONTINUES TO FUND
THE BUILD OUT OF THAT SPACE.
LAUNCHING OUR BUSINESS IN MY
GARAGE WE WERE ABLE TO OVERCOME
ONE OF THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES,
COMMERCIAL RENT AND TO MAKE OUR
BIG DREAMS POSSIBLE.
WHILE I'M EXCITED FOR YONDER
BAR TO REOPEN, I'M EVEN MORE
EXCITED FOR WHAT IS TO COME.
IN THE PAST WEEK ALONE WE'VE
RECEIVED DOZENS OF CALLS, E-
MAILS AND MESSAGES FROM PEOPLE
WHO LIKE ME HAVE DREAMS OF
OPENING THEIR OWN BUSINESS ONLY
TO BE FACED WITH HURDLE AFTER
HURDLE.
I HOPE IN THE COMING MONTHS
AFTER THE BILL HOPEFULLY PASSES
AND PEOPLE SECURE THE NECESSARY
LICENSING I'M ABLE TO MYSELF
WALK TO A BUSINESS THAT'S
GETTING THEIR START AND
PURSUING THEIR DREAMS.
STARTING A NEW BUSINESS IS A
SCARY AND EXCITING THING
ANNUITIES I'M SO THANKFUL TO
THE ME FOR CONSIDERING A BILL
THAT COULD MAKE IT JUST A
LITTLE BIT MORE ACHIEVABLE FOR
FOLKS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU.
UP NEXT WE HAVE DOUG.
AND THEN ANDREW, YOU ARE SIGNED
UP BUT NOT PRESENT SO IF YOU
ARE THERE, CALL IN NOW.
I DO SEE THAT WE ARE OVER TIME
SO IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE
EXTENDED FOR AN ADDITIONAL TEN
MINUTES.
HEARING NO OBJECTION THE PUBLIC
COMMENT IS EXTENDED UNTIL 9:55.
DOUG.
WELCOME.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANKS FOR, THANK YOU FOR
TAKING MY COMMENT COUNCIL
MEMBER PRESIDENT STRAUSS.
OR SUB COMMITTEE PRESIDET
STRAUSS.
MY COMMENTS ARE RELATED TO THE
HOME BUSINESS OCCUPATION
ORDINANCE.
I'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF
RESEARCH.
AND THEN SECONDLY IT WAS NICE
TO HEAR FROM YONDER.
I HEARD THAT WAS THE DRIVING
FORCE BEHIND THIS.
I WAS PAST PRESIDENT OF THE
GREEN LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMUNITY COUNCIL BACK IN THE
90s.
LONG TIME AGO.
SINCE THEN HAVEN'T BEEN MUCH.
THIS CAUGHT MY EYE.
PARKING ISSUE.
A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES ISSUES.
BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOOD INTERESTS
AND LOCAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
INTERESTS WHICH I HAVE AN
INTEREST IN.
INTERESTS.
THERE'S AN OBVIOUS ADVANTAGE
FOR STARTING UP A HOME BUSINESS
ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET.
THE RENT IS SIGNIFICANTLY
CHEAPER.
AND THERE'S NO PERMITTING
REQUIRED.
AND THERE'S ALSO FREE PARKING
FOR CUSTOMERS.
THE YONDER WAS PROBABLY A VERY
GOOD, WELL LOVED BUSINESS
HOWEVER THAT'S NOT THE CASE
WITH ALL.
AND JUST IN IT ALL DEFERENCE TO
OUR COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS, WE
LOVE OUR LITTLE SHOPS AND IT'S
ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME WE NEED
TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND
LOCAL BUSINESS DISTRICTS.
THE CURRENT LEGISLATION WAS
CRAFTED WITH COMPROMISE BETWEEN
THE DIFFERENT STAKE HOLDER
GROUPS.
ONE OF WHICH WAS TO NOT HAVE
LARGE SIGNS ADVERTISING IN
NEIGHBORHOODS WE SOMEWHAT
DESPISE.
CURRENT LEGISLATION ALLOWS A
ONE FOOT WIDE SIGN WITH FIVE
INCH LETTERS.
THIS PROPOSAL WOULD BE AN EIGHT
FOOT WIDE SIGN WITH SEVEN AND A
HALF INCH TALL LETTERS.
SECONDLY, THE CURRENT
LEGISLATION VERY CAREFULLY
CRAFTED LANGUAGE ABOUT PARKING
IMPACTS.
IT SAID THAT THERE SHALL NOT BE
SIGNIFICANT.
>> AND DOUG, THAT WAS ALL THE
TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THIS
MORNING.
HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU OR
SEND IN WRITTEN COMMENTS.
I WILL BE ATTENDING THE GREEN
LAKE COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING
THIS EVENING WE CAN FOLLOW UP
THERE.
ANDREW YOU ARE LISTED BUT
YOU'RE NOT PRESENT.
CONFIRMING WE DON'T HAVE ANY
MR. SPEAKERS.
>> AFFIRMATIVE, THERE ARE NO
MORE PUBLIC COMMENT
REGISTRANTS.
>> THANK YOU.
AND TO ALSO SPEAK TO DOUG'S
POINT ABOUT WEALTH OF BUSINESS
DISTRICTS I HEARD FROM
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
YESTERDAY AND THEY ARE ALSO
SUPPORTING THIS BILL FROM WHAT
I COULD TELL.
WELL, COLLEAGUES.
SEEING AS WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL
SPEAKERS WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
ORB ERE OUR FIRST ITEM IS
DISCUSSION AND BRIEFING ON
COUNCIL BILL 1200 01.
WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE
ABBREVIATED TITLE INTO THE
RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 12 0001.
ORDINANCE RELATING TO LAND USE
REGISTRATIONLATION OF HOME
OCCUPATIONS.
ADOPTING INTERIM REGULATIONS TO
ALLOW HOME OCCUPATION
BUSINESSES TO OPERATE WITH
FEWER LIMITATIONS DURING THE
COVID-19 CIVIL EMERGENCY.
>> THANK YOU.
I WAS VERY, I'M VERY GLAD TO
BRING THERE LEGISLATION FORWARD
WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
AND MOSQUEDA.
WE HAVE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ HAS JOINED US AS A
GUEST ON THE COMMITTEE.
THIS IS A, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
OUR LAND USE CODE IS ABLE TO
RESPOND TO THE CRISIS FACING
SMALL BUSINESSES AS A RESULT OF
COVID-19.
THIS LEGISLATION RECOGNIZES
THAT OUR CODE HAS NOT KEPT UP
WITH BUSINESS OWNERS,
CREATIVITY AND DRIVE AS WE HAVE
LEARNED THIS PAST YEAR OUR
STREETS AND NEIGHBORHOODS CAN
CREATE COMMUNITIES IN WAYS WE
MIGHT NOT HAVE IMAGINED BEFORE
THE PANDEMIC.
HEALTHY STREETS HAVE ALLOWED US
TO WALK, RIDE AND ROLL IN A
SAFE AND HEALTHY WAY.
WE'VE SEEN EXAMPLES OF THAT IN
MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD OF HOME
OCCUPANCY BUSINESSES THAT I'M
NOT GOING TO TATTLE ON TODAY
WHO ARE OPERATING OUTSIDE OF
THE LETTER OF THE CODE AND THIS
WOULD HELP THEM MAKE SURE THAT
THEY HAVE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD
AND ABLE TO STAY OPEN.
WE ALSO SAW THIS AS YONDER
CIDER WAS ABLE TO REOPEN
BECAUSE INSPECTORS ARE ONLY
ABLE TO ENFORCE AND OPERATE
WITHIN THE CODE THAT WE HAVE
WRITTEN.
AND THIS LEGISLATION IS MORE
THAN JUST ABOUT YONDER.
I HOPE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PASS
THIS TODAY AND WE.
ALSO WILL BE BRINGING AN
AMENDMENT FORWARD THAT WAS
CIRCULATED LAST NIGHT.
WELCOME AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO
GIVE US A BRIEF OVERVIEW AND A
REFRESHER.
>> SURE.
THANK YOU.
KETIL FREEMAN.
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
AS COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
MENTIONED.
WOULD AMEND THE LAND USE CODE
TO TEMPORARILY MOD IF FEW
REGULATIONS FOR HOME
OCCUPATIONS.
MATERIALS YOU HAVE ATTACHED TO
THE AGENDA INCLUDE A
PRESENTATION FROM THE LAST
MEETING, A MEMO FROM ME THAT
HIGHLIGHTS CURRENT REGULATIONS
AND PROVIDES A BRIEF SURVEY OF
HOW OTHER JURISDICTIONS
REGULATE HOME OCCUPATIONS.
AS COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
MENTIONED THERE WAS AN
AMENDMENT CIRCULATED YESTERDAY.
I'LL PROVIDE A BRIEF REFRESHER
ON WHAT COUNCIL BILL 120001
WOULD DO AND THEN UNLESS THERE
ARE QUESTIONS WE CAN MOVE ON TO
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
>> SO WHAT WOULD CB 120001 DO?
ON AN INTERIM BASIS UP TO ONE
YEAR IT WOULD REMOVE THE
LIMITATIONS ON REGULATIONS THAT
LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMER
VISITS TO A HOME OCCUPATION ON
THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES A HOME
OCCUPATION CAN HAVE.
LIMITATIONS ON INCREASED
TRAFFIC AND PARKING DEMAND DUE
TO HOME OCCUPATION INCLUDING
USE OF A CODE REQUIRED PARKING
SPACE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR A
HOME-BASED BUSINESS.
IT WOULD ALSO CHANGE
LIMITATIONS ON THE
NONCOMMERCIAL APPEARANCE OF
HOME OCCUPATIONS INCLUDING
DISPENSATION FOR LARGER SIGNS
WHILE THE ORDINANCE IS IN
EFFECT.
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT COUNCIL
BILL 120001 WOULD DO?
>> COLLEAGUES?
ANY QUESTIONS?
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC IF IT
YOU GO TO OUR LEGISTAR ON
CAN SEE THE PRESENTATION THAT
KETIL PROVIDED AND YOU CAN GO
BACK AND WATCH I BELIEVE IT WAS
THE FEBRUARY 24th COMMITTEE
MEETING TO WATCH THE TAPE FROM
THERE.
WE HAD ROBUST DISCUSSION AND
GREAT QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME?
SEEING NO QUESTIONS.
I DO WANT TO ONCE AGAIN RAISE
THE FACT THAT THIS, ANY
BUSINESS THAT IS OPERATING
UNDER HOME OCCUPANCY RULES IS
REGULATED BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL
ENTITY THAT TOUCHES THAT
BUSINESS.
SO IF THEY HAVE A COMMERCIAL
KITCHEN, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
IF THEY'RE SERVING BEER LIQUOR
CONTROL BOARD.
THEY HAVE TO REGISTER WITH FSA
UNDERSTANDING THAT ALL OF THAT
SAID THIS DOESN'T CHANGE ANY
CODE.
ANY ZONING.
THIS SIMPLY CHANGES CODE.
INTERIM BASIS FOR ONE YEAR WITH
A WORK PLAN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
WOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A
PERMANENT CHANGE.
>> I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
>> I'M SORRY.
I WAS TRYING TO CATCH UP.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR FOR THE INFORMATION.
AND THANK YOU KETIL.
WE DIDN'T HAVE YOUR MEMO ON
FEBRUARY 24th.
THANK YOU FOR THE MEMO THAT WE
NOW HAVE IN FRONT OF US.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO
ADDRESS THIS NOW OR TALK ABOUT
AS WE GET INTO AFTER YOUR
AMENDMENTS AND THEN WE SPEAK TO
A BILL AS A WHOLE.
THE QUESTION THAT I HAD WHICH
WE DID NOT TALK ABOUT ON
FEBRUARY 24th WHEN WE WANTED TO
CLARIFY WHAT INTERIM MEANT.
SOME OF THE INTERIM STUFF WE'VE
DONE WITH SDCI AND IT'S ALWAYS
MEANT A YEAR.
WHAT'S NEW NOW IN THIS MEMO.
I'M TRYING TO DECIDE HOW I'M
GOING TO VOTE ON THIS.
I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH, BUT I
WANT TO HEAR WHAT OTHER PEOPLE
HAVE TO SAY WHEN WE GET CLOSER,
EXPLORING THE PERMANENCY OF
THIS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S
FOR ONE YEAR.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE
PERMANENCY IN HAD LIGHT OF WHAT
WE ALREADY PUT ON SDCI AND I
HAVE SOME CONCERNS BECAUSE WE
ALREADY HAVE A LAW THAT ALLOWS
HOME BUSINESSES.
I'M CURIOUS AND EXCITED TO SEE
IF THIS DOES PASS WHAT ONE YEAR
DOES.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SHOULD SLAP
THE PANDEMIC IN FRONT OF
EVERYTHING NOW, EVERY PIECE OF
LEGISLATION IS BECAUSE OF THE
PANDEMIC WE WANT THIS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS FITS IN
THAT BOX YET.
I'M OPEN TO HEARING WHAT OTHER
PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY.
IS THAT SOMETHING WE SHOULD
ADDRESS NOW ABOUT THE
PERMANENCY AND THE BY-PRODUCTS
OR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES TO
EXISTING LOCAL BUSINESSES?
OR DO YOU WANT TO WAIT UNTIL WE
GET FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD WHEN
WE START TALKING ABOUT THE
CLOSER TO OUR COMMENTS ON THE
BILL AS AMENDED.
>> GOOD QUESTIONS.
LET'S MOVE THIS AMENDMENT AND
SPEAK TO THE WHOLE BILL
ENTIRELY.
BECAUSE THOSE ARE IMPORTANT
QUESTIONS.
>> AND YOUR AMENDMENT IS MORE
OF A TECHNICAL ONE?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
TECHNICAL AMENDMENT AS WELL AS
I WAS HOPING MAYBE IT WOULDN'T
WORK BUT YOU SAID LAST TIME YOU
COULDN'T SUPPORT THE BILL AS
WRITTEN SO I WANTED TO MAKE AT
LEAST ONE CHANGE.
>> CHANGE THE BILL TO THE FRY
BREAD BILL IF THINGS GO RIGHT.
>> I'LL RENAME IT THAT.
ABSOLUTELY.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ.
SO AMENDMENT 1 WE HAVE ONE
AMENDMENT TO CONSIDER.
THIS WOULD CHANGE THE LANGUAGE
AROUND PARKING TO CLARIFY ITS
INTENT.
WE HAD ONE SENTENCE DOING A LOT
OF WORK AND THE LANGUAGE
PROPOSED HERE IS MORE CLEAR AND
LEAVES LESS ROOM FOR
DIFFERENCES OF INTERPRETATION
AS WELL AS IT WOULD MAKE CLEAR
THAT THIS LEGISLATION ALLOWS A
HOME-BASED BUSINESS TO OPERATE
IN A HOME'S REQUIRED PARKING
STALL OR GARAGE.
I THINK WE GO BACK TO THE FACT
THAT SO MANY ENTREPRENEURS USE
THEIR GARAGE TO TURN THEIR
DREAMS INTO REALITY AND THIS
AMENDMENT MAKES CLEAR THAT ONCE
THIS LEGISLATION EXPIRES OR THE
BUSINESS IS NO LONGER USING
THAT SPACE THE HOME IS STILL
REQUIRED TO MEET THE MINIMUM
PARKING STANDARDS.
WE'RE ENSURING THAT YOU'RE NOT
ABLE TO CONTINUE USING YOUR
PARKING GARAGE PAST THE LIFE OF
THIS BILL.
>> I'M NOT SURE IF THE
AMENDMENT IS ON THE AGENDA SO I
CAN SHARE MY SCREEN FOR THOSE
FOLKS IN THE PUBLIC.
SO THIS IS THE AMENDMENT
PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
CLARIFY HOME OCCUPATION MAY
OCCUPY A REQUIRED PARKING SPACE
WITHOUT LIMITATIONS ON
STRUCTURAL CHANGES THAT MAY BE
MADE TO THAT PARKING SPACE FOR
THE PURPOSES OF THE HOME
OCCUPATION WHILE THE ORDINANCE
IS IN EFFECT.
AND THEN IT ALSO HAS SOME
LANGUAGE IN HERE THAT CLARIFIES
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE ORDINANCE
IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
THIS WOULD CLARIFY THAT AFTER
THE ORDINANCE IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT UNLESS IT'S EXTENDED BY
SOME FUTURE ACTION BY THE
COUNCIL ANY CHANGES THAT THE
PROPERTY ESSENTIALLY HAS TO BE
RETURNED TO ITS PREVIOUS
CONDITION.
IF IT SOMEBODY HAS MODIFIED
THEIR GARAGE, FOR EXAMPLE IN A
WAY THAT WOULD MAKE THAT GARAGE
NONCONFORMING FOR THE PURPOSES
OF THE LAND USE CODE THEY HAVE
TO REMOVE THAT MODIFICATION
WHEN THE ORDINANCE IS NO LONGER
IN EFFECT.
IF A PROPERTY WAS PREVIOUSLY
NONCONFORMING WITH RESPECT TO
SOME ELEMENT OF THE LAND USE
CODE IT CAN BE RETURNED TO THE
PREVIOUS CONDITION.
THAT'S THE SECOND CLARIFICATION
IN THE AMENDMENT.
THIS WOULD APPLY TO OTHER
CHANGES THAT MIGHT BE MADE FOR
THE PURPOSES OF ESTABLISHING A
HOME OCCUPATION OR EXPANDING A
HOME OCCUPATION UNDER THIS
BILL.
FOR INSTANCE A SIGN.
IF SOMEBODY PUTS A LARGER SIGN
UP UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THIS
BILL THEY WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE
THAT LARGER SIGN ONCE THE BILL
IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
>> THANK YOU.
I SEE COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
ALL COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS?
THIS IS THE TIME.
>> THIS IS A QUESTION ABOUT THE
AMENDMENT.
KETIL IN THE FIRST PART OF THE
AMENDMENT AS I UNDERSTAND IT
THIS IS A TEMPORARY MEASURE BUT
THE WORD TEMPORARILY IS
REMOVED.
CAN YOU HELP ME?
>> THAT'S FOR THE PURPOSES.
THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
THAT'S TO CLARIFY SORT OF WHAT
THE STANDARD IS HERE FOR HOME
OCCUPATION THAT MIGHT BE
ESTABLISHED OR EXPANDED UNDER
THIS ORDINANCE.
THAT'S TO CLARIFY IF SOMEBODY
IS OCCUPYING A PORTION OF THEIR
GARAGE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE
HOME OCCUPATION THAT THAT CAN,
THEY DON'T HAVE TO REMOVE ANY
CHANGES THEY MADE TO THEIR
GARAGE WHILE THE ORDINANCE IS
IN EFFECT.
SO ON A DAILY BASIS THEY DON'T
HAVE TO MAKE CHANGES, THEY
DON'T HAVE TO SORT OF RETURN
THE GARAGE TO ITS CONFORMING
CONDITION.
THEY CAN KEEP IT UP FOR THE
ENTIRE DURATION OF THE
ORDINANCE.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
>> YES.
THANK YOU.
>> FURTHER MORE, THIS, IT
WASN'T CLEAR.
THE TEMPORARY WAS TO ALSO
DEMONSTRATE AT THE END OF THIS
BILL AT THE END OF THE LIFE OF
THIS BILL THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO
BE REMOVED.
THAT ALSO WASN'T AS CLEAR.
THIS AMENDMENT CLARIFIES BOTH
POINTS.
>> COLLEAGUES, OTHER QUESTIONS?
SEEING NONE I WILL MOVE THAT
THE COMMITTEE ADOPT AMENDMENT 1
TO COUNCIL BILL 120001.
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED.
TO AMEND THE LEGISLATION AS
SHOWN IN AMENDMENT 1. IF THERE
ARE NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> IT YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES.
AND THIS IS NOW THE TIME
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ TO RETURN
TO SOME OF THESE LONGER AND WE
HAVE COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
WHO IS ALSO CO-SPONSOR SO I'LL
GIVE HER A MOMENT TO SPEAK IN A
SECOND.
I DO WANT TO, UNLESS
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ YOU'D LIKE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT TO GO FIRST.
>> THANK YOU FINISH THE GOOD
MEETING WE HAD TIME.
THANK YOU, KETIL, LIKE I SAID.
I DID BRING UP THE ISSUE ABOUT
THE PERMANENCY AND WHAT MY
CONCERNS WOULD BE AND I HAVE
THE SAME CONCERNS WITH AS SOME
OF THE CHANGES WE'VE LEARNED
OF.
I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE
PARKING IMPACTS.
I KNOW THAT -- AND I ALSO STILL
HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HAVING.
WE HAVE A LAW THAT ALLOWS
PEOPLE TO HAVE HOME BUSINESSES.
I UNDERSTAND THE EXPANSION AND
WHY YOU WANT TO DO THAT AND,
YOU KNOW, MAKING IT EASIER TO
HAVE THESE TYPE OF BUSINESSES.
WHAT I'M HEARING FROM AND WHAT
I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT AND I
DON'T KNOW IF SDCI IS THE
PLACE.
WE NEED MORE INFORMATION.
THE COMPETITION WITH EXISTING
ALREADY STRUGGLING SMALL
BUSINESSES.
SMALL BUSINESSES THAT COMPLY
WITH THE FOUR AREAS WHERE WE
WOULD BE RELAXING.
THEY STILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH
PARKING.
WITH ADA.
WITH NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES.
WITH SIGNAGE.
I THINK I BROUGHT THIS ANALOGY.
I WANTED TO BRING IT TO ITS
LOGICAL CONCLUSION.
IF YOU'RE SELLING SOMETHING OUT
OF YOUR GARAGE DRIVEWAY AND
FOUR BLOCKS AWAY I DON'T WANT
TO BE COMPETING WITH COFFEE
CLUTCH.
I HAVE AND THESE PLACES WITH
NEIGHBORHOODS.
I KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS
MORE SIDEWALKS THAN D 5, THAT'S
FOR SURE.
PARKING IS NOT A REAL BIG ISSUE
ON KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT HERE
WITH THE SIDEWALKS.
BUT THE SMALL BUSINESS PIECES
BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY SMALL
BUSINESS ALONG LAKE CITY,
AURORA, 125th, NORTH GATE.
SO THAT IS THE CONCERN I WAS
HEARING.
I DON'T KNOW SDCI'S EQUIPPED TO
DO THE TYPE OF ANALYSIS TO SAY
WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE AND
WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE TO
EXISTING BUSINESSES.
ALSO OUR ENCOURAGEMENT TO START
USING CALLING RESTAURANTS
DIRECTLY IN PICKING UP AND NOT
USING THIRD PARTY CARRIERS SO
THAT ALL THE MONEY GOES TO THAT
EXISTING SMALL BUSINESS
RESTAURANT.
NOT 15% TO, YOU KNOW, THE
DELIVERY SERVICE.
I'M GOING TO LET YOU SPEAK TO
SOME OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT
THEY'RE ALREADY DOING AND HOW
THIS MAKES IT ANY, THIS ADDS ON
TO THAT IF THEY CAN DO THAT.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE
IDEA.
I UNDERSTAND WE WANT SMALL
BUSINESSES AND A LOT OF SMALL
BUSINESSES STARTED OUT OF THEIR
GRAM.
PEOPLE CAN STILL START
BUSINESSES OUT OF THEIR GARAGE.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE AREAS
WHERE WE'RE RELAXING AND ITS
IMPACT TO ALREADY EXISTING
SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND THE UNFAIR COMPETITION IT
MAY OR MAY NOT CREATE.
SO THAT'S WHERE ALL MY CONCERNS
WERE AND I THINK SOME OF THEM
WE ADDRESSED AT THE LAST
HEARING AND SO THAT'S WHY I WAS
GLAD TO GET KETIL'S MEMO THIS
TIME.
I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I TOOK SOME NOTES ON I WAS
MEETING WITH THE PHINNEY
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
YESTERDAY.
THEY'RE KIND OF LIKE THE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR PHINNEY
GREENWOOD.
THEY DO SOCIAL SERVICES.
THEY'RE JUST AN AMAZING
ORGANIZATION.
THEY WERE REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF
MAKING SURE THAT YONDER WAS
ABLE TO STAY OPEN AND YONDERS'
ONLY ABOUT A BLOCK OR TWO OFF
THEIR OFFICIAL BUSINESS
DISTRICT.
RIGHT IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.
THEY'VE GOT THE SUPPORT OF
THEIR LOCAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.
AND THEN I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT
THE PERMANENCY.
THE REASON THAT WE HAVE A WORK
PLAN FOR THE PATHWAY TO
PERMANENCY WITHIN THE BILL IS
SO MANY TIMES OF LATE WE'VE
HEARD CRITICS OF OUR WORK HERE
SAYING YOU DIDN'T GIVE US
ENOUGH TIME TO ENGAGE.
OR WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO
ENGAGE.
SO RATHER THAN HAVE A SCATTER
SHOT APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING
WHAT IS WORKING WELL, WHAT
DIDN'T WORK, DID WE INCLUDE
SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE
BEEN.
THAT'S WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR
US TO CREATE THAT WORK PLAN
FROM GO.
REGARDING PARKING, GRAY, GO FOR
IT.
>> I'M FINISHED.
SORRY, GO AHEAD.
I'M TAKING NOTES.
GO AHEAD.
>> REGARDING PARKING.
MANY DIFFERENT AREAS OF OUR
CITY HAVE DIFFERENT PARKING
IMPACTS.
AND SO AS WELL AS, IT'S ALWAYS,
IT'S NEVER EXACTLY CLEAR WHAT
DIFFERENT VARIABLE IN THE AREA
IS INCREASING PARKING.
INCREASING DEMAND ON PARKING.
WE'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
HOMES USING IT.
IN YONDER'S CASE THEY ARE A
BLOCK OR TWO OFF THE BUSINESS
DISTRICT.
SO IS PARKING INCREASING
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SHOPPING AT
YONDER OR IS IT BECAUSE THEY'RE
SHOPPING IN THE BUSINESS
DISTRICT?
THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO
CREATE CLARITY.
THAT'S WHAT, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, DID YOU WANT TO SHARE
OTHER THOUGHTS?
>> THE OTHER THING IS I REALLY
LIKE THIS IDEA BECAUSE I THINK
WHAT WE'RE CREATING HERE BY
USING GARAGES AND DRIVEWAYS AND
I DON'T THINK YOU'VE USED THE
WORD WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
PATHWAYS TO PERM YENSY.
YOU'RE CREATING MINI INCUBATORS
FOR BUSINESSES.
THAT'S A GREAT THING.
I DON'T THINK YOU NEED A
RECESSION-FUELED PANDEMIC TO DO
THIS.
WE COULD DO IT ANYWAY.
AND WE SHOULD DO IT AND
ENCOURAGE IT.
AGAIN, MY MAIN FOCUS IS WHAT
ITS IMPACT IS TO THIRD PARTY,
IMPACT TO SMALL BUSINESSES THAT
ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING AND
CREATING AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE
BECAUSE THEY ARE STRUGGLING
FROM THE PANDEMIC.
MY IDEA WHEN WE HAVE
LEGISLATION THAT'S BASED
BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF
A RECESSION AND PANDEMIC IS
BECAUSE IT'S A, DIRECTLY
IMPACTED BY THAT.
WHETHER IT'S THE MORATORIUM
RENTING, HOUSING, ALL THE
THINGS WE'VE DONE.
WE COULD HAVE DONE THIS IN A
NONPANDEMIC ERA.
IT IS INNOVATIVE IN THAT SENSE
THAT YOU YOU WANT TO GIVE
PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY.
THEY'VE NOW HAD A PERMANENT
SPACE.
IF THEY MOVE FROM GARAGE TO A
STORE FRONT AND TO A SMALL
BUSINESS, IT'S GREAT.
IT MAKES SENSE.
THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME.
THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND THIS, THESE CODE
RESTRICTIONS WERE ACTUALLY
CREATING AN UNLEVEL PLAYING
FIELD FOR SOME OF THESE HOME
OCCUPANCY BUSINESSES THAT HAVE
BEEN OPERATING FOR YEARS.
IT WASN'T UNTIL YONDER HAD
RECEIVED THIS COMPLAINT THAT I,
IT OPENED MY EYES TO SEEING HOW
SO MANY DIFFERENT BUSINESSES
ARE OPERATING OUTSIDE OF THE
LETTER OF THE CODE.
THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
THE ONES THAT WERE EXISTING
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC TO CREATE
THAT LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.
I DON'T WANT TO TATTLE ON THEM
TODAY.
>> TO BE FAIR WHEN WE DO LIVE
IN D 5, I KNOW OF A HALF A
DOZEN BUSINESSES THAT OPERATE
OUT OF THEIR HOMES THAT I DON'T
WANT TO TATTLE ON THAT MAKE
PIES AND DELIVER THEM.
AND DO OTHER THINGS AND DELIVER
THEM TO CERTAIN RESTAURANTS AND
IT'S JUST, I GET IT.
YOU WANT TO LEGITIMIZE THAT.
YOU WANT SMALL BUSINESS
INCUBATION.
I WANT THAT YEAR.
I WANT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
YOU SEE WHERE MY CONCERN IS
WHEN I HAVE CONSTITUENTS WHO
ARE STRUGGLING AS SMALL
BUSINESSES BECAUSE OF THIS
PANDEMIC-FUELED RECESSION.
I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT AND LET
OTHER PEOPLE SPEAK.
>> IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS
LATER I ALWAYS LOVE THEM.
THEY'RE ALWAYS SPOT ON.
I SEE COUNCIL PRESIDENT WHO IS
JOINING US AS A GUEST AS A
COSPONSOR AND ALSO
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA IF YOU'D
LIKE TO SPEAK AFTER THAT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIR
STRAUSS.
I'M INTRIGUED BY THIS
CONVERSATION AROUND UNFAIR
COMPETITION.
SO MY QUESTION, MY LINE OF
QUESTIONS ARE GOING TO FOCUS
AROUND THAT CONCEPT.
PERHAPS THE MEMO IS MISSING
SORT OF A COMPARISON CHART THAT
MIGHT HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO THE
ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THE
ARGUMENT AROUND UNFAIR
COMPETITION BETWEEN BRICK AND
MORTAR EXISTING SMALL
BUSINESSES AND HOME-BASED
BUSINESSES WHICH ARE ALREADY
LEGAL.
THEY ALREADY EXIST.
BRICK AND MORTAR SMALL
BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMERCIAL
DISTRICTS.
MY QUESTION IS WHEN WE LOOK AT
WHAT THIS BILL DOES WE KNOW
THAT COUNCIL BILL 120001
RELAXES THE LIMITATIONS ON
FIRST THING THE NUMBER OF
EMPLOYEES THAT CAN BE IN THE
HOME-BASED BUSINESS.
KETIL OR ANYBODY, DIRECTOR
ASSEFA, CAN YOU LET US KNOW
WHETHER EXISTING BRICK AND
MORTAR SMALL BUSINESSES IN IT
COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS HAVE A
RESTRICTION AS TO THE NUMBER OF
EMPLOYEES?
>> I CAN ANSWER THAT.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE'S NO
RESTRICTION ON THE NUMBER OF
EMPLOYEES THAT CAN BE IN A
COMMERCIALLY LEASED SPACE.
THERE MAY BE SOME RESTRICTION
THAT IS IMPOSED BY THE LANDLORD
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT
THERE'S NOT, AND THERE MAY ALSO
BE A CODE, THERE'S SOME CODE
LIMITATIONS ON THE OCCUPANCY OF
A SPACE DEPENDING ON HOW LARGE
IT IS.
BUT THERE'S NOT AN EMPLOYEE
SPECIFIC LIMITATION.
>> THEN COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I'LL
ADD ON TO THAT.
ALL OF THESE BUSINESSES STILL
FROM TO ABIDE BY PUBLIC HEALTH
GUIDELINES.
IF THE SPACE IS NOT LARGE
ENOUGH FOR THAT NUMBER OF
EMPLOYEES THAT'S A
CONSIDERATION, JUST
HIGHLIGHTING THAT THE LAND USE
CODE IS THE BOTTOM LAYER OF ALL
OF THESE STAFF REGULATIONS.
REGULATORY BODIES AND LICENSES.
>> CORRECT.
SO THERE ARE OCCUPANCY LIMITS
LARGELY FUELED BY OTHER PUBLIC
HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS BUT WHAT
I'M FOCUSING IN ON IS THE, I'M
TRYING TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST
WHERE THE UNFAIR COMPETITION
MAY EXIST OR MAY NOT EXIST.
SO I AM NOT AWARE OF BRICK AND
MORTAR SMALL BUSINESSES WHO
HAVE A COMMERCIAL LEASE HAVING
THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES LIMITED
BY VIRTUE OF HAVING THAT
COMMERCIAL LEASE RELATIONSHIP
AND BEING IN A BRICK AND MORTAR
BUILDING.
UNLIKE HOME-BASED BUSINESSES
WHICH DO HAVE THAT RESTRICTION
OF THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THEY
ARE LEGALLY PERMITTED TO HAVE
IN A HOME-BASED BUSINESS.
THAT WAS MY FIRST QUESTION.
MY SECOND QUESTION IS SIMILARLY
AS IT RELATES TO BRICK AND
MORTAR SMALL BUSINESSES IN
COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE
A COMMERCIAL LEASE, ARE THEY
RESTRICTED IN TERMS OF THE TYPE
OF CUSTOMER VISITS THEY'RE
ALLOWED TO RECEIVE AS COMPARED
TO HOME-BASED BUSINESSES WHICH
ARE CURRENTLY RESTRICTED IN
TERMS OF THE TYPE OF CUSTOMER
BUSINESSES.
>> NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
IF YOU WALK UP BUSINESSES IN A
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL
DISTRICT CAN BE VISITED BY ANY
NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS.
THERE IS A LIMITATION IN THE
CODE WHAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS
HIGHLIGHTING CURRENTLY IN THE
CDE IF IT YOU WANT TO VISIT A
HOME-BASED BUSINESS YOU CANNOT
WALK UP TO THAT HOME-BASED
BUSINESS.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT
AND GAIN ACCESS THAT WAY.
THAT IS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN A
HOME OCCUPATION AND A
COMMERCIAL BUSINESS.
>> AND AGAIN THE LAST TWO.
DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING?
>> I'M AGREEING WITH WHAT KETIL
SAID.
HE'S CORRECT.
>> OKAY.
AND THEN THE LAST TWO THINGS
THAT THIS BILL DOES IS INCREASE
TRAFFIC AND PARKING DEMAND,
LOOSENS UP THOSE RESTRICTIONS.
AND THE NONCOMMERCIAL
APPEARANCE OF HOME OCCUPATIONS
WHICH I DON'T THINK FAIRLY
APPLIES TO COMMERCIAL
BUSINESSES.
IS IT RELATED TO INCREASED
TRAFFIC AND PARKING DEMAND.
ARE THERE ANY REGULATIONS OR
RESTRICTIONS THAT CURRENTLY
APPLY TO BRICK AND MORTAR SMALL
BUSINESSES AND COMMERCIAL
DISTRICTS THAT HAVE A
COMMERCIAL LEASE THAT REQUIRE
SOME COMPLIANCE OR EVALUATION
OF HOW THEIR SPECIFIC BUSINESS
INCREASES TRAFFIC AND PARKING
DEMAND IN THEIR GEOGRAPHIC
AREA?
>> I THINK THE ANSWER TO THAT
IS NOT REALLY.
I MEAN DEPENDING ON A USE THAT
MAY BE GOING INTO A SPACE IT
MAY REQUIRE REVIEW PURSUANT TO
THE STATE OF OUR POLICY ACT
WHICH HAS SORT OF A TRAFFIC
ANALYSIS COMPONENT TO IT.
BUT THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE A
PRETTY BIG CHANGE.
A LIMITATION THAT EXISTS IN THE
CODE AT KIND OF A HIGHER LEVEL
IS A LIMITATION ON TYPES OF
USES.
SO, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON THE
SCALE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS DISTRICT THERE MAY OR
MAY NOT BE USES THAT ARE BIG
TRAFFIC GENERATORS.
THAT'S A HIGHER LEVEL THAT'S
NOT NECESSARILY RELATED TO THE
TRAFFIC IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH
A PARTICULAR USE THAT WOULD
INCORPORATE OTHER ASPECTS OF
USE AS WELL.
IF A STARBUCKS WITH A DRIVE
THROUGH, THAT'S A USE THAT'S
ONLY PERMITTED IN CERTAIN
ZONES.
DRIVE THROUGH BUSINESSES.
SO THERE ARE WAYS IN WHICH
TRAFFIC IS LIMITED BY THE
ZONING CODE BUT FOR MOST
BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE SIGNING
A LEASE ON A SMALL COMMERCIAL
SPACE THOSE TYPES OF
REGULATIONS ARE NOT GOING TO
APPLY TO THEM.
>> GREAT.
AND THEN AND AGAIN, I THINK AS
IT RELATES TO THE UNFAIR
COMPETITION CONCERNS, I THINK
IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS AROUND DOING A SORT
OF BACK TO THE BASICS POLICY,
POLICY COMPARISON BETWEEN THE
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK OF WHAT
APPLIES TO HOME OCCUPATIONS AND
WHAT APPLIES TO SMALL BUSINESS
DISTRICTS MIGHT HAVE BEEN A
LITTLE MORE HELPFUL IN TERMS OF
EVALUATING WHETHER OR NOT THERE
IS TRUE UNFAIR COMPETITION.
THAT WOULD BE CREATED BY THIS
BILL.
JUST BASED ON THIS LINE OF
QUESTIONING AND YOUR ANSWERS TO
ME IT SEEMS THE UNFAIR
COMPETITION CURRENTLY EXISTS
AND IT EXISTS AND THAT BIAS
EXISTS AGAINST HOME-BASED
BUSINESSES AND NOT BRICK AND
MORTAR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT
ENGAGE IN COMMERCIAL LEASING OF
SPACE THAT ARE REGULATED BY THE
LAND USE CODE.
SO FOR ME THIS BILL IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS UNFAIR
COMPETITION THAT CURRENTLY
EXISTS AGAINST HOME-BASED
BUSINESSES THAT ARE MORE
STRINGENTLY REGULATED.
AND THAT'S TRUE WHETHER WE'RE
IN A PANDEMIC OR NOT.
THAT REGULATION EXISTS WHETHER
WE'RE IN A PANDEMIC OR NOT.
THE QUESTION IS KNOWING THAT
COMMERCIAL LEASE SPACES ARE
BECOMING INCREASINGLY
INAFFORDABLE.
KNOWING THATCOMMERCIAL LEASE
SPACES ARE INCREASING IN TERMS
OF NUMBER OF VACANCIES AND
FUTURE OF THE ABILITY OF THOSE
SPACES.
I THINK THIS IS A UNIQUE MOMENT
IN OUR EFFORTS TO REVITALIZE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND TO INVEST IN
OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
TO BEGIN THE PROCESS NOW OF
CREATING A PATHWAY TO, FROM
GARAGES TO BRICK AND MORTAR
COMMERCIAL LEASE SPACES THAT
MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE
AVAILABLE.
THAT PATHWAY MIGHT NOT
OTHERWISE BE AVAILABLE FOR ANY
OF THESE HOME-BASED BUSINESSES
WE ARE HOPING THIS BILL WILL
HELP.
LAST THING I WANT TO ADDRESS IS
THE ISSUE OF PERMANENCY IN THIS
INTERIM NATURE OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
MAYBE WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE
SAY THAT WE'RE EXPLORING A
POTENTIAL TO MAKE THIS, THESE
LESS RESTRICTIVE REGULATIONS
PERMANENT.
I THINK WE CAN BENEFIT FROM
HEARING MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT
PROCESS, WHAT LEGALLY WE WOULD
BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DO
BEFORE THIS COUNCIL COULD EVEN
BEGIN A CONVERSATION AROUND
CREATING PERMANENCY AS OPPOSED
TO THE LEGISLATION JUST
APPLYING DURING THE PANDEMIC.
>> SURE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
SO THE TERM OF THIS ORDINANCE
IS ONE YEAR AND THERE'S AN
ASPECT OF THAT WHICH IS KIND OF
BASED ON THE MECHANICS OF THE
AUTHORITY UNDER STATE LAW THAT
THE BILL WOULD BE ENACTED
UNDER.
ALLOWS LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO
SET UP INTERIM DEVELOPMENT
CONTROLS.
THINGS THAT DON'T LAST FOREVER.
THOSE COME WITH TWO TIME
PERIODS.
ONE IS A YEAR AND THE OTHER IS
SIX MONTHS.
IF A JURISDICTION WANTS INTERIM
CONTROLS TO LAST UP TO A YEAR
THERE MUST BE A WORK PROGRAM.
THERE MUST BE A PATHWAY TOWARDS
CONSIDERING MORE PERMANENT
REGULATIONS.
THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS
THERE IS A WORK PROGRAM
CONTAINED IN THIS BILL SO THAT
COUNCIL WILL HAVE THE BENEFIT
OF SDCI'S WORK ABOUT A YEAR
FROM NOW.
ALSO SO THAT THE CHANGES WILL
LAST A YEAR.
A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT
YOU'RE RAISING ARE EXCELLENT
QUESTIONS AND ONES THAT COULD
BE ANSWERED ABOUT A YEAR FROM
NOW WITH SOME WORK PROBABLY BY
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND SDCI.
THERE ARE A IF FEW LOGICAL WAYS
THIS COULD ALL PLAY OUT.
AFTER A YEAR SDCI COULD COULD
RECOMMEND WE MAKE NO CHANGES.
THE CITY HAS RELATIVELY
PERMISSIVE HOME REGULATIONS.
THE CITY COULD DECIDE AND
PROPOSE POT COUNCIL THAT
NOTHING CHANGE.
IN WHICH CASE AFTER A YEAR THE
ORDINANCE EXPIRES AND ALL OF
THE CHANGES IN THE ORDINANCE GO
AWAY.
IT COULD BE THE CASE THAT SDCI
RECOMMENDS THAT THERE BE A
CHANGE TO HOW WE REGULATE HOME
OCCUPATIONS TO ADDRESS SOME OF
THE COMPETITION CONCERNS.
HOME OCCUPATIONS, OTHER
JURISDICTIONS DO.
THEY SET A LAND USE PERMIT
REQUIREMENT BASED ON SOME SORT
OF THRESHOLD ABOUT THE SIZE OF
A BUSINESS AND WHAT KIND OF
IMPACT THAT BUSINESS MAY HAVE.
MAY BE THE CASE THAT SDCI
RECOMMENDS TO THE COUNCIL THAT
WE BEGIN TO REQUIRE PERMITS FOR
CERTAIN TYPES OF HOME
OCCUPATIONS THAT ARE ABOVE A
CERTAIN SPECIAL OR POST A
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
DISTRICTS.
WE HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE WITH
THIS IN A STREET USE CONTEXT.
A FEW YEARS AGO THE CITY
MODIFIED REGULATIONS FOR FOOD
TRUCKS AND ONE OF THE
ENVIRONMENTS THAT IS BUILT INTO
THE REGULATIONS IS THAT THOSE
FOOD TRUCKS CAN'T BE PARKED ON
THE SAME BLOCK FACE AS AN
EXISTING RESTAURANT.
SOME KIND OF REQUIREMENT LIKE
THAT COULD BE BUILT INTO A
PROPOSAL FROM THE FUTURE.
THOSE ARE SOME, THE BENEFIT OF
FUTURE ANALYSIS THERE'LL BE
SOME POLICY CHOICES FOR THE
COUNCIL TO MAKE ABOUT WHETHER
AND HOW TO MODIFY OUR HOME
OCCUPATIONS ON A PERMANENT
BASIS TO ADDRESS, BALANCE THE
COMPETING CONCERNS WITH
INCUBATIONAL SMALL BUSINESSES.
A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WITH
THOSE BUSINESSES OCCUPYING
SPACES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.
>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
I'LL BE HONEST I GET FRUSTRATED
ABOUT IS THE CITY'S TENDENCY TO
ENGAGE IN SHORT TERM PILOT
PROJECTS AND PILOT PROJECTS
THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, DESIGNED TO
BE TWO MONTHS OR THREE MONTHS
OR FOUR MONTHS.
IT TAKES LONGER PERIOD OF
TESTING AND INNOVATIVE NEW
MODEL IN ORDER TO TRULY, TRULY
CHANGE OR UNDERSTAND HUMAN
ADAPTATION AND BEHAVIOR TO
THOSE MODIFICATIONS.
THIS IS SOMETHING WHEN I WENT
TO COPENHAGEN A FEW YEARS AGO
FEELS LIKE AGES AGO AT THIS
POINT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY
TALKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF HOW WE
TRANSFORM THE PUBLIC REALM FOR
SAFE, HEALTHY PUBLIC USE IS
THAT PILOT PROJECTS CAN'T JUST
BE, YOU KNOW, TWO OR THREE
MONTHS.
THAT THE BEST PRACTICE, THE
BEST STANDARD IS TO STRIVE TO
HAVE A PILOT PROJECT THAT WOULD
LAST UP TO A YEAR.
TO TRULY ALLOW PEOPLE WHO ARE
USED TO USING A PARTICULAR
SPACE IN A PARTICULAR WAY SINCE
THE BEGINNING OF TIME AND
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A MORE
MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH HOW
THE USE OF A SPACE HAS CHANGED
AND MODIFIED AND THAT KIND OF
EFFORT REALLY YIELDS TO BETTER
POLICY BECAUSE IT'S MUCH MORE
THOUGHTFUL.
MUCH MORE ENGAGING AND MUCH
MORE ACCURATELY REFLECTIVE OF
THE SENTIMENT OF PEOPLE WHO
ORDINARILY USE THAT SPACE.
SO FOR ME I SEE THIS INTERIM
USE AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
COLLECT ACTIVELY PROACTIVELY
COLLECT THAT DATA THAT COULD
THEN BE UTILIZED IN ADDITION TO
THE WORK PLAN INFORMATION TO
REALLY GET A GOOD UNDERSTANDING
OF WHERE THE PLAYING FIELD MAY
NOT CURRENTLY BE LEVEL AND HOW
THIS LEGISLATION CAN BE SHAPED
IN THE FUTURE TO PROMOTE A
PATHWAY FOR MICRO ENTERPRISES
INTO COMMERCIAL SPACE WITHOUT
CREATING UNNECESSARY
COMPETITION.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS
LEGISLATION FOR A LOT OF
REASONS.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ENGAGE IN THAT LINE OF
QUESTIONING AS AN ALTERNATE
GUEST OF THIS COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU CHAIR STRAUSS.
I'M GOING TO SIT HERE QUIETLY
NOW UNTIL RIGHT BEFORE YOU CALL
THIS FOR A VOTE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I KNOW YOUR OFFICE HAS BEEN
HELPING OUT AS WELL.
REALLY DOES REQUIRE FOUR YEARS
OF IMPLEMENTATION TO COME INTO
FULL EFFECT.
I KNOW THAT YOU WENT TO
COPENHAGEN IN THE 20 TEENS.
FEELS LIKE A DECADE AGO
ALREADY.
HERE WE ARE 2021.
VICE CHAIR MOSQUEDA ALSO A
COSPONSOR ON THE BILL.
THEN COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN IS
YOUR HAND RAISED FROM EARLIER
OR IS THAT NEW?
>> THAT'S NEW.
>> GREAT.
WE'LL HEAR FROM VICE CHAIR
MOSQUEDA, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE
A COSPONSOR WITH YOU AND THE
COUP SILL PRESIDENT.
I'M EXCITED FOR THIS
LEGISLATION.
I APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENT
YOU'VE INCLUDED HERE.
I DO HAVE A FEW SUMMARY
THOUGHTS ABOUT WHY I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US TO MOVE
FORWARD ON THIS AND SOME
COMMENTS AS WELL REGARDING THE
ISSUES AROUND PARKING AND I
WOULD SAY ALSO THE ON GOING
CONVERSATION AROUND WHETHER OR
NOT THIS IS GOING TO BE ANY
FORM OF UNFAIR ADVANTAGE FOR
OTHER ENTREPRENEURS.
LET MY SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH.
DURING THIS PANDEMIC ESPECIALLY
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US
TO RECOGNIZE THAT COVID HAS
ABSOLUTELY TURNED OUR ECONOMY
UPSIDE DOWN.
OUR DAILY LIFE PATTERNS, OUR
ROUTINES, NOTHING IS LIKE IT
WAS BEFORE.
THE CURRENT RULES FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES MAKE IT DIFFICULT
FOR FOLKS TO RESPOND QUICKLY
AND TO TRY TO CREATE ECONOMIC
STABILITY FOR THEIR COMMUNITY,
FOR THEIR FAMILY IF THEY'RE NOT
ABLE TO POTENTIALLY OPEN A
SMALL BUSINESS IF THEY HAVE THE
ABILITY TO DO THAT IN THEIR
HOME.
I THINK THIS IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT TOOL FOR US TO BE
ABLE TO ADVANCE DURING THIS
PANDEMIC AND THEN TO ABSOLUTELY
LOOK AT ITS POTENTIAL BENEFITS
FOR A LONGER TERM TO MAKE SURE
OUR CITY CAN RESPOND MORE
QUICKLY AS LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS
WANT TO OPEN BUSINESSES ACROSS
THE CITY.
THIS ISN'T BUSINESS USUAL
BECAUSE FRANKLY BUSINESS AS
USUAL IN THE CITY HAS MADE IT
VERY HARD SOMETIMES FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES TO OPEN.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY THATST BEEN
PROVIDED BY THIS AND I THINK
THIS IS A CITYWIDE BENEFIT AS
WE THINK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO COULD POTENTIALLY
BENEFIT FROM THIS TYPE OF
ORDINANCE.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT ESPECIALLY
IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR
ARE ALSO LESS WILLING TO SORT
OF PUSH THE ENVELOPE AND KEEP
ASKING FOR CHANGE AND I REALLY
APPLAUD YONDER BAR FOR PUTTING
THIS ISSUE ON OUR RADAR.
AS THE SPONSORS HAVE NOTED
REPEATEDLY, THIS IS ABOUT THE
ENTIRE CITY AND ACTUALLY
LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE BENEFIT
ACROSS THE FABRIC OF OUR
COMMUNITIES TO TRY TO MAKE IT
EASIER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO
OPEN AND STAY OPEN.
CORONAVIRUS HAS LAID BARE OUR
INEQUITIES BY CREATING BARRIERS
TO BEING ABLE TO ACCESS TRUE
ECONOMIC STABILITY AND I THINK
BY SUSPENDING SOME OF THESE
RULES WE'RE RECOGNIZING THAT
OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY,
ENTREPRENEURS, THESE SHOPS ARE
DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO
MAKE IT THROUGH THESE
CHALLENGING TIMES.
I'M EXCITED TO BE A SPONSOR OF
THIS INTERIM POLICY AND I DO
HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO LOOK
FOR WAYS TO MAKE THIS PART OF
OUR LONGER TERM SOLUTION TO
MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES MORE
RESILIENT.
TO MAKE THEM MORE WALKABLE.
TO MAKE THEM MORE SUSTAINABLE.
AS WE THINK ABOUT OPENING UP
MORE SMALL BUSINESS SHOPS
ACROSS THE CITY I ALSO NOTE
THAT IT HAS TO BE COUPLED WITH
MORE HOUSING.
MORE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
WE WANT THIS TO BE A WALKABLE,
LIVABLE, ECONOMICALLY VIABLE
CITY FOR EVERYONE WHO LIVES
HERE.
A LOT OF OF THAT MEANS MAKING
SURE THERE ARE STORES, MORE
ACCESS TO CHILD CARES ACCIDENT
MORE STREET CAFES AND
MULTIFRIENDLY STRUCTURES.
I DO WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF
THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP WITH
SORT OF MY OWN PERSPECTIVE
ABOUT WHY I'M SUPPORTING THIS
LEGISLATION.
I WOULD SAY THAT THE EXISTING
CODE DOESN'T ACTUALLY WORK FOR
ENCOURAGING ENTREPRENEURS.
FOR EXAMPLE, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ I KNOW BEFORE I WASN'T
ON THE COMMITTEE BUT TALKED
ABOUT A FRY BREAD SHOP.
I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TASTY
TACOS.
IF WE WANTED TO CREATE THAT IN
OUR FRONT YARDS THROUGH OUR
GARAGES IT WOULD MAKE
ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE TO DO IT BY
APPOINTMENT ONLY.
IT WOULD MAKE NO SENSE TO HAVE
NO SIGN OUT THERE.
IT WOULD NOT EVEN BE FEASIBLE
TO DO THIS WITH JUST TWO PEOPLE
THAT DON'T WORK IN, THAT ARE
NOT PART OF OUR FAMILIES.
THOSE ARE JUST NOT REQUIREMENTS
THAT WORK FOR ENCOURAGING
ENTREPRENEURS.
IT'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, I THINK
IMPORTANT FOR US TO LOOK FOR
WAYS TO ADDRESS THAT FOURTH
PILLAR.
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THERE IS
NOT TRAFFIC CONGESTION?
THAT'S SOMETHING I ACTUALLY
SUPPORT.
AND BY SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS
WE'RE MAKING TODAY WE'RE
ENCOURAGING FOOT TRAFFIC.
WE'RE ENCOURAGING VISIBILITY
FROM THE STREET.
I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
CONCERNS ABOUT THE PARKING
REQUIREMENTS AND I'M GOING TO
REFER TO PAGE 27 FROM THIS
REPORT WHICH SOME OF YOU
PROBABLY ALREADY READ.
IT'S CALLED A BETTER CITY FROM
2016 FUTURE PARKING IN BOSTON.
IT LOOKS AT PARKING AND
ENTREPRENEUR OPPORTUNITIES
ACROSS THE CITY AND THEY DID IT
ACROSS CITY COMPARISON.
I'M GOING TO CITE NEW YORK.
I'M GOING TO CITE PORTLAND AND
A FEW O'CITYS WHERE THEY LOOKED
AT CUR SPACE.
PEOPLE THINK THE CURB SPACE IN
FRONT OF YOUR BUSINESS IS THE
MOST VIABLE THING TO PROTECT
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY SORT OF
COUNTERINTUITIVE TO PROMOTING
WHAT SMALL BUSINESSES WANT AND
THAT'S ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC IN
THEIR STORES, FOOT TRAFFIC AND
ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
THE CURBSIDE SPACE IS THE MOST
VALUABLE SPACE GIVEN ITS
PROXIMITY TO THE BUSINESS BUT
NOT FOR THE REASONS YOU MIGHT
THINK.
IT'S NOT ABOUT GRABBING THAT
SPOT AND JUMPING INTO THE SHOP.
THE CURB WHEN IT IS OCCUPIED BY
PARKED CARS CONFLICTS WITH
PEDESTRIANS WHO WANT TO BE ABLE
TO WALK AROUND AND SEE WHAT'S
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT CONFLICTS WITH BICYCLE AND
BICYCLE PARKING.
AND THE VISIBILITY OF THE SMALL
BUSINESS FROM THE STREET.
SO IN PORTLAND, OREGON WHEN
THEY REALLOCATED OR REMOVED ON
SITE STREET PARKING FROM RIGHT
IN FRONT OF THE SHOPS THEY SAW
THAT THE COMMERCIAL AREAS THOSE
SMALL COMMERCIAL SHOPS ACTUALLY
HAD GREATER ROOM FOR BIKE
CORRALS AND GREATER VISIBILITY
FROM THE STREET.
AND A PRELIMINARY SURVEY OF
ADJACENT BUSINESSES SHOWED
THERE WAS A 52% INCREASE IN THE
BUSINESS' VIABILITY FROM THE
STREET.
AND A 67% INCREASE FOR FOOT
TRAFFIC AND BIKE TRAFFIC.
ALL OF WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO
INCREASED BUSINESS ACTIVITY AND
REVENUE.
THAT'S FROM THE REPORT.
FURTHER MORE WHEN LOOKING AT
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.
THEY LOOKED AT THE NUMBER OF
UNUSED, UNDERUTILIZED PARKING
SPOTS AND THEY CONVERTED THOSE
AREAS TO PUBLIC EVENT AREAS AND
REMOVED THE PARKING
REQUIREMENTS, THERE WAS AN
INCREASE IN VISIBILITY TO THE
SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND SAW 172% INCREASE IN RETAIL
SALES AT LOCALLY CREATED
BUSINESSES.
THIS IS ABOUT SUPPORTING THOSE
SMALL BUSINESSES.
ESPECIALLY AS WE THINK ABOUT
WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.
I AM NOT DRIVING ACROSS THE
CITY LIKE WE USED TO BUT I AM
WALKING WAY MORE IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD THAN I USED TO.
I'M WALKING TO THOSE LOCAL
SMALL BUSINESSES.
AS WE THINK ABOUT FOLKS COMING
OUT OF THEIR OHM AND ENGAGING
MORE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES I
WANT MORE PEOPLE TO TALKWALK
AROUND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS BUT
I ALSO WANT THEM TO WALK AROUND
OTHER ECONOMIC HUBS.
I THINK THIS IS ACTUALLY A WAY
FOR US TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE
VISIBILITY FROM THE STREET AND
IMPROVE WALKABILITY AND
BIKABILITY.
ALSO TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC
VIABILITY OF THOSE SMALL
BUSINESSES.
WE ARE DOING SOME OF THE THINGS
THE STUDY TALKS ABOUT.
WE'VE STARTED SOME OF THESE
THINGS BEFORE COVID.
WE HAD BEEN WORKING ON CREATING
MORE PARKING VACATIONS IN SOME
OF THESE SPOTS THAT WERE
USUALLY USED JUST FOR ONE CAR
PARKING AND WE'VE CONVERTED
MANY OF THOSE SPACES PRE-COVID
INTO PARKING FOR BIKES.
NOW LOOK WHAT WE'VE DONE.
WE'VE TURNED A NUMBER OF THESE
PARKING SPOTS INTO OUTSIDE
EATERIES H IS GOOD DURING COVID
TIME.
BUT AS THE REPORT NOTED IT'S
GOOD FOR THE BUSINESSES TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE THAT OUTSIDE
DINING AREA TO BEGIN WITH.
I THINK THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION WILL BE VERY
SIMILAR AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO
SEE THAT BY MAKING MORE SMALL
BUSINESSES BE ABLE TO OPEN IN
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DON'T
ACTUALLY HAVE ACCESS TO THESE
TYPES OF SMALL ENTREPRENEURIAL
OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT NOW WE'LL
CONTINUE TO SEE GREATER FOOT
TRAFFIC.
THE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE GOING
TO SEE MORE PEOPLE WALKING
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THE BUSINESSES THAT ALREADY
EXIST WILL POTENTIALLY SEE MORE
PATRONS, MORE FOOT TRAFFIC,
MORE PEOPLE ENGAGING COMING IN
TO BROWSE THE STORES AND MORE
PURCHASES.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY FOR US
TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ENGAGING
ACROSS THE CITY.
CREATING MORE ECONOMIC LOCAL
HUBS.
I THINK IT'S AN ECONOMIC
STIMULANT THAT I DO HOPE THE
DATA WILL SHOW THAT THIS WILL
BE A WAY FOR US IN THE LONG
TERM TO ENCOURAGE MORE
ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS OUR CITY.
FINALLY FROM THE EQUITY
PERSPECTIVE.
EVERY SINGLE REPORT TALKS ABOUT
THE FACT THAT THE COVID-INDUCED
RECESSION HAS
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED
WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
IN TERMS OF LOST JOBS.
LOST HOURS AND LOST LIVELIHOOD.
IF WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT HOW
W CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE
RECOVERY WE HAVE TO BE THINKING
ABOUT WAYS THAT WE ALLOW FOR
PEOPLE TO USE THEIR
ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT.
THE TOOLS AT THEIR DISPOSAL AND
TO ALLOW THEM TO OPEN UP NEW
SHOPS.
THIS IS AN ECONOMIC STIMULANT
SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY.
I BELIEVE WHO HAVE BEEN
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
THE IMPACTS OF COVID AND I
THINK IT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE
IMPACT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
HARDEST HIT BY COVID AND TO THE
QUESTION AROUND COMPETITION,
WILL ACTUALLY HELP THE SMALL
BUSINESSES WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO SUSTAIN OR ARE BARELY
HANGING ON DURING THIS CRISIS
AS THEY BEGIN TO OPEN THEIR
DOORS AS WELL IT WILL BE A
STIMULANT TO THOSE EXISTING
BUSINESSES AS WE SEE GREATER
FOOT TRAFFIC AND ECONOMIC
ACTIVITIES.
AS WE CREATE MORE ECONOMIC
STABILITY, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE
WHO HAVE BEEN HARDEST HIT BY
COVID.
THOSE INDIVIDUALS ONCE THEY ARE
SUCCESSFUL HAVE CASH IN LAND.
WHEN PEOPLE HAVE CASH IN HAND
THEY SPEND IS IN THEIR LOCAL
COMMUNITIES.
THEY SPEND IS IN EXISTING
BUSINESSES.
THIS IS A STIMULANT.
THIS IS A, THIS HAS A
MULTIPLIER EFFECT FOR OUR
ECONOMIC VIABILITY ACROSS THE
CITY.
AND I COULD NOT END MY COMMENTS
WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE
BEGINNINGS OF TASTY TACOS.
IN DES MOINES, IOWA MY
GRANDPARENTS STARTED TASTY
TACOS IN 1961.
THIS WAS THE YEAR AFTER MY DAD
GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.
HE'S THE OLDEST OF SIX KIDS.
AND MY GRANDPARENTS DID
EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO HELP
MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS A ROOF
OVER THEIR HEAD IF THE KIDDOS
AND THAT PEOPLE HAD FOOD ON THE
TABLE.
AFTER WORKING VERY DIFFERENT
TYPES OF JOBS OVER THE YEARS MY
GRANDPARENTS STARTED TASTY
TACOS.
IN THE SMALL GARAGE IN FRONT OF
THE HOUSE THEY WERE RENTING.
MY GRANDPA TALKS ABOUT HOW IT
WAS STARTED OUT OF A HOLE IN
THE WALL BECAUSE IT WAS
LITERALLY THE HOLE IN FRONT OF
THEIR WALL WHERE THE GARAGE
WAS.
AND HIS MOTTO IS NADA ES
IMPOSSIBLE.
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.
BECAUSE IT TRULY STARTED OUT OF
THE FRONT OF THEIR HOME AND NOW
HERE WE ARE DECADES LATER AND
IT'S VOTED THE BEST TACO PLACE
IN DES MOINES, IOWA EVERY
SINGLE YEAR AND IT IS, THEY NOW
HAVE SIX RESTAURANTS.
AND THEY GOT OUT OF
GENERATIONAL POVERTY.
THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO CREATE
MORE OPPORTUNITIES DURING THIS
CRISIS AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL
BE A LONGER TERM PIECE OF
POLICY THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO
SEE ADVANCE.
I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
ON THIS COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU VICE CHAIR
MOSQUEDA.
POINTS WELL TAKEN.
ESPECIALLY TALKING ABOUT THE
VACANT STORE FRONTS WE HAVE IN
OUR CITY AND HOW ONE OF THE
REASONS I'M DOWNTOWN RIGHT NOW
AND ONE OF THE REASONS I'M
HAVING TROUBLE FINDING LUNCH I
WISH TASTY TACOS WAS HERE IS
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT WORKING
IN THEIR OFFICES.
THEY'RE SPENDING TIME IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT'S IMPORTANT WE PROVIDE
OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE OUR
RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS MORE
VIBRANT AS WE WEREN'T EXPECTING
TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME THERE.
IS YOUR POINT ABOUT JOBS.
THESE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE
CREATING JOBS.
THAT SPEAKS TO WHY IT'S
IMPORTANT TO REMOVE THAT
LIMITATION ON HOW MANY PEOPLE
CAN BE WORKING IN THE SPACE.
IT HAS TO ABIDE BY PUBLIC
HALTH GUIDELINES.
WE DON'T NEED TO BE THAT
BARRIER.
WHETHER IT'S FRY BREAD, TASTY
TACOS OR COFFEE ROASTING.
THERE IS STILL IN THIS BILL A
PROVISION THAT IF A COMPLAINT
WAS RECEIVED BECAUSE OF SMELL,
NOISE, GLARE THAT A COMPLAINT
COULD BE FILED.
THAT IS STILL PART OF THE BILL.
WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT WHEN
PEOPLE ARE GOOD NEIGHBORS WITH
EACH OTHER THAT THOSE
COMPLAINTS DON'T GET FILED.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SO MANY
BUSINESSES ACROSS THE CITY
RIGHT NOW OPERATING OUT OF THE
COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE
BECAUSE THEIR NEIGHBORS HAVEN'T
COMPLAINED.
THIS JUST CREATES THAT LEVEL
PLAYING FIELD.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, I SEE
YOU ARE UP NEXT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES.
I AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING.
I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS
BILL WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT NOW.
DESPITE MY CONCERNS ABOUT THIS
BILL I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
ORIGINAL AUTHOR CHAIR STRAUSS
FOR PROVIDING ENOUGH TIME TO
CONSIDER THIS LEGISLATION WHEN
SOME BILLS ARE OFTEN QUICKLY
RUSHED THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL
ALTHOUGH THIS WAS DISCUSSED
QUICKLY, CHAIR STRAUSS PROVIDED
AMPLE TIME AND GRACE IN HIS
COMMITTEE ON FEBRUARY 24th TO
AIR THE CONCERNS AND PROVIDE
STAFF TIME TO ANALYZE IT.
SINCE THEN.
SO ULTIMATELY THOUGH THE
SUBSEQUENT MEMO FROM OUR
CENTRAL STAFF ANALYST,
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
DEPARTMENT THAT WILL IMPLEMENT
THIS LEGISLATION AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY MY OUTREAC TO
SMALL BUSINESSES DID NOT
ALLEVIATE THE CONCERNS I RAISED
DURING THE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE
MEETING ON FEBRUARY 24th.
IN FACT MANY BUSINESS DISTRICTS
HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS
LEGISLATION AND OFFERED
ADDITIONAL CONCERNS.
I HAVE CONSISTENTLY AND
STRONGLY SUPPORTED SMALL
BUSINESS.
LAST YEAR I WORKED HARD TO
RENEW THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREA FOR THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT, A VERY
DIVERSE BUSINESS DISTRICT IN
THE HEART OF DISTRICT FOUR.
OVER 65% OF THOSE BUSINESSES
ARE OWNED BY WOMEN AND PEOPLE
OF COLOR.
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES I
SUPPORTED FINANCIAL AND
REGULATORY RELIEF AND RECOVERY
PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE COVID
PANDEMIC.
MY RECENT OP ED FOR AN
INCREASIVE ECONOMIC RECOVERY
POINTS TO WAYS GOVERNMENT CAN
AND SHOULD WORK WITH LOCAL
EMPLOYERS TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO
WORK AND ACHIEVE AN INCREASIVE
ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
SIGNIFICANT PRIVATE SECTOR
CONSPIRACY AND AFTER STUDYING
THIS ISSUE COUNCIL BILL 120-
0001 IS NOT THE MOST
APPROPRIATE INTERVENTION AT
THIS TIME.
IT IS BECAUSE OF MY SUPPORT OF
EXISTING SMALL BUSINESSES IN
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
DISTRICTS THAT I HAVE REMAINING
CONCERNS WITH THE BILL.
ON MY CITY COUNCIL BLOG I'LL
POST ALL OF MY CONCERNS IN MORE
DETAIL SO I CAN FULLY EXPLAIN
MY VOTE TO MY CONSTITUENTS.
FOR COMMITTEE NOW I'LL
SUMMARIZE A FEW KEY POINTS.
FIRST IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE AS
WE DISCUSSED HOME-BASED SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE ALREADY ALLOWED
UNDER THE CODE.
THIS BILL WOULD REMOVE SOME OF
THE REQUIREMENTS.
SECOND, THIS BILL IS FRAMED AS
NEEDING TO ADDRESS STRESSES ON
SMALL BUSINESSES DUE TO THE
COVID PANDEMIC.
HOWEVER THE BILL IS NOT WRITTEN
TIME LIMITED TO THE PANDEMIC.
IT INSTEAD SETS UP A STARTING
POINT FOR POTENTIAL PERMANENT
CHANGE IN THE LAND USE CODE FOR
THE CITY.
THIRD, THE PROPOSED CHANGES
WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR
RETAIL, FOOD AND DRINK
ESTABLISHMENTS TO PROLIFERATE
EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY WITH TOO
LITTLE CONSIDERATION OF THE
IMPACTS ON EXISTING SMALL
BUSINESSES STRUGGLING TO REOPEN
AND REHIRE.
THESE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE
NOT ONLY PAYING THEIR RENT ON
THEIR LEASE, LONG TERM LEASE
THAT THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF
RIGHT NOW.
BUT ALSO PAYING RENT ON THEIR
PERSONAL RESIDENCE OR A
MORTGAGE.
AND THERE'S I BELIEVE TOO
LITTLE CONSIDERATION ON THE
IMPACTS ON THE RESIDENTIAL
AREAS DUE TO INCREASED
DELIVERIES AND CUSTOMER TRAFFIC
THAT WOULD BE EXPECTED.
FOURTH, I'M CONCERNED THAT THE
LEGISLATION WILL DISTRACT A KEY
CITY DEPARTMENT.
OUR DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION
AND INSPECTIONS SDCI IS ALREADY
BEHIND ON IMPROVING PERMITS AND
DELIVERING AN OVERDUE ORDINANCE
TO PROTECT OUR TREES.
WE HEARD A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
TREE ORDINANCE TAKING TOO LONG.
I BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE
SADDLING THE CITY GOVERNMENT
STAFF TO DEVELOP, MONITOR THIS
NEW PROGRAM AND ULTIMATELY
ENFORCE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE
NEW PROGRAM WHICH COULD DELAY
THEIR OTHER PRIORITIES AROUND
THE DEPARTMENT.
FROM THE DOZENS OF E-MAILS
WE'VE RECEIVED IT APPEARS THERE
ARE ONE OR TWO SMALL BUSINESSES
BEHIND THAT PUSH FOR THE
LEGISLATION.
THIS WOULD IMPACT THE ENTIRE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
I THINK THE NEEDS OF A SINGLE
SMALL BUSINESS HAVING TROUBLE
WITH THE CITY'S COMPLEX AND
OFTEN CONFUSING ZONING AND LAND
USE CODES ARE LEGITIMATE AND
SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.
PERSONALLY I DON'T THINK THIS
WARRANTS LAND USE CHANGES
IMPACTING ALL OF SEATTLE.
WOULD RATHER SEE A ONE OFF
EXCEPTIONS RATHER THAN BLANKET
CITY-WIDE CHANGES.
TALKED ABOUT INCUBATING SMALL
BUSINESSES WHICH I COMPLETELY
SUPPORT.
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT HAS A PROGRAM ON
THEIR WEBSITE STARTUP RESOURCES
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
INCUBATION OF SMALL BUSINESSES
IS AN EFFORT THAT I HOPE OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WOULD
GET MORE INVOLVED IN IT AND
THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF SUCCESS
INCUBATING SMALL BUSINESSES BY
CLUSTERING THEM TOGETHER.
CLUSTER TOGETHER TO ATTRACT
CUSTOMERS, FOOT TRAFFIC SO THEY
CAN MUTUALLY BENEFIT FROM THE
ADDITIONAL FOOT TRAFFIC.
SAME WITH INCUBATING SMALL
BUSINESSES TOGETHER IN A SINGLE
SPACE SO THEY SHARE RENT, GET
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AS THEY
GROW AND EXPAND.
SOME SMALL BUSINESSES COULD
BECOME VENDORS AT FARMERS
MARKETS.
WE HAVE A YEAR ROUND FARMERS
MARKET.
THERE ARE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES
TO INCUBATE SMALL BUSINESSES.
I WOULD RATHER SEE ONE OFF
EXCEPTIONS MADE RATHER THAN
BLANKET CITYWIDE CHANGES.
THANK YOU.
>> THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
DISTRICT PHINNEY ASSOCIATION
INDICATED THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS
BILL AND SUPPORT AND THEY'RE
JUST A BLOCK OR TWO AWAY.
AS WELL AS BRANDY CRUZ WHO IS
USUALLY VERY CRITICAL OF CITY
COUNCIL AND HAD GOOD WORDS TO
SAY ABOUT YOU THIS MORNING ALSO
STATED HER SUPPORT FOR THIS
BILL.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT
THAT THE TIMELINE NEEDS TO BE
SET IN HAD STONE SO IT IS CLEAR
FOR ALL PEOPLE ENGAGING IN THIS
PROCESS TO KNOW EXACTLY WHEN
THIS IS GOING TO END.
IT'S NOT CLEAR WHEN THE CIVIL
STATE OF EMERGENCY WILL END.
WE JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR
WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND THE
PUBLIC.
INSPECTORS WHO DO INSPECTION
ONLINE AREN'T PART OF THE
PERMITTING PIPELINE.
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A
ROBUST BRIEFING BUT APPARENTLY
THE PRESENTATION IS STUCK IN
THE PIPELINE UPSTAIRS.
WE'LL GET TO THAT.
YOU SPEAK ABOUT THE EXCEPTIONS
TO THE LAND USE CODE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S
VRY CLEAR THAT WE ATTEMPTED TO
LOOK FOR THE ABILITY TO CREATE
EXCEPTIONS.
AND LAND USE CODE CAN'T HAVE
EXCEPTIONS UNLESS YOU CHANGE
THE CODE.
THAT IS WHY THIS IS AN
EXPERIMENT BILL BECAUSE IT --
WE NEED TO MAKE A TEMPORARY
CHANGE TO THE LAND USE CODE
BECAUSE THE INSPECK SOARS ARE,
THEY CAN'T BE SUBJECTIVE.
IT HAS TO BE YES OR NO.
ONE OR ZERO.
WE NEED TO GIVE THEM THAT
FLEXIBILITY FOR, KIND OF JUST
LIKE WHAT YOU SAID.
ONE OFF EXCEPTION.
WHEN WE LOOKED A IN THE BILL
THE MAJORITY OF THE CODE
REQUIREMENTS FOR HOME OCCUPANCY
BUSINESSES DO REMAIN.
AND WE JUST CHANGED A FEW OF
THEM.
I SEE YOUR HAND UP.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO
SAY?
NO.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
LOOKING AROUND THE ZOOM ROOM DO
WE -- COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
PLEASE.
>> SO ARE WE GOING TO GO TO A
VOTE NOW?
CAN I SAY SOMETHING BEFORE WE
GO?
>> YEAH.
PLEASE.
>> THEN WE'LL GO TO A VOTE?
I THINK WHAT WE HEARD TODAY
EVERYONE AGREES WITH.
NO ONE'S AGAINST THIS.
NO ONE -- I MEAN, THE FOUR
AREAS WHERE YOU WANT TO RELAX
CERTAIN PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
THEY'RE ALL REASONABLE PEOPLE
CAN DISAGREE AND I DON'T THINK,
I'M TRYING TO COMPARE BRICK AND
MORTAR TO A GARAGE BECAUSE
THEY'RE DIFFERENT.
MORE TOWARDS A MORE HOLISTIC
RESPONSE IS THAT WE HAVE THIS
OPENING OF THIS APPTURE OF YOU
WILL.
THIS TIME RIGHT NOW AS WE'RE
BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO LOOK
AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH
A SOCIAL JUSTICE LENS.
AND IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A
PATHWAY TO PERMANENCY AND AN
INCUBATION PROGRAM WHICH IN
ANOTHER LIFE I DID MANY OF
THESE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO A PATHWAY
TO PERMANENCY, AT SOME POINT
YOU'LL WANT TO HAVE, IF THESE
BUSINESSES AT HOME ON A PATH TO
PERMANENCY WANT TO FIND
THEMSELVES AS A STORE FRONT
STORE THEY'RE GOING TO NEED THE
SUPPORT FROM GROUPS LIKE THE
SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.
THEY'RE GOING TO NEED THE
BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL LITERACY
THAT IS REQUIRED AND NEEDED FOR
ALL THAT STUFF.
THE DREAM IS YOU START A
BUSINESS LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA WAS SAYING IN YOUR
GARAGE AND SOME DAY YOU HAVE A
STORE FRONT AND SOME DAY YOU
HAVE FRANCHISES AND YOU BUILD
GENERATIONAL WEALTH THAT YOU
CAN PASS ON TO YOUR CHILDREN,
YOUR GRANDCHILDREN AND YOU CAN
PAY FOR YOUR MORTGAGE, YOU PUT
YOUR KIDS THROUGH COLLEGE AND
IF THIS IS A STARTING POINT FOR
THAT, THAT MAKES SENSE.
I GET THAT.
AND I'M VERY, I'M GLAD WE'RE
TALKING AND DOING THIS.
AND SO I'M NOT SO CONCERNED
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE
MORE EMPLOYEES IN THE BUILDING
OR, I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO
RESPOND TO SOME OF THE SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT THIS IS A GOOD
THING.
YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF NOT WITH
MORE COMPETITORS BUT WITH A
MORE VIBRANT BUSINESS DISTRICT
THAT IS MORE EXPANSIVE AND
REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR GREAT
CITY.
WITH THAT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WILL BE VOTING TO SUPPORT
THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> MY GOODNESS.
THAT IS A SUPREME.
>> WE HAVE TO RENAME.
YOU HAVE TO RENAME IT.
OR KETIL.
IN KETIL'S MEMO TO ME.
>> WISE PERSON ONCE SAID TO ME
YOU HAVE TO BE READY IF YOU
DON'T HAVE THE QUESTIONS OR THE
ANSWERS TO ALL OF COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ'S QUESTIONS YOU
SHOULDN'T BE COMING TO
COMMITTEE.
SO THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
GREAT.
AND BY THE WAY, WHO IS BRANDY
CRUZ?
>> SHE IS A REPORTER ON Q 13
FOX.
>> OH, OKAY.
>> WONDERFUL.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER COMMENTS,
QUESTIONS?
CONCERNS?
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> I WOULD JUST SAY MR. CHAIR I
WILL BE VOTING FOR THIS IN
SPITE OF THE FACT BRANDY CRUZ
IS SUPPORTING IT.
APPRECIATE, JUST A JOKE.
I WILL BE VOTING FOR THIS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU KINDLY.
I WANT TO THANK BRANDY CRUZ.
KCPQ.
AND THEN TROY HOWELL DAY FOR
HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPACT TO
THIS.
I WANT TO THANK KETIL FREEMAN,
CENTRAL STAFF.
FOR THE ASSISTANCE IN IT
WRITING THIS LEGISLATION AND
COSPONSORS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZAND MOSQUEDA.
COLLEAGUES.
IF THIS PASSES RIGHT NOW THE
LEGISLATION WILL BE BEFORE US
ON MONDAY, MARCH 15th.
SO I MOVE.
>> I THINK WE NEED TO GET BACK
TO WHAT HAPPENED TO HARRY AND
MEGHAN.
THAT'S WHAT I'M UPSET ABOUT.
SO.
JUST GOING TO THROW THAT OUT
THERE, SEE WHAT BRANDY THINKS
ABOUT THAT.
>> AND WHO IS THE QUEEN?
WE'LL GET TO THAT LATER.
I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF 120001 AS
AMENDED.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED.
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
IF THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS WILL THE CLERK CALL
THE ROLL.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> VICE CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MR. AN.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
I KNOW I HAD PROMISED
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WE WOULD
BE WRAPPED UP WITH COMMITTEE BY
11:30 AS SHE NEEDS, SHE IS
EXCUSED AT 11:30.
CLEARLY I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE
THAT MARK.
SORRY.
>> STRAUSS COMING OUT OF A
COMMITTEE ON A DIVIDED REPORT.
I BELIEVE IT HAS TO WAIT UNTIL
A FOLLOWING MONDAY FOR A FULL
COUNCIL VOTE.
WE CAN CHECK WITH
PARLIAMENTTARIAN LATER ON THAT.
>> UNLESS THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AGREES TO SUSPEND THE RULES SO
I'M HAPPY TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION ACT NEXT STEPS.
>> WE WILL EITHER SEE IT ON
MARCH 15th OR ON THE 22ND DUE
TO THE UNFORTUNATE DIVIDED
VOTE.
THANK YOU KETIL FOR FLAGGING
THAT.
OUR NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS
TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING.
FEEL FREE TO STAY ON OR LOG OFF
AT YOUR CONVENIENCE.
OUR NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS
THE ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE
OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
MR. AN, WILL YOU READ THIS ITEM
INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 2. OFFICE OF
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT.
>> WE ARE JOINED BY DIRECTOR
SAM ASSEFA FROM OPCD.
A NATIONAL LEADER I ALSO SAW
DEPUTY RICO AND YOU'LL HAVE TO,
I'LL LET YOU TELL ME HOW TO SAY
YOUR LAST NAME.
ONCE WE MEET AND HAVE A I WILL
THEN BE INTRODUCING YOU.
I DON'T WANT TO, YES.
THANK YOU KINDLY.
DIRECTOR ASSEFA.
I BELIEVE YESTERDAY MARKED FIVE
YEARS SINCE YOU WERE NOMINATED
TO THIS POSITION.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ENORMOUS CONTRIBUTION TO OUR
CITY YOU HAVE YOUR FINGERPRINTS
ON THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHETHER
IT'S THE EQUITABLE EDI OR HOW
WE HAVE CHANGED ZONING AND
MEANINGFUL WAYS.
YOUR LEADERSHIP IS INCREDIBLE
AND I REALLY SINCERELY HOPE YOU
DO NOT GO FAR.
IT MIGHT BE SERIOUS.
I MAY NEVER ADJOURN THIS
COMMITTEE.
WE'LL SEE.
SO EVERYONE GET THEIR WATER.
PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
THIS IS YOUR PRESENTATION.
I'LL ASK QUESTIONS AS WE GO.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE KIND
WORDS COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS
AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME
HERE THIS MORNING.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE AS YOU JUST MENTIONED
IT'S NOT, IT WAS A VERY HARD
DECISION FOR ME AS YOU KNOW
LEAVING, STEPPING DOWN AT THE
END OF THIS MONTH.
IT HAS BEEN A GREAT, GREAT
HONOR TO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALLY
WITH A LOT OF YOU HERE.
ESPECIALLY COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
AND NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE
CHAIR.
IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING HONOR TO
WORK FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE
FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
WE HAVE AS YOU MENTIONED RICO
WHO JOINED AS A DEPUTY DIRECTOR
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.
OPCD WILL BE IN GOOD HANDS.
MAYOR DURKAN HAS APPOINTED HIM
AS INTERIM DIRECTOR WHEN I STEP
DOWN AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH
SEATTLE AS COMMUNITY WORK,
URBAN DESIGN, A LOT OF CIVIC
DESIGN WORK.
MOST OF YOU HAVE ENGAGED WITH
HIM.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP THESE LAST FIVE
YEARS.
I'VE BEEN AN ARCHITECT FOR THE
LAST 26 YEARS PRACTICING.
I WAS VOTED A CITIZEN ARCHITECT
BY THE AMERICAN STUDENT OF
ARCHITECTS IN 2011 AND 2020.
HEAVY LIFTING THAT GETS DONE BY
CITY COUNCIL AND OUR CIVIC
LEADERSHIP AND I'M EXCITED TO
BE A PART OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE STAFFING COMMUNITY.
I'M SUPER PROUD OF THE
PRESENTATION WE'RE GIVING TODAY
ON THE GREAT WORK OF OUR
OFFICE.
AND WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT BACK
OVER TO YOU, SAM.
>> GREAT.
THANKS, RICO.
SO TODAY WE'LL GIVE YOU AN
OVERVIEW OF BOTH THE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2020, ONE OF
THE HARDEST, DIFFICULT TIMES
FOR ALL OF US.
IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTRY'S
HISTORY, IF NOT THE WORLD.
I'LL TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT SOME OF
THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THERE.
THEN JUMP ON TO 2021 WORK
PROGRAM.
SO FIRST I'LL START WITH
PLANNING COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT'S KEY MISSION.
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENTS AND
CREATE GREAT PLACES.
WE ALSO SET GOALS FROM MEETING
WITH EQUITY PERSPECTIVE.
PRIMARILY, RACIAL DISPARITIES
AND ACHIEVE RACIAL EQUITY IN
ALL OF THE WORK WE DO THROUGH
OUR WORK AND ENGAGEMENT AS
PLANNERS AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPERS.
THAT VISION CANNOT BE MORE TRUE
AND IMPORTANT AS IT IS IN THIS
TIME WE'RE IN AFTER 2020.
I'LL TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THAT.
OPCD 2021 BUDGET HAS 42 FULL
TIME EMPLOYEES.
TWO ARE ON LOAN TO OTHER
DEPARTMENTS.
THIS IS THE ORGANIZATION
STRUCTURE WE HAVE PRIMARILY FOR
KEY DIVISIONS.
PLUS TWO COMMISSIONS.
JUST QUICKLY GOING FROM LEFT TO
RIGHT THE TEAM THAT LEADS THE
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE PROGRAM.
COMMUNITY PLANNING THAT IS
SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS
THAT TEAM THAT WORK ON THE
VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD PLANTS IN
THE CITY.
LONG RANGE PLANNING WHICH
PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND LONG
TERM CITY LAND USE POLICIES, AS
WELL AS MANAGES THE GEOGRAPHIC
INFORMATION SYSTEM, DEMOGRAPHIC
DATA, EQUITABLE MONITORING.
LAND USE POLICY.
THIS IS THE TEAM THAT FOCUSES
ON VERY SPECIFIC ZONING
POLICIES.
LAND USE POLICIES WORKING WITH
THE TEAM TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES
FOR THE VARIOUS COMMUNITY PLANS
THAT OPCD PRODUCES WITH OTHER
DEPARTMENTS.
WE HAVE THE TWO COMMISSIONS.
AS I GO THROUGH THE
PRESENTATION AND
ACCOMPLISHMENTS DIVIDED BY EACH
OF THOSE DIVISIONS.
SO STARTING WITH 2020
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS YOU KNOW
OPCD IS NOT PRIMARY FRONTLINE
EMERGENCY RESPONSE DEPARTMENT.
AS A RESULT, MOST OF OUR WORK
THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC
AND THE CRISIS IN PLANNING HAS
BEEN SUPPORTING THE CITY'S
EFFORTS IN MITIGATION AND
RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS.
OR A LOT OF OUR STAFF THROUGH
MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS.
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC MANY
EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
AS WELL AS WORK WITH OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS ON SMALL
BUSINESS SUPPORT MITIGATION
WORK.
BUT ALSO USING OUR GIS AND DATA
TO HELP SUPPORT THE EMERGENCY
RESPONSE AS WELL AS THE SMALL
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE.
HOWEVER, WE ALSO HAVE CORE WORK
ITEMS THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK.
I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT SOME OF
THEM.
START WITH THE LONG RANGE
PLANNING POPULATION DATA.
WE UPDATE THE DEMOGRAPHIC
WEBSITE REGULARLY.
THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK ON THAT
IN 2020.
A NEW ANALYSIS ON HOUSING NEEDS
ANALYSIS, FOCUSED ON THE HOUSE
BILL THAT PASSED IN 2019.
THIS BILL FOCUSES ON
OPPORTUNITIES IN URBAN AREAS.
ON THAT BASIS, WE ARE
DEVELOPING THE NEXT UPDATE WITH
THE BASE WORK ON HOUSING NEEDS
AND ANALYSIS.
STAFF ARE WORKING ON DEVELOPING
THAT AND THEY CONTINUE TO WORK
ON THAT.
THEN THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF WORK, EARLY WORK, ON
THE UPDATE.
THE UPDATE IS REQUIRED EVERY
SEVEN YEARS.
THIS YEAR WE WILL LAUNCH THE
NEXT UPDATE.
THROUGH MID-2024.
IN 2020 WE FOCUSED A LOT ON THE
BASE WORK, ESPECIALLY IN EQUITY
ANALYSIS AND REQUESTS AROUND
DETERMINING HOW BEST LAND-USE
POLICIES OVER THE PAST 20 OR 30
YEARS HAVE RESPONDED TO RACIAL
EQUITY.
SO THAT ANALYSIS IS UNDERWAY AS
THE BASIS FOR A POLICY
CONVERSATION AROUND UPDATES.
WE WILL BE REPORTING TO YOU
SOON, THIS QUARTER, ON THAT
STUDY.
THEN THERE IS BUILDABLE LANDS
ANALYSIS.
THIS IS PART OF THE
REQUIREMENT.
FOR EVERY UPDATE WE LOOK AT THE
CITYWIDE CAPACITY FOR GROWTH
AND EXISTING ZONING.
AND THAT DATA IS ALSO USED TO
INFORM GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN POLICY
OBJECTIVES AND OBJECTIVES AS WE
MOVE FORWARD.
ANOTHER IS SIGNIFICANT
COORDINATION WITH REGIONAL
AGENCIES.
KING COUNTY, PUGET SOUND, AND
THE STATE, AROUND THE STATE AND
THE STATE'S VISION.
OR THE STATE'S VERSION FOR
2020.
SO A LOT OF THAT WORK HAS BEEN
GOING ON IN 2020 AND SOME OF IT
WILL CONTINUE THIS YEAR.
ON COMMUNITY PLANNING, SOME OF
THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TEAM,
SIGNIFICANT WORK OBVIOUSLY
COORDINATING WITH STATE
AGENCIES AROUND SOUND TRANSIT.
AROUND THE LIGHT RAIL EXPANSION
AND THE 14 EXPANSION AREAS.
A LOT OF AGENCY WORKSHOPS AND
COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS, DEVELOPING
DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR THE 14
STATION AREAS.
AND THEN SOME SPECIFIC WORK
AROUND THE MAJOR STAGING AREAS.
WORKING WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS
FROM THE CHINATOWN-
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
A LOT OF WORK ON THE 130th
STATION PLANNING.
AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TAKES
PLACE ALL THROUGHOUT 2020,
STARTING IN 2019.
WE ARE ALSO TEEING UP, THIS
YEAR, A NEW COMMUNITY PLANNING
EFFORT.
MOST OF THE LATTER HALF OF LAST
YEAR WE COORDINATED WITH
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES,
NEIGHBORHOODS, TRANSPORTATION,
AND WITH THE COUNTY, AROUND
POLICY ISSUES, INFRASTRUCTURE
ISSUES, THAT ARE EITHER IN THE
PLANNING STAGES OR BEING
ENVISIONED, BY THE COUNTY, AND
SOME WITHIN THE LOCAL AREA BY
THE CITY, AS WELL.
IT PROVIDES A BASIS TO INFORM
COMMUNITY PLANNING WORK.
OUR LAND-USE POLICY TEAM HAD
SOME KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON
ADOPTING THE NEW ACCESSIBLE
DWELLING UNITS LEGISLATION LAST
YEAR.
IN VERY CLOSE COORDINATION WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONS,
WE HAVE DEVELOPED 10
PREAPPROVED PLANS AND DESIGNS
TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR
HOMEOWNERS AND PEOPLE WHO DON'T
ENGAGE IN DEVELOPMENT AND
ARCHITECTURE, SO IT IS EASIER
FOR THEM TO ADD ACCESSIBLE
DWELLING UNITS, BY PROVIDING
PREAPPROVED DESIGNS AND ALSO
EXPEDITE THE PRICE PROCESS.
STAFF ALSO WORKED ON DEVELOPING
A VERY ACCESSIBLE, USABLE
WEBSITE.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO IN
AND SEE THE STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS
ON HOW TO ACTUALLY BUILD
ACCESSIBLE HOUSING UNITS.
IT IS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES AND
MAKES IT VERY EASY TO
UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS.
A NUMBER OF OTHER REZONING.
THIS IS SOUTH RAINIER BEACH
AVENUE.
VACANT AND UNDERUTILIZED
PARCELS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF
ENCOURAGING AND CREATING SPACE
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU, COUNCIL,
FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH
LEGISLATION.
A NUMBER OF WORK ON HOUSING
CHOICES, REPORTS, AND ANALYSIS.
úOUR TEAM ORDINATES WITH THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING AND
INTERNALLY ALIGN POLICY WITH
THE LONG RANGE PLANNING GROUP
TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE
HOUSING CHOICES THAT WE NEED TO
THINK ABOUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD
WITH SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM
POLICIES.
AND THEN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT
OF WORK.
AS YOU KNOW, THE MARITIME
INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY, ALSO
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS,
WORKING WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
A MAJOR MILESTONE THIS QUARTER
IN THAT WORK.
MOST OF THE WORK WILL BE GOING
ON IN 2020.
WE HAVE A SMALL TEAM THAT
FOCUSES ON URBAN DESIGN WORK.
CITY DIVISIONS AND ALSO OTHER
DEPARTMENTS ON URBAN DESIGN
WORK.
ONE COMPLETED PRODUCT WAS THE
FEASIBILITY STUDY.
YOU RECALL, IT WAS FUNDED
THROUGH THE CONVENTION CENTER
DEVELOPMENT AND THAT WORK AND
REPORT HAS BEEN COMPLETED IN
2020.
STAFF IS BEEN HELPING WITH THE
SR 520 VERMONT LAKE THAT WAS
GOING ON THERE.
THE ST3 HUB DESIGN STRATEGY
THAT I MENTIONED AND VARIOUS
URBAN DESIGN SUPPORT FOR A
NUMBER OF COMMUNITY PLANS AND
INITIATIVES IN THE OFFICE.
THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM HAS BEEN
VERY BUSY ESPECIALLY IN 2020,
WITH A LOT OF FOCUS ON WHAT IT
MEANS TO PIVOT AROUND THE COVID
IMPACTS.
IN ADDITION TO THE FUNDING,
FOCUSING FOR 2020 ON THE
CORRECT COVID RESPONSE.
SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS.
WE ALSO DOUBLED DOWN ON THEIR
ENGAGEMENT ACROSS THE
ORGANIZATIONS.
WE HAVE NOW 60 OR MORE
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS,
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, ALL
PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT LIVE WITHIN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND WE HAVE
AN ONGOING RELATIONSHIP AND
ENGAGEMENT WITH THEM.
WE STILL STAY IN TOUCH WITH
THEM AS PART OF THE WHOLE
PROCESS OF BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS.
AND THE EDI TEAM DESIGNED VERY
USEFUL AND ROBUST ENGAGEMENT
FOR LAST YEAR, BRINGING
GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND
FUNDERS AND KEY COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE WORK
WITH, TO REALLY BEGIN A
RELATIONSHIP AND COLLABORATION.
THIS WILL BE CRITICAL.
AS YOU KNOW, THE FUND ALONE IS
A DROP IN THE BUCKET.
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES,
ESPECIALLY THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR
EXPERIENCE.
SO THE IDEA FROM THE EDI GROUP
HAS BEEN THAT WE NEED TO BE
THE FUNDERS FOR THE
ORGANIZATIONS, SO THAT YOU
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, BECAUSE
PRIVATE/PUBLIC INITIATIVES ARE
CRITICAL FOR THAT ISSUE.
SOME EDI FUNDING, THE RAINIER
BEACH INNOVATION CENTER AND
BLACK AND TAN, TO ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE SUCCESSFULLY PART AND
ON PROPERTIES.
THIS YEAR AND INTO THE NEXT
COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND THE SEATTLE DESIGN
COMMISSION DESCRIPTION, IT
PRIMARILY ADVICES COUNCIL AND
THE MAYOR ON PUBLIC PROJECTS
LIKE POLICE STATIONS OR
PUBLICLY FUNDED PROJECTS OR ANY
LONG-TERM OR PERMANENT VACATION
OR USE OF PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS.
THEY HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY IN
2020.
THEY WERE THE FIRST COMMISSION
AFTER COVID IN MARCH TO JUMP
ONTO A PHONE LINE MEETING
FORMAT.
A PILOT FOR I.T., AS WELL, TO
HAVE THE SUCCESSFUL MEETING WE
ARE HAVING NOW.
THE APPROVAL OF THE URBAN
DESIGN MANUAL FOR THE SR 520
INVESTMENT.
AND POLICY WORK ON PUBLIC
FACILITIES, COORDINATING WITH
BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE
OF COLOR COMMUNITIES.
REUSING SOUND TRANSIT VACANT
PROPERTIES FOR PUBLIC SPACE AND
REIMAGINING, DUE TO COVID,
PUBLIC SPACES AND HOW THEY
SERVE AND HOW WE CAN CREATE
OUTDOOR SPACES TO ADDRESS THE
CHALLENGES OF COVID.
THE INDEPENDENT BODY ADVICES
SEATTLE AND COUNCIL AND THE
MAYOR ON BROAD, LONG-RANGE,
PLANNING GOALS AND POLICIES.
INCLUDING THE LINE USE AND
DEVELOPMENT FOR THE LONGER-
TERM.
IN 2020, THEY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED
IN STRATEGY, GROWTH STRATEGY
PAPER.
A RACIAL EQUITY AND RESILIENT
RECOVERY PAPER.
AND APPLICATION OF RACIAL
EQUITY PRINCIPLES FROM THE
CENTER FOR URBAN AND RACIAL
EQUITY.
THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT
WORKS WITH GOVERNMENTS AND
COMMUNITIES ON THE KEY
PRINCIPLES AROUND RACIAL EQUITY
AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS
BEEN ENGAGED IN THAT.
SO NOW I WILL JUMP INTO 2021
KEY HIRE ROLES.
INVESTMENTS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED
EARLIER.
THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC.
IT IS CLEAR, THE
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT AND WHAT
WE DO INTERNALLY WITH OUR
LEADING WITH EQUITY TEAM IS
EVERY YEAR WE PROJECT, WHAT ARE
WE WAITING FOR?
AND THIS IS AN OUTLINE OF KEY
PRINCIPLES THAT WE NEED TO
DOUBLE DOWN ON IN OUR 2021
PRIORITIES.
LEAD WITH EQUITY.
PRIORITIZE BIPOC NEEDS.
BUILD LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS,
SIMILAR TO THE ORGANIZATIONS I
WAS MENTIONING EARLIER.
USE DATA TO HELP INFORM NOT
ONLY OUR WORK, BUT CITYWIDE
ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES.
AND SYSTEMS TRANSFORMATION.
THE EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM HAS BEEN ONE OF THE
EARLY PILOTS FORGETTING
COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE
MOSTLY IMPACTED BY
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM OR EQUITY,
TO BE IN THE DECISION-MAKING
PRCESS.
SO WE ARE GROWING THAT AND ONE
OF THEM IS GETTING A PERMANENT
ADVISORY BOARD AND HOW DO WE
THINK ABOUT STRUCTURAL CHANGES
INTERNALLY AND HOW WE ENGAGE
WITH OTHERS.
AND FINALLY, ADVANCING THE
STUDY THROUGH ANY OF OUR MAJOR
INITIATIVES OF 2021.
SO WITH THAT, THE LONG-RANGE
PLANNING TEAM, THERE IS A LOT
OF WORK THEY ARE DOING.
KEY PRIORITIES INCLUDED WHAT I
MENTIONED, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
UPDATES.
SOMETIMES THIS QUARTER, NEXT
QUARTER.
ACTUALLY, NEXT QUARTER WE PLAN
TO LAUNCH THE MAJOR UPDATE
PROCESS.
EARLY THE FIRST TWO QUARTERS WE
WILL BE FOCUSING ON THE DATA
ANALYSIS.
I MENTIONED HOUSING NEEDS AND
SUPPLY ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIES.
CONVENING THIS QUARTER.
AND OF COURSE, ANNUAL
COMPENSATION PLAN AMENDMENTS
WOULD BE ONGOING WORK.
IN DEMOGRAPHICS AND GIS, THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF UPDATES THAT
THE TEAM CREATES EVERY YEAR.
MONITORING REPORTS AND OTHER
DEMOGRAPHIC DATA.
AND THEN SIGNIFICANT
COORDINATION WITH CITY
ORGANIZATIONS, STATE, PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND STATE LEGISLATION.
ALL OF THESE ALSO HELP FEED
INTO POLICY OBJECTIVES AND
ISSUES THAT WE LOOK AT IN A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
OUR COMMUNITY PLANNING WORK, A
MAJOR FOCUS THIS YEAR. AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER, WE WILL BE
PUBLISHING THE DRAFT PLANNING
ENGAGEMENT FROM OVER THE LAST
18 MONTHS.
HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF
WEEKS.
WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS AND OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
RACIAL EQUITY SUPPORT.
COMMUNITY PLANNING IN AURORA AND
LICTON SPRINGS.
EARLY STATION PLANNING FOR
JACKSON HUB, WESTLAKE HUB, AND
DELRIDGE.
WE ARE HOPING THIS SUMMER,
WSHFUL THINKING, THAT WE CAN
HAVE IN PERSON ENGAGEMENT.
REGARDLESS, WITH ONLINE
ENGAGEMENT WE WILL CONTINUE IN
THOSE AREAS.
AND MY STAFF WORKED WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FOR $1.75 MILLION FROM THE
FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION AGENCY,
AUTHORITY, A GRANT THAT WOULD
SUPPORT SOME OF OUR WORK THIS
YEAR, VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON
EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED
DEVELOPMENT.
OUR OWN STATION AREAS, TO
MAXIMIZE HOW YOU GAIN EQUITY AS
PART OF THAT.
SO THAT PLAN WILL SUPPORT WORK
IN COORDINATION ON A LOT OF
RELATED ISSUES THIS YEAR AND
NEXT.
AND THEN SIGNIFICANT WORK ON
PUBLIC SPACES.
AS YOU KNOW DURING THE PANDEMIC
AND ESPECIALLY THIS MORNING,
PUBLIC SPACES ARE GOING TO BE
EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.
WE ARE COORDINATING WITH
TRANSPORTATION AND PARKS AND
UNDERSTANDING OUR PUBLIC SPACE
NEEDS.
OUR LAND-USE POLICY TEAM, MAJOR
WORK IN THE STRATEGY.
WE HOPE TO COMPLETE THE MAJOR
PART THIS YEAR AND WORK RELATED
TO THAT THIS YEAR, DEPENDING ON
THE ADVISORY GROUP AND
STAKEHOLDER RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND HOUSING POLICY, EQUITABLE
ZONING STRATEGIES.
THIS IS ABOVE AND BEYOND
DEVELOPMENT ISSUES, BUT WE ARE
THINKING OF LOOKING AT WHAT
KIND OF ZONING BARRIERS,
ESPECIALLY BIPOC COMMUNITIES,
EXPERIENCE AND HOW DO WE
MITIGATE THAT AS WE MOVE
FORWARD?
CODE AMENDMENTS AND
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW SUPPORT.
MOVING FORWARD WITH ASSESSING
IMPLEMENTATION, COORDINATING
WITH SDCI.
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS.
WE HAVE A SMALL TEAM OF URBAN
DESIGNERS WHO SUPPORT A NUMBER
OF INITIATIVES, BUT ALSO THE
DEPARTMENT AND CITY.
SOME OF THE KEY ONES ARE THE
PIPELINE STUDY.
OUR LEADING DESIGNER LEAD THAT
PROCESS OVER THE LAST YEAR.
IF YOU RECALL, THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON LAUNDRY SITE.
WE ARE COORDINATING ON THAT TO
GET AN RFP OUT WITH THE HOPES
OF HOUSING LEADING THAT WORK.
AND A LOT OF INTERAGENCY SUPPORT
AROUND TRANSIT.
THE KING COUNTY MASTER PLAN.
THE DTA, DOWNTOWN TRANSIT
ASSOCIATION.
SO WE COORDINATE AT A REGIONAL
LEVEL.
QUICKLY, KEY FINDINGS FOR
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVES.
CONTINUING WITH 60 PROJECTS
THAT ARE, IN ONE FORM OR
ANOTHER, FUNDED AS CAPACITY
BUILDING FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
ENGAGEMENT FOR THAT.
WE WORKED, THE TEAM, AS WELL AS
NEIGHBORHOODS AND FACILITIES
DEPARTMENT, WORKED ON
TRANSFERRING TO CITY-OWNED
PROPERTIES AND THE MAYOR
DIRECTED US A COUPLE YEARS AGO
TO COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE
POLICY FOR TRANSFER OF CITY-
OWNED PROPERTIES.
SO THE SENIOR CENTER IN THE
ENTRAL DISTRICT WAS
TRANSFERRED AS PART OF THAT
PROCESS AND WE WILL BE
CONTINUING MORE OF THAT THIS
YEAR.
AND THE STRATEGIC INVESTMENT
FUND, THE $30 MILLION THAT WE
WILL BE FOCUSING ON QUICKLY,
THIS YEAR.
ON HOW THAT CAN BE SPENT.
AND WE WILL COME TO YOU WITH A
SPEND PLAN, SOON.
DUWAMISH VALLEY IS AN ONGOING
COORDINATION.
WE WORK WITH MULTIPLE
ENVIRONMENTS.
PRIMARY LEADS THAT WE
COORDINATE WITH, PUBLIC
UTILITIES.
CITY LIGHT AND KING COUNTY ON
THAT WORK.
I MENTIONED EQUITABLE TRANSIT
RIENTED DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
AND OUR TEAM WORKS WITH LONG-
RANGE AND DEMOGRAPHICS DATA
TEAM TO KEEP UPDATING EQUITY
INDICATORS REPORT AND
PARTICIPANT RESEARCH PROGRAM
THAT WOULD BECOME THE REPORT,
MONITORING HOW EQUITABLE OUR
POLICY OUTCOMES ARE.
SO I KNOW THERE IS A LOT THERE.
THOSE ARE KIND OF THE
HIGHLIGHTS AND I WILL LEAVE
TIME FOR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR ASSEFA.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON
YOUR SLIDES, SO IF YOU KEEP
THEM UP THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE 10 MINUTES
LEFT WITH COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ,
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?
NO, OKAY.
THIS IS ONE YEAR OF YOUR AND
YOUR TEAMS WORK.
FIVE YEARS OF YOUR WORK HAS
RESHAPED OUR CITY IN INCREDIBLY
POSITIVE AND IMPORTANT WAYS, SO
HIGHLIGHTING THIS WAS ONE YEARS
WORTH OF WORK.
DOING JUST AMAZING THINGS IN
OUR CITY.
ON SLIDE SIX, LAND-USE POLICY,
I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO HAVE
THESE NUMBERS ON HAND, BUT IS
THERE A WAY OF KNOWING WHAT
PORTION ARE BEING DEVELOPED
USING ONE OF THESE PREAPPROVED
PLANS OR TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
THE UNIVERSE THAT YOU MENTIONED?
>> WE ARE WORKING WITH SBC I ON
THAT.
I DON'T HAVE THE LATEST NUMBERS.
MY TEAM IS COORDINATING.
I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE THE
NUMBERS.
WE CAN GET IT TO YOU.
IT IS STILL EARLY.
WE MONITOR APPLICATIONS THAT
ARE COMING IN.
BUT WE CAN GET TO THE LATEST
DATE ON THAT.
I'M NOT SURE IF NATHAN IS ON
THE CALL.
>> FOLLOWING UP LATER IS FINE.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
THIS IS A WAY WE CAN EXPEDIENT
PEOPLE GETTING THROUGH THE
PIPELINE AND LOWER THE COSTS.
ON THE SLIDE TITLED URBAN
DESIGN, I GUESS IT IS NOT SO
MUCH A QUESTION AS MORE OF A
COMMENT, TALKING ABOUT
UPLIFTING ALL OF THE GREAT WORK
THAT YOU DID WITH THAT
FEASIBILITY STUDY.
IT IS CLEAR THAT IT IS FEASIBLE
TO LEAD I-5. THE REPORT YOU
PROVIDED WAS REALLY HELPFUL,
UNDERSTANDING WE CAN DO PUBLIC
SPACE, PRIVATE REAL ESTATE, A
MIXTURE OF BOTH AND IT REALLY
FRAMES THE CONVERSATION FOR US
TO BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO THE
FUTURE.
WE KNOW CITIES ALL ACROSS THE
NATION ARE USING LIDS JUST FOR
PUBLIC SPACE OR IN D.C., THEY
HAVE ACTUALLY BUILT BUILDINGS
ON TOP OF THE FREEWAY AND WE
HAVE EXPERIENCE IN SEATTLE WITH
WORK ON THE MONTLAKE LID.
IT IS CURRENTLY UNDER
CONSTRUCTION.
GO TAKE A LOOK.
HOPEFULLY IT IS COMING TO I-5
NEAR YOU.
SO, NO QUESTIONS, JUST THANK
YOU.
ON SLIDE 13, COMMUNITY PLANNING,
CAN YOU PROVIDE, YOU MAY HAVE
MENTIONED THIS, BUT MORE
CLEARLY, WHAT IS THE STATUS OF
THE DOWNTOWN INITIATIVE, GIVEN
THE FOCUS ON THE DOWNTOWN
RECOVERY DISTRICT.
YOU EXPECT MORE WORK ON THE
INITIATIVE IN 2021?
>> THAT WORK IS GIVEN A GREAT
ROADMAP FOR SHORT-TERM,
MIDTERM, LONG-TERM ACCESS.
AND THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO
ACTUALLY USE THAT AND THE TEAM
IS REALLY FOCUSING ON DOWNTOWN
RECOVERY, FOR EXAMPLE.
ESPECIALLY AROUND PUBLIC SPACES
THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN THAT
DOCUMENT.
THAT WOULD BE A ROADMAP.
THE DOWNTOWN TRANSPORTATION
ALLIANCE THAT INCLUDES THE
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION
AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION
AGENCIES.
THAT GROUP IS ALSO USING THAT
DOCUMENT TO REALLY T UP
COORDINATION ON TRANSPORTATION
AND PUBLIC SPACE IDEAS THAT
HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN IMAGINING
DOWNTOWN.
SO YES, THAT WORK WOULD HELP
INFORM A LOT, ESPECIALLY ON
RECOVERY IN THE IMMEDIATE SENSE.
>> PLEASE.
>> I APOLOGIZE FOR
INTERRUPTING.
I WAS GOING TO ADD TO THAT.
YOU KNOW WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE
OF GREAT CONVERSATIONS RECENTLY
ABOUT GREATER DOWNTOWN AND HOW
WE MOVE TOWARD RECOVERY THIS
YEAR AND I AM VERY MUCH LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE
AGENCY PARTNERSHIP, REGARDING
HOW WE COMMUNICATE HOW CITY OF
SEATTLE AND DOWNTOWN ARE STILL
OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND WHAT THAT
COMMUNICATIONS PLAN EVOLVES
INTO.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE
POINT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT WITH
DOWNTOWN, REGARDING MULTIMODAL
HUBS AND ALL OF THE GREAT
CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR
DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS WILL
CERTAINLY INFORM OUR WORK AS WE
MOVE DEEPER INTO THE YEAR.
>> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU.
AND LASTLY, SLIDE 14.
YOU SHARED QUITE A BIT ABOUT
WORK IN 2021 TOWARD EQUITABLE
ZONING STRATEGIES.
ARE THERE ANY FINER POINTS YOU
WANT TO PUT ON THIS?
>> SO, THE EQUITABLE ZONING
STRATEGIES, WE ARE
DEMONSTRATING THE CONCEPT AND
IDEA.
THERE ARE TWO PARTS.
AS WE LOOK AT THE AREA PLANNING
AND THE 14 STATION AREAS, THERE
IS TYPICAL TRANSIT ORIENTED
DEVELOPMENT.
PLANNING FOCUSES ON MAXIMIZING
DENSITY, WHERE THE STATIONS ARE,
BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENT.
WE WANT TO PUT ANOTHER LENS ON
THAT AND ASK THE QUESTION, WHO
IS GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THAT
DENSITY AND ARE THERE
OPPORTUNITIES THERE FOR LAND
OWNERSHIP FOR OTHER ENGAGEMENT
OR SMALL BUSINESSES WITHIN THE
BIPOC COMUNITY, FOR EXAMPLE?
AND OVER THE YEARS , AND
RECENTLY, WE HAVE HEARD FROM
PRIMARILY BIPOC DEVELOPERS OR
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO DO
DEVELOPMENT, BUT THERE ARE
CERTAIN BARRIERS STILL EMBEDDED
THERE.
SO WE'RE CONNECTING DATA AND
INFORMATION AROUND THAT AND WE
WILL BE HELPING TO SORT OF
THINK ABOUT WHAT BARRIERS WE
NEED TO REMOVE AND ADDRESS AND
WHAT THEY ARE CALLING EQUITABLE
ZONING.
AS YOU KNOW VERY WELL, WE
LEARNED THE SPOTLIGHT IN 2020
HAS BEEN THE IMPACT THAT ZONING
REGULATION HAS DONE TO IMPACT
BIPOC COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY I
THINK.
THIS IS A TRANSFORMATION PLAN
AND THIS IS A TIME TO REALLY
THINK ABOUT HOW WE REVERSE
THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES IN MY
TEAM IS WORKING ON THAT.
BY THE WAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COMMENT.
I HAVE TO SAY I HAVE SOME OF
THE BEST TEAM.
THAT IS WHY ALL THAT WORK THAT
WE SEE, IDEAS, DEVELOP.
I JUST SIT AROUND AND MAKE SURE
THEY ARE SUPPORTED, SO MOST OF
THE CREDIT REALLY GOES TO THEM.
>> THE MARK OF A TRUE LEADER,
BEING ABLE TO GIVE YOUR TEAM
THE SUPPORT THEY NEED, MAKE
SURE THINGS ARE GETTING DONE
AND RECOGNIZING THE TEAM.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR ASSEFA.
COLLEAGUES, JUST SINCE WE ARE
ON THE SLIDE CALLING UP THE
MARITIME INDUSTRIAL STRATEGIES,
I ALWAYS PUT MARITIME FIRST.
WE DON'T NEED TO GET INTO IT,
JUST GOOD WORK THERE.
I AM EXCITED TO SEE THAT COME
FORWARD.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
FOR DIRECTOR ASSEFA AND DEPUTY
DIRECTOR QUIRINDONGO?
DID I GET IT?
>> CLOSE.
QUIRINDONGO, THANK YOU.
>> O, VICE CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
>> THINK YOU VERY MUCH AND IT
IS GREAT TO SEE YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS, AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF
YOUR WORK OVER THE YEARS.
I DO HAVE A FEW FOLLOW-UP
QUESTIONS.
I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT IF THERE
ARE ANY UPDATES ON FAITH-BASED
ORGANIZATIONAL HOUSING LAND-USE
CHANGES THAT WE HAD BEEN
WORKING ON WITH YOU ALL.
WAITING TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP
SUPPORT MORE CONSTRUCTION OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON PROPERTY
OWNED BY FAITH COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS.
>> SURE, THAT IS MOVING
FORWARD.
MARCH 8 WE PUBLISHED THE
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINANT OF
SIGNIFICANCE.
THIS IS WHETHER THE ZONING
CHANGES THAT ARE PROPOSED, THEY
RANGE FROM 1 TO 3 STORY
CAPACITY.
FOR RELIGIOUS OWNED PROPERTIES,
BASED ON THE LEGISLATION FROM
LAST YEAR.
2019.
SO, MARCH 29, THE PUBLIC REVIEW
COMMENTS WILL BE COMPLETED AND
IF THERE IS NO CHALLENGE, WE
EXPECT, SOON AFTER THAT, SOME
LEGISLATION.
>> EXCELLENT.
>> OKAY, A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
>> PLEASE, TAKE IT AWAY.
>> SO, I APPRECIATE THAT, I
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU ON THAT AND I KNOW THAT
MANY ITERATIONS OF POLICY
CHANGES HAVE HAD TO COME
TOGETHER AT THE STATE AND LOCAL
LEVEL TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT WE
COULD ADVANCE OPPORTUNITY FOR
FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS TO BE ABLE TO
ADVANCE A MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING OPTION, SO I LOOK
FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION.
THE OTHER THING I AM LOOKING
FORWARD TO, PROBABLY NO
úSURPRISE, THE RACIAL EQUITY
TOOLKIT ANALYSIS THAT WE PUT
INTO STATUTE AND, I BELIEVE,
2018.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT TOOLKIT
ANALYSIS WAS TO LOOK AT THE
URBAN VILLAGE STRATEGIES AND TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND WHETHER THERE
WAS AN IMPACT, ESPECIALLY FOR
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND IN
TERMS OF DISPLACEMENT AND
EXCLUDING COMMUNITIES FROM
BEING ABLE TO LIVE ACROSS OUR
CITIES.
WE HAD EXPECTED THERE TO BE A
PRESENTATION NEXT MONTH AND
THAT, I THINK, WAS PUSHED TO
MAY.
OBVIOUSLY EVERYTHING HAS BEEN
PUSHED A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF
COVID, BUT THIS IS SO IMPORTANT
AND SO MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS
HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS,
SIMILAR TO OTHER CITIES AS THEY
THINK ABOUT MORE INCLUSIVE
ZONING STRATEGIES.
CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF WHEN
THE TOOLKIT ANALYSIS ON OUR
URBAN VILLAGE STRATEGY WILL BE
PRESENTED?
>> SURE, SO THE STAFF IS BEEN
WORKING WITH THE CONSULTANT,
POLICY LINK, THAT WAS HIRED
LAST YEAR TO DEVELOP THE
ANALYSIS, AS WELL AS
RECOMMENDATION.
THEY WERE PAUSED FOR A BIT LAST
YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
PART OF THEIR WORK HAS TO DO
WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THEY HAVE NOW INITIATED THAT
AGAIN.
AND THEY ARE PREPARING REPORTS
AND WE WILL COME AND REPORT TO
YOU IN MAY.
LAST DECEMBER WE CAME AND
REPORTED ON THE TIMELINE.
OBVIOUSLY WE ARE READY TO COME
TO YOU IN MAY WITH THE FINDINGS
ON THAT.
AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT
WOULD BE FOUNDATIONAL IN TERMS
OF INFORMING PUBLIC
CONVERSATION AS WELL,
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AROUND
WHAT ISSUES NEED TO BE TEED UP.
THAT WORK, WE WILL SHARE WITH
YOU IN MAY.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
FOR EVERYBODY, I AM SO EXCITED
ABOUT THAT.
I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THE WORK
YOU ARE DOING AND THAT IS SORT
OF THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE.
THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
STRATEGIES THAT YOUR OFFICE
LEADS ON, THEY HAVE BEEN
INITIATED OR PICKED BACK UP AND
THAT IS ALSO TRUE OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROCESS.
WE ARE STILL EXPECTING ALL OF
THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO HAPPEN,
TO BEGIN IN JULY.
OKAY, EXCELLENT.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR QUIRINDONGO AND
ALSO DIRECTOR ASSEFA.
IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL TO WORK
WITH YOU AND GREAT TO SEE YOU
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.
SHE IS BETTER AT A LOT OF
THINGS THAN I AM.
PRONUNCIATION IS ABSOLUTELY ONE
OF THEM.
SO, THANK YOU, AND MY
APOLOGIES, DEPUTY DIRECTOR,
AGAIN.
COLLEAGUES, ANY FINAL QUESTIONS?
SEEING NONE, AGAIN, DIRECTOR
ASSEFA, HEARTBROKEN RECEIVING
THE NEWS.
I DO WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR JOINING US TODAY AND
EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE OVER
THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
YOU ARE A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
PLANNER AND HAVE WORKED ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY IN BOULDER,
SAN FRANCISCO, CHICAGO.
I FEEL SO LUCKY THAT YOU CHOSE
SEATTLE.
WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE A
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PLANNER.
OUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT CREATES
THE REALITY IN WHICH WE LIVE
AND IN SO MANY WAYS, SO THANK
YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I
APPRECIATE IT.
>> WITH THAT, THANK YOU, AND WE
WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM THREE, OUR
FINAL AGENDA ITEM TODAY.
IT IS A BRIEFING FROM THE
DEPARTMENT AND I WILL MENTION
FOR THE RECORD, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ IS EXCUSED.
OUR BRIEFING, WILL YOU PLEASE
READ THE ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
>> ITEM THREE, SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS ANNUAL REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, WE ARE JOINED BY
DIRECTOR NATHAN TORGELSON FROM
SDCI.
WELCOME BACK.
ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU
AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS, TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE
THIS MORNING AND I AM GOING TO
SHARE MY SCREEN.
CAN YOU ALL SEE THAT?
>> YES, WE CAN.
IT IS NOT IN FULL VIEW.
>> I WILL GET THERE.
>> AWESOME.
>> LET'S SEE.
THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
>> DID YOU DO SLIDESHOW AT TOP?
SLIDESHOW.
>> I AM LOOKING FOR THAT.
I HAVE THIS BAR ON THE TOP THAT
I HAVE TO GET RID OF.
IT IS HIDING.
>>'S TO GO TO THE RIGHT, NEXT
TO ANIMATION.
KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING.
TO THE RIGHT.
SLIDESHOW.
>> BEAR WITH ME, I'VE GOT A BAR
THAT IS OVER THE TOP OF THE
POWERPOINT, SO I CAN'T SEE IT.
>> NO PROBLEM, I WILL DIRECT
YOUR MOUSE.
IF YOU MOVE JUST SLIGHTLY TEAR
RIGHT.
UP.
UP JUST A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
RIGHT THERE AND THEN TEAR RIGHT.
TO YOUR RIGHT.
>> SORRY ABOUT THIS.
>> NO PROBLEM.
>> I'VE GOT A BAR AT THE TOP
THAT SAYS VIEW, STOP VIDEO,
PARTICIPANTS, AND I AM TRYING
TO GET THAT OFF, SO I CAN SEE
THE BAR.
>> I CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE SCREEN
PRETTY WELL.
>> YOU CAN SEE IT JUST FINE?
GREAT.
>> I CAN SEE THE SIDE PANELS,
BUT I THINK IT IS STILL VISIBLE.
>> SHOULD I JUST START?
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> VICE CHAIR MOSQUEDA, ANOTHER
ASSET.
TWICE IN TWO MINUTES.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> SURE, MY APOLOGIES.
JUST A REMINDER OF SDCI'S
PURPOSE AND VALUES.
OUR PURPOSE IS HELPING PEOPLE
BUILD A SAFE, LIVABLE, AND
INCLUSIVE SEATTLE.
OUR VALUES, EQUITY, RESPECT,
QUALITY, INTEGRITY AND SERVICE.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR CORE
VALUE OF EQUITY.
WE LEAD AND NOW MORE THAN EVER
WE ARE REALLY FOCUSING ON
LOOKING AT PERMITTING THROUGH A
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE LENS.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT ALL OF OUR
APPLICANTS DON'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO HIRE CONSULTANTS
AND LAND-USE ATTORNEYS AND WE
HAVE A COMPLICATED AND ROBUST
PERMITTING PROCESS.
SO WE HAVE SPENT EXTRA TIME
THIS YEAR, HELPING SOME OF OUR
APPLICANTS.
WE HAD AN IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMUNITY CENTER AND ALSO BIPOC
ORGANIZATION THAT WAS
ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY
CENTER AND WE SPENT TIME WITH
THEM, ENSURING THAT THEY WOULD
HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PERMITTING
PROCESS.
I AM GOING TO FOCUS ON OUR
PRIORITIES FOR 2021 AND ALSO
TOUCH UPON SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT HAPPENED IN OUR DEPARTMENT
IN 2020.
SO WE HAVE SPENT AND WILL
CONTINUE TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME
IMPLEMENTING TENANT SERVICE
GRANTS TO TENANT SERVICE
ORGANIZATIONS.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AN
OUTREACH PLAN TO PREPARE
TENANTS FOR THE EXPIRATION OF
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.
WE HAVE BEEN CARRYING FORWARD
BEST PRACTICES ADOPTED DURING
COVID AND SEEING HOW WE CAN
CONTINUE SOME OF THOSE
PRACTICES WHEN WE RETURNED TO
IN-PERSON SERVICE.
WE ARE ALWAYS WORKING ON
STREAMLINING OUR PROCESSES.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
CREATING A CROSS DEPARTMENTAL
PERMIT SYSTEM GOVERNANCE MODEL
AND ALSO CONTINUING TO WORK
WITH PARTNERS TO MODIFY THE
STATE RULES THAT APPLY TO
HOMELESS FACILITIES.
SO, BEFORE I GET INTO SOME OF
THE PRIORITIES, I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT HOW OUR DEPARTMENT HAS
SHIFTED RESOURCES TO ADDRESS
COVID.
THE MAJORITY OF OUR STAFF ARE
NOW WORKING VIRTUALLY AND AS
YOU RECALL, IN MID-2018, WE
TRANSITIONED OUR PERMITTING
PROCESS TO A DIFFERENT SYSTEM.
THAT ROLLOUT WAS ROCKY, BUT
CERTAINLY NOW THAT HAS BEEN AN
INCREDIBLE TOOL DURING COVID.
APPLICANTS ARE ABLE TO SUBMIT
THEIR APPLICATIONS VIRTUALLY.
WE ARE ABLE TO REVIEW THEM
VIRTUALLY AND ISSUE PERMIT,
VIRTUALLY.
I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE
STILL HAVE STAFF THAT ARE
COMING INTO THE OFFICE EVERY
DAY.
FOR EXAMPLE, OUR LAND-USE
INFORMATION BULLETIN, THAT GOES
OUT TWICE PER WEEK, HAS TO BE
DONE IN THE OFFICE.
IN THE FIELD EVERY DAY. ECTORS
CONSTRUCTION INSPECTORS.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESUME
PERIODIC INSPECTIONS FOR
BOILERS AND ELEVATORS WITHIN
OCCUPIED BUILDINGS AND OUR
COMPLIANCE STAFF ARE OUT
INVESTIGATING CODE COMPLIANCE
COMPLAINTS.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN GOING INTO
HOMES AS PART OF CODE
COMPLIANCE, UNLESS IT IS AN
EMERGENCY SITUATION, SO SOME OF
THOSE ISSUES HAVE BEEN ON HOLD.
SOME OF OUR INSPECTIONS HAVE
BEEN PAUSED, FOR EXAMPLE
NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED
NURSING FACILITIES, BUT WE LOOK
FORWARD TO RESUMING THOSE, POST
PANDEMIC.
WE PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE
ASSISTANCE TO TENANTS AND
LANDLORDS DURING THIS VERY
DIFFICULT TIME PERIOD.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT, AND SDOT, TO
PRIORITIZE RESPONSE EFFORTS.
THIS HAS INVOLVED HOSPITAL
WORKER PARKING AND PERMITTING
FOR COVID RELATED FACILITIES,
WHETHER IT WAS MEDICAL CLINICS,
TESTING FACILITIES, OR RESEARCH
FACILITIES.
IT HAS NOT BEEN PERFECT.
I AM FIRST TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT,
BUT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
MAINTAIN A FAIRLY HIGH LEVEL OF
CUSTOMER SERVICE THROUGH OUR
ONLINE QUESTION AND ANSWER,
COACHING APPOINTMENTS, AND THE
ELECTRONIC PLAN REVIEW AND
ISSUANCE.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT TENANT
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT.
WE HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING A
PROACTIVE OUTREACH PLAN TO
PREPARE TENANTS FOR A FUTURE
EXPIRATION OF THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM.
THAT MAY OR MAY NOT EXPIRE AT
THE END OF MARCH AND WE
CONTINUE TO FOCUS TENANT
SERVICE GRANTS ON ASSISTING
TENANTS FACING EVICTION.
WE HAVE JUST AWARDED $1.3
MILLION IN TENANT SERVICES
GRANTS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON
COVID RESPONSE AND RECOVERY AND
WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER ROUND OF
FUNDING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF
MONTHS.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL FOR THE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT THEY
PROVIDED FOR THAT AS PART OF
THE BUDGET PROCESS.
WE HAVE HIRED ADDITIONAL STAFF
FOR OUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
GROUP.
WE JUST HIRED A NEW STAFF
PERSON IN THAT GROUP WHO IS ON
BOARD AND WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE
OF INTERVIEWING FOR A TECHNICAL
POSITION IN OUR COMPLIANCE
CENTER.
THAT INTERVIEWING IS HAPPENING
THIS WEEK.
>> THAT STAFF MEMBER, WAS THAT
FROM A COUNCIL FUNDED POSITION?
>> CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR RENTING IN SEATTLE
WEBSITE IS UP AND RUNNING AND I
ENCOURAGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO
TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, IF YOU
HAVE NOT ALREADY.
WE HAVE A VARIETY OF
INFOGRAPHICS THAT ALSO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL, HELPFUL INFORMATION.
WE HAVE DONE A TON OF TRAINING
AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE EVENTS
TO GRANTEES AND COMMUNITY
PARTNERS AND LANDLORDS.
THOSE EVENTS HAVE BEEN
HAPPENING, VIRTUALLY.
AGAIN, THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT
COLLABORATION WITH THE SEATTLE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, THE
OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT REFUGEE
AFFAIRS.
SO, ANOTHER PRIORITY IS TO
MAINTAIN INNOVATIVE PRACTICES
AND TO CARRY FORWARD SOME OF
THE BEST PRACTICES WE HAVE
ADOPTED DURING COVID AND TO
DEVELOP A PROCESS TO RESUME OUR
STANDARD SERVICES, INCLUDING
INCOME INSPECTIONS, WHEN WE GET
OUT OF COVID.
SO, WE WANT TO CONTINUE
BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF
VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETINGS,
INCLUDING DESIGN REVIEW
MEETINGS AND I WANT TO THANK
THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR SWIFT
LEGISLATION TO ALLOW US TO GET
BACK TO DESIGN REVIEW MEETINGS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE
LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS THAT
WHEN WE DO GO BACK TO THE
OFFICE AND ARE ABLE TO HAVE IN-
PERSON MEETINGS, HOW SHOULD WE
HANDLE DESIGN REVIEW?
SHOULD WE GO BACK TO ALL IN-
PERSON MEETINGS?
DO WE CONTINUE WITH VIRTUAL
ONLY MEETINGS OR DO WE HAVE
SOME KIND OF HYBRID PROCESS?
A LOT OF THE DESIGNATED
LOCATIONS FOR OUR DESIGN REVIEW
MEETINGS DO NOT HAVE TECHNOLOGY
BUILT IN AND THAT IS A VERY
EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION.
ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO HAVE
ALL OF OUR DESIGN REVIEW
MEETINGS IN ONE LOCATION, WHERE
TECHNOLOGY CAN BE BUILT-IN
EASILY.
WE KNOW THAT ALSO PRESENTS
CHALLENGES, BECAUSE THERE ARE
MULTIPLE DESIGN REVIEW MEETINGS
GOING ON AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
SO IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE
TAKING A VERY CLOSE LOOK AT.
IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF THIS
YEAR, WE HAD TO VIRTUAL SDCI
HOME FARES AND THAT DREW OVER
500 PEOPLE.
WE WERE DELIGHTED WITH THE
RESPONSE AND PARTICIPATION OF
THE PUBLIC.
WE HAD ORGANIZED PRESENTATIONS
ON SUCH TOPICS AS EARTHQUAKE
PREPAREDNESS, LANDSLIDE
PREPAREDNESS, AND HOW TO PERMIT
A DWELLING UNIT OR AN ATTACHED
DWELLING UNIT.
WE ALSO HAD AN OPEN Q&A ON A
VARIETY OF TOPICS.
IN THE PAST THOSE OF BEEN IN
PERSON AT A SOUTH SEATTLE AND
NORTH SEATTLE LOCATION.
BY HAVING THE PROGRAM
VIRTUALLY, WE ATTRACTED A LOT
MORE PEOPLE.
ABOUT DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT IN THE
FUTURE, PERHAPS WE DO ONE IN
PERSON AND ONE VIRTUAL.
WE KEEP USING AND IMPROVING OUR
VIRTUAL INSPECTION AND PLAN
REVIEW TOOLS.
VIRTUAL INSPECTIONS IS
SOMETHING WE STEPPED UP THIS
YEAR, GIVEN COVID.
IT WORKS ESPECIALLY WELL FOR
SOME TYPES OF INSPECTIONS,
ESPECIALLY ELECTRICAL
INSPECTIONS AND FOR OTHER
INSPECTIONS IT IS NOT GOING TO
WORK AS WELL, FOR EXAMPLE
CONVEYANCE AND ELEVATORS.
SO SOMETHING WE CONTINUE TO
LOOK AT.
ANOTHER THING WE HAVE DONE THIS
YEAR'S WE STARTED DISCUSSIONS
WITH THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING
STAFF, ONE DAY OR TWO DAYS PER
WEEK, AT A NORTH OR SOUTH
SEATTLE LOCATION, TO HELP THE
PUBLIC.
AND SO THE PUBLIC DOESN'T
NECESSARILY HAVE TO COME DOWN
AND PAY FOR PARKING, ET CETERA.
AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE
LOOKING AT IS HAVING A VIRTUAL
APPLICANT SERVICE CENTER.
AGAIN, OTHER THAN HAVING PEOPLE
HAVE TO COME DOWNTOWN FOR FACE-
TO-FACE COMMUNICATION.
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING ON A
VARIETY OF TOOLS THAT WILL
IMPROVE THE PERMIT PROCESS.
WE ARE PILOTING A TOOL WHICH
ALLOWS APPLICANTS AND STAFF, IN
REAL TIME, TOGETHER, TO MAKE
CORRECTIONS TO PLANS.
THAT IS A FANTASTIC TOOL THAT
SHOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF
CORRECTION CYCLES AND WE ARE
ALSO WORKING ON SOMETHING CALLED
CHATBOT.
LIKE WHEN YOU GET ONLINE AND
TALK TO SOMEONE, THROUGH ALASKA
AIRLINES, FOR EXAMPLE, AND
HAVING THAT AVAILABLE TO
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WANT
TO TALK WITH US.
LET'S TALK ABOUT PERMITTING
CHANGES AND WAYS WE ARE LOOKING
AT STREAMLINING THE PERMITTING
PROCESS AND MAKING REDUCTIONS
IN PERMITTING TIMES.
BEFORE COVID HAPPENED, THE
MAYOR HAD PUT TOGETHER TWO,
CITYWIDE, TASK FORCE ADVISORY
BOARDS.
ONE UNAFFORDABLE AND MIDDLE
INCOME HOUSING AND ONE ON SMALL
BUSINESS.
I WANT TO MENTION THAT IN AUGUST
OF 2020, THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED A
FUNDING ROUND FOR PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, HIGHLIGHTING
SIX PROJECTS AND GAVE ME VERY
AGGRESSIVE TIMELINES ON
PERMITTING AND TO GET THOSE
SUPPORTING HOUSING PROJECTS
ONLINE, QUICKLY.
I HAVE BEEN FACILITATING THE
MONTHLY MEETING WITH ALL OF THE
PLAYERS WITH THE PERMIT
PROCESSES AND MULTIPLE CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND ALSO KING
COUNTY AND I FEEL THAT HAS BEEN
A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROCESS.
WE MEET ONCE PER MONTH AND
PROBLEM SOLVE ON THE SPOT,
VARIOUS ISSUES WHETHER IT IS
THE PERMITTING PROCESS OR
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES ON
PLUMBING PERMITS.
THAT HAS BEEN GREAT.
I ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS'S
LEGISLATION TO HELP WITH
PERMANENT SUPPORT OF HOUSING.
THIS WILL EXEMPT THE DESIGN
REVIEW PROCESS FOR THOSE
PROJECTS THAT HAVE WRAPAROUND
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ON SITE, SO
THAT IS IMPORTANT.
ALSO ANOTHER TECHNOLOGY
ADOPTION WE HAVE MADE IS THAT
THE SEATTLE BUILDING CODE NOW
ALLOWS CROSS LAMINATED TIMBER
BUILDINGS UP TO 18 STORIES
HIGH.
THIS IS MORE EFFICIENT AND A
LESS EXPENSIVE CONSTRUCTION
METHOD THAN STEEL FORM
CONSTRUCTION, SO WE ARE
STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THE
FIRST APPLICATIONS COME IN FOR
CROSS LAMINATED TIMBER.
WE HAVE BEEN PARTNERING WITH
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT TO PREPARE FOR MORE
CHANGES TO SMALL BUSINESS
SPACES.
WE ARE GOING TO BE MEETING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS LATER THIS
WEEK TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN
IMPROVE THE PROCESS.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ON SMALL BUSINESSES WHO ARE
INTERESTED IN MOVING INTO
SPACES AND REALLY WORKING WITH
THEM BEFORE THEY SIGN THAT
LEASE.
SOMETIMES THERE ARE CHALLENGES
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WHO WILL
SIGN A LEASE AND THEN DISCOVER,
IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS SPACE
AVAILABLE, FOR MY BUSINESS, I
AM GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A MUCH
BIGGER INVESTMENT THAN I
ANTICIPATED.
SO WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO
IMPROVE THAT.
WE HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS LIAISON
IN OUR DEPARTMENT TO WORKS WITH
SMALL BUSINESSES AND I ALSO
WANT TO MENTION THAT WE HAVE AN
ARTS LIAISON THAT WORKS WITH
OUR ARTS AND CULTURAL
INSTITUTIONS IN SEATTLE,
RECOGNIZING THAT LEASE RATES
CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN OUR
CITY AND WE WANT TO KEEP THOSE
BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS IN
OUR CITY.
FINALLY, ON THAT LAST SLIDE,
TOO, DIRECTOR ASSEFA TALKED
ABOUT THIS A LOT, THE DETACHED
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT PROJECT.
WE HAVE 10 PREAPPROVED PLANS
AND OUR GOAL IS THAT THOSE
PROJECTS CAN GET THROUGH OUR
SYSTEM INTO TO SIX WEEKS.
WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU TO
SEE HOW MANY APPLICATIONS WE
HAVE IN THE SYSTEM RIGHT NOW,
BUT WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
ALL OF THIS AND CREATING
ADDITIONAL DETACHED DWELLING
UNITS IN OUR CITY.
CROSS DEPARTMENTAL PERMITTING,
OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE A MODEL
WITH SEATTLE I.T.
TO IMPROVE THE CUSTOMER
EXPERIENCE.
THE IDEA IS THAT AN APPLICANT
COULD DO ALL OF THEIR
TRANSACTIONS IN ONE PLACE.
HAVE A SINGLE SIGN-ON TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
WE WOULD GIVE THEM A TO DO
LIST, A SHOPPING CART TO PAY
OUTSTANDING FEES.
THEY WOULD GET RENEWAL
REMINDERS IF THEY HAVE ANNUAL
PERMITS THAT THEY NEED TO GET
AND IT WOULD BE A COMMON
SCHEDULING PLATFORM.
WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON
IMPROVEMENTS TO ALLOW A MUCH
EASIER EXPERIENCE FOR MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC TO SUBMIT PUBLIC
COMMENTS.
MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH
OUR SHAPING SEATTLE WEBSITE,
WHERE YOU GO ON TO THE WEBSITE,
YOU SEE A MAP AND DOTS.
YOU CAN CLICK ON THE DOT TO SEE
THE STATUS OF THE PERMIT.
YOU CAN SEE THE DESIGN REVIEW
PACKET IF THERE IS A PROJECT AT
THAT SITE.
WE WILL SOON BE PILOTING A
SIMILAR MAP FOR CODE
COMPLAINTS, SO PEOPLE CAN LOOK
UP THE STATUS OF CODE COMPLAINTS
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHERE
THAT IS WITHIN THE PROCESS.
AS FAR AS THE SYSTEM
INTEGRATION I MENTIONED
EARLIER, WE ARE EXCITED THAT
SDOT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS MIGRATION IS IN
PROCESS, SO THAT INCLUDES
STREET USE PERMITS AND
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
INCLUDES THEIR LANDMARKS REVIEW.
MODIFICATION OF STATE SUPER
ROLLS.
WE HAD A GOAL THIS YEAR TO
CONTINUE WORKING WITH OIR AND
OTHER PARTNERS TO MODIFY THE
RULES THAT APPLY TO HOMELESS
FACILITIES.
WE WERE WORKING ON ALLOWING
THESE FACILITIES TO BUY PRESS
THE PROCESS, SO THAT WE COULD
GET SHELTER IN SELF SAFE
PLACES, PERMITTED FASTER.
LIKE MANY GOOD BILLS, THIS
FAILED TO ADVANCE THIS SESSION,
UNFORTUNATELY.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
OIR TO MAKE THE GOALS OF THIS
LEGISLATION A REALITY AND HELP
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE MOST
VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO
HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO GO.
SO, MORE WORK FOR US TO DO IN
THIS AREA.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS NOT A
NEW PRIORITY FOR OUR
DEPARTMENT, BUT CONTINUES TO BE
A PRIORITY AND I KNOW IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO COUNCILMEMBERS, IS
TREES.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY
CLOSELY WITH COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS ON TREE LEGISLATION.
WE ARE ABOUT TO AWARD A
CONTRACT WITH A CONSULTANT TO
HELP US TO PUBLIC OUTREACH.
WE HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT TREES
FROM HOME DEVELOPERS AND
PENTHOUSE DEVELOPERS.
WE HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT TREES
FROM STRONG TREE ADVOCATES, BUT
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET
BROAD COMMUNITY INPUT FROM
VARIOUS CONSTITUENT GROUPS AND
ESPECIALLY BIPOC COMMUNITIES,
SO THAT WORK WILL BE UNDERWAY
SOON.
WE HAVE BECOME MUCH MORE
EFFICIENT ON FOLLOWING UP WITH
TREE VIOLATIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN RECENTLY
SENT TO AN EMAIL ABOUT AN
EGREGIOUS TREE CUTTING THAT
HAPPENED IN YOUR DISTRICT AND
WE WILL BE TRIPLING THE FINE ON
THAT VIOLATION AND GOING FOR A
$100,000 FINE.
SO WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON TREES
AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH THE COUNCIL ON
LEGISLATION.
ANOTHER AREA WHERE WE ARE
WORKING ON CLIMATE CHANGE IS IN
THE NEWLY ADOPTED TECHNICAL
CODES AND AGAIN, I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THE NEW ENERGY CODE
AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR
YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT.
THAT WILL GO A LONG WAYS IN
FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE, AS WE
LOOK AT NEW CONSTRUCTION AND
NEW BUILDINGS IN THE ENERGY
CODE PROVISIONS.
FINALLY, WE CONTINUE TO DO A
LOT OF WORK WITH OPCD AND SDOT
AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS ON SOUND
TRANSIT, LOOKING AT POTENTIAL
CODE AMENDMENTS AND ALSO AT THE
PERMITTING PROCESS.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION
AND I AM HAPPY TO TAKE
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR
TORGELSON.
I KNOW WE WERE SCHEDULED TO
HAVE A FULL PRESENTATION ON
PERMITTING AND HOW WE IMPROVE
PERMITTING TIME.
I WILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR
YOU AFTER MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT
THAT.
I DO WANT TO OPEN IT UP.
COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS AT THIS
TIME?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR
TORGELSON FOR YOUR PRESENTATION
AND I APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING
THE TREE ORDINANCE.
SOME FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE, AND
I DID NOT SEE IT IN THE
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION AS A
PRIORITY, SO BECAUSE WE HAVE
THAT OUTSTANDING RESOLUTION AND
THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST
ABOUT TREES DURING THE BUDGET
PROCESS, I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO
SEEING THE ACTUAL LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
>> AND I KNOW THAT SDCI AND
OSC STAFF WILL BE COMING TO THE
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE I
BELIEVE WITH THE FIRST
QUARTERLY UPDATE.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, OTHER QUESTIONS?
I WAS GOING TO ASK, DIRECTOR
TORGELSON, ARE THERE ANY
UPDATES ON THE WORK AROUND
SOLID WASTE?
>> WE ARE IN THE PROCESS.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY HIRED A
CONSULTANT WHO IS LOOKING AT
THAT, THE EXISTING REGULATIONS,
AND IS DOING OUTREACH TO
VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
AS YOU KNOW, IT IS A COMPLEX
TOPIC.
SO THAT WORK IS UNDERWAY.
>> THANK YOU.
AND YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF
PIGGYBACKING ON THE COMMENTS
ABOUT TREES, I AM EXCITED THAT
I HEARD FROM BOTH YOU AND THE
DEPUTY MAYOR THAT WE WOULD BE
ENGAGING IN THIS WORK THIS
YEAR.
I KNOW YOU HAVE ALREADY SENT
FOR APPROVAL.
SO YOU HAVE DONE YOUR WORK
THERE.
AND I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
THE FACT THAT IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR US TO CREATE FLEXIBILITY TO
BE ABLE TO MEET THE FLOOR AREA
RATIO, SCALE.
AND PROTECT CANOPIES AND ENGAGE
OUR CITY AND BEING ABLE TO GROW
MORE.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE
SUGGESTIONS AND IF YOU HAVE ANY
THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO
DO REGARDING FLEXIBILITY FOR
BUILDING BUILDINGS TO PROTECT
TREES, I AM VERY INTERESTED.
I DO HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS
ABOUT PERMITTING.
IS THIS THE BEST TIME?
>> I AM HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN
THEM, IF COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE
TIME.
>> I KNOW WE ARE RUNNING SHORT
ON TIME, SO I WILL TRY TO BE
QUICK.
I KNOW WE HAD A PRESENTATION WE
WILL BE SEEING NEXT MONTH,
BECAUSE IT WAS NOT QUITE READY.
SINCE I DON'T HAVE A WHITE
BOARD WITH ME, I HAVE SOME POST-
IT NOTES.
CAN YOU HEAR ME ALL RIGHT,
STILL?
ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME FROM
OVER HERE?
GREAT.
SO, ONE THING THAT WAS REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR ME WAS, ACCELA.
IT IS SO GREAT WE WERE ABLE TO
PUT THIS PROGRAM IN PLACE
BEFORE COVID, BECAUSE AS I
LEARNED, BEFORE ACCELA, ALL OF
THE PERMITS WERE DONE ON PAPER.
SO PEOPLE SUBMITTING FOR A
PERMIT WOULD HAVE TO COME WITH
MULTIPLE COPIES OF THEIR
BUILDING PLAN TO GET APPROVA.
AND DIRECTOR TORGELSON, CORRECT
ME IF I AM WRONG.
SUBMIT THE PERMIT, WEIGHT IN
THE QUEUE AND THEN YOU HAVE TO
GO TO ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT
NODES ALONG THE WAY.
THESE ARE ALL POSITIONS THAT
FOLKS IN SDCI -- IS THAT
VIEWABLE?
CLOSE.
SO SOMETHING THAT IS, YOU KNOW,
REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND,
IS THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT
PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO APPROVE THE
PERMIT AND FURTHERMORE, YOU'VE
GOT FOLKS OUTSIDE OF SDCI THAT
ALSO HAV TO APPROVE ENDED ALL
COMES BACK.
COLORCODE IS NOT WORKING.
IF AT THAT POINT, THE PERMIT
HAS TO BE RE-REVIEWED BY THE
INDIVIDUAL, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO
GO BACK TO THE BACK OF THE
QUEUE.
SO THIS ABILITY TO HAVE
CORRECTIONS, JUST IN THE
PERMITTING SECTION, WE ARE
TRYING TO MOVE PEOPLE AS QUICKLY
AS POSSIBLE, ONCE THEIR PERMIT
IS PROVIDED AND IS OUT.
SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY
INTERESTING, DIRECTOR
TORGELSON, THAT IN EACH OF
THESE BUCKETS, SOME OF THESE
TEAMS HAVE FOUR PEOPLE, SOME OF
THEM HAVE 30.
THESE ARE HIGHLY TRAINED PEOPLE
IN OUR CITY, SO IF, FOR
INSTANCE, IF ONE PERSON LEFT A
FOUR PERSON TEAM IT WOULD LEAVE
A HUGE GAP, BUT ON A 30 PERSON
TEAM IT WOULD NOT IMPACTEDAS
MUCH.
ONE THING HELPFUL TO HEAR FROM
YOU AND YOUR TEAM WAS THAT WE
HAVE TRIED TO USE CONSULTANTS
TO MAKE APPROVALS AT THESE
DIFFERENT NODES, BUT THAT
SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK, BECAUSE
THERE IS SO MUCH EXPERTISE
REQUIRED.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE I AM
INTERESTED IF THERE IS AN
ABILITY TO CREATE SUBSTITUTES
OR A FLOAT TEAM TO MAKE SURE
THIS PROCESS IS MOVING FORWARD.
HERE YOU'VE GOT AREAS THAT ARE
OUTSIDE OF SDCI, SO IF THOSE
DEPARTMENTS AREN'T ABLE TO
HIRE THE CORRECT PEOPLE, IT
CREATES A BACKLOG.
ONE THING THAT WAS IMPORTANT
FOR ME TO HEAR WAS THAT YOU
COULD FILL THE TEAM BACK UP
HERE, BUT YOU WOULD LOOSE
SOMEONE HERE.
AND LOOSE SOMEBODY HERE.
I HIGHLIGHT THIS, AS I WANT TO
BE AS SUPPORTIVE AS POSSIBLE OF
YOU AND YOUR TEAM TO MAKE SURE
YOU HAVE THE STAFFING
AVAILABLE.
AGAIN, WITH ALL OF THOSE
DIFFERENT NODES WE ARE LOOKING
FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF
EXPERTISE.
HIRING OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT
DOESN'T ALWAYS MAKE SENSE.
I'M JUST HIGHLIGHTING MY
SUPPORT VIEW THERE.
IMPORTANT FOR US TO NOTE IS YOU
MENTIONED THERE ARE SMALL,
MEDIUM, AND COMPLEX.
TYPES OF BUILDING PERMITS
YOU'VE GOT GOING ON.
ONE THING I WILL DO, A LITTLE
GRAPH THAT I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR
ABOUT.
WHICH IS NUMBER OF DAYS AND
THEN YEARS.
2009, 2020, AND THEN, FOR
REVIEW.
ONE THING THAT I HEARD FROM YOU
DURING OUR PRESENTATION AND OUR
MEETING IS THAT OVER TIME AND
ESPECIALLY RIGHT AS WE WERE
GOING INTO ACCELA, THAT
TRANSITION CREATED SOME BUMPS
IN THE ROAD.
WHAT I HEARD FROM YOU IS THAT
YOU HAVE ADDRESSED A LOT OF
THOSE BUMPS, SO WE ARE COMING
BACK DOWN OFF THAT BELL CURVE.
SO THE TRANSITION TO ACCELA IS
HOPEFULLY BEHIND US.
THE ISSUES AND VARIABLES THAT
NEED TO BE ADDRESSED ARE
DEFINITELY MEASURED THERE.
SO I'M EXCITED FOR THAT AND A
CALLOUT THAT IF WE HAD BEEN IN
COVID WITHOUT ACCELA, WE WOULD
BE IN A REALLY BAD PLACE.
SO I WANT TO CALL UP THE FACT
THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT CURVE,
THE RIGHT SIZE.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A GOOD
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO IMPROVE
PROGRAMS AND I WILL MOVE THIS
BACK NOW.
I JUST WANT TO CALL OUT AND
GIVE YOU FAIR WARNING THAT WHAT
I AM MOST INTERESTED IN IS HOW
WE CAN IMPROVE.
SORRY, A REALLY CLEAR THING I
HEARD FROM YOU AND YOUR TEAM IS
THAT THERE IS NOT A DEFINED
GOAL OF HOW LONG A PERMIT
SHOULD TAKE FOR REVIEW, SO FOR
DIFFERENT PEOPLE THERE ARE
DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS.
I WANT TO BE HERE, SUPPORTIVE
OF YOU AND YOUR TEAM, MAKING
SURE YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES YOU
NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL, SO I
WILL BE ASKING FOR WHAT
IMPROVEMENTS WE CAN MAKE IN THE
NEXT MONTH, WHAT IMPROVEMENTS
CAN WE MAKE IN THE NEXT
QUARTER, AND WHAT IMPROVEMENTS
CAN WE MAKE THIS YEAR?
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE
IS PADDLING THE SAME DIRECTION
WITH THE SAME GOAL IN MIND AND
THAT YOU HAVE ALL OF THE
RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL, SO I WILL SAVE IT
FOR THE OFFICIAL PRESENTATION
NEXT TIME.
SINCE I DIDN'T GET INTERRUPTED,
IT SOUNDS LIKE I DID WELL IN
CLASS AND I'M EXCITED TO LEARN
MORE.
>> I WILL TAKE A COUPLE OF
QUICK POINTS.
ONE OF THE TOOLS WE HAVE IS THE
ABILITY TO USE CONTINGENT
BUDGET AUTHORITY, WHERE WE CAN
HIRE STAFF ON A TEMPORARY
BASIS, WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO
COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
THAT HAS BEEN A VERY EFFECTIVE
MEANS TO GET STAFF HIRED
QUICKLY.
THOSE STAFF ARE NOT PERMANENT,
SO IT CAN BE HARDER TO RECRUIT
STAFF IN THOSE POSITIONS, BUT
PEOPLE IN THOSE TEMPORARY
POSITIONS ARE VERY WELL
POSITIONED TO TAKE PERMANENT
POSITIONS AND STAFF TO RETIRE
OR MOVE ON TO OTHER JOBS.
THEY ARE VERY COMPETITIVE.
SO THAT HAS BEEN A GREAT TOOL.
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PREDICT
WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE
ECONOMY AND THE LAST THING WE
WANT TO DO IS HIRE STAFF AND
HAVE TO LAY THEM OFF LATER.
WE DO HAVE GOALS AROUND
BUILDING PERMITS FOR THE
INITIAL ROUND.
THAT IS THE MOST INTENSE ROUND,
BECAUSE THAT IS THE FIRST TIME
WE ARE LOOKING AT PERMITS.
FOR SIMPLE PERMITS THOSE ARE
THINGS LIKE ADDITIONS AND
RETAINING WALLS.
WE HAVE A FOUR WEEK TURNAROUND
TIME FOR 90% OF THOSE PERMITS
AND FOR MORE COMPLEX BUILDING
PERMITS, SO THAT WILL BE A
MIXED-USE PROJECT THAT
HIGHLIGHTS STRUCTURAL
ALTERATIONS WE HAVE.
AND FOR OUR MASTER USE PERMIT,
WE HAVE A GOAL OF 120 DAYS FROM
PERMIT TO THE SDCI DECISION.
WE HAVE HAD A REALLY HARD TIME
MAKING THAT GOAL.
WE ARE SUCCESSFUL FOR SOME.
YOU KNOW, THE CODE DOES KEEP
GETTING MORE AND MORE
COMPLICATED.
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
IS A VERY IMPORTANT CHECK THAT
INVOLVES SOME ADDITIONAL TIMES.
SO WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THOSE
TURNAROUND TIMES.
>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR
THOSE CLARIFICATIONS.
STILL I CLEARLY HAVE MORE TO
LEARN AND I AM EXCITED FOR THE
NEXT LESSON IN CLASS.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
ON DIRECTOR TORGELSON'S REPORT?
I DO ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL OF
THE INSPECTORS WHO ARE GOING
OUT INTO THE FIELD.
I KNOW THERE ARE SITES WHERE
THEY DON'T ENTER, BECAUSE
PEOPLE AREN'T FOLLOWING COVID
HEALTH GUIDELINES AND NOT ONLY
ARE THE INSPECTORS KEEPING OUR
ECONOMY MOVING AND ENSURING
PERMITS OUT THERE AND EVERYONE
IS IN COMPLIANCE, THEY ARE ALSO
THEMSELVES ON THE FRONT LINES
OF THE PANDEMIC, SO THANK YOU
TO ALL OF THE INSPECTORS.
>> THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING
THEM.
>> I AM NOT SEEING QUESTIONS
FROM COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR TORGELSON
FOR JOINING US.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
TO WORK WITH YOU AND SEEING YOU
AT OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING,
WHERE MY AWKWARD DRAWINGS ARE
PRESENTED IN A MUCH MORE
BEAUTIFUL WAY.
SO, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
AND THANK YOU, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS.
>> SO, MOVING ON TO THE NEXT
ITEM, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE
THE FACT THAT THE CLERK READ
THE VOTES FOR BRINGING BUSINESS
HOME.
IT WAS 4-1 AND I AM NOTING THAT
THE MOTION CARRIES AND SHALL BE
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, BEFORE
FULL COUNCIL, ON THE 15th OR
22nd, DEPENDING ON IF THEY ARE
ABLE TO SUSPEND THE RULES OR
NOT.
I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE
INSPECTORS FROM SDCI FEEL THAT
THEY HAVE CODE CLARITY AT THIS
TIME AND ARE ABLE TO FIND
PEOPLE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
BILL AS WRITTEN.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER ITEMS FOR
THE GOOD OF THE ORDER?
SEEING NONE, THIS CONCLUDES THE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, MEETING OF
THE LAND-USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS MARCH 24,
STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING AND WE
ARE ADJOURNED.