>>> THE LAND USE COMMITTEE WIL
COME TO ORDER. IT IS 9:31 A.M.
I'M DAN SHOUSE, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> PRESENT.
>> VICE CHAIRMAN MORALES.
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA IS I
THE LOBBY SO WE ARE GOING TO
TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO ALLOW HER
TO JOIN. NAOMI, CAN YOU LET M
KNOW WHEN COUNCILMEMBER MORALE
HAS JOINED? OR, MOSQUEDA.
>> YES.
>> I DON'T HAVE MY ZOOM UP YET
SO THIS IS A LITTLE HARD TO SEE
EVERYONE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON IS
HERE.
>> I'M LOOKING FOR
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA. SHE'S
GOING TO TRY TO REJOIN IN JUST
MOMENT. WE HAVE THREE ITEMS ON
THE AGENDA TODAY. I WILL
ANNOUNCE WHEN COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA HAS JOINED. A PUBLIC
HEARING AND DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE ON COUNCIL BILL
120464. WE HAVE A DISCUSSION
AND VOTE ON COUNCIL BILL 120462
, THE 2022 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
AMENDMENT. AND WE HAVE A
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION ON A
POTENTIAL BILL THAT WE WILL
HAVE --
>> SHE WAS.
>> WE ARE STILL WITH --
>> I'M SORRY.
>> YOU ARE FINE. HOW ARE YOU
TODAY?
>> APOLOGIES, I DIDN'T REALIZE
I UN-MUTED MY MIC.
>> YOU ARE GREAT. JUST FOR
EVERYONE'S AWARENESS, THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE WILL BE SENDING
US A NEW APPOINTMENT FOR THE
URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION
POSITION WE TALKED ABOUT LAST
WEEK. BEFORE WE BEGIN, IF
THERE'S NO EJECTION THE AGENDA
WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED.
>>> AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN
THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD FOR ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
PLAY THE VIDEO.
>> HELLO, SEATTLE. WE ARE THE
EMERALD CITY. THE CITY OF
FLOWERS AND THE CITY OF
GOODWILL. BUILT ON INDIGENOUS
LAND WHICH IS ADDITIONAL
TERRITORY OF THE PEOPLE'S. THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WELCOMES
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT AND HIS
EAGLE TO HEAR FROM RESIDENTS O
OUR CITY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
BE A SPEAKER AND PROVIDED VERBA
PUBLIC, YOU MAY REGISTER TWO
HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING ON
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
WEBSITE. HERE IS SOME
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PROCEEDINGS. SPEAKERS
ARE CALLED UPON IN THE ORDER IN
WHICH THEY REGISTERED ON THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE. EACH SPEAKE
MUST CALL IN FROM THE PHONE
NUMBER PROVIDED WHEN THEY
REGISTERED ONLINE AND USE THE
MEDIUM I.D. AND PASSCODE THAT
WAS EMAILED UPON CONFIRMATION.
IF YOU DID NOT USE AN EMAIL
CONFIRMATION, PLEASE CHECK YOUR
SPAM OR JUNK MAIL FOLDERS. A
REMINDER. THE SPEAKER MEETING
I.D. IS DIFFERENT FROM THE
GENERAL LISTEN LINE MEETING
I.D. PROVIDED ON THE AGENDA.
ONCE A SPEAKER'S NAME IS
CALLED, THE SPEAKER'S
MICROPHONE WILL BE UN-MUTED AND
AN AUTOMATIC PROMPT WILL SAY
THE HOST WOULD LIKE YOU TO
UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE. THAT I
YOUR CUE THAT IT IS YOUR TURN T
SPEAK. AT THAT TIME, YOU MUST
PRESS STAR SIX. YOU WILL THEN
HEAR A PROPPED UP, YOU ARE
UN-MUTED. BE SURE YOUR PHONE I
UN-MUTED ON YOUR END SO THAT YO
WILL BE HEARD. AS A SPEAKER, YO
SHOULD BEGIN BY STATING YOUR
NAME AND THE ITEM THAT YOU ARE
ADDRESSING. A CHIME WILL SOUND
WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT IN YOU
ALLOTTED TIME. AS A GENTLE
REMINDER, TO WRAP UP YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENTS. AT THE END OF
THE ALLOTTED TIME, YOUR
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED , AND
THE NEXT SPEAKER REGISTERED WIL
BE CALLED. ONCE SPEAKERS HAVE
COMPLETED PROVIDING PUBLIC,,
PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM THE
PUBLIC COMMENT LINE AND JOIN US
BY FOLLOWING THE MEETING ON
SEATTLE CHANNEL BROADCAST OR
THROUGH THE LISTENING LINE
OPTION LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
THE COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT
TO ELIMINATE PUBLIC COMMENT IF
THE SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED. OR,
IF THE PROCESS IMPEDES THE
COUNCIL' DISABILITY TO CONDUCT
ITS BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF
RESIDENTS OF THE CITY. ANY
OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE THAT IS
DISRUPTIVE TO THESE PROCEEDINGS
OR THAT IS NOT FOCUSED WHEN AN
APPROPRIATE TOPIC AS SPECIFIED
IN COUNCIL RULES, MAY LEAD TO
THE SPEAKER BEING MUTED BY THE
PRESIDING OFFICER. OUR HOPE IS
TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS THAT
WILL ASSIST OUR ORDERLY
CONSIDERATION OF ISSUES BEFORE
THE COUNCIL. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER O
THE LIST. PLEASE REMEMBER, TO
PRESS STAR SIX AFTER YOU HEAR
THE PROMPT OF YOU HAVE BEEN
UN-MUTED. THANK YOU, SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU,
CLERK. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN AND WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON
THE LIST. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE
IN PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST,
AND THEN ROLL THROUGH OUR ONLIN
PUBLIC COMMENT. I DO SEE THRE
PEOPLE NOT PRESENT AT THE
MOMENT. SO, IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO SPEAK, NOW IS THE TIME TO
CALL IN. PLEASE USE THE PHONE
NUMBER PROVIDED TO YOU IN AN
EMAIL, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT
PHONE NUMBER THAN THE LISTEN
LINE. WITH NO FURTHER ADO, WE
HAVE ON THE LIST IN PERSON,
SCOTT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
TIFFANY, JACOB, STEVE , SANDY ,
BARBARA AND THEN KRISTI. GOOD
MORNING, SCOTT. GREAT TO SEE
YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR STRAUSS,
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY T
COMMENT TODAY. COUNCIL BILL
120462. MY COMMENTS TODAY WILL
BE A BIT DUPLICATIVE TO PERHAP
SOME WRITTEN COMMENTS OVER THE
LAST WEEK BUT JUST WANTED TO
ENTER FOR THE RECORD. I AM
COCHAIR OF THE STEERING
COMMITTEE AND WE ARE FULLY
SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROPOSED
COUNCIL BILL TO ADD STRONGER
POLICY LANGUAGE FOR LIVING
FREEWAYS TO THE SEATTLE
COPPERHEAD SUPPLY. THE PROPOSE
AMENDMENTS RECOGNIZE THE UNIQUE
ENTERED THE POTENTIAL FOR
LIVING FREEWAYS TO BE IN
NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY
AND PROVIDE MORE USEFUL PUBLIC
LANDS. ALL FREEWAYS CANNOT BE
LIVING, AND DESIGN SOLUTIONS
MAY BE NEEDED IN SOME CASES.
THERE'S A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT
NEIGHBORHOODS WITH DIFFERENT
SOLUTIONS LIKE DISTRICTS. THER
IS A DIFFERENT SOLUTION NEEDED
AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES
LIKE SOUTH PARK. THE ONLY THIN
WE SUGGEST IN THE POLICY
AMENDMENTS IS ON THE
TRANSPORTATION POLICY, ALSO
MENTIONED THE GIRL FREEWAYS IF
YOU ARE GOING TO REMOVE MENTION
OF I-5 SPECIFICALLY. OVERALL
OPCD COMPLETED A FEASIBILITY
STUDY THAT CONCLUDED A PROJECT
IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE IS
WORTHWHILE FOR THE PUBLIC
BENEFITS OF BOTH ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL. OVER 60% OF SEATTLE
VOTERS SUPPORT THE PROJECT.
THANKS AGAIN FOR THAT
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT TODAY.
WE URGE PASSAGE OF THE
AMENDMENTS WITH THAT MINOR
CHANGE.
>> THANK YOU, SCOTT. WE'LL MOV
INTO THE HYBRID, OR THE REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE TIFFAN
FOLLOWED BY JACOB AND THEN
STEVE. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE FO
THE RECORD, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA HAS BEEN HERE SINCE
BEFORE PUBLIC COMMENT BEGAN. WE
HAVE FIVE PRESENT, FULL
MEMBERSHIP OF THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE. WITH NO FURTHER ADO,
-- GOOD MORNING. TIFFANY, I
SEE YOU THERE. THERE YOU ARE.
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
TIFFANY McCOY. I'M THE ADVOCAC
DIRECTOR AT REAL CHANGE. I'M
CALLING TO URGE YOU ALL TO
REJECT THE CURRENT SCOPE FOR
SEATTLE'S NEXT COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN AS PRESENTED LAST WEEK BY
THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. IT IS
INCREDIBLY TELLING THAT NONE OF
THE FIVE ALTERNATIVES PROPOSED
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT WOULD
ADEQUATELY ADDRESS OUR HOUSING
CRISIS , CLIMATE CRISIS, AND TH
BUILDING OUT OF A CITYWIDE
TRANSIT NETWORK. THE FAILURE O
THE URBAN VILLAGE STRATEGY TO
MEET RACIAL EQUITY GOALS COMES
FROM VOLUNTEERS OF SEVERAL
ORGANIZATIONS. THERE ARE SIX
ALTERNATIVES THAT WOULD GO
BEYOND THE ALTERNATIVES. AN
ALTERNATIVE THAT DOESN'T SIMPLY
ADD A BIT OF DENSITY TO CURRENT
URBAN VILLAGES. IN OUR RACIAL
EQUITY ANALYSIS, IT CALLS OUT
THE STRATEGIES. A STRATEGY
WHICH WE HAVE BEEN USING FOR
OVER 20 YEARS. AS A PROBLEM THA
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN NEEDS TO
FIX. THE REPORT DESCRIBES THE
HISTORY AND IMPACT OF RACIST
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING AND
POTENTIAL CHANGES TO IMPLEMENT.
THE CURRENT INCREMENTALIST
URBAN VILLAGE REPORT IS NOT
CONSISTENT WITH THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND IGNORES THE
INPUT AND GUIDANCE OF
HISTORICALLY IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES. ANOTHER WAY THAT
THE OPCD REPORT IS IGNORED THE
INPUT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IS
THE COMPLETE OMISSION OF THE
ALTERNATIVES THAT RECEIVE THE
LARGEST SUPPORT IN TOTAL VOTES
AND THAT VOTES. REAL CHANGES,
ALTERNATIVE FIX. SOCIAL
COMMUNITIES FOR ALL. WHICH WAS
DRAFTED WITH REAL CHANGE VENDOR
AND PUGET SOUND. THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING MODEL OF
SOCIAL HOUSING, WHICH IS ONE
THAT WE DO NOT CURRENTLY DO,
ISN'T EVEN MENTIONED ONCE. EVEN
THOUGH IT RECEIVED OVER 10% OF
THE COMMENTS FOR ALTERNATIVE FI
SUBMISSIONS. WE ARE CALLING O
THE COUNCIL TO REJECT THIS
LIMITED SCOPE THAT THE OPCD HAS
PRESENTED. ALTERNATIVE FIVE IS
HOLY AND SUFFICIENT. THESE
EXPAND THE SCOPE AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, TIFFANY. I DIDN'
INTERRUPT YOU JUST BECAUSE THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS NOT A
STRAIGHTFORWARD, EASY TO DIGEST
PIECE OF LEGISLATION. THE BILL
THAT YOU ARE COMMENTING ON IS
NOT ON THE AGENDA TODAY. IT WAS
AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM LAST
WEEK, AND I CAN TELL YOU JUST
THAT OPCD CONTINUES TO DO
OUTREACH ON MONDAY NIGHT.
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO --
TO INTERACT WITH OPCD AT THE
ROYAL HEIGHTS COMMUNITY CENTER
FROM 6:00 TO 8:00 P.M. 77th AND
20th NORTHWEST. WHAT WE HAVE
BEFORE US AND ON THE AGENDA
TODAY, FOR EVERYONE LISTENING,
I'M VERY , VERY CONSERVATIVE
WHEN IT COMES TO ONLY SPEAKING
TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US ARE THE
ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
AMENDMENTS. TIFFANY, WHAT YOU
WERE SPEAKING TO WAS THE MAJOR
UPDATE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN. DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT
YOU BECAUSE IT'S NOT
STRAIGHTFORWARD. WITH THAT, WE
ARE GOING TO CONTINUE MOVING
THROUGH THE PUBLIC COMMENT LIST
JACOB FOLLOWED BY STEVE ,
SANDY, AND THEN BARBARA. GOOD
MORNING, JACOB.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M ALSO WOR
FOR REAL CHANGE AND I'M CALLING
TO ASK THE LAND USE COMMITTEE
TO INCORPORATE THE STRONG
COMMUNITY LED DEMANDS OF REAL
CHANGE'S ALTERNATIVE FIX.
>> JACOB, NAOMI, JACOB I AM
GOING TO BECAUSE I JUST
EXPLAINED -- YOU CAN BRING
JACOB BACK UP. YOU DON'T NEED
TO REMOVE HIM FROM THE AREA.
JACOB, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO
AN ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA? YOU
CAN UNMUTE AT ANY TIME.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT
THE COMP PLAN IS ON THE AGENDA
FOR THIS MEETING, SO I WOULD
LIKE TO CONTENT ON ITS.
>> THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE PLA
AMENDMENT DOCKETING IS ON THE
AGENDA. WHAT YOU WERE JUST
SPEAKING TO IS THE MAJOR UPDAT
TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHIC
IS NOT BEFORE US AT THIS TIME.
>> OKAY. I WOULD STILL LIKE TO
COMMENT. I WROTE SOMETHING FOR
THIS AND I DO FEEL LIKE IT IS
IMPORTANT TO SPEAK.
>> I AM VERY FOCUSED WITH
ENSURING THAT PUBLIC COMMENT
NEEDS TO BE ON ITEMS OF THE
AGENDA. WE DO WELCOME WRITTEN
PUBLIC COMMENT AT ANY TIME. I
SEE YOU LISTED HERE TO SPEAK TO
ITEM 1, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
BILL. IS THAT SOMETHING YOU
WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON? THE
>> I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SOCIAL
HOUSING.
>> GREAT, TAKE IT AWAY. SPEAK
TO THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA WHICH
IS ITEM 1. THE PUBLIC HEARING.
OH, ACTUALLY IF YOU ARE GOING T
SPEAK TO THAT THAT WE WILL NEE
TO HAVE YOU IN THE PUBLIC
HEARING. WOULD YOU LIKE US TO
COME BACK TO YOU?
>> NO. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK
NOW.
>> JUST FROM EIGHT -- JUST
FROM A PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE,
JACOB, I'M SORRY THAT THIS IS
HOW BUREAUCRACY WORKS SOMETIMES
WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON TH
DESIGN REVIEW EXEMPTION FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT WILL B
A SEPARATE TIME TO SPEAK. WHAT
WE HAVE BEFORE US RIGHT NOW IS
DISCUSSION , A VOTE ON THE 2022
ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
AMENDMENT, OR THE ARBORISTS
REGISTRATION.
>> OKAY, SO I CANNOT SPEAK TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ANY WAY?
I GENERALLY JUST WANT TO
COMMENT.
>> WE ARE GOING TO COME BACK T
YOU DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
HOW ABOUT THAT? BECAUSE THAT'S
THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO SPEAK
TO THAT ITEM.
>> OKAY. I DON'T -- OKAY, SURE
>> WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU IN
JUST A COUPLE MINUTES. THANK
YOU, JACOB. UP NEXT IS STEVE
FOLLOWED BY SANDY AND THEN
BARBARA. STEVE, PLEASE TAKE I
AWAY.
>> GOOD MORNING. THIS IS
STEVE. GOOD MORNING, THIS IS
STEVE SPEAKING FOR FRIENDS OF
SEATTLE'S URBAN FOREST. I'M VER
CONCERNED THAT THIS AMENDMENT
TO THE ARBORIST REGISTRATION ,
THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE WAS NOT
AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FIRST
OFF THIS MORNING. I LOOKED AT
THE NOTICE ON MONDAY , NOTICE O
TUESDAY, IT JUST SAID THERE WA
GOING TO BE A DISCUSSION AND YO
HAVE NOW PRODUCED SIGNIFICANT
LEGISLATION THAT ALTERS THE
ORDINANCE THAT YOU DID PASS.
MY CONCERN WITH THAT IS AMONG
OTHER THINGS, THAT YOU DID NOT
CONSULT WITH THE URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION, WHICH MET YESTERDAY
WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN AN IDEAL
PLACE TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION
ALSO TO GET INPUT ON THIS
SIGNIFICANT ISSUE. PROBLEM I
SEE IS THAT YOU'RE CREATING TWO
WITHIN THE CITY, F.AND
DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS FOR WHA
ARBORISTS DO. AN EXAMPLE IS
ONE REQUIRES PRUNING AND
DEFINES IT AS 15% OF TREE
FOLIAGE. YOU ARE NOW SAYING
THAT UNDER THIS, THAT ARBORIST
DEALING WITH THE PRIVATE
PROPERTY LANDS IS 25%. YOU CAL
THAT MAJOR PRUNING. BUT IN THE
DRAFT ORDINANCE, YOU CONSIDER
EXCESSIVE PRUNING IS DEFINED A
GREATER THAN 25%. SO AGAIN,
PUTTING OUT CONFUSING LANGUAGE
TERMS. IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE
ALL OVER THE PLACE HERE IN THIS
AND THAT'S WHY YOU NEED TIME FO
SUFFICIENT INPUT, WHICH YOU
OBVIOUSLY DID NOT GIVE IN TERMS
OF NOTICE ON THIS ORDINANCE.
HEDGES ALSO FREQUENTLY YOU WILL
SEE HAVE LARGE TREES IN THE.
THIS WOULD BE A PLACE WHERE
THERE COULD BE A VIOLATION
OCCURRING BY THE DEFINITION YO
HAVE DEFINING IT. DEFINING IT
ALSO MEANS NO REPORTING
REQUIREMENT. NO POSTINGS IS A
MAJOR STEP BACKWARDS. COMPLY
WITH WITH WHAT FDOT DOES. KEE
US CONSISTENT.
>> THANK YOU, STEVE. UP NEXT
IS SANDY FOLLOWED BY BARBARA .
JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S
AWARENESS, THE DRAFT IS POSTED
TO THE AGENDA AND IT HAS NOT
BEEN INTRODUCED AS AN ITEM AT
THIS TIME. WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE
IT BEFORE US SO THAT WE CAN
RECEIVE YOUR COMMENT, JUST AS W
JUST DID. WELCOME, SANDY. I
DON'T QUITE SEE YOU YET. THERE
YOU ARE. FEEL FREE TO UNMUTE
AND TAKE IT AWAY.
>> HI, THANKS, DAN. I WOULD
LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE TREE
SERVICE PROVIDER REGISTRY
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE NOTICE
REQUIREMENT. WE ALREADY HAVE A
GREAT SYSTEM WITH SDOT THAT HA
BEEN UP AND RUNNING FOR OVER
NINE YEARS. SETTING UP A
COMPLETELY SEPARATE SYSTEM FOR
TREES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY IS
INEFFICIENT AND IT ENCOURAGES
THE CONTINUED SILOED MANAGEMEN
OF OUR URBAN FOREST, WHICH IS
ONE OF THE REASONS OUR TREE
CANOPY IS SHRINKING. THE URBAN
FOREST IS ONE LIVING ECOSYSTEM
WHICH SUPPORTS US, THE HUMANS
WHO LIVE IN IT. TREES ON PRIVAT
PROPERTY , AND STREET TREES, AR
OFTEN EVEN TOUCHING AND GROWIN
CLOSE TOGETHER. SO, COMMON
SENSE WOULD SAY THAT THEY
SHOULD FALL UNDER ONE SYSTEM.
THIS WOULD MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR
ARBORISTS, HOMEOWNERS, AND
DEVELOPERS. WHY NOT TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO MODERNIZE THE
SYSTEM, AND HAVE IT ALL ONLINE
AND PUBLICLY AVAILABLE? THANK
YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS
APPROACH AS YOU DISCUSS THESE
CHANGES.
>> THANK YOU, SANDY. UP NEXT
IS BARBARA FOLLOWED BY CHRIS AN
THEN THAT IS THE END OF OUR
LIST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THIS
MORNING. WE WILL -- WE HAVE A
NUMBER OF PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR
THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE WIL
COME BACK TO IN JUST A MOMENT.
GOOD MORNING, BARBARA.
>> GOOD MORNING. THIS IS
BARBARA BERNARD, DISTRICT 7. I
AM CALLING TODAY CONCERNING
REMOVING THE LANGUAGE FROM THE
TREE SERVICE PROVIDER ORDINANCE
, SPECIFIC TO POSTING ABOUT ANY
MAJOR TREE WORK. WE ARE AT A
POINT WHERE TREES CAN NO LONGER
BE THOUGHT OF AS PRIVATE
PROPERTY, BUT REALLY INSTEAD A
AN ASSET THAT SERVES OUR
POPULATION. WE ALREADY KNOW AL
THE BENEFITS OF TRANSFERRING, S
I WON'T GO INTO ALL THE DETAILS
HERE. THAT'S WHY THIS IS REALL
SO CONCERNING THAT REMOVING THE
REQUIRED POSTING FROM THE
ORDINANCE IS JUST ONE MORE STEP
WHERE THE PUBLIC IS NO LONGER
INFORMED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON
IN THEIR SURROUNDING
ENVIRONMENT. IT IS SUCH A SIMPL
ACT THAT CAN BE EASILY
COMPLETED WITHOUT HARDSHIP TO
THE ARBORISTS AND HOMEOWNERS.
ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE THAT TH
NOTICE WOULD BE AVAILABLE
ONLINE. HAVING IT ONLINE IS
EQUITABLE, BECAUSE NOT EVERY
RESIDENT IS ABLE TO WALK AROUN
THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKING FOR
POSTS EVERY THREE DAYS TO SEE
WHAT'S HAPPENING. THIS IS
ACTUALLY ANOTHER DISSERVICE TO
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THAT AR
ALREADY IMPACTED BY
NON-PERMITTED TREE REMOVAL.
PLEASE CONSIDER ANY ADJUSTMENT
TO BE ON HOLD UNTIL THE OSC
URBAN FORESTRY POSITION IS
ACTUALLY FILLED. PLEASE
RECONSIDER REMOVING THIS
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO
STAY INFORMED ABOUT TREES THAT
BENEFIT THE CITY. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, BARBARA. UP NEXT
IS CHRIS AND THEN WE WILL HAVE
COMPLETED OUR LIST OF PUBLIC
COMMENTERS FOR TODAY. GOOD
MORNING, CHRIS.
>> HI, THIS IS CHRIS. I LIVE
IN MAPLE LEAF. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
COMMENT, AND THANK YOU FOR THE
NEW SERVICE PROVIDER REQUIREMEN
, AND ESPECIALLY THE PUBLIC
NOTICE REQUIREMENT. I SAW MY
FIRST PUBLIC NOTICE THIS WEEK O
DECEMBER 6th. THE HOMEOWNER HAD
LAMINATED HIS NOTICE AND
ATTACHED IT TO HIS FENCE WITH
CABLE TIES IN TWO SPOTS
BECAUSE HE WAS ON A QUARTER. I
THOUGHT TO MYSELF, THIS WORKS.
THIS IS GREAT! I KNEW THAT THE
TREE WORK WAS ON THE UP AND UP.
CONTRAST THAT WITH AN EXPERIENC
IS SUMMER WHEN I WAS OUT AND I
WAS TALKING TO AN ARBORIST
ABOUT A 40 FOOT TREE HE WAS
TAKEN DOWN. HE SAID TO ME, IT
WAS DEAD , AND HE TURNED AWAY
FROM ME AND CHARGED UP HIS
CHAINSAW AND KEPT WORKING. THA
WAS THE END OF THE CONVERSATION
I DIDN'T KNOW IF THIS TREE WOR
WAS LEGITIMATE. IT'S EARLY IN
THE GAME, WE ARE NOT EVEN ONE
MONTH IN. WE HAVE TO ADMIT
THERE ARE JUST SOME PEOPLE WHO
CAN'T GET IT TOGETHER TO POST A
SIGN. SO, THOSE PEOPLE WILL HAV
TO PAY EXTRA TO THE TREE
COMPANY TO POST IT JUST SO THAT
THE PUBLIC CAN KNOW, SO THE
PUBLIC CAN KNOW THAT IT IS
LEGITIMATE TREE WORK. I WOULD
LIKE TO SEE BOTH PUBLIC NOTICES
PAPER NOTICES POSTED, AND AN
ONLINE SOURCE. SOMETIMES WHEN
I'M OUT AND I SEE PEOPLE
CUTTING TREES, I'M WITHOUT MY
PHONE. I'M RUNNING WITHOUT MY
PHONE. I COULDN'T, I WOULDN'T
BE ABLE TO LOOK IT UP. SO, GREA
WORK ALL AROUND. THANK YOU VER
MUCH, BUT LET'S KEEP THE PUBLIC
NOTICES PART OF THE REQUIREMENT
THANK YOU. BYE.
>> THANK YOU, CHRIS. SEEING AS
WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS
REMOTELY PRESENT WE WILL MOVE O
TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
>>> OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS
IS A BRIEFING ON COUNCIL BILL
120464 WHICH WILL EXTEND
INTERIM REGULATIONS FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS
QUICKLY. PLEASE READ THE SHORT
TITLE INTO THE RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 120464. AN
ORDINANCE ADOPTING
RECOMMENDATIONS TO EXEMPT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS FOR
UP TO 60% FROM DESIGN REVIEW O
A BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION. OR
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. WE DID RECEIVE A
BRIEFING FROM SDCI AND CENTRAL
STAFF AT THE LAST COMMITTEE
MEETING. THEY ARE HERE TO
ANSWER ANY FINAL QUESTIONS YOU
MAY HAVE. I DO WANT TO JUST
LOOK AT THE SCREEN HERE TO SEE.
WE HAVE KETIL FREEMAN AND MIKE
PODOWSKI WITH US. GENTLEMEN,
ANYTHING FURTHER FOR YOU TO ADD
COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS ? JUST AS A REMINDER,
MY REQUEST WILL BE THAT WE
SUSPEND THE RULES TODAY IN ORDE
TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND A
VOTE ON THE SAME DAY.
COLLEAGUES? I SEE COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA , FORMER VICE CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE. TAKE IT AWAY.
YOU ARE STILL ON MUTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
CHAIR. I WANTED TO COME ON
SCREEN AND I'M SORRY I DIDN'T
DRESS UP FOR THE OCCASION. I
WANTED TO COME ON SCREEN TO
THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND THE
MAYOR ABOUT THE VETS OFFICE FOR
YOUR WORK ON ITEM NUMBER ONE
HERE. I THINK THIS IS AN
INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY. IS THI
A GOOD TIME TO COMMENT, MR.
CHAIR?
>> YES, THIS IS GREAT.
>> OKAY. I THINK THIS IS AN
INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO
PARTNER TO CREATE A PLAN AND A
PATH FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT
DESIGN REVIEW EXEMPTIONS ON
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ACTUALLY
FROM THE. THAT WE BUILD OFF TH
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US. I'
EXCITED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE
A COSPONSOR WITH YOU, MR. CHAIR
I THINK THIS IS ONE STEP TO
ADDRESS THE ONGOING HOUSING
CRISIS. THIS IS ONE OPPORTUNIT
FOR US TO RESPOND TO THE
DECLARED STATE OF EMERGENCY ON
HOMELESSNESS, WHICH WE KNOW HA
ONLY GOTTEN WORSE IN THE TIME
OF COVID. I'M EXCITED ABOUT
THIS LEGISLATION BECAUSE IT IS
ONE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR
US TO REMOVE ANY BARRIER
POSSIBLE THAT WE CAN -- WE CAN
MOVE TOWARD POLICY TO REMOVE
THOSE BARRIERS TO BRING MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ONLINE AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. ESPECIALL
WHEN THOSE BARRIERS ARE CREATED
IN OUR OWN CITY CODE. I'M
THRILLED THAT WE ARE TAKING
ACTION TODAY TO REMOVE THOSE
POLICY IMPEDIMENTS AND TO
EXPEDITE THE CREATION OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I ALSO
WANTED TO NOTE THAT THIS BILL
IS A PROVEN POLICY, A PROVEN
TRACK RECORD AS WE'VE SEEN
DURING THE COURSE OF THE
PANDEMIC. WE CAN CREATE
HIGH-QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSIN
WITHOUT THE UNNECESSARY AND
BURDENSOME PROCESS THAT CAUSES
DELAY OR UNCERTAINTY FOR
BUILDERS AND FAMILIES. HELPS TO
ALSO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BECAUSE DELAY EQUALS
COST. THOSE COSTS DRIVE UP THE
COST OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I A
EXCITED BECAUSE THERE IS
MOMENTUM HERE TO REALLY
REEVALUATE HOW WE PRIORITIZE
HOUSING OVERALL ACROSS OUR CITY
CODE. AND TO ENSURE THAT OUR
PERMITTING PROCESSES ARE MORE
IN LINE WITH OUR GOAL TO
EXPEDITE CREATING HOUSING
ACROSS OUR CITY. SO THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT STEP TIED TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SPECIFIC
TYPES OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
BUT I THINK IT'S A VERY
IMPORTANT STEP IN OUR OVERALL
GOAL. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE
ADVOCATES WHO HAVE BEEN BRINGIN
THIS ISSUE TO LIGHT OVER THE
LAST FEW YEARS , AND ESPECIALLY
WANTED TO THANK AARON HOUSE WH
COORDINATES OUR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ROUNDTABLE THAT WE MEET
WITH ABOUT QUARTERLY. HAS BEEN
MEETING QUARTERLY OVER THE LAST
FIVE YEARS TO TALK ABOUT EFFORT
LIKE THIS. SOME OF THE OTHER
THINGS, THE RACIAL EQUITY
TOOLKIT THAT WAS DISCUSSED
TODAY. IT CAME FROM OUR OFFICE
IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT OVERALL
LAND USE EFFORTS. THE ABILITY T
BRING FORWARD THE COMMUNITY
SELF-PRESERVATION, OR
SELF-DETERMINATION ON HOUSING
FUND WITHIN JUMPSTART CAME
FROM THAT ROUNDTABLE. THIS IS
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAV
BEEN ALSO CALLING FOR , SO I
WANT TO THANK YOU MR. CHAIR FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. HAPPY
TO HAVE BEEN A PARTNER WITH YOU
AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD
CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSIN
ACROSS OUR CITY, AND ALSO TO
EXPAND OUR EFFORTS TO CREATE
PERMIT EXEMPTIONS FOR HOUSING
AND OTHER MODIFICATIONS NEEDED
IN OUR CITY CODE TO ENSURE THAT
WE ARE BRINGING CRITICALLY
NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOMES. HOMES
OVERALL IN THE FUTURE, ONLINE A
FAST AS WE CAN. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA. COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHE
QUESTIONS FOR CENTRAL STAFF OR
FOR SDCI BEFORE WE OPEN UP THE
PUBLIC COMMENT? COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON, PEDERSEN, MORALES?
SEEING NONE AT THIS TIME, WE
WILL OPEN THE REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT. AT THIS TIME WE WILL
OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR
COUNCIL BILL 120464. CLERK,
WILL YOU PLEASE PLAY THE VIDEO?
>> HELLO, SEATTLE. WE ARE THE
EMERALD CITY. THE CITY OF
FLOWERS AND THE CITY OF
GOODWILL. BUILT ON INDIGENOUS
LAND. THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCI
WELCOMES REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT
AND IS EAGER TO HEAR FROM
RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY. IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO BE A SPEAKER AND
PROVIDE A VERBAL PUBLIC COMMENT
YOU MAY REGISTER TWO HOURS PRIO
TO THE MEETING ON THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL WEBSITE. HERE IS
SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEEDINGS.
SPEAKERS ARE CALLED UPON IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED
ON THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE. EACH
SPEAKER MUST CALL IN FROM THE
PHONE NUMBER PROVIDED WITH A
REGISTERED ONLINE AND USE THE
MEETING I.D. AND PASSCODE THAT
WAS EMAILED UPON CONFIRMATION.
IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN EMAIL
CONFIRMATION, PLEASE CHECK YOUR
SPAM OR JUNK MAIL FOLDERS. A
REMINDER, THE SPEAKER MEETING
I.D. IS DIFFERENT FROM THE
GENERAL LISTEN LINE MEETING
I.D. PROVIDED ON THE AGENDA.
ONCE A SPEAKER'S NAME IS
CALLED, THE SPEAKER'S
MICROPHONE WILL BE UN-MUTED AN
AN AUTOMATIC PROMPT WILL SAY
THE HOST WOULD LIKE YOU TO
UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE. THAT IS
YOUR CUE THAT IT IS YOUR TURN
TO SPEAK. AT THAT TIME, YOU
MUST PRESS STAR SIX. YOU WILL
THEN HEAR A PROMPT UP, YOU ARE
UN-MUTED. BE SURE YOUR PHONE I
UN-MUTED ON YOUR END SO THAT YO
WILL BE HEARD. AS A SPEAKER,
YOU SHOULD BEGIN BY STATING YOU
NAME, AND THE ITEM THAT YOU ARE
ADDRESSING. A CHIME WILL SOUND
WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT IN YOU
ALLOTTED TIME. AS A GENTLE
REMINDER, TO WRAP UP YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENTS. AT THE END OF
THE ALLOTTED TIME, YOUR
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED. THE
NEXT SPEAKER REGISTERED WILL BE
CALLED. ONCE SPEAKERS HAVE
COMPLETED PROVIDING PUBLIC
COMMENT, PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINE AND JOI
US BY FOLLOWING THE MEETING ON
SEATTLE CHANNEL THE LISTEN LIN
OPTION ON THE AGENDA. THE
COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO
ELIMINATE PUBLIC COMMENT IF THE
SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED. OR, IF
THE PROCESS IMPEDES THE
COUNCIL'S ABILITY TO CONDUCT
ITS BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF
RESIDENTS OF THE CITY. ANY
OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE THAT IS
DISRUPTIVE TO THESE PROCEEDINGS
, OR THAT IS NOT FOCUSED ON AN
APPROPRIATE TOPIC AS SPECIFIED
IN COUNCIL RULES, MAY LEAD TO
THE SPEAKER BEING MUTED BY THE
PRESIDING OFFICER. OUR HOPE IS
TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS THAT
WILL ASSIST OUR ORDERLY
CONSIDERATION OF ISSUES BEFORE
THE COUNCIL. THE PUBLIC COMMEN
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON
THE LIST. PLEASE REMEMBER, TO
PRESS STAR SIX AFTER YOU HEAR
THE PROMPT OF, YOU HAVE BEEN
UN-MUTED. THANK YOU, SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME WE
WILL -- THE PUBLIC HEARING ON
COUNCIL BILL 120462 IS NOW OPEN
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKERS ON THE LIST. I HAVE
CAMILLE, BRADY . I DO SEE JACO
LISTED AS BOTH PRESENT AND NOT
PRESENT. JACOB, IF YOU ARE
LISTENING AND HAVE NOT CALLED
HIM, YOU CAN CALL BACK IN AT
THIS TIME AND WE WILL HELP
RECEIVE YOUR COMMENT. I AM NOW
SEEING CAMILLE IS NOT PRESENT.
I'M GOING TO READ OUT EVERYONE'
NAME. SO YOU KNOW IN WHICH ODER
YOU ARE IN THE LINE OF. WE
HAVE CAMILLE, BRADY, JACOB,
CONNOR, BRADLEY, ALICIA, KATE
JESSE, LOIS, LAURA, AND
DONALD. IF YOU ARE HEARING US
AND WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, AND AR
NOT PRESENT, PLEASE USE THE
EMAIL THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED.
NOT TO LISTEN LINE. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST PERSON
PRESENT, WHO IS BRADY, FOLLOWED
BY CONNOR, BRADLEY. GOOD
MORNING, BRADY.
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES WE CAN, GOOD MORNING,
BRADY.
>> GOOD MORNING. AS YOU'VE
ESTABLISHED, MY NAME IS BRADY.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF THIS
MORNING OF SEATTLE FOR EVERYONE
WE ALSO SPOKE AT YOUR LAST
SESSION ON COUNCIL BILL 120464
AND ARE FOLLOWING UP TO THANK
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR YOUR
ATTENTION ON DESIGN REVIEW,
WHICH WE BELIEVE HAS AN IMPACT
ON HOUSING AFFORDABILITY,
CREATION AND ACCESS TO WE
BELIEVE THAT THE DESIGN REVIEW
AS IT CURRENTLY FUNCTIONS IS
BROKEN AND THAT NOW IS THE TIME
TO FIX IT. WE STRONGLY SUPPORT
COUNCIL BILL 120464 AND URGE
YOU TO PASS THE LEGISLATION IN
FULL COUNCIL TODAY. WE SEE THI
AS A CHANCE TO BUILD ON THE
SUCCESS OF OTHER COVID-19 DESIG
REVIEW EXTENSIONS FOR AFFORDABL
HOUSING WHILE PERMIT PROGRAM
CHANGES ARE CONSIDERED AS STUDY
AS WAS NOTED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, THIS EXEMPTION HAS
BEEN SHOWN TO REDUCE COST AND
EXPEDITE URGENTLY NEEDED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DURING AN
ONGOING HOUSING CRISIS. WE
BELIEVE THIS BILL IS ANOTHER
POSITIVE STEP TO FIX DESIGN
REVIEW, BUT THAT MORE WILL BE
NEEDED. SO WE URGE COUNCIL TO
CONSIDER BROADER, BOLDER, AND
MORE IMPACTFUL REFORMS IN 2023
THAT CAN PERMANENTLY AND
SYSTEMATICALLY MAKE ALL ASPECTS
OF DESIGN REVIEW MORE EFFICIENT
PREDICTABLE AND INCLUSIVE. SO
IN THIS DAY AND WE APPLAUD CITY
COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERING A WORK
PLAN FOR PERMANENT LEGISLATION
AND URGE YOU TO FIND WAYS TO
EXPEDITE THAT WORK PLAN WHEREVE
POSSIBLE. SO, WE HOPE TO WORK
WITH YOU AND OTHER PARTNERS TO
CRAFT EFFECTIVE, LASTING
LEGISLATION, FIXED DESIGN REVIE
AND THANKS AGAIN FOR THE TIME
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, BRADY. UP NEXT I
CONNOR FOLLOWED BY BRADLEY AN
THEN ALICIA. WE HAVE CAMILLE
AND JACOB NOT PRESENT AT THE
MOMENT. GOOD MORNING, CONNOR.
>> GOOD MORNING. CAN YOU HEAR
ME?
>> YES WE CAN.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME EVERYONE. MY NAME IS
CONNOR. I'M THE MANAGING
PRINCIPAL OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT. I'M COMMENTING ON
THE DESIGN REVIEW LEGISLATION.
I ECHO WHAT BRADY JUST SAID AND
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT IT. THE MAI
POINT OF MY COMMENT TODAY IS TO
HAVE SOMETHING ELSE FOR
CONSIDERATION JUST BASED OFF MY
EXPENSES IN SEATTLE THE PAST FE
MONTHS, BUT OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS. I HAVE DEVELOPED, OR I
HAVE DEVELOPED PERMITTED OR
ENTITLED AND CONSTRUCTED ABOUT
2000 UNITS SINCE THE AFFORDABL
UNITS IN SEATTLE IN THE LAST 13
YEARS. HALF OF THOSE HAVE BEEN
NONPUBLICLY FUNDED. SO, I WOUL
LIKE YOU TO -- I SAY THAT TO
DEMONSTRATE THAT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING CREATION CAN BE DONE
WITHOUT PUBLIC FUNDS. I WOULD
LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER THE DESIGN
REVIEW EXEMPTION FOR PROJECTS
THAT DON'T HAVE PUBLIC FUNDING.
SO, A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE, I HAVE
200 UNITS BEING PERMITTED IN
NORTH SEATTLE RIGHT NOW AND IT
HAS BEEN HELD UP FOR THREE
MONTHS BECAUSE I NEEDED AN
OFFICE OF HOUSING COMMITMENT TO
GO INTO THE DESIGN REVIEW
EXEMPTION PAST. TYPICALLY
THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS. WE
USUALLY PERMIT BUILDINGS AND
THEN GO APPLY FOR FUNDING WHEN
PROJECT IS READY TO START. THER
IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A
DISCONNECT FROM THE LOGISTICS
SIDE OF THINGS. THAT PROJECT HA
BEEN STALLED AND WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH THE CITY TO FIGURE
OUT -- OFFICE OF HOUSING
COMMENTED IT WILL BE AN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT, WE
JUST HAVEN'T GOTTEN AN AWARD
YET. SO, HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE
COMMITTEE ON HOW TO BEST
IMPROVE THIS, BUT I SUPPORT THE
DESIGN REVIEW EXEMPTION. IT
MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR OUR
PROJECTS, AND JUST TRYING TO
OPEN IT UP TO BE A LITTLE BIT
MORE EFFICIENT. I WOULD ALSO
ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT 80% AM
TO BE INCLUDED IN THE
DEFINITION OF THIS. THERE'S BI
GROUPS IN THE CITY, BIG
COMPANIES THAT ARE SUPPORTING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT 80% AND
BELOW AMI. SO, IT WOULD JUST
OPEN UP FOR THOSE PROJECTS TO B
PERMITTED EFFICIENTLY AS WELL.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, CONNOR. UP NEXT
IS BRADLEY FOLLOWED BY ALICIA
AND THEN KATE. GOOD MORNING,
BRADLEY. THERE YOU ARE.
>> HI, GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU
FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK THIS MORNING AND THANK
YOU FOR TAKING THE EFFORTS TO
IMPROVE LEGISLATION MOVING
FORWARD AROUND DESIGN REVIEW.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT COUNCIL
BILL 120464. BEEN WORKING WITH
SEATTLE FOR EVERYONE AND OTHER
GROUPS HERE IN THE CITY FOR
QUITE AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIM
TRYING TO COME UP WITH
IMPROVEMENTS. WE THINK THIS IS
REALLY STRONG FIRST STEP I
WOULD ECHO A NUMBER OF THE
THINGS BRADY ALREADY MENTIONED.
SPECIFICALLY WANT TO BUILD ON
THE SUCCESS OF EXEMPTIONS FOR
MAC AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT W
ALL SAW DURING THE COVID
EMERGENCY AND URGE YOU TO PASS
THIS TO CONTINUE THAT
EXEMPTION MOVING FORWARD. WE
KNOW WE NEED TO QUICKLY AND
EFFICIENTLY PRODUCE HOUSING,
ESPECIALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DURING OUR ONGOING CRISIS. I
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ENCOURAGE
FUTURE , BROADER AND BOLDER AND
MORE IMPACTFUL REFORMS. SOME O
WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT WITH YOU.
HOPE FOR MORE EFFICIENT,
PREDICTABLE , CONSISTENTLY
INCLUSIVE PROCESS MOVING
FORWARD. AGAIN, HOPEFULLY YOU
ARE ABLE TO PASS THIS TODAY OUT
OF COMMITTEE. AND ENCOURAGE YOU
TO HAVE PERMANENT LEGISLATION
AFFECTED BY THE END OF SEPTEMBE
OF NEXT YEAR. ON THIS EFFORT
AND FUTURE EFFORTS. THANK YOU
AGAIN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU TO FURTHER
MORE SUBMISSIONS AROUND DESIGN
REVIEW . THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, BRADLEY. UP NEXT
IS ALICIA FOLLOWED BY KATE.
THEN, JESSE, LOIS, LAURA AND
DONALD. WELCOME, ALICIA. AND
CAMILLE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
CALL IN NOW, IS THE TIME.
ALICIA, WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR STRAUSS
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. M
NAME IS ALICIA. THE SEATTLE
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER FOR
THE MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
OF KING AND SNOHOMISH COUNTIES
I'M TESTIFYING TODAY ON BEHALF
OF OUR NEARLY 3000 LOCAL MEMBER
IN STRONG SUPPORT OF COUNCIL
BILL 120464. WE ARE WELL AWARE
THAT OUR REGION IS IN A DIRE
HOUSING CRISIS, AND WE NEED TO
DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO QUICKLY
INCREASE HOUSING PRODUCTION.
THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO DO
THIS, BUT TODAY LET'S FOCUS ON
THE LOW HANGING, YET ROTTING
FRUIT WE CALL DESIGN REVIEW.
THE PROGRAM IS RIPE WITH
INEFFICIENCIES AND IS PROVEN TO
ADD YEARS TO PROJECTS, COSTING
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THESE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES ARE
MAKING OUR GOALS HARDER TO
REACH. EXTENDING THE COVID ERA
DESIGN REVIEW EXEMPTION FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING JUST MAKES
SENSE . IT'S IMPORTANT TO
SUPPORT THE MOMENTUM THAT THE
EXEMPTION HAS CREATED FOR MAC
ACORDA BOWL OF DEVELOPMENT. WE
APPLAUD CITY COUNCIL AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR COMMITTING T
MAKE THIS EXEMPTION PERMANENT I
FUTURE LEGISLATION. IN THE
MEANTIME WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
EXAMINE THE PROGRAM AS A WHOLE
AND ITS NEGATIVE IMPACT ON BOTH
AFFORDABLE AND MARKET
REDEVELOPMENT. THE CITY MUST
IDENTIFY WHAT IS BROKEN AND
COMMIT TO TAKE SWEEPING CHANGES
THAT WILL SUPPORT THE PRODUCTIO
OF DESPERATELY NEEDED HOUSING.
IN CLOSING, PLEASE VOTE COUNCI
BILL 120464 OUT OF COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ALICIA. UP NEXT
IS KATE FOLLOWED BY JESSE AND
THEN LOIS. KATE, WELCOME.
>> HI, GOOD MORNING. I AM
KATE. I'M A PRINCIPAL AT SMR
ARCHITECTS. I'M CURRENTLY
SERVING ON THE BOARD OF THE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM.
I URGE ALL OF YOU TO PLEASE PAS
COUNCIL BILL 120 464 OUT OF
COMMITTEE TODAY. WE CANNOT LET
ORDINANCE 126188 EXPIRE ON
DECEMBER 31st WITHOUT PASSING
THIS BILL. WE CAN'T ALLOW
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS TO
GET HELD UP IN THE DESIGN REVIE
SYSTEM YET AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN
SEVEN YEARS SINCE THE MAYOR
DECLARED A CIVIL EMERGENCY TO
ADDRESS THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS
WE NEED CREATIVE AND PROGRESSIV
SOLUTIONS FROM ALL AUTHORITIES
INVOLVED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I AGREE
THAT ELIMINATING DESIGN REVIEW
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS
IS THE RIGHT SOLUTION HERE.
HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT, IT
SHOULD NOT BE DELAYED BY A
SYSTEM THAT IS CLEARLY HINDERIN
ITS PRODUCTION BY DELAYING THE
START OF CONSTRUCTION AND ADDIN
SIGNIFICANT COST. A NUMBER OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS WIL
BE AWARDED WITH FUNDING FROM TH
OFFICE OF HOUSING THIS MONTH.
PLEASE PASS THIS COUNCIL BILL S
THAT THOSE PROJECTS BENEFIT , A
WE SEE THE RESULTS BY MOVING
THESE PROJECTS QUICKLY THROUGH
THE PERMITTING PROCESS AND
BREAKING GROUND. I SUPPORT
PASSING COUNCIL BILL 120464 ,
AND WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE
FOR PERMANENT CHANGES TO THE
EXISTING DESIGN REVIEW PROCESS
OVER THE NEXT YEAR. I WOULD LIK
TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
AND COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR
SPONSORING THIS COUNCIL BILL AN
FOR CONTINUING TO ADD
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, KATE. UP NEXT IS
JESSE FOLLOWED BY LOIS, LAURA,
DONALD. CAMILLE, AND JACOB, IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO CALL IN, NOW
IS THE TIME. GOOD MORNING,
JESSE.
>> HI. GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AN
POLICY MANAGER AT THE HOUSING
DEPARTMENT CONSORTIUM. THANKS
FOR HAVING ME SPEAK. I'M
SPEAKING IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
COUNCIL BILL 120464 EXTENDING
THE CURRENT EXEMPTION FROM FULL
DESIGN REVIEW FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING WHICH IS SET TO EXPIRE
AT THE END OF THE. SEATTLE
DIFFERENTLY NEEDS MORE
AFFORDABLE HOMES. ADDS COST TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS. W
NEED TO BE DOING EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO REMOVE BARRIERS BUILDING
NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES. THE
LEGISLATION IS A STRONG AND
NECESSARY INTERIM STEP TO EXTEN
THE SUCCESSFUL EMERGENCY DESIGN
REVIEW EXEMPTION FOR HIM
EMERGENCY HOUSING WHILE
PERMANENT CHANGES ARE CONSIDERE
AND STUDY. I URGE THE CITY TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH LEGISLATION I
2023 TWO PERMANENTLY EXEMPT
AFFORDABLE HOMES FROM ALL
DESIGN REVIEWS, BOTH -- I ALS
SUPPORT BROADER DESIGNS IN 2023
I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE TO
COMFORTABLY REFORM AND EXPEDITE
DESIGN REVIEW WITHOUT
SACRIFICING THE QUALITY OF
DESIGN AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT. I FLOOD THE MAYOR'
S OFFICE, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
AND COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR
LEADING THIS WORK. THANKS FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK.
>> THANK YOU, JESSE. UP NEXT
IS LOWEST FOLLOWED BY LAURA, AN
DONALD. CAMILLE AND JACOB, NOW
IS THE TIME TO CALL IN. GOOD
MORNING, LOIS. GOOD MORNING,
LOIS. I SEE YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. YES, I'M
HERE. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES WE CAN, GOOD MORNING TO
YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS LOIS. I'M A RESIDEN
OF THIS CENTRAL AREA AND I'M
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE
CENTRAL AREA NEIGHBORHOOD IMPAC
COLLECTIVE. WE ARE A VOLUNTEER
GROUP OF CENTRAL AREA LEGACY
RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS
WITH THE GOAL OF SUPPORTING
LIVABLE COMMUNITY AND
CONVERSATIONS. ABOUT OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M CALLING IN
IN OPPOSITION TO COUNCIL BILL
120464. WE UNDERSTAND IT IS
PART OF A STRATEGY TO SUPPORT
THE ACCELERATION OF THE
PERMITTING AND COMPLETION OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS,
HOWEVER GIVING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING DEVELOPERS THE RIGHT TO
INSTALL TOWERS AND LOW RISE
NEIGHBORHOODS IMPACTS THE
LIVABILITY OF LEGACY HOMEOWNERS
OUR ABILITY TO RETAIN OUR
HOMES, AS PROPERTY TAXES
INCREASE AND WILL CREATE ISLAND
AS URBAN FORESTRY IS REMOVED.
ALSO AN AMI 60% WILL NOT BRING
BACK LEGACY REGULATED BACK WHOS
YEARLY INCOME ON AVERAGE IS LES
THAN THAT AMOUNT. WE ARE VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT IN
THE CENTRAL AREA AND THE VERY
ON EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT IS
WITHOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN
PLACE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO,
WE WELCOME IT, BUT WANT IT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE DESIGN
REVIEW PROCESS IS STILL IN PLAC
SO THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN
BE PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS
WITH DEVELOPERS AND ARCHITECTS
TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT WHEN
NEW RESIDENTS COME IN, IT IS
DONE IN A WAY WHERE IT'S A
COLLABORATIVE CONVERSATION.
SO, I JUST AGAIN CALLING ON
THE OVER 60+ MEMBERS OF THE
GROUP TO JUST ASK THAT YOU
RECONSIDER THIS LEGISLATION AN
BE OPEN TO MAKING SURE THAT IT
DOES INCLUDE THE DESIGN REVIE
PROCESS. THAT THEY CONTINUE AN
THAT WE ALSO BE ABLE TO
IMPLEMENT --
>> THANK YOU, LOIS. PLEASE DO
FEEL FREE TO SEND IN ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS TO US. UP
NEXT IS LAURA FOLLOWED BY
DONALD. CAMILLE AND JACOB, NO
PRESENT AT THIS TIME. PLEASE
CALL IN IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK. GOOD MORNING, LAURA.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL. I HAVE BEE
ADVOCATING FOR DESIGN REVIEW
SINCE 2016. I ATTENDED AS A
VOLUNTEER HUNDREDS OF DESIGN
REVIEW MEETINGS OVER THE YEARS.
I WAS TOLD EARLY ON THAT DESIG
REVIEW WAS NOT BROKEN. THAT IT
WAS ESSENTIAL. EVEN MORE
RECENTLY I WAS TOLD THAT THIS
WASN'T A PRIORITY FOR OUR
HOUSING CRISIS. THEN, WE SEE
DURING COVID THAT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IS EXEMPT FROM IT AND
NOW THIS IS GOING TO BE MADE
PERMANENT. I FULLY SUPPORT THAT
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT COUNCIL
FULLY UNDERSTANDS HOW BROKEN
DESIGN REVIEW IS. THE PROCESS
THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH HERE I
A VOLUNTARY DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
PROCESS. THE PROCESS IS A MESS
IT'S UNFAIR, UNPREDICTABLE AND
HAS THE SAME EXACT EGO DRIVEN
AESTHETIC ACADEMICS THAT
BASICALLY DO NOT BELONG IN OUR
CITY DURING A HOUSING CRISIS. A
YOU HAVE SEEN RECENTLY, NOT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS BEING
PURCHASED BY THE CITY BY
LEHIGH AS WELL FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. WHEN WE BUILD MARKET
RATE HOUSING, THAT CAN ACTUALLY
BECOME SUBSIDIZED HOUSING FOR
FOLKS THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH
HOUSING INSECURITY. SO, A
MEASURE IS JUST A DROP IN THE
BUCKET OF WHAT WE NEED AND
DOESN'T MEET THE SCALE OF THE
URGENCY, THE SCOPE OF OUR
HOUSING CRISIS. DESIGN REVIEW
IS NOT MAKING OUR CITY MORE
BEAUTIFUL OR AFFORDABLE. IT IS
VESTIGE OF GIVING A DEFAULT SAF
EXISTING MEMBERS TO SAY NO TO
NEW MEMBERS. IT IS VERY
UPSETTING TO HEAR ANTI-RETRO
CLASSIST REMARKS. THOSE SAME
MINDSET IS EXISTING IN THE
PLANNERS AND CITY DEPARTMENT. I
HOPE TO KNOW THEY ARE DOING TH
BEST THEY CAN. THEIR MEMBERS O
THE COMMUNITY TOO AND THEY
SOMETIMES HAVE THE SAME
NEIGHBORHOOD DEFENDER MINDSET .
THE DESIGN REVIEW SHOULD NOT B
BLOCKING NEW MEMBERS AND WE
NEED TO SERIOUSLY FIX IT OR NO
JUST MAKE IT A CHECKLIST PROCES
WITH VERY PREDICTABLE OUTCOMES
>> THANK YOU, LAURA. THANK YOU
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS PLEASE DO FEEL FREE TO
SEND THEM TO US. DONALD, YOU
ARE OUR LAST PRESENT AND
REGISTERED SPEAKER FOR THIS
PUBLIC HEARING. WELCOME, DONALD
I SEE YOU THERE, DONALD.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND OTHE
MEMBERS OF THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE. GOOD MORNING AND
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME
LISTENING TO MY TESTIMONY ON TH
SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL BILL
120464. TO EXTEND DESIGN REVIE
AND WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT THAT
DESIGN REVIEW EXEMPTIONS. FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE WOULD
LIKE TO SEE THIS AS A PERMANEN
EXEMPTION. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE
TO STRONGLY RECOMMEND AN
AMENDMENT TO THIS BILL TO
INCLUDE FAMILIES UP TO 80% OF
AMI. ON BEHALF OF THE NEHEMIA
INITIATIVE, AND I'M PROBABLY
SORRY I DIDN'T SAY IT.
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE
NEHEMIAH INITIATIVE ON BEHALF
OF NEHEMIAH INITIATIVE, WE WOUL
LIKE TO SEE THAT 80% AMI AS
PART OF THIS EXEMPTION BECAUSE
WE ARE FULLY SUPPORTED OUR
REGIONAL BLACK HOMEOWNERSHIP
INITIATIVE. AND SUPPORT OF
FAMILIES THAT HAVE A LEGACY O
BARRIERS TO HOMEOWNERSHIP AND
GROWTH OF INTERGENERATIONAL
WEALTH THROUGH HOMEOWNERSHIP.
SO, WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING
WITH OUR CHURCH SITES AS
PLACES TO PRODUCE THESE
AFFORDABLE HOMES AND HOMES
WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE
AS I SAID WITH A LEGACY OF
BARRIERS TO HOMEOWNERSHIP. AND
CURRENTLY THE THREAT OF
DISPLACEMENT FROM CENTRAL CITY
WE BELIEVE THAT DESIGN REVIEW
AS IT FUNCTIONS NOW PRESENTS
AN ADDITIONAL BARRIER . WE
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE CURRENTLY NOT DOING
SOMETHING THAT IS ADDING
BARRIERS TO HOMEOWNERSHIP FROM
THOSE PREVIOUSLY DENIED THAT.
DESIGN REVIEW AND AMENDMENTS T
DESIGN REVIEW WILL REDUCE COSTS
FOR FAMILIES. MAKE MORE
PREDICTABLE --
>> THANK YOU, DONALD. THANK YOU
DONALD AND FEEL FREE TO DO SEN
IN ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS TO U
WRITTEN BY EMAIL. COLLEAGUES,
LET'S SEE. AS THAT WAS OUR LAS
PUBLIC SPEAKER REMOTELY PRESENT
AND PHYSICALLY PRESENT TO SPEA
THIS PUBLIC HEARING, THE PUBLI
HEARING ON COUNCIL BILL 120464
IS NOW CLOSED. CAMILLE, JACOB.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND IN
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS
REGARDING THIS, WE WILL ATTACH
IT TO THE RECORD.
>>> I SEE WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBE
NELSON INTERESTED TO ASK SOME
QUESTIONS. COUNCIL COLLEAGUES,
NOW IS THE TIME TO ASK
QUESTIONS OF MIKE PODOWSKI OF
SDCI OR KETIL FREEMAN WITH
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF. ONCE YO
HAVE COMPLETED YOUR QUESTIONS
AND COMMENTS I WILL MAKE A FEW
FINAL REMARKS BEFORE MOVING ONT
THE NEXT. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> I'M SORRY, THIS IS SIMPLY
MECHANICAL. I JUST WANTED TO
NOTE I AM HERE. I MISSED SAYING
PRESENT DURING ROLL CALL.
>> WE HAD YOU. OKAY GREAT.
NOTHING FURTHER ON THIS BILL,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON? I'M SEEIN
A NO, SHAKING OF THE HEAD. JUS
CHECKING IN. LAST CALL,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, MORALES
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THIS BILL? SEEING NONE --
SHAKING OF THE HEAD FROM
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN. ALSO
FROM COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
COLLEAGUES, I WILL BE ASKING FO
US TO SUSPEND THE RULES, AND
BEFORE I DO THAT, I'LL MAKE YO
SOME BRIEF REMARKS THAT WE HAV
SEEN THIS LEGISLATION DURING TH
PANDEMIC REDUCE COSTS AND SPEE
THE DELIVERY OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE HAVE A
DARTH OF IT HERE IN THE CITY.
WHAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING IS
FOLKS THAT ARE ABLE TO AFFORD
MORE EXPENSIVE APARTMENTS ARE
OCCUPYING THE NATURALLY
OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
WHICH PUTS A DOWNWARD PRESSURE
ON OUR HOUSING STOCK HERE IN
THE CITY. AS I MENTIONED THAT
THE COMMITTEE LAST WEEK, THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
PROFESSORS WHO HAVE STUDIED THI
ISSUE TO FIND A LINK IN THE
AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AN
HOMELESSNESS ON OUR STREETS.
BUT I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND FROM
MY WORK IN ADDRESSING
HOMELESSNESS IN OUR CITY IN
DISTRICT 6 IS THAT WHEN WE HAV
SHELTER AVAILABILITY, WE ARE
ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE OFF THE
STREETS. PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE T
GRADUATE OUT OF SHELTER AS
RAPIDLY AS WE WOULD LIKE BECAUS
WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH AFFORDABL
HOUSING AND PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. NOT
EVERYONE IN SHELTER NEEDS TO GO
TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
MANY ARE ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL
IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHAT THI
MEANS IS THAT WITHOUT CONTINUIN
THESE -- THIS EXEMPTION FOR
DESIGN REVIEW, IS THAT WE ARE
CONTINUING TO MAKE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING MORE EXPENSIVE AND
SLOWING THE DELIVERY OF THESE
UNITS THAT IS CRITICAL FOR US
TO BE ABLE TO GRADUATE PEOPLE
OUT OF SHELTERS SO THAT WE ARE
ABLE TO USE SHELTERS TO GET
PEOPLE OFF THE STREET. WITH AN
ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE
AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING, A TINY HOME COULD
SERVE UP TO FOUR PEOPLE PER
YEAR. CURRENTLY IT IS SERVING
122. THIS IS THE DIRECT LINK
BETWEEN THIS LEGISLATION AND
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS. WE
WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE DESIG
REVIEW THROUGH THE DESIGN
REVIEW STAKEHOLDER GROUP
FOLLOWING UP ON THE
RECOMMENDATIONS. I REALLY WANT
TO GIVE MAYOR HARRELL,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, A HUGE
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. LAURA
LOWE, KAYLEE, KIA AND LIZ.
NAOMI LEWIS, AND EVEN BEFORE
LEAVING , KETIL FREEMAN YOU
HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY HELPFUL.
SO MANY MORE I HAVEN'T -- HOPE
I HAVEN'T MISSED ANYONE. I KNO
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA MENTIONE
AARON HOW SURLY. AT THIS TIME,
COLLEAGUES, IF THERE ARE NO
OBJECTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO
SUSPEND THE RULES.
>>> I'M SEEING NO ONE RAISE
THEIR HAND SO IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, COUNCIL RULES WILL B
SUSPENDED TO ALLOW THE COMMITTE
TO VOTE ON COUNCIL BILL 162 --
ON THE SAME DAY OF THE CURING.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
COUNCIL BILL IS SUSPENDED.
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS THE FINAL
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE BIL
OR ASK KETIL OR MIKE ANY
QUESTIONS BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, I MOVE
TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL 120464. I
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.'S
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL
120464.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] FIVE
IN FAVOR, NOT OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL BILL
120464 PASSES AND WILL BE SENT
TO THE DECEMBER 13th CITY
COUNCIL MEETING FOR A FINAL
VOTE. COLLEAGUES, I APPRECIATE
THE UNANIMOUS VOTE ON THIS
COMMON SENSE LEGISLATION. THE
ITEM 2, OUR NEXT ITEM IS --
>>> THE SCRIPT SAYS PUBLIC
HEARING. I DON'T BELIEVE THERE
IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS. OU
NEXT ITEM IS A BRIEFING ON
COUNCIL BILL 120462, WHICH ADOP
OPCD'S RECOMMENDED 2022
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS.
THIS IS FOR THE ANNUAL UPDATE.
THE PRESENTATION WE RECEIVED
LAST WEEK ON THE NUMBERED
OPTIONS IS REGARDING THE EIS
SCOPING PROCESS FOR THE MAJOR
UPDATE WHICH WILL COME NEXT
YEAR. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
READ THE SHORT TITLE OF THIS
BILL INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEM 2, COUNCIL BILL 120462
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE
SEATTLE COMPANY HAS A PLAN TO
INCORPORATE CHANGES PROPOSED AS
PART OF THE 2022 COPPERHEADS A
PLAN ANNUAL AMENDMENT PROCESS.
FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE
VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. SIMILAR TO THE
PREVIOUS ITEM WE RECEIVED A
BRIEFING FROM OFFICE OF PLANNIN
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND
CENTRAL STAFF AT THE LAST
MEETING. THEY ARE HERE TO
ANSWER ANY FINAL QUESTIONS YOU
MAY HAVE. WE HAVE JIM HOLMES AN
LISH WHITSON AVAILABLE TO US.
WE DO HAVE A TECHNICAL
AMENDMENT. THANK YOU TO SCOTT,
OUR FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR RIDDIN
OF OUR STATE HIGHWAYS AND
FEDERAL INTERSTATES. THANK YOU
FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR
ATTENTION. LET'S SEE IF THERE'
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON TH
UNDERLYING BILL. I'M NOT SEEING
ANY. SO, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE
THE AMENDMENT AND THEN LISH
IF YOU COULD DESCRIBE THE
AMENDMENT AND THEN WE CAN SPEA
TO THE UNDERLYING BILL. SO, I
MOVED TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
120462 AS SHOWN IN AMENDMENT
ONE. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 120462 AS SHOWN IN
AMENDMENT ONE. LISH, WOULD YOU
PLEASE PROVIDE US THE -- YOUR
BRIEFING ON THIS TECHNICAL
AMENDMENT TO THE BILL?
>> SURE, THANK YOU. CENTRAL
STAFF. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
CLARIFY THAT THE PROPOSED
TRANSPORTATION POLICY IMPROVE
CONNECTIONS OVER AND UNDER --
HIGHWAYS APPLIES TO BOTH STATE
AD FEDERAL HIGHWAYS.
>> THANK YOU. WE DID RECEIVE A
COMMENT FROM OUR LAW
DEPARTMENT, WHICH I APPRECIATED
BUT WE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO
INCORPORATE STATED INTERSTATES
RATHER THAN HIGHWAYS. I THINK
THAT WE DO ENOUGH JUSTICE HERE
MAKING SURE THAT THE CODE
REFLECTS WE ARE REQUESTING FOR
STATE HIGHWAYS AND FEDERAL
HIGHWAYS . THERE WE HAVE IT.
COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS
BILL, ON THIS AMENDMENT TO THE
ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
AMENDMENT? I'M NOT SEEING ANY.
I'M SEEING THE SHAKING OF THE
HEAD NO. SO, IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO AMEND COUNCIL
BILL 120462 AS SHOWN IN
AMENDMENT ONE. CLERK, WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] FIVE
IN FAVOR, NOT OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSE
AND COUNCIL BILL 120462 HAS BEE
AMENDED AS SHOWN ON AMENDMENT
ONE. COLLEAGUES, THIS IS THE
LAST OPPORTUNITYTO SPEAK TO THE
UNDERLYING BILL OF THE ANNUAL
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS.
I KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE
AMENDMENTS WERE NOT INCLUDED AS
THEY WERE IDENTIFIED TO BE
INCLUDED IN THE MAJOR UPDATE TO
THE COPPERHEADS A PLAN NEXT
YEAR. JUST NOTING THAT.
COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I'M NOT
SEEING ANY. I'M JUST GOING TO
ONCE AGAIN LIFT UP THE
IMPORTANCE OF HIGHWAYS AND
INTERSTATES, BOTH HIGHWAY
STATE AND FEDERAL. I KNOW I
PROVIDED THIS DESCRIPTION LAST
WEEK AT THE LAST COMMITTEE
MEETING. ROOSEVELT WAY STARTS
AT 145th AND AURORA. AND ENDS
AT THE UNIVERSITY BRIDGE. IT I
A DIAGONAL STREET BETWEEN
AURORA AND 145th, AND I-5 AND
135th. 130th, EXCUSE ME. IT I
BROKEN BY I-5 AND
DISCONNECTED AT THE PLACE WHERE
WE HAVE A LIGHT RAIL STATION
GOING IN. AND, IF WE ARE ABLE
TO, WE ARE ABLE TO CREATE MORE
PUBLIC SPACE. WE HAVE SEEN
OPTIONS IN OTHER CITIES WHERE
BUILDINGS CAN BE BUILT ON TOP O
THESE LIDS , WHETHER IT'S IN
WASHINGTON, D.C. OR IN TEXAS.
OUR ABILITY TO LEAD, ESPECIALL
AT 130th, OFFERS US MORE
PUBLIC SPACE. MORE HOUSING.
AND RECONNECTING THE COMMUNITY
AT A LIGHT RAIL STATION. THIS
CAN BE MIRRORED TIME AND TIME
AGAIN THROUGHOUT THE QUARTER AS
INTERSTATES HAVE, IN MANY
CASES, BROKEN UP COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR AND COMMUNITIES THAT HAV
LESS ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE. WE
SEE THIS IN THE CID. WE SEE
THIS IN SOUTH PARK. THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LID ALL
OF OUR CITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
CREATE MORE OPEN SPACE, MORE
OFFICE SPACE AND MORE HOUSING.
THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS FOR THE
UNDERLYING BILL. ONE LAST CHECK
FOR COLLEAGUES. ANY QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS OR CONCERNS? NOT SEEIN
ANY. I WILL MOVE TO ADOPT
COUNCIL BILL 126 -- 120462 AS
AMENDED. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, IT HAS BEEN MOVE
AND SECONDED TO ADOPT COUNCIL
BILL 120462 CLERK WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] FIVE
IN FAVOR, NOT OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL BILL
120462 PASSES. AND WILL BE SEN
TO THE DECEMBER 13th CITY
COUNCIL MEETING FOR A FINAL
VOTE. COLLEAGUES, THOSE WERE TH
ONLY TWO ITEMS WE WILL BE VOTIN
ON TODAY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO OU
FINAL AGENDA ITEM WHICH IS A
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION ON WHAT
IS RIGHT NOW INFORMATION ITEM
200 206
>>> WHICH ARE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT TO THE ARBORIST
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS THAT
WE PASSED IN SEPTEMBER. CLERK,
WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE SHORT
TITLE INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEM 3. INFORMATIONAL ITEM
2206. A BRIEFING AND DISCUSSIO
ON AMENDING ARBORIST
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, WE ARE JOINED BY
WILSON-CODEGA FROM CENTRAL STAF
FOR THIS DISCUSSION. YOLANDA,
BEFORE WE JUMP INTO YOUR BRIEF
PRESENTATION, I WOULD LIKE TO D
SOME LEVEL SETTING, WHICH IS
THAT WE PASSED THIS BILL IN
SEPTEMBER. IT HAS GONE INTO
IMPLEMENTATION AT THIS POINT.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF
HIGH ROAD ARBORISTS WHO WILL BE
OPERATING WITHIN THIS ARBORIST
REGISTRATION PROGRAM. BECAUSE
THE ARBORISTS THAT ARE DOING
THE GOOD WORK THAT ARE NOT
MAKING LEGAL CUTS, THAT ARE
PUSHING BACK ON POTENTIAL
CLIENTS THAT WANT THEM TO DO
ILLEGAL TREE WORK. WE HEARD A
NUMBER OF SUGGESTIONS AND HOW
OUR WELL INTENDED LEGISLATION
WAS CREATING SOME VERY NEGATIV
IMPLICATIONS FOR THEIR WORK.
SO, AS WE WANT TO CONTINUE
WORKING WITH THESE HIGH ROAD
ARBORISTS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO
HEAR FROM THEM. WHERE WE ARE AT
THIS STAGE IN THE DRAFTING OF
THIS CLEANUP BILL -- IT'S FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE A TECHNICAL
CLEANUP BILL. WE WILL BE
ENGAGING WITH OTHERS IN THE
COMMUNITY. I WOULD LOVE TO GET
ENGAGEMENT FROM THE URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION. WE WILL
LIKELY HAVE SOME OF THESE HIGH
ROAD ARBORISTS JOIN US WHO ARE
REPRESENTING PLANT AMNESTY AS
WELL. THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT
WE WANT TO BE DOING THE ARBORIS
WORK IN OUR CITY. WHAT WE HAVE
HEARD FROM THEM ARE THAT THESE
CHANGES ARE NECESSARY FOR THEM
TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR WORK
WORK. TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND TO
CONTINUE WORKING. BECAUSE THE
LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS
DRIVE OUR HIGH ROAD ARBORISTS
TO NOT WORK IN OUR CITY. SO,
YOLANDA, I WILL PASS THE
MICROPHONE TO YOU. IF YOU WOUL
LIKE TO -- ACTUALLY IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO JUST BRING UP THE
LEGISLATION. THE DRAFT
LEGISLATION THAT HAS NOT BEEN
INTRODUCED YET. SO AT THIS
POINT, ANY CHANGES THAT WE WOUL
LIKE TO MAKE WE DON'T HAVE TO
USE THE AMENDMENT PROCESS.
BECAUSE THIS IS NOT INTRODUCED
LEGISLATION. IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO JUST SCROLL DOWN, YOLANDA.
I'M GOING TO JUST SPEAK THROUGH
THESE ITEMS. I KNOW THAT YOU
ARE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT
AND I WILL PASS IT TO YOU IN
JUST A MOMENT. YOU KNOW HOW I
LIKE TO PLAY CENTRAL STAFF ON
TV. HERE WE HAVE JUST SOME
CLARIFYING OF COMMERCIAL TREE
WORK. DOES NOT MEAN NORMAL AND
ROUTINE PRUNING OPERATIONS. ON
OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD FRO
THESE ARBORISTS IS THAT OFTEN
TIMES PLANTS ARE PLANTED AS
HEDGES . LAUREL IS ONE EXAMPLE
WHEN NOT MAINTAINED, BECOME
TREES THAT FIT WITHIN THESE
DEFINITIONS. SO, THERE IS A
DESIRE TO DEFINE A HEDGE AS
COMPARED TO A TREE. SO, THIS
ONLINE 17 AND 18, NOTING THAT
MAINTENANCE AND REMOVAL OF
HEDGES, OR MAINTENANCE OF FRUI
TREES, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME
PEOPLE THAT WORK -- THERE ARE
SOME HORTICULTURISTS THAT ONLY
WORK ON FRUIT TREES AND THEIR
WORK IS TO MAINTAIN THE HEALTH
OF THESE FRUIT TREES. SO,
MAINTENANCE AND REMOVAL OF
HEDGES OR MAINTENANCE OF FRUIT
TREES THAT ARE CULTIVATED FOR
FRUIT PRODUCTION. THIS MEANS
THAT IF THE TREE IS NOT
MAINTAINED FOR FRUIT PRODUCTION
IT DOESN'T COUNT. MOVING ON TO
THE DEFINITION OF HEDGE, MEANS
A LINE OF CLOSELY SPACED TREES
AND/OR SHRUBS INTENTIONALLY
PLANTED TO MAINTAIN ALONG A
PROPERTY BOUNDARY OR LANDSCAPE
ORDER FOR PRIVACY, SCREENING,
SAFETY OR SIMILAR FUNCTION.
WHICH TYPICALLY REQUIRES
ONGOING PRUNING OR SHARING TO
MAINTAIN INTENDED FUNCTION
AND/OR REASONABLE USE IN NEARB
DEVELOPED AREAS. I CAN TELL YO
THAT ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS' HOMES
, IT WAS FORMERLY A WOMAN THAT
GOT UP THERE IN AGE AND
ENFORCING IS NOT ABLE TO LIVE
IN THE HOME ANYMORE. HER HOUSE
HAS BEEN -- WE HAVE NEW
NEIGHBORS. WHAT HAPPENED OVER
THE YEARS IS HER AGE INCREASED
AND HER HUSBAND WAS NOT AROUN
ANYMORE. SOME VERY WELL
MAINTAINED HEDGES BECAME
TREES. SO, WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT IF FOLKS ARE DOING
MAINTENANCE WORK ON -- ON
HEDGES, THAT -- THEY ARE NOT
STUCK BY OUR COUNCIL RULES. I
WANT TO -- THIS IS WITHIN CODE
IF THERE IS SOMETHING WITHIN TH
DIRECTORS RULE THAT WE NEED TO
HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY TO ENSUR
DEFINITIONS ARE PROPERLY
CREATED, I WELCOME THAT. AS
WELL, COLLEAGUES AND FOR THE
VIEWING PUBLIC, ANYONE LISTENIN
RIGHT NOW. THIS IS THE PROCESS
OF CREATING AND FIXING
LEGISLATION. SO, WE STILL HAVE
TIME TO MAKE CHANGES. WE STILL
HAVE, BECAUSE THE BILL HAD NOT
BEEN INTRODUCED, AND SO WE CAN
MAKE CHANGES WITHOUT THE
AMENDMENT PROCESS. YOLANDA, IF
YOU COULD KEEP SCROLLING DOWN.
THIS WAS THE MAJOR PRUNING, WA
SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP
BY THESE HIGH ROAD ARBORISTS
AS BEING SOMETHING VERY
CHALLENGING WITH OUR FORMER
DEFINITIONS. THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN SDOT AND FOR OUR
PRIVATE ARBORISTS IS THAT OUR
SDOT ARBORISTS ARE DOING THE
WORK IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. WE D
HAVE -- WE DO HAVE PRIVATE
ARBORISTS DOING WORK IN THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY. THE DIFFERENCE
HERE BEING THAT RIGHT-OF-WAY
TREES OVERALL HAVE LESS
PROTECTIONS THAN WHAT WE ARE
PROPOSING TO A TREE ORDINANCE.
HERE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE
TREES THAT ARE IN THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY DO HAVE THE
DEFINITIONS THAT ARE UNDER COD
RIGHT NOW. BUT WITHIN THE
PRIVATE PROPERTY, PRUNING MAJOR
IN THIS DEFINITION MEANS
REMOVAL OF BRANCHES 4 INCHES I
DIAMETER OR GREATER. RETAINING
THE REMOVAL OF 2 INCHES OR
DIAMETER OR GREATER, THAT DIDN'
CHANGE. OR REMOVING BRANCHES
CONSTITUTING MORE THAN 25% OF
THE TREE FOLIAGE 'S BEARING
AREA. THIS IS CHANGING FROM A
TWO INCH CUT FROM A FOUR INCH
CUT. AND CHANGING FROM A 15%
PRUNING DOSE TO A 25% PRUNING
DOSE. THE WAY THAT WE CAME UP
WITH THIS NUMBER IS BY USING TH
AMC 300 STANDARDS TO THE BEST
OF OUR ABILITIES. WE DID HEAR
FROM SOME ARBORISTS THAT WE
SHOULD JUST USE THE AMC 300
STANDARDS. WHAT WE FOUND IS
THAT IT WAS A OVERBEARING AND
DIFFICULT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO
PAY MONEY TO GET THROUGH THE
FIREWALL TO UNDERSTAND -- TO
RECEIVE THESE AMC 300 STANDARDS
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF EVEN HAD
TO WORK WITH SDCI BECAUSE SDCI
HAS THEIR PASS THROUGH THE
FIREWALL BUT CENTRAL STAFF
DOESN'T. SO, IF THIS IS A LEVE
OF SPECIFICITY THAT WE NEED, I
IS NOT DIGESTIBLE TO THE PUBLIC
WE WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR.
I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE HIGH
ROAD ARBORISTS PUSHED BACK
SAYING THAT THIS IS NOT AMC 30
STANDARDS, AND THAT WE SHOULD
JUST BE USING AMC 300 STANDARDS
HOWEVER, WITH THOSE CHANGES
HARD TO DIGEST FROM THE
PUBLIC'S PERSPECTIVE, WE DO
NEED TO JUST SET SOME CLEAR
STANDARDS IN OUR CODE. WE WIL
MOVE DOWN. WHAT WE HEARD FROM
THE HIGH ROAD ARBORISTS IS THA
DUE TO THEIR CHANGING SCHEDULE,
WHETHER IT IS BECAUSE OF
WEATHER OR BECAUSE OF
AVAILABILITY OF JOBS, THEIR
SCHEDULE CHANGES PRETTY RAPIDLY
AND FREQUENTLY SO, THEY MIGHT
PLAN TO HAVE CERTAIN WORK LAID
OUT DURING THE WEEK. SOME OF
THAT WORK MIGHT HAVE TO BE
RESCHEDULED, WHICH MEANS NEW
JOBS NEED TO COME IN. WITH THE
CURRENT POSTING REQUIREMENTS AS
WE HAVE WRITTEN THEM, IT
DISABLES THEM FROM HAVING THE
FLEXIBILITY, WHICH MEANS THAT
THEY NEED TO COMPLETE THEIR WOR
TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND HAVE A
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS. THE LAST
THING THAT WE WANT TO DO,
COLLEAGUES, IS MAKE THESE HIGH
ROAD ARBORISTS NOT SUCCESSFUL
IN THEIR BUSINESS AND WANT TO D
-- AND WANT TO STOP WORK IN TH
CITY. THE COMPROMISE HERE IS B
REMOVING THESE POSTING
REQUIREMENTS, WE ARE ADDING
REQUIREMENTS FOR POSTING ON
THEIR VEHICLES. SO, MAYBE IF
YOU WANT TO SCROLL DOWN,
YOLANDA. HERE IN LINE 1 OF PAG
3, REQUIRING THE ARBORISTS --
THEY SHALL CLEARLY DISPLAY THE
BUSINESS NAME OF THE TREE
SERVICE PROVIDER, BUSINESS PHON
NUMBER, AND CITY ISSUED TREE
SERVICE PROVIDER REGISTRATION
NUMBER ON THEIR VEHICLES. THIS
WOULD BE REQUIRED ON BOTH SIDES
OF THEIR VEHICLES, AND YOLANDA,
WHEN I PASS IT OVER TO YOU, IF
YOU COULD REMIND ME IF IT'S
REQUIRED ON THE BACK. WHAT THIS
DOES ALLOW IS THAT IF YOU, AS A
NEIGHBOR OR A CITIZEN, ARE ABL
TO SEE TREE WORK BEING
PERFORMED THAT DOES NOT HAVE
THIS INFORMATION, THAT WILL
SEND OFF YOUR SPIDEY SENSES THA
THIS MIGHT NOT BE LEGAL TREE
WORK. IT WILL DEFINITELY NOT B
WORK COMPLETED BY A HIGH ROAD
OR REGISTERED ARBORISTS.
YOLANDA, CAN YOU -- ARE THERE
ANY FURTHER CHANGES? TO THIS
BILL? NO, THANK YOU. GOT THAT
OFFER MEMORY. COLLEAGUES, I
SHARE THIS WITH YOU AS AN
INFORMATION ITEM AT THE
COMMITTEE. AS A WAY TO HAVE
PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS BEFORE
WE SUBMIT THIS BILL FOR
INTRODUCTION WHERE IT WOULD
THEN NEED AMENDMENTS. I OPENLY
WELCOME ANY SUGGESTIONS OR
FEEDBACK AND CHANGES THAT MIGH
BE DESIRED. COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, I SEE YOU ARE ON
CAMERA. WOULD YOU LIKE THE
FLOOR? TO THANK YOU, CHAIR
STRAUSS, AND THANK YOU FOR
PUTTING THIS --
>> SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, I TOTALLY FORGOT. I
DID NOT LET YOLANDA SPEAK TO TH
BILL AND BRIEF THE BILL. I KNOW
I PLAY CENTRAL STAFF ON TV. I
CANNOT TAKE YOUR JOB FOR MANY
REASONS. BECAUSE YOU ARE OUR
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT. SO,
YOLANDA, COULD YOU PLEASE BRIEF
US ON THE BILL AND COVER
ANYTHING THAT I MIGHT HAVE
MISSED, OR CLARIFY ANYTHING THA
I MAY HAVE GOTTEN INCORRECT?
>> SURE, THANK YOU, CHAIR.
YOLANDA HO, COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF I WAS GOING TO OFFER A
BRIEF RECAP OF THE PREVIOUS
LEGISLATION IF ANYONE WAS
INTERESTED. I SEE A NOD. I ALS
WANTED TO OFFER A REMINDER OF
THE TIMING. IT WAS IN MARCH OF
THIS YEAR WHEN THE COUNCIL
PASSED ORDINANCE 126554 THAT
CREATED A REQUIREMENT THAT TREE
SERVICE PROVIDERS REGISTER
PRIOR TO CONDUCTING COMMERCIAL
TREE WORK ON PRIVATE PROPERTY I
SEATTLE. BRIEF RECAP OF THIS
LEGISLATION. IT DEFINED
COMMERCIAL TREE WORK AS MAJOR
PRUNING, REMOVAL OF TREES LARGE
THAN 6 INCHES DIAMETER AND CRES
HEIGHT. AND ASSESSMENT OF THE
HEALTH OR HAZARD RISK OF TREES
LARGER THAN 6 INCHES DIAMETER.
SPECIFIED REQUIREMENTS NECESSAR
FOR TREE SERVICE PROVIDERS TO
REGISTER WITH THE CITY SUCH AS
AN ARBORIST CERTIFICATION AND
COMMERCIAL LIABILITY INSURANCE.
AND JUST NOTING IF THESE MATCH
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S
TREE SERVICE PROVIDER REGISTRY.
IT ALSO REQUIRED THAT HIRING
ENTITIES OF TREE SERVICE
PROVIDERS POST A PUBLIC NOTICE
NEAR THE WORKSITE WITHIN THREE
BUSINESS DAYS IN ADVANCE OF
CERTAIN TYPES OF COMMERCIAL TRE
WORK. SPECIFICALLY MAJOR
PRUNING AND REMOVAL OF TREES
GREATER THAN 6 INCHES DIAMETER
AT CREST HEIGHT. AND CODIFIED
EXISTING CITY REQUIREMENTS
RELATED TO HAZARD HISTORY
REMOVAL PERMITS AND ADDED A
REQUIREMENT FOR A THIRD-PARTY
REGISTERED TREE SERVICE PROVIDE
TO CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT
ASSESSMENT OF THE HAZARD TREES.
IN THE CASE OF EXCEPTIONAL
TREES. THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS
WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THI
REQUIREMENT. IN AUGUST OF THIS
YEAR, SDCI LAUNCHED THE TREE
SERVICE PROVIDER REGISTRY AND
REQUIRED THAT ALL TREE SERVICE
PROVIDERS BEGIN REGISTERING WIT
THE CITY BY NOVEMBER 10th. AS
NOTED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT,
THE PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENT
ALSO PLAN TO AFFECT AND THAT
NOW HERE BEFORE YOU IS OUR DRAF
FREE INTRODUCTION LEGISLATION
BY THE CHAIR AND I BELIEVE THA
HE PRETTY MUCH COVERED
EVERYTHING I WAS GOING TO SAY.
SO -- EXCEPT OH YES, I WILL
SAY THAT THE BUSINESS NAME,
THAT IS USUALLY ON TWO SIDES OF
THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE OFTEN ,
I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE BACK. W
CAN DISCUSS THAT FURTHER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> CURRENTLY IT WOULD JUST BE
TWO SIDES.
>> OKAY, I APPRECIATE THAT
CLARIFICATION. THANK YOU,
YOLANDA. COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, PLEASE, THE FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS AN
THANK YOU, YOLANDA FOR THAT
PRESENTATION AS WELL. REALLY
APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK
THAT WENT INTO THE ORIGINAL WOR
AND ITS WHICH IS COUNCIL BILL
120207. IT BECAME ORDINANCE 6
PRODUCED BACK IN OCTOBER. IT
BECAME EFFECTIVE IN NOVEMBER
LAST MONTH. ALSO LOOKING
FORWARD TO THE URBAN FORESTRY
POSITION WITHIN THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT.
THIS IS PROBABLY AN EXAMPLE OF
SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD OPINE
ON. CHANGES LIKE THIS. IN THE
MEANTIME, THE URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION REALLY WILL BE HERE
TO HEAR THEIR FEEDBACK ON ANY
OF THESE CHANGES. I REALLY LIK
THE IDEA OF THE HAVING THE TRE
SERVICE PROVIDER CLEARLY DISPLA
THE NAME OF THEIR BUSINESS ON
THEIR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES.
THAT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA. I A
CONCERNED ABOUT REMOVING THE
NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. WE
HEARD ONE OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKER
TALKING ABOUT THE PUBLIC BENEFI
OF THAT NOTIFICATION. THEN, IN
TERMS OF THE PRUNING, I KNOW
THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT HARD TO
TRACK BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE
REFERENCED IT ORIGINALLY IN TH
ORIGINAL BILL I THINK WE
REFERENCED THE SEATTLE MUNICIPA
CODE. I THINK THAT THAT
SECTION 15.0 2.046 AS WAS
DISCUSSED, I THINK IT HAS IT
THAT CURRENTLY 2 INCHES IN
DIAMETER AND 15% OF THE TREE'S
AREA. THIS WOULD, I'M JUST, I
JUST SEEMS LIKE THIS EXPANDING
THAT DEFINITION OF PRUNING COUL
BE PROBLEMATIC FOR THE TREES.
JUST SO I LOOK FORWARD TO
ADDITIONAL INPUT ON THAT ISSUE
AS WELL ABOUT CHANGING THE
HEAVY PRUNING DEFINITION. THOS
ARE MY COMMENTS NOW, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN. MAYBE YOUR STAFF CAN
WORK WITH OUR COMMITTEE CLERK T
REFINE HOW A POSTING
REQUIREMENT CAN OCCUR. I THINK
THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT OPTIONS HERE. BECAUSE
THE GOAL HERE IS TO ENSURE THA
A LEGAL TREE CUTTING DOES NOT
OCCUR SO, THE PREVENTION, AND
THEN ALSO THE ENFORCEMENT
MECHANISM IS ABLE TO BE MORE
EASILY IMPLEMENTED THAN IS
CURRENTLY THE CASE. SO, FROM
THE PRE-POSTING REQUIREMENTS.
WE HAVE THE POSTING REQUIREMENT
ON THE HOMEOWNER . THE GAP
THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED ALREADY
IS THAT IF THE HOMEOWNER DOESN'
MAKE THE POSTING, AND THAT IS
THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, THEN IT
CAN BE A HIGH ROAD ARBORIST THA
SUFFERS THE PENALTY. THIS
BECOMES A PROBLEM BECAUSE IF TH
HOMEOWNER IS THE RESPONSIBLE
PARTY AND DOES NOT MAKE THAT
ACTION, THEN WE COULD BE
KICKING HIGH ROAD ARBORISTS OF
OF OUR REGISTRATION BECAUSE OF
THE HOMEOWNER DIDN'T DO IT. I
THINK THAT'S A GAP THAT WE NEED
TO LOOK AT. THERE'S ALSO COME I
THE AFTER ACTION, WHERE TO
MAKE IT MORE EASILY ABLE TO
IDENTIFY ILLEGAL TREE CUTTING
FOR THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM,
MAYBE THERE'S A WAY THAT WE HAV
THE HIGH ROAD ARBORISTS SUBMIT
THEIR INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR
WORK IN AN ONLINE SEARCHABLE
PORTER. SO THAT A NEIGHBOR IS
ABLE TO SEE IF THAT TREE WORK
WAS ACTUALLY DONE ILLEGALLY.
WHERE WE SEE THE BENEFIT HERE
FOR THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM I
IF A NEIGHBOR SEES THAT THERE I
TREE WORK OCCURRING WITHOUT A
MARKED VEHICLE, THAT IS FLAG
NUMBER ONE. FLAG NUMBER TWO IS
THAT THE JOB WAS NEVER POSTED O
THE ONLINE PORTAL. WE KNOW IT'S
AN ILLEGAL CUTTING. WE ARE ABL
TO ENFORCE AGAINST THAT AND
THEN, AS THROUGH THE BUDGET
THIS YEAR, WE MADE SURE THAT AN
ENFORCEMENT DOLLARS ARE PUT
TOWARDS PLANTING , STEWARDING
AND PLANNING FOR ADDING MORE
TREES TO THE CITY. AS COMPARED
TO BEFORE TWO WEEKS AGO, THOSE
ENFORCEMENT DOLLARS WERE SENT
BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND A
LARGE. SO, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT OPTIONS HERE. SO, I'
GOING TO ASK COMMITTEE CLERK
LEWIS IF YOU CAN WORK WITH
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S OFFICE
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, HOW
DOES THAT SOUND?
>> YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THAT
INVITATION. I GUESS I HAVE A
FOLLOW-UP QUESTION FOR CENTRAL
STAFF. IN TERMS OF THE HOMEOWNE
GIVING NOTICE, OR THE TREE
SERVICE PROVIDER GIVING NOTICE.
THE WAY I'M LOOKING AT THESE
CHANGES, THERE WOULD BE NO
NOTICE.
>> CORRECT. SO, THE CURRENT
PROPOSAL IS ELIMINATING THE
PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENT, BUT
WHAT THE CHAIR IS INDICATING IS
THAT THERE IS KIND OF AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER
ALTERNATIVES THAT DO NOT -- AS
I RECALL CORRECTLY, WE HAD
SHIFTED THE BURDEN TO THE
HOMEOWNER OR HIRING ENTITY I
BELIEVE IT SAYS. BECAUSE OF TH
REALITY OF TREE SERVICE
PROVIDERS NEEDING TO SHOW UP TO
THE SITE, POST NOTICE. IT JUST
SEEMED OVERLY COMPLICATED BUT
THAT WAS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE
THAT IF THE HIRING ENTITY
FAILED, TO EXECUTE THAT NOTICE,
AS REQUIRED, THEN THE TREE
SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE DINGED
VERSUS THE HOMEOWNER. THE
HOMEOWNER HAS NO CONSEQUENCES.
SO, IT WAS WELL-INTENTIONED TO
HAVE THE HOMEOWNER OR HIRING
ENTITY DO THAT, BUT THE REALIT
IS THAT IS MORE COMPLICATED. SO
I THINK THERE IS A DISCUSSION
AROUND WHO -- IS IT POSSIBLE
FOR THE CITY TO THEN BE THE
RESPONSIBLE KIND OF HOLDER OF
THAT INFORMATION? POSTING IT
ONLINE SO THAT WE ARE KIND OF -
SO IT IS NOT ON THE PROPERTY
OWNER WHO HAS TO PHYSICALLY POS
THE NOTICE, OR THE TREE SERVICE
PROVIDER. BUT TO PROVIDE THAT
INORMATION TO THE CITY AND THEN
THE CITY WILL THEN BE
RESPONSIBLE ENTITY FOR THAT. SO
THAT IS THE -- ANOTHER AVENUE
TO EXPLORE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
WHERE WE ENDED UP BEFORE
COMMITTEE TODAY IS THAT WE
HADN'T ANSWERED THE QUESTION
ABOUT POSTING. PLEASE DON'T
COMMAND FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC,
PLEASE DON'T VIEW THE DRAFT
LEGISLATION AS MY DESIRE TO
REMOVE A POSTING REQUIREMENT
ENTIRELY. IT'S THAT GOOD
GOVERNANCE IS BEST DONE
TRANSPARENTLY. THAT'S WHAT
YOU'RE SEEING BEFORE US TODAY.
SO, PLEASE I WELCOME YOUR
PERSPECTIVE. WHEN WE WERE
MEETING YESTERDAY TO TRY TO
UNDERSTAND THIS BILL, BECAUSE
WE HAD HEARD A LOT OF THE ANSI
300 QUESTIONS VERSUS JUST NAMIN
THE 25% AND FOUR INCH CUT.
WHICH IS THE BEST WAY? WE WERE
ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION
YESTERDAY BUT WE WEREN'T ABLE T
ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT
POSTING, WHICH IS WHY I BRING I
BEFORE YOU SO WE CAN HAVE A
PUBLIC AND COLLABORATIVE
CONVERSATION. SO, I WELCOME --
I WELCOME YOUR INPUT,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS
DRAFT? THIS DRAFT LEGISLATION
THAT HAS NOT BEEN INTRODUCED AT
THIS TIME? I'M NOT SEEING ANY,
AND SO JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S
AWARENESS WE WILL BE INVITING
PATTY TO COMMITTEE. WE WILL BE
INVITING THE TREE ARBORISTS TO
COMMITTEE WHO ARE REPRESENTING
PLANT AMNESTY. WE WILL HAVE
THIS BILL BACK BEFORE COMMITTEE
NEXT MONTH. I WOULD LIKE TO
HAVE THIS PAST AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE, AND WE CAN MAKE THE
DECISION NEXT MONTH. IF, TO
UNDERSTAND IF THIS MEETING
COUNTS AS ONE OR TWO MEETINGS
THAT WE HAVE BEFORE PASSING THE
BILL. OR, IF WE NEED TO HAVE TW
MEETINGS ONCE THE BILL IS
COMPLETELY FINALIZED.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
PUTTING THIS FORWARD FOR
DISCUSSION BECAUSE THIS IS
COMPLICATED AND IT'S GOOD TO
HAVE IT BEFORE US IN SORT OF AN
INFORMAL WAY. THAT WE CAN
PREPARE FOR THIS AND I DO SEE
THE REASON FOR HASTE BECAUSE WE
ARE TRYING TO PRESERVE TREES.
IN ANTICIPATION OF THAT
DISCUSSION, I'M WONDERING IF
STAFF COULD JUST LOOK UP
INFORMATION ON HOW OFTEN IT
HAPPENS THAT -- I WOULD LIKE
TO KNOW HOW OFTEN IT HAPPENS
THAT CUTTINGS ARE NOT POSTED.
THAT WOULD HELP ME GET A SENSE
OF THE PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND
WHAT YOU ARE SAYING ABOUT IF I
IS NOT POSTED, THEN THE ARBORIS
CAN'T DO ITS WORK. FIGURING OU
A WAY THAT THAT PUBLIC POSTING
INFORMATION CAN BE AVAILABLE FO
PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST WATCHING
WHAT'S GOING ON TO TREES AROUN
THE CITY. WOULD BE GOOD, BUT
NOT HAVE IT BE THE THING THAT
STOPS THE WORK THAT IS BEING
DONE BY LICENSED ARBORISTS IN A
LEGAL WAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO
FURTHER DISCUSSION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THIS ITEM? YOLANDA, ANYTHING
ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ON
THIS BILL? SEEING NONE,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, ANY
FINAL REMARKS? SEEING NONE.
>>> MOVING ON, THIS DOES
CONCLUDE -- WE WILL HAVE THIS
BILL BACK BEFORE COMMITTEE NEXT
YEAR IN JANUARY OF 2023.
NAOMI, IF YOU CAN WORK WITH
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S OFFICE
THIS DOES CONCLUDE IF THERE I
NO ITEMS FOR THE GOOD OF THE
ORDER. SEEING NONE, THIS DOES
CONCLUDE THE THURSDAY DECEMBER
8, 2022 MEETING OF THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE. WE ARE BREAKING FOR
COUNCIL RECESS AND THE DECEMBE
14th 2022 LAND USE COMMITTEE HA
BEEN CANCELED. THE NEXT
REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF
THE LAND USE COMMITTEE IS ON
JANUARY 11th, 2022 STARTING AT
2:30 P.M. THANK YOU FOR
ATTENDING, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.