>> WE ARE OUT OF RECESS.
WELCOME BACK. SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS TO: 10 P.M. I AM DAN
STRAUSS, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE
>> AYE
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
>> HERE
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON
>> VICE CHAIR RIVERA
>> PRESENT
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WOO
>> PRESENT
>> CHAIR STRAUSS
>> PRESENT
>> FIVE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU AND I WILL NOTE
THAT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA,
COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
WORK HERE. WE ADDED 10 MINUTES
TO OUR RECESS DUE TO ANOTHER
MEETING RUNNING LATE , AND SO
THAT WAS THAT DISRUPTION HERE.
I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA
JOINING US AND I NOTED FOR THE
RECORD THAT YOU WERE HERE ON
TIME. AND WE HAVE COUNCIL
MEMBER MOORE AND COUNCIL MEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH ALSO JOINING US,
FOR THE RECORD. WE ARE MOVING
STRAIGHT INTO THE AFTERNOON
SESSION IF CLERK, YOU CAN READ
OUR THIRD ITEM OF BUSINESS INTO
THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM THREE, OFFICE OF
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT.
>> WONDERFUL. IF YOU ALL WANT
TO COME UP , WE ARE ARE JOINED
BY RICO QUIRINDONGO , MELISSA
WILKIE, DAN EDER, BEN NOBLE.
WELCOME, AND I KNOW IT'S GOING
TO TAKE YOU A SECOND TO GET
READY. WE HAVE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT JOINING US NOW.
WELCOME, DIRECTOR RICO
QUIRINDONGO. PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELF AND TAKE IT AWAY. WE
WILL HOLD ALL COMMENTS UNTIL
AFTER YOUR PRESENTATION. AND
YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE MICRO
CLOSE TO YOU. IF YOU'RE NOT
SEEN A GREEN LIGHT IS NOT
WORKING.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? THANK
YOU ALL FOR HAVING US HERE
TODAY. MY NAME IS RICO
QUIRINDONGO, DIRECTOR OF THE
OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
>> MY NAME IS MELISSA WILKE,
FINANCE MANAGER FOR THE OFFICE
OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT.
>> FOR THE RECORD, STILL DAN
EDER, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE
CITY BUDGET OFFICE. ALL
>> OF COURSE WE ARE HERE TODAY
TO RUN THROUGH OUR OFFICE OF
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BUDGET PROJECTED
FOR 2025 AND 2026. I WANTED TO
PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT OF THE
WORK OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN DOING
IN 2024 AND HOW WE ARE
STRUCTURED. I KNOW THAT I HAD A
CHANCE TO MEET WITH EACH OF YOU
ONE-ON-ONE TO TALK ABOUT OUR
PRIORITIES IN 2024 BUT I
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL
AGAIN FOR CONTEXT TO GO BACK
THROUGH THEM FOR AN OVERVIEW.
AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE HARD AT
WORK ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
MAJOR UPDATE. YOU SHOULD EXPECT
THAT BEGINNING IN MID-OCTOBER,
WE WILL BEGIN OUR NEXT PHASE OF
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND THAT
WE WILL BE SENDING DOWN TO
COUNSEL , THE MAYOR'S PLAN AND
THE FINAL EIS IN DECEMBER. MY
EXPECTATION IS THAT IT WILL BE
IN FRONT OF YOUR COMMITTEE
COUNCILMEMBER MORE HOURS --
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES TO DO
BRIEFINGS FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT
PARTS AND PIECES OF THE PLAN
AND SUBSEQUENT ACTIONS
INCLUDING LOOKING AT WHAT
HAPPENED IN THE SECOND QUARTER.
REGIONAL CENTER PLANS, AS YOU
ALL KNOW, PUGET SOUND REGIONAL
COUNCIL STARTING IN 2018 SAID
THAT CITIES NEED TO START
PRESENTING REGIONAL CENTER
PLANS BEYOND THE GENERAL
CONSTRUCT THAT IS IN OUR GROWTH
MANAGEMENT STRATEGY SO THIS IS
THE FIRST TIME THE CITY OF
SEATTLE HAS BEEN REQUIRED TO DO
THAT LEVEL OF PLANNING SO WE
HAVE BEEN HEAVY INTO THAT WORK
THIS YEAR . WE HAVE THREE
PLANS, WHICH I WILL GET MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT LATER IN THE
PRESENTATION THAT ARE WELL
UNDERWAY . THE SECOND SET OF
THREE PLANS, WE WILL DIVE INTO
GREATER DETAIL ON IN 2025 THEN
OUR INTENT IS BEYOND THE DRAFT
PLANS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
THAT YOU WOULD BEGIN TO SEE
THOSE BEING BROUGHT DOWN TO
COUNSEL IN 2026 FOR ADOPTION.
OUR EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE WHICH YOU ARE ALL
FAMILIAR WITH -- YOU ALL SHOULD
BE IN RECEIPT OF THE PROGRAM
REPORT AND UPDATE THAT WE
SUBMITTED TO THE CLERK ON
SEPTEMBER 24th. I KNOW IT IS
115 PAGES AND YOU HAVE A BUNCH
OF OTHER READING MATERIAL TO GO
THROUGH RIGHT NOW, SO AS YOU
HAVE A CHANCE TO TAKE A LOOK AT
THAT DOCUMENT , PLEASE DON'T
HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO MYSELF
OR OUR EQUITABLE BODY
MANAGEMENT DIRECTION FRANKLIN
WITH QUESTIONS. WEST SEATTLE
AND BALLARD LINKING EXTENSIONS,
AS YOU ALL KNOW WE ARE LOOKING
AT OVER $50 BILLION LARGEST
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE WILL IS SEEN IN
ITS LIFETIME SO FAR AND FOR OUR
PART WE HAVE PLANNING STAFF
THAT ARE WORKING VERY HARD IN
CONCERT WITH SDOT AND WITH
SOUND TRANSIT AND URBAN LAND
INSTITUTE TO LOOK AT THE
STATION PLANNING AT EACH OF THE
13 PLANNING -- STATIONS PART OF
THE PLANNING PROGRAM. THAT WORK
INCLUDES LOOKING AT OVER BUILDS
FOR HALF A DOZEN OF THE SITES.
AND THEN FINALLY DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN , YOU ALREADY
HEARD A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THAT
FROM THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT EARLIER TODAY. WE
ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT OUR WORK
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND OED
ON A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES,
SOME OF WHICH ARE OPCD-LED.
ONE, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL
FOR THIS, THE PASSAGE OF THE
OFFICE RESIDENTIAL LEGISLATION
EARLIER THIS YEAR WHICH WILL
MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO BEGIN
TO SEE CONVERSION PROJECTS
HAPPEN USING UNDERUTILIZED
OFFICE BUILDING SPACE INTO
MUCH-NEEDED RESIDENTIAL UNITS .
ONE OF THE OTHER BIG PROJECTS
WE ARE WORKING ON AS PART OF
THE DEPTH -- DAP PORTFOLIO AS
PART OF A DOWNTOWN INTERAGENCY
EFFORT WHERE WE ARE WORKING
WITH WSDOT, KING COUNTY, WITH
MANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS --
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN
SOUTH DOWNTOWN , THE STADIUMS ,
THE PORT OF SEATTLE , LABOR
UNIONS ALL TO ENSURE THAT AS WE
LOOK AT LONGER-TERM PROJECTS
THAT HAVE OVERLAPPING TIMELINES
IN MULTIPLE CONSIDERATIONS
INCLUDING FOR EXAMPLE, DEARBORN
STATION , WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE,
THAT WE ARE ALL INFORMATION
SHARING AND THAT WE CAN FIND
SOME JOINT SOLUTIONS TO
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
THOSE PROJECTS MAY HAVE. THIS
SLIDE IS JUST A SUMMARY OF OUR
ADOPTED BUDGET IN 2024 AND OUR
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2025 AND
2026. WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS A
SMALL DROP IN OUR GENERAL FUND
ALLOCATION FOR 2025 TO 7.72
MILLION AND THEN A SLIGHT
INCREASE TO 8.1 MILLION IN
2026. PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX
CONSISTENT WITH THE PET
ORDINANCE SHOWS A SLIGHT
INCREASE IN OUR BUDGET IN 2025
AND AGAIN ANOTHER SLIGHT
INCREASE IN PROPOSED 2026 AND
OF COURSE THAT PET BUDGET IS
ENTIRELY ALLOCATED TO [
INAUDIBLE ] PROGRAM. THE LINE
THERE FOR OTHER FUNDS INCLUDES
BOTH STATE DOLLARS IN FEDERAL
DOLLARS . SOME OF THAT IS OUR
RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES
PROJECTS. THEN RECONNECTING
COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH PARK. AND
THEN YOU WILL ALSO NOTE AN FTE
REDUCTION FROM 2024 TO 2025. WE
HAVE 2.5 FTE REDUCTION IN THE
PROPOSED BUDGET. TWO OF THOSE
POSITIONS ARE PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST SENIOR
POSITIONS, ONE IN OUR LAND-USE
POLICY INITIATIVES DIVISION ON
THE OTHER AT THE SEATTLE
PLANNING COMMISSION. WE ALSO
HAVE A .5 FTE REDUCTION THAT IS
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF FOR DESIGN
COMMISSION. NOTABLE ADDITIONS,
THERE ARE TWO. ONE, I SPOKE TO
ALREADY . BETWEEN OUR 2024
ADOPTED AND OUR 2025 PROPOSED,
THERE IS A SMALL INCREASE IN
OUR PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX OF 1.2
MILLION, WHICH THEN IS
INCREASED TO ANOTHER 2.3
MILLION FOR 2026 AND AS YOU
KNOW, THE EDI PROGRAM IS OUR
MOST IMPACTFUL ANTI-DISPLACEMEN
T PROGRAM WE HAVE FOR THE CITY
THAT ENSURES BLACK AND BROWN,
BIPOC NOT FOR PROFITS ARE ABLE
TO OWN THE PROPERTY THAT THEY
WORK OUT OF AND PROVIDE MUCH
NEEDED SOCIAL SERVICES TO THE
COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE. SO
JUST AS A BRIEF UPDATE , 2024
HAS BEEN A REBUILDING YEAR FOR
US FOR THE PROGRAM . WE HAVE
NEW STAFF THAT HAVE COME ON
BOARD INCLUDING OUR DIRECTOR
FOR THE PROGRAM, JENNA
FRANKLIN. AS I MENTIONED IN MY
OPENING, WE HAVE SUBMITTED TO
ALL OF YOU FOR REVIEW AND
CONSIDERATION, A TECHNICAL
REPORT THAT PROVIDES YOU AN
UPDATE REGARDING THE STATUS OF
OUR 75 PROJECTS, SO NINE OF
THOSE PROJECTS ARE COMPLETE.
66% OF THEM ARE IN PROCESS
EITHER IN FAVOR ONE, WHICH IS
PRE-SITE ACQUISITION OR PHASE
TWO, WHICH IS POST SITE
ACQUISITION WITH AIR MOVING
TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT AND TOWARDS A
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. AS I
SAID BEFORE, THERE IS A LOT TO
JUMP INTO AND LOOKING AT THE
DETAILS OF THAT REPORT SO I
WOULD OFFER YOU TO FOLLOW UP TO
WITH ME WITH QUESTIONS YOU MAY
HAVE. WE HAVE NOT ISSUED A 2024
RFP AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD THIS
REPORT IN HAND BEFORE WE TAKE
ANY ACTION FORWARD. THAT REPORT
DOES INFORM US AS IT RELATES TO
EDIFICATION OF WHAT PROJECTS
LOOK LIKE , THEY ARE MOST
LIKELY TO BE COMPLETED NEXT ,
AND WHAT ARE ONES THAT WE CAN
HELP MOVE ALONG . THAT IS
IMPORTANT RELATED TO OUR
FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY AND
SEEING A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM
FORWARD OUR INTENT WITH THE RFP
WOULD BE TO TRY TO IDENTIFY --
INFUSE THOSE IDENTIFIED
PROJECTS THAT WE ARE
ANTICIPATING AND ARE WORKING
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON
APPROVALS. LOOKING AHEAD TO
2025 AND YOU WILL SEE THIS IN
THE REPORT , THERE IS A SERIES
OF IMPROVEMENTS WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE CAN LEAN INTO RELATED
TO THE PROGRAM SO WE WANT TO
TRY TO FIND EFFICIENCIES AS TO
HOW WE WORK WITH THE ADVISORY
BOARD. WE WANT TO WORK WITH OUR
EDI PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT
THEY ARE RECEIVING THE SUPPORT
THAT THEY NEED BOTH TECHNICAL
AND RELATED TO HOW THEY ARE
SETTING UP THEIR INDIVIDUAL
PROGRAMS TO GET TO A BUILT
UNIT. THAT LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT
FROM ONE PARTNER TO THE NEXT .
WE ALSO WANT TO CONTINUE SOME
FORM OF REPORTING MOVING
FORWARD AND I SHOULD'VE
MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, AND IT
ADDITION TO THE TECHNICAL
REPORT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HANDS
TODAY, WE ALSO WANT TO PROVIDE
ANOTHER REPORT THAT PROVIDES
SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXTUAL
INFORMATION ABOUT THE IMPACT OF
PROJECTS AND PROGRESS ON
PROJECTS SO THAT IS SOMETHING
FOR YOU TO LOOK FORWARD TO, AS
WELL I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO
THAT IN SUCCESSIVE YEARS, AS
WELL, SO THAT IS SOMETHING TO
EXPECT FROM US. LASTLY, I WOULD
SAY THAT PARTICULARLY AS IT
RELATES TO OUR ANALYSIS OF
PHASE ONE VERSUS PHASE TWO
PROJECTS, WE WANT TO TRY TO SET
UP A PREDICTABLE STRUCTURE FOR
USE SO YOU KNOW ON A PERCENTAGE
BASIS YEAR-OVER-YEAR , HOW ARE
WE APPROACHING THE FUNDING AND
ASSESSMENT OF VALUE RELATED TO
PHASE ONE PROJECTS THAT ARE
EARLY ON VERSUS OUR INVESTMENTS
IN PHASE TWO PROJECTS THAT ARE
FURTHER ALONG IN THEIR WORK.
AND NOTE THAT IS SCALABLE. WE
ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
BECAUSE THESE ARE MULTI-YOUR
PROJECTS THAT SIMILAR TO [
INAUDIBLE ]'S PORTFOLIO,
PROJECTS OFTEN TAKE SEVEN UP TO
10 YEARS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE
THE COUNSEL INFORMATION ABOUT
HOW THOSE PROJECTS ARE
PROCEEDING SO THAT YOU KNOW HOW
THAT AFFECTS OUR MANAGEMENT OF
THE BUDGET. THE OTHER
SIGNIFICANT ADDITION TO OUR
BUDGET AND YOU HEARD THIS IN
THE MAYOR'S BUDGET SPEECH
EARLIER THIS WEEK , THE MAYOR
HAS ALLOCATED AN ADDITIONAL
350,000 TO OUR OFFICE TO INVEST
IN A SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STATEMENT WHICH WOULD
TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION
POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL [
INAUDIBLE ] CONSIDERED AND NOT
CONSIDERED IN OUR CURRENT
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, EIS. AS YOU
KNOW, THE CURRENT EIS IS
LARGELY FOCUSED NOT ONLY ON
COMPLIANCE WITH HB 1110 AND
MOVING FROM FORMER
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING TO A
MINIMUM OF FOUR PRIMARY UNITS
ON A LOT TO SIX UNITS NEAR
FREQUENT TRANSIT , BUT ALSO OUR
NEW DESIGNATION NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS AS WELL AS UP ZONES
ALONG TRANSIT CORRIDORS WITH
THE SUPPLEMENTAL EI AS WE WILL
BE INFORMED BY THE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT OF OUR REGIONAL
CENTER WORK SO FAR AND THAT
WILL BE PART OF OUR SMALL
SCOPING FOR THE SEVIS -- SCIS.
WE WILL ALSO BE LOOKING FOR
POTENTIAL UP ZONES RELATED TO
AREAS OF TRANSIT , THOSE
REGIONAL CENTER AND URBAN
CENTER DESIGNATIONS IN GENERAL,
BUT THEN ALSO CONSIDERING
FUTURE T.O.D. SITES. THERE WILL
BE A SELECT COMMITTEE LOOKING
AT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN
2025. OUR INTENT WOULD BE THAT
WE WOULD CONTRACT WITH THE
CONSULTANT IN THE SECOND HALF
OF THE YEAR AND 25 TO BEGIN
SCOPING AND EXECUTION. AND THEN
JUST RELATED TO THE REGIONAL
CENTER PLANNING WITH THE THREE
THAT WE ARE MOST FURTHEST ALONG
SO FAR DOWNTOWN , OUR PHASE TWO
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS WELL
UNDERWAY. WE JUST HAD A GREAT
OPEN HOUSE IN BELLTOWN EARLIER
THIS WEEK. NORTHGATE, PHASE ONE
ENGAGEMENT IS COMPLETE . WE ARE
WRAPPING UP OUR FIRST
ENGAGEMENT SO WE FEEL LIKE WE
ARE GETTING GOOD FEEDBACK ON
WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS
INTERESTED IN AND WANTS TO SEE
IN THE PLANNING EFFORT SO WE
ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING
ABLE TO BRING YOU MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT WORK
NEXT YEAR ALONG WITH OUR OTHER
THREE REGIONAL CENTERS THAT WE
WILL BEGIN MORE SIGNIFICANT
WORK ON IN 2025 AND THEN OF
COURSE WE HAVE THE
CONSIDERATION OF BALLARD AS A
NEW SEVENTH REGIONAL CENTER AS
PART OF THE CONSIDERATION FOR
COMP PLAN. I BELIEVE THAT IS MY
LAST SLIDE.
>> WONDERFUL. ANYTHING TO ADD
AT THIS TIME? THANK YOU FOR THE
COMPREHENSIVE PRESENTATION.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO
LAND-USE CHAIR , COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE,
EVERYONE. I WANT TO PROVIDE
SOME OPENING REMARKS ABOUT THIS
IN GENERAL THAN I HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS. WE KNOW OPCD HAS AN
IMPORTANT ROLE IN ALIGNING THE
CITY'S LONG-TERM GOALS WITH
OUR LAND-USE GOAL SO IT IS
IMPORTANT THIS DEPARTMENT IS
WELL-FUNDED IF WE WANT TO CARRY
OUT THE ONE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
SO I WANT TO THANK THE OPCD
STAFF, PARTICULARLY THE EDI
FOLK FOR THE STATUS REPORT WE
RECEIVED LAST WEEK. I THINK IT
IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO
UNDERSTAND HOW OUR INVESTMENTS
ARE MAKING MEANINGFUL CHANGE
FOR OUR NEIGHBORS. I WELCOME
THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE THE
PROGRAM TO ENSURE WE DELIVER ON
THE DEMANDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR, IN PARTICULAR . I
KNOW WHAT THEY ARE REALLY
LOOKING FOR IS ASSISTANCE IN
THE KIND OF COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THEY KNOW
WILL HELP THEM STAY IN PLACE SO
I AM PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE
MAYOR'S BUDGET COMMITS TO THIS
PROGRAM. I DO WANT TO THANK
OPCD FOR WORK ON THE COMP PLAN.
I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE BEEN
ENGAGED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS
NOW WITH THE COMMUNITY WORKING
WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS TO
MEET POLICY GOALS SCHEDULING
BRIEFINGS WITH EACH OF MY
COLLEAGUES TO REVIEW THE
DISCUSSIONS THAT WILL BEGIN
ONCE THIS BUDGET PROCESS IS
OVER AND JUST AS A REMINDER,
THAT DISCUSSION IS A CHANCE TO
TALK ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE IN
YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS . THE
PRESENTATION THIS MORNING WITH
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT WE TALKED ABOUT THE
NEED FOR GROCERY STORES AND
CHILDCARE AND PHARMACIES , KIND
OF SERVICES THAT MAKE OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS THRIVE AND THAT
IS PRECISELY THE KIND OF
CONVERSATION WE WILL BE HAVING
THROUGH THIS PROCESS. I WILL
SAY I SHARE COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGWORTH'S EAGERNESS TO
GET MORE LOCAL GROCERY STORES
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND I CAN
SAY FROM MY PREVIOUS LIFE AS A
FOOD SYSTEMS PLANNER THAT
TRYING TO RECRUIT SMALL-SCALE
GROCERS IS NOT AN EASY THING TO
DO SO IF WE CAN HELP BUILD UP
SOME SUPPORT FOR THEM TO DO
THAT KIND OF WORK, THAT WOULD
BE GREAT. I KNOW OUR DISTRICT
COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL HAVE LOTS
OF IDEAS, LOTS OF PRIORITIES AS
WE MOVE INTO THE DISCUSSION. I
DO ENCOURAGE ENGAGEMENT SO WE
CAN MEET GOALS OF INCREASING
HOUSING CAPACITY THROUGHOUT THE
CITY IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD. WE
ALSO HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THAT
HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
ARE PRIORITY SO I WILL BE
LOOKING AT THESE BUDGET
PROPOSALS AND ALL OF OUR
DEPARTMENTS WITH THAT IN MIND
AND AS WE HEAR FROM DEPARTMENTS
AND LATER FROM CENTRAL STAFF, I
THINK WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND
THAT OUR HOUSING TARGETS CAN
ALSO HELP US ADDRESS OUR
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS. AND WE
HAVE TO HAVE THE PROGRAMS IN
THE STAFFING IN PLACE TO
IMPLEMENT THE WORK. WITH THAT,
I WANT TO GO INTO MY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR
THIS DEPARTMENT AND I WILL
START BY TALKING ABOUT THE
REGIONAL GROWTH CENTERS . I
WANT TO REITERATE MY INTEREST
AND I KNOW WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT
THIS BEFORE. IN WORKING WITH PS
RC TO CONSIDER WHAT IT WOULD
TAKE TO CREATE A REGIONAL
GROWTH CENTER IN THE RAIN OR
BEACH AREA, I KNOW THAT IS FOR
FUTURE DISCUSSION BUT THE NEED
TO INCREASE ACCESS TO ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES, TO JOB CENTERS,
TO SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ,
THE NEED TO CREATE THAT KIND OF
AN ECOSYSTEM IN THIS AREA THAT
IS AT HIGH RISK FOR
DISPLACEMENT SO THAT FOLKS HAVE
ACCESS TO GOOD PAYING JOBS IS
REALLY CRITICAL. GETTING TO
YOUR DEPARTMENT IN 2024 WE
PROVIDED FUNDING FOR A
STRATEGIC ADVISER . IS THERE
FUNDING FOR THAT POSITION IN
2025?
>> WE HAVE THAT POSITION AS
FILLED. IT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT
TO INCORPORATE THEM INTO STAFF
AND HE IS ACTUALLY LIAISING
WITH THE [ INAUDIBLE ] GROUP
AND ASSESSING WITH THE
COORDINATION OF OUR SOUTH
DOWNTOWN EFFORT AND RESIDENTIAL
WORK, AS WELL.
>> I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO
KNOW AND THIS MIGHT BE
SOMETHING I PUT IN THE
SHAREPOINT LATER, WHAT IT WOULD
TAKE TO PROVIDE THAT KIND OF
ASSISTANCE, THOSE KINDS OF
ACTIVATION PLAN MEASURES FOR
OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL
DISTRICTS SO THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT -- WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR
YOUR STAFFING CAPACITY AND YOUR
BUDGET IS A QUESTION THAT WE
HAVE. WE ALSO PROVIDED FUNDING
FOR THE SENIOR FINANCE ANALYST
FOR EDI. IS THAT SOMETHING IS
GOING TO CONTINUE IN THE NEXT
PROPOSAL?
>> YES.
>> WE JUST FINISHED FIRST ROUND
INTERVIEWS THIS WEEK. WE ARE
VERY EXCITED TO GET THAT
POSITION FILLED.
>> OKAY, SO THAT IS GOING TO BE
SOMETHING THAT WILL MOVE
FORWARD. THE REASON I ASK IS
BECAUSE WE KNOW ESPECIALLY NOW
IS WE ARE DOING MORE EVALUATION
OF THE PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR.
THERE IS GOING TO BE A NEED FOR
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR TRACKING
AWARDS, TRACKING GRANT BUDGETS,
INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS,
PREVAILING WAGE, GENERAL
OVERSIGHT OF THE RFP PROCESS
AND SO IS THIS THE PERSON IS
GOING TO BE MANAGING ALL OF
THAT?
>> THEY WILL BE INVOLVED IN A
LOT OF THAT AND WE ARE WORKING
CLOSELY WITH I.T. TO BUILD OUT
SOME BETTER SYSTEMS FOR
TRACKING THE AWARDS AND OVERALL
PROJECT MANAGEMENT.
>> TERRIFIC. I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT YOUR TWO CUTS. YOU ARE IN
THE MIDST OF A LOT OF WORK
AROUND COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING,
AROUND LIGHT RAIL STATIONS,
MARITIME INDUSTRIAL. THERE IS A
LOT HAPPENING AND SO I WILL SAY
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE
ABILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT TO
DELIVER ON THE WORK THAT NEEDS
TO BE DONE IN COMMUNITY AND
WITH OUR PLANNING PARTNERS .
THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S
ABILITY TO FILL THEIR
CHARTER-REQUIRED DUTY TO ADVISE
OPC AND ADVISE US, THE COUNCIL,
AND THE MAYOR IS CONCERNING THE
POSITION BEING PROPOSED FOR
CUTS FOCUSES ON TRANSPORTATION,
SOUND TRANSIT, MARITIME
INDUSTRIAL SODAS ARE REALLY
CRITICAL CAN POSITION AND A
THIRD OF THE COMMISSION
STAFFING SO I DEFINITELY WANT
TO BE LOOKING AT THAT MORE
CLOSELY TO SEE IF THERE IS
ANOTHER WAY FOR US TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE CRITICAL WORK THAT WE
HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED HAVING
THAT DISCUSSION AND COUNSEL AND
WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE A
LOT MORE PLANNING WORK,
COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING WORK FOR
US TO DO WELL PAST JUNE, WHICH
IS AS FAR AS WE HAVE BEEN
SCHEDULING RIGHT NOW, BUT THE
WORK CONTINUES. AND SO , THE
NEED FOR THESE POSITIONS
CONTINUES. I WILL LEAVE IT AT
THAT. I HAVE ONE QUESTION AND
IT MIGHT HAVE JUST BEEN A TYPO
BUT ON SLIDE SEVEN, YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT SUPPLEMENTAL EIS,
IT SAYS THAT THERE IS 350,000
PROPOSED. FOR THAT WORK, BUT IN
THE NARRATIVE SECTION OF THE
BIP IT SAYS 31 HAS BEEN
ALLOCATED FOR THIS SO I'M
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT VERY
LARGE DISCREPANCY.
>> THAT SOUNDS LIKE A TYPO.
350,000 IS THE RIGHT NUMBER.
>> OKAY, BECAUSE IT DOES SPELL
OUT THE WORLDS -- WORDS 31
MILLION, SO MAYBE WE CAN FOLLOW
UP AND JUST MAKE SURE WE KNOW
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH
THAT. AND THEN RELATED TO THE
EIS, YOU TALKED A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE TIMELINE FOR THAT,
BUT GIVEN THAT THERE ARE AT
LEAST SOME STATE REQUIREMENTS
THAT HAVE TO PASS BY MAY OF
NEXT YEAR, CAN YOU TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TIMING OF
THAT AND WHETHER IT WILL BE
IMPACTED BY --
>> OUR INTENT IS THAT WE ARE
PROVIDING THE FINAL EIS AND
FINAL MAYORS PLAN AT THE
BEGINNING OF DECEMBER. THAT
WOULD THEN PROVIDE THE COUNCIL
THE FOLLOWING ALMOST SIX MONTHS
TO CONSIDER CHANGES TO
ELEMENTS. OBVIOUSLY THE FINAL
GROWTH STRATEGY, AS WELL AS
CONSIDERATION OF OTHER ZONING
IMPLEMENTATION MAPS, AND THE
LEGISLATION IS BROKEN OUT INTO
PHASES, SO THE PHASE ONE
LEGISLATION , WE WOULD BE
PROVIDING AT THE END OF MARCH
WOULD BE RELATED SPECIFICALLY
TO HB 1110 SO WE WOULD MAKE
SURE TO MEET THAT DEADLINE.
ALSO IN CONSIDERATION OF STATE
DEADLINES, OUR ASSUMPTION IS
THAT GIVEN THAT SIX-MONTH
PERIOD THAT GIVES THE COUNCIL
ENOUGH TIME GETTING FROM THERE,
MAKING AMENDMENTS THAT YOU WANT
TO MAKE , VOTING ON ADOPTION BY
THE END OF MAY , SO THAT THEN
THE MAYOR WOULD BE SIGNING
LEGISLATION IN JUNE AND THAT
WOULD MEET OUR DEADLINE.
>> I HAVE A LONG LIST OF OTHER
QUESTIONS BUT I THINK I WILL
SAVE THEM FOR THE SHAREPOINT
AND PASS IT BACK TO THE CHAIR.
THANK YOU.
>> OTHER COLLEAGUES, DO YOU
HAVE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS,
CONCERNS? COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YOU
KNOW I AM A CURIOUS MIND SO I
GENERALLY ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE A
QUESTION BUT I GUESS FIRST OFF,
A COMMENT. I HEARD A LOT OF
GREAT DISCUSSION WITH MY
ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES HERE ON
GROCERY STORES AND SO
COUNCILMEMBERS MIRELES AND
HOLLINGSWORTH FROM EARLIER,
IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE
HEARD DISCUSSION OF GROCERY
STORES AT THIS DAY'S. I THINK
WE ALL UNDERSTAND I LOVE
GROCERY STORES AND I THINK THE
PRINCIPLES OF FAIRNESS, EQUITY,
AND THOUGHTFUL PLANNING REQUIRE
US TO LAWFULLY CONSIDER WHERE
GROCERY STORES ARE AND AS WE
GROW AND HOW IT INTERSECTS WITH
OUR LAND-USE POLICY AND OUR
TRANSPORTATION POLICY BY THE
WAY, AS WELL, BUT ONE OF MY
GOALS AS I APPROACH THE COMP
PLANNING PROCESS TO BE
SHEPHERDED BY A THE CHAIR OVER
HERE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE AND SOME NOTABLE FOOD
DESERTS IN MY DISTRICT,
DISTRICT 1, SO THERE IS
GEORGETOWN AND SOUTHPARK SO
DULLARDS, PARTICULARLY NORTH
DELL RIDGE NOT SAYING WE ARE
GOING TO DELIVER A GROCERY
STORE TO ALL THOSE AREAS BUT I
DO WANT TO BETTER ADDRESS THAT.
WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
AND THAT IS JUST WHAT I KNOW
ABOUT MY DISTRICT. NO DOUBT
COLLEAGUES ACROSS HER
DISTRICTS, THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DO EXACTLY THAT.
ALSO HEARD THIS NOTION OF A
SMALLER SCALE GROCERY STORE.
YES, I 100% SUPPORT SMALL-SCALE
GROCERY STORES INCLUDING CO-OPS
IS AN OPTION TO DO THAT, BUT I
HAVE ALWAYS SAID , WILL
CONTINUE TO SAY WE ARE NOT
GOING TO BODEGA OUR WAY OUT OF
THIS, EITHER, AND IN SMALLER
SCALE, LESS RESOURCE GROCERY
STORES WE NEED A RANGE OF
OPTIONS POTENTIALLY INCLUDING
MIDSIZED GROCERY STORES, AS
WELL. WE KNOW SMALLER SCALE
GROCERY STORES DON'T ALWAYS
HAVE THE HOURS, THE PREDICTABLE
HOURS OR LATER HOURS THAT MANY
WORKERS WHO WORK VARIOUS HOURS
NEED TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE
AT MIDNIGHT FOR WHATEVER REASON
SO IN ANY EVENT I SUPPORT A
RANGE OF OPTIONS AS WE APPROACH
THAT. BUT, SO THAT WAS A
COMMENT. MY QUESTION PERTAINS
TO THE COMP PLAN PROCESS AND
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
EFFORTS, SO AS YOU KNOW, SOME
GROUPS AND CONSTITUENTS DID NOT
HEAR ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
SESSIONS AND THE COLLECTIVE
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS , THIS MOST
RECENT ROUND AND I REALLY DO
APPRECIATE YOU ALL WENT ABOVE
AND BEYOND AND HELD AN
ADDITIONAL LARGER SESSION FOR
EACH DISTRICT AND I APPRECIATE
THAT MINDLESS FIRST BUT -- AND,
WE HAD TWO ADDITIONAL ONES, MY
AUNT DISTRICT. COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT IN THESE IMPORTANT
STRATEGIC EFFORTS ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT. AS WE ALL KNOW,
UNDERSTANDING THE PULSE OF THE
COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE'S
REACTIONS UP FRONT CAN REALLY
SAVE A LOT OF DOWNSTREAM
CLEANUP AND REMEDIATION'S AND
SO THAT IS WHY THEY ARE VERY
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. HOW ARE
YOU , DIRECTOR, CONFIDENT THAT
YOU ARE PREPARED TO ENSURE THAT
AS YOU CONTINUE THIS NEXT ROUND
OF ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH, YOU
ARE ADEQUATELY RESOURCED?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
WE HAVE BEEN DEEP IN PLANNING
FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT, WHICH AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE, WILL START IN
MID-OCTOBER . IT'S BEEN GREAT
BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE RELATED TO WHAT
DOES THAT PLAN LOOK LIKE AND
HOW IS IT ADDRESSING MULTIPLE
NEEDS . YOU SHOULD EXPECT THAT
WE WILL AGAIN DO AN INFORMATION
SESSION FACE-TO-FACE FOR EACH
OF YOUR DISTRICTS, AND THAT IN
ADDITION TO THAT, WE WILL DO AN
ONLINE ENGAGEMENT SO THAT
PEOPLE , AS THEY ARE LOOKING AT
DRAFT ZONING IMPLEMENTATION
MAPS AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT THEY REALLY
DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO CALL A
PLANNER BECAUSE EVERYBODY LOVES
TALKING TO PLANNERS. THEY CAN
CALL A PLANNER AND GET MORE
DETAILED INFORMATION AND ANSWER
THE QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD. I THINK THE PLAN
WE HAVE LAID OUT OVER THE
MONTHS OF MID-OCTOBER THROUGH
MID-DECEMBER, WE ARE WELL
RESOURCED FOR. WE ALSO HAVE IS
A PARTNER , DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS, WHO IS GOING TO
HELP US BOTH CANVAS
NEIGHBORHOODS , GET THE WORD
OUT, AND THEN ALSO HELP US
STAFF WHAT WE THINK ARE GOING
TO BE LARGER VOLUMES OF PEOPLE
COMING TO THE OPEN HOUSES
THEMSELVES. I ALSO REALLY
APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION
WITH EACH OF YOUR OFFICES
RELATED TO IDENTIFICATION OF
WHO OUR ORGANIZATIONS AND
LEADERS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE WE GET INFORMATION TO IN
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SO THAT WE
CAN MAKE SURE THAT EITHER THEY
GET THE ONLINE INFORMATION THAT
IS AVAILABLE , EMAILED
INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED AND
WE CAN GET PEOPLE TO OPEN
HOUSES AS APPROPRIATE OR GET
THEM INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO
IN TURN TO ONE OF THOSE VIRTUAL
SESSIONS FOR CONVERSATION SO WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T
LEAVE ANYONE BEHIND SO AGAIN I
APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR
ANSWER THERE. MAYBE WELL
RESOURCES NOT THE BEST TERM.
MAYBE APPROPRIATELY RESOURCED
TO MEET THE NEEDS AS
APPROPRIATE, THIS YEAR MORE
THAN EVER. NOW, NOT GOING TO
REACH 100% OF THE PEOPLE I
HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE TIME BUT
THERE IS A MINIMUM BAR IN
SEATTLE OF EXCELLENCE IN THE
STANDARD WE NEED TO HIT. IN
SEATTLE, IT IS A VERY HIGH BAR
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU
ARE APPROPRIATELY RESOURCED
BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT.
>> WOULD IT BE ACCEPTABLE FOR
ME TO ADDRESS YOUR HISTORY OF
GROCERY STORES, AS WELL?
>> SURE, YEAH.
>> THE ONLY THING I WOULD LIKE
TO SAY IS THAT BEYOND YOU KNOW,
THERE ARE DIFFERENT PLANNING
TOOLS FOR DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
ENGAGEMENT, SO THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WILL
CERTAINLY ADDRESS A CERTAIN
LEVEL OF INTENTIONALITY RELATED
TO WHAT WE DO AS A CITY. I
THINK THAT BEYOND THAT , WE ARE
LOOKING AT HIRING A COMMUNITY
PLANNING MANAGER BEFORE THE END
OF THE YEAR , AND ONCE WE HAVE
THAT PERSON IN HOUSE LAYING OUT
IN 2025 AND COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES, YOU MADE A NOT IN THIS
DIRECTION, WHAT IS THE WORK
BEYOND JUNE THAT WE NEED TO
TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION BEYOND
ADOPTION OF THE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT STRATEGY AND NEW
COMP PLAN ELEMENTS ? I THINK
THAT THINKING ABOUT THE IMPACT
OF LEGISLATION RELATED TO
CORNER STORES, HOW DOES THAT
ACTUALLY GET IMPLEMENTED IN
NEIGHBORHOODS, I THINK LOOKING
AT WHAT DOES NEIGHBORHOOD
PLANNING LOOK LIKE IN EACH OF
YOUR DISTRICTS AND WHAT ARE
THOSE NEEDS INCLUDING FOOD
DESERTS AND THEN WHAT IS THE
SCALE OF IMPLEMENTATION FROM
SMALL CORNER STORES TO
MEDIUM-SIZED STORES , THEY'RE
GOING TO COME BACK INTO
DOWNTOWN BUT THEY'RE GOING TO
COME AT A SMALLER SIZE, HOW DO
WE SET OURSELVES UP SO THAT FOR
EVERY DISTRICT WE CAN SOLVE THE
FOOD DESERT PROBLEM WE ARE
SEEING WHERE THERE ARE THOSE
PROBLEMS AND WE CAN WORK WITH
THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND
GROCERS, BE THEY MOM-AND-POP
STORES OR BIG KROGER
DELIVERERS, HOW CAN WE MAKE
SURE THAT OUR CITIZENS GET WHAT
THEY NEED ? I'M VERY EXCITED
TO DIVE INTO THAT WORK NEXT
YEAR.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD QUESTIONS
RIGHT THERE. VICE CHAIR RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATION. ON THE COMP PLAN
IT SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF FOOD
DISCUSSION TODAY BECAUSE I,
TOO, HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT SOME
FOOD DESERTS, PARTICULARLY WHEN
WE ARE BUILDING HOUSING WHERE
THERE WAS NOT HOUSING BEFORE
AND I HAVE IN MIND THE DISTRICT
IN MAGIDSON PARK WHERE WE ARE
SEEING HOUSING AND THEY NEED
ACCESS TO A GROCERY STORE,
SMALL OR BIG. HOWEVER, WHATEVER
IS VISIBLE IS WHAT IS NEEDED,
SO I, TOO , WANT TO KNOW HOW
THAT WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO
THE COMP PLAN AND HOW YOU WILL
REACH OUT TO COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE NOT PART OF THE
CONVERSATION . I WOULD LOVE TO
HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT. SO, THAT
IS MORE A COMMENT ON THE COMP
PLAN AND YOU KNOW, WHAT IS
NEEDED . MY QUESTION ABOUT THE
COMP PLAN THAT MAY OR MAY NOT
BE ALLEGEDLY RELATED BUT SINCE
THE COMP PLAN IS A HUGE PIECE
OF WHAT OPCD DOES, AS YOU ARE
GOING INTO THIS NEXT PHASE I
HEARD A LOT FROM CONSTITUENTS
ON THESE SESSIONS . THERE WAS
NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION IN THE
MAPS WERE NOT EXACTLY HELPFUL
AND I AM AFRAID THAT WE ARE ,
ESPECIALLY AS WE ARE
INCORPORATING HB 1110, THAT WE
ARE NOT GIVING FOLKS A REAL
FLAVOR OF WHAT THINGS CAN
REALLY LOOK LIKE AND SO ARE YOU
GOING TO BE -- YOU KNOW, WHAT
ARE YOU GOING TO BE DOING IN
THAT SPACE, I GUESS, AND YOU
HAVE RESOURCES IN YOUR BUDGET
TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I
HEARD THAT, AS WELL, AND I
THINK THAT OUR COMMON RESPONSE
HAD BEEN THAT WE WERE NOT THERE
YET, AND WE ARE THERE NOW, SO
WE HAVE LITERALLY BLOCK BY
BLOCK ZONING IMPLEMENTATION
MAPS SO THAT WHEN WE COME OUT
INTO COMMUNITY IN THE SPECS OF
INFORMATION SESSIONS, PEOPLE
CAN SEE WHAT THE LITERAL
IMPACTS ARE , LIKE WHAT BLOCKS
ARE BEING REZONED , OBSERVANT,
WHAT IS THE FLAVOR, IF YOU
WILL, OF THE UPPER ZONE THREE
STORY, FOUR STORIES THEN I WILL
ASK FOR CLARIFICATIONS RELATED
TO WHAT THE CHANGE MAY LOOK
LIKE. I ALSO THINK THE
TRANSITION IS CHALLENGING AND
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS FROM A
BUILT ENVIRONMENT STANDPOINT
WHAT I THINK ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS SO WE KNOW THE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED FOR GROWTH , THAT
THERE IS ALREADY AN EXISTING
COMMERCIAL CENTER, AN EXISTING
MOM-AND-POP SHOP, STOREFRONT
WHERE WE CAN CAPITALIZE ON
THOSE EXISTING AND ENCOURAGE
MORE DENSITY IN THOSE AREAS .
THAT MAY MEAN THAT FIRST OF ALL
THAT CHANGE WILL BE SLOW AND
INCREMENT MENTAL.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I KNOW
YOU AND I TALKED AND YOU WILL
BE WORKING TO PROVIDE FURTHER
DETAILS ON STATUS REPORTS AND
MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW ARE WE
GOING TO GET THESE PROJECTS TO
COMPLETION BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT
IMPACTFUL IF WE ACTUALLY DON'T
COMPLETE THEM AND THEN YOU AND
I SHARED THAT I HAD THE
PLEASURE OF MEETING WITH SOME
OF THE AWARDEES AND THEY SHARED
SOME HELPFUL FEEDBACK WHICH I
SHARED WITH YOU AND ONE WHICH I
HEARD ABOUT VERY CLEARLY WAS
CONVENING US OF ALL THE
AWARDEES SO I HOPE THAT WILL BE
PART OF YOUR PLAN BECAUSE
AGAIN, A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS
NEED MORE THAN WHAT THE CITY IS
PROVIDING AND I HAVE HEARD
TALKING TO EACH OTHER, WHICH IS
SOMETHING THAT HAD HAPPENED
WHEN THE PROGRAM WAS SMALLER
WAS REALLY HELPFUL TO THE
AWARDEES, AND I THINK THAT IS
IMPORTANT AS WELL AS WHAT ARE
THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP TO
MAKE SURE THAT THESE PROJECTS
ALSO GET TO COMPLETION BECAUSE
WE KNOW THAT THE FUNDING ALONE
THAT THE CITY IS PROVIDING MAY
NOT NECESSARILY BE WHAT IS
NEEDED, AND ARE WE NOT TAPPING
A RESOURCE, IF YOU WILL , AND
SOMETHING I APPRECIATE ABOUT
THE BUDGET IS KNOWING THAT YOU
ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT HOW
TO GET ONE OF THE MAIN FOCUSES
NOW IS HOW TO GET THE PROJECTS
TO COMPLETION , AND SO I
APPRECIATED THAT, THAT YOU HAVE
BAKED INTO THE CURRENT BUDGET
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
MORE LIKE A SAID. THESE
PROJECTS ARE IMPORTANT AND THEY
ARE NOT HELPFUL IF THEY DON'T
GET COMPLETED SO APPRECIATE
THAT WILL BE THE FOCUS IN THE
NEXT BIENNIUM FOR YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THANK
YOU FOR DIVING INTO THE REPORT
EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE GOT PLENTY
OF OTHER THINGS ON YOUR PLATE
AT THE MOMENT. AS RELATES TO
COMPLETION OF PROJECTS IT WAS
VERY ENCOURAGING FOR THOSE OF
US WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
SEE IT YET YOU WILL SEE ON PAGE
32 THE REPORT , A GRAPH THAT
TALKS ABOUT EXPECTED COMPLETION
DATES FOR COMING PROJECTS, SO
WE ARE EXPECTING THAT AN
ADDITIONAL 40% OF OUR PROJECT
COMPLEMENT WILL BE DONE BY THE
END OF THIS YEAR. THESE ARE
ESTIMATES, SO I KNOW IS A
FORMER ARCHITECT MYSELF THERE
IS WHAT WE PROJECT AND WHAT
ACTUALLY HAPPENS SO EVEN AS A
PROJECTION, IT IS NICE TO SEE
THAT THERE IS A HIGH NUMBER
THERE. I WOULD ALSO SAY AND YOU
WILL SEE THIS ON PAGE 62 THE
REPORT PART OF THE SURVEY ASKS
THE QUESTION , WHAT ARE YOUR
MONEY SOURCES, WHO ARE YOU
TALKING WITH? WHAT ARE YOU
EXPECTING FROM THE CITY AND I
THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL
COMPLEMENT OF PROJECTS THAT ARE
STILL IN PROCESS, THE 66 THAT
ARE NOT YET COMPLETED, THEY
ANTICIPATE OVER $590 MILLION TO
COMPLETE ALL THOSE PROJECTED
PROJECTS, BUT THE TOTAL THEY'RE
LOOKING TO THE CITY THAT THEY
ANTICIPATE LOOKING TO THE CITY
FOR! LIKE $70 MILLION FOR THAT.
ALMOST 600. WHEN THAT IS
ENCOURAGING TO ME FOR ALL OF
THEM , THEY ARE LOOKING FOR
THOSE PARTNERSHIPS. I THINK FOR
US IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE
PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFUL, WE WANT
TO DO OUR PART TO HELP AND SO
THAT IS PART OF THE FEEDBACK WE
HAVE GOTTEN, AS WELL, LIKE HOW
CAN WE HELP ENSURE THAT THEY
GET TO THE FINISH LINE.
>> EXACTLY. YOU AND I HAVE
TALKED ABOUT THAT FOR A LONG
TIME NOW. THIS IS HOW WE HELP
THESE PROJECTS GET TO
COMPLETION AND I WILL SEEK --
SAY, COLLEAGUES, FOR THOSE OF
YOU WHO HAVE NOT HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY, 60 OF THE 77
PROJECTS WERE SURVEYED FOR WITH
VARIOUS QUESTIONS INCLUDING,
YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY WERE IN
THE PROCESS AND WHO THEY HAVE
BEEN REACHING OUT TO SO AGAIN I
AM ENCOURAGED THAT YOU ARE
TAKING THE TIME NOW TO DIG
DEEPER WITH THOSE PROJECTS TO
HELP THEM WHERE THEY NEED
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER
AREAS TO REALLY MATCH THEM UP
AND REALLY GET THOSE PROJECTS
FURTHER ALONG. I APPRECIATE
THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON .
>> I HAVE THREE EASY QUESTIONS.
I WILL JUST SAY THEM ALL AT
ONCE. NUMBER ONE, YOUR TOTAL
APPROPRIATION FROM 2024 TO 2025
INCREASES BY 2.1 MILLION , BUT
EDI ONLY INCREASES 1.6 AND THEN
IN YOUR PRESENTATION YOU TALKED
ABOUT A LOT OF REDUCTION SO
WHAT MAKES UP THE ADDITIONAL .5
MILLION INCREASE?
>> I'M GOING TO LOOK TO
MELISSA TO HELP ME HERE BUT I
BELIEVE THAT PART OF THAT MAY
BE FROM OUR OTHER SOURCES, SO ,
ARE YOU JUST TALKING ABOUT
GENERAL FUND DOLLARS?
>> I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR TOTAL
[ INAUDIBLE ]
>> YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE TOTAL
BUDGET GOING FROM 35 MILLION [
INAUDIBLE ] MUCH OF THAT IS
GOING TO BE DUE TO CITY CENTRAL
COST, COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENTS AND CENTRAL
ALLOCATIONS TO HR AND I.T.
>> YOUR EDI RECEIVES TWO
SOURCES OF FUNDING. PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX AND SHORT-TERM
RENTAL TAX. THE SHORT-TERM
RENTAL TAX, THE AMOUNT FOR
2024, 25 AND 26 IS IDENTICAL SO
IT'S 5,134,948, SO WHY
DOESN'T THAT NUMBER FLUCTUATE?
IS IT SET THAT THAT IS WHAT YOU
GET IN AND THE REST GO
SOMEPLACE ELSE, BECAUSE SURELY
THAT AMOUNT FLUCTUATES EVERY
YEAR.
>> THIS NUMBER DOES NOT
REPRESENT THE ENTIRETY OF
SHORT-TERM RENTAL TAX FUNDS.
OPCD GETS AN ALLOCATION OF THE
5 MILLION WHICH WE PUT TOWARD
EDI RFP AND THEN THE 134,948 IS
ALSO AN EDI PROGRAM FOR
ADMINISTRATION.
>> SOMEBODY SAID YOU GET A FLAT
AMOUNT AND THAT IS WHAT YOU
GET.
>> CORRECT. THERE IS NO LABOR
IN THAT NUMBER.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. AND
FINALLY YOU STARTED YOUR
PRESENTATION TALKING ABOUT
LIGHT RAIL AND COORDINATION, SO
IS OPCD THE LEAD AGENCY
COORDINATING WSDOT, SDOT, ET
CETERA?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT WE ARE NOT
THE LEAD AGENCY . I WOULD SAY
WE PROVIDE A STRONG SUPPORT TO
SDOT. AS RELATES SPECIFICALLY
TO SOUTH DOWNTOWN WE ARE TAKING
THE LEAD RELATED TO LOOKING AT
A DOZEN PROJECTS HAPPENING IN
SOUTH DOWNTOWN SPECIFICALLY BUT
MORE GENERALLY RELATED TO
PLANNING, SDOT IS IN THE LEAD
AND WE HAVE REGULAR
COORDINATION MEETINGS THAT ARE
INTERNAL TO THE CITY BETWEEN
SDOT AND OPCD REGARDING STATION
CONSIDERATIONS THEN OBVIOUSLY
ARE PART OF OTHER COORDINATION
MEETINGS WITH SOUND TRANSIT
STAFF AT THE TABLE. COMING TO
PROVIDE OUR PLANNING EXPERTISE
AND TO COMMUNICATE WHAT OUR
CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN IN
COMMUNITY RELATED TO POTENTIAL
OPPORTUNITIES .
>> OKAY. IS CITY LINK PART OF
THAT CONVERSATION, AS WELL?
>> NOT AS A REGULAR MEETING,
BUT I WOULD SAY ON AN AS NEEDED
PERIODIC BASIS AND CERTAINLY
THERE ARE LOTS OF IMPACTS THAT
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT IS AT THE
TABLE 4.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, FOR
COMING. EVERYBODY IS REMAINING
AT THE TABLE INCLUDING CBO AND
CENTRAL STAFF NEEDS. THANK YOU
. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK
YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I
HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THE EDI
REPORT YET BUT WILL AND I
APPRECIATE GETTING MORE INTO
THAT AN UNDERSTANDING PER
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA'S POINTS
AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
BUILD THAT COMMUNITY IS YOU ARE
LOOKING TO DO THERE. I ALSO
APPRECIATE THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN HOW IT WOULD
WORK. VERY IMPORTANT AS WE WERE
TALKING EARLIER ABOUT MASHING
ALL THESE DIFFERENT PIECES
TOGETHER , WHICH ARE VERY
FAVORABLE IN OTHER AREAS, TOO,
I.E. PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THE
LAST THING FOR THE COMP PLAN,
WE HAD A DISCUSSION REGARDING
DOWNTOWN. OBVIOUSLY THINGS ARE
CHANGING. OBVIOUSLY THE PUSH
FOR COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL
SO I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW WE
NOW. -- WE HAVE A COMMUNITY
COUNSEL FOR RESIDENTS, A
COUNCIL OF COUNSEL COSTS, IF
YOU WILL WE WILL BE LOOKING TO
GET THESE PIECES IN IN THE
BLOCK BY BLOCK IS GOING TO BE
VERY IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT FOR
OVERALL DISTRICT 7 AND AS NOTED
BEFORE, I D IS RELATED TO THE
COMP PLAN INCLUDING IDEAS FOR
THE NEIGHBORHOOD I WILL LIVE UP
TO FOLLOWING DISCUSSION.
>> ONCE THE DRAFT ZONING
IMPLEMENTATION MAPS COME BACK
YOU WILL SEE THEM AS COMPLEX
WITH AGONAL CREATURES, NO
LONGER CIRCLES.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK
THAT'S A STEP FORWARD. THANK
YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANYTHING ELSE? I
WILL WALK THROUGH A COUPLE
REFLECTIONS. THIS IS DEPARTMENT
AGNOSTIC SO FOR EVERY
DEPARTMENT THAT IS HAVING
POSITION REDUCTIONS AND TAKING
A CLOSE LOOK AT THIS TO MAKE
SURE THE CORE FUNCTIONALITY IS
ABLE TO BE RETAINED, BUT THE
PLANNING COMMISSION AND DESIGN
COMMISSION ARE COMMISSIONS THAT
I RELY ON. I RELY ON FOR THEIR
PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE
REGARDING PROJECTS FROM ALLEY
VACATIONS TO SOUND TRANSIT TO
THE ART IN OUR CITY AND AGAIN,
TWO DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS. ONE
DOES PLANNING. ONE DOES DESIGN.
I RELY ON BOTH. REGARDING LIGHT
RAIL, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT IT
IS COMING TO SEATTLE FOR WEST
SEATTLE IN THE BALLARD
EXTENSIONS. THESE TWO
EXTENSIONS ARE COMPLETELY
WITHIN THE CITY OF SEATTLE .
SOUND TRANSIT IS A REGIONAL
TRANSIT NETWORK TRANSIT SYSTEM.
THREE COUNTYWIDE BUT THESE NEXT
ADDITIONS WILL BE JUST IN OUR
CITY. IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED
DURING OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT PRESENTATIONS THAT
PRIVATE BUSINESS DRIVES SALES
TAX, OTHER TEXT GENERATION THAT
COMES TO US. THESE ARE FACTS,
AS WELL AS MEGAPROJECTS SUCH AS
THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE
WATERFRONT AND SOON TO BE LIGHT
RAIL WILL DO THE SAME FOR US.
WE WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE A FAIR
AMOUNT OF SALES TAX FROM BOTH
WATERFRONT AND THE CONVENTION
CENTERS. I DO HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS. I DID NOTICE THE
DUWAMISH VALLEY COORDINATOR.
THIS IS NOT A POSITION THAT IS
BEING CUT, BUT TRANSFERRED TO
SPU. IS THIS WHAT FUNDS?
>> COUNCILMAN ARE YOU
REPRESENTING THE [ INAUDIBLE ]
COORDINATOR POSITION?
>> I AM READING ON PAGE 293,
THE DUWAMISH VALLEY
COORDINATOR.
>> YES. THAT WAS TRANSFERRED IN
MIDYEAR SUPPLEMENTAL
LEGISLATION FOR 2024. IT WAS
GENERAL FUNDED BUT IT HAD A
SUNSET DATE ON IT AT THE END OF
THIS YEAR. [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> THANK YOU. I DO APPRECIATE
THE POSSESSIONS THAT HAD SUNSET
DATES ON THEM HAVING BEEN
EXTENDED ON THEIR PROJECTS AS
WELL AS I'M JUST GOING TO
REPEAT BACK WHAT I THINK THAT I
HEARD FROM YOU IS THAT YOUR
DRAFT EIS FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN NEEDED ADDITIONAL WORK AS
DETERMINED BY YOUR OFFICE IN
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THAT IS
WHY THERE IS FUNDING IN HERE
FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL EIS TO ADD
ONTO THAT WORK. IS THAT A
CORRECT UNDERSTANDING? I
SUPPORT THAT. THANK YOU. NOTING
YOU MENTIONED THAT BALLARD WILL
BE DESIGNATED AS A REGIONAL
CENTER. I BELIEVE I DID GET A
YES NO RESPONSE FROM MR.
MICHAEL HUBNER ON THIS AND THE
ANSWER WAS YES, THAT BALLARD
ALREADY HAS THE ZONING THAT
COULD BE DESIGNATED FOR A
REGIONAL CENTER . THE
DIFFERENCE IS THAT BY BEING
DESIGNATED AS A REGIONAL
CENTER, WE HAVE ACCESS TO
ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDING
THROUGH PSR C SO EVEN IF WE
DON'T CHANGE THE ZONING AND
BALLARD, THIS SIMPLE
DESIGNATION WOULD BE ABLE TO
BRING US MORE GRANT FUNDING.
>> THAT IS CORRECT, SIR.
>> FANTASTIC AND THEN AS I AM
LOOKING AT THE 2019 TO 2024
BUDGET SUMMARY ON PAGE 137 OF
224, NOTING THAT IN THE LAST
FIVE YEARS YOU HAVE HAD
CONSIDERABLE GROWTH IN YOUR
DEPARTMENT IF YOU JUST LOOK AT
THE PERCENTAGES. WHEN I AM
LOOKING AT THESE BAR CHARTS IT
IS ALMOST ENTIRELY IN EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE AND I
WANT TO LET YOU KNOW I THINK
THAT IS A GOOD USE OF FUNDING.
EDI IS A PROGRAM THAT DOES
PREVENT DISPLACEMENT AND
CREATES CULTURAL GATHERING
SPACES . NO QUESTION THERE,
JUST A STATEMENT. THOSE ARE ALL
OF MY NOTES FOR YOU TODAY. IS
THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD
LIKE TO SHARE WITH US BEFORE I
TURN IT BACK TO THE CHAIR OF
YOUR COMMITTEE?
>> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
ALL OF YOU. I APPRECIATE THE
HARD WORK EACH OF YOUR OFFICES
HOUSE TO DO AND THAT YOU HAVE
TO DO TO SEE ALL OF THIS WORK
FORWARD AND I KNOW THAT ALL OF
YOUR PLATES ARE VERY FULL.
APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO COME
TO YOU TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE
WORK THAT WE DO IT OPCD. WE ARE
VERY EXCITED TO TRY TO LIFT UP
THE MAYOR'S VISION FOR A
GROWING CITY AND THE NEEDS OF
ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. VERY
EXCITED FOR THE CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT
ARE FORTHCOMING BOTH WITH
COMMUNITY AND WITH ALL OF YOU
AND YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO
SAY FOR ME, LIKE IF THERE ARE
QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT ANY OF
THE WORK THAT WE DO LIKE I
REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO BE
RESPONSIVE TO ALL OF YOU AND
REALLY, THIS IS THE WORK THAT
GETS ME OUT OF BED EVERY
MORNING SO I'M JUST VERY
HONORED TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER
WITH ALL OF YOU.
>> I WILL JUST SAY THANK YOU TO
ALL THE PEOPLE FOR ALL THE
THINGS. THIS IS EXCITING FOR
ME. I THINK THE COMP PLAN
DISCUSSION, THE WORK THAT THIS
DEPARTMENT DOES REALLY IS THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR VALUES AS
A CITY . IT IS HOW WE WILL MEET
OUR GOALS AROUND HOUSING,
AROUND JOB GROWTH, AROUND
MAKING NEIGHBORHOODS DRIVE,
AROUND PROVIDING PARKS FOR OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY
CENTERS AND THE WORK THESE
DEPARTMENTS DO . THAT IS HOW WE
MANIFEST THE THINGS IMPORTANT
TO US AS COUNCILMEMBERS, CITY
LEADERS AND AS PEOPLE WHO WANT
WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR NEIGHBORS
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
CONVERSATIONS AND I REALLY HOPE
THAT MY COLLEAGUES TAKE YOU UP
ON YOUR OFFER TO BE A THOUGHT
PARTNER WITH THEM WHEN IT COMES
TO THE THINGS THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEIR
DISTRICTS COULD BE, SO THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE GOING TO
TRANSITION NOW TO THE FOURTH
AND LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA
TODAY. CLERK, WILL YOU READ THE
SHORT TITLE INTO THE RECORD AND
WE CAN COME ON UP AS EVERYONE
IS TRANSITIONING HERE.
>> AGENDA ITEM FOUR SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, JODI. CLERK JODI.
OUR NEXT ITEM IS THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION
INSPECTIONS. WE HAVE DIRECTOR
NATHAN TORGERSON , SHANE MUCHOW
DAN EDER, BEN NOBLE AND A FEW
OTHERS. PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES. LOOKS LIKE YOUR
PRESENTATION IS ALREADY UP AND
RUNNING SO I'M GOING TO TURN
IT OVER TO YOU TO TAKE AWAY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. NATHAN
TORGELSON, DIRECTOR OF SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS.
>> SHANE MUCHOW, FINANCE
DIRECTOR FOR SDCI.
>> I ALSO WANT TO INTRODUCE
JEFF TALENT WHO IS IN THE
AUDIENCE WAS OUR RENTAL PROGRAM
MANAGER AND ALSO SCOTT FROM
SDCI WHO IS OUR STAFF
ECONOMIST. BOTH OF THEM HAVE A
LOT OF EXPERTISE. FIRST OF ALL,
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'M EXCITED TO PRESENT BEFORE
YOU TODAY AND VERY APPROPRIATE
FOR US TO GO RIGHT AFTER THE
OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. MUCH OF
THE VISION IN THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN, AS YOU KNOW, IS
IMPLEMENTED BY THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS SO MAYOR HERALDS
PRIORITIES FOR SDCI ARE FOR US
TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON CORE
SERVICES. OUR PERMITTING
PROCESS IS QUITE COMPLEX AND
OUR GOAL IS TO ALWAYS PROVIDE A
BETTER CUSTOMER EXPENSE --
EXPERIENCE. WE'VE GONE THROUGH
ORGANIZATIONAL REDESIGN TO
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. WE HAVE
CUSTOMER SUCCESS IN
PRE-APPLICATION SUPPORT TEAM
THROUGH THE CONSOLIDATION OF
SOME OF OUR WORK GROUPS AND ONE
OF THE KEY GOALS OF THIS NEW
DIVISION IS TO HELP INFREQUENT
CUSTOMERS. WE HAVE A LOT OF
VERY SOPHISTICATED APPLICANTS
WHO BRING MANY PERMITS THROUGH
OUR DEPARTMENT BUT WE ALSO HAVE
ONE TIME APPLICANTS WERE
APPLICANTS THAT JUST COME IN A
COUPLE TIMES AND ONE OF OUR KEY
GOALS THROUGH THIS REDESIGN IS
TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE GET
THROUGH OUR PROCESS. WE ARE
ALSO IMPROVING COLLABORATION
COMMUNICATION AND OUR PROCESSES
BY MERGING OUR LAND-USE AND
ENGINEERING SERVICES DIVISION
INTO ONE DIVISION . THIS WAS
ONE OF THE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT CAME OUT OF THE PERMITTING
AUDIT THAT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS HELPED TO ORCHESTRATE
BACK IN 2023 AND WE ARE PROUD
OF THESE CHANGES AND REALLY
CONFIDENT THAT BOTH OF THESE
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES ARE
GOING TO HELP US PROVIDE BETTER
CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR EVERYONE.
SDCI'S VISION IS TO SET THE
STANDARD FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
SERVICE. OUR PURPOSE IS TO HELP
PEOPLE BUILD A SAFE, LIVABLE
AND INCLUSIVE SEATTLE AND OUR
VALUES , WHICH WE TAKE VERY
SERIOUSLY, OUR EQUITY, RESPECT,
QUALITY, INTEGRITY AND SERVICE.
SDCI'S WORK FALLS PRIMARILY
INTO TWO COUNCIL COMMITTEES.
THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE CHAIRED
BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES IN
THE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER MOORE. I WANTED TO THANK
BOTH OF YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
AND FOR REALLY DIVING INTO OUR
ISSUES AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT
OUR DEPARTMENT DOES. WE ALSO
WANT TO THANK YOUR STAFF AND
COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF WHO HAVE
SPENT A LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME
PROVIDING SUPPORT TO YOUR
COMMITTEES. THAT IS SUPER
HELPFUL FOR US. I ALSO WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AS
CHAIR OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE
AND ALSO PREVIOUS CHAIR OF THE
LAND-USE COMMITTEE. SDCI HAS A
SOMEWHAT UNIQUE FUNDING
STRUCTURE. 91% OF OUR PERMIT
FEES -- 91% OF OUR BUDGET IS
COVERED BY PERMIT FEES. THAT IS
A HUGE PERCENTAGE AND 9% OF OUR
BUDGET IS FROM GENERAL FUND.
SDCI MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT ITS
FEES ARE SET TO RECOVER NO MORE
THAN THE COST OF RELATED
SERVICES AND STATE LAW
RESTRICTS US FROM THE USE OF
PERMIT FEES TO PAY FOR OTHER
GOVERNMENT SERVICES. IN OTHER
WORDS, A LOT OF THE MONEY AND
PERMIT FEES THAT ARE GENERATED
BY OUR DEPARTMENT CANNOT BE
USED FOR OTHER GOVERNMENT
SERVICES. SDCI HAS REALIGNED
SOME OF OUR WORK. WE HAVE
SHIFTED SOME OF OUR GENERAL
FUND MONEY TO PERMIT FEES, AND
YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT THAT LATER
ON , AS PART OF OUR
PRESENTATION, BUT IF YOU LOOK
AT THE CHART BELOW AS PART OF
OUR BUDGET, YOU WILL SEE THAT
IN 2024, $105 MILLION IS
COVERED BY PERMIT FEES. 455,000
BY THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX FUND
, AND ABOUT $11 MILLION IN
GENERAL FUND, 482 FTEs, AND
YOU'LL SEE THE CHANGES FOR
2025 AND 2026 AS PART OF THE
MAYOR'S BUDGET GOING FORWARD .
A FAIRLY LARGE DECREASE TO OUR
GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND AN
INCREASE IN PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX
FUND, WHICH WE WILL TALK ABOUT
IN THE FUTURE.
>> ALL RIGHT, I WILL COVER
PROBABLY OUR LARGEST NOTABLE
REDUCTION RIGHTSIZING STAFFING
IN RESPONSE TO PERMITS. WE HAVE
EXPERIENCED A DRAMATIC
REDUCTION IN MASTER USE
PERMITS. SINCE 2019. PERMIT
TIMELINES WILL NOT BE AFFECTED
ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE -- SORRY,
PERMIT TIMELINES WILL NOT BE
AFFECTED BY STAFF REDUCTIONS
BECAUSE FEWER WILL REQUIRE
MASTER USE PERMIT. DUE TO THESE
ECONOMIC PRESSURES ON PERMIT
REVENUE, SDCI IS ILLUMINATING
20 FD SUNSET POSITIONS AT THE
END OF THIS YEAR. THEY WERE
SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE AT THE END
OF 2025, SO WE ARE MOVING THIS
UP BY A YEAR AND ALSO
ELIMINATING THE FUNDING FOR
NINE REGULAR POSITIONS BUT
RETAINING THE POCKETS, SO THAT
THE MAIN GOAL OF THAT IS SO
THAT WE CAN RAMP UP QUICKLY IN
THE FUTURE IF VOLUMES RETURN
AND REVENUES RETURN. WE WILL
HAVE THOSE POCKETS READY TO GO
AND WE CAN ACTUALLY UTILIZE
SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE CALLED
CONTINGENT BUDGET AUTHORITY. WE
ALSO COLLECT CBA BUT I KNOW YOU
HAVE COUNSEL BUDGET ACTIONS,
CBA SO I DON'T WANT TO GET YOU
MISSED CONFUSED WITH THAT AND
WE HAVE CONTINUOUS CONTINGENT
BUDGET AUTHORITY WE CAN USE
VERY QUICKLY FOR STAFFING.
THESE ARE ALL LAND-USE
POSITIONS FUNDED BY PERMIT
FEES.
>> SO THE CONTINGENT BUDGET
AUTHORITY GIVES OUR DEPARTMENT
A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY. WE KNOW
THE ECONOMY WILL COME BACK AND
IN THE PAST WE HAD TO GO TO
COUNSEL TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL
POSITION AUTHORITY THAN WE HAD
ADVERTISED AND WE HAD INTERVIEW
AND WE WERE WAY BEHIND SO WITH
THE CONTINGENT BUDGET AUTHORITY
WHEN THE ECONOMY DOES COME
BACK, WHICH IT WILL, WE CAN
IMMEDIATELY GO INTO THE HIRING
PROCESS , WHICH IS A GREAT
BENEFIT THEM ALSO WANTED TO
REMIND COUNCILMEMBERS THAT
MASTER USE PERMITS, THESE TEND
TO BE THE DISCRETIONARY PERMITS
THAT WE REVIEW SO THIS IS SEE
BY REVIEW, RESOUNDS,
CONDITIONAL USES IN DESIGN
REVIEW IS OFTEN INCORPORATED
INTO THOSE PROJECTS.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE
ABOUT TO COVER THIS, BUT MAYBE
YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE REASONS
WE ARE FINDING THERE IS LESS
PERMIT WORK TO DO AND LESS
PERMIT FEES COMING IN.
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK
ABOUT IT OR LEAVE IT TO YOU IF
YOU PREFER. I'M GOING TO JUMP
IN. ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS
WHY WE ARE SEEING FEWER PERMITS
COME IN IS THE STATE OF THE
ECONOMY AND INTEREST RATES ARE
OBVIOUSLY A LOT HIGHER THAN
THEY WERE SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN STATE
ACTIONS AND CITY ACTIONS THAT
HAVE ELIMINATED DESIGN REVIEW
FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS SO THAT IS
ANOTHER REASON.
>> OKAY, SO THIS TELLS THE
STORY THE FIRST IS MASTER USE
PERMIT APPLICATIONS. THE SECOND
IS MASTER USE PERMIT
APPLICATIONS . ON THE LEFT IS
INTAKE VOLUME BY MASTER PERMIT
TYPE IN THE GREEN LINES ARE
PRIMARILY DESIGN REVIEW AND
SEPA. THE BLUE IS EVERYTHING
ELSE , RESOUNDS, CONDITIONAL
USES, VARIANCES , PLATS AND THE
SLIDE ON THE RIGHT ARE FEES
INVOICED BY MASTER USE PERMIT
TYPE. AGAIN, THE GREEN IS SEPA
AND DESIGN REVIEW AND THE BLUE
IS EVERYTHING ELSE.
>> ORGAN THE CHART ON THE LEFT
IS THE NUMBER OF PERMITS ON THE
CHART ON THE RIGHT OF THE FEES
WE HAVE COLLECTED?
>> CONSTRUCTION PERMIT
APPLICATION VOLUMES HAVE BEGUN
TO REBOUND IN 2024. HOWEVER,
THE PROJECT TYPES ARE LESS
COMPLEX, WITH LOWER PROJECT
VALUE AND LOWER FEE REVENUE AS
A RESULT. ON THE LEFT IS THE
CONSTRUCTION APPLICATION VOLUME
WHICH YOU CAN SEE FROM THE LAST
DOWNTURN IN 2009 AND 10
INCREASES TO A PEAK IN 2017 AND
RECEDES FROM THERE. WE DO SEE A
BUMP UP IN 2024. THE CHART ON
THE RIGHT IS THE CONSTRUCTION
PERMIT PROJECT VALUATION . THE
NUMBERS ON THE LEFT ARE IN
BILLIONS. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
SPIKES THAT YOU SEE HERE, ONE
IN 2016 AND ONE IN 2020 AND
THOSE ARE BECAUSE THOSE WERE
SOME KIND OF MAJOR TECHNICAL
CODE CHANGES THAT HAPPENED AT
THAT TIME WHEN THERE WAS A
VESTING RUSH THAT DROVE THOSE
LARGE PROJECTS. RIGHT NOW, THE
VOLUMES ARE STILL HERE . THEY
ARE LOWER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN
BUT IT IS THE PROJECT
VALUATION, THE LARGE COMPLEX
PROJECTS WE ARE NOT SEEING
RIGHT NOW, AND THAT REALLY
HURTS THE REVENUE THAT WE BRING
IN.
>> SO, WE ARE STILL SEEING A
FAIR NUMBER OF [ INAUDIBLE ] ON
OUR SKYLINE BUT OBVIOUSLY THOSE
PERMITS WERE PROCESSED A LONG
TIME AGO.
>> THIS IS THE PLAN REVIEW
BACKLOG . THROUGHOUT 2020 FOR
THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS UNDER
REVIEW BY SDCI HAS BEEN
HOVERING AROUND THE FIVE-YEAR
LOW. PERMITTING TIMELINES HAVE
STABILIZED OR IMPROVED DURING
THIS TIMEFRAME. THE CHART ON
THE LEFT ARE PROJECTS UNDER
REVIEW. DARK BLUE IS THE
INITIAL PLAN REVIEW AND THE
LIGHT BLUE SHOWS THE CORRECTION
PLAN CYCLE. THAT HAS BEEN AT A
FIVE-YEAR LOW OVER THE LAST
YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF. THE
CHART ON THE RIGHT IS
CONSTRUCTION PERMIT INTAKE
ISSUANCE TIME. THIS IS THE
AVERAGE DAY IN POSSESSION SO IT
DOES NOT INCLUDE THE
CUSTOMER'S DAY OF POSSESSION.
FOR THE COMPLEX PERMITS, THE
DARK BLUE IS HELD PRETTY STEADY
AROUND HUNDRED AND 80 DAYS. THE
LIGHT BLUE OR MEDIUM BLUE ARE
SIMPLE TO MEDIUM PROJECTS AND
THOSE HAVE THE DAYS OF SDCI
POSSESSION HAVE DECREASED SINCE
2021. MOVING ON, WE HAVE
ANOTHER NOTABLE REDUCTION IN
TERMS OF BUDGET. THE TRANSFER
OF THE SIDE SEWER PROGRAM BACK
TO SPU. IN 2003, SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES DELEGATED AUTHORITY
OF THE SEWER CODE TO SDCI AND
WE'VE BEEN MANAGING THAT SINCE
2003. THEY REQUESTED TO
TRANSITION OVERSIGHT OF THE
PROGRAM BACK TO SPU, AND IN
ORDER TO DO THAT THEY HAVE
THEIR OWN BUDGET REQUEST WITH
POSITIONS THEY'RE ASKING FOR
BUT AS PART OF THIS, WE ARE
TRANSFERRING 10 FTEs FROM SDCI
OVER TO SPU AND THESE ARE FIVE
SITE REVIEW INSPECTORS FROM THE
INSPECTION SERVICES AND SOME
PERMIT REVIEWERS FROM OUR
LAND-USE AND ENGINEERING
SERVICES, SO THE TRANSFER AT
THE BOTTOM OF THE TABLE IS NOT
A REDUCTION OF CITY STAFF, JUST
THE TRANSFER FROM SDCI TO SPU.
>> WE MAY HAVE HAD A MISMATCH
OF THE RIGHT PRESENTATION.
WE'RE MISSING A COUPLE OF
SLIDES, SO -- SO, IT IS THERE.
>> WE GOT A NEW VERSION SENT
OUT AT LUNCH. THANK YOU.
>> THIS SLIDE HAS TO DO WITH
SDCI'S TENANT SERVICE BUDGET
AND CONTRACTS AND THE NEXT
SLIDE AFTER THIS WILL SHOW
OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AND
STATE MONEY BUT ALSO SERVICES
AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO TENANTS,
SO SDCI AS PART OF THE BUDGET
IS MAINTAINING $1.76 MILLION TO
SUPPORT TENANTS AND THIS
INCLUDES $527,000 TO RENTAL
ASSISTANCE . THIS DOES REDUCE
THE ONGOING INVESTMENT BY
$811,000, BUT AGAIN, THE NEXT
SLIDE WILL TALK ABOUT HOW THE
STATE AND THERE ARE OTHER
RESOURCES TO HELP TENANTS. I
ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THE
DURING THE PANDEMIC , THE MAYOR
AT THE TIME AND THE COUNCIL
ADDED SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES TO
HELP TENANTS DURING THAT
DIFFICULT TIME PERIOD. IN
ANOTHER REASON FOR THE
INCREASE. THIS BUDGET PROVISION
REMOVES THE GENERAL FRONT
APPROPRIATION AND SHIFTS THE
REMAINING APPROPRIATION TO THE
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX, SO I JUST
WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
>> I WANTED TO SET THE LAST
SLIDE IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT
ELSE IS HAPPENING IN THE REST
OF THE BUDGET AND OTHER
DEPARTMENTS BESIDES SDCI.
NATHAN TORGELSON TALK TO YOU
ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH
$1.7 BILLION ONGOING INCLUDING
500+ THOUSAND DOLLARS OF RENTAL
ASSISTANCE INCLUDED IN THE
BUDGET . FOR THE SAME PURPOSES
, OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE ALSO
MAKING INVESTMENTS SO I
THOUGHT, THAT IS AN IMPORTANT
BIT OF CONTEXT. HSD CHECKS
ALMOST THIS -- HOMELESSNESS
PREVENTION INCLUDES $4.6
MILLION FOR OTHER PURCHASES IN
COORDINATION WITH OTHER
AGENCIES YOU SEE ON THE SLIDE
THAT ARE TOO NUMEROUS TO READ
ALL OF THEM BUT THE USES FOR
RENT AND UTILITY ARREARS ,
PROSPECTIVE RENT AND SECURITY
DEPOSIT IN SOME CASE MANAGEMENT
. THERE ARE $6.5 MILLION THAT
WOODS PROVIDED ONE TIME IN
2024. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
GET ALL OF THAT $6.5 MILLION
OUT THE DOOR AND EXPECT TO
CARRY FORWARD SOME PORTION
AMOUNT TO BE DETERMINED INTO
2025 FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES ,
SUPPORTING RENTAL ASSISTANCE
AND ADDRESSING RENT ARREARS AND
FINALLY, DURING THE OVERVIEW
PRESENTATION I INDICATED THAT
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT MAYOR
HARRELL CHALLENGED ALL THE
DEPARTMENTS AND CBO TO LOOK AT
IS HOW DOES THE CITY'S WORK
INTERSECT WITH THE WORK OF
OTHER GOVERNMENTS , AND THE
LAST BULLET DESCRIBES SOME WORK
THAT THE STATE HAS RECENTLY
BEGUN DOING IN THE LAST COUPLE
OF YEARS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR
EVICTION DEFENSE AND THEY
PROVIDE ABOUT $4 MILLION IN
TOTAL TO KING COUNTY, NOT ALL
OF WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO THE
CITY. OF COURSE, IT IS A BIG
COUNTY BUT THAT IS OUTSIDE THE
CITY CONTEXT, AS WELL. WANTED
TO MAKE SURE I PROVIDED THAT
FULL REVIEW.
>> THANK YOU. OKAY. A NOTABLE
ADDITION IS OUR ENTERPRISE
CONTENT MANAGEMENT UPGRADE AND
MIGRATION. THIS IS DRIVEN BY
SEATTLE I.T. AND INCLUDES OTHER
DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS OURS.
THE CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
ELECTRONIC CONTENT MANAGEMENT
IS NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTED
AFTER DECEMBER 2026, SO SEATTLE
I.T. WANTED TO GET US STARTED
ON UPGRADING THIS, AND THE
ELECTRONIC CONTENT MANAGEMENT,
I BELIEVE, HAS APPROXIMATELY 25
TB OF DOCUMENTS FROM SDCI
PRIMARILY FROM [ INAUDIBLE ] IT
IS ALL THE PLAN REVIEWS, JUST
EVERYTHING THAT WE PROCESSED,
SO IT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF
OUR WORK , AND IMPORTANT TO GET
UPGRADED. ANOTHER NOTABLE
ADDITION, EVERY YEAR WE
PROPOSED THE LEGISLATION AND
THIS IS FOR THE 2025 AND 2026
YEARS, SINCE IT IS A BIENNIAL
BUDGET. OUR PROPOSED FEE
REVISIONS INCLUDE INFLATIONARY
ADJUSTMENTS OF 6.5% IN BOTH
2025 AND 2026 TO KEEP UP WITH
THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS.
LEGISLATION ALSO INCLUDES AN
INCREASE IN VALUE-BASED
BUILDING DEVELOPMENT, PLAN
REVIEW AND PERMIT FEES IN 2025.
IT ALSO INCLUDES INCREASES TO
INSPECTION CERTIFICATE FEES FOR
BOILER, PRESSURE VESSEL AND
ELEVATOR EQUIPMENT BEYOND 6.5%
IN 2025 AND 2026. THEN THERE
ARE SOME OTHER REVENUE-NEUTRAL,
TECHNICAL AND LANGUAGE CHANGES
THAT ARE ALWAYS INCLUDED.
>> I WANT TO ADD THAT THE
WORKLOAD FOR BOILERS AND
PRESSURE VESSELS AND ELEVATORS
INCREASES EVERY YEAR , WHICH IS
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE ARE
INCREASING THE FEES, BECAUSE WE
DO ANNUAL INSPECTIONS ON THOSE
DEVICES , THE SAFETY OF THOSE
DEVICES IS PARAMOUNT AND ALSO
ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION IS GOING
TO HAVE INSPECTIONS IN THOSE
AREAS, AS WELL. WE HAVE NOT
INCREASED FEES AMONG THOSE
PERIODIC INSPECTION SINCE 2003.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION
AND WE ARE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN
QUESTIONS AND REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR ATTENTION TO OUR
DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO
TURN IT OVER TO THE LAND-USE
CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
>> THANKS FOR BEING HERE AND
SHARING ALL OF THIS WITH US. AS
NATHAN MENTIONED AT THE
BEGINNING, OPCD UPDATES OUR
LAND-USE CODE TO ALIGN WITH OUR
POLICY GOALS, BUT IT IS SDCI
THAT REALLY ADMINISTERS THOSE
CODES THROUGH PERMITTING SO IT
IS IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE
THE TWO ARE WORKING WELL
TOGETHER AND THAT BOTH ARE
EQUALLY WELL RESOURCED, SO I
WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR WORK TO CONSTANTLY
IMPROVE THE CUSTOMER SERVICE
EXPERIENCE. AS YOU MENTIONED,
WE HAD THE AUDIT COME OUT LAST
YEAR AND WE TOOK A QUICK LOOK
AT THE KIOSK THAT IS AN ATTEMPT
TO MAKE SURE THERE IS AN ACTUAL
PERSON BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE, AS
YOU SAID, WANT TO TALK TO AN
ACTUAL PERSON WHEN THEY'RE
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS
REQUIRED OF THEM IN THE PROJECT
SO THANK YOU FOR MOVING IN THAT
DIRECTION. THAT BEING SAID,
AFTER LOOKING AT THE BUDGET
HERE THAT IS BEING PROPOSED I
DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS. SDCI
SERVES A REALLY IMPORTANT
FUNCTION IN THE CITY. THIS
PROPOSAL IS MAKING SIGNIFICANT
CUTS TO STAFF AND WE KNOW THAT
THERE IS CURRENTLY A BACKLOG OF
COMPLIANCE COMPLAINTS , SO
THESE STAFFING CUTS COULD
NEGATIVELY IMPACT SDCI'S
ABILITY TO GET THROUGH THEM
NEVERMIND ANY FUTURE COMPLAINTS
WE MIGHT BE RECEIVING. THIS IS
ONE OF THE FEW DEPARTMENTS THAT
IS SELF-FUNDED . LESS THAN 10%
OF SDCI'S BUDGET IS FUNDED BY
THE GENERAL FUND AND THE
GENERAL FUND PRIMARILY FUNDS
ACTIVITIES THAT CANNOT BE
SUPPORTED BY THE REVENUE LIKE
INVESTIGATIONS RELATED TO
COMPLAINTS OF CODE VIOLATIONS,
SOME NEW DEVELOPMENT OF
REGULATIONS AND IN THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS HAS ALSO FUNDED
TENANT SERVICES, GRANTS, AND
CONTRACTS WHICH SIMILARLY
CANNOT BE FUNDED THROUGH FEE
REVENUE. SO AS I AM REVIEWING
THIS PROPOSAL , YOU KNOW, IF WE
WANT SDCI TO BE ABLE TO CARRY
OUT THEIR WORK WE NEED TO FUND
THEIR STAFF IN THE PROGRAMS
BECAUSE WE CAN'T CONSTANTLY BE
CRITIQUING THE INABILITY TO
MEET GOALS WITHOUT PROVIDING
SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO CARRY OUT
THOSE GOALS SO I DO WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE VERY
THOUGHTFUL AS WE GO THROUGH
THIS. I WILL GET TO MY
QUESTIONS, AND IF WE COULD GO
TO SLIDE THREE, I DO WANT TO
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS
PERMIT , MASTER USE PERMIT
ISSUE . WE KNOW YOU ARE
ABROGATING -- THE PROPOSAL IS
TO ABROGATE 20 POSITIONS. WE
KNOW THEY ARE SUNSETTING EARLY
BUT THEN THERE IS THIS
ASSUMPTION THAT THERE WILL BE
FEWER REVIEWS BECAUSE OF
CHANGES TO SEPA, BECAUSE OF
CHANGES TO DESIGN REVIEW BUT
THERE ARE TWO THINGS I THINK IT
IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER. ONE
IS THAT WE HAVE YET AS A
COUNSEL TO MAKE A POLICY
DECISION ABOUT WHAT A FUTURE
DESIGN REVIEW PROGRAM MIGHT
LOOK LIKE AND THAT IS WORK THAT
IS JUST BEGINNING, OR HOW
BROADLY APPLICABLE IT MIGHT BE
AND TWO, IT IS LIKELY THAT
CHANGES TO A.D.A. REGULATIONS
COULD INCREASE PERMIT VOLUMES
FOR SUBDIVISIONS WHICH WOULD
REQUIRE MORE STAFF. I KNOW YOU
SAID THERE IS THIS CONTINGENT
OF NINE STAFFERS. PRESUMABLY
THAT IS WHO YOU WOULD LOOK TO
IF THERE IS AN INCREASE HERE,
BUT IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
TWO TIMES AS MANY BEING LAID
OFF , I WONDER IF YOU CAN TELL
US HOW THE COUNCIL COULD ASSESS
THE NEED PARTICULARLY GIVEN WE
HAVEN'T SEEN ANY DESIGN REVIEW
CHANGES YET.
>> SO, WE DO HAVE A PROPOSAL
THAT WILL BE COMING FORWARD
NEXT YEAR , REIMAGINED DESIGN
REVIEW PROGRAM OBVIOUSLY WE DO
HAVE HIGHER DESIGN REVIEW
THRESHOLDS COMING FORWARD PER
STATE LEGISLATION AND SOME CITY
IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO MOVE THAT
FORWARD. WE ENVISION THERE WILL
BE FEWER PROJECTS GOING THROUGH
DESIGN REVIEW , SO I THINK THAT
IS ONE CHANGE. I THINK WITH THE
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS PART
OF THAT PROCESS IS TO SIMPLIFY
THE PERMITTING PROCESS. WE DO
HAVE SOME PREAPPROVED PLANS FOR
DETACHED ACCESSORY DRAWING
UNITS AND WE ARE HOPING SOME
APPLICANTS WILL CONTINUE TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT PROCESS
AND AS YOU MENTIONED, WE DO
HAVE THE ABILITY TO VERY
QUICKLY HIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF .
IF WE GET INTO A SITUATION
WHERE THE ECONOMY REBOUNDS MUCH
QUICKER THAN WE ARE
ANTICIPATING, THEN WE WILL BE
IN A SITUATION WHERE WE WILL
HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNSEL
AND ASK FOR ADDITIONAL POSITION
OF AUTHORITY .
>> WHICH WILL DELAY THE WHOLE
PROCESS, AS MENTIONED EARLIER.
POTENTIALLY.
>> THAT DOES TAKE TIME BUT OF
COURSE WE WILL USE THOSE NINE
POSITIONS IMMEDIATELY.
>> IF I MAY ALSO STEP IN TO
HELP ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE
STAFF WHO ARE PART OF THE
REDUCTION IN FORCE AS I BELIEVE
DIRECTOR TORGELSON MENTIONED,
ARE DIFFERENT, DOING DIFFERENT
BODIES OF WORK THAN SOME OF THE
WORK THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT AS A
PREAMBLE TO YOUR QUESTION, CODE
COMPLIANCE AND SIMILAR TYPE
WORK. JUST FOR THE LISTENING
PUBLIC I WANTED TO DRAW THAT
DISTINCTION.
>> WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE 9000
OUTSTANDING CODE COMPLIANCE
ISSUES, SO THAT IS STILL A
PROBLEM. LOOKING AT SLIDE FOUR,
SDCI'S RESPONSE TO THE SLIDE
THE REPORT ON OPTIONS FOR CODE
ENFORCEMENT STAFFING MODELS
INDICATED A NEED FOR AN
ADDITIONAL FIVE STAFF TO
ACHIEVE 2018 RESPONSE LEVEL
RESPONSE TIMES. SO THIS BUDGET
PROPOSES TO REDUCE COMPLIANCE
STAFFING ELIMINATING AN
UNFILLED POSITION FOR EXAMPLE
IN THE PROPERTY ASSISTANCE
GROUP WITH NO NEW STAFF BEING
PROPOSED, SO HOW DOES THE
DEPARTMENT PROPOSE TO ADDRESS
THE ONGOING BACKLOG AND CODE
ENFORCEMENT COMPLAINTS?
>> WE WILL BE COMING FORWARD TO
YOU WITH A PLAN FOR HOW WE ARE
GOING TO ADDRESS THAT. WE HAVE
A BIG CHALLENGE . WE HAVE DONE
A LOT MORE OUTREACH ABOUT HOW
TO FILE A CO-COMPLIANCE
COMPLAINT. DURING THE PANDEMIC
WE HAD A LOT MORE PEOPLE WHO
ARE WORKING AT HOME , MORE EYES
AND EARS ON THE STREET, WHICH
IS A GOOD THING BUT THE NUMBER
OF CODE COMPLAINTS THAT WE HAVE
RECEIVED HAS GONE UP
DRAMATICALLY, SO IT IS A
CHALLENGE THAT WE ARE FACING.
>> YES, WHICH IS WHY I AM SORT
OF FLUMMOXED AS TO WHY WE ARE
CUTTING POSITIONS AND CODE
ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE. IF
WE ARE LOOKING AT COST RECOVERY
FOR COMPLIANCE FUNCTIONS , HOW
SUCCESSFUL IS COST RECOVERY
WHEN THERE IS A SUSTAINED
NOTICE OF VIOLATION?
>> I'M SORRY, CAN YOU COMPLETE
-- REPEAT THE QUESTION?
>> I'M LOOKING AT TENANT
COMPLAINTS. WE HAVE A LOT OF
TENANTS WHO ARE TRYING TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE RIGHT FOR
HABITABILITY IN THE UNIT AND
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
LANDLORD-TENANT PROTECTION,
LANDLORD-TENANT CODE COMPLIANCE
THAT IS EXISTING BUT WE KNOW
THERE IS A BACKLOG OF SOME OF
THOSE COMPLAINTS AND SO I AM
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS
THE RIGHT MODEL FOR MAKING SURE
THAT YOU HAVE THE STAFF YOU
NEED TO BE ABLE TO CLEAR THAT
BACKLOG SO THAT WE HAVE TENANTS
WHO ARE LIVING IN UNITS THAT
ARE HABITABLE?
>> IF I MAY, COULD I BRING UP
JEFF TALENT , WHO ADMINISTERS
THAT PROGRAM ?
>> WELCOME, JEFF TALENT. AND
JEFF, JUST AS YOU ARE JOINING
US, I KNOW MANY OF US UP HERE
KNOW YOU BUT COULD YOU
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOUR
TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC.
THANK YOU.
>> JEFF TALENT, RENTAL PROGRAMS
MANAGER FOR SDCI AND ALSO ONE
OF THE MANAGERS IN OUR CODE
COMPLIANCE DIVISION. WE HAVE
CO-COMPLIANCE DIVISION. WE HAVE
PROPERTY OWNER AND TENANT
ASSISTANCE AS A GROUP WITHIN
THAT DIVISION. THE QUESTION WAS
, IS THERE A WAY [ INAUDIBLE ]
A FEE TO SUPPORT CO-COMPLIANCE
FUNCTIONS. AS WAS NOTED
EARLIER, OUR WORK NEEDS TO BE
FUNDED BY GENERAL FUND. IT
CANNOT BE FUNDED BY PERMIT FEES
SO THAT SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY
HARD LINE IN STATE LAW .
OTHERWISE, WE DON'T GENERATE
REVENUE. WE ASSESS FINES AND
PENALTIES . THOSE MOSTLY GO IN
THE GENERAL FUND OR INTO AN
ABATEMENT ACCOUNT TO SUPPORT
SOME OF THE OTHER COMPLIANCE
-RELATED ACTIVITIES. THEY DO
NOT GO TO STAFFING, AND IT
WOULD ALSO BE A VERY VARIABLE
REVENUE SOURCE COUNTING ON
PENALTIES TO SUPPORT STAFF
WOULD BE A REAL CHALLENGE FOR
US.
>> OKAY, SO WE ARE LOSING STAFF
BUT WE HAVE BEEN INCREASING THE
NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT NEED
RESOLUTION IS THE POINT I'M
TRYING TO MAKE HERE AND I THINK
IT IS DANGEROUS, FRANKLY, FOR
US TO BE ELIMINATING STAFF WHO
COULD HELP KEEP TENANTS IN
THEIR HOMES WHEN WE HAVE AN
ONGOING HOUSING CRISIS , SO WE
WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT.
THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE, IN
2024 SDCI RECEIVE 20,000 FOR A
CONSULTANT TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO
IMPROVE RENTAL REGISTRATION AND
INSPECTION ENFORCEMENT SO CAN
YOU TELL ME IF WE HIRED THAT
CONSULTANT AND WHAT THEIR
RECOMMENDATIONS WERE, AND IF
THIS BUDGET ADDRESSES THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS?
>> YOU SAID 2024 WE RECEIVED
FUNDING FOR A CONSULTANT?
>> THIS IS FOR THE RENTERS?
>> YES.
>> SO YES, THERE WAS A [
INAUDIBLE ] FOR THE RENTERS
COMMISSION TO APPOINT
STAKEHOLDERS AND TO DATE WE
HAVE NOT IMPLEMENTED THAT
PROGRAM. WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO
THE RENTERS COMMISSION TO
EXPLAIN THIS AND WE HAVE TALKED
TO THEM, BUT TO DATE, WE HAVE
NOT IMPLEMENTED THAT PROGRAM.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> COLLEAGUES, AND THE OTHER
QUESTIONS? I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER
WOO .
>> THANK YOU. TWO QUICK
QUESTIONS. THE FIRST ONE IS ,
CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT
SOFTWARE UPGRADES, OR THE LACK
OVER THERE WAS THAT ONE SLIDE
THAT TALKED ABOUT HOW IT WOULD
NOT GET UPGRADED PAST A CERTAIN
POINT IN TIME. ARE THERE ANY
MITIGATION EFFORTS?
>> SO, THE ENTERPRISE CONTENT
MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE IS
SOMETHING WE WERE NOT AWARE OF
UNTIL SEATTLEITES HE REACHED
OUT AND REACHED OUT TO OUR
DEPARTMENT AND A FEW OTHER
DEPARTMENTS, MAY BE SDOT. MAYBE
SPU. THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE
ORACLE SOFTWARE WOULD NO LONGER
BE SUPPORTED AFTER A CERTAIN
DATE AND AT THE END OF 2026,
THEY NEED TO UPGRADE THAT
SOFTWARE FOR US, BECAUSE WE
HAVE SO MANY DOCUMENTS ON
THERE. WE RELY ON THAT FOR
SOFTWARE AND FOR DOCUMENTS. IT
IS, YOU KNOW, TO ME, WE DON'T
HAVE A LOT OF CHOICE BUT TO DO
THIS UPGRADE. IT IS ALL PERMIT
FEE FUNDED.
>> DOES THAT INCLUDE THE
CONVERSION TO PUT EVERYTHING IN
A CLOUD-BASED SOFTWARE?
>> I BELIEVE IT IS.
>> HAS IT ALREADY STARTED OR IS
THAT THE UPGRADE?
>> I BELIEVE THEY ARE STARTING
IN 2025 AND CONTINUING INTO 26
BECAUSE WE ARE PAYING FOR IT
OVER TWO YEARS.
>> AND OUR SYSTEM HAS MIGRATED
TO THE CLOUD , WHICH HAS PRETTY
DRAMATICALLY REDUCED THE NUMBER
OF PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE HAD.
>> I SAW THE NUMBER GO DOWN.
ALSO MY QUESTION IS WHEN WE
LOOK AT THE STAFFING IN
RESPONSE TO PERMITS , SOME OF
THESE POSITIONS HAD, DUE TO THE
HIRING FREEZE, BEEN UNFILLED.
WE ARE LOOKING AT SIZABLE
LAYOFFS AS COUNCILMEMBER
MOREL'S HAS STATED. ARE THERE
ANY IMPACTS TO THESE LAYOFFS IN
TERMS OF PERMITTING TIMES?
>> WE BELIEVE WITH SOME OF THE
STRUCTURAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL
CHANGES THAT WE HAVE MADE IN
OUR DEPARTMENT AND THE CUSTOMER
SUCCESS DIVISION, THAT THOSE
IMPACTS WOULD BE VERY MINIMAL,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE ADDITIONAL
HANDHOLDING OF ONE TIME OR IN
FREQUENT APPLICANTS, WE FEEL
THAT PROBLEM WILL BE RESOLVED.
>> CURRENTLY THE PEOPLE IN
THESE POSITIONS , WHAT ARE THEY
DOING?
>> THEY ARE REVIEWING PERMITS.
>> AND I GUESS WITH THESE
PEOPLE'S JOBS BEING REDUCED ,
WE FEEL LIKE THE CURRENT
TIMELINE OF PERMIT REVIEWS WILL
STILL BE STAYING THE SAME OR
EFFECTIVE?
>> CORRECT. WE HAVE JUST
IMPLEMENTED THESE
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES , SO WE
ARE EXCITED TO SEE HOW THAT
WORKS AGAIN, ESPECIALLY FOR
THAT ONE TIME APPLICANT AND FOR
THE INFREQUENT APPLICANT.
>> IF I COULD JUMP IN, I AM
VERY THANKFUL FOR THE WORK SDCI
HAS BEEN DOING TO EXPEDITE
PERMITS AND REVIEW PROCESSES.
REFUND PLEASE STAFF WITH PERMIT
FEES . PERMIT FEES ARE NOT
THERE TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING
THE EMPLOYMENT OF THOSE STAFF
SO CONSEQUENCES COULD BE WORSE
AND WE WOULD STILL NOT HAVE THE
MONEY TO PAY FOR THE STAFF
BECAUSE THE PERMIT FEES HAVE
NOT BEEN THERE AT A LEVEL
SUFFICIENT TO KEEP THOSE PEOPLE
EMPLOYED.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND
FOR HAVING THE PORTIONS
RELATING TO TENANT SERVICES SO
I GUESS I'M KIND OF CONFUSED.
THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY
IS THAT IN LOOKING AT THE -- I
ASKED FOR THIS FROM CENTRAL
STAFF. WHERE DID IT GO? SO, THE
CITY RECEIVED FEDERAL MONEY FOR
RENTAL ASSISTANCE SO IN 2020 WE
RECEIVED $5.2 MILLION. IN 2021,
18.8 MILLION. 22, 26 MILLION IN
2023, 5.75 MILLION AND RECEIVED
DATA FROM UNITED WAY, WHICH
MANAGES A RENTAL ASSISTANCE
BOTH FOR THE CITY AND THE
COUNTY THAT CURRENTLY THERE ARE
5800 SEATTLE RESIDENTS ON THEIR
WEIGHT LIST FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE SO I JUST THINK THAT
THE DATA IS QUITE CLEAR THAT WE
NEED MORE RENTAL ASSISTANCE,
NOT LESS RENTAL ASSISTANCE, SO
WHILE I APPRECIATE THAT SOME
HAS BEEN MAINTAINED I REALLY
THINK WE NEED TO BE GOING BIG
AND ALSO THINK THAT RENTAL --
INCREASING RENTAL ASSISTANCE,
BEING ABLE TO BE MORE PROACTIVE
ABOUT WHEN WE PROVIDE IT WILL
HELP US ON THE OTHER END
RELATING TO EVICTIONS GENERATED
BY PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD SO
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF REASONS
PEOPLE ARE BEING EVICTED. MANY
OF THE REASONS RELATE TO
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES
AND WE WILL NEED TO ADDRESS
THOSE SEPARATELY. OTHERS RELATE
TO AN INABILITY TO PAY AND
OTHERS RELATE TO A WILLFUL
REFUSAL TO PAY FOR A VARIETY OF
REASONS SO I DO THINK WE NEED
TO BE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN
INCREASE RENTAL ASSISTANCE
ACROSS THE BOARD AND PERHAPS
UTILIZING P.E.T. RATHER THAN
GENERAL FUND TO DO THAT. I HAVE
A QUESTION. THIS IS A MORE
STRUCTURAL QUESTION THAN A
BUDGET QUESTION BUT WHEN I LOOK
AT IT, THERE ARE THREE
DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE MANAGING
SOME FORM OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
SDCI FOR EVICTIONS THAN OH AND
HSD . TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHY IS
IT HOUSED ACROSS THREE
DEPARTMENTS AND HOW EFFICIENT
IS THAT?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE A
PRECISE ANSWER FOR YOU. I THINK
IT IS MOSTLY AN ARTIFACT OF HOW
THE MONEY CAME AND WHEN IT CAME
SO IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SPEAK
TO LIKE HSD BUT FOR THEM, THOSE
WERE A LOT OF THE FEDERAL
DOLLARS THAT CAME IN AS PART OF
THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE AND THAT
WAS THE LOGICAL DEPARTMENT FOR
THAT TO END UP WITH. FOR SDCI,
I THINK THE COUNCIL CHOSE TO
GIVE US SOME RENTAL ASSISTANCE
MONEY PROVIDED AS THOUGH TO BE
ASSOCIATED WITH EVICTION
DEFENSE. I THINK THE EVICTION
DEFENSE PROCESS COULD BRING
THAT INTO THOSE EVICTION
HEARINGS AND I PRESUME THE
NOTION BEHIND THAT IS BECAUSE
WE WERE ALSO FUNDING THE
EVICTION DEFENSE PROGRAM. I
SHOULD SAY WE ARE IN
COMMUNICATION. WE TALKED TO
EACH OTHER. WE LEARNED ONE OF
OUR STAFF PEOPLE DURING THE
PANDEMIC TO HSD TO HELP WITH
THEIR RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
SO WE HAVE CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS
WITH THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND STAY
COORDINATED. I WILL ALSO ADD AS
WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER OUR
CONTRACTS NEXT YEAR FOR TENANT
SERVICES, WE WILL BE TALKING
WITH HSD AND OH ABOUT WHETHER
FUNDING SOURCES ARE AND WHAT
THE PRIORITIES ARE IN THE
COMMUNITY SO WE CAN TAILOR THE
GRANTS WE ARE GIVING OUT IN A
WAY THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE
OTHER PROGRAMS.
>> I WILL ADD THAT THE MAYOR
HAS RECOGNIZED THAT THERE IS
BOTH WITHIN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
BUT ALSO KING COUNTY AND THE
STATE , A LABYRINTH OF
DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES AND
PROGRAMS THAT ARE SUITED TO
ADDRESS DIFFERENT RANGES OF
NEEDS . I THINK THAT IS HELPFUL
ON SOME LEVEL BECAUSE OF THE
BREADTH OF SERVICES OFFERED,
BUT IT ALSO CAN BE OVERWHELMING
AS SOMEONE WHO IS JUST IN SORT
OF A STATE OF ACUTE NEED AND IS
LOOKING FOR A ONE-STOP SHOP TO
ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS . THE MAYOR
GIVE DIRECTION FOR US TO PULL
TOGETHER SUCH A ONE-STOP SHOP
WHICH NOW EXISTS AS A CORRAL OF
INFORMATION WHERE PEOPLE CAN
PLUG IN TO WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE
AND ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS. EITHER
WITH THE CITY, OR WITH OTHER
JURISDICTIONS.
>> I JUST THINK THAT IF WE CAN
STREAMLINE IT AND MAKE IT A ONE
STEP FOR LANDLORDS, FOR
TENANTS, FOR CBO'S, THAT WOULD
BE MORE EFFICIENT AND IF WE
HAVE ONE POT OF MONEY IN ONE
PLACE, IT IS EASIER TO KEEP
TRACK OF HOW IT'S WORKING.
THANK YOU.
>> IS A PROCESS OF FACILITATION
FOR THE DEPARTMENTS IN WHICH A
PERSON CHAIRS IN THEIR
COMMITTEE , I'M GOING TO ASK
THAT THEY SPEAK UP SHOULD THEY
DESIRE TO SO COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU
HAVE A COMMENT.
>> YES. TO THE POINT, IN 2023 I
DID PUT IN A CVA FOR $50,000 TO
CREATE A LANDLORD AND TENANT
WORKGROUP THAT COULD LEAD TO AT
LEAST A FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS OF
WHAT IT WOULD MEAN TO HAVE ONE
OFFICE THAT CAN DO ALL OF THIS
WORK RATHER THAN HAVING SORT OF
DISPARATE DEPARTMENTS DOING
DIFFERENT PIECES OF IT .
UNFORTUNATELY THE MAYOR CHOSE
NOT TO SPEND THAT MONEY. IT
REMAINS UNSPENT AND THAT WORK
REMAINS UNDONE SO I THINK IT
WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA FOR US TO
REVIEW THAT DECISION AND REALLY
START TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE
COULD DO TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE
AND EFFICIENT IN GETTING FOLKS
THE SERVICES THEY NEED.
>> GOING ON TO VICE CHAIR
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU. MY QUESTION WAS
GOING TO BE THE SAME QUESTIONS
SO I WILL JUST LEND MY VOICE TO
THIS. JUST SO I UNDERSTAND IN
ADDITION TO THAT SO I
UNDERSTAND THE REDUCTION OF THE
811,000 FOR THE TENANT PIECE IS
SDCI, DOES NOT CORRELATE -- IT
IS NOT INCREASING IN ONE OF
THESE OTHER DEPARTMENTS. IT IS
JUST STILL A REDUCTION OF
811,000. GREAT. I MEAN NOT
GREAT, BUT I'M GLAD THAT I CAN
UNDERSTAND IT. THIS IS AN AREA
WHERE I FEEL WE KEEP HAVING THE
CONVERSATION AND I KNOW
EVERYONE IS STRUGGLING WITH IT
WHERE WE NEED TO HAVE SOME
ATTENTION TO AND OBVIOUSLY SOME
PLACE, WHATEVER MAKES THE MOST
SENSE FOR A ONE-STOP SHOP, AS
WE HAVE HEARD, IS REALLY
CRITICAL BECAUSE THIS IS A
CRITICAL NEED AND WE NEED TO
ADD TO IT, NOT DECREASE, GIVEN
THE HOUSING CRISIS AND SO
HOWEVER WE CAN GET CREATIVE IN
ADDITION TO MAKING SURE THAT WE
ARE STREAMLINING AND MAKING YOU
KNOW, PUTTING THIS SOMEWHERE,
WHERE SOMEONE HAS OVERSIGHT
WITH WHATEVER CITY DEPARTMENT
IT IS, THEY HAVE THE COMPLETE
OVERSIGHT BECAUSE WHAT I HAVE
FOUND AT THE CITY IN MY YEARS
HERE IS IF EVERYONE IS IN
CHARGE NOBODY IS IN CHARGE A
LITTLE BIT TO A CERTAIN EXTENT
BECAUSE OF EVERYONE IS MANAGING
THEIR OWN PIECE OF IT IT IS
JUST HARD TO GET EVERYONE
TOGETHER. AND MOVING IN THE
SAME DIRECTION, AS YOU KNOW.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF -- I HAD
THE SAME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
PERMITTING . I WILL SAY I
UNDERSTAND THAT THE 20
POSITIONS WERE SUNSET. THAT
MEANS THEY WERE TEMPORARY TO
BEGIN WITH. YOU'RE JUST ENDING
THEM EARLIER. THEY WERE
SUPPOSED TO END AT THE END OF
NEXT YEAR. YOU'RE ENDING THEM
EARLIER SO THEY WERE TEMPORARY
POSITIONS TO BEGIN WITH SO YOU
ARE NOT ELIMINATING POSITIONS
THAT WERE PERMANENT. SO I
UNDERSTAND THAT PEACE AND I
UNDERSTAND THE FACT THAT
DEPARTMENTS OFTEN GET POSITION
AUTHORITY. IT'S IMPORTANT
BECAUSE YOU ARE ABLE TO QUICKLY
HIRE UP IF YOU NEED TO VERSUS
IF YOU DON'T HAVE AUTHORITY IN
YOUR BUDGETS WHICH SOMETIMES
HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET POSITION
AUTHORITY REMOVED SO BASICALLY
THESE ARE JUST POSITIONS THAT
ARE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT. THEY
ARE NOT FUNDED SO YOU WILL HAVE
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FUND THEM
BUT YOU CAN SCALE IT UP MORE
QUICKLY THAN HAVING TO COME TO
COUNSEL AND ASK FOR BUDGET
AUTHORITY FOR THOSE POSITIONS
TO BEGIN WITH BUT NEVERTHELESS,
AND I GET THERE IS A COLOR OF
MONEY ISSUE HERE BECAUSE THE
PERMITTING POSITIONS COME WITH
THE PERMITTING FEE. THEY ARE
PAID FOR WITH PERMITTING FEES
THAT ARE GOING DOWN SO THAT IS
THE ISSUE THERE AND ON THE CODE
COMPLIANT SIDE YOU CANNOT USE
PERMITTING FEES EVEN IF YOU
WANTED TO BECAUSE THOSE FEES
ARE GOING DOWN ANYWAY FOR CODE
COMPLIANCE AND VICE VERSA SO I
DON'T KNOW HOW WE CORRECT FOR
THAT BUT THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A
NEED ON CODE COMPLIANT SO I
WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT
YOUR IDEAS FOR HOW TO MANAGE
THAT.
>> WE HAD A GENERAL FUND CUT
REDUCTION AS PART OF OUR BUDGET
PROCESS WITH THE EXECUTIVE. THE
VAST MAJORITY OF THAT WAS WITH
THE CONTRACTS FOR TENANTS THEN
WE USED THE ADDITIONAL PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX.
>> AND THAT IS NOT FOR 2025
ANTICIPATED 2025-2026 WHERE IT
IS? YOU'RE USING PET DOLLARS
TO BACKFILL. OKAY.
>> THOSE CONTRACTS WE HAVE A
COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR VARIOUS
NOT FOR PROFITS CAN COMPETE FOR
THOSE DOLLARS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
CLARIFICATION. I DID NOT QUITE
GET THAT PART. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, CHAIR.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU AND FIRST OFF
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE
AND SHARING THIS PRESENTATION
WITH US. I WILL START OFF BY
SAYING +1 TO THE IDEA OF A
ONE-STOP SHOP. TERRIFIC IDEA.
MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY
ELOQUENTLY COMMENTED ON THAT SO
+1. ON -- IF YOU CAN TURN TO
SLIDE FOUR, PLEASE. AS PART OF
THE CONSOLIDATION AND MAKING
SURE THE PERSONNEL ALLOCATIONS
ARE MAPPED TO EXISTING DEMAND
AND PRIORITIES WHAT YOU CALL
RIGHTSIZING STAFFING AND
RESPONSIVE PERMITS I UNDERSTAND
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT NINE FTE
POSITIONS ARE GOING TO BE
ELIMINATED BUT YOU'RE GOING TO
KEEP THOSE FOR -- OR RETAIN
THOSE BULLETS UNTIL WHAT THE
ECONOMY PICKS UP AND THAT WILL,
THE RATIONAL BEING AS I
UNDERSTAND IT HELP US MORE
QUICKLY BE ABLE TO RAMP UP TO
MEET THE NEED AT A FUTURE TIME
ONCE THE ECONOMY PICKS BACK UP.
WHAT BUDGET IMPACT IF ANY DOES
THAT HAVE KEEPING THOSE BULLETS
OPEN?
>> THERE SHOULD BE NO BUDGET
IMPACT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT
FUNDING THEM. WE JUST HAVE THE
POSITION AUTHORITY.
>> GOT IT. HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL
TIME, BY THE WAY, IS THAT -- I
THINK YOU MENTIONED THE
TECHNICAL TERM, THE CONTINGENT
BUDGET AUTHORITY TO RETAIN
THOSE POSITIONS.
>> WE HAVE CONTINGENT BUDGET
AUTHORITY BUILT INTO OUR BUDGET
AND THE WAY IT WORKS IS IT IS A
VERY QUICK MEMO AND
JUSTIFICATION OF WHAT I NEED IS
IN TERMS OF WHAT ARNIE DOES. WE
SENT THAT MEMO TO CBO. THE
BUDGET DIRECTOR. THEY REVIEW,
WE MAY MEET, WOULD THEY
APPROVE. BY THE WAY, WE HAVE
THE BUDGET AUTHORITY FOR THAT
YEAR SO WE CAN USE THAT
CONTINGENT BUDGET AUTHORITY .
IF WE HAVE THE NINE POCKETS IN
OUR DEPARTMENT WITHOUT THE
BUDGET WE CAN USE THAT
CONTINGENT BUDGET AUTHORITY
RIGHT AWAY TO RAMP UP AND FILL
THOSE.
>> IT IS A UNIQUE ARRANGEMENT
IN THE CITY BUDGET AND
RECOGNITION THAT SDCI IS
VIRTUALLY ENTIRELY FUNDED BY
PERMIT FEES AND FORECASTING
PERMIT FEES IS A FOOLS ERRAND,
IF YOU WILL. IT'S VERY HARD TO
DO, SO THE IDEA IS THAT YOU
HAVE BUDGET AUTHORITY THAT IS
CONTINGENT UPON THE ACTUAL
RECEIPT OF REVENUES IN THIS
CASE, FEW REVENUES SO IF THEY
CAN ESSENTIALLY CERTIFY IF YOU
WILL TO THE BUDGET OFFICE THAT
THEY HAVE RECEIVED THESE FEE
REVENUES AND THEIR EASY TO SEE
IN THE SYSTEM THEY CAN THEN
INCREASE THEIR ABILITY TO SPEND
MONEY. OTHERWISE YOU ARE IN
GENERAL , YOU GRANT AUTHORITY
TO SPEND IN THE CASE OF SDCI
YOU HAVE HISTORICALLY GRANTED
THEM THIS CONTINGENT AUTHORITY
. IF THEY GET THE REVENUES THAN
THEY CAN CIRCUMVENT THE NORMAL
PROCESS OF HAVING TO COME HERE
AND SUPPLEMENTAL TO GET THE
BUDGET AUTHORITY SIMILARLY BY
LEAVING POSITIONS VACANT. THEY
DON'T HAVE TO COME HERE AND
GET POSITION AUTHORITY ON THIS
DECISION THAT WAS MADE IS
EXPEDIENT FOR ALL AND THAT
MAKES ME THINK YOU AGREE WITH
THE ARRANGEMENT. IT IS A VERY
UNUSUAL ONE BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW
IT CAN WORK IN HEIGHT HAS BEEN
ESTABLISHED SO THE CITY CAN
RESPOND VERY QUICKLY . THE
THEORY HERE IS THERE IS NO
MEANINGFUL LOSS OF CONTROL ON
THE PART OF THE COUNCIL BECAUSE
IT IS CONTINGENT ON THOSE
REVENUES BEING THERE AND YOU
WOULD WANT THEM TO BE SPENT IN
THIS WAY IF THEY CAME IN AND
THAT IS EXACTLY THIS
DISCUSSION. FURTHER BACKGROUND
CAN BE PROVIDED BUT HOPEFULLY
THAT HELPS.
>> YES, VERY HELPFUL. THIS
DEFINITELY STRIKES ME AS I KNOW
MORE NOW THAN I KNEW EARLIER
BUT IT DEFINITELY STRIKES ME AS
SOMETHING THAT IS A MUTUALLY
BENEFICIAL ARRANGEMENT AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY BENEFITS THE
TAXPAYING PUBLIC , BUT ALSO
WHAT IS THE ANTICIPATED TIME
SAVINGS AS PART OF THIS SO YOU
DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THAT EXTRA
STEP AND COME TO COUNSEL FOR
AUTHORITY FOR THESE POSITIONS
HOW MUCH TIME IS THAT REALLY
GOING TO SAVE?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
YOU KNOW, LET'S IMAGINE IT'S
JANUARY AND THERE IS A BUILDING
BOOM HAPPENING AND WE ARE
REALIZING MORE REVENUE AND WE
REALIZE THAT WE NEED TO HIRE
OUT VERY QUICKLY TYPICALLY WE
WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE
FIRST QUARTER , WHATEVER WE
HAVE NOW, THE SECOND QUARTER
SUPPLEMENTAL TO REQUEST THE
POSITIONS ON THE BUDGET AND
THAT GETS ADOPTED.
>> I WOULD SAY IT'S MINIMALLY
THREE MONTHS TIME-SAVING.
POTENTIALLY SIX. SOMEONE ASKED
THE QUESTION ABOUT THE
EXECUTIVE SIDE.
>> AS CHAIR I WOULD JUMP IN TO
SAY THAT THE POSITION AUTHORITY
WOULD HAVE TO BE ALLOWED DURING
THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
PROCESS. FOR US, THAT JUST
ENDED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
>> IN AN EFFORT TO ENFORCE
DISCIPLINE ABOUT SUPPLEMENTALS
COUNSEL AND CENTRAL STAFF ARE
WORKING TO ESTABLISH WE ARE NOT
GOING TO TAKE UP A SUPPLEMENTAL
EVERY MONTH AND TAKE ONE OFF
REQUEST SO PART OF THIS , IT
CREATES A DELAY IN THIS IS THE
SOLUTION IN CASES WHERE WE NEED
IT SO THERE IS A BALANCE.
>> THANK YOU. FINAL QUESTION
HERE IS PART OF THIS INITIAL
DILIGENCE PROCESS IN MY OFFICE
I LEARNED A LOT IN THIS CASE
ABOUT VACANT BUILDING
COMPLIANCE RESPONSE TIMES AND
AS I UNDERSTAND FROM OUR
CENTRAL STAFF THAT IT TOOK
APPROXIMATELY 99 DAYS ON
AVERAGE TO RESOLVE THE
COMPLAINT IN 2024 YEAR TO DATE.
COMPARED TO 84 DAYS IN 2023 AND
RESOLUTION TIMES WERE 375 DAYS
THIS YEAR, YOUR TODAY COMPARED
TO 323 DAYS IN 2023 SO AS WE
KNOW VACANT BUILDING VIOLATIONS
ARE STILL HIGH IN THE CITY
COUNCIL WE ALSO NOW PASSED
EMERGENCY LEGISLATION TO
ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH
VACANT BUILDINGS. THE BUDGET
DOES NOT PROPOSE A ADDITIONAL
STAFF FOR BUILDING MONITORING
ON MY READ SO CURIOUS TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND HOW SDCI ADDRESSED
THE CURRENT BACKLOG AND
IMPROVED PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES
ASSOCIATED WITH VACANT
BUILDINGS.
>> VACANT BUILDINGS CONTINUES
TO BE A HUGE AND INCREASING
CHALLENGE IN OUR CITY. WE DO
HAVE VERY EFFECTIVE VACANT
BUILDINGS TEAM THAT IS
COMPRISED OF PEOPLE FROM THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, SDCI AND THE
UTILITIES THAT MEET ON A
QUARTERLY BASIS TO DISCUSS
VACANT BUILDING ISSUES AND TO
GO SPECIFIC PROJECTS. I WILL
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT CONTINUES
TO BE A HUGE CHALLENGE FOR OUR
CITY AND I BELIEVE A LOT OF
THAT FUNDING AGAIN IS THROUGH
CODE COMPLIANT SO IT IS GENERAL
FUND POSITIONS THAT ARE
ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES. IT'S
A CHALLENGE, MR. SOCCER.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> THANK YOU. REGARDING FEES ON
PAGE FIVE YOU SHOWED THE FEES
INVOICE PER MONTH. IS THE FEE
STRUCTURE BY PROJECT OR OUR ? I
BELIEVE IT IS BY OUR.
>> FOR MASTER USE PERMITS I
CAN'T OVER THE COST PER HOUR.
? I BELIEVE IT IS BY HOUR. FOR
MASTER USE PERMITS IT IS $4.97
PER HOUR.
>> AS THAT PRETTY STANDARD?
>> NO. FOR OVER CONSTRUCTION
PERMITS AND THEN $2.53.
>> THAT'S JUST HELPFUL FOR ME
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
STAFFING.
>> WE CAN GIVE HIM A FOLLOW UP
INFORMATION ON HOW THE HOURLY
CHARGE WORKS BASED ON THE
VALUATION OF THE BUILDING IF
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
>> SURE, AND BY THE WAY I
REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU
INCLUDING THE APPLICATION ON
HERE . SEEING THE DATA ON
PERMIT APPLICATIONS IS HELPFUL.
ANOTHER QUESTION IN THE SPIRIT
OF WHAT OTHERS WERE SAYING, WHY
DO WE PROVIDE LESS THAN A THIRD
FOR [ INAUDIBLE ] ASSISTANCE?
IS THAT AN UPPER LIMIT IS SET
BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ? I
MEAN, WHY DO WE PAY ONLY A
THIRD BECAUSE I ALWAYS
PREFERRED DIRECT RENTAL
ASSISTANCE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN
THAT THE STATE IS NOW PAYING
FOR EVICTIONS.
>> IF WE GO BACK TWO YEARS,
COUNSEL CHOSE TO ADD ONE TIME,
TWO TIMES IN A ROW, $1 MILLION
FOR RENT ASSISTANCE TIED TO
EVICTION DEFENSE. THOSE ARE
ONE-TIME ADS. THEY EXPIRE AT
THE END OF THIS YEAR. NEXT YEAR
THE MAYOR'S BUDGET IS
PROPOSING TO PRESERVE 527,000
OF THAT FOR RENT ASSISTANCE
BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN THE VALUE
OF THAT. BUT, THERE WERE OTHER
THINGS BEING FUNDED BY THESE
GRANT FUNDS THAT WE ALSO WANT
TO PRESERVE SO THOSE ARE ALSO
THERE SO I GUESS IT IS TRYING
TO ROUGHLY PRORATE EVERYTHING
AND LEAVE ENOUGH ON THE TABLE
FOR MANY OF THE DIFFERENT
SERVICES BEING PROVIDED.
>> THANKS. MY LAST QUESTION IS,
ARE YOU STAFFING FOR THINGS
LIKE OR ARE YOU ANTICIPATING
STAFFING NEEDS FOR BIG PROJECTS
LIKE REVISING CODE IF I 2066
HAPPENS FOR EXAMPLE OR REVISING
GUIDELINES OR ANYTHING LIKE
THAT?
>> IS THAT A BUDGET? POLICY
QUESTION?
>> NO, IT'S NOT A POLICY
QUESTION. I'M JUST SAYING, ARE
YOU ANTICIPATING OTHER NEEDS?
THERE ARE BUCKETS OF OTHER
NEEDS THAT I CAN SEE BEYOND [
INAUDIBLE ]
>> WE HAVE A LAND-USE CODE
DEVELOPMENT TEAM LED BY MIKE
PODOLSKY. THERE ARE NOT CUTS
PROPOSED AS PART OF THAT UNIT
AND THAT UNIT WORKS CLOSELY
WITH THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND WE
MEET ON A REGULAR BASIS AND
FIGURE OUT OPCD HAS THE MAJOR
POLICY ROLE BUT WE WORK ON SOME
CODE DEVELOPMENT ISSUES SO WE
ARE CONSTANTLY MEETING AND
WORKING OUT THAT WORK PROGRAM.
[ INAUDIBLE ] WE ARE
ANTICIPATING SOME OF THESE
ISSUES AND INITIATIVES . WE ARE
MEETING ON THAT ON A REGULAR
BASIS AND FIGURING OUT HOW WE
WOULD ADDRESS THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THAT WAS A GOOD
QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR
COMING. MY QUESTION IS
BASICALLY MY SERIES. ONE IS IN
MY INTERACTION WITH THE PUBLIC
OBVIOUSLY THE PUBLIC ENGAGES
WITH SDCI. ONE OF THE THINGS I
MENTIONED THE KIOSKS. THEY
REALLY TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR
THE IN PERSON INTERACTION
QUESTIONS ON THIS AND I DON'T
THINK A KIOSK REALLY DOES WHAT
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT. MY
UNDERSTANDING IS OBVIOUSLY THE
EXECUTIVE IS GOING TO THREE
DAYS A WEEK IN EARLY NOVEMBER
BUT WITH SDCI GIVEN THAT IT IS
PUBLIC FACING WOULD IT BENEFIT
FROM A FOUR-DAY WEEK IN PERSON
TO FACILITATE THIS IN PERSON
INTERACTION WITH THOSE WORKING
THROUGH THESE PERMITS?
>> I WILL SAY THAT WE DO TAKE
IN PERSON APPOINTMENTS.
OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO HAVE A
PASS IN THE ELEVATORS IN THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL TOWER RIGHT
NOW BUT WE WILL DO AND WE DO IN
PERSON MEETINGS. ALSO WANT TO
PUT IN A PLUG FOR SEATTLE HOME
FAIRS COMING UP WHERE THERE
WILL BE NO MORE STAFF. THERE IS
ONE IN OCTOBER AT THE COMMUNITY
CENTER AND ONE AT THE END OF
OCTOBER AT THE FILIPINO
COMMUNITY CENTER WHERE A TON OF
STAFF AND STAFF FROM OTHER
DEPARTMENTS, IT IS A LOW-KEY
ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU CAN SIT
DOWN AND TALK TO STAFF FROM
VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS BUT BACK TO
YOUR QUESTION, WE ARE ALWAYS
HAPPY TO DO IN PERSON
APPOINTMENTS. WE JUST HAVE TO
HAVE A STAFF PERSON COME DOWN
AND ESCORT THAT MEMBER OF THE
PUBLIC OR AN APPLICANT UP INTO
OUR OFFICES.
>> SOUNDS LIKE THAT WOULD BE
FACILITATED BETTER IF THERE
WERE MORE PEOPLE TO COME DOWN
IN THE ELEVATORS .
>> CORRECT AND AS YOU KNOW, WE
WILL BE TOWARD THE END OF THE
YEAR GOING TO A THREE DAY IN
OFFICE REQUIREMENT PER THE
MAYOR'S DIRECTIVE.
>> CHANNELING SOME OF THE MANY
PEOPLE I HEAR FROM AND THEIR
FRUSTRATIONS JUST SO WE ARE
CLEAR.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THE SECOND ONE IS SOMEONE
WHO IS CONSTANTLY ON THE PUBLIC
SAFETY SIDE, AND STAFFING YOU
SEEM CONFIDENT IN THE ABILITY
TO RAMP UP IF NEEDED. HOW IS
THAT IN TERMS OF THE ABILITY IF
YOU WERE REALLY ABLE TO BRING
PEOPLE BACK. IS IT THAT EASY OR
IS IT JUST SMALL NUMBERS? HOW
DO YOU SUCCEED WHERE IT IS SUCH
A CHALLENGE ELSEWHERE,
BASICALLY ?
>> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT
QUESTION. WE HAVE THE ABILITY
WITH US, NINE POSITIONS TO HIRE
BACK QUITE QUICKLY. WE HAVE, IN
THE DISTANT PAST WHEN WE HAVE
BEEN IN A SIMILAR ECONOMIC
SITUATION, WE HAVE LAID OFF
STAFF AND THEN WHEN THE ECONOMY
COMES BACK SOME OF THOSE STAFF
ARE EAGER TO COME BACK AND WORK
WITH US AND THAT THEY HAVE
ALREADY HAD THE TRAINING SO WE
ARE EAGER TO REHIRE THEM.
OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THE STAFF GO
AND FIND OTHER JOBS BUT THROUGH
THAT, THROUGH THOSE NINE
POSITIONS WE CAN HIRE PRETTY
QUICKLY.
>> THERE IS A LOT OF JEALOUSY
NO DOUBT ANOTHER DEPARTMENTS ON
THAT POINT. WHO KNOWS WHAT
MIGHT HAPPEN WITH THE FED RATE
CHANGES AND ANTICIPATED RATE
CHANGES, THAT IN COMBINATION
WITH PUBLIC SAFETY I DON'T
THINK PEOPLE REALIZE HOW MANY
PUBLIC SAFETY IMPACTS THE
CALCULUS OF THOSE LOOKING TO GO
FORWARD ON THE PROJECT, TRUST
ME, I'VE GOTTEN MANY CALLS ON
THAT AS WELL. I ALSO WANT TO
NOTE DESIGN REVIEW REFORM IS
GOING TO BE BIG ON THIS NEXT
YEAR. WE JUST DID A THREE YEAR
HOLIDAY BUT DESIGN REVIEW WILL
BE WITH US AND IT WILL BE
INTERESTING HOW THAT IMPACTS
THE VOLUME AS WE GO THROUGH THE
STATE LAW CHANGES. MY NEXT
QUESTION , WE HAVE HAD SIDE
SEWER AND PARKS PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMITTEE AND
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE SO I AM
AWARE OF THE COST OF THAT AND
PROGRAMS TO OFFSET THE COST SO
IN A LOT OF WAYS IT MAKES SENSE
TO TRANSFER FROM SDCI TO SPU SO
WITH THAT IN MIND AND I'M NOT
ON LAND-USE. I'M NOT ON
HOUSING BUT GOING TO THESE
EARLIER QUESTIONS I'M KIND OF
SCRATCHING MY HEAD WHY TENANT
SERVICES IS EVEN IN THIS IN THE
FIRST PLACE. IT DOES NOT STRIKE
ME FROM A GOOD GOVERNMENT'S
PERSPECTIVE. IT SHOULD BE IN OH
OR HST AND NOT SDCI SO I'M JUST
SCRATCHING MY HEAD IN TERMS OF
WHY THAT IS. I KNOW THAT IS A
BIT OF A POLICY QUESTION BUT
THE BUDGET CAN DRIVE HOW THESE
THINGS PLAY OUT AND IT ALSO
REINFORCES THE IDEA I'VE NOT
HAD A CHANCE TO FULLY TALK WITH
MY COLLEAGUES HERE WHO CHAIRS
THE HOUSING COMMITTEE THAT WE
REALLY NEED A SEATTLE HOUSING
PLAN THAT MIMICS THE RIGOR AND
SO FORTH OF THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN BECAUSE
EVERY TIME I DIG MORE INTO
LAND-USE AND HOUSING, THE MORE
I REALIZE THAT IT NEEDS A
SEATTLE HOUSING PLAN. WE NEED A
SEATTLE HOUSING PLAN BECAUSE
THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. NOW
UNDERSTANDING FROM GOOD
GOVERNANCE DOESN'T MAKE ANY
SENSE IN TERMS OF EFFICIENCY,
EXPERTISE AND EVERYTHING ELSE,
SO I WILL WORK WITH MY
COLLEAGUE ON THIS BUT IT JUST
STRIKES ME BECAUSE I BROUGHT IT
UP BEFORE AND YOU KNOW,
DIRECTOR EDER WAS TALKING ABOUT
A LABYRINTH. WE DON'T NEED TO
MAKE IT MORE A LABYRINTH, I
DON'T THINK. THE LAST THING IS
PLEASE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
THE FIRE CHIEF FOR VACANT
BUILDING ABATEMENT. WHEN IT
COMES TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY
THREAT CHIEF SCOGGINS IS THE
DECISION-MAKER ON THE SIDE OF
THERE ARE PROTOCOLS BUT AT THE
END OF THE DAY IT IS CHIEF
SCOGGINS' CALL. THE GOOD NEWS
IS THAT THIS LAW IS ALREADY
ENCOURAGING OWNERS TO TAKE
ACTION BASED ON MY DISCUSSIONS
WITH CHIEF SCOGGINS SO
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET A LOT OF
BENEFIT OF THE VACANT BUILDING
AND BACON -- VACANT LOTS.
>> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO
RESPOND REGARDING WHY THE
PROPERTY OWNER ASSISTANCE GROUP
IS IN SDCI FROM MY TIME AS THE
PREVIOUS LAND-USE CHAIR IN THE
SAME WAY THAT VACANT BUILDING
MONITORING IS IN SDCI AS
COMPARED TO BE IN FIRE, POLICE
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
BECAUSE RENTAL UNITS ARE
DICTATED BY CODE IN THE CODE
COMPLIANCE IS HOUSED WITHIN
SDCI SO THE FACT THAT THERE IS
A CARBON MONOXIDE MONITOR, THAT
THERE IS A WINDOW IN THE BEST
-- BEDROOM, THAT THERE IS A
CLOSET, THESE ARE ASPECTS OF
BUILDING CODE COMPLIANCE.
>> VACANT BUILDINGS IN ITSELF
SHOULD RESIDE IN SDCI. THIS IS
JUST ONE ACROSS THE LINE IN
TERMS OF BECOMING A PUBLIC
SAFETY THREAT, THAT IS THE
CHANGES SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT
AND I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
I'M OPEN ABOUT THE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE ASPECT BUT WHEN WE
WERE TALKING ABOUT STRICTLY
CODE COMPLIANCE, IT IS THE SAME
WAY -- WE CAN TALK SOME MORE.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO OUR
FIVE YEAR REVIEW , 2019 TO
2024. I SEE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT
YOU, FROM A GENERAL FUND
STANDPOINT, INCREASED ABOUT $5
MILLION OVER THAT TIME. IN
THAT, IT WAS MOSTLY IN THE CODE
COMPLIANCE. IT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE
ADDITIONAL $4 MILLION OVER FIVE
YEARS WAS IN THE PROPERTY ON IT
TENANT ASSISTANCE GROUP. IS
THAT GENERALLY CORRECT?
>> YEAH. THIS IS OVER THE LAST
FIVE YEARS , WE HAVE DEFINITELY
SEEN SOME GROWTH IN CODE
COMPLIANCE DIVISION, MORE
INSPECTORS, MORE STAFF
SUPPORTING LANDLORD-TENANT
ISSUES AS LAWS HAVE EXPANDED. I
CAN'T SAY THOSE NUMBERS ARE UP
TO COMPLIANCE OR NOT.
>> I WILL CIRCLE BACK WITH
CENTRAL STAFF SINCE THIS WAS A
CENTRAL STAFF DOCUMENT. I
REALLY APPRECIATE COLLEAGUES,
ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS. I AM
SUBSCRIBING MORE AND MORE TO
THIS ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER FOR
THE CHAIR GOES LAST BECAUSE ALL
OF YOUR COMMENTS HAVE BEEN
REALLY SPOT ON. IN PERSON FOR
THOSE MEETINGS IS IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU FOR MEETING THAT
RECOMMENDATION OF THE
PERMITTING AUDIT AND I KNOW
THAT YOU HAVE A DESK ON THE
FIRST FLOOR AND THAT YOU STILL
NEED TO ASSIST PEOPLE UP TO
YOUR FLOORS. I WILL SAY THAT
OVER THE COURSE OF MY TIME IN
OFFICE I HAVE ONLY HEARD
NEGATIVE REVIEWS ABOUT THE
PERMITTING SYSTEM. THAT IS PART
OF WHAT GENERATED THE AUDIT FOR
THE FIRST TIME UNSOLICITED I
HEARD FROM AN ARCHITECT AND A
DEVELOPER THAT SDCI'S PERMIT
REVIEW STAFF ARE DOING A REALLY
GREAT JOB, SO I WANT THAT ON
THE RECORD. AGAIN IT IS
ANECDOTAL BUT FOR ME IT WAS A
BIG MOMENT BECAUSE FOR FOUR
YEARS I'VE ONLY BEEN HEARING
ONE THING AND THIS WAS THE
FIRST THING THAT I HAVE HEARD
SOMETHING DIFFERENT SO I CAN'T
LET THAT MOMENT PASS WITHOUT
PUTTING IT ON THE RECORD
BECAUSE I DO KNOW SDCI HAS BEEN
DOING WORK TO INCREASE HOW
QUICKLY PERMITS ARE REVIEWED,
ISSUED, AND INSPECTED AND YOU
ALSO DON'T CONTROL ALL OF THE
OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT ALSO
HAVE PERMIT REVIEW DESK. SOME
THAT ARE NOT EVEN WITHIN THE
JURISDICTION OF THE CITY. GOING
TO SLIDE FIVE IF WE COULD, REAL
BRIEFLY, THIS SLIDE REALLY
TELLS THE STORY OF THE
CONTINGENCY FUND AND WHERE WE
ARE IN OUR CYCLES OF GROWTH AND
STAGNATION. IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY
ON THE LEFT-HAND CHART, WHICH
IS VOLUME, NOT FEES, 24
PROJECTED IS JUST BELOW 2010,
WHICH IS THE LOW POINT OF THE
WALL THAT WE WERE BEFORE AND I
KNOW AND TAKING MY PERMIT
COURSES WITH YOU AND ANDY
HIGGINS OVER THE COURSE OF THE
LAST FOUR YEARS THAT WHEN WE
HAD TO LAY OFF STAFF AT THAT
POINT, IT DID CREATE AN ISSUE
TO COMING OUT OF THAT RECESSION
IN 2011, 2012, 2013 . AGAIN
FROM MY CONVERSATION YESTERDAY
ABOUT HOUSING FUNDING AND
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
WE CAN SEE THAT THE PERMITS
DROPPED OFF IN 2019 AS WE WENT
INTO THE RECESSION OF THE
PANDEMIC. I JUST REALLY
APPRECIATE THIS GRAPH BECAUSE
ALSO COLORING IT OUT BY TYPES
OF PERMITS REALLY HELPS ME
UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES BEFORE
US, SO I JUST --
>> I WILL SAY WE ARE IN A MUCH
BETTER POSITION TODAY THAN WE
WERE IN 2009 WHEN I BECAME THE
DIRECTOR OF SDC. I REALIZED
PRETTY QUICKLY THAT OUR
DEPARTMENT HAD NOT RAISED FEES
AND SOMETHING LIKE SEVEN YEARS
AND HAD NOT EVEN KEPT UP WITH
THE COST OF LIVING AND SO I
APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF
PREVIOUS COUNSEL THAT BROUGHT
THOSE FEES UP TO AT LEAST A
COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE, SO
ANTICIPATING THE VARIOUS
SITUATION WE ARE IN TODAY SO WE
DON'T HAVE TO LAY OFF NEARLY
AS MANY STAFF AS WE DID BACK IN
THE LAST RECESSION IN 2009
BECAUSE WE KNOW THE ECONOMY
WILL COME BACK.
>> IT WAS NOT JUST INCREASING
FEES. THE DEPARTMENT HAS
PURPOSELY ESTABLISHED A
RESERVE, A RESERVE THAT HAS
BEEN RUNNING DOWN OVER THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS BUT A RESERVE
THAT IS DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN A
CORE STAFFING LEVEL SO WHEN WE
TURN BACK UP WE ARE NOT IN THE
POSITION OF NOT HAVING A STAFF
TO BE ABLE TO PROCESS PERMITS
AND DRIVE THE GROWTH BACK INTO
THE ECONOMY.
>> BECAUSE THESE ARE
FEE-GENERATED POSITIONS, IF WE
WANTED TO BACKFILL AND RETAIN
THESE POSSESSIONS DURING THE
LULL THAT IS WHY WE WOULD HAVE
TO USE THE GENERAL FUND. THANK
YOU FOR BEING VERY CLEAR ABOUT
THAT. IF WE COULD GO TO SLIDE
EIGHT VERY QUICKLY. ASIDE
SEWERS I KNOW I HAVE BEEN IN
DISAGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY
ABOUT THEIR UNDERSTANDING WHAT
IS THE SIDES ARE IN SIDE DRAIN
AND HOW IS IT PLUMBED AND
PERMITTED FOR A DUS OR DAD USE.
I BELIEVE THEIR UNDERSTANDING
IT INCORRECTLY. HOW IS THIS
GOING TO HELP US OR SET US BACK
IN THE CONVERSATION BY SENDING
IT BACK TO SPU?
>> IT IS REALLY A SEPARATE
ISSUE, BASICALLY JUST HOW MUCH
KING COUNTY CHARGES FOR THAT
DISCHARGE. IT IS NOT WHO
ACTUALLY ADMINISTERS THE
PROGRAM.
>> THIS IS SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES PROGRAM AND SDCI HAS
BEEN ADMINISTERING THIS PROGRAM
ON BEHALF OF SPU FOR SEVERAL
YEARS AND SPU HAVE DECIDED THEY
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE PROGRAM
BACK.
>> LET ME BE A LITTLE MORE
CLEAR IN SAYING THAT I
APPRECIATED SDCI HAVING THIS IN
YOUR PORTFOLIO BECAUSE I
THOUGHT YOU HAD A GOOD JOB
ADVOCATING FOR SEATTLEITES ON
BEHALF OF KING COUNTY. ON SLIDE
NINE, PROPERTY OWNER, TENANT
ASSISTANCE, IT IS ALREADY BEEN
TALKED ABOUT. RENTAL ASSISTANCE
IS IMPORTANT AND HELPFUL, I
AGREE. INSPECTION FEES, THE
LAST TIME INSPECTION FEES WERE
RAISED WAS IN 2003. I KNOW
COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
TEASES ME ABOUT THE HISTORY
HERE. THIS BUILDING WAS
COMPLETED IN 2003? SO IF YOU
NEED A PHYSICAL CONTEXT OF HOW
LONG IT HAS BEEN SINCE WE HAVE
RAISED THE FEES, IT'S BEEN
SINCE THE DOORS OPENED ON THIS
BUILDING. LAST POINT HERE TO
THE POINT THAT I WAS MAKING
EARLIER ABOUT US DOING US AS
COUNCILMEMBERS HELPING
DEPARTMENTS GET THE WORD OUT TO
COMMUNITY ABOUT THE THINGS YOU
ARE DOING IF YOU COULD SEND THE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOME
FARES TO MY TEAM I WOULD LOVE
TO INCLUDED IN THE NEWSLETTER
AND ANYTIME YOU'RE DOING OTHER
STUFF.
>> OUR COUNCIL LIAISON WILL BE
SENDING THAT OUT TO ALL OF YOU.
>> FANTASTIC. LASTLY, I MISSED
GETTING TO TALK TO YOU SO
OFTEN. THANKS TO JEFF FOR
STEPPING UP AND SCOTT FOR
HAVING THE FACTS RIGHT ON HAND.
THAT IS ALL I'VE GOT. COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES WOULD YOU LIKE
TO CLOSE US OUT?
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR
BEING HERE. THIS IS REALLY
HELPFUL AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
FOLLOWING UP ON A LOT OF THE
QUESTIONS I HAVE. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
>> COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE REACHED
THE END OF TODAY'S COMMITTEE
MEETING AGENDA DAY ONE OF
DEPARTMENT PRESENTATIONS. WE
HAVE THREE MORE TO GO. WE WILL
START BRIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY
AT 9:30. WE WILL HAVE AN HOUR
LUNCH AT 1:00 UNTIL 2:00 ON
MONDAY. OUR NEXT VERBAL PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE AT THE
PUBLIC HEARING ON OCTOBER 16
FOR EVERYONE WHO ATTENDS WILL
BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES. FOR
MONDAY'S MEETING WE WILL ONLY
BE ACCEPTING WRITTEN PUBLIC
COMMENT AS WE HAD PUBLIC
COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
SERIES TODAY. COLLEAGUES, IS
THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS
BEFORE WE ADJOURN? SEEING NO
FURTHER BUSINESS, WE ARE
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU FOR ALL
YOUR QUESTIONS TODAY. VERY
ASTUTE. APPRECIATE IT.