GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. THE
DECEMBER 10, 2024 MEETING AT
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL
COME TO ORDER. IT IS TO:02. I
AM SARAH NELSON, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
EIGHT PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THERE ARE NO PRESENTATIONS
TODAY. WE WILL GET RIGHT INTO
THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. HOW MANY PEOPLE SIGNED
UP TO SPEAK, PLEASE?
>> CURRENTLY HAVE SEVEN IN
PERSON AND TWO ONLINE SIGNED
UP.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL
START WITH THE IN PERSON.
EVERYONE GETS TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
>> SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE
REGISTERED. WILL ALTERNATE
BETWEEN SETS OF IN PERSON
SPEAKERS AND REMOTE SPEAKERS
STARTING WITH IN PERSON
SPEAKERS FIRST. SPEAKERS WILL
HEAR A TIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE
LEFT OF THEIR TIME. THE MIC
WILL BE MUTED IF YOU DON'T AND
YOUR COMMENTS WITHIN THE
ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER. THANK
YOU.
>> FIRST IN PERSON SPEAKER IS.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ] WE NEED A
BREAK. WE NEED A BREAK IN THE
CITY . WE NEED A BREAK FOR ALL
OF OUR SOULS. THE CURSE HAS
FOLLOWED ME ALL MY LIFE. HE
KNOWS ABOUT IT. I WILL BEGIN TO
EXPOSE HIS SECRET HERE IN THE
CITY. EITHER HE CAN LEAVE , OR
HE BE EXPOSED. I DON'T REALLY
HAVE MUCH TO SAY. HE HAS AS
MANY JOBS AS I HAVE I DON'T
KNOW WHO I AM, BUT HE DOES . I
JUST ASK THAT HE JUST RECUSE
HIMSELF FROM THE NEXT ELECTION
. PLEASE, SOMEONE TELL HIM FOR
ME. HE KNOWS WHO I AM. IF NO
ONE TOLD YOU TODAY THAT THEY
LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM WITH WASHINGTON
FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS FOR MORE
THAN 81 YEARS. I'M HERE TODAY,
AS I HAVE BEEN FOR MANY WEEKS
NOW, TO SEEK THE COUNCIL'S
SUPPORT AND REQUESTING A
MEETING WITH THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. IN THE 71 DAYS
SINCE THE INTERIM CHIEF TO THE
VERIFIED ALARM RESPONSE POLICY,
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL ONLY
RESPOND TO ALARMS THEY CONSIDER
VERIFIED THROUGH AUDIO, VISUAL
OR PANIC BUTTON EVIDENCE. WHILE
WE UNDERSTAND THIS POLICY AIMS
TO REDUCE RESPONSES TO FALSE
ALARMS, IT WAS IMPLEMENTED
WITHOUT CONSULTING SECURITY
INDUSTRY IS EXPERT TO COULD
OFFER VALUABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE
UNDERLYING CONCERNS. THE
CURRENT APPROACH TO ALARM
VERIFICATION IS PROBLEMATIC.
VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
DEMONSTRATE A FUNDAMENTAL
MISUNDERSTANDING OF HOW A
MODERN SECURITY SYSTEM WORKS
AND LEAVES THOUSANDS OF
RESIDENTS ARE PROTECTED WITHOUT
ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE CONSTANT
UPGRADES TO THEIR SECURITY
SYSTEMS. RATHER THAN CREATING
SUCH RESTRICTIVE VERIFICATION
CRITERIA, WEENIE DIALOGUE
BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
SECURITY EXPERTS OF ADDRESSING
FALSE ALARMS. SECURITY SYSTEMS,
WHEN PROPERLY UNDERSTOOD AND
UTILIZED, CAN BE VIABLE TOOLS
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE
MECHANIZE THE OFFICER CHALLENGE
SHORTAGE , HOWEVER, WE BELIEVE
THIS WAS A CARELESS POLICY
DECISION WITHOUT PROPER
FORETHOUGHT. IT IS ALSO CLEAR
THAT EVEN WITH PROPER EVIDENCE,
POLICE RESPONSES ARE SPORADIC
AND CAN OFTEN TAKE HOURS.
SEATTLE 911 DATA SHOWS THAT
FROM OCTOBER 1 THROUGH TODAY
9153 EMERGENCY POLICE
DISPATCHERS WERE MARKED AS
UNABLE TO LOCATE INCIDENT OR
COMPLAINANT. DATA ALSO SHOWS
THIS IS BECAUSE RESPONSE TIMES
ARE SO DELAYED THE CALLERS ARE
PERPETRATORS HAVE LEFT THE
SCENE BY THE TIME OFFICERS
ARRIVED. AGAIN, I'M REQUESTING
A MEETING BETWEEN THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SECURITY
INDUSTRY EXPERTS. THIS
COLLABORATION CAN HELP DEVELOP
MORE EFFECTIVE FOR THE --
PROTOCOLS WHILE SUPPORTING
EFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCES.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>> WHO IS NEXT? DO YOU KNOW
THAT THE OPA DIRECTOR JUST
RESIDE NEXT NOW I HEAR --
RESIGNED BACK --? NOW I HEAR
TAMMY MORALES HAS RESIGNED. IT
SEEMS ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WORK
FOR THE PEOPLE, PUBLIC
SERVANTS, AND UP RESIGNING,
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DEAL WITH
THESE CONSERVATIVES ON THE
COUNCIL. WHO IS NEXT? FIRE
CHIEF SCOGGINS? SOME OF HIS MEN
PLOTTED AGAINST HIM, TRY TO
EMBARRASS HIM. BEFORE HE WAS
MAYOR, HE HAD TO MORE OR LESS
JUSTIFY CHIEF SCOGGINS PRESENT
HERE. HE TOLD THE OPPOSITION
THAT THE CHIEF WAS VETTED. HE
IS FULLY QUALIFIED. HOW MANY
MORE DECENT PEOPLE WILL RESIGN
BECAUSE OF A CONSERVATIVE CITY
COUNCIL ? AND ON DECEMBER 3
YOUR MANY FILIBUSTER TO ALLOW
THE MEDIA TO LEAVE AND NOT
RECORD THE COMMENTS, MY
COMMENTS, AND OTHERS WERE NOT
LOST ON ME. I NOTICED . THE
MEDIA LEFT, AND THEN YOU
ENGAGED IN A PROCLAMATION FOR A
WELL DESERVING JOURNALIST, BUT
THAT WAS NOT THE APPROPRIATE
VENUE FOR IT . TO HOLD THE
AUDIENCE AND THE COUNCIL
HOSTAGE AND DISMISSED THE
MEDIA, I THOUGHT, WAS TACKED TO
LIST. I STILL HAVE TROUBLE IN
MY HOUSE AND WITH THIS COP .
THE MANAGER LEFT BECAUSE OF
HIM. AND YES, I WILL SAY IT, I
MISS . THEY WORKED FOR THE
PEOPLE, NOT AGAINST US.
>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HOWDY, FOLKS. MY NAME IS
GABRIEL JONES. I WOULD LIKE TO
SAY WHAT I WOULD BE THE
ABSOLUTE BEST NEXT CANDIDATE.
I'M GOING TO GO LEFT TO RIGHT
WITH SOME OF YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. AS SOMEONE WHO RIDES
BIKES A LOT, I ALSO RIDE BIKES
A. WE SEE HOW HORRIFIC THE CITY
CAN BE WITH BIKING
INFRASTRUCTURE BUT I WOULD LOVE
TO SEE MORE GET BETTER.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. YOU HAVE
GONE VERY FAR FROM THE DAYS .
YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF POSITIVE
THINGS. I AM EXCITED TO HELP
THE CITY BETTER AND BETTER
EVERY DAY. COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON, IF YOU DO THIS, NOT A
VERY BIG FAN OF FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY, I PROMISE
IF YOU, I WILL NOT CLAP ON
COUNCILMEMBER COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, I KNOW AFTER THE HUGE
FAILURE OF EDI FUNDING YOU
BLAMED COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
FOR DISINFORMATION. IF YOU
CHOOSE ME, I WILL TAKE THE FALL
FOR WHATEVER BAD POLICY WANT TO
PASS. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. IF
YOU PICK ME, FOR THE PRICE OF A
CASE OF BEER , WILL TAKE CARE
OF THE LITTLE THAT MAKES YOUR
HEART BEAT A LITTLE HARDER.
SAVE THE CITY MILLIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I KNOW
YOU CAN'T PICK ME, BUT IF YOU
COULD, WHAT I WOULD DO IS
CONTINUE YOUR LONG HARD WORK
YOU DO IN THE CITY TO PROTECT
THE PEOPLE YOU WORK FOR MAKING
AMAZING CHANGES, FIGHTING FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND REALLY
LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE. IN FOR
THE WHOLE COUNSELOR, SINCE IT
SEEMS TO BE A PREREQUISITE TO
HAVE TO FULLY COUNCIL MEMBERS,
IF YOU PICK ME TO BE YOUR NEXT
COUNCILMEMBER, I WILL ALSO HELP
YOU DOING THIS. PERSONALLY, MY
PICK WILL BE NELSON. IF YOU
WANT TO GO FOR CATTLE,
UNDERSTANDABLE. GO FOR IT. THEY
CAN ALSO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME. I CAN'T WAIT TO BEARDED
NECK CITY COUNCILMEMBER.
>> NEXT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. I
WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE CITY
COUNCIL TO TAKE SOME SORT OF
ACTION ON THE ISSUE I HAVE BEEN
RESEARCHING WITH THE PUBLIC
DOCUMENT REQUEST REGARDING THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. JUST
TO RECAP, THE CITY ATTORNEY PUT
OUT A PRESS RELEASE SAYING ,
DISQUALIFYING JUDGE FROM
HEARING CRIMINAL CASES AND
SAYING SHE RULED THE DEFENDANT
WAS IN COMPLIANCE AND DISMISSED
THE CASE, EVEN THOUGH THE
DEFENDANT REFUSED TO GET ON THE
VAN TO REHAB BECAUSE THEY WORK
IN A WHEELCHAIR. IN HER LEFT,
THE DEFENDANT WAS SHOT IN THE
LEG AND WAS TRYING TO BOARD THE
TRANSPORT VAN AND WAS UNABLE
TO, AND THE REHAB CENTER WOULD
NOT ADMIT HER BECAUSE SHE HAD
SCHEDULED FOR HER LEG. THE
JUDGE DID NOT FIND SHE WAS IN
COMPLIANCE. SHE DELAYED MAKING
A DECISION. THE JUDGE DID NOT
DISMISS THE CASE EITHER. PRETTY
MUCH EVERY PART OF THAT PRESS
RELEASE WAS FALSE WITH REGARDS
TO THE JUDGE. NOW, THIS HAS
BEEN GAINING TRACTION IN THE
MEDIA SINCE LAST TIME I TALKED.
THE STRANGER DID AN ARTICLE
LAST FRIDAY ABOUT FALSE
BASEMENTS IN THE MEMO. THE
STRANGER AND I HAVE BOTH BENT
OVER BACKWARD TO GIVE THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EVERY
OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN. WE BOTH
CONTACTED THEM. NATALIE, WHO
WROTE THE MEMO, SHE WAS JUST
HERE. I SAW HER, I LOOKED UP
HER NAME. THAT IS A PICTURE OF
HER. THAT IS THE PERSON. I
ASKED HER ON THE WAY OUT, YOU
KNOW, WE ARE RAISING QUESTIONS
ABOUT THIS MEMO YOU ROPE IS
THERE ANY EXPLANATION FOR HOW
THE STATEMENTS CREPT INTO IT?
SHE WAS LIKE, I REFUSE TO TALK
ABOUT IT. WE HAVE GIVEN THEM A
CHANCE. I THINK IT IS
APPROPRIATE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL
COUNCILMEMBER, OR PERHAPS, A
COLLECTIVELY TO ISSUE SOME SORT
OF STATEMENT CALLING ON THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED HERE. I UNDERSTAND THE
CITY COUNCIL CANNOT HIRE AND
FIRE THE CITY ATTORNEY, BUT IT
IS PERFECTLY APPROPRIATE FOR
ANY OF YOU WHO WANT TO
INDIVIDUALLY TO PUT OUT A
STATEMENT OR COLLECTIVELY ASK
FOR A RESOLUTION CALLING ON
THEM TO PROVIDE ANSWERS. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I JUST CAME DOWN TODAY TO
SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF TONYA FOR THE
DISTRICT 2 POSITION. I AM NOT
SURE IF YOU STARTED THOSE
CONSIDERATIONS ARE NOT. I WOULD
QUICKLY LIKE TO SHARE A STORY.
I ATTENDED SCHOOL IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT BACK IN THE
'80s. ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS
AND BREAK DANCERS , I SPENT A
LOT OF NIGHTS AT HIS HOUSE
SLEEPING ON HIS BEDROOM FLOOR.
HE HAD GREAT PARENTS . UNCLE
ELMER, AS I LIKED TO CALL HIM,
WHICH IS ALWAYS AROUND AND
ALWAYS A GREAT MENTOR. LATER IN
LIFE I FOUND OUT THAT ELMER AND
HIS BROTHER WERE COFOUNDERS OF
THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY BACK IN
THE '70s IN SEATTLE AND VERY
ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. AROUND
2013 WHEN THERE WAS AN
OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF YOUTH ON
YOUTH MURDER IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT IN THE SOUTH END, I
WENT TO ELMER DIXON AND ASKED
HIM IF HE COULD COME WITH ME TO
TALK TO LARRY GOSSETT. WHILE WE
WERE WAITING IN THE WAITING
ROOM, ELMER SAID, YOU KNOW,
LARRY IS THE ONLY POLITICIAN
THAT I TRUST . AND THEN HE
SAID, BUT THERE IS A YOUNG
PERSON , TAMMY MORALES, IN THE
SOUTH END THAT I REALLY LIKE. I
HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF
INTERACTION WITH TAMMY, BUT I
JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, JUST
HAVING UNCLE ELMER 'S SUPPORT
ALWAYS MADE ME THINK THAT YOU
HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL. I JUST
WANTED TO SAY TODAY, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SERVICE . AGAIN, I
WANT TO SAY, I FEEL LIKE TONYA
IS CONNECTED WITH THE COMMUNITY
AS WELL IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN
TAMMY, BUT SHE IS CONNECTED.
SHE DOES HAVE SUPPORT. AGAIN,
CONSIDER HER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF
THE LIVING BUILDING AND
THREE-BEDROOM PHOTOS BOTH
BEFORE THE COUNCIL TODAY. WE
APPRECIATED THE EXCELLENT
LIBERATIONS IN THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT AT
HERE. THIS BILL DOES A GREAT
THING. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS
CLARIFIED THAT LIVING BUILDING
PROJECTS CAN GET ADDITIONAL
HEIGHT, AND ALSO IN THE
DOWNTOWN PROJECT THAT PROVIDE
10 , THREE-BEDROOM FAMILY SIZE
BUILDINGS CAN GET HEIGHT. THE
INTERPRETATION OF THE CODE
CREATED BY THE COUNCIL WAS
ALWAYS THAT THOSE INCENTIVES
COULD BE STACKED TOGETHER. WE
REPRESENT A PROBLEM IN BELLTOWN
THAT WAS THE FIRST TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THAT. AND WENT
THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS. GOT
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THE
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD. IT
PROVIDES NOT ONLY 10,
THREE-BEDROOM UNITS, BUT ALSO
OVER 42 BEDROOM UNITS AND A
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING THAT WILL
BE CERTIFIED AS A LIVING
BUILDING SUSTAINABLE BUILDING,
BRINGING OVER 180 NEW FAMILIES
INTO DOWNTOWN. THIS IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE COPPER HAS
A PLAN , WITH THE VISION OF
MORE FAMILY SIZED UNITS IN THE
DOWNTOWN. IT WILL BE PART OF
THE ACTIVATION OF THE CITY.
THERE WAS AN APPEAL THAT SAID,
OKAY, CITY COUNCIL, YOU SHOULD
HAVE SPOKEN MORE CLEARLY. THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION DOES
EXACTLY THAT. CLARIFIES WHAT
WAS ALWAYS THE INTENT WITH THIS
PROJECT AND OTHER PROJECTS. WE
SUPPORT THIS. WE THINK THIS IS
CONSISTENT WITH WHAT DOWNTOWN
SHOULD BE, WELCOMING TO
EVERYONE, BEING A LEADER ON
SUSTAINABILITY. THERE ARE A
COUPLE OF AMENDMENT. WE HAD A
GOOD CONVERSATION IN THE LAND
USE COMMITTEE THAT WE HAVE SEEN
GENERALLY IN SUPPORT OF THOSE
AMENDMENT. WITH EXACTLY THE
TYPE OF WORK AND STUDYING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO STACK INCENTIVES
CITYWIDE WOULD BE GREAT. WE
WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT BEING PART
OF THE PROGRAM. WE ALSO
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN
AMENDMENT FOR COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE THAT WOULD SAY , YOU
KNOW, YOU CAN EFFECTIVELY STACK
THESE TWO AMENDMENTS. THAT IS
THE INTENT OF THAT AMENDMENT,
WE JUST RECEIVED IT. AGAIN,
THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THIS
PROJECT THAT WAS APPROVED AND
WOULD ALSO BE SUPPORT. WE ASKED
FOR APPROVAL OF THIS AND TO BE
ABLE TO WELCOME MORE FAMILIES
IN SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS
DOWNTOWN. WE APPRECIATE THE
DELIBERATION OF THOSE
AMENDMENTS , AND WITH THOSE,
WITH THAT THIS IS A GREAT STATE
THAT STEP FORWARD FOR DOWNTOWN
LIVABILITY. THANK YOU.
>> NOW MOVING TO REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENTERS.
>> OVER 200,000 SEATTLE VOTERS
DEMAND ACTION ARE PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE . OVER 300,000 SEATTLE
RENTERS DEMAND PROTECTION ON
EVICTIONS. OVER 400,000 SEATTLE
WORKERS DEMAND LIVING WAGES AND
SHOWS ON RETURN -- CHOICE ON
RETURN TO OFFICE. SARAH NELSON
AND RIVERA HAVE SPENT A YEAR
DECRYING THE PREVIOUS COUNCILS
. THE BELLYACHE ABOUT THE TIME
AT OXFORD ECONOMICS PLACED US
IN THE TOP FIVE ECONOMIC
POWERHOUSE CITIES IN THE WORLD.
ALSO, FOR 2023, GDP GROWTH WAS
AT 6% , FAR OUTPACING OTHER
REGIONS. NEW LEADERSHIP ON THIS
COUNCIL IS NEEDED . A COUNCIL
THAT WILL TAKE ACTION AGAINST
THE CRIME OF BUSINESS GROUPS
LOBBYING TO UNDERPAY SEATTLE
WORKERS . THE CRIME OF RENTAL
MANAGEMENT ALLUDING TO PRICE
FIX AND TREAT EVICTIONS AS A
BUSINESS MODEL. COUNCIL, TAKE
ACTION ON PROGRESSIVE REVENUE.
BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE
WORKFORCE IS ALSO YOUR SPENDING
FORCE . LIVING WAGES TO EVERY
WORKER IS MONEY SPENT BACK INTO
LOCAL ECONOMIES. THANK YOU, AND
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT REMOTE
SPEAKER.
>> GREETINGS, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
--
>> THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC
COMMENTERS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE
NOW REACHED THE END OF THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. NOBODY
ELSE HAS SIGNED UP. OKAY. WE
WILL MOVE ON. MOVING ON TO THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR. IF THERE ARE NO
OBJECTIONS, THE INTRODUCTION --
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS. SEEING NONE, IT IS
ADOPTED. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
NOW WE WILL CONSIDER THE
PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR .
THERE ARE ONLY TWO ITEMS. THE
MINUTES OF DECEMBER 3, 2024 AND
THE PAYROLL BILL , COUNCIL BILL
120923. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS
THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE
TO REMOVE FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR? SEEING NONE . I MOVED
TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THINK YOU. MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
NINE IN FAVOR AND NONE OPPOSE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE
CONSENT CALENDAR IS ADOPTED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES AND
LEGISLATION ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR ON MY BEHALF? MOVING
ON TO ITEM 1, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ IT INTO THE RECORD.
>> [ ORDINANCE READ ]
>>
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I MOVED TO
PASS COUNCIL BILL 120919. IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. AS SPONSOR OF THE
BILL, I WILL ADDRESS IT FIRST,
AND THEN OPEN UP TO COUNCIL
MEMBERS FOR QUESTIONS. AS YOU
READ FROM THE CENTRAL STAFF
MEMO , WHICH WAS SENT LAST
FRIDAY, THERE ARE SUMMARIES OF
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION IN
THE FOLLOWING. BASICALLY, THIS
WOULD PROVIDE WAGE ADJUSTMENTS
IN 2025 AND 2026 FOR CERTAIN
NON-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES IN
CERTAIN STEP PROGRESSION JOB
TITLES. FOR EXAMPLE, POSITIONS
WITH SALARY INCREMENTS AWARDED
IN DISCRETE STEPS WITH LITTLE
DISCUSSION FROM THE APPOINTING
AUTHORITY AS TO WHAT THOSE,
WHAT THE INCREASE OR DECREASE
IN WAGES WOULD BE. THE WAGE
ADJUSTMENTS WOULD BE CONSISTENT
WITH THOSE FOR REPRESENTED
EMPLOYEES COVERED BY THE
COALITION OF CITY UNIONS OR
COALITION FOR SHORT. THEIR
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENT, ORDINANCE 127005.
JUST IN SPECIFIC, THE
LEGISLATION WOULD PROVIDE A 4%
WAGE INCREASE FOR MOST
NON-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES IN
STEP PROGRESSION JOB TITLES FOR
2025, NUMBER PRESENTED EMPLOYS
IN LIBRARY POSITIONS, AND/OR
DISCRETIONARY PAID PROGRAMS ARE
SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED FROM THIS
WAGE INCREASE. TWO, PROVIDE
NEGOTIATED WAGE ADJUSTMENTS IN
ADDITION TO THE 4% WAGE
INCREASE FOR 13 UNREPRESENTED
TITLES CONSISTENT WITH THE
NEGOTIATED WAGE ADJUSTMENTS
THAT IDENTICAL TITLES
REPRESENTED IN THE COALITION
WILL RECEIVE IN 2025. AND
THREE, PROVIDE UP TO A 5% WAGE
INCREASE FOR MOST NOT
REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES IN STEP
PROGRESSION JOB TITLES FOR
2026. THIS IS SIMILAR TO WHAT
HAS BEEN -- THIS IS CONSISTENT
WITH THE PRACTICE THAT CBO HAS
DONE EVERY YEAR . WE ARE JUST
SIMPLY FINISHING UP THE YEAR
WITH THIS LEGISLATION. FIRST OF
ALL, I WILL STOP THERE. ANY
QUESTIONS? I SEE NO QUESTIONS.
ALL RIGHT. I WAS GOING TO SAY,
HISTORICALLY THE CITY HAS
PROVIDED THE SAME BENEFITS AND
OTHER CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR WAGE
INCREASES FOR EMPLOYEES COALITIS
AS NON-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES.
SO IF THERE ARE NO --, HEAD. I
SEE YOUR HAND.
>> THANK YOU. I DO HAVE A
QUESTION. I THINK WE ALL
RECEIVED AN EMAIL RELATING TO
-- EXCUSE ME.
THE WAGE COMPRESSION ISSUE
WOULD BE RESOLVED WITH THE
PENDING CITY COUNCIL BILL. THE
PAY DISPARITY BEING LEFT FOR
NON-REPRESENTED SUPERVISORS ARE
REPRESENTATIVE STAFF . THAT
LANGUAGE IS BEING TAKEN OUT. I
AM CURIOUS ABOUT WHEN THE ISSUE
IS GOING TO BE ADDRESSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION. I
DID RECEIVE AN EMAIL BACK IN
RESPONSE. I WILL READ WHAT SHE
SAYS. I'M WRITING WITH
INFORMATION THAT RELATES TO AN
EMAIL RECENTLY SENT TO COUNCIL
MEMBERS EXPRESS THE CONCERNS
ABOUT THE OMISSION OF WAGE
ADJUSTMENTS FOR NOT REPRESENTED
SHOP OPERATION SUPERVISORS/FLEE
T DIVISION IN THE NON-REP WAGES
ORDINANCE. ACCORDING TO THE
EMAIL, THERE IS AN INVERSION
ISSUE WAS SHOP OPERATION
SUPERVISORS BEING COMPENSATED
AT A LOWER RATE THAN THEIR
SUBORDINATE AUTOMOTIVE CHIEF --
CREW CHIEFS DUE TO WAGE
ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE SUBORDINATE
EMPLOYEES IN THE COALITION
CONTRACT. ALTHOUGH APPRISED OF
THE ISSUE, DECIDED TO OMIT WAGE
ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE SHOP
OPERATIONS SUPERVISORS IN THE
NON-REP WAGES ORDINANCE. I
FOLLOWED UP WITH SDH ARE ON THE
SITUATION AND LEARNED THE
FOLLOWING. THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
COMPLETED A CITYWIDE ANALYSIS
OF COMPRESSION AND INVERSION
IMPACTS AND ACTIONS NECESSARY
TO CORRECT FOR THOSE ISSUES.
SDHR PLANS TO INTRODUCE
SEPARATE LEGISLATION DURING THE
FIRST QUARTER OF 2025 TO
ADDRESS THE INVERSION ISSUES,
INCLUDING THE SHOP OPERATIONS
SUPERVISOR CLASSIFICATION. DUE
TO THE UNIQUE AND SPECIALIZED
SCOPE OF THE PROJECT, AS WELL
AS THE PROJECT TIMELINE , SDHR
DECIDED TO DRAFT SEPARATE
LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS THE
INVERSION ISSUES RATHER THAN
INCLUDE THOSE CHANGES IN THE
NON-REP WAGES ORDINANCE OR THE
RETAIN -- ROUTINE QUARTERLY
ORDINANCES. THE EFFECTIVE DATE
IS TBD. CBO DOES NOT YET HAVE
AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON
EFFECTIVE DATE RETROACTIVITY,
ET CETERA. THAT IS THE RESPONSE
FROM CENTRAL STAFF. WE DO HAVE
THE FOURTH QUARTER EMPLOYMENT
ORDINANCE THIS COMING WEEK.
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY -- I
DON'T KNOW. IT IS POSSIBLE ,
BASED ON THIS, I DO NOT KNOW IF
THIS IS POSSIBLE, BUT IF YOU'RE
CONCERNED ABOUT PASSING THIS
LEGISLATION BECAUSE OF THAT ,
PERHAPS, THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT
CAN BE ADDRESSED AT A LATER
DATE. I WILL URGE, THOUGH, THAT
A LOT OF OTHER EMPLOYEES ARE
IMPACTED BY THIS LEGISLATION ,
AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT
A GO FORWARD. GO AHEAD . THAT
IS ALL THE INFORMATION I HAVE.
THIS WAS LATEBREAKING CONCERN
AND INFORMATION I GOT TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT
CLARIFICATION. APPRECIATE THAT.
>> OKAY. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS? OKAY. SEEING NONE .
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>>
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSE.
>> THE BILL PASSES, AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN AND. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY
BEHALF? WILL YOU PLEASE READ
ITEM 2 INTO THE RECORD?
>> [ ORDINANCE READ ]
>>
ALL RIGHT. I MOVED TO PASS
COUNCIL BILL 120920. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED. AS SPONSOR OF THE
BILL, I WILL ADDRESS IT FIRST,
AND THEN OPEN IT UP FOR
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. THIS
LEGISLATION PROPOSES THE
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PAY
STRUCTURES FOR VARIOUS
DISCRETIONARY PAID PROGRAMS,
INCLUDING THE ACCOUNTABILITY
PAY FOR EXECUTIVES APEX
PROGRAM, MANAGER AND STRATEGIC
ADVISOR COMPENSATION PROGRAM,
ELECTRIC UTILITY EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION PROGRAM,
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
PROFESSIONAL, INVESTMENT /DEBT
DIRECTOR CONVERSATION PROGRAM,
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT AND
BROADBAND , POWER MARKETING
COMPENSATION PROGRAM, SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT GENERAL MANAGER, IN
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
COMPENSATION PROGRAM, MAYORAL
STAFF DISCRETIONARY PAY
PROGRAM, ASSISTANT CITY
ATTORNEY DISCRETIONARY PAY
PROGRAM, SETTLE POLICE CHIEF
COMPENSATION PROGRAM,
MAGISTRATE PROGRAM, THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES, GENERAL
MANAGER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER COMPOSITION PROGRAM,
SEATTLE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
COMPENSATION PROGRAM, AND THE
SEATTLE FIRE CHIEF COMPENSATION
PROGRAM. THE PROPOSED
ADJUSTMENTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH
THE PERCENTAGE INCREASES
REFLECTED IN THE CITY'S
NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT WITH THE
COALITION OF CITY UNIONS.
VARIOUS PAY PROGRAMS
COLLECTIVELY KNOWN AS
DISCRETIONARY PAY PROGRAMS
PROVIDE FOR ANIMAL ORBAN -- BY
ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE SALARY
STRUCTURE STICK REMAIN
COMPETITIVE IN THE LABOR
MARKET. THESE DO NOT
AUTOMATICALLY CREATE ADDITIONAL
COSTS, HOWEVER, THE EXECUTIVE
INCLUDED A PROPOSED FOR
PATIENTS TO IMPLEMENT WAGE
ADJUSTMENTS FOR EMPLOYEES
COVERED BY THE PAZO LEGISLATION
IN THE 2025-2026 PROPOSED
BUDGET. ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS? OKAY. I'M NOT
SEEING ANY QUESTIONS OR
CONCERNS HERE. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE THE
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> -- NINE IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE
BILL PASSES, AND THE CHAIR WILL
SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? ALL
RIGHT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM 3 INTO THE RECORD?
>> [ ORDINANCE READ ]
>>
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, AS CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE, YOUR
RECOGNIZE TO PROVIDE THE
COMMITTEE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU , COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THIS IS, AS WE HAVE
HEARD FROM COMMENTERS ARE
READY, ABOUT BUILDING PILOT
PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM ITSELF IS
INTENDED TO PROMOTE THE PUBLIC
INTEREST BY ENCOURAGING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE
LIVING BUILDINGS, GREEN
BUILDINGS, THAT CAN REDUCE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, TEST NEW
TECHNOLOGIES AND CAN SERVE AS A
MODEL FOR DEVELOPMENT
THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND THE
COUNTRY. THIS PARTICULAR
LEGISLATION CLARIFIES THAT
PROJECTS IN THE PILOT PROGRAM
CAN USE HEIGHT BONUSES TO
EXCEED 145 FEET , REGARDLESS OF
LOT SIZE IN THE DOWNTOWN MIXED
RESIDENTIAL ZONE. FOR CONTEXT,
145 FEET IS ABOUT 14 STORIES .
BUT AT THE HEIGHT CURRENTLY
ALLOWED IN DOWNTOWN MIXED
RESIDENTIAL ZONES . AS WE HEARD
EARLIER, THIS PARTICULAR
PROJECT, FOR WHOM THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD APPLY, WOULD
CREATE 180 UNITS IN THE
DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WOULD
INCLUDE 42, TWO BEDROOM UNITS
AND 10, THREE BEDROOM UNITS. IT
WOULD ALSO PAY $2.4 MILLION
INTO MHA. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME
QUESTIONS ABOUT STACKING. WE
HAVE AMENDMENT THAT WILL REFER
TO THAT. WHAT I WILL SAY IS
THAT THE STACKING OF
PROGRAMMING -- PROGRAMS ALLOWS
FOR THIS BUILDING, IN
PARTICULAR, TO ADD ONE STORY
BECAUSE THEY ARE INCLUDING
THREE BEDROOM UNITS AND TWO
STORIES BECAUSE THEY ARE
MEETING THE LIVING BUILDING
REQUIREMENTS. GIVEN THE NEED
FOR MORE HOUSING IN THE CITY ,
AN ADDITIONAL THREE STORIES,
WHICH FOR THIS PROJECT WOULD
TOTAL 19, IS IN KEEPING WITH
THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND
APPROPRIATE FOR THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. THE EXTRA FORCE
WILL MAKE THIS PROJECT ONLY
SLIGHTLY TALLER THAN MOST OF
THE BUILDINGS SURROUNDING IT.
AS CLERK MENTIONED, THE BILL
DID PASS OUT OF COMMITTEE WITH
FOUR IN FAVOR AND ONE
ABSTENTION. I WILL PASS IT BACK
TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT, BECAUSE I
KNOW WE HAVE A COUPLE OF
AMENDMENTS.
>> FIRST, ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS TO THE BASE
LEGISLATION? OKAY. WE HAVE
AMENDMENT A AT THE TABLE,
HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN A
COMMENT FROM THE CLERK THAT
THERE MIGHT BE A -- THIS MIGHT
BE SUBSTANTIVE. THE GENERAL
PROCEDURE IS TO ASK THAT THE
RULES SO THAT WE
CAN DISCUSS THIS, BECAUSE IT IS
A SUBSTANTIVE AMENDMENT THAT
CAME IN AFTER 12.
>> THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
COMMENTS, A LOT OF ENGAGEMENTS
FROM DIFFERENT CONSTITUENTS.
OFTENTIMES, IN CONFLICT IN
TERMS OF THEIR POSITIONS. THIS
TOOK SOME TIME TO KIND OF CHECK
INTO AND JUST TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AS IT
RELATED TO SPECIFICALLY THE
BELLTOWN PROJECT. BECAUSE OF
THE SMALL LOT SIZE RULES THAT
EXISTED WITHIN BELLTOWN ON
THIS. AND SO, I JUST WANT TO
SAY FIRST THAT I AM SUPPORTIVE
OF THE GOALS OF THE BUILDING
PILOT PROJECT. ALL THE THINGS
THAT ARE PART OF IT, THE
SUSTAINABILITY PIECES, USE OF
RECYCLED MATERIALS, THE ENERGY
REQUIREMENTS BEING NOT A DRAIN,
BUT CONTRIBUTING ON THAT FRONT,
RAINWATER, ALL THOSE DIFFERENT
PIECES THAT MAKE IT
SUSTAINABLE, BOTTOM LINE,
REALLY IMPORTANT. I AM ALSO, AS
WILL COME OUT WITH THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, I DO
SUPPORT HAVING VARYING TYPES OF
HOUSING AS WELL. ONE OF THE
AREAS WE ARE SURE IS HOUSING
FOR FAMILIES. IT IS NOT JUST IN
OTHER AREAS OF DISTRICT 7 AND
THE CITY, BUT ALSO SPECIFIC TO
DOWNTOWN. I HAVE HEARD FROM
RESIDENTS OF BELLTOWN THAT
THERE IS A LACK OF FAMILY
HOUSING. WHEN I SAY FAMILY,
MULTIPLE BEDROOMS. WE ARE NOT
TALKING ANYTHING LARGE , UNLESS
YOU ARE IN A MASSIVE PENTHOUSE.
BUT IT IS BASICALLY FOR THOSE
PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN THAT
URBAN ENVIRONMENT, NOT JUST
BELLTOWN, BUT THROUGHOUT THE
GREATER DOWNTOWN. AND SO,
ENGAGING ON THAT AND LOOKING
INTO THE DETAILS , I AM ALSO
MINDFUL THAT, YOU KNOW, CHANGE
IS HARD ON PEOPLE TOO. THERE IS
A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY SOMETIMES.
YOU KNOW, MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND
THE LIKE. WITH THAT, I WAS
LOOKING TO, YOU KNOW, BRING AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE
STACKED INCENTIVES PIECE TO
BASICALLY GET TO A POSITION IN
A MORE GENERAL WAY. NOT
SPECIFIC TO THE LIVABLE
BUILDING PILOT PROJECT, BUT TO
USE THIS EXAMPLE TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IT
IN TERMS OF BEING CLEAR, IN
TERMS OF WHAT IS ALLOWED, AND
THEN THERE IS THE PODIUM
HEIGHT. ALL THESE THINGS THAT
ARE BECOMING LIKE A PART-TIME
LAND USE COMMITTEE MEMBER. THE
PODIUM, THE STACK, THE SLOPES.
WHERE THINGS ARE MEASURED FROM.
ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS PLAY
INTO THE NUMBERS. PEOPLE HAVE
DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS OF
THIS. I THINK IN TERMS OF
STACKED INCENTIVES, IT WOULD BE
GOOD TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS ,
BECAUSE ALSO, PEOPLE SAY, CAN
YOU JUST CONTINUE TO STACK ON
TOP AND ON TOP? THAT CREATES
CONCERN. INSTEAD OF , YOU KNOW,
ADDING TO THAT CONCERN, ADDING
TO THAT ANXIETY RELATED TO
THESE DIFFERENT PIECES, THAT WE
HAVE SOME FORETHOUGHT AND
DELIBERATION RELATED TO STACK
INCENTIVES. I WOULD ARGUE THAT
YOU HAVE A BASE NUMBER, THEN
PERHAPS MAYBE GO ABOVE THAT ,
BUT THIS WOULD BE LIKE
DEPARTING FROM CODE. THIS WOULD
OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
CITY TO ENGAGE WITH THE
DEVELOPER AND SAY, HEY, YOU
COULD DO THIS, BUT YOU MAY BE
ABLE TO DO MORE, BUT THERE IS
PUBLIC GOOD THAT CAN COME FROM
THAT. THAT IS THE MINDSET WE
SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IN A MORE
GENERAL WAY AS IT RESPECTS TO
STACK INCENTIVES IN TERMS OF
FOSTERING THOSE GOALS, LIKE
WITH THE LIVABLE BUILDING PILOT
PROJECT, BUT BEING CLEAR ABOUT
WHAT THE LIMITS ARE, AND IF
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AN
EXCEPTION TO THE RULE, WHAT IS
THE BENEFIT TO THE PUBLIC? WHAT
IS THE BENEFIT TO THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE CITY
OVERALL? WITH THAT IN MIND, AND
WITH THAT BACKGROUND, THIS
AMENDMENT IS OFFERED IN TERMS
OF HAVING OPCD ANALYZE THE
STACKING OF HEIGHT INCENTIVES
AND THEIR IMPACT IN VARIOUS
ZONES WHERE APPLICABLE,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO
THE DOWNTOWN REGIONAL CENTER,
WHICH IN THIS CASE DOES INCLUDE
BELLTOWN, AND PROVIDES FINDINGS
AND RECOGNITIONS TO THE CHAIR
OF THE LAND USE COMMITTEE BY
THE DECEMBER 31, 2025 -- BY THE
WAY, THERE WAS WOULD ALSO BE
GOOD IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE
DOING WITH COPPER HAS A PLAN.
SO WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES, I
ASKED FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE
THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ON THE AMENDMENT?
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. WE DID
HAVE A CONVERSATION . THIS IS A
VERSION 2 BECAUSE I DO THINK
THAT WHILE WE CAN ASK OPCD TO
DO THIS ANALYSIS SO WE CAN ALL
UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS OF THE
STACKING OPPORTUNITIES, I
DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS AN
APPROPRIATE THING TO INCLUDE IN
THE SUPPLEMENTAL EIS, WHICH IS
WHAT THE ORIGINAL VERSION DID.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE DID
REDRAFT WITH THIS NEW DRAFT . I
AM HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE
AMENDMENT. I WILL BE VOTING
YES.
>> OKAY. I AM PULLING UP THE
LINK ON MY DESK. IF YOU HAVE A
QUESTION OR,, USER HAND AND
VOICE RIGHT NOW. NONE? OKAY. I
APPRECIATE THIS LEGISLATION. I
APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENT. IT IS
GOOD TO UNDERSTAND WHEN WE ARE
LITTERING ON INCENTIVES TO GET
THE THINGS WE WANT. I THINK IT
IS PRUDENT FOR US TO LOOK AT
ALL THIS, ALL THE SCENARIOS
THAT COULD BE COMING FORWARD
AND BE AWARE OF THE IMPACTS TO
THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ET CETERA. I
UNDERSTAND . I WILL BE
SUPPORTING THIS, AND I HAVE TO
SAY THAT I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE
OF THE LIVING BUILDING PROGRAM
ITSELF. I REMEMBER WHEN THE
LIVING BUILDING, WHEN THE
BROOKS BUILDING, BROOKS RUNNING
SHOES BUILDING WAS BEING BUILT.
IT WAS BEING PLANNED AND
DELIBERATED IN FREMONT. THERE
WAS A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT SOME
OF THE INCENTIVES, BUT WE WERE
REMOVING BARRIERS TO GET WHAT
WE WANTED, SUCH AS VERY
RIGOROUS ENVIRONMENTAL
STANDARDS. SO I WILL SAY THAT
WE ARE DOING DUE DILIGENCE IN
UNDERSTANDING WITH STACKING OF
INCENTIVES MEANS, AND I THINK
IT IS ALSO GOOD TO ALWAYS
RECOGNIZE THAT WE DO NEED TO
REMOVE BARRIERS TO GET WHAT WE
WANT . IN THIS CASE, LARGER
UNITS TO FAMILIES. THAT IS ALL
I WOULD SAY. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON AMENDMENT A?
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
MOVING
THIS ORDINANCE WILL
AUTOMATICALLY EXPIRE AT THE END
OF DECEMBER 21, 2025. ALSO, THE
SAME TIME AT WHICH THE REPORT
ABOUT ANALYZING STACKING
INCENTIVES IS REQUIRED TO BE
SUBMITTED TO THE CHAIR OF LAND
USE COMMITTEE. IT JUST GIVES US
TIME TO MAKE THIS EXCEPTION SO
THIS PROJECT CAN GO FORWARD.
THERE ARE OTHER PROJECTS THAT
DO WANT TO BE ABLE TO VEST,
THEY HAVE THAT PERIOD OF TIME
TO DO SO. IT DOESN'T TIE OUR
HANDS BE ON THE COMP PLAN AND
BEYOND THE REPORT OF THE
LEGISLATION COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE HAS INTRODUCED. FOR
THOSE REASONS, I ASKED FOR MY
COLLEAGUES SUPPORT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. TO THE SPONSOR,
APPRECIATE THE INTENT OF WHAT
YOU ARE BRINGING HERE TODAY. I
WILL UNFORTUNATELY NOT BE ABLE
TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT. THIS
GOES BACK TO HOW THE
CONVERSATION ORIGINALLY CAME TO
COUNCIL. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT
IS, WHEN THE INCENTIVES WERE
PASSED, STACKING WAS ASSUMED.
THAT WAS AN ASSUMPTION MADE BY
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT WAS
AN ASSUMPTION MADE AND
UNDERSTOOD BY MEMBER -- MANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THE
PROJECT BEFORE US HAD EVER
SERIES USING THE APPEALS
PROCESS TO FIND CLARITY WITH
THAT. WHAT I KNEW IN SEPTEMBER
IS THE SAME THING THAT I KNOW
TODAY. WENDY'S HIS SENTENCES
WERE ORIGINALLY PAST, THAT'S
WHEN THESE INCENTIVES WERE
ORIGINALLY PASSED, STACKING WAS
ASSUMED. I BELIEVE FROM THE
ORIGINAL INTENT THAT STOCKINGS
WERE ASSUMED IS THE SAME THING
I BELIEVE TODAY. IT IS LIKELY
THE SAME THING I WILL BELIEVE
ON JANUARY 2 OF 2025, EXCUSE
ME, 2026. FOR THOSE REASONS, I
WON'T BE SUPPORTING IT.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, I 100%
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS.
YOU CONNECTED IT TO RECEIVING
YOUR REPORT. THAT IS ESSENTIAL
TO GOOD PUBLIC POLICY. THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBER, MOORE.
>> ARE THERE OTHER COMMENTS?
JUST A MOMENT. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I HAVE A POINT OF
CLARIFICATION. I UNDERSTOOD THE
PILOT PROGRAM. IT IS A PILOT,
AND I CAN'T RECALL NOW THE
DATE. I DON'T SEE IT IN HERE.
I AM CONFUSED AS TO THIS
AMENDMENT. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS
PUTTING AN END DATE. IS IT
DIFFERENT THAN THE ORIGINAL
DATE? APOLOGIES, AGAIN, I KNEW
THERE WAS AN END DATE. WE
TALKED ABOUT IT LAST WEEK A
COMMITTEE, AND I NOW CANNOT
REMEMBER. COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, IF COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON ALLOWS, YOU MAY KNOW.
>> THE PILOT IS INTENDED TO END
EITHER WHEN 20 PROJECTS ARE
COMPLETE, AND I THINK THIS IS
THE 15th PROJECT, OR IN 2030.
IF WE DON'T PASS THIS, IT
WOULD ALLOW FOR FIVE MORE YEARS
OR FIVE MORE PROJECTS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT IS
WHAT I THOUGHT. I JUST DIDN'T
REMEMBER THE 2030 PART. THANK
YOU FOR THAT. I AM SUPPORTIVE
OF THE LIVING BUILDING PROJECT
. AS WE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK IN
LAND USE COMMITTEE, IT ALREADY
HAS A SUNSET DATE OF 2030. AND
THEN, COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO
EITHER MAKE IT PERMANENT, AND
MAKE CHANGES TO IT, GIVEN ALL
OF THAT, I THINK -- AND THERE
ARE FIVE PROJECTS LEFT THAT CAN
BE DONE. THAT IS TO SAY ,
BEFORE 2030, FIVE PROJECTS MOVE
FORWARD, THAT PROGRAM WOULD
SUNSET THEN. GIVEN ALL OF THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, I
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THE
LEGISLATION, BUT I WILL NOT
SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR
AMENDMENT . I DO SUPPORT THE
REPORTING AND MAKING SURE THAT
WE ARE VERY MINDFUL OF THAT
STACKING AND HOW THAT IMPACTS
ALL OF THIS FOR THE REMAINDER
OF THE FIVE PROJECTS. AND SO --
BUT YOU KNOW, AGAIN, REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> I WILL JUST SAY THAT I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE POSITION
THAT WE ARE ALL IN , ESPECIALLY
AS WE START TO MOVE INTO THESE
BIGGER LAND USE CONVERSATIONS
THAT WILL BE HAPPENING NEXT
YEAR. THESE ARE NOT EASY
CONVERSATIONS. YOU WILL ALL BE
HEARING FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS
ABOUT WHAT THEY LIKE AND DON'T
LIKE ABOUT WHAT IS BEING
PROPOSED. I WILL NOT BE
SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT. I DO
THINK THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF A
GLOBAL CITY THAT IS GROWING
THAT NEEDS TO ACCOMMODATE MORE
PEOPLE MOVING HERE,
PARTICULARLY THE CLIMATE
REFUGEES THAT WILL VERY LIKELY
BECOMING IN THE NEXT FIVE OR 10
YEARS, AND GIVEN THE HOUSING
CRISIS THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE
BEEN IN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE
IN FOR SOME TIME, ALL OF THAT
IS IMPORTANT CONTEXT TO WHAT
SEEM LIKE VERY HYPER LOCAL
DECISIONS. THE SMALL DECISIONS
IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AFFECT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OVER. AND SO, AS
POLICYMAKERS, WE JUST NEED TO
TAKE THAT HOLISTIC CITY
PLANNING PERSPECTIVE TO ENSURE
THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE
FAMILIES AND SENIORS AND THE
CURRENT SEATTLEITES WHO WERE
HERE, AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO
WILL BE COMING HERE. THE TRUTH
IS, IT JUST MAKES SENSE TO
BUILD TALLER BUILDINGS IN THE
URBAN CORE. EVEN IN DOWNTOWN
RESIDENTIAL . THAT IS WHAT THIS
PROJECT IS TRYING TO ACHIEVE. I
ALSO WILL SAY THAT I THINK IT
IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE WHO
CHOOSE TO LIVE DOWNTOWN TO
REALIZE THAT THE CITY IS
CHANGING. WE ARE GROWING, AND
OUR NEED FOR HOUSING WILL
CONTINUE TO GROW AND CONTINUE
TO INCREASE AS WELL. I DO THINK
IN ORDER TO CREATE A VIBRANT
NEIGHBORHOOD DOWNTOWN, WE NEED
MORE PEOPLE LIVING THERE. THIS
PILOT PROJECT WOULD ALLOW FOUR
MORE PROJECTS BEFORE SUNSETTING
. THAT IS JUST NOT GOING TO
HAPPEN IF WE ONLY ALLOW FOR ONE
MORE YEAR OF THE PILOT. I DO
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO
ALLOW MORE BUILDING THAT CAN
HOUSE OUR WORKERS, HOUSE OUR
SENIORS, HOUSE OUR FAMILIES
WITH CHILDREN , AND THAT IS
WHAT THIS REMAINING TIME OF
THIS PILOT PROJECT WOULD ALLOW
US TO DO. I APPRECIATE THE WORK
PUT INTO THIS, BUT I WILL NOT
BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> OUT THE MEMBER KETTLE, YOU
HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO THIS
AMENDMENT YET. GO AHEAD.
>> QUESTIONS AS I THINK THROUGH
THIS AND LISTENING. THIS CAME
TO ME AS WE ARE SITTING HERE.
TO COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'S., I
AGREE. I THINK THAT WILL BE
ADDRESSED IN THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN. REALLY, WHAT THIS IS
ABOUT IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PIECES TO IT. I THINK THE
HEIGHT AND ALL THOSE PIECES
WILL BE SUPERSEDED BY THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. IN MANY
WAYS, I AM SURE, SOMEBODY SMART
WHO WORKS IN THE BUSINESS CAN
FIND A POINT THAT CONFLICTS
WITH THAT A LITTLE BIT, BUT
GENERALLY, THE COPPERHEADS THE
PLAN IS REALLY GOING TO BE
DEALING WITH THE HEIGHT. AS I
SAID EARLIER, GETTING VARYING
TYPES OF BUILDINGS TO ALLOW FOR
FAMILY , OR MORE FAMILY TYPE OF
HOMES AS WELL, IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. THEN THE QUESTION
IS, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PIECES TO THIS .
A QUESTION WOULD BE , WASN'T
IT ALSO TOO GOING TO BE FOLDED
INTO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN?
MAYBE NOT AS COMPREHENSIVELY AS
THE LIVING BUILDING PROJECT,
BUT ELEMENTS OF THE LIVING
BUILDING PROJECT GOING TO BE
FOLDED INTO THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN ? I DON'T KNOW ON THE TOP
OF MY HEAD THE DETAILS OF THAT.
THAT GOES TO WHETHER TO SUPPORT
THIS. IF IT SINKS IN 2025 AND
THE PASSING OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THEN I
THINK WE ARE GOOD TO GO. IT IS
KIND OF A STATEMENT AND A
QUESTION. IT DOESN'T SIT ON
THE LAND USE COMMITTEE AND
DOESN'T HAVE A SENSE FULLY
RELATED TO COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND OR
SMART CONSTRUCTION.
>> IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT,
BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO KNOW IF
YOU'RE LOOKING AT ME OR THE
SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION. I
WILL ASK --
>> I USUALLY END UP LOOKING AT
THE CHAIR. COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, IS THERE ANYTHING IN
TERMS OF THE COMP PLAN WHICH
ADDRESSES THE HEIGHT ISSUES AND
ALL THAT? AND THEN, THE
ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE
LIVING BUILDING, DO YOU
ANTICIPATE THAT TO BE PART OF
THE COPPERHEADS A PLAN, WHICH
THEN WOULD MAKE THE DATE CHANGE
NOT AS RELEVANT ?
>> I THINK THE PURPOSE OF THE
PILOT PROGRAM IS TO START TO
UNDERSTAND HOW WE ALLOW FOR
THIS KIND OF MORE GREEN
BUILDING TO TAKE PLACE. WHAT
KIND OF INCENTIVES ARE NEEDED,
YOU KNOW, THE COSTS SO WE CAN
DO MORE OF THAT. AS FAR AS THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ITSELF,
THERE IS A CLIMATE ELEMENT
INCLUDED IN THAT. THAT IS
REALLY MORE -- I THINK IT IS
LESS ABOUT BUILDING CODE AND
MORE ABOUT HOW WE ADDRESS
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. HOW
WE ENSURE WE ARE ENCOURAGING
MORE TRANSIT RATHER THAN SINGLE
VEHICLE OCCUPANCY. OF COURSE,
ALL OF THOSE THINGS WILL
OVERLAP, BUT WHETHER THERE IS A
SPECIFIC ELEMENT OR SPECIFIC
PIECE OF THE COMP PLAN THAT
RELATES TO GREEN BUILDING, AT
THIS POINT, NOT ABOUT THIS
PARTICULAR PROJECT. PILOT
PROJECT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU. I DID WANT TO
FOLLOW WHAT MY COMMENT EARLIER
WITH THE FACT THAT, SINCE WE
ARE ASKING FOR THIS REPORT BY
THE END OF 2025 IN TERMS OF THE
STACKING AND ITS IMPACT, AT
THAT TIME WE COULD DECIDE TO
MAKE CHANGES TO THIS
LEGISLATION BASED ON THAT
REPORT, WHICH IS ANOTHER REASON
WHY I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, BRINGING
THIS FORWARD AND THE SPIRIT IN
WHICH YOU BROUGHT IT. I LOOK
FORWARD TO GETTING THE REPORT
AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR AND
HAVING FOLLOW-UP CONVERSATION
AS TO WHETHER WE NEED TO MAKE
TWEAKS AT THAT TIME BASED ON
WHAT WE LEARNED. I DID WANT TO
SAY THAT. THANK YOU.
>> ALL I WILL SAY IS THAT THIS
IS GOT TO BE ONE OF THE LONGEST
PILOT PROGRAMS THAT I HAVE EVER
HEARD OF. I REMEMBER IT WAS
CALLED A PILOT PROGRAM WHEN THE
BROOKS BUILDING WAS BEING
DELIBERATED. IT WAS A PILOT
PROGRAM WHEN THE BUILDING WAS
BUILT AND CELEBRATED ON CAPITOL
HILL. AND SO, I AM NOT ENMESHED
IN THE DETAILS OF HOW , YOU
KNOW, HOW MANY MORE PROJECTS
WOULD BE BUILT. I THINK YOU
SAID FIVE MORE. HERE'S THE
THING. I AM GOING TO DECLINE
FROM SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT
JUST BECAUSE I FEEL THAT WE DO
NEED TO SEE THE -- POSSIBLY
WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE LIVING
BUILDING PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WHO
THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE
-- OR LISTEN TO THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE MEETINGS . THE LIVING
BUILDING STANDARDS GO ABOVE AND
BEYOND THE LEED STANDARDS AND
THEY GO SO FAR AS TO ACTUALLY
TRY TO ENCOURAGE MORE MINDFUL
BEHAVIOR, LIKE TAKING STAIRS
INSTEAD OF OF THE THINGS. MY
POINT IS SIMPLY THAT THIS IS --
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING
THE CULMINATION OF THIS PILOT
AND BEING ABLE TO REALLY
DISCUSS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT TO
IT. I AM THINKING THAT THIS
AMENDMENT WILL CURTAIL THAT
KIND OF ANALYSIS WHEN IT IS
DUE, WHEN THE TARGETS ARE
ALREADY MET. THAT IS HOW --
THAT EXPLAINS HOW I AM GOING TO
VOTE ON THIS. IF THERE ANY
OTHER COMMENTS, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THIS IS NOT STANDARD
FOR ME, OBVIOUSLY. I USUALLY DO
THE COORDINATION AND SO FORTH
BEFOREHAND AND WORK THROUGH THE
DIFFERENT PIECES. BUT I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENT , AND
I AM THINKING ABOUT MY
CONSTITUENTS AS WELL. I'M ALSO
THINKING OF THE FACT THAT, YOU
KNOW, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE
EVERGREEN STATE AND THE EMERALD
CITY, WHICH BRINGS HIS OWN
QUESTIONS RELATED TO TREE
CANOPY . I KNOW THE COMMUNITY
OUT THERE REALLY CARES ABOUT
THAT. IT ALSO GOES TO HAVING
THE SUPER GREEN BUILDINGS THAT
YOU MENTIONED. YOU KNOW, THAT
IS SOMETHING THAT MAKE SEATTLE
UNIQUE TOO AND A SENSE OF BEING
ENVIRONMENTALLY FORWARD. I DO
RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGES
PRESENTED IN THIS CASE, BUT I
AM ALSO NOTING THE CHANGES OF
THE COMP PLAN. BUT THEN WE
STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
STRETCH THE LIMITS AND WHAT CAN
BE DONE, LIKE THE FOUNDATION
BUILDING DID IN TERMS OF MOVING
FORWARD AND TO REALLY , YOU
KNOW, JUSTIFY THE TITLE EMERALD
CITY IN THAT CONTEXT EVEN AS
THE EVERGREEN TREES CONTINUE TO
GET TOPS DOWN.
>> IF THERE ARE NO OTHER
COMMENTS, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL --
>> THERE IS ONE.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> I APPRECIATE ALL THE
COMMENTS. I JUST WANTED, FOR
THE RECORD, TO CLARIFY THAT MY
AMENDMENT WOULD NOT COUNSEL THE
LIVING BUILDING PILOT AFTER ONE
YEAR. WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON,
THE UNDERLYING BILL IS AN
EXEMPTION, AN EXCEPTION TO THE
LIVING BUILDING PILOT. WE ARE
SAYING, BECAUSE -- AS I
UNDERSTAND IT, WHEN THAT CAME
ABOUT, WE SAID -- WE SET THE
HEIGHT OF 145 FEET TO GO ABOVE
FOR ANY LOT SIZE UNDER 19,000
SQUARE FEET . THIS PROJECT IS
WORTHWHILE AS IT IS. IT IS
SEEKING TO GO OVER THAT. THEY
ARE SEEKING AN EXEMPTION, WHICH
WAS DENIED BY THE HEARING
EXAMINER'S. NOW WE ARE BACK
HERE LEGISLATING A SOLUTION.
THAT SOLUTION IS TO ALLOW THEM
TO GO HIGH AND TO STACK. TO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AT THIS
POINT, I APPRECIATE THAT. I
DON'T KNOW, MAYBE YOU CAN
CORRECT ME ON THIS. WHEN THE
ASSUMPTION WAS THAT STACKING
WOULD BE PART OF THIS, I AM
ASSUMING THE ASSUMPTION WAS IT
WAS STACKING ON A MINIMUM
SQUARE FEET OF 19,000 FEET.
ANYWAY, THAT IS NEITHER HERE
NOR THERE. JUST TO BE CLEAR, MY
AMENDMENT IS SIMPLY PUTTING AN
EXPIRATION DATE TO THIS
EXEMPTION TO THE LIVING
BUILDING PROJECT FOR ONE YEAR.
NOT TO THE LIVING BUILDING
PILOT ITSELF. JUST WANT TO BE
CLEAR FOR THE RECORD. THANK
YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. I AM NOT SEEING
ANY OF HER HANDS RAISED. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THIS AMENDMENT?
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
TWO IN FAVOR, SEVEN OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY
MOTION FAILS. AMENDMENT C IS
NOT ADOPTED. ALL RIGHT. ARE
THERE FURTHER COMMENT ON THE
BILL AS AMENDED? I AM NOT
SEEING ANY FURTHER COMMENTS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON COUNCIL BILL 120833 AS
AMENDED?
>>
EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE
LEGISLATION PASSES . THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF?
OKAY. IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE NOW
AT THE END OF THE AGENDA. THERE
WERE NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE
CONSENT CALENDAR, AND THERE'S
NOT A RESOLUTION FOR
INTRODUCTION AND ADOPTION
TODAY. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS FROM
MY COLLEAGUES TO DISCUSS ?
SEEING NONE. THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED. IT IS 3:03. THANK
YOU, EVERYONE.