>>> ORDER. I AM CATHY MOORE,
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
[ INAUDIBLE ]
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO?
>> PRESENT.
>> VICE CHAIR MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR MOORE?
>> PRESENT.
>> THERE ARE FIVE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, TODAY'S PROPOSED
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. SO THANK YOU EVEN FOR
BEING HERE TODAY FOR THE
FEBRUARY 28 MEETING OF THE
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE. WE'LL BE HEARING
WITH RESPECT TO THE OVERVIEW OF
THE RENTAL REGULATIONS. SDCI
REPORTS MOSTLY TO THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE WITH THE EXCEPTION
THAT ANYTHING RELATED TO THE
RENTAL PROGRAM REPORTS TO THIS
COMMITTEE. WITH THAT
INTRODUCTION, WE'LL MOVE TO
PUBLIC COMMENT. AT THIS TIME
WE'LL OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. MADAM CLERK,
HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE
REGISTERED?
>> WE HAVE FIVE SPEAKERS REMOTE
AND ONE PRESENT.
>> ONE IN PERSON?
>> YES.
>> ALL RIGHT. IFth PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE
MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER AS INSTRUCTED BY THE
CLERK.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
FOR THIS MEETING IS UP TO 20
MINUTES AND EACH SPEAKER WILL
BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
PURSUANT TO COUNCIL RULE 610,
THIS COMMITTEE MEETING WILL
BROADCAST MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS DURING
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THE
CLERK WILL CALL ON TWO SPEAKERS
AT A TIME. WE WILL START WITH
SPEAKERS IN CHAMBERS AND THEN
MOVE TO ONLINE SPEAKERS. WE
WILL CALL ON SPEAKERS IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH REGISTERED. IF
YOU HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED TO
SPEAK, BUT WOULD LIKE TO, YOU
CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF
THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD BY
ADDING YOUR NAME TO THE PUBLIC
COMMENT SHEET AT THE FRONT OF
COUNCIL CHAMBERS. OR TO SPEAK
REMOTELY TO SPEAK REMOTELY, YOU
CAN GO TO THE COUNCIL'S
WEBSITE. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
LINK IS ALSO LISTED ON TODAY'S
AGENDA. ONCE THE SPEAKER'S
NAME IS CALLED, THE STAFF WILL
UNMUTE THE APPROPRIATE
MICROPHONE AND AN AUTOMATIC
PROMPT OF YOU HAVE BEEN MUTED
WILL BE THE CUE THAT IT IS YOUR
TURN TO SPEAK. THE SPEAKER MUST
PRESS STAR SIX TO BEGIN
SPEAKING. PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING
BY STATING YOUR NAME AND THE
ITEM YOU'RE ADDRESSING. IT
SHOULD RELATE TO AN ITEM OF THE
AGENDA OR WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF
THE HOUSING COMMITTEE. SPEAKERS
WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN TEN
SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME. ONCE YOU HEAR
THE CHIME, WE ASK YOU TO WRAP
UP YOUR SPEAKER COMMENTS. IF
SPEAKERS DO NOT COMPLETE THE
ALLOTTED TIME, THE MICROPHONE
WILL BE MUTED TO ALLOW US TO
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER. ONCE
REMOTE SPEAKERS HAVE COMPLETED
THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ASK
THAT YOU PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM
THE LINE. IF YOU PLAN TO
CONTINUE FOLLOWING THIS MUTING,
PLEASE DO SO VIA SEATTLE
CHANNEL OR THE LISTENING
OPTIONS LISTED IN THE AGENDA.
THE REGULAR PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD FOR THIS COMMITTEE
MEETING IS NOW OPEN. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH IN-PERSON SPEAKERS
FIRST IN THE ORDER THEY SIGNED
UP. THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO
ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENTERS IN THE
ORDER THEY ARE REGISTERED. FOR
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENTERS,
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRESS STAR
SIX BEFORE SPEAKING.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S CALL ON
OUR FIRST SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> ANGIE GERALD?
>> GOOD MORNING. IS THIS ONE
WORKING?
>> YES, PROCEED.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
ANGIE, I'M A SMALL LANDLORD
FROM BALLARD AND A MEMBER OF
THE SEATTLE GRASSROOTS
LANDLORD. WE HAVE OVER 700
PEOPLE ON OUR FACEBOOK GROUP
AND NETWORK WITH OTHERS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY, PROVIDING
RENTAL HOUSING VIA SINGLE
FAMILY AND SHARED HOUSES, ADUs,
DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES, AND SMALL
APARTMENT BUILDINGS. I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT KEY POINTS ABOUT
TODAY'S RENTAL PRESENTATION.
NUMBER ONE, THESE PROGRAMS AND
POLL SIS WERE CREATED WITHOUT
ANY HOUSING PROVIDER
COLLABORATION. FOR A DECADE,
CITY COUNCIL HAS PASSED A
TSUNAMI OF LAWS AND BUDGET
ITEMS WITH MANY FLAWS AND
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. NUMBER
TWO, THESE PROGRAMS AND
POLICIES WERE ENACTED WITHOUT
ADEQUATE BUDGET IN PLACE.
EXPERIMENTAL FAST CHANGING
POLICIES TAKE A LOT OF HOURS TO
START UP AND TO MAINTAIN.
NUMBER THREE, THERE ARE STATE
AND FEDERAL LAWS THAT GOVERN
RENTAL HOUSING AND HOUSING
DISCRIMINATION. IF NOT REQUIRED
FOR SEATTLE TO HAVE ITS OWN
DISTINCT SET OF LAWS. EXISTING
AT HIGHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
AND THOSE LAWS CONTINUE TO
EXPAND AND EVOLVE. NUMBER FOUR,
SEATTLE HAS EXPERIENCED A STEEP
DECLINE IN SMALL HOUSING
PROVIDERS. ACCORDING TO REAL
DATA BETWEEN 2018 AND 2022,
SEATTLE LOST 14% OF SMALL
RENTAL PROPERTIES. NUMBER FIVE,
SEATTLE'S FAST CHANGING
REGULATIONS PLAY A LARGE ROLE
IN THE DECLINE OF RENTAL
OPTIONS IN OUR CITY. IN THE
2023 CITY AUDITOR SURVEY OF
LANDLORDS WHO REMOVED
PROPERTIES, 74% SAY THE RULES
ARE TOO BURDENSOME OR DIFFICULT
TO IMPLEMENT. 67% CITED
REGULATIONS AS A DIRECT CAUSE.
ONLY 1% OF THOSE WHO REMOVED
REGISTERED RENTAL INDICATED
THEY PURCHASED ANOTHER WITHIN
THE CITY. AS YOU LISTEN TO
TODAY'S PRESENTATION, KEEP IN
MIND THE LEGISLATIVE APPROACHES
THAT SPUN UP THE SYSTEM DESERVE
CONSIDERING SCOPE, COSTS,
OUTCOMES. IF SEATTLE'S GOALS
ARE RENTAL HOUSING ABUNDANCE
AND DIVERSITY, THE SYSTEM IS
NOT DESIGNED FOR THAT. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY.
YOU CAN NOW MOVE TO REMOTE
SPEAKERS, PLEASE.
>> UP NEXT WE HAVE CHARLOTTE
THISSELL FOLLOWED BY TOM
FRIEDMAN. YOU CAN PRESS STAR
SIX.
>> HELLO, I'M CHARLOTTE -- I
ALREADY DID. I'LL DO IT AGAIN.
HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. GO
AHEAD. WONDERFUL. I'M
CHARLOTTE THISSELL. I'M A
SINGLE MOM. I OWN ONE HOUSE IN
DISTRICT TWO THAT I RENT ROOMS
IN. I'M ALSO A FOUNDING MEMBER
OF SEATTLE GRASSROOTS LANDLORD.
IN 2021 I, AND SOME OF OUR
OTHER MEMBERS, MET WITH COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES TO DISCUSS THE
PROBLEMS OF HARASSMENT IN
RENTAL HOUSING. THIS IS A VERY
PERSONAL ISSUE FOR ME AS I HAD
A RESIDENT WHO BEGAN SENDING
SEXUALLY INAPPROPRIATE AND
THREATENING MESSAGES TO ME AND
OTHER FEMALE RESIDENTS. AND I
LATER LEARNED THIS PERSON WAS
UNDER AN EXTREME RISK
PROTECTION ORDER DUE TO HIS
PAST BEHAVIOR. ON ONE OCCASION
HE BRANDISHED A KNIFE IN FRONT
OF ME AND MY THEN 8-YEAR-OLD
DAUGHTER. FORTUNATELY FOR US BY
INVOLVING HIS FAMILY AND SOCIAL
WORKERS, I WAS ABLE TO
NEGOTIATE A VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT
FOR ENDING HIS RESIDENCY HERE
BECAUSE DUE TO THE EVICTION
PREVENTION MEASURES ENACTED BY
THE FORMER CITY COUNCIL, IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT FOR ME TO HAVE
EVICTED HIM, IF EVEN POSSIBLE
AT ALL. THE FORMER CITY COUNCIL
TOOK EXTREME MEASURES IN THE
NAME OF TENANT PROTECTIONS,
WHICH HAVE, IN FACT, ENDANGERED
TENANTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS
ALIKE. I'VE CREATED A
SIX-MINUTE YOUTUBE VIDEO
EXPLAINING THE PROBLEMS OF
HARASSMENT IN RENTAL HOUSING,
AND WHY IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO
LEGALLY EVICT SOMEONE EVEN WHEN
THEY ARE HARASSING OTHERS. AND
I PROPOSED A SIMPLE SOLUTION. I
SENT A LINK TO EVERY CITY
COUNCIL MEMBER INBOX THIS
MORNING WITH THIS VIDEO. I HOPE
YOU CAN FIND TIME TO WATCH IT
AND ADDRESS THE SERIOUS ISSUE,
AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR FURTHER
DISCUSSION AND TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> UP NEXT WE HAVE TOM FRIEDMAN
FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM ZIMMERMAN.
>> HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN.
>> YEAH, THANKS. MY NAME IS TOM
FRIEDMAN. AND MY WIFE AND I
HAVE TWO SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES IN
SEATTLE WE'VE HAD FOR MANY
YEARS. WE KEEP THE RENTS ON THE
LOWER END OF THE MARKET RATE.
WE USUALLY HAVE EXCELLENT
TENANTS, ONE OF THEM BEING
THERE FOR OVER 12 YEARS. WE'RE
THE VERY DEFINITION OF MOM AND
POP LANDMARKS. LET ME START BY
SAYING THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ESTABLISHED A RENTER'S
COMMISSION, WHICH REALLY NEEDED
A RENTAL COMMISSION THAT BRINGS
ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO THE TABLE
TO ADVISE THE CITY ON RENTAL
ISSUES AND POLICY. AND NOW I
HAVE SEVERAL CONCERNS ABOUT
SOME OF THE OWNERS LAWS THE
CITY PASSED IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS. THE FIRST REQUIRES THE
LANDLORD TO RENT TO THE FIRST
QUALIFIED APPLICANT. THE BIGGER
REASON WE HAVE LONG STANDING
TENANTS, IT'S A SMALL MOM AND
POP LANDLORD, WE'VE DEVELOPED
A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH
OUR TENANTS. BASED ON THAT
EXPERIENCE, WE'RE VERY
CONCERNED THAT THE LAW WILL
FORCE US TO RENT TO SOMEONE WE
MAY NOT HAVE A GOOD REPORT WITH
JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE
APPLICATION TO GET IT IN
QUICKLY. LET ME PUT IT IN TERMS
OF SOMETHING YOU CAN ALL RELATE
TO. YOU'VE ALL RECENTLY HIRED
STAFF TO YOUR OFFICE. WHAT IF
YOU ARE REQUIRED TO HIRE THE
FIRST APPLICANT WHO MEETS ALL
THE REQUIREMENTS? NO NEED TO
WASTE TIME FOR INTERVIEWS
DURING WHICH YOU COULD GET TO
KNOW THE PERSON BETTER. YOU
WOULDN'T LIKE THAT AND WE
DON'T EITHER. IT'S SIMPLY NOT
FAIR TO HAVE A ROOMMATE LAW
THAT ALLOWS TENANTS TO MOVE
THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, MOVE IN
THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AS WELL AS
A FRIEND OR PARTNER'S FAMILY.
WHAT'S THE RATIONAL FOR THAT?
AND THEN THE $10 LATE FEE
PROVIDES ABSOLUTELY NO
INCENTIVE TO PAY RENT ON TIME.
WITHOUT THE RENT, LANDLORDS
WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COVER THEIR
EXPENSES TO ALLOW THEM TO
PROVIDE THE HOUSING TO OTHERS.
LASTLY WE'VE NEVER HAD TO
EVICT A TENANT. RENTS ALLOW
LANDLORDS TO COVER THEIR COSTS
AND PROVIDE HOUSING. TO EXPECT
A SMALL LANDLORD WITH A FEW
RENTALS TO GO NINE MONTHS
WITHOUT THEIR RENTS. YOU SHOULD
PROVIDE SUBSIDIES, SO RENTERS
CAN PAY THE RENT LIKE FOOD
STAMPS TO HELP COVER THE COST
OF FOOD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> UP NEXT IS CHARLOTTE
THISSELL, OH, I'M SORRY,
WILLIAM ZIMMERMAN FOLLOWED BY
KATE MARTIN.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
WILLIAM ZIMMERMAN. I'D LIKE TO
TALK ABOUT NOTICE REQUIREMENTS
IN SEATTLE. THE REFUSAL
REQUIRES LANDLORDS TO
OFFICIALLY SERVE OR RENEW
TENANTS EVERY YEAR. PHYSICALLY
REQUIRED TO DRIVE TO THE
TENANTS AND POST THE NOTICE ON
THE DOOR. AND THEN MAIL ANOTHER
COPY TO EACH INDIVIDUAL TENANT.
THIS MAKES SENSE IF THE TENANT
DOES NOT HAVE REGULAR ACCESS TO
A COMPUTER OR PHONE. I
UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO MAKE
SURE TENANTS ARE AWARE OF THEIR
OPTIONS. BUT FOR THE VAST
MAJORITY OF TENANTS WHO DO HAVE
ACCESS TO A COMPUTER OR PHONE,
AND THAT REGULARLY COMMUNICATE
WITH THEIR LANDLORD OVER THE
INTERNET IS WASTEFUL. EVEN IF
THE LANDLORD IS CURRENTLY
TALKING TO THE TENANTS ABOUT
THE RENEWAL OVER E-MAIL, THE
LAW STILL REQUIRES THEM TO GO
OFFICIALLY SERVE THAT RENEWAL
OFFER BETWEEN 6 O TO 90 DAYS,
WHETHER THEY WANT MULTIPLE
COPIES PRINTED AND POSTED ON
THEIR DOORS OR NOT. THIS IS A
REAL COST. IT IS EXPENSIVE AND
WASTEFUL TO PRINT SOMETHING THE
TENANT WILL END UP SIGNING OVER
THE INTERNET ANY WAY. IT IS
EXPENSIVE AND POLLUTING TO
DRIVE ACROSS TOWN AND
CONTRIBUTE TO SEATTLE'S
CONGESTION TO HAND DELIVER A
LETTER THAT COULD HAVE JUST
EASILY BEEN E-MAILED. SEATTLE
LAW SHOULD NOT LEAVE BEHIND
THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO
THE INTERNET. IF THEY REQUEST
THE PHYSICAL LETTERS, THEN THEY
SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO OBLIGE.
FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF
TENANTS WHO DON'T WANT THEM
KNOCKING ON THEIR DOOR TO
DELIVER A PIECE OF PAPER, THEY
SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE THE
INTERNET. I URGE YOU TO RELAX
THE RULES AROUND SERVING NOTICE
IN THE MUNICIPAL CODE OR AT
LEAST GIVE THEM OPTION TO OPT
IN TO AN ELECTRONIC DELIVERY
WHEN SIGNING THEIR LEASE. THE
POINT OF THE FIRST REFUSAL IS
TO PROTECT THEM FROM BEING
ARBITRARILY KICKED OUT OF THEIR
HOMES, NOT TO WASTE PAPER AND
GAS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> UP NEXT IS KATE MARTIN
FOLLOWED BY DAVID HAINES.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS KATE
MARTIN, AND I'M CALLING
SPECIFICALLY TO WHAT'S USED TO
CONSIDER THE IDEA OF OWNER
OCCUPIED RENTAL HOUSING BEING
MOSTLY EXEMPT FROM THE OWNER
RULES THAT ARE HAPPENING. I'M A
SENIOR CITIZEN. I OWN A HOME
THAT I SHARE WITH SIX OTHER
PEOPLE. I'VE BEEN SHARING MY
HOME FOR 15 YEARS. IT'S DURING
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM THAT IT
WAS A COMPLETE DISASTER WHAT I
WENT THROUGH. THE FEAR I HAD TO
LIVE THROUGH. WHAT I'M ASKING
FOR YOU IS TO PLEASE CONSIDER
EXEMPTIONS FOR HOUSING NOT JUST
TO EXTEND THE SINGLE-FAMILY
HOUSING, BUT TO ADUs, DUPLEXES,
TRIPLEXES. IF YOU INCLUDED
THESE IN THE EXEMPTIONS FOR
OWNER OCCUPIED RENTAL HOUSING,
WE WOULD HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF
HOUSING AVAILABLE. JUST IN OUR
STATE OF WASHINGTON, THERE'S
TWO MILLION ROOMS THAT COULD BE
RENTED TO RENTERS, BUT PEOPLE
HAVE REASONS FOR NOT WANTING TO
DO IT AND THEY WANT US TO
REDUCE THOSE RISKS. IF WE COULD
REDUCE THE RISK FOR RENTAL
HOUSING FOR THOSE LANDLORDS, WE
CAN MAKE IT BOTH AFFORDABLE TO
RENT BECAUSE FRANKLY
OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING IS SOME
OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE RENTALS
THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY. WE
CAN REDUCE THE RISK FOR THE
LANDLORDS AND MAKE IT MORE
AFFORDABLE TO OWN HOMES. WHEN
PEOPLE TODAY WITH THE COST OF
OWNING THE HOME AND WHAT THE
MORTGAGE RATES ARE, THEY NEED
TO HAVE RENTERS, BUT THEY
DON'T NEED TO TAKE RISKS IN
THE VERY HOME THEY LIVE IN. IT
IS ONE THING WHEN YOU ARE A
REMOTE LANDLORD AND YOU'VE GOT
A PROPERTY AND IT DOESN'T
REALLY AFFECT YOUR REALITY TO
HAVE PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE
PROBLEMATIC THAT WILL NEED TO
BE EXITED OUT OF THE HOUSING.
IT DOESN'T REALLY AFFECT YOU
WHEN IT IS REMOTE. SO WHEN YOU
ACTUALLY LIVE ON SITE WITH
PEOPLE, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
TO KEEP THINGS WORKING AND
GETTING EVERYBODY WORKING
TOGETHER. I HOPE YOU'LL
CONTACT ME TO INCLUDE HOUSING
AND APPRECIATE YOUR VIEWS.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> UP NEXT IS DAVID HAINES
FOLLOWED BY FILENCIO VELASCO IN
PERSON.
>> HI, DAVID HAINES. THANK YOU.
DON'T SIDE WITH GREEDY MANY
TRUMPS OF SEATTLE, TAG THE COST
OF HOUSING, TREATING THE FUTURE
EQUITY OF RENTERS KEPT
OPPRESSED, PAYCHECK TO
PAYCHECK, USING A BETTER CHOICE
IN HOUSING WITHOUT THIS FROM
LANDLORDS AND BANK.
ARTIFICIALLY INFLATING PROPERTY
VALUES, DEVALUING HUMAN VALUES.
ALL BECAUSSERVICING APLITE
STATE ECONOMY AS IF WE ARE
STILL IN MISINTERPRETATION OF
NEOLIBERAL REGULATIONS. WE NEED
TO HAVE A BETTER STANDARD OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION
BASED ON 21st CENTURY, FIRST
WORLD QUALITY HOUSING, AND NOT
20th CENTURY WATERED DOWN
BUILDING CODES. IF YOU MOVE IN
TO A NEW BUILDING OR AN OLD
BUILDING AND DISCOVER FALSE
ADVERTISED REMORSE AND FLAWED
OBSOLETE DESIGNS AND BUILDINGS,
THEN YOU SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO
FILE A GRIEVANCE AND PROVEN TO
GET THE RENEGOTIATION DEDUCTION
ON YOUR DOUBLE TRIPLE MORTGAGE
RENTAL THAT IS OPPRESSING THE
LIFE BLOOD OF THE WORKING
CLASS. NO OFFENSE, BUT SOME OF
THESE SHARECROP OR RENTAL
SPECKLATORS WILL GET SUBHUMAN
MISTREATMENT OF THEIR TENANTS
LIKE A SECOND CLASS CITIZEN WHO
DESERVE MORE RIGHTS THAN THEIR
ABUSE TO CONTINUE RIPPING OFF
THE WORKING CLASS AND THE COST
OF THEIR HOUSE PAYMENT. KEEPING
EVERYBODY RENTAL INSTEAD OF
HOUSE OWNED WITH REAL EQUITY,
THE PROPER INTERPRETATION OF
EQUITY. WE NEED TO HAVE A
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY FOR THE
BANKS, FROM THE CHAMBERS OF
COMMERCE TO BEGIN PRIORITIZING
21st CENTURY HOMES, BUILDINGS,
SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES WITH A
ROBUST FLOOR PLAN TO GIVE US A
REPRIEVE FROM THE OBSOLETE --
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER?
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS FIDENCIO
VELASCO, AND THAT IS THE LAST
REGISTERED SPEAKER.
>> I THINK WE ACTUALLY HAD ONE
OTHER PERSON SIGNED UP. NO,
THERE IS ANOTHER PERSON. I'M
SORRY, GO AHEAD, SIR.
>> GOOD MORNING, I'M A
BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE
CARPENTER'S UNION HERE IN
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. SOME OF
YOU I HAVE MET THROUGH VIDEO
CONFERENCING. FIRST AND
FOREMOST, CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE. MY
APOLOGIES. THERE IT GOES. I'VE
REACHED OUT, I'M NEW TO THE
AREA, I'M NOT A RESIDENT OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, BUT I
REPRESENT 485 MEMBERS THAT LIVE
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. I
REPRESENT 10,000 MEMBERS THAT
LIVE IN THE NORTH AND SOUTH
COMBINED. I BET IF I LOOK AT
THAT NUMBER 10 YEARS AGO, WE
WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A LOT MORE
MEMBERS THAT WILL LIVE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. I JUST WANTED
TO THANK DIRECTOR TORGELSON FOR
THE QUICK RESPONSE. I KNOW THAT
HOUSING IS A HUGE ISSUE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. IT IS NOT ONLY
A HUGE ISSUE HERE, BUT LIKE
YOU, WE HAVE THINGS WE'RE
WORKING ON AND THAT IS LABOR
STANDARDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
MAKING SURE THE WORKERS THAT
BUILD THESE HOUSES COULD AFFORD
TO LIVE. I BELIEVE THAT THE
CARPENTER SHOULDN'T HAVE TO
LIVE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND
IT IS A RESPECTABLE CAREER. NOT
SAYING THAT NOT ALL OF THEM ARE
RESPECTABLE CAREERS, BUT UNION
CARPENTERS USED TO BE ABLE TO
BUY HOUSES IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. AND EVERY YEAR, MORE
AND MORE. I JUST WANTED TO
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, FOR SET UP
THE MEETING. I WOULD LIKE TO
TALK TO SOME OF YOU. I'M NEW
TO THE AREA, AND I'M TRYING TO
MEET SOME OF THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS. AND THAT IS MY COMMENT
AND LET'S TACKLE THIS PROBLEM
AND PUT SOME LABOR STANDARDS IN
THESE MULTI-HOUSING PROJECTS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT.
>> THAT WAS THE LAST REGISTERED
SPEAKER.
>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO THAT
CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL NOW MOVE
ON TO THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR
AGENDA. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ THE FIRST ITEM, AGENDA
ITEM INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 1,
INTRODUCTION TO SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS, OVERVIEW OF RENTAL
PROGRAMS FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> GREAT. WELL THANK YOU. SO
TODAY WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE
WITH US DIRECTOR NATHAN
TORGELSON OF THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS AND HIS TEAM TO
WALK US THROUGH THE RENTAL
PROGRAM WORK OF THEIR
DEPARTMENT. SO WITHOUT FURTHER
ADIEU, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO
YOU.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. I'LL GO
AHEAD AND HAVE GEOFF TALLENT
INTRODUCE HIMSELF AND ALSO
MAUREEN ROAT WHO IS ONLINE.
>> GEOFF TALLENT, I'M THE
RENTAL PROGRAMS MANAGER IN
SDIC.
>> HELLO.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
MAUREEN ROAT, I'M THE MANAGER
OF THE PROPERTY OWNER AND
TENANT ASSISTANCE TEAM AT SDCI.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> GREAT. SO COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE, THANK YOU FOR INVITING
US TO YOUR COMMITTEE TO TALK
ABOUT OUR RENTAL PROGRAMS AND
REGULATIONS. WE, OBVIOUSLY,
ADMINISTER A VARIETY OF
LANDLORD TENANT PROGRAMS AND
REGULATIONS. WE ALSO WORK IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS WHO'S ALSO
RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THE
LANDLORD-TENANT ISSUES. IF WE
COULD BRING UP THE SLIDES.
>> DO YOU NEED ANY HELP WITH
THAT?
>> GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO JUST VERY QUICKLY. SDCI'S
VISION IS TO SET THE STANDARDS
FOR AWESOME LOCAL GOVERNMENT
SERVICE. WE ARE HELPING PEOPLE
BUILD A SAFE LIVABLE AND
INCLUSIVE SEATTLE. YOU CAN SEE
ON THE SLIDE SHOW OUR VALUES,
WHICH WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.
JUST WANTED TO STRESS THAT THE
FIRST VALUE YOU SEE IS EQUITY,
WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN
DEALING WITH LANDLORD AND
TENANT ISSUES. SO QUICK
OVERVIEW OF OUR DEPARTMENT. WE
HAVE 482 EMPLOYEES. OUR 2024
ADOPTED BUDGET IS $118 MILLION.
YOU CAN JUST SEE SOME OF THE
STATISTICS EVERY DAY WE ARE
HELPING A LOT OF LANDLORDS AND
TENANTS. WE ARE ISSUING A LOT
OF PERMITS.
>> ALL RIGHT, IT COMES OVER TO
ME NOW. WE HAVE A LOT PACKED
INTO THIS PRESENTATION. I'M
PLANNING TO ONLY GO OVER THE
HIGH POINTS OF THESE SLIDES,
BUT HAVE THEM AVAILABLE AS A
RESOURCE AND INFORM ANY
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
>> SO FIRST OFF WE ARE PROBABLY
THE PRINCIPLE REGULATORY
DEPARTMENT, BUT THERE ARE QUITE
A FEW OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT
WILL TOUCH ON LANDLORD-TENANT
ISSUES. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH
ALL OF THEM. MOST NOTICEABLY AS
NATHAN MENTIONED, THE OFFICE
FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. THEY HAVE A
REGULATORY ROLE IN FAIR
HOUSING. WE WORK QUITE CLOSELY
WITH THEM, ALSO WITH THE
UTILITIES IN HELPING TO PROMOTE
SOME OF THEIR PROGRAMS FOR
EFFICIENCIES IN MULTI-FAMILY
BUILDINGS AND OTHER
DEPARTMENTS. AND TWO PROGRAMS
THAT WILL DEAL WITH THE
PHYSICAL PROGRAM IN RENTAL
HOUSING. IS IT SAFE AND
PROPERLY MAINTAINED? FIRST IS
THE HOUSING AND THE BUILDING
MAINTENANCE CODE. THAT'S OUR
LONG STANDING COMPLAINT BASED
PROGRAM THAT IS CODE BASED AND
DESCRIBES WHAT PROPERLY
MAINTAINED RENTAL UNIT WILL
LOOK LIKE. SECOND IS THE RENTAL
REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION
ORDINANCE THAT HAS BEEN AROUND
FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS NOW. AND
THAT'S SOMETHING HIKE AN
OPERATING LICENSE FOR RENTAL
HOUSING. RENTAL PROPERTY
OWNERS, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO
GET A RENTAL REGISTRATION FROM
THE CITY AND THEN HAVE PERIODIC
INSPECTIONS. THOSE ARE CHOSEN
AT RANDOM EVERY FIVE TO TEN
YEARS AND IN MULTI-FAMILY
PROPERTIES, THE SELECTION OF
UNITS ON THOSE PROPERTIES. AND
THAT IS TO PERIODICALLY ENSURE
THEY ARE MAINTAINING THOSE
PROPERTIES PROPERLY. THE NEXT
BIG AREA THAT WE WORK IN IS
RENT AND FEE REGULATIONS. SO
THESE TOUCH ON NOTICE
REQUIREMENTS. HOW MUCH NOTICE
YOU NEED TO GET FOR THE RENT
INCREASE. ALSO CAPS ON FEES AND
SUCH. AND THIS IS WHERE A LOT
OF OUR WORK WILL COME IN WHERE
WE HEAR FROM A TENANT THAT THEY
GOT A NOTICE THAT THEY ARE
UNSURE ABOUT. WE WOULD LOOK AT
IT IF IT IS NOT COMPLYING WITH
THE CITY CODES. WE'LL GIVE THE
LANDLORD A CALL, TO MAKE SURE
THEY GET PROPER NOTICE AND THEY
COULD AVOID A SITUATION WHERE
THEY MADE OR GET CAUGHT WITH AN
IMPROPER NOTICE LATER ON. I
THINK THAT'S IT. AND ALTHOUGH
WE DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A ROLE
DIRECTLY IN EVICTIONS. SO WHERE
WE DO HAVE WORK IS THE JUST
CAUSE EVICTION ORDINANCE, AND
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF
CITY LEGISLATION FOR TENANT
PROTECTIONS. IT HAS 16 JUST
CAUSES AND 16 REASONS WHY YOU
COULD EVICT THE TENANT. THE
NOTION BEHIND THIS IS IT
PREVENTS ARBITRARY EVICTIONS,
BUT ALSO CREATES A PATH FOR
PROPER EVICTIONS. SO COMMON
THEMES, UNDERSTANDABLE THINGS
LIKE FAILURE TO PAY RENT OR
SAFETY, THOSE ARE ALLOWED UNDER
THIS OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE YOU
COULD GIVE THEM MORE NOTICE AND
IT WILL GET THAT. IF THEY WANT
TO SELL OR MOVE IN TO THEIR
PROPERTY, IT WILL REQUIRE THE
EXTRA TIME OR NOTICE TO GIVE
THEM MORE TIME TO FIGURE OUT
THEIR NEXT STEPS. OTHER BIG
AREAS IN EVICTIONS, WE DON'T
GET INVOLVED EXCEPT THAT WE
FUND THE RIGHT TO FUND THE
PROGRAM THAT THE CITY ADOPTED
INTO LAW. THEY ALSO REQUIRE THE
RIGHT TO COUNCIL NOW, SORT OF A
FUNDING PARTNER WITH THAT
FUNDING OF THAT PROGRAM.
OTHERWISE A COUPLE OF DEFENSES
THAT ARE WRITTEN INTO THE CITY
LAW AND THE SCHOOL YEAR.
PROHIBITION ON THE SCHOOL YEAR
EVICTIONS EXCEPT FOR THE
PROHIBITION ON WINTER EVICTIONS
EXCEPT FOR SOME SITUATIONS.
THOSE ARE BOTH ENFORCED BY THE
COURTS IN THE EVICTION
PROCEDURES. WE DON'T GET TOO
INVOLVED IN THAT EXCEPT TO
MAYBE WARN THE LANDLORD THAT
YOU MIGHT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
THAT IF YOU GET INTO THAT
EVICTION SITUATION. RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE. WE'VE GOT KIND OF
THREE FLAVORS OF THIS HERE. AND
THAT'S WHAT IT IS CALLED AS WE
WOULD LIKE TO USE THE ACRONYMS
SOMETIMES. FOR TENANTS
DISPLACED BY THE REDEVELOPMENT
AND THAT WILL GIVE THEM TWO
THINGS. ALL TENANTS IN THE
BUILDING WILL GET TIME UP TO
SIX MONTHS OF EARLY NOTICE THAT
THIS PROPERTY WILL BE
REDEVELOPED, YOU NEED TO START
THINKING ABOUT YOUR NEXT STEPS
AND IT WILL GIVE MONEY AND THEY
PAY FOR HALF OF THAT. AND IT IS
FOR LARGE RENT INCREASES,
PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO LOW
INCOME TENANTS. THEN WE HAVE A
COUPLE TYPES OF ASSISTANCE THAT
ARE TRIGGERED BY THE LANDLORD
WHERE THEY NEED TO MOVE THROUGH
NO FAULT ON THEIR OWN LIKE THE
EMERGENCY SITUATION CAUSED BY
THE LANDLORD AND THE TENANT
NEEDS TO GET OUT RIGHT AWAY.
>> SO IT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE
REDEVELOPMENT IN THE HOUSING
THAT IS DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY
FOR A LARGER MULTI-FAMILY
PROJECT.
>> AND SO HOUSING
DISCRIMINATION, AGAIN, THIS IS
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AREA,
SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEAK
TOO MUCH TO IT. BUT THEY ARE
WORKING IN THE SPACE OF
DISCRIMINATION, FAIR HOUSING,
BARRIERS TO HOUSING, ESPECIALLY
PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL BACKGROUND
CHECKS. AND THEY DO THAT
THROUGH COMPLAINT BASED
ENFORCEMENT, ALSO TESTING, THEN
POLICY AND EDUCATION. WE SEE A
LOT OF OVERLAPPING CASES, SO WE
WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM IF WE
GET A CALL FROM A TENANT,
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO HAS IT
OR MAYBE BOTH OF US. WE WORK
VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM ON
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH BOTH THE
LANDLORDS AND THE TENANTS.
SPEAKING OF OUTREACH, WE HAVE
INVESTED QUITE A BIT IN
OUTREACH. WE HAVE A WEBSITE
THAT IS WRITTEN FOR BOTH
TENANTS AND LANDLORDS. THE
FIRST THING YOU SEE IS A DOOR
FOR EACH OF THOSE AUDIENCES,
DESIGNED TO SPEAK TO THEM IN A
WAY THAT IT WILL WORK FOR THEM.
WE HAVE LANDLORD TRAININGS. AND
THEY WERE PUT ON HOLD FOR QUITE
A BIT OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT
WE'RE BACK IN BUSINESS AND
EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE'VE GOT
FOUR PLANNED IN 2024 AND THE
FIRST ONE IS MARCH 20. AND THAT
IS UP ON THE CITY'S EVENTS
CALENDARS WITH THE REGISTRATION
INFORMATION IF PEOPLE ARE
INTERESTED. WE WILL MAKE
ANNOUNCEMENTS AS THE SUBSEQUENT
ONES OVER THE COURSE OF THE
YEAR. WE HAVE A RENTER'S
HANDBOOK. IT'S A RESOURCE
THAT'S REQUIRED TO BE PROVIDED
TO TENANTS WHEN THEY MOVE IN
AND THEN PERIODICALLY
ELECTRONICALLY UPDATED. IT IS
TRANSLATED INTO 14 LANGUAGES AS
ONE OF THE KEY RESOURCES TO
HELP TAKE THIS COMPLEX OUT OF
REGULATIONS AND MAKE IT
UNDERSTANDABLE TO THE RENTER
AND THE LANDLORD COMMUNITY. ONE
OF THE BENEFITS OF THE REAL
PROGRAM IS A DATA BASE OF THE
LANDLORD ESCIENCE MAIL
ADDRESSES, WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO
CREATE THAT NEWSLETTER WITH
OVER THE UNIQUE LANDLORDS AND
THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS TO GIVE
THAT POLICY AND INFORMATION ON
UTILITY DISCOUNTS OR THE
PROGRAMS THAT THEY MIGHT WANT
QUITE A BIT OF COMMUNICATION
DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN THE
LANDLORD TENANT LAWS AND THEY
WERE SORT OF UNCERTAIN. THEN WE
DO QUITE A BIT OF TRAINING.
PARTNER TRAINING, COMMUNITY
EVENTS. WE'RE KIND OF GETTING
BACK INTO BUSINESS THIS YEAR
THAT IS IN THE PAST OUT AT HOME
FAIRS, FOOD BANKS. WE HAVE A
TENANT TO TAKE OUT TO SET UP
THE TABLE AND PROVIDE
INFORMATION AND WE PROVIDE
GRANTS WITH THE SPECIAL
EMPHASIS ON SERVING
ORGANIZATIONS, WHERE WE ARE
REACHING CUSTOMERS WHO WE MAY
NOT REACH OURSELVES. SO A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW CUSTOMERS
APPROACH US AS WE HAVE TWO MAIN
POINTS OF ENTRY. MAINLY THE
RENTING IN THAT PHONE LINE AND
THAT IS WHERE THE TENANT COULD
CALL OR THE LANDLORD COULD CALL
WITH QUESTIONS AND INFORMATION
ON THE LAWS OR THE ISSUES OR TO
MAKE A COMPLAINT. WE WILL TRACK
EVERYTHING THAT WILL COME IN TO
THAT SYSTEM. AND WE TEND TO BE
UPFRONT THAT WE ARE STRUGGLING
AS YOU'LL SEE IT ON THE NEXT
SLIDE. THE CALLS COME IN AND
THEY TAKE THEM AND THEY ANSWER
THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY CAN
RIGHT AWAY. AND THEY ARE
COMPLEX. SO WE OFTEN NEED TO
PASS IT ON TO THE SPECIALIST.
CUSTOMERS CAN FACE THAT WEIGHT
AFTER THEY CALL IN TO GET A
CALL BACK. WE HAVE PUT IN A
TRIAGE MODEL BECAUSE WE'RE SO
BUSY. WE CALL PEOPLE WITH
URGENT ISSUES. IF IT'S A LOCK
OUT IN THAT EMERGENCY, THEN WE
WILL DEAL WITH TIME SENSITIVE
ISSUES SECOND. AND GENERAL
ADVICE QUESTIONS LIKE THAT,
THEY COULD TAKE A WHILE FOR US
TO GET BACK TO PEOPLE DEPENDING
ON WORKLOAD. BUT WE DO TRACK
EVERY CALL. WE MAKE SURE WE
KNOW WHO CALLED, AND WE TRY TO
REFER THEM TO OTHER RESOURCES
IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE
DON'T THINK THEY WILL GET
THERE RIGHT AWAY AND WE DO HAVE
A SECOND LINE FOR CUSTOMERS.
THAT IS SOMETHING THEY NEED
HELP IN RENEWING THE
LEGISLATION OR SCHEDULING AN
INSPECTION WITH US. AND SO ON
THIS ISSUE OF WORKLOAD AND HOW
WE ARE MANAGING THAT, YOU COULD
SEE WE HAVE HAD QUITE A BIT
COMING INTO US. THE 2023
NUMBERS WERE 17,000 CALLS FOR
UNHOUSING ISSUES AND LANDLORD
TENANT ISSUES AS A 40% INCREASE
OVER THE YEAR BEFORE. OF THOSE
6,400 OF THOSE TO BE REFERRED
TO TO FOLLOW UP AND THEY HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT INSPECTIONS. WE
WOULD HAVE 341 ENFORCEMENT
CASES. I THINK THAT IS A SIGN
OF SUCCESS THAT OF THOSE CALLS
THAT WENT TO A SPECIALIST, THEY
GOT ON THE PHONE. THEY WOULD
LOOK AT THAT SITUATION AND THEY
FIGURED OUT ONE OF THEIR
VIOLATIONS HAD OCCURRED AND
THEY GOT ON THE PHONE WITH THE
LANDLORD AND THEY GOT
COMPLIANCE, RIGHT? AND THEY ARE
TRYING TO DO THIS RESPECTFULLY.
PROBLEM SOLVING. HEY, THIS IS
WHAT THAT LAW SAYS. LET'S WORK
TOGETHER TO GET THIS CORRECTED,
SO THEY WILL GET THAT RIGHT
NOTICE AND YOU CAN SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM. SO IT IS ONLY IN CASES
WHERE SOMEONE DOESN'T WANT TO
ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM THROUGH
THAT COACHING AND THAT
VOLUNTARY ENFORCEMENT PROCESS
THAT WE WOULD GET INTO THESE
ENFORCEMENT CASES. A FEW OTHER
NUMBERS FOR YOU THERE ON THE
TRAIL PROGRAM HOUSEHOLDS
DISPLACED BY DEVELOPMENT, 668,
90 HOUSEHOLDS GOT THEIR
EMERGENCY RE LOCATION
ASSISTANCE. THERE'S BEEN A LOT
OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE.
YOU'LL SEE AN ANNUAL REPORT
FROM US ABOUT RIO IN THE NEXT
MONTH OR SO AND YOU'LL SEE
THAT REAL REGISTRATIONS ARE UP
A LITTLE BIT THIS YEAR, BUT NOT
MUCH. AND THAT IS NOT A
SURPRISE THAT WE'RE SEEING
QUITE A BIT OF CONSTRUCTION OF
LARGE MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTIES
IN THE CITY. SO 2024
PRIORITIES, IT'S A BIG PART OF
OUR WORK RIGHT NOW IS JUST
KEEPING UP, MEETING CUSTOMERS
NEEDS WITH THAT LARGE INCREASE
AND THE HIGH VOLUME OF WORK
COMING IN. WE ARE IMPROVING THE
RESPONSE TIMES AS THEY MADE
SOME HEADWAY. WE'LL HAVE A LOT
MORE TO DO. WE ARE WORKING TO
IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY IN THAT
INTAKE PROCESS, TRYING TO GET
MORE CALLS ANSWERED RIGHT AWAY
AND TRYING TO GET THEM HANDLED
AS A SPECIALIST. AND THE CITY
AND STATE LANDLORD TENANT LAWS.
THE STATE HAS MOVED QUICKLY
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND
MOST OF WHAT WE DO NOW THE
STATE ALSO DOES. AND THEY DID
NOT RIGHT THINKS THE SAME WAY,
BUT WE NEED TO STAY IN THERE.
THEY ARE THE PROCESS
IMPROVEMENTS WE'VE BEEN
WORKING ON. SOME ARE IN PLACE.
WE HAVE A NEW ONLINE PORTAL FOR
THEM TO GET SERVICE QUICKLY
RATHER THAN CALLING THE PHONE
CALL. LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE
ARE EXCITED, BACK DOING QUITE A
BIT OF OUTREACH IN NOVEMBER AND
WE AGREED WITH EVERYTHING IN
THAT AUDIT. WE'VE BEEN WORKING
ON SOME OF THESE. AND WE'VE
GOT MORE WORK TO DO THERE.
THAT'S IT FOR OUR
PRESENTATION.
>> JUST WANTED TO ADD TWO OTHER
IMPORTANT POINTS IN DECEMBER.
THAT IS A WAY THEY CAME IN TO
ASK QUESTIONS TO STAFF AND THAT
WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT ADDITION
TO OUR SERVICES THAT WE KNOW
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO
DON'T WANT TO CONTACT OUR
STAFF VIRTUALLY OR ON THE
TELEPHONE. WE WOULD HAVE MANY
TENANTS OUT THERE THAT DON'T
HAVE TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES TO
ACTUALLY COME IN TO E SOOT
YACHT L MUNICIPAL TOWER AND
TALK TO THE STAFF. GEOFF
MENTIONED THAT THE STATE HAS
PASSED NEW LANDLORD TENANT
REGULATIONS AND I BELIEVE THERE
ARE STILL SOME THINGS BEING
CONSIDERED THIS YEAR. AND THAT
THEY WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THAT. COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS? I THINK YOU HAD A
QUESTION?
>> YES, I HAVE A FEW. I'M GLAD
TO HEAR THERE IS AN IN-PERSON
SERVICE DESK, WHERE PEOPLE
COULD GO AND GET THEIR
QUESTIONS ANSWERED. BUT GREAT
TO HEAR IT IS BACK UP. I'M
CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR BUDGET AND
WHAT IS ALLOCATING THEM TOWARDS
THE LANDLORD, TENANTS, STAFF,
AND SERVICES.
>> THAT'S KIND OF A TRICKY
QUESTION. WE COULD GET YOU FIRM
NUMBERS LATER ON AS A FOLLOW
UP. I WOULD SAY WE HAVE ABOUT
20 PEOPLE TOTAL AND ALMOST ALL
OF OUR FUNDING WILL GO TO STAFF
AND THEN WE HAVE SEPARATE
FUNDING FOR SOME GRANTS TO
PARTNER. WE'RE IN THE FEW
MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FOR
SUPPORTING THAT STAFF. IT GETS
CONFUSING BECAUSE THEY ARE FEE
SUPPORTED AND THEY NEED TO
INCLUDE THAT IN THERE AND THAT
WILL MAKE IT A LITTLE TRICKY.
AND WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE
DOING BLENDED WORK. OUR
INSPECTORS THAT ARE DOING THE
GENERAL FUND SUPPORTED HOUSING
BUILDING MAINTENANCE
INSPECTIONS ARE ALSO DOING THE
SUPPORTED INSPECTIONS. I'M
SORRY, I'M MAKING IT VERY
COMPLICATED BECAUSE IT KIND OF
IS, BUT WE WILL FOLLOW IT UP
WITH SOME FIRM NUMBERS FOR YOU.
>> AND THOSE QUESTIONS ARE
BASED ON THAT, SO I WILL WAIT
FOR THAT QUESTION, THANK YOU.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANYMORE
QUESTIONS? NO? COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR THE
OVERVIEW PRESENTATION HERE. AND
ALSO GLAD TO HEAR THAT, YOU
KNOW, WE WILL HAVE A CUSTOMER
SERVICE DESK OPEN AND
OPERATIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL FOR,
YOU KNOW, OUR VARIOUS RENTER
PROGRAMS. YOU KNOW, I THINK THE
SAME THING TO THE EXTENT, THAT
IT DOES NOT ALREADY EXIST
TODAY. I KNOW IT EXISTED BEFORE
THE PANDEMIC, BUT WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A
SIMILAR CAPABILITY FOR THE
PERMITTING PROCESS. BUT IN ANY
EVENT, JUST CURIOUS TO HEAR
KIND OF HOW WE'RE APPROACHING,
BENCH MACING THE CITY AND THE
RENTAL EVICTIONS, INDEED THE
STATE IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING
THE NUMBER OF ITEMS,
LEGISLATIVE LY. BUT WE'RE
CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN
SEATTLE. HOW IT COMPARES TO THE
OTHERS ACROSS THE STATE, HOW IT
COMPARES TO WHAT THEY CURRENTLY
HAVE TODAY. AS I UNDERSTAND IT
AND UNLESS YOU TELL ME
OTHERWISE THAT THE CITY IS
FREE, THE STATE ESTABLISHES THE
FLOOR, SO THE CITY, THEY ARE
THEREFORE FREE TO ADD ENHANCED
PROTECTION ORDINANCES, WHICH
WILL MAKE MANY SENSE HERE IN
SEATTLE. BUT AGAIN, BEING
CURIOUS IN THE HIGH LEVEL AND
SOME OF THOSE HARMONIZATION IF
YOU WILL CURRENTLY OR LACK
THEREOF, AGAIN, WHAT WE WILL
HAVE HERE IN PLACE IN SEATTLE
WILL COMPARE IN HARMONY WITH
WHAT IS IN THE OTHER
JURISDICTIONS IN THE STATE.
>> YEAH, AND SO I THINK WHAT
WE'RE SEEING NOW IS THAT THE
STATE HAS CAUGHT UP WITH US.
AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE HARMONIZATION
AND WANTING TO ADAPT OURSELVES
TO HOW THE STATE HAS CHANGED.
AND THEN A FEW AREAS WHERE WE
ARE MORE PROTECTED LIKE MORE
NOTICE FOR THE RENT INCREASE IN
SEATTLE VERSES THE STATE. I
BELIEVE IT'S 90 DAYS FOR THE
SATE AND 180 DAYS IN SEATTLE.
SOME POLICY CHANGES THAT THEY
MADE IN THE PAST. AM I GETTING
TO IT? TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT
THE OTHER CITY AS THEY HAVE
COME UP TO THE PLACE WHERE WE
ARE NOW AND THEY ARE IN THAT
STATE, A HANDFUL OF OUR
NEIGHBORING CITIES ADOPTED
THEIR OWN PROTECTIONS. AGAIN,
MOSTLY SIMILAR TO OURS IN
ALIGNMENT TO OURS.
>> WE'LL BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP
WITH YOU IF THAT IS OF INTEREST
TO YOU. WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE A
LOOK IF WE'RE GOING TO AMEND
ANY OF OUR LAWS TO BE
CONSISTENT WITH THE STATE. WHAT
WE WANT TO AVOID IS WHETHER WE
ARE INCONSISTENT AS FAR AS OUR
REGULATIONS ARE NOT IN SYNC
WITH THE STATE.
>> AS A LAWYER, I UNDERSTAND,
AND THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE.
BUT CAN I ASK? SO WHAT ARE SOME
OF THE CHALLENGES? I'M GLAD
THAT WE HAVE A GOOD ENGAGEMENT
MODEL WITH THE RENTERS AND
LANDLORDS EVEN. BUT WHAT ARE
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT
YOU'RE HEARING WITH
IMPLEMENTATION WITH A LOT OF
THESE PROGRAMS? HOW ARE YOU
THINKING ABOUT REMEDIATION?
>> YEAH, WE CERTAINLY HEAR
ABOUT CHALLENGES FROM THE
LANDLORDS AND TENANTS AND WHERE
THEY FEEL THEY FELL SHORT. WE
OFFER ADVICE IN THAT ALONG THE
WAY AND THAT THEY VOLUNTEER FOR
THE CITY. FOR EXAMPLE WE HAVE A
SMALL LANDLORD. WE DID SOME
SMALL STAKE HOLDER WORK A YEAR
OR SO AGO. AND WE COULD SEND
THAT TO YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU
CAN SEE THAT. WE ARE HAPPY TO
HELP INFORM THEM WITH WHAT
WE'RE SEEING AND HEARING.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER
CHALLENGES OBVIOUSLY IS EVERY
DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY WILL
HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES. AND A
LOT OF OUR RESOURCES TO GO HELP
THEM IS OUR GENERAL FUND. AND
SHE MAKES UP 9% OF OUR BUDGET.
AND THE PERMANENT REVENUE. AND
THAT THE ENFORCEMENT AND THE
CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS. THANK
YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM
COLLEAGUES? OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> AND I HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS. I WAS WONDERING IF
YOU COULD TELL US HOW MUCH OF
THE BUDGET IS SPENT TO HOUSING
JUSTICE FOR THE RENTER PROGRAM?
>> LAST YEAR'S CONTRACT WAS
$1.1 MILLION. AND THIS YEAR'S
CONTRACT HAS NOT BEEN LET OUT
YET. WE ARE STILL WORKING TO
GET THOSE CONTRACTS OUT THE
DOOR.
>> IN THAT CONTRACT, YOU SET
OUT TERMS OF WHAT THE
EXPECTATIONS ARE OR THAT THEY
WILL RUN THE RENTERS DEFENSE?
>> YES. SO FOR THE TENANT
SERVICES CONTRACTS, WE DO A
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS EACH
YEAR. WE'LL TAKE THE PROPOSALS
WITH A READING PANEL THAT WILL
SCORE THEM AGAINST THE CRITERIA
AND MAKE FUNDING DECISIONS ON
THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL. IT'S
BASICALLY PROVIDED THE SERVICE
TO TENANTS WHO NEED THE
FINANCIAL SUPPORT DESCRIBED TO
US. AND TO SEE WHO WILL NEED IT
AND WHO GIVES US REPORTING ON
HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU SERVED,
COST PER CLIENT, THAT SORT OF
THING. BECAUSE I'VE BEEN
WORKING ON THIS RECENTLY,
TRYING TO GET IT THROUGH THE
APPROVAL PROCESS HERE. I THINK
LAST YEAR, HOUSING JUSTICE
PROJECT WAS SPENDING A LITTLE
LESS THAN A THOUSAND DOLLARS
PER TENANT SERVED.
>> $1,000 PER TENANT?
>> YEAH, SERVED. A LITTLE BIT
LESS THAN THAT.
>> OKAY, WAS THAT MANDATED
THROUGH THE STATE OR WAS THAT A
DECISION OF THE CITY TO CREATE
THAT FUNDING SOURCE?
>> THE CITY WROTE IN TO CITY
ORDINANCES A COUPLE YEARS AGO
AND FUNDED IT. SINCE THEN THERE
IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHERE THE
STATE WAS CAUGHT UP WITH THE
CITY AND THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL
AND THEY ARE FUNDING IT. WE AND
THE STATE TOGETHER ARE FUNDING
RIGHT TO COUNCIL IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND THEY ARE FUNDING IT
OUTSIDE SEATTLE.
>> WE COULD ASK THE STATE TO
FUND IT INSTEAD OF THE CITY?
>> AND THAT IS ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS FOR THE STATE. AND
HOW ARE YOU FUNDING IT AND WHAT
THEY SHOULD BE PAYING THE
ENABLING LEGISLATION FOR THE
CITY IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN
WHAT THE STATE SAYS. THE AMOUNT
IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. I'M
STILL TRYING TO ISOLATE WHAT
THAT DIFFERENCE IS TO INFORM
FUTURE BUDGET REQUESTS.
>> IT WILL BE WORTH HAVING THE
CONVERSATION SINCE THEY MADE IT
A MANDATE OBLIGATION THAT THEY
SHOULD BE PAYING FOR IT GIVEN
OUR BUDGET SITUATION. I HAVE A
FEW QUESTIONS, AND THEN I'LL
GET TO YOU. I'M ALSO CURIOUS
ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DISPLACEMENT
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE. SO I
KNOW THAT IS PAID UPFRONT AND
COLLECTED AFTERWARDS FROM THE
PROPERTY OWNERS. WHAT HAPPENS
IF THEY WIND UP NOT MOVING AND
THE MONEY HAS BEEN PAID OUT BY
THE LANDLORD?
>> THAT IS A STRUGGLE IN THE
POLICY. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO
IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM IN A WAY
THAT THE DECISIONS ABOUT
ELIGIBILITY AND MOVING OUT ARE
MADE BEFORE THE PAYMENT GOES
OUT THE DOOR, SO WE CAN AVOID
THAT. WE MAY HAVE HAD ONE OR
TWO SITUATIONS WHERE THAT HAS
HAPPENED. OUR ABILITY TO
RECOLLECT BY THE LOW INCOME
TENANT IS VERY CHALLENGING. I
WOULD SAY WITH THIS NEW
PROGRAM, WE HAVE NOT QUITE
WORKED THAT OUT YET.
>> SO YOU HAVE A SITUATION
WHERE THE MONEY IS PAID OUT BY
THE LANDLORD, THE TENANT
DOESN'T MOVE, AND YOU'RE NOT
ABLE TO COLLECT FROM THE
TENANT?
>> THE MONEY HAS BEEN PAID OUT
BY THE CITY. WE WOULD NEVER
KEEP THAT LANDLORD'S MONEY IF
THE TENANT WAS INELIGIBLE. AND
IF IT WAS OVERTURNED BY THE
APPEAL.
>> SO THE CITY WOULD EAT THAT?
OKAY.
>> AND JUST ANOTHER FOOTNOTE,
THE WORKLOAD HAS BEEN MUCH
GREATER THAN WE ANTICIPATED.
AND THERE ARE A VARIETY OF
LANDLORDS THAT HAVE BEEN
RAISING RATES MORE THAN 10% A
YEAR.
>> OKAY.
>> AND I NOTE THAT THAT MONEY
IS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE EARNING
UP TO 80% OF THE AMIs, SO THAT
WILL BE OVER $70,000, CORRECT?
SOMEBODY IS MAKING OVER $70,000
THAT THEY WOULD BE ENTITLED UP
TO THREE MONTHS OF RENT?
>> I DON'T REMEMBER THE
NUMBERS EXACTLY, BUT THAT
SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> AND THEN I GUESS THE LAST
QUESTION WOULD BE WHAT SORT OF
-- DOES THE OFFICE BRING FORTH
LEGISLATION ON BEHALF OF
REPRESENTERS THROUGH THE
RENTER'S COMMISSION? I CAN'T
THINK OF AN EXAMPLE TO WORK
WITH THEM SOMEWHAT AND PROBABLY
ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR AGO AND TO
GIVE THEM A BRIEFING OF WHAT
WE'RE DOING AND ANY
REGULATIONS. NOT A LOT OF CLOSE
WORKS. AND A LOT OF GENERATED
LEGISLATION IN THE
LANDLORD-TENANT AREA THAT WE
HAVE DONE IS OUR DEPARTMENT
WORKING WITH COLLEAGUES AND
OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND UP
THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS.
FIRST I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON
YOUR LINE OF QUESTIONING. YOU
MENTIONED I THINK YOU SAID THAT
THIS PROJECT WAS RECEIVING $1.5
MILLION IN 2023, IS THAT
CORRECT?
>> $1.1.
>> $1.1. WHAT IS THE BUDGET FOR
THAT ORGANIZATION IN 2024?
>> AS I SAID, WE HAVE NOT BASED
OUR GRANT FUNDING YET. THE
REQUEST WAS FOR SOMETHING LIKE
$1.5. WE ARE PLANNING TO FUND
IT WITH MORE FUNDING. AT LEAST
THAT'S THE DECISION OF THE
REVIEW PANEL THAT WE ARE STILL
WAITING FOR THE FINANCE
PROCESS.
>> OKAY. WHEN WAS IT REQUIRED
THAT STATE WILL PAY THE RIGHT
FOR COUNCIL?
>> I BELIEVE IT WAS TWO YEARS
AGO. AND THAT YOU REMEMBER THAT
EXACTLY THAT IT WILL BE
HELPFUL.
>> I AM HERE AND THEY DID PASS
THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL IN 2022
AFTER THEY PASSED THEIR
ORDINANCE, MANDATING RIGHTS TO
COUNCIL FOR CITY RESIDENTS.
>> OKAY, WELL I THINK THAT THE
CHAIR DID HAVE A GOOD IDEA, TO
RE-EXAMINE WHAT WE PAID VERSES
THE STATE. ON TO MY QUESTIONS,
WHAT OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS DO
YOU CONTRACT WITH? HOW MUCH OF
THOSE CONTRACTS IN 2024?
>> WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL $1.4
MILLION IN OTHER GRANT FUNDS.
THOSE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
GETTING OUT THE DOOR. WE HAVE
THE PERMISSION TO GET THEM OUT.
I'M NOT GOING TO REMEMBER THE
FULL LIST OFF THE TOP OF MY
HEAD. WE'RE HAPPY TO PROVIDE
THAT TO YOU. OFF THE TOP OF MY
HEAD, THE SOLID GROUND. AND
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES.
THEY ARE DOING WORK IN SOUTH
PARK. SEW MALI COMMUNITY
CENTER, A HANDFUL OF OTHERS.
WE'LL GET YOU THE FULL LIST.
OUR DESIRE IS THE LONG STANDING
ORGANIZATIONS. AND RENTERS IN
OUR DEPARTMENT, THEY DO NOT
NECESSARILY EASILY REACH.
THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THE
ORGANIZATIONS DOING THE
EDUCATION OUTREACH IN SOUTH
PARK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I SHOULD ADD THERE WAS AN
ADDITIONAL COUNCIL ADDED IN
LAST YEAR, SO DIFFERENT. AND
THE GRANTS WE SPOKE OUT, THE
CASE WORK. THAT IT WAS FOR RENT
ASSISTANCE. AND IF WE HAVE RENT
ASSISTANCE FUNDS, YOU COULD
KIND OF QUICKLY SOLVE THE
EVICTION SITUATION HEADED OFF.
SO WE HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS
FOR THAT. THAT'S NOT GOING OUT
THE DOOR YET. WE JUST FINISHED
REVIEWING PROPOSALS FOR THAT.
>> THAT WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL
$1 MILLION FOR LAWYERS. IT'S
TO MITIGATE AN EVICTION NOTICE,
RIGHT?
>> IT HAS TO BE TIED TO THE
EVICTION DEFENSE. I DON'T KNOW
THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE
EVALUATING, BUT IT'S TIED.
>> AND SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
$4 MILLION TOTAL? IT WAS A
LITTLE BIT MORE, THE OTHER
OUTREACH CASE WORK SERVICES,
THEN THE ADDITIONAL MILLION
DOLLARS FOR THE RENT
ASSISTANCE.
>> ARE WE PAYING ANY MONEY FOR
DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO
KEEP PEOPLE FROM GETTING, SO
THEY COULD ACTUALLY STAY IN
THEIR UNITS?
>> AND THAT IS FOR THAT TO HEAD
OFF THE EVICTION.
>> AND TO GET MONEY TO THE
LANDLORD AND TO SOLVE THE
NON-PAYMENT EVICTION. PEOPLE
BEFORE THEY GET TO THAT POINT
OF THE EVICTION, THERE ARE
OTHER PROGRAMS, THEY ARE MOSTLY
OUT OF HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT. WE DON'T WORK
CLOSELY WITH THEM. THERE'S A
LOT OF PRIVATE NON-PROFITS OUT
THERE DOING THOSE SERVICES.
>> I'M DRILLING IN ON THIS
BECAUSE THERE IS MY FIRST
BUDGET SEASON. AND I WAS
LOOKING AT THE $3.5 OR $4
MILLION THAT WOULD GO TO HELP
PEOPLE ACTUALLY STAY HOUSED,
BUT RATHER TO STAFF. AND THAT
WOULD DEFEND OR TRY TO MITIGATE
THE EVICTION. I ALWAYS BELIEVE
THAT DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE
IS BETTER BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY
KEEPS PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES
VERSES WAITING UNTIL THERE IS A
DISPUTE OVER THE EVICTION.
>> AND YEAH, WE WROTE THAT RENT
ASSISTANCE FOR A MILLION
DOLLARS. WE WROTE THAT TO
SOLICIT FOR VERY LOW OVERE HEAD
AND THEY ARE GOING DIRECTLY TO
TENANTS IN NEED. WE WOULD RANK
THE PROPOSALS BASED ON THAT.
>> GOING BACK TO THE
DISPLACEMENT PROGRAM, I CAN'T
REMEMBER WHAT THAT IS FOR. BUT
HOW MUCH HAS THE CITY PAID OUT
FOR THAT PROGRAM? YOU CAN JUST
TELL ME IN 2023 AND HOW MANY
DEDICATED STAFF DO YOU HAVE?
>> I DON'T REMEMBER THE
PAYOUTS FOR 2023. IT WAS 90
CUSTOMERS. DO YOU REMEMBER THE
AMOUNT WE PAID OUT LAST YEAR?
>> IF YOU GIVE ME JUST A
SECOND, I CAN PULL THAT NUMBER.
THAT'S THE BENEFIT OF BEING
ONLINE, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE
COMMITTEES, THE ACCOMMODATIONS
OF MY NEED TO BE REMOTE TODAY.
IF YOU GIVE ME A SECOND, I'LL
GIVE YOU THE NUMBER THAT WAS
PAID OUT IN 2023 TOTAL.
>> AND FOR STAFF, IT'S TURNED
OUT TO BE ABOUT $2.5. WE WILL
DIVIDE THIS, TRACKING OUR TIME.
THEY COULD MANAGE THAT WORK AND
IT IS MORE THAN WHAT WE
EXPECTED.
>> AND THAT IS WHAT WE HEARD
ALSO AND THAT IN THAT CONTEXT
OF TALKING ABOUT THAT
PERMITTING STRUGGLES. IT IS IN
COMPETITION OF YOUR STAFF TIME
FOR SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS
THAT YOU USED TO DO, ETC. SO
I'M THINKING ABOUT THAT NUMBER
BEING LOOKED AT. AND ONE POINT
THEY MADE IS THAT THE HEARING
EXAMINER IS DEALING WITH.
BASICALLY THEY USED TO ONLY --
NOT ONLY, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY
OF THEIR WORK WAS THERE. NOW
IT'S NEGOTIATING THESE VERY,
VERY COMPLEX CASES. SO THAT'S
WHERE THEIR STAFFING IS GOING
OVER THERE AND THAT TIME. SO
THAT IS WHY I WAS ASKING ABOUT
YOUR STAFFING AS WELL.
>> WE'VE HAD A SURPRISING
AMOUNT OF APPEALS. I APPRECIATE
HEARING THE EXAMINER DILEMMA
AND IT IS TAKING MORE STAFF
TIME. THEY NEED TO BE THERE FOR
THOSE APPEALS AS WELL.
>> GOT IT.
>> AND SHOULD I KEEP
FILIBUSTERING HERE?
>> YES, THAT WILL BE PERFECT.
>> OKAY, GOOD. AND SPEAKING TO
THE APPEAL'S SITUATION. WE DID
HAVE QUITE A NUMBER. SOMETHING
OVER 40% OF OUR DETERMINE
FASHIONS WERE APPEALED. AND IN
MORE THAN 85% OF THOSE CASES OF
THE DEPARTMENT'S DETERMINATION
WAS UPHELD.
>> AND MAYBE YOU SHOULD
DESCRIBE A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT WHAT THIS PERSON IS. AND
IF THERE IS A RENT INCREASE
THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD, AND
THEY CHOOSE TO MOVE OUT, THEN
THE CITY WILL PAY FOR A PORTION
OF THEIR MOVE OUT COST OR THEIR
NEW RENT OR DEPOSIT OR
SOMETHING.
>> AND IT HAS THREE THINGS. A
RENT INCREASE OF 10% OR MORE.
THE TENANT HAS TO DECIDE THEY
CAN'T AFFORD THAT AND THEY
WANT TO MOVE OUT.
>> WHAT KIND OF CRITERIA DO YOU
LOOK AT WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT THEY COULD
AFFORD IT? ARE YOU GOING ON THE
30% OF INCOME OR HOUSEHOLD
INCOME?
>> I MEAN WE'RE LOOKING AT
TOTAL INCOME PER HOUSEHOLD. NOT
TO GET TOO COMPLICATED, BUT
THERE CAN BE MULTIPLE
HOUSEHOLDS IN A UNIT OR A
HOUSE. IT IS 80% HOUSEHOLD, SO
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE HOUSEHOLD
TOTAL INCOME ALSO DURING THE
EVALUATION, VERIFYING IT,
CHECKING IT AGAINST THE AREA
MEDIAN INCOME STATISTICS BASED
ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE
HOUSEHOLDS AND THAT IS WHERE WE
MAKE OUR APPROVALS. [
CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING ] A
QUESTION IN RESPONSE TO
SOMETHING YOU ALL BROUGHT UP.
HE MENTIONED THAT WORKLOAD IS
A CHALLENGE. WHICH I TOTALLY
UNDERSTAND. IT IS A CHALLENGE
THAT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WILL
HAVE. MANY PEOPLE AND
ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE CITY
ARE SHARING AS WELL. MYSELF
INCLUDED. IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY
A RESOURCING ISSUE OR LACK
THEREOF. LOOK, I HAVE THREE
AMAZING, TALENTED, DEDICATED
STAFF AND I WOULD LIKE TO HIRE
THREE OR IF I CAN PAY THEM
FAIRLY. THAT WAY WE SHIP ABOUT
ONE NEWSLETTER PER WEEK. WE
COULD PROBABLY DO ONE A DAY.
QUICK UPDATE, WE HAVE GOOD
ENGAGEMENT WITH THOSE. WE COULD
PROBABLY DO ONE A DAY. DOUBLE
OR TRIPLE THE AMOUNT OF EVENTS
THAT WE ORGANIZE. WE ARE DOING
A DECENT JOB IN MY OFFICE RIGHT
NOW OF ASKING APPROPRIATE
QUESTIONS TO DEPARTMENTS AND
WORKING WITH OUR CENTRAL STEP
COLLEAGUE . BEING VERY CURIOUS
IN EXERCISING OUR OVERSIGHT
UNCTION SO WE CAN ANNOY PEOPLE
MORE IF WE HAVE FOUR STAFF.
WHERE I'M GOING IS, THAT IS A
PERENNIAL CHALLENGE.
RESOURCES, BY THEIR VERY
NATURE, ARE FINITE. I WOULD
SHARE THAT. WORKLOAD IS A
CHALLENGE. ONE OF OUR
PRINCIPALS IN OUR OFFICE IS
PEOPLE FIRST. PEOPLE ALWAYS.
INSTEAD OF SHIFTING THE FOCUS
FROM MORE RESOURCES WE NEED
TO INSTEAD ADDRESS THE SYSTEMS
DEFICIENCIES . ADDRESS HOW WE
CAN BEST IMPROVE OUR PROCESSES.
HOW WE CAN BETTER EMPLOY
TECHNOLOGY AND AUTOMATION TO
STREAMLINE AND SIMPLIFY.
AGAINST THAT BACKDROP , HOW ARE
YOU ALL THINKING ABOUT DOING
THOSE THINGS WITHIN THE CONTEXT
OF YOUR 2024 PRIORITIES? BY THE
WAY, I THINK IT WILL BE MORE
IMPORTANT NOW MORE THAN EVER.
I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW
YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THOSE
THINGS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, I
APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS.
OBVIOUSLY WE ARE LOOKING FOR
WAYS TO BETTER REACH OUT TO OUR
TENANTS AND LANDLORDS . THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL TOWER IS A
GREAT EXAMPLE WHERE WE HAVE
MANY TENANTS TO HAVE TECHNOLOGY
RESOURCES IN THE APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND
TALK TO STAFF DIRECTLY ABOUT
THAT. WE HAVE TO CONSTANTLY
PRIORITIZE, AS MR. TALLENT
MENTIONED, THAT ARE THE MOST
URGENT WHEN WE HAVE TENANTS
THAT ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING
THEIR HOUSING THOSE ISSUES GET
THE HIGHEST PRIORITY. THAT'S
A CRUCIAL ISSUE. I'M SURE MR.
TALLENT CAN ADDRESS THE OTHER
AREAS WHERE WE ARE LOOKING FOR
INCREASED EFFICIENCIES. BUT I
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
QUESTION.
>> WE PRETTY MUCH ARE WORKING
IN A RESOURCE CONSTRAINED
ENVIRONMENT . PROCESS
IMPROVEMENTS AND EFFICIENCIES
ARE PART OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO
TO GET THE WORK DONE. THAT WAS
A BIG STEP FOR US. FIRST-COME,
FIRST-SERVED MODEL. I CAN
MENTION, WE PUT IN A NEW PORTAL
FOR DEVELOPERS WHO ARE
APPLYING FOR TRAIL LICENSES.
THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH OUR
PHONE SYSTEM LIKE EVERYONE ELSE
BEFORE. THAT WAS KIND OF
INEFFICIENT AND NOT VERY
HELPFUL. WE WERE EXCITED THAT
WE GOT THAT STOOD UP AND WE ARE
LOOKING AT SIMILAR IMPROVEMENTS
FOR THE REST OF OUR INTAKE
PROCESS. WE ARE WORKING WITH AN
INTAKE PROCESS AT A CALL CENTER
THAT WAS BUILT . I'VE BEEN
HERE FOR 11 YEARS AND IT WAS
WELL IN PLACE FOR ME. SO ABOUT
20 YEARS AGO. WE ARE MOVING TO
OTHER TECHNOLOGY AND LOOKING
AT THAT FOR OUR INTAKE. THIS
ALL TAKES SOME TIME BUT IT'S
TOUGH -- STUFF THAT WE TAKE
SERIOUSLY. THE AUDITORS REPORT
HELPS SHINE A LIGHT ON
CHALLENGES WE HAD WITH OUR
AUTOMATION IN OUR PROGRAM
WHERE WE ARE DOING 30,000
CUSTOMER INTERACTIONS A YEAR.
THAT WAS BUILT 10 YEARS AGO.
IT'S TIME FOR A REFRESH.
SMALL FIXES.
>> SYNCHRONIZATION OF THE
LEGISLATION THAT CAME OUT OF
THE STATE AND WILL BE COMING
OUT OF THE STATE WITH THE CITY
REGULATIONS WILL HELP REDUCE
CONFUSION FOR LANDLORDS AND
TENANTS. I NOTICED THAT MARY
HAS HER HAND UP.
>> NATHAN, I JUST WANTED TO
SPEAK TO COUNCILMEMBER SAKA'S
QUESTION REGARDING STAFF
RESOURCES. AND GIVE A LITTLE
PERSPECTIVE ON THE SLIDE THAT
DIRECTOR TORGELSON SHOWED AT
THE BEGINNING OF THE
PRESENTATION WITH THE OVERALL
NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN OUR
DEPARTMENT. A LOT OF THE
REGULATIONS THAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT TODAY ARE
SPECIFIC TO LANDLORD TENANT
LAW. WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT
THAT THERE IS TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION THAT
WE'VE REALLY PUT A PRIORITY ON
PARTICULARLY FOR OUR SMALLER
LANDLORDS IN THE CITY . BUT
ALSO TENANTS WHO HAVE A
QUESTION ABOUT THE CODE. WE
TALKED ABOUT INVESTIGATION AND
ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S WHERE WE
INVESTIGATE THERE WAS A CODE
VIOLATION. WE MOVED TO A
VIOLATION THAT IS A MORE
INVOLVED PROCESS. WE TALKED
ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT AVENUES
FOR RELOCATION ASSISTANCE. THE
TENANTS RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM THROUGH DEVELOPMENT.
THE ECONOMIC DISPLACEMENT
ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
EFFECTIVELY ECONOMICALLY
EVICTED WITH A 10% OR MORE RENT
INCREASE. AND WE SPOKE ABOUT
EMERGENCY RELOCATION, WHERE
HABITABILITY AND POOR
CONDITIONS IN THE HOUSEHOLD OR
DISCLOSURE OF THAT PROPERTY
BECAUSE IT JUST ISN'T SAFE.
FOR ALL THOSE THINGS THAT I
JUST MENTIONED WE HAVE A STAFF
OF NINE PEOPLE. THEY WORK ON
THOSE ISSUES. WITH RESPECT TO
THE WORKLOAD THAT'S COMING IN
A LOT OF WHAT HAS ADDED TO
THAT WORKLOAD, AS DIRECTOR
TORGELSON POINTED OUT, IS THE
FACT THAT WE DO HAVE THIS LACK
OF HARMONY . THE REGULATIONS
ARE COMPLEX. WE ARE WORKING TO
ENSURE THAT EVERYONE
UNDERSTANDS THOSE REGULATIONS.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE
OVERALL WE JUST WANT THE
COMMITTEE TO UNDERSTAND THAT
FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING WE HAVE
DISCUSSED TODAY WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT MY TEAM, PROPERTY OWNER
AND TENANT ASSISTANCE THAT
HANDLE EDUCATION ENFORCEMENT ,
INVESTIGATION, AND
ADMINISTRATION OF THOSE
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
I ALSO WANTED TO GET BACK TO
COUNCIL PRESIDENT MOORE'S
QUESTION. IN 2023 , FOR
APPLICATIONS RECEIVED IN 2023
THE DEPARTMENT, THE LANDLORDS
INITIALLY, BUT THE DEPARTMENT
PAID OUT $376,000 . 376,188
WAS OUR NUMBER 2023. THAT
ENCOMPASSED 87 ELIGIBLE
HOUSEHOLDS IN THE CITY THAT
HAVE RECEIVED RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE THROUGH THAT
PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. WHAT DID
YOU MEAN BY THE CITY PAID IT
BUT THEN THE LANDLORD PAID IT?
CAN YOU VERIFY THAT?
>> THE WAY THE TIMELINE WAS
WRITTEN IN CODE , IN SOME
CIRCUMSTANCES THE CITY HAS TO
PAY OUT THE MONEY BEFORE WE
RECEIVE THE PAYMENT FROM THE
LANDLORD. BECAUSE THE CODE
REQUIRES A RELATIVELY FAST
TURNAROUND TIME BETWEEN WHEN
THE ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION
IS MADE BY MY TEAM THE
LANDLORDS ARE INFORMED OF THAT
DETERMINATION AND THE TENANTS
ARE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE A
RELOCATION CHECK IN THE SHORT
TURNAROUND TIME. FOR THE MOST
PART, WHAT MR. TALLENT SAID
EARLIER, WE REALLY DO TRY TO
ENSURE THAT THOSE PAYMENTS THAT
ARE GOING OUT THE DOOR ARE
PAYMENTS THAT ARE NOT SUBJECT
TO AN APPEAL WHERE OUR
DETERMINATION MIGHT BE
OVERTURNED. THAT WE WORK TO
COLLECT THAT PAYMENT FROM THE
OWNERS IN A RELATIVELY SHORT
TIMEFRAME. IT ALL COMES DOWN
TO THE TIMELINE.
>> THANKS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU. THANKS FOR BEING
HERE AND PROVIDING A RUN DOWN
OF ALL THAT YOU DO. I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT WHAT WAS
NOTED. A LOT OF THE WORK OF HER
DIVISION IS ABOUT EVICTION
PREVENTION. AND I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO ZOOM OUT FROM THIS
TECHNICAL CONVERSATION AND
REALLY REMEMBER THAT I DON'T
THINK OF EVICTION PREVENTION
WORK OF THE CITY AS IN
COMPETITION WITH THE OTHER WORK
THAT THE DEPARTMENT DOES FOR
PERMITTING. THAT WORK IS ABOUT
MAKING SURE WE HAVE MORE
HOUSING PROJECTS UNDERWAY AND
WE HOPE TO PROVIDE MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS. IT'S CRITICAL THAT
WE ADDRESS OUR HOUSING SHORTAGE
WITH THE WORK THAT YOU DO
THERE. AND IT IS EQUALLY
CRITICAL THAT WE PREVENT
EVICTION IN THE CITY IN ANY
WAY WE CAN. AND IF IT MEANS
SUPPORTING THE ORGANIZATIONS
AND THE WORK OF KEEPING PEOPLE
IN THEIR HOMES THAT IS ALSO
CRITICAL WORK. WE HEAR A LOT
ABOUT THE CHARTER REQUIREMENTS
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE HAVE
BEEN TALKING FOR THE LAST YEAR
ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HOMELESSNESS AND THE ISSUES IN
OUR CITY WITH PEOPLE WHO CANNOT
AFFORD TO LIVE HERE ANYMORE.
WHAT WE ALSO KNOW IS THAT FOR
EVERY $100 THAT RENT GOES UP IN
THE CITY I THINK 10%
INCREASES HOMELESSNESS. THESE
THINGS ARE CONNECTED. WE HAVE
AN OBLIGATION TO ADDRESS ALL OF
THEM. IT DOES TAKE RESOURCE. WE
KNOW THAT IS A CHALLENGE,
PARTICULARLY FOR THE NEXT FEW
YEARS. BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN
THAT WE PULLED BACK ON THE
CRITICAL WORK OF KEEPING PEOPLE
IN THEIR HOMES. WHETHER IT IS
THE CITY OR THE ORGANIZATIONS
THAT WE CONTRACT WITH TO
PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE , OR
IT'S PAYING LANDLORDS DIRECTLY
WHEN A TENANT CAN'T PAY IT .
THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
NOT INCREASING HOMELESSNESS.
THAT WE ARE NOT INCREASING
DISPLACEMENT IN THE CITY. THAT
WE ARE KEEPING KIDS IN THEIR
HOUSES SO THAT THEY ARE NOT
SLEEPING IN CARS AND THE
GROCERY STORE WHILE DOING THEIR
HOMEWORK. THESE ARE THE STORIES
THAT I'VE HEARD FROM MY
CONSTITUENTS WHEN THEY CAN'T
STAY IN THEIR HOMES. SO THIS
IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WORK.
NINE STAFF PEOPLE IN A CITY OF
11,000 OR 12,000 EMPLOYEES TO
HELP KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES
IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY. THERE
IS CERTAINLY WORK THAT WE COULD
PROBABLY DO ON THESE
REGULATIONS TO STREAMLINE THEM
TO MAKE THEM EASIER AND SUPPORT
LANDLORDS IN UNDERSTANDING WHY
THIS WORK IS IMPORTANT. BUT I
THINK IT IS A MISTAKE FOR US
TO START TO GO DOWN A PATH OF
TRYING TO ROLL BACK WHAT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT EVICTION
PREVENTION WORK IN THE CITY. I
HOPE THAT IS NOT WHAT I'M
HEARING. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY
I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR US TO CONTINUE DOING THIS
WORK IN SOME WAYS. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT
BROUGHT A QUESTION TO MY MIND.
I BELIEVE IT IS SLIDE FIVE .
FIVE DEPARTMENTS. I'M CURIOUS,
HOW DO YOU INTERACT WITH OFFICE
OF HOUSING, DOM, UTILITIES,
CIVIL RIGHTS, I JUST WANT A
CLEAR VIEW OF YOUR ENTIRE
PORTFOLIO IN RELATION TO ALL OF
THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND HOW
EACH CONTRIBUTE IN ONE WAY OR
ANOTHER. I KNOW THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY TO SEE BUDGETS FOR
EACH DEPARTMENT AND HOW THEY
CONTRIBUTE TO LANDLORD TENANT
ASSISTANCE.
>> THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
IS PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE THAT
HAS STAFF DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN
CIVIL RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT IN
LANDLORD-TENANT ISSUES. THE
OTHER DEPARTMENT IS WORKING
WITH POLICY PEOPLE OR OUTREACH
PEOPLE . WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
A LANDLORD TRAINING UP --
COMING UP. YOU WANT ONE TO
PREVENT LOW-FLOW TOILETS? ARE
WE ARE SENDING ONE OUT TO THE
LANDLORD COMMITTEE. YOU WANT TO
PUT A BLURB IN ABOUT ONE OF
YOUR EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS?
THAT'S KIND OF THE WORK WE ARE
DOING THERE. OFFICE WITH
HOUSING, THEY DON'T DO MUCH
DIRECTLY IN THE LANDLORD TENANT
SPACE. BUT WE WORK THROUGH THEM
. IS THAT GETTING TO YOUR
QUESTION?
>> THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DID
YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> SURE. IT'S A STATEMENT.
SORRY. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES ABOUT
THE NEED TO KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED
AND THE FACT THAT OUR CITY IS
BECOMING MORE AND MORE
UNAFFORDABLE. I THINK THAT WE
AGREE ON HOW TO FIX THAT IN
SOME WAYS . IN THE PAST WE HAVE
AGREED ON BUILDING MORE HOUSING
TO MAKE IT LESS EXPENSIVE AND
FASTER TO BUILD MORE HOUSING IN
GENERAL. I THINK IT WAS IN
2022 OR 20 SAKA. I CAN'T
REMEMBER WHICH REPORT IT WAS.
THERE WERE 13% LESS
REGISTRATIONS PER UNITS FOR
PROJECTS FROM 1 TO 20 UNITS.
THESE ARE THE SMALL, LOW RISES
OWN OR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
THESE ARE GENERALLY THE BELOW
MARKET RATE UNITS THAT PEOPLE
CAN AFFORD. I'M REALLY
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT LOSS .
THERE IS A DISPUTE ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED TO THEM. ARE THEY
STILL OPERATING OR NOT? BUT THE
POINT IS, I BELIEVE WE ARE
LOSING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN
LANDLORDS ARE CHOOSING NOT TO
RENT THEIR PROPERTIES IN TOWN
AND EITHER SELL IT FOR
REDEVELOPMENT OR USE IT ON AIR
BE IN BE. IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR
I HAD A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
WITH SMALL MOM AND POP
LANDLORDS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS
GOING ON WITH HOW THEY DO
BUSINESS IN THE CITY BECAUSE
THAT WAS UNDER MY PURVIEW.
THEY SHOWED ME WITH A NUMBER OF
RECENT NEW LAWS IN SEATTLE
THERE WERE 20 NEW SEATTLE LAWS
IN THE PAST SIX YEARS. COMPARE
THAT TO SIX IN 1973 TO 2016.
THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF THESE
DIFFERENT REGULATIONS IS MAKING
IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR SMALL
LANDLORDS, AND EVEN LARGE
LANDLORDS, TO CONTINUE RENTING.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I HOPE
THAT THIS COMMITTEE WILL
CONTINUE TO LOOK AT. HERE IS
BASICALLY THE LIST THAT WAS
PRESENTED IN MY COMMITTEE LAST
YEAR BY THE FOLKS THAT SPOKE.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT
INFORMATION. I THINK THAT WE
ALL WANT TO, AGAIN, KEEP COSTS
OF HOUSING DOWN. SO HOW DO WE
GET THERE? THAT IS MY MISSION.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN
TAKING ON SOME OF THIS PEAK
>> OKAY PICK
>> GEOFF, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
WANT TO EXPAND ON THIS MORE.
THAT COUNSEL DID GIVE US A
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT. LOOKING AT A SMALL
LANDLORDS STUDY, WHICH WE
DELIVERED TO THE COUNCIL, THAT
LOOKED AT THAT VERY ISSUE.
>> WE WILL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE
IT TO YOU . WE WILL MAKE SURE
YOU HAVE IT AGAIN. WE HAD A
NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS OR
IDEAS FOR SUPPORTING SMALL
LANDLORDS. I THINK IT IS TRUE.
WE ARE LOSING SMALL RENTAL
PROPERTIES FOR SURE. THE DATA
WAS A LITTLE UNCERTAIN DURING
THE PANDEMIC WHEN WE HAD SOME
DATA PROBLEMS. NOW IT SEEMS
PRETTY CLEAR. WE HAVE BEEN
LOSING A SLIGHT UPTURN THIS
YEAR . THIS IS WHAT THE END OF
THE YEAR NUMBERS LOOK LIKE AND
WE WILL BE PROVIDING THOSE TO
YOU SOON.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I
APPRECIATE YOUR BIG PICTURE
COMMENTS ABOUT HOW ALL OF THESE
ISSUES ARE INTERRELATED IN THE
WORK THAT WE DO EVERY DAY AT
SDCI . OUR PERMITTING PROCESS
IS DEFTLY PART OF THAT. AS WE
LOOK AT INCREASING THE HOUSING
SUPPLY , THAT IS NOT THE ONLY
PART OF THE EQUATION, BUT AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THE EQUATION.
WE ARE WORKING REALLY HARD TO
MAKE 100% AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROJECT MUCH MORE EFFICIENT
WITHIN OUR SYSTEM. AND ALSO THE
MULTI FAMILY TAX EXEMPTION
PROGRAM IS A GOOD INTEREST TO
THE COUNCIL. AND IT DOES
PROVIDE LOWER RENT UNITS FOR
RENTERS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST
WANTED TO ECHO SOME OF THOSE
COMMENTS. OBVIOUSLY THE GOAL
HERE IS TO KEEP PEOPLE . TO
BUILD OF HOUSING SO WE DON'T
HAVE THE EPIDEMIC OF
HOMELESSNESS THAT WE ARE
EXPERIENCING . SO WE NEED TO
BUILD MORE HOUSING OBVIOUSLY.
WE NEED TO BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. AND IN MY OPINION,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS 50% TO
60% AMI. I THINK THE COUNTY
STATS SHOWED THAT ZERO TO 30
AND 50 TO 60 IS WHERE THE
GREATEST NEED IS. SO I WILL
MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENS AND
THERE ARE WAYS TO CREATE THAT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE ALSO
NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE
DOING WITH OUR SHELTERS. AND AS
I SERVE ON THE GOVERNING BOARD
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
ORGANIZATION OPERATES
EFFICIENTLY IN REVIEWING COURT
NEEDED ENTRY SO THAT THERE ARE
NOT SO MANY OBSTACLES TO
GETTING PEOPLE HOUSED QUICKLY.
ADDITIONALLY, IT IS IMPORTANT ,
AS A LAWYER, I SUPPORT THE
RIGHT TO COUNSEL. AT THE SAME
TIME, WE ARE LOOKING AT 250
MILLION+ A BUDGET DEFICIT. AND
IF THE STATE IS AUDITING THEY
SHOULD BE CONTRIBUTING
SIGNIFICANTLY TO THAT. WE HAVE
BUDGET REALITIES TO BE MINDFUL
OF. YOU DO IMPORTANT WORK.
IT'S A LOT OF WORK FOR NINE
PEOPLE TO DO. PERHAPS THERE ARE
WAYS TO MAKE IT MORE
STREAMLINED. ADDITIONALLY, I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT WE ARE IN AN ECOSYSTEM. IT
IS NOT LANDLORDS VERSUS
TENANTS. I WAS A TENANT FOR
MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE. RILEY
BECAME A HOMEOWNER IN MY LATE
50s. I ALSO BECAME, AT ONE
POINT , I WAS A LANDLORD WHEN
MY MOTHER BECAME SICK AND CAME
TO LIVE WITH US. WHEN SHE WENT
INTO ASSISTED LIVING WE RENTED
OUR HOUSE SO SHE COULD PAY FOR
THE CARE SHE NEEDED. SHE SINCE
PAST AND AM NO LONGER A
LANDLORD. I COME AT THIS FROM A
PERSPECTIVE OF HAVING REALLY
BEEN IN ALL OF THOSE ROLES.
THEY ARE ALL IMPORTANT ROLES .
I HAVE HAD LANDLORDS WERE
WONDERFUL AND LANDLORDS WHO
WERE HORRIBLE. I HAVE SEEN
PLACES THAT ARE ON HABITABLE
AND UNABLE TO UTILIZE THE
PROTECTIONS. THAT I HAVE SEEN
TENANTS WHO HAVE BEEN SAVVY AND
ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY MANIPULATE
THE SYSTEM. I THINK WE JUST
NEED TO APPROACH THIS AS OUR
GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY
HAS HABITABLE, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND TO WORK TOGETHER
IN PARTNERSHIP TO LOOK AT THE
LAWS AND WHERE THEY PROVIDE
OBSTACLES . UNINTENDED
OBSTACLES. THIS IS NOT MEANT
TO BE ANTAGONISTIC FOR US OR
THEM. WE ARE WORKING IN
PARTNERSHIP. I DON'T THINK WE
NECESSARILY HAVE WORKED IN
PARTNERSHIP TO DATE. SO LET'S
TRY TO CHANGE THE DIALOGUE AND
COME AT IT FROM A PERSPECTIVE
OF GOOD FAITH AND RECOGNITION
THAT ON BOTH SIDES THE LAW CAN
BE IMPROVED DRAMATICALLY AND
BENEFIT ALL OF US AS A
COMMUNITY . I'M GOING TO STOP
MYSELF . THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THE PRESENTATION AND FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN THIS
DISCUSSION WITH US. FOR THE
WORK HERE TODAY AND THAT YOU
AND ALL OF YOUR STAFF DO. THANK
YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. UNLESS THERE IS
ANY COMMENTS FOR THE GOOD OF
THE ORDER I THINK THAT WILL
CONCLUDE OUR COMMITTEE MEETING
TODAY. IT IS 10:51 AND WE ARE
NOW IN RECESS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.