>> THE TIME IS 9:30, I AM
KATHY MOORE , CHAIR THE
COMMITTEE WILL WORK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> PRESENT
>> COUNCILMEMBER TRYING TO
PRINT
>> HERE
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> PRESENT.
>> VICE CHAIR MORALES.
>> HERE READ
>> CHAIR MOORE.
>> PRESENT.
>> FIVE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION THE PROPOSED AGENDA
WILL BE ADOPTED HEARING NO
OBJECTION THE AGENDA IS ABOUT
THE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
FOR THE APRIL 24th MEETING OF
THE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR
EVERYONE WHO IS PARTICIPATING
IN THE, HELPING TO BRING
AWARENESS TO THE VICTIM
BLAMING THAT HAPPENS INTO MANY
ASSAULT CASES. TODAY WE HAVE
13 ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. FIRST
WE HAVE EIGHT APPOINTMENTS TO
THE SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION , SECOND WE HAVE
THREE APPOINTMENTS TO THE
SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION AND
FINALLY A DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE REGARDING
MULTIFAMILY TAX EXEMPTION
EXTENSION. WE WILL START THIS
CONVERSATION WITH SOME
BACKGROUND FROM ESSENTIAL
STAFF BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER
TO THE OFFICE OF HOUSING TO
WALK US THROUGH THEIR
LEGISLATION WHICH IS LISTED ON
THE AGENDA FOR POSSIBLE VOTE .
BEFORE WE DO THAT , LET'S MOVE
ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WILL
OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD RELATE TO
ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA, OR BE
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE. HOW MANY SPEAKERS
ARE SIGNED UP?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE ONE REMOTE
SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES. WE WILL BEGIN WITH
OUR ONLY REMOTE SPEAKER.
CLERK, CAN YOU READ THE PUBLIC
COMMENT RULES ?
>> PUBLIC COMMENT. PERIOD WILL
BE MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER IS UP TO 20 MINUTES.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE
ORDER THEY ARE REGISTERED.
SPEAKERS WILL ALTERNATE BETWEEN
SETS OF IN PERSON AND REMOTE
SPEAKERS UNTIL THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS ENDED.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A TIME WHEN
10 SECONDS OR LESS ARE LEFT IN
THE TIME. THE MICROPHONES WILL
BE MUTED IF THEY DO NOT END
WITH THE OUT LOUD A LOT OF TIME
PERIOD . THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS
NOT OPEN WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
NEXT SPEAKER WHO IS SARAH JANE.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX WHEN YOU
HEAR THE PROMPT OF YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTED.
>> GOOD MORNING. ARE YOU THERE?
>> YES THIS IS SARAH JANE
SIEGFRIED .
>> PLEASE PROCEED .
>> THANK YOU.
>> I AM CALLING TO PROTEST THE
MULTIFAMILY TAX EXEMPTION
PROGRAM IN TOTAL BECAUSE I DO
NOT THINK IT HAS BEEN ANALYZED
FROM A PROPER PERSPECTIVE. I
REALIZE THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF
15 OF THE POTENTIAL 350 OR SO
TOTAL UNITS . I HAVE READ THE
MATERIAL AND NOWHERE DOES IT
LOOK AT OPPORTUNITY COST. MOST
OF US ARE HOMEOWNERS. IF YOU
CHOSE TO BE A RENTER , WOULD
YOU CHOOSE TO BE A RENTER
INSTEAD OF A HOMEOWNER? THAT IS
WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE ARE
GIVING PROPERTY OWNERS FUNDS
EVERY YEAR THAT SHOULD BE
COLLECTED IN PROPERTY TAXES
AND COULD OTHERWISE BE INVESTED
BY THE CITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE
OR OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING .
WE DO NOT LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.
WE SAY HOUSING HAS X FUNDS
AND IT MATCHES THAT THREE TO
ONE. THE 1.5 MILLION THAT IS
CITED HERE AS NOT COLLECTED,
WE WOULD HAVE FOUR TIMES THAT
AND THAT MONEY WOULD GO TO
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING ,
OR PERMANENT HOUSING FOR 50
YEARS , THAT IS THE STANDARD.
NOWHERE IN THIS LEGISLATION
DOES THE CITY DEFINE
AFFORDABLE. THAT IS A HUGE
MISTAKE. WE NOW HAVE A
STATEWIDE DEFINITION OF
AFFORDABILITY UNDER HOUSE BILL
1110 WHICH SHOULD BE
UNIVERSALLY ADOPTED BY THE CITY
WHICH IS AFFORDABLE OF
MEDIAN INCOME FOR RENTERS --
NOT THE SLIDING SCALE THAT IS
ALL OVER THE PLACE. I DO NOT
THINK IT HAS PROPERLY ANALYZED
BY THE STAFF.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
BELIEVE THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
SPEAKERS. MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC ARE TO SUBMIT PUBLIC
COMMENT . -- UNDER
COUNCIL@SEATTLE.GOV. WE DO READ
THE COMMENTS. IF THERE IS AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THIS PROCESS.
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR LIST OF
SPEAKERS. WE WILL MOVE ON TO
THE FIRST ITEM OF OUR AGENDA.
CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ
THE FIRST ONE THROUGH EIGHT
AGENDA ITEMS INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH
EIGHT, APPOINTMENTS 2834
THROUGH 2841 . APPOINTMENTS OF
MARIAM SULAYMAN KOSS , EMEKA
ALOZIE , CHRISTINA DIEGO ,
ALI TUFAIL KHAN , NICHOLAS
LEYDON , KRISTINA SAWYCKYJ AND
CHELSEA STEVENSON FOR TERMS
OF JANUARY 8/22 , 2026 AND THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF TRICIA
DIAMOND FOR RETURN OF GENERATE
22nd TO THE SEATTLE HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION FOR
BREATHING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE .
>> THANK YOU. TODAY WE HAVE
WITH US MARTA IDOWU FROM THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS JOINING
US REMOTELY FROM THE OFFICE OF
APPOINTEES.
>> GOOD MORNING .
>> I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU
MARTA , TO TALK ABOUT THE WORK
OF THE COMMISSION AND INTRODUCE
THE APPOINTEES.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY
NAME IS MARTA IDOWU AND I AM A
CIVIL RIGHTS ADVISOR LIAISON
FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS ADVISORY.
WE ARE WE HAVE FOUR MISTERS
WITH WOMEN'S RIGHTS
COMMISSION, LGBT COMMISSION AND
--. THEY ADVISE THE MAYOR,
CITY COUNCIL AND CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES ON
ISSUES AFFECTING THEIR
CONDITION AND THEY ALSO MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS. WE HAVE
MAYORAL , CITY COUNCIL AND CITY
COUNCIL SEATS TOTALING 21
COMMISSIONERS ON EACH . THERE
ARE FOUR COMMISSION SEATS ,
THERE ARE EIGHT MAYORAL SEATS,
PLUS ONE GET ENGAGED WHICH IS
A YOUTH COMMISSIONER THAT STAYS
ON FOR A YEAR AGES 18 THROUGH
29 AND EIGHT CITY COUNCIL
SEATS FOR A TOTAL OF 21.
>> THANK YOU . WOULD YOU LIKE
TO INTRODUCE THE APPOINTEES?
>> YES . FIRST I WILL TALK
ABOUT MARIAM SULAYMAN KOSS.
SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN
SEATTLE AND IS A PROUD
SEATTLEITE. SHE HAS A BACHELOR
IN ARTS OF INDICATIONS FROM
THE UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON AFTER
SPENDING 12 YEARS IN DIGITAL
MARKETING AND e-COMMERCE SPACE,
SHE IS TAKING TIME OFF TO BE A
FULL-TIME MOM AND SHE IS
EXCITED TO JOIN THE SEATTLE
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION TO HELP
SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE . THE NEXT PERSON IS
EMEKA ALOZIE, WHOM I BELIEVE
IS HERE AND WILL SPEAK FOR
HIMSELF.
>> THANK YOU, MARTA I'M
INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE
COMMISSION BECAUSE USING MY
LIVING EXPENSES OF OTHERS IS
VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THANK YOU
FOR HAVING ME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WILL GO ON TO TRICIA
DIAMOND. TRICIA DIAMOND IS A
REAPPOINTMENT TO THE SEATTLE
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND HAS
SERVED ON COMMITTEES AND
CURRENTLY ONE OF THE COCHAIRS
OF THE COMMISSION . SHE HAS
COMPLETED UNDERGRADUATE AND
GRADUATE UNIVERSITY STUDIES IN
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING, ENGLISH
AND MATHEMATICS. SHE SPIT HER
YOUTH IN UNITED STATES AS WELL
AS EXPRESSING LIVING
INTERNATIONALLY THAT INSTILLED
IN HER DEDICATION TO
LINGUISTICS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO
CONTINUING HER WORK ON THE
COMMISSION. CHRISTINA DIEGO
HOPES TO JOIN THE SEATTLE
RIGHTS COMMISSION TO ELEVATE
COMMUNITY VOICES CONCERNING
HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE INFLUENCE
-- AND TO INFLUENCE SEATTLE'S
ADMINISTRATIVE, EXECUTIVE , AND
LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS REGARDING
HUMAN RIGHTS , CONCERNS AND
PRIORITIES OF THE PEOPLE. AS
AN INDIVIDUAL THAT IDENTIFIES
WITH COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
HISTORICALLY AND
INSTITUTIONALLY UNDERSERVED AND
UNDERREPRESENTED , SHE OFFERS
INSIGHT AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF
THE SYSTEM THAT INFLUENCES
GOVERNMENT ACTION,
INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES , AND
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. TO FURTHER
THE GOALS OF THE COMMISSION,
SHE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN
SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT AND
PROGRESS OF ACTIONABLE
OBJECTIVES TO ADVANCE HUMAN
RIGHTS.
>> ALI TUFAIL KHAN HAS A
DIVERSE BACKGROUND IN MEDICAL
TRAINING, PUBLIC HEALTH
EXPERTISE AND A COMMITMENT TO
HUMAN RIGHTS. HE IS EAGER TO
CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMISSION'S
VITAL PART AND ADVOCATING FOR
JUSTICE OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY .
HIS ACADEMIC JOURNEY HAS
EQUIPPED HIM WITH A UNIQUE
PERSPECTIVE HOLDING A MD
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
OF MEDICINE AND CURRENTLY
PURSUING A MASTERS OF PUBLIC
HEALTH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON. AS AN OCCUPATIONAL
AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE
PHYSICIAN TRAINEE, HE IS
DEVELOPING A COMPREHENSIVE ,
UNDERSTANDING OF THE
INTERSECTION ANALOGY BETWEEN
HEALTH, SOCIAL JUSTICE , AND
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS . HE IS
EAGER TO BRING HIS UNIQUE SKILL
SET AND PASSION FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS AND COMMITMENT TO
INCLUSIVITY TO THE SEATTLE
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
NICHOLAS LEYDON HAS SERVED AS
SECRETARY FOR THE SEATTLE HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION SINCE 2014.
AS SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER AT
THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES
FOUNDATION , EXCUSE ME , HIS
WORK FOCUSES ON GLOBAL . FOR
HIS MOVE TO SEATTLE IN 2017, HE
SERVED ON THE CAMBRIDGE HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION IN
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS .
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE NORTH
SHORE MEDICAL CENTER WHERE HE
LED A DEPARTMENT OF QUALITY
AND PATIENT SAFETY. AS A
FORMER JOB PHYSICIAN FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS DURING THE. OF
2002 TO 2006 , HE WAS A
NATIONAL , GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER , LINKING ADVOCATES
TO GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY
. HE IS A GRADUATE OF BOSTON
COLLEGE WITH A BA FROM BOSTON
UNIVERSITY WITH MPH AND MBA.
KRISTINA SAWYCKYJ IS A SEATTLE
UNIVERSITY SENIOR WORKING ON A
INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDY DEGREE
WITH HOPES OF GOING TO LAW
SCHOOL . SHE HAS SEVEN CHILDREN
FROM 14 TO 29 YEARS OF AGE.
SHE IS MULTICULTURAL VOTING
MANY IDENTITIES CLOSE TO HEART
. SHE WAS IN THE U.S. NAVY
FROM 1987 TO 1992 FROM WHICH
SHE BECAME A DISABLED VETERAN .
SHE IS ACTIVE ON MANY ISSUES
INCLUDING HOMELESSNESS,
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, DISASTER
PREPAREDNESS, TRANSIT , FOOD
INSECURITY , AND GRASSROOTS
ORGANIZING . SHE IS INTERESTED
IN WORKING ON POLICY AND
LEGISLATION THAT AFFECTS
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH
DISABILITIES. SINCE 2018 , SHE
HAS BEEN SERVING AS A
COMMISSIONER ON THE SEATTLE
DISABILITY COMMISSION AND
RECENTLY TERMED OFF THIS MONTH
AND LOOKS FORWARD TO HER WORK
ON THE SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION. CHELSEA STEVENSON
WORKS IN YOUTH VIOLENCE
PREVENTION , INTERVENTION AND
IS EXTREMELY PASSIONATE ABOUT
REDUCING HARM TO INDIVIDUALS
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION . SHE
WOULD LIKE TO BECOME MORE
CYNICALLY ENGAGED THE SEATTLE
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION . SHE
WORKS WITH INDIVIDUALS AT THE
IMPACT LEGAL ADVICE SYSTEM AND
HOUSING INSTABILITY AND HAS
FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE
CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS . SHE
HAS CONNECTIONS TO SOUTHEAST
SEATTLE WHERE SHE WORKS AND HAS
A DESIRE TO ENGAGE COMMUNITY ,
SPECIFICALLY ELEVATE THE VOICE
OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE
NOT COMMONLY HEARD OR
ELEVATED. EMILY ROSE BARR IS
DELIGHTED TO BE PART -- I THINK
THAT'S WHERE I STOPPED WITH
THE FIRST EIGHT. I WILL STOP
THERE UNTIL YOU'RE READY FOR
THE OTHERS.
>> ALSO THE REAPPOINTMENT OF
TRICIA DIAMOND . OKAY.
>> I THINK I DID HER ALREADY.
>> I'M SO SORRY
>> I THINK SHE WAS NUMBER
THREE.
>> THANK YOU , VERY MUCH , FOR
THOSE BIOGRAPHIES. THEY ALL
SOUND VERY WELL-QUALIFIED AND
CERTAINLY PASSIONATE AND PEOPLE
WHO WILL BRING IMMENSE
KNOWLEDGE AND PASSION AND
COMMITMENT TO THE CITY.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVED TO
VOTE? ALL RIGHT , NOT SEEING
ANY. SEEING NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS I MOVE
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS
2834 THROUGH 2841 . IS THERE A
SECOND? THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENTS . ANY FINAL
COMMENTS BEFORE WE VOTE ?
>> I HAVE A COMMENT . I VERY
MUCH APPRECIATE PEOPLE GIVING
THEIR TIME AND EXPERTISE TO
SERVING ON OUR COMMISSION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MADAM, CHAIR, IF I MAY ECHO
THAT SENTIMENT. HAVING SERVED
ON MULTIPLE VOLUNTEER BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS, NONPROFIT
PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATION AND
IN GOVERNMENT, LOCAL
GOVERNMENT , I KNOW FIRSTHAND
THE COMMITMENT INVOLVED AND I
AM GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WHO HAVE
STEPPED UP TO SERVE TODAY IN
THIS CAPACITY, AND ALL OF THOSE
WHO SERVE OUR CITY IN THESE
REALLY IMPORTANT FOUNDATIONAL
SERVICE ORIENTED ROLES AND
DEDICATE THEIR TIME AND EFFORTS
TOWARDS MAKING OUR CITY
GREATER. I AM GRATEFUL FOR
THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL AND THE
RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM THE
APPOINTMENTS.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON
>> AYE BREES COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA PRINT
>> 35 PER
>> COUNCILMEMBER TIME FOR.
>> YES
>> VICE CHAIR MORALES PERETS
AMICUS BRIEF
>> CHAIR MOORE
>> AYE.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR, NO OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES. IT WILL
BE SENT TO THE APRIL 30th CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. AGAIN , THANK
YOU TO THE APPOINTEES WHO WERE
ABLE TO JOIN US TODAY AND THANK
YOU TO ALL OF THE OTHERS FOR
YOUR INTEREST IN JOINING THE
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. WORK,
WILL YOU PLEASE READ AGENDA
ITEMS NINE THROUGH 11 INTO THE
RECORD ?
>> AGENDA ITEMS NINE THROUGH 11
, APPOINTMENTS 2842 THROUGH
2844 APPOINTMENTS OF EMILY
ROSE BARR, MIRIAH RIVERA AND
JENNIFER TRAN TO MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE'S WOMEN'S COMMISSION
FOR TERMS THROUGH JULY 1, 2025
FOR BREATHING, DISCUSSION OF
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> MARTA , WILL YOU WALK US
THROUGH THE APPOINTMENTS TO THE
SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION?
>> YES. JUST BEFORE I START DID
MIRIAH RIVERA GET ON THE CALL?
OTHERWISE I WILL SPEAK FOR
HER.
>> SHE IS NOT ON THE CALL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> EMILY ROSE BARR IS
DELIGHTED TO BE A PART OF THE
SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION.
SHE IS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR
WOMEN'S RIGHTS WORLDWIDE. SHE
BELIEVES AS A WOMAN IT IS HER
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROMOTE
GENDER EQUALITY, HONOR WOMEN'S
LEGACY AND EMPOWER WOMEN TO
VOTE AFTER THEIR DREAMS IN
SOCIETY THAT OFTEN ENCOURAGE
OTHERWISE. AS A NEW RESIDENT
IN SEATTLE , SHE IS EXCITED TO
CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY'S
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. SHE
CURRENTLY IS A MENTAL HEALTH
THERAPIST IN PRIVATE PRACTICE
AND ENJOYS CONNECTING WITH
OTHERS THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM.
MIRIAH RIVERA WORKED IN AN
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
SPECIALIST FOR THE BOEING
COMPANY IN RENTON, WASHINGTON
AND WILL CELEBRATE HER
ONE-YEAR SERVICE IN JULY AS
WELL AS ONE YEAR OF TIME SPENT
HERE IN THE PUGET SOUND . SHE
HAS A MASTERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL
POLICY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
DENVER BRITT HER BACHELORS IS
IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE FROM
SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY IN
CALIFORNIA. PRIOR TO HER
RELOCATION TO WASHINGTON, SHE
WORKED ON MANY ASSIGNMENTS
FROM BALL CORPORATION AS A
CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
AND SAFETY ENGINEER , WHICH IS
WHAT CHARGED HER DREAM TO
RELOCATE TO SEATTLE. SHE IS
LOOKING FORWARD TO FURTHER
ASSISTING THE CITY OF SEATTLE
THROUGH THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION . JENNIFER TRAN IS
A DEVELOPER RELATIONS ENGINEER
AT DEFINITY WHERE SHE
EMPOWERS TECHNOLOGISTS TO
LEARN ABOUT BLOCKCHAIN
TECHNOLOGY . SHE MOVED TO
SEATTLE TO DISCOVER NEW
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIGITAL
COLLECTIBLE BUSINESS THAT SHE
COFOUNDED . SHE WOULD LIKE TO
HELP EMPOWER WOMEN WITH
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES ON A
LARGER SCALE . SHE HAS
PERSONALLY BEEN IMPACTED BY A
LAYOFF AND CLOSURE OF A
BUSINESS IN THE PAST YEARS AND
EMPATHIZE WITH THOSE TRYING
TO BUILD A BETTER LIFE IN
SEATTLE. THE RECENT MASS
LAYOFFS OF COMPANIES HAVE LED
SEATTLEITES TO REALIZE HOW
FRAGILE THE BUSINESS WORLD IS
AND HOW THAT NEED TO MAKE THE
CITY AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES
MORE RESILIENT. SHE WANTS TO
HELP THOSE OF DIFFERENT
SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS TO
CONNECT AND HELP THEM FEEL MORE
SAFE AND EQUITABLE
COMMUNITIES. ON THE COMMISSION
HE SHE IS INTERESTED IN
IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY FOR
WOMEN AND BRINGING WIDE
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR
WOMEN . THANK YOU SO MUCH. I
WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I'M SORRY, IS
MARIAH ON THE LINED LINE?
>> NO BREES THANK YOU , MARTHA,
I APPRECIATE YOU WALKING
THROUGH THOSE ADDITIONAL
BIOGRAPHIES . AGAIN, SEEMS
LIKE A VERY WELL-QUALIFIED
GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
CHOOSING TO VOLUNTEER THEIR
TIME TO BETTER THE LIVES OF
WOMEN IN OUR CITY. COLLEAGUES
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU. SEEING NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS,
I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDED CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENT , LET ME MAKE SURE
I HAVE THE RIGHT NUMBERS . 28
42 THROUGH 2844 . IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT. ANY FINAL COMMENTS
? SEEING NOT, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA PRINT
>> AYE PERETS BEEN A
COUNCILMEMBER WOO PEERED
>> YESTERDAY
>> VICE CHAIR MORALES PERETS
AMICUS BRIEF
>> CHAIR MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR AND NOT
OPPOSE. THE RECOMMENDATION TO
CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT WILL BE
SENT TO THE APRIL 30th SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGAIN,
THANK YOU MARTA FOR JOINING US
AND PLEASE PASS ALONG THE
COMMITTEE'S GRATITUDE TO
EVERYONE FOR THEIR INTEREST IN
SERVING ON THOSE TWO VITAL CITY
COMMISSIONS.
>> I WILL. THANK YOU.
>> MOVING ON. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ THE 12 AGENDA ITEM
INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 12. MULTI
FAMILY TAX EXEMPTION BACKGROUND
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION .
>> THANK YOU. TODAY WE HAVE
TWO OF OUR CENTRAL STAFF
ANALYST JENNIFER LABRECQUE AND
TRACI NEED TO DO SOME SETUP
BEFORE WE ADDRESS THE
EXTENSION. WITH NO FURTHER ADO
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE . GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.
TRACI RATZLIFF, I AM ASSUMING
YOU HAVE THIS UP ON YOUR
SCREENS. WE ARE HAPPY TO BE
HERE TODAY TO DO A LITTLE BIT
OF GROUND SETTING FOR THE
MULTI FAMILY TAX EXEMPTION
PROGRAM. COUNCIL MEMBERS WHAT
YOU HAVE IS WHAT WE ANTICIPATE
TO BE TWO PIECES OF
LEGISLATION. TODAY WE WILL
DEAL WITH THE EXTENSION FOR 15
PROPERTIES THAT ARE EXPIRING
THIS YEAR. THE SECOND PIECE
WILL COME SOMETIME THIS SUMMER,
WE HELP. IT WILL BE A FULL
REAUTHORIZATION AND EVALUATION
OF THE PROGRAM THAT WILL RESULT
IN YOUR POTENTIAL APPROVAL FOR
THE EXTENSION. BOTH OF THOSE
ARE THINGS THAT WE FEEL LIKE
YOU NEEDED BACKGROUND ON AND
THE PUBLIC MIGHT BENEFIT FROM
BACKGROUND ON THE PROGRAMS, SO
THAT IS WHAT WE WILL DO TODAY.
WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY
, THE KEY POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
WHEN CONSIDERING THIS PROGRAM,
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN TERMS OF
PRODUCTION WITH THE PROGRAM.
THE CURRENT PROGRAM DOES HAVE
TWO PIECES, IT HAS THE RENTAL
REDUCTION PROGRAM AND A HOME
OWNERSHIP PROGRAM. THE HOME
OWNERSHIP PROGRAM SEES VERY
LITTLE ACTION, REALLY BECAUSE
OF THE COST OF HOUSING AND THE
PROPERTY TAX . WHO IS DOING
THAT PROGRAM ARE THE NONPROFIT
PROVIDERS. THE RENTAL
PROTECTION PROGRAM IS THE VAST
MAJORITY, IF NOT THE MAJORITY
OF DEVELOPMENT OF BEING
DEVELOPED FOR PROFIT
DEVELOPERS . WE WILL LOOK AT
THE CURRENT PROVISIONS OF THE
P6 MFTE PROGRAM. WE WILL TALK
ABOUT THE COST IMPLICATIONS OF
THE PROGRAM . WE WILL TALK
ABOUT EXPIRING PROJECTS AND
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WE
WILL TALK ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS
. IN TERMS OF BACKGROUND, THE
MFTE PROGRAM PROVIDES TAX
EXEMPTION ON THE RESIDENTIAL
PORTION ONLY OF A DEVELOPMENT
IN RETURN FOR PROPERTY OWNER
AGREEING TO A CERTAIN
PERCENTAGE OF UNITS THAT ARE
INCOME AND RENT RESTRICTED.
THE PROPERTY DOES CONTINUE TO
PAY TAXES ON THE LAND IT IS
ONLY THE RESIDENTIAL
IMPROVEMENTS THAT GET THE TAX
EXEMPTION . TAX EXEMPTION
APPLIES TO ALL OF THE UNITS IN
THE PROJECT, NOT JUST THOSE
BEING SET ASIDE AS RENT
RESTRICTED. IT HOW IT WORKS IS
THEY GET THE TAX EXEMPTION FOR
THE WHOLE PROJECT THAT THEY
ONLY HAVE TO -- ON A CERTAIN
PERCENTAGE. IT WAS AUTHORIZED
IN 1995 BY THE STATE
LEGISLATURE WHICH SETS MINIMUM
REQUIREMENTS FOR INCOME LIMITS
, PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABLE
UNITS AS WELL AS OTHER
PROVISIONS AND TENANT DETECTION
AND REPORTING . JURISDICTIONS
CAN CHOOSE TO IMPLEMENT AND
THEY HAVE LESS ABILITY TO GO
BEYOND THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
SET OUT IN THE STATE LAW. I
WILL SAY THE STATE LAW DOES
HAVE AN EXCEPTION PROGRAM,
EIGHT YEAR EXEMPTION PROGRAM ,
WE HAVE NEVER CHOSEN TO
OPPONENT THAT EIGHT YEAR
EXEMPTION. THERE ARE NO
REQUIREMENTS TO AFFORDABILITY
OR INCOME RESTRICTION. WE HAVE
ALWAYS ADOPTED A PROGRAM THAT
HAS THOSE PROVISIONS. THE
COUNCIL FIRST APPROVED THE MFTE
PROGRAM IN 1998 AND
REAUTHORIZE THE PROGRAM FIVE
TIMES SINCE. THE CURRENT
PROGRAM DOES EXPIRE IN DECEMBER
2024, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE
LOOKING AT THIS PROGRAM IN
TERMS OF REAUTHORIZATION BEFORE
THE END OF THE YEAR. WE HAVE
DIFFERENT PROGRAM ITERATIONS
WITH THE FIVE TIMES THAT WE
HAVE REVISED THE PROGRAM LIKE
CHANGE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS,
CHANGE THE PERCENTAGES AND ALSO
IN TERMS OF WHERE THE PROGRAM
CAN OPERATE IN THE CITY. IN
TERMS OF KEY CONSIDERATIONS AS
IT RELATES TO THIS PROGRAM ,
FOR THE CITY IT REALLY IS HOW
MANY AFFORDABLE UNITS AND AT
WHAT INCOME LEVEL OR
PORTABILITY LEVEL CAN WE GET IN
EXCESS OF THE VALUE OF THE
PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION THAT IS
PROVIDED ? FOR THE DEVELOPER IT
REALLY IS , WHAT IS THE BENEFIT
OF THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION
ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND WHAT ARE
WE LOSING IN TERMS OF RENTAL
INCOME THAT WE COULD CHARGE ON
THIS RENT RESTRICTED UNITS, BUT
WE CANNOT CHARGE BECAUSE WE
HAVE TO SET THEM AT A LOWER
AFFORDABILITY THAN THE MARKET
RATE WOULD CHARGE . THOSE ARE
THE TWO CONSIDERATIONS THAT
THE CITY AND THE DEVELOPERS
LOOK AT. THIS NEXT SLIDE SHOWS
YOU SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE
CURRENT 6100 INCOME AND RENT
RESTRICTED MFTE UNITS. YOU
CAN SEE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE
IT LOOKS AT THE SIZE OF THE
MFTE PORTFOLIO. WE COULD SEE
50% , OR 3300 OF THE
REGISTERED UNITS ARE
ONE-BEDROOM . OF 37% OR 2400
ARE STUDIO APARTMENTS , 13%
OR 845 ARE TWO BEDROOMS .
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> I WAS TRYING TO FOLLOW ALONG
WITH THE QUESTIONS IN MY
PRINTED OUT PRESENTATION , IS
THIS A NEW VERSION OF THE
PRESENTATION?
>> I DO NOT THINK SO.
>> I WAS FOLLOWING IN THE
WRONG ONE. THANK YOU.
>> THE SECOND PIE CHART LOOKS
AT THE INCOME/RENT LEVELS THAT
ARE ASSIGNED TO THE MFTE UNITS
. YOU CAN SEE THAT 52% OF THE
UNITS ARE AFFORDABLE AT 75 OR
80% OF AMI. YOU CAN SEE 31%
ARE AFFORDABLE TO FOLKS AT 65
TO 70% OF AMI. 13% ARE
AVAILABLE TO THOSE AT 80 TO
90% OF AMI AT 4% ARE AVAILABLE
TO THOSE WHO HAVE LESS THAN 60%
OF AMI. WHAT THIS SLIDE SHOWS
IS DIFFERENT AFFORDABILITY
LEVELS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLAY
FOR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THROUGH
THE FIVE TIMES WE REAUTHORIZE
AND EACH TIME WE HAVE DIFFERENT
AFFORDABILITY LEVELS. THIS
SHOWS HOW THAT HAS EVOLVED AND
WHAT THE PERCENTAGES ARE
RELATED TO THAT.
>> IN TERMS OF THE CURRENT
MFTE PROVISIONS FOR THE RENTAL
PROGRAM CURRENTLY 20% OR 25%
OF THE UNITS MUST BE INCOME
AND RENT RESTRICTED . THAT
DEPENDS ON THE NUMBER OF 2 PLUS
BEDROOMS IN THE PROJECT, IF
THEY HAVE MORE COME A PERCENT
OR MORE THAT ARE TWO BEDROOMS
THEN THEY HAVE TO SET ASIDE 20%
OF THEIR UNITS. IF THEY HAVE
LESS THAN A PERCENT THEN THEY
HAVE TO DO 25% OF THEIR UNITS.
THIS IS ONE SMALL WAY THAT WE
TRY TO TWEAK AND INCENTIVIZE
THE INCLUSION OF 2 PLUS
BEDROOMS INTO THE PROJECTS AND
SUBPROJECTS CAN PARTICIPATE.
IT MUST BE MULTIFAMILY BUILDING
WITH AT LEAST FOUR UNITS. MFTE
UNITS MUST BE COMPARABLE TO
OTHER UNITS IN THE PROJECT AND
DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE
BUILDING AS THE OTHER UNITS.
THERE IS A SLIGHT VARIATION
ALLOWED FOR HIGH-RISE TOWERS
THAT HAVE DIFFERENT
DISTRIBUTION RULES. WHAT WE
MEAN ABOUT COMPARABILITY IS
REALLY TYPE OF UNITS, STUDIO
ONE-BEDROOM , TWO-BEDROOM SIZE
OF THE UNITS, FINISHES ON THE
UNITS, ACCESS TO AMENITIES,
ALL OF THOSE HAVE TO BE
COMPARABLE TO THE MARKET RATE.
THEY CANNOT DUMB DOWN OR MAKE
LESSER QUALITY , THEY HAVE TO
BE COMPARABLE TO THE OTHER
UNITS IN THE PROJECT. FINALLY
FOR PROGRAM SIX WE HAVE A
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE RENT THAT CAN
BE CHARGED EACH YEAR, IT
CANNOT BE MORE THAN 4.5% PER
YEAR FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.
>> IN TERMS OF THE
AFFORDABILITY LEVELS FOR
PROGRAM SIX , YOU CAN SEE THIS
CHART SHOWS YOU WHAT THE
AFFORDABILITY LEVELS ARE THE
SMALLER UNITS WE HAVE LOWER
AFFORDABILITY AND RENT
ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL
UNDERSTAND, SMALLER UNITS
RECEIVE SMALLER BECAUSE OF THE
SQUARE FOOTAGE. AS YOU GO INTO
LARGER UNITS YOU CAN SEE THE
AFFORDABILITY GOES UP AND THE
RENT GOES UP AS WELL. THIS IS
SOMETHING IN EVERY PROGRAM WE
LOOK AT. IT REALLY IS
SOMETHING WE DO IN TERMS OF
MODELING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS
THE MAXIMUM LEVEL OF
AFFORDABILITY THAT WE CAN
CHARGE FOR THE PROPERTY TAX
EXEMPTION. AT THE
REAUTHORIZATION WE WILL LOOK AT
THE MODEL TO SEE WHAT CAN WE
CHARGE IN TERMS AFFORDABILITY .
THE KEY THING WE WILL LOOK AT
IN THE NEXT REAUTHORIZATION.
>> IN TERMS OF THE COST OR
IMPACT OF THE MFTE PROGRAM
RELATED TO TAXES COLLECTED OR
NOT COLLECTED BECAUSE THERE IS
A SITUATION IN WHICH WE HAVE
ONE WHERE WE FORGO THE TAXES
THAT WILL BE COLLECTED
OTHERWISE FROM A PROJECT. WE
DON'T COLLECT THOSE PROPERTY
TAXES FOR THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF
THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION.
THAT IS SITUATION ONE. THE
SECOND SITUATION IS WHEN WE
ACTUALLY HAVE A SHIFT OF
PROPERTY TAXES THAT CAN BE
COLLECTED AND THOSE ARE
SHIFTED TO THE OTHER TAXPAYERS.
THE MFTE OWNER GETS THE
EXEMPTION BUT WE SHIFT THAT TO
THE OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS.
WHICH SITUATION WE FACE WITH
INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS IS ALL
ABOUT WHAT THE KING COUNTY
ASSESSOR DOES IN TERMS OF
ASSESSING THE PROPERTIES AND
WHEN THE TAX EXEMPTION IS
RECOGNIZED. IT IS ALL IN THE
HANDS OF THE KING COUNTY
ASSESSOR AS TO WHETHER A
PROJECT HAS A FOREGONE RENT
REVENUE IMPACT AS THE CITY OR
IF IT IS A SHIFTED IMPACT.
>> I WOULD ADD TO THAT , MOST
BUILDINGS HAVE A COMBINATION OF
FOREGONE AND SHIFTED IMPACT,
WHAT PERCENTAGE IT IS AND WHAT
THE BREAKOUT IS , IS DEPENDENT
ON WHEN THE ASSESSOR GOES OUT
AND DOES THE ASSESSMENT AND
WHEN THE TAX ASSUMPTION IS
RECOGNIZED.
>> IN TERMS OF EXPIRATION OF
EXTENSIONS , IN 2021, THE STATE
LAW AUTHORIZED CITIES TO OFFER
AN EXTENSION OF THE PROPERTY
TAXES FOR PROJECTS THAT HAD
EXPIRING EXEMPTION AND THEY
ALLOWED THAT EXEMPTION TO BE
PROVIDED FOR 12 ADDITIONAL
YEARS. IN RESPONSE TO THAT
STATE LAW CHANGE, THE COUNSEL
AUTHORIZED A EXTENSION FOR
MFTE PROPERTIES WITH EXTENSION
DATES OF 21, 22 AND 23.
PROPERTY OWNERS DESIRING TO
EXTEND THE PROPERTY TAX
EXEMPTION MUST AGREE TO DEEPER
AFFORDABILITY LIMITS THE NEW
PROJECTS ENTERING THE PROGRAM.
TO DATE, EIGHT OUT OF 14
MARKET RATE RENTAL PROPERTIES
HAVE REQUESTED AND BEEN
APPROVED FOR EXTENSION. OVER
THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TAX
EXEMPTIONS ARE SCHEDULED TO
EXPIRE FOR 130 MARKET RATE
PROPERTIES WITH 2500 MFTE
UNITS. THIS NEXT SLIDE WILL
SHOW YOU WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT
IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF UNITS
THAT BEGAN TO EXPIRE CREATE YOU
CAN SEE THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO
GO UP AS WE GET BEYOND 2024 AND
BEYOND. NEXT STEPS . TODAY WE
DEAL WITH THE LEGISLATION THAT
ONLY PERTAINS TO THE EXTENSION
FOR 15 EXISTING PROJECTS THAT
ARE EXPIRING IN 2024. LATER
THIS YEAR THEY INTEND TO
SUBMIT LEGISLATION TO
REAUTHORIZE THE MFTE PROGRAM.
AT THAT POINT THERE WILL BE A
NUMBER OF POLICY CHANGES TO
CONSIDER . I AM HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY
HAVE.
>> YOU MADE A DISTINCTION THAT
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I
UNDERSTAND EARLY ON. YOU SAID
THAT THE TAX EXEMPTION APPLIES
TO THE WHOLE PROJECT BUT NOT
THE LAND BUT RATHER RENTAL
IMPROVEMENTS. CAN YOU EXPLAIN
THAT MORE BECAUSE THAT COULD
INFORM MY OTHER QUESTIONS.
>> IT IS THE RESIDENTIAL
IMPROVEMENT BREES WHAT IS
THAT?
>> HOUSING UNITS THEMSELVES.
IT WOULD BE ANYTHING SUPPORTING
THOSE UNITS LIKE PARKING I
BELIEVE IS COVERED BY THE
EXEMPTION.
>> WHAT IS THE BREAKDOWN OF THE
TAXES COLLECTED FOR A WHOLE
PIECE OF LAND AND BUILDING AND
HOW DOES THAT BREAK DOWN X YOU
ARE SAYING THEY DO NOT GET THE
LAND ?
>> THEY CONTINUE TO PAY
PROPERTY TAX ON THE LAND.
BASICALLY THE REST OF THE
STRUCTURE, EXCEPT COMMERCIAL ,
THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO
PROPERTY TAX AS WELL. IT IS
ONLY ON THE RESIDENTIAL
IMPROVEMENTS RELATED TO THE
MFTE PROGRAM BEING A LAMENTED
THAT GETS THE TAX EXEMPTION.
>> IS THE BREAKDOWN OF THE
DIFFERENT TAXES ABOUT 20% OF
THE LAND? WHAT IS THE
BREAKDOWN OF LAND VERSUS
STRUCTURE ?
>> IT HAS TO BE THE MAJORITY OF
THE PROPERTY.
>> WE HAVE NEVER REALLY LOOKED
AT THE ISSUE.
>> I WAS JUST WONDERING BECAUSE
I HAD NEVER HEARD THAT
DISTINCTION.
>> I WANT EVERYONE TO
UNDERSTAND, THERE IS A PORTION
THAT WE DO COLLECT TAXES ON.
THE MAJORITY OF WHAT IS BEING
EXEMPT IS THE RESIDENTIAL
UNITS.
>> HAVE YOU , ON PAGE 7 , WHEN
YOU TALK ABOUT THE FOREGONE
TAX REVENUE , IS THERE A
BALLPARK TOTAL AMOUNT THAT WE
ARE FORGOING BECAUSE OF OUR
MFTE PROGRAM REGARDLESS OF
WHICH VERSION?
>> REALLY GOOD QUESTION. THIS
IS A PLACE WHERE OH IS DOING A
GOOD ANALYSIS TO TRULY
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMPACT HAS
BEEN HISTORICALLY IN TERMS OF
FOREGONE AS WELL AS SHIFTING
TAXES. WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT
INFORMATION WHEN
REAUTHORIZATION HAPPENS. WE
HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TALK
ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE FOR THE 15
PROPERTIES THAT ARE FOR
EXTENSION. IN TERMS OF THE
CUMULATIVE OVERALL LOOK, THAT
IS INFORMATION WE WILL WAIT TO
SEE WHEN THAT IS BEFORE YOU.
>> I SEE THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
AND THE HOUSE. I WOULD LIKE
THAT NUMBER, IF IT IS EVER
ARRIVED AT, CAN BE COMPARED TO
THE COST OF HOUSING
PRODUCTION. HOW MUCH DO THESE
-- IF WE WERE TO NOT DO THE
PROGRAM, HOW MUCH WOULD THE
UNITS COST? WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT SHIFT IN TAX BURDEN , WE
DO HAVE A HOUSING LEVY SO WE
ARE SHIFTING. NOT JUST THE
UNITS THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY THE
LEVY, ALSO UNITS SUPPORTED BY
MHA AND JUMPSTART AND ET
CETERA.
>> I BELIEVE YOUR QUESTIONS
ARE WHAT THEY WILL BE LOOKING
AT IN TERMS OF THE ANALYSIS,
THEY ARE PREPARING FOR THE
REAUTHORIZATION. WE HAVE HAD A
NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS.
>> IT WOULD BE TIME TO PRODUCE
SUCH UNITS. WE HAVE HEARD THAT
THERE IS A DELAY ON PROJECT
SUPPORTED BY THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL
DIFFICULTIES , OR JUST CHANGES
IN ASSUMPTIONS ON FINANCING
AND THE COST OF THE PROJECT
THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN A
PREVIOUS MEETING .
>> HOW DO WE GET MORE HOUSING
FASTER? THAT IS MY GOAL.
>> EXCELLENT QUESTION THANK
YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES .
>> YOU ADDRESSED MY FIRST
QUESTION WHICH I WAS INTERESTED
IN AND OF A PREVIEW OF WHAT
WILL BE EVALUATED. WE HAVE
SOME TIME SO WE WILL HAVE MORE
CONVERSATIONS. CAN YOU TALK A
LITTLE BIT ON HOW THE
AFFORDABILITY AFFECTS CASH
FLOW STABILITY OF THE PROJECTS
THEMSELVES? IS THAT SOMETHING
YOU CAN ADDRESS? WHAT I AM
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS IF
THIS IS A 12 YEAR EXEMPTION,
PRESUMABLY THAT HELPS SUPPORT
THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SOME
UNITS THAT ARE NOT --. AT SOME
POINT IT SEEMS LIKE RENT WILL
INCREASE. THERE MIGHT COME A
TIME WHERE THAT CASH FLOW
ISSUE IS NO LONGER REALLY AN
ISSUE , BUT THE EXEMPTION
CONTINUES TO EXIST . AGAIN,
THIS IS PROBABLY PART OF THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO
CHANGE THE AFFORDABILITY
REQUIREMENT , OR THE NUMBER OF
UNITS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE
AFFORDABLE. THAT IS WHAT I AM
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.
>> OH DOES THE ANALYSIS AND WE
DO THE REAUTHORIZATION TO LOOK
AT WHAT IS THE COST OF
CONSTRUCTION, WHAT ARE THE
MARKETS THAT CAN BE CHARGED
AND THERE IS A LOT THAT GOES
INTO THAT. WE ARE TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT , BASED ON DIFFERENT
MODELS, AT DIFFERENT LEVELS,
WHERE DO THEY STILL GET A
BENEFIT? IT HAS TO BE BIGGER
THAN THE VALUE OF THE ANNUAL
PROPERTY TAX. THERE LOOKING AT
WHAT IS THE RENT THAT THEY CAN
BRING IN AT AN ANNUAL BASIS AND
WHAT IS THE TAX EXEMPTION. WE
ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW
MUCH CAN WE GET IN TERMS OF
AFFORDABILITY AND AT WHAT
PERCENTAGE RATE? BASED ON WHAT
WE BELIEVE WILL BE THE VALUE OF
THE TAX ASSUMPTION. WHICH I TO
GET AS CLOSE AS WE CAN BUT IT
IS AT THE POINT OF
REAUTHORIZATION. EACH
SITUATION WE HAVE DEALT WITH A
DIFFERENT KIND OF REAL ESTATE
MARKET, OF COURSE THE MARKET
CHANGES AND A LITTLE MORE IN
THE PAST THAT WE HAVE THESE
DIPS WHERE WE HAVE GONE DEEPER
IN AFFORDABILITY AND MORE
RECENTLY A LITTLE MORE OF A
ROBUST REAL ESTATE MARKET ,
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT
IN TERMS OF REAUTHORIZATION.
WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE REAL
ESTATE MARKET AND WHAT IS
BEING CHARGED, WHAT CAN WE
ESTIMATE TO BE THE VALUE OF THE
RENT FOREGONE FOR THOSE UNITS,
A PERCENTAGE OF THOSE VERSUS
THE VALUE OF THE TAX EXEMPTION.
THAT HOLDS FOR THE ENTIRE. OF
THE EXEMPTION. WE DON'T GO IN
AND SAY IN YEAR TWO OF THE
EXEMPTION WE THINK WE SHOULD
GET MORE AFFORDABILITY BECAUSE
THE MARKET HAS CHANGED. WHAT WE
SET FOR THE AFFORDABILITY LEVEL
STAYS FOR THE ENTIRE
EXEMPTION. THE ONLY TIME WE CAN
MODIFY THAT IS WHEN WE DEAL
WITH THE EXTENSION AND YOU WILL
SEE IF YOU SHOULD SIGN UP FOR
AN EXTENSION YOU HAVE TO SIGN
UP FOR A LOWER AFFORDABILITY
LEVEL THAN WHAT THE CURRENT
PROGRAM REQUIRES ARE OBVIOUS
REASONS. THE CURRENT PROGRAM
IS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND YOU
HAVE A NEW 12 YEAR PROPERTY,
YOU CANNOT GET THE SAME
EXTENSION FOR A NEW PROJECT.
IT MAKES NO RATIONAL SENSE.
DOES THAT HELP?
>> THANK YOU. JUST SPEAKING TO
THE ISSUE OF THESE RETICULAR
BUILDINGS THAT ARE UP FOR
RENEWAL . JUST FOR THE
COMMITTEE'S SAKE, I DID ASK
TRACY AND JEN , GIVEN THAT WE
ARE GOING TO BE REVAMPING THE
PROGRAM ALTOGETHER IF IT MADE
SENSE TO GIVE THESE BUILDINGS
A 12 YEAR EXTENSION TO MAYBE
GIVE THEM A TWO-YEAR EXTENSION
SO THAT WE CAN BRING EVERYONE
INTO THE SAME PROGRAM AND
TRACY'S ANSWER WAS DESOLATE
>> STATE LAW ALLOWS A 12 YEAR
EXTENSION.
>>
>> THE PROGRAM IS ENTIRELY
VOLUNTARY. THE VALUE OF THE
TAX EXEMPT AND IS NOT WORTH
THE RENT I AM FORGOING SO I
WILL OPT OUT OF THE PROGRAM AND
THEN THEY DO AND THEY START
PAYING TAXES AND THAT IS THE
ONLY IMPLICATION FOR THEM. IT
IS A VOLUNTARY THING THEY CAN
PULL OUT ANY TIME THE EQUATION
DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.
>> IF I MIGHT SAY ONE MORE
QUESTION. WHEN I GOT THE
BRIEFING FROM HOUSING -- MAYBE
I SHOULD WAIT. NO .
>> WE WILL SPEAK TO THEM AND
WE ALWAYS DO IT
>> THEY INFORMED ME THAT SOME
PROPERTIES FORCE INCOME
RESTRICTED APARTMENT DWELLERS
TO LIVE ON LOWER FLOORS , OR DO
NOT ALLOW THEM TO ACCESS
AMENITIES THAT ARE IN SOME OF
THESE BUILDINGS. JUST SPEAKING
TO THE POINT THAT YOU MADE
ABOUT COMPARABILITY AND THE
REQUIREMENT THAT EVERYONE GETS
ACCESS TO THE SAME THING, I
WANT TO MAKE SURE AS WE ARE
CONTEMPLATING A RENEWAL OF THE
PROGRAM THAT WE ARE PUTTING IN
PLACE SOMETHING THAT ENFORCES
THAT ASPECT SO WE ARE NOT
HAVING LOWER INCOME PEOPLE IN
DIFFERENT KINDS OF UNITS, OR
WITH LESS ACCESS TO WHAT
EVERYONE ELSE GETS . THAT WILL
BE A CONVERSATION FOR LATER
THIS YEAR.
>> ONE ELEMENT THAT WILL BE
COMING BACK WITH
REAUTHORIZATION PRIOR TO A FEW
YEARS AGO, WE DO NOT HAVE A LOT
OF ABILITY TO IMPOSE
PENALTIES, BASICALLY THE
PENALTY THAT EXISTED WAS IF
YOU ARE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH
THE TAX EXEMPTION YOU LOST IT
FOR THAT YEAR. THERE IS NO
OTHER PENALTY THAT YOU CAN
IMPOSE AND THE STATE
LEGISLATURE HAS GIVEN US MORE
AUTHORITY FOR THAT IS A ISSUE
THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO
HOUSING ABOUT THAT WE WANT TO
ADDRESS WHEN THE AUTHORIZATION
COMES FORWARD.
>> I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHEN
THIS FIRST CAME TO MY OFFICE
THERE WAS NOT A REQUEST TO
INCLUDE 2025 IN THE EXTENSION.
MY POSITION WAS WE SHOULD HOLD
OFF UNTIL WE HAVE THE
REAUTHORIZATION CONVERSATION.
THESE EXPIRED DECEMBER, 2024 .
WE DID HOLD OFF ON 2025
BECAUSE WE WILL BE DOING A DEEP
DIVE INTO DETERMINING IF AND
WHAT THIS PROGRAM SHOULD LOOK
LIKE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU, JENNIFER AND TRACY
FOR THIS INSIGHTFUL
PRESENTATION AND OVERVIEW
TEEING US UP HERE FOR OUR
COLLEAGUES AT OH. THIS
PROGRAM, MFTE PROGRAM IS MADE
PURSUANT TO A STATE LAW AND
HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR MULTIPLE
DECADES, 98, I BELIEVE . HOW
MANY JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE
STATE HAVE INTIMATE THE SIMILAR
PROGRAMS PURSUANT TO THIS AND
QUESTION TWO , ARE THERE ANY
PROGRAMS IN OTHER STATES THAT
WE CAN LOOK TO FOR PERFORMANCE
AND INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES
AND HOW IT HAS WORKED OUT
ELSEWHERE?
>> I HAVE NOT DONE A
CATALOGING OF OTHER
JURISDICTIONS FOR WE KNOW
BELLEVUE, WOODINVILLE, TACOMA,
KIRKLAND , THOSE ARE THE ONES
IN THE AREA THAT I KNOW.
VANCOUVER ALSO. ALL OF THEM
HAVE MFTE PROGRAMS AND THEY
HAVE HAD THEM FOR QUITE A
NUMBER OF YEARS. TACOMA FIRST
PROPOSE THIS DONE AT THE STATE
LEGISLATURE , THEY HAVE HAD A
PROGRAM IN EXISTENCE FOR A LONG
TIME. WE HAVE LOOKED AT WHAT
THEY HAVE DONE , HARKENING BACK
TO THE COMMENT I MADE EARLIER
ABOUT THE CURRENT REAL ESTATE
MARKET DRIVES HOW YOU
STRUCTURE THE PROGRAM AND HOW
YOU STRUCTURE AFFORDABILITY AND
INCOME LIMITS. YOU CANNOT TAKE
LESSONS LEARNED FROM BELLEVUE
OR TACOMA AND APPLY IT EXACTLY
TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE BECAUSE
WE HAVE A DIFFERENT REAL ESTATE
MARKET. NOT THAT THERE ARE NOT
LESSONS TO BE LEARNED AND WE
HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH
FOLKS ON THE EAST SIDE, THERE
ARE THINGS TO BE TALKED ABOUT
RELATED TO THEIR PROGRAM, ONE
OF THOSE THINGS IS THEIR
ABILITY TO MATCHUP OR MARY THE
PROGRAM . AND NUMBER
JURISDICTIONS HAVE THAT . THERE
ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN LEARN
WITH THOSE JURISDICTIONS , WE
HAVE ALSO BEEN IN THE GAME FOR
THE LONGEST PERIOD. IN TERMS
OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND
OTHER THINGS , YOU ARE TALKING
MORE THAN JUST THE MFTE PROGRAM
.
>> OTHER PROGRAMS OUTSIDE OF
WASHINGTON STATE. MFTE
SPECIFICALLY?
>> MFTE PROGRAMS OUTSIDE OF
WASHINGTON STATE .
>> I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THE
MFTE PROGRAM AND BEYOND, THERE
ARE VARIETY PROGRAMS THAT ARE
EXEMPTIONS LIKE PROPERTY TAX
EXEMPTION BUT I HAVE NOT
LOOKED SPECIFICALLY , WHAT
OTHER STATES HAVE MFTE
OPERATING .
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWER .
THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY A
PROBLEM OR AN ANALYSIS THAT I
WOULD EXPECT YOU TO DECIDE . IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COLLEAGUES
AT OH , THEY SHOULD DEFINITELY
BE TALKING , I KNOW IF THEY ARE
NOT ALREADY, I KNOW THEY ARE,
TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS OUTSIDE
OF WASHINGTON STATE . YOU ARE
RIGHT THAT LOCAL MARKET
CONDITIONS DICTATE AND HELP US
BETTER ASSESS AND UNDERSTAND
PERFORMANCE AND BETTER GAUGE
AND DETERMINE WHAT THE SPECIFIC
LEVERS ARE AND THE GUARDRAILS
AND THE DYNAMICS AND HELP US
CRAFT OUR SPECIFIC PROGRAM.
THAT IS TRUE . THAT SAID , I
THINK AT A HIGH LEVEL THERE
ARE CERTAIN KEY LEARNINGS AND
INSIGHTS. EVEN WITHIN OUR OWN
LOCALIZED SEATTLE HOUSING
MARKET THERE IS A HUGE
DIFFERENCE DEPENDING ON WHAT
NEIGHBORHOOD . THESE,
ESPECIALLY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL,
THESE ARE MANNED MAN-MADE
BOUNDARIES ONLY, THE SEATTLE
TACOMA METROPOLITAN MARKET IS
SEATTLE -- THAT CAPTURES
MULTIPLE COUNTIES . I THINK
THERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT
LESSONS TO BE LEARNED IN
ASSESSING THE IMPACTS OF OUR
PROGRAM LOCALLY AGAINST OTHER
PROGRAMS IN THE REGION . EVEN
AGAIN, ONCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY
AND EMPHASIZE THINGS THAT
HAVE BEEN MENTIONED JUST FOR
PURPOSES OF , EMPHASIZE THINGS
THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED
ALREADY . I THINK THIS
INTERVIEW REAUTHORIZATION DOES
PRESENT US WITH A TERRIFIC
OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY PERFORM
A RIGOROUS , THOUGHTFUL, ALL
UP ANALYSIS END TO END OF THE
PROGRAM , TO ALIGN WITH THE
CURRENT GOALS AND PRIORITIES OF
THIS COUNSEL . THE CURRENT
POLICY DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE
THAT WE HAVE SET AND THIS
PENDING ANALYSIS INTERN IT
ALSO PROVIDES US WITH A URGENT
OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A FRESH
LOOK EVALUATING FOR EFFICIENCY
AND COMPARING PERFORMANCE
METRICS AGAINST SIMILAR
PROGRAMS IN OTHER CITIES
DERIVING HIGH LEVEL THEMES TO
INFORM OUR OWN DECISION-MAKING
AND THEN BROADLY ANSWERING THE
QUESTION THAT I THINK WE ARE
ALL CURIOUS ABOUT, DOES THE
SPECIFIC PROGRAM ACTUALLY
WORK? DOES IT LIVE UP TO THE
INTENDED GOALS OF INCENTIVIZING
DEVELOPMENT FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING? AND TO WHAT EXTENT?
HOW SHOULD WE MODIFY, TWEAK OR
MAKE IT BETTER ? OR RE-SHIFT
AND ADJUST RESOURCES INTO
OTHER AREAS THAT ARE MORE
IMPROVEMENT . I THINK THE END
OF YOUR ANALYSIS WILL PROVIDE
US THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT
. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
THAT ANALYSIS . I AM TALKING TO
YOU AT THE TABLE, BUT I'M ALSO
TALKING TO OUR COLLEAGUES AT
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING WHO
HAPPENED GOOD PARTNERS SO FAR
AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM
ON IMPORTANT MATTERS,
DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO
SEEING WHAT THAT THOUGHTFUL
ANALYSIS LOOKS LIKE AND BETTER
ASSESSING THE TRUE IMPACT OF
THE PROGRAM AND HEARING
RECOMMENDATIONS BASED OFF OF
HOW WE OPERATIONALIZE IT SO FAR
WHAT ADDITIONAL TWEAKS, CHANGES
WE MIGHT NEED TO MAKE . THANK
YOU .
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO .
>> I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS
PROGRAM BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT
WORKS. I KNOW MANY WELDING
OWNERS , IT IS A TOUGH MARKET
TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING .
MANY COME TO ME AND TELL ME
THAT THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES
-- AND IT IS VERY AFFORDABLE .
HAVING A PROGRAM THAT HELPS
THEM BEING ABLE TO HAVE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONTRIBUTES
. IF WE WERE TO NOT PROVIDE
THIS PROGRAM, HOW MANY UNITS
WOULD WE LOSE? THIS IS A GOOD
INCENTIVE AND ALSO IT HELPS
WITH TRYING TO PROVIDE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING . I KNOW IT
IS A VERY COMPETENT PROGRAM .
ALL OF THE FORMULAS THAT GO
INTO DETERMINING THE UNITS
VERSUS THE TAX INCENTIVE, AT
THE SAME TIME THERE IS A LOT OF
WORK THAT THE BUILDING OWNERS
HAVE TO GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO
QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM, IT IS
VOLUNTARY. I THINK IT IS
HELPFUL AND I AM AFRAID THAT
IF WE WERE TO LOSE THIS
PROGRAM, ALL OF THESE
AFFORDABLE UNITS WOULD BE LOST.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON .
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
VOICED MY SUPPORT FOR THE MFTE
PROGRAM MANY TIMES IN THE
PAST. THAT SHOULD BE NO
SURPRISE. I BELIEVE WE NEED TO
USE EVERY LEGAL TOOL AT OUR
DISPOSAL TO AFFORD MORE BUILD
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FASTER
AND THIS IS PERMITTED UNDER THE
RCW AND WE MIGHT AS WELL USE
IT TO OUR GREATEST POSSIBLE
ADVANTAGE. I APPRECIATE OUR
PROGRAMS HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN INTO
ACCOUNT THE EXISTING REAL
ESTATE MARKET . YOU WERE
MENTIONING THAT IT WOULD BE
TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. I ALSO
BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD TAKE
INTO ACCOUNT THE WHOLE MIX OF
OUR PROGRAMS AND WHAT IS BEING
PRODUCED BY THE HOUSING LEVY
AND WHAT IS BEING PRODUCED
THROUGH MHA AND OTHER PROGRAMS
WITHIN THE JUMPSTART BUCKET IN
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING . THE
BILLION-DOLLAR LEVY ALLOCATES
ONLY 50 MILLION TO WORKFORCE
HOUSING AND THAT IS
HOMEOWNERSHIP . THE VAST
MAJORITY OF UNITS BEING
PRODUCED ARE ZERO TO 30 . WE DO
HAVE TO ROUND OUT OUR PORTFOLIO
ON WHAT WE CAN OFFER TO OUR
RESIDENTS. I LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA YOU ASKED
THE QUESTION WHAT ARE OTHER
JURISDICTIONS DOING . YOU DID
THAT YESTERDAY WITH DERELICT
BUILDINGS AS WELL . ALTHOUGH
THE MARKET ACROSS THE LAKE IS
DIFFERENT , WE SHOULD BE
LOOKING AT COMPARING THE
SUCCESS OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS
AROUND US IN TERMS OF THE
PARTICIPATION RATE . THAT IS
ONE INDICATOR OF WHETHER OR NOT
A PROGRAM IS WORKING , ARE WE
GETTING DEVELOPERS TO
PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAM? I
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW
PARTICIPATION RATE CHANGES OVER
TIME AS THE PROGRAMS HAVE
CHANGED OVER TIME , DO YOU
KNOW?
>> WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION
ABOUT THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT
HAVE BEEN PRODUCED BY EACH OF
THE PROGRAMS . SOME OF THE
PROGRAMS WERE NARROWLY FOCUSED
GEOGRAPHICALLY . I DON'T
THINK WE CAN COMPARE ALL OF THE
PROGRAMS TO ONE ANOTHER BUT I
THINK -- IN TERMS OF LOOKING
AT PARTICIPATION. I THINK SIX
IS DIFFERENT THAN P5 AND P4
BECAUSE WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE
OF A PANDEMIC. WE HAVE TO TAKE
THOSE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION
WHEN LOOKING AT PARTICIPATION
RATE IN ADDITION TO GEOGRAPHIC
SPREAD AND WHERE WAS THE
PROGRAM AUTHORIZED
>> THAT QUESTION FLOWED FROM
YOUR POINT THAT THERE IS A
SWEET SPOT , THE EXEMPTION HAS
TO BE GREATER THEN THE COST .
>> THE LOSS OF RENT .
>> WHERE THAT SWEET SPOT IS
DETERMINES YOUR PARTICIPATION
IN THE PROGRAM AND SO FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE LET'S GET IT RIGHT
SO WE CAN AFFORD BUILD MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FASTER AND
PEOPLE DO EXPRESS THE POLICY
GOAL QUITE OFTEN EITHER
ACQUIRING OR BETTER
INCENTIVIZING ON-SITE
PERFORMANCE OF UNITS PRODUCED
WITHOUT MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS . THERE
IS CONSTERNATION THAT INSTEAD
OF BUILDING UNITS ON-SITE ,
DEVELOPERS PAY A FEE AND THAT
IS MARRIED WITH OTHER MONIES
AND UNITS ARE PROCESSED
ELSEWHERE BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS
A SEGREGATION OF WHERE
AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE. HERE WE
HAVE A PROGRAM THAT BUILDS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE SAME
BUILDING AS MARKET RATE . THAT
IS SOMETHING ALSO TO CONSIDER.
>> AND CITYWIDE. YES .
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA .
>> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY AND
EMPHASIZE , BY ALL ACCOUNTS ,
THE PROGRAM JUST GENERALLY
TAKING A STEP BACK , IS A GOOD
THING. IF ANYTHING I AM
HEARING IT NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED
. BUT THAT IS NOT BEFORE US
TODAY . MY BROADER POINT IS,
FOR ME PERSONALLY, I TEND TO
KEEP A OPEN MIND ON THIS ,
PARTICULARLY DURING THE END OF
THE YEAR REAUTHORIZATION
PROCESS . AT A BARE MINIMUM ,
EVEN IF PERFORMANCE ,
ASSESSMENT OF PERFORMANCE
METRICS AND HOW THIS PROGRAM
PERFORMANCE IS MARGINAL OR
LIMITED, I THINK IT MIGHT
MAKE SENSE , WE WOULD HAVE TO
SEE ALL OF THE FACTORS . IT
WOULD MAKE SENSE TO KEEP IT AS
ONE AND MAKE IT BETTER AS ONE
TOOL IN THE TOOL KIT. COMPLEX
PROBLEM, WE NEED MULTIPLE
APPROACHES , WE NEED A
MULTILAYER STRATEGY , INCLUDING
THIS . I DO INTEND TO KEEP A
OPEN MIND FOR CRYSTAL CLARITY .
FURTHER TO THAT, MY OTHER
COMMENTS ABOUT END OF YOUR
ANALYSIS IS COMING AND WHAT
THAT SHOULD LOOK LIKE FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE. ONE OF THE OUTPUTS
THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM
OUR OFFICE IN HOUSING , ONE
THING I WILL BE LOOKING FOR IS
RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO MAKE
A BETTER AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
PRINT OBVIOUSLY THAT IS
INHERENT IN THE PROCESS, BUT
WHAT TWEAKS DO WE NEED TO MAKE
AT THE STATE LEVEL TO IMPROVE
IT? WE JUST LEARNED FOR EXAMPLE
THAT YOU CAN'T TEMPORARILY
EXTEND FOR TWO YEARS , UNDER
THE STATE LAW 12 YEARS IS THE
ONLY OPTION . MAYBE THAT IS
WORTH ADVOCATING THEY CHANGE
FOR , NEXT SESSION. I DO NOT
HAVE AN ANSWER. I THINK AS
PART OF THAT REAUTHORIZATION
PROCESS IT SHOULD BE ROBUST
AND COMPREHENSIVE AND
ASSESSING CHANGES POTENTIALLY
NEEDED TO MAKE UP THE PROGRAM
LOCALLY AND AT THE STATE LEVEL
THAT WE CAN LOBBY TO OLYMPIA
NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU .
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU. I WILL JUST MAKE A
FEW ADDITIONAL POINTS . ONE
THING THAT I HAVE NOTED FOR
SOME OF THE MFTE BUILDINGS IS
THAT THEY WILL FILL THE MFTE
UNITS AND THEN THE OTHER UNITS
REMAINED VACANT AND THEY HAVE
HIGH VACANCY RATES AMONG MFTE
AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO
BRING THOSE RATES DOWN BECAUSE
THEY CAN CLAIM TAX EXEMPTION AS
A LOSS . THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
IT WOULD BE WORTH LOOKING INTO
WHAT THE VACANCY RATES ARE IN
THE MFTE BUILDINGS AND WHY
THEY ARE HAVING VACANCY RATES
AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE
DONE TO INCENTIVIZE FILLING
THEM. IN THE HOUSING CRISIS,
WE SHOULD NOT HAVE THINGS
SITTING EMPTY . SECONDLY I
WOULD NOTE , IT IS IMPORTANT TO
LOOK AT HOW MFTE AND MHA CAN
WORK TOGETHER TO MAXIMIZE THE
BENEFIT. THE OTHER LAST POINT
THAT I WILL MAKE IS THIS
PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT IN THAT IT
IS A VOLUNTARY RENT
STABILIZATION PROGRAMS . THERE
HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT
RENT CONTROL AND RENT
STABILIZATION MFTE, IN MY
OPINION, IS A VOLUNTARY RENT
STABILIZATION PROGRAM .
SOMETHING THAT IS VALUABLE TO
KEEP AND TO LOOK AT AS WE CAN
EXPAND AND MAKE IT MORE
EFFECTIVE. THANK YOU . WITH
THAT SAID , I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU SETTING THE TABLE FOR US .
>> FOR ALL OF US TO COME IN
FRONT OF YOU .
>> JUST A PREVIEW OF WHAT IS TO
COME WHEN WE GET TO THE BIGGER
ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS
ABOUT THE REAUTHORIZATION AND
WE WILL WORK WITH OUR
COUNTERPARTS IN THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
ADDRESS THE ISSUES YOU RAISED
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. I KNOW WE WILL
BE WELL SERVED BY YOUR RESEARCH
AND PRESENTATION. WE WILL MOVE
ON TO THE BIG SHOW. WITH THE
CLERK PLEASE READ THE FINAL
AGENDA ITEM INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 13, COUNSEL BILL
120772 . A ORDNANCE RELATING
TO THE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING
PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM
; AMENDING SECTION 5.7 3.09
ZERO AND SECTION 5.7 3.120 OF
THE SEATTLE VISIBLE CODE TO
ALLOW EXTENSION OF TAX
EXEMPTIONS SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE
ON DECEMBER 31, 2024. FOR A
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND
WELCOME TO THE COMMITTEE TABLE
DIRECTOR JENNIFER TRAN --
MAIKO WINKLER-CHEN AND KELLI
LARSEN . THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
IS EAGER TO MOVE THIS
LEGISLATION FORWARD. IDEALLY
LEGISLATION IS HEARD TWICE IN
THE COMMITTEE AND THEN VOTED
ON. I UNDERSTAND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, HOPEFULLY , COMMITTEE
MEMBERS WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE
WITH THE LEGISLATION BEING ABLE
TO VOTE TODAY. ANYWAY, AS THE
PRESENTATION IS MADE , I AM
SURE MY COLLEAGUES WILL ASK
THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY NEED
ANSWERED AND THEN WE WILL
DISCUSS WHETHER OR NOT EVERYONE
IS COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD
WITH THE VOTE. I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO OUR PRESENTERS .
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH . WE
ARE STARTING THE PRESENTATION
NOW. KELLI HAS THE SLIDE DECK
UP. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. WE ARE HERE TO TALK
ABOUT THE 12 YEAR EXTENSION OF
THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS
THAT ARE EXPIRING IN 2024 . AS
I JUST SAID, IT IS A OVERVIEW
OF THE MFTE PROGRAM , JUST KIND
OF PIGGYBACKING ON THE FINE
WORK THAT OUR COLLEAGUE HERE
DID AND JUST TALK ABOUT THE
PROPOSED MFTE EXTENSION
LEGISLATION AND TIMELINE AND
OTHER PROGRAM CONSIDERATIONS
AND FUTURE LEGISLATIONS BUT
THOSE ARE THE THREE TOPICS.
HERE IS A VISUAL REPRESENTATION
OF HOW WE SEE THE MULTIFAMILY
PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM
LIFECYCLE. FIRST, OVER TOWARDS
THE LEFT IS THAT THE PROPERTY
OWNER APPLIES TO THE MFTE
PROGRAM AND IF ELIGIBLE
EXECUTE THE MFTE AGREEMENT. IN
THE YELLOW CIRCLE IS THE
FIRST 12 YEAR PERIOD WHERE THE
PROPERTY OWNER PROVIDES
AFFORDABLE HOMES AND RECEIVES A
TAX EXEMPTION. AFTER THE 12
YEARS THE PROPERTY TAX
EXEMPTION EXPIRES, WHICH IS THE
PERIOD WE ARE IN NOW, THE GRAY
CIRCLE . THE ORANGE CIRCLE WE
ARE DISCUSSING WHICH IS THE
EXILE OPTION TO EXTEND THE
EXTENSION WITH DEEPER
AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS .
AS WE HAVE ALL DISCUSSED TODAY,
THERE ARE TWO UPCOMING
LEGISLATIONS , THE FIRST IS THE
EXTENSION ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE
WHICH WE ARE DISCUSSING TODAY.
IT IS AN EXTENSION OF THE MFTE
UNITS . YOU DO NOT GET TO OPT
IN NOW , BUT YOU CAN COME IF
YOU'RE CURRENTLY IN THE
PROGRAM YOU GET TO EXTENT IF
YOUR PROPERTY IS EXPIRING. WE
TRANSMITTED THE LEGISLATION ON
APRIL 3rd, HERE WE ARE AT
COMMITTEE AND THIS, AS TRACI
AND JEN MENTIONED AFFECTS 15
PROPERTIES WITH PROPERTY TAX
EXEMPTIONS EXPIRING THIS YEAR.
LATER ON DURING THE SUMMER
INTO THE FALL , WE WILL DISCUSS
THE REAUTHORIZATION . WE ARE
ANTICIPATING TRANSMITTAL OF
THAT LANGUAGE IN QUARTER THREE
AND IT WILL AFFECT COMPLETE
MFTE APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED
AFTER THE LEGISLATION IS IN
EFFECT. OUR STAFF HERE AT THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING ARE LISTENING
IN AND THEY ARE TAKING DOWN
THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP IN
YOUR ROBUST CONVERSATION
EARLIER WITH TRACI AND JEN.
>> THANK YOU. JUST GOING INTO
MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE EXTENSION
LEGISLATION HERE TODAY. FIRST
, JUST TO REPLY TO A COUPLE OF
COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE DURING
THE EARLIER PRESENTATION.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON REFERENCED
THE CHALLENGING COST
ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ARE IN
RIGHT NOW . THAT IS PART OF WHY
WE ARE PUTTING THIS LEGISLATION
FORWARD, SPECIFICALLY RELATED
TO INTEREST RATES AND
OPERATING COST. WE ARE HEARING
MORE AND MORE DURING THIS TIME
THAT MFT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO
MAINTAIN FINANCIAL STABILITY
AND PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOMES.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE REFERENCED
WE ARE I SLATING THIS TO 2024,
BUT WE ARE RELYING ON ANALYSIS
THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED IN
ORDER TO SUPPORT PRIOR
EXTENSIONS AND LEGISLATION AS
WELL AS ALL OF THE ANALYSIS
THAT WENT INTO PROGRAM SIX . WE
ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO
REAUTHORIZATION LATER THIS YEAR
WITH ADDITIONAL ROBUST
ANALYSIS. BACK TO TODAY. THIS
LEGISLATION IMPACTS MFTE
PROPERTIES WITH EXEMPTIONS
EXPIRING IN 2024 . THERE ARE 15
PROPERTIES WITH 342 INCOME
RESTRICTED HOMES. THE INCOME
LIMITS DEPEND ON THE PROGRAM
THAT THEY ENTERED UNDER. FOR
PROGRAM THREE PROPERTIES THE
INCOME UNITS RANGE FROM 80 TO
90% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME, FOR
PROGRAM FOUR IT RANGES FROM
65 TO PRESENT. IF A PROPERTY
OWNER CHOOSES TO PURSUE AN
EXTENSION THEY MUST PROVIDE
HOMES AFFORDABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS
AT LOWER INCOME LEVELS. IF THE
PROPERTY OWNER CHOOSES NOT TO
PURSUE THE EXTENSION, THE TAX
EXEMPTION AND AFFORDABILITY
REQUIREMENTS WILL END .
PREVIOUSLY, THIS COUNCIL
AUTHORIZED A 12 YEAR EXTENSION
OPTION FOR OWNERS OF MFTE
PROPERTIES WHICH HAD EXPIRATION
DATES IN 21, 22 AND 2023 . AS
OF TODAY EIGHT OUT OF 14
PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE REQUESTED
AND RECEIVED EXTENDED TAX
EXEMPTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL YEARS
. OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS,
EXEMPTIONS OR PROJECTS ARE SET
TO EXPIRE IN APPROXIMATELY 130
MARKET RATE RENTAL PROPERTIES
TOTALING NEARLY 2600 MFTE
AFFORDABLE UNITS . THIS GRAPHIC
REPRESENTS THE SLIDE THAT I
JUST SPOKE TO . YOU CAN SEE
SOMEWHAT LOWER IMPACT IN THE
EARLIER YEARS. GOING FORWARD,
STARTING NEXT YEAR THERE ARE
MANY MFTE UNITS THAT WILL
EXPIRE. THE BLUE AND RED BAR
REPRESENTS THE EXPIRATIONS
OCCURRING THIS YEAR AND 2024 .
THE BLUE IS THE NUMBER OF MFTE
UNITS THAT ARE AUTHORIZED UNDER
PROGRAM THREE, THE RED IS THE
NUMBER OF MFTE UNITS AUTHORIZED
UNDER PROGRAM FOR FOUR. THIS
CHART DETAILS THE INCOME LIMIT
IMPACTS FOR ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT PROGRAM
REAUTHORIZATION'S AND
EXTENSIONS . YOU CAN SEE THE
UNIT TYPE IS IN THE FAR LEFT
COLUMN . COMPACT UNITS ARE LESS
THAN 400 SQUARE FEET. FOR THE
TOP ROW, FOR COMPACT UNITS
THAT ARE SOME PORTION OF A
BUILDING, THESE ARE THE INCOME
LIMITS THAT ARE SET FOR PROGRAM
THREE, PROGRAM FOR, PROGRAM SIX
, WHICH IS THE CURRENT MFTE
PROGRAM AND THE ORANGE COLUMN
AT THE VERY END DEMONSTRATES
THE LIMITS FOR 12 YOUR
EXTENSIONS . THE REASON THE TOP
ROW IS DARK GRAY IS BECAUSE
4/2024 EXPIRATIONS THERE ARE
NONE THAT MEET THIS CRITERIA SO
THIS WILL NOT APPLY. THE ONES
REMAINING HAVE UNITS THAT WILL
APPLY FOR THE 2024 EXPIRING
PROJECTS YOU CAN SEE ROW TWO
PROJECTS THAT HAVE COMPACT
UNITS WHICH ARE LESS THAN 400
SQUARE FEET . WHERE THOSE ARE
100% OF THE BUILDING. THE
WHOLE BUILDING CONTAINED UNITS
THAT ARE SMALLER THAN 400
SQUARE FEET, THESE ARE THE
INCOME LIMITS IN PLACE. FOR
PROGRAM THREE THAT IS 80% OF
AMI, FOR -- IT IS 60% OF AMI,
FOR PROGRAM SIX NEW PROJECTS
COMING IN THAT STANDARD IS AT
50% OF AMI . FOR THESE
EXTENSIONS THERE ARE TWO
STANDARDS THAT WILL APPLY . THE
MAJORITY WILL LIKELY BE UNDER
THE LOWER STANDARD AT 40% OF
AMI. THERE IS AN OPTION FOR
65% OF AMI FOR EXISTING TENANTS
WHOSE INCOME HAS INCREASED. IF
THEIR INCOME IS ABOVE 1.5
TIMES THAT LOWER RENT
THRESHOLD THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO
REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AT THE
HIGHER STANDARD OF 65% OF
MEDIAN INCOME AS LONG AS IT
DOES NOT EXCEED THAT LIMIT.
YOU CAN SEE THE RENT LIMITS
THAT APPLY FOR THE OTHER UNIT
DESIGNATIONS ZERO BEDROOM,
STUDIO, ONE AND TWO BEDROOMS
HAVE DIFFERENT EXTENSIONS .
>> NEXT STEPS. IF COUNCIL
APPROVES THE EXTENSION
LEGISLATION, I JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE I HAVE THE RIGHT
WORD, OWNERS OF ELIGIBLE
PROPERTIES MUST SUBMIT MFTE
EXTENSION APPLICATIONS BY JULY
31 2024 AND OH WILL EXECUTE
NEW MFTE AGREEMENTS BY
DECEMBER 31st 2024 , SO THE TAX
EXEMPTION CAN CONTINUE FOR THE
NEXT 12 YEARS . LOOKING AHEAD
TO PROGRAM SEVEN
REAUTHORIZATION , SINCE THE
FIRST ADOPTION OF MFTE IN 1998
, AS TRACY MENTIONED THE
PROGRAM HAS BEEN REAUTHORIZED
FIVE TIMES . TO INFORM
REAUTHORIZATION WE ARE WORKING
WITH A RESEARCH TEAM AT OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON I
THINK IT IS DR. GREG COLBURN
AND HIS TEAM . THE TOPICS OF
DISCUSSION WILL INCLUDE
REVENUE IMPACT AND SHIFT THE
TAX BURDEN, MFTE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING OUTCOMES AND POTENTIAL
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPROVEMENTS,
HOW THE PROGRAM IS OPERATED
AND SOME OF THE DETAILS AROUND
SUCH THINGS AS PAPERWORK,
INCOME CERTIFICATION AND THAT
SORT OF THING AS WELL AS OTHER
TWEAKS THAT YOU ALL HAVE
MENTIONED AS IDEAS .
>> WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN A
NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS WITH
VARIOUS CONSTITUENTS ON A
NUMBER OF THESE TOPICS ALREADY
. WE HAVE QUITE A BIT OF
FEEDBACK THAT WE ARE
CONSIDERING FOR CHANGES THAT
WILL BE PRESENTED FOR PROGRAM
SEVEN. WE ARE PLANNING TO HOLD
PUBLIC MEETINGS IN MAY AND
AUGUST OF THIS YEAR THAT WILL
OFFER A OPEN CALL FOR FOLKS TO
COME FORWARD AND OFFER
COMMENTS ON ALL AREAS OF THE
PROGRAM . WE LOOK FORWARD TO
ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY
FURTHER . THIS IS JUST FOCUSED
ON THESE EXTENSIONS AND WE ARE
CURRENTLY WORKING ON
REAUTHORIZATION AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO ENGAGING FURTHER .
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> COULD WE GO BACK TO SLIDE
EIGHT ? WHICH HAS A DIZZYING
AMOUNT OF INFORMATION ON IT. I
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I
UNDERSTAND THE ORANGE COLUMN .
FOR EXAMPLE . IF A PROJECT WAS
IN P3, THEN THE UNITS HAVE TO
BE 80%. IT WAS IN BEFORE THEY
HAVE TO GET 65% RATE IF THEY
GET THE EXTENSION THOSE
AFFORDABILITY UNITS SHIFT DOES
THAT APPLY TO UNITS FOR NEW
TENANTS AND NOT EXISTING
TENANTS?
>> BOTH .
>> IF I AM LIVING THERE AND I
AM AT 80% OR 75% , I CAN STAY ,
CAN I STAY ?
>> YES. NO. IF YOUR INCOME
EXCEEDS 1.5 TIMES EITHER THE
LOWER OR THE HIGHER THRESHOLD
YOU WILL EITHER NEED TO BE
MOVED OR YOUR UNIT WILL BE
REASSIGNED SO YOU WILL NOT NEED
A UNIT IN THAT BUILDING, OR
YOU MAY NEED TO LOOK FOR OTHER
HOUSING IF YOU'RE INCOME
EXCEEDS THAT INCOME LIMIT .
>> I APPRECIATE THE CHANGE IN
AFFORDABILITY , IF I MAKE 75%
OF AMI AND MY BUILDING CHANGES
IS THERE AN OBLIGATION TO HELP
ME MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE IF I'M
NOT ALLOWED TO STAY IN THE
BUILDING ANYMORE ?
>> ALL PROPERTIES ARE BEING
INFORMED OF THE TENANT
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE THAT IS
POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE AND THE
OBLIGATION RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR TENANTS
THAT WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO
ALL OF THESE PROPERTY OWNERS.
>> THEY WILL HAVE SOME AMOUNT
OF TIME TO HOPEFULLY FIND NEW
HOUSING . IS THERE ANY OPTION
FOR MOVING THEM INTO A
DIFFERENT BUILDING WITH A
DIFFERENT AFFORDABILITY LEVEL
THAT HAS A VACANCY ? IF SUCH A
THING EXISTS ? OKAY THANK YOU
.
>> I SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING
WITH THAT . I HAD NOT ZEROED IN
ON THIS ISSUE. IS REQUIRED
THAT THE EXISTING TENANTS MUST
ADHERE TO A LOWER RATE? CAN
YOU EXPLAIN THE POLICY
RATIONALE OR IS THAT OFFSET BY
STATE LAW ?
>> THAT IS THE POLICY THAT THE
CITY HAS SET BASED ON THE
ANALYSIS AND YOU HEARD OUR
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES REFERENCE
EARLIER. YOU HAVE PROGRAM SIX
REQUIREMENTS RANGED FROM 40%
AMI 285% AMI , THESE ARE FOUR
BRAND-NEW BUILDINGS. THE
BUILDINGS THAT ARE BEING
EXTENDED AT THIS POINT ARE 12
YEARS OLD. IN ORDER FOR THE
POLICY TO MAKE SENSE ,
AFFORDABILITY LIMITS NEED TO BE
LOWER FOR A 12-YEAR-OLD PRODUCT
THEN FOR THE NEW PRODUCTS IN
THE PROGRAM . WE DID LOOK AT
EXISTING RENT IN THIS PROGRAM .
AS AN EXAMPLE FOR COMPACT
UNITS THAT ARE 100% BUILDING ,
ON AVERAGE YOU WILL NOT SEE AN
IMPACT IN THE RENT
DIFFERENTIAL FOR ANY EXISTING
TENANTS. THEY ARE CURRENTLY AT
THE LIMIT OF 40%. ALL OF THOSE
RENTS ON AVERAGE ARE SITTING
AT THAT LEVEL. TYPICALLY YOU
WILL SEE RENT DROP IN CERTAIN
NEIGHBORHOODS AS UNITS GROW IN
AGE , IT VARIES ACCORDING TO
UNIT TYPE, MFTE PROGRAM THAT
THESE UNITS ARE IN AND WHAT
ACTUALLY HAPPENS WITH CURRENT
ONES BASED ON NEIGHBORHOOD AND
OTHER FACTORS .
>> JUST TO CLARIFY , I THINK
YOU SAID THAT IS TRUE FOR THE
ONE AND TWO BEDROOM UNITS AS
WELL THAT MOST PEOPLE WILL
REMAIN WITHIN THE QUALIFYING
NEW RANGE.
>> THE RENT ON AVERAGE WILL
DROP IT IS A LOWER IMPACT IN
TERMS OF THE DOLLAR CHANGE FOR
THE RENTS. GIVEN WHERE THOSE
RENTS ARE ON AVERAGE RIGHT NOW
IT VARIES BETWEEN ABOUT $100
PER MONTH TO ABOUT $200 PER
MONTH CHANGE FOR ONE BEDROOM
AND TWO BEDROOM .
>> REMEMBERING THE RENT LEVEL
APPLIES TO 20% OR 25% OF THE
MFTE UNITS. MAY BE ON THE ONE
BEDROOM AND THE TWO BEDROOM WE
WILL HAVE TO TAKE A HIT , BUT
ON THE ZERO BEDROOMS MAYBE I
WILL NOT FEEL ANY IMPACT AND
THEN WHAT DO I GET IN TERMS OF
THE VALUE OF THE TAX EXEMPTION
? THIS IS A PROJECT BY PROJECT
DECISION THAT IS MADE , WHAT
ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE
LOWER RENT LIMITS AND WHAT I
CAN CHARGE VERSUS WHAT I WILL
GET IN TERMS OF THE TAX
EXEMPTION ?
>> IF I MAY RESTATE,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'S
CONCERN IS WE DO NOT WANT TO
APPROVE THIS AND TAKE A LOT OF
PEOPLE OUT OF UNITS THAT THEY
ARE CURRENTLY LIVING IN. WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN
STAY AND PAY MARKET RATE, IF
THEY CANNOT STAY THEY ARE GIVEN
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE TO A
PLACE THAT THEY CHOOSE . CAN WE
CONFIRM THAT IS THE CASE?
>> WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE
CURRENT DATA THAT WE HAVE.
THERE WILL NOT BE SIGNIFICANT
DISPLACEMENT CONCERNS GIVEN
WHERE THE CURRENT RENT LIMITS
ARE SET AND THE EXISTING
TENANT INCOMES .
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE?
>> I WILL HAVE TO GET BACK TO
YOU ON THAT.
>> I THINK WE DO KNOW THE LAST
TWO TIMES WE HAVE DONE
EXPIRATIONS, THE DATA THAT WE
HAVE SEEN, IT LOOKS LIKE THE
MAJORITY OF THE TENANTS THAT
ARE RESIDING DECIDE TO EXTEND
MEET THE LOWER INCOME LEVELS
THEY ARE LIKE 54% OF AMI . IT
IS LIKE THE MAJORITY OF THE
PEOPLE ALMOST 80, 90%, VERY
FEW OVER INCOME THAT WOULD NOT
QUALIFY AND BE CHARGED RENT
AND THOSE WHO MIGHT GET THAT
SECOND LOWER RENT . THE VAST
MAJORITY OF THOSE FOLKS ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR LOWER RENT. WE
HAVE HEARD SOMETHING ABOUT THAT
ANECDOTALLY OVER THE YEARS.
YOU MIGHT SAY 65% OF AMI THAT
COULD STILL BE HIGH RENT,
COMPARED TO WHAT THE MARKET IS,
SOME FOLKS WITH LOWER INCOME
CHOOSE THIS OPTION BECAUSE IT
IS A LOWER RENT THAN TRYING TO
FIND A MARKET RATE UNIT. IT
TRACKS DATA AND WHAT WE HAVE
HEARD ANECDOTALLY WHICH IS
PROVIDING MORE AFFORDABLE
PRODUCT THAN WHAT THEY MIGHT
FACE IN THE OPEN MARKET.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE MAKING
A POLICY DECISION THAT COULD
POTENTIALLY IMPACT RESIDENTS .
I HOPE THAT THIS QUESTION IS
CONSIDERED DURING
REAUTHORIZATION. WE ARE
CREATING A POLICY , WE ARE
CREATING A PROBLEM THAT WE
THEN HAVE TO SOLVE THROUGH OUR
RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND
WHERE THOSE RESOURCES CAN GO.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING OR PAYING
ATTENTION TO THAT GOING
FORWARD.
>> I THINK IT RAISES TWO
QUESTIONS FOR ME , THE QUESTION
THAT CHAIR MOORE RAISED ,
THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE SITTING
VACANT, MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING
FOR THE NEXT PROGRAM, IF THAT
EXISTS AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING
MOVED OUT BECAUSE OF THE POLICY
DECISION , THERE IS A WAY TO
CONNECT THEM TO A EMPTY UNIT
SOMEPLACE ELSE. I DO NOT KNOW
WHAT THAT WOULD TAKE . I THINK
THIS ISSUE IS PART OF THE
REASON WHY I AM INTERESTED IN
TALKING ABOUT SOCIAL HOUSING
AND HOW WE MIGHT MOVE IN THAT
DIRECTION AS A CITY, CREATING
ONE OTHER TOOL FOR US. IN
SOCIAL HOUSING, IF YOU LIVE IN
A UNIT THAT HAS SOME SORT OF
SUBSIDY, IF YOUR RENT GOES UP
YOU DO NOT GET KICKED OUT. YOUR
RENT LEVEL CHANGES IN THAT UNIT
. I KNOW THE WAY WE DO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS
COUNTRY IS BYZANTINE BECAUSE
OF HOW HARD IT IS TO FINANCE
THESE PROJECTS . THAT IS ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT IS VERY
APPEALING TO ME ABOUT SOCIAL
HOUSING IS BECAUSE THE
FINANCING WORKS DIFFERENTLY YOU
DO NOT HAVE TO ABIDE BY THESE
TIGHT INCOME RESTRICTIONS AND
MOVE PEOPLE OUT IF THEIR
INCOME INCREASES, YOU JUST
INCREASE THE RENT A LITTLE BIT.
I JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN ONE
OF THE REASONS I'M GOING TO
VIENNA IN TWO WEEKS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> I HAVE A COMMENT. I WANT TO
BE COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT THE
-- PARTICIPATES IN MFTE
PROGRAM CHATTING WITH OUR
LEGISLATIVE LAWYER AND ASKING
IF I'M ABLE TO VOTE , I AM
READY TO RECUSE MYSELF TODAY TEE
THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT DIRECTLY
AFFECT MY BUILDING . IN THE
FUTURE I MAY HAVE TO RECUSE
MYSELF FOR ANY MFTE PROJECTS
THAT COME UP FOR VOTE. THANK
YOU .
>> I SEE NO OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS. I GUESS THAT WOULD
CALL THE QUESTION ,
THIS TODAY? I AM SEEING
CONSENSUS ON THAT . I WILL NOW
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNSEL
BILL 120772 . IS THEIR SECOND.
THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
PASSAGE OF THE BILL . ANY FINAL
COMMENTS? NOT SEEING ANY. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE
ON THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
TO PASS THE BILL .
>> COUNSEL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> AYE HER
>> HOUSE MEMBER TRY TO PRINT
>> FIVE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WOO.
>> YES PRE-
>> VICE CHAIR AND VIPER
>> YES BREES CHAIR MOORE.
>> AYE.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR , NO NOTES.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO
PASS WILL BE SENT TO THE
APRIL 30th CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO
THE PRESENTERS . I KNOW IT WAS
SOMEWHAT COMPLICATED
INFORMATION TO PRESENT. I
APPRECIATE THE EFFORT TO DO SO.
IF THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER ,
THIS CONCLUDES THE APRIL 24th
MEETING OF THE HOUSING HUMAN
SERVICES MEETING, THE NEXT
MEETING IS MAY 8th. THE TIME
IS 10:56. WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE.