>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THE MAY
15th , 2024 RESCHEDULED
LAND-USE COMMITTEE MEETING WILL
COME TO ORDER. I AM TAMMY
MORALES, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. WE WILL HAVE A BRIEF
CALL OF THE ROLL.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> THREE PRESENT.
>> WE ONLY HAVE ONE AGENDA ITEM
TODAY. WE WILL HEAR FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTION. IN FAMED NATION OF
-- INFORMATIONAL DISCUSSION OF
THE UNREINFORCED MASONRY
RETROFIT POLICY UPDATE. IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTIVE THAT
MAGGIE OBJECTIONS, THE AGENDA
WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE
IN PERSON FOR THE PUBLIC
COMMENT, AND NO ONE VIRTUALLY.
HE WILL EACH HAVE TWO MINUTES
TO SPEAK. AND WE WILL BEGIN IN
PERSON. AND WHEN YOU HAVE 10
SECONDS LEFT, WE WILL SOUND A
CHIME. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN, AND I WILL
ASK FOR THE FIRST SPEAKER LIST.
>> FIRST WE HAVE FREED UP. --
PETER MANNING.
>> I DID HEAR MY NAME. I'M
SORRY ABOUT THAT. MY NAME IS
PETER MANNING, I AM WITH
EXCELLENT CANNABIS. I AM THE
PRESIDENT. WE HAVE BEEN
FIGHTING FOR INCLUSION FOR NINE
YEARS. WE WERE ALLOCATED A
LICENSE, AT THE BEGINNING OF
THIS YEAR, TO RESIDENTS IN
WASHINGTON. WE WOULD LIKE TO
GET THAT FIXED. IT CANNOT OPEN
UP , BECAUSE OF OTHER STORES IN
DIFFERENT ZONING ISSUES . WE
DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY EQUITY.
IT DOES NOT EXIST UNLESS WE FIX
THE ZONING. THERE IS ZERO BLACK
OR BROWN OWNERSHIP OF A
CANNABIS STORE IN KING COUNTY.
THAT SAYS A LOT BETTER. WE NEED
TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION ON WHAT
WE NEED TO DO TO FIX THE ZONING
AND MAKE IT MORE EQUITABLE AS
FAR AS THE RETAIL SECTOR. IF
THAT EVEN APPLIES TO THE
PROCESSORS AND THE
DISTRIBUTORS. I HAVE ASKED THEM
TO LOOK INTO THIS AND FIGURE
OUT HOW WE CAN RESOLVE THE
ISSUE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE MARY. [
LAUGHTER ]
>> I HAVE TO GET A NEW
SECRETARY. GOOD MORNING, I AM
WITH EMERALD CITY COLLECTIVE.
DOWNTOWN DISPENSARY, I AM ALSO
THE VICE PRESIDENT OF BLACK
EXCELLENCE CANNABIS. THIS IS MY
FATHER. GIVE ME A MOMENT. HE
PASSED AWAY IN 2009 . I HAD TO
TAKE HIM OFF LIFE SUPPORT.
BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT IS THE
REASON WHY I WAS ALREADY IN THE
CANNABIS INDUSTRY, WHAT I SAW
DURING THAT TIME IN 2009, I SAW
PEOPLE GOING TO RAGGEDY
LOCATIONS, THE MEDICINE WAS
CRAP. I KNEW THAT I COULD DO
BETTER. I HAD REGRETS. I WISHED
THAT I COULD GIVE MY DAD A
JOINT. HE NEEDED MORE WATER. HE
HAD A BRAIN HEMORRHAGE. I WAS
NOT THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE
MILLIONS THAT HAD BEEN MADE. TO
BE SHUT OUT AND FIND OUT YEARS
LATER THE CORRECTION THAT HAS
BEEN MADE, WE HAVE LOCATIONS,
IN SEATTLE RIGHT NOW THEY GAVE
LICENSES TO, AND THEY DID NOT
QUALIFY. WE ARE HERE, IN
REGARDS TO ZONING. I AM LOOKING
TO GET BACK INTO SEATTLE. BUT
THE PROBLEM IS, YOU CAN ONLY
HAVE TWO LOCATIONS WITHIN 1000
FEET, SO IT IS A FORM OF
REDLINING. THERE ARE ZERO BLACK
AFRICAN AMERICANS, OR
HISPANICS, WITH FULL OWNERSHIP.
WE ARE HERE TO TALK TO YOU TO
GET SOME DIALOGUE, SOME
POSITIVE DIALOGUE , AND MAKE A
CHANGE. I WANT TO BE OPEN
DURING THE CUT. I WANT TO SEE
THE CITY CLEANUP, I HAVE BEEN
PART OF THE CITY SINCE 1978. I
WANT TO BE PART OF THE CHANGE,
NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM.
>> I WILL ASK FOR THE CONTACT
INFO. SO THAT WE CAN BE IN
TOUCH.
>> I WILL ALSO EMAIL YOU
LETTERS AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THE AGENDA
IS NOT REAL HEAVY TODAY. BUT ,
IT IS IMPORTANT. I WOULD LIKE
TO REMIND YOU THAT EARLIER IN
THE YEAR , I MENTIONED THAT WE
SHOULD BE TAKING A LOOK AGAIN.
DEVELOPERS OUGHT TO BE BROUGHT
IN, UNLESS YOU BELIEVE IN A
NO-THREE CITY. WE KO IM --
CLAIM TO BE MAJOR-LEAGUE. BUT
THIS IS BUSH LEAGUE , ANYTIME
ANYTHING GETS TO ANY SIZE, IT
IS ABOUT READY TO BE GONE. PUT
YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL HAT ON FOR A
MINUTE, AND YOU'LL PROBABLY
NOTICE THAT LARGE TREES ARE THE
ONES THAT ACTUALLY DO THE MOST
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. BUSHES,
SHRUBS , THEY MAY BE
AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, BUT
THEY DO NOT HELP WITH SHADE,
UNLESS YOU ARE EXTREMELY SHORT
. AND THEY DO NOT HELP WITH THE
AIR. SEATTLE IS WELL ON ITS WAY
TO BECOMING AN EQUAL PLACE FOR
TREES, NONE. THAT IS NOT A GOOD
TARGET TO MAKE, THE ONLY OTHER
THING I MENTIONED AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE SEASON HERE,
MHA FEES, THE GOAL, WHEN IT WAS
PASSED, WAS 50/50. AND WE ARE
NOT REACHING 50/50. I THINK
THAT WE NEED TO RAISE THOSE
FEES. ALL OF US DUMB NEWBIES ,
WE ARE TELLING COUNCIL THAT THE
FEES WERE WRONG AND EVERYONE
WOULD OPT OUT. ADD OF COURSE,
THEY DID. IF YOU'RE REALLY FOR
HOUSING, YOU SHOULD BE RAISING
THOSE FEES TO GET THE HOUSING
FASTER. THEN IT COMES UP WHEN
THE BUILDING IS BEING BUILT.
THE OTHER THING IS, IF THEY
PAID THEIR WAY OUT , ACTUALLY
GET SOME MORE HOUSING --
>> THANK YOU. IS THAT THE LAST
PUBLIC SPEAKER?
>> YES.
>> GREAT. AT THIS TIME, I WILL
CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND I WILL
ASK EMILY TO PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER ONE INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE ,
UNREINFORCED MASONRY RETROFIT
POLICY UPDATE AND DISCUSSION.
>> AS THEY ARE MAKING THEIR WAY
UP, WE ARE JOINED BY ABBA SIX ,
AND MEGAN FROM SDCI. THANK YOU
ALL FOR BEING HERE. IF YOU
COULD INTRODUCE YOURSELVES ,
FOR THE RECORD, THEN GO AHEAD
AND BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> I AM AMANDA HERTZFELD, I AM
THE PROGRAM MANAGER WITH SDCI.
>> I AM THE PRINCIPAL ENGINEER
WITH SDCI.
>> I AM THE DIRECTOR OF SDCI.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DO YOU
HAVE A PRESENTATION READY AND
IS IT WORKING?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS ON
HERE. I BROUGHT IT ON A THUMB
DRIVE.
>> I CAN SHARE THE SCREEN, IF
YOU WANT.
>> LET'S GIVE THEM A MINUTE .
VICE CHAIR, IF WE NEED TO GO
THERE, WE WILL. HERE WE GO,
THANK YOU, NAOMI. OKAY. WE WILL
JUST RUN IT OVER HERE.
>> I AM GOING TO DO A SHORT
INTRODUCTION, I WANTED TO THANK
THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR
BRINGING THIS ISSUE , AND JUST
ADVANCING ON TO THIS NEXT
SLIDE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SDCI
PURPOSE , VISION, AND VALUE, IT
TALKS ABOUT PEOPLE BUILDING A
SAFE VULNERABLE AND INCLUSIVE
SEATTLE. THAT IS WHAT THIS
TOPIC IS ALL ABOUT,,
UNREINFORCED MASONRY BUILDINGS
IS THE ONE ISSUE THAT KEEPS ME
UP AT NIGHT AND IT IS OF
PARAMOUNT INTEREST TO PEOPLE
WHO LIVE AND WORK IN SEATTLE.
AND IT IS ISSUE, NOT ONLY FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING AND
LIVING IN THESE BUILDINGS, BUT
ALSO FOR PEDESTRIANS WALKING BY
AND MOTORISTS. UNFORTUNATELY ,
IT IS NOT AN ISSUE OF IF THERE
IS GOING TO BE AN EARTHQUAKE IN
SEATTLE, BUT WHEN THAT IS GOING
TO HAPPEN. ONE OF SDCI 'S
OTHER VALUES HAS TO DO WITH
EQUITY, I WANTED TO POINT OUT
THAT A LOT OF OUR UNREINFORCED
MASONRY BUILDINGS JUST HAPPEN
TO BE IN NEIGHBORHOODS IN
SEATTLE THAT HAVE NOT SEEN THE
SAME LEVEL OF INVESTMENT OR
WERE WE HAVE DISADVANTAGED
POPULATIONS, THIS IS A CRUCIAL
ISSUE IN SEATTLE AND WE WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
ISSUE TO OUR COMMITTEE. WE ARE
CONTINUOUSLY TRYING TO GET THE
WORD OUT ABOUT UNREINFORCED
MASONRY BUILDING.
>> THANK YOU, NATHAN. GOOD
AFTERNOON. WE WILL START WITH
BASICS. WHAT IS URM? IT IS AN
ACRONYM FOR UNREINFORCED
MASONRY BUILDING. THEY WERE
TYPICALLY BUILT PRIOR TO 1945.
THEY MAKE UP THE WALLS OR
ARCHES AND THEY DO NOT HAVE
STEEL REBAR WITHIN THEM. THEY
ALSO LACK STRUCTURAL SUPPORT.
AS SUCH, THEY POSE A DANGER TO
PEOPLE WITHIN THE BUILDING, IF
THE WALLS WERE TO FULLY OR
PARTIALLY COLLAPSE. THEY WOULD
FALL TO THE STREET . WE KNOW
HOW HELPFUL IT WAS , AS YOU CAN
SEE, ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE,
THESE ARE THE TWO COMMON
FAILURE MECHANISMS ASSOCIATED
WITH URM BUILDINGS. IT COULD
POTENTIALLY HAVE STRUCTURAL
FALL AWAY FROM THE BUILDING.
THIS IS A KNOWN HAZARD. WE SAW
THIS DURING THE 2001 NISQUALLY
EARTHQUAKE. WE HAVE TRIED TO
RECTIFY THIS THROUGH OUR
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS. THE ONE
ON THE RIGHT SHOWS THAT BECAUSE
THE ONE ON THE WALL IS NOT
CONNECTED TO THE FLOOR
PROPERLY, IT COULD EVENTUALLY
GIVE WAY AND CAUSE TOTAL OR
PARTIAL COLLAPSE.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT DOES NOT TAKE
A LARGE EARTHQUAKE TO INDUCE
THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THE GOOD
NEWS IS , WE DO KNOW HOW TO
RETROFIT THESE BUILDINGS TO
REDUCE THE RISK OF COLLAPSE.
BASICALLY, WE WANT TO TIE THE
BUILDING TOGETHER. THESE
RETROFIT ITEMS INCLUDE RAISING
THE PARAPET, STRENGTHENING THE
CONNECTION BETWEEN THE FLOORS ,
THE WALLS, AS WELL AS
INTENTIONALLY PUTTING OTHER
STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS BEHIND THE
WALL TO PREVENT THE PREVAILING
OUTWARD. THIS SLIDE SHOWS A
COUPLE OF TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF
WHAT THE RETROFIT LOOKS LIKE.
THE MIDDLE PICTURE SHOWS A
SERIES OF BRACE ANGLES TO
CONNECT THE PARAPETS TO THE
ROOF TO KEEP THEM FROM FALLING
FORWARD AND CAUSING INJURY. THE
PICTURE ON THE RIGHT SHOWS THE
FACE CONNECTING THE WALLS TO
THE FLOORS BEHIND IT. THESE
RETROFIT STRATEGIES ARE LARGELY
KNOWN AND THEY HAVE BEEN TESTED
IN REAL WORLD SCENARIOS AND
THEY HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN
RECENT EARTHQUAKES. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE, LET'S FOCUS ON
SEATTLE'S URMs. SEATTLE HAS
ABOUT 1100 URMs IN THEIR
JURISDICTION. AND THEY WERE
CLASSIFIED IN DIFFERENT
VULNERABILITY CATEGORIES BASED
ON OCCUPANCY TYPE, NUMBER OF
STORIES, AS WELL AS POSSIBILITY
OF LIQUEFACTION AND LANDSLIDE
HAZARDS, BY DOING THIS, WE CAN
INCREASE THE SEISMIC RESILIENCE
OF THE CITY, DECREASE THE RISK
OF DEATH OR DAMAGE, AS WELL AS
ANY POTENTIAL DISRUPTION TO OUR
ECONOMY, POST-EARTHQUAKE, MOST
OF THEM ARE LOCATED WITHIN OUR
DISADVANTAGED , OUR MOST
DISADVANTAGED AREAS. INDICATING
THAT IF AN EARTHQUAKE HAPPENS,
IT WILL DISPROPORTIONATELY
AFFECT LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO AMANDA
WHO WILL GO OVER SOME OF THE
HISTORY OF OUR WORK, CURRENT
PROGRESS, AS WELL AS SOME OF
THE NEXT STEPS.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON,
COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO INVITE
YOU TO ASK QUESTIONS. IT IS A
SHORT PRESENTATION. LOOKING AT
THE AREAS IN RED, THESE LOOK
LIKE AREAS, THESE ARE AREAS
THAT ARE HIGHER EQUITY, MORE
DISADVANTAGED. DID YOU HAVE A
SIMILAR MAP? CAN YOU TALK US
THROUGH WHAT AREAS ARE MOST
VULNERABLE TO BEING IN THE
LIQUEFACTION ZONE AND HOW THAT
FALLS INTO THE CRITERIA?
>> THAT IS TYPICALLY
SURROUNDING THE DUWAMISH AREA,
AS WELL AS THE GEORGETOWN AREA.
RAINIER VALLEY ALSO HAS SUCH AN
AREA , THAT IS A BIT OF A
CONCERN, SO WE DO HAVE A LITTLE
BIT OF WHAT WE CALL OUR MEDICAL
AREA MAPS -- CRITICAL AREA
MAPS. THOSE ARE PUBLICLY
ACCESSIBLE. THE LIQUEFACTION IS
CLEARLY SHOWN ON THOSE MAPS.
>> WE HAVE TAKEN LIQUEFACTION
HAZARDS INTO CONSIDERATION.
THERE IS A VULNERABILITY
CLASSIFICATION, THE HIGH
VULNERABILITY ARE THE AREAS
THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE
LIQUEFACTION AREAS. WHEN WE GET
A MANDATORY ORDINANCE
COMPLAINT, FOR THE AREAS WHERE
LIQUEFACTION MAY HAVE A SHORTER
TIMELINE COMPLIANCE. SHORTER
THAN THOSE WITHOUT.
>> THANK YOU. I SEE SOME DARK
RED SPOTS. SO IS THAT EVEN
HIGHER?
>> THE DARK RED SPOTS ON THE
URM HOLDINGS, THE LOCATIONS.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE SURROUNDING
COLORS?
>> THOSE ARE PULLED FROM THE
SOCIAL EXAMINED VERY
DISCIPLINARY .
>> THAT WAS THROWING ME OFF.
>> I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, AS
A MEMBER MOORE IS THE PRESIDENT
AS WELL.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION , SORRY.
LIQUEFACTION , YOU SAID THAT
THERE IS A SHORTER TIMELINE ,
IS THERE SOMETHING YOU COULD
TELL ME, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT,
YOUR REASONING BEHIND THAT?
>> AGAIN, THE COMPLIANCE
TIMELINES WILL NOT GO INTO
EFFECT UNTIL THERE IS A
MANDATORY ORDINANCE IN PLACE.
THE PROPOSED POLICY, THIS WAS
PRESENTED IN 2017. THE CRITICAL
VULNERABILITY STRUCTURES WILL
NEED TO BE RETROFIT , AND THE
HIGH VULNERABILITY WILL HAVE 10
YEARS, AND THE MEDIUM
VULNERABILITY WILL HAVE 13
YEARS. THAT 10-YEAR TIMELINE
FOR THE HIGH-VULNERABILITY
STRUCTURES IS FORMED BY
LIQUEFACTION AS WELL AS
OCCUPANCY TYPE OF THE BUILDING.
AND THE INTENT THERE IS JUST
THAT THOSE BUILDINGS HAVE A
HIGHER VULNERABILITY TO
EARTHQUAKES. THUS , THE NEED
FOR A SHORTER COMPLIANCE
TIMELINE.
>> ARE YOU ON THE NEXT SLIDE?
I'M SORRY, THE GOOD KIND OF
INTERRUPTED YOUR FLOW HERE.
>> WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
>> SO, THE REAL REASON WE ARE
HERE TODAY IS TO DISCUSS
PROGRESS AND NEXT STEPS ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF RESOLUTION
32033, THAT IS A MANDATE FOR
URM RETROFIT. AND I THINK THAT
THERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT THINGS
TO NOTE ABOUT HOW DESCRIPTIVE
THIS RESOLUTION IS. THIS IS A
REALLY TOP LOCATED ISSUE AND
THE RESOLUTION DOES A GOOD JOB
OF HIGHLIGHTING WHAT THOSE
COMPLEXITIES ARE AND WHAT THE
CITY NEEDS TO ACCOMPLISH, IN
ORDER TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL
PROGRAM. THE INTENT BEHIND THIS
RESOLUTION IS TO, FIRST,
IDENTIFY THAT THE GOAL OF THE
RETRO PROGRAM WOULD BE TO
REDUCE THE COLLAPSE HAZARDS,
PRESENTING INJURY, DEATH, AND
REDUCING DESTRUCTION,
ADDITIONALLY, THE RESOLUTION
DIRECTS US TO PRESERVE
HISTORICALLY AND CULTURALLY
SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURES, MANY OF
THESE ARE HISTORICAL OR
LANDMARK STRUCTURES, AND WE
REALLY WANT TO PREVENT
DEMOLITION OF THESE BUILDINGS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE RESOLUTION
HAS IDENTIFIED A VARIETY OF
FUNDING RESOURCES. WE WILL GET
INTO THIS IN A MINUTE, RETRO
FIXED -- RETROFITS CAN BE VERY
EXPENSIVE. WE WANT TO REDUCE
THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ASSOCIATED
WITH THIS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
SO THAT WE CAN KEEP PROMOTING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND REDUCE
THE DISPLACEMENT OF RESIDENTS
AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE
CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY-A
PPROPRIATE OUTREACH. MANY OF
THESE URM BUILDINGS HOUSE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THEY ARE IN
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, MANY
OF WHICH ARE NOT
ENGLISH-SPEAKING. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO COMMUNICATE THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROGRAM, AS
WELL AS THE IMPACT ASSOCIATED
WITH RETRO STATES, SO THAT THEY
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RETROFIT
ENTAILS, AND WHAT RESOURCES ARE
AVAILABLE, AS WELL AS THE
IMPACTS OF NOT RETROFITTING.
SO, WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
PLEASE. BEFORE WE DIVE AND ALL
OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE
CURRENTLY DOING GOOD I WANTED
TO TOUCH ON THE HISTORY OF THIS
EVER. SO, I KNOW THAT THE FONT
SIZE ON THIS IS REALLY SMALL. I
DON'T EXPECT ANYONE TO READ
THIS. THE POINT IS, THAT FIRST
BULLET, THIS IS A LONG-STANDING
ISSUE . IT HAS BEEN INFORMED BY
A PLETHORA OF STAKEHOLDERS AND
SCIENTIFIC EFFORTS, IN THE
1960'S, SEATTLE HAD TWO
DAMAGING EARTHQUAKES. AS A
RESULT, IN THE '70s, WE PASSED
RESOLUTION FOR THE RETROFIT OF
BUILDINGS IN PIONEER SQUARE. IT
WAS COST PROHIBITIVE TO
BUILDING OWNERS, SO WE REALLY
DID NOT DO ANYTHING AFTER THAT.
AFTER THE 2001 THIS QUALITY
EARTHQUAKE, INTEREST WAS
RENEWED AND THE CITY DECIDED TO
START AN INVENTORY OF URM
BUILDINGS BUT IN 2011, THERE
WAS A BIG EARTHQUAKE IN
CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND .
MOST OF THE DEBTS WERE FROM URM
BUILDINGS AND IT CLOSED THEIR
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT FOR
YEARS, THE IMPACT ON URMs OF
EARTHQUAKES ARE SIGNIFICANT AND
THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS ARE ALSO
SIGNIFICANT. I WILL POINT OUT
SOME OF THAT NEW ZEALAND
EARTHQUAKE, A NUMBER OF DEATHS
WERE ATTRIBUTED TO PEOPLE ON A
BUS. A PARROT THAT FELL . THIS
IS AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS NOT
JUST BUILDING OWNERS BUT THE
OWNERS . THEY OFTEN DO NOT KNOW
IT IS A URM BUILDINGS AND I
WILL KEEP GOING ON THE
TIMELINE. BUT, IN 2016, A GROUP
OF ENGINEERS PROPOSED A
STANDARD FOR A MINIMUM AREA OF
RETROFIT FOR THESE BUILDINGS,
THERE WAS A POLICY THAT WAS
CREATED THAT DEVELOPED A SERIES
OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHAT
THIS PROGRAM WOULD NEED TO
ADDRESS, IN ORDER TO BE
SUCCESSFUL, LOOKING AT
DISPLACEMENT ISSUES, AND
MITIGATION TECHNIQUES, AND
THEN, IN 2019, A GROUP OF
STAKEHOLDERS, MOSTLY
DEVELOPERS, THEY CALLED
THEMSELVES THE ALLIANCE FOR
SAFETY AFFORDABILITY AND
PRESERVATION, THEY HELPED TO
DEVELOP A PROPOSAL FOR WHAT WAS
ESSENTIALLY A TRANSFER OF
DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS PROGRAM,
THAT WOULD ALLOW URM OWNERS TO
SELL UNUSED DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS
TO SUPPORT THE FUNDING OF THE
RETROFITS. IT WAS BECAUSE OF
THE COORDINATION OF THE
DEVELOPERS, ALONG WITH SDCI,
AND THE SUPPORT OF THE MAYOR,
THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT
RESOLUTION CREATED. THAT WAS A
VERY LONG-WINDED EFFORT TO
SHOW, THAT IS NOTHING NEW. BUT
THERE IS A LOT OF SCIENCE,
ENGINEERING, AS WELL AS EQUITY
CONCERNS THAT HAVE GONE INTO
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS
RESOLUTION.
>> CHAIR, IF I MAY?
>> PLEASE.
>> THIS IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE
THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND IT
HAS BEEN TRIED BEFORE, THERE
WAS A LOT ON THE BOOKS, BUT
QUICKLY REPEALED. WE WATCHED
THIS PLAY OUT IN PORTLAND, IN
THE LAST DECADE, THAT WAS EVEN
WORSE THAN WHAT HAPPENED, IN
PIONEER SQUARE . THE COST IS
EXPENSIVE, IT IS VERY
EXPENSIVE, AND WE HAVE TO
APPROACH THIS, AND IT SOUNDS
LIKE THEY ARE APPROACHING THIS
WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT
FINANCING ALMOST HAS TO LEAD.
BECAUSE, IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT
, FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO PAY
THIS. AND SO, THE FINANCING,
THE FUNDING, TYING IT TO THE
OWNER IS CRITICAL, ENSURING
THAT WE CAN HAVE 0% LOANS , IF
POSSIBLE, LOANS WITHOUT
DOWNPAYMENTS. YOU ARE NODDING
YOUR HEAD, SO I AM WORRIED THAT
I AM TAKING THE WAYS -- REST OF
YOUR PRESENTATION. I WILL HOLD
FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES, I HAVE
THE LIQUEFACTION MAP UP HERE.
CHAIR, I CAN SHARE THAT, I AM
ALWAYS HAPPY TO. THE
PROTECTIONS THAT WERE PASSED
LAST YEAR . WE DID INCLUDE SOME
OF THE URM REDEVELOPMENT, LATER
ON IN THE PRESENTATION, I WILL
ASK YOU HOW THAT IS GOING.
>> PICK YOU.
>> I WILL JUST REITERATE , WHAT
THIS RESOLUTION AIMS TO DO IS
DEFINE WHAT A URM IS, DEVELOP
THE RETROFIT STANDARD, THE
MINIMUM STANDARD FOR
RETROFITTING, DEVELOP A
TIMELINE FOR COMPLIANCE , AND
ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY. AND
DEVELOP MULTIPLE FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES AND INCENTIVES TO
HELP REDUCE THE FINANCIAL
BURDEN OF RETROFIT. SO, WE CAN
GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. WHERE ARE
WE AT TODAY? WE HAVE COMPLETED
THE RETROFIT TECHNICAL
STANDARDS . THIS IS THE MINIMAL
LEVEL OF RETROFIT, ENSURING ,
SUPPORTING COLLAPSE REDUCTION
AT THE URM BUILDING. WE
FINISHED THIS LAST YEAR, TO
GET A RESOLUTION PASSED, 3211,
IT KIND OF IS CELEBRATING THE
MILESTONE OF CREATING THIS. AND
WE ARE RECOMMENDING AN INTERIM
PHASE OF A VOLUNTARY RETROFIT ,
INFORMED BY THE STANDARD.
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES ARE VERY
IMPORTANT, THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF URM OWNERS THAT WANT TO
RETROFIT NOW, WHAT THIS
RETROFIT RESOLUTION SAYS, MOVE
FORWARD WITH A VOLUNTARY
RETROFIT PROGRAM FOR NOW,
CONTINUING TO PURSUE A
MANDATORY PROGRAM WITH FUNDING
RESOURCES, SO, WE ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO BRINGING TO YOU, BY
THE END OF THIS YEAR, WHAT WE
ARE CALLING A RETROFIT CHANGE.
THIS WILL BE PART OF THE
EXISTING SEATTLE BUILDING CODE.
AND IT WILL ADOPT -- I WILL GET
INTO THIS IN A MINUTE, IT WILL
ADOPT THE RETROFIT, WHICH IS A
REDUCED STANDARD FROM CURRENT
CODE THAT MAXIMIZES SAFETY,
WHILE REDUCING DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION COSTS . OUR
LONG-TERM GOAL IS ADOPTING THE
MANDATORY RETROFIT ORDINANCE,
BUT TO THE POINT OF
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, WE DO
NOT WANT TO IDENTIFY THAT .
SHORT-TERM GOAL, IS THAT THE
VOLUNTARY RETROFIT RECOGNITION
CODE , THAT WILL ESTABLISH WHAT
YOU NEED TO DO , IN ORDER TO BE
CONSIDERED RETROFITTED. SO, WE
CAN NOW GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO, AGAIN, WE HAVE TALKED A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT COSTS. FIRST ,
I WILL POINT OUT THAT THE CODE
METHOD IS SHOWN IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE SCREEN. THIS IS THE
METHOD THAT IS PART OF THE
SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATION PROCESS
FOR THE BUILDING. THAT IS WHAT
THE CODE SAYS, IN ORDER TO
RETROFIT YOUR BUILDING, WE HAVE
CREATED THE ALTERNATE METHOD,
IT IS , LIKE YOU SAID, A
REDUCED STANDARD THAT MAXIMIZES
COLLAPSE PREVENTION, WHILE
SUPPORTING SAFETY, MINIMIZING
DESIGN AND DESIGN COSTS. THIS
WAS TESTED IN THE NORTHRIDGE
EARTHQUAKE AND THE NAPA
EARTHQUAKE AND WAS SHOWN TO BE
SUCCESSFUL. THE COST ESTIMATES
WE HAVE BEFORE COVID, $650,000
FOR THE AVERAGE THREE-STORY
BUILDING, WE ARE WORKING WITH A
CONTRACTOR RIGHT NOT TO UPDATE
THOSE COSTS. WE ARE USING THAT
TO INFORM FUNDING SOLUTIONS
MOVING FORWARD. SO , YOU CAN GO
AHEAD TO THE NEXT SLIDE, AND I
WILL START TALKING ABOUT SOME
OF THE FUNDING CONSIDERATIONS.
EXISTING CURRENTLY, THE
COMMERCIAL-PROPERTY ASSESSED
CLEAN ENERGY AND RESILIENCY
PROGRAM. IT IS ESSENTIALLY A
LOW INTEREST LOAN OR LIEN, IF
THE PROPERTY OWNER SELLS IT,
THEN THE LOAN STAYS ON THE
PROPERTY. EXISTING ISSUES, KING
COUNTY MANAGES THE PROGRAM, IT
PROMISES TO BE A LITTLE BIT
CHALLENGING FOR LESS-CAPITAL-PO
SSESSING OWNERS, BUT IT IS A
TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX, THERE ARE
EXISTING TAX CREDITS FOR
HISTORIC PRESERVATION, THERE IS
OPPORTUNITY TO CONFINE THESE TO
TAKE A LARGER CHUNK OUT OF THAT
RETROFIT COST. AND
ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE WORKING
THROUGH THE STATE SEISMIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE. WE ARE
REQUESTING A LEGISLATIVE
WORKING SESSION IN THE FALL AND
WE ARE COORDINATING WITH OIR ON
THIS. AND WE ARE REQUESTING A
STAY OF DIFFERENT INCENTIVES
THAT CAN BE USED. WE KNOW THAT
THE HISTORIC TAX PRESERVATION
COULD BE MORE MEANINGFUL IF
THERE WERE SOME MODIFICATIONS
MADE. WE LIKE TO UNDERSTAND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANGES IN
PROPERTY TAXES, FOR EXAMPLE,
BUT WE DO KNOW THAT , YOU HAVE
TO BALANCE THE BUDGET SO FAR.
WE BRING IN COUNTY ASSESSORS,
THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY TAX
ASSESSOR'S TO HELP SUPPORT
THIS. AND COORDINATION WITH OIR
AND THE STATE SEISMIC SAFETY
SUBCOMMITTEE. I WILL POINT OUT,
SEATTLE HAS ROUGHLY 1100 URMs ,
STATEWIDE THE ESTIMATE IS
33,000. IT IS NOT JUST A
SEATTLE PROBLEM. IT IS A
STATEWIDE ISSUE. THE LAST TWO
BULLETS ARE FEDERAL GRANTS AND
TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS.
I HAVE A SLIDE FOR EACH OF
THEM. I WILL GO TO THE NEXT
SLIDE. WE HAVE AN APPLICATION
RIGHT NOW FOR THE FEMA GRANT,
IT IS THE BRICK GRANT. MY JOKE
IS THAT THE FEMA DID NOT TALK
TO THE SEISMIC PEOPLE, BECAUSE
BRICKS ARE BAD. AND THEY WOULD
HAVE NEVER GRANTED THAT. OUR
PLAN HERE WITH THE FEMA GRANT
PROGRAM, IS TO START WITH A
SMALL GRANT, FOR A BENEFIT COST
ANALYSIS, FOR WHAT WE ARE
CALLING ARCHETYPE BUILDINGS AND
THE INTENT IS TO COPY A VERY
SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM THAT
BERKELEY ESTABLISHED, WHERE
THEY HAVE DONE COST ESTIMATES
FOR BUILDING, THEY HAVE SHOWN
THIS TYPE OF BUILDING WAS
COST-EFFECTIVE AND AND THAT
ALLEVIATES A WHOLE LOT OF
PAPERWORK IN THE FUTURE WHEN
YOU GET A LARGER GRANT WITH
CONSTRUCTION, ANY BUILDING THAT
MATCHES THOSE THREE OR FOUR CAN
BE REIMBURSED. AND WE WOULD BE
ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THOSE
BUILDINGS ARE, WHERE THEY ARE
LOCATED, AND WHAT THE LEVEL OF
RETROFIT IS. IT IS DEPENDENT ON
THE GRANTOR BEFORE COMING TO
SEATTLE, I WORKED FOR FEMA FOR
12 YEARS. I AM VERY FAMILIAR
WITH THEIR GRANT PROCESS AND
THE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH
THEM. AS A RESULT OF THAT ,
THAT HAS INFORMED OUR STRATEGY.
SO, THEY DO GIVE EXTRA POINTS
IF YOU START WITH A SMALL GRANT
AND MOVE TO CONSTRUCTION
GRANTS. THAT IS A SMALL PART OF
THE STRATEGY. THE PROGRAM HAS
BEEN PRETTY FOCUSED ON TO
CHANGE, AND IT IS AN
INTENTIONALLY THIS INCENTIVIZED
PROJECT. WE HAVE MET WITH
CONGRESSWOMAN GILE PAUL , FOR
INCREASED SEISMIC ACCESS. AND
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET
WITH THE COUNCIL OF ADVISERS,
THE ONE THAT ADVISERS HER, TO
BRING THE CHALLENGES TO
RETROFIT FUNDING. THE NEXT ONE
ON OUR PAGE HERE, IS THIS IS
LARGELY INFORMED BY THE
PROPOSAL, WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE
PROPOSALS , WHAT WOULD MAKE
TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS
USEFUL FOR URM OWNERS, WE HAVE
AN IN PERSON MEETING , IT MADE
FOR SOME EXCITEMENT, BUT WE
HAVE OVER 50 PEOPLE HERE,
ATTENDING THE MEETING, AND
PROVIDING INPUT ON WHAT WOULD
MAKE THE PROGRAM VIABLE, WHAT
THEIR CONCERNS ARE. IT WAS
MOSTLY THE COST OF
RETROFITTING, VERSUS THE VALUE
OF CREDIT AND HOW WE WOULD
CONTROL THE MARKET. WE TAKE IN
ALL OF THE FEEDBACK, WE PUT IT
INTO EVERY PORT, AND THEN WE
SCOPE THE FEASIBILITY STRATEGY
ON WHAT THAT PROGRAM WOULD LOOK
LIKE AND WHAT THE INVESTMENT
FROM SEATTLE WOULD BE. I THINK
THERE ARE A FEW QUESTIONS.
>> CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT, I KNOW, ESPECIALLY IN
THE CID , FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE
BUILDINGS , WHERE THERE ARE
MULTIPLE PEOPLE, THERE ARE
SEVERAL GENERATIONS WHO OWN. IF
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT EITHER
THE TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT
RIGHTS OR ALONE , FINDING ALL
OF THE RIGHT FOLKS TO SIGN ON
THE PAPERWORK LIKE THAT CAN BE
A CHALLENGE. CAN YOU TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU MANAGE
THAT TYPE OF PROCESS?
>> YES, I WOULD SAY THAT THE
FIRST STEP IS ENGAGING WITH THE
COMMUNITY AND THE RIGHT
STAKEHOLDERS. IT WILL BE A
CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. AND WE WILL
DEVELOP A LOT OF SUPPORTED
RESOURCES TO HELP GUIDE
BUILDING OWNERS THROUGH THE
PROCESS AND HELP TO IDENTIFY
THE RIGHT FUNDING RESOURCES FOR
THEM. SO, WE ARE WORKING WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
RIGHT NOW TO MEET WITH THE CID
VISIONING ADVISORY GROUP. AND
KIND OF PLANTING THE SEEDS FOR
ENGAGEMENT WITH THEM, AND USE
OR DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH
THEM SO THAT THE RESOURCES WE
CREATE, OR THE FINANCIAL
RESOURCES WE OBTAIN , ARE
ACTUALLY ACCESSIBLE AND
MEANINGFUL TO THEM.
>> SORRY. I WOULD JUST ADD A
COMMA SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, MANY
OF THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS OF
THE CITY MET WITH SEVERAL OF
THE LEADERS IN THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT . WE
TALK ABOUT A NUMBER OF ISSUES,
THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT
WE DISCUSSED.
>> WERE THOSE PROGRAMS , WILL
THEY BE PROVIDED IN DIFFERENT
LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATED INTO
DIFFERENT MATERIALS? OKAY. AND
THEN, FOR THE , SORRY . THERE
WAS ONE OTHER THING YOU WERE
TALKING ABOUT. OH, FOR THE
VOLUNTARY PROGRAM, IS THAT
ALREADY ESTABLISHED?
>> WE ARE WORKING ON THE CODE
LANGUAGE RIGHT NOW. AND WE HOPE
TO BRING THAT BY THE END OF THE
YEAR FOR ADOPTION.
>> ANY RETROFITTING MAY
CURRENTLY BE UNDERWAY, THAT
WOULD BE SORT OF OUTSIDE THE
CONVERSATION?
>> VOLUNTARY SEISMIC
IMPROVEMENT, THAT APPLIES TO
THE EXISTING BUILDING CODE.
ANYONE CAN PROCEED WITH
VOLUNTARY SEISMIC IMPROVEMENT
AT ANY TIME THAT IS ALREADY IN
PLACE. AS MENTIONED BY AMANDA,
WE ARE TRYING TO DO THIS, THE
BUILDING OWNERS HAVE BEEN
HOLDING OFF WITH THE RETROFIT,
SO, THE HUGE MILESTONE THAT WE
ACCOMPLISH IN 2023 WAS TO LOCK
DOWN THE TECHNICAL STANDARD AND
THAT WAS WHAT WE PRESENTED TO
THE CALENDAR LAST YEAR. WE KNOW
HOW TO GET THAT FIXED FROM AN
ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE. AS A
MATTER OF FACT, OVER THE PAST
FEW MONTHS, WE HAVE ALREADY HAD
A FEW PROJECTS COMING INTO THE
DEPARTMENT, DISCUSSING HOW TO
BETTER IMPLEMENT THOSE METHODS
INTO THE PROJECT. THOSE ARE
ALSO IN THE WORKS. WE ARE ALSO
TRYING TO CODIFY WHAT IT MEANS
TO BE A RETROFITTED URM
BUILDING, INTO THE CODE.
>> THOSE FOLKS WHO MAY BE
PROCEEDING ON THEIR OWN, THEY
DO NOT HAVE THE BENEFIT OF
WHATEVER FUNDING MECHANISM YOU
WERE TRYING TO PUT IN PLACE.
PRESUMABLE -- PRESUMABLY, THEY
ARE PAYING FOR THAT?
>> SOME OWNERS MAY BE
UNDERGOING A RENOVATION OR
ALTERATION, THEY WANT TO DO
EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE, THEY
HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES
RIGHT NOT TO DO THAT. BUT, WE
ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY COGNIZANT
THAT A LOT OF BUILDING OWNERS
DO NOT HAVE THOSE RESOURCES.
>> THANK YOU. OKAY,
COUNCILMEMBER WOO ?
>> THANK YOU. WHEN WE WENT TO
DEVELOP OUR BUILDING, WE TRIED
TO USE THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS.
FOR SOME REASON IT WAS NOT
APPLICABLE IN THE HISTORIC
DISTRICT. WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO
USE THOSE AND I DO NOT KNOW ANY
OTHERS THAT WERE ABLE TO
SUCCESSFULLY DO THAT I THINK
THERE MIGHT BE SOME RULEMAKING
THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT, FOR
THOSE TO BE USED IN HISTORIC
DISTRICTS WITH THE CID. THE
VISIONARY GROUP GRAPHIC, I
THINK THEIR FUNDING IS RUNNING
OUT, I THINK YOU MAY NEED TO
REACH OUT, QUICKLY, I THINK
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CID.
WHAT WE ARE REALLY TALKING
ABOUT IS GENTRIFICATION
DISPLACEMENT. AND HOW WE
REQUIRE BUILDING OWNERS TO
RETROFIT I KNOW BACK IN 2001 ,
AFTER THE NISQUALLY EARTHQUAKE,
THERE WAS A BUILDING CODE AND
THEY WERE FACING . YOU LOOK
AROUND THE CID. THE CODE HAS
CHANGED THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS. I AM NOT SURE WHAT YEAR
THAT WAS, EARLY 2000'S , WHEN
THAT HAPPENS. AND THE CODE
CHANGED AGAIN. AND NOW WE WANT
TO GET THESE BUILDINGS INTO
COMPLIANCE, BUT THE COST
REMAINS THE BIGGEST FACTOR,
LIKE COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
SAID. I AM HOPING TO LEARN MORE
IN THIS PRESENTATION, ABOUT
POSSIBLY, YOU MENTIONED
EARLIER, THE STEP-BY-STEP
PROCESS OF MAKING PEOPLE
FULFILL THE RETROFIT ALL AT
ONCE, BECAUSE IN AREAS, WITH
THE CAD -- CID. NO ONE WILL
OFFER INSURANCE, WHEN IT COMES
TO RETROFITTING, WE ALSO HAVE
TO LOOK AT, LIKE HOW DO YOU
ENSURE THESE PROJECTS , BECAUSE
THAT WAS ALSO A VERY HARD
ASPECT WITH THE OTHER PROJECT,
AS WELL. I HAVE OTHER
QUESTIONS, I'VE IF I REMEMBER
IT, I WILL LET YOU KNOW.
>> THANK YOU, BY THE WAY, I
APPRECIATE YOUR ACHES --
EXPERIENCE.
>> I WILL START WITH THE
INSURANCE TOPIC, WE ARE WORKING
WITH PART OF OUR COST ESTIMATE
PROCESS , USING SOME NEW
INSURANCE MODELING , BY
RETROFITTING A BINARY TO --
URM, IT REDUCES THE INSURANCE
, WE CAN GET SOME REDUCTION IN
OPERATIONAL COSTS. I DON'T KNOW
IF THAT WILL PENCIL OUT OR NOT,
BUT THEY ARE LOOKING AT THAT,
UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES WITH
INSURANCE. ANOTHER THING THAT
YOU TOUCHED ON WAS
DISPLACEMENT. YOU KNOW? I MET
WITH THE, IS IT THE HEADWATER
PEOPLE? THE GROUP THAT IS DOING
THE VISIONING PROCESS, AND
MULTIPLE TIMES IN THEIR
DISCUSSIONS, THEY WERE TALKING
ABOUT THE REVITALIZATION OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND ECONOMIC
GROWTH AND, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY
WEALTH, AND I THINK THERE ARE A
LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO COMBINE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND
COMBINING THAT WITH SEISMIC
RETROFITS. WE ARE REALLY TRYING
TO DO A COMMUNITY-GUIDED
PROCESS AND MAKE WHATEVER
SOLUTIONS WE HAVE WORK FOR THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD, SO WE WANT TO
ENGAGE THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN
DEVELOPING THOSE SOLUTIONS.
I'M SORRY.
>> I DID NOT EXPLAIN MYSELF
VERY WELL. I THINK BY
DISPLACEMENT, THE BIGGEST FEAR,
COSTLY AND ONEROUS, BUILDING
OWNERS HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO
SELL THEIR BUILDINGS. THE
PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE BUYING
WOULD NOT BE THE FAMILIES . IT
WOULD BE OUTSIDE PEOPLE COMING
IN. SO, I THINK THAT IS THE
BIGGEST FEAR, THEY ARE FORCED
TO SELL, BECAUSE THEY CANNOT
AFFORD THE UPGRADES. AND THEN
LOSING THAT BUILDING TO THE
COMMUNITY. MOST OF THESE
BUILDINGS ARE HISTORIC, HAVING
TO RETROFIT AND REBUILD COSTS
US THREE TIMES AS MUCH FOR A
NEW PROJECT, RATHER THAN
TURNING IT DOWN AND REBUILDING
IT, I APPLAUD YOU FOR REACHING
OUT TO COMMUNITY GROUPS. I
RECOGNIZE MANY PEOPLE IN THESE
PICTURES. AND SO, I WOULD LOVE
TO BE INVOLVED IN HOW YOU
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION.
>> WE WOULD LOVE YOUR SUPPORT
IN HELPING ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY
IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. WHEN IT
COMES TO RESOURCES FOR
COMMUNITIES. THE CITY OF --
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
THEY ALREADY SUPPORT THE
OWNERS, THEY HELP BUSINESSES TO
DEVELOP PLANS FOR FINANCING AND
IMPROVING BUSINESS OPERATIONS ,
IF THEY CAN GET THE FUNDING TO
SUPPORT RETROFITS. THERE ARE
ALSO PROGRAMS, WITHIN SDCI THAT
HELPS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
NAVIGATING THE PERMIT ASSESS
AND EXPEDITING THINGS AND THE
LAST THING I WILL SAY. WHEN WE
MET WITH YOU PREVIOUSLY, YOU
MENTIONED CONCERN ABOUT THAT
COMPLIANCE TIMELINE, AND
DISRUPTION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT COMPLIANCE TIMELINE IS
MERELY A RECOMMENDATION FROM
2017, THERE IS NO REASON THAT
WE CANNOT ADJUST THAT OR CREATE
SOME KIND OF MOU WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD TO ESTABLISH THEIR
OWN TIMELINE. THE POINT THAT WE
WANT TO MAKE IS THAT WE WANT TO
GET THESE RETROFITS DONE WE
WANT TO MOVE FASTER THAN
GEOLOGY NOT RETROFITTING AND
HAVING AN EARTHQUAKE IS GOING
TO BE FAR MORE DISRUPTIVE TO
THE COMMUNITY. MORE SO THAN THE
RETROFIT PROCESS.
>> THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO
IS UNINTENTIONALLY CREATE AN
INCENTIVE FOR BUILDING OWNERS
HAVE TO SELL THEIR BUILDINGS,
OR DEMOLISH THEIR BUILDINGS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, WHAT I
APPRECIATED ABOUT COUNCILMEMBER
WOO, I TALK ABOUT SITE VISITS,
I DO THE POLICY ANALYSIS, BUT,
COUNCILMEMBER WOO HAS DONE
THE PROJECT, GETTING THAT
EXPENSE IS REALLY HELPFUL. I AM
GOING TO TAKE A LAYPERSON'S
APPROACH TO TDR , BECAUSE IT
CAN BE PRETTY CONFUSING. I HAVE
SEEN THIS PROGRAM WORK WELL TO
PRESERVE FOREST AND FARMLAND
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, MY TIME
IN THIS CHAIR , WE HAVE
EXPANDED IT INTO HIS SNOHOMISH
AND PIERCE COUNTY AS WELL,
WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT,
BECAUSE WE USED UP ALL OF THE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR TDR,
ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT IS, THERE IS POTENTIAL TO
DEVELOP THAT IS NOT ACTUALIZED
AND THAT DEVELOPMENT IS
TRANSFERRED TO A DIFFERENT SITE
FOR MONEY. AND THEN WE USE THAT
MONEY TO GO BY FARMLAND OR FIX
URMs. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES. CORRECT. IT WOULD BE
CREATING AN ENTIRELY NEW
PROGRAM , IT WOULD ONLY BE USED
FOR SEISMIC RETROFITS .
>> WITH THE CONSERVATION TDR
CURRENTLY ON THE BOOKS, WHAT
PROGRAM WOULD BE URM? I WANT TO
GET INTO THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS
A LITTLE BIT, THIS IS REALLY
INTERESTING. I LIKE THE MAP,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WHOLE TEAM
FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN. WHEN I
PULL UP THE INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT, IT IS ZONED FOR 75'
TO 85', SEVEN OR EIGHT
STORIES, RESPECTIVELY. IF IT IS
AN HISTORIC BUILDING, THE
MAXIMUM DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL
IS WHAT HAS BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED
IN THE PAST . YOU KNOW, AS THE
HEIGHT OF THAT BUILDING, PLUS A
PENTHOUSE THAT YOU CANNOT SEE
FROM THE STREET. IS THAT
GENERALLY CORRECT ?
>> I AM NOT AN EXPERT IN TDR.
WE PARTNERED , AND THEY HAVE
BEEN THE LEAD IN HISTORIC
DISTRICTS, WHAT THEY HAVE
REPEATED IS, WE KNOW THAT THERE
ARE RULES WITH CURRENT CITYWIDE
PROGRAMS, BUT THE GOAL IS TO
CREATE AN ENTIRELY NEW PROGRAM.
WE GET TO CREATE THE ROLES --
RULES FOR THE URM .
>> LET'S PLAY THIS ONE OUT, IT
GETS TO WHAT COUNCILMEMBER WOO
WAS SAYING. I WAS A STAFFER TO
DISTRICT 7 FOR PIONEER SQUARE.
WHAT WE FOUND, EVEN THOUGH THE
ZONING ALLOWS YOU TO GO TO
EIGHT STORIES , THE DEVELOPMENT
POTENTIAL IS ONLY FOR WHAT WAS
ALREADY PREVIOUSLY BUILT, PLUS
THAT PENTHOUSE. POTENTIALLY,
THAT LEAVES THREE TO FOUR
STORIES ON DEVELOPABLE ,
BECAUSE OF HISTORIC DISTRICT
REQUIREMENTS. SO, COUNCILMEMBER
WOO, YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, THAT
ABSOLUTELY HAS TO BE FIXED. IT
IS ALREADY CREATING AN ISSUE,
WHEN WE LOOK AT PIONEER SQUARE,
THERE ARE A LOT OF BUILDINGS
THAT COULD BE RETROFITTED. AND
SO, THAT WOULD BE A PROCESS FOR
SO MANY YEARS , YOU LOOK AT THE
CANNERY BUILDING, THAT IS A
VERY IMPORTANT BUILDING. PART
OF THAT IS, IF WE COULD DO THE
TRANSFER DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS,
THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.
SO AGAIN , I GUESS I TALK
MYSELF AROUND IN A CIRCLE, I
THINK THAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT
WE ARE TRYING TO USE. AND TDR
IS HELPFUL. INSURANCE WAS
BROUGHT UP AS WELL. I HAVE
NOTICED A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM IN
OUR STATE , IF YOU WATCH THE
NEWS , IT IS ABOUT HOME
INSURANCE IN FIRE-PRONE AREAS,
WE ARE LOOKING AT FLOOD-PRONE
AREAS, WE ARE SEEING SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE HAD THEIR
BUILDINGS BROKEN INTO, NOW WE
ARE HEARING ABOUT THE
BUILDINGS, THE CENTRAL FACTOR
IS OUR INSURANCE COMMISSION. I
BELIEVE THAT THE INSURANCE
COMMISSION IS ASLEEP AT THE
WHEEL. AND WE NEED SOMEONE WHO
IS HOLDING THE INSURANCE
COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE.
>> I WILL JUST SAY, THE OFFICE
OF THE INSURANCE COMMISSION
DOES HAVE A STAIN ON THE
SUBCOMMITTEE. WE DO MAKE SURE
WE BRING UP THE ISSUE AT EVERY
MEETING.
>> THAT IS GOOD TO KNOW. AND I
THINK, YOU KNOW, SORT OF IN
BETWEEN THE TWO COMMENTS THAT
WE ARE HEARING ABOUT TDR , I
THINK, FOR ME, AS WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE NEW
PROGRAM HE LOOK LIKE, I KNOW
THAT THERE IS ALSO A FEAR ABOUT
THIS IDEA, THE POTENTIAL FOR
VERY NEW, VERY TALL BUILDINGS
GOING IN. SO, OUR PROGRAMS MAY
CURRENTLY REQUIRE THAT THE
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS STAY IN
THE COMMUNITY WHERE THE TDR IS
PURCHASED, I THINK THERE WOULD
BE AN INTEREST IN MAKING SURE
THAT THOSE PROJECTS DO NOT
HAPPEN , IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
WHERE THEY ARE PURCHASED. AS WE
ARE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS,
IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE
WHAT THAT PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE.
>> ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS WAS
REMOVAL OF THAT, THAT THE
PURCHASE CREDIT HAVE TO BE
USED, SO , WE ARE EXPLORING .
>> GOOD TO KNOW.
>> SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> QUICK PLUG, I AM LOOKING AT
THE MAP, AND I SEE THAT
DISTRICT 5 DOES HAVE A NUMBER
OF UNREINFORCED MASONRY
BUILDINGS. AND WE DO HAVE SOME
AREAS THERE, JUST WONDERING,
WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY FOR
THE OFFICE TO REACH OUT ABOUT
CONNECTING THOSE LOCAL
BUSINESSES WITH THE PROGRAM?
>> THEY CAN REACH OUT TO ME. IT
LOOKS LIKE YOUR DISTRICT HAS
AROUND 66 URMs. NOT NEARLY AS
MANY AS OTHER DISTRICTS . BUT A
HEALTHY NUMBER, HAPPY TO CHAT
AND HELP GET THE NEWS OUT TO
YOUR DISTRICT ABOUT CHANGES, AS
WELL AS THE TYPES OF FUNDING
MECHANISMS THAT WOULD BENEFIT
THEM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> LET'S GO ON TO WHAT THE
NEXT STEPS ARE FOR THE CREATION
OF THIS PROGRAM.
>> NUMBER ONE, MEETING WITH THE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT. THIS WAS A REQUESTED
MEETING, BASED OFF OF SOME
PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS THAT WE
HAVE WITH THEM WHEN WE WERE
TRYING TO DO THE PLANNING TO
THE TDR MEETING, WE ARE AT THAT
MEETING, AND THEY SAID THAT THE
TDR IS TOO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT,
BUT THEY WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE
URM MEETING. WE HAVE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT TOOLKITS TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING
THE RIGHT WAY. WE ARE USING
THAT REQUEST A MEETING WITH THE
VISIONARY ADVISEMENT GROUP. WE
ARE FORMULATING THAT FOR NEXT
STEPS. ADDITIONAL THINGS FOR
THIS YEAR, WE ARE EXCITED TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RETROFIT
RECOGNITION CODE CHANGE THAT WE
PLAN TO BRING BY THE END OF THE
YEAR. WE ARE HIRING A URM
ENGINEER, FUNDED THROUGH THE
RESOLUTION IN 2021, NO NEW
FUNDING. BUT WE ARE EXCITED TO
HAVE A DEDICATED ENGINEER WHO
CAN HELP BUILDING OWNERS KIND
OF NAVIGATE THE TECHNICAL
PIECE. WE ARE PREPARING FOR THE
FALL LEGISLATIVE SESSION,
WORKING WITH OIR, WASHINGTON
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, TALKING
WITH SOME OF THE COUNTY
ASSESSORS. WE ARE WORKING ON
SCOPING THAT CAPABILITY STUDY,
TAKING THAT PUBLIC MEETING AND
TURNING IT INTO A SCOPE AND WE
ARE PATIENTLY WAITING FOR OUR
APPLICATIONS.
>> DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATED
TIME FOR WHEN YOU WILL HEAR?
>> ANYTIME BETWEEN ONE AND
THREE YEARS. [ LAUGHTER ]
>> THAT IS HELPFUL.
>> I KNOW THEY ARE TRYING TO
MOVE THINGS QUICKLY BEFORE A
POTENTIAL ADMINISTRATION
CHANGE. THAT MAY BE OUR SAVING
GRACE.
>> GOOD TO KNOW. WELL, THANK
YOU. SO, LET'S SEE, I THINK
THAT I GOT THROUGH MOST OF MY
QUESTIONS. OTHER QUESTIONS,
COLLEAGUES?
>> I JUST WANT TO GIVE
RECOGNITION TO A FORMER
DIRECTOR , BARB ROTH, FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT, THIS IS A HUGE
ISSUE FOR BARB. AND SHE WORKED
SO HARD, WHEN YOU SHOWED THAT
HISTORY, SO REALLY, SHE
RETIRED. DESERVEDLY RETIRED.
BUT WE WANTED TO REALLY
RECOGNIZE HER, FOR ALL OF HER
HARD WORK , THAT PLAYED INTO
SOME OF THIS THAT YOU ALL
PRESENTED TODAY. THANK YOU,
BARB.
>> ONE OF MY FIRST MEETINGS WAS
WITH HER, REPRESENTING THIS
IDEA WAS A HUGE CONCERN, I WILL
JUST USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR A PSA TO GET YOUR
BACKPACKS, WATER, AND
EVERYTHING ELSE READY. WE GO
THROUGH PHASES IN MY HOUSE ,
MAKING SURE THAT THE BAGS ARE
READY, THE FOOD AND WATER, THE
LIGHTS AND THE FLASHLIGHTS ,
THEY ARE ALL READY TO GO.
>> YOU ARE CHANNELING BOB. WE
HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION ABOUT
ALL THE PREP THAT WAS NEEDED.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, DO YOU
HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION ? IT
>> I WAS COMING BACK AROUND TO
ASK A QUESTION I POSED EARLIER.
HOW IS THE PROGRAM GOING? I
DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE HAD
ANY PERMITS SUBMITTED YET.
UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WAS
ALMOST A SECONDARY TRACK TO
WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY.
AND STEMMING FROM THE
CONVERSATION WE HAD THIS
MORNING ABOUT FUNDING FOR
HOUSING, MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY WAS PASSED IN
2018. THAT WAS AT A TIME,
BEFORE WE HAD FULLY FUNDED OUR
BENCHMARK FOR FUNDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND, SO,
THE BENCHMARK THAT I TALKED
ABOUT EARLIER TODAY WAS THE
McKINSTRY REPORT. WE WERE VERY
FAR BELOW THAT REPORT, WHICH IS
WHY, YOU KNOW, THE DENSITY
BONUSES WERE CREATED IT REALLY
WENT STRAIGHT TO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE
WOODS WITHOUT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, WHICH IS WHAT ALLOWED
US TO USE THESE DEVELOPMENT
POTENTIALS IN MARITIME AREAS
FOR THE URM. CAN YOU GIVE US
ANY HIGHLIGHTS OR NEXT STEPS IN
THAT PROGRAM ?
>> I CANNOT SPEAK TO THE ZONING
CHANGES. BUT I CAN SAY, WHEN IT
COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
FOR STARTERS, A NUMBER OF URMs
ARE ESSENTIALLY SERVING AS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND MANY OF
THEM HAVE VACANT FLOORS,
BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO DO
ADDITIONAL BUILDING
MAINTENANCE, WHEN I WAS
MENTIONING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THERE IS
OPPORTUNITY TO ADD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AS WE DO THESE
RETROFITS.
>> WHEN WE WORKED LAST YEAR TO
ADD THE PROTECTIONS , TO THE
MARITIME AND INDUSTRIAL ZONES,
THAT WAS WHERE WE PUT DENSITY
BONUSES, IN EXCHANGE FOR THE
URM RETROFITS, MUCH LIKE YOUR
TDR PROGRAM. WHAT ARE THE NEXT
STEPS?
>> WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY.
>> WHAT WOULD THE PROCESS BE?
>> I NEED TO GET THAT ANSWER .
>> FAIR ENOUGH. I SHOULD HAVE
LET YOU KNOW THAT I WAS GOING
TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS AHEAD OF
TIME.
>> I HAVE A STATEMENT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THE
COMMUNITY OUTREACH. AND IT
SOUNDS LIKE YOU MAY BE WORKING
ON AN EQUITY TOOLKIT. VERY
THANKFUL THAT YOU ARE ENGAGED
IN COMMUNITIES TALKING ABOUT
THE PATH FORWARD, I NOTE THAT
THERE IS A LOT OF FEAR OF BEING
FORCED TO SELL, AND HEARING
THAT THIS WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE A
CHANCE TO HAVE MORE TIME. EVEN
GETTING AN APPLICATION FOR
HISTORIC TAX CREDIT TAKES ABOUT
A YEAR. ALL OF THIS ADDS UP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF
YOUR WORK, I LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING THE UPDATE IN THE
FUTURE.
>> I WILL ADD, WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH THE SEATTLE SCHOOL
DISTRICT AND THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON ON THEIR INVENTORY
OF UNENFORCED MASONRY BUILDINGS
AND HOW TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.
>> YES. THAT IS THE ONE THAT
KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT. WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN ALL OF THESE KIDS
ARE IN SCHOOL. THANK YOU, WE
ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING
MORE AS THE PROGRAMS DEVELOP IN
THE CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE. I
WILL BE MEETING WITH
REPRESENTATIVE PRAMILA JAYAPAL
NEXT WEEK. I WILL MAKE SURE TO
ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT SUPPORT
FROM FEMA. I THINK THIS IS VERY
IMPORTANT WORK, AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO SEEING THE POLICY
DEVELOPMENT AT THE END OF THE
YEAR.
>> OKAY. THERE IS NO FURTHER
BUSINESS FOR TODAY, THIS
CONCLUDES THE MAY 15, 2024
LAND-USE COMMITTEE MEETING. OUR
NEXT MEETING WILL BE JUNE 5th
AT 2:00 P.M. THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE, EVERYONE. WE ARE
ADJOURNED.