>> GOOD MORNING . THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING WILL
COME TO ORDER . IT IS 9:32
A.M., APRIL 23, 2024. I AM
ROBERT KETTLE, CHAIR OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>>
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON PRE-
>> PRESENT COUNCILMEMBER TRIED
TO PRINT
>> HERE
>> CHAIR KETTLE PER
>> HERE.
>> THERE ARE FIVE PRESENT .
>> IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED HEARING
AND SEEING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
>> WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC
COMMENT. PERIOD. IT SHOULD
RELATE TO THE AGENDA OR WITHIN
THE PURVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE.
CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE
SIGNED UP TODAY? CHAIR, THERE
ARE TWO IN PERSON AND ONE
REMOTE.
>> EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES. WE WILL START WITH THE
IN PERSON SPEAKERS . FIRST,
CLERK, CAN YOU READ THE PUBLIC
COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT. WILL BE
MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS UP TO 20 MINUTES.
EXCUSE ME. SPEAKERS WILL BE
CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTER. SPEAKERS WERE
ALTERNATE BETWEEN -- START ,
WILL HEAR A TIME AFTER 10
SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THEIR TIME
SPEAKER MICROPHONES WILL BE
MUTED IF THEY DO NOT IN THEIR
COMMENT WITHIN THE ALLOTTED
TIME TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE
NEXT SPEAKER. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN AND
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST. THE FIRST
IN PERSON SPEAKER IS RUDY .
>> BUT LITTLE MICROPHONE OR
THE BIG ONE?
>> THE BIG WHAT.
>> MY NAME IS RUDY -- . NO
PROBLEM . NO ISSUES HERE. I AM
A NORTH END OR. I AM HERE FOR
ONE REASON, IT IS ALCOHOL
AWARENESS MONTH . I REACHED OUT
TO THE ACTING CHIEF FOR 911 . I
REACHED OUT TO THE CL FIRE
DEPARTMENT. I REACHED OUT TO
CHIEF DIAZ AND A HANDFUL OF
OTHERS , WHY EVERYTHING ELSE,
CINCO DE MAYO IS COMING UP, WE
HAVE DUI SQUAD, WE HAVE A DB
UNIT THAT IS DEALING NOT WITH
FENTANYL BUT WITH ALCOHOL AND
WEED, WHY NOT ALCOHOL AWARENESS
MONTH ? I SWEAR TO GOD, I AM
NOT HEARING ANYTHING BACK FROM
ANYONE ABOUT THAT . IT IS THE
SOCIAL NORM AND I THINK THERE
IS A LITTLE THE NILE FROM
PEOPLE, I DRINK, IF SOMETHING
HAPPENS I DO NOT WANT TO BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR MY ACTIONS
BASED ON ALCOHOL . I DO NOT DO
FENTANYL , SO IT'S OKAY. I
TELL YOU WHAT, I SEE IT ON THE
STREETS EVERY DAY. I WORK IN
THE AURORA CORRIDOR , IWORK
CROWN HILL AND I SEE IT EVERY
DAY. I CAN SEE YOUNG KIDS
DRINKING ALCOHOL, SMOKING WEED,
ACTING OUT AND DRIVING REALLY
FAST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
FIRING FIREARMS, STEALING
BACKPACKS WHILE THE ADULTS ARE
AT HOME DRINKING WINE AND
FEELING MIGHTY FINE AND MAYBE
TAKING A PILL FOR ANXIETY,
IT'S ALL GOOD, RIGHT ON. I
SWEAR TO GOD, WHAT'S THE DEAL?
I SEE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS
WHO ARE SUFFERING IN NORTH
SEATTLE. I CALLED 911 AND 911
SAYS , WE WILL GET THERE WHEN
WE CAN. NUMBER TWO , CALL FIRE
AND FIRE WILL NOT RESPOND
UNTIL A POLICE OFFICER
RESPONSE. WE ARE TOLD TO CALL
211 AND THEY SAY CALL A CRISIS
MIGHT . THE CRISIS LINE SAYS
CALL 911. 911 SAYS THE CARE
TEAM DOES NOT DO DESMOND DOES
NOT PROVIDE SERVICES -- COME
ON , COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE CAN DO
BETTER THAN THAT. DON'T LEAVE
IT UP TO US TO BE SOCIAL
WORKERS, COPS AND THE CLEANUP
THAT. IT IS NASTY
>> I UNDERSTAND.
>> MY TIME IS UP THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH.
LET'S DO IT BEFORE CINCO DE
MAYO.
>> AFTER -- NEXT UP IS CHRIS
WOODWARD
>> MY NAME IS CHRIS WOODWARD I
AM WITH -- COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION IN
FOUNDER SQUARE . PROVIDING
COMMENT IN REGARDS TO THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
DANGEROUS BUILDING ORDINANCE.
WE ARE GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF
THIS ORDINANCE, IT PROVIDES
GREATER PUBLIC SAFETY, WE NEED
TO ADJUST THE HARM CAUSED BY
DERELICT BUILDINGS, BUT WE ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF
SPECIFIC LANGUAGE REGARDING HOW
THE ORDINANCE APPLIES TO THE
PIONEER SQUARE PRESERVATION
DISTRICT, SPECIFICALLY RELATED
TO THE DEMOLITION OF HISTORIC
STRUCTURES AND THE USE OF THOSE
SITES. THE PRESERVATION
DISTRICT RULES STATE, I WILL
JUST READ FROM MY NOTES. ANY
ALTERATION, DEMOLITION,
CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION,
REMODELING OF ANY STRUCTURE
WITHIN THE DISTRICT DOWN THE
BOUNDARY MUST RECEIVE APPROVAL
BEFORE BUILDING OR OTHER
LICENSE CAN BE GRANTED. NEW
CONSTRUCTION MUST BE
COMPATIBLE WITH THE STYLE
STYLES INCLUDED MATERIAL AND
HISTORICAL CHARACTER OF THE
DISTRICT , ALTHOUGH PROJECTS DO
NOT NEED TO DUPLICATE THE
DESIGN PROCESS SHOULD INVOLVE
CONSIDERATION OF THE HISTORICAL
BUILDING, HISTORICAL CHARACTER
AND DETAIL THAT IS THE
TECHNICAL LANGUAGE. WE HAVE TWO
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE
COMMITTEE YOU THINK ABOUT THIS
ORDINANCE AND THE ALTERATION.
FIRST, ENSURE LANGUAGE IS
INCLUDED THAT ENSURES THE
PIONEER SQUARE RESERVATION
DISTRICT RULES ARE FOLLOWED,
AND OF THOSE ALTERATION,
DEMOLITION, CONSTRUCTION , ET
CETERA. THE SECOND INCLUDES
LANGUAGE ABOUT THE FUTURE USE
OF DEMOLITION SITES , STILL
BLEEDING THAT USE IS PROVIDED
MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY BENEFITS ,
IDEALLY MIXED USE AND
RESIDENTIAL . THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU .
>> THE FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS
JANE CHANG. PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX WHEN YOU HEAR THE
PROMPT . YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED
. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, JANE
.
>> GO AHEAD , PLEASE . TRY
AGAIN .
>> JANE , ARE YOU THERE ?
>> JANE, YOU NEED TO PRESS
STAR SIX . WE WILL COME BACK
TO YOU .
>> THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
REGISTERED SPEAKERS .
>> THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD HAS EXPIRED . WE WILL
PROCEED TO THE ITEMS OF
BUSINESS. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE
SIGN UP CARDS FOR FUTURE
MEETINGS AND AND PARTLY EMAIL
THE COUNCIL AT COUNCIL AT
SEATTLE.GOV. THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US HERE TODAY IS AN
IMPORTANT DAY AS WE LOOK AT
FIRE WITH OUR TWO INTRODUCTION
ITEMS ON THE CALENDAR, FIRST
THE SEATTLE FIRE CODE ADVISORY
BOARD NOMINATIONS AND ALSO THE
UNSAFE BUILDINGS ABATEMENT.
BOTH ITEMS GO TO ELEMENTS THAT
ARE IMPORTANT TO IMPROVE THE
PUBLIC SAFETY POSTURE AND THE
ORDINANCE GOES TO OUR STRATEGIC
FRAMEWORK TO ADDRESS THE
ENVIRONMENT THAT UNDERLINES
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES
THAT WE SEE TODAY , AND
SPECIFICALLY VACANT BUILDINGS
AND LOTS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO
HEAR YOUR BRIEFINGS AND HAVE
THIS DISCUSSION. INC. YOU VERY
MUCH FOR JOINING US. WE WILL
NOW MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST ITEM,
OR SIX ITEMS, WILL THE CLERK
READ ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD
>> AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH
SIX, FIRE CODE ADVISORY BOARD
AND APPOINTMENT AND
REAPPOINTMENTS OF LOREN
BRANDFORD, MATT TRUEBLOOD,
CARLENE COMRIE, KEVIN MARR
FOR BREATHING A DISCUSSION WITH
ASSISTANT CHIEF TIMOTHY MUNNIS
CITY OF SEATTLE FIRE MARSHAL
AND KEN BROUILLETTE TECHNICAL
CODE MANAGER OF SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT .
>> A WELCOME ASSISTANT CHIEF
MUNNIS AND MR. BROUILLETTE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND
BREATHING US .
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US THIS
MORNING . WE ARE GOING TO GIVE
A SHORT PRESENTATION ON THE
SEATTLE FIRE CODE BOARD JUST
TO GET EVERYONE UP TO SPEED ON
WHAT WE DO. OUR VERY FIRST
ORDINANCE WAS WAY BACK IN 1870
. FOLLOWING THAT WE HAD OUR
GREAT SEATTLE FIRE . THE GREAT
SEATTLE FIRE HAPPENED JUNE 6,
1889 , IT STARTED IN ABOUT 2:30
IN THE AFTERNOON AT A PAINT
AND WOULD WORK SHOP AT FRONT
ANALYSIS. OVER THE NEXT 18
HOURS IT SWEPT SOUTHWARD ACROSS
100 ACRES OF SEATTLE'S BUSINESS
DISTRICT AND WATERFRONT AND
CREATED MASSIVE DEVASTATION. IN
SEATTLE , WE HAVE THE SEATTLE
CONSTRUCTION CODES , SOON YOU
WILL HEAR ALL OF THE 2021
SEATTLE CONSTRUCTION CODES AND
THEY CONSIST OF THE BUILDING,
RESIDENTIAL EXISTING BUILDING,
MECHANICAL , ENERGY, PLUMBING,
FUEL GAS CODE, AND MY FAVORITE
THE SEATTLE FIRE CODE. IN
WASHINGTON , WASHINGTON STATE
ALSO HAS A STATE FIRE CODE
WHICH WAS DEVELOPED BY THE
GOVERNOR APPOINTED STATE
COUNSEL. THE STATE AS WELL AS
SEATTLE FIRE CODE ARE BASED ON
THE INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE. WE
PARTICIPATE AS STATE BUILDING
CODE COUNCIL APPOINTEES ON THE
FIRE TECHNICAL CODE ADVISORY
GROUP BY REVIEWING CHANGES
FROM THE PREVIOUS EDITION OF
THE PREVIOUS FIRE CODE , AS
WELL AS HELPING ALL OF THE
ADDITIONAL STATE AMENDMENTS AND
POST AMENDMENTS THAT MAY OCCUR
DURING THE CODE DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS. SEATTLE AND
WASHINGTON STATE FOLLOW THE
THREE-YEAR CODE DEVELOPMENT
CYCLE, WHICH IS THE ESTABLISHED
BY THE CODE COUNCIL. THE
STATE CODE COUNCIL STARTED
MEETING JUST THIS LAST WEEK ON
REVIEWING THE 2024 ADDITIONS
TO THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING
CODE AND FIRE CODE, WHICH
SHOULD GO IN EFFECT ANTICIPATED
JULY 2026. THE SEATTLE FIRE
CODE ADVISORY BOARD, WE LIKE
TO CALL IT FCAP WAS DEVELOPED
IN 1957. IT ALLOWS THE PUBLIC
AND LOCAL BUSINESSES A CLEAR
VOICE AND THE FIRE CODE
PROCESS. BOARD MEMBERS ADVISE
THE CITY OF UPDATES AND
REVISIONS AND PLAY A CRUCIAL
ROLE IN THE FIRE CODE. MOST
RECENTLY, BACK IN JANUARY, THE
ORDINANCE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
REGARDING DANGEROUS BUILDINGS ,
THEY REVIEWED THE LANGUAGE TO
THE CHANGES OF THE 2018 FIRE
CODE UPFRONT. WE PRESENTED IT
TO THEM, THEY REVIEWED IT AND
GAVE FEEDBACK AND WE MADE
CHANGES BASED ON THEIR
FEEDBACK. THEY HAVE SEEN THE
LANGUAGE THAT YOU WILL SEE
LATER. THESE VOLUNTEERS ARE
APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND CONFIRMED BY
COUNSEL. THEY SERVE THREE-YEAR
TERMS WITHOUT COMPENSATION, WE
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
THEY ALSO SERVE AS THE APPEALS
COURT CODE FOR MATTERS
RELATED TO THE SEATTLE FIRE
CODE. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE
FIRE CODE ADVISORY BOARD IS TO
REVIEW THE POST AMENDMENT TO
THE SEATTLE FIRE CODE AND MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS. DURING THIS
PROCESS THEY ARE ALSO REVIEWING
OTHER WASHINGTON STATE
AMENDMENTS THAT COULD IMPACT
THE CITY. GENERALLY, WHAT WILL
OCCUR, WE ARE GOING TO THE
2024 CODE, IT WILL TAKE SOME
TIME WITH THE STATE, ANY OF
THOSE PROPOSED CHANGES WILL BE
PRESENTED, I WILL BRING THEM
BACK TO THE FIRE CODE ADVISORY
BOARD, GET THEIR INPUT AND SEE
IF IT WILL IMPACT SEATTLE OR
NOT AND WE WILL MAKE IT KNOWN
AT THE STATE LEVEL. ONE OF THE
OTHER THINGS THAT THEY DO, THE
FIRE CODE ADVISORY BOARD ALSO
REVIEWS ALL ADMINISTRATIVE
RULES. THESE ARE REVIEWED BY
THE FIRE MARSHAL AND THESE ARE
USED TO ADDRESS ITEMS THAT ARE
NOT CLEARLY COVERED IN THE
SEATTLE FIRE CODE OR HELP
CLARIFY EXISTING CONDITIONS .
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT WAS A
SHORT PRESENTATION ON THE FIRE
CODE ADVISORY BOARD AND IF YOU
ARE ALL RIGHT WE WILL GO
FORWARD WITH THE APPOINTMENTS.
>> YES, CAN YOU REVIEW THE
APPOINTMENTS ? THANK YOU. THIS
IS A PRE-INDUCTION. WE WILL
FORMALLY DO THIS IN THE NEXT
MEETING PLEASE PROCEED, THANK
YOU.
>> FIRST, WE HAVE , I WILL
WAIT FOR HIM TO SIT DOWN, WE
HAVE LOREN BRANDFORD. LOREN
BRANDFORD WILL FILL THE
ARCHITECT POSITION AND WE ALSO
HAVE MATT TRUEBLOOD HE WILL
FILL THE PUBLIC POSITION THAT
HE DOES HAVE A BACKGROUND IN
CONSTRUCTION. THEIR RESUMES
ARE OUT OF DATE BUT BOTH OF
THEM HAVE TAKEN TWO RECENT
POSITIONS AND I WOULD LIKE THEM
TO EXPLAIN THE NEW POSITIONS
THAT THEY HOLD AND A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE BACKGROUND. LAUREN,
GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF
.
>> I HAVE BEEN AN ARCHITECT
HERE IN SEATTLE FOR 20 SOME
YEARS. CURRENTLY , AS OF
MID-DECEMBER, WORKING WITH --
CONSULTING . WE ARE A
MULTINATIONAL ENGINEERING FIRM
WITH A SMALL SEATTLE PRESENCE
. I AM INVOLVED HERE IN
SEATTLE , I AM INVOLVED MOSTLY
WITH ENVELOPE CONSULTING
ISSUES , BUT ALSO ALL SORTS OF
OTHER ARCHITECTURAL AND DESIGN
ISSUES SUCH AS ACCESSIBILITY ,
FIRE RATING ISSUES , ENERGY
CODE ISSUES AND SUCH FOR
PROJECTS. SO FAR FROM NEW YORK
TO HAWAII. THAT IS WHAT I DO .
>> AND THEN MATT.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MATT
TRUEBLOOD. I HAVE A BACKGROUND
IN CONSTRUCTION . I HAVE BEEN
WORKING MOSTLY IN THE GENERAL
CONTRACTING SPACE FOR THE LAST
10 YEARS, BUILDING VARIOUS
HIGH-RISES AROUND THE SEATTLE
AREA. MOST RECENTLY I ACCEPTED
A POSITION WITH -- WHO IS A
MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR OUT OF
SODO . I AM EXCITED TO BE HERE.
>> IF YOU DON'T MIND I WILL
CONTINUE WITH OUR
REAPPOINTMENTS. WE HAVE THREE
WHO HAVE SERVED ON OUR ADVISORY
BOARD, THE FIRST ONE IS
CARLENE COMRIE, SHE REPRESENTS
THE SERVICE INDUSTRY AND WE
GIVE A PLUG TO HER. SHE IS THE
OWNER OF TASTE OF CARIBBEAN
1212 EAST JEFFERSON, I
RECOMMEND THE WINGS IF YOU GO
THERE. KEVIN MARR --
>> IT IS VERY NICE TO SUPPORT
SMALL BUSINESS. THANK YOU.
>> KEVIN MARR REPRESENTS THE
FIRE PROTECTION INDUSTRY , HE
IS WITH PATRIOT FIRE , HE ALSO
SERVES WITH ME ON THE STATE
FIRE CODE TECHNICAL ADVISORY
GROUP , SO WE HAVE MORE INPUT
FROM SEATTLE ON THE STATE LEVEL
AND CHRIS TODD REPRESENTS OUR
PORTS. THOSE ARE THE THREE
MEMBERS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR
REAPPOINTMENT AND THEY HAVE
SERVED US VERY WELL OVER THERE
TERMS WITH THE SEATTLE CODE
ADVISORY BOARD , THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> AGAIN, THIS IS
PRE-INTRODUCTION, WE WILL DO
THE FORMAL PEACE AT THE NEXT
MEETING ALONG WITH THE SAME
THING FOR THE ORDINANCE . ANY
QUESTIONS? I WILL START WITH
MY VICE CHAIR IF I DO NOT SEE
HIM.
>> NO. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR.
>> COUNSEL PRESIDENT? ANYBODY?
IT IS ALL STRAIGHTFORWARD.
>> I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ,
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TRICKY
STUFF THAT YOU DEAL WITH, OR
THE ADVISORY BOARD HAS TO WEIGH
IN ON? WHERE ARE THE POINTS OF
FRICTION , EITHER WITH
INCORPORATING CHANGES AT THE
STATE OR INTERNATIONAL LEVEL ,
OR DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ON
THE BOARD ?
>> WHAT IS NICE IS THE
INTERNATIONAL CODE IS ALL
CONSENSUS BASED . THEY ARE
DEVELOPED NATIONALLY . YOU CAN
HAVE INPUT FROM ALL SIDES TO
BEGIN WITH. WHEN YOU START
WITH THE MODEL CODE, WE CALL IT
THE BASE CODE, IT HAS BEEN
EMBEDDED. THEN IT COMES DOWN
TO THE WASHINGTON STATE LEVEL
AND WE WILL SIT THERE AND
ANALYZE HOW WILL THAT IMPACT US
IN WASHINGTON STATE ? IS IT
SOMETHING THAT IS BEING
PRESENTED THAT DOES NOT WORK IN
WASHINGTON STATE AND WHAT
SHOULD WE DO? WE THEN BRING
THAT DOWN TO SEATTLE, ALSO . AS
FAR AS ANYTHING THAT HAS BEEN
REALLY CONTENTIOUS LATELY , I
HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING. WE TRY
TO WORK THOSE THINGS OUT AT THE
NATIONAL LEVEL. WE JUST HAVE A
VERY OPEN AND PUBLIC MEETING
FORMAT THAT HELPS US WORK
THROUGH THE PROCESSES AND WE
JUST COME UP WITH AGREEMENTS
AND PUT TOGETHER WHAT I THINK
IS GREAT LEGISLATION.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> JUST A FEW. I WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING AND
LOOKING TO SERVE, BOTH OF YOU
TWO GENTLEMEN AND THE OTHER
THREE WHO HAVE LISTED. AS
SOMEONE WHO HAS SERVED ON
BOARDS BEFORE I KNOW WHAT IT
MEANS TO TAKE PERSONAL TIME TO
GO OUT AND SUPPORT AN EFFORT,
IT IS WELL RESPECTED AND WELL
APPRECIATED BY ME BECAUSE IT
DOES TAKE TIME . IT IS AN
IMPORTANT MISSION THAT YOU ARE
DOING GREAT THANK YOU TO YOU
TWO BUT ALSO THE OTHERS ON THE
BOARD. LOOKING AT THE
BACKGROUNDS, THEY ARE ALL VERY
GOOD AND I ALSO LIKE THE
DIVERSITY OF THE TYPES OF
POSITIONS, I LIKE THE FACT
THAT THE PORT IS WELL
REPRESENTED, LABOR , TWO
QUESTIONS, ONE IS, THIS IS
KIND OF STANDARD , IS THERE
ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT? IS THERE ANYTHING OUT
THERE THAT WE ARE NOT THINKING
ABOUT EITHER FROM FIRE CODE
ADVISORY BOARD, OR A LITTLE BIT
MORE BROAD WITH FIRE OR PUBLIC
SAFETY FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE?
>> THIS IS WHERE I NEED YOUR
HELP . YOU NEED TO REACH OUT
AND HELP US FILL SOME OF OUR
OTHER POSITIONS. THE ONE THAT
WE HAVE NOT FILLED, THE CHIEF
AND I ARE COMING UP ON SEVEN
YEARS AND OUR ROLES ARE A BIT
MORE. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
FILL THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY
ROLE. IT HAS BEEN VACANT FOR A
LONG. OF TIME. MAJOR
INSTITUTIONS , THE LAST
GENTLEMAN WE HAD TOOK A JOB AT
A LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HE
IS NO LONGER WITH THE MAJOR
INSTITUTIONS . WE HAVE REACHED
OUT TO U DUB AND A FEW OTHERS
AND WE HAVE NOT HAD ANYONE
WILLING TO TAKE THE TIME LIKE
THESE 22 VOLUNTEER . LASTLY
THE MECHANICAL ENGINEER SPOT
THAT WE HAVE OPEN, I THINK MATT
MIGHT HELP ME OUT WITH THIS
AND HELP US OUT. WE WORK
CLOSELY WITH THE CONSTRUCTION
CODE ADVISORY BOARD AND THEY
HAVE SIMILAR POSITIONS ON THEIR
BOARD . I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO
POACH SOME OF THEIR MEMBERS , I
HAVE OFFERED THEM FREE BOAT
RIDES , I AM NOT TOO SURE IF
I'M ALLOWED TO DO THAT.
ANYTHING I CAN DO TO GET THESE
PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER. THAT IS
OUR BIGGEST NEED IS TO FILL
THOSE POSITIONS. WE DO HAVE
THE 2021 FIRE CODE THAT IS
COMING UP RIGHT NOW AND WE WILL
BE PRESENTING THAT TO YOU FIRST
. WE HOPE THAT YOU REACH OUT TO
US WITH ANY QUESTIONS AHEAD OF
TIME WHEN YOU SEE THE
LEGISLATION COMING .
>> I UNDERSTAND THE INSURANCE
PIECE. THAT IS IMPORTANT
ACROSS ALL ELEMENTS OF PUBLIC
SAFETY AND I DO NOT THINK
PEOPLE REALIZE THAT, EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS AND EARTHQUAKE ,
WE TALK WITH FIRE ON THE CRIME
AND SECURITY SIDE. MAYBE WE CAN
TWIST SOME ARMS TO GET
SOMEONE TO NOMINATE , OR
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA KNOW
SOMEONE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I HAVE
REGULAR MEETINGS WITH U DUB AND
NEXT WEEK I HAVE MY MONTHLY
MEETING AND I WILL RAISE THIS
WITH THAT.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> I SHOULD SAY COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA HAS JOINED US AND SHE
IS ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS JUST
LIKE ALL OF US, BUT SHE CANNOT
VOTE , BUT WE ARE NOT VOTING
TODAY. THE OTHER QUESTION THAT
I HAVE , THIS GOES TO A
LONG-STANDING BACK AND FORTH
WITH THE MAYORS OFFICE, NOT TO
PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. I WOULD
BE INTERESTED IN YOUR THOUGHTS,
EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH
CHIEF, REGARDING THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN . TO MY
FRUSTRATION, EPIC SAFETY IS A
POLICY ELEMENT AS IT RELATES TO
HOW WE ARE GOING TO GROW THE
NEXT 20 YEARS. WHEN I SAY
PUBLIC SAFETY PEOPLE GO
STRAIGHT TO CRIME SECURITY.
BUT WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
FIRE IS SO IMPORTANT, I SEE
THAT IN TERMS OF DENSIFICATION
AND CROWDING IN AREAS WHERE
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MAY NEED TO
TURN A LADDER TRUCK. I
RECENTLY WAS A CANDIDATE --
WHEN YOU GO IN SOME OF THESE
EIGHT PACKS, SIX PACKS, IT IS
LIKE A MAZE , I WONDER ABOUT
THE FIRE ABILITY TO GET IN
THERE AND ATTACK. THAT SHOULD
BE A PLAN . THEN OF COURSE THE
EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI ASPECTS
THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE
PLANNING PROCESS FOR THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN . HERE IS
ANOTHER ONE, BASED ON MY MANY
CONVERSATIONS FROM CHIEF SAGAS
ALL THE WAY DOWN WITH MANY IN
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE ARE
GROWING AS A CITY . PER CAPITA
THE COVERAGE OF THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT IS GETTING LOWER AND
LOWER . HOW AS WE THE CITY
LAND FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO
MATCH THE EXPANSION AND HOW DO
WE WRITE SIZE AND HAVE SMART
PLACEMENT TENTIAL FUTURE
FIRE STATION OR CAPABILITIES ?
WHATEVER IT MAY BE, BASED ON
OUR GROWING CITY ? I HAVE SAID
THIS MANY TIMES AND I WILL KEEP
SAYING IT AND IT WILL COME UP
WHEN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
COMES TO US. THE PUBLIC SAFETY
ASPECT OF PLANNING FOR OUR
FUTURE IS VERY IMPORTANT . I
WOULD WELCOME, AS A QUESTION,
CAN YOU GIVE ME INPUT ? YOU DO
NOT HAVE TO ANSWER RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE THE FIRE CHIEF IS RIGHT
BEHIND YOU , I WOULD REALLY
LIKE TO HAVE THAT . I REALLY
WANT THE EXECUTIVES TO
UNDERSTAND, WHEN I TALK ABOUT
PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENT AS A
POLICY , I AM NOT TALKING CRIME
AND SECURITY, I PRIMARILY AM
TALKING FIRE AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS. LET'S THINK
AHEAD , LET'S NOT MAKE
FIREFIGHTERS LIVES MORE
DIFFICULT IN TERMS OF THEM
TRYING TO CARRY OUT THEIR
MISSION, A. AND B, AS A
GROWING CITY, HOW DO WE MATCH
IN TERMS OF CAPACITY WITH FIRE
?
>> I WILL BE VERY SMART AND
DEFER TO CHIEF SCOGGINS . I
HAVE PARTICIPATED IN MANY PLANS
IN DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS, I
HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PARTICIPATE IN MY ROLE HERE IN
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
>> THAT IS INTERESTING. OTHER
JURISDICTIONS AND OTHER CITIES
HAVE ASKED FOR YOUR INPUT ON
COMPREHENSIVE PLANS.
>> MOST RECENTLY WAS IN TUCSON
, ARIZONA.
>> HAS ANYONE FROM SEATTLE
ASKED FOR YOUR INPUT ?
>> ME PERSONALLY, NO.
>> IT HAS HAPPENED. THERE YOU
GO. I APPRECIATE IT. I KNOW A
LOT OF PEOPLE WATCH THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL, INCLUDING THE FOLKS
UPSTAIRS IN THE EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENT, THERE IS MY
QUESTION AHEAD OF TIME. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH AND I APPRECIATE
YOU COMING. YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE. EITHER WAY , DEPUTY
CHIEF DON 14, ANYTHING YOU
WANT TO ADD?
>> NO .
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND
THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING .
VOLUNTEERING MATTERS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. CLERK , CAN WE READ
THE NEXT ITEM INTO THE AGENDA?
>> SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
DANGEROUS BUILDINGS ORDINANCE
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION WITH
CHIEF HAROLD THE SCOGGINS AND
CENTRAL STAFF MICHELLE HUNTER
, SHE IS REMOTE.
>> THANK YOU .
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH CHIEF
SCOGGINS AND ASSISTANT MUNNIS
AND ALSO MS. HUNTER AND OUR
OWN CENTRAL STAFF. THANK YOU .
OVER TO YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD MORNING. ARE WE GOING
TO PULL UP THE PRESENTATION ?
OR DO I NEED TO CLICK
SOMETHING? THERE IT IS.
>> ARE WE STARTING WITH --
>> GOOD MORNING CHAIR KETTLE,
COUNSEL, MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS HAROLD SCOGGINS AND I
AM HONORED TO BE THE FIRE CHIEF
HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH THE
PRESENTATION, I WANT TO LEAD
WITH A THANK YOU OF I-TEAM. YOU
MET ASSISTANT CHIEF TIM
MUNNIS WHO HAS A BIG
RESPONSIBILITY HERE IN THE CITY
FOR EVERYTHING THAT COMES OUT
OF THE GROUND. ONCE IT IS
FINAL WE INSPECT IT AND WE
REVIEWED THE ENGINEERING AND
MAKE SURE THE SAFETY SYSTEMS
ARE WORKING APPROPRIATELY AND
THAT IS UNDER THE FIRE MARSHAL
PURVIEW. DEPUTY CHIEF -- IS
OUR DEPUTY FIRE MARSHAL. I
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO KAREN
GROVE WHO HAS SPENT A GREAT
DEAL OF TIME WORKING ON THE
LEGISLATION, AND ALL THE
MEMBERS OF OUR FIRE PRETENSION
PREVENTION TEAM. THEY HAVE
WORKED EXTREMELY HARD TO GET
THIS TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
THE MISSION OF THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, THAT IS WHERE WE
START ALL OF OUR WORK AND
SAVING LIVES AND PROTECTING
PROPERTY. WE DO THIS THROUGH
FIRE RESPONSE, EMERGENCY
RESPONSE BUT ALSO FIRE
PREVENTION. IT IS IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THAT . WE HAVE FACED SOME
REALLY CHALLENGING TIMES OVER
THE PAST FEW YEARS ON THIS
CONVERSATION WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT TODAY, DANGEROUS DERELICT
VACANT BUILDINGS. THIS IS
WHAT GROUNDS US. THIS IS OUR
MISSION AS A FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. WE
HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS
ALL OVER THE CITY , SOME OF
THESE BUILDINGS YOU MAY
RECOGNIZE. LAST YEAR WE HAD
130 VACANT BUILDING FIRES, THE
A BEFORE 90, THE YEAR BEFORE
IN THE 70s. WE SEE THIS AS A
GROWING PROBLEM. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT , SOME
MAY SAY WHY DO WE NEED THIS
LEGISLATION? THERE ARE SO MANY
THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO . WE
HAVE ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND
PLAY, BUT WE ARE STILL SEEING
THE NUMBERS RISE. WE ARE
TRYING TO OFFER A DIFFERENT
SOLUTION TO SOME OF THESE
DANGEROUS SITUATIONS THAT OUR
FIREFIGHTERS IN THE TRINITY
ARE FACING. CURRENTLY , WE ARE
WORKING WITH PROPERTY OWNERS
ALL OVER THE CITY, OR PROPERTY
MANAGERS . WE OFFER EDUCATION ,
WE OFFER SOLUTIONS , WE ARE
OFFERING ALL OF THOSE THINGS
RIGHT NOW . OUR CHALLENGE, FROM
TIME TO TIME, ARE THE
NONCOMPLIANT ORDERS, OR THE
PROPERTY OWNERS WHO DO NOT
RESPOND , THAT BECOMES A
CHALLENGE FOR US. WHAT HAPPENS
IS, WHEN THE BUILDING HAS BEEN
ACCESSED AND IS DCI HAS A
VACANT BUILDING GROUP THAT GOES
OUT AND CONNECT WITH THE
PROPERTY OWNERS TO TRY TO
RESECURE THAT BUILDING. ONCE
THAT BUILDING HAS BEEN ACCESSED
AND WE START RESPONDING TO FIRE
AND MEDICAL EMERGENCIES AT A
BUILDING THAT WE KNOW IS
VACANT , THAT BECOMES A
CHALLENGE FOR US. WHAT HAPPENS
IS , WHEN PEOPLE MOVE IN , THEY
WANT TO COOK , JUST LIKE WE
COOK. THEY WANT TO STAY WARM ,
SO THEY LIGHT FIRES TO DO
THOSE THINGS . THERE ARE HOLES
IN THE WALLS, HOLES IN THE
FLOORS, HOLES IN THE CEILINGS ,
THIS BECOMES VERY IMPORTANT TO
A PERSON WHO DOES NOT FIGHT
FIRES FOR A LIVING , IT MAY NOT
SEEM LIKE A BIG DEAL. THESE
BUILDINGS ARE DESIGNED WITH
ONE-HOUR DRYWALL, TO OUR EXIT
CORRIDORS. WHEN YOU PUNCTURE
THOSE WALLS, FLOORS AND
CEILINGS YOU CHANGE THE FIRE
DYNAMICS IN THAT STRUCTURE WITH
HOW FAST THE FIRE SPREADS.
THIS IS WHY THERE IS A
CHALLENGE. THERE ARE A COUPLE
OF DIFFERENT PIECES . WHEN WE
SEE SMALL FIRES THEY
EVENTUALLY BECOME BIG FIRES
GRADE WE ALSO NOTE THE
BUILDINGS ARE ACCESSED BECAUSE
WE ALSO RESPOND TO MEDICAL
RESPONSES AT THESE LOCATIONS.
THAT TELLS US THAT THE BUILDING
HAS BEEN ACCESSED. THAT IS
PRETTY IMPORTANT TO NOTE .
SINCE THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE
SEEN MORE THINK IT VACANT
HOLDINGS AROUND THE CITY AND
THAT IS PART OF THE CHALLENGE
THAT WE FACE WHEN WE GO TO
THESE FIRES WE CHANGE OUR
TACTICS . WE HAVE A DERELICT
BUILDING, STANDARD OPERATING
GUIDELINE BECAUSE THE BUILDINGS
ARE SO UNSAFE . WE APPROACH
THESE BUILDINGS WITH THE
MINDSET THAT THERE IS NO ONE
INSIDE IF WE GET INFORMATION
THAT THERE IS SOMEONE INSIDE ,
WE CHANGE OUR TACTICS AND WE
THEN GO INSIDE OF THE
STRUCTURE. IN 2023 WE HAD
THREE FIRE RELATED DEATHS IN
VACANT BUILDINGS IN THE CITY .
AS I SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO PREVENT THE NEXT ONE , OR TO
PREVENT A FIREFIGHTER FROM
GETTING SERIOUSLY INJURED OR
KILLED, THAT BECOMES VERY
IMPORTANT. YOU WILL SEE THE
NEWS ARTICLE AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE SLIDE. THIS HAPPENED IN
BALTIMORE, THIS IS HAPPENING
AROUND THE COUNTRY ,
FIREFIGHTERS ARE LOSING THEIR
LIVES IN THESE TYPE OF
STRUCTURES . WE ARE TRYING TO
MAKE IT SAFER FOR THE COMMUNITY
, WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT
SAFER FOR FIRST RESPONDERS BY
PUTTING FORWARD THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION , IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT. THESE ARE NUMBERS
THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER , AND
THESE ARE STAGGERING NUMBERS.
IF WE CAN PREVENT FIRES FROM
HAPPENING, WE SHOULD DO THAT.
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO DO SOME
OF THAT WITH THIS LEGISLATION.
THIS LEGISLATION HAS A LOT OF
PIECES TO IT, IT IS NOT JUST
ONE SOLUTION THERE ARE A NUMBER
. LAY OF THE LAND, IS DCI THEY
ARE MONITORING OVER 300 VACANT
BUILDINGS AND IT IS IMPORTANT
TO NOTE ALL VACANT BUILDINGS
ARE NOT IN A BAD SPACE. MOST
VACANT BUILDINGS IN THE CITY
ARE SECURED, THEY ARE INTACT
AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS LIKE
THEY SHOULD BE . WHEN WE GO TO
A RESPONSE AT ONE OF THESE
LOCATIONS WE START ATTENTION TO
IT AND WE HAVE ABOUT 100
BUILDINGS IN OUR SYSTEM. THE
WAY THIS HAPPENS IS A
FIREFIGHTER WILL GO ON A
RESPONSE TO A LOCATION, THEY
WILL SEEN SURVEY, LOOK AROUND
AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON , THEY
CAN CLEARLY SEE IF THIS
BUILDING WAS BOARDED UP AND IF
SOMEONE HAS ACCESSED IT . THEY
WILL GO BACK AND AND PUT THAT
INTO ONE OF OUR SYSTEMS SO WE
START TRACKING IT . A MEMBER OF
OUR FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU WILL
GO OUT AND DO AN INSPECTION SO
WE CAN GET EYES ON THE PROPERTY
AND THEN UPDATE ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION . OF THAT HUNDRED
THERE IS A SUBSET OF 40 THAT
HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE FIRE.
THAT IS A CONCERN FOR US . THEY
HAVE ALREADY HAD AT LEAST ONE
FIRE IN THE BUILDING THAT IS
DERELICT . WHEN I SAY DERELICT
THAT IS VERY INTENTIONAL , THE
FLOORS, WALLS, CEILINGS, ENTRY
POINTS, EXIT POINTS HAVE BEEN
MODIFIED. OF THAT 40 NUMBER,
HALF OF THAT NUMBER HAVE HAD
MULTIPLE FIRES , MORE THAN ONE
. WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH
SOME OF THE NUMBERS YESTERDAY ,
I PUT THE ADDRESS IN THE
SYSTEM MYSELF AND I RAN ALL
40, ONE ADDRESS HAD 30
RESPONSES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS
AND ONE QUARTER . IF WE CAN
PREVENT THE NEXT ONE, IF WE CAN
PREVENT THE NEXT FIRE, THAT IS
WHAT WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO DO.
WE TRY TO LOOK AT THIS IN A
FEW DIFFERENT WAYS AND WHERE
THESE BUILDINGS ARE AROUND THE
CITY, THE FIRE PREVENTION
BUREAU CREATED THESE MAPS AND
DATA FROM THE U.S. CENSUS
BUREAU. THE FIRST IS . THE
DARKER COLORS ON THE MAP ARE
MORE LANGUAGE DIVERSE
NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE COMMUNITY.
YOU CAN SEE THE BOTTOM OF THE
CITY THAT IS AROUND REINDEER .
YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE RED
DOTS AROUND DOWNTOWN AND WEST
SEATTLE AND THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT. WE WANT TO LOOK AT
IT ANOTHER WAY BASED ON INCOME
DIVERSITY. THE DARKER THE
SHAPE THE LOWER THE INCOME ,
THE HIGHER THE MORE INCOME.
YOU CAN SEE THE LAY OF THE LAND
AND WHERE THESE PROPERTIES ARE
THAT WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION
TO. THIS IS ONLY 40 THAT WE
ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THESE
WERE UPDATED APRIL 16th , JUST
LAST WEEK. THEN WE WANT TO
LOOK AT RACIAL DIVERSITY TO
UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ARE MOST
RACIALLY DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS
IN THE COMMUNITY. WE CAN SEE,
HE COULD HILL FOR EXAMPLE AND
DOWN REINDEER, THERE ARE A LOT
OF DOTS IN THAT AREA THAT WE
PAY ATTENTION TO . WHAT DOES
THE ORDINANCE DO? THE
ORDINANCE AMENDS THE SEATTLE
FIRE CODE AND IT CLARIFIES THE
FIRE CHIEF'S EXISTING SUMMARY
ABATEMENT AUTHORITY . THAT IS
PRETTY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT
WAS NOT AS CLEAR AS WE WOULD
LIKE IT TO BE. THAT IS WHAT WE
ARE WORKING TO DO. IMMINENT
DANGER TO LIFE AND PROPERTY,
THE CHIEF HAS AUTHORITY TO
TAKE ACTION TO ADDRESS UNSAFE
CONDITIONS , BUT THE ORDINANCE
CLARIFIES THAT THIS INCLUDES
DEMOLITION AND ADDS THE ABILITY
TO PASS THE COST BACK TO THE
PROPERTY OWNER . THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO WORK WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER
ON SECURING THE FACILITY AND
REPAIRING THE FACILITY, BUT NOT
BEING ABLE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE,
THE ABATEMENT MAY NEED TO BE
DEMOLITION OF A PROPERTY AND
WE WOULD NEED THE RESOURCES TO
DO THAT, BUT WE WOULD ALSO NEED
THE TOOLS TO GO SEEK
REIMBURSEMENT . THAT IS WHAT
THIS DOES . OTHER UNSAFE
BUILDINGS NOT IN EMINENT FIRE
HAZARD, THE FIRE CHIEF HAS THE
AUTHORITY TO FIX -- THIS
STRENGTHENS THAT AUTHORITY
WHICH IS WHAT WE NEED. I DO
NOT WANT TO LEAVE YOU THINKING
THAT THERE ARE 40 BUILDINGS
THAT ARE A PROBLEM, NO . THERE
IS A SMALL SUBSET OF THAT 40
THAT I BELIEVE ARE MOST
HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS IN THE CITY
THAT WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO
WORK THROUGH THE PROBLEMS WITH
THE PROPERTY OWNER . IF YOU
CANNOT GAIN COMPLIANCE, WE
SHOULD NOT LEAVE THE PROPERTIES
TO BE OPEN ACCESS AND UNITS
RESPONDED TO MULTIPLE FIRES IN
THESE LOCATIONS. AS YOU HAVE
SEEN , AROUND THE CITY YOU CAN
LOOK AT THE LARGE FIRE ON
REINDEER IN DECEMBER, LOOK AT
THE FIRE AT 823 MADISON. LOOK
AT THE FIRE LAST YEAR , IT WAS
ONE OF OUR COBRA TESTING SITES
ON AURORA AND WE RAN TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TESTING
THEM FOR COVID , BUT IT WAS
VACANT . WE CAN GO ON AND ON,
BUT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THESE
PROBLEMS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THAT WAS OUR LAST SLIDE , I
WILL PAUSE AND SEE IF THERE
ARE QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL.
>> MANY QUESTIONS STARTING NOW.
VICE CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU THANK YOU CHIEF
FOR THIS HELPFUL PRESENTATION.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE, CHIEF. IT SOUNDS
LIKE THE SPECIFIC CHALLENGE
THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS
IS THE RISE IN VACANT AND
DERELICT BUILDINGS AND THE
SITING INCREASE IN FIRES AND RIE
COMMUNITY AT RISK FROM A PUBLIC
SAFETY STANDPOINT , IT PUTS
PEOPLE IN THOSE BUILDINGS AND
ARE FIREFIGHTER HEROES AT RISK.
IT WAS HELPFUL FOR ME TO SEE
ON THAT SLIDE , THE VISUAL
DEPICTION OVER THE LAST THREE
OR FOUR YEARS OF WHAT THAT
LOOKS LIKE . AS YOU NOTED AND
INCLUDED ON A FEW OF THOSE
SLIDES , THERE IS EXISTING
LEGAL AUTHORITY AND CAPABILITY
FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
THROUGH YOU EXERCISING YOUR
AUTHORITY AND POWER TO
INTERVENE. WOULD LOVE TO HEAR
FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE . WHAT
IS THE SPECIFIC? I JUST KIND
OF RESTATED BUT TELL ME, WHAT
IS THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM THAT
WE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE? HOW IS
THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION
INTENDED TO DIRECTLY
ACCOMPLISH THAT?
>> THE PROBLEM WE ARE TRYING TO
SOLVE IS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER
OF DERELICT BUILDING FIRES IN
THE COMMUNITY . THAT IS THE
PROBLEM WE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE.
LAST YEAR WE HAD 130 FIRES IN
DERELICT BUILDINGS. LAST YEAR
WE HAVE THREE FIRE DEATHS IN
THE CITY IN DERELICT BUILDINGS
AND WE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE THAT
PROBLEM. WE ARE CHANGING THE
LANGUAGE TO CLARIFY THE FIRE
CHIEF'S AUTHORITY TO ORDER UP
TO ABATEMENT WHICH MAY MEAN
DEMOLITION OF A BUILDING . IT
ALSO ADDS LANGUAGE THAT THE
CITY CAN NOW SEEK REIMBURSEMENT
, THE DIRECT COST , THE COST
OF DEMOLITION UP TO PLACING A
LION ON THE PROPERTY . THE
PROBLEM WE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE
IS REDUCING THE NUMBER OF FIRES
IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT
IS BETTER FIRE PREVENTION AND
THE LEGISLATION CLARIFIES THE
FIRE CHIEF'S AUTHORITY TO DO
THAT AND PROVIDES AN AVENUE
FOR THE CITY TO SEEK
REIMBURSEMENT OF THE COST OF
POSSIBLE DEMOLITION. IT COULD
MEAN, SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER
ON GENESEE, AFTER WE HAD THE
BIG FIRE ON GENESEE, THEY PUT
A FENCE UP ON THE PROPERTY,
EVENTUALLY THE FENCE WAS GONE
AND ALL TYPES OF THINGS ARE
BEING ADDED TO THE PROPERTY AND
SDCI TOOK ACTION AND IT TOOK
A COUPLE OF MONTHS FOR THAT TO
HAPPEN . I DO NOT THINK WE
WOULD WAIT A COUPLE OF MONTHS .
MOST COMMUNITIES HAVE KIDS AND
KIDS LIKE TO PLAY AND KIDS LIKE
TO GO INSIDE AND EXPLORE . THE
LAST THING WE WANT IS ANY YOUNG
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY SAYING
, LET'S GO CHECK OUT THE
HOUSE, IT HAS BEEN EMPTY FOR A
WHILE , NOT REALIZING THE
HAZARDS IN THE HOUSE. THEY WALK
IN AND THE FLOOR HAS BEEN
PUNCHED IN THE FALL THROUGH ,
THE WALLS HAVE BEEN PUNCHED.
IT MAY SEEM FUN BUT IT QUICKLY
BECOMES SERIOUS. THAT IS NOT
WHAT WE WANT IN THE COMMUNITY.
I HOPE I ANSWERED IT.
>> I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP
QUESTION, THAT WAS HELPFUL.
PART ONE IN THIS NEXT LINE OF
QUESTIONING IS, WHY ARE YOU SO
CONVINCED , I UNDERSTAND THIS
IS INTENDED TO BE AN
ADDITIONAL TOOL IN THE BROADER
TOOLKIT. WE NEED A VARIETY OF
TOOLS TO HELP SOLVE COMPLEX
CHALLENGES REGARDLESS OF WHAT
THOSE CHALLENGES ARE. I WOULD
LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE , WHY IS THIS
ADDITIONAL CAPABILITY , WHY DO
YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL HELP
US ACHIEVE , OR BETTER ACHIEVE
THE DESIRED OUTCOME ? AND HOW
DOES THIS APPROACH COMPARED TO
INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES IN
OTHER JURISDICTIONS ? AND OTHER
MAJOR CITIES?
>> AS THE FIRE CHIEF, IT IS MY
JOB TO IDENTIFY ESCALATING
HAZARDS IN THE CITY. WE HAVE
DONE THAT WITH THIS PROBLEM.
WE HAVE A LOT OF TOOLS IN THE
TOOLBOX ALREADY. WE ARE STILL
WATCHING THE RISE IN THESE
FIRES. THAT SAYS TO ME THAT
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT TO HELP SOLVE THE
PROBLEM . DO I THINK THAT THIS
ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION WILL
SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS? NO.
WILL IT GIVE US ANOTHER TOOL TO
SOLVE SOME PROBLEMS? I BELIEVE
IT WILL AND WE WILL USE THAT
TOOL . THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
TO BE GROUNDED THERE. WHERE
ARE WE AT IN INDUSTRY BEST
PRACTICES? I COMMUNICATE WITH
METRO CHIEFS ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY AND WE ARE ALL TRYING
TO FIGURE THIS OUT. WE MAY BE
AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE IN
CREATING A NEW BEST PRACTICE
FOR THE FIRE SERVICE, I BELIEVE
THAT THIS SHOULD HAPPEN IN
OTHER MAJOR CITIES AROUND THE
COUNTRY. WE ARE CONNECTED TO
THE EMERGENCY . IT IS IMPORTANT
TO NOTE THAT. WHEN SOMEONE
CALLS 911 AT 2:00 IN THE
MORNING OR 2:00 IN THE
AFTERNOON, WE ARE CONNECTED TO
THAT LOCATION, THE PROPERTY ,
THE LOCATION, THE PEOPLE . MOST
PEOPLE ARE DISCONNECTED. YOU
ARE SEEING A CITATION, YOU ARE
SEEING AN ISSUE , YOU HAVE A
MEETING ABOUT IT BUT YOU ARE
NEVER ON THE GROUND AT THE SITE
. I GO TO A LOT OF THESE FIRES
MYSELF SO I AM ON THE GROUND AT
THE SITE. THE LAST THING I
WANT IS FOR ANY OF OUR
FIREFIGHTERS OR A COMMUNITY
MEMBER TO BE HARMED WHEN WE
COULD HAVE TAKEN AN INTENTIONAL
STEP TO TRY TO SOLVE A PROBLEM.
I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE A
PERFECT ANSWER BUT IT IS THE
STEP OF THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANTED TO KNOW,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAS
JOINED US ALONG WITH
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, WHICH IS
AN INDICATION IN THE INTEREST
OF THIS TOPIC. BEFORE GOING TO
THE NEXT QUESTION, I WOULD NOTE
THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A GREAT
TURNOUT, THE MAP SHOWS US ALL
DISTRICTS AND THANK YOU FOR
INCLUDING THOSE DIFFERENT
CHARTS THAT YOU HAD AND THE
DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS. WITH
THAT , COUNCILMEMBER MOORE .
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
CHIEF SCOGGINS . THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION, AS YOU
HAVE NOTED, THERE ARE MANY
VACANT BUILDINGS IN DISTRICT 5
AND WE HAVE SUFFERED FROM
QUITE A FEW FIRES . I DID HAVE
A QUESTION, I HAVE SEVERAL
QUESTIONS , ONE IS, DO YOU HAVE
THE STATISTICS ON THE NUMBER OF
THE VACANT BUILDINGS THAT ARE
OWNED BY OUT-OF-STATE
INDIVIDUALS OR CORPORATIONS?
>> WE DO NOT HAVE THAT
STATISTIC . I HAVE A GREAT
EXAMPLE FOR YOU . YOU MAY
REMEMBER THE SEATTLE TIMES
BUILDING SEVERAL YEARS BACK ,
WE HAD MULTIPLE EXTREMELY
LARGE FIRES IN THAT BUILDING .
I BELIEVE THAT PROPERTY OWNER
WAS OUT-OF-STATE, I BELIEVE
OUT OF COUNTRY OWNER . IT WAS
VERY DIFFICULT TO SOLVE THAT
PROBLEM AND IT TOOK A VERY LONG
TIME. IF YOU RESEARCHED NEWS
ARTICLES OF THAT , WE HAD
SEVERAL MULTIPLE ALARM FIRES.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE STATISTICS
OF WHO LIVES WHERE THAT OWNS
ALL OF THESE PROPERTIES .
>> BEFORE CONTINUING, I JUST
WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, NOT HERE
BUT ONLINE MS. HUNTER FROM
SDCI . IF YOU COULD JUMP IN ON
ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS, THAT
SOUNDS MORE LIKE A SDCI
QUESTION, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING
TO ADD, PLEASE
ME WITH ZOOM. I WANTED THE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO KNOW THAT WE
DO HAVE A SDCI REPRESENTATIVE
ONLINE TODAY .
>> THAT MIGHT GO TO MY NEXT
QUESTION WHICH IS WHAT APPEARS
TO BE THE GREATEST OBSTACLE TO
VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE?
>> IS THERE ONE ?
>> THERE ARE MANY . THE BIG
OBSTACLE IS GETTING THE
ATTENTION. HOPEFULLY THIS
LEGISLATION WILL GET THE
ATTENTION OF ALL PROPERTY
OWNERS IN THE CITY . WHEN YOU
TALK ABOUT WHERE THE OWNERS
LIVE, A LOT OF THEM ARE
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES.
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT
GOES INTO TRACKING DOWN THE
REGISTERED AGENT OF THE
PROPERTIES. BUT THE BIGGEST
ROADBLOCK IS HOW MUCH TIME WILL
GO BY AND WE DO HAVE THE
REGISTERED AGENT. WE DO SEND A
ORDER TO COMPLY THROUGH THE
MAIL AND THERE IS A LAPSE OF
TIME WHERE WE HEAR NOTHING BACK
THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE.
>> LOOKING AT YOUR SLIDE WHERE
SAYS IT TAKES UP TO A YEAR TO
GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU
CAN'T DEMOLISH, IT APPEARS
UNDER THIS LEGISLATION YOU
WOULD BE ABLE TO EXPEDITE THAT
PROCESS AND ADDRESS THE
IMMINENT RISK THAT THESE
BUILDINGS ARE PRESENTING TO OUR
COMMUNITY ?
>> YES. THERE ARE TWO PATHWAYS.
ONE PATHWAY IS WE ARE WORKING
WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER BECAUSE
WE ARE SEEING AN UPTICK IN FIRE
AND EMS RESPONSE . WE ARE
WORKING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER
TO BRING THAT BACK INTO
COMPLIANCE AND SOLVE THE
PROBLEM. THAT IS ONE. THE
OTHER IS, THE BIG FIRE HAS
HAPPENED AND WE NEED TO DEAL
WITH THAT IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE
AS WE HAD A FIRE IN LAKE CITY
LAST YEAR, ONE OF THE WALLS,
THE EAST WALL WAS POTENTIALLY
GOING TO COLLAPSE INTO LAKE
CITY WAY . WE WERE FORTUNATE,
WE GOT THE PROPERTY OWNER ON
THE PHONE, I WENT OUT MYSELF ,
WE WORKED WITH HIM TO GET A
DEMOLITION CONTRACTOR. WE GOT
THE BUILDING DOWN BEFORE THE
WEEKEND WAS OUT. THAT IS NOT
NORMAL ON SOME. WHAT THE
LEGISLATION WILL DO IS IF THE
PROPERTY OWNER DID NOT COMPLY
AND WE SAW THAT AS A PUBLIC
SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE WALL
WAS GOING TO COLLAPSE INTO THE
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY, THIS
LEGISLATION WOULD GIVE US THE
ABILITY TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.
>> THANK YOU. IN COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> THANK YOU. I AM TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND SOMETHING. LAST
AUGUST, I BELIEVE, COUNCIL
PASSED A LAW THAT WAS EXECUTIVE
GENERATED THAT DID THREE MAIN
THINGS, REQUIRE INTO BUILDING
THAT RECEIVES A NOTICE OF
VIOLATION TO ENTER THE VACANT
BUILDING MONITORING PROGRAM,
RATHER THAN THOSE BUILDINGS
THAT FAILED TO CORRECT BY THE
COMPLIANCE DEADLINE, SIMPLIFY
THE PROCESS FOR POLICE AND FIRE
REFERRALS TO MONITORING AND
AUTHORIZE THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTION TO FILE A PROPERTY
LION AGAINST THE OWNER TO
COLLECT UNPAID VACANT
BUILDING MONITORING FEES AND
COST. AT THE TIME I MADE A
STINK ABOUT THAT ORDINANCE
BECAUSE WHAT I WAS HEARING FROM
PROPERTY OWNERS WAS THREE
THINGS. NUMBER ONE, OUR
FAILURE TO ADDRESS OUR HOME
WAS THIS ISSUES WAS RESULTING
IN FOLKS ENTERING BUILDINGS
AND TWO , WHEN THEY COMPLAINED
TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT
THIS AND WANTED TO HAVE PEOPLE
REMOVED , STAFFING LEVELS WERE
SUCH THAT THEY COULD NOT GET
THE ATTENTION , OR IMMEDIATELY
WHEN A BUILDING WAS BEING
BROKEN INTO AGAIN THAT WAS A
PROBLEM. THERE WAS NOT THE
ABILITY TO RESPOND. THREE,
OWNERS APPLIED FOR A DEMOLITION
PERMIT , BUT IT WAS REALLY
SLOW TO BE ISSUED. THAT WAS
THE ISSUE I BELIEVE , WITH THE
HILLSIDE MOTEL . I DID VOTE
FOR THAT. MY QUESTION FOR YOU
IS, HOW DOES THIS NEW
ORDINANCE INTERACT WITH THE
PROVISIONS THAT ARE ALREADY
PAST ?
>> TWO OF THOSE PROBLEMS THAT
YOU MENTIONED , WE ARE NOT
GOING TO CHANGE THAT IN THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE THIRD
PROBLEM, THE PROCESS FOR
DEMOLITION, WE WORK WITH SDCI
DAILY. ALL OF THAT IS STILL
IN PLAY FOR MOST OF THESE
PROPERTIES, WHEREVER THEY ARE .
I THINK WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT IS THE EXTREME CASES.
WHEN I MENTIONED AN ADDRESS, WE
HAVE RESPONDED TO ONE ADDRESS
30 TIMES, THAT'S AN EXTREME
CASE FOR EMS CALLS AND FIRE
CALLS. IF WE DETERMINE BY
INSPECTION THAT THE FLOORS,
WALLS, CEILINGS, DOORS , THEY
CAN'T SECURE THE PROPERTY, WE
HAVE HAD MULTIPLE FIRES, THE
PROPERTY OWNER IS NOT TAKING
THE PROPER STEPS, THEN WE HAVE
A TOOL THAT WE CAN HELP
RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE
PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO THEIR
NEIGHBORS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
FIRE AT 823 MEDICINE THAT
HAPPENED ON NEW YEAR'S MORNING
. I WENT OUT TO THE FIRE , WE
EVACUATED PRETTY MUCH THE WHOLE
BLOCK ON NEW YEAR'S MORNING.
WE EVACUATED THE WHOLE BLOCK
BECAUSE THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE
SOUTH. I GET THE CONCERNS WITH
HOMELESSNESS. I GET THE
CONCERNS WITH YOU CANNOT GET A
POLICE OFFICER TO TRESPASS
SOMEONE AGAIN , AND AGAIN . IT
DOES NOT CHANGE THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CURRENT
ENVIRONMENT THAT WE NEED TO
SECURE THE STRUCTURE . IF WE
CANNOT SECURE THE STRUCTURE,
THEN WE NEED TO HAVE OTHER
STEPS THAT WE CAN TAKE. I WAS
IN FAVOR OF THAT LEGISLATION
ALSO AND I WAS HOPEFUL . WHAT
WE SEE IS THE FIRES ARE STILL
ESCALATING . THROUGHOUT THE
FIRST 3 1/2 MONTHS OF THIS
YEAR WE HAVE HAD ABOUT 30
DERELICT BUILDING U TIMES THAT
QUARTERS WE ARE ON TRACK TO
WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR. WHEN
THAT LEGISLATION WENT FORWARD
IN 2017 , 18, IT SET UP THE
VACANT BUILDING WORKGROUP , WE
HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO
IT. WE ARE STILL TRYING TO
TURN THE WHEEL, THIS WILL PUT
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN A
DIFFERENT PLACE BY MODIFYING
THE FIRE CODE .
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER.
I DO WANT TO RESPOND TO YOUR
VERY WELL TAKEN POINT THAT YOU
ARE ON THE GROUND AND YOU SEE
WHAT IS GOING ON. I WAS ON THE
GROUND ONCE WHEN THE SEVEN
GABLES THEATER CAUGHT FIRE , I
BELIEVE IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE ,
2020, RIGHT ACROSS THE FREEWAY
I SAW THE SMOKE , MY SON AND I
WENT THERE, HE WAS THRILLED TO
MEET YOU, CHIEF AND ALSO KENNY
FROM LOCAL 27. KENNY EXPLAINED
HOW DANGEROUS THOSE BUILDINGS
WERE, THE IMPACT AND THE
CHEMICALS THAT BURN AND THE
IMPACT ON THE HEALTH OF
FIREFIGHTERS, THE WATER USAGE
AND HE WAS SAYING WE HAVE GOT
TO DO SOMETHING. I THINK THIS
IS THE SOMETHING THAT WOULD
MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I AM NOT
EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT THIS,
AND I UNDERSTAND NEIGHBORS DO
WANT TO SEE SOMETHING MORE THAN
WHAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU , CHAIR. JUST
QUICKLY , I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT I AM UNDERSTANDING
CORRECTLY WHAT YOU ARE SAYING .
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE LAST
RESORT, YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO
THE MITIGATION THAT YOU DO
LEADING UP TO SOMETHING LIKE
THIS IT WILL NOT BE TAKEN
LIGHTLY BY YOUR TEAM , BUT
THERE ARE SOME PROPERTIES AT
THIS JUNCTURE , IT IS ABOUT 40,
IT COULD BE HIGHER LATER THAT
NEED THAT. THEY ARE AN EXTREME
CASE AND YOU NEED TO HAVE THE
TOOL IN PLACE TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT.
>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT. ALL
ALONG THE WAY WE WILL PARTNER
WITH THE MAYOR KEEPING
EVERYBODY INFORMED OF WHAT IS
GOING ON. WE WILL KEEP
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE INFORMED
SO THAT THERE IS TRANSPARENCY
HERE. WE MADE THIS
RESTRICTIVE SO THAT THE FIRE
CHIEF -- OR THE FIRE MARSHAL
CAN MAKE THAT DECISION AND
THAT'S IT. THE FIRE CHIEF OR
THE FIRE MARSHAL. THAT IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THAT'S
HOW SERIOUS THIS IS. WE GO OUT
TO A LOT OF FIRES. IF WE CAN
SOLVE SOME OF THESE, WE ARE
DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE
COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.
GOOD MORNING . SORRY I WAS
LATE, I HAD A MEETING . I WANT
TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING
HERE, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND
I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH YOU
CHIEF FOR SOME TIME . I WANT TO
GET BACK TO THE POINT THAT YOU
MADE ABOUT THE TWO TRACKS YOU
HAVE , ONE IS TO WORK WITH
PROPERTY OWNERS TO TRY TO BRING
THEIR BUILDINGS INTO
COMPLIANCE. I KNOW WE HAVE ALL
HAD BUILDINGS IN OUR DISTRICTS
THAT STAY GOOD FOR A LONG TIME
AND THERE IS NO ISSUE. WHEN
THESE BUILDINGS ARE INSECURE
CREATING VIOLATIONS AND
SENDING YOU OUT , MY DISTRICT
WE HAD ONE OF THESE BUILDINGS,
REGNIER AND GENESEE, THAT
BUILDING WAS VACANT FOR YEARS
AND PEOPLE BROKEN AND THAT
BUILDING WAS UNSECURE AND WE
WORKED WITH SDCI FOR MONTHS TO
TRY TO GET THE BUILDING
SECURED, THERE WAS FINALLY A
FIRE AS WE LEARN, NOT CAUSED
BY HOMELESS PEOPLE BUT CAUSED
BY PEOPLE ENTERING THE BUILDING
AND PEOPLE STARTING THE FIRE
AND THE FIRE SET THERE , THE
RUBBLE SET THERE FOUR MONTHS .
AGAIN WE WORKED WITH SDCI, WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR A LONG
TIME TO GET THAT CLEANED UP.
THAT IS THE ISSUE. IT IS NOT
JUST TRYING TO GET THE PROPERTY
OWNER TO COMPLY WITH SECURING
THE BUILDING, IT IS ALSO , IF
THERE IS A FIRE GETTING THEM TO
COMPLY WITH CLEANING IT UP
BECAUSE THE RUBBLE IS
DANGEROUS. THE BUILDING WAS
NOT SECURE, THERE WAS NO FENCE,
OR IT WAS BROKEN INTO AND
PEOPLE START TO COME TO THAT
SITE AND DUMP THEIR OWN THINGS
THERE BECAUSE THEY SEE THE
RUBBLE SITTING THERE AND NO ONE
IS CLEANING IT UP. THAT
CREATES BLIGHT IT CREATES A
PROBLEM FOR NEIGHBORS , IT
CREATES A PROBLEM WITH
NEIGHBORING BUSINESSES IT IS A
NECESSARY TOOL. I AM SORRY
THAT THERE ARE PLACES THAT GET
TO THIS POINT, BUT IT IS AN
IMPORTANT TOOL TO PROVIDE SO
WE CAN KEEP OUR CITY WORKERS
SAFE AND WE CAN KEEP THE
GENERAL PUBLIC SAFE AND WE CAN
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT
CONTRIBUTING TO THE BLIGHT
HAPPENING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
AND COMMIT TO OUR NEIGHBORS
THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN THEIR
SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I AM GLAD
WE HAVE THIS LEGISLATION. I
THINK THE MAYOR FOR GETTING
THIS DRAFTED. I WILL COSPONSOR
THIS WITH COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO KEEPING
OUR NEIGHBORS SAFE.
>> BEFORE WE GO TO THE VICE
CHAIR, I SEE MISS HUNTER FROM
SDCI , DO YOU WANT TO ADD TO
THE CONVERSATION?
>> I WOULD, THANK YOU . CAN
YOU HEAR ME OKAY
>> YES I CAN.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS
FOR HAVING ALL OF US. I
APOLOGIZE I CANNOT BE WITH YOU
IN PERSON THERE AT THE TABLE
WITH MY COLLEAGUES AT THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT WHO ARE CERTAINLY
PARTNERS WITH US , WE WORK
TOGETHER SO CLOSELY AND WE ARE
SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK
THEY ARE DOING ON THIS
LEGISLATION AND EVERY DAY.
THANK YOU THOSE AT THE TABLE
THERE. SECOND TO YOUR STAFF
IS MY STAFF WHO ARE ALSO ON THE
GROUND, THEY ARE NOT FIRST
RESPONDERS BUT THEY GET PULLED
INTO SIMILAR SITUATIONS QUITE
OFTEN. THEY TAKE HUGE RISKS
THANK YOU TO THEM . I JUST WANT
TO SAY THAT SDCI IS 100%
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS LEGISLATION
. WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO HELP THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GET
RID OF THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE
POSING A RISK TO OUR COMMUNITY
. I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR
BRINGING UP THE JUMBO. IT IS A
PERFECT EXAMPLE OF ALL OF THE
PROBLEMS WITH THE VACANT
BUILDING SITES. THAT WAS A NEW
ONE FOR US. WE DID NOT FORESEE
THAT THEY WOULD LEAVE THAT
THERE FOUR MONTHS AND WE DO NOT
HAVE TOOLS IN PLACE FOR THAT.
WE HAVE TO START PLANNING AND
THINKING ABOUT THE SITUATION
NOW IN 2024 , WHICH AS THE
FIRE CHIEF POINTED OUT , IT IS
NOT THE SAME AS IT WAS
PRE-PANDEMIC . THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SUPPORT AND I HOPE THAT
IT HELPS US WITH A NEW TOOL.
>> THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. THE FINAL
QUESTION THAT I HAVE ON THIS
TOPIC, I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
MECHANISMS THAT WE HAVE TO
COMPEL PAYMENT AND RECOVERY .
I DON'T KNOW, CHIEF IF THIS IS
A QUESTION BETTER SUITED FOR
YOU OR OUR OWN CENTRAL STAFF
EXPERTS OR MAYBE SDCI . UNDER
THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION ,
THIS HIGH-LEVEL CONSTRUCT SHOWS
UP IN MULTIPLE AREAS
ESSENTIALLY THE COST OF
ABATEMENT CAN BE RECOVERED FROM
THE RESPONSIBLE OWNER AND ANY
MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW, IT GOES
ON TO SAY INCLUDING THROUGH A
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT . MY
READING OF THAT PROPOSAL IS
NOT NECESSARILY INTENDED TO BE
, OR CAPTURE EVERYTHING. IT
CONTEMPLATES A PROPERTY LION
AND FILE WITH THE KING COUNTY
REPORTER , MAYBE IT IS
INTENDED TO BE THE ONLY WAY TO
GO AFTER AND MAKE SURE WE
RECOVER DIRECTLY FROM THE
PROPERTY OWNERS AND MAKE THIS
RIGHT. WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC
MECHANISMS THAT WE HAVE TO BE
MADE WHOLE IN THIS FINANCIALLY
AS A CITY X AND TO ENFORCE
THIS? IS IT SOLELY JUST TO
ASSESS THIS PROPERTY LION
POWER? WHAT OTHER WAYS CAN WE
GET COMPEL ENFORCEMENT?
>> I WILL START AND THEN PASS
IT. AS THE LEGISLATION SAYS, WE
WILL BILL THE PROPERTY OWNER
AND SEEK FULL COST RECOVERY. IF
THAT DOES NOT WORK OUT, THE
RCW GIVES US THE ABILITY TO
PLACE A LION ON THE PROPERTY TO
SEEK RECOVERY . OUR GOAL IS TO
MAKE THE CITY WHOLE. IT IS NOT
OUR GOAL THAT THIS IS A VENTURE
WHERE THE CITY IS LOSING
FUNDS. WE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES IN THE
COMMUNITY AND THAT IS WHAT WE
ARE TRYING TO DO . WE ARE GOING
TO SEEK FULL COST RECOVERY.
HOPEFULLY THE PROPERTY OWNER
SAYS, GREAT , HOW MUCH DID IT
COST? LET ME CUT YOU A CHECK .
IF THAT IS NOT THE CASE , THEN
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PLACE A
LION ON THE PROPERTY. THAT I
COVER THAT CORRECTLY?
>> I THINK THE PART THAT WAS
MENTIONED IS THAT THERE ARE
DIFFERENT AVENUES. RIGHT NOW WE
HAVE THE ABILITY TO IMPOSE
WHAT WE CALL PENALTIES WHICH
ARE $1000 A DAY FOR A VIOLATION
. WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS
WE HAVE THE SUMMARY OF
ABATEMENT WHICH IS THE
LEGISLATION AND THEN REGULAR
ABATEMENT PROCESS. THE REGULAR
ABATEMENT PROCESS, WE HAVE
INSPECTIONS THAT TAKE PLACE
THAT WE BILL FOR. ONCE THEY
GET TO A CERTAIN POINT WE START
TO REFER TO LAW , $1000 A DAY
KICKS IN . THAT IS HOW THEY ADD
UP . IT WOULD BE SIMILAR FOR
THIS. IF WE ARE USING THE
SUMMARY ABATEMENT , THAT SAME
$1000 COULD APPLY, AS THE
CHIEF SPOKE TO HIRING
CONTRACTORS THERE WILL BE --
AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO TALLY
THAT UP AS THE LEGISLATION THAT
YOU READ STATES WE CAN RECOVER
THE COST PLUS ADMINISTRATIVE
FEES. WE HAVE OTHER AVENUES TO
RECOVER THEM IT WILL BE BASED
ON THE PROJECT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
ANOTHER QUESTION.
>> MY LAST QUESTION, DO WE
THINK THAT BY DOING THIS , WILL
IT SERVE AS A DETERRENT? RIGHT
NOW MY SENSE IS THAT IMPOSING
THE FINE IS NOT COMPELLING THE
PROPERTY OWNERS TO DO SOMETHING
. IF WE HAVE THIS LAST RESORT
PIECE AND FOLKS KNOW THAT YOU
NEED TO RESOLVE THIS , OR THERE
WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO
SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS FOR THE
PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC , FOR
THE PUBLIC SAFETY PIECE THAT
PERHAPS IT WILL DETER FOLKS
FROM NOT COMPLYING.
>> YES, IT IS OUR HOPE THAT
THIS LEGISLATION WILL HELP
PROPERTY OWNERS COME INTO
COMPLIANCE . WE ARE REALISTS ,
ALSO. WE HAVE BEEN MANAGING
THIS CHALLENGE FOR QUITE A
WHILE , AND WE DO HAVE SOME
PROPERTY THAT WE DO NOT HEAR
FROM . IT IS OUR HOPE THAT THE
LEGISLATION CAN BRING
COMPLIANCE . IF IT DOES NOT, WE
HAVE THE ABILITY TO SOLVE THE
PROBLEM.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF .
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, CHIEF AND YOUR
TEAM. ALSO FOR MS. HUNTER AND
SDCI . I WOULD HAVE TO SAY, I
DO HAVE DIRECT EXPENSE WITH
THIS ISSUE , THE HILLSIDE ,
JUST SOUTH OF THE AURORA BRIDGE
. I HAVE BEEN WORKING THAT FOR
SUCH A LONG TIME AS A COMMUNITY
MEMBER , THE PREVIOUS MAYOR,
THE PREVIOUS CITY ATTORNEY AND
THE PREVIOUS COUNSEL, IT WAS A
BUILDING , THE MAIN STRUCTURE
WAS MULTI STORIES, THERE WAS A
MAJOR FIRE WITH TWO DEATHS ,
THERE WAS A MOTEL STRUCTURE ,
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED
OUT COUNTLESS TIMES FOR ODS.
THE MANAGER OF THE FACILITY
DIED FROM AN OD. IT BECAME THE
HILLSIDE DRUG FRONT WITH A
DRUG MARKET. WHEN YOU HAVE A
DRUG MARKET THEN YOU HAVE A
STOLEN GOODS MARKET AND THE
PROSTITUTION THAT WAS
HAPPENING. THE FRUSTRATION
FROM THE COUNCIL PRESIDENTS
QUESTION , FRANKLY IT WAS
MOTIVATION FOR ME TO BE
SITTING IN THIS POSITION AS
CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE. THESE ARE THE THINGS
THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED .
EACH LOCATION HAS ITS OWN
UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE . IN THE
CASE OF HILLSIDE COME AFTER
THE MAJOR FIRE, ONCE THE
INSURANCE PIECE WAS PAID OUT,
THE OWNER SKIPPED TOWN LAYING
IT INTO THE HANDS OF THE
FINANCIERS , THAT IS ANOTHER
LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT, NEVERMIND
THE GOVERNMENT BUT ALSO THE
OWNER. TO THEIR CREDIT , IT WAS
CHALLENGING AT TIMES , TO THEIR
CREDIT IT HAS JUST BEEN
DEMOLISHED. THEY DID A NICE
ABATEMENT OF IT TOO. THIS
INFORMS MY VIEW ON THIS TOPIC
AND I HAVE SEEN IT AND OTHER
AREAS OF THE CITY. THANK YOU
TO THE TEAM AND US AS A
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AS
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES NOTED IT
HAS BEEN A COMBINATION OF
EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE AND
JUDICIAL WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY
OFFICE. I HAVE READ THROUGH
THE BACKGROUND MATERIAL, I HAVE
READ THE ORDINANCE, I THINK IT
READS WELL. I LIKE THE POINT
THAT YOU MAKE REGARDING
TRESPASSERS COMPROMISING THE
BUILDING STRUCTURE AND
CHANGING THE CHARACTERISTICS ,
WHICH REALLY CHANGES THE
DYNAMICS WHEN THE FIREFIGHTERS
ARE THERE. THEY MAY HAVE AN
ASSUMPTION BASED ON WHAT THEY
ARE SEEING , BUT WHAT THEY ARE
SEEING MAY NOT BE WHAT THE
TRAINING TELLS THEM. THAT IS SO
IMPORTANT TO THE POINT THAT
THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS
TO LOSE A FIREFIGHTER . THE
OTHER POINT, IN TERMS OF THE
ORDINANCE ITSELF , I UNDERSTAND
THE PARAGRAPH TALKING ABOUT
THE CIRCUMSTANCES , IT HAS
BECOME MORE FREQUENT BECAUSE OF
NARCOTICS AND FENTANYL AND
METH , IT IS SOMEWHAT OF AN
INCOMPLETE THOUGHT. THE POINT
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD, YOU SPOKE
TO A, IF YOU HAVE THE METH, THE
NEXT THING YOU KNOW YOU HAVE
LABS, THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW
YOU HAVE FIRES. I JUST WANTED
TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IN TERMS OF
THAT PARAGRAPH AND IN TERMS OF
THE ORDINANCE ITSELF, THAT
MIGHT BE AN AREA WHERE WE CAN
COMPLETE THE THOUGHT. , ONE
THEM AT THIS GOES TO A LOT OF
THINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN SEEING,
AND THIS IS TRUE, THIS IS GOOD
GOVERNANCE, DUE DILIGENCE , CAN
YOU SPEAK TO THE PROTOCOLS
BETWEEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT,
SDCI , THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE IN TERMS OF TO ENSURE
THE CIVIL LIBERTIES PIECE THE
PROPERTY AND OWNER PEACE IS
COVERED.
>> SURE. THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF ONGOING CONVERSATIONS THAT
TAKE PLACE WITH EVERYONE YOU
JUST MENTIONED THAT THERE IS A
VACANT BUILDING WORKGROUP THAT
IS LED BY , THAT IS A REALLY
LARGE GROUP . MY FOLKS AND THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT ALONG WITH
MANY OTHERS ATTEND THAT. THE
MAYOR , AND DEPUTY MAYOR
BURGESS SET UP A SMALLER GROUP
EARLIER THIS YEAR WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND WITH
SDCI, WITH FIRE AND SDCI TO
CONTINUE TO WORK THE PROBLEM,
OUR FIRE MARSHAL, SDCI AND THE
ATTORNEYS HAVE A NUMBER OF
ONGOING CONVERSATIONS TO
CONTINUE TO WORK THE PROBLEM.
WE ARE CONNECTED ON THIS ISSUE
IN MULTIPLE PLACES. THERE ARE
MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS TAKING
PLACE. EVERYONE IS WORKING
REALLY HARD TO SOLVE THE
PROBLEM. I WILL HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH SCOTT
LINDSAY ON THE ISSUE . I WILL
HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
CITY ATTORNEY ON THIS ISSUE . I
WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT
EVERYONE IS HAVING OPEN AND
CONSISTENT CONVERSATIONS ON
THIS ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU. I NOTED THE
CHARTS IN TERMS OF
SOCIOECONOMIC, LANGUAGE, RACE ,
THOSE ARE GREAT TO HAVE . MY
QUESTION IS , AGAIN, GOING TO
THE CIVIL LIBERTIES PIECE , THE
TRANSPARENCY OF THE PROCESS
AND HIGHLIGHTING TO THESE
COMMUNITIES YOU HAVE THE
DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES HERE ,
WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE
ENGAGEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING,
WILL THERE BE SOME TYPE OF
TRACKER OR SOMETHING THAT CAN
BE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SO THE
PEOPLE CAN SEE, YES , I HAVE
BEEN WONDERING ABOUT THIS
PROPERTY AND THEY CAN SEE IT
ON SOME TYPE OF LISTING TO 1
DEGREE OR ANOTHER? THEY KNOW
THAT THE CITY GOVERNMENT IS
AWARE OF IT AND THEY ARE
WORKING IT AND THEY ARE NOT
BEING FORGOTTEN. ONE THING I
HERE AND AGAIN AND AGAIN IS
NOBODY'S LISTENING TO US .
EVEN IN CASES LIKE QUEEN ANNE,
WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT , I
UNDERSTAND THE PRIVILEGE AND
THE ABILITIES , WE WERE
SCREAMING ON THE HILLSIDE. I
CAN JUST IMAGINE SOME OF THESE
COMMUNITIES AS REPRESENTATIVES
, IS THERE A WAY TO INCREASE
THE TRANSPARENCY SO PEOPLE CAN
SEE THESE PIECES, NOT
NECESSARILY REAL-TIME BUT HONOR
FREQUENT BASIS?
>> A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, I
WOULD ENCOURAGE ANY MEMBER OF
THE COMMUNITY IF YOU HAVE A
STRUCTURE IN YOUR DISTRICT
CALLED THE FIRE PREVENTION
BUREAU TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE IT IN OUR SYSTEM . NUMBER
TWO, THE SECOND PART BECOMES
CHALLENGING, ONCE WE START THE
STEPS AND TAKING ACTION AND
WORKING WITH THE ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE IT MAY BE COVERED BY
ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE
THAT MIGHT BE WHAT WE NEED
BEFORE WE CAN SOLVE THE ISSUE.
THE DASHBOARD BECOMES MORE
CHALLENGING. THE DASHBOARD WE
HAD IN THE PRESENTATION IS
REAL-TIME AND IS INTERNAL. SOME
OF THOSE PROPERTIES THEY ARE
WORKING THROUGH , BUT THEY ARE
THOUGHTS ON THE MAP NOT AN
EXACT ADDRESS. I WOULD
ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTACT THE
FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU AND MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE WHAT YOU ARE
SEEING. WE THINK WE DO , WE ARE
OUT IN THE COMMUNITY ON
RESPONSES OVER 300 TIMES EVERY
DAY AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE
VERY OBSERVANT AND THEY COME
BACK AND ENTER THE INFORMATION
INTO OUR SYSTEM.
>> THANK YOU. THE LAST QUESTION
, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING THIS
THROUGH THE DIFFERENT AREAS OF
GOVERNMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT ,
THIS IS A PRE-INTRODUCTION
BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF
RECEIVING IT WE COULD NOT GET
IT INTO THE CALENDAR. IT IS
EMERGENCY LEGISLATION WHICH IS
A BIT OF A DISCONNECT. WHAT
ARE WE LOOKING TO ACHIEVE WITH
THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION PIECE
OF THIS ORDINANCE , WHAT DOES
THIS KICKSTART, WHAT DOES THIS
ALLOW FOR YOU TO DO ?
>> THE EMERGENCY LEGISLATION
REDUCES THE TIMELINE FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
LEGISLATION ONCE IT IS PASSED
FROM 30 DAYS TO THE DAY IT IS
SIGNED. DO WE HAVE PROPERTIES
IN THE CITY THAT WE WOULD WORK
TO ADDRESS THE DATA
LEGISLATION GOES INTO PLAY?
YES . IT CUTS THE TIMELINE
DOWN. WE ARE ALSO WORKING
THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GETTING
CONTRACTORS ON RETAINER , SO IF
WE GET TO THE END OF THE ROAD
AND WE CANNOT WORK WITH THE
PROPERTY OWNER AND THE HAZARD
STILL EXISTS, WE STILL HAVE TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEM SO WE CAN
STILL DO THAT. I HOPE THAT
ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
>> IT DOES.
>> BEFORE MOVING TO MS.
GORMAN'S PRESENTATION, I SEE
MS. HUNTER , YOU HAVE ANOTHER
COMMENT?
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK
TO FIRST OF ALL YOUR SHARED
FRUSTRATION OF THE HILLSIDE ,
JUST LIKE THE JUMBO IT HAS
MANY COMPONENTS THAT ARE GREAT
EXAMPLES. I ALSO WANTED TO SAY
YOUR COMMENT ABOUT CIVIL
LIBERTIES IS EXTERNALLY
IMPORTANT TO ALL OF OUR
DEPARTMENTS. THAT IS PART OF
WHY WE DO NOT RELEASE THE FAKE
IT BUILDING LIST TO THE PUBLIC
TO PROTECT THEM, TO PROTECT US
AND LET US WORK TOGETHER TO
SEE IF WE CAN FIX THE PROBLEM.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY SO THAT
EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS, IT IS
ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN FOR THOSE
BUILDINGS AND THE PUBLIC TO
GIVE A LIST TO THE PUBLIC OF
SITES THAT ARE UNATTENDED AND
COULD BE USED FOR ILL
PURPOSES.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT BALANCING
POINT . PART OF THE QUESTION IS
TO RAISE THE ISSUE SO WE ARE
WORKING THROUGH THE DIFFERENT
ELEMENTS. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
VICE CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE YOUR COMMENT ABOUT
THE NEED , OR THE OPPORTUNITY
THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY TO BE
MORE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THIS AND
THE WHOLE PROCESS AND
UNDERSTANDING THE DEMANDS AND
PRIORITIES WHETHER IT IS
ATTORNEY, CLIENT PRIVILEGED
INFORMATION, OR AS WE HEARD
FROM SDCI , SOME OF THOSE
CONCERNS ABOUT IT DOES NOT
ALWAYS MAKE SENSE TO HAVE A
LIST OR SHARE A DETAILED LIST.
I AM A STRONG PROPONENT FOR
TRANSPARENCY , I KNOW THAT THE
MAYOR HAS THIS INNOVATIVE OPEN
DATA INITIATIVE AND I THINK
THERE IS A WAY TO DO IT WHERE
WE SANITIZE CERTAIN KEY
INFORMATION AND MAYBE WE DO
NOT HAVE A MAP AS PART OF THE
DASHBOARD, I THINK IT WOULD
MAKE SENSE AND I WOULD
STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT WORKING IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH SDCI AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE TO CONSIDER
IMPLEMENTING A DASHBOARD THAT
HAS TRANSPARENCY THAT HAS
APPROPRIATE LEVEL AND -- AND
BROADER TRANSPARENCY GOAL SO
THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC -- THIS
IS IMPORTANT STUFF WE NEED TO
MONITOR AND TRACK HAD WE MAKE
PROGRESS IF WE DO NOT HAVE A
BASELINE . INDIVIDUALLY WE CAN
WORK WITH YOU ALL SO WE CAN
UNDERSTAND AND WHAT ARE THE
CONCERNS AND SOME OF THESE
THINGS THAT ARE LESS
APPLICABLE. UNLESS THERE IS AN
EXCEPTION IS PUBLICLY
AVAILABLE INFORMATION AND THE
QUESTION IS DO YOU WANT TO
MAKE IT EASY AND ACCESSIBLE FOR
PEOPLE BY PROACTIVELY GOING AND
PUTTING IN THE DASHBOARD ? OR
DO YOU WANT TO MAKE IT MORE
DIFFICULT BY GETTING REPORTERS
AND PEOPLE WITH EXPERTISE AND
TIME? I THINK THE FORMER IS
PREFERRED, SO I WOULD STRONGLY
ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO WORK
TOGETHER TO FIGURE HOW WE CAN
CREATE A DASHBOARD TO
PROACTIVELY UPDATE , IT DOES
NOT NEED TO BE REAL-TIME, BUT
REGULARLY UPDATE SO THE PUBLIC
HAS ACCESS TO THIS . IT IS
REALLY CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
INFORMATION. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA , IF YOU
DO NOT KNOW ME VERY WELL , YOU
WILL PROBABLY LEARN I LOVE A
GOOD DASHBOARD. WE WILL TAKE
THAT BACK AS AN ACTION ITEM WE
WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN COME UP
WITH
>> CHIEF, NORMALLY WE START
WITH CENTRAL STAFF AND A
SUMMARY WITH MS. GORMAN JUST
HAVE A SUMMARY OF WHERE WE ARE
AND THEN HAVE CLOSING REMARKS
AFTER THAT .
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL
MEMBERS . I AM HERE WITH THE
ANALYTICAL OVERVIEW OF THIS
BILL AND IN SOME CASES I WILL
HAVE SOME OF THE SAME
INFORMATION THAT THE SSD TEAM
ALREADY PRESENTED. IT IS GOOD
WHEN WE ARE SAYING AND
EMPHASIZING THE SAME THINGS.
>> THE SUBJECT OF THIS BILL IS
UNSAFE BUILDING ABATEMENT .
JUST TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS
TERM , ABATEMENT REFERS TO THE
RESTORATION TO SAFE CONDITION
OF SOMETHING THAT IS UNSAFE.
THIS CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS
REMOVING A PILE OF DEBRIS AS A
FIRE HAZARD , OR AS DRAMATIC AS
THE DEMOLITION OF A BUILDING .
IN THAT CASE THE ABATEMENT
REFERS TO THE DANGEROUS
BUILDING BEING GONE , BUT THE
PROPERTY ITSELF BEING RESTORED
TO SAFE CONDITION. ONE OF THE
PARTS NARROWS IN FURTHER TO
THEY CAN SUE ARE DERELICT,
UNSAFE OR PUBLIC NUISANCE.
DERELICT IS NOT DESCRIBED IN
THE SEATTLE CIVIL CODE IT IS ,
YOU KNOW IT WHEN YOU SEE IT.
UNSAFE CAN REFER EITHER TO
STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY THAT IS AT
ISSUE , OR TO THE ACTIVITY
THAT IS TAKING PLACE AT A GIVEN
SITE WE WILL TALK MORE ON
PUBLIC NUISANCE ON THE NEXT
SLIDE, IT INCLUDES A
DEFINITION OF PUBLIC NUISANCE .
AS CHIEF SCOGGINS EXPLAINED
THERE ARE CURRENTLY OVER 100
BUILDINGS THAT MEET THIS
DEFINITION AND ARE BEING
TRACKED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
AND OVER 40 ARE VACANT AND
UNSAFE ? SDCI ADMINISTERS THE
CITY VACANT BUILDING MONITORING
PROGRAM. THERE ARE CURRENTLY
300 BUILDINGS BEING TRACKED
THROUGH THAT PROGRAM. THIS
PROGRAM WAS STARTED IN 2019 AND
IT WAS STRENGTHENED LATE LAST
YEAR , PARTLY IN RESPONSE TO
THE ACKNOWLEDGED PUBLIC SAFETY
RISKS THAT VACANT BUILDINGS
POSE TO PEOPLE LIVING IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS. FROM 2021 TO
2022 SDC I NOTED A 40%
INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF
VACANT AND UNSECURED BUILDINGS
. SDCI HAS DECLARED A BUILDING
UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION OR
OTHER USE AND CAN OWNER ORDER
THE OWNER TO REPAIR OR DEMOLISH
THE BUILDING. THEY CAN ISSUE
ORDERS TO REMOVE OR REMEDY
DANGEROUS CONDITIONS RELATED TO
A BUILDING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
CAN REFER TO A BUILDING TO
SDCI WHICH WOULD DECLARE IT
UNFIT . THAT DECLARATION MAY
LEAD TO DEMOLISH MEANT. THIS
BILL PROPOSES NEW AUTHORITY FOR
THE FIRE CODE OFFICIAL. THE
FIRE CODE OFFICIAL IS HOW THIS
PERSON IS DESCRIBED IN THE
BILL. I WILL TALK MORE ABOUT
THAT. THIS BILL WOULD PUT SFD
MORE SECURELY IN THE DRIVER
SEAT WITH RESPECT TO THESE
BUILDINGS. IT WOULD GIVE THE
FIRE CODE OFFICIAL THE ABILITY
TO DECLARE A BUILDING A PUBLIC
NUISANCE. IT WILL ADD TO THE
FIRE CODE OF PUBLIC NUISANCE.
PUBLIC NUISANCE IS A NUISANCE
THAT AFFECTS EQUALLY THE RIGHTS
OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OR
NEIGHBORHOOD THOUGH THE EXTENT
OF THE DAMAGE MIGHT BE UNEQUAL.
THIS DEFINITION IS BORROWED
FROM THE REVISED CODE OF
WASHINGTON. WHAT IS IMPORTANT
ABOUT USING IT IS IT CONNECTS
TO LION AUTHORITY. A LION
LESS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS THAN
ANYONE WATCHING IS A CLAIM FOR
ONE PARTY AGAINST ANOTHER
PARTY'S PROPERTY, USUALLY
SECURED BY A DEBT.
>> THE EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES
THAT IN TERMS OF COLLECTING
THE COST OF ABATING COST
ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF THESE
BUILDINGS , THE CITY MIGHT NOT
BE ABLE TO COLLECT THE COST
RIGHT AWAY AS WE HAVE HEARD.
THIS PROVIDES A MECHANISM FOR
THE CITY TO COLLECT THOSE COSTS
IN THE FUTURE.
>>[CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING]
>> SFD CAN GIVE THAT NOTICE,
ABATEMENT. CHIEF SCOGGINS
SPOKE ABOUT THE FIRE CHIEF
ABSOLUTELY TRUE. THE FIRE CHIEF
COULD BE A FIRE CODE OFFICIAL.
THIS COULD ALSO BE THE SEATTLE
FIRE MARSHAL OR DESIGNEE OF THE
FIRE MARSHAL. TYPICALLY IN THE
CASE OF ABATEMENT IT WOULD BE
ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. SUMMARY
ABATEMENT IS DIFFERENT. THAT
WOULD OCCUR WHEN CONDITIONS
POSE AN IMMINENT DANGER TO LIFE
AND PROPERTY. IN THAT CASE, THE
FIRE CODE OFFICIAL CAN DECLARE
THE BUILDING IS PUBLIC
NUISANCE , ABATE IT AND COVER
THE COST OF SUMMARY ABATEMENT.
THAT MEANS IMMEDIATE ABATEMENT
ON THE SPOT. THIS WOULD BE AT
THE SCENE OF A FIRE OR BUILDING
COLLAPSE WHILE SFD IS STILL IN
CONTROL OF THE RESPONSE OF
THE SCENE. IN THIS CASE IT
COULD BE THE INCIDENT COMMANDER
, TYPICALLY THE BATTALION
CHIEF INVOKING THE AUTHORITY.
NEXT SLIDE. ONE IMPORTANT NOTE
ABOUT THE BILL IS THAT IT IS
EMERGENCY LEGISLATION WITH AN
IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. AS WE
DISCUSSED, THE BILL WOULD HAVE
IMMEDIATE EFFECT. THIS
REQUIRES THE CONCLUSION OF
EMERGENCY FINDINGS IN THE BILL
WHEN IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE
IMMEDIATE PRESERVATION FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY. THE BILL FINDING
DOES INCLUDE EMERGENCY
FINDING. IT IS IN COMPLIANCE
WITH CITY CHARGER -- CHARTER.
IT WOULD REQUIRE A
THREE-QUARTER MAJORITY OF
COUNSEL VOTE. NEXT STEPS WITH
RESPECT TO THE BILL. THE FIRST
STEP IS FOR IT TO BE
INTRODUCED. PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE MEMBERS WILL DISCUSS
IT AND POSSIBLY VOTE ON IT AT
THE NEXT MEETING WHICH WOULD BE
HELD AT MAY 14. ANY
AMENDMENTS COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT
TO BRING FORWARD COULD ALSO BE
DISCUSSED AND VOTED ON AT THAT
TIME. WE WILL ALSO PREPARE A
MEMO THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE
PRIOR TO THE MEETING. ALSO, ANY
MEMBERS WANT TO TALK TO THE
BILL -- ABOUT THE BILL OR
POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS MY
COLLEAGUE AND I WILL BE
AVAILABLE IN THE UPCOMING
WEEKS TO HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION. THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, SDCI, MAYOR'S
OFFICE, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WILL BE IMPLEMENTING
PROTOCOLS FOR SUMMARY
ABATEMENT. THERE'S A LOT
INVOLVED WITH GETTING THIS
RIGHT AND ALL OF THESE BODIES
WILL BE INVOLVED IN THE
PROCESS. WE DO NOT HAVE A
TIMELINE OF WHEN THEY WILL BE
AVAILABLE UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN
FORMALLY SIGNED OFF ON . ACTION
TAKING PLACE UNDER THIS BILL
WILL BE REGULAR ABATEMENT
RATHER THAN SUMMARY ABATEMENT.
ASSUMING THAT THE BILL PASSES
THE EXECUTIVE WILL REFINE COST
ASSUMPTIONS FOR THIS YEAR.
FUNDING FOR 2024 WILL BE
INCLUDED IN THE MIDYEAR
SUPPLEMENTAL ORDINANCE AND
ONGOING COSTS WILL BE INCLUDED
IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET WHICH
COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE
THIS SEPTEMBER. THE
LEGISLATION WAS TRANSMITTED
WITH THE FISCAL NOTE. THAT
ESTIMATES 2020 FOR COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BILL
BETWEEN 350 AND $500,000. THIS
IS A HIGH-LEVEL ESTIMATE.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT
FACT IS THAT GOING TO THE COST
FOR ANYONE ABATEMENT. IT JUST
IS GOT THE COST RANGE ASSUMES
THREE PROPERTIES AND ONE
DEMOLITION OF THE COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY. WE UNDERSTAND THAT
THIS IS FOR THE BILL AND
APPRECIATE CANDOR IN TERMS OF
THE WIDE RANGE AND POSSIBILITY
THAT IT MIGHT CHANGE. IN THIS
NOTE, ANY NEW COST INCLUDED
WITH THE 2024 BUDGET AND
SUBSEQUENT BUDGETS WILL
INCREASE THE PROJECT DID
GENERAL FUND BUDGET DEFICIT
WHICH IS CURRENTLY ESTIMATED
AROUND $240 MILLION FOR 2025.
ANY QUESTIONS?
>> ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. VICE
CHAIR --
>> GO AHEAD. WIDE TWO THIRDS
--
>> Y TWO THIRDS? IS THAT
BECAUSE IT IS EMERGENCY?
>> THIS IS PER THE CITY
CHARGER.
>> SO AS WRITTEN, THIS
PROPOSED LEGISLATION -- I
WOULD JUST LOVE TO LEARN A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE
INVOKING AUTHORITY HERE. AS
WRITTEN IN THIS PROPOSED
LEGISLATION IS SAYS FIRE CHIEF
OR FIRE CODE OFFICIAL . I
HEARD THE CHIEF A MOMENT AGO
THAT THEIR AUTHORIZATION OF
THIS THING WOULD BE THE FIRE
MARSHAL. AS WRITTEN IT CAN
CHANGE AT ANY TIME BUT AS
CURRENTLY WRITTEN WHAT IS THE
FIRE CODE OFFICIAL EXACTLY ?
AND THEN WHAT ARE THE SCOPE OF
POSSIBLE PEOPLE WITHIN THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT COULD
INVOKED ANY OF THESE
PROVISIONS . THERE'S A
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INVOKING
AUTHORITY, SOMEBODY WHO CAN
INVOKE THIS AND TRIGGER ALL OF
THE IMPACT UP TO AND INCLUDING
SEEKING THE RECOVERY AND LEAN
SOME OF THAT VERSUS SOMEBODY
WHO IS ACTING PURSUANT TO AN
AUTHORITY THAT WAS ALREADY
INVOKED. AS WRITTEN, WHO ARE
THE FIRE CODE OFFICIALS AND
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE THAT COULD
DO THAT.
>> I THINK I WILL LET SFD
HANDLE THIS ONE. THE BILL
LANGUAGE ITSELF SAYS FIRE CODE
OFFICIAL .
>> WHAT IS THAT INTENDED TO
MEAN?
>> THAT FIRE CHIEF OR FIRE CODE
OFFICIAL. FIRE MARSHAL IS THE
FIRE CODE OFFICIAL .
>> SO THE FIRE CODE OFFICIAL --
IS THAT A STATUTORY CONSTRUCT
THAT EXISTS THAT IS COMMONLY
KNOWN ? WE MAY NEED TO TAKE
THIS OFF LINE WITH THE LEGAL
TEAM BUT I THINK IT IS AN
IMPORTANT DISTINCTION BECAUSE
YOU ARE DETERMINING THIS THAT
IS ONLY THE FIRE MARSHAL, BUT
WHO KNOWS . THIS IS INTENDED TO
BE A LONG-TERM, DURABLE THING.
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER.
FIRE CODE OFFICIAL COMES FROM
THE INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE. IT
IS MIRRORED IN THE BUILDING
CODE OFFICIAL WE HAVE THOSE
TERMS COMING TO US FROM THE
CODE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY .
WHAT CHIEF SCOGGINS HAS
DETERMINED IN CONVERSATIONS
WITH THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR
IS TO USE HIS EXISTING PROCESS
. WHEN HE IS ON THE SCENE HE
DOES ALREADY CALL , I BELIEVE,
YOURSELF FOR ITEMS IN YOUR
DISTRICT. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
RECEIVES A CALL FOR FIRES AND
HE WILL BE THE ONE AT THIS TIME
MAKING THOSE DETERMINATIONS IN
COMMUNICATION AS WELL WITH
OTHERS. THAT IS THE PLAN FOR
HOW THIS GOES FORWARD. CIRCLING
BACK TO YOUR INITIAL QUESTION
THE LANGUAGE IS ACTUALLY
MIRRORED IN THE INTERNATIONAL
FIRE CODE AS TO WHICH
POSITIONS ARE IDENTIFIED.
>> SO FIRE CODE OFFICIAL UNDER
THE COMMON UNDERSTANDING IN
INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE IS
INTERPRETED TO MEAN FIRE
MARSHAL ? AM I HEARING THAT
CORRECTLY? I FORGET WHO BUT I
HEARD DISCUSSION THAT IT COULD
POTENTIALLY BE INVOKED BY
OTHERS THAT DO NOT NECESSARILY
INCLUDE YOU AND POTENTIALLY
DOWN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.
>> YOU HAVE THE MENTION THAT A
BATTALION CHIEF OR INCIDENT
COMMANDER COULD TRIGGER THAT.
IT WILL NOT HAPPEN IN THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT.
>> IT WON'T HAPPEN AS FAR AS
YOU ARE IN CHARGE. THAT IS GOOD
TO KNOW. BUT THESE LAWS AND
LEGISLATIONS ARE INTENDED TO
BE DURABLE AND SURVIVE. I'M
GLAD YOU HAVE THAT POLICY IN
PLACE BUT WHAT IS HIGHER THAN
POLICY IS LEGISLATION. SO THANK
YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, WE CAN
MAKE SURE IN THE STAFF MEMO TO
DISCUSS THE PLANS TO
OPERATIONALIZE THIS
LEGISLATION.
>> THAT WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT
PART AND SOMETHING I WOULD
CONSIDER.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU. JUST IN TERMS
OF THE COST ESTIMATES, I HEARD
YOU SAY IT WAS ESTIMATED BASED
ON THREE RESIDENTIAL AND ONE
COMMERCIAL. I'M WONDERING WHY
MORE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL
? IS IT THAT THERE IS MORE
RESIDENTIAL AT THESE PROPERTIES
THAN THERE.
>> THERE IS MORE RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTIES.
>> THINK YOU.
>> TO GIVE YOU PERSPECTIVE WE
LEARNED ABOUT THE COST OF
DEMOLITION. IT CAN BE BETWEEN
$10-$20 A SQUARE FOOT FOR
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AND
$15-$30 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR A
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY BECAUSE
THEY ARE BUILT DIFFERENTLY.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS?
>> JUST A COMMENT. I JUST
WANTED TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LONG
TIME. I AM GLAD YOU WORKED WITH
THE EXECUTIVE AND CITY ATTORNEY
WITH THIS. I JUST WANT TO SAY
IT IS GOOD TO SEE THIS COME
FORWARD. I DO BELIEVE WE SHOULD
PLAN FOR MORE THAN THE AMOUNTS
THAT YOU MENTIONED AND JUST TO
BE SAFE TO PLAN ON IT TAKING A
LONG TIME TO BE REIMBURSED.
THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY
EXPENSE. THANK YOU.
>> AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE THE BRIEFINGS AND
SUCH. I TALKED ABOUT IT WITH MY
QUESTION THE DUE DILIGENCE WORK
WITH PROTOCOLS PIECE BETWEEN
SFD, SDCI, AND THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. WE ALSO
HAVE AS THE DUTY HERE THE DUE
DILIGENCE TO ASK THOSE
QUESTIONS AND GET THE
CLARIFICATION AND DO IT IN A
PUBLIC WAY SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS
TO INCLUDE ORDERS THAT MAY BE
PRESENT. SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH ALL OF YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS. WHAT I
SEE IS AN IMPORTANT PILLAR ,
SPECIFICALLY DANGEROUS VACANT
BUILDINGS ARE A PUBLIC SAFETY
THREAT. THIS IS NOT ABOUT
EYESORES. THIS IS ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY THREATS. IT'S VITAL TO
ENSURE THAT THE CITY DOES DO
THE DUE DILIGENCE AND REVIEW
THESE PROPERTIES. WE NEED TO
HAVE A STRONG PARTNERSHIP
BETWEEN SMP AND SDCI AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT
THE T'S ARE CROSSED AND EYES
ARE DOTTED BECAUSE IT'S AN
IMPORTANT PROCESS . AT THE END
OF THE DAY IT IS ABOUT US
ADDRESSING THE VACANT BUILDINGS
AND THE LOTS WHICH WILL AID IN
THE EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE
PERMISSIVENESS UNDERLYING A
LOT OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT
. IT IS ALSO ANOTHER STEP
FORWARD IN THE PLAN TO CREATE A
SAFE SPACE IN THE CITY . SO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I
SHOULD ADD A MORE GENERAL
THANK YOU TO THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
. THANK YOU FOR YOURS AND ALL
OF THEIR SERVICE. I HAVE A
GREAT APPRECIATION AND I HEARD
ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
LAST WEEK . IT WAS VERY
INSPIRATIONAL AND INCREDIBLE
WORK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS
DOING AND THOSE THAT WERE
HIGHLIGHTED FOR THEIR SERVICE,
PLEASE PASS THE THINK YOU . WE
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THESE ARE
THE THINGS THAT I DID MY MANY
DISCUSSIONS PERCUSSION
HIGHLIGHT IN TERMS OF THE
FIREFIGHTERS BUT ALSO YOU
MENTIONED THE LABOR SIDE OF
THIS. I THINK THAT IS
IMPORTANT. THOSE VOICES ARE
HEARD AND APPRECIATED. SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I THINK
WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF
TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA. IS
THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE BEFORE WE
ADJOURN? HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU SO
MUCH.