GOVERNANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND
ECONOMIC WILL COME TO ORDER. IT
IS 2:04 PM. I AM SARAH NELSON,
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. IS CALL
THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> HERE.
>> FIVE PRESENT. I WANT TO
WELCOME MARK SOLOMON TO OUR
COMMITTEE. WE WILL MISS
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. WE ARE HAPPY
TO HAVE YOU JOIN US. YOU HAVE
SOME IN-HOUSE LAND-USE SPECIALTY
SO THIS WILL PERHAPS COME IN
HANDY TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PRESENCE TODAY AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, TODAY WE WILL HEAR
A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON STEPS
THE CITY CAN TAKE TO IMPROVE THE
PERMITTING PROCESS HE AND REDUCE
THE CHALLENGES IT PRESENTS. THIS
PANEL HERE TODAY WILL INCLUDE
VERY EXPERIENCED INDUSTRY
EXPERTS ON ALL THINGS
PERMITTING. BECAUSE THAT IS
THEIR BREAD AND BUTTER EVERY
DAY. WORKING WITH CITY
DEPARTMENTS ON HOW TO GET
PROJECTS UP ENOUGH THE GROUND.
SO, WITH THAT, I WILL PROVIDE
MORE INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BEFORE
WE START INTO OUR DISCUSSION
TODAY. BUT IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION FOR NOW THE AGENDA
WILL BE ADOPTED. SEEING THEN,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE WILL
NOW MOVE INTO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE
SIGNED UP?
>> WE HAVE THREE VIRTUAL PUBLIC
COMMENTERS.
>> WE WILL GIVE EVERYONE THREE
MINUTES. I'M SORRY. TWO
MINUTES. EXCUSE ME. WE WILL GIVE
EVERYONE TWO MINUTES AND START
WITH, IF THERE IS AN IN PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENT, LET'S START
WITH OUR REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT
AND THEN MOVED TO IN PERSON.
>> I WILL CALL ON THE SPEAKERS
IN THE ORDER THEY SIGNED UP TO
SPEAK STARTING WITH THE VIRTUAL.
EACH HAS TWO MINUTES. WHEN YOU
HEAR THE CHIME YOU HAVE 10
SECONDS LEFT. IF YOU EXCEED THAT
TIME YOUR MICROPHONE MAY BE CUT
OFF SO WE CAN MOVE ON. ALSO IF
YOU ARE OFFERING REMOTE COMMENT
PLEASE PRESS STAR 62 UNMUTE
YOURSELF. THE FIRST VIRTUAL
COMMENT , PLEASE FEEL FREE TO
PRESS STAR 62 UNMUTE YOURSELF.
CAN YOU HEAR US? PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX.
>> HE IS BACK. GO AHEAD. NUMBER
ONE.
>> PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX. PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES, THANK YOU.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WASN'T
WORKING. I AM A SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER IN SEATTLE. TO GIVE YOU
QUICK BACKGROUND, THANK YOU FOR
THE TIME FIRST OF ALL, BEFORE
THE PANDEMIC I HAD EIGHT
DIFFERENT BUSINESSES. A BAR IN
CHINATOWN. A BARN CAPITOL HILL.
A COFFEE SHOP IN CHINATOWN.
MULTIPLE TEA SHOPS THROUGHOUT
THE SEATTLE AREA AND ALSO IN
BELLEVUE. RENTON. ADMINS. I HAVE
BEEN IN DIFFERENT CITIES. MOST
OF MY BUSINESSES ARE IN THE
SEATTLE AREA. A DOUGHNUT SHOP IN
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT WITH A
BUSINESS PARTNER. I HAVE BEEN MY
FAMILY HAS BEEN IN THE SEATTLE
BUSINESS SEEN FOR 20 YEARS. I
HAVE BEEN DOING IT FULL-TIME FOR
OVER 15 YEARS. I KNOW THE
COMPLEXITIES VERY WELL, THE FOOD
INDUSTRY SPECIFICALLY. I AM
CALLING BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD
THIS WAS A TALK ABOUT
PERMITTING. I HAVE HAD, AMONGST
ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE
OPEN BUSINESSES IN SEATTLE, JUST
ONE CHALLENGE AFTER ANOTHER.
THAT HAS BECOME THE NORMAL, THE
NORM TO OPEN A BUSINESS. IF YOU
GO THROUGH THE GAUNTLET AND
MAYBE MAKE IT OUT YOU CAN OPEN A
BUSINESS. I JUST DON'T THINK
THAT IS THE RIGHT WAY TO
APPROACH OPENING BUSINESS. HEY,
IT'S GOING TO BE THE WORST
THING POSSIBLE AND YOU MAY END
UP LOSING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS AND NOT GETTING
ANYTHING OUT OF IT. BUT THAT IS
JUST THE WAY SEATTLE DOES
BUSINESS. UNFORTUNATELY I THINK
THAT HAS SHIED AWAY A LOT OF NEW
TALENT. I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE I
KNOW WHO ARE CHEFS AND TALENTED
PEOPLE OR NOT WILLING TO TAKE
THE RISK OF OPENING A BUSINESS.
WHEN TYPICALLY, I AM AGING OUT
OF OPENING NEW BUSINESSES.
TYPICALLY 20'S AND 30'S NEW
GENERATIONS TAKE RISKS WITH
THAT. THEY ARE STEPPING BACK. A
BIG PART IS THE PERMITTING. JUST
TO GIVE YOU A QUICK SYNOPSIS,
ALL THE PERMITS YOU NEED,
OBVIOUSLY THE MAJOR ONES, HEALTH
AND BUILDING AND FIRE, YOU ALSO
NEED A CANDLE PERMIT, ALL THESE
DIFFERENT THINGS. YOU CALL CIC,
MOST OF THE TIME IF YOU CALL
THEM THEY ARE NOT CONSTRUCTION
PEOPLE THEY'VE NEVER OPENED A
BUSINESS ORBIT IN FOOD. THEY ARE
READING A MANUSCRIPT AND TELLING
YOU WHAT THE MANUSCRIPT SAYS.
THE CAN'T GIVE YOU ANY
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR EXACT
REQUIREMENTS. YOU ARE SIGNING A
LEASE BEFORE YOU GET A PERMIT.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT I HAVE DAVID
HAYNES. PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> THANK YOU. WE NEED A LAW TO
TAKE AWAY THE RESTRICTIONS AND
PROVIDE PERMITS FOR FOR-PROFIT
DEVELOPERS TO LET THEM BUILD 12
AND 20 STORIES HIGH ON THE
WATERFRONT, VACANT LOTS, PIONEER
SQUARE AND ELSEWHERE TO
REDEVELOP 21st CENTURY FIRST
WORLD QUALITY ROBUST. YOU CAN
EVEN HAVE THREE AND FOUR STORIES
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHIN
THAT. ANYWAY, I REALLY THINK
COUNCIL NEEDS TO HOLD
ACCOUNTABLE THE BAD POLICIES
THAT TAINTED THE INTEGRITY OF
GOVERNMENT THAT ORIGINATED FROM
OTHER COUNCIL WHO HAD TO QUIT
BECAUSE I HAD MENTAL PROBLEMS
BECAUSE THEY KEPT DOING THE
DEVIL ADVOCATES BIDDING. THE
CONFERENCE OF PLAN, IT COULD BE
SAID, IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL WITH
THIS RACIST, TAINTED PRIORITIES
AND POLICIES. THE WATER DOWN
INTEGRITY OF THE BUILDING CODES
THAT ARE PUTTING RESTRICTIONS ON
QUALITY, LIVABLE AMENITIES, AND
ALLOWING THESE UNQUALIFIED
NONPROFITS TO HIRE EIGHT
FOR-PROFIT TO USE THE MHA FUND
MONEY THAT THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL
MADE A LOT TO CHANGE THE FEE
FUND THAT NO FOR-PROFIT COULD
GET ACCESS TO IT TO COMPETBUILT
HOUSING. NOW ALL OF THESE
UNQUALIFIED NONPROFITS GET
ACCESS TO OVER $1 BILLION AND WE
HAVE WHAT SEEMS TO BE A
LOW-LEVEL, LOW-QUALITY,
RESTRICTED WAREHOUSE SLUM
DEVELOPMENT THAT UNDERMINES THE
INTEGRITY OF DESIGN AND QUALITY
BUILDS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AND THEY ARE GOING TO SPREAD A
BAD BUSINESS PLAN , THROUGHOUT
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD EXCEPT MAPLE
LEAF. I THINK WE NEED TO HOLD
ACCOUNTABLE THE KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMES AUTHORITY BECAUSE
THEY STILL HAVE A RACIST AGENDA
THAT PURPOSELY DISCRIMINATES
AGAINST INNOCENT PEOPLE ALL THE
CITY COUNCILS POLICE REFORM THAT
IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL IS STILL
PRIORITIZING REPEAT OFFENDING
CRIMINALS CONNECTED TO THE
UNDERWORLD BECAUSE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] THE HIRES THE
WRONG CHIEF TO IMPLEMENT
UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICE REFORM.
>> THANK YOU. AND FOR THE ONE IN
PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT OR, WE
HAVE MATT. APOLOGIES IF I
MISPRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME.
>> I RECENTLY SIGNED A LEASE TO
REFURBISH A RESTAURANT THAT HAS
BEEN A RESTAURANT FOR 50 YEARS.
SIGNING A LEASE FOR A RESTAURANT
THAT SEEMS PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD , ALL THESE
THINGS THAT WERE SCARY,
UNFORTUNATELY THE ISSUE WE WERE
NOT AWARE OF, WHICH I THINK OUR
LANDLORD MIGHT'VE BEEN, HE HAD
A LOT OF STEPS IN THE LEASE THAT
PROTECTED HIMSELF AGAINST THIS
ISSUE FOR REINFORCEMENT
SEISMICALLY. IT IS FOR THE WHOLE
BUILDING. I SIGNED A 30% PORTION
OF THE BUILDING AND NOW I AM
RESPONSIBLE FOR UPGRADING THE
ENTIRE BUILDING. WHICH PUTS ME
IN A SITUATION WHERE I EITHER GO
DEFAULT ON THE LEASE OR BEING
GROPED PERSONALLY. THIS IS A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER WHO IS BEEN
IN THE CITY SUCCESSFULLY FOR TWO
RESTAURANTS AND WORKED MY BUTT
TO GET THERE AND I'M AT A PLACE
WHERE THE LANDLORD WHO TOOK THE
RISK BUYING THE BUILDING KNOWING
IT IS A URM BUILDING , INVESTING
FOR LONG-TERM INVESTMENT IS NOW
PUTTING THE BURDEN BACK ON ME.
IN THE CITY, BECAUSE I PULLED A
PERMIT FOR A BATHROOM, UPGRADE,
IT TRIGGERED THIS RESPONSE , NOW
HOLDING MY PERMITS IN PERPETUITY
UNTIL THIS RESOLUTION IS FOUND
FOR THE ISSUE WHICH IS FOR THE
WHOLE BUILDING. ANOTHER BUSINESS
NEXT TO ME IS 5000 SQUARE FEET,
IT IS AN ACTIVE RESTAURANT,
LIABILITY AND LONG-TERM EXPOSURE
OF ME DOING ANY WORK TO THAT
RETAIL LOCATION WOULD BE
UNIMAGINABLE FOR ME PERSONALLY.
AND SO I AM ASKING THE CITY TO
FIND A BETTER WAY FOR THEM TO
FIND A WAY FOR THE BUILDING
OWNERS TO THEN BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE SEISMIC UPGRADES. RATHER
THAN TRIGGERING IT ON TI
IMPROVEMENTS FOR A TENANT.
>> IS THAT THE LAST PERSON?
>> THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD WHICH IS NOW
CLOSED. I DO WANT TO REMARK THAT
THE COMMENTS WE JUST HEARD I
BELIEVE WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE
BODY OF THE PRESENTATION,
ACCORDING TO MY ADVANCED READ
BEFORE THIS MEETING. ALL RIGHT,
FOLKS, BEFORE GETTING INTO THE
MEAT OF THE DISCUSSION, AND
WHILE I'M TALKING, I'M GOING
TO GET SOME INTRODUCTORY
REMARKS. BEFORE GETTING INTO THE
ACTUAL PRESENTATION, I WANT TO
PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT. YOU HAVE
HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE, ONE OF
COUNCIL'S MAIN FUNCTIONS IS AS
THE CITIES OVERSIGHT BODY.
BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO WE PASS LAWS
AND PRODUCE A BUDGET EVERY YEAR,
WE ARE ALSO SUPPOSED TO OVERSEE
THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENTS. AND SO THIS
DISCUSSION TODAY IS ULTIMATELY
ABOUT GOOD GOVERNANCE AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. THE OFFICE OF
THE CITY AUDITOR IS THE CITY'S
ACCOUNTABILITY WATCHDOG. IN 2023
AT THE REQUEST OF THE THEN
LAND-USE CHAIR COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, THEY PUBLISHED AN AUDIT
ON CONSTRUCTION PERMITTING AND
TITLED, "CITY CONSTRUCTION
PERMITTING NEEDS MORE CUSTOMER
FOCUS AND CONSISTENCY." SOME OF
THE THINGS YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR
TODAY WILL ECHO SOME OF THE
STATEMENTS THAT THE AUDITORS
HEARD FROM STAKEHOLDERS
EXPRESSED WHEN THEY WERE DOING
RESEARCH AND INFORMING THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS. SO SOME OF THIS
WILL NOT BE NEW AT ALL AND HAS
BEEN PUT BEFORE COUNCIL WHEN
THAT REPORT WAS PRESENTED, I
BELIEVE IN THE SECOND HALF OF
2023. OF THOSE THINGS THAT
SURFACED IN A SURVEY THE AUDITOR
CONDUCTED AMONGST STAKEHOLDERS
OF PERMITTING PROCESSES, THEY
PRODUCED FINDINGS SUCH AS, EVEN
THE CHOICE BETWEEN SATISFIED,
NEUTRAL OR DISSATISFIED, 66%
SAID THEY WERE DISSATISFIED WITH
THE PROCESS OF GETTING A PERMIT
WITH THE CITY. NOW I UNDERSTAND
THEY SENT THE SURVEY TO 117
PEOPLE. 38 RESPONDED. SO 66% IS
25 PEOPLE. ANOTHER FINDING, 82%
OF THE RESPONDENTS DISAGREED
WITH THE STATEMENT, THE TIMELINE
TO GET MY PERMITS WAS
REASONABLE. IN ADDITION, 61%
SAID IT'S NOT CLEAR WHO TO
CONTACT IN THE CITY IF THEY HAD
A QUESTION. 42% SAID REVIEWERS
DID NOT ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IN
A TIMELY FASHION WHEN THEY DID
CONTACT THEM. I DON'T KNOW TO
WHAT EXTENT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS HAS BEEN TRACKING THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THAT AUDIT.
BUT FOR TODAY'S DISCUSSION, I
REACHED OUT TO THE AUDITOR TO
FIND OUT THE STATUS OF SOME OF
THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND AS OF
NOW THEY ARE STILL ON THE TO DO
LIST. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT
IS NOT UNUSUAL AT ALL.
UNFORTUNATELY THE
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR CITY
AUDITOR DO LIVE ON THEIR
DASHBOARD FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
I'M NOT SINGLING OUT SDCI AS AN
ABERRATION, IT IS SIMPLY OUR JOB
IS THE OVERSIGHT BODY AND AS
REPRESENTATIVES WHEN WE ARE OUT
THERE ENGAGING WITH OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS,
TO BACK UP THE WORK OF OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS AND HELP
HONE IN ON SOME OF THE ONGOING
ISSUES. SO, AND JUST ON THAT
NOTE, I WILL SAY , ANECDOTALLY,
AS I GO OUT AND TALK TO SMALL
BUSINESSES, RIGHT AFTER A CRIME,
PROBLEMS WITH PERMITTING ARE THE
NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT THAT I HEAR
BEFORE ONE EVEN THINKS ABOUT
ACCESS TO CAPITAL, ET CETERA.
THIS IS A VERY REAL ISSUE. AM
GLAD WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS
IN THIS COMMITTEE WHICH IS
CALLED THE GOVERNANCE,
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND ECONOMIC .
ONE FINAL THOUGHT, I DID SPEAK
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE , THE
COO OF THE CITY, AND MEMBERS OF
THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION TO FIND
OUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING RIGHT
NOW. THERE IS GREAT WORK GOING
ON TO TRACK HOW LONG IT TAKES TO
GET CERTAIN KINDS OF PERMITS.
AND SO I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE
THERE IS A RECOGNITION IN THE
PART OF THE EXECUTIVE THAT
THINGS NEED ATTENTION. I WANT TO
APPLAUD THAT GREAT WORK BECAUSE
AS I HAVE SAID NOW, THIS IS
HURTING SMALL BUSINESSES. IT'S
IMPACTING THE PRICE OF HOUSING
BECAUSE TIME IS THE GREATEST
DRIVER OF COST OVERRUNS IN A
PROJECT. THIS IS -- IMPROVED
PERMITTING WILL HELP US MEET
MANY POLICY GOALS AT THE SAME
TIME. ALL RIGHT. THAT IS WHY WE
ARE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION. WITH
THAT I WOULD LIKE PRESENTERS TO
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND
WE CAN GO ON WITH THE
PRESENTATION. TAKE IT AWAY.
>> YES.
>> WE HAVE TO READ THIS INTO THE
RECORD.
>> ITEM NUMBER ONE, A ROUNDTABLE
DISCUSSION ON IMPROVING THE
BUILDING PERMITTING PROCESS
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO NOTE THE
MAIN INSTIGATOR , MONTHS AND
MONTHS AGO OF THIS DISCUSSION,
IS NOT AT THE TABLE BUT IS
JOINING US REMOTELY. PLEASE
PROCEED WITH INTRODUCTIONS.
>> MY NAME IS IAN BUTCHER. AN
ARCHITECT.
>> MY NAME IS FRANCESCA
RENOUARD, A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER.
>> MICHELLE LINDEN. ARCHITECT.
>> GREG SHIFFLER, ARCHITECT.
>> HEATHER POGUE. ARCHITECT. DON
BLAKENEY U-DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP
DIRECTOR.
>> MY NAME IS JIM GRAHAM,
ARCHITECT IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I
WILL LET THE FIRST PERSON WHO'S
GOING TO SPEAK GO AHEAD AND
FRAME THE DISCUSSION. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. AGAIN, MY NAME IS
JIM GRAHAM, AN ARCHITECT IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. THANK YOU TO
THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU TO
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THE SEEDS FOR
THIS STARTED NOT JUST MONTHS AGO
BUT YEARS AGO AS WE TALKED
ABOUT. PERMITTING PROJECTS,
OWNING SMALL BUSINESS AND ME FOR
BEING AN ARCHITECT IN OVER 30
YEARS OF GOING THROUGH THE
PERMIT PROCESS. WE ARE HERE
TODAY WITH MY COLLEAGUES AT THE
TABLE TO HOPEFULLY DAYLIGHT SOME
OF THE ISSUES , SOME OF THE
POSITIVE THINGS GOING ON. WITH
IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN BE IMPROVED.
AT THE END OF THE DAY PERMITTING
IS PART OF THE PROCESS OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IT IS ONE
STAGE IN THE PROCESS THAT AS
ARCHITECTS WE BRING IDEAS TO
CONSTRUCTION AND TO BUILD WORK
THAT THEN BECOMES ECONOMIC
ENGINES FOR THE CITY. THESE
PROJECTS ARE NOT LIMITED TO
STOREFRONTS, BUSINESSES THAT ARE
RESTAURANTS, SHOPS. THIS IS
RESIDENTIAL. THIS IS EVEN
SCHOOLS. THE TIME IT TAKES TO
PERMIT PROJECTS REALLY REDUCES
THEIR ECONOMIC VIABILITY. I
HEARD A BEEP. MI UP? -- WE WOULD
LIKE TO KEEP IT AS A POSITIVE. I
THINK THERE ARE SOME GOOD THINGS
GOING ON. I WILL TAKE IT TO MY
TABLE.
>> THANKS.
>> MAKE SURE YOUR MICROPHONE IS
CLOSE TO YOU AND TURNED ON.
>> BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS
OPERATED A FREE IN-PERSON
SERVICE DESK OFFERING ASSISTANCE
AND COACHING TO THE PUBLIC AND
DESIGN PROFESSIONALS WITH
QUESTIONS RELATED TO BUILDING
CODES AND THE PERMIT PROCESS.
THIS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR
IMPROVED WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
WITH DESIGN PROFESSIONALS AND
SDCI STAFF AND WAS AN IMPORTANT
RESOURCE FOR HOMEOWNERS, SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS, TRYING TO DO
PROJECTS BUT WHO WERE NOT
WORKING WITH A PROFESSIONAL. IS
CONTRIBUTED TO A MORE EQUITABLE
PROCESS FOR ALL. THIS IN PERSON
SERVICE DESK WAS SHUT DOWN FOR
THE PANDEMIC AND NEVER REOPENED.
AT THIS POINT THE ONLY WAY TO
REACH STAFF IS THROUGH THEIR
ONLINE SYSTEM OR BYE ONLY
IF YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW THE PERSON
YOU WANT TO SPEAK WITH. WHILE
THE ONLINE SERVICES HAVE BEEN
NOTICEABLY INCREDIBLY IMPROVED
SINCE THE CLOSURE OF THE SERVICE
DESK, THEY ONLY WORK WITH THOSE
OF US FAMILIAR WITH THE SYSTEM.
IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE PROCESS OF
OBTAINING PERMITS AND NOT
WORKING WITH A DESIGN
PROFESSIONAL, THE ONLINE
SERVICES ARE FAIRLY DIFFICULT TO
NAVIGATE. FURTHERMORE AND
PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY TRUST
DESIGN PROFESSIONALS, THE ONLINE
Q&A RESOURCES DON'T ADEQUATELY
ADDRESS NUANCED QUESTIONS ABOUT
CODES AND PROCESSES. MANY
QUESTIONS REQUIRE LOOKING AT
DRAWINGS WITH BACK-AND-FORTH
CONVERSATIONS. OFTEN, WHEN WE
ARE AT THE SERVICE DESK, SDCI
STAFF WOULD TAKE HER QUESTIONS
BACK TO THEIR STAFF, DISCUSS
WITH COLLEAGUES AND IN REAL-TIME
PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO US
PROFESSIONALS. WITH THAT MIND
REOPENING THE SERVICE DESK FOR
IN PERSON Q&A AND PERHAPS
EXPANDING ONLINE SERVICES TO
INCLUDE VIDEOCONFERENCE COACHING
OR DRAWINGS COULD BE SHARED WILL
GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS IMPROVING
RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY.
>> STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS AND
ARCHITECTS, WHEN WE WORK IN
EXISTING BUILDINGS, WE RELY
HEAVILY ON ANY AVAILABLE
EXISTING DRAWINGS IN ORDER TO DO
OUR JOB WELL. OUR PRIMARY SOURCE
FOR EXISTING DRAWINGS IS THE
CITY OF SEATTLE MICROFILM
LIBRARY. PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC,
WHEN THE HELPDESK WAS STILL
OPEN, WE COULD GO TO THE LIBRARY
IN PERSON AND REQUEST ALL DRYING
RECORDS FOR A SPECIFIC ADDRESS.
WE WOULD BE GIVEN A NICE TALL
STACK OF MICROFILM CARDS THAT WE
COULD QUICKLY FLIP THROUGH TO
IDENTIFY ANY RELEVANT DRAWINGS
TO US. OVER THE YEARS WE
DEVELOPED A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWED
US TO TAKE HIGH-RESOLUTION
PHOTOS OF THE MICROFILM CARDS
THAT GAVE US A MUCH HIGHER
LEGIBILITY THAN THE CITIES BATCH
SCANNED PLANS. WE FOUND HAVING
THESE HIGH-QUALITY PLANS ALLOWED
US TO DO OUR JOB MORE ACCURATELY
, EFFICIENTLY AND WITH LESS
SURPRISES DURING CONSTRUCTION.
YOU WILL SEE HERE IN THIS SLIDE,
THERE IS AN EXAMPLHIGH-RESD TY
SCANNED COPY OF A MICROFILM PLAN
ABOVE. THE MICROFILM LIBRARY HAS
NOW BEEN CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC
FOR CLOSE TO FIVE YEARS. THE
PROCESS TO GET EXISTING DRAWINGS
IS MUCH MORE CHALLENGING AND
TIME INTENSIVE. THE WAY IT WORKS
NOW IS YOU HAVE TO RESEARCH UP
TO DOZENS OF PREVIOUS PERMIT
NUMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
BUILDING. AND TAKE A GUESS AT
WHICH ONE IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
ORIGINAL OR MAJOR RENOVATION
PLANS THAT WILL HELP US TO OUR
JOB. WE EMAIL THE STAFF AT THE
LIBRARY BACK AND FORTH UNTIL THE
DRAWINGS ARE FOUND. I WILL SAY
THAT THE LIBRARY STAFF IS
FANTASTIC. THEY ARE QUICK TO
RESPOND AND VERY WILLING TO HELP
US FIND WHAT WE NEED. BUT
DESPITE THAT, THE PROCESS STILL
TAKES MUCH MORE TIME THAN GOING
IN PERSON , AND RESULTS IN LESS
QUALITY SCANS AND ULTIMATELY
MORE COST TO THE BUILDING OR
BUSINESS OWNER. WE WOULD LIKE TO
PROPOSE THE MICROFILM LIBRARY
REOPENED TO THE PUBLIC. IF THAT
IS NOT POSSIBLE, TO OPEN IT BY
APPOINTMENT TO DESIGN
PROFESSIONALS.
>> BASED ON OUR SHARED
EXPERIENCES, SDCI STAFF, WHO
WORK FROM HOME, ARE OFTEN
UNAVAILABLE DURING BUSINESS
HOURS OR CAN'T ANSWER OUR PHONE
CALLS. WHAT WE CAN OF COURSE
EMAIL TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM,
AS WITH ONLINE SERVICES, NOT ALL
ORDINATION MAKES SENSE OVER
EMAIL. WE WOULD HOPE AND
IMPROVED RESPONSE PROTOCOL FOR
CALLBACKS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
FURTHERMORE IT SEEMS SDCI STAFF
ARE NOT REQUIRED TO ALERT THE
PUBLIC WHEN THEY GO ON VACATION
OR SABBATICAL. NOT KNOWING WHERE
YOUR PLAN REVIEW IS CAN CAUSE
DELAYS OF WEEKS OR MONTHS WHICH
OF COURSE MEANS ADDED COST TO
OUR CLIENTS, THE HOMEOWNERS AND
BUSINESS OWNERS. SDCI SHOULD
IMPROVE THEIR OUT OF OFFICE
PROTOCOLS WITH STAFF, THUS
ALERTING APPLICANTS WHEN A
PLAN'S REVIEWER IS OUT FOR AN
EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND
SOMETIMES ASSIGNED A NEW
REVIEWER TO HELP PROJECTS MOVE
THROUGH THE PROCESS.
>> WE ARE FINDING MORE AND MORE
LAYERS ARE BEING ADDED TO THE
PROCESS. WHICH IS EXTENDING
EVERY PART OF OUR JOB . WE ARE
FINDING MORE AND MORE REVIEWERS
HAVE BEEN ADDED TO EVEN SMALL
PROJECTS. AND THAT WHEN PROJECTS
ARE BEING TAKEN IN, THAT
REVIEWERS ARE REQUESTING
INFORMATION THAT IS NOT EVEN
MATERIAL TO THE PROJECT. FOR
EXAMPLE, WE HAVE HAD A HOMEOWNER
WHO WANTED TO REMOVE A
NONSTRUCTURAL TRELLIS FROM THEIR
HOUSE WHICH DOES REQUIRE A
PERMIT. THEY WERE ASKED TO
PROVIDE AN ENERGY CODE
CHECKLIST. THIS IS JUST A
SCREENING ISSUE. MAYBE THAT ADDS
TWO DAYS TO THE PROJECT. BUT
THESE KINDS OF THINGS ADD UP.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS REQUIRING
TREE REVIEW FOR AN INTERIOR
REMODEL. THESE THINGS ARE EASILY
CLEARED UP WITH A PHONE CALL OR
EMAIL, BUT IT IS ONE MORE DESK
THAT THE PROJECT PLANS ON THAT
IT SHOULDN'T HAVE LANDED ON AND
THESE ADD UP AND ACCRUE OVER
TIME. SIMILARLY ADDRESSING IS A
SEPARATE STOP IN THE REVIEW
CYCLE. AND IT IS OFTEN THE
LONGEST REVIEW. AND IT TENDS TO
HOLD UP THE SHOW. AND THERE IS
REALLY NO REASON. IN THE PAST,
THESE THINGS COULD BE SORTED OUT
IN PERSON AT THE SERVICE CENTER
IF THERE WAS CONFUSION ABOUT AN
ADDRESS FOR A PROJECT. THOSE
THINGS COULD BE SORTED OUT AND
THEN NOT LATER HOLD UP THE SHOW
IS A SEPARATE REVIEW CYCLE. WE
ALSO FIND THAT PERMIT ISSUANCES
FREQUENTLY ARE DELAYED BECAUSE
STAFF ARE ADDING ADDITIONAL
CORRECTION COMMENTS WELL
SEPARATE REVIEW COMMENTS ARE
STILL UNDERGOING REVIEW. EVEN
AFTER THE STAFF APPROVAL HAS
BEEN GIVEN FOR PREVIOUS
COMPONENTS. THIS RESULTS IN MORE
CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONAL TIME.
WE BELIEVE STAFF REVIEW SHOULD
BE THOROUGH AND COMPREHENSIVE
AND ONCE APPROVED, SHOULD BE
FINAL. UNLESS THERE ARE
FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES TO THE SCOPE
OF THE PROJECT FROM OUR SIDE.
PERMIT REVIEW TIMES, CORRECTION
CYCLES, DOCUMENTATION
REQUIREMENTS, HAVE ALL
INCREASED, EVEN FOR SMALL
PROJECTS DUE TO THE EXPANDED
NUMBER OF REVIEWERS REQUIRED.
ARE USED TO BEAT THREE OR FOUR
REVIEWERS ON A SMALL PROJECT
ANOTHER MIGHT BE A DOZEN . AND
WE FIND THAT EACH ONE OF THOSE
JUST ADDS A LITTLE MORE TIME, A
LITTLE MORE MONEY TO THE
PROJECT. WE THINK THAT REVIEW
TIMES COULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY
IMPROVED FOR SMALL, COMMERCIAL
AND RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS BY
MINIMIZING THE NUMBER OF STAFF
ASSIGNED AND STREAMLINE IT.
WHICH IS THE WEIGHT USED TO BE.
THE USED TO BE THAT MULTIPLE
REVIEWERS WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THAT A SINGLE REVIEWER WOULD
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MULTIPLE
ASPECTS ON PROJECTS OF A SMALL
JOB. SOME EXAMPLES, WE HAD AN
INTERIOR REMODEL TO A KITCHEN
REQUIRING EXTENSIVE SITE PLAN
AND ZONING RESEARCH INCLUDING
DOCUMENTATION OF TREES AND
ZONING ANALYSIS. IT WAS
UNNECESSARY. WE WOULD JUST
PROPOSE THAT ARCHITECTS CAN
SIMPLY PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL
NOTES TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS
RATHER THAN HAVING TO PROVIDE
EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTATIONS
UNNECESSARY AND IMMATERIAL TO
THE PROJECT. WE HAVE HAD A
CLIENT WHO WANTED TO BUILD A
HOUSE ON A STEEP SLOPE LOT THE
REQUIRED FIVE ROUNDS OF MASTER
USE PLAN REVIEW CORRECTIONS. AND
ON THE FOURTH ROUND, AFTER THE
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER, REVIEWER
AND LAND-USE REVIEWER DISAGREED
AND PROVIDED CONFLICTING
COMMENTS, THE CLIENT FINALLY
GAVE UP. OUT OF FRUSTRATION AND
AFTER HAVING SPENT NEARLY
$20,000 ON THESE REVIEWS. WHEN
WE ASKED THE GEOTECHNICAL
REVIEWER ABOUT THIS, THEY
REMARKED THAT IT COULD'VE BEEN
AVOIDED IF WE HAD HAD A
PRE-APPLICATION CONFERENCE
BEFORE THE PROJECT. WHICH WE HAD
DONE. BUT BECAUSE THE
GEOTECHNICAL REVIEWER HAD BEEN
REPLACED MID-PROJECT, HE HAD NOT
READ THE RECORDED PRE-SUBMITTAL
CONFERENCE NOTES WHICH HE HAD
ACCESS TO. AND SO AGAIN, THIS
COST THE CLIENT TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, AND
ULTIMATELY THE PROJECT DID NOT
PROCEED. SO WE WOULD SIMPLY ASK
THAT REVIEWERS FROM DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS SHOULD COORDINATE
WITH ONE ANOTHER INTERNALLY
BEFORE REQUESTING ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION THAT COULD BE IN
CONFLICT WITH OTHER REVIEWERS.
AND THAT GOES FOR PEOPLE WITHIN
THE SDCI AND ALSO OTHER
DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY LIKE THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND UTILITIES
AND EVERYONE ELSE WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWING
PROJECT. AND LASTLY, RELATED TO
PRE-APPLICATION CONFERENCES, WE
THINK THOSE ARE ONLY VALUABLE
SDCI VALUES INFORMATION RECORDED
AND ENSURES CURRENT REVIEW TEAMS
ARE AWARE OF THE HISTORY AND
THOSE MEETINGS AND THAT THOSE
MEETINGS ARE BINDING AND CAN BE
COUNTED ON.
>> BEFORE YOU GO ON, YOU ARE
SAYING THAT THESE
PRE-APPLICATION TONSIL TATIAN'S
ARE REQUIRED, --
>> THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED. YOU
CAN REQUEST THEM AND PAY TO
ATTEND THEM. BUT THE RESULTS ARE
NOT ALWAYS BINDING. AND NOT
ALWAYS NOTICED.
>> OKAY. WHEN YOU SAY PAY, ARE
YOU PAYING THE COST OF A HOURLY
REVIEWER?
>> YES, THAT IS RIGHT. $270 PER
HOUR .
>> PLUS ANY ADDITIONAL HOURS
THEY SPEND. THE USED TO BE
BINDING. AND NOW THEY ARE
USUALLY BUT NOT ALWAYS. IT IS
THERE MOST OFTEN USED WHEN THE
PROJECT IS COMPLICATED. AND YOU
HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW
THE CODE IS GOING TO BE APPLIED,
YOU CAN REQUEST A PRE-SUBMITTAL
CONFERENCE FOR ZONING OR THE
BUILDING CODE. SDCI HAS BEEN
PUSHING MORE OFTEN FOR ZONING
COACHING WHICH IS ALSO PAID BUT
LESS BINDING. WHICH IS A BIGGER
STRUGGLE FOR US BECAUSE IN WE
HAVE LESS OF A LEG TO STAND ON
LATER.
>> AND I THINK WE ALL HAVE
EXAMPLES OF BEING TOLD SOMETHING
AT ONE OF THESE PRE-SUBMITTAL
CONFERENCE MEETINGS, TAKING IT
AS GOSPEL, AND THEN BEING TOLD,
ONCE THE PROJECT IS SUBMITTED
FOR REVIEW THAT THE REVIEWER HAS
A DIFFERENT INTERPRETATION. THAT
HAS HAPPENED TO ALL OF US
MULTIPLE TIMES. AND IT'S
EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING TO SAY THE
LEAST.
>> I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT. GO ON.
SORRY FOR THE INTERRUPTION. I
WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS
UNDERSTANDING.
>> MY DISCUSSION INVOLVES
PERMITS FOR EXISTING SPACES THAT
TRIGGER ADDITIONAL SCOPE FOR
APPLICANTS. THERE HAS BEEN
INCREASED SCRUTINY IN THE SIMPLE
PERMIT APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE
CREATED A BARRIER TO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND A BARRIER TO
THOSE WHO CAN START
BRICK-AND-MORTAR BUSINESSES. AS
THE UPGRADES EXTEND TO THE
BUILDING BEYOND THEIR INTERIOR
REMODEL. MY HOPE IS WE CAN BREAK
DOWN THE BARRIERS TO BOOST
COMMUNITIES BY BUSINESS OWNERS
WHO WANT TO RISK A LOT TO OPEN A
SPACE WE ALL WANT TO ENJOY. THE
FIRST SLIDE IS ON SUBSTANTIAL
ALTERATIONS. A DESIGNATION THAT
CAN EASILY BE APPLIED TO AN
EXISTING BUILDING PERMIT AND
REQUIRE APPLICANTS TO UPGRADE
SEISMIC STRUCTURAL ENERGY AND
FIRE SAFETY MEASURES, BEYOND THE
SCOPE OF THE INTERIOR WORK. MANY
TIMES WE GO TO A CLIENT TO MEET
FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WE ARE
UNABLE TO TELL THEM OF ANY LEVEL
OF CERTAINTY WHETHER IT WILL BE
TABLED A SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATION.
THIS CAN LOOK LIKE A SHOP TENANT
WHO JUST LEASED THE SPACE AND
THEY BEING ASKED TO INFLATE THE
ROOF OF THE BUILDING, A LARGE
BUILDING, OVER MULTIPLE TENANTS
IN THE BUILDING THEY DON'T OWN.
THIS PERMIT IS STALLED UNTIL
THEY AGREE TO COMPLY WITH THE
REQUIRED UPGRADES AND THEY ARE
HELD LIABLE FOR E ADDITIONAL
SCOPE ON THE BUILDING THEY DO
NOT OWN. THIS CREATES A
SITUATION WHERE APPLICANTS
CAN'T A PIDDLY BUDGET FOR THEIR
PROJECTS, THEY CANNOT
EFFECTIVELY NEGOTIATE THEIR
LEASES AND IT GETS INTO LEGAL
CHALLENGES AND MAKES THE
PERMITTING PROCESS VERY
UNPREDICTABLE AND UNAPPROACHABLE
FOR MANY PEOPLE TO START
BUSINESSES IN OUR STOREFRONTS
THAT DESPERATELY NEEDED. A
SOLUTION WOULD BE TO BEING BRING
MORE PREDICTABLE AT THE TWO
PROJECTS IN THE SUBSTANTIAL
ALTERATION PROCESS AND MAKE THAT
PROCESS MORE TRANSPARENT FOR
THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS SO THEY
CAN BE MORE SUCCESSFUL. IF WE
LEAVE THE LANGUAGE AS IT IS NOW,
TO EXTEND THE ECONOMIC LIFE OF
THE BUILDING, THIS CREATES ,
THIS CAN APPLY TO ALMOST ANY
PROJECT THAT GOES INTO AN
EXISTING BUILDING. WE ARE HOPING
THAT THIS CAN BE A MORE STEP
APPROACH WITH INCREMENTAL CHANGE
RATHER THAN THESE GIANT UPGRADES
TO STRUCTURAL AND ENERGY . THE
NEXT SLIDE IS SIMILAR TO
SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATIONS, IT
INVOLVES ENERGY UPGRADES GETTING
AGGRESSIVELY HARDER TO COMPLY
WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
LEASING SPACES. WHETHER IT'S
APPLIED THROUGH THE SUBSTANTIAL
ALTERATION DETERMINATION OR IT
APPLIES BECAUSE YOU ARE TRYING
TO DO AN INTERIOR REMODEL ON AN
EXISTING BUILDING, OFTEN TIMES
TENANTS ARE BEING ASKED TO
UPGRADE FOR THE WHOLE BUILDING.
AN EXAMPLE OF THIS WOULD BE A
PROJECT WHERE AN INDOOR
PICKLEBALL LEAGUE WANTED TO TAKE
OVER AN EXISTING EMPTY WAREHOUSE
SPACE. SDCI SAID THEY NEEDED TO
INSULATE THE 3000 SQUARE-FOOT
BUILDING AND ALSO CONDITION IT.
THIS PICKLEBALL LEAGUE IS NOT
ASKING FOR A CONDITIONED SPACE,
THEY JUST WANT TO COVER FROM THE
RAIN AND THE TENANT COULDN'T
AFFORD TO INSULATE AND THE OWNER
WASN'T INTERESTED IN
CONTRIBUTING AND THEREFORE THE
WAREHOUSE REMAINS EMPTY AND
UNUSED. ONE SUGGESTION TO
IMPROVE ON THE ENERGY UPGRADES
WOULD BE ALSO INCREMENTAL OR
STEPPED APPROACH. TO BALANCE OUT
WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOLKS TO DO
TO THEIR BUILDING. SIMILAR TO
ADA UPGRADES, THERE IS A CAP ON
THE PERCENTAGE OF BUDGET YOU CAN
USE TOWARDS ADA UPGRADES. WE ARE
HOPING THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO
ENERGY UPGRADES SO THERE
INCREMENTAL CHANGES AND THAT
DOESN'T ALL FALL ON SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS TO COMPLETE FOR
BUILDINGS THEY DON'T OWN.
>> BEFORE I GET INTO THE CHANGE
OF USE, I THOUGHT I WOULD
EXPLAIN IT. YOU PROBABLY ARE NOT
AS FAMILIAR WITH THE INTRICACIES
OF THE BUILDING CODE.
ESSENTIALLY, IN THE BUILDING
CODE, WHEN YOU ARE CHANGING THE
USE OF A SPACE YOU ARE DOING
THAT, CHANGING HOW YOU'RE USING
THE SPACE, WHETHER IT'S A
SCHOOL OR YOU'RE USING IT AS A
STORAGE FACILITY, INTO SOMETHING
ELSE. FOR BUSINESS OWNERS, THIS
CHANGE OF USED TERM CAN BE SCARY
BECAUSE IT CAN TRIGGER THINGS WE
TALKED ABOUT. AT ITS MOST BASIC,
IT REALLY IS JUST HOW WE ARE
USING THE SPACE AND CHANGING IT?
IT DOES IMPACT THE BUILDING CODE
BECAUSE THE WAY DIFFERENT USES
HAVE OCCUPANCY RATINGS , HAZARD
RATINGS, AFFECTS LIFE SAFETY OF
THE BUILDING. OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE
GOING TO BE DIFFERENT CODES AND
REGULATIONS FOR A SCHOOL THAN
THERE WOULD BE FOR AN APARTMENT
BUILDING, FOR A FACTORY, FOR A
RESTAURANT. RIGHT? OBVIOUSLY
WHEN A BUILDING IS CHANGING THE
USE SIGNIFICANT, LIKE CONVERTING
A SCHOOL INTO HOUSING, THE LIFE
SAFETY CONCERNS ARE PARAMOUNT
AND MUST BE ADDRESSED AND IT'S
COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD THIS GOES
THROUGH FULL BUILDING PERMIT
REVIEW. HOWEVER, THERE ARE ALSO
MINOR CHANGES OF USE THAT CAN
HAPPEN WITHIN THE SAME OCCUPANCY
GROUP CLASSIFICATION. FOR
EXAMPLE, IF YOU WANT TO OPEN A
COFFEE SHOP IN A SPACE THAT USED
TO BE A CORNER MARKET GROCER,
THESE ARE BOTH TECHNICALLY A
BUSINESS USE. BUT YOU ARE
CHANGING FROM RETAIL TO A
RESTAURANT. IN THIS CASE THE
BUSINESS OWNER NOT ACTUALLY BE
PLANNING TO DO ANY CONSTRUCTION
AT ALL. PERHAPS THEY PLAN ON
REMOVING THE SHELVES AND
BRINGING IN TABLES AND CHAIRS.
BUT AS THE CODE IS ENFORCED,
FULL BUILDING PERMIT WOULD BE
REQUIRED. THIS CAN HAD TIME TO
THE PROCESS WILL THE BUSINESS
OWNER IS PAYING RENT ON THE
SPACE THEY CAN'T USE. ANOTHER
EXAMPLE WOULD BE WHEN HE
BUSINESS NEEDS TO MODIFY THEIR
BUSINESS PLAN IN ORDER TO
SURVIVE. WHICH COULD INVOLVE
CHANGES TO THEIR FLOORPLAN. A
BAR THAT IS CURRENTLY STORING
BARRELS AND WOULD LIKE TO MOVE
THAT STORAGE OFF SITE SO THEY
CAN INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SEATS
IN THEIR SPACE WOULD BE CHANGING
THE USE. AS WE KNOW, THE FOOD
AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN
HARD-HIT BY COVID AND OTHER
ECONOMIC CHANGES SINCE THEN.
THEY NEED TO ADAPT TO SURVIVE.
IN THIS CASE, THE CHANGE OF USE
FOR JUST THE SEATING WITHIN AN
EXISTING BAR TRIGGER A FULL
REVIEW PERMIT. THE FULL REVIEW
TRIGGER THE NEED FOR AN
ADDITIONAL RESTROOM AND FIRE
SPRINKLERS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE
BUILDING. JUST WHEN THEY WANTED
TO ADD SOME CHAIRS. IF WE WANT
TO ACTIVATE OUR RETAIL AND
BUSINESS WE NEED TO SIMPLIFY THE
PROCESS FOR THESE MINOR CHANGES
OF USE. WE DON'T WANT
BUSINESSES TO SIMPLY IGNORE THE
PERMIT PROCESS, NOR DO WE WANT
BUSINESSES PENALIZED BECAUSE
THEY TRIED TO FOLLOW THE RULES.
BUSINESSES SHOULD NOT BE SCARED
AWAY FROM POTENTIAL SPACES DUE
TO THE WORRY OF LONG REVIEWS AND
ADDITIONAL UPGRADES TO THE
BUILDING THEY DON'T OWN. ONE
SOLUTION WOULD BE TO ALLOW
CHANGES OF USE WITHIN THE SAME
OCCUPANCY GROUP AND THEREFORE
THE SAME LIFE SAFETY HAZARD
RATING TO BE REVIEWED AS AN
OVER-THE-COUNTER PERMIT. AS NEXT
STEPS AND HOPEFULLY WITH THIS
COMMITTEES SUPPORT AND SDCI'S
MANAGEMENT SUPPORT, WE WOULD
LOVE TO SEE YOU STANDING
WORKGROUP THAT CAN WORK TOGETHER
TO MAKE THESE IMPROVEMENTS. SOME
OF THE IMPROVEMENTS WE TALKED
ABOUT SUCH AS OPENING UP
MICROFILM, SEEM LIKE THEY COULD
BE DONE SOONER THAN LATER AND
MAY NOT NEED GROUP DISCUSSION.
BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT SOME
OF THE CHANGES WE DISCUSSED,
LIKE EVALUATING HOW SUBSTANTIAL
ALTERATIONS ARE DETERMINED OR
HOW WE IMPLEMENT THE ENERGY
CODE, IS GOING TO TAKE CONCERTED
EFFORT FROM ALL OF US. WE WOULD
LOVE TO SEE SDCI SUPPORT THIS
WORKGROUP AND ASSIGN SOMEONE WHO
HAS DECISION-MAKING POWERS TO
LEAD IT. WE ARE ALSO SURE THE
STAFF AT SDCI HAVE THEIR OWN
THOUGHTS AND HOW THE SYSTEM
COULD BE IMPROVED ON THEIR END.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OTHER SPECIFIC
ITEMS WE THINK COULD HELP
IMPROVE THE PROCESS. ONE IS THAT
WE ARE OFTEN TOLD DURING THE
REVIEW PROCESS THERE IS AN
INTERNAL POLICY FOR HOW
SOMETHING IS GOING TO BE
REVIEWED. WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE
THESE INTERNAL POLICIES MADE
PUBLIC, EVEN IF THEY ARE IN
DRAFT FORM, THAT WAY WE CAN BE
WORKING TOWARD THE SINGLES. WE
WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE TIP
SHEETS, PARTICULARLY FOR AREAS
OF REVIEW THE CONSISTENTLY
EXCEED MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF REVIEW
LIKE GEOTECH ENTRY. AND FINALLY,
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE FEEDBACK ON
THE PROCESS, JUST LIKE THE DMV
ASKED FOR REVIEWS AND YOUR
EXPERIENCE ONCE YOU GET YOUR
LICENSE, PERHAPS THERE COULD BE
A LINK REVIEWS WHEN A PERMIT IS
ISSUED. THIS COULD ALLOW FOR
MORE REAL-TIME FEEDBACK AS WELL
AS OF US THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ACKNOWLEDGE WHEN THINGS GO WELL
AND THANK THOSE STAFF MEMBERS.
BEFORE HAND IT OVER TO DON
BLAKENEY, WE WANT TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE FOR HEARING OUR COMER
CONCERNS. WE ARE STEWARDS OF THE
BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND LIKE YOU
ALL WE ARE VERY INVESTED IN THE
CONTINUED SUCCESS AND LIVABILITY
OF OUR CITY.
>> THANK YOU. AGAIN, I AM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
U-DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP. THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO JOIN.
YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
THRESHOLDS AND BUSINESSES AND
YOU'VE GIVEN A LOT OF GREAT
EXAMPLES. I THINK THE PANDEMIC
REALLY OPEN UP OUR EYES AS WE
LOOK AT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES
FACING NEIGHBORHOODS ABOUT HOW A
CONCENTRATION OF THESE ISSUES IN
A DISTRICT KE TLE
OR THE U-DISTRICT CAN PLAY OUT
IN A PHYSICAL WAY EVERYONE IN
THE PUBLIC CAN SEE. WE LOVE
BUSINESSES COMING TO OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD AND OPENING AND WE
SEE A LOT OF THE SAME ISSUES. WE
HAVE AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY AS
PART OF THE PANDEMIC TO RECEIVE
A $5 MILLION GRANT FROM THE
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO
DO ON HUNDRED 40 STOREFRONT
IMPROVEMENTS WITH SMALL
BUSINESSES. SOME NEW AND SOME
EXISTING. BRINGING THAT TO THE
CITY ALL AT ONCE WAS A LEARNING
EXPERIENCE BECAUSE WHAT WE FOUND
IS THAT MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS HAD
TO WEIGH IN AND THE TIMELINES
WERE INCREDIBLE. I MEAN, THERE
WAS ALSO THE PANDEMIC PROVIDED
CHALLENGES TO THE CITY. ONE OF
THE THINGS I WANT TO SAY, DURING
THE PANDEMIC WE ALSO SAW THE
CITY ADAPT AND ACTUALLY MAKE
SOME INTERESTING IMPROVEMENTS.
WITH OUTDOOR DINING PERMITS, AND
THOSE STRUCTURES, THEY CREATED
NEW TEAMS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
MOVE THAT FORWARD QUICKLY SO
RESTAURANTS COULD SAFELY SERVE
PEOPLE OUTSIDE IN A WAY THAT MET
BUILDING CODE AND CUT PEOPLE
SAFE IN TRAFFIC. WE SAW THIS
ALSO WITH OUR GRANT FUND. OPCD
PUT TOGETHER A SPECIAL TEAM THE
FOCUSED EVERY WEEK TO GET THESE
140 PERMITS THROUGH. IT WAS
GREAT, IT HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. 140
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COURSE OF
SIX MONTHS. I THINK ABOUT THAT,
IF WE CAN DO IT FOR THAT, HOW
CAN WE THINK ABOUT THE URGENCY
AND TYPE OF COLLABORATION WHEN
LOOKING AT DOWNTOWN SEATTLE?
WHAT IS A, 527 VACANT
STOREFRONTS? IF WE COULD PUT
TOGETHER A TEAM THAT KNOCKED OUT
THE PERMITS, TOOK SOME
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LOWERING THE
THRESHOLDS, WE WERE TOSSING
AROUND IDEAS, LIKE COULD YOU
HAVE A PERMIT HOLIDAY FOR
SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATION OR
REDUCED THRESHOLD, IN COMMERCIAL
DISTRICTS. OR COULD WE HAVE THE
CHANGE OF USE PAUSED FOR A FEW
YEARS JUST TO GET SOME SPACES
BACK UP AND RUNNING. WHEN YOU
HAVE AN OLD BUILDING AND YOU
HAVE A TENANT THAT IS EXISTING
WHO NEEDS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS
BUT THE LANDLORD IS SAYING, YOU
CAN'T, WE DON'T WAY TOO
BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO TRIGGER
THIS WHOLE OTHER THING FOR OUR
COSTS. KEEP YOUR BUSINESS THE
WAY IT IS. TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.
IT HAS A CUMULATIVE EFFECT ON
THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT. LASTLY
I WOULD JUST SAY, WILL BE CALLED
QUIET CRYING AT THE PERMIT
COUNTER WHEN PEOPLE HAD REALLY
CHALLENGING EXPERIENCES AND
NOWHERE TO VENT, I THINK IT
WOULD BE GREAT IF THERE WAS A
WAY THE CITY COULD REALLY HEAR
FROM PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE
PROCESS, INTERNALIZE WHAT THEY
ARE HEARING AND TRY TO MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS. BECAUSE EVERY
STORY, YOU LISTEN TO EACH ONE OF
THESE 140 FOLKS WHO HAD A
COMPELLING STORY, WE HAD SOMEONE
LOSING CONTRACTORS BECAUSE THE
TIMELINE GOT KICKED OUT. WHAT
YOU SAID ABOUT THE STAFF GOING
ON HOLIDAY BY SURPRISE, THAT WAS
A HUGE PROBLEM. WE HAD A NEW
PERMIT PERSON COME IN AND
REWRITE ALL THE REQUIREMENTS.
THAN THE USE WAS GOING TO
EXPIRE. THESE THINGS WERE SUCH
SURPRISES THAT COULD'VE BEEN
AVOIDED. I THINK THE CITY FOR
THE STUFF THEY WERE ABLE TO DO
TO HELP US. BUT ALSO THINK
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK WE CAN DO
TO MAKE THIS A GREAT FRONT DOOR
TO THE CITY IN A MUCH BETTER
PROCESS. THANK YOU FOR LETTING
ME SHARE ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND
EXPERIENCE AND WISDOM. ON THAT
LAST POINT, I WANTED TO NOTE,
RECOMMENDATION NUMBER SIX OF THE
2023 AUDIT DOES SAY THAT THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE SHOULD LEAD A
COORDINATE EFFORT TO DOCUMENT
ALL RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO
THE CONSTRUCTION PERMITTING
PROCESS FROM CONSULTANT REPORTS
AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT
EFFORTS. THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD
EVALUATE EACH RECOMMENDATION TO
DETERMINE WHETHER YOU INTEND TO
IMPLEMENT IT AND WHY. AND SO,
AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS THING THAT
SAYS, WE NEED TO TAKE CUSTOMER
FEEDBACK. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, CREATING
A FEEDBACK LOOP . INFORMATION
SHARING, AND A FEEDBACK LOOP.
BECAUSE YOU ARE ALL
PRACTITIONERS OF OUR PERMITTING
PROCESS AND HAVE A LOT OF ON THE
GROUND EXAMPLES YOU CAN
CONTRIBUTE. BUT DOING THAT IN
GETTING THAT FEEDBACK ON A
REGULAR BASIS I THINK IS WHAT
THIS AUDIT IS GEARED AT AND I
WOULD HOPE THAT SDCI IS TAKING
THAT ENTERING TO FIGURE OUT HOW
TO DO THAT. SO, JIM GRAHAM, I
SEE YOUR HAND UP. SORRY FOR
INTERRUPTING THE FLOW OF THE
CONVERSATION.
>> I THINK I WOULD LEAN IN ON
THE SAME COMMENT YOU HAD ABOUT
THE FEEDBACK LOOP. WE KNOW THESE
REVIEWERS ARE TRYING TO DO THE
RIGHT THING, THEY'RE TRYING TO
FIND THE CODES AND FOLLOW THE
CODES AND THE PROCESSES PUT IN
FRONT OF THEM. IF THEY KNEW THE
IMPACT THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL STEPS
IN THAT PROCESS OR CORRECTIONS
ROUNDS THAT THEY ASK FOR IT HAD
ON INDIVIDUAL VISITS OWNERS, I
AM SURE THEY WOULD BE MORE
MOTIVATED TO FIND A
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO SPEED
THAT UP. THE FEEDBACK LOOP COULD
BE ONE OF THEM. I WOULD IMPRESS
UPON THE COMMITTEE, YOU ARE
CHARGED WITH ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. THESE ISSUES ARE AT
ITS CORE, AND ECONOMIC ISSUE.
THERE ARE MANY OPERATORS
POTENTIALLY THAT COULD HELP
CHANGE THE FACE OF THE CITY. AND
ACTIVATE STOREFRONTS. THAT
SIMPLY ARE NOT COMING TO
SEATTLE. THEY'RE GOING TO OTHER
JURISDICTIONS IT'S MUCH EASIER.
AND THE REPUTATION OF SEATTLE
EXTENDS BEYOND THE STATE. THE
PERMITTING PROCESS IS FLAWED AND
TAKES WAY TOO LONG. THAT IS SAD
TO HEAR.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. WAS SOME
OF WHAT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT A
SMALL PROJECT TRIGGERS BIGGER
RENOVATIONS, IS THAT CONSISTENT,
IS THAT WHAT ARE PUBLIC, THERE
WAS TALKING ABOUT? THAT IS THE
ISSUE? IS HER WAY OF SAYING THAT
IS NOT AN INARTICULATE SENTENCE
I UTTERED?
>> YEAH, BASICALLY THESE ARE
TENANTS GOING INTO THE EXISTING
SPACE THAT OFTEN TIMES IT LOOKS
ON PAPER TO BE SIMPLE. LIKE
THEY'RE GOING INTO AN EXISTING
RESTAURANT THAT IS ALREADY
PERMITTED LEGALLY THAT WAY AND
THEY ARE BEING ASKED TO NOW
REINFORCE THE MASONRY OR INFLATE
THE ENTIRE ROOF OF MULTIPLE
TENANTS NEXT DOOR TO THEM. THOSE
ARE EXAMPLES OF THAT KIND OF
SCRUTINY. THOSE SMALLER, SIMPLE
COMMERCIAL TENANT IMPROVEMENTS
ARE NOW REQUIRING.
>> AND I HAVE HEARD EXAMPLES OF
THE CITY EXTERNALIZING THE COST
OF FOR EXAMPLE, SIDEWALK REPAIR
OR INSTALLING WATER METERS OR
BETTER WATER MEANS WHEN ONE
PROJECT IS GOING IN, IT TRIGGERS
WORK THAT IS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF
THE INITIAL PROJECT. ANYWAY, I
WILL STOP TALKING AND ASKING
QUESTIONS AND OPEN THE FLOOR TO
MY COLLEAGUES. COUNCILMEMBER
MARK SOLOMON.
>> THANK YOU. PERMITTING REFORM
IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO ME. I REMEMBER
HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH
SOMEONE SAYING, SALEM DOESN'T
HAVE A HOUSING PROBLEM, IT HAS A
PERMITTING PROBLEM. I'M GOING
TO TELL THE SHED STORY. I WAS
TRYING TO GET A PERMIT TO BUILD
A 12 BY 16 SHED IN MY BACKYARD.
IT TOOK ME SEVEN MONTHS. AND THE
REASON IT ONLY TOOK SEVEN MONTHS
IS BECAUSE I KNEW SOMEBODY WHO
KNEW SOMEBODY WHO TOLD SOMEBODY
TO CALL ME. HAD I HAD SOMEONE
THAT I COULD'VE TALKED TO UP
FRONT, I'M NOT A BUILDER OR
DEVELOPER OR ARCHITECT, IF I
COULD'VE HAD SOMEONE WHO SAID,
HERE'S WHAT I WANT TO DO, WHO
COULD'VE WALKED ME THROUGH THE
PROCESS FROM THE BEGINNING, SO I
WOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE GONE
THROUGH SEVEN MONTHS OF
CORRECTIONS ON THINGS THAT
COULD'VE EASILY BEEN HANDLED
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. AND
THEN SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS
YOU MENTIONED. TO BE CLEAR, I
HAVE SHARED THIS , THESE
CONCERNS WITH SDCI MYSELF. ANTOL
AS THE EXECUTIVE WHO ARE ALSO
LOOKING AT PERMITTING REFORM, TO
SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO EASE THE
BURDEN. BUT, WHAT I'M TRYING TO
GET DONE, WHY WAS ONE OF THE
THINGS I HAD TO PROVIDE FOR A
SHED, THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF EACH
ROOM OF MY EXISTING RESIDENTS?
WHAT HAS THAT GOT TO DO WITH THE
SHED? I CAN UNDERSTAND, PLOTTING
OUT WHERE THE TREES ARE THAT
MIGHT BE IMPACTED BY THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE SHED. AND I
CAN UNDERSTAND THE FLOOR AREA
CALCULATIONS OR LOT AREA
COVERAGE. BUT IT JUST SEEMED TO
BE REALLY INFORMATION THAT WAS
BEING ASKED THE HAD NO RELEVANCE
TO THE PROJECT TRYING TO BE
DONE. THAT IS WHY I AM VERY
INTERESTED IN SIMPLIFYING THE
PROCESS . MAKE IT EASIER FOR
SOMEBODY TO NAVIGATE. AGAIN, I
KNEW SOMEBODY I COULD CALL.
MISSES JENKINS DOWN THE BLOCK
DOESN'T HAVE SOMEONE TO CALL.
HAD WHEAT MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE
REGULAR PERSON TO ACTUALLY GET
SOMETHING DONE ON THEIR OWN
PROPERTY? HOW CAN WE MAKE THE
PROCESS LESS ONEROUS SO WE
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO WANT TO
BUILD IN SEATTLE AS OPPOSED TO
GOING TO UNINCORPORATED KING
COUNTY. I AM WITH YOU THERE. I
UNDERSTAND THAT. LIKE I SAID, I
AM COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH
YOU, WITH THE PLANNING COMMITTEE
DEVELOP AN, DEPARTMENT OF
INSPECTIONS, WITH WHOEVER, TO
EASE THE BURDEN SO WE CAN MAKE
IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY
BUILD IN THE CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ALONG THOSE LINES
I WILL JUST ADD, WHEN I WAS
TRYING TO FIND A PLACE, WHEN WE
WERE TRYING TO FIND A PLACE TO
START MANUFACTURING AN ADULT
BEVERAGE, WE LOCATED IN A PLACE
WHERE THAT WAS A PERMITTED USE.
IT WAS ALLOWED. IN THAT ZONING
WE COULD'VE DONE THAT. BUT WE
DID NOT KNOW WE WERE SUPPOSED TO
OBTAIN A CHANGE OF USE PERMIT.
AND SO WE HAD TO SORT OF,
RETROACTIVELY REDUCE THE
DRAWINGS , ET CETERA. DEFINITELY
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE SHOULD BE,
AT LEAST COMMUNICATION OR
EDUCATION ABOUT THAT BEING A
CENTRAL PART OF THE PERMITTING
PROCESS AND THEN CLARITY ON WHEN
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS TRIGGER
SOMETHING BIGGER, THAT WOULD BE
VARIABLE AS WELL. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I JUST WANT
TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING. I
HAVE HEARD SIMILAR STORIES FROM
DIFFERENT ANGLES TO INCLUDE HERE
IN THE AUDIENCE, TO REVITALIZE
THIRD AVENUE WHICH IS IMPORTANT.
A SHOUT OUT FOR NICK. AND I WILL
BE MEETING ANOTHER CONSTITUENT,
MY STAFF IS ALREADY MET HIM,
REGARDING WHAT HE HAD SAID IN
PUBLIC COMMENT. WHICH IS ANOTHER
EXAMPLE, BY THE WAY, THAT WE DO
LISTEN TO PUBLIC COMMENT. I DO
WITH MY PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
AND SO MY CHIEF OF STAFF HAS
ALREADY CHECKED IN. WE WILL SEE
WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT AND WHAT
THE DETAILS ARE. BUT I AM AWARE
OF THESE ISSUES. WE SHOULD BE
ENGAGING ON THOSE. I SEE WHAT
SDCI IS LOOKING TO DO PARTLY
WITH RESEARCH AND REALLY PERMIT
COACHING. EXPEDITED PERMITTING
SERVICES. BUT AS YOU NOTED IN
YOUR TESTIMONY THERE ARE SOME
HANGUPS WITH SPECIFIC PIECES OF
THIS. SOME OF THIS IS NOT AIDED
BY LEGACY OF COVID AND WORK FROM
HOME AND THE LIKE. SO THESE ARE
THE THINGS THAT CLEARLY WE
SHOULD BE WORKING THROUGH,
HIGHLIGHTING, AND AT SOME POINT
BRING SDCI EITHER HERE OR IN
LAND USE COMMITTEE, TO WALK
THROUGH THESE THINGS. AND DO IT
IN A COLLABORATIVE WAY, NOT IN A
POKER CHEST KIND OF WAY. BECAUSE
IN THE LONG RUN, I THINK WE WILL
GET TO A BETTER OUTCOME IN A
COLLABORATIVE WAY WITH SOME TYPE
OF WORKGROUP OR WHATEVER THAT
PROCESS MAY BE. I THINK THAT IS
IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, AS MY
COLLEAGUES KNOW, I LIKE TO TURN
EVERYTHING INTO A PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE MEETING, I HAVE SEEN
THIS AS WELL IN QUEEN ANNE AND
OTHER PLACES RELATED TO
BUSINESSES WERE DEALING WITH
PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES. IS MY
NEW COLLEAGUE KNOWS VERY WELL,
THE DESIGN FEATURES CAN REALLY
HELP WITH PUBLIC SAFETY. OFTEN
TIMES IT IS THE PROPERTY OWNER
OR PROPERTY MANAGER THAT HAS TO
MAKE THOSE CHANGES. AND THEY
DON'T WANT TO BECAUSE IT'S A
COST. BUT THEY DON'T REALIZE
THE IMPACT , THE POSITIVE IMPACT
OF MAKING SOME SLIGHT CHANGES
THAT CAN DO TO PUBLIC SAFETY
POSTURE AND THE SAFETY OF THOSE
BUSINESSES. BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE
THAT WORK IN THOSE BUSINESSES.
THIS IS A MAJOR THINI KNOW
YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE WORLD AND
HAVE HEARD THROUGH MY PREVIOUS
LIFE THESE CHALLENGES. I THINK
THIS COULD BE ANOTHER PIECE TO
THIS. HOW CAN WE ENCOURAGE THIS
IN ORDER TO INCREASE OUR PROFILE
AS A RELATES TO THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CHALLENGES? OKAY. PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE ELEMENT OF THIS
IS OVER. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM
ANYBODY ELSE? GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU , FOR BEING HERE. DON
BLAKENEY , YOUR BUSINESS OUR
CONSTITUENTS. UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT. I HAVE BEEN VERY
FRUSTRATED BY THE PERMITTING
PROCESS AND ALL THE ISSUES ,
PARTICULARLY THE SMALL
BUSINESSES IN THE DISTRICT I
REPRESENT HAVE EXPERIENCED. AND
DON, YOU TALKED ABOUT COVID AND
A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED ,
PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED
ESPECIALLY, THAT HAS
NECESSITATED A PERMIT TO DO
THINGS LIKE REPLACE THE WINDOW,
WHICH SEEMS LIKE A VERY ONEROUS
THING FOR A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
, WHO IS JUST TRAINED TO OPERATE
THEIR BUSINESS, MAKE A LIVING,
AND PROVIDE A SERVICE TO
COMMUNITY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT
WE OUGHT NOT, IT IS IN THE
PUBLIC INTEREST, TO ENSURE THAT
THESE PERMITS ARE DONE TIMELY SO
THESE SMALLER PROJECTS CAN GET
DONE. BECAUSE NO TWO PROJECTS
ARE THE SAME AND WE KNOW SOME
ARE HUGE AND SOME ARE JUST THESE
MINOR THINGS THAT SHOULDN'T
TAKE A LONG TIME. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN
IN TERMS OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS
AND CHANGES THEY SHOULD MAKE IN
SUPPORT OF THEIR TENANTS, IF YOU
WILL. THAT IS ONE ISSUE. IT TO
ME, THE OTHER ISSUE I HAVE SEEN
EVEN MORE , NOT THAT THAT IS NOT
IMPORTANT, THAT IS IMPORTANT IN
A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION, BUT
JUST THIS PIECE ABOUT THE SMALL
BUSINESS NOT BEING ABLE TO GET
PERMITS, FOR VERY MINOR THINGS,
THAT HAVE HUGE IMPACTS ON A
BUSINESSES ABILITY TO STAY OPEN.
AND SO TO ME IT'S REALLY
FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN
HEARING ABOUT PERMITTING ISSUES
FOR YEARS NOW. AND I JUST FEEL
LIKE WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO A
RESOLUTION ON THIS. MY
FRUSTRATION STEMS WITH THE
CONSTANT CHURN OF IDENTIFYING
ISSUES AND NOT BEING ABLE TO FIX
THESE ISSUES FOR CONSTITUENTS.
AND CONSTITUENTS INCLUDE SMALL
BUSINESSES ACROSS OUR CITY. I
KNOW THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO THE
DISTRICT I REPRESENT BUT TO ALL
THE DISTRICTS WE REPRESENT
ACROSS THE CITY. SO THANK YOU
FOR COMING HERE TODAY AND
TALKING, YET AGAIN, ABOUT
SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN HEARING
ABOUT FOR YEARS NOW. FROM WELL
BEFORE I CAME TO THE CITY
COUNCIL. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
HEARING FROM THE MAYOR'S
ASSESSMENT, THE PERMITTING, THAT
HOPEFULLY IT WILL GET TO SOME
ACTUAL RESOLVE ON HOW TO GET
THESE PERMITS DONE QUICKER . AND
I UNDERSTAND THAT, TO ME, THERE
ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE MORE
COMPLEX, WILL TAKE LONGER TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE
PERMITTING DONE QUICKER, OR MORE
QUICKLY, BUT THERE ARE SOME
OTHER PERMITTING THINGS I THINK
-- I MEAN TO ME IT SEEMS LIKE A
NO-BRAINER THAT SOME OF THE
OTHER PERMITTING STUFF SHOULD
TAKE NOT VERY MUCH TIME AT ALL.
SO HOW DO WE GET THERE? WHAT IS
NEEDED? HOW DO WE REALLY SUPPORT
THE SMALL BUSINESSES?
>> I THINK THAT IS WHY I LIKE TO
REITERATE THAT ONE OF THE BIG
ASKS WE HAVE IS THAT WE HAVE A
CONTINUED WORKING GROUP WITH
PROFESSIONALS AND SDCI STAFF SO
WE CAN COLLABORATE AND BRING
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
TO A LOT OF THIS AND HAVE THAT
CONTINUAL WORKING COLLABORATIVE
MODEL . IT'S NOT GOING TO BE
PERFECT, BUT IF WE START THAT I
THINK THAT IS A GREAT PLACE TO
BEGIN.
>> TO SECOND THAT, ALSO,
REOPENING THE SERVICE CENTER IS
THE SAME ISSUE. YOU KNOW, I HAVE
BEEN WORKING AS AN ARCHITECT
HERE SINCE WE WERE AT THE ACLU,
AND HAVE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS
WITH PEOPLE AT THE CITY. AND NOW
WE ARE JUST SORT OF FACELESS TO
ONE ANOTHER. I THINK THAT HAS
IMPACTS THAT ARE REALLY, I FEEL
THEM. CAN'T PROVE THEM. BUT I
THINK IT IS A LOT HARDER FOR
PEOPLE TO HELP EACH OTHER AND
SORT OF HAVE THAT MUTUAL RESPECT
WHEN THEY ARE NOT FACE-TO-FACE
WITH EACH OTHER DAY AFTER DAY.
AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BUILD THOSE PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIPS. AND SO, I THINK
REOPENING THE SERVICE CENTER IS
SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE IN
THE SHORT TERM THAT I THINK
WOULD REESTABLISH THE LINKS OF
ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER AS
HUMAN BEINGS WHO HAVE HOMES,
HAVE PROBLEMS, HAVE MONEY
ISSUES. WE CAN UNDERSTAND EACH
OTHER BETTER WHEN WE ARE NOT
THROWING QUESTIONS OVER THE
FENCE WITH A CHATBOT OR
SOMETHING . THAT STUFF IS
EFFECTIVE SOMETIMES AT GETTING
QUESTIONS ANSWERED. BUT IT CAN
ONLY GO SO FAR. I THINK WE ALL
REALLY FEEL STRONGLY THAT IF WE
COULD REESTABLISH THOSE LINKS IT
WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.
>> AGREED. MY COLLEAGUES KNOW
SINCE I HAVE GOTTEN HERE IN
JANUARY, I HAVE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT, WE SHOULD BE BACK TO WORK
IN PERSON , EVERYONE, FIVE DAYS
A WEEK, BECAUSE WE ARE IN
SERVICE TO COMMUNITY AND WE
CAN'T BE IN SERVICE TO OUR
RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY IF WE
ARE NOT ACTUALLY IN PERSON. I
UNDERSTAND THAT COVID TAUGHT US
WE CAN DO SOME THINGS IN THIS
HYBRID FASHION OR REMOTE
FASHION. AND WE ALWAYS DID THAT
BEFORE. THE TRUTH IS, THERE WERE
SOME FOLKS WORKING REMOTELY
BEFORE COVID. BECAUSE THEY WOULD
WORK THAT OUT WITH A SUPERVISOR
AND THERE WERE SOME FOLKS THAT
ONE DAY PER WEEK WERE WORKING
REMOTELY, ET CETERA. I'M NOT
SAYING WE CAN'T HAVE THOSE
ARRANGEMENTS. WITH SUPERVISORS.
BUT IN GENERAL WE KNOW THIS WORK
IS BETTER DONE WHEN WE CAN BE IN
PERSON AND PEOPLE CAN BE
FACE-TO-FACE, AS YOU SAY, ENGAGE
IN FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET TO
THESE THINGS MORE QUICKLY. I
COULD NOT AGREE MORE. THANK YOU.
>> TO ADD TO THAT, TO WHAT GREG
SAID, AND ALSO TO ADDRESS WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON SAID, WHEN
I WOULD BE AT THE SERVICE DESK
AND WAIT MY TURN I WOULD OFTEN
SEE HOMEOWNERS COME IN WITH
QUESTIONS . THE SDCI STAFF, I GO
ALL THE WAY BACK TO DBD, THEY
WERE VERY HELPFUL. I WOULD OFTEN
TELL CLIENTS, YOU NEED TO GO TO
THE CITY, THEY ARE TOUGH ON ME
AS AN ARCHITECT, I SHOULD KNOW
BETTER, BUT THE HOMEOWNER GOING
IN, THE SDCI WAS WONDERFUL TO
WALK THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS
AND GO YOU NEED TO GO TO THIS
DESK AND THIS DESK , MAKE SURE
YOU HAVE ALL THIS PAPERWORK. WE
DON'T NEED THAT AS DESIGN
PROFESSIONALS BUT THE PUBLIC
NEEDS THAT. THEY CAN'T ALL
AFFORD TO HIRE US.
>> SORRY. THEY CAN ALSO, AND
THEY DID, OFTEN, IF YOU ARE
MISSING A NOTE OR THEY WANTED
YOU TO ADD SQUARE FOOTAGE, THEY
COULD TELL YOU THAT IN PERSON
WILL YOU HAVE YOUR DRAWINGS WITH
YOU. YOU COULD MAKE THE NOTE AND
HEADED BACK, IT DIDN'T NEED TO
BE A LONG PROCESS. THEY WOULD
HELP ADVOCATE FOR YOUR PROJECT
WHILE YOU'RE THERE IN PERSON. I
THINK A LOT OF THAT
COMMUNICATION, ESPECIALLY FOR
SMALL PROJECTS, AS OWNERS OR
HOMEOWNERS TRYING TO DO
SOMETHING SMALL, THEY ARE NOT
GOING TO HIRE AN ARCHITECT
NECESSARILY, THEY DON'T
NECESSARILY NEED TO, BUT THEY
NEED A LITTLE GUIDANCE AND THEY
SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH
MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF CORRECTIONS
TO ADD A NOTE WHEN YOU COULD
SIMPLY BE TOLD ABOUT IT.
>> I SEE JIM, GO AHEAD.
>> I WANT TO REINFORCE ONE
THING. RELATIVE TO GETTING BACK
INTO THE OFFICE, GETTING BACK TO
WORK, THAT WE SEE IN OUR
INDUSTRY, REMOTE WORKING EXIT
VERY DIFFICULT FOR MENTORING TO
TAKE PLACE TWEEN OLDER
EXPERIENCED STAFF AND YOUNGER
STAFF THAT ARE NEW. THAT
MENTORING IN PERSON TAKES PLACE
INSTANTLY WITH SHORT
CONVERSATIONS, QUICK QUESTIONS.
AND IT TEACHES FOR FASTER.
ANSWERS ARE GARNERED
IMMEDIATELY. I THINK THE SDCI, I
GO BACK ALL THE WAY, STAFF IS
SUFFERING FROM SOME ATTRITION,
OR TO LEAK THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
BUT THAT THE UNDER STAFF IS NOT
HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
PROPER MENTORSHIP. BEING BACK IN
THE OFFICE CAN SOLVE SOME OF
THOSE ISSUES AS WELL.
>> YOU TOLD ME THE STORY ONE
TIME, JIM, OF SOMEBODY WHO
BASICALLY WAS 20 INLAND THE
BUILDING CODE IN A CREATIVE WAY
AND WAS HAVING A HARD TIME
EXPLAINING TO THE PERSON ,
WHOEVER THEY WERE TALKING TO,
THAT IN FACT THIS IS IN
COMPLIANCE, IT'S JUST WE ARE
DOING THIS IN THIS. AND THEN
THAT PERSON, THE STAFF THAT
PERSON WAS TALKING TO WENT DOWN
THE HALL WERE ASKED SOMEBODY
ELSE AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT
EVERYTHING WAS FINE. BUT YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT, THE VALUE OF
MENTORSHIP AND ACCESS TO PEOPLE
WHEN YOU HAVE A QUESTION ON THE
SPOT. DON, GO AHEAD. SORRY.
>> THESE ARE GREAT COMMENTS. I
THINK STEPPING BACK AND LOOKING
BACK AT THE PROJECTS WE WERE
LOOKING AT AT LEAST IN THE
U-DISTRICT, HAVING A CONTINUUM
OF CARE OF PEOPLE, SOMEONE
GUIDING YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS
AND THAT THERE ARE NO SURPRISES.
THAT IS THE THING. A COMMITMENT
TO NO SURPRISES. YOU SHOULD NOT
GET A $100,000 SURPRISE IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE PROCESS OR AT THE
END, HEAVEN FORBID. THAT IS WHAT
KEEPS HAPPENING. IF WE CAN EVEN
SAY THAT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AND
WORK FROM THERE BACK TO HOW WE
GET THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF THEIR
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS BUT THERE
SHOULD BE MORE PROTECT ABILITY
AND TIMELINE, COSTS, ACTUAL
THINGS REQUIRED.
>> ARE THERE OTHER CITIES, I
THINK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HIS
CORRECTIONS THAT COME UP THE END
UP CREATING PROBLEMS, ARE THERE
CITIES THAT HAVE TIME LIMITS FOR
CERTAIN LEVEL OF PROJECT? I
DON'T KNOW WHAT IS A SMALL
BUSINESS TYPE PROJECT. BUT, ARE
THERE LIKE, 100 DAY PERMITTING
RULES THAT SOME CITIES HAVE
IMPLEMENTED? OR, ONCE YOU HAVE
THE SIGN OFF, NO MORE
CORRECTIONS. IT IS SET IN STONE.
WHAT ARE SOME BEST PRACTICES YOU
HAVE SEEN IN OTHER CITIES?
>> I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THE
TIMELINE, I AM SURE THERE ARE
CITIES THAT HAVE GUIDELINES. BUT
THERE CITIES LIKE CHICAGO THAT
LET ARCHITECTS SELF CERTIFY
ESSENTIALLY. AND SO YOU DON'T,
FOR SMALL PROJECTS, THINGS OF A
CERTAIN SIZE, IT DOESN'T
ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO TO REVIEW AT
THE CITY. USED TO GET THE FEES
AND PERMIT, IT'S NOT A LOSS OF
INCOME FOR SDCI, THAT WE ARE
ABLE TO, BECAUSE HONESTLY WE ARE
THE ONES LIABLE IN THE END
ANYWAY. WE CERTIFY IT IS PER THE
CODE AND MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS
AND CAN GET THE PERMIT. IF A
CITY LIKE CHICAGO CAN DO IT, I
WOULD THINK SEATTLE COULD.
>> OTHER CITIES COUNT THE NUMBER
OF MEETINGS YOU HAVE FOR A
PROJECT OR OPENING A BUSINESS.
SOME CITIES REQUIRE 95 TOUCH
POINTS ANOTHER REQUIRE 14. THERE
OTHER METRICS TO LOOK AT, HOW
MANY TIMES YOU HAVE TO COME BACK
HAVE THINGS LOOKED AT OR HOW
MANY CONVERSATIONS DO YOU NEED?
>> THERE HAS ALSO BEEN AN
INCREASED CULTURE OF, IF WE
WRITE SOMETHING ON PAPER FOR A
CORRECTION CYCLE WE ARE ALLOWED
TO CHANGE IT AT ANY TIME. THAT
USED TO NOT BE. IT USED TO BE A
LOT MORE BINDING. WHEN THERE IS
A CORRECTION CYCLE IT WAS LOOKED
AT MORE PRINCIPALLY AND THERE
WAS NO OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT
FURTHER. THAT HAS BECOME MORE OF
A NORMAL PRACTICE. I WOULD HOPE
THAT THAT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT
CAN GO BACK TO THAT BEING A MORE
PRINCE OF LOOK AT SOMETHING AND
THAT IS THE LAST TIME YOU CAN
LOOK AT X ON THAT'S GO.
>> IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE
SIGN OFF, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO
PLAN FOR THAT FOR PREDICTABILITY
SAKE. COST AND TIME ET CETERA.
>> I THINK TOO, THE INSPECTION
PROCESS HELPS THAT IN THE FIELD.
RIGHT? THERE IS THE DOUBLE
CHECK, IT'S NOT ON THE PLAN
REVIEW. THERE IS FIELD
INSPECTION WORK AS WELL.
>> CPI TALKED A LOT ABOUT SMALL
BUSINESSES, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT IS
HOMEOWNERS ALSO,
SMALL PROJECTS. EVEN A TOOLSHED,
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON, YOU HAVE
BROUGHT THIS UP, IN TERMS OF
DOING A TOOLSHED IN THE BACK OF
YOUR HOME. AND IT TOOK , I
DON'T KNOW HOW LONG FOR YOU TO
GET A PERMIT TO DO SOMETHING AS
MINOR AS THAT. I KNOW I WAS
FOCUSED ON SMALL BUSINESSES,
BECAUSE DON IS HERE, BUT JUST
HOMEOWNERS IN GENERAL. AGAIN, A
LOT OF THESE BEING SMALL
PROJECTS.
>> RIGHT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
TRYING TO LOWER THE COST OF
HOUSING. LOWER THE COST OF
HOUSING IN PART BY LOWERING THE
TIME AND REVIEW AND CORRECTION
CYCLES DURING PERMITTING. AS I
SAID BEFORE. BECAUSE THOSE TOUCH
POINTS WITH SDCI STAFF DO COST
MONEY AS WELL AS THE BILLABLE
HOURS OF THE PEOPLE SITTING AT
THIS TABLE PROBABLY. I DO WANT
TO READ A COMBINATION NUMBER ONE
WHICH IS BASICALLY VALIDATING
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING OF THIS 2023
AUDIT WHICH SAYS, THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTION SHOULD DEVELOP
METRICS BY CONSTRUCTION PERMIT
TYPE FOR TOTAL REVIEW TIME IN
TRACKING PROCESS TO SUPPORT
MEETING THOSE METRICS. THE
METRICS IN SDCI'S PROCESS AND
BEING THOSE METRICS ALONG WITH
METHODOLOGY AND DATA LIMITATIONS
SHOULD BE DISPLAYED ON SDCI'S
WEBSITE AND UPDATED REGULARLY.
MORE CERTAINTY AND PRETTY
DEBILITY. ULTIMATELY I AM
TALKING ABOUT A CULTURE OF
STARTING WITH YES. YES WE WANT
MORE HOUSING. YES WE WANT TO
LOWER THE COST OF HOUSING BY
LOWERING CONSTRUCTION TIMELINES.
AND PERMITTING'S. YES, WE WANT
TO LIMIT DISPLACEMENT . AND A
LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES
STRUGGLING TO STAY IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS BUT NEED TENANT
IMPROVEMENTS TO DO SO, THAT IS
EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO. KEEP
THEM HERE. THE SAME THING WITH ,
I HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOUSING AND
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT, BUT THERE ARE
SO MANY EMPTY STOREFRONTS THAT
NEED FILLING. IF WE CREATED A
MORE ENCOURAGING ENVIRONMENT
THROUGH SOME CHANGES TO CULTURE
AND DAY TO DAY PRACTICES,
PERHAPS SEATTLE WOULD BE A MORE
ATTRACTIVE CITY TO LOCATE IN
PEOPLE HAVE HEARD OTHERWISE THAT
THERE ARE SOME BARRIERS THAT
THEY MIGHT NOT ENCOUNTER
ELSEWHERE. I WILL LET YOU SAY
THE FINAL WORDS, IF YOU HAVE ANY
FINAL THOUGHTS, GIVEN THAT, ONE
OF YOUR ASKS IS A WORKGROUP, BUT
ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPECIFIC
CHANGES YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
ON THE RECORD HAVE US FOLLOW
THROUGH ON OR GET INFORMATION ON
BEFORE THE DISCUSSION CLOSES.
>> OPENING THE MICROFICHE.
OPENING THE FRONT DESK. WE
TALKED ABOUT -- TO ME THOSE
DON'T NEED A WORKGROUP. THAT IS
JUST SDCI TO DO IT. THE HOW ARE
WE DOING FUNCTIONALITY? THE
ABILITY FOR US TO GIVE FEEDBACK
TO THE PROCESS, THAT ALSO
DOESN'T NEED A WORKGROUP. WE
WOULD LOVE TO SEE INTERNAL
POLICIES MADE PUBLIC .
>> EVENTUALLY, ALSO A
CONSIDERATION FOR COMMERCIAL IS
A GEOGRAPHIC AREA WHERE THERE IS
MAYBE A SWAT TEAM THAT WORKS
WITHIN THE PERMITTING TO GET
THESE DISTRICTS MORE FUNCTIONAL
AND LESS VACANCIES, I THINK
THINKING ABOUT THE GEOGRAPHIC
CONCENTRATION OF SOME OF THESE
ISSUES MAY BE ADDITIONAL
CONSIDERATION.
>> SO INSERT NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE
THERE IS A LOT OF A PARTICULAR
KIND OF BUSINESS ALL GOING
THROUGH SOME OF THE SAME
PERMITTING ISSUES, THAT THERE
COULD BE A WAY OF ADDRESSING
THEM ALL AT THE SAME TIME. OR
FOCUSING ON THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
I HAVE HEARD THE CID BEING
MENTIONED. OKAY, FINAL THOUGHTS
? MR. GRAHAM OR ANYONE ELSE?
>> AT LIKE TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE AND ALL THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS PRESENT FOR LISTENING.
THIS IS JUST ONE MEETING AND I
HOPE ALL THESE WORDS ARE TAKEN
INTO ACTION. AND ANYTHING WE CAN
DO IS PROFESSIONALS TO DO SO AND
AIDEN THAT WE ARE WILLING TO
PARTICIPATE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
NOTE. BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST,
THIS IS JUST AN OPENING
CONVERSATION. I CERTAINLY DON'T
HAVE THE BANDWIDTH IN MY
COMMITTEE TO TAKE THE LEAD ON
WHATEVER CHANGES MIGHT BE
REQUIRED WITH LEGISLATION GOING
FORWARD. BUT THIS IS A BEGINNING
CONVERSATION SO THE CITY CAN
BENEFIT FROM YOUR EXPERTISE AND
INCORPORATE YOUR FEEDBACK INTO
THEIR ONGOING WORK TO ACT ON THE
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM 2023 AND
BUILD OUT THE WORK THAT IS GOING
ON NOW WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND OTHER PEOPLE. BECAUSE I
THINK WE ALL WANT THE SAME
THING. IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF
FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET IT. SOME
OF THESE SOLUTIONS DO NOT
REQUIRE LEGISLATION, ZONING
CHANGES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO, HOPEFULLY, AGAIN, START WITH
YES, HOW CAN I HELP YOU? IS
ALWAYS MY POSITION. ALL RIGHT.
GO AHEAD.
>> CHAIR, CAN I SAY ONE LAST
THING? I APPRECIATE ALL THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND I DO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOME OF THESE
DO NOT REQUIRE LEGISLATION,
THERE ARE THINGS THE DEPARTMENT
CAN DO WHICH MEANS IT'S
SOMETHING, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE
YOU'RE TALKING TO THE EXECUTIVE
ABOUT AS WELL. BECAUSE, THE
DEPARTMENTS ARE UNDER THE
PURVIEW OF THE EXECUTIVE . WE
CAN'T TELL DEPARTMENTS WHAT TO
DO. WE CAN DRAFT LEGISLATION. WE
CAN MAKE SURE FUNDS ARE
AVAILABLE TO DO THE WORK. BUT WE
CAN'T ACTUALLY REC DEPARTMENTS
TO DO THE WORK. AND HOW TO DO
IT. SO I AM ENCOURAGED YOU'RE
HAVING CONVERSATIONS , COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE ON THIS IN PARTICULAR. AM
HOPING YOU ARE ALL HAVING
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AS WELL. I LOOK FORWARD
TO HEARING MORE ON THAT PIECE A
BIT.
>> I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON, ONE OF
HIS TOP PRIORITIES IS ADDRESSING
PERMITTING. I'M GOING TO DEFER
TO YOU TO DO WHAT YOU THINK IS
BEST -- YOU LOVE IT. TO ADVANCE
WHAT HAS BEEN SAID TODAY AND
REALLY IN SHORT WE ARE ALL ON
THE SAME PAGE IN SEEING THAT
HAPPENS. IT'S NOT LIKE WE ARE
TRYING TO REDO DESIGN REVIEW.
FOR GOODNESS SAKE. THERE IS
THAT. IN ANY CASE, I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU COMING TO THE
TABLE AND SPENDING TIME HELPING
US HELP YOU AND THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TO
BE CONTINUED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AGAIN, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR
LISTENING HERE. THIS DOES HAVE
AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
ACCOUNTABILITY NEXUS. ANYBODY IS
WELCOME TO CONTINUE AND ADVANCE
SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT WERE
EXPRESSED IN TODAY'S COMMITTEE
MEETING. LET'S SEE, WHETHER ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR ISSUES YOU
WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS BEFORE WE
CLOSED TODAY? NO. OUR NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING, THERE IS A
PUBLIC HEARING ON 24 FEBRUARY ,
BUT THAT IS ON THE HOUSING IN
THE STADIUM AREA. AND OUR NEXT
REGULAR COMMITTEE MEETING IS
FEBRUARY 27. THIS CONCLUDES THE
FEBRUARY 13 MEETING OF THE
GOVERNANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND
ECONOMIC . IT IS 3:17 PM. THERE
IS NO BUSINESS. THIS MEETING IS
NOW ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.