COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA WILL BE
JOINING US MOMENTARILY. IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL
BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO
OBJECTIONS, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
EVERYONE, FOR COMING TO THIS
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON MEETING TO
DISCUSS LAND USE. AS ALWAYS, I
WANT TO THANK THE CITY CLERK,
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF IN SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS FOR HELPING US
PREPARE FOR TODAY'S MEETING. WE
WILL NOW OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. TODAY'S AGENDA
ITEM INCLUDES TWO ITEMS, AND
THOSE ITEMS WILL HAVE PUBLIC
HEARING. MEMBERS WILL BE CALLED
TO SPEAK TO THOSE ITEMS WILL
REACH THOSE ITEMS. THIS PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD WILL ONLY ACCEPT
COMMENTS RELATED TO THE ITEMS
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE. FOR THOSE REGISTERED
TO SPEAK TO ITEMS ONE OR TWO ON
THE AGENDA, WE WILL ACCEPT
COMMENTS ON THOSE ITEMS ONCE WE
REACH THESE ITEMS AND OPEN THE
PUBLIC HEARING. CLERK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS TO BE HAVE SIGNED UP
TODAY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> WE HAVE 20 SPEAKERS SIGNED
UP.
>> ALL RIGHT. EACH PERSON WILL
HAVE UP TO TWO MINUTES TO MAKE
THEIR COMMENTS. IF NECESSARY, WE
WILL EXTEND THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. FIRST, BEFORE , I WANT
TO RECOGNIZE WE HAVE FORMER CITY
COUNCILMEMBER IN THE HOUSE, AS
WELL AS FORMER STATE
REPRESENTATIVE . IF EITHER ONE
OF YOU ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK,
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET TO GO
FIRST, AS IS THE TRADITION FOR
THIS BODY TO RECOGNIZE ELECTED
OFFICIALS TO ADDRESS THE BODY.
CLERK, PLEASE READ THE
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTER. IN PERSON
SPEAKERS CALLED FIRST, AFTER
WHICH WE MOVED TO REMOTE
SPEAKERS UNTIL THE PERIOD HAS
ENDED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAL --
HERE A CHIME IN 10 SECONDS ARE
LEFT. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
IS NOW OPEN. WE WILL BEGIN WITH
THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
FIRST UP, RACHEL.
>> HELLO, MEMBERS OF CITY
COUNCIL. I AM TESTIFYING PROUDLY
IN FAVOR OF COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK'S PROGRAM. SEATTLE FACES
A SEVERE SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
ARE SEVERELY IMPACTED. MANY
PEOPLE HE WORKED WITH YOUR
DOWNTOWN HAVE BEEN PRICE GOUGED
OUT OF BEING ABLE TO AFFORD RENT
HERE IN SEATTLE, CAUSING THEM TO
MOVE FURTHER AWAY FROM THEIR
WORK, CAUSING AN INCREASE IN
COMMUTE TIME TO AND FROM WORK.
FOR TOO LONG WHEN IT COMES TO
HOUSING AND RENTERS PROTECTIONS,
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN GOING
OFF THE RAILS ON THE CRAZY
TRAIN. THAT IS WHY THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION IS SO ESSENTIAL.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> NEXT UP .
>> GOOD MORNING. GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM TALKING ABOUT SOCIAL
HOUSING . I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING
IT. PART OF THEIR CHARTER IS
THAT THEY HAVE TO PUBLISH THE
PUBLIC MEETINGS , AND THEY HAVE
GOT WAY BEHIND ON PUBLISHING
THOSE. THE COUNCIL CAN APPROVE
THEM NOT TO DO THAT, BUT I
HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE
COUNCIL. SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW
IF SOMETHING IS CHANGED. IS
THERE A DIFFERENT LINK? COULD
YOU LOOK INTO CHANGING THAT?
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP .
>> I AM READY. MY DIRTY NASTY
GESTAPO PIGS. BEFORE WE CHANGE
THIS PIG WHO SITS IN THIS
CHAMBER OR MAYOR HARRELL,
NOTHING WILL BE CHANGED. THIS
IDIOT WHO SPEAKS THIS, AND I
COME HERE ALMOST 30 YEARS YOU
KNOW, THEY SPEAK ABOUT
SOMETHING. NOBODY , 700,000
IDIOTS . BEFORE WE DON'T STOP
NOTHING WILL BE CHANGED. LOOK,
COUNCIL JUAREZ, FOR 40 YEARS
NEVER SHOW ONE FACE. SHE'S A
PIG. 16 YEAR, 40 YEAR.
>> MR. CHAIR. I WOULD ASK THAT
YOU HAVE THE GENTLEMAN NOT MAKE
RACIAL COMMENTS TO ME AND CUT
HIS MIC NOW.
>> NO .
>> NOW!
>> MR. ZIMMERMAN, PLEASE REFRAIN
FROM PERSONAL ATTACKS AND RACIST
STATEMENTS. [ OVERLAPPING
SPEAKERS ]
>> MR. CHAIR, THIS MAN HAS BEEN
BANNED .
>> PAUSE.
>> THIS MAN HAS BEEN BANNED,
CALLING ME, GOING AFTER MY RACE,
GOING AFTER MY AGENDA AND
ATTACKING ME PERSONALLY. SORRY,
YOU NEED TO BE QUIET! CUT HIS
MIC.
>> AGAIN, MR. ZIMMERMAN, IF YOU
CANNOT BE RESPECTFUL TO THE
MEMBERS OF THIS BODY OR MEMBERS
IN ATTENDANCE, YOU WILL BE ASKED
TO CEASE YOUR COMMENTS AND
LEAVE.
>> GIVE ME BACK MY TIME.
>> CAN YOU ABIDE BY THE RULES WE
JUST LAY DOWN FOR YOU?
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> IF NOT, YOU WILL NOT GET THE
TIME BACK.
>> REPRESENT GOVERNMENT. NOTHING
REALLY CHANGED. LOOK WHAT THEY
COMMENT TALKING ABOUT. THEY
TALKING ABOUT NOT SO GOOD. OVER
30 YEARS. 30 YEARS MORE
DANGEROUS. NO ONE IN SOUTH
AMERICA EXISTS FOR 30 YEARS. [
INAUDIBLE ] YOU NEVER STOP
BECAUSE 700,000 IDIOTS. THEY
CANNOT TALK. THEY SCARED TALKING
ABOUT WHAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
VIVA TRUMP ERA THE VENUE
AMERICAN REVOLUTION. I WILL COME
AND TALK AGAIN EVERY DAY.
NOTHING TO DO WITH PERSONAL
ATTACK. IT'S INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU, MR. ZIMMERMAN.
THANK YOU. NEXT UP.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM WITH THE FILIPINO
COMMUNITY OF SEATTLE. THE
DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT. I'M HERE TO TALK
ON SUPPORTING ROOTS TO ROOFS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE SEE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES IS THAT HOUSING IS
REALLY UNAFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE
IN THE AREA . AND SO, WITH THE
SENIOR DEPARTMENT HOUSING THAT
WE CURRENTLY HAVE, 96 RESIDENTS
ALLOWS PEOPLE TO HAVE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, BUT ALSO WITHIN THAT
BUILDING, WE ALSO HAVE THE YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT. AND SO, WE KIND OF
HAVE THE CIRCLE OF THE USE ALL
THE WAY UP TO THE SENIORS. WE
ALSO HAVE THE WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. ONE OF THE
BIG PROJECTS WE JUST COMPLETED
THIS YEAR WAS THE SOLAR PROGRAM
OVER THERE WERE RECERTIFIED TWO
-- EIGHT TECHNICIANS TO JOIN THE
SOLAR INDUSTRY. THESE ARE
INDIVIDUALS FROM THE COMMUNITY
THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO GET INTO
THESE TECH POSITIONS. THE
PROBLEM WE HAVE, THOUGH, IS THE
PROGRAM HAVE GOTTEN SO BIG THAT
WE HAVE GROWN OUT OF OUR SPACE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE
FOCUSING AT FOR LIMO KNOW THAT
FILIPINO COMMUNITY IS NOW THE
FAMILY DYNAMICS OF THIS. THE NEW
FAMILY HOUSING UNIT, NOT ONLY DO
WE HAVE FAIR HOUSING FOR
FAMILIES, BUT WE STILL HAVE A
MORE UPSCALE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM, SENIOR SERVICES, AND
ALSO THE NEW WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS GREATLY
NEEDED TO HAVE THAT SPACE TO BE
ABLE TO CONTINUE. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM CHAIRMAN
OF THE BOARD OF A NONPROFIT
CALLED ANYTHING HELPS. AND A
VOLUNTEER WITH ANYTHING HELPS. I
HAVE BEEN WORKING DIRECTLY IN
HOMELESS CAMPS WITH HOMELESS
PEOPLE FOR 4 1/2 YEARS NOW. I
WANT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE
HOUSING BILL SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK . WE NEED
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING . THE
ONLY COMMENT I WANT TO MAKE IS
THAT THIS IS AIMED SPECIFICALLY
AT BIPOC. I THINK WE DON'T NEED
AN EXCUSE LIKE THAT. IT'S TRUE
THAT BLACK PEOPLE ARE
DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN THE
UNITED STATES . MY UNDERSTANDING
OF THE STATISTICS IS THAT BLACK
PEOPLE ARE 4% OF THE POPULATION
IN KING COUNTY AND 20% OF THE
HOMELESS POPULATION. WE
CERTAINLY HAVE RACIAL
DISCRIMINATION, AND WE NEED TO
ADDRESS THAT, AND THIS MEASURE
ADDRESSES THAT DIRECTLY.
HOWEVER, LOOK AT THE STATISTICS
OF HOMELESSNESS IN KING COUNTY.
THERE ARE 16,000 PEOPLE HOMELESS
IN KING COUNTY BY THE LAST
COUNT. THERE ARE 5000 SHELTER
BEDS. THAT MEANS WE HAVE 10,000
OR 11,000 UNSHELTERED HOMELESS
PEOPLE IN KING COUNTY IN
SEATTLE. WE NEED MORE HOUSING OF
ALL KINDS. WE NEED LOW INCOME
HOUSING. WE NEED AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. WE NEED SUBSIDIZED
HOUSING. WE NEED EVERYTHING.
THIS IDEA THAT MY HOUSE IS WORTH
$1 MILLION NOW AND SOMEHOW THAT
IS MY NEST EGG DOESN'T MAKE ANY
SENSE. I CAN'T MOVE OUT OF IT.
I HAVE TO HAVE SOMEPLACE TO
LIVE. REDUCED THE VALUE OF
HOUSING. REDUCE THE COST OF
HOUSING. BUILD MORE HOUSING THE
MARKET.
>> NEXT UP.
>> HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
CRYSTAL. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF
OF INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
PRESERVATION DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY . WE URGE YOU TO
SUPPORT THE ROOTS TO ROOFS BILL.
IT PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ALIGN GROWTH WITH COMMUNITY
OWNERSHIP, AFFORDABILITY AND
CULTURAL PRESERVATION. THESE
VALUES ARE A PRIORITY IN OUR
ORGANIZATION. THIS WILL ALSO
SUPPORT EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
USES LIKE AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL
SPACE, CULTURAL SPACE AND
COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACES,
WHICH ARE CRITICAL TO THE FABRIC
OF THE CID OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
CONTINUES TO FACE ECONOMIC AND
DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE TO DISPLACE
LOW INCOME AND SMALL BUSINESSES,
CULTURAL AND HISTORIC
PRESERVATION. WE HAVE SEEN
PROPERTIES ACQUIRED BY PRIVATE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE BEING
LEFT VACANT. THAT IS REALLY
HARMING THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS
BILL EMPOWERS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
OURS TO EFFECTIVELY LEAD
PROJECTS AND OFFERS US
ADDITIONAL TOOLS BY REMOVING
COMPLEX BARRIERS THAT PREVENT
MANY OF THESE PROJECTS FROM
MOVING FORWARD , LIKE EXPENSIVE
LAND, HIGH CONSTRUCTION COSTS,
ET CETERA. WE URGE YOU TO PASS
THIS BILL TO ENSURE THAT EQUITY
BECOMES A PRACTICE . THIS
TIME-LIMITED PILOT WILL HELP UP
TO 35 PROJECTS TO MOVE FORWARD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ONE
POINT OF FORTIFICATION. HE SAID
WE HAD 20 IN PERSON AND 20
REMOTE?
>> AT MY LAST CHECK, WE HAD 20
TOTAL.
>> OKAY. I WAS GOING TO SAY,
LET'S TO TENDER PERSON, THEN GO
TO REMOVE AND COME BACK AND
FINISH UP WITH THE REMAINDER .
IF WE'VE GOT 12 IN PERSON,
LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET THEM ALL
DONE.
>> OKAY.
>> JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT
EQUITABLE.
>> WE HAVE ABOUT 12 IN PERSON.
>> OKAY. GET THROUGH THE ALL THE
IN PRISON COMMENTATORS FIRST
BEFORE WE MOVED TO THE REMOTE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INDULGENCE.
PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> NEXT.
>> HELLO. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I
REPRESENT THE SEATTLE RESIDENTS
FOR THOUGHTFUL GROWTH. WE ARE A
COALITION OF 22 NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS WHO HAVE BEEN STUDYING
THE COMP PLAN . WE FEEL STRONGLY
THAT WE WANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING
, WHICH IS WHY I OPPOSE THE
ROOTS TO ROOFS PROGRAM AS IT IS
CURRENTLY DRAFTED. THIS
LEGISLATION IS JUST REALLY A BIG
GIFT TO DEVELOPERS REQUIRING
ONLY 25% OF THE UNITS TO BE
AFFORDABLE, AND AT ONLY 80% AMI
FOR 250% INCREASE IN THE FAR.
WITH NO COMMUNITY INPUT OR
DESIGN REVIEW, IT REALLY
PUNISHES THE NEIGHBORS OF THE
EXISTING -- WHERE THESE PILOTS
ARE BUILT BY REMOVING THEIR
TREES, THE GREEN SPACE, AND
OVERSHADOWING THEIR HOMES. AND
THE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT
ONLY LASTS 50 YEARS. THIS ISN'T
LONG-TERM AFFORDABILITY, OR EVEN
SHORT-TERM AFFORDABILITY SINCE
75% OF THE UNITS WILL BE MARKET
RATE. THIS REALLY DOESN'T
PRODUCE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
THAT THE DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES IN SEATTLE DESERVE.
THEY DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY AT
THE 30% AMI LEVEL THEY NEED TO
BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE IN SEATTLE.
I AM DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THIS
LEGISLATION BE PROMOTED BY
PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT IT WILL
PRODUCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR
SUFFICIENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING
FOR SEATTLE. WE SHOULD DO IT
RIGHT.
>> -- THANK YOU.
>> NEXT.
>> HI. YES, I AM SANDY WITH TREE
ACTION SEATTLE. I'M ASKING YOU
TO PLEASE AMEND THIS BILL TO
INCLUDE SPACE FOR TREES ON EACH
LOT , BECAUSE WITH 75% LOT
COVERAGE, THESE PROJECTS WILL
HAVE NO LARGE SHADE TREES.
TARGETING FORMERLY REDLINED
COMMUNITIES WITH HIGH HARD SCAPE
PROJECTS IS JUST ADDING INSULT
TO INJURY. FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES
ALREADY HAVE LESS THAN HALF THE
TREE CANOPY OF WEALTHIER AREAS .
CHILDREN IN NEIGHBORHOODS
WITHOUT TREES HAVE MORE ASTHMA
AND SLOWER BRAIN DEVELOPMENT .
ADULTS HAVE MORE HEART ATTACKS
AND CANCER. PLANTING STREET
TREES WON'T TAKE THE PLACE OF
RESIDENTIAL TREES BY HOMES. LAST
WEEK, A STAT -- RELEASED A
STUDY, SHOWING EVEN IF WE PACKED
EVERY PLANTING STRIP IN SEATTLE
WITH TREES, SOUTH PARK, FOR
EXAMPLE, WOULD ONLY GET 16%
CANOPY MAX, HALF OF WHAT
WEDGWOOD HAS. WE CAN'T GET TO
30% CANOPY WITH ALL OF ITS
HEALTH BENEFITS ONLY WITH STREET
TREES. HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TOLD
ME IN A PHONE CALL AND MEETING
THAT THEY ARE REMOVING THE TREES
ON THEIR SOUTH PARK PROJECT
BECAUSE THE CITY OF SEATTLE
CARES MORE ABOUT HOUSING THEN
TREES. THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE. IT
IS NOT EITHER/OR, IT IS
BOTH/AND. AND THIS BILL IS THE
PLACE TO START. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON , COUNCIL
MEMBERS. WE HAVE TWO MINUTES?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM A LEGACY
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 4. MY
FAMILY HAS LIVED IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT 1st GENERATIONS, AND
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION
TO COUNCIL BILL 121011, THE
ROOTS TO ROOFS BONUS PILOT
PROGRAM, FORMERLY KNOWN AS
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES. WALL
BRANDED AS AN EQUITY TOOL, THE
UNDERLYING STRUCTURE OF THIS
BILL STILL PRIORITIZES DEVELOPER
PROFIT OVER COMMUNITY
PROTECTION. FIRST IT LETS
DEVELOPERS BUILD UP TO TWO AND
HALF TIMES BIGGER FOR JUST 25%
AFFORDABILITY , BUT THE
AFFORDABILITY LEVELS DON'T
ALIGN WITH WHAT MANY LONG-TIME
RESIDENTS ACTUALLY NEED. THERE
IS NO GUARANTEE OF FAMILY SIZE
UNITS, NO PRIORITY FOR THOSE
WITH DEEP TIES TO THESE
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND NO SAFETY NET
FOR NONPROFIT PARTNERS. SECOND,
A REAL EQUITY BILL WOULD REQUIRE
AT LEAST 51% AFFORDABILITY SPLIT
BETWEEN HOUSEHOLDS EARNING BELOW
40% AMI AND THOSE BETWEEN 40%
AND 80% WITH AT LEAST HALF OF
THESE UNITS SIZED FOR
MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILIES. THE
BILL USES A LEGACY OF RACIAL
COVENANTS TO JUSTIFY DEVELOPMENT
BONUSES , BUT WHERE ARE THE
GUARANTEES THAT DESCENDENTS OF
DISPLACED FAMILIES WILL BENEFIT
? THAT BLACK HOMEOWNERS WILL
REMAIN ROOTED AND THAT NONPROFIT
PARTNERS WON'T BE SIDELINED
AFTER UNLOCKING ENTITLEMENTS TO
DEVELOPERS? SEATTLE HAS A
HISTORY OF TURNING PILOT
PROGRAMS INTO PERMANENT POLICY
WITHOUT A CAP OF FIVE PROJECTS
PER DISTRICT AND ENFORCEABLE
PROTECTIONS, THIS WILL BE YET
ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR
DISPLACEMENT, ESPECIALLY IN
DISTRICTS TO CHECK AND 3.
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT IS
EXCELLING IN THE MARKET RACE
GROWTH UNDER THE BANNER OF
SOCIAL JUSTICE. WE DON'T NEED
MORE PROMISES, WE NEED
PROTECTIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP.
MY NAME IS JACKIE. I WANTED TO
TALK ABOUT ROOTS TO ROOFS. IT
OFFERS MAJOR DEVELOPER
ENTITLEMENTS, ALLOWING BUILDING
SEVERAL TIMES LARGER THAN THE
NEWLY INCREASED FARM LIMITS AND
RESIDENTIAL ZONES BY LITERALLY
REPLACING SEATTLE'S ROOTS, OUR
TREES . GREEN SPACE AND
LIVABILITY WITH HOMES THAT FEW
PEOPLE CAN AFFORD. IN EXCHANGE,
WE LOSE COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT AND
DESIGN STANDARDS. IT IS LOOSELY
TETHERED TO THE MAPS OF HISTORIC
REDLINING, BUT THAT CONNECTION
WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME JUST A
CHECKBOX. IT DOESN'T DELIVER
MEANINGFUL BENEFITS TO THE
COMMUNITIES IT CLAIMS TO
SUPPORT. THIS POLICY IS SO
ESSENTIAL TO EQUITY AND HOUSING
PRODUCTION , WHY IS IT BEING
RUSH THROUGH AS A STANDALONE
WORKAROUND RATHER THAN AS PART
OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN? ON
JULY 2 THE COUNCIL DESCRIBED
THIS AS A WAY TO ACCELERATE
CONSTRUCTION REMOVE BARRIERS.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS, AND
ACCELERATION OF LUXURY
REDEVELOPMENT UNDER THE BANNER
OF EQUITY. LET'S BE HONEST
ABOUT WHO THIS REALLY SERVES.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT.
>> WHY OH WHY DOES ALL PROPOSALS
FOR IMPROVING HOUSING BE VERY,
VERY PROFITABLE TO DEVELOPERS ,
AND YET, YOU STILL DON'T HAVE
TIME TO REVIEW THE AND A.J. FEES
? THAT WAS PROMISED WHEN IT
STARTED. WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
50/50. IT IS NOT. THE COUNCIL IS
NEVER , EVER HAVE THE TIME TO DO
THAT. THAT HAS A REAL GOOD
ADVANTAGE IF YOU RAISE THE FEE.
FIRST OF ALL, MORE PEOPLE WOULD
PUT MORE MONEY IN . THOSE THAT
DON'T, THAT ACTUALLY PROVIDE
THE HOUSING, IT WOULD COME UP AT
THE SAME TIME THE BUILDING CAME
UP. YOU WHAT IT WAIT ANOTHER ,
OH, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE YEARS
BEFORE THE HOUSING APPEARED. I
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANOTHER PITCH
TO HAVE YOU DO WHAT I WAS TOLD
WHEN AND A.J. WAS PASSED. THEY
THOUGHT THE LOW FEES WOULD BE
ADEQUATE TO HAVE 50/50. BUT IT
DIDN'T HAPPEN. THEY SAY DON'T
WORRY, WE WILL REVIEW IT. WE CAN
CHANGE IT. NOW, THE COMMENT
STROKE BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO CLAIM
TO ONE HOUSING IS DEVELOPER
PROFIT . I THINK THAT THAT IS
WHAT WE ARE SEEING TOO MUCH OF
HERE . WE NEED PROTECTION FOR
THE NONPROFITS. I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE AGAIN, THERE WAS A NICE
PANEL DONE LAST TIME THIS CAME
UP UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME, AND
THE NONPROFITS EXPLAINED THE
PREDATORY NATURE OF THE FOUR
PROFITS . I AM TOLD TIMES WHERE
PERMITS HAVE BEEN GATHERED, AND
THEN THE TRANSFER OF THE PERMIT
TO A FOR-PROFIT. SO LET'S JUST
BE HONEST. THANK YOU.
>> LAST IN PERSON SPEAKER.
>> YOU CAN SIGN UP OFFICIALLY.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL. WE ARE
FIGURING IT OUT. OKAY. I JUST
WANTED TO COME TODAY TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF THE ROOTS TO ROOFS
PROGRAM . ONE OF THE BEST-KNOWN
RELATIONSHIPS IN THE COUNTRY
BETWEEN HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING
PRICES IS, OF COURSE, IN CITIES
WHERE THE RENT IS HIGHER THAT
THERE IS HIGHER RENTS OF
HOMELESSNESS. THIS IS ONE OF
THOSE THINGS THAT EVERYBODY
KNOWS, BUT THEN PEOPLE SEE THE
PLIGHT OF THE HOMELESS
POPULATION AND SEE MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES AND DRUG ISSUES, AND THEY
THINK, THAT'S WHAT CAUSES THE
HIGHER HOMELESSNESS RATE IN THE
CITY. NO, IF YOU HAVE A HIGHER
HOMELESS RATE IN CITIES WITH
HIGH RENTS IN THE DELTA BETWEEN
THE HIGH HOMELESS RATE IN CITIES
WITH HIGH RENTS AND THE RATE IN
CITIES WITH LOW RENTS, BUT HAS
TO BECAUSE BY REG RELATED
EVICTIONS. IS NOT DRUGS. IF YOUR
RENT GOES UP, THAT IS NOT GOING
TO CAUSE YOU TO DO MORE DRUGS IN
YOUR HOME HOUSE. IF ANYTHING,
YOU SHOULD HAVE LESS MONEY LEFT
OVER FOR DRUGS, RIGHT? IF THE
RENT GOES UP AND YOU LOSE YOUR
HOUSING, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO
TURN TO DRUGS TO COPE OR TO HAVE
EXACERBATED MENTAL ILLNESSES.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RENTAL
RATES AND HOMELESSNESS RATES IN
CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS
VERY STRONG AND WELL KNOWN, AND
I BELIEVE THIS BILL WILL HELP
WITH THAT. I DO WANT TO ADDRESS
SOME OF THE LEGITIMATE
OBJECTIONS THAT ARE BEING RAISED
IN THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING
TODAY. NOT PARTICULARLY
CONTROVERSIAL WAY OR
PARTICULARLY CONFRONTATIONAL
WAY, BUT TWO THINGS. I
UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THE NEW
UNITS WILL NOT NECESSARILY BE
SET ASIDE AS BELOW MARKET RATE.
HERE'S THE THING, EVEN MARKET
RATE UNITS CAN HELP ALLEVIATE
THE HOUSING CRISIS, BECAUSE
THOSE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE GOING
INTO THOSE UNITS, ARE GOING TO
HAVE TO LIVE SOMEWHERE. YOU
KNOW, THE GIANT LUXURY CONDO.
YOU'VE ALL SEEN IT. THE ONE
WITH THE PART OF THE BOTTOM THAT
LOOKS LIKE A SLIGHT. EVERYBODY
SAID, THIS IS WHERE THE
MILLIONAIRES ARE GOING TO LIVE.
THEY DIDN'T LIVE THERE, THEY
WOULD BE LIVING SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THERE DOLLARS WOULD BE COMPETING
WITH YOU TO BID ON THE EXISTING
APARTMENT. EVERY EXISTING BIT OF
HOUSING HELPS WITH THIS BILL
FOCUSING ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING
HELPING ESPECIALLY. THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL
IN-PERSON COMMENTS.
>> LET'S PROCEED WITH THE IN
PERSON COMMENTS AND THEN MOVED
TO REMOTE. ALSO, LET THE RECORD
REFLECT THAT COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA HAS JOINED US.
>> NEXT UP.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. THANKS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM WHO
REPRESENT THE NONPROFIT
DEVELOPERS , HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDERS, COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, ARCHITECTS,
GENERAL CONTRACTORS AND MORE
WORKING HARD TO BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOMES THAT SEATTLE NEEDS. I'M
HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF THE ROOTS TO ROOFS
PILOT PROGRAM . SEATTLE NEEDS
DESPERATELY MORE HOMES OF ALL
SORTS, ESPECIALLY AFFORDABLE
HOMES . WE HAVE A DEEP HOUSING
CRISIS THAT IS A DIRECT RESULT
OF THAT HOUSING SHORTAGE. TOO
MANY PEOPLE WORKING FAMILIES,
SENIORS, PEOPLE DISABILITIES AND
MANY MORE SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD
TO LIVE HERE. THAT IS BECAUSE OF
HER HOUSING UNDERPRODUCTION OVER
THE DECADES. WE NEED MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUNDS , HOMES, AND A
KEY IS MOVING BARRIERS WE CAN.
THIS PILOT PROGRAM DOES EXACTLY
THAT. GIVES NONPROFIT PUBLIC THE
VELTMAN AUTHORITIES AND HOUSING
AUTHORITIES FLEXIBILITY FROM
ZONING RULES TO MAXIMIZE THE
POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT SITES .
ADDITIONAL HEIGHT AND FLOOR AREA
AND RELIEF FROM COSTLY
REQUIREMENTS LIKE DESIGN REVIEW
AND PARKING MANDATES TO HELP
TURN DEVELOP INSIGHTS INTO
REALITY. THE PILOT ENSURES THAT
AT LEAST 25% OF HOMES WILL BE
AFFORDABLE FOR 50 YEARS , AND IT
OPENS THE DOOR TO COMMUNITY
SERVING SPACES LIKE CULTURAL
CENTERS, CHILDCARE AND
AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL SPACES.
IMPORTANTLY, THIS PROJECT IS
OPEN, AGAIN, I WANT TO
UNDERSCORE, TO NONPROFITS,
HOUSING AUTHORITIES AND PUBLIC
THE VELTMAN AUTHORITIES. THESE
ARE MISSION ORIENTED DEVELOPERS
WHO HAVE DEEP ROOTS IN OUR
COMMUNITIES AND A LONG-TERM
COMMITMENT TO SERVING WORKING IN
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND
INDIVIDUALS. ZONING IS ONE OF
THE BIGGEST BARRIERS WE FACE TO
BUILDING WAREHOUSING AND MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SEATTLE,
BUT IT IS ALSO BASICALLY FREE
FOR THE CITY TO REMOVE. TO FIX.
THIS PILOT PROGRAM IS A GREAT
WAY FOR THE CITY TO PUT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FIRST . I
APPLAUD COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR
ADVANCING THIS PROGRAM AND URGE
YOUR SUPPORT. THANKS.
>> LAST IN PERSON COMMENTOR.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I
WORK FOR PLYMOUTH HOUSING, A
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
PROVIDER. I ALSO WANT TO SAY
HELLO TO COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
GOOD TO SEE YOU. PLYMOUTH
SUPPORTS THE PILOT PROGRAM FOR
SEVERAL REASONS IT HELPS ADDRESS
THE -- ONE OF THE ROOT CAUSES OF
HOMELESSNESS, WHICH IS THE LACK
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING . WE, AS A
DEVELOPER, ARE A NONPROFIT. WE
ALSO PROVIDE PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AT LEVELS OF
30% AMI AND BELOW. ONE OF THE
BENEFITS OF THIS PILOT PROGRAM
IS THAT, NOT ONLY DOES IT
ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY AT THE 80%
AMI LEVEL, BUT IT ALSO IS OPEN
TO DEVELOPERS WHO MAY WANT TO
DEVELOP HOUSING AT THE 30% AMI
LEVEL, AND WHO ALSO MIGHT WANT
TO DEVELOP ALL OF THEIR UNITS AT
THAT RATE. THE BOTTOM IS 25%,
BUT DEVELOPERS , LIKE PLYMOUTH,
PROVIDE 100% OF OUR UNITS OFTEN
AT 30% AMI AND BELOW. THIS IS A
PROGRAM WOULD BE ABLE TO UTILIZE
, AND OTHER DEVELOPERS WILL BE
ABLE TO UTILIZE TO PROVIDE THAT
LEVEL OF DEEP AFFORDABLE HOUSING
. WE ALSO SEE IT AS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE OVERALL
HOUSING WITHIN THE HOUSING
SPECTRUM . WE ARE PART OF HDC
AND ALSO WORK A LOT WITH THE
OTHER DEVELOPERS IN THE CITY. WE
KNOW THAT THERE IS JUST SIMPLY
NOT ENOUGH HOUSING IN OUR
REGION. THIS IS ANOTHER WAY TO
HELP BROADEN THAT BASE AND
CREATE MORE HOUSING AND REALLY
ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AT THE ROOT
CAUSE AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
HAVE PLACES TO LIVE AT
AFFORDABLE RATES AND FOR A VERY
LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE NOW MOVE ON TO REMOTE
COMMENTERS, STARTING WITH RICH.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO TALK.
>> I LIVE IN DISTRICT 4 . I BEG
EVERYONE TO PLEASE READ
ABUNDANCE BY EZRA KLEIN , RULES
AND REGULATIONS DESIGNED TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF THE '70s.
OFTEN PREVENT URBAN DENSITY AND
GREEN ENERGY PROJECTS THAT WOULD
HELP SOLVE TODAY'S PROBLEMS.
ENSURE THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS
THE CONSEQUENCES OF ITS ACTIONS
HAVE MADE IT TOO DIFFICULT FOR
GOVERNMENT TO ADD -- ACT
CONSEQUENTIALLY. IN A NUTSHELL,
DELAYS CAUSED BY PERMITTING
REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER REDTAPE
MAKING NEEDED PROJECTS ON
AFFORDABLE AT A TIME WHEN WE
DESPERATELY NEED MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING . HOPEFULLY, ROOTS TO
ROOFS WILL CUT THROUGH ZONING
AND PERMITTING REGULATIONS MORE
COMMUNITY WITH AFFORDABLE
HOUSING THAT BENEFITS THOSE MOST
AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT. THIS
BILL WILL AUTHORIZE A PILOT
PROGRAM TO GIVE DENSITY AND
HEIGHT BONUSES TO PROJECTS THAT
QUALIFY . THERE WOULD BE AN
ADDITIONAL BONUS IF THE PROJECT
IS LOCATED ON THE LOT WITH
HISTORICALLY RACIALLY RESTRICTED
PERMIT. ALSO, I AM SAD THAT
JUMPSTART FUNDS HAVE NOT BEEN
USED TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND FUND GREEN NEW DEAL PROJECTS
AS THEY WERE ORIGINALLY
INTENDED, BUT HAVE BEEN USED TO
ADDRESS THE DEFICIT . SEATTLE
NEEDS MORE PROGRESSIVE TAXES .
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP. JENNIFER?
>> PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX.
>> SORRY. I GREATLY APPRECIATE
THE INTENTION TO CREATE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I
DEFINITELY SUPPORT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. I ALSO SUPPORT
EVERYTHING THAT LOIS MARTIN
SAID, WHO SPOKE FAR BETTER THAN
I COULD. WE DO NEED MORE THAN A
QUARTER OF THESE UNITS TO BE
AFFORDABLE FOR LOWER INCOME
COMMUNITY MEMBERS , NOT ONLY 80%
AMI, MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THE
DEVELOPERS THEN. FOR THOSE
POPULATIONS. IT ALSO REMOVES OUR
FREE LIFESAVING GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE . LIKE TREE
REMOVALS FOR PRIVATE PROPERTIES
LAST YEAR THAT PREVENTED 5.4
MILLION OF STORM WATER NO LONGER
PROVIDING THAT SERVICE. I ALSO
FEEL IT IS NOT HUMANE TO REMOVE
SPACE FOR TREASON EXPECT LOW
INCOME POPULATIONS TO PURCHASE
AND POWER AIR-CONDITIONERS , OR
HAVE TO SUFFER FROM HEAT RELATED
ILLNESSES WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE
THE SHADE OF TREES.
ECOLOGICALLY, THIS IS ALSO
TERRIBLE, TAKING OUT OUR FREE
NATURAL AIR COOLERS AND FREE
RUNOFF FILTERS. CONSTRUCTION
RUNOFF MEDICATIONS IN WEST POINT
CANNOT REMOVE TOXIC CHEMICALS
THE TREES CAN. AND THEY DO IT
FOR FREE WHILE PROTECTING OUR
HEALTH. I KNOW THERE IS A WAY TO
BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHOUT
KILLING OUR FREE GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE. ONE OF THE
THINGS, SOME THINGS THAT MAKE
SEATTLE UNIQUE, WE ARE THE ONLY
MAJOR US 20 TO BE PACIFIC RAIN
FOREST OR ANY RAIN FOREST IN THE
U.S. WE HAVE THE ONLY ENDANGERED
POPULATION OF KILLER WHALES IN
THE WORLD. AND WE ARE ON A
SEMI-ENCLOSED BODY OF WATER THAT
IS NOT EASILY DISPERSED
POLLUTANTS. ALL REASONS TO
REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW WE TREAT
OUR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS
CLEANING HER WATER AND
PROTECTING ALL OF US. ALSO, HOW
IMPORTANT THESE THINGS WERE TWO
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE , TREES,
SALMON, AND OR CAUSE VERY
BELOVED. PLEASE BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING WHILE PRESERVING.
>> NEXT UP.
>> ROOTS TO ROOFS WILL CAUSE
HOMEOWNERS DISPLACEMENT AT A
TIME WHEN WE ARE WORKING ON AN
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT PLAN , PLAN.
THIS PROJECT GOES AGAINST
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT STRATEGIES ,
SUCH AS NO FURTHER UP ZONING AND
REDLINING COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING
NO FURTHER HEIGHT DENSITY AND NO
ADDITIONAL UP ZONING OF PARCELS
OR STREETS IN FORMER REDLINE
COMMUNITIES. ALREADY CREATING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SUCH AS
AFRICA TOWN PLAZA, MID TOWN
SQUARE, THE LIBERTY BANK
BUILDING, 900, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, NEW HOPE FAMILY HOUSING
AND PROJECT AND MORE TO COME. WE
DON'T NEED ROOTS TO ROOFS
DISPLACING LEGACY HOMEOWNERS. I
CHALLENGE EVERYBODY IN FAVOR OF
THIS BILL TO DONATE YOUR LOT FOR
A ROOTS TO ROOFS PROJECT. THAT
IS A TRUE TEST OF THIS
INEQUITABLE AND UNJUST BILL THAT
THREATENS TO DESTROY THE ONLY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS LEFT
IN SEATTLE, WHICH IS OUR HOMES.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP.
>> HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> PERFECT. I AM A PUBLIC SCHOOL
TEACHER IN SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND PEER EDUCATOR. I AM
SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE ROOTS
TO ROOFS LEGISLATION . THANK YOU
, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR
BRINGING THIS WILL. IN SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS WE FACE A PROUD
-- PRETTY SERIOUS AROMA ISSUE.
WE'VE SEEN ENROLLMENTS CONTINUE
TO GO DOWN, AND A BIG PART OF
THAT IS BECAUSE FAMILIES CANNOT
AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY.
THERE IS SIMPLY NOT PLACES FOR
THEM TO FIND HOUSING AFFORDABLE
TO THEM IN AND AROUND DESIRABLE
PLACES TO LIVE. I SUPPORT ALL
EFFORTS TO BRING, NOT ONLY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT ALL
FORMS OF HOUSING INTO SEATTLE SO
FAMILIES CAN COME PLACES THAT
WORK FOR THEM AND GET THEIR KIDS
INTO OUR SCHOOLS. CITIES ARE
MUCH MORE ALIVE WHEN THERE ARE
KIDS RUNNING AROUND. WE ARE
LOSING THAT IN SEATTLE. REALLY
SAD TO SEE. I AM REALLY
APPRECIATIVE OF THIS
LEGISLATION, WHICH RECOGNIZES
THAT SEATTLE HAS A PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT BUDGET DEFICIT RIGHT
NOW AND IS USING CREATIVE TOOLS
TO REMOVE RESTRICTIVE ZONING
THAT IS BEEN IN PLACE FOR YEARS
AND MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT TO
ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING
CHALLENGES WE HAVE ABOUT HOUSING
AT SCALE. I APPLAUD THIS EFFORT,
WHICH IS A GOOD POLICY CHANGE
THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE A TON OF
MONEY TO BRING A LOT MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOUSING
OF ALL TYPES TO THE CITY. THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM IN STRONG SUPPORT
OF THE ROOTS TO ROOFS PILOT
PROGRAM WHICH COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK IS SPONSORING. WE ALL KNOW
SEATTLE FACES A DEEP SHORTAGE OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING .
ORGANIZATION SERVING IMMIGRANTS
AND COMMUNITIES IN RAINIER
BEACH, WE KNOW HOW URGENT NEEDED
. OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE
BEING PRICED OUT AND DISPLAYS,
AND WE MUST ACT NOW TO GREAT
MORE HOUSING THAT TRULY SERVES
THEM. WE HAVE ALREADY
DEMONSTRATED -- WE COMPLETED
WHICH PROVIDES HOMES FOR LOW
INCOME , ALONG WITH SPACE FOR
CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY
ACTIVITIES. NOW WE'RE IN THE
PREDEVELOPMENT STAGES WITH A
MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT WITH 70
AFFORDABLE HOMES AND LEARNING
SPACE ON THE GROUND FLOOR. ROOTS
TO ROOFS WOULD DIRECTLY HELP BY
ALLOWING MORE HEIGHT , AND BY
REMOVING BARRIERS LIKE DESIGN
REVIEW AND PARKING MANDATES.
THIS POLICY GIVES US THE
POSSIBILITY TO MAXIMIZE WHAT WE
CAN BUILD AND SERVE MORE
FAMILIES IN NEED. WITH ROOTS TO
ROOFS, WE CAN MOVE FASTER,
STRETCH OUR LIMITED FUNDING
FURTHER , AND DELIVER MORE
HOUSING WHERE IT IS MOST NEEDED.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT AND PASS
THIS PILOT PROGRAM. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP.
>> -- ALBERTO?
>> HELLO. SORRY. WE NEED MORE
HOUSING TODAY . I SUPPORT THE
LEGISLATION THAT COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK IS BRINGING FORTH , THE
ROOTS TO ROOFS. ARE LITERALLY
MISSING THE FOREST FOR THE
TREES. YOU CAN USE WORDS LIKE
TREE CANOPY UNTIL THEY ARE GREEN
IN THE FACE, BUT KING 5 REPORTED
THAT OVER A HALF MILLION ACRES
OF WASHINGTON FORESTS ARE IN A
STATE OF MORTALITY . KEEPING
PEOPLE OUT OF THE CITY AND
PUSHED INTO SPRAWL WILL CAUSE
MORE FOREST TO BE WIPED OUT .
SEATTLE SITS ON LAND 10% THE
SIZE OF THE HALF MILLION ACRES
OF FOREST WASHINGTON IS LOSING
TODAY. AS A GLOBAL ECONOMIC
POWERHOUSE, OUR CITY HAS A
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE STATE AND
THE ENTIRE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TO
TAKE BOLD ACTION FOR HOUSING
GROWTH AND URBAN DENSITY. DO NOT
LET SHORTSIGHTED GREENWASHING
AND PSEUDOSCIENCE SCARE YOU INTO
SCALING BACK FOR A VIBRANT AND
GROWING SEATTLE. YOUNGER
FAMILIES AND ELDERS WHO WEREN'T
LUCKY ENOUGH TO INHERIT A
MILLION-DOLLAR HOME ARE
DEPENDING ON YOU . THANK YOU
ALL, AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP .
>> HELLO. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 5 .
I WAS IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS IN
WINTER 2024 WAS VERY SIMILAR
LEGISLATION WAS BROUGHT UP
CALLED CONNECT TO COMMUNITIES
BROUGHT FORWARD BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALE IS. I THINK THE ONLY
MEMBERS LEFT FROM THAT COMMITTEE
ARE COUNCIL MEMBERS STRAUSS AND
RIVERA. I THINK THEY WILL
REMEMBER THEY BARELY GOT A
SECOND ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT
WAS DETERMINED THAT THEY SHOULD
BE ADDRESSED IN THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. WE SHOULD
NOT BYPASS ALL THESE LEGISLATIVE
ISSUES THAT WE HAVE JUST BECAUSE
SOMEBODY WANTED TO GET A SMALL
AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS IS PROBABLY LESS AFFORDABLE
HOUSING THEN WE HAD A YEAR AND A
HALF AGO IN THAT LEGISLATION. I
AM CERTAINLY IN FAVOR OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND WE NEED
MORE DENSITY , BUT THIS BILL
DOES IT AT THE EXPENSE OF
COMMUNITY. WE HAVE DESIGN
REVIEWS BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE
BENEFIT. IS THERE SOMETHING
WRONG WITH THE DESIGN , WE CAN
FIX THAT, JUST DO NOT GET RID OF
THAT. PEOPLE , IF THEY WANT HAVE
PARKING, THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED
TO, BUT THIS LEGISLATION EXEMPTS
IT. IT DOESN'T ALLOW FOR
BICYCLES ON THE PROPERTY. THERE
IS NO PLACE FOR FAMILIES TO
ENJOY THE OUTSIDE OF THEIR
PROPERTY BECAUSE IT IS ALL
COVERED IN HARD SCAPE. AN
EARLIER COMMENT OR TALKED ABOUT
MARKET RATE HOUSING AND HOW,
EVEN IF IT WASN'T ALL MARKET
RATE HOUSING, THESE PEOPLE WOULD
HAVE TO LIVE SOMEWHERE. THEY CAN
LIVE SOMEWHERE, BUT THEY SHOULD
GET TO DO IT AT THE BENEFIT OF
GETTING RID OF ALL THE BENEFITS
THAT WE HAVE LIKE DESIGN REVIEWS
AND PARKING REQUIREMENTS. THIS
IS NOT SOME KIND OF GREEN
LEGISLATION BUT IS GOING TO HELP
ANYTHING, BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS
GOING TO NEED AIR CONDITIONING
BECAUSE THERE IS NO TREES AROUND
THERE. ABSOLUTELY NO PLACE FOR
GREEN SPACE. A PREVIOUS CALL OR
TALKED ABOUT, OH, WE HAVE TO CUT
DOWN THE TREES IN SEATTLE TO
STOP URBAN SPRAWL. SEATTLE HAVE
TO PAY TO CUT DOWN OUR TREES TO
SAVE THE REST OF THE STATE AND
TURN US INTO A BUNCH OF HEAT
ISLANDS? THANK YOU.
>> CHAIR, THERE WERE TWO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTERS THAT ARE
NOT PRESENT. ROBERT, DAVID, ARE
EITHER OF YOU PRESENT?
>> THEN IF WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL
SPEAKERS, WE WILL CALL THE
PUBLIC COMMENTARY PERIOD CLOSED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYONE,
FOR PROVIDING YOUR FEEDBACK. AT
THIS POINT, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE
ON TO THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS
ON THE AGENDA. CLERK, PLEASE
READ ITEM 1. SHORT TITLE.
>> COUNCIL BILL 121009, AN
ORDINANCE RELATED TO LAND USE
AND ZONING AMENDING VARIOUS
SECTIONS OF THE SEATTLE MEZA
CIVIL CODE.
>> WE DO HAVE OUR PRESENTER
JOINING US AT THE TABLE. WHEN
YOU'RE READY, INTRODUCE
YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD AND
BEGIN.
>> THANK YOU. ANALYST HERE ON
CENTRAL STAFF. COUNCIL BILL
121009 AMENDS SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE TITLE 23 TO DELEGATE
DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY OF
FINAL PLANS TO APARTMENTS THAT
CURRENTLY REVIEW SUCH THAT FINAL
ACTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL WILL
NO LONGER BE REQUIRED. AS YOU
MAY KNOW, SUBDIVISION
RECOGNITION IS GUIDED BY CHAPTER
5817 OF THE REVISED CODE OF
WASHINGTON THAT REGULATES
SUBDIVISIONS OF LAND TO PROMOTE
PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC SAFETY AND
GENERAL WAYFAIR. THERE TO FACES,
PRELIMINARY AND FINAL. MANY
DEPARTMENTS REVIEW PROPOSED
SUBDIVISIONS. DURING THE
PRELIMINARY STAGE, THE PREMISE
THAT HAVE DECISION-MAKING , AND
OTHERS, INCLUDE REQUIREMENTS ON
THE PRELIMINARY PLAT APPROVALS.
THOSE REQUIREMENTS MUST BE
CONFIRMED TO BE MET AT THE STATE
OF FINAL PLAT. FOR THOSE FINAL
PLAT WHICH IS MORE THAN 10 LOTS
THE GO TO CITY COUNCIL,
TYPICALLY, THE BUILDINGS AND
INFRASTRUCTURE ARE ALREADY
BUILT, AND THE REQUIREMENTS HAVE
ALREADY BEEN CONFIRMED AS BEING
MET. SO COUNCIL PURVIEW IS
SOMEWHAT LIMITED. GIVEN THAT
COUNCIL RECEIVES AN AVERAGE OF
OVER TWO OF THE SUBDIVISIONS PER
YEAR AND DELEGATING THIS ROLE TO
DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, COUNCIL
WOULD IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF
THE PERMITTING PROCESS WITHOUT
SACRIFICING ANY REAL VALUE AS IT
IS A MINISTERIAL DECISION. WITH
THAT, I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, AS THE
SPONSOR OF THIS LEGISLATION, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK
YOU, H.B. FOR THE OVERVIEW. THIS
IS RELATED TO STREAMLINING
SUBDIVISION PROCESSES. THE STATE
LEGISLATOR HAS GIVEN AUTHORITY
TO DELEGATE FINAL APPROVAL FOR
SUBDIVISIONS TO DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AFTER THE HEARING
EXAMINER HAS ISSUED A DECISION.
WHILE COUNCIL CURRENTLY VOTES TO
CODIFY THESE DECISIONS, THE
HEARING EXAMINER'S DECISION IS
FINAL, AND WE DON'T HAVE A
CHOICE AS A BODY ABOUT WHETHER
OR NOT -- WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT
TO APPROVE IT. THIS PROCESS
TAKES MONTHS FROM DRAFTING
LEGISLATION TO COMMITTEE
HEARINGS, A FINAL VOTE FOR IT TO
GO INTO EFFECT . THIS BILL IS A
SIMPLE, YET STRAIGHTFORWARD,
EFFORT TO PROMOTE GOOD
GOVERNANCE AND SHAVE MONTHS OFF
OF HOUSING PROJECTS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WITH THAT, AS
PRESIDING OFFICER, I AM NOW
OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON
COUNCIL BILL 121009 RELATED TO
AMENDING THE CITY'S SUBDIVISION
REGULATIONS. CLERK, HOW MANY ARE
SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO THIS
PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION?
>> WE HAVE ZERO IN PERSON AND
TWO ONLINE.
>> OKAY.
>> MR. ZIMMERMAN, THIS IS FOR
ITEM 1. PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM
2. THIS IS ITEM 1. THANK YOU.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, WE HAVE
PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 1,
PLEASE LET'S HAVE THOSE FOLKS
-- GIVE THEM TWO MINUTES EACH.
>> EXCELLENT. NEITHER OF THE
PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 1
ARE PRESENT .
>> OKAY. IN THAT CASE, IF NO ONE
IS SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 1, AND
TODAY WAS A BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION WITH NO VOTE TO BE
HELD TODAY ON THIS ITEM, SO DOES
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
ITEM 1 ? NO? LET'S MOVE ON TO
ITEM 2 . CLERK, PLEASE READ ITEM
2 INTO THE RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 121 ZEROS 11, AN
ORDINANCE RELATED TO LAND USE
AND ZONING ESTABLISHING THE
ROOTS TO ROOFS BONUS PILOT
PROGRAM AND ADDING NEW SECTIONS
TO THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> GREAT. THINK YOU VERY MUCH.
BY THE WAY, I NEGLECTED TO SAY
THANK YOU, H.B., FOR GIVING AN
OVERVIEW OF AGENDA ITEM 1. AS WE
MOVE ON TO ITEM 2 , DO WE WANT
TO HAVE THE PRESENTERS COME DOWN
FOR THE OVERVIEW? COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, AS A SPONSOR OF THIS BILL
, THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED TO ADDRESS IT.
>> WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON
THIS TODAY AS WELL. I'M GOING
TO HOLD MY REMARKS ON THE
UNDERLYING BILL UNTIL AFTER THE
PUBLIC HEARING. I ALSO REMIND
EVERYONE WE STILL HAVE A PANEL
TODAY ALSO FOR FOLKS TO BE
TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF THE
BILL. WE WILL PROCEED WITH THE
PUBLIC HEARING.
>> VERY GOOD. WE WILL PROCEED
WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS
PARTICULAR LEGISLATION. WE WOULD
HAVE THE PANELISTS JOINED US
AFTER WE HEAR THE -- HAVE THE
PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS. COMEDY
FOLKS TO BE HAVE SIGNED UP FOR
PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING ROOTS
TO ROOFS?
>> 21.
>> OKAY. I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS
ALREADY SPOKE TO THIS AN OPEN
PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL ASK THOSE
WHO ARE SIGNED UP TO LIMIT THEIR
REMARKS TO ONE MINUTE REGARDING
THIS . AGAIN, SINCE A LOT OF YOU
ALREADY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK. SO ONE MINUTE EACH
REGARDING THIS . I WILL START
WITH THE IN PERSON FOLKS, AND
THEN WE WILL MOVE TO OUR ONLINE
FOLKS. HOW MANY IN PERSON TO WE
HAVE?
>> 12.
>> OKAY. THE SAME THING WE DID
BEFORE. LET'S GET THROUGH ALL
THE IN PERSON FOLKS, AND THEN
MOVED TO REMOTE. IF YOU COULD
START AS A CLERK CALLS YOUR NAME
LINING UP SO WE CAN EXPEDITE THE
PROCESS AND MAKE SURE IT RUNS
SMOOTHLY.
>> THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS.
>> AGAIN, PLEASE KEEP YOUR
COMMENTS TO THE ITEM THAT WE ARE
DISCUSSING, WHICH IS ROOTS TO
ROOFS. THANK YOU. YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> I LIVE IN NORTHWEST GREEN
LAKE . ON THE MAPS THAT WERE
SHOWN AT THE MEETING, THE LAST
MEETING, THERE IS A RED AND
YELLOW . THE RED IS WHERE THEY
HAVE FOUND RESTRICTED COVENANTS.
THE YELLOW IS WHERE IT MIGHT BE,
I GUESS. AND THE ONE IN GREEN
LAKE, IT WOULD AFFECT 78 HOUSES
THAT COULD GO AS HIGH AS 85 FEET
RIGHT ON LAKEFRONT AND WOODBLOCK
PROBABLY 1000 HOUSES ' VIEWS IF
THIS WERE TO HAPPEN. THE REASON
THEY GAVE FOR IT BEING YELLOW
WAS THEY FOUND AN AD IN THE
PAPER THAT SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO
SELL PROPERTY AND SAID IT WAS
RESTRICTED. BUT THEY NEVER FOUND
ANY RESTRICTED PIECES OF
PROPERTY. SO THERE IS PROBABLY
SEVEN OR EIGHT OF THESE YELLOW
AREAS OF SEATTLE, LARGE AREAS. I
WOULD LIKE AN ANSWER . ARE THEY
GOING TO USE THESE YELLOW AREAS
OR NOT? THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>> NEXT WE HAVE ALEX ZIMMERMAN.
>> ONE MINUTE IS OKAY. MY DIRTY
PIG. MY NAME ALEX ZIMMERMAN. I
WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT ZONING.
ZONING IS VERY INTERESTING. LOOK
WHAT THIS IDIOT TALKING ABOUT.
EVERYTHING I HERE FOR LAST 30
YEAR, THIS TALKING AND TALKING
AND TALKING AND NOTHING CHANGED.
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND. YOU GO
BIGGER AND BIGGER. YOU DON'T GO
SMALLER. A PROBLEM. WHEN 700,000
COCKROACHES WAKE UP AND CLEAR
THIS GOVERNMENT TOTALLY BECAUSE
YOU LIKE SOMEBODY WHO MORE
FASCISM THAN BEFORE. IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT. STAND UP. WE DON'T
UNDERSTAND BEFORE WE DON'T
CHANGE . NOTHING WILL BE
CHANGED. YOU CAN REPEAT THIS FOR
ANOTHER 30 YEARS. VIVA TRUMP,
WEAVER REVOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU, MR. ZIMMERMAN.
NEXT UP.
>> I'M HERE REPRESENTING
FRIENDS OF LITTLE SAIGON. WE ARE
A LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED
NONPROFIT WORKING TO UPLIFT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD TO PREVENT
DISPLACEMENT IN LITTLE SAIGON.
I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT FOR THE ROOTS TO ROOFS
PILOT PROGRAM AND CREATE
MUCH-NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING
ACROSS SEATTLE. THE ROOTS TO
ROOFS PROGRAM IS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO PREVENT FURTHER DISPLACEMENT
AND RIGHT HISTORIC WRONGS BY
INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING
IN PLACES THAT HAVE HAD RACIALLY
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS. WHEN YOU
LOOK AT A MAP NEXT TO A MAP OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU WILL SEE
THEY ARE COMPLETE OPPOSITES.
MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS IN
THE GREATER DOWNTOWN AREA,
INCLUDING THE CID. IN CONTRAST,
THE RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE
COVENANTS ARE MOSTLY IN NORTH
SEATTLE, EAST CAPITAL HILL AND
MAGNOLIA, WHICH CORRELATES TO
PRESENT A SINGLE FAMILY HOMES
AND EXPENSIVE PROPERTIES. IN
PREVIOUS LETTERS REGARDING THE
COMP PLAN, WE HAVE ADVOCATED FOR
MORE DENSITY IN THESE AREAS,
WHICH IS NOT TAKEN ON THEIR FAIR
SHARE OF DEVELOPMENT. WE
ENCOURAGE GREATER DENSITY
BONUSES OFFERED IN THESE AREAS
THE DEPENDENCE BERKELEY
EXCLUSIONARY. WE URGE YOU TO
SUPPORT THE ROOTS TO ROOFS
PROGRAM. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT.
>> CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, I AM THE VICE
PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE
COMMUNITY OF SEATTLE. WE ARE
HERE BECAUSE WE ARE PLANNING TO
BUILD A 56 UNIT AFFORDABLE
FAMILY HOUSING RIGHT ON MLK. I
SEE THIS BILL A POSITIVE SIGN ,
THANKS COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, FOR
MOVING THIS FORWARD , AND WE
LOOK FORWARD TO WORK WITH YOU IN
MAKING THIS A REALITY.
HOPEFULLY, WE CAN ADDRESS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINALLY .
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT.
>> REMINDS ME OF THE OLD DAYS
WHEN HE USED TO REFER TO
KHRUSHCHEV AS MR. K. I GUESS MR.
R. I'VE BEEN CALLED MUCH, MUCH
WORSE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO
SUGGEST IS THAT WE OUGHT TO HAVE
ONLY NONPROFIT AND SAFER 50
YEARS. I SEE THESE PERMITS AND
OTHER PROGRAMS AND UP WITH
FOR-PROFITS. WE SHOULD BE ALSO
TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS A REAL
INCOME WE ARE PROVIDING FOR. ARE
WE PROVIDING FOR UNDER 150,000?
ARE WE PROVIDING FOR UNDER
60,000? BIG DIFFERENCE. ON NEW
BUILDINGS, IT IS ALWAYS MUCH
MORE EXPENSIVE, AND I WOULD LIKE
TO SEE IN REAL TERMS WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT WHAT KIND OF
INCOME LEVEL ARE WE REALLY GOING
TO PROVIDE. THIS COUNCIL REVIEW
ALSO SHOULD BE DONE ON ANYTHING
OVER FOUR STORIES, BECAUSE THAT
WAY SOME OF THE LARGER, AND
MAYBE MORE --
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP.
>>
I WAS TRYING TO KEEP THIS TO A
MINIMUM. I WILL BE QUICK. I JUST
WANT TO SAY I HAVE WORKED, OR I
AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF A LOT OF
THE COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ASKING
YOU TO SUPPORT THIS BILL. I
THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY,
THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME
AMAZING PROJECTS A COME OF THIS.
I THINK THE CITY WILL BENEFIT,
AND WE WILL ALL BE PRETTY PROUD
OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS ARE ABLE TO DO
WITH THIS LEGISLATION. I AM
ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT IT. LIKE
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
PROGRAM DIRECTOR COMMUNITY OF
SEATTLE. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS
SUPPORT TO THE ROOTS TO ROOFS
BONUS PILOT PROGRAM . LIKE MANY
CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
SEATTLE IS EXPERIENCING AN
UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS IN REGARD
TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTING
MANY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. WHILE
ROOTS TO ROOFS IS NOT PERFECT,
IT IS A START. IT IS AN
INNOVATIVE SOLUTION TO HELP
ADDRESS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
CRISIS WE ARE ALL FACING.
THROUGH PARTNERSHIP AND
COLLABORATION, THIS ROOTS TO
ROOFS WILL CREATIVELY SUPPORT
COMMUNITY LED AND COMMUNITY
FOCUSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROJECTS LIKE OUR OWN VILLAGE
TOO. AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR
WORKING FAMILIES IN SOUTHEAST
SEATTLE TO BE REALIZED AS A
NONPROFIT SOCIAL SERVICE
ORGANIZATION, THE COMMUNITY OF
SEATTLE IS FOCUSED ON A HOLISTIC
APPROACH TO TAKE CARE OF THE
WELL-BEING OF OUR ENTIRE
COMMUNITY, INCLUDING SENIORS,
YOUTH AND FAMILIES. THIS PROJECT
WILL BRING THESE COMMUNITIES
CLOSER TO OUR SERVICES.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. NEXT UP .
>> BACK AGAIN WITH THE 60 BACK
AGAIN WITH THE 62nd VERSION.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LOIS
MARTIN. I'M A RESIDENT CENTRAL
AREA DISTRICT 4, WHERE MY FAMILY
HAS LIVED FOR GENERATIONS. I AM
SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION OF ROOTS
TO ROOFS PROPOSED ORDINANCE AS A
PILOT PROGRAM BEEN FRAMED AS
EQUITABLE, BUT WITHOUT THE
PROTECTIONS OR PRIORITIES TO
MAKE THAT CLAIM MEANINGFUL. THE
ORDINANCE ALLOWS DEVELOPERS TO
BUILD UP TO 2 1/2 TIMES BIGGER
IN EXCHANGE FOR JUST 25%
AFFORDABILITY, BUT THE INCOME
THRESHOLDS AND UNIT SIZES DON'T
REFLECT WHAT LONG-TIME RESIDENTS
ACTUALLY NEED. THERE IS NO
GUARANTEE OF FAMILY SIZE UNITS,
NOTIFYING PRIORITY FOR PEOPLE
WITH DEEP ROOTS IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, NO SAFEGUARDS FOR
NONPROFIT PARTNERS TRYING TO
SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES. EVEN MORE
TROUBLING, THE BILL LEVERAGES A
LEGACY OF RACIAL HOUSING
EXCLUSION THROUGH REDLINING AND
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS TO JUSTIFY
THESE INCENTIVES. I URGE
EVERYBODY TO READ THE BILL
CAREFULLY. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP.
>> I WILL PUT YOU THROUGH MY
PREVIOUS COMMENT, BECAUSE YOU
SAT THROUGH IT ONCE. I AM WITH
TREE ACTION SEATTLE. WE DO
OPPOSE THIS BILL IN ITS CURRENT
FORM. ONE THING I DID WANT TO
ASK YOU AS WELL IS WHEN YOU
ANALYZE THESE COMMENTS AT THE
PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE TAKE NOTE
OF WHO STANDS TO FINANCIALLY
BENEFIT FROM THESE PARTNERSHIPS.
IT IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT
STATEMENT ABOUT WHO IS CONCERNED
ABOUT THE BILL . ANYWAY, WHAT WE
KNOW IS THAT THIS BILL WILL
RESULT IN PROJECTS THAT HAVE
ABSOLUTELY NO TREES, AND IT WILL
BE TARGETING FORMERLY REDLINED
COMMUNITIES, EXCUSE ME, WITH
HIGH HEART SKATE PROJECTS THAT
DON'T HAVE TREES. MY COLLEAGUE,
LOIS MARTIN, HAS SENT TO YOU AND
ANALYSIS. BECAUSE OF THE LAST
MEETING, YOU ASKED KETIL FREEMAN
THESE PROJECTS WON'T HAVE
TREES, AND HE SAID THE TREE
ORDINANCE DOES APPLY. IT
APPLIES, BUT IT 75% LOT
COVERAGE, NO, NO TREES. THANK
YOU.
>> NEXT UP.
>> I SUPPORT 22 NEIGHBORHOOD
COALITION. I JUST WANT TO
REITERATE THAT THE WAY THIS BILL
IS CURRENTLY DRAFTED IT REALLY
IS JUST A BIG GIFT TO DEVELOPERS
. I REALLY CARE THAT WE HAVE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SEATTLE ,
HAVING LIVED HERE FOR 20 YEARS
AND RAISE MY KIDS HERE. I THINK
EVERYBODY DESERVES THAT SHOT,
BUT ONLY 25% OF THE UNITS TO BE
AFFORDABLE FOR ONLY 50 YEARS,
AND ONLY AT 80% AMI. IF YOU DO
THE MATH ON THESE NEIGHBORHOODS,
IN EXCHANGE FOR 250% INCREASE IN
THE FAR, IT JUST PUNISHES THE
NEIGHBORS , REMOVING ALL THE
TREES AND GREEN SPACE, AND DOES
NOTHING TO PRODUCE THE ACTUALLY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT THE
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES NEED,
WHICH IS AT THE 30% AMI AND
BELOW LEVEL. AMEND THIS BILL TO
MAKE IT SERVE THOSE COMMUNITIES
, I COULD SUPPORT IT. BUT AS IT
IS DRAFTED, IT IS JUST A
DEVELOPER GIVEAWAY. THANK YOU.
>> LAST IN PERSON .
>> HELLO, AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR
JOINING. SHE DIDN'T HAVE A
CHANCE TO HEAR ME BEFORE. ROOTS
TO ROOFS GRANTS MAJOR
DEVELOPMENT ENTITLEMENTS,
ALLOWING BUILDINGS MANY TIMES
LARGER THAN OUR NEWLY INCREASED
FOR LIMITS BY LITERALLY
REPLACING SEATTLE'S ROOTS ,
TAKING AWAY OUR TREES, GREEN
SPACE AND LIVABILITY WITH HOMES
THAT FEW PEOPLE CAN AFFORD. IT
IS LOOSELY CONNECTED TO MAPS OF
HISTORIC REDLINING, BUT THAT
LINK WILL SOON JUST BECOME A
CHECKBOX. IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY
HELP THE COMMUNITIES IT CLAIMS
TO SUPPORT. YOU'VE HEARD IT
FROM MY OTHER COLLEAGUES AT
SEATTLE RESIDENTS FOR THOUGHTFUL
GROWTH AND WITH TREE ACTION
SEATTLE . THIS IS AN EQUITY, IT
IS THE REGULATION WRAPPED IN
RED. SEATTLE DESERVES BETTER.
THANK YOU.
>> THAT IS THE LAST IN PERSON
COMMENTOR. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON
TO VIRTUAL COMMENTERS .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK
YOU TO APPROVE THE ROOTS TO
ROOFS PROPOSAL. WE DESPERATELY
NEED MORE HOUSING, PARTICULARLY
HOUSING THAT WILL BE AFFORDABLE
FOR MOST PEOPLE. WE DON'T HAVE
PUBLIC MONIES TO PAY FOR THE
HOUSE AND WHEN HE, THEREFORE, WE
NEED A PLAN LIKE THIS.
FOR-PROFIT DEVELOPERS TO PARTNER
WITH NONPROFITS ABOUT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND MARKET RATE HOUSING
THAT WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO
CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE CITY
WHERE THEY CHOOSE TO LIVE AND
WHERE THEY WILL BE THEY NEED.
MIXED INCOME COMMUNITY WITH A
SMALLER FOOTPRINT. BESIDES THIS,
WE NEED A WAY TO GET PRIVATE
DEVELOPERS TO BUILD WORKFORCE
HOUSING. IS IMPORTANT TO THE
ECONOMY SO BUSINESSES CAN AFFORD
TO HIRE THE HELP THEY NEED. IT
IS CRITICAL FOR EMPLOYMENT OR
OTHERWISE, PEOPLE LIVE FIRE WAY
AND COMMUTE TO THEIR JOBS. IT
GIVES US A WAY TO SUPPORT A
DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND LIVE UP TO
OUR VALUES. THIS PROGRAM CAN
HELP MANY PEOPLE. WE WILL LEARN
FROM IT TO OVERCOME THE HUGE
PROBLEM WE FACE.
>> NEXT.
>> HELLO. I URGE YOU NOT TO
APPROVE THIS ILL-CONCEIVED
APPROACH TO ACHIEVING EQUITY IN
HOUSING. THIS TYPE OF ZONING
CHANGE IN ONLY BE CONSIDERED IN
THE CONTEXT OF THE COMP PLAN,
WHICH IS UNDERWAY. IN ADDITION,
IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY TO ACHIEVE
THE INTENDED PURPOSE. THE
OWNERSHIP CRITERIA IS FAR TOO
WEAK TO ACTUALLY PREVENT
DISPLACEMENT. THE RADICAL HEIGHT
AND FAR ALLOWANCES FOR THOSE
INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES WITH
UNENFORCED HUNDRED-YEAR-OLD
RESTRICTED COVENANTS IS PURELY
PUNITIVE AND PERFORMATIVE.
IMAGINE A FIVE STORY BUILDING
WITH NEGLIGIBLE SETBACKS NEXT TO
A 1 1/2 STORY TYPICAL SEATTLE
HOME. THIS IS HARDLY EQUITY OR
JUSTICE FOR THE NEXT DOOR
PROPERTY OWNERS REGARDLESS OF
ETHNICITY. THE PROPOSAL
ELIMINATES THE REQUIRED UPPER
LEVEL SETBACKS . THOUGH SETBACKS
WERE PUT IN PLACE TO CREATE
HARMONY, PROTECT THE PRIVACY
LIGHT AND AIR FLOW BETWEEN LOTS
IN ZONES OF GREATER AND LESSER
INTENSITY. IF YOU APPROVE THIS
BILL, AT LEAST RESTORE THOSE
SETBACKS.
>> NEXT UP. PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX. OKAY. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE
ON TO THE NEXT PERSON. WE CAN
COME BACK TO YOU. THE NEXT
PERSON .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS THE
WRONG APPROACH TO SEATTLE'S
HOUSING PROBLEM. AWARDING SOME
PROPERTY OWNERS . THEIR
PROPERTIES WILL BE WORTH MORE
THAN PROPERTIES THAT NEVER WERE
SUBJECT TO RESTRICTED COVENANTS.
IN 1969 WATCHED IT PASSED LAWS
AGAINST DISCRIMINATION , MAKING
ALL RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE
COVENANTS VOID. IN 2023, THE
LEGISLATURE PASSED THE HOMEOWNER
COVENANT ACT. THAT LAW PROVIDES
PERSONS LIVING IN WASHINGTON IN
1969 WHO MIGHT'VE BEEN THE
TARGETS OF THOSE COVENANTS. THE
LAW ALSO PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO
THEIR DESCENDENTS. THAT IS THE
RIGHT WAY TO ADDRESS THE
HISTORIC WRONG. THE STATE LAW
PROVIDES DIRECT BENEFITS TO THE
PEOPLE WHO WERE HARMED. ROOTS TO
ROOFS WILL PROVIDE A DIRECT
BENEFIT TO THE PEOPLE WHO
CREATED THE RACIST COVENANTS IN
THE FIRST PLACE. THERE SHOULD BE
NO DEVELOPMENT BONUS TO ANY
PROPERTY BASED ON IT HAVING BEEN
SUBJECT TO RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE
COVENANTS IN THE PAST. THANK
YOU.
>> RYAN, ARE YOU HERE WITH US?
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX. NEXT UP,
WE WILL HAVE STEPHANIE.
>> I WORK AT A COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION BASED IN
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL TO
SUPPORT -- AND THE ROOTS TO
ROOFS POLICY WILL MAKE IT MUCH
EASIER FOR US TO BUILD HOUSING.
WE CAN'T SAY -- FEEL LIKE
THEY'RE LIVING IN THE SUBURBS.
WE CAN BUILD HOUSING IN THE CID,
THIS KIND OF DENSITY NEEDS TO BE
SPREAD EQUITABLY ACROSS THE
CITY, NOT IS CONCENTRATED IN
AREAS LIKE THE CID. WANT FOLKS
TO BE ABLE TO PICK WHERE THEY
WANT TO LIVE ACROSS THE CITY A
FEELING IT'S AFFORDABLE, NOT
ONLY AT A 30% AMI, BUT ALSO 60%
TO 80% AMI AS WELL. WHILE THERE
ARE BENEFITS TO THE PLANE, I
THINK ROOTS TO ROOFS CAN HAVE
MORE SPECIFICITY OF ZONING.
CLEARLY THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
ARE GOING TO HARM THE COMMITTEE.
I ALSO THINK THIS LEGISLATION IS
FOCUSED ON NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS
SHOULD CONSIDER -- THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP.
>> HELLO. I DIDN'T GET MY
EARLIER. I LIVE IN COUNCIL
DISTRICT 4. I AM RETIRED ADJUNCT
PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY. I WONDER
IF SEATTLE IS GOING TO BE AN
ENVIRONMENTAL SACRIFICE ZONE.
ARE WE GOING TO CLEAR-CUT OUR
WAY TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING? IF
ONLY 25% OF THE UNITS ARE LOW
INCOME AND SUNDAY 5% MARKET
RATE, IS THIS AN ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE GIVEAWAY? ONE OF THE
FOUR CORE VALUES OF THE SEATTLE
COMPANY THE PLAN IS
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. IF
ROOTS TO ROOFS IS TO BE A
LIMITED PILOT PROGRAM, IS
SEATTLE CLEVER ENOUGH TO BUILD
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH REAL
OPEN SPACE FOR FAMILIES AND
TREES AND HABITAT FOR ALL? IS
SEATTLE GOING TO BE A LEADER IN
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP? THE
ROOTS TO ROOFS PROPOSAL , IT
WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO SAVE AN
EXISTING LARGER MEDIUM SIZE TREE
ON THE LOT. WHILE WE HAVE A
BUNNY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
EVERYONE NEEDS A LIVABLE
COMMUNITY, INCLUDING TREES AND
OPEN SPACES FOR FAMILIES AND
WILDLIFE. WITHOUT BIG TREES AND
REAL OPEN SPACE, WHERE ARE THE
KIDS GOING TO PLAY?
>> NEXT UP. --
>> IT LOOKS LIKE RYAN --
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE FOR
THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY. FOR
THE RECORD, ADVOCATE A POLICY
MANAGER FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
OF SEATTLE. I WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF 120 10 11,
TRENT A PILOT PROGRAM. WE
APPLAUD THE AND THANK COUNCIL
MEMBER D4 FOR BRINGING FORWARD.
HOWEVER, IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, I
BELIEVE THERE'S A TECHNICAL
AMENDMENT TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
WE FULLY SUPPORT THE. ALTHOUGH
WE DO SUPPORT THE UNDERLYING
BILL, WE CAN ENTHUSIASTIC
SUPPORT FOR THIS CHANGE BE MADE.
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO DO OUR
MISSION, AS WELL AS YOUR VISION,
TO ALLOW A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE
HAS A SAFE, DECENT AFFORDABLE
PLACE TO CALL HIM -- HOME. THEY
GIVE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT ON
THIS ISSUE.
>> NEXT UP.
>> LAND ABUSE AND MISUSE OF
LEGISLATION. POLITICALLY
CONNECTED NONPROFITS ACTING LIKE
A LANDLORD RIPPING OFF 80% AMI
WORKING-CLASS FORCED TO PAY 30%
OF THEIR INCOME TO GREEDY
NONPROFITS WHILE VIRTUE
SIGNALING ONLY 25% OF THE UNITS
WILL BE AFFORDABLE IN A BUILDING
BUILT BY UNQUALIFIED, FRAUDULENT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING NONPROFITS
POLITICALLY CONNECTED TO THE
ELECTION APPARATUS, THE ACTIVIST
, THE PROTESTERS AND DONORS .
THE OWNERS OF THE MODERN THIRD
WORLD IN OUR CITY ECHO HOUSING
CONTRACTS ON THE SIDE OF THE
ROAD STILL CAUSING A MENTAL
CRISIS FOR THE BIPOC BUTTON
PUSHED BY POWER MONGERS WHO
DON'T HAVE THE BEST INTERESTS
OF COMMUNITY, CREATING MORE
MODERN THIRD WORLD WAREHOUSE
ECHO HOUSING SPREAD THROUGHOUT
ALL THE DISTRICTS. YOU KNOW YOU
ARE IN SEATTLE. WHY IS IT CITY
COUNCIL WON'T WRITE LEGISLATION
TO INCENTIVIZE REAL DEVELOPERS?
>> NEXT UP.
>> I AM A TENANT THAT LIVES IN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SOUTH LAKE
UNION NEIGHBORHOOD. I AM CALLING
YOU TODAY TO SUPPORT THE ROOTS
TO ROOFS PILOT PROGRAM BECAUSE
IT WILL AUTHORIZE A PILOT
PROGRAM THAT WILL GIVE DENSITY
AND HEIGHT TO ALL THE PROJECTS
THAT QUALIFY. THE PILOT PROGRAM
WILL HELP TO BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROJECTS ACROSS SEATTLE,
AND PARTICULARLY, IN THE NORTH
END WHERE WE DO NEED MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PEOPLE CAN
CHOOSE TO LIVE WHEREVER THEY
WANT. I DO SUPPORT THE ROOTS TO
ROOFS PROGRAM, AND I'M HOPING
YOU WILL PASS AND SUPPORT IT AS
WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> LAST.
>> I'M COFOUNDER OF LIBRARY .
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
FOR REINTRODUCING THIS BILL.
ALSO TO THE OTHER COMMENTATORS
ON THE CALL. WE ARE A NONPROFIT.
WE ARE A COMMUNITY DEVELOPER
THAT JUST PURCHASED LAND THROUGH
THE EDI PROGRAM IN BEACON HILL.
WE ARE PLANNING TO BUILD ROUGHLY
30 UNITS OF 100% AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. IT IS GOING TO BE A
BEAUTIFUL BUILDING DESIGNED BY
THE COMMUNITY, AND IT WILL BE
FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IS GOING TO
BE FOR THE NEEDS WE HAVE, AND IT
IS GOING TO BE LARGE FAMILY
UNITS. BUT WE NEED A BILL LIKE
THIS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO THAT
SO THAT WE CAN BRING MORE FOLKS
BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY THEY
WERE GENTRIFIED FROM. I WOULD
ASK THE ENTIRE COUNCIL HERE TO
SUPPORT THIS. IF WE NEED TO, WE
WILL ORGANIZE IT THE SAME 3000
PEOPLE THAT ORGANIZED FOR THE
EDI FUNDING IN THE PAST TO MAKE
SURE THIS GETS PAST.
>> I SUPPORT THIS BILL BECAUSE I
LIKE SEEING HOUSING , AND I DO
NOT LIKE SEEING PEOPLE SUFFERING
ON THE STREETS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
>> CHAIR, THOSE ARE ALL THE
COMMENTERS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
APPRECIATE EVERYONE PROVIDING
THEIR INPUT DURING THIS PUBLIC
HEARING PERIOD. PUBLIC HEARING
ON COUNCIL BILL 121011 IS NOW
CLOSED. WITH THAT, NOW WE HAVE
STAFF AND FOLKS FROM THE
COMMUNITY . PLEASE JOIN US AT
THE COMMUNITY TABLE.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, DO YOU WANT
TO ADDRESS THE LEGISLATION AT
THIS POINT OR WAIT FOR THEM TO
MAKE THEIR STATEMENTS?
>> I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF OUR
CENTRAL STAFF COULD PROVIDE AN
OVERVIEW OF THE BILL TO REORIENT
US, AND THEN I WILL PROVIDE
COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ONCE YOU
ARE SEATED AND READY, PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES FOR THE
RECORD. KETIL, WE WILL BEGIN
WITH YOU TO PROVIDE US AN
OVERVIEW.
>> INTRODUCTIONS?
>> YES, PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. FORMER
COUNCILMEMBER AND NOW COCHAIR OF
THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY VILLAGE
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE.
>> FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE .
I ALSO WORK WITH THE FILIPINO
COMMUNITY OF SEATTLE.
>> I AM THE COFOUNDER OF
ARCHITECTS. I'M HERE IN A
TECHNICAL CAPACITY SHOULD
COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE
PILOT OR OTHERWISE TECHNICAL
ISSUES RELATED TO EXECUTING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR CITY.
I CAN SPEAK TO MY EXPERIENCE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF. THERE
WAS A BRIEFING ON THIS EARLIER
IN JULY JUST BY WAY OF REMINDER.
COUNCIL BILL 121 JUST BY WAY OF
REMINDER. COUNCIL BILL 121011
WOULD CREATE A PILOT PROGRAM,
ROOTS TO ROOFS , AND IT IS
INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE
PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
WITH LIMITED DEVELOPMENT
EXPERIENCE AND POTENTIALLY
FOR-PROFIT DEVELOPERS FOR
DEVELOPMENT OF LOW AND MODERATE
INCOME HOUSING WITH SO-CALLED
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT USES THAT
COULD POTENTIALLY BE PART OF THE
DEVELOPMENT AS WELL. THE PILOT
IS INTENDED AS A WAY TO HELP
THOSE PROJECTS ATTRACT CAPITAL
BY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL
DEVELOPING CAPACITY. THE BILL
WOULD DEFINE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT USES BROADLY AS
ACTIVITIES FOR ALL COMPONENTS OR
SUBCOMPONENTS OF THESE PROVIDE
MITIGATION AGAINST DISPLACEMENT
PRESSURE FOR INDIVIDUALS,
HOUSEHOLDS, BUSINESSES OR
INSTITUTIONS THAT COMPRISE A
CULTURAL POPULATION AT RISK OF
DISPLACEMENT. THIS COULD BE A
COMMERCIAL USE, IT COULD BE
SOMETHING LIKE A COMMERCIAL
KITCHEN, IT COULD BE A COMMUNITY
GATHERING SPACE, IT COULD BE
SOMETHING THAT LOOKS VERY MUCH
LIKE A COFFEES SHOP. THERE COULD
BE ARRANGE A THING. THERE'S
ARRANGE FOR SDCI TO AFFIRM A
REGULATORY DEFINITION THAT WOULD
APPLY GOING FORWARD. IT WOULD
IDENTIFY MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
FOR PROGRAM LEGIBILITY,
INCLUDING THE TYPES OF
ORGANIZATIONS AND OWNERSHIP
INTERESTS FOR QUALIFIED
DEVELOPMENTS . WILL REQUIRE THE
QUALIFYING DEVELOPMENT PROVIDE
AT LEAST 25% OF UNITS AS
AFFORDABLE TO LOWER INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS, AND IT WILL PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY
SO MORE HEIGHT AND DISPENSATION
FROM PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS LIKE SETBACKS. THERE
WOULD BE A BASELINE LEVEL THAT
WOULD APPLY TO EVERY PROJECT ,
ELIGIBLE PROJECT THAT APPLIES,
AND THERE WOULD BE MORE
AVAILABLE FOR PROJECTS THAT
PROVIDE EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
USES. SPACE IN THOSE USES WOULD
BE EXEMPT FROM FAR CALCULATIONS
AND FOR PROJECT LOCATED IN AREAS
WITH THE STORK RACIALLY
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS. THERE
WOULD BE SOME EXEMPTIONS THAT
WOULD GO ALONG WITH QUALIFYING
DEVELOPMENT. PROJECT WOULD BE
EXEMPT FROM DESIGN REVIEW. THEY
WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE
PARKING, ALTHOUGH THEY COULD
CHOOSE TO. FINALLY, THERE IS A
DIRECTION FOR -- TO THE
DIRECTORS OF THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTION , THE OFFICE OF
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT AND OFFICE OF
HOUSING TO PROMULGATE SOME RULES
TO FACILITATE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING
IDENTIFYING QUALIFYING COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS. THAT
IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS IN THE
SDCI IT WILL HOUSE. THERE WOULD
BE SOME RULEMAKING WORK THAT
WOULD FOLLOW WHEN IT PASSES.
FINALLY, THERE IS A LIMITATION
ON THE NUMBER PROJECTS THAT
COULD BE DEVELOPED. IT WOULD BE
35 PROJECTS OVER A PERIOD OF
YEARS. THERE IS A STATEMENT OF
THE COUNCIL 'S INTENT TO
REVISIT THE PROGRAM TO CHECK ON
ITS EFFECTIVENESS AFTER A PERIOD
OF TIME. THAT SUMMARIZES AT A
HIGH LEVEL WHAT COUNCIL BILL
WILL DO.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK
YOU FOR THAT ORIENTATION. REALLY
APPRECIATED. COLLEAGUES, AS WE
HAVE HEARD IN PUBLIC COMMENT, A
VERSION OF THIS LEGISLATION
BECAME -- CAME BEFORE THIS BODY
LAST YEAR. WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS
REVISITED THE UNDERLYING
CONCEPTS OF THAT ORIGINAL
LEGISLATION AND TAKEN IT A STEP
FURTHER. WE HAVE ITERATED ON IT
FROM GARNERING FURTHER FEEDBACK,
AND WE HAVE HELD A NUMBER OF
ROUNDTABLES WITH COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS TO REALLY REFINE
AND REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THIS
PILOT PROGRAM MEETS NEED AND IS
ABLE TO HELP PROJECTS SO WE CAN
GET MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
ONLINE. IN FACT, I THINK WE ARE
AT OUR SIX REDRAFT OF THIS AFTER
THIS FULL PROCESS. BUT I WANT TO
NOTE THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
OUR PARTNERS HERE TODAY TO
DISCUSS THIS AND WILL BE HEARING
FROM THEM SHORTLY. BUT WE'VE
ALSO WORKED WITH STAKEHOLDERS
LIKE THE URBAN LEAGUE, HOMESTEAD
COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, UPLIFT
INVESTMENT, ETHIOPIAN COMMUNITY
OF SEATTLE, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
AND THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
CONSORTIUM AND MORE. WE HAVE,
AND WILL CONTINUE, TO ENCOURAGE
STAKEHOLDERS TO REACH OUT TO HER
OFFICE TO VOICE THOUGHTS ON THE
BILL. WHERE DOING WHATEVER WE
CAN TO WORK IN GOOD FAITH TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING
CONCERNS AS THEY COME UP. WITH
THAT IN MIND, I KNOW WE WILL
HEAR DIRECTLY FROM SOME PARTNER
SHORTLY, BUT I WANT TO MAKE A
COUPLE OF NOTES ABOUT CONCERNS
THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED OVER THE
PAST COUPLE OF DAYS. THERE IS A
DEEP DESIRE AND DEEP NEED FOR
DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN
THIS CITY. I KNOW THAT IS WHAT
WE ARE ALL LOOKING FOR. HOUSING
AT 30% AREA MEDIAN INCOME IS A
HIGH NEED. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS
ONLY BUILT WITH ADDITIONAL
PUBLIC SUBSIDY. STUDY AFTER
STUDY HAVE FOUND THIS GIVEN THE
STATE OF MARKET CONDITIONS, AND
THAT IS WHY EVEN OUR REGIONAL
PARTNERS LIKE AT THE COUNTYWIDE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE
HAVE CONFIRMED AND SET FORWARD
AS A POLICY GOAL THAT FUNDING
AND INVESTMENT FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING SHOULD BE GOING TOWARD
ZERO TO 30% AMI PROJECTS. AS
SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED IN
HOMELESSNESS SERVICING
COUNTYWIDE, THAT IS WHY I HAVE
BEEN FIGHTING FOR THOSE
INVESTMENTS. BUT LUCKILY, WITH
THE BILL WE HAVE HERE, WHICH
DOES NOT PROVIDE A SUBSIDY AND
DOESN'T COST THE CITY ANYTHING,
BUT RATHER, WILL SUPPORT A
NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT ARE IN
THE DESIGN PHASE, OR MAYBE
UPCOMING . NANCY HEARD FROM
PLYMOUTH PROJECTS, THEY WOULD BE
ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THIS
PROGRAM. THESE ARE PROJECTS --
THEY ALSO MAY BE RECIPIENTS OF
HOUSING LEVY DOLLARS THAT MAYBE
BENEFIT FROM THIS AND STRETCH
THEIR DOLLARS BROTHER TO BUILD
MORE HOUSING. THIS IS ADDING
ANOTHER TOOL TO THE TOOLBOX TO
BRING WAREHOUSING ON LOAN CASH
ONLINE. BY BEING ABLE TO BRING
MORE HOUSING ONLINE, WE CAN
ADDRESS OUR BROADER
AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES. WHERE
LEARNING FROM OUR PARTNERING
CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY. FROM
2017 THROUGH 2022, MINNEAPOLIS
INCREASED ITS HOUSING STOCKS BY
12%, AND THAT WAS ABLE TO HAPPEN
THROUGH A SERIES OF LAND-USE
CHANGES. WITH THAT 12% INCREASE
IN HOUSING
>>> IN THAT SAME TIME PERIOD THE
RENTS GREW ONLY BY 1%. AND SO, I
THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT TO NAME
AND THIS TOO. WE ARE TRYING TO
BRING ONLINE MORE TOOLS TO
ADDRESS THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS
WITH WHAT WE HAVE GOT. WHAT I IS
CLEAR, AND I HOPE IS THE OPINION
OF THIS COMMITTEE, WE HAVE THE
NEED FOR COMMUNITY LED HOUSING.
ESPECIALLY AREAS THAT EXCLUDED
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. WITH ESSA,
I AM HAPPY TO WORK IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH CHAIR SOLOMON
TO ENSURE WE ACT NOW . AS I HAVE
STATED PREVIOUSLY, THIS WOULD
GIVE DENSITY BONUSES TO
COMMUNITY LED AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROJECTS ACROSS OUR CITY. I KNOW
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
AMENDMENTS. I KNOW THERE ARE A
FEW OTHERS THAT WILL BE BRIEFED
ON TODAY. WITH THAT, CHAIR,
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO ADD
THOSE COMMENTS. LET'S KEEP THE
CONVERSATION GOING IN HEAR FROM
OUR PANEL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE DO
HAVE COMMUNITY HERE WITH US.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, FRIENDS.
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM
YOU REGARDING THIS. I WANT TO
GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD HELP YOU
ALL.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SOLOMON AND
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, WHO
SPONSORED THIS LEGISLATION, AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, FOR INVITING
US TO ATTEND AND GIVING US THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT OUR
PROJECTS RELATES TO THE ROOTS TO
ROOFS PILOT PROJECT. I AM HERE
TO ALSO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE
FILIPINO COMMUNITY OF SEATTLE
'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WHO HAS
PARTICIPATED IN SOME OF THE
ROUNDTABLES. I AM GOING TO READ
MY STATEMENT, BECAUSE SHE HAS
SENT ME SOME INFORMATION THAT
SHE WANTS ME TO IN PART BUT I
DON'T WANT TO GO
EXTEMPORANEOUSLY AS . SO BEAR
WITH ME. FOR ALMOST 90 YEARS,
THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY OF
SEATTLE HAS BEEN GALVANIZING
FORCE AND A CULTURAL TOUCHSTONE
FOR THOUSANDS OF FILIPINOS AND
OTHER LOW INCOME PEOPLE
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE, KING COUNTY
AND WASHINGTON STATE. STARTING
OUT AS A MUTUAL SUPPORT SOCIAL
ORGANIZATION, THE FILIPINO
COMMUNITY OF SEATTLE HAS EVOLVED
INTO A FULL-SERVICE NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES VITAL
COMMUNITY SERVICES AND ALSO
PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE AS A
CULTURAL HOME FOR THE FILIPINO
COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS OTHER
IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES COMMUNITY
THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST SEATTLE. WE
HAVE LONG ENVISIONED CREATING AN
INTERGENERATIONAL MIXED-USE
CAMPUS, OR WHAT WE CHARACTERIZE
AS FILIPINO COMMUNITY VILLAGE,
THAT INCLUDES AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, COMMUNITY CENTER AND
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES ALL IN ONE
LOCATION. STARTING WITH , AND
AFTER THE COMPLETION, OF OUR
FILIPINO COMMUNITY VILLAGE 1
PROJECT, A 94 UNIT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FOR SENIORS , WHICH
SERVED 30% TO 60% AMI, WHICH
INCLUDED AN INNOVATION LEARNING
CENTER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN
2021, WE BEGAN TO VISUALIZE A
SECOND PHASE TO SERVE WORKING
FAMILIES ON THE SITE NEXT TO THE
COMMUNITY CENTER IN FILIPINO
COMMUNITY VILLAGE 1. WITH
ACQUISITION FUNDING FROM THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, THIS THIRD
PIECE OF THE PUZZLE WAS SECURED
IN THE PURCHASE OF THE PAWN SHOP
NEXT TO HER COMMUNITY CENTER
JUST NORTH OF THE COMMUNITY
CENTER. THAT IS THE SITE OF OUR
CURRENT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
FILIPINO COMMUNITY VILLAGE 2, A
SEVEN-STORY INTERGENERATIONAL
MIXED-USE BUILDING FOR
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMUNITIES
SPACE. WHAT THIS PROJECT
INVOLVES IS A SEVEN-STORY
BUILDING , FIVE FLOORS OF
RESIDENTIAL UNITS, FOUR
ONE-BEDROOM, 40 42 BEDROOMS AND
12 THREE-BEDROOM UNITS, A TOTAL
OF 56 RESIDENTIAL UNITS. 70 SAYS
11,000 SQUARE FEET. -- 77,000
SQUARE FEET. WE WILL BE SERVING
60% AMI AND BELOW, WHICH THE
CONCERNS EARLIER. THE GROUND
FLOOR, TWO LEVELS, DEVELOPMENT
WILL INVOLVE TWO DAYS , A TOTAL
OF 7000 SQUARE FEET. ONE IS
PROPOSED FOR A HEALTH CLINIC
THAT WILL BE LEASED AND RUN BY
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
HEALTH SERVICES ORGANIZATION
ANOTHER EXTENSION OF THE
INNOVATIVE LEARNING CENTER,
SIMILAR TO THE ONE WE HAVE IN
THE FIRST PROJECT. IT CAN ALSO
BE CONVERTED INTO MULTIPURPOSE
COMMUNITY SPACE FOR OTHER
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND
PROGRAMS. THIS PROJECT WILL BE
SERVING LOW INCOME WORKING
FAMILIES AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT
. SPECIFICALLY, BIPOC FAMILIES
IN SOUTHEAST SEATTLE. WE HAVE
ALSO FORMED A COMMUNITY CAPITAL
COMMITTEE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE
NONRESIDENTIAL PARTS OF THE NEW
BUILDING WITH A $10 MILLION
GOAL. I WANTED -- I AM ONE OF
THE COCHAIRS OF THAT COMMITTEE.
WE WILL BE RAISING FUNDS FROM
THREE SOURCES, GOVERNMENT, LIKE
WE DID WITH THE FIRST PROJECT,
PRIVATE COMPANIES , FOUNDATIONS
AND OTHERS WILLING TO GIVE TO
THESE TYPE OF PROJECTS, AND MORE
IMPORTANT, THE COMMUNITY.
SPECIAL EMPHASIS OF ENGAGING OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS
IN RAISING FUNDS AND SUPPORTING
THIS PROJECT. WE HAVE ALREADY
RAISED $5 MILLION TOWARDS OUR
GOAL, BUT WE STILL HAVE MORE TO
RAISE WITH THE SUPPORT OF
EVERYONE I MENTIONED HERE. OUR
LOCATION IS SOUTH SEATTLE IN THE
MOST DIVERSE ZIP CODE IN THE
CITY REGION. IT ALSO IS A
DISADVANTAGED CENSUS TRACT WITH
MULTIPLE NEGATIVE INDICATORS.
CHALLENGES SUCH AS EDUCATION,
LANGUAGE, FOREIGN-BORN STATUS
AND POVERTY ARE SIGNIFICANT. THE
FILIPINO COMMUNITY OF SEATTLE IS
A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR FAMILIES
AND HAVE BUILT OUR MANY PROGRAMS
AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AROUND
THIS. WE UNDERSTAND THE HOUSING
CHALLENGES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR
SURROUNDING AFFORDABILITY.
APARTMENT SIZES , ACCESS TO
COMMUNITY AMENITIES, EMPLOYMENT
AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION . THIS
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ON THIS SITE
IS MEANT TO ADDRESS THESE
CHALLENGES. FAMILY HOUSING IS
ESPECIALLY NEEDED IN RAINIER
VALLEY DUE TO THE ONGOING
DISPLACEMENT PRESSURE IN
SEATTLE. FILIPINO COMMUNITY
VILLAGE 2 PROJECT IS DEDICATED
TO SERVING BIPOC WORKING
FAMILIES AND OTHER AT RISK OF
BEING DISPLACED BY RISING
HOUSING COSTS HERE IN SEATTLE.
THIS PROJECT DOES NOT -- IS NOT
JUST A HOUSING SOLUTION, IS THE
LIFELINE FOR MANY FAMILIES
STRIVING TO ACHIEVE STABILITY
AND PROSPERITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE HIGH COST OF LIVING IN
SEATTLE HAS MADE IT INCREASINGLY
DIFFICULT FOR MANY TO FIND SAFE,
STABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOMES.
THIS PROJECT AIMS TO ADDRESS
THESE CHALLENGES BY PROVIDING
MUCH NEEDING -- NEEDED OPTIONS
THAT ARE BOTH AFFORDABLE AND
ACCESSIBLE. BOTH FILIPINO
COMMUNITY VILLAGES PROJECTS
DEVELOPMENTS ARE DRIVEN BY THE
FOLLOWING CONTEXT. MOST
IMPORTANT IS A NEED FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IN 2023, 70%
OF LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN KING
COUNTY SPENT MORE THAN 30% OF
THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING.
IDENTIFIED BY THE CITY OFFICE OF
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT RACE AND SOCIAL
EQUITY INDEX, AS BEING IN THE
TOP 20% EQUITY PRIORITY TRACKS
IN OUR CITY. 80% OF EXTREMELY
LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, 0% TO 30%
AMI IN KING COUNTY ON A MOST
COST BURDENS. THESE STATISTICS
UNDERSCORE THE URGENT NEED FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS.
THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY OF
SEATTLE IS COMMITTED TO CRATING
SUPPORTIVE AND INCLUSIVE
ENVIRONMENTS WHERE FAMILIES CAN
STRIVE . BY DEVELOPING THIS
PROJECT, WERE NOT ONLY PROVIDING
HOMES, BUT ALSO FOSTERING A
SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND
BELONGING. THE SECOND IMPACT ON
THE COMMUNITY. ECONOMIC
STABILITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING
ALLOWS FAMILIES TO ALLOCATE
RESOURCES TO OTHER ESSENTIAL
NEEDS SUCH AS EDUCATION,
HEALTHCARE AND SAVINGS.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT . STABLE
HOUSING ENVIRONMENT FOSTERS
STRONGER COMMUNITY TIES AND
ENHANCES THE OVERALL QUALITY OF
LIFE. CULTURAL PRESERVATION.
THIS PROJECT WILL CELEBRATE AND
PRESERVE THE RICH CULTURAL
HERITAGE OF THE FILIPINO
COMMUNITY CREATED A VIBRANT AND
SUPPORTIVE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL.
FINALLY, WE SUPPORT AND ARE
EXCITED ABOUT THE ROOTS TO ROOFS
PILOT PROJECT TO BECOME A
REALITY AS OUR EXPERIENCE HAS
SHOWN, AND THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL
DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY TO OFFER
THE COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS THAT A
FOCUS ON DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, BUT NEED THE
PARTNERSHIPS AND SUPPORT
NECESSARY TO MAKE THIS VISION A
REALITY. WE HAVE DONE THAT IN
OUR FIRST PROJECT, AND WE ARE
ALSO CONTINUING TO DO WHAT IS
STATED IN THIS LEGISLATION IN
OUR CURRENT PROJECT. BY
ADVOCATING AND APPROVING THIS
LEGISLATION PROJECT, YOU ARE
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF OUR
COMMUNITY AND OTHER COMMUNITIES
BY ENSURING THAT WORKING
FAMILIES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BUILD BETTER LIVES. WE ARE
DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION AND HOPEFULLY
SUPPORT FOR THIS LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO
CREATING A MORE EQUITABLE AND
INCLUSIVE SEATTLE. WE ARE
LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING PART OF
MAKING THIS A REALITY. THANK
YOU, AND WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE
ANY QUESTIONS AT THE APPROPRIATE
MOMENT.
>> THANK YOU. PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SOLOMON ,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK , THANK YOU
FOR THE LEGISLATION OR
ORDINANCE, I THINK IT'S WHAT WE
CALL IT IN THE CITY. MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE, THE FILIPINO
COMMUNITY IS IN SUPPORT OF THIS
LEGISLATION. WE THINK THAT WE
CAN MAKE USE OF IT. WE WOULD BE
ABLE TO HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH
DIFFERENT NONPROFITS TO MAKE
SURE THAT OUR BUILDING ,
FILIPPINI -- FILIPINO COMMUNITY
VILLAGE, WILL BECOME A REALITY.
AS WE GO FURTHER INTO FURTHER
REFINEMENT, I HEARD FROM THE
FOLKS THAT TESTIFY TODAY THEIR
CONCERN HAS A LOT TO DO ALSO
WITH THE FOR-PROFIT DEVELOPERS.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD TAKE A
CLOSER LOOK AT THAT . THE OTHER
PART IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE ISSUE. I LIVE ON BEACON
HILL. WE GET A LOT OF AIR AND
NOISE POLLUTION. I AM ALSO
WORKING ON THE KING COUNTY
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMUNITY
COALITION, WHICH IS WORKING FOR
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
FOR OUR NEARBY AIRPORT
COMMUNITIES. I WOULD ALSO ASK
THAT YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
OTHERWISE, EVERYTHING THAT DAVID
HAS SAID IS SOMETHING THAT WE
ALSO, THAT I ALSO SUPPORT, AND
THAT WE HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL
WILL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AND
PAY ATTENTION TO. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. ANYTHING TO ADD?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD JUST A
FEW QUICK COMMENTS . I AM
PRIMARILY HERE TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS, BUT GIVEN SOME OF THE
PUBLIC COMMENTS TODAY, I THOUGHT
IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO SHARE THE
AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PRODUCTION THAT HAPPENS YEAR
OVER HERE IN SEATTLE. I HAVE
SOME DATA HERE FROM , STARTING
FROM 2020, BUT THERE IS A
FANTASTIC DASHBOARD ON OFFICE OF
HOUSING WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN
ACCESS ALL OF THIS. YOU CAN FIND
OUT THE EXACT TYPE OF HOUSING
BUILT, MARKET RATE OR
AFFORDABLE, AND AT WHAT
PERCENTAGE. IN 2020, 7% OF THE
HOUSING BUILT WAS CONSIDERED
AFFORDABLE . IN 2021, IT WAS
AGAIN 7%. ON 2022 I BELIEVE IT
WAS 5%. IN 2023 IT WAS 2%. THERE
IS A TROUBLING DOWNWARD TREND
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. NOW,
THIS PILOT BILL THAT REQUIRES AT
LEAST 25% OF A PROJECT BE
AFFORDABLE IS A PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT JUMP WHEN YOU LOOK
AT A PROJECT BY PROJECT BASIS. I
JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT
CONTEXT. . REALLY, SECONDLY, I
DO AGREE THAT SOME ADDITIONAL
TIME SHOULD BE SPENT ON THE FOR
PROFIT COMPONENT OF THIS BILL,
BUT I ALSO WANT TO EXPLAIN , AS
I HAVE BEEN PRACTICING
ARCHITECTURE IN SEATTLE FOR A
LITTLE OVER 30 YEARS, AND AS OF
LATE, I'VE BECOME A DEVELOPER
OF AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP
PROJECTS THAT FALL WITHIN THE
MISSING MIDDLE SMALLER END OF
THE SCALE. THERE ARE REALLY TWO
VERY DIFFERENT FUNDING
ECOSYSTEMS FOR MARKET RATE
VERSUS AFFORDABLE PROJECTS. IT
IS GOING TO BE VERY UNUSUAL FOR
A MARKET RATE DEVELOPER TO COME
ALONG AND DESIRE TO PARTNER WITH
A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION.
IT DOES HAPPEN IN VERY SMALL
QUANTITIES EVEN TODAY , BUT THE
LANGUAGE IN THIS BILL PROVIDES
MORE GUARDRAILS FOR THE
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN
THOSE INSTANCES , BUT OVERALL,
THE NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS HAVE
ACCESS TO ONE POOL OF FUNDING
WHILE MARKET RATE DEVELOPERS
HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT POOL OF FUNDING. AND
SO, THE TWO ECOSYSTEMS DO NOT
TEND TO MESH. AND SO, MORE
LIKELY THAN ANYTHING, YOU ARE
GOING TO SEE NONPROFIT LARGER
INSTITUTIONS LIKE PLYMOUTH
HOUSING, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALSO
WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH HAS
JOINED. WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR PRESENTATIONS. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR WORDS. COLLEAGUES, I
WANT TO OPEN IT UP FOR ANY
QUESTIONS TO THE PANEL, OR ANY
QUESTIONS REGARDING THE
LEGISLATION OVERALL. LET ME SEE.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD ONE
FINAL NOTE. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO
HAVE ONE OTHER PANELIST TODAY. I
WANTED THE RECORD TO REFLECT
THAT CALEB JACKSON WITH UPLIFT
INVESTMENT INFORMED MY OFFICE HE
WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND TODAY FOR A
PERSONAL MATTER. I WANTED TO
PUBLICLY THANK HIM FOR WORKING
WITH MY OFFICE AND HIS
WILLINGNESS TO COME BEFORE US
TODAY. HE PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE
IN DRAFTING AMENDMENT 3 ALSO
BEFORE US TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
>> FIRST OF ALL, MR. CHAIR, I
WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR WHAT
OCCURRED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
FELT LIKE I CAME IN A LITTLE
HOT. I JUST WANT THE RECORD TO
REFLECT FOR THE CLERK THAT WHEN
INDIVIDUALS ARE RACIST AND
DISRUPTIVE AND VILE THAT WE MAKE
A NOTE OF THAT SO WE HAVE IT ON
THE RECORD SO IF THEY DO IT TWO
MORE TIMES, IT IS ON THE RECORD,
THREE TIMES, AND THEN WE CAN
BEGIN DISCUSSING HAVING THIS
PERSON OR ANY INDIVIDUAL, QUITE
FRANKLY, BE -- THE CORRECT WORD
IS BANNED. IT COULD BE 30 DAYS
OR 60. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE FOR ALL
THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT IN THE
CITY ABOUT TOLERANCE AND
INCLUSIVITY THAT WE SHOULD NOT
ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME HERE AND
ATTACK US AND OTHERS BASED ON
OUR RACE, OUR GENDER, OUR
ETHNICITY , AND TO ALLOW IT
BECAUSE WERE BEING POLITE IS
JUST UNCONSCIONABLE. I WANT THE
RECORD TO REFLECT THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. OF THE INDIVIDUAL
NOW HAS TWO MORE CHANCES, AND
THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A
PROBLEM. I HAVE A QUESTION,
MAINLY MORE TECHNICAL. I WANT TO
THANK KETIL FIRST FOR PROVIDING
YOUR MEMO ON JULY 27 . YOU
PROVIDED A SUMMARY AND FISCAL
KNOW. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
LOOK AT THE LEGISLATION. I KNOW
THAT COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, THANK
YOU FOR PROVIDING THIS. HE ALSO
HAD THE THREE AMENDMENTS THAT I
JUST GOT COPIES OF. IT IS NOT SO
MUCH TECHNICAL AS, RIGHT NOW I
UNDERSTAND YOU'RE HOLDING AT
NINE AMENDMENTS, FIVE OF WHICH
ARE COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY. ALL I
WANT TO CORRECT. THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE?
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'M
SORRY. I KNOW I DON'T SIT ON
THIS COMMITTEE.
>> YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
JUST A QUICK QUESTION. IS THIS
THE TIME TO ADDRESS, PUT OUR
POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS THAT I
DON'T SIT ON THIS COMMITTEE. I
DRAFTED AMENDMENTS WITH OUR
CENTRAL STAFF. I JUST WANTED TO
SPEAK TO THOSE TODAY .
>> WE WILL BE TAKING A VOTE ON
THEM TODAY, BUT IF YOU WANT TO
DISCUSS THEM.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I WANT TO BE
REALLY QUICK . THANK YOU SO
MUCH. SORRY BUT I WAS A LITTLE
OUT OF SORTS. I'VE NEVER SAT ON
A COMMITTEE I WASN'T IN. I KNOW
I'M NOT A MEMBER TODAY.
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. I ALSO WANT TO RESPECT
MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO CENTRAL
STAFF AS WELL FOR YOUR TIRELESS
WORK, NOT ONLY ON THIS
LEGISLATION, COMP PLAN, OTHER
LAND-USE BILLS. I KNOW THAT YOU
ALL ARE MANAGING A HEAVY
WORKLOAD AND LIMITED CAPACITY.
THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO SAY
THAT FOR THE RECORD. SOME OF THE
AMENDMENTS THAT I PROPOSE, AND I
AM NOT ON THE COMMITTEE, SO I
JUST DRAFTED THEM. I TALKED TO
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ABOUT
POTENTIAL SPONSORSHIP. I WANTED
TO JUST PUT THEM OUT THERE. I
HAVE MET WITH SOME COMMUNITY
FOLKS AND SOME NEIGHBORHOODS
ACROSS THE CITY. THESE WERE
SPECIFICALLY FROM HISTORICALLY
EXCLUDED COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE
EXPERIENCED DISPROPORTIONATELY
LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS, EVEN AS OTHER
AREAS IN THE CITY HAVE BEEN
CONSISTENTLY PROTECTED. I DO
KNOW THAT THIS BILL IS VERY
DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST ONE FOR
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES, AND IT
GIVES BONUSES TO COMMUNITIES
THAT HAD -- AND HELP ME, CORRECT
ME IF I AM WRONG, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, THIS GIVES BONUSES TO
COMMUNITIES THAT FORMERLY HAD
RACIALLY COVENANT LAWS . IT
GIVES IT -- DID I SAY THAT
RIGHT?
>> GO AHEAD. THE PREVIOUS
VERSION OF THIS LEGISLATION HAD
TIED AN ADDITIONAL BONUS TO A
DISPLACEMENT MAP , WHICH WAS
PRIMARILY LOCATED THROUGHOUT
DISTRICT 2 . WHAT WE HAVE DONE
HERE IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING
ADDITIONAL DENSITY BONUS TO
PROPERTIES THAT HAVE HAD A
RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE COVENANT ON
THE HOME.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
THAT WAS ONE OF MY CONCERNS, AND
THAT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. WHICH
IS GREAT. I ALSO HAD
OPPORTUNITIES TO SIT DOWN WITH A
NUMBER OF GROUPS , AFRICA TOWN,
KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW, URBAN
LEAGUE, UP LIVE, CASE 21,
PARENTS WITH STUDENTS, BLACK
LEGACY HOMEOWNERS, TO TALK ABOUT
THE FIRST ONE WHERE -- TREES
PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTH END.
WAS MENTIONED HERE THAT THERE IS
AN AMENDMENT ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE ISSUE PERTAINING TO
TREES SOUTH OF I-90 PROTECTED
SOME OF THOSE THAT ARE ALWAYS --
THAT ARE IN DANGER. THAT WAS ONE
OF THEM. ALSO, THERE IS AN
AMENDMENT THAT WE DRAFTED TO
HAVE FIVE PROJECTS PER DISTRICT,
AND THAT WAS FOR
DISPROPORTIONATE DEVELOPMENT. IT
IS NOT ALL CONCENTRATED IN JUST
ONE NEIGHBORHOOD , CENTRAL
DISTRICT OR SOUTH END. IT COULD
BE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THERE
ALSO NEEDED TO BE A CLEAR
PATHWAY FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP AND I
KNOW COUNCILMEMBER RINCK BROUGHT
THAT, WHICH IS GREAT. THAT WAS
ONE THING THAT WAS REALLY,
REALLY IMPORTANT TO US AS WELL.
AND ALSO, PREDATORY OPERATIONAL
AGREEMENTS. I KNOW THAT THIS
BILL HAS THE UNDER LINING WITH
51% OWNERSHIP, BUT ALSO THE
DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS WHEN IT
COMES TO THE OPERATIONAL
AGREEMENT FOR COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS AND WHOEVER
IS OPERATING THAT PIECE AS WELL.
I'VE SEEN IT HAPPY IN THE
EQUITY INDUSTRY. THAT WAS A RED
FLAG FOR ME AS WELL. THESE ARE
STILL IN DRAFT FORM. I WANT TO
OFFER THEM TO THE COMMITTEE,
PRESENT THEM AND HAVE THEM OUT
THERE JUST TO GET FEEDBACK AND
TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MOVE
FORWARD THAT ALSO CENTERS THE
VOICES THAT ARE COMMUNITIES
IMPACTED. I KNOW THAT IS
IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE UP HERE
THAT TOOK THE TIME TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE CAN DROP THOSE WITH
KETIL. HE TOOK THE CONCEPTS OUT
OF MY BRAIN AND WAS ABLE TO
ARTICULATE THOSE TO MAKE ME LOOK
REALLY, REALLY SMART. I WANT TO
THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR YOUR TIME.
I WILL BE CONTINUE THAT'S
CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU ALL
ON THIS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. I
DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE JUST
HOW MUCH OUR CENTRAL STAFF DOES
FOR US . THEY DO MAKE US LOOK
SMART. THEY MAKE OUR JOBS A LOT
EASIER. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR
EVERYTHING YOU DO. WE THROW A
LOT AT YOU , AND IT IS
DEFINITELY APPRECIATED. ANY
COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE?
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> I'M GOING TO USE THE OLD
HAND AND A NEW HAND.
>> OKAY.
>> JUST QUICKLY. I WANTED TO
COMMENT WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH SAID. GOING BACK
TO KETIL IN THE WAY BACK
MACHINE. WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT
AREAS THAT WERE TRADITIONALLY
REDLINE IN THE DAY THAT IT TOOK
THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
IN 1948 TO WILL THAT THESE WERE
UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND YOU CANNOT
DIVIDE UP A CITY ON RACIAL
LINES. IT TOOK UNTIL 1968 WITH
THE FAIR HOUSING ACT TO PASS A
LAW IN CONGRESS THAT YOU SIMPLY
CAN'T DO THAT. THE REASON WHY
I'M ACTUALLY NOT THAT SMART,
BUT UNDER MHA AND WHEN WE WERE
GOING THROUGH MEETINGS , IF YOU
LOOK AT THE FOOTNOTE, WHICH IS
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT HIS WRITING,
PAGE 1, FOOTNOTE 2 WHEN HE TALKS
ABOUT THE RACIAL RESTRICTIVE
COVENANTS PROJECT. I ACTUALLY
WENT AND LOOKED AT THAT WHEN I
WAS DOING LEGAL RESEARCH FOR
MHA. IT DID MAP OUT THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND MANY OF THEM
ARE NORTH OF THE SHIP CANAL AS
WELL. I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU
KNOW, THIS IS ABOUT WRITING
HISTORICAL WRONGS. WHAT WE'RE
STRUGGLING WITH AS A CITY, AT
LEAST HAVE THE HONEST DISCUSSION
THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE RACIAL
COVENANTS, OUT OF THEM SPRAYING
-- I'M USING ONE TERM, I DON'T
WANT ANYONE TO GO CRAZY,
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING IS
BASICALLY OUR CAVE TERM FROM THE
PAST THAT WAS CODE FOR CERTAIN
THINGS, WHICH BASICALLY MEANT
CERTAIN PEOPLE COULDN'T LIVE
THERE. THERE WAS A TIME IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD AS A NATIVE
AMERICAN LATINO AND IF YOU WERE
JEWISH YOU CANNOT LIVE IN
UNINCORPORATED NOW DISTRICT 5. I
THINK WE HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH
THAT HISTORY AND BE HONEST WITH
IT. NO ONE IS POINTING FINGERS
RIGHT NOW. WE ARE JUST SAYING
THAT THIS IS HOW OUR CITY GOT
DIVIDED UP. THESE ARE THE THINGS
THAT WENT UP TO THE UNITED
STATES SUPREME COURT PUT THIS IS
HOW CONGRESS PASSED THE LAW. AND
NOW, WE'RE REALLY ADDRESSING
THE HOUSING PROBLEM WE ARE
HAVING RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE , NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE
SHIP CANAL . IT IS MORE THAN
INCUMBENT UPON US TO ACTUALLY
HAVE THESE TOUGH DISCUSSIONS. I
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
STARTED THIS. HEARING THE
COMMENTS TODAY FROM WHEN I WAS
ON COUNCIL FOR EIGHT YEARS, JUST
LIKE COUNCILMEMBER, AND I'M
SURE FORMER SENATOR UNDERSTANDS
AS WELL FROM OUR WORK TOGETHER,
IT IS A LITTLE DISINGENUOUS TO
ALWAYS JUST SAY I THINK IT IS
ONLY FOR THE DEVELOPERS, AND
YOU'RE GOING TO TEAR DOWN EVERY
TREE . I MEAN, WE HAVE SEEN A
LOT OF THAT. SOME OF THAT IS
TRUE, BUT I DON'T THINK THE
INTENT AND SPIRIT AND HUMANITY
WE LOOK AT THESE KIND OF LAWS IS
BASICALLY TO PROVIDE, AGAIN, THE
BASIC THINGS WE SHOULD HAVE IN
THIS COUNTRY, AND CERTAINLY, IN
THE CITY. AND THAT IS HOUSING.
WE HAVE COME TO THE CRISIS WHERE
WE NEED HOUSING. WE NEED UNITS.
WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT CHANGE. I
AM JUST HOPING THAT IN THE
SPIRIT OF UNDERSTANDING THAT
PEOPLE DON'T COME HERE AND
THINK THAT THIS IS JUST, YOU
KNOW, ILL WILL . WE REALLY ARE
STRUGGLING AS A CITY TO JUST FIX
SOMETHING. I JUST WANTED TO END
ON THAT. I WANTED TO THANK OUR
FORMER REPRESENTATIVES WHO I
WORKED WITH SHOULDER TO SHOULDER
IN OLYMPIA AND CITY HALL, AND A
MENTOR OF MINE AS WELL IN
OLYMPIA WHO PULLED ME UP SHORT
WHEN I WAS OUT OF LINE A COUPLE
OF TIMES CALLING ME FROM THE
HOUSE FLOOR. I APPRECIATED THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO END ON THAT
NOTE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
>> THEY COULD, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING
THE COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
SHARED ABOUT HER OWN FAMILY
WHEN, I BELIEVE YOUR GRANDMOTHER
WANTED TO BUY IN MADISON PARK
AND WAS TOLD, YOU CAN BUY HERE,
BUT YOU CAN'T LIVE HERE.
THINKING ABOUT HOW DID MY FAMILY
AND UP ON BEACON HILL WHERE MY
GRANDMOTHER WANTED TO BUY IN
PARKS. IT WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS
A REDLINE SHE COULDN'T CROSS.
YOU KNOW, STUFF IS REAL. WE DO
NEED MORE HOUSING AND MORE
INCOME LEVELS AND MORE PARKS IN
THE CITY, NOT JUST IN , BUT ALL
OVER THE PLACE. AGAIN, LOOKING
AT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE FILIPINO
COMMUNITY, LIKE ETHIOPIAN
COMMUNITY, LIKE AFRICA TOWN,
LIKE UPLIFT, THIS IS NOT
INTENDED TO BE A GIVEAWAY FOR
DEVELOPERS. IF IT COMES ACROSS
LIKE THAT, WE NEED TO ADDRESS
THAT. BUT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT
THOSE COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS BUILDING FOR FOLKS
IN THEIR COMMUNITY. AND
FACILITATING THAT. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
ALL FOR BEING HERE AND
DESCRIBING WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A
REALLY -- THIS MIC IS STUCK. A
REALLY GREAT PROJECT IN THE
FILIPINO COMMUNITY. I WAS HERE
WHEN THE DIFFERENT ITERATION
CAME UP . I WILL SAY THAT ONE OF
THE MAJOR REASONS WHY THIS
DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD THEN IS
STILL AN ISSUE TODAY FOR THIS
ONE. THAT IS SIMPLY, AT A VERY
BASIC LEVEL, WE ARE IN THE
MIDDLE OF COMP PLAN. WE ARE
GRAPPLING WITH HEIGHTS , WHICH
ARE PART OF PHASE 2 , AND
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, I
REALLY APPRECIATE HER LEADERSHIP
ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. WE
ARE ALL WORKING WITH OUR
RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS AND
CONSTITUENTS ON NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS AND BOUNDARIES AND
HEIGHTS . HEIGHTS ARE COMING --
WE HAVE TOLD CONSTITUENTS,
BECAUSE THIS IS TRUE RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BOUNDARIES
FOR THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS ,
AND THEN IN PHASE 2, WE WILL
LOOK AT THE HEIGHTS. AND SO, I
SAY THAT TO SAY THAT WE ARE
HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH
CONSTITUENTS ABOUT HEIGHT. THERE
IS OBVIOUSLY SOME CONCERNS ABOUT
THAT. THERE IS THE DANCE THAT WE
DO TO COME TO COMPROMISE ON ALL
OF THAT. AND SO, THIS SEEMED
BETTER PLACED WHEN WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT HEIGHTS AND HAVING
THE HOLISTIC CONVERSATION ABOUT
HEIGHTS, RATHER THAN NOW BEFORE
-- WHICH IS ACTUALLY VERY HERE
IN SHORT ORDER COMING AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. ONCE WE
ACTUALLY GET THE COMP PLAN AND
PERMANENT LEGISLATION PASSED. TO
ME, IT IS A TIMING ISSUE,
BECAUSE WE ARE TELLING
CONSTITUENTS WE ARE NOT
ADDRESSING HEIGHTS YET, WE ARE
ONLY ADDRESSING THE NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS AND THE PERMANENT HB
1110, WHICH FOR SOME PEOPLE, YOU
KNOW, WAS ALIVE. IT IS A LOT
MORE THAN WE ARE ALLOWING
CURRENTLY IN THE CITY. AND SO,
WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR
CONSTITUENTS TO, LIKE I SAID,
FIND POINTS OF COMPROMISE IN
MANY CASES ON THAT. WE HAVE TOLD
THEM, YOU KNOW, HEIGHTS ARE IN
PHASE 2, AND THE MAYOR HASN'T
SENT DOWN YET THE ZONING
LEGISLATION FOR HEIGHTS. SO THE
CONCERN IS THAT WE ARE DOING
THIS OUTSIDE OF THAT
CONVERSATION. IT SEEMS
PIECEMEAL. I THINK YOU'RE
SEEING SOME REACTION TO THAT. I
ALWAYS FEEL THESE THINGS ARE
UNFORTUNATE IN MY MIND, BECAUSE
THEN IT STARTS TO PIT PEOPLE
AGAINST PEOPLE. COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT
YOU ARE SAYING IN TERMS OF THAT
WE ALL WANT THE BEST FOR OUR
CITY AND COMMUNITIES. I GREW UP
IN A MOSTLY BLACK AND BROWN
NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE INNER CITY.
MY PARENTS WERE RENTERS. I GREW
UP IN A RENTAL MY HOME LIFE. YOU
KNOW, NOW I FINALLY OWN, AFTER
ALL THOSE YEARS. BUT MANY YEARS
OF RENTING, EVEN AS A YOUNG
PERSON. ANYWAY, ALL THAT TO SAY
THAT I FEEL LIKE WHEN WE DO
THESE THINGS AS ALMOST LIKE ONE
OFFICER OUTSIDE THE PROCESS, IT
CREATES THIS DIFFICULT SITUATION
FOR CONSTITUENTS ACROSS THE CITY
AND A VERY UNFORTUNATE WAY,
BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE START
FEELING LIKE , IT IS OUTSIDE OF
THE PROCESS, AND I DON'T GET TO
ENGAGE. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR
ME? YOU SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO
THIS IN PHASE 2. TO ME THAT IS
WHAT I AM HEARING A LOT FROM
CONSTITUENTS AS A CONCERN , AND
AS A DISTRICT COUNCILMEMBER. I
KNOW IN DISTRICT 5, THERE IS A
LOT OF CONCERN AROUND TREES ,
WHICH I KNOW IS ACROSS THE CITY.
I HEAR FROM THE SOUTH END A LOT
OF CONCERN ABOUT TREES AND TREE
CANOPY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
CLIMATE CHANGE. ALL OF THAT IS
REAL . AND SO, TO ME, I WOULD ,
YOU KNOW, HAVE PREFERRED TO TAKE
THIS UP WHEN WE WERE DOING PHASE
2 IN A FEW MONTHS HERE. SO WE
ARE HAVING A HOLISTIC
CONVERSATION, RATHER THAN HAVE
PEOPLE REACTING, AS YOU ARE
SEEING. WE ARE OPPOSED, WHEN
REALLY, I THINK THE ISSUE IS
THAT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THIS
ALTOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME AND
MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THOSE
HEIGHTS AS WE ARE DOING THIS AS
A HOLISTIC PLAN . I THINK THAT
IS A BETTER STRATEGY, IF YOU
WILL, FOR DOING THIS WORK . THAT
IS A CONCERN I HAVE FOR THIS.
CHAIR, I SEE SOMEONE , FORMER
SENATOR.
>> JUST FROM OUR EXPERIENCE IN
THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY, THE
FIRST BUILDING, THE 94 UNIT THAT
DAVID HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT, WE
WORK WITH OUR DEVELOPER , AND WE
SAID, WE DO NOT WANT TO
OVERSHADOW THE NEIGHBORS ACROSS
THE STREET. YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY
TOLD US, OKAY, LET'S BUILD HALF
OF IT ON THE PLACE WHERE THERE
ARE NO PRECEDENTS THAT ARE GOING
TO BE OVERSHADOWED AND LEAVE THE
SPACE WHERE THERE ARE OTHER
HOUSES ON THE OTHER SIDE. TO ME,
ALSO, IT IS A HOLISTIC
DISCUSSION , BUT IT ALSO HAS TO
DO WITH THE DEVELOPERS YOU ARE
WORKING WITH. THE ACTION THAT
THE COMMUNITIES HAVE. THAT IS A
KEY LESSON THAT I REALLY LEARNED
. AND THEN, MY QUESTION IS THIS
WHOLE ISSUE ABOUT THE AMI OF
SEATTLE. I HEARD IT HAS GONE UP,
WHICH MEANS THAT SOME
AFFORDABILITY ISSUES ARE COMING
UP. YOU KNOW, I REALLY
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
FOR BRINGING THIS UP FOR
DISCUSSION. AND HOPEFULLY, --
>> THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE
NECESSARY. YOUR COMMENTS ARE
REALLY APPRECIATED. I REALLY
APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
ALL OF THAT IS TRUE. THERE ARE
DIFFERENT ASPECTS TO THIS. IT IS
TRUE IN TERMS OF A DEVELOPER,
BUT WE NEED MORE DEVELOPMENT IT
IS AND, NOT OR. AND WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE -- I THINK THE
HOLISTIC COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH
IS IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY WHEN
YOU'RE TRYING TO GET THE
NEIGHBORHOOD TO BUY IN, FOR LACK
OF A BETTER WORD, TWO PROJECTS
IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT I
THINK WHEN YOU START DOING ONE
OFFS OUTSIDE OF A PROCESS, THAT
IS WHEN PEOPLE START REACTING
AND GET CONCERNED . WHAT IS IS
GOING TO LOOK LIKE? AND THEN
THERE IS A TREE. IS ARE GOING TO
BE A SEVEN FLOOR THING NEXT TO
MY AND MY NEIGHBOR 'S LOCK?
WHERE IS IT BETTER PLACED? ALL
OF THAT IS IMPORTANT AND TRUE.
YOU KNOW, LET'S JUST SAY, YOU
WERE LEGISLATORS ALSO FOR A LONG
TIME. FOLKS DON'T ALWAYS TRUST
GOVERNMENT. I FEEL LIKE WHEN WE
START DOING THESE THINGS AT A
ONE-OFF, WE PUT OURSELVES IN A
BAD SITUATION INADVERTENTLY WITH
CONSTITUENTS RATHER THAN DOING
IT , LIKE I SAID, AND THIS
HOLISTIC APPROACH . WERE GOING
TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH HEIGHTS IN
GENERAL IN A FEW MONTHS, SO WHY
NOT DO THIS AS PART OF THAT SO
NO ONE IS FEELING LIKE WE ARE
TRYING TO PULL THE WOOL OVER
THEIR EYES, WHICH WE ARE NOT?
YOU CAN SEE HOW PEOPLE ARE
FEELING LIKE , WHY ARE YOU DOING
THIS OUTSIDE OF THE PROCESS? IN
FACT, THIS IS IN SHORT ORDER. IS
NOT LIKE IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN
YEARS FROM NOW. WE HAVE TO
ADDRESS ZONING IN A FEW MONTHS
HERE.
>> I WAS HOPING TO ADDRESS YOUR
COMMENT ABOUT THINKING ABOUT
THIS DURING THE COMP PLAN
INSTEAD OF AS A ONE-OFF . AS AN
ARCHITECT, I WORK WITH THE
CENTRAL AREA YOUTH ASSOCIATION
AND TWO CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS. WE
HAVE ABOUT , AMONG THOSE THREE
PROJECTS, ABOUT 100 AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP UNITS IN THE
PIPELINE. IN SOME CASES, I'VE
BEEN WORKING WITH THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS IS 2019. THEY HAVE
DIED AND RESUSCITATED MULTIPLE
TIMES . THE URGENCY TO SERVE
THOSE COMMUNITIES IS GRAVE. SO I
THINK , YOU KNOW, I WAS
ORIGINALLY ASKED IN 2022 BY THE
OFFICE OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT TO SIT ON THE
ADVISORY , WHAT DO THEY CALL
THE, ADVISORY GROUP OR ADVISORY
PANEL TO COME UP WITH A
FRAMEWORK FOR LEGISLATION SUCH
AS THIS WHERE WE STUDIED ALL THE
BARRIERS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
AND EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT. THEY
ARE SIGNIFICANT. IT IS WHY A LOT
OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE
LANGUISHED FOR AS MANY YEARS AS
THEY HAVE. I THINK THE BENEFIT
OF PULLING OUT LEGISLATION
SEPARATE FROM THE COMP PLAN IS
IT CAN SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS CBOs
AND EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT. THE
COMP PLAN, IN AND OF ITSELF,
WILL LIKELY NOT GIVE THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS WHAT THEY NEED TO
CORRECT ERRORS OF THE PAST. THE
OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION
IS THAT COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS , MORE OFTEN THAN
NOT, ARE WORKING WITH THE LAND
THEY HAVE LEGACY OWNERSHIP OF IT
IS NOT THAT COMMON THAT A CBO
WILL GO FIND THEIR OWN PARCEL TO
DEVELOP A MARKET RATE DEVELOPER
HAS THE BENEFIT AND CAPITAL TO
DECIDE WHICH PARCEL TO PURCHASE
SO THAT IT IS RIPE FOR THEIR
DEVELOPMENT PERFORMA . PREFER A
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION,
THEY HAVE THE LAND THEY HAVE. IT
ISN'T NECESSARILY THE BEST LAND
TO DEVELOP , BUT DISPENSATIONS
IN THE CODE NEED TO BE AFFORDED
TO THEM SO THAT THAT LAND CAN BE
LEVERAGED FOR THEIR VISION TO
BUILD COMMUNITY CENTERS,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHATEVER IT
MAY BE. I THINK IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE
COMP PLAN, IN AND OF ITSELF, IS
NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THE
SPECIFIC NEEDS OF
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
GETTING THESE PROJECTS OVER THE
FINISH LINE. I UNDERSTAND AND
GET HOW IT IS PROBABLY , YOU
KNOW, FEELS LIKE IT IS OUT OF
SEQUENCE AND FEELS LIKE MAYBE IT
IS EVEN A WASTE OF TIME, BUT I
CAN ASSURE YOU WITH
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS I
AM WORKING WITH, IT IS NOT A
WASTE OF TIME. IT IS SO, SO
NECESSARY, AND I THINK THAT THE
COMP PLAN , AS WE HAVE ALL BEEN
WATCHING, WE ARE ALREADY BEHIND
SCHEDULE. WE HAD TO INTRODUCE AN
INTERIM CODE BECAUSE WE
COULDN'T MEET THE DEADLINE. NOW
WE HAVE A BUDGET COMING UP IN
NOVEMBER . IF WE CAN'T GET THIS
PHASE 2 DISCUSSION COMPLETED BY
THEN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
PUSH IT TO JANUARY. I THINK FOR
THE COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS THAT I WORK WITH,
THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THE
COMP PLAN DISCUSSION WILL BE
DRAWN OUT , NUMBER ONE, AND
NUMBER TWO, BUT IT WON'T
ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR SPECIFIC
NEEDS AT HEART, NOT AT HEART,
BUT IT IS TOO BIG OF A PROJECT ,
THE BROADER COMP PLAN PROJECT,
TO SQUARELY FACE THERE NEEDS.
>> THE BROADER COMP PLAN -- THE
ZONING IS IN RESPONSE TO THE
COMP PLAN. THAT IS WHY IT IS
PHASE 2. THAT IS WHAT I AM
TALKING ABOUT ZONING, WE WILL
HAVE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ON
HOW TALL , YOU KNOW, THE HEIGHT
FOR THOSE PARTICULAR AREAS. NOT
JUST THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS,
BUT THE REGIONAL CENTERS AND
WE'RE GOING TO EXPAND HEIGHTS
AND TRANSIT AREAS AND THINGS OF
THAT NATURE. THAT IS WHY I'M
SAYING THIS IS BETTER PLACED. WE
ARE ALREADY GOING TO BE TALKING
ABOUT HOW TALL CAN BUILDINGS BE
IN THOSE AREAS WHERE WE ARE
TRYING TO PROMOTE DENSITY? IT IS
NOT THAT THESE PROJECTS WILL BE
IN THE COMP PLAN . IT IS THAT WE
HAVE TO ADDRESS ZONING FOR THE
HEIGHTS FOR THE COMP PLAN. THIS
IS THE BETTER -- IT IS BETTER --
THIS IS A ZONING HEIGHT ISSUE.
IT IS BETTER TO HAVE IT DURING
THE ZONING. BUT I HEAR WHAT YOU
ARE SAYING ABOUT COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS. IT DOESN'T
PRECLUDE HAVING THIS, OUR PHASE
2 ZONING HEIGHT DETERMINATIONS ,
DOESN'T PRECLUDE THESE KIND OF
CONVERSATIONS FOR CBOs OR ANY
OTHER THINGS THAT MAY COME UP.
BUT IT IS BETTER PLACED, BECAUSE
WE WILL HAVE TO START TALKING
ABOUT IF WE ARE GOING TO DO A,
ET CETERA. HOW TALL ARE WE GOING
TO DO , WHAT HEIGHT BONUSES AND
THINGS OF THAT NATURE. THOSE
CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING TO
HAPPEN. THEY WILL HAPPEN. WE
WILL DO COMP PLAN. WE ARE ON
TRACK FOR AT LEAST COMP PLAN AND
PERMANENT HB 1110 LEGISLATION IN
THE FALL. I KNOW THAT IT HAS
BEEN LATE, BUT NOW RUBBER IS
MEETING THE ROAD. WE WILL LOSE
FUNDING IF WE DON'T GET THIS
COMPLETED. SO I HEAR WHAT YOU
ARE SAYING. I WILL ALSO SAY , IN
ADDITION TO EVERYTHING YOU JUST
SAID, THERE IS THE ISSUE -- I
HAVE DONE THIS FOR OVER 30
YEARS. I HAVE BEEN WORKING AT
EITHER A NONPROFIT OR GOVERNMENT
, AND A LOT OF OUTREACH. IF YOU
WANT FOLKS TO SUPPORT WHAT YOU
ARE TRYING TO DO, YOU HAVE TO DO
THE OUTREACH. OPCD LAST YEAR DID
NOT DO ADEQUATE OUTREACH, WHICH
IS MADE MORE PEOPLE UPSET.
HERE'S THE DEAL. YOU NEED TO DO
OUTREACH TO PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT
YOU AND THAT DON'T SUPPORT YOU,
BECAUSE OTHERWISE, YOU ARE IN A
SPACE WHERE IT IS THIS. YOU WANT
TO BE ANY SPACE WHERE EVEN THE
PEOPLE THAT MIGHT NOT BE ALL
SUPPORTIVE IN THE BEGINNING, YOU
CAN BRING PEOPLE ALONG. I HAVE
SEEN THAT. YOU ARE NODDING,
BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEEN IT TOO.
AGAIN, WE'VE DONE THIS A LONG
TIME. UDOKA PEOPLE ON BOARD BY
RAMMING THINGS, YOU KNOW, ASK
HIM. YOU REALLY TALK TO THEM AND
INCLUDE THEM. YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO GET EVERYONE. THAT IS TRUE.
AND THAT'S OKAY. THAT DOESN'T
MEAN YOU DON'T MOVE FORWARD.
BUT YOU HAVE BROUGHT THEM ALONG
WITH THE PROCESS. THERE ARE
MULTIPLE STRATEGIES AND WAYS TO
DO SOMETHING, AND I FIND, HAVING
DONE THIS FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE
, AND IN COMMUNITY, BECAUSE MOST
OF MY WORK WITHIN HISPANIC
COMMUNITY, I FIND THAT IF YOU DO
THE OUTREACH AND BRING PEOPLE
ALONG, YOU WILL HAVE BETTER
OUTCOMES IN GENERAL FOR
COMMUNITY.
>> I'M SORRY. THANK YOU FOR
WHAT YOU WERE JUST SAYING. THE
OTHER PART OF THAT TOO IS THAT
WE NEED TO HAVE DEVELOPERS THAT
ARE SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS OF
THE COMMUNITY.
>> OH YEAH.
>> LIKE YOU SAID, THEY JUST
CAN'T RAMROD THEIR BUILDING. WE
WERE LUCKY THAT WE HAD A
DEVELOPER THAT WAS REALLY
SENSITIVE TO OUR NEEDS , AND
EVEN TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT TYPE
OF FILIPINO DECORATIONS --
DECLARATIONS YOU WANT ON THIS
BUILDING SO IT BECOMES MORE
ETHNIC. THAT REALLY HELPED A
LOT. YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID,
THEY SAID, OH MY GOD, YOU HAVE
FILIPINO SHINGLES, YOU KNOW.
YOU'VE GOT THIS TILE FROM THE
PHILIPPINES. YOU KNOW, SO TO ME,
IT REALLY HAS ALSO A LOT TO DO
WITH THE DEVELOPER THAT YOU WORK
WITH AND HOW YOU CREATE -- HOW
YOU LEGISLATE CULTURAL
SENSITIVITY.
>> YEAH.
>> IT'S HARD.
>> ACROSS THE BOARD, THERE IS A
PROJECT IN THE DISTRICT I
REPRESENT WHERE THE DEVELOPER
CAME IN AND WORKED WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD , THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, TO , HEY, WE'RE DOING
THIS PROJECT. WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE A GROCERY. EARLY ON, THEY
KNEW THAT IF THEY BROUGHT PEOPLE
EARLY ON, SURE, THEY'RE GOING
TO HAVE SOME NEIGHBORS WHO
DON'T WANT THEM THERE, BUT YOU
KNOW WHAT? A LOT OF THOSE
NEIGHBORS GOT ON BOARD, YOU
KNOW, THE NEIGHBORS ARE
SUPPORTING GETTING THERE PERMITS
. THIS DEVELOPER GETTING THERE
PERMITS FROM SDCI. IT IS TAKING
LONGER. I GET EMAILS FROM
CONSTITUENTS, JUST PEOPLE THAT
LIVE THERE, WHEN IS THIS PROJECT
FINALLY GOING TO GET THERE
PERMITS SO THIS CAN BE BUILT? SO
THE SENSITIVITY AND THE
DEVELOPER IS LISTENING AND
WANTING TO WORK WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY KNOW THEY
WILL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL WITH
BETTER OUTCOMES WHEN YOU ENGAGE
EARLY ON. THANK YOU FOR SAYING
THAT. I AGREE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, FOR YOUR
COMMENTS. COLLEAGUES, I
INSENSITIVE TO THE TIME . WE'VE
HAD A LONG DAY. I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE ANY FINAL OR
CLOSING COMMENTS BEFORE WE
ADJOURN THE MEETING.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I
WILL BE VERY BRIEF. I JUST WANT
TO MAKE -- COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
HIT EXACTLY WHERE I WAS GOING.
THANK YOU I DON'T KNOW IF I'M
GOING TO BE READY TO VOTE ON
THIS ON AUGUST 6, QUITE FRANKLY.
BECAUSE OF THE COMP PLAN . I
WOULD POLITELY DISAGREE WITH YOU
THAT IN THE COMP PLAN WE ARE
ADDRESSING ZONING CAPACITY, NEW
HOUSING, NEW JOBS, TRANSIT
CORRIDORS, ONE SEATTLE, HB 11
TO, URBAN CENTERS, NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS, URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE'RE WORKING ON ALL THAT. I
APOLOGIZE. I'M HANGING UP ON MY
GRANDCHILD RIGHT NOW. JUST WANT
YOU TO KNOW THAT. I WANT TO GET
BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID,
REPRESENTATIVE. I THINK SOME
PEOPLE, PEOPLE MAKE THE
ASSUMPTION THAT PEOPLE WHO WORK
WITH COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS WHEN THEY PICK
DEVELOPERS, THAT THOSE
DEVELOPERS DON'T INFUSE
COMMUNITY SENSIBILITIES IN BRICK
AND MORTAR. I BUILT A LOT OF
STUFF IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND
WE DO. BECAUSE WE LIVE THERE.
PEOPLE START WITH THE ASSUMPTION
THAT WE ARE GOING TO BUILD THESE
BIG McMANSIONS AND NO ONE WILL
CARE. WE WILL HAVE STACKS AND
STACKS OF HOUSING. WE LIVE
THERE. WE WANTED TO BE LIVABLE
AND WALKABLE. I THINK PEOPLE
NEED TO DISABUSE THEMSELVES WITH
THAT NOTION. I THINK WE ALSO
HAVE TO UNDERSTAND AND RECOGNIZE
THAT, AS A STATE LEGISLATOR SAID
UNDER 1110, WE DO NOW HAVE
INCREASED ZONING CAPACITY. WOULD
BE A WASTE NOT TO USE IT. IT
JUST WOULD. I WILL LAND ON THAT.
THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. --
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
ALL. I ALSO WANT TO THINK OUR
PANEL FOR COMING BEFORE US TODAY
TO SHARE MORE SPECIFICITY AROUND
THIS PROJECT AND REALLY
ILLUSTRATE FOR US WHAT KIND OF
THINGS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT
CAN BE MADE POSSIBLE UNDER THIS
BILL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
AND EXPERTISE IN ENGAGEMENT WITH
MY OFFICE AND BEING IN COMMITTEE
TODAY. TRULY APPRECIATED.
BUILDING ON THAT POINT,
COLLEAGUES, I UNDERSTAND THAT
THERE IS A POLICY DECISION
WHETHER WE MOVE FORWARD WITH
THIS BILL OR WORK TOWARDS TRYING
TO INCORPORATE INTO THE COPPER
HAS A PLAN I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN
IN CONVERSATION WITH CENTRAL
STAFF AND MAKING SURE WE CAN PUT
FORWARD AMENDMENTS IN THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ALIGN WITH
WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE, BUT I
WOULD STATE FROM A POLICY
PERSPECTIVE THE VALUE OF DOING
THIS AS A STANDALONE BILL SPEAKS
TO, ALSO, THE URGENCY BEHIND THE
HOUSING CRISIS IN US BEING ABLE
TO ASSUREDLY MOVE FORWARD WITH
REAL PROJECTS THAT CAN BENEFIT
FROM THIS. I WOULD STATE THAT,
YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE
SOMETHING THAT I JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE IS REFLECTED ON THE
RECORD. THE HOUSING CRISIS IS
REAL. IT IS URGENT, AND WE HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD
AND HELP REALLY GREAT PROJECTS
PENCIL IN A TIMELY FASHION. WE
KNOW THAT THE LONGER THAT
CERTAIN HOUSING PROJECTS ARE
WAITING IN THE TIMELINE, WHETHER
READY FOR PERMITS OR FOR THE
FINAL LAST COUPLE DOLLARS TO
COMMIT TO A PROJECT, THE AT A
TIME FOR A PROJECT AND JUST
INFLATE COSTS. SO US DOING OUR
PART TO HELP IN MAKING PROJECTS
PENCIL IN A TIMELY MANNER IS
TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT. WANT TO
CLOSE ALSO BY THINKING
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH FOR
YOUR ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE TODAY,
AND ALSO FOR WORKING WITH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN SHAPING
SOME AMENDMENTS I THINK WILL
IMPROVE UPON THE BILL. I AM
DIGESTING ALONGSIDE AND FIGURING
OUT WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK WE MAY
HAVE ON THEM. BUT I WANT TO
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR YOUR
ENGAGEMENT ON THE BILL AND
BRINGING TOGETHER SOME
STAKEHOLDER GROUPS. I THINK WE
ARE ALIGNED IN THE INTENT HERE.
WANT TO TRY TO REMEDY HISTORICAL
HARMS IN LAND-USE POLICY. WE ARE
ALIGNED IN A TENT AND LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON
THESE AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU TO EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE
FOR AN EXTENDED TIME. THE KEY TO
OUR PANEL. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE
YOU. IF THERE IS NO FURTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE, HEARING NONE, THE
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE LANDIS
COMMITTEE WILL COME TO A CLOSE.
THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE ,
REGULAR SCHEDULE MEETING IS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6. WITH THAT,
WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, EVERYONE.