OF
THE HOUSING, ARTS, AND CIVIL
RIGHTS COMMITTEE WILL COME TO
ORDER. IT IS 2:04 P.M.
I AM DIONNE FOSTER.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> HERE.
>> VICE- CHAIR
LIN?
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR FOSTER?
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE
THREE MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> OKAY. PLEASE NOTE THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS
JUAREZ AND COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
HAVE BEEN EXCUSED.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WE WILL NOW OPEN THE HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE RELATED TO
ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA
OR WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE.
CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE
SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE 37
IN- PERSON SPEAKERS SIGNED UP
AND THERE ARE 7 REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> OKAY, GREAT.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE ONE
MINUTE. WE WILL START WITH THE
IN-
PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST.
CLERK, CAN YOU READ THE
PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS UP
TO 60 MINUTES.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE
REGISTERED.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH IN-
PERSON SPEAKERS AND THEN MOVE TO
REMOTE
SPEAKERS.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME
WHEN TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT.
SPEAKERS' MICS WILL BE MUTED
IF THEY DO NOT END WITHIN
THE ALLOTTED TIME TO GO ON TO
THE NEXT SPEAKER.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
>> OKAY,
FANTASTIC. AND I WILL READ THE
FIRST TWO
SPEAKERS. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF
DIFFERENT
MICS FOLKS CAN COME UP TO.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, YOU
CAN KIND OF QUEUE UP.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS SUPER
LIV MORGAN AND THEN OUR
SECOND SPEAKER IS TAYLOR FARBY.
ANY MIC IS FINE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS SUPER LIV MORGAN.
I AM A RENTER IN THE
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY
IS STARTING TO INSTITUTE A $250
FEE FOR EVERY FALSE FIRE ALARM
ON
EVERY SINGLE SHA TENANT.
WHEN I HEARD THIS, I WAS BEYOND
BOILING. THIS IS NOT RIGHT.
THIS IS NOT FAIR TO US TENANTS.
EVEN SHA IS GETTING
INTO THE GAME OF THE JUNK FEES.
BAN JUNK FEES.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TAYLOR,
AND FOLLOWING TAYLOR WE'RE
GOING TO
HAVE SCHUYLER
PARENTEAU AND MICHELLE HOMAS.
>> I'M WITH QUEER POWER
ALLIANCE.
WITH THIS BILL RENTERS WILL KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE PAYING AND
APPLYING FOR WHEN THEY ARE
APPLYING TO RENT A PLACE.
LANDLORDS WON'T BE ABLE TO
HIDE FEES OR MAKE DECISIONS
ABOUT
RENTERS' FINANCIALS BY
CHANGING THEIR ARBITRARY WAYS
THAT DON'T
HAVE A COST TO THEM.
IT DOES HAVE A COST TO THE
RENTERS, THOUGH.
WITH THIS NEW -- WITH THE
NEW FLEX OF TRANS PEOPLE COMING
IN AND MOVING TO SEATTLE, WE
ALSO KNOW THIS WILL HELP THEM TO
FIND PLACES MORE AFFORDABLE,
AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO PASS
THIS LEGISLATION AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
OKAY, NEXT WE'LL HAVE
SCHUYLER AND MICHELLE AND
FOLLOWING
THAT LYDIA FELTY AND NOAH
WILLIAMS.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS SKILLER PARENTEAU,
I LIVE IN CAPITOL HILL AT THIS
MOMENT IN TIME, AND I URGE
THE COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION
BY HOLDING LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE
TO REDUCING HIDDEN AND
UNNECESSARY RENTAL JUNK FEES.
I AM IN A VERY PRIVILEGED
POSITION IN MY AREA
IN CAPITOL HILL BEING ABLE TO
LIVE WITHOUT
JUNK FEES, AND I AM STRUGGLING.
IF I AM STRUGGLING, I KNOW
THAT MY NEIGHBORS WHO ARE NOT AS
LUCKY, WHO I'VE HEARD
HORROR STORIES FROM, ARE BARELY
ABLE
TO PAY FOR THINGS OUTSIDE OF
RENT SUCH AS GROCERIES, BEING
ABLE TO
GET PET CARE ITEMS AND SO ON.
BANNING JUNK FEES WOULD
ALSO BE OF BENEFIT TO THE CITY
BECAUSEBECAUSE MEANS THAT THE
MONEY US AS
CITIZENS OF SEATTLE, WE
WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TOWARDS
JUNK
FEES, WOULD BE MONEY THAT WE
HOLD
IN OUR POCKETS AND BE ABLE TO
SPEND
ON GROCERIES, PET
SUPPLIES, OTHER ITEMS THAT WE
NEED,
GAS, ALL WOULD BE WITHIN SEATTLE
LIMITS AND BRING UP THE
MONEY.
THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK
YOU. AND JUST SO FOLKS KNOW,
WHEN THE
CHIME GOES OFF, YOU STILL
HAVE TEN SECONDS LEFT.
JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS THAT.
THE CLOCK WILL BE UP THERE.
NEXT WE HAVE MICHELLE THOMAS AND
FOLLOWING MICHELLE WE HAVE LYDIA
FELTY.
>> HI.
I'M MICHELLE WITH THE
WASHINGTON HOUSING ALLIANCE.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 1,
AND WE HAVE ADVOCATES IN EVERY
CITY IN
THE DISTRICT.
THANK YOU MAYOR WILSON
AND COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER TO
ADDRESS
JUNK FEES CITIZENS ARE
BEING GOUGED WITH.
FEES ARE A GROWING ISSUE IN
SEATTLE AND YOU ARE TO BE
COMMENDED FOR TACKLING THIS NOW.
TENANTS ARE BEING FORCED TO PAY
UNFAIR, EXCESSIVE AND DECEPTIVE
FEES.
THIS MATTER IS A BASIC ISSUE OF
FAIRNESS BUT ALSO BECAUSE
JUNK FEES ARE MAKING OUR
HOUSING CRISIS IN SEATTLE WORSE
AND ARE
EXACERBATING RACE- BASED
INEQUITIES.
IT NEEDS TO STOP.
THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS IN
THE BILL ARE CRITICAL AND
WE APPLAUD ITS INCLUSION.
WE'RE DISMAYED WITH THE
LONG IMPLEMENTATION DATE.
TENANTS ARE HURTING NOW
AND GOUGING WILL LIKELY
INCREASE OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
IRREGARDLESS, PLEASE DO
NOT ACCEPT ANY AMENDMENTS THAT
WOULD WEAKEN
THE PROTECTIONS.
THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
SO NEXT WE HAVE LYDIA FELTY AND
NOAH WILLIAMS.
FOLLOWING THAT WE ARE GOING
TO HAVE DAVID HILL AND LAM
HO.
>> HI, MY NAME IS LYDIA FELTY.
I'M A RENTER IN D-3 AND THE
CO- CHAIR OF THE SEATTLE RENTERS
COMMISSION. WE SUPPORT BANNING
JUNK FEES TO
REDUCE HIDDEN AND
UNNECESSARY HOUSING COSTS FROM
LANDSCAPING AND LEASE RENEWAL
FEES TO
IN- UNIT APPLIANCE AND PEST
CONTROL FEES. OUR COMMISSION HAS
HEARD TIME
AND TIME AGAIN FROM
CONSTITUENTS THAT JUNK FEES HAVE
A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HOUSING
STABILITY.
IN A CITY WHERE NEARLY HALF
OF RENTERS ARE COST BURDENED AND
A
QUARTER SPEND AT LEAST HALF OF
THEIR INCOME ON RENT,
KNOWING THAT HOUSING -- UP FRONT
ENSURES
RENTERS ARE ABLE TO PLAN
AND BUDGET APPROPRIATELY RATHER
THAN BEING SURPRISED BY
MANDATORY FEES THAT WERE NOT
DISCLOSED UP
FRONT.
THIS LEGISLATION IS
ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND
PREDICTABILITY, AND IT'S ABOUT
UPHOLDING
THE RENTER PROTECTIONS DESIGNED
TO PROTECT RENTERS FROM PRICE
GOUGING.
THIS COMPREHENSIVE BAN
ON JUNK FEES WHICH DOES NOT
PREVENT LANDLORDS FROM SETTING
FAIR MARKET RENTS OR CHARGING
FOR
OPT- IN SERVICES WITH
ENFORCEMENT
MECHANISMS IS IMPERATIVE.
PLEASE PASS THIS
ORDINANCE WITHOUT
ANY WEAKENING AMENDMENTS.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE
NOAH WILLIAMS AND THEN DAVID
HILL.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS, CHAIR FOSTER.
MY NAME IS NOAH.
I'M A RENTER IN WEST
SEATTLE, AND LIKE OTHER
COMMENTERS,
I'M CHARGED A FEE TO PAY MY
RENT.
I HAVE REASONABLE RENT FOR
A ONE BED ROOMED AND A
COMPETENT PROPERTY MANAGER WHO
IS NOT A
JERK.
SADLY MY FRIEND WES IN
NORTHGATE ISN'T SO LUCKY.
HE LIVES WITH HIS WIFE
AND SMALL DOG AND BETWEEN THE
THREE
OF THEM ONLY ONE INCOME IN THE
HOUSEHOLD, WHICH HE
COULDN'T JOIN US TODAY FOR
BECAUSE HE
HAS TO KEEP HIS EMPLOYER HAPPY.
ON TOP OF HIS NEARLY $3,000
RENT, WES HAS TO PAY RENT
FOR HIS DOG, WHO DOESN'T EARN
AN
INCOME, AN AMENITY FEE
FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO
A DELIVERY ROOM AND FOR THE DOG
WATER
INTERNET THAT BARELY WORKS, THE
BUILDING'S ACCESS CONTROL
SYSTEMS. YES, HE HAS TO PAY A
FEE TO
UNLOCK HIS BUILDING'S FRONT
DOOR. WES PAYS ELECTRICITY AND
COMMON AREAS WHICH IS AN ILLEGAL
FEE THAT THE LANDLORD HAD THE
AUDACITY TO PUT INTO WRITING.
PLEASE MASS THIS BILL
BANNING THE SHADOW RENT
INCREASES
AND PASS THE FOLLOW- UP SO
THAT COMCAST CAN'T CHARGE A FEE
TO EVERY TENANT IN THE BUILDING.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE DAVID HILL,
LAM HO AND PARKER NICHOLS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS DAVID HILL.
I'M A RENTER LIVING IN
ROOSEVELT, AND I'M HERE
REPRESENTING THE TRANSIT RIDERS
UNION.
WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO PASS THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL TO BAN JUNK
FEES EXACTLY AS INTRODUCED
AND FIERCELY OPPOSE ANY
AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD WEAKEN IT.
CORPORATE LANDLORDS WHO TACK
ON HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN HIDDEN
COSTS, ADMINISTRATIVE FEES AND
PET FEES ARE ACTIVELY
EXPLOITING RENTERS AND DRIVING
ECONOMIC
DISPLACEMENT.
THEY'RE USING THESE BACK
DOOR CHARGES TO CLAIM
ARTIFICIAL BASELINE RENTS AND
SKIRT EXISTING RENTER
PROTECTIONS.
AS A DOG DAD I EXPERIENCE
THE ABSURDITY OF THIS FIRSTHAND.
IN MY BUILDING PETS ARE
NOT DRIVING MAINTENANCE NEEDS,
YET I AM FORCED TO PAY PET RENT
FOR
MY LITTLE BABY GIRL MAGGIE.
EVEN THOUGH I ALREADY PAY
AN EXTRA SECURITY DEPOSIT FOR
HER.
CHARGING A DOG RENT IS
ASININE, IT'S A CASH GRAB, AND
IT GOES STRAIGHT INTO MY
LANDLORD'S PROFIT MARGIN WHILE
DOING
NOTHING TO IMPROVE THE TENANT
EXPERIENCE.
PLEASE STAND WITH SEATTLE
RENTERS, PASS THESE
RENTER PROTECTIONS WITHOUT
LOOPHOLES.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU. OKAY, LAM HO, PARKER
NICHOLS, JAKE
MASON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS LAM AND I AM
THE GENERAL MANAGER FOR THE
TRANSIT RIDERS UNION.
PRIOR TO BEING A GENERAL
MANAGER FOR TRU, I WAS THE
DIRECTOR OF
A LEGAL AID ORGANIZATION,
WHICH REPRESENTS HUNDREDS OF
TENANTS EVERY YEAR.
FOR 18 YEARS I'VE REPRESENTED
TENANTS, AND I WANTED
TO SPEAK ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT
COMPONENT OF THIS BILL, ONE OF
THE STRONGEST ENFORCEMENT SORT
OF MECHANISMS THAT YOU'LL SEE
IN
SEATTLE. AND I REALLY WANT TO
URGE THE
COUNCIL TO NOT DILUTE THOSE
ENFORCEMENTS.
DON'T ACCEPT ANY AMENDMENTS
THAT
WILL MAKE IT NOT AS STRONG.
AS AN ATTORNEY, AS I
MENTIONED, FOR 18 YEARS, I SAW
JUST HOW
ESSENTIALLY WORTHLESS POLICIES
WERE OR LAWS WERE IF THERE WAS
NOT ENOUGH TEETH TO THE
ENFORCEMENT.
HERE YOU HAVE A THREE- PRONGED
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO
ENFORCEMENT, WHICH IS
ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY NOT ONLY
FOR
LAWYERS BUT FOR TENANTS TO BE
ABLE TO
BE SELF-ADVOCATES.
AND THAT IS A CRITICAL PIECE
TO MAKING SURE THAT WE
CAN
GENUINELY BAN JUNK FEES. THANK
YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
PARKER NICHOLS, JAKE
MASON, AND DANIELLE DURAL.
APOLOGIES IF I SAY
ANYBODY'S NAME WRONG.
HI.
>> MY NAME IS PARKER NICHOLS.
SORRY.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS PARKER
NICHOLSON, BORN AND RAISED
SEATTLEITE.
I'M A DEVELOPER OF HOUSING
IN THIS CITY IN THIS REGION.
I HAVE ABOUT 700 UNITS OF
HOUSING UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
MOST NOTABLY NOT IN SEATTLE,
AND THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT.
THE INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
WHO FUND OUR PROJECTS ARE
AFRAID TO PUT CAPITAL TO WORK IN
THIS
CITY DUE TO THE CONSTANTLY
EVOLVING
AND CHANGING POLICY ON THE
GROUND.
I'M NOT AGAINST TRANSPARENCY IN
HOW RENTS ARE CHARGED IN THIS
CITY.
I THINK IT CAN BE DONE IN A
WAY THAT'S FAIR AND
TRANSPARENT,
BUT I AM AGAINST JUST THE
CONTINUED
SORT OF FOCUS AND SCRUTINY AND
EVER- CHANGING POLICY THAT
MAKES IT UNPREDICTABLE TO PUT
MONEY
TO WORK IN THIS CITY TO BUILD
MORE
HOUSING. AND THE ONLY WAY WE'RE
GOING
TO ACTUALLY REDUCE RENTS IN
THIS TOWN IS TO BUILD OUR WAY
OUT OF
THE HOUSING CRISIS, AND, YOU
KNOW, CONTINUED PRESSURE AND
SCRUTINY ON OUR BUSINESS IS
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. PLACES LIKE
AUSTIN, TEXAS --
>> THANK
YOU.
>>
THANKS.
>> IF YOU HAVE MORE
COMMENTS, YOU CAN LEAVE THEM IN
THAT BUCKET RIGHT THERE.
THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE YOU.
OKAY, NEXT UP IS JAKE
MASON, DANIELLE DURALL, AND
ETHAN
STIGER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS JAKE MASON WITH
THE MULTIHOUSING ASSOCIATION.
HERE TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
THE TRANSPARENCY PROVISIONS
INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED
RENTAL FEE REGULATION AND IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF A
COLLABORATIVE POLICYMAKING
PROCESS AIMED
AT HOLDING BAD LANDLORDS,
BANNING JUN FEES, ALLOWING PETS
AND BRINGING MORE HOUSING TO
THE SEATTLE MARKET TO BRING
RENTS
DOWN.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROPOSAL
IN FRONT OF YOU RAISES RENTS.
THE PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF
YOU TIES GOOD LANDLORDS UP IN
RED
TAPE WHILE FAILING TO GO
FAR ENOUGH TO HOLD BAD LANDLORDS
ACCOUNTABLE. IT REDUCES
OPPORTUNITIES
TO BRING MORE HOUSING TO
SEATTLE AND WILL CONTINUE TO
KEEP
NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OUT
OF OUR CITY.
IT WAS CLEAR TO ME IN THE
STAKEHOLDER'S MEETING AS WELL
AS
HERE IN THE HALLWAY THERE
IS SIGNIFICANT OVERLAP IN WHAT
WE
CAN ACCOMPLISH WITH TENANTS
GROUPS, AND I STAND READY AS
A PARTNER AND A COLLABORATIVE
PROCESS MOVING FORWARD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, DANIELLE AND
THEN ETHAN STIGER AND TAYLOR
SHANAHAN.
>> I'M DANIELLE DUVALL, THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
DEVELOPMENT
ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING
INDUSTRY
PROFESSIONALS DELIVERING AND
OPERATING MUCH OF THE
MARKET RATE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING
THIS CITY NEEDS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND FOCUS ON HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY.
WE SUPPORT TRANSPARENCY
AND AGREE RENTERS SHOULD
CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THE COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH
THEIR HOUSING. OUR CONCERN IS
THAT THE AL
GOES BEYOND TRANSPARENCY
AND ADDS ANOTHER
OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENT AT A
TIME WHEN
HOUSING PROVIDERS ARE
ALREADY FACING RISING CUTS AND
COMPLEX REGULATORY ENVIRONMENTS.
NEW REGULATIONS, INCREASED
COSTS, REDUCE FLEXIBILITY
AND MAKE HOUSING MORE EXPENSIVE
TO
PROVIDE.
RESTRICTING THEM DOESN'T MEAN
THOSE COSTS DISAPPEAR.
THE QUESTION IS ABOUT
FAIRNESS AND HOW THOSE COSTS ARE
RECOVERED, IN MANY CASES
THOSE COSTS WILL GET FOLDED INTO
BASE RENT AND SPREAD ACROSS ALL
RESIDENTS, REGARDLESS WHO USES
THOSE AMENITIES. MARKET RATE
MULTIFAMILY
HOUSING ALSO DEPENDS ON PRIVATE
INVESTMENT WHICH WE NEED TO
MEET OUR GROWING HOUSING NEEDS.
WE KNOW THAT THE MOST
EFFECTIVE WAY TO IMPROVE
AFFORDABILITY OVER TIME IS TO
BUILD MORE
HOUSING.
>> THANK YOU.
AND IF YOU HAVE MORE COMMENTS,
AGAIN, YOU CAN PLACE THEM
THERE OR SEND THEM VIA EMAIL.
THANK YOU.
OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE
ETHAN FOLLOWED BY TAYLOR AND
THEN RANDY BANNAKER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M A COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER
FOR YOUR CITY AND A ROOSEVELT
RENTER. I'M HERE TO URGE TO YOU
TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE HIDDEN AND
UNNECESSARY COSTS AND
HOLDING LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE BY
SUPPORTING THE ORDINANCE.
RENTERS DESERVE STRAIGHT
FORWARD PRICING THAT REFLECTS
WHAT THEY WILL PAY OUT OF
POCKET.
AS A COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER I'VE SPOKEN TO
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE RENT BURDENED BECAUSE
OF UNEXPECTED
COSTS. RENTERS ARE THE
MAJORITY IN SEATTLE AND TENS OF
THOUSANDS
OF SEATTLEITES ARE AFFECTED BY
JUNK FEES, BUT TODAY YOU'LL
ONLY HEAR FROM A FRACTION OF
THEM.
HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT,
YET THESE COSTS SERVE AS
BARRIERS TO
HOUSING, BOX PEOPLE OUT OF
THE CITY THEY CALL HOME AND TURN
BRIGHT, CREATIVE
SEATTLEITES THAT WANT TO
CONTRIBUTE TO THIS
GREAT CITY AND THE PELT WHO
WORK, PAY RENT AND
HOPEFULLY AFFORD GROCERIES.
COUNCILMEMBERS, PLEASE PASS THIS
WITHOUT ANY WEAKENING
AMENDMENTS.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE
TAYLOR, RANDY AND THEN ALEC.
>> I'M COMMENTING ON THE
PROTECTION LEGISLATION.
REALTORS WANT TO WORK WITH
YOU AND THE COMMUNITY TO
STOP UNWANTED CALLS TO
HOMEOWNERS
AND SHUT DOWN WHOLE SAILING
PRACTICES. THOSE PRACTICES
TARGET AND CAN
STRIP AWAY HOME EQUITY.
THOSE PRACTICES HARM
YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND THEY ALSO
HARM THE CLIENTS AND COMMUNITIES
OUR MEMBERS SERVE.
WE ARE ASKING FOR A
REASONABLE MIDDLE GROUND, ONE
THAT
PROTECTS HOMEOWNERS FROM
PREDATORY CONDUCT WHILE
PRESERVING
TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION
FROM LICENSED REAL ESTATE
PROFESSIONALS. AS DRAFTED THE
ORDINANCE
RISKS CHILLING RESPONSIBLE
COMMUNICATION BY
LICENSED BROKERS THROUGH THE
THREAT
OF
FINES WHILE DOING LITTLE TO STOP
BOILER- ROOM TACTICS BY
UNLICENSED WHOLESALERS
WHO ARE DIFFICULT TO HOLD
ACCOUNTABLE.
WE HAVE OFFERED SUGGESTIONS TO
REFINE THE DEFINITION OF
SOLICIT. WE URGE THE CITY TO BE
BOLD IN
SEATTLE BY TARGETING
DECEPTIVE AND HIGH- PRESSURE
PRACTICES.
WE ASK THAT YOU ALIGN THIS AL
WITH THE HOME
BUYING ORDINANCE FROM LAST
YEAR, COLLABORATE WITH US TO
IDENTIFY
PREDATORY -- AND WITH
ALREADY NATIONAL CALL REGISTRY.
>> THANK YOU.
YOU CAN PUT THOSE ININ CHAT --
IN THE BUCKET IF YOU DIDN'T
GET TO FINISH.
ALL RIGHT, RANDY, ALEC AND THEN
KHALIL.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, RANDY HERE ON
BEHALF OF REALTORS
REGARDING HOMEOWNER PRIVACY AND
PROTECTION
ORDINANCE. CAN YOU HEAR?
I JUST UNDERSCORE WHAT
TAYLOR, THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER,
JUST
SAID AND THAT IS WE DO WANT TO
WORK WITH YOU ON STOPPING THE
CALLS TO HOMEOWNERS.
WE THINK THE WAY TO DO THAT
IS TO GO AFTER THE WHOLESALERS
AND WE'D LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU
TO PAIR LAST YEAR'S ORDINANCE
WITH THIS ORDINANCE WHICH
WOULDWOULD COUPLE THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS AND FAS IN
ENFORCEMENT AND REALLY GOING
AFTER THOSE
WHOLESALERS TO STOP IT
BECAUSE THE LIST ISN'T GOING TO
STOP IT.
YOU'LL STOP US.
YOU'LL KILL OUR VOICE UNLESS
WE CAN GET SOME SAFE HARBOR,
BUT YOU WON'T STOP THE
WHOLESALERS UNTIL WE CAN WORK
TOGETHER
AND GET THEM OUT OF BUSINESS IN
SEATTLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
NEXT WE HAVE KHALIL --
KHALIL, I'M SORRY.
DID I JUST SKIP SOMEBODY?
NEXT WE HAVE ALEC AND
THEN WE HAVE KHALIL AND THEN
SOMEBODY JUST LISTED AS DOM.
>> MY NAME IS ALEC.
I'M A --
>> WE'LL RESTART YOUR TIME.
YOU CAN USE THIS MIC IF YOU WANT
BUT SPEAK RIGHT
INTO THE MIC.
>> I'M A RENTER IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE AND I SUPPORT THE BAN
AGAINST JUNK FEES.
ONE SUCH FEE THAT I'M
AFFECTED BY EVERY MONTH IS PET
RENT FEE.
I PAY AN EXTRA $50 PER
MONTH ON TOP OF MY BASE RENT
JUST TO
KEEP MY CAT WITH ME, AND THIS
$50
DOESN'T HELP AT ALL.
IT JUST GOES STRAIGHT TO THE
LANDLORD.
I STILL TAKE CARE OF ALL OF MY
CAT'S AMENITIES, HIS FOOD, HIS
LITTER, ET CETERA, ET
CETERA, AND ALSO EVERY YEAR I
HAVE
TO PAY A PET SCREENING FEE WHERE
I FILE A BUNCH OF PAPERWORK
ON VACCINES THAT I TAKE HIM TO
THE
VET FOR AND PAY FOR MYSELF,
AND IT'S JUST ANOTHER TAX ON
MY ABILITY TO LIVE IN THE CITY.
I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO DO SO.
COUNCILMEMBERS, I URGE YOU
TO SUPPORT THE FULL BAN ON ALL
JUNK
FEES FOR RENTERS IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE KHALIL, DOM,
AND THEN WE HAVE ANITRA.
>> I'M WITH SEI, BANNING
JUNK FEES IS A CRITICAL STEP
TO MAKING SEATTLE AFFORDABLE FOR
EVERYONE.
I APPLAUD MAYOR WILSON
AND COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER FOR
TAKING ACTION TO ADDRESS
THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN THIS
CITY.
SEIU- 6 REPRESENTS 7,000 PLUS
WHO WORK IN SEATTLE AND 3,200
OF THEM LIVE IN THE CITY.
OUR MEMBERS ARE
JANITORS, SECURITY GUARDS AND
AIRPORT WORKERS WHO PROVIDE
CRITICAL SERVICES TO THE CITY
AND
REGION, BY AND LARGE OUR MEMBERS
WOULD LOVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY
THEY WORK IN, BUT WAY TOO MANY
OF THEM JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT.
OUR SOCIETY IS AT AN EXISTENTIAL
CRISIS WHERE PRICES
INCREASE WITHOUT THE THOUGHT OF
CAN PEOPLE AFFORD IT.
THE QUESTION TO LANDLORDS IS
SIMPLE.
IF NO ONE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE
IN THE CITY, WHO WILL PAY THE
RENT
YOU ALL KEEP INCREASING?
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
WHAT NEXT STEPS THE COUNCIL AND
MAYOR
TAKE TO MAKE THE CITY
MORE AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, KHALIL.
DOM,
ANITRA, CAROLINE RUSSELL, JEFF
PAUL.
>> HI, MY NAME IS DOM.
I BELIEVE JUNK FEES ARE A
MAJOR CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN
OUR HOMELESSNESS EPIDEMIC HERE
IN
MY HOMETOWN, THE CITY RELOVE,
SEATTLE.
I LIVE IN A TENT CITY.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW ON
THE STREET, MYSELF INCLUDED,
HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN HOMELESS
AND OFTEN WE HAVE STORIES WHICH
INCLUDE BEING EVICTED, SLAMMED
WITH TONS OF FEES ESPECIALLY PET
FEES MAKING IT MORE
DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND HOUSING.
IF YOU WANT TO HELP SOLVE
HOMELESSNESS, IF YOU WANT
TO KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED, AND IF
YOU LOVE SEATTLE LIKE ME, YOU
LOVE LIVING IN A CITY THAT
BELIEVES IN RIGHTS FOR ALL.
HOUSING FOR ALL.
IF YOU LOVE SEATTLE LIKE
ME, YOU'LL END JUNK
FEES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
WE'VE GOT ANITRA FREEMAN.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS ANITRA FREEMAN,
AND I AM A PARTICIPANT IN WHEEL
AND
SHARE HOMELESS ORGANIZING
EFFORTS.
HOMELESS AND FORMERLY
HOMELESS PEOPLE WORKING
TOGETHER.
I'M ONE OF THE FORMERLY
HOMELESS.
MY HOMELESS FRIENDS ALSO
WANT TO BE RENTERS.
JUNK FEES MAKE IT HARDER,
MAKE IT TWICE AS HARD.
YOU CAN -- A LOT OF MY HOMELESS
FRIENDS HAVE JOBS AND
THEY'RE SAVING UP MONEY, BUT
YOU THINK
YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GET
A RENT THAT WAS ADVERTISED, YOU
GO
IN AND YOU PAY THE APPLICATION
FEE, AND YOU GET DOWN TO
SIGNING THE LEASE AND FIND OUT
THAT IT'S
ACTUALLY SEVERAL HUNDRED
MORE THAN THAT.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK
THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO
THIS, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
DON'T LET ANYBODY WEAKEN IT.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
WE HAVE CAROLINE
RUSSELL, JEFF PAUL, SONJAE.
>> HI, I'M CAROLINE RUSSELL A
D- 3 RESIDENT.
MY FIRST APARTMENT IN
SEATTLE WAS
ONE IN CAPITOL HILL. IT WAS A
BEAUTIFUL APARTMENT.
I LIVED THERE TWO YEARS
BEFORE THE COST OF RENT AND FEES
BECAME TOO HIGH FOR ME TO
CONTINUE
PAYING.
DURING THAT TIME I WAS CHARGED
A TOTAL OF $60 FOR THE
PRIVILEGE OF PAYING MY OWN RENT,
$144
FOR A KEY FOB SYSTEM I DIDN'T
ASK
FOR, $372 FOR A GYM I NEVER USED
AND $1,200 FOR A SEVEN- POUND
CAT WHO DID NO DAMAGE TO
MY APARTMENT AT MY LANDLORD'S
OWN
ADMISSION.
FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS
I'VE BEEN
LIVING IN A BEAUTIFUL APARTMENT
WITH THE SAME
SQUARE FOOTAGE AND I PAY LESS
RENT.
THEY RENOVATED OUR LAUNDRY ROOM
AND CHARGE US NO FEES TO USE IT
AND THEY ONLY CHARGE US FOR
THE THINGS WE ACTUALLY USE AND
MAKE PLENTY OF INCOME OFFOFF
RENT.
I KNOW THIS CAN BE DONE.
LANDLORDS WILL TELL YOU ABOUT
UNPREDICTABILITY BUT WHAT
ABOUT NOT KNOWING WHETHER YOU'LL
BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE
HOUSE THAT YOU LOVE IN THE CITY
YOU LOVE
AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOU LOVE?
THIS IS WHAT REALLY MATTERS.
I URGE YOU TO PASS THIS
LEGISLATION WITH NO CHANGES.
BAN JUNK FEES.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> JEFF, SANJAY, KEVIN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
I'M JEFF PAUL, THE INTERIM
CO- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
HOUSING
NEIGHBORS AND APOLOGIES
FOR ANYONE AT THE PRESS
CONFERENCE.
THIS MIGHT SOUND
REDUNDANT, BUT TODAY I'M HERE
TO TALK AS
A RENTER
WHO HAS MOVED EIGHT TIMES IN THE
LAST NINE YEARS INCLUDING
ONE TIME INTO MY CAR OVER $90.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
IT'S LIKE TO LIVE PAYCHECK
TO PAYCHECK IN THE CITY.
IN 2018 I WAS BARELY MAKING MY
ENDS MEET WHEN MY
EMPLOYER ILLEGALLY STOPPED
PAYING ME FOR
MONTHS. I DIDN'T HAVE THE
SAVINGS
TO FLOAT THE DIFFERENCE SO I GOT
TEMP JOBS ON THE SIDE DOING
DOG WALKING, STOCKING SHELVES
OVERNIGHT AND EVERYTHING I COULD
TO MAKE RENT, BUT IT WASN'T
ENOUGH. RENT DAY CAME AND I WAS
ABOUT
$90 SHORT.
UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T KNOW
MY TENANT RIGHTS, LIKE MANY
RENTERS IN THE CITY, AND THAT
$90 GAP
ENDED UP PUSHING ME OUT OF
MY HOUSE AND INTO MY CAR.
SO WHEN LANDLORDS TELL YOU
THEY CAN'T AFFORD US BANNING
THESE
FEES, MY SIMPLE RESPONSE IS
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THEM.
I COULDN'T HAVE FLOATED THE
$150 FEE MENTIONED IN THE
PRESS CONFERENCE AND MANY OTHER
PEOPLE CAN'T
EITHER. LET'S PRO- TUKT OUR
MOST
PRECARIOUS RENTERS.
>> THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
OKAY, SANJAY,
KEVIN, EM SMITH, SPENCER.
>> I'M A GRADUATE STUDENT
RESEARCHER AND A MEMBER OF UAW
4121, THE UNION WHICH
REPRESENTS NEARLY 10,000
ACADEMIC
WORKERS AT UW.
THE MAJORITY OF UAW
WORKERS LIKE ME ARE RENTERS IN
SEATTLE.
MY COLLEAGUES AND I CARRY
OUT LIFESAVING RESEARCH ON
CANCER, GENETICS AND.
IT SHOULD BE THESE
CRITICAL
ISSUES THAT KEEP US UP AT NIGHT
NOT WORRYING ABOUT MAKING RENT
NEXT MONTH OR NEW FEES FROM
LANDLORDS.
SOME OF OUR MEMBERS ARE
ONLY PAID NINE MONTHS OUT OF THE
YEAR
AND ARE FORCED TO
FIND PRECARIOUS EMPLOYMENT FOR
THE
SUMMER.
WITH FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS,
LESS IS OFFERED EVERY
QUARTER. THE COUNCIL HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MITIGATE THE
INCREDIBLY REGRESSIVE SYSTEM OF
LANDLORDS
PASSING ON OPAQUE COSTS TO
RENTERS. THIS BILL IS
ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO PROTECT
TENANTS
AND WE URGE YOU TO PASS THE BILL
IN ITS CURRENT FORM.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
ALL RIGHT.
WE ARE GOING TO KEEP IT MOVING.
KEVIN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
KEVIN SCHILLING OF WASHINGTON.
LET'S BE CLEAR, RENTERS DESERVE
TRANSPARENCY, TO KNOW THE
FULL COST OF HOUSING BEFORE THEY
APPLY.
WE SUPPORT THAT.
THIS ORDINANCE DOESN'T
JUST REQUIRE DISCLOSURE.
WHEN YOU BAN A COST, THE COST
DOESN'T DISAPPEAR.
IT MOVES INTO RENT.
THE RENTER WHO DOESN'T USE
THE SERVICES PAYS, EVERYONE PAYS
MORE.
THAT'S NOT AFFORDABILITY.
THAT'S COST SHIFTING.
EVEN THE CITY'S OWN EXPERT
ACKNOWLEDGED ADVERTISED
RENTS WILL INCREASE.
THEN THERE'S ENFORCEMENT.
A PAPERWORK MISTAKE CAN
TRIGGER PENALTIES AND LAWSUITS.
AND THE CITY WANTS TO IMPOSE
A NEW FEE ON EVERY RENTAL HOME,
A
NEW FEE TO REGULATE FEES.
SEATTLE KEEPS ADDING COSTS,
MANDATES AND LEGAL RISKS TO
HOUSING.
AND EVERY TIME THE RESULT IS
THE SAME.
LESS HOUSING, HIGHER COSTS AND
FEWER CHOICES FOR RENTERS.
TO KEEP THE TRANSPARENCY
PROVISIONS, REQUIRE
DISCLOSURE, REQUIRE HONESTY, BUT
REJECT THE
FEE BANS, THE COST CAPS AND
THE PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION
BECAUSE TRANSPARENCY HELPS
RENTERS. HIGHER RENTS DO NOT.
THANK YOU.
>> EM SMITH.
>> HI. I'M A RENTER IN SEATTLE.
I'M A MEMBER OF LABOR MILITANT.
THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO
BAN THESE JUNK FEES AND DO IT
WITHOUT
LOOPHOLES, WITHOUT ANY WATERING
DOWN.
WE HAVE
CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
REAL
ESTATE INDUSTRY COMING UP
HERE CRYING CROCODILE TEARS WHEN
THE THREE BIGGEST LANDLORDS IN
SEATTLE, ESSEX, EQUITY AND
AFTER A LON BAY MADE $3 BILLION
OF PROFIT LAST YEAR.
IF THEY'RE ARGUING, IF
THEY'RE THREATENING TO PUSH
THESE
COSTS ON TO RENTERS IN THE FORM
OF
INCREASED RENT, WE NEED TO FIGHT
FOR RENT CONTROL, FOUR PUBLIC
HOUSING, TO FIGHT OTHER
JUNK FEES WHICH AREN'T INCLUDED
IN THIS LEGISLATION LIKE RUBS
WHICH IS A JUNK FEE.
LANDLORDS ARE PUSHING --
THAT RENTERS AREN'T USING ONTO
US INCLUDING FOR VACANT UNITS.
IF ANY DEMOCRAT ON THIS
COUNCIL HAD COURAGE AND WAS
WANTING
TO FIGHT FOR RENTERS, THEY
WOULD INTRODUCE AN AMENDMENT
TO INCLUDE A BAN ON RUBS IN THIS
LEGISLATION.
WE NEED TO FIGHT FOR THIS.
THE DEMOCRATS AREN'T DOING THIS
BECAUSE THEY FIGHT FOR RENTERS.
THEY'RE DOING IT BECAUSE OF
THE PRESSURE OF OUR MOVEMENT.
WE NEED TO ESCALATE, FIGHT FOR
MORE, FIGHT FOR RENT CONTROL
AND THE FULL RENTERS' BILL OF
RIGHTS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
OKAY, ALL RIGHT.
SPENCER AND I'M GOING TO TRY
TO KEEP US MOVING, FOLKS.
WE HAVE ONE COMMITTEE MEMBER
WHO HAS A HARD STOP AT 4:30.
WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS
AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT.
SPENCER HARPER.
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS SPENCER ROLLS AND
I RENT A MICRO APARTMENT
IN CAPITOL HILL.
THE ADVERTISED RENT OF MY
UNIT WAS $1,295.
THE TOTAL AFTER FEES IS
$1,488. THAT IS AN ABSURD
DIFFERENCE.
PART OF THAT IS PET
RENT, WHICH WE ALL KNOW IS A
BLATANT SCAM
THAT SHOULD BE
BANNED. PART THAT HAVE IS A PLAT
FLAT $125
UTILITY FEE.
I DON'T NOT EXPECT TO PAY
UTILITY BUT ONE PROBLEM IS IT
SHOULD BE ADVERTISED AS
PART OF THE FIXED COSTS BECAUSE
IT IS
A KNOWN FIXED COST.
TWO, THE LANDLORD TRIES TO
HAVE IT BOTH WAYS, TREATING THAT
UTILITY FEE AS PART OF RENT
WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT
FOR THEM BUT ONLY WHEN IT'S
CONVENIENT FOR
THEM. THREE IS THAT IT DOESN'T
ADJUST WHEN MAJOR APPLIANCES ARE
OUT OF
ORDER AND NOT
USING ANY POWER. THE HEAT PUMPS
HAVE BEEN OUT
OF ORDER SINCE NOVEMBER AND
HAVEN'T
BEEN USING ANY POWER BUT
WE'RE STILL PAYING THE FULL
UTILITY
FEE.
BAN JUNK FEES AND REQUIRE
DISCLOSURE.
>> THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
THANK YOU.
>> HI.
I'M HARPER, A RESIDENT
OF DISTRICT 3 AND I PAY AN EXTRA
$40 IN RENT ESSENTIALLY AS
DOES EVERYBODY ELSE IN MY
APARTMENT
BUILDING.
WE PAY $10 TO PAY RENT, AND
WE PAY $30 FOR WI- FI THAT DOES
NOT
WORK.
THIS IS -- I MEAN, WE'VE HEARD
THAT RENTS WILL GO UP.
I DON'T REALLY SEE HOW THAT'S
DIFFERENT THAT WHAT I ALREADY
PAY.
IT MAY NOT BE CALLED RENT,
BUT IT'S RENT.
BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE
ONE OF US PAYS IT.
IT'S NOT -- IT DOESN'T
CHANGE DEPENDING ON WHO USES
THIS OR
NOT.
I CAN'T NOT PAY THE WI-FI
FEE EVEN IF I DON'T USE IT,
BUT, SO,
THAT MEANS THIS IS RENT.
SO WHEN THESE LANDLORDS
ARE COMING UP AND TALKING ABOUT
HOW
RENT WILL INCREASE BECAUSE
WE'RE BANNING FEES, IF WE BAN
FEES, THAT DOESN'T REALLY MAKE
A
LOT OF
SENSE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
OKAY, WE HAVE LEXI AND RAUL
OR MAYBE PAUL ESTEVES.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS FERDINE AND I'M
A STUDENT ORGANIZER AND I'M
HERE TO ENCOURAGE THE PASSAGE OF
THIS BILL WITHOUT ANY LOOPHOLES.
SEATTLE IS IN A HOUSING
CRISIS AND IT IS KILLING THE
STATE,
AND IT HARMS US ON MANY
DIMENSIONS.
UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING MEANS
RENTERS ARE SADDLED WITH
HIDDEN FEES THEY CAN'T ACCOUNT
FOR
WHEN LOOKING FOR HOUSING.
BEYOND THAT
IMMIGRANTS, PEOPLE WHO COME TO
THE STATE
BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING HARMED BY
HOSTILE FEDERAL AND STATE
GOVERNMENTS DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND
OF
HOUSING MARKET THEY'RE GETTING
INTO AND ARE FACED WITH A
PRECARIOUS
SITUATION.
AND FINALLY UNAFFORDABLE
HOUSING MARKET HURTS OUR
STATE REPRESENTATION AND MAKES
PEOPLE WANT TO LEAVE, NOT WANT
TO LIVE
HERE.
YOU CANNOT HAVE
ABUNDANCE WITHOUT AFFORDABILITY,
AND
EVEN IF THIS BILL PASSES, WE
STILL HAVE A LOT FURTHER TO GO
IN THE
STATE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] STEPH AND THEN
LEXI.
>> HI
THERE. MY NAME IS STEPH
HAGGERTY.
IN SUPPORT OF BANNING JUNK
FEES, UNAFFORDABLE, NOT FAIR AND
THEY HURT MY FRIEND.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
SOME OF MY FRIENDS WHO CAN'T BE
HERE
BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING TO TRY
TO PAY RENT AND JUNK FEES.
ONE OF THOSE STORIES IS
MY FRIEND ALLISON IN COLUMBIA
CITY PAYS $40 PER MONTH, JUST
ONE
EXAMPLE TO ACCESSING THE
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PORTAL
AND
PAYING RENT. THAT'S A LANDLORD
BUSINESS
EXPENSE. SHE CAN BARELY AFFORD
AND
THAT'S $500 A YEAR THAT IMPACTS
HER ABILITY TO MAKE IT IN THE
CITY AND WASN'T TRANSPARENT IN
THE ADVERTISED RENTAL PRICE.
THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF
MANY. THESE FEES ARE PREVALENT
ACROSS THE CITY AS WE'RE
HEARING TODAY.
THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH.
SO ARE THE JUNK FEES.
WE DESERVE PRICING TRANSPARENCY.
INCREASINGLY WE ARE YOUR
CONSTITUENTS, PLEASE BAN
JUNK FEES WITHOUT WEAKENING
AMENDMENTS TO MAKE SEATTLE MORE
AFFORDABLE.
THANK YOU.
>> LEXI, ARE YOU HERE?
LEXI?
OKAY.
WE'LL TRY TO COME BACK TO YOU.
PAUL?
>> MY NAME IS PAUL STEVES, I'M
A RENTER IN DISTRICT 3.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR
CONSIDERING THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
IT'S BADLY NEEDED.
PRICE TRANSPARENCIES WILL
EVENTUALLY LOWER RENT IN
THE LONG
TERM. I WANTED TO COUNTER
THE NARRATIVE THAT WE'RE OKAY
WITH THE RENT GOING UP.
IT'S BETTER THAN SEEMINGLY
UNLIMITED FEES.
THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE
CURRENT SITUATION.
THE MOST EGREGIOUS OF FEES IS
RUBS, THE UTILITY
BUILDING SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY
UNFAIR.
I THINK THE MAYOR'S RENTAL
SURVEY DEMONSTRATED THAT, THE
CURRENT SITUATION I'M IN NOW
IT SEEMS LIKE I'M PAYING
FOR LAUNDRY BOTH PER USE BUT
ALSO THE UTILITIES, RUNNING THAT
MACHINE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR.
I DON'T WATER DOWN THE
ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS IN THIS
BILL.
IN FACT, WE NEED MORE.
I THINK WE NEED AN ACTUAL
HOUSING COURT.
WE NEED TO DO THINGS LIKE
BAN POCKET SERVICE FOR
DEFAULT JUDGMENTS AND EVICTIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
LEXI AND
THEN WE HAVE HEATHER AND LEAH.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS LEXI AND I'M A
RENTER
IN DISTRICT 3.
I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE OUR
CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE
PROPOSED RENTAL JUNK FEE
ORDINANCE WITHOUT ANY WEAKENING
AMENDMENTS. I MOVED TO SEATTLE
OVER
THREE YEARS AGO TO FREE MYSELF
FROM
DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR ME TO
SUPPORT MYSELF AND MY DOG SO
THAT I DON'T HAVE TO MAKE
DECISIONS THAT COMPROMISE
MY EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL
WELL-BEING.
IT'S BEEN STRESSFUL FIGURING
OUT MY BUDGET WITH SO MANY
HIDDEN FEES AND TO FIND A PLACE
THAT DIDN'T PENALIZE ME
HUNDREDS
AND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS.
SO FAR I'VE PAID $950 IN PET
RENT.
I KNOW TOO MANY PEOPLE
WHO STAY IN DYSFUNCTIONAL ALAN
ABUSIVE
HOMES.
WE DESERVE HOMES FREE OF
COERCION.
IT SHOULD NEVER BE HELD OVER
OUR HEADS AND THAT INCLUDES
FROM LANDLORDS.
THAT'S WHY I URGE THE
CITY COUNCIL TO BAN JUNK FEES
WITHOUT
ANY WEAKENING AMENDMENTS.
>> THANK YOU.
HEATHER
AND THEN LEAH AND KARL NELSON.
HEATHER, ARE YOU HERE?
>>
GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HEATHER
WITH
TENT CITY THREE IN THE SHEER
WILL ORGANIZATION.
WE'RE WORKING ON HOUSING
AND WOULD LIKE TO BE A RENTER
SOME
DAY.
HOWEVER, WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.
REMOVE THE HIDDEN JUNK FEES
SO HOUSING CAN BECOME
OBTAINABLE FOR THOSE MOST IN
NEED.
WE NEED
TO PASS THIS
LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
WE HAVE LEAH, KARL NELSON, CASEY
BURTON.
>> HI. I'M E -- LEAH SOLERNO,
AN
ATTORNEY. I'M SPEAKING IN MY
PERSONAL CAPACITY AS A RENTER IN
SEATTLE.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF
THE LEGISLATION TO BAN JUNK FEES
AND TO URGE THAT IT'S PASSED
WITHOUT ANY AMENDMENTS WEAKENING
IT BECAUSE WE NEED TO BAN JUNK
FEES AND MAKE SURE THERE'S
STRONG
ENFORCEMENT.
I HAVE A SUPPORT
ANIMAL THAT HELPS ME MAINTAIN
STABILITY
AND COMPLETE SEVERAL
OF MY ACTIVITIES OF DAILY
LIVING.
A COUPLE YEARS AGO MY
LANDLORD DECIDED TO ADD ON A
PET SCREENING JUNK FEE THROUGH
A THIRD PARTY.
THEY INSISTED I NEEDED TO
REAPPLY FOR MY
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION THEY
HAD
ALREADY APPROVED BY HANDING OVER
EVEN MORE MEDICAL INFORMATION TO
THAT THIRD PARTY IN ORDER TO
AVOID THE TWIN JUNK FEES OF PET
SCREENING AND PET RENT.
AS AN ATTORNEY WHO SPENT MUCH
OF MY CAREER WORKING IN
DISABILITY CIVIL RIGHTS, I WAS
ABLE
TO HANDLE IT, BUT IT TOOK ME
HOURS. WE NEED ENFORCEMENT
MECHANISMS TO MAKE SURE OTHERS
CAN ALSO
ENFORCE THEIR RIGHTS.
>> THANK YOU.
KARL, THEN CASEY AND KATE.
>> COUNCIL, THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS KARL NELSON.
I'M A 17- YEAR RENTER
HERE IN SEATTLE, A BOARD MEMBER
OF
THE SEATTLE HOUSING DEVELOPER
AND
CO- CHAIR OF THE
TENANTS ASSOCIATION IN DISTRICT
4.
I'M HERE IN MY PERSONAL
CAPACITY
TODAY TO SPEAK FOR THE BANNING
OF JUNK FEES AND FOR ROBUST
ENFORCEMENT
MEASURES TO MAKE SURE THIS
LEGISLATION IS
EFFECTIVE. AS A RENTER AND A
TENANTS' ORGANIZER I HAVE SEEN
FIRSTHAND
LANDLORDS ONLY TAKE RULES
SERIOUSLY WHEN THERE
ARE PENALTIES TO BREAKING THEM
AND THE WAY SMALL AND NOT SO
SMALL FEES ADD UP TO BURDEN AND
SOMETIMES UNHOUSE OUR MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATION.
HOUSING IS FACTUALLY A
HUMAN NEED AND IN A JUST SOCIETY
WE SHOULD TREAT IT AS
SUCH ESPECIALLY BEFORE IT IS
PRIORITIZED AS AN INVESTMENT.
THIS LEGISLATION IS ABOUT
TRANSPARENCY, FAIRNESS
AND CONSUMER PROTECTION.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT THIS
LEGISLATION AND SPECIFICALLY
TO MAKE SURE THE
ENFORCEMENT MEASURES REMAIN
INTACT AND
UNALTERED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
OKAY.
CASEY, KATE, HOWARD, OLIVIA.
>> THAT ONE IS FINE.
JUST COME CLOSER TO IT.
CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.
>> THERE WE GO.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK
YOU. MY NAME IS CASEY BURTON.
I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT --
I'M IN A LARGE APARTMENT
COMPLEX
AND PAY MANY JUNK FEES.
MY LANDLORD CHARGES RESIDENTS A
NUMBER OF FEEING INCLUDING $8 A
MONTH PERSONAL LOCKER, EVEN IF
YOU DON'T WANT IT.
WE PAY $30 A MONTH VALET TRASH
FEE.
THEY DON'T ACTUALLY TAKE OUR
COMPOST, THOUGH, ONLY SOME
OF OUR TRASH.
WE HAVE TO TAKE THE REST OUT.
THEY MAKE US PAY A
$70 TECHNOLOGY RENT FEE FOR
INTERNET THAT WE DIDN'T ASK
FOR, DON'T
NEED, DON'T WANT IT.
AND THEY ALSO CHARGE PEOPLE
$95 A MONTH FOR PET RENT.
NOW MY DOG IS 14.
HE SPENDS MOST OF HIS
TIME SLEEPING ON THE COUCH OR ON
WHAT HAS BECOME HIS ARMCHAIR.
HE CAN'T PAY RENT.
HE'S VERY CUTE BUT HE'S
INCAPABLE OF PAYING RENT, AND
WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE
PROTECTING WHAT WE HAVE.
FURTHER, IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE INVEST IN
ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE OTHERWISE
TENANTS ARE
GOING TO BE ON THEIR OWN.
>> THANK YOU.
IF YOU HAVE MORE COMMENTS,
YOU CAN PUT THEM IN THE BOX.
[ APPLAUSE ]
KATE, HOWARD, OLIVIA, DANIEL
GALLAGHER.
>> HI.
I'M KATE REUBEN.
I'M A RENTER LIVING IN DISTRICT
2. I AM THE CO- EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT
SERVES RENTERS AND AM CO- CHAIR
OF THE
COMMISSION. I WOULD LIKE TO
SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS PET RENT AS
THAT IS A
SCAM, AND IT'S KIND OF ONE
OF THE LONGEST RUNNING JUNK
FEES THAT WE HAVE.
LANDLORDS HAVE ARGUED THAT
THEY NEED TO CHARGE PET RENT
BECAUSE
PETS CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE
UNIT, BUT TENANTS ARE
RESPONSIBLE
FOR PAYING FOR THAT
DAMAGE REGARDLESS HOW MUCH PET
RENT
THEY PAY, SO IF THEY PAID
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THE
LANDLORD, THEY STILL HAVE TO PAY
WHATEVER DAMAGE WITHOUT
GETTING THAT MONEY ATTRIBUTED TO
THE
DAMAGE.
ADDITIONALLY, THEY SAY,
WELL, IT'S FOR MAINTENANCE FROM
THE WEAR AND TEAR OF HAVING PETS
COME THROUGH OR MAINTAINING THE
PROPERTY.
THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS
THAT PROPERTIES GET DAMAGED.
IT'S NOT JUST PET OWNERS.
AND RENTERS SHOULDN'T CARRY
THAT BURDEN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
HOWARD GALE, OLIVIA
LINDSTROM, DANIEL GALLAGHER,
GORDON
HAGGERTY.
>> FOR THE PEOPLE HERE
TODAY REPRESENTING LANDLORDS AND
GREED, 130 YEARS AGO
WHEN NEW YORK CITY WAS FIRST
TRYING
TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH
WITH REGULATIONS ON FOOD,
OPERATORS AND TRADE GROUPS
PROTESTED REQUIRING MECHANICAL
REFRIGERATION, HAND WASHING
SINKS, SAFE FOOD
STORAGE, ARGUING THEY WERE
UNENFORCEMENT OR DRIVEN BY
COMPETITIVE
MOTIVES.
WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, YOU
KNOW. WE NEED PROTECTIONS.
THE LEGISLATION BEFORE YOU IS A
MINIMAL, IT'S A FLOOR.
WHAT IS MOST LACKING IN
THE LEGISLATION IS THE
ENFORCEMENT.
SDCI HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
THEY REPRESENT LANDLORDS AND
DEVELOPERS. SO THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING THIS
LEGISLATION COULD DO TO MOVE
THE BALL FORWARD IS TO ACTUALLY
TAKE THE ENFORCEMENT OUT OF SDCI
AND,
JUST LIKE WE HAVE THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS, WE SHOULD
HAVE AN INDEPENDENT OFFICE IN
THE CITY THAT IS ACTUALLY
ANSWERABLE TO RENTERS AND
PROTECTS RENTERS
WITHOUT THE CONFOUNDED SDCI HAS.
>> THANK YOU.
OLIVIA, DANIEL, GORDON HAGGERTY
AND TETRA BINGHAM.
>> HELLO.
I'M OLIVIA AND I'M A
RENTER LIVING IN BEACON HILL.
I'M HERE TO URGE THE
CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION,
HOLD LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE AND
REDUCE UNNECESSARY HOUSING COSTS
BY
SUPPORTING THE JUNK FEE
ORDINANCE. IN OCTOBER 2025 MY
HUSBAND AND
I SPENT WEEKS SEARCHING
FOR HOUSING IN SEATTLE AND
APPLIED TO LEASE OUR APARTMENT,
WHICH WAS ADVERTISED AT $2,285
PER
MONTH IN RENT, AND AN EQUAL
AMOUNT IN DEPOSIT.
AFTER WE PAID TO APPLY WE
WERE SURPRISED TO SEE A CHARGE
OF
$70 IN PET RENT, A $540 PET
DEPOSIT AND LAST MONTH'S RENT
WERE
ALL REQUIRED PRIOR TO MOVING.
APARTMENT ADVERTISING DID
NOT EXPLICITLY LIST THESE
COSTS PRIOR TO THE LEASE
SIGNING, SO
BEFORE WE EVEN OCCUPY THE
APARTMENT, WE HAD TO PAY AN
UNEXPECTED AMOUNT OF RENT
TOTALING $2,895.
RENTERS DESERVE
STRAIGHTFORWARD PRICING THAT
REFLECTS
WHAT THEY WILL ACTUALLY PAY OUT
OF POCKET.
PLEASE PASS THIS
ORDINANCE WITHOUT ANY WEAKENING
AMENDMENTS.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] DANIEL GALLAGHER,
GORDON, TETRA.
>> I'M A SEATTLE- BASED
DEVELOPER OF WORKFORCE AND
AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU
ALL TODAY.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE AGGRESSIVE
IN ROUTING OUT LANDLORDS WHO
BREAK THE LAW OR FAIL TO BE
TRANSPARENT IN THEIR
LEASING
ACTIVITIES. NO QUESTION THERE.
THAT SAID, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO
BE CAREFUL IN CONSIDERING THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF
BROAD BANS ON FEES BASED ON
OPTIONAL
USES INCLUDING, FOR
INSTANCE, PET FEES.
BANNING FEES AS OTHERS HAVE
SAID DOESN'T MAKE THE EXPENSE
GO
AWAY, IT CAUSES IT TO BE SPREAD
ACROSS THE ENTIRE BUILDING
INCLUDING RENTERS WHO DON'T
HAVE
PETS. PET FEES ARE AN
INSTRUCTIVE
EXAMPLE. HAVING PETS CAN BE VERY
EXPENSIVE.
ON AVERAGE THEY CAUSE DAMAGE.
I KNOW YOURS DOESN'T, BUT ON
AVERAGE, THEY DO.
IT'S OPTIONAL TO HAVE A PET
AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CHARGE
PET
OWNERS FEES FOR THAT DAMAGE.
I DO NOT CONTEST IT'S
EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY
BUT MAKING
IT HARDER TO BUILD AND OWN
BUILDINGS WILL MAKE IT
HARDER OVER TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> GORDON HAGGERTY, TETRA,
RACHEL SNELL.
GORDAN?
>> GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS GORDON
HAGGERTY.
THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'VE BEEN A HOUSING PROVIDER IN
SEATTLE SINCE THE EARLY 1970s.
I'VE ENJOYED BEING A PROVIDER.
I HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS
WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR HEART
AND
DESIRE IS TO PROVIDE A GOOD
QUALITY LIVING SPACE FOR THEM.
I FEAR THAT THIS LEGISLATION IS
ACTUALLY GOING OVERBOARD
EVEN THOUGH I TOTALLY AGREE WITH
PROVIDING CLEAR, TRANSPARENT,
UP-FRONT DISCLOSURE OF ALL
OF THE COSTS AND WE DO OUR BEST
TO
DO THAT.
BUT SOME OF THESE SO-CALLED JUNK
FEES ARE ACTUALLY FIGHTING
OFFSET -- WHICH WILL
BE BURIED IN THE RENT AND NOT BE
SPECIFICALLY INCLUDED.
SO I THINK KATIE WILSON
HAS EXPOSED HERSELF WITH HER OWN
JUNK FEE ON HOUSING PROVIDERS
CALLED THE RENTAL
REGULATORY FEE.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> FEES FOR ME BUT NOT --
>> AND IF YOU HAVE MORE
COMMENTS, YOU CAN PLEASE PUT
THEM IN THE BOX.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
TETRA, RACHEL SNELL.
>> GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TETRA.
I'M FROM TENT CITY
THREE. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY
FOR
THE SAKE OF OUR YOUNGER
GENERATIONS AND THEIR SAFETY TO
REMOVE THE
HIDDEN FEES TO
MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE FOR
THE PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU, TETRA.
[ APPLAUSE ]
RACHEL AND THEN AMY AND THEN
WE'LL GO TO OUR ONLINE
SPEAKERS.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
FOSTER AND MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS RACHEL SNELL AND
I SIT ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
FOR THE 37th LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICT
DEMOCRATS, AND I DON'T HAVE
MUCH PREPARED TODAY BUT I
STRONGLY
SUPPORT BANNING JUNK FEES.
IN A TIME WHEN COSTS OF
LIVING IS INCREASING AND MANY OF
US HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN
RENT, HEALTH CARE, HEALTH CARE
BILLS
AND GROCERY SHOPPING AND A WHOLE
LOT OF OTHER UNEXPECTED
EMERGENCIES, NOW MORE THAN EVER
IS CRITICAL FOR THIS
IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION
TO START.
PLEASE BAN JUNK FEES AND ALSO
WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AFTER EACH
OTHER.
THIS IS A TIME FOR US AS A
CITY TO TRULY SHINE AND THRIVE
BECAUSE IF WE -- IF WE
CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE,
WE'RE NO
LONGER GOING TO BE THE
CITY THAT'S GREAT.
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OKAY.
OUR LAST IN- PERSON SPEAKER
IS AMY WORTHINGTON AND THEN
WE'LL GO ONLINE.
>> MY NAME IS AMY AND I'VE
BEEN IN THE COMMERCIAL REAL
ESTATE SECTOR FOR OVER THREE
DECADES AND WORKING WITH
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
AND WITH REGARD TO -- FIRST OF
ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY
WITH REGARD TO TRANSPARENCY,
I'M ALL
IN FAVOR OF TRANSPARENCY.
I CERTAINLY THINK
EVERYONE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE
COSTS BEFORE THEY SIGN A LEASE.
I WAS SURPRISED IN THE
SLIDE DECK TO SEE PET FEES THAT
ARE BEING PROPOSED TO BE
ELIMINATED BECAUSE I HAVE A
DIFFERENT VIEW ON THAT.
I VIEW IT AS AN EQUITY ISSUE.
THERE ARE VERY REAL AND
ONGOING COST TO HAVING PETS
AT PROPERTIES FROM WASTE PICKUP
TO
DANDER ISSUES, AND IT SEEMS
INEQUITABLE TO ME THOSE WHO
DON'T HAVE PETS INCUR THE COST.
IF IT IS
AN ELIMINATED FEE, IT GETS
ROLLED INTO THE
OVERALL BUDGET AND ALL THE
RENTERS
HAVE TO INCUR AND HELP SHARE IN
THE
COST.
SO I'D LIKE TO NOT SEE THAT AS
PART OF THE ELIMINATED
FEES BECAUSE I DO VIEW IT
AS AN EQUITY ISSUE.
THANK YOU FOR FOR UP THIS
ISSUE. I VERY MUCH APPLAUD
TRANSPARENCY.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND WE ARE NOW GOING TO TURN
ONLINE.
I WILL PASS IT OVER TO THE CLERK
TO CALL OUR ONLINE SPEAKERS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER WILL
BE AYDEN CARROLL FOLLOWED BY
RED.
PLEASE HIT STAR 6 FOLLOWED BY
THE PROMPT YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED.
>> HELLO.
FIRST, WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT
THE PET RENT PROPOSED
CHANGE, SPREADING IT ACROSS THE
ENTIRE
BUILDING, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT
RUB DOES.
UNLESS YOU BAN THE
UTILITY BUILDING SOMETHING, I
DON'T THINK THAT'S ANYTHING
BUT
HYPOCRISY.
SECOND, WE NEED TO
REDUCE BARRIERS TO HOUSING IN
GENERAL.
WE HAVE TO INCREASE
CONSTRUCTION.
WE HAVE TO -- AND UNTIL WE DO,
WE'RE TELLING PEOPLE
THEY CAN'T -- [ INAUDIBLE ]
THIRD, WE DO WANT TO MAKE
IT HARDER TO OWN BUILDINGS.
IF YOU CAN START SOMETHING,
YOU WANT TO RETAIN CONTROL OVER
IT, HAVE PEOPLE LIVE IN IT, YOU
ARE NOT A HOUSING PROVIDER.
YOU ARE TRYING TO BE A TICKET
SCALPER.
YOU ARE NOT PRODUCING ANYTHING.
MEANWHILE, THIS IS WHAT THEY
ARE DOING, THOUGH, WE JUST WANT
FEES TO BE LISTED IN THE RENT
WITHOUT IN GAME --
>> THANK
YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS RED FOLLOWED BY RUBY.
RED, IF YOU
CAN HEAR ME, PRESS STAR 6.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
CAN YOU
HEAR ME OKAY?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> HELLO?
OH, GREAT.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M SPEAKING TO THE RENTERS ON
THE COUNCIL AND TO
COUNCILMEMBER LIN, THIS
COMMITTEE'S
VICE-CHAIR, WHO WORKED ON THE
THE
CITY'S HOUSING UTILITY
CONTRACT.
THE AMENDMENT LIST AS CAPACITY
CHARGE.
THE BUILDING FOR
THIS INFRASTRUCTURE COST,
LANDLORDS PASS IT STRAIGHT TO
TENANTS AS
A LINE ITEM.
IN NEARLY EVERY BUILDING
BUILT IN THE LAST 15 YEARS, WE
TAKE LANDLORDS TO THE HEARING
EXAMINER, I DID, BUT IT DIDN'T
STOP.
THE EXAMINER RULED THE CHARGE AS
A UTILITY, SO IT'S
LEGAL TO PASS THROUGH.
I WON ON A
DISCLOSURE TECHNICALITY AND THE
PENALTY
WAS $100.
THE LANDLORD AND THE FEE ROLLS
ON.
CONSIDER THE COST OF THAT.
WHICH TENANT MUST FILE AND
SIT THROUGH A CONTESTED HEARING
INDIVIDUALLY FOR $100 RESULT.
THIS BILL CALLS BUILDING
AND CITYWIDE
ENFORCEMENT A BETTER USE OF CITY
RESOURCES.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
RUBY HOLLAND FOLLOWED BY AARON.
RUBY, IF YOU PRESS STAR 6.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE UNMUTED.
RUBY, ARE YOU THERE?
WE'LL SKIP AND THEN COME
BACK TO YOU IF YOU'RE STILL
THERE.
NEXT WE'LL GO TO AARON TULLOCH.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR FOSTER AND MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS AARON TULLOCH, LEDGES
LATIVE AIDE.
WE REPRESENT 110
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND OVER
900 COALITION PARTNERS
ACROSS SEATTLE AND WASHINGTON
STATE.
FOR DECADES STRATEGIES HAS
ADVANCED POLICY ON BEHALF OF
BLACK, BROWN AND HISTORICALLY
UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.
WE STRONGLY SUPPORT A BAN
OF RENTAL JUNK FEES.
A UNIT ADVERTISED AT ONE
PRICE SHOULD NOT BE HUNDREDS
OF DOLLARS MORE EXPENSIVE
THROUGH HIDDEN FEES.
RENTERS DESERVE TO KNOW
THE TRUE COST OF HOUSING BEFORE
THEY
SIGN A
LEASE. FOR A BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES ALREADY
NAVIGATING WAGE DISPARITIES AND
DISPLACEMENT, JUNK FEES DEEPEN
INEQUITY.
WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO CLOSE
LOOPHOLES, CREATE REAL
ENFORCEMENT AND PROTECT RENTERS
FROM RETALIATION.
SEATTLE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO LEAD WITH CLARITY ANDAND
FAIRNESS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER
WILL BE RUBY, WE CAN TRY YOU
AGAIN.
>> MY NAME IS RUBY HOLLAND, A
SMALL BUT GROWING NUMBER
OF PEOPLE WITH -- NEED HOUSING
TO
ESCAPE THE EVER- PRESENT
SECOND HAND PRODUCT USE IN
RENTAL
BUILDINGS THAT IS A DANGER TO
THEIR LIVES.
THEY ARE HOPING FOR A
PROGRAM THAT ADDRESSES THIS
ISSUE.
IDEALLY MANY OF THE
CONVENIENCE FEES SUCH AS INNER
APARTMENT APPLIANCE FEES ALLOW
TENANTS TO
OPT OUT INSTEAD OF BEING
ELIMINATED.
LANDLORD RESPONSIBILITIES THAT
HAVE BEEN PASSED ON TO
TENANTS LIKE COMMON AREA
MAINTENANCE, PEST CONTROL, VALET
TRASH
AND ALL THE REST NEED TO
BE ELIMINATED COMPLETELY.
REAL ESTATE OLIGARCHS AND
CORPORATE LANDLORDS WANT
TO SWINDLE HOMEOWNERS OUT OF
THEIR
LOTS AND SWINDLE RENTERS OUT
OF THEIR CASH.
FOR TOO LONG CITY HALL HAS
BEEN COMPLICIT IN THIS ATTACK ON
THE
WORKING CLASS AND EVEN
SOME COUNCILMEMBERS BECAUSE THEY
ARE
IN THE POCKETS OF THESE SCUM
BAGS.
>> NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE HALLE
WILLIS FOLLOWED BY WILL
AND THEN
THE FINAL TWO ARE DANIELLE AND
DAVID.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS HALLE WILLIS, THE
POLICY MANAGER AT THE COALITION
ON HOMELESSNESS.
I AM A LONGTIME SEATTLE
RENTER IN DISTRICT 5.
HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE JUNK
FEE LEGISLATION PROPOSED BY
MAYOR WILSON AND SPONSORED
BY
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. THIS IS A
HOUSING FAIRNESS
ISSUE. JUNK FEES LIKE PET RENT
AND
MADE UP ADMINISTRATIVE FEES
RAISE
HIGH HOUSING COSTS AND
COMPROMISE CONSUMER
PROTECTIONS BY ALLOWING
LANDLORDS TO SNEAK
IN FEE THAT IS TENANTS CAN'T
AVOID.
THAT'S NOT FAIR AND IT MAKES
IT EVEN HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO
AFFORD A PLACE TO LIVE IN THE
CITY.
THIS IS COMMON SENSE
HOUSING FAIRNESS AND
TRANSPARENCY
LEGISLATION. WE URGE YOU TO PASS
IT AT
FULL STRENGTH WITH
STRONG ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS
IN
PLACE.
TAKING MY WORK HAT OFF FOR A
MOMENT, I'M A RENTER AND A PET
OWNER.
LET'S GET RID OF PET FEES.
MY CAT DOESN'T HAVE A JOB.
SHE CAN'T PAY RENT.
CHARGING PET FEES IS
WIDESPREAD AND IS ABSURD.
PLEASE BAN PET FEES AND OTHER
JUNK FEES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL
BE WILL FOLLOWED BY DANIELLE.
>> HI, COUNCIL.
THIS IS THE DIRECTOR OF
DEMOCRACY, A UNION MEMBER, AND A
RESTAURANT WORKER HERE IN D-
3 WHERE I LIVE.
WE NEED TO BAN JUNK FEES.
MONEY IS TIGHT FOR
EVERYONE ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF
US
WHO WORK TWO TO FOUR JOBS AT A
TIME.
EVERYTHING -- WE JUST
NEED TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS,
MAKE
SURE
LANDLORDS ARE BEING HELD
ACCOUNTABLE AND
TRANSPARENT, THINGS LIKE PET
FEES AND
ADDITIONAL UTILITY FEES THAT
WE PAY EVERY DAY ARE TOO MUCH
FOR
US.
WE NEED STRONG ENFORCEMENT
ARMS AND TO PASS THE LEGISLATION
PRE
POSED BY THE MAYOR WITH NO
AMENDMENTS.
FEEL FREE TO JOIN ME LATER AT MY
SECOND JOB TODAY FOR
A CELEBRATORY
DRINK AT THE RESTAURANT THAT I
WORK AT.
THANKS ALL.
CHEERS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DANIELLE
FOLLOWED BY DAVID.
>> I'M A TENANT OF RENT
CONTROLCONTROL AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
AFTER BEING I COULD
EXPECT RAPID MASSIVE RENTAL, I
CALLED OFFICE OF HOUSING AND
REQUESTED ACCESS TO THE
RULES. I WAS TOLD, AND I
QUOTE, WHAT ARE YOU COMPLAINING
ABOUT?
THEY SENT ME ON A QUEST
AND I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE
COVENANT. WHEN I SHARED THE
COVENANT WITH
OH I WAS TOLD I COULD MOVE.
I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AN AUDIT
OF RENT INCREASES WITHIN
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
PORTFOLIO WHERE DOCUMENTATION
SHOWS O.H.
ADVISING LOW- INCOME HOUSING,
TO INCREASE RENT.
MY OWN RENT AND O.H.
HOUSING WITH A MODERATOR HAS
INCREASED
47% IN FOUR YEARS.
SEATTLE'S HOUSING LEVY
OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
SAY THAT MARKET RATE RENT
AND RESTRICTED AFFORDABLE RENTS
ARE
OVERLAPPING WHERE
RESTRICTED RENTS WILL BE HIGHER
THAN ACTUAL
MARKET RATES.
WITH THE LAST AUGUST MINUTES, I
QUOTE, BECAUSE DEVELOPERS
ARE FINDING THEY'RE HAVING
TROUBLE, SOME ARE TRYING TO GET
PUBLIC FUNDERS SO THE PUBLIC
ABSORBS THE RISK
INSTEAD OF THE
DEVELOPERS WHO BUILD THE
BUILDINGS.
>> THANK YOU.
AND OUR FINAL SPEAKER WILL BE
DAVID HAYNES.
DAVID, IF YOU'RE THERE, PRESS
STAR 6.
THERE YOU GO.
>> THANK
YOU. WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE FACT
THAT
THE LANDLORDS ARE
SNEAKING CHARGES INTO THE RENT
AND ARTIFICIALLY INFLATING THE
COST OF THAT HOUSE TRYING TO GET
RICH AT THE EXPENSE OF THE
WORKING CLASS THAT ARE BEING
CHEATED
OUT OF A BETTER HOME.
WE NEED TO APRIL DRESS THE
FACT WE HAVE LANDLORDS ON THE
CITY COUNCIL WHO SABOTAGE
THE INTEGRITY OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO MAKE SURE
THAT
NO WORKING CLASS WOULD HAVE
A BETTER BUILT HOME,
PROVIDING BETTER CHOICES AND
REAL
EQUITY WITHOUT UNQUALIFIED
NONPROFITS BUILDING MODERN
THIRD-
WORLD SLUMS THAT ARE FINE WITH
THE
LANDLORDS AND THEIR
SYMPATHIZERS ON THE COUNCIL AND
THE POLITICALLY CONNECTED.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO
PADDING THE COST AND CONSTANTLY
OVERCHARGING PEOPLE, WE NEED TO
ALLOW FOR
A RENTER TO RENEGOTIATE THE
RENT ONCE YOU MOVE IN AND
DISCOVER
THAT YOU'RE PAYING THREE TIMES
THE ORIGINAL MORTGAGE ON A
FLAWED FLOOR PLAN THAT'S
DILAPIDATED.
>> THANK YOU.
AND THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CLERK.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF
OUR PUBLIC COMMENTERS
TODAY. AS ALWAYS, WE APPRECIATE
YOU
COMING DOWN AND TAKING THE
TIME TO SPEAK WITH US.
AT THIS POINT WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST ITEM OF
BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK READ THE
ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, RENTAL
FEES TRANSPARENCY AND FAIRNESS
LEGISLATION.
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> FANTASTIC.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE UP TO THE
TABLE AND ALREADY JOINING
US RIGHT ON TIME, KEREM
LEVITAS WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, MAUREEN
ROAT, NEALE MAHONEY
FROM STANFORD UNIVERSITY AS WELL
AS -- I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S
ARIEL
NELSON, A SENIOR ATTORNEY AT THE
NATIONAL CONSUMER LAW CENTER WHO
IS JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
THEY WILL BE PROVIDING AN
OVERVIEW OF THE LEGISLATION
ON THE AGENDA AS AN
INFORMATIONAL ITEM TODAY.
BEFORE THEY BEGIN, COLLEAGUES,
AND FOR THE PUBLIC, THIS IS NOT
A VOTE TODAY.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE
ARE HAVING THIS IN COMMITTEE AS
AN
INFORMATIONAL ITEM.
I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND
HER TEAM FOR THEIR WORK ON
THIS BILL AS WELL AS ALL OF
THE COMMUNITY LEADERS AND
MEMBERS WHO HAVE COME
AND PARTICIPATED IN THIS
PROCESS.
AS WE HEARD DURING PUBLIC
COMMENT, WE KNOW THAT
HIDDEN FEES DON'T BELONG ON THE
LARGEST
EXPENSE FOR MOST SEATTLE
FAMILIES, WHICH IS THEIR RENT.
I SHARED THIS A LITTLE BIT AT
THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
I'LL BE A LITTLE BIT BRIEF.
WE ARE A MAJORITY RENTER
CITY, AND WE KNOW THAT ALREADY
MANY
OF OUR HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS
ARE STRETCHED AND THAT FAMILIES
DESERVE THE TRANSPARENCY TO KNOW
THE REAL COST OF A RENTAL
UP FRONT BEFORE THEY ARE SITTING
DOWN TO SIGN A LEASE.
TRANSPARENCY CREATES A
BETTER HOUSING MARKET, AND WE
KNOW
THAT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BENEFIT OUR RENTERS AS WELL AS
EVERYONE HERE IN SEATTLE.
PARTICULARLY THESE ADDED
COSTS CAN HIT HARDEST FOR THOSE
ON FIXED INCOMES.
YOUNG PEOPLE ENTERING
THE WORKFORCE IN COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE MORE LIKELY TO RENT.
SO, WITH THAT, I WILL HAND IT
OVER TO THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS FOR THEIR
PRESENTATION, HOPEFULLY WE HAVE
OUR
SLIDES LOADED UP, LOOKING GOOD.
IF YOU ALL CAN BRIEFLY
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND
THEN WE WILL GO AHEAD THROUGH
THE PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'M JUST GOING TO CHECK THAT YOU
CAN HEAR ME.
KEREM LEVITAS, SENIOR POLICY
ADVISER WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE.
I'LL LET THE FOLKS TO MY
RIGHT INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
>> NEALE MAHONEY, PROFESSOR
AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY.
>> MAUREEN ROAT, PROGRAM
MANAGEMENT, SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS.
>> AND WE'RE JOINED ONLINE.
>> AND I'M ARIEL NELSON FROM
THE NATIONAL CONSUMER LAW
CENTER.
THANK YOU FOR CONCERN OVER
PRONUNCIATION.
>> ALL RIGHT. I WILL BE STARTING
US OFF.
I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBERS,
THE TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS
MATTER. THIS BILL THAT THE MAYOR
HAS
TRANSMITTED IS ABOUT MAKING
SURE THE TENANTS HAVE ONE CLEAR
PRICE THAT THEY PAY.
WE HAVE REALLY SEEN ACROSS
THE ECONOMY THINGS THAT USED TO
HAVE
ONE PRICE BEING UNBUNDLED INTO
A WHOLE BUNCH OF SMALLER FEES.
WE SEE IT WHEN WE BUY
AIRLINE TICKETS WHERE WE USED TO
PAY ONE
PRICE AND NOW WE PAY FOR
CARRY- ON BAGS, FOR A DRINK,
FOR SEAT ASSIGNMENTS.
AND SO THIS IS A FEATURE WE'VE
SEEN REALLY ACROSS THE SPECTRUM,
BUT IT'S PARTICULARLY
IMPACTFUL AND PROBLEMATIC WHEN
IT COMES TO
HOUSING.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
HALF OF SEATTLE RENTERS PAY
MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME ON
RENT, WHAT WE CALL COST BURDENS.
58% PAY FEES IN ADDITION TO
RENT, AND THE IMPACTS THAT
WE SEE AS IT PREVENTS
RENTERS INTEREST COMPARING
HOUSING
PRICES, MAKING INFORMED
CHOICES ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE --
WHERE
THEY ARE CHOOSING TO RENT
AND MAKING FINANCIAL PLANS FOR
THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
FOR HOUSING PROVIDERS, IT
PREVENTS A TRANSPARENT
AND COMPETITIVE RENTAL MARKET
WHERE ONE PROVIDER MIGHT WANT TO
LIST A UNIT WITH AN ALL- IN
PRICE BUT
THEY REALLY
CAN'T BECAUSE OF COMPETITIVE
SSURE FROM OTHER
PROVIDERS WHO HAVE SMALLER FEES.
WITH THAT BRIEF INTRODUCTION,
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND
INTRODUCE WHO IS GOING TO BE
PRESENTING TODAY.
ARIEL NELSON IS A
SENIOR ATTORNEY AT THE
NATIONAL CONSUMER LAW CENTER.
PROTECTIONS FOR RENTERS AND
THOSE INVOLVING PEOPLE AND THEIR
FAMILIES. SHE'S AUTHORED
REPORTS ON
RENTAL HOUSING JUNK FEES.
PROFESSOR NEALE MAHONEY IS
A PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS
AT STANFORD AND THE DIRECTOR OF
THE STANFORD INSTITUTE OF
ECONOMIC
POLICY RESEARCH, THE
LEADING VOICE ON ECONOMIC
POLICY INCLUDING CONSUMER
PROTECTION
RULES. HE SERVED ON THE WHITE
HOUSE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL
IN
2022 AND 2023.
AND MAUREEN ROAT IS THE
MANAGERMANAGER AT THE DEPARTMENT
OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS,
IS A LICENSED ATTORNEY WITH OVER
15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN
THE HOUSING ARENA
AND TEACHES A COURSE ON THE
INTERSECTION
OF HOUSING LAW AND POVERTY AT
THE
SEATTLE SCHOOL OF LAW. WE'VE
BEEN CONSULTING WITH
ALL THREE THROUGHOUT THE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND WE'RE
GRATEFUL THEY'RE ABLE TO JOIN
US HERE
TODAY.
WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO COVER
TODAY IS A BACKGROUND ON THE
PREVALENCE AND IMPACTS OF
RENTAL FEES.
ARIEL WILL COVER THAT MATERIAL.
THE RENTAL FEES AND MARKET
IMPACTS WHICH PROFESSOR
MAHONEY WILL ADDRESS, AND ALL
COVER
OUR LEGISLATION OVERVIEW,
THE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
PROCESS AND IMPLEMENTATION,
ENFORCEMENT AND RESOURCING.
SO, WITH THAT, I WILL TURN
IT OVER
TO ARIEL TO BE OUR FIRST
SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME.
I WANT TO START BY SORT
OF PUTTING TOGETHER A LOT OF
WHAT
YOU'VE HEARD TODAY. SO NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE,
WE HEARD ABOUT A LOT OF
DIFFERENT TYPES OF FEES.
I WANT TO CATEGORIZE THEM
A LITTLE BIT.
WE THINK ABOUT THEM AS THE
FEES YOU MIGHTMIGHT AT OR
BEFORE MOVING IN, WHICH CAN
INCLUDE APPLICATION FEES FOR
BOTH
PEOPLE AND PETS, A VARIETY OF
ADMIN, ADMINISTRATIVE OR
PROCESSING
FEES, DEPOSIT OR ONE- TIME
FEES FOR SECURITY DEPOSITDEPOSIT
PRODUCTS, MOVE- IN FEES, HOLDING
FEES. A LOT OF FEES YOU
MIGHT PAY BEFORE YOU EVEN SECURE
YOUR
APARTMENT.
AND THEN THERE ARE THE
FEES YOU WILL PAY THROUGHOUT THE
DURATIONDURATION YOUR LEASE, AND
WE HAVE
SEEN A LOT OF MONTHLY FEES,
WHICH
INCLUDE, AS YOU HEARD, PET
RENT OR PET FEES, ALSO
ADMINISTRATIVE
FEES, INSURANCE FEES,
PEST CONTROL FEES, VALET TRASH
FEES, MAINTENANCE FEES.
AND YOU ALSO HEARD TODAY
ABOUT PAYMENT RELATED FEES.
THERE ARE, WE CALL
THEM CONVENIENCE FEES OR PAY-TO-
PAY
FEES BUT IT'S JUST FEES TO PAY
RENT. AND YOU MAY HAVE TO PAY
THEM
IF YOU'RE USING AN ONLINE
PAYMENT
PLATFORM, BUT YOU MIGHT ALSO
HAVE TO PAY THEM ANY OTHER
WAY YOU PAY RENT.
AND THEN ANOTHER CATEGORY OF
FEES YOU MIGHT PAY ARE
UTILITY RELATED FEES THAT CAN
INCLUDE UTILITY MANAGEMENT AND
BILLING
FEES AND TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE
FEESFEES PAY-TO- PAY FEES FOR
UTILITY
BILLS.
YOU MIGHT ALSO HAVE TO
PAY OCCASIONAL FEES THAT ARE
MORE DEPENDENT ON CIRCUMSTANCES
LIKE
LATE FEES OR COURT COSTS
OR LEGAL FEES EVEN IF YOU AS
A TENANT PREVAIL IN EVICTION
COURT, YOU MIGHT -- AND
HOUSING COURT -- YOU MIGHT STILL
HAVE TO PAY COURT FEES UP FRONT
AND YOU
MIGHT FACE MOVE OUT FEES WHEN
YOU LEAVE AND VARIOUS FEES ALONG
THE WAY.
SO, TO SUM UP, THESE FEES
ARE PREVALENT AT EVERY STAGE OF
THE LEASING PROCESS, AND IT'S
PRETTY COMMON FOR FOLKS TO NOT
JUST
PAY A COUPLE BUT A LONG LAUNDRY
LIST
OF THEM.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
YOU HEARD A LOT ABOUT
THE PROBLEMS WITH THESE FEES,
AND
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF
THEM.
UNAFFORDABILITY AND THE HIGH
COST OF RENT IS A BILLING
ONE, BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE A
LOT
OF LANDLORDS FAIL TO DISCLOSE
FEES UP FRONT, WHICH MEANS
THAT PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME
BUDGETING.
IT'S GOOD FOR LANDLORDS AND
TENANTS IF EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT
THE COST OF RENT IS.
TENANTS KNOW THAT THEY
CAN AFFORD IT, AND THEN THEY CAN
PAY ALONG THE WAY, WHICH MEANS
THEY DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE THAT
HOUSE AND THE LANDLORD HAS A
STABLE TENANT FOR HOPEFULLY A
LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
WE ALSO SEE ISSUES WITH
LANDLORDS FAILING TO
ACCURATELY AND ADEQUATELY
EXPLAIN
THE NATURE OF FEES.
SOME EXAMPLES ARE THESE SORT OF
UNKNOWN ADMINISTRATIVE FEES
THAT YOU SEE ON THE LEDGER ON
YOUR
BILL WHERE IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT
IT'S FOR.
WE ALSO SEE AND HEAR FROM OUR
LEGAL AID PARTNERS
-- I SHOULD SAY UP FRONT THAT'S
ONE
MAJOR WAY WE GET INFORMATION IS
FROM
LEGAL AID ATTORNEYS
WHO REPRESENT TENANTS AND
OTHERS LIKE HOUSING COUNSELORS
AND
TENANT ORGANIZERS.
WE ALSO HEAR ABOUT FEES
FOR SERVICES THAT AREN'T
ACTUALLY
PROVIDED, SO, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU
MIGHT BE CHARGED A MONTHLY VALET
TRASH FEE, BUT THEY
DON'T ACTUALLY PICK UP YOUR
TRASH, WHICH IS WHAT THAT FEE
IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR, WHETHER
YOU WANT IT OR NOT.
IF THE SERVICE ISN'T
PROVIDED, YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.
THERE'S ALSO SOMETIMES FEES
FOR SERVICES THE LANDLORD
IS ACTUALLY LEGALLY OBLIGATED
TO PROVIDE AS PART OF A
HABITABLE
PREMISES -- PEST CONTROL
FEES CAN FALL INTO THIS
CATEGORY.
WE ALSO HEAR ABOUT FEES THAT ARE
CHARGED EVEN THOUGH
THEY'RE PROHIBITED BY STATE OR
LOCAL
LAW, AND THAT CAN BE ISSUES,
CAPS ON A CERTAIN TYPE OF FEE,
BUT LANDLORDS EXCEED THE CAP
AND ARE CHARGING MORE, FOR
EXAMPLE,
FOR A LATE FEE.
SO THAT REALLY -- THIS TYPE
OF ISSUE CAN SPEAK TO THE
CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF
ENFORCEMENT
MECHANISMS, WHICH I KNOW
THAT YOU HEARD A LOT ABOUT
TODAY. WE ALSO HEAR ABOUT
PAYMENT OF
FEES MUCH GREATER THAN THEY
COST THE LANDLORD.
YOU CAN SEE THIS DISPARITY IN
A LOT OF FEES
INCLUDING, FOR EXAMPLE, NOTICE
FEES WHERE
WE'VE HEARD FROM FOLKS THAT
THEY
HAVE TO PAY SOMETHING LIKE $20
FOR
A PRINTED OUT PIECE OF PAPER TO
BE POSTED ON THEIR DOOR.
YOU CAN SEE THE GAP BETWEEN
WHAT THAT COSTS AND WHAT THE
TENANT
HAS TO PAY.
I ALSO WANT TO FLAG THAT ONE BIG
PROBLEM WITH JUNK FEES IS RACIAL
DISPARITIES.
JUNK FEES HARM EVERYBODY BUT ONE
THING WE HAVE LEARNED,
INCLUDING FROM A STUDY FROM
ZILLOW, IS
RENTERS OF COLOR,
PARTICULARLY ASIAN AMERICAN
PACIFIC
ISLANDER AND HISPANIC RENTERS
ARE MORE
LIKELY TO PAY AT LEAST ONE
RECURRING FEE COMPARED TO
WHITE RENTERS, AND WE ALSO HEAR
THAT LARGER PORTIONS OF BLACK
AIDSIAN PACIFIC AND HISPANIC
RENTERS
PAY AN APPLICATION FEE MORE
OFTEN
AS RENTERS.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
BRIEFLY THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE
WHERE
RENTERS OF COLOR ARE MORE
LIKELY TO
PAY FEES. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
IN ADDITION TO THE PROBLEMS I'VE
ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, I WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT HOW THESE FEES
AREN'T JUST A SHORT- TERM
PROBLEM BUT
HOW THEY ACTUALLY
JEOPARDIZE ACCESS TO FUTURE
HOUSING AND
LONG- TERM FINANCIAL
INSTABILITY.
SO ONE REASON WHY THAT
HAPPENS IS THAT THESE FEES CAN
BECOME
ALLEGED RENTAL DEBT.
IT'S NOT JUST WHAT YOU
MIGHT THINK OF AS THE RENT
ITSELF THAT
CAN BE RENTAL DEBT BUT
ALSO THESE FEES.
AND THE HOUSING PROVIDER MAY
SEEK TO COLLECT THOSE
FEES THROUGH A THIRD- PARTY DEBT
COLLECTOR.
AND THAT CAN LEAD TO RENTERS MAY
FACE DEMANDS FOR THE DEBT
IN EVICTION PROCEEDINGS OR
SEPARATE COLLECTION LAWSUITS,
AND THEN
WHEN A JUDGMENT ENTERS
AGAINST THE TENANT, THE
CREDITORS CAN
USE POST JUDGMENT COLLECTION
REMEDIES LIKE WAGE OR
BANK ACCOUNT GARNISHMENT.
THE OTHER ISSUE IS RENTAL
DEBTDEBT CAN REPORTED BY THESE
DEBT COLLECTORS TO THE BIG
THREE CREDIT BUREAUS WHICH
CREATES
NEGATIVE MARKS ON CREDIT
REPORTS WHICH LOWERS CREDIT
SCORES,
AND A LOWER CREDIT SCORE AND
A DEBT COLLECTION ITEM ON YOUR
CREDIT REPORT CAN CREATE A LONG-
TERM BARRIER TO OBTAINING NEW
HOUSING, AND THAT'S
BECAUSE ABOUT 90% OF LANDLORDS
RUN CREDIT CHECKS AS PART OF
THEIR TENANT SCREENING PROCESS
ON
ALL POTENTIAL TENANTS, AND THEY
OFTEN AUTOMATICALLY
REJECT APPLICANTS WHO ARE
ALLEGED
TO OWE MONEY TO FORMER LANDLORDS
AND THOSE WHO HAVE LOWER CREDIT
SCORES. SO JUNK FEPS CAN REALLY
HAUNT
SOMEONE IN
THE FUTURE AND MEAN GETTING
HOUSING GOING FORWARD IS
ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT JUNK FEES ARE USED
ESPECIALLY
BY BIG LANDLORDS AS A PROFIT
CENTER.
THERE ARE ACTUAL TLI A LOT OF
ARTICLES YOU CAN READ THAT
ARE AIMED AT LANDLORDS AND
DISCUSS HOW THESE LANDLORDS CAN
CREATE ANCILLARY INCOME
PROGRAMS,
AND THEY DESCRIBE HOW YOU CAN
USE
THINGS LIKE A
TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE THAT HAS A
HIGH MONTHLY FEE
AND BUNDLES TOGETHER A BUNCH
OF THINGS TO GENERATE PROFIT.
AND SOME OF THESE
ARTICLES ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT HOW
IF YOU ROLL CERTAIN THINGS INTO
A SINGLE FEE, YOU CAN
ACTUALLY HAVE A LOT OF WIGGLE
ROOM
WHEN DETERMINING WHAT
ANCILLARY SERVICES YOU WANT TO
ADD
AND HOW MUCH TO
CHARGE. AND WHEN WE CONDUCTED A
SURVEY
OF LEGAL AID PRACTITIONERS,
SOMEONE ACTUALLY REPORTED TO US
THE SORT OF
FLIP SIDE OF THIS WAS JUST THAT
WHEN THEY WERE
WORKING WITH TENANTS AND AN
ENTIRE BUILDING THE
TENANTS REPORTED WHEN THEY
ASKED WHAT WAS IN ONE OF THESE
PACKAGES, EVERYONE GOT DIFFERENT
ANSWERS.
SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THERE IS
A LOT OF ABILITY OF LANDLORDS
TO USE THESE FEES TO GENERATE
INCOME AND TO BE UNCLEAR
ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING
FOR THAT
REASON. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
ONE OTHER SOURCE OF HOW WE
KNOW THESE FEES ARE USED AS A
PROFIT IS IN ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION HAS
BROUGHT TWO ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
AGAINST VERY BIG PROVIDERS OF
RENTAL HOUSING, ONE AGAINST AN
INVITATION HOME WHICH, AGAIN,
CHARGED CONSUMERS A HUGE
AMOUNT IN LEASE BUNDLE FEES,
INCLUDING
A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT FEES.
AND THEIR CEO HAD ACTUALLY
CALLED ON THEIR COLLEAGUES TO
JUICE THIS HOG BY MAKING THE
FEE MANDATORY, AND THEY
INSTRUCTED
EMPLOYEES TO ONLY DISCLOSE
THE FEES WHEN
CRITICAL. I DON'T THINK THIS IS
AN
ABERRATION. THIS IS THE MODEL
FOR GENERATING
REVENUE.
YOU SAW
SIMILAR INFORMATION COMING OUT
OF THE
ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST GRAY
STAR.
THEY TOUTED THE ABILITY
TO ANCILLARY FEES.
AND THE FEES AGAIN WERE HIDDEN.
SO WE KNOW THAT THESE FEES
AREN'T JUST SOMETHING
NECESSARY TO MAKE ENDS
MEET. THEY ARE A PROFIT CENTER,
AND THEY ARE VERY PREVALENT
ACROSS
THE UNITED STATES AND
HERE IN
SEATTLE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A
FEW RESOURCES THAT TALK ABOUT
WHAT I DISCUSSED TODAY, SOME
OF OUR MATERIALS FROM THE
NATIONAL
CONSUMER LAW CENTER AS WELL
AS NEWS ARTICLES THAT
REALLY DESCRIBE WHAT TENANTS ARE
FACING.
AND THIS IS ONLY A
SMALL SAMPLING OF WHAT'S OUT
THERE, AND I'M CERTAINLY HAPPY
TO PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES
IF IT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, ARIEL.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PROFESSOR
MAHONEY.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR
FOSTER, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
WHAT I WANT TO DO IN THE NEXT
APPROXIMATELY EIGHT OR
TEN MINUTES IS TELL YOU HOW I
THINK ABOUT THE ECONOMICS OF
WHAT I'VE BEEN STUDYING,
CONSUMER PROTECTION REGULATION,
SINCE I WAS A GRADUATE STUDENT
20 YEARS AGO AND TELL YOU SOME
OF THE
PRINCIPLES SO THAT POLICY IN
THIS SPACE CAN ACHIEVE
THE INTENDED OUTCOMES AND NOT
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
FIRST SLIDE.
SO THE NORTH STAR FOR POLICY
IN THIS SPACE IS A VERY SIMPLE
PRINCIPLE THAT THE PRICE
YOU SEE SHOULD BE THE PRICE YOU
PAY.
IF YOU ACHIEVE THAT THEN IT
DOES THREE THINGS.
ONE, IT MAKES IT EASIER
FOR PROSPECTIVE RENTERS TO
COMPARISON SHOP.
THEY CAN EASILY SEE THE ALL-
IN PRICE AND COMPARE ACROSS
OPTIONS.
TWO, THAT, IN TURN, REDUCES
WHAT ECONOMISTS CALL SEARCH
COSTS, THE COST OF SEARCHING OF
COMPARING OPTIONS. AND THAT
INCREASES THE FORCES OF
COMPETITION.
NOW IT'S EASIER
FOR PEOPLE TO
COMPARE AND LANDLORDS HAVE TO
COMPETE.
AND, THIRD, AND THIS IS
MORE UNIQUE TO RENTAL MARKETS,
IT MEANS THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT
CHOOSING APARTMENTS THAT THEY
CAN'T AFFORD BECAUSE THEY KNOW
WHAT THEY'RE GETTING
INTO, THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO BE
OVER THEIR HEAD WITH THE
CONSEQUENCES
FOR THEM, FOR THEIR LANDLORD AND
FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO PAY
THEIR
RENT.
SO THESE MAY SOUND SIMPLE,
BUT TO AN ECONOMIST, THEY ARE
ESSENTIAL.
THE FORCES OF CHOICE AND
COMPETITION IS WHAT DRIVES
QUALITY, WHAT DRIVES PRICES,
WHAT MAKES MARKETS WORK.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO ACROSS A GROWING
SET OF MARKETS WE'VE SEEN FIRMS
ADOPT
PRACTICES WHICH THROW SAND
IN THE GEAR OF THE FORCES OF
TRANSPARENCY AND COMPETITION.
YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH HOTEL
RESORT FEES OR OTHER FEES
WHICH ARE ADDED TO THE BILL
WHEN YOU'RE CHECKING OUT OF A
HOTEL OR A LONG- TERM STAY YOU
MAY
BE FAMILIAR WITH GOING THROUGH
THE PROCESS OF BUYING A
TICKET FOR YOUR FAVORITE EVENT
OR CONCERT
ONLY TO SEE $30 OR
$40 FEES ADDED AT CHECK- OUT
ONCE YOU'VE
EMOTIONALLY COMMITTED TO GOING
TO THAT SHOW.
FROM AN ECONOMIC
PERSPECTIVE, THERE ARE TWO BROAD
CATEGORIES
OF PROBLEMATIC FEES.
ONE A MANDATORY FEES, FEES YOU
HAVE TO PAY NO MATTER
WHAT, WHICH ARE EITHER CLIPPED
INTO THE PROCESS SO NOT INCLUDED
IN THE ALL- IN PRICE OR THEY'RE
A HIDDEN CONTINGENT OR ADD- ON
FEES, YOU CAN THINK ABOUT A
BANK OVERDRAFT FEE OR A LUGGAGE
FEE OR FAMILY SEATING FEE ADDED
LATER IN THE PROCESS BASED
ON SOME BEHAVIOR.
MOST TYPES OF ADD- ON FEES ARE
FINE, LIKE MUSHROOMS ON A
PIZZA FOR A HOTEL ROOM WITH AN
OCEAN
VIEW.
BUT THE TYPES OF FEES THAT
ARE PROBLEMATIC ARE FEES THAT
ARE DELIBERATELY EITHER SHOWN ON
THE BACK END OR NOT DISCLOSED AT
ALL AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR US TO
SEARCH AND TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT
PRODUCT.
NEXT SLIDE.
WHAT ARE SOME PRINCIPLES FOR
FEE REGULATION WHICH EXIST
ACROSS
DOMAINS? IF THE FEE IS
MANDATORY,
IF YOU HAVE TO PAY IT, BUNDLE IT
ALL
IN AND UP FRONT IN THIS
CASE IT WOULD BE THE MONTHLY
RENT.
SECOND, IF THERE'S A CONTINGENT
FEE, A FEE YOU ONLY PAY BASED ON
AN ACTION, IT SHOULD
BE DISCLOSED AND IT SHOULD BE
CAPPED.
MANY CONTINGENT FEES ONLY
OCCUR WHEN THE SELLER HAS MARKET
POWER, WHEN WE DON'T HAVE
A CHOICE.
NO SURPRISE THERE'S NO GOUGING.
FOR OPTIONAL SERVICES,
THEY SHOULD BE TRULY OPTIONAL,
YOU SHOULDN'T BE SIGNED UP IN
WAYSWAYS
ARE NOT TRANSPARENT TO
YOU AND IT SHOULD BE EASY TO
CANCEL.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE THE CLICK TO
CANCEL, CALL DURING BUSINESS
HOURS AND WAIT FOR AN
HOUR AND A HALF TO GET OUT.
SO, NEXT SLIDE, A
COMMON CRITIQUE I HEAR WHEN
TALKING
ABOUT THESE COMMON SENSE
REGULATIONS IS WON'T THEY
JUST RAISE TOTAL COSTS?
AND THE ANSWER IS, NO.
TOTAL COSTS MAY AND LIKELY WILL
FALL.
YES, THE ADVERTISED PRICE CAN
SOMETIMES BE HIGHER BECAUSE THE
FEES THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY
ARE SHOWN -- THAT IS THE POINT.
THE POINT IS YOU
SHOULD KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING
INTO, AND
IF YOU DO, IT'S EASIER FOR YOU
TO COMPARISON SHOP AND CAN
LOWER PRICES OVERALL.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE SEEN
IN STUDIES MAKING PRICES
VISIBLE AND SALIENT INCREASES
THE FORCES OF COMPETITION AND
CAN LEAD
TO ADVERTISED PRICES WHICH ARE
AS HIGH AS THEY WERE BEFORE
EXCEPT PEOPLE ARE NOT PAYING THE
ADD-
ON FEE.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO THESE POLICIES WILL DONE
WELL BENEFIT EVERYBODY WHO HAS
A STAKE IN WELL- FUNCTIONING
MARKETS.
THEY BENEFIT TRANSPARENT
LANDLORDS, OFTEN SMALL
LANDLORDS WHO HAVEN'T ADOPTED
SOME OF THE
PRACTICES IN THE INDUSTRY
WHO LOOK LIKE THEY'RE
PRICING HIGHER THAN THEIR
COMPETITORS
BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ADDING ON
THESE
FEES AND WITH AN EVEN PLAYING
FIELD WOULD LOOK MORE
COMPETITIVE
AND WIN THE BUSINESS THEY
DESERVE.
THEY BENEFIT ALL
LANDLORDS BECAUSE CONSUMERS
KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO
AND
LESS RENTERS OVER THEIR HEAD,
RENTERS
WHO SPEND LESS TIME
COMPARING, WHO SIGNED LEASES
THEY CAN
AFFORD AND WHO PAY LESS OUT
OF POCKET EACH MONTH BECAUSE
OF MORE COMPETITION IN THE
SYSTEM, AND THEY BENEFIT THE
MARKET.
THE MARKET IS MORE
EFFICIENT, DEMAND MOVES TO THE
PRODUCERS THAT CAN PROVIDE THE
HIGHEST QUALITY PRODUCT AT
THE LOWEST
PRICE. NEXT SLIDE.
SO A COUPLE QUESTIONS ASKED.
WHY CAN'T THE MARKET FIX
IT ON ITS OWN?
I THINK AS AN ECONOMIST
I'M TRAINED -- I TEACH MY
STUDENTS THAT IF THE MARKET CAN
SOLVE THE
PROBLEM, THEN THERE MAY NOT BE
A CASE FOR GOVERNMENT
REGULATION.
HERE THERE IS A PRESSING
COLLECTIVE ACTION PROBLEM.
WE'VE SEEN TIME AND AGAIN
LANDLORDS WHO WANT TO DO THE
RIGHT THING TO INCLUDE ALL
OF THE FEES UP FRONT IN THE
ADVERTISED PRICE.
THEY LOSE OUT
BECAUSE THEY SEEM MORE
EXPENSIVE.
WE SAW THIS IN THE EVENT TICKET
SPACE WHERE STUBHUB WANTED
THE EXPERIMENT WITH ALL THE
PRICES
UP FRONT.
THEY LOST BUSINESS -- THEY LOST
MARKET SHARON AND -- SHARE AND
I'VE HEARD
IT, FIRMS WANT TO DO THE RIGHT
THING BUT THEY NEED POLICY
TO HELP THEM MOVE TOGETHER.
THE SECOND QUESTION I
GET ALL THE TIME IS, IS
DISCLOSURE
ENOUGH?
DISCLOSURE IS NECESSARY.
IT'S NOT SUFFICIENT.
WE'VE ALL SEEN THE 20 OR 30-
PAGE
DISCLOSURE DOCS.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GO
THROUGH ALL OF THEM AND THINK
THROUGH WHICH ONES WILL MATTER
FOR
US AND WHICH ONES WON'T AND
GETTING
DISCLOSURE AT THE LAST
MINUTE WHEN YOU SIT DOWN TO SIGN
A
LEASE IS TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS NOW OR
LATER.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING ME.
>> THANK YOU TO BOTH OF OUR
SPEAKERS.
I'LL MOVE INTO WHAT WE'RE
SEEING IN SEATTLE AND OUR
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AND THE
PROPOSAL YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF
YOU.
SO WE KNOW THAT MORE THAN HALF
OF SEATTLE RENTERS - -
SEATTLE RESIDENTS ARE RENTERS.
REGIONAL 48% ARE COST
BURDENED FROM 2012 TO 2022 WE
SAW
RENTS RISE 32% AND WE'RE
CONTINUING
TO SEE RENT GROWTH ACCELERATION
IN
2025.
ON THE CHART YOU HAVE ON YOUR
RIGHT, THE TOP HALF THERE
IS REALLY SHOWING CONTINUED
GROWTH SEATTLE SOUTH, SEATTLE
CENTRAL, QUEEN ANNE,
CONTINUED RENT ACCELERATION.
AND THAT CAN ADD 10% TO 30%
ON TOP OF RENTERS' MONTHLY
COSTS.
AT THE AVERAGE UNIT PRICE
OF AROUND $2,000 THAT'S BETWEEN
$200 AND $600 OF ADDED FEES PER
MONTH. I THINK YOU HEARD SOME OF
THOSE SIMILAR NUMBERS JUST FROM
THE
FOLKS WHO COMMENTED TODAY.
SO GIVEN THE SEVERITY OF THE
ISSUE, THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE ENGAGED IN A ROBUST
STAKEHOLDERS PROCESS STARTING
WITH A
RENTAL SURVEY THAT HAD A REALLY
STRONG
ENGAGEMENT, 8,800 RESPONSES, BUT
WE KNEW THAT A SURVEY IS NOT
GOING TO REACH EVERYONE.
WE MAY HAVE SOME FOLKS WHO
ARE LEFT OUT OF AN ENGAGEMENT
LIKE
THAT. WE ENGAGED IN LISTENING
SESSIONS
AS WELL.
THESE WERE
SESSIONS TARGETED AT RENTERS,
ONE
FOR SMALL LANDLORDS,
REPRESENTING ABOUT 50 DIFFERENT
TENANTS ACROSS THE CITY,
PRESENTED
IN ENGLISH BUT WITH
INTERPRETATION
SERVICES PROVIDED.
AND IN A SEPARATE ONE
ENGAGINGENGAGING
12 SMALL LANDLORDS.
SEPARATELY WE HAD A
POLICY STAKEHOLDER PROCESS WITH
SEVEN
TOTAL MEETINGS REPRESENTING
TENANTS, TENANT
ADVOCATES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROVIDERS,
MARKET RATE, AND DEVELOPERS.
IN TOTAL 50
DIFFERENT
STAKEHOLDERS REPRESENTING
THOUSANDS OF UNITS AND
INDIVIDUAL RENTERS.
SO TO REVIEW SOME OF THE
FINDINGS FROM THAT, FIRST OUR
SURVEY.
THIS IS SORT OF
DEMONSTRATING THE REPRESENTATION
THAT WE
HAD WITH THE SIZE OF THE DOTS
CORRESPONDING TO ZIP CODES
AND THE NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO
WERE REPRESENTED WITHIN THE
ZIP CODES AND IN THE CHART YOU
SEE ON THE
FAR RIGHT, THE RATIO
IS INDICATING HOW
REPRESENTATIVE THE PARTICULAR
GEOGRAPHY WAS.
THE CLOSER TO ONE WE ARE,
THE MORE REPRESENTATIVE IT
IS. UNDER ONE, A LITTLE
UNDERREPRESENTED.
OVER ONE, OVERREPRESENTED.
YOU CAN SEE NOT A PERFECT
RATIO BUT VERY STRONG
REPRESENTATION
ACROSS THE CITY'S
GEOGRAPHIES. SO SOME OF THE
THINGS
WE LEARNED HERE ARE JUST THE
PREVALENCE OF
FEES.
SO REALLY STRONG, LARGE NUMBERS
OF FOLKS EXPERIENCING PET FEES
APPROACHING 3,300 THERE,
LEASE SIGNING FEES, ALSO OVER
3,000 RESPONSES THERE, AND
THINGS
LIKE COMMON ROOM CHARGES, WHICH
ARE ALMOST 2,000 FOLKS.
AND EVEN AT THE BOTTOM END
OF THE SPECTRUM, WHICH LOOKS
JUST IN COMPARISON TO BE A
SMALL NUMBER DEPOSIT RETURN FEES
AND
PACKAGE FEES, CLOSE TO 500 FOLKS
EXPERIENCING THOSE JUST IN
OUR SURVEY SAMPLE.
SO THIS IS A WIDE-
RANGING PROBLEM THAT IS
AFFECTING LARGE,
LARGE NUMBERS OF RENTERS ACROSS
THE CITY.
WE ALSO HAD A WAY FOR RENTERS TO
PROVIDE JUST FREE FORM
RESPONSES, AND SO THIS IS JUST
A SELECTION OF THINGS WE HEARD.
THERE ARE MANY MORE
RESPONSES BUT I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO
GIVE VOICE TO A FEW OF THEM.
ONE RENTER TOLD US THERE ARE
SO MANY HIDDEN FEES AND LACK
OF DESCRIPTIONS ON WHAT'S
INCLUDED THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE
TO
SEARCH FOR IN- BUDGET OPTIONS.
ANOTHER LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO
LIVE IS A NIGHTMARE.
THERE NEEDS TO BE LAWYERS
THAT REQUIRE COSTS TO BE
LISTED PLAINLY ON RENTAL
LISTINGS.
THE JUNK FEES, VALET
TRASH, PACKAGE LOCKERS, LAUNDRY,
AC
UNITS, THEY'RE ALL A SCAM AND
A WAY FOR LANDLORDS TO
ADVERTISE RENT PRICES THAT
ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN
ACTUAL
COST. AND FINALLY, PET RENT IS
JUST ANOTHER WAY TO
SQUEEZE MORE MONEY FROM YOU.
I ALREADY
PAID A DEPOSIT FOR MY PETS.
WE ALSO HEARD FROM HOUSING
PROVIDERS AGAIN, A LARGE
NUMBER HERE REPRESENTING SMALL
HOUSING
PROVIDERS, LARGE PROVIDERS,
DEVELOPERS, MARKET RATE
AND AFFORDABLE SECTORS AND WE
HEARD
A VARIETY OF THINGS.
CONCERNS AROUND COST
RECOVERY, FOLKS TELLING US, HEY,
WE DO
HAVE REAL COSTS WHEN A
TENANT LOSES THEIR KEYS, WHEN
THERE'S A
LOCKOUT, A BOUNCED CHECK, A
WAY TO RECOVER SOME OF THOSE
COSTS.
CONCERNS AROUND THE BURDEN
OF ADDED TRANSPARENCY
REQUIREMENTS.
CONCERNS AROUND MAKING SURE THE
TENANTS HAVE INSURANCE AND THEN
QUESTIONS AROUND
THE IMPLEMENTATION TIME LINE AND
THE IMPACT ON EXISTING LEASES.
AND YOU'LL SEE THESE
THEMES REPEATED THROUGHOUT OUR
POLICY
DESIGN. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE
A
LOOK AT THESE, GET FEEDBACK FROM
TENANTS AND TENANT
STAKEHOLDERS ON THESE CONCERNS
AND THINK
ABOUT COMMON SENSE WAYS
TO ADDRESS THESE AND
INCLUDE
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THESE
CONCERNS WITHIN THE POLICY.
SO I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO
THE POLICY DESIGN ITSELF.
THERE'S REALLY THREE
COMPONENTS, TRANSPARENCY, THE
FEE
REGULATION ITSELF, AND
ENFORCEMENT AND
IMPLEMENTATION. I'LL JUST WALK
THROUGH EACH OF
THOSE.
SO ON THE TRANSPARENCY
PIECE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT FOLKS
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE
GETTING
INTO, WHAT THE ALL- IN COST
IS, AND ANY FEES THAT ARE
GOING TO BE ASSESSED.
SO THOSE NEED TO BE DISCLOSED
UNDER THE RENTAL LISTING IN A
DISCLOSURE AT LEAST SIGNING.
IF YOU PAY A VARIABLE
FEE, SOMETHING THAT CHANGES
MONTH TO
MONTH, YOU NEED TO TELL
TENANTS WHAT THAT IS ON A
MONTHLY BASIS.
IF YOU HAVE A FIXED FEE THAT IS
BEING CHARGED, YOU KNOW,
YOU DON'T NEED TO TELL SOMEONE
THE SAME AMOUNT EVERY SINGLE
MONTH BUT YOU DO NEED TO TELL
TENANTS
THAT ON A YEARLY BASIS OR IF
THERE'S A CHANGE.
WE WANT
LANDLORDS TO HAVE THE TOOLS TO
COMPLY.
SDCI WILL PROVIDE NOTICES
IN ENGLISH AND TOP TIER
LANGUAGES TO MEET THESE
REQUIREMENTS
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIGURE IT
OUT
ON YOUR OWN AS A HOUSING
PROVIDER.
SO MOVING ON TO THE CORE FEE
REGULATION.
THE WAY IT'S STRUCTURED IS
NO FEES ARE ALLOWED UNLESS
SPECIFICALLY EXEMPTED WITHIN
THE LEGISLATION.
AND WE'VE DESIGNED IT THAT WAY
TO SORT OF AVOID THE WHAT CAN CK
A
MOLE SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE
A BAN AND A HOUSING PROVIDER
TURNS AROUND AND CHARGES A FEE
FOR
A PACKAGE.
WE WANT TO AVOID HAVING
TO COME BACK AND ADDRESS THESE
THINGS
PIECEMEAL.
THAT'S THE STRUCTURE WE
BUILT INTO THE LEGISLATION.
THE EXEMPTIONS WE BUILT,
I'VE CATEGORIZED THEM HERE INTO
THREE BUCKETS.
THE FIRST IS THINGS THAT
ARE ALREADY REGULATED IN SEATTLE
LAW, FEES THAT ARE ALREADY
REGULATED.
SO EXAMPLES OF THAT ARE MOVE- IN
FEES, SCREENING FEES,
SECURITY AND PET DEPOSITS.
THOSE ARE REGULATED.
THIS LEGISLATION DOESN'T IMPACT
THEM.
UTILITY SURCHARGE FEES,
ON CALLED RUBS.
WE KNOW THERE'S A LARGE CONCERN
THERE, BUT THIS LEGISLATION
DOES NOT CHANGE THE
EXISTING REGULATORY CTURE THERE.
LATE FEES AND PARKING FEES ARE
SIMILAR. STATE LAW WE WANT TO
AVOID PREEMPTION ISSUES SO
PROVISIONS
AROUND CHARGING WHERE
TENANTS CAUSE DAMAGE ARE
PERMISSIBLE,
ACCORDING TO THE RCW
AND REQUIREMENTS THERE.
THE SAME WITH AIR CONDITIONER
RENTALS, REGULATED AT THE STATE
LEVEL.
AND THEN WE HAVE A NUMBER
OF OTHER AREAS WHICH ARE
REALLY REFLECTIVE OF THE
FEEDBACK FROM
HOUSING
PROVIDERS, COSTS AROUND
DISHONORED CHECKS, KEY
REPLACEMENT FEES, LOCKOUT
FEES, IF YOU RENT A PARTY ROOM.
YOU CAN CHARGE FEES FOR ALL OF
THAT. WE DO HAVE RESTRICTIONS TO
MAKE
SURE THIS ISN'T SORT OF A
TOTAL BLANK CHECK.
THERE ARE LIMITS ON WHAT YOU CAN
CHARGE.
AND THE LAST CATEGORY I WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE IDEA
OF OPTIONAL FEES.
IF A HOUSING PROVIDER IS
PROVIDING SOME KIND OF OPTIONAL
SERVICE, LIKE A REALLY HIGH- END
INTERNET PACKAGE, THERE ARE
SOME BUILDINGS THAT PROVIDE, YOU
KNOW, DOG GROOMING SERVICES
OR DOG WALKING SERVICES, YOU
CAN
OPT INTO THAT. YOU CAN PAY AN
ADDITIONAL
FEE TORE THAT.
THAT'S NOT PART OF
THIS LEGISLATION AND IS
PERMITTED.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THOSE THINGS ARE TRULY OPTIONAL
AND THERE ARE GUIDELINES AROUND
THAT, SO THERE ARE PROVISIONS
TO ENSURE THAT.
IF YOU DO WANT TO, AS A
LANDLORD, PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL
SERVICE, CAN YOU DO THAT
AS LONG AS YOU DISCLOSE IT, AS
LONG
AS YOU MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE
OPTING
INTO IT, GIVE THEM THE
ABILITY TO OPT OUT.
IF IT'S A THIRD- PARTY
SERVICE, YOU MAKE SURE THAT IT
IS PROVIDED AT COST.
AND THEN THERE ARE AREAS WE,
IN THE LEGISLATION, CARVED OUT
AS PROBABLY NOT REASONABLE TO BE
CHARGED AS AN OPTIONAL FEE,
SO THINGS LIKE CHARGING TO
ACCESS A
COMMON AREA.
WE DON'T WANT TO SEE LANDLORDS
SAYING, HEY, YOU'VE OPTED INTO
THIS FEE, SO WE'VE TAKEN
THAT OFF THE LIST OF SORTSORT
PERMISSIBLE OPTIONAL FEES.
SIMILARLY APPLIANCE FEES,
FEES FOR PAYMENT BY CHECK OR
ACH,
SO BASICALLY A FEE TO PAY YOUR
RENT, MAIL AND PACKAGE
FEES, FEES FOR A DUTY UNDER THE
STATE
CODE, FEE FOR A CHANGE IN
TENANTS AND FEE FOR KEEPING A
PET.
ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE
AREAS WE HAVE SAID ARE NOT
PERMISSIBLE
AS OPTIONAL FEES UNDER THE
PROPOSED
LEGISLATION. SO I'LL MOVE ON TO
ENFORCEMENT.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE STRONG ENFORCEMENT
AND
IMPLEMENTATION.
WE'VE BUILT OUT SOME OF
THE AUTHORITY THE SECI HAS.
THE ONE I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
IS THE ABILITY TO RESOLVE
SIMILAR
CLAIMS AT THE SAME TIME.
THE IDEA IS IF I'M BEING
CHARGED
AN IMPERMISSIBLE FEE,
IT'S LIKELY I'M NOT PERSONALLY
TARGETED BY THAT PRACTICE.
IT'S RATHER IT'S A POLICY
THAT APPLIES ACROSS THE
BUILDING,
SO IT'S MORE EFFICIENT AS AN
ENFORCEMENT MATTER AND AS
A MATTER OF GETTING REMEDIES FOR
TENANTS TO ALLOW THE ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY TO ADDRESS ALL OF
THESE AT THE SAME TIME.
IT ALSO CREATES A CULTURE OF
COMPLIANCE.
THERE ARE PROVISIONS WITHIN THIS
CHAPTER OF THE CODE.
I'M HAPPY TO COME BACK
BUT I WILL KEEP US MOVING.
OKAY, WE LOST OUR GRAPHICS,
WHICH I WORKED VERY HARD ON,
SO JUST IMAGINE THERE IS AN
EMOJI WITHIN EACH OF THE CIRCLES
--
I'M FINE.
I'M FINE WITH IT.
SO I'M GOING TO SKIP THE
FIRST TWO ELEMENTS TO KEEP US
MOVING.
HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS ON THEM.
TWO THINGS I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT ON THIS SLIDE IS THAT
THERE
WILL BE NO IMPACT ON EXISTING
LEASES, CURRENT LEASE TERMS CAN
COMPLETE BEFORE THESE COME INTO
PLAY.
THAT WAS A BIG --
>> SORRY.
YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TIME TO
DO THE FIRST TWO, KEREM.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT.
LET ME FINISH THAT SENTENCE.
THIS IS A BIG POINT OF
FEEDBACK FROM HOUSING PROVIDERS
AND WANTING TO MAINTAIN SORT OF
THE INTEGRITY OF EXISTING
CONTRACTS,
SO WE ARE NOT TOUCHING EXISTING
LEASES IN THIS LEGISLATION.
THERE ARE RETALIATION
PROTECTIONS SO THAT IF
YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT A FEE AND
YOU'RE
RETALIATED AGAINST, THERE IS AN
ABILITY FOR THE IMPLEMENTING
AGENCY, THE ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY, TO COME IN AND PROHIBIT
THOSE
ACTIVITIES.
THERE'S AN
AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE SO THAT YOU
CANNOT BE
EVICTED FOR FAILING TO PAY AN
ILLEGAL
FEE.
SO, AGAIN, JUST
IMPORTANT PROVISIONS TO MAKE
SURE
WE'RE THINKING OF ALL
CONTINGENCIES.
LASTLY, EFFECTIVE DATE IS JULY
2027, AGAIN, RESPONSIVE TO
FEEDBACK WE HEARD IN MAKING
SURE FOLKS HAVE TIME TO
IMPLEMENT THIS AND SDCI HAS
TIME TO HIRE STAFF TO ENFORCE
IT.
ALL RIGHT. SO EVERYONE'S
FAVORITE PART.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND
HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR IT?
SO WE HAVE SCOPED ONE- TIME
STARTUP FEES OF JUST UNDER
$200,000 FOR OUTREACH AND THIS
SYSTEM, CASE MANAGEMENT
CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO SEE.
IN 2027 COSTS WILL BE ABOUT
$800,000 FOR THREE
FTEs AS WELL AS OUTREACH AND
EDUCATION FUNDING AND GRANTS
THAT WILL
GO OUT THE DOOR.
AND THAT WILL BE PAID FOR
THROUGH A PER UNIT FEE,
PER UNIT -- PER RENTAL UNIT FEE
OF BETWEEN $5. 50 AND $7 A YEAR.
A REALLY MODEST AMOUNT.
IT WORKS OUT AT THE $6 LEVEL
TO ABOUT 50 CENTS PER UNIT PER
MONTH. SO THERE WILL BE NO
GENERAL FUND
IMPACT IN THIS OPOSAL.
THE FUNDING WILL BE SUBMITTED AS
SEPARATE BUDGET LEGISLATION
DURING THE BUDGET CYCLE.
SO THAT IS REALLY MOST OF WHAT
I WANTED TO COVER.
THERE'S AN IMPLEMENTATION TIME
LINE.
I'M NOT GOING THROUGH
EVERY
BULLET HERE. I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT
JANUARY 1st IS WHEN THE FEE
COLLECTION
WOULD BEGIN UNDER THE
PROPOSAL AND OUR EFFECTIVE DATE
IS,
AGAIN, JULY 2027, AND
BETWEEN NOW AND THEN SDCI WILL
BE DOING
A LOT OF WORK TO GET THINGS
GOING.
SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY ALL
WE WANTED TO COVER.
MAYBE I TALKED QUICKER THAN
I NORMALLY DO BECAUSE I THOUGHT
WE WERE OVER TIME, BUT THAT'S
ALL WE HAVE FOR Y'ALL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND
I APPRECIATE EACH OF OUR
PRESENTERS.
I WILL TURN ACTUALLY
IMMEDIATELY TO COLLEAGUES FOR
QUESTIONS AND
I'LL SAVE ANY REMARKS FOR
BEFORE WE CLOSE THIS PORTION OF
OUR
AGENDA.
SEEING FIRST A QUESTION
FROM COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
JUST WONDER IF YOU
COULD TALK ABOUT OBVIOUSLY THIS
IS NOT
JUST A LOCAL ISSUE.
WE HEARD IT'S A NATIONWIDE
ISSUE. COULD YOU TALK ABOUT SORT
OF BEST PRACTICES FROM
OTHER JURISDICTIONS OR WHAT THE
LANDSCAPE IS?
WE HEARD A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT NATIONAL ENFORCEMENT.
WHERE DO WE THINK THINGS
MIGHT BE GOING EITHER NATIONALLY
OR AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE OR
OTHERWISE OTHER JURISDICTIONS
THAT MIGHT BE AHEAD OF US ON
THIS?
>> YEAH, I'LL TAKE THE SORT
OF STATE AND LOCAL REGULATION
AND I
MIGHT ASK EITHER ARIEL
OR PROFESSOR MAHONEY TO SPEAK
ON THE NATIONAL RULEMAKING.
WE KNOW IN SEATTLE THIS
IS ACTUALLY AN AREA WHERE
THERE'S BEEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF
ACTION
BOTH WITHIN THE STATE AND
WITHOUT.
BELLINGHAM HAS PASSED --
LAST YEAR PASSED A RENTAL JUNK
FEE
REGULATION, OLYMPIA HAS HAD
ONE ON THE BOOKS FOR ABOUT A
YEAR OR
TWO.
FERNDALE AND SPOKANE ALL DO SOME
LEVEL OF REGULATION.
THE STATEWIDE -- I DON'T HAVE
MY LIST, BUT COLORADO,
CONNECTICUT,
I BELIEVE, AND A COUPLE
OTHER JURISDICTIONS HAVE
STATEWIDE REGULATIONS AND
MONTGOMERY
COUNTY, MARYLAND, MY HOME
COUNTY, JUST A COINCIDENCE
THERE.
ALSO HAS A REGULATION.
WHAT'S DIFFERENT IN HOW
WE'VE SCOPED IT, SO WHAT FEES
AND
HOW YOU STRUCTURE IT AND
WHATWHAT
EXCEPTIONS ARE VARY.
WHAT I THINK IS UNIQUE AND
WE'RE PROPOSING IS THE SORT
OF HOLISTIC APPROACH
IN TERMS OF OUR IMPLEMENTATION
AND
ENFORCEMENT.
MOST OF THE JURISDICTIONS
WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF
MONTGOMERY COUNTY HAVE AN
ENFORCEMENT
MECHANISM.
WE HAVE BOTH THE
IMPLEMENTATION FROM SDCI AND A
FUNDING MECHANISM TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT AND MAKE
SURE WE HAVE TOOLS FOR
ENFORCEMENT
AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
IN EDUCATION FOR HOUSING
PROVIDERS.
ARIEL OR PROFESSOR MAHONEY,
DO EITHER OF YOU WANT TO TAKE
THE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE?
>> SURE.
AND I'LL JUST ADD THAT IF
YOU WOULD LIKE AN EVEN MORE
COMPREHENSIVE ANSWER, I
WOULD POINT YOU TO THE
NATIONAL CONSUMER LAW CENTER'S
REPORT
"WHAT THE HECK, DUDE.
HOW STATES CAN FIGHT
HOUSING JUNK FEES" WITH AN
APPENDIX ON
THE JUNK FEES' SPECIFIC LAWS
WE KNOW ABOUT AT THE STATE
LEVEL AND HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE
LOCAL LAWS THAT KEREM POINTED
TO. I WOULD SAY JUST MY
FINAL COMMENT ON THAT IS THAT WE
SEE, LIKE HE SAID, PIECEMEAL
APPROACHES. I THINK THE LOCAL
LEVEL IS
THE PLACE WHERE ROBUST
LEGISLATION CAN
HAPPEN. IN TERMS OF THE FEDERAL
LEVEL, THE FEDERAL TRADE
COMMISSION HAS
PUT OUT WHAT'S CALLED AN
ADVANCED NOTICE OF PROPOSED
RULEMAKING ON RENTAL
HOUSING JUNK FEES, AND THAT
IS POTENTIALLY A PRECURSOR
TOTO ACTION ON THIS, BUT
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN
THEY ACTUALLY WILL DO
ANYTHING. THEY DON'T HAVE TO.
SO THEY'VE COLLECTED A BUNCH OF
COMMENTS, BUT IT'S UNCLEAR
WHEN, IF EVER, THEY WILL ENACT A
RULE,
AND I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT
I WOULD EXPECT THAT TO BE
MORE LIKE A BASIC LEVEL OF
PROTECTION.
I SORT OF SEE IT AS A
FLOOR WHERE MAYBE THERE WILL BE
SOME GOOD LANGUAGE ON
TRANSPARENCY.
I WOULD EXPECT IT'S FAIRLY
LIMITED, AND SO LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS AND
STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE REALLY
THETHE
WHERE, AGAIN, ROBUST
ENFORCEMENT AND REGULATIONS AND
ENFORCEMENT ARE ABLE TO HAPPEN.
>> THANK YOU,
CHAIR. TWO MORE QUESTIONS, IF
THAT'S
OKAY. ANY FROM THE
JURISDICTION THAT IS HAVE
ENACTED THIS?
ANY SORT OF, YOU KNOW, POSITIVE
FEEDBACK?
ANY UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
THAT WE ARE AWARE OF?
JUST CURIOUS IF YOU KNOW.
>> YEAH, I'D SAY TWO PIECES OF
FEEDBACK I'VE HEARD, YOU KNOW,
IF THE -- IF THE
STRUCTURE OF THE LAW IS ANY
SPECIFIC FEES, IT
REALLY OPENS THE DOOR TO
WHAT I WAS FLAGGING OF THE
WHAC-A- MOLE
APPROACH WHERE FEES HAVE BEEN
RESTRUCTURED AND
BRANDED SOMETHING DIFFERENT, AND
SO
SOME
OF THE JUNK FEE PRACTICES
CONTINUE.
SO THAT'S ONE BIG PIECE OF
FEEDBACK BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE
JURISDICTIONS HAVE
STRUCTURED THINGS IN THAT WAY.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE
OTHER PIECE IS WHAT WE WERE SORT
OF FLAGGING WE MIGHT EXPECT IN
TERMS OF SOME MANDATORY FEES
MAY BE MOVED AND INCORPORATED
INTO
RENT, WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN
ADVERTISED PRICE GOING UP.
THAT IS SORT OF THE POINT
IS THAT FOLKS KNOW WHAT
THEY'RE ACTUALLY PAYING EVEN IF
THE
ADVERTISED PRICE HAS GONE UP.
IT'S BECAUSE FEES --
MANDATORY FEES HAVE MOVED OVER
FROM
THE FEE DESCRIPTOR INTO RENT
ITSELF.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE --
ARIEL, DO YOU WANT TO ADD
ANYTHING?
>> SURE.
I WOULD JUST ADD THAT THE
OTHER PROBLEM WE'VE HEARD IS
REALLY JUST WITH ENFORCEMENT
WHERE THERE MIGHT BE LAWS ON THE
BOOKS, LIKE I GAVE AN
EXAMPLE THERE ARE LAWS IN
VARIOUS JURISDICTIONS REGULATING
LATE
FEES, BUT WE SEE THOSE
LAWS BEING VIOLATED, WHICH IS
WHY
THE ROBUST ENFORCEMENT PIECE IS
SO
CRITICAL.
SO HAVING BOTH THE PRIVATE RIGHT
OF ACTION AS WELL AS THE
GOVERNMENT ENFORCEMENT IS
CRITICAL.
AND I WOULD ALSO JUST ADD THAT I
THINK THAT THE TRICKY -- THE
TRICK, MORE COMPLEX
AND PIECEMEAL THE SCHEME IS,
THE HARDER IT IS FOR
ENFORCEMENT,
WHICH IS WHY IT'S NOT JUST
A WHAC-A- MOLE PROBLEM IF
YOU REGULATE SOME FEES,
PROHIBIT SOME FEES BUT DON'T
THINK
ABOUT IT AS A WHOLE.
IF YOU REGULATE -- IF YOU
BAN ALL FEES EXCEPT FOR, IT'S A
LOT CLEARER FOR EVERYBODY
INVOLVED
INCLUDING THOSE WHO CAME TO
ENFORCE THE LAW.
>> THANK YOU.
FINAL QUESTION IS JUST ON THE
RENEWALS, JUST CURIOUS HOW
THAT WORKS FOR LEASES THAT KIND
OF AUTOMATICALLY CONVERT TO,
LIKE,
MONTH TO MONTH THE LOGISTICS FOR
IMPLEMENTATION.
>> YOU MEAN THE NO IMPACT
ON EXISTING LEASES AND HOW DOES
THAT WORK?
MAUREEN, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE
THAT ONE?
>> AS IT'S WRITTEN WE'VE BUILT
IN THIS ORDINANCE A
DELAYED ENACTMENT PERIOD, AS YOU
KNOW.
THOSE TENANCIES ARE MONTH
TO MONTH, SO A NEW
TENANCY IN THEORY COULD BEGIN
AFTER THOSE
30 DAYS.
FOR THIS NEW REQUIREMENT TO
TAKE EFFECT ON A MONTH-TO- MONTH
TENANCY, IT WOULD BE AS IF
THAT LEASE WERE ENDING AT THE
END OF OF
JUNE, SO JUNE 30th IF THE
LEASE IS EFFECTIVE, LET'S SAY
JULY 2nd, IT BECOMES EFFECTIVE
AS THIS NEW -- UNDER THIS NEW
ORDINANCE,
THEN ALL OF THESE FEE
RESTRICTIONS WOULD APPLY.
THEY ARE EFFECTIVELY 30-
DAY LEASE S
LEASES.
>> IF I'M UNDERSTANDING
IF YOU -- YOUR LEASE ENDED
AUGUST OF 2027, IT WOULD
AUTOMATICALLY KIND OF CONVERT TO
MONTH TO
MONTH, AND LET'S SAY
THERE WERE SOME OF THESE FEES IN
THE EXISTING LEASE, IS IT
CORRECT THAT BASICALLY THEY, THE
LANDLORD, WOULD BE -- WOULD
THEY BE REQUIRED TO SIGN A
NEW LEASE OR WOULD THEY BE
PROHIBITED FROM COLLECTING FEES?
BOTH?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN FOR THESE
AUTOMATIC RENEWALS.
>> WHERE THE TERM LEASE
EXPIRES, ONCE THAT TERM LEASE
EXPIRES,
IF THE IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD HAS
STARTED, IF YOU'RE AFTER
JULY 1st OF 2027, THEN THOSE
FEES
UNDER THAT LEASE WOULD NOT
BE ENFORCEABLE BY THE LANDLORD.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING FOR SDCI
TO INVESTIGATE.
IF THEY HAVE LEASE THAT IS
CAN CONVERT MONTH TO MONTH TO BE
SURE THEY'RE NOT
UNINTENTIONALLY
CHARGING THOSE FEES THAT ARE
PROHIBITED BY THIS ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE
QUESTIONS. I'M GOING TO ASK A
FEW
QUESTIONS MYSELF AND WRAP US UP.
SO I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO THE
THINGS THAT WE HEARD A LOT
IN PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY, A LOT
OF, I THINK, EXCITEMENT, AS I AM
TO SPONSOR THIS PIECE
OF LEGISLATION AROUND JUNK FEES.
I THINK THERE WERE TWO ISSUES WE
HEARD QUESTIONS
ABOUT. I WANT A CHANCE TO
ADDRESS
THOSE DIRECTLY, SO
I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR
TRANSPARENCY.
I WANT YOU TO SPEAK TO THE WI-
FI QUESTION.
AND SO IS IT CORRECT THAT
AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN
THE LEGISLATION ALLOWS FOR
LANDLORDS
TO PROVIDE WI- FI AS AN OPTIONAL
SERVICE FOR A FEE?
>> YES, THAT IS A
PERMISSIBLE OPTIONAL FEE AS LONG
AS
IT'S DISCLOSED AND SOMEONE
HAS AFFIRMATIVELY OPTED IN
AND THAT'S MADE CLEAR AND YOU
COULD
OPT INTO A HIGHER END WI- FI
PACKAGE.
>> THANK YOU.
AND THEN ALSO A QUICK FOLLOW YUM
ON THAT.
IS THAT ALSO ONE THAT
NEEDS TO BE OFFERED AS AN AT-
COST FEE, AN
OPTIONAL FEE, THAT CORRECT?
>> YEAH, IF IT'S THIRD- PARTY
PROVIDED, WHICH MOST WI- FI
WOULD BE PROVIDED.
IT WOULD NEED TO BE PROVIDED
AT
COST.
>> THANK YOU.
THE OTHER THING WE
HEARD ABOUT TODAY IN PUBLIC
COMMENT WAS
PETS, AND I HAVE A LOVELY PET
MYSELF. AND SO CAN YOU JUST
SPEAK A
LITTLE BIT TO --
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT A
LANDLORD CAN CHARGE A PET
SECURITY
DEPOSIT.
THAT'S STILL AN ALLOWABLE
CHARGECHARGE THIS LEGISLATION.
AND THEN THE PET SECURITY
DEPOSIT -- THEY HAVE THE
PET SECURITY DEPOSIT AS WELL AS
A TRADITIONAL SECURITY
DEPOSIT AVAILABLE TO COVER
DAMAGES IF
NEEDED.
IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
SO LANDLORDS CAN CONTINUE
TO CHARGE A PET DAMAGE DEPOSIT.
THAT'S ACTUALLY REGULATED IN
ANOTHER CHAPTER OF THE CODE.
25% OF YOUR RENT IS THE SORT OF
UPWARD LIMIT OF THAT.
SO AT THE AVERAGE MONTHLY RENT
OF $2,000, THAT'S AROUND
$500 THAT WOULD BE A PERMISSIBLE
PET
DAMAGE DEPOSIT THAT CAN
CONTINUE.
THAT'S REALLY SORT OF
WHAT YOU'RE HEARING AND I THINK
IN THE PUBLIC
COMMENT FOLKS ARE ALREADY PAYING
THAT AMOUNT.
AND SO PET RENT ON TOP OF
THAT IS AN ADDED COST.
WHEN THERE IS DAMAGE FROM A
PET, IT'S NOT TAKEN OUT OF YOUR
PET
RENT, IT COMES OUT OF
THE DEPOSIT YOU'VE ALREADY
PAID.
AND, AGAIN, THAT CAN CONTINUE TO
BE CHARGED. THAT'S PERMISSIBLE
UNDER
THE CODE AS LONG AS IT'S UNDER
THE 25% AMOUNT.
>> THANK YOU.
AND THE OTHER CLARIFYING PIECES
IF THAT PET DAMAGE -- LET'S
SAY IT IS MY DOG, BECAUSE LET'S
SAY
IT'S MY DOG.
IF THAT PET DAMAGE GOES ABOVE
THAT, LET'S SAY THAT
$500 SECURITY DEPOSIT, IS THE
LANDLORD ABLE TO RECOUP THAT
COST?
>> YEAH.
SO THERE IS -- ONE OF
THE PERMISSIBLE FEES OR
EXCEPTIONS
WE'VE BUILT IN IS TENANT
DAMAGE, SO THAT WOULD QUALIFY
MOST LIKELY AS LONG AS
IT'S SUBSTANTIATED AND DOCUMENT
AS TENANT DAMAGE, SO THEY
COULD TAKE IT OUT OF THE
DEPOSIT.
IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH IT'S
REALLY BAD DAMAGE, THEY
COULD SEPARATELY INVOICE THAT SO
LONG AS IT'S DOCUMENTED AND
MEETS
THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE RCW.
>> GREAT.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
THOSE WERE MY QUESTIONS.
A CHECK FOR COLLEAGUES TO
SEE IF THERE ARE ANY -- IS THAT
A NEW
HAND? OLD HAND.
FANTASTIC.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS.
AGAIN, I'LL SAY I'M EXCITED
TO SPONSOR THIS LEGISLATION.
I THINK THE IMPACT FOR
TRANSPARENCY AND THE IMPACT
FOR RENTERS WILL BE SOMETHING
THAT IS REAL AND FELT IN OUR
CITY
AND OUR COMMUNITY.
I APPRECIATE THE
LEADERSHIP COMING FROM YOUR
OFFICE.
AND A SHOUTOUT TO YOUR
FAMILY BEFORE THEY LEAVE, AND I
KNOW THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME
HERE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT WORK,
KEREM. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.
SORRY, AND I APPRECIATE
OUR OTHER GUESTS BUT WE'VE BEEN
WORKING WITH KEREM FOR QUITE
A WHILE ON THIS.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE'RE CLEAR ON TIME LINES.
SO THIS LEGISLATION WAS
TRANSMITTED BY THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE ON JULY 1st AND
IS
IN FRONT OF US AS AN
INFORMATIONAL ITEM TODAY.
CENTRAL STAFF HAS
REQUESTED OFFICES SHARE
AMENDMENT
CONCEPTS BY NEXT WEDNESDAY, JULY
15th.
WE PLAN TO HOLD A BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION WITH A POSSIBLE
VOTE IN OUR NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING ON
JULY 22nd.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
AND THANK YOU TO
EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN WITH US
ALL THIS
TIME.
I KNOW WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN WAITING FOR THIS AGENDA
ITEM. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 2.
WILL THE CLERK READ AGENDA
ITEM 2 INTO THE RECORD.
>> HOMEOWNER PRIVACY
AND PROTECTION LEGISLATION
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> OKAY.
AND AS WE GIVE A MOMENT FOR
OUROUR TO COME UP -- ACTUALLY,
I SHOULD INVITE THEM UP FIRST.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE UP MIKE
CHIN, WHO PLANS TO SHARON
WITH US HOW THE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTING THE
OUTREACH AND ENFORCEMENT OF
THE DO NOT SOLICIT LEGISLATION.
MIKE IS JOINED BY MONICA
BEACH AND WE HAVE AT THE TABLE
JEN LaBRECQUE AND TRACI
RATZLIFF FROM COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF.
SO BEFORE I OPEN IT UP FOR SOME
REMARKS AND THEN QUESTIONS FROM
COLLEAGUES, JUST AS A
REMINDER WE HELD A SPECIAL
COMMITTEE MEETING ON THIS ITEM
LAST
WEEK WHERE WE HEARD FROM MORE
THAN 20
RESIDENTS AND THE
PUBLIC AS WELL AS THE RESPONSES
WE RECEIVED
IN OUR ONLINE SURVEY.
SO WE ARE EXCITED TO -- WHERE
AM I TODAY?
A LOT OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS
TODAY.
WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE NEED
FOR THE CITY TO DO MORE
TO PROTECT HOMEOWNERS
FROM PREDATORY SOLICITATIONS AND
THE LEGISLATION TODAY AS AN
INFORMATION ITEM WOULD DISRUPT
DISRUPT
PREDATORY BUYING BY CREATING A
DO NOT
SOLICIT LIST MAINTAINED BY THE
OFFICE
FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
THE IDEA HERE IS TO
ENSURE HOMEOWNERS ACROSS THE
CITY
CAN OPT IN IF THEY WISH TO
STOP RECEIVING REAL ESTATE
SOLICITATION.
TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT,
THIS LEGISLATION CREATES
BOTH CIVIL PENALTIES STARTING
AT $1,000 FOR THE FIRST
VIOLATION AND $2,000 FOR
SUBSEQUENT VIOLATIONS AS WELL AS
PROVIDING PROPERTY OWNERS WITH
THE
RIGHT TO PURSUE A CAUSE OF
ACTION.
WE PLAN TO -- I PLAN TO
BRING THIS FORWARD FOR
INTRODUCTION AND A POSSIBLE VOTE
AT THE
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING ON JULY
22nd.
CENTRAL STAFF HAS REQUESTED
THAT OFFICES PROVIDE THEM WITH
ANY AMENDMENT CONCEPTS BY
MONDAY, JULY 13th.
WE HAD THIS AS A
DISCUSSION PREVIOUSLY AND
REALIZED
WE WANTED TO HAVE OCR HERE TO
TALK ABOUT ENFORCEMENT
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US AND
A HUGE THANK YOU.
I KNOW IT WAS A LONG WAIT TO
GET TO THIS
ITEM. THANK YOU AND I WILL HAVE
YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND
I'LL HAND IT OVER TO YOU FOR AN
OVERVIEW AND THEN WE'LL
CHECK WITH COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR
QUESTIONS.
>> MY NAME IS MIKE CHIN,
THE INTERIM DIRECTOR AT THE
SEATTLE
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RILTS.
>> MY NAME IS MONICAMONICA
BEACH,
CIVIL RIGHTS DIRECTOR AT THE
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
>> HI, I'M JENNIFER L aBRECQUE,
CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> TRACI RATZLIFF
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> WE'LL GIVE IT TO MIKE FOR AN
OVERVIEW -- YOU DON'T NEED TO
DO AN OVERVIEW OF THE
LEGISLATION.
WE HAVE DONE THAT.
AN OVERVIEW OF YOUR ENFORCEMENT
APPROACH.
>> I WANT TO, FIRST OF
ALL, THANK YOU FOR INVITING US
TO PROVIDE ENFORCEMENT AND
OUTREACH
FOR THIS NEW LAW.
AS YOU KNOW WE
PROVIDE LEADERSHIP IN UPHOLDING
CIVIL
RIGHTS AND ADVANCING
RACIAL EQUITY IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. THE PROPOSED DO NOT
SOLICIT
ORDINANCE HAS PROTECTIONS FROM
UNWANTED SOLICITATION
FROM PREDATORY PRACTICES
THAT ESPECIALLY HAVE A
DISCRIMINATORY
IMPACT IN NEIGHBORHOODS
WITH PREDOMINANTLY --
IN PREDOMINANTLY COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR. THESE PRACTICES
TARGET VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AT
RISK
OF BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE
BY OFFERING TO PURCHASE THEIR
HOME BELOW MARKET VALUE.
SOCR PROVIDES AND SUPPORTS
THIS LEGISLATION TO ENSURE THAT
HOMEOWNERS IN SEATTLE ARE
NOT SUBJECT TO THESE PREDATORY
PRACTICES.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE DO NOT
SOLICIT ORDINANCE IS
IMPORTANT IN INVESTING IN THESE
RESOURCES IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE
SOCR
TAKES A PROACTIVE AND
PREVENTATIVE APPROACH TO
ENFORCEMENT OF
CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS.
THIS MEANS THAT WE PRIORITIZE
EDUCATION ABOUT THE PUBLIC --
ABOUT THE LAWS, ESPECIALLY
NEW LAWS UNIQUE TO SEATTLE AND
THAT MANY COMMUNITIES ARE OFTEN
UNAWARE OF AND NEED SUPPORT IN
COMPLIANCE.
SINCE 2019 SEVEN NEW
CIVIL RIGHTS LAW THAT IS HAVE
BEEN
ENFORCED BY SOCR, PROTECTED
CLASSES, HAVE BEEN PASSED BY
THE CITY OF SEATTLE
WITHOUT PROVIDING ADEQUATE
FUNDING FOR
SOCR STAFFING OR OUTREACH AND
ENFORCEMENT.
AS A RESULT, WE HAVE
BEEN STRETCHED BEYOND OUR LIMITS
WITH HIGHER THAN AVERAGE
CASELOADS
FOR INVESTIGATION.
SOCR NEEDS AN INVESTIGATOR TO
ENSURE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE LIKE
THE DO NOT SOLICIT ORDINANCE
LIKE WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
JENNIFER, ARE WE TURNING TO YOU
NEXT OR STRAIGHT TO COMMITTEE
QUESTIONS?
>> I DON'T THINK I NEED TO
SAY ANYTHING MORE.
>> OKAY, FANTASTIC.
COLLEAGUES, I KNOW THERE WERE
A FEW QUESTIONS LAST WEEK WHEN
WE
HAD THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA
THIS TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT, SO I
WANT TO
OPEN IT UP TO COLLEAGUES FOR
QUESTIONS.
OKAY. I'M NOT SEEING ONE, SO I
WILL
ASK A COUPLE QUESTIONS MYSELF
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THIS
CLARITY.
SO I KNOW THAT -- THANK
YOU AGAIN FOR THE ESTIMATE THAT
YOUR DEPARTMENT PROVIDED IN
TERMS OF THE NEEDS TO IMPLEMENT
THIS
PROGRAM.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE HOW OCR
WOULD PLAN TO ADMINISTER THE
PROGRAM
AND WHAT THE ROLES WOULD LOOK
LIKE?
>> YES.
SO IN THE FISCAL NOTE, WE'VE
ACTUALLY REQUESTED FOR TWO
POSITIONS, ONE OUTREACH POSITION
AND ONE ENFORCEMENT. THE
OUTREACH WOULD
BE IMPLEMENTED IN 2027 AND
THETHE
OTHER ONE IN 2028, AND THIS
WOULD BE ONGOING. THE OUTREACH
POSITION
SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON ENGAGEMENT
WITH BUSINESSES AND HOMEOWNERS
AND ENSURE WE CONNECT WITH CITY
DEPARTMENTS THAT DO SIMILAR WORK
LIKE OFFICE OF HOUSING THAT
HAVE GRANTS AS WELL AS OUR
ORGANIZATION THAT TESTIFIED IN
LAST WEEK'S MEETING.
WE WOULD BE STACHG
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS AND
ENGAGEMENT
PROCESS TO ENSURE WE HAVE
EVENT PLANNING AND EDUCATION
AWARENESS AND ALSO DEVELOP
INFORMATIONAL
MATERIALS, QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS, AND ALSO WEBSITE
INFORMATION. AS FOR THE
ENFORCEMENT
FTE, WHICH WOULD BEGIN IN 2028,
BECAUSE THIS IS A BRAND- NEW
LAW, IT REQUIRES SPECIAL
ENFORCEMENT, SO IT'S NOT GOING
TO BE
VERY SIMILAR TO FAIR HOUSING,
FAIR
EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES AND OTHER
LAWS, BUT IT DOES REQUIRE US
TO ACTUALLY REVISE NEW
PROCEDURES
AND MANUALS.
IT REQUIRES US TO HAVE A NEW
TYPE OF RECEIVING
COMPLAINT PROCESS ABOUT HOW WE
DO
BUSINESS SEARCHES, MAKING SURE
WE
ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY
BUSINESSES, ENGAGING IN THIS
PREDATORY
PRACTICES, AND THEN, ALSO, HOW
WE WOULD BE SENDING
NOTIFICATION AND GATHERING
INFORMATION AND
ISSUING FINDINGS.
AND THEN WE WOULD ALSO BE ABLE
TO PROVIDE SETTLEMENT PROCESS
AND
OTHER PROCESSES REQUIRED FOR
ENFORCING THIS LAW.
>> THANK YOU.
I WAS JUST CHECKING TO SEE
IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS.
YOU ESTIMATED THE NEED FOR A
SMALLER AMOUNT OF
PROGRAMMING DOLLARS FOR OUTREACH
AND
PROGRAM STARTUP.
CAN YOU JUST SPEAK TO THAT IN
A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL,
PLEASE?
>> I CAN SPEAK TO THAT.
I'VE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED QUITE
A FEW LAWS IN MY 20 YEARS AT THE
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, AND
I TYPICALLY MAINTAIN THE BUDGET.
CAN YOU HEAR ME
OKAY NOW?
>> IF YOU LEAN IN, THANK YOU.
>> I'M SHORT, SO I CAN COME
CLOSER.
I AM TYPICALLY THE ONE
THAT ADMINISTERS THE NEW
LEGISLATION FOR THE ENFORCEMENT
DIVISION, SO
WHAT I'VE DONE IS LOOKING AT
THE AMOUNT THAT'S PROPOSED
OR WHAT WE WOULD NEED TO DO THE
BARE
MINIMUM, I THINK THAT DEFINITELY
WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE BETTER
CODE, SHOP AROUND A BIT.
WE DEFINITELY NEED DESIGN
AND PRINT MATERIALS, AND WE
WANT THOSE TRANSLATED INTO
DIFFERENT
LANGUAGES, WHICH WE HAVE
NOT IDENTIFIED BECAUSE WE
HAVEN'T DONE STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT.
I'M NOT GOING TO SAY
WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO THE 15
TIER LANGUAGES RECOMMENDED FOR
THE
CITY. I REALLY WANT THIS TO
BE TARGETED AND REALLY
CUSTOMIZED FOR THE VARIOUS
ZIP CODES AND COMMUNITIES
WHERE WHEREPEOPLE ARE MOST
IMPACTED, BECAUSE, LET'S
BE REAL, THAT'S WHY THIS LAW
IS BEING PASSED.
THIS IS A REAL ISSUE.
THERE'S ALSO POSTAGE.
STRANGELY, YOU KNOW, SOME
PEOPLE RESPOND VERY WELL TO
POSTAL
MAIL.
OTHERS DO NOT.
BUT IF WE WERE TO ENGAGE IN
A POSTAL MAIL CAMPAIGN, I THINK
WERE THE SET ASIDE AMOUNT
OF MONEY WE MAY BE ABLE TO
DO CERTAIN ZIP CODES FOR
HOMEOWNERS. I THINK WE WOULD
HAVE TO DO MORE
RESEARCH AND WE HAVE TIME TO
DO THAT ABOUT IDENTIFYING WHO
IS MOST IMPACTED.
WE DEFINITELY WANT TO DO A FEW
MAINSTREAM AD BUYS AS WELL
AS FOE DISCUSS ON ETHNIC MEDIA
AND ETHNIC MEDIA INCLUDES NOT
JUST DIGITAL AND PRINT BUT
ALSO SOME COMMUNITIES SOME
VERY WELL AND RECEIVE
INFORMATION BY
RADIO, SO WE REALLY WANT TO
BE OPEN TO, LIKE, WHO WE'RE
SERVING.
AND THEN SOCIAL MEDIA ADS WHICH
ARE TYPICALLY PRETTY CHEAP TO
BUY, VERY TARGETED BY
DEMOGRAPHICS.
AND THEN, ALSO, WE WANT
TO CONTRACT WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF
NEIGHBORHOODS FOR
COMMUNITY LIAISON DEPENDING ON
WHATWHAT WE LOOKING INTO
DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND WHO IS
IMPACTED.
AND THEN WE REALLY WANT TO
NAIL DOWN THE BEST POSSIBLE
PLATFORM TO FIND PEOPLE, LIKE WE
HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE USE NOW.
WE'RE AWARE OF SOME OTHER
POTENTIALS BUT, AGAIN, YOU
KNOW, FOCUSED ON WHERE ARE WE
GOING TO
GET THE MOST BANG FOR OUR BUCK,
WHAT'S THE BEST TECHNOLOGY
WE CAN AFFORD?
SO THAT'S SORT OF THE BASICS
OF WHAT WE WOULD DO, AND, OF
COURSE, ALL THE MONEY WOULD
GO TOWARDS IMPLEMENTING THIS
LAW.
AND SO IF WE FIND A LITTLE
BIT EXTRA AND WE CAN FIND WAYS
TO
LEVERAGE EITHER WITHIN
OUR DEPARTMENT OR IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHERS, WE WILL
ABSOLUTELY
DO THAT.
I GUARANTEE YOU THE BUDGETS
I RENT TO IMPLEMENT LAWS,
EVERY PENNY HAS BEEN SPENT ON
THE LAW.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. AND I
APPRECIATE THE
EXPERTISE COMING FROM THE OFFICE
OF
CIVIL RIGHTS AS WELL AS, I
WOULDWOULD
SAY, YOUR ABILITY AND YOUR
WORKING WITH US TO MAKE A DOLLAR
OUT
OF 15 CENTS, THANK YOU, AND
THE FOCUS AND THE CLARITY ON
MAKING SURE THE OUTREACH
IS TARGETED ON THE IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES
AND I THINK THAT'S THE
COMMITMENT THAT
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
PREVENTING
THESE INCREDIBLY PREDATORY
PRACTICES, AND
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
PARTNERING
WITH OCR TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE THE IMPLEMENTATION
DONE WELL, EVEN IN THE
CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT THAT WE
ARE IN
RIGHT
NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
COLLEAGUES, I WILL SEE
IF THERE ARE ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS
FOR OUR PRESENTERS FROM OCR.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
WITH THAT, I WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THIS.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT WORKING WITH YOU ALL ON
THIS
LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE
WITH US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
AND I WILL REITERATE AGAIN
--AGAIN I
THINK I WILL REITERATE AGAIN
THE AMENDMENT TIME LINE THAT
WE HAVE FOR US.
TURNING THE PAGE.
OKAY, GREAT.
OH, YOU CAN GO. THANK YOU.
JUST THE AMENDMENT TIME LINE
THAT FOLKS HAVE IN TO CENTRAL
STAFF BY JULY 13th.
WITH THAT ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
OR ANY ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO COME
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE?
SEEING NONE, THIS CONCLUDES
THE JULY 8th, 2026 MEETING OF
THE
HOUSING, ARTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS
COMMITTEE MEETING.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS JULY
22nd. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING.
IT IS
4:06 P.M. AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.