[MUSIC]
-- I DIDN'T SAY HI. HI. I'M
SORRY. THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. THE JULY 22nd,
2026 MEETING OF THE HOUSING,
ARTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS COMMITTEE
WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS 2:04
P.M.. I'M DIONNE FOSTER, CHAIR
OF THE HOUSING, ARTS AND CIVIL
RIGHTS COMMITTEE. WILL THE
COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL
-- COUNCILMEMBER. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. HOLLINGSWORTH HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER. RINCK. PRESENT.
VICE CHAIR. LIN HERE. CHAIR
FOSTER.
-- HERE.
-- CHAIR. THERE ARE FOUR MEMBERS
PRESENT.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH AND LET THE
RECORD REFLECT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ HAS BEEN
EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S MEETING.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. WE WILL NOW OPEN THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC
COMMENTS SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS
ON TODAY'S AGENDA OR WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THIS COMMITTEE CLERK.
HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
-- CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 20
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS AND THERE ARE
13 OR 12 ONLINE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
-- OKAY. THANK YOU. WITH MORE
THAN 30 SPEAKERS, EACH SPEAKER
WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE. WE WILL
START THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS
FIRST. CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE
READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT
INSTRUCTIONS?
-- EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE ONE
MINUTE. WE WILL START WITH
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST. OH,
THERE WE GO. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS UP TO 60 MINUTES.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE
REGISTERED. WE WILL BEGIN WITH
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST AND
THEN MOVE TO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
10 SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THEIR
TIME. SPEAKERS MICS WILL BE
MUTED IF THEY DO NOT END THEIR
COMMENTS WITHIN THE ALLOTTED
TIME TO ALLOW US TO CALL IN THE
NEXT SPEAKER. PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON
THE LIST WILL BE PATRICK FOLEY,
FOLLOWED BY EMILY THOMPSON, AND
THEN KYLE KITE.
-- HI. THANKS. I WANT TO SPEAK
ABOUT THE SERVICE FEES. MY
PARTNERS AND I HAVE A BUILDING
AT 23rd AND UNION CALLED MIDTOWN
SQUARE, AND I JUST WANT TO USE
IT AS AN EXAMPLE. WHAT I'D LIKE
TO URGE YOU TO CONSIDER HOW WE
LOOK AT SERVICE FEES. SO
SPECIFICALLY PET RENT. I KNOW
THAT'S REALLY A HOT ISSUE FOR A
LOT OF PEOPLE. WE HAVE 432 UNITS
IN THE BUILDING, ABOUT 150 OF
OUR RESIDENTS HAVE PETS, MAINLY
DOGS, AND THE PET RENT IS
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 35 AND $50 PER
PET. AND WHAT THAT GOES FOR IS
NOT FOR THE UNIT, IT'S FOR THE
COMMON AREAS. THE PETS DO A LOT
OF DAMAGE TO THE CORRIDORS, THE
CARPETS FOR REPLACEMENT, THE
ELEVATORS. AND WE ALSO HAVE A
PET LIKE A CLEANUP AREA LIKE US.
ALMOST LIKE A SPA, I GUESS
YOU'D CALL IT FOR JUST FOR THE
PETS. AND THEN BUT THE BIG THING
ACTUALLY IS THE LANDSCAPING ON
THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING. A
LOT OF PEOPLE USE THOSE, THOSE
AREAS TO, TO GIVE THEIR PETS
RELIEF. AND THAT'S WHERE THE
MAJORITY OF THE COST GOES. SO I
JUST WOULD ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER
THAT WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE
THINKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
-- THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS EMILY THOMPSON, FOLLOWED BY
KYLE KITE. AND THEN DAN ERSON.
-- HI, MY NAME IS EMILY THOMPSON
AND MY COMPANY DEVELOPS, OWNS
AND OPERATES PUBLICLY FUNDED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SEATTLE. I
SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THIS
LEGISLATION TO INCREASE
TRANSPARENCY TO FOR RENTERS AND
ESTABLISH STRONGER, STRONGER
GUARDRAILS AGAINST BAD ACTORS
WHO PASS ALONG UNREASONABLE
COSTS. HOWEVER, I CANNOT SUPPORT
THIS LEGISLATION. AS CURRENTLY
PROPOSED, I PARTICIPATED IN
THREE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS WITH
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON THIS
LEGISLATION, BUT IT WAS NOT
TRUE. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
PROCESS. NO MEANINGFUL DATA WAS
PROVIDED AND MANY QUESTIONS WENT
UNANSWERED. AT THE FINAL
MEETING, STAFF OPENED BY STATING
THAT THE LEGISLATION WAS ALREADY
FULLY DEVELOPED AND THEY HAD NO
INTENTION OF MAKING ANY FURTHER
CHANGES. WE NEED MORE THAN
POLITICAL OPTICS. WE NEED
EFFECTIVE POLICY THAT PROTECTS
RENTERS WITHOUT CREATING
ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT THOSE
RENTERS WILL ULTIMATELY BEAR,
AND WITHOUT UNFAIRLY
VILLAINIZING THE BROADER
LANDLORD COMMUNITY IN THE
PROCESS. AS PROPOSED, THE
ELIMINATION OF PET RENTAL FEES
WILL RESULT IN MODEST RENT
INCREASES FOR ALL RESIDENTS
BASED ON THE CHOICES OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PROVIDERS
OPERATE ON EXTREMELY THIN AND
OFTEN NONEXISTENT MARGINS. AS
DRAFTED, THIS LEGISLATION WILL
INCREASE OVERALL OPERATING
COSTS, WHICH INEVITABLY MUST BE
ABSORBED BY RENTERS. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. AND IF YOU DON'T
FINISH YOUR COMMENTS, YOU CAN
PLACE THEM IN THE BUCKET.
THAT'S RIGHT THERE THAT YEAH
-- THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS KYLE KITE, FOLLOWED BY I
BELIEVE, DAVE URSIN. AND THEN
JAKE MASON. GOOD AFTERNOON.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS KYLE AND I
HAVE THE FORTUNE. WE RUN A
FAMILY OWNED COMPANY. MY WIFE
AND I IN SEATTLE THAT SUPPLY
HOUSING ABOUT 1500 RESIDENTS IN
THE REGION HERE, HERE
SPECIFICALLY SPEAKING ON PET
RENTS, WE CHARGE BETWEEN 25 TO
$50 A MONTH IN RENT FOR PET
RENT. THAT IS NOT A INCOME
GENERATOR FOR OUR PROPERTIES.
IT'S MORE TO PROVIDE THE
CLEANLINESS AND PEACEFUL
ENJOYMENT FOR THE REST OF THE
RESIDENTS. I'M FULLY SUPPORTING
TRANSPARENCY AND THE TOTAL COST
AND FEES OF RENTING. WE'VE BEEN
DOING THAT FOR YEARS WITHIN OUR
PORTFOLIO. IRONICALLY, IF THIS
PROPOSITION GETS PASSED, MY
BELIEF IS THAT IT DOES NOT
ACTUALLY PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY TO
THE REST OF THE TENANTS IN THE
BUILDING AS WELL, ESPECIALLY
THOSE THAT DO NOT HAVE PETS. 40
TO 50% OF TENANTS HAVE PETS AND
THE OTHERS DO NOT. WE RAN THE
MATH ON OUR PORTFOLIO, AND IF WE
ELIMINATE THIS, WE THINK IT'S
GOING TO BE ABOUT A 1.5%
INCREASE ON RENTS OVERALL FOR
EVERYBODY IN THE BUILDING,
INCLUDING THOSE THAT DO NOT HAVE
PETS. SO STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU
TO PLEASE NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH
THIS BILL. IT'S REALLY MEANT TO
HELP THE OVERALL ENJOYMENT OF
THE. THANK YOU, THANK.
-- YOU, THANK YOU.
-- ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS DAVE URSIN, FOLLOWED BY JAKE
MASON AND THEN RANDY BENICAR.
-- HI THERE. MY NAME IS DAVE AND
I OWN AND MANAGE APARTMENTS HERE
IN SEATTLE AND AND DEVELOP AS
WELL. LIKE MANY LOCAL HOUSING
PROVIDERS, WE TAKE PRIDE IN
MAINTAINING OUR BUILDINGS AND
CREATING COMMUNITIES WHERE
RESIDENTS, INCLUDING MANY PET
OWNERS, WANT TO LIVE. I
APPRECIATE THE INTENT OF COUNCIL
BILL ONE, 2125 FOR GREATER
TRANSPARENCY IN RENTAL FIELDS IN
RENTAL FEES IS A WORTHWHILE
GOAL, AND IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT.
AYE. I SUPPORT THAT EFFORT. I
GUESS MY CONCERN, ALONG WITH
SOME OTHER FOLKS HERE, IS THAT
PROHIBITIONS ON THINGS LIKE PET
RENT REALLY DO
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT THE
FOLKS THAT THAT DON'T HAVE
PETS, AND THAT THE IMPACT ON THE
BUILDINGS IS PRETTY DRAMATIC
FROM, FROM WHAT PETS BRING. AND
SO IF WE CAN MAINTAIN THAT, THAT
WOULD BE THE WOULD BE VERY WOULD
MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO ME. OUR
BUILDINGS INVEST IN IN AMENITIES
AND MAINTENANCE THAT DIRECTLY
BENEFITS PET OWNERS, INCLUDING
DOG RUNS, DOG WASH STATIONS,
ADDITIONAL LANDSCAPING, WASTE
STATIONS, MORE FREQUENT CLEANING
OF COMMON AREAS. WE ALSO
EXPERIENCED INCREASED WEAR AND
TEAR ON FLOORING, HALLWAYS,
ELEVATORS AND OUTDOOR SPACES.
LONG STORY SHORT, I THINK
TRANSPARENCY IS AWESOME AND IF
YOU CAN, IT'S HARD TO GET PEOPLE
TO INVEST IN SEATTLE RIGHT NOW
-- THANK YOU. YEAH, IT'S THERE.
IF YOU WANT TO HAVE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. APPRECIATE
YOU. THANK YOU.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JAKE.
SORRY, JAKE MASON, FOLLOWED BY
RANDY BANNEKER. AND THEN HOWARD
GAYLE.
-- AWESOME. GOOD AFTERNOON
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS JAKE
MASON. I'M HERE WITH WASHINGTON
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING ASSOCIATION,
FLAGGING FOR THE COMMITTEE THAT
THERE ARE MULTIPLE ISSUES THAT
STILL REMAIN TO BE RESOLVED
WITHIN THIS ORDINANCE, INCLUDING
JUST SOME EASY WINS THAT ARE
GOING TO CONTINUE TO ACCOMPLISH
THE GOALS HERE, MAINTAIN THE
INTEGRITY OF THE ORDINANCE, BUT
SIMPLY JUST NEED TO BE ADDRESSED
AS MATTERS OF ADMINISTRATION.
ONE SUCH ISSUE THAT I'D LIKE TO
FLAG FOR YOU TODAY IS AROUND
RENTERS INSURANCE. WITHOUT THE
ABILITY TO IMPOSE A MANDATORY
FEE FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH LEASE
TERMS OF RENTERS INSURANCE
REQUIREMENTS, THE AVENUES
AVAILABLE TO HOUSING PROVIDERS
INCLUDE EVICTION OF
NON-COMPLIANT TENANTS OR FORCED
PLACING ENTIRE BUILDINGS, ONE OF
WHICH LEAVES TENANTS HOMELESS
AND THE OTHER OF WHICH LEAVES
TENANTS OVERPAYING AND
UNDERINSURED AT THE SAME TIME.
SO WE WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THE
TENANTS OUGHT TO HAVE THE RIGHT
TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN INSURANCE
PROVIDER. FORCED. PLACING AN
ENTIRE BUILDING. EVEN IF YOU
CALIBRATE FOR LIKE A MEDIAN
TENANT, ENDS UP LEAVING THEM
UNDERINSURED AND OVERPAYING IN
THEIR RENT. SO THE SECOND ISSUE
IS AROUND OPTIONAL SERVICES.
SIMPLY A, I THINK THE MARKUP BAN
HERE IS TOO WIDE. IF WE'RE GOING
TO ALLOW TENANTS TO CHOOSE WHICH
SERVICES THEY OPT INTO BUT NOT
ALLOW PROFIT, THEY JUST WON'T BE
OFFERED.
-- PLEASE SEND THE REST OF YOUR
COMMENTS, EITHER IN THE BUCKET
OR VIA EMAIL. THANK YOU.
-- NEXT WE HAVE RANDY BENICAR,
FOLLOWED BY HOWARD GALE AND THEN
ALICIA RUIZ.
-- CHAIR FOSTER. MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE.
-- RANDY, WE'RE GOING TO PAUSE
FOR JUST A SECOND. RANDY, I'M
GOING TO LET YOU ADJUST THE MIC
BECAUSE WE'RE NOT HEARING YOU
VERY WELL. AND THEN WE'LL WE'LL
MAKE SURE YOUR TIME STARTS. NOW.
YOU CAN USE THE LARGER ONE. IT
WAS JUST POINTED DOWN AWAY FROM
YOU. SO CLOSER. YEAH.
-- LIKE THIS.
-- YEP.
-- OKAY. THANK YOU, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, I'M
RANDY BANNEKER. I'M HERE ON
BEHALF OF THE SEATTLE KING
COUNTY REALTORS. AND I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
COMMENT ON THE DO NOT SOLICIT
LEGISLATION. WE SHARE THE
CITY'S GOAL OF STOPPING YOUR
GOAL OF STOPPING UNWANTED CALLS
AND PREDATORY HOME BUYING
PRACTICES THAT TARGET VULNERABLE
HOMEOWNERS AND, IMPORTANTLY,
CRITICALLY STRIP AWAY THEIR HARD
EARNED EQUITY. WE'RE ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THAT DISCUSSION,
AND WE SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT
THAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY. THAT
WOULD REQUIRE ACCURATE CONTACT
INFO ON COMMUNICATIONS, BECAUSE
THIS, AGAIN, CREATES A BRIGHT
LINE BETWEEN LEGITIMATE BEHAVIOR
AND PREDATORY BEHAVIOR. WE WANT
TO ADVANCE LEGITIMATE BEHAVIOR
WHEREVER WE CAN IN PARTICULARLY
IN THE DISCUSSION OF REAL
ESTATE. AND SO WE ASK THAT YOU
NOT CHILL LEGITIMATE,
TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION FROM
STATE LICENSED, STATE REGULATED
REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS.
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO NARROW
THE DEFINITION OF SOLICIT AND
ALLOW REASONABLE COMMUNICATIONS
THAT GIVE HOMEOWNERS
INFORMATION.
-- THANK YOU, RANDY AND BOXES
THERE. IF YOU NEED TO ADD ANY
ADDITIONAL INFO. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU.
-- NEXT IS HOWARD GAIL, FOLLOWED
BY ALICIA RUIZ AND THEN AIDEN
BERNARD.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. THE BILL
BANNING JUNK FEES YOU'RE
CONSIDERING TODAY LACKS IN MANY
WAYS, MOST NOTABLY WHEN IT COMES
TO ENFORCEMENT. IT IS
ENFORCEMENT AND TRUE
ACCOUNTABILITY WHERE WE CAN SEE
IF OUR ELECTEDS CARE MORE ABOUT
THE ASPIRATIONAL THAN THE
ACTIONABLE, MORE ABOUT THE
PERFORMATIVE THAN THE PRACTICAL,
MORE ABOUT SIGNIFYING THAN
SOLUTIONS. WE HAVE SEEN THIS
WITH POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY OVER
THE LAST DECADE, WITH FAILED
ATTEMPTS TO REIN IN POLICE
VIOLENCE AT DEMONSTRATIONS. AND
JUST LAST WEEK WITH COUNCIL BILL
121248 ATTEMPTING TO REDRESS THE
FAILURES OF THE ASPIRATIONAL
HOPE THAT SPD WOULD PRIORITIZE
DIVERSION OVER JAIL FOR DRUG
OFFENSES. WE HAVE A SOMEWHAT
SUCCESSFUL OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS TO PROTECT WORKERS
FROM WAGE THEFT, PRECISELY
BECAUSE WE DID NOT DECIDE TO
PLACE THAT OFFICE IN THE OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHERE
THERE'S AN OBVIOUS CONFLICT OF
INTEREST. YET HERE WE ARE GIVING
SDCI, WHO SERVES THE INTERESTS
OF DEVELOPERS, THE POWER TO
PROTECT RENTERS, A JOB THEY HAVE
CONSISTENTLY FAILED TO DO OVER
THE DECADES. AT AN ABSOLUTE
MINIMUM. MINIMUM YOU NEED TO
KEEP IF YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP
ENFORCEMENT. SDCI SDCI. CREATE
AN AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM. I ALREADY PRESENTED TEN
ITEMS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER,
INCLUDING THE ACCOUNTABILITY. I
WOULD LIKE TO PUT THE REST OF
YOUR COMMENTS BEING INCLUDED IN
THIS BILL.
-- THANK YOU. HOWARD.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALICIA,
FOLLOWED BY AIDEN AND THEN PO
-- GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR FOSTER
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS ALICIA RUIZ. I'M WITH
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, SEATTLE
KING AND KITTITAS COUNTIES, AND
WE'RE HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
COUNCIL BILL ONE, TWO, ONE, TWO,
FIVE, NINE. HOMEOWNERS ACROSS
THE CITY HAVE DESCRIBED FEELING
HUNTED BY REPEATED UNWANTED
SOLICITATIONS, CAUSING REAL
STRESS, FEAR AND PRESSURE. THIS
ISN'T A MINOR ANNOYANCE. IT'S
HARASSMENT THAT WEARS DOWN
HOMEOWNERS SENSE OF SAFETY IN
THEIR OWN HOME, AND IT
DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETS
SENIORS. PEOPLE FACING FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP AND COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR WHO ARE ALREADY AT GREATER
RISK OF DISPLACEMENT. WHILE
HABITAT. HOMEOWNERS ARE NOT
NECESSARILY VICTIMIZED BY THESE
KINDS OF PREDATORY HOME BUYING
PRACTICES, THEY OFTEN TARGET
VULNERABLE HOMEOWNERS IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES, CAUSING HARM FOR
THE HOUSING CONTINUUM AS A
WHOLE. HOME HOMEOWNERS WHO SELL
IN RESPONSE. A HOME SHOULD BE A
SANCTUARY, NOT A PLACE WHERE
PEOPLE HAVE LEARNED TO BRACE
THEMSELVES FOR THE NEXT CALL.
PLEASE SUPPORT TODAY.
-- THANK YOU AND BOXES THERE. IF
YOU WANT TO PUT THE REST OF YOUR
COMMENTS.
-- ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS AIDEN BERNARD, FOLLOWED BY PO
LEE AND THEN KYLE.
-- HELLO, MY NAME IS AIDEN AND I
LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE OFF OF
LAKE CITY WAY. MY FAMILY RENTS
OUR TOWNHOUSE, BUT I'M ALSO A
SMALL TIME LANDLORD. I BOUGHT A
HOUSE ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO IN
LYNNWOOD, BUT FOR MANY REASONS,
SEATTLE IS NOW MY HOME. BEING A
LANDLORD COMES WITH MANY
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES. I
HAVE TO REPAINT THE WALLS EVERY
COUPLE OF YEARS. I KEEP
REPLACING KITCHEN APPLIANCES
THAT I DON'T GET ANY USE OUT
OF. IT REALLY SUCKS, BUT MOSTLY
I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE
TRANSPARENT. TRANSPARENT ABOUT
THE RENT THAT MY TENANTS PAY ME
EVERY MONTH. IT'S ANY RESELLERS
DUTY TO SOCIETY THAT THEY BE
TRANSPARENT ABOUT THEIR PRICES,
MAKING UP BOGUS FEES IS
ESSENTIALLY A FORM OF MORAL
FRAUD. JUNK FEES ARE ESSENTIALLY
JUST THAT, ESPECIALLY PET RENT.
PET DEPOSITS MAKE SENSE BECAUSE
PETS ARE DIRTY AND DAMAGE
THINGS. I GET IT, I HAVE TWO
VERY MESSY CATS, BUT A MONTHLY
FEE DOES NOTHING BUT STEAL MONEY
OUT OF THE TENANTS BACK POCKET
WHEN THEY AREN'T LOOKING.
RAISING RENT IS THE ONLY
ETHICAL, TRANSPARENT WAY TO
COVER COSTS. WE DON'T ALLOW
VENDORS TO DEFRAUD THEIR
CUSTOMERS AT THE SUPERMARKET.
DON'T LET LANDLORDS DEFRAUD
THEIR TENANTS BY NICKEL AND
DIMING THEM FOR NONSENSE AND
JUNK FEES. NO EXCEPTIONS.
THEY'RE FUNDAMENTALLY LIBERAL.
THANK YOU.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PO,
FOLLOWED BY KYLE MCBRIDE, THEN
CAROLINE RUSSELL.
-- HELLO, I AM PAULA WITH THE
WASHINGTON HOUSING ALLIANCE AND
STRONG SUPPORT OF COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER'S BILL TO BAN JUNK FEES
AND TO ASK THAT YOU DO NOT
WEAKEN IT WITH AMENDMENTS THAT
WILL HARM RENTERS. JUNK FEES ARE
A GROWING PROBLEM HERE IN
SEATTLE AND ACROSS THE STATE.
THIS LEGISLATION IS CRITICAL TO
PROTECT SEATTLE'S RENTERS FROM
DISPLACEMENT, EVICTIONS AND
GENTRIFICATION. THIRD PARTY
COMPANIES LIKE VALLEY LIVING ARE
INCREASINGLY PARTNERING WITH
LANDLORDS TO NICKEL AND DIME
RENTERS. TENANTS ARE PAYING
OUTRAGEOUS SUMS FOR SERVICES
THEY DON'T WANT AND CAN'T
AFFORD. JUNE MATCHED MARCH'S
RECORD FOR THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF
EVICTIONS IN IN A ONE MONTH
PERIOD IN STATE HISTORY, KING
COUNTY AND SEATTLE ARE DRIVING
THESE NUMBERS AND RENTERS OF
COLOR ARE ESPECIALLY BEING
HARMED. THIS IS A RENTER
MAJORITY CITY, AND IT'S TIME TO
STAND UP WITH REAL, STRONG
PROTECTIONS TO HELP ENSURE THAT
PEOPLE CAN STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
PLEASE PASS THIS LEGISLATION
QUICKLY WITHOUT AMENDMENTS TO
LIMIT HOW WHO IS PROTECTED OR
THAT WOULD OTHERWISE WEAKEN THE
BILL AS INTRODUCED. THANK YOU
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KYLE
MCBRIDE, FOLLOWED BY CAROLINE
RUSSELL AND THEN HOLLY WILLIS.
-- OH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? IS THIS
GOOD? OKAY. HELLO, MY NAME IS
KYLE MCBRIDE. I AM A 17 YEAR OLD
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. MY
GENERATION IS THE FIRST
GENERATION IN THE UNITED STATES
THAT CANNOT EXPECT TO HAVE A
BETTER LIFE THAN THEIR PARENTS
DID. PART OF THIS REASON IS
BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE IN MY
GENERATION ARE NOT ABLE TO
AFFORD HOUSING THAT THEIR
PARENTS MIGHT HAVE. AND PART OF
THIS PROBLEM IN SEATTLE IS THE
JUNK FEES. THERE ARE SO MANY
BARRIERS THAT PEOPLE IN MY
GENERATION HAVE FROM ATTAINING A
AFFORDABLE LIFE, AND JUNK FEES
ARE ONE OF THEM. SO I STRONGLY
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER'S
BILL TO BAN ALL. THANK YOU.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CAROLINE
RUSSELL, FOLLOWED BY HOLLY
WILLIS, THEN AMANDA LIN.
-- HI COUNCIL. MY NAME IS
CAROLINE RUSSELL. I'M A RENTER
IN DISTRICT THREE AND A HOUSING
JUSTICE ADVOCATE. I'VE LIVED IN
MY LAST APARTMENT FOR TWO YEARS,
AND IN THOSE TWO YEARS I PAID
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN
NONREFUNDABLE, NONREFUNDABLE PET
FEES FOR A CAT WHO DID NO DAMAGE
TO MY APARTMENT FEES TO PAY MY
OWN RENT ONLINE FEES FOR ACCESS
TO A GYM I DIDN'T USE FOR
WI-FI. I DIDN'T USE AN UNTOLD.
OTHERS. I'VE ALSO WORKED
DIRECTLY WITH UNHOUSED PEOPLE IN
MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND OTHERS FOR
YEARS, AND I'VE HELPED THEM GO
THROUGH THE CHALLENGING AND
DAUNTING PROCESS OF GETTING INTO
HOUSING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A
VERY LONG TIME. AND THESE FEES,
ESPECIALLY PET RENTER, OFTEN THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEBODY
FINDING REAL STABILITY AND
ENDING UP BACK ON THE STREET.
THE MAJORITY OF SEATTLEITES, AS
OTHERS HAVE SAID, ARE RENTERS,
AND ALL OF THEM ARE FED UP WITH
BEING NICKELED AND DIMED BY
LANDLORDS. OUR EYES ARE ON YOU.
I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT AND DO
NOT WEAKEN THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
-- NEXT WE HAVE HOLLY WILLIS,
FOLLOWED BY AMANDA LIN. ETHAN
STEGER.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS HOLLY
WILLIS AND I'M THE POLICY
MANAGER AT THE SEATTLE KING
COUNTY COALITION ON
HOMELESSNESS, AND A RENTER AND A
PET OWNER IN DISTRICT FIVE HERE
TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE
JUNK FEE LEGISLATION SPONSORED
BY COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER AND
COMING FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
THIS IS A HOUSING FAIRNESS
ISSUE. JUNK FEES LIKE PET RENT
AND MADE UP ADMINISTRATIVE FEES
RAISE ALREADY HIGH HOUSING COSTS
FOR RENTERS WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT.
YOU WOULDN'T CHARGE RENT TO A
BABY. WHY WOULD YOU CHARGE RENT
TO A CAT OR A DOG? WE ALREADY
PAY DAMAGE DEPOSITS AND PET
DEPOSITS. PET RENT IS EXCESSIVE
AND UNFAIR. THIS LEGISLATION IS
A STEP FORWARD FOR HOUSING
FAIRNESS, AND WE URGE YOU TO
PASS IT AT FULL STRENGTH. THANK
YOU.
-- OKAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
AMANDA LIN, FOLLOWED BY ETHAN
STEGER AND THEN LAM HO
-- HI COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS
AMANDA LYNN. I'M A RENTER IN
DISTRICT THREE. I'M ALSO AN
ORGANIZER WITH HOUSE. OUR
NEIGHBORS. AND I WANTED TO SAY
EVERY TIME THAT WORKING PEOPLE
ASK FOR SOMETHING AS BASIC AS
FAIR PRICING, WE'RE TOLD THAT
THE RENTAL HOUSING INDUSTRY
SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD IT, AND
WILL HAVE TO PASS ON THE COST TO
RENTERS. PERSONALLY, I'VE SPENT
YEARS WORKING IN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT. I KNOW INSURANCE,
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATING COSTS
HAVE GONE UP. THAT'S REAL. BUT
THAT'S NOT THE WHOLE STORY. THE
RENTAL HOUSING INDUSTRY TELLS A
VERY DIFFERENT STORY TO THEIR
INVESTORS THAN THEY DO TO THEIR
RENTERS. THE ITS OWN MARKET
REPORT SHOW THAT PROPERTY INCOME
IS STILL GROWING AND LANDLORDS
CONSISTENTLY CELEBRATE THE FACT
THAT NEW APARTMENT CONSTRUCTION
HAS FALLEN BY NEARLY 60% BECAUSE
IT MEANS EVEN GREATER PRICING
POWER FOR EXISTING LANDLORDS IN
THE YEARS AHEAD. THAT'S NOT AN
INDUSTRY THAT'S ON THE BRINK.
THAT'S AN INDUSTRY THAT'S
EXPECTING STRONGER RETURNS. AND
THAT'S WHY THESE JUNK FEES
MATTER. EVERY MANDATORY FEE IS A
DOLLAR TRANSFERRED FROM A
WORKER'S POCKET INTO A
LANDLORD'S WEALTH. THANK YOU.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ETHAN
STEGER, FOLLOWED BY LAM HO AND
KATE RUBIN.
-- HI. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS ETHAN STEGER. I'M A
RENTER IN DISTRICT FOUR, AND I
CURRENTLY DON'T PAY ANY JUNK
FEES, AND I FEEL INCREDIBLY
LUCKY TO BE IN THAT SITUATION,
BUT ALSO IN LOOKING FOR WHAT
COMES NEXT FOR ME IN MY HOUSING.
I'M SCARED ON WHERE I CAN MOVE,
WHERE I CAN LIVE WITHOUT BEING
PRICED OUT BY FEES THAT I
DIDN'T KNOW WERE COMING. AND AS
A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER FOR YOUR
CITY, I TALKED TO RENTERS EVERY
SINGLE DAY WHO FACE THE SAME
PRESSURE. AND IT'S A BARRIER TO
HOUSING WHERE WE CAN LIVE AND
WHAT'S ACCESSIBLE TO US AS THE
WORKING CLASS OF SEATTLE, PLEASE
BAN JUNK FEES. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
-- NEXT IS LAM HO, KATE AND
ASHLEY GREENBERG.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS LAM HO AND
I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER FOR THE
TRANSIT RIDERS UNION AS I WAS
COMMUTING HERE AND WALKING UNDER
THE TERRIBLY HOT SUN, A THOUGHT
CAME TO ME. I REALLY WISH I WERE
INSIDE AT HOME AND TESTIFYING
REMOTELY, BUT THAT MADE ME
REALIZE THAT I NEEDED TO COME IN
AND BE HERE BECAUSE I HAVE A
HOME. AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE
WHO DON'T HAVE HOMES AS A RESULT
OF EVICTIONS. IF YOU'RE NOT
AWARE, IN 2025, WE HAD ANOTHER
RECORD YEAR OF EVICTIONS, 12%
HIGHER IN KING COUNTY, AND THAT
WAS FROM 2024, WHICH WAS ALREADY
A RECORD. IT'S NOT A COVID
CRISIS. IT'S NOW AN
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS. AND YOU'VE
HEARD ABOUT PROFIT MARGINS, HOW
SLIM THEY ARE. YOU'VE HEARD
ABOUT POTENTIAL COSTS TO THE
MAINTENANCE OF THE OUTDOOR AREA
OR PET AREAS. YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT
PROFIT. BUT THINK ABOUT THE
CONSEQUENCE FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT
END UP BEING EVICTED. IF WE
TENANTS DON'T GET RELIEF FROM
JUNK FEES, THAT'S THE COST THAT
WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-- THANK YOU. NEXT IS KATE
RUBIN, FOLLOWED BY ASHLEY
GREENBERG AND THEN CARL NELSON.
-- MY NAME IS KATE REUBEN. I AM
THE CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
SEATTLE, CO-CHAIR OF THE SEATTLE
RENTERS COMMISSION, AND A RENTER
LIVING IN DISTRICT TWO. I URGE
YOU TO SUPPORT THE BILL TO BAN
RENTAL JUNK FEES AND THE
AMENDMENT TO ENSURE THAT RENTERS
CAN CHOOSE OPTIONAL SERVICES
INDIVIDUALLY INSTEAD OF BEING
REQUIRED TO BUY THEM IN A
BUNDLE. THIS WILL CLOSE A
POTENTIAL LOOPHOLE THAT WOULD
ALLOW LANDLORDS TO GROUP AN
ESSENTIAL SERVICE WITH OTHER
SERVICES TO SAVE THEMSELVES
MONEY, WITHOUT CONSIDERING THAT
RENTERS CANNOT AFFORD THE ADDED
COSTS. WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THIS
WITH LOW INCOME SENIORS IN SHBG
BUILDINGS WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED
TO PAY FOR CABLE IN ORDER TO
HAVE INTERNET BUILDINGS WITH
AMENITIES, INCLUDING ALLOWING
PETS ALREADY CHARGE HIGHER
RENTS. PET RENT IS EXPLOITATIVE.
DOUBLE DIPPING THERE IS NO
JUSTIFICATION FOR CHARGING
RENTERS 50 TO $200 PER MONTH, OR
600 TO $2400 EVERY YEAR FOR
HAVING A PET. ON TOP OF THE
DAMAGE DEPOSIT, WHICH OFTEN
EXCEEDS $2,000. THANK YOU.
-- ALL RIGHT.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ASHLEY,
FOLLOWED BY CARL NELSON AND THEN
AARON TULLOCH
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
ASHLEY GREENBERG. I'M A SEATTLE
NATIVE, A UW LAW GRAD, AND I'M
HERE TODAY IN MY CAPACITY AS A
SMALL LANDLORD. MY HUSBAND AND I
BOUGHT A HOUSE IN 2011 ON
CAPITOL HILL WITH A BACKYARD
COTTAGE, AND WE USE THE RENT
FROM THE COTTAGE TO HELP US PAY
OUR MORTGAGE EVERY MONTH. WE'RE
REALLY GOOD LANDLORDS, AND I
PRIDE MYSELF ON BEING A GOOD
LANDLORD AND ON HOUSING MY
TENANTS WHO HAVE BEEN A
RESTAURANT AND BAR MANAGER, A
CHILDCARE WORKER, SEVERAL TECH
WORKERS, THEY'RE GREAT, BUT
ALSO WE'RE IN COMPETITION WITH
BIG LANDLORDS THAT DON'T
ADVERTISE ALL THEIR FEES. AND WE
DO. SO WE LOOK MORE EXPENSIVE,
AND THEN WE'RE JUST NOT AS
COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKET WHEN
IT COMES UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
-- THANK YOU. NEXT IS CARL
NELSON, FOLLOWED BY AARON
TULLOCH.
-- HELLO, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS CARL NELSON. I'M A 17
YEAR RENTER IN DISTRICT FOUR, A
BOARD MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE
SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER AND A
CO-CHAIR OF THE CEDAR CROSSING
TENANTS ASSOCIATION. I'M HERE IN
MY PERSONAL CAPACITY TODAY TO
SPEAK IN FAVOR OF PASSING THE
JUNK FEE LEGISLATION WITH
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AMENDMENT
WITHOUT DELAY. AS A RENTER AND
TENANTS ORGANIZER, I HAVE SEEN
FIRSTHAND THE WAY SMALL AND NOT
SO SMALL SUPERFLUOUS FEES ADD UP
TO DECEIVE AND BURDEN THE RENTAL
CONSUMER. AND AS A RESIDENT IN
LOW INCOME HOUSING, I'VE ALSO
SEEN THE WAY THAT SMALL,
UNEXPECTED BILLS HAVE A WAY OF
UPENDING THE LIVES OF OUR MOST
VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY.
THIS LEGISLATION IS ABOUT
TRANSPARENCY, FAIRNESS AND
CONSUMER PROTECTION. I URGE THE
COUNCIL TO ADOPT IT WITHOUT
DELAY, WITH COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
AMENDMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME
-- THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AARON
TULLOCK. AND THEN OUR FINAL
IN-PERSON SPEAKER WILL BE
REPRESENTATIVE SEAN SCOTT
-- GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR FOSTER
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS AARON TULLOCK. FMS
GLOBAL STRATEGIES, ON BEHALF OF
THE. WE BUILD BACK BETTER
ALLIANCE AND 110 BUSINESSES AND
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND
STRONG SUPPORT OF THE DO NOT
SOLICIT LIST. YOU ALREADY
COLLECTED THE EVIDENCE YOURSELF
OF 66 HOMEOWNERS WHO RESPONDED
TO COUNCILMEMBERS FOSTER OFFICE.
36% REPORTED 41 OR MORE
SOLICITATIONS IN TWO YEARS FROM
CENTRAL, NORTHWEST, NORTHEAST,
SOUTHEAST AND SEATTLE. THAT IS A
CITY WIDE PRACTICE. THIS
ORDINANCE ANSWERS IT. A
HOMEOWNER OPTS INTO THE OFFICE.
PUBLICATION BECOMES LEGAL NOTICE
AFTER 30 DAYS AND SOLICITATION
AFTER THAT IS SUITABLE.
AMENDMENT ONE REQUIRES
SOLICITORS TO IDENTIFY
THEMSELVES, WHICH IS WHAT MAKES
ANONYMOUS CALLERS SUITABLE AT
ALL. BUT THE BILL CREATES A
RIGHT WITHOUT APPROPRIATING A
DOLLAR TO ENFORCE IT. PLEASE
FUND THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS,
PASS IT, ADOPT AMENDMENT ONE AND
FUND THE ENFORCEMENT. THANK YOU.
-- ALL RIGHT. OUR FINAL SPEAKER
IS REPRESENTATIVE JOHN SCOTT,
AND THEY WILL MOVE TO REMOTE
SPEAKER, STARTING WITH LYDIA.
-- EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. AND GOOD
AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. I'M A REPRESENTATIVE,
SEAN SCOTT FROM THE 43rd
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT. I HAVE TO
SAY, IT IS NICE TO BE IN A
LEGISLATIVE CHAMBER THAT IS
OVERREPRESENTED BY PEOPLE WHO
RENT COMING FROM OLYMPIA, WHERE
LANDLORDS DOMINATE NOT ONLY THE
POPULATION OF OUR CHAMBER, BUT
OFTEN THE LEGISLATIVE OUTCOMES
THAT EMERGE FROM IT. DESPITE
THAT HURDLE, WE WERE ABLE TO
PASS RENT STABILIZATION A COUPLE
OF YEARS AGO, MY FIRST YEAR IN
OFFICE. BUT A LOT MORE WORK
REMAINS TO BE DONE TO MAKE LIFE
MORE AFFORDABLE FOR RENTERS AT A
TIME WHEN AFFORDABILITY, I
THINK, IS A CENTRAL CONCERN FOR
PEOPLE NOT ONLY IN OUR CITY BUT
ACROSS OUR STATE, IN THE COUNTRY
AS WELL. I THINK THIS IS
LEGISLATION THAT SOME WOULD
CATEGORIZE AS A SLAM DUNK. IT'S
SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE LIFE A
LOT EASIER ON PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
MY DISTRICT, REPRESENTING A
DISTRICT THAT IS THREE QUARTERS
RENTER, 75% RENTER. I KNOW IT IS
SOMETHING I HEAR QUITE A LOT
ABOUT, SO I'M HOPING WE CAN
URGE A STRONG PASSION, STRONG
PASSION AND PASSAGE OF THIS BILL
WITH THE COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
AMENDMENT AS WELL. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
-- THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
-- WE WILL NOW MOVE TO REMOTE
SPEAKERS. THE FIRST SPEAKER IS
LYDIA FELDT. PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX WHEN YOU HEAR THE PROMPT
THAT YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.
-- HI, MY NAME IS LYDIA FELTY.
I'M A RENTER IN D THREE AS WELL
AS A CO-CHAIR OF THE SEATTLE
RENTERS COMMISSION. THE RENTERS
COMMISSION SUPPORTS BANNING JUNK
FEES TO REDUCE HIDDEN AND
UNNECESSARY HOUSING COSTS. AS
RENTER ADVOCATES AND RENTERS
OURSELVES, WE ARE NO STRANGER TO
THE INTIMATE IMPACT OF JUNK FEES
ON HOUSING STABILITY. THIS
LEGISLATION IS ABOUT
TRANSPARENCY AND PREDICTABILITY,
AND IT'S ABOUT UPHOLDING THE
RENTER PROTECTIONS DESIGNED TO
PROTECT RENTERS FROM PRICE
GOUGING. AS SUCH, WE ALSO
STRONGLY SUPPORT AMENDMENT ONE,
CLOSING A LOOPHOLE THAT WOULD
ALLOW LANDLORDS TO SKIRT THIS
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION BY
BUNDLING OPTIONAL FEES,
EXPLOITING TENANTS BY CHARGING
FOR GOODS AND SERVICES THAT ARE
NEITHER WANTED NOR USED. AND AS
WE JUST HEARD FROM A CAPITOL
HILL LANDLORD, MY NEIGHBORHOOD,
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD NOT
PREVENT LANDLORDS FROM SETTING
FAIR MARKET RENTS OR CHARGING
FOR TRULY OPT IN SERVICES.
RATHER, IT WOULD HELP MAKE THE
MARKET MORE FAIR. THIS
COMPREHENSIVE JUNK BAN, WITH ITS
ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS AND
AMENDMENT ONE, IS A CLEAR NEED.
PLEASE PASS THIS ORDINANCE WITH
AMENDMENT ONE AND WITHOUT ANY
WEAKENING AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
-- THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS CASEY BURTON, FOLLOWED BY
JESSE WATSON.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU
TO THE COUNCIL FOR BEING HERE
TODAY. I'M ASKING THAT YOU
SUPPORT THIS BILL, INCLUDING
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AMENDMENTS.
I THINK THAT IT'S TIME THAT
RENTERS HAVE THE CHANCE TO KNOW
WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO. WHEN
THEY LOOK FOR AN APARTMENT. YOU
SHOULDN'T BE FINDING OUT AT
LEAST SIGNING WHAT YOUR CHARGES
ARE GOING TO BE ONCE YOU'VE
ALREADY PAID A HOLDING FEE THAT
YOU PROBABLY WON'T GET BACK.
HOW CAN WE EXPECT RENTERS TO
MAKE THE CHOICES THAT ARE BEST
FOR THEIR BUDGET IF THEY DON'T
KNOW THE TRUE COST OF AN
APARTMENT? IN PARTICULAR, I WANT
TO ADDRESS THAT. FIRST.
LANDLORDS SHOULDN'T CHARGE YOU
FOR EVERY SINGLE PART OF YOUR
HOME, EVERY PLANT, EVERY PIECE
OF FURNITURE. IT'S RIDICULOUS.
SECOND, IT'S EXPLOITATIVE.
ANOTHER WAY TO SQUEEZE MONEY OUT
OF RENTERS WHO JUST WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY AND THEIR
COMPANIONS HAVE A ROOF OVER
THEIR HEADS. THIRD, A LOT OF
LANDLORDS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT
THE INCREASED COSTS AND IMPACT
ON OTHER RENTERS, BUT ODDLY
ENOUGH, WE AREN'T HEARING THESE
COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER RENTERS
WHO THEY SAY WOULD BE IMPACTED.
JUST THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THESE
RENTAL BUSINESSES FURTHER,
LANDLORDS ALREADY COLLECT PET
DEPOSITS AND CAN SEND ANY
ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS.
-- THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS JESSIE WATSON, FOLLOWED BY
RICK K.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR FOSTER
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS JESSE WATSON AND I'M THE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR INSPIRE
WASHINGTON. WE ARE THE STATE'S
CULTURAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION
SERVING EVERY COMMUNITY BY
DRIVING PUBLIC INVESTMENT AND
SUPPORTING POLICIES THAT PROVIDE
MORE UPLIFTING SCIENCE, HERITAGE
AND ARTS PROGRAMS. TODAY, I'M
HERE TO CONVEY OUR SUPPORT FOR
THE SEATTLE ARTS COMMISSION AND
THEIR PUBLIC LETTER TO THE
MAYOR, ADDRESSING THEIR BUDGET
PRIORITIES. INSPIRE WASHINGTON
IS IN FULL SUPPORT OF THEIR
THREE REQUESTS, WHICH INCLUDE
ONE DEDICATING FULL ADMISSION
TAX TO THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE, TWO ALLOCATING 10% OF
THE SHIELD SEATTLE FUNDING TO
ARTS AND CULTURE, AND THREE
COMMITTING TO EXPANDING THE
COLLECTION OF ADMISSION TAX TO
THE SOTO STADIUM. INSPIRE
WASHINGTON AND THE SEATTLE ARTS
COMMISSION RECOGNIZE THIS WORK
WILL REQUIRE A BROADER COALITION
WITH STATE LAWMAKERS. HELLO,
REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT AND
REGIONAL PARTNERS, AND WE
STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO
SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATE IN THE
ADVOCACY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION, AND WE
LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THESE
CONVERSATIONS.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RICK K,
FOLLOWED BY ANN TYSON.
-- REGARDING PREDATORY HOUSING
PRACTICES, PLEASE REMOVE THE
RESTRICTION THAT A PERSON HAS TO
DECLARE THAT THEY'RE NOT
INTERESTED IN SELLING. A PERSON
SHOULD BE FREE FROM OPPRESSIVE
SOLICITATION, REGARDLESS OF
THEIR POSITION ON SELLING. JUST
LET PEOPLE OPT OUT. THERE'S NO
NEED TO PRY INTO PEOPLE'S
PERSONAL LIVES. ALSO, LET'S BE
CLEAR MANY OF THESE
SOLICITATIONS ARE THE RESULT OF
PREDATORY PRACTICE OF EXCESSIVE
UPZONING, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO
MAKE THE PROPERTIES MORE
APPEALING TO CORPORATE INVESTORS
THAN TO WORKING CLASS RESIDENTS.
EXCESSIVE UPZONING, BY
DEFINITION, DOES NOT INCREASE
DENSITY, BUT DOES INCREASE
DISPLACEMENT AND RENTAL COSTS.
PLEASE ADVOCATE FOR REGULATION
OF WHOLESALERS AT THE STATE
LEVEL, WHICH IS WHAT IS DONE IN
AT LEAST A DOZEN OTHER STATES,
AND JUST SAY NO TO THE
BILLIONAIRES IN THEIR REQUEST
FOR EXCESSIVE UPZONING EXCESSIVE
UPZONING IS A PREDATORY HOUSING
PRACTICE. ELIMINATE THAT. THANK
YOU.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANN
TYSON, FOLLOWED BY EMILY DE.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M A
HOMEOWNER IN NORTHEAST SEATTLE,
DISTRICT FOUR, AND I REALLY
AGREE WITH THE LAST SPEAKER.
I'M ALSO HERE TO STRONGLY
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER DO
NOT SOLICIT LEGISLATION AND THE
RELATED AMENDMENT. NUMBER ONE.
I'VE WITNESSED MORE THAN ONE
CASE OF DISPLACEMENT OF
VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS ON FIXED
INCOMES, INCLUDING A COUPLE WHO
HAD LIFTED THEIR HOME FOR AT
LEAST 60 YEARS AND WERE HAVING A
BIT OF TROUBLE GETTING THE MOSS
OFF THEIR ROOF AND DECLUTTERING.
THIS COUPLE AND OTHER NEIGHBORS
WERE HARASSED AND MISLED BY
SLICK SALESPEOPLE INTO SELLING
THEIR HOMES FOR CASH. OFTEN,
THEY DON'T HAVE A GOOD ABILITY
TO JUDGE THESE PROPOSED DEALS,
WHICH END UP BEING DISASTERS.
THE HOMEOWNERS MUST THEN START
OVER WITHOUT THEIR LONG TIME
SUPPORT NETWORK. IF SUCH
PREDATORY AND UNWANTED
SOLICITATION WERE NOT ALLOWED,
THE HOMEOWNERS AND THEIR
FAMILIES WOULD NATURALLY FEEL
THEY HAVE MORE TIME AND SPACE TO
CONSIDER OTHER OPTIONS THAT
WOULD PRESERVE THEIR QUALITY OF
LIFE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
PLEASE HELP STOP THIS
DISPLACEMENT THAT'S HAPPENING
ALL OVER SEATTLE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS EMILY,
FOLLOWED BY COLLEEN MCALEER.
-- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY
NAME IS EMILY ROSENSWEIG. I'M A
TENANT OF DISTRICT ONE, AND FOR
YEARS NOW, OUR TENANTS IN OUR
BUILDING HAVE BEEN SUBSIDIZING
OUR LANDLORD TO THE TUNE OF
ABOUT 70 GRAND A YEAR, WHICH
DOES NOT EVEN TAKE INTO ACCOUNT
CHARGES LIKE PET FEES. A FEW
YEARS BACK, OUR TRASH FEES
INCREASED BY 45 BUCKS A MONTH
WHEN OUR LANDLORD CHOSE TO
CONTRACT WITH TWO THIRD PARTY
SERVICES. BALLARD GARBAGE AND
WASTE EXPERT BECAUSE THEY COULD
NOT KEEP UP WITH THE FLOW OF
GARBAGE FROM THE CHUTE, AND
BECAUSE THEY CUT A MAINTENANCE
PERSON AT THE PROPERTY. OUR
BUILDING BOUGHT THIS ENROLLMENT
BY CITING SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE, WHICH SAYS LANDLORDS ARE
LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR
MAINTAINING COMMUNAL AREAS OF
THE PROPERTY. BUT SDCI SAID THAT
THEY COULD NOT ENFORCE THIS CODE
BECAUSE THE SERVICES ARE WRITTEN
INTO OUR LEASES. THIS IS WHEN I
LEARNED A LEASE THAT CAN LEGALLY
ENFORCE SOMETHING THAT THAT A
LEASE CAN LEGALLY ENFORCE
SOMETHING, EVEN IF IT APPEARS TO
BE WRITTEN IN VIOLATION OF CITY
CODE. LANDLORDS ARE SHIRKING THE
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE WHILE
CHARGING RESIDENTS DOUBLE AND
TRIPLE TRIPLE THE CONTRACTED
RATES. THE SERVICES. RENTERS
NEED PROTECTION AND MEANINGFUL
ACCOUNTABILITY. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. AND OUR NEXT
SPEAKER IS COLLEEN MCALEER,
FOLLOWED BY LOIS MARTIN.
AND COLLEEN, IF YOU CAN PRESS
STAR SIX.
-- HI. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS, THIS IS COLLEEN
MCALEER, LAURELHURST COMMUNITY
COUNCIL, REPRESENTING OVER 2000
RESIDENTS. WE SUPPORT COUNCIL
BILL 121259 ACROSS THE CITY.
THERE ARE SO MANY HOMEOWNERS WHO
HAVE BUDGETED, WORKED HARD. TWO
JOBS, BOUGHT A HOME WHERE THEY
COULD AGE IN PLACE AND BUILD
EQUITY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR
EXTENDED FAMILIES FOR THE
FUTURE. OVER TIME, SOMETIMES ON
FIXED INCOMES, FOLKS GET A HARD
TIME TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOMES,
BECOME A TARGET FOR UNWANTED
SOLICITATION. BUT THEIR HOME IS
STILL THEIR HOME BASE, AND THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD IS THEIR SUPPORT
NETWORK THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE
TO ENJOY THESE EARNED BENEFITS
AS THEY GROW. BEING CONTINUALLY
SOLICITED TO SELL YOUR HOMES AS
HARASSMENT POUNDED WITH UNWANTED
CALLS, POP AND VISITS, AND
MAILING. AND SOMETIMES THE
ELDERLY AND THE VULNERABLE, THEY
GET OVERWHELMED AND THEY FINALLY
TAKE THE CASH, WHICH SEEMS LIKE
A GOOD DEAL AND LEAVE. BUT THESE
HOMEOWNERS ARE DISPLACED
ELSEWHERE, AND THEY COULD HAVE
GOTTEN A HIGHER PRICE IF SOLD ON
THE OPEN REAL ESTATE MARKET.
WITH MULTIPLE OFFERS, AND THEY
HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR NETWORK. WE
SUPPORT ONE, TWO, ONE, TWO,
FIVE, NINE AND GIVE A CHANCE FOR
FOLKS TO COHABITATE, MAYBE WITH
THEIR PARENTS, AND MAYBE THEY'LL
BE ABLE TO BUY THAT HOUSE IN THE
FUTURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-- THANK YOU.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LOIS
BARTON, FOLLOWED BY MASON FAGAN.
-- HI.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
LOIS MORTON, AND I'M A THIRD
GENERATION CENTRAL DISTRICT
RESIDENT, HOMEOWNER, SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER, AND ONE OF THE
FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE BLACK
HOMEOWNERS POLICY COUNCIL. CB 1
TO 1 THROUGH FIVE NINE NAMES.
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO US? IT SAYS
PREDATORY HOME BUYING PRACTICES
TARGET COMMUNITIES OF COLOR,
CONTRIBUTING TO DISPLACEMENT AND
THE EROSION OF GENERATIONAL
WEALTH. AND THAT IS MY LIFE. I
KEPT A FILE SINCE 2015. LETTERS,
POSTCARDS, EMAILS, SIGNED
AGREEMENTS LEFT ON MY PORCH,
TEXT CALLS HIM OVERSEAS CALL
CENTERS TARGETING MY HOME AND MY
BUSINESS PROPERTY, INCLUDING OUR
PLAYGROUND. ONE OF THE FEW LEFT
IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. THE BILL
ALSO RECOGNIZES DAMAGES FOR
MENTAL SUFFERING. AND THAT
MATTERS BECAUSE EVERY
UNSOLICITED CONTACT IS A
STRESSOR. IT'S DESIGNED TO WEAR
YOU DOWN UNTIL YOU GIVE IN. I
SUPPORT THIS BILL BECAUSE IT
COVERS THE ENTIRE CITY. IT NAMES
THE HARM, AND IT GIVES US A
LEGAL TOOL TO HOLD A BOUNDARY. I
ASK THAT THE COUNCIL PLEASE VOTE
YES AND YOUR YES VOTE WILL MAKE
A DIFFERENCE. AND IT'S WHAT OUR
COMMUNITY NEEDS.
-- THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
-- ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS MASON FAGAN, FOLLOWED BY
AIDEN CARROLL. AND IF FOLKS HAVE
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, THEY
CAN PROVIDE THOSE OVER EMAIL.
THANK YOU.
-- HELLO. MY NAME IS MASON
FAGAN. I'M A RESIDENT OF CROWN
HILL. I'M AN MBA GRADUATE FROM
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY AND A FORMER
HOSPITALITY MANAGER. FROM MY
EXPERIENCE, LANDLORDS AND
CORPORATIONS HAVE THE PROFIT
MARGINS TO BE ABLE TO COVER ALL
OF THESE ANCILLARY COSTS. WITH
THE PROFITS FROM THE RENT THEY
CHARGE, WHICH TAKES UP MORE THAN
30% OF THE INCOME OF THE AVERAGE
RENTER. THESE FEES DID NOT EXIST
A GENERATION AGO. THIS IS A
STATUS QUO THAT HAS BEEN SET BY
THE EXTRAORDINARY POLICIES MEANT
TO HOLD UP THE LIFESTYLE
STANDARDS OF CAPITAL OWNERS,
WHILE DEGRADING THAT OF THE
WORKING CLASS, ACCESS TO
AMENITIES AND ALLOWANCE FOR PETS
ARE MARKETING TOOLS THAT
INCREASE OCCUPANCY. THEY
SHOULDN'T BE CHARGED ON TOP OF
THE EXORBITANT RENT COSTS. I
URGE YOU TO PUT MONEY BACK IN
THE POCKETS OF RENTERS WHO MAKE
UP 60% OF THE POPULATION OF
SEATTLE. THIS MONEY WILL ALLOW
RESIDENTS TO SPEND ON LOCAL
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN
STRUGGLING FOR YEARS NOW. I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO VIEW MY FULL
ANALYSIS IN MY EMAIL AFTER THIS
MEETING. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AIDEN
CARROLL, FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN
MARITZA.
-- HI, I'M FROM CAPITOL HILL. I
LIVE IN WALLINGFORD AND I AM
HERE TO URGE YOU TO BAN JUNK
FEES, ESPECIALLY, BUT NOT ONLY
PET RENTS AND THE RATIO UTILITY
BILLING SYSTEM, WHICH I'M SURE
YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT. THE
SEVERAL PEOPLE, INCLUDING KATE
RUBEN, GAVE AN EXCELLENT
EXPLANATION OF HOW PET RENT IS
DUPLICATIVE. IF THERE'S
ACTUALLY DAMAGED, TENANTS END UP
PAYING IT ANYWAY. ALL OF THESE
THINGS. IF THE LANDLORD IS
FACING ANY KIND OF FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP, THEY CAN JUST CHANGE
THE NUMBER ON THE ADVERTISEMENT
TO BE THE NUMBER THE TENANTS ARE
ALREADY PAYING. IT'S NOT A
MATTER OF INCREASING OR
DECREASING THE RENT. IT'S A
MATTER OF TRUTH IN ADVERTISING.
MEANWHILE TENANTS HAVE ALREADY,
IN MANY CASES BEEN EVICTED,
WHICH IS WHY YOU'RE WORKING ON
THE SHELTER EXPANSION. THAT'S
UNDERSTANDABLE BECAUSE THE
HOUSING IS NOT GOING TO BE FIXED
FAST ENOUGH. BUT THE SHELTER
EXPANSION WILL TAKE YEARS TO.
YOU NEED TO CREATE A COUPLE OF
SANCTIONED CAMPS. IN EVERY
COUNCIL DISTRICT. THERE IS NO
OTHER PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO.
THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT IS. AND
EVERYTHING IS SO EXPENSIVE.
-- I NEED TO SHARE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENT OVER EMAIL.
NEXT WE HAVE BENJAMIN MERRITT,
FOLLOWED BY DAVID HAINES.
-- HI.
-- MY NAME IS BEN MARITZA. I AM
A PROPERTY MANAGER HERE IN
SEATTLE. WE MANAGE ABOUT 5000
HOMES IN SEATTLE, ALMOST ALL OF
WHICH ARE AFFORDABLE TO PEOPLE
EARNING BETWEEN 40 AND 60% OF
THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. I'M HERE
WITH COMMENTS ABOUT THE JUNK
LEGISLATION. I SUPPORT GREATER
TRANSPARENCY AND PREDICTABILITY
IN PRICING FOR APARTMENTS. I
THINK IT WILL BENEFIT BOTH
HOUSING PROVIDERS AND RENTERS AS
WELL, AND I APPLAUD THE THE
PROCESS THAT THE MAYOR'S TEAM
HAS GONE THROUGH TO BUILD
CONSENSUS AROUND THIS, CONSENSUS
AROUND THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO
TALK ABOUT PET FEES, IN
PARTICULAR, OUR BUSINESS HAS
BEEN ABLE TO KEEP RENTS STABLE
AND EVEN HAVE THEM DECLINE. ON
AVERAGE, OUR RENTS ARE ABOUT 4
TO 5% LOWER TODAY FOR OUR
RESIDENTS. AND A BIG PART OF
THAT IS BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO
CONTROL OUR COSTS. PETS IN THE
BUILDINGS DO CREATE QUITE A BIT
OF COST THAT SHOULD BE BORNE BY
THE PET OWNERS, AND PET RENT IS
THE MOST FAIR WAY TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. AND OUR FINAL TWO
SPEAKERS ARE DAVID HAYNES,
FOLLOWED BY TASHA MAY.
-- HI. THANK YOU DAVID HAYNES.
IS COUNCIL GOING TO SHARE THE
FINES TO THE HOMEOWNERS WHO GET
THEMSELVES ON THE. DO NOT
SOLICIT LIST ANYWAY, WE NEED
BETTER PROTECTIONS FROM CORRUPT
LANDLORDS, SOME OF WHOM ARE ON
CITY COUNCIL SELF DEALING WITH
BACKSTABBING RESTRICTIONS ON THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, DENYING A
BETTER CHOICE IN HOUSING TO
APPEASE THE GREEDY SELLOUTS WHO
DON'T WANT PEOPLE BUILDING BACK
BETTER, HIGHER, DENSER, MORE
ROBUSTLY DUE TO SELL OUTS,
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A SUPPLY AND
DEMAND SQUEEZE AND THE CORRUPT
NONPROFIT UNQUALIFIED GROUP, A
POLITICALLY CONNECTED THAT
CANNOT BUILD 21st CENTURY, FIRST
WORLD QUALITY HOUSING. WHO WANTS
TO WEAPONIZE THE MHA FEE FUNDS
YET? I WANT TO KNOW WHY ISN'T
COUNCIL CREATING A LAW THAT SAYS
THAT WHEN YOU MOVE IN AND YOU
DISCOVER YOUR LANDLORD
ARTIFICIALLY INFLATED AND
DILAPIDATED THEIR HOUSING AND
YOU GOT FLAWED FLOOR PLANS AND
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBOR SHUTS
THE DOOR, THE WALL SHAKE, YOU
SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO RENEGOTIATE
THE INFLATED RENT, AND YOU
SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY $50 TO
ESSEX BECAUSE THEY GOT ONE GROUP
HANDLING. SEVEN.
-- YOU CAN PROVIDE ANY MORE
COMMENT OVER EMAIL. OUR FINAL
SPEAKER WILL BE TASHA MAY.
-- GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR FOSTER
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS TASHA MAY. I'M THE
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT FMS
GLOBAL STRATEGIES. I'M ALSO THE
FOUNDER OF ADVOCACY QUEEN, A
NONPROFIT THAT TEACHES PEOPLE
HOW TO SPEAK UP FOR THEMSELVES
AND GET THROUGH SYSTEMS THAT
WERE NOT BUILT FOR THEM. I
SUPPORT COUNCIL BILL ONE, TWO,
ONE TWO, FIVE, NINE. MY
GRANDMOTHER IS IN HER 90s. SHE
HAS NEVER LISTED HER HOME AND
SHE STILL GETS CALLS AT THE MAIL
AND THE KNOCKS. IT DOES NOT STOP
WHEN SHE SAYS NO. THAT IS THE
POINT OF IT. YOUR OWN RECORD
SHOWS MORE THAN A THIRD OF
RESPONDENTS GOT 41 OR MORE
SOLICITATIONS IN TWO YEARS. THIS
IS WEARING PEOPLE DOWN UNTIL
THEY GIVE IN. THE FAMILIES HIT
HARDEST HAVE THE LEAST ROOM TO
PUSH BACK IN THIS CITY, AND THE
SAME FAMILIES LOCKED OUT OF
OWNING HOMES FOR GENERATIONS.
THAT IS THE HOUSE THAT IS ONLY.
I'M SORRY. THAT HOUSE IS THE
ONLY THING THAT THEY HAVE TO
PASS DOWN. PASS COUNCIL BILL
121259. ADOPT AMENDMENT ONE
BECAUSE ANYONE WHO WILL NOT SIGN
THEIR LEGAL NAME TO A
SOLICITATION IS TELLING YOU WHO
THEY ARE AND FUND ENFORCEMENT
PROTECTION NOBODY ENFORCES IS
NOT PROTECTION. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU. AND THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
-- OKAY AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU SO
MUCH TO ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO
CAME DOWN OR SHOWED UP IN PERSON
TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT. WITH
THAT, WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR
FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS ITEMS ONE
THROUGH EIGHT. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ THE ITEMS INTO THE
RECORD?
-- ALL RIGHT. AGENDA ITEM ONE.
APPOINTMENT 03547. THE
APPOINTMENT OF ZOE BAILEY AS
MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO
JULY 22nd, 2027. AGENDA ITEM
TWO. APPOINTMENT 03548. THE
APPOINTMENT OF TERRY LIN AS
MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO
JULY 22nd, 2028. ITEM THREE
THROUGH EIGHT. APPOINTMENT 03549
THROUGH 0355 FOR REAPPOINTMENT
OF KATIE, SOPHIE GONZALES,
PHILIP LEWIS, NICHOLAS G.
LAYDEN, BRANDON MONSON, BEVERLY
SMITH AND KYLE TIBBS AS MEMBERS
OF THE SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION. FOR TERMS TO JULY
22nd, 2028. AGENDA ITEMS NINE
THROUGH 11. APPOINTMENT 03555
303557 OF SNOQUALMIE. ADOBE.
RASHAD O'NEAL AND DANIEL RAMIREZ
AS MEMBERS OF SEATTLE DISABILITY
COMMISSION FOR TERMS TO APRIL
30th, 2028. AGENDA ITEMS 12
THROUGH 15. APPOINTMENT
0355 8303561. APPOINTMENTS.
BELLEVUE. CORTEZ, SHELBY DAY,
NAOMI SNOW AND SAWYER STEARNS AS
MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE
DISABILITY COMMISSION FOR TWO
TERMS. APRIL 30th, 2020 8th JUNE
ITEM 16 THROUGH 17. APPOINTMENT
03562 THROUGH 03563. OF SAWYER,
MCCRABB AND CADEN SAGAN AS
MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE LGBTQ
COMMISSION FOR TERMS TO APRIL
30th, 2028 AND AGENDA ITEMS 18
THROUGH 19, APPOINTMENT
0356 4303565. REAPPOINTMENTS OF
ANDREW SHAFFER AND ASHLEY E FORD
AS MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE LGBTQ
COMMISSION FOR TERMS TO APRIL
30th, 2028.
-- YOU KNOW, WE JUST DON'T GIVE
ENOUGH APPRECIATION TO THE
CLERKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I
MEANT TO SAY AT THE TOP TODAY,
WE'LL BE VOTING ON APPOINTMENTS
TO THE COMMISSION. WE WILL ALSO
BE VOTING MY BILL ON HOMEOWNER
PRIVACY AND PROTECTIONS, AND WE
WILL BE HEARING A DISCUSSION
AROUND AMENDMENTS FOR THE JUNK
FEE LEGISLATION, BUT WE WILL NOT
BE VOTING THE JUNK FEE
LEGISLATION OUT OF COMMITTEE
TODAY. SO I MEANT TO SAY THAT AT
THE TOP, IN CASE ANYBODY IS
WAITING. SO JUST SO YOU HAVE
THAT INFORMATION FOR THOSE OF
YOU IN CHAMBERS OR TUNING IN
ONLINE. AND WITH THAT, I WOULD
LIKE TO INVITE UP TO THE
COMMITTEE TABLE WHO'S ALREADY
HERE. SEBASTIAN WILSON FROM THE
SEATTLE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS,
WHO WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF
THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION,
DISABILITY COMMISSION AND LGBTQ
COMMISSION, AND THEIR SELECTION
PROCESS FOR THESE APPOINTMENTS.
BEFORE YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF
AND BEGIN, I JUST WANT TO
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS FOR THEIR
WORK TO SUPPORT COMMISSIONS AND
THEIR WORK TO HELP WITH THE
APPOINTMENT PROCESS. IT'S A LOT
OF WORK TO PUT THESE TOGETHER
AND IDENTIFY PEOPLE, AND IT'S A
LOT OF WORK FOR THE PEOPLE WHO
VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME ON THESE
COMMISSIONS. AND WITH THAT, ALSO
AN APPRECIATION TO THE FOLKS
SERVING ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS,
DISABILITY AND LGBTQ COMMISSIONS
FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.
THESE COMMISSIONS PLAY AN
IMPORTANT ROLE IN ADVOCATING FOR
AND ELEVATING THE NEEDS OF
COMMUNITIES THEY REPRESENT, AND
ARE IMPORTANT PARTNERS IN
ENSURING THAT THE COUNCIL, THE
MAYOR, AND ALL OF OUR
DEPARTMENTS DELIVER ON OUR
PROMISE OF EQUITABLY SERVING
WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND ENGAGING
SEBASTIAN. WE'LL LET YOU
INTRODUCE YOURSELF, PROVIDE AN
OVERVIEW OF THE APPOINTMENTS,
AND THEN WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO
QUESTIONS FROM COLLEAGUES.
-- SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU, CHAIR
FOSTER. THANK YOU, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. THANK YOU, SAGE, FOR
ALL OF YOUR HELP IN THE
CONSIDERATION OF THESE
NOMINATIONS AND HAVING THEM ON
YOUR AGENDA TODAY. MY NAME IS
SEBASTIAN WILSON. I USE HE HIM
PRONOUNS AND I'M A CAPACITY
DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR WITH THE
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND ALSO
THE ACTING STAFF LIAISON TO THE
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, THE
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS IS
HONORED TO HOUSE THE DISABILITY,
HUMAN RIGHTS, LGBTQ AND WOMEN'S
COMMISSION AND VERY HONORED TO
OFFER THESE CANDIDATES HERE
TODAY FOR THREE OF THEM, THE
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ADVISES
THE CITY ON HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES
AFFECTING THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE,
AND THEY'RE CURRENTLY ALIGNING
AND FINDING SHARED PRIORITIES
WITH COUNCIL COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, AND HAVE BEGUN
DEVELOPING A RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE KING COUNTY HUMAN AND CIVIL
RIGHTS COMMISSION AS WELL. THEY
FOCUS THEIR WORK ON THE AREAS OF
HOUSING AND UNHOUSED
POPULATIONS, CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM REFORM, HUMAN
TRAFFICKING, GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS AND AFFAIRS, AND ALSO
HEAR ALL APPEALS OF
INVESTIGATION DECISIONS MADE BY
OUR OFFICE AS WELL AS HOST THE
ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY EVENT IN
DECEMBER, WHICH THIS YEAR IS ON
DECEMBER 13th AT THE WASHINGTON
HALL BALLROOM, OPEN TO. EVERYONE
IN THE PUBLIC WOULD LOVE TO SEE
AS MANY PEOPLE THERE AS
POSSIBLE. THE DISABILITY
COMMISSION ADVISES AND
COLLABORATES WITH CITY ELECTED
OFFICIALS ON DISABILITY RELATED
ISSUES. THEY INITIATED THE
CLOSED CAPTIONING ORDINANCE,
IMPLEMENTED WHEELCHAIR CHARGING
STATIONS AND CITY BUILDINGS, AND
RECENTLY CO-SPONSORED THE
DISABILITY PRIDE PROCLAMATION.
THEY'RE ALSO ADVISING AND
CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE
-- CURRENT SEATTLE TRANSIT
MEASURES. THEIR COMMITTEES FOCUS
ON ADVOCACY AND REPRESENTATION.
SECURITY AND ACCESS, AND
INTERNAL COMMISSION GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT. OUR LGBTQ
COMMISSION COLLABORATES WITH
CITY OFFICIALS ON MATTERS
CONCERNING THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
THEIR CURRENT WORK PLAN FOCUSES
ON INTERSECTIONAL ADVOCACY,
COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT AND
COMMISSION SUSTAINABILITY. THEY
RECENTLY HELD THE ANNUAL PRIDE
FLAG RAISING EVENT, WHICH HAD A
COUPLE OF HUNDRED IN ATTENDEE.
AND I KNOW THAT MOST OF YOU ON
THE PANEL WERE THERE AS WELL,
AND IN JUNE. AND THEN THEY HAVE
ADVOCATED FOR A CIVIL STATE OF
EMERGENCY IN RESPONSE TO THE
NUMBER OF TRANSGENDER AND QUEER
INDIVIDUALS MOVING TO SEATTLE,
FLEEING DETRIMENTAL POLICIES IN
OTHER STATES ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
THE PROCESS IS ESSENTIALLY THE
SAME FOR OUR RECRUITMENT AND ALL
COMMISSIONS. WE SEEK OUT
APPLICANTS WHO ARE FROM DIVERSE
BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES, AND
THIS INCLUDES A COMMITMENT TO
INTERSECTIONAL JUSTICE POLICY
INTERESTS AND PARTICIPATION IN
SOME OF THE CURRENT WORK GROUPS.
OUR RECRUITMENT IS THROUGH
COMMUNITY EVENTS, ONLINE
ENGAGEMENT. MOST OF OUR
ATTRACTION IS THROUGH LINKEDIN
AND THE CITY WEBSITE. AND OF
COURSE, WORD OF MOUTH. AND THAT
COMES FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS,
PAST AND CURRENT COMMISSIONERS
AND CITY STAFF. WE THEN REVIEW
APPLICATIONS OF CANDIDATES,
COORDINATE INTERVIEWS, AND THE
PANELISTS INCLUDE AN SORS OCR
STAFF LIAISON AND CONFIRMED
COMMISSIONERS. AND THEN A
RECOMMENDATION IS MADE AND
VETTED BY THE COMMISSIONS
DIVISION MANAGER. APPOINTMENT
PACKETS ARE SENT ALONG TO THE
APPOINTING PARTIES FOR SIGNATURE
AND ONCE SIGNED OR RECEIVED BY
THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AND
THEN COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER STAFF
WORKS THEIR MAGIC TO GET THEM
HERE ON THE COUNCIL CALENDAR.
AND SO THEN THEY'RE ALL MOVED
FORWARD TO COUNCIL FOR FULL,
FULL CONSIDERATION. THERE IS A
LARGE SLATE TODAY 19, WHICH IS
FANTASTIC BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING
FORWARD TO THE WORK THAT THEY
CAN ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER IN THE
REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR AND
BEYOND.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT
OVERVIEW. I APPRECIATE THAT, AND
MANY OF THESE ARE REAPPOINTMENTS
TO COMMISSIONS. COLLEAGUES, I
WILL TURN TO YOU TO SEE IF YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY. SEEING
NONE. OH, IS THERE ONE? I'M
SORRY. COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR FOSTER. I
JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS FOR YOUR
WORK SUPPORTING THESE
COMMISSIONS. COLLEAGUES, THE
FACT THAT WE HAVE THESE
COMMISSIONS IS INCREDIBLY
VALUABLE. AND I KNOW MY OFFICE
HAS REALLY ENJOYED ENGAGING WITH
OUR NUMEROUS COMMISSIONS ON
DIFFERENT POLICY MATTERS.
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS, ADVOCACY
EFFORTS, AND JUST TO BE ABLE TO
LEARN. AND SO JUST WANT TO TAKE
A MOMENT TO APPRECIATE THE WORK
OF OCR AND SUPPORTING THE WORK
OF THESE COMMISSIONS, BECAUSE
THAT WORK TRANSLATES INTO BETTER
POLICY, IN MY OPINION. SO THANK
YOU AND THANK YOU, CHAIR.
-- ABSOLUTELY.
-- IT'S OUR HONOR. AND I JUST
WANT TO SAY AS WELL THAT WE
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU SEEKING
THEM OUT FOR THEIR EXPERTISE.
AND THEY DEFINITELY FEEL
APPRECIATED, APPRECIATED AND
ENGAGED IN THE WORK TOO. SO
THANK YOU.
-- FANTASTIC. THANK YOU FOR
THAT. AND APOLOGIES. I MISSED
YOUR HAND THERE. ALL RIGHT,
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE FOR A
VOTE? OKAY. I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION
OF APPOINTMENTS 03547 THROUGH
03565. IS THERE A SECOND?
-- SECOND.
-- IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENTS. ARE THERE ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS OKAY. SEEING
NONE, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE RECOMMENDATION
TO CONFIRM APPOINTMENTS?
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
-- YES.
-- VICE CHAIR. LIN.
-- YES.
-- CHAIR FOSTER. YES. CHAIR.
THERE ARE FOUR VOTES IN FAVOR
AND NONE OPPOSED.
-- FANTASTIC. THE MOTION CARRIES
AND THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
THAT THE APPOINTMENTS BE
CONFIRMED WILL BE SENT TO THE
JULY 28th, 2026, CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. AND
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM
20, COLLEAGUES, IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, I'M GOING TO MOVE
THE COMMITTEE INTO RECESS. FOR
FOLKS. WE HAD A LONG COMMITTEE
MEETING THIS MORNING, AND I JUST
NEED TO STEP OFF THE DAIS
BRIEFLY. SO IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE COMMITTEE WILL BE
IN RECESS UNTIL 3:00. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE COMMITTEE IS IN
RECESS UNTIL 3:00.
-- [MUSIC]
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
-- SO.
-- ALL RIGHT, SEATTLE CHANNEL,
WE ARE READY TO BEGIN AGAIN.
-- OKAY.
-- LET ME KNOW WHEN SEATTLE
CHANNELS BACK ON. OKAY. ALL
RIGHT. FANTASTIC. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. IT IS 3:01 P.M., AND THE
COMMITTEE WILL NOW RECONVENE. WE
WILL. I'M SO EXCITED TO NOW
MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 20. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE ITEM
INTO THE RECORD.?
-- AGENDA ITEM 20, COUNCIL BILL
ONE, 21259. AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO UNFAIR HOUSING
PRACTICES ADDING NEW PROTECTIONS
FOR HOMEOWNERS FOR UNWANTED
SOLICITATION OF RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTY BY ESTABLISHING THE DO
NOT SOLICIT LIST. PROVIDING
ENFORCEMENT PROCESS, PRESCRIBING
PENALTIES, AMENDING SECTIONS
1408020 AND 1408190 OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE, ADDING A
NEW SECTION 1408042 TO THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE AND
ADDING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
FOR BRIEFING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
-- OKAY, FANTASTIC. AND WE'LL BE
HEARING FROM JEN IN JUST A
MOMENT. I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF
COUNCIL BILL ONE 21259. IS THERE
A SECOND?
-- SECOND.
-- THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO
INVITE UP TO THE COMMITTEE TABLE
JEN LABRECQUE FROM COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF, WHO WILL PROVIDE
AN OVERVIEW OF SEVERAL CHANGES
THAT WERE MADE TO THE BILL
BEFORE THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED.
AND JEN WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN
OVERVIEW OF AMENDMENT ONE, WHICH
I AM SPONSORING BEFORE SHE
BEGINS. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO
BRING THIS FORWARD, THIS
IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION
FOR A VOTE IN COMMITTEE TODAY.
THIS IS LEGISLATION THAT WILL
HELP FAMILIES BUILD GENERATIONAL
WEALTH BY DISRUPTING EXCESSIVE
SOLICITATION AND ENSURING THAT
HOMEOWNERS CAN LIVE IN PEACE IN
THEIR HOMES. I WANT TO EXPRESS
MY DEEP SENSE OF GRATITUDE TO
EVERYONE WHO HAS SHOWN UP TO
SHARE THEIR STORIES OF HOW
UNWANTED AND REPEATED
SOLICITATIONS IMPACT THE
WELL-BEING OF OUR HOMEOWNERS. I
AM PARTICULAR WANT TO EXPRESS
APPRECIATION TO FOLKS WHO CAME
TO COMMITTEE LAST MONTH AND
SPOKE ON THIS SHIKHANDI
SALISBURY, MARIA OLA AND GREGORY
DAVIS AND I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS
MY GRATITUDE TO JEN AND TRACY
WITH CENTRAL STAFF. AND I FORGOT
TO PUT HER ON HERE. BUT SARAH
FROM LAW, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS
SOMETHING THAT I HEARD ABOUT
OFTEN IN COMMUNITY. AND IT'S
ACTUALLY SINCE WE'VE INTRODUCED
THE BILL, I'VE HAD FOLKS, WHEN
I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT IT, I
SAY, OH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING
TO HELP PEOPLE STOP GETTING
CALLS TO GET THEM OUT OF THEIR
HOMES BEFORE I CAN GET MAYBE TEN
WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH, FOLKS GO,
OH MY GOD, THAT'S HAPPENED TO
ME. OR THAT THAT HAPPENS TO
SOMEBODY I KNOW, OR THIS IS
REALLY INCESSANT. OR LET ME SHOW
YOU THIS TEXT MESSAGE OR THESE
40 TEXT MESSAGES. AND SINCE
INTRODUCING THIS, I THINK WE'VE
COME TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW
WIDESPREAD THIS PRACTICE IS IN
OUR CITY. AND IT'S MY INTENT
WITH THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE PROTECTING OUR HOMEOWNERS
FROM UNWANTED SOLICITATION AND
ALSO STRIKING A BALANCE. WE TOOK
AN APPROACH WITH THIS BILL WHERE
WE'VE CREATED AN OPT IN, DO NOT
SOLICIT LIST. AND BECAUSE OF
THAT, AND I KNOW JEN WILL SPEAK
TO THIS BECAUSE WE'VE CHOSEN TO
OPT IN. WE WANTED TO BE
INCLUSIVE OF VARIOUS KINDS OF
SOLICITATION PRACTICES BECAUSE
FROM WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM
FOLKS, IF YOU'RE ADDING THIS
NAME TO THE LIST, IF YOU CHOOSE
TO ADD YOUR NAME TO THIS DO NOT
SOLICIT LIST, IT'S BECAUSE
YOU'RE SEEKING TO HAVE PEACE AND
PRIVACY FROM VARIOUS FORMS OF
UNREQUESTED SOLICITATION. SO I
JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT,
AND THEN I WILL HAND IT OVER TO
JEN TO SPEAK TO THE BILL OR
EXCUSE ME, TO THE CHANGES IN THE
BILL
-- GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN. I'M JEN
LABRECQUE, I'M WITH CITY
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF, AND I'M
HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE DO
NOT SOLICIT ORDINANCE, MOSTLY
WITH A FOCUS ON CHANGES TO THE
DRAFT THAT YOU ALL HAD SEEN AS
PART OF AN INFORMATION ITEM ON
SEVERAL COUNCIL OR COMMITTEE
AGENDAS. SO JUST AS A REMINDER,
BIG PICTURE, THIS ORDINANCE
WOULD ESTABLISH A NEW UNFAIR
HOUSING PRACTICE PROHIBITING
UNWANTED SOLICITATION OF
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. AND IT
WOULD ESTABLISH A DO NOT SOLICIT
LIST THAT HOMEOWNERS COULD OPT
INTO THAT WOULD PROTECT THEM
FROM UNWANTED RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTY SOLICITATIONS. THE
ORDINANCE, INCLUDING THE LIST,
WOULD BE ADMINISTERED BY THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS. THIS
LEGISLATION WAS DISCUSSED IN ITS
DRAFT FORM AT BOTH A JUNE 29th
COMMITTEE MEETING, AS WELL AS
JULY 8th, AND SOME CHANGES WERE
MADE FROM THE DRAFT VERSION TO
THE INTRODUCE INTRODUCED
VERSION, LARGELY BASED ON
STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK. THOSE
CHANGES INCLUDED THAT WE ADDED
NEW RECITALS RELATED TO PUBLIC
COMMENT, AND THE PANEL
CONVERSATION. AT THE JUNE 29th
COMMITTEE MEETING, WE EXPANDED
THE DEFINITION OF RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTY OWNER TO INCLUDE ANY
PERSON HAVING THE RIGHT TO SELL
OR APPROVE THE SALE OF THE
PROPERTY, AND THIS WAS INTENDED
TO INCLUDE HEIRS WHO ARE LIVING
IN A HOME. BUT MAYBE THE HOME
WASN'T GOING THROUGH PROBATE.
AND SO IT WAS INTENDED TO
BROADEN ESSENTIALLY, THE POOL OF
FOLKS WHO WOULD QUALIFY TO BE
ABLE TO PUT THEIR NAME ON THE DO
NOT SOLICIT LIST. WE ADDED TWO
ACTIONS THAT EXPLICITLY DO NOT
CONSTITUTE SOLICITATION. IN
ORDER TO BE CLEAR, THAT INCLUDED
COMMUNICATION THAT WAS INITIATED
BY THE PROPERTY OWNER OR ANY
ACTION BY A GOVERNMENT OR ANY
ACTION BY A PERSON ACTING ON
BEHALF OF A GOVERNMENT OR
UTILITY. WE REMOVE THE OPTION
FOR PROPERTY OWNER TO REMOVE
THEIR NAME, BUT NOT THEIR
ADDRESS TO THE LIST, AS THE LIST
COULD NOT CONSTITUTE PUBLIC
NOTICE WITHOUT BOTH NAME AND
ADDRESS. WE CLARIFIED THAT
PLACEMENT ON THE DO NOT SOLICIT
LIST CONSTITUTES NOTICE OF
DESIRE NOT TO BE SOLICITED OR TO
SELL. WE CLARIFIED THAT NOTICE
OF A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
OWNER'S DESIRE NOT TO SELL THE
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OR BE
SOLICITED INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT
LIMITED TO BEING ON THE DO NOT
SOLICIT LIST. SO A RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTY OWNER MAY NOTIFY A
PERSON OF THEIR DESIRE NOT TO BE
SOLICITED OR TO SELL THEIR
PROPERTY IN WRITING OR ORALLY.
SO IF SOMEONE CAME TO A
HOMEOWNER'S DOOR AND THEY
WEREN'T ON THE DO NOT SOLICIT
LIST, AND THE PERSON SAID, I
DON'T WANT TO BE SOLICITED
ANYMORE. AND THEN THAT PERSON
CAME BACK. THAT WOULD ACTUALLY
ALSO BE A VIOLATION OF THIS
UNFAIR HOUSING PRACTICE. YOU
DON'T IF YOU VERBALLY OR
ORALLY, SORRY, VERBALLY OR IN
WRITING, COMMUNICATE THAT YOU
DON'T WANT TO BE SOLICITED. IF
SOMEONE RETURNS, IT CAN ALSO BE
CONSTITUTED AS A VIOLATION OF
THE OR AS AN UNFAIR HOUSING
PRACTICE. AND WE CLARIFIED THAT
THE LIST COULD NOT BE USED FOR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES. WE ALSO
ADDED A REPORTING SECTION. WE
ARE REQUIRING A REPORT IN JULY
OF 2028 AND 2029 THAT PROVIDES
THE INFORMATION LISTED HERE ON
THE SLIDE, BROKEN DOWN BY
COUNCIL DISTRICT. AND WE ALSO
ASKED THE OCR REPORT BACK TO
COUNCIL AND EFFORTS TO
COORDINATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES ON OUTREACH AND
ENFORCEMENT OF ORDINANCE 127292.
THIS WAS A BILL THAT PASSED LAST
YEAR THAT REGULATED WHOLESALERS.
THERE IS A LOT OF OVERLAP IN
TERMS OF POLICY INTENT, AND SO
THE GOAL HERE IS REALLY TO ASK
THE DEPARTMENTS TO WORK TOGETHER
TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO SPREAD THE
WORD ABOUT BOTH OF THESE
ORDINANCES. AND I'LL STOP THERE.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH, JEN
COLLEAGUES. ANY QUESTIONS? OH,
ACTUALLY, EXCUSE ME, JEN, WE'RE
GOING TO TURN TO YOU TO PROVIDE
AN OVERVIEW OF AMENDMENT ONE,
AND THEN WE'LL TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS AND I'LL MAKE SOME
FINAL COMMENTS.
-- GREAT. SO AMENDMENT ONE IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ADD
A NEW UNFAIR PRACTICE RELATED TO
FAILURE TO DISCLOSE CONTACT AND
OTHER IDENTIFYING INFORMATION.
IT WOULD ONLY APPLY WHEN A
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNER WHO
DOES NOT WANT TO SELL OR BE
SOLICITED HAS BEEN SOLICITED AS
A RESULT, SOMEONE WHO SOLICITS
WHEN A HOMEOWNER DOES NOT WANT
TO BE SOLICITED AND FAILS TO
DISCLOSE THEIR CONTACT
INFORMATION, COULD BE ISSUED A
CITATION FOR TWO VIOLATIONS ONE
FOR UNWANTED SOLICITATION AND
ANOTHER FOR FAILURE TO DISCLOSE
CONTACT INFORMATION. AND ONE OF
THE INTENTS HERE IS TO
FACILITATE ENFORCEMENT WITH THE
IDEA THAT IF CONTACT INFORMATION
IS PROVIDED, IT MAY MAKE IT
EASIER TO IDENTIFY THE COMPANY
OR THE PERSON WHO IS DOING THE
SOLICITATION.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH, JEN. I
APPRECIATE THAT. AND YOU SPOKE
TO THIS VERY WELL, BUT THAT IS
THE INTENT OF THIS AMENDMENT IS
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION. AND IT
ALSO ALLOWS OCR TO PURSUE A
SECOND PENALTY FOR THOSE WHO MAY
ATTEMPT TO SKIRT ENFORCEMENT BY
NOT DISCLOSING THEIR IDENTITY I
WILL FIRST MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL
BILL ONE, TWO, 1259 AS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT ONE. IS THERE A
SECOND?
-- SECOND.
-- IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO AMEND THE BILL. ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT
ONE? JUST DOUBLE CHECKING AS I
MISSED THEM BEFORE. OKAY. ALL
RIGHT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT ONE?
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- YES.
-- COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
-- YES.
-- VICE CHAIR. LIN.
-- YES.
-- CHAIR FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- CHAIR, THERE ARE FOUR VOTES
IN FAVOR AND NONE OPPOSED.
-- OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES AND
BEFORE WE MOVE TO VOTE ON THE
BILL, I WILL CHECK TO SEE IF
THERE ARE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS
ABOUT ANY OF THE CHANGES TO THE
BILL THAT WERE JUST DISCUSSED BY
JEN LABRECQUE. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. HOLLINGSWORTH.
-- I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
IS THIS THE LAST TIME WE CAN
SPEAK?
-- THIS IS YOUR TIME.
-- SORRY, IT'S JUST A IT'S A
LONG DAY. MY APOLOGIES. SO I
JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, FOR, FOR
BRINGING THIS AND DOING THE
STAKEHOLDERS THAT YOU'VE DONE. I
KNOW WE'VE HEARD FEEDBACK FROM
A LOT OF FOLKS REGARDING THIS
AND TRYING TO ON THE SIDE OF
CAUTION AND THE SOLICITATION
PIECE AND THE DEFINITION OF
THAT. AND SO I KNOW, I KNOW YOU
REALLY CARE ABOUT THAT AND
TRYING TO PROTECT PEOPLE AS WELL
AND NOT HAVE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES. SO I SUPPORT THIS.
I'LL BE VOTING YES ON THIS
TODAY. JUST UNDERSTANDING SOME
OF THE CONCERNS THAT I'VE, THAT
I'VE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY, SOME
STUFF THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED AS
WELL. WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF
FEEDBACK FROM FROM PEOPLE. AND I
KNOW THE STRENGTHENS LAST YEAR,
WHAT COUNCIL PASSED JUST IN
ADDITION TO THAT, REGARDING THE,
THE ANTI THE SOLICITING PIECE,
JUST PROTECTING HOMEOWNERS. AND
I THINK A REALLY BIG PIECE OF
THIS IS MORE SO ON THE
ENFORCEMENT SIDE THAT THE CITY
CAN OBVIOUSLY DO A BETTER JOB
AND STILL WANT TO CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH OUR REALTORS AND, AND
ALL OF THEM. SO WE'RE NOT
HAVING, AGAIN, THE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES AS WELL TO THIS. SO
ANYWAY, SUPPORTING THIS TODAY
AND REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME
AND ATTENTION AND THE PROCESS
THAT YOU RAN TO GET TO THIS
POINT. SO THANK YOU, CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH
COUNCILMEMBER LIN, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR, I JUST WANT
TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT AND
GREAT APPRECIATION FOR YOUR
EFFORTS. FOR EVERYONE WHO WHO
CAME TO TESTIFY AND WHO HAS
HELPED CONTRIBUTE TO THIS BILL.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE
WORK TO DO, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT
COMES TO OUR EFFORTS TO ALLOW
FAMILIES TO TO STAY IN PLACE TO,
TO ADDRESS THOSE DISPLACEMENT
CONCERNS. AND I THINK THIS IS
GOING TO BE A SUPER EFFECTIVE
AND EFFICIENT WAY TO ADDRESS
THESE CONSTANT CONTACTS, THESE
HARASSING CALLS AND TEXTS AND
MAIL. IT'S, YOU KNOW, I THINK
IT'S GOING TO BE I THINK IT'S A
RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF FOLKS
THAT ENGAGE IN THAT ACTIVITY OF
WHO REACH OUT TO HOMEOWNERS AND,
YOU KNOW, AFTER THIS BILL IS
PASSED AND THE SYSTEM IS SET UP,
IT WILL BE VERY EASY TO ENFORCE
BECAUSE THERE WILL BE A VERY
CLEAN LIST OF OPT IN FOLKS. AND,
AND I THINK ONCE THE WORD GETS
OUT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WILL SAY,
HEY, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PUT
YOUR NAME ON THIS LIST AND YOU
CAN STOP THOSE HARASSING CALLS.
I THINK WORD WILL SPREAD QUICKLY
FOR, FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO, WHO
DON'T WANT TO KEEP GETTING
THOSE. SO ANYWAY, JUST SUPER
EXCITED TO SEE THIS. AND, AND
OBVIOUSLY WE'LL NEED TO WORK ON
THE BUDGET SIDE NEXT, BUT STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU, CHAIR FOSTER AND I
WANT TO JOIN IN THE CHORUS OF
GRATITUDE TO YOU FOR YOUR WORK
ON THIS BILL IN RESPONDING TO A
VERY SERIOUS COMMUNITY CONCERN.
I REALLY APPRECIATED THE PANEL
THAT WE HAD IN COMMITTEE JUST A
FEW WEEKS AGO. AND JUST WHAT WAS
OUTLINED BEFORE US. AND I THINK
IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS ISSUE IS,
IS NOT JUST A ONE AND DONE. AND
OUR WORK WILL CONTINUE ON
ADDRESSING THIS BECAUSE NOBODY
SHOULD BE HARASSED OUT OF THEIR
HOME AND PARTICULARLY
INTENTIONALLY MISLED OR
MANIPULATED IN THE WAYS THAT ARE
CLEARLY HAPPENING ACROSS OUR
COMMUNITY. SO THIS BILL IS, TO
ME, A STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION FOR PUSHING BACK ON
THESE HARMFUL PRACTICES THAT ARE
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE AND
FUELING DISPLACEMENT ACROSS OUR
COMMUNITIES. SO I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO VOTING YES TODAY, AND
I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, I WILL
PROVIDE SOME FINAL THOUGHTS
PRIOR TO THE VOTE. AND, YOU
KNOW, I'LL JUST SAY AND
ACTUALLY, FIRST, LET ME THANK
YOU IN PARTICULAR. COUNCILMEMBER
LIN WE'RE WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO
HAVE A LAWYER WITH AN EXPERTISE
IN HOUSING PRACTICE ON THIS
COMMITTEE. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR
YOUR FEEDBACK, THE WORK THAT YOU
DID WITH CENTRAL STAFF ON SOME
OF THESE PRE-INTRODUCTION
CHANGES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
REALLY HONING IN ON THE INTENT
OF THIS LEGISLATION. SO I WANT
TO APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT. AND,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, I
WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU FOR THE
CONNECTIONS THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT
TO THIS LEGISLATION. AND IN
PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW, YOUR YOUR
EXPERIENCE AS A LONG TIME
CENTRAL DISTRICT RESIDENT AND
HOMEOWNER AND COMMUNITY LEADER
HAVE BEEN REALLY INVALUABLE AS
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON AND
SHAPING THIS LEGISLATION. AND
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT TODAY
AND, AND ALL THE COMMENTS THAT
YOU'VE PROVIDED AS WE'VE
DISCUSSED THIS IN COMMITTEE. I
THINK THIS IS OUR THIRD TIME
NOW. SO I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS
MY MY GRATITUDE TO YOU,
COLLEAGUES, FOR ALL THE WAYS
THAT YOU HAVE WORKED TO MAKE
THIS BILL A BETTER PIECE OF
LEGISLATION. AND I WANT TO SAY,
YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE REALLY
DEEPLY THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE
CITY WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO
PURCHASE A HOME, WHO HAVE WORKED
SO HARD TO HOLD ON TO THEIR
HOMES, IN PARTICULAR WITH THE
FORCES OF GENTRIFICATION, I
BELIEVE THAT WE OWE THEM EVERY
EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT THEY
MAINTAIN THEIR STABILITY. AND
WHEN WE HEAR OF THE THINGS THAT
I'VE HEARD OF DURING THIS
PRACTICE, WHETHER THAT IS
LETTERS TO HOMEOWNERS THAT SAY
MY CHILD WOULD REALLY LIKE TO
PURCHASE YOUR HOUSE, AND THE
HURT THAT THAT HOMEOWNER FEELS
WHEN THEY'VE RAISED THEIR
FAMILY IN THAT HOME, WHETHER
THAT IS WHAT WE HEARD IN
COMMITTEE VERY EARLY ON ABOUT
PEOPLE SHOWING UP UNSOLICITED ON
YOUR DOORSTEP AND LEAVING
CONTRACTS THERE FOR A SIGNATURE
FOR YOUR HOME, WHETHER THAT IS
PEOPLE LEAVING CANDY FOR YOUR
GRANDCHILDREN TO TRY TO ENTICE
AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO AGREE
WITH THAT SOLICITATION. THOSE
ARE PRACTICES THAT JUST
SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. AND SO
THROUGH THIS LEGISLATION,
THROUGH ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SAY,
I DON'T WANT TO BE SOLICITED, I
WANT TO LIVE IN MY HOME IN
PEACE. I THINK THAT WE ARE BOTH
WE'RE PROVIDING TWO THINGS. WE
ARE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL
STABILITY TO OUR HOMEOWNERS, BUT
WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING THE
ABILITY FOR THOSE HOMEOWNERS TO
LIVE IN PEACE AND ENJOY THE
PRIVACY OF THEIR HOME. SO,
COLLEAGUES, I'M EXCITED TO
BRING THIS FORWARD TODAY AND I
ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT WITH THAT,
I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF COUNCIL
BILL ONE TWO, 1259, AS AMENDED.
IS THERE A SECOND.
-- SECOND, SECOND?
-- IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF THE BILL.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?
ALL RIGHT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE
RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT COUNCIL
BILL ONE, 21259, AS AMENDED?
-- COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH. YES.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
-- YES.
-- VICE CHAIR LIN.
-- YES.
-- CHAIR FOSTER.
-- YES.
-- CHAIR, THERE ARE FOUR VOTES
IN FAVOR AND NONE OPPOSED.
-- FANTASTIC. THE MOTION CARRIES
AND THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
THAT THE COUNCIL BILL BE
ADOPTED, AS AMENDED, WILL BE
SENT TO THE JULY 28th, 2026 CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. AND BEFORE WE
MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM OF
BUSINESS, I REALLY WANT TO
EXPRESS MY DEEP GRATITUDE. I'M
SORRY I THANKED A LOT OF PEOPLE,
BUT I FORGOT TO THANK YOU, SAGE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF
YOUR INCREDIBLE HARD WORK AND
LEADERSHIP ON THIS. CONNECTING
WITH PEOPLE, DOING A LOT OF
FOLLOW UP AND CLERKING. THE
COMMITTEE REALLY COULDN'T DO IT
WITHOUT YOU. AND I WANT TO ALSO
EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO
NOUSHEEN, WHO'S BEEN HOLDING IT
DOWN IN OUR OFFICE, AND TO ALL
OF THE STAFF WHO WORKED ON THIS.
OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR
NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 21 INTO
THE RECORD.?
-- AGENDA ITEM 21 COUNCIL BILL
ONE, TWO, 1254. AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO RENTAL AGREEMENT
REGULATION REQUIRING DISCLOSURE
OF FEES PROHIBITING AND LIMITING
CERTAIN FEES, REQUIRING
RETENTION OF COMPLIANCE RECORDS.
EXPANDING INVESTIGATION
AUTHORITY AND ESTABLISHING NEW
ENFORCEMENT
MECHANISMS. AMENDING SECTION
724020724050724060724120, AND
724030 OF
AND ADDING NEW SECTION(
724) 039-7240 4072 4045 7241 707
2
41807241907242007242107242207242
30, AND 724240 TO THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE FOR BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND ONCE AGAIN WE APPRECIATE YOU
SO MUCH. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE
UP TO THE COMMITTEE TABLE H.B.
HARPER FROM COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF
THE LEGISLATION. AND AS WE ARE
MAKING SURE THAT H.B. IS SET UP
AT THE TABLE THERE, I JUST WANT
TO DO A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE
PLANNED PROCESS FOR THIS BILL.
SO AFTER DISCUSSING THIS BILL AS
AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM AT OUR
LAST COMMITTEE MEETING, WE ARE
TODAY FORMALLY, FORMALLY
INTRODUCING THE LEGISLATION. AND
WE WILL ALSO BE HEARING
AMENDMENT ONE BEING BROUGHT
FORWARD BY COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
WE WILL NOT BE VOTING ON THE
BILL OR THE AMENDMENT TODAY, BUT
WE WANT TO PROVIDE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMITTEE
MEMBERS TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS
THEY HAVE ABOUT THE BILL OR THE
AMENDMENT. I PLAN TO HOLD A VOTE
DURING OUR NEXT MEETING, AND
I'M PLANNING TO SCHEDULE A
SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING ON
MONDAY, AUGUST 3rd SO THAT WE
HAVE THE ABILITY TO HEAR THIS
BILL AGAIN DURING THAT DURING
THAT COMMITTEE MEETING, HB FROM
CENTRAL STAFF. SO COLLEAGUES
WANT TO MAKE SURE IF THERE ARE
ANY ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT IDEAS
HB HAS ASKED FOR THOSE
AMENDMENTS TO HER NO LATER THAN
JULY 27th. WE ALSO TODAY HAVE
WITH US, AND I WANT TO EXPRESS
MY APPRECIATION. MEMBERS FROM
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND SDCI IN
CHAMBERS. OKAY, SO THAT IS JUST
A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF THE
PROCESS. AND BEFORE WE START
OFF, I WANT TO AGAIN EXPRESS MY
GRATITUDE TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND TO HER TEAM FOR THEIR WORK
AND THEIR LEADERSHIP ON THIS
BILL, AS WELL AS THE OVER 30
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SHOWED UP
LAST COMMITTEE MEETING. THERE
WERE PROBABLY 20 SOMETHING
MEMBERS HERE TODAY DURING PUBLIC
COMMENT TO TALK ABOUT THE
IMPACTS OF RENTAL FEES AND HOW
THAT'S ADDING COSTS FOR
RENTERS. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR
FOR SHOWING UP AND PARTICIPATING
IN THIS PROCESS. HB WHEN YOU ARE
READY, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF
AND BEGIN WITH YOUR
PRESENTATION. AND AFTER YOU'RE
DONE, WE'LL PAUSE FOR QUESTIONS
FROM THE COMMITTEE. BEFORE WE
TURN TO DISCUSSION OF THE
AMENDMENT.
-- THANK YOU. HB HARPER COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF. SO WE'RE HERE TO
DISCUSS COUNCIL BILL ONE TWO,
ONE, TWO FIVE FOR RENTAL FEES
AND ENFORCEMENT. SO THIS
BRIEFING WILL COVER SOME
BACKGROUND CONTEXT FOR THESE
REGULATIONS. AN OVERVIEW OF THE
DRAFT LEGISLATION, INCLUDING A
BREAKDOWN OF REQUIREMENTS, FEES
PROPOSED TO BE ALLOWED AND
PROHIBITED, AND SOME DETAILS ON
IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT,
AS WELL AS A DESCRIPTION OF
FISCAL IMPACTS. SO THE DRAFT
LEGISLATION ENTERS A LANDSCAPE
OF LANDLORD TENANT RELATED LAWS
IN WASHINGTON THAT BEGAN IN THE
70s WITH THE RESIDENTIAL
LANDLORD TENANT ACT, WHICH IS A
STATE LAW ESTABLISHING A SHARED
FRAMEWORK FOR THE DUTIES,
OBLIGATIONS AND RIGHTS OF BOTH
TENANTS AND LANDLORDS. WHAT'S ON
THE BOOKS TODAY? OF COURSE,
IT'S BEEN AMENDED MANY TIMES AT
THE STATE LEVEL. THERE ARE A FEW
FEE RELATED REGULATIONS,
INCLUDING STIPULATIONS ON FEES
FOR LATE RENT, PROHIBITING FEES
OR DEPOSITS TO BE ON A WAIT
LIST, CAPS ON FEES OR DEPOSITS
TO HOLD A DWELLING UNIT, THAT
KIND OF THING. SO SEATTLE
ENTERED THIS REGULATORY
LANDSCAPE IN THE 90s WITH BILLS
ESTABLISHING TERMS AND LAYING
THE FOUNDATIONAL FRAMEWORK
RELATED TO SECURITY DEPOSITS AND
NOTICES FOR RENT INCREASES. AND
THEN IN THE MID TO LATE 2000,
THE COUNCIL THE COUNCIL PASSED
ORDINANCES CAPPING THE AMOUNT OF
SECURITY DEPOSITS AND MOVING
FEES, ALLOWING MOVE IN FEES TO
BE PAID IN INSTALLMENTS AND
BEGINNING TO ESTABLISH
ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS. AND THEN
IN 2023, LATE FEES WERE CAPPED.
SO FROM A FEE PERSPECTIVE, THE
INITIAL MOVE IN FEES AND
DEPOSITS AND LATE FEES, THOSE
HAVE REALLY BEEN THE FOCUS OF
MUCH OF THE REGULATION IN THE
LANDLORD TENANT SPACE. SO THIS
LEGISLATION MOVES BEYOND THOSE
TO ADDRESS OTHER FEES. LANDLORDS
MAY CHARGE. AND THE TRANSPARENCY
FOR THE PROSPECTIVE TENANT
REGARDING THE TOTAL COST OF
LIVING. SO FIRST AND PERHAPS
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE
LEGISLATION REQUIRES THAT
ADVERTISEMENTS AND RENTAL
APPLICATIONS FOR RENTAL UNITS
DISCLOSE ALL COSTS UP FRONT. SO
THAT INCLUDES THE MONTHLY RENT,
ANY DISCOUNTS, UTILITIES,
WHETHER THOSE ARE INCLUDED OR
NOT, AND THE AMOUNTS OF ALL FEES
THE TENANT WILL BE ASSESSED. SO
THAT DISCLOSURE IS THE FIRST
COMPONENT THAT'S IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND AS A KEY PIECE OF THE
BILL. NEXT, OF COURSE, IT
ADDRESSES FEES, WHICH WE'LL GET
TO IN A MINUTE. AND THEN THERE
ARE REQUIREMENTS FOR LANDLORDS
TO RETAIN RECORDS DOCUMENTING
COMPLIANCE WITH THESE LAWS. AND
FINALLY, THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF
DETAIL ON ENFORCEMENT, AND I'LL
GO THROUGH SOME OF THAT IN
DETAIL AFTER WE TALK FEES. SO
THERE ARE ESSENTIALLY THREE
CATEGORIES IN THE BILL FOR FEES.
CATEGORY ONE IS FEES THAT ARE
ALLOWED. AND THEN THERE'S
OPTIONAL. AND THEN PROHIBITED.
SO ALLOWED IN THIS CASE MEANS
THAT A LANDLORD CAN ASSESS THEM
ACROSS THE TABLE. A TENANT
DOESN'T HAVE TO OPT IN. SO THE
LIST ON THE SCREEN HERE SHOWS
YOU THOSE FEES THAT ARE ALLOWED,
WHICH INCLUDE MANY OF THEM THAT
ARE ALREADY REGULATED, AS WELL
AS PROPOSED ADDITIONAL ALLOWED
FEES FOR REPLACEMENT KEYS,
LOCKOUT FEES AND FEES FOR
PAYMENT RETURNED WITH
INSUFFICIENT FUNDS. AND IN ALL
OF THOSE CASES, THERE ARE CAPS
ON THOSE THREE ADDITIONAL FEES,
AND THERE ARE ALREADY CAPS ON
THE ALREADY REGULATED FEES. AND
ALL OF THOSE ARE DETAILED IN
ATTACHMENT ONE TO THE MEMO THAT
WAS SENT VIA EMAIL A FEW DAYS
AGO. SO, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE
STIPULATIONS, A TENANT DOESN'T
HAVE TO OPT IN. THEY CAN BE
ASSESSED ANY OF THESE FEES AS
LONG AS THE LANDLORD IS MEETING
THE STIPULATIONS THAT ARE LAID
OUT IN THE BILL. IN ADDITION TO
THESE, LANDLORDS MAY ASSESS
OPTIONAL FEES AND AN OPTIONAL
FEE IS WHERE TENANT OPTS IN TO
PAYING FOR A PARTICULAR GOOD OR
SERVICE. SO THESE OPTIONAL FEES
MUST MEET FOUR REQUIREMENTS
CLEAR DISCLOSURE AFFIRMATIVE OPT
IN SO THEY CAN'T BE DEFAULTED
IN. THEY NEED TO CHOOSE TO OPT
INTO THE FEE. A CLEAR METHOD FOR
OPTING OUT THAT INVOLVES NO
CHARGE OR FEE TO THE TENANT THAT
NEEDS TO BE DISCLOSED UP FRONT.
AND FINALLY, IF THE LANDLORD
CONTRACTS WITH A THIRD PARTY FOR
A GOOD OR SERVICE, THE COST TO
THE TENANT CANNOT EXCEED THE
COST TO THE LANDLORD. SO WE DID
THE FIRST CATEGORY FEES ALLOWED.
SECOND CATEGORY OPTIONAL FEES.
FINALLY, WE HAVE PROHIBITED FEES
AND PROHIBITED FEES ARE
DETERMINED TO BE UNFAIR OR
EXCESSIVE, SO THEY CANNOT BE
ASSESSED AS OPTIONAL EVEN IF
THEY MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS. WE
DISCUSSED ON THE LAST SLIDE. SO
THERE'S A LIST ON THE SCREEN.
BUT BEYOND THIS LIST, THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS IS
ALSO GIVEN THE ABILITY THROUGH
THE LEGISLATION TO DETERMINE
ADDITIONAL FEES TO ADD TO THIS
LIST AS BEING UNFAIR AND
EXCESSIVE. AND THEY WOULD DO
THAT VIA A DIRECTOR'S RULE.
THERE ARE FACTORS THE DIRECTOR
SHALL CONSIDER BEFORE PUTTING
SUCH A RULE OUT THERE, AND
THAT'S ALL LAID OUT IN THE
BILL. BUT SO THE LIST ON THE
SCREEN MAY GROW OVER TIME, BUT
AS PROPOSED, IT INCLUDES THE USE
OF IN-UNIT APPLIANCES, ACCESS TO
COMMON AREAS. BUT NOTE. AND
THOSE FOR BOTH OF THOSE. THERE
ARE EXCEPTIONS FEES TO ACCEPT
RENT, PAYMENTS, ACCESS MAIL,
PERFORM ANY ASPECT OF LANDLORD
DUTY AND ANY PARTIAL CHANGE IN
TENANCY FOR ADDING OR REMOVING
ROOMMATES. FINALLY, IT PROHIBITS
THAT MONTHLY FEE FOR KEEPING A
PET, ALTHOUGH PET DAMAGE
DEPOSITS CAN STILL BE ASSESSED.
SO THAT ALL FEELS REALLY MEATY.
BUT THE TRUE MEAT OF THIS
ORDINANCE, IN MY OPINION, IS IN
THE ENFORCEMENT. SO A LOT OF IS
DEDICATED TO SORT OF
IMPLEMENTING THESE REGULATIONS.
AND IT REPRESENTS A PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT SHIFT THAT I'D LIKE
TO TRY TO WALK YOU THROUGH. SO
TODAY ALREADY SDCI CAN
INVESTIGATE INDIVIDUAL
COMPLAINTS FROM TENANTS RELATED
TO EXISTING REGULATIONS LIKE
NOTICE AND MOVE IN FEES, AND CAN
ISSUE CITATIONS AND ASSESS
PENALTIES. THIS LEGISLATION
GIVES SDCI THE POWER TO INITIATE
AN INVESTIGATION ON A BROADER
SCALE BEYOND AN INDIVIDUAL
COMPLAINANT, AND LOOK AT A
BUILDING WIDE OR COMPANY WIDE
ISSUE AND ENFORCE THE
REGULATIONS AT THAT SCALE. SO
THIS IS WHERE THAT RECORDS
RETENTION REQUIREMENT BECOMES
IMPORTANT, BECAUSE THE
DEPARTMENT MAY REQUEST THOSE
RECORDS, THOSE DOCUMENTS, AND
CREATE REQUIRED TIMELINES FOR
RESPONSE TO THOSE REQUESTS VIA
DIRECTOR'S RULE AND IF NEEDED,
THROUGH THE HEARING EXAMINER
SUBPOENA, THE LANDLORD'S SDCI
CAN REFER THE SUBPOENA OR ANY
CASE UNDER INVESTIGATION TO THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR
FILING A CIVIL ACTION. AND
AGAIN, THAT'S A PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT SHIFT FROM HOW
THINGS WORK TODAY. SO IN A
SITUATION WHERE A VIOLATION IS
FOUND, THERE ARE REMEDIES AND
PENALTIES SPELLED OUT IN THE
DRAFT BILL. THEY'RE SUMMARIZED
AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL HERE AND
SPELLED OUT IN DETAIL IN
ATTACHMENT TWO TO THE MEMO. AND
I WANTED TO NOTE THAT THE
DIRECTOR DOES HAVE SOME
DISCRETION HERE, AND THE
LEGISLATION GIVES THE DIRECTOR
SOME DIRECTION AND FACTORS TO
CONSIDER IN EXERCISING THAT
DISCRETION. IN TERMS OF FISCAL
IMPACT, ENFORCEMENT OF THIS
PROGRAM IS EXPECTED TO REQUIRE
THREE ADDITIONAL FTES ON AN
ONGOING BASIS, AS WELL AS
INITIAL INITIAL START UP COSTS
RELATED TO OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT FOR TENANTS AND
LANDLORDS. THE BILL ITSELF DOES
NOT CHANGE APPROPRIATIONS, BUT
AS PART OF THE 2027 BUDGET, AN
INCREASE OF ABOUT $1 MILLION IS
ANTICIPATED. THE INCREASE IS
EXPECTED TO BE PAID FOR VIA A
NEW PER RENTAL UNIT FEE THAT'S
CHARGED AS PART OF SDCI ANNUAL
FEE BILL, WHICH WILL BE PART OF
THE COUNCIL'S 2027 BUDGET
LEGISLATION THE THREE EFFORTS
WOULD INCLUDE TWO CODE
COMPLIANCE ANALYSTS AND A SENIOR
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
SPECIALIST TO HANDLE INCREASED
CASE INTAKE INVESTIGATIONS AND
LANDLORD ASSISTANCE, THE HEARING
EXAMINER AND CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE ARE EXPECTED TO BE ABLE
TO ABSORB ANY ADDITIONAL WORK
THAT RESULTS FROM THIS BILL, SO
THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. AND WITH
THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS AND OR SPEAK TO THE
AMENDMENT WHEN YOU'RE READY.
THANKS.
-- FANTASTIC. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THAT OVERVIEW OF THE
LEGISLATION. COLLEAGUES, I
INTEND TO GO TO YOU FIRST FOR
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEGISLATION,
AS IS PRIOR TO GOING TO THE
AMENDMENT, ARE THERE QUESTIONS
FROM THE PRESENTATION FROM
CENTRAL STAFF?
-- OKAY.
-- WELL, I'LL ASK A FEW, EVEN
THOUGH I'M SPONSORING IT,
BECAUSE I LOVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE'S CLARITY AND THE PUBLIC
REALM. CAN YOU JUST SHARE A
LITTLE BIT MORE? AND I KNOW WE
HEARD FROM AND WE HEARD FROM OUR
SPEAKERS AT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AS WELL AS THE ONE OF THE
ECONOMISTS FROM STANFORD LAST
FEELS LIKE LAST WEEK, LAST
COMMITTEE MEETING. BUT CAN YOU
JUST SPEAK A LITTLE BIT AROUND
THE INTENT TO DO THE PROHIBITION
ON ALL FEES, EXCEPT FOR THOSE
THAT ARE EXPRESSLY ALLOWED BY
THE ORDINANCE?
-- YES. IN TERMS OF STRUCTURE,
SORT OF STRUCTURING THE
ORDINANCE THAT WAY. RIGHT. SO
THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS
YOU CAN TRY TO REGULATE FEES.
AND RATHER THAN NAMING EVERY
SINGLE FEE THAT'S PROHIBITED,
YOU KNOW, TAKING AN APPROACH
WHERE WE NAME WHAT'S ALLOWED
AND SAY THAT EVERYTHING ELSE IS
PROHIBITED AS LONG AS IT
DOESN'T FALL INTO THAT OPTIONAL
CATEGORY, SORT OF ENSURES THAT
WE'RE NOT PLAYING WHACK A MOLE
WITH DISCOVERING NEW FEES THAT
LANDLORDS ARE ARE, YOU KNOW,
SORT OF RENAMING OR REVIVING IN
DIFFERENT FORMS.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I
THINK I ASK THAT THANK YOU FOR
THAT. AND I KNOW I ASKED THIS
LAST WEEK, BUT I'LL JUST SAY IT
AGAIN, OUR LAST COMMITTEE
MEETING, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN,
THOUGH, MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN IT
COMES TO PET RENT IS THAT WE ARE
STILL ALLOWING A PET DEPOSIT AS
WELL AS ANY POTENTIAL CHARGES
FOR DAMAGES. CAN YOU SPEAK TO
THAT BRIEFLY?
-- THAT'S RIGHT. PET DAMAGE
DEPOSITS ARE STILL ALLOWED, AND
THERE'S STIPULATIONS REGARDING
REPAIR WHEN DAMAGE IS DONE THAT
I BELIEVE ARE IN STATE LAW. SO
NOTHING ABOUT THAT IS CHANGING.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COLLEAGUES. ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS FOR H B OKAY. I
BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO TURN TO
YOU NOW. H B TO PROVIDE AN
OVERVIEW OF AMENDMENT ONE. GIVEN
WE WON'T BE VOTING ON
AMENDMENTS TODAY, WE'LL JUST BE
HAVING AN OVERVIEW AND A
DISCUSSION.
-- THANK YOU. SO AMENDMENT ONE,
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, WOULD ADD A. WOULD ADD A
SORRY, A STIPULATION TO THE LIST
OF OPTIONAL FEES. SO IF AN
OPTIONAL FEE IS ASSESSED, THAT
IS A BUNDLED SET OF GOODS OR
SERVICES SUCH AS A TECHNOLOGY
FEE, BUNDLING CABLE AND
INTERNET. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
REQUIRE THAT THE LANDLORD ALSO
MAKE EACH COMPONENT OF THE
BUNDLE AVAILABLE SEPARATELY, SO
IT CANNOT SOLELY BE OFFERED AS A
BUNDLED SET OF GOODS OR SERVICES
-- OKAY, OKAY.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH, HB. I
WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU DIDN'T
HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER. I
APPRECIATE THAT OVERVIEW AND
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. I'D LIKE
TO RECOGNIZE YOU TO SPEAK TO
YOUR AMENDMENT.
-- THANK YOU, CHAIR FOSTER, AND
THANK YOU, HB FOR THE OVERVIEW
ON THIS. COLLEAGUES, THIS IS A
VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD AMENDMENT,
AND I BROUGHT THIS FORWARD AFTER
DIRECT DISCUSSIONS WITH TENANTS
RIGHTS ADVOCATES AND FOLKS WHO
WORK IN TENANT SUPPORT SERVICES
AND LEGAL AID. I'M BRINGING
THIS FORWARD BECAUSE I BELIEVE
THIS WILL SERVE AS AN IMPORTANT
CLARIFICATION AND THE CLOSURE OF
A POSSIBLE LOOPHOLE TO ENSURE NO
JUNK FEES OR BANNING WOULD BE
REQUIRED TO RECEIVE A SERVICE
THAT, TO MANY IS ESSENTIAL. SO
WHILE BUNDLING ISN'T A THE MOST
COMMON ISSUE WE FACE TODAY, I
HAVE CONCERNS THAT IT COULD
BECOME MORE FREQUENT. SO THIS IS
THE REASON THAT I BROUGHT THIS
AMENDMENT FORWARD. THANK YOU
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK COLLEAGUES,
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HB
OR COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK ON THE
AMENDMENT AS PUT FORWARD IN
COMMITTEE TODAY? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
-- HOLLINGSWORTH YET? NO, NO. NO
QUESTIONS. JUST A COMMENT. THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK FOR
PUTTING THIS FORWARD. AND, YOU
KNOW, WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORTING
JUNK FEES AND THE AMENDMENT
THAT'S PUT FORWARD TODAY AS
WELL, WILL NOT HAVE ANY
AMENDMENTS TO THE LEGISLATION.
AND JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING IT AS IS. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I APPRECIATE THAT.
CHECKING FOR HANDS HERE. OKAY.
GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE. ARE
THERE ANY FINAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS
ALL RIGHT. FANTASTIC. THANK YOU
SO MUCH, HB WE REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT. AND AGAIN, WANT TO EXPRESS
MY GRATITUDE TO THE MAYOR FOR
BRINGING THIS LEGISLATION
FORWARD AND TO MAYOR'S OFFICE
STAFF, FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK
ON THIS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
MONTHS. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER
ITEMS OF BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE? OKAY. HEARING
NONE. THIS CONCLUDES THE JULY
22nd, 2020 SIXTH MEETING OF THE
HOUSING, ARTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS
COMMITTEE. COLLEAGUES, OUR NEXT
SCHEDULED MEETING IS AUGUST
12th. HOWEVER, AS I MENTIONED TO
YOU EARLIER, HAVE AN INTENT TO
HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING EARLIER
IN AUGUST. SO WE WILL NOTICE
THAT SHORTLY. THANK YOU ALL FOR
ATTENDING. IT IS 3:33 P.M. AND
WE ARE ADJOURNED.