>>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I'M TORN BY COUNSEL IN THE
MOSQUEDA AND WE HAVE THREE
APPOINTMENTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE ON OUR AGENDA TODAY.
I WILL MOVE RIGHT INTO THE
PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.
WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER SIGNED UP,
MISTER ALEX ZIMMERMAN.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MY NAME IS ALEX ZIMMERMAN.
I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
DIRECTOR OFFICE EXAMINER.
I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS
FOR LIKE 100 TIMES.
I SPOKE WITH HIM RIGHT NOW AND
HE IS A NICE MAN.
THE OFFICE AND HEAD OF
DEPARTMENT DON'T COME TO EVERY
MEETING SO PEOPLE CANNOT COME
AND DELIVER THEIR OPINION.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR THE LAST
10 YEARS.
THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE COMMON
BUSINESS COMMON SENSE.
EVERY DEPARTMENT WAS TO HAVE
ONE MONTH MEETING TO INCLUDE
THE DIRECTOR AND THE PEOPLE AND
THE COMMISSIONER SO PEOPLE CAN
COME AND DELIVER THEIR OPINION.
WE HAVE A KNOTTY SOCIAL
DEMOCRATIC ATMOSPHERE.
HOW IS IS POSSIBLE FOR MANY
DEPARTMENTS? I AM IN CONSTANT
COMMISSIONER MEETINGS AND MANY
DEPARTMENTS NEVER HAVE THE
MONTH MEETING SO PEOPLE CAN
COME AND TALK.
Q&A IS BEST BUT WHEN YOU DON'T
HAVE Q&A, IF YOU CAN'T SPEAK
AND DELIVER YOUR OPINION, I
DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS
COUNSEL COULD SIT HERE AND
DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THIS VERY
SIMPLE PRINCIPLE. WHEN PEOPLE
COME AND DELIVER THEIR OPINION,
IT CAN BE TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
I HAVE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE FOR
ALL MY LIFE.
THIS IS EXACTLY LIKE WHAT I
TALK TO YOU.
I DEMAND RIGHT NOW TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT IS AMERICAN BUSINESS.
>> WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT SESSION AND GO TO THE
FIRST AGENDA ITEM.
PLEASE READ IT FOR THE RECORD
MS. SAMUELS.
COME FORWARD AND JOIN US TO THE
TABLE.
>> APPOINTMENT 01277 REFORMING
OF RYAN P VANCIL AS HEARING
EXAMINER FOR THE TERM TO MARCH
20, 2023.
>> YOU HAVE BEEN TO THE TABLE
BEFORE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR OPENING YOUR OFFICE TO THE
INQUIRIES AND EVALUATIONS.
WE GOT FEEDBACK FROM
COUNCILMMBERS AND YOU
RESPONDED TO OUR QUESTIONS SO
WE JUST HAD A FEW CLARIFYING
QUESTIONS ON SOME OF THE
WRITTEN RESPONSES.
IF EVERYTHING GOES AS PLANNED,
YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EXULTATION
LETTER AFTER THIS HEARING AND
WE WILL PRESENT IT TO THE FULL
COUNCIL.
I WILL TURN TO THIS DOCUMENT
THAT IS BASICALLY A SERIES OF
QUESTIONS AND YOU GAVE
ELABORATE ANSWERS AND I WANT
YOU TO BETTER UNDERSTAND YOUR
THINKING.
ONE DOCUMENT, YOU TALKED ABOUT
SERVING INTEGRATION WITH THE
CITATION SYSTEM AND I AM NOT
FAMILIAR, WHAT IS THE END GOAL?
YOUR OFFICE HAS ACCESS TO ALL
THE CITATIONS AND SO YOU ARE
ABLE TO SEE THEM AND IS THIS
ONE OF THE AREAS THAT
FREQUENTLY COMES TO THE
HEARINGS FOR APPEALS?
I AM NOT FAMILIAR?
TRANSFER THIS WOULD BE AN
ENTIRELY NEW ITEM AS WE HAVE
WITH AS DCI, THEY ISSUE
CITATIONS EITHER FOR VIOLATIONS
IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY OR THE LAND-
USE VIOLATION. THE SEATTLE FILE
DEPARTMENT HAS NOT HAD A
CITATION PROCESS IN PLACE SINCE
THE 1960S AND MOST
JURISDICTIONS IN THE U. S. AND
THE STATE HAVE THAT CAPACITY
THROUGH THEIR FIRE DEPARTMENT
SO THEY ARE LOOKING AT
IMPLANTING NEW CITATION
PROCESSES AND SIMILAR TO THE
OTHER CITATIONS, IF THERE IS A
PROBLEM ON THE PART OF THE
INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS BEEN CITED,
THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
APPEAL.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL BE ON A
REACH OUT OR STAKEHOLDERS
PROCESS FOR THE NEXT 3 TO 4
MONTHS.
THEY ARE ANTICIPATING HAVING
COUNSEL AND LEGISLATION ON THIS
IN JULY AND THEN MAYBE
IMPLEMENTATION SOMETIME IN
OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER.
>> I SEE.
>> THEY WERE VERY ANXIOUS AND
WHEN THEY FIRST CAME TO US THEY
SAID JANUARY 2019.
I KNOW THEY FEEL THAT WITH
FALSE ALARMS AND THAT WITH
OTHER THINGS THAT IT IS BEING
ABUSED AND THEY WANT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A BIT MORE
ENFORCEMENT.
>> I SEE.
THERE MUST BE SOME KIND OF
APPEAL PROCESS IN PLACE.
>> THE CITATIONS DON'T EXIST
YET SO THEY CANNOT ISSUE
CITATIONS BUT ONCE THEY ISSUE
CITATIONS STARTING IN THE FALL,
THE APPEAL PROCESS WOULD BE
EXACTLY THE SAME SO WE HAVE THE
CSI SO THAT IF SOME GETS A
CITATION, IT'S LIKE A TRAFFIC
TICKET WITH THE SMALL CLAIMS
COURT.
EVERY THURSDAY, WE HAVE OUR
CITATION COUNTER WITH THE
INDIVIDUALS CHECKING TO BE HERE
FOR THE CONTESTED HEARING OR
MITIGATION HEARING AND THEN
THEY COME AND MAKE THEIR CASE
IN AN HOUR OR LESS.
>> I SEE.
ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT
WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR COUNSEL
THAT COULD AFFECT THE CASELOAD
RIGHT NOW COMBINED, WE SEE DCI
GIVING US ABOUT $750 CITATIONS
A YEAR AND THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT HAS LEASED AT LEAST
400 AND THEY WERE TRYING TO BE
SOFT ON US.
THAT WILL LAND A BIG LOAD FOR
THE CASELOAD.
>> I SEE.
YOU TALK ABOUT INCREASING
MEDIATIONS WITH SOME OF THE
MATTERS THAT COME BEFORE THE
HEARING EXAMINER.
YOU TALKED ABOUT GETTING SOME
OF THE BAR ASSOCIATIONS OR LAND-
USE RESOLUTIONS. WHAT DOES THAT
LOOK LIKE?
ARE THOSE VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS
THAT WOULD LEND THEMSELVES TO
THESE APPEALS?
>> CURRENTLY, I AM A MEMBER OF
THE WASHINGTON STATE BAR
ENVIRONMENT AND LAND-USE LAW
AND WE FORMED THIS COMMITTEE
SPECIFICALLY TO IDENTIFY AREAS
AND LAND-USE AND IT CAN BE
ENHANCED AS AN OPPORTUNITY.
THE TYPES OF PARTIES THAT WE SEE
ARE UNIQUE COMPARED TO FAMILY
LAW WHERE WE HAVE A
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP OR DEVELOPER
AND THERE IS UNIQUE INTEREST IN
THOSE DIFFERENT PARTIES AND WHY
AND HOW THEY MIGHT COME TO
REMEDIATION AND HOW THEY CAN
REACH A RESOLUTION.
A LOT OF THE TIMES, THEY ARE
PARTICIPATING IN DEVELOPMENTS
AND PROJECTS WHERE THERE WILL
BE NEIGHBORS AND THEY ARE
WORKING WITH EACH OTHER FOR
YEARS OR DECADES WITH LONG-TERM
INTERESTS AND THERE'S THINGS
THAT I CANNOT ADDRESS IN FRONT
OF THE HEARING.
I AM THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN BUT
THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO CATER AN
AGREEMENT BETWEEN EACH OTHER AS
LONG AS IT AGREES WITH THE CODE
THAT THE ONE TREE THAT THEY ALL
CARE ABOUT GETS SAVED OR
SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
I SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY AND
THIS IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SEE
IN OUR COURTS NOW, IT'S AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS TO
COME TO A RESOLUTION AND REACH
THE RESOLUTION THAT THEY WOULD
LIKE TO SEE.
PLUS, IT TAKES THEM OUT OF THE
SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE CASELOADS
WITH EFFICIENCY THAT IS
ACHIEVED.
IT'S A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYONE AND
IF THE MEDIATION DOES NOT WORK,
WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT ANYTHING
MANDATORY.
IT IS MADE UP OF LAND-USE
PROFESSIONALS FROM ALL WALKS OF
LIFE WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT I
SEE IN FRONT OF ME AS BOTH
DEVELOPMENTS AND EXPERT
MEDIATORS FROM GROUND STATE.
>> YOU SEEM INTERESTED IN THE
POSSIBILITY OF CONDUCTING
HEARINGS FOR SOME MATTERS
THROUGH VIDEOCONFERENCING OR
SKYPE'S.
HAVE YOU TRIED THAT YET OR IS
THIS SOMETHING YOU ARE
INTERESTED TO DO IN THE FUTURE?
>> WE HAVE DONE IT A COUPLE OF
TIMES.
IT WAS SET UP AS AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE CITATION CASES THAT I
WAS TALKING ABOUT AND WE HAVE
AN INDIVIDUAL.
THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO APPEAL AND
THEY CAN SAY HERE'S MY
SITUATION.
I HAD MY SANDWICH STORE ON THE
SIDEWALK AND I DIDN'T HAVE A
PERMIT BUT I WILL NEVER DO IT
AGAIN AND I GOT IT NOW.
THEY HAVE TO COME DOWNTOWN AND
PAY ALMOST AS MUCH IS THE TICKET
JUST TO TAKE THE DAY OFF FROM
WORK AND IF WE CAN INCREASE AND
IMPROVE THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE
TO COME IN PARTICULARLY AS
WE'RE LOOKING AT DECREASING
CAPACITY FOR INDIVIDUALS TO
MAKE INTO DOWNTOWN, I THINK WE
WOULD PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE.
WE HAVE DONE A COUPLE OF TIMES.
ONE IN A CETACEAN HEARING WITH
REDUCED MOBILITY AND CAPACITY
AND IT WORKED WELL.
WE ALSO HAD, THIS WAS A BIT
MORE THAN WE WERE LOOKING AT
BUT THE CASE WHERE THE CITY HAD
THREE WITNESSES THAT WERE IN
CALIFORNIA AND THEY SIMPLY
WOULD NOT HAVE A CASE THAT THE
WITNESSES WERE NOT COME IN BY
SKYPE.
IT WAS MORE INFORMAL AND WE
WOULD SEE THEM IN A SINGLE
SETTING AND IT WAS MANAGED ON
THAT END VERY WELL.
IT WENT OKAY.
>> WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST, I'M
INTERESTED IN DOING THAT.
YOU RUN SORT OF A SMALL FIVE
MEMBER OFFICERS INDEPENDENT
FROM A LOT OF WHAT THE CITY DOES
. BUT, I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AS
WE GET INTO THE BUDGET YEAR,
WHAT THE IT GROUP OR ANY OF THE
EXPERTS WITHIN THE CITY, LOOK
AT HOW WE CAN INCREASE THAT.
I THINK YOU MAKE A GREAT POINT
THAT FOR SO MANY FOLKS INVOLVED
IN THE PROCESS AND PARTICULARLY
JUST TO BE ABLE TO DO IT
THROUGH VIDEOCONFERENCING WITH
MANY JUDICIAL FORMS THAT ARE
MOVING TO THAT FOR MANY MATTERS.
THAT COULD BE HARD TO MAKE IT
UP ON THE FLY SO MAYBE THERE
CAN BE A SCOPE THAT WE CAN LOOK
AT TO SEE HOW TO IMPROVE THAT.
>> IT ACTUALLY WARNS LOOKING
AT THAT.
WE ARE DOING THIS DANCE NOW OF
WORKING WITH TECHNOLOGY THAT IS
NOT QUITE WHERE WE WANTED TO
BE.
I IMAGINE THAT SOMEONE COULD
FLIP OPEN THEIR PHONE AND THEY
COULD PARTICIPATE IN THE
HEARING BUT WE ARE JUST NOT
THERE YET WITH CONNECTIVITY AND
MAKING SURE YOU CAN INTRODUCE
EXHIBITS AND BE RELIABLE AS A
WITNESS.
AS YOU MENTIONED, COURTS DO IT
AND OFTEN IT IS BECAUSE THEY
HAVE A FIXED POINT WITH ANOTHER
COURTROOM OR GEL AT THE OTHER
END.
I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITY THAT I WOULD WELCOME
FOR THE COUNCIL'S ATTENTION.
>> WE TRY TO SOLICIT ON THE USE
OF APPEALS WERE PERHAPS THE
MOTIVE SUCH AS DELAYING THE
PROCESS MIGHT BE A CONCERN OF
OURS.
WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
BALANCING THAT AND WHILE THAT
MAY BE THE CASE, YOU HAVE TO
ERR ON THE SIDE FOR THE COURTS.
SO TO SPEAK.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT NOW THAT YOU
ARE DOING IT FOR A WHILE AND
YOU ALSO TALKED ABOUT CHANGING
SOME OF THE RULES OF PRACTICE
WITHIN YOUR OFFICE.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT OUR CONCERN
AND HOW YOU CAN EXTRADITE
MANNERS WHEN THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY.
>> CERTAINLY.
THAT WAS MY LEAST FAVORITE
ANSWER THAT IT IS NOT CLEAR AND
DIRECT AND I THINK THE FACT IS
THAT OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND
HEARING ROOM IS A SYSTEM THAT
DOES ERR ON THE SIDE OF ALLOWING
THEM TO COME INTO THE SYSTEM
ITSELF.
I THINK THE BEST WAY I CAN
ADDRESS IT IN ADDITION TO WHAT
I HAVE SAID IN WRITING WHICH
ESSENTIALLY SAYS THAT THE
HEARING EXAMINER HAS RULES THAT
CAN ALLOW FOR DISMISSAL OF
LAWSUITS AND PARTIES CAN BRING
-- I CAN INITIATE THAT ON MY
OWN AND OTHER PARTIES CAN MOVE
TO DISMISS CASES.
I THINK WHAT MIGHT HELP THE
COUNCIL UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM
AND HOW IT WORKS NOW IS TO GIVE
SOME EXAMPLES OF CASES AND HOW
TO APPLY THAT.
ESSENTIALLY, AS A FACILITATOR
FOR THESE HEARING PROCESSES, IT
IS MY JOB TO MOVE CASES
THROUGH, MARRIED OR NOT, AS
FAST AS I CAN AND ALSO, I WILL
GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES IN THE
CASE, ONE CASE FOR EXAMPLE THAT
WAS MENTIONED WITH THE APPEAL
OF A DETERMINATION WITH THE
INDIVIDUAL WHO MADE THE APPEAL
AND THE FACE OF THE APPEAL
ITSELF WAS WRITTEN WELL AND
BETTER THAN SOME ATTORNEYS SO I
CAN'T SAY THIS HAS NO MERIT.
EVEN IF EVERYONE ELSE IN THE
COMMUNITY THINKS THAT.
IN FACT, THAT APPELLANT HAD
SUCCESS THROUGH AIR HEARING AND
THE COURT PROCESS SO IT IS
DIFFICULT TO SAY THIS SIMPLY
DOESN'T WORK.
IF THE CASE PROGRESSES AND THEY
DON'T MEET DEADLINES WHICH HAS
HAPPENED IN THAT CASE AND IF
THEY DON'T HAVE THE WITNESS
LIST WHICH IS SOMEWHAT
EXTRAORDINARY AND I DON'T SEE
THAT VERY OFTEN, THAT IS WHEN I
CAN SAY YOU ARE NOT FOLLOWING
THE RULES AND YOU ARE MESSING
UP THE SYSTEM.
THERE IS A LOT OF LEEWAY WITH
WHAT I GENERALLY FIND IN THESE
CASES IS THAT NO MATTER HOW
HARD I AM PUSHING TO GET THINGS
GOING, EVERY PARTY WANTS TO
SLOW DOWN A BIT FOR THEIR
INTEREST.
MHA IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT.
WHEN I WENT TO THE FIRST
PREHEARING WITH NINE APPELLANT
REPRESENTATIVES, I WAS GOING TO
PUSH AS HARD AS I COULD TO GET
IT GOING AND I WAS TOLD WE
WOULD HAVE A HEARING IN
FEBRUARY, THEY ALL WANTED MORE
TIME. WHAT EVENTUALLY UNFOLDED
WAS THE CITY ATTORNEY'S ASKING
FOR ANOTHER THREE MONTHS TO
COMPLY WITH RECORDS REQUEST
FROM THE APPELLANT'S AND THEN
THE APPELLANT'S GENERALLY
SHOWING THAT THEY NEED THE
NUMBER OF WITNESSES AND THE
CITY WITH THE WITNESSES THEY
WOULD BRING.
ONLY THEN, WAS A WILLING TO
EXTEND THAT TO MEET THAT
SCHEDULE.
I AM PUSHING FOR EVERY
OPPORTUNITY I CAN TO TIGHTEN
THINGS UP.
THERE OTHER CASES AND GOOD
EXAMPLES OF NOT KNOWING HOW
THAT WOULD BE AND WE DEDICATED
A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF TIME FOR
THE HEARING.
THEY CONVINCED ME TO EVEN USE A
CHEST CLOCK WHICH I WILL
PROBABLY NOT DO AGAIN BECAUSE I
SPENT ALL MY TIME WITH THE
CLOCK AND WATCHING EVERY MINUTE
AS OPPOSED TO HEARING THE
TESTIMONY BUT DIVIDING TIME AND
GIVING TIME IS VERY EFFECTIVE
AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT
DONE IN A WEEK AND THAT IS
CLEARLY OF GREAT IMPORTANCE FOR
THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED.
IT IS A TENSION THAT I SIMPLY
HAVE TO CONSTANTLY BE AWARE OF
AS PART OF MY JOBS AND DUTIES.
>> ANOTHER SUBJECT, YOU HAD A
DEPUTY HEARING AND LET ME ASK A
DIRECT QUESTION, YOUR
PREDECESSOR, SHE WOULD WRITE AT
THE END OF THE YEAR A VERY GOOD
ANNUAL REPORT LOOKING AT ALL
THE CASES AND THOSE THAT WERE
APPEALED WITH THE DISPOSITION
OF THE CASES.
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
LOOK AT THE PRIOR YEARS AND
REPORTS THAT SHE PRODUCE?
>> YES.
IN FACT, I WAS INVOLVED IN ONE
AND THIS YEAR'S REPORT HAS BEEN
SENT OUT TO COUNSEL THAT WAS
MODELED.
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE,
I FOUND THOSE VERY EFFECTIVE
BECAUSE MORE TIMES THAN NOT,
THE COUNCIL WILL REMOVE A LOT
OF THE CASES EXCEPT FOR THE
CONTROVERSIAL ONES AND I
THOUGHT ONE OF THE BEST PIECES
WHERE SHE HAD PRODUCED THOSE
ANNUAL REPORTS AND IT IS A GOOD
DESCRIPTION OF ALL THE
ACTIVITIES.
>> IS HELPFUL TO HEAR AND I DO
HOPE AS THIS PROCESS MOVES
FORWARD, WHETHER I AM
COMFORTABLE, I HOPE I GET TO
MEET WITH THE COUNCILMEMBERS
JUST GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HEAR FROM EACH INDIVIDUAL
COUNCIL MEMBER.
I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THE
REPORT AND MAKE SURE IT'S
GIVING INFORMATION THAT IS
NEEDED.
IT LOOKS A LITTLE HEAVY ON SOME
OF THE DATA BUT IF THAT IS
WORKING FOR THE COUNCILMEMBERS,
THEN THEY CAN DO THAT.
>> IT IS.
THE CITY WAS SOME OF THE
CONTRACTS THAT WE WORK WITH,
YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU STARTED
MONITORING THAT TO MAKE SURE
THE CASELOAD INCREASES AND WE
HAVE TO MONITOR WHETHER WE HAVE
RESOURCES TO SERVE THOSE
CITIES.
DO WE BUILD THOSE CITIES WITH A
CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP?
HOW DO YOU MONITOR WHETHER THAT
IS EFFECTIVE?
DO YOU HAVE ANYONE ELSE OR IS
IT JUST YOUR COMMON SENSE
EVALUATION?
>> HAS BEEN RUN ENTIRELY
THROUGH THE HEARING EXAMINER
AND WITH THE RATES THAT WE HAVE
CHARGED, THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE
INDUSTRY AND WE DO BILL FOR IT.
I THINK TO CUT TO THE CHASE ON
THAT, I HAVE BEEN CAREFUL ABOUT
NOT MAKING ANY MOVE WITH IT.
IT'S THE STATUS QUO THAT WE
SERVE CONTRACT CITIES.
I'M HERE FOR A YEAR AND IF I GO
AWAY, SO WHEN IS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO EXAMINE THAT.
IF I AM REHIRED, I THINK IT'S
TIME FOR US TO MOVE BEYOND THAT
ASPECT OF OUR SERVICE.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON
SOME THESE ADMINISTRATOR TASKS
TO TAKE ON THE HIGH CASELOAD
THAT WE HAVE IN SEATTLE.
I SIMPLY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
SAY THAT TO OUR CONTRACT CITIES
AND I HOPE THEY DON'T HEAR
ABOUT IT FROM THIS MEETING BUT
THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO KNOW THAT.
I THINK IT'S TIME AND THAT IS A
USEFULNESS.
WE CAN ALWAYS COME BACK TO IT
AND SEND OUT CONTRACT BUT THE
DIVERSITY OF CASES AND SEEING
HOW IT GOES, YOU GET MORE
HEARING EXAMINER SKILLS BUT WE
GET ALL THAT THROUGH SEATTLE
PRETTY WELL RIGHT NOW.
IT REALLY DOES CUT DOWN TO BE
RESPONSIVE TO THE STATE OF
SEATTLE AT THIS POINT.
>> VERY GOOD.
DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
COUNCILMEMBERS QUESTIONS AND
ONE OF THE ISSUES I AM
INTERESTED IN WITH WHAT YOU
DESCRIBED IN THE LAST QUESTION,
YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS THE LAST
TIME WE MET BUT JUST THE
DISPARITY IN DIVERSITY OF THE
APPELLANT'S I COME FORWARD TO
YOUR OFFICE.
YOU TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
CREATING A CITIZEN GUIDE FOR
CHALLENGING DECISIONS SO THAT I
GUESS THERE COULD BE MORE
DIVERSITY IN WHO COMES FORWARD.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THE CITIZEN GUIDE HAS
EXISTED AND IT IS A TOOL THAT
IS ALREADY IN PLACE.
IT COULD BE CLEANED UP AND I
THINK THERE ARE INTERNAL THINGS
THAT WE COULD DO TO CLEAN UP
THE CITIZEN GUIDE AND MAYBE
EVEN POSTING A VIDEO ON HER
WEBSITE TO HOW TO USE THE
PROCESS.
THIS IS A TENSION THAT GOES
BACK TO THE OTHER QUESTION
ASKED ABOUT HOW TO MOVE THINGS
ALONG.
THERE IS ACTUALLY A FREEZE IN
THE CITIZEN GUIDE THAT
DESCRIBES US AS USER-FRIENDLY
WHICH I THINK IS DISINGENUOUS.
YOU CAN REPRESENT YOURSELF AS A
NONATTORNEY AND THE RULES OF
EVIDENCE ARE A BIT LOOSE SO TO
AN ATTORNEY MY FEET USER-
FRIENDLY BUT TO AN INDIVIDUAL
OFF THE STREET, IT IS ANYTHING
BUT USER-FRIENDLY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE CAN GO
IN THAT DIRECTION FRANKLY TO
CONTINUE TO BE EFFICIENT AND A
HOLD OF OUR JUDICIAL DUTIES.
CONVERSELY, THE INDIVIDUALS
COULD BE TRAINED AND INFORMED
AS TO WHAT THOSE PROCESSES ARE
EVEN TO BE MADE AWARE SO THAT
THEY CAN PARTICIPATE AND THIS
WILL BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW
WE GO ABOUT DOING IT.
IN MY MIND, PRESENTING THINGS
ON OUR WEBSITE AND MAKING SURE
THAT WE HAVE ALIGNED TO GET YOU
TO A TRANSLATOR AND MAKING SURE
THAT WE HAVE A CITIZEN GUIDE OR
VIDEO, THAT IS SIMPLY NOT
ENOUGH TO REACH CERTAIN
POPULATIONS AND I DON'T HAVE A
PLAN IN PLACE BECAUSE I THINK
IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF
NETWORKING AND A COUPLE OF
YEARS TO PUT IN PLACE BUT WE
NEED TO GET OUT OF THE OFFICE
AND GO INTO THOSE COMMUNITIES
THAT WE ARE NOT REACHING AND
HAVE DIRECT COMMUNICATION TO
FIND OUT WHAT WORKS FOR THEM
AND WHAT DOESN'T.
MAYBE THE SKYPE CONNECTION IS A
WAY FOR US TO START LETTING
PEOPLE COME TO THE HEARING MORE
EFFECTIVELY.
I DON'T WANT TO BE SPEAKING TO
THAT WITH PREFORMATTED ANSWERS
BEFORE I HEARD FROM THOSE
COMMUNITIES AND WHAT THEY NEED
MOST AND THAT IS WHERE I AM
STARTING NOW TO START ON THE
NETWORKING TO HEAR FROM THOSE
INDIVIDUALS.
>> OKAY, GREAT.
THAT IS A GOOD PART OF THE
QUESTION THAT I HAD WHICH IS
HOW TO REVAMP AND YOU NEED TO
UNDERTAKE A REWRITE.
SO, MY SUGGESTION WAS TO MAKE
SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING
COMMUNITY INPUT FROM THE FOLKS
THAT ARE HAVING A HARD TIME. IT
SOUNDS LIKE THAT IS PART OF
YOUR PLAN AND I WOULD LOVE TO
HAVE YOU KEEP US UPDATED ON
THAT AS YOU MOVE FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK IT WILL BE IN A COUPLE
OF FACES.
RIGHT NOW WITH MY
INSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE AND
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW THE OFFICE
WORKS, WE WILL DO SOME CLEANUP
ON THE GUIDE BUT THAT IS AN
ONGOING PROCESS.
ONCE YOU GET FEEDBACK FROM THE
COMMUNITY, IF THAT IS THE
MESSAGE WE GET, WE REVISE IT
AGAIN TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THAT.
>> GREAT, I APPRECITE YOU
BEING OPEN TO THAT.
ONE OF THE RESPONSES OVER THE
YEARS WE HAVE TRIED TO GET RID
IS ALL RESIDENTS AND MORE OF A
COMMUNITY SO THAT MIGHT BE
SOMETHING TO TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION AS YOU THINK
ABOUT WHO IS ACCESSING THIS.
IF I HAVE A FEW MORE SECONDS TO
ASK IF YOUR QUESTIONS?
YOU ALSO TALKED ABOUT WITH THE
QUESTION AROUND WAYS IN WHICH
WE HAVE SEEN LAND-USE AND THE
APPEALS BE USED AND MAYBE
MALICIOUS WAYS OR WAYS TO TRY
TO DELAY THE PROCESS THAT WERE
ASKED OF TRYING TO GET TO THE
HEART OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE
WAS A VIOLATION BUT REALLY A
DELAY TACTIC.
YOU MENTIONED IN THE MIDDLE OF
YOUR ANSWER THAT THEY MUST BE
ACTUALLY CAUTIOUS ABOUT
CIRCUMVENTING ON THE BASIS OF
ONE OR A FEW BAD CASES.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SEE SERIAL
APPELLANT'S COMING FORWARD ON
ISSUES RELATED TO THE TINY
VILLAGES AND BIKE LANES AND
HAVING THE SAME INDIVIDUAL COME
FORWARD APPEAL AFTER APPEAL,
MAYBE EVEN USING THE REVIEW
PROCESS WHICH WOULD NOT
ORDINARILY BE APPLIED TO
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AND IT'S
STRETCHING TO MAKE IT APPLY,
YOU ALSO COUPLE OUT DEMANDS
WITH THE CITY FOR PUBLIC
RECORDS REQUEST AND THE ONGOING
CYCLE THAT WE ARE IN OF TRYING
TO RESPOND AND BE RESPONSIVE TO
A SYSTEM THAT WAS MAKE SURE
THAT THE COMMUNITY VOICE IS
BEING HEARD.
WHEN YOU SEE THAT LEVEL OF
ENGAGEMENT, IS THERE ANY SORT
OF MITIGATION STRATEGIES THAT
WE CAN PUT INTO PLACE AHEAD OF
TIME SO EITHER AN INDIVIDUAL OR
ORGANIZATION HAS A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF THE TYPE OF
CASES YOU WILL AND WILL NOT TAKE
GIVEN THE PAST HISTORY ON
SOMEONE COMING FORWARD LIKE
THAT?
>> THIS IS A DIFFICULT DANCE.
WE SEE INDIVIDUALS COME IN FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT AND INDIVIDUALS
FILE FOR PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST
AND COME IN AND UTILIZE OUR
APPEAL SYSTEM THAT IF WE CLOSED
THEM OUT, WE END UP CLOSING OUT
OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A
RIGHT TO THAT TRANSPARENCY AND
OPENNESS TO PROCESS.
CERTAINLY, I CAN SAY IN THE
COURSE OF ACTING AS HEARING
EXAMINER, THIS COULD BE TRUE
FOR SPECIFIC ATTORNEYS THAT
SOMETIMES APPEAR IN FRONT OF ME
IF THEY MISREPRESENT THE LAW OR
ACT IN BAD FAITH.
IF THEY DON'T PRESENT FACTS
THAT ARE TRUE, THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT I AM ENTITLED TO
AND CERTAINLY, THE SAME THING
COULD BE SAID OF CERTAIN
APPELLANT'S. WITH THAT SAID,
BEFORE I WAS HEARING EXAMINER,
SOME OF THEM WERE CONSIDERED
GUIDELINES AND SOMETIMES THEY
WERE RIGHT AND THAT IS WHAT
GETS THEM COMING BACK.
SLEEP IS A CHALLENGING LAW FOR
ALL OF US AND IT REALLY IS A
FULL DISCLOSURE LAW THAT GETS
US INTO THE ANALYSIS OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.
I CAN ONLY ENCOURAGE THAT ONE
OF THE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
IS OF THE PROJECT CAN GET
APPEALS SO MAKE SURE YOU DO THE
ANALYSIS RIGHT.
I HAVE SEEN CASES IN FRONT OF
ME WHERE I HAVE MADE MY
DECISION ON IT AND NOT TO
INCLUDE THE CITY STOREHOUSE OF
HISTORIC PROPERTIES, THAT IS
NOT A GOOD IDEA WE KNOW PEOPLE
WILL BE GUNNING FOR IT.
THAT IS ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES
THAT IT CAN BE DEALT WITH WITH
CITY ATTORNEYS FILING MOTIONS
QUICKLY AND ON TIME, THAT IS
GOOD AND OF COURSE I CAN TAKE
MY OWN STEPS WITHIN THE BOUNDS
OF THE RULES.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS NOT A
DIRECT RESPONSE AND THERE ISN'T
SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN SAY ONCE
WRITTEN FOR INDIVIDUALS I CAN
PARTICIPATE, WE JUST DON'T HAVE
A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS FOR THAT.
>> I ALSO HEARD THAT IT WAS AN
INTERNAL LOOKING ANALYSIS AS
WELL.
IF YOU SEE SITUATIONS IN WHICH
IN HINDSIGHT, THE APPELLANT WAS
GIVEN THE WAY TO MOVE THE CASE
FORWARD AND THEN IT WAS
POTENTIALLY NOT THE BEST USE OF
EITHER THE EXISTING LAW OR
APPEALS PROCESS.
PERHAPS SOME REFLECTION GOING
FORWARD WITH THE BIKE SHARE
EXAMPLE WHERE THEY WERE USING
THAT CASE WHICH WOULD HAVE
ORDINARILY BEEN EXEMPT AND
TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
NOT ON SLIPPERY SLOPES AND
BROKERING UP THE INTENT OF HOW
IT WAS INTENDED TO BE USED.
WE SAW THAT USED PUSHED FURTHER
AND FURTHER AWAY FROM ITS
ORIGINAL INTENT.
SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWER
BECAUSE I THINK IT WAS BOTH
INTERNAL AS WELL AS EXTERNAL.
>> IT HAS TO BE.
YOU SEE IN MY RESPONSE, WHAT DO
I DO, DO I DEAL WITH IT THEN
AND THERE WERE DO I LET IT RUN
ITS COURSE SO THAT IT ENDS UP
ON APPEAL, KNOWING THAT IT WILL
GO UP IN APPEAL, THAT IS
SOMETHING WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE
MINDFUL OF.
IF I RUSH SOMETHING THROUGH,
THAT IS THE APPROPRIATE THING
TO DO AND SIMPLY BY DOING THAT,
IT COULD CREATE AN APPEAL
ISSUE.
I DO TEND TO APPROACH IT WITH
PEOPLE GETTING A CHANCE TO RUN
THEIR COURSE.
>> I THINK BOTH OF US COMMENTED
LAST TIME ABOUT APPRECIATION
FOR YOUR ANSWER IN IDENTIFYING
THAT THERE IS A NEED TO
CONTINUE TO DIVERSIFY THE OFFICE
. YOU HAVE A VERY SMALL OFFICE,
RELATIVELY AND IT SOUNDS LIKE
YOU HAVE A LEGAL ASSISTANT AND
ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE COMING UP.
I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO
INCREASING BOTH DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSION IN YOUR OFFICE AND WE
STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK
ABOUT WAYS IN WHICH THE
COMMUNITY CAN HELP IDENTIFY
FOLKS SO THAT WE ARE NOT JUST
TRACKING FOLKS OF COLOR INTO
INITIATIVE ASSISTANT POSITIONS.
WE HAVE FOLKS WITH HIGHER
SKILLED AND HIGHER PAID
POSITIONS GOING FORWARD.
I THINK THERE IS A PLETHORA OF
HIGHLY QUALIFIED ATTORNEYS AND
INDIVIDUALS OF COLOR AND
DIVERSITY WHO WOULD BENEFIT
FROM EXPERIENCE IN YOUR OFFICE.
>> I HOPE SO AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY, NOT
JUST FOR DIVERSIFYING OUR
OFFICE BUT ALSO WHAT YOU
HIGHLIGHTED WITH CREATING A
STEPPINGSTONE AND OPPORTUNITY.
WE HAVE SEEN TWO YOUNG WOMEN
COME THROUGH OUR LEGAL
ASSISTANT ROLE.
THEY WERE THERE FOR TWO YEARS
AND THEN WENT ON TO GRADUATE
SCHOOL.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME
MENTORING EACH ONE OF THOSE
INDIVIDUALS WITH THE PUBLIC
PROCESS AND WITH WHAT WE OFFER.
I HAVE SEEN THEM GROW THROUGH
THAT.
WE CAN SEE THE SAME WITH THE
ADMINISTRATOR ROLE.
PAT COLE IS OUR INITIATIVE
ASSISTANT, EXECUTIVE INITIATIVE
ASSISTANT AND NOW SHE HAS
STEPPED UP TO THE SUPERVISOR
ROLE.
IT IS NOT A ONE STOP.
>> VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS.
THE RESPONSES.
OKAY, I WILL MOVE THIS AND I
WILL MOVE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF
RYAN VANCIL.
>> SECOND.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED ? THE I'S
HAVE IT.
I WILL CERTAINLY PLEAD YOUR
CASE.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> NEXT ITEM?
>> APPOINTMENT 01287 AND
01288.
APPOINTMENT OF TONYA C. WOO
AND REAPPOINTMENT OF MAX LEGON-
TALAMONI.
>> WHEN WE START WITH
INTRODUCTIONS?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM REBECCA FRESTEDT.
I AM HERE WITH TONYA WOO.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO START BY
GIVING A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE
BOARD?
>> SURE.
>> SO, THE DISTRICT BOARD IS
ONE OF EIGHT HISTORIC DISTRICTS
FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL
REVIEW DISTRICT.
THE BOARD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
REVIEWING ANY CHANGES TO
EXTERIOR ALTERATIONS WITHIN THE
BOUNDARIES OF THE DISTRICT AS
WELL AS ANY CHANGES OF USE FOR
BUSINESSES OR PROPERTIES THAT
EXIST.
IT'S A SEVEN MEMBER BOARD AND
FIVE OF THE MEMBERS ARE ELECTED
BY THE COMMUNITY WITH THE
ANNUAL ELECTION TO NUMB RN
POINTED AND ONE OF THE
APPOINTEES, SERGIO MAX LEGON-
TALAMONI IS ONE OF THE MAY ORAL
APPOINTEES AND THIS IS A
RECOMMENDATION FOR HIS SECOND
TERM.
THEN, THE SEAT THAT TONYA IS
THE AUTHOR FOUR IS ONE OF THE
SEAT THAT BECAME VACANT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES AND
PROCEDURES OF THE DISTRICT.
THOSE VACANCIES ARE FULFILLED
BY THE MAY ORAL APPOINTMENT.
TONYA OR THE APPOINTE WOULD
SERVE TO THE END OF THAT
ELECTED TERM AND THEN IT WOULD
BECOME AN ELECTED SEAT AGAIN.
>> HOW DOES THAT WORK?
THANK YOU FOR SERVING. SO, THE
BOARD ITSELF THEN ELECTS HER?
>> SURE, IN THE ANNUAL ELECTION
, WITHIN THE LAND USE CODE
THERE IS A CRITERIA FOR WHO
THOSE CANDIDATES ARE, FIZZLING
TO BUSINESS OWNER.
>> WHO WILL ASK THEM QUESTIONS
OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
>> SO, THEY ACTUALLY GO THROUGH
THAT PROCESS.
I THOUGHT WHEN I READ THAT, IT
WAS ACTUALLY THE BOARD MEMBERS
BUT THEY ELECTED.
>> IN THE CASE OF A VACANCY ,
THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER ANYONE
WHO IS NOT ELECTED IN THE PRIOR
ANNUAL ELECTION AND THEN ANYONE
ELSE WHO HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED
OR CONSIDERED WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY AND THE BOARD WILL
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN
AND ALSO PUT OUT A PUBLIC
NOTICE FOR INTEREST IN PARTIES.
>> THAT IS THE PROCESS I WAS
CONFUSING.
OKAY.
TONYA, YOU WILL RUN FOR THAT
POSITION AT THE END OF THE
TEMPORARY TERM? OR HAVE YOU
MADE UP YOUR MIND YET?
>> I THINK I WILL RUN.
>> EXCELLENT.
I KNOW YOUR FAMILY AND I KNOW
WHAT YOU DO BUT COULD YOU
DESCRIBE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
YOUR FAMILY AND WHY YOU ARE
INVOLVED? AND YOURSELF, I
SHOULD NOT JUST SAY YOUR
FAMILY.
>> UPON.
MY NAME IS TANYA WOO AND I GREW
UP IN HIS COMMUNITY.
MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER HELPED
START THE ASSOCIATION AND WHEN
I WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDING
MEMBERS.
I GREW UP IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD,
IN MY FATHER'S BAKERY.
I HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME
COMMUNITY MEMBER AND I WAS PART
OF THE CHINESE GIRLS DRILL TEAM
AND I DID A LOT OF THINGS IN
THIS COMMUNITY.
I LOVED IT.
MY FATHER BOUGHT A BUILDING IN
1960 AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE
CHRISTMAS EVE IN 2013.
THESE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE
BEEN VERY BUSY TRYING TO
NAVIGATE BUILDING CODE AND TRY
TO OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED THAT THE
HOTEL WILL BE OPENED MID-MAY.
MAY 16, WE ARE HOPING TO BRING
IN EIGHT DIFFERENT LOCAL
BUSINESSES ON THE GROUND FLOOR
AND OPEN UP 84 UNITS IN THE
UPPER FLOOR.
>> AND, I HAVE FOLLOWED THAT.
THAT IS EXCITING AND TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF
THE DISTRICT AND YOUR INTEREST
OR PASSION FOR PRESERVING THE
ISSUE. A LOT OF PEOPLE -- I
HAVE A FEW YEARS AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE YOUR AGE WOULD NOT EVEN
CARE ABOUT THE HISTORY, I WOULD
ASSUME.
I JUST WANT TO PUT SKYSCRAPERS
EVERYWHERE.
TALK ABOUT WHAT DRIVES YOUR
NEED TO PRESERVE CULTURAL
HISTORY.
>> SKYSCRAPERS ARE COOL TOO.
THEY ABSOLUTELY ARE.
I REALLY LOVE MY COMMUNITY.
I LOVE OUR OLD BUILDINGS.
THEY TELL A STORY ABOUT OUR
PAST AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT
CAME BEFORE US AND MADE US WHO
WE ARE.
I BELIEVE HONORING THAT PAST
AND BEING ABLE TO CARRY THAT ON
TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.
SO, JUST WALKING THROUGH CHINA
AND TOWN, THERE IS SO MUCH
HISTORY OF IMMIGRANTS AND EVEN
THE ACT, ALL THAT WE NEED TO
REMEMBER.
I BELIEVE THESE BUILDINGS TELL
THAT STORY AND THEY ARE ALL
THAT IS LEFT OF THIS HISTORY
AND BE ABLE TO EDUCATE FUTURE
GENERATIONS AND PRESERVING THAT
FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN AND RESPECT
AND HONOR.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
ESPECIALLY WITH CONSTRUCTION
AND WITH THESE BUILDINGS, THEY
WILL NEED TO BE RENOVATED AND
PUT UP TO CODE AND I THINK THAT
IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGES FACING CHINATOWN,
PRESERVING THE HISTORY AND
BEING ABLE TO PRESERVE IT FOR
THE FUTURE.
SO, A LOT OF THESE ISSUES WITH
DISPLACEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION
AND NAVIGATING BUILDING CODE
WILL BE EVIDENT TO ALL THESE
BUILDING OWNERS.
SO, IT'S FAIRLY IMPORTANT AND I
AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT SAVING
THESE BUILDINGS AND PRESERVING
OUR HISTORY AND BEING ABLE TO
HAVE THE STORY AROUND FOR
FUTURE GENERATIONS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I KNOW YOU ARE A HUSKY TOO.
I KNOW SERGIO HAS A
REAPPOINTMENT.
>> HE HAS ALSO BEEN VERY ACTIVE
ON THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW
COMMITTEE AND HELPING TO
OVERSEE SOME OF THE NEW
CONSTRUCTION AND THE HIGH-RISE
BUILDINGS THAT ARE COMING IN
AND IN FILLING SOME OF THE
SPACES THAT ARE AVAILABLE
WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
HE HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED
IN THAT PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU FOR RUNNING GREAT
CANDIDATES.
QUESTIONS?
>> I WAS LOOKING ONLINE AND IT
LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALL TO BE
POSTED SOON.
WHEN YOU GUYS OPEN UP AT LEAST
ACCORDING TO GOOGLE MAPS SO WE
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT.
DO YOU LIVE HERE IN SEATTLE?
>> I DO.
I LIVE IN THE BEACH AREA.
>> GREAT.
LIFELONG SEATTLE AND?
>> YES, I NEVER LEFT.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I'M
INTERESTED IN IN IS HOW WE DO
PRESERVATION GIVEN THE CRISIS
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE
NEED FOR THEM TO BE MINORITY
SPACES THAT CAN BE LIKELY
CONSTRUCTED IT'S AN OLDER
BUILDINGS INSTEAD OF THE NEWER
BUILDINGS WITH THE NEXT BAR OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WHAT WE WANT IS SMALLER SPACES
TO BE CREATED AND PRESERVED BUT
AS WE DO PRESERVATION, PART OF
WHAT MY INTEREST IS, AND HOW TO
LAYER EXISTING BUILDINGS WITH
THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE NEW
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON TOP.
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WAYS
THAT WE COULD PROTECT OR
PREVENT THE DEMOLITION OF
EXISTING BUILDINGS AND COUPLE
THAT WITH ADDITIONAL BUILDING
HEIGHT OR AIRSPACE THAT COULD
INCLUDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING?
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU HAVE
WORKED ON IN THE PAST?
>> I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE
AMAZING THINGS THAT THEY DO
PROTECT ALL THE OLD BUILDINGS
FROM THOSE ISSUES THAT YOU
MENTIONED. AN EXAMPLE THAT WE
HAD TO WORK WITH THE ISR D AND
I BELIEVE IN ALL THEIR VALUES.
WE LOST PART OF THE BUILDING
BECAUSE OF THE FIRE AND BECAUSE
OF ISRD RULES, WE HAD TO
CONSTRUCT IT AS IT WAS.
NO ONE MAKES 100-YEAR-OLD BRICK
ANYMORE.
SO, WE HAD TO FIND FIVE
DIFFERENT TIMES OF BRICK AND
MIX THEM UP INTO FINDING AS
CLOSE OF A MATCH AS WE COULD TO
THE OLD BRICK.
I BELIEVE THAT THE ISRD SET THE
TONE AND THE STANDARDS FOR ALL
THOSE ISSUES AND FOR THE
FUTURE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I REALLY
WANT TO BE A PART OF.
>> IF I COULD JUST ADD, WANTING
TO BE AWARE OF IS THAT THE
BOARD AND ITS JURISDICTION DOES
NOT HAVE AUTHORITY OVER
AFFORDABILITY LEVELS AND THAT
IS SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP
WITHIN THAT MEETINGS THAT WE
HAVE HAD AND THE PUBLIC COMMENT
OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WOULD
LIKE TOSEE THE BOARD ADDRESS
THOSE ISSUES BUT THE CODE DOES
NOT GIVE THEM AUTHORITY TO DO
THAT.
I THINK IT'S A BIGGER POLICY
ISSUE THAT THE HISTORIC
PRESERVATION PROGRAM WOULD BE
INVOLVED IN THAT DISCUSSION BUT
NOT SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD
SPECIFICALLY HAS BEEN GRAPPLING
WITH.
>> COULD YOU GIVE US SOME IDEAS
ON HOW TO ADDRESS THAT?
>> I WOULD'VE TALK WITH THE
HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER
OF THE CITY AND RAISE THAT
ISSUE.
>> ESPECIALLY AS WE THINK ABOUT
NOT QUITTING JUST PRESERVING
OLD CULTURAL SPACES BUT
PRESERVING OLD BUILDINGS THAT
ALLOW FOR THE CREATION OF
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES.
I AM THINKING OF WHO OWNS
OPTIMISM ON CAPITOL HILL AND
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE HAS
DONE IS SHE HAS RENOVATED THIS
BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AND SHE
WANTED TO DO THAT BUT
PRESERVING THAT WAS QUITE THE
CHALLENGE TO FIND THE WINDOW
REPLACEMENTS AND LIKE YOU
MENTIONED, FINDING THE BRICKS
OF REPLACEMENT FOR THE ONE THAT
WAS DESTROYED IN THE HOTEL AND
HOW ARE WE HELPING TO MAKE SURE
THAT BUSINESS OWNERS CAN MEET
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
PRESERVATION GOALS BUT ALSO
BEING MORE FLEXIBLE TO HELP
THEM GET THERE AND AS WE THINK
ABOUT THE DENSITY NEEDS IN THE
CITY, HAVING YOUR INPUT ABOUT
HOW WE CAN USE AIRSPACE ABOUT
PLACES OR EVEN SETBACK SO THAT
YOU DON'T SEE IT FROM THE
STREET VIEW BUT THERE IS
HOUSING AND THAT IS SOMETHING I
WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN.
YOU GUYS WILL BE ON THE GROUND
LEVEL VERY EARLY SO LET US KNOW
WHEN THINGS COME UP.
IF YOU SAY I WISH I HAD THE
TOOLS TO TAKE SUCH AND SUCH ON,
MAYBE WE CAN TOGETHER THINK
ABOUT HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO
EXPAND THAT.
>> VERY GOOD.
EXCELLENT POINTS.
OKAY, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I
WILL RECOMMEND THE APPOINTMENT
OF TANYA WOO AND SERGIO MAX
LEGON-TALAMONI.
APPOINTMENTS 01287 AND 01288.
>> SECOND.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I.
>> I.
>> THE I'S HAVE IT.
IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR YOU TO
BE THERE BUT YOU ARE ALWAYS
WELCOME.
I WILL BE YOUR STRONGEST
ADVOCATE.
OKAY, I WILL MOVE TO APPOINT
01287 AND 01288.
>> SECOND.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I.
ON THOSE OPPOSED?
THE I'S HAVE IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
REBECCA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WITH THAT, WE WILL STAND
ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU.