>>> GOOD MORNING, THE JUNE 10,
2020 MEETING OF THE LAND USE
THE NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE
WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS THE END 32 AND I AM DAN
STRAUSS, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
WHILE THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> HERE.
>> JUARE.
>> HERE.
>> ALEX PEDERSEN.
>> HERE.
>> STRAUSS.
>> HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HONOR WITH GRATITUDE THE LAND
AND THE PEOPLES AND TRIBES.
WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA
TODAY.
THE PUBLIC HEARING ON COUNSEL
BILL 119769 WITH THE CITY
COUNCIL DELIVERED ON IN THE
NEXT MEETING IS WEDNESDAY, JULY
22 AT 9:30 A.M.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
OUR ONE ITEM OF BUSINESS TODAY
IS THE POST ADOPTION PUBLIC
HEARING FOR COUNSEL BILL 119769
ALSO KNOWN AS ORDINANCE
126072.
AS A REMINDER, OF THIS
LEGISLATION, THERE ARE
TEMPORARY CHANGES TO THE DUE
PROCESS IS TO ADDRESS THE
IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19
EMERGENCY.
WE WERE ABLE TO ADOPT IT
WITHOUT THE NORMAL HEARING.
WE YOU PLEASE READ THE ITEM
INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE,
EMERGENCY PERMITTING AND DESIGN
REVIEW ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU.
WE ARE JOINED BY LISH WHITSON
AND KETIL FREEMAN TO PROVIDE A
BRIEF OVERVIEW BEFORE OPENING
THE PUBLIC HEARING.
KETIL FREEMAN MIGHT BE JOINING
US A LITTLE BIT LATE SO LISH
WHITSON, TAKE IT AWAY.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> GREAT.
BECAUSE ASSOCIATION WAS ADOPTED
BY EMERGENCY POWERS, IT
REQUIRES A PUBLIC HEARING POST
ADOPTION.
THAT HEARING IS TAKING PLACE
TODAY.
IT AFFECTS TWO DEPARTMENT
PROCESSES.
THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION
AND INSPECTION REVIEW PROGRAM
AND THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION
AND REVIEW OF PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS CARRIED OUT BY THE
DEPARTMENT AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
BOTH IN CONJUNCTION WITH PUBLIC
COMMUNITY BOARDS WHICH PROVIDE
INPUT.
THE BILL TEMPORARILY ALLOWS CCI
AND DEAL WENT TO MAKE SOME
DECISIONS THAT ARE OTHERWISE
MADE OR INFORMED BY COMMITTEE
BOARDS OR IN PERSON COMMENTS.
THE DESIGN REVIEW PROGRAM, THE
REVIEW BOARDS ARE CURRENTLY NOT
MEETING.
AS CCI STAFF ARE REVIEWING THE
PROJECTS, THE BILL EXEMPTS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS
FROM THE DESIGNER ALTOGETHER.
UNDER THE BILL, THERE MAY BE
SOME WAIVED REQUIREMENTS
RESULTING IN MORE AFFORDABLE
UNITS.
EACH WAIVER CAN INCLUDE THINGS
LIKE BIKE ROOMS AND BIKE
PARKING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND REQUIREMENTS TO THE COMMON
RECREATIONAL AREAS.
UNDER THE BILL, COMMUNITY
OUTREACH IS STILL PERFORMED ON
LINE AND PUBLIC, REQUIRES
PUBLIC REVIEW.
THIS IS REQUIRED WITH 180 DAYS
ENDING OCTOBER 25 AND THE DATE
THAT THEY START TO CONDUCT
VIRTUAL MEETINGS OR THE DATES
THAT THE REVIEW BOARD START
MEETING IN PUBLIC.
OTHER PROVISIONS SUCH AS THE
FORMAL HOUSING PROJECT DESIGN
REVIEW EXEMPTION IS APPLIED TO
THE BILL WHICH EXTENDS THROUGH
OCTOBER 25.
FOR THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION
PROGRAM, LANDMARK SPECIAL
REVIEW BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
AND PUBLIC SCHOOL DEVELOPMENTS,
STANDARD ADVISORY COMMITTEES
AND MAJOR INSTITUTIONS ARE NOT
MEETING FOR TWO MONTHS THROUGH
JUNE 26.
TIMELINES AND DEADLINES FOR
BOARD APPROVAL ARE ON HOLD
UNTIL THE BOARD CAN BE.
THEY MAY APPROVE STATISTIC
APPROVAL FOR SOME CHANGES TO
LANDMARKS AND STRUCTURES OR
SPECIAL REVIEW DISTRICTS.
WHEN MEETING START UP AGAIN,
BOARDS ARE REQUESTED TO HAVE AN
EQUITY LAND.
THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU , LISH WHITSON.
THANK YOU FOR THE DETAILED
BRIEFING.
BEFORE WE BEGIN THE OPEN REMOTE
PUBLIC HEARING, I ASK EVERYONE
PLEASE BE PATIENT AS WE
CONTINUE TO LEARN AND OPERATE
THIS NEW SYSTEM IN REAL TIME
AND NAVIGATE AND WE ARE LOOKING
FOR WAYS TO FINE-TUNE THIS
PROCESS AND ADDING NEW FEATURES
ALLOW FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
IN THE COUNCIL MEETINGS.
HE REMAINS A STRONG INTENT TO
HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT REGULARLY
IN PUBLIC MEETINGS.
HOWEVER, THE CITY COUNCIL DOES
RESERVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS IF THAT
SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED OR
UNSUITABLE FOR LYME PUBLIC
MEETINGS TO BE CONNECTED
EFFICIENTLY IN A MANNER OF
WHICH IS ABLE TO CONNECT THE
NECESSARY BUSINESS.
TODAY, WE ARE NOT HAVING PUBLIC
COMMENT.
WE ARE HAVING OUR PUBLIC
HEARING AND SO WE WILL MOVE
RIGHT INTO THE PUBLIC HEARING.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN TWO
MINUTES TO SPEAK AND I WILL
CALL ON ONE SPEAKER AT A TIME
AND IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL'S
WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED YET
TO SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO, YOU
CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF
THE PUBLIC HEARING I GO TO THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
THE LINK IS ALSO POSTED IN
TODAY'S AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME,
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE AND
AUTOMATIC PROMPT OF YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTE IT WILL BE THE
SPEAKER SKU THAT IT IS THEIR
TURN TO SPEAK.
PLEASE BEGIN BY STATING YOUR
NAME AND ITEM YOU ARE
ADDRESSING.
AS A REMINDER, YOUR COMMENT
SHOULD BE RELATED TO ORDINANCE
126072. IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS ON
SOMETHING ELSE, YOU CAN ALWAYS
EMAIL MY OFFICE.
ACRES WILL HEAR A CHILD WHEN
THEY ARE 10 SECONDS LEFT AND
ONCE YOU HEAR THE CHIME, WE ASK
THAT YOU BEGIN TO WRAP UP YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT WRAP UP
THEIR COMMENTS, THE SPEAKERS
MICROPHONE WILL BE NEEDED TO
ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
COMMENTS, WE ASK THAT YOU
PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE
AND IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING THIS MEETING, PLEASE
DO SO VIA SEATTLE CHANNEL OR
THE LISTING OPTIONS LISTED ON
THE AGENDA.
THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE
126072 IS NOW OPEN.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
WE HAVE MEGAN CRUZ, MARTIN
KAPLAN AND SAMANTHA SHARE.
CLERK, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND
GIVING ONE EXTRA MINUTE TO EACH
PARTICIPANT, WE WILL GO WITH
THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER TODAY.
MEGAN CRUZ, GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE
ORDINANCE . I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
I HOPE WE CAN FIGURE SOME
THINGS OUT TODAY.
WE ALL KNOW DEMOCRACY RUNS ON
PUBLIC FORUMS AND NOT BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS.
YET, THIS BILL MAKES IT HARDER
FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND
COMMENTS AND TRACK THE BIG
MARKET RATE PROJECTS THAT
AFFECT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT
ARE NOW BEING REVIEWED BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS.
I THINK IT HAS BEEN TO JUST
THAT THE PUBLIC MIGHT HAVE MORE
INPUT BUT I DON'T SEE THAT IN
MY DEALINGS OF BUSY PLANNERS
AND THE TIME THAT IS PAID FOR
BY DEVELOPERS AND THE NUMBER
ONE JOB IS TO WORK WITH THEM TO
PUSH A PROJECT ACROSS THE
FINISH LINE.
CALLS AND EMAILS WITH PLANNERS
IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS
COMMONLY DONE.
THE BILL SEEMS TO BE ANOTHER
STEP IN THE BRAND BARGAIN AND
FOUR YEARS SINCE IT WAS
ENACTED, DEVELOPERS HAVE
PRODUCTIVELY CHOSEN TO PAY IN
THE RATHER THAN BUILD
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I UNDERSTAND THIS MODEL CREATES
PRESSURE TO APPROVE
UNSUSTAINABLE DESIGNS.
IT DOESN'T WELCOME PUBLIC INPUT
AND NEIGHBORS A CALL FOR
MITIGATION ARE OFTEN VIEWED AS
OBSTRUCTIONIST.
WE KNOW LAST TIME WE SPOKE OF
THIS, A LOT OF THE COMMENTS TO
MAKE THIS A PERMANENT SYSTEM.
I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A STEP
BACK AND REINTRODUCE PUBLIC
COMMENTS.
WHEN THE BILL WAS PASSED, THE
COUNCILMEMBERS ASKED FOR A
PROGRESS REPORT.
WE ARE ASKING TODAY TO HAVE
CENTRAL STAFF ON WHAT THE
PROGRESS IS AND WHEN WILL THE
VIRTUAL ONLINE MEETINGS BECOME
REALITY AS THEY HAVE FOR ALL
THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS?
I THINK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU, MEGAN.
NEXT ISMARTIN KAPLAN FOLLOWED
BY SAMANTHA SHARE.
MARTIN?
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MARTIN KAPLAN AND I
AM A NATIVE SATELLITE FOR OVER
FOUR DECADES AND FORMER SEATTLE
PLANNING COMMISSIONER AND I
HAVE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL AND
REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR YEARS AND
HAVE PARTICIPATED IN DESIGN AND
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING FOR MY
WHOLE CAREER BUT FORMALLY SENSE
MID 90s WHEN THE REVIEW WAS
FORMALIZED.
ON BEHALF OF MOST OF MY
COMMUNITY, I HAVE PREVIOUSLY
DELIVERED SEVERAL LETTERS
REGARDING YOUR SUSPENSION.
WE HAVE WORKED SUCCESSFULLY FOR
DECADES BRINGING TOGETHER THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THOSE
THAT BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE
FACE-TO-FACE TAKING EVERY
PROJECT BETTER FOR ALL PARTIES.
IF YOU GO DOWN QUEEN AND LOOK
AT A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT
HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED, YOU WOULD
SEE COURTYARDS AND
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WAS
INSPIRED BY PUBLIC COMMENT AND
MEETINGS.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A
HUGE SAFEWAY DEVELOPMENT THAT
WE WORKED ON WITH HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE AND THOUSANDS OF HOURS I
HAVE GONE INTO THIS WITH FOUR
DIFFERENT DEVELOPERS AND NOW WE
ARE GETTING TO A PLACE WHERE IT
IS GETTING READY TO GO IN FOR
PERMIT.
YOU WILL TAKE AWAY THE RIGHT
FOR PUBLIC TO ME ON THIS?
FOR OVER TWO DECADES, THE
CURRENT DESIGNER HAS ALLOWED
PEOPLE TO INPUT OR PUBLIC INPUT
ON NEIGHBORHOOD DECISIONS AND
OUTCOMES WILL IMPACT AND CHANGE
THE COMMUNITIES.
THIS REFLECTS THE CITY COUNCIL
COMMITMENT TO LISTEN TO AND
REPRESENT ALL THE CONSTITUENT
OPINIONS TOGETHER SPECIFIC
NEIGHBORHOODS AND GOALS AND
OBJECTIVES.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THESE
MEETINGS AND THE DESIGN IS
WRONG.
LET'S BE HONEST.
ALL OF US ARE MEETING ONLINE
AND IT HAS BECOME UBIQUITOUS.
I AM TALKING TO YOU VIA ZOOM
AND THE LAND-USE REVIEW
COMMITTEE WILL HAVE TWO ZOOM
PROJECTS AND YOU CAN EASILY
ACCOMMODATE A SIMPLE MEETING
TOMORROW AND WE ALL KNOW THAT.
THIS IS INTENTIONAL.
WHY NOT?
WE ALL KNOW FOR DECADES,
DEVELOPERS HAVE LOBBIED CITY
HALL AND STREAMLINED
PERMITTING.
DESIGN REVIEW AND MANY OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE DETERMINED BY
PERFORMANCE AND SPEED AND CITY
HALL INSIDERS RATHER THAN
RESPECTFUL NEIGHBORHOODS.
SOME BELIEVE HE MAY BE USING
NURSE'S ASCENSION AS A FIRST
STEP TO ELIMINATE THE REVIEW
ALTOGETHER.
THIS WOULD BE A HUGE MISTAKE
AND OTHERWISE, WHY NOT MIGRATE
DESIGN REVIEW ONLINE LIKE MOST
OTHER INSTITUTIONS --
>> THANK YOU, MARTIN.
SAMANTHA SHARE, ARE YOU PRESENT?
CLEAR, DO WE KNOW IF SAMANTHA
IS PRESENT?
>> SHE IS NOT ON THE LIST ANY
LONGER.
>> OKAY.
>> SHE WAS BUT I DO NOT SEE HER
ANY LONGER.
>> WE WILL GIVE IT JUST ONE
MORE SECOND TO SEE IF SHE IS
ABLE TO COME BACK.
REMEMBER, IF YOU CAN HEAR THIS,
PLEASE REJOIN AND WE WOULD LOVE
TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK WITH US THIS MORNING.
NOT HEARING SAMANTHA JOININGÃ
SHE WAS THE LAST SPEAKER TO
REMOTELY PRESENT AT THIS PUBLIC
HEARING, IF ANY OTHER PEOPLE
WOULD LIKE TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK,
NOW IS THE TIME.
I WILL GIVE IT JUST ANOTHER
MOMENT.
THANK YOU, CALLINGS FOR YOUR
PATIENCE.
I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE
HAVE PROVIDED THE PUBLIC AN
OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN US THIS
MORNING.
NOT HEARING SAMANTHA JOINING
US, THAT WAS OUR LAST SPEAKER
TO REMOTELY PRESENT TO SPEAK AT
THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE
126072 IS NOW CLOSED.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO
PROVIDED, MARTIN AND MEGAN FOR
PROVIDING COMMENT INTO MY
COLLEAGUES FOR ATTENDING.
THIS CONCLUDES THE JUNE 10
MEETING OF LAND-USE AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE AND AS
A REMINDER, THE NEXT MEETING
WILL BE ON JULY 22 STARTING AT
9:30 AM.
COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE ANY
ITEMS FOR THE GOOD OF THE
ORDER?
>> I DO.
THIS IS COUNCILMEMBER JUARES.
THAT IS MY BIRTHDAY.
>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
>> NO, JULY 22.
I PROBABLY WON'T BE THERE SO
JUST LETTING YOU KNOW NOW.
>> WE SHOULD ADD A SPECIAL
AGENDA ITEM, FOR SURE.
THAT'S GREAT.
>> I WOULD LIKE PUBLIC COMMENT
TO INCLUDE EVERYONE SINGING
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE A LESS
AUSPICIOUS ADD TO THE ORDER AS
WELL.
I WANTED TO INQUIRE AND I WANT
TO THANK EVERYONE THAT YOU DID
TODAY TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON
THIS AND OTHER TOPICS.
I JUST WANTED TO INQUIRE, MR.
CHAIRMAN IF YOU KNOW AT THIS
POINT WHERE WE ARE OR IF WE CAN
FOLLOW UP OFF-LINE WHEN WE
PASSED THE LEGISLATION GRANTING
AS PCI THE ABILITY TO DO
ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW OR NO
REVIEW IN SOME CASES AND WE
REQUESTED AND TO KEEP THE
COMMITTEE A PRIZE WITH VIRTUAL
MEETINGS.
I BELIEVE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO
GET A REPORT BACK FROM THE
DEPARTMENT AND I WANTED TO
INQUIRE ABOUT THE PROGRESS WAS.
I KNOW THAT IS CRITICAL FOR
úMYSELF AND SOME OF OUR
COLLEAGUES IN VOTING TO GRANT A
UNIQUE AND EXTRAORDINARY
CONCESSION FOR THE DEPARTMENT
TO MEET THE NEEDS AT THE
MOMENT.
IT IS A TEMPORARY POLICY THAT
SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED TO BE
PERMANENT OR A STEP IN THE
DIRECTION TOWARDS PERMANENT
SUSPENSION.
I DID WANT TO SEE WHERE WE WERE
IN THAT PROCESS IN DEALING WITH
THE TECHNICAL HURDLES AND WHEN
WE CAN EXPECT THAT REPORT BACK.
>> THANK YOU.
IT IS MY BELIEF AND PLEASE
CORRECT ME WITH ACCURATE
INFORMATION BUT IT WAS MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WERE
SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE THAT REPORT
BACK THIS MONTH SO I BELIEVE IT
IS WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
DO YOU HAVE A MORE ACCURATE
UNDERSTANDING, LISH WHITSON?
>> THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING AS
WELL.
>> WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP
BECAUSE I LIKE YOU WANTED TO
HAVE THAT AS PART OF THIS BILL
AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED AND
I'M WAITING TO HEAR MYSELF WHAT
THE STATUS IS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, DID
THE BILL ITSELF ENUMERATE A
DEADLINE AND I'M NOT ASKING
THAT TO BE TRICKY OR RHETORICAL
BUT ACTUALLY ASKING BECAUSE I
DON'T HAVE THE BILL IN FRONT OF
ME BUT I THOUGHT IT DID HAVE A
DEADLINE AND I'M JUST CURIOUS
IF THE REPORT IS TO MEET THAT
DEADLINE OR IF WE HAVE EXTENDED
OR IF THEY HAVE REQUESTED AN
EXTENSION JUST IN THE INTEREST
OF BEING FULLY TRANSPARENT.
I'M CURIOUS IF THAT IS THE CASE
AND ASKING JUST TO REFLASH MY
OWN RECOLLECTION BUT I THOUGHT
IT HAD BEEN 15 JUNE OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IF SOMEONE COULD REFRESH MY
RECOLLECTION ON THAT.
>> THE DEADLINE IS 60 DAYS
AFTER THE ADOPTION SO JUNE 26.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AS FAR AS WE KNOW , THE
DEADLINE IS TO BE MAINTAINED?
HAS THE EXECUTIVE REQUEST BEEN
AN EXTENSION OR CAN THEY COUNT
ON AN UPDATE BY THAT TIME?
>> WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANY REQUEST
FOR AN EXTENSION BUT WE WILL
MAKE SURE TO BE IN
COMMUNICATION WITH THE MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
I WILL ALSO BE FOLLOWING UP
WITH THE SAME LINE OF QUESTIONS
THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED THIS
MORNING.
I APPRECIATE YOUR DILIGENCE ON
THIS ISSUE.
ANY OTHER ITEMS FOR THE GOOD OF
THE ORDER?
HEARING NONE, I WANT TO THANK
YOU AGAIN FOR ATTENDING AND
THIS JUNE 10, 2020 MEETING FOR
THE LAND-USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE IS NOW ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.