>> GOOD MORNING.
THE JULY 22nd, 2020 MEETING OF
THE LAND USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS NOW 9:31 A.M.
I'M DAN STRAUSS, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
>> JUAREZ.
>> HERE.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> HERE.
>> STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> THREE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY
ACKNOWLEDGING WE ARE ON THE
TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE FIRST
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE.
AND HONOR WITH GRATITUDE THE
LAND ITSELF OF THE TRIBES.
WE HAVE THREE ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA TODAY.
A BRIEFING AND PUBLIC HEARING
ON THE CHILD CARE NEAR YOU
LEGISLATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA,
WELCOME.
A BRIEFING IN PUBLIC HEARING ON
THE ANNUAL LAND USE BILL.
AND A BRIEFING ON THEIR WORK TO
STRENGTHEN TREE PROTECTIONS
HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE IS ON
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12th,
STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, IF THERE'S
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
AND I SEE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS HAS JOINED US.
BEFORE WE OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT,
THERE IS AN IMPORTANT AGENDA
ITEM NOT BEFORE US.
IT IS OUR OWN COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ'S BIRTHDAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I REMEMBER FROM OUR LAST
PUBLIC HEARING AND HAVE BEEN
ALLUDING TO IT FOR THE LAST
MONTH OR SO.
IF AS THE CHAIR I HAVE
PREROGATIVE TO NOW SING WITH MY
COLLEAGUES HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
>> OH, MY GOD.
OH MY GOD.
>> ONE, TWO, THREE.
>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR DEBORA.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
>> THANKS, GUYS.
THANK YOU.
IT REALLY MADE MY DAY.
IT IS VERY, VERY KIND OF YOU.
I'M SO GLAD TO BE 39 FOR THE
20th TIME.
AWESOME FEELING, FOLKS.
I HAVE JUST GOT UP EARLY THIS
MORNING AND RAN EIGHT MILES,
YOU KNOW.
THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO GET TO
LOOK FORWARD TO.
SO THANK YOU.
>> I CAN'T EVEN RUN 8 MILES
RIGHT NOW.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING
39.
>> YOU KNOW I'M KIDDING.
THERE IS NO WAY THAT I WOULD
RUN EIGHT MILES.
I MAY WALK ONE.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT WAS VERY KIND OF YOU.
IN THESE TIMES IT IS NICE TO
HEAR KIND WORDS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND WITH THAT, AT THIS TIME
WE WILL OPEN THE REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, I ASK EVERYONE
PLEASE BE PATIENT AS WE LEARN
TO OPERATE THIS NEW SYSTEM IN
REAL TIME.
WHILE OUR REMAINS ARE STRONG TO
HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT REGULARLY,
THE CITY COUNCIL RESERVES RIGHT
TO END OR ELIMINATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENTS AT ANY POINT IF THE
SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSE OR
UNSUITABLE TO ALLOW OUR
MEETINGS TO BE CONDUCTED
EFFICIENTLY AND IN A MATTER
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CONDUCT OUR
NECESSARY BUSINESS.
AT EVERY PUBLIC COMMENT I HAVE
MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE
COMMENTS NEED TO BE DIRECTED TO
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
I WANT TO FLAG THAT WE HAVE TWO
PUBLIC HEARINGS.
IF YOU HAVE SIGNED UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT AND SHOULD HAVE
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING,
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR
COMMENTS ARE REFLECTED ON THE
APPROPRIATE AGENDA ITEM.
WE CAN MAKE CHANGES IN REAL
TIME IF THAT IS THE CASE.
SO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
FOR THIS MEETING IS UP TO TEN
MINUTES AND EACH SPEAKER WILL
BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I WILL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME AND THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY ARE REGISTERED ON THE
COUNSEL'S WEBSITE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK,
SIGN UP FOR THE END OF PUBLIC
COMMENT BY GOING TO THE
WEBSITE.
IT IS ALSO LISTED ON THE
AGENDA.
PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY SAYING
YOUR NAME AND THE AGENDA ITEM
THAT YOU'RE ADDRESSING.
YOU WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN 10
SECONDS IS LEFT OF THE ALLOTTED
TIME.
THEN WE ASK THAT YOU BEGIN TO
WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS.
IF YOU DO NOT END THE COMMENTS
BY THE ALLOTTED TIME, THE
SPEAKER'S MICROPHONE WILL BE
MUTED TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON
THE NEXT SPEAKER.
WE ASK THAT YOU DISCONNECT FROM
THE LINE ONCE YOU HAVE
COMPLETED AND IF YOU HAVE A
PLAN TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING THE
MEETING, PLEASE DO SO VIA THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL.
WE HAVE SEVERAL COMMENTS ON THE
AGENDA FOR YOU.
I ASK THAT YOU HOLD THEM FOR
THE RELEVANT PUBLIC HEARING.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN.
AND LET ME PULL UP THE LIST.
FIRST UP WE HAVE -- I WILL READ
NAMES IN GROUPS OF THREE.
SUZANNE.
LET ME SEE IF IT CAN YOU PLEASE
PUT THE TIMER ON THE SCREEN.
>> HELLO.
>> HANG ON JUST A SECOND,
SUZANNE.
>> HELLO.
>> HANG ON JUST A SECOND,
SUZANNE.
IT, CAN YOU PLEASE PUT THE
TIMER ON THE SCREEN.
THANK YOU.
SUZANNE, PLEASE BEGIN.
>> HELLO.
I AM SUZANNE GRANT.
AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
TREE ORDINANCE.
FIRST I APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEING
THERE TODAY IN JULY AND WHAT
HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR WITH THE
ORDINANCE.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE
PARTICIPANTS.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ.
REQUIRED MITIGATION FOR ALLOWED
TREE REMOVAL WHERE IT SAYS ALL
EVERGREENS MUST BE REPLACED BY
EYE EVERGREEN, ON-SITE IT SAYS
THE PROPERTY OWNER SHALL ENSURE
THAT THE TREES PLANTED REMAIN
HEALTHY.
I HAVE DEFINITELY SEEN
OTHERWISE.
WILL IT BE WRITTEN INTO THE
SALES AGREEMENT FOR THE
PROPERTY OWNER TO AGREE TO TAKE
CARE OF THE TREES?
WHO WILL ENSURE THIS HAPPENS?
IF THE REPLACEMENT IS ON PUBLIC
PROPERTY, WHERE?
THE RIGHT-OF-WAY?
S-DOT?
S-DOT HAS SPECIFIC TREES FOR
SPRITE TREES AND THEY DO NOT
INCLUDE LARGE EVERGREENS.
ON PARKS PROPERTY, IS THIS PART
OF THE PARKS BUDGET,
MAINTENANCE.
THEY BARELY MAINTAIN WHAT IS
ALREADY THERE.
TWO HUGE SIGNIFICANT POPLARS
ARE PROPOSED TO BE REMOVED AND
SEVERAL EXCEPTIONAL TREES.
WHERE WOULD THIS SIZE OF TREE
BE REPLACED.
IT TAKES TOO LONG FOR THE TREE
THAT IS PLANT TODAY REPLACE THE
CANOPY.
CLIMATE IS CHANGING AND THE
BENEFITS TO OUR AIR CANNOT
WAIT.
THE TREE ORDINANCE NEEDS TO
REQUIRE THAT THE EQUIVALENT
REPLACEMENT CANOPY AREA AND
VOLUME BE REACHED IN 25 YEARS.
VERY IMPORTANT.
AREA AND VOLUME.
THERE NEED TO BE STRONG
PROTECTIONS FOR EXISTING MATURE
TREES.
OUR PROBLEM WITH RETAINING A 09-
YEAR-OLD EXCEPTIONAL TULIP TREE
IS THE DEVELOPER COULD NOT
ACHIEVE ITS POTENTIAL.
SO HE WAS ALLOWED TO CUT IT
DOWN.
I DON'T SEE ANY CHANGE TO THE
CODE THAT ALLOWS TREE REMOVAL
WHEN THE DEVELOPER CAN'T GET
WHAT HE WANTS.
REAL TREE PRODUCTION NEEDS TO
BE WRITTEN IN ACTUAL CODE AND
ENFORCED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SUZANNE.
UP NEXT IS STEVE FOLLOWED BY
JUANITA AND WOODY WHEELER.
STEVE, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY.
MY NAME IS STEVE ZEMKE.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY AS CHAIR OF
TREE PACT.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
EFFORTS GOING FORWARD.
THE UPDATES OF THE RESOLUTION
THAT YOU PASSED.
I WANT TO NOTE THAT THE
RESOLUTION STATES THAT AT THE
END OF THE PROCESS THAT
LEGISLATION BE SUBMITTED TO THE
COUNCIL, I WANT TO SPEAK TO
THAT PARTICULARLY.
BECAUSE OF THE REGULATIONS THAT
ARE BEING UPDATED TODAY, THE
PROBLEM IS THAT THE QUESTION OF
HAVING A DIVERSE -- DIVERSITY
OF OLD TREE SPECIES AND AGES,
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE 23
IN TERMS OF LAND USE STATES
DURING PLOTTING THAT ALL TREES
THAT ARE SIX INCHES AND LARGER
NEED TO BE SHOWN ON THE SITE.
AND THERE NEEDS TO BE AN EFFORT
MADE TO MAXIMIZE THEIR
ATTENTION TO EXISTING TREES.
WE THINK THIS PROCESS NEEDS TO
CONTINUE THROUGH THE WHOLE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, NOT JUST
DEAL WITH EXCEPTIONAL TREES AT
THE END OF THE PROCESS THAT IS
OCCURRING NOW.
SECOND ISSUE I WANT TO
REFERENCE TO THE COUNCIL IS THE
URBAN FORESTRY LETTER.
ALREADY RAISED THE QUESTION IT
APPEARS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION
ENFORCEMENT OF THE TREE
ORDINANCE AND OTHER PROVISIONS
IN SBCI, THAT THERE IS NO CLEAR
DEPARTMENT SECTION OR DIVISION
THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
OVERALL TREE PROTECTION.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT WE NEED --
THE SBCI NEEDS TO ESTABLISH A
SEPARATE DIVISION TO HAVE A
CLEAR PATH FOR URBAN FORESTRY
DECISION MAKING, RESOLUTION AND
INCREASE IN ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND LASTLY WE WANT TO URGE THAT
YOU USE THE DRAFT TREE
PROTECTION ORDINANCE BY THE
URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION AS
YOUR STARTING POINT IN TERMS OF
MOVING TOWARDS FINAL ORDINANCE
PASSAGE BY THE COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU, STEVE.
UP NEXT WE HAVE JUANITA SALINAS
FOLLOWED BY WOODY WHEELER AND
ANDREW KITTY.
APOLOGIES.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU.
HELLO.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
I'M JUANITA SALINAS.
I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
THE CHILD CARE NEAR YOU
PROPOSAL.
WE BELIEVE THE CHANGES OUTLINED
IN THE PROPOSAL WILL REAP MANY
BENEFITS FOR OUR EARLY LEARNING
COMMUNITY.
PROVEN AND POURFUL NONPROFIT
THAT IMPROVES COMMUNITIES AND
PEOPLE'S LIVES BY CREATING WELL
DESIGNED AFFORDABLE HOMES.
WE RECOGNIZE THE CRITICAL
IMPORTANCE TO ACCESS QUALITY
SAFE AND AFFORDABLE EARLY CHILD
CARE AND HOW IT IMPACTS GROWTH
EXPONENTIALLY FOR THE CHILD AND
FAMILY WHEN WE HAVE A SAFE AND
AFFORDABLE AND QUALITY HOME.
OUR INITIATIVE IS CENTERED ON
THE PROMISE OF OPPORTUNITY.
SO LONG BEFORE COVID-19
PANDEMIC, WASHINGTON STATE
RANKED 6th IN THE NATION FOR
PEOPLE LIVING IN CHILD CARE
DESERTS.
TODAY THE STATE IS REPORTING
20% OR MORE OF CHILD CARE
CENTERS HAVE CLOSED.
FOR SOME TIME NOW, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE HAS ALREADY BEEN FACING
WE CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH THESE
IMPLICATIONS AND THE IMPACTS OF
COVID-19 AND ASSESS OUR
RECOVERY.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE AMPLE ADEQUATE AND
ACCESSIBLE CHILD CARE.
IT IS EACCEPTTIAL FOR BRINGING
BACK OUR WORKFORCE.
SO WE SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT WILL,
ONE, ALLOW CHILD CARE CENTERS
TO OPEN AT A TIME WHEN MANY ARE
STRUGGLING TO STAY OPEN.
AND WILL HELP SUPPORT THOSE WHO
HAVE CLOSED THEIR DOORS
PERMANENTLY TO HAVE A
POSSIBILITY TO REOPEN.
WE ALSO SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL
BECAUSE IT CAN RENEW
POTENTIALLY CUMBERSOME BARRIERS
FOR TAXED PROVIDERS.
WE BELIEVE IT WILL CREATE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES TO RECEIVE CARE
ESPECIALLY NOW WHEN FAMILIES
ARE WORKING FROM HOME LONG-
TERM.
AND WE BELIEVE IT WILL ALLOW
PROVIDER TOES MORE INNOVATIVE
IN CREATING CENTERS ACROSS THE
CITY.
WE ASK THAT THE LAND USE AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE TODAY
VOTE YES TO ADVANCE THIS
PROPOSAL FOR APPROVAL.
THIS IS A TENU TENUOUS TIME FOR
OUR WORKFORCE.
>> THANK YOU.
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A SHORT
COMMENT DURING THE PUBLIC
HEARING ON CHILD CARE NEAR YOU,
WE HAVE HEARD ALL OF YOUR
WORDS.
IF YOU WANT TO LET THE RECORD
REFLECT ON THE NEXT SECTION, WE
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR VOICE
RECORDED THERE.
UP NEXT IS WOODY WHEELER
FOLLOWED BY ANDREW KITTY AND
THEN MICHAEL OXMAN.
AGAIN, IF YOU ARE HERE TO SPEAK
ON CHILD CARE NEAR YOU OR THE
LAND -- OMNIBUS BILL, WE HAVE
SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR
THOSE TWO ITEMS.
WOODY.
ARE YOU READY?
>> HELLO.
THIS IS WOODY WHEELER.
>> GOOD MORNING.
SO I'M SPEAKING ON THE TREE
ORDINANCE.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
IT IS HIGH TIME FOR SEATTLE TO
PASS A NEW AND IMPROVED TREE
ORDINANCE THAT ADDRESSES
COMMENTS MADE HERE TODAY.
EVERY DAY WE DELAY AS PASSAGE
MORE TREES FALL AND TREE CANOPY
DECREASES WHILE HEAT ISLANDS
INCREASE AND THE CITY BECOMES
LESS LIVABLE FOR EVERYONE.
IN PARTICULAR THE CITY NEEDS TO
CLOSE LOOPHOLES TO ADEQUATELY
PROTECT EXCEPTIONAL TREES AND
TREE GROVES.
I AM REFERRING ESPECIALLY TO
THE LOOPHOLE THAT SAYS ON CITY
WEBSITE AND I QUOTE, IF YOU ARE
DEVELOPING YOUR PROPERTY, YOU
MAY REMOVE TREES IF RETAINING
THEM PREVENTS YOU FROM
ACHIEVING THE ALLOWED LOT
COVERAGE, END OF QUOTE.
ON DECEMBER 27th, 2019, I
WITNESSED WITH HORROR THE
TAKING OF AN EXCEPTIONAL
WESTERN HEMLOCK BY A NEIGHBOR
DUE TO THIS LOOPHOLE.
IT WAS ONE OF SEATTLE'S LAST
6,000 AND NOW PART OF THE
INCREASING HEAT ISLAND.
THIS INCREMENTAL DESTRUCTION OF
OUR MOST IMPORTANT TREES IS
HAPPENING ALL OVER TOWN.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT
THAT THERE IS A NEXUS BETWEEN
TREE REMOVAL, CLIMATE CHANGE
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE THAT THIS
ORDINANCE ADDRESSES.
FIRST QUOTE BY DR. ROBERT
BOLLARD, PROFESSOR AT SOUTHERN
TEXAS UNIVERSITY.
IF IT IS GOING TO BE TOO HOT
OUTSIDE, WE KNOW WHO GOING TO
BE AFFECTED.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT URBAN
HEAT ISLANDS, WE KNOW WHO
CANNOT AFFORD TO RUN THEIR AIR
CONDITIONERS 24/7, END QUOTE.
SECOND QUOTE AUTHOR OF THE BEST
SELLING HOW TO BE AN ANTI-
RACIST BOOK.
HIS QUOTE READS AS FOLLOWS, DO
NOTHING CLIMATE POLICY IS
RACIST.
END OF QUOTE.
IN CONCLUSION, I RECOMMEND THAT
WE PASS THE REVISED TREE
ORDINANCE IN 2020 FOR SOCIAL
AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU, WOODY.
UP NEXT IS ANDREW KITTY.
I APOLOGIZE IF I'M SAYING THAT
INCORRECTLY.
FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL AND DAVID.
AT THE END OF ANDREW'S PUBLIC
COMMENT, WE WILL HAVE REACHED
THE -- REACH THED END OF OUR
PUBLIC COMMENT AND I WILL NEED
TO EXTEND PUBLIC COMMENT FOR MY
COLLEAGUES' AWARENESS.
ANDREW.
>> I'M ANDREW.
AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE
CHILD CARE NEAR YOU ORDINANCE.
I'M CURIOUS BEFORE I GET
STARTED IF I SHOULD BE
TESTIFYING AT A DIFFERENT TIME.
>> PLEASE REMIND ME THE ITEM
THAT YOU ARE REFERRING?
THERE WAS BACKGROUND NOISE.
>> THE CHILD CARE NEAR YOU
ORDINANCE.
>> YES.
THERE IS A SEPARATE PUBLIC
HEARING FOR THAT.
LET'S HAVE YOU MOVE OVER THERE.
>> OKAY.
>> I WANT TO CHECK WITH IT.
CAN WE MAKE THAT CHANGE
INTERNALLY?
>> YES.
WE WILL MOVE THAT.
>> THANK YOU, ANDREW.
AND MICHAEL OXMAN, YOU ARE UP.
>> HI FRIENDS ON THE LAND USE
AND NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE OF
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
I'M TALKING TODAY ABOUT THE
EXCEPTIONAL TREE DIRECTORS RULE
13-2020.
AND I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT
THAT THE URBAN FOREST
MANAGEMENT PLAN IS TWO YEARS
OVERDATE.
THERE IS AN ITEM IN THE COMP
PLAN THAT SAYS THAT MANAGEMENT
PLAN FOR TREES WILL BE TAKEN
AND UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS.
AND IT HAS BEEN SEVEN YEARS.
SO YOU'RE KIND OF IN VIOLATION
OF THE COMP PLAN.
AND THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
THE COVID THAT WAS A SUPPLE
YEARS AGO WHEN IT GOT STALLED.
AND SO THE -- I THINK THE REAL
ISSUE IS THAT THE ORIGINAL
URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN
BACK IN 2007 SAID THAT WE NEED
TO HAVE A TREE INVENTORY SO WE
KNOW WHAT PARTS WE HAVE BEFORE
WE START THROWING PARTS AWAY.
WE ARE CURRENTLY USING THIS
SYSTEM OF AERIAL PHOTOS TAKEN
FROM SATELLITES USING RADAR AND
OTHER VARIOUS TECHNOLOGIES TO
FIND OUT WHERE TREES ARE
LOCATED.
BUT IT DOESN'T TELL US WHAT
KIND OF SHAPE THE TREE IS IN.
THEREFORE WE HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT
HOW MUCH MONEY TO BUDGET FOR
MAINTENANCE.
AND OUR CITY STAFF OF COURSE
SAY THAT IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD
TO KNOW WHAT MAINTENANCE IS
NEEDED SINCE WE ONLY HAVE 24
ARBORISTS.
12 ON THE PARK CREW AND 12
ARBORISTS ON THE STREET TREE
CREW.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ABOUT A
MILLION AND A HALF TREES IN
THIS CITY.
AND REALLY THOSE 24 STAFF CAN'T
GET THROUGH THE JOB.
AND IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA IF
WE SOMEHOW CHANGED OVER TO A
CONTACTING SYSTEM WHICH IS FAR
MORE IMPORTANT AND EFFICIENT.
THE STAFF PEOPLE ARE
CONSTRAINED BY THEIR UNION THAT
THEY CAN'T ACTUALLY KEEP
RECORDS.
IT IS UP TO THEIR CREW CHIEF TO
KEEP RECORDS OF WHAT TREES THEY
PRUNE.
AND SO THEREFORE WE HAVE NO
RECORD OF WHICH TREES ARE
PRUNED.
IN FACT WE HAVE A PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE REQUEST RIGHT NOW
ASKING PARKS WHICH TREES ARE
CUT DOWN.
PARKS DOESN'T KNOW AND CAN'T
TELL US WHICH TREES THEY HAVE
CUT DOWN IN 2019.
SO I WILL GET BACK TO YOU WHEN
I GET --
>> THANK YOU, MICHAEL.
ALWAYS APPRECIATE HEARING FROM
YOU.
WE DO HAVE 11 MORE PUBLIC --
PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
AND IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION,
THE PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE
EXTENDED FOR 12 MINUTES
PROVIDING EACH SPEAKER HAS ONE
MINUTE TO SPEAK.
AND CLERK, IF YOU COULD MAKE
THAT CHANGE TO THE TIMER.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
PUBLIC COMMENT IS EXTENDED FOR
12 MINUTES.
ON DECK WE HAVE DAVID FOLLOWED
BY JOSHUA AND MCKENZIE.
DAVID.
GOOD MORNING.
>> THIS IS DAVID MORING.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ.
I'M WITH TREE PACT.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE
OMNIBUS AND THE SECOND ONE IS
FOR THE TREE PROTECTION.
ON THE OMNIBUS, I WANT TO POINT
OUT TO THE PEOPLE ON THE
COMMITTEE ON PAGE 4, LINE 18 IT
LOOKS LIKE WE'RE NOT GOING TO
BE ABLE TO SELL OUR BACK DOOR
TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS.
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING WITH THIS
PARTICULAR CAUSE.
SECONDLY FOR TREE PROTECTION,
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS
REVISION TO THE DIRECTOR'S
RULES.
I THINK THEY'RE GREAT.
HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM THE TREE
REMOVAL CODE OF SMC23 -- OR
2511, I'M SORRY.
AND IN THERE IT BASICALLY
ALLOWS AS SUZANNE GRANT
MENTIONED BEFORE, REGARDLESS OF
THE EXCEPTIONAL TREE RULES
THEY'RE ALLOWED TO TAKE THE
EXCEPTIONAL TREES OUT.
AND HAD REPORTED LESS THAN 3%
OF ALL EXCEPTIONAL TREES WERE
SAVED DURING DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS BACK IN 2017.
AND WE CAN DO BOTH, DEVELOPMENT
WITH --
>> THANK YOU, DAVID.
AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND US
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS IN WRITING
FOR THE RECORD TO REFLECT.
UP NEXT WE HAVE JOSHUA MORRIS
FOLLOWED BY MCKENZIE, COLLEEN
McCLEAR.
APOLOGIES.
I KNOW WE KNOW EACH OTHER.
I DO SEE JOHN BARBER IS NOT
PRESENT.
JOHN, IF YOU ARE LISTENING,
PLEASE CALL IN.
JOSHUA MORRIS, GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THIS IS JOSHUA MORRIS SPEAKING
AS URBAN CONSERVATION MANAGER.
WE ADVOCATE AND ORGANIZE FOR
CITIES AND BIRDS THRIVE AND
NEITHER CAN THRIVE WITHOUT A
HEALTHY PROTECTED AND EQUALLY
DISTRIBUTED URBAN CORRIDOR.
OUTLINED IN RESOLUTION 31902.
I WANT TO ASK CHANDA AND OTHERS
AT SBCI FOR THE WORK THAT THEY
HAVE DONE ON THE DRAFT UPDATE.
PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE THE
INCLUSION OF THE COMMISSION
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
WE NEED MORE OVERSIGHT AND
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR TREE
PROTECTION AT SBCI AND WE NEED
AN UPDATED TREE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE.
ASKS LEGISLATION FOR TREE
PROTECTION BE SUBMITTED FOR
CONSIDERATION BY THE COUNCIL IN
2020.
PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BALL
DROP.
THE URBAN FORESTRY DIVISION --
>> THANK YOU.
AND THE RESOLUTION YOU WERE
JUST REFERENCING WAS ONE THAT I
TOOK PART IN HELPING TO CREATE.
AND I APPRECIATE HEARING FROM
YOU, JOSHUA.
PLEASE SEND ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS FOR THE RECORD.
>> MCKENZIE AND THEN COLLEEN.
JOHN IS STILL NOT PRESENT.
FOLLOWED BY PATRICK TAYLOR.
GOOD MORNING.
>> HI.
I THINK I NEED TO BE IN THE
PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE CHILD
CARE NEAR YOU INITIATIVE.
>> THANK YOU.
WE'LL MAKE THAT CHANGE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> UP NEXT WE HAVE COLLEEN,
JOHN BARBER STILL NOT PRESENT,
FOLLOWED BY PATRICK TAYLOR AND
RICHARD ELLISON.
COLLEEN.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS, I'VE
GOT TWO HATS ON TODAY.
IF I COULD RESERVE ONE MINUTE
FOR THE CHILD CARE NEAR YOU AND
ONE FOR THE TREE.
IT IS CONFUSING TO SIGN IN.
>> OKAY.
SURE.
GO FOR IT.
>> ON TREES, THANK YOU FOR THIS
HEARING AND THE TREE ORDINANCE
SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT WORK IN
PROGRESS.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE TREE
PERMITTING SOFTWARE.
THAT COULD BE A GREAT TOOL FOR
ACCESSING THE TREES.
IT SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO
THE PUBLIC SO IF THEY HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT TREE REMOVALS
THEY CAN CHECK WITH THE
WEBSITE.
THEY ARE THE EYES ON THE TREES
FOR US AS FAR AS REMOVAL.
SEATTLE DOES NEED A HOTLINE FOR
TREE REMOVAL VIOLATIONS.
RIGHT NOW NO ONE KNOWS WHO TO
CALL, WHAT CAN HAPPEN AND
OFTENTIMES EXCEPTIONAL TREES
ARE REMOVED ON THE WEEKEND WHEN
NO ONE IS HOME TO INTERVIEW.
AFTER THE FACT IS NOT ENOUGH.
AND LASTLY OUR PORTLAND EXPERT
THAT CAME TO THE MEETING THAT
YOU WERE AT IN NOVEMBER
INDICATED THAT THE FEE IN LIEU
REALLY DOES NOT PRESERVE THE
TREE CANOPY.
IF USED AS A LAST RESORT THE
TREES SHOULD BE REPLACED AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE ON-SITE.
>> THANK YOU, COLLEEN.
>> AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING FROM YOU AGAIN IN JUST
A MINUTE.
SEND MY FURTHER COMMENTS BY E-
MAIL.
>> IF WE DON'T HAVE JOHN
BARBER, WE HAVE PATRICK,
RICHARD AND MATT.
NOT SEEING JOHN.
PATRICK, GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I HAVE A COMMENT FOR THE
OMNIBUS LAND USE BILL.
IF YOU COULD MOVE ME OVER
THERE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
>> GREAT.
WE WILL DO THAT.
RICHARD ELLISON FOLLOWED BY --
I'M SEEING AS NOT PRESENT.
SO THEN FOLLOWED BY MARTIN
WESTERNMAN AND PHILLIP.
RICHARD ELLISON, GOOD MORNING.
>> HELLO.
GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT COUNCIL FOR
39102 BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE
IMPROVEMENTS MADE IN THE BILL
AND WE NEED TO GO FORWARD ON A
NEW UPDATED TREE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE.
CITY HAS CREATED THE URBAN
FORESTRY COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS
AND PROFESSIONALS TO SUPPORT
THE CITY IN THIS PROCESS.
SO THE CITY MUST UTILIZE THEM
AND USE THEIR DRAFT TREE
ORDINANCE.
IT SHOULDN'T BE GOING TO DCI
AND SAYING -- IGNORING THIS
EXPERTISE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
HAS CREATED.
I WAS A MEMBER OF THE URBAN
FOREST WORK GROUP FROM 1997 TO
THE YEAR 2000.
THIS CAN HAS BEEN KICKED DOWN
THE ROAD FOR A LONG TIME, THE
ISSUE OF USING INCENTIVES AND
VOLUNTEER PROTECTION OF TREES
AND HOPING THAT THE DEVELOPER
WILL DO THE RIGHT THING.
WE HAVE HEARD TODAY THAT ONLY
3% OF THE TREES OF THESE
EXCEPTIONAL TREES ARE BEING
PRESERVED.
THE WAY TO DO IT IS YOU HAVE TO
STOP THE BUILDING OF BAD
DESIGN.
IF IT'S GOING TO REMOVE A
HERITAGE TREE AN EXCEPTIONAL
TREE IT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.
THE CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO BE
BUILT UP NOT OUT.
>> PLEASE FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND WE
APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU.
>>> WE HAVE MATT, ARUNA, I
DON'T SEE YOU'RE PRESENT.
MATT, GOOD MORNING.
>> HI.
I ATTEMPTED TO SIGN UP FOR THE
TREE ORDINANCE AND THE CHILD
CARE NEAR YOU.
WITH REGARD TO THE CHILD CARE
NEAR YOU, I FULLY SUPPORT THAT.
>> MATT, THIS IS JUST FOR TREE
ORDINANCE RIGHT NOW AND THEN WE
WILL COME BACK.
>> OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
GREAT.
THE PLACE FOR EXPANDING AND OFF
SETTING OUR TREE CANOPY IS IN
THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.
RATHER THAN MAKING THIS ABOUT
TREES VERSUS DEVELOPMENT, WE
ABSOLUTELY NEED MORE HOUSING.
AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE
COUNCIL TO ENTERTAIN HOW TO
MAKE STREET TREES MANDATORY AS
PART OF A RESTORATIVE PROJECT
THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
IT IS GREAT FOR EQUALITY, IT IS
GREAT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND
IT DOESN'T PIT HOUSING AGAINST
TREES.
THAT'S IT FOR ME.
>> THANK YOU, MATT.
ARUNA, IF YOU ARE PRESENT.
NOT SEEING YOU PRESENT, WE HAVE
MARTIN WESTERNMAN AND LASTLY
PHILLIP.
MARTIN, GOOD MORNING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS.
AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ.
I'M A CODIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE
GREEN SPACE COALITION.
I COME TO SAY THAT WE SUPPORT
THE WORK TO CONTINUE PROGRESS
ON UPDATING THE MANAGEMENT PLAN
IMPROVING URBAN FORESTRY BY
PARTNERSHIP.
WE ALSO URGE THE CITY COUNCIL
AND MAYOR TO CRAFT AN UPDATED
TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE BASED
ON GUIDELINES PROVIDED BY THE
URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION.
FINALLY, PROVIDE MORE THAN $3
BILLION A YEAR IN BENEFITS OF
SAVINGS FOR OUR CITY EVERY
YEAR.
CITY COUNCIL APPROPRIATED MONEY
IN THE BUDGET TO FUND A
CONSULTANT THAT WOULD WORK WITH
CITY DEPARTMENTS TO INTEGRATE
CAPITAL VALUE INTO THE COST
BENEFIT ANALYSIS, POLICY MAKING
AND OPERATIONS.
IMPORTANT WAY TO PROTECT TREES.
WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO MAKE
SURE THAT $35,000 IS SPENT THIS
YAR FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE
TO CARE FOR THE HUGE VALUE OF
THE URBAN FOREST GREEN AND
WATER SPACES.
THANK YOU.
>> THE LOVE OF NOT HITTING
UNMUTE.
SO THANK YOU MARTIN.
AND PHILLIP, TAKE IT AWAY.
>> I'M WITH FRIENDS OF
DISCOVERY PARK.
I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT
PROTECTING SEATTLE TREES IS A
HIGH PRIORITY FOR ME AND THE
PEOPLE THAT I KNOW AND LOVE
AROUND SEATTLE.
SEATTLE IS A GREEN GEM.
DO YOUR BEST.
DO WHAT YOU CAN FOR THE TREES
OF SEATTLE.
THE URBAN FORESTRY IS CRITICAL
FOR THE ECONOMIC VALUE IS
UNSTILLIBLE.
DO THE RIGHT THING FOR OUR
TREES AND KEEP SEATTLE GREEN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, PHILLIP.
AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT FOR TODAY, JULY 22nd,
2020 LAND USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE.
OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS
TODAY IS A BRIEFING AND PUBLIC
HEARING FOR THE CHILD CARE NEAR
YOU LEGISLATION.
NOAH, WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE
ABBREVIATED TITLE INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
LAND USE AND ZONING.
OOPS.
GIVE ME ONE MOMENT HERE.
THIS JUST WENT AWAY.
SORRY ABOUT THIS.
MODIFYING USE AND DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS TO REMOVE REGULATORY
IMPEDIMENTS AND ALLOW THE
SIGHTING OF CHILD CARE CENTERS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND
AMENDING SECTIONS OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THANK YOU, NOAH.
CHILD CARE IS ONE OF THE ISSUES
THAT I HAVE HEARD THE MOST
ABOUT, WHETHER IT WAS -- IT IS
IN THE COMMUNITY OR TALKING TO
FRIENDS WHO ARE NEW PARENTS.
ANYONE WHO HAS HAD TO GO
THROUGH THE PROCESS OF FINDING
CHILD CARE IN SEATTLE RECENTLY
KNOWS HOW DIFFICULT IT CAN BE
TO FIND CHILD CARE THAT IS
AFFORDABLE AND IS NEAR THEIR
HOME.
I HAVE HEARD MANY STORIES OF
PEOPLE HAVING TO GO OUT OF TOWN
OR SIGN UP ON WAIT LISTS YEARS
IN ADVANCE.
WHEN I TOOK OFFICE IN JANUARY,
ADDRESSING CHILD CARE IS WAS --
IS ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES.
AND IN THIS NEW POST-COVID
WORLD, CHILD CARE HAS BECOME AN
EVEN MORE IMPORTANT ISSUE IN A
WHOLE NEW WAY.
THIS BILL WE BEGAN WORKING ON
IN JANUARY.
AND AS LAND USE BILLS TAKE
QUITE SOME TIME, WE ARE HERE
TODAY.
THIS BILL IS NOT INTENDED TO BE
A SINGLE SOLUTION.
IT IS ONE PART OF A SPECTRUM OF
THINGS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS
TO MAKE CHILD CARE
AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE.
AS LAND USE CHAIR I'M PROPOSING
THIS LEGISLATION AS A WAY TO
USE OUR LAND USE CODE TO EASE
AND INCENTIVIZE CHILD CARE.
WITH ALL OF THE CHALLENGES
RELATE TODAY CHILD CARE, THE
LAND USE CODE SHOULD NOT BE AN
ADDITIONAL BARRIER.
THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN
POSSIBLE WITHOUT LISH WHITSON.
HE IS HERE TODAY.
LISH, WILL YOU KICK IT OFF.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> LET ME -- SORRY.
SHARE MY SCREEN.
GREAT.
SO THIS IS A CONFERENCE OF A
PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT LOOKS
AT THE ENTIRE LAND USE CODE TO
IDENTIFY WHERE THERE ARE
BARRIERS TO SIGHTING CHILD CARE
FACILITIES IN THE CITY AND TO
ADDRESS THOSE BARRIERS AND
REMOVE THEM WHERE APPROPRIATE.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE
CURRENT CHILD CARE REGULATIONS
BOTH AT THE STATE AND CITY
LEVELS.
CURRENT CONDITIONS OF CHILD
CARE IN SEATTLE AND THE
PROPOSAL.
THERE ARE TWO MAIN REGULATORS
IN SEATTLE OF CHILD CARE
FACILITIES.
THE BULK OF REGULATIONS IS FROM
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
THEY DEAL WITH ISSUES HAVING TO
DO WITH HEALTH AND SAFE TREE.
THEY ALSO DEAL WITH ISSUES
RELATED TO THE ACTUAL
CONFIGURATION OF CHILD CARE
FACILITIES BOTH INDOOR AND
OUTDOOR.
SEATTLE ON THE OTHER HAND
REGULATES BUSINESS LICENSES,
WHETHER A CHILD CARE FACILITY
IS A PRINCIPAL USE.
AND OUR ZONING CONSIDERS
IMPACTS TO SURROUNDING
NEIGHBORS.
FROM CHILD CARE FACILITIES.
IT ALSO PROVIDES INCENTIVES TO
INCORPORATE CHILD CARE INTO NEW
DEVELOPMENT.
IT THE STATE HAS DIFFERENT
CATEGORIES OF CHILD CARE
FACILITIES THAT AMASS IT ON TO
THE CITY REGULATIONS.
FAMILY HOME PROGRAMS ARE
ACCESSORY FAMILY HOME BASED
CHILD CARE FACILITIES.
CHILD CARE CENTERS ARE MORE
IMPORTANT SELF CONTAINED CHILD
CARE FACILITIES.
AND THEN STATE LAW RECOGNIZES
BUT DOESN'T REGULATE A NUMBER
OF OTHER CATEGORIES OF CHILD
CARE LIKE FACILITIES THAT ARE
CONSIDERED CHILD CARE UNDER
SEATTLE'S ZONING.
SEATTLE'S CHILD CARE
REGULATIONS RUN THE GAMUT
BETWEEN DISCOURAGING CHILD CARE
FACILITY IN SINGLE-FAMILY AREAS
BY LIMITING THEIR SIZE,
REQUIRING CONDITIONAL USE
APPROVAL AND ALLOWING APPEALS
OF CHILD CARE FACILITY
APPROVALS TO THE HEARING
EXAMINER.
AT THE OTHER END OF THE
SPECTRUM IS DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
WHERE CHILD CARE FACILITIES ARE
ACTIVELY INCENTIVIZED THROUGH
ALLOWING BONUSES, ALLOWING AND
REQUIRING CONTRIBUTIONS FOR
PROJECTS THAT WANT TO MEET
MAXIMUM HEIGHT AND DENSITY AND
EXEMPTING CHILD CARE FACILITIES
FROM REQUIREMENTS.
I'M GOING TO WALK BRIEFLY
THROUGH THE REGULATIONS IN A
LITTLE MORE DETAIL.
FOR HOME OCCUPATIONS WHICH ARE
CHILD CARE FACILITIES CITED
WITHIN A PERSON'S HOME, THERE
ARE FIVELIMITS ON NUMBER OF
CHILDREN.
IT CAN ONLY BE WITHIN THE
PRIMARY DWELLING UNIT.
AND EXCEPT FOR ADA ACCESS,
THERE CAN BE NO OUTDOOR
EVIDENCE OF
>> ONE OF THE KEY ONES IS
PROVIDING EXTRA FLORIA FOR
PROJECT DOWNTOWN THAT EITHER
INCORPORATE CHILD CARE
FACILITIES IN THEIR PROJECT OR
PROVIDE CONTRIBUTION THAT'S ARE
THEN USED TO SUBSIDIZE CHILD
CARE SPACES AND FACILITIES IN
OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY.
SO SOME OF THOSE HAVE BEEN USED
IN DOWNTOWN PROJECTS.
BUT OTHERS HAVE BEEN USED TO
SUBSIDIZE CHILD CARE FACILITIES
IN AREAS LIKE SAND POINT, PARK,
LAKE CITY AND WILL BE USED AT
THE PACIFIC HOSPITAL BUILDING
NORTH END OF
>> PEOPLE CAN BUILD A LARGE OF
A BUILDING AS THEY DESIRE
WITHOUT THE CHILD CARE SPACE.
>> THAT IS IMPORTANT AS WE TRY
TO CREATE DENSER LIVING
OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE RECORD
NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS HAVING
CHILDREN IN SEATTLE NOW.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
EMBED THAT IN THE CORE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO JUXTAPOSE
THAT WITH WHAT YOU JUST SAID
WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANY
EVIDENCE OF CHILD CARE.
THEY HAVE TO BE OUT OF SIGHT.
AND I THINK THAT THIS IS THE
BEGINNING OF A CONVERSATION AS
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS AS THE
CHAIR MENTIONED TO ALL OF THE
CHANGES THAT ARE NEEDED SO WE
CAN TRULY HAVE DOWNTOWN PLAY
AREAS AND THEN CHILD CARE
FACILITIES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE.
TO JOBS THAT REALLY CALLS FOR
US TO ACT WITH URGENCY.
I APPRECIATE THIS CONVERSATION.
>> LOOKING AT THE DEMAND FOR
CHILD CARE AND THIS SORT OF
BEARS UP WITH CHAIR STRAUSS
MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING, WE
HAVE ABOUT 32,000 HOUSEHOLDS
WITH CHILDREN UNDER SIX YEARS
OF AGE.
ALL PARENTS OR GUARDIANS WORK
OUTSIDE OF THE HOME.
SO THERE'S ABOUT 33,000
CHILDREN UNDER SIX WHO MAY NEED
CHILD CARE.
ACCORDING TO THE BEST ESTIMATE
THAT I COULD FIND, THERE ARE
16,400 SPACES AND 910 CHILD
CARE CENTERS THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE.
SO SPACE FOR ABOUT HALF OF
THOSE CHILD CARE CHILDREN WHOSE
PARENTS WORK OUTSIDE OF THE
HOME.
THIS IS DATA FROM THE CENTER
FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS WHO
DEVELOPED A DEFINITION OF CHILD
CARE DESERT WHICH IS A CENSUS
TRACK WHERE MORE THAN 50
CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 6
LIVE THAT DOESN'T HAVE CHILD
CARE PROVIDERS OR THERE ARE SO
FEW OPTIONS THAT THERE ARE
THREE TIMES AS MANY CHILDREN AS
LICENSED CHILD CARE SLOTS.
HALF OF THE CENSUS TRACK MEETS
THAT.
ACCORDING TO THEIR DATA.
WE REVIEWED RECENTLY PERMITTED
CHILD CARE CENTERS IN THE LAST
FIVE YEARS.
51 CENTERS RECEIVED BUILDING
PERMITS.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER THE
REST OF THE SLIDE BUT I CAN
COME BACK TO IT IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS.
BUT THE -- WHAT WE SAW WAS
THERE WAS A REAL IMPACT FROM
THE CONDITIONAL USE
REQUIREMENTS FOR SINGLE-FAMILY
ZONES.
IT MORE THAN DOUBLED THE LENGTH
OF REVIEW TIME FOR A CHILD CARE
FACILITY IN THE ZONES.
>> LISH, JUST FOCUSING ON THAT
LAST SLIDE, I THINK THIS --
THANK YOU FOR THIS
PRESENTATION.
I THINK THIS SLIDE REALLY
HIGHLIGHTS A LOT OF THE NEED
FOR THIS LEGISLATION BECAUSE WE
HAVE SO MANY CHILDREN IN OUR
CITY RIGHT NOW THAT WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT CHILD CARE
FACILITIES WHICH ALSO HAVE SLIM
MARGINS, ARE ABLE TO BE
PERMITTED WITH A TIMELINE THAT
IS PREDICTABLE AND THAT THEY
CAN COUNT ON AND IS CONSISTENT.
JUST LOOKING ACROSS ALL ZONES,
HIGHLIGHTING IT TAKES ABOUT AN
AVERAGE OF FIVE MONTHS FOR
PERMITTING.
IN SINGLE-FAMILY ZONES, IT IS 8
MONTHS.
AND THEN WITH WHERE IT IS
PERMITTED OUTRIGHT, IT IS THREE
MONTHS.
WHEN WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT
THE NEEDS OF SDCI AND THEIR
STAFF TIME AND THE CONSTRAINTS
ON THEIR STAFF TIME FOR ALL
OTHER ISSUES, WHETHER IT IS
PUTTING FORWARD BUILDING
PERMITS OR PROTECTING TREES, WE
NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR
TIME IS LIMITED AND THAT THESE
MONTHS -- THE EIGHT MONTHS
VERSUS THREE MONTHS IN
PARTICULAR IS SOMETHING THAT
VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT ADDS
COST, TIME AND UNCERTAINTY WHEN
PROVIDING -- CREATING CHILD
CARE FACILITIES.
AND IF WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT
WE HAVE CHILD CARE FACILITIES
NEAR WHERE PEOPLE LIVE AND
WORK, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT
THERE IS A CERTAINTY IN THEIR
ABILITY TO HAVE THESE CHILD
CARE FACILITIES APPROVED.
THANK YOU, LISH, FOR ALLOWING
ME TO SPEAK TO THAT SLIDE.
>> SURE.
AND I SHOULD CLARIFY THAT CHILD
CARE FACILITIES ARE ALLOWED
OUTRIGHT IN SINGLE FAMILY ZONES
IF THEY'RE LOCATED WITHIN
ANOTHER INSTITUTION.
SO MOST OF THOSE CHILD CARE
FACILITIES THAT WERE PERMITTED
OUTRIGHT WERE LOCATED WITHIN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE RECREATION
CENTER.
THIS IS A MAP USING DATA ABOUT
WHERE CHILD CARE CENTERS ARE
LOCATED ACROSS THE CITY.
AND COMPARED TO DENSITY.
SO THERE ARE LARGE PACKS OF LOW
DENSITY PARTS OF THE CITY AND
MEDIUM DENSITIES PARTS OF THE
CITY WHERE THEY ARE NOT
ACCESSIBLE TO NEIGHBORING
RESIDENTS.
SO THIS PROPOSAL DOES A NUMBER
OF THINGS TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO
CREATING NEW CHILD CARE CENTERS
IN THE CITY.
IT REMOVES THE LIMIT ON THE
NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THE HOME
OCCUPATION, FAMILY CARE CENTER,
ALLOWING THE STATE REGULATIONS
ABOUT WHAT THE APPROPRIATE SIZE
OF A CHILD CARE CENTER IS TO
REGULATE THE SIZE OF THE
CENTERS.
AND ALLOWS CHILD CARE TO BE AN
ACCESSORY BUILDING.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE WITHOUT T
CONDITIONAL USE REQUIREMENT
ONE CAN BE LOCATED NEAR OTHER
INSTITUTIONS OR OTHER CHILD
CARE CENTERS.
THIS COULD RESULT IN A NUMBER
OF DIFFERENT CHILD CARE CENTERS
LOCATING ON THE SAME BLOCK.
AND THAT'S WHY THE POTENTIAL
IMPACTS OF THIS PROPOSAL.
FOR MULTI-FAMILY ZONES, IT
AGAIN HAS A DISBURSAL
REQUIREMENT.
THE HIGHER DENSITY ZONES IT
REMOVES CHILD CARE FROM LIMIT
AREAS.
WITHOUT IT IMPACTING THE NUMBER
OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS THAT THEY
COULD SELL.
IN COMMERCIAL ZONES, IT LIMITS
THE -- IT REMOVES LIMITS ON THE
MAXIMIZE SIZE OF CHILD CARE
FACILITIES.
I SHOULD MENTION THAT IN THE
LAST FIVE YEARS WE DIDN'T SEE
ANY CHILD CARE FACILITIES THAT
WERE AS LARGE AS 25,000 SQUARE
FEET.
THE LARGEST WAS 17,000 SQUARE
FEET.
FOR SEATTLE MIXED ZONES, IT
ALLOWS CHILD CARE AT STREET
LEVEL ALONG KEY PEDESTRIAN
STREETS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS
THAT WE PROVIDE IN SOME OF OUR
SEATTLE MIX ZONES AND OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL ZONES
ALONG PEDESTRIAN CORRIDORS.
AND IT EXPANDS THAT WE APPLY TO
PRESCHOOLS TO ALL CHILD CARE
CENTERS.
JUST FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T AWARE
OF THE DISTINCTION THAT I
WASN'T A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
BASICALLY IT IS PRIMARILY FOR
FOUR AND FIVE-YEAR-OLDS AND IT
IS AN EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM.
IT INCLUDES EARLY LEARNING
PROGRAMS, CHILD CARE CENTERS
OFTEN ADDRESS YOUNGER CHILDREN.
THERE IS STILL MORE WORK TO BE
DONE.
AND THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN
WORKING ON REVISIONS TO THE
CITY'S INCENTIVE PROGRAMS TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE MODERN
ENOUGH TODAY.
THE WORK IS STILL ONGOING AND
IT IS LIKELY THAT WE WILL TOUCH
THE INFINITE PROGRAMS THAT I
MENTIONED IN THE MIXED ZONE AND
DOWNTOWN.
ANY QUESTIONS?
>> VICE CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
PROPOSAL NOT.
THANKS AGAIN FOR BRINGING IT
FORWARD.
CAN YOU SPEAK OR MAYBE THE
SPONSOR CAN SPEAK TO HOW THIS
STRATEGY WOULD REDUCE THE TIME
THAT IT IS TAKING FOR CHILD
CARE FACILITIES AND SINGLE-
FAMILY ZONING TO GET PERMITTED,
TO REDUCE THAT 8-MONTH AVERAGE
PROCESSING TIME?
>> YEAH.
>> I'LL TAKE A FIRST CRACK AND
THEN, LISH, IF YOU WANT TO BACK
ME UP WITH THE EXPERT SUBJECT
MATTER UPDATE, JUST TO SAY IT
IS AN ADDITIONAL PERMIT THAT A
CHILD CARE FACILITY WOULD NEED
TO BE ISSUED.
THIS DOES NOT REMOVE PERMITTING
FOR THE CHILD CARE FACILITY,
RATHER IT IS A SECOND STEP THAT
IS NOT APPLIED TO ALL USES OR
ALL ZONES.
SO THIS IS -- IT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT A
CONDITIONAL PERMIT ADDS A FEE
OF ABOUT OVER $3,000.
WHICH COVERS THE FIRST 20 HOURS
OF A REVIEW.
ANY ADDITIONAL HOURS WOULD
REQUIRE $394 PER HOUR.
ALTHOUGH I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE
QUANTIFIABLE BUSINESS COSTS IS
WHAT LISH REPORTED TO ME
EARLIER.
LISH, YOU ARE OUR SUBJECT
MATTER EXPERT.
IS THERE OTHER INFORMATION.
>> YEAH.
MOST CHILD CARE CENTERS THAT
HAVE BEEN OPENED IN SEATTLE
OPEN INTO EXISTING BUILDINGS.
SO THERE IS ACTUALLY NOT A LOT
OF PERMIT REVIEW THAT OCCURS,
OTHER THAN THE CONDITIONAL USE
PERMIT.
AND SO THAT REQUIRES BOTH
ADDITIONAL WORK ON THE CHILD
CARE CENTER OPERATOR OR
PROPERTY OWNER TO DEVELOP
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THE CHILD
CARE CENTER.
AND THEN -- AND REQUIRES A
DIFFERENT LEVEL OF REVIEW OF
THE PERMITS BY A WHOLE NEW TEAM
OF PERMIT REVIEWERS THAT SDCI.
THERE'S A PUBLISHED NOTICE THAT
INCLUDES A TIMELINE FOR PEOPLE
TO COMMENT ON THE PERMIT
REVIEW.
AND THEN IF NEIGHBORS OBJECT,
THEY CAN APPEAL IT, A DECISION
TO THE HEARING EXAMINER, WHICH
CAN ADD PROBABLY THREE TO SIX
MONTHS TO THE AMOUNT OF TIME
THAT THEIR PERMIT REVIEW
REQUIRES.
>> JUST A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION,
MR. CHAIR.
>> YES, PLEASE.
>> I'M LOOKING AT SLIDE 11.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO THAT.
I GUESS COULD YOU REITERATE, IS
THERE A FOLLOW-UP LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO ADDRESS
THE AVERAGE 8-MONTH TIME TO
REDUCE THIS?
OR IS THAT CONDITIONAL
PERMITTING THAT THE CHAIR AND
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT GOING TO
REDUCE THIS?
BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE
URGENCY IN WHICH FOLKS NEED
ACCESS TO CHILD CARE, GIVEN
THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BEING
ASKED TO CONTINUE TO WORK FROM
HOME IN THE FALL AND EARLY
2021.
AND MORE PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY
BE LOOKING FOR CHILD CARE IN
THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, LIKE I AM.
YOU KNOW, I HAD PLANNED TO
BRING OUR KIDDO DOWNTOWN AND
HAVE A CHILD CARE FACILITY
RIGHT NEXT TO THE CITY HALL
WHICH WAS IDEAL AND WE HAVE
BEEN CELEBRATING THAT WE GOT
THROUGH THE LONG WAIT LIST.
AND REALLY GREAT FACILITY.
AND NOW THAT WE'RE WORKING FROM
HOME, IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO
HAVE CHILD CARE IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M SURE A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE
IN THAT SAME SITUATION.
AS LONG AS WE CAN PROTECT THE
ESSENTIAL WORKERS, IT WOULD BE
GREAT TO HAVE ACCESS TO CHILD
CARE.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT 8 MONTHS
WOULD BE REDUCED TO?
>> NO PROMISES.
BUT I THINK BY REMOVING THE
CONDITIONAL USE REQUIREMENTS
AND LIMITS IN SINGLE-FAMILY
ZONES WE COULD PROBABLY BRING
IT DOWN TO THREE MONTHS FOR
MOST PROJECTS, WHICH WILL BE
SOMEONE OPENING A CHILD CARE
CENTER IN EXISTING SINGLE-
FAMILY HOME WHICH WILL PROBABLY
REQUIRE SOME LIFE SAFETY
IMPROVEMENT LIKE FIRE
SPRINKLERS THAT WOULDN'T
REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT LENGTHY
REVIEW.
>> THANK YOU, LISH.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT THIS ISSUE, YOU KNOW, AND
ADVOCATING FOR IT FOR A LONG
TIME.
SO APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS CARRYING THE TORCH ON
THIS AND HELPING GET THIS
THROUGH I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE
INTERSECTION WITH THE QUALITY
OF THE CHILD CARE THAT IS
PROVIDED AND, YOU KNOW, WITH
CHILDREN AT THAT YOUNG AGE,
THAT'S WHEN THEIR BRAINS ARE
DEVELOPING RAPIDLY.
SO THERE IS EVIDENCE-BASED
PROGRAMS SHOW THAT IS REALLY
THE TIME THAT YOU CAN MAKE A
LIFETIME IMPACT, POSITIVE
IMPACT ON THE CHILD'S LIFE.
AND SO HAVE -- ARE THESE
REGULATIONS GOING TO IMPACT
QUALITY OF THE PROGRAMMING AND
HAS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
AND EARLY LEARNING BEEN
CONSULTED ON THIS, SINCE
THEY'RE THE EXPERTS ON THE
QUALITY PROGRAMS.
>> YEAH.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS
REGULATED THROUGH THE CITY
ZONING.
SO IT IS NOT -- THIS
LEGISLATION PROBABLY WON'T
IMPACT THAT.
>> SO THE KIND OF CHILD CARE
WOULD BE MORE OF THE CHILD CARE
MODEL.
TELL ME ABOUT THE STATE
REGULATIONS FOR THAT SINCE THE
STATE WOULD BE THEN -- WHAT I
HEAR YOU SAYING IS THE STATE
WOULD BE HANDLING THE
REGULATIONS.
DON'T THEY REQUIRE NO MORE THAN
12 CHILDREN IN THE FACILITY.
>> CORRECT.
AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE THAT
LIMIT, THERE'S NO REASON FOR
THE CITY'S ZONING REGULATIONS
TO REPEAT THAT.
YEAH.
FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY FEEL
THAT NUMBER SHOULD BE HIGHER OR
LOWER, THEY ARE BEST SITUATED
TO SET THE NUMBER AT THE RIGHT
PLACE.
AND SO I DON'T WANT TO HAVE
CONFLICTING ZONING REGULATIONS
TO STATE LIMITS.
>> THAT LIMIT ON IS CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS THAT PROVIDE CHILD
CARE IF THEIR HOME.
AND THEY HAVE TO MORE THAN ONE
TEACHER IN THEIR HOME IN ORDER
TO GET UP TO THAT LEVEL.
AND ALSO THERE ARE AGE
RESTRICTIONS.
SO YOU CAN'T HAVE 12 INFANTS IN
ONE FACILITY, BUT YOU COULD
HAVE 12 FIVE-YEAR-OLDS.
WITH MULTIPLE TEACHERS.
>> OKAY.
>> THERE ARE LIMITS ON CHILD
CARE CENTERS IN TERMS OF THE
SIZE OF THE ROOMS AND THE
NUMBER OF TEACHERS PER CHILD
AND THAT'S HOW RESTRICTS HOW
BIG OR SMALL A CHILD CARE
CENTER MUST BE.
AND THAT'S WRITTEN INTO THE
PERMITS AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR
EACH CHILD CARE CENTER.
>> OKAY.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU KNOW,
AS WE HEAR ABOUT CLASS SIZE
IMPACTING QUALITY OF EDUCATION,
WE HEAR ABOUT THAT IN THE K-12
SYSTEM BECAUSE THAT PRODUCING A
BETTER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR
THE CHILDREN.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE
EVIDENCE THE SAME IS TRUE FOR
PRESCHOOL AND CHILD CARE.
THAT'S WHY I WAS SENSITIVE
ASKING THIS QUESTION.
AND I'LL PROBABLY CHECK WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
EARLY LEARNING JUST TO SEE IF
THEY HAVE LOOKED AT THIS AND
ARE THERE ANY RED FLAGS FROM
THAT STANDPOINT.
BUT I APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING
THE QUESTIONS ON THE SPOT TODAY
AT COMMITTEE.
AND AS I UNDERSTAND, WE'RE NOT
VOTING ON THIS TODAY.
SO THERE IS SOME TIME.
>> YEAH.
>> OKAY.
>> AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING
WERE CONSULTED AN THIS.
>> OH, THEY WERE CONSULTED ON
IT.
>> YES.
I DIDN'T SAY THAT.
>> OKAY.
GREAT.
WAS THERE ANY INFORMATION FOR
US THAT YOU CARE TO SHARE ABOUT
THAT INPUT?
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
>> ACTUALLY COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS' OFFICE LED THAT.
>> AND BECAUSE I DID NOT BRING
THAT INFORMATION AHEAD OF ME
TODAY BECAUSE WE WERE DOING --
WE ARE HERE FOR A PUBLIC
HEARING FOREMOST, UNLESS NOAH
YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION IN
FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NOW, WE WILL
CIRCLE BACK WITH YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSEN, AND WE CAN
ADDRESS IT AT THE NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING, IF THAT'S
ALL RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND I SEE -- UNLESS COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSEN IF YOU HAVE
ANOTHER QUESTION, I SEE COUNCIL
MEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> I'M GOOD.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE WAY THAT I UNDERSTAND THIS
LEGISLATION IS THIS IS REALLY
RELATED TO PERMITS.
IF THERE WAS CHILD CARE
FACILITIES THAT WERE GOING TO
EXPAND, THEY WOULD STILL NEED
TO COMPORT WITH THE PROVIDER
CHILD RATIO THAT IS IN EXISTING
STATUTES.
SO I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF THOSE
CHANGES WOULD GO DIRECTLY
RELATED TO DO THE RATIO FOR THE
KIDDOS TO THE PROVIDERS.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> CORRECT.
>> OKAY.
BECAUSE, COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN, I THINK YOUR QUESTION
IS IF THEY'RE GOING TO EXPAND,
WILL THEY HAVE THE TEACHERS
NECESSARY FOR THE NUMBER OF
KIDDOS.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF THOSE
RATIO REQUIREMENTS CHANGE UNDER
THIS PROPOSAL.
>> YES, PLEASE.
THIS IS A DISCUSSION.
>> AND THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
THE TEACHER-CHILD RATIO.
THERE IS ALSO THE SPACE
REQUIREMENTS.
JUST HAVING THE ROOM TO HAVE
STATIONS SET UP WHERE KIDS CAN
BE LEARNING AND WORKING WITH
EACH OTHER IN GROUPS.
AND SO IF YOU HAVE A LIMITED
SQUARE FOOTAGE AND THEN YOU'RE
CRAMMING KIDS IN THERE AND YOU
HAVE EXTRA TEACHERS FOR THE
TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO, THAT IS
GREAT BUT THERE IS THE LIMITING
FACTOR OF THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF
THE STRUCTURE AND THE KIDS
BEING CRAMMED IN THERE.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'M
INTERESTED IN AS WELL.
SO I'LL DO RESEARCH ON THAT.
>> YES.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, I
THINK THAT YOUR QUESTIONS
REALLY HIGHLIGHT THE NEED FOR
THIS BILL IN PARTICULAR.
BECAUSE IT IS HIGHLIGHTING THE
FACT THAT WE HAVE PERMITTING
PROCESSES TO IDENTIFY EXACTLY
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE STATE
LEVEL RULES AND LAWS THAT ARE
ADDRESSING EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT.
AND THEN IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL
STEP BEYOND THE TYPICAL
PERMITTING TO ADDRESS -- THAT
CREATES THAT ADDITIONAL BARRIER
BEYOND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE
COMPLYING WITH OUR CITY
PERMITTING AND OUR STATE
GUIDELINES.
THERE'S THIS EXTRA BARRIER.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL IS
ALL ABOUT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES?
>> I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE
DISCUSSION AND ALSO, YOU KNOW,
ANY CLARIFICATION WE CAN OFFER
ON THIS ISSUE.
WE KNOW THAT THE RATIOS ARE SET
BY DCYF AND THEY'RE ALSO SQUARE
FOOTAGE REQUIREMENTS BY THE
STATE.
SO EVEN IF THE EXPANSION WERE
TO TAKE PLACE, THERE'S STILL
THE SQUARE FOOTAGE REQUIREMENTS
THAT THE STATE HAS IMPOSED.
WE KNOW THIS WILL CONTINUE TO
INVOLVE THE LICENSER THAT
VISIT THE CHILD CARE
FACILITIES.
I DON'T WANT FOLKS TO GET THE
IMPRESSION THAT KIDS ARE BEING
CRAMMED INTO SMALL SPACES.
THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR MORE
KIDDOS TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE
QUALITY SPACE AND PROVIDERS
THAT ARE NEEDED ACROSS OUR
CITY, ESPECIALLY AS WE SEE
FEWER PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO
ACCESS THE EXCELLENT FACILITIES
THAT HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED OR
INCENTIVIZED DOWNTOWN, IN MY
PARTICULAR, MR. CHAIR, CORRECT
ME IF I'M WRONG.
THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO CREATE
SIMILAR TYPE INCENTIVES FOR
ADDITIONAL CHILD CARE
FACILITIES, ESPECIALLY AROUND
THE CITY AS WE'RE LOOKING FOR
MORE OPTIONS TO ACCESS HIGH
QUALITY CHILD CARE WITH THE
APPROPRIATE RATIOS AND SQUARE
FOOTAGE REQUIREMENTS IN THE
OTHER PART OF THE CITY.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
DISCUSSION AND WANT TO APPLAUD
YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD
DURING THIS CRITICAL TIME.
>> THANK YOU VICE CHAIR AND
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
THIS HALL HARKENS BACK TO HOW I
STARTED THE DISCUSSION, THIS IS
NOT A SINGLE SOLUTION.
THIS IS JUST ONE SOLUTION ALONG
THE SPECTRUM OF NEEDED CHANGES
TO MAKE CHILD KARA FORDABLE AND
ACCESSIBLE THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
>> ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS BEFORE WE OPEN THE
APPROXIMATE YOU CAN LICK
COMMENT?
THANK YOU, LISH, FOR THAT
OVERVIEW.
AND IF YOU COULD SHARE YOUR
SCREEN.
BEFORE WE OPEN THE REMOTE
PUBLIC HEARING, I WOULD ASK
ANYONE TO BE PATIENT AS WE TRY
TO LEARN THE SYSTEM.
WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING
WAYS TO FINE-TUNE THE PROCESS.
I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
HEARING AS FOLLOWS.
EACH SPEAKER HAS TWO MINUTES TO
SPEAK.
I WILL CALL THEM IN ORDER.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO,
YOU CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE END
OF THE PUBLIC HEARING BY
SIGNING UP ON THE WEBSITE.
THIS LINK IS INCLUDED IN
TODAY'S AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME,
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE.
THAT WILL BE THE CUE THAT IT IS
YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.
PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY SAYING
YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM THAT
YOU'RE ADDRESSING.
PUBLIC COMMENTS SHOULD BE
RELATED TO THE CHILD CARE NEAR
YOU.
IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS NOT ON
THIS AGENDA WHICH WOULD BE THE
LAND USE OMNIBUS BILL, WAIT FOR
THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC HEARING.
YOU CAN ALSO E-MAIL MY OFFICE.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
10 SECONDS IS LEFT.
THEN WE ASK THAT YOU WRAP UP
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
SPEAKERS THAT DO NOT END BY THE
END OF THE ALLOTTED TIME, THE
LINE WILL BE MUTED.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
AND WE HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE,
FOUR, FIVE SPEAKERS PRESENT.
AND A FIFTH CURRENTLY NOT
PRESENT.
JUANITA.
I SEE THAT YOU ARE NOT PRESENT,
MATT.
AND WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS.
SO BEGINNING WITH JUANITA.
PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
>> YES.
GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
I'M WENT PRIZE COMMUNITY
PARTNERS.
I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE AND
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE CHILD
CARE NEAR YOU PROPOSAL.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE CHANGES
OUTLINED IN THE PROPOSAL WILL
REAP BENEFITS FOR OUR EARLY
LEARNING COMMUNITY.
LONG BEFORE COVID PANDEMIC,
SEATTLE WAS FACING CHILD CARE
SHORTAGES AND FAMILIES AND
PROVIDERS WERE FACING BARRIERS
IN ACCESSING QUALITY CHILD CARE
AND PROVIDING CARE.
WE SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT IT WILL
ALLOW MORE CHILD CARE CENTERS
TO OPEN AT A TIME THAT WE ARE
ALREADY STRUGGLING TO STAY IN
BUSINESS.
WE BELIEVE IT WILL REMOVE
POTENTIAL -- POTENTIALLY
CUMBERSOME BARRIERS THAT ARE
ALREADY ON TAX PROVIDERS.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT IT WILL
CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO
RECEIVE CARE IN THEIR HOME
COMMUNITIES.
AS WELL AS PROVIDE THE ABILITY
FOR PROVIDERS TO BE MORE
INNOVATIVE IN CREATING CENTERS
ACROSS THE CITY.
WE ASK THAT THE LAND USE
SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL MOVING
FORWARD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE ANDREW, FOLLOWED
BY McKENNEDY MCKENZIE AND
COLLEEN.
ANDREW, TAKE IT AWAY.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS -- MY NAME IS
ANDREW.
I'M WITH 350 SEATTLE AND GREEN
WAY.
AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE
CHILD CARE NEAR YOU ORDINANCE.
THERE ARE MANY REASONS TO
SUPPORT THIS BILL.
FIRST, IT HELPS -- WHEN SMALL
CHILDREN CAN BE CARED FOR NEAR
HOME.
FOR WORKING PARENTS WHO CAN'T
AFFORD A CAR, IT MAY BE
ESSENTIAL.
ALSO WALKING OR BIKING TO THE
LOCAL DAY CARE BENEFITS
FAMILY'S HEALTH.
SECOND, IT PROTECTS EXISTING
BUSINESSES AND PROVIDES
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR
COMMUNITIES AT A TIME THAT WE
NEED JOBS BADLY.
FINALLY, IT REDUCES THE AMOUNT
OF VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED,
VEHICLE MILES DRIVEN IN OUR
COMMUNITIES, THEREBY REDUCING
THE POLLUTION AND THREATENS
CLIMATE DEVASTATIONS.
OUR SOCIETY FACES MANY CRISIS
RIGHT NOW.
THIS HELPS KNIT OUR COMMUNITIES
TOGETHER WITH LOCAL
CONNECTIONS, LOCAL ECONOMIES.
AND THEREBY BRINGS RESILIENCE
AND STRENGTH TO OUR
COMMUNITIES.
I HOPE THIS IS FOLLOWED BY
CHANGES TO FOSTER WHAT IS
CALLED 15 MINUTE COMMUNITIES.
>> THANK YOU, ANDREW.
UP NEXT IS MCKENZIE, FOLLOWED
BY COLLEEN AND MICHELLE HILL.
>> HI.
I'M THE DIRECTOR AT UNIVERSITY
TEMPLE OF CHILDREN'S SCHOOL.
AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE
CHILD CARE NEAR YOU PACKAGE.
OUR CHILD CARE HAS BEEN HERE
SINCE 1970.
WE SERVE 70 FAMILIES ANNUALLY
AND WE HAVE OVER 500 CHILDREN
ON OUR WAIT LIST.
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR TEN YEARS.
IN THE LAST SIX WE'VE BEEN
ENGAGED IN A RELOCATION
PROJECT.
THE SEATTLE CITY ZONING HAS
BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGES FOR US.
WE STARTED OUR SEARCH IN
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BECAUSE
WE DIDN'T WANT TO GO THROUGH
THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMITTING
PROCESS.
WE WERE QUICKLY PRICED OUT OF
THAT MARKET, ESPECIALLY WITH
RESPECT TO HOW MUCH GREEN SPACE
IS REQUIRED FOR CHILD CARES.
RIGHTFULLY SO.
KIDS NEED TO BE OUTSIDE.
MUCH MORE SUITABLE OPTION FOR
CHILD CARE THAN OUR URBAN
CENTERS.
PROVIDERS CAN FIND SPACES WITH
LOTS OF OUTDOOR SPACE, ACCESS
TO LOCAL PARKS.
WE CAN OWN PROPERTY INSTEAD OF
MAKING MAJOR TENANT
IMPROVEMENTS ON SPACES THAT ARE
UNWILLING TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM
LEASES.
WE CAN STRENGTHEN OUR LOCAL
COMMUNITIES AND ESTABLISH NEAR
PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT'S
WOULD ALLOW MORE PROGRAMS TO
TAKE ON SOME OF THE NEED FOR
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE
THAT THOSE INSTITUTIONS ARE
STRUGGLING WITH.
ALSO ELIMINATES SCHOOL DROP-
OFFS FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
AT DIFFERENT AGES.
THERE'S NO INCENTIVE RIGHT NOW
FOR A SELLER IN SEATTLE TO
ALLOW A CHILD CARE TO GO
THROUGH A CONDITIONAL USE
PROCESS BECAUSE THEY HAVE 40
OTHER OFFERS ON THE TABLE.
EVEN IF THEY WERE LESS MONEY,
THAT CAN CLOSE IN THE 30 DAYS
ALLOTTED.
HONESTLY THREE MONTHS IS TOO
LONG FOR THIS PROCESS TO REALLY
PROVIDE SUCCESS FOR CENTERS
LOOKING TO BUY.
REGARDLESS IT IS A STEP IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION AND WE NEED TO
BE ABLE TO PERMIT THESE
INSTITUTIONS OUTRIGHT IN ALL
ZONES ACROSS THE CITY.
>> THANK YOU.
UP NEXT IS COLLEEN McCLEAR
FOLLOWED BY MICHELLE HILL AND
MATT HUTCHINS WHO I'M NOT
SEEING PRESENT.
COLLEEN, PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
>> YES.
GOOD MORNING AGAIN, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
AND CHILD CARE NEAR YOU HAS
SOME GREAT ELEMENTS AND IT
SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO ALL
DISOWNS OF SEATTLE.
AND I SUPPORT IT.
I'VE GOT A 27-YEAR EXPERIENCE
IN CHILDREN AGES THREE MONTHS
TO SIX YEARS.
I KNOW HOW THEY LIVE AND WORK
AND HOW THEY LEARN.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE TRICK I SEE
ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION IS ONLY
TWO.
IT IS WHERE THE HOME FAMILY
CENTERS ARE.
REMOVING THE LIMIT ON THE
NUMBER OF CHILDREN TO BE
INCONSISTENT WITH THE STATE
REGULATIONS DOESN'T NEIGHBORING
ANY SENSE.
WHY WOULD WE PERMIT MORE
CHILDREN TO BE ALLOWED IN THAT
ZONE IN A SINGLE-FAMILY AREA IF
INDEED THAT REALLY ISN'T
CONSISTENT WITH THE AMOUNT OF
COVERAGE THAT THE CHILDREN WILL
GET.
A COUPLE OF REASONS IS THE
CHILDREN REALLY DO NEED
ADEQUATE AND SAFE SPACE FOR
LEARNING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE,
SETTING UP PLAY STATIONS,
TAKING A NAP, FINDING A COZY
CORNER TO READ A BOOK WHEN THEY
HAVE DOWNTIME.
ALSO THE STAFF NEEDS BREAKS.
AND SO THE STAFFING CAN BE
STRETCHED A LITTLE BIT.
IF THERE IS MORE THAN 12
CHILDREN, YOU MIGHT HAVE ONE
WATCHING THE CHILDREN AND THE
OTHER ONE IS TAKING A BREAK.
MORE THAN THAT IT IS HARD TO
MANAGE MORE THAN 12.
THE CHILDREN'S SAFETY IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING.
BECAUSE KIDS IN TOO SMALL OF A
SPACE CAN GET MORE AGGRESSIVE
OR CAN TURN INWARDS.
SO WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO
THAT AND LIMIT THE NUMBER OF
CHILDREN IN ONE SPACE.
THE OTHER PART IS EMERGENCY AND
EVACUATION.
I LIVED THROUGH AN EARTHQUAKE.
WE HAD 16 CHILDREN AND THREE
TEACHERS AND MOST OF THEIR
PARENTS WERE THERE.
THAT WAS A BIG DEAL.
WITH HE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE STATE REGULATIONS AND THE
CITY REGULATIONS CONCUR WITH
THAT.
THE LAST STATEMENT I WOULD MAKE
IS HAVING -- OPERATING A
SEPARATE BUILDING IN ADDITION
TO ANOTHER ONE MAYBE A PRIMARY
BUILDING COULD BE CONFUSING TO
CHILDREN.
THEY CAN WANDER BETWEEN
STAFFING GETS SHORT, YOU CAN
START SPLITTING STAFF.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS, COLLEEN.
MICHELLE HILL.
AND IF MATT HUTCHINS IS
PRESENT, PLEASE MAKE YOURSELF
KNOWN.
MICHELLE, GOOD MORNING.
AND TAKE IT AWAY.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MICHELLE HILL.
I'M A SEATTLE RESIDENT AND AN
ARCHITECT.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE CHILD
CARE NEAR YOU PROPOSAL.
AS AN ARCHITECT WITH MANY DAY
CARE CLIENTS I SEE THE
ADDITIONAL TIME AND COST
INVOLVED IN THE CONDITIONAL USE
PROCESS.
MY CLIENTS OFTEN LOOK FOR
EXISTING BUILDINGS TO OCCUPY
BECAUSE IT IS EASIER TO DO THAT
RATHER THAN BUILD NEW.
IT ADDRESS 6-18 MONTHS TO THE
PERMITTING TIMELINE AND
THOUSANDS TO THE BUDGET THAT
CONTRIBUTES TO THE CONTINUED
SHORT SUPPLY OF DAY CARES IN
THE CITY.
THE STATE HAS SPECIFIC
REGULATIONS REGARDING THE
NUMBER OF CHILDREN ALLOWED IN A
FAY SILT.
THERE'S NO USE FOR THE LAND USE
CODE TO BE MORE RESTRICTIVE
THAN THE EXISTING RULES.
WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE
EXPANDING THE FRONT OF THE
FACILITY HAVE TO ACTUALLY GO
THROUGH THE CONDITIONAL USE
PROCESS AGAIN.
THERE IS NO CURRENT WAY FOR
THERE TO BE AN AMID TO
UPPERMENT TO AN ADDITIONAL --
AN EXISTING CONDITIONAL USE.
TWO RECENT PROJECT THAT'S I
HAVE WORKED ON FOR EXAMPLE
PROPOSED A MODEST FIVE TO TEN
KID EXPANSION.
THEY FACED AN ADDED $15,000 IN
ENGINEERING FEES AND $15,000 IN
FEES AND TOOK AN ADDITIONAL 12
MONTHS TO GET THROUGH THE
PROCESS.
THAT'S ON TOP OF THE
CONSTRUCTION COST AND THE COST
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PERMITS
ITSELF.
IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO BE
UNCERTAIN ABOUT THE FINAL --
WHICH IS WHY SOMETIMES THE LAND
USE PROCESS ACTUALLY ALLOWS FOR
A DIFFERENT NUMBER OF KIDS THAN
WHAT THE STATE IS SAYING THEY
CAN DO.
AND AS I SAID, SINCE THERE'S NO
PROCESS TO AMEND AN EXISTING
CONDITIONAL USE THEY HAVE TO GO
THROUGH THE PROCESS A SECOND
TIME.
ENABLING AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE
IS A NECESSITY FOR THE CITY
TRYING TO REMAIN TO LOW AND
MEDIUM INCOME FAMILIES.
THIS IS A NECESSARY STEP AND
COMMON SENSE STEP TO PROVIDE
CHILD CARE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MICHELLE.
AND IT, DO WE HAVE MATT
HUTCHINS?
I'M STILL SEEING HIM LISTED AS
NOT PRESENT.
>> NEGATIVE.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT WAS OUR LAST SPEAKER.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW
CLOSED.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT
PROVIDED COMMENT TODAY.
THE PACKAGE WILL BE BACK FOR US
BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE ON
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12th FOR A
VOTE.
>>> OUR NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS
IS THE LAND USE OMNIBUS
LEGISLATION.
NOAH, WILL YOU READ THE
ABBREVIATED TITLE INTO THE
RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 119835.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO LAND
USE AND ZONING.
CORRECTING TYPOGRAPHICAL
ERRORS, CORRECTING SECTION
REFERENCES, CLARIFYING
REGULATIONS, AND MAKING MINOR
AMENDMENTS AND AMENDING
SECTIONS OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> WE ARE JOINED BY MIKE
PODOWSKI AND KETIL FREEMAN TO
GO OVER THE PACKAGE BEFORE
OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WILL YOU GET US STARTED,
GENTLEMEN.
>> SURE.
THIS IS KETIL FREEMAN.
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
AS YOU MENTIONED THIS IS THE
ANNUAL OR EVERY YEAR, EVERY TWO
YEARS, THE COUNCIL CONSIDERS A
LAND USE CODE BILL THAT
COLLECTS ADMINISTRATIVE TO THE
CODE THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED
DURING THE COURSE OF OUR
PERMITTING PROJECTS.
THIS IS THE 2019 OMNIBUS.
WE'RE CONSIDERING IT NOW IN
2020.
JUST A WORD ON PROCESS.
TODAY IT IS AN INITIAL BRIEFING
AND PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS WILL BE BACK IN COMMITTEE
ON AUGUST 12th.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO MIKE PODOWSKI.
>> THANK YOU, COAT I WILL AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
AS KETIL MENTIONED, WE PUT
FORWARD OMNIBUS PROPOSALS ON A
REGULAR CYCLE.
IT IS A GOOD GOVERNMENT, GOOD
REGULATORY AGENCY PRACTICE THAT
IS RECOMMENDED BY THE STATE
GROWTH MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS.
WE'VE BEEN PRODUCING THEM SINCE
TE MID 1990s.
AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT'S --
IT ADDRESSES A RANGE OF TOPICS.
ISOCETYL MENTIONED, THERE ARE
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS.
ALSO SOME MINOR POLICY CHANGES
THAT DON'T WARRANT INDEPENDENT
LEGISLATION ON THEIR OWN.
BUT THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE
IMPORTANT TO BRING TO YOUR
ATTENTION FORECONSIDERATION.
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 57
AMENDMENTS IN THIS BILL.
LARGELY THEY'RE IN TITLE 23,
THE LAND USE CODE.
BUT THERE ARE ALSO A FEW
AMENDMENTS RELATED TO THE
BUILDING CODE AND ALSO RENTAL
HOUSING AND INSPECTION
PROGRAMS.
I WAS GOING TO JUST POINT OUT
ONE TOPIC OF THE LAND USE CODE
THAT IS IN OUR PROPOSAL.
AS YOU MAY HAVE GOTTEN
CORRESPONDENCE ON.
AND WE MAY HEAR SOME TESTIMONY
HERE IN A FEW MINUTES RELATED
TO BIKE PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
THE CITY COUNCIL LAST YEAR OR
MAYBE 18 MONTHS AGO ADOPTED NEW
PROGRESSIVE BIKE PARKING
STANDARDS.
AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED WITH
PERMIT APPLICANTS AND HOUSING
PROVIDERS SOME TWEAKS THAT WE
WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER TO
HELP US INTERPRET AND
ADMINISTER THE RULES.
JUST AT A HIGH LEVEL, THERE ARE
THREE AMENDMENTS.
ONE THAT'S TO DO WITH PATHWAYS
ON SLOPING SITES.
YOU CAN'T HAVE STAIRS ON THESE
PATHWAYS.
WE'RE PROPOSE TO ALLOW FOR THAT
TO BE DONE.
SHORT TERM PARKING.
WE'RE PROPOSING IT BE PLACED IN
THE RIGHT-OF-WAY WITH STAFF'S
APPROVAL.
AND IT IS EASY TO FIND AND
CONVENIENT.
AND FINALLY WE'RE PROPOSING
SOME FLEXIBILITY FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROVIDERS.
FOCUSED ON THE RESIDENTS AND
THE POPULATION THEY INTEND TO
SERVE.
SO THAT'S A HIGH LEVEL.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, MIKE.
AND I HAVE ALSO HEARD THE
CONCERNS FROM SOME COMMUNITY
MEMBERS ABOUT THE CHANGES
RELATED TO BIKE PARKING AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CARE
FACILITY.
WITH THE BUDGET AND EVERYTHING
THAT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON,
I HAVE NOT FULLY ADDRESSED THE
ISSUES AND THE QUESTIONS YET.
I'M HOPING TO CONTINUE THIS
CONVERSATION.
WORK WITH YOU SDCI AND
STAKEHOLDERS TO FIND A SOLUTION
THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE ON BIKE
PARKING.
THANK YOU FOR THAT BRIEFING.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
FOR MY COLLEAGUES?
>> MR. CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS HERE.
>> YES.
GO FOR IT.
I SAW VICE CHAIR MOSQUEDA'S
HAND BUT YOU'RE ON THE PHONE.
GO INFORM IT COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS.
>> I'LL BE BRIEF.
NOT A QUESTION.
JUST A STATEMENT SAYING TOTALLY
SUPPORT GIVING MORE FLEXIBILITY
TO OUR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING DEVELOPER FRIENDS WHO
HAVE TOLD ME VERY FREQUENTLY
THROUGH THE THIRD DOOR PROCESS
AND THROUGH OTHER CHANCES I'VE
HAD TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT WAYS
WE AS A CITY CAN BE A BETTER
PARTNER TO STREAM LINE COST.
THE BIKE STORAGE REQUIREMENTS
IN PARTICULAR HAVE BEEN
SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE
REGULARLY BROUGHT UP.
AND, YOU KNOW, I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PURSUE THESE CHANGES AND SEE IF
THAT CAN EXPEDITE THE
CONSTRUCTION OF PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND ALSO
PERHAPS FACTOR INTO OUR
ACCOUNTING TO REDUCE THE PER
UNIT COST OF THAT -- OF THOSE
HOUSING OPTIONS.
AND I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THAT WORK AND JUST
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT I'M
GLAD WE'RE GOING FORWARD ON
THAT.
AND THAT WORK IS ESSENTIAL AS
WE SEEK TO SCALE UP PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING REGIONALLY
AS PART OF OUR RESPONSE TO
CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS.
VICE CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
NOPE.
NO QUESTIONS FROM VICE CHAIR.
THANK YOU KINDLY.
HEARING AND SEEING NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
>> ACTUALLY -- YES.
I'M SORRY.
I TEXTED BUT I WASN'T QUICK
ENOUGH.
IS THIS THE TIME THAT YOU WANT
US TO COMMENT ON THE BILL OR
ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE COMMENTS
AT THE END OR IS THIS THE TIME
TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS WITHIN
THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT AND
EVERYTHING ELSE?
>> I SEE YOUR TEXT NOW.
I WOULD SAY TAKE YOUR COMMENTS
AWAY.
>> OKAY.
WELL, THANK YOU.
DID YOU SEE I SENT YOU A LITTLE
PICTURE TOO.
>> I DID.
THAT'S -- YOUR HANDWRITING IS
BETTER THAN MINE.
>> LET ME JUST SAY THIS.
I KNOW -- AND THANK YOU, KETIL.
I'M SURE WE DIDN'T ALL GET A
CHANCE TO GO THROUGH ALL 57
AMENDMENTS IN THE BILL.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE FIX IS
PUTTING IT MILDLY.
THERE SAY LOT THERE.
I WANT TO THANK THE DIRECTOR --
THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT, 19
PAGES.
SPECIFICALLY THERE ARE TWO
QUICK ITEMS.
ON PAGE 16 TO THE DIRECTOR'S
REPORT IN REGARDS TO BIKING
PARKING REQUIREMENTS, I AM
PARTICULARLY HAPPY BECAUSE OUR
DISTRICT, DISTRICT 5 HAS THE
HIGHEST NUMBER OF ELDERS AND WE
DON'T HAVE AN ELDER CENTER.
TWO YEARS AGO WE PASSED, THANK
YOU, KETIL, UPZONES TO HELP THE
ELDER COMMUNITY UP HERE.
THE NORTH GATE NEIGHBORHOOD IS
FORTUNATE TO HAVE NORTH GATE
AND WE'VE MET WITH AND VISITED
MANY OF THE ELDERS THERE AND
MET WITH THEIR LEADERSHIP ABOUT
WHAT THEY NEED.
MANY OF THE SENIORS THAT LIVE
IN NORTH HAVEN, IT IS A
RESIDENT BETIAL BUILDING ACROSS
FROM THE NORTH GATE MALL HAS
196 STUDIO ONE BEDROOM
INDEPENDENT UNITS FOR LOW
INCOME ELDERS.
IN ADDITION TO THE EXPANSION
THAT WE HOPE TO DO FOR MORE LOW
INCOME SENIORS, THEY ALSO HAVE
ON-SITE MEDICAL SERVICES.
THIS IS BECOMING A HIGHLY
DEVELOPED AREA AS YOU KNOW
BECAUSE WE HAVE LIGHT RAIL
COMING TO NORTH GATE AND
HOPEFULLY ON 130th.
THE FOOTPRINT THAT NORTH HAVEN
SITS ON IS INCREDIBLY TIGHT.
THEY NEED THAT SPACE TO SERVE
LOW INCOME SENIORS.
SO HAVING THESE CHANGES MADE
ALLOWS THAT SPACE TO BE FREED
UP FOR THE INDOOR BICYCLE
PARKING.
SO WE CAN EXPAND IN GIVING THIS
EXCEPTION IT WOULD ENABLE NORTH
HAVEN TO PROVIDE MORE SPACE FOR
MEDICAL SERVICES AND HOUSING
WHICH WILL SERVE MORALEDDERS
THAN WOULD BE SERVED BY BICYCLE
PARKING.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS ON
PAGE 15 OR 16.
I CAN'T REMEMBER.
IT IS ONE OF THE TWO.
IT IS IN THE WEEDS THERE KIND
OF.
THAT IS IMPORTANT.
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW AND
THANK YOU THAT IT WILL MEAN A
LOT TO THE FOLKS THAT LIVE AT
NORTH HAVEN.
AND IS THIS THE TIME THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE ME, CHAIR, TO
BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THE TREE
PROTECTION.
>> WE WILL GET TO TREE
PROTECTION IN THE NEXT AGENDA
ITEM.
>> I'M SORRY.
WRONG ONE.
WRONG NOTES.
OKAY.
THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SHARE.
AND, AGAIN, THANK YOU.
AND THANK EVERYBODY WHO CALLED
IN.
AND ALL OF YOU WHO WISHED ME
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
THAT REALLY MEANT A LOT TO ME.
THANK YOU.
>> YES.
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM
YOU IN JUST A MOMENT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY FURTHER -- I DO
SEE TWO MORE.
VICE CHAIR MOSQUEDA AND COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSEN.
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS JUST FOR
DISCUSSION TODAY.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING
ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
CHAIR AND WITH CENTRAL STAFF
ABOUT POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS.
AND A FOLLOW-UP FROM IDEAS WE
HAD LAST YEAR.
NUMBER ONE TRYING TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN TO
FOLLOW WILL YOU ON THE LANGUAGE
WE PASSED LAST YEAR TO ALLOW
FOR ROOFTOPS TO BE CONSIDERED
AS PARTED OF CONSTRUCTION.
THAT IS MORE PEOPLE LIVE IN THE
DENSE AREA, THEY HAVE THINGS
LIKE ROOFTOPS THAT WILL BE
THEIR PATIOS AND THEIR
BACKYARDS TO ACCOMMODATE
GREATER DENSITY.
AND I THINK MORE LIVEABILITY IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN LOOKING FORWARD TO
TALKING WITH YOU, MR. CHAIR,
ABOUT HOW WE DO SOME OF THE
ROUNDING UP CALCULATIONS THAT
ALSO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO
MARRY OUR DESIRE THAT FACTORS
WELL WITH ARCHITECTS AND THOSE
CONSTRUCTING DENSER LIVING
FACILITIES ACROSS OUR CITY.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT
CONVERSATION.
IF YOU COULD REMIND ME WHEN THE
FINAL VOTE IS ON THIS.
>> WE WILL -- THANK YOU, VICE
CHAIR.
WE WILL BE TAKING THIS BACK UP
IN COMMITTEE ON AUGUST 12th.
AND I WILL HAVE TO LOOK TO MY
COLLEAGUES TO KNOW WHETHER WE
WILL HAVE A POSSIBLE VOTE THAT
DAY.
>> OKAY.
>> YES, THAT WOULD BE A
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> GREAT.
SO BETWEEN NOW AND AUGUST
12th.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
>> YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
AND THANKS FOR CLARIFYING
APPROPRIATE TIME TO ASK
QUESTIONS ON THIS.
SO THIS IS -- MY QUESTION IS
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT,
PAGE 2. AT THE TOP.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PARAGRAPH
IT SAYS SOME DISAGREEMENT HAS
OCCURRED ABOUT WHETHER UNIT
LOTS MUST CONTAIN DWELLING
UNITS OR MAYBE SET ASIDE AS
OPEN SPACE.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WHAT THAT DISAGREEMENT IS?
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO.
IT IS GENERALLY BETWEEN PERMIT
APPLICANTS AND ZONING REVIEW
STAFF.
IT IS THE TYPE OF THING THAT WE
USUALLY BRING FORWARD AS A
CLARIFICATION IN ORDER TO SORT
OF PREVENT THIS LACK OF CLARITY
FROM GOING FORWARD SO WE CAN
MAKE QUICKER DECISIONS AND
PEOPLE CAN EXPECT WHAT TO SEE.
I THINK WE HEARD IN THE
TESTIMONY THAT SOMEONE WAS
CONCERNED THAT WE WERE NEWLY
ALLOWING BACKYARD COTTAGES TO
BE UNIT LOT SUBDIVISIONS FOR
OWNERSHIP.
THAT WAS ACTUALLY AN ACTION
THAT COUNCIL TOOK UP A YEAR AND
A HALF WITH COTTAGE
LEGISLATION.
IT IS CONSISTENT WITH PRIOR
PRACTICES WHERE PEOPLE WERE
ABLE TO OWN A BACKYARD COTTAGE.
THIS PARTICULAR PROVISION HAS
TO DO WITH UNIT LOTS THAT WOULD
BE CREATED AND WOULD NOT
CONTAIN A DWELLING UNIT.
THINGS LIKE SWIMMING POOLS AND
SURFACE PARKING SPOTS.
THE IDEA IS TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO
OWN THOSE THINGS AS A TOWN
HOUSE OR ROW HOUSE DEVELOPMENT
WITHOUT A ROW HOUSE BEING IN
THERE.
IT COMES UP FROM TIME TO TIME.
>> SO WOULD THIS LEGISLATION BE
ALLOWING DETACHED ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNITS TO BE SOLD TO A
DIFFERENT OWNER OR WAS THAT
ALREADY ALLOWED.
>> THAT IS ALREADY ALLOWED.
>> FROM THAT LEGISLATION FROM A
YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
>> YES.
POOLS AND PARKING SPACES.
>> OKAY.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE BIKE
PARKING ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN
DISCUSSED BY A COUPLE OF MY
COLLEAGUES, IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING -- I MEAN, ONE OF
THE RATIONALS ENCOURAGING
CYCLING, IT IS AFFORDABLE, IT
IS CLEAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
DO WE HAVE ANY DATA ON THE LOW
INCOME HOUSING PROJECTS THAT WE
HAVE ALREADY AND THE BICYCLE
USE IN TERMS OF WHETHER WE
WOULD WANT TO -- FOR THEM TO
HAVE THOSE BENEFITS OF HAVING
THE BIKE PARKING ON-SITE THERE?
>> WELL, THE REQUEST IN THIS --
THE REQUEST COMES FROM THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING.
AND THEIR FUNDING GROUP THAT
ISSUES THE -- THERE'S
APPROXIMATELY 12 PROJECTS THAT
ARE IN THE PIPELINE RIGHT NOW.
SENIORS AND THOSE WITH PHYSICAL
AND MENTAL DISABILITIES.
IT DISPLACES SPACE THAT WOULD
OTHERWISE BE USED FOR SERVICES
AND OTHER AMENITIES THAT THESE
PEOPLE NEED.
I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE AT
SDCI OR THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
FEELS THAT THERE ARE NOT
BENEFITS SO ALLOWING CERTAIN
PEOPLE TO BIKE.
BUT THE IDEA IS TO GIVE OH AND
THEIR PARTNERS AN ABILITY TO
PARTNER.
>> OKAY.
LAST FOLLOW-UP THERE.
THE CHANGE IN THE RULE WOULD BE
APPLIED TO ALL AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, NOT JUST THOSE THAT
ARE SET ASIDE FOR SENIORS OR
THOSE WITH DISABILITIES?
>> WE USED THE DEFINITION OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT ALREADY
EXISTED IN THE CODE FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
WE THOUGHT THAT WAS AN
APPROPRIATE WAY TO GO.
IT IDENTIFIES HOUSING THAT IS
USING STATE OR CITY MONEYS.
AND THERE'S AN INCOME THRESHOLD
AND ALSO A TIME PERIOD WITHIN
WHICH THE UNITS MUST REMAIN AT
THAT INCOME THRESHOLD.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN,
THAT INCOME THRESHOLD IS 60% OF
AMI.
AND THAT TIME PERIOD IS 50
YEARS.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY -- I
HEARD THE ABOUT SENIOR HOUSING.
I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT IT
WOULD APPLY TO 6% 0% AMI
HOUSING WITH THE 50-YEAR
TIMING.
THANKS FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
>> I MISSPOKE.
IT IS 40 YEARS, NOT 50 YEARS.
MHA ON MY BRAIN HERE.
>> OKAY.
I'LL CHECK BACK WITH YOU WHEN
I'M 90 AND SEE HOW THAT IS
GOING.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN.
COLLEAGUES, ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS?
VICE CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
>> I WANT TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE FOLKS
AT THE LIBERTY BANK BUILDING.
WE HAD THE CHANCE TO TOUR LAST
SUMMER AND THEY SHOWED US THE
BIKE PARKING ROOM AND ALSO WITH
A BIKE REPAIR ROOM AS WELL.
AND I THINK IT REALLY DOVETAILS
NICELY WITH TRYING TO GET FOLKS
OUT OF CARS AND INTO MORE MULTI
OPTIONS TO HAVE PARKING ON-
SITE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO FUTURE
CONVERSATIONS ON THAT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE STILL DOING
THAT.
I THINK IT IS A GREAT
INCENTIVE.
AND I THINK IT ALSO OFFERS
GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO
ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO BIKE THAT
MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
PREVIOUSLY BIKE IN THE PAST.
LOOKING FORWARD TO FUTURE
CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS LIKE
THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT GET
FOLKS ON TO BIKES AND HELP MAKE
IT MORE OF A -- MORE OF AN
ACCESSIBLE OPTION IN OUR CITY.
I THINK HAVING PARKING OUTSIDE
IS CRITICAL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE
CONVERSATIONS WITH THAT, WITH
OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ABOUT
THAT.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN FOR FLAGGING IT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS IT
IS RIGHT SIZE SO WE CAN PROVIDE
THE INCENTIVE TO USE BIKES AND
HAVE ACCESS TO BIKING AND BIKE
PARKING.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR.
YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD
RIGHT THERE.
WHEN I BEGAN THESE DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT SENIOR HOUSING AND THE
NEED FOR BIKE PARKING, I
REMINDED THE FOLKS THAT I WAS
SPEAKING WITH THAT MY
GRANDMOTHER USED A THREE-WHEEL
BICYCLE.
IT WASN'T A TRIKE.
IT WAS A THREE-WHEEL BICYCLE.
THAT ALLOWED HADDER TO STABLE
WHILE RIDING.
AS WE CONSIDER TO SEE
ELECTRIFICATION OF BICYCLES, IT
WILL INCREASE PEOPLE OF ALL
AGES AND ABILITIES TO USE BIKES
TO GET AROUND TOWN.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS,
CONCERNS FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
>> I WANT TO SAY THIS THIS OLD
LADY IS NOT RIDING A BIKE
BECAUSE I CAN'T.
SO THERE'S THAT.
>> AND I WILL ALSO LET THE
RECORD REFLECT THAT COUNCIL
MEMBER ON HER ELECTRICAL BIKE
OUTPACED ME WHEN I WAS ON THE
ELECTRICAL BIKE.
GIVEN THE SCALES, SHE STILL
BEAT ME.
HEARING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, I
WILL -- AND THANK YOU, MIKE
PODOWSKI FOR THE BRIEFING.
THANK YOU KETIL FOR THE
BRIEFING.
BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING, I
WILL REMIND FOLKS OF THE
PROCESS ONE MORE TIME IN CASE
ANYONE IS JOINING US.
I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
HEARING IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER.
EACH SPEAKER IS GIVEN TWO
MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I WILL CALL THEM ON THE ORDER
THAT THERON THE COUNCIL
WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED
TO SPEAK BUT WANT TO SIGN UP BY
GOING TO THE COUNSEL'S WEBSITE.
THE LINK IS ALSO LISTED ON
TODAY AAGENDA.
ONCE I CALL THE NAME, YOUR LINE
WILL BE UNMUTED AND THAT IS
YOUR CUE TO START SPEAKING.
PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD BE
RELATED TO C B-1 19835.
SPEAKER WILLS HEAR A CHIME WHEN
TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME.
ONCE YOU HEAR THE CHIME, WE ASK
THAT YOU BEGIN WRAPPING UP YOUR
COMMENT.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT END BY THE
ALLOTTED PERIOD OF TIME, THE
SPEAKER'S MICROPHONE WILL BE
MUTE TODAY ALLOW US TO CALL ON
THE NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU FINISH, PLEASE
DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE AND
LISTEN ONLINE.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.
I SEE FOUR SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.
ONLY TWO ARE PRESENT.
I SEE JOHN HUEY.
I APOLOGIZE IF I PRONOUNCED
YOUR NAME INCORRECTLY.
PATRICK TAYLOR, MICHAEL WELLA.
I SEE JOHN AND PATRICK ARE
PRESENT.
ARUNA AND MICHAEL ARE NOT.
IF YOU ARE LISTENING AND WOULD
LIKE TO JOIN US, PLEASE CALL IN
NOW.
WITH THE TIMER ON THE SCREEN,
JOHN, PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS JOHN I'M ON THE
STAFF OF THE SEATTLE PLANNING
COMMISSION.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON
BEHALF OF OUR COMMISSIONERS.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS
BEEN BRIEFED BY THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION ON
THE PROPOSED 2019 LEGISLATION
AND WE SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING
COMMENTS ON THIS LEGISLATION
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THE ANNUAL LEGISLATION IS
INTENDED TO CORRECT
TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS, CLARIFY
REGULATIONS AND MAKE MINOR
AMENDMENTS TO ZONING AND
DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS.
HOWEVER THE DRAFT 2019
LEGISLATION BROAD POLICY
CHANGES TO REGULATIONS RELATED
TO BICYCLE PARKING REQUIREMENTS
THAT ARE OF CONCERN TO THE
PLANNING COMMISSION.
IN 2017 THE CITY COUNCIL
ADOPTED CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR
BICYCLE PARKING, UPDATING THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR BIKE PARKING
IN NEW BUILDINGS.
THESE WOULD QUADRUPLE RIDER
SHIP BY 2030.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT CITY COUNCIL
AND SDCI STAFF REFER TO
STRATEGIES IMPLEMENTED BY OTHER
CITIES WITH SIMILAR BIKE
RIDERSHIP GOALS SUCH AS
PORTLAND, SAN FRANCISCO AND
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS IN
DRAFTING THE BIKE PARKING
REQUIREMENTS.
AND THE CHANGES ARE INCLUDED IN
THE LEGISLATION.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION
BELIEVES THAT SEVERAL OF THE
NEW BIKE PARKING REGULATIONS
PROPOSED REPRESENT SIGNIFICANT
POLICY CHANGES AND THEREFORE
NOT APPROPRIATE FOR INCLUSION
IN THE ANNUAL OMNIBUS CLEAN-UP
LEGISLATION.
OF PARTICULAR CONCERN ARE
REVISION THAT'S WOULD ELIMINATE
REQUIREMENTS FOR BICYCLE
PROJECTS FER SENIORS OR PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES OR LOW
INCOME.
THESE PROPOSED CHANGES INVOLVE
BROAD POLICY QUESTIONS THAT
WARRANT THE NEED FOR DEEPER
CONSIDERATION AND MORE
SIGNIFICANT DISCUSSION WITH THE
RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS.
WE ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL
TO REVIEW THOSE ISSUES THAT
WOULD BENEFIT MORE SUBSTANTIAL
POLICY DISCUSSION AND REVISIT
THEM IN A DIFFERENT FORM THAN
IN THE OMNIBUS LEGISLATION.
THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO
THESE COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, JOHN.
NEXT WE HAVE PATRICK TAYLOR.
REMINDING RUNA AND MICHAEL, IF
YOU ARE LISTENING, WE STILL SEE
YOU LISTED AS NOT PRESENT.
PATRICK, GOOD MORNING.
PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
>> HI.
I'M COCHAIR OF THE SEATTLE
BICYCLE ADVISORY BOARD.
I WANT TO THANK YOU COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS AND NOAH,
STAFFER, TO JOIN US TO HEAR OUR
CONCERNS.
I WOULD LIKE TO READ FROM A
LETTER THAT WE SENT EXPRESSING
SOME OF OUR THOUGHTS ON THE
BILL AND THE PROPOSED CHANGES
TO BIKE PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
WHILE WE AGREE THAT SEATTLE
NEEDS MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
WE THINK THAT THE PROPOSED
CHANGES SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO
ALL SEATTLE RESIDENTS
ESPECIALLY LOW INCOME
INDIVIDUALS.
THE PROPOSED CHANGES DO NOT
COME IN LINE WITH THE EQUITY,
CLIMATE CHANGE OR
TRANSPORTATION GOALS AND
VALUES.
BIKING IS AN AFFORDABLE AND LOW
IMPACT TRANSPORTATION OPTION
THAT IS USED BY PEOPLE OF ALL
DEMOGRAPHICS IN ALL PARTS OF
THE CITY.
AS THE CITY BUILDS OUT ITS
NETWORK WE EXPECT BICYCLE USE
TO GROW.
BICYCLE FACILITIES SHOULD BE
INCLUDED FOR ALL PEOPLE.
REMOVING ALL BIKE PARKING
REQUIREMENTS FROM AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROJECTS IS A MAJOR
PUBLIC POLICY DECISION THAT
SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE
OMNIBUS BILL.
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURE
FROM THE INTENT OF THE 2018
LEGISLATION.
IT IS AGAINST PUBLIC POLICY AND
HAS NOT BEEN VETTED WITH
STAKEHOLDERS.
WE BELIEVE THERE ARE
ALTERNATIVE POLICIES TO SBCI
AND CITY COUNCIL SHOULD
CONSIDER, INCLUDING NO
REDUCTION IN MINIMUM BICYCLE
PARKING.
IT CAN BE SATISFIED IN RIGHT-OF-
WAY.
PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF PIKE
PARKING GREATER THAN 0.
ELIMINATING ALL BIKE PARKING
MAKES THE INACCURATE ASSUMPTION
THAT NO ONE WILL BIKE.
BUT PROVIDING A MINIMAL AMOUNT
SO PEOPLE HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO
STORE THE BIKE.
REQUIRE TYPE ONE DECISIONS TO
THOROUGH -- LESS LIKELY TO BIKE
THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION DUE
TO THE LOCATION OF THE
DEVELOPMENT OR THE UNIQUE
PYSICAL ABILITIES OF THE
RESIDENTS.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IT JUST CONFIRMING ARUNA AND
MICHAEL ARE NOT PRESENT.
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT WAS THE LAST SPEAKER
REMOTELY PRESENT TO SPEAK AT
THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING ON C B-1
19835 IS CLOSED.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO
PROVIDED COMMENT TODAY.
THE BILL WILL BE BACK BEFORE
THIS COMMITTEE FOR A VOTE ON
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12th.
>>> OUR THIRD AND FINAL ITEM,
NOAH, WILL YOU READ THIS ITEM
INTO THE RECORD.
>> SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS
AND OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY
AND ENVIRONMENT TREE
PROTECTIONS UPDATE.
>> THANK YOU, NOAH.
AS A REMINDER TO THOSE VIEWING
AT HOME, THIS IS AN UPDATE OF
THE SECOND QUARTERLY REPORT ON
THE TREE PROTECTION WORK THAT
IS -- THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS
RECEIVED THIS YEAR.
AT OUR FIRST COMMITTEE MEETING
THE YEAR A TIMELINE WAS LAID
OUT THAT INCLUDED NEW
DIRECTOR'S RULE AND LEGISLATION
BEING TRANSMITTED TO THE
COUNCIL.
BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
THESE QUARTERLY REPORTS ARE
REQUIRED BY RESOLUTION 31902
WHICH I HELPED AUTHOR AS A
STAFF MEMBER.
A LOT HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST
YEAR.
I WANT TO SAY THAT IT WAS A
YEAR AGO RIGHT NOW THAT WE WERE
WORKING ON THAT.
I WISH THAT WE WERE MOVING
FASTER.
I THINK THAT WE ALL CAN
APPRECIATE COVID HAS MADE SOME
CHANGES.
I KNOW LIKE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN, WE ARE BOTH WANTING
TO SAVE OUR TREES.
SO THESE QUARTERLY REPORTS ARE
REQUIRED BY RESOLUTION.
WE ARE JOINED BY CHANDA EMERY
AND MIKE PODOWSKI OF SDCI.
AND SANDRA DE BADER OF THE
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT.
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND TAKE
AWAY YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> MIKE PODOWSKI FROM SDCI.
>> SANDRA PINTO DE BADER OFFICE
OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT.
>> CHANDA EMERY, SDCI.
>> I'M GOING TO START US OFF
WITH JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW ASK
THEN TURN IT OVER TO SANDRA AND
CHANDA THAT WILL WALK YOU
THROUGH THE REST OF THE
PRESENTATION.
I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND MANY IN THE
COMMUNITY ARE ANXIOUS TO SEE US
MAKE MORE PROGRESS ON OUR TREE
PROTECTION UPDATES.
I DID APPRECIATE A LOT OF THE
-- WHAT I TOOK AS PRAISE THAT
WE GOT IN THE PUBLIC HEARING
PORTION OF -- THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING
TODAY.
THAT WAS HELPFUL, I THOUGHT.
AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, NOT
THE LAST OF IT FROM US OR THE
TREE ADVOCATES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO START OFF BY
TALKING ABOUT OUR WORK ON THE
URBAN FORESTRY MASTER PLAN.
AND I THINK IN PARTICULAR WE
WANT TO FOCUS ON HOW WE HAVE
DONE WORK TO INCLUDE AND TO
CONSIDER THE NEEDS AND IMPACTS
TO BLACK INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE
OF COLOR ASK TELL YOU ABOUT THE
PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE FORGED
WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE
GROUPS.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK SOME MORE
ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE
MADE IN MEETING THE STRATEGIES
THAT ARE CALLED OUT IN THE
RESOLUTION FOR TREE PROTECTION
UPDATES.
AND IN PARTICULAR, AS WE TALK
ABOUT GOING FORWARDWITH THE
STRATEGY THAT'S WE STILL HAVE
TO ADDRESS -- AND I APPRECIATE
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS'
RECOGNITION OF THE INTERVENING
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HAVE
OCCURRED THAT HAVE CAUSED US TO
DO AS WELL AS WE COULD IN
MAKING PROGRESS SO FAR.
BUT RECOGNIZING THAT WE MAY
NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME HERE.
BUT WE WANT TO REEMPHASIZE TO
TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THE
STRATEGIES THAT ARE IN THE
RESOLUTION AND MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE DOING THE BEST JOB THAT
WE CAN IN CONSIDERING THE
IMPACTS AND THE NEEDS OF
COMMUNITIES AND DO OUTREACH
AROUND THE UPCOMING WORK IN
CULTURALLY RELEVANT WAYS.
AND POTENTIALLY MAKE SOME
MODIFICATIONS TO THE STRATEGIES
OR COME TO COUNCIL AT OUR NEXT
QUARTERLY REPORT TO TALK MORE
ABOUT THAT.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO SANDRA WHO IS GOING TO START
WITH THE FORESTRY MANAGEMENT
PLAN.
>> THANK YOU, MIKE.
WE LIKE TO START THE BRIEFING
WITH SETTING THE CONTEXT AND
TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
SEATTLE URBAN FOREST.
TREES ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO THE
CHARACTER OF OUR CITY.
WE CELEBRATE OUR REPUTATION AS
ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S GREENEST
CITIES.
TREES ARE HELPFUL TO CONTINUE
OUR HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE,
ESPECIALLY AS WE CONTINUE TO
GROW.
THERE ARE NINE DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS ENGAGED IN
SEATTLE'S URBAN STREET WORK.
EACH DEPARTMENT BRINGS
IMPORTANT EXPERTISE AND
RESOURCES TO THIS COMMITMENT.
WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM 7
OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
AND WE COLLABORATE ON A REGULAR
BASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
COORDINATING AND THAT WE'RE
STRENGTHENING OUR URBAN
FORESTRY WORK CITYWIDE.
I WANTED TO STRESS AS MIKE
MENTIONED IN THE MIDST OF THE
CURRENT CHALLENGE THAT'S
SEATTLE IS FACING, OSE AND SDCI
HAVE CONTINUED TO WORK ON OUR
TREE REGULATIONS.
THE URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT
PLAN SETS THE GOALS AND THE
FRAMEWORK TO GUIDE OUR WORK.
WE BEGAN UPDATING THIS PLAN IN
2018.
YOU KNOW, THE LAST TIME THAT WE
UPDATED THE PLAN WAS 2013.
SO WE BEGAN WORK IN 2018 WITH A
COMMITMENT TO HAVE A ROBUST
INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
AND TO THAT EFFECT, WE ENGAGE
WITH COMMUNITIES EARLY ON TO
GET THEIR INPUT ON GOALS,
STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS OF THIS
PLAN.
WITH DATA, WE CONFIRMED THAT
AREAS WHERE ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE COMMUNITIES LIVE TEND
TO HAVE FEWER TREES.
AND THIS FURTHER EMPHASIZES THE
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS
ESPECIALLY DURING LIKE A PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS LIKE THE ONE
WE'RE CURRENTLY FACING.
WE FOUND THAT ON AVERAGE WE
HAVE A 28% CANDY COVER
CITYWIDE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CENSUS
TRACK WHERE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND
LOW INCOME LIVE, WE NOTICED
THAT
>> DISABLED, LATIN X, NATIVE-
AMERICANS, SENIOR, SOUTH EAST
REFUGEES.
WE ALSO WORKED WITH COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS
CHINESE INFORMATION SERVICE
CENTER, THE CLEANUP COALITION.
RESTORATION TRAINING CORPS.
WE ALSO ENGAGED COMMUNITIES IN
CULTURALLY RELEVANT WAYS.
THAT MEANS IN SOME INSTANCES,
SOME ENGAGEMENT WAS DONE.
FOR EXAMPLE, DOOR TO DOOR.
MAYBE IN OTHER INSTANCES IT WAS
MORE OF A COMMUNITY MEETING
TYPESETTING.
AND WE DID THIS IN TEN
LANGUAGES.
SO PROGRESS TO DATE ON THE PLAN
UPDATE, AT THIS POINT WE HAVE
COMPLETED THE FIRST PHASE OF
ENGAGEMENT TO PRODUCE A FIRST
DRAFT.
WE BROUGHT THIS DRAFT TO THE
COMMUNITY FOR REPORT BACKS.
AND CURRENTLY DEPARTMENTS ARE
REVIEWING THE PLAN.
NEXT STEPS WILL BE PUBLIC INPUT
PHASE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE AGAIN
EMPHASIZING OUTREACH TO
COMMUNITIES, THE ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE COMMITTEE AND OTHER
PARTNERS IN OTHER AREAS OF THE
CITY.
WE WILL BE INCONCERN RATING
THIS PUBLIC INPUT IN PRODUCING
A CHECKLIST THEN PRODUCE A
FINAL DRAFT OF THE PLAN THAT WE
WILL BRING TO COUNCIL IN EARLY
2021.
AND WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO
GET INTO THE DETAILS OF TREE
REGULATIONS WORK.
AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER
TO CHANDA.
>> CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED THE
RESOLUTION ON SEPTEMBER 2019.
REQUESTING TO EXPLORE
STRATEGIES TO PROTECT EXISTING
TREES, INCREASE TREE CANOPY
COVER AND BALANCE CITY GOALS TO
SUPPORT FUTURE GROWTH AND
DENSITY AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THIS RESOLUTION ALSO DIRECTS TO
REPORT QUARTERLY TO THE CHAIR
ON PROGRESS MADE.
WE DEVELOPED THE FIRST QUARTER
REPORT ON FEBRUARY 12th OF THIS
YEAR.
AT THAT TIME WE SHARED THE
SCOPE, SCHEDULE AND BUDGET FOR
THIS WORK.
AND NOW THIS YEAR WE'RE
CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
THIS WORK.
INCLUDING A ROBUST EFFORT TO
TRACK TREES ON PRIVATE
PROPERTY.
THIS MEANS THAT WE'RE
DOCUMENTING ALL TREES GREATER
THAN SIX INCH DIAMETER AT
STANDARD HEIGHT AS FAR BACK AS
JULY 2019.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION THAT BEGAN
IN THE FALL OF 2019.
AND AT THAT SAME TIME WE HAD
REVIEWED THE URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS.
TODAY AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IT IS
OUR INTENTION TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE CENTERING AND
PRIORITIZING COMMUNITIES TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS
TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL
DISPARITIES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, SDCI
AND OSE AND ITS PARTNERS HAVE
BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO
IMPROVE TREE PROTECTIONS AS
OUTLINED IN THE RESOLUTION.
WE HAVE REACHED A NUMBER OF
MILESTONES INCLUDING BETTER
WAYS TO TRACK TREE REMOVAL AND
REPLACEMENT.
THIS IS A BRAND-NEW UPDATE IN
OUR PERMIT SYSTEM SOFTWARE FOR
TREE ACTIONS.
WE HAVE GSI ANALYSTS WORKING
RIGHT NOW TO USE A NEW TREE
TRACKER WORKSHEET TO TRACK
EXISTING PRESERVE AND MITIGATED
TREES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
WE'RE BEING DATA DRIVEN IN THIS
WORK.
AND THEN WE WILL USE THAT DATA
TO MONITOR THE STATUS OF THESE
TREES, WHETHER THOSE TREES ARE
EXISTING, PRESERVED AND/OR
REPLANTED.
WE ALSO HAVE DEVELOPED UPDATES
TO DIRECTOR'S RULE 200816 WHICH
IS THE EXCEPTIONAL TREE
DIRECTOR'S RULE.
THAT DIRECTOR 'RULE IS 12 YEARS
OLD.
AND LAST WEEK WE PUBLISHED A
PROPOSED DRAFT RULE WHICH WOULD
REPLACE THE 2008 RULE.
THESE UPDATES COULD ADDRESS
SEVERAL OF THE STRATEGIES SUCH
AS RETAINING AND EXPANDING THE
EXCEPTIONAL TREE DEFINITION,
ADOPTING A DEFINITION OF
SIGNIFICANT TREES AND
ESTABLISHING A MINIMUM
REQUIREMENT FOR TREE SERVICE
PROVIDERS OPERATING IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AS OF LAST FALL, WE'VE HAD FOUR
OTHER MILESTONES TO REPORT.
GREATER PERMIT COORDINATION.
HIRED TWO ARBORISTS TO ASSIST
IN THE REVIEW OF PERMIT
APPLICATIONS THAT INVOLVED TREE
REMOVAL AND ADVISE ON CODE
ENFORCEMENT CASES.
THESE CERTIFIED ARBORISTS ARE
KEY TO PROVIDING US WITH HIGH
QUALITY TREE PROTECTION
TRAININGS FOR OUR CODE
ENFORCEMENT STAFF.
WE ALSO HAVE IMPROVED EDUCATION
AND INFORMATION.
THIS INCLUDES THE WEB PAGES AND
NOW WE HAVE STAFF CAST TO
UPDATE SEVERAL OF THE TIPS
BASED ON THE URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION AND DELIBERATIONS.
FOR FEE IN LIEU AND TREE PERMIT
SYSTEM RESEARCH, WE HAVE WORKED
WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON SPECIFICALLY A
GRADUATE STUDENT TO COMPLETE
THIS RESEARCH.
HER THESIS RESULTS WILL BE
AVAILABLE THIS SUMMER.
FOR THE TREE DATA ROAD MAP
PROJECT, SDCI HIRED A RETIRED
CITY OF SEATTLE IT SENIOR
ANALYST TO PREPARE A STRATEGIC
ROAD MAP FOR DATA ACQUISITION,
DATA MAINTENANCE PROCESSES, AND
DATA SYSTEMS.
THIS WORK WILL INCLUDE A
COMPILATION OF NEEDS, SUMMARY
OF INSIGHTS FROM A BEST
PRACTICES SURVEY AND SPECIFIC
IMPLEMENTATION RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE EXPECT THESE DELIVERABLES TO
BE SHARED IN AN EXECUTIVE-LEVEL
GUIDANCE DOCUMENT BY THE END OF
THE THIRD QUARTER.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AS FAR AS OUR NEXT STEPS, WE
WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE THIS
IMPORTANT WORK FORWARD.
THIS MEANS THAT WE WILL BE
EVALUATING THE OUTSTANDING
STRATEGIES IDENTIFIED IN THE
RESOLUTION THROUGH RACIAL
EQUITY LENS AND WE WILL BE
ENSURING THAT WE ARE CENTERING
AND PRIORITIZING BY ENGAGING
COMMUNITIES AND CULTURALLY
APPROPRIATE WAYS AND IN
LANGUAGE.
I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT WE
WILL BE KEEPING THE COMMITTEE
APPRISED OF THE ADDITIONAL
PROGRESS ON OUR WORK AND IT
WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS LEADING UP TO OUR
THIRD QUARTER REPORT.
OVER THE NEXT MONTH, SOME OF
THIS WORK WILL INCLUDE TARGETED
FOCUS OF VIRTUAL MEETINGS,
ONLINE OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT TO
REACH RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE.
AND THROUGH OUR EFFORTS WE WILL
BE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS AS WE
CONTINUE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD
IN AN APPROACH THAT IS
EXPLICITLY ROOTED IN
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR
PRESENTATION.
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, CHANDA.
I AM SURE THAT SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES WILL HAVE QUESTIONS.
I WANTED TO -- I BELIEVE IT WAS
SLIDE 8. CAN YOU SAY A LITTLE
BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE
THINKING ABOUT, THE DIRECTION
THAT YOU'RE LEANING AND HOW WE
ARE PROCEEDING FORWARD AT THIS
TIME?
>> SURE.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS, YES,
THERE'S BIG CHANGES HERE OR
UPDATES.
SO THE 2008 RULE DIDN'T REALLY
EXPAND THE DEFINITION OF
EXCEPTIONAL TREES.
AND SO THIS NEW RULE IS GOING
TO BE EXPANDING THAT TO INCLUDE
ANY TREE THAT HAS A DIAMETER AT
STANDARD HEIGHT OF 24 INCHES OR
GREATER.
AND IT WILL INCLUDE ALL
HERITAGE TREES AND ANY TREE
THAT IS PART OF A TREE GROVE.
THIS WAS ALSO FURTHER DEFINED.
AND THEN ALL TREES LISTED IN
TABLE 1. AND THEN IN ADDITION,
IT STATES THAT THE REMOVAL OF
ANY STEM, ROOT OR TREE PART OF
AN EXISTING EXCEPTIONAL TREE,
THAT WOULD MAKE THAT TREE NO
LONGER EXCEPTIONAL IS NOT
ALLOWED.
>> THANK YOU.
AND CAN YOU SAY A LITTLE MORE
ABOUT HOW WE ARE IDENTIFYING
THE DBH FOR DIFFERENT SPECIES
OF TREES.
AS WE KNOW MAPLE WILL GROW MUCH
FASTER AND WIDER THAN A DOUG
FIR.
BEAR WITH ME FOR A SECOND.
>> SURE.
>> SO THE WAY DIAMETER AT
STANDARD HEIGHT IS DETERMINED
IS THAT IT'S THE DIAMETER OF A
TREE TRUNK MEASURED AT FOUR AND
A HALF FEET ABOVE THE GROUND.
AND THEN IT ALSO STATES THAT,
YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE'S A BRANCH
OR LIKE A SWELLING OF A BRANCH
THAT INTERFERES WITH THAT
MEASUREMENT AT 4 AND A HALF
FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THAT
DIAMETER IS MEASURED AT THE
NARROWEST POINT BELOW FOUR AND
A HALF FEET.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT IS HELPFUL.
I'M WONDERING IF WE HAVE
DIFFERENT RULES OR DEFINITIONS
FOR DIFFERENT SPECIES OF TREES?
IS THAT BEING TAKEN INTO
CONSIDERATION OR ARE WE USING
ONE METHOD FOR ALL TREE
SPECIES?
>> IT IS ONE -- OH, GO AHEAD.
>> YEAH.
AS CHANDA WAS SAYING, IT IS ONE
METHOD.
THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT
THAT'S WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
WITH DID NOT BRING UP THE
POTENTIAL ALTERNATE APPROACH OF
HAVING DIFFERENT APPROACHES
BASED ON SPECIES.
THE RULE IS OUT FOR AN EXTENDED
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD RIGHT NOW
AND WE CAN TAKE THAT UNDER
CONSIDERATION AS WELL AS ANY
OTHER COMMENTS THAT WE HEAR, TO
SEE IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES
THAT WE SHOULD MAKE TO THE
RULE.
SO THE QUESTION OF HAVING
DIFFERENT MEASUREMENT
TECHNIQUES FOR DIFFERENT
SPECIES IS SOMETHING THAT WE
WILL BRING BACK TO THE GROUP.
>> THANK YOU.
AND WITH THAT ARE THERE ANY
REGULATIONS OR REQUIREMENTS
REGARD THE AMOUNT OF GROUND
SOIL FOR TREES SUCH AS AN
EXCEPTIONAL TREE?
>> I WILL LET CHANDA TALK ABOUT
THE DETAILS OF THAT.
WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION THAT
ADDRESSES THAT.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU.
>> TIN THE NEW UPDATE THERE IS
LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT SAYS
THAT FOR REPLACEMENT TREES,
THERE A REQUIREMENT THAT WE
AMEND OR THE APPLICANT AMEND
THE EXISTING SOIL CONDITIONS
PRIOR TO INSTALLATION AND
PLANTING OF THE NEW TREES IN
COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT BEST
PRACTICES.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT
CLARIFICATION.
IS THERE A REQUIREMENT OR
DEFINITION OF QUANTITY.
>> YES.
THAT'S CORRECT.
THERE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR
QUANTITY AND ALSO ADEQUATE
SPACING FOR SPECIES AND
LOCATION MUST BE APPROPRIATE TO
BOTH THE SPECIES AND THE SITE
CONDITIONS.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU FOR THAT
CLARIFICATION.
MY LAST QUESTION IS REGARDING
ENFORCEMENT.
EVEN DURING THIS COVID-19
PANDEMIC, WE HAVE RECEIVED A
NUMBER OF TIPS, QUESTIONS,
SUBMISSIONS OF TREE REMOVALS
THAT HAVE HAPPENED THROUGHOUT
MY DISTRICT AT LEAST THAT WERE
-- WHEN WE REPORTED THEM TO
SDCI, IT WAS IN FACT NOT
PERMITTED.
CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE MORE
ABOUT ENFORCEMENT?
HOW ARE WE DOING?
WHAT IMPROVEMENTS DO WE NEED TO
MAKE AND HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
>> THANK YOU.
SO JUST RECENTLY WE HAD A CODE
ENFORCEMENT CASE FOR A TREE
PENALTY AMOUNT OF $99,510 FOR A
WESTERN RED CEDAR THAT WAS 41
INCHES.
THAT WAS IN EARLY JUNE.
IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE
CITY.
AND THEN BEFORE THAT, THERE WAS
ANOTHER CODE ENFORCEMENT CASE
AROUND $40,000.
I THINK THAT'S THE DATA THAT I
HAVE RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF, MIKE, YOU HAVE
SOMETHING TO ADD TO THAT.
>> WELL, ENFORCEMENT IS AN
ONGOING CHALLENGE AS CHANDA
MENTIONS WE HAVE HAD SOME
SUCCESSES IN HOLDING PEOPLE
ACCOUNTABLE WHO HAVE NOT
FOLLOWED THE RULES.
WE ARE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY
UPDATING THE DIRECTOR'S RULE IN
THE FUTURE TO HELP FURTHER
STRENGTHEN OUR ENFORCEMENT
GROUP'S ABILITY TO HOLD PEOPLE
TO ACCOUNT AND HELP PEOPLE DO
THE RIGHT THING.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE
APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST AND
ATTENTION ON AND SUPPORT.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE LOOKING AT
THAT AND WORKING WITH OUR
ENFORCEMENT TEAM.
>> THANK YOU. I
DO HAVE ONE MORE PER PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY IN CREATING
MANDATORY STREET TREES.
WOULD THAT BE OUTSIDE OF THE
JURISDICTION OF SDCI AND
SOMETHING THAT I WOULD NEED TO
BRING UP WITH SDOT OR IS THAT
SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED
THROUGH A DIRECTOR'S RULE OR
WOULD YOU NEED TO BRING IT
FORWARD IN AN ORDINANCE?
THIS IS THE TYPE OF
CONVERSATION THAT I USUALLY
HAVE WITH SDCI IN MEETINGS.
BUT SINCE WE'RE DOING VIRTUAL
GOVERNING HERE, EVERYONE GETS
THE PLEASURE OF SEEING MY
QUESTIONS LIVE.
NOT TRYING TO PULL -- SET YOU
UP FOR A FAST ONE HERE, MIKE,
IF YOU NEED TO ANSWER ME OFF
LINE.
>> JUST FOR STARTERS, AS CHANDA
MENTIONED IN PART OF HER
PRESENTATION, WE DO PARTICIPATE
IN A MULTI DEPARTMENT -- THE
TREE CORPS GROUP.
SDOT IS A PARTICIPANT AND WE
CAN RAISE THAT ISSUE WITH THEM
AND REPORT BACK TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE URBAN FOREST CORPS TEAM.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU, MIKE.
THANK YOU, CHANDA AND SANDRA.
COLLEAGUES, ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS?
CALLING ON COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS
OR JUAREZ SINCE I DON'T SEE YOU
SINCE YOU'RE ON THE PHONE.
>> NONE FROM ME, MR. CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I DO SEE COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, TAKE
IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
ON THIS.
I KNOW OUR FIRST MEETING
TOGETHER WE HEARD FROM THOSE
WHO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
PRESERVE OUR TREE CANOPY.
BECAUSE IT IS DWINDLING AS WE
SPEAK.
AND TO STRENGTHEN THE TREE
ORDINANCE.
SO JUST APPRECIATE THESE
REPORTS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE
ACTUAL TREE ORDINANCE.
HOPEFULLY SOONER RATHER THAN
LATER.
IF THERE'S A WAY TO GET
SOMETHING BEFORE THE FALL
BUDGET PROCESS IN CASE WE NEED
TO ALLOCATE DOLLARS TO
STRENGTHEN ANYTHING IN THIS
REGARD, I AM -- I AM LEARY
ABOUT THE FEE IN LIEU.
BECAUSE WHEN WE HEARD ABOUT
PORTLAND, OREGON ABOUT THAT,
THE FEE WAS NEVER HIGH ENOUGH
TO DISINCENTIVIZE THE REMOVAL
OF TREES.
I KNOW WE PUT OUT DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS IN A TOUGH SPOT
WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO PROCESS
APPLICATIONS FOR REAL ESTATE
DEVELOPMENT AND ALSO ENFORCE
THIS.
LOOK FORWARD NO THE ORDINANCE
PERHAPSSEEING A WAY TO BRING
THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY
AND ENVIRONMENT INTO THE
ENFORCEMENT OR SIGN-OFF
PROCEDURES SO THAT WE GOT
SOMEBODY ACCOUNTABLE FOR
PROTECTING THE TREES AND IT IS
SORT OF BUILT INTO THE
ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE TO DO
THAT.
AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY
CALLING IN TODAY.
I KNOW DURING ALL OF THESE
VIRTUAL MEETINGS, IT IS HARD TO
KEEP TRACK OF WHEN THESE
REPORTS ARE COMING.
I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY TAKING
THE TIME TO CALL IN AND HOLD US
ACCOUNTABLE FORGETTING THIS
TREE ORDINANCE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THESE ARE
IMPORTANT UPDATES.
AS WE HEARD SOME OF THE UPDATES
HAVE BEEN MADE -- THE LAST TIME
THAT THE CHANGES WERE MADE WERE
12 YEARS AGO.
WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO
TO PROTECT THE TREE CANOPY HERE
IN THE CITY.
AS WE KNOW, TREE CANOPIES KEEP
OUR ENVIRONMENT COOL IN THE
SUMMER AND WARM IN THE WINTER.
AND THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR THE
HEALTH OF OUR ENTIRE CITY.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, DO I SEE
THAT YOU HAVE A QUESTION.
>> YEAH.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THESE
TREE ISSUES FOR, GOD, SINCE
WHAT, 2015.
JUST VERY BRIEFLY, TWO THINGS.
IN DISTRICT 5 WE HAVE CREEK AND
THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH FORK.
AND BOTH OF THEM ARE SALMON
BEARING STREAMS.
AS YOU KNOW WE NEED THE TREE
CANOPY IN THE SHADE FOR THE
SALMON TO SURVIVE.
AS A LAWYER FOR OVER 33 THAT
REPRESENTS TRIBE AND RIGHTS, I
UNDERSTAND LIKE WE ALL DO HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE A TREE
CANOPY ON THE SHADES FOR THE
STREAMS.
NOT ONLY FOR THE SALMON BEARING
STREAMS BUT ALSO FOR THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND ALL OF THE
OTHER GREAT STUFF THAT
OBVIOUSLY TREES PROVIDE.
BUT HAVING THIS DONE AND, YOU
KNOW, THANKS TO THE,
QUOTE/UNQUOTE, TREE ACTIVISTS.
I REMEMBER MEETING WITH THEIR
GROUP BACK IN THE SUMMER OF
2015 WHEN THIS WAS AN ISSUE FOR
THEM.
AND I THINK IT WAS MR. LEMPKE.
I THINK STEVE IS STILL THERE.
AND I HAVE NEVER FORGOT THEIR
WORDS AND PASSION.
AND THE SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE,
INCLUDING JOHN LOMBARD WHO
WROTE A BOOK ABOUT THORTON
CREEK AND ALSO DAYLIGHTING ALL
OF THE CREEKS UP HERE.
AND THAT'S WHERE IT STANDS NOW
IS THORTON PLACE WHICH USED TO
BE A HUGE CEMENT PARKING LOT.
AND WE DAYLIGHTED THAT.
THEY DAYLIGHTED THAT.
THEY WORKED HARD ON IT.
SO I JUST WANT TO KEEP
ENCOURAGING AND MOVING FORWARD.
IT IS -- IT'S WONDERFUL THAT WE
HAVE THIS GREEN NEW DEAL AND
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS EMBRACED
IT AND WE HAVE SET MONEY ASIDE
AND WE HAVE DONE RESOLUTIONS
AND PUT IT IN THE BUDGET.
TO ACTUALLY SEE THIS STARTING
TO COME FORWARD WITH THE POLICY
AND THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO
SUPPORT IT FOR SUSTAINABILITY
FOREVER IS VERY HEARTENING.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO
HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO DO THIS.
FOR SOME IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE A
TRIVIAL ISSUE, BUT IT IS NOT.
IT IS IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU FOR
DOING THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ.
I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
AT THIS TIME?
>> VICE CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
I WAS HOPING THAT WE COULD GO
BACK TO THE SLIDE THAT SHOWED
THE HISTORIC RED LINING THAT
HAS OCCURRED IN THE CITY.
THANK YOU SANDRA FOR YOUR WORDS
AS YOU DESCRIBED THE IMPORTANCE
OF THIS MAP AND THE OVERLAY
WITH WHICH THE TREES EXIST.
I THINK THE PRESENTATION AS A
WHOLE INTENDED TO HIGHLIGHT THE
RACIST THAT WERE EMBEDDED IN
PUBLIC POLICY IN THE PAST THAT
HAD PREVENTED PEOPLE FROM
LIVING IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE
CITY AND ALSO CORRESPONDINGLY
HAD REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF TREE
CANOPIES, ESPECIALLY IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHERE
FOLKS HAD BEEN ONLY ALLOWED TO
LIVE.
SO EXCLUDED FROM OTHER HIGH
OPPORTUNITY AREAS IS WHAT I
TOOK AWAY FROM THE MAP AND THE
INCLUSION OF THIS RED LINING
HISTORICAL DOCUMENT THAT YOU
HAVE INCLUDED.
AND I THINK IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE HIGHLIGHT
THAT MAP.
SO THANK YOU.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS
FROM THE SEATTLE -- I'M
FORGETTING THEIR NAME RIGHT
NOW.
THEY PUT OUT AN AMAZING REPORT
LAST YEAR THAT HIGHLIGHTED
THIS.
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHO I'M
TALKING ABOUT.
I'M NOT SEEING ANYONE.
>> IT WAS ON THE TIP OF MY
TONGUE.
>> I APOLOGIZE FOR MY FRIENDS
OVER THERE.
IT IS AN INCREDIBLE REPORT THAT
WAS RELEASED IN DECEMBER OF
2018 THAT INCLUDED THIS MAP.
AND WITH IT THE NEED FOR DENSER
COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR CITY AND
FOR US TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS
THE RED LINING THAT OCCURRED
AND THE LEGACY OF THAT RACIST
AND HISTORIC PAST.
AS WE SEEK TO UNDO THAT
HISTORIC PAST, TRYING TO ENSURE
THAT THERE IS GREATER TREE
CANOPY BY WORKING WITH
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND
LEADERS AS SANDRA YOU MENTIONED
YOU ARE ENDEAVORING TO DO.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
RECOGNIZE THAT IT WASN'T JUST
BY COINCIDENCE THAT AS -- I
THINK THERE'S A BULLET THAT
SAYS THAT PEOPLE TEND TO LIVE
HERE.
YOUR WORDS WERE STRONGER WHEN
YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW FOLKS ARE
ONLY ALLOWED TO LIVE THERE AND
BY DE FACT TOE THE CITY HAD IN
PREVIOUS PUBLIC POLICY NOT
PROTECTED TREES AND NOT
PROTECTED THE HEALTH AND WELL
BEING, ESPECIALLY OF COMMUNITY
OF COLOR FOLKS THAT LIVED IN
THE AREA.
HERE WE ARE THROUGH PUBLIC
POLICY TRYING TO UNDO PAST
PRACTICES THAT HAVE BEEN
INSTITUTIONALIZED TO DIRECTLY
ADDRESS THAT HISTORIC RED
LINING AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF
NOT HAVING TREE CANOPIES
PRIORITIZED AND PROTECTED
THROUGHOUT THE CITY ESPECIALLY
FOR BLACK AND INDIGENOUS AND
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
I APPRECIATE THE WORDS THAT YOU
SHARED AND ALSO FOR THE PROCESS
THAT YOU OUTLINED FOR US.
LOOKING FORWARD TO FUTURE
CONVERSATION BELOW ZERO THIS
AND REALLY FIXING THE PAST
PUBLIC POLICIES THAT WERE NOT
ROOTED IN RACIAL JUSTICE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> VERY WELL SAID.
COLLEAGUES, ANY FURTHER
CONVERSATION AT THIS TIME?
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR
PRESENTERS, MIKE, CHANDA,
SANDRA.
WE HAD LISH AND NOAH.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US
TODAY.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY
WITH YOU TO PASS A STRONG TREE
ORDINANCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY,
AUGUST 12th.
WITH FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ON THE
CHILD CARE NEAR YOU AND THE
OMNIBUS LAND USE BILL.
WITH THAT, UNLESS THERE ANY
ITEMS, THIS CONCLUDES THE JULY
22nd, 2020 --
>> YEAH, MR. CHAIR.
>> OH.
JUST RIGHT IN ON THE -- RIGHT
UNDER THE BUZZER.
>> YEAH.
JUST AS LONG AS WE'RE ALL HERE,
I WAS JUST CURIOUS, I DIDN'T
HEAR IF THERE HAS BEEN A REPORT
BACK YET ON THE -- ON SDCI
SETTING UP A VIRTUAL DESIGN
REVIEW.
AND I BELIEVE THAT REPORT BACK
HAD BEEN DUE IN JUNE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO CHECK IN
AND SEE IF CENTRAL STAFF OR MR.
CHAIR HAD AN UPDATE FROM THE
DEPARTMENT ON THAT.
JUST BECAUSE THAT CONTINUES TO
BE SOMETHING THAT I GET A LOT
OF CONSTITUENT CORRESPONDENCE
ABOUT AND WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE
AN UPDATE.
AND WHEN I CHECKED IN AT THE
LAST COMMITTEE MEETING, I HAD
HEARD FROM CENTRAL STAFF AND
FROM THE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY
WERE STILL ON TRACK FOR THAT
REPORT BACK.
BUT I HADN'T HEARD.
I JUST WANTED TO CHECK IN AND
SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN A REPORT
BACK.
AND IF THAT INFORMATION MIGHT
BE DISSEMINATED TO THE REST OF
THE COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS.
I HAVE BEEN ASKING THESE
QUESTIONS TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
AND SO I'VE BEEN RECEIVING
INFORMAL BRIEFINGS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE REPORT IS
OVERDO FOR OFFICIAL TRANSMITTAL
AND THEN IT MIGHT BE STUCK IN A
PLACE THAT IS NOT SDCI.
I WANT TO CHECK IN ON THE
CORRECT UNDERSTANDING THERE.
>> CAN WE -- SORRY.
>> WE DO EXPECT TO TRANSMIT
THAT REPORT TODAY, IN FACT.
AND SO HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE
THERE SOON.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE
WITH US.
WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF
DELIVERING THAT TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MIKE.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, IT IS
MY UNDERSTANDING FROM MY
INFORMAL BRIEFINGS THAT STAFF
HAS BEEN HIRED TO HELP
FACILITATE THESE MEETINGS.
THERE WERE TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES AND WE WEREN'T
DISCUSSING DENSE PLANS OR EVEN
CONVERSATION CAN BE DIFFICULT.
IN MY TOWN HALL LAST NIGHT,
AGAIN, TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES
WITH VIRTUAL MEETINGS CONTINUED
TO PERSIST.
AND THAT'S NO FAULT OF ANYONE.
IT IS JUST THE NATURE OF HOW
THINGS GO.
AND SO I HAVE BEEN CONFIDENT
WITH THE INFORMAL BRIEFINGS
THAT I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING THAT
SDCI IS ON THE CORRECT TRACK.
AND ANYONE FROM -- ANYONE WHO
HAS THEIR ABILITY TO MOVE THAT
TRANSMITTAL FASTER, IF YOU ARE
LISTENING, PLEASE MAKE THAT
TRANSMISSION AS FAST AS
POSSIBLE.
>> THANKS.
I DO APPRECIATE THOSE UPDATES.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
THAT WAS STILL ON TRACK.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS WE ARE GOING
FORWARD AND CONTINUING TO DO
GREAT WORK IN THIS COMMITTEE
UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, MR.
CHAIR, THIS WAS A REALLY GREAT
MEETING TODAY AND THE
BRIEFINGS, IT IS AN ESSENTIAL
TOPIC.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE FOLLOWING UP WITH THE
DEPARTMENT ON THINGS THAT WE
DID IN THE SPRING, INCLUDING
THE DESIGN REVIEW.
TO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'VE
BEEN ON TOP OF THAT AND LOOK
FORWARD TO THAT INFORMATION
BEING SENT TO ALL OF OUR
OFFICES TODAY.
I IMAGINE IT WOULDN'T JUST BE
SHARED WITH JUST YOU, MR.
CHAIR, BUT THE REST OF THE
COUNCIL.
>> IF IT IS SHARED WITH JUST
ME, I WILL BE SURE TO SHARE IT
WITH THE REST OF THE
COLLEAGUES.
>> I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
THAT LATER TODAY PER THE
REPRESENTATION OF THE
DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS,
CONCERNS?
VICE CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE
CLARIFICATION ON THE NAME OF
THE ORGANIZATION.
IT IS THE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR ALL
REPORT EXPANDING HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY AND SEATTLE SINGLE-
FAMILY ZONES.
AND IT WAS RELEASED IN THE FALL
OF 2018.
AT LEAST MY MEMORY WAS CORRECT
ON THAT.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SEATTLE
PLANNING COMMISSION.
AND THE FOLKS WHO ARE AT THE
PLANNING COMMISSION CONSTITUTE
OF A BOARD OF TREMENDOUS
COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO HAVE
BEEN ENGAGED IN WANTING TO GET
THIS INFORMATION OUT FOR A VERY
LONG TIME.
SO THE MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE
PLANNING COMMISSION PUT
TOGETHER THIS REPORT WHICH IS
VERY IMPORTANT AS WE THINK
ABOUT THE REZONING AND PUBLIC
POLICY PRIORITIES THAT THIS
COMMITTEE HAS IN FRONT OF IT.
THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE
GOOD CHAIR.
I WANTED TO GIVE THOSE GOOD
FOLKS CREDIT.
AND I APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORT.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR
MOSQUEDA.
ANY OTHER ITEMS?
SEEING NONE, THIS CONCLUDES THE
JULY 22nd, 2020 COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEETING
OF THE LAND USE AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE.
AS A REMINDER OUR NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE ON
AUGUST 12th AT 9:30 A.M.
>> IT IS THE HAPPY BIRTHDAY
TOUR.
>> INDEED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND THANK YOU ALL FOR
ATTENDING.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.