PDF copies of the signed legislation are available in the database records linked below: Ord. 124154 C.B. 117752 AN ORDINANCE appropriating money to pay certain audited claims and ordering the payment thereof. Ord. 124155 C.B. 117747 AN ORDINANCE relating to City employment; authorizing execution of a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Seattle and [...]
Month: April 2013
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Legislation approved on April 1, 2013, and filed with the City Clerk
PDF copies of the signed legislation are available in the database records linked below: Ord. 124150 C.B. 117723 AN ORDINANCE related to land use and zoning; amending page 25 of the Official Land Use Map, Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 23.32, to rezone properties located in the Greenwood/Phinney Ridge Residential Urban Village and applying incentive provisions [...]
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Gilda Would’ve Laughed
It’s National Volunteer Week and few groups have a better excuse to celebrate than Gilda’s Club Seattle.
One of 28 groups nationwide, the club takes its name from the late Saturday Night Live comedian Gilda Radner. After Radner contracted ovarian cancer, she was helped by friends. Her wish was that people everywhere could enjoy such support.
Although Gilda’s Club Seattle maintains a hard-working core staff, much of the support work – hosting support sessions, teaching yoga, art, cooking and exercise – is done by dedicated volunteers.
Sunday afternoon, Executive Director Anna Gottlieb handed out more than a dozen “we couldn’t do it without you” awards recognizing the service of those volunteers. The large audience was seated in the comfortable mismatched easy chairs and … Continue Reading »
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Hail to Neighbor Power! Royalty received in Roxhill.
Have you seen the Castle Park yet? Hail to Roxhill! Last Saturday the park was officially opened. Despite the chill, hundreds of neighbors and kids with skateboards gathered in one of the city’s newest parks. Prizes were awarded for best tricks, and new skateboards were given to a special few newcomers. Time was set aside […]
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From small beginnings come great things
I’ve toured several micro-housing units (none that the neighbors have described as substandard) and I’m impressed by the possibilities. Mostly they are small rooms (between 150 and 200 square feet) that have private bathrooms, a mini-refrigerator and a microwave grouped around a full kitchen and shared dining area. There might be seven or eight rooms […]
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GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SALMON OPPOSED BY CITY, MURRAY, CANTWELL, AND SWINOMISH INDIAN TRIBAL COMMUNITY
GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SALMON OPPOSED BY CITY, MURRAY, CANTWELL, AND SWINOMISH INDIAN TRIBAL COMMUNITY Earth Day, April 22, was a good day for a unanimous Mayor and Council to join Senators Cantwell and Murray and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community in opposing a proposal before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that would approve the commercial [...]
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Farmers Market Season Approaches
As chair of the City Council’s Committee on Economic Resiliency and Regional Relations I get to advocate for farmers markets across Seattle and the multiple benefits they bring – neighbor-to-neighbor social action in neighborhoods once a week, a sales outlet for farmers east and west of the mountains, opportunities for “value added” products like cheese, […]
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Councilmember Bagshaw visits Olympia to advocate for transportation options
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/23/2013
Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
Councilmember Bagshaw visits Olympia to advocate for transportation options
OLYMPIA - Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw today will meet with key state legislators to advocate for local transportation funding options. Bagshaw will travel to Olympia as part of the "Keep King County Moving" Coalition, highlighting the need to preserve King County Metro transit service and critical roadway maintenance.
Metro faces a $75 million annual shortage if the state Legislature fails to approve transit funding tools, a shortfall that would result in the reduction of up to 17 percent of Metro's bus service. According to King County Metro, 65 transit routes are at risk of being cancelled, with another 86 routes at risk for service reductions. "Keep King County Moving" has coordinated business, government and community advocates to speak with one voice in Olympia about the threat transit cuts pose to business, growth management and quality of life.
"I'm looking forward to sitting down with our friends in Olympia to find some real solutions for our transit system," said Councilmember Sally Bagshaw. "I'd also like to extend my gratitude to the legislature for passing the Safe Streets bill (House Bill 1045 and Senate Bill 5066), which will allow for lower speed limits on Seattle's neighborhood greenways."
Seattle City Councilmembers frequently meet with legislators as part of the "Seattle for Washington" program, which is intended to strengthen relationships with key policy makers and better understand issues important to communities around the state. For more on Metro's funding shortfall and what it could mean for the future of transit riders and our economy, please visit Metro's website.
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HELP GET SEATTLE MOVING!
Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board Seeks New Members The Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board (SBAB) is accepting applications for new members to advise the City on the concerns and needs of the growing bicycling community. The volunteer board, created by Seattle City Council in 1977, plays an influential role in implementing Seattle’s Bicycle Master Plan. The board advises the […]
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City Council Strengthens Affordable Housing Program in South Lake Union
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/22/2013
Council President Sally J. Clark
Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
Councilmember Tim Burgess
Councilmember Richard Conlin
Councilmember Jean Godden
Councilmember Bruce Harrell
Councilmember Nick Licata
Councilmember Mike O'Brien
Councilmember Tom Rasmussen
City Council Strengthens Affordable Housing Program
in South Lake Union
Consensus built around the need for more affordable workforce housing in the neighborhood
Seattle -- The Seattle City Council South Lake Union Committee voted unanimously on an amendment to produce more workforce affordable housing in the South Lake Union (SLU) neighborhood by strengthening the incentive zoning program. The agreement is a compromise between two existing amendments offered by Councilmembers, which were introduced in last week's SLU Committee meeting. Consensus was built around the need to strengthen the incentive zoning program without discouraging development.
"Today's decision is an important, modest step toward securing more affordable workforce housing in South Lake Union, so that people at all income levels who work in the neighborhood have a chance to live there," said Councilmember Mike O'Brien. "This is a community of opportunity where the city is investing over $500 million in public infrastructure, and I think it only fair that the benefits of this redevelopment are shared more broadly."
The legislation to strengthen incentive zoning includes a 43% increase in the residential pay-in-lieu price (from $15.15 to $21.68), effectively immediately, and a 33% increase in the commercial price that will be phased in over eighteen months (to $29.71). These prices are paid on a percent of square-foot basis in exchange for additional height and building capacity. Collectively, these provisions will produce an estimated 733 units of workforce housing in and near the neighborhood. The original legislation would have created an estimated 406 units.
"After collaborating with local businesses and affordable housing advocates, we crafted a sensible solution that goes far beyond the Mayor's status quo proposal and brings affordable workforce housing to the City's hottest real estate market," said Councilmember Tim Burgess. "Now many more nurses, school teachers, construction workers and other working families can call this booming neighborhood home."
"The Council's adjustments in this legislation and the overall commitment to seeing workforce-priced units actually built in these developments will help more working people find homes in South Lake Union near jobs and transit," said Council President Sally J. Clark. "That's good for employees and good for employers."
"The new Affordable Housing Amendment reflects a collaborative and inclusive decision-making process with developers and affordable housing advocates. The Council applied the Race and Social Justice Initiative lens to ensure we were having an honest debate on equity. Council honored its promise of delivering on-site affordable workforce units in this neighborhood," said Councilmember Bruce Harrell.
"These amendments strengthen one of our tools to generate more workforce housing in South Lake Union," said Councilmember Richard Conlin, chair of the Special Committee on South Lake Union. "I look forward to working with stakeholders and housing experts to both refine our incentive zoning program and also increase the supply of affordable housing city-wide."
"It all goes back to why so many people come to Seattle -- they come because we are a city of inclusive neighborhoods, not just a copy of someplace else. A strengthened incentive zoning program reaffirms our commitment to inclusive and affordable neighborhoods," said Councilmember Jean Godden.
"These amendments, while not a bold leap, are reasonable steps in the right direction. This is only a modest beginning for making housing in Seattle more affordable for average folks," said Councilmember Nick Licata. "We cannot continue to see workers forced to move ever further from the city and drive long distances to work here. The solution is clearly to require developers to provide substantially more affordable housing."
The Council last updated the incentive zoning program in 2008, establishing the goal of producing 5% of affordable workforce residential units in the neighborhood of the development. The Council will also consider similar fee adjustments to the downtown incentive housing program to take effect in 2014.
"Even with this step, we need to go further by engaging in the process laid out in Resolution 31444 to review and update of Seattle's incentive zoning and other affordable housing programs, so we can begin to bridge the gap between our affordable housing needs and the amount we are currently producing," said Councilmember Mike O'Brien.
City Council plans to vote on the full South Lake Union rezone proposal at the May 6 Full Council meeting at 2:00pm in Council Chambers.