FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2/10/2015
Councilmember O'Brien Bolsters Duwamish Community Efforts to Enhance Neighborhood Participation in River Cleanup
SEATTLE - City Council unanimously approved a neighborhood-driven effort to enhance the community's ro...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 1/15/2015
Construction Jobs Bill Unanimously Recommended by Council Committee
SEATTLE - A City Council committee today unanimously recommended adoption of a jobs bill to help people living in economically distressed areas est...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/24/2014
SEATTLE - The City Council gave final approval to the 2015 City Budget by a 8-1 vote at the today's Full Council meeting.
Councilmember Nick Licata, chair of the Budget Committee, said, "I'd like to thank members of the public for their involvement in helping the Council craft the 2015 City budget. Public involvement resulted in a more responsive city budget that emphasizes human services, social justice and labor standards." Councilmember Licata added, "In an effort to reach out to more people than in the past, I'll be initiating a community participatory budget process for next year's budget."
In a letter to the Mayor in early August, the Council identified the Council's highest priorities for the 2015-2016 biennium. Councilmembers voted to enhance the proposed budget Mayor Ed Murray delivered on September 22 with greater emphasis on human services, social justice and labor standards. A summary of the major Council's budget modifications is available online.
"From public health funding to enhanced worker protections to early learning investments, the 2015 budget responds to our city's critical needs and advances groundbreaking policies," said Council President Tim Burgess.
Councilmember Jean Godden said, "I'm tremendously proud of the Council's support to set aside funds to establish paid parental leave in 2015. It is one example of our commitment to end the gender wage gap and support our valued employees."
"We continue to focus on adding more police officers, but it is not just about more people. We need to more effectively deploy the current officers into our neighborhoods and ensure communities feel our officers are helping in the prevention of crime. Chief O'Toole is leading Seattle in the right direction with the mantra of using accurate and timely data, rapidly deploying crime reduction plans and commanding relentless follow-up," said Councilmember Bruce A. Harrell. "Additional public safety investments include alley activation in the Chinatown/International District, block watch academies, summer safety activities, mobile domestic violence assistance and a potential pilot for an acoustic gunshot locator system."
"I am proud of the steps City Council is taking to address income inequality in our city through this budget," said Councilmember Mike O'Brien. "We've passed some great laws recently to support workers - from $15/hour to paid sick leave to protections against wage theft - but I led Council's effort to significantly increase funding for the new Office of Labor Standards to ensure that workers know their rights and know how to exercise them. I also helped provide additional funding for our upcoming priority hire legislation, which aims to employ those people in our city who most need the work on City construction projects. I'm also happy the Council sped up $15/hour for all City employees to take effect next year."
"The 2015-2016 budget package includes investments in many areas important to me, including human services, public health and public safety to make Seattle a safer, healthier place for everyone," said Councilmember Sally Bagshaw. "It also emphasizes commitments to improve our public spaces, making every Seattle neighborhood more welcoming and connected. Thanks to my colleagues and the Mayor's Office for their collaborative spirit and willingness to find new solutions."
"I am excited that the Council agreed to fund the Neighborhood Conservation District program. When the program is established next year, neighborhoods will have a strong land use tool to accommodate growth and development that respects community history and character," said Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, the sponsor of the new program.
Councilmember Sally J. Clark said, "With this budget, we're making strong investments that will save lives across our city. Thank you to the advocates, community members and program participants themselves who have shaped those investments."
"The movement for a People's Budget has won important improvements to the Mayor's business-as-usual budget, and we will not stop fighting until the needs of regular people in Seattle are met, such as affordable housing and an end to regressive taxation," said Councilmember Kshama Sawant.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/20/2014
Councilmembers Godden, O'Brien Announce Accelerated Green Lake Algae Cleanup
SEATTLE - Councilmembers Jean Godden and Mike O'Brien announced today that funding was unanimously recommended by the Council's Budget...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/14/2014
Council Pursues Plan for New Building Development to Fund Affordable Housing
SEATTLE - A City Council committee today recommended approval of a plan to create an affordable housing linkage fee to preserve and create affordable housing in Seattle. The resolution directs City departments to develop legislation whereby new construction in multi-family and commercial zones would mitigate the cost of increasing rents by funding housing affordable to those households making $45,000 - $65,000 per year, which is 60% - 80% of area median income (AMI).
"If we want Seattle to be an inclusive city for people of all incomes, then we need to see more housing produced that's affordable to more people. Up until this point, the market has clearly not given us the housing we need," said Councilmember Mike O'Brien, chair of the Planning, Land Use and Sustainability Committee and the legislation's sponsor.
Developers could either pay a per-square-foot fee, which is variable based on project's location in the city, or avoid the fee by dedicating at least 3% - 5% of the units in their project to households making less than 80% AMI. The money generated from fees would be invested in workforce housing.
"Our expert economic consultants suggest that at this fee level, development would absorb the fees without constricting new supply or significantly raising rents," Councilmember O'Brien added.
The following map illustrates where the linkage fee would be applied in multi-family and commercial development in the city.
Full Council is expected to vote on the resolution on Monday, October 20. Draft legislation for Council consideration is expected by June 1, 2015. The final legislation is anticipated to gradually phase-in over a three year period and would not affect existing projects or new projects with permit applications already submitted.
Additional information about O'Brien's proposal for an Affordable Housing Linkage Fee in Seattle is available online.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/6/2014
Council Creates Regulations for "Small Efficiency Apartments," Allows for Innovative Affordable Housing Choice
SEATTLE - City Council adopted regulations today that set consistent requirements on a new type of housing class called "small efficiency dwelling units (SEDU)," formerly known as "micro-housing," or a more trademarked name "aPodments." The legislation prescribes requirements for SEDUs, including design review, minimum unit size, zones in which future buildings can be located, and sanitation requirements as recommended by Seattle/King County Public Health.
"This bill is a compromise that allows these units to be built while addressing some of the concerns Council has heard over their impacts on neighborhoods," said Councilmember Mike O’Brien, chair of the Planning, Land Use and Sustainability Committee. "We struck a balance between preserving an affordable housing choice, making the units more livable for renters and maintaining neighborhood character through design review."
The legislation comes after months of outreach and a stakeholder process where issues from the perspective of builders, renters and neighbors were heard. Work of the group informed recent legislation to establish permanent regulations for this type of in-demand housing.
The legislation replaces the existing model of micro-housing with SEDUs. Each SEDU would be treated as an individual unit for purposes of counting towards permitting, growth targets, and fire and life safety requirements. The minimum unit size in a building must be 220 square feet. Congregate housing, where very small units or sleeping rooms share common kitchen and living spaces, can be built, but only in higher density zones in Urban Villages and Urban Centers.
The legislation also prescribes variable levels of design review for SEDUs and congregate housing, based on the square footage of the residences. Design review provides the public the opportunity to share their perspective on how the buildings are designed and fit into the neighborhood. The larger the building, the more thorough the design review process.
The legislation also prescribes parking requirements for SEDUs and congregate housing. In Station Area Overlay Districts, Urban Centers, and commercial and multifamily zones within Urban Villages near frequent transit service, no minimum parking requirements would apply. In all other areas, one space will be required for every two small efficiency dwelling units in a building or for every four units in congregate housing buildings.
The legislation only applies to permits submitted after the legislation takes effect. Current micro-housing buildings are not affected by the newly adopted requirements.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/30/2014
City Commits $1 Million to Regional Affordable Housing Fund, Explores Backyard Cottage Expansion
SEATTLE - City Council unanimously approved a resolution yesterday committing to allocate $1 million toward a regional fund to expand affordable housing near light rail and transit stations, and also requested the Department of Planning & Development (DPD)to explore the expansion of backyard cottages and mother-in-law units. These efforts are part of the Council's and Mayor's ongoing work to expand the availability of affordable housing at all income levels.
The regional fund will be used to purchase properties near light rail and high capacity transit stations while the land is still reasonably affordable. The land will be preserved for future higher-density, mixed-use affordable housing development. Money from the fund can also be used to preserve and rehabilitate selected existing affordable housing buildings that are near transit stops and at high risk of being converted to market rate housing. This fund-referred to as the Regional Equitable Development Initiative (REDI) Fund-is a regional collaboration of public, private and non-profit stakeholders being led by Puget Sound Regional Council as a part of its Growing Transit Communities initiative.
"By buying properties near light rail now, we can ensure greater affordability near transit in the future and help prevent displacement when those land values eventually increase when light rail comes online. Transit-oriented development also means easier commutes and less congestion as well as more vibrant, walkable neighborhoods," said Councilmember Mike O’Brien. "By exploring how to create more backyard cottages and mother-in-laws, we are looking for market-oriented solutions to provide more housing at all levels of affordability."
City Council also requested that DPD develop a report on regulations regarding accessory dwelling units (ADUs or "mother-in-law" units) and detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs or "backyard cottages"). The report would provide analysis of possible new policies or programs that could be implemented to make accessory dwelling units easier to build, including pre-approved, pre-fabricated designs to streamline permitting, incentives like waiving of permit fees for affordable units, reviewing parking and owner-occupancy requirements and more.
The report will inform the work of the Seattle Housing Affordability and Livability Advisory Committee and is due to the group by March 15, 2015.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/25/2014
Council Bans Neonicotinoid Pesticides on City Land
SEATTLE - City Council prohibited use of neonicotinoid-based pesticides on all city-owned and operated land Monday, as this class of pesticide is linked with harm to critical pollinating insects, like bees. Washington's agricultural economy and Seattle's local gardens are dependent on bees and other pollinators, so City departments will seek to use only pollinator-friendly methods of weed and pest control in the future.
Seattle joins the Spokane, WA, Eugene, OR and other cities in its municipal-use ban.
"This is a modest step to help protect bees and other pollinators, which help make the Emerald City blossom every spring," said Councilmember Mike O’Brien. "I hope the City's move helps raise awareness about what we can all be doing to promote the health of pollinators through sustainable pest management practices."
Neonicotinoids, one of the most widely used classes of insecticides in the world, are systemic, persistent neurotoxins that spread throughout a treated plant including to the pollen that is gathered by pollinators. An independent review of more than 800 scientific studies concluded that neonicotinoids are causing significant damage to a wide range of beneficial invertebrate species and are a key factor in the decline of bees.
In August 2014 the US Fish and Wildlife Service announced plans to phase out use of neonicotinoids on National Wildlife Refuges across the country, and the US Geological Survey released information on the pervasive appearance of neonicotinoids in aquatic environments throughout the Midwest.
Resolution 31548 was unanimously adopted by the Seattle City Council on Monday, September 23, with the Mayor in concurrence. The Seattle Department of Transportation, Seattle City Light, Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle Center, Finance and Administrative Services, Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation and Seattle Public Libraries all made the recommendation to eliminate the use of neonicotinoids at City facilities.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/18/2014
Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda Announced
SEATTLE - The City Council's Committee on Housing Affordability, Human Services and Economic Resiliency approved a resolution today calling for the development of a Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda for Seattle. The Agenda will create a comprehensive housing plan for Seattle by identifying housing needs over the next ten years and recommending new policies or programs to meet any gaps.
"We have to intentionally plan to achieve housing affordability for a diverse mix of incomes and families in our city," said Councilmember Sally J. Clark, the legislation's sponsor and chair of the committee. "For the first time, we'll have a comprehensive catch-all plan for how we'd like to see housing serve the entire spectrum of people in Seattle."
The Agenda will be developed in the City’s Office of Housing and Office for Policy and Innovation, aided by a stakeholder advisory group. Staff will utilize recent council reports and research, best practices from cities around the nation and conduct a thorough review of existing policies and programs from across City departments. The plan is expected to be presented back to the Mayor and City Council by the end of May, 2015 for further community engagement, review and adoption.
"We need more housing options so that people who work in this city can afford to live in this city," said Councilmember Mike O’Brien. "I believe this plan will help us get in front of the growing pressure on affordability and help us provide more opportunities to live in Seattle for more people."
Seattle currently faces many challenges relating to housing affordability and access. Currently, 43% of Seattle renter households are burdened by housing costs and 21% are severely burdened, which means more than one- half of household income goes toward rent. Preliminary data also suggests Seattle will have a growing gap in family-sized housing. According to a recent study, enrollment in Seattle Public Schools' kindergartens began increasing rapidly in the last decade. Enrollment is projected to be nearly 60,000 by the year 2020.
"Preserving affordable housing is particularly important in this housing climate when subsidized housing like the Theodora is being converted to market rate housing, not to mention the cycle of demolition, redevelopment and increased rent in market rate rentals, and finally the likely future upswing in condo conversions," said Councilmember Nick Licata.
"Working together as a city, we can seize our destiny as a city that increases affordable housing across the economic spectrum – for homeless housing to workforce housing," said Mayor Ed Murray. "By hearing from renters and homeowners, and representatives from the financial sector, for-profit developers, non-profit developers, and other local housing experts, we can develop a housing agenda that will make a powerful and lasting impact on the current and future affordability of our city."
The resolution was developed collaboratively with community members, Mayor Ed Murray, Councilmember Sally J. Clark, Councilmember Mike O’Brien and Councilmember Nick Licata. Full Council is scheduled to vote on the resolution on Monday, September 22.
Oil Train Response Report to be Presented at Tuesday Council Meeting Seattle – Councilmember Mike O’Brien’s Planning, Land Use and Sustainability Committee will host the Seattle Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and Seattle Fire Department (SFD) at a Tuesday evening meeting to discuss emergency management response plans in the event of an oil train derailment....
