>>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
JUNE
17th. 2026, LAND USE AND
SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE COMES
TO
ORDER. 9:36 A.M.
I'M EDDIE LIN.
HAD THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE.
>> VICE-CHAIR SFROUS.
>> HERE.
>>
FOSTER.
>> HERE.
>> HOLLINGSWORTH.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR
LIN.
>>
HERE.
>> FOUR MEMBERS
PRESENT.
>> IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE DOPTED.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR COME FOG WEDNESDAY
MORNING MEETING TO DISCUSS LAND
USE. THANK YOU TO OUR CITY
CLERKS, CENTRAL STAFF, MAYOR'S
OFFICE,
OPCD, OSC AND SSCI FOR HELPING
US PREPARE FOR THIS MEETING.
WE WILL NOW OPEN THE
HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. SHOULD
RELATE TO
ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA OR ITEMS WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THIS COMMITTEE.
CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE
SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> AT PRESENT WE HAVE FIVE IN
PERSON AND THREE REMOTE
SPEAKERS.
>> OKAY.
EACH SPEAKER HAS TWO MINUTES.
WE WILL START WITH IN PERSON
SPEAKERS FIRST. CLERK, COULD
YOU READ THE INSTRUCTIONS?
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
IS MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER. IT'S UP TO 60 MINUTES.
SPEAKERS CALLED IN THE ORDER IN
WHICH THEY REGISTERED AND IN
PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST, THEN
REMOTE SPEAKERS TO
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ENDED.
A CHIME WHEN TEN SECONDS LEFT
OF
TIME. M.I.C.s
WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DON'T END
WITH THE ALLOTTED
TIME.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS OPEN AND WE WILL BEGIN
WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
JUST ONE SECOND.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS ALICIA
RISE.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR LIN AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
I AM 'ALICIA RUE SEIZE, HABITAT
FOR COMMUNITY, SEATTLE,
KING, KITTITAS COUNTIES.
WE ARE PLEASE TODAY APPEAR
BEFORE YOU IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
COUNCIL BILL
121215. SEATTLE IS UNDER
PRESSURE TO
MEET DEADLINES FOR UPDATING THE
LAND USE CODE AND A
SIGNIFICANT
SOURCE OF DELAY IS SEPA APPEALS
OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS A STEP
THAT STATE LAW DOESN'T REQUIRE.
THIS BILL DOES NOT WEAKEN
SLIERNL PROTECTIONS IN ANY WAY.
FULL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
REMAINS IN PLACE. WHAT IT DOES
REMOVE
IS DUPLICATIVE PROCEDURAL LIAR
THAT
HAS NO ADDITIONAL PROTECTIVE
FUNCTION. SEATTLE WOULD JOIN
KING
COUNTY, BELLEVUE, TACOMA AND
EVERETT.
THESE CITIES HAVE LONG SINCE
EXEMPTED LEGISLATIVE SEPA
DECISIONS FROM ADMINISTRATIVE
APPEAL.
THIS ISN'T A WEAKENING
OF ENVIRONMENTAL
STANDARDS. IT'S A COMMON SENSE
PROCEDURAL
ALIGNMENT THAT ALLOWS THE
CITY TO MEET
LEGAL OBLIGATIONS WITHOUT
UNNECESSARY OBSTRUCTION. FOR
HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY, DELAYS IN
LAND USE PROCESS HAVE HUMAN CON
HE IS AGAINSTS.
EVERY MONTH LOST IS ANOTHER
MONTH OF FAMILY WHITES FOR A
STABLE PLACE TO CALL HOME.
COUNCIL BILL 121215 CLEARS
THE PATH FOR MORE HOUSING AND
HOMEOWNERSHIP
TO BECOME A REALITY SOONER.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE PROUD
TO
SUPPORT IT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
STWL NEXT, CAROLINE VILLANOVA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT.
CAROLINE VILLANOVA I AM THE
DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
AND COMMUNITY IMPACT AT THE
SEATTLE PARKS FOUNDATION.
WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF
ADVANCING THE PLANNING TO MEET
FOR -- TO MEET ADDITIONAL
HOUSING
NEEDS IN IT'S THE CITY.
HOWEVER, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT
CB 121215
COULD REMOVE FOORL ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTIONS IN THE
CITY AT A TIME
WHEN THESE ARE BEING
DISMANTLED AT EAR LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT.
WE ARE CONCERNED THAT
BY ALLOWING EXCEPTIONS FOR
HOUSING
WHICH ARE NEEDED WE
MAY BE RISKING OTHER LAND USE
DECISIONS BE INCLUDED IN THE
EXEMPTIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE TYPE
V DECISIONS ALSO INCLUDE
PARK- RELATED
PROJECTS, SO NOT JUST HOUSING
AND DEVELOPMENT.
SO WE ARE JUST
ENCOURAGING COUNCIL TO CONSIDER
WHAT THE
IMPACTS MIGHT BE.
ESPECIALLY FOR
A LIVEABLE AND CLIMATE RESILIENT
CITY WE NEED TWICE TO MOVE
FORWARD
WITH APPROPRIATE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT THAT DOES NOT ADD
RISK TO OUR
REGIONAL NATURAL SYSTEMS.
WE ARE CONCERNED BY REMOVING
THE ABILITY TO -- BY REMOVING
THIS
ABILITY
AND RELYING ONLY ON PUBLIC
COMMENTS
ALONE, WE RISK
MISSING FLAWED ENVIRONMENTAL
ANALYSIS.
AND AT A TIME WHEN WE'RE
SEEING A PUSH TO SPEED UP THIS
PROCESS, WE DON'T WANT THE
ENVIRONMENT
TO BE A TRADE- OFF FOR
CITY'S GROWTH.
WE REALLY URGE THE COUNCIL TO
CONSIDER -- TO RECONSIDER
CB 121215 AND WORK TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND THE RISKS ON
BEHALF OF THE CHANGE AND
DETERMINE A
STRONGER WAY FORWARD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP
SANDY SHUTTLER
FOLLOWED BY JOSH FREEMAN AND
STEVE.
>> GOOD MORNING I THOUGHT IT
WOULD
BE 60 SECONDS. SO I AM GOING TO
TALK REALLY
SLOW.
I AM JUST KIDDING.
I'M SEND YOU AN EMAIL WITH MORE
DETAILS.
BUT I AM COMMENTING ON 121215.
FOR ORDINARY RESIDENTS,
APPEALING TO THE
HEARING EXAMINER IS THE ONLY
REALISTIC
WAY TO HOLD GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABLE TO PROTECT THE
ENVIRONMENT.
WE'RE TOLD DON'T WORRY, YOU
CAN STILL APPEAL TO THE
GROWTH MANAGEMENT HEARINGS BOARD
OR SUPERIOR COURT.
BUT THESE ARE
ONLY POSSIBLE AFTER
LEGISLATION IS DONE AND
SIGNED, AND THEY REQUIRE AN
ATTORNEY AND A LOT OF MONEY.
THEY ARE OUT OF REACH FOR MOST
PEOPLE.
THIS WOULD FURTHER REMOVE AGENCY
FROM THE AVERAGE PERSON WHILE
KEEPING IT FOR THE WEALTHY.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, SEATTLE
AVERAGES ONLY 2. 7 APPEALS PER
YEAR, REMOVING THE
PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO APPEAL
ALL ENVIRONMENTAL
LEGISLATION BECAUSE OF 2.7
ANNUAL APPEALS IS
THROWING THE BABY OUT WITH THE
BATHWATER.
IMAGINE A APPLYING
THE SAME
LOGIC TO CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC
COMMENT.
COUNCIL MEETINGS WOULD BE MORE
EFFICIENT WITHOUT PUBLIC
COMMENT, BUT WE HAVE DECIDED AS
A CITY THAT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
IS WORTH THE TIME
BECAUSE DEMOCRACY
IS NOT MEASURED BY EFFICIENCY
ALONE.
AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENTS
ARE
EFFICIENT.
DEMOCRACIES ARE TRANSPARENT AND
ACCOUNTABLE.
PLEASE DO NOT ELIMINATE THE ONLY
PRACTICAL
PATH ORDINARY RESIDENTS HAVE TO
PARTICIPATE
IN
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND HOLD
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP JOSH FRIEDMAN.
>> CHAIR LIN, MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, I AM A
CONSERVATION ACTIVIST AND LAND
USE ATTORNEY.
I LIVE IN SEWARD PARK.
I AM
HERE TO DMENT ON CB 121215. ARE
THANK YOU FOR DOING THE
HARD WORK OF HELPING TO BRING
SEATTLE
SEPA PROCEDURES INTO THE 21st
CENTURY.
AS YOU KNOW,SEPA AND THE
PROCEEDS YOU'RE WERE
LARGELY DRAFT INSIDE A
VERY DIFFERENT TIME BEFORE
ALMOST ALL OF
THE OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTIONS THAT WE NOW HOLD
DEAR.
IMAGINE A WORLD WITH
NO ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT,
NO
SUPERFUND LAW. THAT'S THE WORLD
THAT SEPA WAS
DESIGNED FOR.
AS A RESULT, THE AGING
PROCEDURAL RULES THAT WE STILL
HAVE ON THE BOOKS ARE NO
LONGER COMPATIBLE WITH THE
MODERN WORLD
IN OUR MODERN NEEDS INCLUDING
THE HOUSING AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT CRISIS FORCING LONG-TIME
SEATTLE
RESIDENTS, YOUNG
AND OLD, OUT OF THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS. CHANGE IS
DIFFICULT AND
I EXPECT THAT MANY OF YOUR
CONSTITUENTS WILL FIND CHANGE TO
BE SCARY. THANK YOU FOR DOING
THE
RIGHT THING FOR OUR CITY.
YOUR LEADERSHIP WILL GREAT --
DO A GREAT DEAL HELP ADDRESS OUR
COMMUNITY'S AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
NEEDS. THANK YOU.
>>.
>> STEVE.
>> THIS NAY NOT SURPRISE YOU,
BUT I BELIEVE THE CITIZENS
HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE IMPACTS
ON THEIR ACTUAL LIVING
CONDITIONS AND
THEIR GOVERNMENT.
THIS IS PART OF A SERIES OF
TAKING PEOPLE
OUT, YOU KNOW, THOSE DIRTY
LITTLE PEASANTS.
LAND USE IS SOMETHING
THAT SHOULD BE DONE ONLY BY
PEOPLE WITH A LOT OF MONEY AND
PEOPLE
WHO HAVE REAL PURPOSES.
NOW, THE FACT THAT WE
HAVE PRETTY MUCH ELIMINATED ALL
OF
THE INPUTS FOR PEOPLE, THERE
IS
NO MORE DESIGN REVIEW
OF ANY REAL CONSEQUENCE, MHA
DOES
NOT PRESERVE THE UNITS THAT ARE
AFFORDABLE, AND, YOU KNOW,
WE JUST WIPE OUT TREES.
IT'S VERY SIMPLE RIGHT NOW.
ON MY STREET, THERE IS ANOTHER
DEVELOPMENT GOING UP, AND SDOT
DECIDED THE TREES CAN GO.
AND FOR THE VERY GOOD REASON,
THE DEVELOPER ASKED.
AND THAT'S ALL THAT'S REQUIRED.
I THINK I HAVE NOTICED ONE
GREAT CHANGE BECAUSE I HAVE
BEEN THROUGH CITY HALLS A
LITTLE LONGER THAN SOME OF YOU,
IS THAT
WHEN I STARTED, THE
REPORTS THAT WERE COMING OUT IN
THE CITY WERE
PRETTY DARN STRAIGHTFORWARD. AND
WHEN WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH
TO CHANGE POLICY, THE
LAST
PARAGRAPH, THE DECISION, WAS THE
ONLY THING THAT HAD TO BE
CHANGED.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY
I THINK WE REALLY NEED SEPA IS
THAT I THINK, IN MY OPINION,
IS THAT MANY OF THE REPORTS NOW
REFLECT WHAT THE REPORT WRITER
THINKS THE CITY WANTS TO HEAR.
AND I THINK IT'S --
>> THANK YOU, STEVE.
>> THE LAST IN PERSON SPEAKER.
NOW MOVING TO THE REMOTE
SPEAKERS STARTING WITH JENNIFER
GODFREY.
>> HELLO.
I AM SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION OF
121215.
I WOULD LIKE TO PREFACE THIS
BY SAYING I AM NOT PAID TO
MAKE
THIS STATEMENT. PLEASE CONSIDER
WHO IS SPEAKING
FOR PROFIT OR NOT.
THE FORMS
OF STRIPPING ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTIONS IS
CARRIE, HOW THE MOST EXTREME
RIGHT WING ARE
DEVOTING THEIR LIVES TO
ELIMINATING
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AS WE
SEE OUT EAST EVERY DAY.
WE CAN DO BETTER IN
A PROGRESSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL
CITY THAT IS PART OF THE
PACIFIC RAINFOREST CONTAINING
THE HIGHEST BIOMATH IN THE
WORLD.
FLOSS WHERE LIKE THIS IN
THE COUNTRY IMPEACHMENT MOVE
HERE
AND THINK YOU HAVE A LOT OF
TREES NOT
KNOWING A WAS NATURAL FOR
THESECO SYSTEM AND
HOW WE CAN CO-EXIST WITHOUT
KILLING
ALL OF IT AS
WE DENSIFY. WITH ONLY
A SKELETON OF ENVIRONMENTAL
ENFORCEMENT
FDCI HAS BEEN SCALED DOWN AND
APPEALS
ARE A NECESSARY ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION FOR THE PUBLIC. THE
COURT OF PILES ASKED HOW
WILL COUNCIL KNOW IF THEY
HAVE THE BEST INFORMATION IN
FRONT
OF THEM.
ENVIRONMENTAL VIE IS A LIKE A
DOCTOR'S EXAM BEFORE SURGERY.
NO ONE WOULD JUST OPT TO HAVE
SURGERY WITHOUT ASSESSING
THE RISKS AND BENEFITS.
PROPOSED ACTION ON THE LAND IS
LIKE SURGERY ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND THE ECOSYSTEM WE SHARE.
THEY HAVE RISKS.
MANY OF WHICH HUMANS DO NOT
FULLY UNDERSTAND.
THE BEST WAY TO SAVE MONEY AND
STREAMLINE THE APPEALS
WOULD BE TO DO A GREAT
JOB ON ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IN
THE FIRST PLACE AND WE CAN
ABSOLUTELY HAVE HOUSING
AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.
LASTLY, I
WILL SAY WE CAN DO BETTER THAN
TAKE THE ADVICE OF A
LOBBY THAT WANTS NOTHING
BUT DEREGULATION GREEN WASHED
BY PUBLICATIONS THAT
DON'T
INTERVIEW SUBJECTS OR HAVE
COMMENT SECTIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE LOGAN
SCHMIDT.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR LIN AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
LOGAN SCHMIDT REPRESENTING THE
MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF
KING AND SNOHOMISH COUNTYS.
STRONGLY SUPPORT
121215. I WANT TO BE DIRECT
ABOUT
WHY. THIS BILL
IS NOT A ROLL BACK OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS OR
PUBLIC PROCESS.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND
COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE MADE.
WHAT THIS REMOVES IS THE
POST- DECISION ADMINISTRATIVE
APPEALS LAYER NOT THE FRONT- END
PARTICIPATION THAT MAKES LAND
USE DECISIONS LEGITIMATE.
THE SUBSTANTIVE STANDARDS REMAIN
INTACT.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS ALREADY
WOVEN IN THE REGULATORY CODE.
THIS REMOVES AN ADMINISTRATIVE
APPEALS LAYER THAT STATE
LAW DOESN'T REQUIRE, THAT
THE HEARING EXAMINER
HAS ALREADY BEEN DISMISSING ON
STATUTORY
GROUNDS, AND THAT MANY IN THE
REGION, CUTTING KING
COUNTY, BELLEVUE AND EVERETT
HAVE RECOGNIZED AS
DUPLICATIVE. SEATTLE IS NOT
DEVIATING
FROM A
REGIONAL NORM.
IT'S CATCHING UP. CATCHING UP
MATTERS.
WASHINGTON STATE HAS SET
CLEAR DEADLINES FOR UPDATING
LAND USE
REGULATIONS. SEATTLE HAS BEEN
CLOSE
TO MISSING THEM
BECAUSE ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS
OF
SEPA DOCUMENTS CONSUME MONTHS
OF PROCESS BEFORE A SINGLE
QUESTION IS
EVEN REVOLVED. THAT'S NOT
ENVIRONMENTAL
THAT'S DELAY FOR DELAY'S SAKE.
IF SEATTLE SERIOUS
ABOUT BUILDING HOUSING AT THE
PACE AND
SCALE THE REGION NEEDS REMOVING
THIS BOTTLENECK ISN'T OPTIONAL.
IT'S NECESSARY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LAST WE HAVE DAVID HAYNES.
>> HI, THANK YOU, DAVID HAYNES.
GET RID OF THE TOOMGS THAT
SEATTLE SELLOUTS ARE TRYING
TO USE TO THROW A MONKEY WRENCH
IN
INTO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAS A
HOME, THEY SHOULDN'T BE
ALLOWED TO
WEAPONIZE AND ALLOW OTHER PEOPLE
BUILDING
BACK BETTER WRCHLT IS THE
LEGISLATION TO
TAKE AWAY SOME OF THESE SIDE
STREETS SO WE CAN REBUILD
THE COMMUNITY WITH GREEN
WALKABLE
BLOCKS INSTEAD
OF BEING FORCED
TO WALK ON THE SIDE OF THE
SIDEWALK.
AND I LIKE POINT OUT IT'S NOT
SUSTAINABLE TO IGNORE THE
TOXIC INDUSTRIAL TRAINS PULLING
LIQUID NITROGEN GAS AND
OVERLOADED UNCOVERED COAL CARS
THROUGH THE
WATERFRONT OF SEATTLE CHOKING
OFF THE FRESH AIR FOR EVERYONE.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT.
AND I WANT TO KNOW WHEREWHERE
COUNCIL'S EFFORTS ARE WHEN IT
COMES TO TAKING AWAY
THE RESTRICTION THAT THE CORRUPT
SELF- DEALING
LAND LORNDS THE CITY COUNCIL PUT
INTO
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
THAT GUARANTEES THAT
REGIONAL CENTERS WILL NOT BUILD
BACK A
MORE ROBUST DENSITY.
THEY WILL BE BUILDING BACK
LOWER QUALITY, LOW-LEVEL
BUILDINGS
THAT APIECE THE
SELLOUTS. YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE
BUILDING BACK BETTER IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT COMPETES
WITH THEM THAT KEEPS PEOPLE
UNDER SIX
STORIES.
IT'S NOT FAIR.
IT'S
REVOTING. AND
IT'S LIKE A -- WE NEED TO HAVE
A
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY
AND THE COUNTY.
THE EMINENT DOMAIN OF NEED
TAKE AWAY THESE GOD FORSAKEN
HUMAN
TRAFFICKING
MOST.
AND BUILD BACK EMERGENCY
HOUSING, PUT
INCENTIVES FOR DIFFERENT
DEVELOPERS AND
THE LIST THAT THE POLICE CHIEF
HAS
OF THE
ABANDONED BUILDINGS. THE CITY
AND COUNTY NEED TO
TAKE
POSSESSION OF AUTOMATIC THAT
LAND AND TAKE A ZERO OFF
THE
PROPERTY VALUE BECAUSE THEY HAVE
BEEN UNFAIR TO THE COMMUNITY FOR
TOO LONG.
ANYWAY, LET'S SEE HERE.
>> THANK YOU, CAVED.
>> THANK YOU,
DAVID.
>> CHAIR, THAT WAS
THE LAST
COMMENT.
>>
OKAY.
>> CHAIR?
>> YES?
>> POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
JUST NOTING THAT
PUBLIC COMMENTER STEVE
BENEVOLENT LEADER OF FREMONT
FORMERLY GREEN LAKE MENTIONED HE
HAS BEEN AROUND
LONGER. HE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT
AND TO ME.
>> OH, OKAY.
THANK YOU.
VICE- CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I THINK STEVE HAS BEEN AROUND
PRETTY MUCH LONGER THAN ALL OF
US.
CERTAINLY LONGER THAN ME.
AS THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
REGISTERED SPEERKS, WE WILL
PROCEED TO OUR ITEMS OF
BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK READ AGENDA ITEMS
ONE THROUGH THREE.
>> REAPPOINTMENTS JAMIE
MADDEN,
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
ADVISORY BOARD
FEBRUARY 28, 272027, SOPHIA
BENALFEW, AND
DIANNA PAREDES AS
MEMBERS
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
ADVISORY BOARD FOR TERMS
TO FEBRUARY 29, 2028, FOR
BRIEFING
DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> WONDERFUL.
AND THANK YOU. I SEE WE HAVE OUR
REPRESENTATIVE
FROM EDI.
WHEN YOU
ARE READY, COULD YOU PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELF?
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
I AM TAGOIPAH MATHNO WITH
THE OFFICE OF PLANNING
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND
WITHIN THE EXTENDED FORECAST ECK
TEAM.
MOVING
FORWARD I WILL SHORTEN TO SAY
EDI JUST FOR TIME.
LET ME PULL UP QUICKLY.
I HAVE
LOVELY SLIDES TO TALK ABOUT.
I WOULD SAY I HAVE THE GREAT
PRIVILEGE BRAGGING ABOUT
MY BOARD MEMBERS TODAY.
BEAR WITH ME.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
SO, YES, I AM HERE TODAY
TO -- WE HAVE THREE BOARD
MEMBERS WHO
ARE LOOKING FOR REAPPOINTMENTS.
AND JUST A QUICK REMINDER
THAT OUR EDI ADVISORY BOARD
MAIN PURPOSE REALLY IS TO
HELP PROVIDE ANY SORT
OF RECOMMENDATION TO THE
CITY AROUND EQUITY.
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES AND
GOALS TO
PROVIDE GUIDANCE AROUND
ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO
THE PUBLIC, AND AT THE SAME TIME
ALL PROMOTING THESE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITIES
HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED
THAT REALLY INCLUDES COMMUNITIES
OF
COLOR, IMMIGRANT REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES,
THE
LGBTQ+ AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES WITHIN THE SEATTLE
AREA.
AND THE
ADMIN SUPPORT FOR THIS
BOARD BOARD COMING FROM THE
OCPD
STAFF.
FOR EDI ADVISORY BOARD, WE
HAVE 13 MEMBERS.
ALL SUBJECT TO COUNCIL
CONFIRMATION.
AND JUST A QUICK REMINDER, ONE
TERM IS THREE YEARS.
NO MEMBER IS ALLOWED TO SERVE
MORE THAN TWO
CONSECUTIVE TERMS MEANING BACK
TO
BACK. AND THREE OF THOSE
MEMBERS ARE CITY COUNCIL
APPOINTED
AND THREE ARE MAYOR APPOINTED
AND SEVEN
ARE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE
HAVE THREE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE
UP
FOR REAPPOINTMENTS.
THAT'S FOR POSITION TEN, EIGHT,
AND 13.
ALL OF THESE BOARD MEMBERS
ARE BOARD APPOINTED, AND HAVE
JUST
COMPLETED THEIR FIRST TERM WITH
US, AND
ARE LOOKING TO BE
REAPPOINTED INTO THEIR SECOND
TERM.
SO THE FIRST
PERSON I WOULD LIKE TO BRAG
ABOUT POSITION TEN,
DIANNA PAREDES. SHE IS A
ECUADORIAN WHO HAS
BEEN IN SEATTLE SINCE 2015.
HER BACKGROUND HAS WORKED
IN NONPROFIT WITH THE FOCUS ON
APPLIED RESEARCH
AND EVALUATION AROUND EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENTS,
CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR THE
UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES
THAT WE MENTIONED BEFORE.
SHE HOLDS A BACHELOR'S
IN INTERNATIONAL GLOBAL STUDIES
AND
MASTER'S IN SOCIAL WORK. RIGHT
NOW SHE IS
WITH THE KING COUNTY CHILDREN
YOUTH AND YOUNG
ADULTS PROGRAM WITH A DCHS AS AN
EVALUATOR.
AND NEXT
POSITION NUMBER EIGHT JAMIE
MADDEN, ORIGINALLY FROM
BOSTON, HAS BEEN IN SEATTLE
SINCE 2016.
HAS WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY
BUILDERS AS A REAL ESTATE
MANAGER.
HE OVERSAW BUNCH OF PROJECTS
THAT RANGE FROM LOW-
INCOME, MIDDLE INCOME AND MARKET
RATE
HOUSING, NEW CONSTRUCTION
ACQUISITION,
PRESERVATION, RENTAL
HOMEOWNERSHIP
AND RETAIL. HE IS ALSO DIRECTED
THE ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY
PARTNERS
IN
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WITHIN THE
SEATTLE AREA AND HE LAUNCHED THE
HOME AND HOPE INITIATIVE TO
TRANSFORM PUBLIC PROPERTIES INTO
HOUSING AND EARLY
LEARNING CENTERS WHILE -- AND
FOUNDED THE WASHINGTON EARLY
LEARNING
LOAN
-- HE IS CURRENTLY WITH THE
MADDEN -- HE IS CURRENTLY
A PRINCIPLE WITH MADDEN
CONSULTING AND HOUSING DEVELOPER
AT
BEACON DEVELOPMENT GROUP.
HE ALSO, IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW,
HE RECENTLY WROTE A BOOK TILED
BITTERSWEET LANES HOW WE CREATE
HOMES FOCUS
ON AFFORDABLE
HOUSING CRISIS, HOUSING AND
DEVELOPMENT FOR COMMUNITY
GROUPS.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST IS
SOPHIA BENALFEW FOR POSITION
NUMBER 13.
SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN
ETHIOPIA, CAME TO THE U.S.
IN
12013. THE DIRECTOR OF ETHIOPIAN
COMMUNITY DIRECTOR OF SEATTLE.
THEY COMPLETED FULLY
COMPLETED THEIR PROJECT BACK IN
20232023.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND A VISIT.
SHE USED WORK FOR OXFAM AND
CARE.
AT OXFAM, SEW FEE WAS A
LEAD GLOBAL PROGRAM LED FOR A
GLOBAL PROGRAM R 4 ROLE
RESILIENCE
BASED IN BOTH IN ETHIOPIA
AND LATER IN BOSTON,
MASSACHUSETTS. THE PROGRAM
REALLY
WAS IMPLEMENTED IN FOUR
DIFFERENT
COUNTRIES, IN AFRICA, NOW
BECOME A MAJOR PART OF THE WORLD
FOOD
PROGRAMME'S CLIMATE
RISK MANAGEMENT APPROACH.
WHILE SHE WAS AT CARE,
SHE WORKED AS A SENIOR TECHNICAL
ADVISOR ON THE CLIMATE CHANGE
AND RESILIENCE SUPPORTING
THE DESIGN
IMPLEMENTATION OF VARIOUS
PROGRAMS IN AFRICA, ASIA LATIN
AMERICA. FOR SOPHIA, SHE HAS THE
BELIEF AND KNOWLEDGE WHEN
DESIGNING
AND
IMPLEMENTING ANY SORT OF A
PROGRAM THAT'S EQUITABLE AND
SUSTAINABLE YOU NEED TO
D INCLUDE THE
KNOWLEDGE OF THE COMMUNITY THAT
IS
EVERYBODIED
AND TO PARTNER ALONGSIDE WITH
THEM.
SO THOSE ARE OUR THREE BOARD
MEMBER.
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BRAGGING
ABOUT.
I OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SUCH AN
IMPRESSIVE, WONDERFUL GROUP, AND
VERY EXCITED
FOR THEIR CONTINUED WILLINGNESS
TO SERVE OUR
CITY IN THIS ROLE.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
OKAY.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENTS.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED
TO
RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF THE
POINTS. ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
WILL THE CLERK CALL
THE ROLL ON
THE RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM
THE
APPOINTMENTS IS?
>> VICE-CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR LIN.
>> YES.
>> FOUR YES, ZERO
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES
CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENTS WILL
BE SENT TO THE JUNE
23rd, 2026, CITY COUNCIL
MEETING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU,
COUNCIL.
>> YEAH.
WE
WILL MOVE ON TO THE FOURTH ITEM
OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK READ IT.
>> FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS OVERVIEW
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
REPRESENT ACTIVITIES
FROM OSC ARE JOINING US, AND
PLEASE
GETGET
SITUATED, AND ONCE READY, PLEASE
GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES.
>> SHARON LERMAN,
COMMUNITIES DIRECTOR
IN THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABLE AND ENVIRONMENT.
THANKS FOR
HAVING US.
>> GOOD MORNING.
BRIDGET IGOE, FOOD POLICY
ADVISOR AT OSE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> OUR SLIDES UP HERE.
>> TAKE YOUR TIME.
ALL RIGHT.
AS SAID, THANK YOU FOR HAVING
US.
>> I'M SHARON LERMAN, HEALTHY
COMMUNITIES
DIRECT AT OSC. I WANT TOTO
TRARDS
FROM OUR DIRECTOR WHO COULDN'T
BE HERE
TODAY. BUT IS SENDING HER
REGARDS TO
YOU ALL. I AM GOING TO GIVE US A
REAL TINY OVERVIEW
OF OUR OFFERS AND THEN TURN IT
OVER TO BRIDGET
TO
SHARE MORE ABOUT THUNDERSHOWER
FOOD POLICY AND PROGRAMS WORK.
THE MEG IS TO ENSURE A CLEAN
AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR
EVERY
RESIDENT IN SEATTLE.
WE PRIORITIZE
COMMUNITIES MOST HARMED BY
RACIAL, ECONOMIC
AND ENVIRONMENTAL
INJUSTICE AND WE SERVE IN A
SPECIAL ROLE IN MANY
POLICY AREAS, INCLUDING
FOOD, WHICH YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT
TODAY,
ALIGNING OUR
CROSS DEPARTMENTS AND WITH
COMMUNITY
TOWARDS A SHARED VISION.
WE
INNOVATE NEW PROGRAMS AND
IDEAS AND DEVELOP CUTTING EDGE
POLICY.
WE WORK IN MANY ISSUES TO
REDUCE
POLLUTION, STRENGTHEN
RESILIENCE, AND ADVANCE EQUITY.
OUR PRIMARY AREAS OF WORK
AREARE JUSTICE
INVESTMENTS,
CLEAN TRANSPORTATION AND
CLEAN ENERGY, URBAN FORESTRY AND
FOOD SYSTEMS.
TODAY WE WILL FOCUS ON
OUR WORK TO INCREASE FOOD ACCESS
SUSTAINABILITY. OSE HAS BEEN
LEADING
CROSS DEPARTMENTAL FOOD POLICY
SINCE
AT LEAST 2012.
IN THAT TIME, WE
HAVE DEVELOPED AND UPDATED THE
FOOD
ACTION PLAN, STEWARDED POLICY
RELATED
TO THE SWEET AND BRIDGE TAX AND
PROGRAMMING LIKE FRESH
BUCKS, HEALTHY FOOD IN SCHOOLS,
BUYING
WITH PURPOSE AND MORE.
I AM REALLY THRILLED TO
SHARE HOW WE COORDINATE OUR WORK
ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND
HOW WE ARE MOVING FORWARD
SLEK CHARLES LECLERCTIVELY TO
ADVANCE IMPACT.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.
AND I AM GOING TURN
TO IT OVER TO BRIDGET TO KICK US
OFF WITH
THE FOOD POLICY OVERVIEW. FOR.
>> THANK YOU, SHARON.
THANK YOU, CHAIR LIN, FOR
HAVING
US HERE TODAY.
WE ARE EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT OUR
FOOD WORK.
TODAY I AM GOING TO
PRESENT SEATTLE'S FOOD WORK AT
A HIGH
LEVEL. I AM GOING TO COVER
THINGS
LIKE HOW
IT'S STRUCTURED, HOW DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS
CONTRIBUTE, THE COORDINATION
ROLE THAT OSE PLAYS
TO HELP KEEP EVERYTHING ALIGNED
AND SOME OF
THE RESULTS AND IMPACTS THAT
WE'RE TRACKING.
WE'LL ALSO LOOK MORE CLOSELY AT
THE PROGRAMS AND POLICY THAT OSE
LEADS DIRECTLY.
AND ONE OF MY GOALS IN THIS
PRESENTATION IS JUST TO
HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS
THAT I HEAR MOST OFTEN AND
HAVE HEARD MOST OFTEN IN MY NINE
YEARS IN THIS POSITION.
SO THOSE ARE THINGS LIKE
WHY DOES THE CITY WORK ON FOOD?
WHY ARE
MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED?
WHAT EXACTLY IS OSE'S ROLE AND
WHAT RESULTS ARE WE ACHIEVING?
SO I AM GOING START OFF WITH
AA SIMPLE BUT
IMPORTANT POINT WHICH IS THAT
FOOD TOUCHES EVERYTHING.
SOME PEOPLE WE ALL
OFTEN THINK OF FOOD AS A SINGLE
ISSUE, BUT
IT REALLY DOES CONNECT TO
NEARLY EVERY MAJOR PRIORITY IN
CITY
GOVERNMENT.
SO THIS FOOD
SYSTEMS MAP SHOWS HOW FOOD
PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION AND
CONSUMPTION
INTERACT WITH OTHER SYSTEMS AND
SECTORS.
ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL
AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE KNOW FOOD SHAPES
HEALTH AND NUTRITION.
FOOD ALSO IMPACTS THE
ENVIRONMENT.
FOOD DRIVES OUR REGIONAL
ECONOMY THROUGH JOBS,
FARMS, DISTRIBUTORS AND
RETAILERS.
FOOD INFLUENCES
CULTURE, COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
AND
QUALITY OF LIFE, AND BECAUSE IT
ENTER SEGTS WITH PUBLIC
PRIORITIES
AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION, IT
IS DEEPLY TIED TO POLICY AND
GOVERNANCE.
ONE OTHER KEY POINT THAT THIS
MAP IS TRYING TO CONVEY IS THAT
THE FOOD SYSTEM BOTH AFFECTS
AND IS AFFECTED BY THESE OTHER
SYSTEMS.
SO ONE OTHER EXAMPLE IS TAKE
FOOD AND CLIMATE.
WHAT WE EAT, HOW WE MANAGE FOOD
WASTE, ALL OF THIS INFLUENCES
CLIMATE POLLUTION.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND SEVERE
WEATHER EVENTS IN TURN EFFECT
SUPPLY CHAINS, FOOD PRICES, FOOD
AFFORDABILITY AND FOOD SECURITY.
SO THIS IS SORT OF SOME OF THE
FRAMING I WANT TO BRING
BECAUSE FOOD TOUCHES EVERYTHING,
NO SINGLE DEPARTMENT
CAN EFFECTIVELY MANAGE ALL
OF OUR FOOD WORK ALONE, AND
THAT'S WHY
YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IT IF THE
NEXT COMING SLIDES THAT OUR
CITY'S FOOD INITIATIVES
ARE INTENTIONALLY DISTRIBUTED
ACROSS
MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS EACH
BRINGING UNIQUE EXPERTISE TO
THIS COMPLEX WORK.
SO SEATTLE'S FOOD WORK TODAY
AND
HISTORICALLY HAS
BEEN ORGANIZED
AROUND THESE FIVE INTERCONNECTED
AREAS THAT ARE SHOWN IN THIS
GRAPHIC.
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
AND PARKS SUPPORT COMMUNITY
GARDENS AND URBAN
AGRICULTURE, OFFICES OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND
LABOR STANDARDS SUPPORT SMALL
BUSINESSES AND WORKERS,
OFFICES OF PLANNING
AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
INTEGRATE FOOD
INTO LAND USE AND ZONING.
I JUST LOOKED THIS UP
YESTERDAY. THE WORD FOOD
IS MENTIONED 70 TIMES IN OUR
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
HUMAN SERVICES AND OSE
LEAD MAJOR FOOD SECURITY AND
FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS, AND OF
COURSE SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
LEADS
FOOD WASTE PREVENTION AND
RECOVERY. THIS STRUCTURE
REFLECTS
THATTHAT REALITY THAT
FOOD INTERSECTS WITH MANY CITY
PRIORITIES,
AND
REAL PROGRESS WE KNOW REQUIRES
COORDINATION ACROSS ALL OF THESE
DEPARTMENTS.
AND IT'S NOT JUST ONE SINGLE
PROGRAM WORKING ALONE.
SHARON MENTIONED THIS CROSS
DEPARTMENTAL MODEL HAS BEEN IN
PLACE IN SEATTLE SINCE
WE ADOPTED OUR FIRST
FOOD ACTION PLAIN IN 2012 AND
IT CONTINUES
TO SHAPE HOW WE ORGANIZE FOOD
TODAY.
ACROSS ALL OF THESE
DEPARTMENTS, THOUGH, A KEY POINT
OF ALIGNMENT
IS OUR LASER FOCUSED ON EQUITY
AND SYSTEMS CHANGE.
WE CENTER EQUITY BECAUSE FOOD
SYSTEM DISPARITIES ARE NOT
EVENLY DISTRIBUTED.
SOME COMMUNITIES FACE DEEPER,
MORE PERSISTENT BARRIERS.
THIS IS CLEARLY VISIBLE WHEN WE
DATA
BY RACE, BY ZIP
CODE, BY INCOME, AND BY
LANGUAGE.
ANOTHER SHARED
FOCUS ACROSS ALL
OF THESE DEPARTMENTS IS THAT
WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON
STRENGTHENING FOOD SECURITY AND
FOOD ACCESS.
MORE THAN 90% OF THE
CITY'S INVESTMENTS IN FOOD
SUPPORT
FOOD SECURITY AND FOOD ACCESS
STRATEGIES.
AND WE APPROACH THIS
WORK THROUGH A WHOLE SYSTEMS
LENS.
AGAIN, CONSIDERING THE SOCIAL,
ENVIRONMENTAL, AND ECONOMIC
IMPACTS.
SO WE'RE DESIGNING AND
IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS THAT
CREATE MULTIPLE CO- BENEFITS
DESIGNED TO DELIVER IMMEDIATE
RELIEF AND ALSO LONG-TERM
SYSTEMS CHANGE.
SO AT ITS CORE, THIS WORK
REALLY IS ABOUT ENSURING PEOPLE
HAVE PHYSICAL AND ECONOMIC
ACCESS TO
SAFE, SUFFICIENT,
NUTRITION, CULTURALLY
RELEVANT FOOD. THAT'S HOW WE
DEFINE FOOD
SECURITY.
IT ALSO MEANS IMPROVING THE
EVERYDAY CONDITIONS THAT SHAPE
ACCESS. WHERE IS FOOD LOCATED.
WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE.
IS IT AFFORDABLE?
IS IT CULTURALLY RELEVANT?
OF COURSE, PRACTICAL HOURS.
PRACTICAL FACTORS LIKE HOURS,
TRANSPORTATION, PAYMENT TYPES,
EVEN MOBILITY NEEDS.
SO HOW DO BE KEEP TRACK OF ALL
OF THOSE DIFFERENT DOMAINS
AND DIMENSIONS OF FOOD ACCESS
AND
FOOD SECURITY?
THIS IS WHERE THE FOOD
ACTION PLAN
COMES INTO PLAY. THIS SO OUR
CITYWIDE ROADMAP FOR
BUILDING EQUITABLE, SUSTAINABLE
AND RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM.
INCREASING COMMUNITY FOOD
SECURITY, SUPPORTING
LOCALLY GROWN AND TRADITIONAL
FOODS, PREVENTING FOOD WASTE
AND CLIMATE POLLUTION AND
ADVANCING
AN EQUITABLE LOCAL ECONOMY.
UNDER THESE GOALS ARE
EIGHT STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
AND 47 SPECIFIC AND UNIQUE
ACTIONS
IT THAT SPAN FOOD ACCESS, LAND
USE,
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,
LOCAL SUPPLY
CHAINS, ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY AND EVEN
STEWARDSHIP OF THE PLAN ITSELF.
AND ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OF
THE FOOD
ACTION PLAN IS THAT IT GIVES
DEPARTMENTS ALL THOSE SEVEN TO
EIGHT DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS A
SHARED DIRECTION AND COMMON
LANGUAGE FOR DOING THIS WORK.
IT REALLY DOES GROUND OR WORK
NO THOSE CORE VALUES LIKE
RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE,
HOLISTIC
SYSTEMS THINKING, MEANINGFUL
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AND
ACCOUNTABILITY.
OSE PLAYS TWO ROLES IN THE
CITY'S FOOD WORK.
SO WE
LEAD CROSS-DEPARTMENT
COORDINATION TO STEWARD THE
FOOD ACTION PLAN.
WE'RE THINK OF US AS SORT OF
THE BACKBONE THAT KEEPS
PRIORITIES
AND INVESTMENTS ALIGNED.
SO IN PRACTICE, THIS MEANS
WE CONVENE AN ENTER DEPARTMENTAL
TEAM AND WORK GROUPS SO
DEPARTMENTS AREN'T OPERATING IN
SILOS. WE COLLECT DATA ACROSS
PROGRAMS
TO TRACK
PROGRESS. WE LEAD
REPORTING, COMMUNICATIONS AND
CROSS-
SECTOR LINE.
AND ENGAGEMENT ANDAND LEAD ON
PROVIDING ADVICE
AND STRATEGY ON
CITYWIDE POLICY AND PROGRAM
DEVELOPMENT.
AT THE SAME TIME, AND THIS IS
WHAT WE'LL FOCUS ON NEXT,
OSE DIRECTLY MANAGES SEVERAL
CROSS-CUTTING PROGRAMS.
FRESH FOX HEALTHY FOOD
IN SCHOOLS AND BUYING WITH
PURPOSE.
OF COURSE, ALONGSIDE OUR
WORK, OTHER DEPARTMENTS LEAD
KEY EFFORTS IN FOOD
ACCESS, URBAN
AG, FOOD WASTE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
ANOTHER WAY TO THINK ABOUT
THE FOOD ACTION PLAN, SIPS YOU
WILL
BE HAVING A PRESENTATION ON THIS
NEXT, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BUT FOR
THE CITY'S FOOD
WORK. AND OSE'S ROLE IS TO HELP
TIE THAT ALL TOGETHER SO THAT
OUR
COLLECTIVE EFFORTS FUNCTION AS A
COORDINATED PORTFOLIO.
THESE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF
WHAT THE COORDINATION LOOKS LIKE
IN
PRACTICE. SUMMER MEALS.
SEATTLE PARKS AND REC
PROVIDES TRUSTED COMMUNITY SITES
TO HOST THE MEALS.
HSD
ADMINISTERS THE MEAL PROGRAM AND
THE OUTREACH.
AND
OSE CONNECTS LOCAL, FRESH
FOOD PURCHASING OPPORTUNITIES
INTO THE PROGRAM.
SO EACH DEPARTMENT BRINGS
DIFFERENT STRENGTHS,
BUT TOGETHER WE ARE DELIVERING
A
STRONGER PROGRAM THAN ANY ONE OF
US WOULD ALONE.
THE FOOD EQUITY FUND IS ANOTHER
EXAMPLE.
OSE HELPED DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS DEVELOP THE
ORIGINAL POLICY FRAMEWORK AND
RFP IN 2019 WORKING ALONG SIDE
THE SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD.
TODAY D.O.N. LEADS THE ANNUAL
RFP, GRANT MAKE, CONTRACTING
AND HOLDS ALL OF THESE COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS.
THIS PROGRAM WORKS AND IT'S
HUGELY SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE
IT PAIRED POLICY EXPERTISE WITH
DEEP COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS.
FINALLY OURKS EMERGENCY
FOOD RESPONSE SHOWS THIS
CROSS- DEPARTMENT
COLLABORATION AT ITS BEST.
DURING COVID, OSE AND
HSD COORDINATED EMERGENCY
FEEDING, GROCERY ASSISTANCE,
SCHOOL-
BASED FOOD SUPPORT, LOGISTICS,
COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS.
IT WAS A RAPID UNIFIED
RESPONSE THAT BROUGHT FOOD
INSECURITY
RATES DOWN QUICKLY DURING A
MASSIVE CRISIS.
MORE RECENTLY, WE USE THE SAME
COORDINATED APPROACH DURING THE
FEDERAL S.N.A.P.
DISRUPTION IN OCTOBER ANDOFRIO
DUCING IMPACTS
ON HOUSEHOLDS.
THE KEY TAKEAWAY IS THAT OUR
FOOD WORK IS A TEAM
EFFORT, INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS
LEAD
SPECIFIC PROGRAMS BUT ARE
MOST IMPACTFUL INITIATIVES
ARE THE
ONES THAT BRING TOGETHER THESE
DIFFERENT DENTS AND RESOURCES
AND EXPERTISE.
AS A RESULT, OUR FOOD
SYSTEM INVESTMENTS AND
PARTNERSHIPS
ARE
DELIVERING OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS
OVER THE ENTIRE FOOD SYSTEM.
SO IF YOU SCAN THIS SLIDE, YOU
WILL SEE THAT WE ARE TRACKING
DATA IN A VARIETY OF METRICS
FROM FOOD ASSISTANCE PROVIDED
TO RESIDENTS, TO ACRES OF
PUBLIC LAND THAT ARE UNDER
FOOD PRODUCTION TO ECONOMIC
IMPACTS AND
SUPPORT FOR FOOD WORKERS TO FOOD
WASTE PREVENTION.
THESE RESULTS ALSO
DEMONSTRATE THE VERY
INTERCONNECTED
NATURE
OF OUR FOOD WORK. SO, FOR
EXAMPLE,
INVESTMENTS INTENDED TO
IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY AND ACCESS
ARE ALSO
STRENGTHENING LOCAL
FOOD PRODUCERS AND LOCAL
BUSINESSES, REDUCING WASTE,
ADVANCING
CLIMATE GOALS AND BUILDING
COMMUNITY
RESILIENCE. SO I AM NOT GOING TO
GO
LINE BY LINE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK OUT
OUR LATEST PROGRESS REPORT AND
THE INTERACTIVE MAP WE DEVELOPED
AND
WE ARE IT IN THE PROCESS
NOW WITH ALL OF THE DOEPTS TO
UPDATE
OUR PROGRESS REPORT WITH 2025
DATA.
SO NOW THAT WE HAVE TALKED
ABOUT HOW DEPARTMENTS WORK
TOGETHER ACROSS THE FOOD SYSTEM,
I
AM GOING TO HIGHLIGHT
A FEW OF THE
PROGRAMS THAT OSE LEADS
DIRECTLY.
THESE PROGRAMS I THINK
ILLUSTRATE BOTH OUR
PROGRAMMATIC AND IMPLEMENTATION
ROLE IN THIS
WORK, AND ALSO HOW WE ADVANCE
SEVERAL FOOD ACTION PLAN
PRIORITIES THROUGH DIRECT
INVESTMENT.
FRESH BUCKS IS SEATTLE'S
HEALTHY FOOD INCENTIVE PRANLD
ONE THE
CITY'S LARGER FOOD SECURITY
INVESTMENTS.
TODAY MORE THAN 17,000 INCOME
ELIGIBLE SEATTLE HOUSEHOLDS
RECEIVE $60 A MONTH TO PURCHASE
FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES AT PARTICIPATING
FARMERS
MARKETS, INDEPENDENT GROCERS AND
SUPER MARKETS THROUGHOUT THE
CITY.
THIS PROGRAM IS
ADVANCING MULTIPLE KWOELS AT
ONCE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT
HELPS HOUSEHOLD AFFORD HEALTHY
FOOD.
AND IT EFFECTIVELY REACHES
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
FOOD INSECURITY.
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH HAS
ALSO SHOWN THAT THIS
PROGRAM INCREASES FRUIT
AND VEGETABLE
CONSUMPTION AND IMPROVES FOOD
SECURITY OUTCOMES.
AND AT THE SAME TIME,
THESE DOLLARS ARE SPENT AT
LOCAL RETAILERS AND FARMERS
MARKETS
GENERATING AN ESTIMATED
$16.4 MILLION IN LOCAL ECONOMIC
IMPACT THIS YEAR ALONE.
HEALTHY FOOD IN SCHOOLS ORION'S
MAIN
INVESTMENT IN IMPROVING CHILD
NUTRITION AND CONNECTING
SCHOOLS TO OUR LOCAL FOOD
SYSTEM.
THIS STRATEGY WORKS ON TWO
LEVELS.
FOR STUDENTS IT PROVIDES
FREE FRESH FRUIT AND
VEGETABLES SNACKS TO 5,500
STUDENTS AT
29 SCHOOLS ENSURING KIDS
HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD
DURING THE SCHOOL DAY A THE
SYSTEMS LEVEL IT HELPS SEATTLE
PUBLIC
SCHOOLS BUY MORE FRESH FOODS
AND STRENGTHENS THE SCHOOL MEAL
PROGRAMS THROUGH CROSS SECTOR
COLLABORATION.
STUDENTS ARE INTRODUCED TO
MORE THAN 50 DIFFERENT FRUITS
AND
VEGETABLES CULTURALLY RELEVANT
PROTEINS, AND ARE SERVED AN
ADDITIONAL 300,000 SNACKS EACH
YEAR AS A RESULT OF THIS
PARTNERSHIP.
THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF
A PROGRAM ADVANCING MULTIPLE
FOOD ACTION PLAN GOALS.
OVER 60% OF PURCHASING FOR THIS
PROGRAM GOES TO LOCAL FARMS.
MORE THAN HALF TO BIPOC OWNED
FAFRMS. IS A CLEAR EXAMPLE HOW
ONE
INVESTMENT IN ONE PROGRAM
CAN IMPROVE STUDENT NUTRITION,
SUPPORT LOCAL AG,
ADVANCE EQUITY AND STRENGTHEN
THE
FOOD SYSTEM ALL AT THE SAME
TIME.
THIS, BY THE WAY, IS
THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE ARE
BUILDING
UPON FOR MAYOR
WILSON'S PROPOSED UNIVERSAL
MEAL INVESTMENT IN THE
LEVY.
BUYING WITH PURPOSE TAKES A
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT APPROACH.
INSTEAD OF CENTERING ON A
SINGLE PROGRAM OR POPULATION,
THIS STRATEGY USES CITY
PURCHASING
POWER TO DRIVE BROADER FOOD
SYSTEMS CHANGE.
BUYING WITH PURPOSE HELPS CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND PARTNERS
MAKE FOOD PURCHASING DECISIONS
BASED
ON SIX SHARED VALUES
THAT ARE IN THE FOOD ACTION
PLAN, LOCAL
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
FAIR LABOR, ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY, HEALTH AND
NUTRITION, RACIAL EQUITY AND
CULTURAL RELEVANCE.
THE IDEA BEHIND THIS IS SIMPLE,
BUT IT'S VERY POWERFUL. IF
INSTITUTIONS ARE
ALREADY BUYING FOOD, HOW CAN
THOSE
DOLLARS DO MORE FOR OUR FOOD
SYSTEM AND FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE IMPACT OF THIS IS GROWING.
CITY
PROGRAMS THIS YEAR ARE ON TRACK
TO PURCHASE
OVER $1 MILLION IN LOCAL FOOD
FROM
OVEROVER 140 FARMERS AND
PRODUCERS, AND MAJOR
INSTITUTIONS THAT
WE PARTNER WITH, LIKE SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
AND UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON,
ARE STARTING
TO ADOPT SIMILAR APPROACHES.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A BLOG
POST
COMING OUT THIS WEEK
HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THIS DATA
AND THOSE INSTITUTIONAL
PARTNERSHIPS.
SO WHAT MAKES BUYING WITH
PURPOSE POWERFUL IS ITS
SCALE. IF WE ALIGN PURCHASES
ACROSS
INSTITUTIONS WE CAN
STRENGTHEN LOCAL SUPPLY CHAINS,
SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS AND
BUSINESSES,
IMPROVE LABOR
AND ECONOMIC
OUTCOMES THROUGH THE DECISIONS
THAT ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALREADY
MAKING.
PROGRAMS WE TALKED ABOUT SO FAR
SO ON DIRECT SERVICE
AND IMPLEMENTATION.
OSE PLAYS A BROADER POLICY AND
STRATEGY ROLE ACHLTD
WEAPON HELP THE CITY
RESPOND TO EMERGING
FOOD SYSTEM CHALLENGES AND
OPPORTUNITIES.
A BIG PART OF THIS AS SHARON
MENTIONED IS
COORDINATING THE FOOD ACTION
PLAN. WE SUPPORT THE SWEETENED
BEVERAGE TAX COMMUNITY ADVISORY
BOARD
AND ALIGNMENT ACROSS SPD FUNDED
DEPARTMENTS.
WE HELP THE CITY
NAVIGATE ISSUES THAT DON'T SIT
NEATLY IN
ONE DEPARTMENT.
YEARS, COORDINATING THE
EMERGENCY FOOD
RESPONSE DURING COVID, PREPARING
FOR
THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF
FEDERALFEDERAL
POLICY ON S.N.A.P. , ADVANCING
GROCERY ACCESS POLICIES
AND EXPLORING FOOD AND
CLIMATE CONNECTIONS.
WE ALSO
DO A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT ON STATE
AND FEDERAL POLICY.
BECAUSE OSE SITS AT THE
INTERSECTION OF FOOD ACCESS
SUSTAINABILITY,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND PUBLIC
POLICY, WESTERLY OFTEN ASKED TO
IDENTIFY CHALLENGES, CONVENE
PARTNERS,
ANALYZE OPTIONS AND SHAPE
STRATEGIC RESPONSES.
SO IN MANY WAYS, THIS TYPE
OF POLICY WORK COMPLEMENTS OUR
DIRECT PROGRAMS.
SO WHILE INITIATIVES LIKE
FRESH BUCKS AND HEALTHY FOOD IN
SCHOOLS ARE WORKING TO
DELIVER IMMEDIATE BENEFITS, OUR
POLICY IN COORDINATION WORK
ACROSS
THE SYSTEM IS WHAT HELPS TO
ENSURE
THAT OUR INVESTMENTS
AND DECISIONS
ARE INFLUENCING THE FOOD SYSTEM
OVER THE LONG TERM.
THIS IS MY LAST SLIDE.
SO I AM GOING TO WRAP UP.
I WANT TO UNDERSCORE
THATTHAT FOOD IS A CITYWIDE
PRIORITY. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF
YOU HERE.
I KNOW THAT MANY OF
YOU INTERSECT AND INTERACT WITH
OUR FOOD WORK QUITE REGULARLY,
AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER
THE YEARS.
THE FOOD ACTION PLAN IS
WHAT HELPS KEEP US ALIGNED IN
ALL
OF THIS WORK, AND I TRULY
BELIEVE IN NINE YEARS AT THE
CITY, FIVE YEARS AT THE STATE
BEFORE
THAT, NO SINGLE DEPARTMENT CAN
MEET
THE SCALE OF NEED OR OPPORTUNITY
ON ITS OWN.
AND OUR PROGRESS IN
SEATTLE REALLY DOES REFLECT THAT
STRONG
CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL
COORDINATION, BRINGING TO THE OF
PROGRAMS, OF DATA OF FUNDING, OF
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO DRIVE
THOSE
MULTIPLE OUTCOMES THAT I HAVE
BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT.
JUST A REMINDER, AT THIS WORK WE
HAVE TWO ROLES HERE AT OSE.
WE MANAGE SOME OF THE CITY'S
LARGEST FOOD ACCESS AND FOOD
SECURITY PROGRAMS AND THEN WE
ALSO LEAD THAT CITYWIDE
STRATEGY.
THIS
STRUCTURE ALLOWS US TO ADDRESS
FOOD INSECURITY,
CLIMATE IMPACTS AND COMMUNITY
WELL-BEING
IN A MORE INTEGRATED AND
EQUITABLE WAY AND POSITION US I
THINK TO KEEP BUILDING ON THE
RESULTS THAT I HAVE SHARED
TODAY. THAT'S THE END.
PRESENTATION.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR THE TIME AND
OPPORTUNITY TO
BE HERE TODAY, AND SHARON AND I
ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER AND RESPOND
TO ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK
YOU SO MUCH. COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> THANK YOU SO
MUCH, CHAIR.
THANK YOU NOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THAT'S REALLY FANTASTIC. ARE I
WONDER IF YOU
COULDCOULD SHARE WITH US ABOUT
ANY IMPACTS OR HOW WE'RE
INCORPORATING
SORT OF A RESPONSE TO RECENT
FLOODS
IN KING COUNTY WHEN IT
COMES TO FOOD ACCESS AND
PARTICULARLY THE
COMPONENTS AROUND SORT OF
SUPPORTING OUR FARMERS AND LOCAL
ECOSYSTEM. WE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY
RECENTLY TO MEET WITH FOOD
DISTRIBUTOR WHO
DOES WORK. I'M BLANKING ON THE
COMPANY
NAME.
APOLOGIES THERE.
CONNECTS LOCAL FOOD FROM
FARMS OUT TO FOOD BANKS AND
OTHER
PROVIDERS AND JUST SPOKE JUST
THE IMPACT OF THE FLOODING
ON OUR LOCAL FARMS AND HOW
THAT'S
SHOWING UP IN THE
REST OF OUR SYSTEMS.
SO I WONDER IF YOU COULD
SPEAK TO THAT,
AND, OBVIOUSLY, A LOT OF THIS
COMES FROM FEMA
AND INVESTMENTS FROM THE COUNTY.
BUT IS THERE A CITY ROLE
THERE AS WELL
SNORTY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS
QUESTION BECAUSE YOU'RE REALLY
BRINGING TO LIGHT THE IMPACTS OF
CLIMATE AND SEVERE
WEATHER EVENTS AND THE RIPPLE
EFFECTS THROUGH THE FOOD SYSTEM.
WE ARE ACTIVE
THINK TRACKING IT
THIS ISSUE. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH
KING
COUNTY, THE DEPARTMENT OF DNR
P, NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARKS,
AND WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED
IN COORDINATION CALLS,
MONITORING THE IMPACTS ON FARMS.
THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE COUNTY
DEPARTMENTS AND ALSO PRIVATE
ENTITIES THAT HAVE POOLED
TOGETHER
RESOURCES TO HELP
IMPACTED FARMERS AND HELP THEM
NAVIGATE FEMA FUNDING.
AND I WOULD SAY THE COUNTY'S ON
THIS.
WE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE -- THE
OTHER WAY WE SUPPORT JUST FARM
VIABILITY IN GENERAL IS THROUGH
THAT PURCHASING.
SO THE BUYING WITH
PURPOSE STRATEGY TO -- AND THIS
VALUE CHAIN COORDINATION THAT WE
DO
ACROSS FARMS AND VERTICALLY
INTEGRATING FARM PRODUCTS
INTO CITY FOOD PROGRAMS I WOULD
SAY IS SORT OF A LONGER-
TERM RESPONSE
TO SUPPORTING FARMS. I ALSO JUST
WANT TO
SAY LOCALLY, AND THIS IS REALLY
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, BUT
WHEN WE
HAD THAT MASSIVE FLOODING IN
SOUTH PARK, I KNOW THIS IS
A
DIFFERENT FLOODING EVENT, BUT
THIS GOING TO BE A THING
KNEW, HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
WAS
JUST ON THE GROUND RIGHT AWAY
COORDINATING FOOD
SECURITY AND FOOD
ASSISTANCE FOR IMPACTED
HOUSEHOLDS IN SOUTH PARK.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR
THE PRESENTATION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL ALSO
YOUR CENTER OUR FOOD SYSTEMS
TOUCH SO MANY POLICY ARENAS.
IT'S REALLY COMPLEX
WORK AND REQUIRES AN
INTERDEPARTMENTAL
RESPONSE. WITH THAT IN MIND, I
WANT TO
UPLIFT JUST A POINT ABOUT THE
2023 G20 FOOD FOOTPRINT REPORT.
PARTICULARLY THAT REPORT
FOUND THAT THE
G20 COUNTRIES REPRESENTING
THE LARGEST ECONOMIES IN THE
WORLD,
THOSE FOOD CONSUMPTION HABITS OF
THOSE COUNTRIES
ARE HAVING A TREMENDOUS IMPACT
ON THE PLANET.
AND THOUGH THEY MAKE UP
10% OF THE WORLD'S COUNTRIES,
THEY
ARE PRODUCING THREE-QUARTERS OF
THE CARBON EMISSIONS FOR THE
ENTIRE FOOD
SYSTEM. AND IF THE ENTIRE WORLD
ATE
LIKE G20
COUNTRIES, WE WOULD NEED SEVEN
EARTHS, PLANETS TO SUSTAIN
AND IT WOULD EXCEED
OUR FOOD- RELATED GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS BY 263%.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO
UPLIFT WHEN TALK ABOUT FOOD,
PRODUCTION, WHAT WE EAT, THERE
IS TREMENDOUS
CLIMATE
IMPACTS, PARTICULARLY WITH THE
ANIMAL AGRICULTURE
INDUSTRY. WITH THAT THAT IN
MIND,
THE OTHER BODY OF WORK THAT OSE
IS ENGAGED IN NOW SO ON THE
CLIMATE
ACTION PLAN. I AM WONDERING IF
YOU CAN
SPEAK TO OUR FOOD ACTION PLAN
AND HOW
IT INTERACTS WITH OUR
CURRENT CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
KNOWING
THAT WE ARE SEEKING AN UPDATE
AND THIS
IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING I AM
INTERESTED IN PUSHING ON IN OUR
UPDATE,
BUT HISTORICALLY HOW IS THE TWO
PLANS INTERACTED?
>> YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THIS
QUESTION AS WELL.
SO I'LL START BY SAYING
THE UPDATED FOOD ACTION
BLAN ADDRESSES CLIMATE
AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
DIRECTLY.
WE HAVE AN
ENTIRE STRATEGIC
PRIORITY WITHIN THAT PLAN
FOCUSED ON THIS. IT'S EXACTLY
FOR THE REASONS
THAT YOU MENTIONED.
FOOD IS A VERY LARGE DRIVER
OF CLIMATE POLLUTION AND CLIMATE
CHANGE IS GOING TO IMPACT THE
FOOD SYSTEM.
THE PREVIOUS CLIMATE ACTION
PLAN WAS VERY FOCUSED ON
MITIGATION
AND EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS
AND CLIMATE ACTION PLAN THAT
IS BEING UPDATED RIGHT NOW OF
WHICH I AM A PART OF THAT
PROCESS
IS GOING TO LOOK AT
BOTH MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION.
SO THIS 14 AN
INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
KNIT
TOGETHER FOOD ACTION PLAN
AND CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, AND
THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE GOING TO
BE TOO DOING.
SOME OF
THE BIGGEST CLIMATE ACTION
OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE ARE
ADDRESSING IN THE FOOD
ACTION PLAN AND LOOKING TO LIFT
UP
IN THE CLIMATE ACTION
PLAN ARE THOSE DIETARY SHIFTS
THAT YOU
MENTIONED, PREVENTING
FOOD WASTE IN THE FIRST PLACE,
AND REALLY
BUILDING THOSE RESILIENT SUPPLY
CHAINS. THOSE ARE SORT OF THE
THREE THEMES THAT YOU WILL SEE
IN BOTH
PLANS. AND ONE OF THE KEY WAYS
THAT WE ARE ALREADY DOING THIS
IS
THROUGH THAT BUYING WITH
PURPOSE INITIATIVE WHICH ALSO
ADDRESSES
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AT
LEAST ON THE DEMAND SIDE.
DOES THAT ANSWER
YOUR QUESTION?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP
THIS TOPIC.
HUGELY IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND JUST
TO FURTHER PUT ON THE RECORD, I
KNOW, YOU KNOW, I
CAN APPRECIATE THE
PREVIOUS CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
HAVING A FOCUS
ON
EMISSIONS. WE REALLY WANT TO
MAINTAIN THAT
FOCUS THAT LOT OF WAYS BUT
ACKNOWLEDGE ALSO THE
GROWING CONCERNS AROUND WATER
AND
THE AVAILABILITY OF FRESH WATER
AND
FULL ACKNOWLEDGMENT
THAT IT TAKES 2,000 GALLONS OF
WATER TO
PRODUCE ONE POUND OF BEEF IS
AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT TO UPLIFT
AS UNCOMFORTABLE AS THAT MAKES
US,
WE NEED TO BE
REALLY REALISTIC ABOUT SOME OF
THE REAL CONSTRAINTS AND
THINGS THAT ARE FACING OUR FOOD
SYSTEMS.
AND CHAIR,
IF I MAY, I HAVE ONE
OTHER QUESTION FOR OUR
DISCUSSION TODAY.
BECAUSE I REALLY
WANT TO COMMEND
THE WORK DONE BY OSE AND HSD
LAST YEAR TO QUICKLY RESPOND TO
THE PAUSE AND S.N.A.P. DURING
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
I'M COMMENDING
THIS BODY FOR MOVING TOWARDS A
DECLARATION OF
CIVIL EMERGENCY TO GET DOLLARS
OUT
THE DOOR. SHOULD WE FIND
OURSELVES
IN THIS SITUATION AGAIN WITH
CONGRESS,
CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT THE
RESPONSE AND IMPACT WE CAN SEE
FROM THE ANY .
>> I THINK YOU WILL SEE A LOT
OF WHAT YOU SAW BACK IN OCTOBER
AND
NOVEMBER. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
ALL THE
SUPPORT
AND AUTHORIZING FUNDS TO
GET OUT VERY QUICKLY. WE KNOW
THERE ARE --
WELL, S.N.A.P. PARTICIPATION IS
DECLINING, UNFORTUNATELY.
THAT'S NOT BECAUSE
THE NEED ISN'T THERE.
THAT'S A DIRECT RESULT.
THE IMPACTS OF HR 1 AND FEDERAL
POLICY.
BUT AT THE TIME THAT WE
WERE RESPONDED LAST YEAR, THERE
WERE 50,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN
SEATTLE
ALONE WHO RELY ON S.N.A.P.
REPRESENTING OVER 70,000
INDIVIDUALS.
SO WE TOOK IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
AND THE RESPONSE THAT WE
DEPLOYED LAST YEAR AND WILL
DEPLOY IN THE FUTURE IS REALLY
THAT COORDINATED RESPONSE
ACROSSACROSS
AND
IN COORDINATION WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND CITY
COUNCIL AS WELL.
WE TEND TO LOOK AT ALL OF
THE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE
ACCESS FOOD, WHERE THEY LIVE,
WHERE THEY
PLAY, WHERE THEY LEARN.
THAT'S WHY YOU SAW THIS VERY
MULTI-DIMENSIONAL RESPONSE WHERE
FOOD BANKS AND MEAL PROGRAMS
WERE GIVEN MORE RESOURCES
TO HELP ADDRESS HIGHER
DEMAND DURING THAT TIME.
WE PARTNERED WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS TO DO SCHOOL- BASED FOOD
BOXES, AND I THINK ONE
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS AS
WELL IS
JUST THE CONSTANT COMMUNICATION
AND
COORDINATION AND
HEARING
DIRECTLY FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS
ON THE GROUND ABOUT IMPACTS THAT
THEY ARE SEEING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT
WORK AND JUST BUILDING ON
THAT
POINT. OBVIOUSLY, THE IMPACTS
MUCH HR
1 ON S.N.A.P.
ENROLLMENT ARE PARTICULARLY
DEVASTATING.
THAT'S WHY AS A CITY WE
SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE WORK WE
DID TO
EXPAND FRESH
BUCKS THROUGH SEATTLE SHIELD
INITIATIVE GIVING THE PROGRAM
THE FIRST
PROGRAMMATIC INFLATIONARY
INCREASE IN ITS HISTORY AND
EXPANDING EMGIABILITY
TO 4,000 HOUSEHOLDS.
SO I JUST REALLY
WANT TO COMMEND THE WORK OF OSE
ON THE FRESH
BUCKS PROGRAM BECAUSE
IT'S REALLY A TREMENDOUS
THAT WE'RE ABLE TO OPERATE THIS
AND YOU
ALL RUN A VERY -- IT'S A
VERY LEAN PROGRAM, AND THE
IMPACT IS
REALLY PROFOUND. SO I JUST WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WORK ON THAT AND THANK
YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR, FOR HAVING
OSE
PROVIDE THIS PRESENTATION
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK.
ANY OTHER -- AND
FOR THE RECORD,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH
HAS JOINED AS WELL. THANK YOU
FOR JOINING US.
COUNCILMEMBER VICE-CHAIR
STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
FOR THE GREAT
PRESENTATION TODAY.
I AM GOING TO RELATE THIS
ALL BACK TO BUDGET, AS SOME OF
ALL
KNOW, MY AMENDMENT, IT WAS
MY FIRST BUDGET AMENDMENT EVER,
WAS
EXPANDING FRESH BUCKS BY USING
GENERAL FUND.
PREVIOUSLY, IT- BEEN
DEDICATED REVENUE SOURCE WHICH
LIMITED
OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE FRESH
BUCKS TO MORE PEOPLE, AND
THAT AMENDMENT HAS INCREASED
THE STRUCTURAL BUDGET
DEFICIT BECAUSE IT'S IN THE
GENERAL
FUND.
AND SO FROM HERE, KIND
OF TAGGING ON TO WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK WAS SHARING,
AND CLARIFYING A LITTLE BIT
MORE, ALL OF YOUR PROGRAMS, YOUR
DELIVERY, YOUR ABILITY
TO GET FOOD INTO THE HANDS OF
PEOPLE
IS DETERMINED
AND DEPENDENT UPON THE DECISIONS
THAT WE MAKE ON
THE DAIS ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY
YOU HAVE ACCESS TO.
AND I SAY THAT AGAIN BECAUSE OF
THAT FIRST AMENDMENT THAT
DOES INCREASE THE STRUCTURAL
BUDGET
DEFICIT, BUT NOT BY ENOUGH,
IN MY OPINION, TO MAKE IT
SOMETHING
THAT WE SHOULD REMOVE. I SAY
THAT BECAUSE IF WE AS
THE COUNCIL HAD NOT MADE
THE DECISION DURING THE S.N.A.P.
BENEFIT CRISIS LAST YEAR TO
PROVIDE YOU EXTRA MONEY TO BE
ABLE TO DELIVER, I BELIEVE WE
WERE SPENDING ABOUT $1 MILLION
A WEEK FOR FOUR TO SIX WEEKS, IF
I RECALL CORRECTLY.
CAN YOU SHARE -- AND THAT WAS ON
TOP OF US ALREADY
THROUGH THE WORK OF COUNCIL
PRESIDENT JOY HOLLINGSWORTH
MAKING
SURE THE MEAL -- I WILL GET ALL
THE
NAMES WRONG.
WE ADDED A LOT MORE
FOOD TO THE CONTRACTS THAT WE
HAVE HERE
IN THE CITY AND THEN THERE WAS
THE
S.N.A.P. BENEFIT CRISIS. CAN YOU
TALK ABOUT A LITTLE
BIT
OF WHAT COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
SHARED.
WHAT WAS -- YOU HAVE A GREAT
MAP ON HERE OF WHO DOES WHAT IN
OUR
CITY FOR FOOD.
CAN YOU SHARE HOW
THAT S.N.A.P. BENEFIT OR
S.N.A.P.
CRISIS RESPONSE HOW THAT WAS IN
ADDITION TO OR COORDINATED
WITH? I SEE IT AS WHAT ARE THE
THINGS THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR AND
THEN
HOW DID YOU IMPLEMENT THAT
EMERGENCY RESPONSE?
>> GREAT. THANK YOU.
SO I'LL START BY SAYING
THAT THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE WAS
A CAN
COORDINATED EFFORT WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, OSE, AND HSD.
AND THEN OF COURSE CITY
COUNCIL, WHO
AUTHORIZED THE FUNDS. SO WE GOT
TOGETHER AND WE
LOOKED AT WHERE ARE WE ALREADY
WORKING, SO WE CAN JUST LEVERAGE
EXISTING
CONTRACTS AND REPRESENT TO PUT
MORE FUNDING INTO THE SYSTEM.
HSD MANAGES AND RUNS THE
CONTRACTS WITH FOOD BANKS AND
MEAL PROGRAMS.
SO THEY HANDLED THAT PIECE OF
THE DAY-TO- DAY
NEEDS IN THE CITY AND WHEN THERE
WAS AN INFUSION
OF MORE RESOURCES,
THEY WERE ABLE TO CONTRACT VERY
QUICKLY
WITH THE FOOD BANKS AND THE MEAL
PROGRAMS.
OSE, IN TURN, BECAUSE
WE MANAGE CONTRACT
WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON A
DAY DYE THROUGH
OUR HEALTHY FOOD IN SCHOOLS
PROGRAM, WE WERE ABLE TO
LEVERAGE THAT
CONTRACT AND THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS TO BE ABLE TO PUT
MORE FOOD
ASSISTANCE INTO THE SYSTEM
THROUGH SCHOOL-BASED
INTERVENTIONS.
I WILL SAY THAT EVENEVEN OF
THAT S.N.A.P. CRISIS, FOOD
INSECURITY IS HIGHER NOW
THAN IT WAS DURING COVID.
AND THIS IS A RESULT
OF INFLATIONARY PRESSURES, FOOD
PRICES,
OVERALL ECONOMIC PRESSURES, AND
SO WE KNOW
THAT DEMAND FOR OUR
SERVICES IS
OUTPACING WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE AT
THIS POINT.
LAST YEAR, DURING THE
BUDGET PROCESS, CITY COUNCIL PUT
SOME
ONE- TIME RESOURCES IN 2026
THAT WENT INTO FOOD BANKS AND
MEAL
PROGRAMS. IT WAS ABOUT 4 MILLION
TOTAL.
AND THEN THE EXPANSION OF FRESH
BUCKS, WHICH WAS JUST OVER
6 MILLION.
THOSE WERE ONE-TIME INVESTMENTS
IN 2026 TO HELP MEET THE
NEED THAT WE SAW THERE.
AND SOME OF THE IMPACTSIMPACTS
WE WERE SEEING FROM THE FEDERAL
POLICY ON S.N.A.P. BENEFITS.
I'LL JUST REMIND YOU THOSE WERE
ONE-TIME INVESTMENTS AND THE
NEED IS HUGE RIGHT NOW.
>> YEAH.
>> ACROSS PROGRAMS.
>> YOU LED ME RIGHT
TO WHERE I
WAS GOING. SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE
THAT, WHICH IS WHAT I SAW DURING
THE S.N.A.P. CRISIS AND THEN OUR
RESPONSE WITH ADDITIONAL
ONE-TIME FUNDS, IT IS
BECAUSE WE
ARE SEEING MORE PEOPLE NEEDING
FOOD SECURITY AT THIS TIME.
AND WE ALSO HAVE
THIS STRUCTURAL BUDGET HE
DEFICIT THAT
I HAVE HELPED CREATE WITH
MORE ACCESS TO FRESH BUCKS,
RIGHT?
BUT HOW ARE -- I GUESS HOW ARE
WE MANAGING THE
CONVERSATION WITH COMMUNITY OF
WHAT ARE
ONE-TIME FUNDS?
I'LL JASON, IF WE HAVE THE
ABILITY TO EXPAND THOSE ONE-
TIME FUNDS TO BE ONGOING, I
WOULD
LOVE THAT.
I SEE A DIFFICULT
BUDGET DECISION COMING DOWN THE
PIKE FOR US.
AND WE USE THE ONE-TIME
FUNDS TO SAY WE HAVE GOT THE
MONEY THIS
YEAR. WE DON'T KNOW
NEXT YEAR. IF WE CAN, WE WILL,
BUT WE
CAN'T
COMMIT THERE. IS THAT
CONVERSATION
HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY?
HOW CAN WE BEST SUPPORT YOUR
ORGANIZATIONS TO HAVE STABILITY?
>> I WOULD SAY WE HAVE NOTED
THAT THESE ARE ONE-TIME ADD
IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS
ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT
COMMUNITY WHO IS RECEIVING THE
SERVICES OR
THE PROGRAMS NECESSARILY THINKS
ABOUT IT OR UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT
MEANS, AND WE
ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE BUDGET
OFFICE AND WITH CITY COUNCIL AS
YOU ALL MOVE THROUGH THE
BUDGET PROCESS AND HAPPY TO
DEFINITELY SUPPORT, YOU KNOW,
EFFECTIVE
COMMUNICATIONS TO ALL
STAKEHOLDERS AS WE KNOW MORE
AS THE BUDGET PROCESS UNFOLDS.
>>
YEAH. I JUST SAY THATTHAT
STABILITY IS SO IMPORTANT.
AND TO HAVE THE RIGHT
EXPECTATIONS OF HOW WE
WILL ALL WORK TOGETHER TO
SUPPORT ALL OF
THESE MALE PROVIDERS, THAT'S
MY NORTH STAR AND MY GOAL
BECAUSE
I SEE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
SMILING THERE BECAUSE WE BOTH
HAVE AN
INTERESTING IN MAKING SURE
THAT PEOPLE ARE FED WELL.
SO I WOULD INVITE, IF
COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS INTERESTED
AS
WELL.
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO MEET
WITH FOLKS TO BEST UNDERSTAND
THIS
BUDGET THAT WE ARE MOVING INTO.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VICE-CHAIR.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER?
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HAVE ONE
KIND OF QUESTION.
IN TERMS OF PRESERVING
OUR FARMLANDS, WHETHER IN KING
COUNTY OR THE
REGION OR EVEN
NATIONWIDE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT SORT OF PRESSURES
FROM URBAN SPRAWL HAS BEEN
SEENSEEN AS THE NUMBER ONE SORT
OF DRIVER OF
LOSS OF FARMLAND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
WE, OBVIOUSLY, HAVE OUR URBAN
GROWTH BOUNDARIES AND OUR
GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT, WHICH HAS
BEEN TRYING TO DEAL WITH IN
ISSUE FOR
DECADES NOW.
BUT COULD YOU JUST SPEAK TO
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SORT OF THE
TENSIONS BETWEEN KIND
OF URBAN
SPRAWL AND THE IMPACTS THAT THAT
HAS ON FARMLANDS?
>> I WILL SPEAK AT A
HIGH LEVEL. BUT I CAN FOLLOW UP
WITH MORE
INFORMATION ON IN.
I WOULD SAY
THAT CERTAINLY THERE'S LAND USE
PRESSURES ONON
FARMLAND AND IT'S
VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE RIGHT NOW.
LAND IS INCREDIBLY
EXPENSIVE, AND FOR MANY OF OUR
SMALL FA FARMERS AND LARGE
FARMERS.
I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT JUST THOSE
PRESSURES THOUGH. THE SAME
AFFORDABILITY
CRISIS THAT WE SEE FOR RESIDENTS
AND
HOUSEHOLDS EXISTS FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES, FORTUNATELY FARMERS,
FOR DISTRIBUTORS AS WELL.
AGAIN I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH MORE
INFORMATION, BUT I DO WANT
TO NOTE THAT THERE WAS A WSDA,
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE, FARM
VIABILITY STUDY THAT IS
UNDERWAY. THE FIRST PART OF THAT
STUDY ALREADY CAME OUT, AND IT
GIVES A
COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF ALL OF
THE PRESSURES THAT ARE -- THAT
AG IS
FACING.
>>
WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU. YEAH.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE
A LITTLE BIT OF
FOLLOW-UP.
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
>> THANK
YOU SO MUCH. SEEING NO
OTHER QUESTIONS, I THINK WE'RE
READY TO MOVE
ON TO
THE NEXT ITEM.
APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION THIS
MORNING.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> OKAY.
>> MOVING ON TO OUR FIFTH ITEM
OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK READ ITEM 5.
>> OFFICE OF PLANNING COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT SUBAREA PLAN
OVERVIEW FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> OKAY.
THANK
YOU SO MUCH. OUR REPRESENTATIVES
AND --
ONCE YOU'RE READY, PLEASE GO
AHEAD,
FROM OPCD, INTRODUCE YOURSELVES
AND TEE UP ANY PRESENTATION YOU
HAVE HERE.
I WILL GIVE YOU A MOMENT.
>> SURE.
THANK YOU.
TEEING UP PRESENTATION
MIGHT TAKE A SECOND.
HI.
THANK YOU, CHAIR LIN, I'M ALISON
IN I WILLER, COMMUNITY PLAN
ARE MANAGER
FOR THE OFFICE OF
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT.
I AM HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUE.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS. JEFF, LAND USE
POLICY MANAGER AT
OPCD.
>> WONDERFUL.
>> OKAY.
HI.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.
TODAY WE'RE HERE TO TALK
ABOUT THE 2026 COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN
ANNUAL AMENDMENT, WHICH IS
KIND OF FULLY INCLUSIVE OF
OUR SUBAREA PLAN PACKAGE ONE
THAT WE
ARE WORKING
ON TRANSMITTING TO COUNCIL IN
THE MONTH OF JUNE.
SO TODAY WE JUST WANTED TO KIND
OF GIVE YOU ALL AN
ORIENTATION BRIEFING ABOUT TO
KIND OF
GO THROUGH WHAT IS
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ANNUAL
AMENDMENT, WHAT DO
THE SUBAREA PLAN PACKAGE ONE
LOOK
LIKE, AND TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE
IN
DETAIL AROUND THE REGIONAL
CENTERS PLANS
AS WELL AS THE
MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL
CENTERS PLANS.
SO AGAIN TODAY IS JUST AN
ORIENTATION SO WE CAN KIND
OF GO THROUGH WHAT ARE THESE
PLANS,
WHY ARE WE DOING THEM, WHAT'S
IN THEM
BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY SEE THAT
TRANSMITTED PACKAGE.
AND THEN ONCE WE ACTUALLY
TRANSMIT THOSE, WE CAN -- WE
WILL HAVE HAD THIS
OUT OF THE
WAY SO WE CAN DIVE INTO THE
DETAILS OF EACH OF THE PLANS.
SO HE FIRST OFF, YOU WILL BE
SEEING THIS PACKAGE OF PLANS AS
THE 2026 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
ANNUAL AMENDMENT.
AND SO TO JUST TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT IS, THIS
WILL
BE THE FIRST ANNUAL
AMENDMENT PROCESS IN SEVERAL
YEARS.
THAT CYCLE WAS PAUSED WHILE THE
CITY WAS
WORKING ON THE UPDATE TO THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
AND SO JUST AS KIND OF A
REFRESHER UNDER THE
GROWTH MANAGEMENTING ACT, CITIES
MAY ONLY AMEND
THEIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ONCE
PER CALENDAR YEAR.
AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW,
EVERYTHING
MUST BE INTRODUCED AND
ADOPTED AS SINGLE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
SO WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE
NEXT
FEW YEARS YOU WILL BE SEEING
SOME SUBAREA PLANS AS PART OF
THAT PACKAGE, LIKE I
SAID, IN 2026, THAT IS THE WHOLE
PACKAGE THAT YOU WILL
BE SEEING. AND SO THOSE WILL
INCLUDE BOTH
REGIONAL CENTERS AND M.I.C.
SUBAREA PLANS.
TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT WHAT THOSE PACKAGES AND
PROPOSED
PACKAGES WILL CONTAIN, I
WANT TO TALK A BIT ABOUT THE
CENTERS
THAT
WE'RE DOING PLANNING AROUND.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, IN OUR 2025
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
AMENDMENT, WE HAVE SEVEN
REGIONAL CENTERS
DESIGNATED, AND
TWO MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL
CENTERS. AS A WHOLE, OPCD IS
WORKING
SIMULTANEOUSLY ON NINE SUBAREA
PLANS. THAT'S A LOT FOR US TO
WORK ON.
THAT'S A LOT FOR ALSO YOU ALL
TO
CONSIDER. AND SO WE'VE TRIED TO
KIND
OF CHUNK OUT THE WORK IN A WAY
THAT
IS, HOPEFULLY, NOT
TOO
OVERWHELMING FOR US OR YOU TO
REVIEW.
SO IN THE PROPOSED PACKAGE
ONE, PROPOSED FOR 2026 ADOPTION,
YOU
WILL BE SEEING THE DOWNTOWN
REGIONAL CENTER PLAN,
THE NORTHGATE REGIONAL CENTER
PLAN,
THE DUWAMISH M.I.C. AND
THE BALLARD INTERBAY M.I.C.
ALL FOUR PLANS WILL, I THINK
THE NEXT SLIDE IS KIND
OF RECENT
STATUS. ALL FOUR PLANS
HAVE GONE THROUGH A STAUNTIVE
PLANNING PROCESS E
ENGAGEMENT, AND ARE, WE
THINK, ARE READY FOR YOU TO
REVIEW.
THE NEXT FIVE PLANS ARE ALL IN
CURRENTLY IN PLANNING RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE DOING
ENGAGEMENT, TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
ON ALL
FIVE OF THE NEXT PLANS.
SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING SENDING A
PACKAGE TO YOU IN 2027 TO
CONSIDER,
AND THEN A FINAL PACKAGE IN
2028.
AN IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE
THAT'S KIND OF DRIVING
THE TIMING HERE IS
THE PUGET SOUND REGIONAL
COUNCIL. THEY HAVE A REQUIREMENT
THAT BY
THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR
2027, THAT WE ADOPT AND AMEND
ALL SUBAREA PLANS FOR ALL
OF OUR
EXISTING CENTERS TO OUR
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
AND SO THOSE FOUR -- THOSE
FIRST EIGHT SUBAREAS ARE ALL OF
OUR EXISTING CENTERS THAT HAVE
PREVIOUSLY BEEN DESIGNATED BY
PSRC.
BALLARD IS OUR NEWEST
REGIONAL CENTER THAT WAS
DESIGNATED -- THAT WAS
IDENTIFIED IN THE 20
2025 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
AND SO THAT'S ON A
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TIMELINE IN
TERMS OF
DESIGNATION FOR -- BY PSRC
AND THAT'S WHY
YOU'RE SEEING THAT IN
2028.
>> BEFORE YOU MOVE ON,
COLLEAGUES, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE
A MORE SORT OF
INTERACTIVE, BECAUSE THIS IS
PRETTY TECHNICAL
STUFF AND CONFUSING AND
INCLUDING FOR ME SOMETIMES, AND
COULD YOU JUST TALK ABOUT
WHAT THE PURPOSE OF SUBAREA
PLANS ARE
AND HOW THOSE RELATE TO
OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN?
EARLIER YOU TALKED ABOUT SORT
OF ANNUAL AMENDMENTS WERE PUT
ON PAUSE.
WE, OBVIOUSLY, ADOPTED OUR
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LATE LAST
YEAR.
CAN YOU JUST AGAIN SORT OF TALK
THROUGH WHY DO WE HAVE SUBAREA
PLANS AND THE SCHEDULE THAT
YOU'RE -- IS BEING PROPOSED?
>> SURE.
I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO
SKIP AHEAD A COUPLE SLIDES.
SO IN TERMS OF REGIONAL
CENTERS, THESE WERE DESIGNATED
IN OUR
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THEY
DEFINE REGIONAL CENTERS
AS PLACES WHICH
AN IMPORTANT
REGIONAL ROLE. THEY HAVE
SUBSTANTIAL
HOUSING, OFFICE, RETAIL, AND
OTHER USES.
AND WE'RE ALSO
PLANNING FOR THESE CENTERS TO
ACCOMMODATE
A
VERY LARGE SHARE OF THE CITY'S
GROWTH OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
AND SO AS SUCH, REALLY NEED
THAT ADDITIONAL CROSS-
DEPARTMENTAL APPROACH TO
UNDERSTANDING HOW
ZONING RELATES TO
TRANSPORTATION, RELATES
TO HOUSING GROWTH, RELATES TO
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, AND SO
IT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW,
OPCD'S RATIONALE FOR DOING THE
SUBAREA
PLANNING WORK AND
THEN THEY ARE ALSO REQUIRED BY
THE PUGET SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL
IN ORDER
TO MAINTAIN THE
CENTER'S ELIGIBILITY FOR
MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS OF FEDERAL
TRANSPORTATION DOLLARS.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT PLANNING,
PLACE SPECIFIC PLANNING, AND
THERE IS A REQUIREMENT IN TERMS
OF FUNDING.
>> THANK YOU.
AND DIDN'T MEAN TO GET YOU OUT
OF YOUR --
>> NO, THAT'S GREAT.
>> THE PACKAGE ONE PLANS
AND WHERE WE'VE BEEN THE FIRST
HALF OF THIS YEAR, ALL FOUR
PLANS HAVE GONE THROUGH A DRAFT
PLAN
COMMENT PERIOD. SO WE HAVE
RELEASED DRAFT PLANS
TO THE PUBLIC, HAVE
ACCEPTED COMMENTS OVER A PERIOD
OF TIME.
WE'VE -- THEY HAVE ALSO EACH
GONE THROUGH
THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL SEPA
PROCESS, AND
IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS WE HAVE
BEEN
OFFERING BRIEF EDGES AND
CONVERSATIONS TO ALL THE
COUNCIL OFFICES AND HAVE
COMPLETED
THOSE FOR, I
THINK, ALL COUNCIL OFFICES OVER
THE COURSE OF
THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
AND SO SINCE THE COMMENT
PERIOD, WE HAVE BEEN
INCORPORATING
EDITS BASED ON THOSE COMMENTS
AND
WORKING WITH OUR
ENTER DEPARTMENTAL PARTNERS
TO INCORPORATE ADDITIONAL EDITS.
SO AT THIS POINT WE ARE
MOVINGMOVING FORWARD WITH
TRANSMITTING THIS PACKAGE OF
PLANS TO YOU TO
CONSIDER.
>> JUST HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
JUST WANT TO KNOW, SO
THE DUWAMISH M.I.C. IS
CURRENTLY UNDER APPEAL RIGHT
NOW, AND SO
DEPENDING UPON WHAT HAPPENS
THERE, THAT COULD CAUSE IMPACTS
TO OUR SCHEDULE?
>> RIGHT.
>> OKAY. WANT TO NOTE THAT FOR
THE RECORD
AND FOR COUNCIL BRIEFINGS,
ENCOURAGE COLLEAGUES, IF YOU
LIKE A BRIEFING, SOUNDS
LIKE YOU WILL DO AN
INDIVIDUAL ONE?
>>
YES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> VICE CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR LIN.
I WILL TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY. LOVE TO SEE BOTH,
DO GREAT WORK.
KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN
REQUESTING A MEETING TO TALK
ABOUT THE M.I.C.s.
I KNOW MY SCHEDULE IS
SOMETIMES THE PROBLEM.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT?
NECESSARILY ON
YOU. I AM JUST TAKING THIS OTHER
--
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SAY
I HAVE BEEN HOPING TO
HAVE THAT MEETING BEFORE WE GOT
TO TODAY.
SO I'D LOVE TO MEET WITH
YOU ALL TO GO THROUGH THIS LINE
BY
LINE. I WON'T HAVE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS TODAY SIMPLY BECAUSE I
HAVE
BEEN
TRACKING THIS FOR QUITE SOME
TIME. I WOULD LOVE THE
BALLARD
REGIONAL CENTER PLANNING TO
HAPPEN EARLIER.
COLLEAGUES, THE MAYOR A FEW
YEARS AGO TRANSMITTED A BUDGET
THAT DID NOT INCLUDE FUNDING
TO
STUDY THE BALLARD REGIONAL
CENTER. SO I WILL BE LOOKING
FORWARD TO
MAKING SURE THAT IS
THERE. IF WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO
DO
THAT SOONER AND FASTER BECAUSE
RIGHT NOW WE ARE
LEAVING TRANSPORTATION DOLLARS
ON
THE TABLE.
MEANWHILE, WITH THE BALLARD
REGIONAL CENTER,
METRO CONTINUES TO NOT PROVIDE
ADEQUATE BUS
SERVICE.
SOUND TRANSIT CONTINUES TO
GIVE US -- WE
ARE STILL ON LIFE
SUPPORT. WE ARE NO NOT
DEAD YET. I'M
FEELING HOPEFUL. AND THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT MEASURE BEFORE US HAS
NOT BEEN ABLE
TO DELIVER ANY CLEAR ROUTE TO
HAVING -- I AM
NOT EVEN ASKING FOR BETTER BUS
SERVICE FOR
THE BALLARD REGIONAL CENTER.
I AM SIMPLY ASKING FOR THE
SAME
LEVEL OF BUS SERVICE THAT THE
REST OF THE CITY HAS.
WHILE WE ARE BEING ASKED
TO TAKE ON MORE
HOUSING AND JOB GROWTH. SO
THAT'S MY BULLY
PULPIT. ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO
MOVE THAT INTO
IT AND MEET WITH YOU TO GO
THROUGH
THIS LINE BY LINE. AS I SAID,
COLLEAGUES, AFTER THE
MARITIME AND
INDUSTRIAL PROCESS OF 2023, I
WON'T HAVE MANY
MORE QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMITTEE
TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VICE
CHAIR
STRAUSS. AND I WOULD JUST
LIKELIKE
REGISTER MY CONCURRENCE ON
THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING
SURE OUR TRANSPORTATION
INVESTMENTS
LINE UP WELL WITH OUR GROWTH
PLANS. SO JUST THOSE GO HAND IN
HAND.
THANK YOU.
PLEASE GO AHEAD AND PROCEED.
>> SO, YEAH, I
THINK I MOSTLY WENT THROUGH THE
SLIDES.
SO I'LL KEEP GOING. AND
ACTUALLY I THINK WE
TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS
SLIDE AS
WELL. WHY PLAN FOR REGIONAL
CENTERS?
A HUGE PIECE IS MAKING SURE
THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THE
GROWTH
THAT WE ARE PROJECTING IN THESE
CENTERS.
THAT REQUIRES KIND OF
LOOKING ACROSS DEPARTMENTS TO
CREATE
VIBRANT LIVEABLE MIXED USE
SPACES.
AND HELPING US KIND OF ADDRESS
KEY GOALS FOR MORE
DETAILED IMPLEMENTATION IN THESE
CENTERS.
THE COMEDY CENTCOM IS PREHENSIVE
PLAN PLAN IS A HIGH LEVEL PLAN.
IT GETS IN MORE FINE GRAIN
DETAIL ABOUT URBAN DESIGN,
HOUSING STRATEGIES, FOCUSING ON
EQUITY SPECIFIC TO EACH
LOCATION.
THEY ARE ALL VERY
DIFFERENT
CENTERS WITH KIND OF DIFFERENT
CHALLENGES AND DIFFERENT ASSETS
AND OPPORTUNITIES.
ADDITIONALLY, THE GOAL HERE,
AS YOU CAN KIND OF SEE IN THE
DIAGRAM, IS TO NEST
THAT SPECIFIC DETAIL FOR EACH
CENTER WITHIN THE HIGH- LEVEL
POLICY CONTEXT OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN. AND THEY ALSO HELP US KIND
OF BUILD UPON THE SUCCESS
THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST,
YOU
KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN
GREAT INVESTMENTS IN DOWNTOWN
AND
NORTHGATE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS, BUT DOING, YOU
KNOW, TAKE, FOR INSTANCE,
THE WATERFRONT DISTRICT AND
INVESTMENTS THERE OR CONNECTING
NORTHGATE TO OUR
REGIONAL TRANSIT SYSTEM AND
DEVELOPING SOME ADDITIONAL
PEDESTRIAN
CONNECTIVITY, THERE IS A LOT OF
WORK TO BE DONE IN EACH OF THESE
CENTERS, AND SO THE IDEA OF THE
PLANS IS TO KIND OF BUILD ON
THAT SUCCESS AND POINT TO SOME
SPECIFIC ACTIONS IN THE NEXT 20
YEARS.
WHEN YOU DIVE MORE IN DEPTH INTO
THE PLANS, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE.
LIKE I SAID, THE PLANS WILL LAY
OUT SPECIFIC GOALS, POLICIES AND
ACTIONS TO
GUIDE THAT FUTURE RESIDENTIAL
AND JOB GROWTH.
INTO END, YOU WILL SEE A
CENTER-SPECIFIC FUTURE LAND
USE
MAP. THAT'S
NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS, YOU
KNOW, THAT WAS IN
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THIS IS A MORE DETAILED LAND
USE GUIDANCE FOR
FUTURE ZONING. JUST TO BE VERY
CLEAR, THERE
ARE NO ZONING
CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE
PLANS THEMSELVES, BUT
THEY ARE GUIDING THE WORK OF
OPCD IN MAKING FUTURE LAND USE
RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN THOSE
OCCUR.
THEY ALSO, THE PLANS ALSO
PULL TOGETHER PLANNED
INVESTMENTS
FROM ACROSS MULTIPLE
DEPARTMENTS IN HOUSING, OPEN
SPACE, AND
CAPITAL FACILITIES,
REALLY HELPING US ACROSS
DEPARTMENTS SEE HOW THESE
INVESTMENTS BUILD
UPON AND SPEAK TO EACH OTHER
AND WE'RE NOT JUST KIND OF
PLANNING
IN A VACUUM.
THEY INCLUDE SPECIFIC
TRANSPORTATION PROJECT LISTS
FROM THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION
PLAN. WE WORK VERY CLOSELY
WITH SDOT IN COORDINATING THAT
LAND USE
AND TRANSPORTATION PIECE.
AND
EVEN KIND OF MORE BLIND THAN
THE INVESTMENTS, THEY GUIDE
POLICIES AND ACTIONS ACROSS CITY
PROGRAMS.
GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE IN
DEPTH INTO HOW
WE'VE ORGANIZED THE PLANS, YOU
CAN SEE KIND OF
EXAMPLES ON
THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE. BUT THEY
ALL -- THEY START
FAIRLY HIGH LEVEL WITH THEMES.
UNDER EACH THEME, THERE
ARE GOALS THAT
REPRESENT THE RESULTS THE CITY
HOPES TO REALIZE OVER
TIME.
POLICIES ARE MORE FINE GRAINED
UNDER THAT WHICH HELP --
WILL HELP GUIDE FUTURE CHANGES
TO SPECIFIC RULES OR STRATEGIES.
AND THEN THE PLANS ALSO
INCLUDE ACTUAL ACTIONS THAT ARE
STEPS THAT THE CITY MAY CONSIDER
TAKING OVER THE 20- YEAR
PLANNING
PERIOD, EACH ACTION IDENTIFIES A
CITY STEWARD THAT IS SORT OF
TASKED WITH MOVING THAT
ACTION FORWARD WHEN THE KIND OF
RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE
THERE FOR EACH CENTER.
I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR.
THESE PLANS DIDN'T JUST SORT OF
COME OUT OF NOWHERE.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE
DOWNTOWN
AND NORTHGATE REGIONAL CENTER
PLANS FOR THE
PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
THEY
STARTED WITH VERY ROBUST
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, FOCUSED ON
OUR EQUITY TOOLKIT GOALS WE
DEVELOPED FOR EACH PROJECT.
MULTIPLE WAYS OF ENGAGEMENT
THAT WHERE WE SOUGHT OUT
COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT AND
WORKED WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO
SHAPE THE
GOALS AND VISION FOR EACH
SPECIFIC CENTER.
THAT ENGAGEMENT WAS PAIRED
WITH DETAILED TECHNICAL
ASSESSMENT
AND ANALYSIS
FOR EACH CENTER ACROSS KIND OF
PSRC, CORE TECHLE
AREAS, HOUSING, ECONOMY,
ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE,
TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE AND
DEVELOPMENT.
THOSE PIECES
OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION THE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND
TECHNICAL
ANALYSIS WENT INTO DEVELOPING
A DRAFT VISION AND POLICY
FRAMEWORK THAT WE ADDED
WITH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERS
VERY
HEAVILY, AND THAT ALL WENT
INTO THE PLANS THAT YOU WILL SEE
IN FRONT YOU HAVE, WHICH, LIKE I
MENTIONED, HAVE SINCE
GONE THROUGH KIND OF DRAFT PLAN
PUBLIC REVIEW AND FURTHER EDITS
BASED ON THAT FEEDBACK.
AND NOW I WILL HAND IT OVER TO
JEFF TO TALK ABOUT MANUFACTURING
AND INDUSTRIAL CENTERS.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU, ALISON.
I'LL JUST SAY
A BRIEF WORD ABOUT
THE MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL
CENTERS.
SO WHAT ARE THE MANUFACTURING
AND INDUSTRIAL CENTERS?
THESE ARE AREAS OF
CONCENTRATEDCONCENTRATED AND
MARITIME ACTIVITY
WITH LIMITED OTHER USES, AND
THEY PRIMARILY SERVE
INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES IN THE
HIGH QUALITY
LIVING WAGE JOBS THAT THEY
PROVIDE.
AS ALISON MENTIONED, THEY
ARE DESIGNATED BY REGIONALLY BY
THE
PSRC.
THERE ARE ONLY TEN MIX IN THE
WHOLE FOUR- COUNTY REGION AND
SEATTLE HAS TWO OF THEM.
SUBAREA PLANS ARE REQUIRED
FOR THESE AREAS JUST LIKE THE
OTHER
CENTERS.
AND ON THIS MAP,
SEATTLE'S M.I.C. s ARE
INDICATED IN
GRAY. THE DUWAMISH M.I.C. IS AT
THE
MOUTH OF THE DUWAMISH RIVER.
IT CONTAINS SEATTLE'S
CONTAINER PORT.
AND THE BINMIC IS BETWEEN
INTERBAY IN BALLARD AND CONTAINS
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST FISHING
FLEET.
NEXT SLIDE, FLEES PLEASE.
SO THE M.I.C. PLANS.
THE HIGHLIGHT HERE IS THAT
THESETHESE
REALLY BUILD ON THE
CONSENSUS FROM 2023.
SO IN 2023, THE COUNCIL
PASSED A
HOLISTIC UPDATE AND CONTAINED A
DOZEN NEW COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN POLICIES FOR THESE AREAS.
YOU ADOPTED A WHOLE NEW
ZONING CODE FOR INDUSTRIAL
LANDS, AND
THAT WORK, YOU KNOW, WAS BUILT
ON A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT, DEEPEN
ENGAGEMENT AND NEGOTIATIONS.
DIDN'T JUST ADDRESS LAND
USE, BUT ALSO HAD WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT
COMMITMENTS, TRANSPORTATION
COMMITMENTS,
WAYS TO BE A CLEANER, GREENER
CITY
WITH BETTER TRANSITIONS TO
NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO ALL OF THAT WAS REALLY ROBUST
WORK, AND THESE
PLANS LEVERAGE
THAT WORK. SO WE ARE
NOT REALLY BREAKING
NEW GROUND. WE WANT TO STICK
WITH
THE CONSENSUS THAT WE BUILT
TOGETHER.
SO WE RECOMMEND PASSING THESE
PLANS. AND I JUST WANTWANT NOTE
THAT WE AT THE CITY HAVE
WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH MANY
PARTNERS,
BUT IN PARTICULAR
THE PORT OF SEATTLE AND THE
NORTHWEST SEAPORT ALLIANCE, AND
WE VALUE
THEIR PARTNERSHIP ON THESE PLANS
GREATLY.
SO THAT'S JUST A QUICK
SUMMARY OF THE M.I.C. PLANS.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SPEAKING WITH
YOU MORE ABOUT THOSE IN DETAIL.
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR
PRESENTATION. HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS?
I DO HAVE
ONE SORT OF QUESTION, COMMENT ON
THAT LAST SLIDE.
YOU KNOW, EARLIER I WAS
ASKING OUR OFFICE SUSTAINABILITY
AND
ENVIRONMENT ABOUT SORT OF
PRESSURES ON FARMLANDS AND
I SORT OF SEE A RELATED ISSUE
HERE IN TERMS OF PRESSURES ON
OUR INDUSTRIAL MARITIME, YOU
KNOW, LANDS AND SORT OF
COMPETING PRESSURES TO, YOU
KNOW, FOR
HOUSING AND, OBVIOUSLY,
HOUSING IS A PRIORITY FOR MANY
WAYS,
BUT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE SORT
OF BALANCE THESE DIFFERENT NEEDS
OF
OUR -- THESE OTHER JOBS,
THESE OTHER LAND USES.
COULD YOU JUST SPEAK TO SORT
OF, IN A -- I BELIEVE WE HAVE
A CONDITION FROM THE PSRC
ON SOME OF OUR SUBAREA PLANNING.
COULD YOU SPEAK TO, IN GENERAL,
FROM A BIG-PICTURE PERSONS,
KIND OF, LIKE, THE TENSIONS
AROUND
PROTECTING INDUSTRIAL MARITIME
AND ANY CONDITIONS WE HAVE FROM
PSRC?
>> WELL, THE REGIONAL
POLICIESPOLICIES ARE PRETTY
CLEAR AROUND
PRIORITIZING MANUFACTURING
AND INDUSTRIAL CENTERS FOR
THOSE
USES. AND A BIG
RATIONALERATIONALE THAT IS
THAT THESE USES CAN'T GO OTHER
PLACES.
WE ONLY HAVE ONE DEEP WATER
PORT. WE ONLY HAVE ONE FRESH
WATER
PLACE TO BE HOME PORT FOR THE
FISHING FLEET, YOU KNOW,
KNOW,INSIDE
OF THE LOCKS.
AND YOU CAN'T MOVE THOSE THINGS.
THE HAS LOTS OF GREAT PLACES
FOR HOUSING AND MAYOR
WILSON HAS VERY HIGH PRIORITY ON
BUILDING LOTS MORE HOUSING AND
HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU KNOW,
CLOSE TO AMENITIES AND
SERVICES, BUT NOT ON OUR
INDUSTRIAL LANDS.
IN A
NUTSHELL, THE REGIONAL POLICIES
SUPPORT THAT GENERAL
FRAMEWORK.
>> THANK YOU.
OKAY.
COLLEAGUES, IF THERE IS
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS, I
THINK WE CAN MOVE ON.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE AN INTRO
HERE OF
WHAT'S TO COME, AND LOOK
FORWARD TO FUTURE DISCUSSIONS.
>> THANK YOU SOME FOR YOUR TIME.
>> OKAY.
AND WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR
SIXTH ITEM OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
IT.
>> 121215 ORDINANCE
THE COUNCIL LAND
USE DECISIONS APRIL MENDING
SECTIONS -- THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE TO
CLARIFY
PROCESSES FOR COUNCIL LAND USE
DECISIONS.
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> OKAY.
AND IF YOU COULD DIRECTOR LISH,
INTRODUCE YOURSELF
LISH.
>> WE HAD A PRESENTATION A
COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
I AM NOT SURE IF THERE ARE
SIGNIFICANT
UPDATES TO THE PRESENTATION
BECAUSE I AM NOT
SURE IF WE NEED TO
REPEAT THE PRESENTATION.
BUT CERTAINLY IF THERE IS
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I HAVE
JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS
THAT I'LL SHARE.
BUT I'LL LET COLLEAGUES SPEAK.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS, WE, OBVIOUSLY, HEARD
A BIT FROM PUBLIC COMMENTERS AND
WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE FUTURE
MEETINGS, NO VOTE HAPPENING
TODAY.
BUT COLLIES, ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
>>
CHAIR?
>>
YES, VICE CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU.
JUST STATING THE LAST
PRESENTATION I SHARED I HAD
SOME
CONCERNS. I MET WITH DIRECTOR
WHITSON AND
MY CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RESOLVED
WONDERFUL. THANK YOU, VICE
CHAIR.
COLLIES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
WELL,
I'LL JUST PROVIDE A COUPLE
COMMENTS FOR THE RECORD.
THIS, OBVIOUSLY, IS AN IMPORTANT
ISSUE, ONE THAT IS
MEANINGFUL BOTH FOR PUBLIC, BUT
ALSO
FOR OUR OWN PROCESSES AND TRYING
TO
PASS LEGISLATION AND TRYING TO
JUST PLAN.
WE JUST, AS WE
SEE THERE ARE
IMPACTS FROM APPEALS TO OUR
ABILITY TO SORT OF PLAN OUR OWN
LEGISLATIVE PROCESSES, OUR
PHASE TWO, CENTERS AND
CORRIDORS WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY
DELAYED DUE TO
ONGOING SEPA APPEALS AND A
RECENT COURT OF APPEALS
DECISION.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW,
SOME MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC WERE ALREADY AWARE
THAT THAT WAS THE
LIKELY IMPACT. BUT JUST WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE
REALITY THAT THIS IS -- THIS IS
THE IMPACT FROM THESE APPEALS.
AND THERE IS A LOT OF COMMENTS
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WANTING TO
HAVE THIS FORUM AND
VENUEVENUE COMMUNITY SORT OF
FEEDBACKFEEDBACK
INPUT, AND JUSTJUST FROM
OPINION,
THIS IS NOT A GREAT FORUM FOR
COMMUNITY INPUT
OR FEEDBACK. IT IS CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT FOR
ME AND I THINK MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES THAT WE DO
A GOOD JOB OF ROBUSTROBUST
ENGAGEMENT AS WE ENGAGE IN OUR
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OR ANY
SORT OF CHANGES TO OUR ZONING,
AND
I JUST PERSONALLY
DO NOT SEE THE HEARING
EXAMINER PROCESS AS A
GREAT PLACE FOR THAT ENGAGEMENT,
FOR THAT FEEDBACK.
AND BUT IF WE ARE TO REMOVE THIS
APPEAL PROCESS, I THINK IT
WILL BE MORE
INCUMBENT UPON US AS CITY
COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE DOING THAT ENGAGEMENT,
THAT WE ARE DOUBLE- CHECKING
OPCD'S WORK WITH
ENVIRONMENTAL
VIE. SO I THINK THAT, YOU
KNOW, WE'VE IN A SENSE
OUTSOURCED SOME OF
THAT TO THE HEARING
EXAMINER, AND I THINK IT WILL
THEN FALL
BACK
UPON US. SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE
THAT
I THINK THAT IS ONE POTENTIAL
OUTCOME IF THIS LEGISLATION
PASSES.
I ALSO JUST WANT TO POINT OUT
THAT THIS IS A
VOLUNTARY PROCESS THAT WE'VE
CHOSEN TO ALLOW,
AND IN MANY WAYS WE ARE INVITING
CURRENTLY UNDER OUR CURRENT
CODE, IN MANY WAYS WE ARE
INVITING
THESE APPEALS AND WE ARE
INVITING THESE WHAT HAPPENS,
THESE DELAYS THAT OCCUR, AS A
RESULT OF THESE APPEALS.
AND SO I THINK THERE HAS
BEEN A LOT OF SORT OF QUESTIONS
AND CONCERNS ABOUT SORT OF
THE IMPACTS OF THESE AND I JUST
THINK THAT ULTIMATELY, IT
FALLS UPON US BECAUSE THIS A
VOLUNTARY CHOICE WE ARE
MAKING TO CREATE THIS AVENUE FOR
THESE APPEALS.
AND SO THAT'S --
AGAIN, PERSONALLY I DON'T THINK
IT'S A
GOOD USE OF OUR TIME OR THE
PUBLIC'S TIME TO GO THROUGH
AND TO HAVE THIS UNCERTAINTY,
AND
THAT'S WHY I'M PROPOSING THIS
LEGISLATION.
THAT'S MY COMMENTS FOR TODAY.
BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU TO
DIRECTOR WHITSON.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
ON THIS LEGISLATION?
OKAY.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COLLEAGUES.
I DO WANT TO NOTE, AS WE
ARE WRAPPING UP FOR THE
RECORD, THAT AS CHAIR OF -- SO
WE HAVE
REACHED THE END OF THE
TODAY'S MEETING INTELLIGENT
AGENDA.
CHAIR OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
THE COMEDY, THE PUBLIC HEARING
ON RESOLUTION 3220332203
PREVIOUSLY
SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 22nd
AT 3:00 P.M. HAS BEEN
CANCELED. AT THIS TIME THERE IS
NO
ALTERNATE DATE PLANNED.
OKAY.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE BEFORE
WE ADJOURN?
HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, WE ARE
ADJOURNED. OUR NEXT SCHEDULED
COMMITTEE
MEETING IS WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, AT
9:30 A.M. THANK YOU.