>>> 9:30 A.M.. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THREE
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE THREE
ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA. 513,
BREAKING DISCUSSION ON POSSIBL
VOTE . CONTRACT REASON 314474 ,
BRIEFLY DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE
VOTE ON THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
NEIGHBORHOOD. WE HAVE AN
INFORMATIONAL ITEM TODAY. ITEM
2348. A BRIEFING DISCUSSION ON
THE AUDIT OF THE PERMITTING
PROCESS. BEFORE WE BEGIN, IF
THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE AGEND
IS ADOPTED. THERE WERE NO
OBJECTION THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED
A SPECIAL LAND-USE COMMITTEE
MEETING DURING THE BUDGET
PROCESS. WHICH IS NOT STANDARD
THE REASON WE ARE HAVING THIS
MEETING TODAY IS TO VOTE ON THE
CONTRACT REZONINGS WHICH WE
MUCH DO IN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF
TIME LEGALLY. WE ARE LEGALLY
BOUND TO PASS THESE WITHIN A
CERTAIN WINDOW OF TIME. AT THE
SAME TIME, I LONG AGO REQUESTE
THE AUDIT ON PERMITTING PROCESS
. THE CONSTRUCTION PERMITTING
PROCESS. THE AUDIT , SINCE THE
AUDITOR IS OUT, AND WE WANT TO
HAVE A BRIEF DISCUSSION TODAY,
WE ARE GOING TO KEEP A HIGH
LEVEL. THE AUDITORS TEAM IN ALL
DEPARTMENTS WHO HAVE REVIEWED
WILL COME BACK TO THE COMMITTEE
EITHER ON NOVEMBER 29th OR THE
FOLLOWING LAND-USE COMMITTEE
MEETING IN DECEMBER TO HAVE A
LONGER, MORE ROBUST
CONVERSATION. AGAIN, WE ARE IN
BUDGET. OUR BUDGET CHAIR IS HER
IN THE COMMITTEE. I KNOW SHE HA
A LOT OF WORK SHE MUST
ACCOMPLISH RIGHT NOW. AS WELL A
WE DID NOT HAVE THE LEADTIME TO
BE ABLE TO INVITE EVERY SINGLE
DEPARTMENT WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE PERMITTING PROCESS TO
THE TABLE TODAY. WE WILL SEE
WHO HAS THE BULK OF THE REVIEWE
DESKS, BUT IT IS NOT A
COMPREHENSIVE REPRESENTATION OF
OUR REVIEW PROCESS. COLLEAGUES
FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS. I
HAVE ASKED BOTH THE CITY OF
OFFICERS TO KEEP COMMENTS BRIE
TODAY . WE WILL HAVE A LONGER
OPPORTUNITY TO GO INTO AND
DIVE INTO THIS PERMANENT
PROMINENT -- WITH THAT, AT THI
TIME WE WILL BEGIN THE OPEN
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD .
WE DO HAVE -- LET ME JUST
CHECK. DO WE HAVE TO DO A PUBLI
HEARING ? NO, GREAT. WE ARE
JUST DOING A PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. I'M NOT GOING TO ASK
THE COURT TO PLAY THE VIDEO, I
THINK EVERYONE KNOWS THE
STANDARDS ARE TO BE NICE. SPEAK
TO THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA AND W
WILL GO FROM THERE. AT THIS
TIME, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIO
IS NOT IS -- IS NOW OPEN.
CLAIRE, DO WE HAVE ANY IN
PERSON? WE WILL START WITH OUR
ONLINE. WE HAVE BILL AND IN
THE. WE HAVE BILL AND ANDY.
OKAY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO ACCEP
PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONTRACT
REZONE. HANG TIGHT REALLY
QUICK. MILLER SANCHEZ, CLERK,
WE ARE HAVING CONFUSION ON THE
DAIS. ARE WE ACCEPTING PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THE CONTRACT
REZONINGS OR NOT?
>> THE CONTRACT REZONINGS ARE
-- CENTRAL STOP IS ON THE LINE
TO ALSO CONFIRM. I SEE MR.
FREEMAN ON THE LINE.
>> THE COMMITTEE HAS TO RELY ON
THE RECORD THAT IS COMPILED BY
THE HEARING SEMINAR. ESSENTIALL
THE COUNSEL DELEGATE -- TO HOL
AN OPEN RECORD OF PUBLIC
HEARING. THAT HEARING HAS THER
IS AN AUTO RECORDING OF THE
HEARING FOR THE COMMITTEE TO
REVIEW AS WELL. THE COUNSEL
CAN TAKE NEW TESTIMONY NOW . TH
RECORD IS CLOSED. THERE HAS BEE
A MOTION TO SUPPLEMENT THE
RECORD OR ANY APPEALS FOR THES
CONTRACT REZONINGS. THERE OKAY
THANK YOU. BILL, I SEE YOU ARE
HERE TO COMMENT ON THE CONTRACT
REZONE. I JUST WANT TO DOUBLE
CHECK YOU WOULD NOT LIKE TO
SPEAK TO A DIFFERENT ITEM ON TH
AGENDA. BILL, I SEE YOU ARE
HERE. STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. BILL
? SEEING AS BILL IS NOT COMING
OFF OF MUTE WE WILL GO TO
ANGIE.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ANGIE. I'M A
SMALL LANDLORD . I LOOK FORWARD
TO HEARING THE PRESENTATION FRO
THE CITY AUDITOR TODAY ON
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING
THE CONSTRUCTION PERMIT PROCESS
AS YOU LISTEN IN, I ASKED THAT
YOU KEEP IN MIND THE SMALLEST
PROPERTY OWNERS AND ASPIRING
PROPERTY OWNERS IN SEATTLE WHO
ARE GREATLY IMPACTED BY THE
COMPLEXITY . THE DISPARITY OF
WHO CAN OWN, MAINTAIN AND -- A
THE SAME TIME, TRYING TO
PRIORITIZE ENTITY DISPLACEMENT
AND ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY. I
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MY AND
COUNSEL THAT THEY HAVE NOT
PUBLICLY RELEASED AND A RENTAL
REGISTRATION SINCE AUGUST 2022
WELL OVER A YEAR AGO. AT THE
SAME TIME, COUNSEL HAS CONTINUE
TO PROPOSE COMPLICATED
REGULATIONS. THERE'S BEEN A
GREAT LOSS OF SMALL RENTALS IN
TO 4 UNIT PROPERTIES ACCORDING
TO THAT DATA. THE CITY'S OPEN
DATA PORTAL MAKES IT LOOK LIKE
THERE'S BEEN NO RECOVERY.
PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND AS YOU
CONSIDER TODAY'S REPORTS, AND
AS YOU AWAIT THE UPCOMING REPOR
THAT IS FOCUSED ON THE PROGRAM.
AMID SEATTLE'S GREAT NEEDS FOR
DIVERSE RENTAL HOUSING, CITY
COUNCIL AND DEPARTMENTS NEED T
GREATLY IMPROVE THE WORKING
RELATIONSHIP WITH EVERYDAY
SEATTLEITES WHO OWN AND OPERATE
AND THOSE WHO MIGHT ASPIRE TO.
WE NEED TO LESSEN THE GAP,
CONTINUING TO WIDEN IT ON WHO
CAN OWN SMALL PROPERTIES IN
SEATTLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, ANGIE, WELL SAID.
I'M GOING TO CHECK BILL ONE
MORE TIME. ARE YOU HERE TO TAL
ABOUT SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE
CONTRACT REZONINGS? HIS ONLINE
FORM SAYS --
>> HELLO, YES. SORRY .
>> BEFORE YOU START GOING, BILL
YOU CANNOT SPEAK TO THE
CONTRACT REZONE TODAY. IS THERE
SOMETHING ELSE?
>> RIGHT, I UNDERSTAND. I
UNDERSTAND.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO TODAY?
>> THAT WAS MY PURPOSE FOR
REGISTERING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
THAT IS ALL.
>> THANK YOU, BILL. WE WILL
TALK TO YOU AFTER THE QUASI
JUDICIAL ELEMENTS OF THIS OUR
COMPLAINT. SEEING AS WE HAVE NO
PHYSICAL SPEAKERS REMOTELY. WE
WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA
ITEM. A BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE . A PROPOSAL IN
NORTHGATE. QUIRKE WILL YOU
PLEASE READ THE ITEM INTO
RECORD.
>> ITEM ONE, CONTRACT REZONE
314513. REZONE PROPOSAL AT --
FOR BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE ARE
JOINED FROM COUNSEL CENTRAL
STAFF. YOU TAKE IT AWAY?
>> SURE. GIVING YOUR TIME
CONSTRAINTS I'M GOING TO TRY TO
GO VERY QUICKLY. PLEASE
INTERRUPT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU. THIS
IS A CONTRACT REZONE IN THE
NORTHGATE URBAN CENTER. AS YOU
HAVE HEARD, IT'S A QUIET DAY
JUDICIAL DECISION, WHICH MEANS
YOUR DECISIONS MUST BE MADE ON
THE RECORD ESTABLISHED BY THE
HEARING EXAMINER. THE PROPOSAL
IN FRONT OF YOU IS A REZONE OF
TWO PARCELS IN THE NORTHEAST
CORNER -- BEING NORTHGATE URBA
CENTER, IT'S ON THE EAST END OF
THE NORTHGATE URBAN CENTER.
ALONG NORTHGATE WAY. THE
PROPOSAL IS TO REZONE THE TWO
PARCELS FROM NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMERCIAL 355 WITH THE
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILIT
DESIGNATION TO NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMERCIAL 365 WITH AN M ONE
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
SUFFIX. A HIGH INCREASE OF 10
FEET AND INCREASE IN THE MHA
REQUIREMENTS. PARCELS TOGETHER
ARE APPROXIMATELY 47 SQUARE
FEET TOTAL. IT WOULD FACILITAT
THE DEVELOPMENT OF 184 UNIT OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS WITH
GROUND-FLOOR PARKING. THE
TESTIMONY AT THE HEARING
EXAMINER INDICATED 31 UNITS
WOULD BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE
REZONE. AS I MENTIONED, THE
SITE IS AT THE EASTERN END OF
THE NORTHGATE URBAN CENTER AT
THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF NORTH
GATEWAY AND ROOSEVELT. THE AREA
IN RED ON THE MAP ON BRIGHT ,
AND LEIPOLD AS SITE ON THE MA
ON THE LEFT . SURROUNDING THE
AREA IS PREDOMINANTLY
COMMERCIAL 355. THERE IS A --
AND A RETENTION POND FOR IT. A
GROCERY STORE DIRECTLY TO THE
EAST ON THE SAME BLOCK. FARTHER
TO THE EAST IS VICTORY CREEK
PARK. TO THE SOUTH ARE SMALL
COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES, AND A
FEW RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES.
THIS IS THE PRODUCT THAT IS
PROPOSED. 184 RESIDENTIAL UNITS
WITH GROUND-FLOOR RETAIL. HERE
IS THE SITE PLAN SHOWING WHERE
THE COMMERCIAL SPACE IS ON THE
WESTERN END OF THE PROJECT AND
IT'S ADJACENCY TO THE GROCERY
STORE AND THE STREET. THEY
RECOMMENDED TO CONDITIONALLY
APPROVE THE PROPOSAL IN JULY.
THE HEARING EXAMINER HELD A
HEARING IN AUGUST AND MADE A
RECOMMENDATION TO CONDITIONALLY
APPROVE IT. THE HEARING
EXAMINER'S RECOMMENDATION SAYS
TO ACT BY NOVEMBER 22nd. THE
HEARING EXAMINER RECOMMENDED
THREE CONDITIONS TO THE
PROPERTY AND DEVELOPING
AGREEMENT. THE FIRST IS THAT
THERE BE A MANDATORY -- THE
SECOND THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE REZONE PROPERTY BE SUBJECT
TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODES 2358 B AND C
PROGRAM RECOMMENDED THAT THEY
SPECIFY THE PAYMENT AND
PERFORMANCE CALCULATION FOR TH
PURPOSES OF APPLYING THOSE
CHAPTERS OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE
THOSE CHAPTERS ARE THE MHA
CHAPTERS THAT LAYOUT THE
PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT
CALCULATION AMOUNTS. BECAUSE
THOSE CHAPTERS , WHICH WOULD BE
REQUIRED TO BE FOLLOWED, ALREAD
CONTAIN THE PERFORMANCE CODE,
I'M RECOMMENDING YOU NOT INCLUD
THAT SECOND SENTENCE IN THIS
CONDITION. PAYMENT IN
PERFORMANCE IS COVERED BY THE
CODE ALREADY, AND INCLUDING
THOSE NUMBERS IS REDUNDANT . I
ADDITION, THIS IS 100%
AFFORDABLE PROJECT . WE HAVE
SERVED A DOUBLE REDUNDANCY HERE
WHERE I WAS THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IS COMPLYING WITH THE
CHAPTERS , AND THE SECOND
SENTENCE IS NOT NECESSARY. THE
THIRD CONDITION IS SUBSTANTIAL
COMPARTMENTS -- CONFORMANCE .
THOSE PLANS INCLUDE THE
REQUIREMENTS THAT THE PROJECT
BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AS
PROPOSED. IF YOU CHOOSE TO
SUPPORT THE REZONE WHICH IS TH
10 FOOT HEIGHT INCREASE ON THES
TWO PROPERTIES YOU SHOULD FIRS
LOOK TO ADD THE DRAFT FINDINGS
CONCLUSION AND DECISION TO THE
COURT FILE THAT DOCUMENT IS
ATTACHED AND FORWARDED TO MY
MEMO WHICH IS ATTACHED TO YOUR
AGENDA. IT BASICALLY SAYS THAT
COUNSEL IS ACCEPTING THE HEARIN
EXAMINER'S RECOMMENDATION.
SECOND, VOTE TO RECOMMEND
APPROVAL OF THE CLERK FILE. IF
YOU DO SO, WE WILL MAKE SURE A
COUNSEL BILL IS INTRODUCED
NEXT TUESDAY, WHICH WILL PROVID
FOR A VOTE AT THE FOLLOWING
MEETING. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> YES. SENIOR HAVE A
RECOMMENDATION TO STRIKE
LANGUAGE, IS IT ALREADY STRUCK
OR DO WE HAVE TO PASS ON
AMENDMENT AT THIS TIME?
>> THE FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AN
DECISION DO ASSUME YOU ARE
STRIKING THAT LANGUAGE. YOU DO
NOT NEED TO TAKE ANY ADDITIONAL
ACTION.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU .
COLLEAGUES , QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS, CONCERNS. I WOULD LIK
TO PUT THIS OUT OF COMMITTEE
TODAY. SEEING THEM, WE MUST BE
IN THE BUDGET SESSION , WITH
PEOPLE'S ATTENTION ELSEWHERE.
RIGHTLY SO, IN MY OPINION. JUS
CHECKING AGAIN, IS THERE ANY
FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE
VOTE? SEEING MEN, I RECOMMEND
-- I'VE MOVED TO RECOMMEND THE
REZONE IN CLERK FILE TO BE --
>> SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER. FIRST
PLEASE ADD THE FINDINGS AND
CONCLUSION DECISION.
>> OKAY, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TH
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
DECISION TO THE RECORD. IT HAS
BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. TO AD
THE FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS TO
THE RECORD. CLERK, WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THREE
IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN
APPROVED , AND THE FINDINGS HAV
BEEN ATTACHED TO THE RECORD.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING
MEN, I MOVED TO RECOMMEND THE
REZONE APPLICATION, CLERK FILE
34513 TO BE GRANTED, IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU IT'S BEEN MOVED AN
SECONDED TO GRANT IT. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? TH
MOTION PASSES. CLERK FILE 31451
PASSES THE LAND USE COMMITTEE.
THIS CLERK FILE AND ITS
COMPANION COUNCIL BOBO -- WIL
BE SENT TO THE FULL COUNCIL
MEETING FOR FINAL ADOPTION. THE
NEXT AGENDA ITEM ON OUR BRIEFIN
DISCUSSION ON COUNSEL 314474.
>> ITEM TWO, CONTRACT REZONE
314474, REZONE PROPOSAL AT 2210
EAST CHERRY STREET FOR BRIEF
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> WE ARE JOINED FROM COUNSEL
CENTRAL STUFF FOR THIS PART OF
THE DISCUSSION. PLEASE TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> ALL RIGHT. LET ME SHARE MY
SCREEN HERE.
>> ALL RIGHT. ANOTHER CONTRACT
REZONE. AN ACTION THE COUNCIL
HAS TO TAKE BECAUSE OF THE TIME
PERIOD. IT IS PRESCRIBED BY TH
CODE FOR TURNING RIGHT DECISION
ON CONTRACT REZONE'S. THE 90
DAY REQUIREMENTS. UNLESS THERE
IS AN APPEAL, BUT THERE IS NOT
AN APPEAL IN THIS CASE. THIS I
FOR CONTRACT REZONE 2210 EAST
CHERRY STREET. SCROLL DOWN HERE
SUBJECT TO THE APPEARANCE AND
AS YOU ARE FAMILIAR, COUNCIL'S
ACTION HERE IS RESTRICTED TO TH
RECORD COMPILED BY THE HEARING
EXAMINER, AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS
CANNOT RECEIVE COMMUNICATION
FROM OPPONENTS. THE APPLICATIO
IS THE REZONE LOCATED AT THE
NORTHWEST LOOK CORNER OF EAST
CHERRY STREET AND 23rd AVENUE.
23rd JACKSON URBAN VILLAGE. TH
EAST PORTION OF THE SITE IS 140
N. 165 M1. THAT WILL BE
REZONED IN 165 M2. 48 TO 65
FEET. THERE SOME HOUSEKEEPING
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE HERE. WE
WILL GET TO THAT AT THE END.
THERE IS THE ORIGINAL
APPLICATION THAT WAS FOR THE
LOWER HEIGHT . THE OVERALL
PROJECT SITE IS 19,000 SQUARE
FEET. THE REZONE WOULD
FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT WIT
114 APARTMENTS, AND COMMERCIAL
SPACE. THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO
PERFORM UNDER THE MANDATORY
HOUSING PROGRAM, AND ALSO SEEK
MULTIPLE TESTS. THE APPLICANT
MAY SEEK FINDINGS . HERE IS
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SITE .
AGAIN, LOCATED AT THE NORTHWEST
CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION OF
23rd AVENUE AND EAST CHERRY
STREET. THE CENTRAL AREA IS
ESSENTIALLY NORTHWEST GARFIELD
HIGH SCHOOL , AND THE GARFIELD
COMMUNITY CENTER. DOWN HERE YOU
CAN SEE THE PHOTOGRAPH OF
ARYNA. PART OF THAT SITE IS
VACANT, THE OTHER HALF IS
OCCUPIED BY COMMERCIAL BUILDING
AND INDUSTRIAL AS WELL,
ACCORDING TO SINGLE-FAMILY
HOUSES. HERE'S WHAT THE SITE
MIGHT LOOK LIKE IF COMPLETED.
SIX-STORY MIXED-USE BUILDING.
GROUND-FLOOR RETAIL. THE UNITS
ABOVE . THIS DOES NOT SHOW IT
HERE IN THE RENDERING, BUT IT
STEPS BACK TO THE PROPERTIES A
THE NORTH IN THE UPPER LEVEL.
PROCESS, IF RECOMMENDED,
CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OF THE
PROJECT ON JUNE 8th. ON JULY
19th THERE WERE FOUR FORKS --
FOLKS WHO SPOKE AT THAT
HEARING. NO APPEALS. COUNCIL
SHOULD ACT NO LATER THAN
NOVEMBER 7th TO MEET THE
DEADLINE . HEARING EXAMINER
RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS, PRIOR T
ISSUANCE. WOULD BE THE PROJECT
LOOK LIKE WHAT WAS ON APPROVED
PLAN SETS. THERE ARE SOME
CONSTRUCTIONS HERE, TOO.
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PLAN .
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING, IN
CASE THERE IS A DISCOVERY OF
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES AND
NOTIFICATION SHOULD THERE BE A
DISCOVERY. THEN THERE IS A
CONDITION FOR THE LIFE OF THE
PROJECT THAT IS ESSENTIALLY THE
STANDARD REZONE CONDITION THAT
SAYS IT HAS TO CONFORM WITH A
PLEASE -- APPROVED PLANS FOR TH
PROJECT. HOUSEKEEPING STUFF
HERE. I MENTIONED THE CLERK'S
FILE REPRESENTS AN APPLICATION
THAT DOES NOT -- APPLICATION O
THE HEARING EXAMINER ISSUED A
RECOMMENDATION ON. THE AMENDED
TITLE IS ON PAGE TWO AND THREE
MINUTE OF THE MEMO IN YOUR
PACKET. I CAN READ IT IF YOU
WOULD LIKE, BUT WE NEED A
MOTION HERE TO AMEND THE TITLE.
>> SURE . WE DO FOR THE RECORD.
TWO THE AMENDED TITLE WOULD
READ, APPLICATION FOR CONTRACT
REZONE OF 19,003 AND 43 SQUARE
FOOT SITE , LOCATED AT 2210 EAS
CHERRY STREET FROM NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMERCIAL BLOCK 40 WITH A
AFFORDABILITY SUFFIX NC1-40
WITH THE HIGHLANDER AND M1 . FO
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL ONE WIT
A 40 FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT.
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL ONE WIT
A 65 FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT AND
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILIT
PART PROJECT NUMBER 307-0185-
LU TYPE FOUR.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH
IS THAT THE CONCLUSION OF YOUR
PRESENTATION?
>> WE NEED A MOTION TO AMEND
THE TITLE AND WE NEED TO ADD TH
FINDINGS , CONCLUSION AND
DECISION TO THE CLERK FILE, AND
GET A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE
COMMITTEE.
>> YES, I HAVE THAT TEED UP
HERE. I AM WONDERING IF YOU --
WITH THE PRESENTATION.
>> I AM.
>> EXCELLENT. COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS?
THANK YOU, MR. FREEMAN. IMC NO
FURTHER DISCUSSIONS. I MOVED T
AMEND CLERK FILE 31 4474 , IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED. AMEND TH
TITLE IN THE CLERK FILE 314474
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
>> THREE IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES
AND THE TITLE HAS BEEN AMENDED.
I MOVED TO ADD THE FINDINGS,
CONCLUSIONS AND DECISIONS TO TH
CLERK FILE 314474. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED . WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THREE
IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION
PASSES. FINAL MOTION HERE,
COLLEAGUES, ANY LAST THOUGHTS?
I MOVED CLERK FILE 314-4742 BE
GRANTED. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO GRANT THE REZON
OF CLERK FILE 314474. CLERK,
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]. THRE
IN FAVOR.
>> THE MOTION PASSES. CLERK FIL
34 -- 314474 IS APPROVED AND
WILL BE SENT , IT AND ITS
COMPANION BILL, TO THE FULL CIT
COUNCIL MEETING FOR ADOPTION.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR JOINING
US TODAY. THE FINAL ITEM ON
THE AGENDA IS A BRIEF DISCUSSIO
ON THE AUDIT REPORT FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION PERMITTING PROCESS
>> CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ
THE SHORT TITLE INTO THE RECORD
>> AUDIT ON THE CONSTRUCTION
PERMITTING PROCESS FOR BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. WE MADE AN ERROR
ON THE AGENDA TODAY. WE LISTENE
TO THIS FOR 44 -- WE LISTED
THIS AS 40 MINUTES. WE HOPE FOR
THIS TO BE TENTATIVE 15
MINUTES. WE ARE GOING TO COME
BACK IN THE NOVEMBER OR
DECEMBER MEETING FOR A MORE
ROBUST CONVERSATION AND DEEP
DIVE INTO THIS AUDIT. WE HAVE
THE DIRECTOR WITH US TODAY. HE
IS AT A MAYORAL RETREAT SO HE
IS VISITING US DIRECTLY. THANK
YOU FOR BEING WITH US IN TWO
PLACES AT ONCE. WITH THAT, DID
YOU READ THIS AND ALREADY?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
REQUESTED OUT OF THE PERMITTING
PROCESS TO ASSESS HOW THE
PROCESS CAN BE APPROVED. WE
HAVE DAVID JONES, AND ANDREW
WITH THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE
HERE TO GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF
THE REPORT. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO
TAKE IT AWAY FROM HERE. YOU DID
REALLY GREAT WORK. OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
WE WANT TO THANK SDCI. THEY WER
VERY COOPERATIVE DURING THE
AUDIT AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO
MELISSA AND ANDREW WHO IS GOING
TO TAKE YOU, AS YOU REQUESTED ,
AND GIVE YOU A HIGH-LEVEL
OVERVIEW OF OUR AUDIT REPORTS
AND FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS. MELISSA, GO
AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. OUR AUDIT LOOKED
AT THE PROCESS FOR CONSTRUCTION
PERMITS. CONSTRUCTION PERMITS
ARE THINGS LIKE NEW BUILDINGS O
ADDITIONS. WE FOCUSED ON PART
OF THE CONSTRUCTION PERMITTING
PROCESS, WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON
THE SLIDE, AND TAKES HER
CORRECTIONS. WE TRY TO APPROAC
THE WORKS FROM THE CUSTOMERS
PERSPECTIVE. YOU WILL SEE
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
FOCUS ON THINGS CUSTOMERS CARE
ABOUT. LIKE TIMELINESS AND
CONSISTENCY. WE GRIPPED OUR
FINDINGS INTO FOUR CATEGORIES ,
WHICH WE WILL GO THROUGH ON THE
NEXT FEW SLIDES.
>> OUR FIRST CATEGORY HERE WE
WILL DISCUSS, IT IS ABOUT THE
CITY NEEDING TO REINFORCE A
CUSTOMER FOCUS IN THE PERMITTIN
PROCESS. WE HAVE TWO FINDINGS
HERE. THE FIRST IS THAT THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS,
SDCI, SHOULD RE-EVALUATE
TRACKING METHODS AND REPORTING
METHODS TO REDUCE REVIEW TIMES.
IT CREATES INCENTIVE FOR
VIEWERS TO -- CLEAR
APPLICATIONS FROM THEIR VIEW
RATHER THAN FOCUS ON HOW LONG
THE APPLICATION IS TAKING
OVERALL, WHICH IS CRITICAL TO
CUSTOMERS. WE RECOMMEND SDCI
TRACK APPLICATIONS BY A TOTAL
REVIEW TIME, AS THEY ARE BEING
PROCESSED. THE SECOND FINDING
HERE IS THAT SDCI LACKS PROCES
TO RETUNE THE COLLECT CUSTOMER
FEEDBACK. CUSTOMERS ARE
FRUSTRATED WITH ASPECTS OF THE
PERMITTING PROCESS, SUCH AS HOW
LONG IT TAKES , AND KNOWING WHO
TO CONTACT AT THE CITY. WE
RECOMMEND SDCI COMPLETE A RACIA
EQUITY TOOLKIT, WHICH IS AN
INTEGRAL PART OF THE CITY'S RAC
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE ,
AND USE THE RESULTS TO INFORM
THE CREATION OF A STRATEGIC
CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM.
>> OUR SECOND CATEGORY IS ABOUT
TRANSPARENCY AND FAIRNESS. WE
HAVE TWO FINDINGS HERE. WE FOUN
THAT THE CITY DOES NOT
PRIORITIZE CONSTRUCTION PERMIT
APPLICATIONS IN A CONSISTENT
AND TRANSPARENT WAY, WHICH COUL
LEAD TO CUSTOMERS BEING TREATED
UNFAIRLY. WE RECOMMEND SDCI
REVIEW AND FORMALIZE THEIR
PROCESS AND COMMUNICATE THAT TO
CUSTOMERS. OUR NEXT FINDING IS
THAT SDCI CAN DO MORE INTERNALL
TO CREATE A POSSIBLE -- POSITIV
ETHICAL CULTURE. WE HEARD FROM
A LOT OF EMPLOYEES, QUESTIONS
AND CONCERNS AROUND PERCEIVED
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. SOME
EXAMPLES OF THAT ARE THINGS LIK
SECONDARY EMPLOYMENT AND
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS. I WANT
TO BE REALLY CLEAR THAT WE DID
NOT INVESTIGATE ANY OF THE
THINGS WE HEARD TO THE EXTENT
NECESSARY TO SUBSTANTIATE THEM
BUT WE DO KNOW THAT EVEN
PERCEIVED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE
CITY'S ABILITY TO HAVE A FAIR
AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS FOR AL
CUSTOMERS. WE TAKE THAT VERY
SERIOUSLY. WE RECOMMEND SDCI D
MORE WORK TO EVALUATE AND
IMPROVE THEIR ETHICAL CULTURES
TO ASSIST THROUGH TRAINING AN
EXPECTATIONS.
>> OUR THIRD CATEGORY IS HOW
THERE CAN BE A STRONGER CITYWID
APPROACH TO THE PERMITTING
PROCESS. MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS
ARE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.
WHILE SDCI IS SEEN AT SONAR,
THEY CANNOT DIRECT OTHER
DEPARTMENTS. THE FIRST FINDING
HERE IS THAT THE CITY HAS
ENGAGED IN MULTIPLE PRIOR
PERMITTING IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS,
BUT NOW I -- NOT ALL IDENTIFIE
CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE. WE
RECOMMEND PIRATE SIZING PAST
RECOMMENDATIONS, ASSIGN THE
DEPARTMENT AS OWNER, AND TRACK
THEM PUBLICLY. THE SECOND
FINDING HERE IS THAT THERE IS
NOT A UNIFIED APPROACH TO
FUNDING STAFF, NO THERE IS THER
A EFFECTIVE STRATEGY. WE
RECOMMEND THE CITY EVALUATE
GOVERNANCE AND DEPARTMENTS
FUNDING FOR STAFF TO MEET
FLUCTUATIONS . WE RECOMMEND THE
CITY CREATE A STRATEGY TO
SUPPORT SOFTWARE AND BETTER
INTEGRATE DEPARTMENTS USE OF
THIS TECHNOLOGY.
>> OUR LAST TWO FINDINGS ARE
FOCUSED SPECIFICALLY ON THE
CORRECTIONS PROCESS. THAT IS
WHEN PERMIT REVIEWERS TISSUE
COMMENTS OR CORRECTIONS ON THE
PERMIT APPLICATION. WE FOUND
INCONSISTENCIES BOTH IN HOUSE
STAFF ISSUE CORRECTIONS AND HO
SUPERVISORS EVALUATE THE
CORRECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
ISSUED BY THEIR STAFF. TO MAKE
SURE THEY ALIGN WITH SDCI
GUIDELINES. WE MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO STANDARDIZE
THOSE PARTS OF THE PROCESS.
>> I BELIEVE I HAVE THE LAST
SLIGHT HERE. JUST WANT TO SAY
TO THE PUBLIC, ANYONE , YOU CAN
GO AND SEE THIS ADDRESS HEARING
AND READ THE REPORTS. HAS A LOT
MORE DETAILS THAN WHAT MELISSA
AND ANDREW TALKED ABOUT. I AM
PLEASED TO NOTE -- AND YOU CAN
FIND THE APPENDIX B OF THE
REPORT , THAT SDCI GENERALLY
CONCURRED WITH THE
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORTS.
WE ARE PLEASED WITH THAT. JUST
TO REMIND THE VIEWING AUDIENCE,
WE HAVE AN ANNUAL PROCESS WE GO
THROUGH WHEN WE FOLLOW UP ON TH
IMPLEMENTATION STATUS OF EVERY
RECOMMENDATION WE MAKE. WE ARE
GOING TO FOLLOW THESE TO MAKE
SURE WE IDENTIFY WITH THE
IMPLEMENTERS -- I WANT TO
THANK STI STAFF AND MANAGEMENT.
THEY WERE REALLY COOPERATIVE
AND ANSWERED 1 MILLION QUESTION
WE ASKED . WE REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT VERY MUCH. AT THIS POINT,
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION
CHAIR STRAUSS, AND WE WOULD BE
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
YOU OR THE COMMITTEE HAVE FOR
US.
>> WONDERFUL. I WILL MAKE A
COUPLE OF COMMENTS. MAYBE WE CA
RUN THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS
IN THE APPENDIX REALLY BRIEFLY.
THE TOPICS YOU TOUCHED ON, SPO
ON, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK
WHEN I REQUESTED THIS AUDIT,
ANDY HIGGINS HAD TAUGHT ME QUIT
A LOT ABOUT THE PERMITTING
PROCESS. I LOVINGLY JOKED THAT
I WOULD TAKE PERMITTING 101,
201, AND 301. IT IS COMPLEX.
THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT
ISSUES. YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS
HIT ON SOME IMPORTANT KEY
THEMES. ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT I WOULD SAY IS
DIRECTOR , AND I WILL PLACE THE
MIC TO YOU IN A MINUTE, THE
DIRECTOR IS NOT IN THE CHAIN O
COMMAND FOR MANY REVIEW DESKS.
NOT HAVING A SINGULAR PERSON
ABLE TO SAY WE HAVE TO KEEP
THESE PROCESSES MOVING IS A VER
DIFFICULT PROBLEM. IT MUST BE
SOLVED. WHEN I LOOK AT EXHIBIT
TWO IN YOUR AUDIT ABOUT THE
CITY REVIEWS BEYOND ROUND ONE
OF CORRECTIONS NOT MEETING
INTERNAL TARGETS, ROUND ONE, IT
ABSOLUTELY MEETS INTERNAL
TARGETS. WHAT I HAVE HEARD
ANECDOTALLY IS THAT CORRECTION
SHOW UP ON ROUND TWO, THREE,
FOUR AND FIVE, THAT COULD HAVE
BEEN ADDRESSED IN ROUND ONE.
THIS IS ANOTHER AREA I THINK
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WE ARE ABLE
TO ADDRESS, AND SPEAKING TO
YOUR FINDINGS ABOUT THE ETHICAL
CULTURE , HIGHLIGHTING AGAIN YO
DID NOT FIND ANY VIOLATIONS OF
ETHICS HERE. BUT THE PERCEPTION
AND AMBIGUITY CREATES A PROBLE
. DIRECTOR, WE WILL HAVE YOU
SPEAK IN JUST A MINUTE. WE WILL
TALK ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE
BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT TIME W
MEET IN COMMITTEE. BECAUSE
ADDRESSING THIS IS PRETTY
IMPORTANT. I WOULD SAY LET'S RU
THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS
REALLY BRIEFLY. AND THEN
DIRECTOR, I WILL PASS IT OVER T
YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE
SCREEN, OR DID I NOT PREP YOU
FOR THAT? I CAN SHARE SCREEN. I
AM READY. IN MY ALLOWED TO
SHARE SCREEN?
>> YES, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO
SHARE SCREEN.
>> OKAY. I AM JUST GOING TO
SHARE APPENDIX B, AND WE CAN
RAPIDLY RUN THROUGH IT.
APOLOGIES FOR NOT GIVING YOU
MORE NOTICE ON THIS. THERE WE
ARE. APPENDIX B. TELL ME WHEN
YOU WANT ME TO SCROLL.
>> CALL, WE WILL START WITH
RECOMMENDATION ONE, WHICH -- I
KNOW YOU TALKED AT A HIGH LEVEL
WITH WHAT I ASKED FOR. LET'S
JUST JUMP IN.
>> YEAH, THIS ONE SPEAKS TO TH
TIMELINESS OF THE TRACKING OF
THE PROCESS, WHICH , YOU KNOW,
WHAT WE RECOMMEND HERE IS THAT
SDCI RENEWS FOCUS ON THE TOTAL
REVIEW TIME AS PROJECTS ARE
BEING PROCESSED.
>> WRITES.
>> OKAY, THE NEXT RECOMMENDATIO
, WE HAVE AN OFFICE PRACTICE O
LOOKING AT THE CITY'S RACE ,
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND INITIATIVE I
EVERYTHING WE DO. SOME OF THE
THINGS WE LOOK FOR OUR IF THEY
COMPLETED A TOOLKIT, DO THEY
HAVE A WORKPLAN THAT IS
RELEVANT TO THE TOPIC WE ARE
LOOKING AT. BECAUSE THE
PERMITTING PROCESS IS SO
CUSTOMER FOCUSED, WE ARE
RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY
COMPLETE A RACIAL EQUITY TOOL
-- TOOLKIT FOR PERMITTING SO WE
CAN RECOVER SOME POTENTIAL
BARRIERS SOME CUSTOMERS MY FACE
ESPECIALLY CUSTOMERS THAT ARE
NEW TO THE PROCESS OR INFREQUEN
USERS.
>> GOING ON TO RECOMMENDATION
THREE . THIS ONE IS SPEAKING T
OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT SDCI
CREATE A STRATEGIC CUSTOMER
ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH WE SA
HERE , THAT COULD INCLUDE
ESTABLISHING BASELINE DATA FOR
CUSTOMER SERVICE AND
SATISFACTION. DEFINING
PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT RELAT
TO THE STRATEGIC GOALS .
PROCESS TO MONITOR THOSE
PERFORMANCE MEASURES , AND THEN
DEFINE ROLES FOR EMPLOYEES WHO
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTIN
PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS.
>> THANK YOU. ANDREW MELISSA,
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, THE
SCREEN I AM SHARING RIGHT NOW
ALSO SHARES THE RESPONSE FROM
SDCI. I'M HIGHLIGHTING THIS FRO
THE PUBLIC BECAUSE SDCI IS
ALREADY WORKING ON MANY OF THES
THINGS. I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT
WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. RECOMMENDATION
FOUR. SDCI HAS AN INTERNAL
DOCUMENT THEY USE TO PRIORITIZ
PERMIT APPLICATIONS. WE FOUND
THEY DON'T DO A GOOD JOB OF
COMMUNICATING THAT TO CUSTOMERS
SO THAT ALL CUSTOMERS CAN TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF WHAT THAT
PRIORITIZATION IS. WE ARE
RECOMMENDING THAT SDCI LOOK AT
THE PROCESS THEY USE , AND THEN
MAKE IT MORE TRANSPARENT FOR
CUSTOMERS. THE NEXT ONE IS
MINE, TOO. RECOMMENDATION FIVE
AS I MENTIONED, WE HEARD
CONFUSION AND QUESTIONS FROM
EMPLOYEES AS WE WERE GOING ABOU
OUR INTERVIEWS ACROSS DIFFERENT
WORKGROUPS AND DIFFERENT LEVELS
IN THE DEPARTMENT. WHAT WE ARE
LOOKING FOR HERE IS FOR SDCI T
DO MORE RESEARCH TO UNCOVER
WHAT SOME OF THOSE ISSUES ARE
THAT IS CREATING THIS KIND OF
ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THINGS LIK
ANONYMOUS SURVEYS . AND THEN
PROVIDE MORE TRAINING AND
CLARITY TO EMPLOYEES ABOUT WHAT
IS AND WHAT IS NOT ALLOWED TO
REDUCE THE CONFUSION.
>> DIRECTOR, I'M GOING TO GIVE
YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST JUM
IN HERE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE ,
BECAUSE THIS ONE IS ONE I THINK
NOT YVONNE -- I THINK NONE OF
US EXPECTED. I HAVE YOUR
DEPARTMENT RESPONSE HERE, AND
THAT YOU ARE ALREADY WORKING ON
THIS. ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SHAR
ON THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR?
>> I THINK I WILL WAIT FOR MY
CONCLUDING COMMENTS AT THE END
AND I CAN RUN THROUGH A LOT OF
THESE THINGS.
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU,
DIRECTOR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> RECOMMENDATION SIX . THIS
RECOMMENDATION HERE IS ABOUT
OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT THE
CITY SPECIFICALLY THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE HERE, LEAD A COORDINATE
EFFORT TO DOCUMENT
RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THE
PERMITTING PROCESS THAT HAVE
BEEN MADE EITHER THROUGH
CONSULTANT REPORTS , OR EFFORTS
BEING DONE INTERNALLY BY THE
CITY. I THINK WHEN WE WERE
WORKING ON OUR AUDITS, WE DID
FIND THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS ,
AND ONGOING EFFORTS, TO IMPROVE
THE PROCESS. WHAT WE RECOMMEND
HERE IS THAT THE CITY BROADLY
SHOULD TAKE THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS, PRIORITIZE
THEM, ASSIGN AN OWNER WHO WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING THE
IMPLEMENTATION, AND ESTIMATING
DUE DATE FOR IMPLEMENTATION. AN
THEN WE ALSO RECOMMEND THEY BE
TRACKED IN A CENTRAL PUBLIC
PLACE, SUCH AS A DASHBOARD.
>> THE DEPARTMENT, TO ITS CREDI
, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HAS HAD
NUMBER OF STUDIES AND HIRED
CONSULTANTS TO LOOK AT THEM. WE
ARE SEEING THEY ARE SO BUSY
PUTTING OUT FIRES SOMETIMES,
SDCI, THAT SOME OF THESE
IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS GET LOST. IT
WOULD BE A GOOD THING TO KEEP
TRACK OF THEM AND MAKE A
CONSCIOUS DECISION ABOUT WHETHE
OR NOT YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT.
SOMETIMES THEY MAY NOT WANT TO
DO IT AND SOMETIMES THERE MAY B
A GOOD REASON TO NOT FOLLOW
RECOMMENDATIONS. STANDARDIZE AN
SYSTEMIZE IT AS ANDREW SAID.
>> RECOMMENDATIONS SEVEN , WE
RECOMMEND HERE THAT THE BUDGET
OFFICE , ALONG WITH WORKING WIT
OTHER DEPARTMENTS, EVALUATE
GOVERNANCE OF FUNDING STRUCTURE
OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT REVIEW
PERMIT APPLICATIONS , AND
DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT CHANGE
NEED TO BE BE MADE TO BETTER
RESPOND TO CHANGES . SOMETHING
WE LEARNED DURING THE AUDIT IS
THE WAY THE SDCI AND OTHER
DEPARTMENTS ARE ABLE TO FUND
THE STAFF IS DIFFERENT. SDCI I
ABLE TO BETTER RESPOND TO THOS
CHANGES AND DEMANDS AS THE
NUMBER OF PERMITS THAT COME IN
FLUCTUATE.
>> WE DON'T GIVE THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT THE SAME STUFFING AS
WE GIVE THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS,
AND IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT.
>> AS YOU OBSERVED, CHAIR
STRAUSS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT SDCI HAS
TO RELY UPON DURING THE
PERMITTING PROCESS. THERE ARE
SEVEN OTHER DEPARTMENTS
INVOLVED. AS ANDREW WAS SAYING
THE FUNDING STRUCTURES FOR SOME
OF THOSE IS AN IMPEDIMENT. I
CANNOT PUT AS MANY PEOPLE ON TH
PERMIT, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE
FUNDING FLEXIBILITY.
>> WHAT ANDY HIGGINS REMINDS ME
A TEAM OF FOUR LOSES ONE , HAS
25% OF THE WORKFORCE DOWN AS
COMPARED TO A TEAM OF 25 THAT
LOSES TO YOU. I SAID I WASN'T
GOING TO START TALKING, BUT HER
I AM. ON TWO RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> RECOMMENDATION IS ON THE
TECHNOLOGY THE CITY USES TO
PROCESS AND REVIEW PERMITS. WHA
WE ARE RECOMMENDING HERE IS THA
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE DEVELOP A
STRATEGY , WHICH INCLUDES THE
RESOURCES REQUIRED TO IMPLEMEN
IT, TO PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT
FOR THE ONLINE PORTAL USED FOR
PERMITS AND OTHER SOFTWARE
USED. SOMETHING WE LEARNED IS
THAT SINCE THE CURRENT PORTAL
WAS LAUNCHED IN 2018, IT HAS
EXPERIENCED SOME PERFORMANCE
ISSUES . THAT WAS SOMETHING WE
HEARD WAS A SOURCE OF
FRUSTRATION FROM BOTH THE STAF
AT THE CITY AND FOR CUSTOMERS.
RECOMMENDATION MINE IS A
RELATED RECOMMENDATION TO THAT
SDCI SHOULD EVALUATE WHICH
DEPARTMENTS ARE USING IT , THE
ONLINE PERMITTING PORTAL, AND
THEN DETERMINE HOW TO IMPROVE
THE WAY DEPARTMENTS ARE
INTEGRATED INTO ITS USE.
>> I WILL TAKE THE LAST TWO.
THE NEXT TO OUR LITTLE IN THE
WEEDS IN THE CORRECTIONS PART O
THE PROCESS. RECOMMENDATION 10
WHEN WE DID OUR INTERVIEWS, WE
INTERVIEWED A LOT OF CITY STAFF
AND ASKED THEM HOW DO YOU DO
YOUR WORK? HOW DO YOU REVIEW
APPLICATIONS AND DETERMINE WHAT
TO WORK ON EACH DAY. WHAT WE
FOUND IS THAT THERE WERE
INCONSISTENCIES AMONG STAFF AN
HOW THEY ISSUE CORRECTIONS.
WHAT RISES TO THE LEVEL OF AN
OFFICIAL CORRECTION VERSUS WHA
IS A PHONE CALL TO A CUSTOMER.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING MORE
CONSISTENCY HERE SO THAT
CUSTOMERS KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
CITYWIDE. RECOMMENDATION 11 ,
SDCI HAS SOME INTERNAL
GUIDELINES FOR EMPLOYEES ON
WHAT IS A GOOD CORRECTION. HOW
TO MAKE SURE THE CORRECTIONS AR
QUALITY, NECESSARY, REFERENCE
THE CODE , CLEAR. WHEN WE
INTERVIEWED SUPERVISORS, WE
LEARNED SUPERVISORS ARE NOT
CONSISTENTLY EVALUATING THE
CORRECTIONS ISSUED BY THEIR
STAFF. IT IS ONE OF THOSE THING
WHERE IT PROVIDES VALUE, BUT A
PEOPLE UNDERSTANDABLY GET BUSY,
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT
MIGHT FALL LOWER IN THE
PRIORITY LIST. WE ARE ASKING
SDCI TO FIND A CONSISTENT AND
SUSTAINABLE WAY THEY CAN
EVALUATE CORRECTIONS IN THE
FUTURE.
>> THIS AGAIN INVOLVES OTHER
DEPARTMENTS, TOO. MAKING SURE
THEY ARE APPLYING THIS AS
CONSISTENTLY AS POSSIBLE, SO
THEY ARE NOT DOING SOMETHING
DIFFERENT THAT SDI IS DOING
WITH CORRECTIONS.
>> EXACTLY. THANK YOU , TEAM.
THANK YOU FOR RUNNING THROUGH
THOSE . DIRECTOR, DO YOU WANT
ME TO PUT UP ANY SLIDES? I'M
GOING TO STOP SHARING SLIDES.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, IS IT
ALL RIGHT IF WE MAKE THE
DIRECTOR -- ALLOW THE DIRECTOR
TO MAKE COMMENTS. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. AND AUDITORS AND
OFFICE STAFF. I WANT TO THINK
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS EMMA
AUDITORS OFFICE FOR GOING
THROUGH THIS PROCESS . WE TAKE
THIS WORK VERY SERIOUSLY.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS EMMA
AUDITORS OFFICE HAVE BEEN A
GREAT PARTNER THROUGHOUT THIS
PROCESS, AND HAVE KEPT US VERY
MUCH IN THE COMMUNICATION LOOP.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND
WE APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING THER
IN PERSON. I AM A OFF-SITE A
MAYORS CABINET RETREATS. I WANT
TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SD
-- SDCI PURPOSE STATEMENT.
THAT'S HELPING PEOPLE LIVE A
SAFE LIVABLE INCLUSIVE SEATTLE
WE GROUND OUR WORK EVERY DAY IN
EQUITY, QUALITY, INTEGRITY, AND
SERVICE. WHEN I FIRST BECAME
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, WE WENT
THROUGH A DEPARTMENTWIDE
EXERCISE TO GROUNDED THESE
VALUES. IT IS SOMETHING I TAKE
REALLY SERIOUSLY. I AM HERE
EVERY DAY TRYING TO MAKE OUR
DEPARTMENT BETTER. AGAIN, I
APPRECIATE THIS EXAMINATION OF
HOW WE DO PERMITTING. WE HAVE
ALREADY IMPLEMENTED SOME OF TH
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE IN THE
REPORT. WE HAVE PUT OUR PLAN
PRIORITIZATION GUIDELINES ON
OUR PUBLIC FACING WEBSITES.
JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, WE
PRIORITIZE ALL 100% AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PERMITS. THAT IS A HUGE
PRIORITY FOR US. THERE ARE ALSO
KEY COUNCIL AND MAYOR
PRIORITIES THAT ARE VERY
IMPORTANT IN OUR PERMITTING
PROCESS . FOR EXAMPLE -- WAS A
HUGE EXAMPLE FOR OUR ELECTED
OFFICIALS. WE HAVE ALSO
RE-EXAMINED WHICH CITY EMPLOYEE
NEED TO FILL OUT OUR FINANCIAL
INTEREST STATEMENT, AND WE NOW
HAVE A PROCESS TO DOUBLE CHECK
THAT ALL THE -- APPLICABLE
EMPLOYEES ARE FILLING OUT THE
FORM. WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON
METRICS TO TRACK THE OVERALL
PERMITTING TIMELINES. NOT JUST
TO FOCUS ON HOW LONG THE FIRST
CORRECTION PROCESS TAKES , BUT
FOR US TO GET A COMPLETE IDEA
WHERE CHANGES SHOULD BE MADE
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. WE LOO
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE TO ADDRESS OTHER
KEY ITEMS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED
IN THE AUDIT, AND ALWAYS LOOKIN
FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR CUSTOME
EXPERIENCE . CONSISTENCY AND
CORRECTION LETTERS WAS CITED IN
THE PRESENTATION FROM THE
AUDITOR, THAT IS A HUGE ISSUE
FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. WE ARE
WORKING WITH OUR CHANGE TEAM O
A RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKITS,
FOCUSED ON SPECIFIC AREAS OF TH
PERMITTING PROCESS. THAT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT. IN DECEMBER,
WE WILL BE OPENING A KIOSK ON
THE FOURTH FLOOR OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL TOWER , THAT WILL BE
CO-STAFFED BY SDCI AND SDOT
STREET USE. THAT IS FOR PEOPLE
WHO LACK COMPUTER SKILLS , OR
OTHERWISE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE
NAVIGATING OUR VIRTUAL COACHING
OR ONLINE TOOLS . THAT IS SUPER
IMPORTANT FOR MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC . WE ARE CURRENTLY
WORKING ON A NEW CUSTOMER CARE
TEAM THAT WILL FUNNEL ALL
CUSTOMER QUESTIONS. ONE OF THE
CHALLENGES IS THE PERMITTING
PROCESS IS VERY COMPLICATED. A
LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC,
WHETHER THEY ARE GETTING AN
APPLICATION FOR THE FIRST TIME,
OR JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
IS GOING ON IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY HAVE NO IDEA
WHERE TO START OR WHO TO
CONTACT. THAT CUSTOMER CARE TEA
WILL BE A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ALL
OF THOSE FOLKS. WE ARE WORKING
WITH ETHICS AND ELECTIONS ON
SPECIFIC ETHICAL GUIDELINES
UNIQUE TO SDCI AND THE
PERMITTING PROCESS. I AM IN
DISCUSSION WITH WAYNE BARNETT
ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO THAT . WE
ARE INCREASING OUR REQUIRED
TRAINING . I AM PLEASED THAT
THE ETHICS TRAINING IS NOW
AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR STAFF . I
HAVE PREVIOUSLY CONSULTED WITH
THE ELECTIONS AND ETHICS ON
INDIVIDUAL SCENARIOS UNIQUE TO
SDCI, TO ENSURE OUR ETHICAL
PRACTICES ARE BEING FOLLOWED.
WE WILL BE ISSUING MORE SPECIFI
GUIDELINES AND DISCLOSURE FOR
SDCI EMPLOYEES WHO MAY BE
PURSUING PERMITS WITHIN THE
CITY. OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE
EMPLOYEES THAT LIVE IN THE CIT
AND NEED TO GET PERMITS. THEY
MAY BE DOING A HOME REMODEL.
THERE'S ONLY ONE PLACE THEY CAN
GET A PERMIT. WE ARE ALSO AWARE
THAT THERE ARE SOME SDCI
EMPLOYEES WHO MAY BE DEVELOPING
A TRIPLEX IN THE CITY ON THEIR
OWN INITIATIVE , AND AGAIN
HAVING MORE SPECIFIC ETHICAL
GUIDELINES FOR HOW THEY GO ABOU
THE PROCESS. I JUST WANT TO
STATE THAT WE MEET WITH THE
VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS AND
COMMUNITY GROUPS ON A REGULAR
BASIS TO DISCUSS A WIDE VARIET
OF ISSUES . WE RECEIVED FEEDBAC
FROM THESE GROUPS , AND IN OTHE
CASES WE PROVIDE RESOURCES.
LAST WEEKEND WE HAD SIX LIVE
VIRTUAL LECTURES FOR THE PUBLIC
ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS.
EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS ,
LANDSLIDES, HOW TO RETROFIT YOU
HOME , RENTING IN SEATTLE .
TOMORROW, I AM SUPER EXCITED .
WE ARE HAVING OUR OWN HOME FAI
AT THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY CENTE
IN SOUTHEAST SEATTLE. THIS IS
GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
BRING STAFF TO THE COMMUNITY
AND ANSWER A VARIETY OF
QUESTIONS FOR HOMEOWNERS AND
RENTERS. I JUST WANT TO
CONCLUDE BY SAYING AGAIN, THAN
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, AND
THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE . WE ARE
HARD AT WORK ON THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS. AGAIN, WE TAKE
THIS VERY SERIOUSLY. I LOOK
FORWARD TO COMING BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE SOMETIME LATER THIS
YEAR TO REPORT ON OUR PROGRESS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
DIRECTOR, AND AGAIN, THAT WAS
MORE ROBUST THAN I WAS
EXPECTING. I DID NOT REALIZE HO
MUCH WORK YOU HAVE ALREADY
ACCOMPLISHED. I WILL GIVE YOU
THE CHARGE. LET'S GET MORE DONE
BEFORE THE NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING. AGAIN I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE YOU ARE HERE
REPRESENTING SEVEN DEPARTMENTS
IN WHICH YOU ARE NOW CONTROL O
ALL OF THEM. I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT. COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, I'M GOING TO PASS IT
OVER TO YOU FOR HIGH-LEVEL
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS . I WILL
NOTE WE ARE TRYING TO WRAP UP
COMMITTEE IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES
OR SO.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, FOR
REQUESTING THIS REPORT . MANY
THANKS TO THE CITY AUDITOR TEAM
FOR THIS PERFORMANCE AUDIT
REGARDING THE PERMITTING
PROCESS. SIMILAR TO THE AUDITOR
ON BRIDGES YOU COMPLETED IN
2020. HE PRODUCED ANOTHER REPOR
PROVING THE BENEFITS OF THE CIT
AUDITOR'S OFFICE, WHICH IS AS
THE PUBLIC MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW,
THE LEGISLATIVE BLENDS OF --
BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT.
SIMILAR TO THE -- THE CITY
AUDITOR NOT ONLY HELPS US TO
DISCOVER PROBLEMS, MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS, MONITOR THE
VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, BUT ALSO
FINDS BUDGET SAVINGS FOR SOME O
YOUR PROJECTS. I WOULD JUST WAN
TO HIGHLIGHT THE SUPPORT
PROVIDING THE OFFICE WITH
ADDITIONAL BANDWIDTH AS PART OF
THE BUDGET PROCESS OVER THE
NEXT FEW WEEKS. YESTERDAY ,
OCTOBER 19th, THE NEWS OUTLET
HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE FINDING
AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE
AUDITS. WE JUST GOT THIS IN OUR
NEWS CLIPS THIS MORNING. AUDIT
HAS NEPOTISM. WHEN WE HAVE THI
ITEM RETURNED TO THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE, THE PUBLIC MAY WANT
TO SEE MORE INFORMATION AND
SPECIFICS, AND THAT COULD
INCLUDE MORE ABOUT WHAT THE
AUDIT MENTIONS ON PAGES NINE AN
10 REGARDING ACCESS. I
APPRECIATE THE DIRECTOR
MENTIONING SOME OF THE WORK THA
IS ALREADY STARTING TO ADDRESS
THIS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN. I THINK THE AUDITORS
USE MORE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAN
THAT. WITH THE AUDITORS TEAM
LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT? YOU
DON'T HAVE TO . OR DIRECTOR .
GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO
RESPOND TO THE WORDS USED.
>> PARTICULARLY SINCE YOU'RE
GOING TO HAVE US COME BACK, WE
THINK COMMENTS SPEAK FOR
THEMSELVES. WE APPRECIATE THE
DIRECTORS EFFORTS TO WORK ON
IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATION
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE ARE
REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, FO
YOUR STEADFAST SUPPORT OF OUR
OFFICE. WE APPRECIATE THAT. THA
MEANS A LOT TO US. THANK YOU.
>> DIRECTOR, ANYTHING YOU WANT
TO SHARE HERE? I KNOW YOU
ALREADY HARD AT WORK BERKOWITZ
ALSO SAY, WITHIN RECOMMENDATION
FIVE, THE AUDITORS NEUTERED TH
LEADERSHIPS DEDICATED COMMITMEN
TO THE ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR,
ALSO KNOWN AS TONE AT THE TOP.
JUST READING THAT INTO THE
RECORD. FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC
YOU CAN READ THE ENTIRE AUDIT O
THE AUDITOR'S WEBSITE.
DIRECTOR, ANY LAST WORDS TO
SHARE FROM YOU?
>> AGAIN, WE NEED TO DOUBLE DOW
AND EDUCATE OUR STAFF ON OUR
PLAN PRIORITIZATION MATRIX. AN
WHY SOME PERMITS ARE PRIORITIZE
OVER OTHERS, AND MAKE SURE STAF
THOROUGHLY UNDERSTANDS THAT. TH
PRIORITIZATION IS AVAILABLE ON
THE WEBSITE.
>> WONDERFUL. I LOOK FORWARD TO
HAVING YOU AND ALL SIX OTHER
DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS BACK AT
THE TABLE. JUST CHECKING,
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
? WITH THAT, I WANT TO SAY THAN
YOU, ANDREW, MELISSA, REALLY
GREAT WORK. MELISSA I KNOW YOU
ARE LEADING THIS GREAT WORK.
DAVID JONES, I ALWAYS APPRECIAT
YOU. DIRECTOR, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR PROMPT RESPONSES ALREADY.
WAS NOT AWARE YOU WERE ALREADY
UNDERWAY WITH YOUR
RESPONSIVENESS TO THIS AUDITS,
AND IT DEMONSTRATES YOUR GOOD
LEADERSHIP. MORE TO DO . USING
YOUR WORDS, WE HAVE TO DOUBLE
DOWN TO MAKE THESE IMPROVEMENTS
WE WILL HAVE THIS GROUP BACK
AT A FUTURE LAND-USE MEETING.
WITH NO FURTHER ITEMS, THIS DOE
CONCLUDE THE FRIDAY OCTOBER
20th, 2023 LAND-USE COMMITTEE
MEETING. THE NEXT MEETING IS A
SPECIAL MEETING ON NOVEMBER
29th, 2023 AT 2:00. THANK YOU
FOR ATTENDING. WE ARE ADJOURNED
BUDGET COMMITTEE STARTS IN 30
MINUTES.