The race for Seattle City Council in District 1, representing West Seattle and South Park is now underway with incumbent Lisa Herbold declaring her re-election campaign, and challengers Phillip Tavel, Brendan Kolding and Jesse Green having declared their candidacy. Westside Seattle generated a list of questions on the issues facing District 1 and beyond and asked the candidates to respond. Only Jesse Green failed to respond. A fourth registered candidate Isiah Willoughby could not be reached.

 

1.Development is a serious issue in Seattle with impacts on taxes, infrastructure, local business and quality of life. What can be done to mitigate those impacts and preserve the character of existing neighborhoods in District 1?

HERBOLD: Impacts of development are most driven by 2 factors, the pace of development and investment in infrastructure to address impacts.  We are the nation’s fastest growing city, adding 100,000 new residents since 2011, yet we have a backlog of infrastructure investments that are also impacting our cities affordability because of our reliance on property taxes and utility rates to build major infrastructure projects that support development.  Most nearby cities, such as Bellevue, use impact fees.  We’ve begun to implement utility impact fees & to enact transportation impact fees to insure that those most benefiting from economic development in our city don’t do so at the expense of everyone.

TAVEL: The city must work harder to include neighborhoods earlier in the discussion process and to make sure that our neighborhood plans are properly updated. Neighborhood Planning is not a one size fits all process and it must be done on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis. That level of planning ensures that as we grow as a city we don't lose those characteristics that make our neighborhoods so special to us.  There is no reason to ignore our past in a race to prepare for the future.

KOLDING: We need to be very careful and intentional with development.  All development must be done with an eye for maintaining livability and quality of life.  We are already seeing schools get overcrowded, and traffic on the West Seattle Bridge has never been worse.  The way to preserve the character of the existing neighborhoods in District 1 is to ensure that increases in residential capacities are only made when they can be accommodated by local schools and the transportation infrastructure.

On a related note, the Seattle Police Department plays a critical role in the quality of life in District 1.  Officers respond to calls for service, engage in proactive police work aimed at keeping our streets safer, conduct follow-up investigations, host community outreach events, and provide other important community services.  However, officers do not currently feel supported by City Council.  Many of them are leaving the Department, and hiring has not been able to keep up with attrition.  This is a public safety crisis, and it is critical that we get someone on City Council who understands and supports law enforcement!

     

2. Continuing on the housing issue what are your thoughts on the MHA bill and the city’s plan to build 6000 affordable new units?

HERBOLD: We need more affordable housing in Seattle; demand for affordable units has outstripped supply for years, and not enough affordable units are getting built. Given that the market isn’t providing enough affordable housing, action is needed. A small amount of additional zoning capacity will allow us to enact a new requirement for developers to contribute to affordable housing.  It must be done in coordination with the affected communities.

That’s why I’ve worked with D1 communities in the Morgan and West Seattle Junctions, Westwood-Highland Park, and Alki to propose legislative amendments to MHA that directs added zoning capacity in a way that most serves those communities.

Furthermore,I proposed a $29 million bond sale to build affordable housing which the Council adopted in 2017.

TAVEL: The city must effectively engage with community to focus on individualized neighborhood planning "In lieu of" fees must be increased.

Neighborhoods who take the up-zone should be guaranteed that funds made available through development in their community will stay in their community; for the purpose of building more affordable housing where the development occurred. 

KOLDING: While I am in favor of affordable housing, I am discouraged by the MHA.  The provision that allows developers to pay a fee instead of building affordable housing units is an exception that swallows the rule.  The result is upzoning without additional affordable housing.  This is counterproductive.

 

3. What are the prioritized positive steps we can take to improve the homelessness issue facing Seattle and the region? What’s first?

HERBOLD: The action of the Mayor and County Executive to focus on regional coordination regional level is an important step. Seattle can’t solve homelessness alone.

King County is short 14,000 units of housing for people experiencing homelessness.  Seattle has an affordability gap of 27,500 units.  And a King County audit found that found even if no new people were added to the list, it would take more than seven years for people on waiting lists for housing to become housed.  Homeless service providers exited more than 3,500 people out of homelessness into permanent housing in the first 3 quarters of 2018. Because so many who have housing are paying more than they can afford, with 26,250 people earning less than $22k annually spending more than half of their income on housing, just as many people are becoming homeless as we are moving out of homelessness.

We will not be able to address the level of need without doubling our investment in affordable housing.  King County spends about $200 million annually on affordable housing.  The McKinsey report found that we need to double it.  The State Legislature will be working to double the Housing Trust Fund (funded with real estate fees) but that still won’t be enough.  I believe that the City should turbo-charge low-income housing development with a modest annual housing bond.

TAVEL: Homelessness is clearly the most visible issue in Seattle today, and far too many people are suffering.  The city must work harder to provide more wrap around services, including more shelter space, transitional and affordable housing options, which need to come online more rapidly than currently planned.

The city must also review funding and deliverables associated with this critical issue.

Strengthen outreach and partnerships with the private sector/NGO's who are most effective at working on these issues.   Work with internal city departments and external jurisdictions and agencies to discuss, review and track the regional approach developed by the County.

Make sure that we properly fund and staff our police and fire departments. 

KOLDING: The first step is to create a regional network of FEMA-style tents.  The tents will be organized in a fashion that allows for specific accommodation of the diverse needs and circumstances that people have.  (E.g., families, people with pets, people who need mental health care, etc.)  There will need to be an intake/triage process to ensure that people are sent to the tent that best suits their needs.  Once the immediate necessity of shelter has been arranged, people will be provided with concentrated services, to include housing assistance, job placement, substance abuse treatment, etc.  The goal will be to elevate people off the street and into a situation where they can lead dignified, productive lives.

Once this network is established, our service providers will be able to offer assistance to anyone who appears to be experiencing homelessness.  Those who are willing to take advantage of the services will be provided with the opportunity to gather their things and accept transportation to the right facility.  Those who choose not to accept services will have to seek another living arrangement for themselves; illegal camping and parking activities will no longer be an option.  Those who refuse to act on either of the above options may be subject to enforcement proceedings.

 

4. What is your impression of Camp Second Chance?

HERBOLD: I’ve visited Camp Second Chance several times and find it to be a safe and secure community that is well-run and has pulled together the D1 community towards caring and supporting its members with open hearts.  Tiny Homes at Camp Second Chance are sponsored by Alki UCC, Fauntleroy UCC, the Center for American Buddhism, as well as businesses & individuals who build with the residents every Sunday.

Officials from Kitsap County, including the Kitsap County Sheriff visited Camp Second Chance last week because they’d like to replicate the model in their jurisdiction.

I will continue to work with the surrounding neighborhoods, in particular Highland Park where i live, to get more city investment to address needs related to public safety and necessary communication with Camp Second Chance in order to trouble-shoot issues of concerns as they arise.

TAVEL: The model and community involvement have showed some strong results. However, the city must fulfill on earlier promises made to Highland Park regarding infrastructure improvements such as the roundabout at Holden & 16th, which should have been addressed, but seem to have stalled.

An ongoing review of the efficiencies associated with the administration of the site is also a priority.

KOLDING: I admire and appreciate the people who have organized this camp.  It provides space for people who otherwise would be living out in public.  However, this is not a sustainable solution to the overwhelming homelessness crisis that we are experiencing.  As stated above, I maintain that the solution to the homelessness crisis is the creation of a regional network of FEMA-style tents offering concentrated services.

 

5. What can the City do to work with the Microsoft housing initiative?

HERBOLD: First of all, I’d like to thank Microsoft for taking this step. It’s my hope that they’ll direct use of these funds toward affordable housing.The challenge we face is that of 62,000 units of market rate housing built in King County since 2010, 85% are luxury units.  It’s not clear whether the loans proposed by Microsoft will encourage for-profit developers to build more reasonably priced housing, or  how non-profit low-income housing builders would use these loans and be able to pay them off.  A similar loan program, also about $500 million, found that beyond one Pioneer Square project, “they haven’t seen a single other major developer go after the middle-income projects commonly known as workforce housing.”

Though Housing Trust Silicon Valley, an operator of a housing-loan program in the Bay Area, calls middle-income the housing community’s “hardest nut to crack,” it’s good that the Mayor is trying to make these loans work here.

TAVEL: Microsoft suggested working on changing zoning restrictions and speeding up permitting processes in order to utilize their money more rapidly, and that strikes me as a good start.

KOLDING: This initiative appears to be in it’s very early stages.  The City needs to reach out to Microsoft and indicate a willingness to work with them toward our common goal of affordable housing.

6. What are your thoughts on the City Center Streetcar? With an estimate construction cost of $286 million and $28 million annual operating budget is it worth it?

HERBOLD: I have long opposed the city’s investment in the Center City Streetcar—I don’t think it’s a good use of our limited transportation resources I appreciate the Mayor’s commitment to providing realistic cost estimates, in contrast to the previous administration and SDOT leadership.  I have also long questioned whether the streetcar is truly a transportation project or whether it’s a “shopping shuttle” to serve primarily economic development interests as Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat did as well recently.

With i. construction cost estimates exactly double – a 100% increase from the 2015 estimate, ii. a potential $110 million construction funding gap, and iii. an annual operations funding gap (i.e. city subsidy) of $18 million by 2025, I strongly believe that our proposed investment in the streetcar should be shifted to address our backlog of transportation needs.

 

Citation: Mayor Durkan’s January Report

 

TAVEL: Transportation equity and existing Infrastructure improvements should be the first priority throughout Seattle.  The needs of our neighborhoods may often appear to be competitive and the city often pits neighbor against neighbor during these processes.  Our team is conducting an extensive review on this issue, however, my initial response is there are higher needs, several in D1, for the use of these funds.

KOLDING: No.  For a fraction of that amount of money, we could work with King County Metro to increase bus service.

 

7. What is your position on eviction reform?

HERBOLD: In a meeting of my Council committee on eviction reform, it was heart-rending to hear from a mother of three who faced eviction on three days’ notice due to being $2 behind on her rent.  The Seattle Times has covered this harrowing story. She and her children faced homelessness, which highlights how important eviction reform is to homelessness prevention.

A recent Seattle Women’s Commission study highlights the connection between eviction reform and homelessness prevention: it found that of persons evicted surveyed, only 12.5% of evicted respondents found another rental, 37.5% were completely unsheltered, 25.0% living in a shelter or transitional housing, and 25% staying with family or friends.

Major findings were:

Of one-tenant household evictions with $100.00 or less owed, 81% were women.

Of 1,035 evictions, 86.5% were for nonpayment of rent and 52.3% of nonpayment of rent cases were for a month or less in rent.

In response to these findings, I drafted legislation committing to explore strategies included in the report to improve eviction processes and prevent more evicted tenants from becoming homeless.

Preventing homelessness through eviction reform is also much more cost-effective than addressing people once they become homeless.

TAVEL: We support all efforts to strike a better balance between landlords and tenants, especially in a time when we are trying to help people remain in their homes.

KOLDING: We need to approach eviction reform as part of our overall strategy to combat homelessness.  Obviously, landlords need to have the ability to evict tenants who break their leases.  Many people purchase rental properties in order to generate income and save for retirement, and it can be devastating for them to not receive rent payments.  However, renters can sometimes find themselves in a bind where they have to make the choice between paying rent or buying groceries.  It is in everyone’s best interests to prevent people from becoming homeless, so the City needs to develop the capacity to support tenants in a manner suited directly to their needs.  For some, a one-time grant of $100 could be all they need.  Others may need assistance with finding a new residence.  Regardless, as we work to solve the homelessness crisis, we need to be doing what we can to prevent additional people from becoming homeless.

 

8. What kind of light rail station do you favor in the West Seattle Junction?

HERBOLD: I am a member of the ST3 Elected Leadership Group.  We advise the Sound Transit Board.  As a member, I have supported the proposed tunnel station options for the West Seattle Junction.

TAVEL: Underground.

KOLDING: I am in favor of an elevated station.  An underground station would be the most expensive option and would take longer to build.  A ground-level station would cause safety hazards and disrupt other forms of traffic.  An elevated station would strike the right balance between safety, cost, and impact on traffic.

 

9. Many people cite transportation related concerns as among the most important. What can the City Council do to address the issue?

HERBOLD: We first need to make sure transportation dollars are used for transportation priorities- not shopping shuttles.  Secondly we can’t foot the bill for companies like Pronto; I was one of only two Councilmembers who voted against the City purchasing Pronto. Later, I removed funding for operations from the City budget, leading to its closure, and ending the ongoing financial losses to the City.  Thirdly we need better accountability and oversight of our transportation projects, like the approach that I have implemented with the City’s new Capital Projects Oversight requirements.

Lastly, we need those most benefiting growth to contribute towards the resulting transportation infrastructure needs.  In 2017, through Resolution 31732, the Council docketed consideration of impact fees. It is a long, arduous but necessary process. Most local cities have transportation impact fees. I wrote about my commitment to this effort here.  Council planned to, in December 2018, consider Comp Plan amendments necessary to create a transportation impact fee program.
Unfortunately, two appeals were filed to oppose the Transportation Impact Fee amendment. Several jurisdictions in Washington State already use transportation impact fees and after the City prevails in the appeal, I will work to bring these amendments forward.

TAVEL: The city must focus on efforts to Improve civic engagement throughout these discussions.   As mentioned above, transportation equity is a key issue and impacts community members in many of our D1 communities, like Highland Park, and across our entire city.  SDOT and other agencies must be directed to work with communities in advance of implementing changes such as removing parking, removing lanes of travel, shortening lanes of travel, and putting aesthetics ahead of efficiency. Studies should also be conducted at both peak and down times of traffic, during different times of the week, and during different times of the year before they are considered to be a truly representative of the data needed to effectively plan and implement a project.

KOLDING: We need to enhance our public transportation offerings and develop programs that incentivize carpool commuting.  Many people live in District 1 because of its proximity to downtown Seattle, but the peninsula makes commuting tricky.  The key is to use the fewest vehicles possible in a way that works for people.      

 

10. City Light is being sued in a class action regarding the large bills people who have had new meters installed are getting. What can the city do to deal with the issue of over-billing?

HERBOLD:  My office spends a significant amount of staff time helping constituents resolve their utility bills.  Seattle City Light staffers work hard to address these issues but more needs to be done. One example reported in the Seattle Times was a couple who were “completely ignored for two months when they tried to address a $2,002.04 bill that was three times larger than their largest bill. They eventually received $1,241.98 credit.

The recent Audit ordered on Seattle City Light to look at its billing practices will guide the Council in helping to address the relief needed by our ratepayers.

TAVEL: This has been a very serious matter resulting in negative impacts to customers across the city.  I recently talked with a local business owner who experienced a 600% increase in his bill.  More outreach to the public is needed and the city must reimburse customers immediately.

KOLDING: We need a comprehensive audit to make sure that anyone who has been over-billed is reimbursed.  We also need to work to make sure that the technology is reliable and that over-billing will no longer be an issue.

 

11. The roads in West Seattle (and the rest of the city) seem to keep slipping further down the priority and budget list, despite increasing density. What can be done to improve roads?

HERBOLD:  SDOT’s paving plan needs to prioritize failed segments and geographic equity. The original 2016-2024 paving plan for the Move Levy adopted by voters in 2015 included Avalon and 35th to Alaska; Roxbury from 16th to 35th in 2021; and 35th SW between Morgan and Roxbury in 2023.

SDOT has proposed to revise the paving plan to remove both the 35th and Roxbury projects, and added only Delridge Way SW from Sylvan Way to the West Seattle Bridge entrance.  Of paving projects completed or underway, none are in District 1Though work on Avalon will begin next summer, only two of the 18 projects now planned through 2024 are in District 1.  Two of the nine projects proposed for delay are in District 1.

I’ve heard more constituent complaints about the condition of 35th Avenue SW than any other major arterial. The 2015 SDOT Asset Management Report confirmed that portions of 35th are in terrible shape.

Through a budget amendment I have required that the Council approve the new, revised Move Levy spending plan before SDOT is authorized to implement the new plan this year.  I will work to ensure that the new paving plan prioritizes failed segments of our arterials for repair.

TAVEL: Most recently I was working with West Seattle Bowl and SDOT to look at the intersection of Oregon and 39th which dearly needs attention. One of the best ways to keep road issues from slipping down in priorities is for our representative to keep on top of SDOT until the necessary improvements are made.  The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and in this case, the noisy rep gets the pot hole filled.  

KOLDING: We need to appropriate enough money into the budget to improve our roads.  That simply must be a priority, and it can be done with existing resources.  I propose a top-down review of City financials to identify and remedy the inefficiencies that have undoubtedly impacted the service that the City has been providing.  Appropriate stewardship of tax dollars is paramount!