Officials and Guests in Attendance
All committee members (Strauss, Pederson, Lewis, Juarez, Mosqueda, González), SDCI (Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections), Seattle City Light, Council Central Staff (Ho and Freeman). Everyone was prepared and respectful.
 
Accessing the Meeting and Materials
The meeting started on time and I was able to watch the whole meeting. The agenda was available, including supplementary material such as the presentation slides. The link to agenda and meeting link were centralized.
 
Summary of Discussion
The agenda was followed.
 
Public comment:
More than 12 comments in favor of strengthening and expanding energy code. Comments from a wide variety of folks, from an architect, engineer, Duwamish land occupant, and more.
Highlights:

• Extend code to all buildings, not just hotels and multifamily. All buildings should be required to use electricity for water heating.

• Construction should commence immediately instead of in 2022 because we have all necessary material. This is urgent because climate change and pollutions affect vulnerable and bipoc communities the most. Need an amendment to remove delay.
• Energy code updates will help achieve 2050 climate goals regarding greenhouse gas emission levels. Buildings are a source of 1/3 of climate pollution, and Seattle’s recent greenhouse gas report shows more is needed to meet its goals.
• Architects are part of a 2030 commitment to clean energy buildings that already meet or exceed the Seattle proposed building code, so in support.
• Significant infrastructure and jobs will be created! Strong support from labor groups.
  Proven benefits for affordable housing providers.
  
  

Agenda item 1: Overview of Proposed Construction Code Changes
Presentation by Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI).
2018 Seattle Code Changes Overview:

• Purpose: Build a safe, livable, and inclusive Seattle.
  • Code changes includes tsunami provisions, provisions for wood high rises, sprinklers to townhouse construction. Code changes contribute to a more sustainable and livable city. Code provides new requirements for gender-neutral restrooms.
• 2018 Seattle Energy Code doesn’t touch low rise or single family houses.
• Major issues solved with 2018 energy code:
  • Heat pump space heating (not electric resistance or fossil fuel water heating)
    • For multifamily and hotels with central domestic water heating, we no longer allow electric resistance or fossil fuel water heating equipment.
      • Lighting power restrictions
      • Energy modeling: Metric for calculation will now be carbon emissions. Sets restrictions for carbon emissions in buildings.
      • Limits on sub-standard envelope (heat loss in buildings)
      • Major issues solved with all other codes from 2018:
        • Timber code, gender neutral restrooms, tsunami loads, increased seismic load (for buildings with high seismic activity), townhouse automatic sprinklers, habitable attic changes, sleeping lofts, tiny houses, mechanical code (smoke filtration), electrical code (electrical vehicle charging infrastructure, calculated electric load for advanced heat pump systems), plumbing code (air admittance valve.)
      • Questions:
        • Lewis: Why aren’t the energy codes extended to commercial buildings?
          • Dwayne (SDCI): Hotel and multifamily water loads are relatively predictable, so it’s easy to size those systems. However, with commercial buildings, there’s a lot more variability in hot water needs depending on who leases spaces (e.g. retail stores vs. gyms). Could be extended, but would be tricky for engineers. However, it’s doable.
          • Lewis: I’ve already affirmed my interest that I’d like to create this amendment.
        • Does the city’s current electrical grid have the capacity to comply with these new standards?
          • Julie (Seattle City Light): Buildings with this code will have much less energy use because of energy efficiency requirements. Code requirements shifting from fossil fuel to electricity may cause localized impacts to electricity infrastructure, but they believe it’s manageable.
            
            

Agenda item 2: CB 119978 Ordinance relating to floodplains. Presentation by Maggie Glowacki, Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections.

• Interim floodplain regulations extension (shorter version of presentation from Dec.):
  July 2020 Ordinance 126113 passed, establishing interim floodplain development regulations (contain building codes and standards making homes, businesses, and people safer from flooding.)
• FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) produced updated flood maps. Regulations due to expire Feb. 24 2021. If not extended, occupants in floodplain areas may not be able to purchase flood insurance.
• Need additional time to evaluate properties not mapped by FEMA but by SPU as “flood prone” to determine if other areas need to be included in floodplain regulations.
• Public outreach completed to date: project webpage, 2400 postcards mailed to owners of property in FEMA floodplain mapped areas, over 360 subscribers to the regulations update email list.
• Questions:
  • Peterson: Did any of the high waters from the other day affect the South Park Neighborhood example (a floodplain covered by SPU but not FEMA.)?
    • Maggie: FEPA is keeping track of how areas are affected by high tide days.
    • SPU has flood level maps as well as water level maps.
      • Are we including unincorporated land in Duwamish?
    • Maggie: We can only include Seattle area.
      • But unincorporated still affected by floodwater. Want to see whole picture in greater King County for those who still use same roads, resources, buildings, etc.
    • Maggie: Can get maps.

 
Public hearing:
Vote for passage of bill, initiated by Chair Strauss: Pederson: Y, Lewis: Y, Juarez: Y, Mosqueda : Y, González : Y

Observer Note
I came in 15 minutes later, after the call to order, approval of agenda, and 10min. public comment. The public comment seemed adequate. Each speaker had was given two minutes and Liebowitz and guests gave their input.
 
Summary of Discussion
Public hearing on 314461, proposed by Martin Liebowitz
Advocating for rezoning to add business districts to residential areas, to increase access to businesses and amenities for residents.

​- Frida in support of rezone 314461. People shouldn’t have to travel far to get
what they need.

- Abigail: Height limit would not be different, it’s more an issue of consistency. If
this is commercial zoning, it will be hard to develop in future.

- CM Pedersen: ”Will trees be removed for this?” (Response: There’s no applications/ proposals at the time, so effect on trees will be subject to whatever restrictions are in effect at the time.) Pedersen hopes the tree ordinance will be passed by then.
 
SDCI and OSE Tree Protections Update: Sandra Urrutia (OSE).
Seattle.gov/trees provides more details. Explains process they have undergone thus far, and what they will need to do for this regulation to be passed and approved by the mayor.

- Chanda Emery (Dpt of Construction and Inspections) on public outreach method and collaboration with other groups: Comments received from public input asked us to go further. Working with other city departments to acquire updated tree canopy data. Reaching out to local arborist companies on best practices and existing tree codes. Next steps: Tailored outreach effort to reach BIPOC residents living in low-income neighborhoods.

- Council Member Pedersen: “Do you have a timeline for next steps?” (Response: Discussing public outreach, formulation of recommendation, and code analysis with mayor. Will hopefully have the timeline soon. Difficult to have specific dates with COVID-19 and the need to prioritize certain issues.)
 
Preliminary briefing for Extension of Interim Floodplain Regulations: Maggie Glowacki (Department of Construction and Inspections).
Regulations contain building codes and standards making homes and businesses safer from flooding. Apply to permit applications for construction within floodplain-mapped areas, which are currently mapped by FEMA. Previous regulations due to expire Feb. 2021. If regulations are not extended, property owners in FEMA floodplain areas may not be able to purchase floodplain insurance (either for new owners or for those whose policies expired.) Extension needed to review additional flood areas not mapped by FEMA, but by other floodplain area maps (such as SPU) to see if additional areas need to be included in the regulations. Public input has also taken longer than expected.

- CM Strauss: Are there any changes in this legislation other than extending the
interim regulations? (Response: No)

- CM Strauss: Why is it taking longer than expected? (Response: COVID, and also did not have listserv on property owners in floodplain areas, especially Duwamish area. Also sent postcards to property owners to redirect to website and email list. Also want to do due diligence to look at SPU’s floodplain areas instead of solely FEMA.)

- CM Strauss: Have we heard any opposition to these regulations since this has been in place for quite some time? (Response: Feedback from port staff on how regulations will impact if people redevelop on top of pier. Working with staff at FEMA to see if other areas experienced this issue, and the best way to address that. Public outreach with Duwamish Area walking through property owners on how they would be affected by regulations. Did not receive any specific concerns raised by the property owners. Pursuing a yearlong extension to provide more robust time instead of interim measures.)