DOCSLIB.ORG

Seattle Times Article New City Council Bill Would Temporarily Loosen

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Seattle Times Article New City Council Bill Would Temporarily Loosen New city council bill would temporarily loosen restrictions on home-based businesses in Seattle Callie Craighead, Seattle P-I Feb. 24, 2021Updated: Feb. 24, 2021 3:25 p.m. 3 1of3 Yonder Cider Yonder Cider via Yelp • • • A new bill being considered in the Seattle City Council's Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee could loosen land use restrictions and provide more flexibility for microbusinesses operating out of homes or garages. The "Bringing Business Home" bill, proposed by Councilmember Dan Strauss and Council President Lorena Gonzalez, comes after the closure of Yonder Cider's "garage bar" retail site in Greenwood following a neighbor complaint that the business was operating too close to a church and school and blocking sidewalks. The retail site opened in August 2020 with a walk-up model amid the pandemic, selling growler fills and cans. The forced closure was highly unpopular, and the cidery received over 4,100 signatures on a petition of support. According to the city announcement, the bill would temporarily suspend these regulations for home-based businesses: • Customer visits are by appointment only • There is no evidence of the home-based business visible from the exterior of the structure • No more than two persons who are not residents of the building may work in a home-based business • The home-based business shall not cause a substantial increase in on-street parking congestion or a substantial increase in traffic within the immediate vicinity. This would allow for walk-up customers and lift employment restrictions. The bill would also allow these businesses to have a 720 square inch illuminated sign. The bill would loosen these restrictions for one year during the COVID- 19 pandemic with the hopes of helping small businesses and generating more economic activity. Strauss said that the bill will provide businesses with an alternative to high commercial rents while also adding vibrancy to neighborhoods. "For people who are licensed massage therapists, people who are mental health therapists, people who are operating their businesses out of their homes, they need to have the flexibility to survive an thrive during this pandemic," Strauss said. "Some of the most successful businesses started out of garages, and we should be doing what we can to support them." But some council members pushed back against the plan. Councilmember Debora Juarez said she could not support the bill in its current state. "Does that mean I can just open business in my driveway to compete with all the small businesses and restaurants four blocks away with none of the constraints of regulation, permitting and all of the things small businesses have to comply with?" Juarez said. "It seems to me that we may be creating an unfair playing field for those existing small businesses that we are indeed trying to protect and keep open." Councilmember Alex Pedersen also expressed some concerns in residential areas including traffic and how it could impact business districts. Yonder's founder, Caitlin Braam, expressed support for the bill and said that many people discovered the garage retail site simply on their daily walks. "Starting a small business – COVID or not – is hard and it’s expensive. Allowing small businesses to safely and securely operate out of their homes not only frees them of the financial burden and stress that come with long term commercial leases, it gives them a chance to be a vibrant and contributing part of their community," Braam said. The team at Yonder ultimately had a happy ending to their story: after closing their retail site, they partnered with Yakima's Bale Breaker Brewing to open a joint beer and cider taproom sometime in summer of 2021 in Ballard. The bill is expected for a full council vote on March 15. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • WTIA 2019 Seattle City Council General Election Endorsements
    WTIA 2019 Seattle City Council General Election Endorsements The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) is a trade association that combines the power of member companies to solve problems they cannot easily solve alone. Our purpose is to build a strong technology sector in a thriving community. Our strategic priorities are to... ● Cultivate new talent by operating the premier, nationally registered tech apprenticeship program; ● Use group buying power to deliver high value, affordable services to member companies; ● Create forums for industry, education, and government to collaborate effectively; ● Cultivate public policies that are well informed and build a thriving community. In support of those priorities, WTIA has engaged with candidates running for Seattle City Council. Seattle faces many challenges. What we need now are city council members who will genuinely engage in a productive dialogue with the technology sector, the most powerful job creation engine in a century to build a thriving and inclusive city. Together, we can and will build a strong city that ensures the next generation of residents continue to generate opportunity for all who call Seattle home. We interviewed eighteen candidates in-person with a panel of tech industry representatives. The following election endorsements are based on those interviews, review of their responses to a questionnaire, and discussions with other organizations and stakeholders tracking the primary election process. We looked for candidates who: demonstrated a willingness to learn about issues that matter to the tech industry and our employees and their families, expressed an interest in working with all constituents to solve the City’s problems and capitalize on its opportunities, will be accountable to their districts, and have a path to succeeding in the primary election.
    [Show full text]
  • DSA Candidate Scorecard Seattle City Council 2019
    DSA Candidate Scorecard Seattle City Council 2019 The Downtown Seattle Association engages candidates running for public office each election cycle to hear their priorities and thoughts on key issues that are important to downtown stakeholders and our 1,700 corporate, nonprofit and residential members. While we don’t endorse candidates, those who complete our questionnaire are scored on how closely they align with our priorities. Candidates field questions on key issues such as public safety, transportation, homelessness, economic competitiveness and the urban experience. District 1: West Seattle, South Park Phillip Tavel Lisa Herbold 89% 79% Incumbent Phillip is a public defender and former video game Lisa is currently on the City Council, representing developer. He ran for City Council in 2015 but didn’t District 1. She was first elected in 2015, and has advance past the primary election. focused on renter and worker rights. Questions asked by The Seattle Times: Questions asked by The Seattle Times: • What’s the city’s most important problem? • What’s the city’s most important problem? Not effectively and equitably delivering services Affordability/homelessness to address housing, mental health, public safety • What committee would you like to chair? and substance-use disorder issues. Public Safety • What committee would you like to chair? Gender Equity, Safe Communities, New Americans and Education For more info and full questionnaire responses, visit: downtownseattle.org/candidates District 2: Southeast Seattle, Georgetown Mark Solomon Tammy Morales 88% Declined to Participate Mark, a retired Air Force officer, is a crime- Tammy ran for City Council in 2015 and was prevention coordinator with the Seattle Police defeated.
    [Show full text]
  • Praying for Government Officials
    Praying for Government Officials 1 Timothy 2: 1-2 I urge then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. Federal Executive Branch President Joseph R Biden Vice President Kamala Devi Harris Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Attorney General Monty Wilkinson US Senators & Representatives Senator Patty Murray Senator Maria Cantwell Representative Pramila Jayapal State Governor Jay Inslee State Senate Senator Jamie Pedersen Representative Nicole Macri Representative Frank V Chopp Seattle Local Representatives: Mayor Jenny A. Durkan Chief of Police Adrian Diaz Fire Chief Harold D. Scoggins Council President M. Lorena González Councilmember Lisa Herbold Councilmember Debora Juarez Councilmember Andrew J. Lewis Councilmember Tammy J. Morales Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda Councilmember Alex Pedersen Councilmember Kshama Sawant Councilmember Dan Strauss Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes Pray that our officials will be filled with: Humility- For by the grace given my I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. (Romans 12:3) Wisdom- But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere (James 3:17) Courage- For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self- discipline.
    [Show full text]
  • October 2018 Legislative Department Sign-In Log
    October 2018 Legislative Department Sign-In Log Timestamp First Name Last Name Visitor Affiliation, Organization and/or Employer Purpose of Visit Who Are You Meeting? 10/1/2018 9:03 Aaron Blumenthak CBO mtg Goodnight 10/1/2018 9:03 Catherine Cornwall CBO mrg Goodnight 10/1/2018 10:50 Molly Carney Evergreen Treatment Services Mayoral budget CM Herbold 10/1/2018 11:24 Michael Austin Seattle Planning Commission WSBLINK CM Bagshaw 10/1/2018 11:24 Vanessa Murdock Seattle Planning Commission WSBLINK CM Bagshaw 10/1/2018 11:24 David Goldberg Seattle Planning Commission WSBLINK CM Bagshaw 10/1/2018 11:54 gloria demers sister personal lorena gonzalez 10/1/2018 11:54 thomas clowers sister personal lorena gonzalez 10/1/2018 12:26 Carrie Avila-Mooney Sound Transit WSBLE Mike O'Brien 10/1/2018 12:26 Peter Rogoff Sound Transit WSBLE Mike O'Brien 10/1/2018 12:26 Leda Chahim Sound Transit WSBLE Mike O'Brien 10/1/2018 12:26 Cathal Ridge Sound Transit WSBLE Mike O'Brien Kshama Sawant, Ted 10/1/2018 12:54 Andrea Schlesinger HR&A Advisors, Inc. Public Bank Feasibility Study Virdone Kshama Sawant, Ted 10/1/2018 12:54 Julian Sagastume HR&A Advisors, Inc. Public Bank Feasibility Study Virdone 10/1/2018 12:56 Vanessa Murdock Seattle Planning Commission WSBLINK CMs Gonzalez and Herbold 10/1/2018 12:56 Michael Austin Seattle Planning Commission WSBLINK CMs Gonzalez and Herbold 10/1/2018 12:56 David Goldberg Seattle Planning Commission WSBLINK CMs Gonzalez and Herbold 10/1/2018 12:59 Kelly Davidson ARTS Budget Review Asha 10/1/2018 12:59 Randy Engstrom ARTS Budget Review Asha 10/1/2018 13:00 Brett Phillips Unico Development CM Bagshaw 10/1/2018 13:00 Ian Morrison Unico Development CM Bagshaw 10/1/2018 13:04 Jessica Wang CBO ARTS Budget Asha V.
    [Show full text]
  • VISION 2050: a Plan for the Central Puget Sound Region (October 2020)
    VISION 2050 A Plan for the Central Puget Sound Region OCTOBER 2020 Puget Sound Regional Council Membership COUNTIES ­King­County­ Kitsap­County­ Pierce­County­ Snohomish­County CITIES & TRIBES ­Algona­ Arlington­ Auburn­ Bainbridge­Island­ Beaux­Arts­Village­ Bellevue­ Black­Diamond­ Bonney­Lake­ Bothell­ Bremerton­ Buckley Burien­ Carnation­ Clyde­Hill­ Covington­ Darrington­ Des­Moines­ DuPont­ Duvall­ Eatonville­ Edgewood­ Edmonds­ Enumclaw­ Everett­ Federal­Way­ Fife­ Fircrest­ Gig­Harbor­ Granite­Falls­ Hunts­Point­ Issaquah­ Kenmore­ Kent­ Kirkland­ Lake­Forest­Park­ Lake­Stevens­ Lakewood­ Lynnwood­ Maple­Valley­ Marysville­ Medina­ Mercer­Island­ Mill­Creek­ Milton­ Monroe­ Mountlake­Terrace­ Muckleshoot­Indian­ Tribe­ MukilteoNewcastle­ Normandy­Park­ North­Bend­ Orting­ Pacific­ Port­Orchard­ Poulsbo­ Puyallup­ Puyallup­Tribe­of­Indians­ Redmond­ Renton­ Roy­ Ruston­ Sammamish­ SeaTac­ Seattle­ Shoreline­ Skykomish­ Snohomish­ Snoqualmie­ Stanwood­ Steilacoom­ Sultan­ Sumner­ Tacoma­ The­Suquamish­Tribe­ Tukwila­ Tulalip­Tribes­ University­Place Wilkeson­ Woodinville­ Woodway­ Yarrow­Point­ STATUTORY MEMBERS ­Port­of­Bremerton­ Port­of­Everett­ Port­of­Seattle­ Port­of­Tacoma­ Washington­State­Department­of­Transportation­ Washington­Transportation­Commission­ ASSOCIATE MEMEBERS Alderwood­Water­&­Wastewater­District­ Cascade­Water­Alliance­ Port­of­Edmonds­ Island­County­ Puget­Sound­Partnership­ Snoqualmie­Tribe­ Thurston­Regional­Planning­Council­ University­of­Washington­ Washington­State­University­ TRANSIT AGENCIES Community­Transit­
    [Show full text]
  • Candidate Introductions
    Candidate Introductions Candidate Name: Lisa Herbold Campaign Name: District 1 for Herbold Campaign website: district1forherbold.org City Council District Number: 1 Campaign Telephone Number: n/a Candidate Introduction: I began my career in public service in 1998 and have served on City Council since 2015. From Alki to South Park, and neighborhoods in between, I deliver strong, responsive, and effective constituent services and policies to address Seattle’s widening income disparity. As your District 1 Councilmember, I helped pass model policies being replicated in other cities: Paid Sick Leave, Secure Scheduling, a Rental Inspection Program, Prohibition of Source of Income Discrimination, a $29 million affordable housing bond, a criminal justice diversion program, and a legal aid program so people don’t lose housing, public benefits, or licenses. Before City Hall, I served my community in many capacities, including at a homeless persons’ shelter, an affordable housing organization, a low-income Neighborhood Organizer and a Tenant Organizer. I have a daughter, a granddaughter and grandson. I’m also stepmom to my husband Bob's two girls. I have lived in Highland Park since 2000. This candidate is participating in the Democracy Voucher Program. Candidate Name: Phil Tavel Campaign Name: Tavel for Seattle Campaign website: tavelforseattle.com City Council District Number: 1 Campaign Telephone Number: (206) 949-8680 Candidate Introduction: Seattle is at a crossroads. Chronic public safety issues continue to increase. Open air drug dealing and usage are commonplace. My years as a public defender provided insights into the criminal justice system, which I believe can do more to help people experiencing mental health issues and/or substance abuse disorder.
    [Show full text]
  • Seattle Cityclub Hosts Live and Broadcast Debates for Seven Seattle City Council District Races
    Contact: Teresa Moore, Executive Director, Seattle CityClub, [email protected], 206.612.2772 (cell) Seattle CityClub hosts live and broadcast debates for seven Seattle City Council district races Candidates for seven Seattle City Council district positions will vie for support in September and October in voter-engaged debates hosted by Seattle CityClub. The events, which are free and open to the public, will also be broadcast and reported widely thanks to partnerships with local media. Each debate will take place in a venue within or very close to Council district boundaries. Voters who cannot participate in person will be able to watch or listen to the debates as they are either streamed live or available post-event on KUOW (NPR), Crosscut, KCTS (PBS), KING (NBC), KOMO (ABC) and Seattle Channel, as well as read coverage of the debates in The Seattle Times. “We are grateful to our media partners for providing extensive access to debates for voters, in-kind production support, and knowledgeable journalists to serve as moderators and interviewers,” said Teresa Moore, Executive Director of Seattle CityClub, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that informs and inspires civic engagement. “By bringing candidates and voters together to learn about public issues and explore differing approaches to solve them, we empower people with knowledge in an atmosphere of civil public discourse.” Financial support for the debates is provided by presenting sponsor Amazon, signature sponsor AARP Washington and district-level debate sponsors BNSF Railway, the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, PEMCO, Seattle Credit Union and Washington Policy Center Young Professionals.
    [Show full text]
  • May 17, 2021 Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda Seattle City Council 600
    May 17, 2021 Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda Seattle City Council 600 Fourth Avenue Seattle, WA 98104 Dear Councilmember Mosqueda: We write to you today to urge you and your colleagues on the Seattle City Council to dedicate a majority of the new revenue flowing into the General Fund – both from local tax sources and from federal dollars allocated to the City of Seattle in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) – to impactful investments to address the continuing and growing crisis of people living unsheltered in our city. In addition to the tragic human loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic impact to families and individuals, businesses, non-profits, and governments has in some cases been unprecedented. We recognize that as a result, the Council is balancing the needs of many interests competing for limited public resources. Placing one priority in front of others is a difficult decision and should only be made if that priority is a city-wide issue impacting the most vulnerable in our community. Unsheltered homelessness clearly meets this test. Five and a half years ago, the City of Seattle and King County formally declared a state of civil emergency for homelessness. One of the stated objectives of the civil emergency order was to request additional federal and state assistance to address homelessness. While this was not the anticipated route by which state and federal assistance would be granted to the City of Seattle, ARPA and the recently adopted state budget allocate state and federal funding to the City’s General Fund at an amount we have not seen in a generation.
    [Show full text]
  • The Following Residents Have Reached out to OSE and the Urban Forestry Commission with Emails About the City’S Update to the Tree Ordinance
    The following residents have reached out to OSE and the Urban Forestry Commission with emails about the City’s update to the tree ordinance. Emails through December 5, 2019 From: David Moehring <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2019 7:16 PM To: Pinto de Bader, Sandra <[email protected]>; seattle-tree-ordinance-working- [email protected] Cc: Weston Brinkley <[email protected]>; DOT_SeattleTrees <[email protected]> Subject: Magnificent, "Exceptional Trees" Destroyed- Throughout Seattle - Due to Lack of Code Enforcement CAUTION: External Email A neighbor to a 44-inch DBH 60-foot dripline Exceptional tulip tree located within the center of Queen Anne states below why and how this irreplaceable urban tree could be saved for the mayor and the city council. The City’s response? � � Why are some exceptional trees retained while others are clearcut with the rest of the trees on the site? Seattle staff deems the tree protections code as voluntary. With 3 City Council being re-elected and 4 new City Council joining on, it’s tome for better policies and enforcement. Support this plea for a stronger Seattle tree ordinance! Use this link to contact all our City Representatives: https://www.dontclearcutseattle.org/about-us/ > From: "Sharon LeVine" <[email protected]> > Date: November 12, 2019 at 6:29 PM > To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "Jenny Durkan" > <[email protected]> > Cc: "qamagnewsnwlink.com" <[email protected]>, > "[email protected]" <[email protected]>,
    [Show full text]
  • Treepac Newsletter – May-July 2020
    TreePAC Newsletter – May-July 2020 Hello everyone - as always, we hope this newsletter finds everyone safe and healthy given the CV19 pandemic and other long-overdue civil rights activity going on. Enjoy! Table of Contents Latest News and How to Help, including Apps Feature: PNW Trees – Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar Local Tree Activist Groups and Social Media Local/PNW Tree News Tree News elsewhere Books and other media TreePAC organization and contact info Latest News and How to Help: (return to top) As always, we are focused first and foremost on getting the 2009 Interim Seattle Tree Ordinance made into a full-fledged (and uniformly enforced) law across the City of Seattle. Of late, given the CV19 pandemic, civil rights-related activity across the city and most recently the employer taxation proposal, the Tree Ordinance may be taking a back seat as to City Council and Mayor priorities. However, this doesn’t make it any less important! Please continue to submit comments to the Mayor and City Council through the Don’t Clearcut Seattle site – we are making a difference! If you see something in your neighborhood, i) ask, ii) document it and iii) submit it, please. 1) Apps: (NEW!) iSeaTree v.1 - COMING SOON: iSeaTree is a free, intuitive mobile app that helps you identify and record tree species anywhere! Trees for Seattle has published the Seattle Tree Walk app Android Apple Other PNW & Tree Apps: Trees Pacific NW More info USFS PNW Forests (Apple only) and of course check out our Tree App page at TreePAC.org 2) Keep the calls and letters
    [Show full text]
  • In the Superior Court of Washington for King County
    IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR KING COUNTY NO. 20-2-10455-8 SEA IN RE THE MATTER OF RECALL CHARGES AGAINST CITY OF RESPONSE TO MOTION FOR SEATTLE MAYOR JENNY DURKAN RECONSIDERATION AND CROSS- (HARVEY) MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION I. INTRODUCTION Previously, this Court dismissed all but one of the recall charges against Jenny Durkan, the mayor of Seattle, and amended such charge to proceed more narrowly. Mayor Durkan filed a motion for reconsideration on July 14, notably filing the motion at 4:29 pm and setting this Court’s consideration for such motion for the very next day. This Court requested briefing from the petitioners, Elliott Harvey et al., who therefore submit this paperwork, both responding to Mayor Durkan’s motion, and filing a cross-motion for reconsideration, asking the Court to reconsider striking Charge C and to consider widening the scope of Charge B to encompass part of Charge E. II. RESPONSE TO STATEMENT OF FACTS Mayor Durkan begins with a lengthy “Statement of Facts,” exceeding five pages in a fourteen-page brief. Mayor Durkan therein argues a number of so-called facts that are misleading or untrue. The mayor’s “Statement of Facts” demonstrates very well the reason why Washington Courts are not to weigh the facts when ruling on a recall petition. As this Court noted in its order of July 10, 2020: [T]he role of courts in the recall process is highly limited, and it is not for us to decide whether the alleged facts are true or not. It is the voters, not the courts, who will ultimately act as the fact finders.
    [Show full text]
  • “[email protected]” Subject
    November 14, 2018 Delivered electronically to “[email protected]” Subject: PDC Case 41184 Dear Debora Juarez: Below is a copy of an electronic letter sent to Lincoln Beauregard concerning a complaint filed with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC). As noted below to Lincoln Beauregard, the PDC will not be conducting a more formal investigation into these allegations or taking further enforcement action in this matter. If you have questions, you may contact Tabatha Blacksmith at 360-586-8929, toll-free at 1-877- 601-2828 or by e-mail [email protected]. Sincerely, /s___________________ Tabatha Blacksmith Compliance Coordinator Endorsed by, /s_________________ Barbara Sandahl Deputy Director For Peter Lavallee Executive Director ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 14, 2018 Delivered electronically to “[email protected]” Subject: Complaint regarding Bruce Harrell, Debora Juarez, Jenny Durkan, Lisa Herbold, Maria Lorena Gonzalez, Michael O'Brien, Robert Johnson, Sally Bagshaw, and Teresa Mosqueda, PDC Cases 41179, 41181, 41182, 41183, 41184 41185, 41186, 41188, 41189 Dear Lincoln Beauregard: The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its initial review of the complaint you filed on September 20, 2018. Your complaint alleged that the individuals named above may have violated RCW 42.17A.555 by using public facilities to support a ballot measure (education levy). PDC staff reviewed your allegations and, as a result of staff’s initial review, have found the following: • A cell phone conversation (texts) between unidentified persons occurred between June 9- 11, 2018 and included discussion regarding reversing a recently-passed Employee Hours Tax (EHT) and protecting an education levy. You indicated your belief that one of the parties to the call was Councilmember Gonzalez.
    [Show full text]