Yearly Archives: 2015

Today, the City of Seattle released two reports that track the energy performance and efficiency of public and private-sector buildings, as well as a new online tool that allows building owners to compare the efficiency of their facilities with local and national benchmarks.

Bellevue residents and businesses have done their part in helping the region cut water use by 14 percent over the last four weeks -- exceeding requests by water providers to cut use by 10 percent.

Mayor Ed Murray introduced legislation that renews and expands the existing Multifamily Tax Exemption (MFTE). The proposal encourages family-sized units in new buildings and requires more affordable housing to be built. It also expands the MFTE to more areas of Seattle.

The $25 per firearm tax on retailers enacted to mitigate the costs of gun violence in Seattle is “a proper and lawful exercise” of the City’s authority as granted by the Washington Constitution and Legislature, the City declared in rebutting a lawsuit filed by the NRA, among other gun rights groups, and several individuals. “The Ordinance does not limit any person’s right to purchase, sell, acquire, transfer, discharge, or transport firearms or ammunition,” the City said in its answer to Watson v. City of Seattle.

Property owners can learn how to inspect gravity-fed septic systems, maintain wells and septic systems, and avoid costly repairs at a workshop sponsored by Clark County and Washington State University Clark County Extension.

U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell announced that South Seattle College and the Washington Department of Labor and Industry have received nearly $10 million in grants through the American Apprenticeship Initiative Grant Program

In an effort to protect Washington’s lakes, rivers, groundwater and Puget Sound, updates are proposed for the water quality permit that regulates discharges from sand and gravel operations. Untreated discharge water from sand and gravel operations may harm fish, aquatic life and water quality

While the rain has been falling off and on recently, Everett, Seattle and Tacoma continue to ask people to reduce water use by 10 percent. The recent rain helped, but it was not enough to return water supplies to normal levels. More rain and continued water reductions by customers are needed to replenish regional water supplies for people and fish.

Council's Select Committee on Affordable Housing will host a Public Hearing Wednesday evening to hear public feedback regarding the proposals recommended by the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda Advisory Committee. The recommendations include a Commercial Linkage Fee program, a Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program, Housing Levy expansion, backyard cottage regulations, tenant relocation assistance adjustments, and more.

A private contractor working for Clark Public Utilities will replace a 12-inch water line within a section of trail along Salmon Creek Greenway. Construction is expected to begin Tuesday, Sept. 8 and last for up to three weeks

US. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation’s announcement that Felts Field in Spokane will receive a $3.6 million federal grant to construct and rehabilitate taxiways at the airport.

EPA has proposed a rule that revises the current federal Clean Water Act human health water quality criteria applicable to waters under the state of Washington’s jurisdiction. The proposed rule would ensure that the criteria are set at levels that will adequately protect fish consumers in Washington from exposure to toxic pollutants. To protect fish consumers in Washington, including tribes with treaty protected rights, EPA proposes to derive the criteria using a Fish Consumption Rate of 175 g/day. The cancer risk level remains at the currently established 10-6 or one-in-one-million benchmark

People displaced by the wildfires in the 11 counties and four tribal areas noted below, and who earn less than 60% of area median income, can now skip several time-consuming steps when applying for emergency housing in taxcredit apartments in Washington State. They can remain in the housing through December 21 before having to reapply and meet the normal requirements.

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, applauded an announcement from the Health Resources and Services Administration that it has awarded nearly $1.9 million in grants to community centers throughout Washington state, including sites in Spokane, Wenatchee, Tacoma, Longview, Yakima, and Seattle. Health centers will use these funds to expand current quality improvement systems and infrastructure, and improve primary care service delivery in the communities they serve. The funding was made possible by the Affordable Care Act

As of 5:30 p.m., crews had restored power to approximately 12,000 customers, down from the peak of 58,000, when strong winds hit early Saturday afternoon. There are numerous trees down in the region. Large outages are affecting North Seattle, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline.

Homeowners affected by wildfire are encouraged to inspect their drinking-water wells now to protect groundwater and their investment. Forest fires can melt aluminum and plastic well caps, leaving the well exposed to environmental hazards. Uncapped wells can fill with rocks, mud and debris rendering the well unusable.

Bellevue residents and businesses have done a great job conserving water as part of a regional drought response that began in July -- contributing to the region's collective reduction of its water use by 10 percent over the last two weeks, hitting the goal set by Seattle, Everett, and Tacoma. The city asks residents and businesses to continue conserving and to find additional, simple ways to limit water use and stretch water supplies until the rainy season

In the last two weeks, the region has collectively cut back on its water use by 10 percent, hitting the goal set by Everett, Seattle and Tacoma. The three cities ask customers to please keep up their efforts to reduce water use.

Mayor Muriel Bowser launched the District’s first energy efficiency and clean energy finance program, DC PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) Commercial. The program will provide 100 percent financing for businesses and commercial property owners to install clean energy upgrades, with no out-of-pocket payments

Emergency funding will go to support three more drought-relief projects in Central Washington. The money will help pay for upgrading two of Moxee’s municipal water wells, fund additional diversion pumps for the Lower Stemilt Irrigation District in Wenatchee, and help the Icicle Irrigation District in Cashmere draw additional water from Eight Mile Lake