Archives

Council voted today to support efforts by the State Legislature to allow local governments to increase the supply of rent-restricted units and protect tenants from sudden and dramatic rent increases, without causing a negative impact on the quality or quantity of housing supply

Council adopted two bills today that protect tenants and seek to preserve affordable housing in Seattle. The first bill increases the length of time required for certain eviction notices to 90 days (CB 118403). The second gives public agencies increased opportunity to purchase and retain existing affordable housing by requiring 60 days advance notice to those agencies of a pending market sale (CB 118404)

Mayor Ed Murray and Seattle City Council today approved more than $1.5 million in matching funds to support neighborhood projects across the City. Nineteen community organizations will receive awards from Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ Neighborhood Matching Fund program for a variety of projects involving physical improvements, events, and cultural activities

Catholic Community Services of Western Washington received $776,000 and the Opportunity Council received $704,000 through the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. Both organizations are prior recipients of the grant

Both documents will be available on the county’s website, www.clark.wa.gov/stormwater. Residents also will have an opportunity to testify about the changes during public hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of County Councilors.

Drought relief funding will help ease congestion and safety concerns at a water hauling station north of Spokane, improve the water delivery system for a Wenatchee irrigation district and allow the Kennewick Irrigation District to store water for use in really busy times.

Council's Housing Affordability, Human Services and Economic Resiliency Committee will consider a resolution on state prohibition of rent control tomorrow, which is co-sponsored by Councilmembers Kshama Sawant and Nick Licata. The resolution urges state legislators to change the Washington State law restricting local governments from instituting rent control or regulating rents. If the state ban were lifted, Seattle would have the option to pursue rent regulation legislation locally.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), is proud to announce three programs in Washington state will each receive $1.1 million to help at-risk youth build their academic and occupational skills. This is the first round of YouthBuild grants awarded under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, a bipartisan law co-authored by Senator Murray and seven of her colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, in the House and Senate. The law took effect July 1, 2015.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Justice have reached an agreement with Suellyn Rader Blymyer and Uptrail Group, LLC, for violations of the Clean Water Act in Whatcom County, Washington.

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, announced that Washington state is receiving over $15 million in Affordable Care Act grants from the Department of Health and Human Services to support health centers and expand primary care services.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced today that Boston was selected to receive $3.2 million in funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that will be used to further reduce the risk of childhood lead poisoning in Boston

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.