Q4 2023 Issues & Impacts in an Instant
Welcome to Seattle King County REALTOR’S newest video segment: Issues and Impacts in an Instant. I am your 2024 Vice President of Governmental and Public Affairs, Gina Madeya and I am excited to host our inaugural episode of triple I. This series is meant to summarize our quarterly written publication Issues and Impacts and deliver to you the need-to-know advocacy work your association is doing on your behalf around the county. Issues and Impacts is a recap of what happened the previous quarter. Here we go!
Kicking things off with a huge win: SKCR secured major victories in Seattle City Council races. In 2023 REALTORS emphasized pragmatism, public safety, and a return to the high quality of life that the northwest has long enjoyed. Our members recognized that this was a once-in-a-decade opportunity to support more moderate candidates who will listen to business, but still align with Seattle voter sensibilities and are therefore electable. We issued 6 endorsements, I am elated to report that 4 out of our 6 Seattle endorsed candidates secured their seat on the council. We welcome Rob Saka, Joy Hollingsworth, Maritza Rivera, Cathy Moore, and Bob Kettle to Seattle’s City Council.
Overall, SKCR saw an 82% win rate for our endorsed candidates.
Another REALTOR endorsed campaign passed in Seattle as well. Seattle voters approved the Housing Levy, an important funding mechanism for the creation of subsidized income-qualified housing in Seattle.
Late in 2023, SKCR helped to kill three out of four tax proposals within the city of Seattle. Council debated an increase to the Payroll Expense Tax, a city capital gains tax of 3%, Transportation Impact Fees, and high CEO pay ration tax. All but a 6% increase to the Payroll Expense Tax were defeated.
In Woodinville, REALTORS continue to work with the city planning commission as it contemplates amendments to its sign code. Our goal is to guard against any changes that would constrain the use of on-premises for sale signs and off-premises open house A-boards.
In the South County, Voters in the City of Maple Valley have approved a “Levy Lid Lift” to increase property taxes to pay for police services. The November ballot measure, which was approved by 66% of voters, restricts the use of $2.2 million in additional funding for police services only.
Covington is among the cities working to bring its development regulations - and specifically its permitting processes – into compliance with new mandates on cities and counties in Senate Bill 5290, which the legislature passed during the 2023 session. The city is hard at work amending their code to comply with SB 5290.
The City of Tukwila is moving forward to implement changes to its SEPA environmental review process. According to city staff, the proposed changes are intended to streamline and update the permit process, reduce staff effort, reduce permit review times, and cut down on paperwork in a way that will provide a faster and more predictable experience for applicants, without changing the substantive outcomes regarding environmental protection.
Special thanks to our Housing Specialists, Randy Bannecker and Sam Pace for their dedication to defending REALTOR issues at the local level across King County. If you would like more details on anything I have touched on today, please visit the SKCR website to read our latest publication of Issues and Impacts. I am looking forward to bringing you quarterly episodes of triple I: Issue and Impacts in an Instant, this year.
