Local Advocacy Update - October 2023

Article contributed by Catherine Stanford

Seattle: Budget Process. This month BOMA’s Government and Industry Affairs discussed the BOMA’s potential positions on budget related impacts on our industry. The Advocacy team will draft input to give to the Council. Look for information coming on how you can help. We will also use the budget process to educate policy makers about the current challenges for commercial real estate.

Information:

1. Budget Calendar and Focus Areas
2. Is Seattle really facing a budget deficit? Seattle, you have a spending problem | The Seattle Times; Chamber Analysis: https://www.seattlechamber.com/clientuploads/Documents/Advocacy%20Documents/2023-08_Demystifying_the_City_Budget.pdf?_t=1690928620

Seattle: BOMA Public Safety Committee: The Committee finalized the 2023 Public Safety Survey. Please complete and return. Advocacy will use the data to inform policy makers during the budget process.

Seattle: Unreinforced Masonry Buildings (URM): The City Council passed Resolution 32111 this month. Res 32111 - Presentation (legistar.com) The resolution accepts the URM Retrofit Technical Standards; future legislation will be proposed next year to promote voluntary seismic retrofits before mandatory standards go into effect. BOMA Advocacy has been active in this process for many years stressing that any technical standards adopted are the minimal required and that doing the work will not trigger additional code compliance.

Eastside Cities: Clean Building Symposium Clean Buildings Symposium 1 Pager (smartbuildingscenter.org)