WHEREAS, industrial businesses provide well paying jobs to thousands of workers; and

WHEREAS, in the Spring and Summer of 2007 the Department of Planning and Development, in cooperation with the Planning Commission, undertook a Council-funded study of Seattle's industrial lands and regulatory techniques from comparable jurisdictions; and

WHEREAS, this study was prompted, in part, by increased pressure to convert lands from industrial to non-industrial uses; and

WHEREAS, the Mayor has proposed to reduce this conversion pressure by reducing maximum allowable size limits for office and most retail uses within the limits of the existing Industrial General 1 (IG1), Industrial General 2 (IG2), and Industrial Buffer (IB) zones; and

WHEREAS, the Council and Mayor recognize the importance of Seattle's industrial lands in maintaining a diversified local and regional economy and further recognizes Seattle's unique locational advantages for industrial businesses; and

WHEREAS, the Council and Mayor also recognize that as businesses innovate new models for use and development will emerge that will not necessarily be consistent with traditional notions of industrial uses and that more nuanced regulatory approaches will be required; and

WHEREAS, decisions regarding zoning on these critical issues should be based on accurate information as to the uses currently existing in Seattle's varied industrial zones and those likely to be developed in the future, as well as the actual types and family-wage nature of the jobs now being provided and likely to be provided in the future in the industrially-zoned areas of Seattle

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Industrial Jobs Initiative. In recognition of the significant livable-wage job base located in Seattle's industrial areas the Executive will implement an Industrial Jobs Initiative. The Initiative will focus on public and private actions which will help retain and expand the livable-wage job base. Elements shall include a strong focus on improving freight mobility; expanded efforts to develop job-training partnerships with industrial employers and labor; collaboration with the Puget Sound Industrial Center of Excellence; business development efforts such as business financing for start-up, expansion and productivity improvement; siting and permitting assistance through such efforts as Seattle First; collaboration with the University of Washington on nurturing manufacturing-related research and development and technology transfer opportunities and other economic development activities of benefit to industrial firms and workers.

Section 2. Regulatory Approaches. DPD will analyze regulatory changes, including changes in zone boundaries, which complement reduction in maximum size limits for non-industrial uses in IG1 and IG2 zones. Specifically, DPD will analyze the following areas and regulations and, if necessary, recommend proposed changes:

a. Zone Boundaries: DPD will analyze whether the boundaries of the Industrial / Manufacturing Centers (MICs) should be adjusted to reflect existing land uses, proximity to urban centers and urban villages and proximity to transit.

b. Definitions of Manufacturing and Research and Development Laboratory: DPD will examine the existing Land Use Code definitions for "manufacturing" and "research and development laboratory" and applicable regulations to determine whether the definitions and regulations are consistent with current and emerging industry development practices and best practices in other cities.

c. Floor Area Ratio (FAR): DPD will examine whether current FAR limits are sufficient for current and projected industrial users and whether increasing FAR would provide a relative advantage for industrial businesses seeking to locate in Seattle.

d. Transferable Development Rights (TDRs): DPD and OED will examine whether a TDR program within MICs and in industrial areas on the edges of MICs would contribute to easing conversion pressure to non-industrial uses.

e. Adaptive Reuse: DPD, OED and DON will examine whether regulatory or other incentives could be implemented to encourage adaptive reuse of obsolete industrial buildings for non-industrial businesses. Potential incentives should not conflict with the viability of adjacent industrially zoned sites for continued industrial use or industrial redevelopment.

DPD will report to the Urban Development and Planning (UDP) Committee, or its successor committee, on its findings no later than December 31, 2008.

Section 3. Economic Analyses. OED and DPD will update two job and land use studies ? the Basic Industries Cluster Analysis Study and the Maritime Industry Cluster Study. These updated studies should include information regarding the number and types of existing and projected jobs and a projection of future demand for industrial land for each industrial subcluster. The methodology used will be consistent with that used by the Puget Sound Regional Council. This update should also include an analysis of industrial land capacity for each MIC and a map of employment concentrations for each subcluster. OED and DPD will conduct an inventory of existing land uses including the size of business establishments in the MICs. Information from existing databases containing relevant information will be incorporated as appropriate. Furthermore, as part of updating the data and background information on the City's industrial subclusters, DPD and OED will identify promising strategies/actions including land use code modifications which may lead to new industrial business opportunities and stronger job creation within the City's Manufacturing and Industrial Centers. Additionally, OED will examine whether non-regulatory incentives beyond those already provided by the City would help attract and retain well-paying industrial jobs. Finally, if new maximum size limits on nonindustrial uses in industrial zones are imposed, OED will analyze whether there are negative cosequences for property tax assessment and collection in affected industrial zones and report its findings no later than 3-years after the effective date of the ordinance imposing new maximum size limits. OED and DPD will report to the Executive and to Full Council on the estimated cost of these work items and will provide a proposed work program no later than March 31, 2008.

Section 4. Freight Mobility. Decision-making related to the Alaskan Way Viaduct creates a high degree of uncertainty about future freight mobility. However, it is still possible to make improvements for freight mobility on local streets consistent with the Complete Streets policy set out in Ordinance 122386. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will identify a minimum of ten projects, anticipated in the Capital Improvement Plan or new, designed to improve freight mobility that could be completed within the next five years. The list of projects should identify approximate cost, proposed funding sources, and provide a narrative describing improvement to freight mobility. SDOT will present this list to the Executive and to Full Council by July 31, 2008 to inform decisionmaking on the 2009-2010 budget.

Section 5 South Downtown (SODO) Action Agenda. As part of the 2008 budget the Mayor proposed and the Council approved $75,000 in OED's budget to complete a SODO Action Agenda. OED will work with the SODO Business Association, the Manufacturing and Industrial Council (MIC), the SODO Retail Association, the Port of Seattle, interested stakeholder groups and other City departments to determine the scope of work and the recommendations in the plan. The Scope of Work, which will be determined in early 2008, will include but not be limited to transportation, freight mobility, pedestrian safety, and actions which support area business and job growth. The final plan will be completed by the end of 2008.

Section 6. Stakeholder Process. The Executive will broadly engage key industrial area stakeholders to inform the City's review of regulatory approaches, updates to economic analyses and the inventory of existing land uses and generation of the list of freight mobility projects set out in Sections 2, 3 and 4 of this resolution. The stakeholders should include, but not be limited to, property owners, business owners, Georgetown residents, labor representatives, and representatives of affected neighborhood councils. By March 31, 2008 the Executive will present to the Council its full work plan necessitated by the tasks outlined herein as well as its outreach and its stakeholder involvement plan for each itemized task.

Adopted by the City Council the ____ day of _________, 2007, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this _____ day of __________, 2007. _________________________________ President __________of the City Council

THE MAYOR CONCURRING: _________________________________ Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor

Filed by me this ____ day of _________, 2007. ____________________________________ City Clerk

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