CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE related to The City of Seattle’s Emergency Relocation Assistance Program, as administered by the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections; and amending Section 22.202.060 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, emergency relocation assistance payments are the responsibility of the property owner; and
WHEREAS, in order to assist tenants whose household income qualifies as very low (50 percent or less of the area median income), the City can advance the relocation assistance payment rather than wait for a property owner to make a required payment; and
WHEREAS, the amount of emergency relocation assistance paid to a household is currently $4,133 and increases periodically to reflect increases in the Housing Component of the Consumer Price Index; and
WHEREAS, Seattle Municipal Code Section 22.202.060 provides that the total amount of unreimbursed advances at any one time may not exceed $50,000; and
WHEREAS, the cap on unreimbursed advances was established in 2003 and has not kept pace with the increases in the assistance payment; and
WHEREAS, in order to assist tenants whose household income qualifies as very low (50 percent or less of the area median income), the City can advance the relocation assistance payment rather than wait for a property owner to make a required payment; and
WHEREAS, when large-scale events or problems have occurred, there has been a need to advance sums in excess of $50,000; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 22.202.060 of the Seattle Municipal Code, enacted by Ordinance 121076, is amended as follows:
22.202.060 Emergency Relocation Assistance Accounting Unit ((.))
A restricted accounting unit designated as the ((“)) Emergency Relocation Assistance Account ((”)) is established in the Construction and Land Use Fund, from which account the Director is hereby authorized to pay relocation assistance pursuant to ((SMC)) Section 22.206.265, when a property owner is required to deposit such assistance pursuant to SMC Section 22.206.260.
A. The total amount of unreimbursed advances from this account shall not exceed ((Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00))) $200,000 at any given time.
B. Money from the following sources shall be paid into the Emergency Relocation Assistance Account: ((.))
1. Fines and penalties collected pursuant to subsection 22.206.280.C; ((of SMC Section 22.206.280;))
2. Sums that may by ordinance be appropriated to or designated as revenue to this account;
3. Other sums that may by gift, bequest, or grant be deposited in this account;
4. Reimbursement of monies paid to The City of Seattle as relocation assistance from this account; and
5. Relocation assistance monies deposited by property owners with the Director pursuant to subsection 22.206.260.G. ((of SMC Section 22.206.260.))
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2017, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of _________________________, 2017.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2017.
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Tim Burgess, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2017.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)