DPD continues its work with the Unreinforced Masonry (URM) Policy Committee to develop recommendations for a URM seismic retrofit program. The committee has discussed what buildings would be subject to new regulations, financing options, and the timeline for implementation of the program. The committee’s will next develop incentives for retrofit work and enforcement mechanisms for the program. DPD expects the URM retrofit program will be phased in over a period of years.
DPD has prepared a list of potential URM buildings. In July DPD notified owners of URM buildings that policy work is underway and informed them how they could follow the progress of the committee and program development. Staff has also presented an overview of URM buildings and the policy work to the Housing Development Consortium and Seattle’s Disaster Management Committee. Outreach is anticipated to continue during the policy development with more targeted outreach and education once legislation is adopted.
The next meeting for the URM Policy Committee is August 23, 1012 at 8:30 a.m. in room 1610 of the Seattle Municipal Tower (700 5th Avenue). Meetings are open to the public and facilitated by an independent consultant. If you would like to provide email comment to the committee the address is: DPD_URM_Policy_Committee_Comments@seattle.gov.
You can follow the committee’s progress DPD’s Emergency Management URM website, www.seattle.gov/dpd/Emergency/UnreinforcedMasonryBuildings/
PublicInvolvement/default.asp. Information about the upcoming meetings, committee agendas, meeting notes, reports and other information are also posted on the website.
Sandy Howard
(206) 233-7194
sandy.howard@seattle.gov