Two announcements from City Hall today — a plan to promote local economic recovery and a relaxation in the fees and rules around parking strip gardening — should improve life on Capitol Hill and beyond.

First, City Council today approved a 19-part plan to help aid the local economy including changes in business taxes, programs to lend money to small businesses and improvements in social services to aid the homeless. There is also language related to fast-tracking ‘shovel ready’ projects in the city. Wonder if the Summit/John park project would fall into that bucket. You can read the entirety of Resolution 31135 here. Here’s the Council announcement about the resolution:

CITY COUNCIL APPROVES 19-PART ACTION PLAN TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC RECOVERY
Council resolution includes providing relief to small businesses, supporting individuals affected by the recession, and improving the business climate

May 11, 2009 – SEATTLE – Acting on recommendations from a result of a series of public meetings with citizens, business owners, community leaders, and experts on the economy, the City Council today approved a resolution designed to ease the effects of the recession on residents and businesses, and to help promote the city’s economic recovery. 

Introduced by the Council’s Committee of the Whole on Economic Recovery, the resolution outlines a range of strategies to provide relief to small businesses, support individuals affected by the economic recession, set priorities for City services, and achieve operational efficiencies.  The resolution also calls for refining the mission of the City’s Office of Economic Development to improve Seattle’s overall business climate, reviewing the city’s taxes, fees and utility rates, and investing available resources in actions that will aid recovery.

“We are taking action to give a leg up to Seattle’s economy and position it for a strong recovery,” said Richard Conlin, City Council President and Chair of the Economic Recovery Committee of the Whole.
“We asked citizens, community and business leaders, and economic experts their opinions on what we need to do to make the economy work again.  From those conversations we identified a series of actions that will reduce the impact of the recession and position Seattle to jump-start the new, green economy.”

Some of the specific actions include using $5 million in federal stimulus monies to provide temporary assistance to people at risk of losing their housing, and exempting about 1,800 small businesses from paying B&O tax by increasing the revenue floor for paying the tax from $80,000 to $100,000 per year.  The Council resolution also:

—  Designates the use of some Community Development Block Grant funds to increase loans to small businesses that have been unable to obtain credit elsewhere;

—  Directs the City’s Office of Economic Development to partner with neighborhood Chambers to develop and promote a “Buy Local”
campaign;

—  Provides for creating jobs as quickly as possible by continuing to identify shovel-ready projects from the Parks and Green Spaces levy and other City capital plans.

“In times of crisis we need to act quickly and act smart. The steps we’ve outlined can lead to more jobs, and new jobs will be the foundation of our economic recovery,” said Councilmember Sally Clark.

Councilmember Jan Drago said, “Small businesses are the heart and soul of our city. The loan program that this legislation provides will give a much-needed boost to small business and help lead us out of the recession.”

“I am proud of our work and supportive of the economic recovery resolution while also being mindful of the economic times and the need to preserve diminishing tax revenues,” said Councilmember Jean Godden.

“Local businesses have made me a big believer that they keep the wheels of commerce turning,” said Councilmember Bruce Harrell.  “We must continue to explore policies that assist in their success since they contribute so much to our economy. This legislation is a step in that direction.”

Councilmember Nick Licata said, “This is a solid package that will assist the business climate in Seattle, and those most vulnerable to the economic downturn, while helping small businesses to stay viable.”

Meanwhile, the Office of the Mayor announced the elimination of fees for raised parking strip gardens and a general relaxation of the rules governing urban gardening:

Mayor Nickels Announces New Rules for Gardening in Planting Strips
New procedures to encourage more gardening citywide

SEATTLE – Mayor Greg Nickels today announced improvements to make gardening in planting strips easier for Seattle’s residents. The new planting strip policy, issued by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), eliminates any permit requirements for gardens and ends fees previously required for hardscape improvements, such as planter boxes or pavers.

“This change makes it easier to plant flowers and vegetables in the strip between the sidewalk and the street. For many gardeners, that’s prime space,” said Nickels. “It’s one of the things that makes Seattle special, and, with planting season upon us, it’s time to get those green thumbs going.”

Under the new rules announced today, residents no longer need to obtain a $225 permit for hardscape improvements, such as raised gardens or stepping stones. Instead, they can obtain a free online permit for these improvements and to plant a tree at: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/stuse_permits_online.h

SDOT has updated its Web site with information explaining the rules: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/stuse_docs.htm

To ensure public safety and protect city infrastructure, they also provide guidelines for making planting strip improvements.

For more on the topic, Seattle Post Globe has recently been covering the issues related to the fees and rules for parking strip gardens.