One grim change Kauffman notes is on building evacuation. "Typically if something were to happen on the upper floors of a tower," he begins, "then the lower floors would be evacuated. Now, most plans have been reassessed to plan for evacuating away from a building."

Aside from emergencies, Kauffman says the three hottest topics among Puget Sound owners and managers are: transportation, regulatory issues and utility rates. "Both locally and statewide, transportation is woefully inadequate to service the economy we all want to see. We need mobility and capacity improvements," bemoans Kauffman. "As an organization representing the office market, we are encouraging our lawmakers to get on the road to permanent financing and solutions to the problems."

To BOMA, the methods of funding transportation improvements are as crucial as the problem itself. "We support a reasonable gas tax, but it's important the legislature sell the idea of the benefits to residents. I'm worried not about the bill getting put together, but on whether or not it's effectively marketed," says Kauffman.

In contrast, the exec says BOMA is opposed to the Seattle City Council's talk of a parking tax in downtown. "This is not the place to look for transportation funds," quips Kauffman. "People don't realize how negatively downtown retail could be affected. And, they don't think that parking facilities are already subject to five or six taxes—many of them are already not operating at a profit."

Kauffman advises that regulatory issues are also at the forefront. Making his point, he cites a Labor & Industries requirement regarding electrical licensing. "Do you realize it takes 4,000 hours of training before a building engineer can even change a light switch?" Kauffman asks. "It's ludicrous," he charges, "and we're trying to work with the government to come to something sensible."

Rounding out BOMA's issues of emphasis is the cost of utilities and impacts of energy codes. "Electrical rates in Seattle increased nearly 50% last year. This represents a huge operating expense that building owners can't fully pass through to tenants," says Kauffman.

Many of the issues BOMA is working to resolve for its members, says Kauffman, are the same issues Boeing gave for leaving Seattle. "The business climate became competitively disadvantageous to them. We need to work with lawmakers to ensure they work to make Seattle more viable for businesses," Kauffman concludes.

Instant Insights /

BOMA Exec Talks Earthquake, Issues for 2002

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