CHALK LINE
OMB
THE ISSUE advocacy
03 Letter from the Executive Officer, Angela White
04 Letter from the 2024 OMB President, Chris Winters
05 What's New: OMB At-A-Glance
06 Conversations with Candidates and Scholarship Winners
07 Industry Advocacy Three Levels Deep
12 2024 Tour of Homes Mark Your Calendars!
13 OMB Membership BBQ Recap 14 OMB New and Renewing Members and Recruitment
CHALK LINE magazine
2024 EDITION - ISSUE #4
ANGELA WHITE EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Welcome to the Government Affairs edition of Chalk Line! For those of you that don’t know, OMB’s mission is “Housing Affordability for All Segments of Society.” One of the key ways we meet our mission is through industry advocacy work with local government. The foundation of this work is set as part of OMB’s Government Affairs Committee.
Thank you to long time chair Stuart Drebick of Adroit Contractors, Inc. and his co-chair Christina Janis of Epic RealtyRob Rice Homes for leading this committee and tackling the fundamental housing issues within our local jurisdictions.
As you will see from this issue, there are many issues that OMB has been a part of over the years and will continue to be a part of in the future as a major stakeholder in housing in our local communities. Advocacy in our industry can seem like an uphill battle, but this organization takes great pride in sticking with it and making a difference. I would hate to see how things would be if OMB hadn’t been at the table to provide feedback on housing related topics.
The Government Affairs committee is a great way to get involved at OMB and provide your expertise in the industry as these many issues are tackled! This group will be spending a good amount of time reviewing local comprehensive plans over the next several months. The Comprehensive Plan affects the way a community grows in the future. Significant updates to local Comprehensive Plans take place every ten years so this is a big deal for local housing regulation.
Reach out to OMB’s Government Affairs Director, Jessie Simmons at ga@omb.org if you are interested in industry advocacy!
GET NOTICED! Chalk Line Magazine ADS
Chalk Line is OMB’s bi-monthly magazineavailable in print and online.
Display Advertising Rates
Full Page $500
1/2 Page $275
1/4 Page $150 1/8 Page $100 Contact jill@omb.org for more information.
The Olympia Master Builders is a professional trade association representing 470 member companies located in Thurston, Lewis, Grays Harbor, Mason and Pacific Counties. Our members come from all sectors of the building trades and are committed to “building strong communities, one home at a time.”
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President – Chris Winters
First Vice President – Jeff Kuster
Second Vice President – Gina Carlson
Treasurer – Kim Asay
Associate Vice President – Rusty Ruiz
Second Associate Vice President – Daniel Berner
Secretary – Christina Janis
Immediate Past President – Becky Rieger
ELECTED DIRECTORS – TWO YEAR TERM
Builder Director – Daniel Doyle
Builder Director – Maddy Cantrell
Builder Director – Kai Fyrst
Associate Director – Nichole Saeger
Associate Director – Melissa Kirkeby
NATIONAL DIRECTORS – ONE YEAR TERM
Builder – Chris Winters
Builder – Daniel Doyle
Associate – Linda Mosier Vaudt
STATE DIRECTORS – ONE YEAR TERM
Builder – Chris Winters
Builder – Ryann Blake
Builder – Andrew Spear
Builder – John Johnson
Builder – Karen McClennen
Builder – Kai Fyrst
Builder – Rob Cook
Builder – Mark Shepard
Associate – Daniel Doyle
Associate – Janine Ezzell
Associate – Debbi Boyd
Associate – Chad Pearson
Associate – Bob Kagy
Associate – Melissa Stone
BUILDER AT LARGE Karen McClennen
GRAYS HARBOR CHAPTER OFFICERS
President – Ryann Blake, Chimney Techniques, Inc.
LEWIS COUNTY CHAPTER OFFICERS
President – John Johnson, Johnson Custom Homes
MASON COUNTY CHAPTER OFFICERS
President – Andrew Spear, Andrew Spear Construction, LLC
PACIFIC COUNTY CHAPTER OFFICERS
LEGAL COUNSEL Goldstein Law Office, PLLC
ASSOCIATION STAFF
Executive Officer – Angela White
Events Director – Brianna Bedell
Communications Director – Jill Williams
Membership Director – Jenn Wasson
Government Affairs Director – Jessie Simmons
Office Administrator – Rodolfo Bonilla Franco
Business Development Associate – Sallee Turner
2024
With these long, hot days of summer, it’s hard to imagine that Fall is just around the corner. Growth is the theme of the upcoming season, and with that, the weather will start to cool, and the leaves will begin to fall, so it is only fitting to be in line with my 2024 goal of growing our membership.
October marks OMB’s Membership Month. This is the time of the year when we reach out to colleagues, business associates, friends, and family to share the benefits of OMB and encourage them to join. It’s a fun month stuffed full of events and activities focused on membership, but ultimately, this is our chance to share why we support and believe in OMB.
joining year after year. Whether it is the full calendar of educational classes available, exciting events and meetings, business marketing and promotion, medical insurance options, the R.O.I.I. program, governmental advocacy, or just good old-fashioned networking, the benefits of membership get better with each year.
This is where we ask for your support. As dedicated members of OMB, we look to you to act as mentors to new OMB members. Introduce yourself and commit to sitting next to a new member at your next meeting. Talk to them about WHY you are a member and the benefits that bring you back year after year. Encourage them to attend events or to join a Council. Help them see the perks behind involvement.
I see a very big and bright future for OMB, but getting there takes a village. Together, with the support of our staff, the membership committee and YOU, OMB will benefit from a thriving membership. CHRIS WINTERS BOARD PRESIDENT
There are so many great reasons why members join OMB and the amazing benefits they receive with membership that keep them re -
OMB Members in the Community.
We want to share outstanding efforts from OMB members giving back to our community. If you have a story to share, please reach out to Jill Williams at jill@omb.org so we can spotlight you on our Outreach page on the omb.org website and in Chalk Line Magazine and Chalk Talk e-newsletter.
Family Man Remodeling To The Rescue!
When OMB member, Zack Mederios of Family Man Remodeling, heard that Homes First needed volunteers to help complete a couple of ADU projects he leapt into action, contacting Homes First immediately! With Family Man Remodeling’s expertise in ADU’s, Homes First is in good hands! Nice job Family Man Team!
OMB at Career Days of Dozer Days!
OMB had the opportunity to lend a hand on the Career Day of Dozer Days at the Puyallup Fair this month! Dozer Days allows kids to explore construction equipment and actually operate it! A variety of vendors and activities were offered to showcase just how great the construction industry is! This event aimed to spark the passion for trades at a young age and provide a great event that raises funds for multiple non-profits. We are so honored to have been a part of it this year!
WHATS NEWat-a-glance
The Education Foundation gave out $13,500 in scholarships in 2024!
2024 Scholarship Recipients:
Maya Hankins - Lewis County
Steinar Goheen - Thurston County
Zachary Mayer - Thurston County
Jenna Rigg - Thurston County
Tyson Portman - Pacific County
INDUSTRY AVOCACY
JESSIE SIMMONS OMB
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR
A Word from Our Government Affairs Director
It is easy to become detached in today’s political and policy driven environment. It is no secret that homebuilding in our region has taken a back seat and to what a small but loud minority has determined to be the most important initiatives for our communities. The world that these policies have created is one in which the building industry carries too much of the burden. However, it is also important to take stock of the progress that has been made and the cooperation that is growing in tackling so much of the current housing crisis.
Olympia Master Builders has affected change that should be celebrated. Since starting in my role just over two years ago, we have worked with Thurston County on a Tree Conversion Policy that even the “Friends of Trees” could find compromise in. We have engaged in the “affordable housing” discussion by actively participating in advisory groups that determine which projects receive funding and which need more work to meet our community needs. OMB has worked with City of Lacey on items like their Accessory Dwelling Unit Program and helped create efficiencies. We had a seat at the table when the City of Lacey hired Wade Duffy’s replacement for the building official position, worked with City of Olympia on their “community hub” proposals, like the Capitol Mall
Triangle Subarea and convinced the City of Olympia that the best people to determine how much parking a project needs are the developers themselves, saving tens of thousands of dollars for future projects in many areas of Olympia. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the coalition we built around the parking mandates that included Olympians for People Oriented Places, as well as the national Parking Reform Network. The truth is that OMB has many wins to celebrate and many partners to thank.
Something else that we at OMB have to celebrate is the simple culture shift happening over the last couple of years across the five jurisdictions we serve. That is the developing culture of how to get to yes. Some jurisdictions were already taking initiative on this. For example, Lewis County has been working on right-sizing zoning policy for rural housing. Mason county is taking initiative on utilizing more and more buildable lands (while addressing) fees and policies that may have the unintended consequences of becoming obstacles to building homes. Each jurisdictions is doing this with input from OMB and our members. In fact, the majority of jurisdictional staff is now communicating with our office whenever major decisions on planning, land use, housing, and even climate come up.
In the end, it’s all about building strong communities. Everyone from elected officials to jurisdictional staff recognize that we are in the midst of a housing crisis. But what our members understand is best stated by long-standing Trustee of The Affordable Housing Council, Bob Kagy, when speaking with candidates running for local office, that this housing crisis is actually a planning crisis. A crisis that was created by years of anti-growth sentiment. This translated into policy that was mostly punitive to homebuilders. The culture shift we at OMB have been fostering is one that promotes incentives over punitive measures and one that asks how to get to yes instead of saying it isn’t possible. That is what we will continue to do with the help of our members and others who know what is at stake when proper planning gives way to ideology and poor judgement.
Committee Chair Spotlight:
STUART DREBICK, ADROIT CONTRACTORS
QUARTERLY BUILDING OFFICIALS & GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Stuart Drebick with Adroit Contractors has been a member for over 35 years. He is the current Chair of the Quarterly Building Officials Meetings and the Government Affairs Committee. We would like to thank Stuart for his continued commitment to OMB and the Building Industry.
"We are the only voice for affordable housing. The other side shows up in many numbers and we are the only ones to support our mission for affordable housing for all segments of society. Get involved. Be involved."
INDUSTRY AVOCACY
Whether an issue is about zoning, building codes or permitting, the Olympia Master Builders works to protect the interests of our industry and our members. Our objectives are to be proactive in the policy and regulatory process, make sure lines of communication are open between the industry and local government, fight unfair and costly regulation, and develop predictability in regulatory requirements so that businesses can operate as effectively as possible.
OMB Sees incremental Success in Impacts That Align with the Mission of Affordable Housing at Every Economic Level of Society.
Government Affairs Staff Holds Stakeholder Roles on Multiple Committees including:
• Tumwater Climate Technical Advisory Group
• South Sound Council for Career and Technical Education
• Lacey South Sound Chamber Government Affairs Committee
• Thurston Chamber Business and Economic Advisory Committee
• Mason County Chamber Government Affairs Committee
• Greater Grays Harbor Government Affairs Committee
• Thurston Affordable Housing Advisory Board to the Regional Housing Council … and more!
Industry Advocacy participation throughout 2023 – 24 includes, but is not limited to:
• Attending Saint Martin’s Housing Summit as panelists
• Attending Greater Grays Harbor Housing Summit as panelists
• Assisting in the coordination of classes on new energy codes in Thurston, Lewis, and Mason Counties that were attended by both builders and jurisdictional staff
• Working with Thurston County to develop a Tree Conversion policy, and keep it accountable to the experts through an added chapter on adaptive management
• Working with City of Olympia to remove parking mandates and put the decision back in the hands of the developer
• Working with multiple jurisdictions to expand the Multi-Family Tax Exemption (MFTE) … and more!
Todd Cunningham, Building Official with Mason County Weighs in on the Importance of the relationship with OMB
Building Permit Process and Construction Successes in Advocacy
While it is not often that I hear people are happy to obtain a required permit; it is an important step in ensuring that we are all on the same page with the many regulations that our state has mandated through RCW 19.27. The importance of stakeholder engagement in the building permit process is one that I feel is vital to the success of construction and in the government regulatory relationships we build. But what is a stakeholder? In our world, I would describe it as a customer that has interest in a given subject or the outcome of such; at the end of the day, we are stakeholders of each other’s actions.
My opinion is that both builders and building department staff have an obligation to work together ensuring the right product is built or the building is occupied in a safe way for our end users and in compliance with the various Codes, RCW’s and WAC’s. As we do this, and as we strive to ensure a cohesive and transparent relationship while creating a great product, it’s important to understand the need for organizations like the Olympia Master Builders (OMB) and the advocacy they provide to many. As a representative for many builders across the region, OMB has provided a balance and understanding for its members and building departments as to the regulations of the state and needs of various jurisdictions across the state while also being a strong advocate for its membership in the legislative and other processes of construction throughout the area’s jurisdictions.
Industry Advocacy Priorities for The Future of Local Housing:
• Work with jurisdictions to make them more accountable on impact fees
• Change the narrative from regulation and policy that is punitive towards homebuilding and push for incentives that meet the demand of the current crisis
• Participate in discussions around updates to Comprehensive Plans in every jurisdiction
• Continue to push for change through stakeholder work and meetings with local decision makers
A strong relationship with construction advocacy groups is one I consider to be an important part of our work as building and safety representatives and to the accountability of our work. My belief is that these organizations not only represent their members, but they indirectly represent us as building and safety professionals in the bigger picture. Mitigating the challenges and many times risks of construction is difficult; I’ve had what I will describe as the pleasure of working with OMB for over a decade here in Washington State. They’ve been professional and understanding the entire time and while we don’t always agree, we have developed a relationship of trust and understanding for the commitments of both sides and an understanding of what it takes to be successful as a team and getting to yes.
OMB has been a strong advocate for its members through the many challenges we find along the way in implementation of codes and new regulations handed down by the state. It’s been clear they have a strong voice and purpose. A couple of recent examples include the ever-changing WA State Energy Codes (WSEC); and the Wildland Urban Interface Code (aka WUI) which was recently stalled at the legislative level under SB6120. Both of these codes have been discussed ad nauseam but have and will change the landscape of regulatory alignment with the cost of doing business and producing a great end product. OMB has been engaged and participated in the implementation in representation to its members of many discussions related to these codes. At the building official level, I sometimes find myself thinking “why doesn’t the state allow us to catch up to what we have in front of us before throwing more regulations at us?” It’s a hard line to follow and even harder to explain to our stakeholders and customers. The importance of OMB and building department relationships become very clear when this happens.
While feasibility is critical to all projects, we all know new regulatory process chips away at the ability to ensure affordability; new codes or processes are part of this. I hear the term “affordable housing” often; we need more affordable housing but at the end of the day market rate creeps into the picture and brings with it a cost that is truly not affordable to the
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
continued from Todd Cunningham
end user. These two codes as mentioned have had a huge impact on the feasibility of projects and many times impact whether the project takes place or not. If it doesn’t pencil, it’s a wash, and everyone loses.
Before making revisions to any process, whether it be a code, fee or other topic of interest, I always think about the outreach and engagement that must take place to get us to yes with the least amount of opposition, controversy, or misunderstanding. Engaging OMB in our work has proven to be a helpful avenue in aligning projects with state mandates, local regulations and industry expectations. As Mason County takes a collaborative approach to the approval process, while considering the legal regulatory complications of life safety and end-user applications, OMB continues to ensure there are open lines of communication between the many area jurisdictions and though their quarterly meetings with building officials from the surrounding areas. It’s important to understand the need for great communication before, during and post construction build-out; as we all know it costs money and time to learn along the way or to learn the hard way.
OMB recently worked with our team to review the upcoming recommended building code fee revisions. Mason County had not visited a building code fee evaluation since 2018 and had fallen behind in keeping up with the code changes that cost money to implement and/or review. Many of these code changes driven by the State of Washington, create unfunded mandates (both the energy code and the upcoming WUI code are examples). While the reason change was needed was clear, it is sometimes a challenging process in conveying to our stakeholders that a permit is going to cost more. In this case the fee increase was negligible but nevertheless had to be discussed.
As we reached out to our customers and OMB asking for a review and evaluation of the new fee schedule, we were met with a very cooperative approach. OMB’s Director of Government Affairs, Jessie Simmons welcomed a transparent discussion and ongoing communication with the process while checking in with their members and board of directors. Although Jessie conveyed that “no fee increase is a good one”, he did explain that they understood the need and how the unfunded mandates of the state are a driving force in this revision.
Construction projects in Mason County take many shapes but the journey to obtaining a permit is a common thread we must all experience in all jurisdictions. Engaging OMB helps to ensure projects align properly with the expectations of OMB is membership. A collaborative approach is a must and serves to ensure success for both the building department and our customers. We stand firm on our convictions to ensure this. At the end of the day these are just some of the examples of a successful relationship and communication. There are many others and as we keep the lines of open communication and construction team relationship in focus, I suspect there will be more.
Serving our community through partnershipLand Use and Building Process Improvements
Director Joshua Cummings, and Planning Manager Brett Bures, Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED)
The values of Thurston County’s Community Planning and Economic Development’s (CPED) are transparency, consistency, and accountability, and operates under the guidance of the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) to assist applicants to do what they want with their property within codes and ordinances, while protecting the environment. These values and guidance are consistent with the County’s Strategic Plan initiatives #6 and #7 (to proactively shape a strong economy, while protecting the environment).
Consistency: Creating stability between the two initiatives can sometimes be a wavy ride. Balancing the permitting challenges for developers and homeowners with requirements of environmental protections can create review timelines that are lengthy and complicated. Further, state mandated changes to codes and ordinances, such as the new Energy Code, can create new challenges for the development community. The County serves the community by implementing regulations from federal, state, and local governments the same way every time.
Partnership: CPED engages in partnership and coordination with all interested groups in the county, including coordinating with OMB throughout the years, which has been invaluable for creating successful County policy. Having a partner in OMB to discuss ways to improve processes and policies that would benefit both the development community and Thurston County has yielded many successes. Recent successes include: application reviews not being impacted by existing zoning or building violations; implementation of the County’s Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP); utilizing the County’s Voluntary Compliance Agreement for code compliance cases; launching the Project Review Timeline (PRT) to increase transparency and consistency in the review process; and supporting the BoCC’s docketing process for Comprehensive Plan amendments.
SB 5290: A recent WA State mandated change regarding review timelines for permits and applications is another wave that needs to be navigated. On January 1, 2025, SB 5290 is required to be implemented in Thurston County and other jurisdictions who plan under the Growth Management Act (GMA). SB 5290 amends RCW 36.70B and requires jurisdictions to meet the mandated timelines, report the timelines annually, provides guidance to jurisdictions on ways to improve processes to help meet the requirements, and enacts a penalty to local jurisdiction if those timelines are not met.
Ahead of the curve: Thurston County CPED began an implementation of process improvements starting in 2018. Many have already been implemented, but some big ones will go into effect before the end of this year. This puts us ahead of curve in preparation for SB 5290. In coordination with OMB, CPED is moving forward with additional ways to improve our processes. Currently the County is updating its permit database system to allow for online submittals and better project tracking; creating a streamlined process for critical area determinations; conducting the first comprehensive fee study since 2009 to evaluate permit fees; and continuing to refine the permit review processes.
Continued partnership: The recent achievements and process improvements in preparation for SB 5290 could not yield success without the collaboration of our many community partners. OMB’s engagement is a clear example of when an organization takes the time to join the policy conversation the outcome is better for us all.
STATE LEVEL
BIAW’s Government Affairs Program exists to defend affordable housing for the citizens of Washington state. BIAW’s team of lobbyists work on members’ behalf to pass pro-housing legislation and defeat bills harmful to the housing industry. BIAW and BIAW’s political action committee, the Washington Affordable Housing Council, play an active role in Washington state elections, pouring a significant amount of time, energy and resources into ensuring the election of pro-small business and pro-housing candidates that support the building industry and the continued economic growth of the state.
BIAW priority bills now law
Several BIAW priority bills and more than 300 others passed by the 2024 legislature became law on June 6.
BIAW priority bill to improve safety and fairness now law
Last year, several builders complained the state Department of Labor and Industries wasn’t notifying them of safety violations until months after the alleged violation occurred. BIAW Lobbyist Tom Kwieciak worked with Sen. Karen Keiser, longtime Chair of the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee, on a solution.
SB 5980 improves the timeline for issuing safety violation citations. That means builders can fix potential problems sooner, creating safer workplaces and helping to eliminate unnecessary fines.
Now that the bill has become law, BIAW urges builders to let us know if they have any further issues.
Two bills easing regulatory barriers now law
SB 5792 eased rigorous condominium development regulations to allow builders of multi-unit residential buildings/condominiums that are two stories or less with 12 or fewer units to add one story of above or below-ground parking or retail space. Previously, they had to build these structures under the more restrictive condominium codes. BIAW Senior Legislative Manager Tricia Gullion testified on this bill and worked with legislators to pass it into law. Recognizing the need for more flexibility in rural development, Managing Director of External Affairs Jan Himebaugh joined local governments and others in supporting SSB 6140. A bipartisan bill, SSB 6140 will bring both jobs and essential services to rural areas.
Streamlining the building code, cementing certainty
SB 6291 streamlines the state building code council operating procedures, creating more certainty. BIAW Policy and Research Manager Andrea Smith worked with Sen. Linda Wilson, a member of the building code council, on these important improvements. It also became law on June 6.
STATE LEVEL ADVOCACY
Initiative 2066 to protect natural gas garners 546,000+ signatures in 50 days.
OLYMPIA…The Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW), Let’s Go Washington, the Washington Hospitality Association (WHA) and others today submitted the final round of petitions supporting Initiative 2066 to protect natural gas as an energy choice, bringing the total to 546,000+ signatures in 50 days.
The 546,000+ signatures gathered is the second-highest for a state initiative and the most gathered in over 50 years.
546,000+ signatures in 50 days
“When we launched this initiative 50 days ago, I knew Washingtonians opposed the idea of banning natural gas, but the support for this initiative has been truly amazing,” said Greg Lane, BIAW Executive Vice President. “We look forward to voters now having the chance to protect natural gas as an energy choice by approving I-2066 in November.”
By state law, supporters must submit 324,516 valid signatures from registered Washington voters by July 5 to qualify for the November General Election ballot. The Secretary of State’s office recommends a “cushion” of 15 to 20% in case some of the signatures collected are duplicates or from non-voters.
“Today’s announcement is the result of a strong partnership with Washington’s leading industry associations and the passion of the people of Washington who are tired of politicians in Olympia making their lives more expensive,” said Brian Heywood of Let’s Go Washington. “Initiative 2066 will now be on the ballot in November. Together with the three other initiatives we have on the ballot, we’re giving Washington the ultimate opportunity to vote yes and pay less.”
Protecting natural gas as an energy choice
BIAW, WHA and others have fought off political efforts in the legislature, at the local government level and at the Washington State Building Code Council to end natural gas service for Washington residents and businesses who rely on it.
Initiative 2066 protects reliable, affordable energy choices like natural gas and propane and prohibits gas bans in Washington. It gives Washington voters the freedom to join the 24 other states in America who’ve banned natural gas bans in support of energy choice.
“I-2066 will ensure families and businesses across the state can continue to rely on
natural gas as an energy source for their stoves, water heaters, barbecues, furnaces and fireplaces,” said Anthony Anton, President and CEO of the Washington Hospitality Association. “It would also protect people and businesses from being forced to make the costly switch to all-electric power.
“Many restaurant and lodging owners continue to carry significant debt from COVID,” he said. “The cost of converting equipment then wiring and replacing panels for the higher electric load will rise to six figures for most operators and over a million for hundreds of others, meaning Washington will lose even more of these businesses.”
I-2066 protects natural gas as an energy choice, ensures energy stability and security, and prohibits natural gas bans in Washington.
About I-2066
Signing Initiative 2066 gives voters the power to: Stop the state from limiting natural gas service to homes and businesses, like restaurants and breweries, Protect natural gas for heating, cooking and more, Stop state and local governments from banning, restricting, or discouraging gas and gas appliances in homes and businesses, Make sure gas utilities will continue to provide natural gas to customers who want it, Protect people from having to switch to only electric energy, Keep the power on when our energy grid is at capacity in super cold or hot weather.
Signing Initiative 2066 does not: Force anyone to use natural gas or natural gas appliances, take away energy incentives and rebates for those who choose them, or reduce the state’s commitment to addressing climate change. Supporters of 12066 were Building Industry Association of Washington, Washington Hospitality Association, Associated General Contractors of Washington, Washington Aggregates & Concrete Association, NW Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, Washington Denturist Association, Associated Builders & Contractors Western WA Chapter, Associated Builders & Contractors Inland Pacific Chapter, Washington REALTORS, and Washington State Tree Fruit Association.
NATIONAL LEVEL ADVOCACY
NAHB has the grassroots strength of over 235,000 members to defeat excessive regulations and defend affordable housing initiatives on Capitol Hill.
During the 118th Congress, we are asking federal policymakers to move forward on a number of important issues. These are select issues that we are asking federal legislators to take on:
• Workforce and Labor
• Housing Affordability
• Building Energy Codes
NAHB Announces a 10-Point Plan to Tame Shelter Inflation, Ease the Housing Affordability Crisis
With a nationwide shortage of roughly 1.5 million housing units that is making it increasingly difficult for American families to afford to purchase or rent a home, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today unveiled a 10-point housing plan designed to tame shelter inflation and ease the housing affordability crisis by removing barriers that hinder the construction of new homes and apartments.
“The lack of homes is the primary cause of growing housing affordability challenges,” said NAHB Chairman Carl Harris, a custom home builder from Wichita, Kan. “Any policy that seeks to improve affordability without addressing the need to increase the supply of single-family and multifamily for-sale and for-rent housing is doomed to fail.”
Shelter inflation – rent and homeownership costs – is still rising well above a 5% rate, and for the past year, more than half of overall inflation in the economy has been due to rising housing costs. The only way to effectively tame shelter inflation – particularly with elevated interest rates for both mortgages and development/construction loans – is to build more attainable, affordable housing.
With policymakers at all levels of government looking for ways to provide more affordable homeownership and rental housing opportunities for all Americans, NAHB is offering a plan that outlines initiatives that can be taken at the local, state and federal levels to address the root of the problem –the impediments to increasing the nation’s housing supply.
• Eliminate excessive regulations.
• Promote careers in the skilled trades.
• Fix building material supply chains and ease costs.
• Pass federal tax legislation to expand the production of affordable and attainable housing
• Overturn inefficient local zoning rules.
• Alleviate permitting roadblocks.
• Adopt reasonable and cost-effective building codes.
• Reduce local impact fees and other upfront taxes associated with housing construction
• Make it easier for developers to finance new housing.
• Update employment policies to promote flexibility and opportunity.
The nation’s home builders are committed to doing their part to boost housing production to meet the needs of a growing population, make homeownership and renting more affordable, and elevate housing as a national priority. But we cannot do it alone. By implementing these practical solutions and reaffirming their commitment to housing, policymakers at all levels of government can help fulfill the promise of the Housing Act of 1949, which set a goal of “a decent home and a suitable living environment for every American family.”
Learn more about each element of the plan at nahb.org/plan.
SEPTEMBER 21-22 nd
MAIN EVENT SPONSOR
"Money,
money, money, moooooney!"
Want to be rewarded for safety in your workplace? Join the crowd—by joining the state’s largest, longest-operating Retro (Retrospective Rating) safety incentive program: ROII. It’s the Retro program that rewards businesses like yours with a partial refund on your L&I insurance premium for good safety performance. For more information contact Jenn at membership@omb.org.
Joined in April and May 2023
Olympia Remodeling Co.
Olympia - (360) 878-3324 hello@olyremodel.com
Sponsor: Daimon Doyle
Hart Homes, LLC
Tahuya - (253) 753-7692 harthomesllc@outlook.com
Sponsor: Amber Bevacqua
360 Painting of Olympia Tumwater - (360) 349-7195 pgoulbourne@360painting.com Sponsor: Rusty Ruiz
Aeroseal
Puyallup - (520) 254-2966 joel.ward@aeroseal.com Sponsor: Daimon Doyle
North Pacific Electric, Inc. Olympia - (360) 943-6020 info@northpacificelectric.com
Sponsor: Becky Rieger
OCD Electric, LLC
Puyallup - (509) 599-7569 brody@electricocd.com
Sponsor: Debbi Boyd
Mill Creek Construction Raymond - (360) 942-5456 info@millcreekconstructiongroup.com
Sponsor: Bob Kagy
Greenfields Landscape, LLC Shelton - (360) 674-6491 greenfields.landscapellc@gmail.com
Sponsor: Merrilee DeForest
Moon Welding & Powder Coating, Inc. Chehalis - (360) 269-0875 moonwelding@hotmail.com
Sponsor: Chris Winters
Veterans Security Operations
Puyallup - (253) 290-7419 trottach@vetssec.com
Sponsor: Jeff Kuster
B & L Excavation (dba: Gen 5 Logging) Mossyrock - (360) 880-7425 gen5logging@outlook.com
Sponsor: Gina Carlson
Williams Contracting, Inc.
Olympia - (360) 556-9964 cwilliams@wcontracting.net
Sponsor: Melissa Kirkeby
Aetheling Homes, LLC Yelm - (253) 888-2470 zack@aethelinggc.com
Sponsor: Christina Janis
B.A. Seal Coat, LLC Chehalis - (360) 507-6257 basealcoat@gmail.com
Sponsor: Aaron Stalcup
Vo & Company Olympia - (360) 481-3086 alex@vo-company.com
Sponsor: Daniel Berner
Pella Windows and Doors of Western Washington Tacoma - (425) 455-5550 wyattmj@pellapnw.com
Sponsor: Daniel Doyle
Trusty Rusty, LLC Chehalis - (360) 262-4354 office@trustyrustyllc.com
Sponsor: Kelly Jensen
Oyhut Development, Inc. Ocean Shores - (360) 289-2661 lisa@oyhutbay.com
Sponsor: Melissa Kirkeby
Red Fox Custom Carpentry Olympia - (253) 330-6206 redfoxcustomcarpentry@gmail.com
Sponsor: Chad Pearson
Common Ground Fence, LLC Olympia - (360) 228-8666 commongroundfence@gmail.com
Sponsor: Mark Shephard
Sunquest Construction, Inc. Centralia - (360) 219-7363 sunquestconstruction@outlook.com
Sponsor: Melissa Stone
Drew Construction Company Olympia - (360) 485-8913 jasonpdrew@gmail.com
Sponsor: Nichole Saeger
BNW Construction, LLC Olympia - (206) 751-2246 bnw.construction2022@gmail.com
Sponsor: Debbi Boyd
1-4 YEARS
American Plumbing Contractors, Inc.
The Nichols Group Government Relations, LLC
Red Door Interiors
Fortress Builders
PURaFOG
Bowers Construction, Inc.
TDL Design, LLC
Cultivating Kindness Landscape & Design
Alliance Door Products-Lynden Door
Cascade Trader, Inc.
Emerge Electrical, LLC
Harmon and Harmon Construction
Bud Clary Auto & Commercial Vehicle Group
Bradley Air, Company
Thomas Architecture Studios
Kim Asay Insurance Agency
Garrette Custom Homes
Better Homes NW
Advanced Build NW
Mr. Do Right Construction, LLC
5-9 YEARS
South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity
KBH Construction Company
Quality Parking Lot Services, LLC
Mr. Appliance of Olympia
Varsity Electric, LLC
AC Burton Homes
Franciscovich General, Inc.
Hamilton Construction Co.
Steelhead Framing & Drywall, Inc.
Bay Shore Construction
Deschutes Law Group
A+ Septic & Plumbing Service
The Rants Group-Evergreen Olympic Properties
Guild Mortgage-Lacey
Sandrini Restoration, LLC
Kifer Construction
Woods Electric
Pacific Mobile Structures, Inc.
Eli’s Paver Patios, LLC
First Finishers, LLC
FGM Construction & Development
Sterling Breen Crushing
10-14 YEARS
MB Electric, LLC
J. Kerzie Homes, LLC
Larson & Associates, Inc.
Edward Jones Investments
Mosier-Vaudt Consulting
Polar Bear Construction
Scherer Trucking & Excavation
Lloyd’s Automotive
Bud’s Lumber & Electric
United Roofing Solutions, Inc.
Yelm Plumbing & Pumps
Carnahan’s Pest Control Co.
Hometown Property Management
Custom Source Woodworking
thank you to our Renewing Members!
Joined in April - June 2024
15-19 YEARS
Albert Lee Appliance
JT Painting Company , LLC
Reliable Electric, Inc.
Shanex, LLC
Ron Deering Homes, LLC
Fireside Home Solutions
20-24 YEARS
Plumb Line Plumbing
Snell Crane Service, Inc.
Black Lake Landscape Supplies (dba: Concrete Recyclers)
Brooks Plumbing Co.
OSG Dozing, LLC
Oyster Bay Construction
Capitol Lumber, Inc.
House Brothers Construction, Inc.
MDK Construction, Inc.
Capital Heating & Cooling
Washington Business Bank
Martin & Martin Construction, LLC
Lance French Construction
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
Skyline Pump & Machine Co., Inc.
25-29 YEARS
The Bathroom, LLC
Oman & Sons Builders Supply, Inc.
Huttmann Electric, Inc.
L.G. Isaacson Company
Quigg Bros., Inc.
Precision Pipe Fabricators
Brad Davis Construction, Inc.
CSM Heating Cooling & Roofing
Wirkkala Construction
McKinney’s Appliance
John’s Plumbing & Pumps, Inc.
Olympic Heating & Cooling, LLC
Chimney Techniques, inc.
Northwest Design & Development
30 + YEARS
Boistfort Valley Water
Olympia Overhead Doors
Buehler Homes, LLC
Skillings, Inc.
Truss Components
Rob Rice Homes, LLC
Lew Rents
Lew Rents West, Inc.
MC Squared, Inc.
Sandrini Construction & Remodeling, Inc.
Olympia Fireplace and Spa
Builders FirstSource-Shelton
1211 STATE AVE. NE OLYMPIA, WA 98506
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