PDF copies of the signed legislation are available in the database records linked below: Ord. 124170 C.B. 117772 AN ORDINANCE relating to land use and zoning; amending the Official Land Use Map to rezone properties located at 2615 25th Avenue South and 2715 — 25th Avenue South, from Single Family 5000 (SF 5000) to Seattle [...][More]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/21/2013 Council President Sally J. Clark Councilmember Nick Licata Councilmember Mike O'Brien Councilmembers to host discussion on Targeted Hiring for city-funded capital projects SEATTLE - Join Councilmembers and a p...[More]

On May 16th the Parks and Neighborhood committee (PaN) voted to allow the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to form a partnership with the Seattle Audubon Society, create the Parks and Recreation Legacy Citizen’s Advisory Committee, and appoint Michael Shiosaki to the Arboretum and Botanical Garden Committee. See the meeting agenda here, or watch [...][More]

On Monday, May 13, the Seattle City Council adopted a resolution enlisting City departments to develop outreach strategies to educate and inform the public about new healthcare coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). ACA is the national health insurance legislation approved by Congress in 2010, which goes into full effect in [...][More]

The following is a summation of Council actions at today’s 2 p.m. Full Council meeting TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: 1. Council Bill 117773 (PDF Version) PASS (9 – 0) Accepting for general street purposes 18 deeds, four correction deeds, and a re-recording of quit claim deed, conveyed to the City of Seattle by the Central Puget Sound [...][More]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/20/2013

Councilmember Sally Bagshaw           

Citizens' Advisory Committee created to help shape possible 2014 Parks Levy

SEATTLE - Seattle City Council created the Parks and Recreation Legacy Citizens' Advisory Committee today, which will help develop a potential 2014 ballot measure for Seattle's parks.  The citizens' committee will evaluate options for a potential package of parks and recreation projects, ongoing maintenance and operations, and programs and to identify strategic funding options for the levy.

"Our previous parks levies have leveraged enormous private and public funds to help our parks," said Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, Chair of the Council's Parks and Neighborhoods Committee. "This is an investment, and I'm excited to work with the citizens committee to help shape the future of our parks system".

The current Parks and Green Spaces Levy, approved by 59% of the voters in 2008 will expire next year.  The committee will issue a final advisory report to the Mayor and City Council by March 2014.

"I'd like to thank everyone involved in this work, especially the volunteer advisory committee," said Councilmember Bagshaw.  "Let's roll up our sleeves and get to work."

The Department of Parks and Recreation has responded to reductions in its general fund budget support by finding greater operating efficiencies, embracing new management systems, reducing services and deferring routine and major maintenance.  The Seattle Parks Asset Management Plan identified a backlog of nearly 300 projects with an estimated total cost of $267 million for major maintenance, including building renovations, ballfield and lighting replacements, forest and landscape restoration, roof replacements, and improvements of play areas and tennis courts.

The Parks and Recreation Legacy Citizens' Advisory Committee members are: Barbara Wright, Co-Chair; Charlie Zaragoza, Co-Chair; Thatcher Bailey; Steve Daschle; Juli Farris; Bill Farmer; Thomas Goldstein; Jessie Israel; Diana Kincaid; Michael Maddux; Brice Maryman; Yalonda Gill Masundire; Mustapha Math; David Namura; and Erika Nuerenberg.

[View in Council Newsroom]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/20/2013

Councilmember Mike O'Brien

City Council improves access to
low-income electricity rate assistance
Tenants in qualified low-income housing can now be automatically enrolled in
City Light's Utility Discount Program

SEATTLE - Seattle City Council adopted electricity rate assistance legislation today to simplify access for low-income City Light customers. Seattle City Light will partner with low-income housing providers to get tenants into the program more quickly and with less hassle.

"The single best way for any City Light customers to manage their bills is to conserve energy. But we know that some customers are still struggling to make ends meet, and this legislation makes rate assistance more accessible for people who really need it," said Councilmember Mike O'Brien, sponsor of the legislation. "Many customers in low-income housing are eligible for utility rate assistance by the fact that they qualify for the type of housing they are in. This fix simplifies the process for the customer and the utility and will help get more people enrolled."

Seattle City Light's Utility Discount Program reduces electricity rates by approximately 60% for eligible low-income customers. The legislation approved by Council allows the utility to use information from certain affordable housing providers to enroll eligible customers, rather than requiring those tenants to proactively apply for the discount. Simplifying the application process is expected to help enroll customers who were previously unaware of this benefit.

"With the City Council's action today, City Light will streamline the application process for customers who are most in need, allowing them to apply for the rate discount program at the same time as they apply for affordable housing," City Light General Manager Jorge Carrasco said. "This is just one part of the major effort underway as part of our Strategic Plan to assist customers who are having difficulty with their bills.  In addition to increasing enrollment in the rate discount program, we are also helping them better manage their energy use through home energy visits and other conservation measures."

Non-profit affordable housing groups must meet federal and / or state guidelines for low-income operations, each agency must enter into a signed agreement with Seattle City Light, and the program will undergo periodic audits.

City Light customers interested in applying for the Utility Discount Program can also do so here: www.seattle.gov/humanservices/benefits/udp.htm

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For many families, the difference between a dead-end job and a living-wage career is a construction job.[More]

Seattle has a new parade to add to the calendar of summer events. Yesterday the residents and gardeners of High Point and greater West Seattle welcomed bees to the new Neighborhood Matching Fund-supported hive enclosure at the High Point Commons Park P-Patch, the new West Seattle Bee Garden! Though I was not in costume, I [...][More]

PDF copies of the signed legislation are available in the database records linked below: Ord. 124166 C.B. 117745 AN ORDINANCE relating to tree and vegetation management in public places; adding a new Chapter 15.43 to Subtitle I of Title 15 of the Seattle Municipal Code to provide for the regulation of planting, maintenance, and removal [...][More]