The City Council passed the 2014 City of Seattle budget in late November,  focusing on public safety, shelter for families, and early learning. Two of my key priorities are included: emergency shelter for homeless families, and funding for enforcing labor standards.  Shelter for homeless families and youth With the Council’s support of $200,000 in the […][More]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/5/2013

Seattle LGBT Commission Seeks Candidates

The Seattle LGBT Commission seeks applications from interested candidates for four vacant seats on the Commission.  The Commission is a 16-member body that advises the Mayor, City Council, and City departments on issues that affect LGBTQ communities throughout Seattle.  Commissioners have the opportunity to promote positive change by working with community groups and individuals to identify areas of concern, by making recommendations regarding policy and legislative changes, and by serving as liaisons between LGBTQ communities and city government. 

In 2013, the Commission addressed a range of priority areas identified through community feedback and the findings from Snapshot Seattle, a citywide survey and community input from an annual Community Workplan Event.  These priority areas include support of LGBTQ elders and aging services; issues pertaining to LGBTQ immigrants, refugees, and asylees; education and outreach around intersectional identities; LGBTQ economic justice; issues of gender identity inclusion and access; outreach to the Seattle Police Department; increased awareness of LGBTQ youth support; support for an LGBTQ Community Center and development of an Office of LGBTQ Affairs among others.  Additional information about the Commission’s 2013 Work Plan is available online at http://www.seattle.gov/LGBT.

Appointment to the Commission is subject to confirmation by the City Council.  Commissioners serve two-year terms, although may be appointed to fill the remainder of an existing term.

How to apply?  The deadline to apply for a seat on the Commission is December 31, 2013.  To apply, please submit a completed application form, along with a letter of interest, a resume, a short biography, and the area of Seattle in which you live.

Click here to download the application.  Application materials must be submitted by email to Marta Idowu at marta.idowu@seattle.gov by the deadline. Please note, all documents must be in MS Word document file format in order to be considered complete for submission.

Applicants must live or work in Seattle, and must be available for monthly public meetings on the third Thursday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 at Seattle City Hall in downtown Seattle.  Applicants should possess demonstrated experience working or volunteering with LGBTQ communities, and it is highly encouraged that applicants have attended at least one Commission meeting or event within the past 12 months to learn more about the Commission’s work and process.  Applicants are encouraged to attend the Commission’s November 21 or December 19 meetings at City Hall or the December 11 Work Plan Event at Washington Hall to learn more and meet Commissioners.

The City of Seattle is committed to promoting diversity in the City’s boards and commissions. The City welcomes applications from persons with disabilities, persons of color, persons of different faiths, immigrants, youth, senior citizens, women, all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions. 

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Ord. 124334 C.B. 117963 AN ORDINANCE appropriating money to pay certain audited claims and ordering the payment thereof. [More]

This morning my committee passed legislation that encourages and affirms the important role of public employee whistleblowers. The most important part of the bill moves the investigation of retaliation claims from the Mayor’s office to the independent Seattle Ethics and...[More]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/4/2013

Council committee strengthens City whistleblower code
Legislation encourages whistleblowing, enhances protections from retaliation

SEATTLE – The City Council’s Government Performance and Finance Committee voted unanimously this morning to pass legislation that encourages and affirms the important role of public employee whistleblowers. The bill expands the definition of whistleblowers and moves the investigation of retaliation claims from the Mayor’s office to the independent Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission (SEEC).

"Public service is a high calling and we must hold ourselves to high standards," said Councilmember Tim Burgess, chair of the committee and former Ethics and Elections Commission Chair. "By clarifying employee rights, responsibilities and protections, we allow City employees to proudly serve the public interest without fear of retaliation."

Last updated in 1994, the current whistleblower code directs an employee to report retaliation to the Mayor’s office, which can then ask the employee’s department—often the original alleged retaliator—to investigate. Shifting the investigatory responsibilities to the independent SEEC strengthens confidentiality protections and the integrity of the investigation.

"This bill represents a significant step to protect public servants who report improper government action," said Bill Sherman, Chair of the Ethics and Elections Commission. "It will result in a more effective City government and a better workplace."

The legislation changes the definition of a whistleblower to include employees who are perceived to have reported improper governmental activity. It also gives protection from retaliation if they try to report improper action first within their departments rather than the SEEC.

Furthermore, the legislation expands the remedies available to employees should they prove retaliation, including emotional distress damages of up to $20,000. Employees who have submitted a timely and sufficient complaint to the SEEC may also file a civil action in court should their position as a whistleblower lead them to not trust the City’s administrative process.

The legislation will be considered for final adoption by the Full Council on Monday, December 9.

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Ord. 124333 C.B. 117956 AN ORDINANCE appropriating money to pay certain audited claims and ordering the payment thereof. [More]

The following petition, signed by close to 200 city employees, was submitted in August 1907: TO THE MAYOR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE. Gentlemen: A little less than one year ago, we the undersigned laborers in the employ of the various departments of the City of Seattle, made […][More]

Apply by January 22, 2014 to the Cultural Development Certification RFP issued by the City's arts office, calling for a certification program analogous to existing certifications for LEED.[More]

Action Summary of the Seattle City Council Full Council Meeting Monday, December 2, 2013  (Councilmember Mike O’Brien excused)   FULL COUNCIL: ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE:  1.  Council Bill 117881 (PDF Version)   PASSED (8-0) Relating to the City Light Department, authorizing the extension of the franchise from the City of Burien to construct, operate, maintain[More]

Action Summary of the Seattle City Council Full Council Meeting Monday, November 25, 2013  No Absences. FULL COUNCIL: 1. Resolution 31488 (PDF Version)  ADOPTED AS AMENDED (9-0) Conveying the City of Seattle's comments on the scope of the supplemental environmental impact statement for the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority's update to its Long-Range Plan. SPECI[More]