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 [...] [Full Post]

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.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/7/2013 Councilmember Sally Bagshaw Meetings set to discuss future of Seattle's parks Councilmember Sally Bagshaw encourages public participation SEATTLE - Seattle Parks and Recreation announced public meetings to help p... [Full Post]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/6/2013 Council President Sally J. Clark Councilmember Sally Bagshaw Councilmember Tim Burgess Councilmember Richard Conlin Councilmember Jean Godden Councilmember Bruce Harrell Councilmember Mike O'... [Full Post]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/6/2013 Council President Sally J. Clark Councilmember Sally Bagshaw Councilmember Tim Burgess Councilmember Richard Conlin Councilmember Jean Godden Councilmember Bruce Harrell Councilmember Nick Li... [Full Post]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/30/2013 City Councilmembers to vote on gun safety public health funding Seattle - The City Council's Government Performance and Finance Committee will consider tomorrow morning an amendment to budget legislation to fund ... [Full Post]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/30/2013 Councilmember Sally Bagshaw Councilmember Jean Godden Councilmember Bruce Harrell Councilmembers Bagshaw, Godden, Harrell to appear on May's City Inside/Out: Council Edition The opportunity is yours:... [Full Post]

Have you seen the Castle Park yet? Hail to Roxhill! Last Saturday the park was officially opened. Despite the chill, hundreds of neighbors and kids with skateboards gathered in one of the city’s newest parks. Prizes were awarded for best tricks, and new skateboards were given to a special few newcomers. Time was set aside [...] [Full Post]

I’ve toured several micro-housing units (none that the neighbors have described as substandard) and I’m impressed by the possibilities. Mostly they are small rooms (between 150 and 200 square feet) that have private bathrooms, a mini-refrigerator and a microwave grouped around a full kitchen and shared dining area. There might be seven or eight rooms [...] [Full Post]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/23/2013

Councilmember Sally Bagshaw

Councilmember Bagshaw visits Olympia to advocate for transportation options

OLYMPIA - Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw today will meet with key state legislators to advocate for local transportation funding options. Bagshaw will travel to Olympia as part of the "Keep King County Moving" Coalition, highlighting the need to preserve King County Metro transit service and critical roadway maintenance.

Metro faces a $75 million annual shortage if the state Legislature fails to approve transit funding tools, a shortfall that would result in the reduction of up to 17 percent of Metro's bus service.  According to King County Metro, 65 transit routes are at risk of being cancelled, with another 86 routes at risk for service reductions. "Keep King County Moving" has coordinated business, government and community advocates to speak with one voice in Olympia about the threat transit cuts pose to business, growth management and quality of life.

"I'm looking forward to sitting down with our friends in Olympia to find some real solutions for our transit system," said Councilmember Sally Bagshaw.  "I'd also like to extend my gratitude to the legislature for passing the Safe Streets bill (House Bill 1045 and Senate Bill 5066), which will allow for lower speed limits on Seattle's neighborhood greenways."

Seattle City Councilmembers frequently meet with legislators as part of the "Seattle for Washington" program, which is intended to strengthen relationships with key policy makers and better understand issues important to communities around the state.  For more on Metro's funding shortfall and what it could mean for the future of transit riders and our economy, please visit Metro's website.

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