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May 19, 2014January 6, 2023Councilmember Harrell, News Releases

Statement by Councilmember Harrell on Mayor’s appointment of Kathleen O’Toole as Chief of Police

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City of Seattle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/19/2014

Councilmember Bruce A. Harrell

Statement by Councilmember Harrell on Mayor's appointment of Kathleen O'Toole as Chief of Police

Seattle - Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair of the Council's Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the Mayor's appointment of Kathleen O'Toole as Chief of Police:

"I had the opportunity to meet Ms. O'Toole during the preliminary interview process, and she impressed me with her proven record in changing and reforming a department, her confidence, and her ability to lead and inspire officers.

"The Council's Public Safety committee will now conduct a thorough and transparent confirmation process and consider public feedback at each committee hearing. Council will turn over every rock to ensure this is the bold, transformative leader Seattle is looking for in its next Police Chief. The committee will move with a sense of urgency, and I anticipate that Council will vote on confirmation by the end of June.

"I look for the new Chief of Police to 1) embrace and implement new technologies like body cameras to enhance police accountability and public safety; 2) implement a new Business Intelligence System that will function as a police performance management tool and early intervention system, with centralized software tools for data-driven policing to reduce crime and predict where crime is likely to occur; 3) review and assess the Department's management, organizational structure, and resource deployment; and 4) communicate and engage with minority communities and ensure the diversity of Seattle's neighborhoods are well represented in the department.

"Most importantly, the Chief must bring the department to full compliance with the Department of Justice (DOJ) Settlement Agreement and translate the DOJ policies into the routine of the day-to-day operations of the officers.

"The police department must commit to be a learning organization; a department willing to admit its mistakes and be honest and transparent with the public and proactively police their sworn duties under the new use of force policies.

"The Mayor, City Council, and City Attorney are all committed to working together and providing the necessary resources that will help the incoming Chief bring the department into the 21st century.

"I would also like to thank all the candidates who saw Seattle as an exciting and extraordinary opportunity to be its next Police Chief."

Public Safety, Civil Rights, and Technology Chief of Police Webpage

Tentative Schedule (subject to change):

Wednesday, June 4, 2:00 p.m. in Council Chambers
Public Safety, Civil Rights, and Technology Committee
Kathleen O'Toole will appear, make opening comments, and respond to initial questions from Councilmembers. Public comment will be accepted at the beginning of the meeting.

Thursday, June 12, 5:30 p.m. at offsite neighborhood location, TBD
Public Safety, Civil Rights, and Technology Committee Public Hearing on appointment

Wednesday, June 25, 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers
Kathleen O'Toole will appear and complete final round of questioning from Councilmembers.
Public Safety, Civil Rights, and Technology Committee meeting and vote on confirmation.

Monday, June 30, 2:00 p.m. in Council Chambers
Full Council Final Action on Confirmation

[View in Council Newsroom]

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May 19, 2014January 6, 2023Councilmember Licata, News Releases

Councilmember Licata Statement on Seattle Police Chief Announcement

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City of Seattle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/19/2014

Councilmember Nick Licata

Councilmember Licata Statement on Seattle Police Chief Announcement

SEATTLE - Councilmember Nick Licata issued the following statement this morning in response to the Mayor's announcement regarding Seattle's Police Chief:

"I thank Mayor Murray for conducting a thorough search for our new police chief. I hope the Council can confirm Kathleen O'Toole as expediently as possible. I strongly support the Mayor selecting who he thinks will best serve the city. The Council's role is to hold the Mayor responsible for that decision and the new chief's performance."

[View in Council Newsroom]

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May 16, 2014January 6, 2023Councilmember O'Brien, News Releases

Public Hearing on Micro-housing Regulations Announced

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City of Seattle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/16/2014

Councilmember Mike O'Brien

Public Hearing on Micro-housing Regulations Announced

Seattle - Councilmember Mike O'Brienwill host a Public Hearing on the proposed micro-housing regulations proposed by the Seattle Department of Planning and Development. The Planning, Land Use and Sustainability (PLUS) Committee is considering legislation to improve how micro-housing (also known as "aPodments") fits into neighborhoods and make the housing more livable for renters, while continuing to support innovation in housing design to create affordable choices.

Each member of the public will have up to two minutes to address the committee, and public comment sign-up sheets will be available at 5 p.m. The Planning, Land Use and Sustainability Committee will meet again to discuss the legislation on Tuesday, June 3 and could vote on the legislation as soon as June 17.

WHAT:
Public Hearing on proposed Micro-Housing legislation

WHEN:
5:30 p.m., Monday, May 19

WHERE:
Seattle City Hall
Council Chambers, Second floor
600 Fourth Ave, Seattle 98104

WHO:
Seattle City Councilmembers Mike O'Brien, Tim Burgess and Nick Licata
Public

[View in Council Newsroom]

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May 12, 2014January 6, 2023Councilmember Bagshaw, Councilmember O'Brien, Councilmember Rasmussen, News Releases

Councilmembers Rasmussen, O’Brien, Bagshaw Pledge to Give Seattle Voters Chance to Save Transit Service

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City of Seattle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/9/2014

Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
Councilmember Mike O'Brien
Councilmember Tom Rasmussen

Councilmembers Rasmussen, O'Brien, Bagshaw Pledge to Give Seattle Voters Chance to Save Transit Service

Seattle - Councilmembers Tom Rasmussen, Mike O'Brien and Sally Bagshaw issued the following statement today:

"Metro bus service is critical to the people of Seattle. It is necessary for those who cannot afford cars and depend on buses to get around. It is essential for our environment that people have multiple options for mobility and it is essential to reducing traffic congestion as well. Too many buses in the city are at capacity, and with ridership at an all-time high we simply cannot afford to lose bus service.

"Seattle voters deserve a chance to preserve bus service in the city and we are committed to giving them that opportunity in November. We are exploring every option available to keep the busses running in Seattle in cooperation with our colleagues on the City Council and Mayor Ed Murray. We are also committed to working with King County Metro and cities in our region to ensure that we preserve and build a strong regional transit system.

"We commend Mayor Murray for his leadership in developing a proposal, which will be released next week. We also commend Keep Seattle Moving for keeping public momentum going to ensure we do not lose the bus service we so critically need in Seattle.

"On Monday, May 19 we will have a briefing in City Council Chambers at 9:30 a.m. to learn more about the impacts of the potential loss of bus service in the City and to learn more about the Mayor's proposal. We will convene additional City Council meetings as needed throughout the summer to develop a proposal to send to the voters for the November ballot."

Editor's note: The City's deadline for submitting a ballot measure to King County Elections for the November election is August 5, 2014.

[View in Council Newsroom]

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May 12, 2014January 6, 2023Councilmember Rasmussen, News Releases

Meeting on Capitol Hill to Consider Neighborhood Preservation Solutions

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City of Seattle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/12/2014

Councilmember Tom Rasmussen

Meeting on Capitol Hill to Consider Neighborhood Preservation Solutions

SEATTLE - Councilmember Tom Rasmussen will host a special City Council Transportation Committee meeting on Capitol Hill Monday evening. Monday's meeting will include a discussion of legislation Rasmussen has introduced to strengthen the City's' efforts to retain existing, character-rich, buildings in Capitol Hill's Pike/Pine neighborhood.

"The legislation (Council Bill 118096) is intended to support new growth, and to encourage the restoration and re-use of historic Capitol Hill buildings that are at risk of being destroyed to make way for new buildings," said Rasmussen.  "This bill strengthens incentives to preserve the pre-1940s buildings that help make Pike/Pine the unique and popular neighborhood it is today.  The legislation is the result of many discussions and meetings with property owners and community members for more than a year.  I thank everyone who has been working with me to develop the proposed legislation and I look forward to hearing public comments at the meeting."

At the meeting, Councilmembers will also discuss traffic volumes, traffic speeds, and collisions that are summarized in the 2012 Traffic Report prepared by the Seattle Department of Transportation.  The committee will also be briefed on a new technique to protect trees in construction zones.

WHAT:
Special meeting of the Seattle City Council's Transportation Committee

WHEN/WHERE: 
Monday, May 12, 2014, 6:00 8:00 p.m.
First Baptist Church
1111 Harvard Avenue, Seattle (Fellowship Hall)

WHO:
Councilmember Tom Rasmussen
Councilmember Mike O'Brien
Councilmember Jean Godden
Public

[View in Council Newsroom]

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May 8, 2014January 6, 2023News Releases

Minimum Wage public forum announced regarding Mayor’s proposal

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City of Seattle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/8/2014

Councilmember Sally J. Clark

Minimum Wage public forum announced regarding Mayor's proposal

Seattle - Councilmembers will host a public forum on Tuesday, May 13 to hear input from the public relating to Mayor Ed Murray's proposal to raise the minimum wage in Seattle.  The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. at Rainier Beach High School.

Each member of the public will have up to 2 minutes to address Councilmembers and their fellow attendees.   Public comment sign-up sheets will be available at 5:30 p.m. 

The City Council's Select Committee on Minimum Wage and Income Inequality will hold its next meeting on Thursday, May 15, 9:30 a.m., in City Council Chambers.  For future meeting dates, visit the Council's Minimum Wage webpage (meetings are subject to change).The Council accepts written public comments at any time.

WHAT:
Public Comment opportunity with the Council's Select Committee on Minimum Wage and Income Inequality

WHEN:
6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 13

WHERE:
Rainier Beach High School
8815 S Seward Park Ave
Seattle  98118

WHO:
Seattle City Councilmembers
Public

Translation and Interpretation services available upon request. Please contact Linda Diibon at (206) 684-8343.

Korean: "요청하시면 번역이나 통역을 제공해드립니다."'

Vietnamese: "Dịch và thông dịch sẵn sàng nếu có sự yêu cầu"

Spanish: "Servicios de traducción e interpretación disponibles bajo petición"

Somali: "Adeega Turjubaanka waxaa lagu heli karaa codsasho"

Tagalog: "Matutulungan ka naming maintindihan kung hihingi ka ng tulong"

Mandarin: "我們可以提供翻譯服務"

Cantonese: "我们可以提供翻译服务"

[View in Council Newsroom]

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May 6, 2014January 6, 2023Councilmember Harrell, News Releases

Councilmember Harrell to host South Precinct public safety meeting

by

City of Seattle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/6/2014

Councilmember Bruce Harrell

Councilmember Harrell to host South Precinct public safety meeting

Seattle - Councilmember Bruce Harrell will convene a Special Public Safety, Civil Rights, and Technology committee meeting this Wednesday at the Southeast Senior Center to focus on public safety concerns in South Precinct neighborhoods.

"Because of the most recent shootings in the Central District and at Rainier and McClellan, I have organized this special meeting to review the recent violence we have experienced and examine what immediate actions we can take moving forward," said Councilmember Harrell, chair of the Council's Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee. "This meeting will drive the discussion to find solutions."

The Seattle Police Department will present data regarding police staffing, crime statistics, response time to priority one and priority two calls, calls for police service, and police service hours. Additionally, the Rainier Beach Operations plan will be presented, which addresses problems around South Shore K-8 School and safety at Sound Transit's Othello and Rainier Beach Stations.

"The presence of the community and input at this meeting will be invaluable," added Councilmember Harrell.

WHO:
Councilmember Harrell has invited the following representatives:

  1. Harry Bailey, Interim Chief of Police, Seattle Police Department
  2. John Hayes, Captain, South Precinct, Seattle Police Department
  3. Steve Strand, Lieutenant, South Precinct Operations, Seattle Police Department
  4. Mark Solomon, Crime Prevention Coordinator, Seattle Police Department
  5. Ken Cummins, Chief, Sound Transit Police
  6. Matt York, East Precinct Liaison, City Attorney's Office

WHAT:
Discussion on recent public safety incidents in South Seattle; Define and implement solutions

WHEN:
5:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 7

WHERE:
Southeast Seattle Senior Center
4655 South Holly Seattle, WA 98118

[View in Council Newsroom]

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May 2, 2014January 6, 2023Councilmember Harrell, News Releases

Councilmember Harrell: “Effective policing at yesterday’s May Day marches”

by

City of Seattle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/2/2014

Councilmember Bruce A. Harrell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 2, 2014

Councilmember Harrell: "Effective policing at yesterday's May Day marches"

Seattle - Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair of the Council's Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the Seattle Police Department's handling of yesterday's May Day protests:

"I would like to express my gratitude to our Seattle Police Department for their professional, effective policing at yesterday's May Day marches. The officers were calm, collected and professional, and the de-escalation techniques I witnessed were conducted with great patience and effectiveness.

"I thank Chief Bailey, Captain Fowler and Assistant Chief McDonough for their smart and reasoned leadership, positive collaboration with regional partners and solid communication. This is clearly a team committed to learning, improving from previous experiences, and performing their duties under the new use of force policies."

[View in Council Newsroom]