FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/17/2013
Councilmember Tim Burgess
Council to hold Town Hall on proposed 2014 budget
SEATTLE - City Council will host its second of two public hearings related to the 2014 budget next Thursday evening at Garfield High ...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/9/2013
Councilmember Richard Conlin
Council Voices Support for Future Light Rail station at 130th Street
Calls on Sound Transit to study an additional station
SEATTLE -- On Monday, October 7, Council unanimously adopted Resolution Number 31486 making recommendations to Sound Transit's Board about the Lynnwood Link extension through Seattle. The Council recommended that the Board adopt a surface route in the I-5 right-of-way with stations at 130th and 145th as the Preferred Alternative in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The surface route is the least expensive and least disruptive alternative. The proposed station at 130th Street was not part of the original Sound Transit plan, but the Council asked that it be included in the final environmental review.
"Without this station, there would be no stop between Northgate and 145th, a stretch of almost four miles, and residents of North Seattle would have to access light rail via either the congested Northgate area or the 145th Street station. Both of these options are challenging for buses and motor vehicles and downright daunting for bicycles and pedestrians," said Councilmember Richard Conlin, sponsor of the resolution and Sound Transit Board member. "While it is very important that Sound Transit, as a regional organization, move forward with connecting key regional centers, it is also important that those lines serve key neighborhoods within Seattle and other cities."
The Sound Transit Capital Committee will take up this issue and is likely to agree to support the City recommendations for studying the 130th St. station at its meeting on Thursday, October 10th. The full Board of Directors will vote in October or November on the alignment and stations to be designated as the Lynnwood Link Preferred Alternative in the FEIS.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/7/2013
Councilmember Bruce A. Harrell
Council seeks candidates for the Office of Professional Accountability Review Board
Seattle - Council is seeking candidates for the Office of Professional Accountability (OPA) Review ...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/7/2013
Council President Sally J. Clark
Councilmember Nick Licata
Council adopts legislation to set marijuana limits in Seattle
SEATTLE - Council adopted legislation today placing limits where marijuana-related activities may occur in Seattle, including growing and selling. Generally, limits would not apply in Neighborhood Commercial 2 & 3, Commercial 1 & 2, Industrial Zones, and certain Downtown zones. A detailed locational breakdown, with exceptions, including historic districts and other special districts, is available here.
Council Bill 117744 was amended to meet a number of considerations identified by stakeholders, including:
The bill limits activity in residential areas to the amount that the State defines as a single collective garden for medical marijuana patients.
Any recreational marijuana grower will be required to secure a permit from the State Liquor Control Board, which has assigned 21 retail licenses to Seattle. Per Initiative 502, the state will not issue permits to businesses within 1,000 feet of an elementary or secondary school, playground, recreation center or facility, child care center, public park, public transit center, library, or game arcade that allows minors to enter.
The legislation places a deadline of January 1, 2015 for marijuana-related businesses to obtain a state license under Title 69. This could consist of a recreational license, or a medical license, should the state legislature create a medical licensing system during in the 2014 session. Once the ordinance goes into effect in November, marijuana-related businesses would need a state license in order to obtain a city land use permit.
"We struck a balance with this legislation," said Councilmember Nick Licata, chair of the Housing, Human Services, Health and Culture committee, where the ordinance originated. "We need to provide reasonable access, but direct activity to appropriate areas. As with any other retail business, this legislation helps enforce laws that ensure cannabis won't be sold in our residential zones. "
"Councilmember Licata and I met with many district councils and numerous stakeholders since the legislation was drafted," said Council President Sally Clark. "This proposal reflects the input from a lot of well-versed, engaged citizens, advocates, responsible medical cannabis providers, and elected officials who want to see a safe, secure and reliable growing and distribution system."
In 2012, Washington state voters approved I-502 legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana, and directing the Liquor Control Board to develop a process for regulating marijuana production, processing, selling, and delivery. The Board is scheduled to approve rules for implementing I-502 on October 16. The Board maintains a website with information on its implementation of I-502.
The City Council passed Ordinance 123661 in 2011, clarifying that the manufacture, production, processing, possession, transportation, delivery, dispensing, application, or administration of marijuana must comply with all applicable City laws, and that compliance with City laws does not constitute an exemption from compliance with applicable state and federal regulations.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/1/2013
Councilmember Tim Burgess
Council to hold public hearing on proposed 2014 budget
SEATTLE - City Council will host its first public hearing on the proposed 2014 budget this Thursday evening in City Council Chamb...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/30/2013
Council reconfirms Anne Levinson as police oversight auditor
Levinson to serve second term monitoring the Office of Professional Accountability
Seattle - City Council unanimously confirmed retired Judge Anne L...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/23/2013
City Attorney Peter S. Holmes
Councilmember Bruce Harrell
Council Passes Bill Adding Misdemeanors to City Criminal Code
SEATTLE - Council adopted Council Bill 117918 that codifies numerous state laws int...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/23/2013
Mayor Mike McGinn
Council President Sally Clark
Councilmember Mike O'Brien
Councilmember Nick Licata
Council Passes Resolution Supporting Construction Careers
SEATTLE - Council passed Resolution 31485 today, e...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/23/2013
Councilmember Tim Burgess
Councilmember Burgess' statement on Mayor Mike McGinn's proposed budget
SEATTLE - Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgess, chair of the Council's Budget Committee, issued the following statement in response to Mayor McGinn's budget proposal released today:
"Mayor McGinn has proposed some significant increases in spending but has yet to provide evidence that those increases would be an effective use of taxpayer dollars. We want to fund what works, but we need solid evidence of results. We have tough decisions to make, and the Council takes its role as stewards of the public's money very seriously.
"The people of Seattle face serious challenges in public safety, transportation, education and affordability. The City Council will carefully review the Mayor's proposed budget and make any changes necessary to ensure these challenges are addressed."
Budget Public Hearings
Thursday, October 3
5:30 p.m.
City Council Chambers
600 4th Avenue, 2nd floor
Seattle 98104
Thursday, October 24
6 p.m.
Location TBD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/18/2013
Councilmember Tim Burgess
Councilmember Nick Licata
Preschool for All Seattle plan passes Council Committee
Resolution charts path to voluntary high-quality preschool available and affordable
for all 3 and 4 year old children
SEATTLE - A City Council committee approved legislation this morning establishing a work plan to make voluntary, high-quality preschool available and affordable to all 3 and 4 year old children in Seattle.
"Preschool for all of Seattle's children will not only enable them to flourish but also create a safer city, a smarter workforce, and a brighter future for everyone," said Councilmember Tim Burgess, chair of the Government Performance & Finance Committee, where this morning's vote occurred. "Extensive studies from experts across the country demonstrate that high-quality preschool leads not only to better academic achievement, but also to better health, higher-paying jobs, and safer neighborhoods. I believe Seattle is ready to take this bold step for our city's children."
The legislation enables the City Council, working with the City's Office for Education and local experts providing early learning opportunities, to accomplish the following over the next 6 to 9 months:
"By expanding high-quality preschool to all children, we will ensure that no families fall through the cracks," said Councilmember Nick Licata. "For families who choose to participate, high-quality preschool creates economic opportunity because the children are more likely to graduate from high school and start solid careers and the parents and guardians will have more time to build their own careers and earning power."
Proficiency in reading by 3rd grade is a key indicator of whether children will graduate from high school. The Seattle School District's most recent scorecard shows that approximately 22% of students are not proficient on the State's 3rd grade reading test and approximately 23% of students do not graduate from high school. These statistics are significantly worse for Seattle's African American, Hispanic, Native American, and immigrant youth.
High-quality preschool has proven to be a cost-effective means to address the achievement gap by preparing students to be ready to learn at kindergarten and for the academic and behavioral expectations of K-12 education.
"I am wholeheartedly in favor of universal preschool for 3 and 4 year olds in Seattle, and the City Council's bold leadership in moving forward with this ambitious plan is be applauded," said Kevin C. Washington, Tabor 100 Education Committee Chairman and Treasurer of the State's nonprofit education leader Thrive By Five WA. "Research in early learning has shown great leverage in the dollars invested in academic and socio-emotional growth during those preschool critical years. The School District will also benefit greatly from having children better prepared when they walk through those kindergarten doors."
Several other jurisdictions - including Boston, San Francisco, the State of Oklahoma, the State of West Virginia, and 31 local districts in New Jersey - are already implementing high-quality preschool open to all children and, according to independent studies, the participating children are achieving the intended positive outcomes.
Long-term evaluations such as the High Scope Perry study, Abecedarian project, and the Chicago Child-Parent Center program demonstrate that high-quality preschool leads not only to better academic achievement (such as higher reading scores and stronger high school graduation rates), but also to better health, higher-paying jobs, and lower rates of criminal behavior.
With the Committee's approval today, Resolution 31478 will be considered by the Full Council on Monday, September 23. More information about the Preschool for All Plan is available online.