News Release:
Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair of the City Council’s Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee, will introduce and discuss legislation to establish the Community Police Commission by City ordinance this Thursday. The Department of Justice (DOJ) Settlement Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) called for the creation of the Community Police Commission, a community board charged with reviewing and providing recommendations on areas of police reform. The Community Police Commission created by this Ordinance is intended to create an empowered commission that community members have long wanted.
Press Releases
The latest press releases from Seattle City Councilmembers.
City announces creation of a Community Police Commission
News Release:
Today Mayor Mike McGinn issued an Executive Order, drafted in consultation with the City Council, creating a Community Police Commission. The Commission is a partnership between the Police Department, its officers, community members, and public officials...
Councilmember Bruce Harrell’s statement on OPA Director’s decision to not seek a third term
News Release:
Councilmember Bruce Harrell, Chair of the Council's Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee, released the following statement regarding today's decision by the Office of Professional Accountability (OPA) Director Kathryn Olson to not seek a third term:
TDR for TIF Means Saving Farm Land and Livable Communities
As the City Council considers the comprehensive rezone legislation for South Lake Union (SLU), it will also take up legislation that will authorize and implement the ‘TDR for TIF’ program –‘Transfer of Development Rights for Tax Increment Financing’. That arcane phrase describes a way to implement growth management by protecting rural land and investing in [...]
Seattle City Council to hear from Superintendent Banda
News Release:
The Seattle City Council will welcome first-year Seattle Public Schools Superintendent José Banda at the Council’s Monday morning briefing session. With the school year now underway, Mr. Banda will present the challenges and opportunities facing the District this year and discuss areas of ongoing collaboration between the City and the District.
A Week in Regional Policy
Councilmembers have a lot of responsibilities at City Hall – serving on and Chairing Committees, writing legislation, responding to constituents and handling complaints, thinking, writing, and talking with each other about major issues, and so forth. But we also have specific responsibilities in the region – most of us serve on several regional entities, and [...]
Office of the City Clerk receives recognition from the Community Employment Alliance
News Release:
The Community Employment Alliance recognized the Seattle City Clerk’s office last week as one of the 11 Washington businesses to receive this year’s “Outstanding Employer Award.”
Seattle City Council to hold public hearing on proposed 2013-2014 budget
News Release:
The Seattle City Council invites members of the community to participate in a public hearing tomorrow night in City Council Chambers. Working together with Seattle residents, the Council wants next year’s budget and Capital Improvement Plan to reflect the priorities and values of our City.
Mayor’s 2013-2014 Budget in Recovery Mode
On Monday, September 24, Mayor McGinn submitted his 2013-2014 budget proposal to the Council, and the Council will spend the next two months reviewing and modifying it. We are legally required to adopt a budget for 2013 by December 1. Under the two-year budget cycle, we also “endorse” a budget for 2014, which will go [...]
Budget thoughts.
How best to turn Seattle’s always-limited resources into efficient services over the next two years? That’s the question my Council colleagues and I deal with this fall as we examine the 2013-2014 proposed City budget. The process started for City Council last Monday. In a rare Seattle moment of required protocol, Councilmember Harrell and I [...]
Seattle City Council approves rental housing inspection legislation
News Release:
This Seattle City Council voted today (5-0) to approve rental housing inspection legislation, improving living conditions for Seattle’s more than approximately 269,000 renters occupying 147,000 rental units. Council Bill 117569 provides a multi-faceted approach to addressing Seattle’s sub-standard housing through a registration and inspection program.
Join the Seattle City Council’s “Sallys” for coffee and conversation
News Release:
Seattle City Councilmembers Sally J. Clark and Sally Bagshaw will be in the Bitter Lake neighborhood in October to speak with members of the community.
The October "Coffee with Sallys" conversation hour will be held in the Family Room at the Bitter Lake Community Center on Saturday, October 13, from 9 – 10:30 a.m. The coffee chat is open to everyone and the Councilmembers will listen and speak with Seattleites about local issues in an informal setting.