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Start your budget engines

Mayor Mike McGinn delivers his proposal for a 2012 City budget Monday thus kicking off the two month budget review season (which just happens to coincide with baseball playoff season, an important fact for people in many other cities). Over the past few years budget review has made Seattle’s otherwise delicious autumn days metaphorically darker. [...]

Mayor’s 2012 Budget – What I’m looking for

Next Monday, September 26, Mayor McGinn will present a proposed 2012 budget in Full Council. It's important to remember that the Mayor and Council have already endorsed a budget for 2012 a year ago (the City is on a 2-year budget cycle), but the Mayor will propose adjustments to meet changed financial and economic circumstances. Traditionally, these midterm adjustments have been relatively modest.

Saturday is Moving Planet Seattle Day

News Release
Councilmember Mike O’Brien will be celebrating the international day of action on climate change, Moving Planet Seattle, by participating in two special events on Saturday, September 24.

The “Seattle for Washington” Strategy

In 2010 the City Council launched a project to change the relationship between Seattle and the rest of the State.  We call this strategy ‘Seattle for Washington’.  Our goal is to reach out to local governments and state legislators around the state to emphasize the importance of Seattle to Washington – and to emphasize that [...]

Land-use geek alert: Pick up the September Scientific American

As the land use committee chair, what could make me happier than the cover of the latest Scientific American? “Better, greener, smarter” – said the cover text – “CITIES: We have seen the future and it is urban.” The issue covers a lot of ground over several articles with a recurring theme: urban density is [...]

Seattle City Council approves tolling oversight committee

News Release
The Seattle City Council today unanimously approved Resolution 31323, convening an Advisory Committee on Tolling and Traffic Management for the SR 99 Tunnel Project, as well as approving appointments of 15 community representatives to serve on the committee.

U.S. District Court rules Seattle’s opt-out law is constitutional

News Release

Today U.S. District Judge James L. Robart filed his final judgment ruling in favor of Seattle in the case Dex Media West, Inc., et al., vs. The City of Seattle. Judge Robart had previously upheld Seattle's law against challenges brought by the yellow pages publishers under both the First Amendment and Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Today's ruling rejected challenges brought by the publishers under three provisions of the Washington State Constitution.

Swedes Name Seattle as “Greenest City in North America’

The City of Växjö, Sweden has been named the ‘Greenest City in Europe’, and this week hosts the ‘Greenest Cities Worldwide’ 2011 Conference.  Based on information from ICLEI, the International Organization of Local Governments for Sustainability, Växjö has identified and invited the greenest city from each of the other five continents to present at the [...]