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Welcome and thank you for visiting my Seattle City Council website.
It is an honor and privilege to represent you. Seattle is a great City, with a wonderfully diverse population that is passionately committed to making Seattle a better place. I invite your questions, comments, and involvement in this effort!
Councilmembers must work every day to ensure that basic services are delivered and core functions of government are carried out efficiently and effectively. But we must do more than that. My goal as a Councilmember is to work with you and for you to strengthen neighborhoods, foster economic recovery from the current crisis, and make Seattle a leader in becoming a more sustainable city in our fragile world.
2009 has brought challenges not only to our city, but to our country. But, as President Obama has reminded us, “A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.” We must make some tough choices, but we must also reach out to each other and be open to new ideas and opportunities.
I am honored to have been elected Council President for 2008-2009. I have led my colleagues in creating and implementing programs and policies for Seattle, based on our principles of economic opportunity, environmental stewardship, social justice, and community. My years on the City Council have taught me that Seattle works best when we work together. I will do my best to keep your faith by listening to you, valuing and supporting our diverse communities, and preserving open and accountable government.
I welcome your input not only on policy ideas, but my website and Council communications in general. Let’s make 2009 the year when Seattle rose to the crisis and moved forward into a better future.
Thanks again for visiting, and please stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Richard Conlin, Seattle City Council President
Biography
Richard Conlin was first elected to the Seattle City Council in November 1997 after more than ten years of public service with Seattle-based community organizations. In 2007 the Council elected Richard to serve as Council President for a two year term that expires at the end of 2009. Over the past 11 years, Richard has focused on making Seattle a more sustainable city, increasing the reduction of solid waste, building neighborhoods, improving pedestrian mobility and transportation infrastructure, and making government more transparent.
During his first term, Conlin successfully moved 37 neighborhood plans through Council approval as the Chair of the Neighborhoods, Sustainability, and Community Development Committee. The completion of the Neighborhood Planning Program was a key step in Seattle’s implementation of Washington’s Growth Management Act.
In his second term, Richard chaired the Council’s Transportation Committee. He worked on implementing the region’s plan for improved transit, developing new funding sources for transportation maintenance, and supporting pedestrian and bicycle improvements to reduce dependence on the automobile. This work continued in his third term when Richard worked extensively with neighborhoods and community interests on the replacement of SR 520 and the Viaduct.
In addition to serving as Council President, Conlin currently chairs the Environment, Emergency Management, and Utilities Committee. The EEMU committee oversees solid waste, water, drainage, and sewer utilities, emergency management programs, and a wide array of environmental initiatives, including urban forestry, climate change, and green building.
In 2007, Richard launched the Zero Waste Strategy (ZWS) in order to significantly increase Seattle’s recycling rate, which is just below 45 per cent currently, and improve waste prevention programs. This strategy includes a new service for SPU customers so that food waste (35% of our overall solid waste) can be composted instead of going into a landfill. The Council also passed new legislation that helps builders salvage more construction and demolition waste. Future aspects of the ZWS will aim to increase product stewardship with manufacturer take back and other programs. Last year Richard also launched the Local Food Initiative to increase Seattle’s access to nutritional foods, reduce costs for farmers bringing their produce to markets in Seattle, and strengthen the security of our food supply.
As Council President in 2009, Richard has been instrumental in launching new committees on Open Government and Economic Recovery.
Prior to being elected as a Seattle City Councilmember, Richard Conlin was Director of the Community and Environment Division at Metrocenter YMCA from 1985 to 1996. He led the Seattle YMCA Earth Service Corps, supporting youth development through environmental education and action, and the Master Home Environmentalist program training volunteers to reduce home indoor pollution. Richard also co-founded Sustainable Seattle in 1989.
Current Regional Committees and Non-profit Boards of Directors:
- Sound Transit Board of Directors and Finance Committee
- Growth Management Planning Council of King County
- Regional committee overseeing salmon recovery in the Duwamish-Green River Cedar River ecosystem
- Community and Regional Development Panel for the CityFutures program of the National League of Cities
- Metrocenter YMCA, Board member
- Yes Magazine, Board member
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