Making smart choices in tough times is our commitment to you

At a time when the city is facing a $72 million budget shortfall, the upcoming city budget process will require the Seattle City Council to make some tough choices. What do you believe are the top funding priorities for the city? Human Services? Public Health? Libraries? Parks? Public Safety? Write to us.

Learn more about the 2010 Budget Review Process.

Affordable Housing – a city priority

“Everyone deserves a place to call home… Seattle has overwhelmingly voiced their support for the need to create and maintain decent, affordable housing…While we face some tough budget challenges we can’t lose sight of what makes Seattle a desirable place to live, work and raise a family. Making smart choices in tough times is our commitment to you.”
-- Councilmember Richard McIver

• Council Bills/ Ordinances
• City Council Resolutions
• Clerk Files
• Sign up for Agendas

1960 Rapid Transit Plan

In 1960, the Seattle Transit System published a report exploring public transportation options as part of the Central Business District Comprehensive Plan process. The document looked at how high-speed rail might fit in with Interstate 5, then still in the planning phase.

READ MORE

Videos

ARCHIVES

Q & A with Council

Councilmember Jean Godden responds to a question from the audience at the Council Town Hall Meeting held on Sept. 22 at Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club. Godden was joined by her eight Councilmember colleagues, all of whom fielded questions from a group of nearly 200 who engaged in a productive evening of questions and answers.

• Action Summary
• Council Votes
• Council Work Program
• Legislative Databases
• New Legislation for Introduction and Referral
• Public Records Disclosure
• Two-week Look Ahead Calendar
• Video archives of all Council & Committee Meetings
• Weekly Council Preview

TERM DEFINITIONS

• Office of Professional Accountability Review Board (OPARB)
• Nightlife Advisory Committee

Foster safe, just and healthy communities for all

• Implement a coordinated program to reduce youth violence and increase public safety for all Seattle residents.
• Review and decide on a proposal for renewing the Housing Levy.
• Make sure that initial neighborhood plan updates are effective and responsive to communities.
• Partner with the Seattle School District to strengthen our public schools and ensure that all of our children achieve academic success.
• Bring City and community organizations together to reduce hunger and malnutrition in Seattle.

Invest public resources fairly and effectively

• Take major steps forward on the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the Central Waterfront Public Space Design.
• Continue to put people first in any budget revisions, ensuring support for critical human services; make budget decisions through a process that is transparent and accessible to the people of Seattle.
• Act to keep City Light an effective organization that uses well-designed and comprehensive strategies for capital projects, operations, and human resources.
• Implement new transit opportunities to provide greater access to public transportation, including Sound Transit light rail to the University and Northgate, expanded bus service, and the First Hill streetcar.
• Create new ways to make government more accessible and responsive to citizens, and create an online citizen engagement portal.
• Manage a tightened budget by using our resources wisely and improving customer service.

Build a livable city for our future

• Create a coordinated action strategy for Seattle’s economic recovery.
• Implement the Parks for All Levy and ensure that open space and parks are available, accessible, and maintained throughout Seattle.
• Support arts and cultural development through a Cultural Overlay District that provides incentives for creating and maintaining cultural facilities.
• Revise zoning in key areas of the City where greater height and density will promote the public interest.