Letter to Employees

07/30/04

Dear City Employees,

I’m happy to announce that the City of Seattle has been awarded an "Oscar of Good Government" and $100,000 for our work to improve water quality and drainage systems.

The "Innovations in Government" award from Harvard University recognizes Seattle Public Utilities for the success of its Natural Drainage Systems Program, or what I like to think of as "Streets and Streams."

Our pioneering program uses curved streets, open drainage swales, and a variety of native plants and trees to reduce storm water runoff by 98 percent. Sidewalks were also built, providing safe walking paths were none had existed before. The result is significant water quality improvement and less downstream flooding of basements and roads.

Out of more than 1,000 applicants, Seattle was one of only five to receive this prestigious award. The accompanying $100,000 grant will be used to help replicate the program across the city and the country.

This is the kind of creativity and long-range thinking that citizens expect from their city government. This award gives us both validation that we’re going the right direction and motivation to continue forward.

There were dozens of people who supported the project directly, and more who contributed indirectly. I especially want to recognize Nancy Ahern, Denise Andrews, Darla Inglis, Jim Johnson, Miranda Maupin, Karen Reed, Mara Rogers, Gary Schimek, and Tracy Tackett from SPU and John Arnesen and Shane DeWald from SDOT.

Congratulations to Seattle Public Utilities and SDOT for this outstanding recognition!

Sincerely,

GREG NICKELS
Mayor