Seattle City Council

Seattle City Council
City Council
Type
Type	City Council of Seattle, Washington
Leadership
President of the Council	Richard Conlin, Nonpartisan since January 7, 2008
Structure
Members	Nine
Committees	Council Committees Committee on the Built Environment Energy, Technology and Civil Rights Committee Finance & Budget Committee Housing, Human Services, Health and Culture Committee Parks & Seattle Center Committee Public Safety and Education Committee Regional Development and Sustainability Committee Seattle Public Utilities and Neighborhoods Committee Transportation Committee
Elections
Voting system	At-large with staggered four year terms
Last election	November 3, 2009
Meeting place
Seattle City Hall 600 Fourth Avenue, Second floor Seattle, Washington 98104
Website
http://www.seattle.gov/council/

Seattle City Hall, where the council meets

The Council chamber.

The Seattle City Council is committed to ensuring that Seattle, Washington, is safe, livable and sustainable. Nine Councilmembers are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections and represent the entire city, elected by all Seattle voters.

The City Council approves the city’s budget, develops laws and policies that promote the health and safety of Seattle’s residents, and oversees the city’s police, fire department, parks, and libraries, as well as the electric, water, solid waste, and drainage utilities.

The public is encouraged to join Councilmembers at all full City Council and committee meetings and to comment on current legislation by signing up before the start of each meeting. Agendas are available on the Council’s website.

View the Council's priorities for 2011 and accomplishments from 2010.

Elections

Election of city council members occur on odd-numbered years, with either four or five councilmembers up for election based on position number. All council members' terms begin January 1. The council positions are officially non-partisan, and the ballot gives no party designations.

Since January 1, 2010, the makeup of the council has been:

• Jean Godden (Position 1)
• Richard Conlin (Position 2), Council President
• Bruce Harrell (Position 3)
• Sally Bagshaw (Position 4)
• Tom Rasmussen (Position 5)
• Nick Licata (Position 6)
• Tim Burgess (Position 7)
• Mike O'Brien (Position 8)
• Sally J. Clark (Position 9)

History

Seattle was first incorporated as a town by an act of the Territorial Legislature on January 14, 1865. The act was repealed January 18, 1867, after most of the town's leading citizens petitioned for its dissolution. During its first tenure as an incorporated entity, Seattle was governed by a Board of Trustees. Seattle was again incorporated, this time as a City, on December 2, 1869.

The Seattle City Council has taken several forms over the years. During the years of the Washington Territory, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial Legislature as a town from January 14, 1865 until January 18, 1867 when the legislation was repealed based on a citizens' petition. During this time, Seattle was governed by a Board of Trustees. Seattle was re-incorporated as a city on December 2, 1869. Its original unicameral legislature, known as the Common Council, was elected at-large. At-large election was replaced in 1884 by a system of 14 wards and four members elected at-large.

Historical timeline:

• 1869-1883 – Seven at-large Council members elected for one-year terms.
• 1884 – Nine Council members elected: three from each of the three wards, elected to two-year terms.
• 1886 – One ward added, Council reduced to eight members: two elected from each ward for two-years terms.
• 1890 – The Home Rule Charter established eight wards and bicameral legislature. A Board of Delegates composed of nine at-large members was elected for four-year terms. House of Delegates had 16 members – Two from each ward, elected for two-year terms.
• 1892 – One ward added to make nine. Both houses to have nine members – all elected from wards.
• 1896 – New Home Rule Charter reestablished unicameral legislature with nine wards. One Council member elected from each ward for two years and four elected at large for four year terms.
• 1905 – Two wards added to make 11. One Council member from each with four at-large – 15 council members total.
• 1907 – The Charter was amended twice during the year, the first time adding two more wards, increasing the size of Council to 17. Later, another ward was added (to make 14), increasing Council to 18 members.
• 1910 – The Charter was amended to abolish wards, reduce Council to nine at-large positions elected to three-year terms. This took effect in 1911 and remained constant until 1946. The 1910 Charter amendments also made the elections non-partisan. Prior to that candidates for Council (and other City offices) ran on party tickets.
• 1946 – The new Charter created the four-year term.

Salary

The Seattle City Council is the second highest paid in the country. As of September 28, 2010, council members Bagshaw, Conlin, Licata and O'Brien earn $117,533.52; council members Godden, Harrell, Burgess, Clark and Rasmussen earn $113,587.20. These figures represent increases from $94,000 in November 2005, and $104,000 for members elected November 8, 2005. In 1995, all council members were paid $71,000.

The current top rate represents a 65.5% pay increase over 1995.

Among the nation's 40 largest cities, only Los Angeles pays its council more — $149,000, according to a survey by The Seattle Times. Seattle ranks 23rd in population, according to the Census Bureau. .

Council President

The Seattle City Council picks amongst its peers a Council President to serve a 2-year term, beginning January 1 of the year following an election. The council president serves as the official head of the city's legislative department. In addition, he/she is tasked with:

• Establishing of committees and appointment of committee chairs and members.
• Presiding over meetings of the full council.
• Assuming the duties and responsibilities of Mayor if the Mayor is absent or incapacitated.

See also

• Charlie Chong, council member 1995–1997, West Seattle populist
• Arthur A. Denny, council member 1877–1879, leader of the Seattle pioneers known as the Denny Party
• Bailey Gatzert, council member 1872–1873 and 1877–1878, in between was elected the city's first (and, as of 2011, only) Jewish mayor
• Hiram Gill, council member 1898–1902, 1904–1910, then mayor. Famous as an "Open Town" advocate, he later allied with "Closed Town" reformers.
• Bertha Knight Landes, council member 1922–1926, then elected the city's first (and, as of 2011, only) female mayor
• David Levine (Seattle), council member 1931–1962
• Wing Luke, council member 1962–1965, first Asian American elected official in Washington State
• John Miller, council member 1972–1979, later a Republican congressman
• Norm Rice, council member 1978–1989, then elected the city's first (and, as of 2011, only) African American mayor
• Peter Steinbrueck, council member 1997–2007, architect
• Henry Yesler, council member 1884–1885, Seattle pioneer, sawmill-owner, and twice mayor

External links

• Seattle City Council, official site
• Seattle City Council Members, 1869-Present Chronological Listing, Seattle City Archives