Seattle City Council - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Seattle City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...

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
Richard Conlin
Richard Conlin is the current president of the Seattle City Council, first elected to council in 1997 and reelected in 2001, 2005 and 2009. He was first elected, unanimously, by the council to be their president on 7 January 2008 and was unanimously reelected on 4 January 2010.- Council duties :As...

(Position 2), Council President
Bruce Harrell
Bruce Harrell
Bruce A. Harrell is currently serving as a member of the Seattle City Council. He was first elected in 2007 from a field of five candidates. He is currently Chair of the Energy, Technology, and Civil Rights Committee and is responsible for oversight of Seattle City Light, the city’s public power...

(Position 3)
Sally Bagshaw
Sally Bagshaw
Sally Bagshaw is a member of the Seattle City Council, first elected in2009. She defeated her challenger David Bloom in the November election by winning 69.25 percent of the vote...

(Position 4)
Tom Rasmussen
Tom Rasmussen
Tom Rasmussen is a member of the Seattle City Council, first elected in 2003. Between September 2004 and December 2007 he was chair of the Housing, Human Services & Health Committee, vice chair of the Urban Development & Planning Committee, and a member of the Transportation Committee. On January...

(Position 5)
Nick Licata (Position 6)
Tim Burgess
Tim Burgess (Seattle)
Tim Burgess is a member of the Seattle City Council, former journalist, Seattle Police Department detective and international humanitarian worker. Burgess was elected in November, 2007 with 64% of the vote. He assumed office on January 1, 2008 and his term expires December 31, 2011...

(Position 7)
Mike O'Brien
Mike O'Brien (American politician)
Mike O'Brien is a member of the Seattle City Council. He was first elected in 2009. He was the leading proponent of the opt out list for the yellow pages. He is the only opponent of the proposed deep bore tunnel under downtown Seattle on the city council. Mike has a degree in economics from Duke...

(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

Washington Territory

The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....

, 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

Unicameralism

In government, unicameralism is the practice of having one legislative or parliamentary chamber. Thus, a unicameral parliament or unicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of one chamber or house...

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.
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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.

External links

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

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

Elections

History

Salary

Council President

See also

External links