BTG Citizen Oversight Committee

Oversight Committee Members:

Oversight Committee – Role and responsibilities

The Bridging the Gap Citizen Oversight Committee serves as a vital mechanism of accountability on how BTG revenues are spent. The Oversight Committee is an advisory body that monitors revenues, expenditures, and program and project implementation. The Oversight Committee advises the City Council, the Mayor, and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) on responding to program and project cost savings or overruns.

In addition the Oversight Committee reviews SDOT's program and project priorities and financial plans, and makes recommendations to the Mayor and the City Council regarding the spending of levy proceeds.  SDOT staffs the Oversight Committee and provides all of the required background and reference materials.

Committee Letter to Community – 2010 Annual Report

Established in 2007, the Bridging the Gap Oversight Committee is responsible for providing accountability on the use of BTG funds through monitoring revenues and expenditures and through program and project implementation.

Over the last four years, our 15 member committee reviewed BTG projects that serve all parts of our city: neighborhoods, commuters, bicyclists, pedestrians, and the freight community.  We actively focused on how BTG program and project funding is being integrated into other planning and programming at the Seattle Department of Transportation.  To ensure integration with the program, the committee has looked into and commented on programs such as Complete Streets, the Bicycle Master Plan, and the Pedestrian Master Plan, and implementation of the Neighborhood Street Fund large project program. 

The committee believes strongly that one way to assure accountability is to be accessible to the public.  To help ensure accessibility, each of our quarterly meetings is held in a different part of the city, with time set aside for the public to share their views on BTG issues.  So far, our meetings have been in Meadowbrook, Ballard, Queen Anne, Southeast Seattle, Miller Park, the International District, Downtown, Delridge, Northgate, West Seattle, and Georgetown.

As evidenced in this report, the committee believes excellent progress has been made by the Department over the first three years of Bridging the Gap.  We look forward to many more years of a well-run and highly accountable BTG program.   

The committee would like to say thank you to Seattle voters for passing Bridging the Gap in 2006.  All of the improvements highlighted in this report would not have been possible without the support of the voters.  Thank you!

In accordance with Council ordinance, the Oversight Committee will be composed of 15 members:

• Chair of the Council Transportation Committee, or designee
• Director of Finance
• One representative from each of the following: Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board; Seattle
• Bicycle Advisory Board; and Seattle Freight Advisory Board
• 5 Seattle residents appointed by the Mayor, and confirmed by City Council
• 5 Seattle residents appointed by the City Council

SDOT plans to begin recruitment for the Oversight Committee immediately upon approval of the work plan and to have the body in place at the end of the first quarter.