|
Council meetings
The Seattle City Council meets each Monday at 2 p.m. - unless Monday is a holiday, then
the Council meets on Tuesday. The Council meets in Council Chambers on the second floor
of City Hall.
The Council has nine standing committees that meet regularly every other week. For a
list of committees and their meeting schedules, visit the
Committees & Agendas page.
The Council also has Committees of the Whole (COW), which consider
transitory issues of high importance. Some issues that have been considered in COWs are
the Monorail, the Budget, Northgate redevelopment and ballot measures. COWs are called by
the Council President as an issue arises. An issue must be voted on in a COW before Full
Council consideration, just as with other committees. The Council President serves as chair
of a COW unless the President delegates that role to another Council member.
Agendas for each committee meeting are posted on this Web site prior to the meeting.
Individuals may sign up for agendas by committee on the
Sign up for Agendas page.
Council legislation
The City Council approves and adopts the City's biennial budget. It also passes
legislation that provides for public safety and health, capital (building) improvements,
taxes and fees, and promotes policies for the good of the citizens of Seattle.
Individuals, groups, organizations and City officials may propose legislation to any
Council member for sponsorship. To contact a City Council member, visit the
Contact Council
page.
Proposals are introduced to the Council and assigned to standing committees or
Committees of the Whole by the Council President. As part of their review process, the
committees may consult other City departments, take public testimony, and request the
City Attorney's Office to provide legal opinions and draft proposals into ordinance form.
In committee, legislation is discussed and debated, amendments are made, and public
comment is taken. Proposed legislation is then sent to the Full Council for final action
with the committee's recommendation to pass or do not pass, or with no recommendation.
Legislation does not need a favorable vote to move out of committee to Full Council.
In order for a proposal to be approved by the City Council, it must receive five votes.
A majority of those members present at a given meeting does not suffice.
If the Council votes to enact an ordinance, it is presented to the Mayor, who has ten
days to sign approval, veto the ordinance or allow the ordinance to become effective
without approval. Six Council votes are required to override the Mayor's veto. Legislation
vetoed by the Mayor must be reconsidered within 30 days after being returned to the Council.
An ordinance whose veto is overridden shall become effective 30 days after the second
Council vote. If a vetoed ordinance does not get six Council votes, it is considered dead.
Normally, an ordinance becomes effective thirty days after enactment. Any emergency
ordinances passed by the Council require seven votes and take effect immediately. The
Council also may specify a date beyond 30 days as the ordinance's effective date.
|
