Seattle City Council
2008 Significant Vote Log

Introduction

The Significant Vote Log includes a brief summary and the final vote on selected legislation before the Seattle City Council. Items selected include those which have generated significant media and/or public interest, those for which the full Council vote was not unanimous, and all votes on confirmation of the Mayor's appointment of City department heads and Municipal Court judges. The log does not include all the details contained within any piece of legislation, nor does it include votes on amendments that may have been proposed to the legislation. The minutes of each meeting contain a record of votes on amendments. To view the minutes of the meeting at which the issue was voted upon, use the link to the minutes. To view the entire text of legislation identified in the Log, use the link to the identifying number of the legislation (Council Bill or Resolution).

For questions regarding the Significant Vote Log, please contact Theresa Dunbar, City Clerk's Office, (206) 684-8142 or at Theresa.dunbar@seattle.gov

Abbreviations

Y: Affirmative vote
N: Negative vote
A: Abstained from vote
--: Absent from meeting

Issue/Summary: Approved the committee structure, membership and meeting times of the standing committee of the City Council for 2008 and 2009.

Title of Legislation:
A RESOLUTION relating to committee structure, membership and meeting times of the standing committees of the Seattle City Council for 2008 and 2009 and superseding Resolution 30838.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Established overall goals for the Office of City Auditor's work program; a process to be used by the City Auditor to continually update the work program.

Title of Legislation:
A RESOLUTION Establishing overall goals for the Office of City Auditor's work program; establishing a process to be used by the City Auditor to continually update the work program; authorizing the City Auditor to make the final decisions regarding the content of the work program; and superseding Resolution 30175.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Endorsed the Policy and Procedures of the Office of City Auditor.

Title of Legislation:
A RESOLUTION endorsing and supporting the Policy and Procedures of the Office of City Auditor.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Endorsed the King County Public Health Operational Master Plan Policy Framework and Operational and Financing Recommendations.

Title of Legislation:
A RESOLUTION endorsing the King County Public Health Operational Master Plan Policy Framework and Operational and Financing Recommendations.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Approved a Seattle Streetcar Network Concept indicating potential routes for further study and analysis and outlining a City Council review process to determine the feasibility of developing all or portions of a streetcar network in Seattle.

Title of Legislation:
A RESOLUTION approving a Seattle Streetcar Network Concept indicating potential routes for further study and analysis and outlining a City Council review process to determine whether it is feasible to develop all or portions of a streetcar network in Seattle.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Urged adoption of legislation relating to executive session recordings during the 2008 Session of the Washington State Legislature.

Title of Legislation:
A RESOLUTION urging adoption of legislation relating to executive session recordings during the 2008 session of the Washington State Legislature.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Requested that the Executive move forward to negotiate a new lease for the Seattle Storm's use of the Key Arena at Seattle Center.

Title of Legislation:
A RESOLUTION related to women's professional basketball and providing guidance for negotiating terms for a lease of the KeyArena at Seattle Center.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Approved a work program for study and analysis of the Seattle Streetcar Network Concept and removed a budget proviso that restricts spending on streetcar network analysis.

Title of Legislation:
AN ORDINANCE approving a work program for study and analysis of the Seattle Streetcar Network Concept and removing a budget proviso that restricts spending on streetcar network analysis.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Stated the Seattle City Council’s support for the Seattle Opera’s proposed development and ground lease of the Mercer Arena site at the Seattle Center, highlighted potential development options along Mercer Street at the project site, and provided suggestions on possible public use of space at the facility and educational and vocational programs for Seattle city residents.

Title of Legislation:
A RESOLUTION relating to the Seattle Center Department; expressing support for a proposed 30-year ground lease of the site containing the Mercer Arena and an accompanying development proposal, both by the Seattle Opera; and expressing the desires of the City Council regarding site development.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Excused
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Excused
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Excused
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Authorized a lease agreement with Seattle Opera for the Mercer Arena site to house the Opera's administrative offices, rehearsal spaces, and technical facilities. 

Title of Legislation:
AN ORDINANCE relating to the Seattle Center Department; authorizing execution of a ground lease with Seattle Opera for property that includes Mercer Arena at Seattle Center.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Excused
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Excused
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Excused
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Adopted the Seattle City Council 2008 Work Program.

Title of Legislation:
A RESOLUTION adopting the Seattle City Council 2008 Work Program.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Adopted Statements of Legislative Intent for the 2008 Adopted Budget and 2008-2013 Adopted Capital Improvement Program (CIP), and Budget Guidance Statements for the 2009-2010 Proposed Budget.

Title of Legislation:
A RESOLUTION adopting Statements of Legislative Intent (SLIs) for the 2008 Adopted Budget and 2008-2013 Adopted Capital Improvement Program (CIP), and Budget Guidance Statements (BUGS) for the 2009-2010 Proposed Budget.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Confirmed the appointment of Julie Nelson as Director, Seattle Office for Civil Rights.

Title of Legislation:
Appointment and Oath of Office of Julie Nelson as Director, Seattle Office for Civil Rights.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Confirmed the appointment of Emelie East as Director, Office of Intergovernmental Relations.

Title of Legislation:
Appointment and Oath of Office of Emelie East as Director, Office of Intergovernmental Relations.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Required lobbyists who are compensated for lobbying, and employer's of lobbyists, to register with the City’s Ethics and Elections Commission,

Title of Legislation:
AN ORDINANCE concerning the regulation of lobbying; establishing certain duties, registration and reporting requirements, restrictions and penalties; setting forth powers and duties of the Ethics and Elections Commission and the Executive Director thereof; setting forth procedures relating to complaints and investigations concerning alleged violations; adding a new Chapter 2.06; amending certain sections of Chapter 2.04; and amending Section 3.70.100 of the Seattle Municipal Code.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Authorized an interfund loan to allow the Seattle Department of Transportation to move forward with the accelerated design and construction of paving improvements on the downtown core arterials before the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement project gets underway in 2012.

Title of Legislation:
AN ORDINANCE relating to financing certain capital activities of Seattle Department of Transportation; authorizing the loan of funds from the City's Consolidated (Residual) Cash Pool, or its participating funds, to the Transportation Master Fund; making appropriations; and amending the 2008-2013 Capital Improvement Program; all by a three-fourths vote of the City Council.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Adopted the 2008 work program for the Office of Housing.

Title of Legislation:
A RESOLUTION establishing the 2008 work program for the Office of Housing.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Excused
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Provided funding for an analysis of and potential future improvements to City customer access and service issues.

Title of Legislation:
AN ORDINANCE relating to customer service improvements; abrogating an unexpended allowance in the 2008 Budget of Finance General; and reappropriating the unexpended allowance to the 2008 Budget of the Department of Executive Administration.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Excused
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Authorized agreements for the collection and transfer of solid waste in the City of Seattle.

Title of Legislation:
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Director of Seattle Public Utilities to enter into contracts with Waste Management of Washington, Inc. and CleanScapes, Inc. to provide solid waste collection and transfer services in the City of Seattle.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Accelerated by two years the schedule for the Maple Leaf Reservoir Covering project.

Title of Legislation:
AN ORDINANCE relating to Seattle Public Utilities, removing a budget proviso that limits spending of an appropriation in Seattle Public Utilities' Water Quality and Treatment Budget Control Level in the 2008 Adopted Budget.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Authorized the Department of Planning and Development to accept up to $350,000 from public and private sources to fund consultant assistance to analyze the environmental impacts of potential zoning changes in the South Lake Union Urban Center.

Title of Legislation:
AN ORDINANCE authorizing acceptance of donations from public and private sources in support of South Lake Union Urban Center planning efforts, and increasing appropriation authority in the 2008 Adopted Budget contingent upon receipt of said donations.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Excused
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Identified proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments to be considered for possible adoption in 2008, and requested that the Department of Planning and Development and Seattle Planning Commission review and make recommendations about the amendments to the Council.

Title of Legislation:
A RESOLUTION identifying proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments to be considered for possible adoption in 2008, and requesting that the Department of Planning and Development and Seattle Planning Commission review and make recommendations about the amendments to the Council.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Excused
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Authorized acquisition of property at the southwest corner of 8th Avenue and Madison Street for open space, park, and recreation purposes.

Title of Legislation:
AN ORDINANCE relating to the Neighborhood Parks, Green Spaces, Trails and Zoo Levy; authorizing the acquisition of real property commonly known as 8th & Madison; otherwise known as Lots 2 and 3, Block 54, Terry's First Addition to the Town of Seattle, according to the plat thereof recorded in Volume 1 of Plats, page 49, in King County, Washington; authorizing acceptance of the deed for open space, park, and recreation purposes; and authorizing acquisition by condemnation.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Excused
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Created a citizens committee to advise the council on whether to pursue a new parks levy, and what types of projects to propose for funding, if such a levy is proposed.

Title of Legislation:
A RESOLUTION relating to the Department of Parks and Recreation; creating a citizens' advisory committee to ensure citizen participation in the development of a potential package of parks, open space, boulevards, trails, green infrastructure, and recreation projects and a proposed set of options to fund the package of projects.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Excused
          McIver: No
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Increased the threshold levels that determine which development proposals require environmental review

Title of Legislation:
AN ORDINANCE related to land use and zoning, amending Sections 23.41.004, 23.54.015, 23.76.012, 25.05.800, 25.05.908 and 25.08.425 of the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) and adding a new section 23.42.044, to change environmental review thresholds for minor new construction, expressed as categorical exemptions in Seattle's SEPA ordinance, amending related Land Use Code and other provisions pertaining to design review, construction-related noise, construction worker parking, notice requirements, and correcting errors and omissions.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Excused
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Established goals, created a policy framework, and identified planning, analysis and actions to strengthen Seattle's food system sustainability and security.

Title of Legislation:
A RESOLUTION establishing goals, creating a policy framework, and identifying planning, analysis and actions for the purpose of strengthening Seattle's food system sustainability and security.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: No
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: No
          Rasmussen: Yes

Issue/Summary: Adopted a Stormwater Facility Credit program to reduce the drainage service charge on parcels within the City of Seattle that have installed approved stormwater management facilities such as detention vaults, green roofs, and bioswales. 

Title of Legislation:
AN ORDINANCE relating to drainage services of Seattle Public Utilities; establishing a stormwater facility credit to reduce drainage service charges for parcels with approved stormwater management facilities; updating definitions, revising the performance requirements for rainwater harvesting systems qualifying for drainage service charge reductions, revising the basis for bill adjustment requests and revising the right of entry for inspection in connection with the credit program; and amending Chapter 21.33 of the Seattle Municipal Code.

Vote:
          Burgess: Yes
          Clark: Yes
          Conlin: Yes
          Drago: Yes
          Godden: Yes
          Harrell: Yes
          Licata: Yes
          McIver: Yes
          Rasmussen: Yes