Create Jobs and Opportunity for All

• Revitalizing Northgate. Repeals the General Development Plan, updates development regulations and adopts a new development agreement with Simon Properties. Ord. 121358, Ord. 121362, Res. 30642.
• Promoting Biotechnology Industry. Updates the City's land use codes in South Lake Union to accommodate the unique needs of biotechnology uses, including the need for increased floor heights and specialized mechanical systems. Ord. 121359.
• Lifting the University District Lease Lid & Revitalizing the "Ave". Allows University of Washington to lease additional space in the University District, along with other strategies to revitalize the "Ave" and surrounding neighborhood. Ord. 121193, Res. 30605, Res. 30607.
• Supporting Seattle's Film Industry. Establishes incentives to promote and attract film production in Seattle. Ord. 121317.
• Fostering live-work Communities. Establishes development standards for live-work units in commercial and neighborhood zones, allowing artists, architects and other workers to live in commercially zoned space as long as that unit is also a work space. Ord. 121196.
• Admission Tax Exemption for Non-profits. Expands admission tax exemptions to all qualifying non-profit organizations or events (except sporting events and recreational activities). Ord. 121253.

Get Seattle Moving

• Moving Ahead on Sound Transit and Light Rail. Addresses intergovernmental cooperation, undergrounding utilities along MLK Way South, and construction services. Ord. 121310, Ord. 121311, Ord. 121312.
• Building the Monorail. Allows for an expedited permit review and approval process for new monorail transit facilities and allows for uses in the City's street rights of way. Ord. 121278. Ord. 121134.
• South Lake Union Streetcar. As part of 2004 budget, accepts state and federal grants and authorizes SDOT to develop a Streetcar proposal. Ord. 121333.
• Enhancing the Mercer Corridor. As part of 2004 budget, authorizes SDOT to develop the scope for the EIS related to the Mercer Corridor Project, with the goal of developing an east-west arterial route in South Lake Union to better accommodate vehicular, transit, pedestrian and bicycle traffic and support the development of the South Lake Union Urban Village and South Lake Union Park. Ord. 121333.
• Northgate Coordinated Investment Transportation Plan. Directs analysis for the Northgate area that will facilitate public and private investment in Northgate area transportation projects and coordinate transportation investments that best reflect the long-term goals of the Northgate Area Comprehensive Plan. Res. 30641.
• New Convenient Parking Technology ("Pay Stations"). Allows City to undertake a pay station program that will make paying for city owned parking more convenient. C.B. 114782.
• Street Right of Way Management Initiative. Improves street right of way management and traffic and pedestrian flow by enabling coordinated advanced planning and permitting functions. Ord. 121333.
• Citizen Advisory Committee on Transportation II. Establishes Committee to assist Mayor and council in their options for filling the transportation funding gap for major maintenance and neighborhood mobility projects. Res. 30604.

Build Strong Families and Healthy Communities

• Neighborhood Matching Funds. Allocates $1.9 million for a variety of neighborhood developed capital projects. Ord. 121086, Ord. 121271.
• Cleaning up Green Lake. Allocates $1.5 million dollars for treatment of Green Lake's water with Alum. Ord. 121349.
• South Lake Union Wharf. Allocates $975,000 towards the development of South Lake Union Wharf. This amount of the total $3.7 million project cost will complete the decking on the east-west dock and north-south pier including installation of handrails, rub rails and water piping. Ord. 121349.
• Environmental Education. Authorizes Parks Superintendent to enter into an agreement with the National Audubon Society to renovate the Seward Park Music Annex Building and Hatchery for environmental education programs. Ord. 121190.
• Hygiene Centers. As part of 2004 Budget, funds a temporary, self-contained hygiene center in Pioneer Square to replace lost capacity from the Compass Center renovation, and also support women's hygiene facility operations. Ord. 121333.
• Pioneer Square Funding for Homeless Assistance. Allows $1.3 million Section 108 loan to Compass Center to recommence needed services for homeless residents halted after damage to the buildings due to the Nisqually earthquake. Ord. 121201.
• 12 New Parks and Salmon Habitat. Accepts conservation grants and authorizes use of Pro Parks Levy funds to acquire land and create 12 new parks in Seattle neighborhoods. Also authorizes appropriation to purchase critical shoreline salmon habitat in Salmon Bay. Ord. 121375, Ord. 121376.
• Offsetting Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Authorizes an agreement between City, Climate Trust and the Civil Engineering Foundation to offset greenhouse gas emissions resulting from generation actives at Klamath Falls electricity generation plant. Ord. 121062.

Keep Our Neighborhoods Safe

• Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Levy. Successful $167.2 million levy provides for construction and renovation of fire stations and emergency response facilities. Ord. 121230.
• Flashing Beacons at School Crosswalks. Allocates as part of SDOT's budget funds to install flashing beacons at busy school crossing areas to improve safety. Ord. 121333.
• Emergency Preparedness. Accepts over $29 million in homeland security funding to help address security needs of urban areas. Ord. 121283.

Other Significant Legislative Accomplishments

• Noise Ordinance. Strengthened the City's noise ordinance by creating a violation for frequent, repetitive or continuous noise coming from a residential property. Ord. 121192.
• Boosting City Recycling. Prohibits certain recyclable materials from disposal in commercial, residential and self-haul garbage. Ord. 121372.
• Cabinet Appointments. During 2003, Diane Sugimura (DPD), Katie Hong (OH); Patricia McInturff (HSD); and Bill Schrier (DoIT) were confirmed by Council as Directors of their respective departments.