The Seattle City Council will hear several interesting briefings this week, covering water quality, police overtime, secure scheduling and paid family leave, and directed investigations of labor violations.
Monday morning at the weekly Council Briefing, there will be a final briefing by the Office of Intergovernmental Relations on the state’s early 2016 legislative session. The Council members will also be briefed by Ray Hoffman, Director of Seattle Public Utilities, on Seattle’s water quality in light of recent news that there are issues with lead pipes in Tacoma.
Monday afternoon’s Full Council meeting will see votes on open-air tour vehicle regulation; increases to the Council members’ legislative staff driven by the switch to district-based positions; changes to Business Improvement Area ordinances; and a very long list of appointments to various advisory boards and commissions.
This week’s Introduction and Referral Calendar has two items of note: a resolution requesting quarterly updates to the Office of Labor Standards’ implementation of “directed investigations,” and the University of Washington’s application for a new Major Institution Master Plan for its Seattle campus (interesting because UW just won a lawsuit claiming that it has the right to ignore the city’s historical landmark designation ordinances).
Tuesday morning, the Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development & Arts Committee meets. On its agenda will be the aforementioned discussion of directed investigations by the Office of Labor Standards, and another stakeholder discussion on secure scheduling.
Tuesday afternoon the Energy and Environment Committee is scheduled to meet, though no agenda has been published which suggests the meeting might be cancelled. UPDATE: the committee is meeting; there will be a presentation on Seattle City Light’s Climate Adaptation Plan. Also, 350 Seattle will discuss their plans for the upcoming Break Free protests against the fossil fuel industry.
Wednesday morning, the Gender Equity, Safe Communities, and New Americans Committee meets. They will hear a presentation on the recent SPD overtime audit report; they will also continue their discussion on paid family leave.
Wednesday afternoon, the Human Services and Public Health Committee meets ; the agenda has not yet been posted.
In events outside of City Hall:
- Council member Kshama Sawant will host a town hall Thursday night, 7:00pm at Miller Community Center, focused on ending mass incarceration.
- Council member Lisa Herbold will hold office hours Friday, 11:00am-5:00pm, at South Park Community Center.
- Council President Bruce Harrell and Council member Lisa Herbold will attend the Mayor’s Education Summit on Saturday.