This morning the Washington State Auditor released its annual accountability audit of the Seattle city government. It’s a short, pro-forma report saying that mostly everything is fine. But it does call out “certain matters related to procurement of consultant services” that it addressed in detail in a separate letter to Mayor and the City Council last week.
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City finance department asks State Auditor to widen investigation of Black Brilliance research contract
PubliCola reported today that the city’s Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) department has sent a letter to the Office of the Washington State Auditor asking it to widen the set of issues it is investigating stemming from the $3 million contract that the City Council signed last fall for the Black Brilliance Research Project.
Continue readingCity Auditor criticizes aspects of city’s homeless response
Today the Seattle City Auditor released its review of aspects of the city’s homeless response related to early outreach, hygiene services, and rigorous evaluation. The report was critical of the city’s execution on all three issues.
Continue readingUpdate on request to City Auditor
Earlier today several local reporters and editors, including myself, sent a letter to the City Auditor requesting that his office investigate the widespread use of private email accounts by city officials. This evening, the City Auditor responded.
Continue readingSeattle City Light in the spotlight today
There are two notable items of news related to Seattle City Light today: an audit of its billing practices, and more details on the Mayor’s nominee for the utility’s CEO position.
Continue readingShould the Special Olympics pay the city event fees?
The USA Special Olympics is coming to Seattle July 1-6. According to its web site, “More than 4,000 athletes and coaches representing 50 state Programs and the District of Columbia, along with the support of tens of thousands of volunteers and spectators, will compete in 14 Olympic-type team and individual sports.” Last week, Council member Rob Johnson introduced an ordinance that would waive the city’s usual event fees, including permits and police staffing, for the Special Olympics. But this morning several Council members had second thoughts, and that ordinance is on hold for a week while they talk it out …
Continue readingCity Auditor issues “reporting plan” for Navigation Team
At the request of Council member Lisa Herbold, the Office of the City Auditor has generated a comprehensive plan for information-gathering and evaluation of the city’s Navigation Team.
Continue readingNews roundup: HALA backlash, undocumented immigrants, and more
Negative response to HALA tops the news this morning.
Continue readingNCIS briefing Tuesday afternoon: don’t forget to bring popcorn
Tuesday afternoon, in a joint meeting of two committees, the Council will get briefed by representatives of Seattle City Light, Seattle Public Utilities, the newly-formed Department of IT, and an outside consultant on the NCIS billing and customer service IT system that is very late and very over budget. And going by the published materials they have submitted in advance, they have drastically misread the situation and it’s going to be a bloodbath.
Continue readingThis week: NCIS under the microscope, labor laws
It looks like Tuesday is going to be the super interesting day in Council Chamber this week.
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