Last Wednesday the Council returned to the question of unionizing Uber and Lyft drivers. It’s still a mess, and the Mayor is making it worse.
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SPU solid waste rate increase passes out of committee
Yesterday in the Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development and Arts Committee, the proposed tax increase for solid waste services and the accompanying rate increases for Seattle Public Utilities were approved and sent on to the full Council for final approval next week.
Continue readingUnionizing Uber drivers: harder than it looks
Last December, the City Council passed landmark legislation giving drivers for Uber and Lyft the right to engage in collective representation and bargaining. The ordinance delegated to the Director of the Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) department the rulemaking associated with defining the requirements for a Qualified Driver Representative (QDR) and the process for a QDR to officially be recognized as such and assume responsibilities for its members. The Council instructed FAS to have the rulemaking done no later than 240 days from the date the bill became law, which is September 19th. You may recall that the Mayor declined …
Continue readingBias-free policing
Last Wednesday, Council President Harrell’s Education, Equity and Governance Committee had a discussion on “bias-free policing.” It was a far-ranging discussion that named many of the problems with trying to hold SPD accountable for their biases — if occasionally short on solutions.
Continue readingThis week: I hope you caught up on your sleep this weekend
For the past several weeks the Monday afternoon Full Council meetings have been pretty tame affairs, with not a lot of legislation of substance up for approval. That streak ends tomorrow. Oh, and the committee meetings this week are equally full of important legislation and presentations.
Continue readingPlan to increase B&O tax and business license fees moves forward
Wednesday the Affordable Housing, Neighborhoods and Finance Committee approved an increase to the B&O tax, and a revised business license fee regime. The B&O tax was straightforward; the business license fee took more time and re-work.
Continue readingUpdated proposal for regulating AirBnB rentals
The Mayor and Council have updated their proposal for regulating short-term housing rentals, based upon negative feedback they received from their first proposal.
Continue readingCouncil tweaks Seattle City Light strategic plan
Last Thursday the Council’s Select Committee on Seattle City Light Strategic Planning met for the third, and probably last, time to consider amendments to SCL’s biennial update to its master plan.
Continue readingMayor moves to abolish District Councils
Late this afternoon, Mayor Murray dropped a bombshell on the District Councils — quite literally. He blew them up.
Continue readingCouncil puts Seattle City Light’s Strategic Plan under the microscope
Following on last week’s meeting of the Select Committee on Seattle City Light Strategic Planning that heard an overview of the Strategic Plan, this week the committee drilled down into the details.
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