Seattle Public Utilities issues updated strategic plan, new proposed rates

Tomorrow morning, Seattle Public Utilities will appear in front of the City Council’s Transportation and Utilities Committee to present its updated six-year strategic plan and an accompanying six-year plan for the rates it will be charging its customers. The strategic plan summarizes the highlights and challenges for the public utility company, including the factors leading to the new proposed rates.

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Council mulls over terms of solid waste disposal contract

Seattle generates a little over 300,000 tons of non-recycled solid waste per year. The contract for hauling away and disposing of all that garbage, under the auspices of Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), has been in place since 1990 and runs until 2028. But the Council is now arguing over whether it should opt out in order to put it out to bid for the first time in over a quarter century.

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News roundup: bags, budget, AirBnB

Seattle Times, KING5, and The Urbanist report on yesterday’s Council approval of a permanent extension to the city’s plastic bag ban and new rules on tinting compostable bags. MyNorthwest discusses the City Council’s approach to the Mayor’s budget proposal. Seattle Times covers the Council’s approval of a new pay band for the head of Seattle Public Utilities. Crosscut opines on the change of the city’s political tone to “Seattle nasty.” MyNorthwest reports on AirBnB’s new ad campaign as it fights back against possible regulation. State Scoop reports on Seattle CTO Michael Mattmiller’s comments at a conference on how government IT procurement needs …

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