Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell

I presume you are aware of Seattle Children’s Hospital’s desire to expand their campus. If you are not, here is the issue in brief: Seattle Children’s Hospital is seeking an expansion for its facilities in the Laurelhurst Neighborhood. The City Hearing Examiner has recommended that the Council deny their request. This type of expansion is pursued under a Major Institution Master Plan or MIMP. For this matter, our role on the Council is what is known as “Quasi-Judicial” in that we are serving as the reviewing appellate body of the Hearing Examiner’s decision.

An appeal in this matter was filed on behalf of the Major Institutions and among them is the University of Washington. Other major institutions who support the MIMP and whose appeal has been filed also include the Swedish Medical Center and Virginia Mason Medical Center. It should be noted that a representative from the University of Washington was also appointed to be a member of the Citizens Advisory Council who also publicly supported the MIMP.

Because my wife Joanne Harrell sits on the University of Washington Board of Regents, an issue can be raised as to whether there is an appearance of a conflict of interest should I participate in this quasi-judicial review. Based on research from the City of Seattle Law Department and because of my strong adherence to the City’s Code of Ethics, I do not want this connection to jeopardize any decision the Council may make on this issue. Therefore, I will recuse myself from voting on this issue. The remedies for non-compliance with this issue should I participate would be a reversal of the Council’s action and I believe this would waste taxpayer money and citizens their time, energy and resources.

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