Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell

At the Energy, Technology and Civil Rights Committee meetings on January 6th and February 3rd the work programs for both City Light and the Department of Information Technology (DoIT) were approved by the committee. The work programs can be viewed below.

Also, on Monday, February 22, the Council announced our 2010 priorities to a standing room only Council Chambers. The priorities are laid out in three groups with sub-topics. My priorities cover Clean Energy, Access and Transparency and Race and Social Justice. In addition to my three priorities, there are 14 more priorities that will be divided up among my colleagues. You can view Council’s briefly described priorities below:

Build a livable city for our future

ECONOMIC RECOVERY
Revitalize and focus the work of the Office of Economic Development, develop a coordinated strategy to grow green jobs and businesses, and act to improve Seattle’s business climate.

DEVELOPMENT
Promote smarter building design, business success, housing affordability, and neighborhood sustainability through revising the Multi-Family Land Use Code, effectively implementing the Housing Levy, changing zoning and land use rules in the South Downtown Neighborhoods and around light rail stations, and modifying zoning and adaptive re-use rules in industrial areas.

PARTNERSHIP
Strengthen Seattle’s relationships on the regional and state level.

WASTE REDUCTION
Implement the next stages of the Zero Waste Strategy.

CARBON NEUTRALITY
Adopt a carbon neutral goal for Seattle with specific milestones and implementation steps, along with a plan for adaptation to the effects of climate change.

HISTORY AND CULTURE
Support and enhance historic, cultural and recreational assets through smarter, more economically attractive preservation efforts and tools such as the Pike-Pine and Cultural Overlay Districts.

Foster safe, just and healthy communities for all

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION
Develop a new partnership strategy with Seattle Schools in preparation for the renewal of the Families and Education Levy in 2011.

PUBLIC SAFETY
Conduct a rigorous and efficient confirmation process for a new Chief of Police, ensure that the Neighborhood Policing Plan is implemented, and support innovative and effective anti-crime programs.

RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
Take action to promote racial and social equity in city government actions and growth management planning.

LOCAL FOOD
Implement the Local Food Action Initiative, including making 2010 “The Year of Urban Agriculture,” expanding the community garden program, and encouraging local food production and food-related businesses.

NEIGHBORHOODS
Adopt the initial neighborhood plan updates and ensure that updates are community-driven, visionary and pragmatic blueprints for managing growth.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Raise awareness around domestic violence and increase the effectiveness of City programs.

Invest public resources fairly and effectively

BUDGET
Adopt a sustainable 2011-2012 budget that continues to put people first by investing in human services and housing, and includes a set of performance measures and financial targets to reduce costs and increase program effectiveness.

CLEAN ENERGY
Adopt a long-range strategic plan and new financial policies for Seattle City Light to keep focused on conservation and renewable resources for our future while ensuring financial stability and affordable rates.

VIADUCT/520
Ensure that Seattle interests are effectively represented in the planning and implementation of the replacement of SR 520 and the Alaskan Way Viaduct, while developing a funding plan for the City’s work on the Seawall and Waterfront.

TRANSPORTATION CHOICES
Identify funds for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, work towards an all electric transit system, including light rail, streetcars, and electric trolley buses, and strive for a fairly allocated source of funds for bus service connecting Seattle neighborhoods and connecting Seattle with job centers in other parts of King County.

ACCESS AND TRANSPARENCY
Implement new technology measures to provide increased citizen access to government through the public engagement portal and constituent relations management system, and explore a Smart Grid for electricity and expanded Broadband access.

Seattle City Council 2010 Work Program

Energy

On‐going Issues

Reports and Metrics: Review regular reports to stay abreast of the financial health and operational performance of the utility.

Regional/National Issues: Monitoring regional transmission issues and FERC decisions for impacts on the Northwest and on City Light. Monitor the Western Climate Initiative and similar initiatives at the national level and provide policy support and direction to the utility as needed.

Energy Rates

Review City Light Rates: Review City Light rates for consistency with the utility’s financial policies and strategic plan. Focus attention in the 2010 review on rate design with a view to enhancing the efficient use of electricity.

Planning & Oversight

Strategic Plan: Review and assess the adequacy and appropriateness of City Light’s proposed strategic plan. Develop a work program and legislation as needed to support the Council’s direction.

City Light Task Force: Draft legislation creating the task force. Support the task force in its review of City Light’s strategic plan, financial policies, and rates. Work with the task force to establish and execute a process to educate rate payers about the nature and implications of the plan and to encourage feedback.

Capital Project Approval Guidelines: Working with the utility, the Executive, and an external consultant, develop protocols for the utility to follow when requesting approval for large capital projects and explicit criteria for the data and analysis supporting such requests. Develop legislation to support the requirements as necessary.

Review of CIP Documentation: Based on consultant findings, work with the Executive to improve the design and content of City Light’s six‐year CIP document submitted annually as part of the budget process.

City Light Financial Policies: Initiate a review of the financial policies in light of the size of the utility’s proposed capital program.

State Performance Audit: Review the results of the state’s performance audit, and where appropriate, develop a work program to address recommendations.

Integrated Resource Planning (IRP), Conservation and Renewables: Review and provide policy guidance for the 2010 plan.

Other Issues

Update of Risk Management Policies: Review revisions to the risk management policies that the utility will propose in 2010.

Utility Relocations: Track utility relocation agreements throughout the city to ensure compliance the general City policies.

Boundary Dam Relicensing: Monitor relicensing activities including studies being performed as part of the pre‐application document. Review legislation authorizing license application in 2010.

Citywide Undergrounding Policy: Work with City Light, the Department of Finance, and the Office of Policy and Management to develop criteria for the selection of projects where utilities will be undergrounded as part of the Citywide Undergrounding Initiative.
(Subject to a proviso.)

Technology Issues

Public Engagement Portal Initiative: Monitor the Department of Information Technology’s (DoIT’s) implementation of My.Seattle.gov Public Engagement Portal Initiative.

Open Data Initiative: Work with DoIt and other City departments to develop a plan to migrate public City data to an open machine readable format for public use; review proposed legislation to lift the budget proviso imposed on 2010 funding for this effort.

Apps for Seattle: Work with DoIt to develop an Apps for Seattle Contest to call upon local web developers and the general public to create innovative applications, websites, and tools using City machine‐readable datasets; review proposed legislation to lift the budget proviso imposed on 2010 funding for this effort.

Broadband Initiative: Monitor Executive progress on Broadband Initiative (for fiber to the neighborhood or home), including quarterly reports to the committee. Review and take action on proposed Broadband Request for Proposals and related budget or other proposed legislation as needed.

Low‐Income Assistance for High‐Speed Internet Access: Review DoIt response to 2010 Statement of Legislative Intent 92‐1‐A‐1 requesting analysis of a possible new assistance program for low‐income households to obtain high‐speed Internet access.

Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) System: Monitor DoIT’s initial implementation in 2010 of Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) system; consider possible future expansion to add functions to CRM system.

Technology Grants: Review proposed legislation for grant awards.

Municipal Technology Strategic Review: Work with Dot to evaluate and develop policies relative to new product implementation, software and product replacement, and interdepartmental coordination for new products and services that improves access to city information, government transparency, and enhancing the processes of providing basic services.

Strategic Policy for City Government Communications: Evaluate and develop policies and protocols relative to the City’s use of technology to disseminate public information with an emphasis on speed, reliability, and effectiveness.

Equal Access to Technology Initiative: Review policy and measurements for City’s efforts to ensure all residents have improved access to technology, and examine where technology access may be disproportionately denied.

E‐mail Archiving System: Monitor the implementation of new City‐wide e‐mail archiving system.

Cable Franchises: Monitor cable franchises, with focus on customer service, and take action as needed. Review quarterly reports from the City’s Chief Technology Officer, as requested by Resolution 31015, related to the customer service performance of Broadstripe (formerly Millennium Digital Media Systems). Monitor status of Broadstripe since it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2009.

Mobile Phone Applications to Access City Services: Work with DoIt to develop a plan to provide service for mobile phone applications that allow residents to report a City problem such as potholes, graffiti, streetlight outage, or abandoned vehicles.

Improve City Meetings by using Web Video Technology: Work with Dot and other City departments to develop a plan to improve public access to boards and commission meetings and to support employee teleconferencing by using web video conferencing tools.

Track graffiti and trees by using mobile applications and web mapping tools: Work with Dot and other City departments to develop a plan to engage the public in tracking and submitting information about graffiti and special trees by using mobile applications and online mapping tools.

Printing software to reduce paper usage: Work with DoIt and other City departments to evaluate installing software application that will further reduce paper usage.

Neighborhood Websites: Work with Dot and the Department of Neighborhoods to develop a plan to help improve neighborhood council websites. Improving neighborhood council websites enhances public engagement and improves access to customer service.

Seattle Channel: Work with DoIt and Seattle Channel to monitor new online video captioning technology that automatically creates captions for uploaded videos. Seattle Channel videos can be uploaded to third‐party website and improve accessibility to Seattle Channel videos.

Citywide Computer Inventory: Review Dot response to Statement of Legislative Intent 89‐1‐A‐1 requesting an inventory report of all City‐owned or City‐leased personal computers and laptop computers.

DoIt Budget: Track budget implementation and review any supplemental budget requests.

Citizens’ Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Board (CTTAB): Make Council appointments to CTTAB, and approve Mayoral appointees to CTTAB; review reports and presentations.

Net Neutrality: Monitor the status of Net Neutrality issues by the Federal Communications Commission.

Reconfirmation of DoIt Director: Review Mayor’s proposed reappointment of DoIt Director, and reconfirm as appropriate.

Civil Rights:

Receive updates from Office for Civil Rights on issues including enforcement rules, Race and Social Justice Initiative, and others.

Customer Service:

Monitor DEA’s efforts to coordinate improved customer service across all City departments. More specifically, evaluate the processes among the Customer Service Bureau, Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle City Light, and Department of Neighborhoods, and how service requests are made, tracked, and completed.

External Committees and Boards and Commissions Oversight Assignments

External Committees: Participate as a member of the following regional committees: Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) Executive Board, PSRC Transportation Policy Board, Jail Capacity Task Force.

Boards and Commissions ‐ Oversight and/or Appointment Authority: Monitor and make recommendations on appointments as needed for Council on African American Elders, Citizens Telecommunication and Technology Advisory Board, City Light Review Panel, Seattle Human Rights Commission, Seattle Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Commission (LGBT), Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission, Seattle Women’s Commission, Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities.