Blog

Putting our Power Plans in the Hands of our Community: Developing City Light’s Strategic Plan

May 10, 2011 By Bruce Harrell

Public outreach forums begin in May

As Chair of City Light, I have demanded that our customers have access to the same information that I have relative to the opportunities and challenges that face City Light. The public owns the utility so I wanted the public to exercise its vested interest in the plans of the utility. Over the past year, the City Light Review Panel has met 19 times in their work on developing City Light’s strategic plan. You may recall that the City Light Review Panel is a nine member group of key customer advocates whose job is to provide input and recommendations to City Light as the Strategic Plan is developed. If done correctly, this plan will serve as a six-year road map for City Light’s investments and operations. Prior to my initiation of these efforts, this kind of intense planning for an integrated Strategic Plan had never been done. Should we build a Smart Grid? Should we build another substation for load growth? How do we accommodate the onset of Electrical Vehicles? How much do we invest in our transmission lines, distribution lines, conservation plans, etc…? What should be the right portfolio mix of renewable energy purchases? These are complex issues and we not only want public input, we want to educate the public on the myriad of issues our utility faces.

Over the next two months, City Light will host seven forums for key stakeholders and the general public to gather input which will be used by the Council as the strategic plan development continues. I have opened these meetings with a full commitment to transparency and openness. These sessions are critical stages in our planning process.

For more information on strategic plan development and the City Light Review Panel, click this link: http://www.seattle.gov/light/strategic-plan/ . Here you will find dates and materials for the public outreach forums. You can also participate in an online survey.

Filed Under: Blog, Energy & Technology Committee, Seattle City Light

Councilmember Bruce Harrell to launch Great Student Initiative

May 3, 2011 By Bruce Harrell

Media Advisory issued May 3, 2011

Technology partnerships key focus for low-income students

SEATTLE — On Wednesday, May 4, Councilmember Bruce Harrell will introduce legislation launching the Great Student Initiative, a City of Seattle effort to establish partnerships with technology companies and financial institutions to provide Internet access to the most vulnerable students in the Seattle Public Schools. This unprecedented program will provide high-speed Internet service for $9.95 a month, 75 percent reduction from the average cost, to students in the Seattle Public School District who are eligible for the free lunch program. Seattle will be one of the first cities in the United States to address the technology inequity for young students through public/private partnerships.

WHO:
Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell and Energy, Technology and Civil Rights Committee Members
Dan MacFetridge, Microsoft
Kathy Putt, Comcast
Cobi Jackson, One Economy
Pegi McEvoy, Seattle Public Schools
Holly Ferguson, Seattle Public Schools
Steve Sundquist, Seattle School Board
Roni Ayalla, Citizens’ Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Board
David Keyes, Department of Information Technology, City of Seattle
Sid Sidorowicz, Office for Education
Julie Nelson, Seattle Office for Civil Rights

WHEN: Wednesday, May 4, 2011, 2 p.m.

WHERE: Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, Council Chambers, Second Floor

Filed Under: Blog, Education, Technology

Big Changes at the Seattle Center: New Chihuly Exhibition and Play Areas

April 30, 2011 By Bruce Harrell

After sixteen months of negotiations, in April the City Council unanimously voted to approve a lease agreement allowing Center Art LLC to develop an exhibition hall and art garden in Seattle Center’s former South Fun Forest site. This is otherwise known as the Chihuly Exhibition. The Center Art LLC will also donate $1 million for the development of a creative children’s play area north of the Monorail station. The playground will be open and free to everyone.

Under the five year agreement, the City will receive a base rent of $350,000 per year and if the lease is extended, rent will increase to $500,000 per year. These amounts are comparable to the terms we have with the Experience Music Project.

City funding will not be used for this project and Center Art will bear all of the costs of construction and operation. It is scheduled to open in April of 2012.

As a member of the Parks and Seattle Center Committee at a time where we are trying to maximize and preserve public benefits in our city by smartly partnering with private enterprise, I believe we developed a solution that makes sense. I enjoyed working with the community leaders and Center Art to preserve the needs of our community and build a future together. Of course, this is coming from a person who grew up here enjoying the rides and games in the Fun Forest site, so it was indeed bitter/sweet. Kudos to my colleague Councilmember Sally Bagshaw and Seattle Center head Robert Nellams for their leadership on this project. This attraction should enhance our efforts to have a place that draws both Seattle residents and tourists alike.

Filed Under: Blog, Parks & Seattle Center Committee

The Great Student Initiative

April 26, 2011 By Bruce Harrell

I am pleased to introduce the Great Student Initiative, a new partnership program with information, communication and technology companies, and financial institutions to provide low-cost, high-speed Internet access, hardware and software for low-income students in the Seattle Public Schools, and creating a steering committee to advance the goals of the initiative. In the last 18 months, I have worked closely with Comcast and Microsoft’s Shape the Future Education program to build this public/private partnership to deliver technology access to our students. Now that the Families and Education Levy is moving forward, this technology initiative ties beautifully into our strategy of uplifting our children and eliminating the digital divide. In short, this initiative will allow the students in Seattle Public Schools who are eligible for the free lunch program according to federal standards (approximately 14,000 of 46,000), to obtain high-speed internet access at less than $10.00 per month and be furnished with a computer that allows them connectivity. This will be furnished at no or minimal cost to the city of Seattle.

Based on the City of Seattle Information Technology Residential Survey from 2009, 84% of households with incomes above $50,000 receive high-speed Internet, but only 46% of households with incomes under $30,000 receive high-speed Internet. Additionally, only 41% of respondents with no high school degree had high-speed Internet compared to 93% for respondents with a college degree. When correlating the relationship between technology access and race/ethnicity, 80% of Caucasians had high-speed Internet, 73% for Asian Pacific Islanders, 59% for African Americans, and 38% for Hispanic/Latinos. Furthermore, English speaking households had a high-speed Internet adoption rate of 77% compared to 19% for Spanish speaking households.

Seattle is ranked as the third most wired American city in terms of broadband adoption, high-speed Internet access options, and wireless Internet hot spots. Nationally ranked as the city with the eighth highest number of technology jobs, and backyard institutions like Microsoft, Amazon, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the University of Washington, we have a strategic advantage to compete to be the number one city in America that prepares its students for the new global economy.

According to the Washington State Employment Security Department, King County is projected to employ over 100,000 workers in computer and mathematical jobs by 2017, with an average annual growth rate of 2.7% between now and 2017. The United States Department of Labor projects more than 1,600,000 new IT jobs will be created in the United States by the year 2014. Eight of the nine fastest growing occupations by the year 2014 will be in the area of Information Technology. A Washington State Employment Security Department study confirms the 27% growth rate for our state as well, with some computer jobs posting growth rates of 6 % per year and higher. Between now and 2018, information technology jobs are projected to grow by 22 percent and account for 60 percent of the job growth, the fastest of all professional occupations. In King County, there are 233,000 technology jobs. On average, information technology jobs have a job multiplier of five to one.

It is imperative to equip all Seattle Public School students across all socioeconomic backgrounds with high-speed Internet, a quality computer, and software at home to compete and be successful in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Bottom line: equipping our students with these technology tools will allow them to successfully compete for jobs. The future is a global economy driven by technology and information technology plays a vital role in driving the economy of our city, county, state and nation.

Filed Under: Blog, Education, Technology

Transparent Discussion of Housing Discrimination Policy

April 20, 2011 By Bruce Harrell

A lot of controversy has stirred regarding the Seattle Human Rights Commission proposal to amend the City’s current anti-discrimination laws. They have proposed changing how an employer or landlord can use arrest or conviction records when making employment or housing decisions on applicants. They have proposed that the convictions be directly related to the job or, in the case of a rental unit, be a crime that involves safety issues or risk of substantial harm to others. Employers and landlords, many of whom already employ or house applicants with criminal records, have expressed concerns about the city eroding their ability to make rational decisions. After all, they would argue, isn’t that their fundamental right? To understand the problem that is being addressed, we should recognize that there are 409,945 people in King County with convictions on their record. Over 47 million Americans have a criminal record. Our country’s incarceration rate is nearly 8 times its historic average. Moreover, statistics clearly suggest there is huge disparity in arrest and conviction rates based on race and poverty. Data would also suggest that establishing good housing and employment conditions are the key factors to reduce recidivism. With this background, I hope to achieve legislation or establish policies that help people with arrest or criminal records find work and housing. Because employers and landlords are the very stakeholders who can help establish solutions to the issues, I believe their input, buy-in and support is critical to this process. As I have said publicly, this is “our” problem as a society and it will be up to us to help remedy the very same problems that historical policies of mass incarceration have produced. I am hopeful that any final legislation will not erode the safety concerns of the public or prohibit employers from making rational decisions about their workforce. To learn more about the proposal, follow this link: http://www.seattle.gov/humanrights/protections.htm

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Filed Under: Blog, Seattle Human Rights Commission

A New Program for Use of Vacant Lots

April 10, 2011 By Bruce Harrell

Pilot will liven up lots and vacant construction pits by allowing art and food uses

Over the past couple of years there have been a number of construction projects in our city that have lost their financing. This has resulted in vacant lots and construction pits in some neighborhoods. The Council unanimously approved legislation that will help enliven these spaces.

Specifically, the legislation creates a pilot program that allows property owners to temporarily place active uses like mobile food vending carts, art installations and retail sales kiosks on these stalled construction project sites. Additionally, some lots will be allowed to be used as short term parking lots as long as the sidewalk facing side of the lot is activated with uses that contribute to increased pedestrian activity.

The Seattle Design Commission solicited ideas for lot activation; those results can be found by following this link: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/Design_Commission/Overview/DPDS017625.asp

Successful applicants will be allowed to operate their site for three years with eligibility to renew for a second three year team. Twenty permits will be allowed city-wide.

Let me know your thoughts as we monitor the progress. Our goal is to eliminate vacant, trash-attracting lots while our economy recovers.

Filed Under: Blog, Neighborhoods

We Lost the Voice: Honoring Dave Niehaus

April 9, 2011 By Bruce Harrell

On November 10, 2010 we were all saddened to hear the news that we had lost our voice of summer, long-time Seattle Mariner broadcaster Dave Niehaus at the age of 75. Over the 32 years that Dave called Mariners’ games he became part of our fabric. His passing in November touched baseball fans all across the region and he will be truly missed. He was part of a special baseball era in our city.

The Council and I honored Dave in a pregame ceremony before the Mariners home opener on April 8th. I presented a proclamation to the Niehaus family which proclaimed this year’s opening day as “My Oh My,” Dave Niehaus Day. We unveiled and placed honorary street signs claiming a stretch of 1st Avenue South as “Dave Niehaus Way South.” It was my absolute honor to recognize Dave by presenting this proclamation to his family. You can view the signed proclamation by going here: .pdf of signed proclamation.

Filed Under: Blog, Mariners

City/Inside Out: Council Edition April 2011

April 7, 2011 By Bruce Harrell

CouncilMembers Bruce Harrell, Tim Burgess and Sally Clark join host C.R. Douglas for this month’s episode of City Inside/Out: Council Edition. Watch the discussion on the Alaskan Way Viaduct Project, tent city and more.

Filed Under: Blog

Seattle City Council Reconfirms Chief Technology Officer

March 21, 2011 By Bruce Harrell

News Release issued Monday, March 21, 2011

Seattle – The Seattle City Council today unanimously approved Bill Schrier as Chief Technology Officer and Director of the Department of Information Technology (DoIT). Schrier has served as director since 2003, and has been with the City since 1992.

“Bill brings a depth of institutional knowledge and a sharp ability to get things done on time and on budget,” said Councilmember Bruce Harrell, Chair of the Energy, Technology and Civil Rights Committee. “I look forward to continue working with Bill to address technology issues in order to improve our service and engagement with the public, creating opportunities for economic development by enhancing the environment to build more fiber, and exploring new hardware and software to make government more efficient.”

DoIT provides technology leadership for the city of Seattle, including technology governance, information technology (IT) policies, and IT security. DoIT prepares and develops common standards, architectures, and business solutions, and manages the city’s technology infrastructure. Schrier is committed to the mission of the department to “make technology work for the City,” with a high level of reliability. Schrier and his staff kept the public safety voice radio network operating 99.999% of the time, and the City’s core e-mail system, telephone networks, and data communications network online with almost no downtime.

Additionally, under his tenure, the Seattle Channel was named “Top Municipal Television Station of the Year” in 2007, 2008 and 2010. In the last decade, the City’s website (Seattle.Gov) was twice recognized #1 Best of the Web. The Department of Information Technology has a staff of 195 employees and a $49 million operating budget.

Schrier earned a degree in physics and mathematics from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and holds a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Washington. Schrier served more than twenty years in the United States Army and Army Reserve. His community and national involvement includes membership on the Catholic Archdiocesan School Board where he served as president, the Washington City-County Management Association, President of the Metropolitan Information Exchange, and an appointment to the Federal Communications Commission Public Safety Advisory Committee to build a nationwide public safety wireless broadband network.

Filed Under: Blog, Energy & Technology Committee, Technology

National Women’s History Month

March 14, 2011 By Bruce Harrell

Today the full Seattle City Council honored the Seattle Section of the National Council of Negro Women. Founded in 1935 by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, this organization has a long history of empowering women, changing communities and lives. She said, “Next to God we are indebted to women, first for life itself, and then for making it worth living.” It was our honor to have representatives in City Hall today.

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