Seattle City Council

Seattle City Council
City Council

Map of the seven districts effective January 2016
Type
Type	City Council
Leadership
President of the Council	Bruce Harrell
Structure
Seats	9

Political groups	Democratic (8) Socialist Alternative (1)
Committees	List Committee on Economic Resiliency and Regional Relations Energy and Environment Committee Government Performance and Finance Committee Housing, Human Services, Health and Culture Committee Libraries, Utilities and Center Committee Parks and Neighborhoods Committee Planning, Land Use and Sustainability Committee Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee Transportation Committee
Elections
Voting system	Electoral districts with four-year terms
Last election	November 3, 2015
Meeting place

Seattle City Hall 600 Fourth Avenue, Second floor Seattle, Washington 98104
Website
http://www.seattle.gov/council/

The Seattle City Council is the legislative body of the city of Seattle, Washington. The Council consists of nine members serving four-year terms, seven of which are elected by electoral districts and two of which are elected in citywide at-large positions; all elections are non-partisan. It has the sole responsibility of approving the city's budget, and also develops laws and policies intended to promote the health and safety of Seattle’s residents. The Council passes all legislation related to the City’s police, fire, parks, libraries, and electric, water, solid waste, and drainage utilities.

Election of city council members occur on odd-numbered years, with either four or five councilmembers up for election based on position number. All council members' terms begin January 1. The council positions are officially non-partisan, and the ballot gives no party designations. Party identification is based on candidates' voluntary self-identification.

In 2013, a voter-initiative was passed calling for the nine citywide-elected Seattle City Council seats to be divided into seven neighborhood district elected positions and two citywide, at-large seats. The first primary based on this system was held, August 4, 2015 and the first city council election based on districts was held on November 3, 2015.

The approximate neighborhood and city-wide positions are as follows. Some neighborhoods overlap more than one district, indicated with an asterisk*.

District 1

District 2

District 3

District 4

District 5

District 6

District 7

Seattle was first incorporated as a town by an act of the Territorial Legislature on January 14, 1865. The act was repealed January 18, 1867, after most of the town's leading citizens petitioned for its dissolution. During its first tenure as an incorporated entity, Seattle was governed by a Board of Trustees. Seattle was again incorporated, this time as a City, on December 2, 1869.

The Seattle City Council has taken several forms over the years. During the years of the Washington Territory, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial Legislature as a town from January 14, 1865 until January 18, 1867 when the legislation was repealed based on a citizens' petition. During this time, Seattle was governed by a Board of Trustees. Seattle was re-incorporated as a city on December 2, 1869. Its original unicameral legislature, known as the Common Council, was elected at-large. At-large election was replaced in 1884 by a system of 14 wards and four members elected at-large.

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Wikipedia