Key Accomplishments, 2006-2009


While Leading the City Council’s Environment, Emergency Management and Utilities Committee:

  • Spearheaded adoption of the Zero Waste Strategy, committing Seattle to a long-term reduction in the amount of garbage landfilled through new and innovative waste reduction, recycling, and product stewardship strategies, including ban on Styrofoam and expanded food waste recycling.

  • Secured the approval of a new drainage rate design that allocates costs based on actual impacts to the drainage system and emphasizes the benefits of natural drainage, with credits for homeowners who implement natural drainage measures and exemptions for open space and agricultural properties.

  • Initiated reviews of the City’s emergency response to the Winter Storm of 2006 and the Snow Storms of 2008 and moved through actions to improve the City’s plans, capabilities, and operations.

  • Completed work upgrading the City’s ability to govern during emergencies.

  • Moved the plan for a Madison Valley Community Flooding Solution through the Council, and worked with the community to support community mitigation for flooding problems.

  • Cut tens of millions of dollars out of proposed rate increases for solid waste, water, sewer, and drainage utilities, while implementing low income rate assistance programs and opposing County policies that unfairly increase costs for Seattle sewer customers.

  • Initiated process to replace failing Schmitz Seawall in West Seattle, got Council to approve Statement of Legislative Intent to begin developing funding for this project.

    While Preserving Our Neighborhoods:

  • Played key role in developing and securing Council and voter approval for Parks for All Levy, committing $140 million to new parks and open spaces for Seattle neighborhoods.

  • Secured funding for community use of surplus schools in Phinney, University, Fauntleroy, and Crown Hill neighborhoods.

  • Initiated plan for implementation of the Linden Avenue Main Street, key priority of the Bitter Lake Neighborhood Plan, and persuaded Council to provide funds.

  • Secured passage of legislation limiting the size of megahouses to protect neighborhood character.

  • Wrote Arterial Traffic Calming Resolution that lays out procedures for neighborhoods to work with SDOT on reducing pedestrian-auto conflicts on arterial streets.

  • Protected the Georgetown neighborhood from construction of a planned transfer station.

    While Protecting and Improving the Environment:

  • Championed protection of the urban forest, including a resolution calling for protection of groves of trees, an interim ordinance limiting arbitrary tree removal, and work for a comprehensive tree protection and restoration strategy.

  • Successfully won adoption of amendments to facilitate daylighting streams, expand protection for stream corridors, and reduce pesticide use as part of the Critical Areas Ordinance update.

  • Led successful fight to get Site 117, a superfund site in South Park, cleaned to a level where it could support residential development, opposing the City/Port staff proposal for a lower level of cleanup.

  • Initiated Council work program on measures to combat climate change, including steps to prepare the City for adaptation to the impacts of the changing climate.

  • Secured an agreement with the Mayor to provide for restoration projects on Hamm Creek to make up for damage to wetlands on the Joint Training Facility site. 

While Serving as Council President and Leading Special Council Committees:

  • Worked with colleagues to create Council priorities and focus Council work on critical issues.

  • Initiated, wrote and secured passage of a resolution on the Alaskan Way Viaduct that became the basis for City and State agreement on a design for the areas outside the Central Waterfront, and for moving ahead with repairing and replacing those portions of Alaskan Way and the Viaduct, as well as the Spokane Street Viaduct.

  • As a member of the Sound Transit Board, worked to move Sound Transit II to success in fall vote and to get light rail to Northgate and Redmond.

  • Moved SR 520 and Sound Transit planning forward while including neighborhood priorities. 

While Developing Seattle’s Economic and Community Resources:

  • Championed land use policies to both protect manufacturing sector and ensure high-quality development in downtown and Urban Centers.

  • Worked with the Mayor, Council, and voters to pass Bridging the Gap levy for funding street maintenance and pedestrian, bicycle, and transit improvements; this levy was based on earlier work as Chair of Transportation Committee.

  • Led Council work to approve mixed-use neighborhood in the Dravus/Interbay area by rezoning area in support of community interests with provisions for affordable housing.

  • Worked to protect Georgetown and the City’s economic future during the process of developing new land use policies for industrial lands.

  • Implemented agreement facilitated between community and development interests that creates new development on Northgate South Parking Lot, daylights Thornton Creek, provides new Community Center and Library, and realizes growth management goals for Northgate Urban Center.

While Working for Health, Education, Public Safety, and Human Services:

  • Won passage of the Local Food Action Initiative to begin the work to create a more sustainable and secure food system for Seattle by supporting farmer’s markets, developing new p-patches, building connections between urban consumers and rural producers, and working to reduce hunger.

  • Secured funding for human services programs during the budget process, including $1 million for food banks and home food delivery in the 2009-2010 budget process.

  • Won approval of additional funding for domestic violence programs, including legal assistance for domestic violence victims; received award from King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

  • Led work to put funding for Public Health and Schools into Seattle’s State Legislative Agenda.

  • Played key role in developing workable incentive zoning program, which will ensure that new affordable housing units are created whenever the City approves additional height and density.

  • Persuaded the Council to add half a million dollars to the 2008 budget to fund city-supported human service agencies to develop Continuity of Business Plans for emergency preparedness




 

 

 

 

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