DEPARTMENT OF EXECUTIVE SERVICES
Fred Podesta was confirmed as the Director of the Department of Executive Administration. Divisions of the Department of Executive Administration include: Animal Shelter, Purchasing and Contracting Services, Accounting/Treasury Services, Revenue and Consumer Affairs, and Risk Management. In addition, as a result of the Nightlife Legislation passed in September 2007, nightclubs and establishments that serve liquor between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., and have an occupancy of 200 people or more, are now required to prepare and submit a written safety plan to the Director that includes:
- The establishments identification checking and patron search procedures
- Procedures for handling violent incidents, emergencies and notification of the Seattle Police
- A description of the training completed by security personnel
- Procedures for crowd control
- Current personnel contact information for the position responsible for addressing safety related complaints.
Fred Podesta is responsible for the review and distribution of Written Safety Plans to the Chief of Police as well as to the Nightlife Advisory Board.
SEATTLE CITY EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM
Richard McIver, Chair
On January 2, 2008 Cecelia Carter began as the Retirement System’s new Executive Director.
The System currently has 10,899 active and 5,260 retired members to date, and in August 2007, it was determined that the Retirement Board Fund had finally reached the 95% funding threshold. This allows benefit enhancements to take effect including the Cost of Living Adjustments and provisions for those who were hired by the City from 1988 to 1998 to buy their first six months of service credits.
SOUND TRANSIT
As 2007 drew to an end, Richard ended his 11 year term on the Sound Transit Board and as Vice-Chair of the Sound Transit Finance Committee. Over the years he has made recommendations on annual capital and operating budgets, financial plans, and has monitored the progress of the adopted budgets and investments.
2007 marked the completion of paving along the Link Light Rail line in Rainier Valley bringing a significant reduction in traffic impacts along the four mile stretch. The entire South Martin Luther King Jr. roadway and sidewalks along the route have been rebuilt as well as the installation of artwork and landscaping along the alignment, and construction from downtown to the airport is scheduled for completion in late 2009.
WASHINGTON STATE HOUSING FINANCE COMMISSION (WSHFC)
As a Commissioner on the Board of the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, Richard serves as an elected local official to represent geographic and public interests.
- In 2008, 77 loans have been closed through the House Key State Bond Program in partnership with the House Key Plus Seattle Program; the primary loan program providing first mortgages at below-market interest rates to low and moderate income first time home buyers.
- The Capital Plus Program was expanded with the Washington Community Reinvestment Association to create a $7M revolving loan fund for small nonprofit capital projects.
- The Commission is partnering with the Washington Agricultural Families Assistance Program to increase homeownership opportunities for Washington’s agricultural workers. The partnership will provide low cost construction financing for WAFA through the use of the Commission’s Program Investment Funds and HouseKey first mortgage loans for agricultural workers. As a result, 5 families have purchased newly constructed homes within the City of Ephrata.
- A five year agreement has been renewed with Impact Capital to preserve affordable housing. The Commission has invested $5.25M in the WCLF revolving loan fund to provide pre-development and bridge financing to assist in the preservation of affordable units.
- A waiver has been adopted for 100% affordable properties allowing owners to avoid the completion of annual re-certifications on qualified households thereby reducing staff time spent on unnecessary paper work.
- A new Veteran’s Down Payment Assistance Program has been implemented to encourage military veterans to purchase their first home.
- The HouseKey Schools Down-Payment Assistance program has been expanded to serve employees of public and private K-12 and community college employees.
- Read the complete copy of the 2007 Annual Report.
FINANCE AND BUDGET COMMITTEE
Highlights of Additions to the 2007 1st, 2nd, and 4th Quarter Supplemental Ordinances
1st Quarter Supplemental
- Richard added $50K for Central Area / McClellan Station Area Economic Analysis to include retail nodes on 23rd Ave. South at South Jackson, Union Urban Village, and in North Rainier Urban Village from the North boundary to McClellan St. light rail station.
- $150K in funding was carried forward by the Council in the 2006 Adopted Budget for capital improvements of the Filipino Community Center to be spent in 2007.
- $30K was provided to the Department of Parks and Recreation to expand programming in South Seattle for youths and adults with physical and developmental disabilities in order to eliminate geographic service disparities.
- $500K in additional funding was provided for the maintenance of City owned senior centers, and the lifting of a budget proviso to allow spending of $125K on improvements at Danny Woo Community Garden.
2nd Quarter Supplemental
- $50K was added to the Office of Economic Development’s Budget Control Level to contract with the Chamber of Commerce for a feasibility analysis and business plan for the development of sustainable “green” business in Seattle.
- $50K was added to the Seattle Department of Transportation’s Budget Control Level to contract with the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle for the Seattle Streetcar Alliance to complete the feasibility of expanding the streetcar network.
4th Quarter Supplemental
- $75K was added to the Office of Economic Development’s Budget Control Level to contract with the Seattle Vocational Institute for pre-apprenticeship construction training.
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