2006 Seattle Elections

General Elections Voters' Guide

Chrtr Am 8-Council Reconfirmation of 3 Dept Heads - Ballot Title

Ballot Title

The city council has proposed amendments to Article VIII Section 1, Article XI Section 1, and Article XVI Section 1 of the city charter, and addition of a new section to Article XXII of the city charter, concerning a requirement for council reconfirmation of certain City department heads.

These amendments would require that the heads of the Finance Department, Parks Department and Personnel Department be subject to reappointment by the mayor and reconfirmation by the city council every four years. The heads of these three departments in office when these charter amendments take effect would first be subject to council reconfirmation on February 1, 2011.

Should these charter amendments be

Approved ………
Rejected ………

1. The proposal

These amendments would change the charter so that the heads of three City departments established by the charter would be subject to reappointment by the mayor and reconfirmation by the city council every four years.

2. The charter as it currently exists

The charter establishes a number of City departments. It also provides that the heads of five of these departments are to be appointed by the mayor, subject to confirmation by the city council; these five departments are: the Finance Department, the Fire Department, the Parks Department, the Personnel Department, and the Police Department. The heads of these departments do not have specified terms of office and are not subject to reconfirmation by the council.

The Seattle Municipal Code establishes a number of other City departments whose heads are appointed by the mayor, subject to council confirmation. The heads of ten of these departments are also subject to reconfirmation by the council every four years. The departments whose heads are subject to reconfirmation are City Light, the Department of Executive Administration, the Department of Information Technology, the Department of Neighborhoods, the Department of Planning and Development, the Department of Transportation, the Fleets and Facilities Department, the Human Services Department, the Seattle Center, and Seattle Public Utilities.

3. The effect of these amendments if approved

Article VIII Section 1, Article XI Section 1, and Article XVI Section 1 of the charter would be amended so that the heads of the Finance Department, the Parks Department, and the Personnel Department would be subject to reappointment by the mayor and reconfirmation by the city council every four years. In addition, a new section would be added to Article XXII of the charter to provide that the heads of these three departments who are in office when the charter amendment takes effect will first be subject to reappointment and council reconfirmation on February 1, 2011.