THE READER
From the Office of Mayor Mike McGinn
News, Updates, and Information
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

Agreements on police reforms
On Friday, Mayor McGinn and Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez announced court approved and enforceable agreements to address community concerns and build a greater police force in Seattle.

Based on concerns heard from the public, Mayor McGinn had the following criteria during negotiaions: that reforms would be effective, meet public safety needs, and work within the City’s budget. The agreements negotiated with the Department of Justice meet those criteria. Further, reforms detailed in the agreements with the Department of Justice (DOJ) were informed by the policies outlined by the City’s broader reform agenda, SPD 20/20: Vision for the Future.

“The City and the Department of Justice are moving forward together to implement specific and important reforms in our police department, while ensuring that we are supporting the highest possible level of public safety,” said McGinn. “My office has had many meetings with the Department of Justice, community leaders, public safety professionals, police officers and others to ensure that we could forge a reform plan that works. In our work with the Department of Justice, we placed a high priority on implementing an agreement that would continue to engage the public as the police department works with a federal monitor to adopt the court-enforceable reforms detailed by the settlement agreement. The City will continue to implement the reforms outlined in our SPD 20/20 plan, an effort that is broader in scope than our work with the Department of Justice and is in response to what we have heard from the community.”

For more details, read a summary of the agreement, the full agreement or the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Seattle and the United States.

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Garbage, recycling, food & yard waste update
Teamsters Local Union No. 117 recycling drivers voted this morning to end their strike against Waste Management, and garbage and food/yard waste collections have resumed across Seattle.

City inspectors are on the streets today, checking for garbage, food/yard waste and recycling that went uncollected yesterday. Fines will be assessed against the company for materials that were missed yesterday. No fines will be levied for materials missed today.

Residents can put out any extra materials that were previously missed, on their next regular collection day, through next Wednesday.

Through Sunday, Seattle residents serviced by Waste Management can continue to drop off up to six bags of either garbage or yard waste in any combination at the transfer stations — for free. Yard waste should not be in plastic bags. This free service will last through this Sunday. Recycling drop off is always free.

If your collection is missed, please report it after 5 p.m. on your regular collection day.

Check SPU’s website for station hours, and webcam links. The South Transfer station will be open until will be open until 9 p.m., tonight and Friday.

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Seattle proposal caps fees for involuntary tows from private property
Mayor McGinn and City Councilmember Nick Licata announced plans to cap fees for involuntary tows from private property. The proposed legislation protects consumers while balancing tow companies’ business interests and private property owners’ ability to seek relief from unauthorized parking. Standard impounds will be capped at $156.75, and storage rates are limited to $15.50 for up to 12 hours. Sales tax and an impound fee, yet to be determined, will also be applied.

“This proposal protects Seattle visitors and residents from predatory towing fee policies,” said McGinn. “After performing extensive outreach to all stakeholders, we believe it is fair to all parties, including towing operators. I thank Councilmember Licata for his work on this proposal and look forward to Council action to make this proposal the law.”

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Planning to move forward for high-capacity transit to Ballard
The City Council voted Monday to remove a funding restriction on studying high-capacity transit from Downtown to Ballard.

“I thank the City Council for today voting to lift their funding restriction on our plan to study high-capacity transit from Downtown to Ballard,” said Mayor Mike McGinn. “Today’s vote means that we can immediately begin substantial planning work for a streetcar or light-rail line that will extend our transit network to neighborhoods who have long demanded better service for their residents. Our updated Transit Master Plan identifies this corridor as a top priority. That’s why we worked with Sound Transit to accelerate spending $2 million of Sound Transit funds to assist the City in this work. I thank Councilmember Richard Conlin for his commitment to this effort.”

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Recruitment for EMT Training
Public Health – Seattle & King County is offering Emergency Medical Technician training scholarships to traditionally underrepresented diverse individuals interested in becoming EMTs. Download a flyer with information about the program here. The first class begins August 15. This opportunity will be made available twice a year.

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Upcoming Events (for more see http://seattle.gov/mayor/Engage/access.htm):

August 7, 5:00 p.m. – Seattle Night Out, locations throughout Seattle

August 11, 1:00 p.m. – Picnic at the Precinct, each of the five police precincts

August 14, 5:30 p.m. – Mayor’s Town Hall, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (6020 Beacon Ave S)

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What we’re reading:
With push for Ballard line, streetcar’s Broadway extension now ‘realistic, viable’

Seattle’s low-wage workforce is barely getting by

Success times 11: The story of a farmworker family

We Want You: City Data Edition

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Posted by: Nathaniel Merrill