CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the appropriations for the Seattle Department of Transportation; amending Ordinance 125207, which adopted the 2017 Budget; and imposing a proviso.
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WHEREAS, The American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that secondary school students start school after 8:30 a.m.; and
WHEREAS, beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, as a result of this recommendation, Seattle School District No. 1 (“Seattle Public Schools”) switched the start times for elementary and secondary students, which has resulted in elementary schools starting before 8:00 a.m., creating challenges for young children going to school in darkness; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle School Traffic Safety Committee (which includes representatives from the Seattle Department of Transportation, Cascade Bicycle Club, Seattle Police Department, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways, and Seattle Public Schools Transportation Department) has stated that elementary schools should start no earlier than 8:00 a.m. in order to maximize student safety while walking to school; and
WHEREAS, the three-tier bus and bell schedule has resulted in three different school start times, creating challenges for parents with children at multiple grade levels; and
WHEREAS, Seattle Public Schools parents have asked the District to move from a three-tier bus and bell schedule to a two-tier schedule; and
WHEREAS, Seattle Public Schools has made a formal request to the City to provide up to $2.3 million in transportation expenses to implement this change; and
WHEREAS, Seattle Public Schools expects to secure future funding from the State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for these transportation costs; and
WHEREAS, the proviso imposed by this ordinance would allow for one-time funding to be provided from the Seattle Department of Transportation to enable Seattle Public Schools to make the transition from a three-tier bus and bell schedule to a two-tier schedule; and
WHEREAS there are unallocated resources available in the School Safety Traffic and Pedestrian Improvement Fund (SSTPI) and Council intends that these unallocated resources be appropriated on a one-time basis to pay for the Seattle Public Schools transition from a three-tier bus schedule to a two-tier bus schedule; and
WHEREAS in order to access the resources in the SSTPI fund, an amendment is needed to the SSTPI Ordinance to specify that an allowable use of the funds is school transportation; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The following proviso is imposed on the 2017 Budget:
Of the appropriations for 2017 for the Seattle Department of Transportation, $2,300,000 is appropriated solely for the Seattle Department of Transportation to fund one-time-only transportation services for Seattle Public Schools and may be spent for no other purpose. To fund this expense, Council anticipates that the Executive will direct unallocated fund balance in the School Safety Traffic and Pedestrian Improvement Fund, as well as other 2017 revenues not currently appropriated in the 2017 Adopted Budget; any remaining funding needed shall not be redirected from Safe Routes to Schools projects or other comparable projects. Council anticipates that the Executive will submit legislation necessary to effectuate this funding for Council consideration.
Section 2. The City Council anticipates that $2,300,000 is the total amount that will be spent by the City to enable Seattle Public Schools to make the transition from a three-tier bus and bell schedule to a two-tier schedule. In the event that less funding is needed, the Executive may propose future legislation to lift the budget proviso from the remaining funds.
Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2017, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of _________________________, 2017.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2017.
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Edward B. Murray, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2017.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)