CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to parking enforcement; amending Ordinance 126237, which adopted the 2021 Budget; changing appropriations to various departments and budget control levels, and from various funds in the Budget; transferring positions from the Seattle Police Department to the Seattle Department of Transportation; amending Section 3.15.060 of the Seattle Municipal Code; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
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WHEREAS, throughout the summer of 2020, Seattle residents took to the streets to protest the unjust murders of Black Americans, including George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and the shooting of Jacob Blake; all of these individuals experienced violent and lethal force at the hands of the police; and
WHEREAS, in response to this local and national civil rights reckoning, community members and civic leaders, including the Mayor and members of the City Council, have committed to a holistic review and community-led discussion around the effectiveness of the current way that community safety is provided in Seattle; and
WHEREAS, the shared vision for reimagining Seattle's system of community safety recognizes the importance of providing alternatives to armed police officer response, including civilian and community-based services and solutions; and
WHEREAS, based on community input, the Mayor and the City Council have pursued the transfer of certain functions out of the Seattle Police Department, including Emergency Management, 9-1-1 Dispatch, Crime Victim Advocates, and Parking Enforcement; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle Department of Transportation is responsible for effectively managing the public right-of-way, including traffic safety and traffic planning; and
WHEREAS, research and national best practices shows municipalities are choosing to locate parking enforcement within transportation or public works departments as a critical component of actively managing the pub...
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