CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to City public works and the priority hire program; modifying the methodology for determining which zip codes are Economically Distressed Areas; authorizing the creation of a regional Priority Hire Implementation and Advisory Committee; and amending Sections 20.37.010 and 20.37.040 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, in January 2015, following the positive results of a pilot program on the Elliott Bay Seawall project, and after making legislative findings, the Seattle City Council, with concurrence from the Mayor, enacted Chapter 20.37 of the Seattle Municipal Code, titled Priority Hire; and
WHEREAS, Priority Hire requires the Director of Finance and Administrative Services to establish the percentage of labor hours on City public works projects of $5 million or more to be performed by workers living in Economically Distressed Areas of Seattle and King County, and to establish aspirational goals for hiring of women and people of color; and
WHEREAS, analysis has shown that Priority Hire has improved access to training programs and well-paying construction jobs for local workers in economically distressed neighborhoods and has increased the diversity of the workforce on City construction projects that are covered by Chapter 20.37; and
WHEREAS, the Priority Hire Implementation and Advisory Committee was established to provide an advisory role regarding the Priority Hire program's effectiveness and implementation, which may include making recommendations that reflect the region's evolving urban development and economic equity needs; and
WHEREAS, Priority Hire aims to reach people who live in Economically Distressed Areas that have high poverty, high unemployment and low educational attainment, and the Priority Hire Implementation and Advisory Committee recognizes that these areas need to be updated to account for the region's changing demographics and g...
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