CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
title
AN ORDINANCE relating to land use and zoning; adopting a moratorium on the filing, acceptance, processing, or approval of applications for the establishment, expansion, or change of use for detention centers; adding a definition for detention centers; amending Section 23.84A.008 of the Seattle Municipal Code; approving a work plan; declaring an emergency; and establishing an immediate effective date; all by a 3/4 vote of the City Council.
body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City finds and declares:
A. Detention centers have been proliferating around the country. Consistent with Washington law, RCW 36.70A.200(1)(b), detention centers are facilities that are operated by a private entity in which persons are detained in custody under process of law pending the outcome of legal proceedings but are not used for punishment, correction, counseling, or rehabilitation following the conviction of a criminal offense, and exclude facilities detaining persons under RCW 71.09.020(7) or (16) or chapters 10.77 or 71.05 RCW.
B. The Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) does not currently define detention centers and does not identify where detention centers are appropriate within Seattle.
C. New or expanded detention centers are likely to draw significant public interest and would require a long-term security plan and a short-term construction staging plan. New or expanded detention centers could have impacts on water, sewage and wastewater, transportation and parking, public safety, and public health. Plans and mitigation measures for identified impacts should be clearly delineated in the City's development regulations before the filing of any permit for a new or expanded detention center.
D. The City needs time to analyze and determine how best to update its regulations to address detention centers after evaluation of appropriate locations f...
Click here for full text