CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to automated fixed camera revenue; renaming the School Zone Fixed Automated Cameras Fund; providing for the deposit of revenues generated by automated traffic safety cameras; and adopting financial policies for The City of Seattle governing the fund; amending Ordinance 124230; and adding a new Chapter 5.82 to the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, The City of Seattle is committed to maintaining high standards of financial management; and
WHEREAS, the funding for pedestrian safety projects is limited; and
WHEREAS, in July 2013 the Council passed Ordinance 124230 dedicating all school zone camera revenue to school zone pedestrian and traffic safety investments; and
WHEREAS, it is the Council’s intent that ten percent of automated traffic safety camera revenue (also known as red light camera revenue) be used to support school zone pedestrian and traffic safety investments in the same manner expressed in Ordinance 124230; and
WHEREAS, the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances recommends dedicating infraction revenue from automated traffic law enforcement to road and pedestrian safety projects; and
WHEREAS, the Council intends that the revenues generated by school zone fixed automated cameras and a portion of revenues generated by automated traffic cameras expand efforts to improve school zone traffic and pedestrian safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 1 of Ordinance 124230 is amended as follows:
A new ((School Zone Fixed Automated Cameras)) School Safety Traffic and Pedestrian Improvement Fund is hereby created in the City Treasury effective January 1, 2016((4)), to which revenues may be deposited, and from which associated expenditures may be paid including, but not limited to, operating, maintenance, capital and City administration costs for the purposes described in Section 2 below.
Section 2. Section 2 of Ordinance 124230 is amended as follows:
The purpose of creating the ((School Zone Fixed Automated Cameras)) School Safety Traffic and Pedestrian Improvement Fund is to separately account for the revenues generated by the school zone fixed automated cameras and automated traffic safety cameras (also known as red light safety cameras).
Section 3. Section 3 of Ordinance 124230 is amended as follows:
The new ((School Zone Fixed Automated Cameras)) School Safety Traffic and Pedestrian Improvement Fund shall receive all revenues from fixed automated school zone camera fines and civil penalties, ten percent of revenues from automated traffic safety cameras (also known as red light safety cameras), and other monies as authorized by ordinance. The Fund shall receive earnings on its positive balances and pay interest on its negative balances.
Section 4. Section 4 of Ordinance 124230 is amended as follows:
The Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation shall have responsibility for administering the School Safety Traffic and Pedestrian Improvement Fund. The Director of Finance is authorized to create other Subfunds, Accounts, or Subaccounts as may be needed to implement the Fund's purpose and intent as established by this ordinance as amended.
Section 5. A new Chapter 5.82 is added to the Seattle Municipal Code as follows:
5.82 AUTOMATED TRAFFIC SAFETY CAMERA REVENUES
5.82.010 Financial policies
The following financial policies govern revenues generated from automated traffic safety camera fines or civil penalties:
A. Spending for school traffic and pedestrian safety: Funding in an amount equal to ten percent of the revenue generated annually by automated traffic safety camera fines and civil penalties will be spent for school traffic and pedestrian safety and directly related infrastructure projects, as well as pedestrian, bicyclist, and driver education campaigns and installation, administrative, enforcement, operations and maintenance costs associated with the automated traffic safety cameras (also known as red light cameras).
B. Annual budget revenues and appropriations: The Executive will propose appropriations for the items in subsection 5.82.010.A in its annual budget submittal to the Council based on the amount of automated traffic safety camera fines and civil penalties projected to be received in the prior budget year.
C. Year-end report: The Executive will provide a year-end report to the Council on automated traffic safety camera revenue receipts, appropriation, and expenditures by March 1 each year.
D. True-up of revenues and expenditures: To the extent that actual annual revenues from automated traffic safety cameras differ from the appropriations made through the annual budget, the Executive will propose appropriation changes in supplemental legislation to ensure that funding in an amount equal to ten percent of the actual revenues generated by automated traffic safety cameras are spent for the purposes described in Section 2 of Ordinance 124230, as amended by the ordinance introduced as Council Bill 118560.
Section 6. 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 ________________________, 2015, and
signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this
_____ day of ___________________, 2015.
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President __________of the City Council
Approved by me this ____ day of _____________________, 2015.
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Edward B. Murray, Mayor
Filed by me this ____ day of __________________________, 2015.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)