Yesterday, the Council finalized committee assignments for 2010-2011. I will continue to chair the Public Safety and Education Committee. Councilmember Bagshaw is vice-chair and Councilmember Clark is a member. (Of course, under Council rules any council member is able to attend, participate and vote in any Council committee meeting.)
Our committee charge: "To provide policy oversight and to deliberate and make recommendations on legislative matters relating to law enforcement, with special emphasis on programs and strategies to reduce crime, domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and youth violence; fire prevention and suppression; emergency medical services; criminal justice; and coordination with municipal, regional, state and federal agencies engaged in such matters; and relating to education activities, including strengthening City Council-School Board relations and oversight of the Families and Education Levy, with a goal of improving City schools and student success rates and reducing achievement gaps among students in schools and programs throughout the City."
My other committee assignments include: vice-chair of Built Environment (formerly the Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee); member of Transportation; member King County Regional Policy Committee; member Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board; member Regional Law, Safety and Justice Committee; Council representative to the Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau; and Council representative on the City's Domestic Violence Prevention Council, Families and Education Levy Oversight Committee, Fire Facilities Levy Oversight Committee, Firefighters Pension Board, Jail Capacity Task Force, and the Police Pension Board.
I was honored to nominate Councilmember Richard Conlin for another two-year term as Council president yesterday. Consecutive terms as president are rare. The most recent was Paul Kraabel who served as Council president from 1988 to 1991. Before that, Sam Smith served consecutive Council president terms from 1974 to 1977. The longest serving Council president in City history was David Levine--eight terms as Council president between 1931 and 1961, many of them consecutively.
Council President Conlin has served with distinction the past two years. As the City faces new challenges and new opportunities it is very appropriate to have an experienced and steady hand on the tiller.