CITY OF SEATTLE

ORDINANCE __________________

COUNCIL BILL __________________

AN ORDINANCE related to the amendment of Section 4.08.070 of the Seattle Municipal Code to remove the $25 fee charged by the Public Safety Civil Service Commission for police and fire entry-level exams.

WHEREAS, as part of the Seattle Police Department's 20/20 plan the Department is committed to recruiting great officers; and

WHEREAS, within the next 5 years, over 300 officers will likely retire from the Seattle Police Department; and

WEREAS, there is an opportunity to attract and hire local police officers who reflect Seattle's values and increasing diversity and represent all of its communities; and

WHEREAS, the Public Safety Civil Service Commission collects a nonrefundable application fee of $25 for entry-level firefighter and police officer applicants;

WHEREAS, the $25 fee was adopted in an effort to reduce the amount of no-show applicants at testing facilities; and

WHEREAS, these fees have minimally reduced the amount of noshow applicants to police and fire exams and a large number of no-shows continue to occur; and

WHEREAS, these fees have reduced the number of possible viable applicants who sit for the exam as up to one-third of the approved applicants may drop out at this juncture in the process; and

WHEREAS, the Seattle Police Department and Personnel Department agree that this fee could be a potential barrier for entry for viable police candidates; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Section 4.08.070, last amended by Ordinance 123744, is amended as follows:

The Commission shall:

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C. With the support of the Personnel Director pursuant to Section 4.04.040, prepare and administer examinations, which shall be graded and open to all who meet appropriate jobrelated qualifications; provided that the Commission may, by rule, designate other methods of examination based on merit when in the Commission's judgment graded examination is not practicable. Such examinations may include tests of physical fitness and/or manual skill. The Commission may designate a suitable number of persons to be examiners to conduct such examinations. A Commissioner may act as examiner. (( The Commission shall charge a nonrefundable application fee of $25 for entry-level firefighter and police officer applicants. The Commission shall waive this fee for indigent applicants upon submission by the applicant of a declaration of indigency. ))

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Section 2. Three years after implementation of this legislation, the Personnel Department, after consulting with the Public Safety Civil Service Commission and the Police and Fire Departments, shall report to the Council with an evaluation of this new policy's effectiveness. The evaluation will assess whether eliminating the application fee has accomplished the goals of increasing the number of viable candidates and in particular the number of minority and female applicants and recruits.

Section 3. 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 ________________________, 2013, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this

_____ day of ___________________, 2013.

_________________________________

President __________of the City Council

Approved by me this ____ day of _____________________, 2013.

_________________________________

Michael McGinn, Mayor

Filed by me this ____ day of __________________________, 2013.

____________________________________

Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk

(Seal)

Candice Livingston / Ben Noble CSC Amendment of Section 4.08.070 of SMC ORD April 5, 2013 Version #3