Form revised April 22, 2003

FISCAL NOTE FOR NON-CAPITAL PROJECTS

Department:	Contact Person/Phone:	DOF Analyst/Phone:
Seattle Public Utilities	Gary M. Gervelis / 206-684-5073	Cameron Keyes / 206-684-8048

Legislation Title:

AN ORDINANCE amending Section 1.20.010 of the Seattle Municipal Code and Ordinances 383 and 1836 to adopt an updated vertical and horizontal reference datum for all City of Seattle departments and outside entities as a standard reference plane upon which elevations are based in the City of Seattle, or on properties and/or infrastructures owned, funded or maintained by the City of Seattle, or requiring City of Seattle permits or applicants, and amending subsection A of Section 23.22.020 of the Seattle Municipal Code to require that certain measurements for preliminary plats be based on the updated vertical and horizontal datum.

· Summary of the Legislation:

This legislation adopts NAVD88 as the official Vertical Datum of the City of Seattle and NAD83 (1991) as the official Horizontal Datum of the City of Seattle.

· Background:

The official City of Seattle Vertical Datum was established in 1883. Since then, other agencies and private developers have used various vertical datums (including the City’s datum) in and around the City. This has resulted in confusion and often expensive errors.

The United States National Geodetic Survey established NAVD88 and NAD83 (1991) as national vertical and horizontal datums. These datums are used by the City of Seattle’s Geographic Information System, surrounding municipalities, utility districts, King County, the State of Washington and federal agencies.

Adopting the national standard will simplify engineering, surveying, land development, construction, and the development and maintenance of geographic information systems within the City.

_X___ This legislation does not have any financial implications.