Form revised April 10, 2006

FISCAL NOTE FOR NON-CAPITAL PROJECTS

Department:	Contact Person/Phone:	DOF Analyst/Phone:
Legislative	Martha Lester / 4-8149	NA

Legislation Title:

A RESOLUTION submitting a proposition to the qualified electors of the City, at an election to be held on November 7, 2006, to amend a section in each of Article VIII, Article XI, and Article XVI, and add a section in Article XXII of the Charter of the City of Seattle to provide for the reappointment and reconfirmation of certain City department heads every four years; calling on the City Clerk to certify the proposed amendments to the Director of the Department of Records and Elections of King County and requesting and directing such Director to call a special election and submit the proposition to City voters; and providing for the publication of such proposed amendments.

· Summary of the Legislation:

This resolution would submit a proposition to Seattle voters to amend the City Charter to provide for the reappointment and reconfirmation of certain City department heads every four years.

· Background: (Include brief description of the purpose and context of legislation and include record of previous legislation and funding history, if applicable):

The City Charter provides that the heads of certain departments are appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the City Council, but does not provide for periodic reappointment and reconfirmation of those department heads.  The Seattle Municipal Code does provide for periodic reappointment and reconfirmation of several other department heads.  Periodic reappointment and reconfirmation of department heads affords the City Council and the public an opportunity to review a department head’s accomplishments, vision, goals, priorities, challenges, and decision-making approach, and provides an orderly system of public accountability for the City’s department heads.  Therefore, the Council has proposed this Charter amendment to be submitted to the voters of Seattle to provide for periodic reappointment and reconfirmation of the heads of three departments (Finance, Parks, and Personnel).

· Please check one of the following:

__X_ This legislation does not have any financial implications. (Stop here and delete the remainder of this document prior to saving and printing.)