AN ORDINANCE relating to the creation of a City Light Department Rates Advisory Committee; establishing a Rates Advisory Committee and the composition of its membership; and describing the mission and responsibilities of the Rates Advisory Committee.

WHEREAS, recommendations of Rates Advisory Committees established under previous City Council Resolutions have provided valuable policy direction for the City of Seattle; and

WHEREAS, the City Council is committed to ensuring that electric ratepayers have multiple opportunities to participate in each review of City Light Department rates; and

WHEREAS, in Resolution 30933, the City Council endorsed establishment of a Rates Advisory Committee to provide advice on issues relating to City Light Department rate proposals; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Establishment of a City Light Rates Advisory Committee. A City Light Department ("Department") Rates Advisory Committee is hereby established. The Rates Advisory Committee shall consist of fifteen members of which eight shall be appointed by the Mayor and seven by the City Council, all of whom shall be confirmed by the City Council. The Mayor shall appoint one representative from each of the following customer classes: residential; small business general service; medium general service non-network; large general service non-network; high demand general service; medium general service network; large general service network and contract cities. The City Council shall appoint seven at-large members, at least one of which shall be from the residential class and one from a suburban city served by the Department or from Tukwila. The names of the Mayor's proposed initial members shall be sent to the City Council by April 1, 2007, and all proposed initial members shall be confirmed or rejected by the City Council no later than June 1, 2007.

The members shall be appointed to four year terms subject to reappointment, except that initially four members appointed by the Mayor and three appointed by the City Council shall be appointed for a two-year term. Upon the resignation, retirement, death, incapacity or removal of a Rates Advisory Committee member, the authority appointing such member may appoint a replacement for the balance of the outgoing member's term. Members may be discharged from further service by three (3) consecutive unexcused absences and for other cause. Members shall serve without pay, but may be reimbursed for their expenses while attending meetings.

The Rates Advisory Committee may adopt rules for its own procedures, including quorum requirements and the frequency of meetings. Meetings of the Rates Advisory Committee will be open to the public, unless, had the Rates Advisory Committee been subject to Chapter 42.30 RCW, that law would not have required that the meeting or portion of the meeting be open to the public. The Rates Advisory Committee shall select a chair.

Section 2. Mission of the Rates Advisory Committee. The mission of the Rates Advisory Committee is to provide advice to the Mayor, City Council, and City Light Superintendent on issues relating to Department rate proposals.

Section 3. Workplan. The Rates Advisory Committee shall work on rate related issues, including those contained in a work plan developed collaboratively with the Mayor, Council, and City Light Superintendent. The Department shall provide staff and logistical support for the Rates Advisory Committee.

Section 4. Reporting Requirements. The members of the Rates Advisory Committee shall hold regular meetings and keep a written record of proceedings which shall be a public record. Recommendations of the Rates Advisory Committee, including votes on policy recommendations, shall be included with all future rate proposals submitted to the City Council. The Rates Advisory Committee shall make annual reports to the Mayor and the City Council.

Section 5. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force thirty (30) days from and after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten (10) days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.

Passed by the City Council the ____ day of _________, 2007, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of __________, 2007. _________________________________ President __________of the City Council

Approved by me this ____ day of _________, 2007. _________________________________ Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor

Filed by me this ____ day of _________, 2007. ____________________________________ City Clerk

January 25, 2007 Version #5 ta