[nfbwatlk] Fw: Positive Focus E-Newsletter: July 2009

Fri Jul 31 17:33:20 UTC 2009

Seattle Councilmember Bruce A. Harrell: Positive Focus E-Newsletter
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Bruce Harrell 
To: jacobstruiksma at gmail.com 
Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 1:12 AM
Subject: Positive Focus E-Newsletter: July 2009


      July 2009

      Dear Neighbor,

      Whew, it's hot! Even in the midst of a glorious Seattle summer, the work of city government continues. I hope you are able to get out and enjoy some Seafair activities or other events in our city. Following are some issues I thought you would like to know about. As always, you know I love to hear from you, so please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas with me. Enjoy your summer!


      Stay connected online at my personal blog: www.BruceHarrell.org

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      The postings are moderated and the blog is updated daily. 


      Seattle City Council News: 

        a.. Shared Leadership: A Voice from the Past 
        a.. One Small Step for Digital Inclusion! 
        a.. City Light Rates Review: Expect Thorough, Detailed Process 
        a.. A Place for your Mother-in-Law? 
        a.. City Light and Microsoft: A Tool to Conserve Energy and Save YOU Money 
        a.. Commencement for Seattle's High School Graduates! 
        a.. Sound Transit's Light Rail Opening: People Will Come 
        a.. The Definition of a Fighter and Advocate: Bob Markholt 

      Shared Leadership: A Voice from the Past

      In May and June, our office conducted an aggressive outreach to hundreds of City Light Customers to gauge their satisfaction and experience with streetlight repairs. Our research indicated there were approximately 4,000 of the 80,000 streetlights in need of repair. I called for a streetlight discussion at the July 15, 2009, meeting of the Energy and Technology Committee. During our discussion, a retired streetlight supervisor named Ralph Smith spoke up so passionately that I invited him to the committee table. We now have instituted a streetlight group re-lamping policy and applied $2.1 million to address the backlog of repairs. The bottom line should be 10-day-turnaround time for streetlight repairs once our group re-lamping policy is fully implemented. While Mr. Smith was not paid for his testimony and for the interrogation of City Light top management, it was worth the price of admission. 

      Continue reading at: http://www.bruceharrell.org/2009/07/shared-leadership-a-voice-from-the-past/

      One Small Step for Digital Inclusion! 

      (Note: Some word play in the title to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the moon landing on July 20, 2009.)

      On July 20, 2009, I presented legislation before the Full Council to approve $250,000 in Technology Matching Funds for 19 technology based community projects. These funds will help seniors, the disabled, youth and families without resources, members of the immigrant community and others being left behind in the "digital divide." By the 67 applications submitted this year, you can see that there is significant demand by non-profits to improve their technology infrastructure. In most cases, this infrastructure benefits people who would otherwise not have access to computers. Since the inception of the program in 1998, the Technology Matching Fund has awarded over $1.6 million for 134 projects. Funding provided this year will raise the total to $1,850,832 and 153 projects. Only the recipients, as shown in the picture above, could articulate the power of this kind of work. I am honored to be a part of it. 

      Continue reading at: http://www.bruceharrell.org/2009/07/one-small-step-for-digital-inclusion/

      City Light Rates Review: Expect Thorough, Detailed Process

      As Council begins to examine the City of Seattle's budget, including that of City Light, it has become clear that City Light believes some form of an increase in your electric rates is necessary to sustain its operations. To prevent a rate increase in 2009, we reduced City Light's O&M costs by $20 million and capital spending by $40 million. Currently, we are in the midst of assembling a Rate Advisory Committee which will be a key element to our thorough analysis of City Light's rates. On June 16, 2009, I sent a strong policy letter to Superintendent Carrasco clearly stating my position. I expect a thorough process with conclusions built on sound analysis. City Light is proud to provide the lowest residential and commercial electrical rates amongst comparably sized cities in the United States and my goal as Chair is to keep this competitive advantage for our city. The policy directions we are sending to the Utility are intended to do precisely that. 

      Continue reading at: www.bruceharrell.org/2009/07/scl-rates-review-expect-thorough-detailed-process/

      A Place for your Mother-in-Law?

      Currently, the City Council's Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee is discussing the possibility of allowing Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (DADUs), commonly known as backyard cottages, throughout the city. In 2006, the City Council approved legislation that permitted backyard cottages only in Southeast Seattle. To date, only 17 have been built. The proposed legislation will limit them to 50 per year. While I did express some policy concerns regarding the impact that unlimited construction of backyard cottages could have on neighborhoods zoned only for single families, the ones I toured were pretty cool and a great addition to the housing inventory for our city. I am supportive of the approach used by the City to embrace smart and limited construction on underutilized space and at the same time, preserve the beauty of single family residences.

      Continue reading at: http://www.bruceharrell.org/2009/07/backyard-cottages/

      City Light and Microsoft: A Tool to Conserve Energy and Save YOU Money

      I am thrilled to tell you about Seattle City Light's recent partnership with Microsoft which provides City Light customers with a free online application called Hohm. Hohm analyzes users' energy data, home features and appliances, then provides personalized energy saving recommendations. I know that many of you are conscientious about your energy usage and I believe this tool can assist you in that effort. A part of my platform has been to find and use the smartest software applications to conserve energy, improve customer service and run government operations more efficiently. I believe the Hohm application takes us in the right direction. 

      To sign up or learn more about Hohm click here: http://www.microsoft-hohm.com/

      Commencement for Seattle's High School Graduates! 

      Academic achievement is the cornerstone to success in our country. I take great heed in its progress. I was honored to speak at Ingraham High School and Garfield High School commencement ceremonies. I was proud and humbled to stand with these new graduates and I look forward to the opportunity to push for and demand that we raise our academic sights even higher. It is amazing that many of these young kids understand environmental sustainability, technology applications and embrace a sense of community; that they are part of something bigger than themselves. The City Council was recently given a briefing on the graduation rates of Seattle School District students. It was fascinating how, using the exact same data and representative class, the graduation rate significantly changes depending on the methodology used to track it. By examining the right graduation rates, it can allow us to effectively identify the early indicators and tipping points for failing students. According to the data, race, gender and free lunch status are not the indicators.

      Continue reading at: http://www.bruceharrell.org/2009/07/seattle-high-school-graduates/

      Sound Transit's Light Rail Opening: People Will Come 

      After decades of debate, light rail has finally opened and Seattle can proudly list it as one of its transportation choices. I rode on its maiden voyage. The opening of the new 14-mile segment is a great start to what I hope will be an expansive system that moves people efficiently. I believe that light rail will be the back-bone of our continued growth. The average cost per adult is approximately $69 per year through the duration of construction. I believe this is a sound investment for the way our children will be traveling in the future. 

      Continue reading at: http://www.bruceharrell.org/2009/07/sound-transit-light-rail-opening/

      The Definition of a Fighter and Advocate: Bob Markholt (February 1, 1937 - July 19, 2009)

      We lost one of my heroes on July 19, 2009. Bob Markholt passed away from complications of lymphoma at age 72. Bob was a tenured faculty member at the Seattle Vocational Institute (SVI) and head of the Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training Program (PACT). The success of the program Bob built made it a model for similar programs nationwide. 

      On May 6, 2009, as Bob was battling lymphoma, he testified before my Energy and Technology Committee. He was there to advocate for one of his graduates who he felt was being treated unfairly by City Light's Line Worker Apprenticeship program. 

      Continue reading at: http://www.bruceharrell.org/2009/07/bob-markholt/


      Bruce A. Harrell
      Seattle City Councilmember
      206-684-8804

      Chair: Energy and Technology Committee
      Vice Chair: Public Safety, Human Services and Education
      Member: Housing and Economic Development
      Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board
      Puget Sound Regional Council Transportation Policy Board
      King County Flood Control Zone District Advisory Committee

      Seattle City Council 
      PO Box 34025 
      Seattle, WA 98124-4025

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