WHAT: COMMUNITY BUDGET CONFERENCE
WHEN: SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 12-5 P.M.
WHERE: SEATTLE CENTER NORTHWEST ROOMS
Members of the public are invited to help Seattle City government kick off its two-year budget process. The Mayor, Director of the City Budget Office, City Councilmembers, and representatives of more than 20 City departments are beginning a dialogue with the public about Seattle’s revenue and spending priorities. Mayor Mike McGinn, City Councilmember and Budget Chair Tim Burgess, and City Budget Director Beth Goldberg will speak, and more than 20 agencies will discuss their budgets at booths and in presentation groups.
The Sunday, January 29 Community Budget Conference held in the Northwest rooms at Seattle Center begins with a budget fair from noon to 1 p.m. where the public can talk one-on-one with agencies. At 1 p.m. there are addresses by Mayor Mike McGinn, City Council Budget chair Tim Burgess, and City Budget Director Beth Goldberg. At 2 and 3 p.m. are presentation/discussion groups where the public can hear and quiz agency officials. The event concludes with an official meeting from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. of the City Council’s Special Budget Committee regarding outreach, engagement and priorities in the City’s budget process.
Only once every two years can the public engage on budget issues with such a wide range of City agencies and officials. Agencies participating include those responsible for transportation, parks and recreation, utilities, libraries, neighborhoods, economic development, civil rights, ethics and elections, arts, health, human services, housing, firefighting, emergency preparedness, police, planning and development, and the Municipal Court, Hearing Examiner, Seattle Center, Customer Service Bureau, Seattle Channel 21, and Seattle Animal Shelter.
Sunday’s conference is free and open to the public with snacks and beverages provided. Seattle Channel 21 will record it for later video rebroadcast, and streaming video will also be available anytime on the City’s website. Interpretive services are available upon request. Seattle Center’s Northwest rooms are near the intersection of Republican Street and Warren Avenue, close to First Avenue North and Mercer Street. On-street parking is free on Sundays. Members of the public are urged to attend.
For further questions, contact (206) 322-5463 or email cleman@oo.net or credmond@mac.com. The conference is sponsored by Seattle’s City Neighborhood Council (CNC) and Seattle Center in cooperation with the Mayor, Seattle City Council, City Budget Office, and Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. The City Neighborhood Council is an official City of Seattle advisory body, composed of one representative from each of the thirteen district councils which are also official advisory bodies. The conference agenda and more information about CNC can be found at www.seattle.gov/neighborhoodcouncil.