Skip to main content

Seattle Municipal Archives Finding Aids

City Council Bill Books

 Series
Identifier: 1801-77

Scope and Contents note

Council Bill Books are materials before Council during Full Council Meetings to assist in the decision making process. The Bill Books can contain lists of council bills for introduction and referral, copies of council bills, exhibits for council bills, and analyses prepared by central staff on specific issues. Background materials for Clerk Files and Resolutions can also be included. Additional non-legislative items may be included as well, depending on the agenda; biographical data on appointments made by Council are an example. Sign-in sheets for public comment are also included the files. Agendas are sometimes included. Agendas for Full City Council Meetings can also be found in 4600-05 from 1976 to 1992 and online from 2002 to the present here . Note that bill books for 2005 and much of 2006 are not boxed in chronological order but instead appear after those for 2010. Electronic bill books starting in 2017 are available online. Paper copies from 2018 forward contain only public comment, sign-in sheets, and items added to the agenda after the electronic bill book was published.

Dates

  • Creation: 1997-2020

Creator

Conditions Governing Access note

Records are open to the public.

Historical Note

The City Clerk maintains the City's legislative records, official filings, and the Seattle Municipal Archives; keeps the minutes of City Council meetings; and provides information services to City agencies and the public. Seattle's first City Charter allowed for a Clerk of the Common Council to be elected by the Council. In 1875 the position of City Clerk became elective and remained so until 1896 when the new Charter designated the Comptroller ex-officio City Clerk. The Comptroller served as City Clerk through 1992. A 1991 City Charter amendment transferred the Comptroller's function to the Department of Finance and the City Clerk's Office became a division of the Legislative Department effective in 1993.

Partial Extent

60.4 Cubic Feet (151 boxes)

Partial Extent

230 digital files

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement note

Chronologically by Full Council Meeting date.

Associated Digital Files

Processing Note

Digital files have been combined into the pdf/a format for accessibility. Original functionality such as hyperlinks may not be available.

Title
Guide to the City Council Bill Books 1997-2010
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Seattle Municipal Archives Repository

Contact:
PO Box 94728
600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 3
Seattle 98124-4728 USA US