1801-00. Office of the City Clerk

Records related to City oversight of planning and construction of the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.

Records relating to Seattle's search for a new police chief in 1946.

Records related to the designation of official city symbols.

Records relating to bonds funding Seattle's municipal transportation system.

Records relating to the administration of local improvement districts in Seattle.

Roll call sheets for full council meetings, recording individual councilmember votes on legislation.

Organization charts for city departments.

Annual reports from the board overseeing police pensions.

Agreements and other documents related to Seattle's sister cities filed with the Office of the City Clerk.

Water purveyor contracts and amendments to those contracts, between the City of Seattle and other cities and water districts within King County.

Seattle Police Department reports pertaining to compliance with Ordinance #108333.

Documents related to proposed amendments to the Seattle City Charter.

Various agreements filed with the City Clerk.

Logbook of claims filed by citizens for damage to property and/or persons.

Bonds and related correspondence between the City of Seattle and local businesses allowing for the development of billboards throughout the City.

Five volumes containing records of bonds related to maintenance and construction work.

Reference copies of ordinances with amendments noted.

Register of local improvement districts arranged by street name.

Log of license applications.

Three boxes of index cards tracking information about different types of bonds issued by the City of Seattle between the years of 1970 and 1993.

A collection of nearly four thousand index cards referencing purchases of property in the City of Seattle.

The Traffic Advisory Commission discussed issues relating to traffic safety and congestion. This collection consists of minutes of the commission detailing members present and issues considered. Topics covered include bridge openings, traffic signals, pedestrian safety, street classification, parking, traffic congestion, and transit service.

Meeting minutes of the Seattle-King County Youth Commission, which served as a youth advisory group and advised elected officials on issues such as youth employment, juvenile delinquency, and drug use.

The Electrical Code Review Board was established by ordinance in 1964; its name was changed to the Electrical Code Advisory Board in 1969. It provided the City Council with research and recommendations for proposed changes to the building code. The board merged with the Building Code Advisory Board in 1992 to become the Construction Codes Advisory Board. Meeting minutes discuss issues including electrical equipment, inspections, and enforcement issues.

Records concerning annexations to the City of Seattle during the 1940s and 1950s. Includes petitions, area maps, correspondence, ordinance copies, taxation calculations, and personal notes. Principal annexed areas are Arbor Heights, Ballard Tidelands, Blue Ridge, Lake Ridge, Maple Leaf, Northgate, Roxbury, Sand Point, Turner, and West Seattle. Also includes annexation studies by the Engineering Department and the Municipal League.

Certification by the Secretary of State that abstracts of proceedings relating to annexation have been filed with the State. Includes abstracts of Seattle City Council meetings, petitions, resolutions, ordinances, and votes cast in annexation elections.

Statements of financial condition of Ballard, Columbia, South Park, and West Seattle at the time of annexation of the City of Seattle. Included are statements regarding local improvement districts, municipal bonds, funds, and balance sheets.

Deeds to the City providing legal evidence of property ownership by the City. Includes quit claim deeds, warranty deeds, leases, easements, deeds of dedication, and other property instruments. Records are incomplete for deeds numbered 1-5900.

Project files for street, sewer, and other improvements funded by assessments against property benefiting from improvement. Files include specifications, bids, contracts, notices of assessment, bonds, majority petitions, payment statements, affidavits of publication, estimates of cost, certificates of completion, protests against assessments, drawings, and City Council committee reports. Arranged by LID number after 1891 and alphabetically for earlier years.

One volume indexes LIDs 1-2178 alphabetically by street name and numerically for numbered streets. It provides the LID number and a description of the improvement. The second volume indexes LIDs 1-2333 and refers to the volume and page number of the City Council minutes in which the respective LID is mentioned. Also see the streets index in the Ordinance/Resolution Card Index.

This numerical listing of LIDs includes LID number, street value, and approving ordinance and resolution numbers.

Since 1966, cards include LID number; site of and type of improvement; all resolutions, ordinances, and comptroller files relating to the LID; and date of assessment roll filing. Arranged numerically.

Petitions for street improvements containing signatures of sixty percent or more of affected property owners approving of work to be done. Includes report of BPW giving estimate of cost, amount of assessment against property, and total aggregate assessed real estate. Also included are drawings, protest petitions, and City Council committee reports.

Index to Treasurer's Local Improvement District assessment rolls including districts for the annexed cities. Contains alphabetical listing of street or addition, district number, ordinance, and assessment roll volume number.

Engrossed petitions for street improvements with reports by City Council committees. Includes street name, ordinance number authorizing improvement, petition text, names of petitioners, date, estimated cost as provided by the City Engineer, and certification of majority. Also includes an index by street name to page number of volumes and authorizing ordinance.

Register of local improvements arranged by LID number. Includes portion of street to be improved, nature of improvement, authorizing ordinance number, estimated cost, amount of bond, total assessment, bid opening and contract award dates, name of contractor, time for completion, and general information regarding assessment rolls and financing bonds.

Records pertaining to small public works projects funded by assessments against the property that benefits from the improvement.

Correspondence, ordinances, agreements, and franchise statements relating to franchise granted by the City for street railways, railroad right--of-ways, and utilities. Includes some franchises of the City of Ballard. Arranged by file number. Index volume included with records lists franchise recipient, ordinance number when included, and file number.

Annual franchise statements required by Ordinance 4953. Includes name of franchise holder, character of franchise, length, date granted, to whom originally granted, date transferred if applicable, whether holder is person or corporation, owners/officers, ordinance granting franchise, and comments. Franchises include telephone and telegraph, railroads, electric street railway, water systems, electric power lines, gas lines, and fire alarm systems among others.

Newspaper clippings related to grand jury investigations and subsequent indictment of City and County police and public officials for bribery, extortion,and racketeering. Includes copies of indictments and an internal 1970 task force report, "A Probe into the Illegal Payoff System and Actions of Bribery within the Seattle Police Department."

Permanent laws of the City passed by City Council and signed by the Mayor. Includes ordinance number, title, text, date passed, and signatures. In some instances, background correspondence and affidavits of publication are filed in the ordinance jackets. Most ordinances from number 1 to 254 are not extant. Ordinances 255 to 1068 are found in bound volumes. All other ordinances are microfiched and hardcopy is arranged numerically in boxes.

This card file lists all legislative action which amends, supercedes, repeals, or in some other way affects an ordinance. It is not a true index as the cards are arranged by ordinance number. This index has been superceded by the City Clerk's automated ordinance index.

These cards list ordinances in numerical order with a short title, Council Bill number, and date approved. Information is sketchy between 1883-1910. Included are some entries from Ballard, Columbia City, and Georgetown.

The Seattle Municipal Code codifies all general ordinances currently in effect. The Code is indexed by subject and arranged by title, chapter, and section. Predecessors to the Municipal Code include numerous compilations of City ordinances published between 1884 and 1938, often organized in subject arrangements. These earlier compilations were referred to variously as General Ordinances or Codes. The Office of the City Clerk maintains an automated, full text index to the Municipal Code.

Council Bills are prospective ordinances processed by the City Clerk for introduction to City Council. If passed and signed by the Mayor, they become ordinances; if not passed, they remain Council Bills. This series contains only Council Bills that did not go on to become ordinances. Bills from 1890-1906 are arranged in two-year series with duplicated numbers. From 1906, arrangement is numerical.

Numerical log or register of Council Bills arranged in three forms. Early logbooks (1898-1922) include Council Bill, title, and date of introduction. A card file (1906-1954) contains CB number, ordinance number if applicable, title, reference to City Council minutes, and disposition of the bill. Current logbooks (1955-present) include CB numbers and titles, ordinance number if applicable, committee referrals, reading dates, and disposition.

City legislation of an administrative or administrative nature, or expressing policy. Resolutions are passed by City Council and may carry the Mayor's signature as an endorsement. Arranged numerically with some early duplicate numbering because resolutions were maintained in two-year series from 1890-1906 with each series beginning with number 1. Beginning with series 1906, resolutions are on microfiche or microfilm cassette.

Lists of elected officials and appointments to City positions and committees. Arranged chronologically.

Newspaper clippings of published ordinances and resolutions, mayoral vetoes, election returns, official notices, and other city business. Of particular interest is a published registration list of legal voters in Seattle by ward and precinct for the 1892 election.

Petitions for annexation, certificates of annexation, incorporation certifications, and reports on proposed consolidation of services for the small cities that were annexed by Seattle between 1906-1910. Includes Ballard, Columbia, Dunlap, Georgetown, Ravenna, South Park, South Seattle, Southeast Seattle, West Seattle, and Yesler Precinct.

Annual reports, primarily of City agencies, filed with the City Clerk, per City Charter requirement.

Samples of appointments and oaths of office for officials, employees, and board/commission members whose positions required this formal process. About half the oaths are for "special policemen," who were often people who worked in amusement places or taverns, or who handled money or valuables as part of their jobs. Large numbers of special policeman and emergency patrolman appointments were made during periods of labor unrest such as the 1919 general strike.

Reports of assessed valuations and tax rates for cities, towns, and special taxing districts in King County; and certificates of assessed valuations for the City of Seattle.

Independent audits of City agencies and programs conducted by external accounting firms. Records are primarily financial audits of public utilities.

Correspondence, reports, plans, and minutes related to civil defense activities in Seattle and King County. Includes documents pertaining to World War II defense planning by the Civilian War Commission.

Certificates identifying candidates nominated to run in city elections. Elections up through 1910 were partisan and certificates were filed by political parties. Following a charter amendment in 1910, all municipal elections were non-partisan.

Statements by franchise holders including name, character of franchise, length, date originally granted, original holder of franchise, date of franchise transfer (if applicable), officers of company or corporation, ordinance numbers granting franchise, and other information concerning the franchise. The bulk of reports relate to railroad and street railway franchises, but also include telephone and telegraph services, utilities, and fire alarm systems.

Tabulations and official certifications of municipal primary, general, and special elections. Includes oversized tabulations by ward and precinct for 1910-1922. Canvasses by City Council include official vote counts for candidates, and certifications by City Council and King County Elections are official designations of election winners. Also included are sample ballots and a sheet with instructions for voting.

Verbatim transcripts of hearings on issues including limited access highways, department head appointments, ethics and fair campaign practices, urban renewal, allegations of graft in government, and public utility regulation. Especially interesting are the 1924 hearings by the City Council's Departmental Efficiency Committee investigating corruption in the Seattle Police Department. Also includes petitions and notices related to the hearings.

Correspondence, receipts, inventories, and financial records of committee appointed to dispose of emergency supplies following World War II. Supplies purchased by the City during the war with War Chest funds were administered by the Red Cross. Following the War, these supplies were put up for sale; unsold items were donated to the Red Cross and the Seattle Health Department.

Petitions, correspondence, and designations of historical landmarks in Seattle. Landmarks are designated by the Landmarks Preservation Board.

Petitions and reports on sufficiency of petition signatures on initiatives brought by the citizens of Seattle. Included is the 1908 Charter Amendment petition for direct legislation by initiative and referendum. An initiative is the citizens' right to initiate legislation or other measures to be voted on by the people.

Minute book, original certificate share book, list of shareholders, transfer of shares, legislation, and deeds relating to sale of railway to the City in 1914. This was one of the earliest municipal ventures in street railway ownership.

Proceedings of meetings of boards, commissions, committees, and special task forces. Includes minutes of permanent boards, etc., established by the City Charter and special committees, etc., appointed for a short duration. Does not include minutes of City Council.

Petitions and recommendations for and designations of official names or name changes for streets, parks and playgrounds, public buildings, and bridges in Seattle.

Monthly reports of the Port Warden, 1900-1938.

Population studies, statistics, and census data primarily for Seattle and the metropolitan area. Includes reports on population of cities and towns in Washington State, population and housing trends in Seattle, and of special interest, the official census of the Town of West Seattle in 1907.

Budget proposals drafted by the Mayor's budget office and submitted to the City Council for consideration. The City Council subsequently holds hearings, amends the proposed budget, and passes on the final decisions.

Annual reports, financial reports and audits, minutes, charters, rules, and applications of public corporations known as public development authorities (PDA). PDAs are responsible for policy formulation and administration of certain public historic districts, public low income housing or housing rehabilitation programs, and economic development programs.

Petitions, certifications of signatures, reports, correspondence, and statements of expense regarding attempts to recall or impeach City officials. Includes the 1906 petition for a recall amendment to the City Charter.

Petitions, certifications of signatures, and City Attorney opinions on referenda. A referendum is proposed or approved legislation that is referred through a petition process to the people for a vote.

Program and financial audits conducted by the Legislative Department's program evaluation analysts. In 1984, the audit function was taken over by the Office of the Comptroller; in 1994, it was moved back into the Legislative Department.

Written resignations by elected officials, board and commission members, and city employees; and notifications to City Council by the Mayor of the removal from office of executive department heads and board and commission members.

Published and unpublished reports produced by City agencies or consultants for City agencies. These reports and studies concern all past and present activities, services, and controversies of City government.

Specifications and bid documents for public works projects in Seattle or on City owned land. Often includes plans and contracts. Includes materials on Skagit River Power Project, Cedar River Watershed, Woodland and Jefferson Parks, Seattle Center facilities, Seattle Public Library, Tolt River Watershed, selected City office buildings, Model City projects, and other City sites. Records have been sampled.

Yearly financial audits of the City of Seattle and of its various agencies conducted by the Washington State Auditor's Office.

Correspondence, reports, charts and tables, minutes, organization charts, salary surveys, and salary schedules of the commission appointed by Mayor Frank Edwards to study and make recommendations regarding municipal salaries.

Records from a board that oversaw theatre licenses and film censorship.

Monthly reports of the Traffic Violations Bureau. Includes number of traffic and parking tickets issued, the number of tickets cleared, record of court cases, and amount of bail and fines paid. Reports do not include violations booked through the police department such as drunken driving and hit and run accidents.

Transit books, level books, and peg books of levels compiled by city engineers during surveys of the Skagit River Railway. Also includes survey books of east side transmission lines of the Skagit River Power Project. Books contain surveyors notes and drawings. F.F. Nicholas was project engineer. Volume Five of the Level Books includes cover title "Precise Levels Diablo to Rip Raps."

Petitions, requests, agreements, and resolutions related to vendors, water system, special police, comfort stations, and property disposition during and after the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (AYPE). The AYPE was Seattle's first "world's fair" and was held on the present grounds of the University of Washington.

Correspondence, copies of ordinances, newspaper articles, and graphic materials related to the official seal of the City of Seattle. Included are records of proposals for new official seals, previous seals, and the art work from a City-sponsored contest to create a new seal. The current official seal was adopted in 1937.

Annual reports of the Building Department, 1894 to 1977. The 1894-1895 reports are from the Dept. of Buildings, Bridges, and Wharves. Records include information on building construction and inspection, safety issues, and economic issues. Also included is information on permits, revenues, and buildings erected.

Early reports are brief and list work done in the area of law enforcement, including weights and measures, new legislation, and special projects, such as searching for a new animal shelter. Later reports provide more complete descriptions of activities in the licensing, animal control, and audit and financial services divisions. One Animal Control Commission report is included, for 1974.

The annual reports for the Seattle-King County Office of the Ombudsman and Citizen Complaints date from 1971 to 1978. Reports include case summaries, lists of cases by City and County departments, and projects resulting from a high number of complaints regarding a specific issue. There are two reports for 1978; the second relates primarily to criticism of the Police Department's disciplinary process.

The bulk of the annual reports for the Division of Purchases date from 1937 to 1950, with a few from the 1970s. The earliest report, for 1922, appears to be a draft. The reports summarize work done during the year and list savings.

The Seattle Housing Authority Annual Reports are a resource for housing data in Seattle, both visual and textual. Yesler Terrace, defense housing, and the turnkey construction program are covered in the reports.

Meeting minutes from the Air Pollution Control Advisory Board, which served in an advisory capacity to the City Council on air pollution issues.

The Pacific Science Center began as the Science Pavilion during Seattle's 1962 World's Fair, and became a science museum after the fair concluded.The Foundation, made up of community members, oversaw the activities of the museum. Meeting minutes cover topics such as exhibits, finances, awards, membership, and programs and events.

The Police Pension Board was responsible for oversight of the Police Relief and Pension Fund, which was established by ordinance in 1909. Minutes document topics discussed and detail attendance by board members and staff. Board business primarily concerned consideration of specific claims, but also covered some policy issues such as Medicare, alcohol treatment, hearing aids, and health insurance coverage.

The School Traffic Safety Commission was established in 1975, charged with advising the Mayor and City Council on issues relating to school traffic safety. The commission also served as a liaison between the city and the Seattle Public School District. Minutes cover such topics as crosswalks, school buses, crossing guards, traffic signals, and safety education.

Index to Resolutions in Series 1890 through Series 1904. This record indexes the bound volumes of Resolutions and is divided into four sections: 1) cross-references Resolution number to volume and page; 2) detailed subject index; 3) broad generic subject index; and 4) index to street improvements. Entries include subject term, resolution number, volume number, and page.

Official proceedings of the Seattle City Council. Includes dates, members present, and actions taken. Council minutes do not record debate on issues. Separate volumes were kept for both Houses during Seattle's experiment with a bicameral council (1890-1896). Arranged chronologically in volumes and duplicated on microfiche. Minutes from 2001 forward are available online.

One volume is divided into five sections: three sections cross-reference Council Bill, Resolution, and Ordinance numbers to volumes and pages of the minutes; and two sections cross-reference by subject. The second volume indexes volumes 12-21 of the minutes chronologically by broad subject headings.

Tabulation of legislation "of significant public interest." Includes Council Bill, Comptroller File, or Resolution number; Ordinance number, if applicable; date of Council action; title of legislation; significance of the issue; and each Councilmember's vote. No log was maintained from 1986-1992.

Reference materials collected by Comptroller for basis of proposing City Charter revisions. Includes City Charters, correspondence, reports, and discussion papers. Some copies from the Board of Freeholders records. Project was never completed.

Correspondence, memoranda, notes, and financial records relating to the WPA Project (#201) to codify Seattle City ordinances.

The Commission was established to draft a new City Charter and submit it to the electorate. Records include minutes of Commission meetings, a copy of the proposed charter, and internal committee assignments. The proposed charter was defeated.

A log used in tracking actions taken on legislation. Includes ordinance number; title; adoption date; vote by councilmembers; dates approved, published, and filed with City Clerk; page ordinance appears in Council minutes; and page ordinance appears in volume of engrossed ordinances. Volume includes ordinances 238-1386.

Numerical listing of ordinance titles. Arranged by ordinance number and including title and date approved. Handwritten, marginal notes indicate repeal dates when applicable. Volume 1 includes ordinances 1-5182; volume 2 includes ordinances 5183-8489.

Annual budget and salary ordinances adopted by City Council. Includes program summaries, program highlights, and significant plans for the budget year or biennium.

Correspondence, Charter amendment text, reports, and pamphlets relating to the history and development of amendments to Seattle's City Charter. The records includes governance studies by local civic organizations and the Board of Freeholders (1974-1975) materials. The bulk of these records date from the mid-1960s to 1977 with the largest portion related to the proposed Freeholders Charter that was defeated in the 1975 municipal election.

Notebooks and binders covering a variety of issues relevant to nearly all core functions of City government. Most of the notebooks were compiled for City Council members to provide background information for pending legislation. A large number of the notebooks are from Tim Hill, Jeanette Williams, and George Benson.

Unofficial lists of City officials in pamphlet form. Some lists were compiled by the Office of the Comptroller, others provide no author. Some pamphlets include all City officials and their office addresses, boards and commissions, City Council committees, and Council Rules. The run is incomplete; there is not a directory for each year.

Surety bonds for maintenance and use of gasoline or other fuel oil tanks in or on a public place such as under a sidewalk, street, or alley. Includes bond number, name of owner, locations of property, and general agreement. Similar bonds filed before 1933 are in the Clerk File (1802-01).

Collection of various City codes filed with the City Clerk. Includes building, plumbing, electrical, fire, zoning, boiler, flammable liquid, and mechanical codes, among others. Also includes standard specifications and the 1936 compilation of general ordinances.

This numerical log beginning with CF number 1 (1895) includes number, description of the file, filing date, disposition of the file when City Council action is required, and, more recently, committee referrals. Formerly called Comptroller File Logbooks.

Official filings with the Seattle City Clerk including petitions, claims, reports, contracts, bids, and other documents relating to the early years of Seattle's municipal government, 1874-1905.

Alphabetical index to Personal Record Files (Series 1802-06). Includes file number, name, and position.

This project was designed to compile lists of all department heads and elected officials, including dates of service, from creation of a City agency to the present. Completed lists include Mayors, City Council, City Attorney, Comptroller, Treasurer, Police Chief, Parks Superintendent, and Superintendent of Lighting. Also included are notes from City Charters relating to City officials and departments.