City Council Briefing Meeting Records

Series — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 4600-07

Staff Only

Scope and Contents note

Agendas, correspondence, staff reports, notes, and other materials related to the City Council's weekly briefings meetings. The meetings provide Council members the opportunity to apprise one another of issues that will be coming to the Council and to receive briefings from other City staff on programs, projects, and issues of concern for the Council. The meetings were formerly known as the City Council Business Meetings. Note that there are some years missing from the series.

Dates

Creation: 1985-2022

Creator

Seattle (Wash.). Legislative Dept. (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access note

Records are open to the public.

Historical Note

The Legislative Department is comprised of the City Council, Office of the City Clerk, and Central Staff (policy analysts and budget support). The City Council is responsible for setting City-wide policy through the adoption of ordinances and resolutions, overseeing the Executive's implementation of policies and programs, and passing the City budget. The first City Charter, in 1869, established a seven-member Common Council. In 1890, the new City Charter created a bicameral legislative branch with a nine-member Board of Aldermen and 16-member House of Delegates. The 1896 Charter returned to a single body of 13 members elected from 11 wards and two at-large. As the number of wards increased, the number of Council members grew to 18 in 1907. A City Charter Amendment in 1910 reduced the number to nine, all elected at large, and made elections non-partisan. In 1946 Councilmember terms were increased from two years to four years. The Office of the City Clerk and the Office of the City Auditor became part of the Legislative Department in 1993. In 1999 the Office of the City Auditor became an independent department.