Seattle is a charter city, with a mayor–council form of government. From 1911 to 2013, Seattle's nine city councillors were elected at large, rather than by geographic subdivisions. For the 2015 election, this changed to a hybrid system of seven district members and two at-large members as a result of a ballot measure passed on November 5, 2013. All city offices are officially non-partisan.
The Seattle City Council Finance and Housing Committee provides policy direction and oversight on legislative matters relating to:
- the financial management and policies of the City and its agents, including the operating and capital budgets, levies, taxes, revenue, audits, and judgments and claims against the City;
- oversight of the City’s public works construction projects except as otherwise specified;
- the City Employees’ Retirement System;
- the Department of Finance and Administrative Services, including the Seattle Animal Shelter, the City’s fleets and facilities, the Customer Service Bureau, and other administrative functions;
- housing policies and programs, including the Office of Housing, investing and promoting the development and preservation of affordable housing for workers, families, and retirees
Information Item
Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI)(not heard; rescheduled to December 7th)