 Report
on Initiative 80 to Save Seattle Creeks
Press Release of January 6, 2003
View The Full Report
The Municipal League of King County today released its report reviewing
Initiative 80 to Save Seattle Creeks.
The letter transmitting the report to the City Council states, "Our
conclusion is that Initiative 80 sets out an appealing goal, which the committee
strongly endorses, of restoring Seattle’s creeks to a more natural state that
supports fish and wildlife and that enhances the quality of our environment.
However, we identified concerns with the Initiative’s regulatory approach, with
its potential cost impacts and with the ambiguity of some of its language."
The League also encouraged the City Council to, "take the best features of
I-80 and the Mayor’s proposed alternative and craft a measure that takes a
comprehensive policy approach, weighs the costs and benefits for all concerned,
and minimizes the possibility of legal challenges."
The report does not take a position on I-80, which the League may do once the
initiative has been certified for the ballot. It provides arguments for and
against the measure and the review committee’s analysis. It also provides
information summarizing the issues and describes what the City is doing to
restore creeks today.
The Municipal League convened a committee of six citizens with experience
with public policy issues and representing a balance of perspectives. The
committee, chaired by Municipal League member Kathy Elias, spent a month hearing
from proponents and opponents of the initiative, and studying the issues of
creek and salmon restoration. The other members of the committee were James
Fearn, Pat Franke, Joyce Moty, Dorothy Young Sale, and Lucy Steers.
The Municipal League review was conducted at the request of Councilmembers
Margaret Pageler and Peter Steinbrueck to obtain an independent citizen
perspective. The Council must decide whether to adopt the measure into law,
place the initiative on the ballot, place an alternative measure on the ballot,
or place both the initiative and an alternative before the voters of Seattle.
View The Full Report
| 
