5.09.020 - Definitions
As used in this chapter:
A. "Chairperson" means, for each Relevant Committee, the chairperson identified in the then-current resolution establishing the Committee.
B. "City" means the City of Seattle.
C. "Committee" means each of the Council standing committees established by Council resolution.
D. "Cost" means the total cost of an Opinion-gathering Activity, including but not limited to the costs of consultant contracts, costs (including, if known, costs of employee time) of developing and administering the questions or instrument, and costs (including, if known, costs of employee time) of preparing and reporting the Results, to all Departments, and over every year in the case of a multi-year Opinion-gathering Activity, but excludes:
1. The value of time spent by City employees in preparing and presenting an outline of a Department's Opinion-gathering Activities in accordance with subsections 5.09.030.A.1—5.09.030.A.3;
2. The value of time spent by City employees in obtaining the approvals contemplated in subsection 5.09.030.B; and
3. The value of time spent by City employees in reporting Results pursuant to subsection 5.09.030.C.
E. "Council" means the Seattle City Council.
F. "Department" means each of the following departments, offices, or other entities: the Department of Finance and Administrative Services, Department of Neighborhoods, Department of Parks and Recreation, Human Services Department, Law Department, Legislative Department, City Budget Office, Office of Arts and Culture, Office of Economic Development, Office of Housing, Office of Intergovernmental Relations, Office of Planning and Community Development, Office of Sustainability and Environment, Office of the Mayor, Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, Seattle Department of Human Resources, Seattle Center, Seattle City Light, Seattle Fire Department, Seattle Information Technology Department, Office for Civil Rights, Seattle Police Department, Seattle Public Utilities and Seattle Department of Transportation. If the name of any Department is changed, or if a function or functions of any Department are transferred to another entity within City government, then the term "Department" shall also include the renamed Department and the entity taking over the function or functions.
G. "Letter" means that letter dated February 27, 2004, from the President of the City Council to the Director of the Department of Finance, clarifying the interim process for complying with the Proviso.
H. "Members" means, for each Relevant Committee, the members identified in the then-current resolution establishing the Committee.
I. "Opinion-gathering Activities" include, but are not limited to, public and internal/employee polls, surveys, questionnaires, focus groups, telephone calling, automated telephone calling, or other mechanisms the primary purpose of which is to gather opinions or data from at least ten persons, and includes all consultant and other contracts related thereto, but excludes:
1. Public hearings that have been advertised in accordance with law;
2. Public forums at which the general public is welcome;
3. Public workshops at which the general public is welcome;
4. Department newsletters for which the general public is able to sign up;
5. Citizen input, whether received through letters, e-mails, faxes, phone calls, or in-person contacts, that (a) has not been solicited by the posing of questions by the City or any agent of the City, or (b) is offered in response to a question posed by the City or any agent of the City that is incidental to a communication, an activity, a discussion, or informational material the primary purpose of which is not opinion-gathering, data-gathering, or the providing of opinions or data;
6. Opinion-gathering activity required by ordinance, or by a contract or collective bargaining agreement approved by City ordinance, or otherwise required by law;
7. Input on policy issues requested by a Department manager from other managers within the same Department; and
8. Employee and citizen input, whether received through letters, e-mails, faxes, phone calls, or in-person contacts, concerning evaluations of training programs and routine department administrative matters (for example, placement of office equipment and scheduling of events).
J. "Proviso" means that proviso adopted by the City Council as part of the approved 2004 City Budget at Tab 011, Action ID 1, Option B, Version 3.
K. "Relevant Committee" means the Committee with duties most closely related to a particular Opinion-gathering Activity as determined by the Council President.
L. "Results" means the findings, results, data, analysis, report or other product of an Opinion-gathering Activity, an explanation of how the findings, results, data, analysis, report or other product will be used, and a description of any possible actions to be undertaken as a result of the Opinion-gathering Activity.
(Ord. 124920, § 24, 2015; Ord. 124919, § 10, 2015; Ord. 124567, § 91, 2014; Ord. 123361, § 123, 2010; Ord. 121424, § 2, 2004.)
