June 25, the Seattle City Council‘s coming to The Hall at Fauntleroy for a Town Hall meeting – focused on youth violence, public schools and tree protection. Thanks to Ron Angeles for sharing the announcement (which also includes word of similar meetings elsewhere in the city) – read on for details:

Seattle City Council
Town Hall Meetings 2009

The Seattle City Council wants your advice and ideas on key issues
facing the City!

Please join us at one or both of two Town Hall Meetings checking in on
major city issues, progress on 2009 priorities and budget challenges
that lie ahead. Topics for the meetings will be:

* How can we best address the challenge of youth violence?
* What can the City do to help ensure that Seattle’s public schools
work?
* What can we do to protect and increase trees and the urban forest?

Each meeting will begin with information from Councilmembers on what
the City is doing on these topics, followed by a discussion with the
community on whether that is working and what actions we should think
about for the future.

Monday, June 15, 2009 – 6:30-9:00 pm
Eckstein Middle School
3003 NE 75th Street
Seattle 98115

Thursday, June 25, 2009 – 6:30-9:00 pm
The Hall at Fauntleroy
9131 California Avenue SW
Seattle 98136

Preventing Youth Violence
The City is investing in diversion programs to prevent our youth from
entering gangs and ultimately the criminal justice system. But more can
be done. The Council wants to find out from you “How can we reduce
gang violence and prevent youth from getting involved with violence and
criminal activities; are we doing enough to crack down on gang
activities now; and what more can and should SPD do within the current
budget constraints?” On June 25, Dr. Gary Slutkin, the Executive
Director of Chicago Ceasefire, will give a keynote address on Youth
Violence to the Town Hall.

Seattle Public Schools
Facing continuing budget crises, Seattle Schools has launched a
strategic plan for the future. The Council wants to ask you “What are
the steps the City can take to ensure that our children in public
schools are getting the best possible education; what are we doing right
and what must change? With the City facing serious budget challenges of
its own, what can we do within the limits of our authority,
responsibility, and resources?” Seattle School Board members have been
invited to attend.

Seattle’s Urban Forest
Seattle is in the process of updating tree regulations and creating a
plan to meet the City’s established goal to increase our urban tree
cover. The questions we plan to discuss include: “Should the City
require a permit for removing trees? What incentives can we give
property owners for preserving and maintaining their trees? Are there
changes that we can make in development regulations that will better
balance the goal of building denser, more sustainable communities and
the desire to retain more trees? How can the City ensure that the urban
forest will thrive and grow in the future?” The Council expects to
take up new legislation on trees in July.

City Council Committees
Budget, Chair – Jean Godden
Culture, Civil Rights, Health and Personnel, Chair – Nick Licata
Committee of the Whole (Special Meetings), Chair – varies
Energy and Technology, Chair – Bruce Harrell
Environment, Emergency Management and Utilities, Chair – Richard
Conlin
Finance and Budget, Chair – Jean Godden
Full Council/Council Briefing, Chair – Richard Conlin
Housing, Economic and Development, Chair -Richard J. McIver
Labor Policy, Chair – Nick Licata
Special Committee on Open Government, Chair – Richard Conlin
Parks and Seattle Center, Chair – Tom Rasmussen
Special Committee On Pedestrian Safety, Co-Chairs – Jan Drago, Nick
Licata
Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods, Chair – Sally J. Clark
Public Safety, Human Services and Education, Chair – Tim Burgess
Transportation, Chair – Jan Drago

Contact Rob.Gala@seattle.gov, 206-684-8805 for more information. Print
and communication access is provided on prior request. Please contact
Nancy Roberts at (206) 684-8146 to request accommodations for a
disability or communications assistance.