Citizen panel would provide accountability and oversight of funds raised through Proposition 1
SEATTLE – This week the Seattle City Council unanimously passed Resolution 31330 creating the Seattle Transportation Implementation Review Panel (STIRP). STIRP would provide oversight of revenues and expenditures and monitor program and project implementation related to the Seattle Transportation Benefit District, should Seattle voters approve Proposition 1.
“We applaud the Council for forming a citizen panel to ensure robust public oversight of Transportation Benefit District revenues and expenditures that would be raised through Prop 1,” said Craig Benjamin, Co-Chair of Streets for All Seattle. “This will help guarantee accountability and citizen oversight of Prop 1 dollars to ensure that the money is spent on faster transit and safer streets.”
Introduced and sponsored by Councilmember Nick Licata, STIRP would consist of thirteen members: six members appointed by the City Neighborhood Council to represent the geographic regions of the City; six members appointed by the Bridging the Gap Oversight Committee, including representation from transportation-related City advisory boards, at least one of which must be a member of the Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities; and one member appointed by the Seattle Office of Civil Rights.
“Prop 1 one is going to invest millions to make transit faster and fix roads across the whole city, helping people get to where they need to go, whether it’s to their job, school or just get around town,” said Jon Scholes, Vice President of Advocacy and Economic Development for the Downtown Seattle Association. “It’s important that the money is spent wisely. Given that Prop 1 was developed by a Citizen’s Transportation Advisory Committee with extensive public outreach and neighborhood input, it’s only appropriate that we have a strong citizen review panel and the resolution passed by the Council does just that.”
Designed by a citizen panel, Prop. 1 will implement a $60 annual vehicle license fee in Seattle for 10 years to pay for faster transit, increased road maintenance and pedestrian and family-friendly bicycle infrastructure.