These audio recordings document the Seattle City Council’s Full Council and Council Committee meetings. Original audio recordings are held by the Seattle Municipal Archives date from 1955 to the present and are being converted and added to the WSDA collection as resources allow. An index to the complete SMA audio collections is available at http://clerk.seattle.gov/public/audi1.htm.

The recordings were created by the Office of the City Clerk and Seattle City Council, both of which are part of the Legislative Department in the City of Seattle. The City Clerk maintains the City's legislative records, official filings, and the Seattle Municipal Archives; keeps the minutes of City Council meetings; and provides information services to City agencies and the public. Seattle's first City Charter allowed for a Clerk of the Common Council to be elected by the Council. In 1875 the position of City Clerk became elective and remained so until 1896 when the new Charter designated the Comptroller ex-officio City Clerk. The Comptroller served as City Clerk through 1992. A 1991 City Charter amendment transferred the Comptroller's function to the Department of Finance and the City Clerk's Office became a division of the Legislative Department effective in 1993. The recordings are of Seattle City Council Full Council and Committee Meetings. The City Council is responsible for setting City-wide policy through the adoption of ordinances and resolutions, overseeing the Executive's implementation of policies and programs, and passing the City budget. The first City Charter, in 1869, established a seven member Common Council. In 1890, the new City Charter created a bicameral legislative branch with a nine-member Board of Aldermen and 16-member House of Delegates. The 1896 Charter returned to a single body of 13 members, elected from 11 wards and two at-large. As the number of wards increased, the number of Council members grew to 18 in 1907. A City Charter Amendment in 1910 reduced the number to nine, all elected at large, and made elections non-partisan. In 1946 Council member terms were increased from two years to four years.

Learn about the documentation of Audio in Washington and what information is found in the various record types by selecting the tab that says "About this Collection"here.