Examples of jobs that were exempted

By Bob Young
Seattle Times staff reporter

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In September 2001, then-Mayor Paul Schell ordered a citywide moratorium on hiring. Schell's successor, Greg Nickels, relaxed the freeze in late 2002, allowing such agencies as City Light — which rely on money from ratepayers rather than taxes — to hire freely.

In January 2003, Nickels completely removed the freeze, hoping the local economy would improve. But sobered by worsening forecasts, he reimposed a partial freeze Aug. 15, 2003. The freeze remains in place, although departments can seek waivers for positions they consider crucial.

From the files of the city's waiver committee, the following is a sample of jobs exempted from the freeze and the arguments departments used to win waivers:

• Strategic adviser, Transportation Department, annual salary and benefits: $157,000. This employee would monitor Sound Transit's light-rail project, analyzing the agency's actions and overseeing a $43 million community-development fund tied to the project. The employee would advise the mayor and council. "Having an independent City manager to negotiate and administer these agreements (with Sound Transit) is in the City's best interest."

• Investigator, Ethics and Elections Commission, salary and benefits: $68,700. Employee would investigate ethics and elections violations and whistle-blower cases and negotiate settlements. The commission has five employees. No one is qualified as an investigator except the interim executive director, who "cannot devote attention to investigative matters at this time."

• Community development specialist, Mayor's Film and Music Office, salary and benefits: $40,212. The Mayor's Film and Music Office is staffed solely by its director and this support position. This person produces public-relations and marketing materials, provides Web management and maintenance and represents the office at film and music events. "There are no alternatives available in the office. No current staff are available nor meet the criteria for the position."

• Deputy superintendent, Parks Department, salary and benefits: $130,392. This person directs the special events, public information and policy, planning and evaluation units and often acts on behalf of the superintendent, works with the Mayor's Office, City Council and department heads. "The department cannot manage without this position."

• Analyst supervisor, Office for Civil Rights, salary and benefits: $61,980. This employee would supervise six analysts who investigate charges of discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations. "This year we had to work employees overtime and deny vacations in order to adequately complete our work "

• Community garden coordinator, Neighborhoods Department, salary and benefits: $39,564. This person would oversee and expand P-Patch community-gardening sites, organizing gardeners at 66 sites with roughly 2,000 plots. "Staff currently oversee a far greater number of sites than they can reasonably manage. ... Appearance of gardens, many of which are on publicly owned land, may decline. ... Neighborhood complaints to the P-Patch office may increase."

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