Mayor vetoes controversial club ordinance

Seattle City Council members said they were disappointed but undeterred by Mayor Greg Nickels' veto Thursday of a controversial nightlife ordinance they passed last week.

The widely expected veto was only the second time Nickels has exercised that prerogative since he took office five years ago.

While the ordinance called for nightclubs to be licensed, the council in effect shelved that provision for a full year. And even then, the license will die unless the council votes anew to support it.

In explaining his veto, Nickels spoke bluntly and bitterly about the council's decision to punt, calling the ordinance meaningless and a waste of time and city resources.

"The public expects us to make decisions and do what we believe is in the best interests of the city," he wrote in a letter to the council. "It is time for us to put an end to this debate, move beyond process and focus our work on ensuring a vibrant and safe nightlife industry in Seattle."

Nickels took up the issue of nightclub safety nearly a year ago, after violent incidents at or around clubs in Pioneer Square and Lower Queen Anne.

City Council President Nick Licata said Nickels' veto was disappointing.

"I think part of this is learning to play in the sandbox with others," Licata said. "We passed legislation but it wasn't the legislation he wanted, so it's like, 'I'm not going to be in the sandbox with you.' "

Licata said the council hadn't ruled out a license but that it wanted to see if new tools given to the mayor and changes in state law would reduce fights and shootings in and around nightclubs.

Councilmember Sally Clark, who pushed hard for a license, said she would introduce a bill to create a nightlife advisory committee that would keep the lines open between nightclub owners and neighbors.

"I think there's value to it," she said. "In a lot of ways we need to find those folks who want to work together so that we can capture and nurture the good ideas."

Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis said the mayor's staff had other things to do. "If the council wishes to do that, we would suggest they do that on their own time."

Sanjay Bhatt: 206-464-3103 or sbhatt@seattletimes.com