Dear Friends and Colleagues: 
 
Mayor Durkan delivered the 2019-2020 Proposed Budget to the City Council today, and I am pleased to share that the budget demonstrates a steadfast commitment to climate action and efforts to foster a healthy, livable, and equitable city.
 
As part of her budget, Mayor Durkan has committed to making significant progress in reducing the City's impact on Seattle's emissions. In addition to continuing to make progress to electrify the municipal fleet, Mayor Durkan has asked all departments to halt the acquisition of new sedans, increase the use of biodiesel, and reduce its fleet of specialized vehicles, such as trucks and heavy machinery by 10% in the next year. The push to reduce the size of the fleet is driven not only by financial considerations, but also by the Mayor's commitment to addressing climate change and reducing the emissions associated with transportation.
The budget provides continued funding for OSE's core work to take climate action, tune-up existing buildings, transition to clean energy, advance environmental justice, and sustain a green and healthy city. Learn more about OSE's work here .
 
Specifically, the 2019-2020 Proposed Budget continues to fund existing initiatives in OSE and expanded support for our food policy and programs with additional revenues, including:
* Equity and Environment Initiative
* Duwamish Valley Program
* Climate Action
* Drive Clean Seattle
* Building Energy
* Food Policy and Programs
 
This year, with new revenue from the Sweetened Beverage Tax , OSE has been working with many partners to expand access to healthy and affordable food, close the food security gap, and promote healthy nutrition choices. We've been expanding the Fresh Bucks program in exciting ways to reach more people with healthy food incentives at more locations. Maybe you heard the news last week about Seattle's new partnership with Safeway Stores?
 
In July, the Sweetened Beverage Tax Community Advisory Board   transmitted 2018 and 2019 budget recommendations to the Mayor and City Council. The 2019-2020 Proposed Budget includes $923,000 to expand Fresh Bucks incentives at retail locations and schools and through health systems working with people with obesity and diabetes. This is just one of many proposed investments to improve the health and well-being of Seattle residents through fresh and healthy foods.
 
Building on the recent $2.5 million award from Bloomberg Philanthropies, Mayor Durkan is proposing an additional $1 million to support second phase of studying congestion pricing. Congestion pricing can be an effective strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving mobility. Both resources will include extensive community engagement and further development of a program proposal. Other cities around the world including London, Stockholm, Milan, and Singapore have successfully implemented congestion pricing programs, but to date, congestion pricing has not been implemented in a U.S. city.
 
Please let Councilmembers know that you support the City's environmental investments by emailing the Council using the Council budget website or attending one of the two Council budget hearings scheduled for the following dates:
  • October 4, 2018 @ 5:30pm, location TBD
  • October 23, 2018 @ 5:30pm, location TBD
Many thanks to you for your continued support of and involvement with OSE.
 
Sincerely,

Jessica Finn Coven, Director
Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment