The first public hearing for the strapped 2010 city budget got off to an inauspicious start Oct. 7 at Whitman Middle School when the Seattle City Council failed to reach a quorum until 30 minutes after the meeting was to have started.

Sally Clark, Bruce Harrell and Nick Licata were stuck in traffic, Tom Rasmussen needed some last minute directions, and Richard Conlin was the witness in a bicycle/automobile accident. But, all five eventually joined Tim Burgess and Jean Godden to listen to residents' input on the mayor's proposed 2010 city budget.

Twenty-five people signed up to weigh in on the budget, which, due to a historic 10 percent to 15 percent revenue shortfall, includes many cuts and the use of all but $5 million of the city's Rainy Day Fund.

Many speakers were concerned about cuts to human services, the Seattle Public Library system and bicycle infrastructure.

Nancy McKinney, director of the Ballard Food Bank, and Patricia Leach, representing the Greenwood Food Bank, spoke out against combining the Meals Partnership Coalition, which provides hot meal services, and the Seattle Food Committee, which provides food bank services.

McKinney said one group cannot support the specific needs of hot meal providers and food banks.

Mark Okazaki, executive director of Neighborhood House, urged the council to maintain the level of funding for human services present in the 2009 budget.

"We must make the smartest investments to help Seattle residents make it through these tough times," Okazaki said.

One woman asked the council to restore funding for 17,000 library service hours and presented the council with a petition of 500 signatures to that effect. Tony Provine of the Friends of Seattle Public Library asked for $1.8 million to be restored to the libraries.

The mayor's budget includes a 5 percent cut in the Seattle Public Library budget, which would necessitate 21 of the 27 branches being open only five days per week.

Chris Rule, representing the Cascade Bicycle Club, asked the council not to remove the Employee Head Tax, which creates $4.5 million in annual revenue for bicycle infrastructure.

A number of other residents asked for bicycle and pedestrian improvements for improved commuting and safety.

"It doesn't get you the most walkable city in the nation, which is what our goal is,'" Rebecca Deehr said, referring to the 5 percent of the Seattle Department of Transportation's budget allocated to pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.

Other issues brought up included the Neighborhood Matching Fund, funding for police and the creation of a Seattle Disability Coalition.

This was the first of three public hearings scheduled for the 2010 city budget. The next meeting is Oct. 14 at the Northwest African American Museum.

Council member Jean Godden said the council will approve a budget just before Thanksgiving.