The subseries Intergovernmental Relations reflects activity at the county, state and international level. The 1.8 cubic feet of records in this subseries date from 1972 to 1989, although most date from 1977 to 1989. Records relating to initiatives regarding peace in Central America are included. Records regarding Seattle's sister city relationships as well as Williams' trip to China in the 1980s are part of the subseries as well. Of note are records relating to Williams' participation in the Local Governance Study Commission (.4 cf). The Commission was created by the State Legislature in 1985 at the joint initiative of the Association of Washington Cities and Washington State Association of Counties. The Commission focused on continued urban growth in unincorporated areas and how to accommodate local government service, issues that cross jurisdictional boundaries and fiscal constraints for local governments. Presentations by many different local governments, including Yakima County and the City of Vancouver are included in the records, as well as summaries of discussions for the group as a whole.

The Land Use and Urban Development subseries measures 5.8 cubic feet and dates from 1970 to 1989. One significant topics was the design and location of the Convention Center, a lengthy decision-making process from 1982 to 1983. Consideration was given to locating the Convention Center at the Seattle Center. Issues taken into consideration at public meetings and in other discussions included housing, housing demolition, air rights, rights of way and traffic amenities, and naming. Documents include meeting agendas, correspondence, drafts of agreements, reports and newspaper clippings.

Another large issue during Williams' tenure was the establishment of greenbelts. Policies, definitions, priorities for acquisition, and legal issues are touched on in her records, primarily dating from 1983 to 1984. Greenbelt overlay districts were also introduced, establishing a set of zoning regulations to protect and preserve Seattle's greenbelts, where appropriate, throughout the Land Use Code.

The Sand Point folders relate to potential uses of the 195 acres at the former Naval Air Station and development into the Warren G. Magnuson Park. The deed for the property was accepted by the City in 1975 but planning for its use started well before then. Some material also relates to issues surrounding the location of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) regional headquarters facility in an adjacent area to the north.

Other topics include odor and parking issues with the Fauntleroy Ferry, parking issues throughout the City, and Westlake Mall.

The Legislative and Interdepartmental Affairs subseries measures 3.8 cubic feet and dates from 1969 to 1989. Of note in this subseries is are the records relating to ethics and fair campaign practices. Investigation of campaign contributions from the music machine, otherwise known as the jukebox industry, to the campaigns of Councilmembers George Cooley, Wayne Larkin and Jeanette Williams is included in the records.

Williams also had an important role in the establishment of a code of ethics and fair campaign practices for city offices and employees and her work in this area is reflected in this subseries. Records relating to the creation of a Board of Ethics and those selected to serve on the board are included. Reports and correspondence related to campaign finance reform legislation in the 1970s, limiting amount of contributions to campaigns and allowing matching City funds for candidates who agreed to limit their total spending to a specific amount are part of this subseries. Minutes and reports exist for the "Blue Ribbon" Committee Williams appointed in 1976 to revise the Fair Campaign Practice Ordinance.

Williams' work to standardize legislative oversight of City boards and commissions is also reflected here. Williams conducted an overview of the work of boards and commissions citywide and recommended Council review them biennially, with the authority to terminate, modify, or reestablish them. Authorizing legislation was passed in 1970.

Records relating to Williams' role in the establishment of the Office of Women's Rights and the Seattle Women's Commission are also included in this subseries, as well as those regarding the proposed consolidation of the Department of Human Rights and the Office of Women's Rights by the Office of Management and Budget. Other topics reflected in this subseries include the reorganization of the Office of Policy and Planning, space planning for the City, and the creation of a policy regarding citizen participation in government.

The Parks, Recreation and Culture subseries is the second-largest subseries in Williams' records. The largest quantity of records in this subseries is devoted to the Seattle Center. The records of the Citizens Advisory Commission in the mid-1980s are included and relate to creating a long range plan for the Seattle Center, developing policies, and establishing a mission. The records of the Management Institutional Alternatives Commission of the late 1980s, which examined the management of the Center, are also included. In the late 1980s, the City Council and mayor considered a proposal from Disney to do an economic and conceptual development plan for the Seattle Center. Correspondence and reports reflect exploration of the issue by Council. The proposal was supported by the Mayor, but not entirely fully supported by Council. Williams was one of the Council members who proposed putting the project out for bids and not limiting it to a Disney plan.

Within parks related material, the largest quantity of records relate to development of Fort Lawton into Discovery Park. This topic is also well-documented in records of the Department of Parks and Recreation, in other City Council records, and the Documents collection. Records relating to the decision process surrounding the siting of the Chinese Garden, a gift to the City from its sister city Chongquing are also in this subseries under Chinese Garden, Kubota Gardens, and Martha Washington.

Other records in this subseries relate to the Lakeside Trail and the Burke-Gilman Trail, Seacrest Marina, and the Parks Code and security issues. There is a large amount of constituent mail relating to various park issues in this subseries. The smallest amount of material in this subseries relate to the arts.

Records in the Personnel subseries measure 1.2 cubic feet and date from 1972-1989. The bulk of the records relate to employee classification studies in the mid-1970s and comparable worth and deferred compensation studies in the mid-1980s.

The Public Safety subseries is the smallest in Williams' records, measuring .8 cubic foot. Half of it is constituent mail, dating primarily from the mid-1980s, on a wide variety of issues ranging from noise control to pan handling. The rest of the records relate to discussions regarding changes in the criminal code in the early 1970s. Sections of the code up for consideration included: drug offenses, restitution to victims, gambling, arrest and citation, use of force, lewd conduct, juvenile offenses and unfair housing practices. Records include press releases from Williams' office, public hearing information, speeches, committee minutes and correspondence with the Law Department and others. Other records in this subseries relate to legislative changes regarding panorams or adult entertainment businesses in the early 1980s.

Records relating to some of the accomplishments Williams is best known for, women's rights and discrimination, are within the Social Services and Human Rights subseries. The most well documented issue relates to legislation on fair employment and open housing.. The subseries measures 2.8 cubic feet and dates from 1972-1989. Work on domestic violence, rape reduction and services for the elderly is also addressed in these records.

The Transportation subseries is the largest in Williams' subject files, 13.4 cubic feet. Although Williams chaired the Committee from 1978 to 1981 and 1988 to 1989, she was a member of the Committee from 1976 to 1986 and involved in many transportation projects. The work of legislative aide Tom Rasmussen is evident throughout this subseries.

The largest project was the West Seattle Bridge; almost one third of the records in the Transportation subseries are devoted to the West Seattle Bridge project. The construction of a new West Seattle Bridge was an issue after the freighter Chavez rammed it on June 11, 1978, closing it for seven years. Williams, along with Mayor Charles Royer, recruited U.S. Senator Warren G. Magnuson to obtain federal funds and the participation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as project manager for the high-level bridge. The new span was dedicated on July 14, 1984, at a cost of $150 million, and a new pivot-wing bridge later replaced the original bascule bridge. Discussions regarding both the high level and the low level bridges are included, and range from bicycles to landscaping. A complex project, records include those of citizen commissions, Port of Seattle, King County, State of Washington, other City departments, and citizens.

The number of her files on Interstate-90 reflects her involvement this project. Williams was a member of both the Puget Sound Governmental Conference (PSGC)’s Transportation Policy Advisory Committee and their Committee on I-90, the Governor’s Committee on I-90, the I-90 Policy Review Committee, the I-90 Task Force (City and Metro), and the Committee for Balanced Regional Transportation. The freeway lid, funding and the number of lanes were some of the issues that were debated and discussed with City departments, citizens and state and other government officials.

Williams also worked on issues related to Metro's MetroTRANSITion plan, a long-range transit planning program, improving pedestrian traffic downtown, increasing the number of buses, building new park and ride lots and renovating the trolley system. Williams and her staff worked closely with Metro, encouraging an emphasis on use of electricity for transit facilities. Williams was also involved with citizen commissions working on Metro transportation issues. Parking overlaps Land Use and Transportation; both neighborhood traffic and parking issues appear in the Transportation subseries. The City's efforts to develop transportation goals and policies are evident in this subseries as well. Background material on traffic code revisions in 1978 is included here as well.

The Utilities subseries is a very small and is the last in Williams' subject files. Solid waste policies and rates constitute about one third of the records. Other topics include Seattle City Light and water-related issues.