Title
A MOTION authorizing the chair of the council to execute a contract for the districting master appointed by the districting committee for the 2004-2005 districting process.
Body
WHEREAS, King County Charter Amendment 1A (Ordinance 14767) approved by the voters at the November 2, 2004, general election will reduce the number of King County council members representing districts, and the number of council districts, from thirteen to nine, and make corresponding reductions in council voting requirements, and
WHEREAS, King County Charter Amendment 1A requires the preparation of a districting plan in 2004 according to the months and dates specified in Section 650.30 of the Charter, and
WHEREAS, Section 650.30.10 of the King County Charter provides that the boundaries of each district shall correspond as nearly as practical with the boundaries of the election precincts, municipalities and census tracts and shall be drawn to produce districts with compact and contiguous territory, composed of economic and geographic units and approximately equal in population, and
WHEREAS, Section 650.30.20 of the King County Charter provides for a five-member districting committee to which the council appoints the initial four persons to the committee, two from each of the two major political parties, and those four appoint a fifth person who shall serve as the chairman of the districting committee, and
WHEREAS, Section 650.30.20 of the King County Charter provides that the districting committee shall meet and appoint a districting master who shall be qualified by education, training and experience to draw a districting plan to assist the districting committee in its work, and
WHEREAS, King County Charter Amendment 1A as approved by the voters calls for the districting process of new council district boundaries to be completed by January 15, 2005, and
WHEREAS, a contract for the professional consultant services of the districting master must be executed by the council chair, and is subject to council approval by motion if it is in excess of twenty five thousand dollars, and
WHEREAS, in order to meet the deadline for completing the districting process required by King County Charter Amendment 1A as approved by the voters, the council recognizes the need to expedite the process for executing a contract for the services of the districting master, and
WHEREAS, meeting the deadline constitutes an emergency under RCW 39.04.280 that requires waiver of the lengthy formal competitive selection process generally utilized for professional consultant services;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
The chair of the council is authorized to execute a contract for districting master services to the 2004-2005 districting committee with the person or professional services firm who is appointed by the districting committee and in an amount not to exceed thirty five thousand dollars.