Drafter
Clerk 04/26/2010
Title
A MOTION accepting the executive's report on the department of development and environmental services, and requesting an additional report regarding the department.
Body
WHEREAS, the 2010 Budget Ordinance, Ordinance 16717, as amended by Ordinance 16761, contains in Section 84 a Proviso P1 that reads, "Of this appropriation [to the department of development and environmental services ("DDES")], $1,500,000 in expenditures and fifteen full-time equivalent positions ["FTEs"] from the land use, building or fire marshal divisions shall not be expended or encumbered after June 1, 2010, unless a permit fee increase for the department of development and environmental services is enacted by ordinance before that date" ("the DDES budget proviso"), and
WHEREAS, in response to the DDES budget proviso the executive has provided a report and transmittal letter, which are Attachments A and B to this motion, that do not propose a fee increase for DDES services in order to make those services self-sustaining, but instead proposes several alternative strategies, including the following, as described by the executive in the executive's transmittal letter:
1. To keep DDES's hourly rate at the current level in the near term;
2. To begin work now to develop a proposal for increased use of fixed fees beginning in 2011;
3. To begin organizing a new unit within DDES to address permitting, development services, and land stewardship in the rural area;
4. To partner with cities to address permitting in the remaining urban unincorporated areas; and
5. To accept the reductions contemplated in the budget ordinance proviso, with the understanding that two of the 15 FTEs would remain because they would be working on grant-funded activities through the end of 2010, and
WHEREAS, the executive has subsequently informed the council that in lieu of retaining two of the 15 FTEs that are subject to the DDES budget proviso, the executive will be requesting, by proposing new legislation, funding and approval of two new term-limited temporary ("TLT") positions to work on the "grant-funded activities" referred to in the executive's transmittal letter, and
WHEREAS, the council applauds the executive's efforts to enlist the services of fellows from the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington to train DDES employees in management and customer service;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The council accepts the executive's report and transmittal letter that are Attachments A and B to this motion. This acceptance is not intended to affect the DDES budget proviso.
B. The council hereby asks the executive to provide to the council, no later than August 31, 2010, a report containing the following:
1. A detailed plan "to create a unit within DDES focused exclusively on rural land use and building services" that is "properly sized, responsive to specific issues in the rural area, and appropriately staffed to provide efficient and high quality customer service to the rural area," as described in the executive's transmittal letter;
2. A list of the key outcomes expected to flow from the training to be conducted by the Evans School fellows and the appropriate performance measures; and
3. The proposed new DDES rate structure that is referred to in the executive's transmittal letter.
C. The report requested by this motion should be filed in the form of a paper original and an electronic copy with the clerk of the council, who shall retain the original
and provide an electronic copy to all councilmembers, to the council's chief of staff and to lead staff of the council's committee of the whole or its successor.