Drafter
Clerk 09/10/2009
Title
AN ORDINANCE changing the regular meeting time of the council; amending Ordinance 11683, Section 4, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.035; and declaring an emergency.
Body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. Under Ordinance 16645, from September 17 through December 31 the regular meeting time of the council's committee of the whole is Monday at 9:30 a.m.
B. The regular meeting time of the council is currently Monday at 11:00 a.m., which does not allow sufficient time for a meeting of the committee of the whole that begins at 9:30 a.m. on the same day. To allow sufficient time for meetings of the committee of the whole, this ordinance changes the regular meeting time of the council to 1:30 p.m. from September 21 through December 31.
C. In order for this ordinance to take effect before September 21, 2009, thereby avoiding a scheduling conflict between the meetings of the council and the committee of the whole, a declaration of emergency is warranted.
SECTION 2. Ordinance 11683, Section 4, as amended, and K.C. C. 1.24.035 are each hereby amended to read as follows:
A.1.a. The time of regular meetings of the council is 11:00 a.m. on Monday of each week, or Tuesday if Monday is a state or county holiday or is a legislative branch furlough day due to a county emergency budget crisis, unless otherwise ordered by the chair or a majority of the council, except that the time is 1:30 p.m. from September 21 through December 31.
b. Each Wednesday from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. shall be reserved for special committee meetings as needed. In order to allow each member sufficient time to review legislation and to meet with constituents, staff and officials of other jurisdictions, no special committee meeting may be called for any other time without the prior written consent of the council chair. If a special meeting for more than one committee is called for the same time and location, the meeting for which the agenda was first filed with the council clerk shall have precedence for use of the meeting location.
2.a. All regular meetings of the King County council and the council's committees, except for the employment and administration committee, shall be held in the council chambers on the tenth floor of the King County Courthouse in Seattle, Washington. All regular meetings of the employment and administration committee shall be held in the southwest conference room on the twelfth floor of the King County Courthouse in Seattle, Washington.
b. Whenever, due to an emergency, as defined in K.C.C. 12.52.010, it is imprudent, inexpedient or impossible to conduct the affairs of the council at the regular or usual place or places, the council may meet at any place within or without the territorial limits of the county on the call of the chair or any two members of the council. After an emergency relocation, the affairs of the council shall be lawfully conducted at the emergency location for the duration of the emergency.
B. The times for regular committee meetings are as follows, unless the council is meeting at that time because the preceding Monday was a state or county holiday:
1. Committee of the whole: Wednesday of each week at 9:30 a.m. January 1 through September 16; thereafter through December 31, Monday of each week at 9:30 a.m.;
2. Budget and fiscal management committee: the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 1:30 p.m.;
3. Employment and administration committee: the first and third Mondays of each month at 9:30 a.m. January 1 through September 7; thereafter through December 31 on the first and third Mondays of each month at 3:00 p.m.;
4. Government accountability and oversight committee: the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 9:30 a, m.;
5. Law, justice, health and human services committee: the second and fourth, and fifth if one occurs, Tuesdays of each month at 1:30 p.m.;
6. Physical environment committee: the second and fourth, and fifth if one occurs, Tuesdays of each month at 9:30 a.m.;
7. Regional policy committee: the second Wednesday of each month at 3:00 p.m.;
8. Regional transit committee: the third Wednesday of each month at 3:00 p.m.; and
9. Regional water quality committee: the first Wednesday of each month at 3:00 p.m.
C. Council and committee meetings must be held in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act of 1971, chapter 42.30 RCW.
D. A meeting may be continued, in accordance with chapter 42.30 RCW, to another date and does not conclude until adjourned in accordance with these rules.
E.1. An executive session may be held during a council or committee meeting if one of the specific grounds under chapter 42.30 RCW for an executive session exists.
2. Before convening in executive session, the chair of the council or committee shall publicly announce the purpose for excluding the public from the meeting place and the time when the executive session will be concluded. The executive session may be extended to a stated later time by announcement of the chair.
3. Only members of the council or committee, special invitees and those employees or staff members the council or committee determines to be necessary are
allowed to remain in the room. Persons attending an executive session shall maintain the confidentiality of the proceedings.
SECTION 3. The council finds as a fact and declares that an emergency exists and
that this ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health or safety or for the support of county government and its existing public institutions.
ad requirements
none