Drafter
Clerk 06/18/2026
Title
A MOTION relating to the organization of the council; and amending Motion 11122, Section D, as amended, and OR 2-020, Motion 11122, Section G, as amended, and OR 2-040, and Motion 11122, Section H, as amended, and OR 2-050.
Body
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 240 of the King County Charter, the council organizes and administers the legislative branch by motion, and
WHEREAS, historically, the council has specified in its organizational motion the chairs and vice-chairs of the council and its committees, and the members of council committees, and in accordance with K.C.C. 1.24.320 makes changes to those positions by passage of a motion;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
I. Motion 11122, Section D, as amended, and OR 2-020 are hereby amended to read as follows:
OR 2-020. Standing committees - functions. In addition to any committee otherwise established by law, the committees of the metropolitan King County council and their respective functions are established as follows:
A. Budget and fiscal management committee.
1. The committee shall consider and make recommendations on: the county revenue and expenditure fiscal structural gap; capital and operating budget appropriations; the sale, lease, or transfer of real property to or by the county; debt and investment proposals; bond issues; the office of economic and financial analysis; levies unless referred to another committee; and financial policies.
2. The committee shall develop recommendations on policy direction for the county budget, based on the recommendations of other council committees and taking into account the estimated fiscal impacts of state and federal legislation.
3. In respect to consideration of the county's proposed annual budget, all members of the council not assigned to the budget and fiscal management committee shall be considered ex officio voting members of the committee.
B. Committee of the whole. The committee shall consider: issues of interest to the entire council, including appointments to the state legislature and department directors and key subordinate units in the executive branch; the annual legislative program; legislation before the federal, state, and local governments that affect King County; the King County Strategic Plan; oversight of Harborview Medical Center; arts and culture and associated levies, if any; the Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Account; gun safety; the immigrant and refugee commission; issues related to the census; the charter review commission; homelessness, including the King County Regional Homelessness Authority; racial equity; gender equity; and other program and policy matters. The committee of the whole shall conduct town hall meetings on issues of significance.
C. Government accountability and oversight committee.
1. The committee shall consider and make recommendations on:
a. improving the efficiency, cost effectiveness, and performance of all branches of county government (legislative, executive, and judicial);
b. enhancing oversight, accountability and transparency in King County government, the annual county audit program and federal, state, or county audit reports, the administration of the Public Records Act, capital projects oversight, the Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network, performance measurement and performance management, management organizational structure, and technology management; and
c. general government oversight, including customer service, worker safety, and the department of assessments; elections; records and licensing; animal control; cable communications; the county fair; King County international airport; risk management; veterans, and executive services such as telecommunications, facilities management, purchasing, and real property management.
2. In the areas within the committee's purview, the committee shall track state and federal legislative action and develop recommendations on policy direction for the county budget.
D. Health, housing, and human services committee.
1. The committee shall consider and make recommendations on policies relating to:
a. health services provided to the community by county agencies and branches;
b. public health programs, including those related to the protection, promotion, and provision functions of the department of public health, including the structure of the public health centers;
c. human services programs, including review of human services-related levies, and human services programs relating to housing services and programs.
2. In the areas within the committee's purview, the committee shall track state and federal legislative action and develop recommendations on policy direction for the county budget.
E. Law and justice committee.
1. The committee shall consider and make recommendations on policies relating to law, safety, and criminal justice programs, including those related to:
a. implementation of the charter amendments related to the duties of the sheriff's office; public safety;
b. adult detention; juvenile justice and youth services;
c. superior and district courts; judicial administration; prosecuting attorney;
d. public defense; emergency medical services;
e. office of law enforcement oversight;
f. bail reform; pretrial services;
g. alternatives to incarceration;
h. combating human trafficking;
i. hate crime prevention; and
j. civil rights.
2. In the areas within the committee's purview, the committee shall track state and federal legislative action and develop recommendations on policy direction for the county budget.
F. Local services and land use committee.
1. The committee shall consider and make recommendations on policies relating to:
a. water supply;
b. unincorporated and rural areas;
c. local government;
d. permitting and zoning including housing issues related to permitting and zoning;
e. county roads and bridges;
f. levies to support county roads and bridges;
g. emergency management;
h. annexations;
i. local parks and trails;
j. salmon recovery and barriers to recovery such as culverts;
k. water and sewer district plans;
l. growth management including regional planning, countywide planning policies, the Comprehensive Plan, and housing issues relating to growth management, regional planning, countywide planning and policies and the Comprehensive Plan; and
m. resource lands, including agricultural, forestry, and mineral resources.
2. In the areas within the committee's purview, the committee shall track state and federal legislative action and develop recommendations on policy direction for the county budget.
G. Transportation, economy, and environment committee.
1. The committee shall consider and make recommendations on:
a. transportation, including passenger ferries, regional trails and public transportation including spending plans for new revenue, if any, and fares and fare equity policies;
b. the environment, including:
(1) energy;
(2) water quality, including wastewater;
(3) regional parks and open space, including conservations futures tax;
(4) climate, including levy proposals or bond proposals to finance projects or programs to address, mitigate or respond to climate change and its impacts, and the King County Strategic Climate Action Plan;
(5) solid waste; and
(6) surface water management; and
c. economic development, including equity and pay disparity.
2. In the areas within the committee's purview, the committee shall track state and federal legislative action and develop recommendations on policy direction for the county budget.
H. Work session.
1. The committee shall receive advance briefings and discuss upcoming legislation, policy proposals, operational matters, or emerging issues.
2. Work sessions are intended to improve member understanding, preparation, and coordination and are not intended for final passage.
II. Motion 11122, Section G, as amended, and OR 2-040 are hereby amended to read as follows:
OR 2-040. Chairs and vice-chairs. The council designates the following councilmembers as chairs and vice-chairs of the standing committees created in this motion and the regional committees established in the King County Charter.
Budget and fiscal management committee:
Chair: Rod Dembowski.
Vice-chair: Jorge L. Barón.
Committee of the whole:
Chair: Jorge L. Barón.
Vice-chair: Claudia Balducci.
Employment and administration committee:
Chair: Sarah Perry.
Vice-chair: Jorge L. Barón.
Government accountability and oversight committee:
Chair: Pete von Reichbauer.
Vice-chair: Steffanie Fain.
Health, housing, and human services committee:
Chair: Teresa Mosqueda.
Vice Chair: Rhonda Lewis.
Law and justice committee:
Chair: Rhonda Lewis.
Vice Chair: Rod Dembowski.
Local services and land use committee:
Chair: Reagan Dunn.
Vice-chair: Rhonda Lewis.
Transportation, economy, and environment committee:
Chair: Steffanie Fain.
Vice-Chair: Pete von Reichbauer.
Regional policy committee:
Chair: Pete von Reichbauer.
Regional transit committee:
Chair: Steffanie Fain.
Regional water quality committee:
Chair: Claudia Balducci.
Work session:
Chair: Sarah Perry. Chairs may rotate as determined by the chair.
III. Motion 11122, Section H, as amended, and OR 2-050 are hereby amended to read as follows:
OR 2-050. Memberships. The council designates the following councilmembers, in addition to the chairs and vice-chairs, as members of the standing committees created in this motion and the regional committees established in the King County Charter.
Budget and fiscal management committee:
Members: Steffanie Fain, Teresa Mosqueda, Sarah Perry, Rhonda Lewis.
Committee of the whole:
Members: All councilmembers.
Employment and administration committee:
Members: Claudia Balducci, Rod Dembowski, Teresa Mosqueda.
Government accountability and oversight committee:
Members: Claudia Balducci, Reagan Dunn.
Health, housing, and human services committee:
Members: Jorge L. Barón, Steffanie Fain.
Law and justice committee:
Members: Claudia Balducci, Jorge L. Barón, Teresa Mosqueda.
Local services and land use committee:
Members: Teresa Mosqueda, Sarah Perry.
Transportation, economy, and environment committee:
Members: Claudia Balducci, Reagan Dunn.
Regional policy committee:
Members: Jorge L. Barón, Sarah Perry.
Alternate:
Regional transit committee:
Members: Sarah Perry, Pete von Reichbauer.
Alternate:
Regional water quality committee:
Members: Reagan Dunn, Rhonda Lewis.
Alternate:
Work session:
Members: All councilmembers.