Drafter
Clerk 05/29/2012
Title
AN ORDINANCE relating to the council rules; and amending Ordinance 11683, Section 5, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.045, and Ordinance 11683, Section 10, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.095, and declaring an emergency.
Body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings.
A. King County Charter Section 220.40 requires the council to adopt by ordinance rules of procedure governing the time, place and conduct of its meetings.
B. Consistent with the county charter, the council adopted by ordinance rules of procedure, which are codified in K.C.C. chapter 1.24.
C. The rules ordinance has been amended from time to time to reflect desired changes in the council's rules of procedure and organization.
D. The council wishes to amend the rules ordinance to as soon as possible require the council agenda to include the opportunity for general public comment at certain of its meetings. It is necessary to enact this as an emergency ordinance in order to avoid delay in making this amendment and to make it immediately legally effective.
SECTION 2. Ordinance 11683, Section 5, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.045 are each hereby amended to read as follows:
Rule 5: Agenda.
A. Council business must be disposed of in the following order, or in an order the chair deems appropriate, subject to appeal as provided in Rule 5.D, K.C.C. 1.24.045.D:
1. Roll call;
2. Flag salute and Pledge of Allegiance, the leading of which must be offered by a member of the council and which must rotate among all members of the council;
3. Approval of minutes;
4. Additions to the council agenda;
5. Special items;
6. Public comment on the fourth Monday of each month, or the fourth Tuesday if the fourth Monday is a state or county holiday;
7. Plat tracings;
((7.)) 8. Hearing and second reading of ordinances from standing committees and regional committees;
((8.)) 9. First reading of and action on emergency ordinances without referral to committee;
((9.)) 10. Consent agenda on hearing examiner recommendations;
((10.)) 11. Motions, from standing committees and regional committees, for council action;
((11.)) 12. First reading of and action on motions without referral to committee;
((12.)) 13. Consent agenda on reappointments to boards and commissions;
((13.)) 14. Consent agenda on reports and recommended actions from the employment and administration committee;
((14.)) 15. Other reports and recommended actions from the employment and administration committee;
((15.)) 16. First reading and referral of ordinances;
((16.)) 17. First reading and referral of motions;
((17.)) 18. Reports from members serving on special and outside committees;
((18.)) 19. Extra items;
((19.)) 20. Messages from the county executive and other county officials, the judiciary, the regional committees and other agencies;
((20.)) 21. Other business; and
((21.)) 22. Adjournment.
B. Legislation or other items for placement on the council meeting agenda must be submitted to the clerk of the council by 10:00 a.m. Thursday of the week before the next scheduled meeting, except that:
1. If directed by the chair, the clerk may place an item on the council agenda with a note that the item is contingent on being voted out of committee before the council meeting; and
2. Legislation or other items needing action by the full council may be added at the discretion of the chair of the council at a regularly scheduled council meeting. The chair shall apply the following criteria for the additions:
a. the legislation is particularly time-sensitive and delay in action either:
(1) might impair the effectiveness of the county's responses to emergencies such as natural or human-made disasters, or other circumstances seriously affecting the public health, safety or welfare or the support of county government and its existing public institutions; or
(2) might impair timely performance under deadlines of a statute, ordinance, contract, interlocal agreement, real property instrument or other provision requiring immediate action;
b. legislation should be delivered to the clerk before the beginning of the council meeting. The original should be provided to the clerk, together with an introduction slip from the sponsor; and
c. the sponsor should provide a brief written description to the chair of the reason for the need to expedite the legislation without regular committee review.
D. The chair shall notify the members present of proposed changes to the agenda. If two members object to a change, a majority of the members present shall decide whether to change the agenda.
SECTION 3. Ordinance 11683, Section 10, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.095 are each hereby amended to read as follows:
Rule 10: Public hearing and second reading.
A. At least seven days must elapse after introduction of a proposed ordinance, other than an emergency ordinance, before the council may conduct the required public hearing on the proposed ordinance. The council must conduct a public hearing before adopting an ordinance. Public testimony at the hearing must be germane to the proposed ordinance and must be made in such a manner as to comply with the requirements imposed by the chair under Rule 2B, K.C.C. 1.24.015.B. The chair shall liberally construe this rule as it relates to public testimony.
B. The council shall allow general public comment on matters relating to county government at its meeting on the fourth Monday of each month, or the fourth Tuesday if the fourth Monday is a state or county holiday. General public comment is limited to fifteen minutes and each person making general public comment may speak for two minutes. General public comment may not be used for the purpose of assisting a campaign for election of any person to any office or for the promotion of or opposition to any ballot proposition. General public comment may not address any ordinance that is on that day's council agenda for public hearing. General public comment must be made in such a manner as to comply with the requirements imposed by the chair under Rule 2B, K.C.C. 1.24.015.B. The chair shall liberally construe this rule as it relates to general public comment.
SECTION 4. The county 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.