Drafter
Clerk 06/30/2020
Title
AN ORDINANCE proposing to amend the King County Charter to replace the word "citizen" to either "public," "member of the public" or "resident," as applicable in the King County Charter; amending the Preamble and Sections 260 and 800 of the King County Charter; and submitting the same to the voters of the county for their ratification or rejection at the next general election to be held in this county occurring more than forty-five days after the enactment of this ordinance.
Body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. There shall be submitted to the qualified voters of King County for their ratification or rejection, at the next general election to be held in this county occurring more than forty-five days after the enactment of this ordinance, an amendment to the Preamble and to Sections 260 and 800 of the King County Charter to read as follows:
Preamble
We, the people of King County, Washington, in order to form a more just and orderly government, establish separate legislative and executive branches, ensure responsibility and accountability for local and regional county governance and services, enable effective ((citizen)) public participation, preserve a healthy rural and urban environment and economy and secure the benefits of home rule and self-government, in accordance with the Constitution of the State of Washington, do adopt this charter.
Section 260 Office of ((Citizen)) Public Complaints.
The county council shall establish by ordinance an office to receive complaints concerning the operation of county government and shall grant it sufficient power to permit it quickly and efficiently to investigate and to make and publicize recommendations concerning its findings, including the power to subpoena witnesses, documents and other evidence and to administer oaths. The subpoena power of the office of ((citizen)) public complaints shall be limited to matters under written complaint by a ((citizen of the county)) member of the public, and any witness shall have the right to be represented by counsel. Any individual who is the subject of a complaint shall have the right to present witnesses in the individual's own behalf.
Section 800 Charter Review and Amendments.
At least every ten years after the adoption of this charter, the county executive shall appoint a ((citizen)) resident commission of not less than fifteen members whose mandate shall be to review the charter and present, or cause to be presented, to the county council a written report recommending those amendments, if any, which should be made to the charter. Appointees shall be subject to confirmation by a majority of the county council. This ((citizen)) resident commission shall be composed of at least one representative from each of the county council districts. The county council shall consider the commission's report and recommendations and decide at an open public meeting how to proceed on each of the commission's recommended charter amendments, as provided by ordinance.
The county council may propose amendments to this charter by enacting an ordinance to submit a proposed amendment to the voters of the county at the next general election occurring more than forty-five days after the enactment of the ordinance. An ordinance proposing an amendment to the charter shall not be subject to the veto power of the county executive. Publication of a proposed amendment and notice of its submission to the voters of the county shall be made in accordance with the state constitution and general law. If the proposed amendment is approved by a majority of the voters voting on the issue, it shall become effective ten days after the results of the election are certified unless a later date is specified in the amendment.
SECTION 2. The clerk of the council shall certify the proposition to the director of elections in substantially the following form, with such additions, deletions or modifications as may be required by the prosecuting attorney:
Shall the Preamble and Sections 260 and 800 of the King County Charter
be amended to replace the word "citizen" with "public," "member of the public" or "resident," as applicable?