Drafter
Clerk 10/11/2021
Title
A MOTION relating to the organization of the council; 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 Sections 220.30 and 240 of the King County Charter, the council organizes the legislative branch by motion, and
WHEREAS, in furtherance of that authority, the council passes organizational motions that establish the council's committee structure, membership and chairs and vice-chairs to reflect the will of the council and to ensure the efficient conduct of council business, and
WHEREAS, recent actions by councilmember Kathy Lambert in the councilmember's campaign for reelection have adversely impacted the ability of the council to conduct its business efficiently and effectively, and
WHEREAS, those actions, which are contrary to the county's equity and social justice policies as set forth in Ordinance 16948, impede the councilmember's ability to serve in council leadership roles because they: (a) have impaired the ability of councilmembers and council staff to perform their duties; and (b) should not be deemed to represent the council in its engagement with other governments, associations and the public, and
WHEREAS, changes to the council's committee leadership structure are necessary to address the negative impacts;
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:
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 shall consider and make recommendations on: the county revenue and expenditure fiscal structural gap; capital and operating budget appropriations; the sale and lease 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; supplemental appropriations related to the COVID-19 pandemic response; and financial policies.
1. The committee shall develop recommendations on policy direction for the biennial budget, based on the recommendations of other council committees and taking into account the estimated fiscal impacts of state and federal legislation.
2. In respect to consideration of the county's proposed biennial 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 of the whole 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; solid waste including waste to energy; 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; the Best Starts for Kids levy implementation plan; COVID-19 pandemic response, excluding supplemental appropriations; and other program and policy matters. The committee of the whole shall conduct town hall meetings on issues of significance.
C. ((Community, health and housing services committee.
1. The committee shall consider and make recommendations on policies relating to:
a. health and housing services provided to the community by county agencies and branches, including, but not limited to, domestic violence facilitators, court navigators and community courts,
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. affordable housing, including therapeutic and low-income housing;
d. human services programs, including review of human services-related levies; and
e. 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 biennial budget.
D.)) 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, strategic planning, performance measurement and performance management, management organizational structure and technology management; and
c. general government oversight, including customer service, worker safety, 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 biennial budget.
((E.)) D. Law ((and)), justice, health and human services committee.
1. The committee shall consider and make recommendations on policies relating to:
a. law, safety, criminal justice and emergency management programs, including those related to: implementation of the charter amendments related to the duties of the sheriff's office; public safety; adult detention; juvenile justice and youth services; superior and district courts; judicial administration; prosecuting attorney; public defense; emergency medical services; office of law enforcement oversight; bail reform; pretrial services; alternatives to incarceration; and civil rights;
b. health and housing services provided to the community by county agencies and branches, including, but not limited to, domestic violence facilitators, court navigators and community courts;
c. 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;
d. affordable housing, including therapeutic and low-income housing;
e. human services programs, including review of human services-related levies; and
f. 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 biennial budget.
((F.)) E. Local services committee.
1. The committee shall consider and make recommendations on policies relating to:
a. surface water management and water supply;
b. unincorporated and rural areas, including agriculture and rural services;
c. local government;
d. permitting and zoning;
e. county roads and bridges;
f. levies to support county roads and bridges;
g. emergency management including disaster response, emergency preparedness and emergency planning as it pertains to the unincorporated areas;
h. local services provided by the sheriff;
i. utility annexations and water and sewer district plans; and
j. local parks and trails.
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 biennial budget.
((G.)) F. Mobility 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) salmon recovery and barriers to recovery such as culverts;
(2) resource lands, excluding agriculture;
(3) energy;
(4) water quality, including wastewater;
(5) regional parks and open space; and
(6) King County Strategic Climate Action Plan; and
c. growth management, including regional planning, Countywide Planning Policies and the Comprehensive Plan.
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 biennial budget.
II. Motion 11122, Section G, as amended, and OR 2-040 are hereby amended to read as follows:
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: Jeanne Kohl-Welles.
Vice-chair: Rod Dembowski.
Committee of the whole:
Chair: Joe McDermott.
Vice-chair: Reagan Dunn.
((Community, health and housing services committee:
Chair: Kathy Lambert.
Vice-chair: Jeanne Kohl-Welles.))
Employment and administration committee:
Chair: Claudia Balducci.
Vice-chair: Joe McDermott.
Government accountability and oversight committee:
Chair: Pete von Reichbauer.
Vice-chair: Claudia Balducci.
Law ((and)), justice, health and human services:
Chair: Girmay Zahilay.
Vice-chair: ((Kathy Lambert)) Jeanne Kohl-Welles.
Local services committee:
Chair: Reagan Dunn.
Vice-chair: ((Kathy Lambert)) Joe McDermott.
Mobility and environment committee:
Chair: Rod Dembowski.
Vic-Chair: Pete von Reichbauer.
Regional policy committee:
Chair: Pete von Reichbauer.
Regional transit committee:
Chair: Dave Upthegrove.
Regional water quality committee:
Chair: ((Kathy Lambert)) Reagan Dunn.
III. Motion 11122, Section H, as amended, and OR 2-050 are hereby amended to read as follows:
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: Claudia Balducci, Kathy Lambert, Joe McDermott,
Dave Upthegrove, Girmay Zahilay.
Committee of the whole:
Members: All councilmembers.
((Community, health and housing services committee:
Members: Reagan Dunn, Joe McDermott, Dave Upthegrove, Girmay
Zahilay.))
Employment and administration committee:
Members: All councilmembers.
Government accountability and oversight committee:
Member: Rod Dembowski.
Law ((and)), justice, health and human services:
Members: Claudia Balducci, Rod Dembowski, Reagan Dunn, ((Jeanne
Kohl-Welles)) Kathy Lambert, Joe McDermott.
Local services committee:
Members: ((Joe McDermott)) Kathy Lambert, Girmay Zahilay.
Mobility and environment committee:
Members: Claudia Balducci, Kathy Lambert, Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Joe
McDermott, Dave Upthegrove, Girmay Zahilay.
Regional policy committee:
Members: Claudia Balducci, Rod Dembowski.
Alternate: Jeanne Kohl-Welles
Regional transit committee:
Members: Joe McDermott, Girmay Zahilay.
Alternate: Claudia Balducci.
Regional water quality committee:
Members: Claudia Balducci, ((Reagan Dunn)) Kathy Lambert.
Alternate: