Drafter
Clerk 06/26/2008
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AN ORDINANCE proposing to amend Section 890 of the King County Charter and to add a new Section 897 of the King County Charter, to designate the county sheriff as the county's bargaining agent on all department of public safety issues except for compensation and benefits; and submitting the same to the voters of the county for their ratification or rejection at the November 2008 general election.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. Section 890 of the King County Charter specifies the county executive as the bargaining agent of the county. The county executive has authority over collective bargaining for department of public safety and other departments on all issues, including contract terms related to wages, hours, benefits and working conditions.
B. The county sheriff, a separately elected official, currently has input, but no authority to bargain contract provisions with represented employees of the department of public safety.
SECTION 2. There shall be submitted to the qualified voters of King County for their approval and 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 Section 890 of the King County Charter and the addition of a new Section 897 to the King County Charter, as set forth herein:
Section 890. Employee Representation.
The county council may enact an ordinance providing for collective bargaining by the county with county employees covered by the personnel system. If an ordinance providing for collective bargaining is enacted, it shall not be subject to the veto power of the county executive; and, except with respect to bargaining by department of public safety pursuant to Section 897 of this charter, it shall designate the county executive as the bargaining agent of the county. Any agreement reached as a result of negotiations by the county bargaining agent with county employees shall not have the force of law unless enacted by ordinance.
Section 897. Department of Public Safety Employee Collective Bargaining.
The county council may enact an ordinance providing for collective bargaining by the county with employees of the department of public safety. The county executive shall not have veto power over this ordinance. If such an ordinance is enacted, it shall designate the county sheriff as the bargaining agent of county on all department of public safety matters except for compensation and benefits, which shall be negotiated by the county executive as provided in Section 890 of this charter.
SECTION 3. The clerk of the council shall certify the proposition to the manager of the elections division, in substantially the following form, with such additions, deletions or modifications as may be required by the prosecuting attorney:
Shall the King County Charter be amended to allow the King County Sheriff to serve as the county's collective bargaining agent for all department of public safety issues except for compensation and benefits, which would continue to be bargained by the county executive?
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