Drafter
Clerk 03/23/2009
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A MOTION calling on the executive to join the council in establishing an interbranch working group on the transit division's options for addressing the challenges posed by the steep decline in the region's economy.
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WHEREAS, the council has previously identified the need for a framework for reviewing the transit division's functions, including core services versus enhancements to the core service, and
WHEREAS, the region's economic decline has resulted in a substantial reduction in sales tax revenues, with the result that the transit division of the King County department of transportation is facing unprecedented funding gaps in the current biennium and for the foreseeable future, and
WHEREAS, the council, through adoption of Ordinance 16299, stated its intent to work closely with the executive and the transit division to identify and implement solutions to the multi-year funding crisis, which was initially identified by the executive in July 2008, and
WHEREAS, at the March 10, 2009, meeting of the council's physical environment committee, the transit division's manager expressed support of the transit division and executive staff working with council's central staff to explore policy priorities for the transit division before submittal of the transit division's budget to the council. The manager further indicated that reviewing the policy drivers of transit service delivery would serve as a good basis for understanding the challenges the transit division faces now and in the foreseeable future, and
WHEREAS, in a March 16, 2009, letter to the executive, the chair of the council and the chair of the physical environment committee requested the executive's support for the establishment of an interbranch working group focused on the transit funding crisis, and
WHEREAS, on March 18, 2009, the transit division staff, including its manager, provided the regional transportation committee with a detailed overview of the transit division's latest assessment of the financial outlook, an operating program review aimed at defining core services, activities that improve for customers, and programs that enhance services, as well as a framework for discussion of service reduction options;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The executive is requested to immediately approve a collaborative interbranch working group with representation from the council and the executive branch, to include but not be limited to the transit division, for the purpose of:
1. Identifying and gaining a mutual understanding of the significant building block components of the county's transit system, which are the base level of service and other activities carried out in response to policy choices made to enhance both the level and quality of service;
2. Developing policy understanding of such areas as the customer experience in accessing and riding transit, how many hours of service are available, capital acquisition and construction and the interdependencies of these areas;
3. Gaining an interbranch understanding of the policy choices made during development of the transit division's budget;
4. Fulfilling the council's directive to engage in this type of process prior to the transmittal of the transit division's 2010-2011 biennial budget; and
5. Preparing a final report summarizing the working group's activities and findings. By June 18, 2009, eleven copies of the report shall be filed with the clerk of the council, for distribution to all councilmembers.
B. The executive is further requested to identify executive branch participants in the working group within one week of council approval of this motion.