Drafter
Clerk 12/06/2010
title
AN ORDINANCE changing the emergency rule for council meetings; and amending Ordinance 11683, Section 15, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.145.
body
PREAMBLE:
Councilmember participation in council meetings ensures that the interests of their constituents will be represented when important decisions are made. Councilmember participation is also vital in some circumstances for the creation of a quorum, and events that delay creation of a quorum reduce government productivity.
For example, in 2009, a councilmember's family emergency caused a council meeting delay. If the councilmember had been able to participate in the meeting by phone, such a delay would not have occurred.
Approximately half of the largest counties and cities in Washington state have meeting rules that allow their councilmembers or commissioners to attend meetings telephonically or electronically. For example, Snohomish county, Spokane county, the city of Spokane, the city of Tacoma and the city of Seattle allow telephonic or electronic participation under various circumstances.
Telephonic participation has not led to excessive use or abuse of the policy in jurisdictions that allow for it. In fact, in counties or cities that allow telephonic or electronic participation, it is a consistent pattern that telephonic or electronic participation occurs rarely, on the order of once or twice a year on average.
Telephonic or electronic participation can make it possible for councilmembers to attend meetings that they would otherwise miss due to legitimate emergencies. It promotes the democratic process by letting a councilmember's vote be heard on issues of importance to the elected official's constituents. This ordinance supports the efficient functioning of county government by allowing electronic participation in meetings by councilmembers under limited, legitimate circumstances.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Ordinance 11683, Section 15, a...
Click here for full text