Drafter
Clerk 07/28/2011
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AN ORDINANCE adding the King County Ferry District and Sound Transit to the list of eligible transportation service providers in the county's employee transportation program; and amending Ordinance 12014, Section 36, as amended, and K.C.C. 3.12.188.
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STATEMENT OF FACTS
1. The King County council adopted Motion 9679 on October 9, 1995, approving a plan for a transportation and commute trip reduction program for King County worksites.
2. The employee transportation plan in Attachment A to Motion 9679 was intended to change the commute behavior of county employees and maintain the county's leadership in implementing the state Commute Trip Reduction Act and Growth Management Act.
3. The King County Ferry District was formed in 2007 and operates cross-sound service from Vashon Island and West Seattle to Pier 50 in downtown Seattle.
4. The public transportation service offered by the King County Ferry District reduces congestion, lowers emissions and provides vehicular travel alternatives to residents of and visitors to Vashon Island and West Seattle.
5. King County is committed to promoting the use of public transportation among its employees and the public.
6. Sound Transit for some time has participated in the county's employee transportation program pursuant to an interlocal agreement between Sound Transit and the county, but that has not been reflected in K.C.C. 3.12.188.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Ordinance 12014, Section 36, as amended, and K.C.C. 3.12.188 are each hereby amended to read as follows:
A. Employees eligible for leave and insured benefits under this chapter, administrative interns, volunteer interns ((and)), work study students and eligible department of transportation retirees as defined in this section shall be issued a transit bus pass entitling the holder to ride without payment of fare on public transportation services operated by or under the authority of the county. In addition, such employees shall be entitled to use the transit bus pass to ride without payment of fare on public transportation services operated by or under the authority of Pierce Transit, Kitsap Transit, the King County Ferry District, Sound Transit and Community Transit, subject to agreements with such agencies as may be entered into by the executive. Use of transit bus passes shall be restricted to such employees, administrative interns, volunteer interns, work study students and department of transportation retirees((,)) and any unauthorized use shall, at a minimum, result in forfeiture of the passes. With the exception of administrative interns, volunteer interns and work study students, employees not eligible for leave and insured benefits under this chapter shall not receive transit bus passes or any transit bus pass subsidy.
B. The executive shall cause an appropriate survey to be conducted biennially of the use of public transportation services by county employees and volunteer interns. Based on the results of the survey, the projected usage of public transportation services by county employees, the county's commute trip reduction objectives((,)) and other factors determined appropriate by the executive, the executive shall recommend in the annual budget an amount to be paid to the public transportation operating account for transit bus passes. The amount recommended by the executive shall not include any payment for transit bus passes for commissioned police officers, eligible department of transportation retirees and employees whose positions are determined by the director of the department of transportation to be dedicated exclusively to the public transportation function. The final amount to be transferred to the public transportation operating account for transit bus passes shall be determined by the council as part of the annual budget and appropriation process consistent with the requirements of the King County Charter and applicable state law.
C. For purposes of this section, "eligible department of transportation retiree" means an employee eligible for leave and insured benefits under this chapter who:
1. Separates from employment with the county while holding a position in the department of transportation determined by the director of the department of transportation to be dedicated exclusively to the public transportation function; and
2. On the date of the separation is eligible to receive benefits from a retirement system established pursuant to state law.