Drafter
Clerk 06/26/2008
Title
AN ORDINANCE proposing an amendment to Section 230.10 of the King County Charter, Section 270.20 of the King County Charter and Section 270.30 of the King County Charter, to reduce the number of county council members on regional committees, establish a vice chair position on regional committees, authorize the regional policy committee to adopt its own work program and add authority for regional committees to initiate legislation; and submitting the same to the voters of the county for their ratification or rejection at the November 2008 general election.
Body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. There shall be submitted to the 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 Sections 230.10, 270.20 and 270.30 of the King County Charter as set forth herein:
Section 230.10. Introduction and Adoption.
Proposed ordinances shall be limited to one subject and may be introduced by any councilmember, by initiative petition, by proposal of a regional committee in accordance with Section 270.30 of this charter or by institutional initiative. At least seven days after the introduction of a proposed ordinance, except an emergency ordinance, and prior to its adoption or enactment, the county council shall hold a public hearing after due notice to consider the proposed ordinance. Except as otherwise provided in this charter, a minimum of five affirmative votes shall be required to adopt an ordinance.
Section 270.20. Composition of Regional Committees.
Each regional committee shall consist of ((twelve)) nine voting members. ((Six)) Three members shall be metropolitan county councilmembers appointed by the chair of the council, and shall include councilmembers from districts with unincorporated residents. Each county councilmember vote shall be weighted as two votes. The remaining six members of each committee except the water quality committee shall be local elected city officials appointed from and in proportion to the relative populations of: (i) the city with the largest population in the county and (ii) the other cities and towns in the county. Committee members from the city with the largest population in the county shall be appointed by the legislative authority of that city. Committee members from the other cities and towns in the county shall be appointed in a manner agreed to by and among those cities and towns representing a majority of the populations of such cities and towns, provided, however, that such cities and towns may appoint two representatives for each allocated committee membership, each with fractional (1/2) voting rights.
The special purpose districts providing sewer service in the county shall appoint two members to serve on the water quality committee in a manner agreed to by districts representing a majority of the population within the county served by such districts. The remaining four local government members of the water quality committee shall be appointed in the manner set forth above for other regional committees. The council may by ordinance authorize the appointment to the water quality committee of additional, nonvoting members representing entities outside of the county that receive sewerage treatment services from the county. Allocation of membership of each committee's members who are city and town representatives shall be adjusted January 1 of each even-numbered year beginning in 1996 based upon current census information or, if more recent, official state office of financial management population statistics.
In the event any areas are annexed pursuant to powers granted to metropolitan municipal corporations under state law, the populations of any cities and towns in such annexed areas shall be considered as if they were within the county for purposes in this section with regard to regional committee participation on policies and plans which would be effective in such annexed areas.
Members representing six and one-half votes constitute a quorum of a regional committee. In the absence of a quorum, the committee may perform all committee functions except for voting on legislation or a work program. Each committee shall have a chair and a vice-chair with authority as specified by ordinance. The chair shall be a county councilmember appointed by the chair of the county council. The vice-chair shall be appointed by majority vote of those committee members who are not county councilmembers, in accordance with voting rights that are apportioned as provided in this section.
270.30. Powers and Duties.
Each regional committee shall develop, propose, review and recommend action on ordinances and motions adopting, repealing, or amending ((county-wide)) transit, water quality or other regional countywide policies and plans ((relating to)) within the subject matter area ((for which a regional)) of the committee ((has been established)). The subject matter area of the regional policies committee ((may, by majority vote, request that the county council assign to the committee proposed policies and plans concerning other regional issues including but not limited to public health, human services, regional services financial policies, criminal justice and jails, and regional facilities siting)) shall consist of those countywide plans and policies included in the committee's work program by a majority of the members present and voting, with no fewer than three and one-half affirmative votes.
The((metropolitan)) county council shall ((assign)) refer each such proposed ordinance or motion, except those developed and proposed by a regional committee, to a regional committee for review. ((When a proposed policy or plan is referred to a))The regional committee ((for)) shall complete review((, a time limit for such review shall be)) and recommend action within one hundred twenty days or such other time as is jointly established by the ((metropolitan)) county council and the committee, which shall be confirmed in the form of a motion by the ((metropolitan)) county council. If the committee fails to act upon the proposed ((policy or plan)) ordinance or motion within the established time limit, the ((metropolitan)) county council may adopt the proposed ((policy or plan)) ordinance or motion upon six affirmative votes. The committee may request, by motion to the county council, additional time for review.
A proposed ((policy or plan recommended)) ordinance or motion that has been reviewed and recommended or developed and proposed by a regional committee may be adopted, without amendment, by the ((metropolitan)) county council by five affirmative votes. If the ((metropolitan)) county council votes prior to final passage thereof to amend a proposed ((policy or plan)) ordinance or motion that has been reviewed or recommended or proposed by a regional committee, the proposed ((policy or plan)) ordinance or motion, as amended, shall be referred back to the appropriate committee for further review and recommendation. The committee may concur in, dissent from, or recommend additional amendments to the ((policy or plan)) ordinance or motion. After the regional committee has had the opportunity to review all ((metropolitan)) county council amendments, final action to adopt any proposed ((policy or plan)) ordinance or motion that differs from the committee recommendation shall require six affirmative votes of the ((metropolitan)) county council.
Each regional committee may develop and propose directly to the council an ordinance or motion adopting, amending or repealing a countywide policy or plan within the subject matter area of the committee. Such proposals must be approved by a majority of the members present and voting, with no fewer than three and one-half affirmative votes. Within one hundred twenty days of introduction or such other time as is jointly established by the county council and the committee, which shall be confirmed in the form of a motion by the county council, the council shall consider the proposed legislation and take such action thereon as it deems appropriate, as provided by ordinance.
The council shall not call a special election to authorize the performance of an additional metropolitan municipal function under state law unless such additional function is recommended by a regional policy committee, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 230.50.10 of this charter. Such recommendation shall require an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the membership of each of: (1) metropolitan councilmembers of the committee; (2) members from the city with the largest population in the county; and (3) other city or town members of the committee. Nothing in this section prohibits the metropolitan county council from calling a special election on the authorization of the performance of one or more additional metropolitan functions after receiving a valid resolution adopted by city councils as permitted by RCW 35.58.100(1)(a) and RCW 35.58.100(1)(b), or a duly certified petition as permitted by RCW 35.58.100(2).
SECTION 2. 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 Sections 230.10, 270.20 and 270.30 of the King County Charter be amended to reduce the number of county council members on regional committees, establish a vice chair position on regional committees,
authorize the regional policy committee to adopt its own work program and add authority for regional committees to initiate legislation?
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