Drafter
Clerk 05/27/2008
Title
A MOTION acknowledging receipt of the final report and recommendations of the King County Charter review commission and thanking the commission members for their outstanding service to the citizens of King County.
Body
WHEREAS, the King County Charter is the county's constitution and the cornerstone of King County government, and
WHEREAS, the King County Charter has served King County well during the almost forty years since the charter was originally approved by the voters, and
WHEREAS, in order to keep the charter well-tuned to meet the needs of King County, the charter provides for a citizen commission to be assembled every ten years to review the charter and recommend for consideration by the metropolitan King County council any charter amendments that the commission deems necessary, and
WHEREAS, the 2007-2008 King County Charter review commission held its first meeting on February 27, 2007, and since then has met, either as a full commission or in one of four subcommittees, more than forty times and held thirteen public forums, including at least one in every council district, and
WHEREAS, the commission has received testimony and reviewed written submissions from well over one hundred persons and organizations regarding more than three hundred fifty suggestions for charter amendments, and
WHEREAS, the commission has carefully considered all the suggested charter amendments and has recommended a list of amendments for consideration by the council, and
WHEREAS, the commission members are a diverse group, representing a variety of backgrounds, professions and opinions and including at least one representative from every council district, and
WHEREAS, the commission members have served as unpaid volunteers whose work on the charter review commission has been in addition to their professional and personal responsibilities, and
WHEREAS, despite their other commitments, the commission members have been tireless in their dedication to the performance of their duties under the charter, and
WHEREAS, the commission transmitted its final report and recommendations to the metropolitan King County council on May 30, 2008, and
WHEREAS, in the exercise of the council's duty under the charter, the council will carefully review and consider the commission's report and recommendations;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
We acknowledge receipt of the final report and recommendations of the King County Charter Review Commission, and we thank commission co-chairs Mike Lowry and Lois North and commission members Trisha Bennett, Juan Bocanegra, Doreen Cato, Jim English, Dan Gandara, Bryan Glynn, Darcy Goodman, John Groen, Kirstin Haugen, Tara Jo Heinecke, Gregg Hirakawa, John Jensen, Terry Lavender, Gary Long, Sharon Maeda, Allan Munro, Sarah Rindlaub, James Williams and Mike Wilkins for their outstanding service to the citizens of King County. We also thank the commission's staff and the attorneys of the prosecuting attorney's office for their indispensable work in support of the commission.