Title
AN ORDINANCE establishing the King County Natural Resources and Environment Commission.
Body
PREAMBLE:
As King County begins a new era of regional governance, it is appropriate to conduct a review of development policies and regulations and the organization structures developed to implement and enforce these provisions. Specifically, the County should consider whether the appropriate balance has been provided in considering competing policies such as protection of the environment, affordable housing, economic viability, and the accomodation of lifestyle diversity. To this end, the Natural Resource and Environment Commission is hereby formed to analyze the county development review process and make recommendations to the council on methods of improving this process. The primary objective of the commission should be to increase affordable housing opportunities and the economic viability of the region while also improving the ability of county agencies to protect the county's greatest assets, its natural resources and environment. The commission should have a broad-base of experience and should reflect the diversity of King County.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Commission created. The King County Natural Resources and Environment Commission is hereby created.
A. The King County Natural Resources and Environment Commission shall be established as of March 1, 1994 and shall have fifteen members.
1. Each member shall be appointed by the county executive and confirmed by the county council for a term of two years.
B. The county executive and Metropolitan King County council shall provide the commission with resources to ensure its ability to independently discharge its responsibilities.
SECTION 2. Qualifications.
The membership of the commission shall be broadbased and shall reflect the diversity of King County. Individual Commission members should shall have background or expertise in natural resources, agriculture, real estate, environmental protection, land use planning, land use or environmental law, natural or biologic sciences, Native American treaty rights, community citizenry/neighborhood representation, organized labor or land development.
SECTION 3. Commission responsibilities. The commission shall be responsible for the following tasks:
A. Reviewing the effectiveness of King County' existing development policies and regulations in advancing promoting the following: protection of natural resources and the environment, affordable housing, economic viability, and lifestyle diversity. At a minimum, the commission shall:
1. Inventory and examine existing county development regulations an codes for consistency, effectiveness and compatibility in achieving the objectives identified in Section 3A.
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of current organization structure responsibility), by division and department, in implementing, administering and enforcing development for natural resource and environmental regulations.
3. Make recommendations regarding changes in organization structure and development regulations and codes that will improve the county's ability to achieve the objectives identified in Section 3A.
B. Reporting to the county executive and the Metropolitan King County council its findings and recommendations. By May 1, 1994, the commission shall transmit a work program for council approval. This work program shall include: a detailed scope of the commission review process; a proposed budget for the resources needed to support the commission review; and, a timeline for expeditious completion of commission responsibilities. The commission should provide reports to the council regarding the status of its review process on quarterly basis beginning three months after the council adopts the commission work program. The commission shall make an initial report of its findings approximately nine months after the council adopts the commission work program. The Metropolitan King County council and executive shall review the commission's findings and recommendations, and take appropriate action to improve regulations and codes, or agency performance.
C. Monitoring the implementation of any corrective action required by the county council or executive. The commission shall provide implementation status reports to the council on a quarterly basis beginning three months after the commission report of findings and recommendations is formally accepted by the council. These reports shall review county progress in implementing commission recommendations that are adopted by the council.