Title
AN ORDINANCE proposing an amendment to the King County Charter; establishing as the county's paramount duty to protect the rights and safety of the general public by enforcing the laws and providing for the swift administration of justice, and requiring the county to establish by ordinance such levels of service as it deems appropriate to provide a well-functioning public safety and justice system; adding a new Section 805 to the King County Charter; and submitting the same to the voters of the county for their ratification or rejection at the November 2011 general election.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. The principal goals of county government, as set forth in the King County strategic plan, adopted by the county council in July of 2010, are to deliver justice and safety; health and human potential; economic growth and built environment; and environmental sustainability to county residents, and to do so in a manner that reflects service excellence, financial stewardship, public engagement and a quality workforce.
B. In times of economic scarcity, county government may lack sufficient resources to achieve all of these goals and therefore may need to establish priorities among them.
C. Toward that end, it is the function of a county charter to guide county government in establishing priorities among its goals.
D. Since it is difficult, if not impossible, to enjoy the benefits of achieving the other goals of county government in the absence of personal safety and security, the highest priority of county government should be the enforcement of the criminal law and the swift administration of justice when that law is violated.
E. Effective enforcement of the criminal law and the swift administration of justice require a well-functioning public safety and justice system, including police, prosecution, defense, detention and court services.
SECTION 2. 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, the addition of a new Section 805 to the King County Charter to read as follows:
Section 805. Paramount Duty of the County
It is the paramount duty of the county to protect the rights and safety of the general public by enforcing the laws of the state of Washington and the county and providing for the swift administration of justice when such laws are violated within its boundaries. To further these aims, the county shall seek to provide a well-functioning public safety and justice system by making ample provision for such police, prosecution, defense, detention and court services as may be required by law. The county shall by ordinance establish such levels of service as it deems appropriate to provide a well-functioning public safety and justice system. This section is intended neither to protect any particular class of individuals or organizations, nor to guarantee any specific level of funding, nor to create any private or public right of action.
SECTION 3. The clerk of the council shall certify the proposition to the elections director, in substantially the following form, with such additions, deletions or modifications as may be required by the prosecuting attorney:
Shall the King County Charter be amended to establish the protection of the rights and safety of the general public as the paramount duty of the
county and to require the county to seek to provide a well-functioning public safety and justice system?