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AN ORDINANCE adopting the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy Governance Plan to create and prescribe the composition and duties of the board or boards to oversee the expenditure of veterans, seniors and human services levy proceeds described in subsections 4.A. and B. of Ordinance 18555, contingent upon voter approval of the veterans, seniors and human services levy.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

1.  In 2005, Ordinance 15279 placed a six-year veterans and human services levy on the general election ballot.  Ordinance 15279 provided for two citizen oversight boards to oversee and report on expenditures of levy proceeds.  Voters approved the levy, enabling the creation of both boards.  The veterans citizen oversight board was created to oversee funds for veterans and military servicemembers and their respective families.  The regional human service board was created to oversee funds for a wide range of low-income people in need of such services.

2.  In 2011, Ordinance 17072 placed a renewal of the veterans and human services levy on the primary election ballot, providing for continuation of the two oversight boards by incorporating the provision of Ordinance 15279 that created the veterans citizen oversight board and the regional human service board.  Voters renewed the veterans and human services levy, effecting continuation of both boards.

3.  The current veterans and human services levy will expire at the end of 2017.  Unless the council otherwise provides for continuation of the veterans citizen oversight board and the regional human service board, both boards will cease to exist upon expiration of the veterans and human services levy.

4.  In July 2017, Ordinance 18555 placed a six-year veterans, seniors and human services levy on the ballot for voter consideration in November 2017.  If approved by voters, proceeds from the veterans, seniors and human services levy will be used to plan, provide, administer and evaluate a wide range of regional health and human services and capital facilities for veterans and military servicemembers and their respective families, seniors and their caregivers, and vulnerable populations.

5.  Ordinance 18555, Section 6, requires the executive to develop and transmit for council review and adoption by ordinance a governance plan for the veterans, seniors and human services levy.  The governance plan must provide for the creation, composition and duties of a board or boards to provide oversight of the expenditure of the levy proceeds.

6.  Ordinance 18555, Section 6.B., mandates that the duties of the governance plan's board or boards include overseeing the distribution of levy proceeds consistent with Ordinance 18555, Sections 4.A. and B., and reporting annually to the executive and council on the fiscal and performance management of the levy.  Ordinance 18555, Section 6.B., additionally invites the executive to describe additional matters on which the board or boards may be empowered to advise the executive and council.

7.  In addition to the veterans citizen oversight board, which was created in 2005, King County maintains the King County veterans advisory board, created in its current form in 1991 by CPM 11-1 (PR).  The veterans advisory board's duties under CPM 11-1 (PR) include reviewing the activities and plans of the King County veterans program, acting in an advisory capacity on behalf of veterans organizations in King County, advising the county government on matters concerning veterans in King County, and hearing and ruling upon King County veterans program grievances brought before the veterans advisory board.  The membership of the veterans advisory board is drawn from representatives elected by various veterans service organizations throughout King County.

8.  After the 1991 creation of the veterans advisory board, the state legislature adopted RCW 73.08.035 that requires the legislative authority of each county to establish a veterans advisory board.  The current King County veterans advisory board has not been established by the King County council.

9.  Since 2006, both of the county's veterans boards have been separately maintained, although the composition of the veterans citizen oversight board includes three members who the executive appoints from the membership of the veterans advisory board as required in Ordinance 15279.

10.  King County has increasingly integrated all county-funded veterans programs in order to improve customer service for veterans in King County, to reduce service system fragmentation and to increase administrative efficiency in administering services for veterans.

11.  In 2013, the county executive convened a regional veterans initiative, whose final report and recommendations included that King County's system of veterans programs and services should develop a coordinated service system that provides seamless access for veterans and their families while maximizing the use of regional resources and that veterans have a voice in making improvements to the services system.

12.  In 2010, the county enacted Ordinance 16857, establishing the King County Strategic Plan.  In 2015, the county council passed Motion 14317 updating and revising King County's vision, mission, guiding principles and goals.  Included within the county's goals are improving the health and well-being of all people in King County, increasing access to quality housing that is affordable to all, implementing alternatives to divert people from the criminal justice system, and ensuring that county government operates efficiently and effectively and is accountable to the public.  The county's guiding principles command that pursuit of the county goals should address the root causes of inequities to provide equal access for all; engage with partners, stakeholders and public and private organizations to achieve goals; align funding, policy and operational goals of King County government; and provide effective, efficient local governance and services to unincorporated areas.

13.  King County actively engages in equity and social justice efforts to eliminate racially disparate health and human services outcomes in King County, and this priority shall guide the council and the executive in the process of designing, administering and evaluating the policies and programs related to the veterans, seniors and human services levy, if approved by voters.

                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     SECTION 1.  The Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy Governance Plan, Attachment A to this ordinance, is hereby adopted to guide the executive in developing and transmitting for council review and adoption the veterans, seniors and human services levy governance ordinance.

                     SECTION 2.  Severability.  If any provision of this ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the

ordinance or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.