Drafter
Clerk 11/14/2012
Title
AN ORDINANCE relating to emergency powers; and amending Ordinance 1058, Section 3, as amended, and K.C.C. 12.52.030.
Body
PREAMBLE:
Public safety is the most fundamental purpose of government, and citizens rightfully expect government to respond rapidly in the face of significant threats to life and property, emergencies, natural disasters and other calamities. Federal law, state statute and county code have long prescribed the powers of governments when emergencies or disasters occur. This is true in King County where many of the code sections describing the county’s emergency powers were enacted over forty years ago. The council has determined that, in addition to the importance of acting proactively to address significant threats of emergencies, the county needs to ensure that its code is updated to encompass changes in federal or state law and to remain in every way current so as to not be challenged when used during an emergency. Therefore, updating the county code sections that delineate the emergency powers of the executive during an emergency to conform to changes made in state statute, changes that the courts have already determined pre-empt local law will assure that, when needed, the county’s emergency powers will not be in any way challenged and can be fully enforced in times of emergency or disaster.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Ordinance 1058, Section 3, as amended, and K.C.C. 12.52.030 are each hereby amended to read as follows:
The executive shall see that the Washington ((S))state laws and ordinances of King County are enforced, ((and)) shall direct and control all subordinate officers of the county, ((except insofar as such)) unless the enforcement, direction and control ((is by King County Charter reposed)) rests in some other officer or board by the King County Charter, and shall maintain the peace and order in King County.
A. Whenever an emergency or disaster occurs in Ki...

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