Title
AN ORDINANCE relating to council rules and order of business; amending Ordinance 11683, Section 4, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.035; and declaring an emergency.
Body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. Section 220.40 of the King County Charter requires the council to adopt by ordinance rules of procedure governing the time, place and conduct of its meetings.
B. Consistent with the county charter, the council adopted by ordinance rules of procedure, which are codified in K.C.C. chapter 1.24, and passed motions related to the organization and administration of the council.
C. The rules of procedure and the organizational motion have been amended from time to time to reflect changes desired by the council.
D. As is tradition, during the council's consideration of a biennial or annual budget, the standing committees, except for the committee of the whole, stand down so that members may meet as members of the budget committee, in a series of budget panels, to review the executive's proposed budget prior to final action. Historically, the committee of the whole has continued to meet during the council's budget process to handle matters that would benefit from committee action.
E. For the 2026-2027 biennial budget, the budget panels will meet on Tuesday mornings, at the time designated by the rules of procedure for the committee of the whole to meet, causing a conflict that can be alleviated by moving the date and time of the regular committee of the whole meeting for only that period that the council is expected to be considering the biennial budget. Such an action is in support of the council's consideration of the 2026-2027 biennial budget and also preserves a regularly scheduled committee of the whole meeting during this same period.
SECTION 2. Ordinance 11683, Section 4, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.035 are each hereby amended to read as follows:
Rule 4: Meetings.
A.1.a. Except as otherwise provided in thi...

Click here for full text