Drafter
Clerk 09/06/2012
Title
A MOTION relating to unincorporated area councils; and rescinding Motions 8974, 9643, 9838, 9858, 9859, 9860, 9977 and 10708.
Body
WHEREAS, in 1993, the council in Motion 8974 acknowledged the important role that citizens may play in identifying ways to make unincorporated area government more accessible and responsive to unincorporated King County citizens, and in that motion created unincorporated area governance strategies committees in Covington and Kenmore, and
WHEREAS, in December 1994, Executive Order PRE 7-1 (AEO) implemented the Citizen Participation Initiative to enhance opportunities for public involvement and to improve citizen access to information and services provided by King County government, and
WHEREAS, the Citizen Participation Initiative recognized that unincorporated area councils could provide effective and continuing opportunities for citizens to participate in county government processes and decisions that affect their communities, and
WHEREAS, the council in Motion 9643 supported the goals of the Citizen Participation Initiative and provided policy direction by setting forth a process for formal recognition of unincorporated area councils, and
WHEREAS, six unincorporated area councils were approved by the council in 1996, including North Highline Unincorporated Area Council in Motion 9838, West Hill Community Council in Motion 9858, Vashon-Maury Island Community Council in Motion 9859, Greater Maple Valley Area Council in Motion 9860, Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council in Motion 9977 and Upper Bear Creek Community Council in Motion 10708, and
WHEREAS, the unincorporated area councils have provided an important community voice to the county on matters affecting their communities for over fifteen years, and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 17139 was enacted July 15, 2011, establishing a new framework for public engagement in unincorporated areas of King County, and
WHEREAS, the council-adopted framework broadens the county's goals for public engagement with unincorporated communities as required by the King County Strategic Plan and supersedes the public engagement guidelines delineated in Executive Order PRE-7-1 (AEO) and Motion 9643, and
WHEREAS, on April 19, 2012, Executive Order PRE 7-1 (AEO) was repealed by Executive Order, and
WHEREAS, the Strategic Plan's public engagement goals encourage King County to engage with a wide range of community based organizations including unincorporated area councils, community councils, community development associations and other community groups, and
WHEREAS, the engagement framework sets forth steps for improving community engagement and interaction with residents of unincorporated King County, including development of clearly defined community service areas, development of inter-branch work programs supporting the service areas and convening public meetings in the service areas, and
WHEREAS, the Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council, the Greater Maple Valley Area Council, the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, the Upper Bear Creek community council, the Vashon-Maury Island Community Council and the West Hill Community Council will no longer be recognized as official Unincorporated Area Councils described in repealed Executive Order PRE-7-1 (AEO), and
WHEREAS, due to the new framework for public engagement in unincorporated areas of King County included in Ordinance 17139, it is appropriate to rescind prior motions that established the Citizens Participation Initiative and recognized specific unincorporated area councils;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The unincorporated area councils have valuably served their communities and the county for over fifteen years in keeping with the motions approving their creation and the goals of the Citizen Participation Initiative. While the new community engagement framework will no longer formally rely on unincorporated area councils or officially recognize them as set forth in the former Citizen Participation Initiative, the county will continue to work with the unincorporated area councils as well as other community groups. The county commends the unincorporated area councils for their decades of important service and for their continuing work as community-based organizations.
B. Motions 8974, 9643, 9838, 9858, 9859, 9860, 9977 and 10708 are hereby rescinded.