Drafter
Clerk 06/08/2015
Title
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the executive to enter into the Interagency Agreement between King County Metro and Sound Transit for ST Express Bus Service Operations and Maintenance 2015; and declaring an emergency.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. The Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority ("Sound Transit") was formed in 1993. In 1996, voters within the district authorized the imposition of sales and motor vehicle excise taxes for the construction and operation a regional transit system comprising express bus service, commuter rail service and light rail service.
2. The King County council, in Motion 10448, passed April 27, 1998, authorized the King County executive to enter into a memorandum of understanding establishing a cooperative relationship between the Sound Transit and King County.
3. In Ordinance 14661, the council authorized the executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between King County and Sound Transit, by which the transit division ("Metro Transit") operates and maintains Sound Transit's Link Light Rail system.
4. King County also provides Sound Transit Express bus service in King County under an agreement with Sound Transit. That contract is about to expire.
5. Sound Transit and the executive have been in negotiations to enter into a new agreement by which Metro Transit will provide Sound Transit Express bus operation and maintenance services for up to another four and one-half years and which will require Metro Transit appropriations in excess of $40 million per year.
6. Motion 14110 sets forth King County's financial policies to provide fiduciary oversight and guidance on developing operating budgets, capital asset management, expenditure management, revenue generation and collection and the use of fund balance.
7. Ordinance 17225 establishes the transit division fund management policies, which are consistent with the adopted Strategic Plan for Public Transportation 2011-2021 and guide the expenditure and investment of public transportation resources.
8. Sound Transit's board of directors is scheduled on June 28, 2015, to consider and possibly authorize Sound Transit's chief executive officer to execute an agreement with Metro Transit for the county to provide Sound Transit Express bus service operations and maintenance, with a contract term that could extend through 2019.
9. It is anticipated that Sound Transit and the executive plan on signing an agreement by the end of June 2015.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. Under the current proposed agreement under discussion between Sound Transit and the transit division ("Metro Transit"), the county would provide Sound Transit Express bus operation and maintenance services for up to another four and one-half years, which will require Metro Transit appropriations in excess of $40 million per year ("proposed new agreement"). This represents a significant allocation of Metro Transit resources.
B. Any agreement of this potential duration and revenue levels presents significant policy, budgetary and service issues that the council desires to review prior to the executive entering into the agreement with Sound Transit. If any proposed new agreement is signed without the council's deliberative review process, the council's ability to ensure that the county's fiscal policies are followed is lost.
C. The King County council has determined that it is the best interest of the public that the council review the terms and conditions of any proposed new agreement prior to the executive signing that agreement.
D. There is a potential that if Sound Transit and the executive agree on the terms and conditions of a proposed new agreement,then the executive might sign that agreement before June 15, 2015.
SECTION 2. The executive shall be authorized to execute any agreement between King County and Sound Transit for the county to provide operations and maintenance of Express bus service for 2016 and thereafter, but only after that agreement has been reviewed by the council and an ordinance authorizing the executive to sign that agreement is enacted.
SECTION 3. The executive shall submit by July 16, 2015, an agreement with Sound Transit under which the county agrees to provide operations and maintenance of Express bus service for 2016 and thereafter, in the form of a paper original and electronic copy to the clerk of the council, who shall retain the original and distribute a copy to all councilmembers, the council chief of staff, the policy staff director and the lead staff for the budget and fiscal management committee, or its successor.
SECTION 4. The county council finds as a fact and declares that an emergency
exists and that this ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health or safety or for the support of county government and its existing public institutions.