Drafter
Clerk 04/18/2018
Title
A MOTION establishing a process to review applications for service on the Vashon Island ferry advisory committee.
Body
WHEREAS, RCW 47.60.310 provides for the appointment of ferry advisory committees to express to the management of Washington state ferries the views of local community groups regarding the service provided by the state ferry system and any problems being experienced within the area served by the ferry system, and
WHEREAS, RCW 47.60.310 provides for Vashon Island to have a ferry advisory committee consisting of three members, and
WHEREAS, RCW 47.60.310 provides that at least one person appointed to the Vashon Island ferry advisory committee shall be a representative of an established ferry user group or of frequent users of the ferry system, and
WHEREAS, RCW 47.60.310 provides that each member of the Vashon Island ferry advisory committee shall reside in the vicinity of the Vashon Island ferry terminal, and
WHEREAS, RCW 47.60.310 provides that not more than two members of the Vashon Island ferry advisory committee may be from the same political party at the time of their appointment, and
WHEREAS, RCW 47.60.310 provides that the members of the Vashon Island ferry advisory committee shall be appointed by the Vashon/Maury Island community council to serve staggered four-year terms, and
WHEREAS, RCW 47.60.310 provides that if the Vashon/Maury Island community council fails to appoint a qualified person to fill a vacancy on the Vashon ferry advisory committee within ninety days after the vacancy occurs, the legislative authority of King County, which is the King County council, shall appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy, and
WHEREAS, the Vashon/Maury Island community council is no longer operating and was administratively dissolved by the Washington secretary of state in September 2013, and
WHEREAS, in 2016, upon the expiration of the terms of the members of the Vashon Island ferry advisory committee, and in the absence of the Vashon/Maury Island community council, the King County council appointed as members of the Vashon Island ferry advisory committee the three people who had been most recently appointed by the Vashon/Maury Island community council, and
WHEREAS, for the 2016 appointments to the Vashon Island ferry advisory committee, the King County council set staggered terms, with one each for two years, three years and four years, and
WHEREAS, the King County council desires that the ferry advisory committee provide opportunities for clear and collegial communication between community members and staff of the Washington State Ferries, so as to ensure efficient and effective ferry services to King County residents and businesses, and
WHEREAS, the King County council recognizes that this goal of enhancing communication requires a significant and ongoing time commitment by members of the ferry advisory committee, including regular meetings of the ferry advisory committee, meetings with staff of the Washington State Ferries and outreach to community members, and
WHEREAS, the King County council wishes to develop a process for future appointments to the Vashon Island ferry advisory committee that will provide notice of vacancies to the community, provide the opportunity for interested community members from Vashon/Maury Island to apply to serve and provide for a structured review of applications that are received that considers the responsibilities of ferry advisory committee members;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. When the King County councilmember who represents Vashon/Maury Island is alerted to a vacancy on the Vashon Island ferry advisory committee, either because of the expiration of a term or because of a member choosing to resign prior to the expiration of that member's term, the councilmember shall:
1. Provide information to residents of Vashon/Maury Island about the Vashon Island ferry advisory committee and an application to serve on the Vashon Island ferry advisory committee, with a deadline by which applications must be received, through means that could include but are not limited to the King County council web site, King County council mailing lists, notices in Vashon/Maury Island media or notices at the Vashon Island ferry terminal; and
2. Convene a Vashon Island ferry advisory committee membership review group with the following representation:
a. one representative of the King County councilmember who represents Vashon/Maury Island;
b. two representatives of the King County executive; and
c. two representatives of organizations that serve the Vashon/Maury Island community.
B. The Vashon Island ferry advisory committee membership review group shall review applications that are received for service on the Vashon Island ferry advisory committee and shall submit up to two recommendations for each vacant position to the King County councilmember who represents Vashon/Maury Island. The recommendations shall meet the requirements for membership on the Vashon Island ferry advisory committee described in RCW 47.60.310.
C. The King County council shall appoint a member to each vacant position on
the Vashon Island ferry advisory committee using the appointment process described in RCW 47.60.310.