Title
AN ORDINANCE establishing the process governing the use of virtual or restricted meetings in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act; and declaring an emergency.
Body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings.
A. In February 2020, Governor Inslee issued Proclamation 20-05 proclaiming a state of emergency resulting from the COVID 19 pandemic. In furtherance of the governor's emergency powers authorized by Proclamation 20-05, the governor issued Proclamation 20-28, waiving the requirement in the Open Public Meetings Act ("the OPMA") that the public be allowed to attend meetings subject to the OPMA in person.
B. Relying on Proclamation 20-28, the council authorized virtual meetings for itself and any council-created commissions, boards and committees subject to the OPMA. For the purposes of this ordinance, "virtual" means that both the public and officials participate in the meeting remotely by telephone or electronic means.
C. On April 29, 2022, the governor rescinded Proclamation 20-28, to be effective June 1, 2022. Therefore, on and after that date, meetings subject to the OPMA must provide a physical location for the public to gather to attend such meetings.
D. On March 25, 2022, Governor Inslee signed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1329, which became Chapter 115, Laws of Washington 2022, which includes authorization for a public agency, such as King County, to establish provisions by which the meetings of its governing body, such as the council, may hold virtual meetings.
E. Section 5, Chapter 115, Laws of Washington 2022, as it would apply to the county, provides that if an emergency has been declared by the local, state or federal government and the county has determined that its council cannot meet with the public attending the meeting in-person "with reasonable safety because of the emergency," meetings may be held that are: (1) virtual, with no physical location for the meeting; or (2) restricted, lim...

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