There are two provisions in the current Charter which speak to the formation and appointment of individuals to serve as commissioners. Section 340.40 stipulates that appointments by the county executive are subject to confirmation by a majority of the county council. Section 800 likewise states that the county executive is responsible to appoint a commission, but does not mention any need for confirmation by the County Council.

These discrepancies led to some disagreement and confusion. It was the unanimous recommendation of this Commission to amend the Charter so as to establish a clear appointment process.

Once seated, the Charter Review Commission deliberates for over a year on current needs and changing concerns within the charter that have developed over the previous ten years. It then makes recommendations for changes to the County Council. The second part of this Amendment requires the Council to respond publicly to these recommendations.

For the foregoing reasons, we urge you to vote yes to amend Section 800 so as to ensure that appointees to future Charter Review Commissions are confirmed by a majority vote of the County Council, and that the findings and recommendations of future Commissions are considered in an open public meeting.

STATEMENT PREPARED BY: Sarah Rinlaub, Tara-Jo Heinecke, Lois North

No statement submitted.

Ordinance 16547

as amended by Ordinance 16599

Proposed No. 2009-0348.2                                  Sponsors  Ferguson and Lambert

AN ORDINANCE proposing an amendment to Section 800 of the King County Charter, to provide for council confirmation of charter review commission members and to require council consideration of charter review commission recommended charter amendments; and submitting the same to the voters of the county for their ratification or rejection at the November 2009 general election.

            BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

            SECTION 1. There shall be submitted to the voters of King County for their approval and ratification or rejection, at the next general election to be held in this county occurring more than forty-five days after the enactment of this ordinance, an amendment to Section 800 of the King County Charter as set forth herein:

            Section 800 Charter Review and Amendments.

            At least every ten years after the adoption of this charter, the county executive shall appoint a citizen commission of not less than fifteen members whose mandate shall be to review the charter and present, or cause to be presented, to the county council a written report recommending those amendments, if any, which should be made to the charter. Appointees shall be subject to confirmation by a majority of the county council. This citizen commission shall be composed of at least one representative from each of the county council districts. The county council shall consider the commission’s report and recommendations and decide at an open public meeting how to proceed on each of the commission’s recommended charter amendments, as provided by ordinance.

            The county council may propose amendments to this charter by enacting an ordinance to submit a proposed amendment to the voters of the county at the next general election occurring more than forty-five days after the enactment of the ordinance. An ordinance proposing an amendment to the charter shall not be subject to the veto power of the county executive. Publication of a proposed amendment and notice of its submission to the voters of the county shall be made in accordance with the state constitution and general law. If the proposed amendment is approved by a majority of the voters voting on the issue, it shall become effective ten days after the results of the election are certified unless a later date is specified in the amendment.

            SECTION 2. The clerk of the council shall certify the proposition to the county elections director, in substantially the following form, with such additions, deletions or modifications as may be required by the prosecuting attorney:

Shall the King County Charter be amended to provide for council confirmation of charter review commission members and to require public council consideration of the charter review commission’s recommended charter amendments?

Ordinance 16547 was introduced on 6/1/2009 and passed by the Metropolitan King County Council on 6/8/2009, by the following vote:

Yes: 9 - Mr. Constantine, Mr. Ferguson, Ms. Hague, Ms. Lambert, Mr. von Reichbauer, Mr. Gossett, Mr. Philips, Ms. Patterson and Mr. Dunn

No: 0

Excused: 0

Simple Majority (Washington State Constitution Art. XI, Sec. 4 and King County Charter Section 800)