Title 2
ADMINISTRATIONUPDATED: August 1, 2024
Chapters:
2.04 SERVICE OF PROCESS ON COUNTY
2.08 OFFICE HOURS
2.10 PERFORMANCE, MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
2.12 MAINTENANCE OF PERMANENT RECORDS*
2.14 PUBLIC ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC RECORDS AND INFORMATION
2.15 CITIZEN AND IMMIGRATION STATUS
2.16 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES AND EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS
2.18 DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS
2.20 COUNTY AUDITOR
2.21 CLAIMS AGAINST COUNTY
2.22 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES
2.28 MEMBERSHIP ON BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES
2.30 WOMEN’S ADVISORY BOARD
2.31 HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION
2.32 ADMINISTRATIVE AND ADVISORY BOARDS
2.34 BOARD OF APPEALS AND EQUALIZATION
2.35 KING COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
2.35A DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
2.36 COMMITTEES
2.37 WASHINGTON STATE PUBLIC STADIUM AUTHORITY
2.38 WASHINGTON STATE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STADIUM FACILITIESDISTRICT
2.39A HOTEL-MOTEL SPECIAL SUPPORT PROGRAM
2.40 KING COUNTY AGRICULTURE COMMISSION
2.41 KING COUNTY RURAL FOREST COMMISSION
2.42 HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER
2.43 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM
2.46 PUBLIC ART PROGRAM
2.47 CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF REVEREND DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR.
2.48 CULTURAL PROGRAMS
2.49 CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF KING COUNTY
2.51 KING COUNTY FRAMEWORK POLICIES FOR HUMAN SERVICES
2.52 KING COUNTY OFFICE OF PUBLIC COMPLAINTS/TAX ADVISOR - OMBUDSOFFICE (Formerly KING COUNTY OFFICE OF CITIZEN COMPLAINTS/TAXADVISOR)
2.53 CITIZENS' ELECTIONS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
2.55 SECTION 504/ADA ADVISORY COMMITTEE
2.56 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT*
2.58 EMERGENCY RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
2.59 PUBLIC, EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENT ACCESS TELEVISIONCHANNELS
2.60 PUBLIC DEFENSE
2.62 INTERROGATION OF JUVENILES IN CUSTODY
2.63 QUESTIONING AND SEARCH OF YOUTH

2.65
2.68
2.69
2.70
2.72
2.75
2.78
2.80
2.84
2.88
2.92
2.93
2.94
2.96
2.97
2.98
2.99
2.100
2.110
2.120
2.124
2.130
2.140
2.150
2.200
2.300
2.400

CONFINEMENT OF JUVENILES*2.67FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGYUSEDISTRICT COURT DISTRICT PLAN
SUPERIOR COURT OF KING COUNTYDISTRICT COURT - MERIT SELECTION PROCESSCOUNTY PRISONERSLAW ENFORCEMENT OVERSIGHTIMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMISSIONGIFTS, BEQUESTS AND DONATIONS TO COUNTYINTERNATIONAL TRADE EXPANSION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
HOUSING AUTHORITY - FEDERALLY ASSISTED PROGRAMSSAFETY AND WORKER'S COMPENSATION PROGRAMPROCUREMENTHOURLY MINIMUM WAGE FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES (takes effect January
1, 2025*)
PURCHASING*
CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM
RULES OF COUNTY AGENCIESFEES CHARGED BY COUNTY AGENCIESCODE INTERPRETATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONSKING COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICTFERRY DISTRICTTRANSIT PUBLIC INVOLVEMENTMENTAL ILLNESS AND DRUG DEPENDENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEEFORECAST COUNCIL
RENTERS' COMMISSIONSEATTLE-KING COUNTY TAXICAB ADVISORY COMMISSIONWASHINGTON STATE CONVENTION CENTER PUBLIC FACILITIES DISTRICTPOVERTY BAY SHELLFISH PROTECTION DISTRICT
2.04

Sections:
2.04.010

SERVICE OF PROCESS ON COUNTY

Service of process on manager of the records and licensing services
division - methods of service.

2.04.010 Service of process on manager of the records and licensing services
division - methods of service.
A. For the purpose of service of summons on King County under provisions of RCW
4.28.080, the person to be served is the manager of the records and licensing services
division.
B. The manager of the records and licensing division shall accept service by:
1. Email to kcserviceofsummons@kingcounty.gov; or
2. In person Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the King County
Customer Service Center, 201 South Jackson Street, Room 202, Seattle, Washington,
98104. (Ord. 19612 § 1, 2023: Ord. 19073 § 2, 2020: Ord. 13, 1969).
Sections:
2.08.010

2.08

OFFICE HOURS

Office hours specified - notice.

2.08.010 Office hours specified - notice.

A. All county offices shall remain open for the transaction of public business asfollows:
1. Open on Monday through Friday of each week from eight-thirty a.m. to four-thirtyp.m., except where accommodations can be made, as determined necessary by the county
chief administrative officer, to provide services to the public on a reduced or alternative basis
and not in conflict with union contracts;
2. Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and all legal holidays; and3. Closed on designated furlough days in the case of an emergency budget crisis.
B. If an emergency budget crisis is proclaimed and ratified or declared under K.C.C.
3.12F.020 and a budget furlough has been ordered, the executive shall notify the publicthat county offices are closed by posting the information on the county buildings or officesthat are closed, by posting a notice on the Internet, by advertising in the official county
newspaper and by issuing press releases. (Ord. 16735 § 2, 2009: Ord. 16339 § 2, 2008:
Ord. 376 § 1, 1970).
2.10
Sections:
2.10.014
2.10.020
2.10.034
2.10.200
2.10.2102.10.2202.10.230
2.10.400

PERFORMANCE, MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY(Formerly PERFORMANCE, STRATEGY AND BUDGET)
Intent - policy - compounds.
Definitions.
Agencies - duties.
Fair and just principle of 2011-2014 countywide strategic plan - purpose K.C.C. 2.10.200, 2.10.210, 2.10.220 and 2.10.230.
Fair and just principle - definitions.
Fair and just principle - actions to achieve.
Fair and just principle - intent - not basis of private right of action.
Intergovernmental financing partnerships for civil or cultural facilities review - criteria.

2.10.014 Intent - policy - components.
A. It is the intent of the King County council to establish within the county governmenta performance management and accountability system that ensures an ongoing, systematic
approach to improving county governmental operations and ensures government program
results through a system of strategic planning, evidence-based decision making, continuous
performance improvement and a focus on accountability in the achievement of prioritizedgoals.
B. The performance management and accountability system shall:
1. Engage the public and county leadership in the development of countywidepriorities;
2. Demonstrate achievement in meeting the county's goals;
3. Increase the ability of county managers and staff to continuously improve
performance and customer service and to assess program effectiveness; and4. Assist county elected leaders in making policy and budget decisions in supportof county goals and objectives.
C. The performance management and accountability systems shall consist of:
1. A system of strategic planning and monitoring;
2. The King County budget as authorized under K.C.C. chapter 4A.100;
3. A system of implementation, performance measurement and continuous
improvement consistent with authorities and responsibilities of the King County Charter; and4. Regular reporting and evaluation of results. (Ord. 19540 § 1, 2022: Ord. 17929§ 1, 2014: Ord. 17834 § 2, 2014).

2.10.020 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
A. "Activities" means the specific, measurable processes, products and services
implemented by an agency to achieve strategies and objectives.
B. "Agency" means the council administration and independent offices of thelegislative branch, the executive branch, including departments, divisions and offices, theprosecuting attorney, the superior court, the district court, the assessor, the department ofelections and the office of economic and financial analysis.
C. "Goals" means the statements of direction, purpose or intent that describe thefuture state or result to be achieved.
D. "Measure" means a quantitative value, characteristic or metric used to track theinternal or external performance of objectives, strategies and actions.
E. "Objectives" means a statement of the specific, measurable results stated toachieve a goal. Objectives inform the development of strategies and activities.
F. "Performance measurement" means collecting, analyzing and reporting data withregard to the performance of an agency, objectives, strategies, activities, programs, orservices.
G. "Result" means the outcome of a program, service, set of activities or strategy
used to describe the impact of the activity or strategy as it relates to meeting goals, objectives
and strategies.
H. "Strategies" means the specific, measurable systems, methods and approaches
necessary to achieve objective s and goals.
I. "Target" means a desired number or level related to a performance measure thatthe county or an agency is striving to achieve through activities, strategies and objectives.
(Ord. 19540 § 2, 2022: Ord. 17834 § 3, 2014: Ord. 16960 § 3, 2010: Ord. 16391 §13,
2009: Ord. 16308 § 1, 2008: Ord. 16202 § 2, 2008: Ord. 11980 § 2, 1995).
2.10.034 Agencies - duties.
Agencies shall
A. Regularly engage with the public to identify and collect feedback on county
initiatives and activities;
B. Work collaboratively with other agencies and between the legislative andexecutive branches to develop prioritized goals, objectives and strategies while respecting
separate authorities established in the King County Charter;
C. Annually measure and report on how well it is meeting its goals, objectives andtargets;
E.
Use performance measurement for planning, evaluation, continuous
improvement and resource allocation;
F. Use results to support continuous organizational evaluation and improvement incollaboration with the workforce rather than punitive purposes; and6. Implement the performance management and accountability system consistent
with the fair and just principle under K.C.C. 2.10.210 through 2.10.230. (Ord. 19540 § 3,
2022: Ord. 17834 § 4, 2014).
2.10.200 Fair and just principle of 2011-2014 countywide strategic plan purpose - K.C.C. 2.10.200, 2.10.210, 2.10.220 and 2.10.230. King County has
transformed its work on equity and social justice from an initiative to an integrated effort
that applies the county's principle of "fair and just" intentionally in all the county does inorder to achieve equitable opportunities for all people and communities. K.C.C. 2.10.200,
2.10.210, 2.10.220 and 2.10.230 establishes definitions and identifies the specificapproaches necessary to implement and achieve the "fair and just" principle that isembedded as a core element of the county's goals, objectives and strategies. (Ord. 19540§ 4, 2022: Ord. 16948 § 1, 2010).
2.10.210 Fair and just principle - definitions. The definitions in this section apply
throughout K.C.C. 2.10.200, 2.10.210, 2.10.220 and 2.10.230 unless the context clearlyrequires otherwise.
A. "Community" means a group of people who share some or all of the following:
geographic boundaries, sense of membership, culture, language, common norms andinterests.
B. "Determinants of equity" means the social, economic, geographic, political andphysical environment conditions in which people in our county are born, grow, live, workand age that lead to the creation of a fair and just society. Access to the determinants ofequity is necessary to have equity for all people regardless of race, class, gender or
language spoken. Inequities are created when barriers exist that prevent individuals andcommunities from accessing these conditions and reaching their full potential. The
determinants of equity are:
1. Community economic development that supports local ownership of assets,
including homes and businesses, and assures fair access for all to business development
and business retention opportunities;
2. Community and public safety that includes services such as fire, police,
emergency medical services and code enforcement that are responsive to all residents sothat everyone feels safe to live, work and play in any neighborhood of King County;
3. A law and justice system that provides equitable access and fair treatment forall;
4. Early childhood development that supports nurturing relationships, high-quality
affordable child care and early learning opportunities that promote optimal early childhood
development and school readiness for all children;
5. Education that is high quality and culturally appropriate and allows each student
to reach the student’s full learning and career potential;
6. Equity in county practices that eliminates all forms of discrimination in county
activities in order to provide fair treatment for all employees, contractors, clients,
community partners, residents and others who interact with King County;
7. Food systems that support local food production and provide access toaffordable, healthy, and culturally appropriate foods for all people;
8. Health and human services that are high quality, affordable and culturally
appropriate and support the optimal well-being of all people;
9. Healthy built and natural environments for all people that include mixes of land
use that support: jobs, housing, amenities and services; trees and forest canopy; andclean air, water, soil and sediment;
10. Housing for all people that is safe, affordable, high quality and healthy;
11. Job training and jobs that provide all residents with the knowledge and skills
to compete in a diverse workforce and with the ability to make sufficient income for thepurchase of basic necessities to support them and their families;
12. Neighborhoods that support all communities and individuals through strongsocial networks, trust among neighbors and the ability to work together to achieve common
goals that improve the quality of life for everyone in the neighborhood;
13. Parks and natural resources that provide access for all people to safe, clean
and quality outdoor spaces, facilities and activities that appeal to the interests of allcommunities; and14. Transportation that provides everyone with safe, efficient, affordable,
convenient and reliable mobility options including public transit, walking, car pooling andbiking.

C. "Equity" means all people have full and equal access to opportunities that enable
them to attain their full potential.
D. "Equity and social justice foundational practices" means those practices that
can increase the county's influence on access to the determinants of equity when applied
to the county's actions in: siting and delivery of services; policy development and decision
making; education and communication within county government; and community
engagement and partnerships. Equity and social justice foundational practices are goals
for all governmental actions; and across agencies, programs and services. The equity
and social justice foundational practices are efforts that enable King County government
to:1. Raise and sustain the visibility of the county's "fair and just" principle and equity
and social justice values, policies and foundational practices;
2. Increase focus on the determinants of equity in order to make progress in theelimination of the root cause of inequities;
3. Consider equity and social justice impacts in all decision-making so thatdecisions increase fairness and opportunity for all people, particularly for people of color,
low-income communities and people with limited English proficiency or, when decisions
that have a negative impact on fairness and opportunity are unavoidable, steps are
implemented that mitigate the negative impacts;
4. Foster an organizational culture that promotes fairness and opportunity;
5. Collaborate across agencies, departments and other organizations;
6. Build capacity to engage all communities in a manner that: promotes and foster
trust among people across geographic, race, class and gender lines; results in more
effective policies, processes and services; and supports communities' efforts to develop
solutions.
F. "Fair and just" means the county serves all residents by promoting fairness andopportunity and eliminating inequities through actions to which equity and social justicefoundational practices are applied.
G. "Inequity" means differences in well-being that disadvantage one individual orgroup in favor of another. These differences are systematic, patterned and unfair and canbe changed. Inequities are not random; they are caused by past and current decisions,systems of power and privilege, policies and the implementation of those policies.
H. "Social justice" means all aspects of justice, including legal, political andeconomic, and requires the fair distribution of public goods, institutional resources and life
opportunities for all people. (Ord. 19540 § 5, 2022: Ord. 18618 § 20, 2017: Ord. 16948§ 2, 2010).
2.10.220 Fair and just principle - actions to achieve. To achieve the fair and justprinciple, the executive shall:
A. Apply equity and social justice foundational practices to county actions andendeavor to integrate these practices into the county's: plans; management and reporting
systems for accountability and performance; and budgets in order to eliminate inequities
and create opportunities for all people and communities;
B. Establish an interbranch team to facilitate accountability of and coordination by
all branches, departments, agencies, and offices of county government regarding
implementation of the fair and just principle. The executive shall designate a department
or agency to colead the effort. The interbranch team shall be composed of the directors
or their designees of all branches, departments, agencies and offices of county
government. The interbranch team shall support the county's application of equity andsocial justice foundational practices through:1. Development of analytical tools to support all branches' departments andagencies in identifying the equity impacts of policies and decisions and ways in which toamplify positive impacts and mitigate negative impacts;
2. Development of guidelines which can be implemented across all branches'
departments and agencies for outreach, communication and community engagement toimprove the scope and effectiveness of county efforts to ensure that all communities
receive information and have the opportunity to shape county policies and services;
3. Identifying focus areas and supporting the development of policies and actions
that improve fairness and opportunity in county government organizational practices,
including all employment practices such as hiring, training, retention and promotion andbusiness practices such as contracting, procurement and grant writing;
4. Providing a forum for exchange of information and identification of opportunities
for collaboration across branches' departments and agencies on equity and social justicefoundational practices; and5. Supporting the identification of annual work plans by branches' departments
and agencies on application of equity and social justice practices, including the items listed
in subsection B.1. through 5. of this section; andC. Design and publish an annual report for King County elected leadership,
employees and the public on the status and trends in equity in the county and measuresof accountability for work plans and results related to implementation of K.C.C. 2.10.200,
2.10.210, 2.10.220 and 2.10.230. (Ord. 19540 § 6, 2022: Ord. 16948 § 3, 2010).
2.10.230 Fair and just principle - intent - not basis of private right of action.
It is the intent of the council that K.C.C. 2.10.200, 2.10.210, 2.10.220 and 2.10.230 is a
general statement of county policy that cannot form the basis of a private right of action.
(Ord. 16948 § 4, 2010).
2.10.400 Intergovernmental financing partnerships for civil or cultural
facilities - review - criteria.
A. The county's office of performance, strategy and budget shall review municipal
proposals for intergovernmental financing partnerships that, if the eligibility criteria insubsection B. of this section are satisfied, would support the development of an interlocal
agreement for the county to issue bonds in support of municipally-sponsored development
and construction of civic or cultural facilities with regional benefit.
B. The office of performance, strategy and budget shall apply the following criteria
in evaluating a proposal for an intergovernmental financing partnership for thedevelopment and construction of civic or cultural facilities as provided for in subsection A.
of this section:
1. Only municipalities in King County are eligible to be a partner city;
2. The proposed project must be located in the partner city;
3. The proposed project must serve a county purpose and be determined to havebroad regional benefit;
4. The partner city must establish and identify the available secured revenue
sources for the proposed project;
5. The county's contribution shall be limited to an amount that can reasonably be
supported by the established or identified available tax revenues or other secured
revenues identified by the partner city, and shall be in an amount that is appropriate forthe specific circumstances of the proposal. County debt shall be used only if the county
has determined that its participation in the project with the partner city project would beconsistent with the county's debt policies and would not adversely impact the county's
bond rating or finances;6. The partner city must enter into an interlocal agreement with the county. Theinterlocal agreement may further establish the roles and responsibilities of the partner cityand the county, including the financing, management, ownership, communication,
oversight and accountability mechanisms that may be required by the county as the basis
for its participation in the partner city's project;
7. The proceeds from the county bond issuance may only be used for the project's
development and construction. The bond proceeds may not be used for a facility's
operations;8. The partner city shall cover all county costs associated with the bond issuance;
9. The project must satisfy all environmental requirements; and10. The project must receive all necessary permitting approvals. (Ord. 17402 §1, 2012).
2.12
Sections:
2.12.005
2.12.010
2.12.020
2.12.035
2.12.040
2.12.060
2.12.120
2.12.130
2.12.170
2.12.180
2.12.210
2.12.2202.12.230
2.12.240
2.12.250

2.12.260
2.12.2702.12.280
2.12.290
2.12.300

MAINTENANCE OF PERMANENT RECORDS*

Definitions.
Preparation of permanent records of council proceedings.
Transfer of council and commissioners records to archives.
Archives and records management program - archives as official
repository.
Records retention and public disclosure manuals.
Retention of public records.
Recording services - fees.
Non-statutorily required reports - Fees.
Enhanced program for preserving, copying, maintaining and indexing
documents - fee.
Agency index of records, reports and manuals required.
Public records - rules adopted - clarification by agencies - King County
as political subdivision
Records - authority and purpose.
Public records - public records officer - contact information - requests
to each agency - assistance - education and training - minimize
interference and disruption.
Public Records - availability of public records - hours for inspection index - organization - requests.
Public records - processing requests - general - providing full access process upon request - notice to affected parties - exempt records inspection - copies - installments - closing withdrawn or abandoned
request - later-discovered documents.
Public records - processing electronic records - request - provision customized access.
Public records - exemptions.
Public records - no fees for inspecting - fees for copies, customized
services - deposit, payments and charges.
Public records - review of denial - petition - process.
Public records - performance reports.

*For the statutory provisions regarding county record keeping, see RCW 36.32.140,
36.32.150, 36.32.155, 36.32.160 and 36.32.170.

2.12.005 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
A.1. "Agency" means:a. the executive branch;b. the legislative branch;c. the department of assessments;d. the office of the prosecuting attorney;e. the department of elections;f. the forecast council and office of economic and financial analysis;g. the board of appeals; andh. the personnel board.
2. "Agency" does not include the superior court or the district court.
B. “Archival records” means those designated as having continuing historical value
by the Washington State Archives or the King County archivist.
C. "County records" means any document, including any paper, correspondence,completed form, bound records book, photograph, film, sound or video recording, map,
drawing, machine-readable material, or other document, regardless of physical form or
characteristics, and including copies thereof, that has been made by or received by any
agency of King County in connection with the transaction of public business.
D. "Executive branch" means the executive branch as defined in the county charter,
but excluding the department of assessments and the department of elections.
E. "Legislative branch" means the legislative branch as defined in the county
charter and as provided by ordinance, including, but not limited to, the county council andthe county auditor's office, the office of public complaints/tax advisor, the hearing
examiner, and the office of law enforcement oversight.
F. "Official record" means a public record that an agency is required by law toaccept or maintain, including, but not limited to, recorded documents, judgments, licenses,
vital statistics, and property records.
G. "Public record" includes any writing containing information relating to the
conduct of government or the performance of any governmental or proprietary function
prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physicalform or characteristics.
H. "Public records officer" means the person appointed by the agency inaccordance with K.C.C. 2.12.230.A. (Ord. 19741 § 5, 2023: Ord. 16679 § 1, 2009: Ord.
10698 § 3, 1993).
2.12.010 Preparation of permanent records of council proceedings. The clerkof the council is responsible for the preparation of permanent records of the council
proceedings. (Ord. 16679 § 2, 2009: Ord. 695 § 1, 1971).
2.12.020 Transfer of council and commissioners records to archives. All
records of the King County council and records of the King County commissioners,
including office files and memoranda, shall be transferred to the King County archives forpermanent retention in accordance with the applicable records retention schedules. (Ord.
16679 § 3, 2009: Ord. 15971 § 27, 2007: Ord. 10698 § 1, 1993: Ord. 4714 § 1, 1979:
Ord. 695 § 2, 1971).
2.12.035 Archives and records management program - archives as official
repository.
A. An archives and records management program is hereby established in therecords and licensing services division of the department of executive services. The
archives and records management program shall be responsible for:

1. Maintaining a facility for storage of inactive and archival records;
2. Establishing standards for records storage media to ensure continued publicaccess to public records during their legal retention period and for preservation of archival
records;
3. Maintaining records retention schedules of current records index as set forth inchapter 42.56 RCW. A directory of historical, noncurrent or obsolete records designatedarchival shall serve as an index to King County administrative history, as provided bychapter 40.14 RCW; and4. Preserving and providing public access to the archival records of King County.
B. The King County archives is designated as the official repository of the county's
archival records. The King County archives may transfer the county's archival records tothe Washington state archives for ongoing preservation. (Ord. 16679 § 4, 2009: Ord.
15971 § 28, 2007: Ord. 10698 § 2, 1993).
2.12.040 Records retention and public disclosure manuals. The departmentof executive services is responsible for maintaining records retention and public disclosure
manuals. The manuals shall include each agency’s record retention schedules. The
manuals shall be made available to the public by electronic means. (Ord. 16679 § 5, 2009:
Ord. 12485 § 4, 1996).
2.12.060 Retention of public records. Retention of public records, including
official records, shall be in accordance with approved records retention schedules
established pursuant to RCW 40.14.070. In accordance with those records retention
schedules, the archives and records management program shall provide for the legal
retention and disposition of public records, including identification of archival records.
(Ord. 16679 § 7, 2009: Ord. 10698 § 5, 1993: Ord. 3606 § 4, 1978).
2.12.120 Recording services - fees. The manager of the records and licensing
services division shall charge such fees for the provision of recording services as areprovided for county auditors in chapters 36.18 and 36.22 RCW and RCW 58.24.070. In
addition, the following specific fees apply:
A. Record of survey. As authorized under RCW 58.09.100, for land surveys, whichshall be eighteen by twenty-four inches or less in size, the fee schedule is:
1. Basic fee for first page$25.002. Each additional page
$5.00
B. For short plats and boundary line adjustments, legal size or smaller, themanager of the records and licensing services division shall charge such fees as areprovided for county auditors in chapter 36.18 RCW. For short plats and boundary line
adjustments, eighteen by twenty-four inches or less in size, the fee schedule shall be thesame as record of survey under subsection A. of this section.
C. The record of monument shall be filed without charge on the standard form
prescribed by the state Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Surveys and Maps.
D. As authorized under RCW 64.34.202, to reserve the right to use a specific namefor a condominium, the fee is fifty dollars. (Ord. 16679 § 13, 2009: Ord. 15971 § 30, 2007:
Ord. 14764 § 1, 2003: Ord. 14457 § 1, 2002: Ord. 14007 § 2, 2000: Ord. 13331 § 2,
1998: Ord. 9168 § 3, 1989: Ord. 1660 §§ 1-2, 1973).
2.12.130 Non-statutorily required reports - Fees.
A. The purpose of this section is to authorize departments of King County
government to assess service fees for reimbursement of actual costs incurred by thecounty for the research, production and provision of computer print-out pages of requested
reports which are not specifically required by statute to be provided.

B. This section shall apply to the provision of non-statutorily required reports to any
party other than a King County agency. The cost to any party other than a King County
agent shall be the actual unit cost per print-out page or part thereof. This cost shall bebased on data maintenance and input, research, and production time.
C. Departments providing non-statutorily required reports shall establish aprocedure for collection of these fees.
D. This section shall not apply to infrequent provision of non-statutorily required
reports if the collection of service fees is determined by a department to be cost ineffective.
(Ord. 8068, 1987).
2.12.170 Enhanced program for preserving, copying, maintaining andindexing documents - fee.
A. There is established within the records and licensing services division anenhanced program for preserving, copying, maintaining and indexing documents officially
recorded and filed with the county that require preservation in the public interest against
age and environmental degradation before they are irreparably damaged. The program
shall take advantage of the latest technology for records preservation to include, but notlimited to, photomicrographic and computerized electronic digital storage methods.
B. To support the program, the manager of the records and licensing services
division shall collect the fee authorized under RCW 36.22.170 for each document recordedin the recorder’s office, which shall be in addition to any other authorized fee or charge.
The fee shall be used for only those purposes outlined by state law as amended, that is,
to provide for the installation and maintenance of an improved system for copying,preserving and indexing documents recorded in King County and for the preservation of
those records deemed archival. (Ord. 16679 § 15, 2009: Ord. 15971 § 32, 2007: Ord.
9168 § 2, 1989).
2.12.180 Agency index of records, reports and manuals required.
A. Each agency shall maintain and make available for public inspection andcopying a current index providing identifying information as to the following records issued,
adopted, or promulgated after June 30, 1972:
1. Final opinions, including concurring and dissenting opinions, as well as orders
made in the adjudication of cases;
2. Those statements of policy and interpretations of policy, statute and theconstitution which have been adopted by the agency;
3. Administrative staff manuals and instructions to staff that affect a member ofthe public;
4. Planning policies and goals and interim and final planning decisions;
5. Factual staff reports and studies, factual consultant's reports and studies,scientific reports and studies, and any other factual information derived from tests, studies
reports or surveys, whether conducted by public employees or others; and6. Correspondence, and materials referred to in the correspondence either
prepared or received by the agency relating to any regulatory, supervisory or enforcement
responsibilities of the agency, in which the agency determines, or opines upon, or is asked
to determine or opine upon, the rights of the state, the public, a subdivision of state
government or any private party.
B. An agency need not maintain such an index if to do so would be unduly
burdensome, but it shall in that event:
1. Issue and publish a formal order specifying the reasons why and the extent towhich compliance would unduly burden or interfere with agency operations; and2. Make available for public inspection and copying all indexes maintained foragency use.

C. An agency's record retention schedule approved in accordance with chapter
40.14 RCW may serve as an index for the purposes of this section. (Ord. 14266 § 6, 2001:
Ord. 2165 § 4, 1974. Formerly K.C.C. 2.98.040).
2.12.210 Public records - rules adopted - clarification by agencies - KingCounty as political subdivision.
A. The county adopts the rules on records in K.C.C. 2.12.220, 2.12.230, 2.12.240,
2.12.250, 2.12.260, 2.12.270 and 2.12.280, which are based on chapter 44-14 WAC.
However, chapter 44-14 WAC and its comments are not adopted.
B. These rules may also be further clarified and implemented by each agency tothe extent that the clarifications do not conflict with state law.
C. King County is a political subdivision of the state of Washington and is a home
rule charter county composed of multiple agencies. (Ord. 16679 § 18, 2009).
2.12.220 Public records - authority and purpose.
A. RCW 42.56.070(1) requires each agency to make available for inspection andcopying nonexempt "public records" in accordance with published rules. Chapter 42.56
RCW defines "public record" to include any "writing containing information relating to the
conduct of government or the performance of any governmental or proprietary function
prepared, owned, used, or retained" by the agency.
B. The purpose of this chapter is to establish the procedures the county will follow
in order to provide full access to public records that are not exempt from disclosure underapplicable law. This chapter provides information to persons wishing to request access topublic records of the county and establish processes for both requestors and county staff
that are designed to best assist members of the public in obtaining such access.
C. The purpose of chapter 42.56 RCW is to provide the public full access to records
concerning the conduct of government that are not exempt from disclosure underapplicable law, mindful of individuals' privacy rights and the desirability of the efficientadministration of government. Chapter 42.56 RCW and this chapter will be interpreted infavor of disclosure. In carrying out its responsibilities under chapter 42.56 RCW, thecounty will be guided by the provisions of the act describing its purposes and interpretation.
(Ord. 16679 § 19, 2009).
2.12.230 Public records - public records officer - contact information requests to each agency - assistance - education and training - minimize
interference and disruption.
A. Each agency shall appoint a public records officer and shall identify the officer
in a way reasonably calculated to provide notice to the public, including posting, at theagency's public service counters, if any, and on its website, the officer's name, officeaddress, telephone number, fax number and email address. Each agency shall include
on its website home page a link to the web page on which the agency provides this contact
information and instructions on how to make a public records request.
B. Any person wishing to request access to public records of an agency, or seeking
assistance in making such a request, should contact the public records officer of theagency. A request to one agency does not constitute a request to any other agency. A
separate request must be made to each agency from which access to public records isrequested or assistance in making such a request is sought.
C. The public records officer, or the public records officer's designee, for eachagency shall oversee compliance by the agency with chapter 42.56 RCW. The agency
shall:
1. Provide the fullest assistance to requestors;

2. Provide education and training within an agency to ensure that public records
are protected from damage or disorganization and are promptly produced for inspection
and copying upon request to the extent required by law; and3. Prevent fulfillment of public records requests from causing excessiveinterference with essential functions of the agency or unreasonably disrupting theoperations of the agency. (Ord. 16679 § 20, 2009).
2.12.240 Public Records - availability of public records - hours for inspection- index - organization - requests.
A. Public records are available for inspection and copying during normal businesshours of the agency, or department thereof. Original records must be inspected at theoffices of the agency, unless the agency provides an alternative.
B. An index of public records of each agency is available through the archives andrecords management program established under K.C.C. 2.12.035. The index may beaccessed online at the archive and records management program's website.
C.1. An agency shall maintain its records in a reasonably organized manner. An
agency should take reasonable actions to protect records from damage anddisorganization.
2. A requestor shall not take an agency's records from the agency's offices.
3. A variety of records is available on the county website at www.kingcounty.gov.
Requestors are encouraged to view the documents available on the website before
submitting a records request.
D.1. A person wishing to inspect or copy public records of an agency is encouraged
to make the request in writing on the agency's request form, which shall be created andmaintained by the agency's public records officer and made available on the agency's
website. The agency request form shall:a. recite that inspection of records is free, provide the per-page charge forstandard photocopies and indicate that the requestor may inspect the records, receive a
copy of the records or inspect the records first and then select records to copy;b. prompt the requestor to provide contact information including name, phone
number, mailing address and email address if available;c. prompt the requestor to identify the public records adequately for the publicrecords officer or designee to locate the records; andd. prompt the requestor to provide the date and time of day of the request.
2. If a request is made orally, unless it is promptly fulfilled, the public records
officer shall provide written confirmation of the request to the requester.
3. If the requestor wishes to have copies of the records made instead of simply
inspecting them, the requestor should so indicate and make arrangements to pay forcopies of the records or a deposit. Charges for copies shall be made in accordance with
RCW 42.56.070. (Ord. 16679 § 21, 2009).
2.12.250 Public records - processing requests - general - providing fullaccess - process upon request - notice to affected parties - exempt records inspection - copies - installments - closing withdrawn or abandoned request - laterdiscovered documents.
A. Each agency shall provide full access to public records that are not exempt fromdisclosure under applicable law, protect records from damage or disorganization, prevent
excessive interference with other essential functions of the agency, provide fullest
assistance to requestors and provide the most-timely possible action on public records
requests.
B. The public records officer or designee shall process requests in the order
allowing the most requests to be processed in the most efficient manner; in order toprocess requests as efficiently as possible, smaller requests may be processed before
substantially larger requests that were received earlier.
C.1. Within five business days of receipt of the request, the public records officer
shall do one or more of the following:a. make the records available to the requestor for inspection or copying;b. if copies are requested and payment of a deposit for the copies, if any, ismade or terms of payment are agreed upon, send the copies to the requestor;c. provide to the requestor a reasonable estimate of when records will beavailable;
d. if the request is unclear or does not sufficiently identify the requested records,
request clarification from the requestor. The clarification may be requested and provided
by telephone, in which case the public records officer shall make a written record of theclarification. The public records officer or designee may revise the estimate of whenrecords will be available. If the requestor fails to clarify the request, the agency need not
respond to it; ore. deny the request and notify the requestor of the denial. Denials of requests
shall be accompanied by a written statement of the specific reasons therefor.
2. Additional time required to respond to a request may be based upon the needto clarify the intent of the request, to locate and assemble the information requested, tonotify third persons or agencies affected by the request or to determine whether any of theinformation requested is exempt and that a denial should be made as to all or part of therequest.
D. In the event that the requested records contain information that affects otheragencies or third persons, the public records officer may, before providing the records,
give notice to those persons in accordance with RCW 42.56.540. The notice shall include
a copy of the request.
E. Some records are exempt from disclosure, in whole or in part. If the agency
believes that a record or any part of a record is exempt from disclosure and should be
withheld, the public records officer shall provide to the requestor a writing identifying therecord or portion withheld, the specific exemption relied upon and the authority for the
exemption, and briefly explaining how the exemption applies to the record or portion
withheld, including enough information for a requestor to make a threshold determinationof whether the claimed exemption is proper. If only a portion of a record is exempt fromdisclosure, but the remainder is not exempt, the public records officer shall redact theexempt portions and provide the nonexempt portions.
F.1. The agency shall promptly provide space to inspect public records except when
and to the extent that it would cause excessive interference with other essential functionsof the agency or unreasonably disrupt agency operations. No member of the public may
remove a document from the viewing area or disassemble or alter any document. The
requestor shall indicate which documents the requestor wishes the agency to copy.
2. The requestor must claim or review the assembled records within thirty days of
the agency's notification to the requestor that the records are available for inspection or
copying. The agency shall notify the requestor in writing of this requirement and informthe requestor that the requestor should contact the agency to make arrangements to claim
or review the records. If the requestor or a representative of the requestor fails to claim orreview the records within the time prescribed in this subsection F.2. or make otherarrangements, the agency may close the request. Other public records requests may beprocessed ahead of a subsequent request by the same person for the same or almost
identical records, which may be processed as a new request.
G. After inspection is complete, the public records officer or designee shall makethe requested copies or arrange for copying.

H. When the request is for a large number of records, the public records officer ordesignee shall provide access for inspection and copying in installments, if the publicrecords officer or designee reasonably determines that it would be practical to provide therecords in that way. If, within thirty days after notification that the records are available forinspection or copying under subsection C., D. or E. of this section, the requestor fails to
inspect the entire set of records or one or more of the installments, as applicable, the publicrecords officer or designee may stop searching for the remaining records and close therequest. The requestor shall be notified in writing of this action.
I. When the requestor either withdraws the request or fails to fulfill the requestor’s
obligations to inspect the records or pay the deposit or final payment for the requested
copies, the public records officer shall close the request and indicate to the requestor thatthe agency has closed the request.
J. If, after the agency has informed the requestor that the agency has provided allavailable records, the agency becomes aware of additional responsive documents existingat the time of the request, the agency shall promptly inform the requestor of the additional
documents and provide the documents on an expedited basis.
K. If a public records officer or designee responding to a public records request
believes that one or more other agencies are likely to have records that are responsive tothe request, the public records officer or designee should, in writing, so inform therequestor and provide the requestor with the name and contact information of the publicrecords officer of each such agency, including the officer's title, office phone number, officeaddress, and email address. The public records officer is not required to review records
or otherwise investigate for the purpose of determining whether other agencies are likely
to have additional records that are responsive to the request. This subsection is intended
to enhance the public's access to public records, not to impose any legal obligation on
agencies beyond those imposed by chapter 42.56 RCW. (Ord. 18618 § 21, 2017: Ord.
17128 § 1, 2011: Ord. 16679 § 22, 2009).
2.12.260 Public records - processing electronic records - request - provision- customized access.
A. The process for requesting electronic public records is the same as forrequesting paper public records.
B. When a requestor requests records in an electronic format, the agency's publicrecords officer shall provide the nonexempt records or portions of those records that arereasonably locatable in an electronic format that is used by the agency and is generallycommercially available, or in a format that is reasonably translatable from the format inwhich the agency keeps the record.
C. The agency may provide customized access under RCW 42.56.120 if the record
is not reasonably locatable or not reasonably translatable into the format requested. The
agency may charge a fee consistent with RCW 42.56.120 for the customized access.
(Ord. 18949 § 2, 2019: Ord. 16679 § 23, 2009).
2.12.270 Public records - exemptions.
A. The Public Records Act provides that a number of types of documents are
exempt from public inspection and copying. In addition, documents are exempt fromdisclosure if any other statute exempts or prohibits disclosure. Exemptions outside the
Public Records Act that restrict the availability of some documents held by the county or
its agencies for inspection and copying include, but are not limited to, those set forth forcounties and municipalities in the most-recent list of other such statutes posted on thewebsite of the Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington, which is, as ofNovember 1, 2009, www.mrsc.org/Publications/pra06.pdf, Appendix C, and which isincorporated in this chapter by reference.

B. King County and its agencies are prohibited by statute from disclosing lists ofindividuals for commercial purposes. (Ord. 16679 § 24, 2009).
2.12.280 Public records - no fees for inspecting - fees for copies, customized
services - deposit, payments and charges.
A.1. There is no fee for inspecting public records.
2. The county may charge fees for copies of records in accordance with the feesin RCW 42.56.120(2)(b) and (c).
3. The county may charge fees for customized services in accordance with RCW
42.56.120(3).
4. Before beginning to make the copies, the public records officer or designee
may require a deposit of up to ten percent of the estimated costs of copying all the records
selected by the requestor. The public records officer or designee may also require thepayment of the remainder of the copying costs before providing all the records, or thepayment of the costs of copying an installment before providing that installment. The
agency shall not charge sales tax when it makes copies of public records.
B. An agency may also charge actual costs of mailing, including the cost of theshipping container.
C. Payment for the costs under this section may be made to the agency or theagency's designee by cash, check or money order to the agency or its designee.
D. Charges for copies of official records shall be in accordance with fees set forth
in applicable chapters of the RCW.
E. Charges for copies of material in the archival collection shall follow theguidelines of the Washington state Archives and WAC 434-690-080. (Ord. 18949 § 3,
2019: Ord. 16679 § 25, 2009).
2.12.290 Public records - review of denial - petition - process.
A. Any person who objects to the initial denial or partial denial of a public records
request may petition in writing to the public records officer for a review of the decision.
The petition shall include a copy of or reasonably identify the written statement by the
public records officer denying the request.
B. The public records officer shall promptly provide the petition and any otherrelevant information to the public records officer's supervisor or any other agency official
designated by the agency to conduct the review. The reviewing officer shall review thedecision and provide the requestor with a response.
C. Any person may obtain court review of the denial of a public records request
made in accordance with RCW 42.56.550 at the conclusion of two business days after the
initial denial regardless of any internal administrative appeal. (Ord. 16679 § 26, 2009).
2.12.300 Public records - performance reports. No later than July 1 of eachyear, the public records officer of each county agency meeting the threshold described in
RCW 40.14.026(5) shall submit to the chair of the public records committee the report
described in RCW 40.14.026(5). (Ord. 18949 § 4, 2019: Ord. 18635 § 3, 2017: Ord.
17128 § 2, 2011: Ord. 16679 § 27, 2009).
2.14

PUBLIC ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC RECORDS AND INFORMATION

Sections:
2.14.010
2.14.020
2.14.030
2.14.040

Definitions.
Public records committee - duties - reports - membership.
Commitment to protecting privacy.
Information access charges.

2.14.050 Social media used by county.
2.14.010 Definitions. For the purpose of this chapter, the terms in this section
have the following meanings:
A. “County agency” means:
1. The executive branch;
2. The legislative branch;
3. The superior court;
4. The district court;
5. The department of public safety;
6. The department of assessments;
7. The office of the prosecuting attorney;
8. The department of elections;9. The forecast council and office of economic and financial analysis;
10. The board of appeals; and11. The personnel board.
B. "Digital communication technology" means technology that is used to transmit
information in digital form, including email, text messaging, blogging, social media anddigital voicemail.
C. “Personal data” means any information concerning an individual that, becauseof name, identifying number, image, mark or description, can be readily associated with aparticular individual, including information contained in printouts, forms, written analyses
or evaluations.
D. "Personal identifying data" means social security number, date of birth ormother's family name.
E. "Social media" means the Internet-based technologies, tools and practices thatpeople use to share opinions, insights, experiences and perspectives. Social media canshare information in many different forms, including text, images, audio and video. (Ord.
18618 § 22, 2017: Ord. 17382 § 1, 2012: Ord. 17008 § 1, 2010: Ord. 16391 § 14, 2009:
Ord. 15608 § 1, 2006: Ord. 12550 § 1, 1996).
2.14.020 Public records committee - duties - reports - membership.
A. King County is committed to managing its public records as a countywide
resource and in a manner that:
1. Is efficient and economical;
2. Promotes open government and an informed citizenry;
3. Protects individual privacy; and4. Meets county record retention and disposition standards.
B. A public records committee is hereby established. The public records committee
shall:
1. Advise the council and the executive on county public records policies,
including both paper and electronic records; these policies must include policies for posting
records on county web sites;
2. Provide guidance on the planning and implementation of a countywide records
storage management plan and a countywide electronic records management system;
3. Advise county agencies on their use of digital communication technology andserve as a forum for sharing and discussing information about the county’s use of suchtechnology; and4. Submit a report containing the following information by August 15 of each year
in the form of a paper original and an electronic copy to the clerk of the council, who shallretain the original and provide an electronic copy of the report to all councilmembers, thecouncil chief of staff, and the lead staff for the council’s government accountability andoversight committee or its successor. The report shall include:
a. a description of the forms of digital communication that are in use by eachcounty agency;
b. for each form of digital communication that is in use by an agency, adescription of the methods used by the agency to retain records of digital communication
to meet applicable record retention requirements; andc. for each form of digital communication that is in use by an agency, adescription of the methods used by the agency to search records of digital communication
to meet applicable public record disclosure requirements;d. the report required by the public records committee charter adopted by Motion
12511, which provides a summary of the activities of the public records committee in
relation to the charter goals, and programmatic and policy recommendations as to how
King County can best manage, preserve and provide access to its public records; ande. all agency reports submitted to the chair of the public records committee
required by K.C.C. 2.12.300 that describe each agency’s performance in responding to
public records requests during the preceding calendar year.
C. The director of the records and licensing services division or the director's
designee shall be the chair of the public records committee. The public records committee
shall include representatives of a broad range of county departments and electedagencies, including at a minimum the following:
1. The council;
2. The prosecuting attorney's office;3. The sheriff's office;
4. The assessor's office;5. The department of elections;6. Office of performance, strategy and budget;
7. The executive branch's senior public records officer;
8. The department of information technology's director of web-based services
technology; and9. Each executive department. (Ord. 18949 § 5, 2019: Ord. 18635 § 4, 2017:
Ord. 17382 § 2, 2012: Ord. 17142 § 2, 2011: Ord. 17008 § 2, 2010: Ord. 16960 § 8,
2010: Ord. 15971 § 33, 2007: Ord. 15608 § 2, 2006: Ord. 12550 § 2, 1996).
2.14.030 Commitment to protecting privacy. King County is committed tobalancing the promotion of public access to information with the privacy rights of its citizens
by adhering to the following guidelines:
A. Collection of personal data shall be lawful, fair, and to the extent possible withthe knowledge and consent of the individual;
B. Agencies shall establish procedures to ensure that data is accurate, complete,current and relevant to the agency’s mandated functions;C. When data can only be collected with the consent of the individual, the purpose
for the data shall be stated upon collection. Personal data should not be used by thecounty for any purpose not stated upon collection without the consent of the data subject
or by the positive authorization of law. This is not intended to limit collection of personal
data for purposes of investigative agencies or other functions which collect non-disclosable
information according to chapter 42.56 RCW or any other federal, state, local statute, ruleor regulation;
D. Personal data shall be reasonably protected by the data collector;
E. Agencies shall establish mechanisms for citizens to review information about
themselves and to submit corrections of possible inaccuracies in that information; andF. The executive shall submit a report by October 1 of every year filed in the formof a paper original and an electronic copy to the clerk of the council, who shall retain theoriginal and provide an electronic copy to all councilmembers and committee coordinator
for the government and accountability committee or its successor. The report shall list by
category new and existing personal data collected by county agencies, a description of
the uses of this personal data and its public disclosure status. (Ord. 17008 § 3, 2010:
Ord. 12550 § 3, 1996).
2.14.040 Information access charges. Charges assessed of either commercial
or public users for paper copies of information maintained in electronic shall be set inaccordance with chapter 42.56 RCW 42.17 and K.C.C. 2.112.280. Fees for development,
maintenance, staff time or any other costs necessary to respond to customized or special
service requests may be included in the charges for such requests. Funding to meet thecosts of providing electronic access, including the building of the necessary information
systems, developing the ability to mask nondisclosable information and maintenance andupgrade of systems should come primarily from local appropriations, grants, private funds,
cooperative ventures among governments, nonexclusive licensing and partnerships
between government agencies and private entities. (Ord. 17008 § 4, 2010: Ord. 12550 §4, 1996).
2.14.050 Social media used by county.
A. King County is committed to using social media technologies in a manner that:
1. Is efficient and economical;
2. Promotes open government and an informed citizenry;
3. Protects individual privacy; and4. Meets county record retention and disposition standards developed for social
media.
B. The department of information technology shall develop training materials forthe use of social media technologies that include discussion of issues relating to security
and privacy, risk management, ethics and records retention. The training materials shallbe made available to all county employees electronically and online.
C. Each agency should consider the use of social media in its outreach to the
public. If an agency determines that social media is appropriate for the agency, the agency
shall:
1. Identify those personnel that are authorized to use social media to conduct
county business; and2. Ensure that all authorized users receive the training in subsection B. of thissection. (Ord. 17615 § 1, 2013: Ord. 17008 § 6, 2010).
2.15
Sections:
2.15.005
2.15.010
2.15.015
2.15.020
2.15.030
2.15.100
2.15.110

CITIZEN AND IMMIGRATION STATUS

Definitions.
County and county agents limitations and responsibilities - exceptions.
Sheriff's office limitations and responsibilities.
Civil immigration enforcement – county and county agents limitations
and duties - exceptions.
County and county contractors – interpretation and translation services– language assistance plans.
Complaints for damages for violation of chapter.
Citizenship or immigration status – limitations of chapter on uses.

2.15.005 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
A. "Administrative warrant" means a noncriminal immigration warrant of arrest,
order to detain or release aliens, notice of custody determination, notice to appear,
removal order, warrant of removal or any other document, issued by ICE, CBP or USCIS
that can form the basis for a person's arrest or detention for a civil immigration enforcement
purpose. ICE administrative warrant forms include the U.S. DHS form I-200 (Rev. 09/16)"Warrant for Arrest of Alien" and Form I-205 "Warrant Of Removal/Deportation," as wellas predecessor and successor versions. "Administrative warrant" does not include any
criminal warrants issued upon a judicial determination of probable cause and incompliance with the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
B. "Agency" means a King County department, agency, division, commission,council, committee, board, other body or person, established by authority of an ordinance,
executive order, or charter.
C. "Agent" means a person acting within the scope of employment by or acting on
behalf of an agency.
D. "CBP" means the United States Customs and Border Protection agency of theUnited States Department of Homeland Security and shall include any successor federal
agency charged with border enforcement.
E. "Citizenship or immigration status" means a person's recorded citizenship or
immigration status, as such status is defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act, at thetime an agent or agency receives the information.
F. "Civil immigration enforcement operation" means an operation that has as oneof its objectives the identification or apprehension of a person or persons in order toinvestigate them for a violation of the immigration laws and subject them to one or moreof the following:
1. Civil immigration detention;
2. Removal proceedings; and3. Removal from the United States.
G. "Coerce" means to use express or implied threats towards a person or any
family member of a person that attempts to put the person in immediate fear of theconsequences in order to compel that person to act against the person's will.
H. "Commitment" means confinement in secure detention for a specified amountof time following a determination of guilt. "Commitment" does not include pretrial detentionof any persons such as those who [are] unable to post bail.
I. "Employee" means a person who is appointed as an employee by the appointing
authority of a county agency, office, department, council, board, commission or otherseparate unit or division of county government, however designated, acting within thescope of employment by or acting on behalf of the county. "County employee" also
includes a county elected official and a member of a county board, commission, committee
or other multimember body, but does not include an official or employee of the county's
judicial branch, though it does include an employee of the department of judicial
administration.
J. "ICE" means the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency
including Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations
and shall include any successor federal agency charged with the enforcement ofimmigration laws.
K. "Immigration detainer" means a request by ICE to a federal, state or local law
enforcement agency, such as the King County department of adult and juvenile detention,
to provide notice of release or maintain custody of a person based on an alleged violationof a civil immigration law. "Immigration detainer" includes a detainer issued under
Sections 236 or 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act or 287.7 or 236.1 of Title 8 of

the Code of Federal Regulations. "Immigration detainer" includes a detainer issued under
DHS form I-274A entitled Immigration Detainer- Notice of Action, as well as predecessor
and successor versions.
L. "Interpretation" means the transfer of an oral communication from one language
to another.
M. "Limited-English-proficient" means a person who does not speak English as the
person's primary language, who has a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understandEnglish.
N. "Nonpublic" means any area of a county facility, including the secure detention
facilities of the department of adult and juvenile detention that is not generally open andaccessible to the general public, but instead requires special permission for admittance bya county employee on an individual basis.
O. "Personal information" means one or more of the following, when the information
is linked with or is reasonably linkable, including via analytic technology, to the person's
first name or first initial and last name:
1. Home address;
2. Work address;
3. Telephone number;
4. Electronic mail address;
5. Social media handle or other identifying social media information;
6. Any other means of contacting a person;
7. Social security number;
8. Driver's license number or Washington identification card number;
9. Bank account number or credit or debit card number;
10. Information or data collected through the use or operation of an automatedlicense plate recognition system; and11. User name that, in combination with a password or security question andanswer, would permit access to an online account.
P. "Public communication materials" means materials that are intended for broad
distribution to inform or educate people served by King County. For the purpose oftranslation, "public communication materials" refers only to printed media such asbrochures, posters, booklets, pamphlets, billboards and advertisements in printed
publications.
Q. "Translation" means the transfer of a written communication from one language
to another while preserving the intent and essential meaning of the original text.
R. "USCIS" shall mean the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services andany successor agency charged with overseeing United States immigration laws.
S. "Verbal abuse" means the use of a remark which is overtly insulting, mocking or
belittling directed at a person based upon the actual or perceived:
1. Race, color, sex, religion, national origin, English proficiency, sexual orientationor gender identity or expression of the person; or
2. Citizenship or immigration status of the person or the person's family member.
T. "Vital documents" are materials that provide essential information for accessing
basic county services and benefits and for which serious consequences would result if theinformation were not provided. (Ord. 19026 § 1, 2019: Ord. 18665 § 1, 2018).
2.15.010 County and county agents limitations and responsibilities exceptions.
A. Except as otherwise provided in this section or when otherwise required by law,a Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., County office, department, employee, agency
or agent shall not condition the provision of county services on the citizenship or
immigration status of any person.

B. All applications, questionnaires, and interview forms used in relation to theprovision of county benefits, opportunities, or services shall be reviewed by each agency,
and any question requiring disclosure of information related to citizenship, immigration
status, or national origin unless required by state or federal law, or international treaty,
shall be deleted. Agencies that are required by state or federal law, or international treaty,
to collect immigration status or national origin information must separate that informationfrom personal information in the agencies' records as soon as is practicable.
C. The department of public health shall not condition the provision of healthbenefits, opportunities, or services on matters related to citizenship, national origin, or
immigration status. The department of public health may inquire about or disclose
information relating to a person's citizenship, national origin, or immigration status for the
purpose of determining eligibility for benefits or seeking reimbursement from federal, state,or other third-party payers.
D. Except when otherwise required by law, where the county accepts presentationof a state-issued driver's license or identification card as adequate evidence of identity,
presentation of a state-issued document marked as not valid for federal purposes orpresentation of a photo identity document issued by the person's nation of origin, such asa driver's license, passport, or other consul-issued document, such as a Matricula
Consular de Alta Seguridad, shall also be accepted and shall not subject the person to ahigher level of scrutiny or different treatment than if the person had provided a Washington
state driver's license or identification card. A request for translation of such a document
to English shall not be deemed a violation of any provision of this chapter; however,translation services may not be provided by any federal immigration authority. This
subsection does not apply to documentation required to complete a federal I-9
employment eligibility verification form. Once the county agency's legitimate purpose inviewing the required documentation is completed, the documentation shall be promptly
returned to its owner. Copies of the required documentation shall not be made or
maintained by a county agency unless otherwise required by law.
E. A county employee or an agent or agency of King County shall not inquire aboutor request, from a member of the public information about the citizenship, national origin,or immigration status or place of birth of any person unless the inquiry, request, orinvestigation is required by state or federal law, regulation, or directive or court order orrule, or to ensure compliance with any state or federal law, regulation, or directive or court
order. When an inquiry, request, or investigation into nationality, immigration status or
citizenship, including place of birth, is required to be or for any reason is made, the KingCounty agent or county employee shall not attempt to coerce a response. All persons towhom the inquiries are made shall be explicitly informed of their right to decline to respond,
free from fear or threat of retaliation.
F. Agents of King County and county employees are hereby prohibited fromconditioning King County services on immigration status, except where required underapplicable federal or state law or regulation or directive or court order or rule. Agents ofKing County and county employees are prohibited from verbally abusing or coercing
persons or threatening to report them or their family members to ICE or threatening to takeother immigration-related action against them or their family members.
G. Except where necessary to provide King County services, for performancemeasurement purposes including data analysis conducted to ensure services are being
provided in an equitable and nondiscriminatory manner, or where otherwise required bystate or federal law or regulation or directive or court order, King County agents andemployees are not permitted to obtain, maintain, or shareinformation about a person's
race, ethnicity, language proficiency, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or
expression, disability, housing status, financial status, marital status, status as a victim of

domestic violence, criminal history, release date from incarceration or confinement in asecure detention or other custody, or status as a veteran.
H. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as to prohibit any county employee,
upon request of the noncitizen, from aiding a noncitizen to obtain immigration benefits
pursuant federal immigration law.
I. An agent of King County or a county employee shall not expend any time, moneys
or other resources on facilitating the civil enforcement of federal immigration law orparticipating in civil immigration enforcement operations, except where state or federallaw, regulation, or court order shall so require. However, a county agency, employee oragent is not prohibited from sending to, or receiving from, federal immigration authorities,
information regarding the citizenship or immigration status of a person. Also, nothing inthis section prohibits any county agency from sending to, receiving from, requesting from,or exchanging with any federal, state, or local government agency information regarding
the immigration status of a person or from maintaining such information.
J. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any county employee fromparticipating in cross-designation or task force activities with federal law enforcement
authorities for criminal law enforcement.
K. The executive shall ensure that all King County employees and agents receive
appropriate training on the implementation of the provisions of this section. (Ord. 19772§ 1, 2024: Ord. 19026 § 2, 2019: Ord. 18665 § 2, 2018: Ord. 16692 § 2, 2009).
2.15.015 Sheriff's office limitations and responsibilities.
A. The King County sheriff's office shall not request specific documents relating toa person's civil immigration status from a member of the public, for the sole purpose ofdetermining whether the person has violated federal civil immigration laws. The
documents include but are not limited to:
1. Passports;
2. Alien registration cards; or
3. Work permits.
B. The sheriff's office may use documents relating to a person's civil immigration
status if the documents are offered by the person upon a general, nonspecific request.
C. The sheriff's office shall not use stops for minor offenses or requests forvoluntary information as a pretext for discovering a person's immigration status.
D. The sheriff's office shall not initiate any inquiry of, or enforcement action against,
a member of the public, based solely on a person's:
1. Civil immigration status;
2. Race;
3. Inability to speak English;
4. Inability to understand the sheriff's office personnel; or
5. Hit on the National Crime Information Center database. (Ord. 18665 § 3, 2018).
2.15.020 Civil immigration enforcement – county and county agents
limitations and duties - exceptions.
A. An agent of King County or county employee shall not expend any time, moneys
or other resources on facilitating the civil enforcement of federal immigration law orparticipating in civil immigration enforcement operations, except where state or federallaw, regulation or court order or rule shall so require. However, a county agency, employee
or agent not is prohibited from sending to, or receiving from, federal immigration
authorities, the citizenship or immigration status of a person. Also, nothing in this section
prohibits any county agency from sending to, receiving from, requesting from or
exchanging with any federal, state or local government agency information regarding theimmigration status of a person or from maintaining such information.

B. King County and its agents and departments and county employees shall not:1. Enter into any contract, agreement or arrangement, whether written or oral,that would grant federal civil immigration enforcement authority or powers to King County
or its agents or law enforcement officers, including but not limited to agreements createdunder 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1357(g) or Intergovernmental Service Agreements;
2. Honor immigration detainer requests or administrative warrants issued by ICE,
CBP or USCIS, or hold any person upon the basis of an ICE, CBP or USCIS detainer
request or administrative warrant unless such request or warrant is accompanied by acriminal warrant issued by a United States District Court judge or magistrate. The sheriff's
office or the department of adult and juvenile detention personnel shall not carry out a civilarrest, detain a person after the release date set by a court or refuse to accept a bondbased on an administrative warrant separately or in combination with an ICE detainer
request;
3. For purposes of execution of federal civil immigration enforcement, permit ICE,
CBP or USCIS officers, agents or representatives access to nonpublic areas of KingCounty's facilities, property, equipment or nonpublic databases, or nonpublic portions ofotherwise public databases, or people in King County's custody, absent a judicial criminal
warrant specifying the information or persons sought unless otherwise required by stateor federal law. Any warrantless attempts or requests for access to those facilities,
property, equipment or nonpublic databases shall be immediately sent to the department
or agency director or their designee responsible for the operation of the facility, property,
database or equipment. Permission to access any such a facility, property, equipment or
nonpublic database without a judicial criminal warrant may only be provided with theexpress, written approval of the appropriate person. Any detention facilities, including
secure detention facilities, prisons and halfway houses, that King County contracts with orleases land to for the purposes of criminal or civil detention must include the requirementin this subsection B.3. in any contract with King County; and4. Provide personal information to federal immigration authorities for purpose ofcivil immigration enforcement, except as required by state or federal law, about any
person, including place of birth or household members, the services received by the
person or the person's next court date or release date, absent a warrant signed by a judge
or a law requiring disclosure.
C. It is the policy of King County to obtain the minimum information required under
RCW 10.70.140 and to provide it to immigration officials after the person has been
convicted and sentenced. In complying with RCW 10.70.140, the department of adult andjuvenile detention personnel shall only inquire as to the nationality of persons who havebeen committed to secure detention after an adjudication of guilt and imposition ofsentence. The preceding sentence only applies to the department of adult and juvenile
detention’s direct inquiries of persons committed to secure detention, and not tointeractions with other governmental entities. Only persons who self-identify as being
nationals of a country other than the United States shall be subject to the notification
requirements of RCW 10.70.140.
D.1. If permission to access a King County detention facility without a judicial
criminal warrant is granted to ICE, CBP or USCIS in accordance with subsection B.3. ofthis section for the purpose of conducting an interview which does not relate to civil
immigration enforcement between either ICE or CBP, or both, and a person who is in thecustody of the department of adult and juvenile detention, the department of adult andjuvenile detention shall provide the person with an oral explanation and a written consent
form that explains the purpose of the interview, that the interview is voluntary and that theperson may decline to be interviewed or may choose to be interviewed only with theperson's attorney present. The form shall state explicitly that the person will not bepunished or suffer retaliation for declining to be interviewed. The form shall be available

in English, Spanish and any other language identified by the county's language assistanceplan as established in K.C.C. 2.15.030.B. and explained orally to a person who is unable
to read the form. Either ICE or CBP officials, or both, shall only be permitted to interview
persons who have consented in writing to be interviewed, absent a judicial criminal
warrant.
2. Upon receiving any ICE hold, notification or transfer request, department of
adult and juvenile detention personnel shall provide a copy of the request to the person
and inform the person whether the department intends to comply with the request.
3. Consistent with Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, any
person in custody or detention shall be informed through the person's attorney of the rightto communicate with the consular post of a country of which the person is a national, if
other than the United States, and informed that the person's consular officers have theright to visit, converse or correspond with the person, if the person wishes thecommunication. If a person chooses to disclose that the person is a foreign national andrequests consular notification, the custodian shall contact the appropriate consulate. The
informed consent requirements of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations shallapply to all such inquiries. The same requirements shall apply to inquiries into nationality
status for the purpose of complying with mandatory consular notification under any
bilateral consular convention. In all cases, identification as a foreign national shall bevoluntary and based on informed consent by the person.
4. King County shall consider all records relating to ICE, CBP or USCIS accessto facilities and information, including all communications with ICE, CBP or USCIS to be
public records for purposes of chapter 42.56, the state Public Records Act, and KingCounty shall handle all such requests in accordance with the usual procedures for receipt
of public records requests. (Ord. 18665 § 4, 2018: Ord. 18635 § 5, 2017: Ord. 17886 §2, 2014: Ord. 17706 § 2, 2013).
2.15.030 County and county contractors – interpretation and translation
services – language assistance plans.
A.1. King County and all its contractors shall provide free interpretation andtranslation services as required by this chapter to limited-English-proficient persons.
When a limited-English-proficient person seeks or receives benefits or services from a
local agency, office or contractor, the agency, office or contractor shall make reasonable
efforts provide prompt interpretation services in all interactions with the person, whether
the interaction is done remotely or in person. King County agencies and offices shall either
employ sufficient qualified bilingual employees or contract with remote language services
to provide interpretation services in languages spoken by limited-English-proficient county
residents.
2. The agency, office or contractor shall meet its obligation to provide prompt
interpretation services for purposes of this subdivision by ensuring that limited-Englishproficient persons do not have to wait unreasonably longer to receive assistance thanpersons who do not require interpretation services. King County agencies shall provide
support to contractors to meet the requirements of this section.
3. Where an application or form administered by King County requires completion
in English by a limited-English-proficient person for submission to a local, state or federal
authority, King County or its contractor shall make reasonable efforts to provide oralinterpretation of the application or form as well as acknowledgement by the limitedEnglish-proficient person that the form was translated and completed by an interpreter.
King County agencies shall provide support to contractors to meet the requirements of thissection.
B. King County agencies and offices shall develop language assistance plans that
identify which of its vital documents and public communication materials need to betranslated into languages for use by limited-English-proficient persons. The plans should
also include identification of agency or office plans for providing translation of webpages,
automated telephonic greetings, automated telephonic voice messages and informationalsignage. The threshold for the translation of vital documents and public communicationmaterials shall be based on the top six languages identified by the tier map of limitedEnglish-proficient persons maintained by the office of equity and social justice and thecounty demographer. (Ord. 18665 § 6, 2018).
2.15.100 Complaints for damages for violation of chapter. A person who has
been injured or otherwise sustained damages as a result of a violation of this chapter may
file a complaint with the King County office of equity and racial and social justice inaccordance with K.C.C. 12.22.040. (Ord. 19541 § 1, 2022: Ord. 19047 § 10, 2019 [didnot take effect]: Ord. 18665 § 8, 2018).
2.15.110 Citizenship or immigration status – limitations of chapter on uses.
In accordance with 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1373, nothing in this chapter prohibits any county
agency, agent or employee from sending to, or receiving from, federal immigration
authorities, the citizenship or immigration status of a person. Also, nothing in this chapter
prohibits any county agency from sending to, receiving from, requesting from or
exchanging with any federal, state or local government agency information regarding theimmigration status of a person or from maintaining such information. (Ord. 18665 § 9,2018).
2.16

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES AND EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS

Sections:
2.16.020
2.16.025
2.16.035
2.16.036
2.16.038
2.16.045
2.16.055
2.16.060
2.16.062
2.16.097
2.16.100
2.16.1102.16.120
2.16.122
2.16.130
2.16.135
2.16.136
2.16.137
2.16.1412.16.142
2.16.171

Executive branch of county government – policy regardingorganizational structure.
County executive.
Department of executive services.
Department of human resources.
Metro transit department.
Department of natural resources and parks – duties – divisions.
Department of local services – duties – divisions.
Department of public safety - duties – division.
Destruction and disposition of confiscated firearms.
Civil fines and civil penalties – write offs.
Career service exemptions.
Appointment and confirmation of exempt officials.
Department of adult and juvenile detention – duties – divisions.
Community corrections division.
Department of community and human services.
Department of elections.
Department of elections – voting materials preparation – reports on
languages used in county – translation of voting materials – outreachto language communities – costs.
County offices to provide voter information to public – determinationof offices and languages involved.
Road services division – collision data report.
Report – Metro bus fare enforcement and new fare enforcement
system.
Department of judicial administration.

2.16.175
2.16.190
2.16.210
2.16.215
2.16.250
2.16.260

Juvenile court services – detention facilities – administration by thecounty executive.
Liability.
Department of assessments – duties – divisions.
Assessor - advertising agreements authorized – restrictions - use ofrevenue.
Continuation of authorizations and duties, and changes to names ofdepartments, divisions, offices, and director and manager positions in
the King County Code.
High-value data set publication.

2.16.020 Executive branch of county government – policy regardingorganizational structure.
A. The organization of the executive branch, as described in this section of thecode, is intended to comply with Article 3 of the King County Charter. Accordingly, theexecutive branch shall consist of:
1. The county executive;
2. The county administrative officer;
3. Specific organizational units, classified “administrative offices” assigned to thecounty administrative officer, having a specified function by which it will assist that officer
in performing assigned responsibilities;
4. Specific organizational units, classified “executive departments” determined bymajor assigned function or process; and5. Specific organizational units within departments and administrative offices,where created by ordinance, classified “divisions” to which will be delegated the
responsibility of efficiently and effectively carrying out assigned departmental or office
functions and duties.
B. County agencies referenced in this chapter, and county boards, commissions,committees and other multimember bodies except the board of appeals and the personnel
board, shall individually and collectively constitute the organizational structure of theexecutive branch of King County government.
C. Titles of agencies of the executive branch of county government as used in thissection shall be the official organizational unit titles. Where necessary or appropriate, theclerk of the council is authorized to change the titles of executive branch agencies where
appearing in other ordinances or sections of the code to conform with the unit titles usedin this chapter.
D. The director of each executive department, chief officer of each administrative
office, and manager of each division may exercise the powers vested in that department,
administrative office, or division. None of these positions may exercise authority overanother organizational unit for more than sixty days without council approval by ordinance,
though this shall not be construed to limit the authority of a department director or chief
officer of an administrative office over divisions within the department director or chief
officer’s department or office.
E.1. To ensure accountability, efficiency, internal control and consistency, each
executive department, administrative office and division may provide administrative andtechnical support to functions and duties for which other executive departments,
administrative offices or divisions have primary responsibility. The support shall be
provided in conjunction with the departments, offices or divisions that have primary
responsibility for the functions and duties. The support may include, but is not limited to,the following:a. human resources and payroll;b. budget preparation and submittal, and financial and fiscal management;

c. information, communication, media and community relations, printing, graphics,
mail, records management and public disclosure;d. facilities and leased space maintenance and management;e. program analysis, and contract and performance evaluation and review;f. grants management; andg. liaison with county and external auditors.
2. To assist executive agencies to properly perform their assigned functions andduties, executive agencies may establish and maintain contacts with state and federal
agencies that regulate or provide financial assistance to the programs for which theagencies are responsible, monitor state and federal legislative initiatives, and provide input
to and on the county’s legislative agenda through processes prescribed by the council.
3. To ensure the county complies with applicable state and federal laws,
regulations and requirements, executive agencies may undertake duties and functions as
may be assigned by the executive and not assigned to another agency by the council.
F. Except as otherwise assigned by the council, all executive agencies shallprovide support services to citizen advisory committees that are established by the council.
(Ord. 18618 § 23, 2017: Ord. 17142 § 3, 2011: Ord. 15559 § 2, 2006: Ord. 14199 § 12,
2001: Ord. 11955 § 2, 1995).
2.16.025 County executive.
A. The county executive shall manage and be fiscally accountable for the office ofperformance, strategy, and budget, the office of labor relations, the office of climate, theoffice of economic opportunity and creative economy, and the office of equity and racialand social justice.
B. The office of performance, strategy, and budget functions and responsibilities
shall include, but not be limited to:
1. Planning, preparing, and managing, with emphasis on fiscal management andcontrol aspects, the operating and capital project budgets;
2. Monitoring revenues and preparing forecasts not produced by the office ofeconomic and financial analysis;
3. Monitoring expenditures and work programs;
4. Developing and preparing expenditure plans and ordinances to manage theimplementation of the operating and capital project budgets throughout the fiscal period;
5. Formulating and implementing financial policies regarding revenues andexpenditures for the county and other applicable agencies;
6. Performing program analysis, and contract and performance evaluation review;
7. Developing and transmitting to the council, concurrent with the proposed
budget for the fiscal period, supporting materials consistent with K.C.C. chapter 4A.100;
8. Performance management and accountability:a. providing leadership, guidance, and coordination of the executive branchperformance management and accountability system;b. overseeing the development of strategic plans and operational plans for each
executive branch department and office;c. overseeing monitoring of the performance management and accountability
system, including review of operational and budgetary performance;
d. developing and using community-level indicators and agency performancemeasures to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of each executive
branch department and office; ande. overseeing the production of an annual performance report for the executive
branch;9. Interagency coordination:

a. coordinating and staffing executive initiatives across departments andagencies;b.
facilitating interdepartmental, interagency and interbranch teams on
multidisciplinary issues;c. negotiating interlocal agreements as designated by the executive; andd. serving as the liaison to the boundary review board for King County;
10. Leading the county's continuous improvement activities;
11. Leading the county's regional planning work, including:a. coordinating the county's participation in multicounty planning at the Puget
Sound Regional Council, including serving on the Puget Sound Regional Council's
regional staff committee;
b. coordinating countywide planning at the Growth Management PlanningCouncil consistent with the Washington state Growth Management Act, including leading
the Growth Management Planning Council's interjurisdictional staff team in accordancewith the interlocal agreement authorized by King County Motion 8495;
c. managing updates to the county's Comprehensive Plan in coordination withthe department of local services in accordance with K.C.C. Title 20;
d. coordinating the development of demographic and growth forecasting dataand information including census data, growth targets, and buildable lands;
e. facilitating annexations and joint planning with cities, including developing
annexation proposals, drafting interlocal agreements, and serving as the liaison to theboundary review board for King County; andf. coleading with the department of local services’s permitting division, aninterbranch regional planning team that supports the council and executive through theprovision of information and data, development of policy proposals and options for regional
issues related to growth management, economic development, and transportation.
Participation in the interbranch regional planning team shall include executive,
department, and council staff as designated by the respective branches; and12.a. In the case of deaths that are subject to an inquest under Section 895 of theKing County Charter or RCW 36.24.020 that is investigating the causes and circumstancesof the deaths and that involve a member of a law enforcement agency within King County,
develop and administer a program by which the county shall select attorneys to provide
legal representation at public expense to the family participating in an inquest, regardlessof the income level of the members of the family. However:(1) legal representation shall not be provided if the family does not wish to be
represented by the attorneys selected under the program; and(2) legal representation shall be limited to preparation for the inquest andparticipation during the inquest and shall not include any representation for the purpose of
potential related civil litigation.
b. For the purposes of this subsection B.12.:(1) "A member of a law enforcement agency" means a commissioned officer
or noncommissioned staff of a local or state police force, jail, or corrections agency; and(2) "Family" refers to the group of those individuals determined by the person
conducting the inquest to have a right to participate as the family of the decedent.
C. The office of labor relations functions and responsibilities shall include:
1. Representing county agencies in the collective bargaining process as requiredby chapter 41.56 RCW;
2. Developing and maintaining databases of information relevant to the collective
bargaining process;3. Representing county agencies in labor arbitrations, appeals, and hearings
including those in chapter 41.56 RCW and required by K.C.C. Title 3, in collaboration withthe department of human resources;

4. Administering labor contracts and providing consultation to county agencies
regarding the terms and implementation of negotiated labor agreements, in collaboration
with the department of human resources;
5. Advising the executive and council on overall county labor policies; and6. Providing resources for labor relations training for county agencies, theexecutive, the council, and others, in collaboration with the department of humanresources.
D. The office of climate functions and responsibilities shall include:
1. Coordinating the integration of climate change into county operations inpartnership with executive branch departments and offices, King County cities, partners,
communities, and residents;
2. Advising the executive and council on climate-related policies, programs, andactivities; and3. Leading and fostering climate innovation among county agencies.
E. The office of economic opportunity and creative economy functions andresponsibilities shall include:
1. Coordinating the county's efforts to develop a strong equitable economy thatcreates opportunities for all residents;
2. Developing and implementing strategies to promote economic revitalizationand equitable development; and3. Assisting communities and businesses in creating economic opportunities,
promoting a diversified economy, and promoting family-wage job creation.
F. The office of equity and racial and social justice functions and responsibilities
shall include:
1. Defining the county's equity and racial and social justice outcomes with
communities most affected by inequities;
2. Developing the county's strategies, practices, systems, and processes toachieve equity and racial and social justice outcomes;
3. Providing strategic consultation to county agencies, and the communities they
serve, to achieve equity and racial and social justice outcomes;
4. Assisting county agencies to fulfill their responsibility to achieve equity andracial and social justice outcomes; and5. Operating the civil rights program, which shall include the following duties:
a. enforcing nondiscrimination ordinances as codified in K.C.C. chapters 12.17,
12.18, 12.20, and 12.22;
b. assisting departments in complying with the federal Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, and otherlegislation and rules regarding access to county programs, facilities, and services forpeople with disabilities;
c. serving as the county Americans with Disabilities Act Title II coordinator
relating to public access;d. providing staff support to the county civil rights commission;e. serving as the county federal Civil Rights Act Title VI coordinator; andf. coordinating county responses to federal Civil Rights Act Title VI issues andinvestigating complaints filed under Title VI.
G.1. The county council hereby delegates to the executive or the executive's
designee authority to request a hearing before the Washington state Liquor and Cannabis
Board and make written recommendations and objections regarding applications relating
to:a. liquor licenses under chapter 66.20 RCW; andb. licenses for marijuana producers, processors, or retailers under chapter 69.50
RCW.

2. Before making a recommendation under subsection G.1. of this section, theexecutive or designee shall solicit comments from county departments and agencies,
including, but not limited to, the department of local services, public health - Seattle & KingCounty, the sheriff's office, and the prosecuting attorney's office.
3. For each application reviewed under subsection G.1.b. of this section, theexecutive shall transmit to the county council a copy of the application received with theapplicant's name and proposed license application location, a copy of all comments
received under subsection G.2. of this section, and the executive's recommendation to the
Washington state Liquor and Cannabis board.
H. The executive may assign or delegate budgeting, performance management
and accountability, climate policy, economic development, and strategic planning, andinteragency coordination functions to employees in the office of the executive but shall not
assign or delegate those functions to any departments. (Ord. 19654 § 3, 2023: Ord.
19652 § 2, 2023: Ord. 19541 § 2, 2022: Ord. 19395 § 1, 2022: Ord. 19146 § 3, 2020:
Ord. 18793 § 1, 2018: Ord. 18791 § 1, 2018: Ord. 18635 § 6, 2017: Ord. 18098 § 2,
2015: Ord. 17929 § 2, 2014: Ord. 17884 § 2, 2014: Ord. 17755 § 1, 2014: Ord. 17693 §1, 2013: Ord. 17654 § 1, 2013: Ord. 16960 § 9, 2010: Ord. 16808 § 1, 2010: Ord. 16308§ 4, 2008: Ord. 16202 § 4, 2008: Ord. 14561 § 1, 2002: Ord. 14199 § 13, 2001: Ord.
13666 § 2, 1999: Ord. 12441 § 1, 1996: Ord. 12394 § 8, 1996: Ord. 12075 § 3, 1995).
2.16.035 Department of executive services.
A. The county administrative officer shall be the director of the department ofexecutive services. The department shall include the records and licensing services
division, the finance and business operations division, the facilities management division,
the fleet services division, the airport division, the office of risk management services, theadministrative office of emergency management, and the administrative office of thebusiness resource center. In addition, the county administrative officer shall be
responsible for providing staff support for the board of ethics.
B. The duties of the records and licensing services division shall include thefollowing:
1. Issuing marriage, vehicle/vessel, taxicab and for-hire driver and vehicle, andpet licenses, collecting license fee revenues, and providing licensing services for the
public;2. Enforcing county and state laws relating to animal control;
3. Managing the recording, processing, filing, storing, retrieval, and certificationof copies of all public documents filed with the division as required;
4. Processing all real estate tax affidavits; and5. Acting as the official custodian of all county records, as required by generallaw, except as otherwise provided by ordinance.
C. The duties of the finance and business operations division shall include thefollowing:
1. Monitoring revenue and expenditures for the county. The collection andreporting of revenue and expenditure data shall provide sufficient information to the
executive and to the council. The division shall be ultimately responsible for maintaining
the county’s official revenue and expenditure data;
2. Performing the functions of the county treasurer;
3. Billing and collecting real and personal property taxes, local improvement
district assessments, and gambling taxes;
4. Processing transit revenue;
5. Receiving and investing all county and political subjurisdiction moneys;
6. Managing the issuance and payment of the county’s debt instruments;
7. Managing the accounting systems and procedures;8. Managing the fixed assets system and procedures;
9. Formulating and implementing financial policies for other than revenues andexpenditures for the county and other applicable agencies;
10. Administering the accounts payable and accounts receivable functions;
11. Collecting fines and monetary penalties imposed by district courts;
12. Developing and administering procedures for the procurement of andawarding of contracts for tangible personal property, services, professional or technicalservices, and public work in accordance with K.C.C. chapter 2.93 and applicable federal
and state laws and regulations;
13. Establishing and administering procurement and contracting methods, andbid and proposal processes, to obtain such procurements;
14. In consultation with the prosecuting attorney’s office and office of risk
management services, developing and overseeing the use of standard procurement andcontract documents for such procurements;
15. Administering contracts for goods and services that are provided to more than
one department;
16. Providing comment and assistance to departments on the development ofspecifications and scopes of work, in negotiations for such procurements, and in theadministration of contracts;
17. Assisting departments to perform cost or price analyses for the procurementof tangible personal property, services, and professional or technical services, and priceanalysis for public work procurements;
18. Developing, maintaining, and revising as may be necessary from time to time
the county’s general terms and conditions for contracts for the procurement of tangible
personal property, services, professional or technical services, and public work;
19. Managing and developing financial policies for borrowing of funds, financial
systems, and other financial operations for the county and other applicable agencies;
20. Managing the contracting opportunities program to increase opportunities forsmall contractors and suppliers to participate on county-funded contracts. Also, thefinance and business operations division shall submit an annual report as required by
K.C.C. 2.97.090;
21. Managing the apprenticeship program to optimize the number of apprentices
working on county construction projects. Also, the finance and business operations
division shall submit an annual report as required by K.C.C. 12.16.175; and22. Serving as the disadvantaged business enterprise liaison officer for federal
Department of Transportation and other federal grant program purposes.
The
disadvantaged business enterprise liaison officer shall have direct, independent access tothe executive on disadvantaged business enterprise program matters consistent with 49
C.F.R. Sec. 26.25. For other matters, the disadvantaged business enterprise liaison
officer shall report to the manager of the finance and business operations division.
D. The duties of the facilities management division shall include the following:
1. Overseeing space planning for county agencies;
2. Administering and maintaining in good general condition the county’s buildings
except for those managed and maintained by the department of natural resources andparks and the Metro transit department as provided in K.C.C. chapter 4.56;
3. Operating security programs for county facilities except as otherwise
determined by the council;
4.
Administering all county facility parking programs except for public
transportation facility parking;
5. Administering the supported employment program;

6. Managing all real property owned or leased by the county, except as provided
in K.C.C. chapter 4.56, ensuring, where applicable, that properties generate revenues
closely approximating fair market value;
7. Maintaining a current inventory of all county-owned or leased real property;
8. Functioning as the sole agent for the disposal of real properties deemed surplus
to the needs of the county;
9. In accordance with K.C.C. chapter 4A.100, providing support services to county
agencies in the acquisition of real properties, except as otherwise specified by ordinance;
10. Issuing oversized vehicle permits and issuing franchises, permits, andeasements for the use of county property except franchises for cable television andtelecommunications;
11. Overseeing the development of capital projects for all county agencies except
for specialized roads, solid waste, public transportation, airport, water pollution abatement,
surface water management projects, and parks and recreation;
12. Being responsible for all general projects, such as office buildings or
warehouses, for any county department including, but not limited to, the following:a. administering professional services and construction contracts;
b. acting as the county's representative during site master plan, design, andconstruction activities;
c. managing county funds and project budgets related to capital projects;
d. assisting county agencies in the acquisition of appropriate facility sites;
e. formulating guidelines for the development of operational and capital projectplans;
f. assisting user agencies in the development of capital projects and projectplans, as defined and provided for in K.C.C. chapter 4A.100;
g. formulating guidelines for the use of life cycle cost analysis and applying theseguidelines in all appropriate phases of the capital process;h. ensuring the conformity of capital project plans with the adopted space plan;i. developing project cost estimates that are included in capital project plans, sitemaster plans, capital projects, and project budget requests;
j. providing advisory services, feasibility studies, or both services and studies toprojects as required and for which there is budgetary authority;
k. coordinating with user agencies to assure user program requirements are
addressed through the capital development process as set forth in this chapter and in
K.C.C. chapter 4A.100;
l. providing engineering support on capital projects to user agencies asrequested and for which there is budgetary authority; andm. providing assistance in developing the executive budget for capital projects;
and
13. Providing for the operation of a downtown winter shelter for homeless persons
between October 15 and April 30 each year.
E. The duties of the fleet services division shall include the following:
1. Acquiring, maintaining, and managing the motor pool equipment rental andrevolving fund for fleet vehicles and equipment, the equipment rental and revolving fundand the wastewater equipment rental and revolving fund. Metro transit department
vehicles determined by the Metro transit department director to be intricately involved inor related to providing public transportation services shall not be part of the motor pool;
2. Establishing rates for the rental of equipment and vehicles;
3. Establishing terms and charges for the sale of any material or supplies thathave been purchased, maintained, or manufactured with money from the motor pool andequipment revolving fund, the equipment rental and revolving fund, and the wastewaterequipment rental and revolving fund;4. Managing fleet and equipment training programs, stores function, and vehicle
repair facilities;
5. Administering the county alternative fuel program and take-home assignmentof county vehicles policy; and6. Inventorying, monitoring losses, and disposing of county personal property inaccordance with K.C.C. chapter 4.56.
F. The duties of the airport division shall include managing the maintenance andoperations of the King County international airport, and shall include the following:
1. Developing and implementing airport programs under state and federal law
including preparing policy recommendations and service models;
2. Managing and maintaining the airport system infrastructure;
3. Managing, or securing services from other divisions, departments, or entities
to perform the design, engineering, and construction management functions related to the
airport capital program, including new facilities development and maintenance of existing
infrastructure; providing support services such as project management, environmental
review, permit, and right-of-way acquisitions, schedule and project control functions; and4. Preparing and administering airport service and supporting capital facility plansand periodic updates.
G. The duties of the office of risk management services shall include themanagement of the county’s insurance and risk management programs consistent with
K.C.C. chapter 2.21.
H. The duties of the administrative office of emergency management shall include
the following:
1. Preparing and planning for emergencies and disasters;
2. Providing effective direction, control, and coordination of operations before,
during, and after emergencies and disasters; and3. Being responsible for the emergency management functions defined in K.C.C.
chapter 2.56 and K.C.C. 2A.310.
I. The duties of the administrative office of the business resource center shall
include the following:
1. The implementation and maintenance of those systems necessary to generatea regular and predictable payroll through the department of human resources;
2. The implementation and maintenance of those systems necessary to provide
regular and predictable financial accounting and procedures through the finance andbusiness operations division;
3. The implementation and maintenance of those systems necessary to generate
regular and predictable county budgets, budget reports, and budget management tools forthe county; and4. The implementation and maintenance of the human resources systems ofrecord for all human resources data for county employment purposes. (Ord. 19654 § 4,
2023: Ord. 19592 § 1, 2023: Ord. 19541 § 3, 2022: Ord. 19199 § 1, 2020 [did not takeeffect]: Ord. 19199 § 1, 2020: Ord. 19047 § 11, 2019 [did not take effect]: Ord. 19015 §1, 2019: Ord. 18793 § 2, 2018: Ord. 18791 § 2, 2018: Ord. 18777 § 1, 2018: Ord. 18635§ 7, 2017: Ord. 18551 § 1, 2017: Ord. 17929 § 5, 2014: Ord. 17350 § 5, 2012: Ord.
17221 § 1, 2011: Ord. 16975 § 1, 2010: Ord. 16960 § 10, 2010: Ord. 16808 § 2, 2010:
Ord. 15971 § 34, 2007: Ord. 15559 § 3, 2006: Ord. 14561 § 2, 2002: Ord. 14199 § 11,2001).
2.16.036 Department of human resources.
A. The department of human resources shall be responsible for the administrationof the county personnel system in accordance with K.C.C. Title 3. The department shallmanage and be fiscally responsible for the human resources services division, the careerand culture division, and the central employee services division.
B. The duties of the department shall include:
1. Developing, administering, and monitoring human resources policy;
2. Developing, administering, and monitoring diversity management programs
including equal employment opportunity affirmative action plan development andintegration of equity and social justice concepts into plans and programs;
3. Advising the executive and council on overall county employment policies;
4. Developing and disseminating communications to employees regarding issues
related to human resources; and5. Providing labor relations training for county agencies, the executive, the council
and others, in collaboration with the office of labor relations.
C. The duties of the human resources services division shall include:
1. Developing proposed and administering policies and procedures for:a. employment, including recruitment, examination, and selection;b. classification and compensation; andc. salary administration;
2. Providing technical and human resources information services support;
3. Coordinating individual employee performance review programs in executive
departments;
4. Administering the county's civil service personnel system in accordance with
K.C.C. chapter 3.14;
5. Monitoring executive branch compliance with human resources policies; and6. Collecting and reporting to the office of performance, strategy, and budget on
a quarterly basis information on the numbers of filled and vacant full-time equivalent andterm-limited temporary positions and the number of emergency employees for eachappropriation unit.
D. The duties of the career and culture division shall include:
1. Developing and administering training and organizational development
programs, including centralized employee and supervisory training, conflict resolution
training, and other employee development programs;
2. Developing and administering programs to minimize detrimental workplace
conflict;
3. Developing and administering programs that promote employee engagement;
and4. Providing organization assistance, mediation and restoration services.
E. The duties of the central employee services division shall include:
1. Developing and managing insured and noninsured benefits programs,
including proposing policy recommendations, negotiating benefits plan designs with
unions, preparing legally mandated communications materials, and providing employee
assistance and other work and family programs;
2. Developing and administering workplace safety programs, including inspectionof work sites and dissemination of safety information to employees to promote workplacesafety;3.
Administering the county's self-funded industrial insurance/worker's
compensation program, as authorized by Title 51 RCW;
4. Overseeing the county's unemployment compensation program;
5. Administering the county's employee benefits program fund; and6. Managing the payroll system and procedures, including processing benefits
transactions in the payroll system and administering the employer responsibilities for theretirement and the deferred compensation plans. (Ord. 19738 § 1, 2024: Ord. 19199 § 4,
2020: Ord. 18793 § 3, 2018).

2.16.038 Metro transit department.
A. The Metro transit department is responsible and fiscally accountable fordeveloping, delivering, integrating, and maintaining the county's public transportation andpassenger ferry services for, and in partnership with, the people and communities of KingCounty. The Metro transit department is also responsible for reducing historic disparities
in the county's public transportation and passenger ferry services.
B. The department shall perform the metropolitan public transportation function as
authorized in Title 35 and the King County Code, as well as perform public transportation
functions as set forth in Title 47 RCW and other applicable laws, regulations, andordinances. The department shall also administer the passenger ferry service function as
authorized in chapter 36.54 RCW and the King County Code, as well as other applicablelaws, regulations, and ordinances. The department’s functions shall also include theadministration of grants and the coordination of transportation planning activities with othercounty agencies and outside entities to integrate transportation and land use planning.
C. The Metro transit department shall be comprised of the following divisions andfunctions:
1. The bus operations division, the functions of which include delivering fixed routebus services;
2. The capital division, the functions of which include planning and delivering theMetro transit fleet, information technology, and fixed assets capital program portfolios;
3. The employee services division, the functions of which include delivering,supporting and developing the department's workforce;
4. The finance and administration division, the functions of which include
supporting the delivery of the Metro transit system through financial, transit technology,
accountability, and administrative services;
5. The marine division, the functions of which include delivering passenger-only
ferry services;
6. The mobility division, the functions of which include planning and delivering thedepartment's mobility programs and services such as planning for fixed-route transit
services; planning and organizing supplemental, paratransit, vanpool, dial-a-ride transit(DART), and other types of transit services; partnering with regional transportation
providers; and providing outreach to and support for transit customers;
7. The rail division, the functions of which include delivering light rail and streetcar
services;
8. The transit facilities division, the functions of which include managing andmaintaining Metro transit facilities;
9. The vehicle maintenance division, the functions of which include managing andmaintaining the department's fleets; and10. The safety, security, and quality assurance division, the functions of which
include managing safety and security administration and emergency management
activities for the traveling public and Metro transit department employees, and maintaining
regulatory compliance activities.
D. The director of the Metro transit department may also be referred to as thedepartment's general manager and the public transit agency's accountable executive.
E. The manager of the safety, security, and quality assurance division may also bereferred to as the public transit agency's chief safety officer. (Ord. 19741 § 6, 2023: Ord.
18777 § 5, 2018).
2.16.045 Department of natural resources and parks – duties – divisions.
A. The department of natural resources and parks is responsible to manage andbe fiscally accountable for the wastewater treatment division, water and land resourcesdivision, solid waste division and parks and recreation division. The department shalladminister and implement the requirements of the federal Clean Water Act, federal
Endangered Species Act and other federal and state laws and regulations related to thoserequirements. The department shall perform the metropolitan water pollution abatement
function referred to in this section as “the water quality program,” as set forth in chapter
35.58 RCW, K.C.C. Title 28 and other federal and state laws and regulations applicable tothat function, although financial planning for and administration of the water quality
program shall be conducted consistent with financial policies approved by the council. The
department shall coordinate the county's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systemmunicipal stormwater permit program. The department shall provide the support to thecounty’s participation in the regional water supply planning process including thedevelopment of reclaimed water and the review of local utility district plans forconformance with county plans and policies and shall participate in the process of
preparing coordinated water system plans to ensure conformance with county plans andpolicies. The department shall provide for the active and passive recreational needs ofthe region, consistent with the mission of the parks and recreation division described insubsection E.1. of this section. The department shall designate as natural resource lands
those county-owned lands that serve important natural resource functions, including, but
not limited to, benefiting and protecting natural drainage systems, drainage basins, flood
control systems, ecosystems, water quality, ground water, fisheries and wildlife habitatand other natural resource purposes. The department shall act to ensure integration ofenvironmental programs across utility and resource functions and to balance stewardshipwith economic development issues. To ensure integration and balanced stewardshipthrough the director’s office the department shall oversee strategic planning using staff
resources budgeted in the department’s divisions. Strategic planning may include, but not
be limited to: integration of land and water resource protection; coordination of groundwater, water reuse and water supply plan approval; development of new funding
approaches for resource protection; establishment of new partnerships with businesses,
community organizations and citizens; and better coordination of sewerage and flood
control facilities to prevent water quality degradation. The director's office shall manage
the county's historic preservation program including landmark designation, protection andenhancement to support tourism development, downtown revitalization and environmental
and cultural sustainability.
B.1. The duties of the wastewater treatment division shall include the following:a.
administering the functions and programs related to the operation,
maintenance, construction, repair, replacement and improvement of the metropolitan
sewerage system and its financing;b. administering the county’s sewage disposal agreements with cities and special
districts;
c. providing planning for the water quality capital program;d. providing design, engineering and construction management services related
to the water quality capital programs including new facilities development andmaintenance of the existing infrastructure;e. providing support services such as project management, environmental
review, permit and right-of-way acquisitions, scheduling and project control; andf. regulating industrial discharges into the metropolitan sewerage system.
2. The council may assign responsibility for services ancillary to and in support ofthe operation and maintenance of the metropolitan water pollution abatement system
under chapter 35.58 RCW, including, but not limited to, human resources, accounting,budgeting, finance, engineering, fleet administration, maintenance, laboratory, monitoring,inspection and planning, as it determines appropriate.
C. The duties of the water and land resources division shall include the following:1. Proposing or updating, or both, and implementing adopted policies, plans andprograms relating to water and land resources, open space and other natural resourcesthat protect fisheries, natural resources, water quality and ground water and that solve andprevent drainage problems;
2. Responding to major river floods and addressing drainage problems inunincorporated portions of the county as provided in K.C.C. Title 9, the Surface Water
Management Program, in K.C.C. chapter 20.12, the King County Flood Hazard Reduction
Plan Policies and other policies established by the council;
3. Within available resources, maintaining major river channels, and surface andstorm drainage systems and lands to minimize flood hazards and protect fisheries
resources, drainage systems and lands, and water quality;
4. Providing coordination and technical assistance within the county and othergovernments to assist in setting and implementing priorities for water and land resources,
including sample collection, laboratory services, monitoring, analysis and other activities
to protect, enhance and evaluate the quality of land, habitat and water resources in the
county;5. Planning the surface water management capital program, providing design,
engineering and construction management services related to the surface water
management capital program including new facilities development and maintenance of theexisting infrastructure and providing support services such as project management,
environmental review, permit and right-of-way acquisitions, scheduling and project control;
6. Preparing standards for storm water management facilities that are constructed
as part of land development;
7. Providing technical assistance and education to businesses and the generalpublic to encourage environmental stewardship;
8. Implementing the county park, open space, trails, agriculture, forestry, andother natural resources acquisition programs, including planning, site selection, financing,acquisition, project budget management and purchasing fee and less than fee interests;
9. Monitoring and protecting the county’s development rights interests related toagricultural lands;
10. Consulting in the preparation of management plans for protection and use of
the natural resource values of county owned lands, including natural resource lands,
dedicated and deeded open space lands and lands acquired by the county as a conditionof land development approval, and consulting with the parks and recreation division theappropriate means to execute such management plans;
11. The office of rural and resource lands shall be a distinct functional unit of thedivision reporting directly to the water and land resources division manager. The officeshall plan, manage and be responsible for administering the county’s rural and resource
lands programs including, but not limited to, agriculture, farmlands preservation, current
use taxation programs, forestry, noxious weeds, terrestrial wildlife and habitat, rural
economic development, and encouraging environmental stewardship;
12. Planning, prioritizing, seeking funding for, designing and implementing
restoration projects on natural resource lands, dedicated and deeded open space lands
and lands acquired by the county as a condition of land development approval incoordination with the parks and recreation division; and13. Administering and operating the mitigation reserves program’s in-lieu fee
program.
D. The duties of the solid waste division shall include the following:
1. Managing and operating the county’s comprehensive solid waste program on
a self-supporting basis;
2. Administering the county’s solid waste interlocal agreements with cities andtowns;

3. Diverting as much material as possible from disposal in a manner that reduces
the overall costs of solid waste management to county residents and businesses,
conserves resources, protects the environment and strengthens the county’s economy;
4. Managing and being accountable for all transfer station operations and landfills,
as well as the transportation of waste between county facilities;
5. Procuring and maintaining all capital and operating equipment specific to thesolid waste function;
6. Providing planning, design, engineering and construction management
services related to the solid waste capital program including new facilities development
and maintenance of existing infrastructure;
7. Providing support services such as project management, environmental
review, permit acquisitions, scheduling and project control; and8. Actively pursuing all revenue sources in an effort to maintain the lowest
possible rate structure for the benefit of county residents.
E. The duties of the parks and recreation division shall include the following:
1. Carrying out the county’s parks and recreation division mission, which is toprovide regional trails, regional passive parks, regional resource and ecological lands andregional active recreation facilities, rural parks and local unincorporated area parks within
the urban growth boundary until annexed, by employing entrepreneurial strategies thatraise revenues to support park operations and facilitating agreements with otherjurisdictions and entities to provide for recreational services and other activities;
2. Proposing and implementing adopted policies, plans and programs related tothe provision of regional and rural parks and recreation facilities and programs and natural
resource lands in King County and local parks in the unincorporated portion of King County
within the urban growth boundary until those areas are annexed;
3. Within available resources, managing, operating and maintaining or facilitating
the management, operation and maintenance of the county parks and recreation facilities;
4.
Within available resources, maintaining, restoring or facilitating themaintenance of regional resource and ecological lands in consultation with the water andland resources division;
5. Monitoring and protecting the county's real property and development rights
interests acquired through the conservation futures and other open space and natural
resource programs, with the exception of development rights on agricultural lands,
ensuring to the greatest extent practicable that subsequent county land use policies
remain compatible with the acquired interests;
6. Preparing and implementing in consultation with the water and land resources
division the management plans for protection and use of the natural resource values ofcounty owned lands, including natural resource lands, dedicated and deeded open spacelands and lands acquired by the county as a condition of land development approval, anddetermining appropriate means to execute those management plans;
7. Administering, operating and maintaining those lands designated as natural
resource lands, using any work forces as appropriate;
8. Developing and monitoring a capital project plan as defined in K.C.C. chapter
4A.100;
9. Within available resources, developing and facilitating agreements for thedevelopment of specific active park and recreation facilities;
10. Coordinating with other departments and divisions as appropriate in the
preparation of grant applications for park and open space acquisition, development andoperations;
11. Developing, managing, or facilitating agreements for the provision ofrecreational programs;

12. Facilitating programs that promote the safe enjoyment of county-owned
swimming pools and guarded swim beaches; and13. Developing and administering for the wastewater treatment division use
agreements under K.C.C. 4.56.150.E.1.d., rental or lease agreements under K.C.C.
4.56.150.F., permits under K.C.C. 7.12.040 or special use permits under K.C.C. 7.12.050,
for the Brightwater Environmental Education and Community Center. The applicableprovisions for use of the Brightwater Environmental Education and Community Center
facility are contained in K.C.C. chapter 28.84. (Ord. 19540 § 7, 2022: Ord. 17929 § 6,
2014: Ord. 17586 § 1, 2013: Ord. 17254 § 3, 2012: Ord. 17221 § 2, 2011: Ord. 17142§ 4, 2011: Ord. 16960 § 11, 2010: Ord. 16369 § 3, 2009: Ord. 15967 § 1, 2008: Ord.
14776 § 3, 2003: Ord. 14509 § 2, 2002: Ord. 14199 § 14, 2001: Ord. 12441 § 3, 1996:
Ord. 11955 § 9, 1995).
2.16.055 Department of local services - duties – divisions.
A. The department of local services is responsible for managing and being fiscallyaccountable for the permitting division and the road services division. The department
shall also administer the county roads function as authorized in applicable sections ofTitles 36 and 47 RCW and other laws, regulations and ordinances as may apply.
Consistent with Motion 15125, the department shall:
1. Work in partnership with each county council district to focus on coordinating,enhancing and improving municipal services provided to the county's unincorporated
areas. To effectuate this partnership, the executive shall routinely and proactively meetand collaborate with councilmembers representing the unincorporated area about
potential organizational, operational and other changes to county programs or services
that will affect unincorporated area residents;
2. Be available to brief the council's standing and regional committees on issues
related to unincorporated area local services;
3. Develop and implement programs and strategies that emphasize:a. improving the coordination of local services by county agencies throughincreased collaboration;b. strengthening partnerships between the county, communities and otherentities;c. improving the delivery, responsiveness and quality of local services to thepeople, businesses and communities of unincorporated King County through unified
accountability;
d. improving local services through robust employee engagement whileembracing equity and social justice and continuous improvement;
e. strengthening unincorporated communities by supporting local planning andcommunity initiatives; andf. pursuing innovative funding strategies.
B.1. The department shall also manage the development and implementation ofcommunity service area subarea plans for the six rural community service area and fiveurban unincorporated potential annexation area geographies in coordination with theregional planning function in K.C.C. 2.16.025 and in accordance with the King County
Comprehensive Plan and state Growth Management Act.
2. Each subarea plan shall be developed consistent with the King County
Comprehensive Plan and shall:a. be based on a scope of work established with the community;b. establish a long-range vision and policies to implement that vision. Policies
in the subarea plan shall be consistent with and not redundant to policy direction in theComprehensive Plan;

c. establish performance metrics and monitoring for implementation of thesubarea plan;d. use the tools and resources developed by the office of equity and social justice
to develop the scope of work and to develop, review, amend, adopt and implement thesubarea plan, including, but not limited to, community engagement, language access andequity impact review tools. The county shall use, at minimum, the "County engages in
dialogue" and "County and community work together" levels of engagement as outlined in
the office of equity and social justice's Community Engagement Guide for the scoping,development, review, amendment, adoption and implementation of the subarea plan. The
county shall include as an appendix to the subarea plan information detailing thecommunity engagement completed during the development of the subarea plan and how
the community engagement meets the requirements of this subsection B.2.d.;e. incorporate the findings of an equity impact analysis and proposals to address
equity impacts. During the development of the subarea plan, the public review draft shall
include preliminary findings of any equity impacts that will be further refined and submitted
as part of the subarea plan proposal;
f. include a review of policies specific to the subarea in the Comprehensive Planand previously adopted subarea or community plans, and, where appropriate, transfer
policies from those plans to the subarea plan;g. review the land use designations and zoning classifications in the subarea
geography, including all special district overlays and property-specific development
conditions, and transmit map amendments necessary to implement land use and zoning
updates and the vision and policies within the subarea plan; andh.
incorporate by reference the community needs list and associatedperformance metrics as required in subsection C. of this section.
3. Before transmittal of the subarea plan to the council, the executive shallcoordinate and collaborate with the councilmember office or councilmember offices who
represent the subarea geography on development of the subarea plan.
4. Each subarea plan shall be transmitted to the council for possible adoption as
established in the schedule in the Comprehensive Plan and K.C.C. Title 20.
C.1. The department shall also manage the development and implementation of
the list of services, programs, facilities and capital improvements that are identified by thecommunity, known as a community needs list, for each of the subarea geographies insubsection B. of this section. The community needs list shall be the responsibility of theexecutive to implement. The department of local services, in coordination with thecommunity, shall be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the community
needs list.
2. Each community needs list shall:a. be consistent with and implement the subarea plan described in subsection
B. of this section and other county plans;b. include potential services, programs, facilities and capital improvements that
respond to community-identified needs, including, but not limited to, those that build on
the community's strengths and assets;c. be developed, reviewed, prioritized, amended, adopted and implemented
using tools and resources developed by the office of equity and social justice, including,but not limited to, community engagement, language access and equity impact review
tools. The county shall use, at minimum, the "County engages in dialogue" and "County
and community work together" levels of engagement as outlined in the office of equity andsocial justice's Community Engagement Guide for the development, review, amendment,
adoption and implementation of the community needs list. The county shall include as anappendix to the community needs list information detailing the community engagement

completed during the development of the community needs list and how the community
engagement meets the requirements of this subsection C.2.c.
3. The community needs list shall be established as follows:a. An initial catalog shall be compiled that identifies all requests from thecommunity for potential services, programs and improvements; andb. The community service area program shall review the initial catalog and refine
this document into a community needs list based on:(1) review by the department whether and to what extent the request meets orstrengthens the community vision and policies established in the adopted subarea planand other county plans;(2) review by county agencies regarding consistency with other county plans,feasibility, budget constraints, timing, resources needs and other barriers to
implementation; and(3) review by the community through ongoing community engagement to
identify, discuss and prioritize community needs;c. For each item that is included in the community needs list, the following shallbe included:(1) the executive, in consultation with the community and the councilmember
office or offices that represent the subarea geography, shall propose a prioritization of low,
medium or high priority;(2) which county agencies are responsible for implementation; and(3) an anticipated timeline for completion that reflects that future resources andbudget appropriations may change the timeline. The county shall encourage creativity
and flexibility in identifying potential partnerships with and opportunities for others, suchas community-based organizations, to meet these needs;d. For each request from the initial catalog that is not advanced to the community
needs list, the executive shall state why the request was not advanced. The county shallclearly communicate why the request was not advanced to the community. For items thatcannot be accomplished by the county because they are outside of the scope of county
operations, the county shall provide information on how noncounty entities may be able toaccomplish the item, including consideration of potential partnerships with noncounty
entities; ande. The community needs list shall establish performance metrics to monitor the
implementation of the community needs list and the overarching progress towards
reaching the twenty-year vision established in the policies of the subarea plan. The
performance metrics shall be:(1) reviewed and reported on annually for the community needs list andbiennially for the subarea plan; and(2) informed and monitored by the community and the council.
4. Before transmittal of a new or updated community needs list to the council, theexecutive shall coordinate and collaborate with the councilmember office or
councilmember offices who represent the subarea geography.
5. A community needs list shall be transmitted to the council for possible adoption
via ordinance as follows:a. concurrent with the transmittal of the applicable subarea plan as required insubsection B. of this section;b. concurrent with the executive's biennial budget transmittal:(1) for those subarea geographies that have a subarea plan adopted during or
before June 2022, the initial catalog portion of the community needs list shall betransmitted to the council as part of the 2021-2022 biennial budget; and(2) for those subarea geographies that do not have a subarea plan adopted
during or before June 2022, the community needs list shall be transmitted to the council
as part of the 2023-2024 biennial budget; andc. when identified by either the community service area work programs andassociated community engagement outlined in subsection D. of this section or the services
partnership agreements outlined in subsection E. of this section, or both.
6. The community needs lists shall be used to develop proposals for the
executive's proposed biennial budget, including services, programs, infrastructure andfacilities that implement the list. As part of the executive's biennial budget transmittal, theexecutive shall include a description of how the proposed biennial budget implements thelist, and for the 2021-2022 budget, how the executive's biennial budget implements theinitial catalog described in subsection C.5.b.(1) of this section.
D.1. The department shall also manage the community service area frameworkadopted by Ordinance 17139, which shall be called the community service area program.
The community service area program shall develop and implement programs and services
to help all residents of unincorporated King County be more knowledgeable of, better
served by and heard by King County departments and agencies. The community service
area program shall work with all county departments and agencies whose services,
programs and projects are of interest to unincorporated area residents, to promote
successful public engagement.
2. A work program shall be developed for each subarea geography described insubsection B. of this section and shall:a. be consistent with and implement the applicable subarea plan as describedin subsection B. of this section, the community needs list in subsection C. of this section
and other county plans;b. address the required elements in Ordinance 17139;
c. list potential action items for the area;d. list known planning activities for the area;
e. identify public meetings for the area;
f. include the current adopted community needs list as required in subsection C.
of this section; andg. establish an ongoing communications and community engagement plan using
tools and resources developed by the office of equity and social justice, including, but notlimited to, community engagement, language access and equity impact review tools. The
county shall use, at minimum, the "County engages in dialogue" and "County andcommunity work together" levels of engagement as outlined in the office of equity andsocial justice's Community Engagement Guide for the development, review, amendment,
adoption and implementation of the community needs list; andh. establish performance metrics to monitor the implementation of the work
program.
3. The community service area program shall provide regular updates to thecouncilmember or councilmembers who represent the subarea geography on the progressof the work program throughout the year and shall publish regular reports on the work
program to its website, at least once per quarter.
4. The work program shall be updated on an annual basis.
E.1. The department shall also establish service partnership agreements with each
executive branch agency that provides programs, services or facilities in theunincorporated area, including those agencies that provide regional services tounincorporated area residents and businesses. The service partnership agreements shallinform budget development for programs, services or facilities in the unincorporated area.
2. Service partnerships agreements shall:

a. be consistent with and implement the subarea plans in subsection B. of thissection, the community needs lists in subsection C. of this section, the community service
area work programs in subsection D. of this section and other county plans;b. use tools and resources developed by the office of equity and social justiceby the partner agency to deliver the programs, services and facilities described in theservice partnership agreements;
3. Each service partnership agreement shall include, at a minimum:
a. roles and responsibilities for the department of local services and the partner
agency;b. a general description of the programs, services or facilities provided by thepartner agency for unincorporated area residents and businesses and, where applicable,in the subarea geographies;
c. goals for the partner agency to achieve the emphasis on local service delivery
described in Motion 15125 and this section, including:(1) the desired outcomes for provision of each program, service or facility; and(2) service level goals for each program, service or facility;d. performance metrics to monitor progress of implementing the outcomes andservice level goals for each program, service or facility;e. use of the community service area work programs in local service delivery by
the partner agency; andf. the current adopted community needs lists and associated performance
metrics for monitoring and reporting on the progress the county agencies have made on
items on the lists that they are responsible for.
4. A schedule for completing the service partnership agreements with county
agencies shall be established as part of the executive's proposed 2021-2022 biennial
budget and is subject to council approval by motion. The schedule is expected to show
service partnership agreements with all required agencies in effect no later than transmittalof the executive's proposed 2023-2024 biennial budget.
5. The service partnership agreements, after they are established, shall be
updated concurrent with the development of the biennial budget and shall be transmitted
to the council as part of the supporting material for the executive's proposed biennial
budget. In addition to the requirements for service partnership agreements described insubsection E. of this section, the updates shall include evaluation and reporting on thegoals and performance metrics identified in the previous service partnership agreement
and in the community needs list.
F. Until an ordinance that makes changes to the King County Code required in
Ordinance 18791, Section 217, is effective, the permitting division shall be considered thesuccessor agency to the department of permitting and environmental review. Therefore,
upon effectiveness of Ordinance 18791 and until an ordinance required by Ordinance
18791, Section 217, is effective, where the code states or intends a decision to be madeor action to be implemented by the department of permitting and environmental review,
those decisions or actions shall be performed by the permitting division.
G.1. The duties of the permitting division shall include the following:a. ensuring consistent and efficient administration of environmental, building andland use codes and regulations for commercial and residential projects by means of permit
review and approval, construction inspections and public information;b. participating on the interbranch regional planning team as specified in K.C.C.
2.16.025;c. administering the state Environmental Policy Act and acting as lead agency,
including making the threshold determinations, determining the amount of environmental
impact and reasonable mitigation measures and coordinating with other departments anddivisions in the preparation of county environmental documents or in response toenvironmental documents from other agencies;d. effective processing and timely review of land development proposals,
including zoning variance and reclassification, master drainage plans, variances from thesurface water design manual and the King County road standards, critical area,
subdivision, right-of-way use, urban planned development, clearing and grading,shoreline, special use and conditional use applications;e. pursuing and resolving code violations, including preparing for administrativeor legal actions, evaluating the department's success in obtaining compliance with KingCounty rules and regulations and designing measures to improve compliance;
f. regulating the operation, maintenance and conduct of county-licensed
businesses, except taxicab and for-hire drivers and vehicles; andg. developing and implementing an inspection program to identify fire hazards
and require conformance with K.C.C. Title 17, reviewing building plans and applications
for compliance with K.C.C. Title 17 and conducting inspections, including inspections of
new construction, for compliance with K.C.C. Title 17.
2. The permitting division manager shall be the:a. county planning director;
b. zoning adjuster;c. responsible official for purposes of administering the state Environmental
Policy Act;d. county building official; ande. county fire marshal.
3. The manager may delegate the functions in subsection G.2. of this section toqualified subordinates.
H. The road services division is responsible for designing, constructing, maintaining
and operating a comprehensive system of roadways and other transportation facilities andservices to support a variety of transportation modes for the safe and efficient movementof people and goods and delivery of services. The duties of the division shall include thefollowing:
1. Designing, constructing and maintaining county roads, bridges and associateddrainage facilities;
2. Designing, installing and maintaining county traffic signs, markings and signals;
3. Designing, installing and maintaining bicycle and pedestrian facilities;
4. Managing intergovernmental contracts or agreements for services related toroad maintenance and construction and to other transportation programs supporting thetransportation plan;
5. Inspecting utilities during construction and upon completion for compliance withstandards and specifications; assuring that public facilities disturbed due to construction
are restored;
6. Performing detailed project development of roads capital improvement projects
that are consistent with the transportation element of the county's Comprehensive Plan,
and coordinating such programming with other county departments and divisions assigned
responsibilities for Comprehensive Plan implementation;
7. Incorporating into the roads capital improvement program those projects
identified in the transportation needs report, community plans, related functional plans andelsewhere consistent with the county's Comprehensive Plan;
8. Preparing, maintaining and administering the county road standards;
9. Preparing and administering multiyear roads maintenance and capitalconstruction plans and periodic updates;
10. Administering the transportation concurrency and mitigation payment
programs; and11.a. Performing the duties of the office of the county road engineer, which ishereby established as an administrative office of the road services division. The office ofthe county road engineer shall be an office of record, supervised by the county roadengineer hired in accordance with RCW 36.80.010 and reporting to the manager of theroad services division. The office of the county road engineer shall be located within thecorporate limits of the county seat.
b. The county road engineer shall carry out all duties assigned to the county
road engineer as prescribed by state statute, except as modified by the county executive
as authorized in subsection H.11.c. of this section.
c. The county executive may assign professional engineering duties of thecounty road engineer to someone other than the county road engineer, except asotherwise assigned by the King County Code, and only if the individual assigned thoseduties shall be qualified as required under RCW 36.80.020. The executive shall provide
to the county council and the Washington state County Road Administration Board, in
writing, those specific professional engineering duties not assigned to the county roadengineer, the name and position of each person responsible for carrying out those
assigned duties, the specific reporting and working relationships with the county roadengineer and the duration for which those duties have been assigned. (Ord. 19146 § 4,
2020: Ord. 18791 § 3, 2018: Ord. 17420 § 1, 2012: Ord. 15921 § 1, 2007; Ord. 15319§ 1, 2005: Ord. 14561 § 3, 2002: Ord. 14199 § 15, 2001: Ord. 12940 § 1, 1997: Ord.
12441 § 5, 1996: Ord. 12051 § 1, 1996: Ord. 11955 § 5, 1995).
2.16.060 Department of public safety - duties – division.
A. The department of public safety, as identified in the Section 350.20.40 of theKing County Charter and managed by the county sheriff, may also be known and cited in
the King County Code and in other usage or usages as the sheriff's office. Employees
managed by the county sheriff may be referred to in the King County Code or otherwise,as King County police, King County officers, or deputy sheriffs.
B. The department of public safety is responsible to keep and preserve the public
peace and safety including the discharge of all duties of the sheriff's office under state law,
except those duties relating to jails and inmates which are performed by other departmentsof county government. The functions of the department include:
1. Oversee a crime prevention program, investigate crimes against persons andproperty and arrest alleged offenders;
2. Execute the processes and orders of the courts of justice and all othermandated functions required by law;
3. In coordination with the office of emergency management, plan and coordinate
resources for the public safety and welfare in the event of a major emergency or disaster;
4. Provide service and administrative functions that support but do not duplicate
other governmental activities, and that have the potential to be fiscally self-supportive;
5. Investigate the origin, cause, circumstances, and extent of loss of all fires, inaccordance with RCW 43.44.050. Fire investigations shall be conducted under the
direction of the fire investigation supervisor, who shall also be considered an assistant fire
marshal for the purposes of chapter 43.44 RCW. The functions of the fire and arson
investigation unit include, but are not limited to: investigation and determination of theorigin and cause of fires; preparation of detailed informational, investigative, and statisticalreports; conducting criminal follow-up investigations, including detection, apprehension,and prosecution of arson suspects; providing expert testimony in court for criminal andcivil cases; maintenance of records of fires; and preparation and submission of annual
reports to the county sheriff and other entities as required by chapters 43.44 and 48.50
RCW; and6. Consistent with the office of law enforcement oversight carrying out its
authorities as identified in Section 265 King County Charter and K.C.C. chapter 2.75:
a. provide the office of law enforcement oversight all relevant information in atimely manner, including:(1) access to all relevant employees, facilities, systems, documents, files,
records, data, interviews, hearings, boards, trainings, and meetings;(2) access to crime scenes and related follow-up administrative investigations,in a manner so as to protect the integrity of the scene; and(3) notifications regarding the current status of all complaints consistent with
K.C.C. 2.75.050.C.;
b. provide the oversight office with a reasonable opportunity to comment on alladministrative investigations before notifying the subject employee of the findings;
c. provide the oversight office with a reasonable opportunity to comment on all
sheriff’s office policies, rules, procedures, or general orders; andd. annually, in collaboration with the office of law enforcement oversight,
establish or update, as needed, pilot projects and sheriff’s office policies and procedures
related to implementation of the authorities of K.C.C. chapter 2.75, including such things
as timelines and processes for achieving K.C.C. 2.16.060.B.6.a., b., c., and d., and records
management and controls.
C. The county sheriff, to carry out the duties under subsection B. of this section,
may establish the functions for the following divisions:
1. Patrol operations division;
2. Support services division;
3. Criminal investigation division;
4. Community programs and services division;
5. Special operations division, which provides services to the Central Puget
Sound Regional Transit Authority and the Metro transit department. (Ord. 19741 § 7,
2023: Ord. 18777 § 2, 2018: Ord. 18500 § 9, 2017: Ord. 15939 § 1, 2007: Ord. 15921 §2, 2007 [repealed by Ord. 16977 § 3, 2010]: Ord. 13037 § 1, 1998: Ord. 10808 § 2, 1993:
Ord. 7790 § 9, 1986: Ord. 6333 § 2, 1983: Ord. 6066 § 7, 1982: Ord. 1872 § 1, 1973:
Ord. 1438 § 3(c), 1972).
2.16.062 Destruction and disposition of confiscated firearms.
A. The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless thecontext clearly requires otherwise.
1. "Antique firearms" means those firearms as defined by RCW 9.41.150 andfirearms recognized as curios, relics, and firearms of particular historical significance by
the United States treasury department bureau of alcohol, tobacco and firearms.
2. "Machine gun" means any firearm, weapon, mechanism, or instrument notrequiring that the trigger be pressed for each shot and having a reservoir clip, disc, drum,
belt, or other separable mechanical device for storing, carrying, or supplying ammunition
which can be loaded into such weapon, mechanism, or instrument, and fired therefrom at
the rate of five or more shots per second.
3. "Rifles and shotguns" means any firearm with a barrel length of twelve inches
or longer, but shall not include machine guns.
4. "Surplus firearms" means any firearm previously purchased, or converted to
official use in accordance with RCW 63.40.010 by King County for use by the sheriff's
office or department of adult and juvenile detention that are no longer serviceable or will
become surplus as a result of those departments upgrading to newer weapons for duty
service.
5. For purposes of this section only, "Handguns of potential value" means any
handgun:a. accepted as a duty weapon, or any type, make, model, and calibers normallyused by law enforcement, that is, caliber .380 or larger;
b. manufactured after 1945 which has a current version in production after 1975,
and would have a “new” retail replacement cost in excess of two hundred dollars each;c. conditioned to operate legally and safely;
d. graded as “Good” or better according to National Rifle Association grading
scales;e. valued at one hundred fifty dollars or more retail; andf. manufactured by Smith and Wesson, Colt, Ruger, Beretta, Browning, Walther,
Sig/Sauer, Heckler & Koch, Glock, Dan Wesson, and Detonics.
6. Handguns manufactured by Charter Arms, Harrington and Richardson,
Rohm/RG, Rossi, Taurus, Iver Johnson, High Standard and other similar lower value
weapons, handguns considered as "assault" type handguns such as the
Ingram/Cobray/RPB models M-10 or M-11, Intratec Tech 9, Wilkinson "Linda" or "Diane"
and other similar rapid fire semi-automatic handguns normally manufactured and intended
to use magazines with capacities in excess of 20 rounds, or handguns manufactured byanother but sold under “house” names by department stores and/or discount stores, and/or
all handguns caliber .25ACP or smaller with barrels less than 4” in length, and, which are
not classified as curios, relics, or collectors arms per the list maintained by the United Statestreasury department, bureau of alcohol, tobacco and firearms, do not have potential value.
B. Within thirty days of May 7, 1993, the sheriff shall have prepared an inventory of
every firearm that has been judicially forfeited, that has been seized and may be subject tojudicial forfeiture, or that has been, or may be, forfeited due to a failure to make a claim
under RCW 63.32.010, 63.35.020 or 63.40.010, or that is no longer needed for evidence.
The inventory shall be updated annually and include a report on the destruction and disposalof firearms included in the inventory. The sheriff shall destroy every firearm in the inventory,
according to the plan in subsection C. of this section as approved by the council, except
that:
1. The sheriff may retain legally forfeited firearms solely for agency use; and2. Antique firearms are exempt from destruction and shall be disposed of by auction
or trade to commercial sellers as authorized by state law
3. Surplus firearms [and weapons of potential value]* may be offered as trade-in tolaw enforcement equipment dealers for the sole purpose of acquiring new weapons for duty
use by commissioned members of the sheriff's office or department of adult [and juvenile]**detention. If not offered as trade-in, they shall be destroyed.
C. The sheriff shall submit a report to the council within thirty days on the inventoryof firearms under subsection B. of this section, which shall include a plan for the destruction
or disposal of all firearms in the inventory. (Ord. 18805 § 1, 2018: Ord. 17897 § 1, 2014:
Ord. 11167 § 1, 1993: Ord. 10767 § 1-5, 1993).
Reviser's notes:*Material not included in Ordinance 18805 but not deleted as required in K.C.C.
1.24.075.
**Material added in Ordinance 18805 but not underlined as required in K.C.C.
1.24.075.
2.16.097 Civil fines and civil penalties – write offs.
A. Receivable civil fines, civil penalties and abatement costs assessed pursuant toTitle 23 may be written off by the director of the department of local services or designee,with the concurrence of the county administrative officer, under the following circumstances:
1. When the costs of the effort to collect the civil fine or penalty exceeds therecoupable fines and penalties, or2. When the civil fine, penalty or abatement cost is determined to be uncollectablein the foreseeable future.
B. The director shall document the circumstances under which a decision was madeto write off a civil fine, penalty or abatement cost. (Ord. 18791 § 4, 2018: Ord. 17420 § 2,
2012: Ord. 14199 § 17, 2001: Ord. 13263 § 42, 1998).
2.16.100 Career service exemptions.
A. Exemptions from the requirements of the career service personnel system shallbe consistent with the provisions of Sections 550, 350.10 and 350.20 of the King County
Charter. Key subordinate units, as determined by the county council, and departmental
divisions shall be considered to be executive departments. Divisions of administrative
offices shall be considered to be administrative offices for the purpose of determining theapplicability of the charter provisions.
B. The county administrative officer, directors, chief officers and supervisors of
departments, administrative offices, divisions, key subordinate units and other units ofcounty government as required by law shall be exempt from the requirements and provisionsof the career service personnel system.
C.1. The following are determined by the council to be key subordinate units due tothe nature of the programs involved and their public policy implications and appointments tothese positions shall be subject to confirmation by the council:
a. the chief information officer of the administrative office of information resource
management;b. the deputy director of the department of elections;c. the manager of the records and licensing services division; andd. the director of the road services division.
2. When an ordinance is enacted designating a position as a key subordinate unit,
no person then serving in the position shall continue to serve for more than ninety days after
such enactment, unless reappointed by the executive and confirmed by the council.
D. If an administrative assistant or a confidential secretary, or both, for each director,
chief officer of an administrative office and supervisor of a key subordinate unit are
authorized, those positions are exempt from the requirements and provisions of the career
service personnel system. (Ord. 18777 § 3, 2018: Ord. 18001 § 1, 2015: Ord. 17994 § 2,
2015: Ord. 17678 § 7, 2013: Ord. 17189 § 1, 2011: Ord. 15971 § 35, 2007: Ord. 14570 §2, 2003: Ord. 14516 § 4, 2002: Ord. 14199 § 18, 2001: Ord. 14036 § 2, 2001: Ord. 11955§ 12, 1995).
2.16.110 Appointment and confirmation of exempt officials.
A. The county executive shall appoint the county administrative officer and the
director of each executive department, except the departments of assessments, elections
and judicial administration. The county executive shall also appoint the division director of
the youth detention facility through a competitive search process that includes participationby the superior court judges. The appointment of the county public defender shall beconsistent with Section 350.20.61 of the King County Charter and K.C.C. chapter 2.60.
B. The county administrative officer shall appoint the division directors and chief
officers of each administrative office in the department of executive services.
C. The director of each executive department, at the discretion of the county
executive, shall appoint exempt employees of the director’s department as provided in
Section 550 of the King County Charter.
D.1. All appointments by the county executive shall be subject to confirmation by amajority of the county council except exempt personnel assigned to the executive’s personal
staff.

2. All appointments to positions of division director or chief officer of an
administrative office not made by the county executive shall be subject to approval by thecounty executive.
E.1.a. All individuals appointed by the county executive, under Section 340.40 of theKing County Charter, shall serve in an acting capacity, unless confirmed by the council. The
executive is authorized to appoint a person to serve in an acting capacity to fill a position
requiring council confirmation for a period of no greater than one hundred fifty days. The
executive shall notify the council within ninety days concerning the status of the executive’s
search for qualified candidates for appointment to the vacant position. Thereafter, theindividual may continue serving in an acting capacity for successive sixty-day periods onlywith approval by motion of the county council. The council shall grant at least one
successive sixty-day extension if the executive certifies to the council’s satisfaction that theexecutive is actively pursuing a search for qualified candidates for appointment to the vacant
position. If no appointment is transmitted to the council for confirmation during theauthorized period, the position shall be considered vacant for purposes of exercise of any
authority given to the position under ordinance and no salary shall be paid for the position
while it is so vacant.
b. Within seven calendar days of any executive appointment that is subject tocouncil confirmation, the executive shall deliver written notice of said appointment to thecouncil accompanied by a proposed motion confirming the appointment.
c. Upon the receipt of the notification by the executive of an appointment,
accompanied by the proposed motion, the council shall act to consider confirmation of theappointment within ninety days. Approval of the introduced motion by a majority of thecouncil shall constitute confirmation of the appointee. Once confirmed, the appointee is nolonger serving in an acting capacity.
d. In considering the confirmation of executive appointments to offices ofmanagement level responsibility, the council shall base its review on the ability of theappointee to meet the following criteria:(1) a demonstrated reputation for integrity and professionalism;(2) a commitment to and knowledge of the responsibilities of the office;(3) a history of demonstrated leadership, experience and administrative ability;(4) the ability to work effectively with the executive, the council, othermanagement, public agencies, private organizations and citizens; and(5) a demonstrated sensitivity to and knowledge of the particular needs andproblems of minorities and women.
e. The appointee, before review of the appointment by the council, shall submit to
the chair of the council:(1) a full and complete resume of the appointee’s employment history, to include
references attesting to the stated employment experiences; and(2) a signed statement acknowledging that the council’s confirmation process
may require the submittal of additional information relating to the background and expertiseof the appointee.
f. Upon receipt of an executive appointment, the chair or the chair’s delegate,
subject to the council’s rules of procedure, shall notify council members of the appointment
and attempt to allow a minimum of one work week for individual members to submit written
questions to the reviewing committee.
2. It is understood that written inquiries submitted to the reviewing committee, by
individual council members, may require a written response from the appointee or the
executive, in matters pertaining to the process of appointment and other pertinent
employment policies of King County. (Ord. 19382 § 2, 2021: Ord. 18618 § 24, 2017: Ord.
17678 § 8, 2013: Ord. 17189 § 2, 2011: Ord. 14199 § 19, 2001: Ord. 13668 § 4, 1999:
Ord. 11955 § 13, 1995).

2.16.120 Department of adult and juvenile detention – duties – divisions.*
A.1. The department of adult and juvenile detention is responsible to manage andbe fiscally accountable for the Seattle division, the Kent division, the juvenile division, thecommunity corrections division and the administrative services division, each of whichshall have equal standing within the department. Through the Seattle division and theKent division, the department shall operate the King County adult correctional facility andthe security operation of the work and education release unit in Seattle and the Regional
Justice Center adult correctional facility in Kent. Through the juvenile division, thedepartment shall operate the county's juvenile detention facility. Through the community
corrections division the department shall administer programs that provide alternatives toconfinement in the adult correctional facilities, as well as services and support functions
directed toward reduction of the adult correctional facilities’ populations. Through theadministrative services division, the department shall administer personnel operation,budget and fiscal operations and other central support services for the department. In
addition, the administrative services division shall be responsible for the administrationand monitoring of jail health expenditures and services through a jail health levels ofservice agreement and contract with its health services contractor. The division shallmonitor the provision of health care services and is responsible for ensuring that minimum
inmate health care needs are met and monitoring the cost-containment provisions for both
operational and health care related costs.
2. The judges of the superior court have final authority for approval of all screening
criteria for admission to the juvenile detention facility and alternatives to confinement in
the juvenile detention facility. The department shall implement such criteria approved by
the superior court related to the juvenile detention facility. The department shall implement
the criteria approved by the superior and district courts related to adult detention facilities
and alternatives to confinement, subject to the eligibility conditions in subsections E. and
F. of this section. The department may also accept, from the prosecuting attorney's
prefiling diversion program, persons arrested for the following misdemeanor offenses forplacement on work crews: possession of less than forty grams of marijuana (RCW
69.50.4014); minor in possession of alcohol (RCW 66.44.270); possession of drug
paraphernalia (RCW 69.50.412); and unlawful bus or transit conduct (RCW 9.91.025,
K.C.C. 28.96.010).
B. The duties of the Seattle division and the Kent division shall include the following:
1. House adult persons who are any combination of arrested for, charged for orheld on investigation of a criminal offense;
2. House adult persons during trial, and before sentencing after conviction;
3. House adult persons serving sentences not exceeding one year;
4. Maintain records and process and identify property of persons confined orcommitted to correctional facilities operated by the division;
5. Perform functions related to residential and building security, including
supervision of persons confined or committed to correctional facilities operated by thedivision;
6. Transport confined or committed adult persons to and from court and provide
secure escort of those persons outside the facilities;
7. Provide nutritional meals daily to confined or committed adult persons,
including preparation of special meals in response to medical and religious requirements;
8. Provide health care to confined or committed adult persons in conjunction with
the Seattle-King County department of public health, including medical, dental andpsychiatric care;
9. Provide social services to and for confined or committed adult persons,
including, but not limited to, the following: classifying those persons; evaluating mentallyill or developmentally disabled confined or committed persons, including referral toavailable community programs; reviewing those persons with psychiatric problems;
reviewing other special population groups; providing general population groupmanagement; and providing outside agency access to those persons including special
visitation, library, recreational and educational services; and10. Ensure compliance with laws and regulations applicable to the management
and operation of the correctional facilities.
C. The principal function of the juvenile division is to operate the county’s juvenile
detention facility in a safe, secure and humane manner as prescribed by county ordinance,state law and court rules. The juvenile division shall work with the Seattle division and theKent division to ensure that all divisions effectuate, consistent with appropriate security
measures and maintaining public safety, the equal administration to all juveniles detained
in detention facilities in King County of alternatives to secure detention as approved by the
court, a school program, a health program and other related programs. It shall be theresponsibility of the juvenile division to ensure that all juveniles detained in any KingCounty detention facility are given reasonable access to the defense bar, juvenile
probation counselors and social service providers and educators in a timely manner,consistent with appropriate security measures and public safety. All juveniles detained in
any King County detention facility shall have access to education programs and toeducational hours of service as required by state law.
D. The duties of the administrative services division shall include administering
personnel operations, budget and fiscal operations and other central support services
involving all divisions in the department to ensure consistency and efficiency of operations.
The department’s director of the administrative services division shall oversee these
operations and services, and the operations and services shall conform to county policies
and procedures and to department guidelines and practices.
E. An individual is not eligible for the pretrial alternative to adult detention entitledcommunity corrections alternative program basic if the individual is charged with a violent
offense or sex offense and has one or more convictions of a violent offense or sex offense,
as defined in RCW 9.94A.030, in the ten years before the date of the charged offense.
F. An individual is not eligible for the pretrial alternative to adult detention entitledcommunity corrections alternative program basic if the individual is charged with adomestic violence felony offense and has one or more convictions of a domestic violence
felony offense, as defined in RCW 9.94A.525, in the ten years before the date of thecharged offense.
G. The executive shall not enter into any contractual relationship with any private
or nongovernmental entity for the provision of secure detention services to house any
adults or juveniles under the jurisdiction of the department under subsections B. and C. ofthis section. (Ord. 18637 § 5, 2017: Ord. 18560 § 1, 2017: Ord. 17456 § 1, 2012: Ord.
17148 § 1, 2011: Ord. 14561 § 8, 2002: Ord. 13668 § 5, 1999: Ord. 12432 § 2, 1996).
*See K.C.C. chapter 3.13A for training in the department of adult detention and
K.C.C. Title 5 for the regional justice center.
2.16.122 Community corrections division.
A.
The community corrections division is established as a subordinate
administrative office under Section 350.10 of the King County Charter. The division
manager shall be subject to Section 340 of the King County Charter, requiring that theappointed division manager be subject to council confirmation. The department shallprovide administration, analytic and other support to the division.
B. The duties of the community corrections division shall include:1. Based on screening criteria approved by the superior and district courts andeligibility conditions in subsections C. and D. of this section, implementation of alternatives
to adult detention, including, but not limited to, electronic home detention, work andeducation release, day and evening reporting and work crews;
2. Assessment of the needs of adult persons placed in alternatives to detention;
3. Contracting with private nonprofit community agencies to provide services forrelicensing offenders; and4. Accepting, from the prosecuting attorney's prefiling diversion program, persons
arrested for the following misdemeanor offenses for placement on work crews, provided
that the division considers such placement to be appropriate in light of the capacity of thework crew program and admission criteria developed by the division in conjunction withthe prosecuting attorney's office: possession of less than forty grams of marijuana (RCW
69.50.4014); minor in possession of alcohol (RCW 66.44.270); possession of drug
paraphernalia (RCW 69.50.412); and unlawful bus or transit conduct (RCW 9.91.025,
K.C.C. 28.96.010).
C. An individual is not eligible for the pretrial alternative to adult detention entitledcommunity corrections alternative program basic if the individual is charged with a violent
offense or sex offense and has one or more convictions of a violent offense or sex offense,
as defined in RCW 9.94A.030, in the ten years before the date of the charged offense.
D. An individual is not eligible for the pretrial alternative to adult detention entitledcommunity corrections alternative program basic if the individual is charged with adomestic violence felony offense and has one or more convictions of a domestic violence
felony offense, as defined in RCW 9.94A.525, in the ten years before the date of thecharged offense. (Ord. 17456 § 2, 2012: Ord. 17148 § 2, 2011: Ord. 14561 § 9, 2002).
2.16.130 Department of community and human services.
A. The department of community and human services is responsible to manage
and be fiscally accountable for the children, youth, and young adults division, thebehavioral health and recovery division, the developmental disabilities and early childhood
supports division, the adult services division, and the housing and community development
division.
B. The duties of the children, youth, and young adults division shall include thefollowing:
1. Working in partnership with communities and other funders to develop, support,
and provide human services that emphasize prevention, early intervention, and community
education, and that strengthen children, youth, young adults, families, and communities inKing County; and2. Managing programs that promote healthy childhood development, enhance
youth resiliency, reduce justice system involvement, strengthen families and communities,
and ensure all children, youth, and young adults have the opportunity to achieve their fullpotentials. The division shall also provide staff to support the King County children andyouth advisory board.
C. The duties of the behavioral health and recovery division shall, subject toavailable resources and to its exercise of discretionary prioritization, include the following:
1. Managing and operating a comprehensive continuum of behavioral healthservices including prevention, mental health, substance use disorder, and co-occurring
disorder treatment services for children, youth, and adults who meet eligibility criteria;
2. Managing and operating a twenty-four-hour crisis response system, including
civil commitment as a last resort;
3. Selecting appropriate agencies for the provision of behavioral health services
and developing, implementing, and monitoring the provision and outcomes of contracted
services;

4. Being responsible for resource management of a comprehensive behavioral
health system including provision of staff support to appropriate advisory boards, andserving as liaison to federal, state, and other governments and relevant organizations incarrying out planning and allocation processes;
5. Facilitating the continuing availability of appropriate treatment services for
eligible individuals with a diagnosis of a mental illness, substance use, or co-occurring
disorder; and6. Developing and maintaining a continuum of appropriate treatment services for
eligible individuals.
D. The duties of the developmental disabilities and early childhood supports
division shall include the following:
1. Managing and operating a system of services for infant mental health, earlychildhood development screening, and a system of services for persons with
developmental disabilities in accordance with relevant state statutes and county policies
and to provide staff support to the King County board for developmental disabilities; and2. Negotiating, implementing, and monitoring contracts with community agencies
for the provision of developmental disabilities and early childhood support services.
E. The duties of the adult services division shall include the following:
1. Working in partnership with communities to develop, support, and provide
human services and programs that emphasize health and safety, self-sufficiency, andhealthy aging. The programs are to include, but not be limited to, providing employment
and training for adults to achieve self-sufficiency, providing supports to survivors of abuse
and trauma, and providing health, socialization, and wellness services to promote healthy
aging in place;
2. Providing assistance to indigent veterans and their families as authorized bychapter 73.08 RCW; and3. Providing staff support for the women's advisory board as specified in K.C.C.
2.30.040 and for the veterans, seniors, and human services levy advisory board and its
committees consistent with state and county requirements.
F. The duties of the housing and community development division shall include thefollowing:
1. Managing programs that address housing and community development needs,
and helping implement improvements identified in subarea and neighborhood plans for
low-and-moderate income communities;
2. Administering the county's federal housing, homelessness, and community
development moneys and other housing, homelessness, and community developmentmoneys;3. Developing housing, homelessness, and community development policies andprograms to implement the growth management policies throughout King County toprovide affordable housing to low-and moderate-income residents; and4. Providing staff support for the renter's commission as specified in K.C.C.
chapter 2.150. (Ord. 19741 § 8, 2023: Ord. 19537 § 1, 2022: Ord. 19008 § 1, 2019: Ord.
18872 § 1, 2019: Ord. 18171 § 1, 2015: Ord. 17588 § 2, 2013: Ord. 17189 § 3, 2011:
Ord. 13666 § 1, 1999: Ord. 13498 § 1, 1999: Ord. 13326 § 1, 1998: Ord. 11955 § 6,1995).
2.16.135 Department of elections.
A. The department of elections, as identified in Section 350.20.50 of the KingCounty Charter, shall be managed by the county director of elections who shall performthe duties specified by general law.
B. The department of elections is responsible for:1. Coordinating and recording the registration of voters in the county;

2. Conducting all special and general elections held in the county;
3. Creating and printing the King County voter's pamphlet [voters’ pamphlet];
4. Maintaining and being the official repository of political boundary maps,
geographic information systems data and of the King County copies of campaign financial
disclosure forms; and5. Administering other public and nonpublic elections, as required by state law
and county code and administrative rules.
C. The director may delegate powers and duties in performing the functions insubsection B. of this section to a deputy director.
D. The deputy director of the department of elections must be a certified elections
administrator and continue to meet all certification requirements of the Washington state
Office of the Secretary of State. (Ord. 17994 § 1, 2015).
2.16.136 Department of elections – voting materials preparation – reports on
languages used in county-translation of voting materials – outreach to language
communities – costs.
A.1. For all elections administered by the department of elections, the director ofelections shall prepare voting materials, to the extent not already provided by the Office ofthe Washington state Secretary of State, in the languages required by subsection C. ofthis section, in addition to those languages required by Section 203 of the Voting Rights
Act of 1965, P.L. 94-73, 42 U.S.C. 1973aa-1a. The director of elections shall make thevoting materials available to any resident of King County upon request of that person, andin addition shall make the voter registration materials required by this section broadly
available, including to King County offices required to make them available under K.C.C.
2.16.137. The director of elections shall record the numbers of ballot and voter pamphlet
requests in each language other than English, and include this information in the reportrequired in subsection B. of this section.
2. For the purposes of this section, "voting materials" include, but are not limited
to:a. voter registration notices, voter registration forms, and voter registration
instructions, to the extent not already provided by the Office of the Washington state
Secretary of State;b. ballots and ballot instructions; andc. local voters' pamphlets, in conformity with K.C.C. chapter 1.10 and chapter
29A.32 RCW.
B. In 2016 and at least every five years thereafter, the director of elections shallreview data on limited-English-proficient populations in King County and shall determine,in consultation with community leaders of limited-English-proficient populations and theoffice of performance, strategy and budget, each single language that has ten thousand
or more limited-English-proficient King County residents. The director of elections shallmake this determination by referring to the best available data from the United States
Census Bureau or other source the director considers relevant and reliable. The directorof elections shall file a report of this determination, including a list of all languages thatmeet the threshold of ten thousand or more limited-English-proficient residents, and the
supporting analysis by January 30, 2017, and at least every five years after the first reportis filed. The director of elections shall electronically file the report with the clerk of thecouncil, who shall retain a copy and provide an electronic copy to all councilmembers, thecouncil chief of staff, the council chief policy office, and the director of elections.
C.1. The director of elections shall prepare and make available to the public
translated voting materials in the following languages:
1. Spanish;
2. Chinese;3. Vietnamese;
4. Korean;
5. Russian;
6. Somali;
7. Any languages identified by the director in a report required by subsection B.
of this section as having ten thousand or more limited-English-proficient King County
residents, unless an ordinance is enacted within forty-five days of the filing of that reportrequiring otherwise, beginning with the first general election after that report is filed withthe clerk of the council; and8. Any other languages required under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of
1965, P.L. 94-73, 42 U.S.C. 1973aa-1a.
D. The director of elections shall also ensure the provision of targeted outreach to
all language communities identified under subsection C. of this section to promoteawareness of and requests for translated voting materials. The outreach may include, but
not be limited to, engagement of community leaders from and outreach to community
organizations serving limited-English-proficient populations, minority language media
purchases, such as advertising, attendance and materials distribution at large limitedEnglish-proficient community events, and recruitment of bilingual election workers. The
director of elections shall maintain and make available to the public at least one hundred
twenty days before each primary and general election a list of the languages other thanEnglish in which the department will provide translated material and assistance, and thespecific form of that assistance.
E. The cost of providing the materials and services described in subsections A., C.
and D. of this section shall be considered a cost of elections, of which a pro rata share
shall be recovered from constituent jurisdictions and the state. (Ord. 19616 § 1, 2023:
Ord. 18086 § 2, 2015).
2.16.137
County offices to provide voter information to public –determination of offices and languages involved.
A. All King County offices open to the public shall, to all customers or applicants
for services:
1. Offer voter registration notices, voter registration forms, and voter registration
instructions, in all languages made available by the office of the Washington secretary ofstate and by the department of elections under K.C.C. 2.16.136; and2. Provide the same degree of assistance to all customers and applicants without
regard to the customer or applicant's choice of whether or not the customer or applicant
accepts or declines voter registration materials.
B. The executive, in consultation with the director of elections, as soon as possible
and in no event later than for the general election of 2016 and for every election thereafter,shall determine the specific county offices required to offer the materials described insubsection A. of this section and shall establish procedures to provide the materials
required under subsection A. of this section in appropriate languages, as made available
by the office of the Washington state Secretary of State and by the department of elections
under K.C.C. 2.16.136, to individuals that they serve. (Ord. 18086 § 3, 2015).
2.16.141 Road services division – collision data report. The road services
division shall annually prepare a collision data report, which shall be filed with the clerk of
the council, who shall retain the original and provide an electronic copy to the members of
the council. The report shall cover collisions that occurred on a county-maintained
roadway within unincorporated King County and caused $1,000 in property damage or
resulted in an injury or fatality. The report shall include the number of traffic accidents, thenumber of persons killed, the number of persons injured, and other pertinent traffic
accident data. (Ord. 18743 § 60, 2018).
2.16.142 Report – Metro bus fare enforcement and new fare enforcement
system. The executive shall develop a reporting system for all Metro bus fare
enforcement activities and the new fare enforcement system. The executive shall use thedata from the reporting system to develop a report by April 1, 2019, and annually
thereafter, that contains the following information:
A. For each RapidRide bus route, all other regular bus routes, and for total bus
service the executive shall provide data on the following:
1. The number of warnings issued for fare evasion and the number of people thathave received warnings by bus route;
2. The number of fare evasion citations issued and the number of that people thathave received these citations by bus route, this should include identifying the number ofindividuals that receive multiple citations during the reporting period and how manycitations they received;
3. The number of citations resolved, showing the method used to resolve thecitations;4. The number of people suspended as a result of fare evasion;
5. The number of criminal trespass charges issued to individuals as a result offare evasion violations;6. The report should also include data showing the demographics of persons
issued citations, including but not limited to race, age, gender, income and housing status
as available; and,7. The report should also include performance measures showing the activities
and effectiveness of the program outreach manager.
B. The executive must file the report required by this section by April 1 of eachyear, starting in 2019, in the form of a paper original and an electronic copy with the clerkof the council, who shall retain the original and provide an electronic copy to allcouncilmembers, the council chief of staff, the policy staff director and the lead staff for themobility committee, or its successor. (Ord. 18789 § 2, 2018).
2.16.171 Department of judicial administration.
A. The department of judicial administration, as identified in Section 350.20.20 of
the King County Charter, shall be managed by the superior court clerk, who shall be
appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, a majority of King County superior court judges.
The department shall be comprised of the office of the director, the case flow division, thecourt services division, the technology services division, the financial services division, theNorm Maleng Regional Justice Center customer services division and the juvenile division.
B. The duties of the department of judicial administration shall include:
1. Receiving and maintaining all superior court records;
2. Providing access to superior court records; and3. Managing receipt, disbursement and trust accounting for all fees, fines andpayments made in superior court cases. (Ord. 19375 § 1, 2021).
2.16.175 Juvenile court services – detention facilities – administration by thecounty executive.
A. The responsibility for the administration of detention services, together withbuilding maintenance, are transferred to the county executive from the King County
superior court, subject to subsection B of this section.
B. The administration of detention services shall revert to the judges of the superior
court if a majority of the judges find that any one or more of the following conditions arenot being complied with and that the interests of juveniles or the community require
reversion, except that, before such a vote, the superior court and the executive shall firstmeet and attempt to resolve any concerns:
1. The services that are being transferred to the executive shall be maintained at
a level consistent with and providing for the needs of juveniles, over whom the superior
court has jurisdiction, and of the needs of the community in relation to those juveniles;
2. The detention facility and all detention services for juveniles shall be operated
separately from the adult detention facility so that there is no contact, physically or
programmatically, between juvenile offenders and adult inmates;
3. The manager of the youth detention facility shall be at least at the level of adivision manager within the newly created department of juvenile and adult detention.
Upon a vacancy, the executive shall replace the manager of the youth detention facility
through a competitive search process that includes participation from the superior court;
4. The staff of adult detention and juvenile detention shall be separate and distinct.
Staff of the adult detention facility shall not be assigned to the juvenile detention facility
without having received adequate training to qualify as a juvenile detention officer. The
superior court shall participate in the development of the training curriculum that isprovided to juvenile detention officer.
C. The county executive, sheriff, prosecuting attorney, presiding judges of thesuperior court and district court, chair of the law and justice committee of the county
council, the director of the department of adult detention, the director of community andhuman services and the director of judicial administration constitute the members of thecriminal justice council. The criminal justice council shall act as adviser to the superior
court in the oversight of the juvenile detention facility. The criminal justice council shallestablish a subcommittee to assist with the oversight. The criminal justice council
subcommittee charged with assisting in the oversight shall provide opportunity forparticipation by citizens and the public defender agencies providing services to juveniles.
During the summer of 2001, the criminal justice council shall conduct an evaluation toreview the performance of the juvenile detention division and to make recommendations
to the superior court on whether juvenile detention should remain in the department of
adult and juvenile detention and whether probation related services should remain under
the court’s supervision. (Ord. 13668 § 3, 1999).
2.16.190 Liability. Nothing contained in this chapter is intended to be nor shall be
construed to create or form the basis for any liability on the part of the county, or its officers,
employees or agents, for any injury or damage resulting from any act or omission inconnection with the implementation or enforcement of this chapter on the part of the county
by its officers, employees or agents. (Ord. 11955 § 14, 1995).
2.16.210 Department of assessments – duties – divisions. The department ofassessments is administered by the county assessor, who performs duties specified bygeneral law. The primary purpose of the department is to establish the value of property
in King County subject to ad valorem taxation.
The department is responsible to manage and be fiscally accountable for thefollowing divisions:
A. RESIDENTIAL APPRAISAL DIVISION. The functions of the residential
appraisal division include:
1. Cyclic appraisal of all real property in King County, including incorporated
areas, for property tax purposes.
2. Field inspection and valuation of all real property, new construction andsubdivisions.

3. Defense of valuations before the King County board of equalization,
Washington State Board of Tax Appeals, and in courts of law.
B. PROGRAM PLANNING DIVISION. The functions of the program planning
division include:
1. Planning and coordination of computer system requirements for the
department, including liaison with the computer and communication services division of
the department of information and administrative services of executive administration.
2. Statistical analysis and management information reporting to support valuationof property.
C. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIVISION. The functions of the administrative
services division include:
1. Managing the department’s public information unit to provide access tocomputer information regarding assessments, property characteristics, property history,
and tax bill information.
2. Managing property and office rentals for the department.
3. Administrative functions of the department including personnel, budget, payroll,and resources needed by department appraisers to discharge their responsibilities.
4. Coordinating all training for department employees.
D. ACCOUNTING DIVISION. The functions of the accounting division include:
1. Setting levy rates, levy codes, and tax district boundaries, certification of the
tax roll for collection to the treasury division of the office of financial management,
exemptions and refunds, entering information in the computer master files and setting up
new real property parcels such as plats and condominiums in assessment files.
2. Managing changes in real property and entering them on assessor maps andmaintaining map overlays showing taxing districts, levy codes, zoning, appraisal areas,
and wetland boundaries.
3. Providing work materials to the appraisal divisions and entering data from theresidential and commercial appraisal divisions into the property based system computer
files, maintaining residential and commercial property folios, and processing building
permits.
E. COMMERCIAL DIVISION. The functions of the commercial division include:
1. Valuation of business related depreciable assets, such as machinery andequipment, in King County.
2. Valuation of leased business equipment in King County.
3. Valuation of mobile homes in King County.
4. Valuation of all commercial real property in King County.
F. CHIEF APPRAISER DIVISION. The functions of the chief appraiser division
shall be to provide policy guidance on the interpretation and implementation of the uniform
standards of professional appraisal practice.
G. DIVISION MANAGER STATUS. Each division manager shall be in an exempt
status. Should personnel presently filling a position as division manager have career
service status, the position will become exempt when a vacancy occurs. (Ord. 12475 § 1,
1996: Ord. 12075 § 4, 1996).
2.16.215 Assessor - advertising agreements authorized - restrictions - use ofvenue.
A. The assessor may negotiate and enter into agreements for advertising on theassessor's website for the purpose of providing financial support for assessor programs.
The advertising shall be restricted to commercial speech.
B. Advertisers and sponsors shall abide by the nondiscrimination requirements of
K.C.C. Title 12. Furthermore, an advertising agreement may not result in advertisementof tobacco products in violation of K.C.C. chapter 12.51.

C. The assessor may impose additional subject-matter restrictions on advertisingconsistent with applicable law.
D. Revenue generated from advertising entered into under this section shall beapplied solely to assessment services. (Ord. 17927 § 2, 2014).
2.16.250 Continuation of authorizations and duties, and changes to names ofdepartments, divisions, offices, and director and manager positions in the KingCounty Code. From time to time, the council establishes, abolishes, combines or divides
administrative offices, executive departments, and divisions. The King County Code is notalways timely updated to reflect these changes in organization. Except as specificallyprovided in the ordinances effecting such organizational changes to departments offices
and divisions, the authorizations and duties assigned to the previous departments, offices
and divisions, and associated officials, shall continue to be exercised and performed byappropriate departments and offices, and the associated officials, in the current executive
branch organization. (Ord. 14199 § 21, 2001: Ord. 12341 § 1, 1996).
2.16.260 High-value data set publication.
A. For the purposes of this section:
1. "High-value data set" means a collection of data that is related to one of thecore services of the county, improves public knowledge of the agency and its operations,increases government accountability and responsiveness or creates economic
opportunity. For purposes of this legislation, documents, emails and calendars are
generally not considered high value data sets.
2. "Open format" means a format that is published and available without requiringa specific manufacturer's software or hardware to access or use.
B.1. King County shall strive within existing budgeted resources to publish on-line
in an open format existing, high-value sets data maintained by the county that areappropriate for unrestricted public access.
2. In selecting high value data sets for on-line publication, the executive shall seek
input from the public, including those seeking to develop applications using county data.
C.1. The executive shall make all data sets selected for publication available on asingle web site designed to allow easy access, downloading and manipulation of the data.
2. Data sets shall be updated and new data sets added to the web site as
resources allow.
3. The web site shall include:
a. information about each data set, including information on who to contact if
there are questions about the data sets;b. terms of use statement for the users of the data; andc. a means for the public to give feedback on and assessment of the quality ofthe data and provide input about which data to prioritize for publication on the web site.
D. High value data set[s] available on the web site shall not include the names ofindividuals or any other personal identifying data as defined in K.C.C. 2.14.010 or any
information that is exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act, chapter 42.56
RCW. (Ord. 16838 § 1, 2010).
2.18
Sections:
2.18.010
2.18.020
2.18.030
2.18.040

DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS

Qualifications.
Qualifications - continuance for term - failure causes vacancy.
Exception - holding another office while filing and running as candidate.
Exception - director filing and running for another office.

2.18.050
2.18.100

Filing form.
Reports to council.

2.18.010 Qualifications.
A. The person shall not hold an office in a political party while serving as the directorof elections;
B. For one year immediately before filing to run for, being appointed to or holding
the office, the person shall not be or have been employed by, or performed compensatedservices for or hold a financial interest in, a nongovernmental entity that designs,
manufactures or sells elections tabulation or voter registration equipment or software. For
the purposes of this subsection, "financial interest" means an interest that exceeds onetenth of one percent of the outstanding securities of the nongovernmental entity; or if theinterest is in an unincorporated business concern, exceeds one percent of the net worthof such concern; or the financial interest in the nongovernmental entity exceeds five
percent of the net worth of the person and the person's immediate family, as defined in
K.C.C. 3.04.017.H. Nothing in this subsection is intended to prevent a person from holding
the office who has been employed by, performed services for or holds a financial interestin a nongovernmental entity that sells, designs or manufactures equipment or softwarethat has broad commercial application beyond the field of elections tabulation or voter
registration; andC. No later than thirty months after having been elected or appointed to the officeof elections director, the director shall have earned the certification of elections
administrator from the Washington state Office of the Secretary of State, and shall meetall continuing education requirements of the Secretary of State. (Ord. 16302 § 2, 2008).
2.18.020 Qualifications - continuance for term - failure causes vacancy. The
director of elections shall continue to fulfill the qualifications established in this chapter forthe term of office. The failure to continue to fulfill any qualification of this chapter causesa vacancy in the office, which shall be filled in accordance with Section 680.10 of the KingCounty Charter. (Ord. 16302 § 6, 2008).
2.18.030 Exception - holding another office while filing and running as
candidate. This chapter does not prevent an elected official from holding another public
office while filing and running as a candidate for King County director of elections. (Ord.
16302 § 3, 2008).
2.18.040 Exception - director filing and running for another office. This
chapter does not prevent the director of elections from filing and running for another public
office while still serving as the director of elections. (Ord. 16302 § 4, 2008).
2.18.050 Filing form. For the initial election of a director of elections, the managerof the elections division shall establish a candidate filing form for the office of director ofelections whereby candidates filing for office swear or affirm that they comply with all thequalifications for the office as established by state law, the King County Charter and theKing County Code. The filing form shall contain the specific requirements of this chapter.
Following the initial election, the elected director of elections shall establish the filing formin conformance with applicable King County Charter and King County Code provisions.
(Ord. 16302 § 5, 2008).
2.18.100 Reports to council.
A. The director of elections shall, each year, provide to the county council a reportthat contains information on elections. The report shall include:1. Detailed costs of conducting and administering special, primary and generalelections in the county. The format for this information shall be the same as thedepartment of elections uses to tabulate costs for which it invoices jurisdictions for thecosts of running and administering elections. The time series for the cost of elections shallbe the most-recent ten years of data ending with a general election;
2. Voter turnout data for the most-recent ten years for all special, primary andgeneral elections. The turnout data shall include the number of voters credited with voting
as well as the percentage of active registered voters who were credited with voting;
3. Accuracy data as measured by ballot reconciliation figures including, but notlimited to, those required by Washington state law to be reported to the Secretary of State.
The time series for the accuracy data shall begin with the general election of 2005 andcontinue until there is a decade of data. When there is more than ten years of accuracy
data, only the most-recent ten years shall be reported;
4. Information about voters’ pamphlets, including the overall costs and costs toparticipating jurisdictions, level of local participation, impacts on election turnout, receptionof the pamphlet by voters and participants and any other information necessary to an
analysis of the program by the council; and5. Information about developing trends in the elections department, which
incorporates ongoing reforms and continuous improvement programs.
B. The director of elections shall transmit to the council the report required bysubsection A. of this section by March 31 of each year, filed in the form of a paper original
and an electronic copy with the clerk of the council, who shall retain the original and provide
an electronic copy to all councilmembers and the lead staff for the government
accountability and oversight committee or its successor. (Ord. 18167 § 20, 2015: Ord.
17210 § 1, 2011).
Sections:
2.20.005
2.20.0072.20.010
2.20.040
2.20.065
2.20.075
2.20.085

2.20

COUNTY AUDITOR

Auditor's office established.
Definitions.
Appointment – process – auditor's authority.
Scope of authority – work program.
Auditor's access to persons, property and records – powers to enjoin.
Standards – response to auditor – audit reports – studies and oversightreports – standing committee designation by council.
Programs.

2.20.005 Auditor's office established. In accordance with Section 250 of the KingCounty charter, there is hereby established the county auditor's office. The auditor's officeshall advance performance, accountability, transparency and equity of King County
government through objective, independent audits, capital projects oversight, studies andactivities that generally assist the council in its oversight function, promote due diligence andserve the public interest. The organization and administration of the auditor's office shall be
sufficiently independent to assure no interference or influence external to the auditor's officeshall adversely affect an independent and objective judgement by the county auditor. The
auditor shall be provided a discrete budget and staffing allocation. (Ord. 18799 § 3, 2018:
Ord. 15241 § 1, 2005: Ord. 8264 § 1, 1987).
2.20.007 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
A. "Audit" means a performance audit, financial audit or other audit that conforms
to Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards promulgated by the United States

Government Accountability Office. "Audit" includes audits as prescribed in Section 250 of
the King County Charter. A "final audit" shall include the formal response of thedepartment, agency, program or other entity that is the subject of the audit.
B. "Auditor" means the council-appointed county auditor as prescribed in Section
250 of the King County Charter, and as applicable includes the auditor's staff, office ordesignee.
C. "Financial audit" means an audit concerned with financial transactions, records
and statements.
D. "Oversight" means review and analysis of programs or projects, including thework conducted by the capital project oversight program.
E. "Performance audit" means an audit concerned with program operations,service delivery, related controls and accomplishments.
F. "Recommendation" means a statement of actions the auditor believes areneeded to correct problems or adopt improvements identified in audits or studies. An audit
or study may have multiple recommendations.
G. "Standing committee" has the same meaning as in K.C.C. 1.24.005.
H. "Study" means a study of financial, capital, operational, systems or outcomes
conducted by the auditor's office that may or may not conform to Generally Accepted
Government Auditing Standards promulgated by the United States Government
Accountability Office. "Study" includes special studies as prescribed in Section 250 of theKing County Charter.
I. "Work program" means the schedule of audits, studies and oversight to be
conducted by the auditor's office over a set time. (Ord. 18799 § 4, 2018).
2.20.010 Appointment – process – auditor's authority.
A. The auditor shall be appointed by motion by a majority of the council to implement
and manage the duties of the auditor's office.
B. The auditor shall be selected by the council through a nationwide search using a
merit-based selection process that includes screening by experienced performance
auditors.
C. The auditor shall possess adequate professional proficiency and characteristics
for the job. The auditor shall:
1. Be able to analyze problems of performance, program operations, financial
management and administration, internal controls and public policy;
2. Have a track record of integrity, acting without bias, conducting professional
interactions diplomatically and effectively managing personnel;
3. Not be actively involved in partisan affairs; and4. Pass a complete criminal background check before appointment.
D. The auditor shall serve a term of four years, unless the council passes a motion
with at least six affirmative votes to remove the auditor for cause, and shall be considered
for reappointment at the end of each term.
E. Within available appropriation, the auditor:
1. May employ staff as necessary for conduct of the auditor's duties; and2. Shall be the appointing authority for auditor's office staff and shall consult withthe council before appointment, advancement or removal of staff; and3. May enter into a contract for consultant services for fifty thousand dollars orless without prior authorization by council motion. (Ord. 18799 § 5, 2018: Ord. 8264 § 2,
1987: Ord. 394 § 1, 1970).
2.20.040 Scope of authority – work program.
A. The auditor shall conduct audits, studies and oversight promoting due diligenceby county officials. The auditor may perform the following functions in the course of

performing that work:
1. Determining whether laws, policies and regulations are being faithfully, efficiently,
effectively and equitably implemented by county officials;
2. Determining whether agencies or programs are achieving intended results;
3. Holding county officials accountable in their use of public funds and other county
resources; and4. Submitting to the council reports resulting from audits, studies or oversight.
B. The council shall review and approve by motion a work program proposed by theauditor at least every two years. To respond to emerging issues or circumstances, theauditor may request that the council by motion amend the work program or the council, by
motion, may amend the work program. However, a council-initiated change to the work
program shall not be made that adversely affects an audit or study in progress without therecommendation of the auditor.
C. If the auditor determines that there is serious concern regarding fraud, abuse or
illegality, or that the scope of an audit or study in progress should be expanded as the resultof any findings, the auditor may initiate spontaneously and conduct, or expand the scope of,an audit beyond that approved in the work program. (Ord. 18799 § 7, 2018: Ord. 15241 §5, 2005: Ord. 1565 § 1, 1973).
2.20.65 Auditor's access to persons, property and records – power to enjoin.
A. The auditor shall have full and unrestricted access to any and all persons, property
and records in any form of any department, agency, program or other entity that receives
appropriations or funding from the county or performs work on behalf of or under theauthority of the county. Access to persons, property and records shall be provided to theauditor in a timely manner and without limitation. Access to persons or property and allrecords requested by the auditor shall be provided without charge.
B. For the purposes of this section, "access to persons" includes information,interviews or testimony by any and all individuals or entities employed by the county,
including its officers and employees, or persons performing work on behalf of or under theauthority of the county. The manner of questioning the persons regarding their knowledge
shall be determined exclusively by the auditor. The persons shall fully cooperate with theauditor and make full disclosure of all pertinent information.
C. For the purposes of this section, "access to property and records" includes
furnishing and providing access to any and all requested property and records including, but
not limited to, physical and digital materials, locations, writings, information systems,
operations and data, in a manner determined exclusively by the auditor. Access to property
and records shall be construed to the broadest extent, including property and records
designated as confidential or of limited access by contract or law, unless access is
specifically prohibited by law or court order. Persons with access to or responsible for
confidential or limited-access property or records shall fully cooperate with the auditor in
determining a plan of action to provide and manage the property or records.
D. If, in the exclusive opinion of the auditor, access to persons, property and records
is inconsistent with the language of this section or insufficient to meet the needs of theauditor to perform its duties, the auditor, with approval of the council by motion, may either
issue a subpoena compelling access or require full disclosure under oath, or both.
E. In addition to the powers of the auditor set forth in this chapter, the auditor may
seek regular or equitable relief to enjoin any acts or practices and abate any conditions
which the auditor believes constitute or will constitute a violation of this code or otherpertinent laws or regulations. (Ord. 18799 § 9, 2018).
2.20.075 Standards – response to auditor – audit reports – studies andoversight reports – standing committee designation by council.

A. Audits shall follow applicable Generally Accepted Government AuditingStandards as promulgated by the United States Government Accountability Office.
Studies and oversight shall employ standards and policies relevant to the type of work
conducted. The auditor shall employ a quality control system that ensures quality,
objectivity and comprehensiveness in performing the auditor's work and receive regularexternal reviews as required by generally accepted government auditing standards.
B. Within fourteen calendar days after receipt of a proposed final audit report fromthe auditor, the elected official or officials responsible for administration of the agencies orprograms evaluated by an audit shall provide a written response to the auditor. The
response shall include:
1. Concurrence, partial concurrence or nonconcurrence with each report
recommendation including any explanation of why full concurrence may not be feasible;and
2. A description of the proposed corrective action or actions that will be taken to
implement each report recommendation and a defined timeline for completing thoseactions.
C. A written audit report shall be deemed complete once the audit report
incorporates the response required under subsection B. of this section, together with any
reply from the auditor to the response. The auditor shall work with council staff to schedulepresentations of all completed audits. Once an audit is deemed complete by the auditor,
the auditor shall advise in writing the chair of the standing committee designated inaccordance with subsection E. of this section that the audit is ready for presentation before
the standing committee. A complete audit report shall be deemed final once either of thefollowing occurs:
1. The complete audit report is presented to the standing committee designatedin accordance with subsection E. of this section. It is the intent of the council that within
thirty calendar days of a deemed complete audit report, the auditor shall present the audit's
findings and recommendations to the standing committee. Concurrent with thepresentation, the auditor shall publish the report and make the report available to the
public; or
2. If presentation of an audit report does not occur within thirty days of the auditor
notifying the standing committee designated in accordance with subsection E. of thissection that the audit is ready for presentation, then the auditor may publish the complete
audit report and make the audit report available to the public without presentation to thestanding committee.
D. The auditor may present and publish studies and oversight reports asappropriate to the type of work conducted.
E. The council shall designate a standing committee to receive all audits studies
and oversight reports. (Ord. 18799 § 10, 2018).
2.20.085 Programs. The auditor shall administer the following programs:
A. The capital project oversight program, which shall consist of oversight, audits or
studies of operations, programs or services performed related to the county's capital
programs. To accomplish the work of the capital project oversight program, the auditor
shall:
1. Assign a program manager and may use personnel with expertise in capitalprojects, retain independent consulting services with appropriate expertise or both;
2. Include capital projects, capital programs or other areas for capital project
oversight in the work program; and3. By July 1 of each even-numbered year, publish a report summarizing capitalproject oversight work completed by the auditor and implementation by agencies in thelast twenty-four months;

B. The transit audit program, which shall consist of audits or studies of operations,programs or services performed by the Metro transit department or its successor. To
accomplish the work of the transit audit program, the auditor shall:
1. Assign a program manager and may use personnel with expertise in transit,
retain independent consulting services with appropriate expertise or both;
2. Include a minimum of two transit audits per biennium on the work program; and3. By July 1 of each even-numbered year, publish a report summarizing the transit
audit program work completed by the auditor and implementation by transit agencies in
the last twenty-four months; andC. The law enforcement audit program, which shall consist of audits or studies ofoperations, programs or services performed by the sheriff's office and other county
agencies related to law enforcement. To accomplish the work of the law enforcement
audit program, the auditor shall:
1. Assign a program manager and may use personnel with expertise in law
enforcement, retain independent consulting services with appropriate expertise or both;
2. Include a minimum of two audits of law enforcement per biennium on the work
program; and3. By July 1 of each even-numbered year, publish a report summarizing the law
enforcement program work completed by the auditor and implementation by law
enforcement agencies in the last twenty-four months. (Ord. 18799 § 13, 2018: Ord. 18799§ 11, 2018).
2.21
Sections:
2.21.010
2.21.020
2.21.030
2.21.040
2.21.050
2.21.060
2.21.070
2.21.080
2.21.090
2.21.100

CLAIMS AGAINST COUNTY

Purpose.
Definitions.
Office of risk management services - duties of risk manager.
Risk management committee.
Legal representation and indemnification - civil division duties - costs andexpenses.
Duties of county departments, agencies, officers, employees and agents.
Procedure for handling claims.
Procedure for handling lawsuits.
Defense of county officers, employees, agents and their maritalcommunities.
Recovery of losses.

*For statutory provisions regarding claims against counties, see chapter 36.45
RCW.
2.21.010 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish risk management
policies for the county and to define procedures for the executive and the prosecuting
attorney regarding the processing and disposition of claims and lawsuits against thecounty. (Ord. 19681 § 1, 2023: Ord. 17408 § 3, 2012: Ord. 3581 § 1, 1978. Formerly
K.C.C. 4.12.010).
2.21.020 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
A. "Chief civil deputy" means the chief deputy of the civil division, or the designee;
B. "Civil division" means the civil division of the office of the prosecuting attorney;

C. "Claim" means any claim that names the county, or any of its officers, employees
or agents, whether employed or engaged in the past or in the present, while acting inservice to or employment with the county, as a cause or causes of injury or damage andthat alleges a tort cause of action and asks for money damages;
D. "Committee" means the risk management committee established by K.C.C.
2.21.040;
E. "Enterprise risk management" means a countywide approach to risk
management that proactively identifies and addresses potential risks across all operations.
It is designed to ensure that organizational leadership integrates consideration of risk into
the county's culture and processes, including, but not limited to, business and strategicplanning and performance measurement;
F. "Lawsuit" means any lawsuit that names as a defendant the county, its officers,
employees, or agents, whether employed or engaged in the past or in the present, while
acting within the scope of service to or employment with the county, that alleges a tort
cause of action and that asks for money damages;
G. "Risk management" means a coordinated and continuous management process
to identify potential loss exposures, to apply reasonable and effective risk controls, and toensure that the financial integrity of the county is not impaired after a loss; and
H. "Safety manager" means the manager of the central employee services divisionof the department of human resources. (Ord. 19681 § 2, 2023: Ord. 17883 § 1, 2014:
Ord. 17408 § 4, 2012: Ord. 8428 § 1, 1988: Ord. 3581 § 2, 1978. Formerly K.C.C.
4.12.020).
2.21.030 Office of risk management services - duties of risk manager.
A. The office of risk management services is established in K.C.C. chapter 2.16. The
manager of the office of risk management services shall be the risk manager, who shallreport directly to the director of the department of executive services and have the following
duties:1. Be responsible for the administration of the county's insurance and risk
management program;
2. Coordinate with the civil division on the following:a. contractual matters giving rise to potential liability on the part of the county;
b. sharing information pertinent to claims and lawsuits against the county; andc. seeking advice as to appropriate language regarding indemnification, releases,
and hold harmless clauses and advising department directors or designees concerningthese matters, and on appropriate language regarding insurance, as part of a coordinatedprocess before finalization of county contracts;
3. Informing the committee concerning insurance, risk management policies, broker
selection, and other appropriate matters;
4. Selecting appropriate insurance brokers by use of a competitive procurement
process for the marketing and selection of insurance and related services;
5. Being responsible for the purchasing and administration of all insurance policies,
funded self-insurance programs, and related services, as are consistent with good risk
management policy and the needs of the county;
6. Advising all county departments and agencies regarding risk management andreduction of risk and exposure to loss,
which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:a. programs and precautions for safety;
b. reducing hazards to the public that may exist in county facilities and operations;c. utilizing enterprise risk management in order to integrate risk management
processes countywide; andd. proactively identifying, analyzing, responding to, and monitoring risks andopportunities for risk-reduction, including making recommendations to all county
departments and agencies regarding the safety of the public using county facilities orservices;
7. Cooperate with the safety manager in areas in which, in the opinion of the risk
manager, the safety of employees and of the public requires coordinated programs;
8. Answer all insurance or funded self-insurance coverage questions;
9. Evaluate current and future county or departmental insurance coverage
programs, and have the authority to make recommendations where such an action is in thebest interests of the county;
10. Subject to budget appropriation, contract for outside assistance and perform
other acts as necessary to carry out the risk manager's responsibilities in an expeditious
manner;11. Establish reserve requirements for all claims and lawsuits and recommend
financing plans and budget actions to assure that adequate resources are available to meetrisk management financing requirements;
12. Risk identification, control and reduction;
13. Employ the services of claims specialists or other persons who are necessary
to process claims in an equitable and expeditious manner;
14. Dispose of claims as authorized in K.C.C. 2.21.070.D.;
15. Maintain complete histories of all claims and claims litigation, insured or funded
self-insurance, loss histories and investigations of claims. The risk manager shall be
responsible to ensure that complete files are maintained of all claims asserted against thecounty and all incidents reported to the office of risk management services sufficient todocument at least a ten -year claims history;
16. Provide a quarterly letter to the council on claims that have been closed with anindemnity payment in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars or more. The reportshall: identify the claimant; describe the claim; identify the amount of the indemnity payment;
identify if the payment was a result of a settlement, a judgment, or a payment to an insurancecompany or other party; and include any other information the risk manager believes would
be helpful to the council in understanding the nature of the claim. The letter shall include atable that provides the information required in this subsection. The quarterly letter should
be due forty-five days after the end of each calendar quarter of the year;
17. On or before March 31 of each year, provide an annual report to the council on
the performance of the risk management program. The annual report shall include, but not
be limited to, the number of claim filings, amount of claim payments, insurance coverage,
self-insured retention, and enterprise risk management results for the previous year andplans for the current year, including, but not limited to, enterprise risk management goals,
priorities, agency actions, and measurable results.
B. The executive shall electronically file the report and letter required by this section
with the clerk of the council, who shall retain electronic copies and provide electronic copies
to all councilmembers, the council chief of staff, and the lead staff for the government
accountability and oversight committee, or its successor. (Ord. 19681 § 3, 2023: Ord.
19015 § 2, 2019: Ord. 17883 § 2, 2014: Ord. 17408 § 6, 2012: Ord. 16913 § 1, 2010: Ord.
11984 § 3, 1995. Formerly K.C.C. 4.12.030).
2.21.040 Risk management committee.
A. There is created a risk management committee to be composed of the risk
manager, the chief civil deputy, and the director of the office of performance, strategy andbudget. The risk manager shall chair the committee.
B. The risk management committee shall:policy;

1. Make recommendations to the council and executive regarding risk management

2. Advise the risk manager on matters concerning the purchase of insurance
policies and advise on the design of insurance and funded self-insurance programs; and3. Advise the risk manager concerning matters of risk management policy. (Ord.
19681 § 4, 2023: Ord. 17408 § 8, 2012: Ord. 16960 § 22, 2010: Ord. 14561 § 21, 2002:
Ord. 12076 § 38, 1995. Formerly K.C.C. 4.12.040).
2.21.050 Legal representation and indemnification - civil division duties - costs
and expenses.
A. This section is consistent with and implements RCW 36.27.020, which makes theprosecuting attorney the legal advisor of the county.
B.1. Subject to the other provisions of this chapter, the county shall provide legal
representation and indemnification to protect county officers, employees, and agents,
whether employed or engaged in the past or the present, and their marital communities,
from personal liability for alleged violations of civil or criminal law resulting from or based
upon alleged acts or omissions of the officers, employees, or agents. To have the benefitof the legal representation and indemnification, the county officer, employee, or agent musthave performed or acted in good faith, within the scope of the county officer's, employee's
or agent's service to or employment with the county, and with no reasonable cause tobelieve the conduct was unlawful.
2. The civil division shall provide legal advice to the risk manager regarding thedisposition of all claim against the county.
3. The civil division shall keep the risk manager advised of the current status andprogress of all claim litigation.
4. The civil division shall direct any recommendations for settlement of claims orlawsuits to the authority designated by K.C.C. 2.21.070.D. and 2.21.080.D., as having final
settlement authority. In recommending settlement of claims or lawsuits for more than fifty
thousand dollars, the civil division shall consult, in conjunction with the office of risk
management services, with the department or agency most involved with the litigation or
named as a party to the lawsuit.
5. In reviewing contract language involving indemnification, releases, or holdharmless clauses, the civil division shall provide advice to the risk manager, department
directors, or designees.
6. The prosecuting attorney may contract with outside counsel for legal services
where appropriate.
7. The chief civil deputy shall resolve any questions relating to:a. whether a county officer, employee, or agent acted in good faith with noreasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful, and within the scope of the county
officer’s, employee’s, or agent's service to or employment with the county;
b. whether, for purposes of the issues raised by a particular claim or lawsuit, aperson is in fact a county officer, employee, or agent; orc. whether or not a county officer, employee, or agent performed or acted as
required to have the benefit of county legal representation and indemnification.
C. Any reasonable costs and expenses incurred in the provision of legal
representation and indemnification for criminal law allegations, driving infractions, andprofessional licensing matters shall be paid from the funds appropriated to the particularcounty department or agency employing or retaining the affected county officer, employee,
or agent, unless the risk manager approves payment for such costs and expenses out of
the risk management fund. Any reasonable costs and expenses incurred in the provision oflegal representation and indemnification for tort claims and lawsuits shall be paid fromavailable insurance or funded self-insurance program. (Ord. 19681 § 5, 2023: Ord. 19015

§ 3, 2019: Ord. 17408 § 10, 2012: Ord. 8428 § 5, 1988: Ord. 3581 § 6, 1978. Formerly
K.C.C. 4.12.050).
2.21.060 Duties of county departments, agencies, officers, employees andagents.
A. All county departments and agencies and the officers, employees, and agents of
those departments and agencies shall cooperate fully and in good faith with the risk manager
and the civil division in the investigation and defense of claims and lawsuits. When deemednecessary by the chief civil deputy or deputy prosecutor assigned to the case, the assistance
may include, but not be limited to, the providing of testimony and exhibits for use in litigation.
Any request for information by the office of risk management services shall be considered arequest by the civil division.
B. Except as specifically directed by the risk manager or the civil division, a county
department or agency, a county officer or designee, or an employee or agent represented
by the civil division or by outside counsel at the county's expense should not:1. Negotiate or otherwise affect the settlement of a claim or lawsuit against thecounty; or
2. Make an admission of liability involving a claim or lawsuit against the county.
C. Except as specifically directed by the risk manager or the civil division, a county
department or agency, a county officer or designee, or an employee or agent represented
by the civil division or by outside legal counsel at the county's expense should not:1. Discuss, with persons who are not county employees, incidents that could
reasonably lead to claims or lawsuits against the county; or
2. Discuss, with persons who are not county employees, incidents that are thesubject of pending claims or lawsuits.
D. In the event of an accident, incident, or occurrence causing bodily injury orproperty damage involving county vehicles, property, or personnel acting within the scopeof their employment, the knowledgeable county officers, employees, and agents shallprovide notice to the office of risk management services as soon as practicable. The notice
shall include all reasonably obtainable information with respect to the time, place, andcircumstances of the accident, incident, or occurrence and the names and addresses of all
knowledgeable county personnel, injured or affected parties, and available witnesses. (Ord.
19681 § 6, 2023: Ord. 19015 § 4, 2019: Ord. 17408 § 12, 2012: Ord. 8428 § 6, 1988: Ord.
3581 § 7, 1978. Formerly K.C.C. 4.12.060).
2.21.070 Procedure for handling claims.
A.1. All claims against the county for damages arising out of tortious conduct shallbe presented to and filed with the risk manager by use of the electronic claim filing systemmanaged by the office of risk management services, or a claim form provided by the countyor the state.
2. All such claims shall be verified by oath or affidavit and shall:a. state the claimant's name, date of birth, and contact information;b. describe the conduct and circumstances that brought about the injury or
damage;c. describe the injury or damage;d. state the time and place the injury or damage occurred;e. state the names of all persons involved, if known; andf. state the amount of damages claimed, together with a statement of the actual
residence of the claimant at the time of presenting and filing the claim and for a period of six
months immediately before the time the claim arose.
3. If the claimant is incapacitated from verifying, presenting, and filing the claim, if
the claimant is a minor or if the claimant is a nonresident of the state, the claim may beverified, presented, and filed on behalf of the claimant by any relative, attorney, or agent
representing the claimant. With respect to the content of such claims, this section shall beliberally construed so that substantial compliance will be deemed satisfactory.
B. An action shall not be commenced against the county for damages arising out of
tortious conduct until a claim has first been presented to and filed with the risk manager andsixty calendar days have passed after the date of filing.
C. This section shall not affect the applicable period of limitations within which anaction must be commenced, but the period shall begin and shall continue to run as if noclaim were required.
D.1. For all claims of one hundred thousand dollars or less, the risk manager shallhave the final payment authority and shall make final disposition by either granting or
denying the claim.
2. For all claims more than ten thousand dollars, the risk manager shall seek theadvice of the civil division before final disposition.
3. For all claims more than one hundred thousand dollars, the county executive
shall make final disposition after receiving advice from the civil division and the risk manager.
(Ord. 19681 § 7, 2023: Ord. 19015 § 5, 2019: Ord. 17408 § 14, 2012: Ord. 8428 § 7, 1988:
Ord. 3581 § 8, 1978. Formerly K.C.C. 4.12.070).
2.21.080 Procedure for handling lawsuits.
A. Service of a summons and complaint shall be as provided in K.C.C. 2.04.010.
Any county officer or employee who is served with a summons and complaint in a lawsuit
against the county or against any of its officers, employees, or agents alleged to be acting
in their official capacities shall immediately forward the summons and complaint to the officeof the manager of the records and licensing services division at
kcserviceofsummons@kingcounty.gov.
B. The manager of the records and licensing services division, upon receiving
service of the summons and complaint shall immediately forward the summons andcomplaint to the civil division. The civil division shall docket the lawsuit and forward a copyof the summons and complaint to the involved department and to the office of risk
management services for lawsuits covered by the risk management fund.
C. The prosecuting attorney shall defend, or provide for the defense of, all lawsuits
against the county or any of its officers, employees, or agents, having performed or acted
in good faith within the scope of the county officer's, employee's, or agent's service to or
employment with the county, and with no reasonable cause to believe the conduct was
unlawful, as long as the individuals discharge their obligations in K.C.C. 2.21.060.
D. Final authority for settlement of self-insured lawsuits shall be as follows:
1. The risk manager, acting with the advice of the civil division, may authorize
settlements of one hundred thousand dollars or less; and2. The executive, acting with the advice of the civil division and the risk manager,
may authorize settlements of more than one hundred thousand dollars. (Ord. 19681 § 8,
2023: Ord. 19612 § 2, 2023: Ord. 19015 § 6, 2019: Ord. 17408 § 16, 2012: Ord. 8428 §8, 1988: Ord. 3581 § 9, 1978. Formerly K.C.C. 4.12.080).
2.21.090 Defense of county officers, employees, agents and their maritalcommunities.
A. The purpose of this section is to protect county officers, employees, agents andtheir marital communities from personal liability for acts committed by those individuals ingood faith and within the scope of their official county duties.
B. The chief civil deputy shall determine all questions relating to scope and status inaccordance with K.C.C. 2.21.050.B.7.
C. When a county officer, employee, agent, or the marital community of the countyofficer, employee or agent is sued in a lawsuit for an act or alleged act falling within thescope of the officer's, employee's, or agent's official duties, the prosecuting attorney shallbe responsible for defense of that person or community in accordance with K.C.C.
2.21.050, 2.21.060 and 2.21.080 and this section.
D. This section may not apply if a claim or lawsuit is covered fully by insurance.
E. If a possible conflict exists between the county and a county officer, employee, or
agent, acting in good faith within their scope of the person's official duties, and with noreasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful, the prosecuting attorney may, at theprosecuting attorney's sole discretion, appoint outside counsel as a special deputy
prosecuting attorney to represent the person. In those cases, the county shall be
responsible for payment of costs incurred in the defense.
F.1. Subject to the other provisions of this chapter, the county shall provide legal
representation and indemnification to protect county officers, employees, agents, and theirmarital communities from personal liability for alleged violations of civil or criminal law
resulting from or based upon alleged acts or omissions of the officers, employees, or agents.
To have the benefit of the legal representation and indemnification, the county officers,
employees, or agents must have performed or acted in good faith, with no reasonable cause
to believe the conduct was unlawful and within the scope of the county officer’s, employee’s,or agent's service to or employment with the county.
2. For the purposes of subsection F.1. of this section, "alleged violations of civil or
criminal law":a. includes, but is not limited to, professional licensing matters if a complaint has
been filed regarding an officer, employee, or agent’s professional license; andb. does not include motor-vehicle-related infractions unless the chief civil deputy
determines that, in a particular instance, a motor vehicle infraction should be included
because it is in the best interests of the county. (Ord. 19681 § 9, 2023: Ord. 18618 § 25,
2017: Ord. 17408 § 18, 2012: Ord. 8428 § 9, 1988: Ord. 3581 § 10, 1978. Formerly K.C.C.
4.12.090).
2.21.100 Recovery of losses.
A. The risk manager and the civil division shall be responsible for bringing all actions,
including claims and lawsuits, for recovery of losses to the county arising out of the acts ofothers. The losses may include property damages or losses that impact the county as aresult of personal injuries to county officers, employees, or agents. In addition, the civil
division may join the county as a party with any third party in a lawsuit involving recovery ofloss to the county. The prosecuting attorney may contract with outside counsel on recovery
matters where appropriate.
B. Any moneys recovered, excluding costs of recovery, by the risk manager or civil
division, on account of losses to the county shall be paid to the budget unit or departmentthat has expended funds or materials as a result of the loss. Any moneys recovered inexcess of those so expended shall be transferred to the risk management fund. (Ord. 19681§ 10, 2023: Ord. 17408 § 20, 2012: Ord. 3581 § 11, 1978. Formerly K.C.C. 4.12.100).
2.22

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES

Sections:
2.22.100 Opiate substitution treatment.
2.22.100 Opiate substitution treatment.
A. As used in this section, the following terms have the meanings set forth in thissubsection.

1. “Certified opiate substitution treatment program” means an outpatient clinic
certified for opiate substitution treatment by state and federal agencies and is located inKing County.
2. “Client” means an individual accepted for opiate substitution treatment by acertified opiate substitution treatment program.
3. "Council" means the King County council as defined by the King County
Charter.
4. “Department” means the King County department of community and humanservices.
5. “Director” means the director of the King County department of community andhuman services.
6. “Executive” means the King County executive as defined by the King County
Charter.
7. “Opiate substitution treatment” means dispensing an opiate substitution drug
approved by the Federal Drug Administration for the treatment of opiate addiction andproviding a comprehensive range of medical and rehabilitative services.
B. Under the authority of RCW 70.96A.410, there shall be nine certified opiate
substitution treatment programs licensed by King County to offer opiate substitution
treatment; provided, that treatment programs so certified as of March 12, 1986, shall belicensed. Licensed certified opiate substitution treatment programs shall not have acaseload in excess of state requirements.
C. Pursuant to K.C.C. chapter 2.98, RCW 70.96A.410 and applicable state rules,
the director shall prepare and implement:
1. Procedures to annually license certified opiate substitution treatment programs
as county opiate substitution treatment programs. The procedures shall require current
state certification, compliance with state treatment rules, completion of all license
application requirements established by the director and payment of the annual licensefee. If an existing county licensed program loses its state certification, is found to be outof compliance with the treatment rules adopted by the state, fails to fulfill county licensing
requirements or is no longer operating when its license expires, or if additional treatment
capacity is found to be needed, then the director shall issue a new license or licenses but
in no case more than a total of nine licenses to a certified program or programs meeting
all county licensing requirements and that are already licensed, if determined able by
the department to serve additional clients and if the sites used by the providers are
consistent with local zoning codes and public process. However, if the county determines
to provide opiate substitution treatment itself, these annual licensing procedures do not
apply, and no licenses shall be issued to certified programs that are not operated by thecounty or the department. Also, the licenses shall expire twelve months from the date ofissuance unless renewed. The director shall conduct a study of the feasibility of the county
operating an opiate substitution treatment program; and2. Procedures to monitor and enforce the provisions of this section, RCW
70.96A.410 and 70.96A.420 and applicable state rules.
D. The director shall provide the annual report to the council. The report shall
include the status of all county licensed opiate substitution treatment programs. The
director shall consult with each treatment program license on or after March 1, 2000
regarding other promising means of treating addicts. The director shall provide a written
report to the executive and each member of the council prior to September 1, 2000 onother possible alternative treatments. If the director feels that any of these alternative
approaches have promise, then the director's report shall include suggestions on any
steps needed to achieve more widespread use of alternative approaches.
E. The executive shall propose for council adoption an annual fee to be charged toeach licensed certified opiate substitution treatment program to meet costs of carrying out

the provisions of this section. The annual fee shall not be prorated or rebated for any
reason.
F. Should any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of thissection be declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, such decision shall not affectthe validity of the remaining portions of this section. (Ord. 13704 § 1 and 2, 2000: Ord.
12525 § 2, 1996: Ord. 11184 § 1, 1993: Ord. 7999, 1987: Ord. 7738 §§ 1-8, 1986: Ord.
5261 § 2, 1980: Ord. 2238 § 1, 1975).
2.28

MEMBERSHIP ON BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

Sections:
2.28.001
2.28.0015
2.28.002
2.28.003
2.28.004
2.28.005
2.28.006
2.28.010
2.28.020
2.28.030
2.28.050

Applicability.
Nomination and appointment - procedures, considerations.
Appointment and confirmation.
Powers of appointees.
Vacancy.
Qualifications.
Per diem.
Terms of members of boards, commissions and committees.
Annual executive report required.
Annual gathering and reception for county board and commission
members.
Public records training.

2.28.001 Applicability. All members of county boards, commissions, and councilcreated committees shall be appointed, hold office, or be confirmed or rejected according tothis chapter; however, this chapter shall not affect boards, commissions, and councilcreated committees to the extent that they are expressly dealt with under state law, thecounty charter, or ordinance, in a manner different than that set forth in this chapter. (Ord.
19741 § 9, 2023: Ord. 11319 § 1, 1994).
2.28.0015 Nomination and appointment - procedures, considerations.
A. Each councilmember must provide the executive with a nomination to represent
the councilmember's council district. If the executive does not appoint the person nominatedby the councilmember, the executive shall request that the councilmember nominate
another person.
B. At-large positions designated for the council shall be appointed by the executive
after receiving nominations from the council. When notified of a vacancy in one of thesefour at-large positions, the council chair shall inform the council at an open public meetingof the vacancy and seek nominations from councilmembers. At a subsequent council
meeting, the chair shall inform the council of the names of all nominees received fromcouncilmembers and that all nominations have been forwarded to the executive. If theexecutive does not appoint a person who has been nominated by the council, the executive
must request that the council nominate other candidates for appointment.
C. When appointing and confirming members to boards, commissions, andcommittees it shall be the goal to have geographical diversity and balance. The women’s
advisory board created under K.C.C. 2.30.010, the conservation futures advisory committee
established under K.C.C. 2.36.070, the Harborview Medical Center board of trustees
established under K.C.C. 2.42.030, and the human and civil rights commission establishedunder K.C.C. 2.31.020, should not have more than two members from a single council
district. This subsection does not apply to a board, commission, or committee until theboard, commission, or committee attains the council district and at-large membership asspecified in Ordinance 15548, Section 7*. (Ord. 19770 § 8, 2024: Ord. 19741 § 10, 2023:
Ord. 19047 § 12, 2019 ([did not take effect]: Ord. 18981 § 7, 2019: Ord. 15548 § 1, 2006).
*Available in the King County Archives.
2.28.002 Appointment and confirmation. The executive shall appoint membersof boards, commissions, and committees by executing a letter of appointment when avacancy exists. The letter shall be filed with the clerk of the council and the board of ethics.
The executive shall transmit with the letter of appointment a draft motion confirming theappointment together with such supporting and background information regarding theappointee as the executive deems would assist the council in considering confirmation. The
letter shall specify the position to which the member is being appointed and the length of theterm being filled. Confirmation or rejection shall be by council motion. (Ord. 19741 § 11,
2023: Ord. 11319 § 2, 1994).
2.28.003 Powers of appointees.
A. An appointment shall be deemed to have been made on the date the letter of
appointment is filed with the clerk of the council as required by K.C.C. 2.28.002. All
appointments are subject to confirmation or rejection by the council.
B. An appointee may exercise the powers of office beginning thirty days after
appointment or such earlier time as the appointee is confirmed by the council. Appointees
remain subject to later confirmation or rejection by the council.
C. Any member whose term has expired shall continue to serve until a successor isappointed and either is confirmed or is authorized to exercise official power under subsection
B. of this section; provided, however, that the office of a holdover who has been reappointed
and rejected by the council shall be deemed vacant and such holdover shall not exercise
the powers of such office; and provided further that no member who has vacated an office
as provided by law shall serve as a holdover in that office. (Ord. 18618 § 26, 2017: Ord.
11319 § 3, 1994).
2.28.004 Vacancy.
A. A position shall be deemed vacant upon the occurrence of any of the events
specified in RCW 42.12.010 or the following events:
1. Withdrawal by an appointee who has not yet been confirmed;
2. Failure to continue to meet qualifications for appointment during the term ofoffice; or
3. Voluntary resignation prior to the expiration of an appointed term.
B. Any board, or commission, or committee receiving notice of events constituting avacancy shall immediately give written notice of such vacancy to the executive and the clerkof the council.
C. Until a successor is appointed and either confirmed or is authorized to exercise
official power under K.C.C. 2.28.003.B., the board, commission, or committee shall bedeemed temporarily reduced in number for all official purposes except as otherwise provided
by law; however, a board, commission, or committee shall not be temporarily reduced under
this subsection to less than two members.
D. A person appointed to fill an unexpired term may be appointed to serve for theremainder of the unexpired term, as well as one additional full term for that position. (Ord.
19741 § 12, 2023: Ord. 11319 § 4, 1994).
2.28.005 Qualifications. The council by ordinance may specify qualifications forappointment to any or all boards, commissions, and committees; however, the qualifications

shall not reduce or eliminate qualifications otherwise required by law. (Ord. 19741 § 13,
2023: Ord. 11319 § 5, 1994).
2.28.006 Per diem. The council by ordinance may provide for per diem
compensation for members of specific boards, commissions, and committees. (Ord. 19741§ 14, 2023: Ord. 11319 § 6, 1994).
2.28.010 Terms of members of boards, commissions and committees.
Whenever the county council creates or recreates boards, commissions, and committees,
original terms of members will be as follows except where otherwise stated in the KingCounty Code:
A. Boards, commissions, or committees of three to nine members: one-third to oneyear terms, one-third to two-year terms, one-third to full terms as defined by the King County
Code;
B. Boards, commissions, or committees with terms of two years or less: one-half forhalf of a full term, one-half for a full term;
C. Boards, commissions, or committees of more than nine members: one-fourth for
one year, one-fourth for two years, one-fourth for three years or the full term if the full termis three years, and one-fourth for full terms. (Ord. 19741 § 15, 2023: Ord. 138 § 1, 1969).
2.28.020 Annual executive report required. The executive shall prepare andtransmit to the council an annual status report regarding boards, commissions, and councilcreated committees, for which the members are appointed by the executive and confirmedby the council. Each report shall contain, at a minimum, an inventory of such boards,
commissions, and committees; a description of activities; a list of members; a list showing
the terms of office, including the terms to expire during the following year; and thedepartment or agency providing staff support, including a contact address and phone
number. (Ord. 19741 § 16, 2023: Ord. 11319 § 7, 1994).
2.28.030 Annual gathering and reception for county board and commission
members.
A. The chair of the King County council may annually convene a gathering andreception between King County's elected officials and members of county boards,
commissions, and council-created committees, for which the members are appointed by the
executive and confirmed by the council. The intent of convening the gathering and reception
shall be to:
1. Increase communication between King County elected officials and county
board, commission, and committee members;
2. Provide for informal discussion between King County elected officials, county
board, commission, and committee members and staff; and3. Foster a spirit of cooperation in serving the public.
B. Costs of meals or refreshments for King County elected officials, county board,commission, and committee members and staff attending the meeting and reception are
hereby authorized, subject to availability of funds in the council's budget and to the dollar
limits specified in K.C.C. 3.24.080. (Ord. 19741 § 17, 2023: Ord. 15314 § 1, 2005).
2.28.050 Public records training. The public records officer of each agency staffing
a county board, commission or committee shall provide training, in consultation with theoffice of the prosecuting attorney, either in person or by video, to all new members of county
boards, commissions, and committees at the commencement of service regarding their
public records legal responsibilities and obligations under chapters 40.14 and 42.56 RCW.
All members of boards, commissions, and committees shall certify in writing, on a form

provided by the executive and approved by the office of the prosecuting attorney, theiracknowledgment of their completion of training and their commitment to comply withchapters 40.14 and 42.56 RCW. To facilitate the greatest degree of compliance withchapters 40.14 and 42.56 RCW, the executive shall provide all members of county boards,
commissions, and committees with county-managed email accounts for use by members in
the performance of their duties on behalf of the county. (Ord. 19741 § 18, 2023: Ord. 16997§ 1, 2010).
2.30
Sections:
2.30.010
2.30.040
2.30.060
2.30.080

WOMEN’S ADVISORY BOARD

Created.
Advisory board — Community services division's duties
responsibilities.
Advisory board — Composition.
Advisory board — Organization – membership – meetings.

and2.30.010 Created. A women’s advisory board is created to act in an advisory
capacity to the executive and council, making recommendations to ensure that the needs,
rights, and well-being of women are taken into account in the development andimplementation of legislation, policies, programs, and funding in King County. The duties of
the women’s advisory board are:
A. To assess the needs of women in King County and make recommendations
regarding how best to meet their unmet needs;
B. To review county programs serving women, including their budgets, andrecommend ways that these programs can be more responsive to the needs of women andmore effective in meeting women’s needs;
C. To work with community members and service agencies, to identify, develop, andpromote programs that will improve the status and well-being of women;
D. To act as a proponent within county government to improve the status of women;
E. To make recommendations to the county council and to the county executive on
legislation, policies, programs, and funding necessary to carry out the purposes of thischapter;F. To inform and educate the public regarding the status of women and policies andprograms that may affect the status and well-being of women; andG. To work with other county boards and commissions, including the children andfamily commission, to further the purposes of the women’s advisory board. (Ord. 19738 §3, 2023: Ord. 13039 § 1, 1998: Ord. 4964 § 1, 1980: Ord. 3631 § 1, 1978).
2.30.040 Advisory board — Community services division's duties andresponsibilities. The community services division shall be accountable for carrying out thefollowing duties and responsibilities:
A. To provide staff support for the King County women’s advisory board; to include
appointing a staff liaison to the board who shall respond to the chair of the board, assistingin the preparation of agendas, securing information and statistics as requested or requiredfor board projects, keeping members informed about meetings and tasks, communicatingwith the executive and council about appointments of members as needed and working withthe board to assure the intent of this chapter is fulfilled.
B. To prepare the proposed annual budget for women’s board to include review by
the women’s advisory board. (Ord. 13039 § 3, 1998: Ord. 6066 § 22, 1982: Ord. 4964 §2, 1980: Ord. 3631 § 5, 1978).

2.30.060 Advisory board — Composition.
A. The King County women’s advisory board shall be composed of fifteen members,
one nominated from each council district by the council and six [at-large members]*, ofwhom four shall be nominated by the council and two shall be nominated by the executive.
All nominations shall represent the diversity of women in King County, including diversity inage, area of residence, profession and race or ethnicity, and shall not include employees orboard members of agencies receiving funding from the women’s program. Nominees shallbe appointed by the county executive and confirmed by the county council by motion.
B. Board members representing council districts [and]* those at-large positions
nominated by the council shall be appointed in the manner set forth in K.C.C. 2.28.0015.
C.1. Once constituted, the women’s advisory board shall establish terms of
appointment by lot. Four members shall serve one year, four members shall serve twoyears and three members shall serve three years.
2. After the initial terms have expired, all appointments shall be for three years.
(Ord. 15548 § 2, 2006: Ord. 13039 § 5, 1998: Ord. 11782 § 1, 1995: Ord. 7326, 1985:
Ord. 4964 § 3, 1980: Ord. 3631 § 7, 1978).
*Reviser's note: Language not underlined in Ordinance 15548. See K.C.C. 1.24.075.
2.30.080 Advisory board — Organization – membership – meetings. The KingCounty women’s advisory board shall organize, elect appropriate officers, and shall adopt
rules and administrative procedures for its own operation. Such rules shall include a
definition of conflict of interest issues coming before the board, and appropriate voting
restrictions. The women’s advisory board shall set a regular meeting schedule and all
meetings shall be open to the public. Records of the proceedings shall be maintained.
A simple majority of members eligible to vote shall constitute a quorum for the
purpose of conducting business. Any member of the women’s advisory board who, without
having been excused by the board chairperson, fails to attend three regularly scheduled
consecutive meetings of the women’s advisory board shall be removed and the position
declared vacant by the appointing authority. Any vacancies occurring in the membership of
the advisory board shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manneras the original appointments. (Ord. 13039 § 7, 1998: Ord. 4964 § 5, 1980: Ord. 3631 § 9,1978).
2.31
Sections:
2.31.010
2.31.020
2.31.030
2.31.040
2.31.050
2.31.060

HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION

Definitions.
Establishment - independence - purpose.
Duties - reports.
Membership - appointment and confirmation - chair and vice-chair removal of member.
Compensation of members - reimbursements for certain expenses.
Executive support of commission - cooperation of various county
agencies.

2.31.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
A. "Antidiscrimination ordinances" means K.C.C. chapters 2.15, 3.12D, 12.16, 12.17,
12.18, 12.20, and 12.22 and K.C.C. 6.27A.120 and 7.08.080.
B. "Commission" means the King County human and civil rights commission.

C. "Protected class" means sex, race, color, national origin, religious affiliation,
disability or use of a service or assistive animal by an individual with a disability, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age or retirement
provisions, status as a family caregiver, military status, or status as a veteran who washonorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual
orientation or gender identity or expression. (Ord. 19770 § 2, 2024).
2.31.020 Establishment - independence - purpose.
A. The King County human and civil rights commission is hereby established.
B. The organization and administration of the commission shall be sufficiently
independent to ensure that no interference or influence external to the commission
adversely affects the independence and objectivity of the commission.
C. The commission is established to advance the human rights, including civil rights,
of all county residents by representing the residents' interests and to ensure the principlesof the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights are applied in all the county
does in order to achieve equity and protect county residents from discrimination. (Ord.
19770 § 3, 2024).
2.31.030 Duties - reports. The commission shall have the following duties:
A. Advise the executive, the council, and the public to implement and carry out the
purposes and provisions of this chapter, which may include, but are not limited to, thefollowing:
1. Human and civil rights protections that strengthen county antidiscrimination
ordinances and support the county's equity, racial, and social justice goals;
2. Human and civil rights protections to address issues of concern for county
residents;
3. Policies to proactively prevent discrimination and address inequalities at the front
end with an explicit focus on racial justice and equitable outcomes that would benefit
communities who have historically lacked power in the community;
4. Policies related to affirmative action and updates to the county's list of protectedclasses based on robust engagement with community members, in particular thoseindividuals with a vested interest in policies related to affirmative action and protectedclasses;
5. Policies, practices, and procedures to assist county decision makers in fulfillingthe county's commitment to address the root causes of inequities and distribute resources
equitably;
6. Equitable allocation of county resources, with investments that are consistent
with human and civil rights values, focused on people and places with the greatest needs;
7. The county's equal employment opportunity affirmative action plan; and8. The county's equity and social justice strategic plan and related county policies
and practices;B. Conduct and prioritize a robust and ongoing engagement process with community
members and county entities to consider their input in implementing and carrying out the
purposes and provisions of this chapter. Engagement shall be prioritized for historicallydisadvantaged communities who have historically lacked power to influence policies for thecommunity. County entities should include, but not be limited to, the office of law
enforcement oversight, the community advisory committee for law enforcement oversight,
the immigrant and refugee commission, the women's advisory board, 504/ADA advisorycommittee, the veterans, seniors and human services levy advisory board, the office ofequity and racial and social justice, the legislative branch's director of equity and social
justice, the county auditor, the hearing examiner, the office of public complaints, and thevarious King County unincorporated area councils;

C.1. Conduct research, public forums, and educational programs on social stresses
that impact the cohesion between groups in the county to support building of alliances;
2. Conduct community outreach to ascertain the status and treatment of county
residents based on their protected class;
3. Evaluate means of alleviating discrimination and bias and of improving humanrelations within the county; and4. Issue such publications as may assist in enhancing the human and civil rights of
all county residents;
D. Monitor and review the procedures and processes of antidiscrimination
ordinances and affirmative action policies to determine compliance and effectiveness. The
monitoring and reviewing may include, but not be limited to, reviewing any complaints filed
under the antidiscrimination ordinances with a finding of no reasonable cause and request
for reconsideration by the complainant was denied. In conducting its review, thecommission may hold informal fact finding sessions with respect to processes andprocedures and any findings may result in recommendations to the executive;
E. Evaluate existing county policies and new ordinances for disproportionate impacts
on historically disadvantaged communities who have historically lacked power to influence
policies for the community;
F. Lead county efforts in raising community awareness, conducting education,
assistance and information programs on human and civil rights issues and on the purpose
and work of the commission; andG. Beginning in 2026, provide an annual report to the executive and council thatshall include, but not be limited to, a quantitative and qualitative summary of completed andongoing commission activities as required in this chapter, progress on the work program
outlined in the prior calendar year annual report, and a work program for the following
calendar year. On behalf of the commission, the executive shall electronically file the reportby April 15 of each year with the clerk of the council, who shall retain an electronic copy andprovide an electronic copy to all councilmembers, the council chief of staff, and the lead staff
for the law and justice committee or its successor. The report shall be publicized widely, inparticular to those historically disadvantaged communities who have historically lacked
power to influence policies for the community. Publicity methods shall include, but not belimited to, the official county newspaper, newspapers of general circulation within eachcouncil district, King County civic television, television news outlets, social media platforms,
non-English language newspapers and periodicals distributed in the county, and thecounty's website. The commission should provide annual briefings to media and elected
officials representing cities, the county, and the state to ensure that the commission's
lessons learned and achievements are shared with the public and policy makers. (Ord.
19770 § 4, 2024).
2.31.040 Membership - appointment and confirmation - chair and vice-chairremoval of member.
A. The commission shall be composed of eleven members, in accordance with thefollowing:
1. Membership shall reflect representation from a broad range of protected classes
to reflect the diversity of the county's communities, with an emphasis on those mostdisproportionately impacted by inequities and discrimination;
2. All members shall demonstrate active and engaged civic participation in humanand civil rights and be well-versed on the issues affecting the county's communities;
3. Membership shall represent a diverse range of age groups;
4. At least one member shall have experience with investigations and enforcementof either human rights, civil rights, or both;

5. At least one member shall be a member of the King County 504/ADA advisorycommittee or who is part of the disability community and have experience with the federal
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973
or other laws, regulations, and rules related to individuals with disabilities;
6. At least one member shall be a member of the King County immigrant andrefugee commission or who demonstrates active and engaged civic participation in one ormore immigrant and refugee communities and is well versed on the issues affecting thosecommunities;
7. At least one member shall have familiarity with King County government,
systems, or agencies;
8. All members shall be residents of King County; and9. All members shall not hold or campaign for elective office.
B. For the initial selection of members and for vacancies of members thereafter, theexecutive and council shall jointly announce a call for applications to seek candidates forappointment. The executive and council shall work collaboratively to ensure that theannouncement is publicized widely, in particular to those historically disadvantaged
communities who have historically lacked power to influence policies for the community.
Publicity methods shall include, but not be limited to, the official county newspaper,
newspapers of general circulation within each council district, King County civic television,
television news outlets, social media platforms, non-English language newspapers andperiodicals distributed in the county, community-based organizations, community leaderswith expertise and focus on human and civil rights, and the county's website.
C.1.
For initial appointments of regular members to the commission, arecommending committee, comprised of two council representatives appointed by the
council chair and two representatives selected by the executive, shall review the applications
submitted in response to the call for applications set forth in subsection B. of this section.
The committee shall prepare a list of applicants recommended as candidates for the
executive's consideration. In making its recommendations, the committee shall ensure thatthe candidates recommended for appointment meet the requirements as outlined in thissection.
2. For vacancies of members of the commission, a recommending committee,
comprised of two council representatives appointed by the council chair, two representatives
selected by the executive and up to three former members of the human and civil rights
commission recommended by the chair of the commission, shall review the applications
submitted in response to the call for applications set forth in subsection C. of this section.
The committee shall prepare a list of applicants recommended as candidates for the
executive's consideration. In making its recommendations, the committee shall ensure thatthe candidates recommended for appointment meet the requirements as outlined in thissection.
D. Ten members of the commission shall be appointed by the executive andconfirmed by the council. The eleventh member shall be appointed by the other ten regularmembers and confirmed by the council by motion. The executive shall transmit the motion
to approve the eleventh member. The commission shall ensure that the eleventh member
meets the requirements as outlined in this section.
E. For the initial commission formation, five regular commission positions shall haveinitial terms of three years, three positions shall have initial terms of two years and theremainder of the positions shall have initial terms of one year. The commission shalldetermine by randomized methods the initial term for each commission position.
F. At the conclusion of the initial term of each appointment for members, allsubsequent terms of each position shall be for three years. A commission member whoseterm has expired may continue to serve into the following term until a successor has been
appointed to complete the term. A member shall not serve more than two consecutive

terms. A vacancy for an unexpired term of a member shall be filled by the appointment
process provided for in this section.
G. At its first meeting after January 1 of each year, the commission shall elect fromits membership a chair and a vice-chair. The chair shall preside at all meetings of thecommission. In the absence of the chair, the vice-chair shall preside.
H. Members of the commission may remove a member for cause with six members
voting in favor of the removal, subject to approval by the council by motion. (Ord. 19770 §5, 2024).
2.31.050 Compensation of members - reimbursements for certain expenses.
A. Commission members who are neither employees of the county nor employeesof other municipal governments shall receive per diem compensation of seventy-five dollars
for attendance at one commission meeting per month. If there is a direct conflict between
the per diem compensation in K.C.C. 2.28.006 and the per diem compensation found in
subsection A. of this section, then K.C.C. 2.28.006 shall control. The purpose of thecompensation is to alleviate financial burden as a barrier to serving as a commission
member and ensure representation from communities that are most impacted by inequities
and discrimination. The per diem compensation shall be in addition to the reimbursements
as authorized in subsection B. of this section. The per diem amount shall be automaticallyadjusted annually, beginning January 1, 2024, and every year thereafter, at the rateequivalent to the twelve-month change in the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the Seattle-TacomaBremerton Statistical Metropolitan Area, which is known as "the CPI-U." However, if thetwelve-month change in the CPI-U is negative, there shall not be an adjustment.
B. The executive shall reimburse commission members for actual mileage at thestandard county reimbursement rate for travel within the county to and from scheduledcommission meetings, workgroup meetings, and community meetings, and for parking at
meetings outside the county facilities. Commission members attending meetings or
conducting business related to the commission at county facilities shall have parking in the
county automotive parking facilities paid by the executive. (Ord. 19770 § 6, 2024).
2.31.060 Executive support of commission - cooperation of various county
agencies.
A. The executive shall designate employees to support the duties of the commission
as required by this chapter.
B. All boards, commissions and committees, departments, or agencies and theofficers, employees, and agents of those boards and commissions, departments, andagencies shall cooperate fully and in good faith with the commission to support the duties of
the commission under this chapter. (Ord. 19770 § 7, 2024).
2.32
Sections:
2.32.020
2.32.030
2.32.120
2.32.1302.32.220

ADMINISTRATIVE AND ADVISORY BOARDS

Board for developmental disabilities.
Disability board.
Board of corrections.
Urban arterial advisory board.
Washington state boundary review board for King County – requests forreview filed by council or executive.

CROSS REFERENCES:
Personnel board, see K.C.C. chapter 3.08.

Bid board and competitive bidding procedures, see K.C.C. chapter 2.93.
Youth coordinating board, see K.C.C chapter 2.40.
Board of ethics, see K.C.C. chapter 3.04.
Joint air pollution control advisory board, see K.C.C. chapter 8.08.
2.32.020 Board for developmental disabilities.
A. CREATED. There is created a board for developmental disabilities to be known
by that title, and hereinafter referred to as the board.
B. MEMBERSHIP – APPOINTMENT. The board shall be composed of fifteen
members who shall be appointed by the county executive and confirmed by the county
council to three-year terms, or until their successor is appointed and qualified.
Membership of the board shall be representative of, but not limited to, the public,
private or voluntary agencies, local government units which participate in a program forindividuals with a developmental disability, and private citizens knowledgeable or interested
in services to the developmentally disabled in the community.
C. COMPENSATION. Members of the board shall not be compensated for the
performance of their duties as members of the board.
D. DUTIES. The board shall perform all duties and services and have all powers
established by RCW 71.20 as now or hereafter amended.
E. MEETING WITH ADVISORY BOARD. The community mental health advisoryboard and the board for developmental disabilities may meet jointly or separately as requiredin the conduct of their programs, and when convened jointly, may use the designation “KingCounty mental health developmental disabilities advisory board.” (Ord. 11684 § 8, 1995:
Ord. 2837 § 1, 1976: Ord. 142 §§ 1 – 5, 1969).
2.32.030 Disability board.*
A. BOARD ESTABLISHED. The King County disability board for the Washington
Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Retirement System is hereby establishedpursuant to the authority of RCW 41.26.110(b).
B. MEMBERSHIP. The board shall be composed of five members to be chosen as
follows: One member of the King County council appointed by the King County council; one
member of a city or town within the county, excluding those cities and towns with establisheddisability boards, chosen by the majority of the mayors of such cities and towns from therespective legislative bodies of such cities and towns; one fire fighter to be elected by thefire fighters subject to the jurisdiction of the county disability board; one law enforcement
officer to be elected by the law enforcement officers subject to the jurisdiction of the county
disability board; and one member of the public-at-large who resides within the area ofjurisdiction of the county disability board, appointed by the other four appointed members
heretofore designated in this section. All members appointed shall serve for two year terms.
C. DUTIES. The board shall perform all functions, exercise all powers, and make allsuch determinations as specified in RCW 41.26.
D. JURISDICTION. The board shall have jurisdiction over all members of the
Washington Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Retirement System employed by
the county of King, the fire districts in the unincorporated areas of King County and the cities
and towns without established disability boards.
E. COMPENSATION. The members of the board shall serve without compensation,
but the members shall be reimbursed for all travel expenses incidental to such services as
to the amount authorized by law. (Ord. 321 §§ 1 – 5, 1970).
*For statutory provisions regarding the Washington Law Enforcement Officers' andFire Fighters' Retirement System, see chapter 41.26 RCW; for establishment of
disability boards, see RCW 41.26.110.

2.32.120 Board of corrections.
A. There is established a board of corrections, hereinafter referred to as “the board,”
consisting of fourteen members. The members shall consist of the chair of the King County
magistrate’s association, the presiding judge of the Seattle Municipal Court, the presiding
judge of the King County superior court, the chair of the juvenile court management
committee, the county sheriff, the King County public defender, the King County prosecuting
attorney, the mayor of the city of Seattle, the president of the King County Suburban Mayors’
Association, the chief of the Seattle Police Department, the dean of the University ofWashington School of Law, the dean of the University of Washington School of Social Work,and the director of the King County department of public health. In addition, the King County
executive shall appoint one member who has been incarcerated in a King County detention
facility within three years before the appointment. The director of the department of adultand juvenile detention shall serve as a nonvoting ex officio member.
B. The board shall serve as an advisory body to the manager of the department of
adult and juvenile detention to review and make recommendations at least annually for the
department of adult detention on its policies, operations, and matters of budget.
C. The advisory board shall meet at least once during each calendar quarter of eachyear. (Ord. 19741 § 19, 2023: Ord. 17678 § 9, 2013: Ord. 6066 § 21, 1982: Ord. 5373 §1, 1981: Ord. 2935 § 3, 1976: Ord. 1872 § 3, 1973).
2.32.130 Urban arterial advisory board.
A. There is hereby created a King County urban arterial advisory board hereafter tobe known as the King County arterial council, and hereinafter referred to as the advisory
council.
B. The advisory council will consist of five members; the director of the departmentof local services, who will serve as chairman; two members to be elected officials ofincorporated cities or towns of King County other than the city of Seattle; and two members
to be licensed engineers practicing as city engineers or directors of public works ofincorporated cities or towns of King County, other than the city of Seattle.
The four members of the advisory council other than the director of the departmentof local services shall serve terms of three years.
C. Members of the advisory council shall be residents of King County throughout
their term and shall serve without compensation.
D. The advisory council will be responsible for recommending allocation of proceedsof the forward thrust bonds for cities other than Seattle, as issued pursuant to voter adoptionof King County Bond Resolution 34569 at the special election held February 13, 1968, andas authorized by ordinance of the King County council.
The advisory council shall, subject to contractual commitments entered into prior to
the date of the ordinance codified in this section, recommend and promulgate rules andprocedures to insure proper design procedures as they relate to alignment and geometry,adequate specifications for construction, rules for purchase of right-of-way, and other rules
deemed advisable to the conduct of developing an integrated arterial system for the
residents of King County.
All rules and procedures established by the advisory council shall be made public as
currently and hereafter amended.
E. The manager of the road services division shall serve as executive secretary of
the advisory council and will be responsible for all records.
The manager of the road services division will prepare and forward an agenda for all
members prior to each meeting and will prepare and distribute the minutes of each meetingand include a summary of information concerning discussions of the meeting and a review
of previous advisory council actions pertinent to discussion subjects.

The advisory council may elect additional officers and shall adopt such administrative
procedures as are required to accomplish the purposes of this act.
The members of the advisory council shall constitute a quorum and a majority of suchquorum may secure approval of a transaction of the advisory council.
F. For purposes of providing funds to pay the cost of staff services to the advisory
council in execution of its duties, the arterial council operating fund was originally created byCounty Commissioner Resolution 35555 on June 24, 1968. The fund was created fromcurrent expense funds to be reimbursed from appropriate capital improvement funds for
actual project cost incurred on behalf of the capital improvement projects. The arterial
council operating fund is hereby continued without change.
Withdrawal from the operating fund to pay the cost of the staff services shall be madeon the basis of actual costs. (Ord. 18791 § 6, 2018: Ord. 12075 § 6, 1995).
2.32.220 Washington state boundary review board for King County – requests
for review filed by council or executive. Either the King County council by motion or theKing County executive or designee by written request may file a request with the
Washington state Boundary Review Board for King County for review of the following
actions:
A. The:1. Creation, incorporation, or change in the boundary, other than a consolidation,of any city, town, or special purpose district;
2. Consolidation of special purpose districts, but not including consolidation of cities
and towns; or
3. Dissolution or disincorporation of any city, town, or special purpose district,except the dissolution or disincorporation of a special purpose district which was dissolved
or disincorporated pursuant to the provisions of chapter 36.96 RCW;
B. The assumption by any city or town of all or part of the assets, facilities, orindebtedness of a special purpose district which lies partially within such city or town;
C. The establishment of or change in the boundaries of a mutual water and sewer
system or separate sewer system by a water district pursuant to RCW 57.08.065 or chapter
57.40 RCW, as now or hereafter amended;
D. The establishment of or change in the boundaries of a mutual sewer and water
system or separate water system by a sewer district pursuant to RCW 56.20.015 or chapter
56.36 RCW, as now or hereafter amended; or
E. The extension of permanent water or sewer service outside of its existing
corporate boundaries by a city, town, or special purpose district. (Ord. 18618 § 27, 2017:
Ord. 8389, 1988).
2.34
Sections:
2.34.010
2.34.020
2.34.030
2.34.040
2.34.050
2.34.060
2.34.100

BOARD OF APPEALS AND EQUALIZATION

Establishment.
Composition.
Powers.
Administrative support.
Compensation.
Conflict of interest.
Petition for change in assessed valuation

2.34.010 Establishment.*
A. There is established a King County board of appeals as provided in Article 7 of
the King County Charter. Additionally, the functions of the county council in its capacity asa board of equalization are hereby vested in the board of appeals which shall be formallydesignated as the King County board of appeals and equalization.
B. The chair of the board is responsible to the council for the efficient management
and administration of the board and its resources. (Ord. 18195 § 1, 2015: Ord. 6444 § 1,1983).
For statutory provisions regarding county boards of equalization, see RCW
84.48.010 through 84.48.046.
*

2.34.020 Composition.
A. 1. The members of the board must possess a background in one or more of thefollowing areas of expertise: finance; accounting; real estate valuation; administrative law;property tax administration; mediation; construction; and land use.
2. The board shall be composed of seven members appointed by the county
executive and subject to confirmation by a majority of the county council.
B. The term of office shall be four years, and shall be staggered as follows: twoterms shall commence each year except that every fourth year only one term shallcommence. Board members shall fill the term to which appointed or that portion remainingof an unexpired term. A member whose term has expired shall continue to serve until a
successor has been appointed. Terms shall commence on July 1.
C. Removal of a member of the board, except upon expiration of the member's
appointed term, shall be only as provided for in Section 710 of the King County Charter.
D. The members of the board shall meet and choose a chair annually to serve from
July 15 through July 14 of the following year.
E. A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum in matters of equalization and in
matters of appeal from executive orders and regulations. (Ord. 19766 § 1, 2024: Ord.
18195 § 2, 2015: Ord. 13410 § 1, 1999: Ord. 10275, 1992: Ord. 6444 § 2, 1983).
2.34.030 Powers.
A. The board may administer oaths and affirmations and shall hear and decide allappeals from any valuation in property by the department of assessments, examine othermatters related to assessment of the property of the county as provided by general law andhear appeals from any other orders by an executive department or administrative office asprovided by ordinance.
B. In conformity with RCW 84.48.010 through 84.48.046 relating to the equalizationof assessments and in addition to those powers relating to valuation provided for in Section
720 of the King County Charter, the board shall hear and decide all appeals as are provided
by statute, including the following appeals:
1. Appeals of exemption denials related to public corporations under RCW
35.21.755;
2. Appeals for a change in appraised value if the Department of Revenue
establishes taxable rent related to leasehold excise tax under RCW 82.29A.020(2)(b) basedon an appraisal done by the county assessor at the request of the Department of Revenue;
3. Appeals of decisions or disputes related to historic property under RCW
84.26.130;
4. Any forest land determination under chapter 84.33 RCW;
5. Current use determinations under chapter 84.34 RCW;
6. Appeals related to senior citizen exemption denials under RCW 84.36.385;
7. Appeals related to cessation of exempt use under RCW 84.36.812;
8. Determinations related to property tax deferrals under RCW 84.38.040;
9. Determinations related to omitted property or value under RCW 84.40.085;
10. Valuation appeals of taxpayers under RCW 84.48.010;

11. Appeals from a decision of the assessor relative to a claim for either real or
personal property tax exemption, under RCW 84.48.010; and12. Destroyed property appeals under RCW 84.70.010.
C. When, in accordance with RCW 84.48.010(4), the number of petitions filed
exceeds twenty-five, or ten percent of the number of appeals filed in the preceding year,
whichever is greater, the council authorizes the county board of equalization to convene at
any time. (Ord. 19765 § 1, 2024: Ord. 18230 § 72, 2016: Ord. 18195 § 3, 2015: Ord.
13507 § 1, 1999: Ord. 13410 § 2, 1999: Ord. 6444 § 3, 1983).
2.34.040 Administrative support.
A. The board shall appoint a clerk of the board as provided by state law. The clerkof the board must have professional experience in property tax law or commercial real estate
valuation. The clerk, or the clerk's designee, shall attend all sessions of the board and shallkeep the official record thereof. The clerk is also responsible for managing theadministrative staff support of the board. The county assessor, the director of any executive
agency whose orders and regulations are subject to appeal before the board and any
member of those agencies' staffs may not serve as the clerk.
B. With the approval of the board and within budgetary constraints, the clerk may
appoint assistants the board deems necessary for aiding the board in carrying out its
functions. The clerk and the assistants shall, in accordance with state law, serve at thepleasure of the board and are exempt from career service. As exempt county employees,
the clerk and the assistants shall comply with the same work-related regulations as toexempt employees of the legislative branch of county government.
C. The board may, subject to budgetary constraints, hire on a per diem basis one ormore hearing examiners who shall be selected for their knowledge of the values of property
in the county and shall subscribe to the same oath as board members.
D. The board shall submit each year to the county council for approval a proposed
budget for the following year in the manner provided by law for the preparation andsubmission of budgets by appointive officials. (Ord. 19766 § 2, 2024: Ord. 18195 § 5, 2015:
Ord. 13410 § 3, 1999: Ord. 6444 § 4, 1983).
2.34.050 Compensation.
A. If scheduled to work for three or more hours a day, a board member or hearing
examiner shall receive a per diem allowance of three hundred seventy-five dollars. If
scheduled to work for less than three hours a day, a board member or hearing examiner
shall receive a per diem allowance of two hundred fifty dollars. In the event a board memberor hearing examiner is scheduled to work for less than three hours a day but actually works
for three or more hours that day, the board member or hearing examiner shall receive a perdiem allowance of three hundred seventy-five dollars.
B. Members of the board shall pay parking fees as provided for in K.C.C. chapter
3.32 at the rate set for monthly employee and county vehicles. (Ord. 19533 § 1, 2022: Ord.
18195 § 6, 2015: Ord. 15322 § 1, 2005: Ord. 14182 § 1, 2001: Ord. 13400 §§ 1 and 2,
1999: Ord. 12136 § 1, 1996: Ord. 8834, 1989: Ord. 7160, 1985: Ord. 6444 § 5, 1983).
2.34.060 Conflict of interest. Members of the board and all employees assigned
to the board shall be governed by the employee code of ethics as provided in K.C.C. Title
3. All persons deemed to have a conflict of interest and wishing to appeal to the board on
matters of equalization shall be governed by the appeals procedure provided in the code of
ethics. (Ord. 18195 § 7, 2015: Ord. 13410 § 4, 1999: Ord. 6444 § 6, 1983).
2.34.100 Petition for change in assessed valuation. The owner or person
responsible for payment of taxes on any property may petition the King County board of

equalization* for a change in the assessed valuation placed upon such property by thecounty assessor. The petition must be filed with the board on or before July 1 of the year of
the assessment or within sixty days after the date an assessment or value change notice
has been mailed, whichever is later. (Ord. 18195 § 85, 2015: Ord. 12504 § 1, 1996).
*Reviser’s note: The board of appeals and equalization was created in Ordinance6444 in 1983.
2.35
Sections:
2.35.011
2.35.021
2.35.022
2.35.024

2.35.026
2.35.028
2.35.031
2.35.041
2.35.051
2.35.061

KING COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH

Created.
Membership.
Alternate members.
Compliance with state law with regard to board candidates - information
provision- coordination with American Indian Health Commission of
Washington State - transmittal of information and resolutions - filing ofresolutions.
Member term limits and lengths - initial terms.
Compensation of members and alternates.
Administration.
Meetings.
Budgetary authority.
Travel expenses.

2.35.011 Created. There is hereby created the King County board of health, as
authorized by RCW 70.05.035. (Ord. 14989 § 1, 2004).
2.35.021 Membership.
A. The King County board of health shall consist of the following members:
1. Three members of the metropolitan King County council and one alternate tobe appointed by the chair of the council. The chair shall consider appointing members
such that county councilmember representation on the board of health is geographicallybalanced across the county and includes representation of the unincorporated area of thecounty on the board;
2. Three elected officials of the city of Seattle and one alternate to be appointed
by the city;
3. Two elected officials from cities and towns of King County other than Seattle
and two alternates to be appointed in a manner agreed to by and among the cities andtowns representing a majority of the populations of those cities and towns; and4.a. In accordance with state law, the remaining members of the board of healthshall equal the number of elected official members appointed under subsection A.1., 2.,
and 3. of this section, shall not be elected officials and, except for any member selectedby the American Indian Health Commission of Washington State, must be recruited,
selected and appointed in accordance with RCW 70.05.035(1)(a) and the rules required
under RCW 43.20.300.
b.
One of the nonelected member candidates selected under RCW
70.05.035(1)(a)(i) should have knowledge of environmental health, including knowledgeof septic systems and groundwater quality.
c. The council shall appoint by motion the nonelected members from those
selected by the board of health and any member selected by the American Indian HealthCommission of Washington State in accordance with RCW 70.05.035.

d. In accordance with RCW 70.05.035(1)(l), members described in subsection
A.4.a. of this section shall be voting members except as it pertains to any decision related
to the setting or modification of permit, licensing and application fees.
B. The board shall elect the chair from the members described in subsection A.1of this section. (Ord. 19418 § 8, 2022: Ord. 19418 § 1, 2022: Ord. 18618 § 28, 2017: Ord.
16350 § 1, 2008: 16031 § 1, 2008: Ord. 14989 § 3, 2004).
2.35.022 Alternate members.
A. Alternate members for regular, elected official member may be appointed
according to the relevant procedures under K.C.C. 2.35.021. A.1., 2. or 3. During themeeting, an alternate elected official member shall indicate when the alternate elected
official member is serving in a regular elected official member's absence. When serving
in a regular member's absence, an alternate elected official member shall act as a regularelected official member.
B. Alternate nonelected members shall be appointed by the council in equal
numbers as alternate members appointed under subsection A. of this section. One of thealternate nonelected members shall be selected by the American Indian HealthCommission for Washington State. During the meeting, an alternate nonelected member
shall indicate when the alternate nonelected member is serving in a regular nonelected
member's absence. When serving in a regular nonelected member's absence, analternate nonelected member shall act as a regular nonelected member. (Ord. 19418, §9 [10], 2022: Ord. 19418 § 3, 2022).
2.35.024 Compliance with state law with regard to board candidates information provision- coordination with American Indian Health Commission of
Washington State - transmittal of information and resolutions - filing of resolutions.
A. For each nonelected board member candidate selected by the King County
board of health, the board shall provide the council with the name, biography, applicationmaterials and confirmation that the board member candidate meets the qualifications andrequirements of RCW 70.05.035(1)(a) and was recruited and selected in accordance withthe rules promulgated under RCW 43.20.300. The board shall also indicate which of thethree categories set forth in RCW 70.005.035(1)(a) each nonelected board member
candidate was selected to represent. In accordance with K.C.C. 2.35.026.B., the board
shall also indicate the initial term for each nonelected member candidate.
B. The board shall coordinate with the American Indian Health Commission of
Washington State to receive the commission's selected tribal representative candidates
and information about the commission's selected candidates.
C. For each of the alternate nonelected board candidates selected by the board,the board shall provide the council with the name, biography, application materials andconfirmation that the alternate board member candidate meets the qualifications andrequirements of RCW 70.05.035(1) and was recruited and selected in accordance with therules promulgated under RCW 43.20.300. The board shall also indicate the term for eachalternate nonelected member candidate.
D. The board shall transmit to the council the information required by subsections
A., B. and C. of this section, together with one or more resolutions of its nonelected board
member candidate and alternate candidate selections, the commission's tribal
representative member and alternate selections to establish the expanded board
membership required by RCW 70.05.035. The initial resolutions must be electronically
filed with the clerk of the council by no later than October 28, 2022. Subsequent
resolutions to fill positions of members described in K.C.C. 2.35.021. A.4. and theirrequisite alternates should be filed with the clerk no later than three months before thestarting date of the term for the respective member or alternate candidate. (Ord. 19418,§ 10 [11], 2022: Ord. 19418 § 4, 2022).
2.35.026 Member term limits and lengths - initial terms.
A. All members described in K.C.C. 2.35.021. A.4. shall be eligible to serve for up
to three full terms. Except as otherwise provided in subsection B. of this section, formembers described in K.C.C. 2.35.021. A.4., a full term shall be three years.
B. For all members described in K.C.C. 2.35.021. A.4., their initial terms to the
expanded board shall be as follows: two members shall each serve a one-year term, threemembers shall each serve a two-year term and three members shall each serve a threeyear term. The board shall determine the initial term lengths primarily by member
preference. Each of the initial terms shall be considered full terms when considering
eligibility for service in future terms. (Ord. 19418, § 11 [12], 2022: Ord. 19418 § 5, 2022).
2.35.031 Compensation of members and alternates. All members described in
K.C.C. 2.35.021.A.4. and the nonelected member alternates who are not being
compensated for their participation on the King County board of health through theiremployer shall be compensated at a rate of two hundred twenty-five dollars per full board
meeting they attend and shall not exceed two hundred twenty-five dollars per month before
December 31, 2023. Beginning January 1, 2024, the compensation amount per meetingand the maximum compensation amount per month shall be automatically adjusted
annually, and every year thereafter, at the rate equivalent to the twelve-month change inthe U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for All
Urban Consumers for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Statistical Metropolitan Area, which isalso known as "the CPI-U." However, if the twelve-month change in the CPI-U is negative,
there shall not be an adjustment. (Ord. 19418, § 12 [13], 2022: Ord. 19418 § 6, 2022).
2.35.031 Administration. In accordance with chapters 70.05 and 70.08 RCW, thelocal board of health shall designate the administrative officer of the board. (Ord. 14989§ 4, 2004).
2.35.041 Meetings. The time of regular meetings of the King County board ofhealth shall be established by the rules of the board. (Ord. 14989 § 5, 2004).
2.35.051 Budgetary authority. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed toreduce or limit the budgetary authority or responsibility of the metropolitan King County
council. Any program initiatives undertaken pursuant to this measure which require
funding support utilizing county budget resources shall be subject to the budgetary processestablished by the county council. The city of Seattle will, in accordance with an interlocal
agreement between the county and the city, exercise policy and expenditure control overits financial contribution to the health department. (Ord. 16031 § 2, 2008: Ord. 14989 §6, 2004).
2.35.061 Travel expenses. Members of the board of health may be reimbursed
for mileage and parking expenses between the member’s workplace or residence and thelocation of the board of health meeting. Members may also be reimbursed for expenses,
in accordance with the policies established for county employees in K.C.C. chapter 3.24,
when traveling on official board of health business. (Ord. 16031 § 3, 2008: Ord. 14989 §7, 2004).
2.35A DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Sections:
2.35A.010
2.35A.020
2.35A.030
2.35A.040
2.35A.045
2.35A.050
2.35A.060
2.35A.070
2.35A.080
2.35A.090
2.35A.100
2.35A.200

General duties – name – divisions – combined city-county
Health department.
Regional Services.
Emergency medical services division.
Environmental health division.
Health sciences division.
Prevention division.
Community health services division.
Jail health services division.
Administrative services division.
Medical examiner functions.
Burial, cremation or other disposition - report to and authorization by
medical examiner - fee - waiver for certain cremations - expenditure.
Gifts, bequest or donations in support of department purposes –solicitation and acceptance allowed – use – report.

2.35A.010 General duties – name – divisions – combined city-county healthdepartment.
A. The department of public health, which is also known as public health - Seattle& King County, is responsible to manage and be fiscally accountable for providing afunctionally integrated set of services and programs that are fully responsive to urban,
suburban city, and unincorporated communities. The department shall provide regional
services and include: a health sciences division; an emergency medical services division;an environmental health division; a prevention division; a community health services
division; a jail health services division; and an administrative services division.
B. As of January 1, 1981, the city of Seattle and the county established a
combined city-county health department under chapters 70.05 and 70.08 RCW and certain
city ordinances and county ordinances. The director of the department shall be jointly
appointed by the mayor of the city and the county executive, subject to confirmation by thecity and county councils, and may be removed by the county executive, after consultation
with the mayor, upon filing a statement of the reasons therefor with the city and county
councils as authorized by RCW 70.08.040. The director shall be responsible for the
management of the department.
C. The department shall achieve and sustain healthy people and healthy
communities throughout King County by providing public health services that promotehealth, prevent disease, and reduce health inequities, including, but not limited to:providing needed or mandated prevention or intervention services to address individualand community health concerns; assessing and monitoring the health status ofcommunities; preventing disease, injury, disability, and premature death; promoting
healthy living conditions and healthy behaviors; and controlling and reducing the exposureof individuals and communities to environmental or personal hazards. The department
shall assess the health of King County residents and communities facilitate planning todevelop responses to issue that affected the public's health and evaluate the effectivenessof programs and initiatives that address those issues. (Ord. 19741 § 20, 2023: Ord. 17733§ 3, 2014: Ord. 16322 § 1, 2008: 14561 § 6, 2002: Ord. 13326 § 2, 1998: Ord. 12529 §2, 1996. Formerly K.C.C. 2.16.080).
2.35A.020 Regional services. The duties of the department's regional services
shall include the following:
A.1. Convening and leading programs to improve health access and well-being;2. Forming partnerships with community partners, health care, human services
providers, and others providers to increase the number of healthy years lived by people inthe county and to eliminate health inequities through policy and systems change, accessto affordable, appropriate, and quality health care services; and3. Increasing efficiency and effectiveness of public health services;B. Planning and developing local and regional capacity for responding to publichealth emergencies and providing for the direction and mobilization of health and medical
resources, information, and personnel during emergencies and disasters in the county;
C.. Developing and disseminating information, tools and strategies that support the
public health functions described in this chapter; andD. Developing and advancing policies that advance the public health functions
described in this chapter. (Ord. 19741 § 21, 2023: Ord. 17733 § 4, 2014).
2.35A.030 Emergency medical services division. The duties of the emergency
medical services division shall include the following:
A. Tracking and analyzing service and program needs of the emergency medical
services system in the county, and planning and implementing emergency medical
programs, services and delivery systems based on uniform data and standard emergency
medical incident reporting;
B. Providing medical direction and setting standards for emergency medical
services and medical dispatch training and implementing emergency medical service
personnel training programs, including, but not limited to, public education, communication
and response capabilities and transportation of the sick and injured;
C. Administering contracts for disbursement of Medic One emergency medical
services tax levy funds for basic and advanced life support services and providing KingCounty Medic One advanced life support services;
D. Coordinating all aspects of emergency medical services in the county with local,
state and federal governments and other counties, municipalities and special districts forthe purpose of improving the quality of emergency medical services and disaster response
in King County; andE. Analyzing and coordinating the emergency medical services components ofdisaster response capabilities of the department. (Ord. 17733 § 5, 2014).
2.35A.040 Environmental health division. The duties of the environmental
health division shall include the following:
A. Inspecting and monitoring regulated facilities to ensure compliance with publichealth codes, rules and regulations;
B. Investigating complaints or problems, such as disease outbreaks, sewage spills
or toxic spills, identified by the public, the media or public officials;
C. Advising and educating the public on prevention and control of health risks
associated with environmental hazards;
D. Enforcing public health codes, rules and regulations within the jurisdictions of
the division;
E. Fulfilling zoonotic disease control responsibilities in accordance with WAC 246100-191 and 246-101-405; andF. Preventing and controlling the transmission of zoonotic diseases from animals
by inspecting and responding to complaints about regulated facilities and promoting thehealth, safety and well-being of animals in such facilities. (Ord. 17733 § 6, 2014).
2.35A.045 Health sciences division. The duties of the health sciences division
shall include the following:

A. Working with community partners to address the root cause of health disparities
and improve population health outcomes;
B. Providing the functions of assessment, epidemiology, and program evaluation;
andC. Advancing health equity in the community through strategies at the individualand environmental levels that promote protective factors and reduce risk for chronic
disease, injury, and violence. (Ord. 19741 § 22, 2023).
2.35A.050 Prevention division. The duties of the prevention division shall include
the following:
A. Reducing the public's exposure to communicable diseases through surveillanceand outbreak investigation and disease prevention and control measures;
B. Performing specific public health services including vital statistics and laboratory
functions; andC. Performing medical examiner and statutory coroner duties as described in
K.C.C. 2.35A.090. (Ord. 19741 § 23, 2023: Ord. 17733 § 7, 2014).
2.35A.060 Community health services division. The duties of the community
health services division shall include the following:
A. Focusing the department's clinical leadership, health services and expertise andstrengthening quality systems and effective care partnerships with government, businessand community-based organizations;
B. Increasing access to affordable health care by those in need and improving thecommunity health care system;
C. Developing and monitoring performance standards for service quality, clinicalprofessional practice and standards of excellence for programs and groups served by thehealth department and other health care providers;D. Providing leadership and coordination with health care providers, government
agencies, businesses and community groups in the provision of health services to at-risk
or under-served populations in the county;
E. In coordination with health care providers and others, developing, implementing
and monitoring a systematic, comprehensive system of health service delivery in the
county that improves health outcomes by connecting community-based intervention andstrategies with the health care of individuals including clinical and preventive services
provided by the department based on community assessment and financial sustainability
measures; andF. Developing responsive service delivery and access mechanisms to meet thechanging health care needs of at-risk populations in King County. (Ord. 17733 § 8, 2014).
2.35A.070 Jail health services division. The duty of the jail health services
division is to provide health care services to detainees of the King County adult detention
facilities, including medical, dental, psychiatric care and related services in conjunction
with the department of adult and juvenile detention. (Ord. 17733 § 9, 2014).
2.35A.080 Administrative services division. The duties of the administrative
services division shall include the following:
A. Providing administrative and technical support to the department;
B. Overseeing the administrative systems and activities of the department; andC. Providing general support within the department as authorized elsewhere in thischapter. (Ord. 17733 § 10, 2014).
2.35A.090 Medical examiner functions.

A. The duties and functions of medical examiner shall be performed by theprevention division of the department of health. The medical examiner shall be
responsible for the administration and staffing of all programs relating to the performanceof autopsies and investigations of death as authorized by the statutes of the state ofWashington, except as provided by this section. The chief medical examiner, who shallbe a pathologist certified in forensic pathology, shall be appointed by the director of thedepartment. Employees performing duties and functions of or related to the medical
examiner, with the exception of specifically identified exempt positions, shall be membersof the King County career service.
B. The chief medical examiner shall assume jurisdiction over human remains,
perform autopsies and perform such other functions as are authorized by chapter 68.50
RCW and such other statutes of the state of Washington as are applicable, except for theholding of inquests, which function is vested in the county executive. The chief medical
examiner has the authorities granted under K.C.C. 2.35A.100.
C. The chief medical examiner shall institute procedures and policies to ensure
investigation into the deaths of persons so specified in chapter 68.50 RCW and to ensure
the public health, except for the holding of inquests, which function is vested in the county
executive.
D. The notice of the existence and location of a dead body required to be given bystate law shall be given to the medical examiner. The medical examiner shall be
responsible for control and disposition of personal property of deceased persons under
the jurisdiction of the medical examiner, which shall be transferred to the next of kin orother legal representatives of the deceased. If the transfer cannot be made because there
is no known next of kin or legal representative, or the next of kin or legal representative is
not available to accomplish the transfer within thirty days after the medical examiner
assumes jurisdiction over the body of the deceased, the personal property shall bedeposited with the King County comptroller, or transferred to an attorney pursuant to theinstitution of probate action.
E.1. The chief medical examiner may issue subpoenas to compel the productionof medical and dental records, and other documents as are necessary for the fullinvestigation of any case under the jurisdiction of the medical examiner from any person,organization or other entity in possession of the records or documents.
2. Subpoenas issued by the chief medical examiner shall be enforceable throughthe superior court.
3. In case of refusal or failure to obey a subpoena issued under this subsection
E, the chief medical examiner may seek the aid of the prosecuting attorney to apply to thesuperior court for an order or other appropriate action necessary to secure enforcement of
the subpoena.
4. Punishment for contempt for refusal or failure to comply with a subpoena issued
under this subsection E. shall be as provided by chapter 36.24 RCW and other applicablelaws and court rules. (Ord. 17733 § 12, 2014: Ord. 12525 § 3, 1997: Ord. 2878 § 3,
1976: Ord. 163 § 7, 1969. Formerly K.C.C. 2.24.110).
2.35A.100 Burial, cremation or other disposition - report to and authorization
by medical examiner - fee - waiver for certain cremations - expenditure.
A. A person shall not bury, cremate or otherwise dispose of the body of a decedent
who died in the county without first reporting the death to the medical examiner's office
and receiving an authorization from the medical examiner releasing the body fordisposition.
B.1. A person reporting a death to the medical examiner's office of a person whose
remains are to be buried, cremated or otherwise disposed shall be charged the fee in
K.C.C. 4A.650.150.

2. The medical examiner may waive the fee for a cremation only if the cost of thecremation to be performed was paid before January 1, 2008. The fee shall not be charged
if the cost of the cremation is borne by the county.
3. Revenues generated by the body disposition permit fee shall be expended tosupport the duties and functions of medical examiner performed by the prevention divisionof the department of health. (Ord. 17733 § 15, 2014: Ord. 17692 § 2, 2013: Ord. 16973§ 2, 2010: Ord. 15952 § 2, 2007. Formerly K.C.C. 2.24.135).
2.35A.200 Gifts, bequest or donations in support of department purposes –solicitation and acceptance allowed – use – report.
A. The executive, the director of the department of executive services, the directorof the department of public health, councilmembers and staff who report directly to those
officers or officials and who do so at those officers' or officials' direction, may solicit oraccept from the general public and business communities and all other persons, gifts,
bequests and donations in support of department of public health services.
B. All gifts, bequests or donations of money to the county for department of publichealth purposes shall be deposited and credited as follows:
1. For emergency medical services purposes, to the emergency medical services
fund under K.C.C. 4A.200.268;
2. For environmental health purposes, to the environmental health fund under
K.C.C. 4A.200.281;
3. For local hazardous waste management program purposes, to the local
hazardous waste fund under K.C.C. 4A.200.400; and4. For all other department of public health purposes, to a subfund of the publichealth fund under K.C.C. 4A.200.520.
C. Once the gift, bequest or donation is accepted, the director of the department ofpublic health shall ensure that expenditures from the gift, bequest or donation are
consistent with the terms, if any, requested by the grantor.
D. The acceptance and use of a gift, bequest or donation to the county for
department of public health purposes shall not create an ongoing obligation on the part ofthe county or the department to carry out any program or service funded with the gift,
bequest or donation after the gift, bequest or donation has been spent.
E. The executive shall transmit as part of each quarterly financial report as requiredby K.C.C. 4A.100.100 a list of all new donations to the department of public health of two
thousand dollars or more, including the name of the person making the donation, theamount of the donation, and the public health purpose for which it is intended to be
expended. In any case where the donation originates from social media activity such as
crowdsourcing, the list shall include the name of the person sponsoring this activity. (Ord.
18254 § 1, 2016).
2.36
Sections:
2.36.030
2.36.050
2.36.060
2.36.070
2.36.080
2.36.090
2.36.100COMMITTEES

Justice court districting committee.
Community advisory committee for law enforcement oversight.
Agricultural district advisory committees.
Conservation futures advisory committee.
Patterson Creek Basin citizen advisory committee.
Investment pool advisory committee.
Central business systems steering committee.

CROSS REFERENCES:

Executive finance committee, see K.C.C. chapter 4.24.
Planning committees, see K.C.C. 20.20.040 through 20.20.130.
2.36.030 Justice court districting committee.*
A. As prescribed by RCW 3.38.010, there is established a justice court districting
committee within King County with membership composed of the following:
1. A judge of the superior court selected by the judges of that court;
2. The prosecuting attorney or a deputy selected by the prosecuting attorney;
3. A practicing lawyer of the county selected by the president of the King County
Bar Association;
4. A judge of an inferior court of the county selected by the president of the
Washington State Magistrates Association; and5. The mayor, or the mayor's representative, of each first, second and third classcity of the county;
6. One person to represent the fourth class cities of the county, to be designatedby the President of the Association of Washington Cities;
7. The executive; and8. The director of elections.
B. Duties of the committee and standards for districting shall be as prescribed inchapter 3.38 RCW. (Ord. 18618 § 29, 2017: Ord. 18167 § 22, 2015: Ord. 15971 § 37,
2007: Ord. 12075 § 8, 1995).
*Reviser’s note: For the statutory provisions regarding the district court districting
committee, see RCW 3.38.010 through 3.38.020.
2.36.050 Community advisory committee for law enforcement oversight.
A. The executive shall appoint, subject to council confirmation, a community
advisory committee for law enforcement oversight to advise and work collaboratively withthe office of law enforcement oversight.
B. The committee shall include up to eleven members of the public who represent
the diversity of the sheriff's service area. The committee shall include: members who livein cities that contract with the sheriff for law enforcement services; members who live inunincorporated King County; and members who are selected at-large.
C. The committee members shall be appointed to three-year terms. Committee
members may be reappointed to one additional term.
D. The committee shall:
1. Serve as liaison between the office of law enforcement oversight and thecommunities it serves;
2. Advise the office of law enforcement oversight on systemic problems andopportunities to improve law enforcement training, policies and practices;
3. Advise the sheriff’s office and the council on matters of equity and social justicerelated to law enforcement including opportunities to reduce criminal justice involvement,
decrease recidivism, abate inequities and enhance fairness in the justice system; and4. Advise the sheriff and the council on systemic problems and opportunities for
improvement in the law enforcement practices of the sheriff’s office.
E. The committee shall:
1. Elect one or two chairpersons to preside over its meetings and guide thecommittee’s work process;2. Meet at least one time per quarter and shall receive staff support from the officeof law enforcement oversight at the meetings;
3. Keep minutes of its meetings; and4. Make recommendations based on a majority vote of its members.

F. The committee may form such task forces as it determines appropriate toconsider matters under its review.
G. In consultation with the office of law enforcement oversight, the committee shalladopt bylaws that are consistent with this section. (Ord. 18786 § 1, 2018: Ord. 17812 §1, 2014: Ord. 17284 § 1, 2012: Ord. 16511 § 8, 2009: Ord. 15611 § 9, 2006).
2.36.060 Agricultural district advisory committees.
A. There are established agricultural district advisory committees for each
agricultural district established by ordinance of the council, hereinafter referred to as the
district committee.
B. The district committee shall be composed of at least five members who shall be
residents of the district. All appointments shall be made by the county executive andconfirmed by the county council and at least three appointees shall be selected by the
executive from a list of five nominees proposed by the councilperson(s) representing thearea encompassed by the district.
C. The district committees shall be responsible for assisting the agriculture programadministrator in developing the agricultural protection program set forth in Ordinance3064*.
D. The committees shall commence their functions on February 15, 1977, or assoon thereafter as possible, and this section and Section 2.36.080 shall remain in effectuntil July 31, 1978. Any continuation of the committees beyond said date shall require
subsequent action by the council. (Ord. 6066 § 19, 1982: Ord. 3074 §§ 5, 6, 7, 8 (part),
1977).
*Available in the King County Archives.
2.36.070 Conservation futures advisory committee.
A. The conservation futures advisory committee is hereby established as anadvisory body to carry out the duties prescribed for the committee in K.C.C. chapter 26.12.
B. The committee shall include an individual who resides in each King County
council district and seven at-large members, of whom four shall be nominated by the
council. The committee shall be appointed by the executive and confirmed by the council
by motion. The committee shall elect a chair from its members.
C.1. The executive shall solicit nominations from the council, from the city of Seattle
and from suburban cities and towns within King County and shall seek representation of abroad spectrum of interests and expertise, including, but not limited to, local conservationand passive recreation, science and ecology, conservation land stewardship, businessand education.
2. Committee members for those at-large positions nominated by the county
council shall be appointed in the manner set forth in K.C.C. 2.28.0015.
D. The terms of the members shall be rotated such that four of the seats become
available for appointment every year. The terms shall be four years except, commencing
upon September 30, 2019, the end of a vacant unexpired term shall be adjusted as needed
until the rotation schedule is reached. A member may be appointed for up to threesuccessive terms, unless the three-term limit is waived by the executive for special
circumstance. (Ord. 18981 § 8, 2019: Ord. 15548 § 3, 2006: Ord. 14714 § 2, 2003).
2.36.080 Patterson Creek Basin citizen advisory committee.
A. There is hereby created a Patterson Creek Basin citizen advisory committee,
hereinafter referred to in this section as "the advisory committee."
B. The advisory committee shall be composed of five individuals, including thechair. Advisory committee members shall be appointed by the executive and confirmed

by the council, and shall serve staggered terms of three years. Candidate members shalleither own property or reside within the Patterson Creek basin, and should represent adiverse range of interests and expertise regarding flooding, water quality and fish habitat
within the Patterson Creek basin. Members may serve multiple terms. At least one of thefive members should be serving their first term. The chair shall be appointed by theadvisory committee members, to serve a term of one year.
C. The advisory committee shall make county decision-makers aware ofcommunity concerns and interests, and advise the executive and council on issues related
to flooding, water quality, and fish habitat within the Patterson Creek basin.
D. Functions of the advisory committee shall include but not be limited to thefollowing:
1. Serving in an advisory capacity to the executive and county council and making
recommendations for flooding, water quality and fish habitat projects and programs within
the Patterson Creek basin;
2. Acting as an informed advocate for resources by continuing to partner with thecounty to apply for resources that support efforts to reduce flood hazards, improve water
quality and protect salmon habitat within the Patterson Creek basin;
3. Making the public aware of incentives programs like the public benefit rating
system, and technical assistance such as the King Conservation District's farm planning
program and King County's rural stewardship program; and4. Staying informed and sharing information about development proposals, landuse appeals, and code enforcement actions within the Patterson Creek basin.
E. The manager of the water and land resources division shall designate a staff
person to act as a liaison with the advisory, to provide support for administration of theadvisory and to facilitate access to information regarding flooding, water quality, and fish
habitat projects. (Ord. 15713 § 2, 2007).
2.36.090 Investment pool advisory committee.
A. The investment pool advisory committee is hereby established. The committee
shall provide input and advice to the executive finance committee on executive financecommittee agenda items that relate to the moneys pooled in accordance with K.C.C.
4.10.090, such as policies, practices and fees.
B. The committee shall be composed of the following members, who represent theentities that participate in the investment pool under K.C.C. 4.10.090:
1. Two members who are elected officials or employees of school districts;
2. One member who is an elected official or employee of a fire district;
3. One member who is an elected official or employee of a water district or sewer
district;
4. Two members who are county fund managers;
5. Two at-large members, who are elected officials or employees of entities, thatparticipate in the investment pool other than school districts, water/sewer districts, and fire
districts, ;6. The county treasury manager; and7. One member who is a private citizen who is an investment professional who
has no financial relationship with the county or any of the entities that participate in theinvestment pool.
C. The county executive shall appoint members of the committee from nominations
submitted under the provisions of this section, subject to confirmation by the county
council. The school districts, fire districts, water districts and sewer districts that participate
in the investment pool shall each nominate the members representing the respective
districts through a process of their own choosing. The executive finance committee shallnominate the county fund managers, at-large and private citizen members.

D. Members shall serve two-year terms, except that the initial terms for one
representative of the school districts, one county fund manager, one at-large member andthe private citizen member shall be one year.
E.1. The committee shall elect its chair and vice-chair.
2. The committee may meet as often as it deems necessary, but shall meet atleast semiannually.
F. A member of the advisory committee is expected to regularly attend executive
finance committee meetings.
G. Members of the committee who represent districts shall serve withoutcompensation but may receive compensation for expenses from the districts they
represent, in accordance with the districts' policies. The members who are the county
fund managers and county treasury manager may be reimbursed for expenses inaccordance with the policies of their respective divisions. The at-large members may bereimbursed for expenses by their respective district in accordance with the policies of theentities of which they are elected officials or employees. The council may by separate
ordinance provide for the reimbursement of expenses of the private citizen committee
member.
H. The council intends to review the committee in the first quarter of 2011 todetermine its effectiveness or any changes that should be made to its structure orfunctions. (Ord. 16280 § 1, 2008).
2.36.100 Central business systems steering committee.
A. The central business systems steering committee is hereby created. The
committee's purpose shall be to:
1. Maximize benefits from the accountable business transformation program;
2. Achieve the proper functioning and integration of the countywide systems forhuman resources, payroll, time, and labor, finance, and budget; and3. Provide for communication and accountability.
B. The members of the committee shall be:
1. The deputy county executive or designee;
2. The assistant deputy county executive;
3. The county administrative officer;
4. The director of the office of performance, strategy, and budget; and5. The chief information officer.
C. The committee shall:
1. Make recommendations to the executive;
2. Coordinate work, set priorities, and guide how technical and business process
issues with the countywide system are addressed to achieve the proper functioning andintegration of the countywide policies, business processes, and systems for humanresources, payroll, time, and labor, finance, and budget. The committee shall also alignand integrate work plans for allocation of resources and budget;
3. Create a structured process for regular end-user engagement, involvement,
communication, and training;
4. Promote continued business process improvements and business rule
standardization, and eliminate obstacles to adopting best practices; and5. Maximize benefits of the integrated enterprise system through businessprocess and system standardization, optimization and transformation, and monitor
performance measurement and reporting including benefit realization. (Ord. 19738 § 4,
2023: Ord. 18793 § 4, 2018: Ord. 17699 § 2, 2013).
2.37

WASHINGTON STATE PUBLIC STADIUM AUTHORITY

Sections:2.37.010

Washington State public stadium authority created.

2.37.010 Washington State public stadium authority created.
A. Pursuant to the provisions of Referendum 48, the Washington State publicstadium authority is hereby created within King County with all of the powers and authority
granted by state law. The board of directors of the public stadium authority shall consistof seven members, to be appointed by the Governor. The naming of the public stadium
authority by Ordinance 12807* shall not be construed as limiting its board of directors fromadopting any other name. (Ord. 12807 § 2, 1997).
*Available in the King County Archives.
2.38

WASHINGTON STATE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STADIUM FACILITIESDISTRICT

Sections:
2.38.010

Washington State major league baseball stadium facilities district.

2.38.010 Washington State major league baseball stadium facilities district.
A. A public facilities district, which shall be called the Washington State Major
League Baseball Stadium Facilities District, with the powers set forth in RCW chapter
36.100, is hereby created within King County, coextensive with the boundaries of KingCounty. The board of directors of the public facilities district shall consist of sevenmembers, four to be appointed by the executive, subject to confirmation by the council,
and three to be appointed by the Governor. No executive appointee shall exercise any ofthe powers of office until confirmed by the council. The first order of business for the district
shall be to execute an interlocal agreement with King County guaranteeing that the district
shall make as its first priority avoiding any action which might place the current expense
fund or bond rating of King County at unreasonable risk.
B. Reports and agreements to implement project. Recognizing that the council will
be asked to issue debt in connection with the financing of the baseball stadium, and must
therefore remain fully informed of the planning for and determination of potential costs ofthe project, the council will require that the public facilities district, the major league
baseball team, the executive, and the City of Seattle achieve the following objectives:
1. Provide monthly reports to the council on the status of the public facilities
district’s decision-making with respect to site selection, project design, mitigation
requirements, project costs and budget, and financing recommendations. A decision by
the public facilities district concerning the preferred site recommendation for the stadium
shall be made by August 1, 1996. The executive and the district shall provide the council
with a comprehensive report on the status of these items together with the best possible
information then available on costs and financing by December 1, 1996.
2. Execute by March 1, 1996, and prior to any lease negotiations or issuance ofany contracts for construction work on the stadium, interlocal agreements between:
a. King County, Seattle, and the public facilities district, that are approved by the
council, addressing expedited permit processing, environmental review and othernecessary design and construction approvals.
b. King County and the public facilities district, approved by the council, that
ensures that King County will be consulted in connection with structuring the financing of
the stadium project, as required by EHB 2115 [Chapter 1, Laws of Washington 1995, 3rd
Spc Sess.], and that the principles set forth in the county’s debt issuance policy (K.C.C.
4.28.020) will be satisfied in structuring that financing. The district shall agree that its firstpriority shall be avoiding any action which might place the current expense fund or bondrating of King County at unreasonable risk.
C. Land assembly and conveyance. It is the intent of King County to assemble
such real property as the district determines to be necessary for the baseball stadium,
consistent with applicable state law and the project budget. Property which is necessary
for this project that was owned by the county as of October 17, 1995, shall be contributed
to the district consistent with state law. Property which is necessary for this purpose thatthe county acquires on or after October 17, 1995, shall be conveyed to the district byinterlocal agreement as a cost to the baseball stadium project and, therefore, subject tothe project’s budget. The district shall promptly reimburse King County for the cost of suchproperty as well the cost of its acquisition. (Ord. 12000 § 6, 7, 9, 1995).
2.39A HOTEL-MOTEL SPECIAL SUPPORT PROGRAM
Sections:
2.39A.010 Hotel-motel special support program
2.39A.010 Hotel-motel special support program. There is hereby created theKing County hotel-motel special support program.
A. The hotel-motel special support program shall be administered by the managerof the finance and business operations division under the direction of the executive and inaccordance with guidelines and policies established by the council.
B. Through December 31, 2012, thirty percent, of all excess hotel-motel tax revenues
collected by the county under RCW 67.28.180(3)(a), as amended, shall be allocated to thehotel/motel special support program and shall be used for the following purposes and in amanner reflecting the following order of priority: stadium capital improvements, acquisitionof open space lands, youth sports activities and tourism promotion.
C. For the purposes of this section, "stadium capital improvements" include, but are
not limited to, a stadium restaurant facility operated by a private concessionaire under acontract with the county; restroom facilities; artificial turf system; seating facilities; parking
facilities; and a scoreboard and information system adjacent to or within a county-owned
stadium, together with equipment, utilities, accessories and appurtenances necessary
thereto.
D. For the purposes of this section, "tourism promotion" includes activities intended
to attract visitors for overnight stays, arts, heritage, and cultural events, and recreational,
professional and amateur sports events. Moneys distributed for tourism promotion shall bein addition to and may not be used to replace or supplant any other funding by the county.
Eligible applicants shall only include nonprofit organizations formed for the express purposeof tourism promotion in the county. Such organizations shall use moneys distributed under
this section to promote events in all parts of the county.
E. There shall be written guidelines and procedures for allocating funds under thissection. The guidelines shall be written at the direction of the executive and shall beapproved by the council. (Ord. 17291 § 61, 2012: Ord. 12076 § 48, 1995. Formerly K.C.C.
4.42.090).
2.40
Sections:
2.40.010
2.40.020
2.40.030
2.40.040

KING COUNTY AGRICULTURE COMMISSION

Establishment.
Definitions.
Membership, terms and ex officio members.
Duties.

2.40.050
2.40.060

Staffing and rules of procedures.
Other matters.

2.40.010 Establishment. There is hereby created a King County agriculture
commission hereinafter referred to as the commission. (Ord. 11417 § 4, 1994).
2.40.020 Definitions. The following terms as used in this section have therespective meanings herein set forth.
A. “Agricultural commodity” means any animal or any distinctive type of agricultural,horticultural, viticultural, vegetable, and/or animal product, including but not limited to,
products qualifying and organic food products under chapter 15.86 RCW, as amended, as
bees, honey and Christmas trees but not including timber or timber products.
B. “Producer” means any person engaged in the business of producing or causing
to be produced for market in commercial quantities any agricultural commodity. (Ord.
11417 § 2, 1994).
2.40.030 Membership, terms and ex officio members.
A. The commission shall consist of fifteen members; the members shall serve
terms of three years as specified in K.C.C. chapter 2.28.
B. The fifteen voting members of the commission shall serve without compensation
and represent the diversity of the agricultural economy, various agricultural operations,and the regions of the county. Membership should be representative of producers ofagricultural commodities and persons with demonstrated knowledge, experience andinterest in agricultural real estate, food and feed processing, wholesale and retailmarketing, produce buying, direct marketing, supply, and finance. However, at least eightof the voting commission members shall be producers as defined in K.C.C. 2.40.020.
C. The directors of the departments of natural resources and parks, communityand human services, public health and executive services, department of local services
permitting division manager and a representative from the King County conservation
district may serve as additional members in an ex officio capacity. (Ord. 18791 § 7, 2018:
Ord. 17420 § 4, 2012: Ord. 14498 § 3, 2002: Ord. 12075 § 11, 1995).
2.40.040 Duties. The commission shall advise the council and executive on
agricultural policies and programs, including, but not limited to:
A. Existing and proposed legislation and regulations affecting commercial
agriculture;B. Land use issues as they impact agriculture;
C. Ways to maintain, enhance and promote agriculture and agricultural products in
the region; andD. Livestock regulation implementation and monitoring duties set forth in K.C.C.
chapter 21A.30. (Ord. 14199 § 23, 2001: Ord. 11417 § 6, 1994).
2.40.050 Staffing and rules of procedures. In recognition of the duties describedin K.C.C. 2.40.040, the director of the department of natural resources and parks shall be
responsible for the staffing and operation of the commission. The commission shall electofficers and shall adopt such administrative procedures as are required to accomplish the
purposes of this section. (Ord. 14199 § 24, 2001: Ord. 12075 § 12, 1995).
2.40.060 Other matters. For all matters not expressly addressed in Ordinance11417*, K.C.C. 2.28 shall govern. (Ord. 11417 § 8, 1994).
*Available in the King County Archives.

2.41
Sections:
2.41.010
2.41.020
2.41.030
2.41.040
2.41.050

KING COUNTY RURAL FOREST COMMISSION

Establishment.
Purpose.
Membership, terms and nonvoting ex officio members.
Responsibilities.
Staffing and rules of procedures.

2.41.010 Establishment. The King County rural forest commission is hereby
established, and shall be referred to as the commission throughout this chapter. (Ord.
12901 § 1, 1997).
2.41.020 Purpose. The purpose of the commission is to advise the executive andcouncil in their efforts to encourage forestry in the rural area. The commission should apply
its efforts to making forestry viable in King County’s rural area. (Ord. 12901 § 2, 1997).
2.41.030 Membership, terms and nonvoting ex officio members.
A. The commission shall consist of thirteen voting members; the members shallserve terms of three years as specified in K.C.C. chapter 2.28.
B. The voting members of the commission shall serve without compensation. The
members shall represent the diversity of rural forestry interests and the different
geographic regions of rural King County.
C. Commission membership shall include an equitable representation of thefollowing interests:
1. At least five members representing private rural forest landowners, with at least
one from each of the following ownership categories:
a. forest landowners with greater than five hundred acres of rural forest land inKing County;
b. forest landowners with forty to five hundred acres of rural forest land in KingCounty, and for whom income from forestry is an important component of total income;c. residential forest landowners with greater than twenty acres of rural forest land
enrolled in the Forest Land Designation (chapter 84.33 RCW) program; andd. residential forest landowners with less than twenty acres of rural forest land;
2. Advocates of nontimber values of forest land, such as environmental protection,
recreation and open space;
3. The Washington Department of Natural Resources;
4. Affected Indian tribes;
5. Consumers or users of local forest products, such as mills, lumber
suppliers, craftspeople, artisans, florist suppliers or users of other alternative forest
products;
6. Academic or professional foresters, or forestry associations; and7. Rural cities.
D. The directors of the departments of natural resources and parks and executive
services, the chief officer of the office of performance, strategy and budget, the departmentof local services permitting division manager, a representative of the King County council
planning, rural service and environment committee, or its successor, a representative of
the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, a representative of the Washington State
University Extension and the director of the King Conservation District may serve as
nonvoting ex officio members of the commission.

E. All appointees should have a working knowledge of King County forestry, astrong commitment to promote forestry in the rural area, the ability to work with differing
viewpoints to find solutions to complex problems and a willingness to commit the timenecessary to attend commission meetings and activities. (Ord. 18791 § 8, 2018: Ord.
18618 § 30, 2017: Ord. 17420 § 5, 2012: Ord. 16024 § 1, 2008: Ord. 14498 § 4, 2002:
Ord. 12901 § 3, 1997).
2.41.040 Responsibilities.
A. The commission shall monitor the progress of and provide direction to the county
as it carries out the “Implementation Plan to Preserve Working Forests” adopted by the
council on April 14, 1997 (Motion 10189). The commission shall also develop detailed
implementation plans for the remaining strategies identified in the report “Farm and Forest:
a Strategy for Preserving the Working Landscapes of King County”.
B. The commission shall advise the county on proposed policies, programs, actions
or legislation affecting rural forests or the practice of forestry, including:
1. Acquisitions of rural forest land or development rights on rural forest land;
2. Management goals for county-owned forest land or county-held forest landconservation easements;
3. Marketing and promotion of local forest products; and4. Existing or proposed boundaries of rural forest districts and focus areas.
C. The commission shall work with the county to identify additional strategies toconserve rural forest lands and promote the business of forestry in the rural area. (Ord.
12901 § 4, 1997).
2.41.050 Staffing and rules of procedures. The director of the department of
natural resources shall be responsible for the staffing and operation of the commission.
Prior to undertaking their other responsibilities, the commission shall elect officers andadopt administrative procedures. (Ord. 12901 § 5, 1997).
2.42
Sections:
2.42.010
2.42.020
2.42.030
2.42.040
2.42.050
2.42.060
2.42.070
2.42.080
2.42.085
2.42.090
2.42.100
2.42.150

HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER

Definitions.
Medical center – purpose – priorities.
Board of trustees – established – terms of office.
Board of trustees – appointment and confirmation – qualification –compensation.
County authority.
Board of trustees – powers – duties – responsibilities.
Board of trustees – committees.
Medical center – capital improvement – policy – requirements.
Agreements to occupy space - requirements - notice and council
approval for some - notice to board.
Reporting requirements.
Open meetings – public disclosures.
Warrants – authorized – requirements.

2.42.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
A. “Administrator” means the chief administrative officer of the medical center,appointed under the terms of an approved management contract, who shall be responsible
for supervising the daily management of the medical center in accordance with approved

plans and policies and, for the purposes of the hospital services agreement, means the
Executive Director.
B. “Board” means the Harborview Medical Center board of trustees appointed by
the county for the purpose of overseeing the operation and management of the medical
center.
C. “Council” means the King County council as described in Article 2 of the KingCounty Charter.
D. “County governing authority” means both the county executive and county
council in accordance with their charter assigned responsibilities.
E. “Executive” means the King County executive as described in Article 3 of theKing County Charter.
F. "Harborview agreement to occupy space" means leases, rental agreements, orother agreements, including but not limited to use and licensing agreements, to occupy
space signed by the University of Washington, the administrator or the board that legallyobligates Harborview Medical Center or King County.
G. "Hospital services agreement" means that approved management contract
entitled the 2016 Hospital Services Agreement between King County by and through its
Executive and the Harborview Medical Center Board of Trustees and the Regents of the
University of Washington for the management of the medical center, the rendering ofclinical services to patients of the medical center, and the conducting of teaching andresearch activities at the medical center by the university.
H. “Long-range capital improvement program plan” or “long-range CIP plan”
means a long-range plan that is produced as the first step in the medical center capital
improvement process. The long-range CIP plan identifies capital development needs,
establishes capital project standards and policies, identifies intended capital funding
sources and alternatives, and presents analysis of medical center programs and thephysical facilities needed to implement them. It further projects service levels, presents
demographics of hospital clientele, makes an inventory and analysis of the effective useof physical facilities and provides specific direction in linking the capital improvement
program to operating program needs.
I. “Medical center” means the Harborview Medical Center to include the Norm
Maleng Building, the Patricia Bracelin Steel Building, the Ninth and Jefferson Building, theView Park Garage, the Boren Garage, the Engineering Building, the Walter Scott Brown
Building, the Child Care Center, the Firehouse Building, the Pioneer Square Clinic, Hobson
Place Clinic, the Prosthetics and Orthodontics Clinic located in the Republican Building,and the hospital complex consisting of the Center Tower, the East Hospital, the West
Hospital, the East Clinic and the West Clinic, long-term care pharmacies at Eastlake andHobson Place, and any other building financed by Ordinance 19117, the King County 2020
Bond measure, once a building is operational. "Medical center" also includes any otherlocation covered by a Harborview agreement to occupy space and that portion of spacethat is a University of Washington agreement to occupy space.
J. “Project plan” means a plan produced for a specific capital project whichanalyzes specific project elements, defines project scope, location, size, costs and otherneeds. It follows master planning and precedes project budgeting and also considers
location, types and amounts of space, specific needs served, current and projected service
population staffing and operating costs impacts, and alternative proposals for the sourcesof funding the project.
K. “Superintendent” means the chief executive officer of the medical center, as
described in state law, when the medical center is not operated under the terms of an
approved management contract.
L. “State law” means chapter 36.62 RCW, as amended, and any other applicablesections of state law.

M. “University” means the University of Washington.
N. "University of Washington agreement to occupy space" means leases, rental
agreements, or other agreements, including, but not limited to, use and licensing
agreements, to occupy space signed by the University of Washington that legally obligates
the University of Washington for space that is branded as Harborview or is supported by
Harborview Medical Center resources and used to provide clinical services. (Ord. 19706§ 1, 2023: Ord. 18233 § 2, 2016: Ord. 6818 § 2, 1984).
2.42.020 Medical center – purpose – priorities.
A. King County maintains Harborview Medical Center as a county hospital,
pursuant to state law, for the primary purpose of providing comprehensive health care to
the indigent, sick, injured or infirm of King County, and is dedicated to the control of illness
and the promotion and restoration of health within the King County area.
B. Within available resources, the medical center shall provide adequate healthcare to those groups of patients and programs which are determined to require priority
treatment by the county governing authority. Within this determination shall be theprovision that admission of patients to the medical center shall not be dependent upon
their ability to pay. (Ord. 18233 § 3, 2016: Ord. 6818 § 3, 1984).
2.42.030 Board of trustees – established – terms of office.
A. There is established a thirteen member board of trustees for the medical center
the members of which shall, except for initial terms, be appointed for terms of four years
each and until a successor is appointed and qualified.
B. Terms shall commence on the first day of August following appointment. Wherea board member continues to serve beyond the expiration date of the term to which
appointed, the commencement date for the succeeding member shall be retroactive to thedate when the term would have otherwise commenced.
C. No member shall serve more than three successive terms on the board.
D. Filling the unexpired portion of a term shall not count against the three term limit
referenced above if the unexpired portion is less than two years in duration.
E. Members of the board may be removed for reasons and in the manner provided
by state law.
F. Any vacancy on the board which occurs during an unexpired term of office shallbe filled in the same manner as for appointing members to regular terms except that suchappointee shall hold office only for the remainder of the term of the trustee replaced unlessappointed for succeeding terms.
G. When a vacancy occurs, the president of the board shall provide the executive
and the council with a list of the recommended specific skills and knowledge needed toachieve the best balance possible.
H. For the seven additional members to the board authorized pursuant to Chapter
26, Laws of 1984, the initial terms shall be staggered as therein prescribed. The additional
members shall be appointed within thirty days of June 7, 1984. However, the term of eachof the additional members shall be deemed to commence on August 1, 1984, but shallalso include the intervening period between appointment and the first day of August 1984.
(Ord. 11965 § 1, 1995: Ord. 6818 § 4, 1984).
2.42.040 Board of trustees - appointment and confirmation - qualification compensation.
A. The board shall be composed of thirteen members, one nominated from eachcouncil district by the county council and four at-large members, who shall be nominatedby the county council. Nominees shall be appointed by the executive and confirmed by
the council by motion.

B. Board members representing council districts and the four at-large positions
nominated by the council shall be appointed in the manner set forth in K.C.C. 2.28.0015.
C. In making appointments to the board, an effort should be made to assure thatdiverse geographic, social, cultural, ethnic, racial and economic backgrounds andperspectives are considered. Candidates should possess: demonstrated leadershipability, and recognized experience in management or administration, planning, finance,
health service delivery, consumer representation or institutional operation; and the ability
to work cooperatively with others of diverse backgrounds and philosophies. Additionally,
all candidates must be willing to commit to the amount of time necessary to perform trustee
duties, serve on board committees and serve as an advocate for the medical center.
D. A person shall not be eligible for appointment as a member of the board who
holds or has held, during the two years immediately before appointment, any salaried
office or position in any office, department or branch of county government or of any
organization with which a contract for the operation and administration of the medical
center has been executed. A person shall not be eligible for appointment as a member ofthe board who is employed in a managerial capacity by or serves on the board of directorsof a competitor of UW Medicine. All candidates are required to disclose any information
concerning actions or activities of the candidate or the candidate's immediate family that
present a potential conflict of interest. Candidates whose employment, financial interests
or other transactions are determined by the appointing officials to be in conflict with theinterests of the medical center, are ineligible for board membership.
E. A board member shall not receive any compensation or emolument whateverfor services as a board member and shall be governed by the county code of ethics andstate law regarding conflict of interest. Board members may be reimbursed for travel
expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060, as now existing or hereafter
amended. (Ord. 18233 § 4, 2016: Ord. 15548 § 4, 2006: Ord. 11701 § 2, 1995: Ord.
6818 § 5, 1984).
2.42.050 County authority. The county governing authority, in accordance withcharter assigned responsibilities, and in consultation with the board and other interested
groups as appropriate, shall:
A. Set comprehensive public health policy for the county and in conjunction withthe board, identify those components of the plan appropriate to the medical center’s
mission and purpose.
B. Review and approve the mission statement for the medical center and proposedchanges thereto proposed by the board.
C. Monitor the performance of the board with regard to the policies contained inthis chapter and advise the board of any apparent deficiencies.
D. Review and approve the medical center’s long range CIP plan, the annual
capital improvement budget and project plans.
E. Review and approve the admissions policy for the medical center.
F. Approve the acceptance of any real property by gift, devise, bequest orotherwise, for the medical center’s use.
G. Review and approve any property and liability insurance coverage obtained by
the board to protect the interests of the county with regard to medical center property andfacilities.
H. In accordance with K.C.C. 2.42.090, review and approve Harborview
agreements to occupy space. (Ord. 19706 § 2, 2023: Ord. 6818 § 6, 1984).
2.42.060 Board of trustees – powers – duties – responsibilities.

A. General. The board, as the representative authority of the county, entrusted tooversee the provision of health care services in order to assure that county’s priorities are
addressed and high quality health care is made available to county residents, shall:
1. Elect from among its members a president and vice president.
2. Adopt bylaws and rules for its own guidance and for the governance of the
medical center to include the establishment and operation of the board’s committees.
3. Provide for the training of newly appointed members to assure they are properly
prepared to assume their responsibilities as prescribed in this chapter and by state law.
4. Have general supervision and care of the medical center and the buildings,
equipment and grounds thereof and authority to do that which is necessary for the proper
maintenance and operation thereof within the limits of approved budgets and theappropriations authorized.
5. Recommend the admissions policy for the medical center to the county
governing authority.
6. Inform the governing authority prior to entering into negotiations related to a
medical center management contract, or the amendment of an existing contract, andobtain policy guidance on issues to be included in the negotiations.
7. Assure quality of patient care.
8. Manage the financial affairs of the medical center in a prudent and responsible
manner.
9. Review and approve the long range CIP plan and project plans, including
service impacts, prior to submission to the county governing authority.
10. Approve, implement and monitor the medical center annual capital budgets inaccordance with applicable law, subject to the review and approval requirements of thegoverning authority specified in state law and elsewhere in this chapter.
11. Approve, implement and monitor the medical center annual operating budget
in accordance with applicable law.
12. Review and approve all remodeling and construction projects.
13. Establish overall space use policies and guidelines and maintain control overthe use of all physical facilities.
14. Control all designated, restricted, and general operating funds.
15. Accept and expend property by gift, devise, bequest or otherwise for the
medical center’s use, provided that acceptance or disposal of any interest in real property
shall require prior approval by the county governing authority.
16. Participate in the development of county health policies and plan jointly withother public and private institutions in the county to determine how the medical center willmeet its share of county public health responsibilities.
17. Advise the county governing authority on any matters related to the operationof the medical center, but at least to include:
a. recommended additions or deletions of priority patient groups or priority
services.
b. recommended changes in the admissions policy.
c. recommended changes in the mission statement.
d. recommended changes in public health policy and/or assignment of the
medical center’s share of public health responsibilities.
e. anticipated deficiencies that may adversely impact on the provision ofadequate health care to county residents.
B. Management of the medical center. The board shall either appoint a
superintendent subject to approval by the county governing authority; or shall negotiate
and monitor a contract for management of the medical center as provided for by state law
to include the appointment of a hospital administrator. (Ord. 6818 § 7, 1984).

2.42.070 Board of trustees – committees. The board shall establish suchcommittees as are appropriate to assist in carrying out its functions. As a minimum, theboard shall establish standing committees to oversee planning, facilities management andfinancial management functions, and the handling of patients’ grievances. The right tovote in standing committees shall be restricted to board members except where otherwise
provided by law. (Ord. 6818 § 8, 1984).
2.42.080 Medical center – capital improvement – policy – requirements.
A. The medical center shall prepare a long-range capital improvement program
plan, which shall be approved by the board and by the county governing authority byordinance. The long-range CIP plan shall identify the medical center’s needs for ensuring
quality patient care consistent with the medical center’s mission statement and county
policy describing the medical center’s purpose, priority programs, priority patient groups
and other requirements in this chapter. The long-range CIP plan shall be updated at least
once every five years, or more frequently, if deemed necessary by the board. All changes
to the long-range CIP plan shall be treated as amendments to the plan previously
approved by ordinance. The county, the board and the university shall make a good faitheffort to adhere to the deadlines detailed in subsections B and C. of this section.
B. The medical center capital project oversight committee, or its successor infunction, shall review and advise the board regarding the university’s annual six-year CIP
budget which shall be forwarded to the board no later [than] February 28 each year.
C. The board shall review the six-year capital improvement plan “CIP” budget,which shall be approved by the board and submitted to the county executive no later than
April 15 each year. The medical center CIP budget shall contain the specific capital
improvements necessary to meet the needs, policies and priorities identified in theapproved long-range CIP plan.
D. The executive shall submit the medical center’s six-year CIP budget to thecouncil which should adopt the medical center CIP budget by June 13 each year.
E. All capital improvement projects at the medical center that are funded in whole
or in part with the proceeds of county tax revenues, bonds or other debt issued by thecounty, grants to the county, gifts or donations shall be subject to, planned andadministered consistent with this chapter and K.C.C. Title 4A.
F. Notwithstanding any provisions of this chapter or K.C.C. Title 4A to the contrary,
all capital improvement projects at the medical center that are funded exclusively withmedical center revenues and that are budgeted over the life of the project for an amountnot exceeding five million dollars shall be managed, designed, planned, developed andoverseen by medical center administration and the university, subject to review andapproval by the board. All capital project activities conducted under this subsection shallcomply with state law applicable to the university, this subsection and medical center policies
and procedures approved by the executive, following consultation with the board anduniversity. Those policies and procedures shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. Procedures for the open and competitive solicitation of contracts for capitalprojects as may be required by state laws applicable to the university;
2. Elements to be included within all CIP project budgets, which shall include, at aminimum:a. design consultant (architect and engineering services);b. other consultant fees;c. construction costs;
d. permit fees;e. contingency budget; andf. project management and administration costs.

3. Policies and procedures to provide opportunities for apprentices, minority andwomen’s businesses, disadvantaged business enterprises and small contractors andsuppliers to participate in capital project contracts. These policies and procedures shall
include, at a minimum: goals for the use of apprentices, minority and women's businesses
or small contractors and suppliers or disadvantaged business enterprises that shall bereasonably achievable and identified in all appropriate solicitations; reporting guidelines; andthe identification of medical center staff necessary to implement this subsection F.3.;
4. Procedures for review, evaluation and award of contracts for either construction
or architectural and engineering services; and5. Procedures for reporting and control, which shall include, at a minimum:
a. quarterly reports from staff at the medical center to the board on the status of
the budget, scope and schedule for all CIP projects subject to this subsection;b. when requested by the executive, quarterly reports from the board on the statusof the budget, scope and schedule for all CIP projects subject to this subsection;c. immediate notification by staff at the medical center to the board, if a CIP projectsubject to this subsection exceeds its authorized budget;
d. periodic reports from the board to the executive for transmittal to the council on
the status of the budget, scope and schedule for all CIP projects subject to this subsection;
ande. annual reports from the board to the executive for transmittal to the council
evaluating the participation of apprentices, minority and women’s businesses, small
contractors and suppliers or disadvantaged business enterprises in CIP projects subject tothis subsection.
G. All costs of CIP projects administered by the medical center under subsection F.
of this section shall be paid from medical center revenues. So long as management of the
medical center is delegated by contract to the University of Washington, exemption of suchcapital improvement projects from K.C.C. Title 4A shall be effective but only if the university
agrees to indemnify the county in accordance with the hospital services agreement.
H. Subsection F. of this section shall remain in effect until the expiration date of thehospital services agreement, as may be amended.
I.1. From the annual operating revenue of the medical center, the medical center
shall fund depreciation reserves to be allocated to the major movable equipment andbuilding repair and replacement funds and transfer the depreciation reserve funding into therespective capital funds. The medical center shall designate a minimum of ten million eight
hundred thousand dollars annual depreciation reserve commitment and allocate it asfollows:
a. The building repair and replacement fund annual funding amount shall be inaccordance with the annual budget submitted to the county, but shall not be less than four
million dollars per year; andb. The balance, or not less than six million eight hundred thousand dollars of theminimum ten million eight hundred thousand dollar annual depreciation reserve commitment
shall be allocated for moveable equipment.
2. When planned expenditures exceed the funds available in the building repair andreplacement fund, the additional funding shall come from an extraordinary funding source
other than the county’s general fund.
3. The difference, between the six million eight hundred thousand dollars available
for moveable equipment and the ten million eight hundred thousand dollars projectedmoveable equipment need, or four million dollars annually, shall be included as part of anallotment through an extraordinary funding source, not including the county’s general fund.
J. King County shall continue to be responsible for major long-range infrastructure
capital repairs, replacements and improvements and major additions, using voter approved
bonds or other funding mechanisms approved by the county governing authority.

K. There is created a medical center building repair and replacement fund, whichshall be a county capital project fund and shall be used to account for the regular segregationof building repair and replacement capital reserves, including investment income. From thebuilding repair and replacement fund shall be drawn payments for the acquisition of fixed
equipment, building renovations and improvements as approved by the board.
1. Moneys deposited in the building repair and replacement fund shall be invested
solely for the benefit of that fund. The board may make transfers to the fund on a more
frequent basis.
2. The moneys deposited in this fund shall be used solely for the renovation and/or
improvement of the medical center’s buildings and equipment, subject to the capitalbudgeting provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 18635 § 8, 2017: Ord. 18233 § 5, 2016: Ord.
17929 § 7, 2014: Ord. 12900 § 1, 1997: Ord. 11532 § 1, 1994: 10563 § 2, 1992).
2.42.085 Agreements to occupy space - requirements - notice and council
approval for some - notice to board.
A. For those Harborview agreements to occupy space that have a term longer than
five years, including any automatic extensions or renewals to an initial term that extends
the term beyond five years, council approval, by motion, is required before the Harborview
agreement to occupy space may be executed. This subsection also applies to any
decision to extend a Harborview agreement to occupy space longer than a cumulative totalof five years, whether memorialized through an option, extension, amendment, or new
agreement, except when circumstances require an immediate extension. The immediate
extensions shall be limited in duration not to exceed one year and may be exercised only
once for each Harborview agreement to occupy space subject to this subsection. As soon
as reasonably possible, but not later than thirty days after an immediate extension is inforce, the administrator shall electronically transmit to the clerk of the council a letter
describing the circumstances that gave rise to the immediate extension of a Harborview
agreement to occupy space. The clerk shall retain an electronic copy of the letter andprovide an electronic copy to all councilmembers, the council chief of staff, and the lead
staff for the committee of the whole, or its successor.
B. For those Harborview agreements to occupy space that do not meet the criteria
in subsection A. of this section, the administrator shall notify the board as soon aspracticable of an agreement to occupy space. The administrator or designee may executesuch an agreement prior to board notice when circumstances require execution before
board notification; however, in such an instance, the administrator shall notify the board
as soon as reasonably possible, but not later than thirty days after the administrator
executed the agreement and the notification shall describe the circumstances that required
execution before board notification. (Ord. 19706 § 3, 2023).
2.42.090 Reporting requirements.
A. At a minimum, the board shall provide the executive and the council with anannual report including the following items:
1. A financial report and statement for the medical center’s preceding fiscal year;
2. A summary of the proceedings of the board including the attendance record of
the trustees during the preceding fiscal year;
3. A summary of the medical center annual proposed operating budget including
anticipated plans and highlights for the coming year;
4. A report on medical center programs and services including the quality of patientcare;
5. A report on the extent and type of care provided to priority patients, and proposedchanges for improvement;6. An annual fixed assets inventory report for medical center property andequipment; and7. A report on all Harborview agreements to occupy space.
B. The report required by subsection A. of this section shall be transmitted by
September 30 of each calendar year in the form of a paper original and an electronic copy
with the clerk of the council, who shall retain the original and provide an electronic copy to
all councilmembers, the council chief of staff and the lead staff to the budget and fiscal
management committee or its successor and the committee of the whole or its successor.
C. The county governing authority may prescribe the format and content of reports
required and set dates for submission to the county, as appropriate, consistent with therequirements of state law and regulations. (Ord. 19706 § 4, 2023: Ord. 18635 § 9, 2017:
Ord. 6818 § 10, 1984).
2.42.100 Open meetings – public disclosure.
A. All meetings of the board shall comply and be consistent with the provisions of
the state “Open Public Meetings Act (RCW 42.30).
B. Committee meeting shall be open to the public whenever feasible. The board
shall establish guidelines for this practice within its by-laws.
C. By-laws and other rules and regulations by the board shall be consistent with the“Public Disclosure Act (RCW 42.17). (Ord. 6818 § 11, 1984).
2.42.150 Warrants – authorized – requirements.
A. The administrator is authorized to issue warrants for the medical center, subject
to the requirements and limitations in RCW 36.62.252 and in subsection B. of this section.
B. All warrants issued by the administrator shall comply with the following:
1. The warrants shall be issued from the county hospital fund and drawn on an
account maintained with the financial institution with which the county has its banking
services agreement;
2. The warrants shall be issued in a manner consistent with any written
procedures established by either the finance and business operations division or the officeof performance, strategy and budget, or both;
3. The medical center shall coordinate with the finance and business operations
division to ensure fiscal responsibility, accountability and auditing as needed;
4. The administrator may not issue warrants for medical center capital projects
administered and managed by King County, except that warrants for medical center capitalprojects managed and administered by the University of Washington under the terms of
the Hospital Services Agreement dated February 25, 2016, may be issued by theadministrator; and5. The administrator must be the signatory on the warrants. (Ord. 18811 § 1,2018).
2.43 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM(Formerly MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM)
Sections:
2.43.005
2.43.008

Definitions.
Goals and principles - duties of behavioral health system.

2.43.005 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
A. "Behavioral health" means mental health and a life free of substance use
disorders.

B. "Behavioral health system" means those agencies that only provide mental healthservices, those that only provide substance use disorders treatment, or those agencies thatprovide both types of services.
C. "Recovery" means a process in which an individual achieves management of theindividual's symptoms and regains or develops sufficient skills and autonomy to enable theindividual to live, work and participate fully in the community.
D. "Resiliency" means an innate capacity that empowers people across the life span
to successfully meet life's challenges with a sense of self-determination, mastery and hope.
E. "Trauma-informed framework" means an approach to engage an individual witha history of trauma that recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges
the impact that trauma has had on the individual's life. (Ord. 17553 § 1, 2013: Ord. 15327§ 3, 2005).
2.43.008 Goals and principles - duties of behavioral health system.
A. In order to succeed in promoting resiliency and recovery, the behavioral healthservice system shall be based on the goals and principles of recovery and resilience withina trauma-informed framework. A trauma-informed, recovery and resiliency focused system
offers respect, information, connection and hope.
B. The behavioral health system shall:
1. Reach out to and engage individuals at-risk due to serious, disabling mental
illness or substance use disorders, or both;
2. Focus on the whole person, including strengths, capabilities, latent abilities, andaspirations, rather than symptoms and pathologies;
3. Ensure behavioral health is integrated with physical health, including diet,exercise, social activities and coordination and collaboration with primary care providers;
4. Reduce the stigma experienced by people with behavioral health disorders;
5. Develop goals and service plans based on mutual respect for the consumer's
aspirations and capabilities and the provider's knowledge, skills and assets;
6. Help individuals with serious mental illness or substance use disorders, or both,to develop personal understanding and control of their symptoms;
7. Assist individuals to pursue activities in the community, rather than the clinicalsetting, to foster full integration in the community;
8. Help individuals with serious mental illness or substance use disorders, or both,to develop or restore normal life roles and functions, by:a. focusing on family and the developmental needs of children, including school;b. establishing and maintaining household, work and peer support systems for
adults; andc. continuing community and social involvement for seniors;
9. Develop and involve natural support, including peer, family and community
support;10. Employ recovering individuals in the service system as peer support specialists
and other positions for which they may qualify;
11. Collaborate with other services and systems to improve results and reduce
costs by coordinating and integrating services whenever appropriate;
12. Reduce formal system supports as individuals recover and build natural support
systems; and13. Identify and implement best practices, both evidence-based and promisingprograms for subsection B.1. through 12. of this section. (Ord. 17553 § 2, 2013).
2.46
Sections:

PUBLIC ART PROGRAM

2.46.010
2.46.020
2.46.030
2.46.050
2.46.060
2.46.090
2.46.120
2.46.150
2.46.160
2.46.170
2.46.180

Establishment of public art program.
Purpose of the public art program.
Definitions.
Artists’ involvement in public art program.
Selecting artists.
Authorization to accept donations for public art.
Multicultural art.
County responsibilities for public art projects.
Cultural development authority responsibilities for the development ofpublic art projects.
Contracts - review and approval.
Public art advisory committee.

2.46.010 Establishment of public art program. There is hereby established apublic art program that shall ensure that the work, thinking, creative skills and uniqueperspectives of artists are included in the planning, design and construction of county
property, facilities, infrastructure and public spaces. The public art program shall beadministered and implemented by the cultural development authority. (Ord. 14482 § 2,
2002: Ord. 12089 § 3, 1995).
2.46.020 Purpose of the public art program. It is the intention of the county tocontribute to the cultural and artistic legacy of this region through the public art program.
The purposes of the program include the following:
A. Integrate the work and thinking of artists into the planning, design and constructionof county facilities, buildings, infrastructure and public spaces;
B. Enhance and enrich the county’s physical environment and public spaces;
C. Celebrate the multicultural and diverse character of its communities;
D. Contribute a sense of ownership and pride in public facilities and spaces to county
citizens;
E. Mitigate potential adverse impacts of construction;
F. Engage the citizens and communities of the county in creative partnerships withartists; andG. Support, educate and assist citizens with their community activities in which public
art plays a part. (Ord. 14482 § 23, 2002: Ord. 12089 § 4, 1995).
2.46.030 Definitions. Words in this chapter have their ordinary and usual meanings
except those defined in this section, which have, in addition, the following meanings. If there
is conflict, the specific definitions set forth in this section shall presumptively, but notconclusively, prevail.
A. "Advisory committee" or "committee" means the public art advisory committee
established by the cultural development authority to provide oversight and citizen
involvement for the public art program.
B. “Artist selection panel” means a group of individuals, including artists, art anddesign professionals and nonartist citizen representatives established by the culturaldevelopment authority to select artists to provide works or services in the planning, designand construction of county facilities, buildings, infrastructure and public spaces.
C. "Charter" means the articles of organization of the cultural development authority
adopted by the county and all amendments thereto.
D. “Client department” means the county department, division or office responsible
for construction or custodial management of a facility or capital improvement project ("CIP")
project after construction is complete.

E. "Cultural development authority" or "authority" means the cultural development
authority of King County established under K.C.C. chapter 2.49.
F. “Public art program” means the program administered and implemented by thecultural development authority that includes the works and thinking of artists in the planning,
design, and construction of facilities, buildings, infrastructure and public spaces to enhance
the physical environment, mitigate the impacts of county construction projects, and enrich
the lives of county residents through increased opportunities to interact with art.
G. “Public space” is any place or property within the county that is open to the generalpublic for its use, is in public view or is generally accessible to the public. (Ord. 17527 § 53,
2013: Ord. 14482 § 24, 2002: Ord. 12089 § 5, 1995).
2.46.050 Artists’ involvement in public art program. It is the intent of the council
to involve artists at the earliest appropriate project state. The cultural development authority
shall establish the artist selection process and, in collaboration with the client department,
define the scope of work on a case-by-case basis. Artists shall be included in a broad rangeof projects including, but not limited to:
A. Planning. Artists may be selected as planning consultants to assist in theevaluation of options, strategies, limitations and opportunities for art and aesthetic design incapital projects before the scope, quality, schedule and budget are fixed;
B. Collaboration with project design team. Artists may be selected to collaborate
with design team members on construction or project work in which the creation,
documentation and construction of the project is jointly developed with the county’s project
managers, design team and the community with the goal of improving the aesthetics of theentire project;
C. Site-specific artwork. Artists may be selected to design artwork for a specificlocation; andD. Individual works of art. Artists may be commissioned to create a work of art, or
existing works of art may be purchased. (Ord. 14482 § 25, 2002: Ord. 12089 § 7, 1995).
2.46.060 Selecting artists. The cultural development authority shall select artists
to participate in the county’s public art program through one of the following ways:
A. The cultural development authority may solicit applications from artists throughan open competition. Through publicly advertised requests for applications process, theauthority shall review submittals and may select an artist that meets the authority's
requirements; or
B. The cultural development authority may invite a limited number of artists to submit
applications or prepare proposals. From this limited pool, the authority may select an artist
based upon the authority's requirements. (Ord. 14482 § 26, 2002: Ord. 12089 § 8, 1995).
2.46.090 Authorization to accept donations for public art.
A. The county may receive offers of donations of artwork or funds for public art.
Potential donors shall be referred to the cultural development authority to discuss the natureof the gift and procedures for review and approval. The cultural development authority shallreview the proposal and recommend consideration or rejection of the offer, and make a site
recommendation where applicable.
B. Financial gifts, bequests and donations recommended for acceptance by thecultural development authority shall be subject to approval by council motion consistent with
K.C.C. 2.80.010, and, if approved by the council, shall be credited to the public art accountwithin the arts and cultural development fund. Donated funds shall be accounted forindividually and administered by the cultural development authority until fully expended in amanner consistent with the donor’s restrictions and the council motion that approved the
donation. (Ord. 14482 § 27, 2002: Ord. 12089 § 11, 1995).

2.46.120 Multicultural art. King County is committed to participation by multiculturaland ethnic artists in public art. Therefore, the cultural development authority shall, within
available funding, take necessary actions to:
1. Ensure that juries and commissioned artists reflect the ethnic diversity of the
population of King County; and2. Support and develop projects that create opportunities for multicultural and ethnic
artists. (Ord. 14482 § 28, 2002: Ord. 12089 § 14, 1995: Ord. 9134 § 7, 1989. Formerly
K.C.C. 4.40.060).
2.46.150 County responsibilities for public art projects.
A. The county is committed to ensuring the success of the public art program,facilitating strong partnerships between county client departments and with the culturaldevelopment authority, promoting efficiencies and offering maximum benefit to county
citizens. The executive shall ensure county departments and agencies communicate
regarding the management of existing and future county artwork and perform their duties
related to public art and fully cooperate with the cultural development authority in its
performance of its responsibilities. The responsibilities of county departments andagencies shall include, but not be limited to, the following actions and obligations:
1. Client departments procuring artists’ services or artworks shall follow theprocedures of the public art program developed by the cultural development authority. The
authority shall administer all contracts with artists engaged in public art activities and serveas the liaison between the artists and the client department;
2. To facilitate early artist involvement, the client department shall provide thecultural development authority with information on proposed capital improvements during
the early planning phases of these projects;
3. Not all projects that generate funding for public art must include an art
component. On an annual basis, each client department and the cultural development
authority shall review all eligible capital improvement projects and the pooled departmental
appropriations for public art to develop a prioritized list of projects that are the mostappropriate for inclusion of public art. The following criteria shall be used to evaluate
potential projects:
a. the project has high public visibility and accessibility;b. the project presents unique opportunities for public art;c. the project presents an opportunity to partner with another agency or leverage
the county’s resources;
d. the area of a project is underserved by other arts service providers or there isa lack of public art in a particular area;e. the community affected by the project has expressed a strong desire for publicart;
f. there is a legal mandate to include the artwork within a particular project; andg. the project’s construction or siting may be mitigated by the inclusion of publicart.
2. The director of the client department shall meet annually with the culturaldevelopment authority to prioritize projects, assess possibilities for artist involvement andreview the ways that public art can help achieve the department’s mission and goals;
3.
The cultural development authority and the client department shallcollaboratively define the scope of the artist’s involvement, the project specific art budget,
project development schedule and the architectural and engineering team’s
responsibilities in working with the art project;
4. The client department must advise the artist selection panel established by thecultural development authority regarding the technical parameters of the project and thedepartment's goals during the selection process.
5. The client department shall ensure that:a. Requests for qualifications (RFQs) or requests for proposals (RFPs), forconsulting services, require coordination with the cultural development authority when the
project includes public art; andb. Consultants’ contracts include coordination with the project's artists as part ofthe scope of service;
6. The client department shall include the cultural development authority as anadvisor during the consultant selection process for capital projects that include art;
7. Following incorporation of art into the county’s art collection, the county shallprovide to the cultural development authority the name of a department employee whoworks at or near the site of the artwork who is responsible on behalf of the county for the
artwork and who may be listed on public art collection records as the client department’s
contact person with respect to the artwork; and8. The county shall ensure that its artworks are properly maintained, protected
and restored.
B. Annually, the county and the cultural development authority shall negotiate anagreement for management and rotation services, maintenance, protection andrestoration of the county's public art collection, including, but not limited to, services
needed to comply with contracts for commissioned artwork. The annual appropriation forthese services shall be determined in the county's annual budget. (Ord. 14482 § 31, 2002).
2.46.160 Cultural development authority responsibilities for the developmentof public art projects. The cultural development authority shall:
A. Advise the executive and the council regarding the county’s public art program;
B. Develop policies and program guidelines for consideration by the council;
C. Identify projects that can benefit from artists' involvement;
D. Establish an artist selection panel. Consultants, if available, may also serve as
nonvoting advisors to the panel;
E. Select and commission artists;
F. Provide design review for public art projects;
G. Serve as the adjudicating body to resolve disputes involving aesthetic judgment
relative to the county's public artwork;
H. Provide oversight for the maintenance of public artwork after the work is in place;
I. Designate sites;
J. Determine project-specific budgets for public art;
K. Develop recommendations regarding acceptance of any gifts, bequests or
donations of artwork to the county intended for inclusion in the county's public art
collection;
L. Review any action requiring deaccessioning, which is removal of artwork fromthe county’s public art collection; and
M. Review any action requiring relocation or proposed alterations of integrated orsite specific artworks included in the county’s public art collection. (Ord. 14482 § 32, 2002).
2.46.170 Contracts - review and approval. The county and the culturaldevelopment authority shall annually review and develop contracts for the purchase ofcommissioned public artwork. The cultural development authority shall rely on theapproved contracts for the procurement of all public artwork A contract may include ascope of work attachment subject to approval by a representative from the county client
department. The cultural development authority shall not alter the contract for publicartwork without first obtaining permission from the county in writing. (Ord. 14482 § 33,
2002).

2.46.180 Public art advisory committee. The cultural development authority shallestablish a public art advisory committee to advise the authority’s board regarding policies
and public art, as set forth in K.C.C. 2.46.160. Committee members shall: have ademonstrated commitment to and knowledge of public art; be active and experienced with
community and civic issues and concerns; and be sought from a range of professionals
including artists, architects, landscape architects, arts administrators, urban planners anddesigners and community arts activists. The appointment process and terms of service
shall be established by the cultural development authority as set forth in the authority's
charter. (Ord. 18684 § 1, 2018: Ord. 14482 § 34, 2002).
2.47

CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF REVEREND DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR.

Sections:
2.47.010
2.47.020

Celebration – interbranch team – office of equity and social justice duties.
Additional gatherings and events.

2.47.010 Celebration – interbranch team – office of equity and social justice– duties.
A. The county's office of equity and social justice shall invite representatives fromall branches, departments, agencies, and offices of county government to form aninterbranch team to plan the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., annual gatheringcelebrating the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
B. The interbranch team shall reach out to community representatives to receive
ideas for the planning of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., annual gathering, andreceive feedback during the planning of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., annual
gathering.
C. The county's office of equity and social justice in collaboration with theinterbranch team shall each year convene an annual gathering celebrating the life andlegacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The intent of the gathering shall be to:
1. Provide a countywide gathering for all members of the public to celebrate thelife and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.;
2. Recognize the impact that Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has on ourcommunity and our nation and bring to attention Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s
message of equity, social justice, and non-violence and his political and social
philosophies; and3. Inspire county residents to strive in a non-violent manner for the human rights,
civil liberties, and economic guarantees rightfully due to all peoples.
D. The gathering shall be held in the second week of the month of January.
E. The gathering shall be open to all county employees that are available to attend.
Separately elected officials, department directors, and division managers shall make aneffort to accommodate all county employees that request to attend the gathering.
F. The gathering shall be open to the public.
G. The county's office of equity and social justice in collaboration with theinterbranch team should widely publicize the gathering. Publicity methods shall include,
but not be limited to, the official county newspaper, newspapers of general circulation
within each council district, King County civic television, television news outlets, social
media platforms, non-English language newspapers and periodicals distributed in the
county, and the county's website.
H. The gathering shall be held in a King County venue that would accommodate

all attendees.
I. The gathering shall consider including:
1. Presentation of the King County Medal of Distinguished Service awards;
2. Keynote addresses from invited guests and county elected officials;
3. Performances by award winning artists, local artists, or both;
4. Recognition of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest winners;
and
5. Readings of excerpts from Dr. King's speeches.
J. Costs of the gathering are hereby authorized, subject to availability of funds inthe county general fund.
K. The executive shall include a proposed budget that will cover the costs of eachannual gathering as part of the executive’s proposed budget to council. (Ord. 19654 § 5,
2023: Ord. 18798 § 2, 2018).
2.47.020 Additional gatherings and events. The executive and the interbranchteam, as described in K.C.C. 2.10.220, may convene additional gatherings and events
celebrating the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and are not limited
to the annual gathering set forth in K.C.C. 2.47.010. (Ord. 18798 § 3, 2018).
2.48
Sections:
2.48.020
2.48.030
2.48.045
2.48.065
2.48.075
2.46.085
2.48.101
2.48.103
2.48.105
2.48.1082.48.1092.48.125

CULTURAL PROGRAMSDefinitions.
Policy.
Responsibilities for cultural programs.
Arts advisory committee.
Heritage advisory committee.
Historic preservation advisory committee.
Cultural education program.
Special projects program.
Cultural facilities program.
Sustained support program for arts
Sustained support program for heritage.
Compliance with antidiscrimination legislation.

2.48.020 Definitions. Words in this chapter have their ordinary and usual meanings
except those defined in this section, which have, in addition, the following meanings. If there
is conflict, the specific definitions in this section shall presumptively, but not conclusively,
prevail.
A. "Charter" means the articles of organization of the cultural development authority
adopted by the county and all amendments thereto.
B. "Cultural development authority" or "authority" means the cultural development
authority of King County established under K.C.C. chapter 2.49.
C. "Cultural education" means the sequential and comprehensive study of theelements of the various arts and heritage forms and how to use them creatively, including
instruction in skills, critical assessment, the history of the arts and heritage forms andaesthetic judgment.
D. "Cultural facilities" means publicly accessible buildings and structures that areused primarily for the performance, exhibition or benefit of arts and heritage activities,
including, but not limited to, performing arts, visual arts, heritage and cultural endeavors.
E. "Cultural programs" means the programs for cultural education, cultural facilities,
special projects and sustained support.

F. "Cultural resources" means community and regional programs and projects
relating to performing, visual, literary and other arts; public and civic art; heritage; museum
and archival collections; historic preservation; cultural education; and culturalorganizations, institutions and attractions.
G. "Culture" means the arts and heritage disciplines, which include, but are notlimited to, dance, drama, theatre, music, visual arts, literary arts, media arts, performing
arts, traditional and folk arts, ethnic arts and history, heritage and historic preservation.
H. "Fixed assets" means tangible objects such as machinery or equipment
intended to be held for ten years or more that will benefit cultural institutions.
I. "Heritage" means King County’s history, ethnic history, indigenous and traditional
culture, folklore and historic and archaeological resources and those projects andprograms initiated by the authority to preserve King County’s heritage and to support
community and regional heritage organizations and public agencies in such efforts.
J. "Historic preservation" means the preservation or conservation of the county's
historic and archaeological resources and those programs and projects initiated by theauthority to foster such preservation or conservation through non-regulatory activities suchas interpretation, community education and outreach, cultural tourism and rehabilitation ofhistoric resources.
K. "Hotel-motel tax revenues" means funds designated for cultural purposes as
described in RCW 67.28.180 and deposited into the arts and cultural development fundand used for the purposes described in this chapter and K.C.C. chapter 4.42.
L. “Individual artist” means an artist acting individually and independently without
affiliation to or with another individual, group or organization. (Ord. 17527 § 60, 2013: Ord.
17461 § 2, 2012: Ord. 14482 § 35, 2002: Ord. 12945 § 1, 1997: Ord. 12089 § 17, 1995:
Ord. 11684 § 11, 1995: Ord. 8300 § 2, 1987).
2.48.030 Policy.
A. It is the policy of King County to foster the excellence, vitality and diversity ofcultural programs in the county and to make opportunities to experience cultural programs
available to all citizens of the county because:
1. King County recognizes that arts and heritage institutions and organizations
and professional artists, heritage specialists and historic preservationists, working in
partnership with the region’s tourism industry, attract visitors and enhance the county’s
national and international reputation as a cultural center.
2. King County recognizes that the transmission of historical and cultural values
and traditions from one generation to the next is essential to the sense of identity ofcommunities, ethnic and cultural groups, and of all citizens of King County.
3. King County recognizes that a healthy and well-balanced future citizenry isdependent upon the promotion of comprehensive cultural education programs for today's
youth and that cultural education, in the classroom and in the community, is an integral
part of building audiences, appreciation and support for cultural programs.
4. King County recognizes that the loss or destruction of historic structures, sites
and artifacts constitutes an irreplaceable loss to the quality of life and character of KingCounty.
5. King County recognizes that its support for the cultural community should be
distributed to major regional, midsized, emerging and community-based organizations.
6. King County recognizes that support for the development of cultural activities
should be distributed throughout all parts of the county, including urban, suburban, ruraland incorporated and unincorporated areas;
7. King County recognizes that meeting its goals for regional distribution of culturalactivities requires regional planning, outreach to cities and communities throughout thecounty, and a regional investment strategy; and8. King County recognizes that support for the work of individual artists andheritage specialists is important to ensure the continuance of diverse creative expression.
B. To carry out this policy, the cultural development authority is hereby authorized todevelop and implement cultural programs in King County.
C. The county is committed to ensuring the success of cultural programs andfacilitating strong partnerships between the county, cultural development authority andcultural community. The executive shall ensure county departments and agencies performtheir duties related to cultural programs and fully cooperate with the cultural development
authority in its performance of its responsibilities. (Ord. 18684 § 2, 2018: Ord. 14482 § 36,
2002: Ord. 12945 § 2, 1997: Ord. 8300 § 3, 1987).
2.48.045 Responsibilities for cultural programs. The cultural programs describedin this chapter shall be implemented and administered by the cultural development authority.
The duties and authorities of the cultural development authority shall include the following:
A. Developing policies, guidelines and eligibility criteria for consideration by the
council for cultural programs;
B. Considering and approving project and grant proposals;
C. Reviewing, evaluating and accounting for expenditures of program funds; andD. Annually reporting program results to the county executive and county council.
(Ord. 14482 § 37, 2002).
2.48.065 Arts advisory committee. The cultural development authority shallestablish an arts advisory committee to advise the authority’s board regarding policies andcultural programs. Committee members shall: have a demonstrated commitment to andknowledge of arts practices and programs; be experienced with community and civic
issues and concerns; and be sought from a range of professionals including individual
artists, arts administrators, educators and community arts activists. The appointment
process and terms of service shall be established by the cultural development authority as
set forth in its charter. (Ord. 18684 § 3, 2018: Ord. 14482 § 38, 2002).
2.48.075 Heritage advisory committee. The cultural development authority shallestablish a heritage advisory committee to advise the authority’s board regarding policies
and cultural programs. Committee members shall: have a demonstrated commitment toand knowledge of heritage practices and programs; be experienced with community andcivic issues and concerns; and be sought from a range of professionals including
educators, heritage specialists, historians and community heritage activists. The
appointment process and terms of service shall be established by the cultural development
authority as set forth in its charter. (Ord. 18684 § 4, 2018: Ord. 14482 § 39, 2002).
2.48.085 Historic preservation advisory committee. The cultural development
authority shall establish a historic preservation advisory committee to advise the authority’sboard regarding policies and cultural programs. Committee members shall: have ademonstrated commitment to and knowledge of historic preservation practices andprograms; be experienced with community and civic issues and concerns; and be soughtfrom a range of professionals including educators, historic preservationists, historians andcommunity heritage activists. The appointment process and terms of service shall beestablished by the cultural development authority as set forth in its charter. (Ord. 18684 §5, 2018: Ord. 14482 § 40, 2002).
2.48.101 Cultural education program.* There is hereby established the KingCounty cultural education program. The program shall consist of one-year grants for
projects developed by cultural organizations or projects proposed and developed by thecultural development authority for the purpose of enriching existing and creating new cultural
education program. The cultural education program shall be an annual programadministered by the cultural development authority, consistent with this chapter and thecharter and shall be contingent on available hotel-motel tax revenues. The cultural
education program shall be subject to the following:
A. All cultural organizations that meet the criteria contained in this chapter and any
applicable guidelines approved by the cultural development authority for the King County
cultural education program are eligible to apply for the King County cultural education
program grants. School districts and schools shall not receive revenues distributed under
this section;
B. Moneys granted to the individual cultural organizations shall be used to enrichexisting cultural education programs or to create new ones and in any event shall be
expended only for direct costs for cultural education, which may include fees for artists,
cultural specialists, experts in cultural education, and performing and visual arts and heritageorganizations. Any application for moneys to enrich existing or to create new arts, culturalor heritage programs shall be developed by the applicant or applicants in joint cooperation
with a King County public school or school district;
C. Organizations proposing projects for all grades shall be eligible for grant funding
under this chapter. However, while funds are minimal, projects proposed for grades K-8, or
grades K-9 in schools where grade 9 remains in the middle school configuration, shallreceive priority for funding;
D. The cost of administering the King County cultural education program shall beminimal;E. Applications must describe the intended use of the grant funds. The intended use
must be for cultural education projects serving either King County schools or public school
districts, or both. Grant applications may address the needs of special student populations,such as at-risk students and students with handicaps or disabilities, and other youth ofschool age who are not currently in school, such as youth in detention and those who have
dropped out of school;
F. There shall be written application guidelines and procedures, which shall include
eligibility criteria, scope of program and funding requirements. The guidelines, criteria andapplication procedures shall be adopted by the cultural development authority. Establishedcriteria shall include commitment and ability to provide student learning in culturalendeavors. The cultural development authority shall establish procedures for evaluation ofprograms and accountability of funds;
G. Grant awards shall reflect a countywide geographic distribution, and shall include
projects serving public schools and public school districts from various affluent and lessaffluent communities; andH. Approval of grants shall be made by the cultural development authority consistent
with this chapter and the charter. Grant decisions shall be made on a competitive basis andin accordance with criteria established in accordance with subsection F of this section.
Grants made under the King County cultural education program shall recognize that
Bellevue is receiving its own hotel-motel tax revenues, and therefore preference shall begiven to applications serving other areas of the county. Grants to organizations proposing
worthwhile projects in Bellevue public schools are not precluded. (Ord. 14482 § 41, 2002:
Ord. 14440 § 4, 2002: Ord. 11242 § 4, 1994: Ord. 10189 § 4, 1991: Ord. 9279 § 4, 1989.
Formerly K.C.C. 4.42.030).
*See K.C.C. 4A.200.140 for the arts and cultural development fund.
2.48.103 Special projects program.

A. There is hereby established the King County special projects program. This
program shall consist of competitive grants or projects proposed and developed by thecultural development authority, for funding innovative arts project, heritage endeavors andcollaborative programs that reflect the cultural and geographic diversity of King County andare not funded by other county programs. The special projects program shall be an annual
program administered by the cultural development authority and shall be contingent on
available hotel-motel tax revenues. Approval of grants shall be made by the culturaldevelopment authority consistent with this chapter and the charter. Grants may be made toarts and heritage organizations, individual artists, heritage specialists, community
educational organizations and community arts groups and public agencies that reflect themulticultural, ethnic and geographic diversity of King County. Applications must describe
the intended use of the grant funds, and applicants may request full cost recovery.
B. There shall be written guidelines and procedures for applying for grants that shall
include eligibility criteria, scope of program and funding needs. The guidelines andprocedures shall be adopted by the cultural development authority.
C. The funds expended for the King County special projects program shall be used
to expand the role of local arts and heritage organizations and individuals as artistic andcultural educational resources that develop King County through arts and historic eventsand features in King County, within the intent and purposes authorized by RCW
67.28.180(3)(a). The purposes of these expenditures shall be to:
1. Produce special projects and programs that highlight the region’s cultural
resources;
2. Assist in providing and bringing touring programs and exhibits on the regionaland national level to King County;
3. Improve cultural opportunities and audience development that promote thecultural diversity and multicultural heritage of the region, with particular emphasis on special
populations, multicultural audiences and King County youth;
4. Encourage and provide an exchange of services and technical assistance
between larger and smaller organizations, individual artists and heritage professionals;
5. Address the needs of either mid- and smaller-sized organizations or individual
artists and heritage professionals, or both;
6. Provide opportunities for independent artists to produce new works; and7. Develop heritage projects that make a significant contribution to the preservation,conservation or interpretation of the historical and archaeological resources of King County.
D. Eligible applicants shall include, but not be limited to, individual artists, arts andheritage organizations, community arts and cultural groups, community educationalorganizations and family and youth programs relating to cultural endeavors that reflect themulticultural, ethnic and geographic diversity of King County.
E. The cost of administering the program shall be minimal.
F. The cultural development authority may also develop and sponsor special projects
that meet the program purposes described in subsection C of this section. (Ord. 14482 §66, 2002: Ord. 14440 § 5, 2002: Ord. 11242 § 7, 1994: Ord. 10189 § 9, 1991: Ord. 9279
§ 8, 1989. Formerly K.C.C. 4.42.060).
2.48.105 Cultural facilities program. King County recognizes that the cultural
facilities program has helped build a cultural infrastructure in the region with projects
including the Bellevue Art Museum, Benaroya Hall, the Olympic Sculpture Garden andmany more. Arts organizations such as the Seattle Center Foundation and heritageorganizations such as the Museum of History and Industry are in the process ofconstructing regional cultural facilities and are seeking capital contributions in 2003. The
county strongly supports these projects and encourages the cultural development
authority of King County to recognize and assist these organizations to meet their financial

goals through private and public donors.
A. The cultural facilities program shall be administered by the cultural development
authority. Approval of grants shall be made by the cultural development authority consistent
with this chapter and the charter.
B. The funds allocated to the cultural facilities program shall be used only for thepurchase, design, construction and remodeling of performing arts, visual arts, heritage andcultural facilities and for the purchase of fixed assets that will benefit art, heritage and culturalorganizations, but heritage facility funding may also be used for heritage sustained support.
C. Funds may be spent on providing assistance for planning and improvement of
cultural facilities, providing for the preservation and restoration of cultural facilities otherwise
eligible for funding pursuant to this chapter and providing funds to cultural organizations tocomply with Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
D. Funds received under this section may be used for payment of principal andinterest on bonds issued for cultural capital projects. The manager of the finance andbusiness operations division shall manage the program's debt incurred before and including
December 31, 2002, to ensure continued high credit quality, access to credit markets andfinancial flexibility. The cultural development authority shall be responsible for program debt
incurred from and after January 1, 2003.
E. Eligible applicants shall include performing arts, visual arts, heritage and culturalorganizations. Eligible applicants must be financially stable and have at least the following:
1. A legally constituted and working board of directors;
2. A record of artistic, heritage or cultural accomplishments;
3. At least a two-year operating history;
4. Demonstrated ability to maintain net current liabilities at less than thirty percent
of general operating expenses;
5. Demonstrated ability to sustain operational capacity subsequent to completionof projects or purchase of machinery and equipment; and6. Evidence of an independent financial review of the organization. (Ord. 14482 §42, 2002: Ord. 14440 § 6, 2002: Ord. 14199 § 86, 2001: Ord. 12076 § 49, 1995. Formerly
K.C.C. 4.42.100).
2.48.108 Sustained support program for arts.
A. There is hereby established the King County sustained support program for arts.
The purpose of this program shall be to provide operating support to arts organizations andlocal arts agencies with a demonstrated record of providing or facilitating quality arts
experiences for residents of and visitors to King County.
B. The sustained support program for arts shall be administered by the culturaldevelopment authority. The program shall consist of a biennial application process. Grants
shall be allocated on an annual basis for two consecutive years. Approval of grants shallbe made by the cultural development authority consistent with this chapter and the charter.
Financial stability and a previous record of artistic accomplishments, and a demonstrated
commitment to provide ongoing cultural programs or events for the benefit of King County
residents and visitors shall be considered in the application review process. Grant
recommendations shall reflect a countywide geographic distribution, and shall include
organizations of all sizes and in all artistic disciplines.
C. Eligible applicants are:1. Not-for-profit arts organizations based in King County with a minimum of three
years presenting or producing arts programs for King County residents. For the purposesof this subsection, "not-for-profit arts organizations" means those legally incorporated
nonprofit entities that provide as their primary mission a regular season of arts programs orservices, which may include a season or annual program of performances, exhibitions,media presentations, festivals, readings or literary publications;2. Not-for-profit arts service organizations that provide arts education and training,and professional services such as administrative support, technical assistance or services
to a variety of arts professionals or disciplines, including special populations, ethnic
communities and underserved communities;
3. Local arts agencies, which are arts councils, arts commissions or similar entities
that are nonprofit organizations or official units of municipal government based in a suburban
or rural King County community specifically dedicated to providing arts services for its
residents that meet the following criteria:
a. Have a minimum three-year history of providing arts services to the community
in which it is based;b. Are primarily dedicated to the provision of planning, financial support, services,
programs and development opportunities for community based arts organizations, artists
and the public during a major portion of the year; andc. Are involved on a regular basis activities or programs in more than one arts
discipline or arts service area;
4. Organizations that do not have a tax exemption under section 501(c)(3) of theInternal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3)), which may apply under thesponsorship of another organization that is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of theInternal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3)). The applying organization shallact as an independent fiscal agent for the sponsoring organization and shall assume
responsibilities required by the contract.
D. Eligible applicants must have a record of artistic or cultural accomplishments andmust have been in operation for at least three years.
E. The funds expended for the King County sustained support program for arts shallbe used to support the role of arts organizations and local arts agencies in King County,
within the intent and purposes authorized by RCW 67.28.180(3)(a). Funds shall be used tosupport annual operating expenses, which may include staff, utilities, supplies, fees orservices relating to arts programs and services that provide public benefit and are accessible
to King County residents and visitors. Funds shall not be used for capital projects or
fundraising purposes. (Ord. 14482 § 44, 2002: Ord. 14440 § 7, 2002. Formerly K.C.C.
4.42.108).
2.48.109 Sustained support program for heritage.
A. There is hereby established the King County sustained support program forheritage. The purpose of this program shall be to provide operating support to historicalmuseums and heritage organizations that make exceptional contributions to thepreservation, collection, exhibition, interpretation or protection of resources related to thehistory of the people and places of King County.
B. The sustained support program for heritage shall be administered by the culturaldevelopment authority. The program shall consist of a biennial application process. Grants
shall be allocated on an annual basis for two consecutive years. Approval of grants shallbe made by the cultural development authority consistent with this chapter and the charter.
Grant recommendations shall reflect a countywide geographic distribution, and shall include
organizations of all sizes and in all heritage disciplines. Financial stability and a previous
record of accomplishments, and a demonstrated commitment to provide ongoing cultural
programs or events for the benefit of King County residents and visitors shall be consideredin the application review process.
C. Eligible applicants are:
1. Historical museums or heritage organizations with any combination of ongoingprograms, exhibitions, presentations or tours and must be tax-exempt under section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3)); and2. Public development authorities.

D. Eligible applicants must operate a heritage facility in King County and have aminimum of two years experience managing collections, presenting exhibits or providing
other public services and programs with a focus on King County history and heritage.
E. The funds expended for the King County sustained support program for heritage
shall be used to expand the role of local heritage organizations and provide access tocultural programs in King County, within the intent and purposes authorized by RCW
67.28.180(3)(a). The purpose of these funds is to offset the expenses and costs of heritage
facility operations, including those for staff, utilities, supplies, fees or services that relate to
public access to, or public benefits deriving from, programs and services involving thecollection, preservation, exhibition, and interpretation of King County history and heritage
resources, as well as the education of the public about them. The funds expended for theKing County sustained support program for heritage shall not be used for any programs orservices that do not: provide public access or public benefit; serve King County residents orvisitors; comply with existing federal, state or local legislation; involve heritage facilities inKing County; or relate to King County history and heritage. (Ord. 14482 § 45, 2002: Ord.
14440 § 8, 2002. Formerly K.C.C. 4.42.109).
2.48.125 Compliance with antidiscrimination legislation.
A. Arts and heritage organizations receiving funding from King County through thecultural development authority shall comply with federal, state and local laws that requirethat state and local governments give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit
from all of their programs, services and activities, including, but not limited to, Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 706), the Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), chapter 49.60 RCW (the Washington state law
against discrimination) and K.C.C. chapter 12.22 (prohibiting discrimination in places ofpublic accommodation).
B. Allocations by the cultural development authority to arts and heritageorganizations shall be contingent upon the organizations being in compliance with therequirements of federal, state and local laws that require that state and local governments
give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all of their programs,
services and activities, including, but not limited to, Section 504 of the Federal
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 706), the Americans with Disabilities Act of1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), chapter 49.60 RCW (the Washington state law
against discrimination) and K.C.C. chapter 12.22 (prohibiting discrimination in places ofpublic accommodation).
C. Arts organizations receiving funding from King County through the culturaldevelopment authority shall comply with state, federal and local legislation requiring
nondiscrimination in employment and the provision of services to the public, including, but
not limited to: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; chapter 49.60 RCW (the Washington
state law against discrimination); K.C.C. chapter 12.16 regarding discrimination andaffirmative action in employment by contractors, subcontractors and vendors; K.C.C.
chapter 12.17 prohibiting discrimination in contracting; K.C.C. chapter 12.18 requiring fair
employment practices; and K.C.C. chapter 12.22 prohibiting discrimination in places ofpublic accommodation.
D. Allocations by the cultural development authority of King County to arts andheritage organizations shall be contingent upon the organizations being in compliance withthe requirements of with state, federal and local legislation requiring nondiscrimination in
employment and the provision of services to the public, including, but not limited to: Title VIof the Civil Rights Act of 1964; chapter 49.60 RCW (the Washington state law against
discrimination); K.C.C. chapter 12.16 regarding discrimination and affirmative action in
employment by contractors, subcontractors and vendors; K.C.C. chapter 12.17 prohibiting
discrimination in contracting; K.C.C. chapter 12.18 requiring fair employment practices; andK.C.C. chapter 12.22 prohibiting discrimination in places of public accommodation. (Ord.
14482 § 47, 2002: Ord. 9051 §§ 1-2, 1989).
2.49
Sections:
2.49.020
2.49.030
2.49.040
2.49.050
2.49.060
2.49.080
2.49.085
2.49.100
2.49.1102.49.120
2.49.130
2.49.140
2.49.150
2.49.160
2.49.170
2.49.180
2.49.200

CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF KING COUNTY
Definitions.
Cultural development authority created.
Name.
Powers of authority.
Charter - approval.
Board of directors - established - appointments - duties.
Executive director – appointment, confirmation – recruitment.
Board of directors - removal of directors.
Bylaws.
Quorum.
County liability limited.
Insolvency and dissolution.
County executive - authorizations.
Reporting requirements.
Transfer of funds.
Access to county systems - payment.
Hotel-motel revenue allocations for cultural programs.

2.49.020 Definitions. Words in this chapter have their ordinary and usual
meanings except those defined in this section, which have, in addition, the following
meanings. If there is conflict, the specific definitions in this section shall presumptively,
but not conclusively, prevail.
A. "Board of directors" or "board" means the governing body vested with the
management of the affairs of the cultural development authority.
B. "Director" means a member of the board of the cultural development authority.
C. "Bylaws" means the rules adopted by the county for the regulation or
management of the affairs of the cultural development authority and includes all
amendments adopted by the board or the county council.
D. "Charter" means the articles of organization of the cultural development
authority adopted by the county and all amendments thereto.
E. "Cultural bonds" means bonds issued by the county before December 31, 2002,
backed by hotel-motel tax revenues to support the construction of cultural facilities.
F. "Cultural development authority" or "authority" means the public authority
created under this chapter and doing business as 4Culture.
G. "Cultural resources" means community and regional programs and projects
relating to:
1. Performing, visual, literary and other arts;
2. Public and civic art;
3. Heritage;
4. Museum and archival collections;5. Historic preservation;
6. Cultural education; and7. Cultural organizations, institutions and attractions.
H. "Executive director" means the chief executive officer of the authority.
I. "Heritage" means King County’s history, ethnic history, indigenous and traditional
culture, folklore and historic and archaeological resources and those projects andprograms initiated by the authority to preserve King County’s heritage and to support
community and regional heritage organizations and public agencies in those efforts.
J. "Historic preservation" means the preservation or conservation of the county's
historic and archaeological resources and those programs and projects initiated by theauthority to foster such preservation or conservation through nonregulatory activities suchas interpretation, community education and outreach, cultural tourism and rehabilitation ofhistoric resources.
K. "Hotel-motel tax revenues" means funds designated for cultural purposes as
described in RCW 67.28.180 and deposited into the arts and cultural development fundand used for the purposes described in K.C.C. chapters 2.48 and 4.42.
L. "Resolution" means the form of action taken by the board. (Ord. 18684 § 6,
2018: Ord. 17527 § 61, 2013: Ord. 14482 § 5, 2002).
2.49.030 Cultural development authority created. A public authority is hereby
created, with powers and limitations set forth in its charter and this chapter, exclusively tosupport, advocate for and preserve the cultural resources of the region in a manner that
fosters excellence, vitality and diversity. The authority shall further the goals andobjectives of the King County Comprehensive Plan, establish cultural resource policies
and operate in a manner that ensures King County citizens and visitors have access tohigh-quality cultural programs and experiences. (Ord. 14482 § 3, 2002).
2.49.040 Name. The name of the public authority shall be the cultural development
authority of King County. (Ord. 14482 § 4, 2002).
2.49.050 Powers of authority. Except as limited by the state constitution andstate law, the King County Charter, this chapter or the charter of the cultural development
authority, the cultural development authority may exercise all lawful powers necessary or
convenient to effect the purposes for which the cultural development authority is organized
and to perform authorized corporate functions, as provided in its charter and bylaws. (Ord.
14482 § 6, 2002).
2.49.060 Charter - approval. The charter of the cultural development authority,
as set forth in Attachment A to Ordinance 19036*, is hereby approved. The clerk of thecouncil shall, within ten days of December 30, 2019, issue the charter in duplicate
originals, each bearing the county seal attested by the clerk of the council. The clerk of
the council shall file and record one original charter with the records and licensing services
division and provide one original charter to the county executive on behalf of the culturaldevelopment authority. The county may amend the charter by ordinance after providing
notice to and an opportunity for the directors to be heard and present testimony. (Ord.
19036 § 1, 2019: Ord. 18684 § 7, 2018: Ord. 18513 § 10, 2017: Ord. 15971 § 38, 2007:
Ord. 14482 § 7, 2002).
*Available in the King County Archives.
2.49.080 Board of directors - established - appointments - duties. A board
consisting of fifteen directors and five ex officio members, as provided in the charter, ishereby established to govern the affairs of the cultural development authority.
Appointments occurring as a result of a vacancy or expired term shall be filled inaccordance with the charter. Appointments shall be subject to confirmation by the county
council. All corporate powers of the authority shall be exercised by or under the authorityof the board of directors, except those reserved for the county council under this chapter.
The business, property and affairs of the authority shall be managed under the direction

of the board, except as may be otherwise provided for by law or in the charter. (Ord. 18684§ 9, 2018: Ord. 14482 § 9, 2002).
2.49.085 Executive director – appointment, confirmation – recruitment. An
executive director shall be the chief executive officer of the cultural development authority
as provided in the bylaws. The executive director shall be appointed by the executive,
subject to confirmation by motion by the council. The executive director shall be recruitedand recommended for selection by the board of directors through the process establishedin the authority's bylaws. (Ord. 18684 § 10, 2018).
2.49.100 Board of directors - removal of directors. If, after a full public hearing,the council for any reason determines that any or all of the directors should be removed
from office, the council may by ordinance remove the director or directors. The term of
any director removed under this section expires when the removal ordinance takes effect.
Vacancies created under this section shall be filled in the manner provided in the charter.
(Ord. 14482 § 15, 2002).
2.49.110 Bylaws. The bylaws of the authority, as set forth in Attachment B to
Ordinance 19036*, are hereby approved. The board may alter, amend or repeal the
bylaws or adopt new bylaws, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. The bylaws
shall be consistent with the charter. The county may amend the bylaws by ordinance toconform the bylaws to amendments to the charter and only after the council has provided
notice to the board and an opportunity for any or all of the directors to present testimony.
(Ord. 19036 § 2, 2019: Ord. 18684 § 12, 2018: Ord. 14482 § 11, 2002).
*Available in the King County Archives.
2.49.120 Quorum. At all meetings of the board of directors, a majority of thedirectors who are appointed and confirmed shall constitute a quorum. (Ord. 14482 § 12,2002).
2.49.130 County liability limited. To the maximum extent permitted by law, thecultural development authority is an independent legal entity exclusively responsible for its
own debts, obligations and liabilities. All liabilities incurred by the authority shall besatisfied exclusively from the assets and credit of the authority. No creditor or other person
shall have any recourse to the assets, credit or services of the county on account of any
debts, obligations, liabilities, acts or omissions of the cultural development authority. (Ord.
14482 § 13, 2002).
2.49.140 Insolvency and dissolution. After notice to the board and a public
hearing, the county may determine by ordinance that the cultural development authority is
insolvent or may by ordinance dissolve the authority. If the county determines the authority
is insolvent or dissolves the authority, the county shall notify the superior court of KingCounty, which shall proceed under RCW 35.21.750. (Ord. 14482 § 14, 2002).
2.49.150 County executive - authorizations.
A. The county executive is granted all power and authority reasonably necessary
to perform the duties imposed on the county departments and agencies under this chapter,in K.C.C. chapters 2.46, 2.48, 4.08*, 4.40 and 4.42 and in the charter of the authority.
B. The county executive shall, to the extent permitted by law, assign the county's
rights, interests, duties and obligations in contracts, agreements, grants and other written
commitments entered into on or before December 31, 2002, for cultural resourcesprograms and projects to the cultural development authority. However, the county shallretain all rights, interests, duties and obligations related to ownership of works of art forthe county’s public art collection.
C. The county executive shall ensure that moneys in the funds designated byordinance to be available to the cultural development authority are effectively, efficiently
and promptly transferred to the authority. (Ord. 14482 § 16, 2002).
*Reviser's note: K.C.C. chapter 4.08 was recodified as K.C.C. chapter 4A.200 by
Ordinance 17527.
2.49.160 Reporting requirements.
A. By April 15 of each year, the authority shall submit an annual report to the county
executive and the county council containing:
1. A summary of significant accomplishments;
2. An updated estimate of expenditures for the current fiscal year;
3. A summary of cultural programs, public art projects and all other projects andactivities to be undertaken during the current year; and4. Other information as may be required in the charter of the authority.
B.1. The authority shall meet with the county council’s committee of the whole twotimes per year, once to discuss the authority's annual report and once to discuss theauthority's plans and proposed expenditures for the following year.
2. The authority shall meet:a. at least one time per year with the county executive; andb. at least one time per year with directors and administrators of county
departments and agencies that interface with the authority.
C. The authority shall respond to requests for additional information from theexecutive or from the council. The council shall make its request by motion. (Ord. 18684§ 13, 2018: Ord. 18635 § 10, 2017: Ord. 14482 § 17, 2002).
2.49.170 Transfer of funds.
A. King County shall transfer future fund balances as follows:
1. Unless otherwise agreed to by King County and the cultural development
authority, the hotel-motel tax revenues designated by the state of Washington for cultural
purposes in King County shall be transferred to the authority within ten business days ofreceipt by King County from the state of Washington and appropriated by the county
council. Twice each year while cultural bonds or any other debt obligations of the culturaldevelopment authority to the county remain outstanding, the authority shall transfer backto King County sufficient hotel-motel tax revenues to allow the county to make required
payments on the bonds or any other debt obligations of the cultural development authority
to the county;
2. Current expense amounts appropriated to the arts and cultural development
fund, which shall be transferred to the authority not later than January 10 of the year forwhich those amounts have been appropriated;
3. Public art revenues, which shall be transferred to the authority not later thanFebruary 1 of the year for which those revenues have been appropriated;
4. Except for funds listed in subsection A.1. of this section, state and federal funds
for cultural purposes, which shall be transferred to the authority within ten business daysof receipt by King County of the funds from the federal or state governments; and5. All other funds and fees appropriated to the arts and cultural development fundand for cultural purposes, which funds and fees shall be transferred to the authority withinten business days of receipt by King County.
B.1. Except as otherwise provided in Ordinance 18684, Section 19, beginning in2020, at least one hundred-twenty-five days before the end of each fiscal year, the culturaldevelopment authority shall transmit its budget for the following fiscal year to the county
executive. At least ninety-five days before the end of each fiscal year, the county executive
shall transmit the cultural development authority budget to the clerk of council in bothelectronic and hard copy form. The clerk shall distribute the cultural development authority
budget to all councilmembers and the lead of the budget and fiscal management
committee or its successor committee. Beginning in 2020, the cultural development
authority shall transmit its budget for the following fiscal year together with the otherfinancial information required in subsection B.2. of this section to the county executive
after it has been approved by the cultural development authority board. The culturaldevelopment authority budget shall identify the budgeted operating and capital
expenditures and full-time equivalent positions for the following fiscal year.
2. The cultural development authority shall also transmit supporting data,
including, but not limited to, a statement of assets and liabilities, a description of significant
changes in the budget for the following fiscal year compared to the current fiscal year
budget and a financial plan that includes actual expenditures, revenues and reserves forthe preceding fiscal year and estimates of all expenditures, revenues and reserves for thecurrent fiscal year and the following five years. For exemplary purposes only, the financial
plan transmitted with the cultural development authority budget for fiscal year 2021 shallconsist of the cultural development authority's actual expenditures, revenues and reserves
for 2019, estimates of all the cultural development authority's expenditures, revenues andreserves for 2020 and years 2021 through 2025.
3. Unless the council passes a motion rejecting the cultural development authority
budget at least thirty days before the end of the current fiscal year, in the following fiscal
year, the county shall transfer to the authority balances in any of the funds referenced insubsection A.1. through A.5. of this section.
4. If the council passes a motion rejecting the cultural development authority
budget for the following fiscal year at least thirty days before the end of the current fiscal
year, then, in the following fiscal year, the county shall not transfer to the authority any
balances in any of the funds referenced in subsection A.1. through A.5. of this section
except as otherwise provided in subsection B.6. of this section.
5. If the council passes a motion rejecting the cultural development authority
budget, the council shall specify the reason or reasons for the rejection in the body of the
motion.
6. If the council passes a motion rejecting the cultural development authority
budget or if the council passes a motion rejecting a revised cultural development authority
budget under this subsection, then representatives of the cultural development authority
and representatives of the council shall meet to discuss revisions to the culturaldevelopment authority budget within fifteen calendar days of the passage of the motion
rejecting the cultural development authority budget or revised cultural development
authority budget. The representatives of the cultural development authority shall include,
but not be limited to the cultural development authority board chair, the ex officio member
designated by the executive and the authority's executive director. The representative of
the council shall include, but not be limited to the council chair, the chair of the budget andfiscal management committee or its successor committee or the chair of the committee ofthe whole or its successor committee, or all three. For the purposes of complying with thefifteen-calendar-day requirement, a councilmember may select a designee and shall notify
the cultural development authority of the councilmember's delegation. Within fifteen
calendar days of the meeting, the cultural development authority board shall consider andadopt a revised budget and transmit the revised budget to the council clerk in the form ofa paper and an electronic paper copy. The council clerk shall retain the paper copy andforward an electronic copy to all councilmembers. Unless the council passes a motionrejecting a revised budget within fifteen days of the board's transmittal of the revised
budget, the county shall transfer to the authority balances in any of the funds referenced
in subsection A.1. through A.5. of this section.
C. The county shall not transfer funds and fees designated or appropriated to theKing County landmarks commission for land use regulation and archaeologicalmanagement purposes. (Ord. 18941 § 1, 2019: Ord. 18862 § 1, 2019: Ord. 18684 § 14,
2018: Ord. 17527 § 54, 2013: Ord. 14482 § 18, 2002).
2.49.180 Access to county systems – payment.
A. The county shall allow access by the cultural development authority to thecounty's information and telecommunications systems, including, but not limited to,telephone service, voice mail, electronic mail and the countywide area network, including
all databases required by the cultural development authority to effectively carry out its
work. The cultural development authority shall make payment for telephone systemservices upon billing by the county. King County shall allow the cultural development
authority access to the wide area network at no charge. (Ord. 18684 § 15, 2018: Ord.
14482 § 19, 2002).
2.49.200 Hotel-motel revenue allocations for cultural programs.
A. Hotel-motel revenues deposited in the King County arts and culturaldevelopment fund, created under K.C.C. 4A.200.140, shall be administered by the culturaldevelopment authority.
B. Hotel-motel revenues deposited in the King County arts and culturaldevelopment fund shall be used to support the cultural programs described in K.C.C.
chapter 2.48: cultural facilities; cultural education; special projects; and sustained support.
The hotel-motel revenues in the fund shall also support related administration of those
programs by the cultural development authority.
C. After allocating the hotel-motel portion of the arts and cultural development fundto administer cultural programs, the cultural development authority shall divide the hotelmotel revenues in the arts and cultural development fund between arts programs andheritage programs, but at least twenty percent of the revenue shall be allocated to heritage
programs.
D. After deducting the amount necessary to meet debt service obligations, thecultural development authority shall allocate hotel-motel revenues intended to support arts
programs from the arts and cultural development fund as follows:
1. For cultural facilities and sustained support, eighty percent of remaining arts
program revenues, but sustained support shall receive at least thirty percent of the eighty
percent; and2. For special projects and cultural education, twenty percent of remaining arts
program revenues, but special projects shall receive at least thirty-four percent of thetwenty percent.
E. After deducting the amount necessary to meet debt service allocations, thecultural development authority shall allocate hotel-motel revenues intended to support
heritage programs from the arts and cultural development fund as follows:
1. For cultural facilities and sustained support, seventy percent of remaining
heritage program revenues, but sustained support shall receive at least twenty percent of
the seventy percent;
2. For special projects, thirty percent of remaining heritage program revenues,
andF. Hotel-motel revenues from the arts and cultural development fund shall not be
used to support services and programs to be provided by the King County landmarks
commission for land use regulation and archaeological resource management purposes

as described in K.C.C. chapter 20.62. (Ord. 18684 § 16, 2018: Ord. 17461 § 3, 2012:
Ord. 14917 § 1, 2004: Ord. 14482 § 43, 2002: Ord. 14440 § 3, 2002. Formerly K.C.C.
4.42.025).
2.51

KING COUNTY FRAMEWORK POLICIES FOR HUMAN SERVICES

Sections:
2.51.010

Framework policies – implementation.

*Available in the King County Archives.
2.51.010 Framework policies – implementation.
A. The framework policies for human services, dated April 2, 2007, and contained in
Attachment A to Ordinance 15887* are adopted to establish priorities and guide the future
development of county human service programs. These priorities link directly to key policy
and practice areas in human services, such as criminal justice system alternatives, ending
homelessness, the service improvement plan for the veterans and human services levy andother regional plans and initiatives.
B. The department of community and human services shall have lead responsibility
for implementing the framework policies for human services. The department shall work incooperation with other county departments and offices also providing services to the priority
populations, including, but not limited to, public health, adult and juvenile detention, natural
resources and parks, superior court and Metro transit. The department shall continue toprovide opportunities throughout planning processes for participation by other regional
funding organizations that also provide services to the county's priority populations, in order
to better plan for and coordinate human services across the region. (Ord. 18777 § 7, 2018:
Ord. 15887 § 2, 2007: Ord. 14498 § 5, 2002: Ord. 13629 § 1, 1999).
*Available in the King County Archives.
2.52

KING COUNTY OFFICE OF PUBLIC COMPLAINTS/TAX ADVISOR - OMBUDSOFFICE(Formerly KING COUNTY OFFICE OF CITIZEN COMPLAINTS/TAX ADVISOR)

Sections:
2.52.010
2.52.020
2.52.030
2.52.040
2.52.050
2.52.080
2.52.090
2.52.100
2.52.1102.52.120
2.52.130
2.52.140
2.52.150
2.52.160
2.52.170

Definitions.
Establishment of office of public complaints/tax advisor - referral to officeas the ombuds office.
Appointment of director.
Director qualifications.
Term of office.
Organization of office.
Powers of director.
Matters appropriate for investigation.
Action on complaints.
Right to present witnesses - Consultation with agency.
Recommendations.
Publication of recommendations.
Written reports.
Disciplinary action against public personnel.
Rights and duties of witnesses - enforcement of subpoenas.

2.52.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter, the term:
A. "Administrative agency" means any department, office or other governmental unit,
or any employee of King County acting or purporting to act by reason of a connection withthe county; but "administrative agency" does not include:
1. Any court or judge or appurtenant judicial staff,
2. The members or staffs of the county council,
3. The executive or the executive’s personal staff,
4. The county prosecuting attorney or the prosecuting attorney’s staff. For
purposes of this chapter "administrative agency" shall specifically include the Board of
Equalization/Appeals.
B. "Administrative act" includes every action (such as decisions, omissions,recommendations, practices, or procedures) of an administrative agency. (Ord. 18618 § 32,
2017: Ord. 11107 § 2, 1993: Ord. 5869 § 1, 1982: Ord. 473 § 1, 1970).
2.52.020 Establishment of office of public complaints/tax advisor - referral tooffice as the ombuds office. In accordance with Section 260 of the King County Charter,
the office of public complaints/tax advisor is established and may also be referred to as theombuds office. (Ord. 19661 § 1, 2023: Ord. 11107 § 3, 1993: Ord. 5869 § 2, 1982: Ord.
473 § 2, 1970).
2.52.030 Appointment of director. The director of the ombuds office shall be
appointed by a majority of the members of the county council. (Ord. 19661 § 2, 2023: Ord.
11107 § 4, 1993: Ord. 5869 § 4, 1982).
2.52.040 Director qualifications. The director shall be a registered voter of theUnited States, shall hold a degree from an accredited college or its equivalent in service togovernment, shall have a working knowledge of legal and administrative procedures, andshall have either experienceor knowledge, or both, in local government commensurate to
the powers of the office. During the term of which the director is appointed, the director shallbe ineligible to hold any other public office of employment. The director shall not be a
candidate for any public office for a period of two years following the completion of thedirector’s term as director of the ombuds office. The director shall not be included in theclassified civil or career service of the county. (Ord. 19661 § 3, 2023: Ord. 18618 § 33,
2017: Ord. 11107 § 5, 1993: Ord. 5869 § 5, 1982: Ord. 473 § 4, 1970).
2.52.050 Term of office. The director shall serve for a term of five years, unlessremoved by a vote of two-thirds of the members of the county council upon theirdetermination that the director has become incapacitated or has been guilty of neglect ofduty, misconduct or political activity. The council may appoint an interim director pending
the appointment of a new director whenever the term of the director has expired or the officeotherwise becomes vacant. (Ord. 18618 § 34, 2017: Ord. 10340 § 1, 1992: Ord. 5869 § 6,
1982: Ord. 473 § 5, 1970).
2.52.080 Organization of office.
A. The director shall serve as property tax advisor for King County in accordancewith RCW 84.48.140.
B. The director may with concurrence of the council select, appoint and compensate,
within the amount available or budgeted by appropriation, such assistants and employees
as staff as the director deems necessary to discharge the director’s responsibilities under
this chapter. The assistants and employees shall not be included in the classified civil orcareer service of the county.

C. The director may delegate to staff any of the director’s authority or duties under
this chapter except this power of delegation and the duty formally to make recommendations
to administrative agencies or reports to either or both the executive and the council. (Ord.
18618 § 35, 2017: Ord. 15393 § 1, 2006: Ord. 11107 § 6, 1993: Ord. 5869 § 9, 1982: Ord.
473 § 8, 1970).
2.52.090 Powers of director. The director shall have the following powers:
A. To investigate, on complaint or on the director’s own initiative, any administrative
act of any administrative agency, including:
1. To prescribe the methods by which complaints are made, received and acted
upon; to determine the scope and manner of investigations to be made; and, subject to therequirements of this chapter, to determine the form, frequency and distribution of thedirector’s conclusions and recommendations;
2. To request and be given by each administrative agency the assistance andinformation the director deems necessary for the discharge of the director’s responsibilities;
to examine the records and documents of all administrative agencies; and to enter andinspect premises within administrative agencies' control;
3. To administer oaths and hold hearings in connection with any matter under inquiry;
4. To issue a subpoena to compel any person to appear, give sworn testimony or
produce documentary or other evidence reasonable in scope and generally relevant to amatter under inquiry; however, the subpoena power shall be limited to matters under written
complaints by a resident of the county; and5. To undertake, participate in, or cooperate with general studies or inquiries,
whether or not related to any particular administrative agency or any particular administrativeact, if the director believes that the general studies or enquiries might enhance knowledge
about or lead to improvements in the functioning of administrative agencies;
B. To investigate and enforce the provisions of the King County Code chapter aboutlobbyist disclosure, K.C.C. chapter 1.07, in accordance with the terms thereof;
C. To investigate and enforce the provisions of the code of ethics, K.C.C. chapter
3.04, in accordance with the terms thereof;
D. To investigate and enforce the provisions of the King County Code chapter about
whistleblower protection, K.C.C. chapter 3.42, in accordance with the terms thereof; andE. To provide advice to any person liable for payment of property taxes in KingCounty, including the process for appealing property tax assessments and other mattersrelated to property taxes. (Ord. 19661 § 4, 2023: Ord. 18618 § 36, 2017: Ord. 11107 § 7,
1993: Ord. 9704 § 11, 1990: Ord. 473 § 9, 1970).
2.52.100 Matters appropriate for investigation.
A. In selecting matters for the director’s attention, the director shall address anadministrative act that might be:
1. Contrary to law or regulation;
2. Unreasonable, unfair, oppressive, or inconsistent with the general course of an
administrative agency's functioning;
3. Arbitrary in ascertainment of facts;
4. Improper in motivation or based on irrelevant considerations;
5. Unclear or inadequately explained when reasons should have been revealed;
6. Inefficiently performed; or
7. Otherwise objectionable.
B. The director also may recommend strengthening procedures and practices ofadministrative agencies. (Ord. 18618 § 37, 2017: Ord. 473 § 10, 1970).
2.52.110 Action on complaints.

A. The director shall receive complaints from any source concerning any
administrative act. The director shall conduct a suitable investigation into the subject matterof the complaint within a reasonable time, unless the director believes that:
1. The complainant has available another remedy or channel of complaint that thecomplainant could reasonably be expected to use;
2. The grievance pertains to a matter outside the power of the ombuds office;3. The complainant's interest is insufficiently related to the subject matter;
4. The complaint is trivial, frivolous, vexatious, or not made in good faith; or
5. The complaint has been too long delayed to justify present examination of its
merit.
B. After completing the director’s consideration of a complaint, whether or not it has
been investigated, the director shall suitably inform the complainant and the administrative
agency or agencies involved.
C. A letter to the ombuds director from a person in a place of detention or in a hospitalor other institution under the control of an administrative agency shall be forwarded
immediately, unopened, to the director. (Ord. 19661 § 5, 2023: Ord. 18618 § 38, 2017:
Ord. 11107 § 8, 1993: Ord. 473 § 11, 1970).
2.52.120 Right to present witnesses - Consultation with agency.
A. Any individual who is the subject of a complaint shall have the right to present
witnesses and other evidence on the individual’s own behalf prior to disclosure of any
conclusions or recommendations by the director.
B.
Before publishing a conclusion or recommendation that criticizes anadministrative agency or any person, the director shall consult with the agency or personand shall disclose fully the critical findings the director intends to publish. (Ord. 18618 § 39,
2017: Ord. 473 § 12, 1970).
2.52.130 Recommendations.
A. If, having considered a complaint and whatever material the director deems
pertinent, the director is of the opinion that an administrative agency should:
1. Consider the matter further;
2. Modify or cancel an administrative act;
3. Alter a regulation or ruling;
4. Explain more fully the administrative act in question; or
5. Take any other step,
The director shall state the director’s recommendations to the administrative agency. If thedirector so requests, the agency shall inform the director, within the time the director has
specified, about the action taken on the director’s recommendations or the reasons for notcomplying with them.
B. If the director believes that an administrative action has been dictated by laws
whose results are unfair or otherwise objectionable, the director shall bring to the attentionof the council the director’s views concerning desirable legislative change. (Ord. 18618 §40, 2017: Ord. 5869 § 10, 1982: Ord. 473 § 13, 1970).
2.52.140 Publication of recommendations. The director may publish the director’s
conclusions, recommendations and suggestions by transmitting them to the county
executive, the county council or to any appropriate committee of the council, the press andothers who may be concerned. When publishing an opinion criticizing an administrative
agency or person, the director, unless excused in writing by the agency or individual
affected, shall include such statement or document that may have been made available tothe director by way of explaining past conduct or present rejection of the director's proposals.

The director shall not publish any interim or confidential reports. (Ord. 18618 § 41, 2017:
Ord. 5869 § 11, 1982: Ord. 473 § 14, 1970).
2.52.150 Written reports. In addition to whatever reports the director may makefrom time to time, the director shall report to the county council annually. The director shallfile the report by March 1 of each year, in the form of a paper original and an electronic copy
with the clerk of the council, who shall retain the original and provide an electronic copy to
all councilmembers, the council chief of staff and the executive. The director shall alsotransmit that portion of the report related to ethics complaints, as described in subsection C.
of this section, annually by March 1 of each year, in the form of an electronic copy to theboard of ethics administrator, who shall provide an electronic copy to all board members.
The ombuds report shall include, but not be limited to:
A. The exercise of the director’s functions under this chapter during the preceding
calendar year. In discussing matters with which the director has dealt, the director need not
identify those immediately concerned if to do so would cause unnecessary hardship. Insofar
as the report may criticize named agencies or persons, it must also include their replies tothe criticism; andB. The status of the lobbyist disclosure program described in K.C.C. chapter 1.07
from the proceeding calendar year, including a summary of case outcomes of complaints
alleging a violation of K.C.C. chapter 1.07 that are no longer eligible for appeal, resource
issues, and any concerns and recommendations for program improvement raised bymembers of the public or county employees; andC. The status of the employee code of ethics program described in K.C.C. chapter
3.04 from the proceeding calendar year, including a summary of case outcomes ofcomplaints alleging a violation of K.C.C. chapter 3.04 that are no longer eligible for appeal,
resource issues, and any concerns and recommendations for program improvement raisedby members of the public or county employees; andD. The status of the whistleblower program described in K.C.C. chapter 3.42 fromthe preceding calendar year, including a summary of improper governmental action andretaliation claims processed during the reporting period, case outcomes of all claims
investigated by the ombuds, resource issues, any concerns raised by whistleblowers about
the process, and any recommendations for program improvements. The ombuds is
encouraged to seek feedback from participants in the whistleblower process when preparing
the report. (Ord. 19661 § 6, 2023: Ord. 18635 § 11, 2017: Ord. 18618 § 42, 2017: Ord.
5869 § 12, 1982: Ord. 473 § 15, 1970).
2.52.160 Disciplinary action against public personnel. If the director has reason
to believe that any public official, employee or other person has acted in a manner
warranting criminal or disciplinary proceedings, the director shall refer the matter to theappropriate authorities. (Ord. 18618 § 43, 2017: Ord. 473 § 16, 1970).
2.52.170 Rights and duties of witnesses - enforcement of subpoenas.
A. A person required by the director to provide information shall be paid the same
fees and allowances, in the same manner and under the same conditions, as are extended
to witnesses whose attendance has been required in the courts of this state, excepting thatcity or county employees who are receiving compensation for the time that they are
witnesses shall not be paid the set fees and allowances.
B. A person who, with or without service of compulsory process, provides oral or
documentary information requested by the director shall be accorded the same privileges
and immunities as are extended to witnesses in the courts of this state.
C. Any witness in a proceeding before the ombuds office shall have the right to be
represented by counsel.

D. If a person fails to obey a subpoena, or obeys a subpoena but refuses to testify
when requested concerning any matter under examination or investigation at the hearing,the director may petition the superior court of King County for enforcement of the subpoena.
The petition shall be accompanied by a copy of the subpoena and proof of service, shall set
forth in what specific manner the subpoena has not been complied with, and shall ask anorder of the court to compel the witness to appear and testify before the ombuds office. The
court upon such petition shall enter an order directing the witness to appear before the court
at a time and place to be fixed in such order and then and there to show cause why thewitness has not responded to the subpoena or has refused to testify. A copy of the ordershall be served upon the witness. If it appears to the court that the subpoena was properly
issued and that the particular questions that the witness refuses to answer are reasonable
and relevant, the court shall enter an order that the witness appear at the time and place
fixed in the order and testify or produce the required papers and on failing to obey the order
the witness shall be dealt with as for a contempt of court. (Ord. 19661 § 7, 2023: Ord.
18618 § 44, 2017: Ord. 11107 § 9, 1993: Ord. 473 § 18, 1970).
2.53
Sections:
2.53.011
2.53.021
2.53.031
2.53.041
2.53.051
2.53.061

CITIZENS' ELECTIONS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

Establishment - definition.
Membership - appointment process, requirements and restrictions.
Mission - duties.
Responsibilities.
Staffing.
Reimbursement - parking.

2.53.011 Establishment - definition The King County citizens' elections oversightcommittee is hereby established. For the purposes of this chapter, "the committee" means
the King County citizens' elections oversight committee. (Ord. 15453 § 2, 2006).
2.53.021 Membership - appointment process, requirements and restrictions.
A. Committee membership shall include:
1. One representative from a nonpartisan organization active in King County that
evaluates candidates and ballot measures, such as the Municipal League;
2. One representative from a nonpartisan organization active in King County thatprovides elections information to the public, such as the League of Women Voters;
3. One representative from the disability community;
4. One jurisdictional representative from a junior taxing district or a city with apopulation of under twenty thousand;
5. One representative of the Chinese-speaking community;
6. One representative of the Vietnamese-speaking community;
7. One representative of the Spanish-speaking community;
8. One representative from the Korean-speaking community;
9. One representative from each of any other language minority community forwhich the Director of the Bureau of the Census determines by publication in the Federal
Register that King County is required to provide minority language assistance under
Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act;
10. Two King County registered voters who are not representatives of any of thegroups listed in subsection A.1. through 9. and 11. through 16. of this section;
11. One representative from the King County Democratic Party;
12. One representative from the King County Republican Party;

State;13. One ex officio, nonvoting representative from the Office of the Secretary of

14. One representative from an academic institution who has knowledge ofelections;
15. One representative who has experience in technology; and16. One representative from a nonpartisan organization in King County that
promotes equality and the advancement of blacks or African Americans, such as the Urban
League of Metropolitan Seattle.
B. The process for filling vacancies on the committee is:
1. The chair of the council shall notify councilmembers of vacancies on thecommittee and shall direct council staff to develop a job description and list of qualifications
for committee members, as well as an application form;
2. The open positions shall be advertised at a minimum in the county's newspaperof record;
3. The chair of the council shall direct council staff to develop administrative
procedures for accepting applications. All applications shall be forwarded to all county
councilmembers. Applications shall also be forwarded to the citizens' elections oversightcommittee for review and the committee may provide feedback to the employment andadministration committee;
4. The employment and administration committee shall review applications, andmay interview applicants. By majority vote, the employment and administration committee
shall appoint members to the citizen oversight committee; and5. Appointments shall be confirmed or rejected by the full council by motion.
C. When the Director of the Bureau of the Census determines by publication in theFederal Register that King County is no longer required to provide minority language
assistance under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act to a language minority community,
the term of the committee member representing that community expires and committee
membership representing that community is no longer required.
D. Members should have, but not limited to:
1. A working knowledge of local or state government elections operations andmanagement, demography, technology and organizational management;
2. A strong commitment to an accountable, transparent, well-managed andefficient elections operation in King County; and3. A willingness to commit the time necessary to attend committee meetings andactivities.
E. Committee members shall not hold elective public office or be a candidate forelection to public office, other than as a precinct committee officer.
F. Except for the ex officio member, members shall serve three-year terms. The
ex officio member serves at the pleasure of the member's office. Any other members that
may be added as required by Ordinance 17273* and under Section 203 of the Voting
Rights Act shall serve three-year terms that begin on the date of appointment to thecommittee and expire December 31, three years after the appointment. (Ord. 18795 § 1,
2018: Ord. 17273 § 1, 2012: Ord. 16203 § 1, 2008: Ord. 15453 § 3, 2006).
*Available in the King County Archives.
2.53.031 Mission - duties. The mission of the committee is to help King County
maintain public confidence in elections. The committee shall make recommendations tothe council to:
A. Improve performance of the department of elections; andB. Help ensure that accountability and performance of the department of elections
is provided in a transparent manner that is meaningful to the residents of King County.

(Ord. 18795 § 2, 2018: Ord. 18167 § 23, 2015: Ord. 15971 § 39, 2007: Ord. 15453 § 4,2006).
2.53.041 Responsibilities.
A. Before undertaking its other responsibilities identified in this chapter, thecommittee shall elect officers and adopt administrative procedures consistent with thischapter.
B. To accomplish its responsibilities as outlined in this chapter, the committee shallcomplete the following tasks:
1. Review recent reports on elections and recent legislation that affects elections
standards, procedures, equipment and technologies;
2. Conduct oversight of the implementation of new standards or procedures forelections as mandated by federal, state or county legislation;
3. Monitor the special primary and general elections and canvassing board
meetings to observe if proper procedures are followed, to report on any problems that are
observed or come to light, to recommend corrective actions on problems that may arise
and to ensure that any problems that arise are discussed in an open and public manner.
The committee shall report to the council in a timely way on any significant problems thatmight occur or on any serious concerns the committee may have;
4. Meet at least quarterly; and5.
Submit a report to the council on its observations, findings andrecommendations regarding the special, primary and general elections by February 1 ofeach year by filing eleven copies of the report with the clerk of the council for distribution
to all councilmembers. (Ord. 18795 § 3, 2018: Ord. 15453 § 5, 2006).
2.53.051 Staffing.
A. The council shall provide for appropriate staffing of the committee.
B. County staff in the department of elections shall provide information requestedby the committee in a timely manner. (Ord. 18795 § 4, 2018: Ord. 18167 § 24, 2015:
Ord. 15971 § 40, 2007: Ord. 15453 § 6, 2006).
2.53.061 Reimbursements - parking. The county shall reimburse committee
members for mileage at the standard county reimbursement rate for travel within the
county to and from committee meetings. The county shall provide parking free of charge
in the county garage to committee members while attending meetings where committee
business is conducted or the county shall pay for parking for committee businessconducted at locations not near the county garage. (Ord. 15453 § 7, 2006).
2.55

SECTION 504/ADA ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Sections:
2.55.010 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973/Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 advisory committee.
2.55.010 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973/Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 advisory committee.
A. There is hereby created a King County Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973/Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 advisory committee, referred to in this section
as the 504/ADA committee.
B. The 504/ADA committee shall be composed of not less than three individuals,
subject to confirmation by the county council, including the chair of the committee. The
executive shall appoint the chair of the committee.

C. The 504/ADA committee shall serve in an advisory capacity to the executive indeveloping strategies, systems, and guidelines in implementing the 504/ADA Compliance
Workplan. The functions of the 504/ADA committee shall include, but not be limited to, thefollowing:
1. Review the 504/ADA Compliance Workplan and make recommendations
towards improving its effectiveness;
2. Review and monitor the progress of the 504/ADA Compliance Workplan; and3. Review and monitor the progress of affirmative action made in the employment
of individuals with disabilities in the county’s workforce.
D. Appropriate staff to the 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973/Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 compliance specialist in the office of equity and racial and social
justice. The Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973/Americans with Disabilities Act of1990 compliance specialist is the designated county employee to coordinate the county’s
effort to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and its implementing regulations.
(Ord. 19770 § 9, 2024: Ord. 19047 § 13, 2019 [did not take effect]: Ord. 12058 § 9, 1995:
Formerly K.C.C. 3.10.080).
2.56
Sections:
2.56.010
2.56.020
2.56.030
2.56.040
2.56.050
2.56.060

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT*

Declaration of policy and purpose.
Definitions.
Office of emergency management organization – establishment.
Powers and duties.
Use of existing resources.
Continuity of government.

*Note: For the statutory provisions regarding Washington Emergency Management
Act, see chapter 38.52 RCW.
2.56.010 Declaration of policy and purpose. Because of the existing andincreasing possibility of emergencies and disasters that exceed local resources, in order toensure that the preparations of King County are adequate to deal with such emergencies
and disasters, to ensure adequate support for search and rescue operations, to manage
recovery from such emergencies and disasters, to generally protect the public peace, health,and safety, and to preserve the lives and property of the people of the county, it is hereby
found and declared to be necessary:
A. To establish a county organization for emergency management by the county
executive;
B. To confer upon the executive the emergency powers necessary for carrying out
emergency management functions;C. To represent the emergency management functions of the county in all dealings
with public or private agencies pertaining to emergency services and disasters;
D. To provide for rendering of mutual aid among the political subdivisions of the state
within King County and to cooperate with state governments with respect to carrying out
emergency management functions;E. To provide programs, with intergovernmental cooperation, to educate and train
the public to be prepared for emergencies and disasters;
F. To ensure that to the maximum extent possible all emergency management
operations of the county are coordinated with the comparable functions of state and federal
governments and with private agencies so that the most effective preparation and use may

be made of the area's workforce, resources, and facilities for dealing with emergencies anddisasters that may occur; andG. To ensure coordination and cooperation consistent with RCW 38.52.070, as
amended, between divisions, services, and staff of the emergency services functional unitsof this county, and to resolve questions of authority and responsibility that may arise among
them. (Ord. 19592 § 2, 2023: Ord. 18618 § 45, 2017: Ord. 12163 § 6, 1996: 12075 § 14,1995).
2.56.020 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
A. "Emergency management" means the planning and preparation for and the carryingout of all emergency functions in accordance with chapter 38.52 RCW to:
1. Prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from emergencies anddisasters;
2. Aid victims suffering from injury or damage caused by all hazards, whether naturalor human-caused; and3. Provide support for search and rescue operations for persons or property in
distress.
B. "Emergency" or "disaster" means an event or set of circumstances such as fire,
flood, explosion, storm, earthquake, epidemic, riot or insurrection, that:
1. Demands immediate action to prevent the loss of, protect, preserve, recoverfrom, or restore:
a. public order;
b. public health;c. human life;
d. public property; ore. the environment;
2. Demands immediate action to restore the usefulness of any public property thathas had its usefulness destroyed;
3. Demands immediate action where a delay will result in financial loss to thecounty;4. Demands immediate action to provide relief to any stricken community overtaken
by such occurrences; or
5. Reaches such a dimension or degree of destructiveness as to warrant theexecutive to proclaim a state of emergency under either K.C.C. 12.52.030 the execution of
emergency management operations plans, or both.
C. "Search and rescue" means the acts of searching for, rescuing, or recovering bymeans of ground, marine or air activity, any person who becomes lost or injured or is killed
while outdoors or as a result of a natural or human-caused disaster, including instances
involving searches for downed aircraft when ground personnel are used.
D. "Vacancy" means that the office of a county official is legally unoccupied due tothe incumbent's death, resignation, incapacity, declaration of incompetency by a court ofcompetent jurisdiction, or other reason as provided for in Section 680 of the King County
Charter. (Ord. 19592 § 3, 2023: Ord. 12163 § 7, 1996: Ord. 7790 § 3, 1986).
2.56.030 Office of emergency management - establishment. There isestablished in accordance with state law the King County office of emergency management,
the operation of which shall be the responsibility of the director of the office of emergency
management. The mission of the office of emergency management shall be to provide
comprehensive emergency management in accordance with chapter 38.52 RCW, including:
A. Preparing for and planning for emergencies and disasters;

B. Leading county emergency preparedness efforts and providing for effective
direction, control, and coordination of county government emergency services functional
units before, during, and after emergencies and disasters;
C. Providing liaison with other governments, the private and nongovernmental sector
on matters relating to emergency management; and
D. Serving as the regional coordinating entity for local governments, county
governmental departments, and other appropriate agencies, before, during, and after
emergencies and disasters. (Ord. 19592 § 4, 2023: Ord. 18664 § 1, 2018: Ord. 17075 §1, 2011: Ord. 12075 § 15, 1995).
2.56.040 Powers and duties.
A. The executive shall have general supervision and control of the emergency
management organization and shall be responsible for implementing this chapter.
B. In performing the executive's duties pursuant to this chapter, and to affect its policy
and purpose, the executive is further authorized and empowered to:
1. Make, amend and rescind the necessary orders, rules and regulations to
implement this chapter within the authority conferred upon the executive in this chapter, in
K.C.C. chapter 12.52, and in other King County Code chapters, consistent with state law
and the plans of the state and federal government;
2. Cooperate with state governments, the federal government, local governments,
other counties the provinces of Canada, and private agencies in all matters pertaining to theemergency management operations of the county;
3. Foster cooperative planning and preparedness at all levels to enable a uniform
and rational approach to the coordination of multiagency and multijurisdictional actions for
all regional emergency preparedness and operations efforts in the prevention, protection,
mitigation, response, and recovery mission areas;
4.a. Develop and sustain a comprehensive emergency management program, andprepare a comprehensive emergency management plan in accordance with state law,
including but not limited to elements addressing preparedness and operations activities in
the prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery mission areas;b. Submit the county's comprehensive emergency management plan to the state
director of emergency management for the director's recommendations thereto andcertification for consistency with the state comprehensive emergency management plan inorder to ensure that local emergency operations are coordinated with the state plan andprogram;
5. In accordance with the comprehensive emergency management program,procure supplies and equipment, institute professional and public training programs andpublic information and educational programs, manage and coordinate disaster drills, andtake all other preparatory steps including the full or partial mobilization of the emergency
management organization in advance of an actual disaster to ensure the furnishing of
emergency management personnel in time of need;
6. Act as the hazardous material incident coordinating agency for King County as
referenced in federal Title III, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
of 1986, as amended;
7.
Coordinate preparation of disaster proclamations and the appropriate
documentation thereof for the purpose of obtaining state and federal relief and assistance;
8.
Manage and coordinate the county’s internal interdepartmental radio
communications during emergencies and disasters that exceed local resources;
9. On behalf of the county, enter into mutual aid arrangements in collaboration withother public and private agencies for reciprocal emergency aid and assistance in the eventof a disaster too great to be managed without assistance;
10. Develop and manage a program for interagency coordination;

11. Develop and manage a program for continuity of operations planning by county
departments and agencies, to include regular plan reviews based on established standards,
provision of training, and assistance with agency exercises. For each plan submitted by anorganization of the executive branch, the executive shall either approve, approve withconditions, or reject the plan, based on compliance with the established standards. The
executive shall develop a process for determining a timeline and pathway for compliance inthe event that a plan is approved with conditions or rejected; and12. Delegate any administrative authority vested in the executive pursuant to thischapter and provide for the subdelegation of any such an administrative authority. (Ord.
19592 § 5, 2023: Ord. 18618 § 46, 2017: Ord. 12163 § 8, 1996: Ord. 12075 § 16, 1995).
2.56.050 Use of existing resources.
A. In implementing this chapter, the county executive is directed to use the services,
equipment, supplies, and facilities of existing departments, offices and agencies of thecounty to the maximum extent practicable.
B. The county executive, in the event of an emergency or disaster, after proclamationby the governor of the state of the existence of such an emergency or disaster, shall havethe power to command the service and equipment of as many persons as considerednecessary in the light of the disaster proclaimed. Persons so commandeered shall beentitled during the period of the service to all privileges, benefits and immunities as areprovided by law for registered emergency workers. (Ord. 19592 § 6, 2023: Ord. 7790 § 6,1986).
2.56.060 Continuity of government. In the event of a disaster, it is essential toensure continued operation of county government, to preserve and protect records essential
to the continued functioning of county government, and to provide for the appointment of
temporary interim successors to the elected and appointed offices of the county.
A. In the event that a vacancy exists or occurs in the office of the executive during
or immediately following the occurrence of an emergency or disaster requiring the executionof the county's comprehensive emergency management plan, the powers and duties of theoffice of the executive, subject to the King County Charter, shall be exercised anddischarged by a temporary interim successor designated pursuant to executive order.
B. Council business during an emergency or disaster will be conducted inaccordance with K.C.C. chapter 1.24.
C.
Elected officers of the county, other than the executive and county
councilmembers, are authorized and directed to designate temporary interim successors to
the office of the officer in the event a vacancy occurs during an emergency or disaster.
D. The executive shall, subject to rules and regulations that the executive may adopt,
permit each appointed officer of the county to designate temporary interim successors in theevent a vacancy occurs during an emergency or disaster.
E. Any county officer succeeding to an office on a temporary interim basis pursuant
to this chapter shall exercise and discharge the duties and powers of that office asprescribed by the charter or by ordinance only until such time as a regularly appointed
successor is designated by the customary means.
1. Successors to fill vacancies in elective offices shall be appointed by the council
pursuant to Section 680 of the King County Charter and the state constitution until apermanent successor is duly elected and qualified.
2. Successors to fill vacancies in appointed offices shall be made by the executive,or other authorized officer, subject to the confirmation process where applicable.
F.1. Each county department and agency shall:

a. develop an organizational continuity of operations plan that it reviews annually,
updates as needed, and exercises on an established schedule, in compliance with theprogram for continuity of operations planning;b. develop an organizational emergency operations plan that it reviews annually,
updates as needed, and exercises on an established schedule, in compliance with theprogram for interagency coordination;c. participate in the county comprehensive emergency management program; andd. identify, designate, and empower one or more emergency liaisons who areresponsible for coordinating agency continuity of operations and agency emergency
program functions, in compliance with the county comprehensive program for emergency
management. (Ord. 19592 § 7, 2023: Ord. 12163 § 9, 1996: Ord. 12075 § 17, 1995).
2.58
Sections:
2.58.010
2.58.020
2.58.030
2.58.040
2.58.050
2.58.060
2.58.070
2.58.080
2.58.100

EMERGENCY RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Findings and declaration of purpose.
Definitions.
Eligible expenditures.
Use of the central allocation and project revisions.
Establishment of regional communications board.
Distribution of levy proceeds.
Limitation on imposition of levy and future support.
Deposit of proceeds.
Radio subscriber services contracts authorized.

2.58.010 Findings and declaration of purpose. The council finds that:
A. Currently, many emergency radio communication systems within King Countylack the capacity to manage normal daily operations and many others are unable toaccommodate any growth in their existing operations. None of the existing systems could
manage the additional radio traffic which would occur in the event of a large or widespreaddisaster. Communication links between jurisdictions are very limited, making coordinationof a response to a major emergency difficult or impossible. Existing communication systems
are also physically vulnerable to earthquakes or other natural catastrophes. Major dispatch
centers currently have no backup facilities and if one of these dispatch centers is destroyed
during a major disaster, emergency-911 response in the affected area would be drasticallycurtailed.
B. The emergency radio communication system (the "System") required by thecounty to meet its needs and the needs of the jurisdictions within King County and which isauthorized to be acquired and installed by this chapter represents recent technologicaladvances which will allow an integrated emergency communications system to be
implemented on a county-wide basis. This new radio communication technology will
increase communication capacity within each jurisdiction and also allow different
governmental agencies throughout King County to communicate directly with each other.
This technology should dramatically improve the ability of government agencies throughout
King County to respond in a coordinated manner to a major disaster and would enhance thesafety of front-line emergency response personnel. The new technology will also provide ahighly reliable communications network, better able to withstand damage resulting from anearthquake, as well as backup dispatch communication capacity to be shared by all
emergency response agencies within King County.
C. The City of Seattle and several other governmental entities, have commenced
acquisition of such systems. These systems include a microwave transmission network, an

800 MHz trunked two-way radio system, and related equipment, materials and services.
The City of Seattle prepared its procurement and contracting documents in such a manneras to allow participation in the acquisition and installation of such systems by all othergovernments in King County that need such systems and that execute agreements with theCity of Seattle that enable procurement from the City of Seattle's vendors on the same terms
and conditions.
D. In addition to serving the needs of public safety and public disaster management
and relief, access to the System may also be made available, as capacity allows, to otherpublic entities and to private entities, provided that such private entities perform emergency
response duties.
E. The System, which has been proposed for acquisition and installation, satisfies
the above-described criteria and meets the needs of the county and the jurisdictions within
King County. The proposed System contemplates an 800 megahertz "trunked" radio
communications system, with compatible mobile and portable radios, microwave
transmission network, base stations, control stations, two network controllers, one of which
will actively control the entire system and the other of which will actively control the entire
system and the other of which will act as a fully redundant backup, and other related
equipment. The System also will have the capacity to interface with non-800 MHz radio
systems of those jurisdictions which are not fully covered by the 800 MHz System.
The components of the proposed System and cost estimates for such components
are described in more detail in Exhibit 1 to Ordinance 10464*. (Ord. 10464 § 1, (part) 1992).
*Available in the King County Archives.
2.58.020 Definitions. As used in this chapter, the words hereinafter defined havethe meaning set forth in this section.
A. Agreement means an interlocal Cooperation Agreement, entered into pursuant to
RCW 39.34.
B. Board means the Regional Communications Board established pursuant to
Section 2.58.050 of this chapter.
C. Central Allocation means a central fund including contingency, which is identified
in Exhibit 1 to Ordinance 10464* and is to be administered by the county in accordance withthis chapter.
D. County means the county of King.
E. Eastside Cities means the Eastside Public Safety Communications Agency, apublic agency created pursuant to RCW 39.34, initially consisting of the cities of Bellevue,
Redmond, Kirkland and Mercer Island.
F. Legislative Authority means the council and executive of King County.
G. Levy means the levy of regular property taxes in excess of the 106% limitation onlevies, for the specific purposes and terms as provided herein and authorized by the qualified
electors of King County pursuant to state law.
H. Levy proceeds means the principal amount of funds raised by the levy, anyinterest earnings thereon and the proceeds of any interim financing authorized following
voter approval of the levy.
I. Port of Seattle means the Port of Seattle, a municipal corporation of the state ofWashington.
J. Project means all authorized costs and activities relating to the development,
acquisition and installation of an emergency radio communication System using levy
proceeds as described in this chapter and as subsequently modified as set forth in thischapter. Pursuant to the terms of this chapter, the term also includes non-800 MHz radio
equipment and the capacity to interface with the non-800 MHz radio systems of jurisdictions
which will not be included fully within the coverage of the 800 MHz System. Pursuant to theterms of this chapter, the term also includes radio communications enhancements for publicagencies with responsibility for public safety and disaster management and relief.
K. Subregion(s) or Subregional System Management Group(s) means the county,
Seattle, the Port of Seattle, Eastside Cities and Valley Communication Center or theirsuccessors or replacements if any of the identified subregions fails to execute an agreementwith the county in accordance with this chapter or perform in accordance with the terms andobligations of such agreements, thereby terminating such agreements.
L. Seattle means the City of Seattle.
M. System means an 800 megahertz "trunked" radio communications system withcompatible mobile and portable radios, base stations, a microwave transmission network,
network controllers and other related equipment.
N. Valley Communications means the Valley Communications Center, a publicagency created pursuant to RCW 39.34, initially consisting of the cities of Kent, Tukwila,
Auburn and Renton. (Ord. 10464 § 2, 1992).
*Available in the King County Archives.
2.58.030 Eligible expenditures. If approved by the qualified electors of KingCounty, all proceeds of the levy authorized herein shall be used to pay the costs of the
project. The primary purpose of the project is to design, acquire and install a fully integrated
emergency radio communications network, together with the radio and control station units
necessary to provide emergency radio communications access among and to police, fire,
emergency medical services, public school districts and public hospitals within King County.
The secondary purpose of the project is to provide, to the extent possible within theconstraints of available funding and limited available frequencies, sufficient capacity within
the System to serve other public agencies.
The third purpose of the project is to provide for general radio communications
enhancements for public agencies with responsibilities for public safety and for disastermanagement and relief, if funds are available after the primary and secondary purposes ofthe project have been either: (a) fulfilled; or (b) fulfilled to the extent technically feasible
within the constraints of the available 800 MHz frequencies.
Eligible expenditures of levy proceeds shall include: all costs associated with thepurchase and installation of radios, other equipment and material, which are part of the
project; project planning, engineering, design and management; project systems integrationand implementation. Eligible expenditures shall also include payment of any debt issuanceand debt service to retire any debt incurred for the project, as well as the funding, refunding,financing or refinancing of debt or the refunding of expenditures already incurred bygovernment agencies within King County to acquire components of the System prior to theavailability of levy proceeds. (Ord. 10464 § 4, 1992).
*Available in the King County Archives.
2.58.040 Use of the Central Allocation and Project Revisions. It is the intentionof the county that the Central Allocation be used to pay the costs identified in Exhibit 1* andsuch other project costs as are determined by the process set forth herein. The Central
Allocation may be allocated or reallocated by county ordinance, but only after the county
has asked for a recommendation from the Board, established as described in Section
2.58.050. Levy proceeds allocated to the subregions may be reallocated by county
ordinance, but only after the county has asked for a recommendation from the Board andonly after a subregion has failed to meet its responsibilities for implementation of the projectas specified in this chapter or in an agreement between the county and that subregion. In

no case shall the primary purpose of the project, as described in Section 2.58.010, be alteredby such reallocation.
If actual project costs are lower than currently estimated, and after the primary andsecondary purposes of the project have been fulfilled, the subregions may reallocate suchexcess levy proceeds to provide public radio communication enhancements, which arecompatible with the purposes of the project. (Ord. 10464 § 6, 1992).
2.58.050 Establishment of Regional Communications Board. Upon approval by
the electors of King County of the ballot proposition set in this chapter, a Regional
Communications Board shall be appointed by the county legislative authority to advise thecounty regarding the distribution of levy proceeds, project revisions and other matters that
affect more than one subregion. Representation on this board shall consist of the following:
one member from the county subregion, one member from each other subregion that
executes an agreement with the county and one member nominated by public emergency
service agencies within King County, which do not have a voting representative on thegoverning body of any subregion, to represent the interests of such agencies and otherpublic agencies which may use the System. Subregions shall nominate their own
representatives. (Ord. 10464 § 7, 1992).
2.58.060 Distribution of Levy Proceeds.
A. Distribution of levy proceeds to subregions shall be in accordance with thesubregional fund allocation identified in Ordinance 10464, section 5* and, except as to thecounty subregion, which is addressed below, pursuant to agreements executed between
the county and the subregions, which agreements shall require said subregions, at aminimum, to:
1. Complete implementation, maintain and operate the portions of the Systemapplicable to each subregion in accordance with the design and minimum operation andmaintenance standards approved by the Board, and the subregional fund allocation
identified in Exhibit 1**. At a minimum, such standards shall require that the System shallbe implemented, operated and maintained in such a manner so that no police, fire or
emergency medical agency using the system shall suffer a degradation of radio services orcoverage as compared to the radio services and coverage which existed prior to theimplementation of the System.
2. Make available to each city and fire district listed as part of their respective
subregions in Exhibit 2**, levy proceeds for the purchase of 800 MHz radios which arecompatible with the System, in the amount of $3700 per radio multiplied times the numberof radios listed in Exhibit 2**, plus as additional three (3) percent of that amount for thepurchase of spare radio units.
3. Provide access to the System for police, fire and emergency medical agencies
listed as part of their respective subregions in Exhibit 2** and for other public users if
sufficient System capacity permits, at rates that do not exceed the costs of maintaining,
operating and collecting replacement reserves for that portion of the System which is utilizedby such other public users. Such rates shall not discriminate between public users whichhave voting representatives on the governing body of the subregion charging rates and allother public users.
4. Make microwave capacity obtained as part of the project available to othersubregions sufficient to integrate the System. Such access shall be made available at rates
that do not exceed a proportionate share of the costs of operating, maintaining and collecting
replacement reserves for such microwave systems;
5. Maintain accounts and records, as may be deemed necessary by the county toensure proper accounting for all levy proceeds and project funds;

6. Provide right of access to the county at all reasonable times to its facilities andrecords for inspection, review or audit;
7. Provide the county and the board implementation schedules and progress
reports;
8. Place sufficient licensed and reserved but not licensed 800 MHz frequencies
held by the subregion or a member jurisdiction into a pool for reallocation to public agencies
as part of the Project to fully implement the primary purpose of the project and, to the extent
that there exist sufficient frequencies for allocation, the secondary purpose of the Project as
described in Section 2.58.030; and9. Provide for the joint ownership by all subregions of System network controllers.
B. Implementation, operation and maintenance of the project and the System within
the county subregion shall be consistent with the provisions described in Section 2.58.010.020, .030, .050-.070.
1. Levy proceeds shall be made available by the county each city and fire district
listed as part of its subregion in Exhibit 2**, with the exception of Fire Districts 10, 27, 38,
45, 49 and 50, for the purchase of 800 MHz radios, which are compatible with the System,in the amount of $3700 per radio, plus an additional three (3) percent of that amount for thepurchase of spare radio units.
2. Because the geography of their territories renders service by the System moredifficult, Levy Proceeds shall be made available by the county to Fire Districts 10, 27, 38,
45, 49 and 50, for the purchase of 800 MHz or non-800 MHz radios in the amount of $3700
per radio multiplied times the number of radios listed in Exhibit 2**, plus an additional three(3) percent of that amount for the purchase of spare radio units, if in their sole discretion,
said Fire Districts elect not to use an 800 MHz System within their jurisdictions if; (a)following implementation of the 800 MHz System, said Fire Districts field test 800 MHz
radios to evaluate their adequacy; and (b) said Fire Districts set aside a sufficient portion of
the levy proceeds they receive from the county and use it to pay for integrating any non-800
MHz system with the regional 800 MHz System. (Ord. 10464 § 8, 1992).
*Available in the King County Archives.
**Attached to Ordinance 10464, available in the King County Archives.
2.58.070 Limitation on Imposition of Levy and Future Support. It is essential tothe implementation of the project that sufficient 800 MHz frequencies be made available tosupport a regional System. The council recognizes that the availability of such frequencies
may not be finally determined prior to the authorization of the levy by the electors of KingCounty. Imposition of the levy or any portion thereof and any county obligation to provide
any financial support to the project shall be dependent upon a determination by the county
legislative authority that sufficient 800 MHz frequencies have been made available to theproject to accomplish the project's purposes. The county shall not be obligated to provide
funding for the Project or project enhancements beyond the proceeds of the levy authorized
in this chapter and imposed by the county legislative authority. (Ord. 10464 § 9, 1992).
2.58.080 Deposit of Proceeds. All funds collected pursuant to the Levy authorizedherein shall be deposited into the King County emergency communications fund, which shallbe a first tier fund and shall be invested for its own benefit as set forth in K.C.C. 4.10. Suchfund is hereby established, subject to approval by the electors of the ballot proposition
contained herein. The King County department of information and administrative services
shall be the fund manager and exercise the powers specified in K.C.C. 4.08*. (Ord. 12075§ 18, 1995).

*Reviser's note: K.C.C. chapter 4.08 was recodified as K.C.C. chapter 4A.200 by
Ordinance 17527.
2.58.100 Radio subscriber services contracts authorized. The emergency radio
communications division is authorized to enter into service contracts with all city, county,
regional, state, special district, tribal and federal agencies, nonprofit corporations, private
customers, and any emergency radio subscribers, for the purpose of providing radio
subscriber services. (Ord. 19632 § 1, 2023).
2.59

PUBLIC, EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENT ACCESS TELEVISIONCHANNELS

Sections:
2.59.010
2.59.050
2.59.100
2.59.1102.59.120
2.59.140

Public access channel.
Educational access channels.
King County Civic Television (CTV) — government access channel —established — mission — principles.
King County Civic Television (CTV) — CTV citizens advisory committee— CTV working group.
King County Civic Television (CTV) — government access channel —operating policies.
King County Civic Television (CTV) — government access channel —station manager of CTV.

2.59.010 Public access channel. The executive shall establish a public accesschannel for the citizens of King County, to be operated by county government or an entity
outside of county government provided that;
A. The public access channel shall not begin operation until a new public accessproduction facility for this channel is available,
B. The public access channel shall not begin operation until rules and criteria
governing the programming on the public access channel are adopted by the King County
executive and the council has been notified of those rules and criteria,
C. No obscene programming shall be allowed on the public access channel. For the
purposes of Ordinance 12022*, obscene shall mean an activity that, taken as a whole lacks
serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value, and
1. Taken as a whole by an average person applying contemporary community
standards, appeals to a prurient interest in sex; or,
2. Taken as a whole by an average person applying contemporary community
standards, depicts patently offensive representation of:a. ultimate sexual acts, normal or perverted, actual or simulated; orb. masturbation, fellatio, cunnilingus, bestiality, excretory functions, or lewd
exhibition of the genitals or genital area; orc. violent or destructive sexual acts, including but not limited to human or animal
mutilation, dismemberment, rape or torture. (Ord. 12022 § 1, 1995).
*Available in the King County Archives.
2.59.050 Educational access channels. The executive shall establish two
educational access channels and shall contract with appropriate educational programproviders for operation of the channels. (Ord. 12022 § 2, 1995)

2.59.100 King County Civic Television (CTV) — government access channel —established mission — principles.
A. A government access channel is hereby established and shall be operated by the
metropolitan King County council with assistance from the CTV citizens advisory committee
and the CTV working group.
B. The council establishes the following mission statement and policy principles bywhich the channel shall be operated:
The King County government access cable television system belongs to the citizensof King County and exists to serve citizens directly. In its development and operation, thegovernment access cable system shall be guided by the following principles:
1. The system shall be used to increase citizen dialogue about the development ofcounty policies;
2. The system shall be used to make government decision making more accessible
to citizens;3. The system shall be used to provide information of direct value to citizens;4. The system shall be used to foster debate of ideas and diversity of viewpoints;
5. The system shall make use of creative solutions and a multiplicity of current andemerging technologies to comply with these principles;
6. The system shall be as independent as possible in its operation and funding toinsulate it from influences that might stifle the public information goals reflected in thismission statement; and7. The system's goal shall be to serve all branches of county government, all county
departments and the people of King County.
C. Consistent with Motion 8972, programming on the government access channel
shall also inform the public about the deliberations of the metropolitan King County council
and the regional policy committees that advise the council as well as programming thathighlights important county services including, but not limited to, public transit, vanpool andrideshare services, commuter trip reduction services, water quality, jury duty, court and legal
services, public safety, public health, property taxes and tax assessments, voter registration,
disability services, licensing, permits, citizen complaints, senior citizen programs, family
programs, animal control, drug and alcohol treatment, mental health services and adult andyouth detention. Programming relevant to county policies and issues produced by entities
outside county government may also be aired.
D. In the exercise of the council chair’s duties regarding how CTV can best serve
the citizens of the county, the chair shall work cooperatively with and give due consideration
to the views of the executive. (Ord. 18618 § 47, 2017: Ord. 14824 § 1, 2003: Ord. 12022 §3, 1995).
2.59.110 King County Civic Television (CTV) — CTV citizens advisorycommittee — CTV working group.
A.1. There is hereby created the CTV citizens advisory committee. The CTV
citizens advisory committee shall advise the council and the executive regarding overall
programming strategy and content and how CTV can best serve the community. The CTV
citizens advisory committee shall consist of the following members:
a. a representative from a local television station or local network affiliate, or aperson with significant experience in or knowledge of the broadcast media;
b. a representative from a local public relations firm or a professional working in
the public relations field for a local corporation;c. a representative:(1) from a company that publishes a significant amount of news or other content
via the Internet;

or(2) with significant experience in dissemination of information via the Internet;(3) with expertise in delivering information via streaming video or otheremerging technologies; andd. a representative from a local newspaper source or a person with significant
experience in or knowledge of newspapers.
2. Members of the CTV citizens advisory committee shall be appointed by the
executive and confirmed by the council, for terms not to exceed four years. Members shallbe compensated at fifty dollars per day for days on which advisory committee meetings
are held.
B. There is hereby created the CTV working group. The CTV working group shalladvise CTV management and the council regarding CTV programming and operations
and how CTV can best serve King County, including all branches of government and all
county departments. The CTV working group shall consist of seven members, as follows:
the council's director of communications, or equivalent position; two other staff members
from CTV staff or from council staff, designated by the chair of the council; the executive's
director of communications, or equivalent position; two other executive branch employees
to be designated by the executive; and one representative from the judicial or law
enforcement entities, including the superior and district courts, the prosecuting attorney's
office and the department of public safety, to be designated by the executive. The CTV
working group should consult regularly with CTV management and representatives ofcounty agencies and departments to help ensure that CTV is effectively serving the county
government and the county's citizens.
C. Final authority over all CTV policy and operational matters, including hiring andother personnel matters, shall be governed by the council in accordance with K.C.C.
2.59.140. (Ord. 18635 § 12, 2017: Ord. 14824 § 2, 2003: Ord. 12022 § 4, 1995).
2.59.120 King County Civic Television (CTV) — government access channel —operating policies. The following is hereby adopted as the operating policies of thegovernment access channel.
A. The name of the King County government access television station is "KingCounty Civic Television" or "CTV."
B. Programming on CTV shall be fair, accurate, balanced and without regard topartisanship or ideology.
C. CTV's primary purpose is to provide information about King County government,
services, policies and programs that enhances public understanding and encourages
citizen involvement in regional government and local issues.
D. CTV shall be operated in a manner to comply with all applicable federal, stateand local regulations.
E. Citizen involvement is important to the success of CTV. Therefore, under the
direction of the CTV citizens advisory committee and the CTV working group, CTV
management and staff shall conduct surveys and ascertainment studies for use in planning
programming and services that accurately reflect the changing needs of the community.
When possible, the surveys and ascertainment studies should be done in cooperation withthe cable franchisee to reduce costs. Results of all surveys and ascertainment studies
shall be transmitted to the executive, the chair of the council, the presiding judges of thesuperior and district courts and the prosecuting attorney and shall also be available for the
public.
F.1. CTV shall cablecast programming provided by government agencies and otherproduction entities, as well as programming produced internally by CTV staff. Only
programming that is consistent with overall CTV policy shall be cablecast or produced incooperation with CTV. The station manager of CTV is responsible for the scheduling of

programs consistent with adopted policies. Programming decisions shall be made in amanner that reflects the importance of all aspects of King County government, including
the executive, the council, the courts and the separately elected county officials.
2. CTV programming shall be scheduled according to the following priorities:
a. announcements or programs concerning emergencies and other timely issues
that affect the public safety and health of the community;b. public proceedings and meetings involving King County elected officials;
c. programs and meetings that help explain county policies and programs;
d. programs that educate and inform the public or assist in improving the qualityof life for King County citizens;e. public meetings or programs of other governments including federal, state,regional and local governments, that affect residents of King County;
f. programs and informational series or one-time special or nonregular
informational programs;
g. programs that highlight the cultural and historic resources of King County;
h. public service announcements; andi. programs produced by other agencies or citizens about public policy issues
that have an effect on the citizens of King County.
3. The following program restrictions apply to CTV:
a. Programs containing obscene or defamatory material shall not be cablecast
on CTV. CTV management and the CTV citizens advisory committee shall recognize that
programs with artistic or social merit may contain content or language consideredobjectionable to some viewers. Community standards of good taste shall be adhered toat all times;
b. Programs containing copyrighted materials shall not be cablecast on CTV
without proper copyright authorization. Producers of programs other than King County
that are cablecast on CTV shall obtain all necessary copyright clearance and shall holdKing County and CTV harmless in any case of copyright infringement;c. Programs that have as their primary purpose to promote commercial or profitmaking services, products, trade or business shall not be cablecast; andd. Video and audio quality of all programs must meet acceptable cablecast
standards. The station manager shall determine which programs meet acceptable
standards.
G.1. Meetings of government boards and events including government officials
shall be cablecast on CTV in their entirety and unedited whenever possible. Because oftime constraints, it may be appropriate to recablecast portions of meetings dealing withparticular subjects of public policy importance. When that type of recablecast is done, theentire portion of a meeting dealing with a particular subject shall be shown without editing.
While the content of the meeting and any presentation given at the meeting should be theprimary focus of the cablecast, standard production values such as wide shots, cutaways
and displays of data may be used by the producer to help provide context for the viewer.
Use of such production values shall not distract from the content of the meeting and shallnot lead to a distorted view of what occurred at the meeting.
2. All programs produced by the CTV staff, contracted by King County agencies
for playback on the channel or submitted by an outside agency or person for playback,shall explain issues and policies in a fair and balanced manner and meet the following
criteria:
a. The programs shall be consistent with CTV programming policies andprocedures;b. The programs shall contain factual and explanatory content that reflects abalanced presentation of points of view;c. Professional production values and techniques may be used to aid in theexplanation and understanding of complex issues, policies and programs but shall not
distract from the factual message;d. The programs shall contain useful, relevant information for the citizens of KingCounty;e. Programming submitted to CTV may be modified or edited as appropriate by
CTV staff to meet scheduling standards, technical standards and policy standards;
f. Programs produced by citizens relating to topics of county government may
be submitted to CTV for preview by programming staff. The decision to schedule and air
programs shall be made by the station manager. CTV management may refuse to air
programs that do not meet program standards in keeping with the intent of CTV's policies
and procedures.
3. Because of the importance of presenting public information in a timely manner,
events that are enhanced through live coverage shall be cablecast live whenever possible.
Other programming or events shall be delayed and cablecast on a tape-delayed basis aslong as they do not lose their newsworthiness. CTV programs shall carry a visualdisclaimer of "live." This information shall be displayed at appropriate times throughout
the program. Should incorrect information be carried over a live event, CTV is not liable
for the inaccuracy of the information.
H. CTV shall not be used for the purpose of assisting a campaign for election of
any person to any office or for the promotion or opposition to any ballot proposition. For
the purpose of providing fair, balanced information on candidates and issues, CTV shallprovide direct, noneditorial information to the citizens of King County about elections,candidates and issues. Election programming may include: coverage of candidate forums
and issues forums that comply with state law and meet the general fairness criteria ofthese policies; a video voter's guide based on county ordinances and state law; andcharacter-generated election returns.
I.1. Videotapes produced by CTV of public meetings do not need to be retained.
Videotape programs produced for CTV may be requested by and distributed to othergovernment access television channels. A fee to cover the actual cost of reproduction
may be charged. With permission of station management, all or portions of videotapes ofmeetings may be made available to broadcast and cablecast stations for use on newscasts
consistent with CTV's copyright policy.
2. Tapes distributed by CTV shall contain any language and symbols required bylaw to preserve the copyright. The copyright shall apply to programs aired over CTV anda statement of copyright shall be cablecast regularly on CTV.
3. Video from CTV shall not be used for commercial purposes.
J.1. Since adequate resources are important for the operation of CTV, staffing
shall be done utilizing permanent staff, contract and temporary employees and current
county employees with backgrounds in video and broadcasting and shall be consistent
with any CTV labor contract.
2. With regard to funding, the budget for CTV shall be submitted, with input fromthe CTV citizens advisory committee and the CTV working group, in a manner consistent
with the normal county budget process.
3. The goal of CTV is to serve the people of King County and all branches anddepartments of King County government. Accordingly, the CTV budget shall beincorporated each year into the county's current expense cost allocation plan.
K. In the exercise of the duties required under this section, the CTV station
manager shall be subject to ongoing policy and managerial oversight by the council,
exercised through the council's director of communications.
L. Logs of programs cablecast on CTV shall be kept and shall be made available
to the public.

M. Complaints regarding CTV programming decisions shall be submitted to thestation manager on a timely basis and shall be acted upon in a timely fashion. Those
persons with questions and concerns may contact the station manager. If a complainantdisagrees with the station manager's decision regarding the complainant's complaint, thecomplainant may appeal in writing to a subcommittee of the CTV citizens advisorycommittee, made up of three members to be designated by the CTV citizens advisorycommittee. The decision of the subcommittee shall be decided by a simple majority andis the final appeal. The subcommittee shall attempt to resolve the written appeal basedon the appeal itself and any interviews the subcommittee deems necessary. The
subcommittee should rule on the appeal within thirty days of the appeal.
O. The CTV citizens advisory committee shall, at least every two years, review thepolicies in this section and shall recommend any changes the CTV citizens advisorycommittee feels are warranted to the council and executive. (Ord. 14824 § 3, 2003: Ord.
12543 § 1, 1996).
2.59.140 King County Civic Television (CTV) — government access channel— station manager of CTV.
A. The position of station manager of CTV is hereby created. The station manager
shall be appointed by the council. A recommendation committee consisting of at least two
members of the CTV citizens advisory committee and two members of the CTV working
group shall review and interview applicants for the position and recommend finalists to thecouncil. The CTV citizens advisory committee and the CTV working group shall eachappoint its two members to the recommendation committee. The recommendationcommittee shall also consult with and obtain recommendations from the executive. The
council shall select the manager from the finalists recommended by the recommendationcommittee or request that additional candidates be submitted by the committee.
B. The station manager may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the
council. The council may appoint an interim manager, for a period not to exceed one year,
pending the appointment of a new station manager whenever the position is vacant. The
council's employment committee may take disciplinary action regarding the station
manager, consistent with council employment practices and policies. The chair of thecouncil shall provide reasonable notification to CTV citizens advisory committee of any
such a disciplinary action. The station manager shall be appointed solely with regard to
the station manager’s qualifications and experience to manage a government accesstelevision channel. The station manager shall hold no other appointive or elective public
office or position during the term of employment as station manager. (Ord. 18618 § 48,
2017: Ord. 14824 § 4, 2003).
2.60
Sections:
2.60.010
2.60.020
2.60.026
2.60.031
2.60.035
2.60.050
2.60.054
2.60.100

PUBLIC DEFENSE

Purpose.
Department - duties - provision of services by contract authorized approval.
Public defender - duties - reports - appointment – confirmation vacancies – qualifications - terms – removal - appeal - compensation.
Public defense advisory board - duties - membership – process - notice- qualifications - meetings - reports.
Conflict of interest avoidance - contracting for services generally.
Availability of services.
Receipt of services at no cost - eligibility.
Reports or notices - requirements.

2.60.010 Purpose. It is declared a public purpose that each citizen is entitled toequal justice under law without regard to the citizen’s ability to pay. It is the intention of KingCounty to make publicly financed legal services available to the indigent and the near
indigent person in all matters when there may be some factual likelihood that the person
may be deprived of the person’s liberty pursuant to the laws of the state of Washington orKing County. It is also the intention of King County to make such services available in an
efficient manner which provides adequate representation at reasonable cost to the county.
(Ord. 18618 § 49, 2017: Ord. 8257 § 1, 1987).
2.60.020 Department - duties - provision of services by contract authorized approval.
A. The department of public defense is responsible for managing and being fiscallyaccountable for the provision of public defense services.
B. The duties of the department of public defense shall include:
1. Providing legal defense services in accordance with Section 350.20.60 of theKing County Charter and this chapter;
2. Providing legal defense services in an efficient manner that ensures effective
representation at reasonable cost to the county;
3. Screening and determining eligibility for legal defense services through thedepartment. In addition, the department shall secure reimbursement from eligible persons,
including the parents of juveniles receiving legal defense service through the department,
when the person can afford to pay some or all of the cost to King County of providing themsuch legal defense services;
4. Establishing and maintaining an assigned counsel panel that includes attorneys
acceptable to the department who wish to participate in the defense of persons eligible forservices through the department;
5. Assigning cases to assigned counsel where conflicts of interest or other special
circumstances exist which require use of assigned counsel;
6. Preparing an annual budget for the department that evaluates and forecasts
service delivery levels and department expenses for service delivery, contractors,
assigned counsel and administration. The evaluations and forecasts shall include ananalysis of the impact, if any, of changes in the procedures or practices of the courts,
prosecutor, police or other elements of the criminal justice system; and7. Fostering and promoting system improvements, efficiencies, access to justiceand equity in the criminal justice system.
C. The department may provide its services to the state of Washington, tribal
governments and municipalities in King County on a full cost recovery basis and isauthorized to negotiate appropriate contractual agreements, subject to council approval
by ordinance when required by law.
D. The department may provide services related to the Raising Our Youth As
Leaders (ROYAL) project and is authorized to enter into appropriate contractual
agreements.
E.1. The department may provide individuals defined as indigent with criminal
records from King County courts where the department of public defense practices publicdefense representation for the purpose of criminal records.
2. When doing intake for an individual for any authorized representation, thedepartment may endeavor to assist eligible individuals with clearing prior criminal records.
3. For the purposes of this subsection E., "clearing criminal records" means
vacating, deleting, modifying or sealing of conviction records from King County courts
where the department of public defense practices, or Washington state criminal history
record information including nonconviction data as defined in RCW 10.97.030. (Ord.

18800 § 1, 2018: Ord. 17678 § 2, 2013: Ord. 17588 § 3, 2013: Ord. 17189 § 4, 2011:
Ord. 14412 § 1, 2002: Ord. 8257 § 2, 1987: Ord. 383 § 2, 1970).
2.60.026 Public defender - duties - reports - appointment - confirmation vacancies - qualifications - terms - removal - appeal - compensation.
A. The department of public defense shall be directed by the county publicdefender, whose duties include:
1. Managing the department of public defense;
2.. Ensuring the department employs the needed technical and public defense
expertise to ensure effective delivery of public defense services;
3. Representing the executive in all city, county, state and federal forums where
the defense perspective is required;
4. Ensuring that the American Bar Association Ten Principles for a Public Defense
Delivery System, as approved by the American Bar Association House of Delegates in
February of 2002, guide the management of the department and development of
department standards for legal defense representation, and filing with the clerk of thecouncil by April 1 of at least every other year a report on the results of the county publicdefender's efforts in that regard;
5. Following the Washington State Standards for Indigent Defense Services;
6. Developing and maintaining appropriate standards and guidelines for thequalifications and experience level of public defense attorneys and paraprofessionals;
7. Working collaboratively with the public defense advisory board and providing
relevant nonprivileged information to the board upon its reasonable request; and8. Fostering and promoting system improvements, efficiencies, access to justiceand equity in the criminal justice system.
B.1. The county public defender shall be appointed by the executive, subject toconfirmation by the council. The executive shall appoint one of the three candidates
recommended by the public defense advisory board, except that the executive may
request three additional candidates from the public defense advisory board, and theexecutive may then appoint the county public defender from among the six candidates,
subject to confirmation by motion by the council. Confirmation requires the affirmative
votes of at least five members of the council.
2. Within seven days after either a vacancy occurs in the office of the county
public defender or the county executive learns that a vacancy is expected to occur within
one hundred eighty days, including but not limited to a vacancy that will result from theexpiration of the term of a county public defender who the executive determines to notreappoint, the executive shall provide written notice of the vacancy or expected vacancy
to each member of the public defense advisory board and to the clerk of the council andshall commence a national recruitment for candidates to fill the vacancy. Within sixty days
after commencing the recruitment, the executive shall provide to each member of the
public defense advisory board the names, resumes and all other relevant information
about all candidates who meet the qualifications for office set forth in the county charterand subsection C. of this section. Within ninety days after receiving the names, resumes
and other relevant information about the qualified candidates from the executive, the publicdefense advisory board shall provide in writing at the same time to the executive and theclerk of the county council the names of three candidates to fill the vacancy, together withcopies of the candidates' resumes and other relevant information, including all written
information upon which the board relied in choosing the three candidates. The board shallnot rank the candidates, but may summarize the particular strengths of each candidate. If
the board is unable to provide the names of three candidates within ninety days, the board
may request in writing additional time from the executive, not to exceed sixty days, toidentify candidates.

3. The executive may request in writing to the board chair, within fifteen days after
receiving the list of three candidates, that the board provide to the executive the names,
resumes and other relevant written information of up to three additional candidates,
depending on the number of qualified candidates remaining, and the board shall comply
with such a request within sixty days and shall at the same time provide a copy of theadditional materials to the clerk of the council.
4. Within thirty days after receiving either the original list of three candidates or
the list of up to three additional candidates, the executive shall appoint the county publicdefender by providing written notice of the appointment to the clerk of the council, whoshall provide an electronic copy of the notice to each councilmember and to the chair of
the public defense advisory board. If the board fails to timely recommend in writing to the
executive the initial three or sufficient additional candidates, as applicable, the executive
may either appoint the county public defender from among the candidates who have been
recommended or wait until the board has recommended the requisite number ofcandidates and make the appointment within thirty days thereafter.
5. The county council may confirm or reject the executive's appointment byadoption of a motion with the affirmative votes of at least five members. A motion to confirm
or reject the appointment shall be referred for committee consideration to the council's
committee of the whole.
6. If the council rejects the executive's appointment of the county public defenderand the executive has not previously elected to request additional candidates from theadvisory board under subsection B.3. of this section, the executive may request the publicdefense advisory board for recommendation of up to three additional candidates inaccordance with subsection B.3. of this section. Such a request must be made in writing
within seven days after the council rejects the executive's appointment, to the chair of theadvisory board, with a copy to the clerk of the council.
7. Within thirty days after receiving the additional name or names, the executive
shall appoint the county public defender from among the recommended candidates,
except that the executive may not reappoint any candidate whose appointment has been
rejected by the council. If the advisory board fails to recommend the additional candidate
or candidates required by subsection B.3. and 6. of this section and provide the required
written information, the executive shall proceed in the same manner as set forth insubsection B.4. of this section.
8. At any time after the commencement of the national recruitment process
required by subsection B.2. of this section, except when the executive has appointed a
county public defender and the council has not confirmed or rejected the appointment, theexecutive may request that the council authorize the commencement of a new national
recruitment and public defense advisory board review and executive appointment process.
Such a request must be submitted in writing to the clerk of the council with a copy to thechair of the advisory board.
When so requested, the council may authorize
commencement of a new recruitment, advisory board review, and appointment processby motion adopted with the affirmative votes of at least five councilmembers.
9. Within seven days after appointment, the county public defender shalldesignate an employee in the department of public defense to serve as a deputy and, inthe event of a vacancy in that office, as interim county public defender until a new county
public defender has been appointed.
C. The county public defender must be an attorney admitted to practice law in any
jurisdiction within the United States and in active status and good standing. The county
public defender shall, within two years after appointment, be an attorney admitted topractice law in the courts of the state of Washington and an active member of the
Washington State Bar Association in good standing and shall, at the time of appointment,
have at least seven years of experience as an attorney primarily practicing criminaldefense, including both felonies and misdemeanors, as well as supervisory andmanagerial experience.
D. The term of office of the county public defender shall end at the same time as
the term of the county prosecuting attorney. The county executive may reappoint thecounty public defender to additional four-year terms, subject to confirmation by the county
council. The county council may confirm or reject the executive's reappointment byadoption of a motion with the affirmative votes of at least five members.
E. The executive may remove the county public defender from office for cause,
which includes, but is not limited to:
1. The grounds for vacancy of elective office under Section 680 of the King County
Charter;
2. Failure to meet the applicable legal requirements for serving as county publicdefender, as set forth in the county charter or the county code;
3. Conviction of a crime;
4. A finding or stipulation of misconduct under the Washington Rules ofProfessional Conduct; and5. Failure to manage the department effectively.
F. To remove the county public defender for cause, the executive shall serve a
written notice of removal, specifying the cause for removal, by delivering a copy of thenotice to the county public defender personally or by leaving a copy of the notice at theoffice of the county public defender with a secretary or other assistant to the county publicdefender. The executive shall contemporaneously deliver a copy of the written notice ofremoval to the clerk of the council and to the chair of the public defense advisory board.
G. The county public defender may appeal removal to the council by delivering awritten notice of appeal to the clerk of the council within ten days after service of the written
notice of removal. The notice of appeal shall be delivered at the same time to the executive
and to the chair of the public defense advisory board. The council shall review de novo
the grounds for removal and either affirm or reverse the removal within thirty days after
delivery of the notice of appeal by an affirmative vote of five members, or else the removal
shall stand. Removal of the county public defender is effective upon the earliest of:
1. Ten days after service of notice of removal, if the county public defender serves
no notice of appeal;
2. Affirmation of removal by the council following an appeal;
3. Thirty days after delivery of the notice of appeal, if the council neither affirms
nor reverses the removal; or
4. The county public defender's delivery of a written notice of resignation to the
executive or the clerk of the council.
H. The county public defender shall receive compensation at the same rate as theprosecuting attorney. (Ord. 19332 § 1, 2021: Ord. 17678 § 3, 2013: Ord. 17588 § 4,2013).
2.60.031 Public defense advisory board - duties - membership - process notice - qualifications - meetings - reports.
A. The public defense advisory board shall: regularly review the activities and plansof the department of public defense, make recommendations to the county public defenderon matters concerning the department, advise the executive and council on matters ofequity and social justice related to public defense, prepare the reports required in thissection and such other reports as the board may deem appropriate; and when there is avacancy in the office of county public defender, as provided in K.C.C. 2.60.026,
recommend to the county executive candidates to fill the vacancy.
B. In performing its duties, the board shall work collaboratively with the county
public defender and may reasonably request relevant, nonprivileged information from thecounty public defender. The board through its chair shall consult with the county
prosecutor, courts and department of public defense in the performance of all of its duties
except instances of conflict of interest, when it is not appropriate to discuss issues with allparties identified above, or for the recommendation of candidates.
C. The board shall consist of eleven members, shall establish its own rules ofprocedure, subject to the county charter, the county code and other applicable law, andshall choose its own chair.
D. The board shall consist of one representative from each of the following:
1. The Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers;
2. The Washington state Office of Public Defense;
3. The Washington Defender Association;
4. The King County Bar Association; and5. Bar associations identified as minority bar associations by the Washington
State Bar Association; and6. The remaining six members of the board shall represent areas or issues that
may affect public defense clients, including mental health, substance abuse, military
veterans, poverty, juvenile justice and immigration issues.
E. Candidates for a position referenced in subsection D.6. of this section may either
be nominated by an organization active in the areas referenced or may apply individuallyfor one of the seats listed if the applicant has significant experience or knowledge in oneof the listed areas.
F. Members of the board shall serve staggered three-year terms and until theirsuccessors are appointed and confirmed. If a member leaves the board midterm, theperson appointed as a replacement shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term, rather
than beginning a new term of three years. The county council may reappoint board
members for additional three-year terms and may remove any board member by motion
adopted with the affirmative votes of at least five councilmembers. Members of the board
shall not be compensated for the performance of their duties as members of the board,but may be reimbursed for parking expenses in the King County parking garage whenattending meetings of the committee, which shall be deemed to be for the businessconvenience of the county and shall be paid for by the department of public defense.
G. The process for filling vacancies on the board is:
1.a. Upon learning of a pending or existing vacancy or one hundred twenty days
before a scheduled vacancy on the board, the board chair and the county public defendershall provide written notice of the vacancy to the clerk of the council and to the executive.
b. Upon learning of a pending or existing vacancy or one hundred twenty days
before a scheduled vacancy, executive shall provide written notice of the vacancy to, allcouncilmembers, the board chair, the county public defender and:(1) to the represented organization for vacancies in the board seats designatedin subsection D.1., 2., 3. and 4. of this section;(2) to each of the bar associations identified as a minority bar association by
the Washington State Bar Association for a vacancy in the board seat designated insubsection D.5. of this section; and(3) to organizations active in the areas referenced in subsection D.6. of thissection for vacancies in boards seats designated in subsection D.6. of this section.
c. The notice shall specify the deadlines established in subsection G.2. of this section;
2. Within sixty days after the executive provides the notice required in subsection
G.1.b. of this section, an organization listed in subsection D1.,2.,3. and 4. of this section
shall submit in writing to the county executive the names of three candidates
recommended for appointment to fill a vacancy in the board seat for which notice was
required to be given to the organization. For the board seats designated in subsection D.5
and D.6. of this section, the organizations with the required subject matter focus may

submit the names of up to three candidates. All nominations shall include the board
application, with the resume of each candidate and all other written materials that theorganization considered in deciding to recommend the candidate. The organization shallnot rate the candidates, but may provide a brief description of the strengths of eachcandidate. An individual candidate shall also submit to the county executive a board
application, resume and other relevant materials, including a written statement or otherdocuments that establish the candidate's expertise in one of the areas listed;
3. Within thirty days after receiving the written materials concerning therecommended candidates for a board seat designated in subsection D.1., 2., 3. or 4. ofthis section, or within sixty to ninety days after the executive provides the notice requiredin subsection G.2. [of this section] for a board seat designated in subsection D.5. or 6. ofthis section, the county executive shall appoint one of the recommended candidates by
providing written notice of the appointment to the clerk of the council, who shall provide anelectronic copy of the notice to each councilmember. If the applicable organizationreferenced in subsection D.1.,2.,3. and 4. of this section fails to timely recommend threecandidates, the executive may either make an appointment from among the recommended
candidates or candidate or wait until the organization has recommended three candidates
and make an appointment within thirty days after receiving the board’s recommendationof the third candidate;
4. The county council may confirm or reject the executive's appointment by motion
adopted by the affirmative votes of at least five members. A motion to confirm theappointment shall be referred for committee consideration to the council's law and justicecommittee, or its successor; and5. If the council rejects the executive's appointment of a board member nominatedby an organization referenced in subsection D1.,2.,3. and 4. of this section, the clerk of
the council shall provide written notice of the rejection to the executive and the representedorganization or organizations. Within thirty days after receiving the written notice, therepresented organization shall provide to the executive in writing, and contemporaneously
to the clerk of the council, the name, board application, resume and all other relevant
written information for one additional candidate. Within thirty days after receiving theadditional candidate recommendation and the relevant written materials, the executive
shall appoint the board member from among the recommended candidates, excluding any
candidate whom the council has rejected. If a represented organization fails to timely
provide the additional candidate recommendation and relevant written materials, theexecutive shall proceed in the same manner as if the entity had recommended fewer than
the required number of candidates, as provided in subsection G.3. of this section.
H. Each member of the advisory board shall have substantial experience andexpertise that are relevant to the work of the department of public defense and shall havean ability and willingness to commit the time necessary to attend meetings and participate
effectively as a member of the board. A majority of the members should have substantial
familiarity with advocating on behalf of the indigent. To the extent practicable, the board
membership shall reflect the diversity of the county. A member may not, while serving on
the board, hold elective public office except precinct committee officer, be a candidate forelective public office except precinct committee officer, serve as a King County judicial
officer, a King County prosecuting attorney or a King County public defender or be an
employee of a King County court, the King County prosecuting attorney or the King County
department of public defense.
I. The board shall meet at least once every two months and shall issue at least two
written reports to the executive and the council, including: one on the board's review ofthe executive’s proposed budget for public defense; and one on the state of county publicdefense. Each report shall be issued at least every other year. The report on the state ofcounty public defense shall include an assessment of the progress of the county inpromoting equity and social justice related to the criminal justice system and may include
recommendations for advancing equity and social justice.
J. The council shall provide funding, subject to appropriation, for executive staffingof the advisory board. (Ord. 19333 § 1, 2021: Ord. 17678 § 4, 2013).
2.60.035 Conflict of interest avoidance - contracting for services generally.
A. The department shall manage cases and assign counsel in a manner that avoids
conflicts of interest. The department shall adopt a policy to determine when a conflictexists and to avoid conflicting representation. If the department is unable to provide
representation when a conflict exists, the department may contract for services of outside
counsel or assign counsel from the assigned counsel panel.
B. The director may also contract for services of outside counsel if the director finds
it appropriate to seek outside defense services and funding is available, taking into accountthe projected annual fiscal needs of the department.
C. If the department contracts for services of outside counsel, any entity that is able
to provide the service may apply, including, but not limited to, private law firms, nonprofit
entities, or a public corporation formed by the county whose chartered duties include theprovision of public defense and related services. (Ord. 17588 § 7, 2013).
2.60.050 Availability of services.
A. Legal defense services through the department shall be made available to all
eligible persons for whom counsel is constitutionally required. In addition, legal defense
services through department shall be made available when funds are available: to any
eligible person in legal proceedings arising in King County that may result in the person's
loss of liberty by an act of King County or any of its agencies, including, but not limited to,criminal proceedings alleging a violation of any law of the state of Washington or ordinanceof King County, juvenile matters, mental illness and similar commitment proceedings,
revocations and habeas corpus proceedings when they arise in King County; to eligible
parents and children in dependency proceedings arising in King County; and to tenants
whose rental agreements have been terminated or tenants who are subject to unlawful
detainer actions by a landlord whom the tenant alleges terminated a tenancy or initiated an
unlawful detainer action in violation of any King County ordinance.
B. Legal defense services through the department may be made available to aperson charged in King County with a felony of public notoriety, at the person’s expense,
when the court finds that the defendant is unable to employ adequate private counsel as aresult of the public notoriety. The county public defender shall establish a reasonable fee
for the legal defense services, subject to the approval of the court. (Ord. 19311 § 17, 2021:
Ord. 18618 § 50, 2017: Ord. 17678 § 5, 2013: Ord. 17588 § 4, 2013: Ord. 8257 § 4, 1987:
Ord. 383 § 5, 1970).
2.60.054 Receipt of services at no cost - eligibility. To be eligible to receive legal
defense services at no cost through the public defense program, the person must be
financially unable to obtain adequate representation without substantial hardship to theperson and the person's family and there must be some factual likelihood that the person
will be deprived of the person’s liberty. If a person has some resources available that canbe used to secure representation but not sufficient resources to pay the entire costs ofprivate legal services without substantial hardship to the person and the person's family, thedepartment of public defense shall determine how much the person shall pay for the legal
defense services provided through the department of public defense. (Ord. 18618 § 51,
2017: Ord. 17683 § 2, 2013: Ord. 17588 § 11, 2013: Ord. 13328 § 2, 1998: Ord. 10167 §1, 1991).

2.60.100 Reports or notices - requirements.
Except as otherwise provided under this chapter, reports or notices that are
required under this chapter to be provided to the county council or the clerk of the council
shall be filed in paper and electronic form with the clerk of the council, who shall forward
electronic copies to all councilmembers, to the chair of the public defense advisory board,
to the lead staff of the budget and fiscal management committee or its successor and to
the lead staff of the law, justice, health and human services committee or its successor.
(Ord. 17678 § 6, 2013).
2.62
Sections:
2.62.010
2.62.020

INTERROGATION OF JUVENILES IN CUSTODY

Definitions.
Custodial interrogation and waiver of Miranda rights – legal consultation
required – release for law enforcement interrogation prohibited unlessrequired by court order.

2.62.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
A. "Custodial interrogation" means any form of questioning by law enforcement ofa juvenile in the custody of the department of adult and juvenile detention.
B. "Juvenile" means a person under eighteen years old.
C. "Law enforcement" means a representative of a local, state or federal law
enforcement agency. Department of adult and juvenile detention staff are not "lawenforcement" for the purposes of this chapter. (Ord. 18503 § 2, 2017).
2.62.020 Custodial interrogation and waiver of Miranda rights – legal
consultation required – release for law enforcement interrogation prohibited unlessrequired by court order.
A. The department of adult and juvenile detention is prohibited from allowing
custodial interrogation and the waiver of any Miranda rights until after a juvenile consultswith an attorney. Before a custodial interrogation, and before the waiver of any Miranda
rights, a juvenile must consult with legal counsel in person, by telephone or by videoconference. The consultation may not be waived.
B. Unless required by court order, the department of adult and juvenile detention
must not release a juvenile in its custody to law enforcement for the purpose ofinterrogation. (Ord. 18503 § 3, 2017).
2.63
2.63.010
2.63.020
2.63.030

QUESTIONING AND SEARCH OF YOUTH

Findings – honoring MiChance Dunlap-Gittens.
Definitions.
Consultation with legal counsel – mandatory – assertion of constitutionalrights – exceptions – written record of exceptions – transmittals ofwritten records for exceptions.

2.63.010 Findings - honoring MiChance Dunlap-Gittens. The county finds thischapter necessary in order to ensure that, as provided in this chapter, youth shall neither
be subject to questioning by law enforcement personnel nor be asked by law enforcement
personnel to consent to or authorize the search of the youth or any property, abodes orvehicles, under the control of the youth until after legal representation has been provided
for the youth. This chapter is intended to honor the life of MiChance Dunlap-Gittens, whodreamed of one day going to law school and championing the rights of young people.
(Ord. 19148 § 2, 2020).
2.63.020 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
A. "Imminent threat" means an objectively reasonable need to protect persons
from an immediate danger consistent with the public safety exception to the Miranda rule
first announced in the United States Supreme Court case New York v. Quarles, 467 U.S.
656, 81 L. Ed. 2d 550, 104 S. Ct. 2626 (1984).
B. "Law enforcement personnel" means any King County sheriff's employee orvolunteer having as a primary function the enforcement of criminal laws in general,
including, but not limited to, commissioned sheriff deputies, and includes such employees
performing law enforcement services on behalf of a city pursuant to an interlocal
agreement. For the purposes of this subsection, "primary function" means that function towhich the greater allocation of resources is made.
C. "Miranda warnings" means verbal warnings given by law enforcement advising
the individual that the individual has the right to remain silent, the right to consult with anattorney and have the attorney present during questioning and the right to have legal
counsel if the individual cannot afford legal counsel.
D. "Youth" means any person under the age of eighteen. (Ord. 19148 § 3, 2020).
2.63.030 Consultation with legal counsel – mandatory – assertion of
constitutional rights – exceptions – written record of exceptions – transmittals ofwritten records for exceptions.
A. Except as otherwise provided in subsection D. of this section, after law
enforcement personnel administers Miranda warnings to a youth and before any further
questioning of the youth may occur, the youth must consult with legal counsel in person,by telephone or by video conference. The consultation may not be waived.
B. Before law enforcement personnel requesting any required consent orauthorization from a youth to search the youth or any property, abodes or vehicles under
the control of the youth, the youth shall consult with legal counsel in person, by telephoneor by video conference. The consultation may not be waived and is required regardlessof the youth's custody status.
C. After the youth has consulted with legal counsel, the youth may choose to either
advise, have a parent or guardian advise or direct the legal counsel to advise the law
enforcement personnel whether the youth chooses to assert a constitutional right. Except
in the circumstances when the youth chooses to advise or have a parent or guardianadvise the law enforcement personnel, any statement by legal counsel regarding theassertion of the youth's constitutional rights shall be treated by law enforcement personnel
the same as if it came from the youth.
D. Under the following limited circumstances, the prohibition in subsection A. of
this section shall not apply to questioning after Miranda warnings are administered, if eachof following criteria are met:
1. Law enforcement personnel reasonably believes the information sought isnecessary to protect life from an imminent threat;
2. Reasonable delay to allow legal counsel consultation by phone would hamper
the protection of life from an imminent threat; and3. The questioning is limited to those matters that are reasonably necessary toobtain information necessary to protect life from an imminent threat.
E. Law enforcement personnel shall prepare a written record for each instancewhen subsection D. of this section is invoked. The record shall document the following:
1. The time the youth was advised of the Miranda warnings;

2. The time the youth was questioned without legal consultation;
3. The reasons that justified questioning the youth without prior legal counsel
consultation;
4. The questions posed to the youth;
5. Information related to the youth, including name, age and race;
6. Information related to the law enforcement personnel questioning the youth,
including the name and badge number of each of the law enforcement personnel.
F. Twice each year, the sheriff's office shall transmit copies of the records requiredby subsection E. of this section to the prosecuting attorney and the director of the KingCounty department of public defense. The sheriff and these agencies will collaborate on
the protocols that the sheriff shall follow to transmit copies of the records. Each quarter,
the sheriff's office shall transmit copies of the records required by subsection E. of thissection electronically to the clerk of the council. The clerk shall provide the electronic copy
to all councilmembers, the council chief of staff and the lead staff for the law and justicecommittee or its successor. The sheriff's office shall redact the name of the youth andreplace it with initials in the records transmitted under this section. (Ord. 19148 § 4, 2020).
2.65
2.65.010
2.65.020
2.65.030

CONFINEMENT OF JUVENILES*

Definitions
Solitary confinement – banned – exceptions – policies and procedures.
Solitary confinement – policy – intent.

2.65.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
A. "Juvenile" means a person who is currently confined in a King County detention
facility for a charge that was filed in juvenile court or based on conduct that occurred before
the person's eighteenth birthday where their confinement begins before the person's
eighteenth birthday.
B. "Solitary confinement" means the placement of an incarcerated person in alocked room or cell alone with minimal or no contact with persons other than guards,
correctional facility staff, and attorneys. Using different terminology for this practice, suchas room confinement, segregated housing, protective custody, restrictive housing,
restricted housing, restricted engagement, close confinement, special management unit,
administrative detention, nonpunitive isolation, temporary isolation or reflection cottage,
among others, does not exempt a practice from being "solitary confinement." The use of
single person sleeping rooms, during ordinary sleeping or rest periods, does not constitute"solitary confinement." The short-term placement of youth in individual cells for purposesof facility or living unit security issues or for other short-term facility physical plant safety
and maintenance issues does not constitute "solitary confinement." (Ord. 18637 § 2,2017).
2.65.020 Solitary confinement – banned – exceptions – policies andprocedures. The solitary confinement of juveniles is banned in all King County detention
facilities, except when based on the juvenile's behavior, solitary confinement is necessary
to prevent imminent and significant physical harm to the juvenile detained or to others andless restrictive alternatives were unsuccessful. Solitary confinement may not be used fordisciplinary or punishment purposes. The department of adult and juvenile detention must
develop policies and procedures for solitary confinement with the goal of limiting its use
and duration. In determining the policies and procedures, the department of adult andjuvenile detention shall ensure consistency with nationally accepted best practices, which
are those established by the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, and should include:A. Preventative measures to protect the safety and security of incarcerated
juveniles and their peers, the staff of the department of adult and juvenile detention, otherpersons who work in the facilities and visitors;
B. A requirement that solitary confinement be ended as soon as the juvenile
demonstrates physical and emotional control, and a limit on the duration of any solitaryconfinement to no more than four hours in any twenty-four-hour period;
C. A requirement that any use of solitary confinement be subject to review by
supervisors;
D. A requirement that medical professionals assess or evaluate any youth housed
in solitary confinement as soon as possible after the youth's being placed in solitaryconfinement, and that qualified mental health professionals evaluate and develop a careplan, that may include hospitalization, for youth who are placed in solitary confinement toprevent self-harm; andE. Procedures to ensure youth's continued access to education, programming andordinary necessities, such as medication, meals and reading material, when in solitaryconfinement. (Ord. 18637 § 3, 2017).
2.65.030 Solitary confinement – policy – intent. It is the policy of King County
that the solitary confinement of juveniles shall occur only rarely and in limited
circumstances as authorized in Ordinance 18637. The policies and practices required by
Ordinance 18637 are intended to prevent the use of solitary confinement, and in the limited
instances of its use, ameliorate and mitigate the harms that result from solitaryconfinement of juveniles. (Ord. 18637 § 4, 2017).
2.67
2.67.010
2.67.020
2.67.030
2.67.030

FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY USEDefinitions.
Prohibitions for administrative offices or executive departments
exceptions.
Deletion of unlawfully obtained information - relief - retraining,suspension or training for violations - rights under state or federal law
not limited.
Council review of intended use by administrative office or executive
department of facial recognition technology in compliance with chapter
43.386 RCW.

2.67.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
A. "County personnel" means any person or entity acting on behalf of a King County
administrative office or executive department, including any officer, employee, agent,contractor, subcontractor, vendor or volunteer.
B. "Facial recognition" means an automated or semiautomated process that assists
in identifying, or verifying the identity of, an individual based on the physical characteristics
of an individual's face.
C. "Facial recognition information" means any data or information obtained orderived from facial recognition technology.
D.1. "Facial recognition technology" means any computer software or applicationthat performs facial recognition.
2. "Facial recognition technology" does not include:a. the analysis of facial features to grant or deny access to an electronic device;orb. the use of an automated or semiautomated process for the purpose of
redacting a recording for release or disclosure by county administrative offices or executive
departments, to protect the privacy of a subject depicted in the recording, if the process
does not generate or result in the retention of any facial recognition information (Ord.
19296 § 2, 2021).
2.67.020 Prohibitions for administrative offices or executive departments –exceptions.
A.1. It shall be unlawful for any King County administrative office or executive
department to:a. obtain, retain, possess, access or use:
(1) any facial recognition technology; or(2) any facial recognition information; andb. issue any permit or enter into any contract or agreement that authorizes any
third party, on behalf of a county administrative office or executive department public
safety, to obtain, retain, posses, access or use:
(1) any facial recognition technology; or(2) facial recognition information.
2. Nothing in this subsection A. prohibits a county administrative office or
executive department from:a. using evidence relating to the investigation of a specific crime that might havebeen generated from a facial recognition technology, so long as the evidence was not
generated by or at the request of the county administrative office or executive department;b.
using social media or communications software or applications forcommunicating with the public, but only if use does not include the affirmative use of any
facial recognition technology or facial recognition information;c. using automated redaction software, but only if software does not have thefacial recognition capabilities; ord. complying with the National Child Search Assistance Act.
B. County personnel's inadvertent or unintentional receipt, retention of, access ofor use of any facial recognition information is not a violation of this chapter, but only if:
1. The county personnel did not intentionally request, retain or solicit the receipt,
access or use of the information;
2. The county personnel logs the receipt, retention of, access or use with thecounty personnel's direct supervisor, not including any personally identifiable informationor other information the release of which is prohibited by law, no longer than seven days
after the receipt, retention of access or use; and3. The county personnel immediately deletes any facial recognition information
unintentionally received, retained, accessed or used, subject to applicable law (Ord. 19296§ 3, 2021).
2.67.030 Deletion of unlawfully obtained information - relief - retraining,suspension or training for violations - rights under state or federal law not limited.
A. Any facial recognition information collected or derived in violation of this chapter
shall be considered unlawfully obtained and shall be deleted upon discovery, subject toapplicable law.
B. Any violation of this chapter constitutes an injury and any person may instituteproceedings for injunctive relief, declaratory relief or writ of mandate in court to enforce
this chapter. The court shall award costs and reasonable attorneys' fees to a plaintiff who
is the prevailing party in the proceedings.

C. Violations of this chapter by any county personnel may result in retraining,suspension or termination of the county personnel, subject to due process requirements
and collective bargaining agreements.
D. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit any individual's rights understate or federal law (Ord. 19296 § 4, 2021).
2.67.040 Council review of intended use by administrative office or executive
department of facial recognition technology in compliance with chapter 43.386
RCW.
A. Any facial recognition information collected or derived in violation of this chapter
shall be considered unlawfully obtained and shall be deleted upon discovery, subject toapplicable law.
B. Any violation of this chapter constitutes an injury and any person may instituteproceedings for injunctive relief, declaratory relief or writ of mandate in court to enforce
this chapter. The court shall award costs and reasonable attorneys' fees to a plaintiff who
is the prevailing party in the proceedings.
C. Violations of this chapter by any county personnel may result in retraining,suspension or termination of the county personnel, subject to due process requirements
and collective bargaining agreements.
D. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit any individual's rights understate or federal law. (Ord. 19296 § 5, 2021).
2.68 DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT PLAN
(Formerly JUSTICE COURT DISTRICT PLAN)
Sections:
2.68.005
2.68.010
2.68.020
2.68.070
2.68.075
2.68.078
2.68.105

Purpose and intent.
Authority of the presiding judge.
Division of probation.
King County district court - organization.
Electoral districts - established - provisions.
Number of judges elected in each electoral district.
Therapeutic court programs incentive awards.

2.68.005 Purpose and intent.
A. The King County council finds that a unified, countywide district court, utilizing
existing court facilities as satellites, while at the same time supporting the concept of local
filing and handling of cases, would provide for a more equitable and cost-effective system
of justice for the citizens of King County. It is the intent of council to establish such a unified
district court system.
B. The council has received the districting committee report dated September 28,
1988, which unanimously recommended to the council the concept of a unified single district
court. The council finds that the interest and welfare of the public would be best served bya unified single district court. This would provide the best institutional setting for district
courts. While recognizing and respecting the constitutional separation of power, the council
would encourage the court to continue moving forward, under the administrative authorityof a strong presiding judge, to achieve and enhance equity in policies, uniform court rules,
forms and administrative procedures, standard personnel classification and procedures,
flexibility for judicial assignments in order to balance the workload of the various satellite
facilities, and achieve overall cost savings where found appropriate through centralizationand consolidation of facilities, personnel and case assignments.

C. While the council recognizes the importance of meeting the needs of all citizens
it serves in the region, it also recognizes the need to operate in a cost-effective manner inorder to address continuing current expense deficits. The council supports the provision of
district court services throughout the county, but also expects that county agencies,
including the district court, provides services in the most cost-effective way. As aconsequence, the council is amending the county district court plan for 2003 to reduce thenumber of court divisions and provide for greater flexibility in the court’s allocation of
resources and facilities.
D. As a result of the 2004-05 planning effort, the councils further reaffirms that it iscounty policy that to retain for the long term the aspiration to be the court of choice for courtof limited jurisdiction in the county, focusing its energy and resources on improving
operations and services balancing the needs of citizens, the court, the county and the cities.
The council finds that the district court should develop and apply quality service standards
and measures for its operations. The council also finds that the county shall:
1. Continue to support problem-solving courts, improving access to problem-solving
courts and incorporating problem-solving courts in the district court's planning process;2. Continue and make explicit the strategy of improving efficiency throughunification of governance, administration and planning, centralizing workload whereappropriate;
3. Continue to develop and implement technological improvements to support the
district court operations in order to increase access to court services and information;
4. Continue to support the district court's function to serve cities through contracts
and support flexibility in providing services and facilities for district court customers;
5. Continue to support a unified, countywide district court, using existing facilities,
to provide for a more equitable and cost-effective system of justice for the citizens of KingCounty:a. ensuring court facilities promote system efficiencies, quality services andaccess to justice;b. consolidating district court facilities that exist in the same city;c. reconsidering facilities if there are changes with contracting cities or changes inleases; and6. Work together with stakeholders to gain cooperation and assistance to meet theneeds of the judicial system at the state and local levels. (Ord. 15195 § 2, 2005: Ord. 14374§ 4, 2002: Ord. 8935 § 3, 1989. Formerly K.C.C. 2.68.060).
2.68.010 Authority of the presiding judge. The King County district courts shallbe administered by a presiding judge elected according to GR 29. The powers and dutiesof the presiding judge shall be those in GR 29 and shall specifically include the power totemporarily reassign judges from one electoral district to another to ensure the expeditious
and efficient handling of all cases and equal distribution of the workload among the several
judges. (Ord. 15529 § 1, 2006: Ord. 14374 § 1, 2002: Ord. 9282 § 1, 1990).
2.68.020 Division of probation. There is established a division of probation
responsible for providing probation services to the King County district courts. The divisionof probation shall be administered by the district court presiding judge, supervised by adivision director and funded in the same manner as the district courts. Existing employeesof the corrections division of the department of rehabilitative services who are transferred tothe division of probation and who were county career service employees on the effective
date of the transfer shall be provided with employment rights at least equivalent to thosewhich they were accorded under the career service system, as established by Article 5 of
the King County Charter. Employees of the division of probation who are hired after theeffective date of the transfer shall be exempt from the career service, as defined by Section

550 of the King County Charter. (Ord. 14374 § 2, 2002: Ord. 9282 § 2, 1990: Ord. 4549 §3, 1979).
2.68.070 King County district court - organization.
A. There is created a single district court, whose boundaries are all the area within
the boundaries of King County, including the centerline of Puget Sound and all of the current
city of Auburn and all of the current city of Pacific including the Pierce County portions ofeach city, as a joint district court district established under RCW 3.38.060 and named the
district court of the state of Washington in and for the district of King County.
B. The number of judges of the King County district court is twenty-five full-time
judges.
C. The location of the central office of the King County district court is the KingCounty Courthouse, Seattle, Washington.
D. The court facilities within the unified district are located as follows:
1. Southeast division:a. City of Kent (colocated with the Southwest division);b. City of Auburn; andc. City of Pacific;
2. Southwest division:a. City of Burien;b. City of Kent (colocated with the Southeast division); andc. An additional facility in the vicinity of Vashon business district;
3. Northeast division:a. City of Bellevue;b. City of Issaquah; andc. City of Redmond;
4. Shoreline division: City of Shoreline; and5. West Division: City of Seattle.
E. The administrative records of the King County district court shall be maintained at
the central office or in a location designated by the presiding judge. Court records shall belocated at the respective court facilities or in a location designated by the presiding judge.
F. The number and location of district court commissioners shall be as authorized,
together with such additional court commissioners as the district court may require. (Ord.
19420 § 1, 2022: Ord. 18498 § 1, 2017: Ord. 16801 § 1, 2010: Ord. 16644 § 1, 2009: Ord.
15529 § 2, 2006: Ord. 14584 § 1, 2003: Ord. 14374 § 10, 2002: Ord. 14374 § 6, 2002:
Ord. 10352 § 1, 1992: Ord. 9862 § 1, 1991: Ord. 9386, 1990: Ord. 8935 § 4, 1989).
2.68.075 Electoral districts - established - provisions.
A. District court judges shall be elected to the King County district court from electoral
districts established by the county council under K.C.C. chapter 1.12 by ordinance. The
precise number of judges elected from each electoral district shall be determined by thecounty council on or before May 1, 1990, and on or before May 1 of each fourth year
thereafter.
B. All candidates for King County district court must file for and be elected in one ofthe district court electoral districts created by this chapter. Any candidate for King County
district court must be a registered voter and legal resident of the district court electoral district
within which the candidate files. (Ord. 18497 § 4, 2017: Ord. 16803 § 2, 2010: Ord. 11041§ 2, 1993: Ord. 9427 § 1, 1990: Ord. 8935 § 5, 1989).
2.68.078 Number of judges elected in each electoral district. The number ofjudges to be elected in each of the electoral districts within the single King County district
court shall be as follows:

A. Southeast
6;
B. Southwest
5;
C. Northeast
7;
D. Shoreline
2; andE. West5.
(Ord. 16801 § 2, 2010: Ord. 16644 § 2, 2009: Ord. 15529 § 4, 2006: Ord. 14374 § 11, 2002:
Ord. 14374 § 7, 2002: Ord. 10292, 1992: Ord. 9922 § 2, 1991: Ord. 9862 § 2, 1991: Ord.
9427 § 7, 1990).
2.68.105 Therapeutic court programs incentive awards. The district court ishereby authorized to use county funds to pay for incentive rewards for participants in its
therapeutic court programs. The purpose of the incentive rewards shall be to recognize
the achievement of programmatic successes and to encourage further participation andsuccessful outcomes. The financial value of individual incentive rewards may varydepending on the program and the circumstances that warrant the incentive. However,no single incentive reward shall exceed twenty-five dollars, unless approved in advance inwriting by the district court chief administrative officer. (Ord. 18752 § 1, 2018)
2.69
Sections:
2.69.010
2.69.020
2.69.030
2.69.040
2.69.050
2.69.060
2.69.100

SUPERIOR COURT OF KING COUNTY

Location of court sessions - general approval.
Eastside location.
Mutual agreement for other locations.
Criminal court commissioners - protection order commissioners.
Incentive awards - juvenile court therapeutic programs.
Incentive awards - adult drug diversion court and related therapeutic
programs.
Annual gathering and reception for superior court volunteers.

2.69.010 Location of court sessions - general approval. Pursuant to the authority
granted by general law and subject to the approval of the Supreme Court of the State ofWashington, the holding of regular and special sessions of the superior court of King County
at such places within the county other than the county seat as may be mutually agreed uponby the council and the judges of the superior court is approved. (Ord. 8698 § 1, 1988).
2.69.020 Eastside location. The action by the superior court to establish aneastside facility collocated with the Bellevue district court, is considered mutually agreed
upon and the assignment of superior court judges and commissioners to hold sessions at
said facility is approved. (Ord. 8698 § 2, 1988).
2.69.030 Mutual agreement for other locations.
A. Mutual agreement on the specific location for holding court sessions other than at
the county seat and the approved eastside facility in Bellevue shall be arrived at by amemorandum proposal for the location by the presiding judge of the superior court
addressed to the chair of the county council, and an endorsement of the proposal by amotion of the council. Such action shall constitute approval of the specific location.
B. The actual operation of the court in holding sessions at an approved location otherthan the county seat shall be subject to the availability of funds within the superior court
budget. (Ord. 8698 § 3, 1988).
2.69.040 Criminal court commissioners - protection order commissioners.

A. The county legislative authority approves the creation of criminal court
commissioner positions, which functions shall be performed by existing authorized family
law and mental health commissioners to assist the superior court in disposing of adultcriminal matters, as authorized by RCW 2.24.010. Superior court is hereby authorized tohire criminal commissioners solely for the purposes of the backlog reduction project and theState v. Blake, 197 Wn.2d 170 (2021), decision workload; those commissioners may be
hired in addition to existing employed family law and mental health commissioner
employees.
B. The county legislative authority approves the creation of protection ordercommissioner positions, which functions shall be performed by existing authorized family
law, mental health and criminal commissioners to assist the superior court in adjudicating
protection order matters, as authorized by RCW 7.105.580. (Ord. 19466 § 2, 2022: Ord.
19383 § 2, 2021: Ord. 16819 § 2, 2010).
2.69.050 Incentive awards - juvenile court therapeutic programs. The superior
court is hereby authorized to use county funds to pay for incentive rewards for participantsin juvenile court therapeutic programs. The purpose of the incentive rewards shall be torecognize the achievement of programmatic successes and to encourage further
participation and successful outcomes. The financial value of individual incentive rewards
may vary depending on the program and the circumstances which warrant the incentive.
However, no single incentive reward shall exceed twenty-five dollars, unless approved inadvance in writing by the superior court chief administrative officer. (Ord. 17557 § 1, 2013).
2.69.060 Incentive awards - adult drug diversion court and related therapeutic
programs The department of judicial administration is hereby authorized to use county
funds to pay for incentive rewards for participants in adult drug diversion court and related
therapeutic programs. The purpose of the incentive rewards shall be to recognize theachievement of programmatic successes and to encourage further participation andsuccessful outcomes. The financial value of individual incentive rewards may varydepending on the program and the circumstances that warrant the incentive. However, asingle incentive reward shall not exceed twenty-five dollars, unless approved in advance inwriting by the department of judicial administration director. (Ord. 17557 § 2, 2013).
2.69.100 Annual gathering and reception for superior court volunteers.
A. The presiding judge of the superior court may annually convene a gathering andreception between superior court judges, staff and volunteers. The intent of convening thegathering and reception shall be to:
1. Increase communication between superior court judges, staff and volunteers;
2. Provide for informal discussion between superior court judges, staff andvolunteers; and3. Foster a spirit of cooperation in serving the public.
B. Costs of meals or refreshments for superior court judges, staff and volunteers
attending the meeting and reception are hereby authorized, subject to the availability offunds in the superior court's budget and to the dollar limits specified in K.C.C. 3.24.080.
(Ord. 15325 § 1, 2005).
2.70
Sections:
2.70.010
2.70.020

DISTRICT COURT - MERIT SELECTION PROCESS

Establishment.
Process.

2.70.010 Establishment. There is hereby established a merit selection process tofill judicial vacancies occurring in District Court in King County pursuant to the King County
council's responsibilities under R.C.W. 3.34.100. The council desires a fair and open
process which will insure the council shall select and appoint individuals of the highest
quality. (Ord. 8350 § 1, 1987).
2.70.020 Process. The process to fill district court judicial vacancies shall be as
follows:
A. Upon being apprised of an existing or scheduled vacancy, the presiding judge ofthe district court shall promptly notify the chair of the county council of the vacancy byproviding written notice to the clerk of the council.
B. The clerk of the council shall, no later than twenty business days after the clerk
receives notice of the vacancy from the presiding judge:
1. Publish notice of the vacancy in the official county newspaper and in a
newspaper of general circulation within the district;
2. Transmit notice of the vacancy to the King County Bar Association, theWashington State Bar Association, the Washington Administrative Office of the Courts, theEast King County Bar Association, the South King County Bar Association and all bar
associations that are listed as minority bar associations by the Washington State Bar
Association. For the purpose of this subsection B.2., notice by email is sufficient; and3. Post notice of the vacancy on the council’s website.
C. The clerk’s notice of the vacancy shall:
1. Identify the court district where the vacancy exists or will exist and the date of
the vacancy; and2. State the date by which application materials for appointment to fll the vacancy
must be delivered to the clerk of the council, which shall be forty-five days from the dateon which the clerk transmits written notice of the vacancy under subsection B.2. of thissection.
D. To be considered for appointment, a candidate must have a current rating of, at
a minimum, “qualified” for a district court judicial position from the King County Bar
Association and at least one other bar association operating in King County with an eligible
judicial candidate evaluation process, as defined in subsection F.2. of this section. For
the purposes of this section, ratings are “current” until the expiration date stated in therating communication or until three years after the date the rating communication was
issued if no expiration date is stated.
E. No later than the date listed in the notice of vacancy, any individual wishing to beconsidered for appointment must deliver to the clerk of the council, in electronic form, thefollowing:
1. A letter of interest, which must specify the division of the district court to which
the applicant is requesting appointment and should explain why the individual wishes toserve as a district court judge, how the applicant is qualified to do so and specify thedivision of the district court to which the applicant is requesting appointment;
2. The individual’s resume;
3. A copy of the completed responses to questionnaires submitted to the KingCounty Bar Association to obtain its rating;
4. The individual’s current bar association ratings for appointment to the district
court, as defined in subsection D. of this section, in the form of a copy of thecommunication from each bar association informing the individual of the rating; and5. Any supporting information the individual would like the council to consider.
F.1. Any bar association operating in King County with an eligible judicial candidate
evaluation process may review and evaluate the candidates. A bar association’s ratingmust specify that the rating applies to appointment of the individual to the district court andshould specify the duration of the rating. A bar association rating that was current as
defined in subsection D. of this section when submitted by the applicant in accordancewith this section shall be deemed valid for the appointment for which it was submitted.
2. For the purposes of subsections D. and F.1. of this section, “bar association
operating in King County with an eligible judicial candidate evaluation process” means a
bar association operating in King County that has:a. a judicial evaluation process that is open to any candidate who is eligible understate law for appointment to the district court; andb. written procedures and criteria governing its judicial evaluation process andmakes copies of such procedures and criteria available upon request.
G.1. The committee of the whole shall:a. review the written application materials of all eligible candidates received by thedeadline in subsection C.2. of this section;b.(1) by parliamentary motion, select from among the eligible candidates the final
candidates to be interviewed by the committee.
(2) Committee of the whole members shall consider candidates’ bar association
ratings in the members’ selection of final candidates.
(3) The chair of the committee of the whole shall determine the process by which
the committee of the whole will receive recommendations for selecting final candidates tobe interviewed by the committee, which may include requesting up to four committee
members to jointly evaluate the qualifications of the candidates and to makerecommendations to the committee of the whole on selection of final candidates. The
requested committee members shall be selected by the chair of the committee of the wholeafter soliciting committee members about their interest in serving;c. interview the final candidates; andd. make a recommendation, as provided in K.C.C. 1.24.055.D., to the council byreporting out of committee a proposed legislative motion that would make the appointment.
The motion reported out of committee must specify the position number for the vacancy
being filled and need not include the name of the individual to be appointed.
H. The council shall make the appointment by adoption of a legislative motion. The
person appointed must be one of the persons interviewed by the committee of the whole.
I. The council may, by parliamentary motion, direct that the selection process
prescribed in this section be repeated to allow additional applications to fill the vacant
position or positions. (Ord. 18561 § 1, 2017: Ord. 8350 § 2, 1987).
2.72
Sections:
2.72.010
2.72.020
2.72.030

COUNTY PRISONERSWorking of prisoners.
Employment of prisoners.
Contracts.

2.72.010 Working of prisoners. In accordance with RCW 9.92.140 the county
sheriff shall put to labor the prisoners confined in the county jail. (Ordered February 8, 1884).
2.72.020 Employment of prisoners. The board of county commissioners finds that,on the basis of employment conditions, the state of the county jail facilities and otherpertinent circumstances, the operation of Section 11 of Chapter 171 of the Session Laws of1961 (RCW 36.63.260) of the state of Washington is feasible in King County beginning June
1, 1964. (Res. 27929 (part), 1964).

2.72.030 Contracts. The King County executive may enter into contracts withmunicipalities within King County for use of their respective facilities in compliance with
K.C.C. 2.72.020 for prisoners sentenced by King County courts. (Ord. 1267 § 1, 1972).
2.75
Sections:
2.75.010
2.75.020
2.75.030
2.75.040
2.75.045
2.75.055
2.75.070

LAW ENFORCEMENT OVERSIGHT

Definitions.
Office of law enforcement oversight - established - purposes.
Director of the office of law enforcement oversight.
Office of law enforcement oversight - powers and duties.
Office of law enforcement oversight - authority to obtain information.
Office of law enforcement oversight - subpoena - payments to persons
required to provide information - privileges of persons providing
information - right to counsel - enforcement of subpoena.
Mediation or alternative dispute resolution program.

2.75.010 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
A. “Administrative investigation” means an internal investigation of alleged
misconduct by an employee.
B. “Certification review” means the monitoring and examination of an administrative
investigation in order to determine whether the investigation was thorough, complete,accurate, timely, objective and in compliance with sheriff’s office procedures.
C. “Complaint” means any communication to the sheriff’s office or the oversight officealleging possible misconduct by an employee.
D. “Concern” means any communication to the oversight office about a matter thatis related to the work of the oversight office and is not the subject of a complaint.
E. "Director" means the director of the office of law enforcement oversight or the
director's designee.
F. “Employee” means the sheriff and any person whether paid, unpaid, temporary,
permanent, intern, probationary, volunteer, appointed, non-appointed, commissioned or
noncommissioned, who is employed or supervised by the sheriff’s office.
G. “Finding” means a determination made at the conclusion of an administrative
investigation of whether the alleged misconduct was or was not proved by the applicablestandard of proof.
H. “Intake classification” means the decision made as to whether a complaint should
be investigated, transferred to an employee’s supervisor for follow-up or not acted upon.
Intake classifications also identify each misconduct allegation and associated named
employee or employees, whether the matter will be investigated by the sheriff’s office or theoversight office and whether mediation or an alternative resolution is appropriate.
I. “Misconduct” means any violation of a law or a sheriff’s office or other applicablepolicy, procedure, rule or regulation.
J. “Oversight office” means the office of law enforcement oversight.
K. “Sheriff’s office” means the department of public safety, including all divisions andunits of the department. (Ord. 18500 § 1, 2017: Ord. 16511 § 1, 2009: Ord. 15611 § 2,2006).
2.75.020 Office of law enforcement oversight – established - purposes. The
office of law enforcement oversight is hereby established within the legislative branch, in
accordance with Section 265 of the King County Charter. The office of law enforcement
oversight is established to represent the interests of the public and increase confidence inKing County police services through independent civilian oversight of the sheriff’s office andall of its employees. The organization and administration of the oversight office shall be
sufficiently independent to assure that no interference or influence external to the office shalladversely affect independent and objective review and analysis by the office. The office oflaw enforcement oversight is an investigative agency as that term is used in RCW 42.56.240.
(Ord. 18500 § 2, 2017: Ord. 16511 § 2, 2009: Ord. 15611 § 3, 2006).
2.75.030 Director of office of law enforcement oversight.
A. The director shall be appointed by a majority of the council to implement andmanage the duties of the oversight office.
B. The director shall be selected by the council through a nationwide search througha merit-based selection process.
C. The selected director must pass a complete criminal background check before
confirmation.
D. The director shall serve a term of four years, unless removed for cause at any
time by a majority of the council, and shall be considered for reappointment at the end ofeach term of office.
E. The director, consistent with the Organizational Motion of the council and within
the resources available or budgeted by appropriation, may employ staff or use the servicesof consultants as may be necessary for conduct of the oversight office's duties. (Ord. 18500§ 3, 2017: Ord. 18235 § 2, 2016: Ord. 16511 § 3, 2009: Ord. 15611 § 4, 2006).
2.75.040 Office of law enforcement oversight - powers and duties. In order toinstill confidence and public trust in the fairness and integrity of the police accountability
system, the sheriff’s office and its employees, the oversight office shall have the authority
to:A. Receive and consider complaints and concerns, and:1. Refer the complaint to the sheriff’s office with or without an intake classification
recommendation; or
2. Conduct an investigation of the complaint or concern and transmit the associatedreview, analysis and findings to the sheriff and if the investigation is about the sheriff, to thecouncil and executive;
B. Review, and agree with or recommend changes to all proposed intake
classifications before the sheriff’s office investigates or closes any complaint;
C. Conduct a certification review of any administrative investigation before thesheriff’s office issues the findings. Additionally, the oversight office may review and makerecommendations related to the proposed findings;
D. Review and make timely recommendations to the sheriff regarding changes tosheriff’s office policies, rules, procedures or general orders. It is the policy of the county thatthe sheriff consult with the oversight office before implementing changes to all generalorders, as well as policies and procedures relating to administrative investigations andreviews, unless prior implementation is deemed necessary to address urgent
circumstances;
E. Conduct systemic reviews and issue conclusions and recommendations to thesheriff regarding sheriff’s office operations, training, policies, rules, procedures, practices orgeneral orders related to the work of the oversight office;F. Conduct community outreach and engagement activities;
G. Develop and publish reports related to the work of the oversight office, trends inpolice practices and the complaint handling process. All reports published by the oversightoffice shall be electronically filed with the clerk of the council for distribution to allcouncilmembers;

H. Develop and, by June 1 of each year, transmit an annual report and a motion
accepting the report to the clerk of the council for distribution to all councilmembers. The
annual report shall include analyses, recommendations and conclusions relating to allphases of the sheriff’s complaint handling process, related findings and final status ofcomplaints; andI. Review and, at the discretion of the oversight office, report on or conduct systemic
reviews related to the findings of King County inquests involving a sheriff’s office employee.
(Ord. 18500 § 4, 2017: Ord. 16511 § 4, 2009: Ord. 15611 § 5, 2006).
2.75.045 Office of law enforcement oversight – authority to obtain information.
The oversight office is authorized to obtain all relevant information in a timely manner asnecessary to fulfill the authorities of K.C.C. 2.75.040, including:A. Access to all relevant employees, facilities, systems, documents, files, records,
data, interviews, hearings, boards, trainings and meetings;
B. Access crime scenes and related follow-up administrative investigations, in amanner so as to protect the integrity of the scene; andC. Notification from the sheriff’s office regarding the current status of all complaints
as follows:
1. When a complaint is received;
2. When a complaint is given a proposed intake classification, but before thecomplaint is classified, or when a change in the classification of a complaint is made;3. Of the date, time and location of any interview that is conducted as part of an
administrative investigation;
4. When an administrative investigation, and any additional investigative steps
requested by the oversight office, is complete, but before the subject employee is notified
by the sheriff’s office of the findings;
5. When findings and recommendations are issued; and6. When and what discipline is recommended in writing. (Ord. 18500 § 6, 2017).
2.75.055 Office of law enforcement oversight – subpoena – payments topersons required to provide information – privileges of persons providing
information – right to counsel – enforcement of subpoena.
A. The oversight office may issue a subpoena to compel any person to appear, givesworn testimony or produce documentary or other evidence reasonable in scope andrelevant to the matter under inquiry and limited to the matters associated with the authority
granted under K.C.C. 2.75.040.A.2.
B. A person required by the oversight office to provide information shall be paid thesame fees and allowances, in the same manner and under the same conditions, as areextended to witnesses whose attendance has been required in the courts of this state,
excepting that city or county employees who are receiving compensation for the time thatthey are witnesses shall not be paid the set fees and allowances.
C. A person who, with or without service of compulsory process, provides oral or
documentary information requested by the director shall be accorded the same privileges
and immunities as are extended to witnesses in the courts of this state.
D. Any witness in a proceeding before the oversight office shall have the right to be
represented by counsel.
E. If a person fails to obey a subpoena, or obeys a subpoena but refuses to testify
when requested concerning any matter under examination or investigation at the hearing,the director may petition the superior court of King County for enforcement of the subpoena.
The petition shall be accompanied by a copy of the subpoena and proof of service, and shallset forth in what specific manner the subpoena has not been complied with, and shall ask
an order of the court to compel the witness to appear and testify before the oversight office.

The court upon such a petition shall enter an order directing the witness to appear before
the court at a time and place to be fixed in the order, and then and there to show cause why
the witness has not responded to the subpoena or has refused to testify. A copy of the ordershall be served upon the witness. If it appears to the court that the subpoena was properly
issued and that the particular questions that the witness refuses to answer are reasonable
and relevant, the court shall enter an order that the witness appear at the time and place
fixed in the order and testify or produce the required papers and on failing to obey the order
the witness shall be dealt with as for a contempt of court. (Ord. 18500 § 7, 2017).
2.75.070 Mediation or alternative dispute resolution program. The oversightoffice, in collaboration with the sheriff's office, shall establish and administer a voluntary
mediation or alternative dispute resolution program. The program shall provide alternative
methods to resolve complaints by allowing willing citizens, employees and officers to meet
under the guidance of a professional mediator to otherwise discuss and resolve theirdifferences. The oversight office and the sheriff's office shall establish standards andguidelines for determining when a particular complaint may be referred to mediation. (Ord.
18500 § 8, 2017: Ord. 16511 § 7, 2009: Ord. 15611 § 8, 2006).
2.78
Sections:
2.78.010
2.78.020
2.78.030
2.78.040
2.78.050
2.78.060
2.78.070
2.78.080

IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMISSION

Established – reference to “the commission.”
Duties.
Membership – requirements.
Membership – appointment process.
Chair and vice-chair – bylaws and rules – meetings – community
briefings.
Annual report.
Staffing.
Reimbursement and payment for members mileage and parking.

2.78.010 Established – reference to "the commission." The King County
immigrant and refugee commission is hereby established and shall be referred to as “thecommission” throughout this chapter. (Ord. 18653 § 2, 2018).
2.78.020 Duties. The commission shall:
A. Act as a central point of contact, communication and coordination to encouragecoordination and efficient intersection of the work of stakeholders serving and engaging
immigrant and refugee residents to achieve greater impact. As the hub, the commission
shall act as the focal point for connecting a broad group of stakeholders to identify, elevateand develop shared strategies and solutions, streamline and strengthen efforts, and bringmore resources to the most pressing issues affecting immigrant and refugee communities.
To achieve this purpose, the commission's duties shall include, but not be limited to, thefollowing:
1. Assist and advise the council, council administration and independent offices ofthe legislative branch, the executive branch, including departments, divisions and offices,
the sheriff, the assessor, the department of elections, the prosecuting attorney, superior
court, district court, and the office of economic and financial analysis on issues, programs,
and policies impacting immigrant and refugee communities;
2. Collaborate with all levels of government to ensure effective outreach to andengagement of immigrant and refugee communities and advise on the county's role withother government entities;

3. Coordinate with the office of equity and social justice to develop and review core
principles and strategies on equity as they relate to immigrant and refugee communities in
the context of county services, programs and policies;
4. Assist with the development and implementation of county services, programs
and policies that impact immigrant and refugee communities;
5. Evaluate county services, programs and policies from the perspective ofimmigrant and refugee communities;
6. Assist with the development and review of major county plans to ensure that theinterests and priorities of immigrants and refugees are incorporated in those plans;
7. Promote civic participation and government representation, which shall include,
but not be limited to, encouraging application for employment within the county workforce
by immigrant and refugee residents and representation of immigrant and refugee residents
on boards and commissions;
8. Promote naturalization as a path toward civic and economic integration;
9. Collaborate with organizations that implement programs to enhance integration,
naturalization and English-language learning;
10. Increase public awareness of immigrants and refugees and their contributions
to our community;
11. Collaborate with all levels of government to invest in the capacity oforganizations that serve the immigrant and refugee communities;
12. Continually review the need for appropriate resourcing and support for issues
affecting immigrant and refugee communities;
13. Recommend and advocate for increased funding, identify new funding sources
and leverage existing funding that include county funds to address the needs of theimmigrant and refugee communities and support the commission's activities; and14. Convene workgroups made up of stakeholders serving and engaging immigrant
and refugee communities to build a shared countywide strategy to address the top issues
surfaced through community input and/or work with the appropriate programs
boards/commissions and task forces such as in housing and homelessness, employment
and small business, barriers to accessing services, human trafficking and criminal justiceand safety;
B. Focus on understanding and addressing challenges faced by immigrant andrefugee communities living in suburban cities and unincorporated areas of the county. The
commission should complement the work engaged by the city of Seattle but with emphasison communities outside of the city of Seattle. To achieve this purpose, the commission's
duties shall include, but not be limited to:
1. Advocating for the county to act as a regional partner with cities to investigate
the need for increased investment in the development of neighborhood centers or meetinghubs for youth and families, with an emphasis on serving the needs of immigrant andrefugee populations;
2. Working with county departments, cities, service providers and the Sound Cities
Association, to create a strategic plan, to be adopted by the commission, for addressing
immigrant and refugee issues in suburban cities and unincorporated areas;
3. Investigating whether immigrants and refugees are able to adequately accesscounty services such as district courts, public health clinics, parks, transit in suburban cities,
and exploring the potential and need for opening a multilingual, culturally-responsive satellite
office in a suburban city if it is determined by the commission that a satellite office would
help to increase access;4. Working with county departments to collaborate with businesses to increase
economic opportunities for immigrants and refugees living in unincorporated areas to haveaccess to living wage jobs; and5. Working with county departments to gather, share and disaggregate data related
to immigrants and refugees in unincorporated areas to determine unmet needs, such as thenumber of substandard houses, and prevalence of income gaps to understand intersections
between place-based challenges for immigrants and refugees; andC. Adopt goals directed towards the purposes and responsibilities of this section.
(Ord. 18653 § 3, 2018).
2.78.030 Membership – requirements.
A. The immigrant and refugee commission shall be composed of thirteen memberswith the following requirements:
1. A diversity of members reflecting a range of ethnicities, professional
backgrounds, socioeconomic status and places of origin to reflect the diversity of thecounty's immigrant and refugee communities;
2. All members must be residents of King County;
3. All members shall demonstrate active and engaged civic participation in one ormore immigrant and refugee communities and be well versed on the issues affecting thosecommunities;
4. Membership shall reflect gender diversity;
5. At least six members shall be from suburban cities or unincorporated areas;
6. At least three members shall have had personal experiences as a refugee orasylee from any location worldwide;
7. Membership shall represent a range of age groups, including persons
representing youth issues;
8. At least five members shall represent and be appointed by an immigrant-led
organization serving immigrant communities and of these representatives at least threemembers shall represent and be appointed by a small grass-roots community-basedorganization that has an annual budget of less than two-hundred fifty thousand dollars,that supports the needs of distinct immigrant and refugee communities and is composed
predominantly of members of those communities;
9. At least one member should have familiarity with King County government,
systems and agencies; and10. Persons representing faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply.
B. No more than three members of the immigrant and refugee task force shall be
appointed to the immigrant and refugee commission during the first term of the thirteen
membership positions.
C. The immigrant and refugee commission may also include four nonvoting
members who shall be community leaders that are actively engaged with local
government, business or philanthropic organizations, and add value to the commission
and raise its visibility and capacity through their expertise, relationships, and networks.
(Ord. 18653 § 4, 2018).
2.78.040 Membership – appointment process.
A. The council and the executive shall jointly announce a call for applications toseek candidates for appointment. The council and the executive shall work collaboratively
to ensure that the announcement be publicized widely to the immigrant and refugeecommunities. Publicity methods shall include, but not be limited to, non-English language
newspapers and periodicals, community-based organizations and community leaders withexpertise and focus on immigrant and refugee communities and the county's website.
B. Candidates seeking appointment must submit two letters of recommendation,
each from an immigrant and refugee community member, one letter of recommendationfrom a nonprofit organization serving immigrant and refugee communities and ten
endorsement signatures from persons who are immigrants or refugees.

C. A final list of candidates for recommended appointment shall be determined by
a committee comprised of two council representatives appointed by the council chair, two
executive representatives and three former members of the commission recommended by
the chair of the commission. For initial term appointments, the final list of candidates forrecommended appointment shall be determined by a committee comprised of two council
representatives appointed by the council chair, two executive representatives, and threemembers of the immigrant and refugee task force who are not seeking appointment to thecommission. The committee shall also ensure that the final list of candidates forappointment meet the requirements as outlined in K.C.C. 2.78.020 and seek public input
from the immigrant and refugee communities.
D. Members of the commission shall be appointed by the executive and confirmedby the council.
E. The commission shall establish initial terms of appointment by lot, following
completion of the initial appointment and confirmation process. Five positions shall haveinitial terms of three years, four positions shall have initial terms of two years and theremainder of the positions shall have initial terms of one year.
F. At the conclusion of the initial term of each appointment, all subsequent termsof each position shall be for three years. A commission member whose term has expired
may continue to serve into the following term until a successor has been appointed tocomplete the term. A member shall not serve more than two consecutive terms. A
vacancy for an unexpired term shall be filled by the appointment process provided for inthis section. (Ord. 18653 § 5, 2018).
2.78.050 Chair and vice-chair – bylaws and rules – meetings – community
briefings.
A. The commission shall elect a chair and a vice chair annually, who shall eachserve a one-year term.
B. The commission may adopt bylaws and other rules for its own conduct.
C. The commission shall convene as necessary, but at least monthly, to performthe duties outlined in K.C.C. 2.78.020. The commission chair may consider and approve
requests for absence from meetings; the chair may remove any member who is absent
without excuse from three consecutive commission meetings.
D. At least four commission meetings each year shall be held in suburban cities orunincorporated areas and may include site visits and informational sessions with residents.
E. The commission shall hold at least one large community briefings each year tosolicit input from community on top priorities, progress towards goals provided for in K.C.C.
2.78.020 and evaluation of the commission's work and role. (Ord. 18653 § 7, 2018).
2.78.060 Annual report.
A. The commission shall issue and deliver an annual report to the council thatoutlines the work of the commission during the prior calendar year as well as its anticipatedwork program for the following calendar year. The report shall be filed in the form of a
hard copy and an electronic copy with the executive and the clerk of the council by
February 15 of each year.
B. The commission shall make the annual report available on the county website,
distribute it widely to the immigrant and refugee communities, and share it with the presswith emphasis on progress towards goals of the commission provided for in K.C.C.
2.78.020.
C. The commission shall provide annual briefings to the press and elected officials
representing cities, county and state to ensure that the commission's lessons learned,
processes and progress towards goals provided for in K.C.C. 2.78.020 are shared with the
public and policy makers. (Ord. 18653 § 6, 2018).

2.78.070 Staffing. An employee from the office of equity and social justice andone council employee shall staff the commission. (Ord. 18653 § 8, 2018).
2.78.080 Reimbursement and payment for members mileage and parking.
The executive shall reimburse commission members for mileage at the standard county
reimbursement rate for travel to and from scheduled commission meetings, workgroupmeetings, and community meetings and for parking at meetings outside of county facilities.
Members attending meetings or conducting business related to the commission at county
facilities shall have parking in the county garage paid by the executive. (Ord. 18653 § 9,2018).
2.80
Sections:
2.80.010
2.80.015
2.80.030
2.80.040
2.80.050
2.80.053
2.80.055
2.80.060
2.80.070
2.80.080
2.80.090
2.80.100

GIFTS, BEQUESTS AND DONATIONS TO COUNTY
Gifts, bequests and donations accepted.
Gift, bequeaths or donations for response to emergency during a periodof emergency - acceptance - suspension of K.C.C. 2.80.010.
Expenditures to fall within grantor's terms.
Interest from gifts deposited in current expense fund.
Administrative costs for handling small gifts not to exceed benefit.
Exemption - gifts, bequests or donations for animal care and control
purposes.
Exemption - gifts, bequests or donations for citizen councilor network.
Exemption - gifts, bequests or donations for parks and recreation
purposes.
Exemption - gifts bequests or donations for employee giving program
purposes.
Exemption - gifts or donations to or from public office fund.
Exemption - gifts, bequests or donations for department of public healthpurposes.
Exemption – gifts, bequests or donations for the inmate welfare fund forreligious materials and texts, other educational materials and books

2.80.010 Gifts, bequests and donations accepted. Gifts, bequests and donations,of more than two thousand dollars, shall be accepted on behalf of King County by motion of
the county council, except as otherwise provided in K.C.C. 2.80.015. (Ord. 19067 § 2, 2020:
Ord. 15577 § 1, 2006: Ord. 1168 § 1, 1972).
2.80.015 Gift, bequeaths or donations for response to emergency during aperiod of emergency - acceptance - suspension of K.C.C. 2.80.010.
A. During the period of an emergency proclaimed by the executive in accordancewith K.C.C. 12.52.030, the executive may accept gifts, bequests or donations received for
responding to the proclaimed emergency purposes on behalf of King County, and K.C.C.
2.80.010 shall be suspended until the either the executive terminates the proclamation of
emergency or, by motion of the council, K.C.C. 2.80.010 is reinstated.
B. The executive shall report to the council all donations accepted under thissection. The report should include the name of each grantor, the donation amount, thedate on which the donation was made and any donation restrictions. The report requiredby this section should be filed within six months of the termination of the emergency
proclamation, in the form of a paper original and an electronic copy with the clerk of thecouncil, who shall retain the original and provide an electronic copy to all councilmembers,the council chief of staff and the policy staff director. (Ord. 19067 § 3, 2020).
2.80.030 Expenditures to fall within grantor's terms. After acceptance by the
council of a gift, bequest or donation for a specified purpose which is therefore deposited in
the trust and contribution fund, it shall be the responsibility of the executive or designee toassure that expenditures from the bequest, gift or donation are appropriate within the termsof the grantor. It shall, therefore, not be necessary that the restricted gift, bequest or
donation be appropriated in order to authorize expenditure once the gift, bequest or donation
has been accepted by the council; however, when a gift, bequest or donation is of sufficient
size or particular importance, the council may incorporate it by appropriation into the capital
improvement program or other appropriate fund in which case annual reappropriation will
be necessary. (Ord. 18618 § 52, 2017: Ord. 1168 § 3, 1972).
2.80.040 Interest from gifts deposited in current expense fund. Except asotherwise specified by the grantor, interest earned from investment of gifts, bequests anddonations shall be deposited in the current expense fund. (Ord. 1168 § 4, 1972).
2.80.050 Administrative costs for handling small gifts not to exceed benefit.
Small gifts, bequests and donations should be used for an appropriate purpose within a year
so that the cost of their handling does not exceed the benefit of their use. (Ord. 1168 § 5,1972).
2.80.053 Exemption - gifts, bequests or donations for animal care and control
purposes. This chapter does not apply to gifts, bequests or donations, of under fifty
thousand dollars, received for animal care and control purposes. (Ord. 16861 § 1, 2010).
2.80.055 Exemption - gifts, bequests or donations for citizen councilor
network. This chapter does not apply to gifts, bequests or donations, of under fifty thousand
dollars, received for King County citizen councilor network, also known as King County
community forums, purposes. (Ord. 16199 § 1, 2008).
2.80.060 Exemption - gifts, bequests or donations for parks and recreation
purposes. This chapter does not apply to gifts, bequests or donations, of under fifty
thousand dollars, received for parks and recreation purposes. (Ord. 14509 § 25, 2002).
2.80.070 Exemption - gifts bequests or donations for employee giving program
purposes. This chapter does not apply to gifts, bequests or donations received for
employee giving program purposes. (Ord. 17332 § 14, 2012).
2.80.080 Exemption - gifts or donations to or from public office fund. This
chapter does not apply to gifts or donations made to or received from a public office fund as
defined in K.C.C. 3.04.210. (Ord. 17612 § 3, 2013).
2.80.090 Exemption - gifts, bequests or donations for department of publichealth purposes. This chapter does not apply to gifts, bequests or donations, totaling under
fifty thousand dollars from any person in a one-year period, received for department of publichealth purposes. (Ord. 18254 § 2, 2016).
2.80.100 Exemption – gifts, bequests or donations for the inmate welfare fund
tor religious materials and texts, other educational materials, and books. This chapter
does not apply to gifts, bequests or donations, of under fifteen thousand dollars received forthe inmate welfare fund for religious materials and texts, other educational materials, andbooks. (Ord. 18314 § 1, 2016).
2.84

INTERNATIONAL TRADE EXPANSION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Sections:
2.84.010
2.84.020
2.84.030
2.84.040
2.84.050
2.84.060

Phased implementation and program description.
Policy.
Program management and contracts.
Definitions.
Initial goals.
Phase I initiative adopted.

2.84.010 Phased implementation and program description.
A. In an effort to become more competitive on a global scale, King County will
implement policy initiatives in several phases to create conditions further developing its
economy, while preserving and maintaining a quality environment, through trade expansion(Phase I), infrastructure improvement (Phase II), human resource management (Phase III),utilization of technology (Phase IV); manufacturing growth and retention (Phase V),
regulatory reform (Phase VI), and a regional funding strategy (Phase VII).
B. Program description. The county intends to accomplish the purposes of thischapter in partnership with an agency or agencies presently collaborating with both the
public and private sectors to promote the trade interest of this region in domestic andinternational markets. (Ord. 12468 §§ 1, 7, 1996).
2.84.020 Policy. It is the policy of King County as the regional government toprovide leadership necessary to provide increased opportunities for international trade andrelated economic development for the benefit of the people and businesses in smaller cities
and unincorporated communities throughout urban and rural areas in the county. Thisapplies particularly to midsize and small businesses, engaged in or desiring to be engaged
in international exporting, joint venture partnerships, technology transfer, niche marketing
and related local job creation. This initiative addresses two issues related to trade
expansion: first, it is concerned with providing greater efficiency, productivity andorganizational purpose among the various county-managed trade-related activities; second,
the initiative is intended to assist businesses located in the county to access markets in an
increasingly complex international economy. The county further intends its expanded trade
initiative to be complimentary not duplicative of existing trade and economic development
activities in the region. Consistent with this effort, the county intends to continue promotionof reciprocal cultural, professional and trade exchanges, including "sibling county"
relationships which can help to launch trade and economic development opportunities
between newly identified businesses abroad and local companies. It is the policy of thecounty to measure the accomplishment of purposes of this chapter, in part, by means ofpublic performance criteria by which it will be held accountable. (Ord. 18618 § 53, 2017:
Ord. 12468 § 5, 1996).
2.84.030 Program management and contracts.
A. The King County International Airport is designated as the advocate and leadagency to implement the county's international trade expansion and related economic goals
through management of contracts with the appropriate agencies.
B. Executive authorized to sign contracts. The executive is authorized to negotiate
and sign contracts to achieve the purposes of this chapter consistent with K.C.C. 4.16*.
(Ord. 12468 §§ 6, 11, 1996).

*Reviser's note: K.C.C. chapter 4.16 was recodified as K.C.C. chapter 2.93 by
Ordinance 17522.
2.84.040 Definitions. The following definitions shall apply in interpretation andimplementation of this chapter:
A. "Globally competitive community" means a jurisdiction that puts export-driven
manufacturing and manufacturing-related economic activity in such areas as the services
sector at the core of its economic growth and development to maximize the quality of life forits citizens. For the purposes of this chapter the term "services" means high technology(biotechnology, research, communications, electronic, computers and software), agriculturaland wood products, as well as health services and professional services (financial, legal,
accounting, education, business advice and environmental).
B. "International trade" refers to federally defined 'wholesale trade' which includes
businesses primarily engaged in selling merchandise to retailers, or to contractors, or toprofessional business users, or to other wholesalers, or to agents or brokers with chieffunctions that include re-packaging bulk goods and delivery. For the purposes of thischapter, this definition shall also include exports; marine port and air cargo activity;
investment and tourism.
C. "Small business" means companies and businesses with up to fifty employees.
D. "Midsize business" means companies and businesses with between fifty and five
hundred employees.
E. "Niche market" means a narrow segment of a larger market category.
F. "Technology transfer" means the transfer of research and development efforts forthe purpose of commercialization.
G. "Foreign or `free' trade zones (FTZs)" are legally outside a nation's customs
territory and are operated as public utilities by state and/or local jurisdictions, or corporations.
They are designated by the Foreign Trade Zone Board of the U.S. Department of Commerceand operate under the supervision of the U.S. Customs Service. FTZs serve to attract andpromote international trade and commerce which allow imported goods to be admitted into
a designated FTZ without payment of customs duties or specific government taxes, orwithout general U.S. quota restrictions which are very limited. (Ord. 12468 § 3, 1996).
2.84.050 Initial goals. The initial goals of the international trade expansion andeconomic development initiative shall be as follows:
A. Enhance and expand the global trade and business development activities for
local small and midsize businesses, chambers of commerce, and cities/unincorporated
areas in the county in coordination with the King County International Airport;
B. Manage the county's "sibling county" program - ultimately expanding it to sevenof the major emerging global market regions including Africa (e.g. the Southern Africa
economic consortium), Asia (Pacific Rim countries including Taiwan, Korea and thePhilippines), Canada, India, Israel, Mexico and South America (e.g. Argentina, Chile andPeru);
C. Support trade exchanges in conjunction with the "sibling county" program, local
chambers of commerce local communities;
D. Research local markets (for example, provide local company profiles to verify thestability of potential business ventures abroad);
E. Recommend training for local businesses concerning accessing international
markets through local chambers of commerce and use of the King County International
Airport for trade development. This could include matching local businesses withbusinesses in various foreign countries;
F. Identify in cooperation with the county's agricultural program "niche markets" forlocally farmed products and recycled materials to sell abroad;G. Collaborate with trade and economic development organizations to facilitatebusiness development activities following outbound and/or inbound trade missions;
H. Identify fields for potential "technology transfer" and match with local research;
I. Explore ways of providing direct communication between local businesses in KingCounty and potential international trade partners through technology;
J. Facilitate exchange of "best practices" between local governments, special
purpose districts and school districts with entities providing comparable services in foreigncountries. (Ord. 18618 § 54, 2017: Ord. 12468 § 8, 1996).
2.84.060 Phase I initiative adopted. The Metropolitan King County International
Trade Expansion and Economic Development Initiative is hereby adopted. (Ord. 12468 §2, 1996).
2.88

HOUSING AUTHORITY - FEDERALLY ASSISTED PROGRAMS

Sections:
2.88.010
2.88.015
2.88.020
2.88.030

Agency designated.
Appointments.
Collection and dissemination of information.
Transmittal of information to county departments.

2.88.010 Agency designated. The housing authority of the county of King, a public
corporation, is designated as the official office or agency in King County to collect anddisseminate information concerning federally assisted housing programs. (Ord. 1320 § 1,1972).
2.88.015 Appointments.
A. At least one person appointed to the board of commissioners of the King County
housing authority shall be a person who is directly assisted by the public housing authority.
B. No person shall be appointed to the board for more than two successive terms.
Filling the unexpired portion of a term counts toward the two-term limit. (Ord. 14068 § 1,
2001: Ord. 12155 §§ 1,2, 1995).
2.88.020 Collection and dissemination of information. The housing authority
shall obtain, assemble, correlate and disseminate information concerning such programs
and legislation or proposed legislation affecting such programs to officers and agencies inKing County concerned therewith. (Ord. 1320 § 2, 1972).
2.88.030 Transmittal of information to county departments. The housing
authority in compliance with this chapter shall obtain, assemble, correlate and transmit to
the county council, county executive and executive departments and offices all information
concerning federal programs and needs in King County for federal assistance andparticipation in the administration of federally assisted housing programs in King County.
(Ord. 1320 § 3, 1972).
2.92
Sections:
2.92.020
2.92.030

SAFETY AND WORKER'S COMPENSATION PROGRAM
Scope of Program.
Duties.

2.92.020 Scope of Program. The scope of the safety and worker's compensation
program shall include the following functions:
A. Develop and administer a management-employee participating safety program
congruous to the Washington State Industrial Safety and Health Act designed to reduce or
eliminate accidents, personal injuries or damage to property;
B. Establish and maintain a motor vehicle fleet safety program, accident reporting
process and a review board procedure within all departments;
C. Administer the county self-insured worker's compensation insurance system
within the rules, regulations and procedures as established by the Legislature and theDepartment of Labor and Industries of the state of Washington;
D. Provide all technical safety support pursuant thereto. (Ord. 6172 § 2, 1982: Ord.
1720 § 2, 1973).
2.92.030 Duties. The director of the department of human resources or designee
shall at a minimum:
A. Investigate or supervise the investigation of all accidents involving either county
employees or property, or both, resulting from department operations;
B. Establish and supervise procedures designed to discover and control hazardous
conditions and unsafe work practices;
C. Inspect all properties and work areas and require reasonable correction to safety
deficiencies;
D. Select and approve purchase of all safety equipment and establish safety
specifications prior to purchase of other equipment of machines;
E. Establish safety requirements in addition to minimum state and local rules andregulations where deemed necessary;
F. Review all employee suggestions relating to safety to ensure compatibility withfederal, state and local codes, rules, and regulations;
G. Review the safety criteria on all proposed construction projects to beaccomplished by private contractors;
H. Coordinate or provide training to employees in first aid, driving, and other safety
related specialty fields;
I. Demand immediate cessation of work around any operation or piece of equipmentin which the director believes a hazard exists creating imminent danger to the employees
involved;
J. Act as liaison between the county, the state Department of Labor and Industries
and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and coordinate activities toward complianceunder the Washington State Industrial Safety and Health Act and the Highway Safety Act of1966;
K. Coordinate the requirements of the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission
within the county; andL. Coordinate the county preemployment physical examination program. (Ord.
19741 § 25, 2023: Ord. 18793 § 5, 2018: Ord. 18618 § 56, 2017: Ord. 12075 § 20, 1995).
2.93
Sections:
2.93.010
2.93.020.
2.93.030
2.93.040

PROCUREMENT

Applicability - administration of procurement - federal or state preemption- limits on executive limitations.
Authorization.
Definitions.
Receipt and opening of bid proposals or statements of qualifications.

2.93.050
2.93.060
2.93.070
2.93.080
2.93.090
2.93.100
2.93.1102.93.120

2.93.125
2.93.130
2.93.140
2.93.150
2.93.160
2.93.170
2.93.180
2.93.190

Exceptions to formal, sealed bids or proposals for contract lease orpurchase of tangible personal property and services-exceptions.
Capital improvement projects - energy efficiency and greenhouse gas
emissions
reduction - analysis - selection considerations - reports on reductions.
Proprietary purchases.
Emergency purchases.
Small works roster system.
Minimal cost purchases – standard method by credit card – petty cash
fund.
Credit card payments by officers and employees.
Solicitation of architect and engineering services – solicitation of otherprofessional services – solicitation and award of public works contracts– award for lease or purchase of tangible personal property andpurchase of services and technical services – prequalification of tangible
personal property and services – contracts for contractor travel and meal
expenses reimbursement.
Uniforms.
Collusion.
Cooperative purchasing.
Encumbrance of balance.
Protest and appeal procedures.
Debarment and suspension - report.
Exemptions.
Competitive bidding process procurements for tangible personal
property and services including technical services.

*For statutory provisions regarding competitive bidding for county public works
contracts, see RCW 36.32.235 through 36.32.270.
2.93.010 Applicability of administration of procurement - federal or statepreemption - limits on executive limitations. To ensure open, fair and competitive
procurement processes, to establish a procurement system of quality and integrity and to
maximize the purchasing value of public funds, this chapter applies to contracts for the
procurement of tangible personal property, services, professional services, technicalservices and public work entered into by county elected officials, department heads andtheir designees. Except where exempt by state law, county ordinance or executive policy,
county procurement shall be administered through the procurement and contract services
section to maximize economies of scale, consistency in county practices andaccountability procedures.
When a procurement involves the expenditure of federal or state assistance, grants
or funds, the manager shall conduct the procurement in accordance with this chapter
unless the federal or state agency specifically requires otherwise. This chapter does not
limit the authority of the executive to procure tangible personal property, services,
professional or technical services, or public work in a manner otherwise provided for inlaw. (Ord. 17522 § 3, 2013: Ord. 16854 § 1, 2010. Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.005).
2.93.020 Authorization. The manager is hereby authorized to take all actions
necessary and appropriate to implement the policies and provisions in this chapter, and topromulgate such rules, regulations and guidelines as the manager deems necessary to
carry out the purposes or provisions of this chapter. The rules, regulations and guidelinesshall be promulgated in compliance with K.C.C. chapter 2.98. (Ord. 17522 § 5, 2013: Ord.
14199 § 75, 2001: Ord. 12138 § 22, 1996. Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.157).
2.93.030 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
A. "Bid" or "proposal" means an offer to provide tangible personal property,
services, technical or professional services and public work in response to a solicitation
for bids or proposals issued by the county.
B. "Bidder," or "proposer" means a person, firm, partnership or corporation thatformally submits a bid, proposal or offer to provide tangible personal property, services,
professional or technical services and public work to the county in response to a solicitation
for bids or proposals or request for qualifications issued by the county.
C. "Collusion” means a willful act to defraud others of their rights or to obtain an
unfair advantage in a public contracting process.
D. "Contract" means a mutually binding legal relationship or any modification
thereof obligating a person, firm, corporation or partnership to provide tangible personal
property, services, professional or technical services or public work to the county, and thatobligates the county to pay therefor.
E. "Day” means a calendar day.
F. "Incremental project cost” means the additional cost, if any, in design,
procurement, construction and long-term maintenance, for achieving a reduction in energy
usage or greenhouse gas emissions greater than the reduction that would be achieved
under the applicable building code requirements.
G. "Manager" means the manager of the finance and business operations division.
H. "Professional services" means those services provided by licensed or certified
individuals or consulting firms associated with either the development, design orconstruction, or any combination thereof, of a public works or real property project.
I. "Public work" means all work, construction, alteration, enlargement, repair,demolition or improvement, other than ordinary maintenance, executed at the cost of thecounty or that is by law a lien or charge on any property therein.
J. "Sealed bid” means a method for submitting a bid to provide or perform work on
a contract. In general, each interested party submits a bid in a sealed envelope orelectronically as specified, and all of the bids are opened at the same time.
K. "Services," except for professional services or technical services, means thefurnishing of labor, time or effort by a contractor, not involving the delivery of tangible
personal property, such as reports that are merely incidental to the required performance.
L. "Tangible personal property" means equipment, supplies, materials and goods,
and includes intangible personal property that is movable, subject to ownership, and has
exchange value.
M. "Technical services" means those services provided by independent contractors
within the scope of accounting, law, financial or administrative studies, studies of atechnical nature, management advisory services and special project management, for adefined time or result or other practice that requires either specialized knowledge,
advanced education or licensing or certification, or any combination thereof, and where
the primary service provided is intellectual involving the consistent exercise of judgment
and discretion or the provision of specialized skills.
N. "Waiver" means a process whereby the procurement and contract services
section may procure without formal solicitation procedures because of the uniqueness ofcircumstances related to that procurement action. (Ord. 17522 § 7, 2013: Ord. 16854 §2, 2010: Ord. 14199 § 64, 2001: Ord. 12138 § 6, 1996. Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.010).
2.93.040 Receipt and opening of bid proposals or statements of qualification.

A. Sealed bids shall be received in such a manner and form, including electronicallyif specified, and at such locations as the manager shall designate up to the time and dateidentified in the invitation to bid, where such bids shall be time-recorded by a county
representative. After the expiration of the time for the receipt of bids, the bids will be
publicly opened and read. The county reserves the right to reject any bid, any portion of
any bid, or all bids and to waive immaterial irregularities in accordance with applicable law.
B. Written proposals or statements of qualification shall be received in such amanner and form, including electronically if specified, at such locations as the manager
shall designate up to the time and date identified in the request for proposals or request
for statements of qualification. The proposals or statements shall be time recorded by acounty representative. After expiration of the time for receipt of proposals or statements, asubmittal list shall be compiled and made public. (Ord. 17522 § 9, 2013: Ord. 14199 § 65,
2001: Ord. 12138 § 7, 1996. Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.025).
2.93.050 Exceptions to formal, sealed bids or proposals for contract lease orpurchase of tangible personal property and services-exceptions.
A. In accordance with RCW 36.32.235, 36.32.245, 39.04.190 and 39.04.200 andthis chapter, in lieu of advertisement and requiring a formal, sealed bid or proposal, theexecutive may award any contract, lease or purchase of tangible personal property,
technical services or services, except professional services and public works, valued
between ten thousand dollars and fifty thousand dollars in accordance with subsections B.
through D. of this section.
B. In accordance with state law, the executive shall publish in a newspaper ofgeneral circulation within the county a notice of the existence of bidder and proposer lists
and solicit the names of bidders and proposers for the categories of tangible personal
property, technical services, services or technical services contained on the lists. Whenawarding a contract, lease or purchase of tangible personal property or services to thelowest responsible and responsive bidder, the executive shall obtain telephone or written
quotations, or both, in either hard copy or electronic form, from at least three different
bidders on the lists whenever possible to assure establishment of a competitive price.
When awarding a contract, lease or purchase of technical services or services to a
proposer where price is not the only factor, the executive shall obtain telephone or written
proposals, or both, in either hard copy or electronic form, from three similarly qualified
proposers on the lists whenever possible to ensure a competitive process, and strive toselect the most qualified proposer, having given due regard to experience and expertiseand other relevant factors. However, if there is no category for the type of tangible person
property, technical service or service that the county seeks or the category has fewer than
three names of bidders or proposers on the list, the executive may solicit at least threequotations or proposals, as applicable and when possible, from business entities or
persons purported to be able to provide the tangible personal property, technical service
or service sought.
C. Immediately after an award is made under subsection B. of this section, thequotations or proposals submitted shall be recorded, open to public inspection and shallbe available by telephone inquiry.
D. At least every two months, the executive shall post on the county’s website alist of contracts awarded under subsection B. of this section. The list shall contain thename of the vendor, the amount of the contract, a brief description of the items purchasedor services provided, the date of the award and where the quotation or proposal for thesecontracts are available for public inspection.
E. Each year before the advertisement soliciting names for the lists as describedin subsection A. of this section, the executive shall ensure that all categories of tangiblepersonal property, technical services or services sought under this section in the prior year
are included in that year’s public notice.
F. The executive may dispense with advertising, formal, sealed bids and proposals
and the process for obtaining quotations in subsection B. of this section in the award of
any contract, lease or purchase of tangible personal property, technical services orservices, except professional services or public works, valued at less than ten thousand
dollars. Instead, the executive shall establish a procedure for awarding a contract, leaseor purchase that strives to secure the lowest price or ensure selection of a qualified
proposer, as applicable. (Ord. 18594 § 2, 2017: Ord. 17522 § 11, 2013: Ord. 16210 § 1,
2008: Ord. 12138 § 8, 1996. Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.030).
2.93.060 Capital improvement projects - energy efficiency and greenhousegas emissions reduction - analysis - selection considerations - reports on
reductions.
A.1. The executive shall require the architect, engineer or energy performance
contractor to develop a written analysis to be delivered to the project manager before thecompletion of the project's design for all county capital improvement projects, including new
construction, remodeling and energy-saving performance contracts and equipment retrofits
and replacement:a. that include at least two hundred fifty thousand dollars of costs for powered
equipment; andb. for which reasonable alternatives appear to be available for reducing energy
usage by at least ten percent below applicable building code requirements or reducing
greenhouse gas emissions.
2. The analysis shall include, at a minimum:
a. options to achieve a reduction in energy usage of at least ten percent below
levels that would be achieved under applicable building code requirements;
b. any reasonable options to achieve greenhouse gas emissions reductions;c. identification of all available financial incentives from utility companies or otherparties for achieving a reduction in energy usage or greenhouse gas emissions;d. a financial analysis of the incremental project cost for achieving the reductions
in energy usage based on a life-cycle cost analysis that calculates net present value of theincremental cost, net of any financial incentives from utilities or other outside sources, andthe operational and utility savings for a period of not more than fifteen years, unlessspecifically justified by the attributes of the project; ande. a financial analysis of the incremental project cost for implementing any
reasonable options for achieving the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions based on alife-cycle cost analysis that calculates net present value of the incremental cost, net of any
financial incentives from utilities or other outside sources, and the operational and utility
savings for a period of not more than fifteen years, unless specifically justified by theattributes of the project.
3. The written analysis required in subsection A.1. of this section shall apply to county
capital improvement projects for which design work is commenced after October 3, 2010.
B. The project manager shall consider the financial analysis and life-cycle cost
analysis in the selection of the alternative under subsection A. of this section, with a goal of
selecting the alternative that meets the county's operational needs and that will result in a
reduction of energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions and for which the life-cycle cost
analysis of the incremental project cost demonstrates that there would not be an additional
cost to the county. Documentation of the decision must be provided if an alternative isselected that does not reduce energy consumption or greenhouse gas emissions, or if analternative is selected for which the financial analysis in subsection B. of this section
determines that there will be an incremental cost.

C. For a project under subsection A. of this section, where a financial incentive froma utility is available and the county has decided to pursue the incentive, the project manager
shall be responsible for ensuring completion of all requirements of the utility's incentive.
D.1. For a project under subsection A. of this section, upon the expiration of the
project's construction warranty period, the department shall report the energy reduction andgreenhouse gas emissions achieved as a result of the project and the total rebates andgrants received from utilities or other parties as compared to the projected outcomes inenergy usage and greenhouse gas emissions, and any financial incentives identified in thefinancial analysis required in subsection A.3. of this section. After the initial report, theproject's actual versus projected energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions shall bemonitored for at least three years, using the county's energy accounting software or othermeasurement tools as appropriate based on the size and complexity of the project.
2. The executive shall adopt written procedures outlining the methodology andprocess by which a project manager reports on the energy and greenhouse gas emissions
reductions achieved as a result of the project and the annual monitoring of energy andgreenhouse gas emissions reduction. The procedures shall include a process for identifying
those projects that include at least two hundred fifty thousand dollars of costs for powered
equipment, but for which reasonable alternatives were unavailable for reducing energy
consumption by at least ten percent below applicable building code requirements. The
procedures shall include a reporting mechanism by which the data in subsection D.1. of thissection is compiled, summarized and transmitted to the council. (Ord. 17522 § 13, 2013:
Ord. 16927 § 2, 2010. Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.035).
2.93.070 Proprietary purchases.
A. The competitive procurement provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the leaseor purchase of tangible personal property or to services of any kind that are clearly andlegitimately limited to a single source of supply or that involve special facilities or special
market conditions in which instances the lease or purchase price shall be established bydirect negotiations by the manager. Executive approval is required for such leases orpurchases below the formal purchasing threshold as described in RCW 36.32.245.
B.
Notwithstanding subsection A. of this section, the competitive bidding
requirements for public works may not be waived on the basis of a single source of supply,
special facilities or special market conditions. (Ord. 17522 § 15, 2013: Ord. 16609 § 1,
2009: Ord. 14199 § 66, 2001: Ord. 12138 § 9, 1996. Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.040).
2.93.080 Emergency purchases.
A. In the event of an emergency, as defined in RCW 39.04.280, now and ashereinafter amended, the executive may issue a declaration of emergency. In the event ofan emergency, as defined in K.C.C. 12.52.010, the executive may proclaim an emergency
in accordance with K.C.C. 12.52.030.B. In either the declaration or the proclamation, theexecutive shall recite the facts constituting the emergency. As part of the declaration or
proclamation, or by separate order made in accordance with K.C.C. 12.52.030.C., theexecutive may issue a waiver of the public advertising and competitive procurement
requirements of state law and this chapter, and the requirements of K.C.C. chapter 12.19
relating to county contracts for the following purchases or leases:
1. Tangible personal property;
2. Public works as defined by RCW 39.04.010; and3. Services, including professional or technical services.
B. A declaration, proclamation or order that includes a waiver issued under thissection shall be delivered to the clerk of the council no later than 10:00 a.m. the second
business day after it is issued. A contract may not be entered into by the county under thissection until the declaration, proclamation, or order including the waiver is delivered to theclerk of the council or sent by email to the clerk of the council and each councilmember.
The waiver shall continue to have force and effect until it expires, which shall be twenty-one
calendar days after issuance, unless terminated sooner by order of the executive or actionof the council by motion. The council, by motion, may extend a waiver beyond the twentyone day period.
C. If a waiver authorized under this section expires or is terminated, no further
contracts or purchases may be made without complying with the nonemergency contracting
provisions of state law, this chapter and K.C.C. chapter 12.19. Expiration or termination ofa waiver shall not cancel any contract previously entered into under authority of the waiver,
but any contract entered into under the authority of this section shall contain provisions
allowing the county to terminate the contract for convenience. Such contract termination
provisions shall authorize the county to pay the contractor only that portion of the contract
price corresponding to work completed to the county's satisfaction before termination,
together with costs necessarily incurred by the contractor in terminating the remaining
portion of work, less any payments made before termination.
D. The executive is authorized to expend or contract to expend money or makepurchases in excess of existing appropriations to respond to an emergency. If the
responsible department director determines that the expenditures were made in excess ofan appropriation, the executive shall transmit a proposed appropriation ordinance to thecouncil, specifying the reason for the expenditure, the appropriation amount and the sourceof funds.
E. The executive shall report, in detail, all expenditures to the county council madeunder authority of the waiver within forty-five days of issuing the waiver. (Ord. 19033 § 2,
2019: Ord. 17929 § 8, 2014: Ord. 16639 § 1, 2009: Ord. 12163 § 2, 1996: Ord. 11788 §2, 1995: Ord. 10581 § 3, 1992: Ord. 6172 § 11, 1982: Ord. 4551 § 6, 1979: Ord. 3441 §5, 1977. Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.050).
2.93.090 Small works roster system.
A. There is hereby created a small works roster system, which shall operate as a
uniform process to award contracts for public works contracts with an estimated cost of threehundred thousand dollars or less as an alternative to formal advertisement and competitive
bidding, at the option of the manager on a project by project basis. The following procedures
shall be followed in awarding all contracts using this roster system:
1. Individual rosters within the system shall be composed of all responsible
contractors who have requested to be placed on the rosters and, where required by law,properly licensed to perform such work in this state;
2. Bids may be solicited from all appropriate contractors on the appropriate small
works roster or the county may invite quotations from at least five contractors on an
appropriate roster. The solicitation shall include a description of the nature and scope ofwork to be performed as well as the materials and equipment to be furnished. However, if
the estimated cost of the work is from one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to threehundred thousand dollars, and the county chooses to solicit bids from less than all
appropriate contractors on the appropriate small works roster list, then the county must notify
the remaining contractors that bids are being solicited. The manager may select the methodof notifying the remaining contractors in compliance with RCW 39.04.155, now and as
hereafter amended;
3. Once a contractor on a roster has been offered an opportunity to submit a bid,that contractor shall not be offered another opportunity to submit a bid for any other contract
using the same roster until all other contractors on the roster have been offered an
opportunity to submit a bid;
4. A contractor shall be removed, at the discretion of the manager, from a small
works roster after being deemed non-responsible to two consecutive invitations to bid; andbid.

5. All contracts shall be awarded to the contractor submitting the lowest responsible

B. The manager or the manager's designee shall be responsible for theadministration of the small works roster system, including any limited public works process
authorized under RCW 39.04.155, and shall prepare and adopt the forms, administrative
processes and operational procedures necessary to implement a small works roster systemfor different categories of anticipated work that complies fully with this section and theapplicable requirements of state law. In the discretion of the manager or the manager's
designee, solicitations under the small works roster system may be conducted in writing orelectronically, including but not limited to using a web-based solicitation process. (Ord.
17041 § 1, 2011. Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.055).
2.93.100 Minimal cost purchases – standard method by credit card – petty
cash fund. Various departments or agencies of the county regularly have requirements forminimal cost purchases, and the cost of competitive purchasing to the county in these
instances is greater than the benefits. The standard method for making these purchases
is a county-issued credit card. In those instances when a county-issued credit card cannot
be reasonably used, the manager shall establish a petty cash fund for open market
purchases of miscellaneous items, total purchase price not to exceed one hundred dollars.
Individual departments or agencies may effect these minimal cost purchases directly. The
manager will authorize the reimbursement to each department, office or employee
authorized to make such petty cash expenditures upon delivery of vendor's sales receipt.
The authorized designee of the department or office will certify the vendor's paid salesreceipt and deliver same for reimbursement. (Ord. 17522 § 18, 2013: Ord. 14199 § 67,
2001: Ord. 12138 § 10, 1996. Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.070).
2.93.110 Credit card payments by officers and employees.
A. The manager shall implement the following system for the authorization,
distribution, control, implementation and administration of credit cards by officers andemployees:
1. Credit cards may be distributed to those county officers and employees who, in
the opinion of the manager, have job responsibilities that would benefit from, or otherwise
be facilitated by, the use of a credit card;
2. Credit cards may only be used for purchases or acquisitions the user would be
authorized to make with county cash, purchase order, or voucher;
3. Credit cards may not be used for cash advances;
4. Policies and procedures and accounting controls shall be developed andimplemented to ensure the proper usage of credit cards and credit card funds including
compliance with county code and county purchasing policies and procedures;
5. Credit cards may be required to be immediately surrendered if used in a mannerinconsistent with county code or county policies or procedures;
6. Credit limits shall be set on each credit card issued; and7. A written procedure for the payment of all credit card bills shall be establishedand implemented.
B. The manager may adopt any additional policies and procedures the manager
determines are necessary to implement, and are not inconsistent with, this chapter. (Ord.
17522 § 20, 2013: Ord. 16651 § 1, 2009. Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.075).
2.93.120 Solicitation of architect and engineering services – solicitation ofother professional services – solicitation and award of public works contracts –award for lease or purchase of tangible personal property and purchase of services
and technical services – prequalification of tangible personal property and services

– contracts for contractor travel and meal expenses reimbursement – responsibility
criteria.
A. Contracts for architect and engineering services shall be solicited in accordancewith chapter 39.80 RCW.
B. Contracts for professional services, other than architectural or engineering, shallbe solicited using the procedures in chapter 39.80 RCW, with price as an additional
element of consideration.
C. Public works contracts shall be solicited and awarded in accordance with theauthority granted by state law, as in Titles 36 and 39 RCW and any additional requirements
prescribed by county ordinance or executive policy.
D. Contracts for the lease or purchase of tangible personal property and thepurchase of services and technical services shall be awarded in accordance with RCW
36.32.245, 36.32.253 and 39.04.190. If the manager determines that soliciting bids is notin the best interest of the county, the contract shall be awarded under a competitive
proposal process.
E. Prequalification of tangible personal property and services may occur before
procurement of the items. Under those circumstances, only tangible personal property
and services that are determined to meet the qualifying criteria will be acceptable in thesubsequent procurement.
F. All contracts that provide for reimbursement of contractor travel and meal
expenses shall have a provision that limits such reimbursements to eligible costs basedon the rates and criteria established in K.C.C. chapter 3.24 and federal travel rate
regulations.
G. For all solicitations with a value of one hundred thousand dollars or more, theexecutive shall develop responsibility criteria, relevant to the proposed scope of work, todetermine whether a bidder or proposer's historical compliance with environmental, worker
safety, labor, and human trafficking laws, rules and regulations establishes the bidder or
proposer to be a responsible contractor. For the purposes of this subsection, "historicalcompliance" means a minimum of three years preceding the submittal date for thesolicitation. The executive, when developing responsibility criteria that evaluates historicalcompliance with environmental, worker safety, labor and human trafficking laws, rules andregulations, may also develop criteria to use in determining the responsibility of a bidder or
proposer, that evaluates a bidder or proposer's record in providing employee benefits,
including an employer or union provided retirement plan, health benefits and either paid
parental leave or paid family leave, or both.
H. The criteria listed in subsection G. of this section shall be in addition to any otherqualifications criteria stated in the solicitation documents. For solicitations to award acontract for public works, the criteria are deemed supplemental criteria for determining
bidder responsibility under RCW 39.04.350. If the executive determines that the use of anyof the criteria developed in accordance with subsection G. of this section might cause thecounty to be in violation of any state or federal procurement law, rule or regulation regarding
competitive bidding or competitive proposals, that criteria shall not be included in asolicitation. The criteria shall neither be included in solicitations to award a contract to agovernment agency or public entity nor be included in solicitations to award any contractthat the county enters as the administrator of a grant for a third party.
I. If council approval of a contract is requested under K.C.C. 4A.100.070.D.2.b. or isrequired under state law, the executive shall include in the legislative transmittal package
submitted to the council a written explanation of the prospective contractor's response to thecriteria in subsection G. of this section. (Ord. 18372 § 2, 2016: Ord. 17522 § 22, 2013:
Ord. 17198 § 3, 2011: Ord. 14199 § 68, 2001: Ord. 13257 § 17, 1998: Ord. 12138 § 11,
1996. Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.080).

2.93.125 Uniforms.
A. The manager shall ensure that procurement of uniforms and clothing include
uniforms and clothing options suitable for employees of all gender identities or expressions
represented in the department, agency or office requesting such a procurement. The
manager shall also ensure that procurement of uniforms and clothing includes uniforms
and clothing suitable for pregnant employees who are required to wear uniforms andclothing during pregnancy in the department, agency or office requesting such a purchase.
For the purposes of this section, "suitable" means meeting the tailoring specifications thatwill ensure that uniforms and clothing fit well and are comfortable for employees withdifferent body types.
B. The manager shall coordinate with the department, agency or office to solicit
input from employees to compile uniform and clothing specifications necessary to comply
with subsection A. of this section.
C. The manager may solicit more than one formal solicitation, award contracts tomultiple offerors or bidders, or both, to comply with subsection A. of this section.
D. Any additional costs incurred from complying with this section shall be paid bycounty moneys and not be a burden or expense to employees. (Ord. 19569 § 2, 2023)
2.93.130 Collusion. Regardless of whether bids or proposals have been solicitedby the county for the purchase of tangible personal property or the performance of a service
or services, the manager shall report to the executive any suspected collusion. The
executive may order the suspected collusion to be reported to the appropriate authorities.
If the suspected collusion appears to violate federal antitrust laws, then the executive mayorder the suspected collusion reported to the appropriate federal authorities charged with
enforcement. (Ord. 17522 § 27, 2013: Ord. 14199 § 72, 2001: Ord. 12138 § 13, 1996.
Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.100).
2.93.140 Cooperative purchasing. The manager shall have authority to join withother units of government in cooperative purchasing when the best interests of the county
would be served thereby, but each of the participating units shall be separately invoiced by
the vendors for the purchases and the county shall not be obligated for purchases otherthan those required for its own use. The county may utilize federal, state or local
governments' contracts that have followed their respective public agencies' competitive
procurement processes rather than this chapter. The manager may establish a purchasing
administrative fee to recover costs from the contractor associated with other public agencies'
use of these contracts. (Ord. 17522 § 29, 2013: Ord. 14199 § 73, 2001: Ord. 12138 § 14,
1996. Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.110).
2.93.150 Encumbrance of balance. Except in an emergency, no purchase for any
department or office shall be awarded until the department director or responsible officer
has certified that the encumbered balance in appropriation or appropriations concerned,
in excess of all unpaid obligations, is sufficient to defray the cost of the order. (Ord. 17522§ 31, 2013: Ord. 12138 § 15, 1996. Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.120).
2.93.160 Protest and appeal procedures. The executive shall establish
procedures for considering and determining bid and proposal protests and appeals. The
executive shall render the final administrative determination on all such protests andappeals. (Ord. 17522 § 34, 2013: Ord. 12138 § 17, 1996. Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.144).
2.93.170 Debarment and suspension - report. The executive shall comply withthe following procedures in contract debarment and suspension actions:

A. After reasonable notice to the person involved and reasonable opportunity for that
person to be heard, the executive shall have authority to debar a person, firm or other legal
entity for cause from consideration for award of contracts with the county. The debarment
shall be for not more than two years;
B. The executive shall have the authority to suspend a person, firm or other legal
entity from consideration for award of contracts if there is probable cause for debarment.
The suspension shall be for not more than six months;
C. The authority to debar or suspend shall be exercised by procedures establishedby the executive in accordance with this chapter;
D. The executive shall suspend or debar a person, firm or other legal entity for:1. Conviction within the five years preceding commencement of the debarment orsuspension for commission of a criminal offense as an incident to obtaining or attempting toobtain a public or private contract or subcontract, or in the performance of the contract or
subcontract;
2. Conviction within the five years preceding commencement of the debarment orsuspension under state or federal statutes of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery,falsification or destruction of records, receiving stolen property or any other offense
indicating a lack of business integrity or business honesty that currently, seriously anddirectly affects responsibility as a contractor to the county;
3. Conviction within the five years preceding commencement of the debarment orsuspension under state or federal antitrust statutes arising out of the submission of bids or
proposals; or
4. Violation of state wage payment laws, including:a. willful violation of a wage payment requirement, as defined in RCW 49.48.082,
where the citation and notice of assessment for the violation was issued within the five years
preceding commencement of the debarment or suspension; orb. civil judgments entered by a court against the person, firm or other legal entity
for violations of wage payment requirements under state law within the five years preceding
commencement of the debarment or suspension;
E. The executive should suspend or debar a person, firm or other legal entity for:
1. Violation of ethical standards set forth in contracts with the county;
2. Violation of contract provisions, such as the following, of a character that isregarded by the executive to be so serious as to justify debarment action:
a. deliberate failure without good cause to perform in accordance with thespecifications or within the time limit provided in the contract;b. substantial failure to comply with commitments to and contractual requirementsfor participation by minority and women's business enterprises and equal employment
opportunity; orc. a recent record of failure to perform or of unsatisfactory performance inaccordance with the terms of one or more contracts, though failure to perform or
unsatisfactory performance caused by acts beyond the control of the contractor shall not be
considered to be a basis for debarment; or
3. Any other cause that the executive determines to be so serious and compellingas to affect responsibility as a contractor to the county, including debarment by anothergovernmental entity for any cause similar to those in this subsection E;
F. The executive shall issue a written decision stating the reasons for the debarment
or suspension. The decision shall be promptly mailed or otherwise furnished to the debarredor suspended person and any other party intervening;
G. The executive's decision of debarment or suspension, unless fraudulent, shallconstitute the final and conclusive decision on behalf of the county. After a final decision
has been made, the executive shall submit a report to the council giving the name of theperson, firm or other legal entity suspended or debarred and the reason or reasons for thesuspension or debarment. The report shall be filed in the form of a paper original and anelectronic copy with the clerk of the council, who shall forward an electronic copy to eachcouncilmember; [and]H. Notwithstanding subsection D. or E. of this section, the executive has the authority
to not suspend or debar a person, firm or legal entity if the executive determines significant
harm would accrue to the county by suspension or debarment of the person, firm or otherlegal entity or that mitigating circumstances do not warrant debarment or suspension, andnotifies the council within thirty days of the executive's determination. (Ord. 17522 § 36,
2013: Ord. 17310 § 1, 2012: Ord. 12138 § 18, 1996. Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.145).
Reviser’s note: K.C.C. 4.16.145 (recodified as K.C.C. 2.93.170) was amended by
Ordinance 17310 § 1 and Ordinance 17522 § 36, each without reference to the other.
Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under K.C.C.
1.02.090.
2.93.180 Exemptions. Contracts with the following organizations shall be enteredinto without regard to this chapter:
A. Youth Service Bureaus, including Center for Human Services;B. Puget Sound Regional Council;
C. King County Soil Conservation Service;
D. Air Pollution Control Service;
E. Seattle/King County Visitors Bureaus;
F. The Central Puget Sound Economic Development District;
G. Pacific Science Center;
H. Seattle/King County Economic Development Council;
I. Eastside Visitors Bureau;
J. United Way;
K. United States Office of Personnel Management; andL. 4Culture.
(Ord. 17522 § 38, 2013: Ord. 14482 § 56, 2002: Ord. 8896 § 1, 1989: Ord. 7277 § 1, 1985:
Ord. 6231 § 1, 1982. Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.150).
2.93.190 Competitive bidding process procurements for tangible personal
property and services including technical services.
A. This section applies to contracts or procurements for tangible personal property
and services including technical services for departments and offices. Contracts shall besolicited under the following competitive process:1. The manager shall advertise solicitations for qualifications or proposals. The
notice shall state the date and time for submissions. The solicitation for qualifications or
proposals shall state the relative importance of price and all other evaluation factors;
2. Discussions may be conducted with responsible offerors to determine which
proposals should be evaluated in more detail or which offerors should be requested to enter
into negotiations, or both. Negotiations may be conducted concurrently or sequentially. The
county may request clarifications and consider minor adjustments in the proposals in order
to better understand the proposals and to qualify them for further consideration, though
information discussed or obtained from one offeror shall not be disclosed to competing
offerors during the discussions and negotiations. Except to the extent protected by either
or both state and federal laws and regulations, proposals shall be considered public
documents and available for review and copying by the public after a decision to award thecontract is made; and3. Award shall be made, if at all, to a responsible offeror or offerors whose proposal
or proposals are determined to be the most advantageous to the county, taking into
consideration price and the other established evaluation factors.
B. Contracts shall be solicited under the following competitive process:1. The manager shall advertise solicitations for qualifications or proposals. The
notice shall state the date and time for submissions. The solicitation for qualifications or
proposals shall state the relative importance of price and all other evaluation factors;
2. Discussions may be conducted with responsible offerors to determine which
proposals should be evaluated in more detail or which offerors should be requested to enter
into negotiations, or both. Negotiations may be conducted concurrently or sequentially. The
county may request clarifications and consider minor adjustments in the proposals in order
to better understand the proposals and to qualify them for further consideration, though
information discussed or obtained from one offeror shall not be disclosed to competing
offerors during the discussions and negotiations. Except to the extent protected by either
or both state and federal laws and regulations, proposals shall be considered public
documents and available for review and copying by the public after a decision to award thecontract is made; and3. Award shall be made, if at all, to a responsible offeror or offerors whose proposal
or proposals are determined to be the most advantageous to the county, taking into
consideration price and the other established evaluation factors.
C. The manager may use the small business accelerator established in K.C.C.
chapter 4.19 to solicit and obtain competitive sealed bids or proposals from only certified
small contractors and suppliers. (Ord. 17522 § 40, 2013: Ord. 17198 § 4, 2011: Ord.
14199 § 77, 2001: Ord. 12138 § 19, 1996. Formerly K.C.C. 4.16.155).
2.94

HOURLY MINIMUM WAGE FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES (takes effect January
1, 2025*).

Sections:
2.94.010
2.94.020

Definitions (takes effect January 1, 2025).
Minimum wage for employees of contractors - adjustment - applicability- requirements for contract-awarding authority (takes effect January 1,2025).
2.94.030 Rules - curing violations - sanctions or remedies - administration of otherrequirements (takes effect January 1, 2025).

2.94.010 Definitions (takes effect January 1, 2025*).
A. "Contract" means a mutually binding legal relationship or any modification thereof
obligating the county to pay a contractor one hundred thousand dollars or more to provide
professional services, technical services, or services, as defined in K.C.C 2.93.030 to, or at
the direction of, the county. "Contract" does not include: a contract between a contractawarding authority and another government or public entity; a contract that the county enters
into as the administrator of grants received from a third party; a contract for public works; anarchitectural or engineering contract; or a collective bargaining agreement.
B. "Contract-awarding authority" means the county officer, department, commission,
employee, or board authorized to enter into or to administer contracts on behalf of thecounty.
C. "Contractor" means any person that enters into a contract with the county, or
negotiates the extension of an existing contract with the county, after October 27, 2014, orthat is a subcontractor performing services under such a contract.
D. "Employ" means to engage, suffer, or permit to work.

E. "Employee" means any individual employed by an employer, whether on a fulltime, part-time, temporary, or seasonal basis, including temporary workers, contracted
workers, contingent workers, and persons made available to work through a temporary
services, staffing, or employment agency or similar entity.
F. "Employer" includes any individual, partnership, association, corporation,business trust, or any entity, person or group of persons, or a successor thereof, that
employs another person and includes any such an entity or person acting directly or
indirectly in the interest of an employer in relation to an employee. More than one entity
may be the "employer" if employment by one employer is not completely disassociated from
employment by the other employer if the economic reality of the relationship between theentities and the employee or employees is that of employer and employee. The economic
reality of the relationship is to be determined by the circumstances of the whole activity, nota mechanical weighing of relevant factors.
G. "Hourly minimum wage" means the minimum wage due to an employee under
this chapter for each hour worked during a pay period.
H.
"Person" means one or more individuals, partnerships, associations,organizations, corporations, cooperatives, legal representatives, trustees, trustees inbankruptcy, receivers, or groups or persons, limited liability companies, sole proprietorships,
joint adventures, estates, trusts, or other entities, groups, or combinations acting as units,
and the individuals constituting the groups or units.
I. "Wage" means compensation due to an employee by reason of employment,
payable in legal tender of the United States or checks on banks convertible into cash on
demand at full face value. (Ord. 19762 § 3, 2024).
*Reviser's note: "This ordinance takes effect January 1, 2025." (Ord. 19762 § 18).
2.94.020 Minimum wage for employees of contractors - adjustment applicability - requirements for contract-awarding authority (takes effect January 1,
2025*).
A. A contractor shall pay their employees an hourly minimum wage rate of not lessthan twenty dollars and twenty-nine cents per hour or the hourly minimum wage rateestablished by federal or state law, whichever is greater. Beginning January 1, 2025, thehourly minimum wage rate shall increase annually on a percentage basis to reflect theannual rate of inflation and calculated to the nearest cent on January 1 of each year
thereafter. For purposes of this section, "the annual rate of inflation" means one hundred
percent of the annual average growth rate of the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton Area Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners
and clerical workers, CPI-W, or a successor index, for the twelve month period ending inAugust, but the percentage increase shall not be less than zero.
B. An employee is covered by this chapter for each hour the employee is performinga measurable amount of work under a contract with the county.
C. For the purposes of this chapter, temporary employment agency employees who
perform, for an employer, a measurable amount of work under a contract with the county,
shall be paid no less than the hourly minimum wage rate required to be paid to employees
as specified in subsection A. of this section.
D. A contract-awarding authority shall not execute a contract with a contractor unlessthe contract includes provisions requiring the contractor to comply with the hourly minimum
wage rate as specified in subsection A. of this section and containing appropriate remedies
for the breach of the contracts as prescribed in section 5 of this ordinance. (Ord. 19762 §4, 2024). (Ord. 19762 § 4, 2024).
*Reviser's note: "This ordinance takes effect January 1, 2025." (Ord. 19762 § 18).

2.94.030 Rules - curing violations - sanctions or remedies - administration ofother requirements (takes effect January 1, 2025*). The executive shall:
A. Adopt public and administrative rules in accordance with this chapter
establishing standards and procedures for effectively carrying out this chapter;
B. Determine when and how any notice and opportunity to cure a violation of thislaw should be afforded;
C. Determine and impose appropriate sanctions or remedies, or both, andprocedures for administrative review, for violation of this chapter by contractors, including
but not limited to:
1. Disqualification of the contractor from bidding on or being awarded a county
contract for up to two years;
2. Remedies allowable by contract including, but not limited to, liquidated
damages and termination of the contract;
3. Remedial action after a finding of noncompliance, as specified by rule; and4. Other appropriate civil remedies and sanctions allowable by law; andD. Administer other requirements specified by this chapter or that are necessary to
implement the purposes of this chapter. (Ord. 19762 § 5, 2024).
*Reviser's note: "This ordinance takes effect January 1, 2025." (Ord. 19762 § 18).
2.96
Sections:
2.96.010
2.96.040

PURCHASING*

Administration of equipment lease and lease purchases.
Procurement of vehicles using alternative fuels.

*Reviser’s note: See K.C.C. Title 18 for environmental sustainability programs.
2.96.010 Administration of equipment lease and lease purchases.
A. Administrative responsibility. The director of the finance department, as generally
authorized in RCW 36.32.260, shall administer equipment lease and lease purchaseagreements for all departments and offices that use the county’s centralized purchasing
process.
B. Conditions prerequisite to lease. It shall be county policy that such leases may
be entered into if any of the following conditions exist:
1. The lease provides for use of an asset not otherwise available.
2. The lease meets a temporary need.
3. The lease provides buying and service advantages not otherwise obtainable.
4. The lease shifts unusual risks of ownership.
5. The lease is economically advantageous
C. Lease evaluation responsibility. The director shall have the following
responsibilities in administering or evaluating such lease and/or lease purchase agreements
for equipment:
1. The director, in conjunction with the requesting department or office, must
perform a lease versus purchase cost analysis of such equipment either based on thepresent value and/or payback methods. Annual cost analysis will be conducted sixty days
prior to the termination day for any lease considered for renewal. When the cost analysis
indicates that a purchase rather than lease and/or lease purchase of equipment is in thebest interest of the county and the present value differential is greater than five thousand
dollars, the executive must approve the lease and provide the council with a written
explanation of the reason a lease is preferred.

2. Lease of any single piece or grouping of similar equipment for the samedepartment or identical organization with an annual rental of one thousand dollars or moremust be approved by the manager of the goods and non-professional/consultant services
procurement division.
3. Annual leases may be negotiated with future year options. (Ord. 12138 § 3,1995).
2.96.040 Procurement of vehicles using alternative fuels.
A. The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation of this section.
1. "Alcohol" means a mixture containing no less than eighty-five percent methanol,
ethanol or other alcohols, in any combination, by volume.
2. "Alternative fuel" means of propulsion by other than gasoline or diesel fuel andshall include:a. alcohol.
b. dual energy.
c. electricity.
d. natural gas.
e. propane.
f. human powered.
3. "Director" means the director of the department of executive services.
4. "Dual Energy" means capable of being operated using an alternative fuel andgasoline or diesel fuel.
5. "Purchased" means purchased, leased, borrowed, obtained by gift or otherwise
acquired.
B. In order to comply with subsection B* of this section, the director may purchasevehicles which are manufactured to operate on alternative fuel, convert newly purchased
vehicles to operate on alternative fuel, or any combination thereof.
C. Heavy equipment which is intended solely for off-road usage and for which theimplementation of this section would be infeasible is exempt from the requirements of thischapter. (Ord. 18791 § 9, 2018: Ord. 12075 § 21, 1995).
*Reviser's note: The material in subsection B of this section being referred to here
was apparently struck in Ordinance 18791, but the reference was not changed.
2.97
Sections:
2.97.010
2.97.020
2.97.030
2.97.040
2.97.050
2.97.060
2.97.070
2.97.080
2.97.090
2.97.100
2.97.1102.97.130

CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM

Implementation.
Scope.
Definitions.
Certification process.
Criteria for participation.
Limitation of certification.
Methods of providing incentive.
Small business accelerator.
Reporting to council.
Violations and sanctions.
Appeals.
Rule making.

2.97.010 Implementation. The executive shall implement the contracting
opportunities program to promote the use of small contractors and suppliers as prime
contractors, subcontractors and suppliers on county contracts. (Ord. 17652 § 3, 2013:
Ord. 15703 § 1, 2007: Ord. 13983 § 1, 2000. Formerly K.C.C. 4.19.010).
2.97.020 Scope. The program shall apply to contracts subject to K.C.C. chapter
2.93. (Ord. 17652 § 5, 2013: Ord. 15703 § 2, 2007: Ord. 13983 § 2, 2000. Formerly
K.C.C. 4.19.020).
2.97.030 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
A. "Commercially useful function" means the performance of real and actual
services in the discharge of any contractual endeavor, rather than being an uninvolved
participant in a transaction, contract or project through which funds are passed to obtain
the appearance of small contractor and supplier participation. The small contractor andsupplier must be responsible for the execution of the work of the contract or subcontract,
as applicable, and carry out its responsibilities by actually performing, managing andsupervising the work. To perform a "commercially useful function," the small contractor
and supplier must also be responsible for materials and supplies used on the contract or
subcontract, as applicable, for negotiating price, determining quality and quantity, ordering
the material, installing, if applicable, and paying for the material.
B. "Manager" means manager of the finance and business operations division in
the department of executive services.
C. "The program" means the King County contracting opportunities program.
D. "Small business accelerator" means a competitive procurement program thatallows certified small contractors and suppliers to compete against other certified small
contractors and suppliers on selected county contracts.
E. "Small contractor and supplier" means a business certified by the county that isin a financial condition that puts the business at a substantial disadvantage in attempting
to compete for public contracts. In assessing the financial condition of the business,
including the net worth of the person or persons who own and control it, the manager shallsubstantially adopt the approach used by the federal Small Business Administration andmay further adopt any modifications of this approach used by the Washington state Officeof Minority and Women's Business Enterprises; the manager may adjust the Small
Business Administration's maximum revenue standards for various standard businessclassifications and levels for owners' personal net worth to account for local market
conditions. However, the maximum revenue standard for standard business classifications
may not be more than one hundred percent of the Small Business Administration's
thresholds, as now existing or hereafter amended. (Ord. 19326 § 1, 2021: Ord. 17652 §7, 2013: Ord. 17198 § 1, 2011: Ord. 17135 § 1, 2011: Ord. 15703 § 3, 2007: Ord. 14561§ 22, 2002: Ord. 14199 § 80, 2001: Ord. 13983 § 3, 2000. Formerly K.C.C. 4.19.030).
2.97.040 Certification process. The manager shall develop a process forcertifying businesses for participation in the program as small contractors and suppliers.
If feasible, the manager shall arrange or contract for a coordinated certification agency incooperation with other agencies that may adopt compatible programs. (Ord. 17652 § 9,
2013: Ord. 15703 § 5, 2007: Ord. 13983 § 5, 2000. Formerly K.C.C. 4.19.050).
2.97.050 Criteria for participation. To be certified for the program, a businessmust be a small contractor or supplier, have a valid business license and must serve acommercially useful function. To maintain its certification, within one year of its certificationa small contractor or supplier must have the person or persons who own and control thebusiness complete at least fifteen hours of business-related training in a program approvedby the manager. Based on the manager's assessment of the small contractor or supplier's
need for additional training, the manager may require a small contractor or supplier tocomplete up to fifteen additional hours annually of business-related training. The manager
shall evaluate and approve training programs based on one or more of the following
indicators of the training program’s value: the industry's historical use of the training
program; the training program's affiliation with established schools, if any; andaccreditation by an established association. (Ord. 17652 § 11, 2013: Ord. 17135 § 2,
2011: Ord. 15703 § 4, 2007: Ord. 13983 § 4, 2000. Formerly K.C.C. 4.19.040).
2.97.060 Expiration of certification - reapplication. The certification of a small
contractor or supplier is effective for to three years if it meets the requirements under thischapter. A business whose certification has expired may reapply for certification. A
business that has been denied certification must wait one year from the application denial
date before reapplying for certification. (Ord. 17652 § 13, 2013: Ord. 17135 § 3, 2011:
Ord. 15703 § 6, 2007: Ord. 13983 § 6, 2000. Formerly K.C.C. 4.19.060).
2.97.070 Methods of providing incentive.
A. The program shall use one or more methods to create incentives to use small
contractors and suppliers. These incentives shall be produced either through a bonus
system in which the increased participation of certified small contractors and suppliers isa factor in the award of contracts, or through a set-aside system under which prime
contractors are required to achieve a specified level of participation by small contractors
and suppliers in the performance of the contract. If the bonus system is used, thesolicitation document shall state the maximum incentive available for the participation ofcertified small contractors and suppliers and the possible methods for making use of the
incentive. If a set-aside system is used, the solicitation document shall state a required
minimum utilization.
B. The manager shall identify opportunities for small contractors and suppliers to
act as prime contractors on an ongoing basis.
C. The specific methods used to provide incentives to small contractors andsuppliers and for them to be prime contractors, as opportunities arise, shall be fully
addressed in the rule-making process. (Ord. 17198 § 2, 2011: Ord. 17135 § 4, 2011:
15703 § 7, 2007: Ord. 13983 § 7, 2000. Formerly K.C.C. 4.19.070).
2.97.080 Small business accelerator.
A. The program is authorized to use a small business accelerator to solicit andaward contracts for all county departments and offices in the following areas, as definedin K.C.C. 2.93.030: services, professional services and technical services, except
contracts for architecture and engineering services, as well as tangible personal property
acquired in furtherance of metropolitan functions. The small business accelerator may
only be used for contracts having an estimated value above the formal purchasing
threshold as described in RCW 36.32.245, where sufficient certified small contractors andsuppliers are available.
B. The manager may use the small business accelerator for a contract, but only if
the following actions are taken:
1. Development of specifications or a project description in the form of a request
for proposals or invitation to bid in concert with the requesting department or office;
2. An analysis by the business development and contract compliance section
determines the availability of at least three small contractors or suppliers to provide thegoods or services requested; and3. The manager determines that it is in the best interest of the county to conductthe solicitation under the small business accelerator.
C. With the exception that only small contractors and suppliers may apply under
this section, the procedures for tangible personal property, services, professional services
or technical services, as described in K.C.C. chapter 2.93, apply. However, if the county
does not receive any responsive and responsible proposals or bids from small contractors
and suppliers, the manager may cancel the procurement and conduct the solicitation againin accordance with the procedures for tangible personal property, services, professionalor technical services, as described in K.C.C. chapter 2.93. (Ord. 17652 §16, 2013).
2.97.090 Reporting to council. The manager shall, by June 30 of every year, filewith the clerk of the council, who shall retain an electronic copy provide an electronic copy
to all councilmembers and the lead staff for the government accountability and oversightcommittee or its successor, a report to council on the progress of the program during theprevious year, January through December. The report shall include:
A. The total amounts awarded by contract category, identifying contracts
completed for covered projects under the priority hire program under K.C.C. chapter
12.18A;
B. The total amount awarded by contract category for which an incentive wasavailable;
C. The total amounts awarded to small contractors and suppliers reported bycontract category and by race and gender, to the extent businesses voluntarily provide therace and gender information;
D. A listing of all participating small contractors and suppliers by contract category,by race and gender to the extent businesses voluntarily provide the race and gender
information, by their location by city and ZIP Code, and by the specific contracts including
dollar amounts awarded;
E. A listing of the number and firm name of certified small contractors and suppliers
by race and gender, to the extent businesses voluntarily provide this race and gender
information, awarded contracts through the small business accelerator program under
K.C.C. 2.97.070.C. by contract category, their location by city and ZIP Code, and thespecific contracts including dollar amounts awarded; andF. A listing of the number of minority and women owned businesses by contractcategory, race and gender to the extent businesses voluntarily provide the race andgender information, their location by city and ZIP Code, and the specific contracts including
dollar amounts awarded. (Ord. 19738 § 5, 2023: Ord. 18672 § 7, 2018: Ord. 17652 § 16,2013).
2.97.100 Violations and sanctions. A person who violates this chapter or therules adopted under this chapter or who fails to comply with representations or commitments
made to receive a benefit or qualify for an incentive under the King County contracting
opportunities program is subject to sanctions including but not limited to: liquidated
damages; withholding of funds; a civil fine or penalty; and disqualification from eligibility forbidding on or entering into or participating, as a subcontractor or in any other manner, in acontract with the county for a period not to exceed five years. If imposing sanctions, themanager shall: set forth the sanctions to be imposed and the reasons for the imposition ina written order; promptly furnish a copy of the order to the contract awarding authority orcontract administering authority; and mail a copy of the order by certified mail, return receipt
requested, to the person being sanctioned. (Ord. 17652 § 19, 2013: Ord. 15703 § 9, 2006:
13983 § 8, 2000. Formerly K.C.C. 4.19.080).
2.97.110 Appeals. A person against whom the manager under this chapter imposes
sanctions may appeal those sanctions in accordance with K.C.C. 20.22.080. Within forty-

five days after receiving the notice of appeal, the hearing examiner shall convene theappeal hearing. The hearing examiner shall provide written notice of the hearing date,location and time to the appellant and to the department of executive services, finance andbusiness operations division, at least thirty days before the hearing. Within the timeprescribed in K.C.C. 20.22.220 after conclusion of the appeal hearing, the hearing
examiner presiding at the hearing shall prepare a written decision and order. [The hearing
examiner shall file]* the final decision as a public record with the county clerk, recorder's
office, and shall mail copies of the final decision to each party of record and to the
manager. (Ord. 18230 § 73, 2016: Ord. 17652 § 21, 2013: Ord. 17135 § 5, 2011: Ord.
15703 § 10, 2007: Ord. 13983 § 9, 2000. Formerly K.C.C. 4.19.090).
*Reviser’s note: Language added but not underlined in Ordinance 18230. See
K.C.C. 1.24.075.
2.97.120 Federal and state requirements. In order to secure financial assistancefrom federal and state agencies, the manager shall provide for the participation of minority,
women and disadvantaged businesses in accordance with regulations and requirements
imposed by the federal and state agencies. The manager may adopt rules and procedures
and take steps necessary to implement and comply with applicable federal and state laws
and regulations, including the establishment of annual goals and contract goals forminority, women and disadvantaged businesses. (Ord. 17652 § 23, 2013: Ord. 12026 §15, 1995. Formerly K.C.C. 4.18.170).
2.97.130 Rule making. The executive shall adopt rules to implement this chapter,in accordance with K.C.C. chapter 2.98. (Ord. 17652 § 25, 2013: Ord. 15703 § 11, 2007:
Ord. 13983 § 10, 2000. Formerly K.C.C. 4.19.100).
2.98
Sections:
2.98.010
2.98.020
2.98.025
2.98.030
2.98.060
2.98.070
2.98.080

RULES OF COUNTY AGENCIES

Public rule making — compliance with chapter and state law —- intent.
Definitions.
Rules to implement policy — penalties and fees by ordinance or otherlaw — rules to be understandable.
Rules — filing — formatting — required information.
Notice of rule making — adoption procedures — substantial compliance.
Emergency rules or amendments.
Effective date of rules — compilation and indexing.

2.98.010 Public rule making — compliance with chapter and state law — intent.
In adopting rules, county departments shall comply with this chapter and applicable statelaw. The intent of this chapter is to ensure county departments afford the public fair noticeabout and reasonable access to rules and the rule-making process. (Ord. 14266 § 1, 2001:
Ord. 6531 § 1, 1983: Ord. 2165 § 1, 1974).
2.98.020 Definitions. For the purpose of this chapter:
A. "Department" means executive departments and administrative offices, thesheriff's office, the department of assessments, the department of judicial administration,
the department of elections, county boards, commissions, committees and othermultimember bodies. However, "department" does not include the legislative branch and all
offices established under Article 2 of the King County Charter, the hearing examiner, theboard of appeals, the personnel board, the board of health, superior courts, district courts
and the prosecuting attorney's office.
B. "Penalty" means a punishment established by ordinance or other law imposed asa consequence of failing to abide by or comply with the law, ordinance or a rule adopted
under ordinance or other law.
C.1. "Rule" means any department order, directive or regulation of generalapplicability:a. the violation of which subjects a person outside county employment to apenalty;b. that subjects a person outside of county employment to the payment of a fee;c. that establishes, alters or revokes any procedure, practice or requirement
relating to a department hearing; ord. that establishes, alters or revokes any qualifications or standards for theissuance, suspension or revocation of a license to pursue any commercial activity, trade orprofession.
2. "Rule" includes the amendment or repeal of a prior rule, but does not include:
a. a statement concerning only the internal management of a department and notaffecting private rights or procedures available to the public;b. a declaratory ruling issued in accordance with an ordinance; orc. a traffic restriction for motor vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians established by
the director of the department of local services, the director of the Metro transit department
or their designee if an official traffic control device gives notice of the restriction. (Ord. 18791§ 10, 2018: Ord. 18777 § 8, 2018: Ord. 17416 § 1, 2012: Ord. 14266 § 2, 2001: Ord. 6531
§ 2, 1983: Ord. 2165 § 2, 1974).
2.98.025 Rules to implement policy — penalties and fees by ordinance or otherlaw — rules to be understandable.
A. A department may only adopt a rule under this chapter to implement an ordinanceor other law. Any rule in conflict with an ordinance or other law is null and void to the extent
of the conflict.
B. Penalties shall be established only by ordinance or other law. Imposition of fees
and the amount of fees shall be established as authorized by ordinance or other law.
C. A department should adopt rules that are clearly and simply stated so the rules
are understandable. (Ord. 14266 § 3, 2001: Ord. 6835 § 5, 1984: Ord. 6531, § 3, 1983).
2.98.030 Rules — filing — formatting — required information.
A. A department that adopts rules shall make available to the public a description of
the department's rule adoption procedures. The description shall include information on
how to inquire about the department's proposed and adopted rules and public comment
opportunities.
B. A department shall file proposed and adopted rules with the executive department
responsible for archives and records management functions. The executive department
responsible for archives and records management functions shall maintain a master list andcreate an index of the rules, in both written and electronic forms, for inspection, review andcopying by the public.
1. The index shall include a list of public rules with reference to the rule number
and the department that adopted the rule. The list shall be searchable by either subject or
key words, or both.
2. The executive department responsible for archives and records management
functions shall provide a copy, in writing or by electronic format, of the adopted rules to theclerk of the county council and each member of the county council and post the rules on theInternet.

C. Rules adopted by a department shall at a minimum comply with the following
1. Rules shall be reproduced on eight and one-half by eleven inch white paper;
2. Each page of a rule shall contain the name of the department adopting the rule,the subject or title of the rule, the date the rule was adopted, the effective date of the ruleand the page number and total number of pages of the rule;.
3. The text of the rule shall refer to the ordinance or other law upon which the rule
based; and4. if amending or repealing an existing rule, the text of the rule shall cite the existingrule
D. An amendment to a rule shall follow the same format as used in preparing theinitial rule. The executive department responsible for archives and records management
functions shall ensure that amended rules are reflected in the index prepared undersubsection A of this section. (Ord. 14266 § 4, 2001: Ord. 6531 § 4, 1983: Ord. 2165 § 3,
1974)
2.98.060 Notice of rule making — adoption procedures — substantial
compliance.
A.1. Prior to the adoption, amendment or repeal of any rule, each department shallgive at least forty-five days' notice of its intended action, except rules being adopted,
amended or repealed under K.C.C. chapter 6.65 shall give at least fourteen days' notice ofintended action, by:a. filing a notice with the executive department responsible for archives andrecords management functions;b. providing, at least in writing or by electronic format, the notice to: all persons
and other parties who have made timely request of the agency for advance notice of its rulemaking proceedings on a specific topic; the clerk of the council; and each member of thecounty council; andc. giving public notice by one publication in the official newspaper of King County.
2. The notice shall include:
a. reference to the authority under which the rule is proposed;b. a statement of either the terms or substance of the proposed rule or adescription of the subjects and issues involved; andc. the time, place and manner, including at least in writing or by electronic format,
in which interested persons may present their views on the rule. To the extent practicable,
the department should permit persons to present their views at a public meeting, according
to rules established by the department.
B. The department giving the notice required in this section shall consider allcomments received by the prescribed time and shall make reasonable efforts to provide
written responses to the comments before the rule is adopted.
C. Adoption of a rule by a department other than a county board, commission,committee or other multimember body is accomplished by the department's director or thesheriff, assessor or director of elections, for the director or other elected official’s respective
department, signing the proposed rule. Adoption of a rule by a county board, commission,committee or other multimember body is accomplished by majority vote in favor of the ruleby the members of the body, as evidenced in the approved minutes of the body, and incompliance with the Open Public Meetings Act of 1971, chapter 42.30 RCW, as applicable.
D. A rule adopted under this section is not valid unless adopted in substantial
compliance with this section. In any proceeding, a rule shall not be considered invalid on
the ground of noncompliance with the procedural requirements of this section if two years
or more have elapsed from the effective date of the rule. (Ord. 19700 § 54, 2024: Ord.
18618 § 57, 2017: Ord. 17416 § 2, 2012: Ord. 14266 § 8, 2001: Ord. 2165 § 6, 1974).

2.98.070 Emergency rules or amendments.
A. If the department finds that immediate adoption or amendment of a rule isnecessary for the preservation of the public health, safety or general welfare, and thatobservance of the requirements of notice and opportunity to present views on the proposed
rule would be contrary to the public interest, the department may dispense with the notice,comment and public meeting requirements of this chapter and adopt the rule or amendment
as an emergency rule or amendment.
1. The department's finding and a brief statement of the reasons for its finding shallbe incorporated in the emergency rule or amendment as filed with the executive department
responsible for archives and records management functions.
2. An emergency rule or amendment shall not remain in effect for longer than one
hundred fifty days.
3. This section does not relieve any department from compliance with any
ordinance or other law requiring that the department's rules be approved by designatedpersons or bodies before the rules take effect.
B. An emergency rule adopted under this section is not valid unless adopted in
substantial compliance with this section. In any proceeding, a rule shall not be consideredinvalid on the ground of noncompliance with the procedural requirements of this section if
two years or more have elapsed from the effective date of the rule.
C. the executive department responsible for archives and records management
functions shall provide a copy, in writing or by electronic format, of an emergency rule to theclerk of the county council and each member of the county council within three businessdays after the rule is filed with the executive department responsible for archives and records
management functions. (Ord. 14266 § 9, 2001: Ord. 2165 § 7, 1974).
2.98.080 Effective date of rules — compilation and indexing.
A. Emergency rules adopted under K.C.C. 2.98.070 take effect on the date of filingwith the executive department responsible for archives and records management functions.
Rules adopted under K.C.C. chapter 6.65 shall take effect on the date of filing with theexecutive department responsible for archives and records management. All other rules
adopted under this chapter take effect thirty days after the date of filing with the executive
department responsible for archives and records management functions, unless a later dateis required by statute or specified in the rule.
B. The executive department responsible for archives and records management
functions shall compile and index all rules adopted by each department. Compilations shallbe supplemented or revised as often as necessary and at least once every year. (Ord.
19700 § 55, 2024: Ord. 14266 § 10, 2001: Ord. 2165 § 8, 1974).
2.99
Sections:
2.99.010
2.99.020
2.99.030

FEES CHARGED BY COUNTY AGENCIES

Chapter Intent.
Definitions.
Policies.

2.99.010 Chapter Intent. It is the intent of the King County Council to establish
county policies and procedures governing the authority of county agencies to set, charge,
and collect fees. (Ord. 6835 § 1, 1984).
2.99.020 Definitions. For the purpose of this chapter:
A. "Fee" means a charge or amount assessed by a county agency to an individual
or organization as a condition of receiving service from the agency, or as a condition of a

regulatory process. The term "fee" does not include charges assessed by concessionaires
or other independent organizations providing services at or on county facilities; nor
performance or surety bonds; nor does it include charges or assessments collected bycounty agencies pursuant to a contract.
B. "Regulatory Fee" means any fee charged by a county agency in the course ofcarrying out and enforcing statutes, ordinances, or regulations. This includes business andoccupation license fees; animal license and control fees; building and land use permit fees;
and any other fee for permits/licenses issued as a requirement of law.
C. "Fee-for-Service" means any fee charged by a county agency to an individual or
an organization as a condition of the individual or organization receiving a service from thecounty. Such services include, but are not limited to, swimming and other recreational
programs/activities; recording and copying of legal or other documents; criminal history
checks; probation services; check disbursements; treasury services; and public defense
representation.
D. "Enterprise Fund Fee" means any fee charged and collected by or on behalf ofthe county's enterprise funds. (Ord. 6835 § 2, 1984).
2.99.030 Policies. The following policies shall govern the establishment of fees andthe amount of fees:
A. Any fee for which the amount or rate is established by state statute is exempt fromthis chapter.
B. King County may establish any fee, consistent with policies of this chapter, unlessspecifically prohibited by state statute.
C. Any fees established by the prosecuting attorney, superior court or district courtat their discretion under authority granted by state statute are exempt from this chapter.
D. Any fees established by the county board of health under state statute are exempt
from this chapter.
E. Any fees set by the department of natural resources and parks are exempt fromthis chapter.
F. Any fees set by the department of executive services for the 5th Avenue andJefferson Street county parking lot are exempt from this chapter through June 30, 2005.
G. The following fees and the amount of fees must be established by ordinance,
unless specific administrative fee-setting authority is granted by ordinance to a county
agency or official or by board of health rule and regulation to the Seattle-King County
department of public health or the county health officer:
1. Regulatory fees; and2. Enterprise fund fees.
H. For all other fees-for-service not specified in subsections A. through G. of thissection, the following policies and procedures apply:
1. The executive may establish changes in the existing amounts or rates of feesfor-service and may establish new fees-for-service by submitting the proposed schedule offee changes to the county council at the time the executive proposed annual budget issubmitted. The proposed schedule of fee changes shall also be filed with the clerk of thecouncil.
2. The proposed schedule of fee changes shall include the following information foreach proposed fee change:a. fee title and description. The description should indicate whether the proposal
is a change in the amount of an existing fee or a proposed new fee.
b. proposed amount or rate. If the proposal is a change to an existing fee, boththe existing amount or rate and the proposed amount or rate should be indicated.
c. effective date of the change. The date should be the first day of the next
calendar year.

d. legal authority. The information should cite this chapter or a more specificordinance or statute, if any, granting fee-setting authority.
e. reason for change. The information should indicate the reason for the change
and the methodology used to determine the proposed amount or rate.
3. Following receipt of the executive proposed schedule of fee changes, the county
council may enact an ordinance adopting or modifying the proposed schedule. If council
action is not taken on the proposed schedule within seventy-five days of receipt, theproposed fee changes shall become effective as submitted by the executive on the first dayof the calendar year following executive submittal.
4. Any changes in fees-for-service amounts or any new fees-for-service proposedby the executive at times other than that specified in this section must be submitted to thecounty council in the form of a proposed ordinance, and the changes shall not be effective
unless enacted by ordinance.
5. The fee-for-service amounts proposed by the executive under this section shallreflect all reasonable costs of providing the service. (Ord. 16451 § 1, 2009: Ord. 14713 § 5,
2003: Ord. 14509 § 26, 2002: Ord. 6835 § 3, 1984).
2.100 CODE INTERPRETATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
Sections:
2.100.020
2.100.030
2.100.040
2.100.050
2.100.060
2.100.070

Definitions.
Requests – acknowledgement – notice.
Procedure for issuance.
Administrative appeals.
Rules.
Fees.

2.100.020 Definitions.
A. “Code interpretation” means a formal statement regarding the meaning or
requirements of a particular provision in King County’s development regulations.
B. "Department” means the King County department with primary responsibility foradministering or implementing a particular development regulation.
C. “Development regulation” means the controls placed on development or land use
activities by the county including, but not limited to, zoning ordinances, critical areas
ordinances, shoreline master programs, official controls, planned unit development
ordinances, subdivision ordinances and binding site plan ordinances, together with any
amendments thereto. A development regulation does not include a decision to approve a
project permit application, as defined in RCW 36.70B.020, even though the decision may
be expressed in an ordinance by the county.
D. “Director” means the director or the director’s designee of the King County
department with primary responsibility for administering or implementing a particulardevelopment regulation.
E. “Party of record” means a person who has submitted written comments, testified,
asked to be notified or is the sponsor of a petition entered as part of the official county record
on a specific development proposal. (Ord. 14033 § 2, 2001).
2.100.030 Requests – acknowledgement – notice.
A. A person may request a code interpretation by submitting a request in accordancewith this chapter. The director may also issue a code interpretation on the director’s own
initiative.
B. A request for a code interpretation must be submitted in writing to the director ofthe department with primary responsibility administering or implementing the development

regulation that is the subject of the request. If the person is uncertain as to the appropriate
department to which the code interpretation request should be submitted, the person shallsubmit the request to the department of local services permitting division manager ordesignee, who shall make the determination and forward the request to the appropriate
department, and notify the person as to which department is responsible for responding to
the request.
C. A code interpretation request must:
1. Be in writing and shall be clearly labeled “Request for Code Interpretation.”
Failure to satisfy this requirement relieves the director of any obligation to acknowledge orotherwise process the request;
2. Identify the person seeking the code interpretation and provide an address towhich correspondence regarding the requested code interpretation should be mailed;
3. Identify the specific section or sections of King County’s development regulations
for which an interpretation is requested;
4. Identify the parcel or site, if the code interpretation request involves a particularparcel of property or site;
5. Identify the code enforcement action, if the code interpretation request involves
a code enforcement case;
6. Be accompanied by the fee required under K.C.C. 2.100.070; and7. Be limited to a single subject, which may require interpretation of one or morecode sections.
D.1. Within fifteen business days after receiving a code interpretation request, thedirector shall acknowledge receipt of the request.
The director shall mail theacknowledgment to the person submitting the request at the address provided in therequest. The acknowledgment shall include the following information, as applicable:
a. If the director determines that the code interpretation request does not containthe information required under this section, the director shall identify in the acknowledgment
the deficiencies in the code interpretation request. In such a situation, the director is under
no obligation to process the code interpretation request until a code interpretation request
complying with this chapter is submitted;
b. If the director determines that the code interpretation request is ambiguous or
unclear, the director may request that the person making the request to clarify the request.
The director is under no obligation to process the code interpretation request until anadequately clarified code interpretation request is submitted;
c. If the director determines that the code interpretation request presents
substantially the same issue as is pending before an adjudicatory body, such as the KingCounty hearing examiner, the King County council when acting as a quasi-judicial body, anyother quasi-judicial agency or any local, state or federal court, the director shall so state in
the acknowledgment. The director is then under no obligation to further process the code
interpretation request; andd. If a code interpretation is requested regarding an issue that the director has
previously addressed through a code interpretation, the director is not obligated to issue
another code interpretation and shall so state in the acknowledgment required by thissection and shall identify the previous code interpretation.
2. If the director determines that the code interpretation request relates to aparticular parcel of property, the director shall cause notice of the code interpretation request
to be given to the taxpayer of record for the subject parcel.
3. If the code interpretation request relates to a specific development project
pending before the county, the director shall cause notice of the code interpretation request
to be given to all parties of record for that project, including the applicant.
4. The notice required under this section must include a copy of the code
interpretation request and a copy of the director’s acknowledgment. Notice required underthis section may be by United States mail or other appropriate method of delivery. (Ord.
18791 § 11, 2018: Ord. 17420 § 6, 2012: Ord. 15605 § 1, 2006: Ord. 14033 § 4, 2001).
2.100.040 Procedure for issuance.
A. A person may submit written analysis and supporting documentation to assist thedirector in analyzing a code interpretation request.
B. The director may conduct research or investigation as the director deems
necessary to resolve the issue presented in the code interpretation request and may refer
the request to department staff and other county staff for review and analysis.
C. A code interpretation must be in writing, clearly labeled “Code Interpretation,” anddescribe the basis for the interpretation.
D. The director shall issue a code interpretation within sixty days after receiving thecode interpretation request, unless the director determines that based on the unusual natureof the issue additional time is necessary to respond to the request. If the code interpretation
request relates to a specific development proposal that is pending before the department oflocal services, permitting division, or relates to a code enforcement action that is subject toappeal under K.C.C. chapter 23.36, the code interpretation shall become final when thedepartment of local services, permitting division, issues its final decision on the underlying
development proposal for a type 1 or 2 decision, the department makes its recommendation
on a type 3 or 4 decision or, based on the code interpretation, the department issues a noticeand order, citation or stop work order under K.C.C. Title 23. If the director determines thata code interpretation request does not to relate to a specific development proposal that iscurrently pending before the county or to a code enforcement action, the code interpretation
is final when issued by the director.
E. The director shall maintain a list of indexed code interpretations for public
inspection and post the index and code interpretations on a King County web site andtransmit a copy of each code interpretation to the clerk of the King County council.
F. The director shall mail copies of the code interpretation to the following:
1. The person who requested the code interpretation;
2. If the director determines that the code interpretation relates to a specificdevelopment proposal that is pending before the county, the applicant and all other partiesof record for that proposal;
3. If the director determines the code interpretation relates to a specific parcel ofproperty, the taxpayer of record for that parcel; and4. Any person who has submitted written comments regarding the director's reviewof the code interpretation request.
G. When it is final, a code interpretation remains in effect until it is rescinded in writingby the director or it is modified or reversed on appeal by the hearing examiner, the KingCounty council or an adjudicatory body.
H. A code interpretation issued by the director governs all staff review and decisions
unless withdrawn or modified by the director or modified or reversed on appeal by the KingCounty hearing examiner, King County council, or an adjudicatory body. (Ord. 18791 § 12,
2018: Ord. 17420 § 7, 2012: Ord. 15605 § 2, 2006: Ord. 14033 § 5, 2001).
2.100.050 Administrative appeals.
A. Except as provided in subsection B. of this section, the director’s decision is thecounty’s final decision.
B. If the director determines that a code interpretation is necessary for review of a
specific development proposal that is currently before the department, and the development
project is subject to an administrative appeal, any appeal of the code interpretation shall beconsolidated with and is subject to the same appeal process as the underlying development
project. If the director determines that a code interpretation request relates to a code

enforcement action, any appeal of the code interpretation shall be consolidated with and issubject to the same appeal process as the code enforcement action. If the King County
hearing examiner makes the county’s final decision with regard to the underlying permit,
other approval type or code enforcement action regarding which the interpretation was
requested, the hearing examiner’s decision constitutes the county’s final decision on thecode interpretation request. If the King County council, acting as a quasi-judicial body,makes the county’s final decision with regard to the underlying permit or other approval typeregarding which the interpretation was requested, the King County council’s decision
constitutes the county’s final decision on the code interpretation request. (Ord. 18230 § 74,
2016: Ord. 15605 § 3, 2006: Ord. 14033 § 6, 2001).
2.100.060 Rules. The director may adopt rules in accordance with K.C.C. chapter
2.98 to implement this chapter. (Ord. 14033 § 7, 2001).
2.100.070 Fees. A code interpretation request made under this chapter must be
accompanied by payment of a fee in the amount of two hundred fifty dollars. The failure to
pay the fee relieves the director of the obligation of issuing a code interpretation until thedelinquency is cured. (Ord. 14033 § 8, 2001).
2.110 KING COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT
Sections:
2.110.010
2.110.020
2.110.025
2.110.030
2.110.040

District created - purpose - comprehensive plan.
Board of Supervisors - membership.
Rules - interim.
Advisory committee - purpose - membership - voting – rules.
Advisory committee - presence of councilmembers at meetings.

2.110.010 District created - purpose - comprehensive plan. The existing flood
control zone districts having been dissolved, in accordance with chapter 86.15 RCW, a
countywide flood control zone district covering the entire area of King County withboundaries as set forth in Attachment A to Ordinance 15728* is hereby created as of May
5, 2007. The new district shall be known as the "King County Flood Control Zone District."
The King County Flood Control Zone District will address flood control needs throughout
King County, including, without limitation, needs in the areas comprising the dissolved
districts. The 2006 King County Flood Hazard Management Plan will serve as the initial
comprehensive plan for the King County Flood Control Zone District. (Ord. 15728 § 4,2007).
*Available in the King County Archives.
2.110.020 Board of supervisors - membership. As provided for in RCW
86.15.050(1), members of the King County council shall be members of the board of
supervisors of the King County Flood Control Zone District. (Ord. 15728 § 5, 2007).
2.110.025 Rules - interim. Until such time as the board of supervisors of the KingCounty Flood Control Zone District develops and adopts specific rules governing its
operations, the rules governing standing committees of the King County council shallgovern the operations of the board of supervisors. (Ord. 15728 § 6, 2007).
2.110.030 Advisory committee - purpose - membership - voting - rules.

A. There is hereby created a King County Flood Control Zone District advisorycommittee, referred to in this section as "the advisory committee."
B. The advisory committee is created to provide expert policy advice to the boardof supervisors of the King County Flood Control Zone District on regional flood protection
issues. The committee shall review and recommend an annual work program and budget
for the district, including capital improvement program projects and funding levels, subject
to approval or approval and modification by the board of supervisors. Eleven copies of
the recommendations shall be filed with the clerk of the King County council no later thanAugust 31 of the preceding year, for distribution to all councilmembers.
C. The advisory committee shall be composed of fifteen members, consisting of
permanent seats and two-year seats, as follows:
1. Ten permanent seats shall be held by:a. each mayor, or a council member alternate designated by the mayor, of thefollowing cities: Tukwila, Auburn, Kent, Renton, Snoqualmie, North Bend, Carnation,
Seattle and Bellevue; andb. the King County executive;
2. Four two-year seats shall be held by either mayors or city council members, ormayor or council member alternates, as nominated by the Suburban Cities Association orits successor, from the remaining cities in King County to ensure the goal of diversity inthe geographic location and size of jurisdictions on the advisory committee; and3. One two-year seat shall be held by an individual, nominated by the county
executive, who is a resident of unincorporated King County.
D. The members for two-year seats allocated to representatives of unincorporated
King County and the Suburban Cities Association or its successor shall be subject toconfirmation by the King County council.
E. Each seat on the advisory committee shall have one vote, unless rules adopted
by the advisory committee provide otherwise.
F. The advisory committee shall adopt other rules governing its operations, at orpromptly after its first meeting. (17416 § 3, 2012: Ord. 15728 § 7, 2007).
2.110.040 Advisory committee - presence of councilmembers at meetings.
Members of the metropolitan King County council may be present at the meetings of theKing County Flood Control Zone District advisory committee to participate in advisorycommittee discussions and provide input to advisory committee members. (Ord. 15728 §10, 2007).
2.120 FERRY DISTRICT
Sections:
2.120.010
2.120.015

District created - voters - geographic limits - powers.
Readoption and ratification of board resolutions.

2.120.010 District created - voters - geographic limits - powers.
A. A ferry district within King County is hereby established.
B. The voters of the ferry district must be registered voters residing within theboundaries of the district. The county ferry district shall include the entire corporateboundary of the county.
C. The ferry district possesses all the powers that a ferry district may have underchapter 36.54 RCW and other authorities. (Ord. 17935 § 9, 2014: Ord. 15739 § 2, 2007).
2.120.015 Readoption and ratification of board resolutions. All resolutions
enacted by the board of the King County ferry district and not expressly repealed by

December 31, 2014, that are not inconsistent with the King County Charter or ordinances
are hereby readopted and ratified. (Ord. 17935 § 11, 2014).
2.124 TRANSIT PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
Sections:
2.124.010

Transit public involvement - sounding boards – transit advisorycommission – Access paratransit advisory committee.

2.124.010 Transit public involvement - sounding boards - transit advisorycommission – Access paratransit advisory committee. The King County Metro transit
department shall employ a transit public involvement model to promote responsiveness andaccountability to the community. The Metro transit department shall provide staff support
for the transit public involvement model, which shall include the following major elements:
A. Sounding boards, which are geographically, topically or community-based groups
convened for a limited time to consider specific transit topics. Sounding boards shall beestablished by the Metro transit department to provide advice on identified issues including,but not limited to, transit service changes. Sounding boards shall provide information to thetransit advisory commission, local jurisdictions, subarea transportation forums as well as theMetro transit department, the executive and the council. For major planning exercises suchas service changes, sounding boards shall make consensus recommendations to the transit
advisory commission and the Metro transit department.
B.1. The transit advisory commission, which is a permanent body that shall advise
the Metro transit department, the executive, the council, local jurisdictions and subareatransportation forums on transit issues and policy, including matters of concern to the elderly
and persons with disabilities. The transit advisory commission shall advise the department
on the inception and development of long-range planning efforts, and serve as a resource
for transit promotion.
2. As of February 18, 2011, the commission shall have up to thirty members who
were appointed by the executive and confirmed by the council to serve on either the transit
advisory committee or accessible services advisory committee. These initial members may
serve for the remainder of the terms for which they were appointed to the transit advisorycommittee or accessible services advisory committee. The executive shall not appoint
individuals to fill vacancies in these positions if the result would be to exceed themembership limits in subsection B.3. of this section.
3. Except as otherwise provided in subsection B.2. of this section, the commission
shall have eighteen members who are appointed by the executive and confirmed by the
council to two-year terms.
a. Nine members shall be transit riders, recruited by the Metro transit department
to reflect the diversity and geographic distribution of county residents.
b. Nine members shall be persons with disabilities or elderly persons, or beassociated with an agency that works with disabled and elderly persons, recruited by theMetro transit department to reflect the diversity of the communities they represent and typesof disabilities, as well as consideration of the geographic distribution of county residents.
4. The commission shall:a. adopt by-laws, elect a chair and vice-chair to quarterly terms and adopt anannual work program, which shall include issues of interest to transit riders and issues
related to accessibility and Access services for elderly and disabled riders as well as all
items requested by the council or the Metro transit department;b. meet as needed to complete the work plan and address other issues as theyarise; andc. designate one member to serve on each sounding board.

5. The transit advisory commission may establish standing and ad hoc
subcommittees to review issues that, in the commission's discretion, require in-depth study.
The subcommittees shall report to the transit advisory commission and are not authorized
to take actions independent of the commission.
C.1. The Access paratransit advisory committee, which shall advise the Metrotransit department, the executive and the council on issues related to Access paratransit
relative to the terms of the contract for Access paratransit service.
2. The Access paratransit advisory committee shall have at least nine members
who are appointed by the executive and confirmed by the council by motion. Membershipshall be comprised of Access paratransit riders, family members of Access paratransit
riders, representatives of organizations that provide services to Access paratransit riders
and representatives of organizations that support Access paratransit riders or potential
riders who have limited English proficiency. Members shall serve for two-year terms.
3. The Access paratransit advisory committee shall:a. adopt bylaws, elect a chair and vice-chair to annual terms and adopt an annual
work program focused around review of Access service;b. meet as needed to complete the work plan and address other issues as theyarise;
c. provide verbal reports to the council's mobility committee, or its successor, at
the request of the committee; andd.(1) prepare and transmit to the executive and the council an annual report,
beginning in August 2020, on Access paratransit service, including:(a) a review of and comment on the Metro transit department's annual
performance metrics and trends relevant to Access paratransit;(b) a review of and comment on information from customer surveys distributedby the Metro transit department relevant to Access paratransit;(c) a summary of areas of strength, deficiency or priorities for improvement in
the provision of Access paratransit services; and(d) an overall assessment of Access paratransit service for the prior year.
(2) The Access paratransit advisory committee shall file the report required
under subsection C.3.d.(1) of this section in the form of a paper original and an electronic
copy with the executive and the clerk of the council, and the clerk of the council shall retain
the original and provide an electronic copy to all councilmembers. (Ord. 19051 § 1, 2020:
Ord. 18838 § 1, 2018: Ord. 18777 § 9, 2018: Ord. 17025 § 3, 2011: Ord. 13543 § 1, 1999:
Ord. 11431 § 7, 1994).
2.130 MENTAL ILLNESS AND DRUG DEPENDENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Sections:
2.130.010
compensation.

Established - duties - composition - selection - rules – staffing –2.130.010 Established - duties - composition - selection - rules -staffing –compensation.
A. There is hereby established a King County mental illness and drug dependency
advisory committee.
B.1. The advisory committee shall act as an advisory body to the county executive
and council. The advisory committee shall conduct reviews, provide comment on and makerecommendations on the mental illness and drug dependency tax-funded initiatives,
services, programs and policy goals outlined in Ordinance 15949, Section 3, as amended*,and K.C.C. 4A.500.340** and consistent with the mental illness and drug dependency
service improvement plan that is approved in accordance with Ordinance 17998. The

advisory committee shall provide ongoing review, comments and recommendations on
mental illness and drug dependency tax-funded programs until all sales tax revenues havebeen expended and the final evaluation of the mental illness and drug dependency
programs and services has been submitted to the council.
2. The advisory committee shall:a. review and provide written recommendations to the executive and the council
on the implementation and effectiveness of the county's sales tax funded programs inmeeting the goals established in Ordinance 15949, Section 3, as amended*, and K.C.C.
4A.500.300 through 4A.500.340**;b. review and report to the executive and the council on annual evaluation
reports as required by Ordinance 15949, Section 3, as amended*, and K.C.C. 4A.500.300
through 4A.500.340**;c. review and make comment on emerging and evolving priorities for the use of
the mental illness and drug dependency sales tax revenue;d. serve as a forum to promote coordination and collaboration between entities
involved with sales tax programs;
e. educate the public, policymakers and stakeholders on mental illness and drug
dependency sales tax funded programs; andf. coordinate and share information with other related efforts and groups.
C. The advisory committee shall be composed of one representative from each of
the following:
1. The council;
2. The executive;
3. The superior court;
4. The district court;
5. The prosecuting attorney's office;
6. The sheriff's office;
7. The department of public health;
8. The department of judicial administration;
9. The department of adult and juvenile detention;
10. The department of community and human services;
11. A provider of both mental health and chemical dependency services in KingCounty;12. A provider of culturally specific mental health services in King County;
13. A provider of culturally specific chemical dependency services in King County;
14. A representative of an organization with expertise in helping individuals withbehavioral health needs in King County get jobs and live independent lives;
15. A provider of domestic violence prevention services in King County;
16. A provider of sexual assault victim services in King County;
17. An agency providing mental health and chemical dependency services toyouth;
18. Harborview Medical Center;
19. All Home;
20. King County systems integration initiative, which is an ongoing work group
established by the executive for addressing juvenile justice matters;
21. The Community Health Council;
22. The Washington State Hospital Association, representing King County
hospitals;
23. The Sound Cities Association;
24. The city of Seattle;
25. The city of Bellevue;
26. Labor representing a bona fide labor organization;

County;

27. The office of the public defender;
28. The National Alliance on Mental Illness;
29. Puget Sound educational services district;
30. A representative of a philanthropic organization;
31. The King County behavioral health advisory board;
32. A representative of an organization with expertise in recovery;
33. A representative of the five managed care organizations operating in King

34. An individual representing behavioral health consumer interests from themental illness and drug dependency advisory committee’s consumers and communities
ad hoc work group;
35. An individual representing community interests from the mental illness anddrug dependency advisory committee’s consumers and communities ad hoc work group;
36. A representative of a grassroots organization serving a cultural population or
cultural populations; and
37. A representative of unincorporated King County.
D.1. Separately elected officials and King County agency directors or theirdesignees are not required to be appointed or confirmed.
2. A member of the advisory committee who has been confirmed to serve onanother county board or commission is not required to be confirmed to serve on theadvisory committee.
3. All other members of the advisory committee are subject to appointment by thecounty executive and confirmation by the county council.
4. The executive shall appoint advisory committee members to staggered termsin accordance with K.C.C. 2.28.010.C.
E.1. The advisory committee shall adopt rules governing its operations at its firstmeeting.
2. The committee shall elect a chair or cochairs.
3. Subcommittees and workgroups may be formed at the discretion of the advisorycommittee.
4. At each meeting of the advisory committee, the advisory committee shallprovide an open comment period.
F. The advisory committee shall coordinate with other county groups including, but
not limited to, the All Home coordinating board, the regional human services levy citizen
oversight board, the veterans levy citizen oversight board, the children and youth advisoryboard, the behavioral health and recovery board, the board of health and the adult andjuvenile justice operational master plan advisory groups, or their successors, to ensurethat information is shared and, when appropriate, efforts are coordinated and not
duplicated.
G. The office of performance, strategy and budget and the behavioral health andrecovery division of the department of community and human services shall provide
staffing of the advisory committee.
H. Members of the advisory committee who are not full-time county employees may
be reimbursed for parking expenses in the King County parking garage when attending
meetings of the committee. (Ord. 18452 § 1, 2017: Ord. 18171 § 3, 2015: Ord. 18170 §4, 2015: Ord. 16960 § 13, 2010: Ord. 16077 § 4, 2008).
*Available in the King County Archives.
**Reviser's note: K.C.C. 4A.500.340 expired January 1, 2017.
2.140 FORECAST COUNCIL

Sections:2.140.010
2.140.020
2.140.030
2.140.040
2.140.050
2.140.060
2.140.070
2.140.080
2.140.090
2.140.100
2.140.110

Forecast council - established - duties.
Forecast council - composition - appointment.
Office of economic and financial analysis - established –administration.
Chief economist - appointment.
Chief economist - selection.
Chief economist - terms - interim.
Chief economist - powers, duties.
Economic and revenue forecasts - preliminary - updated – revision use.
Work program - work plan.
Reports - filing, distribution.
Staff, clerical personnel.

2.140.010 Forecast council - established - duties. There is hereby establishedthe forecast council. The forecast council shall, with input from the office of economic andfinancial analysis and according to the process in K.C.C. 2.140.070, adopt official county
economic and revenue forecasts that must be used as the basis for the executive's budget
proposals. The forecast council may also assign additional economic and financial studies
to the office of economic and financial analysis. (Ord. 16391 § 2, 2009).
2.140.020 Forecast council - composition - appointment. The forecast council
shall be composed of the executive, two county councilmembers and a county employeewith knowledge of the budgeting and financial management practices of the county. County
councilmembers shall be appointed annually by the chair of the county council. The county
employee shall be appointed by the executive. New appointments to the forecast council
shall be made by January 31 and shall not be subject to confirmation. (Ord. 16391 § 3,2009).
2.140.030
Office of economic and financial analysis - established administration. There is hereby established the office of economic and financial analysis,
to be administered by the chief economist. (Ord. 16391 § 4, 2009).
2.140.040 Chief economist - appointment. The chief economist shall be appointed
by unanimous vote of the forecast council following a selection and screening process as
described in K.C.C. 2.140.050. (Ord. 16391 § 5, 2009).
2.140.050 Chief economist - selection.
A. The forecast council shall conduct an open and competitive process to select thechief economist.
B. The selection process shall include at least the following:
1. Review and update, if necessary, of the chief economist's job classification
description;
2. Advertisement of the availability of the position;
3. Establishment of an ad hoc chief economist screening committee, with an equal
number of representatives from the executive and legislative branches, responsible for thescreening and preliminary interviewing of candidates; and4. Final interview and selection of appointee by the forecast council.
C. The chief economist screening committee shall be appointed by the forecast
council. Only county employees may be appointed to the screening committee.

D. The screening committee shall screen, interview and score applicants for the chief
economist position, making a slate of the top ranking candidates for the forecast council's
consideration. At the forecast council's discretion, the screening committee may also be
formed to make recommendations to the forecast council on any decision to reappoint thechief economist. (Ord. 16391 § 6, 2009).
2.140.060 Chief economist - terms - interim. The chief economist shall serve aterm of five years, or for a specified period less than five years set by a unanimous vote of
the forecast council at the time of appointment, unless removed at any time by vote of threemembers of the forecast council, and shall be reconsidered for reappointment at the end of
the term of office. The forecast council may appoint an interim chief economist whenever
the term of the chief economist expires or the office otherwise is vacant. (Ord. 16391 § 7,2009).
2.140.070 Chief economist - powers, duties. The chief economist shall perform
economic and revenue forecasts, and shall conduct special studies at the request of theforecast council. In the course of performing this work, the chief economist shall have fulland unrestricted access to and authority to examine any and all property and records
contained in any form that are related to the financial and operational matters of any
department, agency, program or other entity that receives appropriations or funding of any
type from the county. (Ord. 16391 § 9, 2009).
use.

2.140.080 Economic and revenue forecasts - preliminary - updated - revision -A. The chief economist shall prepare and submit to the forecast council the following:
1. Annually, by March 1 or by an earlier alternate date approved by a majority of
the forecast council, proposed preliminary economic and revenue forecasts for the county's
ensuing fiscal year;
2. At least one hundred seventy days before the end of each year, or by an earlier
alternate date approved by a majority of the forecast council, an updated economic andrevenue forecast for the county's ensuing fiscal year; and3. Additional economic and financial studies as assigned by the forecast council.
B. A forecast may be adopted or revised by a vote of the majority of the forecast
council within fifteen days of its submittal by the chief economist. If the forecast is not
adopted or revised by a vote of the majority of the forecast council by then, the forecast shallbe deemed adopted.
C. The preliminary forecast shall be used as the basis for the executive's preliminary
budget preparation including preparation of the status quo budget, budget instructions todepartments, and preliminary review of departmental submittals to the executive. The
updated forecast shall be used as the basis for the executive's proposed budget. The mostcurrent forecast shall be used as the basis for budget amendments. (Ord. 16391 § 8, 2009).
2.140.090 Work program - work plan.
A. The forecast council shall review and approve annually a work program preparedby the chief economist for the office of economic and financial analysis. The work program
shall include all economic and revenue forecasts and any recommended special studies tobe conducted and managed by the chief economist.
B. The forecast council may amend the approved annual work plan to meet special
circumstances as they might arise. However, a forecast council-initiated change to the work
plan shall not be made that adversely affects a forecast or study in progress without
considering the recommendation of the chief economist. (Ord. 16391 § 10, 2009).

2.140.100 Reports - filing, distribution.
A. All reports, including forecasts, studies and work programs, produced by the officeshall be filed with the clerk of the county council for distribution to all forecast council
members.
B. Upon approval by the forecast council, all final reports shall be filed with the clerkof the county council for distribution to each county councilmember and the executive. (Ord.
16391 § 11, 2009).
2.140.110 Staff, clerical personnel. The chief economist, with consultation of theforecast council, may employ staff, clerical personnel or use of services of consultants as
may be necessary for the conduct of the office of economic and financial analysis. The staff
and clerical personnel shall serve at the pleasure of the forecast council and are thus exempt
from career service. (Ord. 16391 § 12, 2009).
2.150 RENTERS' COMMISSION
Sections:
2.150.010
2.150.020
2.150.030
2.150.040
2.150.050
2.150.060
2.150.070

Created – duties – expiration.
Definitions.
Membership - appointments - qualifications – compensation.
Membership – positions- term limits- vacancies.
Other duties – annual work plan.
Staffing and operation – officers and administrative procedures.
Open meetings.

2.150.010 Created – duties – expiration.
A. There is hereby created a King County renters' commission that shall advise theexecutive and council on issues and policies of importance to tenants in residential rental
properties in unincorporated King County.
B. This chapter expires ten years after December 14, 2019. (Ord. 19008 § 3, 2019).
2.150.020 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
A. "Commission" means the King County renters' commission.
B. "Landlord" means the owner, lessor or sublessor of the dwelling unit or theproperty of which it is a part, and in addition means any person designated as
representative of the owner, lessor or sublessor, including, but not limited to, an agent, a
resident manager or a designated property manager.
C. "Rental agreement" means all agreements that establish or modify the terms,
conditions, rules, regulations or any other provisions concerning the use and occupancy
of a dwelling unit.
D. "Renter" means a tenant in a residential rental property.
E. "Residential rental property" means a structure or that part of a structure that isused as a home, residence or sleeping place, by one person or by two or more persons
maintaining a common household, including, but not limited to, single-family residences
and units of multiplexes, apartment buildings and mobile homes, and that is occupied
primarily for living or dwelling purposes under a rental agreement.
F. "Tenant" means any person who is entitled to occupy a rental unit primarily forliving or dwelling purposes under a rental or lease agreement, written or oral, express or
implied. "Tenant" also includes a subtenant who is in occupancy with the consent of theowner. (Ord. 19008 § 4, 2019).

2.150.030 Membership – appointments – qualifications – compensation.
A. The commission shall be composed of seven members. Appointments should
be made to ensure that varied renter perspectives are represented, including those ofrenters who identify with or are affiliated with organizations that use an equity lens or thatwork with historically underrepresented groups, such as low-income renters, renters ofcolor, LGBTQ renters, renters with criminal history, immigrant renters, those paying rentwith assistance and renters who have experienced homelessness. Appointments should
be made, to the extent possible, so that the commission membership is representative of
the county geographically. Each member of the commission must be a renter within
unincorporated King County at the time of the member's appointment. A person may not
be a landlord or owner while serving on the commission.
B. Members may receive compensation, contingent on budget appropriation.
Member compensation may be provided only as authorized by adopted county policy as
related to the compensation of boards and commissions, and as may be amended after
executive review of compensation for boards and commissions. (Ord. 19008 § 5, 2019).
2.150.040 Membership – positions – term limits – vacancies.
A. Member positions shall be numbered one through seven. Individuals shall be
appointed into these numbered positions by the executive in consultation with the county
council. All appointments are subject to confirmation by the county council by motion.
B. For the initial round of appointments, odd numbered positions will serve oneyear terms and even numbered positions will serve two-year terms. After the conclusionof initial terms, all subsequent terms of each position shall be for two years. A member
shall not serve more than two consecutive terms. Any vacancy in an unexpired term shallbe filled in the same manner as the original appointment. If a person is appointed to fill
the duration of an unexpired term, then that term shall count as one of the two consecutive
terms only if the portion of the unexpired term actually served is at least one year. (Ord.
19008 § 6, 2019).
2.150.050 Other duties – annual work plan. The duties of the commission include
the following:
A. Provide information, advice and counsel to the council, the executive, thedepartment of community and human services, the office of equity and social justice, andother county departments on issues and policies affecting renters, including housing
affordability and the intersection of renters with their access to transportation, green andother public spaces, renter protections, public health and safety, education, and economic
growth as they relate to renters in unincorporated King County;
B. Monitor the enforcement and effectiveness of legislation related to renters andrenter protections;C. Provide periodic advice on priorities, policies and strategies for strengthening
and enhancing the enforcement and effectiveness of renter protections;D. Adopt an annual work plan. The plan shall include a briefing on thecommission's public involvement process for soliciting community and citizen input indeveloping the commission's annual work plan and updates on the work plan; andE. Collaborate and consult with other county commissions and committees,
departments, the King County housing authority board of commissioners, the affordable
housing committee of the King County growth management planning council, the Seattle
renters' commission, and other community groups and associations, including those
representing rental property landlords, to gather information, feedback, andrecommendations related to the King County renters' commission's work. (Ord. 19738 §6, 2023: Ord. 19008 § 7, 2019).

2.150.060 Staffing and operation – officers and administrative procedures.
The director of the department of community and human services or designee shall be
responsible for the staffing and operation of the commission. Before undertaking its other
responsibilities, the commission shall elect officers and adopt administrative procedures.
(Ord. 19008 § 8, 2019).
2.150.070 Open meetings. Meetings of the commission shall be open to the public
and the commission shall operate subject to the state Open Public Meetings Act of 1971,
in accordance with chapter 42.30 RCW. (Ord. 19008 § 9, 2019).
2.200 SEATTLE-KING COUNTY TAXICAB ADVISORY COMMISSION
Sections:
2.200.010
2.200.020
2.200.030
2.200.040
2.200.050

Established - purpose - recommendations.
Membership.
Membership - appointments - terms - vacancies.
Notice of changes to ordinances or rules - annual report.
Meeting - convening -removal of member for absence – locations - nocompensation.

2.200.010 Established - purpose - recommendations. There is established a
Seattle-King County taxicab advisory commission. The purpose of the commission is to
study regulations, rules, policies and issues relevant to the provision of high-quality taxicab
service in the city of Seattle and King County while ensuring the economic viability owningand driving taxicabs, and to make recommendations to the city of Seattle and King Countyon these matters. Recommendations to those jurisdictions shall include, but not be limited
to, the following:
A. Changes in governmental taxicab regulations;
B. Changes in administrative rules;
C. Changes to the city of Seattle and King County taxicab codes and legislationthat would affect the taxicab industry;
D. The setting of taxicab fares;
E. Taxicab licensing;
F. Ways to increase the availability of taxicab service in Seattle and King County.
Recommendations on this subject shall be included in the commission's first annual reportto King County and the city of Seattle; andG. Evaluating current taxicab regulations, including making recommendations toeach jurisdiction's respective executive and legislative bodies. (Ord. 16682 § 2, 2009).
2.200.020 Membership. The Seattle-King County taxicab advisory commission
shall have the following members:
A. Three who represent taxicab license owners, which shall be positions one, twoand ten;B. Three who represent taxicab drivers but are not taxicab license owners, andwho have not been a license owner within the previous five years, which shall be positions
three, four and nine;
C. Three from the hospitality industry, tourism industry or medical facilities,
representing patrons who use taxicabs, which shall be positions five, six and eleven;
D. One who is a person with a disability or a person who represents persons withdisabilities, which shall be position eight; andE. One who is a person who represents individuals over the age of sixty, whichshall be position seven. (Ord. 16682 § 3, 2009).

2.200.030 Membership - appointments - terms - vacancies.
A. Individuals shall be appointed specifically into each of the numbered positions.
Members in odd-numbered positions from position one to position nine shall be appointed
by the city of Seattle. Individuals in even-numbered positions from position two to position
ten shall be appointed by the King County executive and confirmed by the King County
council. Position eleven shall be appointed by the other members of the commission.
B.1. Initial terms for the each appointment to the positions shall be as follows:a. Positions one, two and five shall serve one-year terms that begin January 1,
2010;
b. Positions three, four, nine and ten shall serve two-year terms that begin
January 1, 2010; andc. Positions six, seven, eight and eleven shall serve three-year terms that begin
January 1, 2010.
2. At the conclusion of the initial term of each appointment, all subsequent termsof each position shall be for three years. A commission member whose term has expired
may continue to serve into the following term until a successor has been appointed by theappropriate authority to complete the term. A member shall not serve more than two
consecutive terms. A vacancy for an unexpired term shall be filled by the appropriate
appointing authority. (Ord. 16682 § 4, 2009).
2.200.040 Notice of changes to ordinances or rules - annual report. KingCounty shall provide written notice to the Seattle-King County taxicab advisorycommission, no more than fifteen days following any proposed changes to county
ordinances or rules that pertain to the setting of taxicab fares, taxicab licensing, and otherlegislation regarding the taxicab industry or its customers. Such written notice shall also
occur no less than thirty days in advance of adoption of proposed ordinances, rules, orother legislation so that the commission will have sufficient time to review proposedchanges and report its recommendations to King County and the city of Seattle. (Ord.
19738 § 7, 2023: Ord. 16682 § 5, 2009).
2.200.050 Meeting - convening - removal of member for absence - locations no compensation. The Seattle-King County taxicab advisory commission shall convene
as necessary, but at least quarterly, to perform the duties outlined in K.C.C. 2.200.010.
The county shall provide an executive department employee to staff the committee. The
appropriate appointing authority may remove any member who is absent without excuse
from three consecutive commission meetings. Commission meeting locations shall rotate
between city of Seattle and King County facilities. Commission members shall serve
without compensation. (Ord. 16682 § 6, 2009).
2.300 WASHINGTON STATE CONVENTION CENTER PUBLIC FACILITIESDISTRICT
Sections:
2.300.010
2.300.020

District created - powers.
Board of directors.

2.300.010 District created - powers. A public facilities district, formally called the
Washington State Convention Center public facilities district, with the powers set forth inchapter 36.100 RCW and other applicable law, is hereby created within King County,
coextensive with the boundaries of King County, to acquire, own and operate a convention
and trade center transferred from a public nonprofit corporation. After the transfer has

occurred, the public facilities district may do business as the Washington State Convention
Center. (Ord. 16883 § 2, 2010).
2.300.020 Board of directors. The district's initial board of directors shall consistof the nine members of the board of directors who serve as of July 30, 2010, on the boardof the Washington State Convention Center public nonprofit corporation. Following the
expiration of the terms of the initial board of directors, three members must be nominatedby the county executive subject to confirmation by the county legislative authority; threemembers must be nominated by the mayor of the city of Seattle subject to confirmation by
the city legislative authority; and three members must be appointed by the Washington
state governor. Initial board members will serve two-year terms or four-year terms, as
designated by the Washington governor who also shall identify the board positions towhich successors to initial directors are to be appointed by the city of Seattle and to which
successors to the initial directors are to be appointed by the county. One of the governor's
appointments and one of the county's appointments must be representative of the lodging
industry in the public facilities district and one of the city's appointments must be
representative of organized labor, except that these requirements do not apply to the initialboard of the district. (Ord. 16883 § 3, 2010).
2.400 POVERTY BAY SHELLFISH PROTECTION DISTRICT
Sections:
2.400.010
2.400.020
2.400.030
2.400.040
2.400.060

District created – county council as governing body – adoption ofshellfish protection program.
Legal boundaries.
Purpose – the Poverty Bay Shellfish Protection District Closure
Response Plan.
Department of natural resources and parks as lead agency –coordination with other entities.
Dissolution of district and repeal of chapter – after state
reclassification of area – preparation and transmittal by department of
natural resources and parks.

2.400.010 District created – county council as governing body – adoption ofshellfish protection program. The Poverty Bay shellfish protection district is hereby
created in accordance with RCW 90.72.030 and RCW 90.72.045. The council shallconstitute the governing body of the district and shall adopt a shellfish protection programwith elements and activities to be effective within the district. (Ord. 18840 § 2, 2018).
2.400.020 Legal boundaries. The legal boundaries of the Poverty Bay shellfish
protection district are in Attachment A to Ordinance 18840*. (Ord. 18840 § 3, 2018).
*Available in the King County Archives.
2.400.030 Purpose – the Poverty Bay Shellfish Protection District Closure
Response Plan. The purpose of the Poverty Bay shellfish protection district is toimplement a shellfish protection program to address the causes or suspected causes ofpollution resulting in water quality degradation that led to the Washington state Department
of Health downgrade of the classification of the commercial shellfish harvesting area of
Poverty bay. The Poverty Bay Shellfish Protection District Closure Response Plan,
Attachment B to Ordinance 18840*, is hereby adopted as the shellfish protection program.
(Ord. 18840 § 4, 2018).

*Available in the King County Archives.
2.400.040 Department of natural resources and parks as lead agency –coordination with other entities. The King County department of natural resources andparks shall be the lead agency for implementation of the Shellfish Protection District
Closure Response Plan. The department shall coordinate with state agencies andaffected cities, tribes, utility districts that have regulatory authority for any of the sourcesof nonpoint pollution covered by the plan, and other appropriate entities with regulatory
authority or activities within the boundary to implement the Poverty Bay Shellfish
Protection District Closure Response Plan. (Ord. 18840 § 5, 2018).
2.400.060 Dissolution of district and repeal of chapter – after state
reclassification of area – preparation and transmittal by department of natural
resources and parks. When the Washington state Department of Health has reclassified
the affected commercial shellfish harvesting area of Poverty Bay to approved status, thedepartment of natural resources and parks shall prepare and transmit to the council aproposed ordinance dissolving the Poverty Bay shellfish protection district and repealing
this chapter. (Ord. 18840 § 7, 2018).