Council Republicans call for repeal of Critical Area Ordinance’s rural area clearing limits In the wake of the 3-0 unanimous decision by the State of Washington Court of Appeals in Citizens Alliance for Property Rights v. Ron Sims, the Republican Caucus of the Metropolitan King County Council today introduced a repeal of the rural clearing limits imposed by the Clearing and Grading Ordinance adopted along with a package of legislation collectively known as the Critical Areas Ordinances (CAO).