March 21, 2005

KING COUNTY BOARD OF ETHICS MEETING NOTICE

When: Monday, March 21, 2005, 4:30 p.m.

Where: Bank of America Tower

701 Fifth Avenue, 34 th floor

Conference Room, Suite 3460

Seattle, WA 98104

AGENDA

1. Approval of Agenda

2. Approval of Meeting Minutes of February 22, 2005

3. Guest Speaker Amy Calderwood, King County Ombudsman and Director of the Office of Citizen Complaints. Information sharing.

4. Executive Session.

5. Recognition for CountyBoard and Commission Members . Review and discussion.

6. Financial Disclosure Program. Status report.

7. Response to Questions Raised at February 22 Meeting

• County Elections and Redistricting
• Acceptance of Meals Under the Code of Ethics
• Acceptance of Gifts Under the Code of ethics

8. Annual Board Reception. Review and discussion.

9. Staff Report

• Staff Informational Response Summary
• Follow-up to February 22 Meeting with Other Ethics Agencies
• Administrator Out of Office – beginning April 25, returning May 9

Upon advance request, reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities

are available by calling 206-296-1586 or TTY Relay: 771

ALTERNATE FORMATS AVAILABLE

Minutes of the March 21, 2005 , Meeting

of the King County Board of Ethics

The March 21, 2005 , meeting of the King County Board of Ethics was called to order by Chair Price Spratlen at 4:30 p.m. Board members in attendance were:

Lois Price Spratlen , PhD, Chair

Roland H. Carlson

Margaret T. Gordon, PhD

Rev. Paul F. Pruitt

Jerry Saltzman

Others in attendance:

Catherine A. Clemens, Administrator, Board of Ethics

Alan Abrams, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney

James J. Buck, Administrative Services Manager, Department of Executive Services (DES)

Susan Harrington, Financial Disclosure Coordinator, Board of Ethics

Amy Calderwood, Ombudsman and Director, Office of Citizen Complaints

David Lawson, Internal Audit Manager, Executive Audit Services, Office of Management and Budget, Office of the Executive

1. Approval of Agenda . Mr. Carlson moved and Rev. Pruitt seconded that the Board approve the proposed agenda. The Board unanimously adopted the motion.

Mr. Abrams arrived at 4:32 p.m.

2. Approval of Meeting Minutes of February 22, 2005 . Rev. Pruitt moved and Dr. Gordon seconded that the Board approve the February 22, 2005 , meeting minutes. The Board unanimously adopted the motion and the minutes were approved.

The chair asked for introductions from those present.

Mr. Saltzman arrived at 4:38 p.m.

3. Guest Speaker Amy Calderwood, King County Ombudsman and Director of the Office of Citizen Complaints (OCC). Chair Price Spratlen welcomed Ms. Calderwood and noted that she had appeared before the Board two years ago when she was first appointed Ombudsman. Ms. Calderwood provided an overview of the OCC and its role within King County . She noted that since 1992, when the OCC was granted the authority to investigate ethics complaints, the office had reviewed a total of 111 complaints. The Board posed questions and shared information regarding the work of the OCC, and its relationship to the work of the Board of Ethics and its office.

Ms. Harrington left the meeting at 4:55 p.m.

Chair Price Spratlen thanked Ms. Calderwood for attending and for providing copies of the Tri-Annual Report produced by the OCC. Ms. Calderwood left the meeting at 5:02 p.m.

4. Executive Session. At 5:03 p.m. Chair Price Spratlen requested that the meeting move into executive session for the purpose of discussing the performance of a public employee. The chair announced that the executive session would conclude in 20 minutes.

Mr. Buck arrived at 5:09 p.m.

At 5:25 p.m. , the Board completed the executive session and resumed its regular meeting.

Mr. Lawson left the meeting at 5:25 p.m.

5. Recognition for County Board and Commission Members . Chair Price Spratlen stated she wished to address two aspects of this issue: 1) limiting support the Board may give to past Board members. She asked why the Board of Ethics is not allowed to write a letter in support Mr. Howell's (a former board member) nomination for a prestigious award? In addition, why are Board members allowed to write recommendations for the same individual as individuals? She stated that, as Board members, they are considered 'employees' of King County; and 2) the county has a poor record of acknowledging board and commission members who have given time and expertise. She stated that the Board should explore a systematic, consistent means of recognition, and that it is a matter of building in a structure that should be publicized.

Mr. Carlson noted that Boeing provided employees with service awards. Mr. Buck stated that the County does provide recognition certificates and awards for terms of service (e.g. five years, 10 years, and so on.) Following discussion, Mr. Saltzman moved that the Board investigate how to establish a system of recognition within the county that reflects terms of service to acknowledge volunteer contributions. Rev. Pruitt seconded the motion and the motion was approved unanimously.

Ms. Clemens stated that she would research current acknowledgement efforts by contacting staff liaisons and the executive's special assistant who works with executive-appointed board and commission members. Chair Price Spratlen noted that she would address the issue when she next meets with the executive, and asked that this matter be placed on the next meeting agenda. Due to the time, she also stated that she would delay the discussion of Mr. Howell's letter until the next meeting as well.

6. Financial Disclosure Program. Ms. Clemens reported on the status of filing compliance for 2005 annual disclosure program. As of March 21, 2005 , at 2:27 p.m. , of the 2,411 employee required to file, 422 forms were still outstanding for an 82% compliance rate; of the 439 board and commission members required to file, 128 forms were outstanding, for a 71% compliance rate. The chair noted that Public Health compliance was only at 16%. Ms. Clemens stated that this indicated a potential problem for that department in meeting the deadline; she has notified the deputy director twice of the issue. Chair Price Spratlen stated that a letter drafted by Mr. Abrams must be sent to everyone who had not filed by April 15. Ms. Clemens said she will present a final report to the Board at the next meeting on April 18.

7. Response to Questions Raised at February 22 Meeting. Ms. Clemens reviewed issues raised by Board members during the February 22 meeting, including county elections and redistricting; acceptance of meals under the Code of Ethics; acceptance of gifts under the Code of Ethics; and the affect of spam on use of county resources restrictions.

8. Annual Board Reception . Ms. Clemens reviewed the May 25th itinerary, which follows previous reception itineraries; all members plan to attend. The chair asked that a photographer attend and take photos. Ms. Clemens reminded members that the May meeting will be held directly following the reception, and the agenda will include a continuation of the discussion of collaborative activities with other ethics jurisdictions. She anticipates attendance of members from other jurisdictions to attend both the reception and meeting.

9. Staff Report. Staff Information Response Summary. The ethics administrator issued nine (9) written staff informational responses (SIR) from February 15, 2005 , through March 11, 2005 , as requested by employees and elected officials of King County . The summary is intended to inform the Board of Ethics of the number and range of topics of the SIRs. Ethics issues addressed by the responses included: personal use of fax machines (2); gifts from vendors; post-employment; lobbying to legislature by managers; acceptance of meals; potential conflict of interest for commissioner; how to address ethics-related issues in the workplace; and donations to county for a health initiative. Follow-up to February 22 Meeting with Other Ethics Agencies. No discussion. Administrator Out-Of-Office. The administrator will be out of the office beginning April 25 and returning May 9.

Rev. Pruitt asked whether or not, as a Board of Ethics member, he is allowed to attend events or fundraisers for candidates for elective office. It was decided that Board members may attend such events, but they may not contribute to candidates.

Chair Price Spratlen acknowledged the 2004 Annual Report that was included in Board packets. She stated the report was a beautiful piece of work and expressed the Board's appreciation for Ms. Clemens' efforts in that regard.

The chair also stated she was pleased to welcome back Mr. Carlson following his recent surgery. Mr. Carlson expressed his appreciation of the cards, visits and phone calls he received during his recuperation.

Mr. Carlson moved and Dr. Gordon seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. The Board unanimously approved the motion and the meeting was adjourned at 5:58 p.m.

Approved this 19 th day of April, 2005, by the King County Board of Ethics.

Signed for the Board :__________________________________________________

Dr. Lois Price Spratlen , Chair