April 19, 2005

KING COUNTY BOARD OF ETHICS SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE

When: Tuesday, April 19, 2005, 1:15 p.m.

Where: Bank of America Tower

701 Fifth Avenue, 34 th floor

Conference Room, Suite 3460

Seattle, WA 98104

Note change of day and time from usual schedule

AGENDA

1. Approval of Agenda

2. Approval of Meeting Minutes of March 21, 2005, and April 6, 2005.

3. Financial Disclosure Program. Report on compliance.

4. Ordinance Relating to Oaths for Disclosure Statements. Report.

5. Awareness Campaign Outreach -- Meetings with Department Management Teams. Report.

6. Recognizing King County Board and Commission Members. Discussion

• Use of county resources to write recommendations
• Systematic process to recognize member service

7. Staff Report.

• Staff Informational Response Summary
• Annual Board Reception and Board Meeting -- May 25, 2005.

8. Executive Session.

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 April 19, 2005, Special Meeting

of the King County Board of Ethics

The April 19, 2005, special meeting of the King County Board of Ethics was called to order by Chair Price Spratlen at 1:20 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

Carl Johansen, Presiding Officer, Appeal Hearing

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

The chair asked for introductions from those present.

2. Approval of Meeting Minutes of March 21, 2005, and April 6, 2005. Rev. Pruitt moved and Dr. Gordon seconded that the Board approve the March 21, 2005, meeting minutes. The Board unanimously adopted the motion and the minutes were approved. Mr. Carlson moved and Rev. Pruitt seconded that the Board approve the April 6, 2005, special meeting minutes. The Board unanimously adopted the motion and the minutes were approved

Mr. Buck arrived at 1:25 p.m.

3. Financial Disclosure Program. Ms. Clemens informed the Board of a request for suspension or modification of the filing requirement for a Board of Health member, Department of Public Health, and recommended acceptance based on the supervisor memo which was attached. Mr. Carlson moved that the suspension or modification be approved by the Board of Ethics, with the understanding that the responsible department employee maintains contact with the ethics office to ensure that the filing requirement is completed as soon as the board member is able. Mr. Saltzman seconded the motion and the motion was unanimously approved.

Ms. Clemens acknowledged Susan Harrington's excellent work as this year's financial disclosure coordinator, particularly in clear reporting and effective communication with county employees. Ms. Clemens reviewed the Report on the 2005 Program for the Disclosure of Financial and Other Interests, including information on training and education; systems of document review; notification, reminders, and reports; and recommendations for improvements to the program. Of the 2,411 employees required to file disclosure statements, six had not yet filed by the April 15 deadline; of the 432 board and commission members required to file, 12 had not yet filed. Overall, including employees and members, filing compliance by deadline was 99.2%. A report prepared on April 19, 12:00 noon, indicated that two additional individuals had filed.

Ms. Clemens presented ‘show cause' letters to be sent to those individuals who had not yet filed. The letters had previously been approved by the Board and reviewed by Mr. Abrams. Mr. Saltzman moved to accept the Report on the 2005 Program for the Disclosure of Financial and Other Interests, and to send the show cause letters to individuals who were not yet in compliance with the filing requirements under the Code of Ethics. Mr. Carlson seconded the motion and the motion was unanimously approved.

Chair Price Spratlen expressed the Board's appreciation of the excellent work performed by Ms. Harrington and for her contributions to the program's success.

Ms. Harrington left the meeting at 1:31 p.m.

4. Ordinance Relating to Oaths for Disclosure Statements. Ms. Clemens briefed the Board.

Ordinance 15148, relating to oaths for disclosure statements under the Code of Ethics, was introduced on July 19, 2004, and passed by the Metropolitan King County Council on April 4, 2005, by unanimous vote: 11 yes and 0 no. Two councilmembers were excused. Chair Larry Phillips signed the ordinance on April 4, 2005 , and Executive Ron Sims approved the document on April 6, 2005 . Mr. Carlson stated that this ordinance is important to ensure legitimacy of the county's disclosure programs. Chair Price Spratlen stated that Pat Sainsbury, deputy prosecuting attorney, should be acknowledged for his work in ensuring this ordinance was written and passed. Mr. Saltzman moved and Dr. Gordon seconded that the chair send a letter to Mr. Sainsbury, with a copy to King County Prosecuting Attorney Norm Maleng. The motion passed unanimously.

5. Awareness Campaign Outreach -- Meetings with Department Management Teams. Ms. Clemens reviewed campaign activities thus far in 2005, including posting the 2004 survey-quiz results on the Web site, producing and distributing a new ethics brochure for county board and commission members, producing and distributing the 2004 annual report, preparing for the Eighth Annual Board of Ethics Leadership Reception, and redesigning the Web site making it easier to use and in compliance with county-wide templates. In addition, Ms. Clemens is conducting presentations to all department directors and their management teams. She explained that she makes these presentations every-other-year as part of the campaign plan. Dr. Gordon stated that she did not feel every other year was adequate to reach management. Ms. Clemens stated that these presentations are in addition to her regular training schedule, which includes a mandatory half-day seminar for supervisors. It was noted that department directors and deputies do not attend the new employee orientations or the seminar. Mr. Buck stated that Human Resources Division is designing a shortened version for presentation to those individuals during their regularly scheduled cabinet meetings. Following discussion, Dr. Gordon moved and Rev. Pruitt seconded that Chair Price Spratlen discuss the issue of education for managers with the executive at their next meeting scheduled for May 9, 2005. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Johansen arrived at 2:04 p.m.

6. Recognizing King County Board and Commission Members. Chair Price Spratlen stated that when people have given service to the county, and when board members are identified as employees within the Code of Ethics, it should be allowed for the Board of Ethics to recommend those individuals for awards. Mr. Carlson stated that it sounds like a letter of character or service and should be allowed. Mr. Abrams stated that the Board acknowledging an individual with a plaque or statement of appreciation for that Board service is entirely different from the Board recommending or endorsing an individual to assist them in receiving a benefit unrelated to Board activity. He stated that there are clear ethics provisions that prohibit the Board to act in the second case; it is inappropriate and disallowed by the code. Following discussion, the Board determined that they would review the matter again and directed Mr. Abrams to provide a brief on the matter for their consideration. Mr. Abrams again stated that it is acceptable and allowed to submit a letter of acknowledgment and appreciation to an individual for their Board service, but not to an outside organization that endorses a member for a benefit unrelated to Board activity. Chair Price Spratlen stated that the county should be doing more to recognize members.

7. Staff Report. Staff Information Response Summary. The ethics administrator issued ten (10) written staff informational responses (SIR) from March 11, 2005 , through April 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: soliciting or accepting donations from local businesses; conflict of interests with private business; use of authority in position to share personal beliefs; receipt of gifts; use of county resources -- cell phone; use of county resources -- email; post-employment (2); outside business with supervisor; and acceptance of contest prize. Annual Board Reception and Board Meeting -- May 25, 2005. Ms. Clemens reminded the Board of the upcoming activities.

Mr. Buck left at 2:23 p.m.

8. Executive Session. At 2:23 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.

At 2:50 p.m. , the Board completed the executive session and resumed its regular meeting.

Rev. Pruitt moved and Mr. Saltzman seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. The Board unanimously approved the motion and the meeting was adjourned at 2:56 p.m.

Approved this 25th day of May, 2005, by the King County Board of Ethics.

Signed for the Board:__________________________________________________

Dr. Lois Price Spratlen, Chair