February 21, 2006

KING COUNTY BOARD OF ETHICS MEETING NOTICE

AGENDA

1. Approval of Agenda

2. Approval of Meeting Minutes of January 17, 2006.

3. Natural Resources and Parks Pilot Program. Status report. (Cynthia Hickey)

4. Request for Advisory Opinion Re: Post Employment.

5. 2006 Mission and Goals. Review and approval.

6. Statement of Principles. Status report.

7. 2006 Financial Disclosure Program. Report.

8. Staff Report.

• Staff informational response summary
• New administrative position
• New working title for staff
• Saltzman confirmation
• Business cards
• Board photo
• Miscellaneous correspondence
• Office of Citizen Complaints Triannual Report (enclosed)

Upon advance request, reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available by calling 206-296-1586 or TTY Relay: 771

ALTERNATE FORMATS AVAILABLE

King County Board of Ethics
Columbia Center
701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3460
Seattle, WA 98104 MS BOA-ES-3460
206-296-1586 Fax 206-205-0725
board.ethics@kingcounty.gov
http://www.kingcounty.gov/ethics/

Minutes of the February 21, 2006, Meeting
of the King County Board of Ethics

The February 21, 2006, meeting of the King County Board of Ethics was called to order by Board member Roland H. Carlson at 2:00 p.m. Mr. Carlson was chosen by other members in attendance to serve as chair because Dr. Price Spratlen was delayed. Board members in attendance were:

Lois Price Spratlen, Ph.D., Chair
Roland H. Carlson
Margaret T. Gordon, Ph.D.
Rev. Paul F. Pruitt
Jerry Saltzman

Others in attendance:
Catherine A. Clemens, Executive Director, Board of Ethics
Alan Abrams, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and Board Counsel
Cynthia Hickey, Wastewater Treatment Division, Department of Natural Resources and Parks
Ruth Harvey, Program Manager, Roads Services Division, Department of Transportation

Mr. Carlson asked for introductions from those present.

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

Mr. Abrams and Rev. Pruitt arrived at 2:03 p.m. Ruth Harvey arrived at 2:05 p.m.

2. Approval of Meeting Minutes of January 17, 2006. Mr. Saltzman moved and Rev. Pruitt seconded that the Board approve the January 17, 2006, meeting minutes. The Board unanimously adopted the motion and the minutes were approved.

3. Natural Resources and Parks Pilot Program. Ms. Hickey briefed the Board and reported on the DNRP, Wastewater Treatment Division, policy related to employee-owned electric vehicles and its pilot program to allow employees to plug vehicles into county outlets at work. Only one employee has taken advantage of the program thus far and the cost is approximately $0.28 per charge, with a maximum of $0.84 per week. Questions by Board members and discussion followed. The Board offered congratulations on the program and Mr. Carlson thanked Ms. Hickey for her attendance.

Ms. Hickey left the meeting at 2:15 p.m.

4. Request for Advisory Opinion Re: Post Employment. Ms. Clemens explained to the Board that the requestor, Fennelle Miller, asked to participate from home via telephone due to health reasons. Ms. Clemens reached Ms. Miller via conference call, but Ms. Miller declined to participate because she was not feeling well.

Dr. Price Spratlen arrived at 2:21 p.m. Mr. Carlson updated her on the meeting and she assumed her position as chair.

Ms. Clemens briefed the Board. Following discussion, Mr. Carlson moved that the matter be tabled until the exact facts on the matter are clear on Ms. Miller's past job responsibilities with the county and, more particularly, the exact nature of the proposed future job responsibilities as a consultant or sub-consultant doing business with King County. Rev. Pruitt seconded the motion and the Board unanimously approved the motion to table the matter.

Ms. Harvey left the meeting at 2:30 p.m.

5. 2006 Mission and Goals. Following review and discussion, Rev. Pruitt moved to accept the proposed additional language to Goal V, and to accept the final version of the 2006 Mission and Goals. Dr. Gordon seconded the motion and the 2006 Mission and Goals were unanimously approved.

6. Statement of Principles. Dr. Gordon briefed the Board of the progress of this initiative. She has interviewed five individuals to serve as interns to work on this project and has identified two candidates. The Board and staff discussed future roles, responsibilities and scope of work. The Board will continue activities to seek funding sources to support a position. Mr. Carlson moved to table the matter until the Board has more information on which to base decisions; Dr. Gordon seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.

Following discussion, Mr. Carlson moved to combine the annual reception, most recently held in May, and the Statement of Principles signing ceremony; Mr. Saltzman seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.

7. 2006 Financial Disclosure Program. Ms. Clemens briefed the Board of the status of the 2006 financial disclosure program. As of February 16, 20.8% of 2,425 affected county employees had filed; 30.5% of 443 board and commission had filed. Overall compliance is at 22.3%.

Chair Price Spratlen noted that she would like a certificate of appreciation to be sent to Mr. Anderson of the Horizon House for his work in making that location available to the Board for its past three annual retreats. Mr. Saltzman moved and Rev. Pruitt seconded that a certificate of appreciate be presented to Mr. Anderson for this purpose; the motion passed unanimously.

8. Staff Report. Staff Informational Response Summary. The executive director reported that she issued 20 written staff informational responses (SIR) between November 29, 2005, and February 13, 2006, as requested by employees and elected officials of King County. Ethics issues addressed by the responses included: use of county resources for travel fundraising (2); use of county resources for personal convenience or profit; donation of software to county; potential conflict when serving on outside board; use of county equipment for federal grant; solicitation for government benefit; gifts from vendors and consultants (2); post-employment restrictions; display of vendor logos; testimonials for vendors; Code of Ethics jurisdiction (2); discounts for county employees; solicitation for charitable causes in the workplace (4); and parking reimbursement for board/commission members. New administrative position. Ms. Clemens updated the Board on the hiring process for the .5 FTE ethics position. New working title for staff. Ms. Clemens' new working title is executive director. Saltzman confirmation. Mr. Saltzman received council confirmation on January 17, 2006, for a second term on the Board. Business cards. Ms. Clemens offered generic ethics board business cards for members which they declined. Board photo. It was determined that a photo will be taken at the Statement of Principles signing ceremony. Miscellaneous correspondence. No action taken or required. Office of Citizen Complaints Tri-annual Report. Ms. Clemens noted the report contained in Board packets.

Mr. Carlson moved and Rev. Pruitt seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. The Board unanimously approved the motion and the meeting was adjourned at 3:50 p.m.

Approved this 20th day of March, 2006, by the King County Board of Ethics.

Signed for the Board:

__________________________________________________

Dr. Lois Price Spratlen, Chair