March 7, 2007

KING COUNTY BOARD OF ETHICS SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE

Note: Please note change of usual time and location

AGENDA

1. Approval of Agenda

2. Approval of Meeting Minutes of February 5, 2007

3. Statement of Principles. Update and discussion.

4. Board Presentation to the Committee of the Whole. Information

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 March 7, 2007, Special Meeting
of the King County Board of Ethics

The March 7, 2007, special meeting of the King County Board of Ethics was called to order by Chair Price Spratlen, at 10:30 a.m. Board members in attendance were:

Lois Price Spratlen, Ph.D., Chair
Margaret T. Gordon, Ph.D.
Rev. Paul Pruitt

Roland H. Carlson and Jerry Saltzman had excused absences.

Others in attendance:
Catherine A. Clemens, Executive Director, Board of Ethics
Alan Abrams, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and Board Counsel
Melissa Fisher, Research Assistant, University of Washington Evans School

• 1. Approval of Agenda. Rev. Pruitt moved and Dr. Gordon seconded that the board approve the proposed agenda. The board unanimously adopted the motion.

  The board agreed to move to agenda item #3

• 3. Statement of Principles. Dr. Gordon presented the revised statement of principles, which changed the focus from an agreement between the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission and King County Board of Ethics to a multi-lateral statement that could include many other governmental jurisdictions. Board members and staff offered comments and suggested changes which will be incorporated into the second draft document. Ms. Clemens will make the changes; forward to the board, board counsel and Ms. Fisher; receive comments; distribute any additional edits, if necessary; and then forward to the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission for its approval.

  Ms. Fisher presented her research to the board on common elements in U.S. publish sector codes of ethics. She stated that she meets regularly with the chair and that their next steps will include meeting with Bill Vogler, executive director of WSAC; they will then approach the similar association for Washington state cities. Mr. Abrams advised bringing some type of closure to the first agreement with the city so that there are not two agreements that may conflict. Ms. Clemens reminded Ms. Fisher that the next quarterly report related to her work as a research assistant is due by April 1st and Ms. Fisher said that she would speak to Dr. Smith about this when she meets with him the following day. Chair Price Spratlen noted that she would ask the dean how the $10,000 of UW funds would be spent related to the statement.
  Rev. Pruitt moved to accept the edited multi-lateral statement of principles; Dr. Gordon seconded the motion and the board unanimously approved the statement.

  The board also discussed collaborating with the Evans School at the University of Washington, and taking part in an event hosted by the school which will focus on ethics. Board counsel advised keeping official activities of the Board of Ethics politically neutral and avoiding situations that could appear to have political associations. Board members agreed that any board actions related to the event would require a vote of approval by board members. Dr. Gordon stated that she would contact Dean Archibald by email regarding the event prior to the chair's upcoming meeting with the dean on that topic.

  The board then returned to agenda item #2.

• 2. Approval of Meeting Minutes of February 5, 2007. Dr. Gordon moved and Rev. Pruitt seconded that the board approve the February 5, 2007, meeting minutes. The board unanimously adopted the motion and the minutes were approved.

• 4. Board Presentation to the Committee of the Whole. Ms. Clemens read a statement from Mr. Carlson, who had an excused absence, in which he suggested that the emphasis of the presentation be on ethics education to county employees generally, and to managers specifically.

  Ms. Fisher left the meeting at 11:18 a.m.

  Chair Price Spratlen stated she would contact Mr. Carlson directly on the matter of the presentation. She noted she wants to let council members know about the collaborative relationship between the University of Washington and the Board of Ethics, as well as the move to a multi-lateral statement of principles.

  Board members and staff made final announcements. Ms. Clemens distributed the current status report on the 2007 financial disclosure program in which 45% of 2,515 affected employees and 39.2% of 467 affected board and commission members have filed, for an overall compliance rate of 44.1%. Ms. Clemens inquired if the board wished to hold its regularly meeting scheduled for March 19th; the chair suggested a review of the potential agenda items in order to make a decision. Chair Price Spratlen read a memo she sent to Council Chair Larry Gossett on March 6th asking for official recognition of ethics board member Rev. Pruitt for his service on the board as well as his contributions to the community.

There was no additional new business. Dr. Gordon moved and Rev. Pruitt seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. The board unanimously approved the motion and the meeting was adjourned at 11:33 a.m.

Approved this —19th day of March 2007, by the King County Board of Ethics.

Signed for the Board: __________________________________________________

Dr. Lois Price Spratlen, Chair