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KING COUNTY BOARD OF ETHICS MEETING NOTICE
When:
Monday, December 17, 2007, 9:30 a.m.
Where:
The Chinook Building
401 Fifth Avenue
1st floor, conference room 118
Seattle, WA 98104
AGENDA
1. Approval of Agenda
2. Approval of Meeting Minutes of November 19, 2007
3. Flood Control Zone District Advisory Committee
4. Multi-Lateral Statement of Principles and Meeting with Executive
5. Outreach Meetings 2008
6. Staff Report.
- Staff informational response summary
- Notification to file disclosure statement to employee and notification to file authorizing memo to supervisor
- Board and commission member brochure; member reference notebooks
- Advisory opinion on use of county resources - status report
- 2008 disclosure program - update
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 December 17, 2007,
of the King County Board of Ethics
The December 17, 2007, of the King County Board of Ethics was called to order by Chair Price Spratlen at 9:32 a.m. Board members in attendance were:
Lois Price Spratlen, Ph.D., Chair
Roland H. Carlson
Margaret T. Gordon, Ph.D.
Rev. Paul Pruitt
Others in attendance:
Catherine A. Clemens, Executive Director, Board of Ethics
James J. Buck, CAO and Director, Department of Executive Services
Grace Reamer, Legislative Aide, District 3, King County Council
Anne Watanabe, King County citizen
1. Approval of Agenda. With the addition of agenda items under #6, Staff Report, and agenda item #7, Executive Session, Rev. Pruitt moved and Mr. Carlson seconded that the board approve the proposed agenda. The board unanimously adopted the motion.
Attendees introduced themselves. Ms. Clemens clarified Ms. Watanabe's status as board member. She will become a voting member as of January 6, 2008, 30 days following the filing of the executive's appointment letter with the County Council on December 5, 2007.
2. Approval of Meeting Minutes of November 19, 2007. Dr. Gordon moved and Rev. Pruitt seconded that the board approve the November 19, 2007, meeting minutes. The board unanimously adopted the motion and the minutes were approved.
Ms. Reamer arrived at 9:37 a.m.
3. Flood Control Zone District Advisory Committee. Ms. Clemens briefed the board. Beginning in the spring of 2007, the ethics office had received inquiries from county staff on whether or not members of the FCZD Advisory Committee are required to file statements of financial and other interests and various opinions on the matter existed. Under the Code of Ethics, KCC 3.094.050 (B) and (C), the board has the authority to determine which board and commission members must file statements. During its deliberations, the board first considered these code requirements that state, "within two weeks of becoming a nominee for appointment to county boards and commissions, the nominee shall file a written statement of financial and other interests . . . with the board of ethics." In addition, the board considered its Rules Related to Filing Statements, comments from staff, and a recent opinion on the matter from the office of the Prosecuting Attorney. Following discussion, Mr. Carlson moved that the executive director send a letter to DNRP leadership, detailing the requirement and stating the need to comply; Rev. Pruitt seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
Ms. Reamer introduced herself and stated that she was attending the meeting on behalf of Councilmember Kathy Lambert who was in session. Councilmember Lambert had concerns about rules relating to the FCZD, specifically that the rules appoint the chair of the commission, and that that individual is also the chair of the County Council. Because the FCZD is a separate taxing district that raises funds as well as contracts with the county, she feels this may be a conflict of interest. The board stated that it would be amenable to reviewing the matter and suggested that Ms. Lambert submit a formal request for advisory opinion. Ms. Clemens offered to assist Ms. Reamer in the steps toward achieving that goal.
4. Multi-Lateral Statement of Principles and Meeting with the Executive. Dr. Gordon briefed the board. She reviewed the meeting on December 11 attended by Executive Sims, Mr. Buck, Chair Price Spratlen and herself. They met to clarify the level of support from the executive's office related to the statement of principles initiative. Both the chair and Dr. Gordon felt the county was very supportive in helping the board to achieve its goals of 50% participation by Washington State cities and counties. They discussed various strategies including working with professional organizations representing those jurisdictions.
5. Outreach Meetings 2008. Ms. Clemens reviewed the historical record of meetings held between various members of the ethics board and representatives of the legislative and executive branch. Chair Price Spratlen asked the executive director to begin setting a round of individual meetings with County Council members after the first of the year, as well as a presentation by the board to the Committee of the Whole in the spring. Ms. Reamer noted that Councilmember Lambert particularly appreciates individual meetings with board representatives.
6. Staff Report. Staff informational response summary. The executive director issued 16 written staff informational responses (SIR) between November 8 and December 5, 2007, as requested by employees and elected officials of King County. Ethics issues addressed by the responses include: acceptance of travel from vendor; citizen complaint; use of county vehicle for transporting employees; outside employment; solicitation for county event/purpose (4); gift from vendor; honoraria; political activities as a county employee; county employee on outside board (2); job shadow program - students at King County; solicitation to government employees; and use of county time for personal convenience. Notification to file disclosure statement to employee and notification to file authorizing memo to supervisor. After Ms. Clemens briefed the board on the matter, the board directed her to send a letter to responsible employees of DCHS requesting immediate action on outstanding documents. Board and commission member brochure; member reference notebooks. Ms. Clemens distributed current board/commission member brochures produced by the ethics office. She also offered to update board reference notebooks if members would return the notebooks to her at the next meeting. Advisory opinion on use of county resources - status report. Ms. Clemens briefed the board of the advisory opinion status noting a target date of January 22 to present a draft for consideration. 2008 disclosure program - update. Ms. Clemens reported on the status of the 2008 program to date. The board discussed the viability of on-line signatures for forms.
Mr. Buck arrived at 10:28 a.m.
Ms. Reamer noted that Councilmember Lambert asked that one additional item be brought to the attention of the Board of Ethics, specifically Ordinance 15949, in which labor unions are granted approval over contracts. The board again directed Ms. Reamer to submit a request for advisory opinion and begin the process of possible review. Members thanked her for her attendance.
7. Executive Session. At 10:38 a.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 one-half hour and asked that everyone except board members and Mr. Buck leave the room.
Ms. Clemens, Ms. Reamer and Ms. Watanabe left the meeting at 10:39 a.m.
At 11:26 a.m., the board completed the executive session and resumed its regular meeting. Ms. Clemens rejoined the meeting. The chair distributed county lapel pins given to board and commission members at the recent recognition reception.
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 11:27 a.m.
Approved this 22nd day of January, 2008, by the King County Board of Ethics.
Signed for the Board:__________________________________________________
Dr. Lois Price Spratlen, Chair
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