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KING COUNTY BOARD OF ETHICS MEETING NOTICE
ANNUAL RETREAT
When:
Tuesday, January 22, 2008, 9:30 a.m.
Where:
The Chinook Building
401 Fifth Avenue
1st floor, conference room 116
Seattle, WA 98104
AGENDA
1. Approval of Agenda
2. Approval of Meeting Minutes of December 17, 2007
3. 2007 Annual Report
4. 2008 Mission and Goals
5. 2008 Work Plan - Ethics Office and Staff
6. Determine 2008 Work Plan - Board of Ethics
- Authority of the ethics board under the Employee Code of Ethics
- Establishing relationships with legislative and executive leadership
- Statement of Principles - action plan
7. Old Business
- Flood Control Zone District Advisory Committee
8. Staff Report
- Public Disclosure Request
- Ombudman's Findings
- Filing requirement for employee
9. Appointments and Recognition
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 January 22, 2008, meeting
of the King County Board of Ethics
The January 22, 2008, meeting of the King County Board of Ethics was called to order by Chair Price Spratlen at 9:30 a.m. Board members in attendance were:
Roland H. Carlson
Margaret T. Gordon, Ph.D.
Lois Price Spratlen, Ph.D., Chair
Rev. Paul Pruitt
Anne J. Watanabe
Others in attendance:
Catherine A. Clemens, Executive Director, Board of Ethics
Michael Strouse, Administrator, Department of Executive Services
Attendees introduced themselves.
1. Approval of Agenda. With the addition of agenda item # 9, Appointments and Recognition, Mr. Carlson moved and Rev. Pruitt seconded that the board approve the proposed agenda. The board unanimously adopted the motion.
2. Approval of Meeting Minutes of December 17, 2007. Rev. Pruitt moved and Mr. Carlson seconded that the board approve the December 17, 2007, meeting minutes. The board unanimously adopted the motion and the minutes were approved.
3. 2007 Annual Report. Ms. Clemens briefed the board and reviewed the 2007 mission, goals, activities, and performance measures of the King County Board of Ethics and executive director. All goals established by the board for 2007 were achieved with five highlights of the year's accomplishments. These included: 1) providing training to over 1,920 employees or approximately 15% of all county employees; 2) reaching out to county leadership by meeting twice with the county executive and making a presentation to the County Council Committee of the Whole on ethics matters affecting county government; meeting with county directors, their deputies, and management teams for a bi-annual information exchange; 3) achieving 99.4% filing compliance for the financial disclosure program for employees and elected officials by the April 15th deadline, and achieving 98.2% filing compliance for board and commission members by that date; 4)
holding a signing ceremony with the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission and City Council of Spokane commemorating and celebrating the Multilateral Statement of Principles; and 5) conducting the fourth annual, on-line ethics quiz and survey for county employees with access to computers in which 18% of 11,000 employees took part.
Board members discussed the value of training and the ethics quiz. Mr. Carlson suggested reviewing current regional ethics issues which might indicate vulnerabilities and direct our outreach. The chair discussed how education has helped move the topic of ethics from one of fear to acceptance for the board and office. Following additional discussion, Dr. Gordon moved and Ms. Watanabe seconded that the 2007 Annual Report of the King County Board of Ethics be accepted. The board unanimously adopted the motion and the report was approved.
4. 2008 Mission and Goals. The board discussed whether or not it's stated five goals and their related activities were legal given its authority under the Code of Ethics. The board determined it would request a legal opinion from board counsel and directed the executive director to communicate its request. Following additional discussion, Rev. Pruitt moved and Ms. Watanabe seconded that the 2008 Mission and Goals be adopted. The motion passed unanimously.
5. 2008 Work Plan - Ethics Office and Staff. The board reviewed the anticipated scope of work. Ms. Watanabe moved and Mr. Carlson seconded that the 2008 Work Plan for the ethics office and staff be adopted. The motion passed unanimously.
Chair Price Spratlen called for a short break at 10:32 a.m. The meeting resumed at 10:47 a.m.
6. Determine 2008 Work Plan - Board of Ethics. The board reviewed three documents associated with its work plan in 2008: 1) authority of the ethics board under the Employee Code of Ethics; 2) a history of meetings between the board and members of the legislative and executive branches since 1998; and 3) an action plan for the statement of principles. The statement of principles action plan included two goals: achieve 100% participation by the three professional governmental organizations in 2008: Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC); the Washington Association of County Officials (WACO); and the Association of Washington Cities (AWC). Following strategy discussions related to achieving statement of principle goals, Dr. Gordon moved and Rev. Pruitt seconded that the 2008 Work Plan for the Board of Ethics be adopted. The motion passed unanimously.
7. Old Business. The executive director briefed the Board of Ethics on significant progress made in assuring the Flood Control Zone District Advisory Committee members comply with the filing requirements for statements of financial and other interests under the Code of Ethics. Ms. Clemens will report on further developments at the next meeting of the board.
8. Staff Report. Public disclosure request. Copies of recent requests were provided for information only; no action was required. Ombudsman's Findings. Copies of a recent Finding on a complaint from the Ombudsman were provided for information only; no action was required. Filing requirement for employee. Recent correspondence on a matter previously addressed by the board regarding an employee filing of a statement of financial and other interest was provided. These materials were provided for information only. No action was required.
9. Appointments and Recognition. It was determined that of the five board members, three terms are ending this year: Dr. Gordon's term ends 3/25/08; Rev. Pruitt's term ends 5/31/08; and Mr. Carlson's term ends 7/31/08. Dr. Gordon and Mr. Carlson are willing and able to serve another term; Rev. Pruitt declined to serve again. Regarding recognition, Chair Price Spratlen stated she and Rev. Pruitt were recognized during the year by the county and this information was omitted from the annual report. She also suggested to the other members that anyone who has served for a decade - this includes Mr. Carlson, Dr. Price Spratlen and Rev. Pruitt - should receive a certificate of appreciation signed by the executive and council chair as well as a trophy or similar award. The award would be paid for by the board members themselves. Clemens stated she would produce the certificates in frames. Dr. Gordon then moved that all members serving a decade should receive a framed certificate of appreciation and an award; Ms. Watanabe seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously. The chair also stated that recognition of staff should be included in the annual reception, usually held in May or June of most years. Rev. Pruitt moved and Dr. Gordon seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
Rev. Pruitt moved and Ms. Watanabe seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. The board unanimously approved the motion and the meeting was adjourned at 11:41 a.m.
Approved this 19th day of February, 2008, by the King County Board of Ethics.
Signed for the Board:__________________________________________________
Dr. Lois Price Spratlen, Chair
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