Record Group 035
EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

The Department of Executive Administration was established at the end of 1972 as part of a reorganization effort authorized by Ordinance 1438, which abolished several executive departments that had been established by the Home Rule Charter and reconstituted them as new departments. The new Department of Executive Administration took over the functions of several earlier departments, including the Department of Records and Elections, Department of Finance, and the Bureau of General Services. Created to provide administrative services for the various agencies of county government, the Department of Executive Administration initially was supervised by the County Administrative Officer (CAO). Following the adoption of Ordinance 6066 in 1982, the CAO was redefined as the Director of the Department of Executive Services. During the 1970s, the Department was responsible for an enormous range of functions, activities, and services. As originally configured in Ordinance 1438, the Department of Executive Administration was divided into seven divisions: Comptroller Division; Personnel Division; System Services Division; Property and Purchasing Division; Records and Elections Division; Licenses and Support Services Division; and the Facilities and Automotive Services Division.

Due to the complexity of its organizational structure, the Department of Executive Administration went through several phases of reorganization during its existence. By 1985, the Department was composed of six divisions: Facilities Management; General Services; Personnel/Safety & Worker's Compensation; Real Property; Records & Elections; and Systems Services. By 1993, having transferred previously all county personnel functions and facilities and property management responsibilities to two recently established, separate agencies (the Office of Human Resource Management and the Department of Construction and Facilities Management respectively), the Department of Executive Administration had grown somewhat smaller. Formal divisions and offices of the Department now included: Computer and Communication Services Division; Licensing and Regulatory Services Division; Office of Civil Rights and Compliance; Purchasing Agency; and the Records and Elections Division. Among the services provided by the Department were: computer and communication services, licensing and regulatory services, civil rights administration and compliance, purchasing, contracts administration and compliance, elections and records management, and the administration of development projects for Harborview Medical Center and the Regional Justice Center. In 1996, following the adoption of Ordinance 11995, the Department of Executive Administration was dissolved and most of its remaining divisions were placed under the newly created Department of Information and Administrative Services.

Record Subgroup 035.07
DEPARTMENT OF EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION:
REAL PROPERTY DIVISION

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

The Real Property Division was responsible for managing county-owned real estate, issuing permits for use of rights of way, and negotiating purchase and sale of property. Many of its functions were taken over by the Property Services Division of the Department of Construction and Facilities Management in 1993 (Ordinance 10897).

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
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035.07-423 Correspondence files, 1964 - 1978
Correspondence generated and received by agency. There is one file from 1940 located in box 2. Topics include negotiations and questions about county property, proposals for acquisitions and related material. Files are arranged alphabetically by case.

Volume: 1 cu ft

035.07-319 Franchise files, 1898-1988
Washington State allows counties to grant franchises to corporations to use and occupy public streets, roads, rights of way and public places over which a county exercises its jurisdiction. These records document individual utility and transportation franchises issued by King County between 1898 and 1988 to private companies (railroad, streetcar, gas, electric power, water, and cable television companies); water and sewer districts; federal agencies (Bonneville Power Administration; Civil Aeronautics Board); and local municipal governments. Franchise file documents vary over time but generally include a letter of application, a legal description of the proposed franchise, and records of the county's response. Additional correspondence may be present. Maps accompany most text records and may be either annotated copies of commercial or plat maps, or original maps created by the applicant. The franchise files have been organized into three subseries based on the manner in which they were filed over time: by Auditor's file number, by county franchise number, and by legislative file (resolution, ordinance or motion) number. Within each subseries, a small number of unnumbered files for the same time period follows the bulk of numbered files.

1. Franchises arranged by Auditor's file number (1898-1915). After 1901, Washington counties were permitted to issue franchises outside of incorporated cities and towns for electric railways and streetcar lines; to water and gas companies; and for electric power, telephone and telegraph transmission lines ("pole lines"). This subseries contains franchises for various street and interurban railway companies, notably the Puget Sound Traction, Light and Power Company; the Seattle Electric Railway Company; and the Highland Park and Lake Burien Railway. It also contains franchises for railroad over- and undercrossings, telephone and electric power lines, and water mains. The franchises are arranged in ascending numerical order by the official file number given to public records by the County Auditor, who served as the clerk of the Board of County Commissioners.

2. Franchises arranged by county franchise number (1916-1969). In 1916, King County established new recordkeeping practices. Franchises were maintained in their own ascending numerical sequence (1-620) and were physically housed with the County Engineer as part of that office's right-of-way department. From 1916 to 1945, the majority of franchises issued were for electric power transmission lines. After 1945, numerous franchises to water companies and water and sewer districts reflect post-World War II housing construction. Television cable franchises are present in the files for the 1960s.

Volume: 8 cu ft

035.07-411 Miscellaneous program files, 1965 - 1987
Selection of manager's files illustrating division activities: budgeting, issuing right-of-way permits, and managing county land acquisition. Includes one project file and aerial photographs relating to 1987 Kent Highlands land purchase.

Volume: 0.25 cu ft

Record Subgroup 035.08
DEPARTMENT OF EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION:
RECORDS AND ELECTIONS DIVISION

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

First established as the Department of Records and Elections under the 1969 county charter, the Records and Elections Division became a unit of the Department of Executive Administration in 1972 (Ordinance 1438). The Records and Elections Division was responsible for operating the county's public recording function, managing the county's archives and records management program, and administering elections. Following reorganization in 1996, the Division became a part of the Department of Information and Administrative Services.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

035.08-324 Indexes to marriage records, 1891 - 1974
Index to marriage certificates filed in King County. Information for each entry varies among volumes, but typically includes names of parties, date marriage license issued, date of marriage and file number of marriage certificate.

Volume: 15 cu ft

035.08-325 Registered land certificate index, 1907 - 1951
Index to land registered under the Torrens Title Act. Entries are arranged alphabetically by certificate holder's surname, and include date of certificate issue, land register and file numbers, and legal description of property.

Volume: 0.5 cu ft

035.08-329 Registered land general index, 1907 - 1987
Index of persons holding interest in or charges against land registered under the Torrens Title Act, arranged alphabetically. Data includes name of person holding interest in registered land, name of registered owner, date of filing, type of instrument filed (such as deed, mortgage or mortgage satisfaction), citation to registered title, and description of land.

Volume: 1.5 cu ft

035.08-328 Registered land tract index, (1907)
Index to land registered under the Torrens Title Act, arranged by plat name for platted areas of the county and by section, township and range for unplatted land. Data for each entry include name of owner, citation to land register, and description of property.

Volume: 0.5 cu ft

035.08-331 State highway plats, 1959 - 1972
Plat maps showing extent of rights of way for state highway projects. Includes detailed mapping of areas immediately adjacent to right of way, including location of buildings.

Volume: 1 cu ft

Record Subgroup 035.10
DEPARTMENT OF EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION:
PERSONNEL DIVISION

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

The Personnel Division of the Department of Executive Administration, as outlined in the King County Code, was given the responsibility of managing and administering the county's personnel system and providing professional personnel services and support, (including recruitment and hiring coordination) to employees, county agencies, and, as appropriate, residents of King County. In addition, the Personnel Division administered the county's wage and salary structure and advised and participated in negotiating collective bargaining agreements and in developing labor policy. The Personnel Division also represented the county in the employee grievance process, administered the county's employee benefit packages, managed Safety and Workers' Compensation programs, and directed the Affirmative Action Employment and Disability Coordination programs. By 1992, the Division had been reorganized into the Office of Human Resource Management.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

035.10-369 1986 Comparable Worth Study, 1986 - 1986
The 1986 Comparable Worth Study was conducted on behalf of King County by Sibson and Company in response to Council Motion number 5862. The series consists of identical questionnaires distributed to and completed by King County employees in non-managerial positions. Ostensibly a basis for salary comparisons, the completed questionnaires represent County employee's own descriptions of their jobs. The questionnaires are arranged first by section and then by position classification.

Volume: 21 cu ft

035.10-370 Exam history files, 1971-1987
Documentation reflecting the process by which County job openings are filled. Files may typically include job-opening announcements, lists of eligible applicants, employment examinations, examination rating sheets, examination keys, and examination results, though not every file is comprehensive. The present set of records represents the period between 1971 and 1987. The 100 files in the set are a random sampling from an original population of 2181 files. Sampling data and job classification indexes have been included in box #1. Individuals' names have been blotted out from the material, in compliance with RCW 42.17.310 (1) (f) and RCW 42.17.310 (2), in order to remove the records' exempt status under Washington State Public Disclosure law. A small amount of records relating to police recruitment and selection, c. 1981-1986, is filed separately.

Volume: 4.3 cu ft

035.10-372 Job classification and pay scales, 1973 - 1985
Miscellaneous material used to determine job classifications, employee qualifications, and pay scales between 1973 and 1985. Records include job descriptions, aptitude and clerical tests, manuals for rating employee promotion potential, job classification indexes, and schedules of pay ranges. Also included is a chronological set of job announcements for the years 1975 through 1979.

Volume: 0.3 cu ft

035.10-374 Law enforcement hiring standards development project, 1978 - 1984
Files relating to several projects to develop county and regional standards for the hiring of law enforcement officers. Extensive documentation is included regarding a grant-funded study conducted by the Commission to determine a set of medical and physical standards to be met by law enforcement recruits and officers; as well as another study to create a standardized regional sergeants exam.

Volume: 0.5 cu ft