Committee of the Whole to meet on Mondays

January 31, 2011

Summary

Council approves 2011 committee calendar

Story

The Metropolitan King County Council’s Committee of the Whole, the only standing committee on which all nine members serve, will move from Wednesdays to Mondays. The shift of the committee was part of the new meeting calendar for standing committees, adopted unanimously today by the Council.

“We see the shift as a more efficient way of using the Council’s time,” said Council Chair Larry Gossett. “Because the items that come before COW tend to be complex interdisciplinary issues, the new schedule gives committee staff more time to prepare their reports and members more time to review and act.”

“The move is simply a result of practical scheduling,” said Council Vice Chair Jane Hague who also serves as Chair of the Committee of the Whole. “This change gives us more time to analyze the tough issues that come before the committee. Ultimately, we’ll be able to get a lot more work done.”

The rest of the committees will continue to meet on Tuesday and Wednesdays, with the fifth Tuesday of each month reserved for special committee meetings as needed.

Committee meeting dates and times are as follows:

Committee of the Whole
1st and 3rd Mondays at 9:30 a.m.
Considers legislation and policy issues of interest to the entire Council, and is the only standing committee on which all nine members serve.

Budget and Fiscal Management
1st and 3rdTuesdays at 1:30 p.m.
Develops the Council’s policy direction for the 2012 budget, and makes recommendations on the County’s structural funding gap and capital and operating budget appropriations.

Government Accountability and Oversight
1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m.
Responsible for policy recommendations relating to strategic planning, performance management and measurement, technology, the Assessor’s Office, elections and licensing, and Boeing Field.

Law, Justice, Health and Human Services
2nd, 4th and 5th Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m.
Considers and makes recommendations on policies relating to public safety, criminal justice and emergency management. Makes policy recommendations relating to public health, human services and housing programs, including the implementation of the Mental Illness and Drug Dependency Action Plan and the Veterans and Human Services Levy.

Transportation, Economy and Environment (Formerly Environment and Transportation)
2nd, 4th and 5th Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m.
Responsible for oversight of transportation (including public transit and county roads).
Makes recommendations on policies relating to economic development and growth management (including land use development and regulation), comprehensive planning, annexations, affordable housing, and the unincorporated and rural areas. Oversight on the environment, including salmon recovery, water quality and control, solid waste and wastewater treatment.

Regional Water Quality Committee
1st Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.
Develops, reviews, and recommends countywide policies and plans for water quality and sewer service issues, long range capital facilities plans, rate policies and facilities siting to guide King County’s regional water quality responsibilities.

Regional Policy Committee
2nd Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.
Reviews and recommends regional policies and plans, other than transit and water quality. Issues that may be referred to the Committee or be the subject of the committee's policy development include, but are not limited to, public health, human services, open space, housing, solid waste management, regional services financial policies, criminal justice, jails and district court services, and the siting of regional facilities.

Regional Transit Committee
3rd Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.
Reviews and makes recommendations to the County Council on policies and plans for the public transportation services operated by King County. These policies govern the planning and delivery of bus service, commuter vanpools, and van service for people with disabilities; establishing of the structure for transit fares; the purchase of new buses; and the construction of bus shelters, park and ride lots, and other transit facilities.

Committee appointments were approved earlier this month as part of the Council’s annual reorganization.