Summary

Showing what King County is doing to achieve its goals and how the county is directing the effort

Story

The King County Council today gave its unanimous approval to an updated set of goals and guiding principles that the County will focus on to provide efficient and accountable government services. The goals and principles make up the King County Strategic Plan, the organizing framework for the County’s operations and measurement of its performance.

“Setting measurable goals for the future that are service-oriented and fiscally responsible is one of the ways King County runs an effective and efficient government,” said Council Chair Larry Phillips. “Through the implementation of these priorities, King County departments and agencies can carry out programs that align with our mission, vision, and guiding values.”

“Since 2010, the Council’s Strategic Plan has made considerable strides towards fiscal sustainability and improving the way King County operates as a whole,” said Council Vice-Chair Jane Hague.  “Its strength is the updating of goals and guidelines to keep our citizens safe, healthy, mobile and economically successful while addressing public health, public safety, transit and helping our most vulnerable populations.”

“The County’s strategic plan also focuses on the importance of services to unincorporated areas as their local government,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert. “This is one of the county’s major responsibilities as we are their only government and I am glad to see it included as a priority.”

Adopted by the Council in 2010, the King County Strategic Plan—developed in collaboration with the three branches of County Government—is the roadmap directing County efforts to meet the challenges facing King County.

As part of the process for updating the Strategic Plan, the county executive conducted public outreach in developing renewed goals and vision for County government. The result of the outreach was presented by the executive to the council.

Today’s legislation adopts the County’s priorities and includes an updated set of goals for the services County government provides. Those goals are:

Mobility - Delivering a seamless, reliable network of transportation options to get people where they need to go.

Safety and Justice – Providing  for a safe and just community through proactive law enforcement and an accessible and fair justice system, while implementing alternatives to divert people from the criminal justice system.

Health & Human Services - Improving the health and well-being of all people in our community.

Economic Vitality – Increasing access to family wage job opportunities throughout the county.

Accessible, Affordable Housing - Increasing access to quality housing that is affordable.

Healthy Environment - Preserving open space and rural character while addressing climate change.

Efficient, Accountable Government - Ensuring that County government operates efficiently and effectively and is accountable to the public.

In addition to those goal areas, the Council identified the guiding principles that direct the efforts of King County as both a county government and the local government for unincorporated King County with the responsibility of providing services and helping maintain rural character:

• Financially sustainable. Aligning funding, policy and operational goals of King County government.
• Quality local government. Providing effective, efficient local governance and services to unincorporated areas.
• Equitable & fair. Addressing the root causes of inequities to provide for equal access to opportunities for all.
• Regionally collaborative. Engaging with partners, stakeholders, and public and private organizations to achieve goals.

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system at https://mkcclegisearch.kingcounty.gov  and type in “2014-0415”

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