King County Council committee
Unless otherwise posted, all committees meet in the King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue, Seattle, Washington, Room 1001.
Committee of the Whole - The Council's Committee of the Whole (COW) considers legislation and policy issues of interest to the entire council and is the only committee on which all nine councilmembers serve. COW is formally responsible for considering and making recommendations to the Council on the annual work program, appointments to the state legislature, the annual legislative agenda, and all labor policies. COW is also frequently assigned complex interdisciplinary issues that relate to more than one policy committee. Meeting Time: Monday, 9:30 a.m. Council Chambers, Room 1001
Capital Budget - Responsible, in consideration of the capital budget, for review and monitoring of financial plans, revenues, expenditures, quarterly reports, and capital improvement programs and projects. The committee is also charged with monitoring the financial status of county funds. Among its duties are considering and making recommendations to all supplemental appropriations, as well as recommendations on debt and investment proposals, levies, fees and taxes. Meeting Time: First and Third Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.
Employment and Administration - Responsible for recommendations to the council concerning decisions for legislative branch employees. The Committee is also responsible for considering and making recommendations to the council chair regarding management organization structure and legislative branch customer service. Meeting Time: First and Third Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m.
External Affairs - Tracks and makes recommendations to the council regarding federal, state, and local government legislation affecting King County and its residents. Meeting Time: Fourth Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.
General Government and Labor Relations Committee - The duties of the General Government and Labor Relations Committee include: making recommendations on policies relating to management organizational structure, customer service and the efficiency, cost effectiveness and performance of county departments; recommendations on audit programs, labor agreements, information technology, cable communications and telecommunications issues, constitutional and human rights; and recommendations relating to the King County International Airport. Meeting Time: Second and Fourth Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.
Growth Management & NATURAL Resources Committee- This committee considers and makes recommendations on policies relating to land use development, comprehensive planning, development regulations, regulatory reform and recommendations to the Department Of Development and Environmental Services. When considering updates to the King County Comprehensive Plan, all members of the Council are considered ex-officio voting members of the committee.
The committee considers and makes recommendations relating to: market-rate housing and housing affordability; Growth Management Planning Council and Countywide Planning Policies; Potential Annexation Areas and interlocal agreements; boundary review board and nonutility annexations; planned action environmental impact statements and related phased state Environmental Policy Act review; the Puget Sound Regional Council; and development and land use regulation necessary to either implement salmon recovery or comply with the Endangered Species Act.
The committee will consider and make recommendations on King County motions and ordinances which have force and effect only in the unincorporated areas of the county; evaluate and make recommendations on the quality of service delivery in areas such as police, roads and human services; and consider and make recommendations relating to subarea planning community councils and other unincorporated self-government strategies.
The committee will consider and make recommendations on policies relating to natural resources; cultural resources; recreation programs; issues relating to the Endangered Species Act; parks; open space; agricultural lands; resource lands; utility services including wastewater treatment, solid waste management, flood control and surface water and stormwater management; utility annexations; utility comprehensive plans and franchises; and water quality and water quality issues. Meeting Time: Second, Third and Fourth Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m.
Law, Justice & Human Services Committee - Responsible for considering and making recommendations to the Council on policies relating to: public safety; adult detention; constitutional and human rights; discrimination; civil and criminal liability; ethics; campaign practices; juvenile justice programs; youth services; the superior and district courts; judicial administration; prosecuting attorney; and public defense.
The committee also makes recommendations on matters relating to personal and environmental health; developmental disabilities; alcoholism and substance abuse; emergency medical services; human services; women's programs and aging programs, and the implementation of the children and families initiative. Meeting Time: First and Third Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.
Operating Budget, Fiscal Management and Mental Health - Oversees revenues and expenditures that pay for daily operations of the entire range of county services. Proposes funding for improved treatment of mentally ill or chemically dependent offenders. Convenes all nine members of the Council to make recommendations on the 2008 King County Budget. Meeting Time: Second and Fourth Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.
Regional Policy Committee - Reviews and recommends regional policies and plans, other than transit and water quality plans, that are within the subject matter area approved through a work program for the committee. 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 regional facilities siting. In addition, the regional policies committee may consider major regional governance transition and consolidation issues, particularly those involving potential changes in organization and responsibilities with other county, city or regional organizations. Meeting Time: Second Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.
Regional Transit Committee - Responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to the Council on proposed policies and plans for the public transportation services operated by King County. These policies govern activities such as the planning and delivery of bus service, van service for people with disabilities, commuter vanpools, setting transit fares, buying new buses and building bus shelters, park and ride lots and other transit facilities. Meeting Time: Third Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.
Regional Water Quality Committee - 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 for consideration by the Metropolitan King County Council. Meeting Time: First Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.
Transportation Committee - Reviews policies on county-wide public transit service (Metro Transit) and construction, operation and maintenance of county road system. Meeting Time: Second and Fourth Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m.