Dick Gets His Volunteers

It may have taken a few months, but Dick Spady has found the 1,000 volunteers he needs to start conducting his citizen forums. The Dick's Drive-In owner, who's long been a vocal advocate for increasing citizen participation in government, got King County to sign onto the idea last fall. The plan is that the forums, which will convene in small groups across the county, will give feedback to lawmakers on issues critical to the region. First up: transportation.

While the county will administer the two-year pilot program, Spady's footing the bill, which he anticipates will be around $20,000 annually. He expects the first forum to be held mid-May.

Spady didn't have to resort to free shakes or half-price burgers to get folks to commit, but it didn't hurt that he printed sign-up sheets on the bags at all five of Dick's Seattle-area restaurants— "1,050 volunteers... and counting!" he says.

Topics: County of King

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Clean Elections: Everybody's Doin' it...

Unwilling to be outdone by their Seattle brethren— and because they can thanks to a law passed in Olympia last month— King County is also vowing to study taxpayer-funded campaigns. Council members decided as much today, adopting a motion to review trends in campaign cost, revisit the history of public financing in Seattle and the county, estimate expenses, and research options to pay for it.

The county council will hold a meeting to hear public comment on the issue Monday, May 19 at the Shoreline Conference Center.

Topics: County of King

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Charter Review: Sheriff Stays Status Quo, No Ranked Voting

Every 10 years, King County is supposed to review its charter, sort of a county constitution. Beginning in the spring of 2007, 21 people, including business leaders, politicos, and a former Governor convened to make the process happen. They've got a report to be released to the public on April 1 for comment. It's headed for the King County Council by the end of May. The council decides which changes make the cut for a vote, likely this November.

They met tonight for final debate on the public report. Most of their proposed amendments to the Charter have widespread, if not unanimous, support across the commission. An amendment protecting just over 100,000 acres of King County land was met with some skepticism by Sarah Rindlaub of Mercer Island, who feels it may be inappropriately specific for a constitutionalesque document like the charter, but most items were met without question—save one.

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Topics: County of King

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King County Council Taking Sides in Rahr v. Sims?

The latest development in the Sheriff/Executive passive-aggressive political turf war is today's news release from the County Council showing support for the panel that's been creating recommendations for the Sheriff's Office to improve employee performance and deal with problematic deputies. The panel has recommended that the Sheriff be given bargaining power in negotiating the deputies' contract—a power currently held by the Executive. Sims' staff has not only opposed any change to the King County Charter to allow such bargaining, but were at one point pushing to return the position to appointed status rather than elected.

Today's press release from the County Council begins with a lot of commending everyone for their work to implement changes that will improve the Sheriff's department and gives a run down of some of the recommendations that the panel has made without explicitly taking a position on contract bargaining. What they are pushing for hard is the creation of an Office of Law Enforcement Oversight. Exactly who will control that office or how it will be set up within the County isn't stated, but neither Rahr nor Sims will likely feel comfortable ceding any territory when decisions are made on the organization of the office, and more importantly, the appointment of people to run it.

Topics: County of King

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With Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemies?

Sheriff Sue Rahr went to a King County Charter Review Commission subcommittee last night armed with an endorsement from a panel, which reviewed her office in 2006, recommending that power to negotiate the terms of labor contracts rests with her, rather than Executive Ron Sims.

The entire meeting had the feeling of watching your parents fight as a kid. They tell you how much they love each other before taking a series of passive-aggressive pot shots until the lawyers are called in.

Both Rahr and representatives of the Executive's office began their remarks by insisting that they had the utmost respect for each other, adding that their concerns were in part hypothetical—if say, there is ever a Sheriff and Executive that are at loggerheads. But not these two, just, you know, in theory.

In 2006, the panel created a list of 36 actions they felt were essential to getting the department on track. Most have not been completed because they have to be addressed by the guild labor negotiations, according to the Sheriff's report on the panel's recommendations. And Rahr wants the power to do that in part because, she says, she's the one held accountable for the management of the department, not the Executive, who is negotiating.

"I can't think of a single instance when the Executive has stepped forward and taken responsibility for the behavior of my employees," she says. During a break, she mentioned to one of the commission members that when the shit (her word) really hits the fan—like in the PI "Conduct Unbecoming" series—she's left standing out solo while Sims is slinging arrows. In addition to getting the panel on board, former governor Gary Locke sent a letter backing Rahr.

Sims Chief of Staff Kurt Triplett began his remarks arguing that changing the charter is too drastic by noting: "As you all know, we have the highest respect for the Sheriff." This is coming from the same man who, at a meeting of the Commission in November, was pushing to return to the days of an appointed Sheriff, rather than an elected one. He says that putting negotiating power in the hands of the Sheriff will increase the County's exposure in a lawsuit should the department end up with a contract that conflicts with other County employee contracts.

The committee members focused questions and comments on the need for more dialog between the Sheriff and Executive so it doesn't look like a charter change is coming in the near future, but expect a lot of mudslinging between the two the next time an off-duty deputy is arrested for assault.

Topics: County of King

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Wanted: Citizen Councilors

Dick's Drive-In owner Dick Spady this fall convinced the King County Council to run with his dream to create an elaborate network of community forums— a venue to give the people more say in how government is run. Now all he has to do is convince the people to participate.

So far it hasn't been easy. To get the network started, Spady needs at least 1,000 volunteers. To date, he's got 40. Spady's son, Jim, says it's not apathy, it's just the holidays, adding that it didn't help that they started looking in December. "It takes a while to get the wheels moving," he says. The Spadys expect to generate more interest once the forum's first topic is announced later this week. (Officially it's hush hush, but word is the topic will probably be "transportation," which given the stomping Prop 1 got in November, is clearly something that gets the citizenry riled up.)

Jim Spady says they'll buy some radio spots to find volunteers if it comes to that, but for now they're going to spend a few more weeks relying on word of mouth. (His dad is footing the bill for the citizen councilor effort, which the county estimates could cost more than $100,000 annually.) "We'll do whatever we need to do to get our 1,000 so we can move forward," says Jim.

How 'bout free French fries? Half-price cheeseburgers?

"I don't think that we're going to go that far," he says. However, if they don't have the needed volunteers by spring, the Spadys plan to print the sign-up sheet on the back of Dick's signature white paper bags— a tactic that's been successful in the past for the chain's annual scholarship drive. "If we don't have 1,000 by March, that will put us over the top," Jim predicts.

King County residents with opinions are encouraged to sign up here.

Topics: County of King

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Ridin' Clean

The latest perk of being on the King County Council? An electric-gas hybrid to drive around. The council this week approved an ordinance that allows one of its members to test out a Toyota Prius as a way to promote low-emission technology and fossil fuel alternatives to the general public— a lead-by-example sort of deal. But members don't only get to drive the car to county events and official business, they get to take it home and use it as their own, a rare benefit. As with most government entities, King County has strict take-home policies for county-owned vehicles. But the council agreed unanimously that this "demonstration project" is worth rewriting the rules.

Says the ordinance: "Incidental personal benefit or convenience from such a public use does not constitute personal use."

Council member Larry Phillips, the first green guinea pig, says it makes sense that he gets to drive the car all the time. "Otherwise nobody talks about it. That's the point." Phillips traded his Ford Explorer for the Prius about two months ago. He says he's only filled up once since. "I get about 49 to 50 miles per gallon. It's really quite remarkable," he says. The car's a converted hybrid, which means it has a battery pack and runs on electricity unless you exceed 35 miles per hour. Philips says it performs great around town, though he concedes it's not a perfect car for highway driving, particularly since that means you're burning gas anyway.

The other hassle factor? "You have to plug it in and remember to unplug it," Phillips says, adding that he's yet to drive away still tethered, but he admits that he's gotten in and shut the door a couple times before realizing he was still plugged in. "I carry an extension cord with me at all times," he says.

In addition to raising awareness, the hope is that council members, in exchange for driving the car, will be able to make recommendations for future county purchases of energy-efficient vehicles. It's all part of something called the Green Fleet Initiative that County Executive Ron Sims kicked off this fall.

Phillips gets the Prius for less than a year. He says council member Larry Gossett is likely next in line— "He's been champing at the bit"— and that council member Reagan Dunn has also expressed interest in the council's latest benefit.

Topics: County of King

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Prosecutor Pushes McIver Case Forward

Prosecutors today won a motion to require Marlaina Kiner-McIver to give a deposition in the domestic violence case against her husband, Council member Richard McIver. District Court Judge Linda Thompson also moved McIver’s trial, which had been scheduled to begin Monday, to January 14 to give time for the deposition to take place.

McIver has pled not guilty to fourth-degree assault. Efforts by the prosecution to keep the case alive are being called political by attorneys for both the council member and his wife.

But King County Deputy Prosecutor David Martin argued that the deposition was necessary since “it appears Mrs. Kiner-McIver is not going to obey this court’s subpoena.”� (Prosecutors have agreed that without her testimony they won't be able to use what she told police when they responded to the McIver home early Oct. 10.)

Kiner-McIver’s lawyer Vonda Sargent told the court her client won’t ignore the subpoena to testify, but stood by an earlier statement that Kiner-McIver won’t participate in the prosecution of her husband. Sargent explained later that her client would obey the court’s request to appear, but likely take the Fifth Amendment so she won’t have to testify.

“A case that you are going to be able to charge out, you should be able to prove without the presence of the alleged victim,”� Sargent said after the hearing. If not, she says, domestic violence cases are customarily dropped. She called the prosecutor’s move “grandstanding.”�

"I don't want to be flip, but this is not the trial of the century," Sargent said.

Sargent wasn't alone in thinking so. There were audible grumbles from the crowded courtroom from others waiting in line for other cases to be heard. Said one lawyer, "You'd think this was a felony case or something," before adding that this case never would've gone this far if it didn't involve a public official.

Both McIver and Kiner-McIver were in court today. They seemed to intentionally avoid eye contact and per the no-contact order, which is still in force, said nothing to each other when they passed in the hallway. McIver has been staying for nearly two months at the house of a family friend in their South Seattle neighborhood. He said not having any contact with his wife has been difficult. There have been no motions to remove or relax the no-contact order over the holidays.

Sargent said pushing the case forward is a waste of time and money and indicated that her client will also likely plead the Fifth during the deposition.

Topics: County of King

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Wrangling the Sheriff's Department

(source: www.governing.com)

Yesterday the Seattle Times reported that Sheriff Sue Rahr is seeking control over contract negotiations with deputies. Then last night, King County Executive Office Chief of Staff Kurt Triplett told the Charter Review Commission that Ron Sims would like to see the Sheriff become an appointed rather than an elected position. Triplett says that would make the office more accountable—the woman in front of me shook her head at that—as well as easier to get rid of someone if problems arise.

Asking for more control of a position already in existence is a little politically tricky. Triplett was careful to say that the last two elected sheriffs have been well suited to their positions. A hearing on the Sheriff's Department's progress on improvements recommended by a panel last year was rescheduled to tonight at 6 p.m. in the City Council chambers.

Triplett also asked that the commission keep the County Elections Director an appointed position. Earlier this month, nearly 57 percent of King County voters approved Initiative 25, which places a charter amendment on the 2008 ballot making the position elected. Last night there was speculation on the ability of the commission to declare that the Charter cannot be changed by Initiative. But even if King County can create such a restriction on changing the charter, former Secretary of State Ralph Munro says an elected elections director is a good thing as it puts people in the position who will need to be accountable to voters again and are more inclined to find innovative ways of making an election run smoothly.

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Topics: County of King

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You're in Good Hands

At least that's what the regional partners from Seattle, King County, WSDOT and Puget Sound Energy are promising. In a ritual becoming almost as predictable in government as leaves turning is to fall, officials gathered this morning at City Hall to promise that they've learned a lesson from the past, that the response next time will be better.

There's the obligatory new catch phrase: "Take Winter by Storm" and a new Web site— a clearinghouse of information on everything from roads to flooding, with laundry lists on how to prepare. PGE boasts a new utility road clearing 'task force,' WSDOT says the plows are working so they can encourage people to take the bus, knowing that the buses will be able to take them where they need to go. And everyone agrees that their respective agencies/entities won't be 'siloed'— that's government-speak for refusing to talk to each other.

"Last year's back-to-back record storms have woken us up out of complacency," said WSDOT Northwest Regional Administrator Lorena Eng.

"We will never be New Orleans, leaving our most vulnerable populations in despair," said King County Executive Ron Sims.

"Those who are wondering who should prepare for a storm. That would be all of us. When? Today," said Seattle's Director of Emergency Management Barb Graff. 

Last December's 'Hanukkah Eve' Windstorm resulted in 15 fatalities and nearly 300 people were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. The storm cost the city $16 million and left more than 15,000 residents without power countywide, some for weeks.

Public hand holding and snappy graphics aside, let's hope they got the kinks worked out.

Topics: County of King

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