HomeMy WebLinkAboutres1991-039WHATCOM COUNTY COUNC AGENDA BILL
NO. 91 -168
CLEARANCES
Initial
Date
Date Received in Council Office:
Agenda Date
Assigned To:
Originator - Council
5/7/91
Council /COTW
Division Head-
6/11/91
Council
Department Head -
Prosecutor Review -
Purchasing/Budget Dir:
Executive-
SUBJECT:
Resolution requiring that administrative policies of a legislative nature be forwarded to the Council Office
for informational purposes
ATTACHED OR ON FILE:
- Resolution
(On file: Memo from Council staff, dated 4/26; draft resolution)
Public Hearing Needed? Yes /_,/N61�1
SUMMARY STATEMENT. Recently Council encountered two administrative policies that could (and
perhaps should) have been enacted by the legislative branch of County government. The two policies
(regarding wetlands and water availability) were enacted by the Administration as a result of the Growth
Management Act as interim measures. This does not prohibit the Council from adopting ordinances or
resolutions setting policy, and Council policies would supercede those of the Administration. However,
there is no mechanism for informing Council of Administrative policies; see the memo for list of concerns.
The draft resolution proposes to have the Administration provide the Council with all such
policies /procedures /policy statements. This item was placed on the agenda at the Chairman's request.
ORIGINATOR'S RECOMMENDED ACTION.•
Council staff recommends Council consider introduction and passage of the resolutoin.
COMMITTEE ACTION (including dates):
COUNCIL ACTION (including dates):
5/7/91: Council asked that the draft resolution, which asked that all policies be forwarded, be revised
to reflect that only policies of a legislative nature be forwarded.
6/11/91: Council approved
Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number. R E S 91- 0 3 9
policy.res 6/14/91 SPONSORED BY: Warner
AMENDED 6/11/91 PROPOSED BY: Council Staff
INTRODUCTION DATE: 5/7/91
RESOLUTION NO. g i -o 9
2 REQUESTING THAT ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES OF A LEGISLATIVE NATURE
3 BE FORWARDED TO THE COUNCIL OFFICE FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
4 WHEREAS, where State Law is ambiguous or silent in regards to various issues,
5 Administrative departments of County government are unable to carry out the intent of
6 those laws without written policies in hand; and
7 WHEREAS, Administrative departments have the authority to prepare written
8 policies and procedures in these situations to interpret State Law, when the County Council
9 has not taken action to interpret them by ordinance or resolution; and
10 WHEREAS, because it is not directly involved in the day to day Administration of
11 the County, the County Council often is unaware of these policies and procedures; and
12 WHEREAS, policies, policy statements and procedures which implement and
13 interpret State Legislation, impose fines, fees or penalties, or in any other way affect County
14 citizens could be considered to be of a legislative nature;
15 WHEREAS, it would be useful and informative for the County Council to have a
16 copy of any written policy, policy statement, or procedure which may be legislative in nature;
17 NOW, TBEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that the
18 Council Office shall maintain an indexed registry of all County policies, procedures, or
19 policy statements which are Legislative in nature; and
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in order to facilitate maintenance of such a
21 registry, the Executive's Office is requested, within two working days of its implementation,
22 to forward a copy of any policy, procedure or policy statement which is of a Legislative
23 nature to the Council Office, unless such policy has already been approved by the Council.
24 APPROVED this 11th day of June. 1991.
25
26 ATTEST:
27 X-2,74 Zf
28 Ramona Reeves, Council rk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WAS GTON
Daniel M. Warner, Chairman
Revised 5/9/91 Page 1