October 2011

Dear Neighbor,

Fall has arrived and the Council is busy! 

In this e-newsletter, I’ve shared with you some important information about the Council’s upcoming deliberations on the 2012 proposed budget, and also highlighted some of our most recent accomplishments.

Sincerely,

Julia Patterson, King County Councilmember - District 5

Find me on:

Council begins deliberations on 2012 Budget - Three evening public meetings to be held

King County Districting Committee releases plan for public review

Council appoints first director of the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight

Council supports federal efforts to reduce oil price speculation

King County Councilmember
Julia Patterson
www.kingcounty.gov/patterson
julia.patterson@kingcounty.gov

Council begins deliberations on 2012 Budget - Three evening public meetings to be held

For the second year in a row I was honored to be selected by my colleagues as Chair of the Council’s Budget Committee and will lead the deliberation of the 2012 budget. The annual budget is the single most important document through which the Council sets policy for King County and oversees delivery of the services you need and expect, like criminal justice, Metro transit and public health. As Chair of the Council’s Budget Committee, I will host three evening public meetings, including one in Kent, to hear from the public on the 2012 budget proposal. To review the Executive’s proposed budget click here. You can also follow the Council budget deliberations on facebook or on twitter. I encourage you to stay involved throughout this important process.

King County Districting Committee releases plan for public review

King County Council district boundaries must be redrawn every ten years after the U.S. Census is conducted to ensure equal population distribution among the districts. On September 19, the King County Districting Committee voted to release a single King County Council districting plan for public review and comment. The plan is available online and a public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, November 1 from 6:30-8:30pm in the King County Courthouse. The public hearing is the last phase of public review prior to final action by the Committee. For additional meeting information, click here. The public may also provide online testimony through November 1.  

Council appoints first director of the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight

On September 19, the Council unanimously approved the selection of Charles Gaither as director of the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO). Led by the efforts of myself and Councilmember Bob Ferguson, OLEO was created to establish better oversight of the King County Sheriffs Office. Gaither will lead OLEO and ensure the integrity of the Sheriff’s Office complaint, investigation and resolution process. To read more about the selection process or Charles Gaither’s biography click here. I am confident the people of King County will be well served by Mr. Gaither’s extensive background in law enforcement and police operations.

Council supports federal efforts to reduce oil price speculation

People often ask me how actions in the “other Washington” impact King County residents. This month I introduced a motion that was unanimously adopted by the Council to help in reducing the cost of gasoline for King County drivers – an issue that was borne out of Washington D.C. The adopted motion calls on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a Federal regulatory agency, to implement its power to control and prosecute investors speculating on oil prices. Oil speculation drives up the price of gas and products dependent on gas prices. That means you are paying more for gas than you should.  It also means King County Metro is paying more for fuel to run its buses. To learn more about how oil speculation impacts you, please read here.