HomeMy WebLinkAboutBy-Laws-Draft-RedlineKITTITAS COUNTY
LAW AND JUSTICE COUNCIL
MISSION STATEMENT AND BY-LAWS
I. MISSION STATEMENT:
The mission of the Kittitas County Law and Justice Council is as follows:
A. To reduce the duplication of services provided by law and justice entities
within Kittitas County;
B. To increase the coordination between the various law and justice agencies
responsible for the protection of the public health and safety of our county;
C. To increase the efficiencies of the law and justice system in Kittitas County;
D. To identify and present to the Board of County Commissioners, as needed,
areas of concern, potential solutions, and suggested actions;
E. To make recommendations for funding of grants to meet the above stated
objectives, as well as grants aimed at reducing crime in our county or
educating our citizens about law and justice concerns; and
F. To address issues related to: (a) jail management; (b) mechanisms for
communication of information about offenders, including the feasibility of
shared access to databases; and (c) partnerships between the state department
of corrections and local community policing and supervision programs to
facilitate supervision of offenders under the respective jurisdiction of each and
timely response to an offender's failure to comply with the terms of
supervision.
II. BY-LAWS:
A. MEMBERSHIP OF COUNCIL:
The Kittitas County Law and Justice Council is a requirement of state law, as declared in
chapter 72.09 Revised Code of Washington. The Board of County Commissioners created the
council, and is responsible for the appoinhnent of members, pursuant to RCW 72.09.300. The
size and composition is within the discretion of the Board of County Commissioners. Statutory
members may appoint an alternate of their choosing to represent them on the Council which
alternate will have full voting rights of the member. Non -statutory members, who serve at the
will of the County Commissioners, may appoint an alternate of their choosing to attend from
time -to -time, in their absence. Should a non -statutory member not be able to attend and
participate on a regular basis, the Council may seek to have that member provide another
individual to represent the non -statutory member to the Council. Should a non -statutory member
not be able to provide an individual to attend and participate on a regular basis, the Council, with
the approval of the County Commissioners, may amend these By-laws to eliminate that position
on the Council, or replace that member with a different entity/ individual.
An alternate is any person chosen by the statutory or non -statutory member to attend in
their place, and shall have any and all rights of the Council member, except as limited by the
person appointing them as an alternate. An alternate must come from the appointing member's
organization, or be a member of the entities represented by that member. The person appointed
as an alternate may not be another sitting Council member, as that would be an appointment of a
proxy, which is not allowed.
1. MEMBERSHIP LISTING
a.
The Kittitas County Sheriff;
b.
The Kittitas County Prosecuting Attorney;
C.
The Kittitas County Clerk;
d.
A representative of the Kittitas County Superior or District
Court Judges;
e.
The Kittitas County Jail Commander;
f.
The Kittitas County Risk Manager;
g.
A Chief of Police or equivalent executive from each of the
following four (4) general authority law enforcement agencies:
• Ellensburg Police Department;
• Cle Elum/Roslyn/South Cle Elum Police Department
• Kittitas Police Department
• Central Washington University Police Department
***
h.
A city legislative authority from each of the five (5) incorporated
***
cities in Kittitas County;
i.
A city attorney from one of the incorporated cities in Kittitas
***
County;
j.
A representative of KITTCOM
**
k.
A representative of each of the following state law enforcement
**
agencies:
• Washington State Patrol
• Department of Fish and Wildlife
1.
A person representing public schools;
**
M.
A representative of the Washington State Department of
***
Corrections;
n.
The Kittitas County Juvenile Court Administrator;
**
o.
The Kittitas County Chief Probation Officer;
**
P.
A representative of the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration;
**
q.
A representative of the Kittitas County Auditor's Office
**
r.
The Kittitas County Coroner; and
**
S.
A citizen at large to serve a two-year term beginning on January 1"
**
of every odd -numbered year. A citizen at large to serve a two-year
term beginning on January 1" of every even numbered year.
* Statutory member per RCW 72.09.300;
** Additional member not required by statute; and
*** Member that is statutorily required, but which has been modified
by the Board of County Commissioners. In most instances, it was
the addition of an additional representative from that category. In
the case of the Department of Corrections representative, it was a
substitution of a local representative for the Secretary of
Corrections.
B. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS:
When a vacancy occurs on the Council, due to resignation or the end of a term without
re -appointment, the Council shall search for a suitable replacement from the appropriate category
of representative. Upon location of such an individual, and with agreement of others in the class
of representative, the Council shall forward the name of such individual to the Board of County
Commissioners for appointment.
C. COUNCIL OFFICERS:
There shall at all times be a Chair and Co -Chair, chosen by the members of the Council.
Additional offices may be created by a 2/3s majority vote of the members of the Council.
The Chair and Co -Chair shall appoint a secretary to be responsible for recording of the
Council's business. The Chair and Co -Chair shall enlist the support of the Council in carrying out
the functions of the Council. The Chair and Co -Chair shall appoint such ad hoc committees as
are necessary to conduct the business of the Council, as deemed appropriate with the consent of
the Council, and shall appoint members necessary to carry out the tasks of the ad hoc
committees.
The Chair and Co -Chair shall be responsible for conducting meetings of the Council, addressing
correspondence to/from the Council, and conducting any other such business as necessary to
meet the statutory obligations of the Council, or to accomplish the tasks identified by the
Council.
D. MEETINGS:
1. Regular meetings
The Kittitas County Law and Justice Council shall hold regular meetings on the
third Wednesday of each month at 8:00 a.m. and shall adjourn when the business at
hand is concluded. The Meetings shall be open to the public and shall be held in the
Kittitas County Commissioners Auditorium. In the event another location or time for
regular meeting is required, such location and time shall be posted at the
Commissioner's Auditorium and notification shall be given to the legal newspaper for the
County, by staff of the Board of County Commissioners, at least one week in advance of
such meeting.
2. Special meetings
Special or emergency meetings may be called by a unanimous decision of the
Chair and Co -Chair, who shall be responsible for written notification delivered
personally or by mail, email or fax at least 24 hours before the time of the special
meeting to all members of the Council, to the legal newspaper for the County, and to
any local media that has on file with the Council a written request to be notified of that
special meeting or of all special meetings. The notice must specify the time and place of
the special meeting and the business to be transacted at the meeting. The Council may
take final action only concerning matters identified in the meeting notice.
The agenda for meetings shall be prepared by the Chair and Co -Chair, with prior
input from Council members, either in writing or from input at a prior meeting. The
Recording Secretary shall distribute meeting agendas along with the minutes of the
prior meeting. Minutes shall be taken and reproduced by the Recording Secretary.
In order for the Council to function properly, all members need to actively
participate. If a non -statutory member is absent three (3) or more times in any given
year, the Council may, at their option, seek a replacement for such member in
accordance with the appointment procedures established previously. A member shall
not be deemed to have been absent if they had an alternate attend in their place.
E. VOTING; QUORUM
Each member shall have one vote to cast on any business to be conducted by
the Council. Voting shall be by a member or his/her alternate, and proxy voting will not
be allowed. At all meetings of the Council nine members of the Council shall be
necessary to constitute a quorum for the conduct of business. Once a quorum is
established, any business may be authorized by a simple majority of the members
present; provided however, any amendment of the mission statement and by-laws by
the Council shall be subject to further approval by the Board of County Commissioners.
F. RECORDS RETENTION:
The records of the Kittitas County Law and Justice Council shall be housed in the
Office of the Board of County Commissioners. The Board of County Commissioners
shall be responsible for addressing any and all requests for public disclosure, creation
of an index of documents, a filing system, and other necessary operations for records
retention.
G. COMMITTEES:
Committees shall be created from time -to -time as deemed necessary by the
Council. The Chair and Co -Chair shall be responsible for staffing such committees with
sufficient numbers of volunteers to complete the task assigned. There shall be certain
standing committees, and such other committees as are created by the Council. A 2/3
majority of members shall be required to create or eliminate a standing committee. A
simple majority vote shall be necessary to establish or eliminate any other committee.
STANDING COMMITTEES:
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
A five -member Executive Committee, composed of the Chair, Co -Chair, chair of
the Budget Committee, and two members of the Council chosen annually by the
members of the Council, responsible for determining priorities; identifying the nature of
priorities for projects and committees; and identifying responsible member(s) or
committee(s) in order that the Chair may assign tasks to assure successful completion.
The Chair of any other committee may be invited to and may participate in an Executive
Committee meeting which may affect the responsibilities of such committee. The Chair
will insure that minutes of the committee meetings are recorded.
b. BUDGET COMMITTEE:
Responsible for making recommendations to the Council on all matters related to
the financing of the Law and Justice Plan, development of budgets for joint projects, and
review of grant proposals for expenditures of the 1/10th of 1 % sales tax allocated by the
Board of County Commissioners for such projects.
Responsible for promoting and facilitating the exchange of information necessary
to let interested parties know of the process for submittal of grant applications.
Responsible for recommendations for proposed expenditures, as well as
oversight of expenditures on grants.
C. PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE:
Responsible for development and implementation of a public relations plan
geared for promoting the needs of the Kittitas County Law and Justice Community to
the public.
MENTAL HEALTH/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
COMMITTEE:
Responsible for coordination of criminal justice related mental health,
developmental disability, and drug and alcohol issues cooperatively developed with
representatives of the County's MH/DD Advisory Board and other concerned parties.
AD HOC COMMITTEES
a. Nominating Committee:
b. Other committees as may be deemed necessary from time -to -time
H. CESSATION OF OPERATIONS:
BeGause the County of Kittitas and its muniGipalities reGeive IR\Ae -end
ustiee funds from the state of Washington the Kittitas County Law and Justice
Council must exist to perform the fune►ions mandated by statute Cho-Jd the IaIN
and i stire funding terminate by an et of the Washington State Legislature, slature, it
shall he the ention of the Gouneil to make a mpnmmandatmon to the Qee.d of
County Commissioners as to whether or not the Council should continue to exist.
Upon a recommendation by a 2/3 vote of the Law and Justice Council to cease
operations, the Board of County Commissioners shall hold a public hearing to hear
testimony as to the pros and cons, as well as the legality of eliminating the Kittitas
County Law and Justice Council and its operations. The Board of County
Commissioners shall after such hearing make a determination as to whether the Council
shall continue or be disbanded and take all necessary action connected with such
decision.
Adopted this _ day of March, 2016 by a majority vote of the membership of the Council
and following approval by the Board of County Commissioners.
Greg Zempel, Prosecuting Attorney
Kittitas County Prosecutor's Office
KCL&JC Chair
Steve Cordero, Director
JRA Park Creek
KCL&JC Co -Chair