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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes-2021-196BOARD OF' COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COUNTY OF KITTITAS STATE OF WASHINGTON RESOLUTION No.: 2021- IqLo Authorization to Ratifv Amendments to the Kittitas Countv Law and Justice Council's Mission Statement and Bv-Laws WHEREAS, the Kittitas County Law and Justice Council was formed and operates under RCW 72.09.300 with the goal of assisting the coordination efforts to reduce crime between the state and local agencies; and WHEREAS, the Kiffitas County Law and Justice Council was created and continues to operate as an advisory Committee to the Board of County Commissioners; and WHEREAS, the Kittitas County Law and Justice Council functions as the mechanism for the vetting and recommending changes, improvements, and expenditures of grant funds to the Board of County Commissioners; and WIIEREAS, the Kittitas County Law and Justice Council, by majority vote at their duly authorized and held regular meeting on November 17,2021did approve these changes to the Mission Statement and By-Laws of the Kittitas County Law and Justice Council; and WHEREAS, the proposed amendments to the Kittitas County Law and Justice Council's Mission Statement and By-Laws are consistent with state law and sound public policy; and WHEREAS, the proposed amendment to the Kittitas County Law and Justice Council's Mission Statement and By-Laws are consistent with the goals and objectives of creating greater compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act, requiring sufficient notice of proposed amendments of the By-Laws to all members and the public prior to final consideration; and WHEREAS, the proposed amendments to the Kittitas County Law and Justice Council's Mission Statement and By-Laws include a Youth Mentoring and Prevention Committee. This Committee is responsible for coordinating criminal-justice and community-based agencies working together to improve mental wellness and school engagement and to decrease youth suicide, substance abuse, criminal justice system involvement and gang affiliation by partnering with and supporting community-based mentoring programs that positively impact these outcomes for the youth in our community. I NOW, THEREFORE BE rT RESOLVED That the Kittitas County Board of Commissioners hereby ratifies, approves, and adopts the amended Mission Statement and By-Laws for the Kittitas County Law and Justice Council, as the operating documents that shall govern there work, as attached hereto. ADOPTED this Zl sr day orlVb.2021 BOARD OF'COUNTY MMISSIONERS KITTIT co N v rman APPROVED AS TO FORM: t Angela Rule 9 Intem Attorney 2 $HE BOARD A OTSV 2 KITTITAS COUNTY LAWAND ruSTICE COUNCIL MSSION STATEMENT AND BY.LAWS I. MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of the Kittitas county Law and Justice council is to provide recommendations to the Board of Corurty Commissioners to promote the fair and equitable allocation of resources in order to increase the effectiveness of all law enforcement and criminal justice agencies' ability to enhance the quality of life for all in Kittitas County. II. GOALS The goals of the Kittitas county Law and Justice council are as follows: To reduce the duplication of services provided by law and justice entities within Kittitas County; To increase the coordination between the various law and justice agencies responsible for the protection of the public health and safety of our county; To increase the efficiencies of the law and justice system in Kittitas county; To identiff and present to the Board of county commissioners, as needed" areas ofconcern, potential solutions, and suggested actions; 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 concems; and To address issues related to: (a) jail management; (b) mechanisms for communication of infonnation about offenders, including the feasibility of shared access to databases; and (c) partnenhips 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. III. BY-LAIVS: 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 appointnent 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 altemate will have full voting rights of the member. Non-statutory members, who serve at the will ofthe County Commissioners, may appoint an altemate of their choosing to attend from time-to-time, in their absence. Should a non-statutory member not be able to attend and A. B. C. D. E. F. Kittitas County Law and Just Council Mission Statement and By-Laws - Page I of 7 participate on a regular basis, the Cotrncil 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 difTerent entity/individual. An altemate is any person chosen by the stafutory or non-statutory member to attend in their place, and shall have any and alt rights of the Council member, except as limited by the person appointing them as an altemate. An alternate must come from the member's organization, or be a member of the entities represented by that member. The person appointed as an altemate 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 Sheritr;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 (a) general authority law enforcement agencies:o Ellensburg Police Department;e Cle ElumlRoslyn/South Cle Elum Police Deparhnentr Kittitas Police Departrnentr Cental Washington University Police Deparhenth. A city legislative authority from each ofthe five (5) incorporated cities in Kittitas County;i. A crty attorney from one ofthe incorporated cities in Kittitas County;j. A representative of KITTCOMk. A representative of each of the following state law enforcement agencies: r Washington State Patolo Deparhent of Fish and Wildlifel. A person representing public schools;m. A representative of the Washington State Departrnent 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 Officer. The Kittitas County Coroner; and * {( ,F l. {. * * {.* * *rF* *** ** ** +* *** *t ** ** *:t ** Kittitas County Law and Just Council Mission Statement and By-Laws - Page 2 of 7 s.A citizen at large to serve a two-year term beginning on January lst ** of every odd-numbered year. A citizen at lmge to serve a two-year term beginrring on January lst 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 Deparftnent 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 tenn without re-appointrnent, 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 C ommissioners for appoinffrent. C. COUNCIL OFFICERS There shall at all times be a Chair and Co-Chair, chosen by the members of the Council at a regular meeting in December of each calendar year by simple majority vote of the members present at a meeting which represent a quonrm of the whole. The term of office for the Chair and Co-Chair shall be for one calendar year, and they may serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms. Additional offices may be created by atwo-thirds majority vote of the members of the Council. The Chair and Co-Chair shall appoint a secretary to be responsible for recording ofthe Council's business. The Chair and Co-Chair shall enlist the support of the Council in carrying out the firnctions 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 ofthe 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. Regularmeetings 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. Kittitas County Law and Just Council Mission Statement and By-Laws - Page 3 of 7 The Meetings shall be conducted pursuant to the Open hrblic Meetings Act, chapter 42.30 RCW 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 staffof 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 vnitten 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 specifu 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 altemate attend in their place. E. AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS l. All proposed amendments to the By-Laws shall be presented in writing at a regular or special meeting with all members receiving a copy of the proposed changes at least ten (10) days prior to the final consideration of same. These proposed amendments shall also be made available to the public in the same timeframe. 2. These By-Laws may only be amended by two-thirds majority vote of the of the whole Council. F. VOTING; QUORUM Each member shall have one vote to cast on any business to be conducted by the Council. Voting shall be by a mernber or his/her altemate, and proxy voting will not be allowed. At all meetings of the Council, nine members of the Council shall be necessary to constifute 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 unless a different voting majority is otherwise provided in these By-Laws; provided however, any amendment of the mission statement and byJaws by the Council shall be subject to firther approval by the Board of County Commissioners. Kittitas County Law and Just Council Mission Statement and By-Laws - Page 4 of 7 G. PUBLIC RECORDS;.RECORDS RETENTION The public records of the Kittitas County Law and Justice Council shall tre 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. H. COMMITTEES Committees shall be created fromtime-to-time as deemed necessary by the Council. The Chair and Co-Chair shall be responsible for stalfing such committees with sufificient numbers of volunteers to complete the task assigned. There shall be certain standing committees, and such other committees as are created by the Council. Atwo-thirds majority of members present at a meeting which represent a quorum of the whole shall be required to create or eliminate a standing committee. A simple majority vote shall be necessary to establish or eliminate any other committee. I. STANDING COMMITTEES: a. E)(ECUTIVE 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 ofthe Council, responsible for detemrining priorities; identifring the nature of priorities for projects and committees; and identi$ing responsible member(s) or committee(s) in order that tle Cnuit 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 ensure 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 ofthe 1/10th of lTo 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. Kittitas County Law and Just Council Mission Statement and By-Laws - Page 5 of 7 d.MENTAL HEALTIYDEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COMMITTEE: Responsible for coordination of criminal justice related mental health" developmental disability, and drug and alcohol issues cooperatively developed with representati'toes of the County's Behavioral Health and Recovery Advisory Board, Developmental Disabilities Advisory Committee, and other concemed parties. e. YOUTH MENTORING & PREVENTION COMMITTEE: Responsible for coordination of criminal justice and community-based agencies working with youth to improve mental wellness and school engagement and to decrease youth suicide, substance use, justice system involvement and gang affiliation by parbrering with and supporting community-based mentoring programs that positivety impact thesi outcomes for our youth. Responsible for putting priorities for goals and objectives before the Law and Justice Council for approval as a body of work accepted by the Council moving forward, and responsible for implementing such approved goals and objectives. Responsible for determining the composition of committee members to best address the scope of work agreed upon by the council, including such members and./or guests to be invited to atiend the meetings of this committee as deemed necessary by the commit0ee to move their work forwmd in an expeditious fashion. This committee is allowed and encouraged to bring in community members to participate in the work of the committee, regardless if such "o*-ut ity members are also members of the Law and Justice Council. A community members inclusionon this committee to assist with the committee's work in no way creates an expectation or realrty that such individual is also gaining membership on the Kittitas County Law and Justice Council. f. Nominating Commifiee g. other committees as may be deemed necessary from time-to-time I. DEFENSE AND INDEMNITY. Kittitas County will defend and indemnifr Committee members as provided for in Kittitas County Code Chapter 2.73, "Defense and Indemnification of Corurity Officers, Employees, and volunteers," as currently enacted or hereafter amended. J. CESSATION OF OPERATIONS: Upon a recommendation by a two-thirds vote of the Law and Justice Council to cease operations, the Board of County Commissioners shall hold apublic hearing to hear testimony as to the pros and cons, as well as the legality of eliminating tne fittitas County Law and Justice Council and its operations. The Board of County Commissioners shall afteisuchhearing make a deternrination as to whether the Council shall continue or be disbanded and take all n ".iruryaction connected with such decision. Kittitas County Law and Just Council Mission Statement and By-Laws - Page 6 of 7 Adopted tnis )1 day ot Nouu'^L",/,2021 by amajority vote ofthe membership ofthe Council and following approval by the Board of County Commissioners. Church"Chair Jackie Herum, KCL&JC Co-Chair Kittitas Comty Law and Just Council Mssion Statemelrt and By-Laws - Page 7 of 7