HomeMy WebLinkAboutRedline Edits of L&J Council Mission Statement and By-LawsKITTITAS COUNTY
LAW AND JUSTICE COUNCIL
MISSION STATEMENT AND BY-LAWS
1. MISSION STATEMENT:
The mission of the Kittitas County Law and Justice Co.mcil is to provide
recommendations to the Board of County 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.
If. GOALS
The goals of the Kittitas County Law and Justice Council are 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 andjustice 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 andjustice concerns; and
P. 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.
111. 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 Cot.my Commissioners created the
council, and is responsible for the appointment 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 or 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.
I. 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 .Tail 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;
* Cie Elum/Roslyn/South Cie 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
I. 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
**
A citizen at large to serve a two-year term beginning on January Ist **
of every odd -numbered year. A citizen it large to serve a two-year
term beginning on January Ist 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 at
a regular meeting in December of each calendar year by simple majority vote of the members
present at a meeting which represent a quorum of the whole. Tie term of off -ice for the Chair and
Co -Chair shall be for one calendar year, and they may serve ne more than two (2) consecutive
terms. Additional offices may be created by a two-thirds majority vote of the members of the
Council.
Per Kittitas Board ol'County Commissioners Resolution 2018-051, the Chair and Co -
Chair shall appoint a Kittitas County employee as Recording Clerk to be responsible for
recording of the Council's business and ensuring the Council's meetings are scheduled and
published as required by Open Public Meetings Act, chapter 42.30 RCW. 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 curry 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:
I. 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 conducted pursuant to the Open Public 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 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 tha_ has on file with the Council a
written request to be notified of that special meeting or of at I 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 Cc. -Chair, with prior input from
Council members, either in writing or from input at a prior meeting. The Recording Clerk shall
distribute meeting agendas along with the minutes of the prior meeting. Minutes shall be taken
anc reproduced by the Recording Clerk.
In order for the Council to function properly, all members need to actively participate. Va 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. AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS
I. 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 timellame.
2. These By -Laws may only be amended by two-thirds majority vote of the whole
Council.
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 unless a different voting majority is otherwise provided
in these By -Laws; 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.
G. PUBLIC RECORDS: RECORDS RETENTION
The public 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.
COMMITTEES:
Committees shall be created from time-to-timetime. to time as deemed necessary by the
CurCouncil. The Chair and Co -Chair shall be responsible r 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 two-thirds majority of
members present at a meeting which represent a quorum of [lie 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.
STANDING COMMITTEES:
a. 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 I -or projects
and committees; and identifying responsible nrennber(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 nneeting 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 forjoint projects, and review of
grant proposals for expenditures of the 1/10°i 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 apilications.
Responsible for recommendations for proposed expenditures, as well as oversight of
expenditures on grams.
C. PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE:
Responsible for development and implementation of a public relations plan geared for
promotingto-protnote the needs of the Kittitas County Law and Justice Community to the public.
Responsible for_community outreach as requested by the Coune l_.[o support current
needs, projects and collaborations Lrtlson may_bring represertatrves to the. -Council to share
agency updates, 01 may.,g�ther information from_comnumity_representanves and report to. [he
Council.
d:-- --- MENTAL-HEAUTH/DEVELOPMEN-TAL DISABILITIES
COMMITTEE:
----Responsible-t'or- coordination -ofc-ri ninal-justice related meal -health, developmental
disability, -and drag -and -alcohol -issues cooperadvely-developedwith -representatives-of the
CounVs;- Developmental -Disabilities Advisory Committee, and -other concerned parties.
e------Y-OUTH-MENTORING-&-PREY ENTION-COMMITTEE,
---- ----- .......----------
Responsible-for-co:-oferiminalyustice-andcommmmity-based-agencies-working-with -- Formatted: Indent Fast line: o
yout"o-improve mentalivellnese-and school engagement and to-deoreaser-youth suicide; - --"---"--""-"
substance -use, justice -system -involvement -and -gang -affiliation tby-partnering with and supporting
community -based -mentor ing-programs-that-positively-impact-theseoutcomes for our -youth,
Responsible for determining thecomposition of -committee -members -to -best address ihescope-of
work agreed upon by the Council, including such -members -and/or guests -to -be invited -to -attend
the-meetingsofthis- committee -as-declined necessary by- the committee to -move their work
forward -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 community
members are also membets of the Law and Justice Council: -A community -members -inclusion -on
this-eommittse-to- assist, -milli -the -committee's -uwork in no - may -creates -anexpectation -or-reality
that -such individual -is -also -gaining -membership -on the-Kittitas County -Law -and Justice Council
f --Nominating Comrniuee
g.---Othet committees as ntay-be-deemed-necessary from-iilne-to-time
DEFENSE AND INDEMNITY.
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Kittilas County will defend and indemnify Committee members as provided for in
Kittitas County Code Chapter 2.73, "Defense and Indemnification of County Officers,
Employees, and Volunteers," as currently enacted or hereafter amended.
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 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 , 20265 by a majority vote of the
membership of the Council and following approval by the Board of County Commissioners.
Cameron Clasen, KCL&.I Chair Rich Alba, KCL&J Co -Chair