King County implements terms of Initiative 200

Statement on I-200

King County today implemented new policies on recruitment, employment, and contracting in light of last month's voter approval of Inititiative-200.

"These policies fully honor the spirit of I-200 while retaining King County's traditional commitment to open and equitable contracting and employment practices," says King County Executive Ron Sims.

After four weeks of review and meetings by an interdepartmental staff team, King County has taken the following interim actions as of today:

• Maintained its Affirmative Action Plan with some modifications, given that it encompasses the county's non-discrimination policies, fair employment guidance, and the affirmative action program.

• Suspended the County's selective certification program, which was a process for achieving gender and racial balance in the applicant pool.

• Continuing targeted recruitment and outreach to ensure the County is meeting its own affirmative action goals as well as meeting federal equal opportunity employment requirements.

• Drafted a discussion guide on recruitment and employment practices under I-200 to share with departmental staff

• Issued contract addenda deleting M/WBE preference and utilization requirements and the requirement for women and minority apprentice hiring from solications which will be opened after December 2, 1998; imposed certain race- and gender-neutral requirements.

• Drafted contract language consistent with the requirements of I-200 that will be included in solicitations issued after December 2, 1998.

Not affected are such affirmative action measures as Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) utilization and training programs which expressly include minority and women requirements as a condition of receiving federal funding.

Implementation of the policies will lie with Ricardo Cruz, Director of the Office of Human Resources Management, and Brad Duerr, Director of the Department of Finance.

All of the County's employment practices and all of the County's federal grant and contract requirements are being reviewed for conformance with the provisions of I-200. This effort is underway with assistance from the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. The results will be shared with the King County Council.

An interdepartmental group including representatives from the King County Executive, the Seattle Mayor, the Port of Seattle, the University of Washington, and the Seattle School District will continue to review, formulate and recommend future programs compliant with I-200.

For media interviews please contact Ricardo Cruz, Director of the Office of Human Resources Management, at (206) 296-1737.

Updated: Dec. 3, 1998