Co-founder of Dick's to fund citizen groups.

Byline: Keith Ervin

Sep. 5--An unexpected gift of a quarter-million dollars sealed the deal.

King County Council members weren't sure they wanted to establish a "citizen councilor network" of small discussion groups proposed in Initiative 24 if it would mean staff costs of $130,000 more a year.

But when the initiative's author, Dick's Drive-In co-founder Dick Spady, said Tuesday he would pay the cost for two years, the council jumped on board.

A final vote is scheduled for Friday, but the 5-2 vote of the council's committee-of-the-whole suggests the measure will pass easily, and there will be no need for a vote of the people on Nov. 6. …