HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 6643
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Local Government
Title: An act relating to combining a resolution proposing abandonment and a resolution proposing a council-manager plan of government into a single proposition.
Brief Description: Combining a resolution proposing abandonment and a resolution proposing a council-manager plan of government into a single proposition.
Sponsors: Senator Takko.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Local Government: 2/25/20, 2/26/20 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 5 members: Representatives Pollet, Chair; Duerr, Vice Chair; Kraft, Ranking Minority Member; Goehner and Senn.
Staff: Robbi Kesler (786-7153).
Background:
Cities and towns are classified when they incorporate or are reorganized. Four classes of municipal government exist under Washington law: (1) first-class cities; (2) second-class cities; (3) towns; and (4) optional municipal code cities.
Code cities may operate with one of three different plans of government: council-manager, mayor-council, or commission. The council-manager plan consists of an elected city council serving as the legislative body and an appointed city manager responsible for city administration. The mayor-council plan includes an elected mayor serving as the city's chief administrative officer and an elected council acting as the legislative body. Under the commission plan, elected commissioners serve as the legislative authority and as city department directors.
Abandonment of the city's current plan of government in order to adopt a new plan requires an election after a resolution from the legislative body or a petition signed by a number of registered voters, equal to at least 10 percent of the votes cast at the last general municipal election. If the resolution or petition proposes a plan of government other than a mayor-council or council-manager, the petition must specify the class the city will be classified as upon adoption.
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Summary of Bill:
The resolution or petition proposing abandonment of a city's current plan of government must include the proposed new plan of the government's effective date.
A resolution proposing abandonment of a code city's plan of government and a resolution proposing to designate a person elected to the city council, position one as the chair, may be combined for purposes of placing the matters before the voters of the city as a single proposition.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This is a good government efficiency bill. The option to have one election and ask both questions together will be less confusing for the voters. It is important to include an allowance for setting a date for the transition; this provides cities the opportunity to better plan for transition once changes are approved.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Senator Takko, prime sponsor; David Scott, City of Washougal; and Candice Bock, Association of Washington Cities.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.