H-3430              _______________________________________________

 

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1469

                        _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Barnes, Hine and Ballard

 

 

Read first time 1/15/86 and referred to Committee on Local Government.

 

 


AN ACT Relating to water districts; amending RCW 57.12.010 and 57.12.030; and adding a new section to chapter 57.12 RCW.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 57.12 RCW to read as follows:

          In those water districts with more than seven thousand meters, the board of water commissioners shall consist of five members.  The two additional members shall be elected at the next general election after the effective date of this act or the date the water district reaches the seven thousand meter mark, whichever occurs later.  The initial term of the commissioner elected in commissioner position number four shall be six years if the election is in an odd-numbered year and five years if the election is in an even-numbered year.  The initial term of the commissioner elected in commissioner position number five shall be four years if the election is in an odd-numbered year and three years if the election is in an even-numbered year.  Subsequent terms shall be for six years.  If the district falls below the five thousand meter mark, commissioner positions four and five shall expire on that date.

 

        Sec. 2.  Section 7, chapter 114, Laws of 1929 as last amended by section 6, chapter 330, Laws of 1985 and RCW 57.12.010 are each amended to read as follows:

          Except as provided in section 1 of this 1986 act, the governing body of a district shall be a board of water commissioners consisting of three members.  The board shall annually elect one of its members as president and another as secretary.

           The board shall by resolution adopt rules governing the transaction of its business and shall adopt an official seal.  All proceedings shall be by resolution recorded in a book kept for that purpose which shall be a public record.

A district shall provide by resolution for the payment of compensation to each of its commissioners at a rate of fifty dollars for each day or portion thereof devoted to the business of the district:  PROVIDED, That the compensation for each commissioner shall not exceed four thousand eight hundred dollars per year.  In addition, the secretary may be paid a reasonable sum for clerical services.

          Any commissioner may waive all or any portion of his or her compensation payable under this section as to any month or months during his or her term of office, by a written waiver filed with the district as provided in this section.  The waiver, to be effective, must be filed any time after the commissioner's election and prior to the date on which the compensation would otherwise be paid.  The waiver shall specify the month or period of months for which it is made.

         No commissioner shall be employed full time by the district.  Each commissioner shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses actually incurred in connection with such business, including his subsistence and lodging, while away from the commissioner's place of residence and mileage for use of a privately-owned vehicle at the mileage rate authorized in RCW 43.03.060 as now existing or hereafter amended.

          The date for holding elections and taking office as herein provided shall be subject to the provisions of any consolidated election laws that may be made applicable thereto although previously enacted.

 

        Sec. 3.  Section 4, chapter 18, Laws of 1959 as last amended by section 14, chapter 17, Laws of 1982 1st ex. sess. and RCW 57.12.030 are each amended to read as follows:

          The general laws of the state of Washington governing the registration of voters for a general or a special city election shall govern the registration of voters for elections held under this chapter.  The manner of holding any general or special election for said water district shall be in accordance with the laws of this state.  All elections in a water district shall be conducted under RCW 57.02.060.  All expenses of elections for a water district shall be paid for out of the funds of the water district:  PROVIDED, That if the voters fail to approve the formation of a water district, the expenses of the formation election shall be paid by each county in  which the proposed district is located, in proportion to the number of registered voters in the proposed district residing in each county.

          Except as ((in this section)) otherwise provided, the term of office of each water district commissioner shall be six years, such term to be computed from the first day of January following the election, and one commissioner shall be elected at each biennial general election, as provided in RCW 29.13.020, for the term of six years and until his or her successor is elected and qualified and assumes office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.  All candidates shall be voted upon by the entire water district.

          Three water district commissioners shall be elected at the same election at which the proposition is submitted to the voters as to whether such water district shall be formed.  The commissioner elected in commissioner position number one shall hold office for the term of six years; the commissioner elected in commissioner position number two shall hold office for the term of four years; and the commissioner elected in commissioner position number three shall hold office for the term of two years:  PROVIDED, That the members of the first commission shall take office immediately upon their election and qualification.  The terms of all commissioners first to be elected shall also include the time intervening between the date that the results of their election are declared in the canvass of returns thereof and the first day of January following the next general district election as provided in RCW 29.13.020.