SENATE BILL REPORT

                            HB 2244

              AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 28, 1994

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to classification of cities and towns.

SPONSORS: Representatives Dunshee, Horn, H. Myers and Springer

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Loveland, Oke, Owen and Winsley.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786‑7410)

Hearing Dates: February 18, 1994

BACKGROUND:

A variety of different types of cities and towns may be created, including first class cities, second class cities, third class cities, towns, unclassified cities operating under territorial charters, and code cities.  No second class cities exist.  Hoquiam was a second class city but elected to become a code city.

Perhaps the most fundamental difference in statutes relating to different classes of cities and towns involves the array of elected officials for the class of city or town.  Noncode cities and towns have a mayor/council plan of government, with different arrays of elected officials, unless the noncode city opts to have a council manager plan of government or a commission plan of government or a town opts to have a council manager plan of government.

Any noncode city or town may become a code city and choose to retain its own array of elected officials or may have the array of elected officials provided in code city statutes.  Any code city may opt to have an array of elected officials that any other class of city or town may have.  Hoquiam is a code city that has chosen to retain its old, second class city, array of elected officials.

Legislation was enacted in 1959 removing a town from any metropolitan park district and prohibiting a metropolitan park district from including a town.  This change removed Fircrest from the Tacoma Metropolitan Park District.

SUMMARY:

A first class city is redefined to be a city with a population of 10,000 or more that has adopted a charter.  A second class city is redefined to be a city with a population exceeding 1,500 that has not adopted a charter and does not operate under the optional municipal code.  A town is defined as having a population of 1,500 or less and does not operate under the optional municipal code.

Third class cities are converted to second class cities.  All powers of third class cities are included in the powers of second class cities.

When a noncode city or town becomes a code city, it may keep its old array of elected officials.  The option no longer exists for it to replace its plan of government and array of elected officials with those of any other type of noncode city.  It may adopt the array of elected officials provided in code city statutes, if it so chooses.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill simplifies the statutes.  No problems are seen at this time.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Stan Finkelstein, AWC