SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 2325
AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS,
FEBRUARY 25, 1994
Brief Description: Revising procedures for changing the plan of government for cities and towns.
SPONSORS: House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Edmondson, 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, McCaslin, Oke, Owen and Winsley.
Staff: Diane Smith (786‑7410)
Hearing Dates: February 22, 1994; February 25, 1994
BACKGROUND: Cities and towns are divided into the following classifications:
*First class city means a city with population of 10,000 or more operating under a city charter approved by city voters;
*Second class city means a city with a population of 10,000 or more when the city incorporated or reorganized, that is not a code city;
*Third class city means a city with a population of 1,500 to less than 10,000 when the city incorporated or reorganized, that is not a code city;
*Town means a municipal corporation with a population less than 1,500 when the entity incorporated or reorganized, that is not a code city;
*Code city means a city that either incorporated as a code city or reorganized from a regular city or town to a code city.
Cities and towns operate under different plans of government as follows:
*Mayor/council plan where an elected council is the policy-making governing body, and a mayor is elected as a separate official with executive and administrative authorities.
*Council/manager plan where an elected council is the policy-making governing body, including a chairperson who is also called the mayor but who does not possess administrative or executive authorities. A city or town manager is appointed by the council to act as the executive and administrator of the city or town.
*Commission plan where three persons are elected as the policy-making governing body but also possess executive and administrative authorities.
The process of initiating a change in classification or plan of government begins with a petition of city or town voters. Signature requirements vary. The only changes that may be initiated by resolution of the governing body are: changing classification to a code city, or a code city changing its plan of government. In most instances ballot propositions authorizing the change are submitted to voters for their approval or rejection.
SUMMARY:
The procedures for cities and towns to reorganize under different classifications, other than a first class city with a city charter, and to alter their plans of government, are altered to:
*Clarify the procedures by which these changes are made;
*Allow ballot propositions authorizing the changes to be submitted to voters by action of the governing body;
*Standardize the signature requirements for petitions proposing the change; and
*Retain the terms of office of the existing governing body members, except when a city alters its plan of government to the commission plan.
Any additional positions that are required are filled as if vacancies existed. Any reduction in positions occurs gradually, election-by-election, as the terms of office of existing members of the governing body end.
Appropriation: none
Revenue: none
Fiscal Note: none requested
TESTIMONY FOR:
This bill ameliorates the complexity, conflict and confusion surrounding reorganization of cities and towns and the change of form of government.
TESTIMONY AGAINST: None
TESTIFIED: Dave Williams, AWC (pro)