SENATE BILL REPORT

                            HB 2369

              AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 28, 1994

Brief Description:  Revising provisions for elections in cities with a commission plan of government.

SPONSORS: Representatives Foreman, Sheldon, Basich and Anderson

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:  Rod McAulay (786‑7754)

Hearing Dates: February 18, 1994

BACKGROUND:

A second class city or third class city with a population of from 2,000 to less than 30,000 may adopt a commission plan of government with a governing body composed of three commissioners.  Commissioners possess policy-making powers, as well as administrative and executive powers.  A non-code city that changes its classification to a code city may retain its prior plan of government or choose to operate under one of the two plans of government specified for code cities.

Commissioners are elected to four-year terms of office at the same general election once every four years in an odd-numbered year.  There is no staggering of terms of office.

Wenatchee, Shelton, and Raymond are the only cities operating under a commission plan of government.  Each of these three cities is a code city that opted to retain the commission plan of government when the city became a code city.

SUMMARY:

City commissioners are elected to staggered terms of office.

The staggering occurs at the next general election when commissioners are elected occurring in 1995 or 1997, when all three commissioners positions are filed.  The two commissioners who are elected receiving the greatest numbers of votes are elected to four-year terms of office and the other commissioner who is elected is elected to a two-year term of office.  Thereafter, all commissioners are elected to four-year terms of office.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

Only affects three cities in the state.  Will prevent the situation in which three rookies take office at the same time.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Representative Sheldon; Representative Foreman; Stan Finkelstein, AWC