SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5049

      AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS,

                       JANUARY 29, 1993

Brief Description:  Revising the method for reducing city limits.

SPONSORS: Senator Haugen

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5049 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

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

Staff:  Katie Healy (786‑7784)

Hearing Dates: January 26, 1993; January 29, 1993

BACKGROUND:

A special election is held to determine whether city or town limits should be reduced when a petition is received requesting the reduction.  The petition must be signed by qualified voters of the city or town equal to not less than one-fifth of the votes cast in the last municipal election.  Notice of the special election is published at least four weeks prior to the election.  This notice is in addition to the notice normally required for elections. 

SUMMARY:

The petition requesting reduction of city or town limits must be signed by at least 10 percent of the number of voters voting at the last general election.  Alternatively, the city or town legislative body may, by resolution, submit a proposal to the voters for reduction.  The submitted proposal is presented at the next general municipal election if one occurs within 180 days of either the certification of sufficiency of the petition or the passage of the resolution.  Otherwise, a special election may be held.  Publication is required once each week for two consecutive weeks preceding the election.  The requirement for a second type of notice is deleted.

The rights, obligations, and duties with regard to the operation of a public service business or utility in the excluded area transfer to the county or political unit with jurisdiction over the area. 

Code cities may reduce their limits in the same fashion as classified cities.  The previous method by which code cities reduced limits is repealed.

Various clarifying changes are incorporated in the bill.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The portion of the measure providing that code cities may reduce their limits in the same fashion as classified cities is removed.  The portion repealing the reduction methods in RCW 35A applying to code cities is removed.  Code cities will continue to reduce their limits in the same way under the same statutes.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The bill is fairly technical and would clean up the area.  Classified cities or towns would be able to reduce their limits in the same fashion as code cities.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Stan Finkelstein, Association of Washington Cities (pro)