6608 AMS KLIN S4826.1

SB 6608 - S AMD - 675

By Senators Kline and Thibaudeau

                                               NOT ADOPTED 2/16/98

    Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

    "Sec. 1.  RCW 35.22.370 and 1965 c 7 s 35.22.370 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Notwithstanding that the charter of a city of the first class may forbid the city council from redividing the city into wards except at stated periods, if the city has failed to redivide the city into wards during any such period, the city council by ordinance may do so at any time thereafter:  PROVIDED, That there shall not be more than one redivision into wards during any one period specified in the charter.

(2) Any first class city with a population of more than four hundred thousand persons may have a city council with nine members, six of whom may be elected from districts with each of the six elected from one of six districts, and three of whom may be elected at large.  For any city that chooses this option, the following requirements apply:

(a) The council shall by ordinance create a commission to divide the city into six districts and fix the boundaries of the districts.  The council shall change the district boundaries from time to time and as provided in chapter 29.70 RCW.  No change in the boundaries of any district may be made within one hundred twenty days next before the date of a general municipal election, nor within twenty months after the districts have been established or altered.  However, if a boundary change results in one district being represented by more councilmembers than the number to which it is entitled, those having the shortest unexpired terms shall be assigned by the council to districts where there are vacancies, and the councilmembers so assigned shall be deemed to be residents of the districts to which they are assigned for purposes of determining whether those positions are vacant.

(b) Districts shall be used as follows:  (i) Only a resident of the district may be a candidate for, or hold office as, a councilmember of the district; and (ii) only voters of the district may vote at a primary to nominate candidates for councilmember of the district, and only voters of the district may vote at the general election to elect a councilmember of the district.  The three at-large positions shall not be associated with a district and the persons elected may reside anywhere in the city.  Voters throughout the city may vote at a primary to nominate candidates for the at-large positions, when a primary is necessary, and at a general election to elect persons to the at-large positions.

(c) Additional territory that is added to the city shall, by act of the council, be annexed to contiguous districts without affecting the right to redistrict at the expiration of twenty months after the last previous division.  The removal of a councilmember from the district for which he or she was elected shall create a vacancy in such office."

SB 6608 - S AMD - 675

By Senators Kline and Thibaudeau

                                               NOT ADOPTED 2/16/98

    On page 1, line 2 of the title, after "thousand;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "and amending RCW 35.22.370."

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