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SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 5337
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AS
AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Passed
Legislature - 1997 Regular Session
State of Washington 55th
Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By
Read first time 02/21/97.
Extending
less than county-wide port districts.
AN
ACT Relating to formation of less than county-wide port districts; amending RCW
53.04.023; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec.
1. RCW
53.04.023 and 1994 c 223 s 84 are each amended to read as follows:
A
less than county-wide port district with an assessed valuation of at least ((seventy-five))
one hundred fifty million dollars may be created in a county that
already has a less than county-wide port district located within its
boundaries. Except as provided in this section, such a port district shall be
created in accordance with the procedure to create a county-wide port district.
The
effort to create such a port district is initiated by the filing of a petition
with the county auditor calling for the creation of such a port district,
describing the boundaries of the proposed port district, designating either
three or five commissioner positions, describing commissioner districts if the
petitioners propose that the commissioners represent districts, and providing a
name for the proposed port district. The petition must be signed by voters
residing within the proposed port district equal in number to at least ten
percent of such voters who voted at the last county general election.
A
public hearing on creation of the proposed port district shall be held by the
county legislative authority if the county auditor certifies that the petition
contained sufficient valid signatures. Notice of the public hearing must be
published in the county's official newspaper at least ten days prior to the
date of the public hearing. After taking testimony, the county legislative
authority may make changes in the boundaries of the proposed port district if
it finds that such changes are in the public interest and shall determine if
the creation of the port district is in the public interest. No area may be
added to the boundaries unless a subsequent public hearing is held on the
proposed port district.
The
county legislative authority shall submit a ballot proposition authorizing the
creation of the proposed port district to the voters of the proposed port
district, at any special election date provided in RCW 29.13.020, if it finds
the creation of the port district to be in the public interest.
The
port district shall be created if a majority of the voters voting on the ballot
proposition favor the creation of the port district. The initial port
commissioners shall be elected at the same election, from districts or at
large, as provided in the petition initiating the creation of the port
district. The election shall be otherwise conducted as provided in RCW
53.12.172, but the election of commissioners shall be null and void if the port
district is not created.
((This
section shall expire July 1, 1997.))
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This
act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or
safety, or support of the state government and its existing public
institutions, and takes effect immediately.
