FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1523

C 200 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Reconciling conflicting provisions in laws pertaining to cities and towns.

Sponsors:  By Representatives Mielke, Mulliken, Dunshee and Edmonds.

House Committee on Local Government & Housing

Senate Committee on State & Local Government

Background:

Code cities are cities that operate under the alternative statutory classification of municipal government, which provides broad statutory home rule authority in matters of local concern.

Code City Board of Adjustment

A code city board of adjustment hears appeals from decisions or determinations made by a code city enforcement official, applications for variances, applications for conditional use permits, and any other administrative determinations as delegated by its authorizing ordinance. 

The action of the board of adjustment is final, unless an appeal is filed by the applicant in superior court within 10 days.

Code cities of 2,500 or more residents that create a planning agency are required to create a board of adjustment.  Code cities of less than 2,500 residents may create a board of adjustment at their option.

Code City Debt Limits

The city indebtedness limit without a vote of the people is 1.5 percent of the value of taxable property in the city, and with such vote the total indebtedness is not to exceed 2.5 percent the value of taxable property.

The code city indebtedness limit without a vote of the people is 0.75 percent of the value of taxable property in the city, and with such vote the total indebtedness is not to exceed 2.5 percent of the value of taxable property.

In 1994 the Legislature passed SSB 6069 which raised the debt limit without a vote from 0.75 percent to 1.5  percent of the value of taxable property for counties, cities and towns; however, the statute pertaining to code cities was not amended at that time.

Summary:

The time window for an appeal of a code city board of adjustment action is increased to 21 days.

The code city debt limit without voter approval is altered from 0.75 percent to 1.5 percent, to be consistent with all cities and counties.

Votes on Final Passage:

House920

Senate460

Effective:  July 22, 2001