Title: An act relating to proceedings for excluding agricultural land from the boundaries of a charter or noncharter code city.

Brief Description: Providing for proceedings for excluding agricultural land from the boundaries of a charter or noncharter code city.

Sponsors: Senators Haugen and Spanel.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/7/05, 3/1/05 [DP, DNP].

Passed Senate: 3/16/05, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Berkey, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Fairley, Haugen, Kline, McCaslin, Mulliken and Pridemore.

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senator Benton.

Staff: Mac Nicholson (786-7445)

Background: A code city can reduce city limits through an election initiated in two ways: (1) a petition filed with the city; or (2) by a resolution calling for the election passed by the legislative body of the city. If three fifths of the votes cast favor the city limit reduction, the legislative body of the city is required to adopt an ordinance effecting the reduction.

Summary of Bill: Property owners of agricultural land may petition for exclusion from the incorporated area of a code city. The petition must be signed by owners of 100 percent of the land and if residents exist within the area, a majority of registered voters residing within the area.
The petition must set forth a legal description of the territory to be excluded, and must be submitted to the legislative body of the city. When the petition is filed with the legislative body, the body must set a date for public hearing on the petition within 60 days. After the hearing, if the legislative body determines to effect the exclusion, they must do so by ordinance. The petition is not submitted to the voters for approval.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This is a good bill that helps Mt. Vernon de-annex some agricultural land that is within the city's flood plain. The city has decided the land is unsuitable for development and wants it to revert to county land so the agricultural nature of the land can be preserved.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator Haugen, prime sponsor.