HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1820

BYRepresentatives Spanel, Sprenkle, Braddock, Haugen, Vekich, Baugher and Ferguson

Authorizing a ballot proposition to increase the number of port commissioners.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Ferguson, Ranking Republican Member; Horn, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Phillips, Todd, Wood and Zellinsky.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (3)

      Signed by Representatives Raiter, Rayburn and Wolfe.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7127)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT MARCH 1, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Port districts are governed by a three-member board of commissioners.  However, a ballot proposition is submitted to district voters in a port district, that reaches a population of 500,000 or more, to determine if the board of commissioners should be increased to five persons.  The port commissioners of any port district with a population of 500,000 or more, that has a three-member board of commissioners, may submit a ballot proposition to the voters of the port district to authorize an increase in the board of commissioners to five members.

An election is held to elect two new commissioners at the same election as the ballot proposition is submitted to voters to authorize the increase in the number of port commissioners, but the election of these two additional commissioners is conditioned upon approval of the ballot proposition.  Although such a ballot proposition may be submitted to voters at any special election date, the staggering of terms of office of the two newly-elected commissioners is provided to be six years and four years.  The two newly-elected commissioners are to take office five days after the date of the election.

General election law provides that the results of elections are certified ten days after the election, except for a general election where the results are certified 15 days after the election.

The Port of Seattle and the Port of Tacoma are the only two port districts with a population of 500,000 or more and both have a five-member board of commissioners.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED:  A ballot proposition must be submitted to the voters of any port district, with a population of 100,000 or more, to authorize an increase in the number of members on the board of commissioners from three to five persons if a petition requesting the election is filed that has been signed by district voters equal in number to at least ten percent of the number of district voters who voted at the last general election.

Language is stricken providing that the initial two newly-elected commissioners take office five days after the election, and it is provided that they take office immediately after their election and qualification.  Staggering of terms is provided so that the one of the newly-elected commissioners is elected to a six-year term and the other to a four-year term, if the election were held in an odd-numbered year, or five years and three years if the election were held in an even-numbered year, with the terms of office being computed from the first day of January in the year following the election.

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The ability to increase the size of the board of commissioners is limited to port districts with a population of 100,000 or more.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Spanel, Prime Sponsor; Ken Henderson, Whatcom County.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Don White, Washington Public Ports Association; Andy Nesbet, Port of Port Angeles; Ray Dinsmore, Port of Olympia; John Pratt, Port of Kalama.

House Committee - Testimony For:    We need some new blood on some port commissions.  If the people want it, why not?  This is limited to only large port districts, i.e., the Port of Olympia and Bellingham.  This will allow better representation.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      This could disrupt a port commission.  The Port of Bellingham has two commissioners who have each served over 30 years, and the third, almost 30 years.  Continuity is desirable.  Why limit it to only large ports?