2278-S AAS 3/4/94

SHB 2278 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Government Operations

                                         ADOPTED AS AMENDED 3/4/94

    Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 42.12 RCW to read as follows:

    A vacancy on an elected nonpartisan governing body of a special purpose district where property ownership is not a qualification to vote, a town, or a city other than a first class city or a charter code city, shall be filled as follows unless the provisions of law relating to the special district, town, or city provide otherwise:

    (1) Where one position is vacant, the remaining members of the governing body shall appoint a qualified person to fill the vacant position.

    (2) Where two or more positions are vacant and two or more members of the governing body remain in office, the remaining members of the governing body shall appoint a qualified person to fill one of the vacant positions, the remaining members of the governing body and the newly appointed person shall appoint another qualified person to fill another vacant position, and so on until each of the vacant positions is filled with each of the new appointees participating in each appointment that is made after his or her appointment.

    (3) If less than two members of a governing body remain in office, the county legislative authority of the county in which all or the largest geographic portion of the city, town, or special district is located shall appoint a qualified person or persons to the governing body until the governing body has two members.

    (4) If a governing body fails to appoint a qualified person to fill a vacancy within ninety days of the occurrence of the vacancy, the authority of the governing body to fill the vacancy shall cease and the county legislative authority of the county in which all or the largest geographic portion of the city, town, or special district is located shall appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy.

    (5) If the county legislative authority of the county fails to appoint a qualified person within one hundred eighty days of the occurrence of the vacancy, the county legislative authority or the remaining members of the governing body of the city, town, or special district may petition the governor to appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy.  The governor may appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy after being petitioned if at the time the governor fills the vacancy the county legislative authority has not appointed a qualified person to fill the vacancy.

    (6) As provided in RCW 29.15.190 and 29.21.410, each person who is appointed shall serve until a qualified person is elected at the next election at which a member of the governing body normally would be elected that occurs twenty-eight or more days after the occurrence of the vacancy.  If needed, special filing periods shall be authorized as provided in RCW 29.15.170 and 29.15.180 for qualified persons to file for the vacant office.  A primary shall be held to nominate candidates if sufficient time exists to hold a primary and more than two candidates file for the vacant office.  Otherwise, a primary shall not be held and the person receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected.  The person elected shall take office immediately and serve the remainder of the unexpired term.

    If an election for the position that became vacant would otherwise have been held at this general election date, only one election to fill the position shall be held and the person elected to fill the succeeding term for that position shall take office immediately when qualified as defined in RCW 29.01.135 and shall service both the remainder of the unexpired term and the succeeding term.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 42.12.010 and 1993 c 317 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

    Every elective office shall become vacant on the happening of any of the following events:

    (1) The death of the incumbent;

    (2) His or her resignation.  A vacancy caused by resignation shall be deemed to occur upon the effective date of the resignation;

    (3) His or her removal;

    (4) Except as provided in RCW 3.46.067 and 3.50.057, his or her ceasing to be a legally ((qualified elector)) registered voter of the district, county, city, town, or other municipal or quasi municipal corporation from which he or she shall have been elected or appointed, including where applicable the council district, commissioner district, or ward from which he or she shall have been elected or appointed;

    (5) His or her conviction of a felony, or of any offense involving a violation of his or her official oath;

    (6) His or her refusal or neglect to take his or her oath of office, or to give or renew his or her official bond, or to deposit such oath or bond within the time prescribed by law;

    (7) The decision of a competent tribunal declaring void his or her election or appointment; or

    (8) Whenever a judgment shall be obtained against that incumbent for breach of the condition of his or her official bond.

    Sec. 3.  RCW 43.06.010 and 1993 c 142 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

    In addition to those prescribed by the Constitution, the governor may exercise the powers and perform the duties prescribed in this and the following sections:

    (1) The governor shall supervise the conduct of all executive and ministerial offices;

    (2) The governor shall see that all offices are filled, including as provided in section 1 of this act, and the duties thereof performed, or in default thereof, apply such remedy as the law allows; and if the remedy is imperfect, acquaint the legislature therewith at its next session;

    (3) The governor shall make the appointments and supply the vacancies mentioned in this title;

    (4) The governor is the sole official organ of communication between the government of this state and the government of any other state or territory, or of the United States;

    (5) Whenever any suit or legal proceeding is pending against this state, or which may affect the title of this state to any property, or which may result in any claim against the state, the governor may direct the attorney general to appear on behalf of the state, and report the same to the governor, or to any grand jury designated by the governor, or to the legislature when next in session;

    (6) The governor may require the attorney general or any prosecuting attorney to inquire into the affairs or management of any corporation existing under the laws of this state, or doing business in this state, and report the same to the governor, or to any grand jury designated by the governor, or to the legislature when next in session;

    (7) The governor may require the attorney general to aid any prosecuting attorney in the discharge of ((his)) the prosecutor's duties;

    (8) The governor may offer rewards, not exceeding one thousand dollars in each case, payable out of the state treasury, for information leading to the apprehension of any person convicted of a felony who has escaped from a state correctional institution or for information leading to the arrest of any person who has committed or is charged with the commission of a felony;

    (9) The governor shall perform such duties respecting fugitives from justice as are prescribed by law;

    (10) The governor shall issue and transmit election proclamations as prescribed by law;

    (11) The governor may require any officer or board to make, upon demand, special reports to the governor, in writing;

    (12) The governor may, after finding that a public disorder, disaster, energy emergency, or riot exists within this state or any part thereof which affects life, health, property, or the public peace, proclaim a state of emergency in the area affected, and the powers granted the governor during a state of emergency shall be effective only within the area described in the proclamation;

    (13) The governor may, after finding that there exists within this state an imminent danger of infestation of plant pests as defined in RCW 17.24.007 or plant diseases which seriously endangers the agricultural or horticultural industries of the state of Washington, or which seriously threatens life, health, or economic well-being, order emergency measures to prevent or abate the infestation or disease situation, which measures, after thorough evaluation of all other alternatives, may include the aerial application of pesticides;

    (14) On all compacts forwarded to the governor pursuant to RCW 9.46.360(6), the governor is authorized and empowered to execute on behalf of the state compacts with federally recognized Indian tribes in the state of Washington pursuant to the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 25 U.S.C. Sec. 2701 et seq., for conducting class III gaming, as defined in the Act, on Indian lands.

    Sec. 4.  RCW 14.08.304 and 1979 ex.s. c 126 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

    The board of airport district commissioners shall consist of three members((, who shall each be a registered voter and actually a resident of the district)).  The first commissioners shall be appointed by the county legislative authority.  At the next general district election, held as provided in RCW 29.13.020, three airport district commissioners shall be elected.  The terms of office of airport district commissioners shall be two years, or until their successors are elected and qualified and have assumed office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.  Members of the board of airport district commissioners shall be elected at each regular district general election on a nonpartisan basis in accordance with the general election law.  ((They shall be nominated by petition of ten registered voters of the district.))  Vacancies on the board of airport district commissioners shall occur and shall be filled ((by appointment by the remaining commissioners)) as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.  Members of the board of airport district commissioners shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for actual necessary traveling and sustenance expenses incurred while engaged on official business.

    Sec. 5.  RCW 28A.315.520 and 1971 c 53 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

    A majority of all members of the board of directors shall constitute a quorum.  Absence of any board member from four consecutive regular meetings of the board, unless on account of sickness or authorized by resolution of the board, shall be sufficient cause for the remaining members of the board to declare by resolution that such board member position is vacated.  In addition, vacancies shall occur as provided in RCW 42.12.010.

    Sec. 6.  RCW 29.15.120 and 1990 c 59 s 86 are each amended to read as follows:

    A candidate may withdraw his or her declaration of candidacy at any time before the close of business on the Thursday following the last day for candidates to file under RCW 29.15.020 by filing, with the officer with whom the declaration of candidacy was filed, a signed request that his or her name not be printed on the ballot.  There shall be no withdrawal period for declarations of candidacy filed during special filing periods held under this title.  The filing officer may permit the withdrawal of a filing for the office of precinct committee officer at the request of the candidate at any time if no absentee ballots have been issued for that office and the general election ballots for that precinct have not been printed.  The filing officer may permit the withdrawal of a filing for any elected office of a city, town, or special district at the request of the candidate at any time before a primary if the primary ballots for that city, town, or special district have not been ordered.  No filing fee may be refunded to any candidate who withdraws under this section.  Notice of the deadline for withdrawal of candidacy and that the filing fee is not refundable shall be given to each candidate at the time he or she files.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.  A new section is added to chapter 29.15 RCW to read as follows:

    Each person who files a declaration of candidacy for an elected office of a city, town, or special district shall be given written notice of the date by which a candidate may withdraw his or her candidacy under RCW 29.15.120.

    Sec. 8.  RCW 29.15.200 and 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 120 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:

    If after both the normal filing period and special three day filing period as provided by RCW 29.15.170 and 29.15.180((, as now or hereafter amended,)) have passed ((and still)), no candidate has filed for any single city, town, or district position to be filled, the election for such position shall be deemed lapsed, the office deemed stricken from the ballot and no write-in votes counted.  In such instance, the incumbent occupying such position shall remain in office and continue to serve until ((his)) a successor is elected at the next election when such positions are voted upon ((as provided by RCW 29.21.410, as now or hereafter amended)).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9.  A new section is added to chapter 35.02 RCW to read as follows:

    An election shall be held to elect city or town elected officials at the next municipal general election occurring more than twelve months after the date of the first election of councilmembers or commissioners.  Candidates shall run for specific council or commission positions.  The staggering of terms of members of the city or town council shall be established at this election, where the simple majority of the persons elected as councilmembers receiving the greatest numbers of votes shall be elected to four-year terms of office and the remainder of the persons elected as councilmembers shall be elected to two-year terms of office.  Newly elected councilmembers or newly elected commissioners shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified.  The terms of office of newly elected commissioners shall not be staggered, as provided in chapter 35.17 RCW.  All councilmembers and commissioners who are elected subsequently shall be elected to four-year terms of office and shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.

    Sec. 10.  RCW 35.17.020 and 1979 ex.s. c 126 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:

    All regular elections in cities organized under the statutory commission form of government shall be held quadrennially in the odd-numbered years on the dates provided in RCW 29.13.020.  The commissioners shall be nominated and elected at large.  Their terms shall be for four years and until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.  ((If a vacancy occurs in the commission the remaining members shall appoint a person to fill it for the unexpired term.))  Vacancies on a commission shall occur and shall be filled as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW, except that in every instance a person shall be elected to fill the remainder of the unexpired term at the next general municipal election that occurs twenty-eight or more days after the occurrence of the vacancy.

    Sec. 11.  RCW 35.17.400 and 1979 ex.s. c 126 s 18 are each amended to read as follows:

    The first election of commissioners shall be held ((within)) at the next special election that occurs at least sixty days after the ((adoption of)) election results are certified where the proposition to organize under the commission form was approved by city voters, and the commission first elected shall commence to serve as soon as they have been elected and have qualified and shall continue to serve until their successors have been elected and qualified and have assumed office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.  The date of the second election for commissioners shall be in accordance with RCW 29.13.020 such that the term of the first commissioners will be as near as possible to, but not in excess of, four years calculated from the first day in January in the year after the year in which the first commissioners were elected.

    Sec. 12.  RCW 35.18.020 and 1981 c 260 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The number of ((councilmen)) councilmembers in a city or town operating with a council-manager plan of government shall be ((in proportion to the population of the city or town indicated in its petition for incorporation and thereafter shall be in proportion to its population as last)) based upon the latest population of the city or town that is determined by the office of financial management as follows:

    (a) A city or town having not more than two thousand inhabitants, five ((councilmen)) councilmembers; and

    (b) A city or town having more than two thousand, seven ((councilmen)) councilmembers.

    (2) ((All councilmen shall be elected at large or from such wards or districts as may be established by ordinance, and shall serve for a term of four years and until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170:  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That at the first general municipal election held in the city in accordance with RCW 29.13.020, after the election approving the council-manager plan, the following shall apply:

    (a) One councilman shall be nominated and elected from each ward or such other existing district of said city as may have been established for the election of members of the legislative body of the city and the remaining councilmen shall be elected at large; but if there are no such wards or districts in the city, or at an initial election for the incorporation of a community, the councilmen shall be elected at large.

    (b) In cities electing five councilmen, the candidates having the three highest number of votes shall be elected for a four year term and the other two for a two year term commencing immediately when qualified in accordance with RCW 29.01.135 and continuing until their successors are elected and qualified and have assumed office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.

    (c) In cities electing seven councilmen, the candidates having the four highest number of votes shall be elected for a four year term and the other three for a two year term commencing immediately when qualified in accordance with RCW 29.01.135 and continuing until their successors are elected and qualified and have assumed office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.

    (d) In determining the candidates receiving the highest number of votes, only the candidate receiving the highest number of votes in each ward, as well as the councilman-at-large or councilmen-at-large, are to be considered)) Except for the initial staggering of terms, councilmembers shall serve for four-year terms of office.  All councilmembers shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.  Councilmembers may be elected on a city-wide or town-wide basis, or from wards or districts, or any combination of these alternatives.  Candidates shall run for specific positions.  Wards or districts shall be redrawn as provided in chapter 29.70 RCW.  Wards or districts shall be used as follows:  (a) Only a resident of the ward or district may be a candidate for, or hold office as, a councilmember of the ward or district; and (b) only voters of the ward or district may vote at a primary to nominate candidates for a councilmember of the ward or district.  Voters of the entire city or town may vote at the general election to elect a councilmember of a ward or district, unless the city or town had prior to January 1, 1994, limited the voting in the general election for any or all council positions to only voters residing within the ward or district associated with the council positions.  If a city or town had so limited the voting in the general election to only voters residing within the ward or district, then the city or town shall be authorized to continue to do so.

    (3) When a ((municipality)) city or town has qualified for an increase in the number of ((councilmen)) councilmembers from five to seven by virtue of the next succeeding population determination made by the office of financial management ((after the majority of the voters thereof have approved operation under the council-manager plan)), two additional council positions shall be filled at the ((first)) next municipal general election ((when two additional councilmen are to be elected, one of the two additional councilmen receiving)) with the person elected to one of the new council positions receiving the ((highest)) greatest number of votes ((shall be)) being elected for a four-year term of office and the person elected to the other additional ((councilman shall be)) council position being elected for a two-year term of office.  The ((terms of the)) two additional ((councilmen)) councilmembers shall ((commence)) assume office immediately when qualified in accordance with RCW 29.01.135, but the term of office shall be computed from the first day of January after the year in which they are elected.  Their successors shall be elected to four-year terms of office.

    (((4) In the event such population determination as provided in subsection (3) of this section requires an increase in the number of councilmen)) Prior to the election of the two new councilmembers, the city or town council shall fill the additional ((councilmanic)) positions by appointment not later than ((thirty)) forty-five days following the release of ((said)) the population determination, and ((the)) each appointee shall hold office only until ((the next regular city or town election at which a person shall be elected to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.  In the event such population determination results in a decrease in the number of councilmen, said decrease shall not take effect until the next regular city or town election:  PROVIDED, That)) the new position is filled by election.

(4) When a city or town has qualified for a decrease in the number of councilmembers from seven to five by virtue of the next succeeding population determination made by the office of financial management, two council positions shall be eliminated at the next municipal general election if four council positions normally would be filled at that election, or one council position shall be eliminated at each of the next two succeeding municipal general elections if three council positions normally would be filled at the first municipal general election after the population determination.  The council shall by ordinance indicate which, if any, of the remaining positions shall be elected at-large or from wards or districts.

    (5) ((If a vacancy in the council occurs, the remaining members shall appoint a person to fill such office only until the next regular general municipal election at which a person shall be elected to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term)) Vacancies on a council shall occur and shall be filled as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.

    Sec. 13.  RCW 35.18.270 and 1979 ex.s. c 126 s 20 are each amended to read as follows:

    If the majority of the votes cast at a special election for organization on the council-manager plan favor the plan, the city or town ((at its next regular election)) shall elect the council required under the council-manager plan in number according to ((the)) its population ((of the municipality:  PROVIDED, That if the date of the next municipal general election is more than one year from the date of the election approving the council-manager plan, a special election shall be held to elect the councilmen; the newly elected councilmen shall assume office immediately when they are qualified in accordance with RCW 29.01.135 following the canvass of votes as certified and shall remain in office until their successors are elected at the next general municipal election:  PROVIDED, That such successor shall hold office for staggered terms as provided in RCW 35.18.020 as now or hereafter amended.  Councilmen shall take office at the time provided by general law.  Declarations of candidacy for city or town elective positions under the council-manager plan for cities and towns shall be filed with the county auditor as the case may be not more than forty-five nor less than thirty days prior to said special election to elect the members of the city council.  Any candidate may file a written declaration of withdrawal at any time within five days after the last day for filing a declaration of candidacy.  All names of candidates to be voted upon shall be printed upon the ballot alphabetically in group under the designation of the title of the offices for which they are candidates.  There shall be no rotation of names)) at the next municipal general election.  However, special elections shall be held to nominate and elect the new city councilmembers at the next primary and general election held in an even-numbered year if the next municipal general election is more than one year after the date of the election at which the voters approved the council-manager plan.  The staggering of terms of office shall occur at the election when the new councilmembers are elected, where the simple majority of the persons elected as councilmembers receiving the greatest numbers of votes shall be elected to four-year terms of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year, or three-year terms of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year, and the remainder of the persons elected as councilmembers shall be elected to two-year terms of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year, or one-year terms of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year.  The initial councilmembers shall take office immediately when they are elected and qualified, but the lengths of their terms of office shall be calculated from the first day in January in the year following the election.

    Sec. 14.  RCW 35.23.050 and 1965 c 7 s 35.23.050 are each amended to read as follows:

    All municipal elections held under the provisions of this chapter shall be conducted according to the general election laws of this state((, as far as practicable:  PROVIDED, That any qualified voter of such city, duly registered for the general county or state election next preceding any municipal election, general or special, shall be qualified to vote at such municipal election.  No person shall be qualified to vote at such election unless he is a qualified elector of the county and has resided in such city for at least thirty days next preceding such election)).

    Sec. 15.  RCW 35.23.240 and 1965 c 7 s 35.23.240 are each amended to read as follows:

The city council may declare an office vacant:  (1) If anyone either elected or appointed to that office fails for ten days to qualify as required by law or fails to enter upon ((his)) the duties of that office at the time fixed by law or the orders of the city council, ((his)) the office shall become vacant; or (2) if such an officer ((absents himself)) who serves for compensation is absent from the city without the consent of the city council for three consecutive weeks or openly neglects or refuses to discharge ((his)) the duties((, the council may declare his office vacant:  PROVIDED, That this penalty for absence from the city shall not apply to such officers as serve without compensation.

    If a vacancy occurs by reason of death, resignation, or otherwise in the office of mayor or councilman, the city council shall fill the vacancy until the next general municipal election)) of that office.  In addition, a vacancy in an elective office shall occur and shall be filled as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.

    If a vacancy occurs ((by reason of death, resignation, or otherwise)) in any other office it shall be filled by appointment of the mayor and confirmed by the council in the same manner as other appointments are made.

    Sec. 16.  RCW 35.23.530 and 1965 c 7 s 35.23.530 are each amended to read as follows:

    At any time not within three months previous to an annual election the city council of a second class city may divide the city into wards, not exceeding six in all, or change the boundaries of existing wards.  No change in the boundaries of wards shall affect the term of any ((councilman, but he)) councilmember, and councilmembers shall serve out ((his)) their terms in the wards of ((his)) their residences at the time of ((his election:  PROVIDED, That if this results)) their elections.  However, if these boundary changes result in one ward being represented by more ((councilmen)) councilmembers than the number to which it is entitled, those having the shortest unexpired terms shall be assigned by the council to wards where there is a vacancy, and the councilmembers so assigned shall be deemed to be residents of the wards to which they are assigned for purposes of determining whether those positions are vacant.

    The representation of each ward in the city council shall be in proportion to the population as nearly as is practicable.

    ((No person shall be eligible to the office of councilman unless he resides in the ward for which he is elected on the date of his election and removal of his residence from the ward for which he was elected renders his office vacant.))

Wards shall be redrawn as provided in chapter 29.70 RCW.  Wards shall be used as follows:  (1) Only a resident of the ward may be a candidate for, or hold office as, a councilmember of the ward; and (2) only voters of the ward may vote at a primary to nominate candidates for a councilmember of the ward.  Voters of the entire city may vote at the general election to elect a councilmember of a ward, unless the city had prior to January 1, 1994, limited the voting in the general election for any or all council positions to only voters residing within the ward associated with the council positions.  If a city had so limited the voting in the general election to only voters residing within the ward, then the city shall be authorized to continue to do so.  The elections for the remaining council position or council positions that are not associated with a ward shall be conducted as if the wards did not exist.

    Sec. 17.  RCW 35.24.050 and 1979 ex.s. c 126 s 22 are each amended to read as follows:

    General municipal elections in third class cities not operating under the commission form of government shall be held biennially in the odd-numbered years ((as provided in RCW 29.13.020)) and shall be subject to general election law.

    The terms of office of the mayor, city attorney, clerk, and treasurer shall be four years and until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170:  PROVIDED, That if the offices of city attorney, clerk, and treasurer are made appointive, the city attorney, clerk, and treasurer shall not be appointed for a definite term:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That the term of the elected treasurer shall not commence in the same biennium in which the term of the mayor commences, nor in which the terms of the city attorney and clerk commence if they are elected.

    ((A councilman-at-large shall be elected biennially for a two-year term and until his or her successor is elected and qualified and assumes office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.  Of the other six councilmen, three shall be elected in each biennial general municipal election for terms of four years and until their successors are elected and qualified and assume)) Council positions shall be numbered in each third class city so that council position seven has a two-year term of office and council positions one through six shall each have four-year terms of office.  Each councilmember shall remain in office until a successor is elected and qualified and assumes office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.

In its discretion the council of a third class city may divide the city by ordinance into a convenient number of wards, not exceeding six, fix the boundaries of the wards, and change the ward boundaries from time to time and as provided in RCW 29.70.100.  No change in the boundaries of any ward shall be made within one hundred twenty days next before the date of a general municipal election, nor within twenty months after the wards have been established or altered.  However, if a boundary change results in one ward 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 wards where there is a vacancy, and the councilmembers so assigned shall be deemed to be residents of the wards to which they are assigned for purposes of determining whether those positions are vacant.  Whenever such city is so divided into wards, the city council shall designate by ordinance the number of councilmembers to be elected from each ward, apportioning the same in proportion to the population of the wards.  Council position seven shall not be associated with a ward and the person elected to that position may reside anywhere in the city and voters throughout the city may vote at a primary to nominate candidates for position seven, when a primary is necessary, and at a general election to elect the person to council position seven.  When additional territory is added to the city it may by act of the council, be annexed to contiguous wards without affecting the right to redistrict at the expiration of twenty months after last previous division.  Wards shall be redrawn as provided in chapter 29.70 RCW.  Wards shall be used as follows:  (1) Only a resident of the ward may be a candidate for, or hold office as, a councilmember of the ward; and (2) only voters of the ward may vote at a primary to nominate candidates for a councilmember of the ward.  Voters of the entire city may vote at the general election to elect a councilmember of a ward, unless the city had prior to January 1, 1994, limited the voting in the general election for any or all council positions to only voters residing within the ward associated with the council positions.  If a city had so limited the voting in the general election to only voters residing within the ward, then the city shall be authorized to continue to do so.  The elections for the remaining council position or council positions that are not associated with a ward shall be conducted as if the wards did not exist.

    Sec. 18.  RCW 35.24.060 and 1965 c 7 s 35.24.060 are each amended to read as follows:

    All elections shall be held in accordance with the general election laws of the state ((insofar as the same are applicable and no person shall be entitled to vote at any election unless he shall be a qualified elector of the county and shall have resided in such city for at least thirty days next preceding such election)).

    Sec. 19.  RCW 35.24.100 and 1965 c 7 s 35.24.100 are each amended to read as follows:

    ((In cities of)) The council of a third class city may declare a council position vacant if ((a member of the city council absents himself)) that councilmember is absent for three consecutive regular meetings ((thereof, unless by)) without the permission of the council((, his office may be declared vacant by the council.

    Vacancies in the city council or in the office of mayor shall be filled by majority vote of the council)).  In addition, a vacancy in an elective office shall occur and shall be filled as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.

    Vacancies in offices other than that of mayor or city ((councilman)) councilmember shall be filled by appointment of the mayor.

    ((If a vacancy occurs in an elective office the appointee shall hold office only until the next regular election at which a person shall be elected to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.))

    If there is a temporary vacancy in an appointive office due to illness, absence from the city or other temporary inability to act, the mayor may appoint a temporary appointee to exercise the duties of the office until the temporary disability of the incumbent is removed.

    Sec. 20.  RCW 35.24.290 and 1993 c 83 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

    The city council of each third class city shall have power:

    (1) To pass ordinances not in conflict with the Constitution and laws of this state or of the United States;

    (2) To prevent and regulate the running at large of any or all domestic animals within the city limits or any part thereof and to cause the impounding and sale of any such animals;

    (3) To establish, build and repair bridges, to establish, lay out, alter, keep open, open, widen, vacate, improve and repair streets, sidewalks, alleys, squares and other public highways and places within the city, and to drain, sprinkle and light the same; to remove all obstructions therefrom; to establish and reestablish the grades thereof; to grade, plank, pave, macadamize, gravel and curb the same, in whole or in part; to construct gutters, culverts, sidewalks and crosswalks therein or upon any part thereof; to cultivate and maintain parking strips therein, and generally to manage and control all such highways and places; to provide by local assessment for the leveling up and surfacing and oiling or otherwise treating for the laying of dust, all streets within the city limits;

    (4) To establish, construct and maintain drains and sewers, and shall have power to compel all property owners on streets and alleys or within two hundred feet thereof along which sewers shall have been constructed to make proper connections therewith and to use the same for proper purposes, and in case the owners of the property on such streets and alleys or within two hundred feet thereof fail to make such connections within the time fixed by such council, it may cause such connections to be made and assess against the property served thereby the costs and expenses thereof;

    (5) To provide fire engines and all other necessary or proper apparatus for the prevention and extinguishment of fires;

    (6) To impose and collect an annual license on every dog within the limits of the city, to prohibit dogs running at large and to provide for the killing of all dogs not duly licensed found at large;

    (7) To license, for the purposes of regulation and revenue, all and every kind of business authorized by law, and transacted and carried on in such city, and all shows, exhibitions and lawful games carried on therein and within one mile of the corporate limits thereof, to fix the rate of license tax upon the same, and to provide for the collection of the same by suit or otherwise;

    (8) To improve rivers and streams flowing through such city, or adjoining the same; to widen, straighten and deepen the channel thereof, and remove obstructions therefrom; to improve the water-front of the city, and to construct and maintain embankments and other works to protect such city from overflow; to prevent the filling of the water of any bay, except such filling over tide or shorelands as may be provided for by order of the city council; to purify and prevent the pollution of streams of water, lakes or other sources of supply, and for this purpose shall have jurisdiction over all streams, lakes or other sources of supply, both within and without the city limits.  Such city shall have power to provide by ordinance and to enforce such punishment or penalty as the city council may deem proper for the offense of polluting or in any manner obstructing or interfering with the water supply of such city or source thereof;

    (9) To erect and maintain buildings for municipal purposes;

    (10) To permit, under such restrictions as it may deem proper, and to grant franchises for, the laying of railroad tracks, and the running of cars propelled by electric, steam or other power thereon, and the laying of gas and water pipes and steam mains and conduits for underground wires, and to permit the construction of tunnels or subways in the public streets, and to construct and maintain and to permit the construction and maintenance of telegraph, telephone and electric lines therein;

    (11) ((In its discretion to divide the city by ordinance, into a convenient number of wards, not exceeding six, to fix the boundaries thereof, and to change the same from time to time:  PROVIDED, That no change in the boundaries of any ward shall be made within sixty days next before the date of a general municipal election, nor within twenty months after the wards have been established or altered.  Whenever such city is so divided into wards, the city council shall designate by ordinance the number of councilmen to be elected from each ward, apportioning the same in proportion to the population of the wards.  Thereafter the councilmen so designated shall be elected by the qualified electors resident in such ward, or by general vote of the whole city as may be designated in such ordinance.  When additional territory is added to the city it may by act of the council, be annexed to contiguous wards without affecting the right to redistrict at the expiration of twenty months after last previous division.  The removal of a councilman from the ward for which he was elected shall create a vacancy in such office;

    (12))) To impose fines, penalties and forfeitures for any and all violations of ordinances, and for any breach or violation of any ordinance to fix the penalty by fine or imprisonment, or both, but no such fine shall exceed five thousand dollars nor the term of such imprisonment exceed the term of one year, except that the punishment for any criminal ordinance shall be the same as the punishment provided in state law for the same crime; or to provide that violations of ordinances constitute a civil violation subject to monetary penalty, but no act that is a state crime may be made a civil violation;

    (((13))) (12) To establish fire limits, with proper regulations;

    (((14))) (13) To establish and maintain a free public library;

    (((15))) (14) To establish and regulate public markets and market places;

    (((16))) (15) To punish the keepers and inmates and lessors of houses of ill fame, gamblers and keepers of gambling tables, patrons thereof or those found loitering about such houses and places;

    (((17))) (16) To make all such ordinances, bylaws, rules, regulations and resolutions, not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the state of Washington, as may be deemed expedient to maintain the peace, good government and welfare of the corporation and its trade, commerce and manufactures, and to do and perform any and all other acts and things necessary or proper to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and to enact and enforce within the limits of such city all other local, police, sanitary and other regulations as do not conflict with general laws;

    (((18))) (17) To license steamers, boats and vessels used in any bay or other watercourse in the city and to fix and collect such license; to provide for the regulation of berths, landings, and stations, and for the removing of steamboats, sail boats, sail vessels, rafts, barges and other watercraft; to provide for the removal of obstructions to navigation and of structures dangerous to navigation or to other property, in or adjoining the waterfront, except in municipalities in counties in which there is a city of the first class.

    Sec. 21.  RCW 35.27.100 and 1965 c 7 s 35.27.100 are each amended to read as follows:

    All elections in towns shall be held in accordance with the general election laws of the state((, so far as the same may be applicable; and no person shall be entitled to vote at such election, unless he is a qualified elector of the county, and has resided in the town for at least thirty days next preceding the election)).

    Sec. 22.  RCW 35.27.140 and 1965 c 7 s 35.27.140 are each amended to read as follows:

    ((If a member of)) The council of a town may declare a council position vacant if that councilmember is absent from the town for three consecutive council meetings ((unless by)) without the permission of the council ((his office shall be declared vacant by the council.  A vacancy in the office of mayor and vacancies in the council shall be filled by a majority vote of the council)).  In addition, a vacancy in an elective office shall occur and shall be filled as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.

    A vacancy in any other office shall be filled by appointment by the mayor.  ((An appointee filling the vacancy in an elective office shall hold office only until the next general election at which time a person shall be elected to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term except that the person appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of mayor shall serve for the unexpired term.))

    Sec. 23.  RCW 35.61.050 and 1979 ex.s. c 126 s 24 are each amended to read as follows:

    At the same election at which the proposition is submitted to the voters as to whether a metropolitan park district is to be formed, five park commissioners shall be elected ((to hold office respectively for the following terms:  Where the election is held in an odd-numbered year, one commissioner shall be elected to hold office for two years, two shall be elected to hold office for four years, and two shall be elected to hold office for six years.  Where the election is held in an even-numbered year, one commissioner shall hold office for three years, two shall hold office for five years, and two shall hold office for seven years)).  The election of park commissioners shall be null and void if the metropolitan park district is not created.  Candidates shall run for specific commission positions.  No primary shall be held to nominate candidates.  The person receiving the greatest number of votes for each position shall be elected as a commissioner.  The staggering of the terms of office shall occur as follows:  (1) The two persons who are elected receiving the two greatest numbers of votes shall be elected to six-year terms of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or five-year terms of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year; (2) the two persons who are elected receiving the next two greatest numbers of votes shall be elected to four-year terms of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or three-year terms of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year; and (3) the other person who is elected shall be elected to a two-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a one-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year.  The initial commissioners shall take office immediately when they are elected and qualified, and for purposes of computing their terms of office the terms shall be assumed to commence on the first day of January ((of)) in the year after they are elected.  ((The term of each nominee for park commissioner shall be expressed on the ballot.))  Thereafter, all commissioners shall ((serve)) be elected to six-year terms of office ((and)).  All commissioners shall serve until their respective successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.  Vacancies shall occur and shall be filled ((by majority action of the remaining commissioners appointing a voter to fill the remainder of the term of the vacant commissioner position)) as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.

    Sec. 24.  RCW 35A.01.070 and 1979 ex.s. c 18 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    Where used in this title with reference to procedures established by this title in regard to a change of plan or classification of government, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:

    (1) "Classify" means a change from a city of the first, second, or third class, or a town, to a code city.

    (2) "Classification" means either that portion of the general law under which a city or a town operates under Title 35 RCW as a first, second, or third class city, unclassified city, or town, or otherwise as a code city.

    (3) "Organize" means to provide for officers after becoming a code city, under the same general plan of government under which the city operated prior to becoming a code city, pursuant to RCW 35A.02.055.

    (4) "Organization" means the general plan of government under which a city operates.

    (5) "Plan of government" means ((either the)) a mayor-council form of government under chapter 35A.12 RCW, council-manager form of government under chapter 35A.13 RCW, or a mayor-council, council-manager, or commission form of government in general that is retained by a noncharter code city as provided in RCW 35A.02.130, without regard to variations in the number of elective offices or whether officers are elective or appointive.

    (6) "Reclassify" means changing from a code city to the classification, if any, held by such a city immediately prior to becoming a code city.

    (7) "Reclassification" means changing from city or town operating under Title 35 RCW to a city operating under Title 35A RCW, or vice versa; a change in classification.

    (8) "Reorganize" means changing the plan of government under which a city or town operates to a different general plan of government, for which an election of new officers under RCW 35A.02.050 is required.  A city or town shall not be deemed to have reorganized simply by increasing or decreasing the number of members of its legislative body.

    (9) "Reorganization" means a change in general plan of government where an election of all new officers is required in order to accomplish this change, but an increase or decrease in the number of members of its legislative body shall not be deemed to constitute a reorganization.

    Sec. 25.  RCW 35A.02.050 and 1979 ex.s. c 18 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

    The first election of officers where required for reorganization under a different general plan of government newly adopted in a manner provided in RCW 35A.02.020, 35A.02.030, 35A.06.030, or 35A.06.060, as now or hereafter amended, shall be at the next general municipal election if one is to be held more than ninety days but not more than one hundred and eighty days after certification of a reorganization ordinance or resolution, or otherwise at a special election to be held for that purpose in accordance with RCW 29.13.020.  In the event that the first election of officers ((as herein provided)) is to be held at a general municipal election, such election shall be preceded by a primary election pursuant to RCW 29.21.010 and 29.13.070.  In the event that the first election of all officers ((as herein provided)) is to be held at a special election rather than at a general election, and notwithstanding any provisions of any other law to the contrary, such special election shall be preceded by a primary election to be held on a date authorized by RCW 29.13.010, and the persons nominated at that primary election shall be voted upon at the next succeeding special election that is authorized by RCW 29.13.010:  PROVIDED, That in the event the ordinances calling for reclassification or reclassification and reorganization under the provisions of Title 35A RCW have been filed with the secretary of state pursuant to RCW 35A.02.040 in an even-numbered year at least ninety days prior to a state general election then the election of new officers shall be concurrent with the state primary and general election and shall be conducted as set forth in ((chapter 35A.29 RCW)) general election law.

    Upon reorganization, candidates for all offices shall file or be nominated for and successful candidates shall be elected to specific council positions((, and an)).  The initial terms ((or)) of office for those elected at a first election of all officers ((to positions one and two for a five member council, or positions one through three for a seven member council, shall if the election occurs at a general municipal election be only until the second Monday in January first following the next general municipal election two years hence and if the election occurs at a special election, the duration of these initial terms shall be until the second Monday in January in the first even-numbered year that follows the next general municipal election.  The duration of the initial term attaching to the remaining councilmanic positions shall be until the second Monday in January two years next thereafter, so that staggered regular four year terms will ultimately result.  Any declarations of candidacy for any primary or other election held pursuant to this section shall be filed as provided in RCW 35A.29.110 as now or hereafter amended)) shall be as follows:  (1) A simple majority of the persons who are elected as councilmembers receiving the greatest numbers of votes and the mayor in a city with a mayor-council plan of government shall be elected to four-year terms of office, if the election is held in an odd-numbered year, or three-year terms of office, if the election is held in an even-numbered year; and (2) the other persons who are elected as councilmembers shall be elected to two-year terms of office, if the election is held in an odd-numbered year, or one-year terms of office, if the election is held in an even-numbered year.  The newly elected officials shall take office immediately when they are elected and qualified, but the length of their terms of office shall be calculated from the first day of January in the year following the election.  Thereafter, each person elected as a councilmember or mayor in a city with a mayor-council plan of government shall be elected to a four-year term of office.  Each councilmember and mayor in a city with a mayor-council plan of government shall serve until a successor is elected and qualified and assumes office as provided in RCW 29.04.170.

    The former officers shall, upon the election and qualification of new officers, deliver to the proper officers of the reorganized noncharter code city all books of record, documents and papers in their possession belonging to such municipal corporation before the reorganization thereof.  ((Officers elected at the first election of officers held pursuant to this amendatory act shall assume office as soon as the election returns have been certified.))

    Sec. 26.  RCW 35A.02.130 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.02.130 are each amended to read as follows:

    Any incorporated city or town governed under a plan of government authorized prior to the time this title takes effect may become a noncharter code city without changing such plan of government by the use of the petition-for-election or resolution-for-election procedures provided in RCW 35A.02.060 and 35A.02.070 to submit to the voters a proposal that such municipality adopt the classification of noncharter code city while retaining its existing plan of government, and upon a favorable vote on the proposal, such municipality shall be classified as a noncharter code city and retain its old plan of government, such reclassification to be effective upon the filing of the record of such election with the office of the secretary of state.  Insofar as the provisions of RCW 35A.02.100 and 35A.02.110 are applicable to an election on such a reclassification proposal they shall apply to such election.

    Sec. 27.  RCW 35A.06.020 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.06.020 are each amended to read as follows:

    The classifications of municipalities which existed prior to the time this title goes into effect‑-first class city, second class city, third class ((and fourth class)) city, town, and unclassified city‑-and the restrictions, limitations, duties, and obligations specifically imposed by law upon such classes of cities and towns, shall have no application to noncharter code cities, but every noncharter code city, by adopting such classification, has elected to be governed by the provisions of this title, with the powers granted hereby.  However, any code city that retains its old plan of government is subject to the laws applicable to that old plan of government until the city changes its plan of government to the provisions of either chapter 35A.12 or 35A.13 RCW.

    Sec. 28.  RCW 35A.06.030 and 1979 ex.s. c 18 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:

    By use of the resolution for election or petition for election methods described in RCW 35A.06.040, any noncharter code city which has operated for more than six consecutive years under one of the optional plans of government authorized by this title, or for more than a combined total of six consecutive years under a particular plan of government both as a code city and under the same general plan under Title 35 RCW immediately prior to becoming a code city, may abandon such organization and may reorganize and adopt another plan of government authorized for noncharter code cities, but only after having been a noncharter code city for more than one year or a city after operating for more than six consecutive years under a particular plan of government as a noncharter code city ((or may reclassify and adopt a plan of government authorized by the general law for municipalities of the highest class for which the population of such city qualifies it, or authorized for the class to which such city belonged immediately prior to becoming a noncharter code city, if any)):  PROVIDED, That these limitations shall not apply to a city seeking to adopt a charter.

    In reorganization under a different general plan of government as a noncharter code city, officers shall all be elected as provided in RCW 35A.02.050.  When a noncharter code city adopts a plan of government other than those authorized under Title 35A RCW, such city ceases to be governed under this optional municipal code and shall be classified as a city or town of the class selected in the proceeding for adoption of such new plan, with the powers granted to such class under the general law.

    Sec. 29.  RCW 35A.06.050 and 1979 ex.s. c 18 s 15 are each amended to read as follows:

    The proposal for abandonment of a plan of government as authorized in RCW 35A.06.030 and for adoption of the plan named in the resolution or petition shall be voted upon at the next general municipal election if one is to be held within one hundred and eighty days or otherwise at a special election called for that purpose in accordance with RCW 29.13.020.  The ballot title and statement of the proposition shall be prepared by the city attorney as provided in RCW 29.27.060 and 35A.29.120((, as now or hereafter amended.  If the plan proposed in the petition is not a plan authorized for noncharter code cities by this title, the ballot statement shall clearly set forth that adoption of such plan by the voters would require abandonment of the classification of noncharter code city and that government would be under the general law relating to cities of the class specified in the resolution or petition.  If the plan proposed in the petition is a plan authorized for noncharter code cities the ballot statement shall clearly set forth that adoption of such plan by the voters would not affect the eligibility of the noncharter code city to be governed under this optional municipal code)).

    Sec. 30.  RCW 35A.12.010 and 1985 c 106 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    The government of any noncharter code city or charter code city electing to adopt the mayor-council plan of government authorized by this chapter shall be vested in an elected mayor and an elected council.  The council of a noncharter code city having less than twenty-five hundred inhabitants shall consist of five members; when there are twenty-five hundred or more inhabitants, the council shall consist of seven members:  PROVIDED, That if the population of a city after having become a code city decreases from twenty-five hundred or more to less than twenty-five hundred, it shall continue to have a seven member council.  If, after a city has become a mayor-council code city, its population increases to twenty-five hundred or more inhabitants, the number of councilmanic offices in such city may increase from five to seven members upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the existing council to increase the number of councilmanic offices in the city.  When the population of a mayor-council code city having five councilmanic offices increases to five thousand or more inhabitants, the number of councilmanic offices in the city shall increase from five to seven members.  In the event of an increase in the number of councilmanic offices, the city council shall, by majority vote, pursuant to RCW 35A.12.050, appoint two persons to serve in these offices until the next municipal general election, at which election one person shall be elected for a two-year term and one person shall be elected for a four-year term.  The number of inhabitants shall be determined by the most recent official state or federal census or determination by the state office of financial management.  A charter adopted under the provisions of this title, incorporating the mayor-council plan of government set forth in this chapter, may provide for an uneven number of ((councilmen)) councilmembers not exceeding eleven.

    A noncharter code city of less than five thousand inhabitants which has elected the mayor-council plan of government and which has seven councilmanic offices may establish a five-member council in accordance with the following procedure.  At least six months prior to a municipal general election, the city council shall adopt an ordinance providing for reduction in the number of councilmanic offices to five.  The ordinance shall specify which two councilmanic offices, the terms of which expire at the next general election, are to be terminated.  The ordinance shall provide for the renumbering of council positions and shall also provide for a two-year extension of the term of office of a retained councilmanic office, if necessary, in order to comply with RCW 35A.12.040.

However, a noncharter code city that has retained its old mayor-council plan of government, as provided in RCW 35A.02.130, is subject to the laws applicable to that old plan of government.

    Sec. 31.  RCW 35A.12.040 and 1979 ex.s. c 18 s 21 are each amended to read as follows:

    Officers shall be elected at biennial municipal elections to be conducted as provided in chapter 35A.29 RCW.  The mayor and the ((councilmen)) councilmembers shall be elected for four-year terms of office and until their successors are elected and qualified((; except that at any first election three councilmen in cities having seven councilmen, and two councilmen in cities having five councilmen, shall be elected for two year terms and the remaining councilmen shall be elected for four year terms)) and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.  At any first election upon reorganization, councilmembers shall be elected as provided in RCW 35A.02.050.  Thereafter the requisite number of ((councilmen)) councilmembers shall be elected biennially as the terms of their predecessors expire and shall serve for terms of four years.  The positions to be filled on the city council shall be designated by consecutive numbers and shall be dealt with as separate offices for all election purposes((, as provided in RCW 35A.29.105.  In any city which holds its first election under this title in the calendar year 1970, candidates elected for two year terms shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualified at the general municipal election to be held in November, 1973 and candidates elected for four year terms shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualified at the general municipal election to be held in November, 1975)).  Election to positions on the council shall be by majority vote from the city at large, unless provision is made by charter or ordinance for election by wards.  ((The city council shall be the judge of the qualifications of its members and determine contested elections of city officers, subject to review by certiorari as provided by law.))  The mayor and ((councilmen)) councilmembers shall qualify by taking an oath or affirmation of office and as may be provided by law, charter, or ordinance.

    Sec. 32.  RCW 35A.12.050 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.12.050 are each amended to read as follows:

    The office of a mayor or ((councilman)) councilmember shall become vacant if ((he)) the person who is elected or appointed to that position fails to qualify as provided by law ((or)), fails to enter upon ((his)) the duties of that office at the time fixed by law without a justifiable reason, ((upon his death, resignation, removal from office by recall as provided by law, or when his office is forfeited)) or as provided in RCW 35A.12.060 or 42.12.010.  A vacancy in the office of mayor or in the council shall be filled ((for the remainder of the unexpired term, if any, at the next regular municipal election but the council, or the remaining members thereof, by majority vote shall appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy until the person elected to serve the remainder of the unexpired term takes office.  If at any time the membership of the council is reduced below the number required for a quorum, the remaining members, nevertheless, by majority action may appoint additional members to fill the vacancies until persons are elected to serve the remainder of the unexpired terms.  If, after thirty days have passed since the occurrence of a vacancy, the council are unable to agree upon a person to be appointed to fill a vacancy in the council, the mayor may make the appointment from among the persons nominated by members of the council)) as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.

    Sec. 33.  RCW 35A.12.060 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.12.060 are each amended to read as follows:

    ((A mayor or councilman shall forfeit his office, creating a vacancy, if he ceases to have the qualifications prescribed for such office by law, charter, or ordinance, or if he is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude or an offense involving a violation of his oath of office.  A councilman also shall forfeit his office if he)) In addition a council position shall become vacant if the councilmember fails to attend three consecutive regular meetings of the council without being excused by the council.

    Sec. 34.  RCW 35A.12.180 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.12.180 are each amended to read as follows:

    At any time not within three months previous to a municipal general election the council of a noncharter code city organized under this chapter may divide the city into wards or change the boundaries of existing wards.  No change in the boundaries of wards shall affect the term of any ((councilman, but he)) councilmember, and councilmembers shall serve out ((his)) their terms in the wards of ((his)) their residences at the time of ((his)) their elections:  PROVIDED, That if this results in one ward being represented by more ((councilmen)) councilmembers than the number to which it is entitled those having the shortest unexpired terms shall be assigned by the council to wards where there is a vacancy, and the councilmembers so assigned shall be deemed to be residents of the wards to which they are assigned for purposes of those positions being vacant.  The representation of each ward in the city council shall be in proportion to the population as nearly as is practicable.  ((When the city has been divided into wards no person shall be eligible to the office of councilman unless he resides in the ward for which he is elected on the date of his election, and removal of his residence from the ward for which he was elected renders his office vacant.))

Wards shall be redrawn as provided in chapter 29.70 RCW.  Wards shall be used as follows:  (1) Only a resident of the ward may be a candidate for, or hold office as, a councilmember of the ward; and (2) only voters of the ward may vote at a primary to nominate candidates for a councilmember of the ward.  Voters of the entire city may vote at the general election to elect a councilmember of a ward, unless the city had prior to January 1, 1994, limited the voting in the general election for any or all council positions to only voters residing within the ward associated with the council positions.  If a city had so limited the voting in the general election to only voters residing within the ward, then the city shall be authorized to continue to do so.

    Sec. 35.  RCW 35A.13.010 and 1987 c 3 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:

    The ((councilmen)) councilmembers shall be the only elective officers of a code city electing to adopt the council-manager plan of government authorized by this chapter, except where statutes provide for an elective municipal judge.  The council shall appoint an officer whose title shall be "city manager" who shall be the chief executive officer and head of the administrative branch of the city government.  The city manager shall be responsible to the council for the proper administration of all affairs of the code city.  The council of a noncharter code city having less than twenty-five hundred inhabitants shall consist of five members; when there are twenty-five hundred or more inhabitants the council shall consist of seven members:  PROVIDED, That if the population of a city after having become a code city decreases from twenty-five hundred or more to less than twenty-five hundred, it shall continue to have a seven member council.  If, after a city has become a council-manager code city its population increases to twenty-five hundred or more inhabitants, the number of councilmanic offices in such city may increase from five to seven members upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the existing council to increase the number of councilmanic offices in the city.  When the population of a council-manager code city having five councilmanic offices increases to five thousand or more inhabitants, the number of councilmanic offices in the city shall increase from five to seven members.  In the event of an increase in the number of councilmanic offices, the city council shall, by majority vote, pursuant to RCW 35A.13.020, appoint two persons to serve in these offices until the next municipal general election, at which election one person shall be elected for a two-year term and one person shall be elected for a four-year term.  The number of inhabitants shall be determined by the most recent official state or federal census or determination by the state office of financial management.  A charter adopted under the provisions of this title, incorporating the council-manager plan of government set forth in this chapter may provide for an uneven number of ((councilmen)) councilmembers not exceeding eleven.

    A noncharter code city of less than five thousand inhabitants which has elected the council-manager plan of government and which has seven councilmanic offices may establish a five-member council in accordance with the following procedure.  At least six months prior to a municipal general election, the city council shall adopt an ordinance providing for reduction in the number of councilmanic offices to five.  The ordinance shall specify which two councilmanic offices, the terms of which expire at the next general election, are to be terminated.  The ordinance shall provide for the renumbering of council positions and shall also provide for a two-year extension of the term of office of a retained councilmanic office, if necessary, in order to comply with RCW 35A.12.040.

However, a noncharter code city that has retained its old council-manager plan of government, as provided in RCW 35A.02.130, is subject to the laws applicable to that old plan of government.

    Sec. 36.  RCW 35A.13.020 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 155 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    In council-manager code cities, eligibility for election to the council, the manner of electing councilmen, the numbering of council positions, the terms of councilmen, the occurrence and the filling of vacancies, the grounds for forfeiture of office, and appointment of a mayor pro tempore or deputy mayor or councilman pro tempore shall be governed by the corresponding provisions of RCW 35A.12.030, 35A.12.040, 35A.12.050, 35A.12.060, and 35A.12.065 relating to the council of a code city organized under the mayor-council plan((:  PROVIDED, That)), except that in council-manager cities where all council positions are at-large positions, the city council may, pursuant to RCW 35A.13.033, provide that the person elected to council position one ((on or after September 8, 1975,)) shall be the council chairman and shall carry out the duties prescribed by RCW 35A.13.030((, as now or hereafter amended)).

    Sec. 37.  RCW 35A.14.060 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.14.060 are each amended to read as follows:

    An annexation election shall be held in accordance with ((chapter 35A.29 RCW of this title)) general election law and only registered voters who have resided in the area proposed to be annexed for ninety days immediately preceding the election shall be allowed to vote therein.

    Sec. 38.  RCW 35A.14.070 and 1979 ex.s. c 124 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

    Notice of an annexation election shall particularly describe the boundaries of the area proposed to be annexed, as the same may have been modified by the boundary review board or the county annexation review board, state the objects of the election as prayed in the petition or as stated in the resolution, and require the voters to cast ballots which shall contain the words "For Annexation" or "Against Annexation" or words equivalent thereto, or contain the words "For Annexation and Adoption of Proposed Zoning Regulation", and "Against Annexation and Adoption of Proposed Zoning Regulation", or words equivalent thereto in case the simultaneous adoption of a proposed zoning regulation is proposed, and in case the assumption of all or a portion of indebtedness is proposed, shall contain an appropriate, separate proposition for or against the portion of indebtedness that the city requires to be assumed.  The notice shall be posted for at least two weeks prior to the date of election in four public places within the area proposed to be annexed and published at least once a week for two weeks prior to the date of election in a newspaper of general circulation within the limits of the territory proposed to be annexed.  Such notice shall be in addition to the notice required by ((RCW 35A.29.140)) general election law.

    Sec. 39.  RCW 35A.15.040 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.15.040 are each amended to read as follows:

    ((The election shall be conducted and the returns canvassed as provided in chapter 35A.29 RCW.))  Ballot titles shall be prepared by the city as provided in RCW 35A.29.120 and shall contain the words "For Dissolution" and "Against Dissolution", and shall contain on separate lines, alphabetically, the names of candidates for receiver.  If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition are for dissolution, the municipal corporation shall be dissolved upon certification of the election results to the office of the secretary of state.

    Sec. 40.  RCW 35A.16.030 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.16.030 are each amended to read as follows:

    ((The election returns shall be canvassed as provided in RCW 35A.29.070 and)) If three-fifths of the votes cast on the proposition favor the reduction of the corporate limits, the ((legislative body, by an order entered on its minutes, shall direct the clerk to)) county auditor shall make and transmit to the office of the secretary of state a certified abstract of the vote.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 41.  A new section is added to chapter 35A.29 RCW to read as follows:

    Elections for code cities shall comply with general election law.

    Sec. 42.  RCW 36.69.020 and 1969 c 26 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    The formation of a park and recreation district shall be initiated by a petition designating the boundaries thereof by metes and bounds, or by describing the land to be included therein by townships, ranges and legal subdivisions.  Such petition shall set forth the object of the district and state that it will be conducive to the public welfare and convenience, and that it will be a benefit to the area therein.  Such petition shall be signed by not less than fifteen percent of the registered voters residing within the area so described.  ((No person signing the petition may withdraw his name therefrom after filing.)) The name of a person who has signed the petition may not be withdrawn from the petition after the petition has been filed.

    The petition shall be filed with the auditor of the county within which the proposed district is located, accompanied by an obligation signed by two or more petitioners, agreeing to pay the cost of the publication of the notice provided for in RCW 36.69.040.  The county auditor shall, within thirty days from the date of filing the petition, examine the signatures and certify to the sufficiency or insufficiency thereof((; and for that purpose shall have access to all registration books or records in the possession of the registration officers of the election precincts included, in whole or in part, within the proposed district.  Such books and records shall be prima facie evidence of the truth of the certificate)).

    If the petition is found to contain a sufficient number of signatures of qualified persons, the auditor shall transmit it, together with ((his)) a certificate of sufficiency attached thereto, to the county ((commissioners who)) legislative authority, which shall by resolution entered upon ((their)) its minutes((,)) receive it and fix a day and hour when ((they)) the legislative authority will publicly hear the petition, as provided in RCW 36.69.040.

    Sec. 43.  RCW 36.69.070 and 1979 ex.s. c 126 s 28 are each amended to read as follows:

    ((All elections pursuant to this chapter shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 29.13 RCW for district elections.))  A ballot proposition authorizing the formation of the proposed park and recreation district shall be submitted to the voters of the proposed district for their approval or rejection at the next general state election occurring sixty or more days after the county legislative authority fixes the boundaries of the proposed district.  Notices of the election for the formation of the park and recreation district shall state generally and briefly the purpose thereof and shall give the boundaries of the proposed district((, define the election precincts, designate the polling place of each, give the names of the five nominated park and recreation commissioner candidates of the proposed district,)) and name the day of the election and the hours during which the polls will be open.  The proposition to be submitted to the voters shall be stated in such manner that the voters may indicate yes or no upon the proposition of forming the proposed park and recreation district.  ((The ballot shall be so arranged that voters may vote for the five nominated candidates or may write in the names of other candidates.))

The initial park and recreation commissioners shall be elected at the same election, but this election shall be null and void if the district is not authorized to be formed.  No primary shall be held to nominate candidates for the initial commissioner positions.  Candidates shall run for specific commission positions.  A special filing period shall be opened as provided in RCW 29.15.170 and 29.15.180.  The person who receives the greatest number of votes for each commission position shall be elected to that position.  The three persons who are elected receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected to four-year terms of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or three-year terms of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year.  The other two persons who are elected shall be elected to two-year terms of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or one-year terms of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year.  The initial commissioners shall take office immediately upon being elected and qualified, but the length of such terms shall be computed from the first day of January in the year following this election.

    Sec. 44.  RCW 36.69.080 and 1979 ex.s. c 126 s 29 are each amended to read as follows:

    If a majority of all votes cast upon the proposition favors the formation of the district, (([the])) the county legislative authority shall(([,])), by resolution, declare the territory organized as a park and recreation district under the designated name ((theretofore designated, and shall declare the candidate from each subdivision receiving the highest number of votes for park and recreation commissioner the duly elected first park and recreation commissioner of the subdivision of the district.  These initial park and recreation commissioners shall take office immediately upon their election and qualification and hold office until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office as provided in RCW 36.69.090 as now or hereafter amended)).

    Sec. 45.  RCW 36.69.090 and 1987 c 53 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

A park and recreation district shall be governed by a board of five commissioners.  Except for the initial commissioners, all commissioners shall be elected to staggered four-year terms of office and shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.  Candidates shall run for specific commissioner positions.

    Elections for park and recreation district commissioners shall be held biennially in conjunction with the general election in each odd-numbered year.  ((Residence anywhere within the district shall qualify an elector for any position on the commission after the initial election.))  Elections shall be held in accordance with the provisions of Title 29 RCW dealing with general elections.  ((All commissioners shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.  At the first election following the formation of the district, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall serve for terms of four years, and the three candidates receiving the next highest number of votes shall serve for two years.  Thereafter all commissioners shall be elected for four year terms:  PROVIDED, That if there would otherwise be two commissioners elected at the November 1987 general election, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall serve a four-year term, and the commissioner receiving the second highest number of votes shall serve a two-year term.))

    Sec. 46.  RCW 36.69.100 and 1963 c 4 s 36.69.100 are each amended to read as follows:

    Vacancies on the board of park and recreation commissioners shall occur and shall be filled ((by a majority vote of the remaining commissioners)) as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.

    Sec. 47.  RCW 36.69.440 and 1979 ex.s. c 11 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) If the petition filed under RCW 36.69.430 is found to contain a sufficient number of signatures, the legislative authority of each county shall set a time for a hearing on the petition for the formation of a park and recreation district as prescribed in RCW 36.69.040.

    (2) At the public hearing the legislative authority ((for each authority)) for each county shall fix the boundaries for that portion of the proposed park and recreation district that lies within the county as provided in RCW 36.69.050.  Each county shall notify the other county or counties of the determination of the boundaries within ten days.

    (3) If the territories created by the county legislative authorities are not contiguous, a joint park and recreation district shall not be formed.  If the territories are contiguous, the county containing the portion of the proposed joint district having the larger population shall determine the name of the proposed joint district.

    (4) ((If the proposed district encompasses portions of two counties, the county containing the portion of the district having the larger population shall divide the territory into three subdivisions and shall name three resident electors as prescribed by RCW 36.69.060.  The county containing the territory having the smaller population shall divide that territory into two subdivisions and name two resident electors.

    (5) If the proposed district encompasses portions of more than two counties, the district shall be divided into five subdivisions and resident electors shall be named as follows:

    The number of subdivisions and resident electors to be established by each county shall reflect the proportion of population within each county portion of the proposed district in relation to the total population of the proposed district, provided that each county shall designate one subdivision and one resident elector.

    (6))) The proposition for the formation of the proposed joint park and recreation district shall be submitted to the voters of the district at the next general election, which election shall be conducted as required by RCW 36.69.070 and 36.69.080.

    Sec. 48.  RCW 52.14.010 and 1985 c 330 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    The affairs of the district shall be managed by a board of fire commissioners composed of three ((resident electors of)) registered voters residing in the district except as provided in RCW 52.14.015 and 52.14.020.  Each member shall each receive fifty dollars per day or portion thereof, not to exceed four thousand eight hundred dollars per year, for attendance at board meetings and for performance of other services in behalf of the district.

    In addition, they shall receive necessary expenses incurred in attending meetings of the board or when otherwise engaged in district business, and shall be entitled to receive the same insurance available to all ((firemen)) fire fighters of the district:  PROVIDED, That the premiums for such insurance, except liability insurance, shall be paid by the individual commissioners who elect to receive it.

    Any commissioner may waive all or any portion of his or her compensation payable under this section as to any month or months during his or her term of office, by a written waiver filed with the secretary as provided in this section.  The waiver, to be effective, must be filed any time after the commissioner's election and prior to the date on which ((said)) the compensation would otherwise be paid.  The waiver shall specify the month or period of months for which it is made.

    The board shall fix the compensation to be paid the secretary and all other agents and employees of the district.  The board may, by resolution adopted by unanimous vote, authorize any of its members to serve as volunteer ((firemen)) fire fighters without compensation.  A commissioner actually serving as a volunteer ((fireman)) fire fighter may enjoy the rights and benefits of a volunteer ((fireman)) fire fighter.  ((The first commissioners shall take office immediately when qualified in accordance with RCW 29.01.135 and shall serve until after the next general election for the selection of commissioners and until their successors have been elected and have qualified and have assumed office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.))

    Sec. 49.  RCW 52.14.013 and 1992 c 74 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    The board of fire commissioners of a fire protection district may adopt a resolution by unanimous vote causing a ballot proposition to be submitted to voters of the district authorizing the creation of commissioner districts.  The board of fire commissioners shall create commissioner districts if the ballot proposition authorizing the creation of commissioner districts is approved by a simple majority vote of the voters of the fire protection district voting on the proposition.  Three commissioner districts shall be created for a fire protection district with three commissioners, and five commissioner districts shall be created for a fire protection district with five commissioners.  No two commissioners may reside in the same commissioner district.

No change in the boundaries of any commissioner district shall be made within one hundred twenty days next before the date of a general district election, nor within twenty months after the commissioner districts have been established or altered.  However, if a boundary change results in one commissioner district being represented by two or more commissioners, those commissioners having the shortest unexpired terms shall be assigned by the commission to commissioner districts where there is a vacancy, and the commissioners so assigned shall be deemed to be residents of the commissioner districts to which they are assigned for purposes of determining whether those positions are vacant.

    The population of each commissioner district shall include approximately equal population.  Commissioner districts shall be redrawn as provided in chapter 29.70 RCW.  Commissioner districts shall be used as follows:  (1) Only a registered voter who resides in a commissioner district may be a candidate for, or serve as, a commissioner of the commissioner district; and (2) only voters of a commissioner district may vote at a primary to nominate candidates for a commissioner of the commissioner district.  Voters of the entire fire protection district may vote at a general election to elect a person as a commissioner of the commissioner district.

    When a board of fire commissioners that has commissioner districts has been increased to five members under RCW 52.14.015, the board of fire commissioners shall divide the fire protection district into five commissioner districts before it appoints the two additional fire commissioners.  The two additional fire commissioners who are appointed shall reside in separate commissioner districts in which no other fire commissioner resides.

    Sec. 50.  RCW 52.14.015 and 1990 c 259 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:

    In the event a three member board of commissioners of any fire protection district determines by resolution ((and approves by unanimous vote of the board)) that it would be in the best interest of the district to increase the number of commissioners from three to five, or in the event the board is presented with a petition signed by ten percent of the registered voters resident within the district who voted in the last general municipal election calling for such an increase in the number of commissioners of the district, the board shall submit a resolution to the county legislative authority or authorities of the county or counties in which the district is located requesting that an election be held.  Upon receipt of the resolution, the legislative authority or authorities of the county or counties shall call a special election to be held within the fire protection district at which election the following proposition shall be submitted to the voters substantially as follows:

    Shall the board of commissioners of . . . . . county fire protection district no. . . . . . be increased from three members to five members?

                              Yes . . . . .

                              No . . . . . .

    If the fire protection district is located in more than a single county, this proposition shall indicate the name of the district.

    If the proposition receives a majority approval at the election, the board of commissioners of the fire protection district shall be increased to five members.  The two additional members shall be appointed in the same manner as provided in RCW 52.14.020.

    Sec. 51.  RCW 52.14.030 and 1984 c 230 s 31 are each amended to read as follows:

    ((The polling places for district elections shall be those of the county voting precincts which include any of the territory within the fire protection districts.  District elections)) The polling places for a fire protection district election may be located inside or outside the boundaries of the district ((and)), as determined by the auditor of the county in which the fire protection district is located, and the elections of the fire protection district shall not be held to be irregular or void on that account.

    Sec. 52.  RCW 52.14.050 and 1989 c 63 s 21 are each amended to read as follows:

    ((In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of fire commissioner, the vacancy shall, within sixty days, be filled by appointment of a resident elector of the district by a vote of the remaining fire commissioners.  If the board of commissioners fails to fill the vacancy within the sixty-day period, the county legislative authority of the county in which all, or the largest portion, of the district is located shall make the appointment.  If the number of vacancies is such that there is not a majority of the full number of commissioners in office as fixed by law, the county legislative authority of the county in which all, or the largest portion, of the district is located shall appoint someone to fill each vacancy, within thirty days of each vacancy, that is sufficient to create a majority as prescribed by law.

    An appointee shall serve ad interim until a successor has been elected and qualified at the next general election as provided in chapter 29.21 RCW.  A person who is so elected shall take office immediately after he or she is qualified and shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.))

Vacancies on a board of fire commissioners shall occur as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.  In addition, if a fire commissioner is absent from the district for three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings unless by permission of the board, the office shall be declared vacant by the board of commissioners ((and the vacancy shall be filled as provided for in this section)).  However, such an action shall not be taken unless the commissioner is notified by mail after two consecutive unexcused absences that the position will be declared vacant if the commissioner is absent without being excused from the next regularly scheduled meeting.  Vacancies ((additionally shall occur)) on a board of fire commissioners shall be filled as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.

    Sec. 53.  RCW 52.14.060 and 1989 c 63 s 22 are each amended to read as follows:

    The initial three members of the board of fire commissioners shall be elected at the same election as when the ballot proposition is submitted to the voters authorizing the creation of the fire protection district.  If the district is not authorized to be created, the election of the initial fire commissioners shall be null and void.  If the district is authorized to be created, the initial fire commissioners shall take office immediately when qualified.  Candidates shall file for each of the three separate fire commissioner positions.  Elections shall be held as provided in chapter 29.21 RCW, with the county auditor opening up a special filing period as provided in RCW ((29.21.360 and 29.21.370)) 29.15.170 and 29.15.180, as if there were a vacancy.  The ((candidate for each position)) person who receives the greatest number of votes for each position shall be elected to that position.  ((If the election is held in an odd-numbered year, the winning candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall hold office for a term of six years, the winning candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall hold office for a term of four years, and the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall serve for a term of two years.  If the election were held in an even-numbered year, the winning candidate receiving the greatest number of votes shall hold office for a term of five years, the winning candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall hold office for a term of three years, and the winning candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall hold office for a term of one year.)) The terms of office of the initial fire commissioners shall be staggered as follows:  (1) The person who is elected receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected to a six-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a five-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year; (2) the person who is elected receiving the next greatest number of votes shall be elected to a four-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a three-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year; and (3) the other person who is elected shall be elected to a two-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a one-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year.  The initial commissioners shall take office immediately when elected and qualified and their terms of office ((of the initially elected fire commissioners)) shall be calculated from the first day of January in the year following their election.

The term of office of each subsequent commissioner shall be six years.  Each commissioner shall serve until a successor is elected and qualified and assumes office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.

    Sec. 54.  RCW 53.12.140 and 1959 c 17 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

    A vacancy in the office of port commissioner shall occur ((by death, resignation, removal, conviction of a felony,)) as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW or by nonattendance at meetings of the port commission for a period of sixty days unless excused by the port commission((, by any statutory disqualification, or by any permanent disability preventing the proper discharge of his duty)).  A vacancy on a port commission shall be filled as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.

    Sec. 55.  RCW 54.08.060 and 1979 ex.s. c 126 s 36 are each amended to read as follows:

    Whenever a proposition for the formation of a public utility district is to be submitted to voters in any county, the county legislative authority may by resolution call a special election, and at the request of petitioners for the formation of such district contained in the petition shall do so and shall provide for holding the same at the earliest practicable time.  If the boundaries of the proposed district embrace an area less than the entire county, such election shall be confined to the area so included.  The notice of such election shall state the boundaries of the proposed district and the object of such election; in other respects, such election shall be held and called in the same manner as provided by law for the holding and calling of general elections:  PROVIDED, That notice thereof shall be given for not less than ten days nor more than thirty days prior to such special election.  In submitting the ((said)) proposition to the voters for their approval or rejection, such proposition shall be expressed on the ballots in substantially the following terms:

    Public Utility District No. ......................... YES

    Public Utility District No. .........................  NO

    At the same special election on the proposition to form a public utility district, there shall also be an election for three public utility district commissioners((:  PROVIDED, That)).  However, the election of such commissioners shall be null and void if the proposition to form the public utility district does not receive approval by a majority of the voters voting on the proposition.  ((Nomination for and election of public utility district commissioners shall conform with the provisions of RCW 54.12.010 as now or hereafter amended, except for the day of such election and the term of office of the original commissioners.))  No primary shall be held.  A special filing period shall be opened as provided in RCW 29.15.170 and 29.15.180.  The person receiving the greatest number of votes for the commissioner of each commissioner district shall be elected as the commissioner of that district.  Commissioner districts shall be established as provided in RCW 54.12.010.  The terms of the initial commissioners shall be staggered as follows:  (1) The person who is elected receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected to a six-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year or a five-year term if the election is held in an odd-numbered year; (2) the person who is elected receiving the next greatest number of votes shall be elected to a four-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year or a three-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year; and (3) the other person who is elected shall be elected to a two-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year or a one-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year.  The commissioners first to be elected at such special election shall ((hold office from the first day of the month following the commissioners' election for the terms as specified in this section which terms shall be computed from the first day in January next following the election.  If such special election was held in an even-numbered year, the commissioners residing in commissioner district number one shall hold office for the term of six years, the commissioner residing in commissioner district number two shall hold office for the term of four years, and the commissioner residing in commissioner district number three shall hold office for the term of two years.  If such special election was held in an odd-numbered year, the commissioner residing in commissioner district number one shall hold office for the term of five years, the commissioner residing in commissioner district number two shall hold office for the term of three years, and the commissioner residing in commissioner district number three shall hold office for the term of one year)) assume office immediately when they are elected and qualified, but the length of their terms of office shall be calculated from the first day in January in the year following their elections.

    The term "general election" as used herein means biennial general elections at which state and county officers in a noncharter county are elected.

    Sec. 56.  RCW 54.12.010 and 1990 c 59 s 109 are each amended to read as follows:

    ((Within ten days after such election, the county canvassing board shall canvass the returns, and if at such election a majority of the voters voting upon such proposition shall vote in favor of the formation of such district, the canvassing board shall so declare in its canvass of the returns of such election, and such public utility district shall then be and become)) A public utility district that is created as provided in RCW 54.08.010 shall be a municipal corporation of the state of Washington, and the name of such public utility district shall be Public Utility District No. . . . . of . . . . . . County.

    The powers of the public utility district shall be exercised through a commission consisting of three members in three commissioner districts, and five members in five commissioner districts.

    When the public utility district is ((coextensive with the limits of such county)) county-wide and the county has three county legislative authority districts, then, at the first election of commissioners and until any change shall have been made in the boundaries of public utility district commissioner districts, one public utility district commissioner shall be chosen from each of the three county ((commissioner)) legislative authority districts ((of the county in which the public utility district is located if the county is not operating under a "Home Rule" charter)).  When the public utility district comprises only a portion of the county, with boundaries established in accordance with chapter 54.08 RCW, or when the public utility district is ((located in a county operating under a "Home Rule" charter)) county-wide and the county does not have three county legislative authority districts, three public utility district commissioner districts, numbered consecutively, ((having)) each with approximately equal population and ((boundaries,)) following ((ward and)) precinct lines, as far as practicable, shall be described in the petition for the formation of the public utility district, which shall be subject to appropriate change by the county legislative authority if and when ((they)) it changes the boundaries of the proposed public utility district, and one commissioner shall be elected ((from each of said)) as a commissioner of each of the public utility district commissioner districts.  ((In all five commissioner districts an additional commissioner at large shall be chosen from each of the two at large districts.  No person shall be eligible to be elected to the office of public utility district commissioner for a particular district commissioner district unless he is a registered voter of the public utility district commissioner district or at large district from which he is elected.)) Commissioner districts shall be used as follows:  (1) Only a registered voter who resides in a commissioner district may be a candidate for, or hold office as, a commissioner of the commissioner district; and (2) only voters of a commissioner district may vote at a primary to nominate candidates for a commissioner of the commissioner district.  Voters of the entire public utility district may vote at a general election to elect a person as a commissioner of the commissioner district.

    ((Except as otherwise provided,)) The term of office of each public utility district commissioner other than the commissioners at large shall be six years, and the term of each commissioner at large shall be four years.  Each term shall be computed in accordance with RCW 29.04.170 following the commissioner's election.  ((One commissioner at large and one commissioner from a commissioner district shall be elected at each general election held in an even-numbered year for the term of four years and six years respectively.  All candidates shall be voted upon by the entire public utility district.

    When a public utility district is formed, three public utility district commissioners shall be elected at the same election at which the proposition is submitted to the voters as to whether such public utility district shall be formed.  If the general election adopting the proposition to create the public utility district was held in an even-numbered year, the commissioner residing in commissioner district number one shall hold office for the term of six years; the commissioner residing in commissioner district number two shall hold office for the term of four years; and the commissioner residing in commissioner district number three shall hold office for the term of two years.  If the general election adopting the proposition to create the public utility district was held in an odd-numbered year, the commissioner residing in commissioner district number one shall hold office for the term of five years, the commissioner in district two shall hold office for the term of three years, and the commissioner in district three shall hold office for the term of one year.  The commissioners first to be elected as above provided shall hold office from the first day of the month following the commissioners' election and their respective terms of office shall be computed from the first day of January next following the election.))

    All public utility district commissioners shall hold office until their successors shall have been elected and have qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.  ((A filing for nomination for public utility district commissioner shall be accompanied by a petition signed by one hundred registered voters of the public utility district which shall be certified by the county auditor to contain the required number of registered voters, and shall otherwise be filed in accord with the requirements of Title 29 RCW.  At the time of filing such nominating petition, the person so nominated shall execute and file a declaration of candidacy subject to the provisions of Title 29 RCW, as now or hereafter amended.  The petition and each page of the petition shall state whether the nomination is for a commissioner from a particular commissioner district or for a commissioner at large and shall state the districts; otherwise it shall be void.))

    A vacancy in the office of public utility district commissioner shall occur as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW or by ((death, resignation, removal, conviction of a felony,)) nonattendance at meetings of the public utility district commission for a period of sixty days unless excused by the public utility district commission((, by any statutory disqualification, or by any permanent disability preventing the proper discharge of his duty.  In the event of a vacancy in said office, such vacancy shall be filled at the next general election held in an even-numbered year, the vacancy in the interim to be filled by appointment by the remaining commissioners.  If more than one vacancy exists at the same time in a three commissioner district, or more than two in a five commissioner district, a special election shall be called by the county canvassing board upon the request of the remainder, or, that failing, by the county election board, such election to be held not more than forty days after the occurring of such vacancies.

    A majority of the persons holding the office of public utility district commissioner at any time shall constitute a quorum of the commission for the transaction of business, and the concurrence of a majority of the persons holding such office at the time shall be necessary and shall be sufficient for the passage of any resolution, but no business shall be transacted, except in usual and ordinary course, unless there are in office at least a majority of the full number of commissioners fixed by law)).  Vacancies on a board of public utility district commissioners shall be filled as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.

    The boundaries of the public utility district ((commissioners')) commissioner districts may be changed only by the public utility district commission, and shall be examined every ten years to determine substantial equality of population in accordance with chapter 29.70 RCW, but ((said)) the boundaries shall not be changed oftener than once in four years, and only when all members of the commission are present.  Whenever territory is added to a public utility district under RCW 54.04.035, the boundaries of the public utility ((commissioners')) commissioner districts shall be changed to include such additional territory.  The proposed change of the boundaries of the public utility district ((commissioners')) commissioner district must be made by resolution and after public hearing.  Notice of the time of a public hearing thereon shall be published for two weeks prior thereto.  Upon a referendum petition signed by ten percent of the qualified voters of the public utility district being filed with the county auditor, the county legislative authority shall submit such proposed change of boundaries to the voters of the public utility district for their approval or rejection.  Such petition must be filed within ninety days after the adoption of resolution of the proposed action.  The validity of ((said)) the petition shall be governed by the provisions of chapter 54.08 RCW.

    Sec. 57.  RCW 54.40.010 and 1977 ex.s. c 36 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    A five commissioner public utility district is a district ((which shall have)) that (1) either:  (a) Has or had a license from the federal power commission to construct a hydroelectric project of an estimated cost of more than two hundred and fifty million dollars, including interest during construction((, and which shall have received the approval of the)); or (b) has a population of five hundred thousand or more; and (2) voters of the district approved a ballot proposition authorizing the district to become a five commissioner district as provided ((herein)) under RCW 54.40.040.  All other public utility districts shall be known as three commissioner districts.

    Sec. 58.  RCW 54.40.040 and 1977 ex.s. c 36 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

    A public utility district that has or had a license from the federal power commission to construct a hydroelectric project of an estimated cost of more than two hundred fifty million dollars, including interest during construction, or has a population of five hundred thousand or more, shall be classified as a five commissioner district ((only by approval of the qualified)) if voters of the district((.   Such approval shall be by an election upon petition as hereinafter provided)) approve a ballot proposition authorizing the change.  In submitting the question to the voters for their approval or rejection, the proposition shall be expressed on the ballot in substantially the following terms:

    Shall Public Utility District No. . . . . be reclassified a Five Commissioner District for the purpose of increasing the number of commissioners to five YES  G

                                                            NO   G

Should a majority of the voters voting on the question approve the proposition, the district shall be declared a five commissioner district upon the ((completion of the canvass)) certification of the election returns.

    Sec. 59.  RCW 54.40.050 and 1977 ex.s. c 36 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

    The question of reclassification of a public utility district that has or had a license from the federal power commission to construct a hydroelectric project of an estimated cost of more than two hundred fifty million dollars, including interest during construction, or has a population of five hundred thousand or more, as a five commissioner public utility district shall be submitted to the voters ((only upon filing)) if a petition proposing the change is filed with the county auditor of the county in which ((said)) the district is located, identifying the district by number and praying that an election be held to determine whether it shall become a five commissioner district.  The petition must be signed by a number of ((qualified)) registered voters of the district equal to at least ten percent of the number of registered voters in the district who voted at the last general election((.  In addition to the signature of the voter, the petition must indicate)) and include each signer's residence address ((and further indicate whether he is registered in a precinct in an unincorporated area or a precinct in an incorporated area and if the latter, give the name of the city or town wherein he is registered.  Said)).

The petition shall be ((presented to)) filed with the county auditor for verification of the validity of the signatures.  Within thirty days after receipt of the petition, the county auditor((, in conjunction with the city clerks of the incorporated areas in which any signer is registered,)) shall determine the sufficiency of the petition.  If the petition is found insufficient, the person who filed the same shall be notified by mail and he shall have an additional fifteen days from the date of mailing such notice within which to submit additional signatures, and the county auditor shall have an additional thirty days after the submission of such additional signatures to determine the validity of the entire petition.  No signature may be withdrawn after the petition has been filed.

    If the petition, including these additional signatures if any, is found sufficient, the county auditor shall certify ((such fact)) its sufficiency to the public utility district and if the commissioners of the public utility district ((have theretofore)) had certified to the county auditor the eligibility of the district for reclassification as provided in this chapter, the county auditor shall submit to the voters of the district the question of whether the district shall become a five commissioner district.  ((Such)) The election shall be held ((on a date fixed by the county auditor which date shall be held at the next general election after the date on which he certified the sufficiency of the petition.  Notice of any election on the question shall be given in the manner prescribed for notice of an election on the formation of a public utility district)) at the next state general election occurring sixty or more days after the petition was certified as having sufficient valid signatures.

    Sec. 60.  RCW 54.40.060 and 1977 ex.s. c 36 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

    If the reclassification to a five commissioner district is approved by the voters, the public utility district commission within ((ten)) sixty days after the results of said election are certified shall divide the public utility district into two districts of as nearly equal population ((and area)) as possible, and shall designate ((such)) the districts as ((At Large)) District A and ((At Large)) District B.

    Sec. 61.  RCW 54.40.070 and 1977 ex.s. c 36 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

    Within thirty days after the public utility district commission ((shall)) divides the district into ((two at large districts)) District A and District B, the county legislative authority shall call a special election, to be held at the next ((scheduled)) special election ((called pursuant to)) date provided for under RCW 29.13.010((, or not more than ninety days after such)) that occurs sixty or more days after the call, at which time the initial commissioners ((to such at large districts)) for District A and District B shall be elected((,)).  No primary shall be held and a special filing period shall be opened as provided in RCW 29.15.170 and 29.15.180.  The person receiving the greatest number of votes for each position shall be elected.

The person who is elected receiving the ((largest)) greatest number of votes ((to serve for four years)) shall be elected to a four-year term of office, and the other person ((receiving the next largest number of votes to serve an initial term of two years)) who is elected shall be elected to a two-year term of office, if the election is held in an even-numbered year, or the person who is elected receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected to a three-year term of office, and the other person who is elected shall be elected to a one-year term of office, if the election is held in an odd-numbered year.  The length of these terms of office shall be calculated from the first day in January in the year following their elections.

The newly elected commissioners shall assume office immediately after being elected and qualified and shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.  Each successor shall be elected to a four-year term of office.

    Sec. 62.  RCW 56.12.015 and 1991 c 190 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    If a three-member board of commissioners of any sewer district with any number of customers determines by resolution that it would be in the best interest of the district to increase the number of commissioners from three to five, or if the board of a sewer district with any number of customers is presented with a petition signed by ten percent of the registered voters resident within the district who voted in the last general municipal election calling for an increase in the number of commissioners of the district, the board shall submit a resolution to the county auditor requesting that an election be held.  Upon receipt of the resolution, the county auditor shall call a special election to be held within the sewer district in accordance with RCW 29.13.010 and 29.13.020, at which election a proposition in substantially the following language shall be submitted to the voters:

Shall the Board of Commissioners of    (Name and/or No. of sewer district)    be increased from three to five members?

    Yes . . . .

    No  . . . .

If the proposition receives a majority approval at the election the board of commissioners of the sewer district shall be increased to five members.  In any sewer district with more than ten thousand customers, if a three-member board of commissioners determines by resolution ((and approves by unanimous vote of the board)) that it would be in the best interest of the district to increase the number of commissioners from three to five, the number of commissioners shall be so increased((,)) without an election, unless within ninety days of adoption of that resolution, a petition requesting an election and signed by at least ten percent of the registered voters who voted in the last general municipal election is filed with the board.  If such a petition is received, the board shall submit the resolution and the petition to the county auditor, who shall call a special election in the manner described in this section and in accordance with the provisions of RCW 29.13.010 and 29.13.020.

    The two positions created on boards of sewer commissioners by this section shall be filled initially either as for a vacancy or by nomination under RCW 56.12.030, except that the appointees or newly elected commissioners shall draw lots, one appointee to serve until the next general sewer district election after the appointment, at which two commissioners shall be elected for six-year terms, and the other appointee to serve until the second general sewer district election after the appointment, at which two commissioners shall be elected for six-year terms.

    Sec. 63.  RCW 56.12.020 and 1979 ex.s. c 126 s 38 are each amended to read as follows:

    At the election held to form or reorganize a sewer district, ((there shall be elected three commissioners who shall assume office immediately when qualified in accordance with RCW 29.01.135 to hold office for terms of two, four, and six years respectively, and until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.

    The term of each nominee shall be expressed on the ballot and shall be computed from the first day of January next following if the initial election of the sewer district commissioners was in a general district election as provided in RCW 29.13.020, or from the first day of January following the first general election for sewer districts after its creation if the initial election was on a date other than a general district election.  Thereafter, every two years there shall be elected a commissioner for a term of six years and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, at the general election held in the odd-numbered years, as provided in RCW 29.13.020, and conducted by the county auditor and the returns shall be canvassed by the county canvassing board of election returns:  PROVIDED, That each such commissioner shall assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170)) three sewer district commissioners shall be elected.  The election of sewer district commissioners shall be null and void if the ballot proposition to form or reorganize the sewer district is not approved.  Candidates shall run for one of three separate commissioner positions. A special filing period shall be opened as provided in RCW 29.15.170 and 29.15.180.  The person receiving the greatest number of votes for each position shall be elected to that position.

The newly elected sewer district commissioners shall assume office immediately when they are elected and qualified.  Staggering of the terms of office for the new sewer district commissioners shall be accomplished as follows:  (1) The person who is elected receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected to a six-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a five-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year; (2) the person who is elected receiving the next greatest number of votes shall be elected to a four-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a three-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year; and (3) the other person who is elected shall be elected to a two-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a one-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year.  The terms of office shall be calculated from the first day of January in the year following the election.

Thereafter commissioners shall be elected to six-year terms of office.  Commissioners shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.

    Sec. 64.  RCW 56.12.030 and 1990 c 259 s 24 are each amended to read as follows:

    (((1) Nominations for the first board of commissioners to be elected at the election for the formation of the sewer district shall be by petition of fifty registered voters or ten percent of the registered voters of the district who voted in the last general municipal election, whichever is the smaller.  The petition shall be filed in the auditor's office of the county in which the district is located at least forty-five days before the election.  Thereafter candidates for the office of sewer commissioner shall file declarations of candidacy and their election shall be conducted as provided by the general elections laws.  A vacancy or vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the remaining commissioner or commissioners until the next regular election for commissioners:  PROVIDED, That if there are two vacancies on the board, one vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the remaining commissioner and the one remaining vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the then two commissioners and the appointed commissioners shall serve until the next regular election for commissioners.  If the vacancy or vacancies remain unfilled within six months of its or their occurrence, the county legislative authority in which the district is located shall make the necessary appointment or appointments.  If there is a vacancy of the entire board a new board may be appointed by the county legislative authority.  Any person residing in the district who is at the time of election a registered voter may vote at any election held in the sewer district.

    (2) Subsection (1) of this section notwithstanding,)) The board of commissioners of any sewer district may ((provide by majority vote that subsequent commissioners be elected from commissioner districts)) adopt a resolution providing that each subsequent commissioner be elected as a commissioner of a commissioner district within the district.  If the board exercises this option, it shall divide the district into ((three)) a number of commissioner districts ((of)) equal in number to the number of commissioners on the board, each with approximately equal population following current precinct and district boundaries as far as practicable.  ((Thereafter, candidates shall be nominated and one candidate shall be elected from each commissioner district by the registered voters of the commissioner district.

    (3) All expense of elections for the formation or reorganization of a sewer district shall be paid by the county in which the election is held and the expenditure is hereby declared to be for a county purpose, and the money paid for that purpose shall be repaid to the county by the district if formed or reorganized.)) Commissioner districts shall be used as follows:  (1) Only a registered voter who resides in a commissioner district may be a candidate for, or serve as, a commissioner of the commissioner district; and (2) only voters of a commissioner district may vote at a primary to nominate candidates for a commissioner of the commissioner district.  Voters of the entire sewer district may vote at a general election to elect a person as a commissioner of the commissioner district.  Commissioner districts shall be redrawn as provided in chapter 29.70 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 65.  A new section is added to chapter 56.12 RCW to read as follows:

    Sewer district elections shall conform with general election laws.

    Vacancies on a board of sewer commissioners shall occur and shall be filled as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.

    Sec. 66.  RCW 57.02.050 and 1982 1st ex.s. c 17 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

    Whenever the boundaries or proposed boundaries of a water district include or are proposed to include by means of formation, annexation, consolidation, or merger (including merger with a sewer district) territory in more than one county, all duties delegated by Title 57 RCW to officers of the county in which the district is located shall be delegated to the officers of the county in which the largest land area of the district is located, except that elections shall be conducted pursuant to ((RCW 57.02.060, as now existing or hereafter amended)) general election law, actions subject to review and approval under RCW 57.02.040 and 56.02.070 shall be reviewed and approved only by the officers or boards in the county in which such actions are proposed to occur, verification of electors' signatures shall be conducted by the county election officer of the county in which such signators reside, and comprehensive plan review and approval or rejection by the respective county legislative authorities under RCW 57.16.010 shall be limited to that part of such plans within the respective counties.

    Sec. 67.  RCW 57.12.015 and 1991 c 190 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

    In the event a three-member board of commissioners of any water district with any number of  customers determines by resolution that it would be in the best interest of the district to increase the number of commissioners from three to five, or in the event the board of a district with any number of customers is presented with a petition signed by ten percent of the registered voters resident within the district who voted in the last general municipal election calling for an increase in the number of commissioners of the district, the board shall submit a resolution to the county auditor requesting that an election be held.  Upon receipt of the resolution, the county auditor shall call a special election to be held within the water district in accordance with RCW 29.13.010 and 29.13.020, at which election a proposition in substantially the following language shall be submitted to the voters:

Shall the Board of Commissioners of    (Name and/or No. of water district)    be increased from three to five members?

    Yes . . . . .

    No  . . . . .

If the proposition receives a majority approval at the election the board of commissioners of the water district shall be increased to five members.  In any water district with more than ten thousand customers, if a three-member board of commissioners determines by resolution ((and approves by unanimous vote of the board)) that it would be in the best interest of the district to increase the number of commissioners from three to five, the number of commissioners shall be so increased((,)) without an election, unless within ninety days of adoption of that resolution a petition requesting an election and signed by at least ten percent of the registered voters who voted in the last general municipal election is filed with the board.  If such a petition is received, the board shall submit the resolution and the petition to the county auditor, who shall call a special election in the manner described in this section and in accordance with the provisions of RCW 29.13.010 and 29.13.020.

    The two positions created on boards of water commissioners by this section shall be filled initially either as for a vacancy or by nomination under RCW 57.12.039, except that the appointees or newly elected commissioners shall draw lots, one appointee to serve until the next general water district election after the appointment, at which two commissioners shall be elected for six-year terms, and the other appointee to serve until the second general water district election after the appointment, at which two commissioners shall be elected for six-year terms.

    Sec. 68.  RCW 57.12.020 and 1990 c 259 s 30 are each amended to read as follows:

    ((Nominations for the first board of commissioners to be elected at the election for the formation of the water district shall be by petition of at least ten percent of the registered voters of the district who voted in the last general municipal election, filed in the auditor's office of the county in which the district is located, at least forty-five days prior to the election.  Thereafter, candidates for the office of water commissioners shall file declarations of candidacy and their election shall be conducted as provided by the general election laws.))

    A vacancy ((or vacancies)) on the board shall occur and shall be filled ((by appointment by the remaining commissioner or commissioners until the next regular election for commissioners:  PROVIDED, That if there are two vacancies on the board, one vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the remaining commissioner and the one remaining vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the then two commissioners and the appointed commissioners shall serve until the next regular election for commissioners.  If the vacancy or vacancies remain unfilled within six months of its or their occurrence, the county legislative authority in which the district is located shall make the necessary appointment or appointments.  If there is a vacancy of the entire board a new board may be appointed by the county legislative authority.

    Any person residing in the district who is a registered voter under the laws of the state may vote at any district election)) as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.

    Sec. 69.  RCW 57.12.030 and 1982 1st ex.s. c 17 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:

    ((The general laws of the state of Washington governing the registration of voters for a general or a special city election shall govern the registration of voters for elections held under this chapter.  The manner of holding any general or special election for said)) Water district elections shall be held in accordance with the general election laws of this state.  ((All elections in a water district shall be conducted under RCW 57.02.060.  All expenses of elections for a water district shall be paid for out of the funds of the water district:  PROVIDED, That if the voters fail to approve the formation of a water district, the expenses of the formation election shall be paid by each county in which the proposed district is located, in proportion to the number of registered voters in the proposed district residing in each county.))

    Except as in this section otherwise provided, the term of office of each water district commissioner shall be six years, such term to be computed from the first day of January following the election, and ((one commissioner shall be elected at each biennial general election, as provided in RCW 29.13.020, for the term of six years and until his or her successor is)) commissioners shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified and assume((s)) office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.  ((All candidates shall be voted upon by the entire water district.))

    Three water district commissioners shall be elected at the same election at which the proposition is submitted to the voters as to whether such water district shall be formed.  ((The commissioner elected in commissioner position number one shall hold office for the term of six years; the commissioner elected in commissioner position number two shall hold office for the term of four years; and the commissioner elected in commissioner position number three shall hold office for the term of two years:  PROVIDED, That the members of the first commission shall take office immediately upon their election and qualification.  The terms of all commissioners first to be elected shall also include the time intervening between the date that the results of their election are declared in the canvass of returns thereof and the first day of January following the next general district election as provided in RCW 29.13.020.))  The election of water district commissioners shall be null and void if the ballot proposition to form the water district is not approved.  Each candidate shall run for one of three separate commissioner positions.  A special filing period shall be opened as provided in RCW 29.15.170 and 29.15.180.  The person receiving the greatest number of votes for each position shall be elected to that position.

The newly elected water district commissioners shall assume office immediately when they are elected and qualified.  Staggering of the terms of office for the new water district commissioners shall be accomplished as follows:  (1) The person who is elected receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected to a six-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a five-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year; (2) the person who is elected receiving the next greatest number of votes shall be elected to a four-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a three-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year; and (3) the other person who is elected shall be elected to a two-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a one-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year.  The terms of office shall be calculated from the first day of January after the election.

Thereafter, commissioners shall be elected to six-year terms of office.  Commissioners shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.

    Sec. 70.  RCW 57.12.039 and 1986 c 41 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Notwithstanding RCW 57.12.020 and 57.12.030, the board of commissioners may provide by majority vote that subsequent commissioners be elected from commissioner districts within the district.  If the board exercises this option, it shall divide the district into three, or five if the number of commissioners has been increased under RCW 57.12.015, commissioner districts of approximately equal population following current precinct and district boundaries.  ((Thereafter, candidates shall be nominated and one candidate shall be elected from each commissioner district by the electors of the commissioner district.))

(2) Commissioner districts shall be used as follows:  (1) Only a registered voter who resides in a commissioner district may be a candidate for, or serve as, a commissioner of the commissioner district; and (2) only voters of a commissioner district may vote at a primary to nominate candidates for a commissioner of the commissioner district.  Voters of the entire water district may vote at a general election to elect a person as a commissioner of the commissioner district.  Commissioner districts shall be redrawn as provided in chapter 29.70 RCW.

(3) In water districts in which commissioners are nominated from commissioner districts, at the inception of a five-member board of commissioners, the new commissioner districts shall be numbered one through five and the three incumbent commissioners shall represent commissioner districts one through three.  If, as a result of redrawing the district boundaries two or three of the incumbent commissioners reside in one of the new commissioner districts, the commissioners who reside in the same commissioner district shall determine by lot which of the first three numbered commissioner districts they shall represent for the remainder of their respective terms.  A primary shall be held to nominate candidates from districts four and five where necessary and commissioners shall be elected at large at the general election.  The persons elected as commissioners from commissioner districts four and five shall take office immediately after qualification as defined under RCW 29.01.135.

    Sec. 71.  RCW 57.32.022 and 1982 1st ex.s. c 17 s 31 are each amended to read as follows:

    The respective boards of water commissioners of the consolidating districts shall certify the agreement to the county election officer of each county in which the districts are located.  A special election shall be called by the county election officer ((under RCW 57.02.060)) for the purpose of submitting to the voters of each of the consolidating districts the proposition of whether or not the several districts shall be consolidated into one water district.  The proposition shall give the title of the proposed consolidated district.  Notice of the election shall be given and the election conducted in accordance with the general election laws.

    Sec. 72.  RCW 57.32.023 and 1982 1st ex.s. c 17 s 32 are each amended to read as follows:

    If at the election a majority of the voters in each of the consolidating districts vote in favor of the consolidation, the county canvassing board shall so declare in its canvass ((under RCW 57.02.060)) and the return of such election shall be made within ten days after the date thereof.  Upon the return the consolidation shall be effective and the consolidating districts shall cease to exist and shall then be and become a new water district and municipal corporation of the state of Washington.  The name of such new water district shall be "Water District No. .....", which shall be the name appearing on the ballot.  The district shall have all and every power, right, and privilege possessed by other water districts of the state of Washington.  The district may issue revenue bonds to pay for the construction of any additions and betterments set forth in the comprehensive plan of water supply contained in the agreement for consolidation and any future additions and betterments to the comprehensive plan of water supply, as its board of water commissioners shall by resolution adopt, without submitting a proposition therefor to the voters of the district.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 73.  A new section is added to chapter 68.52 RCW to read as follows:

    Cemetery district elections shall conform with general election laws.

    A vacancy on a board of cemetery district commissioners shall occur and shall be filled as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.

    Sec. 74.  RCW 68.52.100 and 1947 c 6 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    For the purpose of forming a cemetery district, a petition designating the boundaries of the proposed district by metes and bounds or describing the lands to be included in the proposed district by government townships, ranges and legal subdivisions, signed by not less than fifteen percent of the ((qualified)) registered ((electors, who are property owners or are purchasing property under contract and who are resident)) voters who reside within the boundaries of the proposed district, setting forth the object of the formation of such district and stating that the establishment thereof will be conducive to the public welfare and convenience, shall be filed with the county auditor of the county within which the proposed district is located, accompanied by an obligation signed by two or more petitioners agreeing to pay the cost of publishing the notice hereinafter provided for.  The county auditor shall, within thirty days from the date of filing of such petition, examine the signatures and certify to the sufficiency or insufficiency thereof ((and for such purpose shall have access to registration books and records in possession of the registration officers of the election precincts included in whole or in part within the boundaries of the proposed district and to the tax rolls and other records in the offices of the county assessor and county treasurer.  No person having)).  The name of any person who signed a petition shall not be ((allowed to withdraw his name therefrom)) withdrawn from the petition after it has been filed with the county auditor.  If the petition is found to contain a sufficient number of valid signatures ((of qualified persons)), the county auditor shall transmit it, with ((his)) a certificate of sufficiency attached, to the ((board of)) county ((commissioners)) legislative authority, which shall thereupon, by resolution entered upon its minutes, receive the same and fix a day and hour when it will publicly hear ((said)) the petition.

    Sec. 75.  RCW 68.52.140 and 1982 c 60 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    The ((board of)) county ((commissioners)) legislative authority shall have full authority to hear and determine the petition, and if it finds that the formation of the district will be conducive to the public welfare and convenience, it shall by resolution so declare, otherwise it shall deny the petition.  If the ((board)) county legislative authority finds in favor of the formation of the district, it shall designate the name and number of the district, fix the boundaries thereof, and cause an election to be held therein for the purpose of determining whether or not the district shall be organized under the provisions of this chapter, and for the purpose of electing its first cemetery district commissioners.  ((The board shall, prior to calling the said election, name three registered resident electors who are property owners or are purchasing property under contract within the boundaries of the district as candidates for election as cemetery district commissioners.  These electors are exempt from the requirements of chapter 42.17 RCW.)) At the same election three cemetery district commissioners shall be elected, but the election of the commissioners shall be null and void if the district is not created.  No primary shall be held.  A special filing period shall be opened as provided in RCW 29.15.170 and 29.15.180.  Candidates shall run for specific commissioner positions.  The person receiving the greatest number of votes for each commissioner position shall be elected to that commissioner position.  The terms of office of the initial commissioners shall be as provided in RCW 68.52.220.

    Sec. 76.  RCW 68.52.160 and 1947 c 6 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

    The ballot for ((said)) the election shall be in such form as may be convenient but shall present the propositions substantially as follows:

".....(insert county name)..... cemetery district No. .....(insert number)......

                           .....Yes......

.....(insert county name)..... cemetery district No. .....(insert number)......

                           .....No......"

((and shall specify the names of the candidates nominated for election as the first cemetery district commissioners with appropriate space to vote for the same.))

    Sec. 77.  RCW 68.52.220 and 1990 c 259 s 33 are each amended to read as follows:

    The affairs of the district shall be managed by a board of cemetery district commissioners composed of three ((qualified registered voters of the district)) members.  Members of the board shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall receive expenses necessarily incurred in attending meetings of the board or when otherwise engaged in district business.  The board shall fix the compensation to be paid the secretary and other employees of the district.  ((The first three cemetery district commissioners shall serve only until the first day in January following the next general election, provided such election occurs thirty or more days after the formation of the district, and until their successors have been elected and qualified and have assumed office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.  At the next general district election, as provided in RCW 29.13.020, provided it occurs thirty or more days after the formation of the district, three members of the board of cemetery commissioners shall be chosen.  They and all subsequently elected cemetery commissioners shall have the same qualifications as required of the first three cemetery commissioners and)) Cemetery district commissioners and candidates for cemetery district commissioner are exempt from the requirements of chapter 42.17 RCW.  ((The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall serve for a term of six years beginning on the first day in January following; the candidate receiving the next higher number of votes shall serve for a term of four years from the date; and the candidate receiving the next higher number of votes shall serve for a term of two years from the date.  Upon the expiration of their respective terms, all cemetery commissioners shall be elected for terms of six years to begin on the first day in January next succeeding the day of election and shall serve until their successors have been elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.  Elections shall be called, noticed, conducted and canvassed and in the same manner and by the same officials as provided for general county elections.))

The initial cemetery district commissioners shall assume office immediately upon their election and qualification.  Staggering of terms of office shall be accomplished as follows:  (1) The person elected receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected to a six-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a five-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year; (2) the person who is elected receiving the next greatest number of votes shall be elected to a four-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a three-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year; and (3) the other person who is elected shall be elected to a two-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a one-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year.  The initial commissioners shall assume office immediately after they are elected and qualified but their terms of office shall be calculated from the first day of January after the election.

Thereafter, commissioners shall be elected to six-year terms of office.  Commissioners shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office as provided in RCW 29.04.170.

    The polling places for a cemetery district election ((shall be those of the county voting precincts which include any of the territory within the cemetery district, and)) may be located inside or outside the boundaries of the district, as determined by the auditor of the county in which the cemetery district is located, and no such election shall be held irregular or void on that account.

    Sec. 78.  RCW 70.44.040 and 1990 c 259 s 39 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The provisions of Title 29 RCW relating to elections shall govern public hospital districts, except ((that:  (1))) as provided in this chapter.

A public hospital district shall be created when the ballot proposition authorizing the creation of the district is approved by a simple majority vote of the voters of the proposed district voting on the proposition and the total vote cast upon the proposition ((to form a hospital district shall)) exceeds forty percent of the total number of votes cast in the ((precincts comprising the)) proposed district at the preceding state general ((and county)) election((; and (2) hospital district commissioners shall hold office for the term of six years and until their successors are elected and qualified, each term to commence on the first day in January following the election)).

    At the election at which the proposition is submitted to the voters as to whether a district shall be formed, three commissioners shall be elected ((to hold office, respectively, for the terms of two, four, and six years.  All candidates shall be voted upon by the entire district, and the candidate residing in commissioner district No. 1 receiving the highest number of votes in the hospital district shall hold office for the term of six years; the candidate residing in commissioner district No. 2 receiving the highest number of votes in the hospital district shall hold office for the term of four years; and the candidate residing in commissioner district No. 3 receiving the highest number of votes in the hospital district shall hold office for the term of two years.  The first commissioners to be elected shall take office immediately when qualified in accordance with RCW 29.01.135.  Each term of the initial commissioners shall date from the time above specified following the organizational election, but shall also include the period intervening between the organizational election and the first day of January following the next district general election:  PROVIDED, That in public hospital districts encompassing portions of more than one county, the total vote cast upon the proposition to form the district shall exceed forty percent of the total number of votes cast in each portion of each county lying within the proposed district at the next preceding general county election.  The portion of the proposed district located within each county shall constitute a separate commissioner district.  There shall be three district commissioners whose terms shall be six years.  Each district shall be designated by the name of the county in which it is located.  All candidates for commissioners shall be voted upon by the entire district.  Not more than one commissioner shall reside in any one district:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That in the event there are only two districts then two commissioners may reside in one district.  The term of each commissioner shall commence on the first day in January in each year following his election.  At the election at which the proposition is submitted to the voters as to whether a district shall be formed, three commissioners shall be elected to hold office, respectively, for the terms of two, four, and six years.  The candidate receiving the highest number of votes within the district, as constituted by the election, shall serve a term of six years; the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall hold office for a term of four years; and the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall hold office for a term of two years:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That the holding of each such term of office shall be subject to the residential requirements for district commissioners hereinbefore set forth in this section)).  The election of the initial commissioners shall be null and void if the district is not authorized to be created.

No primary shall be held.  A special filing period shall be opened as provided in RCW 29.15.170 and 29.15.180.  The person receiving the greatest number of votes for the commissioner of each commissioner district shall be elected as the commissioner of that district.  The terms of office of the initial public hospital district commissioners shall be staggered as follows:  (a) The person who is elected receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected to a six-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a five-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year; (b) the person who is elected receiving the next greatest number of votes shall be elected to a four-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a three-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year; and (c) the other person who is elected shall be elected to a two-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a one-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year.  The initial commissioners shall take office immediately when they are elected and qualified, but the length of such terms shall be computed from the first day of January in the year following this election.  The term of office of each successor shall be six years.  Each commissioner shall serve until a successor is elected and qualified and assumes office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.

(2) Commissioner districts shall be used as follows:  (a) Only a registered voter who resides in a commissioner district may be a candidate for, or hold office as, a commissioner of the commissioner district; and (b) only voters of a commissioner district may vote at a primary to nominate candidates for a commissioner of the commissioner district.  Voters of the entire public hospital district may vote at a general election to elect a person as a commissioner of the commissioner district.

If the proposed public hospital district is county-wide, and the county has three county legislative authority districts, the county legislative authority districts shall be used as public hospital district commissioner districts.  In all other instances the county auditor of the county in which all or the largest portion of the proposed public hospital district is located shall draw the initial three public hospital district commissioner districts, each of which shall constitute as nearly as possible one-third of the total population of the proposed public hospital district and number the districts one, two, and three.  Each of the three commissioner positions shall be numbered one through three and associated with the district of the same number.

The public hospital district commissioners may redraw commissioner districts, if the public hospital district has boundaries that are not coterminous with the boundaries of a county with three county legislative authority districts, so that each district comprises as nearly as possible one-third of the total population of the public hospital district.  The commissioners of a public hospital district that is not coterminous with the boundaries of a county that has three county legislative authority districts shall redraw hospital district commissioner boundaries as provided in chapter 29.70 RCW.

    Sec. 79.  RCW 70.44.045 and 1982 c 84 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:

    A vacancy in the office of commissioner shall occur as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW or by ((death, resignation, removal, conviction of felony,)) nonattendance at meetings of the commission for sixty days, unless excused by the commission((, by any statutory disqualification, by any permanent disability preventing the proper discharge of his duty, or by creation of positions pursuant to RCW 70.44.051, et seq)).  A vacancy ((or vacancies on the board)) shall be filled ((by appointment by the remaining commissioner or commissioners until the next regular election for commissioners as provided by RCW 70.44.040:  PROVIDED, That if there is only one remaining commissioner, one vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the remaining commissioner and the remaining vacancy or vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the then two commissioners and the appointed commissioners shall serve until the next regular election for commissioners:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That if there is a vacancy of the entire board, a new board may be appointed by the board of county commissioners or county council)) as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.

    Sec. 80.  RCW 70.44.053 and 1967 c 77 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    At any general or special election which may be called for that purpose the board of public hospital district commissioners may, or on petition of ten percent of the ((electors)) voters based on the total vote cast in the last district general election in the public hospital district shall, by resolution, submit to the voters of the district the proposition increasing the number of commissioners to ((any number authorized in RCW 70.44.051)) either five or seven members.  The petition or resolution shall specify whether it is proposed to increase the number of commissioners to either five or seven members.

If the voters of the district approve the ballot proposition authorizing the increase in the number of commissioners to either five or seven members, the board of commissioners shall redistrict the public hospital district into the appropriate number of commissioner districts.  The additional commissioners shall be elected from commissioner districts in which no existing commissioner resides at the next state general election occurring one hundred twenty days or more after the date of the election at which the voters of the district approved the ballot proposition authorizing the increase in the number of commissioners.  If needed, special filing periods shall be authorized as provided in RCW 29.15.170 and 29.15.180 for qualified persons to file for the vacant office.  A primary shall be held to nominate candidates if sufficient time exists to hold a primary and more than two candidates file for the vacant office.  Otherwise, a primary shall not be held and the candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each position shall be elected.  Except for the initial terms of office, persons elected to each of these additional commissioner positions shall be elected to a six-year term.

Where the number of commissioners is increased from three to five, the initial terms of the two new commissioners shall be staggered so that the person who is elected receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected to a six-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a five-year term if the election is held in an even-numbered year, and the other person elected shall be elected to a four-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a three-year term if the election is held in an even-numbered year.  The newly elected commissioners shall assume office as provided in RCW 29.04.170.

Where the number of commissioners is increased from three or five to seven, the county auditor of the county in which all or the largest portion of the hospital district is located shall cause the initial terms of office of the additional commissioners to be staggered over the next three district general elections so that two commissioners would normally be elected at the first district general election following the election where the additional commissioners are elected, two commissioners are normally elected at the second district general election after the election of the additional commissioners, and three commissioners are normally elected at the third district general election following the election of the additional commissioners.  The newly elected commissioners shall assume office as provided in RCW 29.04.170.

    Sec. 81.  RCW 53.12.010 and 1992 c 146 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The powers of the port district shall be exercised through a port commission consisting of three or, when permitted by this title, five members.  Every port district that is not coextensive with a county having a population of five hundred thousand or more shall be divided into ((three)) the same number of commissioner districts as there are commissioner positions, each having approximately equal population, unless provided otherwise under subsection (2) of this section.  Where a port district with three commissioner positions is coextensive with the boundaries of a county that has a population of less than five hundred thousand and the county has three county legislative authority districts, the port ((district)) commissioner districts shall be the county legislative authority districts.  In other instances where a port district is divided into commissioner districts, the ((petition proposing the formation of such a)) port commission shall divide the port district ((shall describe three)) into commissioner districts ((each having approximately the same population and)) unless the commissioner districts have been described pursuant to section 81 of this act.  The commissioner districts shall be altered as provided in chapter 53.16 RCW.

    Commissioner districts shall be used as follows:  (1) Only a registered voter who resides in a commissioner district may be a candidate for, or hold office as, a commissioner of the commissioner district; and (2) only the voters of a commissioner district may vote at a primary ((election)) to nominate candidates for a commissioner of the commissioner district.  Voters of the entire port district may vote at a general election to elect a person as a commissioner of the commissioner district.

    ((In port districts having additional commissioners as authorized by RCW 53.12.120, 53.12.130, and 53.12.115, the powers of the port district shall be exercised through a port commission consisting of five members constituted as provided therein.))

(2) In port districts with five commissioners, two of the commissioner districts may include the entire port district if approved by the voters of the district either at the time of formation or at a subsequent port district election at which the issue is proposed pursuant to a resolution adopted by the board of commissioners and delivered to the county auditor.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 82.  A new section is added to chapter 53.12 RCW to read as follows:

    Any less than county-wide port district that uses commissioner districts may cease using commissioner districts as provided in this section.

    A ballot proposition authorizing the elimination of commissioner districts shall be submitted to the voters of a less than county-wide port district that is divided into commissioner districts if (1) a petition is submitted to the port commission proposing that the port district cease using commissioner districts, that is signed by registered voters of the port district equal in number to at least ten percent of the number of voters who voted at the last district general election; or (2) the port commissioners adopt a resolution proposing that the port district cease using commissioner districts.  The port commission shall transfer the petition or resolution immediately to the county auditor who shall, when a petition is submitted, review the signatures and certify its sufficiency.  A ballot proposition authorizing the elimination of commissioner districts shall be submitted at the next district general election occurring sixty or more days after a petition with sufficient signatures was submitted.  If the ballot proposition authorizing the port district to cease using commissioner districts is approved by a simple majority vote, the port district shall cease using commissioner districts at all subsequent elections.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 83.  A new section is added to chapter 53.04 RCW to read as follows:

    Three commissioner districts, each with approximately the same population, shall be described in the petition proposing the creation of a port district under RCW 53.04.020, if the process to create the port district was initiated by voter petition, or shall be described by the county legislative authority, if the process to initiate the creation of the port district was by action of the county legislative authority.  However, commissioner districts shall not be described if the commissioner districts of the proposed port district shall be the same as the county legislative authority districts.

    The initial port commissioners shall be elected as provided in RCW 53.12.172.

    Sec. 84.  RCW 53.04.023 and 1993 c 70 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    A less than county-wide port district with an assessed valuation of at least seventy-five 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.  ((Commissioner districts shall not be used in the initial election of the port commissioners.))

    This section shall expire July 1, 1997.

    Sec. 85.  RCW 53.12.172 and 1992 c 146 s 2 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) In every port district the term of office of each port commissioner shall be four years in each port district that is county-wide with a population of one hundred thousand or more, or either six or four years in all other port districts as provided in RCW 53.12.175, and until a successor is elected and qualified and assumes office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.

(2) The initial port commissioners shall be elected at the same election as when the ballot proposition is submitted to voters authorizing the creation of the port district.  If the port district is created the persons elected at this election shall serve as the initial port commission.  No primary shall be held.  The person receiving the greatest number of votes for commissioner from each commissioner district shall be elected as the commissioner of that district.

(3) The terms of office of the initial port commissioners shall be staggered as follows in a port district that is county-wide with a population of one hundred thousand or more:  (((1))) (a) The two persons who are elected receiving the two greatest numbers of votes shall be elected to four-year terms of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year, or three-year terms of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year, and shall hold office until successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170; and (((2))) (b) the other person who is elected shall be elected to a two-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year, or a one-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year, and shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualified and assumes office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.

(4) The terms of office of the initial port commissioners in all other port districts shall be staggered as follows:  (a) The person who is elected receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected to a six-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or to a five-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year, and shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualified and assumes office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170; (b) the person who is elected receiving the next greatest number of votes shall be elected to a four-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or to a three-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year, and shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualified and assumes office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170; and (c) the other person who is elected shall be elected to a two-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a one-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year, and shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualified and assumes office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.

(5) The initial port commissioners shall take office immediately after being elected and qualified, but the length of their terms shall be calculated from the first day in January in the year following their elections.

    Sec. 86.  RCW 53.12.115 and 1992 c 146 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

    A ballot proposition shall be submitted to the voters of any port district authorizing an increase in the number of port commissioners to five whenever the port commission adopts a resolution proposing the increase in number of port commissioners or a petition ((requesting)) proposing such an increase has been submitted to the county auditor of the county in which the port district is located that has been signed by voters of the port district at least equal in number to ten percent of the number of voters in the port district who voted at the last general election.  The ballot proposition shall be submitted at the next general or special election occurring sixty or more days after the petition was submitted or resolution was adopted.

    At the next general or special election following the election in which an increase in the number of port commissioners was authorized, candidates for the two additional port commissioner positions shall be elected as provided in RCW 53.12.130, and the voters may be asked to approve the nomination of commissioners from district-wide commissioner districts as permitted in RCW 53.12.010(2).

    Sec. 87.  RCW 53.12.120 and 1992 c 146 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

    When the population of a port district that has three commissioners reaches five hundred thousand, in accordance with the latest United States regular or special census or with the official state population estimate, there shall be submitted to the voters of the district, at the next district general election or at a special port election called for that purpose, the proposition of increasing the number of commissioners to five.  ((At any general election thereafter, the same proposition may be submitted by resolution of the port commissioners, by filing a certified copy of the resolution with the county auditor at least four months prior to the general election.  If the proposition is approved by the voters, the commission in that port district shall consist of five commissioners.))

At the next district general election following the election in which an increase in the number of port commissioners was authorized, candidates for the two additional port commissioner positions shall be elected as provided in RCW 53.12.130.

    Sec. 88.  RCW 53.12.130 and 1992 c 146 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

    Two additional port commissioners shall be elected at the next district general election following the election at which voters authorized the increase in port commissioners to five members.  ((The two additional positions shall be numbered positions four and five.))

The port commissioners shall divide the port district into five commissioner districts prior to the first day of June in the year in which the two additional commissioners shall be elected, unless the voters approved the nomination of the two additional commissioners from district-wide commissioner districts as permitted in RCW 53.12.010(2).  The new commissioner districts shall be numbered one through five and the three incumbent commissioners shall represent commissioner districts one through three.  If, as a result of redrawing the district boundaries two or three of the incumbent commissioners reside in one of the new commissioner districts, the commissioners who reside in the same commissioner district shall determine by lot which of the first three numbered commissioner districts they shall represent for the remainder of their respective terms.  A primary shall be held to nominate candidates from districts four and five where necessary and commissioners shall be elected from commissioner districts four and five at the general election.  The persons ((receiving the highest number of votes for each position shall be elected to that position and)) elected as commissioners from commissioner districts four and five shall take office immediately after qualification as defined under RCW 29.01.135.

    In a port district where commissioners are elected to four-year terms of office, the additional commissioner thus elected receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to a four-year term of office and the other additional commissioner thus elected shall be elected to a term of office of two years, if the election ((were)) is held in an odd-numbered year, or the additional commissioner thus elected receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to a term of office of three years and the other shall be elected to a term of office of one year, if the election ((were)) is held in an even-numbered year.  In a port district where the commissioners are elected to six-year terms of office, the additional commissioner thus elected receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to a six-year term of office and the other additional commissioner shall be elected to a four-year term of office, if the election is held in an odd-numbered year, or the additional commissioner receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to a term of office of five-years and the other shall be elected to a three-year term of office, if the election is held in an even-numbered year.  The length of terms of office shall be computed from the first day of January in the year following this election.

    ((A successor to a commissioner holding position four or five whose term is about to expire, shall be elected at the general election next preceding such expiration, for a)) Successor commissioners from districts four and five shall be elected to terms of either six or four years, depending on the length of terms of office to which commissioners of that port district are elected.  ((Positions four and five shall not be associated with a commissioner district and the elections to both nominate candidates for those positions and elect commissioners for these positions shall be held on a port district-wide basis.))

    Sec. 89.  RCW 53.12.175 and 1992 c 146 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

    A ballot proposition to reduce the terms of office of port commissioners from six years to four years shall be submitted to the voters of any port district that otherwise would have commissioners with six-year terms of office upon either resolution of the port commissioners or petition of voters of the port district proposing the reduction in terms of office, which petition has been signed by voters of the port district equal in number to at least ten percent of the number of voters in the port district voting at the last ((district)) general election.  The petition shall be submitted to the county auditor.  If the petition was signed by sufficient valid signatures, the ballot proposition shall be submitted at the next ((district)) general or special election that occurs sixty or more days after the adoption of the resolution or submission of the petition.

    If the ballot proposition reducing the terms of office of port commissioners is approved by a simple majority vote of the voters voting on the proposition, the commissioner or commissioners who are elected at that election shall be elected to four-year terms of office.  The terms of office of the other commissioners shall not be reduced, but each successor shall be elected to a four-year term of office.

    Sec. 90.  RCW 53.16.015 and 1992 c 146 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:

    ((In a port district that is not coterminous with a county that has three county legislative authority districts and that has port commissioner districts,)) The port commission of a port district that uses commissioner districts may redraw the commissioner district boundaries as provided in chapter 29.70 RCW at any time and submit the redrawn boundaries to the county auditor if the port district is not coterminous with a county that has the same number of county legislative authority districts as the port has port commissioners.  The new commissioner districts shall be used at the next election at which a port commissioner is regularly elected that occurs at least one hundred eighty days after the redrawn boundaries have been submitted.  Each commissioner district shall encompass as nearly as possible ((one-third of the population of the port district)) the same population.

    Sec. 91.  RCW 29.45.050 and 1973 c 102 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    There shall be but one set of election officers at any one time in each precinct except as provided in this section.

    In every precinct using paper ballots having two hundred or more registered voters there shall be appointed, and in every precinct having less than two hundred registered voters there may be appointed, at a state primary or state general election, two or more sets of precinct election officers as provided in RCW 29.04.020 and 29.45.010.  The officer in charge of the election may appoint one or more counting boards at his discretion, when he decides that because of a long or complicated ballot or because of the number of expected voters, there is need of additional counting board or boards to improve the speed and accuracy of the count.

    In making such appointments, one or more sets of precinct election officers shall be designated as the counting board or boards, the first of which shall consist of an inspector, two judges, and a clerk and the second set, if activated, shall consist of two judges and two clerks.  The duties of the counting board or boards shall be the count of ballots cast and the return of the election records and supplies to the officer having jurisdiction of the election.

    One set of precinct election officers shall be designated as the receiving board which shall have all other powers and duties imposed by law for such elections.  Nothing in this section prevents the county auditor from appointing relief or replacement precinct election officers at any time during election day.  Relief or replacement precinct election officers must be of the same political party as the officer they are relieving or replacing.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 92.  The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) RCW 35.23.070 and 1965 c 7 s 35.23.070;

(2) RCW 35.24.070 and 1965 c 7 s 35.24.070;

(3) RCW 35.27.110 and 1965 c 7 s 35.27.110;

(4) RCW 35.61.060 and 1985 c 416 s 2 & 1965 c 7 s 35.61.069;

(5) RCW 35.61.070 and 1965 c 7 s 35.61.070;

(6) RCW 35.61.080 and 1965 c 7 s 35.61.080;

(7) RCW 35A.02.001 and 1989 c 84 s 35;

(8) RCW 35A.02.100 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.02.100;

(9) RCW 35A.02.110 and 1979 ex.s. c 18 s 9 & 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.02.110;

(10) RCW 35A.14.060 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.14.060;

(11) RCW 35A.15.030 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.15.030;

(12) RCW 35A.16.020 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.16.020;

(13) RCW 35A.29.010 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.29.010;

(14) RCW 35A.29.020 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.29.020;

(15) RCW 35A.29.030 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.29.030;

(16) RCW 35A.29.040 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.29.040;

(17) RCW 35A.29.050 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.29.050;

(18) RCW 35A.29.060 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.29.060;

(19) RCW 35A.29.070 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.29.070;

(20) RCW 35A.29.080 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.29.080;

(21) RCW 35A.29.090 and 1986 c 234 s 32 & 1985 c 281 s 27;

(22) RCW 35A.29.100 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.29.100;

(23) RCW 35A.29.105 and 1990 c 59 s 106 & 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.29.105;

(24) RCW 35A.29.110 and 1990 c 59 s 107, 1986 c 167 s 21, 1979 ex.s. c 18 s 30, 1970 ex.s. c 52 s 4, & 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.29.110;

(25) RCW 35A.29.140 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.29.140;

(26) RCW 35A.29.150 and 1970 ex.s. c 52 s 5 & 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.29.150;

(27) RCW 36.54.080 and 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 s 36 & 1963 c 4 s 36.54.080;

(28) RCW 36.54.090 and 1963 c 4 s 36.54.090;

(29) RCW 36.54.100 and 1963 c 4 s 36.54.100;

(30) RCW 36.69.060 and 1963 c 4 s 36.69.060;

(31) RCW 44.70.010 and 1987 c 298 s 7;

(32) RCW 53.12.047 and 1992 c 146 s 6;

(33) RCW 53.12.150 and 1990 c 40 s 1, 1985 c 87 s 1, 1983 c 11 s 1, 1959 c 175 s 8, & 1959 c 17 s 8;

(34) RCW 57.02.060 and 1982 1st ex.s. c 17 s 6;

(35) RCW 68.52.240 and 1947 c 6 s 16;

(36) RCW 70.44.051 and 1967 c 77 s 1;

(37) RCW 70.44.055 and 1967 c 77 s 3; and

(38) RCW 70.44.057 and 1967 c 77 s 4.

    Sec. 93.  1992 c 146 s 14 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:

    The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

    (1) RCW 53.12.020 and 1991 c 363 s 129, 1986 c 262 s 2, 1965 c 51 s 2, 1959 c 175 s 1, & 1959 c 17 s 4;

    (2) RCW 53.12.035 and 1991 c 363 s 130, 1990 c 59 s 108, 1965 c 51 s 3, & 1959 c 175 s 9;

    (3) RCW 53.12.050 and 1959 c 17 s 5;

    (4) RCW 53.12.057 and 1965 c 51 s 6;

    (5) RCW 53.12.060 and 1990 c 259 s 19, 1959 c 175 s 6, 1927 c 204 s 1, & 1913 c 62 s 3;

    (6) ((RCW 53.12.172 and 1979 ex.s. c 126 s 34 & 1951 c 68 s 2;

    (7))) RCW 53.12.180 and 1935 c 133 s 8;

    (((8))) (7) RCW 53.12.190 and 1935 c 133 s 10;

    (((9))) (8) RCW 53.12.200 and 1935 c 133 s 9;

    (((10))) (9) RCW 53.12.220 and 1979 ex.s. c 126 s 35, 1941 c 45 s 2, & 1925 ex.s. c 113 s 2; and

    (((11))) (10) RCW 53.16.010 and 1969 ex.s. c 9 s 1 & 1957 c 69 s 2.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 94.  (1) Section 2 of this act shall take effect January 1, 1995.

    (2) Section 20 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1994."

SHB 2278 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Government Operations

                                         ADOPTED AS AMENDED 3/4/94

    On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "practices;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "amending RCW 42.12.010, 43.06.010, 14.08.304, 28A.315.520, 29.15.120, 29.15.200, 35.17.020, 35.17.400, 35.18.020, 35.18.270, 35.23.050, 35.23.240, 35.23.530, 35.24.050, 35.24.060, 35.24.100, 35.24.290, 35.27.100, 35.27.140, 35.61.050, 35A.01.070, 35A.02.050, 35A.02.130, 35A.06.020, 35A.06.030, 35A.06.050, 35A.12.010, 35A.12.040, 35A.12.050, 35A.12.060, 35A.12.180, 35A.13.010, 35A.13.020, 35A.14.060, 35A.14.070, 35A.15.040, 35A.16.030, 36.69.020, 36.69.070, 36.69.080, 36.69.090, 36.69.100, 36.69.440, 52.14.010, 52.14.013, 52.14.015, 52.14.030, 52.14.050, 52.14.060, 53.12.140, 54.08.060, 54.12.010, 54.40.010, 54.40.040, 54.40.050, 54.40.060, 54.40.070, 56.12.015, 56.12.020, 56.12.030, 57.02.050, 57.12.015, 57.12.020, 57.12.030, 57.12.039, 57.32.022, 57.32.023, 68.52.100, 68.52.140, 68.52.160, 68.52.220, 70.44.040, 70.44.045, 70.44.053, 53.12.010, 53.04.023, 53.12.115, 53.12.120, 53.12.130, 53.12.175, 53.16.015, and 29.45.050; amending 1992 c 146 s 14 (uncodified); reenacting and amending RCW 53.12.172; adding a new section to chapter 42.12 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 29.15 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35.02 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35A.29 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 56.12 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 68.52 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 53.12 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 53.04 RCW; repealing RCW 35.23.070, 35.24.070, 35.27.110, 35.61.060, 35.61.070, 35.61.080, 35A.02.001, 35A.02.100, 35A.02.110, 35A.14.060, 35A.15.030, 35A.16.020, 35A.29.010, 35A.29.020, 35A.29.030, 35A.29.040, 35A.29.050, 35A.29.060, 35A.29.070, 35A.29.080, 35A.29.090, 35A.29.100, 35A.29.105, 35A.29.110, 35A.29.140, 35A.29.150, 36.54.080, 36.54.090, 36.54.100, 36.69.060, 44.70.010, 53.12.047, 53.12.150, 57.02.060, 68.52.240, 70.44.051, 70.44.055, and 70.44.057; and providing effective dates."

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