S-0504.1                   _______________________________________________

                                                     SENATE BILL 5044

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Senators Haugen and Winsley

Read first time 01/11/93.  Referred to Committee on Government Operations.

Revising incorporation procedures for cities and towns.

          AN ACT Relating to city and town incorporations; amending RCW 35.02.010, 35.02.020, 35.02.090, 35A.12.070, and 35A.13.040; and adding new sections to chapter 35.02 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  RCW 35.02.010 and 1986 c 234 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

          Any contiguous area ((containing not less than three hundred inhabitants)) lying outside the limits of an incorporated city or town may become incorporated as a city or town operating under Title 35 or 35A RCW as provided in this chapter((:  PROVIDED, That no area which lies within five air miles of the boundary of any city having a population of fifteen thousand or more shall be incorporated which)) if the area contains not less than three thousand inhabitants.

        Sec. 2.  RCW 35.02.020 and 1986 c 234 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

          A petition for incorporation must be signed by ((qualified)) registered voters resident within the limits of the proposed city or town equal in number to ten percent of the ((votes cast)) voters voting at the last state general election and presented to the auditor of the county in which all, or the largest portion of, the proposed city or town is located.

        Sec. 3.  RCW 35.02.090 and 1986 c 234 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

          The elections on the proposed incorporation and for the nomination and election of the initial elected officials shall be conducted in accordance with the general election laws of the state, except as provided in this chapter.  No person is entitled to vote ((thereat)) unless he or she is a ((qualified elector)) registered voter of the county, or any of the counties in which the proposed city or town is located, and has resided within the limits of the proposed city or town for at least thirty days next preceding the date of election.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 35.02 RCW to read as follows:

          At the first municipal general election that occurs one year or more after the official date of incorporating a new city or town, an election shall be held to elect city or town elected officials.  Candidates for council or commission positions shall run for specific positions.

          The staggering of terms of office for councilmembers shall occur at this election, where a simple majority of the persons who are elected receiving the greatest numbers of votes shall be elected to four-year terms of office and the remaining persons who are elected shall be elected to two-year terms of office.  Their successors shall be elected to four-year terms of office.

          All city or town elected officials shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  A new section is added to chapter 35.02 RCW to read as follows:

          City or town councilmembers in a newly incorporated town or city incorporated under this Title shall receive compensation based upon the population of the newly incorporated city or town, as provided in RCW 35A.12.070 and 35A.13.040 for the councilmembers of newly incorporated code cities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.  A new section is added to chapter 35.02 RCW to read as follows:

          No city or town in a county in which urban growth areas have been designated under RCW 36.70A.110 may incorporate that includes territory located beyond an urban growth area.

        Sec. 7.  RCW 35A.12.070 and 1971 ex.s. c 251 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

          ((The salaries of)) Compensation for the mayor and the ((councilmen)) councilmembers shall be fixed by ordinance and may be revised from time to time by ordinance((, but any increase in the compensation attaching to an office shall not be applicable to the term then being served by the incumbent if such incumbent is a member of the city legislative body fixing his own compensation or as mayor in a mayor-council code city casts a tie-breaking vote relating to such ordinance:  PROVIDED, That)).  Compensation for the mayor may be increased during the mayor's current term of office if the mayor of such a city does not cast ((such)) a tie-breaking vote((, his salary may be increased during his term of office)) to adopt the ordinance revising the compensation for the mayor.

          Until the first elective officers of a newly organized code city under this mayor-council plan of government may lawfully be paid the compensation provided by ((such salary)) an ordinance establishing different levels of compensation, such officers shall be entitled to be compensated in the same manner and in the same amount as the compensation paid to officers of such city performing comparable services immediately prior to adoption of this mayor-council plan.

          Until ((a salary ordinance can be passed and become effective as to)) elective officers of a newly incorporated code city may lawfully be paid the compensation provided by an ordinance establishing different levels of compensation, such first elective officers shall be entitled to compensation as follows:  (1) In cities having less than five thousand inhabitants, the mayor shall be entitled to a salary of one hundred ((and)) fifty dollars per calendar month and a ((councilman)) councilmember shall be entitled to twenty dollars per meeting for not more than two meetings per month; (2) in cities having more than five thousand but less than fifteen thousand inhabitants, the mayor shall be entitled to a salary of three hundred ((and)) fifty dollars per calendar month and a ((councilman)) councilmember shall be entitled to one hundred ((and)) fifty dollars per calendar month; and (3) in cities having more than fifteen thousand inhabitants, the mayor shall be entitled to a salary of twelve hundred ((and)) fifty dollars per calendar month and a ((councilman)) councilmember shall be entitled to four hundred dollars per calendar month((:  PROVIDED, That such interim compensation shall remain in effect only until a salary ordinance is passed and becomes effective as to such officers, and the amounts herein provided shall not be construed as fixing the usual salary of such officers)).

          The mayor and ((councilmen)) councilmembers shall receive reimbursement for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the duties of their office, or the council by ordinance may provide for a per diem allowance.  Procedure for approval of claims for expenses shall be as provided by ordinance.

        Sec. 8.  RCW 35A.13.040 and 1979 ex.s. c 18 s 25 are each amended to read as follows:

          ((The salaries of the councilmen)) Compensation for councilmembers, including the mayor, shall be fixed by ordinance and may be revised from time to time by ordinance((, but any increase or reduction in the compensation attaching to an office shall not become effective until the expiration of the term then being served by the incumbent:  PROVIDED, That compensation of councilmen may not be increased or diminished after their election nor may the compensation of the mayor be increased or diminished after the mayor has been chosen by the council)).

          Until ((councilmen)) councilmembers of a newly((-))organized council-manager code city may lawfully be paid as provided by ((salary)) an ordinance establishing different levels of compensation, such ((councilmen)) councilmembers shall be entitled to compensation in the same manner and in the same amount as ((councilmen)) councilmembers of such city prior to the adoption of this council-manager plan.

          Until ((a salary ordinance can be passed and become effective as to)) elective officers of a newly incorporated code city may lawfully be paid the compensation provided by an ordinance establishing different levels of compensation, the first ((councilmen)) councilmembers shall be entitled to compensation as follows:  (1) In cities having less than five thousand inhabitants((‑-)) the councilmembers shall be entitled to compensation at a rate of twenty dollars per meeting for not more than two meetings per month; (2) in cities having more than five thousand but less than fifteen thousand inhabitants((‑-)) the councilmembers shall be entitled to compensation at a salary of one hundred ((and)) fifty dollars per calendar month; and (3) in cities having more than fifteen thousand inhabitants((‑-)) the councilmembers shall be entitled to compensation at a salary of four hundred dollars per calendar month.  ((A councilman)) The councilmember who is occupying the position of mayor, in addition to ((his)) per day compensation or salary as a ((councilman)) councilmember, shall be entitled, while serving as mayor, to an additional amount per meeting or per calendar month, or portion thereof, equal to twenty-five percent of the per meeting compensation rate or councilmanic salary((:  PROVIDED, That such interim compensation shall remain in effect only until a salary ordinance is passed and becomes effective as to such officers, and the compensation provided herein shall not be construed as fixing the usual compensation of such officers)).

          ((Councilmen)) Councilmembers, including the mayor, shall receive reimbursement for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the duties of their office, or the council by ordinance may provide for a per diem allowance.  Procedure for approval of claims for expenses shall be as provided by ordinance.

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