H-1217.2  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1614

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Representatives Sullivan, Talcott and Bush

Read first time 02/01/1999.  Referred to Committee on Local Government.

Appointing board members to manage and operate city utilities.

    AN ACT Relating to city utilities; and adding a new section to chapter 35.92 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 35.92 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of the charter of a first class city to the contrary, a board or other body established in the city to manage or operate one or more utilities shall consist of seven members who are appointed by the mayor, and confirmed by the council, to staggered five-year terms of office.  Five members of the board or other body shall be city residents and two additional members of the board shall be residents of the greater utility service area of the city that is located outside of the city boundaries.  The two additional members residing in the greater utility service area of the city located outside of the city shall be appointed within two months of the effective date of this act.  Each of the five appointees from the city must have resided in the district from which he or she is appointed for at least one year prior to being appointed.  The two members who reside in the portion of the greater utility service area of the city that is located outside of the city boundaries must have resided in that area for at least one year prior to being appointed.  Each district within the city shall have approximately the same population and shall be the city council districts if five city council districts exist in the city.

    Staggering of terms shall be accomplished by appointing one of the additional two members who resides in the greater utility service area outside of the city to a three-year term of office and the other new member who resides in the greater utility service area outside of the city to a five-year term of office.  Existing members of the board or other body shall retain their current terms of office and be replaced by appointees residing in different districts in the city.

    (2) Each member of the board or other body, including the members who held those positions on the effective date of this act, shall receive the same compensation provided under RCW 54.12.080 that a public utility district commissioner receives, with the gross revenues of the utility or utilities managed and operated by the board or other body being considered the gross revenues of the district.

    (3) The greater utility service area of the city shall include the entire city and an area or areas contiguous to the city that includes every residence outside of the city that is served by any of the utility services managed or operated by the board or other body.

    (4) The board or other body shall select a director of each utility under its jurisdiction, or a single director for two or more utilities under its jurisdiction, and shall recommend utility rates to the city council which shall set the utility rates.

    (5) Any efforts of the city to provide cable service shall be managed and operated by the board or other body.

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