SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5057

As Passed Senate, March 7, 2001

Title:  An act relating to cities and towns changing plans of government.

Brief Description:  Specifying how code cities may change the plan of government.

Sponsors:  Senators Gardner, Hale, Haugen, Horn, Spanel, Patterson, Costa, Kline and McCaslin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  1/24/01, 1/31/01 [DP].

Passed Senate:  3/7/01, 46-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, T. Sheldon and Swecker.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786‑7410)

Background:  When a noncharter code city changes its plan of government, the new city officers are all usually elected at the next general municipal election.  All the city officers under the former plan of government must either run anew or no longer be in office.  The term ?plan of government@ includes the mayor-council, council-manager forms, and the commission form under some circumstances.

Whenever a city of 10,000 population or more receives a petition from the voters to become a charter code city, the city must call for an election on that question.  However, no code city has ever adopted a charter.

Summary of Bill:  When a noncharter code city changes its plan of government, officers serve the remainder of their terms.  If the change is from a mayor-council plan of government to a council-manager plan of government, the existing mayor serves as a council member for the remainder of his or her term.  If the change is from a council-manager plan of government to a mayor-council plan of government, the new mayor is elected as part of the reorganization call for an election on that question.  There is a two-year waiting period between elections on the question of charter adoption when the vote in favor was 40 percent or less of the total vote.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This is a good government bill that alleviates an awkward transition period between plans of government.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Jim Justin, AWC.