SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6643

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Passed Senate, February 13, 2020

Title: An act relating to combining a resolution proposing abandonment and a resolution proposing a council-manager plan of government into a single proposition.

Brief Description: Combining a resolution proposing abandonment and a resolution proposing a council-manager plan of government into a single proposition.

Sponsors: Senator Takko.

Committee Activity: Local Government: 2/04/20, 2/04/20 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed Senate: 2/13/20, 47-0.

Brief Summary of Bill

Combines a resolution proposing abandonment of a code city's plan of government and a resolution proposing to designate a person elected to the city council, position one as the chair, as a single proposition placed before the voters of the city.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Takko, Chair; Salomon, Vice Chair; Short, Ranking Member; Honeyford and Lovelett.

Staff: Bonnie Kim (786-7316)

Background: Cities and towns are classified when they incorporate or are reorganized. Four classes of municipal government exist under Washington law: (1) first-class cities; (2) second-class cities; (3) towns; and (4) optional municipal code cities.

Code cities may operate with one of three different plans of government—council-manager, mayor-council, or commission. The council-manager plan consists of an elected city council serving as the legislative body and an appointed city manager responsible for city administration. The mayor-council plan includes an elected mayor serving as the city's chief administrative officer and an elected council acting as the legislative body. Under the commission plan, elected commissioners serve as the legislative authority and as city department directors.

Abandonment of the city's current plan of government in order to adopt a new plan requires an election after a resolution from the legislative body or a petition signed by a number of registered voters, which cannot be not less than 10 percent of the votes cast at the last general municipal election. If the resolution or petition proposes a plan of government other than a mayor-council or council-manager, the petition must specify the class the city will be classified as upon adoption.

Summary of Bill: The resolution or petition of proposing abandonment of a city's current plan of government must include the proposed new plan of the government's effective date.

A resolution proposing abandonment of a code city's plan of government and a resolution proposing to designate a person elected to the city council, position one as the chair, may be combined for purposes of placing the matters before the voters of the city as a single proposition.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This is an efficiency bill, combining two elections into one. This bill gives local governments the ability to put an effective date onto the ballot proposition so that the transition does not have to happen within three weeks of an election. This bill does not alter the nature of the formation of government in local communities. Change in government does not happen often but this bill will make it easier and provide some flexibility.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Dean Takko, Prime Sponsor; David Scott, City of Washougal City Manager; Candice Bock, Association of Washington Cities.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.