HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2009-019 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 2009 - 185
CLEARANCES Initial Date Date Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assigned to:
Originator: C r -���/O � A CHIVE -3 3 / 31 / 09 Introduction
Division Head: ,p �'
MAR 4/ 14 / 09 Hearing
Dept. Head: "y,� j1/1177771 AR 200`°
Prosecutor : . a 7 WHATCOM COUNTY
COUNCIL
Purchasing/Budget:
Executive: P 3 \*
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TITLE OF DOCUMENT: ORDINANCE TO CLARIFY MINI-INITIATIVE LANGUAGE AND ENSURE
CONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE WHATCOM COUNTY CHARTER AND THE WHATCOM COUNTY CODE
(ELECTIONS)
ATTACHMENTS: Ordinance
SEPA review required? ( ) Yes ( x ) NO Should Clerk schedule a hearing? ( x ) Yes ( ) NO
SEPA review completed? ( ) Yes ( ) NO Requested Date: Next available after 13 days from introduction.
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: (If this item is an ordinance or requires a public
hearing, you must provide the language for use in the required public notice. Be specific and cite RCW or WCC as appropriate. Be
clear in explaining the intent of the action.)
This is a proposed ordinance to amend the Whatcom County Code to clarify procedures for the "Mini -initiative"
under WCC 1 . 08 . 170 and to change the language of WCC 1 . 08 . 090 "Petition - Required number of signatures" .
so that each conforms to language used in the County Charter.
COMMITTEE ACTION: COUNCIL ACTION:
3 / 31 / 2009 : Introduced
4 / 14 / 2009 : Council Adopted 7 - 0
Ord . 2009 - 019
Related County Contract #: Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number:
Ord . 2009 - 019
Please Note: Once adopted and signed, ordinances and resolutions are available for viewing and printing on
the County 's website at: www. co. whatcom. wa. us/council.
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5 SPONSORED BY : Consent
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7 PROPOSED BY : Shirley Forslof
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9 INTRODUCTION DATE : 3 / 31 / 09
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14 ORDINANCE NO . 2009 - 019
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16 CLARIFYING MINI-INITIATIVE LANGUAGE ( ELECTIONS)
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21 WHEREAS , the Whatcom County Charter, Article 5 , and specifically Section 5 . 41 , is the
22 enabling legislation for initiative procedures , including the " mini - initiative ; "
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24 WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Code implements the mini - initiative in WCC Sections
25 1 . 08 . 160 - 1 . 08 . 190 ;
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27 WHEREAS , differences between the language of the Charter and the Code make the
28 procedures for the mini - initiative somewhat difficult to understand ;
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30 WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Auditor has recommended clarifying the language so
31 that citizens can better understand the mini - initiative process ;
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33 WHEREAS, Whatcom County Code section 1 . 08 . 090 calculates required initiative and
34 referendum signatures based upon the last gubernatorial election in conflict with the more
35 authoritative Whatcom County Charter Section 5 . 40 , which requires signatures based upon the
36 last general election .
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40 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that
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43 Whatcom County Code sections 1 . 08 . 170 and 1 . 08 . 090 are hereby amended as shown in
44 the exhibit attached to this ordinance .
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5 ADOPTED this 14th day of April , 200 .
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9 ATTE `:J�- Cell/// WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
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14 Data B • Flerkof tge Council ( • rent Chair': Name ) , C . u ncil Chair
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� ����\`∎‘````` WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE
19 ► ► ► i ► t � WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
20 APPROVED AS TO FO
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24 Civil Deputy Prosecutor Pete Kreme ounty Executive
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26 ( Approved ( ) Denied
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28 Date Signed :
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1 .08. 170 Mini-initiative — Requirements.
A. Any legal voter or organization of legal voters of Whatcom County may file a mini-
initiative proposal with the County Auditor, who within five (5) days, excluding
Saturday, Sunday and holidays, shall confer with the petitioner to review the proposal as
to form and style. The Auditor shall give the proposed mini-initiative a number, which
shall thereafter be the identifying number for the mini-initiative. The Auditor shall then
transmit a copy of the proposal to the petitioner who has one hundred and twenty ( 120)
days to collect the signatures of registered voters of the county equal in number to not
less than three (3 ) percent of the number of votes cast in the county in the last
gubernatorial election. The one hundred and twenty ( 120 ) day period shall begin upon
receipt of official notification to petitioner(s) by the Auditor's Office either by certified
mail or messenger.
B . The auditor shall verify the sufficiency of the signatures within 60 days.
C. Initiative petitions must bear the signatures of qualified voters equal in number to not
less than three percent of the number of votes cast in the county in the last gubernatorial
election. (Ord. 80-22 § 5 ; Ord. 79-31 § 3 . 1 ) .
1 . 08 .090 Petition — Required number of signatures.
Following expiration of the 10-day period referred to in WCC 1 . 08 . 070, the petitioner
shall have 120 days to collect signatures of the registered voters of the county equal in
number to not less than 15 percent of the number of votes cast in the county in the last
general election. Each petition shall contain the full text of the proposed measure,
ordinance, or amendment to an ordinance, and the ballot title. (Ord. 79-31 § 2 . 6) .