HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2022-028• Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2022-177
File ID: AB2022-177 Version: 1 Status: Adopted
File Created: 03/10/2022 Entered by: SHenthor@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: Auditor's Office File Type: Ordinance Requiring a Public Hearing
Assigned to: Council Final Action: 04/12/2022
Agenda Date: 04/12/2022 Enactment #: ORD 2022-028
Primary Contact Email: Dbradric@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Section 1.14, Electoral Precincts, adjusting boundary
lines based on decennial census information in the Legislative, Congressional and County Council
districts
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
Changes are needed to precinct boundary lines in Whatcom County Code Section 1.14 due to changes
in the Legislative, Congressional and County Council district boundary lines based on decennial census
information. During this process precinct numbers were changed to establish a more logical
progression of numbers on the County precinct map. Whatcom County Code Section 1.14 is replaced
in its entirety with newly established voting precinct boundaries and substituted into the "Book of
Election Precinct Maps" available through the Whatcom County Council Office, the Whatcom
Auditor's Office and online.
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body:
Action:
Sent To:
03/22/2022 Council SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED Council
FOR PUBLIC HEARING
Aye: 7 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
04/12/2022 Council ADOPTED
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 411312022
Agenda Bill Master Report Continued (AB2022-177)
Aye: 7 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Attachments: Ordinance, County Precinct Map, Precinct maps, Substitute precinct maps, Substitute county
precinct map
Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 411312022
PROPOSED BY: AUDITOR
INTRODUCTION DATE: March 22, 2022
ORDINANCE NO. 2022-028
REPLACING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE SECTION 1.14, ELECTORAL
PRECINCTS, WITH NEWLY ESTABLISHED VOTING PRECINCT
BOUNDARIES FOR WHATCOM COUNTY
WHEREAS, changes to the Congressional boundary lines removing District 1 and
modifying the boundary line of District 2 have been passed by the Washington State
Legislature based on the decennial census information and recommendations of the State
Redistricting Commission; and
WHEREAS, the State Legislative boundary line between the Forty Second (42nd)
and the Fortieth (40th) have been altered by the Washington State Legislature based on
the same decennial census information and the recommendations of the State Redistricting
Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Districting Committee has recommended and the
County Council has adopted changes to the Whatcom County Council District boundaries
based on the decennial census information; and
WHEREAS, RCW 29A.16.050(1) requires every voting precinct must be wholly
within a single congressional district, a single legislative district and a single district of the
county legislative authority; and
WHEREAS, RCW 29A.16.040(2) limits precinct size to 1,500 registered voters and
some of the precincts were close to that limit; and
WHEREAS, it is desirable to balance the number of registered voters within
precincts and some of the precincts were very small; and
WHEREAS, it is desirable to limit the number of "splits" within a precinct due to the
number of taxing districts within a precinct insofar as is practical; and
WHEREAS, RCW 29A.16.040 provides the county legislative authority shall divide
the county into precincts and establish boundaries for the precincts; and this statute further
provides that no precinct boundary changes may be made starting fourteen (14) days prior
to the first day candidates may file for the primary election through the period ending with
the general election; and
WHEREAS, RCW 29A.16.070 provides the County Auditor shall transfer and notify
any registered voters that may be affected by the change in boundaries.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that all
previous ordinances establishing voting precinct boundaries for Whatcom County are
hereby repealed.
BE IT FINALLY ORDAINED that Whatcom County Code Section 1.14 is hereby
replaced in its entirety with newly established voting precinct boundaries and substituted
into the "Book of Election Precinct Maps"; said revised Book of Maps available through the
Whatcom County Council Office and online through the Election page at the Whatcom
County At itorfs:gffice homepage.
,4�11DQPTED Yh�Y'i����lay of April 2022.
WH COM COUNTY COUNCIL
W COM COUNTY,
W S ING ON
Dana Brig pvFq� ��iunty.Clerk Todd Donovan, Council Chair
m
APPROVED AS tO FORM: X) Approved ( ) Denied
e
/s/ Royce Bucki_naham (via e-mail) /JL SAAj..�,
Aoo—
Royce Buckingham, Civil Deputy Prosecutor Satpal Sidhu, County Executive
Date: