HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2023-055strikeWhatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
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Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
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Agenda Bill Report
File Number: AB2023-555
File ID: AB2023-555 Version: 1 Status: Adopted
File Created: 08/24/2023 Entered by: DBrown@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: Council Office File Type: Ordinance
Assigned to: Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee Final Action: 09/26/2023
Agenda Date: 09/26/2023 Enactment #: ORD 2023-055
Related Files:
Primary Contact Email: DBrown(a.)co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Sections 1.08.090 and 1.08.170 to reflect amended
Charter language related to signature requirements for initiatives
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Sections 1.08.090 and 1.08.170 to reflect amended
Charter language related to signature requirements for initiatives
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body:
Action:
Sent To:
09/12/2023 Council
INTRODUCED Council Finance and
Administrative Services
Committee
Aye:
6
Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
Nay:
1
Elenbaas
09/26/2023 Council Finance and Administrative
RECOMMENDED FOR
Services Committee
ADOPTION
Aye:
2
Frazey, and Kershner
Nay:
0
emp Absent:
1
Donovan
09/26/2023 Council
ADOPTED
Aye:
7
Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, Galloway, and Kershner
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 9/27/2023
Agenda Bill Report Continued (AB2023-555)
Nay: 0
Attachments: Proposed Ordinance
Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 9/27/2023
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PROPOSED BY: COUNCIL STAFF
INTRODUCTION DATE: SEPTEMBER 12, 2023
ORDINANCE NO. 2023 - 055
AMENDING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE SECTIONS 1.08.090 AND 1.08.170
TO REFLECT AMENDED CHARTER LANGUAGE RELATED TO SIGNATURE
REQUIREMENTS FOR INITIATIVES
WHEREAS, on June 1, 2021,
032, submitting to the qualified vote
County Charter Sections 5.40 and 5.
with Washington State norms; and
the Whatcom
rs of Whatcom
41 to align sign
County Council adopted Ordinance 2021-
County a proposal to amend Whatcom
ature requirements for citizen initiatives
WHEREAS, the Council's proposed Charter amendment was presented to the voters
of Whatcom County at the 2021 General Election as follows:
Percentage of Necessary Signatures for Initiative/Mini-initiative
If passed, these amendments would require that the number of signatures
required for an initiative petition be based on a number equaling at least eight
percent of the votes cast in the "last regular county executive election" and that
the number of signatures required for a mini -initiative petition be based on a
number equaling at least three percent of the votes cast in the "last county
executive election," rather than the current "last gubernatorial election."
Should these amendments be approved?
Yes
No ; and
WHEREAS, the voters approved the Council -proposed Charter amendment; and
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Code needs to be amended to reflect the revised
Charter language approved by the voters in 2021.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORE
Whatcom County Code Sections 1.08.090
Exhibit A to thli;sjordinance.
0P`1( I i'i�51 6th day of Septe
•
•
m
Dana 8ror vis,,+rk of the Council
S 1-1 kk,C` 3
APPROVED' A&T® FORM:
/s/Karen Frakes approved via email on 9/7/23
Civil Deputy Prosecutor
AINED by the Whatcom County Council that
and 1.08.170 are hereby amended as outlined in
tuber , 2023.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
TCOM C W HINGTON
rru Bay anan, Council Chair
WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE
TC M COUNTY SHINGTON
Satpal Sid[
id u, County Executive
A) Approved ( ) Denied
Date Signed: w��
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EXHIBIT A
(AMEND WCC SECTIONS 1.08.090 AND 1.08.170 - REQUIRED SIGNATURES FOR INITIATIVES)
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 eight percent of the number of votes cast in the county in the last regular
gubeFigateFiat county executive election. Each petition shall contain the full text of the
proposed measure, ordinance, or amendment to an ordinance, and the ballot title. (Ord.
2018-021 Exh. A; Ord. 2009-029 Exh. A; Ord. 79-31 § 2.6).
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 days, excluding Saturdays,
Sundays 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 120 days to collect the signatures of registered voters of
the county equal in number to not less than three percent of the number of votes cast in the
county in the last gubeffiateFiat regular county executive election. The 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 original proponent or his designee may turn in signatures at any time within the 120-
day signature -gathering period. After the initial filing, the proponents can continue to turn in
signatures for an additional 30 days, but in no case shall additional petition signatures be
submitted after the initial 120-day signature collection period. Upon receipt of petitions
containing more than the required number of signatures for validation, 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 gubeffiateFial
regular county executive election. (Ord. 2009-029 Exh. A; Ord. 80-22 § 5; Ord. 79-31 §
3.1).