HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/04/2011 06 Council Representation Reform - Elimination of At-Large Designations - Set Date; Charter Amendment • BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No 6
For Meeting Of January4, 2011
ITEM TITLE Council consideration of a date upon which a citizens' petition for a ballot
proposition seeking to amend the Yakima City Charter by revising the current City Council district
representation shall be set in order to allow the proposed amendment to be submitted to the
voters of Yakima at a City -wide election
SUBMITTED BY Jeff Cutter, City Attorney
CONTACT PERSON /TELEPHONE Jeff Cutter - 575 - 6030
SUMMARY EXPLANATION A petition for a ballot proposition has been submitted to the Yakima
City Clerk that, subsequent to the last City Council meeting of 2010, was confirmed to meet the
requirements of Article XIII of the Yakima City Charter regarding Charter Amendments The
proposition seeks to amend Article II, Section 1 of the Yakima City Charter by revising the
present format for the election of four City Council members from four City districts plus three at -
large elected Council positions to require that all seven City Council members be elected from
seven separate districts with no at -large positions elected The proposed amendment further
® requires that only the qualified voters residing within each of the seven proposed districts may
vote for candidates living within their districts
State law requires that a petition seeking a charter amendment that is submitted by the required
number of qualified voters of a municipality having adopted a charter "shall be submitted to the
voters at the next regular municipal election occurring thirty days or more after said petition is
filed" Whereas the City Charter provides that such a petition shall be submitted to the voters at a
special election In cases where there is a conflict between state statute and specific provisions
of a city charter, Article XI, Section 10 of the Washington State Constitution states that state law
shall prevail
The City Council must now determine whether the proposed ballot proposition shall be set as a
ballot proposition in a special election to be held on April 26, 2011, thus requiring a resolution of
the Council to set such date, or in the alternative, to allow the proposed ballot proposition to be
set by the County Auditor in accord with state statute on the next regular election date of August
16, 2011, for which election no Council resolution is necessary
Resolution . Ordinance Contract Other(Specify)
Contract Mail to (name and address)
Phone
Funding Source
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL
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City Manager
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STAFF RECOMMENDATION Should the City Council determine not to present this proposition
to the electorate by means of a special election, no further action on the part of the City Council is
necessary
In the alternative, should the City Council deem it appropriate that this proposition be presented
to the electorate by means of special election, it is recommended the Council direct the City
Attorney to prepare a Resolution providing for the proposition to be submitted to the County
Auditor to be set for a special election on April 26, 2011
BOARD /COMMISSION /COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
COUNCIL ACTION
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