Chapter 1.24
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
Sections:
1.24.030 Alternative measure by city council.
1.24.010 Authorized.
It is declared that from and after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, the qualified electors of the city shall have the powers of initiative and referendum as authorized by RCW 35A.11.080. (Prior code § 1.14.010)
1.24.020 Exceptions.
It is further declared that the exercise of such powers shall be restricted to the extent it is legally possible to do so including but not necessarily limited to the following:
A. Ordinances initiated by petition shall not be subject to referendum;
B. Ordinances necessary for immediate preservation of public peace, health and safety, or for the support of city government and its existing public institutions, provided such ordinances contain a statement of urgency and are passed by unanimous vote of the council, shall not be subject to referendum;
C. Ordinances provided for local improvement districts shall not be subject to initiative or referendum except as otherwise provided by state law;
D. Ordinances appropriating money shall not be subject to initiative or referendum;
E. Ordinances providing for or approving collective bargaining shall not be subject to initiative or referendum;
F. Ordinances providing for the compensation of or working conditions of city employees shall not be subject to initiative or referendum;
G. Ordinances authorizing or repealing the levy of taxes shall not be subject to initiative or referendum;
H. Ordinances requiring the expenditure of public funds which the city council determines to be an invasion of its inherent budgetary powers and/or not within sound fiscal management policies as applied to city funds and property shall not be subject to initiative and referendum;
I. Ordinances which are not general ordinances shall not be subject to initiative or referendum. For the purpose of this section only, general ordinances are defined as those ordinances having general application throughout the city;
J. Ordinances where the power of the city to legislate on the subject matter is derived from a grant of power by the state legislature directly to the city council or other corporate authorities as opposed to a grant of such power to the city as a corporate entity shall not be subject to initiative or referendum;
K. Ordinances the subject of which is exempted now or hereafter by state law or judicial decision of the superior court of the county or any appellate court of the state shall not be subject to initiative or referendum. (Prior code § 1.14.020)
1.24.030 Alternative measure by city council.
In the event an initiative measure is properly presented to the city council, the council declares its intent to reserve the authority to submit a different measure dealing with the same subject matter as the initiative measure to the qualified electors for approval or rejection at the same election. (Prior code § 1.14.030)