Drafter
Clerk 07/28/2008
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AN ORDINANCE implementing proposed new Section 800.20 of the King County Charter as set forth in Proposed Ordinance 2008-0361; establishing deadlines and procedures for charter amendments by citizen initiative; and amending Ordinance 159, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.16.020 and Ordinance 159, Section 3, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.16.030.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. The King County Charter was adopted by the voters at the November 1968 general election and became effective May 1, 1969. Ordinance 159, enacted in September 1969, implemented citizen initiative rights established in the charter. The ordinance set requirements for the form and procedures for submittal of initiative petitions. It established a sixty-day deadline for submittal of sufficient signatures after approval of a proposed initiative petition form by the clerk of the council. Ordinance 13074, enacted in April 1998, extended that deadline to the current ninety-day period found in K.C.C. 1.16.030.
B. Proposed Ordinance 2008-0361 would submit to the voters for their approval or rejection at the November 2008 general election an amendment to the King County Charter establishing a process for citizen initiatives to amend the charter, which would require only one election to approve a charter amendment and would also establish a higher signature threshold than is presently required for initiatives under the charter.
C. This ordinance would extend the period for gathering signatures for citizen initiatives to amend the charter to one hundred twenty days, an increase from the current ninety days. One hundred twenty days is commensurate with the time allowed in four of the other five Washington home rule counties.
SECTION 2. Ordinance 159, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.16.020 are each hereby amended to read as follows:
If any individual, or committee of individuals, desires to petition the...
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