HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-30-2019 CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSIONCity Council Study Session
September 30, 2019 - 5:30 P M
A GE NDA
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I .C A L L TO O R D E R
A .Roll Call
I I .A NNO UNC E ME NT S , R E P O RT S , A ND P R E S E NTAT I O NS
I I I .A G E ND A I T E MS F O R C O UNC I L D I S C US S I O N
A .Review Council Rules of P rocedures (Council)
B .Discussion on I -976 (Hinman) (15 Minutes)
I V.O T HE R D I S C US S I O N I T E MS
V.NE W B US I NE S S
V I .MAT R I X
A .Matrix
V I I .A D J O UR NME NT
Agendas and minutes are available to the public at the City Clerk's Office, on the City website
(http://www.auburnwa.gov), and via e-mail. Complete agenda packets are available for review
at the City Clerk's Office.
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AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
Agenda Subject:
Review Council Rules of Procedures (Council)
Date:
September 5, 2019
Department:
City Attorney
Attachments:
Council Rules Notes
Council Rules of Procedure
Budget Impact:
Current Budget: $0
Proposed Revision: $0
Revised Budget: $0
Administrativ e Recommendation:
Council to discuss possible amendments to the Rules.
Background Summary:
The Council's Rules of Procedure were most recently amended in 2018. Staff has identified
a couple of areas that could be clarified. Also, the Deputy Mayor has indicated a wish to
discuss some possible amendments
Rev iewed by Council Committees:
Councilmember:Peloza Staff:Gross
Meeting Date:September 30, 2019 Item Number:
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2019-2020 Council Rules & Procedures
Update
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ISSUES
⚫General management
–Election of Deputy Mayor -timing
–Seating Arrangement –Business vs. study session
–Public Comment –Current or change?
–Chair when Mayor and Dep. Mayor are absent
⚫Elect or default to Sr. CM present?
⚫SS –SFA chair, or Sr. CM present?
2 Page 4 of 66
⚫Voting
–Silence = vote with prevailing side; Best practice is
silence = “no.”
–Study Session –generally, no action; add to agenda
by “consensus”
⚫Options: Allow “vote” on non-substantive matters only –
add item to agenda, ask Mayor/staff for more information.
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⚫Absences
–Current –automatically excuse if Mayor or Clerk
–Option1 –Same, but add DM to notification
–Option 2 –Have Council vote to excuse
4 Page 6 of 66
⚫Conduct of meetings
–Agenda format –does Council want to see
contracts/franchises, etc…?
–CA as parliamentarian –Rules are not clear who is
“decider.” Best practice is CA/Clerk advise, P.O.
decides, Council can overrule by vote.
–Reading Title of Agenda Items. –currently, CA
⚫Options: P.O., Clerk, CM when reading item.
5 Page 7 of 66
⚫Conduct of CMs
⚫Conduct of public
–“niceness” rules generally unenforceable
–Discuss what is “creating a disturbance.”
⚫DM to coordinate annual review of Council
Rules and Procedures.
⚫New CMs to participate in orientation
⚫Clarify that Mayor may excuse Dept. Heads
from attending meetings
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Page 1
RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1 AUTHORITY 1
SECTION 2 COUNCIL MEETINGS 1
SECTION 3 ORDER OF BUSINESS OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA 4
SECTION 4 COUNCILMEMBER ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS 9
SECTION 5 PRESIDING OFFICER - DUTIES 10
SECTION 6 COUNCILMEMBERS 11
SECTION 7 DEBATES 12
SECTION 8 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES AND MOTIONS 13
SECTION 9 VOTING 15
SECTION 10 COMMENTS, CONCERNS AND TESTIMONY TO COUNCIL 15
SECTION 11 PUBLIC HEARINGS AND APPEALS 16
SECTION 12 DEPUTY MAYOR SELECTION PROCESS 17
SECTION 13 COUNCIL POSITION VACANCY 21
SECTION 14 COUNCIL MEETING STAFFING 21
SECTION 15 COUNCIL RELATIONS WITH STAFF 22
SECTION 16 COUNCIL STUDY SESSIONS, COMMITTEES AND CITIZEN ADVISORY
BOARDS 23
SECTION 17 COUNCIL REPRESENTATION & INTERNAL COMMUNICATION 29
SECTION 18 TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION 33
SECTION 19 CONFIDENTIALITY 34
SECTION 20 ENFORCEMENT OF RULES OF PROCEDURE 34
RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON
SECTION 1 - AUTHORITY
The Auburn City Council hereby establishes the following rules for the conduct of Council
meetings, proceedings and business. These rules shall be in effect upon adoption by
resolution of Council and until such time as they are amended or new rules are adopted
in the manner provided by these rules.
SECTION 2 - COUNCIL MEETINGS
All meetings of the City Council shall be open to the public and all persons shall be
permitted to attend any meeting of this body, except as provided in RCW Chapter 42.30.
The City Clerk shall be responsible for preparing agendas for all City Council meetings
pursuant to the authority of Section 2.03.100 of the City Code1.
1 2.03.100 Meeting coordination duties.
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Page 2
The City Clerk shall cause to be prepared action minutes of all of the Council meetings,
which minutes shall contain an account of all official actions of the Council. Council
meetings shall be electronically recorded and retained for the period of time as provided
by State law.
2.1 Regular Meetings - In accordance with Sections 2.06.010(A) and 2.06.020 of the
City Code, the regular meetings of the City Council shall held on the first and third
Mondays of every month in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 25 West
Main Street, Auburn, Washington. The regular meeting location may be changed
by a majority vote of the City Council.
Regular Council meetings will begin at the hour of 7:00 p.m.
A quorum shall constitute four or more Councilmembers for the transaction of
business.
In the event that a scheduled Regular Council meeting falls on a legal holiday, the
meeting shall be held at 7:00 p.m. on the first business day following the holiday.
The Presiding Officer shall be as set forth in Section 5.1 herein.
The Mayor, as presiding officer shall be seated at the center of the dais, and the
Deputy Mayor shall be seated to the presiding officer’s immediate left. When the
Deputy Mayor is acting as the presiding officer, in the absence of the Mayor, the
Deputy Mayor shall be seated in the center of the dais. The seating arrangement
for the other members of the Council shall be as directed by the City Council
pursuant to a motion duly made and seconded and approved by a majority of the
City Council, following the recommendation of an ad hoc committee of three
Councilmembers called for that purpose.
[See ACC 2.06.010 (Ord. 3916 § 1, 1983; 1957 code § 1.04.010); ACC 2.06.020 (Ord.
3759 § 1, 1982; 1957 code § 1.04.020); ACC 2.06.030 (1957 code § 1.04.060); ACC
2.06.080 (1957 code § 1.04.090).]
2.2 Study Sessions - In accordance with Sections 2.06.010(B) and 2.06.020 of the
City Code, Study Sessions of the City Council shall held on the second, fourth and
fifth Mondays of every month in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 25 West
The mayor or the mayor's designee shall be responsible for the preparation of agendas for the
meetings of the council and of the various boards, commissions and committees of the city, and for including
in those agendas the items and issues forwarded by the city council and/or or by the ad hoc committees
designated to act on behalf of the city council, and for including in those agendas the items and issues
proposed by the mayor and city administration, for consideration by the council. The mayor or the mayor's
designee shall also be responsible for publishing notices for meetings and for public hearings for the
meetings of the council and the various boards, commissions and committees of the city, and for setting
the dates and times for said public hearings, except in those instances when setting dates and times for
public hearings is required by statute to be done through council resolution. (Ord. 6405 § 1, 2012; Ord.
5761 § 1, 2003.)
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Main Street, Auburn, Washington. The regular meeting location of Study Sessions
may be changed by a majority vote of the City Council. Study Sessions shall be
subject to the following:
A. The Deputy Mayor shall preside over Study Sessions, other than those
portions thereof for which Special Focus Areas are scheduled (as described
herein below).
B. Study Sessions will begin at the hour of 5:30 p.m.
C. A quorum shall constitute four or more Councilmembers for the transaction
of business.
D. In the event that a scheduled Study Session falls on a legal holiday, the
meeting shall be held at 5:30 p.m. on the first business day following the
holiday.
E. No particular seating arrangement shall be required for the Deputy Mayor
or other members of the Council, or for the Mayor or any other persons
invited to sit at the table of Study Sessions.
2.3 Regular Meeting Times:2
The regularly scheduled meetings of the City Council shall be held at the following
times, unless re-scheduled and/or reset to different times:
A. First Monday of the month - Regular Council Meeting - - 7:00 PM
B. Second Monday of the month - Council Study Session - - 5:30 PM
C. Third Monday of the month - Regular Council Meeting - - 7:00 PM.
D. Fourth Monday of the month - Council Study Session - - 5:30 PM
E. Fifth Monday of the month - Council Study Session - - 5:30 PM.
2.4 Special Meetings - In accordance with Section 2.06.040 of the City Code and
Section 35A.12.110 RCW, a special meeting of the City Council may be called by
the Mayor or any three members of the Council by written notice delivered to each
member of the Council at least 24 hours before the time specified for the proposed
meeting; provided, however, that no ordinance or resolution shall be passed, or
contract let or entered into, or bill for the payment of money allowed, at any special
meeting unless public notice of such meeting has been given by such notice to the
local press, radio and television as will be reasonably calculated to inform the city's
inhabitants of the meeting.
2 Any of these regularly scheduled meetings may be cancelled if not needed.
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[See ACC 2.06.040 (1957 code § 1.04.070).]
2.5 Emergency Meetings - Emergency meetings may be called by the Mayor, in
accordance with Section 42.30.070 RCW, when by reason of fire, flood,
earthquake, or other emergency, there is a need for expedited action by the City
Council to meet the emergency, in which case, the meeting site notice
requirements otherwise applicable shall not apply.
2.6 Executive Sessions - A Council meeting that is closed except to the Council, the
Mayor, City Attorney and authorized staff members and/or consultants authorized
by the Mayor. The public is restricted from attendance.
Executive sessions may be held during Regular and Special meetings of the City
Council, and will be announced by the presiding officer. Executive session subjects
are limited to considering such matters as permitted by State law.
[See former ACC 2.06.070 (1957 code § 1.04.080).]
2.7 Cancellation of Meetings - Meetings may be canceled by the Mayor with the
concurrence of the Deputy Mayor or, in the absence of either, by the Mayor or the
Deputy Mayor, or by a majority vote of the City Council, and proper notice given
by the City Clerk.
SECTION 3 - ORDER OF BUSINESS OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
All items to be included on the Council’s agenda for consideration should be submitted to
the City Clerk, in full by 12:00 Noon on the Tuesday preceding each regular Council
meeting. The City Clerk shall then prepare a proposed agenda according to the order of
business, for approval by the Mayor, or his/her designee. A final agenda will then be
prepared by the City Clerk and distributed to Councilmembers as the official agenda for
the meeting.
3.1 The agenda format of the Regular City Council meeting shall be as follows:
A. Call to order.
The Mayor shall call the meeting to order.
B. Pledge of Allegiance.
The Mayor, Councilmembers and, at times, invited guests will lead the
Pledge of Allegiance.
C. Roll call.
The City Clerk will call the roll. Councilmembers may request to be excused
from a meeting by requesting the same of the Mayor or City Clerk in
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advance of the meeting. The reason for the request shall be given at the
time of the request.
D. Announcements, Proclamations and Presentations
A proclamation is defined as an official announcement made by the Mayor
or the City Council regarding a non-controversial event, activity or special
interest group which has a major city-wide impact.
E. Appointments
Appointing individuals to various committees, boards and commissions.
Confirmation of appointments, where confirmation is called for, may be
preceded by discussion in executive session, where appropriate.
F. Agenda modifications
Changes to the Council’s published agenda are announced at this time.
G. Public Hearings and Appeals
Individuals may comment on public hearing and appeal items, provided that
when an appeal is a closed record appeal, the matter shall be considered
based on information, evidence and documents in the record. Argument on
the appeal shall refer only to matters, information, documents and evidence
presented at the underlying hearing from which the appeal is taken, and no
new information, evidence or documents may be added, and argument on
the appeal may only deal with information, evidence and documents in the
record. The presiding officer will state the public hearing and/or appeal
procedures before each hearing.
H. Audience Participation
Members of the audience may comment on items relating to any matter
related to City business under the Audience Participation period. Comments
are limited to three (3) minutes per person, and a total of fifteen (15) minutes
per topic. Groups who have a designated speaker may have a total of ten
(10) minutes to speak. Public comments sign-up forms will be available at
the City Clerk’s desk at each meeting for use of those citizens wishing to
address the Council. The City Clerk shall serve as timekeeper. The
presiding officer may make exceptions to the audience participation time
restrictions when warranted, in the discretion of the presiding officer.
Citizens may also speak on individual agenda items on the printed agenda
at the time they are considered by the Council as requested by the presiding
officer.
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I. Correspondence
J Council Ad Hoc Committee Reports
Council ad hoc Committee Chairs may report on the status of their ad hoc
Council Committees’ progress on assigned tasks and may give their
recommendations to the City Council, if any.
K. Consent Agenda
Approval of the Consent Agenda, including items considered to be routine
and non-controversial, may be approved by one motion. Items on the
Consent Agenda include but are not limited to the following. Any
Councilmember may remove any item from the Consent Agenda for
separate discussion and action.
1. Approval of minutes.
2. Fixing dates for public hearings and appeals.
3. Approval of claims and vouchers, bid awards and contracts.
4. Approval of surplus property.
5. Other items designated by the City Council.
L. Unfinished Business
Unfinished business of a general nature and that it was removed from the
Consent Agenda for separate discussion and action.
M. New Business
Business, other than ordinances and resolutions, that has not been
previously before the City Council.
N. Ordinances
1. All ordinances shall be in writing, and the titles thereof shall be read
aloud by the City Attorney prior to a vote being called on their
adoption, provided that any councilmember may upon request, have
a full reading of the text of a proposed ordinance prior to the vote on
its adoption. It shall not require a second to the request for a full
reading of an ordinance. It is further provided, however, that the
requirement for a reading of the title of the proposed ordinance, or a
full reading of the text of the proposed ordinance may be waived
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upon a motion duly made, seconded and approved by a majority of
the councilmembers in attendance at the council meeting.
2. Prior to any ordinance being considered for adoption by the City
Council, the ordinance shall be included on a Study Session agenda,
for review and discussion as provided in Section 16.1 (C)(5);
Provided, however, that if the Mayor believes that special,
emergency or exigent circumstances exist regarding the to need
consider adoption of an ordinance without the ordinance having been
placed on a Study Session agenda, the Mayor may place the
ordinance on a Regular or Special City Council Meeting agenda with
a request that the City Council consider adoption of the ordinance at
such Regular or Special Meeting of the City Council. If there is not
agreement among members of the City Council as to whether the
ordinance should be considered for adoption at the Regular or
Special Meeting of the City Council, the matter shall be presented for
a separate vote at the Regular or Special City Council Meeting, and
decided by majority vote of the members of the City Council at said
meeting.
a. If a majority of the City Council members vote in favor of
considering adoption of the ordinance, the consideration of
the adoption of the ordinance shall be the next matter before
the City Council.
b. If a majority of the City Council votes in favor of reviewing and
discussing the ordinance at a Study Session prior to voting on
its adoption, the ordinance shall be placed on an upcoming
Study Session agenda for review and discussion.
After a motion to adopt an ordinance has been made and seconded, the
Councilmember making the motion is encouraged to give a very brief
description of the issues involved with the ordinance, without simply
repeating the ordinance title as read by the City Attorney and may choose
to comment on any results of Council discussion or action regarding the
issue.
Discussion and debate by the City Council on ordinances will be held prior
to the vote on an ordinance. Councilmembers shall decide whether or not
to amend the ordinance, or direct staff to further review the proposed
ordinance.
An ordinance shall be adopted by a majority vote of the City Council, shall
require the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the whole membership
of the Council, and provided that public emergency ordinances require a
vote of a majority plus one of the whole Council membership. A public
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emergency ordinance is one designated to protect public health and safety,
public property, or public peace.
O. Resolutions
All resolutions shall be in writing, and the titles thereof shall be read aloud
by the City Attorney prior to a vote being called on their passage, provided
that any councilmember may upon request, have a full reading of the text
of a proposed resolution prior to the vote on its passage. It shall not require
a second to the request for a full reading of a resolution. It is further
provided, however, that the requirement for a reading of the title of the
proposed resolution, or a full reading of the text of the proposed resolution
may be waived upon a motion duly made, seconded and approved by a
majority of the councilmembers in attendance at the council meeting.
After a motion to pass a resolution has been made and seconded, the
Councilmember making the motion is encouraged to give a very brief
description of the issues involved with the resolution without simply
repeating the resolution title as read by the City Attorney, and the
councilmember may choose to comment on any results of Council
discussion or action regarding the issue.
Discussion and debate by the City Council on resolutions will be held prior
to the vote on a resolution. Councilmembers shall decide whether or not to
amend the resolution, or direct staff to further review the proposed
resolution.
A resolution shall be passed by a majority vote of a quorum of the Council,
provided that passage of any resolution for the payment of money or that
grants or revokes a franchise or license, shall require the affirmative vote of
at least a majority of the whole membership of the Council.
P. Mayor and Councilmember Reports
The Mayor and Councilmembers may report on their significant City-related
activities since the last regular meeting. The Mayor and Councilmembers
shall limit their reports to not more than three (3) minutes, with sensitivity to
avoiding duplicate reporting.
Q. Adjournment
3.3. Recess - The foregoing agenda may be interrupted for a stated time as called by
the presiding officer to recess for any reason, including executive sessions.
3.4 Amendment to Agenda - The sequence of handling items on the agenda of a
particular Regular Council Meeting may be amended from order listed on the
printed/approved agenda as follows:
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A. Motion to Suspend the Rules. Any member of the City Council may move
to suspend the rules so as to provide that an item on the agenda may be
taken out of order - considered at a different order or placement in the
agenda. Such motion shall require a second, and upon approval by a
majority of Councilmembers in attendance at the meeting, the item shall be
considered at the point in the agenda as indicated in the approved motion.
B. Adjustment of Agenda by Mayor. If the Mayor, as the presiding official,
determines that an item on the agenda of a Regular Council Meeting should
be taken out of order - considered at a different order or placement in the
agenda.as set forth in the agenda - to accommodate members of the City
Council or others at the Council Meeting, the Mayor may call for the
amendment of the agenda to accomplish such adjustment. Such action by
the Mayor does not require a motion or vote by the City Council; provided
that if the City Council does not wish to have the item moved - agenda
adjusted - as directed by the Mayor, the City Council may, by motion duly
made, seconded and approved by a majority of Councilmembers in
attendance at the meeting keep the agenda unchanged.
[See former ACC 2.06.110 (Ord. 5687 § 1, 2002; Ord. 4166 § 2, 1986); ACC 2.06.120
(1957 code § 1.04.120.); ACC 2.06.140 (1957 code § 1.04.140.); ACC 2.06.170 (1957
code § 1.04.190.); ACC 2.06.180 (Ord. 5635 § 2, 2002; 1957 code § 1.04.200).]
SECTION 4 - COUNCILMEMBER ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS
4.1 Councilmembers shall attend Regular Council meetings and Study Sessions.
Councilmembers shall inform the Mayor or the City Clerk if they are unable to
attend any Regular Council meeting or Study Session, or if they knowingly will be
late to any such meetings, or unable to stay for the entire meeting. If a
Councilmember has informed the Mayor or City Clerk that he or she is unable to
attend such meeting, the minutes for that meeting will show the Councilmember
as having an excused absence for that meeting. Provided that excessive,
continued or prolonged absences may be addressed by the City Council on a case
by case basis.
[See ACC 2.06.050 and RCW 35A.12.060]
4.2 Councilmembers are expected to attend the meetings of the Ad Hoc Council
Committees to which they are assigned. Councilmembers should inform the Chair
of such Ad Hoc Council Committees or the City Clerk if they are unable to attend
any meetings of such Ad Hoc Council Committees, and should inform the Chair or
City Clerk if they expect to be late to any such Ad Hoc Council Committee meeting
or unable to stay for the entire meeting. If a Councilmember has informed the Chair
or City Clerk that he or she is unable to attend such Ad Hoc Committee meeting,
the minutes for that meeting, if minutes are required and/or taken, shall show the
Councilmember as having an excused absence for that meeting. Provided that
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excessive, continued or prolonged absences may be addressed by the City
Council on a case by case basis.
4.3 Councilmembers shall attend the Special Meetings of the City Council.
Councilmembers, shall inform the Mayor or the City Clerk if they are unable to
attend any such meetings, or shall so inform the Mayor or City Clerk if they expect
to be late to any such Special meeting or unable to stay for the entire meeting. If
a Councilmember has informed the Mayor or City Clerk that he or she is unable to
attend such Special meeting, the minutes for that meeting shall show the
Councilmember as having an excused absence for that meeting. Provided that
excessive, continued or prolonged absences may be addressed by the City
Council on a case by case basis.
4.4 Attendance at Ad Hoc Council Committee meetings and Special meetings will not
be considered “regular meetings” for the purposes of RCW 35A.12.060, applicable
to Regular City Council meetings. However, in addition to the application of RCW
35A.12.060 to Regular City Council meetings, unexcused absences from any
Regular or Special meetings, or Ad Hoc Committee meetings, shall constitute a
violation of these Rules of Procedure.
4.5 At all meetings of the City Council, including but not limited to Regular Meetings,
Study Sessions and Ad Hoc Committee Meetings, Councilmembers shall refrain
from use of cell phones or other personal communication devices, and shall not
send or receive and read e-mails, text messages, or any other social media
postings. Councilmembers shall also refrain from side conversations with other
individual Councilmembers. Councilmembers shall also refrain from inappropriate
or derogatory body language or any other actions that detract from the deportment
of the City Council.
SECTION 5 - PRESIDING OFFICER - DUTIES
5.1 Conduct of Meetings
The presiding officer at all Regular Meetings of the Council shall be the Mayor and
in the absence of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor will act in that capacity. If both the
Mayor and Deputy Mayor are absent and a quorum is present, the Council shall
elect one of its members to serve as the presiding officer until the return of the
Mayor or Deputy Mayor. Additionally, the Deputy Mayor shall serve as the
presiding officer for Council Study Sessions, other than those portions thereof for
which Special Focus Areas are scheduled (as described herein below). It is further
provided that, though not the presiding officer of Study Sessions, the Mayor is
encouraged to attend Study Sessions. 3
3 For the purposes hereof, whenever the term “Mayor” or “Deputy Mayor” is used, it shall also include the
person who, in the absence thereof shall assume actions or responsibilities in place of the Mayor or Deputy
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[See former ACC 2.06.090 (1957 code § 1.04.100).]
5.2 The Presiding Officer:
A. Shall preserve order and decorum at all meetings of the Council and cause
the removal of any person in the audience from any meeting who disrupts
the meeting after having been warned to cease the disruptive behavior;
B. Shall observe and enforce all rules adopted by the Council;
C. Shall decide all questions on order, in accordance with these rules, subject
to appeal by any Councilmember;
D. Shall recognize Councilmembers in the order in which they request the
floor, giving every councilmember who wishes an opportunity to speak,
provided that the mover of a motion shall be permitted to debate it first, and
provided that the presiding officer may also allow discussion of an issue
prior to the stating of a motion when such discussion would facilitate
wording of a motion;
E. May affix approximate time limit for each agenda item;
F. When matters on the agenda are placed, or are able to be placed under
more than one classification or category, as defined by the Order of
Business, and the matters involve or are closely related to other subject
matter, then the presiding officer may, in the presiding officer’s discretion,
present such matters before the Council, for discussion, consider and vote,
at a different place in the agenda without the necessity of any vote thereon,
notwithstanding their initial different placement on the written agenda.
[See former ACC 2.06.100 (1957 code § 1.04.170.); ACC 2.06.190 (1957 code §
1.04.210).]
SECTION 6 - COUNCILMEMBERS
6.1 Remarks. - Councilmembers desiring to speak shall address the presiding
officer, and when recognized, shall confine himself/herself to the question under
debate.
6.2 Questioning. - Any member of the Council, including the Mayor, shall have the right
to question any individual, including members of the staff, on matters germane to
Mayor. When the term “presiding officer” is used, it shall refer to the person responsible for presiding over
the meeting in question.
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the issue properly before the Council for discussion. Under no circumstances shall
such questioning be conducted in a manner to the extent that such would
constitute a cross-examination of or an attempt to ridicule or degrade the individual
being interrogated.
6.3 Obligation to the Public Agency. - Notwithstanding the right of Councilmembers to
express their independent opinions and exercise their freedom of speech,
Councilmembers should act in a way that reflects positively on the reputation of
the City and of the community. Councilmembers shall also interact with other
members of the City Council and City staff in ways that promote effective local
government.
6.4 Council Training. - Councilmembers are expected to participate in training offered
by individuals, agencies, entities and organizations including but not limited to the
Association of Washington Cities and the State of W ashington, so as to afford the
Councilmembers the opportunity to better understand their roles as City
Councilmembers.
6.5 Participation in Committees, Agencies and Organizations. - To better represent the
interests of the City of Auburn, Councilmembers are encouraged to participate in
assignments to local, regional, state and national committees, agencies and
organizations.
[See former ACC 2.06.130 (1957 code § 1.04.130).]
SECTION 7 - DEBATES
7.1 Speaking to the Motion. - No member of the Council, including the presiding officer,
shall speak more than twice on the same motion except by consent of the presiding
officer or a majority of the Councilmembers present at the time the motion is before
the Council.
7.2 Interruption. - No member of the Council, including the presiding officer, shall
interrupt or argue with any other member while such member has the floor, other
than the presiding officer’s duty to preserve order during meetings as provided in
Section 5.2.A of these rules.
7.3 Courtesy. - All speakers, including members of the Council, which includes the
presiding officer, in the discussion, comments, or debate of any matter or issue
shall address their remarks to the presiding officer, be courteous in their language
and deportment, and shall not engage in or discuss or comment on personalities,
or indulge in derogatory remarks or insinuations in respect to any other member of
the Council, or any member of the staff or the public, but shall at all times confine
their remarks to those facts which are germane and relevant to the question or
matter under discussion.
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7.4 Transgression. - If a member of the Council shall transgress these rules on
debates, the presiding officer shall call such member to order, in which case such
member shall be silent except to explain or continue in order. If the presiding officer
shall transgress these rules on debate or fail to call such member to order, any
other member of the Council may, under a point of order, call the presiding officer
or such other member to order, in which case the presiding officer or such member,
as the case may be, shall be silent except to explain or continue in order.
7.5 Challenge to Ruling. - Any member of the Council shall have the right to challenge
any action or ruling of the presiding officer, in which case the decision of the
majority of the members of the Council present shall govern.
[See former ACC 2.06.130 (1957 code § 1.04.130).]
SECTION 8 - PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES AND MOTIONS
8.1 Unless specifically provided differently herein, all City Council meeting discussions
shall be governed by ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER, NEWLY REVISED (latest
edition).
8.2 If a motion does not receive a second, it dies. Matters that do not constitute a
motion include nominations, withdrawal of motion by the person making the
motion, request for a roll call vote, and point of order or privilege; therefore a
second is not needed.
8.3 A motion that receives a tie vote is deemed to have failed, provided that except
where prohibited by law, the Mayor, as presiding official, shall be allowed to vote
to break a tie vote.
8.4 When making motions, Councilmembers shall be clear and concise and not
include arguments for the motion within the motion.
8.5 After a motion has been made and seconded, the Councilmembers may discuss
their opinions on the issue prior to the vote.
8.6 If any Councilmember wishes to abstain, from a vote on the motion pursuant to the
provisions of Section 9 hereof, that Councilmember shall so advise the City
Council, and shall remove and absent himself/herself from the deliberations and
considerations of the motion, and shall have no further participation in the matter.
Such advice shall be given prior to any discussion or participation on the subject
matter or as soon thereafter as the Councilmember perceives a need to abstain,
provided that, prior to the time that a Councilmember gives advice of an intent to
abstain from an issue, the Councilmember shall confer with the City Attorney to
determine if the basis for the Councilmember's intended abstention conforms to
the requirements of Section 9. If the intended abstention can be anticipated in
advance, the conference with the City Attorney should occur prior to the meeting
at which the subject matter would be coming before the City Council. If that cannot
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be done, the Councilmember should advise the City Council that he/she has an
"abstention question" that he/she would want to review with the City Attorney, in
which case, a brief recess would be afforded the Councilmember for that purpose.
8.7 A motion to table is non-debatable and shall preclude all amendments or debates
of the issue under consideration. A motion to table is to be used in instances where
circumstances or situations arise which necessitate the interruption of the
Councilmembers' consideration of the matter then before them. A motion to table,
if passed, shall cause the subject matter to be tabled until the interrupting
circumstances or situations have been resolved, or until a time certain, if specified
in the motion to table. To remove an item from the table in advance of the time
certain requires a two-thirds' majority vote.
8.8 A motion to postpone to a certain time is debatable, is amendable and may be
reconsidered at the same meeting. The question being postponed must be
considered at a later time at the same meeting, or to a time certain at a future
Regular or Special City Council meeting.
8.9 A motion to postpone indefinitely is debatable, is not amendable, and may be
reconsidered at the same meeting only if it received an affirmative vote.
8.10 A motion to call for the question shall close debate on the main motion and is not
debatable. This motion must receive a second and fails without a two-thirds' vote;
debate is reopened if the motion fails.
8.11 A motion to amend is defined as amending a motion that is on the floor and has
been seconded, by inserting or adding, striking out, striking out and inserting, or
substituting.
8.12 Motions that cannot be amended include: Motion to adjourn, lay on the table
(table), roll call vote, point of order, reconsideration and take from the table.
8.13 Amendments are voted on first, then the main motion as amended (if the
amendment received an affirmative vote).
8.14 Debate of the motion only occurs after the motion has been moved and seconded.
8.15 The presiding officer, City Attorney or City Clerk should repeat the motion prior to
voting.
8.16 The City Clerk will take a roll call vote, if requested by the presiding officer, a
Councilmember, or as required by law.
8.17 When a question has been decided, any Councilmember who voted with the
prevailing side may move for reconsideration. In order to afford Councilmembers
who voted with the prevailing side the potential basis for a motion for
reconsideration, Councilmembers who voted with the prevailing side may inquire
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of Councilmembers who voted with the minority as to the reasons for their minority
vote, if not stated during debate prior to the vote. A motion for reconsideration is
debatable if the motion being reconsidered was debatable. If the motion being
reconsidered was not debatable, the motion for reconsideration is not debatable.
8.18 The City Attorney shall act as the Council’s parliamentarian and shall decide all
questions of interpretations of these rules which may arise at a Council meeting.
8.19 These rules may be amended, or new rules adopted, by a majority vote of the full
Council.
[See former ACC 2.06.160 (1957 code § 1.04.180.); ACC 2.06.170 (1957 code §
1.04.190.); ACC 2.06.200 (1957 code § 1.04.220.); ACC 2.06.210 (1957 code §
1.04.230).]
SECTION 9 - VOTING4
9.1 Voice vote - A generalized verbal indication by the Council as a whole of “yea or
nay” vote on a matter, the outcome of which vote shall be recorded in the official
minutes of the Council. Silence of a Councilmember during a voice vote shall be
recorded as a vote with the prevailing side, except where such a Councilmember
abstains because of a stated conflict of interest or appearance of fairness.
9.2 Roll call vote - A roll call vote may be requested by the presiding officer or by any
Councilmember.
9.3 Abstentions - It is the responsibility of each Councilmember to vote when
requested on a matter before the full Council. However, a Councilmember may
abstain from discussion and voting on a question because of a stated conflict of
interest or appearance of fairness.
9.4 Votes by Mayor - Except where prohibited by law, the Mayor, as presiding official,
shall be allowed to vote to break a tie vote.
[See former ACC 2.06.150 (1957 code § 1.04.150).]
SECTION 10 - COMMENTS, CONCERNS AND TESTIMONY TO COUNCIL
10.1 Persons addressing the Council, who are not specifically scheduled on the
agenda, will be requested to step up to the podium, give their name and address
for the record, and limit their remarks to three (3) minutes, in addition to filling out
the speaker sign-in sheet available at the City Clerk’s desk. All remarks will be
4 The City Council cannot vote on items during a Study Session. At a Study Session, the Deputy Mayor or
the Chair of a Special Focus Area will look for “consensus.” For the purposes hereof and where consistent
with these Rules of Procedure, consensus shall mean a collective position of the City Council where a
majority of the members can support or “live with” (accept) the item or proposed discussion. Consensus of
the body will be gauged by the presiding officer.
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addressed to the Council as a whole. The City Clerk shall serve as timekeeper.
The presiding officer may make exceptions to the time restrictions of persons
addressing the Council when warranted, in the discretion of the presiding officer.
10.2 Any person making personal, impertinent or slanderous remarks while addressing
the Council shall be barred from further audience participation by the presiding
officer, unless permission to continue is granted by a majority vote of the Council.
[See former ACC 2.06.130 (1957 code § 1.04.130).]
SECTION 11 - PUBLIC HEARINGS AND APPEALS
11.1 Quasi-judicial hearings require a decision be made by the Council using a certain
process, which may include a record of evidence considered and specific findings
made. The following procedure shall apply:
A. The Department Director of the department (most) affected by the subject
matter of the hearing, or said Director’s designee, will present the City’s
position and findings. Staff will be available to respond to Council questions.
B. The proponent spokesperson shall speak first and be allowed (10) minutes.
Council may ask questions.
C. The opponent spokesperson shall be allowed ten (10) minutes for
presentation and Council may ask questions.
D. Each side shall then be allowed five (5) minutes for rebuttal, with the
proponent spokesperson speaking first, followed by the opponent
spokesperson.
E. The City Clerk shall serve as timekeeper during these hearings.
F. After each proponent and opponent spokesperson have used their
speaking time, Council may ask further questions of the speakers, who shall
be entitled to respond but limit their response to the question asked.
11.2 Public hearings where a general audience is in attendance to present arguments
for or against a public issue:
A. The Department Director or designee shall present the issue to the Council
and respond to questions.
B. A person may speak for three (3) minutes. No one may speak for a second
time until everyone who wishes to speak has had an opportunity to speak.
The presiding officer may make exceptions to the time restrictions of
persons speaking at a public hearing when warranted, in the discretion of
the presiding officer.
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C. The City Clerk shall serve as timekeeper during these hearings.
D. After the speaker has used their allotted time, Council may ask questions
of the speaker and the speaker may respond, but may not engage in further
debate.
E. The hearing will then be closed to public participation and open for
discussion among Councilmembers.
F The presiding officer may exercise changes in the procedures at a particular
meeting or hearing, but the decision to do so may be overruled by a majority
vote of the Council.
SECTION 12 - DEPUTY MAYOR
12.1 Annually or more often as deemed appropriate, the members of the City Council,
by majority vote, shall designate one of their members as Deputy Mayor for a one
year time period, except as provided in Section 12.1, Paragraphs G and H herein.
A. Any member of the City Council may be nominated for the position of
Deputy Mayor by having that Councilmember’s name placed in nomination
by a Councilmember, provided that the name of the most senior member of
the City Council who has not previously served as Deputy Mayor shall
automatically be placed in nomination for the position of Deputy Mayor. [The
nomination of a councilmember for the position of Deputy Mayor does not
require a second, and a councilmember may nominate him or herself.]
1. For the purposes hereof, the most senior member of the City Council,
seniority shall be determined by:
(a) The number of consecutive years, months and days served;
(b) If the number of consecutive years, months and days served
by two or more members of the City Council are equal, the
member of the City Council who received the greater/greatest
number of votes in the most recent general election in which
such members were elected to the City Council shall be
deemed most senior.
2. If the most senior councilmember declined the automatic nomination,
the name of the next most senior member of the City Council shall
be automatically be placed in nomination for the position of Deputy
Mayor.
3. If all members of the City Council have previously served as Deputy
Mayor, there shall be no automatic seniority nomination.
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4. Other than for the automatic nomination of the most senior
councilmember who has not previously served as deputy Mayor, all
other nominations for the position of Deputy Mayor shall be made by
members of the City Council on the dates of election for the Deputy
Mayor position.
5. In connection with the selection of Deputy Mayor, it is strongly
suggested that councilmembers approach the election in an open,
transparent and respectful manner, avoiding anything that
jeopardizes harmony among councilmembers.
B. The Councilmember receiving a majority of the votes cast by the members
of the City Council shall be elected Deputy Mayor. A Councilmember may
vote for him or herself.
C. The names of all nominees for the position of Deputy Mayor shall be
included in the vote.
D. If no single Councilmember received a majority of the votes cast, a second
vote/ballot, between the two nominees who received the largest number of
votes, would be needed. In the second vote/ballot, whichever of these two
nominees received the larger number of votes would be elected to the
position of Deputy Mayor.5
E. The Deputy Mayor shall serve at the pleasure of the Council.
F. In the event of the absence or unavailability of the Deputy Mayor, the
longest serving member of the City Council, other than the Deputy Mayor,
shall serve as interim Deputy Mayor until the return of the regular Deputy
Mayor.
G. If the designated Deputy Mayor is unable to serve the full term of the
position of Deputy Mayor, the Council shall designate the next senior
member of the City Council as Deputy Mayor for the remainder of the term.
If the appointment is declined the process shall continue until a Deputy
Mayor is designated.
H. In the event that the councilmember selected as Deputy Mayor is unable to
perform the duties of the position of Deputy Mayor, or fails to act in
accordance with the City Council Rules of Procedure, the City Council may,
by a majority vote of the full City Council, remove the Deputy Mayor from
5 It may be that if there were a larger number of nominees in the initial election, there would not be (only) two
councilmembers who received the largest number of votes. For instance, if one nominee received three votes a second
nominee received two votes and a third nominee also received two votes, it might be appropriate to have an initial run
off between the second and the third nominees to determine who would be included in the final run-off against the
first nominee.
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this position, in which case, the next senior councilmember shall assume
the position of Deputy Mayor for the balance of the year. If the next senior
councilmember is unwilling or unable to assume the position of Deputy
Mayor, the position of Deputy Mayor shall be filled by a majority vote of the
full City Council.
[See RCW 35A.12.065.]
12.2 The Deputy Mayor, as the head of the legislative branch of the City, shall perform
the following duties:
A. Intra-Council Relations:
1. Serve as the Chair of the Council Study Sessions;
2. Serve as an ex-officio member of all other ad hoc committees of the City
Council, provided that attendance by a quorum of the City Council at ad hoc
committee meetings shall comply with the Open Public Meetings Act (RCW
42.30), unless expressly exempted.;
3. Assist in new councilmember training;
4. Support cooperative and interactive relationships among council
members;
5. Work with Administration to prepare agendas for Council Study
Sessions;
6. Preside over the Study Sessions of the City Council, and work with
the chairs of the Special Focus Areas on the portions of Study
Sessions over which the Special Focus Areas chairs preside
B. Mayor-Council Relations:
1. Help maintain a positive and cooperative relationship between the
Mayor and the City Council;
2. Act as conduit between the Mayor and the City Council on issues or
concerns relating to their duties;
3. Preside over Regular Meetings of the City Council in the absence or
unavailability of the Mayor;
4. In the event of the a prolonged absence or incapacitation (a state of
disability that prohibits the function of duties) of the Mayor, the
Deputy Mayor shall perform the duties of the Mayor.
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(a) A prolonged absence is defined as requiring a leave of
absence that prohibits the performance of the duties of the
office. Vacation leave for periods up to two weeks, illnesses
requiring an absence of less than two weeks, out of state or
out of country travel lasting not more than two weeks, or other
similar short-term absences shall not be considered
prolonged absences.
(b) In the event of a disaster, emergency, or other similar
circumstance, where the Mayor is out-of-town and unable to
carry out the duties of the office of Mayor, the Deputy Mayor,
in consultation with the Mayor, shall act as Mayor until the
return and availability of the Mayor;
5. The Deputy Mayor shall also stand in on behalf of the Mayor in other
situations as requested by the Mayor;
6. In the performance of the duties of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor shall
not have authority to appoint, remove, replace, discipline or take
other similar action on any director or employee of the City;
7. The Deputy Mayor shall not have veto authority for actions that may
be taken by the City Council;
8. The Deputy Mayor shall be aware of City, regional and
intergovernmental policies and activities in order to properly execute
the role of Mayor.
C. Intergovernmental and Community Relations:
1. Act in absence of Mayor as requested and/or as required;
2. Be aware of all City regional and intergovernmental policies and
activities in order to be prepared to step into the role of Mayor if
necessary;
3. Serve as the Chair of the City’s Emergency Management
Compensation Board.
D. Other Duties of the Deputy Mayor:
1. In cooperation with the Mayor and Special Focus Area group’s
chairpersons and with assistance from Administration, create and
establish agendas for all study sessions;
2. Preserve the decorum and order at all Council Study Sessions;
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3. Serve as liaison to the Junior City Council, participating as a non-
voting member of the Junior City Council, encouraging, guiding and
counseling the members of the Junior City Council in connection with
its duties and assignments;
4. Assist in training new councilmembers;
5. Serve as the liaison between the City Council and the Mayor and be
a conduit between the City Council and the Mayor on issues or
concerns of the Council;
6. Facilitate any issue related to the conduct and/or actions of
councilmembers that may be inappropriate or that may be in violation
of the Council Rules of Procedure (Section 20.1);
7. Conduct regular and periodic meetings with individual
councilmembers to address councilmember issues, concerns,
legislative processes, councilmember proposals, councilmember
training, and other similar related items.
8. Conduct group meetings with councilmembers, provided that such
meetings shall not have more than two councilmembers at such
meetings. All such meetings at which a quorum of the City Council is
in attendance shall be in compliance with the Open Public Meetings
Act (RCW 42.30), unless expressly exempted.
[See former ACC 2.06.090 (1957 code § 1.04.100).]
SECTION 13 - COUNCIL POSITION VACANCY OR ABSENCE
13.1 In the event that an unexpired Council position becomes vacant, the City Council
has ninety (90) days from the occurrence of the vacancy to appoint, by majority
vote of a quorum of the Council, a qualified person to fill the vacancy pursuant to
State law. The Council may make such appointment at its next regular meeting, or
at a special meeting called for that purpose. If the Council does not appoint a
person within the ninety (90) day period, the Mayor may make the appointment
from among the persons nominated by members of the Council.
13.2 In the event of extended excused absences or disability of a Councilmember, the
remaining members by majority vote may appoint a Councilmember Pro Tempore
to serve during the absence or disability.
SECTION 14 - COUNCIL MEETING STAFFING
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14.1 Department Directors or designees shall attend all meetings of the Council unless
excused.
14.2 The City Attorney shall attend all meetings of the Council unless excused, and
shall upon request, give an opinion, either written or oral, on legal questions. The
City Attorney shall act as the Council’s parliamentarian. An Assistant City Attorney
shall attend meetings when the City Attorney has been excused.
[See former ACC 2.06.060 (1957 code § 1.04.160).]
SECTION 15 - COUNCIL RELATIONS WITH STAFF
15.1 There will be mutual courtesy and respect from both City staff and
Councilmembers toward each other and of their respective roles and
responsibilities.
15.2 City staff will acknowledge the Council as policy makers, and the Councilmembers
will acknowledge City staff as administering the Council’s policies.
15.3 It is the intent of Council that all pertinent information asked for by individual
Council members shall be made available to the full Council.
15.4 Individual Councilmembers shall not attempt to coerce or influence City staff in the
selection of personnel, the awarding of contracts, the selection of consultants, the
processing of development applications or the granting of City licenses or permits.
Councilmembers may, at the request of the Mayor, participate in discussions and
decisions related to these matters.
15.5 Other than through legislative action taken by the Council as a whole, individual
Councilmembers shall not interfere with the operating rules and practices of any
City department.
15.6 No individual Councilmember shall direct the Mayor to initiate any action or prepare
any report that is significant in nature, or initiate any project or study without the
consent of a majority of the Council. This provision, however, does not prohibit
individual Councilmembers from discussing issues with the Mayor or making
individual requests or suggestions to the Mayor. The Mayor shall endeavor to
advise and update the Councilmember(s) on the status or follow-up of such issues.
15.7 All councilmember requests for information, other than requests for legal advice
from the City Attorney’s Office, shall be directed through the Mayor in order to
assign the task to the proper staff. The Deputy Mayor may work with the Mayor’s
designated staff to prepare Study Session agendas and facilitate Study Session
work.
15.8 Any written communication with staff shall also include the Mayor as a recipient.
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SECTION 16 - COUNCIL STUDY SESSIONS, COMMITTEES
AND CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARDS
16.1 In addition to the regularly scheduled City Council meetings (Regular Council
Meetings) scheduled on the first and third Mondays of the month, City Council shall
regularly schedule Council Study Sessions on the second, fourth and fifth Mondays
of the month for review of matters that would come back before the City Council at
Regular Council Meetings. Different than the format for Regular Council Meetings
(identified in Section 3 hereof), Study Sessions shall be less formal than Regular
Council Meetings and shall give the City Council the opportunity to discuss and
debate issues coming before it for action at Regular Council meetings. The format
for these meetings shall be as follows:
A. General Business Focus and Special Focus Areas
Study Sessions shall consist of two (2) Focus divisions per meeting; (1) a
General Business Focus and (2) a Special Focus Area. The General
Business Focus shall be scheduled first, and shall include agenda items
that relate to issues of general City concern, items that will be coming before
the City Council at upcoming meetings and presentations and reports to the
City Council. The Special Focus Area groups shall, on a rotating basis
described below, commence their portion of the Study Session following the
conclusion of the Study Session General Business Focus, The Special
Focus Area groups shall review matters of Council concern related to their
areas of oversight responsibility. The Special Focus Area groups shall
consist of the following: (1) Public Works & Community Development; (2)
Municipal Services; (3) Health & Human Services; and (4) Finance &
Economic Development. These Special Focus Area groups shall be tasked
with oversight of Council considerations as follows:
1. Public Works & Community Development;
• Utilities
• Zoning Codes & Permits
• Innovation & Technology
• Transportation
• Streets
• Engineering
• Capital Projects
• Sustainability
• Environmental Protection
• Cultural Arts and Public Arts
• Planning
2. Municipal Services
• Police
• SCORE Jail
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• District Court
• Parks & Recreation
• Animal Control
• Solid Waste
• Emergency Planning
• Airport
• Airport Businesses
• Sister Cities
• Multi Media
3. Health & Human Services
• Human Services Funding
• Public Wellness
• Domestic Violence Services
• Homelessness Services
• Affordable Housing
• Community Services
• Human Resources
• Medical Community Relations
4. Finance & Economic Development
• City Budget & Amendments
• Risk Management
• Equipment Rental
• Facilities
• City Real Property
• Legal
• Development Incentives
• Business Development
• Economic Development Strategies
Aside from the above Special Focus Area topics, there shall be a
Finance ad hoc Committee to review vouchers and payroll.
B. Scheduling of Special Focus Area.
1. The Special Focus Areas shall conduct their portion of the Study
Sessions on 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month on a rotating basis
such as follows: Public Works & Community Development, then
Municipal Services, then Health & Human Services, then Finance &
Economic Development, then Public Works & Community
Development, then Municipal Services, and so on.
2. On 5th Mondays of the Month, Study Sessions will not typically
include any of the above Special Focus Areas, but may include
special topics and issues of general concern to the City Council,
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including Council operating arrangements and Council Rules of
Procedure. It is provided, however, that in order for the City Council
to address the matters coming before the City Council, the Mayor
and Deputy Mayor may, as they deem appropriate, insert into any
Study Session any matters calling for City Council consideration and
discussion, regardless of Special Focus Areas.
3. Topics for Special Focus Area consideration (for inclusion in the
Special Focus Area portion of the Study Session agenda) shall be
determined by the Chair of each Special Focus Area along with the
Mayor and the Deputy Mayor, taking into account matters within the
topics of the Special Focus Area calling for action or consideration,
and suggestions by other Councilmembers of such topics.
C. Meeting Times:
:
Study Sessions shall be scheduled as set forth in Section 2.3, above.
D. Study Sessions should conform to the following:
1. Meeting facilitation - the Deputy Mayor shall preside over/conduct
General Business Focus portions of Study Sessions. The
Councilmember selected to chair the Special Focus Area for the
study sessions for which his or her Special Focus Area is scheduled
shall preside over/conduct the Special Focus Area of the Study
Session.
2. Four or more Councilmembers shall constitute a quorum for Study
Sessions.
3. Three to four hours maximum timeframe (goal).
4. Agenda items should relate to future policy-making, strategic
planning or key state or federal issues affecting current or future city
operations.
5. Agenda items should be substantive only (e.g., traffic impact fee
increase proposals, comprehensive plan updates, rather than day-
to-day operational issues. [Non-substantive items (e.g., accepting a
grant, authorizing contract bidding, etc.) should go directly to the
Regular City Council meeting.
E. Study Session Meeting Format6
6 It is the intention of the City Council that Study Sessions shall be televised on the City’s public access
channel if reasonably possible.
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1. Call to Order
The Deputy Mayor shall call the meeting to order.
2. Roll call
The City Clerk will call the roll. Councilmembers may request to be
excused from a meeting by requesting the same of the Mayor or City
Clerk in advance of the meeting. The reason for the request shall be
given at the time of the request.
3. Announcements, Reports and Presentations
The Deputy Mayor shall provide any announcements, reports or
presentations that need to be shared with the City Council in advance
of the agenda discussion items. After that these announcements,
reports or presentations, City Council members may have questions
or wish to discuss the issues at this time or request that they be put
on a future Study Session agenda for further discussion.
Study Sessions are an opportunity for the members of the City
Council to discuss among themselves issues coming before the City
Council. Study Sessions do not include a place on the agenda for
public audience participation. However at the request of the
presiding officer, individuals may be asked to give a report on topics
appearing on the Study Session agenda.
4. Agenda items for Council Discussion.
The Deputy Mayor shall announce each of the various items that are
on the agenda for Council discussion, and, as warranted, request a
preliminary report from staff or a consultant or other individual(s)
involved in the issue. The Deputy Mayor shall endeavor to call upon
the members of the City Council in the order of their requests to
discuss the Agenda Item.
After such report(s), if any, the Deputy Mayor shall open the floor for
Council discussion on the agenda items in their order on the agenda,
unless a different order is approved by a majority of the
Councilmembers present.
Council discussion shall be in conformity with the provisions of
Section 7 of these rules, other than the requirement that there be a
motion before Council discussion.
At the conclusion of the discussion, or at the point the Council feels
its questions have been answered and discussion vetted, the Deputy
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Mayor shall move the attention of the Council to the next discussion
item on the agenda; provided that if, after a lengthy discussion on a
particular agenda item, the presiding officer concludes that
discussion should be continued to a later date, the Deputy Mayor
may conclude discussion on that agenda item and schedule the
matter for a later Study Session.
With the support of a consensus of Councilmembers, the Deputy
Mayor shall call for Study Session agenda items requiring formal
Council action to be included in agendas for upcoming Regular
Council Meetings.
5. Ordinances
Prior to an ordinance being included for adoption on the agenda of a
Regular or Special Meeting of the City Council, the ordinance shall
be included on the agenda of a Study Session for Council review and
discussion.
a. The Study Session ordinance review requirement shall be met
even if the version to be considered at an upcoming City
Council Meeting is amended from the version included on the
Study session agenda following review and discussion at the
Study Session.
b. If, after City Council review and discussion of an ordinance at
a Study Session, the City Council is not ready to vote on a
proposed ordinance, the ordinance may be included on
another Study session agenda for further review and
discussion. If there is not agreement among members of the
City Council as to whether the ordinance should next come
before the City Council at a regular or Special Meeting of the
City Council for consideration of adoption or whether it should
return for further review and discussion at a Study Session,
the matter shall be presented for a vote at the Study Session,
and decided by majority vote of the members of the City
Council at the Study Session.
6. Other Discussion Items
The presiding officer and/or members of the City Council may bring
up other discussion items to be discussed at this time or to be
scheduled for discussion at a future Study Session; provided that if
the presiding officer concludes that there is not sufficient time to
discuss or continue discussing the topic, the presiding officer may
defer discussion or continued discussion to a future Study Session.
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7. New Business
Agenda topics for future Study Sessions may be proposed by any
Councilmember during New Business. If there is a consensus among
the Councilmembers, the Deputy Mayor and the Mayor will meet to
place the topic on the Matrix for a future Study Session Agenda. At
Council discretion, production and delivery of a “white paper” in lieu
of a future agenda item may be considered.
8. Special Focus Area
a. The Chair of the Special Focus Area scheduled for the Study
Session, on a rotating basis as described above, shall preside
over this portion of the study session.
b. The Chair of the Special Focus Area shall call the various
items included in the agenda for this portion of the Study
Session
c. The Chair of the Special Focus Area shall also review the
Matrix with respect to items related to the Special Focus Area.
9. Matrix Review/Update (the Deputy Mayor shall preside over this
portion of the Study Session)
a. Following the conclusion of City Council consideration of the
topics of the Special Focus Area, the City Council shall review
the Matric of upcoming topics.
b. The Matrix shall consist of topics from all areas of city
concern, general concern as well as topics of each of the
Special Focus Areas
10. Adjournment
The Deputy mayor shall adjourn the Study Session after conclusion
of discussion on the above agenda items.
16.2 The Mayor, the Deputy Mayor or a majority of the City Council may establish such
ad hoc committees as may be appropriate to consider special matters that require
special approach or emphasis. Such ad hoc committees may be established and
matters referred to them at study sessions, without the requirement that such
establishment or referral take place at a regular City Council meeting. The Mayor
shall appoint Council representatives to intergovernmental councils, boards and
committees, and the Deputy Mayor shall appoint Councilmembers to Council ad
hoc committees, provided that the Mayor shall appoint members to Council ad hoc
committees if the Deputy Mayor is disabled or precluded from acting in that
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Page 29
capacity. Councilmember appointments to intergovernmental councils, boards and
committees, including ad hoc committees, shall be periodically reviewed to
determine which councilmembers could best be able to represent the City on such
councils, boards and committees.
16.3 Ad hoc council committees shall consider all matters referred to them. The chair
of such ad hoc committee shall report to the City Council the findings of the
committee. Committees may refer items to the Council with a committee
recommendation or with no committee recommendation.
16.4 Advisory Boards, Committees and Commissions established by ordinance,
consisting of citizens appointed pursuant to the establishing Ordinance and serving
in the capacity and for the purposes indicated in the Ordinance, shall act as an
advisory committee to the City Council.
16.5 Committee Chairpersons shall have broad discretion in conducting their meetings.
They will generally follow Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
16.6 Unless otherwise expressly provided for an ad hoc committee of the City Council,
such committees shall not receive public testimony or allow audience participation
in connection with or related to the agenda item being discussed by the
Committee,. Unless otherwise expressly provided for such ad hoc committee, it is
the intention of the City Council that such ad hoc committees function informally
and not in any way that takes action in lieu of or on behalf of the full City Council.
The purpose and function of such ad hoc committees shall be to review matters in
advance of their consideration by the full City Council, and perhaps record and
make recommendations to the full City Council. With that, it is the intention that
these committees operate informally, without the need for compliance with the
Open Public Meetings Act (Chapter 42.30. RCW).
16.7 Committee Chairpersons shall approve all agenda items and may, at their
discretion, remove or add agenda items during the course of the meeting.
SECTION 17 - COUNCIL REPRESENTATION & INTERNAL COMMUNICATION
17.1 If a Councilmember meets with, attends a meeting or otherwise appears before
individuals, another governmental agency, a community organization, or a private
entity or organization, including individuals, agencies, or organizations with whom
or with which the City has a business relationship, and makes statements directly
or through the media, commenting on an issue that does or could affect the City,
the Councilmember shall state the majority position of the City Council, if known,
on such issue. Personal opinions and comments which differ from those of the
Council majority may be expressed if the Councilmember clarifies that these
statements do not represent the City Council’s position, and the statements are
those of the Councilmember as an individual. Additionally, before a
Councilmember discusses anything that does or could relate to City liability, the
Councilmember should talk to the City Attorney or the City’s Risk Manager, so that
the Councilmember would have a better understanding of what may be said or
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how the discussion should go to control or minimize the City’s liability risk and
exposure.
17.2 Councilmembers need to have other Councilmember’s concurrence before
representing another Councilmember’s view or position with the media, another
government agency or community organization.
17.3 Councilmembers shall not knowingly communicate with an opposing party or with
an opposing attorney in connection with any pending or threatened litigation in
which the City is a party or in connection with any disputed claim involving the City
without the prior approval of the City Attorney, unless the Councilmember is
individually a party to the litigation or is involved in the disputed claim separate
from the Councilmember’s role as a City official.
17.4 Communication among Councilmembers shall conform to the following
parameters:
A. Except in connection with Council members meeting, informally, in
committees not subject to the Open Public Meetings Act, to assure that
communication on agenda items occurs to the greatest extent possible at
the public meetings, and to avoid even the perception that email is being
used in a way that could constitute a public meeting, e.g., successive
communications on City Council topics that involve a quorum of the
Councilmembers. Councilmembers should refrain from emailing
Councilmembers about such agenda items. Councilmembers should be
prepared to communicate about matters that are on upcoming Council
agendas at the public meetings. If Councilmembers wish to share
information with other councilmembers about matters that are on upcoming
agendas, the councilmembers should forward that information to the Mayor
for distribution in the council meeting packets.
B. Councilmembers may communicate via email to other Councilmembers,
including to a quorum of the full City Council about matters within the scope
of the City Council’s authority or related to City business, but not yet
scheduled on upcoming Council agendas, to indicate a desire that certain
items be included on upcoming meeting agendas; provided that
Councilmembers shall never ask for responses from the other
Councilmembers in that communication.
C. Email communication among Councilmembers relating to City operations
should also include the Mayor as a recipient/addressee.
D. Councilmembers may email the Mayor about City business without
limitations or restrictions.
17.5 Internet & Electronic Resources/Equipment and Facility Use.
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A. Policy. It is the policy of the City Council that Internet and electronic
resources equipment use shall conform to and be consistent with the
requirements of City of Auburn Administrative Policy and Procedure 500-
03, “Internet & Electronic Resources/Equipment Use – Elected Officials”
adopted hereby and incorporated herein by this reference.
It is important to note that all letters, memoranda, and interactive computer
communication involving City Councilmembers and members of advisory
boards and commissions, the subject of which relates to the conduct of
government or the performance of any governmental function, with
exceptions stated by the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56), are public
records.
B. Electronic Communications.
1. Informal messages with no retention value and that do not relate to
the functional responsibility of the recipient or sender as a public
official, such as meeting notices, reminders, telephone messages
and informal notes, do not constitute a public record. Users should
delete these messages once their administrative purpose is served.
2. All other messages that relate to the functional responsibility of the
recipient or sender as a public official constitute a public record. Such
records are subject to public inspection and copying.
3. Electronic communications that are intended to be shared among a
quorum of the City Council or of an ad hoc Council Committee,
whether concurrently or serially, must be considered in light of the
Open Public Meetings Act, if applicable. If the intended purpose of
the electronic communication is to have a discussion that should be
held at an open meeting, the electronic discussion shall not occur.
Further, the use of electronic communication to form a collective
decision of the Council shall not occur.
4. Electronic communication should be used cautiously when seeking
legal advice or to discuss matters of pending litigation or other
confidential City business. In general, electronic communication is
discoverable in litigation, and even deleted electronic communication
is not necessarily removed from the system. Confidential electronic
communications should not be shared with individuals other than the
intended recipients, or the attorney-client privilege protecting the
document from disclosure may be waived.
5. Electronic communication between Councilmembers and between
Councilmembers and staff shall not be transmitted to the public or
news media without the filing of a public disclosure request with the
City Clerk.
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Page 32
6. As a cautionary note, if an elected public official uses his or her
personal home computer to send electronic communications dealing
with City business, the electronic communications and electronic
records may be subject to discovery demands and public disclosure
requests. That possibility amplifies the need for caution in how one
uses electronic communication for City business.
C. Use of City Equipment and Facilities.
1. City Councilmembers are provided various tools to assist them in
handling the business of the City in the role as members of the City
Council. These tools include, but are not limited to: (1) an individual
office assigned to each Councilmember in which there is (a) office
furniture; (b) a computer accommodating access to the City’s
computer network and (c) a telephone tied to the City’s telephone
system; (2) and I-Pad or comparable equipment also tied to the City’s
computer system that can be used remotely (not just in the
Councilmember’s office); (3) , an I-Phone or comparable equipment
accommodating mobile communication needs for (a) telephone calls,
(b) emails, and (c) texting; (4) a City badge accommodating physical
access to City Hall facilities and Council Offices; and (5) Council
mailboxes.
2. In order to assure transmittal of information necessary to conduct
business of the City and to avoid Public Records Act liability for the
City and Councilmembers for improper or private equipment use,
Councilmembers shall use the tools identified above to assist them
in being able to receive and work with information related to duties
as councilmembers.
17.6 Council Relations with City Boards and Commissions.
A Council Liaisons.
Different than where a City Councilmember is appointed by the City Council
or the Mayor to serve as a member of a board, commission, committee, task
force or any other advisory body, the City Council may, on limited occasions
or under unusual circumstances, appoint a Councilmember to serve as a
non-member Liaison to a board, commission, committee, task force or any
other advisory body. Anytime a Councilmember is appointed as such a
Liaison, the position or role of Liaison is subordinate to that of
Councilmember, and the Councilmember’s responsibility is first and
foremost to the City and to the City Council. The role and responsibility of
the Councilmember-Liaison is to keep the City Council apprised of the
activities, positions and actions of the entity or organization to which the
Councilmember has been appointed Liaison, and not to communicate to the
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Page 33
board, commission, committee, task force or other advisory body a
statement as the position of the City Council, except as authorized or
directed by the City Council. Insofar as a Council Liaison position does not
give all councilmembers equal access to the activities, functions and
information of or about a board, commission, committee, task force or any
other advisory body, appointments to Council Liaison positions should be
reserved to those instances where a Report to the Council by the board,
commission, committee, task force or any other advisory body would not be
convenient or practical.
B. Reports to the Council.
Each board, commission, committee, task force or any other advisory body
of the City shall be requested to present a report to the City Council at a
Regular Meeting or a Study Session of the City Council, as scheduled by
the Mayor or Deputy Mayor. Such reports shall be scheduled for a Regular
Council Meeting or a Council Study Session, and shall be delivered by the
chair of the board, commission, committee, task force or any other advisory
body or designee. The reports shall inform the City Council of the activities,
functions and information with which the board, commission, committee,
task force or any other advisory body has been involved since the previous
report, and shall include the opportunity for questions by Councilmembers.
17.7 Whenever a member of the City Council attends any meeting of any other entity or
organization, he or she should endeavor to be prudent in what he or she says or
does at such meeting. Further, the Councilmember should avoid attending such
meeting if that attendance would impose an interference with the meeting or the
operations of the other entity or organization, or of the operations of the City.
SECTION 18 - TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION
18.1
A. Value of Council Travel.
The Auburn City Council recognizes the need of its members to attend conferences,
trainings, and meetings to broaden their knowledge of and familiarity with a diverse
collection of City-related issues, including, but not limited to Public Works,
Communications, Transportation, Economic Development, Public Safety and Energy.
These conferences also provide valuable opportunities to network with other city elected
officials. Comparing Auburn's specific issues with those of other cities often provides the
City Council with established policies already in place in other cities that can be adapted
to meet the specific needs of the City of Auburn, as well as expediently and efficiently
acquainting Auburn City Councilmembers with ideas of how to address Auburn issues and
solve Auburn problems.
B. Annual Budget Amounts for Council Travel
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To accommodate Council travel, the Auburn City Council shall allocate an identified
amount of money each year in the Cty budget process, whereby each Councilmember
shall have an identified amount of money earmarked for his/her City related travel costs,
including transportation, lodging, meals and registration costs.
C. Adjustment of Council Travel Allocations.
In the event that a councilmember needs more than the amount of travel related funds
allocated for his or her use, the councilmember shall (1) see if there are unused funds
available from any other councilmember(s) who are willing to transfer funds from their
account to the councilmember needing additional travel funds, whereby, with the consent
of the Deputy Mayor and the other transferring councilmember(s), funds will be transferred
to the requesting councilmember’s allotment; or (2) shall request a net adjustments to the
budget adding additional funds to his or her allotment, which adjustment shall be approved
by a majority of the whole City Council.
D. Receipts and Travel Documentation
Each City Councilmember shall be responsible for providing to the Mayor or
Finance Director, within ten (10) business days of returning from City travel, any
and all City travel related receipts and documentation. Quarterly reports of the
travel costs incurred by each councilmember shall be provided by the Finance
Department.
SECTION 19 - CONFIDENTIALITY
19.1 Councilmembers shall keep confidential all written materials and verbal
information provided to them during Executive or Closed Sessions and as provided
in RCW 42.23.070, to ensure that the City’s position is not compromised.
Confidentiality also includes information provided to Councilmembers outside of
Executive Sessions when the information is considered by the exempt from
disclosure under exemptions set forth in the Revised Code of Washington.
SECTION 20 – ENFORCEMENT OF RULES OF PROCEDURE
20.1 Councilmembers shall conform their conduct to the requirements, standards and
expectations set forth in these Rules of Procedure. In addition to and
notwithstanding whatever other enforcement mechanisms may exist for legal,
ethical or practical obligations on Councilmember performance or conduct,
violations of these Rules of Procedure by Councilmembers may be enforced by
action of the City Council through sanctions such as votes of censure or letters of
reprimand, and such other action as may be permitted by law.
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Page 35
City Council Rules of Procedure:
Adopted: February 2, 2004
Ordinance No. 5802
Amended by Resolution No. 4282, December 17, 2007
Amended by Resolution No. 4429, December 15, 2008
Amended by Resolution No. 4467, April 6, 2009
Amended by Resolution No. 4615, July 6, 2010
Amended by Resolution No. 4686, February 22, 2011
Amended by Resolution No. 4740, August 15, 2011
Amended by Resolution No. 4813, May 21, 2012
Amended by Resolution No 4909, February 19, 2013
Amended by Resolution No. 5105, November 3, 2014
Amended by Resolution No. 5112, December 1, 2014
Amended by Resolution No. 5115, December 15, 2014
Amended by Resolution No. 5217, May 2, 2016
Amended by Resolution No. 5240, July 5, 2016
Amended by Resolution No. 5283, February 21, 2017
Amended by Resolution No. 5308, August 7, 2017
Amended by Resolution No. 5367, May 7, 2018
Page 43 of 66
AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
Agenda Subject:
Discussion on I-976 (Hinman) (15 Minutes)
Date:
September 26, 2019
Department:
Administration
Attachments:
I-976 Backgroung
Budget Impact:
Current Budget: $0
Proposed Revision: $0
Revised Budget: $0
Administrativ e Recommendation:
Discuss I-976
Background Summary:
A discussion regarding a potential resolution from the Auburn City Council to oppose Initiative
I-976 on the upcoming November ballot. Initiative 976 seeks to change vehicle taxes and
fees by lowering motor vehicle and light duty truck weight fees to $30; eliminating the 0.3
percent sales tax on vehicle purchases; lowering electric vehicle and snowmobile fees;
modifying and reducing Sound Transit motor vehicle excise tax provisions; and removing
authority for transportation benefit districts to impose a vehicle fee.
Rev iewed by Council Committees:
Councilmember:Staff:Hinman
Meeting Date:September 30, 2019 Item Number:
Page 44 of 66
Initiative 976 (I-976) is an initiative to the Legislature that
was filed for consideration in the 2019 legislative session.
The Legislature did not act on the initiative; therefore, I-976
will be presented to voters during the next general election
in November 2019. I-976 is often described as the “$30 car
tab initiative,” but it also proposes significant changes to
many other aspects of the state’s transportation system,
including repeal of the authority for city Transportation
Benefit Districts (TBDs) to impose fees.
09/19/19
Contact:
Association of Washington Cities • 1076 Franklin St SE, Olympia, WA 98501 • 1.800.562.8981 • wacities.org
What is
Initiative 976?
Logan Bahr
Government Relations Advocate
candiceb@awcnet.org
Shannon McClelland
Legislative & Policy Analyst
shannonm@awcnet.org
Initiative 976 headed to voters
Potential impacts to state and local transportation funding
What does the initiative propose?
I-976 is an expansive proposal that would
significantly change how the state’s
transportation system generates revenue.
If passed, the initiative would do the
following:
• Limit motor vehicle license fees (car tab
fees) to $30 per year;
• Repeal or reduce certain motor vehicle
weight fees;
• Repeal the authority for TBDs to impose
vehicle fees;
• Reduce electric vehicle fees to $30 per
year;
• Repeal the 0.3% tax on motor vehicle retail
sales;
• Require local motor vehicle excise taxes
(MVETs) to be calculated using the Kelley
Blue Book base value of the vehicle;
• Conditionally repeal the Sound Transit
0.8% MVET; and
• Require the retirement or refinancing of
Sound Transit-related bonds.
How would city TBDs and local projects be impacted?
If passed, the immediate impact to cities would be a repeal
of the authority for city transportation benefit districts
(TBDs) to impose a car tab fee. Under current law, cities
have the authority to establish TBDs for the purposes
of acquiring, constructing, providing, and funding
transportation improvements. To date, more than 100 cities
have formed TBDs to fund local transportation projects,
with 62 TBDs receiving revenue from vehicle license fees.
Fifty-five of the 62 TBDs use vehicle license fees as their
sole funding source. In fiscal year 2018, vehicle license fees
raised $58.2 million in revenue to fund local projects.
To understand how
I-976 would impact
your city and
others across the
state, check AWC’s
webpage on I-976
which includes
a webinar, fiscal
analysis, and other
resources.
Page 45 of 66
Additional information
09/19/19
Contact:
Association of Washington Cities • 1076 Franklin St SE, Olympia, WA 98501 • 1.800.562.8981 • wacities.org
How would state transportation funding be impacted?
If the initiative passes, it would cut revenues to
Sound Transit and state accounts used to fund the
state transportation budget.
These state accounts provide funding for the
Washington State Department of Transportation;
state and local highway construction, maintenance,
ferries, and support services; multimodal grant
programs for public transit, rail improvements,
and bicycle/pedestrian projects; activities of the
Washington State Patrol; and more.
Over a six year period (2020-2025), the state
estimates $1.92 billion in lost revenue, Sound Transit
estimates $1.97 billion in lost revenue, and cities
would directly lose $350 million in lost TBD license
fee revenue.
What can I do as a city elected official to respond to I-976?
Elected officials have many options for officially
engaging with initiatives but should be aware of
some prohibited actions. AWC has compiled an
extensive list of allowed and prohibited actions for
city elected officials. For further reference, please
review the PDC Guidelines for Local Government
Agencies in Election Campaigns which can be found
at AWC’s I-976 webpage.
What is AWC’s role on initiatives during election season?
AWC does not take positions for or against ballot
initiatives. AWC’s role is to provide our members
with educational materials that can be shared with
elected officials, staff, and local communities.
Logan Bahr
Government Relations Advocate
candiceb@awcnet.org
Shannon McClelland
Legislative & Policy Analyst
shannonm@awcnet.org
Page 46 of 66
Municipality FY 2019 Estimated
Anacortes TBD 339,686
Bainbridge Island TBD 427,264
Battle Ground TBD 279,536
Bremerton TBD 549,381
Bridgeport TBD 50,173
Buckley TBD 96,782
Burien TBD 755,162
Carbonado TBD 14,810
City of Black Diamond 98,050
Covington TBD 342,279
Des Moines TBD 908,052
DuPont TBD 93,862
East Wenatchee TBD 246,989
Eatonville TBD 60,727
Edgewood TBD 199,950
Edmonds TBD 693,852
Electric City TBD 16,474
Elmer City TBD 5,584
Enumclaw TBD 235,089
Everett TBD 1,483,746
Fife TBD 158,717
George TBD (eff MAY 2018)12,434
Grandview TBD 174,557
Granite Falls TBD 74,884
Kalama TBD 68,112
Kelso TBD 184,774
Kenmore TBD 356,219
Kittitas TBD 20,988
Lake Forest Park TBD 434,201
Lakewood TBD 795,356
Longview 586,080
Lynnwood TBD 1,141,071
Transportation Benefit Districts
(Estimated Based on First 6 Months of FY 2019)
Vehicle License Fees
2 Page 47 of 66
Municipality FY 2019 Estimated
Transportation Benefit Districts
(Estimated Based on First 6 Months of FY 2019)
Vehicle License Fees
Mabton TBD 33,066
Maple Valley TBD 393,584
Mercer Island TBD 386,539
Mountlake Terrace TBD 322,700
Normandy Park TBD 113,454
Olympia TBD 1,682,756
Orting TBD 128,763
Port Orchard TBD 222,922
Prosser TBD 93,179
Richland (CITY OF EFF AUG 2017)949,780
Ridgefield TBD (eff 7-1-19)-
Roy TBD 14,098
Royal City TBD 25,740
Seattle TBD 32,322,535
Sedro-Woolley TBD 191,941
Shoreline TBD 823,179
Snoqualmie TBD 201,488
Soap Lake TBD 25,463
Spokane TBD 2,987,290
Tacoma TBD 2,862,678
Toppenish TBD (CITY OF EFF 1-1-18)144,698
University Place TBD 471,425
Vancouver TBD 4,791,403
Wapato TBD 76,824
Washougal TBD (eff 6-1-19)-
Wenatchee TBD 633,996
Wilkeson TBD 11,880
Yakima TBD (eff MAY 2018)1,424,145
Zillah TBD 50,648
Totals 62,291,011
3 Page 48 of 66
Metropolitan King County Council
Regional Transit Committee
STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item:6 Name:Paul Carlson
Proposed No.:2019-B0142 Date:September 18, 2019
SUBJECT
Initiative 976, a statewide measure that will be on the ballot in the November 5, 2019
general election.
SUMMARY
Initiative 976 (I-976) is a state initiative that was filed for the Legislature to consider
during its 2019 session. The Legislature did not act on it; accordingly, the initiative is on
the November 5, 2019 general election ballot.
The Attorney General’s approved ballot title and ballot measure summary are as
follows:
Ballot Title
Initiative Measure No. 976 concerns motor vehicle taxes and fees.
This measure would repeal, reduce, or remove authority to impose certain
vehicle taxes and fees; limit annual motor-vehicle-license fees to $30, except
voter-approved charges; and base vehicle taxes on Kelley Blue Book value.
Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]
Ballot Measure Summary
This measure would repeal or remove authority to impose certain vehicle taxes
and fees; limit state and local license fees to $30 for motor vehicles weighing
10,000 pounds or less, except charges approved by voters after the measure’s
effective date; base vehicle taxes on Kelley Blue Book value; require regional
transit authorities to retire bonds early where allowed; and either reduce or repeal
taxes pledged to bonds depending on whether bonds are retired by 2020.
This briefing will provide an overview of I-976 and its potential impacts on King County
and its cities. Attachments to this staff report are: (1) the text of Initiative 976, and (2)
a memorandum to King County Executive Dow Constantine from Metro Transit General
Manager Rob Gannon and Department of Local Services Director John Taylor. The
memorandum includes a fiscal analysis prepared by the Washington State Office of
Financial Management.
RTC Meeting Materials Page 7 September 18, 2019Page 49 of 66
Page 1 August 23, 2019
MEMORANDUM
To: Executive Dow Constantine
From: Rob Gannon, King County Metro
John Taylor, Department of Local Services
Date: August 23, 2019
Subject: Analysis of Initiative 976 impacts in King County
Introduction. Initiative 976, “Bring back our $30 car tab fees,” would repeal or remove
authority to impose certain vehicle taxes and fees; limit state and local license fees to $30 for
motor vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less, except charges approved by voters after the
measure's effective date; base vehicle taxes on Kelley Blue Book value; require regional transit
authorities to retire bonds early where allowed; and either reduce or repeal taxes pledged to
bonds depending on whether bonds are retired by 2020. I-976 will be on the November 2019
ballot statewide.
This memo provides a summary of the potential impacts of I-976 to King County Metro, the
Roads Services Division, and the regional transportation system. It is based on analysis
performed by the Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM), King County, and
local jurisdictions. More information on this analysis can be found in the Technical Appendix
that begins on page 4.
Impacts on King County and local communities. King County does not currently collect a
vehicle license fee (VLF) or motor vehicle excise tax (MVET), the taxing sources that would be
repealed by Initiative 976. However, the State of Washington, Sound Transit, and 13 King
County cities use these tax sources to fund mobility projects in King County, including many
operated by Metro or Roads Services.
It is difficult to definitively determine the effects of the initiative because its implementation will
rely on future decisions of the Legislature, city councils, and Sound Transit Board, and
resolution of any potential legal challenges. That being said, absent replacement funds, the
passage of I-976 could potentially result in significant cuts to King County and local
jurisdictions, including:
•Approximately $134 million in cuts to Metro services between 2020 and 2025 due to
reductions in the State’s Multimodal Account. These estimates are based on analysis
by the Washington State OFM, which estimates a $1.5 billion cut to the Multimodal
Account over the next six years. Reductions to programs funded by this account would be
determined by the Legislature, but if the Legislature were to make an across-the-board
reduction, the cuts could include:
o $22.8 million in cuts to Regional Mobility Grant Program awards for nine Metro
projects, including RapidRide expansion, bus layover facilities, access to transit,
ATTACHMENT 2
RTC Meeting Materials Page 27 September 18, 2019Page 50 of 66
Potential Impacts of I-976 on
King County’s Regional Transportation System
Page 2 August 23, 2019
transit integration, transportation demand management, speed and reliability
projects, and 10,000 annual service hours on the Route 101 in Renton;
o $29.2 million in cuts to grants awarded to the cities of Burien, Kent, Tukwila, and
Seattle for RapidRide investments, access to transit, and speed and reliability
improvements;
o $12.2 million in cuts to the Access paratransit program;
o $30 million in cuts to replace Metro vanpool vans;
o $2 million in cuts to Metro/Sound Transit coordination programs, including one
for affordability and accessibility improvements for low-income passengers;
o $485,000 in cuts to the ORCA Summer Program, which provides bus passes to
income-qualified high school students in Lake Washington and Highline districts;
o $1 million in cuts to a program to provide incentives to non-profits and small
businesses in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties to provide ORCA passes to
their employees;
o $350,000 for the transit-oriented development pilot project at the Kirkland
Kingsgate Park and Ride; and
o $36 million to support electrification of the bus fleet.
• $4 million in cuts to Roads Services between 2020 and 2025 due to the potential
reduction in the State’s Multimodal Account and County Road Arterial Board.
• Loss of the VLF as a revenue source for the existing King County Transportation
Benefit District (TBD) or a potential, new unincorporated King County TBD.
• Loss of 175,000 Metro bus service hours on 74 routes in Seattle, Burien, Shoreline,
Skyway, Tukwila, and White Center during 2020, as a result of the cuts to the
Seattle TBD funding. The Seattle TBD is expected to lose $36 million a year if I-976
passes.
• $30.4 million in cuts to 12 suburban cities between 2020 and 2025 due to loss of the
VLF as a funding source for their local TBDs. Cities use these TBD funds for a variety
of transportation-related purposes, including improvements to the right-of-way that
enhance speed and reliability for transit or increase access to transit. These cuts are
estimated at:
o Snoqualmie: $200,000 loss per year
o Kenmore: $350,000 loss per year
o Mercer Island: $376,000 loss per year
o Lake Forest Park: $430,000 loss per year
o Shoreline: $834,000 loss per year
o Des Moines: $919,000 loss per year
o Burien: $767,000 loss per year
o Maple Valley: $396,000 loss per year
o Enumclaw: $245,000 loss per year
o Normandy Park: $116,000 loss per year
o Black Diamond: $105,000 loss per year
o Covington: $334,000 loss per year
RTC Meeting Materials Page 28 September 18, 2019Page 51 of 66
Potential Impacts of I-976 on
King County’s Regional Transportation System
Page 3 August 23, 2019
• $1-$10 million per year in cuts to Metro services due to cuts in formula grant
funding provided by the Federal Transit Administration due to reductions in the
services Metro provides as a result of I-976-related cuts.
• Cuts of $328 million per year to Sound Transit, based on OFM analysis. Reporting in
the Seattle Times indicates that Sound Transit estimates that it could face a $20 billion
impact through 2041, from the combination of collecting $6.95 billion less in car tab
revenues, as well as the cost of $13 billion more in higher interest costs in the future.
Questions about these potential impacts can be directed to Peter Heffernan (Metro Transit) or
Bill Greene (Department of Local Services). More detailed information can be found in the
Technical Appendix on the following pages.
RTC Meeting Materials Page 29 September 18, 2019Page 52 of 66
Page 4 August 23, 2019
Technical Appendix
Initiative 976 Summary
Initiative 976, “Bring back our $30 car tab fees,” would repeal or remove authority to impose
certain vehicle taxes and fees; limit state and local license fees to $30 for motor vehicles
weighing 10,000 pounds or less, except charges approved by voters after the measure's effective
date; base vehicle taxes on Kelley Blue Book value; require regional transit authorities to retire
bonds early where allowed; and either reduce or repeal taxes pledged to bonds depending on
whether bonds are retired by 2020.
This measure will be on the November 2019 ballot statewide.
Potential Impacts to State Funding in King County
If I-976 is approved by voters, the Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM)
estimates that the State would realize a loss of approximately $1.9 billion in revenues over the
next six years (2020-2025). Funding reductions would continue indefinitely, but OFM has only
projected the impacts through 2025.
Primary Reductions to State Revenue (2020-2025):
• Multimodal Account - $1.5 billion
• Motor Vehicle Account - $265 million
• Washington State Patrol Account - $89 million
• Transportation Partnership Account - $45 million
• Nickel Account - $20 million
The State Legislature will need to determine which programs and projects to fund with the
remaining revenue sources. Thus, it is impossible at this time to determine the specific state-
funded projects or programs that would be cut as a result of I-976.
Based on the Legislature’s decisions there could be a loss of funding from the programs listed
below. Unless otherwise identified, amounts are six-year projections based on the adopted 2019-
2021 Transportation budget and supporting six-year project lists.
Multimodal Account. I-976 will reduce the revenue deposited in the State’s Multimodal
Account by 68%, representing approximately $1.5 billion cut over the next six years. The
Multimodal Account currently funds multiple State programs, grant programs and local agency
projects, including the Regional Mobility Grant Program, Rural Mobility Grant Program,
Highway Safety, Puget Sound Ferry Operating and Capital programs, Washington State Patrol,
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Potential Impacts of I-976 on
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Rail Capital and Operating, Transportation Improvement Board, Bicycle/Pedestrian, Safe Routes
to School, and direct allocations to cities and counties. The Multimodal Account funds many
transportation investments and programs and is not restricted by the 18th Amendment. It is the
largest source of State funding for public transportation. As a result, it is likely that public transit
would be significantly affected, given the magnitude of reductions in this account.
Metro receives funding for capital projects from multiple grant programs that are funded from
the State’s Multimodal Account, including the Regional Mobility, Special Needs, Transit
Coordination, and Vanpool programs. In addition, Metro has multiple projects funded directly
from the Multimodal Account in the state transportation budget. Metro funded projects that could
be at risk due to their reliance on Multimodal funds are listed below.
1. Regional Mobility Grant Program – $52 million
• Metro currently has nine projects awarded totaling $22.8 million. Cities in King County
have five projects that benefit Metro that have been given an additional $29.2 million.
These funds are awarded to projects that support the RapidRide expansion program,
service, bus layover facilities, access to transit, transit integration, transportation demand
management and speed and reliability projects.
• Metro and partner cities throughout King County have been planning to seek funding
from the Regional Mobility grant program to help implement METRO CONNECTS
elements such as RapidRide expansion, base expansion, and other capital improvements.
• Most of the Regional Mobility Grant programs are for capital improvements, except in
Renton where nearly 10,000 hours of service on the Route 101 could be affected if these
grants are reduced.
• Metro or its city partners would likely qualify for additional grant funding in 2023-2025,
but these funds have not yet been allocated and so cannot be tallied here.
Regional Mobility Grant Program 2019-21 2021-23 2023-25 Total
Metro Lead Projects $19,917 $2,889 $0 $22,806
King County Metro Northgate Transit Center
TOD - Access and Facility Imp - 20170003 4,512 0 0 4,512
King County Metro Route 101 Service Increase:
Renton to/from Seattle - 20170004 1,460 0 0 1,460
King County Metro Eastlake Off-Street Layover
Facility - 20170005 6,337 0 0 6,337
King County Metro Renton to Auburn Transit
Speed, Reliability & Service - 20170008 3,496 1,269 0 4,765
King County Metro/Sound Transit Link Station
Integration - 20170013 1,456 0 0 1,456
RTC Meeting Materials Page 31 September 18, 2019Page 54 of 66
Potential Impacts of I-976 on
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Regional Mobility Grant Program 2019-21 2021-23 2023-25 Total
King County Metro Totem Lake/Kirkland to
Bellevue/Eastgate Transit Imp - 20170020 500 1,620 0 2,120
King County Metro Transit Speed & Reliability
Hot Spot Imp Program - 20170024 1,400 0 0 1,400
King County Metro - Park and Ride Efficiency
and Access Project - 20150009 100 0 0 100
King County Metro - Route 245 Corridor Speed
and Reliability Improvement - 20150008 656 0 0 656
Dollar amounts shown in thousands
Regional Mobility Grant Program 2019-21 2021-23 2023-25 Total
City Lead Projects $20,396 $8,764 $0 $29,160
City of Kent: Rapid Ride Facility Passenger
Amenities & Access Improv. - 20190004 1,236 6,764 0 8,000
City of Tukwila: South King County Regional
TDM for Centers & Corridors - 20190005 160 0 0 160
Seattle DOT: Market/45th RapidRide - 20190009 4,000 2,000 0 6,000
City of Burien: Ambaum Blvd and H Line
Transit Pathway Improvements - 20190011 10,000 0 0 10,000
Seattle, City of - Delridge to Burien RapidRide
Line - 20170025 5,000 0 0 5,000
Dollar amounts shown in thousands
2. Special Needs Transportation Funding - $14.5 million (2019-2021)
• Metro receives funding from the State to help cover the cost of providing transportation
for customers with special needs. This helps to fund our Access paratransit program.
• Absent additional revenue, loss of this funding would affect Metro’s ability to maintain or
improve the quality of this service.
• In addition, multiple non-profit providers of transportation for special needs customers
could be affected by reductions to this program.
RTC Meeting Materials Page 32 September 18, 2019Page 55 of 66
Potential Impacts of I-976 on
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3. Vanpool Program - $15 million
• Metro receives funding to help to replace vans that have reached the end of their useful
life.
• With the largest vanpool program in the state, Metro typically receives $5 million per
biennium.
4. Central Puget Sound Transit Coordination Grant Program - $2 million (2019-2021)
• Metro partners with Sound Transit, Community Transit, Pierce Transit and Everett
Transit to receive funding to help integrate planning, transportation demand management
programs, and ORCA fare payment programs in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties.
Transit Coordination Grant Program 2019-21 2021-23 2023-25 Total
Projects $2,000 $0 $0 $2,000
Sound Transit - Affordability and Accessibility
Improvements for Low Income Riders 1,000 0 0 1,000
Sound Transit - Regional Transit Marketing
Program 1,000 0 0 1,000
Dollar amounts shown in thousands
5. Specific Appropriations included in State Transportation Budget – $1.8 million
• ORCA Student Summer Program - $485,000
• Incentives to nonprofits and small businesses in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties to
provide ORCA passes to their employees - $1 million
• Transit-Oriented Development pilot project at the Kirkland Kingsgate Park and Ride -
$350,000
6. State Green Transportation Program – $36 million
• This new grant program, which was authorized in the 2019 State Legislative session,
supports public transportation’s investments in cost-effective electrification projects.
State Roads Grant Funding & Capital Project Impacts. King County’s Department of Local
Services (DLS) receives funding for capital projects from multiple grant programs that are
funded from the Multimodal Account and Rural Arterial Trust. Both accounts will be reduced if
I-976 passes. In addition, DLS is eligible to receive (though has not routinely received) state
funds from other accounts that will be affected by I-976, such as the Transportation
Improvement Board.
RTC Meeting Materials Page 33 September 18, 2019Page 56 of 66
Potential Impacts of I-976 on
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1. Direct distribution – $3 million (six year total)
• Roads receives about $500,000 per year in direct distributions from the Multimodal
Account, as part of the Connecting Washington tax package.
2. County Road Arterial Board (CRAB) – Likely less than $1 million impact over six years
• The Rural Arterial Trust Account would be reduced by approximately $5 million from a
total of $166 million1. DLS has received less than $10 million over the last six years from
this program, primarily for road overlay projects.
3. Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) – Likely no impact
• Over the six-year period the Transportation Improvement Account would be reduced by
approximately $2.5 million from a total of approximately $726 million. Roads has not
received any grant funds from this account since 2014.
Potential Impacts to Federal Funding in King County
Metro receives approximately $80 million each year in formula grant funding from the Federal
Transit Administration that is based partially on service that Metro provides. The full financial
federal impact is unknown until specific information is known on any resulting bus service
reduction. The impact likely would be between $1-$10 million per year.
Impacts to King County Revenue Authority
Passage of I-976 would eliminate the VLF revenue option for Transportation Benefit Districts
(TBD) in the future, including the existing King County TBD (Ordinance 17746) and a potential
future unincorporated King County TBD. The existing County TBD or a potential, new
unincorporated TBD would still have the ability to levy other taxes allowed to TBDs under State
law, including sales tax, gas tax, and tolling.
Impacts to Cities in King County
King County’s cities will experience a number of impacts if I-976 passes, including the loss of
the ability to use VLF as a revenue tool as part of a local TBD, as well as potential redirection of
limited state funds by the Legislature.
Loss of VLF revenue to cities that use it as part of a TBD would be an immediate revenue impact
to King County’s cities. That is because, while possible state-funded program cuts would be
made at the discretion of the legislature, city-funded investments through local TBDs are
presumed to be eliminated due to I-976’s repeal of the funding source.
1 Current total program size is based on Governor’s proposed 2019-21 budget
RTC Meeting Materials Page 34 September 18, 2019Page 57 of 66
Potential Impacts of I-976 on
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Seventeen cities in King County have formed TBDs, with 13 using VLF as a source of revenue,
for a potential revenue loss of approximately $240 million over the next six years.2 The City of
Seattle alone is projecting an annual loss of $36 million ($216 million over six years) that will
potentially require cuts to 175,000 bus service hours on 74 routes purchased from Metro through
the Seattle TBD. More information about these TBDs is listed below.
East King County. Three cities in east King County have enacted TBDs, which collected
$928,147 in 2018. Revenue loss to those cities is projected at approximately $4.6 million by
2025.
East King County Area TBD’s
(using VLF)
Estimated Revenue
Collected in 2018
Snoqualmie $196,317
Kenmore $355,950
Mercer Island $375,880
Total $928,147
Northwest King County (Shoreline and Lake Forest Park). Two cities in the northwest
portion of the King County have enacted TBDs, which collected $1,263,029 in 2018. Revenue
loss to those cities is projected at approximately $4.6 million by 2025.
King County Area TBD
(using VLF)
Estimated Revenue
Collected in 2018
Lake Forest Park $429,261
Shoreline $833,768
Total $1,263,029
2 Based on the Office of Financial Management’s fiscal impact statement, and assuming that, without I-976, the
Seattle TBD would be renewed at the same level in 2020.
RTC Meeting Materials Page 35 September 18, 2019Page 58 of 66
Potential Impacts of I-976 on
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South King County. Seven cities in South King County have enacted TBDs, which collected
$2,882,230 in 2018. Revenue loss to those cities is projected at approximately $14.4 million by
2025.
King County Area TBD
(using VLF)
Estimated Revenue
Collected in 2018
Des Moines $918,908
Burien $767,493
Maple Valley $396,348
Enumclaw $245,421
Normandy Park $115,620
City of Black Diamond $104,663
Covington $333,777
Total $2,882,230
City of Seattle. The Seattle TBD currently imposes an $80 vehicle license fee (VLF) and 0.1%
sales tax, which together generate approximately $62 million annually. The total estimated
revenue impact of I-976 is a loss of $36 million per year.
This revenue loss from the Seattle TBD would have significant service, customer, and staffing
impacts for Metro:
• Seattle TBD currently funds approximately 350,000 annual service hours, which Seattle
purchases from Metro. Passage of I-976 would require the reduction of approximately
50% of those hours, or approximately 175,000 annual hours, absent additional revenue
(even assuming that the Seattle TBD uses its $20 million reserve fund to help cover
service during 2020).
• Metro and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) are working together to
develop service reduction scenarios to better understand the composition of the 175,000
annual service hour reduction that would be required. This level of cuts could be made
using Metro’s administrative authority, which allows cuts of up to 25% of service hours
in a route within a single service change without seeking King County Council approval.
However, given the magnitude of the cumulative impact, Metro would plan to engage
with King County Councilmembers to provide information on the cuts and their impacts
ahead of any planned service changes if I-976 is enacted.
• Based on analysis to date, and absent additional revenue, the necessary service reductions
would likely occur in stages during the two service changes in 2020. In March 2020, a
reduction of approximately 115,000 hours would be necessary, with 20,000 of those
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Potential Impacts of I-976 on
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hours for peak period service. In September 2020, the remaining approximately 60,000
hours would be cut.
• While cuts would predominantly affect Seattle, cuts would also be felt directly in Burien,
Shoreline, Skyway, Tukwila, and White Center, because Seattle is funding numerous
routes that cross city boundaries. In addition, the impact of the cuts would be experienced
throughout the region, due to the fact that Metro provides many first/last mile trips within
downtown Seattle as part of the regional transit network.
• Cuts would be expected to affect some trips on all or nearly all the 74 routes receiving
some funding from the Seattle TBD, which includes the C, D, and E RapidRide lines, in
addition to many of Metro’s other highest-ridership routes.
o The impacts of this reduction are likely to include increases in customer pass-ups
and crowding, as well as reduced frequencies and service span.
o Other services that would be jeopardized include Trailhead Direct and Night Owl,
both of which have been funded in partnership with SDOT.
• Cuts of 175,000 annual services hours roughly translates to reductions in operations
staffing of: 78 operator FTEs (if layoffs occur, part-time operators would be laid off first
so actual number of affected employees could be higher); 3 first-line supervisors; and 1
chief.
Washington State Office of Financial Management Analysis of I-976
I-976 changes vehicle taxes and fees by lowering motor vehicle and light duty truck weight fees
to $30; eliminating the 0.3 percent sales tax on vehicle purchases; lowering electric vehicle and
snowmobile fees; modifying and reducing Sound Transit motor vehicle excise tax provisions;
and removing authority for transportation benefit districts to impose a vehicle fee. Total revenue
loss to the state in the next six years is $1,921,901,238. Total revenue loss to local governments
in the next 6 years is $2,317,121,034. The departments of Lic ensing and Revenue have estimated
implementation costs of $2,846,800 in the 2019-2021 biennium.
General Assumptions
• Except as otherwise provided, the effective date of the initiative, if approved by voters, is
December 5, 2019. Section 10 and 11 take effect on the date that the regional transit
authority complies with Section 12 of this act. Section 13 takes effect on April 1, 2020, if
Sections 10 and 11 have not taken effect by March 31, 2020.
• The provisions of the initiative apply prospectively, not retroactively.
• Fiscal estimates use the state’s fiscal year of July 1 through June 30. Fiscal year 2020 is
July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020.
• State revenues are based on the June 2019 transportation revenue forecast.
• Local revenues are based on the most recent actual figures and are not forecasted.
• Transportation benefit districts (TBDs) have the authority to collect vehicle fees, and
sales and use tax. This initiative repeals only the authority to collect vehicle fees, so
TBDs could continue to collect sales and use tax.
• Section 5(1) erroneously states that the electric vehicle fee is $130 total. RCW 46.17.323
includes two fees. $100 in section (1) and $50 in section (4)(a). The current electric
vehicle fee is $150 total. Calculations for the impact of the fee reduction are based on the
RTC Meeting Materials Page 37 September 18, 2019Page 60 of 66
Potential Impacts of I-976 on
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correct fee. Chapter 287, Laws 2019 establishes the transportation electrification fee of
$75. I-976 would lower the $100 in section (1) to $30 and eliminate the $50 in section
(4)(a). It does not affect the new $75 fee.
State Revenue
The initiative reduces license fees for vehicles under 10,000 pounds to $30. The additional 0.3
percent sales and use tax on motor vehicle sales is eliminated. The snowmobile license fee is
reduced from $50 to $30. Commercial trailer fees are reduced from $34 to $30. The electric
vehicle fee in Section 5(1) is reduced from $100 to $30. An additional electric vehicle fee in
Section 5(4)(a) of $50 is eliminated.
Description of affected accounts
• The Snowmobile Account funds administration, acquisition, development, operation and
maintenance of snowmobile facilities and the implementation of snowmobile safety,
enforcement and education programs.
• The State Patrol Highway Account funds activities of the Washington State Patrol,
including traffic enforcement (and associated criminal investigations), commercial
vehicle enforcement and ferry vessel and terminal security.
RTC Meeting Materials Page 38 September 18, 2019Page 61 of 66
Potential Impacts of I-976 on
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• The Transportation Partnership Account funds projects and improvements from the 2005
Transportation Partnership Omnibus Transportation Appropriations Act.
• The Rural Arterial Trust Account funds construction and improvement of county roads
and bridges.
• The Motor Vehicle Account is the main source of funds for highway construction,
maintenance, ferries and support services. A portion of motor fuel tax revenues is
distributed to cities and counties for road programs.
• The Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account funds ferry operations and maintenance.
• The Transportation Improvement Account funds administration of the Transportation
Improvement Board and grants for local government transportation projects that address
congestion.
• The Multimodal Transportation Account funds all modes of transportation projects,
including public transportation, rail and bicycle/pedestrian projects.
• The Transportation 2003 Account funds debt service on bonds and Washington State
Department of Transportation operating and capital highway programs.
Local Revenue
This initiative repeals local authority to impose a TBD vehicle fee. TBD vehicle fees are used by
62 municipalities across the state to fund local improvements such as road repair and
maintenance, transit systems, and sidewalks. In fiscal year 2018, TBDs using a vehicle fee across
the state collected $58,186,839. This revenue would be eliminated beginning on the effective
date of this initiative.
Sections 10 and 11 would reduce the motor vehicle excise tax (MVET) that funds the Central
Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (RTA) commonly known as Sound Transit. MVET
rates are reduced from 0.8% to 0.2% and will be calculated based on Kelley Blue Book vehicle
value instead of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.
This tax rate would be repealed when the RTA is able to refund, refinance or defease, or
terminate, outstanding bonds that have been issued against this tax. It is unknown if this is
possible. If the bonds are not able to be defeased, the MVET will remain unchanged to pay off
the bonds previously issued that are pledged to the revenue source. If the bonds are able to be
defeased, Sound Transit’s revenue would be reduced by $328,000,000 per fiscal year based on
2018 revenue. For new bonds issued, the MVET will decrease from 0.8% to 0.2%.
The initiative also repeals local authority to impose a passenger-only ferry tax. Currently there
are no passenger-only ferry districts using the MVET authority to fund their ferries.
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Potential Impacts of I-976 on
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State Government Anticipated Expenditures
The Department of Licensing (DOL) would have temporary, higher administrative and computer
costs to implement this initiative. If Sound Transit is able to defease or refinance its bonds and
the MVET is reduced, DOL would issue refunds to customers who register their vehicles prior to
their annual vehicle registration date. The DOL would also have costs for computer updates,
temporary staffing costs for additional calls to their call center, and accounting services to issue
refunds. Biennial administrative costs for the agency are $2,740,900 in the 2019-2021 biennium.
The Department of Revenue (DOR) would experience temporary, higher administrative costs to
implement this initiative, including costs for computer updates and administrative costs for rule
making, accounting services to issue refunds and develop new forms. Biennial costs for the
agency are estimated at $105,900 for computer updates and administrative items in the 2019-
2021 biennium.
RTC Meeting Materials Page 40 September 18, 2019Page 63 of 66
AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
Agenda Subject:
Matrix
Date:
September 24, 2019
Department:
City Council
Attachments:
Special Focus Area Key
Matrix
Budget Impact:
Current Budget: $0
Proposed Revision: $0
Revised Budget: $0
Administrativ e Recommendation:
Background Summary:
Rev iewed by Council Committees:
Councilmember:Staff:
Meeting Date:September 30, 2019 Item Number:
Page 64 of 66
SPECIAL FOCUS AREAS
COMMUNITY WELLNESS
FINANCE, TECHNOLOGY,
& ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
PUBLIC WORKS & COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS
COMMUNITY & NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES
HOMELESSNESS & HOMELESSNESS
PREVENTION
HOUSING QUALITY, AFFORDABILITY
& ATTAINABILITY
HUMAN & SOCIAL SERVICES
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES
COMMUNITY EQUITY
EQUIPMENT RENTAL
FACILITIES
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
CITY REAL PROPERTY
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL
UTILITIES
TRANSPORTATION
SUSTAINABILITY
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
CULTURAL ARTS & PUBLIC ARTS
PLANNING & ZONING
PERMITS & DEVELOPMENT
RIGHT OF WAY MANAGEMENT
AIRPORT
AIRPORT BUSINESS
POLICE
SCORE JAIL
DISTRICT COURT
PARKS & RECREATION
ANIMAL CONTROL
SOLID WASTE
ENERGENCY PLANNING
MULTIMEDIA
CEMETERY
Councilmember Trout-Manuel, Chair Councilmember Wales, Chair Councilmember DaCorsi, Chair Councilmember Brown, Chair
Councilmember DaCorsi, Vice Chair Councilmember Holman, Vice Chair Councilmember Baggett, Vice Chair Deputy Mayor Peloza, Vice Chair
2019 MEETING DATES 2019 MEETING DATES 2019 MEETING DATES 2019 MEETING DATES
February 11, 2019 February 25, 2019 January 14, 2019 January 28, 2019
April 8, 2019 April 22, 2019 March 11, 2019 March 25, 2019
June 10, 2019 June 24, 2019 May 13, 2019 May 27, 2019
August 12, 2019 August 26, 2019 July 8, 2019 July 22, 2019
October 14, 2019 October 28, 2019 September 9, 2019 September 23, 2019
December 9, 2019 December 23, 2019 November 12, 2019 November 25, 2019
Page 65 of 66
Updated 09-24-2019
NO.TOPIC Chair STAFF LEAD(S)STUDY SESSION REVIEW
DATE(S)
COUNCIL DISCUSSION
SUMMARY ACTION DATE
1 Auburn Avenue Theater Chair DaCorsi
Vice Chair Baggett Director Faber 10/14/2019
2 Metro Bus Barn Site Chair DaCorsi
Vice Chair Baggett
Director Gaub
Director Tate TBD
3 Funding Options Chair Wales
Vice Chair Holman Director Thomas Ongoing
4 No Smoking or Vaping in City
Parks
Chair Brown
Vice Chair Peloza
Chief Pierson
Director Faber
10/14/2019
5 2019 Fireworks Update Chair Brown
Vice Chair Peloza Chief Pierson 11/25/2019
6 AVHS Board Update Chair Brown
Vice Chair Peloza Director Thomas 11/25/2019
7 Domestic Violence Update Chair Trout-Manuel
Vice Chair DaCorsi Director Tate TBD
8 Domestic Violence
Presentation by outside group
Chair Trout-Manuel
Vice Chair DaCorsi
Councilmember Trout-
Manuel 10/7/2019
COUNCIL MATRIX
Page 66 of 66