Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 35.22 · 68 active provisions
Cities of the first class shall be organized and governed according to the law providing for the government of cities having a population of ten thousand or more inhabitants that have adopted a charter in accordance with Article XI, section 10 of the state Constitution.
The form of the organization and the manner and mode in which cities of the first class shall exercise the powers, functions and duties conferred upon them by law, with respect to their own government, shall be as provided in the charters thereof.
Any city with a population of ten thousand or more inhabitants may frame a charter for its own government.
Whenever the population of a city is ten thousand or more, the legislative authority thereof shall provide by ordinance for an election to be held therein for the purpose of electing fifteen freeholders for the purpose of framing a charter for the city. The members of the board of freeholders must be qualified electors…
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, whenever the population of a city is three hundred thousand persons or more, not less than ten days before the time for filing declarations of candidacy for election of freeholders under Article XI, section 10 (Amendment 40), of the state Constitution, the city clerk shall de…
The board of freeholders shall convene within ten days after their election and frame a charter for the city and within thirty days thereafter, they, or a majority of them, shall submit the charter to the legislative authority of the city, which, within five days thereafter, shall cause it to be published in the newspa…
Within five days after the filing with the city clerk of affidavits of publication, which affidavits shall be filed immediately after the last publication, the legislative authority of the city shall initiate the proceedings for the submission of the proposed charter to the qualified voters of the city for their adopti…
The election of the members of the board of freeholders and that upon the proposition of adopting or rejecting the proposed charter and the officers to be elected thereunder, the returns of both elections, the canvassing thereof and the declaration of the result shall be governed by the laws regulating and controlling…
The form of ballot in the election for the adoption or rejection of the proposed charter shall be: "For the proposed charter," "Against the proposed charter." In submitting the proposed charter or amendments thereto, any alternate article or proposition may be presented for the choice of the voters and may be voted on…
If a majority of the votes cast at the election upon the adoption of the proposed charter favor it, certificates of election shall be issued to each officer elected at that election. Within ten days after the issuance of the certificates of election, the newly elected officers shall qualify as provided in the charter,…
The authentication of the charter shall be by certificate of the mayor in substance as follows:"I . . . . . ., mayor of the city of . . . . . . do hereby certify that in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and statutes of the State of Washington, the city of . . . . . . caused fifteen freeholders to be e…
On petition of a number (equal to fifteen percent of the total number of votes cast at the last preceding general state election) of qualified voters of any municipality having adopted a charter under the laws of this state, asking the adoption of a specified charter amendment, providing for any matter within the realm…
A petition containing the demand for the submission of the proposed charter amendment or for an election to be held for the purpose of electing a board of freeholders for the purpose of preparing a new charter for the city as provided in RCW 35.22.140 shall be filed with the city clerk and each signer shall write his o…
On the petition of a number of registered voters of a city equal to twenty-five percent of the total votes cast at the last preceding city election, the city council of a charter city shall, or without such petition may, cause an election to be held for the purpose of electing a board of fifteen freeholders for the pur…
Within ten days after the results of the election have been determined, if a majority of the votes cast favor the proceeding, the members of the board of freeholders elected thereat shall convene and prepare a new charter by altering, revising, adding to, or repealing the existing charter including all amendments there…
Upon the filing of the proposed new, altered, changed or revised charter with the city clerk, it shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the city at an election to be called therefor pursuant to the provisions of law applicable to the holding of elections in such city.
The proposed new, altered or revised charter shall be published in the newspaper having the largest general circulation within the city at least once each week for four weeks next preceding the day of submitting the same to the electors for their approval.
The election of the board of freeholders and that upon the proposition of adopting the proposed new, altered or revised charter, may be general or special elections and except as herein provided, said elections, the returns, the canvassing thereof and the declaration of the result shall be governed by the laws regulati…
If a majority of the voters voting upon the adoption of the proposed new, altered or revised charter favor it, it shall become the charter of the city and the organic law thereof, superseding any existing charter. All bodies or offices abolished or dispensed with by the new, altered or revised charter, together with th…
Any city adopting a charter under Article XI, section 10 of the Constitution of the state of Washington, as amended by amendment 40, shall have all of the powers which are conferred upon incorporated cities and towns by Title 35 RCW, or other laws of the state, and all such powers as are usually exercised by municipal…
The legislative powers of a charter city shall be vested in a mayor and a city council, to consist of such number of members and to have such powers as may be provided for in its charter. The charter may provide for direct legislation by the people through the initiative and referendum upon any matter within the scope…
The compensation and the time to be devoted to the performance of the duties of the mayor and elected officials of all cities of the first class shall be as fixed by ordinance of said city irrespective of any city charter provisions.
Any city of the first class having a population less than one hundred thousand by the last federal census and having a charter providing that each of its councilmembers shall be the commissioner of an administrative department of such city, may by ordinance provide for the separate designation of such councilmembers as…
Whenever any such city shall have passed such an ordinance providing for such separate designations and for filing for and election to office in accordance therewith, such city shall have no power to repeal the same except by ordinance passed by the council of such city and submitted to the voters thereof at a general…
All regular elections in first-class cities having a mayor-council form of government whose charters provide for twelve councilmembers elected for a term of two years, two being elected from each of six wards, and for the election of a mayor, treasurer, and comptroller for terms of two years, shall be held biennially a…