Voters group will lead initiative process study

The League of Women Voters of the Spokane Area has accepted an invitation by the Spokane City Council to lead a review of the city’s initiative process.

Earlier this month, the council delayed a vote on proposed changes to rules that allow citizens to place proposals on the ballot. Envision Spokane, a group that placed an unsuccessful initiative on the November ballot, questioned the proposed rules, arguing that they could make it more difficult for citizens to place items on the ballot. Supporters said the changes would ensure a fairer process and noted that amendments wouldn’t change the number of signatures needed nor the amount of time initiative supporters have to collect signatures.

The league is accepting applications to serve on the task force until Jan. 6. They can be obtained at the mayor’s office at City Hall and will soon be available at spokanecity.org. Interested participants who have questions about the process can call the league at (509) 326-8026