City Charter Changes On Ballot One Amendment Would Make Some Public Votes Advisory Only

Of three proposed amendments to the Spokane City Charter facing voters next Tuesday, a proposal to change the city’s initiative process is drawing the most attention.

Proposition 3 would make public votes on some city initiatives advisory only, leaving the final decision to the City Council.

The other propositions would eliminate restrictions on the contents of the city’s Official Gazette and would eliminate a requirement that the City Council meet weekly.

The changes were proposed by Spokane Community Partners, a citizens group assigned to review the charter.

“People might perceive (Proposition 3) as eroding their rights,” said Chris Marr, co-chairman of the subcommittee that drafted the proposed amendment for the Community Partners committee.

Actually, Marr said, the amendment reinforces the characteristics of a successful democracy.

“Instead of a small group having the opportunity to direct decisions, this allows for intelligent and informed debate while preserving recognition of a small level of support,” he said.

The change applies only to citizens initiatives that make it onto the ballot with petition signatures from less than 15 percent of the number of voters in the last general election.

Petitions with enough signatures to top the 15 percent level still would result in binding elections instead of advisory votes.

Because 59,284 city voters cast ballots in the last general election, 8,893 petition signatures would be required to exceed the 15 percent mark.

To make the ballot at all, initiative supporters would have to collect at least 2,964 signatures - 5 percent of the ballots cast in the last election.

Proposition 3 also would require an initiative’s sponsor to meet with the city attorney to make certain the initiative’s wording is legal. That step is optional now.

Proponents also would be required to collect signatures within six months. There is no time limit for gathering signatures now.

David Bray, who has been working to collect signatures for an initiative that would require electing City Council members by geographical district, opposes Proposition 3.

“Advisory? What does that mean? I think it’s very vague,” Bray said. “What is the point of doing it if it isn’t going to count? You still have to go out and get signatures and spend money.

“If it doesn’t count, is it purposefully wasting people’s time and money?” he asked.

“They have placed another step in the process which means absolutely nothing,” he said.

There are several ways an idea from a group or individual citizen can become law in Spokane.

The council can hold hearings on the proposal and then take action.

Or the council can send the proposal straight to the ballot without requiring that any signatures be collected.

The third option is to require the proponent to collect signatures from registered voters.

Proposition 1 deals with the Official Gazette, which includes notices, invitations to bid, meeting minutes and information about ordinances.

The publication is supposed to avoid anything that advertises or calls special attention to any officer, city employee or city department. The amendment would make those rules more lenient.

Proposition 2 would remove the requirement that the City Council hold weekly meetings even when there is no business to discuss.

State law requires the council to meet at least once a month.

This sidebar appeared with the story: INITIATIVES Proposition 1 would eliminate some restrictions on the contents of the Official Gazette. Proposition 2 would remove the requirement for weekly City Council meetings. Proposition 3 would amend the city initiative process to make some public votes advisory only.