HB 1832, sponsored by Reps. Larry Springer (D–Kirkland) and Brandon Vick (R–Vancouver), will allow a city to run ballot measures to change to a council-manager form of government and separately elect a mayor at the same time.

Under the proposed legislation, a city may include on the same ballot a measure to abandon its current form of government, changing to a council-manager plan, and a measure to ask voters if they want the individual elected to council position one as the chair of the city council. This is a major update to the process of changing to a council-manager system as previously cities were required to go through two separate elections: one to adopt the council-manager system and one to elect council position one (aka the mayor).

Additionally, the bill would change the residency requirement of a city manager. Previously, city managers could request a waiver from the city council to live outside of the jurisdiction. Under the new law, a city council would need to impose a requirement for the city manager to live within the jurisdiction.

AWC supports this legislation.

Dates to remember

HB 1832 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Local Government Committee on January 25 at 10 am. The bill is also scheduled for executive session on January 28 at 8 am.