2017/12/06 Council Agenda Packet

Council Election by Wards or Districts This page provides an overview of city council wards and districts in Washington State, including how abolish districts and a list of all cities MRSC is aware of that have established wards or districts. Overview While many cities in Washington elect alt their city councilmembers at-large, others have chosen to E or districts, in which some or all of the councilmembers are elected by and represent specific geograr city. The establishment of wards or districts is specifically authorized by RCW 35A.12.180 for code cities ar 35.23.051 for second class cities,while first class cities may adopt districts by charter. Establishing City Council Wards or Districts Dividing a city into districts (wards) is specifically authorized by RCW 35A.12.180 as long as it not don months of a municipal general election. The process for establishing a ward or district system is fairly straight-forward. RCW 35A.12.180 provi, step is for the council to pass an ordinance establishing a ward or district system;there is no required the matter,although the council could choose to conduct an advisory election on the issue.The cour decide how many districts it wants to establish and whether it wants any at-large positions. For exarr could establish seven districts with one councilmember per district,or it could establish five or six dis two at-large positions, or it could establish three districts with two councilmembers for each district, position,etc.The councilmembers that are elected by district would be chosen at the primary electio in their districts and then by all the voters at the general election unless the city had prior to January 1 the voting in the general election for any or all council positions only to the voters residing within the with that council position. If a city had limited the voting in the general election only to voters residin ward,then the city is authorized to continue to do so. RCW 35.23.051 provides a similar process for second class cities. The bulk of the work in establishing a ward/district system would be, of course, in determining distric. RCW 35A.12.180 provides that"The representation of each ward in the city council shall be in proporl population as nearly as is practicable:' It does not say anything about how to go about establishing th the districts, but it requires that,when districts are redrawn,the redrawing of boundaries should be do Ch. 29A.76 RCW. RCW 29A.76.010 states that the redistricting is to be"based on population informa most recent federal decennial census:' So, presumably,the initial establishment of a ward/district sys federal census data, along with any other sources that would make that data more current.