At its July 6, 2021, regular council meeting, the City Council directed staff to return with a number of possible resolutions to place amendments to the City Charter on the ballot for the November 2, 2021 election.  With this Agenda Statement are five proposals:

1. Proposed Proposition 1 addressing attendance and council vacancies;

2. A proposal to remove the Street Overlay dedicated fund;

3. A proposal to remove only the annual increase in the Street Overlay dedicated fund;

4. A proposal to remove the Parks Capital dedicated fund; and

5. A proposal to remove only the annual increase in the Parks Capital dedicated fund.

6. Proposed Proposition 4 (number may change based on decisions on items 2-5) addressing clarifying and correcting Charter sections, including to conform with law.

Due to the state law requiring that each ballot measure have one issue, the addition of attendance requirements should be separated from the clarifying and correcting amendments.  Further, the Street Overlay and Parks Capital fund issues must be proposed separately if Council determines any of those matters are to be placed on the ballot.

Additionally, Council will need to appoint a maximum of three members to two committees—one in favor, and one opposed—for each ballot measure it seeks to place on the ballot.  These committees are charged with drafting arguments in favor and opposed to the ballot measure. RCW 29A.32.280.  The committee members must be appointed and submitted to the Yakima County Auditor at the same time as the ballot proposition.  Under statute the City Attorney drafts the concise ballot statements. RCW 29A.36.071.