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City of Spokane Charter

As Amended by Voters February 13, 2024

Article I: Name, Boundaries, Powers, Rights and Liabilities

• Section 1: Name
• Section 2: Boundaries
• Section 3: Powers, Rights and Liabilities
• Section 4: Powers – How Exercised

Article II: Elective Officials

• Section 5: Elective Officials
• Section 6: Qualifications
• Section 7: Salary
• Section 8: Vacancies
• Section 8.5: Recall of Elected Official for Violation of Code of Ethics

Article III: Council and Legislation

• Section 9: Council President and Council
• Section 10: Meetings
• Section 11: Voting Power
• Section 12: Form and Manner of Legislation
• Section 13: Subject of Ordinance
• Section 14: Enacting Clause
• Section 15: Time of Passage
• Section 16: Ordinances – Signing and Attesting
• Section 17: Ordinances – Publication of
• Section 18: Ordinances – Recording and Authentication
• Section 19: Ordinances – When Effective
• Section 20: Direct Legislation – When Effective
• Section 21: Amendments and Repeals
• Section 21.5: Councilmanic Tax Measures and Increases
• Section 21.6: Prohibition of City Income Tax

Article IV: Administration of City Affairs

• Section 22: Administrative Branch
• Section 23: Mayor Pro Tem
• Section 24: Mayor
• Section 25: Administrative Departments
• Section 26: Salary
• Section 27: Duties of City Clerk
• Section 28: City Attorney – Qualifications
• Section 29: City Attorney – Duties
• Section 30: City Engineer – Qualifications
• Section 32: City Attorney – Assistants
• Section 33: Special Counsel
• Section 34: Oath of Office
• Section 35: Bonds of Officers
• Section 36: Officers or Employees Not to be Interested in Contracts
• Section 37: Procurement of Public Works, Goods and Services
• Section 38: Contracts and Documents – Execution of
• Section 39: Publicity Provisions – Official Gazette
• Section 40: Open Collective Bargaining Negotiations

Article V: Parks and Park Board

• Section 41: Park Board – How Created
• Section 42: Park Board – Term of Office
• Section 43: Park Board – Removal From
• Section 44: Park Board – Organization
• Section 45: Park Board – Accounts and Reports – Annual Statements
• Section 46: Park Board – Compensation
• Section 47: Office of Park Board
• Section 48: Park Board – Powers
• Section 49: Condemnation for Park Purposes
• Section 50: Annual Budget for Support of Parks
• Section 51: Disbursement of Park Funds

Article VI: Civil Service

• Section 52: Election of Civil Service Commissioners – Organization and Employees – Finances – Payroll Approval – Personnel Administration
• Section 53: Powers and Duties of Commission
• Section 55: Suspension, Reduction in Rank and Discharge – Appeals
• Section 56: Commission – Rules and Regulations

Article VII: Municipal Elections

• Section 57: Municipal Elections
• Section 58: Elections – When Held
• Section 59: Council Districting – Repealed by voters on February 13, 2024
• Section 60: Council Redistricting – Repealed by voters on February 13, 2024
• Section 61: Fees
• Section 62: Citizen Led Council Redistricting
• Section 67: Recall

Article VIII: Neighborhood Councils

• Section 71: Neighborhood Councils Program – Creation
• Section 72: Neighborhood Councils Program – Organization
• Section 73: Neighborhood Councils Program – Establishment
• Section 74: Neighborhood Councils Program – Neighborhood Council Duties and Responsibilities
• Section 75: Neighborhood Councils Program – Community Assembly – Purpose
• Section 76: Neighborhood Councils Program – Community Assembly – Compensation

Article IX: Legislation by the People

• Section 81: General Power
• Section 82: The Initiative
• Section 83: Referendum
• Section 84: Submission by Council
• Section 85: Capital Expenditures
• Section 86: Publication of Ordinances – Notice of Election
• Section 87: Adoption of Ordinances
• Section 89: Repeal or Amendment of Ordinances Passed by the People
• Section 90: Number of Elections
• Section 91: Regulations by Council

Article X: Local Improvements

• Section 92: Local Improvements
• Section 93: Initiation
• Section 94: Sale of Bonds

Article XI: Franchises

• Section 95: Term
• Section 98: Renewals
• Section 99: Specified Location
• Section 100: Publication
• Section 101: Referendum
• Section 102: Compensation to City
• Section 105: Right-of-use by City
• Section 106: Conditions of Franchises
• Section 108: Reports
• Section 109: Franchises not to be Capitalized
• Section 110: Transfer of Franchises
• Section 111: Common User Provisions
• Section 112: Non-user of Franchises
• Section 113: Construction of this Article

Article XII: Miscellaneous

• Section 115: Claims Against City
• Section 116: Liability of Owner of Abutting Property
• Section 116.5: Liability for Utilities and Franchise Holders
• Section 117: Power to Subpoena Witnesses
• Section 118: Public Works
• Section 119: Continuation of Ordinances

Article XIII: Municipal Indebtedness

• Section 121: Power to Incur Indebtedness
• Section 122: Incidental Power of Council
• Section 124: Sale of Bonds

Article XIV: Amendment

• Section 125: Amendment of the Charter

Article XV: Plan Commission

• Section 126: Establishment
• Section 127: General Authority
• Section 128: Specific Powers

Article XVI: Office of Police Ombuds and Police Ombudsman Commission

• Section 129: Office of Police Ombuds
• Section 130: Police Ombudsman Commission

Article XVII: Municipal Court

• Section 131: Ratification of Establishment
• Section 132: Jurisdiction