City of Spokane

Spokane Municipal Code

***Note: Many local criminal codes can now be located under Chapter 10.60 SMC while others are now cited under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which was incorporated into the municipal code in 2022. (See SMC 10.58.010). Code Enforcement, including Noise Control and Animal Regulations are located in Chapters 10.62 through 10.74.

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Title 02
Chapter 02.02
Section 02.02.040
 

Title 02 Council and Legislation

Chapter 02.02 Initiative and Referendum

Section 02.02.040 Council Action on Initiative Measure

  1. Upon receiving the report regarding an initiative from the city clerk, the city council may pass the measure as proposed, reject the initiative measure and propose another one dealing with the same subject to be considered as council legislation, or submit the initiative measure to the voters on its own motion.

  2. If the city council does not pass the measure as proposed or submit the initiative measure to the voters, the initiative and the ballot title and summary of the measure shall be forwarded by the city clerk to the city hearing examiner who shall issue a formal written opinion as to the legal validity and effect of the proposed measure to the city council, city clerk, and initiative measure sponsor within fourteen days of receiving the initiative measure from the city clerk.

  3. Within seven days of receipt of the hearing examiner’s written opinion, the initiative measure sponsor shall notify the city clerk in writing of the sponsor’s decision to proceed with collecting signatures for the initiative measure or to revise the initiative measure based upon the hearing examiner’s written opinion. If the sponsor elects to proceed with gathering signatures, the time period to collect and file petition signatures set forth in SMC 2.02.055 shall begin to run from the date the sponsor’s written decision is filed with the city clerk. The sponsor shall provide the city clerk with a copy of the petition sheet the sponsor shall use for the collection of signatures. If the sponsor elects to revise the initiative measure based on the opinion of the hearing examiner, the city council shall discontinue processing the originally filed initiative measure. The initiative sponsors may file a revised initiative measure, which shall be submitted to the city clerk’s office pursuant to SMC 2.02.030.

Date Passed: Monday, May 9, 2016

Effective Date: Saturday, June 25, 2016

ORD C35380 Section 3