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 02.02.115
 

Title 02 Council and Legislation

Chapter 02.02 Initiative and Referendum

Section 02.02.115 Appeal of Ballot Title and Legal Challenge Regarding Legal Validity of Initiative Measure

  1. Any person, including the sponsor of an initiative measure or referendum, the city council or the city administration, dissatisfied with the ballot title prepared by the city attorney may file an appeal in superior court pursuant to RCW 29A.36.090 within ten days of the filing of the ballot title with the county auditor.

  2. No appeal of a ballot title or summary of the measure shall be filed by the city council unless at least five members of the city council vote to file the appeal.

  3. Either the city council or the city administration may initiate a legal challenge to an initiative or referendum measure as illegal, unconstitutional or other legal grounds but only after the city council has adopted a resolution directing the county auditor to place the measure on the ballot. No challenge shall be filed by the city council unless at least five members of the city council vote to challenge the initiative or referendum measure. Any pre- or post- election legal challenge shall comply with the current jurisprudence addressing those challenges.

Date Passed: Thursday, May 19, 2016

Effective Date: Saturday, June 25, 2016

ORD C35380 Section 9