CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to civil service commissions; amending election procedures for the employee-elected members of the Civil Service Commission and Public Safety Civil Service Commission; making temporary provisions for the 2020 elections; amending Sections 4.04.250 and 4.08.040 of the Seattle Municipal Code; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
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WHEREAS, the Civil Service Commission and Public Safety Civil Service Commission have had one elected member, voted on by eligible employees, since their creation in 1977 (by City Charter Article XIX, § 5) and 1978 (by Ordinance 107791), respectively; and
WHEREAS, Seattle Municipal Code Sections 4.04.250 and 4.08.040 require the City Clerk to administer elections for the commissions’ elected members; and
WHEREAS, those sections require the use of physical ballots rather than allow the City Clerk to determine the most practical method of conducting the elections; and
WHEREAS, those sections require position candidates to “comply with Chapter 2.04” regarding finance disclosures as well as other unspecified aspects, but the definition of “candidate” in Section 2.04.010 was amended by Ordinance 120145 in 2000 to no longer include candidates for these positions, meaning the compliance language is obsolete; and
WHEREAS, Section 45 of Ordinance 125315 will, when it becomes completely effective, restructure the Public Safety Civil Service Commission so that it does not have an elected member, but allowing the City Clerk election administration options until that time is prudent; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 4.04.250 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 124567, is amended as follows:
4.04.250 Civil Service Commission((.))
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D. Commissioner's ((Election, Administration)) election and administration. Election of the ((employees' designate)) employee-selected commissioner to the Commission shall be administered by the City Clerk as determined by City Clerk rule. Election shall be held during the week beginning on the first Monday in November((, 1987,)) 2020 and every third year thereafter. ((The City Clerk shall give notice of the election and furnish ballots. Balloting shall be permitted by mail postmarked between the hours of 12:01 a.m. Monday to 12 midnight of the succeeding Friday of the election week. Provided however that when there is a holiday during that week, ballots may be postmarked no later than 12 midnight the following Monday. Ballots may also be deposited during regular office hours at polling places prescribed by the City Clerk.))
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((I. Campaign Reporting. Candidates for Commissioner shall comply with Chapter 2.04 including, but not limited to, filing of disclosure statements regarding campaign financing.))
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Section 2. Section 4.08.040 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 123744, is amended as follows:
4.08.040 Public Safety Civil Service Commission((.))
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D. Election shall be administered by the City Clerk as determined by City Clerk rule. Election shall be held during the week beginning on the first Monday in November((, 1987,)) 2020 and every third year thereafter. ((The City Clerk shall give notice of such election and furnish ballots therefor. Balloting shall be permitted by mail postmarked between the hours of 12:01 a.m. Monday to 12 midnight of the succeeding Friday of the election week. Provided however that when there is a holiday during that week, ballots may be postmarked no later than 12 midnight the following Monday. Ballots may also be deposited during regular office hours at polling places prescribed by the City Clerk.))
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((I. Candidates for Public Safety Civil Service Commission shall comply with the terms of the Fair Campaign Practices Chapter 2.04 regarding filing of disclosure statements regarding campaign financing.))
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Section 3. For the 2020 elections governed by Sections 4.04.250 and 4.08.040 of the Seattle Municipal Code, the following provisions supersede those sections and rules pursuant to those sections to the extent they are inconsistent:
A. Ballots may be furnished and administered electronically rather than physically;
B. Notice of the elections will be issued no later than the fourth Monday of October;
C. Not earlier than the second Monday in November, nor later than the succeeding Friday, any person who is to become a candidate for Commissioner shall file a declaration of candidacy for office with the City Clerk, on a form furnished by the City Clerk; and
D. Election shall be held during the week beginning on the second Monday in December.
Section 4. When Section 45 of Ordinance 125315 is deemed effective, its amendments will take precedence over amendments made by Section 2 of this ordinance.
Section 5. Any act consistent with the authority of this ordinance taken prior to its effective date is ratified and confirmed.
Section 6. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2020, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of _________________________, 2020.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2020.
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Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2020.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)