A RESOLUTION submitting a proposition to the qualified electors of the City, at an election to be held on November 7, 2006, to amend Section 6 of Article IV of the Charter of the City of Seattle to provide for an alternate meeting location for the City Council due to an emergency or disaster; calling on the City Clerk to certify the proposed amendment to the Director of the Department of Records and Elections of King County and requesting and directing such Director to call a special election and submit the proposition to City voters; and providing for the publication of such proposed amendment.

WHEREAS, Section 6 of Article IV of the City Charter currently provides that all regular Council meetings be held in the Council's regular meeting place; and

WHEREAS, the City Council's Rules and Procedures designate City Hall as the Council's regular meeting place; and

WHEREAS, the Charter currently does not clearly allow regular Council meetings to be held at an alternative location if City Hall is not available due to a disaster or emergency; and

WHEREAS, Washington State law (RCW 42.30.070, part of the Open Public Meetings Act) allows the Council to meet at an alternative location when necessary to take quick action to deal with certain emergencies; and

WHEREAS, Washington State law (RCW 42.14.075, part of the Continuity of Government Act) allows the Council to meet at an alternative location when it is impractical to meet at City Hall due to an attack or a natural disaster; NOW THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS

FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Subject to the approval of a proposition by a majority of the qualified electors casting votes thereon, Section 6 of Article IV of the Charter of the City of Seattle is amended as follows:

Article IV. Legislative Department

* * *

Section 6. REGULAR MEETINGS: Regular meeting dates shall be set by the Council by rule. All sessions shall be public and the Council shall not adjourn to meet in any other place than its regular place of meeting except when permitted by state law in the event of an emergency or disaster.

SPECIAL MEETINGS: The Mayor, the President of the City Council, or any three Councilmembers, may call a special meeting of the Council.

* * *

Section 2. The King County Director of Records and Elections, as ex officio supervisor of elections, is hereby requested to call a special election and is directed to submit the charter amendment proposed herein to the qualified electors of the City at the election on November 7, 2006.

Section 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the Director of the Department of Records and Elections of King County as Supervisor of Elections the charter amendment proposed herein in the form of a ballot title prepared by the City Attorney pursuant to RCW 29A.36.071, and shall certify a copy of the proposed Charter amendment, and the same shall be published by the City Clerk in accordance with state law.

Adopted by the City Council the _____ day of _____________, 2006, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this _____ day of ________________, 2006.

________________________________________

President __________ of the City Council

Filed by me this ______ day of _________________, 2006.

________________________________________

City Clerk

(Seal)

RH:gts: msl

07/12/06

Charter Amend Meeting Place.doc

(Ver. 1a)

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