Whenever unincorporated territory is annexed by a city or town pursuant to the provisions of chapter 35.13 RCW, or whenever unincorporated territory is annexed to a code city pursuant to the provisions of chapter 35A.14 RCW, community municipal corporations may be organized for the territory comprised of all or a part of an unincorporated area annexed to a city or town pursuant to chapter 35.13 or 35A.14 RCW, if: (1) The service area is such as would be eligible for incorporation as a city or town; or (2) the service area has a minimum population of not less than three hundred inhabitants and ten percent of the population of the annexing city or town; or (3) the service area has a minimum population of not less than one thousand inhabitants.
Whenever two or more cities are consolidated pursuant to the provisions of chapter 35.10 RCW, a community municipal corporation may be organized within one or more of the consolidating cities.
No territory shall be included in the service area of more than one community municipal corporation. Whenever a new community municipal corporation is formed embracing all of the territory of an existing community municipal corporation, the prior existing community municipal corporation shall be deemed to be dissolved on the effective date of the new corporation.
[ 1993 c 75 § 1; 1985 c 281 § 24; 1967 c 73 § 1; ]
Each community council shall be staffed by a deputy to the city clerk of the city with which the service area is consolidated or annexed and shall be provided with such other clerical and technical assistance and a properly equipped office as may be necessary to carry out its functions.
Each community council shall elect a chair and vice chair from its membership. A majority of the council shall constitute a quorum. Each action of the community municipal corporation shall be by resolution approved by vote of the majority of all the members of the community council. Meetings shall be held at such times and places as provided in the rules of the community council. Members of the community council shall receive no compensation.
The necessary expenses of the community council shall be budgeted and paid by the city.
[ 2009 c 549 § 2012; 1967 c 73 § 3; ]
The adoption, approval, enactment, amendment, granting or authorization by the city council or commission of any ordinance or resolution applying to land, buildings or structures within any community council corporation shall become effective within such community municipal corporation either on approval by the community council, or by failure of the community council to disapprove within sixty days of final enactment, with respect to the following:
Comprehensive plan;
Zoning ordinance;
Conditional use permit, special exception or variance;
Subdivision ordinance;
Subdivision plat;
Planned unit development.
Disapproval by the community council shall not affect the application of any ordinance or resolution affecting areas outside the community municipal corporation.
Upon annexation or consolidation, pending the effective enactment or amendment of a zoning or land use control ordinance, without disapproval of the community municipal corporation, affecting land, buildings, or structures within a community municipal corporation, the zoning ordinance, resolution or land use controls applicable to the annexed or consolidated area, prior to the annexation or consolidation, shall remain in effect within the community municipal corporation and be enforced by the city to which the area is annexed or consolidated.
Whenever the comprehensive plan of the city, insofar as it affects the area of the community municipal corporation has been submitted as part of an annexation proposition and approved by the voters of the area proposed for annexation pursuant to chapter 88, Laws of 1965 extraordinary session, such action shall have the same force and effect as approval by the community council of the comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance and subdivision ordinance.
[ 1967 c 73 § 4; ]
In addition to powers and duties relating to approval of zoning regulations and restrictions as set forth in RCW 35.14.040, a community municipal corporation acting through its community council may:
Make recommendations concerning any proposed comprehensive plan or other proposal which directly or indirectly affects the use of property or land within the service area;
Provide a forum for consideration of the conservation, improvement or development of property or land within the service area; and
Advise, consult, and cooperate with the legislative authority of the city on any local matters directly or indirectly affecting the service area.
[ 1967 c 73 § 5; ]
The terms of existence of any community municipal corporation shall be for four years or until 30 days after the effective date of this section, whichever is sooner.