If you liked our policy brief on local initiatives and referenda, you may be interested in a few stories today from around the state regarding city and county classifications.  A locality’s classification is the starting point in determining whether its residents have initiative and referendum powers.

First, in a blog post in the Kitsap Caucus, Chris Henry writes about Port Townsend potentially becoming a non-charter code city.  It is currently a second class city; as such, Port Townsend residents do not have the powers of initiative and referendum.  If the city does eventually become a code city, it would be able to adopt those powers.  The post includes examples of what it means, practically, to be a code city (as opposed to a second class city).

Second, the Yakima Herald-Republic reports that Yakima County voters will decide in November whether to begin the process of becoming a charter county.  If they do, they could adopt initiative and referendum powers as part of the charter.  Because Yakima is a commission county currently, they do not have those powers.  (Residents of the city of Yakima do, however.)