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Ordinance 2159!. Kr ORDINANCE NO. 2159' AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, AMENDING SECTION 1.14.040 OF THE EDMONDS CITY CODE REGARDING PARTICIPATION BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS IN MATTERS AFFECTING PROPERTY. WHEREAS, a question has been posed to the City Council regarding the interpretation of Section 1.14.040(4) of the Edmonds City Code when applied to the proposed Commu- nity Development Code for the City of Edmonds, and WHEREAS, said Section 1.14.040(4) refers to any matter coming before the City Council which would affect property other than the official's own residence in which the public official or his family has a financial or pecuniary interest, and WHEREAS, the question posed above makes reference to the "appearance of fairness doctrine," and WHEREAS, the City Attorney has advised that the appearance of fairness doctrine does not apply to general city-wide legislation, and WHEREAS, the City Council regularly considers matters which have city-wide impact such as adoption of the budget, setting the real property tax levy, establishing utility rates, authorizing councilmanic bonds, enacting comprehensive plans and comprehensive zoning ordinances, and WHEREAS, the Council also regularly considers matters which affect only particular properties or neighborhoods that do not have city-wide or larger area impact such as rezoning particular pieces of property, vacating streets, granting licenses to individual businesses, approving sub- divisions, hearing administrative appeals, and WHEREAS, said Section 1.14.040(4) was never intended to apply to general city-wide legislation, and has not been so construed at any time in the past several years since the enactment of the same in any matter of general city-wide legislation, such as prior amendments to the zoning code, adoption of annual property tax levies, adoption of the annual budget, utility taxes and/or rates, and other non - quasi -judicial actions of the City Council, now, therefore, In keeping with the original intent of said section and past practices regarding the same, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Edmonds City Code Section 1.14.040(4) is hereby amended by limiting the section to real property and adding a new sentence to the same so that the section shall hereafter read as follows: (4) Any matter coming before the City Council which would affect real property, other than the public official's or his family's own residence, in which the public official or his family may have a financial or pecuniary interest. This provision shall not be appli- cable to city-wide legislation, or other matters of general public concern regarding a geographical area greater than the neighborhood in which the property is situated, unless the property would enjoy a special benefit not generally enjoyed by other properties similarly situated. -2- Section 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect five (5) days after passage and publication by posting as provided by law. APPROVED: MAYOR, H-. H. HARRISON ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED: CITY CLERK, IRENE MARNEY MORAN APPROVED AS TO FORM: OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY: FILED WITH THE CISTY CLERK: August 26, 1980 PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: September 9, 1980 POSTED: September 10, 1980 EFFECTIVE DATE: September 15, 1980 -3- AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING ORDINANCE STATE OF WASHINGTON ss: COUNTY OF SNOHOMISH I RENE VARNEY MORAN , being first duly sworn on oath deposes and says that she is over the age of eighteen (18) years and is competent to testify as to the matter stated herein. There is no official newspaper or other newspaper printed and published within the City. In accordance with RCW 35A.12.160, on the loth day of September , 1980, affiant posted true and correct copies of the attached Ordinance No. 2159 , passed by the City Council on the 9th day of September , 1980, at the official posting places for City notices which are the public bulletin boards at the following locations: Edmonds Civic Center 250 Fifth Avenue North Edmonds, Washington 98020 Edmonds Public Library Civic Center, 250 Fifth Avenue North Edmonds, Washington 98020 Edmonds Branch of United States Post Office 201 Main Street Edmonds, Washington 98020 DATED this loth day of September 1980. p SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this lo day of to Public in and for the State of Washington, residing at