Whatcom County Charter

# CHARTER

ARTICLE 1 POWERS OF THE COUNTY ARTICLE 2 THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH ARTICLE 3 THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ARTICLE 4 ELECTIONS ARTICLE 5 THE PUBLIC INTEREST ARTICLE 6 FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION ARTICLE 7 PERSONNEL SYSTEM ARTICLE 8 CHARTER REVIEW AND AMENDMENTS ARTICLE 9 GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE 10 TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

See County Structure Power Money

# Preamble

# ARTICLE 1 POWERS OF THE COUNTY

1.10 General Powers

1.11 Citizens’ Rights

1.20 Intergovernmental Relations

1.30 Construction

1.40 Name, Boundaries, County Seat, and Classification

1.50 Separation of Powers and Cooperation of Branches

1.51 Performance and Strategic Planning

# ARTICLE 2 THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

2.10 Composition

2.11 Three Districts

2.12 Nominations

2.13 Election Countywide

2.14 Terms of Council Members

2.20 Powers

2.21 Council Subpoena Powers

2.22 Organization

2.23 Rules of Procedure

2.24 Relationship with Other Branches

2.30 Ordinances

2.40 Emergency Ordinances

2.50 Resolutions

2.60 Codification of Ordinances

# ARTICLE 3 THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

3.10 Composition and Powers

3.20 The County Executive

3.21 (Executive) Election, Term of Office and Compensation

3.22 Powers and Duties

3.23 Appointments by County Executive and Confirmation

3.24 Appointments by the Chief Officers

3.25 Qualifications

3.26 Executive Pro Tempore

3.30 Administrative Offices

3.40 The Executive Offices

3.50 Other Elected Officials

3.51 (Elected Officers) Election, Term of Office and Compensation

3.52 (Assessor and Sheriff) Powers and Duties

3.53 Appointments by Elected Officials

3.54 (Chief Officers) Qualifications

3.55 County Prosecuting Attorney

3.60 Appointed Executive Officers

3.61 Clerk of the Superior Court

3.62 County Medical Examiner

# ARTICLE 4 ELECTIONS

4.10 Election Procedures

4.20 Qualifications

4.30 Conflict of Interest

4.40 District Boundaries

4.41 Districting Committee

4.42 Districting Plan

4.50 Vacancies

4.60 Commencement of Terms of Office

# ARTICLE 5 THE PUBLIC INTEREST

5.10 Direct Government

5.20 The Initiative

5.30 Initiative - Limitations

5.40 Initiative - Procedures

5.41 Mini-Initiative

5.42 Initiative - Insufficient Signatures

5.50 The Referendum

5.60 Referendum - Procedures

5.65 Initiatives, Referendums and Mini-Initiatives Numbering System

5.70 The Recall

5.80 Implement by Ordinance

# ARTICLE 6 FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION

6.05 Budget Cycle

6.10 Presentation and Adoption of Budgets

6.20 Budget Information

6.30 Contents of Budget

6.40 Budget Message

6.41 Budget Control

6.50 Copies of the Budget

6.60 Consideration and Adoption of the Budget

6.70 Additional Appropriations

6.71 Contingency Appropriations

6.72 Emergency Appropriations

6.73 Additional Capital Budget Appropriations

6.80 Lapses of Appropriations

6.90 Illegal Contracts

# ARTICLE 7 PERSONNEL SYSTEM

7.10 Purpose

7.20 Exemptions

7.30 Administration

# ARTICLE 8 CHARTER REVIEW AND AMENDMENTS

8.10 Charter Review Commission

8.11 Election and Period of Office

8.12 Vacancy

8.13 Procedures

8.20 Charter Amendment - General Provisions

8.21 Amendments by the Charter Review Commission

8.22 Amendments by the Public

8.23 Amendments by the County Council

8.24 Repeal of Charter

# ARTICLE 9 GENERAL PROVISIONS

9.10 Severability and Construction

9.20 Purchasing, Contracts, Claims, and Bonds

9.30 Franchises

9.40 Public Disclosure

(Repealed Dec. 31, 1981)

9.50 Oath of Office and Bonds

9.60 Information Management

# ARTICLE 10 TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

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