Title
Approval of a Resolution Opposing Local Initiative Proposition No. 1 Concerning an Initiative to Amend the Olympia Municipal Code to Add a New Chapter for Labor Standards for Certain Employees for Work Scheduling, a Minimum Wage, a Safe Workplace Environment, and other Labor Regulations
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
None
Report
Issue:
Whether to oppose local initiative Proposition No. 1 to Olympia’s voters that would amend the Olympia Municipal Code to add a new chapter for labor standards for certain employees for work scheduling, a minimum wage, a safe workplace environment, and other labor regulations.
Staff Contact:
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager, CMO, 360.753.8046.
Presenter(s):
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager, CMO, 360.753.8046.
Background and Analysis:
Olympia Municipal Code (OMC) Chapter 1.16 and RCW 35A.11.100 provide the legal authority for Olympia voters to directly initiate and enact legislation through the initiative process. RCW 35A.11.100 requires that an initiative petition must be signed by 15% of the total number of names of persons listed as registered voters within the city on the day of the last preceding city general election.
The City received initiative petitions signed by persons requesting the Olympia City Council amend the Olympia Municipal Code to adopt an Ordinance Concerning Labor Standards for Certain Employees by submitting same to the Olympia City Clerk on June 24, 2025, with additional petition signatures filed with the City Clerk on June 30, 2025.
The petitions were subsequently submitted to the Elections Division of the Thurston County Auditor to ascertain whether such initiative petition had secured the requisite number of valid signatures of registered voters meeting the statutory criteria within the City of Olympia.
On July 14, 2025, Mary Hall, Thurston County Auditor, issued a Certificate of Sufficiency, declaring the initiative petition had secured 5,796 verified signatures of registered voters, and that number was in excess of 15% of the total number of registered voters (38,591) in the City of Olympia on the day of the last preceding city general election.
RCW 35.17.260 requires that the Olympia City Council must either pass the proposed initiative ordinance without alteration within 20 days after the county auditor’s issuance of a Certificate of Sufficiency is received by the City, or cause to be called a special election to be held on the next election date as set forth in RCW 29A.04.330, provided the resolution deadline for that election has not passed, for submission of the proposed ordinance without alteration to a vote of the people.
On July 17, 2025, the Olympia City Council held a special study session to investigate, review, learn, and explore issues raised in the proposed Workers’ Bill of Rights initiative ordinance to establish labor standards concerning work scheduling, a minimum wage in the City of Olympia, a safe workplace environment, and other labor regulations.
In Olympia City Council Resolution No. M-2633, the Council acknowledged it was unable to fully and fairly investigate, study, reflect, deliberate and secure public engagement and dialogue into the complex issues presented by the initiative petition ordinance due to time constraints and statutory requirements. As a result of statutory requirements, the Council passed Resolution No. M-2633 on July 22, 2025, to submit the proposed initiative ordinance without alteration to an election of the registered voters of the City of Olympia on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
RCW 42.17A.555(1) authorizes the City Council to take action to express a collective decision, or to actually vote upon a motion, proposal, or ordinance, or to support or oppose a ballot measure so long as (a) the agenda item includes the title and number of the ballot proposition, and (b) members of the public and councilmembers are afforded an approximately equal opportunity to express an opposing view at a public hearing.
Climate Analysis:
Local initiative Proposition No. 1 does not impact the environment.
Equity Analysis:
If approved by voters, local initiative Proposition No. 1 would amend the Olympia Municipal Code by enacting a new chapter concerning labor standards for certain employees. The proposed ordinance would not establish a single minimum wage for all employees working in the City of Olympia, but instead place employees in three categories depending on the number of employees employed by specific definitions of large, medium, or small employers, and these categories would have different minimum wages to be phased in over a period of years.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Not known.
Financial Impact:
None
Options:
1. Approve the Resolution opposing local initiative Proposition No. 1 that would amend the Olympia Municipal Code to add a new chapter titled an “Ordinance Concerning Labor Standards for Certain Employees.”
2. Direct staff to modify the wording of the Resolution.
3. Do not approve the Resolution.
Attachments:
Resolution
Presentation