Title
Approval of a Resolution Regarding Council Action on the Workers' Bill of Rights Initiative Ordinance Concerning Labor Standards for Certain Employees
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
None.
City Manager Recommendation:
None.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve
1. A Resolution enacting the Workers' Bill of Rights Initiative Ordinance Concerning Labor Standards for Certain Employees into the Olympia Municipal Code
or
2. A Resolution sending the Initiative proposal to the November general election ballot for a vote by the people.
Staff Contact:
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager, City Manager's Office, 360.753.8046.
Mark Barber, City Attorney, 360.753.8338
Presenter(s):
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager
Background and Analysis:
On June 24, 2025, the City of Olympia City Clerk received the first of two batches of initiative petition signatures in support of a Workers' Bill of Rights initiative, led by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 367, the second batch of petition signatures being received on June 30, 2025.
The City Clerk's office transmitted all petition signatures to the Thurston County Auditor (Thurton County Elections), to verify the signatures upon the petition as voters registered to vote in the City of Olympia. On July 14, 2025, Thurston County Auditor, Mary Hall, issued a Certificate of Sufficiency, verifying that the Workers' Bill of Rights Initiative had received more than 15% of the total number of registered voters within the City of Olympia on the day of the last preceding city general election as required by RCW 35A.11.100, totaling 5,796 valid petition signatures of registered voters in the City of Olympia at the last preceding city election (38,591).
The City of Olympia retains the powers of initiative and referendum as stated in OMC 1.16.010. The powers of initiative and referendum shall, when exercised, be done in the manner set forth for the commission form of government in RCW 35.17.240 throug...
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