AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM

 
Agenda Subject:
Ordinance No. 6825 (Comeau)(15 Minutes)
Date:
June 9, 2021
Department:
City Attorney
Attachments:
Ordinance No. 6825
Exhibit A
Budget Impact:
Current Budget: $0
Proposed Revision: $0
Revised Budget: $0
Administrative Recommendation:
For discussion only.
Background for Motion:
Background Summary:
In State v. Blake, the Washington Supreme Court invalidated the State’s drug possession law (RCW 69.50.4013) because the law lacked the legally required element of “knowing” possession.  The State Legislature passed ESB 5476 in response to the Blake decision.  In addition to other law changes, ESB 5476 reduces RCW 69.50.4013 from a felony to a misdemeanor, and decriminalizes some drug paraphernalia possession under RCW 69.50.412.  

With these changes, the City’s drug possession and paraphernalia ordinances in ACC 9.22 are no longer needed and are now inconsistent with State law as revised by ESB 5476.  To conform with ESB 5476, the ordinances in ACC 9.22 should be repealed, and ACC 9.24.010 should be amended to remove its reference to ACC 9.22 and to add precision and clarity to that code section. 
Reviewed by Council Committees:
Councilmember: Jeyaraj Staff: Comeau
Meeting Date: June 14, 2021 Item Number: