Everett voters were approving all 12 proposed changes to the city’s charter.
Most measures were winning by overwhelming majorities in early returns, netting at least 61 percent of the vote.
City officials say amending Everett’s constitution will streamline operations, reduce duplication and clarify vague provisions on the books.
The changes take effect as soon as the vote is certified.
If approved, the Everett charter changes will:
* Expand the time employees can file an appeal with the civil service commissioner from 10 days to 30 days.
* Identify mayor pro tem and interim mayor as two distinct offices.
* Amend financial and legal procedures and remove outdated language.
* Bring the city charter in line with stricter state standards on conflicts of interest.
* Eliminate the Board of Adjustments and allow a hearing examiner to review requests for zoning code variances and appeals.
* Lift a ban of city employees on city advisory boards.
* Lift an ignored rule that places four-year term limits on park directors. The change would also allow the mayor to appoint a parks director without council approval.
* Change the terms of parks director appointments.
* Allow elected officials the power to overturn voter initiatives through a supermajority vote after two years.
* Scrap a large section of the charter that requires council approval for the sale or lease of surplus property. The city would still be bound by state law.
* Amend city charter rules to allow gender-neutral wording and correct typographical errors in the charter.
* Delete outdated language from the 1968 changeover from the commission form of government.
In Woodway, voters roundly rejected paying property taxes for access to the Sno-Isle Library system.
Woodway property owners were asked whether to pay a levy rate of 43 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value for library services. The town has not paid library taxes or contracted for service since 1996.
Reporter Bill Sheets contributed to this story.
Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com.
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