The initiative would ‘decimate’ city land use codes, Scales says

The City Council isn’t going to tell you how to vote, but they do want you to know they oppose Initiative 933.

The council on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution warning of the state ballot initiative’s impact on city land use regulations, but struck out language urging voters to oppose it.

“I felt it was important that 933 got some exposure,” said Councilman Kjell Stoknes, who drafted the resolution. “From my point of view, it’s a win.”

Also called the “Property Fairness” by supporters, I-933 would require cities and other jurisdictions to pay land owners for regulations that adversely impact the use or value of property.

This could be “potentially devastating” for the island’s environmental protections and could hamper zoning rules, according to Stoknes.

Councilman Bob Scales agreed that I-933 would likely “decimate (city) code and the city’s ability to enforce code.”

However, Scales asked that the resolution be amended to not explicitly encourage voters to oppose the initiative.

“I wasn’t elected to tell other people how to vote,” Scales said.

Stoknes said he has no problems with the change.

“I’m just glad we unanimously supported it,” he said.

Councilman Chris Snow said he felt a responsibility as an elected official to support the resolution.

“I think we have a fiduciary responsibility to the city to oppose (I-933) because of its potential fiscal impact,” he said, citing a Association of Washington Cities estimate that the initiative could cost cities $4.5 billion.

Bainbridge joins at least eight other cities in opposing I-933, including Olympia, Puyallup and Mercer Island.