Court Opinion

ID: 2774535
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-01-29 17:49:33.925243+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:26:33.708405
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                         JAN. 29,2015
                                                                  In the Office of the Clerk of Court
                                                                W A State Court of Appeals, Division III

          IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                             DIVISION THREE

SPOKANE ENTREPRENEURIAL CENTER,                    )
SPOKANE COUNTY, DOWNTOWN                           )
SPOKANE PARTNERSHIP, GREATER                       )
SPOKANE INCORPORATED, THE                          )
SPOKANE BUILDING OWNERS AND                        )
MANAGERS ASSOCIATION, SPOKANE                      )          No. 31887-7-111
ASSOCIATION OF REAL TORS, THE                      )
SPOKANE HOME BUILDERS                              )
ASSOCIATION, THE INLAND PACIFIC                    )
CHAPTER OF ASSOCIATED BUILDERS                     )
AND CONTRACTORS, A VISTA                           )          UNPUBLISHED OPINION
CORPORATION, PEARSON PACKAGING                     )
SYSTEMS, WILLIAM BUTLER, NEIL                      )
MULLER, STEVE SALVATORI, NANCY                     )
MCLAUGHLIN, MICHAEL ALLEN, and                     )
TOM POWER,                                         )
                                                   )
                     Respondents,
                                                   )
       v. 	                                        )
                                                   )
SPOKANE MOVES TO AMEND THE                         )
CONSTITUTION, ENVISION SPOKANE,                    )
VICKY DALTON, SPOKANE COUNTY                       )
AUDITOR, in her official capacity, THE             )
CITY OF SPOKANE,                                   )
                     Appellants.                   )

       KORSMO, J. - This case involves a pre-election challenge to a Spokane initiative

measure by a large number of individuals and organizations. We conclude that a pre­

election challenge to a local initiative by private citizens can be brought only in very

narrow circumstances and that this initiative does not constitute one of those occasions.

The respondents lack the strong showing of standing necessary to prosecute this case as a

pre-election challenge. We reverse.
No. 31887 -7-II1
Entrepreneurial v. Spokane Moves

                                            FACTS

       The respondents are 17 individuals, associations, businesses, and county

government who initially brought this action in 2013 against the proponents of two

separate Spokane initiatives. The first of those initiatives, sponsored by Spokane Moves

to Amend the Constitution (SMAC), sought to address the Citizens United l decision by

prohibiting corporations from lobbying public officials or making contributions to

political campaigns. The second initiative was sponsored by Envision Spokane, the

appellant in this action.

       The Envision initiative sought to amend the city charter to create or guarantee

individual rights. 2 It includes (I) a Neighborhood Rights provision that requires a

neighborhood vote on zoning changes in conjunction with a "major commercial,

industrial, or residential development;" (2) an Environmental Rights provision that gives

the Spokane River and the Spokane Valley - Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer rights and grants

standing to the city, citizens of the city, and groups of residents to enforce these rights;

(3) a Workplace Rights initiative that adopts the federal and state3 Bill of Rights and

purports to extend them to the workplace and also gives unionized workers the right to

collective bargaining; and (4) a Corporate Rights provision that strips corporations of

       1Citizens Unitedv. Federal Election Comm'n, 558 U.S. 3lO, 130 S. Ct. 876,
175 L. Ed. 2d 753 (2010).
       2   The entire initiative can be found as an appendix to this opinion.
       3   The initiative does not explain what constitutes the state Bill of Rights.
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Entrepreneurial v. Spokane Moves

their legal status should they violate any of the other three provisions of the initiative.

The initiative also contains a severability clause.

          Envision had brought the same initiative to the ballot in 20 II, and a much

different version had appeared on the ballot in 2009. Both failed with the voters of

Spokane, although the 2011 initiative had received 49.1 percent of the vote. The SMAC

proposal likewise had failed at the ballot in 2011.

          Both initiatives again qualified for the ballot in 2013. The Spokane City Attorney

prepared a memorandum for the City Council suggesting that the initiatives were invalid.

The City Attorney also obtained a memorandum from a private law firm reaching the

same conclusion. However, when presented with the two initiatives, the City Council on

June 3, 2013, declined to take legal action 4 and, instead, forwarded the two initiatives by

resolution to the Spokane County Auditor for inclusion on the 2013 general election

ballot.

          The respondents filed actions to enjoin both initiatives and to obtain declaratory

judgments invalidating them. The initiative sponsors, the City of Spokane, and the

Spokane County Auditor were named as defendants. The respondents filed numerous

affidavits describing their disagreement with the two initiatives as well as the potential

repercussions on their business interests if the initiatives were enacted. Envision answered

the complaint and challenged standing, the availability of a declaratory judgment as a

      4 The Spokane Municipal Code permits the City Council, by a five vote
supermajority, to challenge an initiative after forwarding it to the ballot. SMC 2.02.11 S(C).
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remedy, the merits of the complaint, and raised an anti-SLAPP defense. 5 The County

Auditor answered the complaint, recognized that she was sued only in her professional

capacity, and asked that the trial court act rapidly with clear directions since time was of

the essence. The City's answer is not part of the record of this appea1. 6

       In response to the request for a preliminary injunction, Envision filed a motion to

strike pursuant to RCW 4.24.525 of the anti-SLAPP statute. In the course of its argument,

Envision contended, inter alia, that the plaintiffs lacked standing to pursue the injunction.

The trial court denied the preliminary injunction that sought to keep both initiatives off the

2013 ballot, concluding that respondents had not established imminent irreparable harm.

The two initiatives then proceeded to a declaratory judgment hearing the following month.

Because the two initiatives were joined for hearing, respondents' memorandum and

affidavits addressed both. Respondents' contentions in support of standing largely

addressed free speech rights imperiled by the SMAC initiative. Clerk's Papers (CP) at

222-29. Envision challenged justiciability, arguing respondents had no genuine

controversy prior to adoption of the initiative and had not been harmed simply by placing

the issue on the ballot. The County Auditor advised the court that after September 4,

2013, it would be impossible to remove the initiatives from the ballot.

      5   Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, RCW 4.24.500-.525.
      6   The City's position at the declaratory judgment was to advise the court that if any
initiatives were invalid, they should not be put on the ballot lest city tax money be wasted.
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       The trial court heard argument August 23,2013, and orally ruled at the conclusion

of the hearing. With respect to the issue of standing, the court indicated that it stood by its

earlier ruling on the injunction request that the parties had standing and that a justiciable

controversy existed. 7 The court struck down both the SMAC initiative and the Envision

initiative. The trial court concluded that the entire subject matter of both initiatives was

outside the scope of the initiative power.8 The County Auditor was directed not to place

them on the ballot.

       Written findings of fact and order on declaratory judgment were entered August 29.

Envision promptly appealed to this court. 9 Envision also sought an emergency stay of the

ruling in an effort to maintain its position on the ballot. By written order entered September

3,2013, a commissioner of this court declined to grant the stay. In light of the fact that the

following day was the deadline for inclusion on the ballot, no motion to modify the ruling

was filed.

       7  The transcript of the injunction hearing is not part of the record of this appeal.
While the absence of the transcript is understandable in light of the issues argued by the
parties, that fact complicates our review.
        8 The trial court concluded that the Neighborhood Rights provision was
administrative rather than legislative in nature and also attempted to exercise power
delegated to a legislative body; the Environmental Rights provision failed because it was
administrative rather than legislative in nature, it attempted to exercise power not granted
to cities, and it conflicted with state or federal law; the Workplace Rights provision failed
because it exercised power not granted to cities and conflicted with state or federal law;
and the Corporate Rights provision conflicted with state or federal law.
       9   The ruling on the SMAC initiative was not appealed.
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Entrepreneurial v. Spokane Moves

       In its brief, Envision briefly argued that the respondents lacked standing to pursue

injunctive relief, but did have standing to pursue the declaratory judgment action. to It

reiterated that opinion at oral argument.

                                         ANALYSIS

       The sole issue we address is whether the respondents had standing to bring this

pre-election challenge. 11 After looking generally at standing and related issues governing

judicial review of the pre-election process, we will address respondents' standing claims.

We conclude that a heightened showing of standing is in order for pre-trial election

challenges and the respondents have not satisfied that standard in this case.

       Efforts to derail prospective legislation through a lawsuit necessarily bring the

judicial and legislative powers into conflict. When the legislative process in question

involves the constitutionally or statutorily protected right of citizens to initiate legislation,

courts have an additional reason to step gingerly. In order to avoid significant separation

of powers problems, courts have recognized both substantive and prudential limitations

on the exercise ofjudicial authority when addressing potential legislation.

       One substantive limitation, applicable to all litigation, is the standing doctrine. In

actions under the Uniform Declaratory Judgment Act (UDJA), the Washington Supreme

       10 In view of the fact that Envision prevailed on the injunction and, therefore, is
not an aggrieved party within the meaning of RAP 3.1, we need not discuss standing to
pursue the injunction.
       11   We express no opinion concerning the trial court's ruling that the Envision
initiative is invalid.
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Court "has established a two-part test to determine standing." Grant County Fire Prot.

Dist. v. Moses Lake, 150 Wash. 2d 791, 802, 83 P.3d 419 (2004). First, the test asks

"whether the interest sought to be protected is arguably within the zone of interests to be

protected or regulated by the statute" in question. Id. (internal quotation and citation

omitted), Second, "the test considers whether the challenged action has caused injury in

fact, economic or otherwise, to the party seeking standing." Id. (internal quotations

omitted).

       The issue of standing is reviewed de novo by appellate courts. Knight v. City ofYelm,

173 Wn.2d 325,336,267 P.3d 973 (2011). Standing is a jurisdictional concern that can

be presented for the first time on appeal. RAP 2.5(a)(I); Int'l Ass'n ofFirefighters, Local

1789 v. Spokane Airports, 146 Wn.2d 207,212-13 n.3, 45 P.3d 186 (2002). An appellate

court can even raise the issue sua sponte. 12 In re Recall of West, 156 Wash. 2d 244, 248,

126 P.3d 798 (2006); Branson v. Port ofSeattle, 152 Wn.2d 862,875 n.6, 101 PJd 67

(2004).

       Justiciability is another substantive doctrine applicable to declaratory judgment

actions. Broadly speaking, justiciability requires that there be a genuine controversy

between two parties. As defined for purposes of a declaratory judgment action,

justiciability requires (I) an actual, present and existing dispute (2) between parties

       12 When the parties do not present evidence or argument on the issue, an appellate
court typically will allow the parties the opportunity to brief or otherwise be heard on an
issue. RAP 10.l(h). Here, the parties did develop the standing issue in the trial court and
discussed it in their briefing in that court and this one.
                                              7
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Entrepreneurial v. Spokane Moves

having genuine and opposing interests (3) that are substantial rather than potential or

theoretical (4) that a court can conclusively resolve. Coppernoll v. Reed, 155 Wash. 2d 290,

300, 119 P.3d 318 (2005). "Justiciability is a threshold inquiry and must be answered in

the affirmative before a court may address the merits of a litigant's claim." ld.

       Various prudential doctrines also have shaped the judicial approach to pre-election

litigation. Washington courts have long declined to issue advisory opinions. ld. at 297-98;

State ex rei. Campbell v. Superior Court ofPierce County, 25 Wash. 271, 274, 65 P. 183

(190 I). Courts also have a long history of avoiding political questions since those matters

may require a court to interfere with the political authority of another branch of government.

Brown v. Owen, 165 Wash. 2d 706, 719, 206 P.3d 310 (2009); State v. Manussier, 129 Wash. 2d
652, 670-71, 921 P .2d 473 ( 1996) (expressly recognizing a challenge to the initiative

process as presenting a political question); Parmeter v. Bourne, 8 Wash. 45, 50,35 P. 586

(1894) (declining to consider challenge to election results). Accordingly, courts must also

respect, and not interfere with, the legislative process, including the initiative process.

Coppernoll, 155 Wash. 2d at 296-97.

       Consideration of these prudential doctrines led the Coppernoll court to authoritatively

address the role of the judiciary in responding to pre-election challenges to an initiative or

referendum. It concluded that pre-election challenges could be entertained only when they

involved either (1) procedural challenges to placing the initiative on the ballot or (2) the

subject matter of the initiative was beyond the initiative power. ld. at 297. The court

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Entrepreneurial v. Spokane Moves

characterized these as "prudential" exceptions to the non-involvement doctrine. Id. at 301.

       Two years later, the court nicely summarized its Coppernoll decision:

      Preelection review of initiative measures is highly disfavored. The
      fundamental reason is that 'the right of initiative is nearly as old as our
      constitution itself, deeply ingrained in our state's history, and widely
      revered as a powerful check and balance on the other branches of
      government.' Given the preeminence of the initiative right, preelection
      challenges to the substantive validity of initiatives are particularly
      disallowed. Such review, if engaged in, would involve the court in
      rendering advisory opinions, would violate ripeness requirements, would
      undermine the policy of avoiding unnecessary constitutional questions, and
      would constitute unwarranted judicial meddling with the legislative
      process. Thus, preelection substantive challenges are not justiciable.
      Further, substantive preelection review could unduly infringe on the
      citizens' right to freely express their views to their elected representatives.

      We will therefore consider only two types of challenges to an initiative
      prior to an election: that the initiative does not meet the procedural
      requirements for placement on the ballot (a claim that appellants do not
      make here) and that the subject matter of the initiative is beyond the
      people's initiative power. If an initiative otherwise meets procedural
      requirements, is legislative in nature, and its 'fundamental and overriding
      purpose' is within the State's broad power to enact, it is not subject to
      preelection review. That the law enacted by an initiative might be
      unconstitutional does not mean that it is beyond the power of the State to
      enact. Therefore, a claim that an initiative would be unconstitutional if
      enacted is not subject to preelection review.

Futurewise v. Reed, 161 Wn.2d 407,410-411, 166 P.3d 708 (2007) (internal citations and

footnote omitted).

      "Standing requirements tend to overlap the requirements for justiciability under the

UDJA." Am. Legion Post v. Dep't o/Health, 164 Wn.2d 570,593, 192 P.3d 306 (2008).

This observation highlights the heart of the problem presented in this case. UDJA standing

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and justiciability in the pre-election context both require that there be an existing actual

dispute that is substantial rather than potential. Coppernoll, 155 Wash. 2d at 300. Standing

typically is liberally granted in UDJA actions. However, the noted prudential concerns

require courts to narrowly construe the scope of the UDJA in pre-election challenges,

putting the liberal standing of typical declaratory judgment cases and the limited

justiciability of pre-election challenges in tension, if not in conflict. With these issues in

mind, it finally is time to tum to the standing problem in this case.

       In their motion for declaratory judgment, the plaintiffs claimed standing to challenge

the Envision initiative under the zone of interests test in this manner:

       The Envision initiative seeks to regulate zoning, river rights, employment
       relationships, and corporate rights, each of which affects Plaintiffs' interests.

       Plaintiff business associations' and owners' abilities to continue or launch
       development projects will be regulated by the zoning provision, which
       purports to overturn the process for obtaining zoning variances ....

       The initiative's river rights provision will impair the present sanitary sewage
       collection, treatment, and disposal system operations of Plaintiff Spokane
       County, and the hydroelectric power operations of Plaintiff Avista ....

       The workplace provision will prevent Plaintiffs from enforcing workplace
       policies and from communicating effectively with their employees ....

CP at 225-26 (internal citations to supporting documents omitted). The plaintiffs also

claimed that the public importance of the two initiatives justified standing. CP at 224,

229. In terms of perceived injury from the initiatives, the plaintiffs primarily stressed an

infringement on free speech and communication. CP at 226-29.

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       Notably, the plaintiffs did not argue to the trial court their standing to challenge the

Corporate Rights provision. Their remaining assertions of interest vaguely allege fear of

potential litigation. The best developed arguments involved the effect of the

Environmental Rights provision on use of the Spokane River. 13 Spokane County's interest

in the Environmental Rights provision stems from its assertion that the initiative will

"impair" its sewage collection and treatment operations. Its supporting declaration shows

that it maintains a sewage treatment plant on the Spokane River and that passage of the

Envision initiative might increase costs by subjecting the County to additional litigation.

Avista Corporation made similar claims, citing the potential for litigation as one of its

concerns about the Environmental Rights provision. 14 It gave as an example the possibility

that it might be sued over the storage of water in Lake Coeur d'Alene, as required by its

federal licensing agreement, by someone who prefers a stronger river flow.

       Liberally construed, the fact that both Spokane County and Avista use the

Spokane River might "arguably" put them "within the zone of interests" of the

Environmental Rights provision since it addresses the same river. However, in the

context of a pre-election challenge, we think that more should be required than simply

       13For this reason, we will only address the standing claims involving the
Environmental Rights provision. Other assertions included contentions that the
Workplace Rights provision would make it impossible for employers to talk to employees
or even more generalized complaints that the initiatives were bad for business.
       14 A vista was the only plaintiff/respondent to assert standing with respect to all
four provisions of the Envision initiative.
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the fact that those plaintiffs can hypothesize someone asserting a claim against them on

behalf of the river system. The initiative must, in our opinion, more directly relate to

Spokane County or Avista's use of the river. 15

       An example of a direct relationship is found in Am. Traffic Solutions v. Bellingham,

163 Wash. App. 427, 260 P.3d 245 (2011), review denied, 173 Wash. 2d 1029 (2012). There

the City of Bellingham had entered into a contract with American Traffic Solutions (ATS)

to install an automatic traffic safety camera system ("red light cameras"). Id. at 430.

Opponents filed an initiative to prohibit use of the cameras and A TS sued to block the

initiative from the ballot. Id. at 430-31. On appeal, the opponents contended ATS lacked

standing to bring the action, thus rendering the matter non-justiciable. Id. at 432. Division

One of this court concluded that because ATS was "a party to the contract," it "clearly" had

standing to challenge the initiative. Id. at 433. In our view, ATS was in the center of the

zone of interests since it had a contract with the city that would be affected if the initiative

passed. This aspect of standing was satisfied.

       The other aspect of standing is whether the party has suffered an "injury in fact,

economic or otherwise." Grant County, 150 Wash. 2d at 802. Here, while both Avista and

Spokane County express a fear of potential litigation, they can point to no direct harm

       15 A different situation would be presented if the initiative had, for instance,
expressly attempted to authorize litigation concerning water returned to the river
following use for hydroelectric generation or sewage treatment. Those examples would
specifically target current usage and bring Avista and Spokane County squarely within
the zone of interests of the initiative.
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from the initiative. There is no existing project that is named in the initiative or that

specifically would be impacted by the broad and very general terms of the initiative. We

believe a more concrete showing of likely harm is necessary to establish an injury in fact

that would justify a pre-election challenge. Once again, American Traffic provides an

example. There an existing contract would be impaired immediately upon passage of the

initiative, leaving very little time in which to seek relief. That is a sufficiently direct

injury to supply standing.

       In contrast here, post-election litigation still would be a practical remedy for

Spokane County or Avista were the Envision initiative to pass. Either could bring a post­

election declaratory action or defend a suit against it on the basis of the initiative's

invalidity. Until the initiative passes, any harm to the respondents is necessarily

speculative and would be dependent upon someone trying to use the initiative against

them. This is too indefinite to justify pre-election judicial intervention.

       None of the existing pre-election standing cases require a different result. One

such case is Mukilteo Citizens v. City a/Mukilteo, 174 Wn.2d 41,272 P.3d 227 (2012).

That case involved another challenge by one group of city residents to an anti-automatic

traffic safety camera initiative offered by another group of city residents. Id. at 43-44.

The trial court denied the opponents' request for an injunction, the initiative was enacted

at the ensuing election, and the opponents appealed. Id. at 44-46. The initiative

proponents challenged the standing of the opponents, who were acting as an association.

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Id. at 46. The court determined that there was associational standing. Id. The first prong

of the test for associational standing is whether the individual members of the group have

individual standing. 16 Id. In answering that question in Mukilteo, the court stated that the

"members have standing to sue in their own right as it consists of Mukilteo residents who

are eligible to vote." Id.

       We do not believe that the Mukilteo court was conferring standing to challenge an

initiative on any person who could vote on the initiative. In addition to being a roadmap

to detouring every local initiative to the courtroom, it simply was not the issue before the

court in Mukilteo. The court conducted no analysis of the issue of individual standing in

accordance with its traditional zone of interest test and cited no relevant authority in

support of its statement. Instead, the statement seems simply to indicate that the

association's members had standing and, therefore, the association could act in their

behest. If the court meant more, it will undoubtedly develop its reasoning in terms of

individual standing in a future case.

       Most other cases of pre-election standing involve actions brought by the local

government against proponents of an initiative. E.g., City ofLongview v. Wallin,

174 Wash. App. 763, 301 P.3d 45 (2013) (city blocked red light camera initiative). The

       16 It is for this reason we need not address standing claimed by the business
association respondents. Their membership cannot establish individual standing, so the
association cannot. We do not address whether the associations' participation in this
lawsuit was "germane to the purpose" of each association. Am. Legion, 164 Wash. 2d at
595-96.
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No. 3 I 887-7-III
Entrepreneurial v. Spokane Moves

effected government typically will have standing to challenge an initiative due to the

expense of holding the election and the need to defend the initiative should it pass. In

some private party cases, our courts have rejected pre-election challenges without

addressing the party's standing. E.g., Futurewise, 161 Wash. 2d at 407 (determining

challenges were substantive and could not be considered pre-election); Coppernoll,
155 Wash. 2d at 290 (ruling that initiative did not exceed scope of legislative power). In

still other cases, the basis for private party standing was not explained. E.g., Seattle Bldg.

and Constr. Trades Council v. Seattle, 94 Wn.2d 740,620 P.2d 82 (1980); Ford v.

Logan, 79 Wn.2d 147,483 P.2d 1247 (1971).

       One basis that might have applied in Seattle Building and in Ford is public interest

standing, an argument also raised by the respondents in their briefing to the trial court. 17

In general, public interest standing is granted when the case presents an issue of great

significance that needs court resolution. Farris v. Munro, 99 Wash. 2d 326, 330, 662 P.2d
821 (1983) (upholding standing to challenge constitutionality of state lottery due to tax

importance of the lottery). Citing the proliferation of red light traffic camera challenges,

        17 Although not raised in the trial court briefing, several of the respondents claimed
taxpayer standing in their declarations. However, taxpayer standing is not appropriate
unless the "proper public official," typically the Attorney General, first declines a request
to bring suit on behalf of all taxpayers. Farris v. Munro, 99 Wash. 2d at 329. Accord,
Friends o/North Spokane County Parks v. Spokane County, _ Wn. App. _, 336 P.3d
632,640 (2014). There was no such request in this case and we, therefore, do not consider
this as a case of taxpayer standing.
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Division One stated that public interest standing was an alternative basis for finding

standing in American Traffic Solutions. Am. Traffic Solutions, 163 Wash. App. at 433.

       We conclude this is not a case for granting public importance standing. While the

Envision initiative is recurring in Spokane, there do not appear to have been several

similar initiatives in other local jurisdictions nor any evidence suggesting that this

initiative presents questions of concern outside of the Spokane area. Thus, the situation

presented by American Traffic Solutions is not involved in this case. Similarly, we are

not convinced that a pending local initiative is equivalent to a voter approved state

constitutional provision. The critical fact in Farris was that the constitutional provision

had become law and was not merely a potential law. Few proposed laws present an issue

of public importance prior to adoption. While there certainly may be local initiatives that

present questions of public importance 18 prior to adoption by the voters, this is not one of

those cases. 19

       Accordingly, we conclude that the respondents lacked standing to prosecute this

pre-election challenge. They were not so clearly situated in the center of the zone of

interests, nor as certainly to suffer immediate harm from adoption of the initiative, that

        In contrast, an effort to rescind a county's charter by initiative does provide an
       18
example of a question of public importance. See Ford, 79 Wash. 2d at 157.
       19 While there may have been several reasons for its decision, the failure of the
Spokane City Council to challenge the initiative despite the legal advice of the City
Attorney, can also be viewed as evidence that the initiative did not present an issue of
public importance. Local governments are the local policy making bodies and have a
better view than the judiciary concerning which issues are of public importance.
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they have demonstrated standing to pursue this action. Similarly, the public importance

standing doctrine does not extend to this potential local law prior to its adoption by the

voters. There thus was no justiciable question presented.

       This case, however, does contrast nicely with the situation presented by the SMAC

initiative. As previously noted, that initiative attempted to impose limits on corporations

by controlling their ability to contribute to elections or lobby public officials. Since the

thrust of the initiative was to limit corporate speech as defined in part by the Citizens

United decision, the corporate respondents in this case-and those who dealt with

them-were easily in the center of the zone of interests of that initiative. Additionally,

those respondents faced an immediate harm from the initiative in the form of restriction

on free speech rights that could not have been timely parried by a post-election lawsuit.

There was standing to challenge the SMAC initiative. 20 The plaintiffs were not similarly

situated with respect to the Envision initiative.

       In summary, we conclude that, in order for a private party to bring a pre-election

challenge to a local initiative, the party must establish both that it is in the center of the

zone of interests affected by the initiative and that the certainty of immediate specific

harm to that party is such that a post-election lawsuit is not a practical remedy for the

party. In the absence of this strong showing of standing, the pre-election challenge is not

       20 The ease with which the respondents could demonstrate standing in the SMAC
case may be the basis why the standing ruling is not as well-developed in Envision. In a
sense, the Envision case rode on the coattails of the SMAC case in the trial court, but
cannot do so here.
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justiciable. Speculative standing based on fears about how a provision, if adopted by

voters, might potentially be used in some future litigation is too unspecific a fear to

justify judicial intervention in the electoral process. A court would have to give an

advisory opinion on a political question-two practices that courts generally attempt to

avoid.

         The need for a strong showing of standing is highlighted by cases-such as this

one-where both parties now prefer judicial approval for their position. The respondents

understandably want to avoid yet a third election campaign and put this matter to rest for

good. Envision, having been denied a place on the 2013 ballot, equally understandably

now would like to have a court prospectively inform the electorate that its initiative, in

whole or in part, is valid. These desires should not unnecessarily draw the judiciary into

deciding a political question that might not actually present itself if the voters again

decline to adopt the Envision initiative. Instead, the prudential concerns that limit

justiciability should also apply to ensure that would-be plaintiffs have undisputable

standing to raise their challenge before they are allowed to derail an election.

         The City of Spokane had standing to challenge the Envision initiative if it had

desired to do so. However, respondents could not obtain that same standing simply by

making the same arguments that the City could have presented. 21 There needed to be a

         21We do not opine on the respondents' post-election standing other than to note
that the standards of pre-election standing do not apply.

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showing that the respondents would truly be affected by the initiative and that the harm

from the initiative would require immediate court intervention. That has not happened

here.

        The order granting the declaratory judgment against Envision is reversed and this

matter is remanded for the City of Spokane to place the initiative on the next available

ballot in accordance with its June 3, 2013 resolution.

        A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the

Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to

RCW 2.06.040.

                                                ~lxorsmo,                J.

WE CONCUR:

        Lawrence-Berre

                                             19 

                                         APPENDIX 

 A CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY BILL OF RIGHTS

Whereas, the people of the City of Spokane wish to build a healthy, sustainable, and democratic
community;

Whereas, the people of the City of Spokane wish to build that community by securing the rights,
freedoms, and well-being of residents, workers, neighborhoods, and the natural environment;

Whereas, the people of the City of Spokane recognize their responsibility to be well-informed
and involved citizens of the City of Spokane, to be stewards of the natural environment, and to
assume the responsibility for enforcing their rights and the rights of others;

Whereas, the people of the City of Spokane have adopted a Comprehensive Plan for the City of
Spokane, which envisions the building of a healthy, sustainable, and democratic community, but
the people recognize that the Comprehensive Plan is not legally enforceable in many important
respects;

Whereas, the people of the City of Spokane wish to create a Community Bill of Rights which
would, among other goals, establish legally enforceable rights and duties to implement the vision
laid out in the Comprehensive Plan; and

Whereas, the people of the City of Spokane wish to create a Community Bill of Rights, which
would elevate the rights of the community over those of corporations.

   NOW, THEREFORE, THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF SPOKANE HEREBY ORDAIN:

Section 1. A new section be added to the beginning of the Charter of the City of Spokane, which
shall be known as the "Community Bill of Rights," and which provides as follows:

FIRST, NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN
THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

       Neighborhood majorities shall have the right to approve all zoning changes proposed for
       their neighborhood involving major commercial, industrial, or residential development.
       Neighborhood majorities shall mean the majority of registered voters residing in an
       official city neighborhood who voted in the last general election. Proposed commercial
       or industrial development shall be deemed major if it exceeds ten thousand square feet,
       and proposed residential development shall be deemed major if it exceeds twenty units
       and its construction is not financed by governmental funds allocated for low-income
       housing.

       It shall be the responsibility of the proposer of the zoning change to acquire the approval
       of the neighborhood majority, and the zoning change shall not be effective without it.
       Neighborhood majorities shall also have a right to reject major commercial, industrial, or
       residential development which is incompatible with the provisions of the City's
       Comprehensive Plan or this Charter.
       Approval of a zoning change or rejection of proposed development under this section
       shall become effective upon the submission of a petition to the City containing the valid
       signatures of neighborhood majorities approving the zoning change or rejecting the
       proposed development, in a petition generally conforming to the referendum provisions
       of the Spokane municipal code.

SECOND, THE RIGHT TO A HEALTHY SPOKANE RIVER AND AQUIFER.

       The Spokane River, it tributaries, and the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer
       possess fundamental and inalienable rights to exist and flourish, which shall include the
       right to sustainable recharge, flows sufficient to protect native fish habitat, and clean
       water. All residents of Spokane possess fundamental and inalienable rights to sustainably
       access, use, consume, and preserve water drawn from natural cycles that provide water
       necessary to sustain life within the City. The City of Spokane, and any resident of the
       City or group of residents, have standing to enforce and protect these rights.

THIRD, EMPLOYEES HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS IN THE WORKPLACE.

       Employees shall possess United States and Washington Bill of Rights' constitutional
       protections in every workplace within the City of Spokane, and workers in unionized
       workplaces shall possess the right to collective bargaining.

FOURTH, CORPORATE POWERS SHALL BE SUBORDINATE TO PEOPLE'S RIGHTS.

       Corporations and other business entities which violate the rights secured by this Charter
       shall not be deemed to be "persons," nor possess any other legal rights, privileges,
       powers, or protections which would interfere with the enforcement of rights enumerated
       by this Charter.

Section 2. Effective Date of Amendment to City Charter. If approved by the electors, this City
Charter amendment shall take effect and be in full force upon issuance of the certificate of
election by the Spokane County Auditor's Office.

Section 3. All ordinances, resolutions, motions, or orders in conflict with this City Charter
amendment are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict. If any part or provision of these
Charter provisions is held invalid, the remainder of these provisions shall not be affected by such
a holding and shall continue in full force and effect.