State Laws That Make A City

Bellevue is not a 1st or 2nd class City. 

It is a Code City. 

The 3rd class City under RCW has been removed and does not exist anymore. https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/dispo.aspx?Cite=35.24 

A first class city is a city with a population of 10,000 or more at the time of organization or reorganization that has adopted a charter (RCW 35.01.010). There are 10 first class cities in Washington, with four operating under council-manager and six under mayor-council.

A second class city is a city with a population over 1,500 at the time of organization or reorganization that does not have a charter and does not operate as a code city under the Optional Municipal Code (RCW 35.01.020). There are five second class cities in Washington, all operating under the mayor-council form.

Code cities were created by the state legislature in order to grant the greatest degree of local control to municipalities possible under the state constitution and general law. 

This classification has been adopted at the majority of municipalities in Washington, including Renton, Bellevue, Omak, Olympia, Longview, Pullman, and University Place.

Code cities (shorthand for optional municipal code cities, as encoded by Title 35A RCW) are authorized to perform any function not specifically denied them in the state constitution or by state law. They may perform any function granted to any other city classification under Title 35 RCW.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_government_in_Washington_(state)

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Need to change these laws a bit

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https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=35A

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=35A.12.180

Interesting

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=35A.01.040

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=35A.15.010

Title 35A RCW

OPTIONAL MUNICIPAL CODE

Chapters

35A.01	Interpretation of terms.
35A.02	Procedure for incorporated municipality to become a noncharter code city.
35A.03	Incorporation as noncharter code city.
35A.05	Consolidation of code cities.
35A.06	Adoption and abandonment of noncharter code city classification or plan of government.
35A.07	Procedure for city operating under charter to become a charter code city.
35A.08	Procedure for adoption of charter as charter code city.
35A.09	Amendment or revision of charters of charter code cities.
35A.10	Adoption and abandonment of charter code city classification.
35A.11	Laws governing noncharter code cities and charter code cities—Powers.

35A.15.010

Authority for disincorporation—Petition—Resolution.

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Title 35 RCW

CITIES AND TOWNS

Chapters

35.01	Municipal corporations classified.
35.02	Incorporation proceedings.
35.06	Advancement of classification.
35.07	Disincorporation.

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=35

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=35.07.020

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=35.18.020

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=35.18.060

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=35.18.200

interesting ... 

35.18.290	Abandonment of council-manager plan.
35.18.300	Abandonment—Method.
35.18.310	Abandonment—Special election necessary.
35.18.320	Abandonment—Effect.