The Sammamish City Council voted 5-2 Tuesday to move forward with a resolution that states its intent to adopt citizen-enacted initiative and referendum powers, with Deputy Mayor Kathy Huckabay and Councilmember Tom Odell voting against.

The limited powers allow residents to create or repeal laws within the city by way of petition. The council decided to put the matter up to the public in the April special election. That nonbinding advisory vote passed with 55 percent approval with a 24 percent voter turnout.

Council will have the first reading of the ordinance at a July 14 special meeting. Council will take action on the legislation July 21.

There is a 90-day waiting period between publication of the resolution of intent, set to be published July 10, and the date the ordinance goes into effect. This state required waiting period allows time for a petition from the citizens to stop the ordinance.

“That’s just a provision of state law that oddly enough gives the citizens of Sammamish the ability to bring in a referendum within that 90 days to block the powers of initiative and referendum,” City Attorney Michael Kenyon said.

It is likely the powers would go into effect early October, Deputy City Manager Lyman Howard said.