RES NO. 2020-14 AUTHORIZING USE OF ELECTRONIC SIGNATURESPage 1 of 3
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-14
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of Bainbridge Island,
Washington, authorizing the City Manager to develop and
adopt a policy governing the use of electronic signatures
when transacting City business; Authorizing the Mayor and
Deputy Mayor to use electronic signatures when conducting
City business.
WHEREAS, during the 2020 Regular Session, the Washington State Legislature
passed, and Governor Inslee signed, ESSB 6028, adopting the Uniform Electronic
Transactions Act (UETA); and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the UETA is to facilitate the use of electronic
signatures to conduct business through electronic transactions; and
WHEREAS, under the UETA, the City is authorized to adopt a policy governing
the extent to which the City will send and accept electronic signatures to and from other
persons and otherwise create, generate, communicate, store, process, use, and rely upon
electronic signatures in the transaction of City business; and
WHEREAS, on February 29, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of
emergency in response to the spread of COVID-19 in Washington State; and
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, the City Manager, as the executive head of the
City for purposes of emergency management, issued a Proclamation of Emergency in
response to the COVID-19 public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2020-
06, affirming the Proclamation of Emergency; and
WHEREAS, to reduce the spread of COVID-19, many City employees have been
telecommuting; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of a policy governing the use and acceptance of
electronic signatures will facilitate the transaction of City business by employees who are
telecommuting; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor, and in their absence the Deputy Mayor, signs certain
records, including approved ordinances and resolutions, and an option to sign such
records electronically may reduce face-to-face interactions during the COVID-19 public
health emergency; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of a policy governing the use and acceptance of
electronic signatures will also increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the City’s
business processes.
Page 2 of 3
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council finds it to be in the public interest to allow the use of
electronic signatures in City business to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Section 2. The City Council recognizes that whenever the use of a written, affixed
by hand, or “wet” signature created when a person physically marks a record with the
intent to sign the record is authorized or required, an electronic signature may be used
with the same force and effect, except as otherwise required by law.
Section 3. The City Council authorizes and directs the City Manager to adopt, and
periodically amend as necessary, a policy governing the use of electronic signatures
during the transaction of City business. The policy shall be consistent with this resolution
and the provisions of ESSB 6028, as either may be amended. The policy adopted shall
specify one or more electronic signature platforms to be used by City employees when
affixing an electronic signature to electronic records relating to City business.
Section 4. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are hereby authorized to affix electronic
signatures to electronic records relating to City business, except as otherwise required by
law, using one of the electronic signature platforms specified in the policy adopted by the
City Manager pursuant to Section 3 of this resolution.
Section 5. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon passage.
PASSED by the City Council this 28th day of July 2020.
APPROVED by the Mayor this 28th day of July 2020.
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATE:
Page 3 of 3
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: July 10, 2020
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: July 28, 2020
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-14