Chapter 2.40
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
Sections:
2.40.010 Parks and recreation department established.
2.40.020 Director appointment.
2.40.030 Duties of parks and recreation department.
2.40.040 Parks and recreation commission.
2.40.050 Continuity and transfer to department.
2.40.060 Policy manual adopted.
2.40.010 Parks and recreation department established.
The County council hereby establishes within the executive branch an administrative department called the parks and recreation department. The County administrator may take any preliminary or transitional steps necessary for the formation of the department and the implementation of this chapter. (Ord. 13-2008 § 2)
2.40.020 Director appointment.
A. After receiving the recommendations from the parks and recreation commission, the County administrator shall appoint a director of the parks and recreation department, subject to confirmation by a majority of the County council. The director’s duties shall include management oversight and administration of all department activities. The director will be appointed for an indefinite period and shall serve, as do all County department heads, at the will of the County administrator.
B. It is the responsibility of the director to hire department staff in accordance with the personnel policies and procedures of the County and any other applicable laws and regulations. (Ord. 13-2008 § 3)
2.40.030 Duties of parks and recreation department.
The parks and recreation department shall be responsible for the administration of all parks along with the operation of recreational programs and other duties as may be assigned. (Ord. 13-2008 § 4)
2.40.040 Parks and recreation commission.
A. The County council hereby establishes a parks and recreation commission which shall serve in an advisory capacity to the parks and recreation department.
B. The parks and recreation commission shall consist of seven members appointed by a majority of the County council, who shall be registered voters and reside as follows: two persons on Orcas Island; two persons on San Juan Island, two persons on Lopez Island, one person on Shaw Island. Terms shall be staggered so that approximately one-third shall expire every other year. All terms of office shall be for six years. All appointments for the purpose of filling vacancies shall be for the remaining portion of the unexpired term.
C. The parks and recreation commission shall meet at least monthly.
D. In conducting its business, the parks and recreation commission shall follow the Uniform Business Rules, including the Rules of Procedure, unless other rules have been duly adopted by the County council. (Ord. 13-2008 § 5)
2.40.050 Continuity and transfer to department.
A. All employees, contracts and operations existing under the former parks and recreation board and prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter (April 11, 2008) shall be transferred to the parks and recreation department and be continued without interruption.
B. Monies contained in, and appropriated to, the park fund pursuant to RCW 36.68.070 shall be transferred from the former parks and recreation board to the parks and recreation department in the same amounts and categories. Control of monies and projects in the parks improvement fund shall be transferred from the former parks and recreation board to the parks and recreation department. Into this fund shall be placed the allocation as the County council annually appropriates to the parks and recreation department, together with miscellaneous revenues derived from the operation of parks, playgrounds and other recreational facilities, as well as grants, gifts and bequests for park and recreational purposes. All balances remaining in the fund at the end of the year shall be carried over in such fund to the succeeding year.
C. All members of the former parks and recreation board shall continue in their terms and offices as members of the parks and recreation commission until such time as their terms of office would have ordinarily expired.
D. Policy and budget matters brought before the County council relating to the parks and recreation department shall have received the review of the parks and recreation commission. (Ord. 13-2008 § 6)
2.40.060 Policy manual adopted.
The County council hereby adopts the policy manual attached as Exhibit A* to the ordinance codified in this chapter as the first rules of the park department. The County administrator is authorized to promulgate such additional rules as are necessary for the effective operations of the parks department after consideration of such rules and recommendation of the parks and recreation commission. (Ord. 13-2008 § 24)
* Code reviser’s note: Exhibit A to Ord. 13-2008 is on file in the office of the County council.