Chapter 4.01
General Administrative Procedures

Sections:

4.01.010 Policy on Boards, Commissions and Other Administrative Agencies.

4.01.020 Purposes.

4.01.030 Appointment.

4.01.040 Compatibility of Office.

4.01.050 Disqualification.

4.01.060 Attendance.

4.01.070 Meetings.

4.01.080 Rules.

4.01.090 Indemnification.

4.01.010 Policy on Boards, Commissions and Other Administrative Agencies.

It is the policy of the City to utilize citizen boards, commissions, committees and other groups to aid the process of effective, responsible and efficient government by:

A.  marshalling and channeling the resources of expertise and insight available in the community to complement the judgment of the council and professional staff;

B.  providing more available forums for dialog and public hearings;

C.  providing mechanisms appropriate for the ascertainment of facts and the discernment of views; and

D.  broadening the base of citizen participation in the processes of self-government.

[Ord. C24826 § 1]

4.01.020 Purposes.

To the ends declared in SMC 4.01.010, the city council expresses its purpose to:

A.  people these agencies of government with persons who are qualified by training and experience in the subject matter or fairly representative of the groups interested in the subject matter;

B.  insist upon willing self-sacrifice and personal integrity such as will sustain these officials above the appearance of impropriety;

C.  require the necessary effort and attendance at meetings;

D.  facilitate the work of such bodies by giving them support and adequate guidance; and

E.  protect the members of official agencies from the burdens of liability and other frustrations which might impede conscientious decision making. To such extent as is consistent with the statute, ordinance, or Charter provision creating each board, commission and committee, the City follows the principles set forth in SMC 4.01.030 through 4.01.090.

[Ord. C24826 §§ 1, 2]

4.01.030 Appointment.

Appointments to City agencies are to be made from residents of the city, unless the agency is authorized by state law to conduct activities on a regional basis, who have reached the age of eighteen years and who have indicated a willingness to serve in such capacity in response to efforts by the mayor to extend the opportunity for service to all concerned citizens and groups so as to achieve the greatest degree of public confidence and expertise.

[Ord. C30159; Passed: 7/22/1991]

4.01.040 Compatibility of Office.

No particular kind of private or public employment disqualifies a person from appointment or retention unless the employment can be expected to give rise, in more than an incidental and isolated way, to obligations inconsistent with one’s obligations as a member of the agency. However, unless the city council specifically determines in each particular case that special and unusual circumstances exist which justify the appointment to or continuation of an agency, City employees are not to be appointed or reappointed to any agency and any member of an agency who becomes a City employee is not to continue as a member of the agency.

[Ord. C24826 § 2]

4.01.050 Disqualification.

No member of an agency is to participate in the hearing, consideration, or decision on a matter under circumstances of actual or apparent bias or partiality arising from close personal, familial, or business relationship with interested parties, or a pecuniary interest that could be directly or indirectly affected by the agency’s decision.

[Ord. C24826 § 2]

4.01.060 Attendance.

Each agency is to specify by rule the procedures whereby the chair determines whether an absence is excused and the attendance of each member at meetings of the agency or committees of the agency is recorded. The chair reports unexcused absences to the mayor. Three consecutive unexcused absences, or absences from twenty-five percent or more of the meetings in a year, is ground for removal of a member.

[Ord. C24826 § 2]

4.01.070 Meetings.

Agencies shall endeavor to hold meetings, particularly where public hearing or citizen input is an important aspect of the action being taken, during weekday evening hours.

[Ord. C24826 § 2]

4.01.080 Rules.

Each agency is to promulgate rules for the conduct of its business which shall promote the policies and objectives of this chapter.

[Ord. C24826 § 2]

4.01.090 Indemnification.

The City includes the individual members of official City agencies within coverage afforded officers and agents by its insurance program and indemnification policy as set forth in SMC chapter 3.07 to protect and hold them harmless from any action, claim, or proceeding against them arising out of the performance or failure of performance of their duties and functions which might result in personal liability, and by such insurance, or through the office of the city attorney, or otherwise, hold them personally harmless from all expenses arising from such claims, in all cases where the members have acted within the scope of their agency in good faith.

[Ord. C31066; Passed: 2/21/1994]