Form of Government of First Class Cities

First Class Cities must have a population of ten thousand or more. They may choose form of government through adoption of local charters; governments of first class cities, therefore, do not follow a uniform pattern. See Washington State Constitution, Article XI, Section 10, as amended by Amendment 40; Chapter 35.22 RCW and RCW 35.01.010.

MAYOR-COUNCIL

Aberdeen

• People Elect
  Mayor, 12 councilmembers (two from each of six wards), four-year terms, councilmanic terms overlapping.
• Mayor Appoints
  Department heads, finance director (finance director is ex-officio city clerk), boards, and commissions subject to confirmation by the council.

Bellingham

• People Elect
  Mayor, and seven councilmembers (one from each of six wards, one at-large). Four-year terms, except one councilmember at-large for a two-year term, councilmanic terms overlapping.
• Mayor Appoints
  A Chief Administrative Officer and administrative department heads (police chief, fire chief, public works director, deputy administrator, director of planning and community development, director of parks and recreation, municipal court administrator) are appointed by and serve at the Mayor’s discretion, with three exceptions: the City Attorney and Finance Director require approval of the City Council for appointment or removal and the Library Director is appointed by the Bellingham Public Library Board of Trustees. The planning commission, and certain advisory boards are appointed without council approval. The civil service commission, board of adjustment, and library board are subject to council approval.

Bremerton

• People Elect
  Mayor, municipal court judge and nine councilmembers (one from each of nine districts). Four-year terms, councilmanic terms overlapping. (Effective January 1, 2014 the city council will be reduced in size to seven members one from each of seven districts)
• Mayor Appoints
  Administrative heads with confirmation by the city council, including: administrative services director, building official, city attorney, city clerk, city engineer, city treasurer, chief of fire, chief of police, community development director, public works director, human resources manager, and civil service officer. Appoints park board, city planning commission, civil service commission, traffic safety commission, public access citizens advisory committee, solid waste advisory committee, Bremerton Housing Authority, disability action committee, parking advisory board and building appeals board, with consent of the city council.
  
  A city (internal) auditor is appointed by an audit committee comprised of two Bremerton residents, an independent Certified Public Accountant, and two Council members and serves at the pleasure of the committee.

Everett

• People Elect
  Mayor and seven councilmembers (all at-large). Four-year terms, councilmanic terms overlapping. Two municipal judges.
• Mayor Appoints
  Department heads, chief administrative assistant, city attorney, superintendent of parks and recreation, board of library trustees, and advisory boards, subject to confirmation by the council; not subject to confirmation - city clerk, city treasurer, chief of police, city engineer, fire chief, city planner, civil service commission, and other appointive officers.

Seattle

• People Elect
  Mayor, nine councilmembers (all at-large), and city attorney. Four-year terms, councilmanic terms overlapping. Nine municipal court judges.
• Mayor Appoints
  Department heads; most appointments are subject to confirmation by the council.
• Council Appoints
  The city auditor who shall have a four-year term and is appointed by the majority of the council. May be removed for cause by a majority of the council.

Spokane

• People Elect
  Mayor, council president, and six councilmembers. Mayor and council president are elected at-large. Two councilmembers are elected from each of three districts, with terms overlapping. The term for each elected official is four years.
• Mayor Appoints
  Department heads, city clerk and city attorneys, all subject to city council confirmation; assistant department heads, all other officers and employees.  

COUNCIL-MANAGER

Richland

• People Elect
  Seven councilmembers at-large, six serving overlapping four-year terms and one serving a two-year term.
• Council Elects
  One of its members as mayor for a two-year term following each biennial election.
• Council Appoints
  City manager, library board, parks and recreation commission, planning commission, economic development committee, personnel board, and utility advisory committee.

Tacoma

• People Elect
  Mayor and eight councilmembers who constitute a nine-member council. Mayor serves a four-year term. Councilmembers - five elected to district positions, three elected at-large, all of which have four-year overlapping terms.
  
  Civil service board - three members elected at-large, one member appointed by city manager and director of the department of public utilities, one member elected by city employees.
• Council Appoints
  City manager, subject to reconfirmation every two years.
• Mayor and Council Appoints
  Committees, boards and commissions.
• Manager Appoints
  City attorney, city clerk, and all department heads except library and utility director who are appointed by their respective boards subject to civil service provisions.

Vancouver

• People Elect
  Mayor and six other councilmembers for four-year staggered terms.
• Mayor Appoints Civil service commission and Vancouver housing authority, without council approval. Aviation advisory committee, board of adjustment, building-fire codes board of appeals, parking commission, parks and recreation commission, planning commission, project review committee, and urban forestry commission, cable television commission, library board, international affairs commission, charter review, and mayor/city council salaries commission subject to council confirmation.
• Council Appoints
  City manager.
• Manager Appoints
  City attorney, subject to confirmation by council; other officers, department heads, and employees.

Yakima

• People Elect
  Seven councilmembers (four elected to district positions, three elected at-large), to serve four-year overlapping terms.
• Council Elects
  One of its members as mayor for two-year term following each biennial election.
• Council Appoints
  City manager, advisory boards, and commissions.
• Manager Appoints
  All department heads; other officers and employees, the majority of whom are subject to civil service merit system provisions.

Related MRSC Resources

MRSC Index - First class cities