Chapter 2.28
UTILITY ADVISORY BOARD
Sections:
2.28.010 Board created – Powers and duties.
2.28.020 Membership – Vacancies – Qualifications.
2.28.030 Rules and regulations.
2.28.010 Board created – Powers and duties.
There is hereby created a utility advisory board for the Ketchikan public utilities, which shall have certain delegated powers and responsibilities hereinafter set forth. It shall:
(a) Provide advice and counsel to the utilities manager and the council on all matters pertaining to the operation of the water system, the telecommunications system, and the electric system, to the end that the consuming public is provided with the best possible service consistent with good management and cost;
(b) Consider annual budgets and make recommendations thereon for the efficient and economical operation of the systems;
(c) Study and make recommendations for long-range planning for proper expansion to meet future needs in the systems;
(d) Study and make recommendations generally on utility matters such as, but not limited to, rates, bond issues, fiscal matters, personnel staffing, labor relations, expansions or extensions of service, public relations; and generally have a full and complete surveillance of all the systems in the Ketchikan public utilities and their operations and fiscal affairs on behalf of the council, including the maintenance, operation, expansion, extension and improvement thereof, and to perform such further duties as may be from time to time hereafter delegated to it by resolution of the council; provided, that the council shall reserve specifically to itself approval of all budgets, rates, capital improvement expenditures, acquisition or disposal of property, and indebtedness of all kinds. (Ord. 1611 § 1, 2008)
2.28.020 Membership – Vacancies – Qualifications.
(a) The board shall consist of seven members, one of whom shall be a qualified councilperson. The terms of office begin on January 1st and shall be four years; provided, however, that the councilperson shall serve for a one-year term only; and provided further, that for the initial board two members shall serve a four-year term, two members shall serve a three-year term, two members shall serve a two-year term, and one member shall serve a one-year term. Vacancies shall be filled by the mayor with approval of the council for an unexpired term. No vacancy in the board shall impair the right of the remaining board members to exercise all the powers of the board.
(b) An employee representative from each of the utility’s divisions may volunteer to serve as a nonvoting member of the board. Letters of interest shall be submitted to the city clerk before December 31st of each year, who shall forward such letters of interest to the board secretary. The utility advisory board shall select a division employee representative from such letters of interest no later than the regular meeting in February of each year. Such nonvoting members shall serve a one-year term beginning in March of each year.
(c) Board members, including nonvoting members, shall serve without compensation. (Ord. 1611 § 1, 2008)
2.28.030 Rules and regulations.
(a) The board members shall elect from their number a chair and a vice chair/secretary during the board’s initial organizational meeting. Thereafter, the annual election of these officers shall take place at the regular November meeting and these officers shall serve for a term of one year. Officers may serve for two consecutive terms and may thereafter be reelected after an interval of two years.
(b) The chair shall preside at all meetings and shall be responsible for initiating and/or preparing an agenda with the utility manager’s office for each meeting.
(c) The vice chair/secretary shall preside at meetings in the absence of the chair and shall perform such other of the chair’s duties as required. The vice chair/secretary also shall be responsible for ensuring that a complete and accurate record of all meetings and votes is kept and copies distributed in a timely manner to members of the board and the council. The task of taking minutes and keeping records may be designated to the utility manager’s staff but the secretary shall ascertain the accuracy of the records before approving and signing the same.
(d) Any board member who misses more than three regular meetings in any 12-consecutive-month period without being excused by the board shall automatically forfeit membership on the board.
(e) The board shall meet at a regular time each month, as determined by the board, in the first floor conference room of the KPU administration building or at any other time and place when deemed necessary, at the call of the chair or presiding officer. Reasonable public notice shall be given before each meeting.
(f) A quorum shall consist of a majority of the number of members currently appointed to the board.
(g) Affirmative concurrence by a majority of the board members present at any duly constituted meeting of the board shall carry a motion.
(h) The board shall adopt rules for the conduct of its meetings. (Ord. 1611 § 1, 2008)
2.28.040 Special interests.
With respect to utility matters only, board members shall be subject to the provisions of Section 5-19 of the Charter with regard to personal interest to the same extent as councilpersons. (Ord. 1611 § 1, 2008)