Chapter 15.24
WATER AND WASTEWATER CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD

Sections:

15.24.010    Creation.

15.24.020    Membership.

15.24.030    Officers, meetings, quorum and bylaws.

15.24.040    Authority—Powers and duties.

15.24.050    Initiation of policy recommendations.

15.24.010 Creation.

There is created a Centralia Water and Wastewater Utilities Citizen Advisory Board, hereinafter referred to as “board,” to serve in an advisory capacity to the city council and the water and wastewater utilities department administrator, hereinafter referred to as “administrator,” in matters enumerated in this chapter. (Ord. 1824 § 1, 1994).

15.24.020 Membership.

A.    Criteria. The selection of board members will be made from individuals who have an interest in water and wastewater activities and in the community, as may be evidenced by their training, experience, and/or actions, and who reside within the service area of one or both utilities and is a customer of one or both utilities. Representatives of the board should be selected from areas as evenly dispersed geographically as possible.

B.    Composition. The board will consist of five people and preferable will include both male and female members and a youth representative who may be eighteen years of age or younger at the time of appointment. In addition to the five board members, one city council representative will serve for a two-year period and act as a nonvoting council liaison to the board.

C.    Terms. A full term of office for the youth representative will be one year and will expire in December of each year. The full term of office for the remaining board members will be four years; provided, that for appointments to the initial board, the terms shall be staggered, with the terms expiring on December 31st as follows: one member in 1995, one member in 1996, and two members in 1997. Subsequent four-year terms of office shall begin on January 1st of the year in which the appointment is made and expire December 31st on the fourth year thereafter.

D.    Appointment. Members of the board and the city council representative will be appointed by the mayor subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the city council. Board members will be selected without regard to political affiliations and will serve without compensation, except for reimbursement of actual expenditures duly authorized by the city council. Appointments to fill an unexpired term will be for the remainder of that term, after which the mayor and the council will consider a full term appointment.

E.    Removal. Members of the board may be removed by the mayor, with concurrence of the city council, for negligent performance of duties, conflict of interest, malfeasance in office, or other just cause, or for unexcused absence for more than three consecutive regular meetings. The decision of the city council will be final and there will be no appeal therefrom. Board members who are unable to attend regular meetings are expected to tender their resignations.

F.    Vacancies. Vacancies created by cause other than expiration of term shall be filled for the remainder of the term in the same manner as otherwise provided in this section. (Ord. 1824 § 2, 1994).

15.24.030 Officers, meetings, quorum and bylaws.

A.    Officers. The board will, during the first board meeting in January, annually select from its members a chairperson to serve for a one-year period, or until a successor is elected. The chairperson will preside at all meetings; preserve order and decorum, enforce the rules and regulations of the board, sign all letters and documents as authorized by the board and as prescribed by law, and will otherwise perform the duties devolving upon a presiding office. The board will also select a vice chairperson. The board will select a secretary who will assume charge of all records of the board and who will keep accurate and complete minutes of all meetings thereof. The secretary need not be a member of the board.

B.    Meetings. The board will determine a regular meeting schedule (time, place and frequency) as necessary, but not less than once each month, unless the chairperson determines no meeting is necessary. Special board meetings may be held as often as deemed necessary by the board. All meetings will be open to the public. Accurate minutes will be kept of all meetings and shall be made available to the public. A copy thereof will be transmitted to the city manager.

C.    Quorum. Three members of the board will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

D.    Bylaws. The board will adopt bylaws for the conduct of its business, a copy of which will be kept on file in the city clerk’s office. (Ord. 1824 § 3, 1994).

15.24.040 Authority—Powers and duties.

A.    The board will have only such powers and authority as may be granted to it by the city council. The board shall have no final authority over the adoption of policy nor the administration of the water and wastewater utilities department.

B.    The board will act at all times in an advisory capacity to the city council and the administrator and will have no direct power. It will survey public opinion, prepare studies and reports as requested by the council, make recommendations on subjects as may be requested from time to time by the city council, and administrator, or the general public.

C.    The board will serve as a liaison between citizens, the water and wastewater utilities department, and the city council. The board is subject to rules and regulations in the performance of their duties and responsibilities as prescribed by city ordinance and the board manual, both of which may be from time to time amended by the city council. (Ord. 1824 § 4, 1994).

15.24.050 Initiation of policy recommendation.

A.    The community development committee of the city council or the city council will be the initiator of requests to study city policy regarding water and wastewater utilities facilities and programs and the council committee will be responsible for coordinating that effort with the city’s goals and priorities. The council committee will from time to time, but at least annually, communicate its requests to the board.

B.    Requests of the board to study and/or make recommendations on administrative policy will be initiated by the administrator.

C.    The board may from time to time initiate study and recommendations by first submitting the topics to the administrator who will be responsible for coordinating with the community development committee of the council. When approval of the city council is received, the board will commence its work on the approved topics. (Ord. 1824 § 5, 1994).