Chapter 2.76
COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEE
Sections:
2.76.050 Duties and responsibilities.
2.76.010 Created.
The following standing committees of the city council are created and established:
(1) Finance/administration;
(2) Public safety;
(3) Public works. [Ord. 1591 § 1, 2017; Ord. 995 § 1, 1986.]
2.76.020 Purpose.
The standing committee shall function as an advisory body to the council as a whole in reviewing policy matters referred to them by the council, and such other matters as the whole council by simple majority vote may direct, within their respective areas of responsibility, and formulating recommendations to the council regarding action proposed to be taken in general. The purpose of each committee shall be to review matters within the following subject areas:
(1) Finance/Administration. The review, analysis and recommendation of financial policy, audit, examine and review all city bills and vouchers for payment. Review and recommend functions of municipal government, such as council rules and procedures, conflict of interest and ethics issues for public officials. In addition, this committee shall be responsible for inventory of municipally owned public property and the comprehensive municipal insurance coverage; and intergovernmental relationships and general matters relating to the conduct of municipal affairs;
(2) Public Safety. Law enforcement, fire protection, emergency medical treatment, health and safety, environmental health (including the combined county/city health board), animal control, and other questions involving public health, safety, and welfare;
(3) Public Works. Shall include all public utilities, including streets, wastewater treatment plant and collection system, refuse collection and disposal, parks; general coordination with privately owned public utilities, special purpose districts such as the Port of Clarkston and P.U.D. Supervision over all construction, building code enforcement and regulation, all functions of land use planning such as zoning, zoning enforcement and comprehensive planning; and generally coordinate and oversee all matters pertaining to economic development, tourism development and promotion, developmental grant applications, housing rehabilitation programs; and planning of capital improvement. [Ord. 1591 § 1, 2017; Ord. 1579 § 1, 2017; Ord. 995 § 2(1) – (5), 1986.]
2.76.030 Membership.
Each committee:
(1) Shall have a chairperson and at least two other members, to be appointed annually upon the reorganization at the first regular meeting of each calendar year. The mayor shall be an ex officio member of every committee only, and shall have no voice or vote in the operation, performance, or duties of a committee.
(2) May include citizens, business and/or property owners who may be appointed and/or removed by majority vote of the council. Appointees should have a concerned interest in the city’s affairs (i.e., registered voter, business owner, property owner). Appointees should represent the community as a whole and not have any political affiliation attached to the appointment. Appointees shall not have an official vote on any matter.
(3) Shall avoid having two same councilpersons as co-members of more than two committees or having three same councilpersons as co-members of more than one committee.
(4) All appointments shall be for one year or the remainder of the calendar year in which the appointment is made. [Ord. 1426 § 1, 2007; Ord. 1179 § 1, 1993; Ord. 995 § 2(6), 1986.]
2.76.040 Meetings.
Committees shall meet at the call of the chairperson. The date, time and place of each meeting shall be announced at a preceding regular or special council meeting, and notice of the meeting shall be given in compliance with the State Open Public Meetings Act; the foregoing notice requirements shall not prevent the holding of a meeting. All committees are encouraged to meet at least once each quarter. [Ord. 995 § 1(7), 1986.]
2.76.050 Duties and responsibilities.
(1) The committees shall consider, review and make recommendations to the council concerning matters referred to them by the council. The mayor, committee chairpersons and boards and commissions are encouraged to suggest items to the council which should be considered by a committee. Whenever any item is referred to a committee, the council should establish a date by which the committee should report back to the council. Each committee shall have general responsibility, as indicated in CMC 2.76.020, to investigate, collect and review appropriate information for the formulation of possible council action and make recommendations to the council. Committees shall not have authority to take any action unless expressly authorized to do so by the affirmative votes of a majority of all council members.
(2) In carrying out their duties and responsibilities, the committees shall have the power and authority to examine all records, registers, minutes and papers pertaining to the subject matter under review or consideration, including those kept by boards and commissions of the city. The city officers, department heads, and board and commission chairpersons shall cooperate with and assist the committees in carrying out their duties and responsibilities and in furnishing necessary information, except where prohibited by law; provided, that in the event any city officer, department head or board or commission chairperson deems to release or question information not in the best interest of the city, authority for that release shall be vested in the mayor.
(3) In the event of a conflict as to which committee has the responsibility with respect to a particular subject matter or area, the question shall be referred to the council who, by majority vote, will determine which committee should take responsibility for the matter in question. [Ord. 995 § 2(8), 1986.]
2.76.060 Reports.
In the appropriate place on the council agenda, any reports from the standing committee shall be made by the committee chairperson or an alternate designated by the chairperson. A minority report may be given by any committee member who dissents from the report of the majority. Oral reports shall be sufficient, unless a council majority feels that a written report should be furnished. [Ord. 995 § 2(9), 1986.]
2.76.070 Staffing.
All requests for staffing requirements for assistance to committees shall be provided by the city administration upon request from the committee to the mayor, or appropriate department head. [Ord. 995 § 2(10), 1986.]