Chapter 2.22
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
Sections:
2.22.020 Created – Eligibility.
2.22.030 Terms – Filling vacancies.
2.22.040 Organization – Meetings.
2.22.060 Rules and regulations.
2.22.070 Appointment and duties of superintendent.
2.22.080 Budget and annual report.
2.22.010 Definitions.
Words used shall have the following meanings:
(1) “Park” means an area of land, with or without water, developed and used for public recreational purposes, including landscaped tracts, picnic grounds, playgrounds, athletic fields, recreation centers, camps, foot, bicycle and bridle paths, motor vehicle drives, wildlife sanctuaries, museums, zoological and botanical gardens, facilities for the use and benefit of the public.
(2) “Board” means board of park commissioners.
(3) “City council” includes the city commission with the city is governed by a body consisting of commissioners. (Ord. 457 § 1, 1975).
2.22.020 Created – Eligibility.
There is created a board of park commissioners, consisting of five members, who shall be appointed by the mayor, with the consent of the city council, from citizens of recognized fitness for such positions who reside in this city. No commissioner shall receive any compensation for his services. (Ord. 457 § 2, 1975).
2.22.030 Terms – Filling vacancies.
The first commissioners appointed shall determine by lot whose term of office shall expire in one, two, three, four and five years respectively, and their terms shall begin after their appointment has been approved by the city council, and upon taking the usual oath of qualification. The terms of office, except the first, shall begin on the first day of January, and, at the expiration of each commissioner’s term, the mayor shall appoint with consent of the city council, one member for a five year term. Members of the board may be removed at any time by the mayor, with the consent of the council, and vacancies for the remainder of the unexpired terms shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointments are made. (Ord. 457 § 3, 1975).
2.22.040 Organization – Meetings.
Immediately after their appointment, members of the board shall meet and organize by electing from the members of the board a president, a secretary and such other officers as may be necessary. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings of the board and of the secretary to keep minutes of all meetings and of all proceedings of the board. A majority of the board constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business and three affirmative votes shall be necessary to carry any proposition. A meeting of the board shall be held at least once a month. (Ord. 457 § 4, 1975).
2.22.050 Powers and duties.
(a) The board shall have all the powers and perform all the duties provided by the laws of the state relating to boards of park commissioners of cities of the third class.
(b) The board shall have the power to conduct any form of recreation or cultural activity that will employ the leisure time of the people in a constructive and wholesome manner, and shall have control and supervision of all parks belonging to the city and may plan, promote, manage, and acquire, construct, develop, maintain and operate, either within or without city limits, parks, squares, parkways and boulevards, play and recreation grounds and/or other municipally owned recreation facilities, including community buildings, and improve and ornament the same, enter into any contract in writing, acting independently or in conjunction with the United States, the state of Washington, any county, city or town, park district, school district, or any such public organizations for the purpose of conducting a recreation program or exercising any other power granted by this chapter; and exercise censorship over any statuary, monuments or works of art presented to the city.
(c) The board may also solicit or receive on behalf of the city council any gifts or bequests of money or other personal property or any donation to be applied, principal or income, for either temporary or permanent use for playgrounds, parks or other recreational purposes.
(d) Powers of the board include the authority to grant concessions and privileges herein under such restrictions and for such compensation as it shall prescribe, the revenue from which shall be used for park purposes; provided, that no concession or privilege shall ever be granted for the sale of any intoxicating liquors, beer, and/or wine in any public park, and that no concession or privilege shall be granted for a period of more than three years unless approved by ordinance.
(e) The board shall have no power to acquire land or property, or to accept gifts of real or personal property, without the approval of the city council, and any property acquired shall be in the name of the city. (Ord. 457 § 5, 1975).
2.22.060 Rules and regulations.
The board shall have power to make rules and regulations for the government and management thereof, including the power to fix charges for the use of any municipally owned or controlled park or recreation facility. All rules and regulations and use charges and amendments and changes adopted by the board shall be promulgated by one publication in the official newspaper of the city, if there be one, and a copy thereof shall be filed in the office of the city clerk-treasurer, or if there is no official newspaper or other newspaper in the city, then the publication shall be in such manner as the city council shall direct. These rules and regulations shall have full force and effect from and after the date of said publication. This chapter and rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto shall be enforced by the police department of the city. Violation of rules and regulations so adopted shall be a violation of this chapter and shall be punished as provided in the general penalty ordinance of the city of Davenport. (Ord. 457 § 6, 1975).
2.22.070 Appointment and duties of superintendent.
The mayor shall have the power to appoint a superintendent who is the best trained and qualified person available therefor. The park superintendent, under the direction of the board, shall have the management of the park and playground system and the appointment and supervision of employees thereof for the efficient administration, construction and development of the public park and recreation system, subject to overall allocation of city personnel by the city council and subject to emergency need elsewhere in the city. Such superintendent may be the executive officer of the board and shall have powers and duties as prescribed by the board, and such other duties and powers as may from time to time be imposed or conferred upon him by law or by ordinance. (Ord. 457 § 7, 1975).
2.22.080 Budget and annual report.
Annually, the board shall submit a budget to the city council on or before the date set by the council or the laws of the state for its approval. In December of each year the board shall make an annual report to the council. (Ord. 457 § 8, 1975).