Chapter 2.35
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT*
Sections:
2.35.020 Officials designated – Responsibilities.
*Prior legislation: Ord. 2964.
2.35.010 Established.
A department in city government is hereby established, and designated the “development services department.” Such department shall be responsible for land use planning, zoning administration and development regulation enforcement, housing development, construction permitting and construction code enforcement, preservation of housing and neighborhood amenities, community development, economic development, business district revitalization, coordination with other public bodies, and related functions. (Ord. 3092 § 2, 2002).
2.35.020 Officials designated – Responsibilities.
A. Director. The development services department shall be headed by a director who shall report to the mayor. The director shall perform such lawful acts and functions as the director deems to be necessary or desirable in order to enforce the provisions of this chapter, or as necessary to perform the duties and responsibilities assigned by the mayor. The mayor shall have the power of appointment and removal of the director, and the director shall serve at the pleasure of the mayor. In addition to any other duties assigned by the mayor, the director shall have the following duties:
1. Execute the decisions of the mayor and city council relating to departmental responsibilities and provide overall management for the department;
2. Direct overall department operations, including planning and code enforcement activities;
3. Be responsible for making budget proposals and requests, and controlling department expenditures and receipts;
4. Manage the operations of the department including the assignment and supervision of employee workloads, provision for appropriate training, conduct of employee performance evaluations, and effective recommendation of formal personnel actions to the mayor including hiring, firing, disciplinary measures, salary adjustments, and promotions;
5. Advise the mayor, city council, department directors, and others on planning and related matters;
6. Be responsible for comprehensive planning, and to propose changes and updates of the city’s comprehensive plan map and land use regulations.
B. Appointment of Subordinates and Delegation of Responsibilities.
1. The mayor, upon the recommendation of the director and subject to the provisions of Chapter 2.08 MVMC, may appoint such subordinate officers to be supervised by the director as may be authorized by the city’s approved budget. Such subordinate officers shall include a building official, who shall serve at the pleasure of the mayor. The building official shall have those powers and duties as enumerated in the State Building Code, Chapter 19.27 RCW, as that code may be adopted by the city; provided, that the fire chief or the fire chief’s designee shall be responsible for enforcement of the International Fire Code.
2. With the concurrence of the mayor, the director may delegate such responsibilities to other city employees supervised by the director as may be necessary or convenient to the efficient administration of the development services department.
C. Pursuant to a resolution adopted by the city council, and in order to properly enforce the various codes and regulations administered by the development services department, the various officers and employees of the development services department may singularly be granted the powers of a law enforcement officer. (Ord. 3284 § 1, 2005; Ord. 3092 § 2, 2002).
2.35.030 Authority.
A. General. The development services department may render interpretations of the codes and regulations administered by the department, and may adopt and enforce rules and interpretations supplemental to such codes and regulations as may be necessary in order to clarify the application of the provisions thereof.
B. Economic Development. The development services department shall design and execute such projects for economic or neighborhood development as the city may undertake, including the stimulation of interest in economic development throughout the city and in such connection shall contact citizens and citizen groups and bring as many as possible into the city’s programs of economic development. The department shall research and recommend programs for economic development, and apply for and administer funds from federal and state agencies of government and/or from private groups or organizations in order to effectuate programs of economic development.
C. Comprehensive Planning. The development services department shall be responsible for the provision of long-range planning for the city related to land use and development, housing, economic development, and construction. The department shall administer the comprehensive plan of the city, and shall implement and coordinate the city’s activities under the Growth Management Act, Chapters 36.70A and 36.70B RCW. The department shall provide staff support for the city council, planning commission, hearing examiner, and other appointed boards and committees.
D. Land Use Administration. The development services department shall be responsible for the administration and interpretation of the Mount Vernon development codes, platting and subdivision ordinances, and zoning codes. The department shall provide direction and support to citizens, developers, the city council, planning commission, hearing examiner, and other boards and commissions as appropriate.
E. The development services department shall be responsible for plan review, permit coordination and issuance, and inspection services related to codes, regulations, and other applicable laws administered by the department.
F. Construction Code Enforcement. The development services department shall be responsible for the enforcement of the technical construction codes of the city; provided, the fire chief or the fire chief’s designee shall be responsible for enforcement of the fire code. For the purposes of this chapter, the term “technical construction codes” shall include those codes described in Chapter 15.04 MVMC, and the State Building Code as adopted pursuant to Chapter 19.27 RCW. (Ord. 3789 § 4, 2019).