Chapter 2.04
CITY COUNCIL
2.04.000 Chapter Contents
Sections:
2.04.010 Composition.
2.04.020 Powers.
2.04.030 Forfeiture of office.
2.04.040 Vacancies--Filling.
2.04.050 Meetings.
2.04.060 Mayor--Powers and duties--Election--Term.
2.04.070 Mayor Pro Tem--Designation--Alternate appointments.
2.04.100 Compensation.
(Ord. 7250 §2, 2020; Ord. 7073 §1, 2017).
2.04.010 Composition
The City Council, under the council/manager plan of government, shall be composed of seven Councilmembers, all of whom shall be elected by a majority vote from the city-at-large. The Councilmembers elected to positions one, two and three at the first election of Councilmembers on November 2, 1982, shall serve for one-year terms. The Councilmembers elected to positions four, five, six and seven at the first election of Councilmembers on November 2, 1982, shall serve for three-year terms. The Councilmembers elected in subsequent elections shall serve four-year terms.
(Ord. 7250 §2, 2020; Ord. 7073 §1, 2017; Ord. 4432 §1(part), 1983).
2.04.020 Powers
The City Council shall be the legislative body of the City and have all powers to conduct the affairs of the City as are allowed under the Constitution of the state of Washington and RCW Chapter 35A, which are not specifically denied to the City Council or reserved to the City Manager by law.
(Ord. 7250 §2, 2020; Ord. 7073 §1, 2017; Ord. 4432 §1(part), 1983).
2.04.030 Forfeiture of office
A Councilmember shall forfeit the Councilmember’s office if the Councilmember is absent for three consecutive regular meetings of the Council without being excused by the Council, or if the Councilmember ceases to have the qualifications prescribed for such office by law or ordinance, or if the Councilmember is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude or an offense involving a violation of the Councilmember’s oath of office.
(Ord. 7250 §2, 2020; Ord. 7187 §3, 2019; Ord. 7073 §1, 2017; Ord. 4432 §1(part), 1983).
2.04.040 Vacancies--Filling
In the event of the extended excused absence or disability of a Councilmember, the remaining members by majority vote may appoint a Councilmember Pro Tempore to serve during the Councilmember’s absence or disability. In the event of an absence resulting from death, resignation or removal of a Councilmember from office, the remaining members by majority vote shall appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy until the person elected to serve the remainder of the unexpired term takes office. If thirty (30) days pass after the occurrence of the vacancy and the Council is unable to agree upon a person to be appointed to fill a vacancy in the Council, the Mayor may make the appointment from among the persons nominated by members of the Council. If the vacant position is the Mayor’s position, the Mayor Pro-Tem shall make the appointment from among those persons nominated by the Council, within thirty (30) days after the occurrence of the vacancy if the Council is unable to agree.
(Ord. 7250 §2, 2020; Ord. 7187 §3, 2019; Ord. 7073 §1, 2017; Ord. 4432 §1(part), 1983).
2.04.050 Meetings
A. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the City Council will be held on Tuesdays at the hour of six p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, Olympia, Washington, or at other locations as determined by the Mayor. The Olympia City Council may establish its yearly meeting calendar at its annual retreat and generally does not schedule meetings on the fifth Tuesday of any month. The City Council’s meeting calendar will be posted on the City’s website and will identify those weeks when no meeting is scheduled. When any of the above scheduled Council meetings occur on a legal holiday, the next business day shall be the date of the regular meeting.
B. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the City Council may be called at any time by the Mayor or by a majority of Council and notice will be provided as required by law.
(Ord. 7356 §1, 2023; Ord. 7250 §2, 2020; Ord. 7073 §1, 2017; Ord. 6652 §1, 2009; Ord. 5253 §1, 1992; Ord. 5226 §1, 1991; Ord. 5200 §1, 1991; Ord. 4711 §1, 1986; Ord. 4449 §1, 1983; Ord. 4432 §1(part), 1983).
2.04.060 Mayor –Powers and duties –Election –Term
A. In addition to the powers conferred upon the person elected Mayor, the individual shall continue to have all rights, privileges and immunities of a Councilmember. The Mayor shall be recognized as the head of the City for ceremonial purposes and by the Governor for purposes of military law. The Mayor shall have no regular administrative duties, but in time of public danger or emergency, if so authorized by ordinance, shall take command of the police, maintain law and enforce order.
B. Commencing with the November, 1991 election, the person elected by the voters of Olympia to Position One of the Olympia City Council shall be the Mayor, with the powers and duties set forth in subsection A of this section and by general City ordinance.
C. The term of the office of Mayor shall be four years to run concurrently with the term for Position One of the Council, with the initial term commencing January 1, 1992.
(Ord. 7250 §2, 2020; Ord. 7187 §3, 2019; Ord. 7073 §1, 2017; Ord. 5149 §1, 1990; Ord. 4432 §1(part), 1983).
2.04.070 Mayor Pro Tem –Designation –Alternate appointments
Biennially at the first meeting of a new Council, or periodically, the Councilmembers may designate one of their number as Mayor Pro Tem for the period specified by the Council, to serve in the absence of the Mayor. In lieu of such a designation, the Council may appoint any qualified person as Mayor Pro Tem in the absence or temporary disability of the Mayor. In the absence of both the Mayor and the Mayor Pro Tem, the Council shall, by majority vote, elect a chairperson to preside over the meeting(s) of the Council.
(Ord. 7250 §2, 2020; Ord. 7073 §1, 2017; Ord. 4668 §1, 1986; Ord. 4432 §1(part), 1983).
2.04.100 Compensation
Effective upon the commencement of terms January 1, 2008 and following election and qualification, the annual salary of the Mayor of the City shall be Nineteen Thousand Nine Hundred Sixty-Eight and no/100 Dollars ($19,968); the annual salary of the Mayor Pro Tem shall be Eighteen Thousand Three Hundred Four and no/100 Dollars ($18,304); the annual salary of Councilmember positions two and three shall be Sixteen Thousand Six Hundred Forty and no/100 Dollars ($16,640) unless a Councilmember serves in either of said positions is the Mayor Pro Tem, in which case the salary shall be as provided for the Mayor Pro Tem. The annual salary of the remaining Councilmember positions shall be increased to Sixteen Thousand Six Hundred Forty and no/100 Dollars ($16,640) upon commencement of the terms January 1, 2010, following election and qualification.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this section shall not be applicable to any individual Councilmember to the extent that the salaries provided for above are deemed by a court of competent jurisdiction to be an increase of compensation after a Councilmember’s election contrary to RCW 35A.13.040, Article II, §25, and/or Article XI, §8 of the Washington State Constitution.
Effective from and after passage and publication of an ordinance creating an independent salary commission, the salaries for City elected officials shall be set by the independent salary commission in accordance with § 1, Article XXX of the Washington State Constitution, RCW 35.21.015 and OMC Chapter 2.05.
(Ord. 7250 §2, 2020; Ord. 7089 §1, 2017; Ord. 7073 §1, 2017; Ord. 6468 §1, 2007; Ord. 6373 §1, 2005; Ord. 6335 §1, 2004; Ord. 6281 §1, 2003; Ord. 6243 §1, 2002; Ord. 6155 §1, 2001; Ord. 6091 §1, 2001; Ord. 5986 §1, 1999; Ord. 5422 §1, 1993; Ord. 4849 §1, 1988; Ord. 4643 §1, 1985; Ord. 4432 §1(part), 1983).