Chapter 2.40
PARKS, RECREATION AND FAIR DEPARTMENT
Sections:
2.40.010 Parks, recreation and fair department established.
2.40.020 Director appointment.
2.40.025 Manager of County fair and events appointment.
2.40.030 Duties of parks, recreation and fair department.
2.40.060 Policy manual adopted.
2.40.010 Parks, recreation and fair department established.
The County council hereby establishes within the executive branch an administrative department called the parks, recreation and fair department. The County administrator may take any preliminary or transitional steps necessary for the formation of the department and the implementation of this chapter. (Ord. 22-2010 § 2; Ord. 13-2008 § 2)
2.40.020 Director appointment.
A. After receiving the recommendations from the parks and recreation commission and the fair board, the County administrator shall appoint a director of the parks, recreation and fair department, subject to confirmation by a majority of the County council. The director’s duties shall include management oversight and administration of all department activities. The director will be appointed for an indefinite period and shall serve, as do all County department heads, at the will of the County administrator.
B. It is the responsibility of the director to hire department staff in accordance with the personnel policies and procedures of the County and any other applicable laws and regulations. (Ord. 22-2010 § 3; Ord. 13-2008 § 3)
2.40.025 Manager of County fair and events appointment.
After first consulting the County fair board, the director of the parks, recreation and fair department shall appoint a manager of the County fair, subject to confirmation by the County administrator. The fair and events manager’s duties shall include oversight and administration of all fair division activities. The fair manager will be appointed for an indefinite period and shall serve at the will of the director. (Ord. 22-2010 § 4)
2.40.030 Duties of parks, recreation and fair department.
The parks, recreation and fair department shall be responsible for the administration of all parks, the County fairgrounds and the County fair event, along with the operation of recreational programs and other duties as may be assigned. (Ord. 22-2010 § 5; Ord. 13-2008 § 4)
2.40.040 Advisory boards.
A. County parks are a community service provided at many sites on the four ferry-served islands, and the annual County fair is a community service provided annually at the County fairgrounds. The County fairgrounds is a site that serves as both an urban park and a collective facility for the County fair and other community events. The consolidated department would benefit by two advisory boards: one for parks and recreation, and a second one for the County fair.
B. Parks and Recreation Commission.
1. The County council hereby establishes a parks and recreation commission which shall serve in an advisory capacity to the parks, recreation and fair department on matters pertaining to the acquisition and management of park property and the activities and programs of the County parks.
2. The parks and recreation commission shall consist of seven members appointed by a majority of the County council, who shall be registered voters and reside as follows: two persons on Orcas Island; two persons on San Juan Island, two persons on Lopez Island, one person on Shaw Island. Terms shall be staggered so that approximately one-third shall expire every other year. All terms of office shall be for six years. All appointments for the purpose of filling vacancies shall be for the remaining portion of the unexpired term.
3. Policy and budget matters brought before the County council relating to the parks and recreation division of the parks, recreation and fair department shall have received the review of the parks and recreation commission.
4. The parks and recreation commission shall meet at least monthly. At least once a year, the parks and recreation commission shall hold a joint meeting with the County fair board to discuss matters of mutual interest.
5. In conducting its business, the parks and recreation commission shall follow the Uniform Business Rules, including the Rules of Procedure, unless other rules have been duly adopted by the County council.
C. County Fair Board.
1. The County council hereby establishes a fair board which shall serve in an advisory capacity to the parks, recreation and fair department on matters pertaining to the acquisition and management of the fairgrounds and the activities and programs on the County fairgrounds.
2. A County fair board is formed composed of nine regular members, including one who resides in each school district within the County and five members at large, together with up to two temporary at large members, all of whom shall be appointed by the County council to serve without compensation. Written recommendations of the fair board shall be delivered to the County council for consideration when filling a vacancy. All terms of office for the nine regular positions shall be for a period of three years and shall expire on the last day of December in any given year, and terms shall be staggered so that one-third of the membership expires in each year. All terms of office for the two temporary positions shall be for the calendar year of the fair and shall expire on the last day of December. The County fair board shall serve in an advisory capacity to the fair manager. A temporary at large appointment does not preclude an appointment to a vacant regular position. Temporary at large positions may only be filled when all of the below are true:
a. Any fair board position from a school district has remained vacant for greater than three months with no applications received from a qualified district resident.
b. Fair board has received applications from county resident(s) from any other district interested in serving on the fair board for the current fair year in the role of a temporary at large member.
c. Fair board recommends the temporary at large appointment and the County council approves the temporary at large appointment.
3. All appointments for the purpose of filling vacancies in regular positions shall be for the unexpired portion of the vacant position.
4. Policy and budget matters brought before the County council relating to the County fair division of the parks, recreation and fair department shall have received the review of the County fair board.
5. The County fair board shall meet at least monthly. At least once a year, the County fair board shall hold a joint meeting with the parks and recreation commission to discuss matters of mutual interest.
6. In conducting its business, the County fair board shall follow the Uniform Business Rules, including the Rules of Procedure, unless other rules have been duly adopted by the County council. (Ord. 20-2018 § 1; Ord. 22-2010 § 6; Ord. 13-2008 § 5)
2.40.050 Continuity.
A. All employees, contracts, operations and assets existing under the former County fair department and County parks and recreation department shall be transferred to the County parks, recreation and fair department and be continued without interruption.
B. The existing County parks fund (Fund 1091) shall be renamed the parks and fair fund. The fund shall be managed by the director of the parks, recreation and fair department.
C. Monies contained in, and appropriated to, the County parks fund pursuant to RCW 36.68.070 shall remain in appropriate accounts within the parks and fair fund in the same amounts and categories. Into this fund shall be placed any allocation the County council may annually appropriate for parks and recreation, together with miscellaneous revenues derived from the operation of parks, playgrounds and other recreational facilities, as well as grants, gifts and bequests for park and recreational purposes. All balances remaining in the fund at the end of the year shall be carried over in such fund to the succeeding year.
D. Monies contained in, and appropriated to, the existing County fair fund (Fund 1081) shall be transferred from the County fair fund to appropriate accounts within the parks and fair fund in the same amounts and categories. Also in this fund shall be placed any allocation the County council may annually appropriate for the County fair, together with miscellaneous revenues derived from the operation of the fair, as well as grants, gifts and bequests for fair purposes. All balances remaining in the fund at the end of the year shall be carried over in such fund to the succeeding year.
E. The existing County fair fund (Fund 1081) is authorized to be closed following transfer of its monies to the parks and fair fund. (Ord. 22-2010 § 7; Ord. 13-2008 § 6)
2.40.060 Policy manual adopted.
The County council hereby adopts the policy manual attached as Exhibit A* to Ordinance 13-2008 as the rules of the parks, recreation and fair department. The County administrator is authorized to promulgate such additional rules as are necessary for the effective operations of the parks, recreation and fair department after consideration of such rules and recommendation of the parks and recreation commission and fair board for their respective division. (Ord. 22-2010 § 8; Ord. 13-2008 § 24)
* Code reviser’s note: Exhibit A to Ord. 13-2008 is on file in the office of the County council.