Chapter 2.05
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
Sections:
2.05.040 Mayor – General duties.
2.05.050 Mayor – Appointment and removal authority.
2.05.060 City council duties and authority.
2.05.070 Confirmation of mayoral appointments.
2.05.080 Appointment of mayor pro tempore.
2.05.010 Council meetings.
A. The regular meeting of the city council in, of and for the city of South Bend, Washington, shall be held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at the hour of 5:30 p.m. of said day in the city council chambers in the City Hall, in the city of South Bend, Washington; provided, however, that whenever the day hereby set and fixed for regular meeting of the council of said city shall fall upon a legal holiday that then the regular meeting of said council of said city shall be held on the next succeeding Wednesday at the hour of 5:30 p.m. of said day.
B. Telephonic Council Participation.
1. Any member of the council may participate via telephone in a council meeting, if the member declares that circumstances prevent physical attendance at the meeting.
2. Only one council member may participate telephonically per council meeting and no member may participate telephonically at more than two meetings in any 12-month period, January to December. A member may participate telephonically only from locations within the United States, unless the member agrees to pay the costs of international telephone service.
3. The member shall notify the clerk/treasurer and mayor, if reasonably practicable, at least four hours in advance of a meeting which the member proposes to attend by telephone and shall provide the physical address of the location, the telephone number, and any available facsimile, email, or other document transmission service.
4. At the meeting, the clerk/treasurer shall establish the telephone connection when the call to order is imminent.
5. A member participating by telephone shall be counted as present for purposes of quorum, discussion, and voting.
6. The member participating by telephone shall make every effort to participate in the entire meeting. From time to time during the meeting the mayor shall confirm the connection.
7. The member participating by telephone may ask to be recognized by the mayor to the same extent as any other member.
8. To the extent reasonably practicable, the clerk/treasurer shall provide backup materials to members participating by telephone.
9. If the telephone connection cannot be made or is made then lost, the meeting shall commence or continue as scheduled and the clerk/treasurer shall attempt to establish or restore the connection; provided, that if the member participating by telephone is necessary to achieve a quorum, the meeting shall be at ease, recess, or adjourn as necessary until the telephone connection is established or restored.
10. Meeting times shall be expressed in Pacific Time regardless of the time at the location of any member participating by telephone.
11. Remarks by members participating by telephone shall be transmitted so as to be audible by all members and the public in attendance at the meeting; provided, that in executive session the remarks shall be audible only to those included in the executive session.
12. As used in this subsection (B), “telephone” means any system for synchronous two-way voice communication. (Ord. 1436, 2011; Ord. 1388, 2008; Ord. 1178 § 1, 1992).
2.05.020 Vacancies.
A. A resignation in the office of mayor or councilmember shall be accepted or announced only at an open and regular meeting of the council. The resignation may be oral or in writing. The resignation may be effective for a date in the future of the meeting that it is announced at. In the event that a councilmember is leaving the position due to being elected mayor, the upcoming opening will be announced at an open and regular meeting.
B. Any vacancy created under subsection (A) of this section shall be acted upon in the following order:
1. First regular meeting, read resignation and declare position open.
2. Second regular meeting, reading of names of candidates for opening.
3. Third regular meeting, reading of additional names of candidates and vote for candidates.
C. The council can establish by motion the procedures which it wishes to use to consider the best qualified candidate to fill the opening.
D. The resigning or terminated mayor or councilmember shall not vote on filling the vacancy created by his resignation or termination. The newly selected mayor or councilmember shall be eligible to begin serving immediately.
E. If a mayor or councilmember resigns, is terminated, or dies after an election, the new person elected to that position shall then be appointed to that seat immediately. (Ord. 1410, 2010; Ord. 1068 §§ 1, 2, 3, 1982).
2.05.030 Salaries.
The salaries for councilmembers seated in future elections shall be set at $120.00 a month. The salary for the mayor shall be $900.00 per month. (Ord. 1566 § 2, 2021; Ord. 1278, 2002; Ord. 1230 § 2, 1998; Ord. 1214, 1996).
2.05.040 Mayor – General duties.
The mayor shall be the chief executive and administrative officer of the city in charge of all departments and employees. The mayor shall be responsible for faithfully enforcing all laws and ordinances and maintaining law and order in the city. The mayor shall have general supervision over the administration of city government. The mayor shall report to the council concerning the affairs of the city and its financial and other needs and shall make recommendations for council consideration and action. The mayor shall preside over council meetings as set forth in SBMC 2.05.010. (Ord. 1411, 2010).
2.05.050 Mayor – Appointment and removal authority.
The mayor shall have the power of appointment and removal of all appointive officers and employees, subject to any applicable law, policy, rule or regulation relating to civil service. All appointments shall be made on the basis of ability and training or experience of the appointees in the duties they are to perform, from among persons having proper qualifications. All appointments under this section shall be subject to confirmation by the city council in accordance with RCW 35A.12.090 as presently enacted or hereafter amended. (Ord. 1411, 2010).
2.05.060 City council duties and authority.
The city council shall have the powers and authority granted to legislative bodies as set forth in RCW 35A.11.020. The council shall have the power to organize and regulate its internal affairs and to define the functions, powers and duties of city officers and employees. The city council may adopt and enforce ordinances of all kinds relating to and regulating local or municipal affairs. The council shall have all the powers possible for a city under the Constitution of the state that are not specially denied to code cities by law. (Ord. 1412, 2010).
2.05.070 Confirmation of mayoral appointments.
Mayoral appointments pursuant to SBMC 2.05.050 shall be subject to confirmation by the city council, pursuant to RCW 35A.12.090. (Ord. 1412, 2010).
2.05.080 Appointment of mayor pro tempore.
At the first council meeting of every year, the council by majority vote may designate one of their number as mayor pro tempore or deputy mayor for one year, to serve in the absence or temporary disability of the mayor, in accordance with RCW 35A.12.065. (Ord. 1412, 2010).