Chapter 2.25 ADVISORY COMMISSIONS

B. The provisions of this chapter do not apply to matters relating to the city housing authority which are governed by Chapter 35.82 RCW, matters relating to the library board of trustees which are governed by Chapter 27.12 RCW, and matters relating to the civil service commission which are governed by Chapters 41.08 and 41.12 RCW and Walla Walla Municipal Code Chapter 2.33. (Ord. 2024-20 § 1, 2024; Ord. 2018-27 § 2, 2018: Ord. 2017-28 § 8, 2017: Ord. 2012-20 § 1, 2012: Ord. 2010-32 § 4, 2010: Ord. 2010-03 § 1, 2010: Ord. 2008-02 § 1, 2008: Ord. 2005-19 § 1, 2005: Ord. 2003-9 § 1, 2003: Ord. 98-8 § 1, 1998: Ord. 97-27 § 1, 1997: Ord. 96-25 § 1, 1996: Ord. 94-12 § 1(Exh. A)(part), 1994).

2.25.020 Terms and appointment.

The terms of the members of the advisory commissions created in Section 2.25.010(A) shall be for three years subject to removal by the council or other cause of vacancy. Unless otherwise provided, all members of the advisory commissions shall be appointed by the mayor subject to confirmation by the council. No person shall serve more than two consecutive terms on any one commission unless the council makes a finding that special expertise is required or there are no other qualified applicants. Members of the advisory commissions created in Section 2.25.010(A) may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by a majority vote of the council. (Ord. 2008-02 § 2, 2008: Ord. 2001-36 § 1, 2001: Ord. 95-3 § 1, 1995: Ord. 94-12 § 1(Exh. A)(part), 1994).

2.25.030 Residency.

Residency in the city is a requirement for eligibility for membership on an advisory commission of the city except for membership on advisory commissions created with other political jurisdictions which require membership outside of the city, membership on advisory commissions which expressly permit non-resident membership, and in cases where residency is waived by the council; provided, that a person who no longer maintains legal residence in the city may complete the term for which he or she was appointed. (Ord. 2008-02 § 3, 2008: Ord. 98-8 § 2, 1998: Ord. 94-12 § 1(Exh. A)(part), 1994).

2.25.040 Chairperson and rules of conduct.

Each advisory commission shall elect a chairperson to preside at all meetings. Each advisory commission may, subject to the review and approval of the city council, adopt rules of conduct and meeting times. All advisory commissions shall comply with the provision of the Washington Open Public Meetings Act, RCW Chapter 42.30. (Ord. 94-12 § 1(Exh. A) (part), 1994).

2.25.050 Absenteeism.

Each member of an advisory commission shall not be absent from any three consecutive commission meetings and shall attend at least seven of the commission’s preceding twelve regular meetings. Any member who fails to attend regular meetings as above mentioned shall lose his or her membership on the advisory commission and the vacancy shall be filled by the mayor and council. (Ord. 94-12 § 1(Exh. A)(part), 1994).

2.25.060 Compensation.

All members of advisory commissions shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed actual expense upon the prior approval of the city manager. (Ord. 94-12 § 1(Exh. A)(part), 1994).

2.25.070 Council and staff support.

The city manager shall appoint a city employee to serve as a staff liaison for each advisory commission. The mayor shall appoint, with the confirmation of the council, a member of the city council to serve as a council liaison to each advisory commission. (Ord. 94-12 § 1(Exh. A)(part), 1994).

2.25.080 Membership of bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee.

The bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee shall consist of seven members. Except as otherwise allowed by Section 2.25.030, no more than one member of the committee may reside outside the city limits but within the city’s designated urban growth area. (Ord. 2008-02 § 4, 2008: Ord. 96-25 § 2, 1996: Ord. 94-12 § 1(Exh. A)(part), 1994).

2.25.090 Duties of the bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee.

Responsibility of the bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee shall be to make recommendations to the city council regarding the planning, designing and implementation of bicycle and pedestrian related facilities and services for the city. (Ord. 96-25 § 3, 1996: Ord. 94-12 § 1(Exh. A)(part), 1994).

2.25.100 Membership of parks, recreation, and urban forestry advisory board.

The parks, recreation, and urban forestry advisory board shall consist of nine members. (Ord. 2008-02 § 5, 2008: Ord. 94-12 § 1(Exh. A)(part), 1994).

2.25.110 Duties of parks, recreation, and urban forestry advisory board.

It shall be the responsibility of the parks, recreation, and urban forestry advisory board to make recommendations to the city council and the parks and recreation director on matters relative to (a) the development, operation and use of the parks and recreation facilities of the city, and (b) the planning, designing and implementation of city park facilities and recreational services; and to obtain and review information, and advise and make recommendations to the city council and the municipal arborist, on matters relative to: the promotion of various programs related to trees, public and private, in the city; the general health and welfare of the city’s urban forest; and the development of arboricultural standards and specifications for approval by the municipal arborist. (Ord. 2008-02 § 6, 2008: Ord. 94-12 § 1(Exh. A)(part), 1994).

2.25.120 Membership of the planning commission.

The planning commission shall consist of seven members. Except as otherwise allowed by Section 2.25.030, no more than one member of the commission may reside outside the city limits but within the city’s designated urban growth area. (Ord. 2008-02 § 7, 2008: Ord. 94-12 § 1(Exh. A)(part), 1994).

2.25.130 Duties of the planning commission.

The responsibility of the planning commission shall be to consider all amendments, modifications or alterations to the city’s comprehensive plan, to conduct hearings as otherwise specified by this code, and to perform other planning functions for the city. (Ord. 94-12 § 1(Exh. A)(part), 1994).

2.25.160 Membership of the lodging tax advisory committee.

The membership of the lodging tax advisory committee shall consist of seven members, appointed by the city council. One member shall be an elected official of the city who shall serve as chair. Three members shall be representatives of businesses required to collect the tax within the city, and they may reside outside the city limits. Three members shall be persons involved in activities within the city which are authorized to be funded by revenue received from the tax, and they may reside outside the city limits. The city council will review the membership on an annual basis and make changes as appropriate. Vacancies on the committee shall be filled by the city council. (Ord. 2024-13 § 1, 2024; Ord. 2008-02 § 8, 2008: Ord. 97-27 § 2, 1997).

2.25.170 Duties of the lodging tax advisory committee.

The city council shall submit to the lodging tax advisory committee, for its review and comment, proposals on: (1) the imposition of any new lodging tax; (2) any increase in the rate of such a tax; (3) repeal of an exemption from such a tax; or (4) a change in the use of the revenue received from such a tax. The city council shall submit such a proposal to the committee at least forty-five days before taking final action on any such proposal. Comments by the committee should include an analysis of the extent to which the proposal will accommodate activities for tourists or increase tourism, and the extent to which the proposal will affect the long-range stability of the special fund created for the lodging tax revenues. (Ord. 97-27 § 3, 1997).

2.25.180 Membership of water and wastewater advisory committee.

The water and wastewater advisory committee shall consist of seven members. No more than two members of the committee may reside outside of the city limits of Walla Walla, but within the city’s designated water service area. (Ord. 2008-02 § 9, 2008: Ord. 98-8 § 3, 1998).

2.25.190 Duties of the water and wastewater advisory committee.

The purpose of the water and wastewater advisory committee is to provide advice to the council relative to water, wastewater, and stormwater, including but not limited to water quality, water rights, water quantity, water conservation, and system finances. It shall be the responsibility of the water and wastewater advisory committee to submit recommendations to the city manager for distribution to the council. (Ord. 2008-02 § 10, 2008: Ord. 98-8 § 4, 1998).

2.25.200 Membership of sustainability committee.

The sustainability committee shall consist of seven members. (Ord. 2010-03 § 2, 2010).

2.25.210 Duties of the sustainability committee.

The purpose of the sustainability committee is to conduct scenario planning to prepare for social, economic, and environmental changes in an efficient and cost-effective manner and to provide advice to the council upon the development and integration of sustainability parameters to be used in the implementation of the goals, objectives, and policies of the Walla Walla comprehensive plan. (Ord. 2010-03 § 3, 2010).

2.25.220 Membership of the hotel and motel commission.¹

The size of the hotel and motel commission shall be variable and determined by the number of lodging businesses located in the city limits of Walla Walla that have forty or more lodging units, and its size shall be accordingly increased or decreased by changes in the number of such businesses. The membership of the hotel and motel commission shall include one representative for each lodging business located in the city limits of Walla Walla that has forty or more lodging units. Members of the Hotel and Motel Commission may reside outside of the city. One member of the Walla Walla city council may serve as an ex officio member of the hotel and motel commission. (Ord. 2010-32 § 5, 2010).

2.25.230 Duties of the hotel and motel commission.1

The hotel and motel commission shall advise and make recommendations to the city upon implementation of Chapter 3.79, the classification of lodging businesses in the tourism promotion area, the rate of tourism promotion charges to be imposed, the content of a tourism area promotion business plan to be adopted in accordance with Chapter 3.79, the uses to which revenue from tourism promotion charges imposed in accordance with Chapter 3.79 shall be put, any contracting for tourism promotion services to be paid from revenue from tourism promotion charges imposed in accordance with Chapter 3.79, and proposed amendments to Chapter 3.79. (Ord. 2010-32 § 6, 2010).

2.25.240 Membership of infrastructure improvement committee.

The infrastructure improvement committee shall consist of six members. At least one member shall be a certified public accountant, or a person with comparable training or experience, who is qualified to audit financial records and accounts. At least one member shall be a civil engineer, or a person with comparable training or experience, who is qualified to audit construction project records. (Ord. 2012-20 § 2, 2012).

2.25.250 Duties of the committee.

The purpose of the infrastructure improvement committee is to review records and accounts regarding infrastructure improvement projects undertaken by the city of Walla Walla, to report its findings to the Walla Walla city council, and to provide advice to the council upon infrastructure improvement projects and the funding of such projects. (Ord. 2012-20 § 3, 2012).

2.25.260 TBD improvement committee.

The committee shall consist of six members. In addition, a member of the Walla Walla city council shall serve as an ex officio member of the committee. (Ord. 2017-28 § 9, 2017).

2.25.270 Duties of the TBD improvement committee.

The purpose of the TBD improvement committee is to review project selection and methodology, to review and propose project priority ranking, to review and evaluate project completion, to review and evaluate revenues received and used by the city for TBD uses, and to advise the Walla Walla city council upon such matters. (Ord. 2017-28 § 10, 2017).

2.25.280 Arts commission.

An arts commission of the city of Walla Walla, to be known as the “arts commission,” is hereby established to serve as an advisory body to the Walla Walla city council and the city manager of Walla Walla.

A. All voting members of the arts commission shall have a demonstrated interest and familiarity with arts and culture, either through professional practice or volunteer work, or have demonstrated a deep interest in and appreciation of cultural and artistic activities.

B. The arts commission shall consist of seven voting members who represent the following:

1. A person working in the Walla Walla public education community, preferably in the field of arts education.

2. A minimum of two persons who have had professional experience or training related to the arts, originating from employment or study within the following disciplines: arts or art history, arts administration, architecture, art criticism, art education, curation, conservation, film and video, heritage arts, literature, music, new media, performing arts, public art, visual arts, or a related field. At least one of these persons shall be a working professional artist.

3. A person nominated by ArtWalla (also known as the Blue Mountain Arts Alliance, a Washington nonprofit corporation).

4. A person nominated by the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation.

5. The remaining positions may be filled at-large from persons representative of acknowledged accomplishment or persons working outside of professional practice in the arts but who demonstrate a deep interest in and appreciation of cultural and artistic activities. (Ord. 2018-27 § 3, 2018).

2.25.290 Purpose of the arts commission.

The purpose of the arts commission is to:

A. Advocate for the arts as vital tools in building Walla Walla’s community and economy for the benefit of all its citizens.

B. Advocate for a diversity of arts and cultural opportunities for our citizens to experience.

C. Act as a catalyst to bring government, arts and culture, and private sectors together for public benefit.

D. Encourage strategic investments in arts organizations that increase public connection with the arts.

E. Create a unique identity and sense of place through the development and stewardship of public art.

F. Fund programs that encourage artistic excellence and expand exposure to a wide variety of art forms.

G. Foster the development of the local arts community, encouraging an environment for the success of working individual artists.

H. Provide advice to the city in matters pertaining to the arts and culture. (Ord. 2018-27 § 4, 2018).

2.25.300 Powers and duties of the arts commission.

The arts commission shall:

A. Act in an advisory capacity to the city council or city manager in matters pertaining to the arts and culture of the city;

B. Recommend to the city council or the city manager, as appropriate, the adoption of such ordinances, rules and regulations as it may deem necessary for the administration and preservation of fine arts, performing arts, and aesthetic aspects of the community;

C. Work cooperatively with city boards and commissions, city departments, and other public and private organizations in creating and promoting art and cultural programs and activities within the city;

D. Act as a partner and catalyst bringing government, the arts and culture, and public sectors together for the cultural benefit of all;

E. On behalf of the city and the arts community, recommend policies that encourage, conduct, sponsor, or co-sponsor public programs to further the development and public awareness of, and interest in, the arts;

F. Review and evaluate funded arts and cultural programs to ensure compliance and effective stewardship of city funds;

G. Serve as the city’s art ambassadors to artists, arts organizations, and the general public;

H. Communicate to the public about the city’s arts programs and policies;

I. Review and make recommendations upon all works of art to be acquired by the city, either by purchase, gift, or otherwise, in accordance with the city’s arts collection management policies and guidelines;

J. Review and make recommendations with reference to any existing work of art in the city’s collection of public art in connection with the relocation or alteration thereof, in accordance with the city’s arts collection management policies and guidelines;

K. Review and make recommendations upon all works of art to be removed from the city’s collection of public art, in accordance with the city’s arts collection management policies and guidelines;

L. Recommend policies and procedures to the city manager for promulgation for the development and implementation of public art in the city;

M. Provide stewardship to the city’s collection of public art by reviewing the condition of the artwork every two years and making recommendations for its care, maintenance, or improvement, including routine maintenance, conservation, and emergency maintenance when required;

N. Record, maintain, and house all data related to accessed works in the city’s collection of public art in accordance with the city’s arts collection management policies and guidelines;

O. Review and make recommendations for permit applications requesting that visual artwork and artistic elements be considered for placement on city of Walla Walla property and upon request for placement upon city rights-of-way in accordance with the city’s arts collection management policies and guidelines;

P. Provide advice and input to city departments, committees, and commissions as requested. (Ord. 2018-27 § 5, 2018).

2.25.310 CDBG advisory board.

A community development block grant advisory board of the city of Walla Walla, to be known as the “CDBG advisory board,” is hereby established to serve as an advisory body to the Walla Walla city council.

A. The CDBG advisory board shall consist of seven voting members who represent the following:

1. A member of the Walla Walla city council.

2. A person nominated by the Walla Walla housing authority.

3. A person nominated by Walla Walla public schools.

4. The remaining positions may be filled at-large.

B. Representation from the low- and moderate- income community or of individuals who live in assisted housing developments is preferred.

C. No more than two members of the CDBG advisory board may reside outside the city limits of Walla Walla. (Ord. 2024-20 § 2, 2024).

2.25.320 Powers and duties of the CDBG advisory board.

The CDBG advisory board shall serve as an advisory body to the Walla Walla city council in the development of the city’s CDBG consolidated plan, annual action plans, and the administration and utilization community development block grant funding and other funding sources to address housing and community needs as the CDBG program endeavors to meet national objectives. (Ord. 2024-20 § 3, 2024).

Code reviser’s note: Ord. 2010-32 adds provisions for the hotel and motel committee as Sections 2.25.200 and 2.25.210. These sections have been editorially renumbered to prevent duplication of numbering.