Chapter 1.06
FORM OF GOVERNMENT – CITY OFFICES
Sections:
1.06.010 References to “city commission” changed.
1.06.050 Terms of office – Mayor – Councilmen.
1.06.070 Selection of board or commission members.
1.06.100 Department of parks, recreation and cultural services.
1.06.010 References to “city commission” changed.
(1) All references to the city of Wenatchee legislative body, known as the “city commission” and/or “commission,” relating to its legislative authority, in ordinances, resolutions and other legislative actions enacted before the date the mayor-council form of government goes into effect shall be amended to “city council” as if said phrase were used in the original legislative action.
(2) All references in any ordinance, resolution or other legislative action to the city of Wenatchee legislative body, known as the “city commission,” wherein it discusses the number of votes necessary for the city commission to take any legislative action, that number of votes is hereby amended to reflect a majority of the Wenatchee city council.
(3) All references in any ordinance, resolution or other legislative action to the city commission or group of commissioners and/or the public works commissioner, finance commissioner and/or public safety commissioner relating to their executive and/or administrative authority shall be amended to “mayor” as if said term were used in the original legislative action. (Ord. 99-27 §§ 1 – 3)
1.06.020 Mayor pro tempore.
(1) There is established the office of mayor pro tempore to serve in the absence or temporary disability of the mayor.
(2) The city council, at the first regularly scheduled meeting in January of each year, or periodically at any other time, by majority vote, shall select among their members a councilmember to act as mayor pro tempore for the ensuing year.
(3) The appointment of a councilmember as mayor pro tempore shall not in any way abridge his right to vote upon all questions coming before the council. The councilmember acting as mayor pro tempore will not have the power to appoint or remove any officer or to veto an ordinance. (Ord. 2023-14 § 1; Ord. 99-44 §§ 1 – 3)
1.06.030 Salaries – Councilmembers.
Repealed by Ord. 2023-14. (Ord. 2019-03 § 1; Ord. 2011-22 § 1; Ord. 2007-38 §§ 1, 2, 3)
1.06.040 Salary – Mayor.
The salary for the person holding the office of mayor shall be $8,500 per month effective January 1, 2024. On January 1st of each year hereafter, the mayor’s salary shall increase equal to the percentage increase paid to nonrepresented city employees. In no event shall the mayor’s salary decrease during any term of the mayor.
In addition to the monthly salary, the mayor will participate in all benefit programs afforded to regular full-time city employees. These benefits consist of:
(1) Membership in the Public Employee Retirement System.
(2) Health insurance for the mayor and family.
(3) Life insurance for the mayor.
(4) City match of up to two percent of base salary applied to an Internal Revenue Code Section 457 deferred compensation program.
(5) Participation in the Internal Revenue Code Section 125 flexible spending program. (Ord. 2023-13 § 1; Ord. 2019-01 § 1; Ord. 2007-38 § 4)
1.06.050 Terms of office – Mayor – Councilmen.
(1) The position of mayor and council position nos. 3, 5, 6 and 7 shall be for four years beginning on January 1, 2000.
(2) Council position nos. 1, 2 and 4 shall be for two years beginning January 1, 2000.
(3) All persons elected as a councilmember or mayor after the general election of November 1999 shall be elected to four-year terms of office. (Ord. 99-45 §§ 1 – 3)
1.06.060 Appointive offices.
(1) The following appointive offices and positions are established in the city:
(a) City administrator;
(b) City clerk;
(c) City attorney;
(d) Director of finance/city treasurer;
(e) Police chief;
(f) Director of public works;
(g) Director of community development;
(h) Director of human resources;
(i) Director of parks, recreation and cultural services; and
(j) Director of information technology.
(2) The mayor shall have the power of appointment and removal of all persons filling the offices identified in subsection (1) of this section subject to any contract, rule or regulation relating to civil service or other law, rule or regulation relating to the appointment and removal of such persons, and subject to the appointment and removal being confirmed by city council as provided for in subsections (3) and (4) of this section.
(3) All appointments shall be made on the basis of ability and training or experience of the appointee and the duties they are to perform from among persons having proper qualification. Appointive offices shall be without definite term unless a term is established for such office by state law, city ordinance or by contract.
(4) All appointments and removals to the offices and positions set out in subsection (1) of this section are subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the city council.
(5) The police chief and each director stated in subsection (1) of this section shall be known as “department heads” throughout the Wenatchee City Code. (Ord. 2023-12 § 1; Ord. 99-41 §§ 1 – 4)
1.06.070 Selection of board or commission members.
(1) Each authorized board or commission shall recommend to the city council one person to fill any vacancy on the board or commission, whether the vacancy is created by the expiration of the term of office, or by the prior board or commission member leaving office prior to the expiration of his or her term.
(2) After the board or commission has made its recommendation, the city council, at its discretion, may:
(a) Interview the recommended appointee or any of the other candidates for the position;
(b) Approve the recommendation of the board or commission;
(c) Deny the recommendation of the board or commission; and/or
(d) Bypass the recommendation of the board or commission and appoint another applicant. (Ord. 2010-23 § 1)
1.06.100 Department of parks, recreation and cultural services.
There is established a department of parks, recreation and cultural services of the city of Wenatchee to be headed by a director of parks, recreation and cultural services, who shall be appointed by the mayor, subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the city council of the city of Wenatchee. The director shall be responsible for the administration of the department and accomplishing the goals and objectives contained in the parks, recreation and open space comprehensive plan including, but not limited to, (1) the acquisition, planning, and development of the city’s park system, (2) cultural arts projects, programs and services, (3) the development and coordination of recreational programs, and (4) other related matters. (Ord. 2015-17 § 1)