Chapter 1.50
UTILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Sections:
1.50.040 Creation – Composition – Compensation.
1.50.080 Purpose.
1.50.120 Removal and filling of vacancy.
1.50.160 Organization – Meetings – Quorum.
1.50.200 Powers and duties.
1.50.040 Creation – Composition – Compensation.
There is created the utility advisory committee consisting of five members to be appointed by the mayor, subject to confirmation by the city council. Two city council members and one representative from Central Washington University shall be members of the committee. The remaining two members shall be customers of one or more of the city utility systems. Terms shall be for three years, except for the terms of the initial appointees, who shall serve staggered terms, with two members to be appointed to terms expiring December 31, 2004, two members to be appointed to terms expiring December 31, 2003, and one member to be appointed to a term expiring December 31, 2002. The committee members shall not receive compensation for their service. [Ord. 4405, 2005; Ord. 4292, 2001.]
1.50.080 Purpose.
The utility advisory committee is created for the purpose of providing a mechanism for the city council of Ellensburg to obtain the benefits of recommendations, advice, and opinions on those matters affecting city utility policy and operations from a committee which may devote the resources necessary for careful consideration of such matters and which will increase citizen participation and input to local government. [Ord. 4405, 2005; Ord. 4292, 2001.]
1.50.120 Removal and filling of vacancy.
Members of the utility advisory committee may be removed at any time by a majority of the city council. Whenever a committee member absents himself/herself for three consecutive regular meetings of the committee, or an aggregate of five regular and/or special meetings annually, unless by permission of the committee given at an open public meeting, the office shall automatically be vacated. Requests for excused absence shall be made in writing to the chairman of the committee. Vacancies for the remainder of any such unexpired terms shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointments were made. [Ord. 4405, 2005; Ord. 4292, 2001.]
1.50.160 Organization – Meetings – Quorum.
Immediately after their appointment, members of the committee shall meet and organize by electing from all the members of the committee a chairman and vice chairman. An election of such officers shall be conducted at the first meeting of each calendar year. The energy services director, or his designee, shall serve as secretary of the committee. The secretary shall be entitled to participate in the deliberations of the committee, but shall have no vote. It shall be the duty of the chairman to preside at all meetings of the committee and of the secretary to keep minutes of all meetings and of all proceedings of the committee. The vice chairman shall perform the duties of the chairman in the event of the absence of the chairman or vacancy in the office. A majority of the committee members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and affirmative votes by a majority of the quorum shall be necessary to carry any proposition. There shall be a fixed time and place of meetings within the corporate limits of the city of Ellensburg at least once each calendar month. The meeting time and place shall be made known to the public and all regular sessions of the committee shall be open to the public. [Ord. 4292, 2001.]
1.50.200 Powers and duties.
The powers and duties of the committee shall be as follows:
A. To give advisory recommendations to the city council on matters relating to city utility policy and operations and all other matters as the city council may deem appropriate.
B. To adopt bylaws, rules and regulations consistent with the laws of the state of Washington for conducting the meetings of the utility advisory committee. [Ord. 4405, 2005; Ord. 4292, 2001.]