Chapter 2.30
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT*

Sections:

2.30.010    Department created.

2.30.020    Economic and community development director – Creation and appointment.

2.30.030    Qualifications.

2.30.040    Duties and powers.

2.30.050    Salary.

2.30.060    Planning division – Authority.

2.30.061    Planning division created.

2.30.063    Planning division – duties and responsibilities.

2.30.065    Planning division – Planning director – Position created, salary, and appointment.

2.30.067    Planning division – Planning director – Qualifications.

2.30.069    Planning division – Planning director – Duties and responsibilities.

2.30.070    Building official – Position created and appointment.

2.30.072    Building official – Qualifications.

2.30.074    Building official – Duties and powers.

2.30.110    Repealed.

*Cross reference(s) – Hearing examiner, Ch. 2.32; indemnification, Ch. 2.96; personnel, title 2, subtitle IV; subdivisions, Ch. 12.04; mobile home parks, Ch. 12.05; recreation vehicle parks, Ch. 12.06; administration of the zoning provisions, Ch. 15.09; enforcement of the zoning code, Ch. 15.10.

State law reference(s) – Planning and zoning, RCW 35A.63.010 et seq.

2.30.010 Department created.

The economic and community development department is created for the purpose of performing all public and private permitting and development review functions. The economic and community development department director shall supervise the department and shall have complete charge of all of the work in the department and shall be responsible to hire, supervise, and discipline department employees. The department, through the director, shall report to the chief administrative officer or his or her designee. The functions of the economic and community development department shall be as follows:

A. Community planning;

B. Permit processing;

C. Development engineering;

D. Building code development review and inspection;

E. Critical areas and storm water development permitting review;

F. Code enforcement; and

G. Economic development.

(Ord. No. 3926, § 5, 8-4-09)

2.30.020 Economic and community development director – Creation and appointment.

The position of economic and community development director is created and shall be subject to appointment by the mayor in accordance with the provisions of the City of Kent Policies and Procedures Manual.

(Ord. No. 3926, § 5, 8-4-09)

2.30.030 Qualifications.

The economic and community development director must have the following or equivalent qualifications: he or she must be a graduate of a recognized college or university and have at least five (5) years’ experience in economic and community development permit processing or similar fields.

(Ord. No. 3926, § 5, 8-4-09)

2.30.040 Duties and powers.

The economic and community development department director shall have the following duties and powers:

A. With the exception of those aspects of permit issuance pertaining to the fire code under the supervision of the fire department, to examine, review, condition, deny, or approve all aspects of public and private development permits issued by the city, including public and private street, utility, and other infrastructure construction.

B. To operate all economic development functions within the city to encourage and support new residential and business development and redevelopment.

C. To operate the duties and responsibilities of the planning division, as specified in this chapter.

D. To implement the building codes, under the state Building Code Act, when examining, modifying, conditioning, approving, or denying building plans and when conducting building inspections.

E. To collaborate with affected departments on inspections of all development extensions or connections to public utilities.

F. To conduct code enforcement of all areas of the city code that implement the duties and powers vested in the economic and community development department.

(Ord. No. 3926, § 5, 8-4-09)

2.30.050 Salary.

The salary of the economic and community development director shall be that as established in the city budget.

(Ord. No. 3926, § 5, 8-4-09)

2.30.060 Planning division – Authority.

The city council hereby declares its intention to perform all planning functions under Chapter 35A.63 RCW regarding planning and zoning in code cities.

(Ord. No. 1674, § 11; Ord. No. 3252, § 2, 11-21-95; Ord. No. 3512, § 10, 6-6-00; Ord. No. 3926, § 5, 8-4-09. Formerly § 2.30.010)

Cross reference(s) – Planning and land development, title 12; requirements and standards for subdivisions, Ch. 12.04; zoning, title 15.

2.30.061 Planning division created.

There is created the planning division, which shall serve as the city planning agency in conjunction with the land use and planning board. The planning division shall perform planning and zoning functions, conduct plan reviews, and perform other duties as established by the city council. The division shall be supervised by the economic and community development director.

(Ord. No. 1674, § 6; Ord. No. 3252, § 2, 11-21-95; Ord. No. 3286, § 1, 3-19-96; Ord. No. 3512, § 10, 6-6-00; Ord. No. 3926, § 5, 8-4-09. Formerly § 2.30.020)

2.30.063 Planning division – Duties and responsibilities.

The planning division shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

A. The planning division shall be responsible for all planning matters, including, but not limited to, comprehensive plan formulation and amendments, annexation zoning, and the zoning code, subdivision code, and other assigned codes. It shall be the duty of the planning division to set the agenda for the land use and planning board hearings, workshops, and meetings; to prepare all materials, such as agendas, staff reports, and special reports, for the land use and planning board; to collect and to analyze and use technical data to determine logical matters of urban development within the city. The planning division shall be responsible for preparing and updating the comprehensive plan and preparing amendments to the zoning code, the subdivision code, and any other related codes or ordinances.

B. Under the direction of the economic and community development director, the planning division shall advise the mayor and city council on planning matters. The planning division may carry out special projects at the request of the city council, which requests shall be forwarded to the economic and community development department through the office of the mayor.

C. The planning division shall be responsible for all planning matters, including, but not limited to, comprehensive plan formulation and amendments, annexation zoning, zoning code, subdivision code, and other assigned codes. It shall be the responsibility of the planning division to prepare the plans and codes for these planning matters and the responsibility of the land use and planning board to hold public hearings on these plans and codes when advised to do so by the planning division. The planning division shall forward items for consideration to the land use and planning board. The land use and planning board, after holding one (1) or more public hearings, shall forward its recommendation to the city council for final action. The council may hold public hearings and perform other related functions on specific planning matters in addition to or in lieu of delegating this function to the land use and planning board.

(Ord. No. 1674, § 7; Ord. No. 3026, § 1, 1-21-92; Ord. No. 3252, § 2, 11-21-95; Ord. No. 3286, § 1, 3-19-96; Ord. No. 3512, § 10, 6-6-00; Ord. No. 3926, § 5, 8-4-09. Formerly § 2.30.070)

Cross reference(s) – Subdivisions, Ch. 12.04; zoning regulations, Ch. 15.01 et seq.; conditional uses, § 15.09.030; variances, § 15.09.040.

2.30.065 Planning division – Planning director – Position created, salary, and appointment.

There is hereby created the position of city planning director, who shall be appointed by the economic and community development director, in accordance with the provisions of the City of Kent Policies and Procedures Manual, on the basis of professional experience, education, and demonstrated knowledge of accepted practices relating to the duties of the division. The salary of the planning director shall be that as established in the annual city budget. All references in the Kent City Code to the planning manager, with respect to the functions of the planning division as set forth in this code, shall mean the planning director.

(Ord. No. 1674, § 8; Ord. No. 3252, § 2, 11-21-95; Ord. No. 3286, § 1, 3-19-96; Ord. No. 3512, § 10, 6-6-00; Ord. No. 3926, § 5, 8-4-09. Formerly § 2.30.080)

2.30.067 Planning division – Planning director – Qualifications.

The planning director must have the following or equivalent qualifications: he or she must be a graduate of a recognized college or university and have at least three (3) years’ experience in municipal planning.

(Ord. No. 3512, § 10, 6-6-00; Ord. No. 3926, § 5, 8-4-09. Formerly § 2.30.090)

2.30.069 Planning division – Planning director – Duties and responsibilities.

A. The planning director shall be in charge of the planning division. The planning director shall prepare an annual planning program and an annual budget to implement this program. The division shall represent the city before government agencies and the public as deemed necessary. The planning director or a designated planning staff member shall be present at all city council and land use and planning board meetings and public hearings. The planning director shall perform such other duties as the economic and community development director may direct or as may be required by the laws of the state.

B. The planning director, or his or her designee, shall act as the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) responsible official as set forth in Ch. 11.03 KCC.

(Ord. No. 1674, § 10; Ord. No. 3252, § 2, 11-21-95; Ord. No. 3286, § 1, 3-19-96; Ord. No. 3512, § 10, 6-6-00; Ord. No. 3926, § 5, 8-4-09. Formerly § 2.30.100)

2.30.070 Building official – Position created and appointment.

There is hereby created the position known as building official. The building official shall be appointed by the economic and community development director in accordance with the provisions of the City of Kent Policies and Procedures Manual on the basis of professional experience, education, and demonstrated knowledge of accepted practices relating to the duties of the office.

(Ord. No. 3926, § 5, 8-4-09)

2.30.072 Building official – Qualifications.

The building official must have the following or equivalent qualifications: he or she must be a graduate of a recognized college or university, have at least three (3) years’ experience in the field of building and land development, be familiar with the International and Uniform Building Codes, or have experience in a similar field as deemed appropriate to the position by the appointing authority.

(Ord. No. 3926, § 5, 8-4-09)

2.30.074 Building official – Duties and powers.

It shall be the duty of the building official to examine building plans and perform building inspections as prescribed by the Kent City Code.

The building official shall perform such other duties as the economic development director, or his or her designee, may direct or as may be required by the laws of the state.

(Ord. No. 3926, § 5, 8-4-09)

2.30.110 Salary.

Repealed by Ord. No. 3926.

(Ord. No. 3512, § 10, 6-6-00)