Chapter 11.01
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sections:
11.01.020 Application and interviews.
11.01.040 Leadership positions.
11.01.090 Student representatives and youth-at-large.
11.01.100 Open Public Meetings Act training.
11.01.130 Reports to City Council.
11.01.140 Ad hoc boards and commissions.
11.01.010 Applicability.
The general provisions set forth within this chapter govern all boards and commissions within this title. More specific provisions contained within the chapters herein shall only be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, the general provisions. (Ord. O-21-693 § 1 (Exh. A)).
11.01.020 Application and interviews.
Members shall be sought by public notice in the City’s official newspaper and by other reasonable methods as appropriate. All applicants for boards and commissions shall complete an application for appointment. After submission, each applicant shall be interviewed by the City Council at a regular or special business meeting, open to the public. In the interest of time and by majority vote in open session, the City Council may choose not to interview current board or commission member applicants who have already been interviewed, and any past deviations made according to a similar process are ratified. (Ord. O-22-766 § 1; Ord. O-21-693 § 1 (Exh. A)).
11.01.030 Appointment.
A. Process. The Mayor, with Council confirmation, shall appoint or reappoint members of boards and commissions.
B. Composition of Appointees. The Mayor and Council should give consideration toward maintaining an equitable balance of community representation on all boards and commissions.
1. The City Council will not appoint multiple members from the same family or household to a single board or commission, in order to avoid the reality or appearance of improper influence or favoritism.
2. The City Council will not appoint members of Councilmembers’ families or households to boards or commissions other than to youth, nonvoting positions, to avoid the appearance of favoritism and to increase community representation.
3. The majority of voting membership on boards and commissions shall be individuals who reside, own property, or own a business within the City limits of the City of Maple Valley. In the event that extenuating circumstances result in this requirement not being met, the City Council shall appoint only committee members meeting the requirement until such time as the required majority is restored.
4. Ex Officio Membership. Boards, committees, or commissions may have ex officio members as designated by the City Council. Ex officio members will not have voting privileges. (Ord. O-21-693 § 1 (Exh. A)).
11.01.040 Leadership positions.
A. Chair and Vice-Chair. Except for the Salary Commission, each board, commission or committee established by this title shall elect from its regular voting members a Chair and Vice-Chair, each of whom shall serve for a period of one year. Chairs and Vice-Chairs may be elected for consecutive years. It shall be the duty of the Chairman to preside at all meetings. The Vice-Chair shall preside if the Chairman is unable to fulfill this duty in the absence of the Chairman.
B. Qualifications of Leadership Positions. Officers such as Chair and Vice-Chair shall only be filled by voting members who do not serve as the representative of an outside organization. Nonvoting membership positions are not eligible for leadership positions. (Ord. O-21-693 § 1 (Exh. A)).
11.01.050 Removal.
Board and commission members shall be removed by the Mayor, with the concurrence of the City Council, for negligence of duty, malfeasance in office, or other just cause, or for unexcused absences from more than three consecutive regular meetings. The decision by the City Council regarding membership shall be final and there is no appeal therefrom. (Ord. O-21-693 § 1 (Exh. A)).
11.01.060 Alternates.
The following applies to alternate membership positions:
A. Nonvoting. Boards and commissions may include one or more alternate member position that shall be nonvoting membership positions.
B. Filling Vacancies. Boards or commissions that do not have procedures for filling vacancies, or that do not address filling vacancies with such specificity, shall follow this procedure for doing so. Any voting membership position vacancy occurring, other than through the expiration of term, shall be filled for the unexpired term by an alternate. On boards or commissions with more than one alternate, the positions shall be numbered, and when the Alternate One position is vacated, the Alternate Two will move to the Alternate One position and will fill the next vacancy that occurs on the committee other than through term expiration. If no alternate is available to fill a vacant position occurring other than through the expiration of term, the position(s) shall be filled for the unexpired term(s) in the same manner as for appointment as provided in MVMC 11.01.030. If an alternate is appointed to fill a position vacancy, a new alternate(s) shall be selected as provided in MVMC 11.01.030. (Ord. O-21-693 § 1 (Exh. A)).
11.01.070 Meetings.
A. Notice of Meetings. The boards and commissions shall set their own meeting dates and shall give notice of such meeting in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 42.30 RCW, as it now exists and as it may be amended. Special meetings of boards and commissions shall also comply with any notice provisions of Chapter 42.30 RCW, as it now exists and as it may be amended.
B. Open to the Public. All meetings shall be open to the public unless authorized to be held in executive session pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 42.30 RCW, as it now exists and as it may be amended.
C. Rules and Procedures. Robert’s Rules of Order, as it now exists and as it may be revised, will be used by boards and commissions as a guide. All boards and commissions shall adopt such rules and procedures as necessary or desirable for the conduct of business. All meetings shall be governed by rules and procedures as established by the board or commission. Any provisions relating to remote attendance of boards and commission members or the public at such meetings shall comply with the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 42.30 RCW, as it now exists and as it may be amended. (Ord. O-21-693 § 1 (Exh. A)).
11.01.080 Attendance.
A. Quorum. A simple majority of the body of the board or commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. For example, if the board or commission consists of seven voting members, a simple majority of four shall be sufficient to establish quorum for the purposes of transacting business. Any action taken by the simple majority of the board or commission shall be deemed to be an action of the board or commission.
B. Alternates.
1. When to Establish. Prior to a meeting being called to order, the board or commission shall determine if an alternate is needed to establish quorum. Alternates shall not fill vacancies that occur after the meeting has been called to order.
2. Voting at Meeting. If a quorum for a meeting cannot be established by the presence of voting members, the alternate shall be counted to establish quorum and then entitled to vote on any business at the meeting.
3. Multiple Alternates. If boards and commissions have more than one alternate, the designation of the alternate to be considered the voting member at a meeting at which a quorum of voting members cannot be established shall be set forth within the chapters of this title. If there is not a process established, Alternate One shall become the voting member before Alternate Two, etc. (Ord. O-21-693 § 1 (Exh. A)).
11.01.090 Student representatives and youth-at-large.
A. Nonvoting. Student representatives or youth-at-large members who have been appointed to a board or commission shall be nonvoting members whose presence shall not be required to establish a quorum for meeting purposes.
B. One-Year Term. The student representative or youth-at-large member shall serve a one-year term.
C. Qualifications. Student representatives or youth-at-large members shall attend high school or college and shall reside within the Tahoma School District boundary, unless otherwise specified within the code provisions related to a board or commission. (Ord. O-21-693 § 1 (Exh. A)).
11.01.100 Open Public Meetings Act training.
Every member of a governing body of a public agency must complete training requirements on the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 42.30 RCW, within 90 days of assuming office or taking the oath of office. In addition, every member of a governing body must complete training at intervals of no more than four years as long as they remain in office. (Ord. O-21-693 § 1 (Exh. A)).
11.01.110 Staff support.
Administrative staff support to the boards and commissions shall be provided by the City Manager or designee. (Ord. O-21-693 § 1 (Exh. A)).
11.01.120 Compensation.
The members of the boards and commissions shall serve without compensation, but necessary expenses of the boards and commissions actually incurred shall be paid from appropriate City funds. (Ord. O-21-693 § 1 (Exh. A)).
11.01.130 Reports to City Council.
Boards and commissions may make such verbal or written reports and recommendations to the City Council as may be deemed advisable but shall, at a minimum, report annually to the Council. (Ord. O-21-693 § 1 (Exh. A)).
11.01.140 Ad hoc boards and commissions.
Ad hoc boards and commissions created by the City Council for a particular purpose are required to adhere to the general provisions of this chapter and to the duties and responsibilities as set forth by the City Council at the time of creation. (Ord. O-21-693 § 1 (Exh. A)).