Chapter 2.32
STANDING COMMITTEES OF COUNCIL

Sections:

2.32.010    Creation.

2.32.020    Function and purpose.

2.32.030    Membership.

2.32.035    Calling of meetings.

2.32.040    Meetings.

2.32.050    Duties and responsibilities.

2.32.060    Reports.

2.32.070    Staffing.

2.32.010 Creation.

The following standing committees of the City Council are created and established:

(1) Public Administration and Finance;

(2) Public Safety;

(3) Planning and Public Works;

(4) Parks and Human Services;

(5) Regional Affairs. (Ord. 1817 § 1 (part), 1994: Ord. 1573 § 2, 1990: Ord. 1232 § 1 (part), 1985: Ord. 635 § 1, 1974).

2.32.020 Function and purpose.

The standing committees shall function to inform and educate the Council on existing city programs and issues, to provide an opportunity to explore the implications of policy alternatives as part of the policy development process, and to serve in an advisory capacity to the Council as a whole in reviewing policy matters referred to them by the Council, and such other matters as the whole Council by simple majority vote may direct. The committees shall have no power or authority to commit the city or to take any binding action on their part without the express authorization of the Council as a whole. The committees shall be concerned primarily with policy matters and matters vested in the legislative body of the city and shall not become involved in the administration of the city government and city interests. In general, the purpose of each committee shall be to review matters within the following subject areas:

(1) Public Administration and Finance: The review, analysis and recommendation of policies governing the function and operation of municipal government through its departments, boards, and appointive officers; personnel management policies, including salary and compensation plans, working conditions and employment benefits; maintenance of public records and documents; public relations and information; inventory and control of municipally owned property; comprehensive municipal insurance coverage; and, generally, policy areas dealing with public administration; financial policy; analysis of and advice on the budget process, proposed budgets and other financial programs with respect to overall city policy; Council rules and procedures, matters relating to conflict of interest, questions and code of ethics for public officials; campaign practices and expenditures; and, generally, matters relating to the conduct of municipal affairs, its rules and ethics;

(2) Public Safety: The review, analysis and recommendation of policies affecting law enforcement and fire protection; animal control; civil defense; and public health and safety;

(3) Planning and Public Works: The review, analysis and recommendation of policies governing comprehensive and coordinated land use planning and management; energy; subdivisions and plats; preservation and protection of greenbelts, floodplains, shorelines and natural amenities; annexation and area planning; and, generally, the supervision and control of the development and land use process; street and right-of-way improvements, maintenance and operation; public utilities, including storm drainage, sanitary sewers, water, coordination with special purpose districts and other municipal utilities, and supervision over privately owned public utilities; public buildings and improvements; construction and building codes and regulations; and, generally, projects and facilities within the area of public works;

(4) Parks and Human Services: The review, analysis and recommendation of policies regarding parks facilities and recreational programs; coordination of education programs and facilities; programs and facilities for senior citizens, underprivileged and handicapped persons, minorities and low-income families; and, generally, areas involving the preservation, protection and advancement of human concerns; and

(5) Regional Affairs: Review and discussion of issues affecting Redmond in a regional context, and in relation to other municipal, county, regional, state and federal governments and agencies. (Ord. 1817 § 1 (part), 1994: Ord. 1573 § 3, 1990; Ord. 1506 § § 1, 2, 1989; Ord. 1304 § 1, 1986: Ord. 1232 § 1 (part), 1985: Ord. 1172 § § 1, 2, 1984; Ord. 1054 § 1, 1982: Ord. 635 § 2, 1974).

2.32.030 Membership.

Each committee shall have a chairperson and at least two other members, to be appointed by the Council President biannually upon the reorganization and seating of a new City Council following regular municipal elections. Vacancies shall be filled when they occur by the Council President. The Regional Affairs Committee shall be a committee of the whole, unless otherwise determined by vote of the Council. The Council President may elect not to serve on any committee which is not a committee of the whole. (Ord. 1817 § 1 (part), 1994: Ord. 1232 § 1 (part), 1985: Ord. 635 § 3, 1974).

2.32.035 Calling of meetings.

Committee meetings can be called in any of the following ways:

(1) Regarding issues upon which the committee is to advise the Council on policy alternatives or allocation of resources; such issues shall be directed to the committee by a majority of the Council.

(2) Regarding subjects which fall under the committee functions to inform and educate Council members on city programs and issues and to provide an opportunity for exploring the implications of policy alternatives as part of the policy development process (i.e., receiving progress reports, exploring alternatives, communicating areas of concern, etc.); such subjects may be placed on the committee’s agenda and meetings to discuss the items may be convened by the chairperson at his/her discretion subject to the provisions for calling committee meetings provided for in Section 2.32.040.

(3) Regarding matters of concern to the administration; such meetings may be sought by the Mayor by requesting that the chairperson or Council president initiate the call of such a committee meeting. (Ord. 1304 § 2, 1986).

2.32.040 Meetings.

The date, time and place of each meeting shall be announced at a preceding regular or special Council meeting. Notice of the meeting shall be given in compliance with RCW Chapter 42.30, the Open Public Meetings Act; provided, that scheduling difficulties precluding compliance with the foregoing notice requirements shall not prevent the holding of a meeting. At their first meeting in each year all Council committees should adopt annual committee goals identifying what the committee intends to accomplish. All Council committees should meet at least every three months, either on a quarterly or staggered basis. (Ord. 1304 § 3, 1986: Ord. 1232 § 1 (part), 1985: Ord. 1172 § 3, 1984: Ord. 1153 § 1, 1983: Ord. 1054 § 2, 1982: Ord. 635 § 4, 1974).

2.32.050 Duties and responsibilities.

(a) The committees shall consider, review and make recommendations to the Council concerning matters referred to them by the Council. The Mayor, committee chairpersons, and boards and commissions are encouraged to suggest items to the Council which should be considered by a committee. Whenever any item is referred to a committee, the Council should establish a date by which the committee should report back to the Council. Each committee shall have general responsibility, as indicated in Section 2.32.020, to investigate, collect and review appropriate information for the formulation of possible Council action and to make recommendations to the Council. Committees shall not have authority to take any action unless expressly authorized to do so by the affirmative votes of a majority of all Council members.

(b) In carrying out their duties and responsibilities, the committees shall have the power and authority to examine all records, registers, minutes and papers pertaining to the subject matter under review or consideration, including those kept by boards and commissions of the city. The city officers, department heads, board and commission chairpersons shall cooperate with and assist the committees in carrying out their duties and responsibilities and in furnishing necessary information, except where prohibited by law or excluded under Section 31, Chapter 1, Laws of 1973; provided, that in the event any city officer, department head or board or commission chairperson deems the release of requested information not in the best interests of the city, authority for that release shall be vested in the Mayor.

(c) In the event of a conflict as to which committee has the responsibility with respect to a particular subject matter or area, the question shall be referred to the Council who, by majority vote, will determine which committee should take responsibility for the matter in question. (Ord. 1232 § 1 (part), 1985: Ord. 635 § 5, 1974).

2.32.060 Reports.

At the Council meeting immediately following each committee meeting, in the appropriate place on the Council agenda, a report from the standing committees shall be made by the committee chairperson or an alternate designated by the chairperson. A minority report may be given by any committee member who dissents from the report by the majority. Oral reports shall be sufficient, unless a Council majority feels that a written report should be furnished. (Ord. 1304 § 4, 1986: Ord. 1232 § 1 (part), 1985: Ord. 635 § 6, 1974).

2.32.070 Staffing.

When needed, staff assistance to a committee shall be assigned by the Mayor. (Ord. 1304 § 5, 1986: Ord. 1232 § 1 (part), 1985).