CHAPTER 9
PARK COMMISSION1
SECTION:
2-9-1: Creation Of Parks Commission
2-9-2: Authority
2-9-3: Function
2-9-4: Appointment; Members
2-9-5: Term
2-9-6: Rules And Regulations
2-9-7: Appointment, Qualifications, And Duties Of Parks Director And Recreation Director
2-9-1 CREATION OF PARKS COMMISSION:
There is hereby created a Parks Commission. (Ord. 5155, 9-26-05)
2-9-2 AUTHORITY:
The Parks Commission is established pursuant to RCW 67.20.010. (Ord. 5155, 9-26-05)
2-9-3 FUNCTION:
A. The Parks Commission shall establish policy to conduct any form of recreation or cultural activity that will employ the leisure time of the people in a constructive and wholesome manner, including policy to control and supervise all parks belonging to the City.
B. In conjunction with the Mayor and City Council, the Parks Commission may plan, promote, manage, construct, develop, maintain and operate, either within or without the City limits, parks, play and recreational grounds and/or other municipally owned recreation facilities, including community buildings and improve and ornament the same.
C. The Parks Commission shall receive, in the name of the City, all monies or other property donated by individuals or groups for the improvement of parks and other recreational areas. The Commission reserves the right to reject any such donations, subject to the approval of the Council, in the event that any such donation be considered improper, unlawful or contrary to the purposes as set forth. Any cash received by the Commission on behalf of the City shall be forthwith paid to the Administrator of the Administrative Services Department and same shall be placed in the Park Fund. (Ord. 5547, 8-9-10; Ord. 5654, 2-13-12)
D. The Parks Commission is authorized to grant concessions and privileges within the parks and recreational areas, under such restrictions, and for such compensation as it shall prescribe, and any monies or properties paid thereunder shall be turned over to the Administrator of the Administrative Services Department. Such revenue shall be used for park purposes only. Any party aggrieved by the Commission in granting or denying such concession and privileges shall have the right of appeal to the Council within thirty (30) days of such action by the Commission. No concession shall be granted for a period of more than five (5) years, with the right for an extension for an additional five (5) year period of time, should the Commission deem it advisable, and then only upon condition that the concessionaire fulfill all conditions and provisions of the original five (5) year concession contract. (Ord. 5547, 8-9-10; Ord. 5654, 2-13-12)
E. The Commission shall not have the power to acquire any property, by gift or otherwise, without the consent of the Council and any properties so received and acquired shall be in the name of the City. (Ord. 5155, 9-26-05)
2-9-4 APPOINTMENT; MEMBERS:
The Parks Commission shall consist of eight (8) members, who shall be residents of the City of Renton, one of whom shall be under 21 years of age at the time of appointment, who shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to the confirmation by a majority of the members of the City Council. No Commissioner shall receive any compensation for his or her service whatsoever except for reimbursement of actual expenditures duly authorized by the City Council. (Ord. 5155, 9-26-05)
2-9-5 TERM:
The term of each Commissioner so appointed shall be for a period of four (4) years from the date of such appointment. Such term shall also apply to incumbent Commissioners and each Commissioner shall serve until his or her successor has been appointed and duly qualified. The terms of office shall begin on the first Monday in June. At the expiration of each Commissioner’s term, the Mayor shall appoint, subject to confirmation or concurrence of a majority of Council members, a successor Commissioner.
Members of the Parks Commission may be removed at any time by the appointing authority and vacancies for the remainder of unexpired terms shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. Three unexcused absences in a one-year period of time shall result in automatic removal of the Commissioner. The Commission shall, by a majority vote, elect one of its members to be President thereof and may appoint such other officers as may be deemed necessary by them. (Ord. 5155, 9-26-05)
2-9-6 RULES AND REGULATIONS:
A. Commission Authority: The Parks Commission shall have the authority to propose the rules and regulations for the operation, management and maintenance of parks and other recreational facilities, including recommendations to the City Council to fix charges for the use of any municipally owned or controlled park or recreational facilities.
B. Council Adoption: The parks rules and regulations shall be submitted to the City Council for approval and adoption. The civil violations found in the parks rules and regulations, as they may be amended, from time to time, are hereby adopted by reference and shall be effective upon their approval by Council voice vote and the filing of at least one copy of said park rules and regulations with the City Clerk. The criminal violations found in the parks rules and regulations shall be codified in the Penal Code, Title VI, Chapter 18 of the Renton Municipal Code.
C. Penalties: Those parks rules and regulations identified as criminal violations are punishable pursuant to RMC 6-18-20. Those parks rules and regulations identified as civil violations are punishable pursuant to RMC 1-3-2. (Ord. 5155, 9-26-05; Ord. 5542, 6-28-10; Ord. 5580, 11-22-10)
2-9-7 APPOINTMENT, QUALIFICATIONS, AND DUTIES OF PARKS DIRECTOR AND RECREATION DIRECTOR:
A. When there is a vacancy in the position of Parks Director or Recreation Director, the Parks Commission, in conjunction with the Community Services Administrator, shall recommend one or more qualified candidates for the positions of Parks Director or Recreation Director to the Mayor for consideration for an appointment to that position. The Mayor shall appoint a candidate to the position of Parks Director or Recreation Director, or may reject the recommendations of the Parks Commission, and ask for additional names to be submitted. The Mayor shall not appoint a Parks Director or Recreation Director without that individual’s name having been recommended by the Parks Commission. The person that the Mayor appoints to the position of Parks Director or Recreation Director shall be subject to confirmation by the City Council.
B. The qualifications and duties for the positions of Parks Director and Recreation Director shall be established by the Human Resources Department of the City with the concurrence of the Parks Commission.
C. The Parks Director or Recreation Director may serve as an ex officio member of the Parks Commission but shall have no vote thereon. This individual shall be the liaison or staff support to the Park Board.
D. The salaries of the Parks Director or Recreation Director shall be as fixed in the annual budget of the City. (Ord. 5155, 9-26-05)
Prior legislation: Ords. 2857, 6-3-74; 3127, 4-25-77; 3706, 1-24-83; 4319, 7-1-91; 4419, 9-13-93; 4452, 6‑3-94 and 4663, 4-21-97.