Chapter 2.35
NORTH WHATCOM POVERTY TASK FORCE
Sections:
2.35.010 Members – Appointment.
2.35.020 Membership – Terms, residency.
2.35.030 Members – Removal, resignation and vacancies.
2.35.040 Authority, powers and duties.
2.35.010 Members – Appointment.
The North Whatcom Poverty Task Force (“Task Force” hereafter) shall consist of seven members appointed by the Mayor subject to confirmation by the City Council. (Ord. 2085 § 1, 2019)
2.35.020 Membership – Terms, residency.
A. The Task Force shall be comprised of 10 members. All members must reside or work outside of Bellingham for at least two years. The members shall serve until December 2020, when the Task Force will be disbanded.
B. Additional Requirements for Task Force Members.
1. Position No. 1. Required to be a representative from the Ferndale City Council.
2. Position No. 2. Required to have work experience with social services in North Whatcom County.
3. Position No. 3. Required to have work experience with health care services in North Whatcom County.
4. Position No. 4. Required to have experience with the North Whatcom business community.
5. Position No. 5. Required to be a representative from Lynden, Blaine, Birch Bay, Sumas, Everson or Nooksack.
6. Position No. 6. Required to be a service user or family member of a service user, or have extensive experience with service users.
7. Position No. 7. Required to be a service user or family member of a service user, or have extensive experience with service users.
8. Position No. 8. At-large representative.
9. Position No. 9. At-large representative.
10. Position No. 10. Representative who is a student in Ferndale.
The City of Ferndale, the Ferndale Police Department, the Opportunity Council and the Ferndale School District will be providing a staff member to attend the meetings in a nonvoting capacity. (Ord. 2094 § 1, 2019; Ord. 2085 § 1, 2019)
2.35.030 Members – Removal, resignation and vacancies.
Members may be removed by the Mayor with approval of the City Council upon a finding of circumstances preventing or interfering with their attendance at meetings or full performance of their Task Force functions. The Task Force may make an official recommendation to the Mayor, upon finding of cause, that a member of Task Force should be removed. If the Mayor agrees with the recommendation, the Mayor must still bring a Task Force recommended removal to the City Council for approval. Members may resign to serve on other boards or for other good reason by providing 30 days’ advance written notice to the Mayor. Vacancies shall be filled for unexpired terms in the same manner as appointments are made. (Ord. 2085 § 1, 2019)
2.35.040 Authority, powers and duties.
A. The Task Force shall be an advisory board to the City Council and shall have and exercise those powers and that authority prescribed in this chapter or in subsequent ordinances or resolutions of the City Council.
B. All authorizations for expenditures, incurring of any costs or indebtedness or employment of any person by the Task Force shall be made by the City Council.
C. The Task Force will conduct a needs assessment of North Whatcom County relating to issues of poverty and homelessness. This preliminary report will be completed by September 30, 2019. The Task Force will then develop a set of recommendations to be presented to the Ferndale City Council before December 31, 2020. (Ord. 2085 § 1, 2019)
2.35.050 Rules and meetings.
The Task Force may establish rules for transaction of its business – including but not limited to appointing officers and setting meeting times. The City Council can change these rules of operation by a majority vote. The meetings and other sessions of each Task Force shall be open to the public in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 42.30 RCW. At meetings of the Task Force, a majority of the members of the Task Force shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote of the majority of the members present at an official public meeting of the Task Force may constitute a decision or recommendation of the Task Force. (Ord. 2085 § 1, 2019)