Chapter 2.42
RESIDENCY QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES

Sections:

2.42.010    Generally.

2.42.020    Hiring practices.

2.42.025    City personnel response time comprehensive plan.

2.42.030    Police personnel – Requirements.

2.42.040    Exceptions.

2.42.050    Administration.

2.42.060    Effective date.

2.42.010 Generally.

All persons subject to the provisions of this chapter appointed to any office or employed by the city must, as a condition of employment, agree in writing to reside within a 30-minute response time from their place of residence to the corporate limits of the city as prescribed in this chapter. (Ord. 767 § 1, 1990; Ord. 709 § 1(A), 1987)

2.42.020 Hiring practices.

A. Residence within the corporate limits of the city shall not be a condition precedent for employment for any of the appointive officials or employees of the city. However, preference for employment shall be afforded to prospective appointive official and employee applicants who reside within the corporate limits of the city.

B. The intent of this chapter is to set forth a municipal policy of hiring residents and does not create a right or entitlement to appointment or employment to any position simply because of residency within the city. Hiring and employment matters are governed by administrative policies and the sound discretion of the administrative officials.

C. Persons appointed to any office or employed by the city subject to the provisions of this chapter and who do not reside within a 30-minute response time from their place of residence to the corporate limits of the city shall not be required to relocate until after successfully completing the probationary period. Relocation time limits shall be set forth in the city personnel response time comprehensive plan.

D. The mayor or his/her designee shall prepare forms, statements and any necessary documents to ensure compliance with this chapter. The provisions of this chapter shall be incorporated into the personnel policy of the city. (Ord. 767 § 1, 1990; Ord. 709 § 1(B), 1987)

2.42.025 City personnel response time comprehensive plan.

A. It is the intent of the city council to establish procedures that are deemed appropriate and necessary to serve the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the city by authorizing the mayor or his/her designee to develop a city personnel response time comprehensive plan.

B. Procedure and policy to implement the city personnel response time comprehensive plan shall be the responsibility of the mayor or his/her designee. The plan shall be consistent with the intent and purpose of this chapter to ensure that certain personnel job classifications are identified to respond to city needs as set forth in the plan and as prescribed in this chapter.

C. Nothing in this section shall restrict the mayor from requiring a new employee to reside within 30 minutes of the corporate limits of the city; provided that, the sole purpose of requiring a new employee to relocate is to ensure compliance management of the city personnel response time comprehensive plan. (Ord. 767 § 1, 1990)

2.42.030 Police personnel – Requirements.

A. The residency requirements provided for in this chapter shall not require any person applying for or holding office, place, position or employment under provisions applicable to Civil Service for City Police Laws, RCW 41.12.010 as amended, or this chapter, to reside within the corporate limits of the city.

B. Due to the need, from time to time, for emergency response, all police department personnel, subject to civil service for city police laws, are required to reside within a 30-minute response time from their place or residence to the City Hall; provided, however, this section shall not apply to police personnel who are employees of the city as of January 30, 1990. (Ord. 767 §§ 1, 4, 1990; Ord. 709 §§ 1(C), 4, 1987)

2.42.040 Exceptions.

A. General Provisions. All appointive officials and employees subject to the provisions of this chapter, appointed or employed prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, shall not be discharged by reason of such appointive officials or employees having established their residence outside of the 30-minute response time requirement of the corporate limits of the city.

B. City Attorney and Other Professional Appointive Officials. The city attorney and any other professional appointive officials, when it is deemed necessary by the city council, shall be exempt, and are not subject to the provisions of this title. (Ord. 767 § 3, 1990; Ord. 709 § 3, 1987)

2.42.050 Administration.

The city personnel officer shall monitor the response time provisions of this chapter for the purpose of insuring that all employees subject to the response time requirements are reported to the mayor in a timely manner after completing their probationary periods. (Ord. 767 § 5, 1990; Ord. 709 § 5, 1987)

2.42.060 Effective date.

From and after January 30, 1990, no person shall be appointed to any office or employed by the city, subject to the provisions of this chapter, who does not reside within 30 minutes of the corporate limits of the city. (Ord. 767 § 2, 1990; Ord. 709 § 2, 1987)