Chapter 2.01
APPOINTIVE OFFICES
Sections:
2.01.015 Deputy city administrator.
2.01.070 Public works director.
2.01.080 Chief building official (building inspector).
2.01.090 Community development director.
* Prior ordinance history: Ords. 2531, 2569 and 2585.
2.01.010 Established.
A. The following appointive offices for the city of Prosser are established:
1. City administrator.
2. City attorney.
3. City clerk.
4. Finance director.
5. Police chief.
6. Public works director.
7. Building official.
8. Community development director.
B. All appointments of the foregoing shall be made by the mayor and be subject to confirmation by a majority of the city council. All appointments shall be made on the basis of ability and training or experience of the appointees in the duties they are to perform from among persons qualified to act in such capacities or as otherwise required in this chapter. The mayor shall have the power of removal of such appointees and shall notify the city council of such removal. The compensation of such appointive officers in addition to all other management positions shall be prescribed by ordinance or as set forth in the ordinance adopting the city’s annual budget. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the authority of the mayor to remove appointed officials.
C. The authority, duties, and qualifications of the appointive officers shall be as established by the ordinances of the city of Prosser and this chapter of the Prosser Municipal Code. (Ord. 3097 § 1, 2019: Ord. 3042 § 1, 2017: Ord. 2801 § 1 (part), 2012: Ord. 2606 § 2, 2008: Ord. 2533 § 1, 2005: Ord. 2511 § 27, 2005).
2.01.015 Deputy city administrator.
The position of deputy city administrator is hereby established as follows:
A. The deputy city administrator may be appointed by the mayor, subject to confirmation by a majority of the city council. The mayor shall have the power of removal of the deputy city administrator without cause and shall notify the city council of such removal.
B. If the mayor elects to appoint a deputy city administrator, he or she shall appoint one of the persons currently holding an appointed position under Section 2.01.010 to that office. Once appointed, the deputy city administrator shall continue to simultaneously hold the office to which he or she was appointed under Section 2.01.010.
C. The deputy city administrator shall not be entitled to a salary other than the salary of the office to which the officer was appointed under Section 2.01.010.
D. The deputy city administrator shall work under the direct supervision of the city administrator, and, in his or her absence, under the direct supervision of the mayor.
E. The authority and duties of the deputy city administrator shall be as established by the ordinances of the city of Prosser and this section of the Prosser Municipal Code. The job description for the deputy city administrator shall be approved and changed from time to time by a separate ordinance or resolution of the city council.
F. The deputy city administrator shall oversee all departments and oversee the day-to-day operations of the city to assure optimum services to the community, and shall provide direct oversight of all appointed officers, except the city administrator, and their departments to ensure efficient use of city resources. The deputy city administrator shall directly supervise all administrative staff.
G. The deputy city administrator shall have the authority to perform all duties of the city administrator in his or her absence, and may take on other duties as assigned by the city administrator or the mayor. (Ord. 2697 § 1, 2010).
2.01.020 City administrator.
The city administrator shall be a full-time, noncivil service position who shall exercise general supervision over the administrative affairs of the city and over all other appointive officers and other management positions as determined by the mayor. The city administrator shall assist the mayor in the performance of the mayor’s administrative responsibilities. The city administrator shall serve on the city’s management team and may take on other duties as assigned. Additional terms and conditions of employment may be specified in a written employment agreement executed by the mayor and approved by the city council. Any reference to “city superintendent” in the Prosser Municipal Code shall hereafter be “city administrator under direction of the mayor.” (Ord. 2801 § 3, 2012).
2.01.030 City attorney.
The city attorney shall be a member in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association, and have been in the practice of law in the state for at least four years next prior to his or her appointment. The city attorney shall have full supervisory control of all the litigation of the city, or in which the city or any of its departments are interested, and shall perform such other duties as are or shall be prescribed by ordinance. (Ord. 2606 § 4, 2008).
2.01.040 City clerk.
The city clerk shall be a full-time, noncivil service position who shall be in charge of the city clerk’s office. The city clerk, or a deputy, shall attend all meetings of the city council and shall keep a full and true record of every act and proceeding of the city council and keep such books and accounts and make such reports as may be required by the laws of the state of Washington and the ordinances of the city; and have custody of the city’s seal, the original roll of ordinances, the original contracts, deeds and certificates relative to the title of any property of the city and such other records, bonds, or documents as are required to be deposited with the city. The city clerk shall attest all public instruments and official acts of the mayor and shall provide and make certified copies of original records as may be required and make such charge therefor as provided by ordinance. The city clerk shall have the additional duties and authority given to clerks and city treasurers pursuant to RCW Title 35A. The city clerk shall serve on the city’s management team and may take on other duties as assigned. (Ord. 2606 § 5, 2008).
2.01.050 Finance director.
A. The finance director shall be a full-time, noncivil service position who shall be in charge of the finance department. The finance director shall provide leadership for the development of the annual budget and report regularly on city finances. The finance director shall have the additional duties and authority given to city treasurers pursuant to RCW Title 35A. The finance director shall serve on the city’s management team and may take on other duties as assigned. The finance director shall attend all city council meetings unless excused by the mayor.
B. In addition to the other authority granted or the duties imposed by this chapter or other ordinance of the city of Prosser, the finance director under the supervision of the city administrator and under the direction of the mayor shall have the following authority and duties:
1. Except as provided in subsections (B)(2), (3), and (4) of this section, the finance director shall submit all claims and demands properly vouchered and presented against the city to the council for consideration and approval, and shall pay such claims and demands when directed by the council to do so, all such claims and demands to be paid from the particular fund or funds to be designated at the time when the same are allowed.
2. The finance director may issue checks or warrants and payments of claims before the city council has acted to approve the claims, if such claims can be paid at a discount or if such claims are emergencies; provided, that all of the following conditions are met:
a. The claims shall be paid at a reduced amount, i.e., an amount less than the amount would be if the claim were not paid until after the approval for payment of the claim was made by the city council, or the claim shall be paid to enable the timely, efficient and proper function of the city or a department, division, board, commission, committee or office of the city, where to delay the payment of such claim until after approval by the city council would reasonably be expected to cause an additional cost, fee, or finance charge to the city;
b. The city council shall review the documentation supporting claims paid pursuant to this section and shall approve all warrants issued in payment of such claims at its next regularly scheduled, public meeting;
c. If, upon review, the city council shall disapprove any such claim, the officers of the city who are designated to sign the checks or warrants shall jointly cause the disapproved claim to be recognized as receivables of the city and shall pursue collection diligently until the amounts disapproved are collected, or until the city council is satisfied and approves the claims.
3. The finance director may issue checks or warrants and payments of claims before the city council acts to approve the claims, if such claims must be paid at the time service is rendered in accordance with state law, city or county ordinance, or in accordance with a contract approved by the city council. No claim shall be paid in accordance with this subsection unless such claim is for less than two hundred and fifty dollars. The city council shall review the documentation supporting claims paid pursuant to this section and shall approve all checks or warrants issued in payment of such claims at its next regularly scheduled, public meeting. If, upon review, the city council shall disapprove any such claim, the officers of the city who are designated to sign the checks or warrants shall jointly cause the disapproved claim to be recognized as receivables of the city and shall pursue collection diligently until the amounts disapproved are collected, or until the city council is satisfied and approves the claims.
4. The finance director may issue checks or warrants for payment for travel expenses and conference registrations before the city council acts to approve such claims. The city council shall review the documentation supporting checks or warrants paid pursuant to this section and shall approve all checks or warrants issued in payment of such expenses at its next regularly scheduled, public meeting. If, upon review, the city council shall disapprove any such claim, the officers of the city who are designated to sign the checks or warrants shall jointly cause the disapproved claim to be recognized as receivables of the city and shall pursue collection diligently until the amounts disapproved are collected, or until the city council is satisfied and approves the claims. The city finance director is authorized to implement procedural rules reasonably necessary to implement this section.
5. All checks or warrants shall be drawn by the finance director for payment of claims and payrolls allowed by the council or as approved pursuant to subsections (B)(2), (3), or (4) of this section, and shall be paid as designated by the city council. The persons authorized to sign the checks or warrants shall be determined by resolution of the city council. The signature of two of the authorized individuals shall be required on each warrant in order for it to be valid.
6. In accordance with RCW 39.58.750, the finance director, and those persons authorized by resolution of the city council, are authorized to make electronic fund transfers in payment of claims, investments to the state pool, and payrolls. The finance director shall establish internal controls both to protect and ensure the reliability of electronic fund transfers and to protect and ensure that such funds cannot be misappropriated by means of electronic fund transfers. The city council may establish additional restrictions for electronic fund transfers by resolution.
7. A check may not be used to pay a debt or obligation of the city if the fund from which it is to be drawn is not solvent, in which event a warrant shall be issued. (Ord. 2788 § 1, 2012: Ord. 2606 § 6, 2008).
2.01.060 Police chief.
A. The police chief shall be a full-time, non-civil service position who shall be the head of the police department. It shall be the police chief’s duty to manage the police department, and prescribe rules and regulations, consistent with law, for its governance and control. The police chief shall have the additional duties and authority given to police chiefs pursuant to RCW Title 35A. The police chief shall serve on the city’s management team and may take on other duties as assigned. The police chief shall reside within a ten-minute response time to the Prosser Police Station. All police chiefs hereinafter employed shall reside within a ten-minute response time to the Prosser Police Station within six months of employment.
B. The police chief may issue a limited commission to persons who have a need to have limited enforcement capabilities such as, but not limited to, animal control, parking, code enforcement, and parks. These limited commissions will specifically state the ordinances for which the holder may issue citations for civil infractions. The police chief will develop standards for the selection and training of those being granted a limited commission, which will be consistently applied. The limited commission may be revoked at any time by the police chief in accordance with any applicable collective bargaining agreement. (Ord. 3077 § 1, 2018: Ord. 2799 § 1, 2012: Ord. 2790 § 1, 2012: Ord. 2606 § 7, 2008).
2.01.070 Public works director.
The public works director shall be a full-time, noncivil service position who shall exercise general management supervision over the public works department, water and waste water facilities, park maintenance, streets and other infrastructure. The public works director shall serve on the city’s management team and may take on other duties as assigned. (Ord. 2606 § 8, 2008).
2.01.080 Chief building official (building inspector).
The building official shall be a full-time, noncivil service position who shall be responsible for building code compliance, general code compliance, inspections, assisting developers and citizens, and code enforcement citywide including but not limited to having the authority to issue citations for code enforcement issues. The building official shall serve on the city’s management team and may take on other duties as assigned. (Ord. 2606 § 9, 2008).
2.01.090 Community development director.
The community development director shall be a full-time, non-civil-service position who shall be in charge of all aspects of community development including planning, building, recreation, and areas involving quality of life in our community. The community development director shall provide leadership for the development of the comprehensive plan and provide administrative support to the planning commission and board of adjustment. The community development director will also work in concert with other agencies, developers, business owners, elected and appointed officials, and property owners to ensure the city of Prosser’s compliance with short- and long-term planning projects. In the absence of the building official, the community development director will act as the building official. This position will work other departments and event organizers to ensure compliance with PMC and department requests. Develops plans with city council and other staff to plan for the replacement, improvement, and expansion of city facilities with a focus on community quality of life. The community development director is also responsible for recreation programming including the staff and programming of the aquatic center. (Ord. 3097 § 2, 2019: Ord. 3042 § 2, 2017).
2.01.100 Job descriptions.
Job descriptions for the appointive officers shall be approved and changed from time to time by a separate ordinance or resolution of the city council. (Ord. 2606 § 11, 2008).
2.01.990 Severability.
The provisions of this chapter are hereby declared to be severable. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of this chapter shall not as a result of said section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase be held unconstitutional or invalid. (Ord. 2606 § 12, 2008).