Chapter 1.08
CITY DEPARTMENTS1
Sections:
1.08.100 Finance department/city treasurer – Powers – Duties.
1.08.110 Public works department – Powers – Duties.
1.08.120 Water resource department – Responsibilities.
1.08.130 Transportation and construction department – Responsibilities.
1.08.140 Equipment and plant maintenance department – Responsibilities.
1.08.150 City shop – Financial arrangements.
1.08.160 Department of parks, recreation and cultural services – Powers and duties.
1.08.170 Community development department – Powers and duties.
1.08.180 Code enforcement department – Responsibilities.
1.08.190 Information technology department – Powers and duties.
1.08.200 Police department – Powers and duties.
1.08.210 Human resources department – Powers – Duties.
1.08.230 City employees – Bond.
1.08.240 City attorney – Powers and duties.
1.08.250 City attorney – Local improvement district payments for legal services – Salary.
1.08.010 Departments.
All departments referred to in Chapter 1.06 WCC, which have not heretofore been created by ordinance, are hereby created and established. The duties and powers of the departments and department heads, not heretofore established by ordinance, are defined by this chapter. (Ord. 2023-12 § 6 (Exh. A))
1.08.100 Finance department/city treasurer – Powers – Duties.
The finance department is hereby established. The finance department is be headed by the director of finance subject to the direction of the mayor and the city administrator. The director of finance is hereby designated as the city treasurer, pursuant to RCW 35A.42.010. Prior to an individual entering upon the performance of duties of director of finance, a bond shall be posted as required by WCC 1.08.230. The finance department shall be responsible for the internal control over and the accounting/recording of all city receipts, disbursements and investments. The finance department shall be responsible for citywide budgeting; submitting the budget to city council; reporting the city’s financial position to the city council and other outside reporting as required. The director of finance, or their designee, shall be the auditing officer of the city, certifying that claims submitted to the city for services rendered or products provided are just, due and unpaid obligations of the city. (Ord. 2023-12 § 6 (Exh. A))
1.08.110 Public works department – Powers – Duties.
The public works department is hereby established. The public works department is be headed by a director of public works subject to the direction of the mayor and the city administrator. The director of public works shall manage the subdepartments of the department of public works including, but not limited to:
(1) The water resource department;
(2) The transportation and construction department; and
(3) The equipment and plant maintenance department. (Ord. 2023-12 § 6 (Exh. A))
1.08.120 Water resource department – Responsibilities.
The water resource department is a subdepartment of the department of public works and shall be under the supervision of the water resource manager who is responsible for the development, operation and maintenance of the water treatment and distribution system, and the sanitary sewer collection and wastewater treatment facilities and other related matter. (Ord. 2023-12 § 6 (Exh. A))
1.08.130 Transportation and construction department – Responsibilities.
The transportation and construction department is a subdepartment of the department of public works and shall be operated under the supervision of the transportation and construction manager who is responsible for all civil engineering activities for the department along with the repair, maintenance, and replacement of the street and storm sewer systems, including street lighting and traffic control and other related matters. (Ord. 2023-12 § 6 (Exh. A))
1.08.140 Equipment and plant maintenance department – Responsibilities.
The equipment and plant maintenance department is a subdepartment of the department of public works and shall be under the supervision of the equipment and plant maintenance manager who is responsible for all vehicle and equipment maintenance and repair, buildings and plant maintenance for city buildings and the development and implementation of a safety program for all employees and other related matters. (Ord. 2023-12 § 6 (Exh. A))
1.08.150 City shop – Financial arrangements.
Hereinafter financing and accounting for the city shop shall be through the equipment rental fund. (Ord. 2023-12 § 6 (Exh. A))
1.08.160 Department of parks, recreation and cultural services – Powers and duties.
The department of parks, recreation and cultural services is hereby established. The department of parks, recreation and cultural services is to be headed by a director of parks, recreation and cultural services subject to the direction of the mayor and the city administrator. The director shall be responsible for the administration of the department and accomplishing the goals and objectives contained in the parks, recreation and open space comprehensive plan including, but not limited to:
(1) The acquisition, planning, and development of the city’s park system;
(2) Cultural arts projects, programs and services;
(3) The development and coordination of recreational programs; and
(4) Other related matters. (Ord. 2023-12 § 6 (Exh. A))
1.08.170 Community development department – Powers and duties.
The community development department is hereby established. The community development department is to be headed by the director of community development subject to the direction of the mayor and the city administrator. The director shall be responsible for the administration of the department and accomplishing the goals and objectives for code enforcement, building, historic preservation and planning, including, but not limited to:
(1) Zoning matters;
(2) Multifamily housing tax exemptions;
(3) Development codes;
(4) Permits for building, signs, demolition, plumbing, mechanical work and conditional use;
(5) Property subdivisions;
(6) Boundary line adjustments;
(7) Planned developments;
(8) Variance requests;
(9) Comprehensive plan amendments;
(10) Annexations; and
(11) Other related matters. (Ord. 2023-12 § 6 (Exh. A))
1.08.180 Code enforcement department – Responsibilities.
The code enforcement department is a subdepartment of the department of community development and shall be under the supervision of the code enforcement manager (building official) who is responsible for the development and enforcement of all ordinances relating to uniform construction codes and related matters. (Ord. 2023-12 § 6 (Exh. A))
1.08.190 Information technology department – Powers and duties.
The information technology department is hereby established. The information technology department is to be headed by the director of information technology subject to the direction of the mayor and the city administrator. The director shall be responsible for the administration of the department and accomplishing the goals and objectives for maintaining the city’s technology-related assets, policies, procedures and systems, including, but not limited to:
(1) Providing technology support to city staff;
(2) Engineering, administrating and managing the city’s technological networks, systems, applications, and software;
(3) Facilitating data exchange within and outside of the city’s networks and systems;
(4) Managing any technology projects for the city;
(5) Maintenance of the city’s digital and technological infrastructure; and
(6) Other related matters. (Ord. 2023-12 § 6 (Exh. A))
1.08.200 Police department – Powers and duties.
The police department is hereby established. The police department shall be under the direction and control of the police chief subject to the direction of the mayor and the city administrator. Prior to an individual entering upon the performance of duties of police chief, a bond shall be posted as required by WCC 1.08.230.
The police chief shall be responsible for the administration of the department and accomplishing the goals and objectives for directing city’s programs and services related to law enforcement, and shall have the same authority as that conferred upon sheriffs for the suppression of any riot, public tumult, disturbance of the peace, or resistance against the laws or the public authorities in the lawful exercise of their functions and shall be entitled to the same protection.
Any police officer may pursue and arrest violators beyond the city limits for violations of city ordinances or the laws of the state of Washington. Police officers shall perform the duties provided by city ordinance and by the laws of the state of Washington. With the concurrence of the mayor, the police chief may appoint additional police officers to serve for one day only under orders of the police chief in the preservation of public order; provided, that the police officer is a properly certified peace officer for the state of Washington and is in good standing with the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission. (Ord. 2023-12 § 6 (Exh. A))
1.08.210 Human resources department – Powers – Duties.
The human resources department is hereby established. The human resources department shall be headed by the director of human resources subject to the direction of the mayor and the city administrator. The director of human resources shall be responsible for maintaining a centralized personnel system which is in compliance with all applicable law and for coordinating and standardizing all personnel functions of the city not covered by civil service, and for updating and creating any personnel forms and job descriptions. The director of human resources shall maintain adequate records so as to provide for recruitment, hiring, discipline and discharge of all appropriate city positions. (Ord. 2023-12 § 6 (Exh. A))
1.08.220 Temporary employees.
(1) The mayor, together with the city administrator and the director of human resources, shall establish and maintain general guidelines for the hiring of temporary employees. The guidelines shall be in writing and include appropriate wage ranges for temporary employees.
(2) Prior to an offer of employment, the rate of pay for each temporary employee hired will be established by the director of human resources, in consultation with the director of finance and within the wage ranges established in subsection (1) of this section, depending on the temporary position and qualifications of the applicant.
(3) Hiring of temporary employees shall provide for an objective means of selecting persons for such employment. There shall be an equal opportunity for all persons interested in employment with the city to seek and obtain such employment. To promote such a practice, department heads shall work with the director of human resources, or their designee, to determine how to announce or otherwise make available temporary work opportunities with the city.
(4) A department head may hire temporary employees who have worked previously for the city of Wenatchee after approval from the director of human resources. A returning temporary employee shall mean a person previously employed by the city within 18 months prior to the date of submission of the person’s application.
(5) Within the first three days of employment, an orientation for the new temporary employee will be held. During the orientation, all employment forms shall be reviewed and completed.
(6) No person shall be employed by the city until an application and all other required documentation have been received and approved by the director of human resources or their designee.
(7) No offer of employment may be made outside of these guidelines or existing ordinances unless authorized, in writing, by the mayor. (Ord. 2023-12 § 6 (Exh. A))
1.08.230 City employees – Bond.
As required by RCW 35A.12.080, the chief of police, finance director and city clerk shall be required to enter into a bond payable to the city of Wenatchee in the sum of $1,000 for the faithful performance of their duties. Such bonds to be provided and paid for by the city of Wenatchee. (Ord. 2023-12 § 6 (Exh. A))
1.08.240 City attorney – Powers and duties.
The city attorney and such assistant city attorneys as might be appointed by the city attorney shall act as the legal advisor of the city council and of all officers of the city in relation to matters pertaining to the respective offices. The city attorney shall represent the city in all litigation and all courts in which the city is a party or directly interested and shall prosecute all violations of ordinances and shall act generally as attorney for the city of the several departments and the city government. The city attorney shall perform such other duties and provide such other services as the city council may direct. The city attorney shall serve at the pleasure of the city council. (Ord. 2023-12 § 6 (Exh. A))
1.08.250 City attorney – Local improvement district payments for legal services – Salary.
Local improvement districts created prior to January 1, 1990, shall pay to the general fund one-half of one percent of the total cost of improvements as and for legal services.
Any local improvement district created after January 1, 1990, shall pay to the general fund one percent of the total cost of improvements as and for administrative and legal services.
The compensation for the city attorney shall be such sum as the city commission might from time to time establish. (Ord. 2023-12 § 6 (Exh. A))
Prior legislation: Ords. 1330, 1636, 2619, 2665, 2809, 3023, 3189 and 2014-15.