Chapter 2.44
COUNTY CONFERENCE OF GOVERNMENTS*

Sections:

2.44.010    Created – Membership.

2.44.020    Officers – Meetings.

2.44.030    Purpose.

*    For statutory provisions allowing counties and cities and towns within the county to establish and organize a regional agency to study regional and governmental problems of mutual interest, see RCW 36.64.080.

2.44.010 Created – Membership.

An organization called “The Yakima County Conference of Governments,” hereinafter called “the conference,” is created which shall consist of the three Yakima County commissioners; three members of the Yakima city council to be designated by the mayor of the city of Yakima; three members of the Yakima County planning commission to be selected by that commission; three members of the Yakima City planning commission to be selected by that commission; one member of the board of the metropolitan park district of Yakima to be selected by that board; one member representing third class cities within Yakima County who shall be an elected member of the legislative body of a third class city within Yakima County, and who shall be designated as a result of joint action by the elected officials of all third class cities within Yakima County; and one member representing fourth class cities within Yakima County who shall be an elected member of the legislative body of a fourth class city within Yakima County, and who shall be designated as a result of joint action by the elected officials of all fourth class cities within Yakima County; and the Yakima County superintendent of schools. Except for the three Yakima County commissioners and the Yakima County superintendent of schools, the representatives to the conference shall serve at the pleasure of the body represented. Representatives from any body consisting of elected members shall be one of the elected members of that body.

The failure of any body named above to designate a representative to, or participate in, the conference shall not affect this agreement as it relates to the remaining parties hereto.

(Vol. XI p. 799 §1, 1966).

2.44.020 Officers – Meetings.

The conference shall select from its membership a chairman and vice-chairman and such other officers as its members deem necessary to conduct its meetings and carry out its purposes hereunder. The director of planning for Yakima County shall serve as executive secretary for the conference and shall perform all customary duties of that office. The conference shall hold at least one meeting each month, and shall adopt rules of procedure for calling and conducting its meetings and for carrying out its purposes hereunder.

(Vol. XI p. 799 §2, 1966).

2.44.030 Purpose.

The conference shall generally concern itself with the orderly growth and development of Yakima County, its metropolitan areas, and other cities, towns and governmental subdivisions within Yakima County, and shall serve as a liaison committee to develop and promote communication, understanding and cooperation among the conference participants on matters common to, and affecting, the public served by participants in the conference so as to assure the coordination of plans and programs of participants in the conference.

Among other things, the conference shall specifically serve as an advisory committee to its participants with respect to the following subjects:

(1)    To suggest and assist in establishing long range planning goals for Yakima County, the metropolitan areas around the city of Yakima, and for other cities, towns and governmental subdivisions within Yakima County, and to engage in a continuing and cooperative planning effort and program in order to serve the best interests of the people of the county;

(2)    To prepare a land use and transportation plan for Yakima County, the metropolitan areas around the city of Yakima, and for other cities, towns and governmental subdivisions within Yakima County;

(3)    To prepare comprehensive water and sewer plans for Yakima County, the metropolitan areas around the city of Yakima, and for other cities, towns and governmental subdivisions within Yakima County;

(4)    To assist in the planning and coordination of proposed projects which may involve federal or state financial participation, and to assist in the review of such project plans so as to assure compliance with area-wide comprehensive plans.

The conference shall further consider other specific subjects of mutual concern to the various participants in the conference when requested to do so from time to time by participants in the conference or when, in the opinion of the representatives to the conference, it appears that other plans and programs should be developed as being in the best interests of the public served by the participants in the conference.

(Vol. XI p. 799 §3, 1966).