HomeMy WebLinkAbout2629 Temporary Location for Council Meetings/Establishment of Governmental Operations CommitteeOrdinance No. 2629
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND AMENDING THE PORT
TOWNSEND MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 2.04, PORT TOWNSEND CITY
COUNCIL RULES, SECTION 2.04.010, AUTHORIZING THE TEMPORARY
DESIGNATED LOCATION FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND SECTION 2.04.030,
ELIMINATING THE "COMMUNITY SERVICES" COMMITTEE AND
ESTABLISHING A "GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS" COMMITTEE OF THE
CITY COUNCIL
WHEREAS, the City Council may, from time-to-time, find it necessary to hold its
regularly scheduled meetings in temporary locations; and
WHEREAS, the Port Townsend City Council has traditionally conducted much of its
business through seven standing committees; and
WHEREAS, the Council's Community Services Committee has had as a primary
responsibility, the administration and policy setting for the City's Solid Waste Collection System,
including the collection contract and recycling programs; and
WHEREAS, the City recently renegotiated its Solid Waste Collection contract and
amended its solid waste collection ordinance, establishing clear standards, criteria and
administrative guidelines which should minimize the need for active Council administration. To
the extent Council administration and policy setting is needed, that function has been delegated
to the Council's Utilities Committee. Therefore, the Council finds that the principal need for the
Community Services Committee no longer exists; and
WHEREAS, the Council hereby desires to amend its operating rules to establish a new
Council committee, named the "Governmental Operations" Committee, to provide a standing
committee forum for the Council to formulate policies for improved operations of the City,
including improved communication with and involvement of the public in governmental
operations; and
WHEREAS,the precise mission of the Governmental Operations Committee has not yet
been fully formulated. The Governmental Operations Committee intends to work with other
standing Council committees to propose a future amendment to Chapter 2.04 PTMC to establish
clear mission statements for all standing Council committees,
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Port Townsend does ordain as
follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 2.04, Port Townsend City Council Rules, Section 2.04.010,
Business meetings - Attendance, of the Port Townsend Municipal Code is hereby amended to read
as follows:
2.04.010 Business meetings - Attendance.
A. Regular city council business meetings are held twice monthly and are scheduled on the
fa:st and third Mondays of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, or at such
tem~r~orary location as designated by resolution adopted by the city council. When council meeting
dates fall on a legal holiday, the meeting shall be held on the next day that is not a legal holiday,
at 6:30 p.m.
B. Special city council meetings may be called to conduct city business as needed in
accordance with proper notification requirements of state law.
C. City council members are expected to attend all regular and special meetings of the city
council unless excused by the mayor due to illness or other compelling reasons. (Ord. ~ § 1,
1998; Ord. 2529 § 1, 1996; Ord. 2472 § 2, 1995).
SECTION 2. Section 2.04.030, Council committees, committee number 4, Community
services is changed to be named Governmental operations as follows:
2.04.030 Council committees.
A. The city council conducts its work through seven standing committees as follows:
1. Utilities;
2. Transportation;
3. Public safety;
4.Conain~inity seiw-ices Governmental operations;
5. Parks, recreation, and property;
6. Land use;
7. Finance.
B. Each city council member serves as the chair of one committee and serves as a member
of two additional committees.
C. Each committee chair is responsible for setting committee meetings to address relevant
business as often as is needed. In order to ensure that committee meetings are properly noticed,
the committee chair will, in a timely fashion, fill out and furnish the appropriate forms which
describe the time, location, and topic(s) of discussion.
D. Policy matters referred to the city council are generally discussed in committee before
going to the full council at a regular or special meeting. The purpose of committee meetings is to
allow for a greater depth of input and discussion than is possible in a regular city council meeting.
Committee meetings are generally less formal than full city council meetings and allow for greater
interaction between the three council committee members, city staff, and interested citizens.
E. The committee chair conducts the committee meetings and may utilize whatever degree
of formality or informality he/she deems appropriate to the topic and circumstances.
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F. The committee makes recommendations to the full city council on policy items referred
to the committee based on a vote taken by the committee. If recommendations are not unanimous,
that fact should be duly reported in the committee report to council.
G. The committee chair makes the committee report to the city council at the regular
council meeting which follows the committee meeting. The reports include date, place, time of
meeting and time of adjournment, names of council members and city staff in attendance, a brief
report on topics discussed at the meeting, public comments received, as well as recommendations
which are being made to the city council. A copy of the report is to be submitted to the city clerk.
H. All committee meetings shall comply with the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter
42.30 RCW, et seq., and related notification requirements. (Ord. ~ § 2, 1998; Ord. 2472 §
2, 1995).
SECTION 3. Severability. If any provision of this ordinance or its application to any
person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the ordinance, or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
This ordinance shall take effect and be in force five days after the date of its publication
in the manner provided by law.
Read for the first, second, and third times and passed by the City Council of the City of
Port Townsend, Washington, at a regular meeting thereof, held this 2nd day of February, 1998.
Jul~cCulloch, Mayor
Attest:
Pam Kolacy, City Clerk
/Vla~ah, 43ity Attorney
01/27/98 Ord\{20410-30.doc}
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