(1) 
Use of Words and Phrases. As used in this title, unless the context or subject matter clearly requires otherwise, the words or phrases defined in this section shall have the indicated meanings.
(2) 
"Appointive committee"
means an agency, board, commission, committee, or subcommittee of the City, other than an ad hoc committee, whose members are not elected by the citizens of the City.
(3) 
“Family or household members”
means adult persons related by blood or marriage, adult persons who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past, and persons who have a biological or legal parent-child relationship, including stepparents and stepchildren and grandparents and grandchildren.
(4) 
"Resident"
means an individual who has attained the age of 18 years and whose primary residence is located within the geographic boundaries of the City of Des Moines.
(Ord. 983 § 1, 1992; Ord. 1845, 4/9/2026)
(1) 
Except as otherwise provided in this title, all appointive committees established by the City shall serve solely in an advisory capacity to the City Council and/or City administration and have no authority to make final decisions, negotiate terms, or enter into contracts or other binding agreements on behalf of the City.
(2) 
An action of an appointive committee done by motion at a regular or special meeting and approved by a majority vote of those present, when those present constitute a quorum, is deemed to be an action of the appointive committee.
(Ord. 983 § 2, 1992; Ord. 1845, 4/9/2026)
(1) 
Except as otherwise provided in this title, the amount of administrative support supplied to an appointive committee is determined by the City Manager; provided, that the City Manager shall provide an appointive committee adequate space and facilities and necessary supplies to facilitate the official business of the appointive committee.
(2) 
City staff are not employees of such bodies and take direction only from their Department Director or the City Manager. Appointive committees shall not direct City staff to perform research, gather information, or otherwise engage in activities involving projects or matters that are not listed on the committee’s work plan unless approved by the City Manager.
(Ord. 983 § 3, 1992; Ord. 1845, 4/9/2026)
(1) 
Except as otherwise provided in this title, members of an appointive committee are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by a majority of the City Council.
(2) 
No person who has served two or more consecutive terms on an appointive committee shall be appointed to another term on the same appointive committee; except a person appointed to fill an unexpired term of less than two years is eligible to serve two full terms and a person who is ineligible to serve for having served two or more consecutive terms may again serve after two years have elapsed from the expiration of their last term.
(3) 
No person may serve as a member of more than one appointive committee at the same time. However, persons serving on an appointive committee who have requested appointment to another appointive committee position may be appointed to such position if they, concurrent with the appointment, resign from the appointive committee position they are holding at the time of the new appointment.
(4) 
When appointing members to an appointive committee, consideration shall be given towards maintaining an equitable and geographic balance of community representation.
(5) 
Members of appointive committees are selected without respect to political affiliations.
(6) 
Multiple members from the same family or household shall not be appointed to the same appointive committee.
(7) 
Members of Councilmembers' families or households shall not be appointed to any appointive committee while the Councilmember is serving their term.
(8) 
This section shall in no way serve to limit the number of terms a sitting councilmember may serve on or as liaison to an appointive committee.
(Ord. 983 § 4, 1992; Ord. 1206 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1845, 4/9/2026)
(1) 
All appointive committee members shall adhere to the Code of Ethics enumerated in chapter 2.44 DMMC.
(2) 
Members of an appointive committee may not speak on behalf of the City, or the committee unless formally designated. Opinions expressed by individual members are personal and members must clearly identify that they are speaking only as an individual and are not in any manner representing or speaking on behalf of the City or appointive committee.
(3) 
Members of an appointive committee shall not use their position to secure personal benefit, gain or profit, or use their position to secure special privileges or exceptions for themselves, or for the benefit, gain, or profits of any other persons.
(4) 
If a member of an appointive committee concludes that they have a conflict of interest or an appearance of fairness problem with respect to a matter pending before the appointive committee so that they cannot discharge their duties on such an appointive committee, said member shall disqualify themselves from participating in the deliberations and the decision-making process with respect to the matter.
(5) 
Appointive committee members shall complete a City-provided conflict of interest and ethics training annually for each year of their service.
(Ord. 983 § 6, 1992; Ord. 1845, 4/9/2026)
(1) 
Except as otherwise provided in this title, an appointive committee shall meet at 21630 - 11th Avenue South, which is the location of the Des Moines City Hall.
(2) 
The City Council shall meet with the Planning Commission, the Citizen's Advisory Board, and any other appointive committees that the Council deems necessary at least once per year.
(a) 
The purpose of the annual meeting shall be for the City Council to communicate the projects, policy matters, or issues on which the City Council seeks the advice, recommendations, or assistance of the appointive committee.
(b) 
The meeting required by this section may be conducted jointly with a regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council or the appointive committee or as a special meeting convened for this purpose.
(3) 
Meetings of appointive committees shall comply with the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act under chapter 42.30 RCW.
(4) 
Except as otherwise provided in this title, meetings of appointive committees shall operate pursuant to Robert's Rules of Order.
(Ord. 983 § 7, 1992; Ord. 1845, 4/9/2026)
Minutes are taken of each appointive committee meeting and copies distributed to each committee member, the City Manager, and the City Council.
(Ord. 983 § 8, 1992; Ord. 1845, 4/9/2026)
Except as otherwise provided in this title, the meetings of an appointive committee shall be chaired by a presiding officer and in the absence of that member by a vice presiding officer, who shall be elected by a majority vote of the members at the first regular meeting of each calendar year.
(Ord. 983 § 9, 1992; Ord. 1845, 4/9/2026)
A majority of the members of an appointive committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
(Ord. 983 § 11, 1992)
(1) 
Except as otherwise provided in this title, a member of an appointive committee may be removed from their position by a majority vote of the City Council.
(2) 
If a committee member is absent from more than three duly called meetings in a calendar year, the absences shall be reported to the City Council for potential removal of the member.
(Ord. 983 § 12, 1992; Ord. 1845, 4/9/2026)
(1) 
Except as otherwise provided in this title, members of an appointive committee shall be residents of the City.
(2) 
Except as otherwise provided in this title, the position held by a member of an appointive committee ceasing to be a resident of the City shall immediately become vacant.
(Ord. 983 § 14, 1992; Ord. 1845, 4/9/2026)
Except as otherwise provided in this title, the City Manager may create rules and regulations for the conduct of business before an appointive committee.
(Ord. 983 § 15, 1992; Ord. 1845, 4/9/2026)
Except as otherwise provided in this title, each position shall expire on December 31st of the last year of the term.
(Ord. 983 § 16, 1992)
(1) 
Membership vacancies in an appointive committee occurring other than through expiration of term are filled for the unexpired term.
(2) 
Vacant seats shall be advertised on the City website and shall remain open until filled.
(Ord. 983 § 17, 1992; Ord. 1845, 4/9/2026)