[1]
Prior ordinance history: Ords. 2531, 2569 and 2585.
A. 
The following appointive offices for the city of Prosser are established:
1. 
City administrator.
2. 
City attorney.
3. 
City prosecutor.
4. 
Deputy city administrator.
5. 
City clerk.
6. 
Finance director.
7. 
Police chief.
8. 
Public works director.
9. 
Building official.
10. 
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.
D. 
References within the code to city clerk/treasurer or city clerk/finance director shall be designated by the mayor to either the finance director or city clerk.
(Ord. 2511 § 27, 2005; Ord. 2533 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2606 § 2, 2008; Ord. 2801 § 1 (part), 2012; Ord. 3042 § 1, 2017; Ord. 3097 § 1, 2019; Ord. 3235 § 1, 2024; Ord. 3276 § 1, 2025)
A. 
The position of deputy city administrator is hereby established as follows:
1. 
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.
2. 
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.
3. 
The deputy city administrator shall be entitled to supplemental compensation as provided for in the ordinance approving the wage schedule for this position.
4. 
The deputy city administrator shall work under the direct supervision of the city administrator and, in his or her absence or vacancy in the office, under the direct supervision of the mayor or his or her designee.
5. 
The authority and duties of the deputy city administrator shall be as established by the ordinances of the city of Prosser and this section. 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.
6. 
The deputy city administrator shall assist the mayor and all departments and assist with the day-to-day operations of the city to ensure optimum services to the community, and shall provide support to all appointed officers, except the city administrator, and their departments to ensure efficient use of city resources.
7. 
The deputy city administrator shall take on other duties as assigned by the mayor or his or her designee.
(Ord. 2697 § 1, 2010; Ord. 3235 § 2, 2024)
The city administrator shall be a full-time, non-civil 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." In the absence of a city administrator, his or her duties may be delegated to other appointed offices by the mayor.
(Ord. 2801 § 3, 2012; Ord. 3235 § 3, 2024)
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 position of city attorney may be filled by an individual, or law firm, or law firms. The duties of the city attorney shall be established by a contract approved by the city council.
(Ord. 2606 § 4, 2008; Ord. 3235 § 4, 2024; Ord. 3276 § 2, 2025)
The city prosecutor 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 position of city prosecutor may be filled by an individual, or law firm, or law firms. The duties of the city prosecutor shall be established by a contract approved by the city council.
(Ord. 3276 § 3, 2025)
The city clerk shall be a full-time, non-civil 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 will also serve as the information technology (IT) director for the city. The city clerk will be the central public information officer (PIO) for the city and liaison for all departments. 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; Ord. 3235 § 5, 2024)
A. 
The finance director shall be a full-time, non-civil 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 will serve as the city's human resource director and risk manager. 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) and (B)(3) 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 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. 
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 subsection (B)(2) or (B)(3) 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.
5. 
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. 2606 § 6, 2008; Ord. 2788 § 1, 2012; Ord. 3235 § 6, 2024)
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 hereafter 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. 2606 § 7, 2008; Ord. 2790 § 1, 2012; Ord. 2799 § 1, 2012; Ord. 3077 § 1, 2018; Ord. 3235 § 7, 2024)
The public works director shall be a full-time non-civil service position who shall exercise general management supervision over the public works department, water and wastewater facilities, park maintenance, streets, facility maintenance 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; Ord. 3235 § 8, 2024)
The building official shall be a full-time non-civil service position who shall be responsible for building code compliance, general code compliance, inspections, assisting developers and citizens, fire code compliance and building 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. The building official will also serve as the city's fire code official. In the absence of the building official, the mayor, or his or her designee, shall appoint a qualified person to act as the building official.
(Ord. 2606 § 9, 2008; Ord. 3235 § 9, 2024)
The community development director shall be a full-time, non-civil service position who shall be in charge of all aspects of community development and planning. The community development director shall provide leadership for the development of the comprehensive plan and provide administrative support for 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. The community development director will also work with departments to coordinate grant planning, grant applications, and grant administration.
(Ord. 3042 § 2, 2017; Ord. 3097 § 2, 2019; Ord. 3235 § 9, 2024)
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)
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)