The County council hereby establishes within the executive branch an administrative department called the parks, recreation and fair department. The County manager may take any preliminary or transitional steps necessary for the formation of the department and the implementation of this chapter.
(Ord. 13-2008 § 2; Ord. 22-2010 § 2; Ord. 03-2025 § 1)
A. 
After receiving the recommendations from the parks and recreation commission and the fair board, the County manager shall appoint a director of the parks, recreation and fair department, subject to confirmation by a majority of the County council. The director's duties shall include management oversight and administration of all department activities. The director will be appointed for an indefinite period and shall serve, as do all County department heads, at the will of the County manager.
B. 
It is the responsibility of the director to hire department staff in accordance with the personnel policies and procedures of the County and any other applicable laws and regulations.
(Ord. 13-2008 § 3; Ord. 22-2010 § 3; Ord. 03-2025 § 2)
The parks, recreation and fair department shall be responsible for the administration of all parks, the County fairgrounds and the County fair event, along with the operation of recreational programs and other duties as may be assigned.
(Ord. 13-2008 § 4; Ord. 22-2010 § 5)
A. 
County parks are a community service provided at many sites on the four ferry-served islands, and the annual County fair is a community service provided annually at the County fairgrounds. The County fairgrounds is a site that serves as both an urban park and a collective facility for the County fair and other community events. The consolidated department would benefit by two advisory boards: one for parks and recreation, and a second one for the County fair.
B. 
Parks and Recreation Commission.
1. 
The County council hereby establishes a parks and recreation commission which shall serve in an advisory capacity to the parks, recreation and fair department on matters pertaining to the acquisition and management of park property and the activities and programs of the County parks.
2. 
The parks and recreation commission shall consist of seven members appointed by a majority of the County council, who shall be registered voters and reside as follows: two persons from District 2; two persons from District 1, and three persons from District 3, with one position reserved for Shaw Island residency. Terms shall be staggered so that approximately one-third shall expire every other year. All terms of office shall be for three years and shall expire on the last day of December in any given year. All appointments for the purpose of filling vacancies shall be for the remaining portion of the unexpired term.
3. 
The parks and recreation commission shall review all policy and budget matters related to the operations of County parks and County recreation programs under the purview of the parks, recreation and fair department before the matters are brought before the County council.
4. 
The parks and recreation commission shall meet at least quarterly or in a special meeting as requested by the chair or director.
5. 
In conducting its business, the parks and recreation commission shall follow the Uniform Business Rules, including the Rules of Procedure, unless other rules have been duly adopted by the County council.
C. 
County Fair Board.
1. 
The County council hereby establishes a fair board which shall serve in an advisory capacity to the parks, recreation and fair department on matters pertaining to the acquisition and management of the fairgrounds and the activities and programs on the County fairgrounds.
2. 
A County fair board is formed composed of nine regular members, including one who resides in each council district within the County and six members at large, together with up to two temporary at-large members, all of whom shall be appointed by the County council to serve without compensation. Written recommendations of the fair board shall be delivered to the County council for consideration when filling a vacancy. All terms of office for the nine regular positions shall be for a period of three years and shall expire on the last day of December in any given year, and terms shall be staggered so that one-third of the membership expires in each year. All terms of office for the two temporary positions shall be for the calendar year of the fair and shall expire on the last day of December. The County fair board shall serve in an advisory capacity to the director. A temporary at large appointment does not preclude an appointment to a vacant regular position. Temporary at large positions may only be filled when all of the below are true:
a. 
Any fair board position from a council district has remained vacant for greater than three months with no applications received from a qualified district resident.
b. 
Fair board has received applications from County resident(s) from any other district interested in serving on the fair board for the current fair year in the role of a temporary at large member.
c. 
Fair board recommends the temporary at-large appointment and the County council approves the temporary at-large appointment.
3. 
All appointments for the purpose of filling vacancies in regular positions shall be for the unexpired portion of the vacant position.
4. 
The County fair board shall review all policy and budget matters related to the operations of the County fair and County fairgrounds under the purview of the parks, recreation and fair department before the matters are brought before the County council.
5. 
The County fair board shall meet at least monthly.
6. 
In conducting its business, the County fair board shall follow the Uniform Business Rules, including the Rules of Procedure, unless other rules have been duly adopted by the County council.
(Ord. 13-2008 § 5; Ord. 22-2010 § 6; Ord. 20-2018 § 1; Ord. 03-2025 § 3)
The County council hereby adopts the policy manual attached as Exhibit A[1] to Ordinance 13-2008 as the rules of the parks, recreation and fair department. The County manager is authorized to promulgate such additional rules as are necessary for the effective operations of the parks, recreation and fair department after consideration of such rules and recommendation of the parks and recreation commission and fair board for their respective functions.
(Ord. 13-2008 § 24; Ord. 22-2010 § 8; Ord. 03-2025 § 4)
[1]
Code reviser's note: Exhibit A to Ord. 13-2008 is on file in the office of the County council.