This chapter establishes the appointive offices set forth herein and provides for the authority, duties, and qualifications of such officers as required by RCW 35A.12.020.
(Ord. 82-25 § 1 (part), 1982; Ord. 2015-07 § 1 (part), 2015)
[1]
Prior ordinance history: Ord. 2002-25.
The office of city administrator is hereby established. The city administrator shall have all of the authority and perform all of the duties specified in RCW Title 35A for city administrators, together with any other duties or authority which now or hereafter may be conferred upon such office by the laws of the state of Washington, the ordinances, municipal code, and resolutions of the city of Poulsbo, and the mayor. The city administrator is the head of the city organization and manages all day-to-day activities of the city. The city administrator reports directly to the mayor.
(Ord. 2025-08 § 1, 2025)
The office of city clerk is hereby established. The city clerk shall have all of the authority and perform all of the duties specified in RCW Title 35A for city clerks, together with any other duties or authority which now or hereafter may be conferred upon such office by the laws of the state of Washington, the ordinances, municipal code, and resolutions of the city of Poulsbo, and the mayor. The city clerk is the head of the city clerk’s office and manages all clerical and record-keeping activities of the city. The city clerk reports directly to the city administrator.
(Ord. 84-27 § 2, 1984. Formerly 2.08.014; Ord. 2015-07 § 1 (part), 2015; Ord. 2025-08 § 2, 2025)
The office of finance director is hereby established. The finance director shall have all of the authority and perform all of the duties specified in RCW Title 35A for city treasurers and finance directors, together with any other duties or authority which now or hereafter may be conferred upon such office by the laws of the state of Washington, the ordinances, municipal code, and resolutions of the city of Poulsbo, and the mayor. The finance director is the head of the Poulsbo finance department and manages all financial and accounting activities of the city. The finance director reports directly to the city administrator.
(Ord. 84-27 § 5, 1984. Formerly 2.08.020; Ord. 2015-07 § 1 (part), 2015; Ord. 2025-08 § 3, 2025)
The office of police chief is hereby established. The police chief shall have all of the authority and perform all of the duties specified in RCW Title 35A for police chiefs, together with any other duties or authority which now or hereafter may be conferred upon such office by the laws of the state of Washington, the ordinances, municipal code, and resolutions of the city of Poulsbo, and the mayor. The police chief is the head of the Poulsbo police department and manages the enforcement of all criminal and traffic laws in the city. The police chief reports directly to the city administrator.
(Ord. 82-25 § 1(b), 1982. Formerly 2.08.030; Ord. 2015-07 § 1 (part), 2015; Ord. 2025-08 § 4, 2025)
The office of city attorney is hereby established. The city attorney shall have all of the authority and perform all of the duties specified in RCW Title 35A for city attorneys, together with any other duties or authority which now or hereafter may be conferred upon such office by the laws of the state of Washington, the ordinances, municipal code, and resolutions of the city of Poulsbo, and the mayor. The city attorney shall be the city’s legal advisor on all civil matters and shall represent the city in all civil court proceedings except where otherwise determined by the city or where legal representation is provided by the city’s insurance carrier.
(Ord. 2015-07 § 1 (part), 2015; Ord. 45 §§ 1, 2, 1915)
The office of the public works director is hereby established. The public works director shall have all of the authority and perform all of the duties specified in RCW Title 35A for public works directors, together with any other duties or authority which now or hereafter may be conferred upon such office by the laws of the state of Washington, the ordinances, municipal code, and resolutions of the city of Poulsbo, and the mayor. The public works director is the head of the Poulsbo public works department and manages all public works activities of the city. The city engineer and the public works superintendent shall report to the public works director. The public works director reports directly to the city administrator.
(Ord. 2023-09 § 3, 2023; Ord. 2025-08 § 5, 2025)
The office of the planning and economic development director is hereby established. The planning and economic development director shall have all of the authority and perform all of the duties specified in RCW Title 35A for planning directors, together with any other duties or authority which now or hereafter may be conferred upon such office by the laws of the state of Washington, the ordinances, municipal code, and resolutions of the city of Poulsbo, and the mayor. The planning and economic development director is the head of the Poulsbo planning department and manages all land use planning, permitting, and community development activities of the city. The planning and economic development director reports directly to the city administrator.
(Ord. 82-25 § 1(d), 1982. Formerly 2.08.060; Ord. 96-05 § 2, 1996; Ord. 2005-22 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2015-07 § 1 (part), 2015; Ord. 2023-09 § 4, 2023; Ord. 2025-08 § 6, 2025)
The office of parks and recreation director is hereby established. The parks and recreation director shall have all of the authority and perform all of the duties specified in RCW Title 35A for parks and recreation directors, together with any other duties or authority which now or hereafter may be conferred upon such office by the laws of the state of Washington, the ordinances, municipal code, and resolutions of the city of Poulsbo, and the mayor. The parks and recreation director is the head of the Poulsbo parks and recreation department and manages all parks and recreation activities of the city. The parks and recreation director reports directly to the city administrator.
(Ord. 96-05 § 1, 1996. Formerly 2.08.065; Ord. 2015-07 § 1 (part), 2015; Ord. 2025-08 § 7, 2025)
The office of city engineer is hereby established. The city engineer shall have all of the authority and perform all of the duties specified in RCW Title 35A for city engineers, together with any other duties or authority which now or hereafter may be conferred upon such office by the laws of the state of Washington, the ordinances, municipal code, and resolutions of the city of Poulsbo, and the mayor. The city engineer is the head of the Poulsbo engineering department and manages all engineering activities of the city. The city engineer reports directly to the public works director.
(Ord. 90-19 § 1, 1990. Formerly 2.08.075; Ord. 2005-18 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2015-07 § 1 (part), 2015; Ord. 2023-09 § 5, 2023)
The office of public works superintendent is hereby established. The public works superintendent shall have all of the authority and perform all of the duties specified in RCW Title 35A for public works superintendents, together with any other duties or authority which now or hereafter may be conferred upon such office by the laws of the state of Washington, the ordinances, municipal code, and resolutions of the city of Poulsbo, and the mayor. The public works superintendent reports directly to the public works director.
(Ord. 82-25 § 1(e), 1982. Formerly 2.08.070; Ord. 84-54 § 1, 1984; Ord. 2003-16 § 1, 2003; Ord. 2005-17 §§ 2, 3, 2005; Ord. 2015-07 § 1 (part), 2015; Ord. 2023-09 § 6, 2023)
The office of building official is hereby established. The building official shall have all of the authority and perform all of the duties specified in Chapter 19.27 RCW and the State Building Code for building officials, together with any other duties or authority which now or hereafter may be conferred upon such office by the laws of the state of Washington, the ordinances, municipal code, and resolutions of the city of Poulsbo, and the mayor. The building official shall administer the building codes adopted by the city. The mayor or city administrator may assign the duties of the building official to an appropriate department head or to any other qualified city employee. If the duties are assigned to an employee other than a department head, the mayor or city administrator shall specify the department head to whom the building official shall report.
(Ord. 2015-07 § 1 (part), 2015; Ord. 2025-08 § 8, 2025)
A.
The office of city administrator shall be filled by written appointment of the mayor, subject to confirmation by the city council.
B.
The offices of the city clerk, finance director, police chief, planning and economic development director, parks and recreation director, housing health and human services director, public works director, and city engineer shall be filled by written appointment of the city administrator in consultation with the mayor, subject to participation by the city council during the interview process and confirmation of council at an official meeting.
C.
The office of city attorney may be filled by written appointment of the mayor, subject to confirmation by the city council, or may be filled by a professional services contract approved by the city council and executed by the mayor.
D.
The office of city prosecutor may be filled by written appointment of the mayor, subject to confirmation by the city council, or may be filled by a professional services contract approved by the city council and executed by the mayor.
E.
Assignment of the duties of the building official to an appropriate department head or to another qualified city employee shall be the decision of the mayor or city administrator and city council confirmation of the assignment shall not be required.
F.
All appointees shall hold office for an indefinite period and shall serve at the pleasure of the mayor or city administrator, subject to any applicable provisions of the city’s personnel manual.
(Ord. 82-25 § 2, 1982. Formerly 2.08.080; Ord. 2004-13 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2015-07 § 1 (part), 2015; Ord. 2023-09 § 7, 2023; Ord. 2025-08 § 9, 2025)
The city clerk and the finance director shall each be required to take an oath for the faithful performance of their official duties prior to entering upon the performance of their duties.
(Ord. 2015-07 § 1 (part), 2015)
All persons appointed to the offices established by this chapter shall be qualified to perform the duties of the office. Job descriptions and qualifications for the offices shall be maintained by the city’s human resources manager and may be updated by the mayor and council from time to time as the need arises.
(Ord. 2015-07 § 1 (part), 2015)