The purpose and intent of this chapter is to make available to the city council additional expertise relative to the operation and management policies of city-owned utilities, specifically the electric, water, sewer, solid waste, stormwater and ambulance utilities, and to policies associated with other utilities in the city. The utility advisory committee, herein created, shall not supplant administrative input to the city council, but shall complement staff input through utilization and application of the special expertise possessed by its members. It is not the purpose nor the intent of this chapter to in any way interfere with the administrative staff functions involving the day-to-day operation of the city utilities except insofar as policy decisions by the city council may have a direct or indirect bearing on the day-to-day operations of the utilities.
(Ord. 57-77 § 1.01; Ord. 40-98; Ord. 05-19 § 1)
There is created within the city of Richland a utility advisory committee, to be composed of seven members appointed by the city council. Members shall serve for staggered three-year terms and until their successors are appointed and confirmed.
Members of the committee may be broadly representative of the community; provided, however, that in making appointments to the committee, the city council shall consider any expertise the potential appointee may have with regard to the subject of utility operation and management; provided further, that at any one time there shall be at least one member of the committee possessing skill and expertise in the area of utility operation and capital improvement financing.
(Ord. 57-77 § 1.01; Ord. 5-80 § 1.01; Ord. 39-90; Ord. 40-91; Ord. 40-98; Ord. 13-00; Ord. 14-03; Ord. 05-19 § 1)
The committee shall hold regular meetings at least once during each quarter of each calendar year.
(Ord. 57-77 § 1.01; Ord. 40-98; Ord. 05-19 § 1)
The committee shall perform the following duties:
A. 
The committee shall serve as an advisor to the city council relative to policy and planning for the managing, financing and operation of the utilities owned and operated by the city of Richland.
B. 
The committee shall advise the city council on all matters relating to utility system expansion, extension, additions and betterments.
C. 
The committee shall advise the city council on all matters relating to the incurring of indebtedness for or by city-owned utilities and the issuance of utility bonds.
D. 
The committee shall advise the city council relative to rates and charges for utility services and shall, when authorized by the city council, conduct surveys, analyses, studies and reports relating to city-owned utilities.
E. 
The committee shall perform such other duties and provide such additional advice and assistance to the city council as the city council may request or direct.
F. 
The committee shall advise the city council on policies related to utilities not owned by the city.
(Ord. 57-77 § 1.01; Ord. 40-98; Ord. 05-19 § 1)
If any one or more sections, subsections or sentences of this chapter are held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter, and the same shall remain in full force and effect.
(Ord. 57-77 § 1.01; Ord. 40-98; Ord. 05-19 § 1)