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City attorney proposes adding City Administrator and clarifying acting-officer authority; council asks for redraft and fuller review
Summary
The City Attorney proposed Aug. 12 code changes to add the City Administrator to the list of appointed officers requiring council confirmation and to clarify how the mayor may appoint or contract acting officers for up to six months.
The Edmonds City Council on Aug. 12 reviewed an ordinance that would add the newly created City Administrator position to the city code section listing appointed officers who require council confirmation and would clarify authority over temporary acting officers.
City Attorney (presenter) explained the draft would add “City Administrator” to the confirmation list and make several related changes: where the code uses the phrase “acting director” it would become “acting officer” to cover non-director appointments; it would expressly allow the mayor to contract with or hire an acting officer from outside the city for up to six months without council confirmation and would require council approval to extend beyond six months. The draft also clarifies that an acting officer hired under a contract would remain an at‑will engagement for the mayor to terminate.
Why council paused: Several members expressed concern about leaving the mayor unbounded to enter high-value contracts (including, in theory, six-month acting contracts at compensation levels exceeding the mayor’s typical signature authority). Council debated whether an exception for short-term outside hires should be allowed, whether the city should require insurance for contractors serving in an acting-officer role, and whether council should have earlier oversight of compensation levels. Multiple council members asked for HR and compensation-policy alignment.
Council direction: Rather than adopt the ordinance on consent, the council voted to bring the measure back on the regular agenda for additional council consideration. The council also passed an amendment instructing the city attorney to return a revised draft that incorporates the day’s discussion and reflects options for council oversight of compensation and contracting terms.
No final confirmation or appointment action was taken on Aug. 12; staff said the ordinance will return for council consideration with redrafted language after consultation with HR and the city attorney.
