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Staff proposes shortening mayoral appointment notice; council debates 14-day rule
Summary
A staff presentation asked the council to remove a 1999 ordinance requirement that the mayor provide 14 days' written notice before appointment votes; council members debated retaining 14 days for new appointments, allowing shorter notice for reappointments (proposal: 7 days), and asked staff to return with an ordinance.
City staff told the Washington City Council an ordinance from 1999 requires the mayor to give 14 days' written notice of nominations for certain board and commission appointments, and staff recommended removing that 14-day requirement to streamline the appointment process.
The staff presentation said packets would still include notice of appointments but sought to eliminate the separate two-week notice window so appointments and reappointments could be approved more rapidly. A council member clarified the packet would continue to provide information on nominees; staff described the change as an efficiency measure.
Council members debated options. Several members said they value advance notice to learn about nominees and suggested keeping 14 days for new appointments while allowing reappointments to proceed with packet notice only. Other members proposed a compromise of seven days’ advance notice to balance timeliness and member familiarity.
Council members also noted specific boards that need updating in the ordinance text, including the 2 Rivers Cable Commission. The city indicated staff will draft and return an ordinance reflecting the council’s direction at the next available meeting.
The council did not adopt changes at this meeting; staff will prepare an ordinance for formal consideration.
