Moses Lake Today

OPEN CITY COUNCIL POSITION

The City Council is accepting applications to fill the vacancy of Council Position #7.  

To be eligible to run for a city council position, State law requires that the candidate be a registered voter in the represented jurisdiction at the time of filing. Also, RCW 35A.12, which covers cities and towns states the candidate must be a resident for a period of at least one year preceding the election in order to be eligible for a city council position. All members of the council are elected at large to represent the entire city and serve on the council for four-year terms. Four council positions are elected during one election year, while the other three positions are elected two years later during the next elections. In both the primary race and in the general election, citizens vote for all council positions listed on the ballot. The interim appointment will expire upon certification of the 2023 elections.

Applications are due no later than Friday, September 23, 2022. Date and time for Council interviews will be posted shortly. Interviews will be conducted in the Council Chambers at the Civic Center 401 S Balsam.  The City Council will appoint the successful candidate subsequent the interview process.

Legislative Responsibilities:

 

The City Council is the official legislative body of the City of Moses Lake that adopts ordinances and resolutions and sets policy for the City. It is the responsibility of the city manager and staff to administer ordinances, resolutions, and policies. As a policy-making body, the council assesses proposals to meet community needs, initiates action for new programs and decides how the City will finance City services and operations. The council also approves the municipal budget presented by the city manager and reviews and authorizes budget revisions. City council members perform miscellaneous other duties including acting as a liaison with other agencies and responding to community groups and individual constituents. 

Each member is required to complete Open Government Training Act courses online as well as completing emergency management certifications. Each member acts as a representative of the council and is expected to serve on various local and regional boards and commissions, so as not to unduly burden any one councilmember.  Rules of governance related to Council Meetings can be found online in the Municipal Code.

Legal Responsibilities:

Public Disclosure Requirements: In order to give the public tangible proof that officials are acting in the public interest and not for their private gain, candidates for all public offices and incumbent elected officials are required to file public disclosure records of their personal financial status.

 

Conflicts of Interest: City council members are legally required to comply with certain standards of conduct involving potential conflicts of interest. Further, city officials are strictly forbidden by state law from having any personal financial interest in city employment or other city contracts, regardless of whether or not they vote on the matter. Public officials may not, directly or indirectly, give or receive any compensation, gift, or gratuity from a non-city source for any matter connected with or related to City business.

The Appearance of Fairness: Council members are also legally required to comply with certain standards of conduct. This applies specifically to all city council actions that determine the legal rights, duties or privileges of a specific council member.

Secrecy in Government Is Prohibited: All meetings of the city council must be conducted in public. Regular meetings do not require any special notice, but special meetings may be held only after the media is notified at least 24 hours in advance. A meeting may be “recessed” into an executive session only for certain matters, such as the consideration of property sales and purchases, and certain personnel matters. All votes by council members during a meeting must be public votes; secret ballots are prohibited.

Questions regarding the application process can be directed to the City Clerk’s Office at cityclerk@cityofml.com and questions regarding the position can be directed to the City Manager Allison Williams at citymanager@cityofml.com. 

Original source can be found here.