2009-10 Adopted Budget - City of Hoquiam

Hoquiam’s Form of GovernmentHoquiam is a non-charter code city, and on May 21, 1890, incorporated under themayor/council form of government. The mayor-council form is the oldest form ofgovernment found in Washington and was the only practical choice available to mostcities from statehood in 1889 until 1910 when the commission form was introduced.This form consists of an elected mayor who serves as the city's chief administrativeofficer and a council which is responsible for formulating and adopting city policies. Themayor-council form is characterized by a separation of executive and legislative powersand a system of checks and balances patterned after our traditional national and stategovernments.Under this form of government, an independently-elected mayor has greater powers ofappointment and removal of subordinates, a higher degree of administrative controlover departments, and the power to veto council legislation. The resulting governmentstructure limits the council's role to policy making and oversight, and reservesadministrative power and responsibility for the mayor.Full details of the Council/Manager form of government can be found in Chapter 35A.12of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).The Hoquiam City CouncilThe Hoquiam City Council is comprised of twelve members, elected by wards, by thecitizens of the City. Council members are elected to four-year terms with six positionsbeing elected first and the other six positions being elected two years later. Thisensures some experienced Council members at all times. The Council members alsoelect a Council President from among themselves every year.The Council takes action on items presented at regularly scheduled or special meetingsof the Hoquiam City Council. A public hearing may also be scheduled as part of aregular or special Council meeting. The public hearing allows Council to meet any legalrequirements regarding an issue, hear background information or reports about a topic,receive public input on the issue, and then make an informed decision based on thefacts and information presented. Council workshops or town hall meetings arescheduled to allow Council members to study an issue without taking action on it.The Hoquiam City Council meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 609 8 th Street, Hoquiam. The Mayor hasan office in City Hall but does not keep regular office hours.4