§ 11.10 Charter Review Commission | Clallam County Charter

Section 11.10: Charter Review Commission.

Commencing with the statewide general election in November 2019 and every five years thereafter, the Commissioners shall cause an election of a Charter Review Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission. The Commission shall consist of 15 members, 5 from each county commissioner district. Each member of the Commission shall be a resident of the commissioner district which he or she represents. There shall be no filing fee. There shall be no primary. Persons filing will be elected by district. The member of the Commission who receives the greatest number of votes shall convene the Commission within 30 days of commencement of the term of office. The term of office shall be one year from January 1 until December 31 after the general election. The Commission need not meet continuously, but may meet at such time and in such places as it deems appropriate upon given public notice. (Amendment proposed by County Commissioners and approved by the voters November 3, 1981. Amendment proposed by the Charter Review Commission and approved by the voters November 8, 1983. Amendment proposed by the Charter Review Commission and approved by the voters November 8, 1994. Amendment proposed by the Charter Review Commission and approved by the voters November 6, 2007. Amendment proposed by the Charter Review Commission and approved by the voters November 3, 2015.)

Any vacancy on the Commission shall be filled by the remaining members of the Commission within 30 days, provided that, within 14 days of the declaration of a vacancy, notice shall be given to the residents of the district in which the vacancy occurs in such manner as the Commission in its discretion seems advisable. Selection of the person to fill the vacancy shall be from those residing in the district in which there is a vacancy by simple majority vote of the Commission.

The Commission shall review the Charter to determine its adequacy and suitability to the needs of the county and may propose amendments. The Commission may also make recommendations to the County Commissioners and publish information and/or findings. Members of the Commission shall serve without salary, but shall be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. The County Commissioners shall provide to the Commission reasonable funds, facilities and services appropriate to an elected county agency. Provisions for expenditures shall be made in the budget. Expenditures of the Commission shall be budgeted for their scheduled term of office.

The Board of Commissioners shall conduct meetings, as required, including district town hall meetings, to fully vet publically all recommendations for changes or revisions to county operations and procedures (not proposed for ballot measures) forwarded to them by the Charter Review Commission. The meetings shall engage the public and shall encourage public comment on the proposed changes and revisions. Upon the conclusion of the meetings, the Board of Commissioners shall issue written conclusions and responses to the recommendations, including timetables for adoption of the recommendation and/or reasons for not adopting the recommendation. (New article proposed by the Charter Review Commission and approved by the voters November 3, 2015.)