ARTICLE II
Officers -- Council-Manager Form of Government

ARTICLE III
Elections

ARTICLE IV
Legislation by the People

ARTICLE V
The Recall

ARTICLE VI
Additional Powers and Limitations on Officers

ARTICLE VII
Limitation of Taxation

ARTICLE VIII
Special Boards

ARTICLE IX
Public Utilities

ARTICLE X
Claims

ARTICLE XI
Franchises

ARTICLE XII
Power to Incur Indebtedness

ARTICLE XIII
Amendments

ARTICLE XIV
Schedule

ARTICLE XV
City Emergency Hospital

ARTICLE XVI
Civil Service

ARTICLE I
Name, Boundaries, Powers, Rights and Liabilities

SECTION 2. The enumeration of particular powers by this charter shall not be held or deemed to be exclusive, but in addition to the powers enumerated herein, implied hereby or appropriate to the exercise thereof, the City of Yakima shall have, and may exercise, all powers which under the constitution and laws of the State of Washington it would be lawful for said charter specifically to enumerate. All powers of the city, whether express or implied, shall be exercised in the manner prescribed by this charter, or if not prescribed herein, then in the manner provided by law, ordinance or resolution of the city commission.
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ARTICLE II
Officers -- Council-Manager Form of Government

C. (1) At the municipal election to be held in the year 1977, three Council members shall be elected from the City at large without regard to residence in any particular area of the City.

(2) Not less than ten days before the time for filing declarations of candidacy for the City Council for the election to be held in the year 1979, the City Clerk shall designate by consecutive numbers, commencing with the number one and ending with the number four, the positions on the Council to be filled by candidates nominated from districts, and such designations shall be thereafter permanently considered as separate offices for election purposes as "district positions" according to their permanently designated number. At the municipal election to be held in the year 1979, eight candidates shall be nominated from the four districts, as follows: Candidates for "district positions" shall file their candidacy for nomination by the electors of the district wherein each candidate, respectively, resides. At the primary election, each qualified voter of each district may cast only one vote for a candidate. The names of the two candidates from each district for whom the largest number of votes are cast at the primary election shall appear on the citywide general election ballot, and the one candidate from each district who receives the highest number of votes, as cast by the citywide electorate at the general election, shall thereby be declared as duly elected to each respective "district position" as a member of the City Council.

(3) Not less than ten days before the time for filing declarations of candidacy for the City Council for the election to be held in 1981, the City Clerk shall designate, by consecutive numbers commencing with the number five and ending with the number seven, the positions on the Council to be filled by candidates to be elected from the City at large without regard to residence in any particular area of the City, and such designations shall be thereafter permanently considered as separate offices for election purposes as "at large positions" according to their permanently designated numbers.

D. (1) Council members shall be elected for four-year terms. On the expiration of those terms, succeeding elections shall be conducted so that three Council members are elected at large without regard to residence in any particular area of the City and four Council members elected to "district positions" in the manner provided by Subsection C of this SECTION.

(2) In the event any Council member elected or appointed to an "at large position" moves that member's place of residence outside the city boundary, or in the event any Council member elected or appointed to a "district position" moves that member's place of residence outside the district from which that member was nominated or appointed, then that Council member shall thereby forfeit the office of Council member and the position held by that member shall be deemed to be vacant. In the event a vacancy occurs for any reason in the Council, the vacancy shall be filled by the appointment of some qualified person by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Council, but such appointee shall hold office only until the next regular municipal election, at which time a qualified person shall be elected to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term for that position. If the vacancy occurs in a position held by a Council member originally nominated or appointed from a district, then the appointee shall be a resident of that district and the Council member who is elected to serve for the remainder of that term shall be a resident of that district and shall be nominated and elected in the manner provided by Subsection C (2) of this SECTION.

E. Provision for the time and manner of election of Council members, and the conduct of such biennial elections shall be governed by general laws, by this charter, and by applicable ordinances of the City as they may be enacted from time to time. As amended by vote of the people November 2, 1976.

SECTION 2. The Council shall constitute the legislative department and authority of the City government and shall have power to adopt rules of order and regulations for the conduct of its business.

SECTION 3. The Council shall choose its own chairman at its first meeting and at the first meeting after the subsequent biennial elections. The chairman shall have the title of Mayor during the biennium for which he is chosen. The Mayor shall preside at all meetings of the Council and shall also have the powers and perform the duties conferred and imposed upon him by this charter and the ordinances of the City. He shall be recognized as the head of the City for all ceremonial purposes and by the Governor for purposes of military law. He shall have no regular administrative duties but in time of public danger or emergency shall, if so authorized and directed by a majority vote of the Council, take command of the police, maintain order and enforce the law. He shall also have the rights, privileges and immunities of a member of the Council with the right to vote as another member thereof. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Mayor, or in case of his absence or disability, a Mayor pro tem shall be elected by the Council from its members to act as Mayor for the unexpired term or during the continuance of the absence or disability. The Mayor shall appoint one of the duly elected justices of the peace in the City of Yakima as Police Judge, who shall be designated as "Municipal Judge."

SECTION 4. Except as otherwise provided in this charter, all powers of the City shall be vested in the Council. Each member of the Council shall receive the sum of $5.00 for each regular and special meeting of the Council attended by him not to exceed in all the sum of $250.00 per annum, the same to be paid quarterly: provided, that the Mayor shall receive in addition thereto $100.00 per year, payable quarterly. Members of the Council shall be qualified electors of the City and any member ceasing to possess any of the qualifications specified in general law or in this charter or convicted of crime involving moral turpitude while in office shall immediately forfeit his office.

SECTION 5. The Council shall meet at the times and places fixed by ordinance, but must hold at least two regular meetings each month. The Clerk shall call special meetings of the Council upon request of the Mayor or any two members. Requests for special meetings shall state the subjects to be considered and no other subject shall be considered at a special meeting except by consent of all members of the Council. All meetings of the Council and of committees thereof shall be open to the public, and the rules of the council shall provide that citizens of the City shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard at any meetings in regard to any matter being considered thereat.

SECTION 6. The Council shall choose such employees of its own body, as it may deem necessary. Employees of the Council shall not be chosen for a definite term but shall continue to serve during the pleasure of the Council.

SECTION 7. The Council shall appoint an officer whose title shall be City Manager and who shall be the chief executive officer and the head of the administrative branch of the City government. The City Manager shall be chosen upon the basis of character and ability with special reference to his actual experience in, or his knowledge of, accepted practice in respect to the duties of his office as hereinafter outlined. Choice shall not be limited by any residence or political qualification. No person elected to membership on the Council shall, subsequent to such election, be eligible for appointment as City Manager until one year has elapsed following the expiration of the term for which he was elected. Before entering upon the duties of his office, such City Manager shall take the official oath for the support of the National and State Governments and the faithful performance of his duties, and shall execute a bond in favor of the City in such sum as may be fixed by the Council.

SECTION 8. The City Manager shall be appointed for an indefinite term and may be removed by a majority vote of the Council. At least thirty days before the effective date of his removal, the City Manager must be furnished with a formal statement in the form of a resolution passed by a majority vote of the City Council stating the Council's intention to remove him and the reasons therefor. Upon passage of the resolution stating the Council's intention to remove the Manager, the Council may by a similar vote suspend him from duty, but his pay shall continue until his removal becomes effective. The City Manager may, within thirty days from the date of service upon him of a copy thereof, reply in writing to the resolution stating the Council's intention to remove him. In the event no reply is timely filed, the resolution shall upon the thirty-first day from the date of such service constitute the final resolution removing the Manager, and his services shall terminate upon that day. If a reply shall be timely filed with its Clerk, the Council shall fix a time for a public hearing upon the question of the Manager's removal and a final resolution removing the Manager shall not be adopted until a public hearing has been had. The action of the Council in removing the Manager shall be final. In case of the absence or disability of the Manager, the Council may designate some qualified person to perform the duties of the office during such absence or disability.

SECTION 9. The powers and duties of the City Manager shall be: (1) To have general supervision over the administrative affairs of the municipality;
(2) To appoint and remove at any time all department heads, officers and employees of the City, except members of the Council, but the appointment and removal of those department heads, officers and employees who are subject to Civil Service or merit systems of the City of Yakima shall be pursuant to the Civil Service laws, rules and regulations of such City in existence at the effective date hereof: provided, that the Council may cause an audit to be made of any department or office of the City government and may select the persons to make it, without the advice or consent of the City Manager;
(3) To attend all meetings of the Council at which his attendance may be required by that body;
(4) To see that all laws and ordinances are faithfully executed, subject to the authority which the Council may grant the Mayor to maintain law and order in times of emergency;
(5) To recommend for adoption by the Council such measures as he may deem necessary or expedient;
(6) To prepare and submit to the Council such reports as may be required by that body or as he may deem it advisable to submit;
(7) To keep the Council fully advised of the financial condition of the City or town and its future needs;
(8) To prepare and submit to the Council a tentative budget for the fiscal year;
(9) To perform such other duties as the Council may determine by ordinance or resolution.

SECTION 10. Administrative departments shall be created by the City Council as the public business may demand. Pending further action by the City Council, the administrative departments now in existence shall be continued. The rights, powers and duties of the departments shall be prescribed, distributed, assigned, established or discontinued by ordinance.

SECTION 11. The City Manager may authorize the head of the department or office responsible to him to appoint and remove subordinates in such department or office. Any officer or employee who may be appointed by the City Manager or by the head of a department or office, except one who holds his position subject to Civil Service, may be removed by the Manager or other such appointing officer at any time. Subject to the provisions of SECTION 9 herein, the decision of the Manager or other appointing officer shall be final and there shall be no appeal therefrom.

SECTION 12. Appointments made by or under the authority of the City Manager shall be on the basis of executive and administrative ability and of the training and experience of the appointees in the work, which they are to perform. Residence within the City shall not be a requirement.

SECTION 13. Neither the Council, nor any of its committees or members shall direct or request the appointment of any person to, or his removal from, office by the City Manager or any of his subordinates. Except for the purpose of inquiry, the Council and its members shall deal with the administrative service solely through the Manager and neither the Council nor any committee or member thereof shall give orders to any subordinate of the City Manager, either publicly or privately: Provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit the Council, while in open session, from fully and freely discussing with the City Manager anything pertaining to appointments and removals of City officers and employees and City affairs.

SECTION 14. The City Manager and other officers, assistants and employees, shall receive such salary or compensation as the Council shall fix by ordinance and it shall be payable at such times as the Council shall determine.

SECTION 15. Nothing in this Article shall affect the pension or Civil Service or merit system of the City of Yakima in existence at the effective date hereof.

As amended by vote of the people November 4, 1958. Effective dates June 1, 1959.
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ARTICLE III
Elections

As amended by vote of the people November 4, 1958. Effective date December 11, 1958.
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ARTICLE IV
Legislation by the People

SECTION 2. The initiative shall be exercised in the following manner:
(a) A petition signed by registered and qualified electors of the City, accompanied by the proposed legislation in the form of a proposed ordinance and requesting that such ordinance be submitted to a vote of the people shall be filed with the City Clerk.
(b) Within two days from the filing of such petition the City Clerk shall certify the number of votes cast at the last general City election and the number of signers of such petition, and shall present such certificate, petition and proposed ordinance to the City Commission.
(c) If such petition be signed by qualified electors in number equal to twenty per centum of the total number of votes cast at the last preceding general city election, the City Commission within twenty days after receipt thereof, except as otherwise provided in this Charter, shall either pass such ordinance without alteration, or submit it to a popular vote at a special election which must be held within thirty days after the date of the ordering thereof: Provided, however, that if any other municipal election is to be held more than thirty days but within ninety days after the filing of the petition, said proposed ordinance shall be submitted without alteration to be voted upon at such election.

SECTION 3. If, prior to the date when any ordinance shall take effect, a petition signed by qualified electors equal in number to ten per centum of the entire vote cast at the last preceding general city election shall be filed with the City Clerk, protesting against the enactment of such ordinance, it shall be suspended from taking effect. Immediately upon the filing of the petition the City Clerk shall do all things required in SECTION 2 of this article. Thereupon the City Commission shall immediately reconsider such ordinance, and, if it does not entirely repeal the same, shall submit it to popular vote at the next municipal election; or, the City Commission may call a special election for that purpose; and such ordinance shall not take effect, unless a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon at such election shall vote in favor thereof.

SECTION 4. The City Commission may submit to popular vote for adoption or rejection at any election any proposed ordinance in the same manner and effect as provided in this article for submission on petition.

SECTION 5. There shall not be held under this article more than one special election in any period of six months.

SECTION 6. The City Commission, by ordinance, shall make further regulations for carrying out the provisions of this article not inconsistent herewith.
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ARTICLE V
The Recall

SECTION 2. An officer removed from office by recall election or who shall resign from such office pending recall proceedings against him shall not be eligible to hold any city office or employment within two years after such removal or resignation.
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ARTICLE VI
Additional Powers and Limitations on Officers

SECTION 2. Ordinances making the annual tax levy or relating to local improvements or assessments therefor, or making appropriations, emergency ordinances, or ordinances adopted by vote of the electors shall take effect at the time indicated therein; all other ordinances shall take effect 30 days after the date of the publication thereof as herein provided. An emergency ordinance is one to provide for the immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health or safety. The unanimous vote of the commission shall be necessary for the passage of an emergency ordinance. No measure making or amending a grant, renewal or extension of a franchise or other special privilege shall ever be passed as an emergency measure.

SECTION 3. Upon its final passage, each ordinance or resolution shall be authenticated by the signature of the Mayor and attested by the City Clerk and recorded in a book kept for that purpose. The number and title of each ordinance passed by the City Commission, with certificate as herein provided, attached thereto shall be published once in the official newspaper of the city. Said certificate shall be signed by the City Clerk and shall be in substantially the following form: "Ordinance No._______bearing above title, was duly and regularly passed by the City Commission of the City of Yakima, Washington, on the ________ day of __________19___, and is now on file with the undersigned at the office of the City Clerk, where the same is open to the public inspection. Dated . City Clerk."

SECTION 4. Members of the City Commission shall be qualified electors of the City, and shall not hold any other public office except that of Notary Public or member of the military branch of the state or federal government. A member of the City Commission ceasing to possess any of the qualifications specified in this SECTION, or who may be convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude while in office shall immediately forfeit his office. A certified copy of the judgment of conviction filed in the office of the City Clerk shall be prima facie evidence of forfeiture as above provided.

SECTION 5. No officer or employee of the City shall solicit or receive any pay, commission, money or thing of value, or derive any benefit, profit or advantage, directly or indirectly from or by reason of any improvement, alteration or repair, or purchase of materials required by the City, or any contract to which the City shall be a party, except his lawful compensation or salary as such officer or employee. A violation of any of the provisions of this SECTION shall disqualify the offender to continue in office or employment and he shall be forthwith removed therefrom.

SECTION 6. Any purchase of supplies, material, equipment or services, except for public work or improvement, where the cost thereof exceeds $2,000 shall be made upon call for bids in the same method and under the same conditions as required herein on a call for bids for public work or improvement. This monetary limit for the purchase of supplies, material, equipment and services may be increased from time to time, but no more often than one time in any twenty-four month period, by ordinance enacted by the vote of no less than a two-thirds majority of the City Council members, to any amount allowed by state law. In the event of an emergency declared by resolution of the City Council, any purchase of supplies, material, equipment or service may be made without calling for bids.
As amended by vote of the people November 6, 1984.

SECTION 7. In addition to the provisions of the general law the City Commission may by ordinance create and establish special funds into which all monies received for a special or specific purpose may be placed: Provided, however, that such fund or funds shall be other than those deriving revenue from taxation.
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ARTICLE VII
Limitation of Taxation

SECTION 2. The City Commission shall have power and authority to assess, levy and collect taxes upon all the real and personal property (not exempt from taxation) within the City for the corporate uses and purposes thereof and provide for the payment of the debts and expenses of the City.

SECTION 3. The aggregate of all the property taxes levied or appropriated for City purposes including funds for the library, parks and playgrounds, police and firemen's relief shall be taken and apportioned by the City Commission from the current expense fund which for any one year shall not exceed eighteen mills on each dollar of assessed valuation of the property within the City except as follows:

(a) The levies for redemption of and interest on the bonded debt of the City heretofore or hereafter authorized in the manner provided by law;
(b) The levy for local improvement district assessment guaranty fund as required by law;
(c) Such other levies as may have been heretofore or which may hereafter is required by general law.

SECTION 4. No special levies shall be made for other purposes than those above specified except those, which may be authorized at an election.

SECTION 5. All City funds shall be administered by the City Commission; and boards or committees selected by the City Commission to assist in the management of any municipal activities, if any are selected, shall act in an advisory capacity only.

SECTION 6. The City Commission shall make no appropriation in aid of any corporation, person or society not expressly authorized by this charter.
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ARTICLE VIII
Special Boards

ARTICLE IX
Public Utilities

SECTION 2. The City Commission shall have power to arrange by ordinance for the financing and repair, replacement, rehabilitation or extension of any public utility owned and operated by the City, provided, however, that such financing shall be arranged upon the credit of the utility itself and not upon the issuance of general obligation bonds of the City.
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ARTICLE X
Claims

ARTICLE XI
Franchises

SECTION 2. No franchise or right to occupy or use the streets, highways, bridges, or public places of the City shall be granted, renewed or extended except by ordinance, which ordinance shall be submitted to a vote of the electors of the City at a general or special election and shall not become operative unless approved by a majority of the electors voting upon said franchise: Provided, that the City Commission shall have authority without necessity of reference to the electors, to pass an ordinance granting permission to lay a spur track or tracks connecting a main line of railroad with adjacent manufacturing plants, warehouses or other private property.

SECTION 3. No franchise shall be granted unless there be inserted therein a provision that the City may acquire the public utility for the exercise of which the franchise is granted, either by agreement or by condemnation, and that upon such purchase by the City, either by agreement or condemnation, no value of the franchise itself shall be taken into account in fixing the price to be paid by the City for such utility.

SECTION 4. No franchise shall be granted by the City for a longer term than twenty-five years.

SECTION 5. No franchise shall be renewed or extended earlier than three years prior to its expiration.

SECTION 6. No franchise shall be granted without provision for proper compensation to the City. Such compensation shall when feasible be a percentage upon the gross earnings of the person or corporation to whom such franchise is granted arising from the exercise of such franchise. When the determination of the gross earnings by the exercise of the franchise is not feasible the ordinance granting said franchise shall prescribe such other mode of determining the compensation to be paid the City by the grantee as shall be deemed reasonable and just.

SECTION 7. The grantee or assignee of any franchise granted by the City shall submit to the City Commission within sixty days after the first day of January of each year, an annual report verified by the oath of such person or the president, treasurer or general manager of such corporation, which shall contain such detailed information as may be prescribed by the City Commission to enable it to determine the amount of compensation to be paid to the City for the use of said franchise during the preceding year. Any such person, persons, or corporations which shall refuse or fail to make any such report within the time specified shall be liable to a penalty of one hundred dollars for each and every day during which he or it shall fail to file such report, such penalty to be sued for and recovered by the City in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

SECTION 8. No franchise granted by the City shall ever be leased, assigned or otherwise alienated without the express consent of the City Commission by ordinance passed for that purpose, and no rule of estoppel shall ever be invoked against the City in case it shall assert the invalidity of any attempted transfer in violation of this SECTION.

SECTION 9. The grant of every franchise for a street, suburban, or interurban railroad or bus line shall provide that all United States mail carriers, city officials, policemen and firemen shall at all time while in the actual discharge of their duties be allowed to ride upon such cars or buses under said franchise without paying therefor, and with all rights of other passengers. SECTION 10. No franchise, right, privilege, or license shall be considered as granted by any ordinance except when expressed therein in plain and unambiguous terms, and if any ambiguity appears therein it shall be construed in favor of the city and against the claimant under said ordinance.
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ARTICLE XII
Power to Incur Indebtedness

SECTION 2. When a popular vote is not required by law, the City Commission by ordinance may authorize any indebtedness and the issuance of bonds.
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ARTICLE XIII
Amendments

ARTICLE XIV
Schedule

SECTION 2. All ordinances and resolutions in force at the time this charter shall go into effect and not inconsistent herewith, shall remain in force until amended or repealed or until they expire by limitation. All rights and obligations in favor of or against the City existing at the time this charter shall go into effect shall continue without modification. All street an other improvements, all vacations of public streets, alleys or places, all assessments for improvements, all suits and actions in court, all fines, penalties and forfeitures and all other matters relating to the City that may have been begun and not completed, shall be completed according to the law and ordinances existing prior to the time this charter shall go into effect, and all taxes and assessments levied and remaining unpaid when this charter shall go into effect shall be collected as provided by the law existing and in effect at the time the same were levied.

SECTION 3. At the election to be held for the purpose of adopting or rejecting this charter, articles numbered I to XIV, inclusive, shall be submitted upon the ballot as a complete charter and shall be included in the vote "For the Charter" and "Against the Charter," and in the event that a majority of all votes cast thereon, shall be "For the Charter" said charter shall be adopted.
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ARTICLE XV
City Emergency Hospital

ARTICLE XVI
Civil Service

SECTION 2. The following terms, whenever used in this Article, shall be construed as follows:

(a) "Commission" means the civil service commission herein created, and "Commissioner" means any one of the three members of any such commission.
(b) "Appointing power" -- Appointing power means the officer or person, board or committee who is empowered to make appointments for employment in the city civil service.
(c) "Appointment" includes all means of selecting, appointing, or employing any person to any office, place, position, or employment in civil service.
(d) "City" means the City of Yakima, Washington.
(e) "Employees" means all persons regularly employed by the City of Yakima, Washington, either on a part-time or full-time basis with the exception of those persons listed in SECTION 6.

SECTION 3. There is created a city civil service commission, which shall be composed of three persons. The commission members shall be appointed by the City Council in the following manner:
(a) One member shall be appointed by the City Council.
(b) The second member shall be appointed by the City Council from a list of three names submitted to the Council chosen by a referendum of city employees, excluding police and firemen. The City Clerk shall conduct the referendum and shall formulate proper rules and regulations for said referendum.
(c) The third shall be appointed by the City Council from a list of three names submitted to the council by the other two civil service commissioners.
(d) The term of office of the commissioners shall be for six years or until a successor is selected and qualified, except that the first three members of the commission shall be appointed for different times, as follows:
The appointee from the employee referendum list shall serve for a period of six years, the appointee at large as designated in subsection (a) above to serve for a period of four years, and the third appointee to serve for two years. All commissioners must be registered voters of Yakima County. Any member of the commission may be removed from office for incompetence, incompatibility, or dereliction of duty, or malfeasance of office, or other good cause; provided, that no member of the commission shall be removed until charges have been preferred, in writing, due notice, and a full hearing held before the City Council. Any vacancy in the commission shall be filled in the same manner as provided for selecting the commissioner previously filling the vacancy. Two members of the commission shall constitute a quorum and the votes of any two members concurring shall be sufficient for the decision of all matters and the transaction of all business to be decided by the commission. No member of the civil service commission shall engage in active partisan or non-partisan politics and hold any salaried public office or engage in city employment, other than his commission duties. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation.

SECTION 4. Immediately after appointment the commission shall organize by electing one of its members chairman and shall hold regular meetings at least once a month, and such additional meetings as may be required for the proper discharge of its duties. All meetings of the commission shall be open to the public. It shall appoint a chief examiner who shall also serve as secretary of the commission and such assistants as may be necessary. The chief examiner shall keep the records for the commission, preserve all reports made to it, superintend and keep a record of all examinations held under its direction and perform such other duties as the commission may prescribe. The chief examiner shall be appointed as a result of competitive examination, which examination may be either original and open to all properly qualified persons, or promotional and limited to persons already in the service of the City of Yakima, Washington. The chief examiner shall be subject to suspension, reduction, or discharge in the same manner and subject to the same limitations as are provided in the case of members of the classified service. A pay and classification plan with job descriptions providing equal pay for equal work shall be devised by the chief examiner with the cooperation and approval of the civil service commission which shall be submitted in ordinance form to the City Council for passage.

SECTION 5. It shall be the duty of the civil service commission:
(a) To make suitable rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions hereof. Such rules and regulations shall provide in detail the manner in which examinations may be held, and appointments, promotions, transfers, reinstatements, demotions, suspensions, and discharges shall be made, and may also provide for any other matters connected with the general subject of personnel administration, and which may be considered desirable to further carry out the general purposes of this Article, or which may be found to be in the interest of good personnel administration. The rules and regulations and any amendments thereof shall be printed, mimeographed, or multigraphed for free public distribution. Such rules and regulations may be changed from time to time. Prior to adoption of new rules or changes in existing rules all interested parties shall be given an opportunity to express opinions concerning the proposed rules at the regular public meetings of the commission.
(b) To give practical tests which shall consist only of subjects which will fairly determine the capacity of persons examined to perform duties of the position to which appointment is to be made. Such tests may include tests of physical fitness or manual skill or both.
(c) To make investigations and report upon all matters concerning the enforcement and effect of the provisions of this Article, and the rules and regulations prescribed hereunder; to inspect all departments, offices, places, positions, and employment affected by this Article, and ascertain whether this Article and all such rules and regulations are being obeyed. Such investigations may be made by the commission or by any commissioner designated by the commission for that purpose. Not only must these investigations be made by the commission as aforesaid, but the commission must make like investigation on petition of any citizen, duly verified, stating that irregularities or abuses exist, and setting forth in concise language, in writing, the necessity for such investigation. In the course of such investigation the commission, or the chairman or chief examiner when authorized by a majority vote of the commission, may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance at such place as may be designated in this City of witnesses and the production of books and papers pertinent to any inquiry or investigation authorized by this Article; or may take depositions of witnesses. Subpoenas shall also be used at the request of the parties to the proceedings other than the commission and the chairman. The commission or any member thereof, or the chief examiner, when authorized by the commission, may administer oaths and take testimony. The commission or the chief examiner may examine such public records, as they require in relation to any matter, which they have authority to investigate.
(d) To conduct hearings and investigations in accordance with this Article and by the rules of practice and procedure adopted by the commission, and in the conduct thereof neither the commission, nor designated commissioner shall be bound by technical rules of evidence. No informality in any proceedings or hearing, or in the manner of taking testimony before the commission or designated commissioner, shall invalidate any order, decision, rule, or regulation made, or confirmed by the commission; provided, that no order, decision, rule or regulation made by any designated commissioner conducting any hearing or investigation alone shall be any force or effect whatsoever unless and until concurred in by at least one of the other two members.
(e) To hear and determine appeals or complaints respecting the allocation of positions, the rejection of an examinee, and such other matters as may be referred to the commission.
(f) To provide for, formulate, and hold competitive tests to determine the relative qualifications of persons who seek employment in any class or position, and as a result thereof establish eligible lists for the various classes of positions, and provide that persons laid off because of curtailment of expenditures, reduction in force, and for like causes, head the list in the order of their seniority, to the end that they shall be the first to be reemployed.
(g) It shall be the duty of the Civil Service Commission to certify to the appointing authority, when a vacant position is to be filled, on written request, the names of the three persons highest on the eligible list for the class. Any one of the three persons so certified may be appointed. If there is no such list, to authorize a provisional or temporary appointment list for such class. Such temporary provisional appointment(s) shall not continue for longer than five months in any one fiscal year.
(h) To keep such records as may be necessary for the proper administration of this Article.
As amended by vote of the people November 8, 1983.

SECTION 6. The classified civil service and provisions of this Article shall be applicable to and shall include all employees of the city except the following:
(a) Officers elected by the people and persons appointed to fill vacancies in elective offices;
(b) Members of boards and commissions and the City Manager;
(c) Employees under civil service coverage within the police and fire departments;
(d) All department heads; one confidential secretary and one administrative assistant for the City Manager;
(e) Judges, City Attorney and all assistant city attorneys;
(f) Persons employed in a professional or scientific capacity to make or conduct a temporary and special inquiry, investigation, or examination on behalf of the City Council or a committee thereof, or by authority of the City Manager.

SECTION 7. All appointments to and promotions to positions in the classified civil service of the City of Yakima shall be made solely on merit, efficiency, and fitness, which shall be ascertained by open competitive examination and impartial investigation. No person in the classified civil service shall be reinstated in or transferred, suspended, or discharged from any such place, position, or employment, contrary to the provisions of this Article.

SECTION 8. For the benefit of the public service and to prevent delay, injury, or interruption therein by reason of the enactment hereof, all persons holding a position which is deemed classified under SECTION 6 for a continuous period of six months prior to the effective dates of this Article, and still currently employed, are eligible for permanent appoint-ment under civil service to the offices, places, positions or employment which they then held without examination or other act on their part, and not on probation; and every such person is automatically adopted and inducted permanently into civil service, into the office, place, position or employment which he then held as completely and effectual to all intents and purposes as if such person had been permanently appointed thereto under civil service after examination and investigation.

SECTION 9. The tenure of every person holding an office, place, position or employment under the provisions of this Article shall be only during good behavior, and any such person may be removed or discharged, suspended without pay, demoted or reduced in rank, for any of the following reasons:
(a) Incompetency, inefficiency, or inattention to, or dereliction of duty;
(b) Dishonesty, intemperance, immoral conduct, insubordination, discourteous treatment of the public, or a fellow employee, or any other act of omission or commission tending to injure the public service; or any other willful failure on the part of the employee to properly conduct himself; or any willful violation of the provisions of this Article or of the rules and regulations to be adopted hereunder;
(c) Mental or physical unfitness for the position which the employee holds;
(d) Dishonest, disgraceful, or prejudicial conduct;
(e) Drunkenness or use of intoxicating liquors, narcotics, or any other habit forming drug, liquid, or preparation to such extent that the use thereof interferes with the efficiency or mental or physical fitness of the employee or which precludes the employee from properly performing the function and duties of any position under civil service;
(f) Conviction of a felony, or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;
(g) Any other act or failure to act which in the judgment of the civil service commission is sufficient to show the offender to be an unsuitable and unfit person to be employed in the public service.

SECTION 10. No person in the classified civil service who has been permanently appointed or inducted into civil service under provisions of this Article, shall be removed, suspended, or demoted except for cause, and only upon written accusation of the appointing power or any citizen or taxpayer; a written statement of which accusation, in general terms, shall be served upon the accused; and a duplicate filed with the commission. Any person so removed, suspended, or demoted may within ten days from the time of his removal, suspension, or demotion, file with the commission a written demand for an investigation, whereupon the commission shall conduct such investigation. The investigation shall be confined to the determination of the question of whether the removal, suspension, or demotion was made in good faith for cause. After such investigation the commission may affirm the removal, or if it finds that removal, suspension or demotion was not made in good faith or cause, shall order the immediate reinstatement or reemployment of such person in the office, place, position, or employment from which he was removed, suspended, or demoted, which reinstatement shall, if the commission so provides be retroactive, and entitle such person to pay or compensation from the time of the removal, suspension, or demotion. The commission upon such investigation in lieu of affirming a removal, may modify the order by directing a suspension without pay, for a given period, and subsequent restoration to duty, or demotion in classification, grade, or pay. The findings of the commission shall be certified, in writing to the appointing power, and shall be forthwith enforced by such officer. All investigations made by the commission pursuant to this SECTION shall be by public hearing, after reasonable notice to the accused of the time and place thereof, at which hearing the accused shall be afforded an opportunity of appearing in person and by counsel, and presenting his defense. The subpoena provisions of SECTION 5 of this Article shall apply to all such hearings. If the order of removal, suspension, or demotion is concurred in by the commission or a majority thereof, the accused may appeal therefrom to the superior court of the county wherein he resides. Such appeal shall be taken by serving the commission, within thirty days after the entry of its order, a written notice appeal, stating the grounds thereof, and demanding that a certified transcript of the record and of all papers on file in the office of the commission affecting or relating to its order, be filed by the commission with the court. The commission shall, within ten days after the filing of the notice, make, certify, and file such transcript with the court. The court shall thereupon proceed to hear and determine the appeal in a summary manner. Such hearing shall be confined to the determination of whether the order of removal, suspension, or demotion made by the commission, was or was not made in good faith for cause, and no appeal shall be taken except upon such ground or grounds. The decision of the superiorcourt may be appealed to the Supreme Court.

SECTION 11. Whenever a position in the classified service becomes vacant, the appointing power, if it desires to fill the vacancy, shall requisition the commission for the names and addresses of persons eligible for appointment thereto. The commission shall certify the names of three persons highest on the eligible list for the class to which the vacant position has been allocated, who are willing to accept employment. In case of more than one vacancy in a particular class one additional name shall be certified for each additional vacancy. If there is no appropriate eligible list for the class, the commission shall certify the name of three persons standing highest on the list held appropriate for such class. The appointing power shall forthwith make is appointment to the vacant position from the list of person so certified. To enable the appointing power to exercise a choice in the filling of positions, no appointment, employment, or promotion in any position in the classified service shall be deemed complete until after the expiration of a period of six months' probationary service, as may be provided in the rules of the civil service commission, during which the appointing power may terminate the employment of the person certified to him, if during the performance test thus afforded, upon observation or consideration of the performance of duty, the appointing power deems him unfit or unsatisfactory for employment by the City of Yakima. Thereupon the appointing power shall select from the three persons certified as standing next highest on any such list and such person shall likewise enter upon said duties for the probationary period, until some person is found who is deemed fit for appointment, employment, or promotion whereupon the appointment, employment, or promotion shall be deemed complete.

SECTION 12. All offices, places, positions, and employment coming within the purview of this Article shall be filled by the appointing power; nothing herein contained shall infringe upon the authority that the City Council may have to fix the salaries and compensation of all employees employed hereunder.

SECTION 13. No treasurer, clerk or other officer, or employee of the City subject to this Article shall approve the payment of or be in any manner concerned in paying, auditing, or approving any salary, wage, or other compensation for services, to any person subject to the jurisdiction and scope of this Article, unless a payroll, estimate, or account for such salary, wage, or other compensation, containing the names of the persons to be paid, the amount to be paid, and any other information which, in the judgment of the civil service commission, should be furnished on such payroll, bears the certificate of the civil service commission, or of its chief examiner or other duly authorized agent, that the persons named therein have been appointed or employed in compliance with the terms of this Article and the rules of the commission, and that the payroll, estimate, or account is, insofar as known to the commission, a true and accurate statement. The commission shall refuse to certify the pay of any public officer or employee whom it finds to be illegally or improperly appointed, and may further refuse to certify the pay of any public officer or employee who willfully or through culpable negligence, violates or fails to comply with this Article or with the rules of the commission.

SECTION 14. The commission shall begin and conduct all civil suits, which may be necessary for the proper enforcement of this Article and rules of the commission. The commission shall be represented in such suits by the city attorney.

SECTION 15. The right of any person to an appointment or promotion or to any position in classified service of the City shall not be withheld because of his race, color, religion, national origin, political affiliation or belief, nor shall any person be dismissed, demoted, transferred or reduced in grade for such reason.

SECTION 16. No public officer, whether elected or appointed, shall discharge, promote, demote, or in any manner change the official rank, employment, or compensation of any person under civil service or promise or threaten so to do for giving or withholding, or neglecting to make any contribution of money, or services, or any other valuable thing, for any political purpose.

SECTION 17. All officers and employees of the City shall aid in all proper ways in carrying out the provisions of this Article, and such rules and regulations as may, from time to time, be prescribed by the commission and afford the commission, its members, and employees, all reasonable facilities and assistance in the inspection of books, papers, documents, and accounts applying or in any way appertaining to any and all offices, places, positions, and employment, subject to civil service, and also shall produce such books, papers, documents, and accounts, and attend and testify, whenever required so to do by the commission or any commissioner.

SECTION 18. The City Council shall provide in the city budget for each fiscal year a sum equal to one half of one per cent of the preceding year's total payroll of those included under the scope of this Article. The funds so provided shall be used for the support of the commission. The City Council may provide additional funds for such purpose; any part of the funds so provided and not expended shall be placed in the current expense fund on the first day of January following the close of such fiscal year.

SECTION 19. This Article shall be full force and effect on and after the first Monday in June, 1959.

SECTION 20. If any SECTION, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Article should be held to be invalid or unconstitutional, the validity or constitutionality thereof shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other SECTION, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Article.
As adopted by vote of the people March 10, 1959. Effective date June 1, 1959.
CCLERK/CC rev. 3/86
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