WAC 173-153-042   How are water conservancy board commissioners and alternates appointed and the length of their terms determined?  

     How do counties notify ecology of board commissioner's and alternate's appointments and terms?

     (1) Upon approval of a new board by ecology, or upon approval of restructuring the number of commissioners on an existing board, the legislative authority of the county or the lead county shall submit to ecology's water conservancy board coordinator a written statement identifying the individuals appointed to the board. The statement must include:

     (a) The name, mailing address, and phone number or other contact information of the commissioners and/or alternates;

     (b) The terms of office of the commissioners; these terms of office must be staggered as described in RCW 90.80.050(1).

     What happens when a board commissioner's term expires or a board position becomes vacant?

     (2) Upon the expiration of a board commissioner's or alternate's term, the appropriate legislative authority or authorities of the county or counties shall either:

     (a) Reappoint the incumbent commissioner or alternate; or

     (b) Appoint a new commissioner or alternate to the board. A written statement including the information as described in subsection (1) of this section shall be submitted to ecology's water conservancy board coordinator.

     (3) In the event a board position becomes vacant, the legislative authority or authorities of the county or counties shall appoint a new commissioner in accordance with RCW 90.80.050(2). A statement as described in subsection (1) of this section must be submitted to ecology's water conservancy board coordinator. The new commissioner or alternate shall fill the vacancy only for the remainder of the unexpired term and, upon completion of the unexpired term, may be reappointed, as described in subsection (2) of this section, to serve a full six-year term.

     (4) If a board commissioner or alternate is reappointed to a position previously held by that commissioner or alternate within one year of resigning the position or within one year of the expiration of the commissioner's or alternate's term of service, then the original appointment date will be considered as the appointment date of record.

     What are the terms of board commissioners and alternates?

     (5) Initial terms of commissioners appointed to a newly created board shall be staggered as described in RCW 90.80.050. All alternate positions shall be for six-year terms.

     (6) Upon the expiration of the initially appointed commissioners' terms, all subsequent appointments shall be for six-year terms.

     (7) The initial terms of office of board commissioners on a restructured board shall be staggered as set forth in RCW 90.80.050. As each of the commissioners' term of office expires, newly or reappointed commissioners shall all be appointed to six-year terms.

     How would an appointed board commissioner or alternate resign the position?

     (8) A board commissioner or alternate may resign the board position by submitting a letter of resignation to the appointing county or counties. A copy of the resignation letter must be submitted to the water conservancy board coordinator by either the resigning board commissioner or alternate or by the board.

     What is the responsibility of a board in notification of board vacancies?

     (9) It is the responsibility of the board to notify the appointing county(ies) and the water conservancy board coordinator that there is a board commissioner vacancy.

     (10) The appointing county(ies) and the board will determine and conduct a process to fill the commissioner vacancy in accordance with subsection (3) of this section.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 90.80.040. 06-18-102 (Order 05-18), § 173-153-042, filed 9/6/06, effective 10/7/06; 03-01-039 (Order 01-13), § 173-153-042, filed 12/9/02, effective 1/9/03.]