CHAPTER II. ADMINISTRATIONCHAPTER II. ADMINISTRATION\ARTICLE 4. DEPARTMENTS

There are hereby created for the city the following administrative departments:

(1)   Department of law.

(2)   Department of the judiciary.

(3)   Department of public works.

(4)   Department of finance.

(5)   Department of utilities.

(6)   Fire department.

(7)   Police department.

(8)   Department of planning, zoning and code enforcement.

(9)   Department of finance.

(10) Department of records.

(K.S.A. 12-1015; Ord. No. 2001-2813, § 2, 9-5-2001; Ord. No. 2008-2950, § 4, 2-6-2008)

The affairs of the various administrative departments shall be administered by the officers and employees, or divisions or boards, and the officers and employees thereof, specified in this article, or by such other officers and employees, divisions or boards as may be provided by other ordinances, all of whom shall be appointed by the city manager, unless otherwise provided by law, and shall hold office at the city manager’s pleasure; provided, however, that the manager need not appoint or employ any officer or employee provided for in this article when the business of the city shall not require it. The duties of such officers and employees, divisions or boards shall be as provided in this article or as provided by other ordinances of the city, or by the laws of the state.

(Code 1971, § 2-3)

(a)   The administrative departments created by this article shall consist of the officers, employees and boards specified in the following subsections of this section:

(b)   The department of law shall include:

(1)   The city attorney; and

(2)   The assistant city attorney.

(c)   The department of the judiciary shall include the municipal judge and the clerk of court.

(d)   The department of public works shall include:

(1)   The city engineer;

(2)   The director of public works;

(3)   Employees (full-time); and

(4)   Employees (seasonal).

(e)   The department of finance shall include:

(1)   The finance director;

(2)   The city treasurer;

(3)   Employees (full-time); and

(4)   Employees (part-time).

(f)   The department of utilities shall include:

(1)   The director of utilities; and

(2)   Employees.

(g)   The fire department shall include:

(1)   The fire chief;

(2)   Employees (full-time); and

(3)   Employees (reserve).

(h)   The police department shall include:

(1)   The chief of police;

(2)   Employees (full-time); and

(3)   Employees (reserve).

(i)    The department of planning, zoning and code enforcement shall include:

(1)   The director of planning, zoning and code enforcement; and

(2)   The building inspector.

(j)    The department of records shall include:

(1)   The city clerk;

(2)   Employees (full-time); and

(3)   Employees (reserve).

(Code 1971, § 2-4; Ord. No. 2001-2813, § 3, 9-5-2001; Ord. No. 2007-2930, § 4, 3-7-2007; Ord. No. 2008-2950, § 5, 2-6-2008)

(a)   The department of law is created for the administration of the legal affairs of the city, and the city attorney shall have supervision and control of the department.

(b)   No person shall be eligible for the office of city attorney or assistant city attorney who is not by profession an attorney at law admitted to practice in the state supreme court. The city attorney shall be charged with the general direction and supervision of the legal affairs of the city. The city attorney shall perform all duties required by the ordinances of the city. City attorney to draft ordinances, contracts, agreements and other instruments. The city attorney shall draft all ordinances, contracts, agreements and other instruments pertaining to the business of the city. The city attorney shall attend all meetings of the governing body and shall advise the city commissioners, the city manager and city officers upon all legal questions submitted affecting the duties of their offices or the interests of the city.

(c)   The assistant city attorney shall perform such duties of the city attorney’s office as shall be assigned by the city manager or delegated by the city attorney.

(Code 1971, §§ 2-113—2-118)

The department of the judiciary is created for the administration of the municipal court. The municipal judge shall have supervision and control of the department.

There is hereby created the office of director of public works, who shall be appointed as provided by section 2-192, and who shall have charge of the construction and care of all public streets, alleys and driveways in the city, and with the keeping of the same clean. The director shall see to it that all gutters and drains therein function properly and that the same are kept free from defects. The director shall have charge and custody of the storm sewer system of the city and shall see to it that the same is kept in good repair and that it functions properly.

(Code 1971, § 2-132)

The department of finance is created for the purpose of having general control over the financial affairs of the city. The finance director shall have general control and supervision of the department of finance.

(Code 1971, § 2-157; Ord. No. 2007-2930, § 4, 3-7-2007)

The director of utilities shall assist in the performance of all phases of the activities of the department of public works. All physical properties of the city, including the water production and distribution facilities, and all municipal utilities not assigned to some other department or officer shall be and are hereby assigned to the department of public works. The director shall have charge of:

(1)   The maintenance, repair and operation of the city’s water system, and of all intakes, wells, reservoirs, mains, hydrants and other appurtenances thereto; and

(2)   The maintenance, repair and operation of the city’s sewage treatment plant and the sanitary sewer system of the city, and all appurtenances thereto.

(Code 1971, § 2-131)

The fire chief shall have general control and supervision of the fire department.

The chief of police shall have general control and supervision of the police department.

(a)   The department of planning, zoning, and code enforcement is created for the purpose of guiding and protecting the public and private developments in the city. This is ensured through the policy tools of the comprehensive plan, subdivision regulations, zoning ordinance, building codes, nuisance enforcement and other city or state laws. This purpose is carried out through code enforcement activities including licenses for contractors, building permits, zoning review, site plan review, inspections, and other methods as prescribed by ordinance and by enhancing the quality of life through comprehensive review involving members of the public along with the city staff.

(b)   The director of planning, zoning and code enforcement shall be appointed by the city manager, and shall:

(1)   Administer the comprehensive plan, subdivision regulations, zoning ordinance, nuisance codes, and supervise building inspection program.

(2)   Provide information and guidance on land use applications, ordinance, codes, plans, standards, and regulations to developers, businesses, citizens, engineers and others for advancing the development of the community.

(3)   Coordinate capital improvement plan and assist in infrastructure construction projects conducted by the city or others.

(4)   Assist the planning commission, board of zoning appeals at regular meetings and assist the governing body as requested.

(c)   The building inspector shall be appointed by the director and shall:

(1)   Interpret and enforce building related codes including, but not limited to, the Uniform Building Code, Uniform Mechanical Code, Uniform Plumbing Code, National Electric Code and other local codes as adopted by the city or state.

(2)   Perform on-site inspections, maintain building permit records, issue building permits, issue contractor licenses, and work with all other issues as relating to these tasks.

(3)   Assist the board of building trades, the planning commission, board of zoning appeals, or governing body as needed.

The department of records is created for the purpose of carrying out those duties assigned to the city clerk. The city clerk shall have general control and supervision of the department of records.

(Ord. No. 2008-2950, § 6, 2-6-2008)