City Manager

Heather Trautman

City Manager Albert Tripp has appointed Heather Trautman, the City’s Building and Planning Director, to serve as Acting City Manager effective August 20. Ms. Trautman will serve as Acting City Manager while City Manager Albert Tripp is on administrative leave.

Trautman has served the City of Airway Heights since 2019, most recently as Building and Planning Director, where she has led major initiatives including transportation grant applications that led to over 13 million dollars of funding from State and Federal agencies, the City’s first online permitting portal for residential permits, and the implementation of the City’s Geographic Information System Program.

During her tenure at the City of Airway Heights, Ms. Trautman oversaw several award-winning projects, the 2023 Comprehensive Plan and the Downtown Subarea Plan, both of which won the Governor’s Smart Communities Award. Prior to her time at Airway Heights, Ms. Trautman spent 24 years at the City of Spokane, serving as Director of Neighborhood Services; Interim Director of Neighborhoods, Housing and Human Services Division; and Interim Director of Planning. In her role as Acting City Manager of Airway Heights, Ms. Trautman will oversee day-to-day City operations, including budgeting, departmental administration, and coordination with City Council.

For questions, contact Heather Trautman at 509-244-2552

Duties & Responsibilities of City Manager:

The powers and duties of the City Manager shall be to:

A. Serve as chief executive and administrative officer of the City, supervising, administering, and coordinating the activities and functions of the various City offices and departments as established by the City’s ordinances and the policies of the City Council;

B. Appoint and remove at any time all department directors, officers, and employees of the City, except members of the City Council, subject to the provisions of any applicable contract, law, rule or regulation relating to civil service;

C. Appoint the Municipal Judge of the City, subject to confirmation by the City Council;

D. Attend all meetings of the City Council unless unavailable or excused by the Mayor;

E. Recommend for adoption by the City Council such measures as necessary or expedient;

F. Upon Council approval, execute contracts and other instruments on behalf of the City;

G. Prepare and submit to the City Council such reports as may be required or deemed advisable;

H. Advise the City Council as to the financial condition of the City and its future needs;

I. Prepare and submit to the City Council a proposed budget for the fiscal year, and be responsible for its administration upon adoption;

J. Supervise all expenditures by the various City offices, departments, and boards within the limitations of the annual budget of the City;

K. Make transfers between individual appropriations including allowances for budget items, departments and salary classifications within any one fund; provided, the same is reported to the City Council during the monthly Clerk-Treasurer’s report showing expenditures, liabilities and receipts against each separate budget appropriation during the period;

L. Represent the City at meetings with other governmental units, agencies, commissions and associations as deemed necessary or as directed by the City Council; and

M. Shall serve only one city pursuant to RCW 35A.13.060 and shall devote his full time to the affairs of the City of Airway Heights.