Chapter 2.20
CITY COMMISSIONS
Sections:
2.20.010 Membership – Appointment.
2.20.030 Officers and committees.
2.20.040 Meetings – Time and place.
2.20.050 Membership – Appointing and removing commissioners.
2.20.080 Administrative oversight of and assistance to commissions.
2.20.090 Conflict of interest.
2.20.010 Membership – Appointment.
City commissions shall consist of five members. Each city council member shall appoint one person to each city commission, which appointment shall not become effective until ratified by a majority vote of the city council. Each city council member shall make his or her appointment within 60 days of the date the city has received a complete application that is filed after the vacancy has occurred and is from an applicant who meets the minimum standards set by this code for the position. In the event the appointing city council member does not make his or her appointment within that 60-day time period, the nomination may be made by any member of the city council and approved with a majority vote of the city council. The person appointed shall be a resident of the city, shall act solely in the public interest, and shall serve for the term (or remainder thereof) of the city council member who appointed the commissioner or for the unexpired term of a former incumbent commissioner. The person appointed shall serve at the pleasure of the city council and may be removed without cause either: (A) at the request of the appointing city council member and with the majority vote of the city council; (B) at the request of a city council member other than the appointing city council member and with a four-fifths vote of the city council; or (C) at the request of any member of the city council and with a majority vote of the city council if the person was appointed to the position by the city council rather than an individual council member. In the event the appointing council member does not complete his or her term of office, his or her replacement may remove any commissioner appointed by his or her predecessor without cause and without the approval of the city council. Appointments to fill the seat of a commissioner who has been removed from a commission shall not become effective until ratified by the majority vote of the city council. [Ord. 333 § 2, 2015; Ord. 324 § 2, 2012; Ord. 187 § 2, 2001; Code 1990 § 1.5.01.]
2.20.020 Membership – Term.
The terms of members appointed after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be for four years and until their respective successors are appointed in accordance with this chapter. [Ord. 187 § 2, 2001; Code 1990 § 1.5.02.]
2.20.030 Officers and committees.
A. At the first meeting following regular appointments by the city council, and at least annually thereafter, commencing in January, commissions shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson from their members, who shall serve at the pleasure of each commission. Each commission may establish, by resolution, a procedure for election of officers necessitated by resignation or vacancies within the commission, or otherwise as the commission deems necessary in order to carry on the orderly business of the commission.
B. Each commission may create and establish such standing and temporary committees as they may deem expedient for the performance of their duties; provided, however, no committee shall be created without prior approval of the city council. The chairperson of a commission may, with the consent of the commission, fix the number and appoint the members of such committees, all of whose members need not be members of the commission. [Ord. 187 § 2, 2001; Code 1990 § 1.5.03.]
2.20.040 Meetings – Time and place.
Meetings of all commissions shall be established by resolution of each commission, in accordance with meeting room and staff availability. Such meetings shall be held at the stated time and in a public place, and notice of such meetings shall be given in accordance with the provisions of the Brown Act, Government Code Section 54950 et seq. [Ord. 187 § 2, 2001; Code 1990 § 1.5.04.]
2.20.050 Membership – Appointing and removing commissioners.
The city council shall, by resolution, establish policies and procedures for appointing and removing commissioners. Said policies and procedures may be amended from time to time as determined by the city council. [Ord. 187 § 2, 2001; Code 1990 § 1.5.05.]
2.20.060 Travel expenses.
A commission member may be reimbursed for the costs of attending a conference or meeting in accordance with such policies as may be adopted by the city council. [Ord. 187 § 2, 2001; Code 1990 § 1.5.06.]
2.20.070 Advisory function.
City commissions shall be advisory to the city council, except that a commission may make a final decision on a matter delegated to it by state law or ordinance of the city council, subject to any appeal to the city council required by such state law or ordinance of the city council. When making recommendations or decisions on matters before a commission, each commission should weigh the environmental ramifications such an action may have. All decisions and/or recommendations shall be predicated upon the goals and policies contained in the city’s general plan. [Ord. 187 § 2, 2001; Code 1990 § 1.5.07.]
2.20.080 Administrative oversight of and assistance to commissions.
A. Each commission shall be assigned appropriate administrative support, under the oversight of the city manager, to provide administrative assistance with such matters as the preparation of agendas, recommendations for action, minutes, memoranda of decisions and official correspondence, and shall coordinate the clerical and technical work of the commission in administering their official functions. Such administrative support shall attend commission meetings, but shall serve in an advisory capacity only and shall have no voting rights.
B. The city clerk shall be the custodian of records for all commissions. Minutes of commission meetings shall be provided to the city council. [Ord. 187 § 2, 2001; Code 1990 § 1.5.08.]
2.20.090 Conflict of interest.
Each commission member shall be bound by the provisions of the Government Code and the city’s conflicts of interest code relating to noncontractual conflicts of interest. In addition to the requirements of such codes, a member shall disclose any direct or indirect personal financial interest in any matter coming before the commission on which he or she serves, and such disclosure shall be reflected in the minutes of the commission. Such commissioner shall refrain from participating or voting as a commissioner in any discussion of any matter in which he or she has a conflict of interest, except that he or she may temporarily leave his or her seat as a commissioner and present a case in those exceptional instances specifically allowed by law. [Ord. 187 § 2, 2001; Code 1990 § 1.5.09.]