Chapter 2.70
SENIOR COMMISSION

Sections:

2.70.010    Established.

2.70.020    Purpose.

2.70.030    Members.

2.70.040    Meetings.

2.70.050    Officers.

2.70.060    Powers.

2.70.070    Duties.

2.70.010 Established.

This chapter is added to the Patterson Municipal Code establishing a city senior commission. (Ord. 874 § 1, 2024).

2.70.020 Purpose.

The purpose of the senior commission shall be to serve in an advisory capacity to the city council in matters affecting people aged fifty and older in the city, including health, housing, transportation, recreation, education, and employment. (Ord. 874 § 1, 2024).

2.70.030 Members.

A.    The senior commission shall consist of five members. All members of the commission shall be fifty years of age or older and residents of the city of Patterson.

B.    All applicants for appointment or reappointment must fill out a city of Patterson application as provided by city staff. The mayor with one councilmember shall interview each candidate including any incumbents and make a recommendation to the full city council for appointment. Before the expiration of terms of office on the commission, at least within sixty days in advance, city staff shall advertise either in the local paper (at least twice), and the city website of vacancies on the commission. The mayor and one councilmember shall interview applicants (if any) at least within a month after the closing/deadline advertised to submit applications. In the case that the incumbent has applied but no other candidate applies, the mayor may make a recommendation for reappointment without going through the interview process.

C.    The terms of office of commissioners shall be for a period of two years. Current members shall continue to serve until reappointed or until their successors are appointed and qualified. The terms of office shall be staggered. The terms of two members shall expire in even-numbered years and the terms of three members shall expire in odd-numbered years.

D.    Upon the creation of the senior commission, the city council shall appoint five commissioners, with two members serving one-year terms, and three members serving two-year terms. This subsection D shall only apply to the first appointments following the creation of the senior commission in order to establish staggered commission terms of office.

E.    The term of office of a commissioner who fails to attend three consecutive regular meetings or four meetings within any six-month period, without permission from the commission, will automatically be terminated. This provision shall also apply to special meetings, if one-week notice was given for the meeting. In the event a term of office terminates pursuant to the terms of this subsection, that finding shall be made by the city council, upon notice from the commission secretary.

F.    Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner and order as the appointment of a new member.

G.    The city council may remove any member of the commission prior to the expiration of his or her term by a majority vote of the city council. (Ord. 874 § 1, 2024).

2.70.040 Meetings.

A.    Assuming there are items for the agenda, the commission shall meet at least once a month. The time and place of the regular meeting of the commission shall be held at ten a.m. on the third Tuesday of every month, with meeting locations alternating each month between City Hall and the Hammon Senior Center. In the event said meeting date falls on a federal holiday, the commission shall hold its regular meeting on the next succeeding business day or as otherwise determined by the commission.

B.    Minutes of each meeting shall be kept, and records of hearings and official actions shall be maintained. The commission shall function subject to the city of Patterson board, commission, and committee member handbook, which may be amended from time to time by resolution. (Ord. 874 § 1, 2024).

2.70.050 Officers.

Each year at the first regular meeting in October, the commission shall choose from its membership a chairperson, who serves as a liaison to the city council, and a vice-chairperson. The terms for the chairperson and vice-chairperson shall be for one year from the date of appointment. (Ord. 874 § 1, 2024).

2.70.060 Powers.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as restricting any of the powers of the city council, or as a delegation to the commission of any of the authority or discretionary powers vested and imposed by law in the city council. The city council declares that the public interest, convenience and welfare require the appointment of a senior commission to act in a purely advisory capacity to the city council for the purposes enumerated. (Ord. 874 § 1, 2024).

2.70.070 Duties.

A.    The commission shall conduct public hearings to gather information and thereafter make recommendations to the city council on matters regarding services for senior citizens, including such matters as may be referred to the senior commission by the city council.

B.    The commission shall make other recommendations to the city council and advise the city council on the special needs and concerns of seniors, including the creation, operation, maintenance, management and control of senior programs, activities and facilities.

C.    The commission shall render advice and assistance to other city of Patterson boards and commissions on matters affecting the city’s senior residents.

D.    The commission shall encourage the improvement of standards of public and private services to the senior residents and the coordination among organizations providing these services by offering advice and assistance thereto; collecting, maintaining and interpreting information and statistics on the senior residents for the use of residents and organizations in the city; and encouraging the preparation of publications and the distribution of studies and research pertaining to senior living. (Ord. 874 § 1, 2024).