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TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Jeffrey L. Stewart, City Manager
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
SUBJECT: Consideration and possible action to discuss and provide direction regarding the manner in which members of the City Council appoint members of the Planning, Parks and Recreation and Public Safety Commissions. [Continued from January 23, 2023]
DATE: February 27, 2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of Mayor Santa Ines who is seeking City Council review of the current practices used to appoint Commissioners.
Specifically, the Mayor is seeking direction on whether or not the Council seeks to institute a requirement of each Council Member appointing prospective Commissioners from the confines of their respective districts. Because the imposition of Council Member districts is relatively new in the City of Bellflower, this is an issue that has not previously been contemplated or resolved. This matter was continued from the January 23, 2023, City Council Meeting.
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Continue discussion and provide direction regarding the request by Mayor Santa Ines relative to a potential requirement to appoint prospective commissioners who reside within the district of each appointing City Council Member; or
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
None
ATTACHMENTS
A. January 23, 2023, Staff Report (without attachments) ............................................... 2 B. Draft Application ......................................................................................................... 5 -1-
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Jeffrey L. Stewart, City Manager
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
SUBJECT: Consideration and possible action to 1) adopt Resolution No. 23-05 – A Resolution to adjust the meeting stipends for the various City Commissions and superseding Resolution No. 99-98; and 2) discuss and provide direction regarding the manner in which members of the City Council appoint members of the Planning, Parks and Recreation and Public Safety Commissions.
DATE: January 23, 2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of Mayor Santa Ines and Council Member Dunton. First, Council Member Dunton has requested a review of the stipends paid to current commissioners and to consider a $50 increase to the meeting stipends paid to all City commissioners. Commission stipends were last adjusted on January 13, 2000, per Resolution No. 99-98. Second, Mayor Santa Ines is seeking City Council review of the current practices used to appoint Commissioners. Specifically, the Mayor is seeking direction on whether or not the Council seeks to institute a requirement of each Council Member appointing prospective Commissioners from the confines of their respective districts. Because the imposition of Council Member districts is relatively new in the City of Bellflower, this is an issue that has not previously been contemplated or resolved.
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Discuss and provide direction regarding the request by Mayor Santa Ines relative to a potential requirement to appoint prospective commissioners who reside within the district of each appointing City Council Member; and
2) Discuss and take action regarding the request by Council Member Dunton to increase the stipends of current members of the Planning, Parks and Recreation, and Public Safety Commissions by adopting Resolution No. 23-05; or
3) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
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Staff Report – City Council Commission Appointments and Stipends January 23, 2023
FISCAL IMPACT
Currently, Planning Commissioners receive a $100 meeting stipend and meet on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month; the Public Safety Commissioners receive a $50 meeting stipend and meet on the 3rd Tuesday of each month; and the Parks & Recreation Commissioners receive a $50 meeting stipend and meet on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Planning, Public Safety, and Parks & Recreation Commissions have five members each. (Stipends are paid pursuant to Resolution No. 99-98, adopted January 13, 2000.)
The fiscal impact is $18,000 maximum per year based on the current commission stipend amounts. A $50 increase for each Commissioner would add an additional cost of $12,000 annually maximum, for the maximum annual total of $30,000 – assuming all monthly meetings are held and all commissioners are present at the meetings.
BACKGROUND
Biennially, following the conduct of a General Municipal Election, members need to be appointed or reappointed to various current City Boards, Commissions, and Committees:
Planning, Parks and Recreation, and Public Safety Commissions. There are no Boards or Committees appointed by the City Council at this time.
Past practice of the City Council is to ratify the selections of each Council Member when appointing/re-appointing commissioners for a new term or when a vacancy occurs on one of the commissions.
DISCUSSION
This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of Mayor Santa Ines and Council Member Dunton. First, Council Member Dunton has requested a review of the stipends paid to current Commissioners and for the Council to consider a $50 increase to the meeting stipends paid to all City Commissioners. As mentioned previously, the City currently has three Commissions: Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Public Safety Commission.
Currently, Planning Commissioners receive a $100 stipend for each regular meeting attended, not to exceed $200 per month. Public Safety Commissioners and Parks and Recreation Commissioners receive a $50 stipend for each regular meeting attended, not to exceed $50 per month. Commission stipends were last adjusted on January 13, 2000 with the adoption of Resolution No. 99-98. Adopting Resolution No. 23-05 would:
(1) increase the Planning Commissioners’ stipends to $150 for each regular meeting attended, not to exceed $300 per month; and (2) increase the Public Safety Commissioners’ and Parks and Recreation Commissioners’ stipend to $100 for each regular meeting attended, not to exceed $100 per month.
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Staff Report – City Council Commission Appointments and Stipends January 23, 2023
DISCUSSION – Continued
In response to the request from Council Member Dunton, Staff surveyed surrounding cities. The results of the survey are below.
Commission Stipend Comparison
City Planning
Commission
Public Safety
Commission
Parks and
Recreation
Commission
Bellflower $100/meeting $50/meeting $50/meeting
Norwalk $200/month volunteer volunteer
Downey $36/meeting nonexistent $18/meeting
Paramount $250/month $100/month $100/month
Signal Hill $125/month nonexistent $65 meeting
Long Beach $200/meeting nonexistent $200/meeting
Lakewood $50/meeting $50/meeting $50/meeting
La Mirada $35/meeting $35 meeting $35/meeting
Artesia $50/month volunteer volunteer
Cerritos $300/month $25/month $100/month
Second, Mayor Santa Ines is seeking City Council review of the current practices used to appoint Commissioners. Specifically, the Mayor is seeking direction on whether or not the Council seeks to institute a requirement of each Council Member appointing prospective Commissioners from the confines of their respective districts. Because the imposition of Council Member districts is relatively new in the City of Bellflower, this is an issue that has not previously been contemplated or resolved.
Additionally, to facilitate the application process, Staff has developed the attached Draft Application for City Council consideration. Additional documents, such as a resume or personal references, can be required at the Council’s option.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Resolution No. 23-05 ................................................................................................. 4 B. Resolution No. 99-98 ................................................................................................. 6 C. Draft Application ........................................................................................................ 9 -4-
APPLICATION TO SERVE ON BOARDS, COMMISSIONS,
AND COMMITTEES
THIS FORM IS A PUBLIC RECORD AND MAY BE DISCLOSABLE UNDER THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT.
NAME OF BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE: ______________________________
APPOINTING COUNCIL MEMBER: ______________________________
Applicant’s Name: _______________________________________________________
Home Address: _________________________________________________________
Mobile Phone: ( ) __________________ Home Phone: ( )________________
Email Address: _________________________________________________________
Educational background: _________________________________________________
Licenses or special certificates: ____________________________________________
Which City Council District do you reside in? _____
Are you registered to vote in Los Angeles County? Yes ______ No _______
Please answer the following questions completely
(Attach additional paper, if necessary.)
List any Bellflower, Los Angeles County, or other city committee, commission, or board on which you presently serve, or have served, and the years served:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Organizations to which you belong (professional, technical, community service):
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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Updated: 02/22/23
Application to Serve on Boards/Commissions/Committees
What are your reasons for wanting to serve on this Board/Commission/Committee?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Why do you think you would make a good Commissioner or Board/Committee Member?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Please list your abilities, experiences, and/or interests which you believe would contribute to your participation on this Board/Commissioner/Committee:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
I attest that I meet the eligibility requirements for the position I seek and the information included on this application is accurate to the best of my knowledge. I read the information provided on page 3 of this application and understand that Commissioners and Board/Committee Members are subject to the City’s Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Code, required to attend ethics training, and submit periodic Statements of Economic Interests.
Printed Name: _________________________________
Signature: _____________________________________ Date: __________________
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Updated: 02/22/23
Application: Boards/Commissions/Committees
Informational Page Only – Do Not Submit with Application
Return application to: City of Bellflower – City Clerk’s Office 16600 Civic Center Drive
Bellflower, CA 90706
[email protected]
More information regarding the City’s Boards, Commissions, and Committees, including all resolutions referenced below, can be found on the City’s website at the following link:
https://www.bellflower.org/government/boards_committees___commissions/index.php . Please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (562) 804-1424, ext. 2220, or via email at [email protected] if you have any questions.
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
Two-year term, expiring concurrently with the reorganization of the City Council after the biennial General Municipal Election (Refer Resolution No. 05-19). Meets at 7:00 p.m. on the 2nd Wednesday of each month ($100 stipend, per Resolution No. 23-05). Qualifications pursuant to Resolution No. 05-19, Section 4: “All members of the Bellflower Parks and Recreation Commission shall meet the following requirements and conditions: a. Be a citizen of the United States of America; b. Be at least 18 years of age at the time of appointment; and c. Be a resident of the City of Bellflower.”
PLANNING COMMISSION
Four-year term, expiring concurrently with the appointing Council Member’s term of office (Refer to BMC Chapter 2.32). Meets at 7:00 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month ($150 stipend, per Resolution No. 23-05). Qualifications pursuant to BMC Section 2.32.020(A):
“The Bellflower Planning Commission shall consist of five (5) members, who shall be qualified electors of the City, none of whom shall hold any paid office or employment in the Bellflower City government.”
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION
Four-year term, expiring concurrently with the appointing Council Member’s term of office (Refer to Resolutions Nos. 05-20 and 00-64). Meets at 7:00 p.m. on the 3rd Tuesday of each month ($100 stipend, per Resolution No. 23-05). Qualifications pursuant to Resolution No. 05-20, Section 4: “All members of the Bellflower Public Safety Commission shall meet the following requirements and conditions: a. Be a citizen of the United States of America; b. Be at least 18 years of age at the time of appointment; and c. Be a resident of the City of Bellflower.”
CODE OF CONDUCT / ETHICS
As a member of a legislative body governed by the Brown Act, Commissioners and Board/Committee Members are subject to the City’s Code of Conduct (available on the City’s website: Ethics Regulations), which requires commissioners/members to conduct themselves in the public’s interest and strictly adhere to the highest standards of official conduct and integrity; to that end, commissioners and board/committee members are required to attend ethics training within one year of commencing service and every two years thereafter.
STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS (FORM 700)
The Political Reform Act was enacted by the people of the State of California in 1974 to prevent financial conflicts of interest on the part of public officials, through disclosure of their personal assets and income, as well as disqualifying themselves from participating in decisions that may affect their personal economic interests. The City has adopted a Conflict of Interest Code (Resolution No. 22-52) and commissioners/members are required to disclose their personal financial interests on a form called a "Statement of Economic Interests" (Form 700). The form must be filed upon assuming office, annually, and upon leaving office. Filed forms are public documents that must be made available to anyone who requests them. Form 700 is available online at http://www.fppc.ca.gov/forms.html .
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