1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: January 24, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Kimberley Clark, City Clerk
BY: Melissa Dekermenji, CMC, Records Manager
SUBJECT: Appointment to Fill One Vacancy on the Heritage Commission, Fill Two Vacancies on the Board of Library Trustees and Fill One Vacancy on the Infrastructure Oversight Board for Unexpired Terms
RECOMMENDATION
Appoint one member to the Heritage Commission to fill an unexpired term ending July 31, 2026, appoint two members to the Board of Library Trustees to fill unexpired terms ending July 31, 2024 and appoint one member to the Infrastructure Oversight Board to fill an unexpired term ending July 31, 2025.
BACKGROUND
All Board, Commission, and Committee (BCC) Members shall be appointed by a three- fifths (3/5) vote of all Council Members and serve without compensation from the City. No person shall serve on more than one BCC at the same time. Vacancies o n a BCC occurring during the term of office shall be filled within ninety (90) days from the date the vacancy occurs. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term. In addition, all applicants must be elec tors of, and actually reside in, the City of Burbank with the exception of three positions on the Burbank Cultural Arts and the Sustainable Burbank Commissions as established in Ordinance No. 16- 3,874 adopted 2/9/2016. (Per BMC Sections 2-1-404, 2-1-405, 2-1-406, and 2-1-407)
Once a vacancy is established, the City Clerk advertises the vacancy for 30 days, accepts applications, and provides applications received to the City Council for consideration.
Applicants have the option of applying for up to two BCCs, indicating their first and second choice.
CITY CLERK’S
OFFICE
2 The voting process established allows for each Council Member to vote as many times as there are vacancies on the BCC being considered; and the applicants receiving a majority of the votes in the first round are either appointed or move into the second round, if necessary. The process continues for as many rounds as are necessary to attain the correct number of applicants to fill the vacancy.
Senior Citizen Board
On September 26, 1973, the Council adopted Ordinance No. 2402, establishing the Senior Citizen Board. The Senior Citizen Board consists of seven (7) members, all of whom shall be senior citizens. The powers and duties of the Board include: 1) to engage in consultation and study with local groups on the needs of the aged and evaluate all available resources; 2) to collect and study factual information relative to all aspects of aging; 3) to serve as a liaison between local organizations and governmental agencies which work with the aged and have an interest in aging adults; 4) to advise in community planning regarding the expansion of existing facilities and development of new facility services, as required; 5) to become aware of problems as they arise and recommend plans for action; 6) to inform local and state organizations of the needs and resources of older people; 7) to serve as a medium through which organizations may exchange information, coordinate programs and engage in joint endeavors; and, 8) to become familiar with developments in other communities on County, State and Federal programs.
Heritage Commission
The Heritage Commission was established by Ordinance No. 3381, to act as an advisory body on the designation and preservation of historical places and structures. The Heritage Commission consists of five (5) members. Members shall demonstrate interest, competence, or knowledge in historic preservation. The powers of the Commission shall be as follows: 1) Review all applications for approval of Designated Historic Resources and make a recommendation to the City Council for the approval, denial, or modification to the application; 2) Review the City’s criteria for Designated Historic Resources and make recommendations to the City Council for changes to the designation criteria or procedures, as appropriate; 3) Re view and make decisions on all applications for Permits to Alter Designated Historic Resources; 4) Review ongoing maintenance requirements for Designated Historic Resources; 5) Nominate historic resources for listing and/or designation at the state or federal level; 6) Review and make recommendations to the City Council on all regulations and policies related to historic preservation including but not limited to:
General Plan amendments, Specific Plans, and Zoning Ordinance amendments; 7) Review and make re commendations on environmental documents for projects that have the potential to cause a significant adverse impact on Designated or Eligible Historic Resources; and 8) Perform any other functions as directed by the City Council.
The duties of the Commission are to provide oversight and direction to City staff o n the following matters: 1) Maintain a list of Designated Historic Resources; 2) Maintain a list of 3 Eligible Historic Resources; 3) Conduct surveys of Eligible Historic Resources; 4) Establish policies and programs that educate the community about Burbank’s unique character and heritage; 5) Establish policies and programs for the recognition, protection, and use of eligible and designated historical resources; 6) Establish and promote preservation incentive programs to assist with the preservation and maintenance of historical resources, including but not limited to: rehabilitation loan programs, architectural consultation services, state and federal grant programs, or property tax abatement progr ams; and 7) Identify grants and other funding opportunities to assist with the identification, preservation, and maintenance of historical resources.
Board of Library Trustees
In 1927, the First Library Board was appointed per City Charter. On November 7, 1950, the Board name changed to Board of Library Trustees by Charter Amendment, adopted by the vote of the people. The Board of Library Trustees shall serve as an advisory board and have the following powers and duties: 1) to initiate studies, investigations and surveys in the general field of public libraries and report its findings and recommendations to the City Council, 2) to prepare and recommend, for adoption by the City Council, rules and regulations for the maintenance and improvement of the public libraries of the City, 3) to recommend to the City Council the acquisition of library sites by the City, and, 4) to act in an advisory capacity to the City Council in all matters pertaining to the public libraries of the City. Ordinance No. 3674, effective July 30, 2005, increased the composition to seven (7) members.
Infrastructure Oversight Board
In November 2018, Burbank voters passed Measure P - Burbank Infrastructure and Community Services Protection Transactions and Use Tax, a local sales tax ordinance.
Under the Sales Tax Ordinance, Burbank Municipal Code (BMC) Section 2-4-2114 provides for oversight and requires City Council to establish a new board. On April 16, 2019, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 19- 3,914, adding the Infrastructure Oversight Board to Burbank Municipal Code Section 2 -1-426. The Infrastructure Oversight Board will be comprised of seven (7) members and shall oversee and make recommendations to the Council regarding the infrastructure of the City (not part of an enterprise fund). The mission of this new Board, in part, is to ensure the reliability, maintenance and safety of the City’s infrastructure. Some oversight parameters may include: safety, funding, planning, construction, (i.e. high level review of scope, schedule, cost, and risk of infrastructure projects), operations, maintenance (reviewing the adequacy of existing maintenance programs), and implementation of best practices related to infrastructure. The Board shall also make recommendations on traffic programs.
DISCUSSION
On December 8, 2022, the City Clerk’s Office advertised and accepted applications for the following vacancies: one vacancy on the Heritage Commission for an unexpired term 4 ending July 31, 2026 created by the City Council appointment of Samantha Wick to the Planning Board; two vacancies on the Board of Library Trustees for unexpired term s ending July 31, 2024, created by the resignation of Nikki Perez who was elected to City Council and the resignation of Stephen Cawelti due to professional obligations; and one vacancy on the Infrastructure Oversight Board for an unexpired term ending July 31, 2025, created by the resignation of Tamala Takahashi who was elected to City Council.
To obtain qualified candidates, a Notice of Unscheduled Vacancy was advertised through the following:
• The City website
• City Council meeting announcements
• All social media platforms overseen by the City Clerk’s Office • Press release sent to The LA Times, Burbank Leader, and MyBurbank.com • Notices posted on the City Hall Bulletin Board
• Community Groups and Organizations
The deadline to submit applications to the City Clerk’s Office was Monday , January 9, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. The City Clerk’s Office received two (2) applications for the Heritage Commission: Shaunt Kodaverdian (second choice) and Richard Schmid t (second choice). The City Clerk’s Office received seven (7) applications for the Board of Library Trustees: Darrin Borders, Carl Feinstein, Lili Rossi, Rosemary Morrison, John Bwarie, Andre Dionysian (second choice), and Lori Chinn. The City Clerk’s Office received four (4) applications for the Infrastructure Oversight Board: Shaunt Kodaverdian (first choice), Jeff Beckett, Richard Schmidt (first choice), and Andre Dionysian (first choice).
The applications are listed in order receiv ed and all applicants have met the City of Burbank COVID-19 Vaccination Policy requirement.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
CONCLUSION
The City and the community both realize substantial benefits from civic involvement.
Appointments to the boards, commissions, and committees help to encourage public participation in the governmental process and ensure Burbank residents have a voice.
ATTACHMENT
Attachment 1 – Applications and Resumes
Attachment 2 – Burbank Municipal Code Sections 2-1-420, 2-1-409, and 2-1-426