BACKGROUND:
The terms of appointments on Commissions and Committees as well as term limits have been established in the Cathedral City Municipal Code. All members of the Commissions and Committees shall be appointed for a three-year term unless otherwise provided by law, Ordinance, Resolution or if not applicable. The Finance Advisory Committee has no term limits. When an unexpected vacancy occurs on a Commission or Committee, an appointment may be made to fulfill the remainder of the term. Most, if not all, terms will expire on June 30 th of their respective year. Except in cases where the Mayor or City Council are not the appointing authority, no person shall be appointed to and serve substantially more than two full consecutive terms upon any single board or commission, and any person who has served substantially two full consecutive terms shall not be reappointed to the same commission until at least the time equal to one full term has elapsed. However, the City Council may, at any time, if in the best interest of the City, upon the affirmative votes of any four members of the City Council, waive the term limit provisions and reappoint any member of a commission of the City for one additional term. There are no provisions in the code to provide stipends to any of the Commission or Committee members.
Staff has actively solicited applicants to fill the anticipated vacancies for June 2022.
Efforts included publishing two notices in the Desert Sun, posting the notice at City Hall, on the City’s website and social media. All current commissioners and committee members whose term is expiring in June 2022 were sent an email letting them know that their term would be expiring and inquiring whether or not they would be interested in reappointment. Applications were received through May 20, 2022.
DISCUSSION:
Due to COVID-19, interviews will be conducted in the Council Chambers and via Zoom for those applicants who would prefer to attend virtually.
Staff has scheduled interviews so that each Commission/Committee is conducted in a block so that the Council can consider appointments following the interviews for each respective Commission/Committee. Staff has allocated 10 minutes for each applicant and 5 minutes for Council to discuss and consider appointments for each Commission/Committee. We have one individual who has applied for the Public Arts Commission but has also indicated interest in the Parks and Community Events Commission should she be a better fit for that Commission, and it is staff’s recommendation that the City Council include questions during that interview for both Commissions.
The Planning Commission has one seat with a term expiring on June 30, 2022. The Planning Commission generally meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Elmer Diaz, who currently sits on the Commission, has indicated his desire to be reappointed. Mr. Diaz is eligible for reappointment. The following individuals submitted an application and a letter of interest and are scheduled to interview:
Danny Lee
Christopher Mandarano
Elmer Diaz
The Public Arts Commission has one seat with a term expiring on June 30, 2022. This Commission generally meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. Tom Rudolph, who currently sits on this Commission, has indicated that he does not wish to be reappointed. The following individuals have submitted an application and letter of interest and are scheduled to interview:
Bea Cortes
Domenic Vermeulen
Cristal Mojica
Bea Cortes is not a resident of Cathedral City, however the Code does allow for one non-resident to be appointed to the Public Arts Commission. Cristal Mojica has indicated that she has interest in the parks and Community Events Commission as well should Council feel that is a better fit for her.
The Parks and Community Events Commission has one seat with a term expiring on June 30, 2022. The Commission generally meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. Mr. Gary Marshall, who currently sits on this Commission, has indicated that he does not wish to be reappointed. The following individual submitted an application and a letter of interest:
Richard Martinez
We currently have one vacancy on the Architectural Review Committee for a Licensed Landscape Architect or someone that has a license, certificate, degree, training or work experience in the same field determined to be relevant by the City Council. We did not receive any applications for this seat. There are two additional seats with terms expiring on June 30, 2022. Mr. Dean Keefer and Mr. Tanner Hoss, who both currently sit on the Committee, have indicated that they would like to be reappointed. They are both eligible for reappointment. Their applications and letter of interest will be provided for your information; however, they were not invited to interview since we did not receive any additional applications for this committee.
The Historic Preservation Committee has two seats with terms expiring on June 30, 2022. The Committee meets on an as needed basis. One seat is currently vacant, and John Rivera holds the other seat that will be expiring. Mr. Rivera has expressed interest in being reappointed to the Committee for another term, which he is eligible to do. Mr.
Rivera was not invited to interview since we did not receive any additional applications for this committee. His email will be provided for your information.
Applications and letters of interest submitted by all applicants are attached for your review.
We continue to have one vacancy on the Mobile Home Fair Practices Commission, which meets on an as needed basis. We did not receive any applications for this vacancy. Upon completion of the interview and appointment process on June 1, 2022, staff will continue to actively solicit individuals to serve on those Commissions/Committees that have vacant seats remaining.
Coachella Valley Conservation Commission Trails Management Sub-Committee:
Earlier this year the City Council appointed Mayor Pro Tem Lamb to serve on the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission Trails Management Sub-Committee, Councilmember Nancy Ross is the alternate. This sub-committee meets on the third Wednesday of every other month, September through May at 1:30 p.m. With Council holding several Special City Council Meetings on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 2:00 p.m. Gary Marshall has been attending those meetings that conflict with the Council Meetings on the City’s behalf. Mayor Pro Tem Rita Lamb has indicated that she would like to see the Council formally appoint Mr. Marshall to serve on that sub- committee. Mr. Marshall has indicated that he would be honored to serve in that capacity, should it be the desire of the City Council.
Discussion on Future Council Appointments to Commissions/Committees:
Over the years staff has faced challenges getting members of the community to serve on some of the Commissions/Committees. No matter what outreach we utilize there are some Commissions that we don’t receive any interested applicants. Staff is asking for direction from the City Council on whether or not they would like to entertain having each Councilmember make an appointment to each Commission/Committee for future vacancies. In most cases the Commissions and Committees have a five-member body.
Each Councilmember would have one seat on each Commission/Committee to make an appointment to. These appointments could be by district or at large. Staff can continue to solicit applications for these appointments or Council can select individuals on their own. All appointments would be ratified by the entire Council. This change in appointment process would require a Code Amendment. If it is the desire of the City Council to move forward with this appointment process, staff will bring back a formalized appointment process, based on Council’s recommendation, and an Ordinance amending the code at a future Council Meeting.
Discussion on Commission/Committee Stipends:
Staff is also seeking direction from Council on whether or not they would like to consider offering a stipend for certain Commissions, notably the slots on the Architectural Review Committee that require special certifications. Staff feels that offering a stipend to members of some of the Commissions may increase the level of interest. If it is the desire of the City Council to move forward with offering stipends to Commissioners, staff will bring back a formal recommendation, based on Council’s direction, that will include dollar amounts, impacts on the budget and a proposed code amendment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to the City with this item.