Cathedral City Page 1 of 2 Printed on 6/22/2023
Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 6.A
Meeting Date: June 28, 2023
From: Tracey Hermosillo, City Clerk
Title: Ratify the Nomination by Councilmember Ernesto Gutierrez to appoint John Rivera to serve an additional three-year term on the Architectural Review Committee
RECOMMENDATION:
Ratify the Nomination of John Rivera, by Councilmember Ernesto Gutierrez, to serve on the Architectural Review Committee for an additional three-year term continuing through June 30, 2026.
BACKGROUND:
John Rivera was appointed to serve on the Architectural Review Committee on June 26, 2017, and reappointed on June 26, 2020, his term will expire on June 30, 2023. He has served two full consecutive terms.
2.06.010 subsection B and D of the Cathedral City Municipal Code states the following:
B. Any member of a board or commission may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, by a majority vote of the city council, except in cases where the mayor or city council are not the appointing authority (in which cases such regular appointing authority may exercise this power of removal). If a member is absent from three consecutive regular meetings or from twenty-five percent of the duly scheduled meetings of the board or commission within one fiscal year, the matter will be brought before the city council for consideration of the possible removal of the member. 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 board or commission until at least the time equal to one full term has elapsed.
D. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection B of this section relating to limiting the terms of board and commission members, residency, and relating to reappointment thereof, the city council may, at any time, in the best interest of the city, upon the affirmative votes of any four members of the city council, waive
Cathedral City Page 2 of 2 Printed on 6/22/2023
the term limit provisions of subsection B, and reappoint any member of a board or commission of the city for one additional term.
Pursuant to Chapter 2.30 of the Cathedral City Municipal Code, it is the preference of the city council the membership of the architectural review committee include one local licensed architect and one local licensed landscape architect. The city council may waive the residency requirement for the licensed architect and licensed landscape architect positions if the city council determines such waiver is necessary and in the best interests of the city. The city council may also consider various factors in appointing any member of the architectural review committee, including, without limitation, licenses, certificates or degrees, other education, training or work experience in the fields of architecture, landscape design, other design, civil engineering, construction, surveying, or similar fields determined to be relevant by the city council.
Mr. Rivera is a Licensed Architect and is the only Licensed Architect appointed to serve on the Architectural Review Committee.
Staff advertised on social media, posted a Notice of upcoming vacancies and accepted applications through June 2, 2023. Staff did not receive any applications for the Architectural Review Committee.
In addition to the upcoming vacancy, the Architectural Review Committee currently has a vacancy that is required to be filled by a Licensed Landscape Architect or someone who has licenses, certificates or degrees, other education, training or work experience in the fields of architecture, landscape design, other design, civil engineering, pursuant to the Code.
The seat that Mr. Rivera holds is to be nominated by Councilmember Ernesto Gutierrez.
DISCUSSION:
Mr. Rivera has indicated he would like to be considered for reappointment to serve on the Architectural Review Committee. Councilmember Gutierrez has indicated he would like to nominate Mr. Rivera to serve an additional three-year term. According to the Code, the City Council can waive the term limits and appoint Mr. Rivera to serve an additional three- year term by a four-fifths vote of the City Council if it is in the best interest of the City.
Since Mr. Rivera is a Licensed Architect, which is one of the preferences per the Code, and no other Licensed Architect is on the Committee nor applied for the Committee, staff believes Mr. Rivera would qualify for reappointment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact with this item.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN: