City Boards & Commissions
Opportunities for District-Based
Representation
January 20, 2026
Background
City Council Referral (Dec. 16, 2025)
• Review appointment framework for boards/commissions
• Identify opportunities for greater district-based representation • Ensure consistency with legal constraints, expertise needs, and the City Charter Recommended Action
• Hear presentation
• Provide direction to staff, as appropriate
Key Terms
District-based appointment process
District Councilmember is the nominating authority
for the seat
Appointment is by the full City Council
District residency requirement
Appointee must reside in the district at appointment
and throughout the term
Current Framework
Multiple appointment methods:
• General appointment process
• Full City Council interview process
• District-based appointment process
• Other
Some bodies include required expertise or Charter/special selection procedures District residency among current voting members (all boards/commissions) • District 1: 37
• District 2: 31
• District 3: 29
• District 4: 12
Existing commissions with district-based
appointment + district residency
Board/Commission District
1 District
2 District
3 District
4 Health, Wellness, and Aging Commission 3 1 3 1
Human Relations Commission 4 3 2 2
Measure A Citizens’ Oversight Committee 5 1 2 2
Measure P Citizens’ Oversight Committee 2 2 2 1
Parks and Recreation Commission 2 2 1 1
Counts reflect voting members only and do not include youth or ex officio (i.e., non-voting) seats.
Preliminary
Opportunities
• Redesignate four existing at-large seats (one
per district)
• Use the district-based appointment process,
and
• Include a district residency requirement
Counts reflect voting members only and do not include youth or ex officio (i.e., non-voting) seats.
Board/Commission District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 Board of Library Trustees 2 3 0 0
Charter Review Commission 2 0 2 0
Sustainability Commission 2 1 3 0
Traffic Safety Commission 4 0 3 0
Veterans Advisory Commission 1 2 2 0
Additional Opportunity:
Cultural Arts Commission
• All 9 voting members: cultural arts competence/knowledge/experience • At least 6 voting members must be “qualified professionals” Municipal Code Baseline
• District 1 (2) ǀ District 2 (3) ǀ District 3 (1) ǀ District 4 (2) Current Makeup (Voting Members Only)
1. Redesignate four existing qualified professional seats (one per district) to use the district-based appointment process + district residency requirement (keeping qualified professional requirement)
2. Amend composition to five qualified professional seats (instead of six) and redesignate the remaining four seats (one per district) to use the district-based appointment process + district residency requirement
• Those four seats would meet general CAC qualifications, but are not required to be “qualified professionals”
Options
Additional Opportunity:
Planning Commission
• 7 voting members (Full City Council Interview Process) • 4 at-large seats + 3 “qualified professional” seats (design/townscape-related professions) Municipal Code Baseline
• District 1 (3) ǀ District 2 (4) ǀ District 3 (0) ǀ District 4 (0) Current Makeup (Voting Members Only)
1. Add optional geographic guidance in the Planning Commission section of the Municipal Code • Encourages geographic diversity / notes district residency may be considered • Preserves flexibility to select among the most qualified applicants citywide (no district residency requirement)
2. Redesignate the four at-large seats (one per district) to include a district residency requirement, while maintaining the Full City Council Interview Process for all appointments Options
Requested City Council Direction, Transition, and
Next Steps
Transition & continuity
• No mid-term removals:
current members serve out
their terms
• Reappointments would need
to meet seat qualifications in
effect at that time
• Municipal Code establishes
the process for the City Clerk
to recommend
redesignations if seat
requirements change
City Council feedback
requested
• Scope: Which
boards/commissions (if any)
to move forward with drafting
Municipal Code
amendments for
• Interim appointments:
Continue processing
appointments as usual, or
hold appointments only for
boards/commissions that
may be affected
Next steps
• City Clerk prepares
ordinance implementing any
changes
• If needed, City Clerk returns
with a subsequent item (per
Code) to redesignate seats