Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: Ratification of Nominee for Appointment to the Measure S Citizen Oversight Committee
Date: November 14, 2023
Written by: Damien O'Bid, City Manager
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a motion to ratify Councilmember Lemus’s nominee for appointment to the Measure S Citizen Oversight Committee.
Background
On June 3, 2014, Cotati voters approved Measure G, the Cotati Essential Services Measure, amending Cotati Municipal Code Chapter 3.05 to extend the City's existing Measure A sales tax and set the rate at one cent for nine years, with annual audits and independent citizens' oversight of Measure G revenue and expenses.
Subsequently, on September 8, 2015, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2015-64 establishing the 5-member Measure G Citizen Oversight Committee (MGCOC) to provide the required oversight of Measure G revenue and expenditures.
On November 3, 2020, the community voted 74.49% to extend Measure G (designated by the Registrar of Voters as Measure S).
On January 11, 2022, the City Council formally changed the name of the Measure G Citizens Oversight Committee to the Measure S Citizens Oversight Committee (Resolution 2022-3) but kept the appointment and composition of the body the same.
Each councilmember nominates a Measure S Citizens’ Oversight Committee Member, so Councilmember Lemus and Councilmember Rivers currently have positions to nominate.
Analysis/Discussion
As indicated in Resolution No. 2015-64 originally establishing the Measure G Citizens’ Oversight Committee, the appointment process mirrors that of the Planning Commission as outlined in Cotati Municipal Code Sections 2.16.015 (Appointment process) and 2.16.020 (Terms).
The City posted the opportunity and received four applications. Each vacancy is to be filled by nomination from the responsible Councilmember and ratification by a majority vote of the City Council. The nominee is as follows:
Nominees: Responsible Councilmember:
Carmen Garcia Councilmember Lemus
Councilmember Rivers has not had sufficient time to speak with all of the candidates, so staff will return at a future meeting with the nomination.
Applications were also received from Amy Lyman, Laurie Alderman and Taunya Moore, which are also attached. Of the other applicants, Amy Lyman has previously served on the Measure G and Measure S Citizens‘ Oversight Committee.
Financial Considerations
There are no direct costs associated Measure S Citizens' Oversight Committee. Administrative support of the Committee will be accomplished with existing staff. Committee-related administrative support tasks are included in the day-to-day responsibilities of the Administrative Services Department and the City Manager's Office.
Environmental Issues
The action of appointment to an oversight committee does not constitute a project as defined by California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378; therefore, no further environmental review is required.