Fremont City Council Meeting: 10/08/24 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Community Services
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Code Adoptions & Amendments
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5118) DOC ID: 5118 A
Updated: 10/3/2024 3:17 PM by Dina Lewis A Page 1
INTRODUCE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE GEORGE W.
PATTERSON HOUSE ADVISORY BOARD - Referral from the Recreation Commission and the George W. Patterson House Advisory Board to amend the composition of the Patterson House Advisory Board
Contact Persons:
Name: Irene Jordahl Michael Sa
Title: Recreation Superintendent II Deputy Director of Community Services
Div/Dept: Community Services Community Services
Phone: 510-494-4322 510-494-4372
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The George W. Patterson House Advisory Board (Board) has had problems finding and retaining members that meet all the requirements in Fremont Municipal Code (FMC). As a result, the Board with the approval of the Recreation Commission is requesting that City Council consider amending the FMC requirements to allow regional representation and more flexibility with Board composition given the regional history of the Patterson House and location within Ardenwood Historical Farm.
BACKGROUND: Fremont City Council established uniform regulations for all boards, commissions and committees through Fremont Municipal Code (FMC) Chapter 2.20 Departments, Boards and Commissions. One such requirement was that the members all had to be Fremont residents, unless specifically allowed for each board or commission. See FMC section 2.20.030.
At the December 15, 1981 City Council meeting, the George W. Patterson House Advisory Board was established. The purpose of the Board is to oversee the general building maintenance, restoration, interpretive function and management of the Patterson House, and to procure funds for its restoration, maintenance and management. The Board consists of nine member representatives – 3 Public At Large members, 1 Recreation Commissioner member, 1 East Bay Regional Park District Board member, 2 Mission Peak Heritage Foundation members, and 2 Washington Township Historical Society members. All members were required to be Fremont residents. When a Mission Peak Heritage Foundation or Washington Township Historical Society has an opening, each group forwards a nomination from their membership to the Mayor/City Council for consideration. Due to fluctuating membership, lack of applicants and/or availability of members of the historical groups, not all representative board positions have been filled.
The Board currently has one Mission Peak Heritage Foundation, one Washington Township Historical Society, and one Citizen At Large vacancy. As a result of positions not being filled, achieving a quorum can be difficult and the Board fails to meet its role as an advisory board.
At the July 24, 2024 George W. Patterson House Advisory Board meeting, the Board voted unanimously to recommend Recreation Commission support to expand the residency Council Staff Report (ID # 5118) Meeting of October 8, 2024 Updated: 10/3/2024 3:17 PM by Dina Lewis A Page 2
boundaries to include Fremont, Newark and Union City and recommend City Council amend the Fremont Municipal Code.
At the September 4, 2024 Recreation Commission meeting, the Recreation Commission voted unanimously to accept the Patterson House Advisory Board’s recommendation and recommend City Council amend the FMC to expand the residency boundaries to the Tri-City area to include Fremont, Newark and Union City.
This recommendation also includes a residency exception for the East Bay Regional Park District representative who is usually an employee of the District and often not a resident of Fremont.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
At times, the Board lacks a quorum due to unfilled positions on the Board. In past years, the Board and staff have discussed options to bring new members to the Board by expanding at-Large members or residency requirements. The Mission Peak Heritage Foundation and Washington Township Historical Society have no requirement that members live in Fremont.
Thus, the resident requirement limits the pool of applicants from these two groups as well as the community at large. Lack of applicants may be due to residency requirements, general community interests, or organizational representation.
The proposed ordinance amendment would allow residents of Newark and Union City to be board members and remove any residency requirement from the representative from the East Bay Regional Park District (“District”), who is an employee of the District and often not a resident of Fremont. Broadening the scope of eligibility for advisory board members is not without precedent. The Economic Development Advisory Commission members need not be residents of Fremont. See Section 2.20.450.
Expanding the membership requirements for the Patterson House Advisory Board to the boundaries to the Tri-City area to include Newark and Union City would embrace the spirit of the original Washington Township boundaries, which is an interest of the Board. The Patterson Ranch was originally in Newark with its boundaries encompassing a large land mass including part of Fremont and Union City. The Patterson House and Ardenwood Historic Farm are regional assets that span a larger area than Fremont and could benefit from members from Newark and Union City. Broadening the reach of prospective applicants to include Newark and Union City will enable more people interested in local history who live in the surrounding areas of Ardenwood Farm to be eligible to participate in serving this regional historic treasure, and may also encourage more persons with historical interests and perspectives, and possibly allow professionals in the fields of history, museum studies, historical architecture or interior design to apply.
Broadening the membership requirements to include residents of Newark and Union City would directly address the issue of empty seats on the Board by attracting a larger and more diverse pool of candidates. Current Foundation and Society members from these cities may have an interest in participating but are unable to do so under the current restrictions.
Welcoming their involvement enhances the representation of these communities and also ensures the continuity and vitality of the Board. Expanding membership would create a more robust leadership structure, fostering engagement and innovation that reflect the needs and aspirations of the surrounding communities of Ardenwood Historic Farm.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5118) Meeting of October 8, 2024 Updated: 10/3/2024 3:17 PM by Dina Lewis A Page 3
Ultimately, this approach will strengthen our organization and its mission, making it more inclusive and effective in serving our communities.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The proposed ordinance is not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because, without limitation, it is not a “project” as defined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(2) and/or 15378(b)(5) as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant effect on the environment per CEQA Guidelines Section 15601(b)(3), each as a separate and independent basis for CEQA compliance. No further environmental review is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Draft Ordinance- Patterson House Board
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Waive the first reading and introduce the attached ordinance amending Section 2.20.560 of the Fremont Municipal Code.
2. Find that ordinance is exempt from and not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because, without limitation, it is not a “project” as defined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(2) and/or 15378(b)(5) as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant effect on the environment per CEQA Guidelines Section 15601(b)(3), each as a separate and independent basis for CEQA compliance.