City Council Agenda Report
TO: Mayor Clauzel and Members of the City Council
FROM: Fernando Ulloa, City Manager
BY: Nubia Goldstein, City Attorney
MEETING DATE: August 19, 2025
ITEM NO: 7.2
SUBJECT: Approve First Reading and Introduction of Ordinance No.869 Reading by Title Only, Waving Further Readings, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Patterson amending Sections 2.40.030, 2.48.030, and 2.50.040 of the Patterson Municipal Code to Exclude City Employees and Staff from Serving on Committees and Commissions.
RECOMMENDATION
Motion to Approve First Reading and Introduction of Ordinance No. 869 Reading by Title Only, Waving Further Readings, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Patterson amending Sections 2.40.030, 2.48.030, and 2.50.040 of the Patterson Municipal Code to Exclude City Employees and Staff from Serving on Committees and Commissions.
BACKGROUND
The Patterson Municipal Code (the “Code”) is the compilation of ordinances adopted by the City Council, which establish the City’s laws regulating matters pertaining to City business. It is necessary to periodically make updates to the Code to ensure it adequately addresses the needs of the City and aligns with the mission of the City Council. State law authorizes the City Council to form committees and commissions which are normally volunteer positions, to address special matters of the City and report community needs and recommendations to the City Council for consideration.
The Code establishes the qualifications for membership on the existing committees and commissions within the City. The proposed Ordinance will amend Chapters 2.40, 2.48, and 2.50 of the Code to clarify that City employees and staff, whether they are compensated or serve in a volunteer capacity, are ineligible to serve on City committees and commissions. This recommendation is being made to alleviate actual or perceived conflicts of interest which could arise by City staff’s dual interest in representing the City as an employee and as a member of the community on a committee or commission. Commission and committee members are representatives of the community as a whole and should bring independent and unbiased perspectives in order to participate in an advisory role to the City Council.
The Ordinance also limits commissioners and committee members to serving on one commission or committee at a time. This will restrict members from serving on multiple committees and will help encourage wider public participation.
The Ordinance does not impact the provisions of the Code that allow City staff to serve in an ex officio capacity (advisory and non-voting) on commissions and committees. There are no other substantive changes to the existing language in the Code.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adoption of this Ordinance will have no fiscal impact.
POLICY ALTERNATIVES
The City Council’s options are:
1. Introduction and first reading of Ordinance No. 869 without any changes;
2. Introduction and first reading of Ordinance No. 869 with changes or direction to staff; or
3. Reject Ordinance No. 869 entirely.