SECTION 3. This Ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days from and after its final passage and adoption, and publication of the Ordinance shall occur in a newspaper of general circulation at least fifteen (15) days prior to its effective date, or a summary of the Ordinance published in a newspaper of general circulation at least five (5) days prior to adoption and again at least fifteen (15) days prior to its effective date.
The foregoing Ordinance was introduced at a meeting of the City Council of the City of Patterson held on the 16th day of September 2025, by Councilmember Mora, who moved its introduction, which motion being duly seconded by Councilmember Romero. Said Ordinance was given a second reading at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 21 day of October 2025, and after such reading, ______________ moved its adoption, seconded by ________________, and said Ordinance was thereupon adopted by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
EXCUSED:
APPROVED:
_________________________
Michael Clauzel
Mayor of the City of Patterson
ATTEST:
__________________________________
Aracely Alegre
City Clerk of the City of Patterson
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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: October 21, 2025
ITEM NO: 1
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
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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.
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4923-2147-6702, v. 1
ORDINANCE NO. 869
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PATTERSON, AMENDING SECTION 2.40.030, MEMBERS, OF CHAPTER 2.40 PLANNING COMMISSION; SECTION
2.48.030, MEMBERS, OF CHAPTER 2.48, ECONOMIC STRATEGIC COMMISSION; AND SECTION 2.50.040, MEMBERS, OF CHAPTER 2.50, PARKS, RECREATION, AND BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION, OF TITLE 2, ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL, OF
THE PATTERSON MUNICIPAL CODE TO EXCLUDE CITY EMPLOYEES AND STAFF
FROM PARTICIPATING IN CITY COMMITTEES OR COMMISSIONS, AND TO ESTABLISH
COUNCIL PARTICIPATION IN INTERVIEW PANELS FOR COMMISSION CANDIDATES WHEREAS, the City of Patterson (“City”) is committed to ensuring that its City commissions and committees operate in an ethical and impartial manner; and WHEREAS, City employees and staff members have a unique position of trust and responsibility within City government; and
WHEREAS, there is a possibility for potential conflicts of interest between City staff members serving on City commissions and their official duties as City employees; and WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City to limit the potential for conflicts of interest and to promote transparency and accountability in its decision-making processes; and WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that prohibiting City staff members from serving on City commissions and committees as voting members is necessary to achieve these goals; and WHEREAS, the City Council has also determined that limiting the number of committees and commissions any individual can serve on will help encourage wider public participation; and WHEREAS, the Patterson Municipal Code sets forth the candidate qualifications for each of the City’s commissions and committees, including the Planning Commission; the Economic Strategic Commission; and the Parks, Recreation and Beautification Commission; and WHEREAS, the existing Parks, Recreation, and Beautification Commission ordinance prohibits only City staff from serving as Chair, but the City Council finds it necessary to expand this prohibition to include serving in any capacity as a member, and to apply this restriction uniformly across all City boards, commissions, and committees; and WHEREAS, the Patterson City Council seeks to adopt an ordinance amending Sections 2.40.030(B),
2.48.030(I), and 2.50.040(I) of the Patterson Municipal Code to restrict City employees and staff from serving on the enumerated committees and commissions.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PATTERSON ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
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SECTION 1. Section 2.40.030(B) of Chapter 2.40, Planning Commission, of the Patterson Municipal Code shall be amended to read as follows:
2.40.30 Members.
B. Each commission member shall be a resident of the City. Both City employees and staff, whether they are compensated or serve as a volunteer, and City officers, whether they are elected or appointed, shall not be eligible for membership on the Planning Commission. A commission member may only serve on one City commission or committee at a time.
SECTION 2.Section 2.48.030(I) of Chapter 2.48, Economic Strategic Commission, of the Patterson Municipal Code shall be amended to read as follows:
2.48.030 Members.
I. Qualifications. Each commissioner shall have a basic knowledge of economic development and shall have a strong desire to be active in the work of the commission. Each commission member shall be a resident of the City. Both City employees and staff, whether they are compensated or serve as a volunteer, and City officers, whether they are elected or appointed, shall not be eligible for membership on the Economic Strategic Commission. A commission member may only serve on one City commission or committee at a time.
SECTION 3. Section 2.50.040(I) of Chapter 2.50, Parks, Recreation and Beautification Commission, of the Patterson Municipal Code shall be amended to read as follows:
2.50.040 Members.
I. Each commission member shall be a resident of the City. Both City employees and staff, whether they are compensated or serve as a volunteer, and City officers, whether they are elected or appointed, shall not be eligible for membership on the Parks, Recreation and Beautification Commission in any capacity, including as Chair or general member. A commission member may only serve on one City commission or committee at a time.
The city recreation and community services director or his or her designee shall be an ex officio member of the commission with no voting power. The public works director or his or her designee shall be an ex officio member of the commission with no voting power.
SECTION 4. All other City committees not otherwise codified in the Patterson Municipal Code, including but not limited to the Public Safety Committee, Downtown Revitalization Committee, and the Senior Center Board of Directors, shall have the following membership requirements:
Each committee member shall be a resident of the City. Both City employees and staff, whether they are compensated or serve as a volunteer, and City officers, whether they are elected or appointed, shall not be eligible for membership on a City committee or board in any capacity. A committee member may only serve on one City commission or committee at a time.
SECTION 5. The City Council hereby establishes that the interview panel responsible for reviewing and recommending candidates for appointment to City boards, commissions, and committees shall consist of the Mayor and one City Councilmember, to serve on a rotating basis. The rotation schedule and selection
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4923-2147-6702, v. 1
of the participating Councilmember shall be determined by the City Council and coordinated by the City Clerk’s Office.
SECTION 6. If any section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Ordinance is, for any reason, held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision, and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions thereof.
SECTION 7. This Ordinance shall be published by one insertion in The Patterson Irrigator, a newspaper of general circulation, printed and published in the City of Patterson, within fifteen (15) days after its final passage and shall take effect, and be in force, thirty (30) days after its final passage.
The foregoing Ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Patterson, held on the 21st day of October 2025, by __________________, who moved its introduction, which motion was duly seconded by ___________________. Said Ordinance was given a second reading at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the ___, day of ________, 2025, and after such reading, _________________ moved its adoption, seconded by , and said Ordinance was thereupon adopted by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
EXCUSED:
APPROVED:
_________________________
Michael Clauzel
Mayor of the City of Patterson
ATTEST:
____________________________
Aracely Alegre
City Clerk of the City of Patterson
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