January 27,2026
Mayor's Office
DATE: January 27, 2026
TO: Members of the City Council
FROM:
Mayor Eduardo Martinez
Subject:
Modification of City Council Liaison Appointment Cycle for Boards and Commissions
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact for this item.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
May 19, 2015
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
City Council liaison assignments to boards and
commissions are currently made on an annual basis as a
matter of practice. While Resolution No. 46-15 grants the mayor discretion to appoint and remove Council liaisons, it does not establish a required appointment frequency.
The annual reassignment process limits continuity for
boards, commissions, and Council liaisons—particularly
when assignments frequently remain unchanged year
over year.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
DIRECT the city clerk to work with the Mayor’s Office to implement a two-year council liaison appointment cycle
for boards and commissions, aligned with the council
election cycle, while maintaining the Mayor’s authority to appoint or remove liaisons at their discretion, and
DIRECT that the current liaisons remain in effect through December 31, 2026, with new appointments to be made
in the first quarter of 2027 following installation of new City Council – Mayor’s Office (Mayor Eduardo Martinez
AGENDA
REPORT
January 27,2026
510-620-6503). This item was continued from the
January 20, 2026, meeting.
DISCUSSION:
Resolution No. 46-15 defines the role of City Council liaisons and affirms that City Councilmembers may be appointed or removed by the Mayor at the Mayor’s discretion.
The resolution does not, however, specify the length or frequency of liaison appointments
City Council elections occur every two years, with new terms beginning in January following the election. Aligning liaison appointments with this cycle provides greater continuity for boards and commissions and allows Council liaisons sufficient time to develop subject-matter familiarity and working relationships.
In practice, many City Councilmembers retain the same liaison assignments across multiple years. Formalizing a two-year appointment cycle reflects this reality while reducing unnecessary annual administrative processes. Importantly, this change does not limit the Mayor’s authority to make adjustments when needed; it simply establishes a default appointment cadence that improves efficiency and stability.
Maintaining current liaison assignments through calendar year 2026 ensures continuity during the remainder of the current Council term and allows the next Mayor and City Council, seated in January 2027, to make new appointments early in their term.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution 46-15