TO: HONORABLE MAYOR FROM: Toni J. Taber, CMC
AND CITY COUNCIL City Clerk
SUBJECT: BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS DATE: November 18, 2022
APPOINTMENTS
RECOMMENDATION
Interview and approve the following Boards and Commissions appointments:
(a) Civil Service Commission:
(1) Member-at-Large Seat: Tom Cochran to a term ending November 30, 2026. (2) Attorney-at-Law Seat: Sharon Hightower to a term ending November 30, 2026.
CEQA: Not a Project, File No. PP17-010, City Organization and Administrative Activities resulting in no changes to the physical environment. (City Clerk)
OUTCOME
Appointment to the vacant seats on each of the Commissions will allow the commission to continue conducting business. Council must appoint at least one seat for the Civil Service Commission to have a quorum.
BACKGROUND
The Civil Service Commission is established in the City Charter, Section 1001. The Commission consists of five members appointed by Council, no more than four members shall be of the same sex, and at least one member shall be an attorney-at-law. The attorney must be licensed to practice law in the State of California and shall have practiced law in the State for at least five years prior to appointment. All members must be registered voters in the City of San Jose during their term of office.
This appointment is for one Member-at-Large seat and one Attorney-at-Law Seat with terms ending November 30, 2026 on the Civil Service Commission. Commissioner Sharon Hightower, who is currently the Attorney-at-Law, and Commissioner Tom Cochran, currently Member-at- Large, whose terms expire November 30, 2022 are both seeking reappointment to the Commission.
ANALYSIS
Two (2) applicants have been invited to be interviewed by the City Council on November 29, 2022. As required by the Municipal Code, a successful applicant must receive six (6) or more votes to be appointed to the Civil Service Commission. If any seat remains unfilled, it is COUNCIL AGENDA: 11/29/2022
FILE: 22-1776
ITEM: 3.4
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
November 18, 2022
Subject: Civil Service Commission Appointments
recommended that the recruitment be referred back to the City Clerk to secure additional applicants for consideration by the Council in 90 days.
After the interviews, the Council may make up to two (2) appointments to the Civil Service Commission—one Member-at-Large and one Attorney-at-law—for a term ending November 30, 2026. Council must appoint at least one seat for the Civil Service Commission to have a quorum.
The interview order is:
• Tom Cochran (incumbent Member-at-Large)
• Sharon Hightower (incumbent Attorney-at-Law)
The applications of all candidates are attached. The Memorandum from the Office of the City Attorney regarding their conflicts of interest is attached. Code Enforcement review found no reportable issues.
EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
A duty of the Office of the City Clerk is to minimize vacancies on the Boards and Commissions. The Office of the City Clerk is still recruiting for additional the additional vacancy of the employee-elected seat.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
The memorandum has been posted on the City Clerk’s website as part of the November 29, 2022 City Council Meeting Agenda.
COORDINATION
This memorandum has been coordinated with the Office of the City Attorney.
CEQA
Not a Project, File No. PP17-010, City Administrative Activities, resulting in no changes to the physical environment.
TONI J. TABER, CMC
City Clerk
For questions, please contact Toni Taber, City Clerk, at (408) 535-1260.