City Attorney’s and City Clerk’s Offices
www.santa-ana.org/city-clerks-office
Item # 17
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
March 18, 2025
TOPIC: Boards and Commissions Appointments, Reappointments, Removals
AGENDA TITLE
Boards and Commissions Members Appointments, Reappointments, Holdovers, and Removals
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Review Santa Ana Municipal Code Section 2-236 pertaining to Appointive Boards and Commissions, Appointments, Removals, Vacancies, and Term.
2. Provide direction to staff.
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
The City of Santa Ana has various appointive boards and commissions to serve as advisory groups to the City Council on specific policy areas. Santa Ana Municipal Code Sec. 2-326 provides for the appointments, removals, vacancies, and term for the members of appointive boards and commissions.
Specifically, Section 2-326(a) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code (SAMC) states in part that: “For boards and commissions having at least seven (7) members, the city council shall select seven (7) members from nominations made by the council member (or mayor in the case of the city-wide seat) whose term coincides with that board or commission seat.” (italics added)
SAMC Section 2-326(d) also states in part that: “It is the intent of this section that the term of office on boards and commissions shall be concurrent with the term of office of council members.” (italics added)
Additionally, SAMC Section 2-326(d) states in part “the members of such boards and commissions shall serve for a term of four (4) years and until their respective successors are appointed or qualified.” (italics, bold, underline added) This is
Boards and Commissions Appointments, Reappointments, Removals March 18, 2025
4 9
0 2
generally known as a “holdover” provision that allows for continuity of business operations by the appointive boards and commissions following each General Municipal Election. Without such “holdover” provisions, each appointive board or commission would effectively lose four members each December of even-numbered years when the terms of the mayor and three councilmembers conclude. Such vacancies would remain until the re-elected or newly-elected mayor and councilmembers make nominations to each appointive board and commission and could delay the work of the City while such boards and commissions do not have sufficient qualified members to obtain quorum and hold a meeting.
Should City Council wish to consider any changes to the SAMC regarding appointive boards and commissions, staff requests direction and would bring back an ordinance at a future meeting for Council’s consideration.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
Submitted By: Sonia R. Carvalho, City Attorney, and Jennifer L. Hall, City Clerk Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager