FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 16, 2024
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: City Council
FROM: Interim City Manager Alex Posada
BY: Assistant City Clerk Alexandra Valadez
SUBJECT: Measure U Citizens’ Oversight Committee and Recreation & Parks Commission Appointments
Description:
The City Council will consider making appointments to the Measure U Citizens’ Oversight Committee and Recreation and Parks Commission.
Environmental Notice: The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Measure U Citizens’ Oversight Committee
The Measure U Citizens’ Oversight Committee ensures transparency and oversight of the revenue generated by and expenses made in relation to Measure U. Members must be City residents and may not be current City of Santa Maria em ployees, officials, contractors, or vendors of the City. Applicants are nominated by individual Councilmembers and confirmed by the City Council. The Committee meets on the last Monday in January each year.
Councilmembers Aguilera-Hernandez and Soto will have the opportunity to make one nomination each for a term of four years and/or coterminous with the nominating councilmember’s term ending in January 2027. Councilmember Escobedo also has one nomination for the unexpired term ending in January 2025.
One application was received from John Childers, Jr. , who previously served on the Measure U Citizens’ Oversight Committee and continues to fill in for the vacant position.
Recreation & Parks Commission
The Recreation and Parks Commission advises the C ity Council on Recreation and Parks operations and activities. Members are nominated by individual Councilmembers, appointed by the Mayor, and confirmed by the City Council.
2 Councilmember Soto will have the opportunity to make one nomination for a term of four years and/or coterminous with the nominating Councilmember’s term ending in January 2027.
Four new applications have been received from Isaac Berumen, Anais Diaz, Benjamin Ortiz, and Jose Ramirez.
Attendance Reporting:
Members of the City’s Boards, Commissions, and Committees serve an important role in advising staff and the City Council on matters that affect policy and issues that affect the future of the community; therefore, Members’ attendance is key to the work these Boards, Commissions, and Committees perform. Members serve in their capacity as Members at the pleasure of the City Council pursuant to Santa Maria Municipal Code (SMMC) Section 2-16.02. As established by SMMC 2 -16.01, Members are required to attend mee tings regularly and not miss 25 percent of the regular meetings in a calendar year, or they would be deemed to have resigned upon acceptance by the City Council. While the Municipal Code focuses on the Planning Commission, Recreation and Parks Commission, Board of Appeals, and Library Board, it is the expectation that all City Boards and Committee Members participate and attend meetings in the same manner as those Boards, Commissions, and Committees defined in the Municipal Code. Attendance details are included for the City Council’s reference as Attachments A and B.
Copies of the applications may be obtained from the City Clerk's office upon request. Staff will continue to advertise Board and Committee vacancies until sufficient applications have been received and any remaining vacancies may be filled.
Alternative(s)
A Councilmember could decide to withhold their nomination to a Board, Commission, or Committee until such time as additional applications could be received or there is sufficient opportunity for the Councilmember to make contact with the existing applicant(s) to be considered for nomination.
Impact to the Community
Having members of the public serve on the City’s Advisory Bodies provides a positive impact to the community, enabling the City to obtain input from all segments of the community and ensures that the community receives information regarding the activities of the City’s Boards, Committees, and Commissions.
ATTACHMENTS
A: Attendance Records – BGAC
B: Attendance Records