City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: December 12, 2023
Agenda Item: 5.A
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Denise Anderson Warren, City Clerk, Records and Election Services Department
Subject: Adoption of a Resolution Amending the Policies for Board and Commission Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a resolution amending the Policies for City Boards, Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, and Regional Advisory Boards, and repealing Resolution No. 11510 (CCS) to include language concerning term limits of chairs/vice chairs as approved by Council on July 27, 2021, and to revise the method for boards and commissions to provide their annual reports and workplans to Council; and
2. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
Summary
At the July 27, 2021 meeting, Council approved a resolution amending the policies for City Boards, Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, and Regional Advisory Boards to include language concerning term limits of chairs/vice chairs. In addition, Council approved to revise the method for boards and commissions to provide their annual reports and workplans. Staff is recommending implementation of these changes and that annual reports prepared by boards and commissions be submitted via an Information Item.
Discussion
Staff is recommending inclusion of language in the resolution regarding term limits of chairs and vice chairs of boards and commissions, as recommended to and approved 2 of 3
by the City Council in the form of a Council Discussion Item from the City Council Ad Hoc Committee for Boards and Commissions, at the July 27, 2021, City Council meeting, to limit commission leadership (chair and vice chair) terms to a maximum of two years, rotating by election, over their lifetime of service to the board or commission in order to provide greater opportunities for leadership to members of the community and in alignment with the City’s commitment to increase greater equity and inclusion in its public bodies.
Additionally, staff is recommending City Council revise the method for boards and commissions to present their annual reports and workplans to the City Council. At the March 14, 2023, City Council meeting, staff recommended, and City Council approved for board and commission annual reports to be presented during the City Council meetings scheduled during the first quarter of the fiscal year with a schedule determined by the City Clerk. Due to ever increasing needs to balance transparency while also increasing the productivity and efficiency of City Council meetings, staff now recommends City Council receive these annual reports via an Information item published by the City Clerk’s Office.
Finally, with the discontinuation of the free, on-demand online ethics training provided by the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), the language requiring newly appointed commissioners to complete their training within 30 days has been deleted.
Commissioners are still encouraged to complete the training as soon as practicable within one year of service.
Environmental Review
This resolution is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the CEQA Guidelines, which states that CEQA does not apply, where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. The resolution represents administrative changes to policies on the City’s boards and commissions and would not result in physical effects, and therefore, is exempt from CEQA.
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Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of recommended action.
Prepared By: Nikima Newsome, Assistant City Clerk
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. 12.12 Board and Commission Policies Resolution
B. Written Comments