ORDINANCE NO. 2026-XXX
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UNION CITY AMENDING SECTIONS 2.21.030, 2.21.040, 2.23.020, 2.23.030, 2.24.030,
2.25.030, 2.25.040, AND 2.26.020 OF THE UNION CITY MUNICIPAL
CODE TO STANDARDIZE THE ANNUAL SELECTION OF COMMISSION
CHAIRS AND VICE CHAIRS
WHEREAS, the City Council has established the Park and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, Human Relations Commission, Senior Citizens Commission, and Arts & Culture Commission in Chapters 2.21, 2.23, 2.24, 2.25, and 2.26 of the Union City Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, the Union City Municipal Code currently requires these commissions to select their Chair and Vice Chair in different months, including August, January, and December; and
WHEREAS, on February 25, 2025, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025- 029 to standardize the start and expiration dates for new appointments to City boards, commissions, and committees so that such terms align with the calendar year; and WHEREAS, selecting commission officers at the first regular meeting in January, or the first regular meeting thereafter, will align officer selection with the City's calendaryear appointment cycle and provide a consistent annual organization process; and WHEREAS, a uniform officer-selection schedule will improve administrative consistency, reduce conflicts between the Municipal Code and commission bylaws, and support orderly governance.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UNION CITY DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Recitals.
The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated into this Ordinance by this reference.
Section 2. Municipal Code Amendments.
Sections 2.21.030, 2.21.040, 2.23.020, 2.23.030, 2.24.030, 2.25.030, 2.25.040, and
2.26.020 of the Union City Municipal Code are amended as set forth in Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.
Section 3. California Environmental Quality Act.
The City Council finds that adoption of this Ordinance is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act because it constitutes an organizational and administrative activity of government that will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, pursuant to California Code of Regulations, Title 14, sections 15060(c)(3) and 15378(b)(5).
Ordinance No. 2026-XXX
January Officer Selection for City Commissions
1 Section 4. Severability.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, that decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions may be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
Section 5. Publication and Effective Date.
This Ordinance shall take effect 30 days after its adoption. Within 15 days after adoption, the City Clerk shall cause this Ordinance to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation printed and published in Alameda County and circulated in the City of Union City, in accordance with Government Code section 36933.
Ordinance No. 2026-XXX
January Officer Selection for City Commissions
1 Ordinance No. 2026-XXX
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1 INTRODUCED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Union City held on September 8, 2026.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Union City held on September 22, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
APPROVED:
GARY SINGH
Mayor
ATTESTED: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
THAI NAM N. PHAM
City Clerk
KRISTOPHER J. KOKOTAYLO
City Attorney
Attachments
1. Exhibit A – Municipal Code Amendments
Ordinance No. 2026-XXX
January Officer Selection for City Commissions
1 Ordinance No. 2026-XXX
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1 EXHIBIT A
MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDMENTS
Deletions are shown in strikethrough; additions are shown in underline.
Section 2.21.030. Term of office—Filling vacancies—Chairperson.
The term of office of the members of the Park and Recreation Commission shall be four years. The terms of office for the five current members shall expire in accordance with the terms of office in effect at the time of appointment. In the event of a vacancy or term expiration of a Commissioner or alternate, the Mayor, with the approval of the City Council, shall appoint successors to fill any vacancies for a term of four years or the unexpired portion thereof. Each Park and Recreation Commissioner or alternate so appointed shall serve until his/her their successor is duly appointed and qualified.
Annually, during the month of August, or as soon thereafter as the Park and Recreation Commission holds a regular meeting, the Park and Recreation Commission shall elect from among its members a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson to serve for one year. At its first regular meeting in January of each year, or at its first regular meeting thereafter if no regular meeting is held in January, the Park and Recreation Commission shall elect from among its members a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson. Each officer shall assume office immediately upon election and shall serve until a successor is elected, unless removed or replaced sooner by the Park and Recreation Commission. If a vacancy occurs in either office, the Park and Recreation Commission shall elect one of its members to fill the vacancy at the next regular meeting at which the election can be properly noticed. Each person serving as Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson as of August 1, 2026, or thereafter shall continue to serve until the first officer election after January 1, 2027.
Section 2.21.040. Officers.
On annual organization, the Park and Recreation Commission shall elect a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson to serve at the pleasure of the Park and Recreation Commission.
The Park and Recreation Commission shall have a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Secretary. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall be selected in accordance with Section 2.21.030. A Secretary shall be designated for the recording of the minutes of the Park and Recreation Commission and to keep a record of its resolutions, proceedings, and transactions. The Secretary shall be the Community and Recreation Services Director or his/her their appointee and shall not be a member of the Commission entitled to vote.
Section 2.23.020. Term of office—Filling vacancies—Chairperson.
The term of office of the Planning Commission shall be four years. In the event of a vacancy or term of a Commissioner or alternate, the Mayor, with the approval of the City Council, shall appoint successors to fill any vacancies for a term of four years or the unexpired portion thereof. Each Planning Commissioner so appointed shall serve until his/her their successor is duly appointed and qualified. The Mayor shall designate the Chairperson for the first Planning Commission to be appointed and annually, during the month of August or as soon thereafter as the Planning Commission holds a regular Ordinance No. 2026-XXX
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1 meeting, the Planning Commission shall elect from among its members a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson to serve for one year. At its first regular meeting in January of each year, or at its first regular meeting thereafter if no regular meeting is held in January, the Planning Commission shall elect from among its members a Chairperson and a ViceChairperson. Each officer shall assume office immediately upon election and shall serve until a successor is elected, unless removed or replaced sooner by the Planning Commission. If a vacancy occurs in either office, the Planning Commission shall elect one of its members to fill the vacancy at the next regular meeting at which the election can be properly noticed. Each person serving as Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson as of August 1, 2026 or thereafter shall continue to serve until the first officer election after January 1, 2027.
Section 2.23.030. Officers.
On annual organization or upon a vacancy of a Chairperson and/or a Vice-Chairperson, the Planning Commission shall elect a Chairperson and/or a Vice-Chairperson to serve at the pleasure of the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission shall have a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Secretary. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall be selected in accordance with Section 2.23.020. A Secretary shall be designated for the recording of minutes of the Planning Commission and to keep a record of its resolutions, proceedings and transactions. The Secretary shall be the Community Development Director or his/her their appointee and shall not be a member of the Commission entitled to vote.
Section 2.24.030. Officers.
A. The Mayor shall designate the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson for the first Human Relations Commission to be appointed, and annually thereafter, during the month of January, the Human Relations Commission shall elect from among its members a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson to serve for one year. At its first regular meeting in January of each year, or at its first regular meeting thereafter if no regular meeting is held in January, the Human Relations Commission shall elect from among its members a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson. Each officer shall assume office immediately upon election and shall serve until a successor is elected, unless removed or replaced sooner by the Human Relations Commission. If a vacancy occurs in either office, the Human Relations Commission shall elect one of its members to fill the vacancy at the next regular meeting at which the election can be properly noticed.
B. On annual organization or upon vacancy of a Chairperson and/or a Vice-Chairperson, the Human Relations Commission shall elect a Chairperson and/or a Vice-Chairperson to serve at the pleasure of the Human Relations Commission. The Human Relations Commission shall have a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Secretary. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall be selected in accordance with Section
2.24.030.A. A Ssecretary shall be designated for the recording of minutes of the Human Relations Commission and to keep a record of its resolutions, proceedings and transactions. The Ssecretary shall be the Deputy City Manager or his/her their appointee and shall not be a member of the Commission entitled to vote.
Ordinance No. 2026-XXX
January Officer Selection for City Commissions
1 Section 2.25.030. Term of office—Filling vacancies—Chairperson.
The term of office of the members of the Senior Citizens Commission shall be four years.
The term of office for the five current members shall expire consistent with the terms of office at the time of appointment. In the event of a vacancy or term expiration of a Commissioner or alternate, the Mayor, with the approval of the City Council, shall appoint successors to fill any vacancies for a term of four years or the unexpired portion thereof.
Each Senior Citizens Commissioner so appointed shall serve until his/her their successor is duly appointed and qualified. Annually, during the month of August, the Senior Commission shall elect from among its members a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson to serve for one year. At its first regular meeting in January of each year, or at its first regular meeting thereafter if no regular meeting is held in January, the Senior Citizens Commission shall elect from among its members a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson.
Each officer shall assume office immediately upon election and shall serve until a successor is elected, unless removed or replaced sooner by the Senior Citizens Commission. If a vacancy occurs in either office, the Senior Citizens Commission shall elect one of its members to fill the vacancy at the next regular meeting at which the election can be properly noticed. Each person serving as Chairperson or ViceChairperson as of August 1, 2026 or thereafter shall continue to serve until the first officer election after January 1, 2027.
Section 2.25.040. Officers.
On annual vacancy or upon vacancy of a Chairperson and/or a Vice-Chairperson, the Senior Citizens Commission shall elect a Chairperson and/or a Vice-Chairperson, to serve at the pleasure of the Senior Citizens Commission. The Senior Citizens Commission shall have a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Secretary. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall be selected in accordance with Section
2.25.030. A Secretary shall be designated for the recording of minutes of the Senior Citizens Commission and to keep a record of its resolutions, proceedings and transactions. The Secretary shall be the Community and Recreation Services Director or their appointee and shall not be a member of the Commission entitled to vote.
Section 2.26.020. Appointment—Qualifications of members—Officers and duties.
In order to further the public policy of the City, there is created and established an Arts & Culture Commission for the City of Union City, California consisting of five members plus two alternates, who shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council.
Members of the Arts & Culture Commission shall either be a resident citizen at large or an artist.
The Commission shall elect one of its members to serve as Chair of the Commission, and another member as Vice Chair; officers shall be elected in December of each calendar year and shall serve one-year terms. On annual organization or upon vacancy of a Chairperson and/or a Vice-Chairperson, the Arts & Culture Commission shall elect a Chairperson and/or a Vice-Chairperson to serve at the pleasure of the Arts & Culture Commission. At its first regular meeting in January of each year, or at its first regular meeting thereafter if no regular meeting is held in January, the Arts & Culture Commission shall elect from among its members a Chair and a Vice Chair. Each officer shall assume Ordinance No. 2026-XXX
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1 office immediately upon election and shall serve until a successor is elected, unless removed or replaced sooner by the Arts & Culture Commission. If a vacancy occurs in either office, the Arts & Culture Commission shall elect one of its members to fill the vacancy at the next regular meeting at which the election can be properly noticed. Each person serving as Chair or Vice Chair as of August 1, 2026 or thereafter shall continue to serve until the first officer election after January 1, 2027. The duties of the Chair shall be to set meeting dates, times and locations for Commission meetings, conduct Commission meetings, and represent the Commission before the City Council and the general public.
The duties of the Vice Chair shall be to assume the duties of Chair in the absence of the Chair.