City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: May 21, 2024
From: Deborah Harrington, Interim City Clerk
Department: City Clerk
Submitted by: Yonnie Parker, Deputy City Clerk
Subject
Excuse for Absence
Recommendation
A. Excuse the absences of Committee Member Steven Froberg from the May 17, 2023 and May 15, 2024 Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meetings; and B. Excuse the absence of Committee Member Leticia Lopez from the May 15, 2024 Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting.
Background
Chapter 2.48 of the Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) establishes all of the requirements, duties and responsibilities of the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee (VCFGC) including the appointment of its members, officers and terms among other provisions. Absences from VCFGC meetings and potential vacating of a Member’s seat are addressed in VMC Sections 2.48.050 and 2.48.060. Section 2.48.050 (C) indicates a Committee Member “shall be considered to have vacated his or her position on the Committee if he or she misses four or more consecutive meetings without a valid excuse as determined by the Committee.” Additionally, Section
2.48.060 (C) indicates that a member of the Committee “shall be considered to have vacated his or her position on the Grant Committee if he or she: (1) misses four or more consecutive meetings or two or more consecutive regular meetings; and (2) a majority of the City Council did not pass a motion within 30 days of the final meeting and before the position was filled declaring that the City Council was of the opinion that the Committee Member had a valid excuse for at least one of the relevant absences.”
Staff will present an Ordinance to Council in the near future to amend the VMC Sections and resolve the inconsistent provisions aforementioned. Until then, Staff is abiding by the more stringent requirement under VMC Section 2.48.060 (C) for the time being and presenting this item to Council for consideration of excusing the absences of two Committee Members at risk of forfeiting their seats on the VCFGC.
Committee Member Froberg was absent from the Regular VCFGC meetings held on May 17, 2023 and May 15, 2024. These absences were due to his caretaking responsibilities for a family member with medical issues.
Committee Member Lopez was absent from the Regular VCFGC meetings held on May 17, 2023, and May 15, 2024. Her absence from the May 15, 2024 Regular VCFGC meeting was due to work related duties that she could not change.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Attachments
None.