Alameda Municipal Code § 2-22 Open Government Commission

There is hereby created a Commission which shall be known as the Open Government Commission, whose purpose shall be to advise the City Council on administration of the Sunshine Ordinance.

(Ord. No. 3042, § 3, 1-3-2012; Ord. No. 3363 N.S., § 1, 3-5-2024)

a. The Commission shall consist of five (5) members, all of whom shall, at the time of their appointment and continuously during incumbency, be residents of the City.

b. Each member of the City Council will appoint a Commissioner to serve on the Commission for a term that is concurrent and linked with the service of the appointing City Councilmember, but in no event shall exceed four (4) years.

c. A member of the Commission may be removed by the vote of four-fifths (4/5ths) vote of the Council. A vacancy in the office of the member shall be filled for the unexpired term by the appointing City Councilmember.

(Ord. No. 3042, § 3, 1-3-2012)

a. The Commission shall meet as necessary to perform the duties outlined in subsection 2-22.4. Meetings shall be held on a fiscal year schedule, running July 1 through June 30. The Commission shall have the power to establish rules for its proceedings, unless otherwise noted below in subsection 2-22.5

b. A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum. A quorum shall be necessary for any action of the Commission.

(Ord. No. 3042, § 3, 1-3-2012)

It shall be the duty of the Open Government Commission to:

a. Provide assistance to the Council or the City on matters or tasks specifically assigned to the Commission by the Council, consistent with the Commission's purpose, including review of any changes to the Regulations for Administrative Hearings concerning the appointment of Hearing Officers and procedures for conducting Sunshine Ordinance complaint hearings;

b. Advise City Council on appropriate ways to implement the Sunshine Ordinance;

c. Develop goals to ensure practical and timely implementation of the Sunshine Ordinance;

d. From time to time as the Commission sees fit, issue public reports evaluating compliance with the Sunshine Ordinance by the City or any Department, Office, or Official thereof.

e. The commission will meet as needed. Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation.

f. Consider ways to informally resolve those complaints and make recommendations to the Council regarding such complaints;

g. The Commission shall approve by-laws specifying a general schedule for meetings, requirements for attendance by its members, and procedures and criteria for removing members for non-attendance as well as all enforcement petition and complaint procedures. The schedule shall provide for monthly meetings. A meeting shall be canceled if there is no matter pending.

h. The commission will meet at least semi-annually or as needed based on the receipt of an alleged complaint of violation of this ordinance. Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation.

(Ord. No. 3042, § 3, 1-3-2012; Ord. No. 3363 N.S., § 2, 3-5-2024)

a. Should the appointing City Council member term out of office, resign, be removed or otherwise retire from office, the appointment of his or her appointee on the Open Government Commission shall also end.

b. All members must have experience and/or demonstrated interest in the issues of citizen access and participation in local government.

c. The Commission shall select from its regular membership a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson, each of whom shall serve in such offices for a term of one (1) year, or until their successors are selected.

d. The Commission shall be assisted, advised and generally staffed at meetings and functions by a licensed attorney from or designated by the City Attorney's Office, when legal services are necessary, and by a representative of the City Clerk's office.

(Ord. No. 3042, § 3, 1-3-2012; Ord. No. 3363 N.S., § 3, 3-5-2024)