Arcata Municipal Code Art. 1 General Provisions

A. The Council recognizes that City business is best conducted by reliance on resident involvement through the use of permanent and temporary ad hoc committees. State law allows the Council to establish committees for different purposes, and with varying amounts of delegated decision-making or advisory authority.

B. The Council finds that resident participation in permanent and temporary committees can be encouraged through efforts to simplify the procedures followed by the different committees. Therefore, to the greatest extent possible, the Council seeks to make consistent internal procedures and to define the jurisdictional scope of authority of the different committees. (Ord. 1505, eff. 6/15/2018)

Unless expressly defined otherwise, the following definitions shall govern the construction of this chapter. The definition of a word applies to any of its variants.

A. Board. "Board" shall mean a standing committee created by the Council pursuant to specific statutory direction and with final decision-making authority as specifically provided herein. Decisions of a board are considered final action and are not revisable by the Council.

B. Commission. "Commission" shall mean a standing committee created by the Council with final decision-making authority as specifically provided herein. Decisions of a commission are reviewable by the Council through established appeal procedures. Commission members shall obtain ethics training, as required by AB 1234, Government Code Section 53234 et seq.

C. Committee. "Committee" shall mean a standing committee created by the Council for purposes of providing advice and recommendation to the Council and City staff.

D. Task Force. "Task Force" shall mean a temporary committee created by the Council for specific purposes. The task force shall have advisory powers only, and shall cease to exist after a designated time. For purposes of this Chapter, an ad hoc committee shall be treated as a task force. (Ord. 1367, eff. 1/18/2008; Ord. 1505, eff. 6/15/2018)

A. Creation. The Council may create boards, commissions, committees and task forces as required or convenient. Boards, commissions and committees shall be created by ordinance. Task forces may be created by either motion or resolution of the Council.

B. Appointment. Members of a board, commission, committee or task force shall be appointed by the Council, shall serve at the pleasure of the Council and shall serve without compensation. Except where expressly provided otherwise, all boards, commissions and committees shall be comprised of seven (7) members; no less than five (5) members shall be residents of the City of Arcata, and the remaining two (2) may live or work in the Arcata Planning Area.

C. Vacancies. Ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of a term on the Planning Commission, the City Manager shall announce each vacancy, and shall state that it is seeking applicants and shall set forth the qualifications required, if any. The Council may interview each applicant, after which a majority of the Council may select the most qualified applicant to fill the vacancy. Incumbent members are encouraged to reapply for additional terms. Vacancies occurring during the middle of a term shall be filled by Council appointment for the unexpired portion of the term.

D. Removal. The Council may remove any member by majority vote at a regularly scheduled Council meeting. (Ord. 1352, eff. 5/20/2005; Ord. 1505, eff. 6/15/2018)

A. Board Members. Boards meet infrequently and therefore members of a board do not have a fixed term of office.

B. Commission Members. Except as specifically provided otherwise herein, the term of office for members of a commission shall be four (4) years. The annual expiration date of a term shall be as specified in this Chapter. Terms shall be staggered.

C. Committee Members. The term of office for members of committees shall be three (3) years. The annual expiration date of a term shall be as specified in this Chapter. Terms shall be staggered. (Ord. 1352, eff. 5/20/2005; Ord. 1505, eff. 6/15/2018)

A. Boards. If any member of a board is absent for two (2) meetings in a calendar year, the secretary to the board shall certify that fact to the Council and the Council shall thereafter declare the position on the board to be vacant.

B. Commissions. If any member of a commission is absent for four (4) regularly scheduled meetings in a calendar year, the secretary to the commission shall certify that fact to the Council and the Council shall thereafter declare the position on the commission to be vacant.

C. Committees. If any member of a committee is absent for three (3) regularly scheduled meetings in a calendar year, the secretary to the committee shall certify that fact to the Council and the Council shall thereafter declare the position on the committee to be vacant. (Ord. 1505, eff. 6/15/2018)

A. Boards. Each board shall elect its chairperson and vice-chairperson once every four (4) years from among its appointed members. The elected chairperson and vice-chairperson shall serve for the duration of their terms.

B. Commissions and Committees. Each commission and committee shall annually, at the first regularly scheduled meeting of the fiscal year, elect its chairperson and vice-chairperson from among its appointed members.

C. Task Forces. Each task force shall elect its chairperson and vice-chairperson at its first regularly scheduled meeting from its appointed members. (Ord. 1505, eff. 6/15/2018)

A. Notice. All boards, commissions, committees, and task forces are subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act, Government Code Section 54950 et seq. Notice of all meetings shall satisfy the minimum requirements of such Act. Any board, commission, committee or task force may vote to cancel a regularly scheduled meeting as needed.

B. Special Meetings. Any board, commission, committee or task force may meet more frequently than permitted by its regular meeting schedule if considered necessary or expedient by the chairperson. Such special meetings shall be noticed in accordance with requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act. Any board, commission, or committee may request a joint meeting with the City Council or with other boards, commissions or committees.

C. Quorum. A majority of the board, commission, committee or task force shall constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting business.

D. Annual Report. All commissions, committees and task forces shall deliver an annual report to the Council. (Ord. 1505, eff. 6/15/2018)

The Secretary shall take minutes at each meeting and shall make such minutes available within a reasonable time following each meeting and shall be subject to approval by the appropriate body. (Ord. 1505, eff. 6/15/2018)