East Palo Alto Municipal Code Ch. 2.56 Public Works and Transportation Commission

There is created a public works and transportation commission for the city which shall consist of seven members and one alternate. The members of the commission shall be appointed by the council from among the list of qualified applicants who have submitted applications to the city clerk. The council shall make the appointments at a public hearing after interviewing the applicants.

(Ord. 168 § 1, 1994)

Each member of the public works and transportation commission shall be a full time resident of East Palo Alto and shall not serve concurrently in a similar capacity with any other public body in the city.

(Ord. 168 § 2, 1994)

Of the seven appointed members, one shall serve for a period of one year, three for a period of two years, and the remaining three for a period of three years; excepting the alternate who shall serve for a period of one year. Thereafter, all appointed members shall serve for a term of three years, unless the appointment is to fill a vacancy created by a commissioner who has left office prior to the expiration of his/her term, in which event the appointment shall be for the remaining term of such commissioner. Any reappointment of a commissioner whose term of office has expired shall be for a further term of three years.

(Ord. 199 § 2, 1996: Ord. 168 § 3, 1994)

A member of the commission may be removed by a majority vote of the council. A vacancy is filled in the same manner as the original appointment. A person appointed to fill a vacancy serves for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(Ord. 168 § 4, 1994)

A. At the first regular meeting in May of each year, the commission shall elect one of its members as chairperson and one of its members as vice-chairperson, who shall hold office for one year unless their terms as members of the commission expire sooner. An officer or employee of the city designated by the city manager shall serve as secretary of the commission.

B. The commission shall establish a regular time and place of meeting and shall hold at least one regular meeting each month. Special meetings may be called by the chairperson or by a majority of the members of the commission upon written notice delivered personally or by mail to each member at least twenty-four hours prior to such meeting.

C. The commission may make and alter rules governing its organization and procedures which are not inconsistent with any applicable ordinance of the city.

D. A majority of the members appointed to the commission shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members appointed is required to take any action.

E. The commission shall keep an accurate record of its proceedings and transactions and shall submit an annual report to the city council with a copy to the city manager.

(Ord. 168 § 5, 1994)

Subject to the approval of the council in each case, the commission may designate one of its members to act as a liaison representative to any other board, commission or committee of the city. The functions of such liaison representatives are:

A. To attend meetings of such other boards, commissions or committees;

B. Advise this commission of the background, attitudes and reasons behind the actions of such other boards, commissions or committees; and

C. On request of any member of such other boards, commissions or committees, to advise such other boards, commissions or committees of policy, procedures and decisions of this commission that may bear upon matters under discussion by such other boards, commissions or committees.

Such liaison representative shall have no power to vote.

(Ord. 168 § 6, 1994)

The East Palo Alto public works director or some person of his office regularly delegated by him and approved by the city manager shall attend all meetings of the commission, function as secretary to the commission and shall keep a true and correct record of all proceedings of the commission. He/she shall have custody of all reports, books, papers and records of the commission. And he/she shall be given notice of all special meetings thereof.

(Ord. 168 § 7, 1994)

The powers and functions of the city public works and transportation commission shall be as follows:

A. To hold local and regional hearings on all public works and transportation matters, local and regional, as prescribed by the city council, including but not limited to all issues related to funding opportunities to improve the city's streets and to address issues of transportation improvements and safety, requests for the installation of all stop signs and traffic signals, except those determined by the Public Works Director to be of an emergency nature;

B. To conduct such other hearings as are provided by law and in accordance with its own rules and regulations;

C. To report its decisions and recommendations in writing to the city council;

D. To investigate all possible sources of funding, including federal, state and county for transportation improvements and capital improvement projects such as street and drainage improvements, and improvements to city owned facilities such as parks and public buildings. Also to review grant applications for such funding and to utilize engineering and other related professionals in a technical advisory capacity as required to make funding recommendations to the city council;

E. To review and recommend to the city council the adoption of the circulation element of the general plan;

F. To make, in its advisory capacity, any and all recommendations to the city council relating to the above matters, including changes or amendments to the circulation element of the general plan or any portion thereof;

G. The commission shall not have any direct authority or power with respect to public works department operations.

(Ord. 168 § 8, 1994)

The members of such commission shall receive no compensation, but shall be allowed necessary actual traveling and other expenses when the interests of the city shall require, but in each case only if and when the city council shall have first specifically authorized the purpose and expenditure involved.

(Ord. 168 § 9, 1994)