Fresno Municipal Code Art. IX Boards and Commissions

There shall be such boards and commissions as are hereinafter established which shall have the powers and duties herein stated. The Council may create by ordinance additional boards or commissions as in its judgment are required, and may grant to them such powers and duties as are consistent with the provisions of this Charter.

The Council shall include in its annual budget such appropriations of funds as in its opinion shall be sufficient for the efficient and proper functioning of such boards and commissions.

The members of each of such boards or commissions shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Council from the qualified electors of the City, none of whom shall hold any paid office or employment in the City government. They shall be subject to removal by motion of the Council adopted by at least five affirmative votes. The members thereof shall serve for a term of four years and until their respective successors are appointed and qualified.

The terms of the members first appointed to each board and commission shall be determined by lot so that as nearly as possible the terms of twenty-five per cent of the total membership of each board or commission shall expire each succeeding July 1.

Thereafter, any appointment to fill an unexpired term shall be for such unexpired period.

(Amendment ratified 1969 General Municipal Election; approved, Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 172, filed with Secretary of State on June 12, 1969, Res. Ch. 197. Stat. 1969.)

The respective terms of office of all members of the boards and commissions in existence at the time this Charter becomes fully operative shall terminate.

As soon as practicable, following the first day of July of every year, each of such boards and commissions shall organize by electing one of its members to serve as presiding officer at the pleasure of such board or commission. Each board or commission established by this Charter shall hold regular meetings at least once each month. Each board or commission created by ordinance shall hold regular meetings at such regular intervals as the proper transaction of its business shall require, but not less often than once each year. All proceedings shall be open to the public.

Except as may be otherwise provided in this Charter, the Chief Administrative Officer shall designate a secretary for the recording of minutes for each of such boards and commissions, who shall keep a record of its proceedings and transactions. Each board or commission may prescribe its own rules and regulations which shall be consistent with this Charter and copies of which shall be kept on file in the office of the City Clerk where they shall be available for public inspection. Each board or commission shall have the same power as the Council to compel the attendance of witnesses, to examine them under oath, to compel the production of evidence before it and to administer oaths and affirmations.

(Amendment ratified 1969 General Municipal Election; approved, Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 172, filed with Secretary of State on June 12, 1969, Res. Ch. 197, Stat. 1969.)

The members of boards and commissions shall serve without compensation for their services as such unless the Council shall otherwise provide, but may receive reimbursement for necessary traveling and other expenses incurred on official duty when such expenditures have received authorization by the Council.

Any vacancies in any board or commission, from whatever cause arising, shall be filled by appointment by the Mayor with the approval of the Council. Upon a vacancy occurring leaving an unexpired portion of a term, any appointment to fill such vacancy shall be for the unexpired portion of such term. If a member of a board or commission absents himself from three consecutive regular meetings of such board or commission, unless by permission of such board or commission expressed in its official minutes, or is convicted of a felony, or ceases to be a qualified elector of the City, his office shall become vacant and shall be so declared by the Council.

There shall be a Planning Commission consisting of seven members. Such city officers and employees as shall be designated by the Chief Administrative Officer shall meet with and participate in the discussions of the Planning Commission but shall not have a vote.

The Planning Commission shall have the power and duty to:

(a) After a public hearing thereon, recommend to the Council the adoption, amendment, or repeal of the General Plan, or any part thereof, for the development of the city;

(b) Exercise such control over land subdivisions as is granted to it by the Council;

(c) Make recommendations concerning proposed public works and for the clearance and rebuilding of blighted or substandard areas within the city;

(d) Exercise such functions with respect to zoning and land use as may be prescribed by ordinance, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter.

(Amendment ratified 1971 General Municipal Election; approved, Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 130, filed with Secretary of State on June 18, 1971, Res. Ch. 77, Stat. 1971.)

The Civil Service Board shall consist of five members, none of whom while a member of the Board, or for a period of one year after he has ceased for any reason to be a member, shall be eligible for appointment to any salaried office or employment in the service of the City. "Salaried office" shall not be deemed to include an elective office or membership on a board or commission of the city.

(Amendment ratified 1971 General Municipal Election; approved, Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 130, filed with Secretary of State on June 18, 1971, Res. Ch. 77, Stat. 1971.)

The Civil Service Board shall have the power and duty to:

(a) Recommend to the Council, after a public hearing thereon, the adoption, amendment, or repeal of Civil Service rules and regulations;

(b) Act in an advisory capacity to the Council on problems concerning personnel administration;

(c) Conduct hearings as provided in Section 1002 relative to the suspension, demotion, and removal of any person in the City employment;

(d) Make any investigation which it may consider desirable concerning the conditions of employment and the administration of personnel in the municipal service and report its findings to the Council;

(e) Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by ordinance not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter.

(Amendment ratified 1971 General Municipal Election; approved, Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 130, filed with Secretary of State on June 18, 1971, Res. Ch. 77, Stat. 1971.)

Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Charter, the City of Fresno Fire and Police Retirement Board and the City of Fresno Employee's Retirement Board shall each consist of five members, selected as follows:

(a) two members elected by and from the City employees affected; and,

(b) two members from management appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council; and,

(c) the fifth member chosen by the previously designated four members.

The members of such boards shall be removable only by the appointing or electing authority.

The Retirement Board shall appoint and direct a Retirement Administrator who shall report to the Board; serve at the Board's pleasure; administer the retirement office and its financial affairs as directed by the Board; appoint, suspend and remove subordinate employees subject to the Civil Service System provisions of this Charter; and perform such other administrative duties as directed by the Board.

(Amendment ratified 1996 Primary Election, March 26, 1996.)