Kern County Municipal Code Ch. 2.50 Parks and Recreation Commission

The Kern County board of recreation commissioners as heretofore established in Kern County government is rescinded and replaced with the advisory body designated as the "Kern County parks and recreation commission," and the term "commission," whenever used in this chapter, shall be deemed to refer to the "Kern County parks and recreation commission."

(Prior code § 599)

There is established the Kern County parks and recreation commission. The commission shall be composed of five (5) members who shall be appointed by the board of supervisors of the county. Each member appointed shall serve in office for a term of four (4) years to run concurrent with the term of the supervisor who makes his nomination. These members shall be the voting members of the commission. The director of the county parks and recreation department and a member of the board of supervisors, as designated by the board, shall be nonvoting ex-officio members of the commission and their terms shall correspond to their respective official tenure. The board shall also designate from the board of supervisors an alternate ex officio member to act as a member in the absence of the first member named. A recording secretary for the commission shall be designated by the director of parks and recreation. The board of supervisors may remove any member of the commission from office at any time upon four-fifths (⅘) vote of the board. A commissioner who misses two (2) consecutive commission meetings without good cause will thereby disqualify himself from serving as a member of the commission and his successor shall be appointed.

(Prior code § 600)

In appointing members to the commission the board of supervisors shall provide for equal representation of each supervisorial district. Members appointed for the respective supervisorial districts shall reside in the supervisorial district represented.

(Prior code § 601)

Each member of the commission shall receive twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per meeting attended. The secretary for the commission shall receive overtime based on her regular rate of pay for each meeting attended by her. The members of the commission and the secretary shall also be reimbursed for actual and necessary travel expenses to and from the meetings of said commission. "Traveling expenses," as used in this section, shall include cost of transportation, meals and other incidental items. The director may also call special meetings for which compensation and actual and necessary traveling expenses will be paid in accordance with terms of this section. Compensation and travel expense reimbursement shall not be paid commission members or secretary for more than twenty-four (24) meetings in any one calendar year.

(Prior code § 602)

The commission shall have the power to adopt bylaws, rules and regulations for the proper conduct of its business. At the last meeting of each calendar year the commission shall elect one of its members as chairman and may elect such other officers as may be determined proper. Such chairman and other officers shall serve for a period of one (1) year. The chairman shall preside at all meetings, submit all motions to vote and, in general, do all things ordinarily required of a commission chairman.

(Prior code § 603)

It shall be the function and duties of the commission to:

A. Act as advisor to the board of supervisors and the director of parks and recreation in matters of policy related to parks and recreation;

B. Evaluate and approve existing and future recreation programs to ensure that they contribute to the attainment of general recreational objectives for all the youth and adults of the county; provide guidelines for present and future park development and recommend changes to the board of supervisors;

C. Receive operational reports relative to the parks and recreation department and record its comments or approval;

D. Represent the general public and accept suggestions from the citizenry. The commission shall conduct regular meetings in various sections of the county which are open to the public. Individuals or delegations may address them on pertinent subjects. The commission shall handle any public requests that deviate from established departmental guidelines or procedures or requests referred to them by the board of supervisors or the parks and recreation department;

E. Make an annual review of parks and recreation fees and recommend changes to the board of supervisors;

F. Establish policy and guidelines relative to the terms and conditions of concessions or lease agreements in county parks and recreation buildings. Make recommendations on sale or transfer of concessions and determine the need for new concessions;

G. Make periodic tours of county parks and recreation facilities and inspect other operations and facilities in the state pertinent to county parks and recreation;

H. Occasionally act as spokesman or department representative at public ceremonies and recreational programs;

I. The chairman of the commission shall be authorized to attend the annual California Park and Recreation Conference. If he cannot attend, he may appoint a member in his place;

J. In general, to cooperate with the director of parks and recreation on problems of administration, when assistance or support is requested, and to keep the board of supervisors informed of the actions of the commission.

(Prior code § 604)