La Quinta Municipal Code Ch. 2.06 Boards, Commissions and Committees

A. "Board" means a group of persons appointed by the city council who provide advice on city issues.

B. "Commission" means a group of persons appointed by the city council, or for the housing commission, appointed by the housing authority, having limited legislative powers to make decisions or recommendations to the city council or housing authority, as applicable on city issues.

C. "Committee" means a temporary group of persons appointed by the city council, housing authority, or any authorized board or commission to give special consideration, investigation, and prepare a report on a pending city issue.

(Ord. 632 § 4 (Exh. A), 4-21-2026; Ord. 516 § 1, 2013)

A. The city council shall appoint members to all boards and commissions with the exception of the housing commission, whose members shall be appointed by the housing authority.

B. From time to time, the city council or housing authority may establish a committee(s), or temporary committee(s) may be established by boards and commissions authorized to do so. The establishing body shall determine the number of committee members needed to best perform the duties of that committee and the establishing body shall make appointments pursuant to this section.

C. The city council shall make appointments to vacancies at open session of a regular or special city council meeting. The housing authority shall make appointments to housing commission vacancies at open session of a regular or special housing authority meeting. In the case of committees, the establishing body shall make appointments to vacancies at open session of a regular or special meeting.

D. The order of appointments to serve on boards or commissions shall be taken up by the city council or housing authority, as applicable, based on a random drawing publicly conducted by the city clerk or authority secretary, as applicable.

E. Applicants may apply for appointment to more than one (1) board or commission but order of preference shall not be noted and shall not be considered by the city council or housing authority, as applicable.

F. The number of members on each board and commission shall be set by the city council, except for the housing commission, whose members shall be set by the housing authority, or in the case of committees, by the establishing body. Refer to the related municipal code chapter for details regarding a specific board or commission.

(Ord. 632 § 4 (Exh. A), 4-21-2026; Ord. 516 § 1, 2013)

A. Unless otherwise provided by law, ordinance or resolution, or unless by the very nature of a situation, the provisions of this section may not be made applicable, all members of boards and commissions shall be appointed for three (3)-year terms commencing on July 1 st of the year of appointment.

B. All members of a committee shall be appointed to terms and have term rotations set by the city council, housing authority, or the establishing body.

C. Interim vacancies shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term of the member being replaced.

D. These rules shall not apply to a newly established board or commission to which initial appointments are made on a staggered-term basis.

E. After serving two (2) consecutive three (3)-year terms, or a total of six (6) consecutive years, on a specific board or commission, that member shall rotate out of that board or commission and shall not be considered for reappointment to that specific board or commission until one (1) year has elapsed.

F. Any board or commission member who has been or will be rotated out of one (1) board or commission, may apply for appointment to any other board or commission immediately, or anytime thereafter.

G. An exception to the restriction on sequential reappointment to a board or commission after having served for six (6) consecutive years shall be granted for positions requiring specific expertise, characteristics, or professional certifications as set by the city council or housing authority in past or future actions.

H. Any term for a board, commission or committee may be extended by action of the establishing body.

(Ord. 632 § 4 (Exh. A), 4-21-2026; Ord. 516 § 1, 2013)

A. Unless otherwise provided by law, ordinance, or resolution of the city council, all members of boards and commissions of the city shall serve on only one (1) board or commission at any given time in order to avoid simultaneous memberships.

B. To the extent consistent with federal and state law, all members of boards and commissions appointed by the city council or the housing authority shall initially, and during their term(s), be bona fide residents and registered voters of the city.

C. Exceptions to the resident requirement shall be granted for certain planning commission positions (see Chapter 2.29).

D. Some boards, commissions and committees require specific qualifications of its members in order to perform the duties prescribed. If a member ceases to meet the required qualifications, they shall be disqualified from being a member of that board, commission or committee and a qualified applicant shall be appointed to fill the remainder of the unexpired portion of their term. (Refer to the municipal code section for each board, commission or committee for details on qualifications required.)

E. No member of a city board or commission shall be an employee of the city.

F. If a member of any board, commission or committee is convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, their office shall become vacant, and shall be so declared by the city council, housing authority, or establishing body.

(Ord. 632 § 4 (Exh. A), 4-21-2026; Ord. 546 § 1, 2016; Ord. 516 § 1, 2013)

A. Unless otherwise provided by law, ordinance or resolution of the city council or housing authority, as applicable, each city board or commission shall meet once each month or as needed on the date(s) selected by the board or commission. Committees shall meet as directed by the establishing body.

B. Special meetings may be called by the chairperson or a majority of each board, commission or committee in accordance with state law.

C. Unless otherwise provided by law, ordinance or resolution of the city council or housing authority, a quorum for each board, commission or committee shall be the majority of existing, appointed members.

D. Each board, commission and committee shall follow such rules and regulations established by the city council or housing authority, as applicable, for the conduct of its business.

E. Unless otherwise provided by law, ordinance or resolution of the city council or housing authority, as applicable, each board, commission and committee shall choose one (1) of its members as chairperson and one (1) as vice chairperson at its first meeting held after June 30th of each year.

F. Each chairperson and vice chairperson shall have authority and perform such duties as are commonly associated with their respective titles, or as may be specially prescribed by law or by the bylaws or other rules of the board, commission or committee.

G. Vacancies in either the chairperson or vice chairperson position occurring prior to July 1 st may be filled as in the first instance, and a new chairperson or vice chairperson may be chosen at any time by majority vote of all members of the board, commission or committee.

(Ord. 632 § 4 (Exh. A), 4-21-2026; Ord. 516 § 1, 2013)

Compensation for boards, commissions, or committees shall be as set by ordinance or resolution of the city council.

(Ord. 632 § 4 (Exh. A), 4-21-2026; Ord. 516 § 1, 2013)

A. The purpose, powers and duties of all boards and commissions are determined by the city council, adopted by ordinance, and set forth in the municipal code section specific to each board and commission. From time to time, the city council may expand or retract powers and duties either temporarily or permanently and may, by ordinance or resolution, amend any chapter or section of this code. From time to time, the housing authority, by resolution, may expand or retract powers and duties of the housing commission, either temporarily or permanently, as long as any resolution is not in conflict with the powers and duties set forth in the municipal code.

B. The purpose, powers, and duties of all standing and temporary committees shall be set by the city council or the establishing body, except that, for standing and temporary committees established by the housing authority, the purpose, powers and duties of any standing and temporary committee shall be consistent with state law governing housing authorities.

(Ord. 632 § 4 (Exh. A), 4-21-2026; Ord. 546 § 2, 2016; Ord. 516 § 1, 2013)

On an annual basis, in conjunction with the Political Reform Act disclosure statutes and the city of La Quinta's Conflict of Interest Code, or at any time if a change in circumstances warrants, each board, commission and committee member will provide the city with a disclosure statement, which identifies any matters that have a bearing on the appropriateness of that member's service. Such matters may include, but are not limited to, changes in employment, changes in residence or changes in clients.

(Ord. 632 § 4 (Exh. A), 4-21-2026; Ord. 516 § 1, 2013)

A. Any member of a board or commission may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, by a majority vote of the city council, or in the case of the housing commission, by a majority vote of the housing authority. Any member of a committee may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, by a majority vote of the establishing body.

B. If any member of a board, commission or committee absents themself from two (2) consecutive regular meetings, or absents themself from a total of three (3) regular meetings within any fiscal year, their office shall become vacant and shall be filled as any other vacancy.

C. Any member of a board or commission may request advance permission from the city council to be absent at one (1) or more regular meetings due to extenuating circumstances, and/or may request the city council to excuse an absence after-the-fact where such extenuating circumstances prevented the member from seeking advance permission to be absent, except for the housing commission, whose member(s) may request such excusal from the housing authority. Any member of a temporary committee may request such excusal from the establishing body. If such permission or excuse is granted by the city council, housing authority, or establishing body, the absence shall not be counted toward the above-stated limitations on absences.

(Ord. 632 § 4 (Exh. A), 4-21-2026; Ord. 516 § 1, 2013)

A. All departments of the city, through the office of the city manager, shall furnish appropriate existing public information, data and records, and provide technical assistance and advice as required, within reason, as an aid to the boards, commissions and committees in the performance of designated duties.

B. The city manager shall, within reason or budgetary constraints, provide or cause to be provided adequate staff and clerical help to all boards, commissions and committees.

C. The staff and clerical help assigned by the city manager shall maintain accurate and permanent records of the acts of each board, commission and committee.

D. All boards, commissions and committees shall supply to the city council, housing authority, and/or establishing body, on request, such information relating to its activities as are public records.

(Ord. 632 § 4 (Exh. A), 4-21-2026; Ord. 516 § 1, 2013)