Lompoc Municipal Code Ch. 2.56 Utility Commission

There is hereby created a Utility Commission which shall consist of five members to be appointed as follows:

A. A member of the City Council, upon commencement of that member's term of office, shall nominate for appointment or reappointment a member of the Utility Commission whose term of office concurrently expires with that of the nominating Councilmember. The nominee may be interviewed by the City Council at a duly noticed public meeting and shall be appointed by the Mayor, upon approval of a majority vote of all members of the City Council.

B. Each member of the City Council shall have an opportunity to nominate one appointee to become a member of the Utility Commission. If the Mayor fails to appoint such nominee due to failure of the majority of all the members of the City Council to approve the appointment, the Councilmember whose nominee was rejected may nominate such other persons as necessary until the majority of the City Council votes to approve a nominee for appointment and the Mayor appoints that nominee to the Utility Commission. The Mayor shall not refuse to appoint any nominee otherwise qualified to serve on the Utility Commission, once the majority of all the members of the City Council have voted the approval of such nomination.

C. Failure to nominate a person for a seat on the Utility Commission for six consecutive regular or adjourned City Council meetings shall entitle the Mayor to appoint the Mayor's or any other Council Member's nominee to the seat upon the approval of the majority of all of the members of the City Council without the nomination of that member of the City Council otherwise entitled to nominate.

(Prior code § 3323(A); Ord. 1688(22) § 7; Ord. 1716(25), 2/4/2025)

The Utility Commission shall recommend and act in an advisory capacity to the City Council in all matters pertaining to water supply, water distribution activities of the City, operation of the City's wastewater facilities, operation of the City's electric distribution system, and operation of the City's solid waste facilities, as follows:

A. Review of water supply, wastewater effluent, and solid waste disposal principles, guidelines, policies, and objectives for long-term water resource planning of the City, surrounding environs, and surrounding region, including groundwater and surface water management programs and the control and use of reclaimed water;

B. Management and operation of the water, wastewater, electric, and solid waste, utilities and facilities of the City, including the development, production, distribution, and use of water; possible use of reclaimed water from the City's wastewater system, refuse collection, waste management, recycling, and protection of the landfill capacity; and long-term capital improvement plans for the utility distribution and collection systems;

C. Periodic receipt of reports or presentations regarding Utility Divisions' revenues and expenditures;

D. Review and recommendations concerning the biennial budget for the water, wastewater, electric, and solid waste utilities prior to adoption by the City Council. This review shall consist of evaluation of budgetary elements such as operating costs, capital expenditures, debt obligations, revenues, level of reserves, or financial reserve policies which the City Council shall thereafter consider at the time of adoption of the biennial budget, based upon the recommendation of the Commission and such other factors deemed appropriate;

E. Review and recommendation regarding the establishment and adjustment of consumer rates for water service, sewer service, solid waste service, electrical service, and electrical energy sales within the City when directed by the City Council; and

F. Review and recommendation to the City Council of rules and regulations governing the City's electric system, including hearing appeals by citizens regarding the implementation of such rules and regulations in accordance with LMC Chapter 13.20.

(Prior code § 3323(B); Ord. 1582 § 1, 2012; Ord. 1712(24), 11/19/2024; Ord. 1717(25), 2/18/2025)

From time to time the Commission may adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to carry out its functions.

(Prior code § 3323(C))

The terms of office for members of the Utility Commission shall expire concurrently with those of each Council Member responsible for that Commission member's nomination for a seat on the Utility Commission. Vacancies on the Utility Commission occurring during an unexpired term shall be selected as provided in Section 2.56.010. Council vacancies occurring during a term of office of a Council Member shall not affect the term of office for the members of the Utility Commission. Commissioners shall serve until their successors have been appointed by the City Council and qualified.

(Prior code § 3323(D); Ord. 1677(21) § 5; Ord. 1688(22) § 8; Ord. 1716(25), 2/4/2025)

Any member of the Utility Commission may be removed from office at any time by a majority vote of the full City Council. If any Commission member misses three consecutive meetings, without permission, his or her office becomes vacant.

(Prior code § 3323(E))

All Utility Commission members shall be City residents. No person who is employed by the City shall be appointed to the Utility Commission.

(Prior code § 3323(F); Ord. 1677(21) § 6; Ord. 1688(22) § 9; Ord. 1716(25), 2/4/2025)

The Utility Commission shall meet the second Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Lompoc City Hall, 100 Civic Center Plaza, Lompoc, CA. The City Council, City Manager, Utility Director, or a majority of Commission members may call meetings when deemed necessary.

(Prior code § 3323(G); Ord. 1712(24), 11/19/2024; Ord. 1717(25), 2/18/2025)

A meeting shall be scheduled annually in February to elect a chairperson and vice chairperson. These elected officers shall hold office for a period of one year. The chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Utility Commission and the vice chairperson shall act as presiding officer in the chairperson's absence. The Utility Director shall serve as secretary and advisor to the Utility Commission.

(Prior code § 3323(H))

All operational expenses of the Utility Commission shall be approved by the City Council and funds budgeted for this purpose shall be included in the City budget. Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation. However, actual and necessary expenditures incurred by members while carrying out official Commission business may be reimbursed to them, provided such expenses previously have been approved by the Utility Director.

(Prior code § 3323(I))