Los Altos Municipal Code Ch. 2.08 City Commissions Generally

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2023-493, § 1, adopted June 13, 2023, amended Ch. 2.08 in its entirety to read as set out herein. Former Ch. 2.08 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Prior code §§ 2- 5.02—2-5.10; Ord. 08-326 § 1—3; Ord. 00-388 § 2; Ord. No. 2011-369, §§ 1—5, adopted Aug. 23, 2011; Ord. No. 2011-374, §§ 1—4, adopted Nov. 22, 2011; Ord. No. 2012-379, §§ 1—3, 5, adopted May 22, 2012; Ord. No. 2013-391, § 1—4, adopted March 26, 2013; Ord. No. 2016-420, § 1—5, adopted June 28, 2016; Ord. No. 2017-434, § 1, adopted Sept. 26, 2017; and Ord. No. 2023-490, § 1(App. D), adopted March 28, 2023.

There are hereby established the following commissions in the city, with the following regular voting members:

A.

Complete streets commission: Seven members

B.

Environmental commission: Seven members;

C.

Financial commission: Seven members;

D.

Historical commission: Five members;

E.

Library commission: Five members;

F.

Parks, arts, recreation and cultural commission: Seven members;

G.

Planning commission: Seven members;

H.

Youth commission: Eleven (11) members; from school grades nine through twelve (12); and

I.

Senior Commission: Seven members, age fifty-five (55) or older. Exceptions may be made for individuals with special skills which may benefit seniors.

(Ord. No. 2023-493, § 1, 6-13-2023)

A.

All voting members shall be appointed by the council, with the following exceptions:

Four members of the library commission shall be appointed by the council and one member of the library commission shall be appointed by the Town of Los Altos Hills City Council; and

Five members of the senior commission shall be appointed by the council and two members of the senior commission shall be appointed by the Town of Los Altos Hills City Council.

B.

All voting commissioners shall be residents of the city, except that:

One voting member of the library commission need not be a resident;

One voting member of the historical commission need not be a resident provided the criteria of Section 2.12.010 are met; and

Two voting members of the senior commission need not be residents.

(Ord. No. 2023-493, § 1, 6-13-2023)

A.

Commissioners, with the exception of senior and youth commissioners, shall serve for a term of four years and may be reappointed to one additional four-year term. Terms shall be staggered and expire on the last day of September. A commissioner shall be appointed by a majority vote of the council and may be removed prior to the expiration of his or her term by a majority vote of the council, and such removal may be with or without cause.

B.

Senior commissioners shall serve two-year terms with incumbents eligible to serve a total of four, two-year terms, in addition to an unexpired term. Terms shall be staggered and expire on the last day of September.

C.

Youth commissioners shall be appointed from school grades nine through twelve (12) and shall serve two- year terms with incumbents eligible to reapply for appointment for terms through and including their senior year. Terms shall be staggered and expire on June 30th. The city council's youth commission interview committee shall interview commission applicants and recommend appointments.

D.

Except for senior and youth commissioners, a commissioner appointed to fill an unexpired term may be eligible for reappointment to an additional two terms.

E.

The two-term limit shall apply to consecutive terms only. After a lapse of two years, a former commissioner may reapply for an appointment to any commission desired as a new applicant. The two-year lapse between appointments shall apply only to service on one commission. Upon leaving one commission, an individual may apply for an appointment to any other commission at any time.

F.

Appointments to each commission shall be made as terms expire or when unanticipated vacancies occur.

G.

Vacancies on any commission shall be filled by a majority vote of the council, except that the Town of Los Altos Hills City Council may fill one vacancy on the library commission and two vacancies on the senior commission. An individual appointed to fill a vacancy prior to the expiration of the term for which his or her predecessor was appointed shall serve for such unexpired term.

(Ord. No. 2023-493, § 1, 6-13-2023)

Commissioners shall serve without compensation. The council may approve reimbursement to commissioners of expenses incurred by them in their official capacity.

Annually, each commission shall elect one of its members as chair and one as vice-chair, each to serve a one-year term. Each commission shall provide the time, place, and manner for holding regular and special meetings. A majority of the authorized membership of a commission shall constitute a quorum of that commission. All meetings of the commission as a whole, or any standing subcommittees, shall be open to the public and noticed in accordance with state law.

Each commission shall establish a regular meeting day and time and shall hold meetings as listed. All commissions shall not hold regular meetings during the months of July and December.

A.

Complete streets commission: Once monthly.

B.

Environmental commission: Once monthly.

C.

Financial commission: Twice quarterly.

D.

Historical commission: Once quarterly.

E.

Library commission: Every other month.

F.

Parks, arts, recreation and cultural commission: Once monthly.

G.

Planning commission: Twice monthly.

H.

Senior commission: Once monthly.

I.

Youth commission: Once monthly.

Any regular meeting may be cancelled in accordance with state law.

(Ord. No. 2023-493, § 1, 6-13-2023)

The planning commission shall have those powers and duties given it by the State Planning Act (Title 7 of Chapter 3 of the Government Code of the state, commencing with Section 65100), as amended from time to time, and such other powers as granted it by the other provisions of this Municipal Code, or as may be entrusted to it by the council from time to time, and shall submit an annual report to the council.

(Ord. No. 2023-493, § 1, 6-13-2023)

The library commission shall:

A.

Serve as the principal liaison between the City Council of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills and the Santa Clara County Library District, and the various community entities that help to fund the library branches, including, but not limited to, the North County Library Authority, the Los Altos Library Endowment and the Friends of the Los Altos Library;

B.

Review the Los Altos Library programs, services and facilities, and make recommendations to the council, the city manager and/or county and community librarians as appropriate, for additions or modifications thereof;

C.

Conduct community outreach regarding the library facilities, programs and services, and report back to the council and/or the county and community librarians as appropriate;

D.

Perform such other tasks as may be expressly requested of it by the city council;

E.

Serve as a forum for community input and engagement;

F.

Submit an annual report to the council; and

G.

Perform other tasks and duties as assigned by the council.

(Ord. No. 2023-493, § 1, 6-13-2023)

The parks, art, recreation and cultural commission shall:

A.

Submit an annual report to the city council providing an update on the direction and changes to parks and recreation facilities and infrastructure, and park, art, recreation and cultural programs and activities;

B.

Review and advise on programs, activities and resources designed to provide for, regulate and direct the future growth and development of parks facilities and recreation programming;

C.

Manage the public outdoor sculpture loan program. The commission will conduct sculpture searches, evaluate and recommend sculptures, identify sculpture locations and work with staff on placement and maintenance of sculptures;

D.

Annually review the inventory of art in public places and advise the city in matters pertaining to the maintenance, placement, alteration, sale, transfer, ownership and acceptance or refusal of donations of art in public places;

E.

Serve as a forum for community input and engagement; and

F.

Perform other tasks and duties as assigned by the council.

(Ord. No. 2023-493, § 1, 6-13-2023)

The historical commission shall have those powers and duties granted it by Section 2.12.030 of the Los Altos Municipal Code and/or as may be entrusted to it by the council from time to time and shall submit an annual report to the council.

(Ord. No. 2023-493, § 1, 6-13-2023)

The youth commission shall act in an advisory capacity to the city council on matters relating to youth interests, youth concerns, and the need for outreach services.

(Ord. No. 2023-493, § 1, 6-13-2023)

The commission shall:

A.

Submit an annual report to council providing an update on the implementation of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) as well as updates on any relevant environmental policy or programs;

B.

Review and provide recommendations for the implementation of the CAAP, including prioritization of CAAP action items. Make annual recommendations for changes or updates to the plan;

C.

Annually provide recommendations to the council that affect the natural and built environment to inform policy, budget, and CIP prioritization;

D.

Serve as a forum for community input and engagement; and

E.

Perform other tasks and duties as assigned by the council.

(Ord. No. 2023-493, § 1, 6-13-2023)

The commission shall have those powers and duties entrusted to it by the council including:

A.

Annual review of the investment policy;

B.

Annual review of independent financial audit;

C.

Review of auditor selection process;

D.

Review of financial projections and assumptions. This especially relates to review of revenue projections provided in the annual mid-year report which are used biennially as the basis for the service and financial plan;

E.

Special projects as directed by the council, city manager or finance director; and

F.

Submission of an annual report to the council.

The financial commission provides resident input to the council and staff regarding financial policy issues, and promotes resident participation and understanding regarding the financial condition of the city.

(Ord. No. 2023-493, § 1, 6-13-2023)

The joint Los Altos/Los Altos Hills senior commission shall act in an advisory capacity to the council in all matters relating to senior interests and concerns, shall make recommendations aimed at improving the life of seniors, and shall submit an annual report to the council.

The complete streets commissions shall:

A.

Submit an annual report to council providing an update on the implementation of the Complete Streets Master Plan (CSMP) as well as an update on any relevant transportation policy or programs;

B.

Review and advise on the implementation of the projects outlined in the CSMP;

C.

Annually provide recommendations to the council on transportation-related priorities to inform policy, budget, and CIP prioritization;

D.

Serve as a forum for community input and engagement; and

E.

Perform other tasks and duties as assigned by the council.

(Ord. No. 2023-493, § 1, 6-13-2023)

The city manager, or his/her designee, shall appoint an individual to serve as liaison to each commission. The role of the staff liaison is to assist the commission in carrying out its responsibilities. Duties of the staff liaison shall include attending all meetings of the commission, preparing agendas in collaboration with the chair, ensuring agendas and reports are posted in compliance with state law and city protocols, researching and preparing reports for the commission, as is consistent with the work plan and/or council direction, preparing action minutes for approval by the commission, preparing reports from the commission to the council, serving as the liaison between the commission and other city staff, communicating directions from the city council to the commission, and staying apprised of new laws and city protocols related to their assigned commission or commissions generally.

(Ord. No. 2023-493, § 1, 6-13-2023)

No commission shall have the power or authority to authorize the expenditure of city funds or to bind the city to any written or implied contract.

(Ord. No. 2023-493, § 1, 6-13-2023)

Unless otherwise provided herein, commissioners shall be bound by all city policies, including the Commission Handbook.

(Ord. No. 2023-493, § 1, 6-13-2023)