Mendocino County Municipal Code Ch. 2.50 Mendocino County Fish and Game Commission

The Mendocino County Fish and Game Commission is established by the Board of Supervisors to insure that renewable natural resources including fish, game and wildlife and their habitats are conserved for this and succeeding generations of Mendocino County residents. Historically, this function resided in the Fish and Game Advisory committee created by resolution in 1947 and designated a Commission by minute order of the Board of Supervisors in 1987. Enactment of this Chapter supersedes all prior actions concerning this Commission.

(Ord. No. 3819 (part), adopted 1992.)

The primary responsibility of the Commission is to advise the Board on fish, game and wildlife matters when those matters are referred to them. The Commission is further charged with keeping informed and from time to time reporting to the Board on the status of fish, game and wildlife in the County and to identify threats to their continued health and well-being. The Commission shall recommend to the Board of Supervisors expenditures from the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund. The Commission is also authorized to undertake the management of projects previously approved by the Board of Supervisors subject to ongoing oversight and project monitoring by the County Administrative Officer or that officer's designee.

(Ord. No. 3819 (part), adopted 1992.)

The Commission shall consist of seven (7) members, each of the five (5) members shall be a resident of one (1) of the five (5) supervisorial districts, nominated by that member's respective Supervisor and two (2) members appointed at large, one (1) to represent the coastal supervisorial districts and one (1) to represent the inland supervisorial districts.

Each member shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.

Each Commissioner representing a supervisorial district shall serve for the same term as the Supervisor from that District.

A vacancy in the office of a Supervisor shall result in a vacancy in the office of the Commissioner appointed to represent that District. The Commissioner shall continue to hold office until a successor is appointed. The two (2) at large Commissioners shall serve for a term of four (4) years or until replaced at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors. A Commissioner may be reappointed to succeed herself or himself.

(Ord. No. 3819 (part), adopted 1992.)

The Commission shall meet regularly every two (2) months at such time and place as agreed upon by the Commission and such other special meetings as shall be required from time to time. However, regular meetings shall rotate between the cities of Ukiah, Willits and Fort Bragg.

Four (4) members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. No action or vote of the Commission shall be valid unless approved by four (4) members of the entire Commission.

(Ord. No. 3819 (part), adopted 1992.)

The powers and duties of the Commission, as qualified by Section 2.50.020, shall be as follows:

(A) On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, upon a majority vote of the Board, to study and investigate by means of meetings, conferences, public hearings or other appropriate means, conditions impacting on fish, game and wildlife propagation;

(B) To recommend to the Board of Supervisors necessary programs, or legislation to promote fish, game and wildlife propagation;

(C) To render to the Board of Supervisors an annual report of Commission activities, or more frequently if so requested by the Board;

(D) Subject to the approval of the County Administrator, to request of any County department information, services, facilities and other assistance in furtherance of the objectives of this Chapter;

(E) To comment upon California Environmental Quality Act referrals in a timely fashion;

(F) With the prior consent of the Board of Supervisors, the Commission may solicit funds from the Federal and State governmental agencies, gifts, donations and bequests from any source for carrying out the purposes of this Chapter;

(G) The Commission shall not possess independent authority to enter into contracts of any kind. All County contracting and purchasing regulations apply to the Commission.

(Ord. No. 3819 (part), adopted 1992.)

Expenditures from the County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund shall comply with the requirements of Fish and Game Code Sections 13100, 13101, 13102, 13103 and 13104.

(Ord. No. 3819 (part), adopted 1992.)

The Commission may engage the services of volunteer workers and consultants without compensation as it finds necessary. These services shall not be considered as employment by the County for any purpose. The Board of Supervisors may appoint honorary nonvoting directors to the Commission as it may determine from time to time.

(Ord. No. 3819 (part), adopted 1992.)

The Commission may adopt and amend bylaws subject to the prior approval of the Board of Supervisors.

(Ord. No. 3819 (part), adopted 1992.)