Monterey Municipal Code Art. 3 BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES Revised

The purpose of this article is to provide for the establishment, organization, and conduct of City boards, commissions, and committees. The general provisions of this article apply to all boards, commissions, and committees, except as otherwise specifically provided in the Charter. In the event of an inconsistency between the general provisions contained in this article and the Charter, the Charter shall control. (Ord. 3646 § 2, 2022; Ord. 3599 § 3, 2019. Formerly 2-2.01)

The following City boards, commissions, and committees are hereby established:

a.Planning Commission;

b.Parks and Recreation Commission;

c.Historic Preservation Commission;

d.Museums and Cultural Arts Commission;

e.Appeals Hearing Board;

f.Building and Housing Appeals Board;

g.Disabled Access Appeals Board. (Ord. 3715 § 3, 2025; Ord. 3646 § 2, 2022; Ord. 3599 § 3, 2019. Formerly 2-2.02)

City boards, commissions, and committees shall have the general power and duty, within each body’s sphere of interest, to render advice and to make recommendations to the City Council. Special powers and duties in addition to the general powers and duties are ascribed to each body as set forth in this Chapter or by resolution of the City Council. (Ord. 3646 § 2, 2022; Ord. 3599 § 3, 2019. Formerly 2-2.03)

a.City employees are not eligible to serve as City commissioners, board members, or committee members.

b.Members of boards, commissions, and committees shall serve for a term of four years, unless otherwise specified in this section. Terms shall commence on the first day of July and end on the thirtieth day of June.

c.A member may be appointed to serve a term of less, or more, than four years if the City Council determines that it is in the best interest of the board, commission, or committee that a member serve a shorter term in order to provide for appropriate staggered terms to preserve continuity of membership on the board, committee or commission.

d.A member who has been appointed to serve unexpired terms due to an unplanned vacancy shall serve to the end of the former incumbent’s term.

e.

1. Term Limits.“No person shall serve more than 12 years total in appointed service. This term limit shall apply in the aggregate to all boards, commissions, and committees, regardless of whether such service is consecutive or nonconsecutive, or on a single body or in combination. This subsection applies to full terms commencing on or after January 15, 2026.

2. Exceptions to Term Limits.The term limits set forth in subsection (e)(1) of this section shall not apply:

i.To the Appeals Hearing Board, the Disabled Access Board, the Building and Housing Appeals Board, or the Measures P and S Oversight Committee.

ii.When no qualified residents apply for the appointment.

f.Members shall serve until reappointed or until the member’s successor has been appointed and seated, unless removed sooner by action of the City Council.

g.With the exception of the Appeals Hearing Board, the Disabled Access Board, and the Building and Housing Appeals Board, and the Measures P and S Oversight Committee, no person shall be a member of more than one City board, commission, or committee at a time. In the event that a member of a board, commission, or committee is appointed to a second board, commission, or committee, then that person’s membership on the first body shall be automatically vacated.

h.Each board, committee, or commission shall meet on a regularly scheduled date that it shall fix, unless a meeting is cancelled, and meetings shall be subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act, set forth in Government Code Section 54950 et seq., as may be amended.

i.Cause for removal of an appointed member pursuant to Charter Section 4.5(b)(1) includes, but is not limited to, three consecutive absences from a regularly scheduled meeting and the failure to complete required trainings specified under Section 2-3.10. (Ord. 3715 § 4, 2025; Ord. 3669 § 2, 2023; Ord. 3646 § 2, 2022; Ord. 3599 § 3, 2019. Formerly 2-2.04)

In July, each board, commission, and committee shall appoint one of its members as chair to serve for a term of one year. The chair shall preside at all meetings of the board, commission, or committee. Each board, commission, and committee shall also appoint a vice chair to serve in the place of the chair during the chair’s absence. The chair and vice chair shall be subject to removal at any time, for any or no reason, by a majority vote of the board, commission, or committee. (Ord. 3646 § 2, 2022; Ord. 3599 § 3, 2019. Formerly 2-2.05)

Unless the City Council determines otherwise through separate action, the City boards, commissions, and committees shall organize and operate in accordance with uniform policies and procedures approved by the City Council. (Ord. 3646 § 2, 2022; Ord. 3599 § 3, 2019. Formerly 2-2.06)

A majority of the full statutory membership of each board, commission, or committee shall constitute a quorum. Disqualified members (i.e., when the law requires that a member not participate in a decision) are not counted as part of the quorum. Members who abstain (i.e., members who voluntarily choose not to participate in a decision) are counted as part of the quorum. (Ord. 3646 § 2, 2022; Ord. 3599 § 3, 2019. Formerly 2-2.07)

So far as is practicable, and subject to approval of the City Manager, the services of the various City departments shall be made available by the heads of each department to the board, commission, or committee, to the extent it is necessary to enable it to perform its functions, powers, and duties.

Staff liaisons are generally responsible for accurate meeting notices and record keeping, communicating between the board, commission, or committee and other City staff, assisting the committee in executing the Council-approved work plan, gathering public input, assisting the board or commission in staying focused on noticed agenda items, and maintaining a positive working relationship with the board or commission.

The liaisons do not work “for” or “at the direction” of the board, commission, or committee. Instead, the liaisons are professionals who work for the City Manager and with the boards, commissions, and committees to develop information and recommendations for the City Council within the scope of an approved work plan.

This section does not apply to the Board of Library Trustees. (Ord. 3646 § 2, 2022; Ord. 3599 § 3, 2019. Formerly 2-2.08)

a.Members of following boards and commissions shall receive $25 per meeting as compensation for their services, not to exceed $75 per month: (1) Planning Commission; (2) Historic Preservation Commission; (3) Parks and Recreation Commission; (4) Board of Library Trustees; and (5) Museums and Cultural Arts Commission.

b.Members of the following boards shall receive $25 per meeting as compensation for their services, not to exceed $50 per month: (1) Appeals Hearing Board; (2) Building and Housing Appeals Board; and (3) Disabled Access Board.

c.Members of the Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program Committee and the Measures P & S Oversight Committee shall serve without compensation. (Ord. 3715 § 5, 2025; Ord. 3669 § 3, 2023; Ord. 3646 § 2, 2022; Ord. 3599 § 3, 2019. Formerly 2-2.09)

a.Each member shall receive ethics and sexual harassment prevention training and education as required by State law.

b.The City Clerk shall report a member’s noncompliance with required trainings within five working days after the compliance deadline to the Finance Department and the member’s identified staff liaison. During a period of noncompliance, all meeting attendance stipends and expense reimbursements shall cease. Meeting stipends and expense reimbursement shall resume when compliance is obtained, but the member shall not be paid for any service or expense undertaken during the period of noncompliance. (Ord. 3669 § 4, 2023)

The City Council may by unanimous vote elect honorary life members of the Planning Commission, Board of Library Trustees, Museums and Cultural Arts Commission, and Parks and Recreation Commission.

The person elected shall usually have served at least 10 consecutive years on such board, commission or committee, and demonstrated active participation during such time, provided the City Council may confer such honor on any person who has been duly appointed.

Honorary life members shall receive all notices and minutes of meetings, shall be invited to attend such meetings, but shall not be entitled to vote. (Ord. 3715 § 6, 2025; Ord. 3646 § 2, 2022; Ord. 3599 § 3, 2019. Formerly 2-2.11)