Chapter 2.23 — UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION

There is created a utilities advisory commission composed of seven members who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the city

council, but who shall not be council members, officers or employees of the city. Each member of the commission shall be a utility customer or the authorized representative of a utility customer. Six members of the commission shall at all times be residents of the city.

(Ord. 5047 § 1 (part), 2009: Ord. 4027 § 1 (part), 1991)

Terms of office on the Utilities Advisory Commission shall be three years. Effective January 1, 2022, terms of office due to expire on May 31 of each year shall be extended to expire on the March 31 of the following year, and thereafter terms of office shall commence on April 1. Commission appointments shall be staggered so that in each three-year cycle, two members are appointed one year, two members are appointed the next year, and three members are appointed the next year. If a successor is unavailable, a member may remain in office until his or her successor is appointed, subject to the limits in Section 2.16.080.

(Ord. 5529 § 8, 2021: Ord. 5354 § 5, 2015: Ord. 5208 § 15, 2013: Ord. 5047 § 1 (part), 2009: Ord. 4027 § 1 (part), 1991)

The commission shall elect one of its members chairperson. The chairperson shall hold office for one year and until his or her successor is elected, unless his or her term as a member of the commission expired earlier.

(Ord. 4027 § 1 (part), 1991)

(a) The purpose of the utilities advisory commission shall be to advise the city council on present and prospective long-range planning and policy and major program and project matters relating to the electric utility, gas utility, water utility, wastewater collection utility, fiber optics utility and recycled water matters, excluding daily operations.

(b) The utilities advisory commission shall have the following duties:

(1) Advise the city council on long-range planning and policy matters pertaining to:

(A) Development of the electric utility, gas utility, water utility, wastewater collection utility, fiber optics utility, and the recycled water resource;

(B) Joint action projects with other public or private entities which involve, affect or impact the electric utility, gas utility, water utility, wastewater collection utility, fiber optics utility, and the recycled water resource;

(C) Environmental aspects and attributes of the electric utility, gas utility, water utility, wastewater collection utility, fiber optics utility, and the recycled water resource;

(D) Water and energy conservation, energy efficiency, and demand side management; and

(E) Recycled water matters not otherwise addressed in the preceding subparagraphs (A) through (D);

(2) Review and make recommendations to the city council on the consistency with adopted and approved plans, policies, and programs of any major electric utility, gas utility, water utility, wastewater collection utility, fiber optics utility, or the recycled water resource;

(3) Formulate and review legislative proposals regarding the electric utility, gas utility, water utility, wastewater collection utility, fiber optics utility and the recycled water resource, to which the city is a party, in which the city has an interest, or by which the city may be affected;

(4) Review the electric utility, gas utility, water utility, wastewater collection utility, and fiber optics utility capital improvement programs, operating budgets and related reserves, and rates, and the recycled water program, budget, and rate, and thereafter forward any comments and recommendations to the finance committee or its successor;

(5) Provide advice upon such other matters as the city council may from time to time assign.

The utilities advisory commission shall not have the power or authority to cause the expenditure of city funds or to bind the city to any written, oral or implied contract.

(c) The utilities advisory commission may, subject to its city council-approved bylaws and at the discretion of the city council, foster and facilitate engagement with the general public, not excluding representatives of commerce and industry, in regard to the utility matters referred to in subsections (b)(1)(A) through (E).

(Ord. 5096 § 1, 2010: Ord. 4938 § 1, 2007: Ord. 4027 § 1 (part), 1991)

(a) The commission shall establish a regular time and place of meeting and shall hold at least one regular meeting per month.

(b) Four of the seven members shall constitute a quorum.

(c) The commission may establish rules and procedures governing the conduct of its meetings.

(d) The commission shall be subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act, California Government Code Section 54950, et seq.

(Ord. 5047 § 1 (part), 2009: Ord. 4027 § 1 (part), 1991)