Riverside Municipal Code Art. VIII Appointive Boards and Commissions

There shall be the following enumerated boards and commissions which shall have the powers and duties herein stated, and such additional powers and duties, consistent with the provisions of this Charter, as may be granted to them by ordinance of the City Council.

In addition, the City Council may create by ordinance such additional advisory boards or commissions as in its judgment are required, and may grant to them such powers and duties as are consistent with the provisions of this Charter.

The City Council shall establish by ordinance, the number of members, not less than seven, for each board or commission.

(Effective 12/27/1995)

The City Council shall include in its annual budget such appropriations of funds as in its opinion shall be sufficient for the efficient and proper functioning of such boards and commissions.

(Effective 12/27/1995)

The members of each such board or commission shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor and City Council and shall be nominated and appointed by the Mayor and City Council from the qualified electors of the City, none of whom shall hold any paid office or employment in the City government. Each such board or commission shall have at least one member from each Council ward. They shall be subject to removal by the Mayor and City Council by a motion adopted by five affirmative votes with the Mayor entitled to vote. The members thereof shall serve for a term of four years and until their respective successors are appointed and qualified, and may serve for not more than two consecutive full terms.

(Effective 1/18/2005)

Upon the effective date of this Charter, incumbent members of boards and commissions shall be deemed reappointed and shall maintain the same terms of appointment held under the previous Charter, and all existing boards and commissions shall remain in existence until further action by the City Council consistent with this Article.

All vacancies shall be filled as described in this Article except that when a position on a board or commission has remained vacant for sixty days the Mayor shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy.

The City Council shall provide by ordinance, as provided by Section 800, to establish the number of members of a board or commission as soon as practicable following the effective date of this Charter. If the number of members is reduced by such ordinance, the persons whose seats are to be eliminated shall be determined by the board or commission by lot. If the number of members is increased, the ordinance may provide for initial terms for new members of less than four years so that as near as possible an equal number of terms will expire each year.

(Effective 12/27/1995)

At the first meeting of each board or commission after the last day in February of each year, each of such boards and commissions shall organize by electing one of its members to serve as presiding officer at the pleasure of such board or commission. Each board or commission shall hold regular meetings at least once each month and such special meetings as such board or commission may require. All proceedings shall be open to the public, except as provided by State law.

Except as may be otherwise provided in this Charter, the City Manager shall designate a secretary for the recording of minutes for each of such boards and commissions, who shall keep a record of its proceedings and transactions. Each board or commission may prescribe its own rules and regulations which shall be consistent with the Charter and copies of which shall be kept on file in the Office of the City Clerk where they shall be available for public inspection. Each board or commission may request from the City Council the power to compel the attendance of witnesses, to compel the production of evidence before it and to administer oaths and affirmations. The City Council, by resolution, shall have sole power to provide such power to boards and commissions.

(Effective 12/27/1995)

The members of boards and commissions shall serve without compensation for their services as such, but may receive reimbursement for necessary traveling and other expenses incurred on official duty when such expenditures have received authorization by the City Council.

Any vacancies in any board or commission, from whatever cause arising, shall be filled by the Mayor and City Council with the Mayor entitled to vote on any such appointment. Upon vacancy occurring leaving an unexpired portion of a term, any appointment to fill such a vacancy shall be for the unexpired portion of such term. If a member of a board or commission absents himself/herself from three consecutive regular meetings of such board or commission, unless by permission of such board or commission expressed in its official minutes, or is convicted of a crime of moral turpitude, or ceases to be a qualified elector of the City, the office shall become vacant and shall be so declared by the City Council. If a position on an enumerated board or commission has remained vacant for sixty days, the Mayor shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy in accordance with Section 803.

(Effective 12/27/1995)

There shall be a Planning Commission which shall have the power and duty to:

(a) After a public hearing thereon, recommend to the City Council the adoption, amendment or repeal of the General Plan, or any part thereof, for the physical development of the City.

(b) Exercise such control over land subdivisions as is granted to it by the City Council.

(c) Make recommendations concerning proposed infrastructure improvements and redevelopment activities in support of planned land uses.

(d) Exercise such functions with respect to zoning and land use as may be prescribed by ordinance, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter.

(e) Review all other land use issues as may be prescribed by ordinance, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter.

The City Engineer, City Attorney, and Community Development Director or their assistants, may meet with and participate in the discussions of the Planning Commission but shall not have a vote.

(Effective 10/23/2012 and 12/27/1995)

There shall be a Human Resources Board, which shall have the power and duty to:

(a) Recommend to the City Council, after a public hearing thereon, the adoption, amendment or repeal of personnel rules and regulations.

(b) Act in an advisory capacity to the City Council on matters concerning personnel administration.

(Effective 12/27/1995)

There shall be a Board of Library Trustees, which shall have the power and duty to:

(a) Have charge of the administration of City libraries and make and enforce such bylaws, rules and regulations as may be necessary therefor.

(b) Designate its own secretary.

(c) Consider the annual budget for library purposes during the process of its preparation and make recommendations with respect thereto to the City Council and the City Manager.

(d) Purchase and acquire books, journals, maps, publications and other supplies peculiar to the needs of the library, subject, however, to the limitations of the budget for such purposes. The expenditure and disbursement of funds for such purchases shall be made and approved as elsewhere in this Charter provided.

(e) Approve or disapprove the appointment, suspension or removal of the Library Director, who shall be the department head.

(f) Accept money, personal property or real estate donated to the City for library purposes, subject to the approval of the City Council.

(g) Contract with schools, County or other governmental agencies to render or receive library services or facilities, subject to the approval of the City Council.

(Effective 10/23/2012 and 12/27/1995)

There shall be a Park and Recreation Commission which shall have the power and duty to:

(a) Act in an advisory capacity to the City Council in all matters pertaining to parks, recreation, parkways and street trees.

(b) Consider the annual budget for parks, recreation, parkways and street tree purposes during the process of its preparation and make recommendations with respect thereto to the City Council and the City Manager.

(c) Assist in the planning of parks and recreation programs for the inhabitants of the City, promote and stimulate public interest therein, and to that end solicit to the fullest extent possible the cooperation of school authorities and other public and private agencies interested therein.

(d) Establish policies for the acquisition, development and improvement of parks and playgrounds and for the planting, care and removal of trees and shrubs in all parks, playgrounds and streets, subject to the rights and powers of the City Council.

(Effective 12/27/1995)

There shall be a Community Police Review Commission which shall have the power and duty to:

(a) Advise the Mayor and City Council on all police/community relations issues.

(b) Conduct public outreach to educate the community on the purpose of the commission.

(c) Receive, and in its discretion, review and investigate citizen complaints against officers of the Riverside Police Department filed within six months of the date of the alleged misconduct in writing with the commission or any other City office as established by ordinance of the City Council.

(d) Review and investigate the death of any individual arising out of or in connection with actions of a police officer, regardless of whether a complaint regarding such death has been filed.

(e) Conduct a hearing on filed complaints or commission-initiated investigations when such hearing, in the discretion of the commission, will facilitate the fact finding process.

(f) Exercise the power of subpoena to require the attendance of witnesses, including persons employed by the City of Riverside, and the production of books and papers pertinent to the investigation and to administer oaths to such witnesses and to take testimony to the extent permissible by law. Subpoenas shall only be issued by the commission upon the affirmative vote of six commission members.

(g) Make findings concerning allegations contained in the filed complaint to the City Manager and Police Chief.

(h) Review and advise the Riverside Police Department in matters pertaining to police policies and practices.

(i) Prepare and submit an annual report to the Mayor and City Council on commission activities.

(Effective 1/18/2005)