Santa Clara County Municipal Code Ch. XVIII County of Santa Clara/Ukraine Citizen Diplomacy Commission

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. NS-300.995, adopted May 6, 2025, amended Ch. XVIII in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Ch. XVIII pertained to the same subject matter, and derived from Ord. No. NS-300.954, adopted April 19, 2022; and Ord. No. 300.991, adopted October 8, 2024.

The County of Santa Clara/Ukraine Citizen Diplomacy Commission is hereby established, in accordance with Sections 500 and 506 of the Charter.

(Ord. No. NS-300.995, § 1, 5-6-25)

The Commission shall consist of 15 members, three members appointed by each member of the Board of Supervisors. Persons appointed will have previously demonstrated their interest or participation in matters pertaining to the relationship between the people of Ukraine and the people of the United States.

Each member shall have a term of three years. No member shall be eligible to serve on such Commission for more than three consecutive terms in addition to any portion of any unexpired term which may have been served. After reaching the term limit, an individual may not be reappointed to serve on the Commission for one year after leaving the Commission.

Attendance by commission members at all regularly scheduled commission meetings is vital to the proper functioning of the Commission. A Commissioner's failure to attend three regular meetings in a 12-month period without good cause, as determined by the Chairperson, will result in notification to the appointing authority, and this may result in removal of the member from the Commission.

(Ord. No. NS-300.995, § 1, 5-6-25)

As soon as practicable after July 1 of every year, the Commission will organize by electing one of its members to serve as a chairperson and another as vice chairperson at the pleasure of the Commission. The Commission will adopt bylaws which shall govern the Commission, following approval as to form and legality by County Counsel and approval by the Board of Supervisors.

A majority consists of eight Commissioners which constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and no act of the Commission is valid unless at least eight of the members concur.

The Commission shall approve a schedule of up to six regular meetings for each calendar year in conformance with Ordinance Code section A6-3.

(Ord. No. NS-300.995, § 1, 5-6-25)

The Clerk of the Board of Supervisors shall be ex-officio secretary of the Commission and shall provide secretarial assistance to the Commission.

(Ord. No. NS-300.995, § 1, 5-6-25)

The Commission shall act in an advisory capacity to the Board of Supervisors fostering exchanges by and between the County of Santa Clara, United States of America, and the people of Ukraine while working towards the establishment of a Ukrainian Sister-County relationship. In addition, the Commission may facilitate the continuation of legacy educational exchanges of its predecessor commission, if requested to do so by the schools which participated in those programs.

(Ord. No. NS-300.995, § 1, 5-6-25)

The Commission will conduct its business in a fiscally responsible manner ensuring adequate revenue to cover any expenditure during the course of the Commission's business. Expenditures must be authorized by the Commission and supported by available revenues. Reimbursement for expenditures must comply with County ordinances, policies, and guidelines.

All funds received for the Commission must be deposited in the account administered by the Clerk of the Board, to the credit of the Commission, within five working days after receipt by the Clerk of the Board.

Commissioners shall be eligible to be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties as allowed by County policies and the Ordinance Code.

(Ord. No. NS-300.995, § 1, 2-25-25)