Santa Paula Municipal Code Ch. 12 General Requirements for City Commissions, Boards, and Committees

This chapter is adopted for the purpose of setting forth the enabling provisions establishing the city's various bodies, boards, and commissions (collectively “committees”) that assist the City Council in conducting public business and prescribing the manner in which persons may be appointed to such committees. Additional committees may be created by City Council resolution.

(Ord. 1077, passed 10-20-03)

The City Council may, by resolution, determine whether, and in what amount, compensation will be provided for members of the committees established by this division. Without a City Council resolution establishing compensation, it shall be conclusively presumed that no compensation is to be provided.

(Ord. 1077, passed 10-20-03)

Member qualifications and/or committee duties or responsibilities may be revised or amended by City Council resolution.

(Ord. 1077, passed 10-20-03)

(A) Unless otherwise provided, committees established pursuant to this division consist of five members appointed by the City Council in the manner provided by this chapter. Three members constitute a quorum. The City Manager may designate an ex-officio staff person to serve as secretary and custodian of records who will not have a vote.

(B) Unless otherwise provided, during their incumbency all members must be, and remain, residents in fact of the city. Should any member cease to be a city resident, that office is deemed vacant. The secretary will notify the City Council and the City Clerk of the termination as soon as administratively possible.

(Ord. 1077, passed 10-20-03)

(A) Unless otherwise provided, of members first appointed to a committee, two will be appointed for a term of one year, two will be appointed for a term of two years, and one will be appointed for a three year term. Succeeding members will be appointed for terms of four years. The secretary’s term may be designated by the City Manager.

(B) Unless otherwise provided, all committee members will serve until a successor is qualified and appointed.

(Ord. 1077, passed 10-20-03)

(A) Persons seeking appointment to a committee should file applications, in a form prescribed by the City Clerk, or designee, to the City Clerk’s Office.

(B) The City Clerk will forward applications received for committee vacancies to the City Council, and interviews of applicants will be scheduled at a properly noticed and open meeting of the City Council. The meetings will generally occur outside the City Council chambers in an appropriate city facility to allow for informal interaction between the City Council and the applicants.

(C) Applicants will be interviewed individually on a staggered schedule.

(D) The City Council will take action regarding committee appointments at a regular or special City Council meeting after interviewing all qualified applicants. Candidates for a committee vacancy will be nominated by individual Council members and voted on an individual basis rather than by a slate vote.

(E) An applicant must be appointed to a committee by a majority vote of the City Council.

(F) If, following a City Council vote on all available applicants for a committee vacancy, the vacancies for a committee are not all filled, the application period to fill the vacancies will be automatically extended by an additional 30 days or the City Council may designate a different time period by majority vote.

(G) Upon the time period being extended, the City Clerk’s Office will seek further applications, not excluding previous applications, in accordance with applicable law including, without limitation, this code.

(Ord. 1077, passed 10-20-03)

Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, all members serve at the City Council’s pleasure and may be removed by a majority vote of the City Council at any time.

(Ord. 1077, passed 10-20-03)

(A) Each January, a committee will annually organize and elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from its membership for a one-year term. In the chairperson’s or vice-chairperson’s absence or disability, the committee may designate a chairperson or vice-chairperson pro tempore.

(B) Regular meetings may be held on a day and time established by committee resolution and may be amended from time to time.

(C) Committees may establish a procedure for calling special meetings and may also adopt application requirements, meeting procedures, and other reasonable rules and regulations for conducting business. Minutes must be kept of all meetings and the secretary will deliver copies of minutes to the City Manager and City Clerk for filing and distribution to City Council members.

(D) Committees may designate one of its members, or a subcommittee composed of less than a quorum to study, review, consider, or make recommendations concerning any matter within the committee’s purview.

(Ord. 1077, passed 10-20-03)

Unless otherwise provided, if a committee member fails to attend three consecutive meetings, unless excused for cause by the committee chairperson, that member’s office is deemed vacant. The committee secretary must immediately notify the City Council and City Clerk of such termination.

(Ord. 1077, passed 10-20-03)

If a vacancy occurs other than term expiration, notice must be given to the City Council and City Clerk. The City Council may appoint a new member in accordance with this chapter for the remaining portion of the term.

(Ord. 1077, passed 10-20-03)