Sutter County Municipal Code Ch. 78 Fish and Game Advisory Commission

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 1663, § 1, adopted July 9, 2019, amended Chapter 78 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Chapter 78, §§ 78-010—78-110, pertained to similar subject matter, and derived from Ord. 632, Sec. 1; June 3, 1975; Ord. 855, Sec. 1; Dec. 15, 1981; Ord. 909, Secs. 2—5; June 14, 1983; Ord. 1241, Secs. 1—3; Aug. 13, 1996; Ord. 1580; Sec. 1; January 22, 2013.

There is hereby created and established a commission consisting of 15 members and five alternate members, to be known as the Fish and Game Advisory Commission.

(Ord. No. 1663, § 1, 7-9-2019)

The Commission shall review all fish and game programs and the administration of these programs, and make recommendations thereon to the Board of Supervisors of Sutter County, with particular attention to the following areas:

(a) Advice and information of primary concern to the propagation and conservation of fish and game within the County of Sutter.

(b) Advice, information, and recommendations with regard to educational youth activities related to fish and game.

(c) Recommendation to the California Legislature and to the Congress of the United States with regard to the preservation and enhancement of fish and game within the County of Sutter.

(d) Steps which can be taken locally for the protection and conservation of fish and game within the County of Sutter.

(e) Advice and recommendations with regard to all expenditures from the County's Fish and Game Fund, the appropriateness and effectiveness of all County-sponsored services relating to fish and game protection, and all proposals relating to the extension and enhancement or discontinuance of any services of the County having a direct or indirect effect on fish and game propagation, programs, policies, and practices existing within the County of Sutter.

(Ord. No. 1663, § 1, 7-9-2019)

(a) The Board of Supervisors shall appoint the members of the Commission. Each supervisor shall make sufficient nominations so that three of the member and one of the alternate appointees are his or her nominees.

(b) When a regular member is unable to attend a meeting of the Advisory Commission the regular member shall notify either the secretary of the Advisory Commission or another regular member in advance, and the chairperson of the Advisory Commission shall designate an alternate member to take the regular member's place at that meeting. While attending a meeting, an alternate member shall have the same status as a regular member for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists and for voting but shall not serve as, or perform the duties of, an officer.

(c) Persons nominated and appointed to serve as regular or alternate members should represent a balanced membership with interest areas that are primary or allied to fish and game propagation; no distinct interest area shall have at any one time more than five members on the Advisory Commission.

(d) Members of the Advisory Commission shall serve at the pleasure of the supervisors who nominated them. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments to the Advisory Commission.

(Ord. No. 1663, § 1, 7-9-2019)

(a) Maximum Membership. The membership of this Commission shall be limited to 15 members and five alternate members.

(b) Membership Eligibility and Admission Procedure. Any adult resident 18 years of age or older of Sutter County shall be eligible for membership. The members and alternates shall be designated as representing the district of the Supervisor who nominated them. The Commission can recommend to the Sutter County Board of Supervisors persons to serve as commissioners and alternate members. Active alternate members should be given priority to serve as commissioners when vacancies arise.

(c) Resignation From Membership. Any member desiring to resign from the Commission shall submit his/her resignation in writing to the Recording Secretary who shall present it to the Board of Supervisors for action or verbally to the Commission at a monthly recorded Commission meeting.

(d) Termination. The Board of Supervisors may terminate any member from the Fish and Game Commission. The Commission can recommend a member for termination based on attendance, legal issues, and conflict of interest (e.g., profiteering).

(Ord. No. 1663, § 1, 7-9-2019)

(a) Maximum Membership. The membership of this Commission shall be limited to five alternate members.

(b) Membership Eligibility and Admission Procedure. Any adult resident 18 years of age or older of Sutter County shall be eligible for alternate position. The Board of Supervisors shall appoint the alternate members of the Commission. The Commission can recommend to the Sutter County Board of Supervisors persons to serve as alternate members.

(c) Duties. In the event a member is unable to attend a meeting, the alternate for that district shall serve in their place and fulfil the duties and responsibility of the member for that meeting. If more than one member of a district is absent from a meeting the Chairperson of the Commission may designate an alternate member from a different district to fulfil the duties and responsibilities of the missing member for that meeting.

(d) Resignation From Membership. Any alternate member desiring to resign from the Commission shall submit his/her resignation in writing to the Recording Secretary who shall present it to the Board of Supervisors for action or verbally to the Commission at a monthly recorded Commission meeting.

(e) Termination. The Board of Supervisors may terminate any alternate member from the Fish and Game Commission. The Commission can recommend a member for termination based on attendance, legal issues, and conflict of interest (e.g., profiteering).

(Ord. No. 1663, § 1, 7-9-2019)

(a) Officers and Duties. The officers of the Commission shall be a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Recording Secretary. These officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Commission.

(b) Nomination Procedure, Time of Elections. At the regular meeting held in June, the Commission members shall nominate candidates for officers to be filled. The officers shall be elected by two-thirds vote by present members of the Commission. Annually thereafter, in the month of June of each year, a new designation and selection of officers shall occur.

(c) Election, Term of Office, and Removal From office. Officers elected shall serve for one year or until their successors are elected and their term of office shall begin at the close of the annual meeting at which they are elected. Officers may be removed from office at the pleasure of the membership as provided in the parliamentary authority.

(Ord. No. 1663, § 1, 7-9-2019)

(a) Chairperson. It is the duty of the presiding officer of the Commission:

(1) To determine if a quorum is present and call the meeting to order.

(2) To appoint an Alternate Member to fulfill the duties of a voting Commissioner when he/she is absent at a monthly meeting.

(3) To bring business before the meeting according to the order of business.

(4) To recognize members who seek and are entitled to the floor.

(5) To put all legitimate motions before the group.

(6) To enforce the rules of debate and grant all members who wish to speak in debate the opportunity to do so subject to rules and limits of debate.

(7) To conduct the votes on all questions, and determine and announce the results.

(8) To rule improper motions out of order.

(9) To decide questions of order, or ask the members to decide when in doubt.

(10) To authenticate by his or her signature.

(11) To respond to parliamentary inquiries or points of information.

(12) To conclude the meeting by declaring it adjourned when voted by the members, when the appointed hour of adjournment arrives or when there is an emergency and safety demands it.

(b) Vice-Chairperson. In the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson serves in his/her stead. The Vice-Chairperson shall appoint the chairman of each standing and ad-hoc committees.

(c) Recording Secretary. It is the duty of the Recording Secretary of the Commission:

(1) To call the roll when it is required.

(2) To maintain record book(s) in which the bylaws, special rules of order, standing rules, and minutes are entered, with any amendments to these documents properly recorded, and to have the current record book(s) on hand at every meeting.

(3) In the absence of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, to call the meeting to order and preside until the immediate election of a chairperson pro tem.

(Ord. No. 1663, § 1, 7-9-2019)

(a) Regular Meetings. Meetings of the Commission shall be held at a date, time, and location as may be designated from time to time by resolution of the Fish and Game Commission with special meetings occurring as needed to transact the work of the Commission. Such meetings shall be conducted in an orderly and systematic manner to permit reasonable and adequate deliberations, the input of interested parties and the resolution of all matters coming before the Commission.

(b) Annual Meetings. The regular meeting in June shall be known as the annual meeting and shall be for the purpose of electing officers.

(c) Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson, by the Board of Supervisors, or shall be called upon with the written request of eight members of the Commission. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call, which shall be sent to all members at least 14 days before the meeting.

(Ord. No. 1663, § 1, 7-9-2019)

Eight members of the Commission in attendance shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of transacting business of the Commission. Actions of the Commission shall be by a majority vote of all members present after a quorum has been established. All voted actions of the Commission shall be recorded by the recording secretary and kept as a permanent record of the Commission.

(Ord. No. 1663, § 1, 7-9-2019)

(a) Regular Member Attendance. Any regular member may fail to attend three regularly scheduled meetings providing he or she notified the recording secretary, or the Chairperson of the Commission prior to the meeting requesting an excused absence. Should any regular member fail to attend two consecutive regularly scheduled meetings during the course of the fiscal year or have one excused absence and two unexcused absences, that member's name shall be directed to the Board of Supervisors with a record of attendance and letter of recommendation from the Commission.

(b) Alternate Member Attendance. Any alternate member may fail to attend two meetings that he or she has been asked to attend providing he or she notified the, Chairperson or recording secretary of the Commission requesting an excused absence. Should any alternate member fail to attend three such meetings during the course of the fiscal year or have one excused absence and two unexcused absences, that member's name shall be directed to the Board of Supervisors with a record of attendance and letter of recommendation from the Commission.

(Ord. No. 1663, § 1, 7-9-2019)

"Hunting Committee", "Education and Community Outreach", "Conservation", "Budget", "Boat Ramp and Waterways", and "Fishing" shall be considered standing committees of the Fish and Game Commission. Ad hoc committees will be determined based on the needs of the community and commission.

(a) Committee Rules.

(1) It shall be the responsibilities of each committee to report with recommendations on items assigned to each, at regular monthly meetings.

(2) Committee assignment topics shall be made by the Chairperson of the Commission for investigation by the appropriate standing committee.

(3) Standing committees may present, following regular reports, additional items of importance discussed or proposed by committee members as a result of their meeting for the purpose of consideration by the membership of the Commission.

(4) All items regarding fund expenditures, as recommended by any standing committee or member, must be approved by the Board of Supervisors.

(5) The Chairperson of each standing committee will conduct meetings under the same procedures as the Commission.

(6) The Chairperson of standing committees shall appoint a committee secretary for the purposes of recording and reporting activities of the committee to the Commission. Copies of the committee reports may be given to the recording secretary of the Commission for inclusion in the minutes.

(7) Regular meetings of standing committees shall be scheduled as time allows for the purpose of discussion of assigned topics.

(8) Special meetings of standing committees may be called subject to compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act by the chairperson of the standing committee for the purpose of field examination of topics of discussion for the benefit of the Commission.

(b) Standing Committees. The committee will consist of no more than five members of the Commission. All topics of discussion, as they relate to project investigation including, but not limited to, location, situation assessment or possible costs associated with project of any nature, as well as those special purchases as determined necessary by the Commission membership which require investigation of need, cost and benefit, as determined by the Commission, shall be under the auspices of the Committee as directed by its chairman. The committee may suggest, review or initiate proposals to the Commission as are necessary to obtain the goals of the Committee for the benefit of the Commission.

(c) Committee Appointment Procedure. All appointments shall be subject to confirmation by a vote of the majority of the Commission present.

(1) Committees assignments shall initially be conducted on a voluntary basis.

(2) A Chairperson for each Committee shall be designated by the Vice Chairperson of the Commission from the volunteers for the Committee.

(3) If there are insufficient volunteers to fill all seats of a Committee, then the Chairperson of the Commission may appoint members as necessary to fill the Committee.

(d) Other Committees. Other committees, standing or special, may be established by the Commission as it shall from time to time deem necessary to carry on its work. Their members shall be appointed by the Chairperson with approval from the Commission unless this rule is suspended by a two-thirds vote before their appointment. The Chairperson shall be ex officio a member of all committees.

(Ord. No. 1663, § 1, 7-9-2019)

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Fish and Game Commission in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Commission may adopt.

(Ord. No. 1663, § 1, 7-9-2019)

The Commission may adopt and amend bylaws at any regular meeting of the Commission by a two-thirds vote, provided that the bylaws or amendment has been submitted in writing at a previous regular meeting and has been approved by Sutter County Board of Supervisors.

(Ord. No. 1663, § 1, 7-9-2019)

(a) "Wildlife" shall pertain to all forms of otherwise undomesticated mammals, reptiles and birds which are indigenous to Sutter County, as determined by the Advisory Commission Committee on Wildlife, Fishing, Conservation, Management and Protection.

(b) "Fish" shall pertain to all forms of otherwise indigenous fish of Sutter County's rivers, creeks, sloughs and streams, as determined by the State Department of Fish and Game.

(c) "Conservation" shall pertain to the act of maintaining the preservation and enhancement of the wildlife and fish indigenous to Sutter County, as determined by the Advisory Commission and the Board of Supervisors.

(d) "Advisory Commission" shall pertain to the members of the Sutter County Fish and Game Advisory Commission.

(e) "Management" shall pertain to controlling or operating procedures necessary in continuing the enhancement of wildlife and fish indigenous to Sutter County, as determined by the Wildlife, Fish, Conservation, Management and Protection Committee.

(f) "Protection" shall pertain to assistance in determining harm to the wildlife and fish indigenous to Sutter County, as determined by the Wildlife, Fish, Conservation, Management and Protection Committee and the enforcement of defenses necessary in overcoming any perceivable or ongoing harm.

(g) "Education" shall pertain to all forms of training for the special purpose of instruction of the needs required to enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats, as well as providing a means by which individual groups or organizations may benefit from exposure to instruction as it relates to safety.

(h) "Safety" shall pertain to all forms of instruction and training for the enhancement of the public as safety relates to training in the use of firearms and/or procedures necessary to properly hunt free from danger or risk associated with the use of firearms and their handling.

(i) "Committee" shall refer to the member of standing committees of the Advisory Commission.

(j) "Goals" shall pertain to those committee proposals desired to be achieved as a result of efforts on behalf of the committee, as determined by the committee.

(k) "Projects" shall pertain to physical appurtenances, as determined by the Advisory Commission, which are necessary in providing or continuing present or existing services for the benefit of wildlife and fish propagation.

(l) "Propagation" shall pertain to efforts necessary to protect and benefit wildlife, fish and their habitats and those persons and public projects associated with safety, education, conservation, protection and management of the wildlife and fish indigenous to Sutter County and surrounding areas, as determined by the Advisory Commission.

(m) "Special Purchases" shall include, but not be limited to, items associated with projects and/or necessary budgeted expenditures as determined by the Advisory Commission.

(n) "Shall" is mandatory, and "May" is permissive.

(Ord. No. 1663, § 1, 7-9-2019)