Chapter 2.20

BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES, AND ORGANIZATIONS

Note: Prior ordinance history: 53-64, 273-86, 281-87, 428-94, 506-97, 511-98, 563-01, 623-04, 639-04, 678-06, 680-06, 684-07.

"Commissioner" shall be defined as a voting member of any board, commission, committee, or organization established by the City Council, notwithstanding the manner in which such voting member is appointed.

(Ord. 820-16 § 4, 2016)

• A. The alternate shall attend the regular and special meetings of the board, commission, committee, or organization in the absence of a regular member. The alternate shall review staff reports and documents and otherwise prepare for such meetings. At such meetings, the alternate shall be identified for the record.

• B. The alternate shall be offered the same opportunities for attending training sessions, site visits or other educational events as regular members.

• C. The alternate shall publicly announce any items on the agenda that he or she is disqualified from participating in because of a conflict of interest.

• D. If, as a result of an absence of a regular member at a regular or special meeting, the alternate shall move to the seat of a regular member, then the alternate shall participate as a regular member, and shall receive such compensation, where applicable, as may be established by the City Council for such participation.

• E. The qualifications, appointment, removal and other requirements applicable to the alternate shall be the same as those for regular members.

• (Ord. 820-16 § 4, 2016)

Each Commissioner and alternate of each board, commission, committee, or organization shall reside within the City, unless otherwise provided, and shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council.

(Ord. 820-16 § 4, 2016)

• A. Commissioners and alternates shall attend the regular and special meetings of the board, commission, committee, or organization as scheduled.

• B. Should any Commissioner fail to attend three consecutive meetings without a valid excuse, or fail to attend at least seventy-five percent of all scheduled meetings in a calendar year without a valid excuse, his/her seat shall be considered vacated and an alternate shall be appointed by the Mayor to the vacated seat with the approval of the City Council.

• C. Should any alternate fail to respond to three consecutive calls to attend a Commission meeting without a valid excuse, his/her seat shall be considered vacated and an alternate shall be appointed by the Mayor to the vacated seat with the approval of the City Council.

• D. Should an alternate not be available to fill a vacancy, the Mayor shall appoint a replacement Commissioner in accordance with the board, commission, committee or organization's provisions for filling vacancies.

• E. Commissioners and alternates who are unable to attend a meeting for one of the reasons listed in subsection F shall be required to notify the Recording Secretary for the board, commission, committee, or organization no later than 24 hours of the meeting regarding their inability to attend for the reasons specified in subsections F.1 and F.2 below and no later than 72 hours of the meeting for the reasons specified in subsections F.3, F.4 and F.5 below and pursuant to the procedure adopted by the board, commission, committee, or organization and reflected in the by-laws, which shall be amended to provide for such procedure.

• F. The following reasons shall be considered valid excuses for failing to attend a meeting:

  1. Serious illness and/or injury of the Commissioner and/or their immediate family;

  2. Death in the family;

  3. Employment conditions requiring travel outside the Bay Area, evening meetings, etc.;

  4. Lack of transportation to the meeting;

5. Previously scheduled vacation or travel.

(Ord. 820-16 § 4, 2016; Ord. 2025-001, 3/11/2025; Ord. 2025-005, 6/24/2025)

Commissioners and alternates shall serve not more than two full terms, separately as a Commissioner and an alternate, on a board, commission, committee, or organization notwithstanding interruption of service due to the following:

• A. Absence from the board, commission, committee, or organization due to vacation of the term pursuant to Section 2.20.040;

• B. Absence from the board, commission, committee, or organization due to vacation of the term pursuant to the provisions of the City's Conflict of Interest Code, for failure to file the required Statement of Economic Interests, and subsequent reappointment.

Vacation of a term pursuant to this section shall be two full terms from the date of the initial appointment. Commissioners or alternates cannot be reappointed to their respective boards or commissions until a two-year break in service has occurred.

(Ord. 820-16 § 4, 2016)

Any appointed Commissioner or alternate may be removed either by the Mayor, subject to the approval of the City Council, or by a majority vote of the City Council. (Ord. 820-16 § 4, 2016)

The City Council may, by resolution, appoint such members of the Council, City officials, or employees as it deems advisable to assist each board, commission, committee, or organization, and such employees shall have no vote on the board, commission, committee, or organization. (Ord. 820-16 § 4, 2016)

Each board, commission, committee, or organization, except the Youth Commission, shall be paid in an amount as specified by resolution of the City Council. (Ord. 820-16 § 4, 2016; Ord. 905-22 § 3, 2022)

Members of each board, commission, committee, or organization shall be entitled to reimbursement for expenses as the Council may approve by resolution. (Ord. 820-16 § 4, 2016)

• A. Pursuant to the requirements of Assembly Bill 1234, as codified in Government Code Section 53234 et seq., Commissioners and alternates are required to complete the following training in general ethics principles and ethics laws:

  1. Each Commissioner and alternate must complete at least two hours of training in general ethics principles and ethics laws relevant to his or her public service no later than one year from the first day of service as a Commissioner or alternate pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 53235.1 of the Government Code.

  2. Each Commissioner and alternate must complete at least two hours of training in general ethics principles and ethics laws relevant to his or her public service every two years pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 53235 of the Government Code.

• B. Pursuant to the requirements of Assembly Bill 1661, as codified in Government Code Section 53237 et seq., Commissioners and alternates are required to complete the following training in harassment prevention:

  1. Each Commissioner and alternate must complete at least two hours of training in harassment prevention relevant to his or her public service no later than six months from the first day of service as a Commissioner or alternate pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 53237.1 of the Government Code.

  2. Each Commissioner and alternate must complete at least two hours of training in harassment prevention relevant to his or her public service every two years pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 53237.1 of the Government Code.

• C. Upon failure of a Commissioner or alternate to complete the training requirements of this section and submit proof of completion to the City Clerk within the timelines identified above, the Commissioner's seat shall be automatically vacated and an alternate member nominated by the Mayor shall be appointed to the vacated seat with the approval of the City Council.

• D. Should an alternate member not be available to fill a vacancy created pursuant to this section, the Mayor shall appoint a replacement Commissioner in accordance with the board, commission, or committee's provisions for filling vacancies.

• E. Commissioners or alternates that have vacated their position pursuant to this section shall not be eligible for reappointment to any City board, commission, or committee for a 24 month period from the date of vacating the position.

• F. The City Clerk shall provide notice to all Commissioners and alternates no later than three months of the deadline for Commissioners and alternates to receive training pursuant to this section.

• (Ord. 820-16 § 4, 2016; Ord. 2025-005, 6/24/2025)