Ventura Municipal Code Art. 2 Organizational Requirements

A. Unless otherwise provided, every commission, board, or committee established pursuant to this division shall be appointed by a majority vote of the city council.

B. A majority of the total membership of such commission, board, or committee shall constitute a quorum.

C. Unless otherwise provided, during their incumbency all members shall be, and remain, a resident in fact of the city. Should any member cease to be a city resident, that office shall be deemed vacant and the term of such member terminated. The secretary shall notify the city council and the city clerk of such termination as soon as administratively possible.

D. Unless otherwise provided in order to allow more residents to serve, a commission, board, or committee member shall only be appointed by the city council, or a member thereof as applicable, to serve on one commission, board, or committee. In the event someone is appointed to serve on more than one commission, board, or committee, a vacancy shall exist for the seat most recently appointed. (Ord. No. 2019-003, § 1, 6-3-19)

The terms of members first appointed to a commission, board, or committee shall be staggered so that the initial members serve terms of one, two, or three years as designated by the city council. Succeeding members shall be appointed for terms of four years. The secretary’s term shall be designated by the city manager. All members shall serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. (Ord. No. 2019-003, § 1, 6-3-19)

A. Except as otherwise provided, members of the commissions, boards, and committees shall hold office for a period of four years and until their successors are seated; provided, that any person selected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.

B. Unless otherwise specifically provided, individual members of commissions, boards, and committees shall be limited to no more than two consecutive, four-year terms. After a break in service of at least four years, an individual who has previously served on the same commission, board, or committee for two or more terms will become eligible to serve on the same commission, board, or committee again. For purposes of this subsection, a “term” shall be defined to include serving 50 percent plus one day of a term on the same commission, board, or committee, while serving as a member of a commission, board, or committee for 50 percent or less of a term shall not constitute a term for purposes of term limits. Nothing in this section is intended to limit the city council from appointing an individual who has served two terms on one commission, board, or committee to a different commission, board, or committee. (Ord. No. 2019-003, § 1, 6-3-19)

A. 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 without cause.

B. All members shall comply with Fair Political Practices Commission Form 700 filing requirements. All members shall receive filing obligation emails from the city clerk’s office. Failure to comply with filing obligations will be cause for removal and will be reported to city council.

C. All members shall comply with the city’s requirement to complete two hours of approved ethics training one year from assuming office and every two years thereafter. All members shall receive ethics training notifications from the city clerk’s office. Failure to comply and complete two hours of approved ethics training will be cause for removal and will be reported to city council. (Ord. No. 2019-003, § 1, 6-3-19)

A. Each January, a commission, board, or committee shall 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 commission, board, or committee may designate a chairperson or vice-chairperson pro tempore.

B. Regular meetings shall be held on the day and time established by resolution of the commission, board, or committee as amended from time to time. Boards are typically hearing bodies and must meet annually in January with additional meetings as needed. All commission, board, and committee agendas must be posted in compliance with the Brown Act on the city’s website and posting boards.

C. Each commission, board, or committee shall establish meeting procedures and other reasonable rules and regulations for conducting business consistent with those adopted by the city council. This will assist the public in understanding the rules applicable to appearing before or interacting with any city body. As such, any changes or deviations from the city council’s adopted procedures by a commission, board, or committee must be approved by the city council before being implemented. Action minutes shall be kept of all meetings and the secretary shall deliver copies of minutes to the city manager and city clerk for filing and distribution to city council members. The secretary shall also post the action minutes on the city website, once approved.

D. Commissions, boards, and committees may adopt application requirements, processes, and procedures to conduct their business. However, before any application requirement, process, or procedure which is not otherwise required by this code is implemented, the same shall be set forth in writing, reviewed and approved by the commission, board, or committee, and adopted by the city council.

E. Any commission, board, or committee may designate one of its members, or a subcommittee composed of not more than two members, to study, review, consider, or make recommendations concerning any matter within its purview; provided, that a commission, board, or committee authorized to consist of seven members may designate one of its members, or a subcommittee composed of not more than three members, to study, review, consider, or make recommendations concerning any matter within the committee’s purview.

F. In February through June of each year, every commission, board, and committee shall develop an annual work plan detailing projects to be undertaken to support the city council’s priorities for the next fiscal year and any other matters to be undertaken. Such annual work plans shall be submitted to the city clerk by July who shall have the same scheduled for review and approval by the city council.

G. In September of each year, every commission, board, and committee shall transmit to the city council through the city clerk an annual report reflecting accomplishments during the year. (Ord. No. 2019-003, § 1, 6-3-19; Ord. No. 2020-023, § 2, 9-28-20)

Should a member of a commission, board, or committee fail to attend meetings for a period of 60 days, unless excused in advance for cause by the chairperson, that member’s office shall be deemed vacant and the member’s term ended. The commission, board, or committee secretary shall immediately notify the city council and city clerk of such termination. (Ord. No. 2019-003, § 1, 6-3-19)

If a vacancy occurs other than term expiration, notice shall be given to the city council and city clerk. The city council shall appoint a new member in accordance with this chapter for the remaining portion of the term. (Ord. No. 2019-003, § 1, 6-3-19)

The city council may, by resolution, determine whether, and in what amount, compensation will be provided for members of the commissions, boards, and committees established by this title. Without a city council resolution establishing compensation, it shall be conclusively presumed that no compensation is to be provided. (Ord. No. 2019-003, § 1, 6-3-19)

A. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no individual member of any commission, board, or committee shall interfere with the execution of the powers and duties of the city manager, department head, or any other of their subordinates; or, directly or indirectly, by suggestion or otherwise, attempt to influence or coerce the city manager, department head or any of their subordinates in the making of any appointment or removal, or the purchase of supplies, or development and management of any project; provided, however, that the above shall not be construed as prohibiting the commission, board, or committee, while in session, discussing with or suggesting to the city manager, department head, or subordinate, fully and freely, anything pertaining to the aforementioned matters.

B. Except for the purpose of inquiries, the commission, board, or committee, and its members shall deal with the city officers and employees who are assigned to staff such commission, board, or committee the commission. board, or committee’s assigned staff member and neither the commission, board, or committee nor any member thereof shall give orders to any such officer or employee, either publicly or privately.

C. Any violation of this section may work a forfeiture of the office of the offending member of the commission, board, or committee, who may be removed therefrom by the city council. (Ord. No. 2021-014, § 2, 12-13-21)