Chapter 2.52

VERNON BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY COMMISSION

The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby establishes the Vernon Business and Industry Commission.

(Prior code § 2.170)

• A. The Vernon Business and Industry Commission is created to make the City of Vernon even more attractive to employees, businesses, and investors, while appropriately considering the needs and concerns of the residential communities within and in close proximity to Vernon. The Commission is intended to provide a special forum to address public concerns related to the City's business and industrial development related costs, procedures, and activities.

• B. The City Council finds that the creation of the Business and Industry Commission is in the best interests of the City of Vernon and its residents and businesses. Given the industrial character of the City of Vernon, a robust, responsible, and safe business climate is critical to the economic vitality of the City and the services it provides to its residents and businesses.

(Prior code § 2.171)

As a commission of a public entity, the Vernon Business and Industry Commission shall comply with all applicable open meeting and ethics laws, including, but not limited to, the Ralph M. Brown Act, the Political Reform Act, the Public Records Act, and Government Code Section 1090.

(Prior code §§ 2.172, 2.183)

For purposes of this chapter, "Commission" means the Vernon Business and Industry Commission.

(Prior code § 2.173)

The Commission shall be comprised of seven members appointed by the City Council. The Commission members shall include:

• A. Three individuals, each of whom represents the owner or operator of a business located in Vernon;

• B. Two individuals, each of whom has knowledge of the Vernon real estate market;

• C. One individual who is employed by a business located in Vernon or who is a member of a labor union that represents workers at a business located in Vernon; and

• D. One current member of the Vernon City Council. (Prior code § 2.174)

• A. Commission members shall serve for a term of four years and may be reappointed. Terms of office for each seat shall begin on July 1 at 12:00 a.m. and end on June 30 at 11:59 p.m. four years thereafter. No person shall serve more than two consecutive full four-year terms.

• B. Unscheduled vacancies due to resignation, no longer meeting criteria, removal or inability to serve for any reason the position shall be considered vacant and the unscheduled vacancy shall be posted and filled pursuant to Government Code Section 54974.

• C. A Commission member shall be considered to have vacated his or her position on the Commission if he or she misses four or more consecutive meetings without a valid excuse as determined by the Commission.

(Prior code § 2.175)

• A. To provide for staggered terms, at the inception of the Commission, the City Council shall designate three of the seven members referenced in Section 2.52.050 to serve terms ending June 30, 2016, and four of the members to serve terms ending June 30, 2018. The three members shall be one from each of the following categories; the four other members shall fill the remaining positions:

  1. One individual who represents the owner or operator of a business located in Vernon;

  2. One individual who has knowledge of the Vernon real estate market; and

  3. One current member of the Vernon City Council.

• B. A person appointed to serve a term ending June 30, 2016 shall not be considered to have served a "full" term for purposes of Section 2.52.060 and therefore may be reappointed for up to two full consecutive terms following the initial June 30, 2016 term.

• (Prior code § 2.175.1)

A Commission member may be removed by a majority vote of the City Council at a properly noticed regular meeting of the City Council for any reason or no reason. (Prior code § 2.176)

• A. Creation of Vacancies. A Commission member shall be considered to have vacated his or her position on the Commission if he or she: (1) misses four or more consecutive meetings or two or more consecutive regular meetings; and (2) a majority of the City Council did not pass a motion excusing at least one of the relevant absences within 30 days of the final meeting.

• B. Filling Vacancies. If any Commission member resigns, no longer meets the criteria used as the basis for his or her selection pursuant to Section 2.52.050, is removed pursuant to this chapter, or is unable to serve for any reason, the position shall be considered vacant and the Mayor shall, within 30 days after the position becomes vacant, select for ratification by a majority of the City Council, a successor with the requisite qualifications to serve the unexpired term.

(Prior code § 2.177)

• A. The Commission shall have a chairperson and vice chairperson, who shall be from different appointing categories pursuant to Section 2.52.050.

• B. The Commission members shall elect the chairperson and vice chairperson annually. No Commission member may serve as chairperson for more than two consecutive terms.

• C. The officers of the Commission shall be the Secretary, Counsel and Executive Director.

  1. The Secretary shall keep and maintain the records of the Commission and the minutes of the Commission meetings and also shall perform all other duties incident to the position of Secretary of the Commission. The City Clerk, or designee, shall hold the position of Secretary of the Commission.

  2. The Commission Executive Director is charged with the administration, management and general supervision of the business and affairs of the Commission. The City Administrator, or designee, shall hold the position of the Commission Executive Director.

  3. The Commission Counsel shall be in charge of the legal affairs of the Commission and shall advise the Commission on matters within its jurisdiction, and regarding compliance with the California Political Reform Act (Government Code Section 81000, et seq.), the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code Section 54950 et seq.), and California Government Code Section1090 et seq. The City Attorney, or designee, shall hold the position of Commission Counsel.

  4. Any officer may designate someone other than him or herself to act on his or her behalf.

(Prior code § 2.178)

Within the limitations provided by law, the Commission shall perform the following duties:

• A. Advise, assist, and make recommendations to the City staff and City Council regarding ways to make the City of Vernon even more attractive to employees, businesses, and investors while appropriately considering the needs and concerns of the residential communities within and in close proximity to Vernon. The Commission shall focus its efforts on the following areas:

  1. Long range land use planning.

  2. Retention and expansion of business and industrial base.

  3. Targeted recruitment and marketing to potential businesses.

  4. General marketing and public relations.

  5. Taxes, fees, and utility rates.

  6. Federal, state, and local incentive/rebate programs to foster business development and retention.

  7. Workforce development.

  8. Public or private partnerships.

  9. Long term stability of a positive business climate.

  10. Impact of business development on residential communities within and in close proximity to Vernon.

• B. Provide a forum for addressing public concerns related to the City's business and industrial development related costs, procedures, and activities.

• C. Participate in annual independent audit report activities as directed by the City Staff or City Council.

• D. Perform other such duties as the City Council may assign or designate. (Prior code § 2.179)

• A. The Commission shall have regular meetings at least twice per year, on dates and at times established by a resolution of the Commission.

• B. Commission meetings shall be noticed and conducted in compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code Section 54950 et seq.). All meetings shall be open to the public and regular minutes of each meeting shall be maintained by the Secretary to the Commission. A majority of Commission members shall constitute a quorum. Once a quorum is established, action may be taken by the Commission only upon a favorable vote of a majority of the Commission members present and voting.

• (Prior code § 2.180)

The City Administrator shall assign appropriate staff and support services to the extent necessary to assist the Commission in fulfilling its purpose and accomplishing its duties. (Prior code § 2.181)

Commission members shall receive $100.00 per meeting, up to a maximum of $200.00 in any calendar month, as well as their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties. Travel related expenses are governed by the Citywide expense reimbursement policy. Travel expenses of Commission members for travel outside the County of Los Angeles shall not be reimbursed without prior approval of the City Council. The City Councilmember, Secretary, Counsel and Executive Director shall receive no compensation as Commission member or officers, other than compensation received from their primary employment.

(Prior code § 2.182)