Article VII — APPOINTIVE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

SECTION 700. - In General.

There shall be the following enumerated boards and commissions which shall have the powers and duties herein stated. In addition, the city council may create by ordinance such additional advisory boards or commissions as in its judgment are required, and may grant to them such powers and duties as are consistent with the provisions of this charter.

SECTION 701. - Appropriations.

The city council shall include in its annual budget such appropriations of funds as in its opinion shall be sufficient for the efficient and proper functioning of such boards and commissions.

SECTION 702. - Appointments; Terms.

The members of each of such boards or commissions shall be appointed by the city council from the qualified electors of the city, none of whom shall hold any paid office or employment in the city government. They shall be subject to

removal by motion of the city council adopted by at least three affirmative votes. The members thereof shall serve for a term of four years and until their respective successors are appointed and qualified.

The members first appointed to such boards and commissions shall so classify themselves by lot that the term of one of each of their number shall expire each succeeding July first. Where the total number of the members of a board or commission to be appointed exceeds four, the classification by lot shall provide for the pairing of terms to such an extent as is necessary in order that the terms of at least one and not more than two shall expire in each succeeding year. Thereafter any appointment to fill an unexpired term shall be for such unexpired period.

SECTION 703. - Existing Boards.

The respective terms of office of all members of the boards and commissions in existence at the time this charter takes effect shall terminate upon the effective date of this charter. The present members of the boards and commissions which will continue in effect under this charter shall be deemed reappointed to the respective boards and commissions of which they are members as first appointed members thereof under this charter.

SECTION 704. - Meetings; Chairperson.

As soon as practicable, following the first day of July of every year, each of such boards and commissions shall organize by electing one of its members to serve as presiding officer at the pleasure of such board or commission. Each board or commission shall hold regular meetings at least once each month and such special meetings as such board or commission may require. All proceedings shall be open to the public.

Except as may be otherwise provided in this charter, the city manager shall designate a secretary for the recording of minutes for each of such boards and commissioners, who shall keep a record of its proceedings and transactions. Each board or commission may prescribe its own rules and regulations which shall be consistent with this charter and copies of which shall be kept on file in the office of the city clerk where they shall be available for public inspection. Each board or commission shall have the same power as the city council to compel the attendance of witnesses, to examine them under oath, to compel the production of evidence before it and to administer oaths and affirmations.

SECTION 705. - Compensation; Vacancies.

The members of boards and commissions shall serve without compensation for their services as such, but may receive reimbursement for necessary traveling and other expenses incurred on official duty when such expenditures have received authorization by the city council.

Any vacancies in any board or commission, from whatever cause arising, shall be filled by appointment by the city council. Upon a vacancy occurring leaving an unexpired portion of a term, any appointment to fill such vacancy shall be for the unexpired portion of such term. If a member of a board or commission absents himself/herself from three consecutive regular meetings of such board or commission, unless by permission of such board or commission expressed in its official minutes, or is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, or ceases to be a qualified elector of the city, his/her office shall become vacant and shall be so declared by the city council.

(Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)

SECTION 706. - Planning Commission; Members.

There shall be a planning commission consisting of five members. The city engineer and city attorney, or their assistants, shall meet with and participate in the discussions of the planning commission but shall not have a vote. [4]

(Memo of 6-22-15)

Note— The director of community development now meets with and participates in discussions of the planning commission, in addition to the city engineer and city attorney or their functional equivalents on an as-needed basis.

SECTION 707. - Planning Commission; Powers and Duties.

The planning commission shall have the power and be required to:

(a)

After a public hearing thereon, recommend to the city council the adoption, amendment or repeal of a master plan, or any part thereof, for the physical development of the city.

(b)

Exercise such control over land subdivisions as is granted to it by ordinance not inconsistent with the provisions of this charter.

(c)

Make recommendations to the city council concerning proposed public works and for the clearance and rebuilding of blighted or substandard areas within the city.

(d)

Exercise such functions with respect to zoning and land use as may be prescribed by ordinance not inconsistent with the provisions of this charter.

SECTION 708. - Personnel Board.

The personnel board shall consist of five members, none of whom while a member of the board, or for a period of one year after he/she has ceased for any reason to be a member, shall be eligible for appointment to any salaried office or employment in the service of the city.

(Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)

SECTION 709. - Personnel Board; Powers and Duties.

The personnel board shall have the power and duty to:

(a)

Recommend to the city council, after a public hearing thereon, the adoption, amendment or repeal of personnel rules and regulations.

(b)

Act in an advisory capacity to the city council on problems concerning personnel administration

(c)

Hear grievances of any person in the city employment relative to any suspension, demotion or dismissal and make findings and recommendations thereon which shall be advisory only.

(d)

Make an investigation which it may consider desirable concerning conditions of employment or the administration of personnel in the municipal service and report its findings to the city council and city manager.

(e)

Perform such other duties not inconsistent with this charter as may be prescribed by ordinance.

SECTION 710. - Board of Library Trustees; Powers and Duties.

There shall be a board of library trustees consisting of five members which shall have the power, authority and duty to:

(a)

Act in an advisory capacity to the city council on all matters pertaining to city libraries.

(b)

Designate its own officers and rules of procedure.

(c)

Consider the annual budget for library purposes during the process of its preparation and make recommendations with respect thereto to the city council and the city manager.

(d)

Recommend to the city council, for adoption, policies regarding the purchase and acquisition of books, journals, maps, publications, and other supplies peculiar to the needs of the library, subject, however, to the limitations of the budget as determined by the city council for such purposes. The expenditure and disbursement of funds for such purchases shall be made and approved as elsewhere in this charter provided.

(e)

Assist in the planning of library facilities to satisfy the library needs of the inhabitants of the city and to that end solicit the cooperation of school authorities and other public and private agencies interested therein.

(f)

Perform such other duties not inconsistent with this charter as may be prescribed by ordinance or resolution of the city council.

SECTION 711. - Park and Recreation Commission; Powers and Duties.

There shall be a park and recreation commission consisting of seven members. [5]

The park and recreation commission shall have the power and duty to:

(a)

Act in an advisory capacity to the city council in all matters pertaining to parks, community recreation, parkways and street trees.

(b)

Consider the annual budget for parks, recreation, parkways and street tree purposes during the process of its preparation and make recommendations with respect thereto to the city council and the city manager.

(c)

Assist in the planning of parks and recreation programs for the inhabitants of the city, promote and stimulate public interest therein, and to that end solicit to the fullest extent possible the cooperation of school authorities and other public and private agencies interested therein.

(d)

Perform such other duties not inconsistent with this charter as may be prescribed by ordinance.

(Memo of 6-22-15)

Note— The commission is now commonly known as the parks, recreation and community services commission and is composed of five members.