Willits Municipal Code Ch. 2.52 Cultural Arts Commission

A cultural arts commission is hereby established, and shall consist of eleven members appointed by the city council. As used in this chapter, the term "commissioner" refers to a commissioner of the cultural arts commission.

(Ord. 12-01, § 2: Ord. 92-5 § 2: Ord. 84-12 § 2; Ord. 78-7 § 1).

In selecting the members of the commission, who shall be called commissioners, the city council shall give preference to those persons who are residents of the city and who are members of organizations in the community dedicated to the promotion and advancement of cultural and artistic activities, and who have demonstrated a commitment to such activities.

(Ord. 92-5 § 3: Ord. 78-7 § 2(a)).

A. The terms of office of commissioners shall be two years and shall commence on May 1st of each relevant year; provided, however, that in appointing the additional four commissioners, the mayor shall, by lot, classify the appointees so that one commissioner shall end their term of office one year from the date of their appointment in order to ensure staggered terms, resulting in six terms expiring in odd-numbered years and five terms expiring in even-numbered years.

B. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this chapter, any commissioner who absents themselves from any three consecutive regular meetings of the cultural arts commission meetings, unless excused from such attendance by consent of the commission, expressed by action of record in its minutes or who is absent for a total of five regular meetings of the commission in any six-month period without such consent of the commission so expressed of record, shall thereby automatically forfeit his or her positions or office as a member of the cultural arts commission, and the name of such person shall be automatically removed from membership of the commission immediately after the adjournment of any such third consecutive meeting or of any such fifth meeting in any such six-month period, as the case may be, at which such commissioner has not appeared.

C. The chairman or the secretary of the commission shall thereupon promptly notify the city council, and any such person so ceasing to be such commissioner of fact; whereupon the vacancy so created shall be filled by appointment as contemplated under the provisions of this section.

(Ord. 12-01 § 3; Ord. 92-5 § 4; Ord. 85-5 § 2; Ord. 84-12 § 3; Ord. 78-7 § 2(b)).

In addition to the eleven regular members appointed by the city council, there shall be three ex officio members of the cultural arts commission, who shall be entitled to attend and participate in all meetings of the commission, but who shall not be entitled to vote. These ex officio members shall be the director of the Mendocino County Museum in Willits or his or her designee, the director of the Mendocino College Willits Center or his or her designee, and one member of the board of trustees of the Willits unified school district or his or her designee as approved by the board of trustees. These ex officio members or their designees shall serve so long as they hold the offices indicated in this section, and shall not serve for prescribed terms.

(Ord. 12-01 § 4: Ord. 92-5 § 5; Ord. 84-12 § 4; Ord. 80-10 § 1).

During June of each year, the commission shall elect one of its members as chairman, who shall hold office for one year and until his successor is elected. At said time, the commission shall also elect a secretary, who shall hold office for one year and until his successor is elected. The chairman shall preside at all meetings of the commission, and the secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the commission and perform such other functions as may be provided for by resolution of the commission.

(Ord. 78-7 § 3(a)).

The commission shall establish a regular time and place for meetings, and shall hold at least one regular meeting each month. Minutes for all meetings shall be promptly filed with the city clerk for inclusion in the proceedings of the city council. All meetings shall be open to the general public.

(Ord. 78-7 § 3(b)).

The commission may make such rules and regulations governing its organization, procedure and activities as it deems necessary and appropriate; provided, however, that no rules or regulations of the commission shall be inconsistent with the ordinances and codes of the city.

(Ord. 78-7 § 3(c)).

The purposes and functions of the commission shall be:

A. To coordinate artistic and cultural events sponsored by organizations within the Willits community, and to develop cooperation among such organizations in the timing and planning of their events;

B. To encourage, assist in, and develop programs and events for the cultural and artistic enrichment of the community;

C. To encourage and develop an appreciation of the need to preserve and enhance the physical appearance of the city and to promote its orderly growth;

D. To advise the city council, the city planning commission, and other boards and commissions of the city in matters pertaining to the beautification and cultural enrichment of the city; provided, however, that nothing in this chapter shall be so construed as to require the city council or any other board or commission to obtain or follow the advice of the cultural arts commission with respect to any public or private project within the limits of the city.

(Ord. 78-7 §4).

With the approval of the city council first had and obtained, the commission is authorized to accept gifts of money and real and personal property from public and private sources on behalf of the city, and to manage and expend such gifts in accordance with instructions provided by the city council. The commission is further authorized to receive gifts and donations, including the proceeds of fund raising events sponsored by the commission, of up to two thousand dollars per year; and to expend such funds for its own activities without prior approval of the city council.

(Ord. 78-7 §5).