sr-061212-13d (2)WER
June 12, 2012
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE - MEMORANDUM
To: City Council
From: Councilmember McKeown
Date: June 12, 2012
When the City Council in 1999 passed Resolution 9451, establishing various policies
regarding boards, commissions, and regional advisory boards, we set term limits for
certain of those bodies.
While we wished to maximize the opportunity for participation by having board and
commission membership turn over periodically, we were careful to include flexibility to
address future circumstances. For instance, the Council can appoint a board or
commission member to a third term, upon request, by a supermajority vote of two- thirds
of the Councilmembers.
It appears that flexibility was overlooked in one particular circumstance, as described in
Section 1 -F of the existing resolution:
F. The total number of members that may serve a third consecutive term
on a board or commission at the same time is limited to no more than
one -third of the membership of that board or commission.
A circumstance has arisen where that lack of flexibility may impede the Council's ability
to re- appoint a sitting commission member who has requested re- appointment, who fits
required professional qualifications, and for whose seat there is no other qualified
applicant.
Therefore, I'm suggesting we amend Resolution 9451 so that section 1 -F henceforth
reads:
F. The total number of members that may serve a third consecutive term
on a board or commission at the same time is limited to no more than
one -third of the membership of that board or commission, but the Council
may, by two- thirds vote, make an exception to fill seats with specific
professional, expertise, or other qualifications.
This action would not predetermine the appointment or reappointment of any
boardmember or commissioner, a matter which would be taken up separately by this
City Council. Amending Resolution 9451 would only grant the Council the flexibility for
more responsive decision - making when such appointments arise.
13 -D
June 12, 2012
f \atty\mum \laws\mjm \bdcom wpd
City Council Meeting 10 -12 -99
Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER 9451 (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA ESTABLISHING
POLICIES FOR CITY BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND
REGIONAL ADVISORY BOARDS
WHEREAS, maximizing public participation in government effectuates fundamental
principles of democracy, and
WHEREAS, the residents of Santa Monica have a strong commitment to
participating in their local government, and
WHEREAS, the City's numerous boards and commissions facilitate public
participation in government and thereby ensure representation of diverse viewpoints and
interest, and
WHEREAS, setting term limits and establishing policies for boards and commissions
ensures that opportunities for participation will be maximized and that boards and
commissions will function productively, and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to establish term limits and other policies in
relation to participation in City boards and commissions and the conduct of board and
commission meetings,
1
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS
SECTION 1 Term Limits for Boards and Commissions The following definitions
and policies shall apply to City boards and commissions, including the boards of the Pier
Restoration Corporation, the Bayside District Corporation and the Santa Monica
Convention and Visitors Bureau
A The length of term for each City - appointed board and commission is set forth
in the Municipal Code, the City Charter, or the by -laws of the board or commission
B A full term is defined as serving three - fourths or more of a term, whether it is an
appointment to an annual vacancy or to an unscheduled vacancy
C A partial term is defined as serving less than three - fourths of a term, whether it
is an appointment to an annual vacancy or to an unscheduled vacancy
D All members of boards and commissions, except tenant members of the
Housing Commission, are limited to serving two consecutive terms However, a third
consecutive term may be served if the member makes a written request to serve a third
term, or a Councilmember nominates a member to a third term, and the City Council
approves the third term by a two - thirds vote Tenant members of the Housing Commission
are limited to serving four consecutive two -year terms, except that a fifth or sixth two -year
consecutive term may be served if the member makes a written request or a
Councilmember nominates the member, and the City Council approves the fifth or sixth
term by a two - thirds vote
limit
E Serving a partial term shall not be counted as part of the 2 or 3 consecutive term
2
F The total number of members that may serve a third consecutive term on aboard
or commission at the same time is limited to no more than one -third of the membership of
that board or commission
F. After serving the maximum number of consecutive terms allowed, a member may
not serve again on the same board or commission until four years after the member's final
term has expired
SECTION 2. Term Limits for Regional Advisory Boards. The following policies
apply to term limits on regional advisory boards
A Members of the Los Angeles County West Vector Control District shall serve an
initial two year term and may serve additional terms of two or four years each at the
discretion of the City Council
B Members or alternates of the Cooperative Library System may serve a maximum
of two two -year terms Members shall have the option to serve an additional two terms as
alternates, and alternates shall have the option to serve two additional terms as members
C Members of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Water District may serve for
an indefinite number of four year terms
SECTION 3 Membership on One Board or Commission Only No person shall
serve simultaneously on more than one board or commission, including the Pier
Restoration Corporation, the Bayside District Corporation, the Santa Monica Convention
and Visitors Bureau, and the regional advisory boards, with the exception of the Building
and Safety Commission
SECTION 4 Bi- Annual Review of Agendas and Minutes The City Clerk is hereby
directed to conduct bi- annual reviews of board and commission agendas and minutes,
3
including the agendas and minutes of the Pier Restoration Corporation, the Bayside District
Corporation, and the Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau, and to act, as needed,
to ensure that they comply with legal requirements, including the Ralph M Brown Act
SECTION 5 Annual Dinner The City Clerk is directed to organize and hold an
annual Board and Commission Dinner which shall serve as the annual joint meeting
between the City - appointed boards and commissions, the appointees to the regional
advisory boards, and the City Council
SECTION 6 Written Communications to Other Entities No City - appointed board
or commission shall send any official resolution or other correspondence of the board or
commission on any matter of City policy to any non -City agency, board or commission
unless the board or commission votes to do so and obtains the prior approval of the City
Council
SECTION 7 Conduct of Meetings. Resolution 8525 (CCS), as it may be amended
from time to time, which sets forth the rules of order and the procedures forthe conducting
of City Council meetings, is hereby incorporated and made a part of these City board and
commission policies to serve as a general guideline forthe conduct of meetings of the City -
appointed boards and commissions which have not adopted their own rules or bylaws
SECTION 8 Attendance at Meetings The following attendance policies apply to
all members of City boards and commissions, including the Pier Restoration Corporation,
the Bayside District Corporation, the Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau, and
the regional advisory boards
A An absence is defined as a failure to attend at least two- thirds of a meeting
H
L]
B Except for the regional advisory board appointments, the City staff liaison to all
boards and commissions shall report all board and commission member absences to the
City Clerk
C. The City Clerk shall provide the City Council with a summary of attendance by
all board and commission members twice a year, or when a board or commission member
has been absent from two meetings out of any six consecutive meetings
SECTION 9 Resolutions Number 4626 (CCS) and 6850 (CGS) are hereby
repealed in their entirety
SECTION 10. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and
thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM
MARSHA JONES MOUTRIE
City Attorney
5
Adopted and approved this 12th of October, 1999
l
Pam O'Connor, Mayor
I, Maria M Stewart, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do hereby certify that
the foregoing Resolution 9451 (CCS) was duly adopted at a meeting of the Santa
Monica City Council held on the 12th of October, 1999, by the following vote
Ayes Council members Rosenstein, McKeown, Feinstein, Bloom,
Holbrook, Mayor Pro Tern Genser, Mayor
O'Connor
Noes Council members None
Abstain Council members None
Absent Council members None
ATTEST
Ilk
Maria M Stewart, CO Clerk
Reference Resolution No.
10690 (CCS)