Report Prepared by: Jennifer Levesque, Assistant City Clerk, City Clerk’s Office
Title
SUBJECT: Annual Appointments to the Building and Housing Board of Appeals (3 Seats)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Accept nominations to fill vacancies on the Building and Housing Board of Appeals.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Accepting nominations and appointing individuals to serve as members of the Building and Housing Board of Appeals (one [1] vacancy and two [2] expiring terms); or,
B. Accepting nominations and appointing as many members as Council sees appropriate and directing staff to continue the recruitment of applicants.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Direct the Clerk’s Office to continue recruitment for the vacancies.
AUTHORITY
Merced Municipal Code, Section 3.38.050.
DISCUSSION
The Building and Housing Board of Appeals hears and decides appeals of orders, decisions, or determinations made by the Chief Building Official relative to the application and interpretation of the Merced Municipal Code. The Board consists of five voting members, three of whom are registered or licensed professionals in the trades of design, engineering, construction, or inspection of buildings. In addition, the Chief Building Official serves as a non-voting, ex-officio member and acts as Secretary to the Board. Members meet as needed.
At the Council meeting of March 21, 2022, staff was directed to return to a yearly appointment process for the reappointment of eligible members and the appointment of new applicants to vacant board or commission seats.
The Clerk’s office began a recruitment campaign that consisted of two 1/4 page ads in the Merced County Times in May and June, a social media push over several weeks coordinated with the Public Information Officer to alert citizens of the vacancies and expiring terms, and a series of emails for each board or commission sent to over 3,000 recipients notifying them of the recruitment.
The terms of James Allen and Curtis Papineau expired on July 1, 2022. Mr. Allen has expressed a desire to be reappointed and is eligible for reappointment.
There is one additional vacancy on the board. The Clerk’s Office received an eligible application from Steven Patterson to fill this vacancy.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Building and Housing Board of Appeals Applications
2. Current Roster