Report Prepared by: Jennifer Levesque, Assistant City Clerk, City Clerk’s Office
Title
SUBJECT: Discussion and Direction on the Appointment and Reappointment Process for Board and Commissions
REPORT IN BRIEF
Discuss and provide staff direction on the appointment and reappointment process for Board and Commissions.
RECOMMENDATION
Provide staff direction on the appointment and reappointment process for Board and Commissions.
Body
AUTHORITY
Article VII, Sections 700, 702, and 705 of the Merced City Charter.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
The City of Merced has eight active Boards and Commissions, three of which are Charter Board and Commissions (Planning Commission, Recreation and Parks Commission, and Personnel Board).
Appointments
Currently, appointments are made by Council districts. Applications are presented to Council and the Council Member whose district is vacant makes a nomination to fill that seat and Council makes a formal vote.
In the past, Council would hold a special meeting to conduct interviews only for Planning Commission applicants. Each Council Member would each ask prewritten questions to each applicant, Council will then decide and appoint a new member at the next Regular City Council meeting. Previous Council decided to no longer hold interviews and instead elected to allow each Council Member to nominate an applicant from their district. Staff is seeking direction from Council on the preferred process for future appointments.
Reappointments
Board and Commission members can serve up to two four-year terms, when their first term is up Council has the option to re-appoint that member. Currently, the Clerk’s Office reaches out to the member when their term is about to expire to see if they are interested in being re-appointed. If they are interested, it will then be presented to Council for consideration.
Staff is seeking direction on the reappointment process to treat it like an open vacancy or to continue with the current process.
Timing
Lastly, appointments are on a continuous cycle. Council makes multiple appointments throughout the year. Anytime a vacancy opens and there are applicants that item is brought to Council for consideration.
Staff is seeking direction to hold appointments once a year to coincide with the reappointment process unless there is a quorum issue.
ATTACHMENT
1. Presentation