City Council
MEETING DATE: 8/26/2015
TITLE:
Title
Discussion of Council Membership on City Boards and Commissions
End
FROM:
Charlie McClendon, City Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends City Council discuss and provide direction to staff.
Body
BACKGROUND:
Cathedral City has a number of citizen Boards and Commissions, which exist for a number of purposes. Some, such as the Parks and Community Events Commission, Finance Advisory Board and Public Arts Commission, provide independent advice to the City Council. Others such as the Planning Commission and Board of Appeals play a legally defined role in the land use and zoning processes.
Additionally, the City holds seats on a number of regional committees. These include the Airport Commission, the Mosquito and Vector Control Board, the CVEP Board, the Convention and Visitors Bureau Board and number CVAG board and committees.
CM Kaplan asked for a study session item to allow a discussion on the advisability of having Councilmembers serve on some or all of the City's boards and committees.
DISCUSSION:
Councilmembers presently hold seats on the following regional committees:
1. Coachella Valley Association of Governments Executive Committee
2. League of California Cities - Riverside County Division Executive Board
3. Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB)
4. Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP)
5. CVAG Energy & Environment Resources Committee
6. CVAG Homeless Committee
7. CVAG Public Safety Committee
8. CVAG Transportation Committee
9. Coachella Valley Conservation Commission
10. Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy Board
11. SunLine Transit Board
12. Riverside County Transportation Commission
13. ERICA - Board of Directors
14. Coachella Valley Animal Campus
15. Southern California Association of Governments
The following Cathedral City Commissions and Boards do not presently have Councilmembers as members of the committee:
1. Planning Commission
2. Board of Appeals
3. Public Arts Commission
4. Recreation and Community Events Commission
5. Finance Advisory Committee
Cathedral City has seats on the following boards, which are appointed by Council, but not necessarily filled by a Councilmember:
1. Palm Springs International Airport Commission
2. Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control Board (CM Kaplan is the current member)
Staff contacted other cities in the area to determine if they have a practice of placing Councilmembers on their local Boards and Commissions (beyond the regional committees that all Cities fill with Councilmembers). The following information was obtained:
Palm Springs - No
Desert Hot Springs - No
Indio - No
La Quinta - No
Palm Desert - Places Councilmembers on what would be their equivalent of the Public Arts Commission and the Parks and Community Events Commission. It does not appear that they have an equivalent to the Finance Advisory Committee. They do not have Councilmembers on their equivalent to the Planning Commission or Board of Appeals.
Arguments in favor of placing Councilmembers on Boards and Commissions center around the concept that doing so strengthens the position of the boards and may make board members feel more empowered.
Arguments against placing Councilmembers on Boards and Commissions center around the concept that the boards should be independent voices in the community providing advice to the Council and that independent advice is most likely to be provided when the boards are not influenced by individual Councilmembers.
The City Council Policy Manual currently contains a provision, which appears to have been designed with the independence of boards as the objective. It would likely need to be amended if Council decides to add Councilmembers to any or all of the boards.
3.07.020 COUNCIL RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS.
Council members must recognize that it is important for commissioners, committee and board members to be able to make objective and independent recommendations on items related to the City. Council members shall refrain from giving their personal opinions on policy matters before the commission, committee or board. Council members shall refrain from attending meetings of the commissions, committees or boards unless so direct by the Council. If a councilmember does communicate with one or more member of the commission, committee or board, the councilmember must be certain that any opinions expressed are clearly identified as individual personal opinions, unless official Council action has been taken on the subject in question. In no circumstance pursuant to the Brown Act shall the councilmembers individually or collectively discuss a policy matter with a majority of the members of any commission, committee or board except at an open notice meeting of the commission, committee or board with the permission and direction from the Council.
The Council has determined that council members should not lobby commissioners, committee or board members for particular votes. However, council members may attend meetings in their unofficial capacity as residents and request that commissioners, committee or board members consider certain issues during their deliberations, or may do so in unusual instances in their capacity as council members to reflect the views of the Council as a body. Council members should not engage in advocacy before a commission, committee or board on any matter which will likely thereafter come before the council at a public hearing.
Council members choosing to attend commission, committee or board meetings should be sensitive to the fact that they are not participating members of the body. Council members have the rights, and only the rights, of ordinary citizens with respect to commissions, committees or boards - including the right to write to and speak to the commission, committee or board during public comment periods.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no cost associated with assigning Councilmembers to Boards/Commissions.
ATTACHMENTS:
None