City Council
MEETING DATE: 6/26/2017
TITLE:
Title
Commissions and Committees Interviews
End
FROM:
Tracey R. Martinez, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council interview applicants and discuss possible appointments to the various Commissions, Committees with terms expiring on June 30, 2017.
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BACKGROUND:
The terms of appointments and term limits for Commissions and Committees have been established in the Cathedral City Municipal Code. There are no term limits established for committees by the municipal code. All members of the Commissions shall be appointed for a three year term unless otherwise provided by law, Ordinance, Resolution or if not applicable. The Finance Advisory Committee has no term limits. When an unexpected vacancy occurs on a Commission an appointment may be made to fulfill the remainder of the term. Most, if not all, terms will expire on June 30th of their respective year. Except in cases where the Mayor or City Council are not the appointing authority, no person shall be appointed to and serve substantially more than two full consecutive terms upon any single board or commission, and any person who has served substantially two full consecutive terms shall not be reappointed to the same commission until at least the time equal to one full term has elapsed. However, the City Council may, at any time, if in the best interest of the City, upon the affirmative votes of any four members of the City Council, waive the term limit provisions and reappoint any member of a commission of the City for one additional term.
Staff has actively solicited applicants to fill the anticipated vacancies for June 2017. Efforts included publishing a notice in the Desert Sun, posting the notice at the Senior Center, Library and City Hall, posting the notice on the City’s website and social media. All current commissioners and committee members whose term is expiring in June 2017 were sent an email letting them know that their terms would be expiring and inquiring whether they would be interested in reappointment. Applications were received through June 9, 2017.
DISCUSSION:
The following are the Commissions and Committees that have terms that are expiring as of June 30, 2017 and a list of those who have submitted applications and letters of interest:
Architectural Review Committee - 5 Seats
The Architectural Review Committee is an advisory body to the Planning Commission, which is responsible for reviewing architectural and landscaping design for all new commercial and multi-family residential projects, major commercial remodels and administrative design review applications. The Committee will meet on a case by case basis at a time to be determined. This Committee shall be composed of five members selected by the City Council; a licensed architect, a licensed landscaped architect and three at large members. The City Council may waive the residency requirements for the architect and landscape architect if the City Council determines it is in the best interest of the City to appoint a non-resident to fulfill the licensed architect and license landscaped architect seats. Staff received applications from the following individuals:
Robert Lee Durbin
Thomas Kocan
Danny Lee
Craig Loe
Ray Lopez, Licensed Landscape Architect
In the event that a Licensed Architect does not apply nor is one appointed, Planning Commissioner John Rivera has indicated that he would be willing to serve on the Planning Commission and the Architectural Review Committee.
Finance Advisory Committee - 4 Seats
This Committee meets at least once each calendar year and all meetings shall be subject to the provisions of the Brown Act. There are three seats that will expire on June 30, 2017. We have one vacated seat on this Committee with a term that will expire on June 30, 2018. Staff has been unable to contact this individual and it is believed that he no longer resides in Cathedral City. Staff received four applications from the following individuals:
Ricky Harris
Charles Hull
Craig Loe
Paul Thompson
Valerie Wagner, whose term will expire on June 30, 2017, has a personal medical issue that has prohibited her from submitting an application and participating in the interview process, however, she would like to be considered for reappointment. Roger Culbertson, whose term also expires on June 30, 2017, did not submit an application but has indicated that if the Council would consider reappointing him he would gladly serve another term.
Parks and Community Events Commission - 2 Seats
The Parks and Community Events Commission meets on the 4th Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. There are two seats that will expire on June 30, 2017. Staff received three applications from the following individuals:
Thomas A Kocan
Arvin Ocampo
Jessica Olson
Planning Commission - 1 Seat
This Commission meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. There will be one open seat as of June 30, 2017. Staff received six applications from the following individuals:
Alice Daby
Sergio Espericueta
Michael Hagedorn
Mitchell King
Grant Linhart
Arvin Ocampo
Public Arts Commission - 2 Seats
This Commission meets on the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. There are two seats with terms that will expire on June 30, 2017. Staff received 5 applications from the following individuals:
Greg Murphy
Alan Carvalho
Robert Lee Durbin
Kevin Greeland
Dean Keefer
Wendy Willson
Below is a list of seats and term expirations for Council to consider. It is Staff’s recommendation that once the City Council has completed all of the interviews they discuss and provide direction on possible appointments to each Commission and Committee.
• Architect Review Committee - five seats, three of the initial Committee members shall be appointed to serve a three-year term and two of the initial committee members shall be appointed to serve a two-year term so that thereafter the terms are staggered. The appointment of a non-resident shall be limited to a term of one year.
• Finance Advisory Committee - four seats, one seat with a term expiring on June 30, 2018 and 3 seats with terms expiring on June 30, 2020.
• Parks and Community Events Commission - two seats with terms expiring on June 30, 2020.
• Planning Commission - one seat with term expiring on June 30, 2020.
• Public Arts Commission - 2 seats with terms expiring on June 30, 2020.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to the City with this item.
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Applications and Emails from all individuals interested in being appointed or reappointed to a Council appointed Board Commission or Committee.