City Council
MEETING DATE: 6/13/2018
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, 2018.
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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 2018. 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 2018, with the exception of those who are termed out, 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 4, 2018.
DISCUSSION:
The following are the Commissions and Committees that have terms that are expiring as of June 30, 2018 and a list of those who have submitted applications and letters of interest:
Architectural Review Committee - 1 Seat
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. The term for non-residents is one year. Mr. Ray Lopez does not reside in Cathedral City and was appointed to serve a one-year term. He would like to be considered for reappointment. Mr. Lopez is a Licensed Landscape Architect and it the only individual that applied for the Architectural Review Committee.
Finance Advisory Committee - 1 Seat
This Committee meets at least once each calendar year and all meetings shall be subject to the provisions of the Brown Act. There is one seat that will expire on June 30, 2018. Staff did not receive any applications for this committee.
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, 2018. Staff did not receive any applications for this Commission.
Planning Commission - 3 Seats
This Commission meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. There will be three open seats as of June 30, 2018. Staff received four applications from the following individuals:
Stephen Burchard
Barry Jaquess
Sarah Rodriguez
Juan Carlos Vizaga
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, 2018. Staff received 5 applications from the following individuals:
Denise Rodriguez Bowman
Biff Geiser
Cristal Mojica
James Arthur Spalding
Sue Townsley
Palm Springs International Airport Commission - 1 Seat
The Palm Springs International Airport Commission meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 8:00 a.m. in the Conference Room second floor of terminal building at the Palm Springs International Airport. There is one seat with a term that will expire on June 30, 2018. Staff received three applications from the following individuals:
Richard Altman
John (Jack) Andrew Delaney
Vrej Greg Gregorian
It is Staff’s recommendation that the City Council appoint Ray Lopez to the Architect Review Committee for a term of one year and not have him go through the interview process. Mr. Lopez is a non-resident but a Licensed Landscape Architect and the only one who applied for the Committee. It is staff’s further recommendation that once the City Council has completed all of the interviews they discuss possible appointments to each Commission and Committee. Below is a list of seats and term expirations for Council to consider.
• Finance Advisory Committee - one seat with a term a term expiring on June 30, 2021.
• Parks and Community Events Commission - two seats with terms expiring on June 30, 2021.
• Planning Commission - three seats one with a term expiring on June 30, 2020 and two with terms expiring on June 30, 2021.
• Public Arts Commission - two seats with terms expiring on June 30, 2021.
• Palm Springs International Airport Commission - one seat with a term expiring on June 30, 2021.
An item is on the Regular Meeting Agenda for Council to make appointments to the various commissions and committees.
In the fall, once school is back in session, Staff will work with Cathedral City High School and Mt. San Jacinto High School to recruit Student Commissioners for each Commission.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to the City with this item.
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Applications from all individuals interested in being appointed or reappointed to a Council appointed Board Commission or Committee.