CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
Memo Date: May 20, 2024
Agenda Date: May 28, 2024
Prepared By: Tammy Gemmati, Administrative Services Director
Through: Stockton Whitten, City Manager
Requested Action:
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City Council approval of Resolution No. 2024-049 establishing a new board appointment process.
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BACKGROUND:
City Staff recommends the City Council adopt a policy related to board appointments to bring consistency to how the board appointments are handled. The City currently has thirteen Boards that all have different terms of appointments and there has not been consistency on how the board members are reappointed and how vacancies are advertised. Having an approved policy will create consistency and ensure there is equal opportunity on board appointments.
At the May 14, 2024 City Council Meeting, the attached process was previewed as a preliminary concept. Feedback was taken back to review with the City Attorney’s office to help finalize a draft policy for Council consideration.
To summarize the policy, ninety (90) days prior to the board vacancy, an application period will be opened for thirty (30) calendar days to current board members, alternate board members, and members of the public. The upcoming vacancy will be advertised on the City’s website, newsletter, Informational City Council Agenda Item, and social media forums. All qualified applicants will be presented at the first Council Meeting of the month before expiration.
The appointment/selection process when there are more applicants than available appointments available was also discussed at the May 14 Council Meeting. Article XII of the City Council Rules of Procedures has a written procedure which states each Council member shall be afforded the opportunity to make nominations. After the nomination period, the Council shall then vote on each nominee. When two or more nominations occur for the same position, the individual receiving the affirmative vote of at least three (3) members of Council shall be seated.
However, an alternative ranking method has been used periodically where each Council member ranks the candidates in order (1,2,3…) their nomination preferences and the scores are tallied with the lowest total scored candidate being nominated. If there is more than one vacancy being appointed, the additional candidate(s) will be selected in the same order with the second ranked candidate selected as the next available seat. Council directed Staff to use the alternative ranking method in this new board appointment process.
STRATEGIC PLAN CONNECTION:
Community Outreach and Engagement
BUDGETARY IMPACT:
Budgeted N/A
If not budgeted, is amendment/transfer attached? N/A
PREVIOUS ACTION:
N/A
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Recommendation
City Council approval of Resolution No. 2024-049 establishing a new board appointment process.