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DEFINE PROCESS TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO THE STRONG COMMUNITIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
Staff is seeking City Council direction on the desired appointment process to fill the seven-member vacancies on the Strong Communities Advisory Committee (Committee).
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Summary
Ordinance 2016-06-07-1212 passed by Stockton voters at the November 7, 2016 General Municipal Election establishes a seven-member advisory committee to be appointed by the City Council. The Ordinance is silent as to the process to be used to make these appointments.
DISCUSSION
Background
At the November 7, 2016, General Municipal Election, Stockton voters approved Ordinance 2016-06-07-1212 which established a ¼-cent sales tax to support Stockton’s library and recreation services. Additionally, Ordinance 2016-06-07-1212 provided for the formation of a seven-member advisory committee, to be appointed by the City Council. The Friends of the Stockton Library, Library and Literacy Foundation of San Joaquin, Stockton Parks and Recreation Commission and the Stockton Parks and Recreation Foundation each have the opportunity to recommend candidates for the Committee to the City Council. These candidates can be considered along with other applications received from those interested in serving on the Committee. This Committee will annually review revenues and expenditures from the Strong Communities Fund, and make recommendations to Council regarding those expenditures. Appointments to the Committee are for two-year terms.
Present Situation
The Ordinance is silent as to the process in which Council is to make appointments to the Committee, simply stating that members of the Committee will be appointed by the City Council. In preparation to make appointments to the Committee, the Clerk’s Office ran a recruitment and interviewed 15 applicants.
Council Policy Chapter 3.02 (Attachment A) outlines three possible appointment processes, 1) provide for applicant interviews and later selections are made at a Council meeting by ranking the applicants - subject to City Council approval; 2) direct Mayor and Councilmember appointments like the Planning Commission, such that appointment terms coincide with the appointing Councilmembers term of office - subject to City Council approval; or 3) Mayoral appointments where the Mayor makes selections which are then confirmed by the City Council.
It should be noted that for the Measure A, Water Advisory, and Community Development Committees, Council has made direct appointments, in which selected applicants are not necessarily required to be from the appointing Councilmembers district. These appoints are also subject to City Council approval.
Staff is seeking direction from Council for the preferred method of appointment to the Committee, by either using one of the appointment processes currently outlined in Council Policy, or by developing a modified process that takes into consideration the existing pool of applicants and the shorter term of service allowed by the Ordinance.
Financial Summary
There is no financial impact to this decision.
Attachment A - Council Policy Chapter 3.02