There shall be the following enumerated boards and commissions which shall have the powers and duties stated in this Article:
Personnel Board
Planning Commission
Parks and Recreation Commission
Board of Library Trustees
Heritage Preservation Commission
In addition, the City Council may create by ordinance or resolution such boards or commissions as in its judgment are required and may grant to them such powers and duties as are consistent with the provisions of this Charter.
(Amended effective November 30, 1995)
The City Council shall include in its annual budget sufficient appropriations of funds for the efficient and proper functioning of such boards and commissions.
Except as otherwise provided in this Article:
The members of each board or commission shall be appointed, and shall be subject to removal, by motion of the City Council adopted by at least four affirmative votes.
No member of any board or commission shall be eligible to serve for more than two consecutive four-year terms nor shall such member be eligible for appointment to the same board or commission for two years after the expiration of the second full term for which the member was appointed and served. Any person appointed to a board or commission to fill an unexpired term of not more than two years in length shall be eligible to serve two full four-year terms upon the expiration of the unexpired term for which such person was appointed.
Any person appointed to a board or commission shall be immediately eligible, upon the expiration of their term or resignation prior to completion of their term if appointed to a different board or commission, to serve on a different board or commission. The Council shall consider whether appointment of a person on a board or commission to serve on a different board or commission is in the best interest of the City.
Unless otherwise provided, the members first appointed to boards and commissions composed of four members shall so classify themselves by lot that each succeeding July 1st, the term of one of their number shall expire. If the total number of the members of a board or commission to be appointed exceeds four, the classification by lot shall provide for the grouping of terms to such an extent as is necessary in order that the term of at least one member shall expire on each succeeding July 1st. (Amended effective December 31, 1975, May 1,1989, November 30, 1995, December 14, 2005 and November 28, 2007)
(Amended effective December 31, 1975, May 1,1989, November 30, 1995, December 14, 2005 and November 28, 2007)
Except as otherwise provided in this Article, the members of such boards and commissions shall be eligible to serve no more than two successive terms on the same board or commission. For purposes of this section, terms are deemed successive if the commencement of one term occurs less than two years from the expiration of the other. No person having served two such successive terms shall be eligible for appointment to that same board or commission for two years following expiration of the second successive full term for which the member was appointed and served. Any person appointed to any of said boards or commissions to fill an unexpired term of not more than two years in length shall, however, be eligible to serve two successive four-year terms on the same board or commission upon expiration of the unexpired term for which such person was appointed. However, two nonconsecutive full terms shall be deemed successive if the member served an unexpired term of less than two years between the full terms, unless two years passed between the commencement or expiration of the member's partial term and either of the full terms.
(Amended effective November 30, 1995 and November 28, 2007)
As soon as practicable, following the first day of July of every year, each of such boards and commissions shall organize by electing one of its members to serve as presiding officer at the pleasure of such board or commission. Each board or commission shall hold regular meetings as required by resolution of the City Council, and such special meetings as it may require. All meetings shall be open and public.
(Amended effective July 8, 1968 and December 31, 1975)
The members of boards and commissions shall serve without compensation for their services as such, but may receive reimbursement for necessary traveling and other expenses when on official duty out of the City on order of the City Council.
Except as otherwise herein provided, any vacancies in any board or commission from whatever cause arising, shall be filled by appointment by the City Council. Upon a vacancy occurring leaving an unexpired portion of a term, any appointment to fill such vacancy shall be for the unexpired portion of such term. If a member of a board or commission absents himself/herself from three regular meetings of such board or commission, consecutively, unless by permission of such board or commission expressed in its official minutes, or is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, or ceases to be a qualified elector of the City, his/her office shall become vacant and shall be so declared by the City Council.
(Amended effective December 31, 1975)
Each member of any such board or commission, and the secretary thereof, shall have the power to administer oaths and affirmations in any investigation or proceeding pending before such board or commission.
There shall be a Personnel Board consisting of five members to be appointed by the City Council. To be eligible for appointment, each appointee shall neither hold public office or employment nor be a candidate for any other public office or position, nor be a former City employee.
The members of the Personnel Board shall be selected and appointed in the following manner: three of the members shall be appointed by the City Council directly; two of the members shall be appointed by the City Council from a list of five persons to be nominated by election of the employees in the Classified Service. If the employees in the Classified Service do not nominate one or more persons to fill a vacancy for the employee-nominated seats within six months of written notification, the City Council may appoint the person directly to fill the vacancy.
The successor of any member of the Board shall be appointed in the same manner as such member was appointed.
All persons appointed shall be registered voters of the City and shall maintain their principal place of residence within the City at the time of their appointment. If at any time during their term any member of the Board shall cease to be an elector of the City or shall cease to maintain their principal place of residence within the City, then such person shall become ineligible to continue to serve as a member of the Board and said position shall be declared vacant by the City Council.
(Amended effective July 8, 1968, December 23, 1982, December 23, 1993, November 30, 1995 and November 28, 2007)
The Personnel Board shall have power and be required to:
(a) 
Act in an advisory capacity to the City Council and City Manager on personnel administration;
(b) 
Hear appeals of any officer or employee in the Classified Service who is reclassified, suspended, demoted or removed, and report its finding to the City Council and City Manager; the findings and conclusions of the Personnel Board shall be final and no appeal may be taken therefrom;
(c) 
After a public hearing thereon, recommend to the City Council the adoption, amendment or repeal of the civil service rules and regulations;
(d) 
Perform such other duties with reference to personnel administration, not inconsistent with this Charter, as the City Council may require by ordinance.
There shall be a City Planning Commission consisting of seven members to be appointed by the City Council, none of whom shall hold any paid office or employment in the City government, except that the City Manager, or his/her designated representative, shall serve as an ex officio member of the commission.
All persons appointed shall be registered voters of the City and shall maintain their principal place of residence within the City at the time of their appointment. If at any time during their term any member of the commission shall cease to be an elector of the City or shall cease to maintain their principal place of residence within the City, then such person shall become ineligible to continue to serve as a member of the Commission and said position shall be declared vacant by the City Council.
(Amended effective July 8, 1968, December 31, 1975 and December 23, 1982)
The Planning Commission shall have power and be required to:
(a) 
After a public hearing thereon, recommend to the City Council the adoption, amendment, or repeal of Master, General, or Precise Plans, or any part thereof, for the physical development of the City;
(b) 
Exercise such functions with respect to land subdivisions, planning, and zoning as may be prescribed by ordinance; and
(c) 
Exercise such other functions as now or may be hereafter authorized by the provisions of Title 7 entitled "Planning" of the Government Code of California, or as hereafter amended or added to, insofar as they do not conflict with the provisions of this Charter.
(Amended effective July 8, 1968)
There shall be a City Parks and Recreation Commission consisting of five members to be appointed by the City Council, none of whom shall hold any paid office or employment in the City government.
All persons appointed shall be registered voters of the City and shall maintain their principal place of residence within the City at the time of their appointment. If at any time during their term any member of the Commission shall cease to be an elector of the City or shall cease to maintain their principal place of residence within the City, then such person shall become ineligible to continue to serve as a member of the Commission and said position shall be declared vacant by the City Council.
(Amended effective December 23, 1982)
There shall be a Board of Library Trustees consisting of five members to be appointed by the City Council. No member of the Board shall hold any paid office or employment in the City government.
All persons appointed shall be registered voters of the City and shall maintain their principal place of residence within the City at the time of their appointment. If at any time during their term any member of the board shall cease to be an elector of the City or shall cease to maintain their principal place of residence within the City, then such person shall become ineligible to continue to serve as a member of the board and said position shall be declared vacant by the City Council.
(Amended effective July 8, 1968, December 23, 1982 and November 30, 1995)
The Board of Library Trustees shall have power to:
(a) 
Act in an advisory capacity to the City Council and City Librarian in all matters pertaining to the City Library; and
(b) 
Exercise such other functions as now or hereafter may be prescribed by the City Council and which do not conflict with the provisions of this Charter.
(Amended effective July 8, 1968 and November 28, 2007)
There shall be a Heritage Preservation Commission consisting of seven members to be appointed by the City Council, none of whom shall hold any paid office or employment in the City government.
All persons appointed shall be registered voters of the City and shall maintain their principal place of residence within the City at the time of their appointment. If at any time during their term any member of the Commission shall cease to be an elector of the City or shall cease to maintain their principal place of residence within the City, then such person shall become ineligible to continue to serve as a member of the Commission and said position shall be declared vacant by the City Council.
(Added effective December 23, 1982; amended effective November 30, 1995)
The Heritage Preservation Commission shall have power to:
(a) 
Act in an advisory capacity to the City Council in all matters pertaining to heritage resources, landmark sites and landmark districts.
(b) 
Exercise such functions with respect to any heritage resource, landmark site or landmark district as may be prescribed by ordinance.
(Added effective December 23, 1982; amended effective December 14, 2005)