There shall be the following enumerated boards and commissions which shall have the powers and duties herein stated: the Planning Commission, the Personnel Board, and the Recreation and Parks Commission. In addition, the City Council may create by ordinance such advisory 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.
The City Council shall include in its annual budget sufficient appropriations of funds for the efficient and proper functioning of such boards and commissions.
The members of each of such boards or commissions shall be appointed, and shall be subject to removal, by motion of the City Council adopted by at least four affirmative votes. The members thereof shall serve for a term of four years and until their respective successors are appointed and qualified.
The members first appointed to such boards and commissions 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 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 a least one member shall expire on each succeeding July 1st. Thereafter, any appointment to fill an unexpired term shall be for such unexpired period.
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 the board or commission. Each board or commission shall hold regular meetings as prescribed by ordinance of the City Council, and such special meetings as it may require. All proceedings shall comply with state laws governing open and public meetings.
The vote of a majority of the entire membership of such board or commission shall be necessary for it to take action.
The City Manager may appoint a secretary for each of such boards and commissions, who shall keep a record of its proceedings and transactions. Each board or commission may prescribe its own rules and regulations which shall be consistent with this Charter and copies of which shall be kept on file in the office of the City Clerk where they shall be available for public inspection. It shall have the same power as the City Council to compel the attendance of witnesses, to examine them under oath and to compel the production of evidence before it.
The compensation for members of the Planning Commission, the Personnel Board and the Recreation and Parks Commission shall be established by ordinance of the City Council.
Any vacancies in any board or commission from whatever cause arising, shall be filled by appointment by the City Council. If a member of a board or commission absents himself from all regular meetings of such board or commission, for a period of sixty (60) days, consecutively (from and after the last regular meeting of such board or commission attended by such member) unless by permission of the City Council, 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 office shall become vacant and shall be so declared by the City Council.
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 City Planning Commission consisting of five members to be appointed by the City Council from the qualified electors of the City, none of whom shall hold any paid office or employment in the City Government during their term of office on the Planning Commission. The number of members to comprise the commission may be changed by ordinance of the City Council to not less than five nor more than nine members.
The Planning Commission shall have power and be required to:
(a)
After a public hearing thereon, recommend to the City Council on proposals for the adoption, amendment, or repeal of the City's General Plan or any part thereof for the physical development of the City; and
(b)
Exercise such functions with respect to land subdivisions, planning, and zoning as may be prescribed by ordinance.
There shall be a Personnel Board consisting of five (5) members to be appointed by the City Council from the qualified electors of the City, none of whom shall hold any salaried city public office or city employment, nor while a member of the Board or for a period of one (1) year after he has ceased for any reason to be a member, be eligible for appointment to any salaried office or employment in the service of the City or to any elective office.
The Board shall be appointed and serve in the same manner as other boards and commissions except that Personnel Board Members may be removed by motion of the City Council adopted by at least three (3) affirmative votes.
The Personnel Board shall have power and be required to:
(a)
After a public hearing thereon, recommend to the City Council the adoption, amendment or repeal of Civil Service rules and regulations;
(b)
Hear appeals of any person in the Classified Service relative to any suspension, demotion or dismissal;
(c)
Hold hearings and make recommendation to the City Council on the adoption or revision of the position classification plan; and
(d)
Make any investigation not inconsistent with this Charter or state law which it may consider desirable concerning the administration of personnel in the municipal service and report its findings to the City Council and City Manager.
There shall be a Recreation and Parks Commission consisting of five members which shall be appointed by the City Council from the qualified electors of the City, none of whom shall hold any paid office or employment in the City Government. The number of members to comprise the Commission may be changed by ordinance of the City Council to any number not less than five.
The Recreation and Parks Commission shall have power and be required to:
(a)
Act in an advisory capacity to the City Council in all matters pertaining to public recreation, including parks, playgrounds and entertainment;
(b)
Consider the annual budget of the Recreation and Parks Department during the process of its preparation and make recommendations with respect thereto to the City Manager and the City Council; and
(c)
Assist in the planning of a recreation program for the inhabitants of the City, promote and stimulate public interest therein, and to that end, solicit to the fullest extent possible the cooperation of school authorities and other public and private agencies interested therein.