Article IX. Appointive Boards and Commissions Sec. 900. In General
There shall be the boards and commissions enumerated in this article which shall have the powers and duties herein stated. Unless otherwise provided by this Charter, the number of members to comprise any board or commission shall be determined by ordinance or resolution of the council. No member of any board or commission shall hold any paid office or employment in the city government. In order to be eligible for any appointment to any board or commission, a person shall be a qualified elector of the city. In addition to those herein provided, the 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.
Sec. 901. Appropriations
The council shall include in the annual budget such appropriations of funds as in its opinion shall be sufficient for the efficient and proper functioning of such boards and commissions.
Sec. 902. Appointments; terms
The members of each of such boards or commissions shall be appointed by the council. They shall be subject to removal by motion of the council adopted by at least four affirmative votes. Unless otherwise provided by this Charter, 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 agreement or by lot that each succeeding January 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 at least one member shall expire on each succeeding January 1st, and that the number of terms expiring in any year does not exceed by more than one the number expiring in any other.
Sec. 903. Existing boards
The respective terms of office of all members of the boards and commissions in existence at the time this Charter takes effect shall terminate upon the effective date of this Charter. The present members of the boards and commissions which will continue in effect under this Charter shall be deemed reappointed to the respective boards and commissions of which they are members as first appointed members thereof’ under this Charter.
Sec. 904. Meetings Chairman
As soon as practicable, following the first day of January 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 such regular and special meetings as such board or commission may require. All proceedings shall be open to the public.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the entire membership of such board or commission shall be necessary for it to take any action, except to adjourn.
The city manager shall designate a secretary for the recording of minutes 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. Each shall have the same power as the council to compel the attendance of witnesses, to examine them under oath and to compel the production of evidence before it.
Sec. 905. Compensation; Vacancies
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 incurred on official duty when such expenditures have received authorization by the council.
Any vacancies in any board or commission, from whatever cause arising, shall be filled by appointment by the council within sixty days. 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 shall absent himself 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 office shall become vacant and shall be so declared by the council.
Applications are available online or may be obtained from the City Clerk’s Office, at Needles City Hall, 817 Third Street, Needles, CA 92363. The City Clerk’s Office is open between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
