Title
Consider a preliminary analysis report in response to Board Referral Number 2026.16 (Church) seeking a Board policy governing district-specific appointments to County boards, commissions and committees.
Body
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Receive a preliminary analysis report in response to Board Referral Number 2026.16 (Church); and
b. Direct that staff:
i. Proceed with completion of referral as outlined in the preliminary report; or
ii. Proceed with completion of referral with modification by the Board of Supervisors; or
iii. Rescind referral; and
c. Provide further direction, as appropriate.
PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS:
On August 3, 2026, Supervisor Church submitted Referral 2026.16. (Attachment A). The referral requests that the Board of Supervisors establish a policy governing district-specific
appointments to County boards, commissions and committees. Specifically, it asks that a policy be established such that “[a] Supervisor shall not appoint a resident of another supervisorial district to a district-specific position without the prior consent of the Supervisor representing the proposed appointee’s district of residence.”
Dependent on Board direction, the next step would be for County Counsel to draft such a policy and bring it before this Board for approval. However, County Counsel is currently working on draft Board policies concerning appointments to County boards, commissions and committees. County Counsel would seek permission to incorporate direction on this referral into the larger policy governing appointments as a whole rather than have a separate policy related to district-specific appointments.
This matter is being resubmitted to the Board as there was no consensus the first time this matter was heard. There was a request to resubmit it when all five supervisors would be present at the meeting.
Given the difficulties in reaching a resolution on the language, County Cou...
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