Title
a. Receive a report on the current rules and regulations for the Monterey County Parks Commission regarding Election of Officers; and
b. Provide direction to staff on recommended changes to the Section 9 of the Parks Commission rules and regulations regarding Election of Officers to bring forward for Board of Supervisors consideration.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the Monterey County Parks Commission:
a. Receive a report on the current rules and regulations for the Monterey County Parks Commission regarding Election of Officers; and
b. Provide direction to staff on recommended changes to the Section 9 of the Parks Commission rules and regulations regarding Election of Officers to bring forward for Board of Supervisors consideration.
SUMMARY:
In early 2019, Commissioner Sanchez requested that the Parks Commission (Commission) consider a modification to the annual election process for appointing a Chair and Vice Chair to the Commission. Currently, the Election of Officers for the Commission is governed by Section 9 of the rules and regulations, which states that recommended changes require the approval of the Board of Supervisors. On October 3, 2019, at a regular scheduled meeting of the Commission, this item was discussed by the Commissioners in attendance and continued in response to a request by Commissioner Sanchez who could not attend the meeting. Today, the Commission is asked to receive a report on the current rules and regulations set for Election of Officers of the Parks Commission and to provide direction to staff on recommended changes to the Parks Commission rules and regulations regarding Election of Officers to bring forward for Board of Supervisors consideration.
DISCUSSION:
On April 26, 1966, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 66-185 to establish a Parks Commission and set the rules and regulations for the operation of said Commission through Resolution No. 66-185 (Attachment A). On July 29, 1980, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 80-430 which reestablished the rules and regulations for the Parks Commission (Attachment B). On August 28, 1990, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 90-497 amending Section 4 of the Resolution No. 80-430 to set the term of office for Parks Commission members at four years (Attachment C). On April 24, 2018, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 18-048 amending Section 2 to add one member of the Board of Supervisors to the Monterey County Parks Commission membership (Attachment D).
Section 9 of the current Resolution No. 18-048 pertains to the election of Officers which states the following:
“The Commission shall elect a Chairman and a Vice Chairman, who shall be elected during the Commission’s first meeting of the year. Officers shall serve for one year and may run for re-election.”
In early 2019, Commissioner Sanchez requested that the Commission consider changing the annual process for selecting Commission Officers. An alternative method suggested was to implement a rotation process similar to the current Board of Supervisors’ annual Chair rotation.
Should the Commission support a rotation process, staff has developed draft language for the Commission’s consideration as follows:
The Parks Commission Chair and Vice Chair shall be appointed based on a rotation cycle following the numerical order of the Supervisorial District represented (as depicted below). Rotation of Chair and Vice Chair will occur during the Parks Commission’s first meeting of each calendar year. The Chair or Vice Chair shall serve for one year. The Board of Supervisors’ Parks Commission member is excluded from the Chair and Vice Chair rotation.
Should the Commission decide to leave the process for Election of Officers unchanged, staff recommends that the Commission consider modifying the existing language as follows:
The Parks Commission shall elect a Chair and a Vice Chair during the first meeting of the Parks Commission each calendar year. Officers shall serve for one year and shall not succeed themselves. A Chair or Vice Chair may serve again as Chair or Vice Chair following a one-year vacation of that position. The Board of Supervisors’ Parks Commission member is excluded from the Chair and Vice Chair rotation.
Modification of the existing language is also subject to the approval of the Board of Supervisors. Should the Commission provide direction to staff to amend Resolution 18-048 to reflect proposed changes to the Election of Officers process or modification of existing language, staff will prepare a report and amended resolution for the Board of Supervisors’ consideration in January 2020.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
FINANCING:
Resource Management Agency (RMA) serves as staff for the Parks Commission. No additional costs are associated with this recommendation and related action.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Public meetings provide transparency to government. The Parks Commission provides a public forum and serves in an advisory capacity to the Board of Supervisors regarding County Parks.
__ Economic Development
X Administration
__ Health & Human Services
__ Infrastructure
__ Public Safety
Prepared by: Shawne Ellerbee, RMA Deputy Director of Administrative Services
Reviewed by: Jim Rodems, RMA Chief of Parks
Approved by: Carl P. Holm, AICP, RMA Director
Attachments:
Attachment A-Rotation Process
Attachment B-Resolution No. 66-185
Attachment C-Resolution No. 80-430
Attachment D-Resolution No. 90-497
Attachment E-Resolution No. 18-048