HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 05-032 -City CommissionsRESOLUTION NO. OS-032
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SARATOGA REGARDING THE
STRUCTURE AND OPERATION OF CITY
COMMISSIONS
WHEREAS, the City of Saratoga has a strong tradition of community
participation in City administration; and
WHEREAS, Commissioners and volunteers assist the City in administration of
many programs and provide valuable policy recommendations to the City Council; and
WHEREAS, severe budgetary limitations arising from the State legislature's
reallocation of property tax and other revenue sources away from local governments have
required significant reductions in City staff and programs; and
WHEREAS, reductions in staff interfere with the City's ability to effectively
support the work of City Commissions and reductions in programs reduce the need for
Commission policy guidance; and
WHEREAS, the City is working with other local governments and state officials
to increase the City's share of local property tax and other revenue sources to restore
important City programs and staffing levels and expects that when this occurs there will
be an increased need for Commission policy advice; and
WHEREAS, in light of these circumstances it is prudent to reduce the obligations
of the Commissions commensurate with the reductions in City staff and programs and to
retain a Commission structure that will readily allow restoration of Commission activities
to their prior levels as increased funding becomes available.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Saratoga hereby resolves as
follows:
The Arts Commission shall suspend all operations and not have any meetings
until at July 1, 2006. In light of this suspension, the term of each member of
the Arts Commission shall be extended by one year and that year shall not be
considered in determining the length of a term for the purposes of determining
compliance with the Commissioner term limits established in the City Code.
The Finance Commission shall meet once each year and at such other times as
the City Council or City Manager (or his designee) deems necessary. The
mission of the Finance Commission shall be to respond to specific requests for
advice from the City Council and City Manager (or his designee) with respect
to financial matters, the use of fiscal resources, and the development of
technology for the City. The Finance Commission is currently defined as
consisting of seven members; effective June 1, 2005 the Finance Commission
shall consist of five members.
3. The Library Commission shall meet once each quarter. The Library
Commission is currently defined as consisting of seven members; effective
November 1, 2005 the Library Commission shall consist of five members.
4. The Parks and Recreation Commission shall suspend all operations and not
have any meetings until September 1, 2006. In light of this suspension, the
term of each member of the Parks and Recreation Commission shall be
extended by one year and that year shall not be considered in determining the
length of a term for the purposes of determining compliance with the
Commissioner term limits established in the City Code.
5. The Public Safety Commission shall be renamed as the Traffic Safety
Commission. The exclusive mission of the Traffic Safety Commission shall
be to investigate, review and analyze issues, and make recommendations to
the City Council and City staff regarding traffic safety. The Commission shall
work to increase awareness of, and attention to, the traffic safety needs of the
community by improving communications and involvement between the
community, and the City government on services, needs and programs. The
Traffic Safety Commission is currently defined as consisting of seven
members; effective June 1, 2005 the Traffic Safety Commission shall consist
of five members.
6. There is hereby established the Saratoga Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Equestrian
Trails Advisory Committee. The number of Committee members and their
terms shall be determined by the Public Works Director. Committee members
shall be appointed by the Public Works Director. The Pedestrian, Bicycle,
and Equestrian Trails Advisory Committee shall advise the Public Works
Director with respect to the planning, acquisition, development, and
maintenance of trails in Saratoga.
7. All City Commissions except the Planning Commission shall plan their
agendas in a manner designed to limit the expected duration of Commission
meetings to two hours or less. Agendas, staff reports, and other materials
shall be distributed electronically except in those cases where it is not
practical to do so and where distribution of physical copies is required by law.
8. The provisions of this resolution shall supersede any provisions of any prior
resolution that are in conflict with this resolution
This resolution was passed and adopted at an adjourned meeting of the Saratoga City
Council held on the 18`h day of May, 2005 by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Aileen Kao, Nick Streit, Ann Waltonsmith,
Vice Mayor Norman Kline, Mayor Kathleen King
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
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Kathleen M. King, Mayor