HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 2015-23 - Commission, Committee, & BoardAN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
GEORGETOWN ("'CITY") AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANC
CHAPTER 2.36.030 CITY COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOAR
REGARDING APPOINTMENT, TERMS, AND ORGANIZATIO
REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTION
PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FO
PUBLICATION AND SETTING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City Council requested a review of the boards, commissions, and
committees in connection with their strategic goals for upholding Georgetown as the City of
Excellence; and
the City Council regarding the City's boards, commissions, and committees; and
WHEREAS, the City Council determined that certain revisions were necessary to Chapt
2.36.0 30 in order to facilitate the Chairman appointment process on the City's board
commissions, and committees; and I
WHEREAS, the City Council determined that the Mayor shall make a recommendation
regarding the appointment of a Chairperson and the City Council shall approve of the
appointment.
GEORGETOWN, TEXAS THAT:
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Ordinance Number: Page 1 of 2
Description: Cbapter 2.36 Boards, Commissions, and Committees
Date Approved:AA A P— - �.Lt,2015
Section 3. If any provision of this ordinance or application thereof to any person or
circumstance shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions, or
application thereof, of this ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision
or application, and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared to be
severable.
Section 4. The Mayor is hereby authorized to sign this ordinance and the City Secretary to
attest. This ordinance shall become effective in accordance with the provisions of the Charter
PASSED AND APPROVED ON FIRST READING on the 10 day of Matre, 2015.
ATTEST:
(Qwal�a-
J��ica Brettle, City Secretary_
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
I Z
, LL2�
Bridget Chapman, City Attorney
THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN:
Ordinance Number: Page 2 of 2
Description: Chapter 2.36 Boards, Commissions, and Committees
Date Approved: — ; 2015
FOOTNOTE(S):
--- (5) ---
Editor's note— Ord. No. 2011-20, § 2(Exh. A), adopted May 10, 2011, amended Chapter 2.36 in
its entirety to read as herein set out. Formerly, Chapter 2.36 pertained to similar subject matter
and derived from Ord. No. 870144.019, § 2; Ord. No. 900021, §§ 3-6; Ord. No. 92-32, § 2;
Ord, No. 2002-09, § 2; Ord. No. 2002-20, §§ 2-5; Ord. No. 2002-47, § 2; Ord, No. 2004-41, §
2; Ord. No. 2007-16, §§ 2-4, and Ord. No. 2007-64, § 5
�4c. 2.36.010. - Duties of members.
A. Commission, committee, and board members (hereinafter referred to as "Members") will
represent unconflicted lovalty to the interests of the residents of Georgetown. This
accountability supersedes any- conflicting loyalty such as that to advocacy or interest
groups and membership on other boards or staffs. This accountability supersedes the
personal interest of any Board Member acting as an individual.
B. Unless otherwise specified by federal law, state law, the City Charter, or other provisio
of this Code of Ordinances, committees, commissions, and boards are responsible to ari
r
shall act as an advisory body to the Council and shall perform such duties and exercise
such additional powers as may be described by ordinances and the Local Government
Code not inconsistent with the provisions of the City Charter Committees, commission
nd boards play a unique and important role in this advisory apa
ccityg
, assistin•the
Council to carry out its responsibilities for making the decisions which shape City po1
a
C. Each Member is responsible to attend meetings prepared to discuss the issues on the
agenda.
D. Attendance by Members is integral to success of the commission, committee or board.
is Council policy to require a minimum of 75 percent attendance of each Member at e
regularly scheduled meeting including subcommittee meetings. A Member shall be
allowed two excused absences for the Member's personal medical care, required medic
care of a Member's immediate familv member (as defined by City Ordinance), or
Member's military service that shall not count against the 75 percent attendance
requirement. Written notice shall be sent to a Mem er an t e Mem er's C ty ouncil
a
c
representative when it appears the Member may violate the attendance policy by being
absent from more than 25 percent of regularly scheduled meetings, including
subcommittee meetings. Excessive absenteeism may result in the Member being replac
by the Council. If a Niember is removed from a committee, commission or board, that
position shall be considered vacant and a new Member shall be appointed to the Board
accordance with Section 2.36 .040
E. Committees, commissions, and boards, and their Members, shal comp y wit app ica e
City ordinances, rules and policies.
F. Members shall act and conduct themselves in a manner which will promote trust in their
integrity, impartiality, and their devotion to the best interests of the Clty� During
Exhibit A — Chapter 2.36 "CITY COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS" Pagel of
meetings, Members shall preserve order and decorum and shall conduct themselves in a
manner which will not, either by conversation or activity, delay or interrupt the
firoceedings. Members shall not indulge in iersonalities, use offensive language.. _arraign
the motives of other Members, charge deliberate misrepresentation, or use language
tending to hold any Members, Council Members, the public, or the staff, in contempt.
Members will comply with the directions of the presiding office,
G. Each Member shall vote on all a enda items, except on matters involving a conflict of
9
interest, substantial financial interest or substantial economic interest under state law, t
City's Ethics Ordinance (Chapter 2.20, Code of Ordinances), or other applicable Laws,
Rules and Policies. In such instances the Member shall make the required disclosures a •
shall refrain from participating in both the discussion and vote on the matter. The
Member may remain at the dais or leave the dais, at the Member's option, while the
matter is being considered and voted on by the other Board Members. Unless otherwise
provided by law, if a quorum is present, an agenda item must be approved by a majoril
of the Board Members present at the meeting.
H. Members are encouraged to be active in discussions and activities of the commission,
committee or board, seeking to be innovative, creative. and freely sharing the skills and
knowledge which prompted their appointment,
1. Communication between the Council and the committees, commissions and boards is
important to fulfilling their purpose. Committees, commissions and boards shall meet
with City Council, as requested, to determine how to best serve and assist City Council.
City Council shall hear reports from the committees, commissions and boards at regularly
scheduled Council meetinas.
J. Unless otherwise required by law, committees, commissions, and boards shall meet on
a month. Meetings will be conducted in accordance with the bylaws of the committee,
commission or board, and City Council Meeting Rules and Procedures (Chapter 2.24,
Code of Ordinances), as applicable. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Membe
and is required for the committee, commission or board to convene a meeting and to
conduct business at a meeting, Committee, commission and board meetings shall be
noticed, conducted and recorded 'in accordance with the provisions of the Texas Open
Meetings Act. I
K. Committees, commissions, and boards, and their Members, have no authority to experS
funds or make obligations on behalf of the City unless authorized and approved by Ci
Council. I
L, Members shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses
reasonably incurred by them in the performance of their duties as Members when
authorized by their respective committee, commission or board and the City Council.
(Ord. No. 2012-85, § 2; Ord. No. 2012-52,Ord. No. 2011-20, § 2(Exh. A))
See. 2.36.020 * - Eligibility.
AIt is the past practice and the present intent of the City Council that Section 9.01 of the
City Charter (relating to Nepotism) shall not apply to appointments of persons to City
Exhibit A — Chapter 2.36 "CITY COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS" Page 2 of 4
boards, commissions, or committees that are advisory only and that exercise no final
authority on behalf of the City.
B. It is the intent of the City Counc I that as many persons as possi e e invite to serve on
the City's various boards, committees and commissions. To that end, no person shall
serve as a Member of more than one board, commission or committee if other qualified
applicants are available to serve, unless the ordinance or bylaws of one board, committee,
or commission requires or allows the participation of a Member from another board,
committee, or commission, If a person who serves on a board, committee or commission
is appointed to another board committee or commission before the end of his or her
existing term, acceptance of the new appointment shall operate as an automatic
resignation from the position previously held. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to persons appointed by the City Council to
ad hoc or non -permanent advisory committees and such ad hoc committees may be
comprised in whole or in part of persons who serve on the City's standing boards,
committees, and commissions,
C. City employees are not eligible to serve as board, commission or committee Members,
unless otherwise required by law.
(Ord. No. 2011-20, § 2(Exh. A))
Q�ec.7.36.030. - Appointment, terms and organization.
A. Unless otherwise approved by the City Council, the term of office for all committees,
boards, and commissions of the City shall be two years in length with normal, yearly
appointments. Unless otherwise approved by the City Council, no member shall serve
more than two consecutive terms on the same board, committee, or commission. If
reappointment beyond the original two consecutive terms is approved by City Council or
if a vacancy occurs, appointments shall be made to preserve staggered membership terms
on the board and ensure a balance between new and continuing members.
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C. Members of the City's commissions, committees, and boards shall be appointed pursuant
to the City Charter,
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Other officers are elected by a majority vote of the Members at the first meeting after the
annual appointment process. The board, committee or commission shall select a vice-
chairman, secretary and such other officers as it deems necessary. Officers serve for a
term of one year.
Exhibit A — Chapter 2.36 "CITY COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS" Page 3 of 4
F. Unless otherwise required by law, A Member of a committee, board or commission may
be removed from their office or position for any reason or for no reason by a majority
vote of the City Council.
G. Except as otherwise required by law, if any provisions of the Code of Ordinances, or the
bylaws of a board, committee, or commission require the appointment of individuals with
certain qualifications, and no such qualified individual is available to serve at the time
that the appointments are made, then such other individual, otherwise qualified to serve,
may be appointed.
(Ord. No. 2011-20, § 2(Exh. A))
Sec. 2.36.040. - Filling vacated term.
A. Vacancies that arise during the year shall be filled as soon as reasonably possible in
accordance with the City Charter and Section 2.36.030 for original appointments.
B. An appointment to fill a vacated term is not included as a term for purposes of counting
consecutive terms.
(Ord. No. 2011-20, § 2(Exh- A))
Sec. 2.36.050. - Standing meeting date.
Each March, the City Council shall recognize all outgoing members, introduce new members,
and honor the volunteer effort of the commission, committee, and Board Members.
(Ord. No. 2011-20, § 2(Exh. A))
Sec. 2.36.060. - Adoption of bylaws, rules or procedures.
A. The Council may, after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this Chapter, adopt
any rule or procedure to effectuate the provisions of this Chapter.
B. Each board, committee, or commission shall adopt bylaws, subject to review and
approval by City Council, in conformity with the City Charter, the Code of Ordinances,
and with any other applicable law, The bylaws may be amended by majority vote of the
Members at any regular meeting of the Board, subject to approval by City Council.
(Ord, No. 2011-20, § 2(Exh. A))
See. 2.36.070. - Conflict of Law.
If any provision of this Chapter conflicts with state law then it shall be and is amended to comply
with and conform to state law.
(Ord. No. 2011-20, § 2(Exh. A))
See. 2.36.080. - Applicability of this Chapter to economic development corporations.
The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to corporations created by the City Council
pursuant to the Development Corporation Act of 1979, as amended (Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann.,
Art. 5190.6).
(Ord. No, 2011-20, § 2(Exh. A))
Exhibit A — Chapter 2.36 "CITY COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS" Page 4 of 4