Needles Municipal Code Art. IX Appointive Boards And Commissions

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

There shall be a planning commission consisting of seven members. The planning commission shall have the power and duty to:

1. Recommend to the council, after a public hearing thereon, the adoption, amendment or repeal of a master plan or any part thereof for the physical development of the city.
2. Exercise such functions with respect to land subdivisions, planning and zoning as may be prescribed by ordinance consistent with this Charter.
3. Make recommendations to the council concerning proposed public works and for the clearance and rebuilding of blighted or substandard areas within the city.
4. Perform such other duties and functions not inconsistent with this Charter as may be prescribed by ordinance.

The director of public utilities or a representative designated by him shall be accorded a seat at all meetings of the commission and shall be entitled to participate in its deliberations but shall not have a vote.

There shall be a personnel commission consisting of five members, none of whom shall hold any salaried office or employment in the service of the city while a member of the commission nor for a period of one year after he has ceased for any reason to be a member. The personnel commission shall have power and be required to:

1. Act in an advisory capacity to the council and the city manager on personnel administration.
2. Recommend to the council after a public hearing thereon, the adoption, amendment or repeal of personnel rules and regulations.
3. Hear appeals of any person in the classified service relative to any suspension, demotion or dismissal and make recommendations thereon which shall be advisory only.
4. Make any investigation which it may consider desirable concerning conditions of employment or the administration of personnel in the municipal service and report its findings to the council and the city manager.
5. Perform such other duties with reference to personnel administration not inconsistent with this Charter as the council may prescribe by ordinance.

There shall be a recreation and parks commission consisting of seven members. In the event the council contracts with other agencies interested in recreation and parks for the joint exercise of any of such functions, such contract may provide for representation on the commission of nominees of such agencies during the existence of such contract or extensions thereof. The recreation and parks commission shall have the power and duty to: (Res. No. 4-27-04)

1. Act in advisory capacity to the council in all matters pertaining to recreation and parks.
2. Consider provisions of the annual budget for recreation and park purposes during the process of the preparation of the budget and make recommendations with respect thereto to the city manager and the council.
3. Assist in the planning of a recreation program for the inhabitants of the city, promote and stimulate public interest therein, and to that end, solicit to the fullest extent possible, the cooperation of school authorities and other public and private agencies interested therein.
4. Advise the council with respect to the acceptance of money, personal property or real estate donated or offered to the city for recreational or park purposes.
5. Perform such other duties not inconsistent with this Charter as may be prescribed by ordinance.

There shall be a board of public utilities consisting of seven members. The board of public utilities shall have the power and duty to:

1. Consider the annual budget for the department of public utilities during the process of its preparation and make recommendations with respect thereto to the council and the city manager.
2. Within the limits of the budget of the department of public utilities, authorize any purchase of equipment, materials or supplies exceeding the sum of three thousand dollars, and authorize the acquisition, construction, extension, enlargement, diminution, or curtailment of all or any part of any public utility system. No such purchase, acquisition, construction, extension, enlargement, diminution or curtailment shall be made without such authorization.
3. Require of the city manager monthly reports of receipts and expenditures of the department of public utilities, segregated as to each separate utility, and monthly statements of the general condition of the department and its facilities.
4. Establish rates for all revenue producing utilities owned, controlled or operated by the city, but subject to the approval of the council and to any valid contract.
5. Approve or disapprove the appointment, suspension or removal of the director of public utilities, who shall be the department head.
6. Designate its own secretary.
7. Make such reports and recommendations to the council regarding the department of public utilities as it shall deem advisable.
8. Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by ordinance not inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Charter.

The City Hospital may be sold pursuant to relevant provisions of the California Government Code. (Res No. 2010-19, June 2010 election)