CC SR 20190820 04 - Council Liaison Policy 54
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 08/20/2019
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA DESCRIPTION:
Consideration and possible action to approve City Council Policy No. 54 establishing
parameters and guidelines for assigning a council member as a liaison to City advisory
boards and the Planning Commission
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Discuss, review, amend if necessary, and approve City Council Policy No. 54
(2) Alternately discuss and take other action related to this item
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Emily Colborn, City Clerk
REVIEWED BY: Gabriella Yap, Deputy City Manager
APPROVED BY: Doug Willmore, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. City Council Policy No. 54 - Council Liaisons for Advisory
Boards/Committees/Commissions (page A-1)
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
At the May 7, 2019, City Council meeting, the Council recognized the need for City
resident advisory boards and the Planning Commission to have a council member act
as liaison between the City and the board/committee/commission. The purpose of
assigning a council liaison is for the board/committee/commission to have an assigned
council member to refer to if members have questions or concerns about the direction of
the board/committee/commission and/or direction from Staff. Subsequently, at the May
21, 2019, City Council meeting, council members were assigned as liaisons to various
City advisory boards and the Planning Commission . With this new practice in place, at
the request of the Council, a formal policy has been drafted creating parameters and
establishing guidelines (Attachment A).
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CITY COUNCIL POLICY
NUMBER: 54
DATE ADOPTED: August 20, 2019
SUBJECT: Council Liaisons for Advisory Boards/Committees/Commissions
POLICY:
It shall be the policy of the City Council to assign a council member to any City resident
advisory committee, and the Planning Commission, as a liaison that the
committee/commission can turn to if members have questions or concerns about the
direction of the board/committee/commission and/or direction from Staff. The following
parameters are hereby established as guidelines:
A. At the discretion of the City Council, a council member may be assigned to any of
the City’s active advisory boards including the Planning Commission to serve as a
Council liaison.
B. Council liaison assignments may be done on an annual basis along with the Council
appointments to outside agencies.
C. After the appointment(s) are made, Staff will notify the Staff liaison regarding the
decision.
D. Attendance at board/committee/commission meetings by the Council liaison is
encouraged but not mandatory.
E. Council liaisons may informally arrange for a Council alternate when scheduling
conflicts arise.
F. During a board/committee/commission meeting, the Council liaison shall serve a role
similar to that of the Staff liaison. The primary responsibility for providing information
to board/committee/commission members belongs to the Staff liaison, but the
Council liaison may provide additional information at the request of the Chair when
questions fall beyond the scope of staff’s expertise.
G. During a board/committee/commission meeting, the Council liaison may address the
body under the “Staff Communications” portion of the agenda. During this time, the
liaison shall address the members from the podium or at a designated seat at the
table with Staff.
H. The Council liaison may raise points of order when procedural issues arise.
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I. During board/committee/commission meetings, authority resides with the
board/committee/commission Chair.
J. A Council liaison role is primarily an observer, therefore liaisons shall refrain from:
a. Interfering with the smooth operation of board/committee/commission
meetings
b. Participating or engaging in discussions or decisions of the
board/committee/commission
c. Advising what the board/committee/commission should or should not do or
attempting to influence and/or guide its progress
d. Offering opinions or advocating for or against matters when they come
before the board/committee/commission
e. Acting in a manner that undermines the Chair’s authority
f. Participating in policy discussions except when providing factual
information at the request of the Chair
g. Speaking on behalf of the full Council without appropriate authority
h. Acting as spokesperson for the board/committee/commission
K. No more than two members of the City Council are to be in attendance at any
meeting of a committee or commission at any time. If appointed to serve as liaison
to a committee or commission, the council member has priority over any other
council member who may wish to attend and is not a liaison.
L. If questions or concerns arise regarding the conduct of a Council liaison, the Chair
of the board or commission should consult with the Mayor for possible resolution.
When the liaison in question is the Mayor, the Chair should consult with the Vice
Mayor for possible resolution.
M. In an effort to keep the City Council and the public informed on the activities of the
boards/committees/commissions, biannual status reports shall be given at a regular
City Council meeting.
BACKGROUND:
The City Council recognized the need for City resident advisory boards and the
Planning Commission to have a council member act as liaison between the City and the
board/committee/commission.
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