Agenda - Council - 05/24/2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

CC Regular Session 4. 10. Meeting Date: 05/24/2016 By: Colleen Lasher, Administrative Services Information Title Adopt Resolution #16-05-102 Appointing Ms. Colleen Anderson to a Partial Term on the Environmental Policy Board ending March 31, 2018. Purpose/Background: The purpose of this case is to appoint a new Environmental Policy Board member to fill the vacancy created by a recent resignation. Until recently, Mr. Larry Lewis was serving a second term on the Environmental Policy Board. However, Mr. Lewis will be moving out of the state and as such submitted a letter of resignation to the City. As the City Council will recall, Staff recently conducted the annual boards and commissions process for terms beginning April 1, 2016. A portion of the process included the City Council interviewing new candidates for open seats on the Environmental Policy Board and the Park and Recreation Commission. The City Council interviewed four candidates for two open seats, two of which were considered viable candidates for future openings, but were not originally selected due to a limited number of open seats at the time. As a result of the new vacancy and the City's ability to draw upon the current recruitment file, staff reached out to both candidates, Mr. Lonny Gray and Ms. Colleen Anderson. Mr. Gray stated that he did not wish to be considered for appointment at this time. Ms. Colleen Anderson stated that she was interested in the opportunity and would attend the May Environmental Policy Board meeting so that she could better understand the role that she might play on the EPB. Staff spoke with Ms. Anderson following the EPB meeting and Ms. Anderson stated she is excited about the opportunity to serve on the EPB. Notification: Summary of EPB Terms The normal term length for seats on the EPB is four years; however, occasionally full 4-year terms are interrupted due to resignations on the board. When a partial term exists the City Council typically fills the vacancy with a new member that would serve out the balance of the term. In addition, staff strives to maintain a controlled schedule of staggered terms. New members are ideal for filling partial terms and to regain any imbalance in the staggering that have occurred. When the EPB was originated in 2005 the Council recognized the importance of staggered terms and appointed the initial members to two, three, and four year terms. Currently, the Policy for Appointing Boards and Commission Members is silent on how the maintenance of properly staggered terms should occur. This void will be addressed when the policy is updated in the coming months. However, a recent example of regaining the balance of properly staggered terms was demonstrated in March of this year on the EPB when Mr. Trossen was appointed. The vacancy that was open was a full 4-year term; however, in an effort to regain a better balance of staggered terms, staff recommended, and the City Council approved, Mr. Trossen's appointment to a 2-year term which corrected a situation that would have resulted in too many terms expiring four years from now. It should be noted that incumbent re -appointments have historically been approved as full 4-year terms.