That the City Council:
A.  Reappoint the eligible/interested Planning Commissioners and Community Services Commission; or,

B.  Direct staff to advertise the recruitment and interview schedule for expiring terms and scheduled vacancies on the Planning Commission and Community Services Commission. 

On March 31, 2023, one (1) four-year term and one (1) one-year term for members of the Planning Commission will expire. Commissioner Jason Manley has served on the Planning Commission since 2019 and has expressed an interest in reappointment.  Commissioner Carrie Surich has served on the Planning Commission since April 4, 2022, due to an unscheduled vacancy created by Daren Nigsarian's appointment to the City Council.  Commissioner Surich has expressed an interest in reappointment. 

The La Habra Planning Commission was formed in accordance with Ordinance No. 138, which was adopted on November 15, 1949.  The Commission consists of five (5) members appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of City Council, and with staggered four-year terms.  The Commission meets twice per month.

If City Council chooses to proceed with a recruitment process, in addition to filling the Commission seats, staff recommends that the City Council once again select two (2) alternates to the Planning Commission should an unscheduled vacancy occur prior to the annual term limit renewal process in 2024. Staff would then contact the alternates in the order of precedence established by City Council to determine if the alternate(s) are willing and able to fill the vacant seat for the remainder of their term of appointment.

Planning Commissioner Stipend
Planning Commissioners currently receive a stipend of $100 per month; however, since its formation, the Planning Commission stipend has fluctuated as follows: 

Planning Commission Terms and Term Limits
On November 5, 1985, the City Council adopted a policy that established term limits for Planning Commissioners.  Planning Commissioners may serve two (2) consecutive terms of four (4) years each, or a maximum of 10 years.

On February 21, 1989, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1351 that specified Planning Commissioner terms shall be for four (4) years, expiring on March 31st and staggered. Term limits were not established by this ordinance. Since the term limits were set by policy and not by ordinance, it is the opinion of the City Attorney that the City Council has the option to reappoint as they so choose.

The Planning Commission is currently composed of the following individuals:

It should be noted that, on December 12, 2022, Commissioner Munoz submitted his resignation from the Planning Commission effective January 23, 2023.  As part of the 2022 Commission recruitment process, City Council appointed two alternates to potentially serve on the Planning Commission should an unscheduled vacancy occur prior to the annual recruitment. Staff contacted First Alternate Maria Mahecha who expressed a continued interest in serving on the Commission and will begin her service on February 13, 2023, and will serve for the remainder of Commissioner Munoz's term, ending on March 31, 2024.

On March 31, 2023, one (1) three-year term appointment will expire for Commissioner Marie Laveaga, who was originally appointed on April 3, 2017.  Commissioner Laveaga has expressed an interest in reappointment.  As noted above, the 2020 annual Commission recruitment and appointment process was delayed until June 1, 2020, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions.

The Community Services Commission, which is a consolidation of the “Leisure & Cultural Services” and “Social Concerns Commission,” was formed in accordance with Ordinance No. 1151, adopted on November 17, 1981.  As per the adoption of Ordinance No. 1840 by City Council on May 2, 2022, the Commission was reduced from seven (7) members to five (5), each with staggered three-year terms.  The Commissioners meet once per month, but can meet up to 14 times per year, as they have additional meetings dedicated to the consideration of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding allocation proposals. 

The Community Services Commission currently has six (6) formal subcommittees:

1.  Community Development Block Grant
2.  Child Development
3.  Parks & Museums
4.  Community Wellness & Social Services
5.  Special Events
6.  Youth Committee & Scholarships

The number and membership of the subcommittees is determined by the Commissioners at their annual reorganization meeting.

Staff also recommends that the City Council again select two (2) alternates to the Community Services Commission to serve should an unscheduled vacancy occur during a Commissioner's term.  If a vacancy occurs, staff will contact the alternates in the order of precedence established by City Council to determine if the alternate(s) are willing and able to fill the vacant seat for the remainder of the term of appointment for the vacated seat.
 
Community Services Commissioner Stipend
Community Services Commissioners currently receive a stipend of $50 per month; however, since its formation, the Community Services Commission stipend has fluctuated as follows: 

Community Services Commission Terms and Term Limits
On November 5, 1985, the City Council adopted a policy setting term limits for the Community Services Commissioners.  The adopted policy stated that the Community Services Commissioners may serve three (3) consecutive terms of three years, or a maximum of 10 years.

On February 21, 1989, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1351 that specified Community Services Commissioner terms shall be for three years, expiring on March 31st and staggered.  Term limits were not established by this ordinance.  Since the term limits were set by policy and not by ordinance, it is the opinion of the City Attorney that the City Council has the option to reappoint them as they so choose.

The Community Services Commission is currently composed of the following individuals:

The City Council has the option to directly appoint or reappoint qualified individuals to the Planning or Community Services Commissions; however, in the event the City Council directs staff to advertise and schedule interviews for vacancies and alternate seats for each Commission, interviews will be tentatively scheduled prior to the City Council Meetings on March 6 and March 20, as needed.  The City Council could then consider Commission appointments at its regular meeting on April 3, 2023.

Advertising costs to solicit applications for Commission seats are approximately $800. Planning Commissioners earn a $50 stipend per meeting, usually meeting twice per month for a maximum of $100 per month.  Community Services Commissioners earn a maximum monthly stipend of $50. There is sufficient funding in the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 adopted General Fund budget to cover these costs.

This recommended action achieves the following elements of the La Habra General Plan:

This recommended action achieves the following elements of the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 La Habra Goals and Objectives: