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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 11/05/2013 - RESOLUTION 2013-091 MAKING AN AMENDMENT TO THE BOAAgenda Item 14 Item # 14 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY November 5, 2013 City Council STAFF Wanda Nelson, City Clerk SUBJECT Resolution 2013-091 Making an Amendment to the Boards and Commissions Manual to Eliminate the Requirement that all Board and Commission Members be Registered Voters. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to amend the membership eligibility requirements outlined in the Boards and Commissions Manual to remove the requirement that all persons appointed to boards and commissions must be registered voters. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION The City Clerk’s Office maintains a Boards and Commissions Manual (the “Manual”) for members of boards and commissions and staff liaisons to boards and commissions. The Manual includes membership lists, descriptions of each board and commission, meeting schedules, conflict of interest guidelines, appeal procedures, and general information regarding membership limitations, attendance policies and other responsibilities of boards and commissions, all of which have been approved or adopted by the Council. In 2001, Council adopted a revised Boards and Commissions Manual, which included a requirement that all persons appointed to boards must be registered voters. It has come to Council’s attention that many residents are not eligible to register to vote, but could offer valuable perspective in advising the City Council through board or commission membership. Council wishes to amend the “Membership Limitations” section in the manual to remove the requirement that all persons appointed or reappointed to any board or commission be registered voters. - 1 - RESOLUTION 2013-091 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS MAKING AN AMENDMENT TO THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MANUAL TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT ALL BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS BE REGISTERED TO VOTE WHEREAS, the City currently has several boards and commissions appointed by the City Council; and WHEREAS, information pertaining to membership lists, descriptions of each board and commission, meeting schedules, conflict of interest guidelines, appeal procedures, and general information regarding membership limitations, attendance policies and other responsibilities of the City’s boards and commissions is contained in a Boards and Commissions Manual (the “Manual”), maintained by the City Clerk, which Manual was last adopted by the City Council by Resolution 2001-026 and amended by Resolution 2008-011; and WHEREAS, Resolution 2001-026 requires that any amendments to the Manual that constitute policy changes shall be made only by the City Council by resolution; and WHEREAS, the Manual currently provides that all persons appointed or reappointed to any board or commission shall be registered voters; and WHEREAS, it has come to the City Council’s attention that there are many residents of the City who are not eligible to register to vote, but who could offer a legitimate and valuable perspective in providing advice to the City Council through board and commission membership; and WHEREAS, the City Council believes that eligibility for membership on the City’s boards and commissions should be more inclusive to allow those residents to apply for, and be considered for membership on, the various boards and commissions; and WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to amend the “Membership Limitations” section of the Manual to remove the requirement that all persons appointed or reappointed to any board or commission be registered voters; and WHEREAS, this proposed change is substantive in nature and requires City Council approval. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS that the fourth paragraph of the “Membership Limitations” section of the Boards and Commissions Manual is hereby amended as follows: All persons appointed, or reappointed, to any board or commission after August 1, 2002, shall be registered voters (except those under 18 years of age) and shall - 2 - have resided within the Fort Collins Growth Management Area for at least one year. Any member serving on a board or commission who relocates outside the Growth Management Area during his or her term of service on a board or commission, regardless of his or her date of appointment or reappointment, shall resign his or her membership. These limitations shall not apply to applicants for or members of the General Employees Retirement Committee. Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 5th day of November, A.D. 2013. _________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk