Why can’t Benavides find anyone to appoint to City Boards and Commissions?

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County Community Alert: NOTICE COUNCILMEMBER BENAVIDES ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPOINTMENT TO A BOARD OR COMMISSION SEAT

REMINDER: DEADLINE IS MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2013 AT 5 P.M.

SANTA ANA, CA (March 14, 2013) – The City of Santa Ana encourages residents to become involved in your community. One way to do so is to serve in an advisory capacity on one of the City’s various boards and commissions. The City is now accepting applications to fill several positions that would represent Ward 4. Below is a summary of the various commissions including duties, compensation and requirements. Interested individuals may apply for appointment by following the instructions in this notice.

Requirements

The following apply to most Citizen Advisory Boards with the exception of the Youth Commission: Must be a registered voter and not serve as a treasurer of a political action committee.

Term of Appointment

Most members serve for a term of four (4) years, with a maximum of three (3) full terms and until their respective successors are appointed and qualified. The terms run concurrent with the term of the appointing City Councilmember.

Application Process

Applications are available on the City’s website (www.Santa-Ana.org), at the Clerk of the Council Office, 20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701, or by calling (714) 647-6520.

COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT & HOUSING COMMISSION

Responsibilities

Conducts hearings to adopt plans and plan amendments for various redevelopment project areas; submits reports and prepares recommendations on business retention and attraction programs (e.g., enterprise zone), tax increment finance, school district partnerships, and other matters delegated by the Successor Agency (formerly the Community Redevelopment Agency); and recommends approval of development agreements for various projects in the redevelopment project areas. Also, recommends housing programs including neighborhood improvement programs, federal housing voucher and certificate programs, low interest loans to rehabilitate residential property, and various other federal and state programs; and, performs other functions delegated by the Housing.

Membership

Total of 10 members: 7 regular members, 2 tenant representatives, and 1 student representative. One of the two tenant representatives must be at least 62 years of age

Meetings:

Meets at 6 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays each month in the City Council Chamber, 22 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA.

Compensation:

$50 per meeting – 3 meetings a month maximum , plus $20 a month auto allowance

ENVIRONMENTAL & TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ETAC)

Responsibilities

Act as advisory body to the City Council in reviewing environmental issues which include water resources, recycling, trash collection, and urban forestry, and transportation issues such as traffic lights, transportation systems, traffic circulation, medians, speed humps, and neighborhood traffic protection plans.

Membership

Total of 10 members: 7 regular members, 1 Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce representative, 1 Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Orange County representative, and 1 student representative

Additional Requirements

The two Chamber representatives are nominated by the respective Chamber of Commerce and are appointed by the City Council.

Meetings:

2nd Thursday each month at 7:30 a.m. City Hall, Ross Annex, Room 1600 20 Civic Center Plaza , Santa Ana, CA.

Compensation:
$50 per meeting – 2 meetings a month maximum

HISTORIC RESOURCES COMMISSION

Responsibilities

Considers all matters referred by the City Council or the City Manager; recommends policies and regulations regarding the protection of the historic heritage of Santa Ana through designation of historical property, historic districts, and neighborhoods; reviews all requests for exterior work or demolition of historic structures; recommends policies and regulations regarding the protection, reuse and rehabilitation of historical property; encourages public understanding and involvement in historic and architectural heritage.

Compensation:

$50 per meeting – 2 meetings a month maximum

Meetings:

Quarterly, 1st Thursday of the month, at 4:30 p.m., Council Chamber, 22 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA.

Membership

Total of 9 members: 7 regular members, 1 representative from the Planning Commission and 1 representative from the Community Redevelopment and Housing Commission.

Additional Requirements

Members should possess an expertise and experience in the disciplines of architecture, history, architectural history, planning or other historic preservation related disciplines, such as urban planning, to the extent that such professionals are available in the community.

PERSONNEL BOARD

Responsibilities

Hears appeals related to disciplinary suspension, demotion or dismissal of permanent officers or employees in the City’s Civil Service system, studies and makes recommendations on the formulation and/or evaluation of civil service policies, plans and procedures; conducts public hearings on proposed amendments or repeals to the Civil Service rules and regulations; and considers matters referred by the City Council or City Manager.

Compensation:

$50 per meeting – no limit on number of meetings.

Meetings:

Meets 6:00 p.m. as needed to conduct appeals., Council Chamber, 22 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA.

Membership

Total of 7 regular members.

Additional Requirements

None of the members shall hold public office or employment in the city government or be a candidate for any other public office or position. None of the members shall be officers of any local, state, or national partisan political club or organization. Members are not eligible for appointment to any salaried office or employment in the service of the City of Santa Ana for a period of one (1) year after leaving the Board for any reason. Members of the Board may only be removed from office for cause.

PLANNING COMMISSION

Responsibilities

Lead advisory body in the determination of what uses may be made of property in the city and what form and shape the community will take in the future; periodically reviews the City’s General Plan and evaluates individual proposals to make sure that they fit with the plan which the community has adopted; annually reviews the city’s capital improvement program solely for consistency wit the General Plan.

Advises the City Council on the adoption of zoning regulations, annexation issues, and property subdivision; considers applications for conditional use permits and variances and provides guidance on the interpretation of the Uniform Codes for building construction.

Membership

Total of 7 regular members.

Compensation:

$50 per meeting – 3 maximum and $50 auto allowance

Meetings:

Meets 5:30 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Mondays each month in the City Council Chamber, 22 Civic Center Plaza

Additional Membership

Members prohibited from holding any paid office or employment in the city government

RECREATION & PARKS (BOARD OF)

Responsibilities

Considers matters referred by the Council, City Manager, or Parks, Recreation and Community Services Agency Executive Director such as donation offers, annual recreation and parks budget; initiates studies on recreation and park issues; and solicits cooperation between public and private agencies on recreation and park matters; assumed duties formerly assigned to the Cable Television Advisory Board including annual review of cable franchise; investigates issues and makes recommendations regarding public cable television services.

Compensation:

$50 per meeting – 2 meetings a month maximum

Meetings:

Meets 5:30 p.m. on the 4th Wednesday each month in the Santa Ana Main Library, 26 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA

Membership

Total of 11 members: 7 regular members, 2 school district representatives: one from Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) and one from Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD), and 2 student representatives

Additional Requirements

Members prohibited from holding any paid office or employment in the city government. The two representatives from the School Districts are appointed by the respective School Board/

YOUTH COMMISSION

THREE POSITIONS AVAILABLE (REGULAR, ALTERNATE & ASSOCIATE)

Responsibilities :

Acts as an advisory body to the City Council in reviewing and recommending programs that stimulate a prosperous environment for youth; recommends procedures, policies, and/or legislation to the City Council; and provides assistance to community agencies engaged in fostering mutual respect for youth.

Meetings:

Meets quarterly, Southwest Senior Center, Conference Room, 2201 W. McFadden Ave., Santa Ana, CA

Compensation:

$25 per meeting , Regular Member;
$10 per meeting, Alternate Member;
$10 per meeting, Associate Member

Membership:

Total of 21 members:

7 Regular members – ages 16-20;
7 Alternate members – ages 14-18;
7 Associate members – ages 11-14

Additional Requirements**

Must be students who reside in the City of Santa Ana. Must have consent of parent or guardian to qualify for appointment if under the age of 18. Members over the age of 18 must be registered voters in the City of Santa Ana.

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