TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Liza Tamura, City Clerk
Martha Alvarez, Assistant City Clerk
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of Options to Fill the Parking and Public Improvements Commission Seat No. 4 (Business Community) Vacancy (City Clerk Tamura).
(Estimated Time: 15 Mins.)
DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council give direction to the City Clerk regarding the Parking and Public Improvements Commission (PPIC) vacancy for the Business Community Seat No. 4.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications at this time.
BACKGROUND:
The Parking and Public Improvements Commission, established by resolution, consists of five members and serves in an advisory capacity to the City Council regarding public parking issues, Capital Improvement Projects (CIP), traffic management, activities within the public right-of-way including encroachment permits, undergrounding utilities, and environmental enhancements.
Manhattan Beach Municipal Code (MBMC) § 2.44.040 states, “Whenever an unscheduled vacancy occurs on a Commission, Board or Committee, a special notice is to be posted in the City Clerk’s office, and other places as directed by the City Council within twenty (20) days after the City receives notice of the vacancy.”
The City Clerk’s Office received the letter of resignation from Commissioner D’Amico; therefore, effectively leaving the Parking and Public Improvements Commission, Seat No. 4, Business Community Seat vacant. At the November 21, 2023, City Council meeting, the City Council accepted Commissioner D’Amico’s resignation, declared Seat No. 4 vacant, and directed the City Clerk to conduct public outreach.
The City Clerk’s Office did not receive any applications and at the January 16, 2024, City Council Meeting, the City Council approved staff’s recommendation to extend the application deadline and conduct public outreach for the vacancy.
To solicit interest in the PPIC Business Community Seat, the City Clerk’s Office placed a total of five advertisements with the Beach Reporter; posted the advertisement on the City Bulletin boards; posted the vacancy and electronic application on the City’s Boards and Commissions webpage and posted on the City’s social media; notified the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Manhattan Beach Business and Professional Association, and the North Manhattan Beach Business Improvement District of the vacancy.
DISCUSSION:
The PPIC Business Community Seat requires that the applicant own and/or operate a business located in the City (excludes home-based businesses) and have a business license registered with the City.
At the close of the extended application period (February 12, 2024), one resident expressed interest in the PPIC seat, but does not meet the Business Community Seat requirement. The City Clerk’s Office reached out to the members of the Board of Building Appeals to see if there was interest in serving in both capacities. To date the City Clerk’s Office has not received any confirmation of interest because they also do not meet the Business Community Seat requirement.
OPTION 1:
The City Council can once again extend the application period for the vacant PPIC Business Community Seat No. 4 and incorporate the vacancy as part of the annual Boards and Commissions Interview and Appointment process. The deadline to submit applications is April 11, 2024. The interviews are scheduled to take place on April 23, 2024.
OPTION 2:
Since November 2023, there have been no applicants applying for the Business Community Seat. Therefore, the Community Development Director and the City Traffic Engineer are recommending a modification to PPIC Seat No. 4, changing the requirements from “Business Community” to “Member At-Large.” The City Council can then direct staff to return with a resolution amending the PPIC membership requirement for Seat No. 4 which would then allow a larger pool of applicants to be considered during the annual Boards and Commissions Interview and Appointment process in April & May of this year.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
The City Clerk’s office conducted extensive outreach regarding the PPIC vacancy. In order to notify the community about the PPIC Business Community Seat, the City Clerk’s Office published the notice on the City’s social media; placed additional advertisements in the Beach Reporter; posted the advertisement on City bulletin boards; posted the vacancy and electronic application on the City’s Boards and Commissions webpage; sent out an additional GovDelivery notifications to subscribers; notified the Chamber of Commerce, notified the Downtown Manhattan Beach Business and Professional Association, and notified the North Manhattan Beach Business Improvement District of the vacancy.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.