The Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to update its boards-and-commissions appointment protocol and to pursue targeted reviews or reforms of several advisory bodies.

Clerk of the Board Tracy Damico presented recommended edits to appointment procedures for at-large members. The board adopted a change for scheduled at-large vacancies to require posting of the vacancy four weeks prior to a term expiration and to process appointment four weeks after the vacancy would occur—shortening the period offices remain vacant while preserving public notice. Damico also introduced a distinction between scheduled vacancies (term expirations) and unscheduled vacancies (resignations), noting unscheduled vacancies must be posted not earlier than 20 days before nor later than 20 days after the vacancy under statutes cited in the staff report.

The board also directed staff to return with a deeper review or chartering work on four advisory items: create an ad hoc or bring a staff report to address the Aviation Advisory Committee (membership, purpose, bylaws), review membership/structure of the Fish and Game Advisory Committee and the Human Rights Commission (both have large membership rosters that sometimes impede quorums), and to bring an agenda item to disband or formally retire the inactive Project Trellis committee. CAO Alicia Hayes and the Clerk clarified that some committees are created by code or statute and cannot be altered without separate legal steps; others are at the board’s discretion.

Why it matters: The changes are intended to reduce vacancies on important commissions, streamline recruitment, and ensure that advisory bodies have clear charters and consistent bylaws. Supervisors cited persistent vacancies on planning-related groups and the need for consistent posting practices for the Planning Commission and others.

Board action and follow-up: Board motion adopted staff protocol amendments and directed staff to return with a focused agenda item and recommendations for the Aviation Advisory Committee, Fish and Game Advisory Committee, Human Rights Commission and Project Trellis. The motion passed unanimously (5-0). Staff said they will bring back recommended bylaws and membership options and that any changes to committees created by ordinance will be brought with legal analysis.