Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Library Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee recommends City Council revise Oxnard code to restore five-member library board
Summary
The Community Services, Public Safety, Housing and Development Committee voted 3-0 to recommend the City Council adopt an ordinance to revise Oxnard’s municipal code for the library board to a five-member body, reflecting a California Attorney General opinion and Education Code guidance.
The Community Services, Public Safety, Housing and Development Committee voted 3-0 Tuesday to recommend that the City Council adopt an ordinance revising the Oxnard City Code to set the library board at five members, with appointments made by the mayor and subject to council concurrence.
Committee Chair McArthur opened the discussion by stating the recommendation on the agenda and asked for member questions. Deputy City Attorney Jason Zargosa told the committee the change responds to a statutory provision and an Attorney General opinion that confirmed the library board must consist of five members. "It was confirmed. It's gotta be 5 members. But it's the same appointment process," Zargosa said, adding that the appointment process is "by the mayor with concurrence of the council." He also explained the five-member requirement was identified while updating city advisory group ordinances after Oxnard moved to district-based council elections.
Committee members asked how the change would affect current board members and the timing. Zargosa and staff said the Education Code requires staggered terms; staff plans to recruit all five members at once, then stagger the initial term endings over the first three years so the board will comply with the code over time. The committee also asked about the board's origin; staff said the library board dates to 1906 and had operated with different membership counts as the city's governance changed.
There were no public speakers on this item. Chair McArthur made the motion to approve the committee recommendation and the motion was seconded. The clerk recorded a 3-0 vote in favor (Committee member Perez: yes; Committee member Perallo: yes; Chair McArthur: yes), and the motion carried.
The committee packet and staff report cited the California Education Code and referenced an Attorney General opinion as the legal basis for the change. The recommendation now goes to the full City Council for final adoption of the ordinance.
Staff said recruitment for the five-member board will be an open process seeking "subject matter experts" to advise the library and council, with appointments made through the mayor's office and confirmed by the council.
