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Grover Beach adopts ordinance to require public interviews for advisory-body appointments
Summary
The council voted unanimously to require public interviews and a council majority vote for appointments to the Planning Commission and Parks, Recreation & Beautification Commission; staff said the process will also be applied to oversight committees for Measure K14 and a sales-tax oversight committee.
Grover Beach — The City Council on Sept. 20 adopted an ordinance to change how the city fills vacancies on certain advisory bodies, requiring applicants to interview publicly before the full council with appointment by majority vote.
Assistant City Manager Erickson said the proposed change responds to prior direction from the council to make advisory-body appointments more transparent. "On March 10, you did direct our staff to come back with this ordinance to provide public interviews of all applicants in front of the council at a council meeting with selection by the council majority at that same meeting," Erickson said. Staff also said they will apply the process to oversight committees created for Measure K14 and sales-tax revenue measures to keep appointment practices consistent.
Members of the public urged the council to prioritize geographic diversity and suggested a preference for district residents when possible. Several speakers asked technical questions about the 'Maddy Act' notice requirements, term timing, and whether an individual may serve on multiple advisory bodies. Staff explained the Maddy Act requires specified vacancy notices and that multiple service is generally discouraged as a practice, though not categorically prohibited.
Councilmember (mover) moved to adopt the ordinance amending sections 31.08 and 31.23 of Chapter 31 (Title 3) regarding appointments and vacancies; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously on roll call.
Council discussed using application materials to capture applicants' district residence and including district considerations as evaluation criteria, but staff and members stressed flexibility to recruit qualified applicants when district-specific candidates are not available.
