To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
Title
Ordinance Amending Various Sections of the Castle Rock Municipal Code Regarding Board and Commission Membership, Absences, Term Limits, and Meetings (First Reading)
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
Pursuant to Town Council direction last year, staff has prepared the attached ordinance making changes to the Town Code governing Town Boards and Commissions (Boards).
Section 1 of the ordinance requires all Board members to be Town residents, except: Downtown Development Authority (DDA) members because their requirements are set by state law; if Council would in the future expressly allow a non-resident by ordinance; if they were appointed before the expected effective date of this ordinance.
Section 2 retains the absence provisions of the existing Town Code which is based on the require schedule of meetings of a particular board, and adds a new provision:
“IN NO EVENT SHALL A BOARD OR COMMISSION MEMBER HAVE UNEXCUSED ABSENCES IN EXCESS OF 15% OF THE TOTAL MEETINGS HELD IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING TWELVE-MONTH PERIOD.”
Council can set whatever percentage they determine appropriate. The existing Code sets unexcused absences based on board meeting schedules, ranging from 4 unexcused absences for boards scheduled to meet twice a month, 3 unexcused absences if the board meets monthly, and no more than 1 unexcused absence if the board meets quarterly or as needed.
Section 3 changes the terms to 3 years (from the existing 2 years) and limits terms to 2 consecutive terms. With maintaining exceptions for the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and Design Review Board (DRB).
Section 4 provides that remote attendance and participation by board members shall not be permitted.
Staff did receive some comments that this will make some board participation more difficult going forward and those comments are included in the agenda packet.
There is not a need for a Code provision indicating that remote interviews for the annual board interviews will not be permitted. Direction from Council suffices on this issue.
Additional Recommended Code changes:
2.16.080 - Meetings.
The Planning Commission shall hold regular public meetings, AS NEEDED.
15.30.090 - Board of Building Appeals
B. Membership. The Board shall consist of five (5) qualified electors of the Town MEMBERS. To the extent practicable, four members shall be persons qualified by experience and training to pass on matters pertaining to building construction.
D. Meetings. The Board shall hold REGULAR PUBLIC meetings at regularly scheduled intervals, AS NEEDED.
15.64.030 - Historic Preservation Board established.
B. Meetings. The Board shall hold REGULAR PUBLIC meetings at regularly scheduled intervals, AS NEEDED.
Alternative motions may include desired changes to the proposed ordinance.
Proposed Motion
“I move to approve the Ordinance as introduced by title.”
Alternative motions:
“I move to approve the Ordinance with the following changes: _____”
“I move to continue this item to [date] to allow time for: ____.”
Attachments
Attachment A: Ordinance
Attachment B: Castle Rock Water Commission Member Feedback