Get Involved in City Government- Join a Commission in 2014

The City of Encinitas is accepting applications for appointment to City Commissions. Application forms may be obtained from the City Clerk’s Office, 505 South Vulcan Avenue, via e-mail from khollywood@encinitasca.gov, or from the City’s website www.encinitasca.gov. All applicants must be registered voters in the City of Encinitas. 

There are two application deadlines, one for incumbents wishing to reapply and a later date for all other applicants. The deadline for incumbents wishing to reapply is January 30, 2014, 6:00 p.m. and the deadline for all other applicants is February 6, 2014, 6:00 p.m. 

All applicants will be asked to attend the February 19, 2014, City Council meeting to briefly discuss (2 to 3 minutes) their qualifications and interest in serving on a commission. Appointments are scheduled to be made by the City Council at its meeting on February 26, 2014, 6:00 p.m. Terms will begin March 2014. 

Applicants who would like specific information on the various Commissions should contact the following Departments: 

Commission for the Arts – City Manager’s Office at 633-2746 
Environmental Commission – Public Works Department 633-2827 
Parks and Recreation Commission - Parks and Recreation at 633-2740 
Planning Commission - Planning Department at 633-2681 
Senior Citizens Commission - Parks and Recreation at 633-2740 
Traffic Commission - Traffic Engineering at 633-2705 

APPOINTMENTS TO BE MADE AND TERMS EXPIRING IN 2014 

COMMISSION FOR THE ARTS (Chapter 2.46 of the Municipal Code) -- Four (4) appointments to be made for three-year terms with a term ending March 2017 -application 

Terms expiring: Kay Colvin appointed March 2012; Francine Filsinger (appointed June 2013 to fill an unscheduled vacancy); Nicholas Scheiwe, appointed March 2012; and Naimeh Tanha, appointed March 2012. 

The Commission for the Arts is a seven member board. 

Applicants must be registered voters of the City of Encinitas. 

Members serve staggered, three-year terms. 

Duties of the Commission: The Commission shall conduct public hearings and prepare recommendations to the City Council on matters regarding the visual, performing and literary arts. The Commission will promote the arts within the community through: 1) quality visual, performing and literary arts programming, 2) exposure and advocacy, 3) arts education programs, 4) the development of arts venues. The Commission will assist the City Council on matters that may be referred to the Commission by the City Council. 

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION (Chapter 2.49 of the Municipal Code) – Four (4) appointments to be made for three-year terms with a term ending March 2017 -application

Terms expiring: Gregory Barth, first appointed October 2009; Bill Brick, appointed March 2012; Alice Jacobson, first appointed June 2011; and Deborah Orrill, appointed September 2013 to fill an unscheduled vacancy. 

The Environmental Commission is a seven member board. 

Applicants must be registered voters of the City of Encinitas. 

Members serve staggered, three-year terms. 

Duties of the Commission: The Commission shall conduct public hearings and prepare recommendations to the City Council on matters regarding the environment to include without limitation: Develop an Annual Work Plan and presentation to the City Council; Review and update from time to time, as necessary, the Environmental Action Plan; Develop policies and plans to provide for and advocate for environmental protection within the City of Encinitas; Develop policies and plans for developing environmental awareness in cooperation with other public and private agencies to include school districts; Provide review and recommendations to the Council on such matters that may be referred to the Commission by the City Council. 

PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION (Chapter 2.38 of the Municipal Code) – Three (3) appointments to be made for three-year terms with a term ending March 2017 - application 

Terms expiring: Lorri Ann Greene, first appointed March 2008; Dennis Lhota, first appointed June 2007; and Doug Long, appointed March 2012. 

The Parks and Recreation Commission is a seven member board. 

Applicants must be registered voters of the City of Encinitas. 

Members serve staggered three-year terms. 

Duties of the Commission: The Commission shall conduct public hearings and prepare recommendations to the City Council on matters regarding public parks, recreational facilities, and community services to include, without limitation: policies and plans for the acquisition, development, improvement, and utilization of parks, playgrounds and other recreational facilities; policies and plans for the development and operations of community service programs for the benefit of the residents of the City; policies and plans for developing community service programs in cooperation with other public and private agencies to include school districts; and such matters that may be referred to the Commission by the City Council. 

PLANNING COMMISSION (Chapter 2.34 of the Municipal Code) – Three (3) appointments to be made for three-year terms with a term ending March 2017 - application

Terms are expiring for the representatives of Leucadia, New Encinitas and Olivenhain. Applications will only be accepted from residents living in one of these three communities. 

Terms expiring: Michael Glenn O’Grady, representing Leucadia, first appointed March 2010; Virginia Felker, representing New Encinitas, first appointed March 2006; and Anthony Brandenburg, representing Olivenhain, first appointed in March 2010. 

The Planning Commission is a five member board with members representing each of the five communities of Encinitas: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Leucadia, New Encinitas, Old Encinitas, and Olivenhain. 

Applicants must have resided as a registered voter in the Community area for which appointed for no less than six months prior to appointment, and maintain residency and voter registration in the Community area for which appointed. 

Members serve staggered three-year terms. 

Duties of the Commission: The Planning Commission shall perform such duties as may be specified by ordinance or resolution of the City Council or by the laws of the State of California. Further, the Planning Commission shall study and report to the City Council upon any matter referred to it by the City Council and shall keep the City Council currently advised of all matters pending, and shall furnish any special information, reports or materials which the City Council may request. The Planning Commission shall make a final determination as authorized by this Code for the following applications: Coastal Development, Conditional Use Permit (Major), Tentative Tract Map, Zoning Code Interpretation, Application for project in more than one Community Planning area, and other applications and duties as required by this Code. In addition, the Planning Commission shall make recommendation to the City Council as authorized by this Code for the following applications: General Plan Interpretation, General Plan Amendment, Zoning Code Amendment, Zoning Map Amendment, Specific Plan, and other applications as required by this Code. 

SENIOR CITIZEN COMMISSION (Chapter 2.44 of the Municipal Code) – Four (4) appointments to be made for three-year terms with a term ending March 2017 -application 

Terms are expiring for: David Drielsma, first appointed March 2006; Charles Harp, first appointed March 2012; Deborrah Henry, appointed September 2013 to fill an unscheduled vacancy; and Gregory Simon, appointed March 2012. 

The Senior Citizen Commission is a seven member board. 

Applicants must be registered voters of the City of Encinitas, no less than five of the seven members must be 55 years or older, and applicants must demonstrate knowledge of Senior Citizen issues. 

Members serve staggered, three-year terms. 

Duties of the Commission: The Commission shall conduct public hearings to gather information and thereafter make recommendations to the City Council on matters regarding services for Senior Citizens which include, without limitation.: Policies and plans for the development and operation of programs and services for the benefit of Senior Citizens within the City; policies and plans for developing programs and services in cooperation with other public and private agencies which would benefit Senior Citizens; and such matters that may be referred to the Commission by the City Council. 

TRAFFIC & PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION – Three (3) appointments to be made for three-year terms with a term ending March 2017; and two at-large appointments to be made for two-year terms with a term ending March 2016 - application 

Terms are expiring for the representatives of Leucadia, New Encinitas and Old Encinitas. Applications will only be accepted from residents living in one of these three communities. In addition, there are two new at-large positions. 

Terms expiring for: James A. Lindsay, representing Leucadia, appointed March 2012; Stephen Schorr, representing New Encinitas, first appointed June 2009; and Arnold Lewin, representing Old Encinitas, first appointed September 1991. 

The Traffic and Public Safety Commission is a seven member board with five members representing each of the five communities of Encinitas: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Leucadia, New Encinitas, Old Encinitas, and Olivenhain; and two members representing the community at-large. 

Applicants for community specific appointment must have resided as a registered voter in the community area for which appointed for no less than six months prior to appointment, and maintain residency and voter registration in the community area for which appointed. 

Applicants for the at-large appointments must be a registered voter of the City of Encinitas. 

Members serve staggered three-year terms. For 2014 appointments only, the at-large positions will be appointed for a two-year term. 

Duties of the Commission: The Traffic and Public Safety Commission is a seven member board. The Traffic and Public Safety Commission shall study and report to the City Council upon any matter referred to it by the City Council. The Traffic & Public Safety Commission shall have advisory responsibility in regards to traffic issues and public safety. It is the duty of this commission to serve as a liaison between the public and the City Council, and to conduct analyses and provide recommendations to the Council on matters related to the circulation of motorized vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles, and on matters related to public safety. The scope of the commission’s role with respect to public safety includes but is not limited to traffic safety, emergency response for fire, medical and other crises, as well as the City’s efforts to control and reduce criminal activities of all types. The commission may conduct informational and educational meetings, prepare reports and analyses, and work with fire, marine safety, ambulance, and sheriff personnel. 

General Information (for complete text see Chapter 2.30 of the Municipal Code)

• Persons appointed to a City board, commission or committee serve at the pleasure of the City Council
• All Commissions with the exception of the Youth Commission shall have three-year staggered terms of office. The Youth Commission shall have a one-year term of office. 
•  Beginning with 2014 appointments, all Commissions, with the exception of the Youth Commission, shall have term limits of two consecutive full terms of office. After reaching the term limit, a person must sit out one appointment cycle before reapplying to the same City Commission. Upon terming out of one Commission, a person may apply for a different City Commission. 
• Appointees to any City Commission will not be selected from among members currently serving on any other City Commission 
• A Board, Commission, or Committee Member's term shall be automatically terminated if the member is absent from three consecutive, regular and/or special meetings held by the member’s agency.  
•  Persons appointed to a City board, commission or committee serve at the pleasure of the City Council