Membership

Commission

Sonoma LAFCO shall consist of seven regular members and four alternate members, appointed pursuant to the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000, as amended. The term of office of each regular and alternate member shall be four years and until the appointment and qualification of his or her successor. The expiration date of the term of office of each regular and alternate member shall be the first Monday in May in the year in which the term of the regular or alternate member expires. Any regular or alternate member may be removed at any time and without cause by the body appointing that regular or alternate member. If a county, city, or special district regular or alternate member ceases to hold his or her office during his or her term as a commissioner, that regular or alternate member’s seat on the Commission shall be considered vacant

Selection and Appointment of Members

1. County Members and Alternates
   The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors shall appoint two regular members and one alternate member from its membership to serve on the Commission. The appointments shall be made in accordance with the Board of Supervisors’ appointment policies and procedures.
2. City Members and Alternates
   The City Selection Committee of the Mayors and Councilmembers’ Association shall appoint two regular members and one alternate member, each of whom shall be a mayor or council member from one of the county’s incorporated cities, to serve on the Commission. The appointments shall be made in accordance with the City Selection Committee’s appointment policies and procedures.
3.  Independent Special District Members and Alternates
   The independent special district selection committee shall appoint two regular members and one alternate member, each of whom shall be a member of a board of directors of an independent special district in Sonoma County, to serve on the Commission. One member shall be a board member of a fire protection, community services, or life support district (Class I), and the other member shall be a board member of any other independent special district (Class II). The alternate member shall be a board member of any independent special district in the county. The appointments shall be made in accordance with the independent special districts’ appointment policies and procedures.
4. Public Member and Alternate
   public member and an alternate public member shall be appointed by the other regular members of the Commission. Selection of the public member and alternate public member shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of all the other regular members, including the affirmative vote of at least one regular member selected by each of the other appointing authorities. The public member/alternate public member cannot be a current officer or employee of the County of Sonoma or of any city or special district located in Sonoma County.

Alternate Members

Each category of membership (county, city, special district, and public) has an alternate member. Alternate members serve when a regular member, in the membership category he or she represents, is absent or chooses not to participate in a matter before the Commission. Alternate members are a valuable resource and are encouraged to attend and participate in Commission meetings and committees. Alternate members may provide comment on proposals coming before the Commission during public hearings on those proposals. Alternate members may participate in deliberations but may vote on proposals and participate in closed sessions of the Commission only when a regular member of the same category is absent or disqualifies him or herself from participating.

Member Vacancies

For the purposes of this policy, a vacancy is a position or office that is unfilled or unoccupied. A vacancy occurs if a commissioner resigns or otherwise leaves office during his or her term. Any vacancy in the membership of the Commission shall be filled for the unexpired term as follows:

1. County Members and Alternates
   On behalf of the Commission, the Executive Officer shall notify the clerk of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors requesting appointment of a replacement member to complete the term of office. The Executive Officer shall provide updated information to the Commission as to the status of the selection. Until a regular member is selected and qualified, the alternate member in that category shall serve on the Commission.
2. City Members and Alternates
   On behalf of the Commission, the Executive Officer shall notify the clerk of the City Selection Committee of the Mayors and Councilmembers’ Association requesting appointment of a replacement member to complete the term of office. The Executive Officer shall provide updated information to the Commission as to the status of the selection. Until a regular member is selected and qualified, the alternate member in that category shall serve on the Commission.
3. Independent Special District Members and Alternates
   On behalf of the Commission, the Executive Officer shall notify the independent special districts of the vacancy and request selection of a replacement member to complete the term of office. If the Executive Officer determines that a meeting of the special district selection committee for this purpose is not feasible, the Executive Officer may conduct the business of the committee in writing, including notification to districts of the vacancy, call for nominations, and provision of a mail-ballot election. The Executive Officer shall provide updated information to the Commission regarding the status of the election process. Until a regular member is selected and qualified, the alternate member shall serve on the Commission.
4. Public Member and Alternate (Note: All references to “public member” apply also to “alternate public member”):
   1. Unless the vacancy is announced at a Commission meeting, the Executive Officer shall notify Commissioners of the vacancy as soon as possible after notice is provided.
   2. The Executive Officer shall place on the next Commission agenda consideration of filling the vacancy.
   3. The Commission shall direct staff to give notice of the vacancy to the clerk or secretary of the legislative body of each local agency within the county. The Executive Officer shall provide notice to at least one newspaper of general circulation and to community and other organizations, as is deemed appropriate. The Executive Officer shall also cause notice to be posted outside the Commission’s office and on the Commission’s website.
   4. The Executive Officer shall, unless otherwise directed by the Commission, establish an application period of 30 days from the date of the posting of the notice, for acceptance of applications. The Executive Officer shall review all applications received within the established time period, for completeness. The alternate public member may apply for the position of public member by submitting an application.
   5. The Commission shall appoint an ad hoc subcommittee consisting of one regular county member, one regular city member, and one regular independent special district member. The Commission, at its discretion, may appoint an alternate county, city, or special district member, in lieu of appointing a regular member. The ad hoc subcommittee shall screen applications, interview applicants, and make a recommendation to the Commission. In selecting a candidate, the ad hoc subcommittee shall consider the applicant’s qualifications as described in his or her application and the reasons he or she wishes to serve as a member of the Commission.
   6. The ad hoc subcommittee shall present its findings and recommendation at a regular Commission meeting.
   7. After considering the ad hoc subcommittee’s recommendation, the Commission may appoint the recommended candidate or refer the matter to the ad hoc subcommittee for further review and recommendation. The Commission shall not fill the vacancy prior to the end of the application period.
   8. The public member may participate as a commissioner as soon as he or she has been qualified.
   9. Until the public member is selected and qualified, the alternate public member shall serve on the Commission.

Member Expiration of Term of Office

1. County Members and Alternates
   In accordance with Board of Supervisors policies and procedures, the chair of the Board appoints county members in January of each year.
2. City Members and Alternates
   At least 90 days prior to the expiration of the term, the Executive Officer shall notify the clerk of the City Selection Committee of the Mayors and Councilmembers’ Association of the term expiration. The City Selection Committee shall appoint city regular members and alternates, according to its appointment policies and procedures. Until a regular member is selected and qualified, the alternate member shall serve on the Commission.
3. Special District Members and Alternates
   At least 90 days prior to the expiration of the term, the Executive Officer shall notify the independent special district selection committee of the term expiration. If the Executive Officer determines that that a meeting of special district selection committee for this purpose is not feasible, the Executive Officer may conduct the business of the committee in writing, including notification to districts of the expiration of term, call for nominations, and provision of a mail-ballot election. The Executive Officer shall provide updated information to the Commission regarding the status of the process. Until a regular member is selected and qualified, the alternate member shall serve on the Commission.
4. Public Member and Alternate: (Note: All references to “public member” also apply to “alternate public member”).
   1. At or near the end of the public member’s first term of office:
      1. At least 90 days prior to the expiration of the term of office, the public member shall notify the Commission whether he or she wishes to continue service on the Commission. If the public member wishes to continue to serve on the Commission, the Executive Officer shall place on the Commission’s next agenda for which notice can be given consideration of re-appointment of the public member.
      2. The Commission may re-appoint the incumbent public member or may begin a recruitment process.
      3. If the Commission authorizes a recruitment process:
         1. It shall direct the Executive Officer to notify the clerk or secretary of the legislative body of each local agency within the county. The Executive Officer shall provide notice to at least one newspaper of general circulation and to community and other organizations, as deemed appropriate. The Executive Officer shall also cause notice to be posted outside the Commission’s office and on the Commission’s website.
         2. The Executive Officer shall, unless otherwise directed by the Commission, establish an application period of 30 days from the date of the posting of the notice, for acceptance of applications. The Executive Officer shall review all applications received within the established time, for completeness. The alternate public member may apply for the position of public member by submitting an application.
         3. The Commission shall appoint an ad hoc subcommittee consisting of one regular county member, one regular city member, and one regular independent special district member. The Commission, at its discretion, may appoint an alternate county, city, or special district member, in lieu of appointing a regular member. The ad hoc subcommittee shall screen applications, interview applicants, and make a recommendation to the Commission. In selecting a candidate, the ad hoc subcommittee shall consider the applicant’s qualifications as described in his or her application and the reasons he or she wishes to serve as a member of the Commission.
         4. The ad hoc subcommittee shall present its findings and recommendation at a regular Commission meeting.
         5. After considering the ad hoc subcommittee’s recommendation, the Commission may appoint the recommended candidate or refer the matter back to the ad hoc subcommittee for further review and recommendation. The Commission shall not fill the vacancy prior to the end of the application period.
      4. When a public member does not seek re-appointment or has served two or more consecutive terms of office, the Commission shall conduct a recruitment process, following the same steps as outlined in Section D (1) c above. The incumbent public member may apply for the position by submitting an application.
      5. Selection of the public member shall be subject to the affirmative vote of at least one of the members selected by each of the other appointing authorities.
      6. The public member may participate as a commissioner as soon as he or she has been qualified.

Member Voting

A Commission member, or alternate member when sitting as a Commissioner, may not be disqualified from voting on any matter pertaining to his or her area or political jurisdiction (Section 56336). All Commissioners shall exercise their independent judgment on behalf of the interests of the residents, property owners, and the public as a whole and not solely the interests of the appointing authority (Section 56325.1).