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(1) Discussion of the Options that the Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) has to Communicate Recommendations to City Council; (2) If Desired, Selection of a Committee Member to Draft a Letter to the City Council for Review at a Future DAC Meeting; and, (3) If Desired, Selection of Committee Member to Attend a City Council Meeting and Speak on the behalf of the DAC.
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Meeting Date: February 12, 2025
Contact Person/Dept: Adam Ferguson/PRCS
Phone Number: (310) 253-6685
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: (Email) Meetings and Agendas - Disability Advisory Committee (02/05/2025); (Email) Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department Updates (02/05/2025)
Department Approval: Ted Stevens, PRCS Director (02/05/2025)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) discuss the options that the DAC has to communicate recommendations to City Council; (2) if desired, select a Committee Member to draft a letter to the City Council for review at a future DAC meeting; and (3) if desired, select a Committee Member to attend a City Council Meeting and speak on the behalf of the DAC.
BACKGROUND
At the October 9, 2024, DAC meeting, a discussion ensued about the importance of DAC members being present at City Council meetings. The committee expressed interest in sharing updates and ideas with the Council and wanted to learn more about what options they had for informing Council in person while staying within the confines of City Council Policy and the Brown Act. At that time, the committee reached consensus to agendize an item to allow for further discussion on this topic and learn more about their options. Staff have prepared this report to present the options available to the committee for updating City Council.
DISCUSSION
According to the City Council Policy on Commissions, Boards and Committees (adopted on September 25, 2017, by Resolution 2017-R086), “each Commission, Board, and Committee (CBC) acts in an advisory capacity, providing findings and recommendations, to the City Council” (Attachment 1). Currently, the ways to advise City Council include:
• Updates and Announcements: The DAC can select a member of the DAC to attend a City Council meeting and deliver an announcement or an update directly from the DAC. The message must be agreed upon by the majority of the DAC through voting during a prior meeting of the DAC. Once the message has been approved, staff will notify the City Clerk that the DAC has an update during the agenda item “Community Announcements by Members/ Updates from Commission, Boards, and/or Committees/ Information Items from Staff.”
• Biannual Report: The City Council receives from the DAC a biannual report that lists the accomplishments from the prior six months and the goals for the next six months. This allows the DAC twice a year to inform City Council of its actions and where the DAC would like to focus its attention. The biannual report must be agreed upon by the majority of the DAC through voting during a prior meeting of the DAC. The next biannual report is tentatively scheduled to be discussed at the June 11, 2025 DAC meeting.
• Letters to City Council: The DAC can always write a letter to be delivered through staff to the City Council explaining their goals or notifying them of information. The language and content of the letter must be agreed upon by the majority of the DAC through voting during a prior meeting of the DAC.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this discussion.
ATTACHMENTS
2025-02-12 - ATT 1 City Council Policy on Commissions, Boards and Committees
MOTION
That the Disability Advisory Committee:
1. Discuss the options the DAC has to communicate recommendations to City Council;
2. If desired, select a Committee Member to draft a letter to the City Council for review at a future DAC meeting; and,
3. If desired, select a Committee Member to attend a City Council meeting and speak on behalf of the DAC.