City of Culver City, California
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: _01/06/08__ Item Number: _A-2
AGENDA ITEM: Discussion of Matters Covered in Past Meetings and Possible
Topics for Future Meetings Between the Council/Commission Subcommittees of
the City Council and the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission
and Staff.
Contact Person/Dept.: Bill La Pointe,
Director of Parks Recreation and
Community Services
Phone Number: (310) 253-6655
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: []
Public Notification: PRCS Master Email Notification List (12/31/08).
Department Approval: Bill La Pointe,
Director of Parks Recreation and
Community Services (12/29/08).
City Attorney Approval: N/A
Chief Financial Officer Approval: N/A City Manager Approval: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the members of the Parks, Recreation and Community
Services (PRCS) Commission discuss matters covered in past meetings and
possible topics for future meetings between the Council/Commission Subcommittees
of the City Council and the PRCS Commission and staff, make any
recommendations to its Subcommittee, and receive and file the report.
BACKGROUND:
Since its incorporation in 1917, The City of Culver City has grown in both size and
population. During this time, the City was governed under the City Council-Chief
Administrative Officer form of government.
On April 11, 2006, the voters of Culver City approved a new City Charter (New
Charter) that became effective on July 1, 2006. This document was provided to the
Commission at its July 5, 2008 meeting as Attachment A to Agenda Item A-6.
Among several significant changes implemented as part of the New Charter, the
following provision related to the City’s Commissions was adopted:
SECTION 1100. IN GENERAL - The City Council may, by Ordinance, establish and abolish
such commissions and boards as it may determine, from time to time, to be necessary for the
effective and efficient governance of the City, to encourage citizen participation in local
government and maintain positive human relations in the community.
Given this provision in the New Charter, The City Council has the opportunity to
review the City’s Commissions as it considers the existing regulations in the Culver
City Municipal Code (CCMC), as well as current City Council Policies and
Resolutions. In addition, at a facilitated meeting held in February 2007 where all City City of Culver City, California
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission Agenda Item Report
Council Members and City Commissioners were invited (and some attended), the
City Council discussed the operations of the City Commissions and considered
several insightful comments by City Commissioners.
As a result of these meetings, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2007-R029,
City Council Adopted Policy 2007-01, entitled “City Commissions,” which provides
Commissioners guidelines for Code of Conduct, Interaction with the City Council and
Staff, and other topics. This document was provided to the Commission at its July 5,
2008 meeting as Attachment B to Agenda Item A-6.
On April 8, 2008, a municipal election was held and three community members were
elected as new Council Members and were seated on April 28, 2008. At the May
27, 2008 City Council meeting the Council consensually gave direction to staff to
have each of the Commissions appoint two (2) Commissioners to represent each
Commission as a Council/Commission Subcommittee for the purpose of
representing their Commission in discussions with the Council/Commission
Subcommittee of the City Council regarding Council/Commission/Staff working
relationships.
At the June 3, 2008 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, the Commission
took action to form a Council/Commission Subcommittee to serve in this capacity.
Chair Cooper and Commissioner Daly Redholtz were selected as the members of
this Subcommittee in order to represent the Parks and Recreation Commission at
future Council/Commission Subcommittee meetings.
Staff has prepared this report as a recurring agenda item so that Parks and
Recreation Commissioners can comment on issues related to upcoming
Council/Commission Subcommittee meetings and make recommendations to its
Subcommittee as to topics for future discussions.
DISCUSSION:
Meeting of September 23, 2008
The Subcommittees of the City Council and the Parks, Recreation and Community
Services Commission regarding Council-Commission relationships met (with staff
present) on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 from 6:30 - 7:50 p.m. At the October 7,
2008 PRCS Commission meeting, the Commission Subcommittee more fully
informed the rest of the Commission regarding the issues that were discussed
including:
o Communication
o Sensitivity
o Role of the Commission
o Responsiveness in getting recommendations back to staff and/or City Council
o Format of the meeting minutes
o The provision of water at the Commission meetings for Commissioners City of Culver City, California
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission Agenda Item Report
Meeting of October 21, 2008
The Subcommittees of the City Council and the Parks and Recreation Commission
regarding Council-Commission relationships met (with staff present) on Tuesday,
October 21, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. So this Commission may have an open discussion of
the issues, staff encourages the Commission Subcommittee to more fully inform the
rest of the Commission regarding the issues and details discussed at that meeting.
One primary part of the discussion was the duties and responsibilities of the PRCS
Commission. This discussion regarding the October 21, 2008 meeting of Council-
Commission Subcommittees was first scheduled for the November 6
th
PRCS
Commission meeting and then for the December 2
nd
meeting, but was moved
forward to tonight’s meeting by consensus of the Commission.
Meeting of October 29, 2008
Discussion was held on the Commission’s changing role and responsibilities from
the past. Comparisons and contrasts were made relative to the current but long-ago
written “Duties and Responsibilities of the Human Services Commission” document.
It was agreed to by all present that further discussion and refinement needs to be
considered in future meetings.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the discussion of this agenda item.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
MOTIONS:
That the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission:
1. Discuss matters covered in past meetings and possible topics for future meetings
between the Council/Commission Subcommittees of the City Council and the
Parks and Recreation Commission and staff, and make any recommendations to
its Subcommittee; and,
2. Receive and file the report.