I. RECOMMENDATION:
Staff does not have a recommendation. This is the future agenda item requested by Mayor Vosburg to discuss City-established committees, including filling vacancies and re-evaluating the continuation of the committees.
II. BACKGROUND:
The City of Coalinga Transparency and Accountability Committees were originally established by the City Council on July 5, 2018. The committees are comprised of five to seven members (except the committee including public safety which includes 2 community members per Council District), consisting of members of the City Council, City staff and the public. Members representing the public are required to reside within City limits.
Appointments shall be for a one year period, after which the City Council shall re-evaluate their approval of establishing the Transparency and Accountability Committees Act. The committees are intended to meet at City Hall on dates and times established by the Committee Chair and City staff, and all meetings are to be open to the public.
The committees shall be responsible for communicating recommendations back to the City Council for possible action, as well as producing and presenting quarterly informational reports to the City Council.
Since the establishment of the committees, several vacancies have occurred due to changes in Council membership, including the recent departures of Councilman Horn and Councilman Hedgecock. These departures have resulted in vacant Council seats on multiple committees.
Additionally, while the committees were established to meet regularly, only the committee involving Public Safety has convened since their formation. The remaining committees have not held meetings to date.
III. DISCUSSION:
On January 16, 2025, the City Council discussed the structure and scope of the existing committees. By consensus of the Council, direction was provided to remove Cannabis from the Sales Tax/Cannabis/Economic Development Transparency and Accountability Committee and to combine it with Water. As a result, the newly formed Sales Tax/Water/Economic Development Committee wad directed to function as a Study Session, rather than a sanding committee. The Study Session will not have appointed members and will be open to all Councilmembers, staff, and members of the public to attend and participate.
The City Council is being asked to discuss and consider the following:
- Filling existing committee vacancies resulting from recent Councilmember departures;
- Reaffirming, modifying, or dissolving existing committee appointments; and
- Re-evaluating the overall structure, purpose, and continuation of the City's established committees.
Below is a chart identifying the most current committees and associated members, including noted vacancies:
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TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE
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PUBLIC SAFETY / CITY BEAUTIFICATION / CODE ENFORCEMENT / ANIMAL CONTROL
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District 1
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District 2
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District 3
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District 4
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District 5
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Council
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Staff
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Justin Milligan
(Appointed 4/20/23)
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Vona Darnell
(Appointed 4/20/23)
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Mary Jones (Appointed 8/3/23)
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Tom Dominguez
(Appointed 4/20/23)
VACANCY
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Jim Allen
(Appointed 4/20/23)
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Mayor Horn
VACANCY
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Greg DuPuis, Fire Chief
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Rocco Papietro (Appointed 8/3/23)
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Richard Hill
(Appointed 4/20/23)
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Taylor Monroy-Cisneros (Appointed 8/3/23)
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Jess Rosales
(Appointed 4/20/23)
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Ron Ramsey
(Appointed 6/1/23)
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Councilman Hedgecock
VACANCY
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Jose Garza, Chief of Police
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STUDY SESSION
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SALES TAX / WATER / ECONOMIC DEVELOMENT
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This Study Session is open to all City Councilmembers, staff, and members of the public. No appointments are required.
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AD HOC COMMITTEE
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AIRPORT
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Council
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Staff
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Councilman Hedgecock - VACANCY
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Sean Brewer, City Manager
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Mayor Pro-Tem Schindler
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Mercedes Garcia, Senior Administrative Analyst
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IV. ALTERNATIVES:
None, as this item was brought forward as a Future Agenda Item requested by Mayor Vosburg.
V. FISCAL IMPACT:
None. | | |