City Council is set to consider several changes to the structure of its Public Facilities and Transportation commissions, as well as to amend the purview of some of the City’s other commissions. Additionally, the Council will discuss term limits for appointed officials, changes to the attendance policy to include parental leave, new requirements for commission applicants, and changes to the bylaws of the City’s commissions and advisory boards.
Council will review and vote on a series of recommendations at its meeting tonight, including changes to the names of the Public Facilities and Transportation Commissions. The former will be renamed the Public Facilities, Recreation, and Infrastructure Commission, and its purview will include the public right-of-way and a twice-yearly review of the City’s recreation programming and facility usage.
Meanwhile, the Transportation Commission will become the Transportation & Mobility Commission, and its purview will include mobility in the public right-of-way — i.e. electric scooters — and the review of the City’s transit and mobility options to promote compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The Council will also consider approving term limits for appointed officials and will require a Livescan background check upon conditional appointment to a City Commission.
The Council will adopt revised bylaws for the City’s Commissions and Advisory Boards, and will require residency and proof of residency for all City Commissions. This move likely stems from the fierce public backlash over former Public Safety Commissioner Nika Soon-Shiong, whose WeHo residency was never confirmed.
However, in cases where a specific requirement or expertise is needed for a Commission, the City Clerk may bring forward applicants who are not residents but meet other requirements or fill a specific requirement.
These changes were recommended by the City Clerk, City Manager, and the Director of Administrative Services, who reviewed the purview of the City’s Commissions and made recommendations to the City Council subcommittee comprised of Mayor Pro Tempore Erickson and Councilmember Meister. The subcommittee reviewed the recommendations and provided feedback to staff.
If the City Council approves the proposed changes, staff will return with an ordinance at the March 6, 2023 City Council meeting to codify the changes.
They need to have term limits so crooked people like John Duran can’t get wedged in office for the rest of their lives.
EVERY Person on WeHo Payroll should be a RESIDENT of a minimum of 5-10 years! WHY should we be paying their salary if they do not live in WeHo? That is beyond STUPID!
It was interesting and fascinating to watch Shyne, Erickson, and Byers attempt to justify their political fetish for appointing non-residents to the various boards and commissions. This behavior is a disrespectful slap in the face to the talents and wisdoms of the 36,000 or so highly capable people who call West Hollywood home. The linguistic gymnastics employed to protect their ability to spread their tentacles are a thinly-veiled cover-up to the reality that such antics are merely for the political opportunism of rewarding friends and allies in their incestuous cabals of party clubs and in the pursuit of endorsements. It’s… Read more »
The really sad part of this is that there are many high caliber, well educated, well qualified folks in West Hollywood who choose NOT to be involved with what they consider a juvenile and crude batch who clamor for public recognition. With such low standards that the city maintains, nothing is likely to change. It would be degrading to their personal psyche and professional reputation. Thank you for your independent point of view Alan.
They are acting like the electric scooters are already a done deal. That infuriates me! The pilot program is supposed to end on June 30. At that time the CityCouncil is supposed to vote on whether or not to make them permanent. According to this, it sounds like they’ve already made up their minds!
What happened to the public poll that Sepi promised?
Another city sponsored layer of impenetrable bureaucracy. The time to have designed a cohesive and responsible plan was when Kristin Cook was a Director. She never appeared to be equipped or interested and now it has become an exponential issue no one wants to touch. They will poke at it with long sticks.
These are sensible changes and need to be expanded to cover boards, as well, particularly the residency requirement.
I am not sure about that; the notion that the “need for special expertise” may be the wedge that opens the floodgates to appointments of people who don’t live in the community. I can see how the Planning Commission could be packed with non-residents who are close to some of our well connected land use lobbyists and attorneys. The same could happen with transportation were special interests could be used bring in people who don’t live here. We have heard several times that the West Hollywood “community” should not be restricted to people who live here and frankly I don’t… Read more »
Bon Voyage West Hollywood as we knew you.
Credible, highly professional individuals generally care deeply about their integrity and reputations so while living in the city may be preferable, you find qualified where you find in.