West Hollywood Commission Seat Still Open For Public Safety

If you’ve ever sat through a City Council or Commission meeting, and thought, “I would definitely do this differently,” well, now’s your chance to try.

The City currently has an open seat on the Public Safety Commission, a direct appointment of Councilmember Lauren Meister. Meister told WEHOonline she is still accepting and reviewing applications for this position.

The Public Safety Commission is part of the City’s decision making process. If you are appointed, you will read reports, listen to staff, residents and business owners, then weigh in on recommendations that shape how safe people and businesses feel day to day, among other things. Yes, it’s work, but it’s also one of the best ways to move from spectator to participant in your local government, giving a resident a real seat and voice at the table.

A seat opens as Commissioner Nickle steps down

The current opening comes as Commissioner George Nickle steps down. Nickle, who was appointed by Councilmember Meister, announced at the most recent meeting that he and his husband are moving out of West Hollywood, which makes him ineligible to continue serving.

During his final remarks, he thanked Councilmember Meister for trusting him with the role, and he praised City staff and public safety partners for doing difficult work with limited resources. He also singled out residents and neighborhood watch volunteers and underscored “residents first” should be the guiding principle for anyone sitting on the commission.

What the Public Safety Commission does

The Public Safety Commission has been around since 1989. It has seven members, five appointed by individual councilmembers and two chosen at-large by the full City Council. The group meets up to once a month and spends its time looking at how safe people feel in their homes, on the sidewalks, and in nightlife spots across West Hollywood. The work goes well beyond crime numbers. Under the Municipal Code, commissioners are asked to “evaluate and recommend mechanisms involving public safety issues, assist the City Manager’s office and City Council in strengthening community response to emergencies, evaluate and make recommendations to City Council regarding neighborhood livability and domestic violence prevention.”  To be clear, the commission is not running the Sheriff’s or Fire Department. They are neighbors who show up once a month, listen, read the reports, and then say, in public, what they think the city should do to keep people safer.

Who can serve

If you are thinking about applying, the rules are pretty straightforward. Like other City commissions, appointments run for two years and start on March 1.

There are a few basic ground rules. Commissioners cannot be City employees or City officers. Everyone serving on the Public Safety Commission has to live in West Hollywood and have a real tie to the community, whether that means being an active neighbor, a long time renter or a newer resident who shows up and stays engaged.

The commission is set up to meet no more than once a month, and attendance is not optional in practice. If a commissioner misses more than three regular meetings in a twelve month stretch, the Council can declare that seat vacant. It is a reminder that this is a working role, not just a note for your bio. Applications run through the same online system the City uses for all boards and commissions, and whoever is selected serves at the pleasure of the councilmember who appointed them, in this case Councilmember Lauren Meister.

Here is how to apply

The City’s Boards and Commissions page includes links to agendas and minutes, and a link to the online application form can be found here. You can start there, read up on the Public Safety Commission, then submit an application if this feels like the right fit.

Residents who have questions about the process or need help with their application can contact the City Clerk’s Office at (323) 848 6800 or email the City Clerk here.

So, if you’re tired of only getting to speak for two minutes during public comments or posting your dissatisfaction on sites like this one, this is your opportunity to be part of the group that hears those comments, takes note and helps shape what happens next.