The City of Sonoma is changing the way citizens are appointed to local commissions.
The new appointment process will be implemented in two phases – beginning now with the Planning Commission, with appointments in November. The remainder of the commissions and committees will be advertised in November and December with a January appointment process for a Feb. 1 start date.
Earlier this year, the City Council identified a need to review the local appointment process for commissions and committees. After hours of consideration, the City Council decided on a new process and its formal adoption is expected in October.
For the Planning Commission, the proposed appointment model will continue with seven members on the commission and one alternate position. Five positions will be appointed by individual council members and the Council as a whole will vote on the two at-large members and one alternate position.
No formal interviews will be held. Updated new online applications will be accepted and reviewed. The attachment of resumes to the application is encouraged.
Individual Council appointees will serve terms that are aligned with the council member who appointed them and all others will serve four year terms.
Applications can now be submitted electronically through the City’s Civic Web Portal, sonomacity.civicweb.net. Paper applications will still be accepted and are available in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, No. 1 The Plaza.
The city is accepting applications now for the Planning Commission.
The Planning Commission’s responsibilities include development of the General Plan and Development Code, review and action on environmental impact reports, subdivision and parcel maps, use permit and variance applications, and special studies and reports. Meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
Six members must live in the city limits and be registered to vote. The remaining member may be a resident of Sonoma Valley, as defined by the Commissions Appointment Administrative Policy.
Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday Nov. 3.
They can be submitted electronically at sonomacity.civicweb.net, or by submitting a paper application, which can be obtained at the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, No. 1 The Plaza.
For questions, contact the City Clerk at 938-3681, or by email at cityhall@sonomacity.org.
Email Bill at bill.hoban@sonomanews.com.
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