The City Council has established a number of advisory commissions and boards that are formed and perform certain tasks as delegated by the City Council.  These boards and commissions play a vital role in advising the City Council on community needs and policy issues. 

The City’s norms and policies governing commissioners are outlined in Union City Municipal Code (“UCMC”) Chapter 2.20 and the Commission Norms and Guidelines (the “Norms and Guidelines”). These documents establish standards for attendance, term limits, ethics training, and conduct.

Recently, the City Council and staff have identified several areas for clarification or policy refinement.  As a result, the Norms and Guidelines as well as potential revisions to the UCMC were referred to the Legislation and Policy Committee (the “Committee”) for consideration and recommendation. 

On June 10, 2025, the City Council approved revisions to the Norms and Guidelines and waived full reading and introduced an ordinance amending sections of UCMC 2.20. 

Staff recommends that the City Council waive further reading and adopt an ordinance amending Section 2.20.040 “Commissioner Attendance Standards” and Section 2.20.100 “Ethics/AB 1234 Training Requirements” of the Union City Municipal Code related to commission standards.

The proposed ordinance is consistent with Strategic Plan Goal B: Governance and Organization Effectiveness. 

The City Council adopted and approved the Norms and Guidelines in 2021 and periodically reviews and amends the UCMC related to commissioner standards.  The Norms and Guidelines and UCMC were reviewed by staff to evaluate whether there were other standards or provisions to include to align with best practices and Council goals.  Staff presented proposals and options for consideration to the Committee on April 28, 2025. 

On June 10, 2025, the City Council adopted a resolution approving revisions to the Norms and Guidelines and wavied full reading and introduced by title only an ordinance amending the UCMC for recommendation to the City Council. 

Proposed Ordinance

The proposed ordinance amending the UCMC makes three revisions.  First, the ordinance changes the timeframe for tracking attendance requirements (currently commissioners are required to attend 75% of meetings excluding excused absences) form a rolling 12-month period to over a single calendar year period.  This aligns with the Council’s actions to establish consistent calendar year timelines for commissioner positions as opposed to inconsistent dates that fall throughout the calendar year. 

Second, the ordinance includes a requirement that commissioners complete harassment prevention training consistent with state law and within the state mandated timeframes.  Commissioners that fail to complete the harassment prevention training as required by state law will automatically vacate their position.

Third, the ordinance requires commissioners to complete and submit proof of completion of required AB 1234 ethics training and AB 1661 harassment prevention training to the City Clerk within the required timeframes.  Failure to do so will result in a commissioner vacating their seat and being ineligible for any other board, commission or committee for a 24-month period.  The existing UCMC does not explicitly require commissioners to submit proof of completion to the City Clerk and results in the commissioner that has vacated their seat from being eligible for the same board, commission or committee for the remainder of the term and one full term rather than being ineligible for any other boards, commissions, or committees.  

There is no direct fiscal impact of adopting the proposed resolution and ordinance. 

Staff recommends that the City Council waive further reading and adopt an ordinance amending Section 2.20.040 “Commissioner Attendance Standards” and Section 2.20.100 “Ethics/AB 1234 Training Requirements” of the Union City Municipal Code related to commission standards.  The resolution approving amendments to the Norms and Guidelines will take effect upon the effective date of the ordinance.