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Council Agenda - City of BurbankTuesday, February 15, 2005Agenda Item - 6 |
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Purpose
Staff requests Council authorization to solicit applications from Burbank residents to replace two (2) members of the Transportation Commission. One of the members has asked to be replaced for health reasons, and the other has been called up to active duty overseas in the National Guard. Continuing difficulties in achieving meeting quorums necessitates that these existing members be replaced at this time. Background
Burbank Municipal Code (BMC) Section 02-419 specifies that the Burbank Transportation Commission be comprised of seven (7) residents of the city, and that the attendance of at least four (4) of the members shall constitute a quorum for conducting a meeting. BMC Section 2-403 states that if a member is absent for three (3) consecutive regularly scheduled meetings, or has failed to attend at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the regularly scheduled meetings during a twelve-month period, the Commission shall consider the reasons for the absences and make a recommendation to the City Council as to whether the absences should be excused or unexcused.
Absences of Two (2) Members
Mr. Frank Barneburg, a longtime Commission member, has not attended the past five meetings dating back to July 2004. His initial absences were due to out-of-town business, and has had continuing health problems since. Although Mr. Barneburg had hoped to begin attending meetings, he recently decided that it would be better for him to resign from the Commission. Staff received the attached letter from Mr. Barneburg on February 2, 2005.
Mr. Paul McKenna, who had been a very active and valuable member of the Commission since his appointment in early 2004, was activated from his reserve military status in September 2004 to serve a 1-year tour of duty in Bosnia. Initially, the Commission asked staff to determine whether the meeting attendance requirements could be suspended for Mr. McKenna so that he would be able to rejoin the Commission upon his return. After discussing the matter with the offices of the City Clerk and City Attorney, staff reported to the Commission that the BMC regulations do not include any provision for suspending the attendance requirements for military duty, or for any other reason.
The Commission was initially reluctant to request that Mr. McKenna be replaced, due to his valuable contributions to the Commission, and the fact that he was actively serving the county through his military tour of duty. Upon further consideration of the length of Mr. McKenna�s anticipated absence, and the continuing need to achieve meeting quorums, the Commission voted at the November 2004 meeting to request that the City Council consider replacing him on the Commission. The attached letter thanking him for his service, and inviting him to re-apply to the Commission when he returns, was sent to Mr. McKenna in late January 2005.
With the consistent absence of the two members, the Commission does not have the benefit of the breadth of input and discussion that would occur with a full attendance. Moreover, difficulties in achieving a quorum has resulted in meetings being cancelled, including the regularly scheduled meeting of January 24, 2005. The Commission requests that the City Council consider replacing both members.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Clerk to advertise for applicants to replace two (2) members of the Transportation Commission.
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