(a) There is hereby created a technical resource panel to be comprised of eight members appointed by the city council to serve as non-voting technical members of the commission on disabilities.
(1) The technical resource panel is not a board or commission subject to Chapter 8 of this code or Chapter XXIV, Section 13 of the city charter.
(2) The city manager may nominate members of the first technical resource panel, as recommended by the Office of Equity and Inclusion for approval by the full council.
(3) Following the initial appointments, future technical resource panel members may be nominated by the city manager, as recommended by the Office of Equity and Inclusion, through consultation with the commission on disabilities, for approval by the full council.
(b) Each member of the technical resource panel shall be an individual with at least four years of experience in disability matters and shall share a commitment to the goals of the commission on disabilities. Additionally, appointments to the panel must, to the extent possible, be representative of the ethnic diversity of the city.
(c) Members of the technical resource panel are not required to be residents of the city or qualified voters in the city.
(d) Members of the technical resource panel shall serve two-year terms and are subject to the same conflict of interest and confidentiality restrictions that are applicable to members of the commission on disabilities. Members of the technical resource panel are subject to forfeiture of membership on the same basis as members of the commission on disabilities.
(e) Members of the technical resource panel shall attend and fully participate in all meetings and deliberations of the commission on disabilities, including closed sessions, but shall not be entitled to vote as members of the commission on disabilities.
(f) The technical resource panel shall use its expertise and experience in disability matters to assist the commission on disabilities to the fullest extent possible in the review of all issues coming before the commission on disabilities.
(g) The technical resource panel does not have any oversight responsibility or oversight authority with respect to the commission on disabilities.
(h) Nothing in this section prohibits the commission on disabilities from seeking additional outside technical expertise and advice as necessary. (Ord. 32070)