(a) There is hereby created a Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. The Commission shall consist of six residents; two appointed by the Mayor for an original term of three years, two appointed by Council for an original term of two years, and two appointed by the Board of Education of the City of Fremont for an original term of one year. After the original term, all appointments shall be for terms of three years. Members of the Commission shall serve without pay. Vacancies in the Commission, occurring other than by expiration of term, shall be for the unexpired term and shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments.
(b) The Commission members shall elect a President, Vice-President, and a Secretary who shall service without pay. Election of officers shall be held annually.
(c) The members of the Commission shall meet at least once a month.
(d) The purpose of the Commission shall be to gather input from the many different areas of the community for the purpose of revitalization of our Park System and on new Recreation Programming and Facilities.
(1) The Advisory Commission has no legal powers and can only recommend. Its function as its name implies, is simply advisory. Its recommendations may be accepted and implemented or they can be disregarded. It has no power to enforce its determinations. The Advisory Committee provides municipal authorities with a community sounding board through the participation of representative local citizens.
(2) Policy developments and implementation in these municipalities become the responsibility of the Recreation Director with the approval of the municipal administration. The Advisory Board is valued for its ability to interpret community needs and desires as well as to interpret official municipal actions to the various community constituencies represented by advisory committee members.
(3) Citizen input is critical on the Park and Recreational Advisory Committee, for example, some such citizens have specialized professional knowledge that is very valuable; others provide general interpretation of citizen needs and reactions, which is essential to sounding planning. Manpower for data collection and other elements of the planning process also frequently depends on the cooperation and support of individual citizens and groups they represent.
(4) Neighborhoods and community committees also form other leisure services concerns; holiday and special events programs; studies of fees and charges, concession policies, and related fiscal issues; and facility development and design. All these require effective citizen involvement in support of board or commission policy determinations.
(Ord. 95-2907. Passed 5-18-95.)