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Palo Alto Overview
Palo Alto Municipal Code
PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE
CHARTER OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
Title 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Title 2 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE*
Chapter 2.04 COUNCIL ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURE*
Chapter 2.06 OFFICIAL CITY SEAL AND LOGO
Chapter 2.07 POST-GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT REGULATIONS
Chapter 2.08 OFFICERS AND DEPARTMENTS*
Chapter 2.09 CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE FOR DESIGNATED POSITIONS
Chapter 2.10 CABLE TELEVISION AND OPEN VIDEO SYSTEMS - AWARD OF FRANCHISES BY THE CITY COUNCIL*
Chapter 2.11 VIDEO SERVICE PROVIDERS - APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS
Chapter 2.12 EMERGENCY ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS
Chapter 2.16 BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS GENERALLY
Chapter 2.18 PUBLIC ART COMMISSION*
Chapter 2.20 PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION*
Chapter 2.21 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD
Chapter 2.22 HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Chapter 2.23 UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION
Chapter 2.24 LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION*
Chapter 2.25 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Chapter 2.26 VISUAL ART IN PUBLIC PLACES
Chapter 2.27 HISTORIC RESOURCES BOARD
Chapter 2.28 FISCAL PROCEDURES*
Chapter 2.30 CONTRACTS AND PURCHASING PROCEDURES*
Chapter 2.31 PROPERTY CONTROL
Chapter 2.32 SALES AND USE TAX
Chapter 2.33 TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX
Chapter 2.34 REAL PROPERTY TRANSFER TAX
Chapter 2.35 UTILITY USERS TAX
Chapter 2.36 PERSONNEL PROCEDURES
Chapter 2.37 BUSINESS TAX
Chapter 2.40 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
Chapter 2.44 OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER
Chapter 2.48 SOLAR TAX CREDIT
Chapter 2.49 ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES
Title 3 RESERVED
Title 4 BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS*
Title 5 HEALTH AND SANITATION*
Title 6 ANIMALS
Title 7 RESERVED
Title 8 TREES AND VEGETATION
Title 9 PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND SAFETY*
Title 10 VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC*
Title 11 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PROCEDURE
Title 12 PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
Title 13 IMPROVEMENT PROCEDURE*
Title 14 RESERVED
Title 15 FIRE PREVENTION*
Title 16 BUILDING REGULATIONS*
Title 17 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE*
Title 18 ZONING*
Title 19 MASTER PLAN*
Title 20 PRECISE PLANS*
Title 21 SUBDIVISIONS AND OTHER DIVISIONS OF LAND*
Title 22 PARKS*
ORDINANCE LIST AND DISPOSITION TABLE
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2.16.050   Ex officio members.
   Ex officio members provided for by the Charter or ordinances of the city shall not be entitled to vote on matters before their respective boards and commissions.
(Ord. 2146 (part), 1963: prior code § 2.250.5)
2.16.060   Manner of appointment.
   (a)   The City Clerk shall advertise vacancies or pending vacancies in boards and commissions at least fifteen (15) days before such vacancies are scheduled to be filled. The City Clerk shall exercise his or her discretion in choosing the method of advertisement that will most effectively reach potential candidates.
   (b)   Concurrent with the advertisement of vacancies or pending vacancies on boards and commissions, the City Clerk shall publicize the application and evaluation procedures that will apply to such vacancies, including the last day on which applications will be accepted for such vacancies.
   (c)   The City Clerk may extend the deadline for applications, as necessary to ensure a sufficient number of qualified candidates.
   (d)   Applications received after the deadlines set by the City Clerk shall be held until the next regularly scheduled or special recruitment for the applicable board or commission.
   (e)   The City Council shall review all applications and shall make a final selection and appointment at a regular City Council meeting after the period for submittal of applications has expired.
   (f)   All members of boards and commissions shall take an oath of office before commencing their service.
(Ord. 5208 § 2, 2013: Ord. 5090 § 10, 2010)
2.16.070   Schedule of appointments.
   (a)   The City Council shall review applications to fill vacancies in the following boards and commissions by April of each year:
   (1)   Utilities Advisory Commission (Chapter 2.23)
   (2)   Architectural Review Board (Chapter 2.21)
   (3)   Historic Resources Board (Chapter 2.27)
   (4)   Planning and Transportation Commission (Chapter 2.20)
   (b)   The City Council shall review applications to fill vacancies in the following boards and commissions by November of each year:
   (1)   Public Art Commission (Chapter 2.18)
   (2)   Human Relations Commission (Chapter 2.22)
   (3)   Parks and Recreation Commission (Chapter 2.25)
   (c)   The City Council shall fill vacancies in all other boards and commissions, if any, in April of each year or at another time, at its discretion.
   (d)   The City Council may fill mid-term vacancies during the next regularly scheduled recruitment for the board or commission or may hold a special recruitment, at its discretion. Special recruitments shall be subject to the requirements of Section 2.16.060.
(Ord. 5643 § 2, 2025: Ord. 5529 § 2, 2021: Ord. 5498 § 3, 2020: Ord. 5354 § 2, 2015: Ord. 5311 § 2, 2015: Ord. 5208 § 3, 2013)
2.16.080   Term limits.
   Effective January 1, 2022, no person may serve more than three consecutive terms of office as a member of the same board or commission. This section shall apply to the boards and commissions listed in Section 2.16.070(a), except for the Planning and Transportation Commission, in which no person may serve more than two consecutive terms of office as a member of the same board or commission.
   (a)   For the purposes of this section, a member will be considered to have served a term of office if he or she serves more than half of a standard term. For boards and commissions with three-year terms, half of the term shall be 18 months. For boards and commissions with four-year terms, half of the term shall be two years.
   (b)   A member's service that began on or before January 1, 2022 shall count under the provisions of this section only for those members who served for at least one day on a board or commission between January 1, 2021 and January 1, 2022. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, members of boards and commissions serving as of January 1, 2022 shall be permitted to complete their term.
   (c)   A member who has served three consecutive terms of office (or two consecutive terms of office for the Planning and Transportation Commission) may remain as a member of the same board or commission for up to six months past the end of the term if no replacement is appointed or until a replacement is appointed, whichever comes first.
   (d)   A member who has served three consecutive terms of office (or two consecutive terms of office for the Planning and Transportation Commission) shall not be appointed to the same board or commission within one year of the last date of service.
(Ord. 5529 § 3, 2021)