Council introduces ordinance to align board, commission terms with odd-numbered years

The Gilroy City Council introduced an ordinance on first reading to amend terms and appointment cycles for city boards and commissions so that future recruitments align with odd-numbered years.

Staff told the council that terms are currently staggered across even and odd years, leading to annual recruitments. The proposed one-time adjustment would extend terms for members whose terms expire in even-numbered years by one year so all future expirations fall in odd years. Staff noted three special term adjustments in the staff report (two for the Personnel Commission and one for the Library Commission).

Council asked whether incumbents had been consulted; staff said they had not contacted all incumbents yet but explained the recruitment for midterm vacancies would follow standard procedures and that a one-year recruitment could be used to cover staggered cases. The council voted to read the ordinance by title and waive further reading, then voted to introduce the ordinance; both motions passed 6–0.

If adopted in a future meeting, the ordinance will require the city clerk to update records and recruitment materials to reflect the new term expirations.