Council directs revisions to boards-and-commissions handbook; live-scan checks and harassment training to be implemented

City staff introduced a draft boards-and-commissions handbook on Jan. 13 and asked council for direction on distribution, live-scan/background-checks and harassment-prevention training for commissioners. The handbook outlines roles, procedures, legal obligations (Brown Act, PRA, conflict-of-interest rules) and recommended trainings.

Council discussion focused on process and scope. Several council members argued for circulating the draft to existing commissioners for comment and for shortening or aligning handbook language with municipal code. After debate, council directed staff to revise the handbook, circulate it for commission feedback and return an updated version. On vetting, council majority favored requiring DOJ live-scan criminal-history checks for newly appointed commissioners but declined to adopt broader employment/education background checks at this time; council also supported implementing harassment-prevention training consistent with state law for commissioners.

What’s next: Staff will redline the handbook per council direction, distribute it to boards and commissions for input and return to council with a revised draft. Staff will activate live-scan requirements for new appointees and enable harassment-prevention training within the upcoming application portal launch.