3.13.180 Measure C community oversight committee.

        A.    Committee Established. There is hereby established in the city of Lathrop a Measure C community oversight committee, hereinafter referred to as the “committee,” to monitor the expenditures of revenue collected pursuant to Chapter 3.13 only and report to the people and the city council.

        B.     Selection of Members. Members of the Measure C community oversight committee shall be appointed by the mayor and approved by the city council. The committee shall consist of five members. Committee members shall be current city of Lathrop registered voters and may not be current city of Lathrop employees, officials, contractors or vendors of the city. Past employees, officials or vendors shall be eligible to serve on the committee; provided, that, there are no conflicts of interest as determined by the city attorney.

        Of the members of the committee first appointed, three shall be appointed for terms of two years and two for terms of three years. Their successors shall be appointed for terms of three years. No member may serve more than two consecutive three-year terms or a majority portion thereof.

        The city council shall solicit committee members through an open application process that is promoted through the city’s adopted recruiting process. Any Lathrop registered voter is eligible to apply for the committee membership, subject to the appointment categories specified above. All applications will be reviewed by the city council, which will have the authority to make all final decisions on committee representation, subject to these guidelines.

        C.     Purpose and Jurisdiction. The Measure C community oversight committee shall review expenditures of revenue collected pursuant to Chapter 3.13 only, to determine whether such funds are expended for the purposes specified in Chapter 3.13 Lathrop Public Safety and Essential City Services Transaction and Use (Sales) Tax, and issue reports on their findings to the city council and public at least annually. In April or May of each year, the finance department shall provide a preliminary expenditure plan budget to the committee for review. Committee members may also review the annual financial or performance audits performed by an independent auditor. The committee shall confine its oversight specifically to revenues generated under Chapter 3.13. Revenue generated through other sources shall be outside the jurisdiction of the committee.

        In order to preserve the integrity and independence of the oversight process, committee members will not play a formal role in contracting, project management, or any other aspect of Measure C funding.

        The committee is not charged with decision-making on spending priorities, schedules, project details, funding source decisions, financing plans, or tax rate assumptions. The committee shall serve in an advisory-only role to the city council. The committee shall have no jurisdiction other than that delegated to it pursuant to this section.

        The city of Lathrop city manager or designee shall provide any reasonable administrative or technical assistance required by the committee to fulfill its responsibilities or publicize its findings.

        D.    Meetings. The Measure C community oversight committee shall meet semi-annually (or as otherwise provided for in approved or amended by-laws) with specific meeting dates to be determined by committee members. Committee meetings are subject to the Brown Act. Meetings must be noticed and open to the public. Committee minutes and reports are a matter of public record, and must be posted on a website provided by the city. Additional meetings may be scheduled by the committee as necessary. All committee members shall attend a training and orientation session prior to the first regular committee meeting.

        Committee members are expected to attend all regular meetings. Failure to attend two consecutive meetings may result in removal from the committee at the discretion of the city council.

        E.     Committee Operations. The Measure C community oversight committee will select members to serve as chair and vice chair of the committee. A city staff person will be appointed by the city manager or designee to serve as secretary. The secretary will be responsible for preparing, posting and distributing agendas and taking minutes at each meeting. Approved minutes shall be made available to the public. Committee decisions, positions, findings and procedures shall require a simple majority vote of those members in attendance. The quorum requirement for any meeting shall be a minimum of three members.

        F.     Vacancies. Committee members may be removed from the committee only by the city council for repeated absences (see subsection D), for malfeasance, for failing to meet the qualifications set forth in this section or for the inability or unwillingness to fulfill the duties of a member. In the event of removal, resignation, or death, the city council shall appoint a person to fill the vacant seat.

        G.    Miscellaneous. With the exception of those items specifically addressed in these guiding principles, the committee may draft and adopt its own standard procedures and by-laws by majority vote. All Measure C community oversight committee procedures and by-laws remain subject to review and approval by the city council. Measure C community oversight committee reports and audits are subject to review and approval by the city council. (Ord. 13-322 § 1; Ord. 12-316 § 1)