All appointed members of City boards, commissions, and committees are public officials who must take an Oath of Office and are held to the rules and requirements that are applicable to their position. Members must attend the regularly scheduled meetings in person and participate in the decisions and actions of the body. All meetings are conducted in accordance with rules established by the City Council and the requirements for open and public meetings established in the Ralph M. Broth Act (CA Govt. Code Section 54950).
The minimum qualifications for appointed members are determined by the specific enabling legislation adopted by the City Council. The terms and qualifications for membership are defined in the council approved ordinance, resolution, or applicable program document that authorized the establishment of the board, commission, or committee. The most common qualification is Richmond residency and City officers or employees are prohibited from serving as an appointed member. Other common qualifications include: registration to vote, subject matter experience, and in some cases age.
The mayor has the sole authority to determine whether an applicant is qualified beyond the requirements established by adopted city council policy. It is the responsibility of the applicant to present to the mayor for consideration any and all information they feel is relevant to their appointment. It is also expected that applicants familiarize themselves with the fundamental roles and responsibilities of the position they are applying for.