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Commission Membership <br /> Currently the Human Services is comprised of seven members and the Housing Commission is <br /> comprised of five members. Both commissions have an alternate for a combined total of 14 <br /> commissioners. The municipal code is code is not specific related to individual areas of <br /> representation required as a prerequisite to appointment to these two commissions and as a <br /> result, all commissioners are selected at large. (This is often used for ad hoc or standing <br /> committees and/or task forces when the city council seeks specific areas of expertise to address <br /> a specific project or program.) Staff assumes that the membership will remain at large but other <br /> options such as assuming expertise in certain areas could be pursued if requested. Each <br /> commissioner is eligible to serve two four year terms for a total of eight years. <br /> Regarding the number of members that could comprise a new commission, either five or seven <br /> members would be acceptable. However, since commission membership would most likely <br /> remain at large, staff assumes that ultimately a five member commission would be the most <br /> practical. <br /> While there are many alternatives to addressing ways to merge membership, staff has identified <br /> two that could be pursued (please refer to Attachment 5): <br /> . Option 1 - Retain all seats until such time as the terms expire and the commission reaches its <br /> desired number of members. Based on the information in Attachment 5, this process <br /> assumes the commission would reach a membership of five (5) plus an alternate in 2019. To <br /> accommodate this approach, the first round of new commissioners appointed would be <br /> eligible to serve for a length of term ranging from six to eight years. <br /> • Option 2 - Reduce the length of terms for three (3) current commissioners without changing <br /> the terms for new appointments. This option is most likely the most straightforward to <br /> implement but does reduce the term of one commissioner by two months, one commissioner <br /> by 16 months and one by 28 months. <br /> As noted above, the various options and membership information are detailed in Attachment 5. <br /> Address Training Needs <br /> As mentioned at the last meetings, the City does not have a formal process of training for new <br /> commissioners regarding details of commission activity. However, it does encourage new <br /> commissioners to meet with the commission's staff liaison to discuss current activity and scope. <br /> As such, while some may begin their terms with significant experience as a result of their <br /> employment or personal interests, others begin with little or no knowledge of commission <br /> activity. This later situation often occurs when residents are interested in being a commissioner <br /> but do not have a strong preference for a particular area of focus. That is, they would be glad to <br /> serve on any city commission just so long as they are serving. Other times, the mayor and city <br /> council may appoint an individual for one commission that was different than what the resident <br /> Page - 5 - <br />