Chapter 2.46
PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION

Sections:

2.46.010    Definition.

2.46.020    Creation of a Public Safety Advisory Commission.

2.46.030    Membership.

2.46.040    Appointment – Removal.

2.46.050    Term of office.

2.46.060    Duties and responsibilities.

2.46.070    Meetings.

2.46.080    Obligations and expenses.

2.46.090    Termination.

Prior legislation: Ords. 720 and 787.

2.46.010 Definition.

“Public safety” is that which is related to police, fire, code enforcement services and civil disaster within the City of Lake Elsinore. [Ord. 1137, 2005; Ord. 1116, 2004].

2.46.020 Creation of a Public Safety Advisory Commission.

A Public Safety Advisory Commission is established. [Ord. 1137, 2005; Ord. 1116, 2004].

2.46.030 Membership.

The Public Safety Advisory Commission shall consist of five members who shall not be officials or employees of the City. A member of the Public Safety Advisory Commission shall: (1) reside within the City of Lake Elsinore; or (2) be an owner of a business that is established and currently licensed inside the City of Lake Elsinore. Members shall be subject to a routine background check to be administered by the Police Department. [Ord. 1176 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1137, 2005; Ord. 1116, 2004].

2.46.040 Appointment – Removal.

The members of the Public Safety Advisory Commission shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of a majority of the City Council and may be removed by the Mayor at his/her pleasure, but subject to the approval by the majority of the members of the City Council. [Ord. 1176 § 2, 2006; Ord. 1137, 2005; Ord. 1116, 2004].

2.46.050 Term of office.

Except as provided herein, the members of the Public Safety Advisory Commission shall be appointed for a term of four years. Each term shall commence on July 1st of the respective year in which appointed. A member’s term that would otherwise expire on June 30, 2006, shall serve until June 30, 2009. A member’s term that commenced on July 1, 2005, shall serve out such existing term until June 30, 2007. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for four-year terms. [Ord. 1176 § 3, 2006; Ord. 1137, 2005; Ord. 1116, 2004].

2.46.060 Duties and responsibilities.

A. The Commission shall serve as a conduit of information from the residents and business people of Lake Elsinore to their public safety, code enforcement and emergency services professionals.

B. The Commission shall serve as an additional set of eyes and ears that shall complement staff’s efforts in their attempt to be proactive.

C. The Commission shall create and maintain a link on the City’s website encouraging citizens’ input and providing a complaint or contact form, which may be submitted online.

D. The Commission shall seek out additional input and maintain a dialogue with various City organizations including but not limited to Lake Elsinore Marine Search and Rescue, neighborhood watch groups, homeowners’ associations, the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Merchants Association, etc.

E. The Commission shall report to the City Council on a regular basis, and all recommendations shall be forwarded to the City Council for consideration.

F. The Commission shall consider assisting the City Council, City Manager or other public safety professionals with disaster preparedness and crisis management.

G. The Commission shall consider and evaluate the cost and benefits of creating a Citizens’ Action Patrol.

H. The Commission shall actively and aggressively seek out funding programs such as grants to fund public safety related programs, projects and equipment needs for the City of Lake Elsinore.

I. The Commission shall hear citizens’ complaints and concerns regarding traffic safety, communicate such complaints and concerns to City personnel designated by the City Manager, and report back to citizens within a reasonable time period.

J. The Commission shall limit its activities to those enumerated above. However, the Commission may request of the City Council additional duties and responsibilities (i.e., changes to this chapter). Such requests may be granted by a majority vote of the City Council. [Ord. 1231 §§ 1, 2, 2007; Ord. 1137, 2005; Ord. 1116, 2004].

2.46.070 Meetings.

A. The Commission shall be subject to the laws governing public agencies and a quorum must be present in order to hold a meeting or take any action.

B. Printed agendas and backup material shall be prepared for each meeting.

C. Minutes of each meeting shall be prepared and distributed to all City Councilmembers and available upon request for public review at City Hall or on the City’s website.

D. If a Commissioner cannot attend a meeting or is going to be late, he/she shall contact the City Manager’s office. Failure to be present at four regularly scheduled meetings in any one calendar year may be cause for removal from the Commission by the Mayor and City Council.

E. The Commission shall be authorized to meet as often as twice a month, but not less than once a quarter. The Commission shall report to the City Council not less than once quarterly.

F. The Chief of Police and the Fire Chief or a member of their respective staffs may attend the regularly scheduled meetings, but are not voting members of the Commission. [Ord. 1137, 2005; Ord. 1116, 2004].

2.46.080 Obligations and expenses.

The Public Safety Advisory Commission shall incur no obligations or expenses of any kind, without obtaining prior written authorization and approval by the City Council. [Ord. 1137, 2005; Ord. 1116, 2004].

2.46.090 Termination.

The Commission may be terminated at any time by a simple majority vote of the City Council. [Ord. 1137, 2005; Ord. 1116, 2004].