HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 11b - Establishing a Senior Citizens Commission
DATE: June 3, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Sara Somogyi, Director of Recreation and Community Services
By: Ashley Marston, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: ORDINANCE NO. 2406 AMENDING THE ARCADIA MUNICIPAL CODE
BY ADDING PART 11 TO CHAPTER 2 OF ARTICLE II (ADMINISTRATION
CODE) TO FORMALLY ESTABLISH THE SENIOR CITIZENS
COMMISSION
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: Introduce
SUMMARY
The Senior Citizens Commission was first established by Resolution No. 4726 in 1978.
To be compliant with the City Charter, the Senior Citizens Commission must be
established by ordinance. Ordinance No. 2406 amends the Arcadia Municipal Code to
establish the Senior Citizens Commission and outlines its mission, membership, and
terms. It also makes important updates to the formation of the Commission to address
the changing nature of service clubs in Arcadia. It is recommended that the City Council
introduce Ordinance No. 2406 to formally establish the Senior Citizens Commission by
adding a new section to Article II, Chapter 2 of the Arcadia Municipal Code.
BACKGROUND
On February 17, 1978, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 4726, establishing the
Senior Citizens Commission. Since then, the Senior Citizens Commission has acted in
an advisory capacity to the City Council on matters relating to senior citizens. The Senior
Citizens Commission is governed by the by-laws established under Resolution No. 4730,
later amended by Resolution No. 5269 and 6105. However, City Charter Section 800
provides that the City Council may create, by ordinance, any boards or commissions that
are required in its judgment, and may grant them certain powers and duties to carry out
their mission that are not otherwise inconsistent with the Charter.
DISCUSSION
In early May, Staff was notified of the dissolution of the Senior Friendship Club. Per the
Ordinance No. 2406 – Establish Senior Citizens Commission
June 3, 2025
Page 2 of 3
Senior Citizens Commission by-laws, the Senior Friendship Club nominates a member to
serve on the Senior Citizens Commission, for City Council consideration. With the
dissolution of the Senior Friendship Club, the Senior Citizens Commission will no longer
have a member from that service club, prompting Staff to revise the by-laws. To amend
the by-laws and comply with the Arcadia City Charter, the Senior Citizens Commission
must be established via ordinance, rather than resolution.
Ordinance No. 2406 formally establishes the Senior Citizens Commission under the
following conditions:
Mission
The mission and purpose of the Senior Citizens Commission is to serve in an
advisory capacity to the City Council on matters relating to senior citizens in
Arcadia.
Membership
Members of the Senior Citizens Commission shall be legally registered voters of
the City of Arcadia and shall not hold any other City office or employment.
The Senior Citizens Commission will include seven (7) members in total, with four
(4) members from local senior organizations and three (3) at-large members. The
current iteration of the Commission had eight members; however, the group
traditionally consisted of seven members. This also follows the structure of other
City boards and commissions, who have an odd number of members to avoid tie
votes.
The four members from senior organizations may include a maximum of one
representative from any of the following: Assistance League of Arcadia, Golden
Senior Club, Arcadia Travelers Club, and Senior Men’s Club. Each senior
organization will nominate an individual from their respective organization, subject
to confirmation by the City Council. In the event an organization cannot or does
not nominate an individual, the term will be filled with an at-large member
appointed by the City Council.
Meetings and Terms
The Senior Citizens Commission will host regular monthly meetings. Meetings will
follow the current schedule, held the first Thursday of the month at 4:00 p.m. The
meeting schedule will be officially set under the Commission’s by-laws, which will
be brought to the City Council for approval at a subsequent meeting.
Members shall serve two-year terms and may serve up to two consecutive terms.
Appointments shall be staggered so that four (4) of the terms expire in alternate
years from the other three (3) terms.
Ordinance No. 2406 – Establish Senior Citizens Commission
June 3, 2025
Page 3 of 3
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”), as it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the
environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The recommended action of establishing the Senior Citizens Commission by ordinance
has no impact on the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action is not a project under
the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and introduce Ordinance No. 2406
amending the Arcadia Municipal Code by adding Part 11 to Chapter 2 of Article II
(Administration Code) to formally establish the Senior Citizens Commission.
Attachment: Ordinance No. 2406
ORDINANCE NO. 2406
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA,
CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE ARCADIA MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING
PART 11 TO CHAPTER 2 OF ARTICLE II (ADMINISTRATION CODE)
TO FORMALLY ESTABLISH THE SENIOR CITIZENS COMMISSION
WHEREAS, the Senior Citizens Commission was established by Resolution No.
4726 on February 17, 1978; and
WHEREAS, Section 800 of the Arcadia City Charter provides that the City Council
may create, by ordinance, any boards or commissions that are required in its judgment
and may grant them certain powers and duties to carry out their mission that are not
otherwise inconsistent with the Charter; and
WHEREAS, the City Council seeks to establish the Senior Citizens Commission
via ordinance for a continuance of advisement on matters relating to senior citizens in
Arcadia and to comply with the City Charter; and
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA,
CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Article 11, Chapter 2 of the Arcadia Municipal Code is hereby
amended by adding Part 11 to read in its entirety as follows:
"PART 11. SENIOR CITIZENS COMMISSION
2211. CREATION. The Senior Citizens Commission is hereby established for the
purpose of advising the City Council on matters relating to senior citizens in Arcadia.
2211.1. MEMBERSHIP. The Senior Citizens Commission shall consist of seven
(7)members appointed by the City Council. For this purpose, the City Council shall
consider the appointments as follows:
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A Four (4) members suggested by local senior organizations, with up to one (1)
member being selected for appointment from each of the following senior organizations:
1.Assistance League of Arcadia;
2.Golden Senior Club;
3.Arcadia Tra velers Club;
4.Senior Men's Club;
In the event a senior organization cannot or does not suggest an individual, the
term will be filled by an at-large member appointed by the City Council.
B.Three (3) at large members appointed by the City Council who are legally
registered voters of the City of Arcadia.
2211.2. TERMS, APPOINTMENTS AND REMOVAL
Members of the Senior Citizens Commission shall be appointed and removed in
accordance with Section 802 of the City Charter, excluding the provision of term duration.
Senior Citizen Commission members shall serve terms of two years.
2211.3. MEETINGS; CHAIRPERSON
Meetings of the Senior Citizens Commission shall take place and be conducted,
and its officers shall be elected, in accordance with Section 804 of the City Charter;
provided, however, that the Senior Citizens Commission meet at a regularly scheduled
time and place as designated by Commission By-laws.
2211.4. DUTIES
Subject to review and approval of the City Council, the Senior Citizens
Commission shall:
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A.Serve in an advisory capacity to the City Council on matters pertaining to senior
citizens in Arcadia.
B.Provide such other advice or reports as may be directed by the City Council,
within the purview of the Arcadia Municipal Code and City Charter."
SECTION 2. The City Council determines that this Ordinance is not subject to the
California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15060 (c)(2) (the
activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the
environment) and 15060 (c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378)
of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulation, Titl e 14, Chapter 3, because it
has no potential for a resulting physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance and shall
cause a copy of same to be posted per Resolution No. 7483 and within fifteen (15) days
after its adoption. This Ordinance shall take effect on the thirty-first (31 st) day after its
adoption.
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