Charter(s) Information

Atherton Committees and Commissions Composition, Powers and Duties

2018 Maddy Act - Appointments List (PDF)

Audit/Finance Committee
The Audit/Finance Committee shall have the following powers and duties:
a. Act in an advisory capacity and make recommendations to the City Council upon request in all matters pertaining to Town finances;
b. Consult with the City Manager on matters pertaining to the budget, capital spending plan and the long range financial plan for the Town;
c. Act in an advisory capacity and make recommendations to the City Council upon request in all matters pertaining to the Town’s annual audit;
d. Provide oversight of the annual audit and present and explain the audit to the City Council with recommendations as to acceptance;
e. Advise City Council regarding appointment of outside auditors for annual audit;
f. Review proposed audit scope with outside auditors prior to commencement of annual audit.

The Audit/Finance Committee shall have the following composition and terms:
Consists of two (2) Council Members and five (5) appointed, qualified resident members. Two terms shall be for one year and three terms shall be for two (2) years. Thereafter terms shall be for two (2) years ending on June 30th. The committee meets on an as needed basis typically in the Council Chambers or the Town Administrative Conference room. Pursuant to Council action on June 20, 2012 the Committee shall establish a regular schedule of meetings.

The Finance Department is assigned overall responsibility of the Audit/Finance Committee.

Civic Center Advisory Committee (CCAC)
The Civic Center Advisory Committee (CCAC) shall have the following powers and duties:
Act in an advisory capacity to:
a. Assist staff in the development of a master planning process to determine the key issues that need to be addressed by the community as well as a process for keeping the community at large informed and involved.
b. Work with staff to solicit feedback through tools such as surveys, community gatherings, and workshops to disseminate information regarding the key issues and questions involved in the development of a Master Plan for the proposed new Civic Center.
c. Engage in public outreach to solicit substantive feedback and opinions on the Master Plan and the Civic Center project and provide Council with a summary of findings for consideration. Support staff with updates for the Town website and periodic updates for residents.
d. The CCAC may form Ad Hoc Subcommittees and/or host community workshops to involve a broader base of residents for the purposes of information gathering on specific issues, thus creating more community involvement and more in-depth visioning.
e. Once the Council adopts a Master Plan, the CCAC will continue to work with staff to coordinate public outreach and collect resident input during the design phase of the Community Center project.
f. Assist in discussion about the short-term improvements needed for the Library and Town Center facilities.

The Civic Center Advisory Committee consists of up to seven (7) members including two Council members. The Committee is setup for specific purposes listed above and when the purposes are accomplished the Committee will disband. The Civic Center Project consists of the Town’s Administrative Offices, Police Department, Public Works, Building and Planning Departments, Council Chambers, Library, community meeting rooms and associated outdoor facilities. The Committee meets on the second Monday of each month at 4:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers or the Town Administrative Conference Room.

Environmental Programs Committee
The Environmental Programs Committee shall have the following powers and duties:
a. Act in an advisory capacity and make recommendations (programmatic and legislative) to the City Council upon request on all matters pertaining to the Town’s natural and built environment and the Town’s regional role and responsibilities as one of the communities on the San Francisco Bay Peninsula.
b. Create pro-active community engagement programs for residents, commercial and public enterprises active within the Town’s jurisdiction for presentation to and consideration and approval by, the City Council.

The Environmental Programs Committee consists of up to twelve (12) members including two (2) Council Members and ten (10) residents of the Town. The term of office shall be as follows: Appointed members shall be appointed to four-year terms. Thereafter, each term of office shall be four (4) years. The committee meets quarterly on the first Wednesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. in the Conference Room of the Town Administrative Offices unless a special meeting in compliance with the provisions of the Brown Act is called by the committee chair.

The Planning Department is assigned overall responsibility of the Environmental Programs Committee.

Park and Recreation Commission
The Park and Recreation Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
a. Act in an advisory capacity and make recommendations to the City Council upon request in all matters pertaining to parks and public recreation and to cooperate with other governmental agencies and public and private groups in the advancement of park and recreation planning and programming;
b. Develop and maintain a master plan for parks within the Town and, annually, in the month of April, present a report to the City Council.
c. Review the annual budget for parks and recreation during the process of its preparation and make recommendations with respect thereto to the City Council. This includes recommendations regarding the setting of fees. The budget should contain estimates and recommendations for such long-term capital outlay projects as may be necessary to provide for orderly development of park and recreation areas, buildings and facilities;
d. Study and make recommendations on the acquisition and development of recreation areas, activities and facilities such as playgrounds, buildings, parks, open space and other centers of recreation;
e. Assist Town staff in the planning of recreation programs for the community.

The Park and Recreation Commission consists of seven (7) appointed members. One member shall be a representative of the Holbrook-Palmer Park Foundation. One member shall be a representative of the Atherton Dames. Each of the foregoing representatives shall serve a term of two (2) years. Terms shall be staggered so that the term of office for two (2) members shall be four (4) years, and the term of office for the remaining members shall be four (4) years. Thereafter, each term of office shall be four (4) years. The Park and Recreation Commission meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in Holbrook-Palmer Park unless a special meeting in compliance with the provisions of the Brown Act is called by the committee chair.

The Public Works Department is assigned overall responsibility of the Park & Recreation Commission.

Rail Committee
The Atherton Rail Committee shall have the following powers and duties:
a. Act in an advisory capacity to the City Council on all matters pertaining to High Speed Rail (HSR), the Rail Corridor and Caltrain.
b. With the assistance of appropriate Town staff, research and address specific impacts HSR and other rail infrastructure and services may have on the Rail Corridor and the Town.
c. Perform active outreach and cooperative efforts with groups and organizations opposing HSR.
d. Rail Committee members are authorized to act as spokespersons to articulate and advocate the Town’s Rail Related Policy Positions as they pertain to rail committee matters to legislatures, HSR and Caltrain board of directors, regional organizations, press and other interested parties.

The Atherton Rail Committee shall have the following composition and terms:

Consists of twelve (12) members including two (2) Council Members and up to ten (10) appointed members. There are no term expirations for Rail Committee members. The committee meets on the first Tuesday of every other month at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. There are no term expirations.

The Public Works Department is assigned overall authority of the Rail Committee.

Transportation Committee
The Transportation Committee shall have the following powers and duties:
a. Act in an advisory capacity and make recommendations to the City Council upon request in all matters pertaining to transportation within the Town.

The Transportation Committee consists of seven (7) members including two (2) Council Members and five (5) appointed members. The term of office shall be four (4) years. The committee meets on the second Tuesday of every other month at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers unless a special meeting in compliance with the provisions of the Brown Act is called by the committee chair.

The Police Department shall have overall responsibility of the Transportation Committee. The Chief of Police will coordinate with the Public Works Department when public works staff is needed.