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HomeMy WebLinkAbout030424 - 03.2B - TC Duties, Roles and Responsibilities ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TOWN COUNCIL, TOWN COMMISSIONS & TOWN STAFF Town Council Danville operates as a General Law City. The Town Council has the power to conduct Town business and operate in a manner that is consistent with the constitution of the State of California and the United States of America, while representing the best interests of the Town and its residents. The powers and duties of the Town Council are contained in state law and the Danville Municipal Code. In carrying out their statutory duties, the Town’s elected officials do the following: a. Adopt ordinances, resolutions, policies and regulations for the health, safety and welfare of the Town and its residents and businesses. b. Establish policies for the effective and efficient delivery of Town services. c. Establish priorities for the Town Government. d. Adopt an annual Operating Budget for the Town and the Successor Agency to the former Community Development Agency; approve a Five-Year Capital Improvements Program; approve all operating and capital funding appropriations; and set the annual appropriation limit. e. Adopt a General Plan, Housing Element and various strategic and master plans as may be required to plan for facilities and critical infrastructure, and guide the growth of the Town. f. Promote good relations with federal, state, county, and other municipal government agencies. Serve on sub-regional, regional and state-wide boards and committees to advance and protect the Town’s best interests. g. Appoint advisory commissions and committees necessary for the efficient and effective operation of the Town. h. Exercise legislative oversight over the Town Manager, City Attorney and appointed advisory commissions and committees. i. Perform other duties established by ordinance, resolution, contract or regulation. 2 The following sections are excerpted from the Danville Municipal Code: 2-2.8 Internal Relations. a. Council-Manager Relations. The Town Council and its members shall deal with the administrative services of the Town through the Town Manager, except for the purpose of inquiry, and neither the Town Council nor any member shall give orders or instructions to any subordinates of the Town Manager. The Town Manager shall take orders and instructions from the Town Council only when sitting in a duly convened meeting of the Town Council and no individual Council member shall give any orders or instructions to the Town Manager. Planning Commission 2-8.2 Duties and Powers of the Commission. The Planning Commission shall: a. Recommend for adoption by the Town Council a comprehensive long-term general plan for the physical development of the Town; b. Recommend for adoption by the Town Council specific plans based on the general plan and drafts of such regulation, programs and legislation as may in its judgment be required for the systematic execution of the general plan; c. Periodically review the capital improvement program of the Town; d. Recommend a zoning ordinance for adoption by the Town Council; e. Recommend to the Town Council the approval, disapproval or modification of all maps or plats of land subdivision in accordance with the Subdivision Map Act; f. Perform other duties regarding planning, zoning and State law matters prescribed by the Town Council. Parks Recreation and Arts Commission 2-10.11 Duties and Powers of the Commission. The Park, Recreation and Arts Commission shall: a. Be the primary advisory body to the Town Council on acquiring and developing park, recreation, cultural, and arts facilities and providing recreation and arts programs for Town residents; b. Review the Town's Parks, Recreation and Arts Strategic Plan and recommend steps to implement or revise the Plan as needed; c. Hold public meetings, conduct surveys, and use other reasonable methods to determine community park, recreation, and arts needs and recommend actions to meet those needs to the Town Council; 3 d. Review site plans for public parks, recreation, art, or cultural facilities and recommend plans and specifications to the Town Council for additions and improvements; e. Review and comment on all subdivisions and other development proposals in which land is proposed for dedication, credit for private open space is requested, projects on school lands or other significant park, creek, trail, or open space concerns exist; f. Review and comment on the annual implementation of the Capital Improvement Program; g. Recommend to the Town Council for adoption facility use policies including fees, restrictions, priorities and other concerns and review the adopted policies and fees annually recommending changes as needed. h. Consider improvements to the condition of Town recreation facilities annually; and i. Perform other duties prescribed by the Town Council Heritage Resource Commission 2-11.12 Duties and Powers of the Commission. The Heritage Resource Commission shall: a. Establish criteria and conduct an ongoing comprehensive survey of properties within the boundaries of the Town in order to identify historically and architecturally significant improvements and sites that exemplify the cultural, social, educational, economic, political or architectural history of the nation, State or Town; b. Establish and maintain an inventory of improvements, sites and areas deemed deserving of official recognition and to investigate and recommend to the Town Council the designation of those improvements, sites or areas having special historic, community or architectural value; c. Draft and implement a Heritage Resource Ordinance to protect and preserve those resources to be designated by the Commission; d. Keep a register of officially designated heritage resources in the Town, including all information required for each designation; e. Recommend to the Town Council a list of incentives and promote its use in encouraging property owners to participate in the heritage resource preservation program; f. Advise and assist property owners on the physical and financial aspects of preservation, renovation, rehabilitation, landscaping or maintenance of any heritage resource; g. Develop and adopt standards and specific design guidelines for the alteration, construction, rehabilitation or removal of designated improvements; 4 h. Review and decide upon applications referred by the Planning Department for construction, alteration, removal or demolition affecting improvements, as well as applications for grading, tree removal, or other work to be performed upon sites of historical significance; i. Inform and educate the citizens of Danville as to the heritage of the Town and to encourage their participation in achieving historical and architectural preservation; j. Investigate and report to the Town Council on the use of various Federal, State, local or private funding sources and mechanisms available to promote historic resource preservation in the Town; k. Cooperate with local, County, State and Federal governments in the pursuit of the objectives of historic preservation; and l. Perform such other duties and functions as prescribed by the Town Council. Arts Advisory Board 2-13.2 Powers and Duties The Arts Advisory Board shall review and make recommendations to the Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission and the Town Council regarding: the incorporation of public art and artistic elements into the Town’s parks and public spaces: the promotion of performing arts at the Town’s parks, public spacers and the Village Theatre and Art Gallery; and other matters referred to the Board by the Commission and Town Council. Design Review Board 2-14.2 Role of the DRB . The role of the DRB is to assist the Town Council and Planning Commission in reviewing and evaluating proposed design, architecture, landscaping and signs to ensure consistency with the Town’s General Plan, ordinances and adopted design standards and criteria. In order to achieve this goal, the DRB shall: a. Review and make recommendations regarding proposed design, architecture, signs and landscaping plans submitted along with planning or land use applications to the Town. The DRB’s recommendations shall be forwarded to the Town Council, Planning Commission or Planning staff as appropriate; b. Review and approve proposed signs as provided for in the Town’s sign ordinance; c. Review and approve design, architecture or landscaping plans as authorized by the Town Council through ordinance or resolution of the Town Council; 5 d. Review and make recommendations regarding any Town sponsored project as requested by the Town Council or Town staff. Senior Advisory Commission 2-15.3 Powers and Duties. The role of the Senior Advisory Commission is to advise the Town Council on matters related to: a. Supporting older adult residents and their process of aging in place; b. Assessment of the Town’s amenities and services in providing an age friendly city; c. Assessing services and recreational opportunities available to Danville residents and visitors of all age groups and abilities; d. Hold public meetings, conduct surveys and use other reasonable methods to determine needs of the aging population and recommend actions to advocate for those needs to the Town Council; e. Perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by Town Council. Bicycle Advisory Commission 2-16.3 Powers and Duties. Advise the Town Council on matters related to: a. Implementation of the Town’s Bicycle Master Plan; b. Conditions, operations and safety of existing bicycle facilities and other non- motorized forms of transportation; c. Review of proposed bicycle-related policies, programs, projects, plans, funding applications and legislation; d. Coordination with the public including bicycle-related organizations, the business community and other local agencies to promote cycling projects and programs; e. Development and dissemination of bicycle awareness and materials to the community. Town Manager 2-2.7 Powers and Duties. The Town Manager shall be the administrative head of the government of the Town under the direction and control of the Town Council. The Town Manager shall be responsible for the efficient administration of all the affairs of the Town. In addition to general powers as administrative head, and not as a limitation thereon, the Town Manager shall have the duties and the powers set forth in the following paragraphs: 6 a. Service to and Direction of Town Council. To respond promptly to all requests by the Town Council for information and advice and see that all Council instructions, orders and decisions are carried out promptly. b. Appointment and Removal. Pursuant to Government Code Section 34856, to appoint and remove, with the approval of the Town Council, all officers and department heads including the Town Treasurer, but excluding the Town Attorney. The Town Manager shall either appoint, remove, promote or demote all other Town employees or approve their appointment, removal, promotion or demotion subject to all applicable personnel rules and regulations which may be adopted by ordinance or resolution by the Council. c. Authority Over Employees. To control, order and give directions to all heads of departments and to subordinate officers and employees of the Town under the Town Manager’s jurisdiction through their department heads. d. Budget. To prepare and submit the proposed annual budget and the proposed annual salary plan to the Town Council and, upon approval of the Town Council, to administer the budget and salary plan. e. Expenditure Control and Purchasing. To see that no expenditures shall be submitted or recommended to the Town Council except on approval of the Town Manager or authorized representative and to be responsible for the purchase of all equipment and supplies for all the departments or divisions of the Town subject to Council policy. f. Contracts. To negotiate all contracts for services for which the Town has a service responsibility to its residents and desires to provide such service by contract. The contract shall be approved by the Town Council. After the Council approves the contract, it shall be the duty of the Town Manager to administer the contract and determine that its provisions are carried out. The Town Manager shall report to the Council at such times as the Council may direct on the performance of the contractor. g. Financial Reports. To keep the Town Council at all times fully advised as to the financial condition and needs of the Town. h. Policies. To recommend to the Town Council such policies which, in the judgment of the Town Manager, are worthy of consideration by the Town Council. i. Administrative Reorganization. To conduct studies and effect such administrative reorganization of services, offices, positions or units under the Town Manager’s direction as may be indicated in the interest of efficient, effective and economical conduct of the Town’s business. j. Investigations and Complaints. To make investigations into the affairs of the Town and any department or the proper performance of any obligations of the Town and to 7 investigate all complaints in relation to matters concerning the administration of the Town government and in regard to the service maintained by public utilities. k. Law Enforcement. To enforce or cause to be enforced all laws and ordinances of the Town and to see that all franchises, contracts, permits and privileges granted by the Town Council are faithfully observed. l. Public Property. To exercise general supervision over all public property which is under the control and jurisdiction of the Town Council. m. Attendance at Council Meetings. To attend all meetings of the Town Council unless excused therefrom by the Mayor or the Town Council. n. Additional Duties. To perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as may be delegated from time to time by ordinance or other official action of the Town Council. (Ord. #10, §2-207; Ord. #89-13, §1)