Chapter 2.72
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION*
2.72.010 Established.
2.72.020 Composition-Appointment- Compensation.
2.72.030 Qualifications.
2.72.040 Terms of office.
2.72.050 Vacancies.
2.72.060 Removal of members.
2.72.070 Election of president and secretary.
2.72.080 Regular meetings.
2.72.090 Special meetings.
2.72.100 President to preside-Election of president pro tempore.
2.72.110 Duties of secretary.
2.72.120 Quorum.
2.72.140 Powers and duties generally.
2.72.150 Cooperation of city officials.
2.72.160 Limitation on liability.
* For charter provisions as to authority of city as to rates for services rendered under franchises, etc., see Charter, Art. III, º 1, subsection 17. As to public service department generally, see Charter, Art. XXII, º 1. As to authority of council to provide for subordinate officers, employees, etc., see Charter, Art. XXII, º 2. As to powers and duties of public service department generally, see Charter, Art. X, º 6. As to public service sinking fund, see Charter, Art. XI, º 21. As to public service surplus fund, see Charter, Art. XI, ºº 22 to 22.2.
2.72.010 Established.*
A public service commission is established in and for the city. (Prior code º 3-110)
* For charter provisions as to authority of city to establish a "social service commission," see Charter, Art. XVI, º 1.
2.72.020 Composition-Appointment- Compensation.
The public service commission shall consist of five members who shall serve without compensation and who shall be appointed by a majority of the council. (Prior code º 3-111)
2.72.030 Qualifications.
Each member of the public service commission shall be a qualified elector of the city at the time of his or her appointment and during his or her incumbency. (Prior code º 3-112)
2.72.040 Terms of office.
A. The terms of office for members of the public service commission shall be three years or until their successors shall be appointed and qualified.
B. Members of the public service commission serving on January 1, 1962, shall continue to hold office until the expiration of the terms of their appointments. Thereafter, appointments other than appointments to complete unexpired terms shall be for three-year terms. (Prior code º 3-113)
2.72.050 Vacancies.
Should a vacancy occur in the public service commission for any reason, such vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term by an appointment by a majority of the council. (Prior code º 3-114)
2.72.060 Removal of members.
Whenever, in the discretion of the council, the best interests of the city shall be served thereby, any member of the public service commission may be removed from office by a majority vote of the council. (Prior code º 3-115)
2.72.070 Election of president and secretary.
Within ten days after their appointment, the members of the public service commission shall meet in regular session and organize by electing from their members a president and a secretary, who shall each hold office for one year. (Prior code º 3-116)
2.72.080 Regular meetings.
After the organization meeting, the public service commission shall meet in regular session at least once a month at a time and place selected by vote of its members. (Prior code º 3-117)
2.72.090 Special meetings. Special meetings of the public service commission may be called by the president or by any three members. Written notice of each special meeting must be given pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act of the state. (Prior code º 3-120)
2.72.100 President to preside-Election of president pro tempore.
It shall be the duty of the president to preside over all meetings of the public service commission. In the president's absence, a president pro tempore may be elected to preside. (Prior code º 3-118)
2.72.110 Duties of secretary.
It shall be the duty of the secretary of the public service commission to keep a record of all proceedings of the commission, transmit its recommendations to the council and perform such other duties as are usually performed by the secretary of a deliberative body. (Prior code º 3-119)
2.72.120 Quorum.
Three members of the public service commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may adjourn from time to time to a day certain. (Prior code º 3-121)
2.72.140 Powers and duties generally.
The powers and duties of the public service commission shall be as follows:
A. Investigations. To investigate the operations and facilities of the public service department and the need for changes or additions in its plant or in its operation and to make recommendations to the city manager and the council accordingly;
B. Recommendations. To recommend to the city manager and the council ways and means of financing changes and additions to the plant or the methods of operation of the public service department;
C. Change in Administrative Policy. To recommend to the city manager changes of administrative policy which the commission deems desirable in order that the public service department may better serve the people of the city;
D. Powers and Duties of Advisory Nature. The power and duties of the commission are of an advisory nature only, and do not include the power of directing the conduct of the public service department or its divisions;
E. Water Conservation Appeals Board. The public service commission shall sit as an appeals board in all cases where a customer has filed an application for relief from the provisions of this chapter and has failed to resolve such application with the department. The commissioners shall adopt such rules and regulations as they, in their sound discretion, deem reasonable and necessary to the formation, procedure and operation of the water conservation appeals board. Such rules and regulations shall be subject to approval of the city council prior to their becoming effective. (Prior code º 3-123)
2.72.150 Cooperation of city officials.
All officers, divisions and division heads of the city shall cooperate and render all reasonable and necessary assistance to the public service commission. (Prior code º 3-124)
2.72.160 Limitation on liability.
Neither the public service commission nor any member thereof shall incur any financial liability in the name of the city. (Prior code º 3-125)