Special District Advisory Committee By-laws

The Special District Advisory Committee “Committee” is a standing committee of the Sacramento Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo).

1) Purpose of By-Laws

The Committee recognizes the need to establish the basic responsibilities, rules, and guidelines for its members in order that they shall most efficiently and properly function as a standing committee of LAFCo.

2) Composition of Committee

  • The Committee shall be comprised of the two Special District Commissioners, the Alternate Special District Commissioner and six (6) to 14 Appointed members. The Appointed members must be sitting directors or trustees from a broad range of special districts, including parks, fire, water, flood control or reclamation, and other types of special districts; i.e. SMUD, mosquito abatement, cemetery, resources conservation, community services, port authorities, etc.
  • Special district directors or trustees must apply to LAFCo for consideration as an Appointed Committee member. The application must include a letter of support from the applicant’s District’s Board. Appointed members of the Committee shall serve a two-year term with no compensation.

3) Powers of the Committee

  • The Committee recognizes its duty is to formulate and recommend policy to LAFCo.

4) Committee Meetings

  • The Committee will meet quarterly or as needed, usually on the second Tuesday of the month. The Chair will rotate annually between the two Special District Commissioners and the Alternate Special District Commissioner.
  • All Committee members shall be present at all Committee meetings unless excused by the presiding officer.
  • All Committee meetings are open to the public except during executive session, consistent with the requirements of the "Brown Act". All Committee actions must be conducted in open meeting.

5) Year

  • For purposes of selecting a new Chair, the year of the Committee will commence on the first day of January and end on the last day of December of the same year.

6) By-Laws Review

  • These By-Laws of the Committee shall be reviewed at the first meeting of the calendar year to determine the need for additions, deletions or other changes to reflect the operation of the Committee. Revised By-Laws are required to be approved by a majority of Committee members present at the meeting at which a quorum is present.

7) Closed or Executive Session

  • Closed or Executive Session may be called by any Committee member during the course of any regular or special meeting or for a future regular or special meeting, as defined by the "Brown Act".

8) Rules of Order

  • Except as they conflict with the California Government Code, Robert's Rules of Order, as modified by the Committee, shall govern all questions of procedures not otherwise provided in this document.

9) Quorum

  • A quorum will consist of a majority of the Appointed Committee members and two one (Amended by majority vote 4/13/04) of the three LAFCo Special District Commissioners (this includes the Alternate LAFCo Commissioner). If no quorum is present, the Committee members attending may adjourn the meeting to a time that a quorum is obtained.

10) Committee Voting

  • The ayes and nays will be recorded in the meeting's minutes. The act of a majority of Committee members present at the meeting at which a quorum is present will constitute an act of the Committee.

11) Agenda

  • The Chair is responsible for preparation of the agenda for all Committee meetings.

12) Records, Minutes

  • All proceedings of the Committee will be in writing and kept in a regular book of records open to public inspection at the LAFCo office at all reasonable and proper times as prescribed by law.

13) Postponement of Action

  • State law prohibits the Committee from addressing any items not previously included on the agenda. The Committee may receive testimony and set the matter for a subsequent meeting.

14) Suspension of Rules

  • To suspend a rule to change the order of business, a majority vote of the members of the Committee present at that meeting at which a quorum is present shall be required.

15) Vacancies Declared

  • Should any member of the Board: a) die; b) resign; c) be declared mentally or physically unable to perform duties by a qualified professional; d) cease to be a director or trustee of a special district; e) be convicted of any felony offense; or f) neglect to attend two consecutive Committee meetings unexcused, said position will be declared vacant by the Committee.

16) Filling Vacancies

  • Vacancies declared as stated in Section 15 of these By-Laws may be filled by the Special District Commissioners with confirmation by a majority of the remaining members of the Committee.
  • The LAFCo Special District Commissioners will first ask the board from which the absent Committee member sits if another member of that board wishes to serve. If none is interested, then a member of any other independent special district board, whose district is not currently represented on the Committee, will be appointed.
  • Any person so appointed shall hold his/her office for the remainder of the two-year term of the member he/she is replacing.