You work all day, maybe fight traffic on the drive home, wonder about dinner, put in family time, and then what? Spend countless hours doing volunteer work for a city committee, of course.
If you’re like most people, that’s probably not high on your priority list. But someone has to do it. Not us, but you know, someone.
Indefatigable city catalyst and volunteer Barbara McMurray has reminded the local media to get the word out: The city’s committees need your help.
There are seats open on eight of the local committees. The deadline to apply is Jan. 20. Details are on this volunteer site. You can also contact the City Clerk’s office with any questions, (949) 497-0705.
McMurray said it’s not as bad as it sounds.
“Since my 2021 appointment by the City Council to the Housing and Human Services Committee, I have been pleasantly surprised at how gratifying it is to work with so many knowledgeable, energetic colleagues,” she said. “Committee service has challenged my assumptions, deepened my knowledge, and raised my regard for city staff and electeds as they wrangle myriad challenges.”
Here are the openings:
- Board of Adjustment/Design Review Board (DRB) – three two-year terms. Considers requests for variances from the zoning code. Unlike most other volunteer committee positions, DRB members are compensated $392 per month.
- Environmental Sustainability Committee – five two-year terms plus one alternate. Researches, reviews, and advises the council on protecting the environment and improving the community’s future sustainability.
- Heritage Committee – three two-year terms and one one-year term. Serves in an advisory role on historic preservation matters and reviews applications for the City’s Historic Register.
- Parking, Traffic and Circulation Committee – three two-year terms. Acts in an advisory capacity on parking, traffic, circulation, transit, the Parking Management Plan, and traffic complaints.
- Recreation Committee – four two-year terms. Provides for the recreation and park needs of the community.
- Housing and Human Services Committee – five 15-month terms. Assesses and identifies housing opportunities and human needs for all segments of the community and provides input on the City’s Housing Element of the General Plan.
- Audit Review and Investment Advisory Committee – three two-year terms. Reviews the results of the annual financial audit, reviews the City’s Investment Policy, and more. The list of responsibilities for this one is long. See city website.
- View Restoration Committee – three two-year terms and one one-year term. Adjudicates claims by property owners to restore views alleged to be impaired by vegetation.
While this is all very serious and we shouldn’t joke … we can’t help ourselves. So we feel it’s important to give you our interpretation of these openings as a public service message, in case it helps:
- Board of Adjustment/Design Review Board: An opportunity to get back at your neighbor.
- Environmental Sustainability Committee: Do research while scuba diving, surfing or cultivating that pot farm.
- Heritage Committee: Get credit while watching “Antiques Roadshow.”
- Parking, Traffic and Circulation Committee: If you make it through the whole two years without going crazy, you get a lifetime parking sticker.
- Recreation Committee: Debate which is better, tennis or pickleball.
- Housing and Human Services Committee: Ogle properties in the canyon without upsetting the locals.
- Audit Review and Investment Advisory Committee: Sorry, we got nothing.
- View Restoration Committee: Another opportunity to get back at your neighbor.
Hope that helps. Seriously, though, committees need new blood. McMurray says it’s important, and in our experience, it behooves you to listen to her.
“It’s one thing to hold opinions about how our city should be run; it’s an entirely different and far more constructive one to give of oneself in a sincere effort to improve and help move it forward,” she said.
OK, we will consider the Heritage Committee because we actually like “Antiques Roadshow.”
