First published in the May 14 print issue of the Burbank Leader.
Burbank community members can apply to serve on one of 10 municipal boards, commissions and committees now through June 1, with a total of 30 seats available.
Applications are available at burbankca.gov/bccapplication and must be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office by 5 p.m. June 1. The Burbank City Council is tentatively scheduled to appoint the volunteer commission members at its July 12 meeting. No one can serve on more than one commission, and all groups for which applications are available have a residency requirement. All members must also provide proof of vaccination or an exemption request.
Each group works with city staff members to advise the City Council on pertinent matters, provide input on department policies and/or disseminate information to the community. All members serve four-year terms, though one of the five vacancies on the Board of Library Trustees is for a partial, two-year term. Time commitments and exact responsibilities differ depending on the group.
The boards, commissions and committees with open applications are:
• The Art in Public Places Committee, which will have three vacancies, recommends public art projects to the City Council. The committee meets on an as-needed basis.
• The Board of Building and Fire Code Appeals, which will have three vacancies, decides appeals of construction decisions and recommends changes to the building and fire codes. The committee meets on an as-needed basis.
• The Board of Library Trustees, which will have four full-term vacancies and one partial-term vacancy, researches ways to improve the public library system and recommends changes. The board, which meets on the second Wednesday of the month, also provides input on library programs at 5:30 p.m.
• The Burbank Water and Power Board, which will have three vacancies, reviews and advises on the utility’s budget and policies, including rates. Meeting on the first Thursday of the month at 5 p.m., the board also gives input on BWP’s proposed capital improvements.
• The Civil Service Board, which will have three vacancies, hears reports on hiring efforts, determines requests to extend temporary positions and decides employment-related appeals submitted by workers. The board meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 4:30 p.m.
• The Community Development Goals Committee, which will have four vacancies, meets on matters related to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, such as grant funding recommendations. The committee holds meetings on an as-needed basis.
• The Heritage Commission, which will have three vacancies, helps to oversee the city’s historic resources, including reviewing applications to declare a new historic resource and recommending zoning policies for historic preservation. The commission meets on the first Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m.
• The Landlord-Tenant Commission, which will have three vacancies, mediates rent adjustment disputes between landlords and tenants, provides information on legal requirements to both parties and gives tenant referrals to public and private agencies. The commission meets on the first Monday of the month at 6:15 p.m.
• The Senior Citizen Board, which will have three vacancies, researches the needs of older adults, advises on public facility expansion proposals and receives regular reports on available programs and resources. The board meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m.
For more information, potential applicants can contact the Burbank City Clerk’s Office at (818) 238-5851 or cityclerks@ burbankca.gov.
