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c�<,FORN'P City Council Staff Report
September 10, 2024
Agenda Item No. 15
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Leilani I. Brown, City Clerk - 949-644-3005,
(brown@newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY: Leilani I. Brown, City Clerk
TITLE: Dismissal of a Civil Service Board Member
ABSTRACT:
Civil Service Board Member Laura Cowie has three consecutive unexcused absences
and may be dismissed from her seat pursuant to City Council Policy A-2 (Boards,
Commissions and Committees).
RECOMMENDATIONS:
a) Determine that the action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines
because it will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly;
and
b) Dismiss Laura Cowie from the Civil Service Board.
DISCUSSION:
The Civil Service Board consists of five members. Two members are appointed by the
City Council from a list provided by the employees in the Classified Service, two members
are appointed by the City Council directly, and the fifth member is appointed by the City
Council from a list provided by the Civil Service Board members. Laura Cowie currently
serves as the Civil Service Board's appointee.
Ms. Cowie was appointed to the Civil Service Board in 2023. City Council Policy A-2
(Boards, Commissions and Committees) states, "Board, Commission, and Committee
appointees may be replaced after three consecutive unexcused absences from
meetings." In 2024, she had unexcused absences from the monthly meetings that were
held in February, May, July and August. There was no meeting in June.
Several email and telephone attempts were made to contact Ms. Cowie, but staff received
no response.
It is the desire of the remaining Civil Service Board members to dismiss Ms. Cowie from
her seat so the remaining Board members can nominate candidates for the Council's
consideration who are able to devote more time to serving on the Board.
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Dismissal of a Civil Service Board Member
September 10, 2024
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If dismissal is approved by the City Council, the City Clerk will prepare and post a Notice
of Unscheduled Vacancy in compliance with City Council Policy A-2 and the Maddy Act.
At the conclusion of the application period, the applications will be forwarded to the
Civil Service Board for its review and to provide the City Council with a list of nominees.
The seat is nominated by the Civil Service Board, but selected by the City Council, and
the term will expire in 2027. There is an option to reapply for a full four-year term at the
end of the term.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact related to this item.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not
result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment)
and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA
Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no
potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
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