Manteca ‘s elected leaders may soon change municipal rules to allow non city residents to serve on the Manteca Senior Advisory Commission.
On Tuesday, the council directed staff to prepare language for consideration at a future meeting to essentially allow rural Manteca residents to serve on the commission that plays a key role in the Manteca Senior Center activities.
Actually the council started that policy Tuesday when they agreed to allow commission member Tom Stewart to continue serving until the end of his current term that ends Dec. 31, 2020. Stewart last month moved outside of the city limits but continues to reside nearby and still participates in center activities.
The request to make the change had been submitted over a year ago by the commission but never reached the council for approval.
The issue surfaced when one of the applicants for the seats whose terms expired at the end of December was rejected by staff as a potential appointee for the council to consider due to the fact they resided outside of the city limits and therefore didn’t meet the criteria needed to be considered for appointment.
The council ended up appointing the four other applicants — all incumbents. They were regular members Carol McDaniel and Robert Serpa as well as alternate members Laura Arista and Beverly Villines.
A third regular member seat is still vacant given Hetty Hall — the non-city resident that applied — was disqualified. The application process for that seat is being reopened. Applicants must be city residents and be at least 50 years of age.
Council members agreed that those who reside outside of the city limits and are active at the senior center should be considered to serve on the committee if they apply. Mayor Ben Cantu suggested staff come up with language that made it clear the intent was to include those living in close proximity to Manteca.
Acting Assistant City Manager Lisa Blackmon noted it is typical for cities to have a residency requirement for those serving on commission and committees given decision that are being made will have a direct impact on those that reside in a city.
Blackmon noted exceptions have been made by Manteca in the past. One instance was the general plan update citizens’ advisory commission. The council opted to include appointments for those in rural Manteca outside the city limits that were part of the sphere of influence for potential future annexation given the final decision on the general plan update could impact them.
The council also reappointed Supriya Ashish Jain to the alternate seat on the Manteca Parks & Recreation Commission to a term that expires on December 31, 2022.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
