Dynamic, thoughtful volunteers are needed to fill a vacancies on
Santa Clara County boards and commissions that service in an
advisory role on a broad range of issues.
Dynamic, thoughtful volunteers are needed to fill a vacancies on Santa Clara County boards and commissions that service in an advisory role on a broad range of issues.
Every member of the Board of Supervisors appoints volunteers to represent his or her district on boards and commissions. Terms are three to four years and members of a commission may serve up to three consecutive terms. Appointments are made on a regular basis.
Except where noted, all commissioners serve in unpaid volunteer positions. All board and commission meetings are held at the County Government Center and are open to the public.
For more information, a list of vacancies or to apply online, visit the Boards and Commissions web page at www.sccgov.org/portal/site/bnc or contact the Office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Records Unit at 299-5001.
The commissions act in an advisory capacity to the Board of Supervisors in promoting, aiding and encouraging diverse commerce, cultural, educational and technological exchange with the respective areas. Commission activities must be self-supporting through fundraising or donations. All commissioners are appointed by board to serve three-year terms, for a maximum of three terms.
The Board of Supervisors will appoint volunteers to fill the following vacancies:
Advisory Council to the Council on Aging
The Older Americans Act of 1965 as amended and the Older Californians Act established that the Area Agencies on Aging shall call upon citizens to advise the Board of Supervisors on issues affecting older persons. The purpose of the Council is to serve as a principal independent advocate on behalf of older persons within the planning and service area. The Council is composed of 36 members, five members appointed by the Board of Supervisors with a term of three years.
Advisory Commission on Consumer Affairs
The Consumer Affairs Commission was established September 10, 1974. The duties of the Commission are to assist and advise the Administration on matters of interest to consumers; to consult and cooperate with various agencies to prevent duplication of efforts in the field of consumer protection; and to receive complaints and inquiries from consumers regarding deceptive or unfair trade practices in the County. The Commission is composed of 9 members. The term is three years.
Assessment Appeals Boards I, II and III
The Assessment Appeals Boards were established by the Board of Supervisors. Members must have a minimum of five years professional experience as a CPA or public accountant, real estate broker, attorney, or property appraiser. Members shall receive a stipend for each day of attendance at an Assessment Appeal Hearing. The Boards shall have the power to equalize the valuation of the taxable property in the County for the purposes of taxation in the manner provided for in Section 16 of Article XIII of the Constitution of the State of California. Occasionally special meetings will be called. Each Board is composed of three members. The term is three years.
Assessment Appeals Hearing Officers
The Assessment Appeals Hearing Officers are appointed by the Board of Supervisors with a term of three years and receive a stipend for each day a hearing is conducted. The hearing officers shall conduct hearings on assessment protests on behalf of the Assessment Appeals Board on the sole issue of whether a change of ownership or new construction has occurred with regard to real property in the County so as to cause a reassessment of said property for ad valorem property tax purposes. The qualifications of the hearing officers shall be a minimum of five years professional experience in this state as an attorney. No person shall be qualified to be a hearing officer who, within the three (3) years immediately preceding their appointment, has served as the legal representative for, or was employed by, the County Assessor. The term of office is three years.
Board of Plumbing Examiners
The Board of Plumbing Examiners is to determine the competency and knowledge of persons who are required to hold a Certificate of Competency. Persons passing such examinations are then issued Certificates through the Board of Supervisors. Examinations are held every other month. Persons passing such examinations are then issued Certificates through the Board of Supervisors. The Board is composed of seven members. The term of office is four years.
Certification Appeals Board
The Certification Appeals Board was established on December 12, 2000. The purpose of this body is to review the decisions of the Certification Coordinator when there is an appeal filed for a denial of certification and to review all sanction appeals for facilities and staff, with respect to Adult Drug and Alcohol Residential Facilities. The Board consists of five members, appointed by the Board of Supervisors, with a term of three years.
Child Abuse Council
The Child Abuse Council was designated by the Board of Supervisors on February 24, 1987 as the local voluntary council to carry out its original charge of recommending programs for funding by the Children’s Trust Fund. Members are appointed from nominations of the Child Abuse Council and shall have background in the child abuse field and shall provide new and innovative contributions to the issues for treatment of, prevention of and education about child abuse. Anyone with an interest in, and commitment to, improving child abuse services in the County may apply to be a non-voting member. The council consists of 23 members, appointed by the Board of Supervisors, with a term of four years.
Code Enforcement Appeals Board
The Code Enforcement Appeals Board was established June 12, 1979. It is the purpose of this body to provide an Appeals Board for any interested person dissatisfied with any decision by the Building Official or his duly authorized representative with respect to the suitability of alternate materials, alternate methods and types of construction, or interpretation of the various building and construction codes. The Board consists of 5 members. The term is three years.
Commission on the Status of Women
The Commission on the Status of Women was established on December 26, 1973. The general purpose of the commission is to promote the Board of Supervisors’ policy to take affirmative action to eliminate the practice of discrimination and prejudice on account of sex in the areas of housing, employment, education, and related fields. The Commission is composed of 15 members. The term is three years.
Correctional Industries Advisory Board
The Correctional Industries Advisory Board was established on August 25, 1992. It is the policy of the County to encourage inmates in the County jail system to develop skills and work experience to enhance their ability to find employment after release. The program seeks to provide meaningful training and work experience under the supervision of the Santa Clara County Department of Correction to selected inmates who volunteer to participate, while also generating revenue and providing products and services. The seven appointed Advisory Board members serve term of three years.
Domestic Violence Council
The Domestic Violence Council was established April 23, 1991. The purpose of the Council is to encourage coordination between agencies dealing with domestic violence; promoting effective prevention, intervention and treatment techniques; and improving the response to domestic violence and abuse to reduce incidents of violence. The appointed members serve three-year terms.
Fairgrounds Management Corporation
The Santa Clara County Fairgrounds Management Corporation is a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation created in 1994. The primary purposes of the Corporation are to provide cultural, educational and recreational events for those in the County of Santa Clara vicinity through the planning, fundraising, production and management of the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. The Corporation’s Board of Directors consists of five persons. Each is appointed by a County Supervisor. Appointments are made annually.
Fish & Game Commission
The Fish and Game Commission was established April 18, 1960. The duty of the Commission is to investigate all requests for the expending of the moneys in the County Fish and Game Propagation Fund and make written recommendations regarding expenditures. Requests may be initiated by members of the Commission or by any member of the public. Each member shall be familiar with fish and game problems within the County of Santa Clara. The five appointed members serve 4-year terms.
Uvas/Llagas Flood Control and Watershed (South Zone)
The Flood Control Zone Advisory Committees of the Santa Clara Valley Water District are comprised of representatives of each city in the zone and a representative and alternate from the county where the unincorporated area exceeds 25 percent of the area of the zone. The District is divided into five flood control zones that conform to the boundaries of the major watersheds affecting the Valley floor. Members bring to the District the desires of the citizens of the communities they represent and aid in coordinating governmental projects. For the Uvas/Llagas the Board of Supervisors nominates one representative from the South Zone. The term of service is one year. Multiple terms may be served.
Health Advisory Commission
The purpose of this commission is to act in an advisory capacity to the Board of Supervisors regarding issues which impact the health of the public. In this advisory capacity, the commission will use information to assess needs and identify priorities to make recommendations. Recommendations may include policy changes, or concern service enhancement, system changes, resource allocation and the infrastructure to deliver, monitor and evaluate County action. The 15 appointed Commission members serve four year terms.
HIV Planning Council for Prevention and Care
The HIV Health Services Planning Council was established on October 3, 1995 in order to comply with federal requirements necessary for Santa Clara County to apply for and receive Ryan White Title I funds. The purpose of the Planning Council is to develop a comprehensive plan for the organization and delivery of health services; establish priorities for the allocation of funds within Santa Clara County; assess the efficiency of the administration mechanism in rapidly allocating funds to the areas of greatest need; participate in the development of the Statewide coordinated statement of needs; and establish methods for obtaining input on community needs and priorities. The Council consists of a minimum of 29 members. Beginning July 1, 2010, members of the Planning Council shall serve three-year terms. Terms begin on July 1 and end three years later on June 30.
Housing and Community Development Advisory Committee
In order to insure broad-based citizen involvement for the Santa Clara County Block Grant program, the Board of Supervisors established the Housing and Community Development Citizen’s Advisory Committee on April 30, 1979. The Committee serves as the policy recommending body to the Housing and Community Development Council Committee. The Committee is composed of a total of 13 members with five members appointed by the County Board of Supervisors and eight members appointed at the discretion of the participating non-entitlement cities. The length of term is one year. There are no term limits. Members may be automatically renewed unless otherwise notified by the appointing body.
Joint Community Relations for Reid-Hillview Airport
The Reid-Hillview Airport Joint Community Relations Committee was established by the Board of Supervisors May 18, 2004. The purpose of the RHV-JCRC is to enhance the compatibility of the RHV with the surrounding community by facilitating communication among airport users, community members and County Staff and by providing policy advice to the County Board of Supervisors. The Reid-Hillview Airport Joint Community Relations Committee is composed of eleven appointed members. Two additional members shall be Board-as-a-Whole appointments, with a term of four years.
Lake Canyon Community Services District
The Lake Canyon Community Services District’s purpose is to provide for the collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater within the Lexington Basin watershed. The petition to LAFCO was signed by 80% of the registered voters residing in the area. (Government code section 61000 et. seq.) The Board of Directors is composed of five members, appointed for unlimited terms.
National Guard & Veterans Affairs Commission
The Commission was established on January 12, 1988. The Commission is composed of 11 members. Seven members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors to serve four-year terms. The remaining four are non-voting members of the Commission. The Commission shall act in an advisory capacity promoting, aiding and encouraging public support to and recruitment for the National Guard and veteran affairs.
Parks & Recreation Commission
The Parks and Recreation Commission was established March 14, 1955. The duties of the Commission are to promote, aid, and encourage public recreation, including the development of recreation and park facilities and programs. The Commission shall act in an advisory capacity to the Board of Supervisors in the planning, maintenance, development and operation of all recreational areas and facilities owned, controlled or leased by the County. It studies and makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on the acquisition and development of recreation areas and facilities such as playgrounds, parks, beaches, pools, campsites and other recreational facilities. The seven-member appointed by the Board of Supervisors to four-year terms.
San Martin Planning Advisory Committee
The San Martin Planning Committee was created on January 12, 1981. Committee members should be from the San Martin “community.” The general purpose of the Committee is to review the San Martin Water Quality Study and provide staff analysis of the planning implications; review interim land use policies established in the General Plan for San Martin; make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on the need for and scope of detailed planning for the San Martin area; act as the citizen’s planning committee for the development of the detailed San Martin Plan as recommended in the General Plan. The Committee is composed of twelve members, appointed by the Board of Supervisors, serving a term of four years.
Senior Care Commission
The Senior Care Commission was established on September 15, 1987. The general purpose of the Commission is to assess issues, concerns and needs of persons over age sixty with restricted self-care capabilities who are in need of institutional and/or community-based long-term care, and to make recommendations regarding legislation, education and services affecting this population. The Commission is composed of sixteen members, appointed by the Board of Supervisors to three-year terms.
Social Services Advisory Commission
The Commission was established on October 24, 1978. The purpose of the Social Services Advisory Commission is to assess community social service needs; to provide policy guidance to the Board of Supervisors and Social Services Agency; and to establish working relationships with the various community organizations concerned with Social Services. The commission consists of fifteen members, appointed by the Board of Supervisors, with a three year term.
Sister County Advisories Commissions
The County of Santa Clara encourages the creation of Sister-County affiliations to promote friendship and understanding and to build bridges with countries of origin for various ethnic populations residing in the County. Such relationships enhance the region’s international profile; encourage mutual understanding; and foster cultural, educational, technological and business exchanges between people of Santa Clara County and the people of its Sister communities.
Province of Florence, Italy Sister County Advisory Commission
Hsinchu County, Taiwan Sister County Advisory Commission
Moscow City and Region, Russia Sister County Advisory Commission
