Features

Councilmember Laurie Capitelli said he wants to pass around Berkeley commission posts more equitably, which is why he has written an ordinance that will come before the City Council on Tuesday and that would limit a person’s service to eight years on a particular commission during any 10-year period and limit one person’s service to one commission. 

There is currently an eight-year limit, but it is circumvented, he said on Thursday. 

The new rule will limit the service of people who now serve seven-plus years, quit a commission, then begin the eight-year period anew.  

Councilmember Kriss Worthington said in an interview Wednesday that the most qualified person should serve on commissions. He said people apply to him for the posts and he chooses the best applicant. If councilmembers want to limit service on a commission, they have the right to replace their own commissioners, he said.