Office of the City Clerk
City of Buena Park
6650 Beach Boulevard, First Floor
Buena Park, CA 90622
Phone: (714) 562-3754 mmmFax: (714) 562-3506
email: sreynoso@buenapark.com

Office Hours : 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
(closed alternating Fridays)

Staff
Shalice Reynoso, City Clerk
Teresa Jackson, Deputy City Clerk
Linda Long, Senior Secretary
Maureen Frazier, Senior Secretary
Cecelia Scott, Sr. Typist Clerk (part-time)

Welcome to the Office of the City Clerk! As the principal link between the public, the City Council, and the City organization, we are pleased to offer the following services:

CITY COUNCIL

CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS & AGENDA

ELECTION AND VOTER SERVICES

Upcoming Elections
The next General Municipal Election will be held November 7, 2006, to fill three seats on the City Council. For candidate information contact City Clerk Shalice Reynoso at (714) 562-3750.

For information on other district, county, state, and federal elections contact www.oc.ca.gov/election.

Voter Registration
To be eligible to vote in an election, you must register at least 15 days prior to the election date. Once you have registered, your voter registration will remain active, regardless of whether or not you voted in the last election.

Qualifications:

You Must Reregister if You:

The City Clerk’s office would be happy to mail you a Voter Registration Form; contact us at (714) 562-3754, or you may register on-line at www.oc.ca.gov/election. Voter registrations are maintained and filed with the County Registrar. You may mail your completed form directly to the County Registrar or submit it to the City Clerk’s office.

Where Do I Vote?
Your polling place will be listed on the back page of the Sample Ballot and Voter Information Pamphlet which will be mailed to you by the Orange County Registrar of Voters approximately three weeks before the election. Or you may access your polling place and sample ballot on-line at www.oc.ca.gov/election.

General Municipal Election
The City Clerk is the election official and conducts the General Municipal Election which is held on the first Tuesday in November of even numbered years to elect members of the City Council and to consider local ballot measures. Because Council terms overlap, three positions are open at one election and two positions are open at the next election two years later. Council Members are elected for four-year terms and must be registered voters and city residents.

BUENA PARK MUNICIPAL CODE AND ZONING ORDINANCE

The Buena Park City Code is a compilation of the City's ordinances. Ordinances are local laws adopted by the City Council. An ordinance is the most binding form of action taken by the City Council, the violation of which may be a misdemeanor, unless, by ordinance, it is made an infraction. Click here to view the Buena Park Municipal Code.

The Buena Park City Code is organized into two parts: Part I is known as the “Buena Park Municipal Code” and consists of Titles 1 through 13, and Part II is known as the “Buena Park Development Code” and consists of Titles 14 through 20.

The Zoning Ordinance is Title 19 of the Buena Park City Code and pertains to zoning and land use. The layout and format for Title 19 differ from the other titles to assist homeowners and developers in finding information. Click here for Title 19 - Zoning Ordinance.

COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

The City Council has established a number of commissions and committees to review City programs, projects, and community issues. Members of the community are appointed to serve on these boards to provide greater community participation and public input in the determination of City policies. Any citizen interested in volunteering to serve on one of these advisory bodies is invited to complete a Commissioner Application Form and submit it to the Office of the City Clerk. Click here for a Commissioner Application Form.

All meetings are held in the Council Chambers, 6650 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park. Select the commission/committee above for meeting times and a detailed description.

BEAUTIFICATION-ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
The Beautification-Environmental Commission shall consist of seven members who are either residents of the City, employed or engaged in business within the City, having an interest in the coordination of all beautification and environmental activities within the City.

Meetings
Regular meetings are held quarterly on the 4th Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Other meetings may be scheduled as needed.

General Purpose and Duties

1. To promote civic beautification and environmental awareness, and to educate the citizenry as to the need for community beautification and environmental awareness.

2. To study and investigate means by which the City can conserve and enhance its natural environment and formulate policies for recommendation to the City Council for that purpose.

3. To advise the City Council on public relations matters related to beautification of private property and publicly owned property.

4. To review and make recommendations concerning landscaping and beautification of City-owned property.

5. To consider, study and investigate such matters as may be referred to it by the City Council and make such recommendations as may be requested by the City Council.

Terms of Office
Members shall be appointed by the Mayor with approval of the City Council for a term of three years.

Organization
Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be selected in January of each year by a majority of the commissioners and shall serve for one year or until their successors are elected.

Authority
Buena Park City Code

Staff Liaison
Public Works Department

FINE ARTS COMMISSION
The Fine Arts Commission shall consist of a minimum of nine and a maximum of fifteen members, a majority of whom shall be residents of the City, having an interest in the artistic and cultural environment of the City.

Meetings
Meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.

General Purpose and Duties

1. Promote, encourage, and endorse cultural activities in the City, such as but not limited to, art festivals, summer band concerts, bus caravans for cultural trips and programs, lecture/artist series, children’s art shows, civic theater, children’s theater, and concerts.

2. Establish a cultural identity for the City in a cultural environment suitable for its citizens.

3. Coordinate various arts and cultural activities within the City with a view toward proper calendaring and scheduling of such events and making such events known to the public.

4. One member shall be appointed to attend the Orange County Arts Alliance meetings and report to the commission.

Terms of Office
Members shall be appointed by the Mayor with approval of the City Council for a term of three years.

Organization
Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be selected in June of each year by a majority of the commissioners and shall serve for one year or until their successors are elected.

Authority
Buena Park City Code

Staff Liaison
Recreation, Parks and Community Services Department

PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION
The Park and Recreation Commission shall consist of seven members who are residents of the City, having an interest in the development of park facilities and recreation activities and programs within the City.

Meetings
Regular meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.

General Purpose and Duties

1. Act in an advisory capacity to the City Council in all matters pertaining to parks and recreational programming and to cooperate with other governmental agencies and civic groups in the advancement of sound park and recreation planning.

2. To coordinate the park and recreation activities of the City and provide for establishment of sound recreational programs.

3. To recommend a program of park and playground acquisition, development, and maintenance.

4. Formulate policies on recreation services and recommend same to the City Council; make periodic inventories of recreation services that exist or may be needed and interpret needs of the public to the City Council.

5. Study present and future needs of the City with respect to recreation and park facilities and events and make recommendations to City Council.

Terms of Office
Members shall be appointed by the Mayor with approval of the City Council for a term of three years.

Organization
Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be selected in January of each year by a majority of the commissioners and shall serve for one year or until their successors are elected.

Authority
Buena Park City Code

Staff Liaison
Recreation, Parks and Community Services Department

PERSONNEL BOARD
The Personnel Board shall consist of five regular members and one alternate who are either residents of the City, employed, or engaged in business within the City, having an interest in and some familiarity with personnel practices in order to consider matters pertaining to City employees.

Meetings
Called by the Chairman as needed.

General Purpose and Duties

1. To hold hearings regarding personnel rules and subsequent revisions and/or amendments; recommend such rules to the City Manager for submission to the City Council.

2. To receive and hear appeals submitted by any employee in the competitive service relative to any dismissal, demotion, reduction in pay or alleged violation of the personnel rules or the classification and salary resolution and to certify its findings and recommendations as provided in the personnel rules.

3. When requested by the City Council or the City Manager, the Personnel Board shall hold hearings and make recommendations on any matter of personnel administration within the limits of the request of the Council.

Terms of Office
Members shall be appointed by the Mayor with approval of the City Council for a term of three years.

Organization
Annually, on or before January 15th, the Mayor shall designate the Chairman of the Personnel Board.

Authority
Buena Park City Code; Buena Park Personnel Rules

Staff Liaison
Human Resources Division

PLANNING COMMISSION
The Planning Commission shall consist of seven members who are residents of the City having an interest in the development of the City.

Meetings
Meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at 7 p.m., or as otherwise adopted by the Planning Commission.

General Purpose and Duties

1. Consider and provide policy on planning matters.

2. Develop and formulate the General Plan with the help of staff for the orderly development of the City.

3. Initiate zone changes, amendments to the General Plan and the Zoning Ordinance.

4. Recommend to City Council amendments of the Zoning Ordinance, zone changes, amendments to the General Plan, and such other matters as may be referred by the City Council.

5. Approve or deny variances, conditional use permits, site plans, tentative parcel maps, tentative tract maps, and conditions, covenants and restrictions.

6. Conduct necessary research in conjunction with submitted plans.

7. Perform such tasks as shall be necessary to carry out provisions of the City Code and State Planning laws.

Terms of Office
Members shall be appointed by the Mayor with approval of the City Council for a term of three years.

Organization
Chairman and Vice-Chairman are selected at the first meeting in January of each year and serve for one year.

Authority
Buena Park City Code; Buena Park General Plan; State of California Government Code.

Staff Liaison
Community Development Department

SENIOR CITIZENS COMMISSION
The Senior Citizens Commission shall consist of seven members who are residents of the City, preferably age 55 or older, having an interest in the needs and activities of the senior citizens within the community.

Meetings
Meetings are held on the 4th Thursday of each month at 9 a.m.

General Purpose and Duties

1. Advise City Council as to the needs of senior citizens and projects and activities within the community which would benefit the senior citizen population.

2. The commission shall act on those matters which are referred to it by the City Council for action, advice, or recommendations to the City Council.

3. Recommend disbursement of funds raised by the Senior Fund Raising Committee for specific use within the Senior Center.

Terms of Office
Members shall be appointed by the Mayor with approval of the City Council for a term of three years.

Organization
Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be selected in January of each year by a majority of the commissioners and shall serve for one year or until their successors are elected.

Authority
Buena Park City Code; Senior Center Policy and Operations Manual

Staff Liaison
Recreation, Parks and Community Services Department

TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
The Traffic and Transportation Commission shall consist of five members who are residents of the City, having an interest in matters relating to transportation and traffic, and having good working knowledge through either employment or personal interest in local and regional transportation and traffic concepts and issues.

Meetings
Meetings are held quarterly on the first Thursday of February, May, August and November at 6:30 p.m.

General Purpose and Duties

1. To act in an advisory capacity to the City Council in the review and development of systems, facilities, plans, policies and programs concerning rail, bus, truck and automobile transportation within the City and/or affecting the City.

2. To assist all agencies in providing input into the planning and implementation process of transportation systems within the City and/or affecting the City.

3. To receive complaints having to do with traffic matters and to recommend solutions.

4. To recommend ways and means for improving traffic conditions and the administration and enforcement of traffic laws, codes and regulations.

Terms of Office
Members shall be appointed by the Mayor with approval of the City Council for a term of three years.

Organization
Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be selected in January of each year by a majority of the commissioners and shall serve for one year.

Authority
Buena Park City Code

Staff Liaison
Public Works Department

AIRPORT NOISE AND SAFETY COMMITTEE
The Airport Noise and Safety Committee shall be comprised of three representatives each from the cities of Fullerton and Buena Park to advise the Councils ofeach city on joint measures that promote aviation safety and minimize the impact of aviation-related noise. Members shall be residents of the cities they represent and should be capable of representing the economic, social, environmental and public interest concerns of their respective cities.

Meetings
Meetings are held on the 4th Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. in the City of Fullerton Council Chambers.

General Purpose and Duties

1. Advise the City Councils on the feasibility of implementing the noise control recommendations of the Airport Master Plan.

2. Be apprised by the Airport Manager on a quarterly basis of the nature and resolution of all noise and safety complaints received by the Airport.

3. Serve as a channel for local citizen input regarding Airport noise and safety matters.

4. Advise the City Councils on suggestions for improving safety conditions and minimizing noise impact as a result of Airport operations.

5. On an annual basis, provide to the City Councils of both cities a report summarizing the committee’s activities and recommendations as they pertain to the committee’s charge.

Terms
Members shall be appointed by the respective City Councils to serve three-year terms.

Authority
City Council Resolution

Staff Liaison
Community Development Department

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Community Development Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) shall consist of seven members who are residents of the City and represent the various demographic characteristics of the areas to be served by the Community Development Block Grant program as required by Federal HUD regulations.

Meetings
Meetings are held as needed. Because the processing of Community Block Grant funds must be done in a timely manner each year, meetings will be periodic, but all members are expected to cooperate by attending all meetings. It will be the policy of the committee that any member who is absent from more than two consecutive meetings will be terminated.

General Purpose and Duties

1. Assist in ongoing planning, programming, and budgeting of Community Development Block Grant funds.

2. Assist in adopting community development programs, evaluating progress on approved and/or completed community development projects and responding to new issues by preparing recommendations to the City Council.

3. The committee is advisory in nature and has no authority to expend funds.

Terms of Office
Members shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council for a term of three years.

Authority
City Council Resolution; HUD Regulations

Staff
Economic Development Department

PUBLIC INQUIRIES, CLAIMS, LEGAL

Public Inquiries
The City Clerk’s office welcomes your inquiries about any City service, and we will direct you to the appropriate department. Contact the City Clerk’s office at (714) 562-3754. You may also contact City departments directly using our on-line city services directory.

Claims & Legal Matters
The City Clerk accepts service for claims for damages,lawsuits, and subpoenas relating to City business (except for police matters which are accepted at the police department). The City Clerk does not accept lawsuits which name only an individual and for which the City is not named. The City Clerk does not accept subpoenas for individuals other than Custodian of Records.

Shalice Reynoso, City Clerk
City of Buena Park
6650 Beach Boulevard
Buena Park, CA 90622
(714) 562-3754
Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
(closed alternating Fridays)

OFFICE OF RECORDS – ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS

The City Clerk oversees the preservation and protection of the public record. Public records are accessible at all times during regular office hours and can be inspected at no charge. In most cases, the City Clerk’s office is able to provide records immediately upon request. On occasion, additional time is necessary to compile requested information as provided for in the Public Records Act. Copies are available at $.10 per page.

Public records maintained by the City Clerk include:

Municipal Code
Resolutions
Ordinances
City Council Minutes & Agenda
City Commission & Committee Minutes
Contracts and Agreements
City Council Agenda Items

CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT – HOW TO BE HEARD

As a resident of the City of Buena Park, you are encouraged to voice your opinions and desires as well as become actively involved in the legislative process through City Council, commission, and committee meetings. All such meetings are open to the public, and the meeting agenda are available for your review 72 hours before the meeting. Click here to view the most recent City Council Agenda .

At each meeting citizens may speak on any agenda item or during oral communications. If you wish to speak at a meeting, please fill out a speaker identification form and hand it to the City Clerk. Speakers will be asked to approach the lectern and state their name and address clearly. Remarks are limited to five minutes and should be kept brief and to the point.

Becoming familiar with the City staff who serves you and your City is an important part of becoming involved. City staff presiding at City Council meetings include the:

• City Council is the policy-making body;
• City Manager is the chief administrative officer responsible for carrying out Council policy;
• City Clerk is the local official for elections, legislation, and public records;
• City Attorney acts as chief legal advisor to the City Council and staff;
• Department Directors supervise the functions of eight operating departments
• Police
• Fire (Orange County Fire Authority)
• Community Development (Building/Planning)
• Economic Development (Business Growth/Redevelopment)
• Public Works (Streets/Water/Trash)
• Recreation, Parks and Community Services
• Finance (Accounting/Water Billing)
• Human Resources (Personnel)

CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS

You may contact your City Council Members by:

• E-mail: cityhall@ci.buena-park.ca.us
• Phone: (714) 562-3754
• Correspondence: 6650 Beach Boulevard,
  Buena Park, CA 90622

Contact your federal and state representatives, by accessing www.vote-smart.org.

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