Boards & Commissions

The City of Ontario is recruiting for city boards and commissions. These community-based commissions recommend actions for consideration to City Council and play a vital role in bringing citizen input on important City issues.

The City is currently accepting applications for board and commission vacancies. The deadline is March 31, 2023. After this date, the City Clerk's office will continue to accept applications for consideration throughout the year. Applications are kept on file for 2 years after submittal.

If you have any questions please contact the City Clerk's office at recordsmanagement@ontarioca.gov or call (909) 395-2009. Thank you for your interest to serve.

 

 

Below is a brief description of our current Boards and Commissions for your consideration.

 

Library Board of Trustees

The Library Board of Trustees provides citizen leadership in maintaining and developing a high level of library services to the city of Ontario acting in an advisory capacity to City Council.  Trustees should understand, believe in, and commit to the educational, informational, community and economic development, and recreational roles of Ontario City Library. 

A successful Library Board of Trustee member advocates for the library, the library’s mission and vision, and the community of library patrons.  Trustees support modern library tenets found in American Library Association’s essential core values of librarianship that definite, inform, and guide professional practice: access, confidentiality & privacy, democracy, diversity, education and lifelong learning, the public good, preservation, professionalism, service, social responsibility, and sustainability. Trustees should have some understanding of the basic topics that are important to modern librarianship, including:

• Youth and Adult Literacy

• Technological Advances in a Library Setting

• Library’s role in economic and workforce development

• The Library Bill of Rights, Intellectual Freedom & the Freedom to Read

• Confidentiality of Patron Records

• the Public's Right to Information

 

Museum Board of Trustees

The Ontario Museum of History & Art’s Board of Trustees was formed to provide citizen input on the direction and affairs of the Museum. Board responsibilities are focused on the overall strategic direction of the Museum and its programs. The Board meets on a monthly basis and the Museum Director and/or staff provide reports on the activities of the Museum, including information on upcoming exhibits, programs, and policies for Board input. Members of the Museum’s Board of Trustees should have an interest in Ontario’s rich history and/or contemporary art. Knowledge of any of the following areas is also helpful: education, local history, exhibition design, and collections management. Members are expected to represent the community and act in an advisory capacity to Museum staff as it relates to community engagement, exhibits, and programs.  

Areas of Responsibility:

1. Strategic Planning: Board members are expected to provide input on annual strategic goals and participate in a strategic planning committee every five years.

2. Collections: The Collections Committee is a standing committee, created by the Board of Trustees, with the authority to accept and decline proposals for acquisition, on behalf of the Board. The Committee has the responsibility to evaluate proposed items for acquisition or deaccession to the Permanent Collection and Education Resources Collection.

3. Policy Recommendations: The Board approves policies in a limited scope that are specific to the Museum, such as the Institutional Plan, Collections Management Policy, and Disaster Preparedness Plan.  The Board makes recommendations to the City Council on other policies.

 

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission provides community leadership on local planning and development policy. The Planning Commission plays a central role in the planning process in three important ways. First, it acts as an advisory board to the City Council on all planning and development issues. Second, the commission assures that the Policy Plan (general plan) is implemented by reviewing development applications on a case-by-case basis. Just as a building is built one brick at a time, The Planning Commission implements a community vision one project at a time. Third, the commission functions as the decision-making body for many entitlement proposals. A good Planning Commission must take the future seriously. To be a good Planning Commissioner requires commitment to ensuring a promising future of the community coupled with hard work, the patience to listen, and the willingness and ability to make decisions.

A good Planning Commissioner must have some understanding of the basic topics:

• What Planning is

• Zoning and Subdivision law

• The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

• Planning Commission procedures

• The authority and duties of the Planning Commission

• Legal aspects of Planning Commission conduct

• Standards for Planning Commission decision-making

 

Recreation & Parks Commission

The Recreation & Parks Commission duties include acting in an advisory capacity in matters concerning the City’s recreation and park system. The Recreation & Parks Commission has the following responsibilities:

• Advise the Recreation/Community Services Director on administration and development of recreation areas, facilities, programs, and recreation services.

• Reviews information on organization, personnel, areas and facilities, and program and financial support of recreation and park activities.

• Interprets the needs of the public to the City Council and Director.

• Considers all requests for permanent facilities to be erected on park areas.

• Interprets the policies and functions of the Department to the public.

A good Recreation & Parks Commissioner must be passionate about serving the Ontario community and committed to advocating for improvements to the City’s recreation and park system.  Recreation & Parks Commissioners must be available to attend major special events and engage with community members on how to improve the programming and amenities in the recreation and park system.  Commissioners should be excited about the future growth of the city, challenge staff to enhance the recreation and park system, and advocate for resources to the Recreation/Community Services Department and Parks Department.

 

Public Art Program Advisory Committee

Commissioners are from a range of professions and disciplines, which include artists, architects, art educators, design professionals, art collectors, business owners, citizen activists, and others.

Art knowledge/experience is not a requirement, but an interest in public art, place keeping, and Ontario’s rich history is important, as well as a willingness to participate in a Commission-style decision making process. 

Public Art Program Advisory Commission Duties:

• Approve new public art projects, project budgets and artists for the City of Ontario. 

• Review projects updates provided by Arts and Culture staff, including public art design, fabrication, and installation, to ensure artwork follows the public art program’s established criteria.

• Approve artists’ contractual fulfillment at recommendation of Arts and Culture staff that a public art project has been successfully completed and accepted.

• Review and approve gifts or long-term loans of public art.

• Review and approve murals commissioned by the city.

Good public art commission members will represent the community and act in an advisory capacity to Arts and Culture staff in matters of community engagement, audience development and outreach, and programs. 

This includes:

• Assist with promoting the public art program and related events.

• Serve on artist selection panel/project panel sub-committees as needed.

• Attend project-related public outreach meetings and community events.

• Assist staff as your expertise allows.