Keizer councilors spent significant time on Jan. 18 discussing who the city appoints to boards, commissions and external bodies, and how those appointments will be handled going forward.

The council asked staff to distinguish two categories in the rules: internal city boards and commissions (advisory groups created by the council) and external bodies (regional partnerships, intergovernmental boards and nonprofit organizations where Keizer is a member or signatory). For internal bodies the council will standardize the process so recommendations are circulated to the full council before final action; internal commissions will continue to follow any specific resolution or founding document that governs their membership, but the rules will state a general approach to avoid conflict among documents.

For external, contractual or intergovernmental bodies that carry voting rights or operate under their own bylaws — such as regional councils or bodies that carry the city's financial commitments — councilors emphasized that appointees must act within the scope established by those organizations. Where an outside body requires an alternate representative or has specific attendance rules, staff will note those obligations in the appointment materials but the council will not purport to override an external group's bylaws.

Councilors also clarified that some longstanding volunteer positions may be held by individuals in a private capacity and are not contingent on serving as a councilor; other boards and contractual memberships may require the mayor or councilor to hold the seat while in office. The council asked staff to include: (a) a requirement that appointees be at least 18 years old, (b) the one nonresident exception for internal committees (property owner, employee, or business owner in Keizer), and (c) a clear description of how alternates are set where outside bodies require them.

Staff will return draft rule language that separates internal appointment processes from appointment to external liaisons and that cross‑references relevant resolutions and contractual obligations.